Druggista

Wow! Unbelievable! I’m not an avid fan of Kobe Bryant; in fact I personally find his scoring feats a bit too chauvunistic, but his performance against the Raptors definitely deserves some kudos.  Imagine scoring 81 of your team’s 122 points?  Even MJ during his glory days couldn’t pour in such a barrage.  I guess this Kobe guy really has it goin’ this season.  He’s scored 40 or more points in 5 straight games this season.  He’s also scored 62 against Dallas.  And now 81! But all this Kobe-mania is not doing the Lakers any good at all come playoff time.  Ask any basketball analyst, and he will tell you that no one-man team has ever made it through to the finals.  Come playoff time, Kobe’s teammates will be like lame ducks if Kobe sticks to his ball-hugging habits.  Though the Lakers are doing quite well in the past few weeks, they’re still only 7th place in the Western Conference.  I know for one that Mr. Phil Jackson is not smiling whenever Kobe scores in such audacity.   His much-praised triangle offense will cease to be a factor if Kobe gets to shoot 80% of the time.  Sun-Star sports columnist Homer Sayson, who had the privilege to watch the Pacquiao vs Morales rematch at ringside, also got credentialed for this historic game (I envy your job man,  I hope someday I can do the things you’re doing now.) He commented on Kobe’s selfishness and on making the game as boring and dull as a nintendo computer game.  Although many didn’t exactly like what Kobe did, as sports fans we must give him the respect he deserves.  After all, scoring 81 is not child’s play.  To appreciate this historic basketball game, take a look at the table below on the list of the top ten NBA scoring greats.  Bryant’s 81 is only behind Chamberlain’s magnificent 100, but take note that this feat was done way back in 1962 when the game was still burgeoning. 

Bets anyone?  The whole country is geared up for the biggest fight of the year tomorrow.  Whether you are a boxing fan or not, January 22 will definitely be a Boxing Day for the Philippines.  Arguably being one of the most famous sports icon today, Manny Pacquiao has certainly achieved a superstar status in this country and most especially in his hometown of General Santos.  His fans come from different walks of life: drivers (of tricycle, trisikad, jeepney, taxi, v-hire, fx, bus and even habal-habal) , fruit vendors, the istambays in your street, workers, and even big bosses and senators are all yearning for the Pacman to win.  A few of the ultra-rich like our scum-lying senators, have personally made the trip to Las Vegas (at their own expenses kuno!) to shout out their support.  Well whether win or lose, I believe that nobody will go home a loser.  Pacquiao will still bag around US$ 2 million of purse aside from the countless endorsements. (did you know that Pacquiao already has his own of clothing line and has just released an album under Star Records)  The businessmen will also certainly be happy coz they will be raking in money from the pay-per-view’s like the one in SM cinemas all over the country where the tickets are all sold out at P300/piece.  As for the Filipino people, what better way of spending a Sunday than staying glued to the tv for some top-rank, hard hitting and high quality boxing.  Win or lose, Pacquiao vs Morales dubbed as the Battle, will be a welcome entertainment and a nice respite from the everyday struggles of daily living for the average Filipino.  After all, all work and no play is totally missing the point right?  So, bets anyone? 

FYI : Pacquiao is a 120 to 110 favorite over Morales in the betting boards of Vegas. 

Fearless Prediction:  Morales will win the fight.  For Pacquiao to win, he must get lucky with his strong left but I think it’s slim.  Morales 75%, Pacquiao 25%

Yeah, just got mine extracted a few days ago before New Year’s Eve.  While the dentist was drilling and cutting away my impacted molar, I kept on thinking to myself: "What on earth is the wisdom tooth for anyway?"  If mankind has evolved so much per Darwin’s theory of evolution, why hasn’t nature blocked the growth of such inutile accesories?  One time, a preacher was telling the congregation about the greatness of God’s creations, that not one part was created without a particular purpose.  He then proceeded to ask the congregation of things which they think has no purpose in life.  One man stood up and shouted: the appendix! The preacher smiled and casually explained that the appendix does have a purpose, for when one undergoes appendectomy, he/she can no longer be considered to be an astronaut.  He explains that the appendix is concerned somewhat with our equilibrium, without it astronauts in zero gravity space will have a hard balancing act.  Then he challenged the congregation again to a useless part of the body.  There were many parts/organs shouted out, but all of them were answered.  ‘Cept for one which a friend of mine shouted, "Wisdom tooth!"  Apparently, he also just recently had his extracted.  My friends (of around the same ages) were all amused with the suggestion ‘coz most probably they also have shared the same dilemma with me now.  So what is a wisdom tooth for?  My dentist told me after the nerve-wracking procedure that basically the last molars are of no use.  So why are they put there, just to be extracted later.  Another corollary question could be that how come our parents and grandparents never had to experience such agony.   My  dentist friend offered  one possible  solution to my second question, he said that quite possibly because dental care before wasn’t that good, people were more prone to dental caries and decay.  Therefore, most of them had their second or third molars extracted for decay, leaving space for the wisdom tooth.  This answer could possibly be true coz both my parents have quite a number of teeth extracted. (hehe no offense mom and pop)  But still, my initial question persists.  I’m sure that God meant for all our teeth to be strong, pearly white and decay-free, so why are so many youngsters afficted with this impacted phenomenon?  I hope there would be someone out there who could offer me an answer to my question.  Anyone who chance upon this blog can simply write your answer in my comments box.  Thank you. I’m hoping to hear the answers soon coz I still have another two sets of impacted teeth to be extracted.   At least I’ll get the answers while I still have ‘em. 

Another year has come.  But realistically, I feel that nothing has changed.  Still feels, looks, sounds and even tastes the same as the previous years.  Maybe seculars invented this New Year celebration to instill a kind of hope and renewal of strength for the future because it really isn’t a new year.  The only thing new around this time of year is the calendar, to say the least. 

2006 is the year of the FIRE DOG.  Astrologers, Feng Shui experts and Tarot card readers are all busy dishing out their "abstract" predictions for the coming year.  Yes, very abstract indeed… Quite literally, they dish out predictions which have an array of possible interpretations and outcomes.  No wonder all of their predictions come true.  Ask any fortune-teller and they would refuse to give out names of people or specific events that would affect the future. 

All they do is make generalisations: 
That 2006 will be tumultous for the Arroyo administration because of the transition of government and the resiliency of the fragmented oppositions
That 2006 will again be marred by natural disasters but more specifically those with relation to fire and heat like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and forest fires
That 2006 will be lucky for people under the Pig, Rabbit and Bull signs
That 2006 will be good for industries like real estate, construction and metalworks
That 2006 will witness a lot of showbiz break-up’s
That 2006 will be a year of changes and transitions

Ok, now that they have stated their predictions.  Here’s my 2cents worth on each one of them:
That 2006 will be tumultous for the Arroyo administration because of
the transition of government and the resiliency of the fragmented
oppositions
2c : The Arroyo government has been fazed with tough opposition ever since the start of last year.  There’s no reason to think that the fragmented opposition will let up in their efforts of inciting the people of the Philippines to another ridiculous uprising.  In fact, that’s what the Philippines is known for: Unseating a President, and then replacing it with a worse prospect.

That 2006 will again be marred by natural disasters but more
specifically those with relation to fire and heat like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and
forest fires
2c: Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and forest fires occur perenially with no specific tendencies.  Countries situated near fault lines and the Pacific Ring of Fire regularly experience volcanic eruptions and consequent earthquakes.  It would have been clearer if they singled out one specific location for a huge earthquake to occur.  Maybe they are reluctant to do so because of the "dilang-anghel" phenomenon.  Maybe some of them are silver-tongued? ?

That 2006 will be lucky for people under the Pig, Rabbit and Bull signs
2c: It could not have been more abstract than this.  I mean, how many people you know are borne under these signs.  Chances are, one of them will indeed get lucky this year.  And to make the prediction more abstract, luck is actually viewed differently by different people.  What maybe a boon to one maybe a bane to the other.

That 2006 will be good for industries like real estate, construction and metalworks
2c: Mayb this is their single most specific prediction.  But who knows? We’ll just have to wait and see if real estate and construction will indeed pick up.  Metalworks and metallurgy products are predicted to be on the rise next year, so let’s keep a close watch on the gold and silver market.

That 2006 will witness a lot of showbiz break-up’s
2c: What more can I say?! Watta a prediction! hahaha!!!

That 2006 will be a year of changes and transitions
2c: Another prediction with multifarious interpretations.  I believe that nothing in this world is constant but change.  To say that this year will be full of changes, is like saying that you’re gonna have your hair cut within this year.  The probabilities are just too high for it to even qualify as a prediction. 

Oh, I almost forgot… They also predicted that this year will be unlucky for people under the Dog sign.  I couldn’t believe it myself.  I thought that people were lucky on the year of their animal signs.  Apparently this isn’t the case.  It is only lucky for those people who have signs which are close or friends with the dog like the rabbit, pig and bull.  This is indeed bad news for all dogs out there (that’s me included).   Generally speaking, these predictions are but logical forecasts of the future.  So don’t rely on these stuff so much.  Life is what you make it.  Don’t worry dogs, we are going to be lucky this year.  Just do your best, make your mark, wag your tail and pee and sh*#t outside the house… hehehe:)   As I am writing this blog, I am overhearing the news on the tv. 
A huge forest fire has just spread across parts of northern Sydney, Australia and parts of Oklahoma.  Uh oh, I think their predictions aren’t exactly abstract after all…   
Happy New Year to all!