Tuesday, July 31, 2007

A NOSE FOR BOXING


From left: Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez are ready for their rematch

When he had to give up the fight against Rafael Marquez while sitting on his stool at the end of the seventh round, Israel “Izzy” Vazquez was a beaten fighter. He had just engaged in twenty-one minutes of fury against one of the top pound-for-pound boxers on the planet and he gave as good as he got.

But in the end it was his nose that stunk up his night.

It was a battle that Rafael Marquez ended up winning, well, by a nose. And just when the plug was pulled on a rose of a fight that was really beginning to smell like a winner, poor Izzy Vazquez’ nose looked like it had been taken off in some sort of plastic surgery gone wrong and then re-attached upside down.

The damage obviously came from an accumulation of shots, but in the fifth round Izzy Vazquez took two jabs to the nose and then he turned away in pain. Despite the obvious problems that were as plain to see, as well, the nose on your face, he bravely fought on for another two and a half rounds.

Showtime blow-by-blow man, and recent Boxing Writers Association of America Sam Taub Brodcaster of the Year award winner, Steve Albert, called the first fight and he’ll be calling the rematch. Albert says he saw no problem with the way the fight ended and he backs up the notion that obviously Vazquez was in tremendous pain.

“Given the kind of warrior that Israel Vazquez is, you can’t get on him,” said Albert. “You gotta’ believe him, he just could not continue. He couldn’t breathe through the nose.”

And about the fight? Well, Albert said this; “It was about as good as it can get up until the point of the stoppage.”

And everybody agrees, so on Saturday night they’ll do it again.

As Vazquez prepares to go back into the lion’s den with Marquez at the Dodge Arena in Hidalgo, Texas it should come as no surprise that the only question anybody is asking him is; “How’s the nose?”

“I'm not concerned at all, there’s no need to be concerned,” says Izzy about his schnozz. “The results and diagnosis of the doctor have been very encouraging. Thank God it wasn't a dangerous condition. I've been able to continue with sparring and things are going very well. In fact, if it weren't that people keep stopping and asking me how my nose is feeling, I would have forgotten that I had a problem.”

Vazquez ended up having an operation to remove the cartilage from his nose and the doctor that performed the surgery has given him a clean bill of health to fight only five months after the injury and the loss.

For Vazquez the loss to Rafael Marquez was a tough one for him to, pardon the expression, snuff out of his mind. He felt that if he would have been able to continue that he would have won the fight, but in the end there was just no way that he could have continued.

“It was tough,” says Izzy. “I was unable to breathe. It was a tough night and a difficult loss but I feel good now and my nose feels good. I'm ready to come back and take back the title. I feel really good right now. The condition was some kind of a metabolic blockage. The doctor's diagnosis was that the left nostril was completely closed and the right nostril was only 10 percent available for breathing.”

At the time of the stoppage it was a close fight. Two of the official judges scorecards had Marquez slightly ahead by two points while the third judge had the fight dead even. So it’s perplexing that the odds makers have Rafael Marquez such a strong betting favorite heading into Saturday night. It’s as though they forgot that Marquez was the one that was decked the first time around.

Whatever the case, Vazquez, who was born in Mexico City, is a proud warrior in the ring who turned pro at only 17 years old back in 1995. He scraped his way through the dusty rings of Mexico, came to America and won two world titles. He brings a record of 41-4 (30)KO into the rematch on Saturday.

When asked if he feels that he still needs to put on a crowd-pleasing performance after twelve years as a pro, he says he does. “Actually, I do feel a tremendous sense of obligation. The public pays money to see - whether they sit there or watch on TV and it's extremely important that I give it my all each and every round. It's very important, I want to give a good performance because I want to look good and I want to make sure that I come through for the public.”

Showtime boxing analyst Al Bernstein called the first fight on Showtime and he’ll call the rematch this weekend as well. As always, Bernstein is excited and enthused and he offered his thoughts on Izzy.

“You can put a check mark next to Israel Vazquez’ name in several categories,” said Bernstein. “Courage, power, skill. Well, add resiliency. Very difficult to keep him on the canvas. He’s been there before but he gets up and when he gets up he gets up with renewed vigor.”

Bernstein is speaking of Vazquez’ ability, like a good Timex, to take a licking and keep on ticking. All looked lost for him last year against Jhonny Gonzalez when he was being beaten from pillar to post before he rallied back gallantly to knock Gonzalez out in the tenth round and successfully defend his title in one of the fights of the year. And don’t forget that Vazquez was able to deck Marquez in the first fight with a left hook in the third round and it was the first and only time that Marquez has ever been down as a professional.

When asked what he thought of the first fight, Bernstein had this to say. “I had the fight 67-65. I think Rafael Marquez was a little more precise. And both fighters fought very, very well. But Rafael Marquez threw more combinations and was a little bit more precise. And of course the knockdown made it closer than it otherwise would have been. It was – make no mistake – an extraordinarily well-boxed match. It was as exciting and as interesting as any match you would want.”

That only leaves one question: Izzy, what about the nose?

“No, the nose, it won't be a factor,” he says hopefully. And you can see the sparkle in his brown eyes when he thinks of the future possibilities should he prevail in the rematch.

“I'm just going to do my best. I'll do in the ring whatever I'm trained to do in the ring for that fight for that night. And I'm just going to prepare for victory.”

You see, Izzy Vazquez can smell a win.

July 2007

True Love-A Short Story

This is what True Love is all about:


It was a busy morning, approximately 8:30 a.m., when an elderly gentleman in his 80's, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He stated that he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him look at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.

On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.


While taking care of his wound, we began to engage in conversation. I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.


I then inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer' s Disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.


I was surprised, and asked him, "And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?" He smiled as he patted my hand and said, "She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is." I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, "That is the kind of love I want in my life."


True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be. With all the jokes and fun that are in e-mails, sometimes there are some that come along that have an important message, and this is one of those kind. Just had to share it with you all.

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Moles and what they say about you




The Chinese Almanac, also known as the Tung Shu, is commonly known as a book of auspicious and inauspicious dates, but there is so much more to the Tung Shu than that. It is a vast mine of information relating to astrology, codes and symbols, derived by the wise sages and philosophers of ancient China. In this issue, we bring to you the secrets from the almanac regarding moles on your face and what they mean depending on which part of your face they appear.
First, check your face for any moles, and then look at the diagram above to identify the number(s) that are a closest match to the moles on your face. Usually, the moles only hold meaning for you if they are prominent and they are the only one. If your face if full of spots, acne or "little" moles, they do not count. When you've ascertained which position corresponds to the mole on your face, look up the meanings listed by numbers below.

Position 1 to 3
As a child, you are somewhat rebellious and a free spirit. You have an innate creativity and work best when you are given a free hand. Generally, your superiors like your avante garde approach to life. If you have a mole here, you are far better off in business and being your own boss rather than working for somebody. What is promising is that you have the luck to be your own boss.

Position 4
You are an impulsive person, often acting with a flamboyance that gives you charisma and a sparkling personality, but you can be difficult when there are too many opinions. You tend to be rather argumentative, but never to the point of holding grudges. This mole tends to give you an explosive temper and should you decide to remove it, you will find yourself becoming calmer and more at peace with the world.

Position 5
A mole above the eyebrow indicates that there is wealth luck in your life, but you will need to earn it and work harder than most people. All the income you make must be carefully kept as there are people who are jealous of you who might attempt to sweet talk you into parting with your wealth. Be wary of those who try to interest you in get-rich-quick schemes. If you have a mole here, it is advisable not to be too trusting of others. Follow your instincts and be cautious. And never allow other people to control your finances.

Position 6
A mole here indicates intelligence, creativity and skill as an artist. Your artistic talent can bring you wealth, fame and success. It also indicates wealth luck, but this can only be fully realized if you follow your heart rather than stick to conventional means of making a living. Success will come if you are brave.

Position 7
Moles under the eyebrows indicate arguments within the extended family that cause you grief and unhappiness. This will affect your work and livelihood. It is advisable to settle any differences you have with your relatives if you want peace of mind to move ahead.

Position 8
This is not a very good position for a mole. Your financial position will constantly be under strain because of a tendency to overspend. You also have a penchant for gambling. The only thing is you must know when to stop. Meanwhile, someone with a mole here has a tendency to flirt with members of the opposite sex as well as with the same sex. Better be a little discerning where you exert your charms, or you might get into trouble.

Position 9
This mole position suggests sexual and other problems. It is an unfortunate mole and you are well advised to get rid of it. It brings a litany of woes and a parade of problems.

Position 10
A mole here just under the nose indicates excellent descendants luck. You are surrounded by family at all times and will have many children and grandchildren. You have the support of those close to you and will be both materially and emotionally fulfilled.

Position 11
Moles here suggest a tendency to succumb to illness. It is a good idea to have this mole removed especially if it is a large, dark-coloured mole. Otherwise use lots of foundation to cover it.

Position 12
A mole here foretells a successful but also a very balanced life. You are likely to be not just rich, but famous as well. But although you have every opportunity to live the high life, you will have a satisfying home and family life as well. Women with moles here are particularly lucky and tend to be beautiful and glamourous as well.

Position 13
Your children will be a big worry in your life. Your relationship with them is not good. There is nothing much you can do about this except to learn some tolerance.

Position 14
A mole here suggests a vulnerability to food which can be a big problem in your life. You may have allergies against certain foods or you may simply be eating too much.

Position 15
You are a person always on the move and constantly renovating and redesigning your house. You like to be introduced to new things and see new places. You are not happy if you remain in one place for long. You enjoy travel and adventure, and have a very observant eye.

Position 16
You need to be careful when it comes to eating, and also when it comes to your sex life. These are your two biggest problems. You tend to have weight issues which can make you depressed. You enjoy romance, sometimes with more than one person, but because you are a person with some morality, you will feel guilty about it and this will cause you much stress.

Position 17
You will be someone of great social prominence. You are active on the social scene and an excellent conversationalist. There is a tendency to become bigheaded about your success, which could lose you your good name. This will affect you deeply because you draw your confidence and self worth from what others think of you.

Position 18
You are a person always on the move. There is a great deal of overseas travel in your life, but you should take extra care each time you cross the great waters, as your mole prefers you to stay at home.

Position 19
You have money luck and many good friends, so this is a good mole to have. Your weakness is that you tend to succumb to the charms of the opposite sex. In your life, it is this that could get you into hot water, so do cool your ardour!

Position 20
A mole here can be very lucky or very unlucky. If you have a mole here, you are destined either for extreme fame or infamy. You have great flair for creativity and are also highly intelligent, but your talents can be used for both good and bad. You are not a person to be trifled with for you are no pushover and do not forgive and forget easily. This mole is a mark of someone who will go down in history either as a great or as a tyrant.

Position 21
This is a good mole, as it suggests plenty to eat and drink throughout your life. This mole also brings fame and recognition.

Position 22
Your life is always happy and things go smoothly for you. You could well become a sports superstar if you have the passion for it. Moles at the end of eyebrows also suggest a person of authority and power, so if you are the CEO of a company, you will do very well.

Position 23
You have a high IQ, and you are both brain smart and street smart. You have a highly-developed survival instinct and will lead a meaningful and long life. You will be active until a very old age and will have friends and family around you till the very end.

Position 24
You will achieve fame and fortune in your young age and you are advised to use this period to safeguard your old age, as people with moles here tend to have a harderlife as they get older.

Position 25
You will enjoy good prosperity and recognition luck, but do be careful of excesses. Stay traditional in your attitudes and you will have a long and fruitful life.

LAKSHMI MITTAL'S (World`s 5th richest Man) 10 WHEEL MOVING PALACE









Friday, July 27, 2007

Reason why never visit a 5* Hotel

Reason why never visit a 5* Hotel

Question : "What would you like to have ..Fruit juice, Soda, Tea, Chocolate, Milo, or Coffee?"

Answer: "tea please"

Question : " Ceylon tea, Herbal tea, Bush tea, Honey bush tea, Ice tea or green tea ?"

Answer : "Ceylon tea "

Question : "How would you like it ? black or white ?"



Answer: "white"

Question: "Milk, Whitener, or Condensed milk ?"

Answer: "With milk "

Question: "Goat milk, Camel milk or cow milk"

Answer: "With cow milk please.

Question: " Milk from Freeze land cow or Afrikaner cow?"

Answer: " Um, I'll take it black. "

Question: " Would you like it with sweetener, sugar or honey?"

Answer: "With sugar"

Question: " Beet sugar or cane sugar ?"

Answer: "Cane sugar "

Question:" White , brown or yellow sugar ?"

Answer: "Forget about tea just give me a glass of water instead."

Question: "Mineral water or still water ? "

Answer: "Mineral water"

Question: "Flavored or non-flavored ?"

Answer: "I'll rather die of thirst

Thursday, July 26, 2007

World`s most expensive SUV

By the end of 2007, the Spyker “D12 Peking-to-Paris” SSUV will retail at $300,000, making it the most expensive SUV in the world. Some of the standard features of the Spyker SSUV include: fulltime four-wheel drive, four doors (suicide configuration), VW’s 6-liter, W12 engine with an output of 500hp, 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds, carbon-ceramic matrix brakes, and all aluminum construction.










Tuesday, July 24, 2007

WHERE HAVE YOU GONE MARVIN HAGLER?


From left: Bernard Hopkins, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Oscar De La Hoya

It was nice to see Marvelous Marvin Hagler in Las Vegas for last weekend’s match between Bernard Hopkins and Winky Wright. (And his Christian name was legally changed to “Marvelous” in a Massachusetts court). But at the same time it was a grim reminder of how far boxing has fallen from notice by the mainstream sports fan in this country since the days when Hagler ruled the roost.

Hagler was a special guest on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights and at one point he was joined by Oscar De La Hoya (aka The Golden Boy) and there could have been no more of a stark contrast of the past and the present than there is between Hagler and De La Hoya. It was like night and day on the stage together.

Think of it this way if you want and then the absurdity hits home. Oscar De La Hoya made more money in his one fight against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. than Marvin Hagler did in his entire hall of fame career - which consisted of 67 fights and 12 successful title defenses.

During his heyday, Hagler said, “I’m a monster. I don’t like my opponent. I only have one thing on my mind, and that’s destruction – to get him the hell out of there. And when the fight is over we shake hands.”

Before moving to the hometown of Rocky Marciano to escape the hell of the Newark, New Jersey riots, Hagler grew up as a loner in the ghetto and once said, “If I had a dollar in my pocket…I kept my mouth shut.”

During Marvin’s time there was a plethora of great fights and great fighters with megafight after megafight. But sadly, boxing has become a sport where a superfight like Mayweather versus De La Hoya or Holyfield versus Tyson only comes along once or twice a decade.

Corporations such as AOL-Time Warner, which owns HBO, and Viacom, which runs Showtime, are the new shot callers. The corporate suits have scrubbed away the grime of the fight game and they are antiseptic and clinical in their approach to promotion and presentation.

So as Hagler relived old times the other night on the television I’m sure a lot of boxing fans felt a certain tingle. Back when Hagler ruled the middleweights with an iron fist he came into the ring to the song “War” and wore trucker hats emblazoned with terms like “Destruct and Destroy”.

The “Marvelous One” routinely locked himself away in the jail-like solitude of his training camp in Provincetown, Massachusetts and sharpened his body and mind to such a fine point that he was like a surgeon’s scalpel on fight night. Hagler slashed Mustafa Hamsho’s face so viciously that he left it a bloody mess with three cuts that required 55 stitches. With Marvin there was never any question of his intentions when he stepped through the ropes, into the squared circle and onto the world stage.

In comparison, Oscar De La Hoya trained for his recent fight with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. at his home in Puerto Rico and nestled in each night with his wife and son at their palatial, oceanfront estate.

De La Hoya should have remembered that it was Hagler who once said, “It’s hard to get up and do roadwork when you’re wearing silk pajamas.”

There were title defenses against “Hands of Stone” Roberto Duran, Tommy “The Hitman” Hearns and “Sugar” Ray Leonard. But there was also great fights against guys like John “The Beast” Mugabi, Vito Antuofermo and Mustafa Hamsho. For Hagler, every fight was a grudge fight and the blood and savagery always made you remember how serious he and this game they call boxing can be.

So it was quite an event to watch him sitting beside the serene and cordial Oscar De La Hoya on the eve of the skirmish called “Coming to Fight” between Hopkins and Wright.

Oscar was once a helluva fighter in his own right but as he has aged he has only fought a few times in the past several years and he is now, at best, a part-time fighter. His “fights” have become glorified events more than anything else. His fencing duel against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. this past May was devoid of drama and urgency. Floyd and Oscar danced around trying not to lose rather than trying to win. In the end, the fight that was going to save boxing, deflated slowly over twelve rounds like a balloon with all the air being slowly drained from it.

Hagler would never have let things do down in such a fashion.

Personalities and stories are what make fights and fighters – and while De La Hoya has a decent life story his personality can best be described as vapid and vacuous. Hagler had a rawness about him and a side to him that was waiting to explode like a powder keg. With Marvelous Marvin Hagler you never knew exactly what you were going to get – you just knew it was going to be interesting and possibly scary.

He was a solitary beast that was content spending long hours in dark gyms searching for the respect and admiration that he always felt never came his way. One Boston columnist who covered Hagler during the glory years said, “I always feel Marvin is on automatic pilot. He gives you ‘Destruct and Destroy’ and ‘I put myself in jail’. But he never tells you anything about himself, something funny or sad in his life.”

Asked to describe Hagler all of those years ago, Hagler’s former attorney said, “There are external people and internal people. Marvin is an internal person. He is able to live within himself. Everything important to him happens right inside his head.”

When ESPN’s Brian Kenny asked De La Hoya the other night if he was going to continue fighting, Oscar’s answer was nothing like any fighter has ever uttered before. “Most importantly, I just have to talk to my wife,” claimed De La Hoya. “Because my wife is the one who knows what I should do. My wife is the one who can tell me; ‘You know what, you still have your legs, your reflexes are O.K. You know, this fighter is good for you.’ “So we’ll have to wait and see.”

It’s hard to imagine Marvin Hagler, who quit school to go to work at age 16 and was an unwed father at about the same time, allowing his wife to select his opponents.

No, Marvelous Marvin Hagler was so ornery that somebody once quipped, “the reason his head is bald is because hair is afraid to grow there.” One of his sparring partners once said Hagler was so mean that, “You hit Marvin and he just gets happier.”

After the draw decision was announced in his fight against Vito Antuofermo (a fight which most thought Hagler deserved the decision) he said he made up his mind then and there about the fight racket and how things were going to go for him in the future. “That fight taught me a lesson,” said Marvin. “You know what they want, man? They only want blood and knockouts. That’s all they want. Either you’re going to be the bad guy or the good guy. And I ain’t never been the good guy.”

No, the good guys of the world are smiling and soft and have names like “The Golden Boy”.

Guys that Marvelous Marvin Hagler used to chew up and spit out.


July 2007

Ferrari F430- Sayang na Ferrari

Eksena nun sunday sa SLEX Southbound...

Ferrari F430 - Tag Price Approx. Php20,000,000.00










courtesy of JJavier email of Hoya







Monday, July 23, 2007

Youtube All Time Favorites

Anyone who has been on the Internet more than a few minutes in their life has probably seen 60 percent of these videos before, but for those who haven’t, those that missed them, or those that just want another good laugh, here they are again.

1. This video, The Evolution of Dance, dito e the guy dance all popular steps from the 80`s to the 90`s dance music,has won 13 YouTube awards (including No. 1 most -viewed of all time and No. 1 most-viewed comedy of all time). YouTube views: 45,536,393

2. Simply called “Guitar”, video is clickable in the left side of my blog, this video posted by user guitar90 has over 17,694,795 views on YouTube and is the No. 1 most-discussed video on the site. Although this piece is composed by Jerry C-a taiwanese composer-this re play if i`m not mistaken by Funtwo-a korean-is more popular than the original..see na lang my links.

3. Another famous video, err… music video, is by a group called OK Go – Here It Goes Again. Most famous for the interesting “treadmill walk,” this video has 14,691,814 views and is the No. 8 most-viewed movie.

4. Our next video is slightly rarer. The “Real Life Simpsons Intro” has 12,777,364 views and is the No. 3 most -viewed comedy video.

5. Another wildly popular clip is mysteriously called “Hahaha” but features one of the funniest laughing babies that I have ever seen, with 12,454,826 views it ranks as the 12th most-viewed video of all time and the fourth most-viewed comedy video. Quite an achievement for someone who can’t even walk…

6. A slightly less popular video (with a mere 5,603,942 views), our next video is something of a work-in-progress. Its author “Nate” took a picture of himself every day from Jan. 11, 2000 to July 31, 2006--- a whopping 2,356 days of pictures. What a feat! It ranks as the second most-viewed movie in the Film and Animation category.

7. Urban Ninja is an extremely popular video of a young man doing what can only be described as “ninja-like” moves: climbing buildings, flipping over cars, high rise walking… it's simply amazing. With 12,367,833 views, it ranks as the No. 13 most-viewed.

8. The next video is a lowly 64th on the most-viewed list, but it was pretty amazing so I had to share it. Called “9 months of gestation in 20 seconds” it details the growth of a pregnant woman’s belly as her child develops. While slightly less popular than our other videos (with only 4,259,277 views) it certainly warrants a mention for creativity and awesomeness.

9. Our ninth pick is an animated short that was actually written for a Masters Thesis Animation and is simply called “Kiwi!" With 7,720,812 views and a No. 1 rank as the most-viewed movie in Film and Animation it certainly ranks among the top YouTube videos of all time.

10. My No. 10 pick was perhaps the most amazing YouTube video that I have ever seen. Called “Where the Hell is Matt” it details the journey of a young man around the world. His “dance tour” of the world takes him from New York to Sydney and back through Africa and Antarctica. Simply amazing… it makes me want to take that kind of trip. An absolute MUST watch! (6,178,015 views and counting)

Well, that’s it for me. Hope you enjoyed this rundown of my top 10 YouTube videos. I am continually amazed at all the new content out there for people to enjoy, and in this new technology age, it’s only going to grow. So get out there and make some movies, start a blog, tell the world your story.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

Police Car Around The World

Toronto,Canada

Vancouver,Canada

Viena,Austria

St. Petersburg,Russia

Sweden

Sydney,Australia


Texas,USA

Saigon,Vietnam

San Juan, Phillipines

San Juan,Philippines-2

Shanghai,China

Spain

London,UK

Madrid,Spain

Mexico

New Zealand

Germany-1

Germany

Italy

Japan

Jerusalem,Israel

Australia-2

Agra,India

Belgium

Buenos Aires,Argentina

English Bavarian