Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Amazing happens

Where amazing happens. An Orlando Magic fan is demanding an apology from Glen Davis after the Celtics' thrilling win in Game 4 yesterday, where Big Baby hit the winning shot with no time left. No this is not a joke, it is true. The fan sent an email to the NBA complaining that Davis crossed the line, literally, and embarrassed his son. In the e-mail, the fan said Davis conducted himself like a "raging animal with no regard for fans' personal safety." According to him Big Bay shoved his 12-year-old son with such force, that the boy's baseball cap catapulted into the air and the boy went tumbling into his courtside seat. Apparently the fan and his son sits at VIP row A seats 5&6. Here's a video of Big Baby's heroics and the funny (not to the father) incident. Check 0:59.

Amazing shot. Amazing fan. Hahaha.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Happy nostalgia

We experience nostalgia more as we age. Invariably, we long for our childhood memories and those who relocated have strong feelings of homesickness. Sometimes nostalgia is triggered by discontent by present situation. Nostalgia provides a sense of comfort for stressed-out adults. That is why folks today fondly remember martial law as if life was easier then. It just shows how bad life has turned under GMA. 

Sometimes nostalgia can be painful. Psychologists say that painful nostalgia can often be addressed by planning a visit to a childhood hometown. The power of knowing you can revisit parts of your past can help to lessen the pain. Feelings of nostalgia are normal and healthy, but making a conscious effort to live in the past is not.

My elementary school batchmates are planning a reunion, some 35+ years after we last saw each other. I am sure all of us are nostalgically happy, gauging by the posts in our e-group. We will not be living in the past. We just want to see each other again. Whatever childish problems or petty rivalries or healthy competition we had before in our youth, and later in life, should not get in the way of the chance of being happy again with each other's company.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Newspaper editorials against Pacquiao are just overreactions. Pacquiao is not being irresponsible when he chose to come back despite the DOH secretary's publicity hugging plea for him to postpone his trip. The DOH chose to highlight the WHO local representative's suggestion for Pac to delay his trip. Actually the WHO local rep also said Pac can go home but he is asked to observe social distancing. When airport authorities allowed the likes of Lito Atienza and others to mob Pacquiao upon his return, this is not Pac's irresponsiblity. It is of the airport's and DOH's.

The WHO does not actually advise against travelling. It's website clearly states that: "If you are feeling unwell or have symptoms of influenza, you should not travel. If you have any doubts about your health, you should check with your health care provider." Pacman was not sick when he travelled. He could have gotten the virus if he stayed in the US longer because that's where the virus is. Imagine lots of Americans also come and see him there.

The WHO also has this to add in its website:

"The Although identifying signs and symptoms of influenza in travellers can help track the path of the outbreak, it will not reduce the spread of influenza, as the virus can be transmitted from person to person before the onset of symptoms.
      Scientific research based on mathematical modelling shows that restricting travel would be of limited or no benefit in stopping the spread of disease. Historical records of previous influenza pandemics, as well as experience with SARS, validate this.
Does WHO recommend screenings at country entry and exit points to detect if ill people are travelling?
     No. We do not believe entry and exit screenings would work to reduce the spread of this disease. However country-level measures to respond to a public health risk are the decision of national authorities, under the International Health Regulations 2005.
    Countries that adopt measures that significantly interfere with international traffic (e.g. delaying an airplane passenger for more than 24 hours, or refusing country entry or departure to a traveller) must provide WHO with the public health reasoning and evidence for their actions. WHO will follow up with all of its Member countries on such matters.
    Travellers should always be treated with dignity and respect for their human rights."

What Pac has been showing this past few days is that he does not need Malacanan. It is Malacanan that needs him. First, he creates his own party, which means he is not running under Lakas/Kampi. Then he did not thank the president profusely after his win unlike in the previous ones. Then he does not grant the request to delay his trip. What does Malacanan do? Cancel the lunch/reception on Friday. They maybe afraid of the flu and they show that they are really vengeful.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

HBO man tells Manny to pray at the corner



Just moments after knocking out Ricky Hatton, the jubilant Manny Pacquiao was being mobbed by his own corner men, when an HBO crew pointed him the corner. Manny caught the eye of the crew man and he proceeded to kneel and pray at the designated corner. The man is seen at the bottom right of the screen caps. Imagine, HBO reminds Manny to pray. It makes good, intense, compact drama. The short clip below captures the scene.



Meanwhile, Martin Nievera is still facing negative criticism over his version of the national anthem. His version is not only bad, but his haughty demeanor over the criticisms leaves him no sympathizers. Even the lawyers who defend his artisitc and constitutional rights maintain that the singing was in bad taste. Now it turns out that his ear piece was not even appropriate, the read and blue sides were wrong. What can we expect? Martin is half-American, so his version is half-right.

Friday, May 8, 2009

My recent awards ;)



Meanwhile, below are screencaps of the news telecast of my other award. In case you didn't catch it on TV, click on the photo or click here for a replay.