East vs West.

Everyone here is going gaga, not of the flu virus but of the coming boxing match of our own Manny Pacquiao and Englishman Ricky Hatton on Sunday. I am not a boxing fanatic but I always cheer for Manny whenever he fights for the title.

I wonder if the tale of the tape in every fight could make a difference. Well, maybe there is always something that is worth noting in the tale of the tape, so here is the comparison for Pacman and Ricky Hatton.

Manny Pacquiao
Height: 5’6”
Stance: Southpaw
Reach: 67”
Record: 48-3-2 36 KO

Ricky Hatton
Height: 5'7"
Stance: Orthodox
Reach: 65"
Record: 45-1 32 Knock outs

So where else do we look for the difference? Let’s find out their previous opponents in the last 5 fights.


Ricky Hatton fought the last fight with Paulie Malignaggi, Juan Lazcano, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Jose Luis Castillo, and Juan Urango. Two names sound a bell to boxing enthusiasts. These are Castillo and Mayweather Jr. The other was a big win, and the other was the opposite. In the past 5 fights of Ricky Hatton, he got 2 unanimous decision, 2 knock out win, and 1 humiliating TKO loss to Moneyman.


Manny Pacquiao’s record for the last 5 fights show how great this man is. The list of opponents includes the likes of Oscar De La Hoya (you do not have to ask me who he is), fellow pound for pound king Juan Manuel Marquez, legendary Marco Antonio Barrera, and aspiring boxer Jorge Solis. Of course if I could extend the list, there is the Erik Morales two run victories.

The quality of opponents alone could give us a true picture of how competent this man would be. He did not just made a very astonishing finish, he made it clean. In the last 5 fights, 3 came by way of technical knock out.

Assessing alone the previous enemies of this two, you can already distinguish who has the upper hand. But wait am I hearing a howl from my English friends? Hahaha!

Sure the match isn't over till we hear the bell and with both boxer preparing hard for this match, then, your guess is as good as mine. I will have to do my household chores early on Sunday morning so I will have the ring side seat - my couch, to watch the fight.

By the way the ringside tickets sold as high as $15,000. I am sure the venue will be teeming with spectators... watch out for those Mexicans!

While the mutation continue...

Have you ever seen a glowing dog?

No, me either.

But aside from the swine flu virus hogging our television 24/7 there was a report yesterday that scientists in Seoul, Korea have engineered through cloning 4 beagles that glow red. I’m not sure how this is connected but they say that this will lead to finding cures for human diseases.

It's also big news that South Korean scientists have created the first transgenic dog that glow in the dark. "Transgenic" simply means expressing a "trans-gene," or a gene normally found in another organism. They were able to do this by inserting a fluorescent gene from sea anemones into dog fibrolast cells.

As someone who has kept dogs as pets, it's hard for me to think about using them as research animals. I'm not sure that I could personally work in a lab that studies them, due to my emotional involvement with the species.

Besides, whats the point of a glow in the dark dog? Ok, maybe it matters only as a proof of concept that RFP (red fluorescent protein) is an easy to insert gene.

At a time when the use of dogs and cats in research has been declining, this is a step in exactly the wrong direction.

As far as scientific studies go, I suggest that we let them practice and do studies on the real animals on death row, you know, the ones that we are supporting. Yeah, why not? Let's cut the deficit...Start with MAN because isn’t that where it all began?

Animal testing is not normal. It was never normal. It won't be normal. It must be stopped everywhere.

God bless our animals.

PROBE: Swine flu virus.

Kirst, had talked about it. Our print and mass media had covered it. News about it flowed non-stop.

But behind the loud noise, speculation is ripe that this virus come about because of the use of a synthetic peptide pig vaccine field trial in central Mexico which could have spawned the quadruply swine flu virus outbreak. Read more of the article here.

There is indeed something odd about the virus thought to be behind the current H1N1 swine flu outbreak. Is there a conspiracy to provoke pandemic?

We all thought that because of laboratory protocols that are routine for vaccine makers, mixing a live virus biological weapon with vaccine material by accident is virtually impossible.

No, it's not, if there was an intent to breach that protocol.

I have read that Baxter laboratory claimed to have "accidentally" mixed the deadly H5N1 virus with a mix of H3N2 seasonal flu virus. The H5N1 virus on its own has killed hundreds of people, but it is less airborne. However, when combined with seasonal flu viruses, which are more easily spread, the effect was a potent, airborne, deadly biological weapon.

But is “mistake” really an accurate term to describe this? What if there’s the issue of motive? Would Baxter have had any reason to carry out such a malicious and deadly scheme?

Well, if a bird flu pandemic did break out, the demand for bird flu vaccines would certainly skyrocket … and the profits from such a mass vaccination program would be astronomical. So while it is unthinkable that a drug company would knowingly contaminate flu vaccines with a deadly bird flu virus, it is certainly not impossible.

So, here we are once again faced with “the impending pandemic of the Swine Flu” which could well become a fictional mini-series.

What is really going on is a scenario filled with greed and political corruption. By igniting fear in the public and massaging some key statistics, the powers-that-be will be able to justify the expense for a massive vaccine stockpile to ward off the swine flu.

We also know that the US military plays with these viruses all the time and it is not unknown for strains of virus to be actually released at convenient political times.

The fact that the properties of the strain are completely new, that the virus is spreading from people to people, and that the young and healthy are being hit worst, has disturbing parallels to the deadly 1918 pandemic that killed millions.

It is unclear as to why, if the virus is a brand new strain, that public health officials are so confident programs of mass vaccination, which are already being prepared, would necessarily be effective.

It certainly wouldn't be the first time that deadly flu viruses have been concocted in labs and then dispatched with the intention of creating a pandemic.

Is it such a convenient time now ?

When action speaks louder than word.

It is by acts and not by ideas that people live. — Anatole France

As usual, my Sunday was spent watching a movie marathon. I put on a DVD disc which contain about 8 movies in it, and I just allowed it to run its natural course and not skip. Its a variety of films - comedy, drama, action, and an animated picture!

Who would have thought that it would take a children's animated movie to remind me that actions speak louder than words? Have you seen WALL-E? Yes, that old Pixar movie?

It's a love story that begins and ends with two words, "WALL-E" and "Eva", yet it speaks volumes. It left me speechless and made me realize that saying just a few words is not such a bad thing. In a world that is driven by too few actions and way too many words, WALL-E reminds me that it does not matter what you say but rather what you do that counts - whether it be saving the planet or winning over someone’s heart.

Have you ever really thought about the phrase – Actions speak louder than words? We know that words represent the verbal expression of thoughts and emotions. Yes, they can stimulate a person's imagination, and paint a mental image of the exact message the we hope to convey. But words are just words. Even if they express intent, only action can determine the outcome of any thought or idea.

Actions speak louder than words, because taking action can lead to the fulfillment of our objective. They solidify our commitment of following through with what was said.

This is not to say however that words do not carry weight. They can give direction, create perception, inspire, and motivate. But words cannot throw a ball, take out the garbage, feed the needy, or give a kiss. They are incapable of mowing the lawn, repairing a roof, digging a flower bed, or anything other than expressing the intent to take action. Words may be filled with promises, but they are empty of substance unless we act on it.

Words can also be misinterpreted or misunderstood, while actions seldom are. Words can make promises and create hope, but only action can fulfill those promises or make hope a reality.

And even when language differences may not always allow us to understand the words spoken by others, yet in many cases, certain actions are universal. We do not need to speak or understand a foreign language to acknowledge a smile or a handshake, but through the action, the message is conveyed.

Like Wall-E, lets act more and talk less.

Not on sale.

I envy you people with all your bargain finds, and how I wish I am on a hunt in a flea market or a boot sale or in a store purchasing a pretty item for the house on a steal price, so I can also share them with you. Unfortunately, I have not been to any of them.

However, let me share with you the simple things I discover this week that gave me pleasure, and they didn't cost me a thing!

Rain:

The first summer heat of March was just mildly uncomfortable. Then it became tiring, and then, oppressive. Everyday the temperature continue to rise, until finally, in the dusty, dried up days of April 20 the rain -- at last -- came. And it rained a few hours everyday since. After day upon day of parched summer heat, the rain was such a welcome relief!

My slipper:

In this part of the globe flip flops are called slippers or sandals. Oh how, I love Saturdays because it allows me to wear my slippers to work. What a comfort! Yes, they were originally made out of recycled tires, but now they come in a variety of designs and colors.

My neighbor store:

My neighbor "Sari-sari" store is equivalent to your urban or rural convenient store. But it is much more than just a store that sells single packaged items. It is a place of congregation, where I can catch up on the local rumors and gossip - it is probably where most gossip originates. Ha ha!

Sun dried laundry:

For me, hanging out my laundry makes me giddy with pleasure. Nothing beats the smell of a sun-dried clothes! It reminds me of my family that once upon a time, not too long ago, were using the elements of wind, water and sun.

Look around you and see what simple things give you pleasure...

My life.

My previous post made me ponder about my own life...

Nice and easy – that is life for me. I am from a middle-class family that is lucky to be able to keep our heads above the economic crisis. I get a lot of support from relatives. And thankfully, there is always someone to turn to in times of need. I don’t have near-death experiences to talk about. I can’t discuss eating disorders, or lack of self-esteem that could possibly lead to depression.

Love? Well, I’ve been through its various stages from getting-to-know, courting, dating, being together, breaking up, being bitter, moving on, finding someone better – and going through the whole process again because once will never be enough. LOVE is happiness no matter how much it might hurt or how stupid it makes me. Only love can make me sing my heart out in the shower and stand shivering for hours in the rain. Only love can keep me wishing on falling stars even though I am old and gray.

I have never really found a reason to complain about my life. Even with a broken heart, I never fell apart. I have always been optimistic who believes everything will turn out right and – voila – they actually do!

I am not a sociable person and a perfect day for me is just staying home and watching a marathon movie. But another perfect part of my life are my friends on-line (you know who you are!). These connections make me feel like I belong, that I fit right in and that there’s a spot saved especially for me.

But like most everything else, nothing is perfect. I know I will continue to spend the other half of my life looking for that certain high that will make me feel how it is to live. I need a dose of harsh reality that will make me bleed until I realize I am still human. I need to get hurt and feel pain so that I can pour out the tears. And I want to be able to look back and laugh about it someday because I know I haven’t wasted my life dreaming.

Have I reached my turning point? Do we have turning points where we have to make crucial decision about family or personal goals? Or is it the little decisions I make every day that make me feel good or bad? I know I don't want to confine myself to a small box I consider my heaven without realizing how exciting the paradise outside can be. Like everyone else, I get tired, I get my fill of it and I tug at the seams to find something to fix, something to alter, something to learn.

Maybe tomorrow one of my wishes will come true. I could come up with a hundred more "MAYBES" and still I wouldn’t know for sure. Because if I already know what will happen tomorrow, my life would probably be so perfect I myself would look for ways to wreck it.

Suicide.

Although the incidence of suicide in the Philippines is not as high as those in developed countries, this country has had its share of high-profile cases. The latest is the case of Trina, wife of a popular television and radio broadcaster here.

It baffled me no end, because the family is well off, and the family was never involved in any controversy, even when previously Ted Failon, the broadcaster, had a short stint in the house of representative being elected congressman of his District .

Indeed, suicide is more complicated than most of us think it to be. And when I googled it, I was disturbed to know that most suicide is committed by teenagers!

People who end their lives or attempt suicide might be trying to escape feelings of rejection, hurt, or loss. Others might be angry, ashamed, or guilty about something. Still others may be worried about disappointing friends or family members. And some may feel unwanted, unloved, victimized, or like they're a burden to others. And at that particular moment dying seemed like the only way out.

What the heck, we all feel overwhelmed by difficult emotions or situations sometimes. But somehow we get through it or are able to put our problems in perspective and find a way to carry on with determination and hope!

So why does one person try suicide when another person in the same tough situation does not? What makes some people more resilient than others? What makes a person unable to see another way out of a bad situation besides ending his or her life?

I don’t have answers to these questions. Except that maybe some people focus more on failures and disappointments, or emphasize the negative side of their situation and downplay their capabilities or worth. They become so depressed that they see no possibility of a good outcome and believe they will never be happy or that things will never go right for them.

Surprisingly, those who have survived this act, had told relatives that they aren't completely sure they want to die, but that it’s just a way to express deep emotional pain. They can't say how they feel, so, for them, attempting suicide feels like the only way to get their message across.

This is especially sad as many people who really didn't mean to kill themselves end up dead or critically ill.

But one thing is certain, people are better able to deal with tough circumstances when they have at least one person who believes in them, one person who wants the best for them, someone whom they can confide.

So if you find someone who is depressed and talked about committing suicide, then don’t be afraid or feel uncomfortable talking to him or her. Try to overcome these feelings of discomfort — this is a time when someone absolutely needs to feel connected to others.

A simple act of listening may save a life.