Resume Writer...

Yup.. That's me.

I now write resume/CV. For a fee.:)

I will set up my website(blog actually) for it once I have my internet connection again.

No Mayweather – Pacquiao? No Worries: Other Exciting Fights We Can Watch And Other Matches That Should Be Canned This Year

Let’s spare ourselves from the disappointment of watching the potential biggest boxing match since Leonard – Hagler transform into a legal fight, with an angry Pacquaio who looks like there’s no stopping him in pursuing a slander case against both the Mayweather camp and Golden Boy Promotion, which is representing Mayweather for this negotiation.

It seems that both Mayweather and Pacquiao are making it difficult to give us the best fight of 2010. As we begin the new year with no sign that the fight will push through, here’s a wish list of other boxing matches we desperately need to see this year.

Paul Williams (38 -1-0) vs Sergio Martinez (44-2-2) II
Though we already know that these guys are competitors who do not hold back in every round, nobody expected their first fight to be that competitive and action-packed. The back and forth battle all throughout the fight, the drama of having to get up from a knockdown to score your own knockdown, and the seemingly controversial decision, the rematch of these boxers is the one fight boxing fans, casual or not, should wait for..

Timothy Bradley (25-0-0) vs Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2)
If the fight with Mayweather falls off, this is one of the two potential Pacquiao fights that we ought to see. Bradley has shown in his last few fights that he has the complete package to be the future face of boxing. Great boxing skills and athleticism, solid chin, and the attitude of a throwback fighter who fights everyone, Bradley presents the best challenge to the reigning P4P best in Pacquaio. Perhaps, it is too early to tell this, but I will say this nonetheless: The match-up could be the most exciting, most explosive fight in the horizon next year. Bar none.

Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2) vs Shane Mosley (46-5-0) / Andre Berto (25-0-0)
Aside from the Bradley fight (I am no longer counting on the Mayweather fight), this is the only fight for Pacquaio that matters. To further cement his legacy in the ATG, and to prove he can rule a division, he needs to fight the winner of this championship match. Berto, like Mayweather, Jr., is a slick, technically-skilled young champion who should give Pacquiao a stylistic nightmare. Mosley, on the other hand, would bring his experience, athleticism, and power to try to out brawl Pacquiao in possibly a FOTY contender.

Yuriorkis Gamboa (16-0-0) vs Juan Manuel Lopez (27-0-0)
Gamboa is one great prospect against a prime and hungry young lion like Lopez; this has the potential to be the next Rafael Marquez – Israel Vasquez trilogy. Both has taken on all the fights they could possibly take, and though there are still some names in their respective divisions they could take, this match-up between two very good boxer-punchers has been the talk of the boxing world for some time now. It has to happen, and it has to happen in 2010.

David Haye (23-1-0) vs Vitali (39-2-0) or Vladimir (53-3-0) Klitschko.
It is about time the talk must be backed up with walk, and if this fight never happens next year, it would be the time for David Haye to just shut his mouth permanently. Let us face it, the heavyweight division right now is all about the Klitscho brothers, and nothing else. It is not about the Arreolas, the Thompsons, the Peters, and especially not about the Ruiz’. So when a fighter goes up to mix in the division, it is because he wants to fight the Klitschos, not someone who was beaten clearly by a weigh-jumping Jones, Jr. eons ago. Next year is the only year for it to happen.

Fights we no longer need to see

Rafael Marquez (38-5-0) vs Israel Vasquez (44-4-0) IV
The trilogy has told us everything we need to know about these two great warriors: heart, skills, power, and determination. No drama and violence can top the three epic, gritty fights Marquez and Vasquez have showed us before. If ever, the talked about plan of a 4th fight could only put their careers and health in jeopardy. The damage they have taken in their last three tussles is enough for them to retire while they are still in good health. They can have an easy payday and fight anyone else, but not each other. They can do these and no one would raise an eyebrow. They deserve it.

Bernard Hopkins (50-5-1) vs Roy Jones, Jr (54-6-0)
Hopefully, the knockout loss of Roy Jones, Jr. to Danny Green at the end of 2009 put an end to this absurd planned rematch. Jones, Jr. should have closed his boxing career in 2005 right after his last knockout loss against Antonio Tarver. Instead, he went on and gathered meaningless victories until he was humiliated for 11 straight rounds by Joe Calzaghe and reminded those of us who forgot that he is no longer a relevant fighter these days. On the other hand, Hopkins, whose his age suggests he should be retiring, is still an elite warrior and should set his eyes against meaningful fights rather than cash in on the skeleton of his tormentor.

Edwin Valero (26-0-0) vs any other bum
The fight with WBC lightweight champ Antonio De Marco (23-1-1) is a good start for the Inca Warrior to prove his power is not just effective against cab drivers and jaywalkers. The world has waited so long for the son of Fischer to showcase his exciting style of play, and any fight with non-contenders and legit bums should be immediately canned off.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (45-0-0) vs Matthew Hatton (37-4-2)
Mayweather, a man whose talent and technical brilliance are comparable to Pernell Whitaker, but whose hunger to pursue challenges seemed to have left him when he went up to the welterweight division, should really be criticized if this fight happens. Fighting against Hatton, whose record still positively masks his lack of talent and skills in the ring, Mayweather’s winning streak has no chance to be broken. Not an ounce I am afraid. There is no way to justify this fight, other than this can give the Pretty Boy an easy payday, which he supposedly did against Juan Manuel Marquez in his last fight.

Article posted on 03.01.2010

Songs Burned With You In Mind

She’s So Young – The Pursuit of Happiness.
The Chemistry Between Us - Suede
The First Picture Of You – The Lotus Eaters
Head Over Heels – Alanis Morrissette
Be Near Me - ABC
Spiral Case – I Love You More Today Than Yesterday
Love Among The Stars – The Cherry Orchard
I Write Summer Song For No Reason - Acid House Kings
You Justify My Life – The Pearlfishers
I’m A Cuckoo – Belle & Sebastian
Stay – The Cat’s Miaow
Something About Us – Daft Punk
Before My Heart Finds Out – Gene Cotton
What Can I Say To Change Your Heart – Tremibling Blue Stars
Walking To You – Everything But The Girl

2007 NBA Draft Night Toughts - Revisited

The NBA season is now nearing its end, and so it's time for me check my prediction for this year's draft.

This is what I wrote:
"Speaking of Oden, don't expect another Shaq in the making. Rather, I see him as a less-emotional, calmer Alonzo Mourning with slightly better offensive potential. I won't rank him in the level of Ewing. Not yet.
Stat prediction for his rookie year: 14-17 pts, 9-10 rbs, 1 ast, 2 blks.

For Durant, I see in him a future Rashard Lewis. Yes, that Lewis he would join (if ever) in Sonics. I just don't see him as that special. Sorry, but I feel he is more of a Rashard Lewis/Glenn Robinson-type of player than a T-Mac/Kobe hybrid.
Stat prediction for his rookie year: 18-20 pts, 6-8 rbs, 2 ast, 1 blks.

For the rest of the draft, well, did I say this is one of the shallow drafts in years? Read my first paragraph.."


Now, the actual.

Oden was injured even before the season started, hence, there was no way we could check this one, but this injury suggests he won't be the next Ewing or Mourning now. Likely, he will be the next Sam Bowie. And that's very unfortunate.

As for Durant, here is the actual stats, with 73 games in the season: 20 pts, 4.1 rebs, 2.2 ast, 0.9 blk. Do I still consider him as the next Lewis instead of McGrady? Sadly, yes.

For the rest of the rookies? Only Durant, Thornton, Navarro, Green, and Horford are in the double-figure scoring, and it seems only Horford, aside from Durant, who showed remarkble toughness among all rookies.

Overall, there are more disappointments than promises for this batch.

Adducul should be on the RP Team

...instead of Rainer Ocampo and Erik Menk.

2007 NBA Draft Night Thoughts

This is one of those shallow drafts that was actually hyped as good only because of the presence of the two most highly-anticipated rookies in Greg Oden and Kevin Durant.

Speaking of Oden, don't expect another Shaq in the making. Rather, I see him as a less-emotional, calmer Alonzo Mourning with slightly better offensive potential. I won't rank him in the level of Ewing. Not yet.
Stat prediction for his rookie year: 14-17 pts, 9-10 rbs, 1 ast, 2 blks.

For Durant, I see in him a future Rashard Lewis. Yes, that Lewis he would join (if ever) in Sonics. I just don't see him as that special. Sorry, but I feel he is more of a Rashard Lewis/Glenn Robinson-type of player than a T-Mac/Kobe hybrid.
Stat prediction for his rookie year: 18-20 pts, 6-8 rbs, 2 ast, 1 blks.

For the rest of the draft, well, did I say this is one of the shallow drafts in years? Read my first paragraph..

Enchanted by The Pearlfishers

(I wrote this in 2005. I know that was eons ago, but this album is a classic one and deserved to be given its just publicity, even in an obscure blog like this. Buy if you can still find it.)

Exactly one week ago, I bought the Pearlfishers’ LP The Young Picnickers. I bought it entirely on the might of one of its singles, We’ll Get By, a magical pop song that I first heard three years ago in the promotional CD A Bag Of Goodies which was burned for me by an indie-pop music loving friend (Louie, take your bow). That song instantly became one of my favorites, and was one of the first songs that I encoded in my archaic cellphone-cum-mp3 player’ playlist and which is still occupying a firm space there up to now.

The album’s title is taken from one of its tracks, a fine, soothing instrumental that can generally illustrate the innocence, optimism, poignancy and sweetness of the whole album. Actually, you can feel that kind of atmosphere right from the start, with the opening song, We’re Gonna Save The Summer. David Scott, the band’s all-purpose leader, for our information, is a self-confessed Beach Boys admirer, and this song will clearly back up that claim with its very 60-sh summer sound and lyrics. When they promised:
We’re gonna save the summer
how many miles would I go for my love?
through the storm, through the storm
will I walk on the paths of her loneliness?
where I don’t belong and where I’ll never be
‘cause all my life I’ve never cared
I’ve been floating in the air
feeling I’m old and young at the same time
but now, you know, I’m not so sure
what’s gone wrong and what’s the cure
how can we chase away all of the dark clouds?
You know there’s no doubt they will.

It is followed by An Ordinary Day Out In The Suburbs, a fine pop song about hope, love and living in a suburb. Third song is the single, We’ll Get By. Now, why did I like this song so much that I have to purchase an unheard LP for it? Here’s a little explanation. A perfect song for me is a combination of a beautiful lyric bathed in a wonderful music. Moz in his Smiths day supplied me with these songs in a regular basis. This one is close to that perfect song. Imagine this lyric in a light, shimmering pop sound:
we can live with the magic
we can live with the magic
been around the world, seen a lot of things
done a lot of thinking ‘bout the way I live my life
and the way I live my life
is my concern
because we’re living in a world of geniuses
telling us what to think
even though we won’t be geniuses
we’ll get by
though we haven’t got a clue
we could always have fun finding out
learning something new about each other every day

But as I found out, this is not the only near-perfect song that I was going to hear from this surprisingly excellent LP. If I thought it would still be the best song in the album when I bought it, then I was wrong. Maybe, I didn’t really know David Scott that much. Because when I heard You Justify My Life, the money I spend in getting this CD was immediately returned to me.
when we met I’d already died
or was living as a zombie
then you came and kissed me alive
I was growing straight and true
and if there’s a God above
then I know you’ll understand
when I say he put me here for you
and making love is the way that we’ve learned
‘bout each other
it’s the way part of you can become part of me
part of living, feeling free
all my past sins you forgave
wanna thank you from the heart
for this wandering soul you’ve saved
you justify my life
and if you’ve got to leave then I’ll understand
but I hope you can just pretend
that you really want to see me one more time
really want to see me one more time
really wanna see you
I’ll come and worship every day
really wanna see you
you’re the light that’s shown me the way
This track is a Prefab Prout-like creation embedded in a happy, wistful indie pop sound. Another song that equals this is Over & Over, this time, a Burt Bacharach-ish ballad that seems to be interpreted both by the Stylistics and Paul Heaton. Listen and be captivated when David Scott croons these lyrics:
but when I’m right
you make me feel as if I’m wrong
and when I’m wrong
I’m the first one to know
But it is when he cries it’s such a waste of time/ your love is just a waste of time that the song’s highlight emerges

The rest of the LP is all top-notch, that I can’t find any which I don’t like. The bubbly Every Day I Read Your Stars can be about you or someone you know who usually read the horoscopes of the people they are interested with. Actually, I know some people who do this, as if their path will be romantically intertwined by the stars. (if I tried I could be someone/ who appeals to you/ so I’ve got to find a way/ to be part of the things that you are/ it’s the only way, it’s the only way/ yes it’s the only way/ scorpio, Capricorn/ every day I read your stars).
The somber, narrative Stella Painted Joy is a five-minute tale of a lost childhood love (Stella fell in love with a man of twenty/moved into his single bed/I was signing on, she was in the suburbs/making toast and giving head/stella where’d you go?/please give me an answer) .

Blue December and Strawberries In The Snow are both wonderfully melancholic love songs, while Once There Was a Man and Battersea Bardot are a showcase of the band’s plain power to create upbeat and highly listenable pop songs.

I rarely do this, praising every song off an album, but this one is an exception. Morrissey’s You Are The Quarry (please read my posted review), Belle & Sebastian’s Dear Catastrophe Waitress (please wait for the posting of the review in the coming months), The Sunday’s Reading, Writing and Arithmetic (same with B&S), and Prefab Sprout’s The Gunman and Other Stories (same with The Sunday), although they were all good albums, there were songs there that I never really liked, or I would rather skip in the set list.

I know most of you haven’t heard of this indie-pop band , but now you have read this review, give yourself a chance. If you are fond of indie-tweenie sounds and some Club 8’s poetry and poppiness, then it will be impossible for you not to embrace this LP. If I were only a high school or college student who have never met Morrissey yet when I heard this, I would have surely collected this band’s every creative whim and tears. But as fate would have it, I was already engaged to His Holiness when I discovered David Scott. Nonetheless, the fact remains: this album, released in 1999, is a collection of flawless pop music compositions that should light up and stir your mood and emotions.

PS:
If you ever decide to look for this scarce LP in the Tower Records but unable to find it there, since I think what I got was the last stock, then I can be generous enough to lend you a free bootleg copy, so you can at least finally relate with this reviewer’s enchantment.

Written 7/16/05