Duality isn’t an uncommon concept, but it’s one I’m struggling with today.  A certain smart dude with an apple advised that, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”  And he’s right.  Laws of physics and all that.  But in the yin and the yang, the black and the white, the positive and the negative, there is so, so much grey.  I think I’m kind of mired in that grey right now, and not really seeing where I should be on things.

On a really personal level, the shit in my head that’s been dredged up from my past regarding Golden Boy has taken its toll.  I really have better things to do with my time than face those memories, the flashbacks, the nightmares that have all been dancing in the limelight as of late.  My shrink would say that it’s part of the process, and I would roll my eyes, knowing that she knows of what she speaks.  Doesn’t mean I have to like it.  However, Golden Boy’s karma appears to have started without me; his health isn’t great, and his marriage is in the tank.  I won’t risk my own karma by reveling in that fact, and honestly, I’m just not good at being mean or cruel.  It’s just not in me to find joy in someone else’s suffering, even someone who not only got away with molesting two young girls, but never took responsibility for it at all in his own life.  Even then, I can’t laugh at his misfortune.  I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

On the same basic line, although much more global and grisly, is the story of Shaniya Nicole Davis.  This absolutely gorgeous little 5 year old was sold into prostitution/sexual slavery by her own mother, who then reported her missing.  Her body was recovered the other day, but every day when I see her picture on WRAL when I read the news, it breaks my heart.  This kid was in kindergarten, had just learned to tie her shoes, was loved by everyone who knew her, had her life ended by the absolute scum of the earth.  Oh, did I mention that her mother is currently pregnant again?  Yeah.  This story just turns my stomach on so many levels.

But the positive to this vile negative is that people like Vienna Teng who work to end this abomination.  She works with a group called the Polaris Project. One of the songs that she performs at each concert was written for this cause; it’s called Harbor, and I’ve included it here.  It’s an amazing song by an amazing woman, who helps to raise awareness that human trafficking really is still alive and well, and it’s right here in our own back yards.

You may be wondering where exactly the “grey” area is for me on this one.  Let me clear: I abhor the idea of slavery in all forms, but most especially that of children.  The grey area for me comes in the form of stress and attachment.  I am one of those weirdos who cannot bear to watch the Humane Society commercials, especially those with Sarah McLachlan.  Someone who is suffering tears me up, and like I said, kids and animals are worse.  I just cannot let myself get sad and upset at every single facet of negativity that hits my radar; I would spend my entire life in despair.  So I try to distance myself a little, and insulated my heart to the extremes.

I had such a great time with Alejandro this weekend.  We went waterfall hunting with my sister, the Scientist, the Professor, and the Artist.  (The Ambassador was blissfully alone for the first time over night, and loved it!)  We got a ton of great pics, and really just had a blast.  We didn’t think about work, family crap, or anything else.  The unseasonably warm November weather, combined with the beautiful fall color that was still surrounding us, all combined to make for a perfect day.

However, I am now back at the office, dealing with deadlines, I have an ear infection brewing, my knee is scolding me for the exertion of that day along with a photo shoot the following day, and Christmas is looming in the distance.  It’s at times like these when slipping into the grey and hiding there for a while seems like a really, really good plan.

Miden, év végén elemzéseket és kiértékeléseket készítenek az elmúlt évről, és ebben az időszakban szokták díjazni a legjobbakat. Az Aranylabda minden kétséget kizárva a legértékesebb egyéni elismerés minden labdarúgó számára. Azonban idén elég egyértelmű a helyzet, minden specialista Lionel Messinek adná ezt a nagy presztízzsel bíró trófeát. Ugyanis az argentin szupersztár káprázatos szezont produkált a Barcelonánál, és minden lehetséges trófeát megnyert.

Ezért a média minden figyelme a 21 éven aluli legjobb játékosnak járó Golden Boy díjra hárul, mivel a verseny itt valamivel szorosabb. Ezt a díjat a Tuttosport olaszországi napilap alapította 2003-ban és eddig a csupa nagyágyuk nyerték el mint például 2004-ben Rooney, 2005-ben Lionel Messi, 2006-ban Cesc Fabregas és 2007-ben Sergio Agüero.

Idén negyven 21 éven aluli játékos vesz részt a trófeáért folytatott harcban, és valamennyien az európai topligákban játszanak. Köztük van az U-20-as világbajnokságon a magyar válogatott kitűnő formában játszó kapitánya, Vladimir Koman is.

Íme a névsor:

Dominic Adiyah (Fredrikstad)
Josmer Volmy Altidore (Hull City)
Holger Badstuber (Bayern)
Gareth Frank Bale (Tottenham)
Mario Barwuah Balotelli (Inter)
Franco Matìas Di Santo (Blackburn)
Giovanni Dos Santos (Tottenham)
Alan Elizbarovic Dzagoev (CSZKA Moszkva)
Fernando Martìn Forestieri (Malaga)
Timo Gebhart (Stuttgart)
Eden Hazard (Lille)
Emiliano Adrian Insùa (Liverpool)
Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina)
Simon Kjaer (Palermo)
Vladimir Koman (Bari)
Bojan Krkic (Barcelona)
Toni Kroos (Bayern)
Federico Macheda (Manchester United)
Marko Marin (Werder)
Thomas Müller (Bayern)
Iker Goni Muniain (Athletic Bilbao)
Tomas Necid (CSZKA Moszkva)
Alberto Paloschi (Parma)
Daniel Munoz Parejo (Getafe)
Javer Matìas Pastore (Palermo)
Alexandre da Silva Pato (Milan)
Pablo Daniel Piatti (Almeria)
Miralem Pjanic (Lion)
Andrea Poli (Sampdoria)
Rodrigo Pereira Possebon (Sporting Braga)
Pereira da Silva Rafael (Manchester United)
Aaron James Ramsey (Arsenal)
Ben Sahar (Espanyol)
Davide Santon (Inter)
Rechel da Silva Junior Sidnei (Benfica)
Daniel Andre Sturridge (Chelsea)
Carlos Alberto Vela (Arsenal)
Theodore James Walcott (Arsenal)
Daniel Nii Tacki Mensah Welbeck (Manchester United)
Franco Zuculini (Hoffenheim)

Szegedi János–Csaba

WARNING: This post contains material that may be disturbing to some readers. It’s raw, it’s brutally honest, and it contains varying amounts of bitterness, anger, pain, and rage. Please read at your own risk.

A few years ago, the vast power of the Internet helped me to reconnect with my childhood best friend, Kim. She and I were best friends from the time she moved in across the street when we were 4 years old. Generally inseparable, it was common for one of us to be at the other’s house for dinner, and every free moment away from school and chores was spent off on some adventure. Mama-San had been brought here from Korea; Papa-San was in the war and fell in love, and built a family here with her. She spoke English passably, but if Kim and I had gotten into some form of mischief, which was not uncommon, she would lapse back into Korean as she yelled at us. I learned Korean this way, and then later could converse with her on a basic elementary school kid’s level. I also learned to eat kim-chi without breathing fire afterwards, how to be more adept with chopsticks than a fork, and how to walk in the little wooden sandals that Kim had in her closet.

I was elated that I was able to find her! She is married, was working as an Assistant District Attorney in Maryland somewhere (can no longer remember exactly which county) and had just had her first child a few months prior. (She has since had a second son as well.) We swapped a few emails, over the course of a few weeks, and then I got one that started, “I don’t know quite how to broach this with you, but feel like I really need to…”

I knew what was coming. I didn’t want to read any further. I wanted to shut down my email, go back to work, anything to not read her next words. But I didn’t. I took a deep breath, and I forced my eyes back to the screen.

She told me that she remembered being at my house with me on several occasions in the evenings, when Golden Boy was babysitting. She recounted details that made me feel like someone was peeling my skin off of my body, as my own worst fears were confirmed. It was one thing to know what he did to me, but I wasn’t positive that the memories I had of him messing with her were accurate. They were. He didn’t take things as far with her as he did with me, and for that, I am profoundly grateful. But he went far enough. The baths he gave, the pain she felt inside from his fingers, how ashamed she felt, the way it affected her later on…they all sounded like a recitation of the same things I’d felt too. She said she needed to hear it from me that she wasn’t crazy; that it really did happen the way her memories told her. What could I say? It was the truth, and I told her that. Her memories were accurate. She had a few more questions for me, which I answered as best I could. We swapped a few more emails, and I haven’t heard from her since. Inasmuch as I understand why she felt like she had to distance herself again, that hurt almost more than the abuse did. The fact that what he did made her feel like she couldn’t be in contact with me anymore, because of the indirect connection to him, just made that rage boil up again.

I don’t know how he made it so she stayed silent. I never asked her. For me, it was partly shame. I was brought up Catholic, and felt like I must have done something to deserve what he’d done to me. Mostly, though, it was because Golden Boy showed me in one move, the power he had and how he’d use it. The one time I ever protested against performing oral sex on him (that was his favorite), he simply went to my father’s workbench downstairs in the basement, dumped a few tools on the floor, and messed around with something he was working on. Then, when my father got home, Golden Boy told him that he’d caught me down there playing with stuff but wasn’t sure what exactly I’d touched. My father went downstairs, saw the mess, and beat the hell out of me. As I limped off sobbing to my room, I turned to see my brother with a smug half-smile on his face. I never said another word, but the hatred inside me grew with each passing day. I was powerless and I knew it. So did he. He went on as usual, teaching me to play strip poker and strip blackjack, a game called “post office” that was basically a hand job that would often lead further. As that powerless feeling increased, so did my rage.

I never hated him quite as much as that day, but I have never and will never forget any detail of it. Not one. To this day, everyone in the family thinks my brother walks on water. I refuse to stoop to the level of informing my sixty-nine year old mother what her precious baby did to two defenseless little girls. It would serve no purpose but to destroy her, and I won’t do that. But there is nothing in this world that will make me forget, and quite frankly, I haven’t been able to find the desire to even attempt to forgive him, either. There’s never been any mention of it, of course, and certainly no admission of guilt, no amends offered. And there never will be. He has always thought himself above the rules, and that he can do no wrong. Why would this be any different?

I needed to get this out of my head for me. I’ve said on several occasions that I do not censor my words here, because this is my space. I would never expect someone else to edit their words or feelings on my account in their own journal/blog, and so I refuse to do so either. Too many survivors of abuse hide behind veils of shame and guilt that don’t belong to them. They curtail activities (I have never played poker again, and have only played blackjack once since that time), they hold their silence like a shield, and still the rage and the grief at what was stolen from them still erodes their souls. This has got to stop. We need to teach our children that they can tell us anything. We need to teach them that we will protect them from predators. And we need to raise our children to know that predatory behaviors are never, under any circumstances, acceptable. Violence on a child is an aberration and it is long past time for it to end.

As for me, I have learned how to be a civilized adult when Golden Boy is around. I was pissed at him all over again this year for being an asshole to his wife for months after our father died, but when she talked to me about it, I told her that she has my support. I did avoid him this weekend, mostly for my own kids. They need a little more time to process things and to learn how to wear the mask of casual calm. But their exposure to him, while it has never been unsupervised, will now be curtailed as much as they want it to be. I may occasionally need to force myself to be around him, but I will not force them.

Christmas should be very, very interesting.

Basketspelaren Shaquille “Shaq” O´Neal har tydligen ett eget tv-program som går ut på att han utmanar kända idrottsmän i deras egna sporter. Se videon nedan när Oscar De La Hoyamöter Shaq i en boxningsmatch.

“..Meet Golden. He’s gorgeous, charming, and very serious about his work. A jazz musician by day, by night he’s an exclusive escort for glamorous modern women, paid in expensive dinners and fabulous clothes to service their every desire…”

Mr Gregory Foat is from The Isle Of Wight.

He is very very sorry for any public embarrassment he may have caused..

He honestly knows no better.

He promises it won’t happen again.

]]> http://theyellowkid.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/un-boulot-different-par-semaine-pendant-un-an/ Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:10:11 +0000 The Yellow Kid http://theyellowkid.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/un-boulot-different-par-semaine-pendant-un-an/

Si vous connaissez l’excellent manga “Golden Boy“, l’idée de Dan Seddiqui, étudiant californien, ne va pas vous sembler très originale. Jeune diplômé d’économie qui s’est retrouvé en galère absolue une fois ses études finies à cause de son prêt (oui, aux Etats-Unis on emprunte quasi systématiquement pour pouvoir se payer une scolarité en fac), Dan a décidé de sillonner tout le pays et de changer de job chaque semaine pendant un an. Histoire de se forger une solide expérience, de prouver que même en période de crise on peut trouver un emploi, et bien évidemment d’écrire ensuite un livre sur son aventure professionnelle.

Au final, après 50 jobs en autant de semaines, Dan aura pêché le homard, marié des couples à Las Vegas, dirigé des orchestres ou servi des cocktails dans un bar de Louisiane. Et décidé que finalement, il allait être diététicien. C’était bien la peine de faire une fac d’éco et de se taper 50 boulots différents pour comprendre que l’obésité aux States, c’est une branche dans laquelle on peut gagner de l’argent.

All of a sudden, there have been several wrestler columns popping up all over the internet.  Specifically speaking, on RRONews.com, you can find columns from Greg Anthony, Max Corbin, Downtown Bruno and even Eric Wayne.  Not to mention, you get columns every now and again from Brian Thompson and whoever else decides to send one in.  Sometimes, Brian Tramel at Rasslin Riot will post anything that will stir a little trouble.  Well, I’m here to tell you that not everything that’s posted is worth reading.

Let me start by saying this – my time is more valuable than anything else.  If I’m going to sit and read something, it better be good and it better be interesting.  If nothing else, it needs to be interesting.  I want to come away with knowing something that I didn’t know before.  I want to see a vision that I didn’t see before.  I want someone to enlighten me on an opinion that I may not have thought of before.  And if I DID think of it before, I’ll be glad that they reminded me.  So, some stories are good… some are bad… and some people I just can’t stand to read what they write.

The difference in what I do and what they do is simple:  I do not write a column.

I log activities and stories that I think you will all be interested in.  Typically, I like to tell stories about experiences that I have had within this business we call wrestling.  Sometimes, life gets in the way and I discuss experiences outside of the squared circle.  Honestly, I’ve had some of the greatest feedback from you all, the readers, on those experience.  So, those of you who think I’m a columnist – it’s not accurate.  I blog.  I tell stories.  I give you experiences.  I don’t need to write a column once per week.  I do this because I enjoy sharing with my fans, friends, family… and whoever else decides to read.

I won’t go into big detail about each new column, I’ll just give you a few footnotes.  I don’t want you to think I’m bashing, because I’m not.  I’m simply giving my opinion on what I like to read and what I do not like to read.  Most of the guys blogging are friends of mine.  Some are very close friends.  Some of them… quite frankly, I wouldn’t miss if they were abducted.  So, let’s get to the roster, shall we?

Max Corbin: Very good friend of mine.  But I do not find his column very interesting at all.  Seems a little more silly than anything else.  I scan through the content, now… but usually don’t find anything that will grab my attention long enough to actually READ.  Sorry, bro.  Just stating the facts.

Brian Thompson: I give this guy a lot of flack but hey – that’s just what I do.  I find a lot of what he writes pretty interesting.  He has a very smart opinion sometimes, but he’s certainly a butt-kisser on certain topics.  I like Thompson, so I usually enjoy his writing.  Especially, when I’m the subject of his conversation (j/k!)

Eric Wayne: One word – RRROOOOO!  I’m sure the kid has some stories to tell… but I won’t read them.  The only thing worse than reading an Eric Wayne column is watching one of his matches.

Sal Corrente: Can’t stand to look at these.  I’m glad they’ve actually started to slow down on RRO because it actually takes up good space that Tramel could be talking about something interesting.  Hate this column and always have.

Downtown Bruno: What some of you may not know (Bruno may not either!) is that I helped with the original type-set for Bruno’s book several years back.  I remember reading the stories of Bruno and Sid on the road.  How Sid would almost kill Bruno on a weekly basis.  Good stuff.  I just wish he’d blog a little about that instead of NEW.  That’s all that seems to come from Bruno in his blog – NEW.  I know Bruno has some great stories… I wanna read them!

Greg Anthony: By far my favorite column on RRO.  BY FAR.  Yesterday’s column entitled “Broaden Your Horizons” is very good.  Not too long, not too in-depth… just a good look at the fact that there’s something and someone for everyone out there.  Greg continues to write stuff that I enjoy reading.  I’ve always appreciated his in-ring work.  However, I’ve always been disappointed in his dedication on his outside of the ring preperation.  Let’s be honest – when I needed help inside the ring, I called this man.  Now, I’m reading his column everytime he posts.

I hope you enjoyed this.  Hit the links throughout the blog and post your comments on their columns.  I’d like to hear what you think.  Also, take a look at the picture from Saturday night!  Thanks, Christy!

Natividad Gonzalez Paras, gobernador de NL 2003-2009

Good riddance to bad rubbish.
En mi muy personal libro de Historia y recuerdos pasara a la posteridad como un gobernador que a la mitad de su sexenio perdió pisada y dejo de escuchar a la ciudadania. Será el gobernador con el incomodo hermano y el Despacho Divino, con los carros del metro sin aire acondicionado (¡estupidez!), con sus pachangas de Foros, Sta Lucia y Torre Administrativa innecesaria, con los viejitos de Ucrem golpeados, con el ecocidio de Valle de Reyes y Tunel del Cerro de la Silla. Será el gobernador que dejo a los narcos ser amos y señores en mi estado y que sostuvo a un Aldo Fasci (que con toda la pena por estar enfermo) que dijo cosas como: “Si escuchan balazos, tírense al piso” , “Y esto no son huevos al gusto”.

Ahora seguimos con su Delfín, Rodrigo Medina hasta el 2015.

¿Alguna vez veremos a un gobernador, alcalde, senador o diputado pisar la carcel si le encuentran detallitos de desvíos?

1. Jets – I love trash talkers. I don’t think they’re the best team in the league, but I love it when NFL guys are obnoxious. No Fun League indeed. Keep me interested and entertained is all I ask.

Ravens – What’s to say? Stop calling him Ray Ray. That’s what I have to say. Seriously? Grown men, professional journalist, radio hosts that claim to have some sort of integrity and dignity calling another man Ray Ray? The same man they called murderer and liar years back? Sport writers/talkers have always been ridiculous, but this just crosses a line.

Giants – Theys has defense. I hate Brandon Jacobs for all the years I owned him in fantasy (especially last years stunt where he didn’t even dress though he was stated as probable or questionable.) but you can’t argue with fact. Actually, that’s the premise of what I do here. Jacobs is lame.

Falcons- Matty Ice isn’t as good as people say he is, but that doesn’t mean he’s awful. Be on the lookout though, that Michael Turner guy is going to fall apart, and Norwood won’t be around to back him up they way they want.

Saints – WHO NEEDS DEFENSE? Not the saints, that’s who. Have you heard this a billion times before? Yup. Do I ever have fresh and interesting perspectives for you? nope. Guys, Drew Brees is four feet tall, but he’s a leader of men. He just gets those guys going.

Colts – This is another team set up for a big fall, but somehow they keep winning. I don’t trust ‘em. Peyton looses one offensive lineman and the whole season blows up.

Vikings – This is going to be the best team in the league for about nine weeks until they blow the $#(* up. Yes, all the way the #(*&% up. Don’t worry, Tavaris Jackson is there to save you.

49ers – I WANT WINNERS! I WANT PEOPLE THAT WANNA WIN! (why write when it’s been written for you.

Broncos – Bring back the neckbeard. (Can you tell I’m already tired of writing these?)

Steelers – I wish Mike Tomlin was my uncle or something. He’s not as cool as my dad, but he’s a pretty cool guy. The way he chews that gum! Dreamy. Big problem though. That o-line is terrible. If Tom Brady was back there this team would go 8-8. Thankfully #7Ben R. (spellcheck doesn’t have a suggestion) is back there instead of that Brady guy.

Bengals- If this team had a good QB they’d be unstoppable. I’m not joking. They’re going to be good. Really really good. For the first time EVER Marvin Lewis has a defense to work with. Hard for a defensive coach to win when all the money is on a terrible offense, the owner brings in knuckleheads, and truth be told you’re really not as good a coach as you thought you were four years ago.

Patriots – Tom Brady sucks. Okay, that’s factually incorrect. Tom Brady is not the best QB ever. Better. But even if he was; his knee went the wrong way. All the way the wrong way. You don’t just hop back from that. This team still has no defense, and lost it’s best player for a spell. And you really trust “fragile freddy.” Once again. We’re grown men and call this guy out like we’re in middle school.

Bears- Greatest QB in bears  history? uh no. Not even close. He’s really not that good. He had a great head coach, great receivers, the best o-line system ever, the second best o-line in the league behind the Patriots. I mean, sheesh.

Texans- I drafted Matt Schaub. I’m not talking about this team anymore.

Packers- I’m surprised you’re still reading this. Like I actually watched all these games, let alone broke them all down. I’m not doing film study on Packers-Bengals. Boooooring. I’ll say this. . . about that. I’m all over the Bengals. I picked them to hit the playoffs this year. So this loss, it happens. It’s week two.

Bills- What a terrible fan base of thugs and hoolagins. Burning nunbers in lawns. Stealing more jewelry from a house than my estate is worth. Being in a cold city. That’s the worst crime. I’ve spent plenty of time in buffalo (about a total of four days). SCREW THAT! GET OUT! GET OUT! You can move somewhere warmer!

Chargers – L.T. is gawn and that sproles guy isn’ t big enough. He’s awesome, bu t not as a feature back. Who’s his backup. The longer L.T. is out the sooner we’ll find out what his name is.

Cowboys- If Tony Romo was {insert you know exactly what here} we’d me massacring him today. Seriously. Talk about overrated guy who hasn’t reached potential. Inaccuracy (not as bad as my boy JR) chokes in the big moment, looks like a goofball. He does stupid stuff.

Eagles – No donvan, I’m not excited. Let’s not forget before {DOG KILLER} comes back that he was IN JAIL for two years. He’s not good. He’s fat and out of shape. He needs to work himself back in. Look for him and K Kolb to light the @#$ out of the Cheifs.  That team sucks.

Raiders – This team sucks. Jamarcus would be better if he had a better team arond him or if he had a decent coach, but daaaaaamn. 35%. Even I can’t defend that. Maybe it was higher or lower, I hate looking up stats. Still, not good.

Seahawks  – SENECA WALLACE! OH YEAH BOI! Like you didn’t see this coming? Especially when Timmy said “I need my brother to get hurt cause I’m playing against him in fantasy this week.” Seriously, bra. You just don’t ever say that.

Cardinals – Kurt Warner can only last so long, right? Right?

Redskins – Worst 1-1 team easily. My boy Jason Campbell needs a receiver in a serious way. What happened to Clinton Portis? OH THAT’S RIGHT! He’s on my fantasy team.

Panthers – Jake Delhomme is better, but that Run defense. Oh man. I want to support this team. I live here, I’m a fan. But Hera help up. My goodness.

Dolphins- You just don’t loose if you run the ball this well.

Buccaneers – This team is terrible, the only reasn they aren’t lower is because I’m too lazy to highlight and drag it down. They are baaaaad. I hope morris can keep his job long enough to try and turn it around. Good luck though.

Lions – MEGATRON

Chiefs – MEGA. . wait no. This team is awful. Where is your savior now? His leg hurts? yeah, you’ll have that. Yeah, he did great for me in fantasy last year, but we all knew it was fluky.

Titans – This is one of the best tackling teams in the NFL. THE BEST. Problem is they can’t get to players to tackle them. Receivers run straight past ‘em. Hard to tackle a guy you can’t touch.

Jaguars – Team is unholy. Bad bad bad bad bad. BAD BAD BAD BAD BAD. Bad bad. 2-14? Yeah.

Browns – It’s the %@(*&% Mangenius. Is that how it’s spelled? Mangenius? How smart do you have to be to get crushed all year long? Pretty durn smart.

32. Rams – See what I said about the jags? Yeah, just duplicate it here. Stephen Jackson is great, but for how long? Like he isn’t going to get hurt?

Trevor Donovan

Even though the writing on the show is dismal, there are definitely some big pluses to CW’s Teen prime time soap opera 90210.  Newcomer,  Trevor Donovan, is one of them. Entering  as the golden boy, tennis star, Teddy Montgomery, Donovan sizzles up the TV screen with leading man qualities reminding us of a younger Brad Pitt.

Trevor Donovan

The blond former Abercrombie Fitch model and Days of Our Lives star may be 90210’s only savior for a show already riddled with writing that is even below what guilty pleasure soap genre should be at….hopefully the audience can just turn off the sound and watch the eye candy.  The new flavor is Trevor Donovan

Trevor Donovan on set of 90210

Trevor Donovan

Trevor Donovan

Trevor Donovan

Trevor Donovan

 ... for Kalsang!   Senior dog placed with a senior owner.  She found us at the Animal House pet expo last weekend and fell in love with Kalsang (Tibetan meaning “good fortune”).  She had about given up on ever having a dog again as she wanted an older one.  What she’d found so far were either too young (read that “hyper”) or gone before she could get there. 

Prior to the home check, she made dog cookies and bought a crate.  Said if she didn’t get him, she’d donate the crate to rescue.  Sharp lady … 73 and still does her own house/yard work, scoops snow, and plays clarinet in a senior band twice a week.  We had an apsolutely delightful visit for the homecheck.  House was immaculate (hmmm, wonder if she’d like a part-time job).  When I commented on how clean her house was, she replied, “Too damn clean, it’s a dead house … needs a dog to give it some life.” 

We discount our adoption fees for the senior dogs … she, however, added $75 to the fee stating “use it for whatever is needed”  What a gem!

From a raggedy little dog lost  …

Belajar dari pertemuan pertama, kali ini Chris John optimistis bisa menang, apalagi dia sudah mempersiapkan diri dengan baik selama enam pekan berada di Summit Gym, yang terletak di tepi Danau Big Bear, Los Angeles, California, AS.

Golden Boy Promotion yang berada di belakang kubu Chris John merancang pertarungan ulang yang akan berlangsung di MGM Grand Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, AS, pada akhir pekan ini. Jadilah Chris John punya kesempatan untuk menuntaskan kepenasaran dirinya serta para pencinta tinju di negeri ini.

“Persiapan saya yang lebih dari enam minggu menunjukkan bahwa saya serius menghadapi laga ini. Semoga periode panjang adaptasi bisa mendukung penampilan saya nanti,” ungkap Chris John kepada Bola.

“Saya juga sudah banyak belajar dari pertandingan pertama, terutama bagaimana mengatasi gaya bertarung rapatnya. Kita akan buktikan nanti,” tambah petinju dengan julukan “The Dragon” tersebut.

Memang, Juarez yang memiliki rekor 28-4-1 (20 KO) sangat gemar bermain rapat sehingga bisa melepaskan pukulannya yang sangat keras itu. Karenanya, Chris John harus mewaspadainya jika tak ingin menjadi “santapan” dari petinju tuan rumah tersebut.

Namun, kubu Chris John sudah punya “resep” untuk meredam kebrutalan Juarez. Manajer sekaligus pelatihnya, Craih Christian, mengatakan bahwa dia sudah mempersiapkan strategi jitu sehingga Juarez takkan mudah memasukkan pukulannya.

Yang pasti, Chris John akan belajar dari cara Marco Antonio Barrera, yang dua kali mengalahkan Juarez dengan cara yang sederhana, yaitu cepat berkelit sambil melontarkan pukulan kombinasi cepat ke kepala lawan atau memaksa clinch ketika Juarez merapat. Sebab, jarak rapat membuat Juarez akan sangat berbahaya karena dia terus melepaskan pukulan-pukulan hook yang keras dan mematikan.

Namun di satu sisi, ambisi Juarez juga pasti sangat besar untuk merebut gelar Chris John, yang sudah disandang sejak mengalahkan Oscar Leon pada 2003 di Bali. Selain bertarung di rumah sendiri, peraih medali perak Olimpiade Sydney 2000 ini juga bertekad mengakhiri kutukan tanpa gelarnya.

Ya, Juarez, yang memiliki reputasi bagus selama di amatir, sudah empat kali menantang juara dunia dan semuanya berakhir dengan kegagalan. Jadi, tak heran jika semangat untuk mengalahkan Chris John menjadi berlipat ganda.

“Saya ingin menebus kegagalan di Houston (pertemuan pertama). Kali ini saya akan lebih gencar menyerang. Chris John memang petinju bagus, tetapi saya tidak akan berhenti berusaha untuk mengalahkannya,” ungkap petinju berusia 29 tahun tersebut.

Untuk mewujudkan ambisinya tersebut, Juarez mendapat porsi latihan yang lebih. Pelatihnya, Ronny Shields, juga memberikan menu latihan yang berbeda, setelah mendapat pelajaran dari pertemuan pertama.

Meskipun sempat sempoyongan, Chris John berhasil mempertahankan gelar juara kelas bulu WBA setelah menang angka atas Rocky Juarez. Dalam pertarungan yang berlangsung di MGM Grand Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, Amerika Serikat, Sabtu (19/9) atau Minggu pagi WIB, tiga hakim memberikan angka 114-113 116-116 117-111 untuk “The Dragon”.

Dengan demikian, Chris John untuk ke-12 kalinya mampu mengamankan gelarnya dari ancaman lawan, sejak dia merebutnya dari petinju Kolombia, Oscar Leon, di Bali pada 2003. Sementara bagi Juarez, kegagalan ini semakin melengkapi “kutukan”-nya sebagai petinju yang tidak pernah juara karena dari lima kali percobaannya, dia selalu gagal.

Sebelumnya, kedua petinju ini juga pernah bertemu pada 28 Februari lalu di Houston, Texas, AS. Namun, duel itu berakhir imbang karena ketiga hakim memberikan poin yang sama, 114-114. Karena itu, Golden Boy Promotion yang berada di belakang kubu Chris John merancang pertarungan ulang ini.

Meskipun tampil dengan minim dukungan karena tempat pertarungan dipadati penonton tuan rumah, Chris John tampak tenang. Dia tampil sangat hati-hati dan berusaha agar Juarez tak bisa melepaskan hook-nya yang keras. Taktik ini cukup berhasil karena meskipun agresif, Juarez tak mampu memasukkan pukulannya dengan telak. Pasalnya, ketika mendekat Chris John langsung melakukan clinch.

Di ronde kedua, Chris John berusaha mendikte lawan. Dia menjaga jarak sehingga bisa melepaskan jab dan straight. Sementara itu, Juarez kesulitan memperoleh jarak pukul yang ideal.

Merasa kesulitan di dua ronde awal, Juarez langsung mengambil inisiatif menyerang ketika bel ronde ketiga berbunyi. Namun, hal tersebut tak membuat Chris John terpengaruh. “The Dragon” tetap konsisten dengan taktik dan strategi bermain jarak jauh sehingga dia justru memperoleh keuntungan karena menjelang akhir ronde ini, Chris John mampu melepaskan hook kanan yang mendarat telak di wajah Juarez.

Seperti pada ronde-ronde sebelumnya, Chris John tetap memanfaatkan keunggulan jangkauan. Jab dan straight-nya kerab menghujam wajah Juarez meskipun lawan yang mendapat dukungan suporter juga bisa melepaskan hook yang cukup telak mendarat di wajahnya.

Pada ronde 10, sebuah jab Juarez ke rahang sempat membuat kepala Chris John goyang, tetapi situasi ini tak terlalu mengkhawatirkan karena Chris John masih bisa mengatasi keadaan. Sebelum Juarez melancarkan serangan lanjutan, Chris John lebih dulu melakukan clinch.

Namun, di dua ronde terakhir, Juarez yang merasa kehilangan banyak angka berusaha bangkit. Agresivitasnya membuat Chris John yang sudah kehabisan stamina sangat kesulitan untuk menghindar. Terpaksa, clinch tetap menjadi satu-satunya senjata ampuh.

Puncaknya terjadi pada ronde ke-12 karena Chris John sempoyongan ketika mendapat sebuah upper-cut dari Juarez. Beruntung, “The Dragon” bisa mengatasi keadaan karena dengan tenaga tersisa dia bertahan sampai bel tanda pertarungan usai berbunyi. Chris John pun selamat dari serangan Juarez, dan dia dinyatakan menang angka dalam duel melelahkan sepanjang 12 ronde tersebut.

Dengan kemenangan ini, Chris John menambah rekor bertarungnya menjadi 45-43-2 (22 KO). Sementara itu, rekor Juarez yang merupakan peraih medali perak Olimpiade Sydney 2000 menjadi 29-5-1 (20 KO). ^kompas.com

Check out the Danny “Swift” Garcia reppin the Philly boxing scene real hard. He’s young, undefeated, and under Golden Boy! Shout out to him for reppin Philly hard and shout out to his cousin KDON and KDON TV.

~Signing Off~
AGE

If my trip to Otakon has taught me anything, it’s that English localizations don’t always suck!

Being the totally awesome self-righteous fanboys/fangirls/weeaboos that we are, many of us tend to disregard English dubs entirely; more often than not, though, this is only rightfully so. Some argue that the English language cannot fully capture some of the nuances and connotations that come packed with the Japanese language, thereby misinterpreting some of the dialogue. The Japanese language, after all, is pretty vague, and certain words and phrases can’t be directly translated into English without sounding a little awkward (ie: “It can’t be helped.” Who the hell says that?).

So in the same vein of whether fansubbers should include honorifics in their subtitles (-chan, -san), here’s a list of some Anime that is comparably good, if not better, than their subbed counterparts.

1) Black Lagoon (pictured above)
A general rule of thumb can be made that any given show featuring Western characters with Western qualities is likely to succeed in dub format. Maybe it’s the smoother inflections in speech or the show’s characterization. Whatever it is, it just works. Case in point, the following video from Black Lagoon: (Skip ahead to about 2 minutes and 45 seconds)

The dub for Black Lagoon is exemplary. There’s just so much more emotion charged into these scenes that it makes the acrimony a lot more palpable. Not that the original voice acting wasn’t great on its own, but these new voices help the characters shed a little bit of their meekness. Go ahead and pull up the subbed version of this scene, and I’m sure you’ll see that it’s no contest. The show is also known for its swearing, which hits the right tone and isn’t childishly played to in excess.

2) Golden Boy
We all know the premise of the original 6-part OVA:

“Kintaro Oe, age 25. After studying law at Tokyo University, he left the school before graduation. Curiously enough, however,  he had already finished all the courses required for his degree. Since that time, he has roamed the land, changing jobs frequently as he studies the world around him. Riding his favorite bike, the Mikazuki 5, he keeps moving forward, always on the lookout for new knowledge and adventure. And who knows? Perhaps some day, he may even save the world.”
-Narrator / Episode 1

Golden Boy is likened to being the ‘American Pie’ of Japanese Anime, except it’s actually funny. It follows the trials of the lewd freeter Kintaro as he takes on a number of part-time jobs while traveling all across Japan in his endless pursuit of knowledge (“Life is study”). While a little on the clumsy side, Kintaro is kind-hearted and considerate, and always leaves his workplace in a better condition than when he started.

The main reason why the show works better in dub format is because the original voice acting is just boring. Kintaro is supposed to come off as a highly quixotic character, something that the original voice actor comes short of. The English voice actor is able to convey someone who’s simultaneously perverted, manly, slovenly and dorky, working with the exaggerated expressions that we love so much. The writing is so off-the-wall and outrageous that it’s bound to squeeze a few guilty chuckles here and there.

3) Baccano!

An Anime with intersecting plots about immortality and gangsters during the Prohibition. As I said before with Black Lagoon, having them speak in English is more suitable because everything just clicks, especially since they even took the liberty of fitting them with New York accents. I personally can’t stand the English voice actors for the robber duo Isaac and Miria, who happen to be two of my favorite characters in any Anime. But other than them, it’s a solid release.

4) The Big O

A cursory glance of the above screenshot and the first thing I thought of was how Roger is the spitting image of Bruce Wayne from those old Batman cartoons.

I think it’s the face structure, or the burly build, or the slicked-back haircut. In any case, The Big O works better in dub because it just doesn’t feel like an Anime series. It incorporates a lot of the grittiness of film noir in a futuristic sci-fi realm, employing the same mechanics of late 90s comic books without all of the stilted delays that come with translations.

5) Romeo X Juliet

So the Anime wasn’t a faithful adaptation of the classical romantic Shakespearean tragedy, what with their flying steeds, technological anachronisms, and Juliet’s role as the masked vigilante. But hey, the writing for the English script is solid, incorporating all of the flowery and ornate prose that comes with something appended to a centuries-old love story.

I’m running out of fuel here.
So can you think of any other shows with a praiseworthy dub?

“Don Letts told me not to give a fuck about the public..”

Wendy James in her “Inside The Wendy House” Hot Press Interview 2007..

Did he now..?

Did he really..?

Hope Don buys lots of copies of your new album Wendy.

The public you don’t give a fuck about sure won’t.

This is Radio Clash.

Wink

See ya

D-R-Y-B-A-B-Y