As elements of the Republican party continue to fight to derail Obamacare by defunding it, I find myself being struck by the degree to which those pursuing this approach seem to feel that it is a legitimate political tactic to in effect repeal a law that was passed by both Houses of congress by attaching…
x,y,z — Everything Else
Remembering the Death of Ninoy Aquino Thirty Years Ago
My Filipino friends all know this story by heart — but many Americans don’t, and I hope you will read it, and listen to the BBC report. Last night on NPR I came across this excellent radio report from the BBC on The Assassination of Ninoy Aquino, which happened 30 years ago this week.…
A Tarzan Oil Painting by Cynthia Sheppard just gave me goosebumps . . .
Every once in awhile you come across something that is so right and true and beautiful that it stops you in your tracks and gives you goosebumps. That just happened for me five minutes ago when an email landed in my in-box from ERBist Bob Zeuschner, replying to a post on the ERB Chain of…
CIA, MI6 Vets Shed Light on the Moscow Spy Scandal
From All Things Crime Blog A veteran CIA officer who served in Moscow during the climax of the Cold War in the 1980’s sat down with All Things Crime Blog for an interview to discuss the spy scandal that erupted in Moscow on Monday when U.S. Embassy Third Secretary Ryan Fogle was arrested by the…
34 Signs You Grew Up Filipino (with commentary by a Filipinized ‘Kano)
Here’s a great article — “34 Signs You Grew Up Filipino” – which, on closer inspection, should be entitled “34 Signs You Grew Up Filipino in Los Angeles”. (It eventually becomes clear.) Now, I’m not Filipino. I can’t even claim to be an honorary. But but my wife is a Filipina, gloriously so, and one…
Michael D. Sellers, Writer — or, the new me, sort of
Those who have followed the meanderings of this blog over the years know the basic outlines of my life story and my interests — that I was a film school graduate who got started in Hollywood, then went on a 10 year detour as an intelligence officer working for our government before returning to film…
The Power of One Punch by Chuck Culpepper
Thanks to my pal Gary Neely for finding this and forwarding it to me. Culpepper is a thoughtful sportswriter and his reflections on the last effects of Pacquiao-Marquez 4 are spot on. The Power of One Punch by Chuck Culpepper in SportsonEarth What a weird Las Vegas hangover, even if it does lack a…
Manny Pacquiao’s Very Human and Very Real Interview on GMA
If you’re a Filipino you’re probably already seen this, and you may not be that surprised because you understand Manny Pacquiao, and the tears he sheds in this interview are easily understoo. But I truly wish the rest of the world would watch this and contemplate it. Can you see Floyd Mayweather, or Kobe Bryant,…
Pacquiao’s First Words After KO: Buboy, Where Are You
Via Inquirer News Hollywood—The cord that binds Manny Pacquiao and Buboy Fernandez is flexible and unbreakable. They were so close that the first words Pacquiao uttered upon regaining consciousness after getting knocked out cold by Juan Manuel Marquez were: “Boy nasan ka (Buboy where are you?).” Fernandez, Pacquiao’s childhood buddy was right beside him, holding his head…
Keep an Eye on Dodie Boy Penalosa, Jr. — A Very Impressive Next Generation Pinoy Boxer
The three “main undercard” fights on the Pacquiao-Marquez 4 fight card were largely turgid affairs, and those looking for a Filipino successor to Manny Pacquiao didn’t find much to feel good about — but if you were watching on “regular” (not PPV) HBO earlier in the afternoon, you were treated to a spectacular second round…
Pacquiao-Marquez 4: In an epic defeat, Manny Pacquiao shows class and courage
Boxing reveals character, and if there was ever any doubt about Manny Pacquiao’s character, there should be none now. His actions before, during, and after the fight with Juan Manuel Marquez leave no doubt that Pacquiao the human being is blessed with courage, grace, and true (not fake) humility. The myth may have been diminished;…
What Manny Pacquiao Needs to Do To Defeat Marquez and Silence the Doubters
I am not a boxing writer, per se, and do not hold myself out as an expert in the technical side of the sport. I have been inspired to write about the sport mainly because I see in it the possibility of the illumination of character in ways that we can all relate to —…
My book, John Carter and the Gods of Hollywood, is out today!
For much of the last year I’ve been caught up in what was at first a hopeful experience–my favorite book series from my youth finally making it to the screen–but gradually turned into a nightmare as I watched a marketing disaster of epic proportions lead to it being declared a horrific flop before it was…
Remembering "Mang Rudy" Montecajon
Another friend who was a big part of my film-making journey in the Philippines has passed unexpectedly and far too soon. “Mang Rudy” Montecajon would have been 64 today. He was an editor who was recommended to me when I was making my first international movie in Manila — a film called “Rage” and eventually…
A Lifetime Love of Fishing and the Sea
The deep and mystical allure of fishing has been with me since I can remember. I’ve loved the mere presence of the ocean — I could stare at for hours, and be nurtured by it, and calmed by it. And as I watch it form the sore, or a balcony, or a bridge, I’m…
Pacquiao-Bradley: A second viewing with round by round judges cards, round by round press row cards and round by round compubox stats
It’s Sunday afternoon, 18 hours after Pacquiao-Bradley ended in a controversial split decision. I’ve been gathering and studying the round by round “returns” all day — first the official judges scorecards, then the available Press Row unofficial scorecards, then the Compubox round by round stats. I’ve loaded everything into a spreadsheet; I’ve got the DVR’d…
Pacquiao-Bradley: Final Compubox Report and Judges' Scorecards
As the controversy over last night’s Pacquiao-Bradley split decision continues to engulf the boxing world, here is some raw material so you can do some analysis of your own. First, the official judges scorecard: And then, the compubox round by round figures. This is the compubox report that has real relevance — the overall figures…
LA Times: Not so fast, my friend — Pacquaio Bradley rematch not a sure thing
Lance Pugmire of the LA Times has some interesting quotes from Bob Arum and Manny Pacquiao. The only problem is that he seems to be swallowing whole something from Arum that seems to be transparently a negotiating ploy in which he is putting it “out there” that ticket brokers don’t know if they can sell…
Pacquiao-Bradley: Here's a theory about what really happened with the judges scoring
The stunning, controversial decision last night in which three Nevada judges saw the fight between Manny Pacquaio and Timothy Bradley differently than just about everyone else who saw it — including all the major news services n their round by round coverage and virtually every boxing great who has weighed in on it — obviously…
Roach: Bradley was Pacquiao's "best fight since the Cotto fight"; a look at the official scorecards
Speaking of the judges who controversially awarded Timothy Bradley a split decision over Manny Pacquiao last night in Las Vegas, Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said: “I think they had their eyes closed. What everyone else saw and what they saw are two different things.” Roach said he was proud of Pacquiao : “I thought we…
Pacquiao's Bizarre Split Decision Loss to Bradley difficult to understand; watch video highlights of the fight; Updates
FOURTH UPDATE: Here are ESPN’s video “highlights” of the fight, which Bradley won by split decision (although the highlights don’t seem to tell that story.) Manny Pacquiao lost a bizarre split decision to Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas tonight, in a fight that saw Pacquiao never in trouble and never threatened and in which Pacquiao…
Let's Compare Pacquiao-Mayweather Weight Year by Year
Floyd Mayweather has caused a stir lately by claiming, yet again, that Manny Pacquiao could not possibly have risen through as many weight classes as he has without chemical help. And yet — a simple analysis of the two fighter’s rise in weight over the course of their respective careers shows that Mayweather himself has…
There was something about Bodjie…..
The word came last night around midnight – Rena was in the bedroom and I was still in the living room with my laptop when she shouted (and Rena never shouts) “Honey, there’s a text from Ann. Namatay si Bodjie.” I felt like I’d been karate kicked in the gut. Bodjie? BODJIE? I couldn’t believe…
Boxing Scene: Pacquiao says Mayweather offered $40m flat fee, no share of PPV or Gate
Boxing Scene is reporting that according to WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, he was treated like an opponent during last week’s infamous telephone call with Floyd Mayweather Jr., Pacquiao claims he was offered a $40 million dollar guarantee – but nothing further- for a welterweight mega-fight on May 5th at the MGM Grand in Las…
Mayweather calls Pacquiao; wants fight but says "No" to 50/50 split?
And today’s issue of “As the World Turns” — welterweight champ Floyd Mayweather called welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao to attempt to induce Manny Pacquiao to take a fight on May 5 in Las Vegas. It’s becoming “white noise” at this point — but here is ESPN’s report on it: Floyd Mayweather Jr., who for the…
Remembering John Stewart – a visionary songwriter, a great American and good, good man
Today is the fourth anniversary of the death of John Stewart, the legendary songwriter who inspired me on more levels that I can begin to explain. He left us in 2008 but he’s not gone: his voice, his spirit and his ideas continue. I originally wrote this tribute on what would have been his 72nd…
Costa Concordia Passenger: "Those who have helped us, they are the cooks, maids, all Filipino."
There were 296 Filipinos among the crew of 1000 on the ill-fated Costa Concordia that ran around in Italy two days ago, and the Philippine Embassy has reported that all are safe. Indeed, most of the articles that I’ve been able to find are focusing on that aspect of it — but I was curious,…
Unforgettable: Miracle on Ice – US Defeats Russia in Olympic Hockey
The US Olympic Hockey team was a collection of college players and they were up against the seasoned pros from Russia. The idea that they could possibly win was almost beyond comprehension. Russia had not lost an Olympic hockey game since 1968. And then the “Miracle on Ice” happened.
Mayo Clinic Video on "Continuous Chest Compression CPR" — Very Important and Worth a Look
Found this, along with some comments from physicians confirming this is in line with the “new thinking” on CPR. It’s a video produced by the Mayo Clinic. Recommended viewing:
Video: Bungee cord that snapped, almost killing Australian tourist, was frayed and unraveling along its entire length
The video of a near tragic bungee jump accident that almost took the life of an Australian tourist in Zambia last week reveals unequivocal negligence by a bungee jump operator who blatantly ignored warning signs that the rope was far beyond it’s safe use period. Everyone involved is lucky that the tourist on the cord…