From a public perspective, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has been consistent in its opposition against all forms of gambling. It therefore came as a surprise to many
when, some years ago, a number of bishops admitted to having received funds from the country's biggest gambling lord--PAGCOR.
The bishops explained that what they did was a way of transferring money from the rich to the poor (or something to that effect). Such a rationalization may have helped resolve issues expressed in terms of raised eyebrows, but it is one argument whose clarity and meaning nevertheless remains a mystery to me.
At the height of protests mounted against the Arroyo government over allegations of official malfeasance suggested, first, by the Garci Tapes and, second, by the NBN controversy, the CBCP issued a statement that exhorted the laity to seek the truth. The statement said in part: "... We are convinced that the search for truth in the midst of charges and allegations must be determined and relentless... For this reason, we strongly... Condemn the continuing culture of corruption from the top to the bottom of our social and political ladder...."
I find it difficult for one to condemn something about which he or she still needs to find what is true. That CBCP knew there was corruption but asks the people to seek the truth was, to me, the second mystery.
Lately Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, along with four other bishops, came out in public to slamn the Arroyo government and, with tones that sound seditious, called for a change in the leadership of the national government. Although Lagdameo's blaster does not carry the full weight of a CBCP statement, his being its president certainly makes it hard to ignore.
I certainly would not mourn the death of Arroyo's regime. But to wish it ill at a time when even the political opposition has started positioning its warring key figures to take advantage of early campaigning enroute to the 2010 presidential elections, this one seems totally out of rythm. What did the bishops see in Arroyo's government that the public did not? What fueled this
sudden surge of radicalism? Are people here trying to play the numbers game in Congress? For what--the new impeachment complaint or the reproductive health bill? I suspect it is about the one and not necessarily about the other. I am clueless whichever way. This is the third mystery.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Third Marquez Fight Could Be Pacman's Biggest Paycheck Ever
Bob Arum is right to caution fight fans not to rush with ideas of Manny Pacquiao’s future fights while the Pacman is in the middle of his preparations for the “Dream Match” against Oscar dela Hoya on December 6. There are boxing aficionados who just could not hide the excitement being generated by the Dream Match that some are now suggesting the idea of former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr’s coming out of retirement to face the Pacman next. In 2007, Mayweather outpointed dela Hoya in their “The World Awaits” encounter. The boxing world did not only wait, it bought tickets and pay-per-view access. The fight set all-time pay-per-view records.
The Dream Match also promises to be a hit at the box office. Live gate passes disappeared within hours after they went on sale. If the Dream Match cannot equal the money value of gate receipts generated by The World Awaits, it is only because the latter sold tickets at higher prices.
On the matter of Pacman’s future fights, one may recall that months ago renowned trainer Freddie Roach suggested a Ricky Hatton fight to cap Manny’s boxing career. “After de la Hoya and Hatton, Manny can retire as the greatest fighter of all time,” Roach was quoted as saying. Of course, he said that in the context of Manny’s beating both Oscar and Hatton.
The debate on who’s the world’s greatest boxer of all time is one that is likely to continue provoking fight fans until the end of time. There are those who say it’s Sugar Ray Robinson. Others insist it has got to be Gene Tunney, Archie Moore or Joe Louis. Muhammad Ali says it is none other than him. In the recent ESPN E:60 show that featured Manny Pacquiao, HBO Larry Merchant said that Pacman could be one of the world’s greatest if he does the impossible and goes on to beat Oscar. In an earlier article I posted here, I also said Manny looms as the world’s greatest prize fighter ever. Henry Armstrong and Roberto Duran did leap to weight divisions much higher from where they started as a professional boxer, but I feel that Manny’s rate of success viewed in the context of the over-all quality of ring opposition simply stands out.
On the matter of who Manny should fight next, the public senses the color of money wherever propositions go. But that’s what professional boxing is all about. If the Dream Match can match the money-making machine that was The World Awaits, it would not be hard to figure out how a Pacman-Mayweather fight can generate the same goldmine. A Ricky Hatton fight attracts for the same reason. The guy draws to the fight ring thousands of paying British fans.
I offer another view. Again not to distract Manny from his preparations for the dela Hoya fight, but a third fight against Juan Manuel Marquez could yet become his biggest payday ever. Of course such a prognosis would also depend on how he fares against Oscar on December 6 in Las Vegas.
The key is for Pacman to promote that Marquez 3 fight (as he himself pointed out in earlier statements). Pay Marquez what’s his due and collect his share of live gate and pay-per-view proceeds. This fight will sell to those who bought tickets and pay-per-view access for The Dream Awaits, the Pacman-Marquez fights, the Pacman-Barrera fights, the Pacman-Morales fights and now, for The Dream Match. In short, what a Pacman-Marquez 3 offers in terms of sales and profits can boggle the businessman’s mind.
The Dream Match also promises to be a hit at the box office. Live gate passes disappeared within hours after they went on sale. If the Dream Match cannot equal the money value of gate receipts generated by The World Awaits, it is only because the latter sold tickets at higher prices.
On the matter of Pacman’s future fights, one may recall that months ago renowned trainer Freddie Roach suggested a Ricky Hatton fight to cap Manny’s boxing career. “After de la Hoya and Hatton, Manny can retire as the greatest fighter of all time,” Roach was quoted as saying. Of course, he said that in the context of Manny’s beating both Oscar and Hatton.
The debate on who’s the world’s greatest boxer of all time is one that is likely to continue provoking fight fans until the end of time. There are those who say it’s Sugar Ray Robinson. Others insist it has got to be Gene Tunney, Archie Moore or Joe Louis. Muhammad Ali says it is none other than him. In the recent ESPN E:60 show that featured Manny Pacquiao, HBO Larry Merchant said that Pacman could be one of the world’s greatest if he does the impossible and goes on to beat Oscar. In an earlier article I posted here, I also said Manny looms as the world’s greatest prize fighter ever. Henry Armstrong and Roberto Duran did leap to weight divisions much higher from where they started as a professional boxer, but I feel that Manny’s rate of success viewed in the context of the over-all quality of ring opposition simply stands out.
On the matter of who Manny should fight next, the public senses the color of money wherever propositions go. But that’s what professional boxing is all about. If the Dream Match can match the money-making machine that was The World Awaits, it would not be hard to figure out how a Pacman-Mayweather fight can generate the same goldmine. A Ricky Hatton fight attracts for the same reason. The guy draws to the fight ring thousands of paying British fans.
I offer another view. Again not to distract Manny from his preparations for the dela Hoya fight, but a third fight against Juan Manuel Marquez could yet become his biggest payday ever. Of course such a prognosis would also depend on how he fares against Oscar on December 6 in Las Vegas.
The key is for Pacman to promote that Marquez 3 fight (as he himself pointed out in earlier statements). Pay Marquez what’s his due and collect his share of live gate and pay-per-view proceeds. This fight will sell to those who bought tickets and pay-per-view access for The Dream Awaits, the Pacman-Marquez fights, the Pacman-Barrera fights, the Pacman-Morales fights and now, for The Dream Match. In short, what a Pacman-Marquez 3 offers in terms of sales and profits can boggle the businessman’s mind.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
TV Game Show: Read My Mind 1
© 2008 Hermilando D. Aberia
Despite remarkable progress in information and communication technology, the art of reading someone’s mind continues to amuse, entertain and create communication challenges for people and their fellow rational creatures, particularly those who are part of the communication process itself. Decisions that can change the world, at least figuratively speaking, can be made from fleeting moments in which people read other people’s minds. This TV game show brings out the unlimited wonders of basic non-verbal communication through mind reading.
Layout and Physical Arrangement
This TV game show shall feature two sets of participants/contestants (one set [of 37] shall comprise the “messengers” and another set [of 3] will be composed of “readers”), one or two game show host/hostess, and a TV studio specifically designed for the show. The studio layout shall provide for an elevated platform for 37 participants (similar to the one used in the Philippines’ ABS-CBN “1 vs 100” game show) and opposite to the elevated platform would be a level platform for 3 participants. The elevated platform shall provide for 100 color-coded seats. The 40 seats shall be clustered into 2 (red and white) of 20 each; the red 20 shall be divided into 2 (red-orange and red-yellow) of 10 each; the white 20 shall be divided into 2 (white-blue and white-black) of 10 each.
Each seat shall have access to electronic controls that can be used by participants. The readers shall have electronic write pads in addition to other controls they may need.
A wide screen shall be mounted opposite the elevated platform and just above the level platform. Smaller screens (but still visible to TV viewers) shall be mounted also in front of the desk of each of the 3 readers. These screens shall show for the TV viewers what the readers write on their electronic write pads, including the time he/she it took him/her to make the answer (eg, 1.7 seconds, 3.2 seconds, 4.9 seconds, etc.).
For the TV viewers at home, split screens of 2, 3 or 4 shall be designed/programmed at specific junctures of the game as the show progresses.
Selection of Participants
There shall be a total of 40 participants for every playing date. They shall be selected from texters to a number/s designated by game show producers. There shall be an extra cost for the text, and proceeds from the SMS shall form part of the game show’s operating funds. Obviously, those who send more texts shall have more chances of being selected as game participants.
Show Format
1 Theme Show of the Day
The show begins with the host/hostess welcoming the 40 participants/contestants into the show. The host/hostess shall ask the 40 participants (seated) to choose in 5 seconds 3 themes from a wide range of possible themes (flashed on the wide screen) the themes for the day. The themes (can be changed every playing date) may include: sports, documentaries, cartoons, news, talk shows, game shows, films (horror), films (comedy), films (action), films (romance), comedy/shows, soap opera, drama series, etc. It is important for the show to maintain a library of at least three to five film/video clips for each theme; which can be accessed by permission or for a fee from cable TV channels and websites like the YouTube.
The 3 themes that garnered the most number of votes from the 40 participants become the film/video themes for the day.
The 40 participants shall be divided into 37 “mind messengers” and 3 “mind readers.” There shall be two key parts of the show: first is the selection of messengers and readers portion (10 percent of the show); second, the mind-reading portion (90 percent of the show), where readers will read the minds of messengers.
2 Selection of Mind Readers
To select the 3 mind readers, a two-step screening process shall be applied. The first process shall make use of the “theme video” of the show for the day. The video shall have two parts. Each part shall run for 15 seconds.
The first part shall show spectators/audience/crowd, groups of people or animals, or individuals. The host/hostess shall ask the 40 participants to guess among two choices what the spectators are watching. The participants shall have 5 seconds to pick their answers. The second part of the video will show what the spectators are watching and shall provide the correct answer.
Those who made the right guess earn 1 point and shall qualify to participate in the second stage of the screening process.
The second screening shall show 4 slides on the screen. The host/hostess shall ask the participants who qualified to the second stage to choose what should appear on the fifth slide. Three choices shall be flashed on the screen for the participating contestants. The first 3 participants who made the correct answer shall earn another 1 point each and shall constitute the group of mind readers.
Getting through the second screening will require logic and/or verbal and non-verbal reasoning abilities.
Example 1: First slide—1 tree; Second slide—3 trees; Third slide—5 trees; Fourth slide—7 trees. The fifth slide (and the correct answer) should be 9 trees.
Example 2: First slide—picture of Abraham Lincoln; Second slide—picture of John F. Kennedy; Third slide—picture of Richard Nixon; Fourth slide—picture of Ronald Reagan. The choices are 1—picture of Barrack Obama; 2—picture of Bill Clinton; and 3—picture of Arnold Swarzzeneger. The correct answer would be 2 (picture of Bill Clinton).
The purpose of the second screening is to ensure that the mind readers are “smart” enough and having the potential to bring life and wit into the show. In this respect, it is important for the host/hostess to interact with the readers (and even with the messengers) whenever this is called for or suggested. In general, ad libs and out-of-the script repartees are suggested as fillers or tools with which to manage the time available for the show.
Once the 3 readers are selected they take their respective seats on the level platform opposite the elevated gallery for the other 97 participants (already seated). The host/hostess shall be situated in front of the elevated platform and alongside the level platform where the mind readers shall be seated.
Despite remarkable progress in information and communication technology, the art of reading someone’s mind continues to amuse, entertain and create communication challenges for people and their fellow rational creatures, particularly those who are part of the communication process itself. Decisions that can change the world, at least figuratively speaking, can be made from fleeting moments in which people read other people’s minds. This TV game show brings out the unlimited wonders of basic non-verbal communication through mind reading.
Layout and Physical Arrangement
This TV game show shall feature two sets of participants/contestants (one set [of 37] shall comprise the “messengers” and another set [of 3] will be composed of “readers”), one or two game show host/hostess, and a TV studio specifically designed for the show. The studio layout shall provide for an elevated platform for 37 participants (similar to the one used in the Philippines’ ABS-CBN “1 vs 100” game show) and opposite to the elevated platform would be a level platform for 3 participants. The elevated platform shall provide for 100 color-coded seats. The 40 seats shall be clustered into 2 (red and white) of 20 each; the red 20 shall be divided into 2 (red-orange and red-yellow) of 10 each; the white 20 shall be divided into 2 (white-blue and white-black) of 10 each.
Each seat shall have access to electronic controls that can be used by participants. The readers shall have electronic write pads in addition to other controls they may need.
A wide screen shall be mounted opposite the elevated platform and just above the level platform. Smaller screens (but still visible to TV viewers) shall be mounted also in front of the desk of each of the 3 readers. These screens shall show for the TV viewers what the readers write on their electronic write pads, including the time he/she it took him/her to make the answer (eg, 1.7 seconds, 3.2 seconds, 4.9 seconds, etc.).
For the TV viewers at home, split screens of 2, 3 or 4 shall be designed/programmed at specific junctures of the game as the show progresses.
Selection of Participants
There shall be a total of 40 participants for every playing date. They shall be selected from texters to a number/s designated by game show producers. There shall be an extra cost for the text, and proceeds from the SMS shall form part of the game show’s operating funds. Obviously, those who send more texts shall have more chances of being selected as game participants.
Show Format
1 Theme Show of the Day
The show begins with the host/hostess welcoming the 40 participants/contestants into the show. The host/hostess shall ask the 40 participants (seated) to choose in 5 seconds 3 themes from a wide range of possible themes (flashed on the wide screen) the themes for the day. The themes (can be changed every playing date) may include: sports, documentaries, cartoons, news, talk shows, game shows, films (horror), films (comedy), films (action), films (romance), comedy/shows, soap opera, drama series, etc. It is important for the show to maintain a library of at least three to five film/video clips for each theme; which can be accessed by permission or for a fee from cable TV channels and websites like the YouTube.
The 3 themes that garnered the most number of votes from the 40 participants become the film/video themes for the day.
The 40 participants shall be divided into 37 “mind messengers” and 3 “mind readers.” There shall be two key parts of the show: first is the selection of messengers and readers portion (10 percent of the show); second, the mind-reading portion (90 percent of the show), where readers will read the minds of messengers.
2 Selection of Mind Readers
To select the 3 mind readers, a two-step screening process shall be applied. The first process shall make use of the “theme video” of the show for the day. The video shall have two parts. Each part shall run for 15 seconds.
The first part shall show spectators/audience/crowd, groups of people or animals, or individuals. The host/hostess shall ask the 40 participants to guess among two choices what the spectators are watching. The participants shall have 5 seconds to pick their answers. The second part of the video will show what the spectators are watching and shall provide the correct answer.
Those who made the right guess earn 1 point and shall qualify to participate in the second stage of the screening process.
The second screening shall show 4 slides on the screen. The host/hostess shall ask the participants who qualified to the second stage to choose what should appear on the fifth slide. Three choices shall be flashed on the screen for the participating contestants. The first 3 participants who made the correct answer shall earn another 1 point each and shall constitute the group of mind readers.
Getting through the second screening will require logic and/or verbal and non-verbal reasoning abilities.
Example 1: First slide—1 tree; Second slide—3 trees; Third slide—5 trees; Fourth slide—7 trees. The fifth slide (and the correct answer) should be 9 trees.
Example 2: First slide—picture of Abraham Lincoln; Second slide—picture of John F. Kennedy; Third slide—picture of Richard Nixon; Fourth slide—picture of Ronald Reagan. The choices are 1—picture of Barrack Obama; 2—picture of Bill Clinton; and 3—picture of Arnold Swarzzeneger. The correct answer would be 2 (picture of Bill Clinton).
The purpose of the second screening is to ensure that the mind readers are “smart” enough and having the potential to bring life and wit into the show. In this respect, it is important for the host/hostess to interact with the readers (and even with the messengers) whenever this is called for or suggested. In general, ad libs and out-of-the script repartees are suggested as fillers or tools with which to manage the time available for the show.
Once the 3 readers are selected they take their respective seats on the level platform opposite the elevated gallery for the other 97 participants (already seated). The host/hostess shall be situated in front of the elevated platform and alongside the level platform where the mind readers shall be seated.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.png)
Posts
