"I don't care whether you're black, white, green, or purple I want my offensive players on this bus and the boys trying out for the defense on that bus."

 Herman Boone from Remember the Titans




Two of the major themes in my blog have been bandwagon jumping (on and off) and intrinsic value. I can't help but take shots at the typical Filipino sports fan and two examples of those are here and here. Now if there is a bright side to that sometimes the Canadians are not too far behind the Filipinos in being so bush league about sports.

I was listening to CBC News how they try to portray that the hockey season is over for Canadians coast to coast because Ottawa the last Canadian NHL team in the playoffs got eliminated.I am sorry to all my Canadian friends who may read this but then you are admitting Hockey is not Canada. You all know that I think sports is a stupid arena in which to define one's national identity. But you know what's even more exponentially stupid is using professional sports to define one's national identity.


For those of you who do not know, professional sports is not about local culture. It's about business. A business that caters to the cities that a league is in and a business that provides TV programming to whatever locale on Earth that will tune into that sport. General Managers of any team will fill up their roster based on logistics like budget, quota, salary cap space, parity rules , need etc. It has nothing to do with nationalism or civic pride. Despite all that,  tradition is somehow produced from that very cold process. Tradition like the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Montreal Canadians, Boston Celtics, Green Bay Packers etc.   


But let's take our example of the myth of the "Canadian" team in the NHL. The Ottawa Senators were Canada's last hope in the playoffs in 2012. How Canadian was Ottawa? Which is the capital of Canada for those of you who don't know.

Their roster was comprised of 6 from Sweden, 7 from the USA, 17 Canadians, a Frenchman , two from Czechoslovakia and finally two Russians.


http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/teams/ott/roster

I then took the roster of a random "American" team that is still playing. The St.Louis Blues. a Swede, 6  Americans, 19 Canadians , 3 from Czechoslovakia and a Russian.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/teams/stl/roster


You may draw your own conclusions from that but mine is, if you can play hockey then you can end up on an NHL playoff team regardless of nationality. Does it matter what city that team is in?

A study based on 2010-2011 NHL said that roughly half the league was Canadian, one fourth of it American and the rest from various places in the European continent. Canada is supposed to be Hockey but 1/4 of their league is compromised of people from a nation  that cares more about football, basketball , baseball and NASCAR than hockey.

So Canada. Explain to me why you are hockey? You provide a slim numerical majority to the best hockey league on the planet. Your national network put out a story defining hockey as over after the first round with your own people on the street  saying it. The playoffs are just getting going.  There are thirty NHL teams and you have less than a third of them.

Actually I was in Canada when the systematic poaching  of Canadian hockey teams began and it made anybody who gave a lick about tradition sick. That was the ultimate bandwagon moment. Taking teams that were part of the community fabric and plunking them in hockey hotbeds like Arizona and Nashville. In case there is a real hockey historian reading this , I know Nashville was an expansion team but it goes to my point that Quebec City and Winnipeg don't deserve big time hockey but Tampa Bay and Nashville do??? Hockey of the National Hockey League variety  kept trying to be something they are not and they paid the price.   

Actually over the years I have met many Canadians who do love their hockey. Guys who could tell you who was on the third line of the Colorado Avalanche. Does not change the fact the majority of people are bandwagon jumpers who do not care about the  intrinsic beauty of a sport that is hockey. All they care about are being on the bandwagon.

For those of you who not familiar with the real Canadian tradition of hockey, a ten minute video can tell you  more about it than a thousand of me. And that I will provide for you here. And if there was a thousand of me, run for your lives!!!!


Ed




http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1142/Pinoys_Only_Dig_The_BBall_

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1246/MVP_NBA_No_Try_KSP_

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/242/Ho_Hum_The_Olympics

http://www.mediafire.com/?lkja9v4ll0oo7ue

http://www.quanthockey.com/nhl/nationality-totals/nhl-players-2010-11-stats.html

http://kcorreia.com/2011/nhl-player-history/

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/165874-nhl-playoffs-a-different-season-a-different-animal

I hope you all reflected with the time you have been given this Easter season. One of the topics I consistently explore in my blog is how internal values affect external actions. The lack of internal values leads to mob mentality. As Kenobi puts it " The Force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded. "





A manifestation of mob mentality is bandwagon jumping. making choices more to fit in with people around you than to align your actions with your personal beliefs. Of course if your beliefs are not really convictions then you will easily be swayed into mob mentality. Anthony Robbins said that you make every decision to get closer to pleasure to avoid pain. If you voluntarily experience pain it's with the belief that you are avoiding a greater pain.


When your values do not have roots, then you allow yourself to morally drift with the crowd. Hence the mob mentality. Hence the bandwagon jumping. Sometimes not wishing to conform to those who easily conform is seen as being stubborn.



Ever since I was a young lad and I started paying attention to the story of the Passion of Jesus Christ it always struck me the contrast between the people's behavior hailing Jesus on Palm Sunday and then come Good Friday they were calling for his head. The video I have provided below.  Please note in the third scene where Pilate gives the people a chance to vote who among Barabas or Jesus will be set free, the intimidation tactics used to manipulate the outcome of a vote does not seemed to have changed in two thousand  years. Once again proving the relevance of the Bible today.  And on a slightly less humble note, I saw the actor that plays Pilate on the plane, twenty years after this movie was made.



In previous blogs I have quoted Tom Cochrane and Red Rider to explain mob mentality:

 ”People do some strange things
When they're all together
They wouldn't even dream of
By themselves” .

Just  like there is strength in numbers. Mob mentality also proves there is weakness in numbers.



I have no problem admitting you that I am a very flawed human being. One thing about watching and reading the story of Christ this Lenten season once again reinforced to me that the Church as we know it was built on flawed human beings. I told you last month that last year I was introduced to the School of the Word. Where we study scripture and apply it to our thinking, experience and our lives. One thing I will not forget Fr.Gerson say was that the Bible is not naive.

The Bible accounts for human flaws. Otherwise it would be impossible to have redemption stories. It's all there. Whether it's Moses or David or others. Trials and difficulties abound in the Bible. And wouldn't you know it , we all go through trials and difficulties.



Peter was all vim and vigor about Jesus when times were good. He denied Christ when the going got tough even when he was warned that he would . Peter himself jumped on the bandwagon when it was convenient. But Peter ultimately rebounded for his moment of weakness to be the Rock he was predicted to be. The Apostles scattered like roaches when you turn on the light at the time of Jesus' arrest. But they overcame that weakness and sustained the courage to build the Church. People of weak or no faith will be quick to point out the current weaknesses of humans in the Church and ignore any good they have done. If you will dwell on the bad, try to see the good.



All through out the story of Jesus. There are elements that want to subvert what Jesus stood for and his message and his following for their own purpose. What hit me while watching Jesus of Nazareth is that the story happens with the backdrop of the land being occupied by the Roman Empire. As in any occupation that requires military means to perpetuate it, there are always dynamics in play in everyday life. This affects the Gospel. If Jesus did not stick to his guns, the fundamentals of his teachings then they would have been subverted. For the record his teachings were love, faith, obedience , humility, caring for one another. It's all there in the book. Remember that when people of today speak in his name or claim to be his followers and want to subvert you . What values do you see in their actions?

Warning the following are examples that hit me as mob mentality. Sorry if you disagree but read my explanations before you violently react to me. It would not be mob mentality if only  very few bought into it. I had to pick examples that were conspicuous. If the example bothers you I will listen to a well said rebuttal. My previous observations of people jumping on bandwagons:

Noynoy Aquino. His meteoric rise to the highest elected office in the land is proof of bandwagon jumping and mob mentality. He has no internal values that lead to concrete deeds. Like I said a while back pre election, he is wallpaper. He is just there.

You could not convince me in a million years that the people who jumped on the Noynoy bandwagon valued integrity, leadership and action. Noynoy was not any of those things yet he won the election. They valued ephemeral family ties and counterfeit patriotism. People jumping on the Noynoy bandwagon for me was the ultimate mob mentality. Supporters glossed over leadership and tangible evidence of crisis management. Look at Noynoy's campaign. All he did was anchor himself to the past. His parents' past. Not even his own. The color yellow, the 'L" sign, his dead mother's picture over his shoulder. Things he had nothing to do with.  And our nation rewarded him for that. Electing as your ultimate leader one who does not fit the traditional framework of  a leader is not exactly the Filipino's shining hour .

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1114/You_Mean_We_Have_To_Elect_A_Leader_


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1118/Noynoy_By_The_Book_Again

Efren Penaflorida - pinoys jump on his bandwagon not because they value what he does but they value the attention he gets. So they pretend they value his mission of education.

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1017/Hypocrisy_of_the_Recognition_and_Admiration_of_Efren_Penaflorida

Azkals   - nation pins their hopes on people who are not even from this nation to represent this nation.

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1263/ESPNs_Scott_Van_Pelt_Describes_Azkals_Bandwagon_Kind_Of

Pinoy Drug Mules- yeah, true leadership is jumping on the bandwagon of countrymen who go to other countries and break their rules. Instead of using it as a teachable moment for being accountable.

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1231/PNoy_Proposed_Prayer_Vigil_Preposterous_Presumes_Privilege_is_Pseudo_Patriotic_and_Prostitutes_Piety_

Using Death as an excuse to jump on the bandwagon

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/913/Riding_the_Momentum_of_Death

Crab Mentality- question bandwagon jumping and you get accused of being a crab

http://edrlopez.blogspot.com/2011/07/injecting-dose-of-reality-is-not-crab.html

This Easter Sunday I hope you took the time over the break to reinforce your values through thinking and prayer so that you are not easily shoved into a convenient bandwagon. The deeper your values are the less room there will be for you in the bandwagon.

Ed

 




“The reality in the word is what makes it rather interesting and relevant. Otherwise, it is not worth the ire or disgust of Malacañang,” .

Archbishop Oscar Cruz March 17th, 2012



Anyone who remembers anything about high school physics will remember the equation:

work = force x distance

The word “work” as used in physics has a narrower meaning than it does in everyday life.  First, it only refers to physical work, of course, and second, something has to be accomplished.  If you lift up a box of books from the floor and put it on a shelf, you’ve done work, as defined in physics, if the box is too heavy and you tug at it until you’re worn out but it doesn’t move, that doesn’t count as work.   http://galileo.phys.virginia.edu/classes/109N/lectures/momentum.html



In high school John Kavelac started pushing against the wall of the classroom and asked if he was doing work. Well he did do work because that image remained in my head over twenty  years and he was just a substitute teacher at the time. The fact of the matter remains if the country is to go anywhere, it would be to our advantage that the occupant of the highest elected position in the land was very familiar with the concept and even better the execution of work. I said many times before the election that he is all rhetoric with no track record. But his defenders would have none of that.



Noynoy did not work before he was elected and surprise surprise he does not do anything after he is elected. Hence the validity of the term "noynoying" . As far as his supporters were concerned the fact he did nothing was a plus. Good thing I did not have a Glock nearby. The Philippines has a myriad of problems and for many many people the best solution was to pick somebody who never showed you any capacity for problem solving? No wonder we have those problems in the first place.





Anyway in the spirit of public protest came the new phenomena Noynoying. I found the Facebook page  http://www.facebook.com/noynoying    and the creators actually made it last year. I would assume similar to Tebowing which sprouted at the same time. Making a verb out of a noun. Tim Tebow was known for prayer at the end of a game and Noynoy was known for , well you know nothing. Noynoying is defined as looking bored and assuming the laziest pose possible.



Malacanang wants you to believe that is foul. But it has to come from somewhere? You know where it came from? Noynoy himself. An election campaign is an opportunity for one to talk about himself or herself. Noynoy did not do that because we all know there was nothing to talk about. That is exactly what he did pre elections 2010: nothing. Instead we were bombarded with his family members living or dead, seen or unseen. The campaign did it's best to paint Noynoy Aquino as a sympathetic figure, lovable figure, sentimental figure but never made him out to be a working figure.



So he won with those tactics because of the quality or lack thereof of the electorate.  But did you not think there was going to be a cost? Another physics rule is: To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction. In the Bible You Live By the Sword You Die by Sword. The Filipino voted  for  Noynoy based on nothing and are getting nothing and are shocked. Like Capt. Renault in Casablanca who was totally shocked that there was gambling in the casino.





Galatians 6:7

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Noynoy's  campaign was built on the ephemeral not the substantive. So people are then shocked we are getting ephemeral results and not substantive. The beauty of the whole Noynoying campaign is that it hits the spot. Noynoy HQ is authentically annoyed. The truth hurts. They release those lame "look at me I am working" photos right after and claim it was coincidence. Malacanang spin doctors working overtime.  Don't they get it? This was not some randomly generated negative trait. Who do they think they are? Pravda?   Joseph Goebbels ?



Ironically and I truly mean ironically, the best thing Noynoy defenders could have done on the accusation of doing nothing was nothing. You have heard the expression I will not dignify that accusation with a response. Well Noynoy handlers sure dignified all that. These photos were clearly a choreographed manipulated response to being jabbed by Noynoying. In the video clip below Larry Sanders sets out to not dignify a false paternity accusation by just saying nothing. When one exercises restraint instead of some some knee jerk reaction, it requires discipline and projects poise. Discipline and poise come from doing something over and over till you do it well. Unfortunately for Noynoy and his supporters, that saying does not apply to doing nothing over and over.


Ed

http://noynoying.com/ (Thank you for some of the pictures)


   http://edrlopez.blogspot.com/2010/05/acts-of-noynoy.html     
   
http://www.knowledgerush.com/kr/encyclopedia/Pravda/

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/propaganda_in_nazi_germany.htm

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/joseph_goebbels.htm

http://www.facebook.com/noynoying

http://www.pcoo.gov.ph/photos-mar2012/photo1-031512.htm

http://www.ifc.com/shows/the-larry-sanders-show/episodes/season-3/youre-having-my-baby


http://edrlopez.blogspot.com/2010/05/multiply-friends-ignore-this.html


http://edrlopez.blogspot.com/2011/12/noynoy-deal-with-devil.html

http://home.comcast.net/~christinemgraves/fatherknow.html ( No work and pay)

http://galileo.phys.virginia.edu/classes/109N/lectures/momentum.html


http://www.thepoc.net/breaking-news/local/15114-palace-working-aquino-photos-not-damage-control-vs-noynoying-.html




http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/163081/bishop-tells-palace-to-simply-grin-and-bear-%E2%80%98noynoying%E2%80%99

MANILA, Philippines—Stating that the truth hurts, retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz said Saturday Malacañang should not complain but should simply absorb the message of the latest protest gimmick of militants: “noynoying.”

Cruz, a known Aquino critic, said “noynoying”—a newly coined word that plays on the President’s  nickname and is used to describe a passive protest act of just lying down and doing nothing— was a jab at President Benigno Aquino’s supposedly “do nothing” leadership style which, he said, was “not altogether false.”

“The truth is painful. The new word could be annoying but it is not altogether false,” Cruz said in an interview.

“The reality in the word is what makes it rather interesting and relevant. Otherwise, it is not worth the ire or disgust of Malacañang,” he added.

Cruz said “noynoying” was “another novel expression in line with KKK” or the protest term for  “kaibigan, kaklase, at kabarilan (friends, classmates, and fellow gun enthusiasts)” coined by the President’s critics to describe close associates he appointed and retained in power despite controversies surrounding them.

“Instead of becoming angry, Malacañang should instead get the message behind the word and the gesture that goes with it,” Cruz said.

Noynoy Aquino was elected President of the Philippines May 2010. How this was done was by convincing a hoard of people that Noynoy was a leader and a competent decision maker. This hoard has since found work as background cast of the Walking Dead. My many thoughts on the inappropriateness of Noynoy Aquino as any kind of leader let alone President - here.


I have this theory that if you take any of those Chuck Norris jokes and substitute  the name Noynoy Aquino, 95% of the yellow army will totally believe it. In fact read a  bunch of them and see how long it takes before they stop taking you seriously. Some of them are so deluded by the Noy Machine that they will think you are  reading them a draft of his biography. Some of them will get Tupas and Colmenares   and sue Chuck Norris for infringing on the " Noynoy Mystique". There is no funnier person on God's green Earth to juxtapose with Chuck Norris than Noynoy Aquino assuming you lived through his campaign and  you have seen him for what he is which is not much.


By any objective account Noynoy is quite useless. But if you heard the rhetoric of Noynoy and his campaign they make him out to be all things to all people. If the horde of the Yellow Army will believe Noynoy is a man of action, integrity, principles and leadership. Then they will believe anything about him. Including the Chuck Norris jokes.



Ed


 


Noynoy Aquino' tears cure cancer. Too bad he has never cried.

Noynoy Aquino counted to infinity - twice.

Noynoy Aquino does not hunt because the word hunting infers the probability of failure. Noynoy Aquino goes killing.

If you can see Noynoy Aquino, he can see you. If you can't see Noynoy Aquino you may be only seconds away from death.

Noynoy Aquino sold his soul to the devil for his rugged good looks and unparalleled martial arts ability. Shortly after the transaction was finalized, Noynoy roundhouse kicked the devil in the face and took his soul back. The devil, who appreciates irony, couldn't stay mad and admitted he should have seen it coming. They now play poker every second Wednesday of the month.

When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night he checks his closet for Noynoy Aquino.

Noynoy Aquino built a time machine and went back in time to stop the JFK assassination. As Oswald shot, Noynoy Aquino met all three bullets with his bald head,  deflecting them. JFK's head exploded out of sheer amazement.

Noynoy Aquino has already been to Mars; that's why there are no signs of life there.

They once made a Noynoy Aquino toilet paper, but it wouldn't take sh*t from anybody.

A blind man once stepped on Noynoy Aquino' shoe. Noynoy replied, "Don't you know who I am? I'm Noynoy Aquino!" The mere mention of his name cured this man blindness. Sadly the first, last, and only thing this man ever saw, was a fatal roundhouse delivered by Noynoy Aquino.


Noynoy Aquino  went looking for a bar but couldn’t find one. He walked to a vacant lot and sat there. Sure enough within an hour an a half someone constructed a bar around him. He then ordered a shot, drank it, and then burned the place to the ground. Noynoy Aquino yelled over the roar of the flames, “always leave things the way you found em!”


One time while sparring with Wolverine, Noynoy Aquino accidentally lost his left testicle. You might be familiar with it to this very day by its technical term: Jupiter.


Noynoy Aquino is Luke Skywalker’s real father.


Contrary to popular belief, Noynoy Aquino, not the box jellyfish of northern Australia, is the most venomous creature on earth. Within 3 minutes of being bitten, a human being experiences the following symptoms: fever, blurred vision, beard rash, tightness of the jeans, and the feeling of being repeatedly kicked through a car windshield.


Noynoy Aquino does not use spell check. If he happens to misspell a word, Oxford will simply change the actual spelling of it.


Before science was invented it was once believed that autumn occurred when Noynoy Aquino roundhouse kicked every tree in existence.


In the original pilot for Star Trek Next Generation, Noynoy Aquino can be seen powering the USS Enterprise warp drive with his roundhouse kicks.


Noynoy Aquino isn’t lactose intolerant. He just doesn’t put up with lactose’s sh*t.


Noynoy Aquino doesn’t eat. Rather he kicks ass until he’s full.


Scientists in Washington have recently conceded that, if there were a nuclear war, all that would remain are cockroaches and Noynoy Aquino.


Noynoy Aquino once threated to sue Burger King because they refused to make it his way. When asked what “his way” detailed, he replied: “with barbed wire and nails, of course”. He then roundhouse kicked the reporter for even asking.


Noynoy Aquino never “gets laid”, rather: “laid gets Noynoy”.


Playgirl magazine once asked Noynoy Aquino to appear naked in an issue, Noynoy laughed at the opporunity saying “there isn’t enough paper in the world to contain my bearded member”. He then killed the editors simply by unzipping his pants.


Helen Keller’s favorite color is Noynoy Aquino


Noynoy Aquino once walked down the street with a massive erection. There we no survivors.

When Noynoy Aquino was a kid, he gave teacher's grades.

 
Noynoy Aquino is the only person to have never played the game of basketball, but still has more NBA rings than Jordan.
 
Noynoy Aquino once gave mouth to mouth to a flea
 

The ocean was created from the dinosaurs tears when they first saw Noynoy Aquino.
 

Noynoy Aquino dips his hot sauce in eggs.
 

Addition was created simply to keep count of Noynoy Aquino' victims.
 
Noynoy Aquino rolled a 20 on a 6 sided dice.
 

Only diamonds can cut diamonds, the only thing that can cut Noynoy Aquino.... DONT BE STUPID

NOTHING CAN CUT Noynoy Aquino
 

Noynoy Aquino invented the high-five
 

Noynoy Aquino doesn't have hair on his testicles, because hair does not grow on steel.
 

Noynoy Aquino is the only person on the planet that can kick you in the back of the face.
 

Noynoy Aquino could win America's Got Talent simply by walking on the stage.
 

Noynoy Aquino doesn't pop his collar, his shirts just get erections when they touch his body.
 
Noynoy Aquino can build a snowman out of rain.
 

Noynoy Aquino once had a heart attack; his heart lost.
 

The only thing that gets between Noynoy Aquino and justice is an equal sign.
 

Brett Favre can throw a football over 50 yards. Noynoy Aquino can throw Brett Favre even

further.
 
Noynoy Aquino doesn't use pickup lines, he simply says, "Now."
 

Noynoy Aquino once pulled a building out of a burning building.
 
Noynoy Aquino cannot predict the future; the future just better f***ing do what Noynoy Aquino says.
 

Noynoy Aquino can kill two stones with one bird.
 

In his will, Noynoy Aquino has specified that if he dies, he will bury himself.
 

When asked what type of vehicle he drives, Noynoy Aquino responded slyly with "Don't you mean what kind of vehicle drives me?"
 
  
Noynoy Aquino always has sex on the first date. Always.
 

Crop circles are Noynoy Aquino' way of telling the world that sometimes corn needs to lie the f*ck down.
 

    

Noynoy Aquino watched Paranormal Activity alone.
 
 
Noynoy Aquino has three meals a day; blood, sweat, and tears.
 
 

Noynoy Aquino can strangle you with a cordless phone.
 

Noynoy Aquino can EAT water..
 
Noynoy Aquino can "Enter Outside"

  


She blinded me with silence. Yes , it's a play on a Thomas Dolby song that was a big hit when I was in Grade 10.  For those of you who clicked expecting to read about an old flame giving  me the silent treatment, this is not the column for it. This weekend did something many of you hoped would happen a long time ago. It shut me up. I knew that going in. I did not know why it was necessary but I had faith it was going to be a good thing.




I even joked that the one good thing about being silent is it was much easier to keep up the illusion that I was not a complete idiot. You know the expression , better to be silent and let people think you are an idiot than to open your mouth and leave them no doubt.




There is a saying that Silence is Golden. Well for one weekend and for one person I can say that this weekend and this place was Golden. You can read my blog and realize the many different places my attention goes to. This weekend was the most focused I have been on my faith in a while. Which giving my scatter brain M.O. May not be saying much but it's better than my usual mindset.





Last night we voluntarily turned our cell phones in. The next thing you know they might ask for my firearms too. The root of me being here was reluctantly accepting an invitation to "bible study" . Not that I don't have faith or have anything against it. You just have this inert apprehension that you may not fit in or care to fit in. Couple that with a full time job plus part time school for me then you start to really get protective of your free time.  Well this was back in August I think. And I have been a regular member of The School Of The Word.





If you are cynical of spirituality, Catholicism or organized religion but are still reading, there is grace in that. Anyone can be cynical about organized religion but one thing you can never argue is the pure niceness of the people that things like this tend to attract. Maybe the meanies are still in here but they have their nice face on.  If one is supposed to lead by example then I would like to think the people here put forth very good example in terms of respect , listening and sharing. That is not even counting the values that so called atheists ignore.





The fear of not fitting in , is normal. The thing is , in our group we have all ages. Somebody in grade school, somebody in high school, somebody recently started working, wives, mothers , single people and the group works.  I learn from all of them.




Learning is only possible if one surrenders due to ignorance. The proud seldom learn. By voluntarily partaking in this exercise at some point all of us want to hear something , learn something. I liked what someone said last night (Luigi) of wanting to be a sponge. Just so happens one of the themes of the talk was water. If water is good for you then you need something like a sponge to get it. Not a stone . A stone that is full of pride with a tough exterior. Not wanting anything to make an impact on it. Wanting to do the impact itself. Leave it's mark on others and not designed to be impacted on.  Just because it's silent , does not mean there is nothing to hear. It is silent here precisely because we should not miss what we could hear.

This school and this weekend could not be possible if it wasn't for passion. If not for passion the group would not spread the way it has, and I would never have been invited to go. If it wasn't for passion, I would not be attracted enough to come back a second time or a third time. As Rod Stewart sang back when he was not a complete sell out "everybody I know needs some passion. Some people are scared of passion. Some people die and kill for passion. No one admits they need passion" .



There were a lot of feelings and insight one can get from going into a place like this and with people as good  and as caring as these people are. After all no one cares how much you know until they know how much you care. But just know that writing this is not meant to contain or summarize whatever I went through here. It is up to you, to say Yes to something similar one day. As Bobby Knight once said you have to get in position to get into position. This weekend was not just this weekend a result of lot of things I have said yes to in the past. It is about faith.


The exercise of the silent retreat did in fact keep me quiet for a little while . But I found that I have slightly more defined Voice because of it.

Ed

http://www.calvaryabbey.com/id95.html (importance of silence)



verbum dei

"It'd be better for me if you don't understand

let me out"

- The Tragically Hip "Locked In The Trunk Of A Car"



I thought of this story today from the mid 80s. My brother, my cousin and who knows who else drove from our grandmother's house  to my cousin's house. What was unusual in that story is where I rode. I can't remember if they talked me into it or what but I spent that trip in the trunk of a white Benz. All I remember from that incident was telling them not to get hit in the back. Which if you think about it was stupid. That is usually out of the control of the driver. Not many ever accuse me of thinking. The smart thing would have been to avoid riding in that spot.

Years later maybe there was some divine reason for that incident of stupidity. My statement obviously hinted at the fear of being in a small enclosed place then getting sandwiched. The thing is I had a choice to be in the trunk of that car. Oh yeah, today is Pro Life Sunday. A cause that I have been weighed in on before. Every single one of us has been in that vulnerable position before. Locked in the trunk of our mother's womb. Vulnerable to any  impact on that belly. Vulnerable  to the diet and habits of our mother. Twenty years ago I saw a pregnant woman smoke pot. 

Something growing in the womb is vulnerable. With no defense. And the people who believe that that defenseless life should be snuffed out call their cause pro choice. The little baby has no choice. That afternoon many years ago I was fearful of getting crushed by a high speed vehicle. The little babies that end up getting snuffed face instruments like this.     All in the name of pro choice.

 

"There is nothing in our society that destroys more human life than abortion—nothing at all, no crime, no disease, no natural disaster, no war." The mother's womb used to be inviolable. It is ironic that, today, under the guise of freedom of choice, the most vicious attack on human life is happening right inside the sanctity of a mother's womb. It is there that human life is most vulnerable and exposed to danger. If we are to stand for life, we cannot but stand against abortion that destroys it." Fr. Frank Pavone

It's Pro Life Sunday. I am proud to be on that side of the equation. If you are at all interested in my other essays on the topic, just click here. Just remember, we were all once locked in the trunk of a car.

Ed






http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/tag/abortion


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/833/Bothered_By_Baby_Dismemberment_Case

 

 
 

It took me four  days to write this scenario. Just remember humor at some point has to resemble reality to an extent or else the connection won't work. Thank you all for reading. This should be my last blog post for the year.

Ed 

One morning early  Sept   2009, Noynoy was convinced by relatives and other power mongers that he should run for President of the Philippines.

Noynoy later on that day paused Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 and was suddenly confused. What would he say during the  campaign? Don't these things have qualifications? Would he have to think  and other burning questions.

Out of the blue came a puff of smoke and Beelzebub himself appears grinning from ear to ear. "You Noynoy Aquino , I can make you President of the Philippines!" . "Really??!!??" replied Noynoy. " I could not even win a class election in Ateneo and you expect me to win an election for a whole country?". " I can make it happen!" says the Devil.

Noynoy: " Physically, the only thing I have going for me is my height. But in a campaign poster , height does not play so well. And if it's true that my advisers want me to embrace yellow then I will look like Big Bird. Even Mr. Hooper won't vote for me. What do I do?"

Devil: " Easy, my son. In every campaign poster always have pictures of your mother over your shoulder or have your picture taken with your sister who is on 47 % of the billboards currently erect in this country. Your looks will not be an issue. So it's not about you anymore, it's about them. "

Noynoy : "I am assuming at some point I am going to have to talk. What do I say? I can't think of one thing I have done that would sound good to voters on why I should be president".

Devil: " I thought of that. Track record, shmack record. You don't need one! The country is currently mourning your mother, you just extend that mourning into the campaign and the election is no longer about you but your mother. No competency, experience, leadership or integrity required. Forget things like issues, just talk about your parents. Bring up some maternal advice your mom may have told you and use that in your answer. It's something I like to call the Scooter strategy. Ever watch the Muppet Show? Scooter always got his way because he would always work into the conversation that his uncle owns the theater that hosted the Muppets. If it worked for him it can work for you. Never let a question go answered without bringing up Noynoy and Cory. It won't be about you anymore, it will be about them. Stick to that and the average Filipino will save their thoughts on track record for the next Olympic year. Also if any of your opponents brings up track record, just bring up their position in the polls. I will make sure they will not have a leg to stand on. Your family friends own the poll companies and the media therefore I own the polling companies and the media companies. Have no fear. You will go unchallenged.

Noynoy: " Any other tips? "

Devil : " Well , always make an 'L' sign with your hand. I will hypnotize the voters so they don't associate the 'L' with 'loser'. Never mind that your dad was part of the 'Laban' and you are not. Nor did you ever fight for that cause. I will make everything all right. Besides, if you think about it, the 'L' sign acknowledges me. That will be proof of your devotion to me and that will be our little secret. "

Noynoy: "Ahhhh 'L' as in Lucifer , gets ko na. Let me get this straight sir. You claim that I can be the President of the Philippines, without talking about any significant deeds or any iota of leadership skills? All I have to do it include my dead parents in my campaign posters and quote them in answers? Then the presidency is mine?? I can give you my soul since I don't use it but there has to be more than that. You say I can be the president of a country of 80 million people. What else will you get from me?"

Devil: " Usually depending on the gravity of the task, besides one's soul I usually ask for varying combinations of "virility, hair, testosterone and brains" but I took all that from you a long time ago so I won't even bother with your soul. In fact you can even have this soul I claimed a while back  from someone who wanted nigh unlimited exposure, attention and inappropriate men. It used to belong to your sister Kris. "

Today in Yahoo Sports they did a story about Tim Tebow being anonymous in Makati. I have lived here for the 14 years of my life  last 12. Add to that my two years spent abroad on covert missions and I am almost thirty. If you believe that I got a MENSA membership I'd like to sell Noynoy.


For the record Tim Tebow has at least four people that converse about him on a regular basis here in Makati. There is @quitolopez life long Makati resident. There is my former comrade in the stock exchange Alan and my uncle Jeri who took me to my very first football game I saw in person. Ever since Tebow got the starting job in Denver , his name is the first thing out of Tito/ Uncle Jeri's lips when he sees me in our Makati office Monday morning. Over here the NFL Sunday afternoon games are just finishing when the work week  starts at 8:30 Monday morning. Five people  if you count my girlfriend @crissyname who does not live in Makati but visits me here. Tip for all you women out there who want to know your guys: follow who they follow on Twitter and you will always have something to talk about.

The Yahoo article talk about how there is no talk where Tebow was about born. Au contraire mon frere. I wrote this about him three years ago while living in Makati. I also wrote this about him almost being aborted in Makati Med. The Yahoo article talks about how he is unknown here. Of course. In case you are unaware of the Filipino culture I sum up what is known here in this article. They can not appreciate Tebow because they are too busy admiring phonies, blowhards and people who cater to ignorance instead of people trying to eradicate it.

First of all , you can not call this place a moral one despite laws that are only in place in paper. Like I said in a Tweet two weeks ago:


Herman Cain's candidacy is being hurt by all these women coming out. Don't you find it weird in the Philippines that the same thing just enhanced the popularity of Erap in 98 and 2010. What does it say about us?    

Dec 1, '11 7:00 AM http://twitter.com/edrlopez
 
As an electorate that campaigners cater to and an audience that advertisers look for we reward the Kris Aquinos, Richard Gomezes, Erap Estradas etc. None who are role models. They flaunt their vanity and tackiness for all to see and we oblige by giving them an audience. Kris Aquino goes from married man to married man, picks up STDs along the way and still gets multiple billboards and even a magazine devoted to herself. Erap Estrada gets convicted by a court of law of a crime that is punishable by death and this country rewards him by almost electing him president again. This country loves Erap Estrada, you expect them to love Tim Tebow? Tebow despite going to school for for years   in a college filled with gorgeous girls that would do anything for him is still a virgin. Joseph Estrada on the other hand has fathered enough kids to fill up the upper deck of Invesco Field. This country won't love Tim Tebow.  Noynoy Aquino does nothing in life for fifty years and our country rewards him  by making him president. You expect that audience to relate to Tim Tebow? Tim Tebow epitomizes hard work and proving yourself and shutting up the doubters. I doubt that audience enthralled by Noynoy can even spell Tim Tebow.

For Filipinos to latch on to Tim Tebow they have to somehow relate to what he does. Manny Pacquaio is relatable because even a two year old can comprehend a boxing glove colliding with a human head. Basketball connects so well to the Filipino because all ten men on the court can dribble, pass and shoot. I really doubt a culture that worships Richard Gomez will sit still long enough to comprehend how a quarterback picks up the blitz. I doubt a Filipino who only followed basketball all their life can appreciate an offensive lineman who is never given the ball but whose skills are still crucial to the team's goals.


     "The Azkals are a national team. The Galaxy are just one team from a country where soccer is at best the 5th most important team sport. The Galaxy are also on vacation after winning their championship and they still housed the Azkals. Good thing they can be marketed as good looking because they sure are not great. "

Dec 4, '11 5:33 PM  http://twitter.com/edrlopez


Please don't tell me pinoys love soccer because of the whole Azkals thing. Very few people in this country cared about the last World Cup. All these bandwagon fans honestly believe that the Azkals are Filipino and are good. Well they are neither.

There is one chink in my theory though. If I know anything about the culture is that they love attention. They live and die by Miss Universe results because for some reason they feel it is attached to their self worth. If the Yahoo Sports article is the first of many that bring attention to this place watch out. There will be Tebow experts everywhere. Jeepney Drivers like this one:





Will now have imitation Tebow Bronco jerseys not imitation Kobe Lakers jerseys . Nah, they will just say "FOOTBALL!!! BAKIT!!! HINDI NAMAN BILOG YUNG BOLA!". (Why is it football when it's not even round?)





Ed

References:

http://www.thepostgame.com/features/201112/tebow-was-here-superstar-unknown-city-his-birth


 http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/500/National_Champion_Tebow_Could_Have_Been_Aborted_in_Makati_



http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/822/The_Most_Famous_Circumciser_in_Our_Country



http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1263/ESPNs_Scott_Van_Pelt_Describes_Azkals_Bandwagon_Kind_Of

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1017/Hypocrisy_of_the_Recognition_and_Admiration_of_Efren_Penaflorida

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/399/Sometimes_You_Cant_Defend_The_Philippines



http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1142/Pinoys_Only_Dig_The_BBall_

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/294/Who_Thinks_Basketball_Rules_The_U.S.

http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1143/They_Forgot_the_Philippines


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/1246/MVP_NBA_No_Try_KSP_


http://cornholiogogs.multiply.com/journal/item/943/What_part_of_beyond_reasonable_doubt_do_you_not_understand_Erap_related