2007 Yonex-Sunrise Philippines National Open Badminton Championships

It's finally here! Now on its fourth year, the 2007 Yonex-Sunrise Philippines National Open Badminton Championships will be staged from October 20-28, 2007 at the Yonex Philippines Badminton Club on Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City. As of now, there is still no news on the featured events, but I will be updating as soon as I get more info. It is one of the most awaited local badminton tournaments of the year since it features an "Open" category showcasing the best of the local talents.

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Sorry guys, haven't posted in a while. Been absolutely busy with work. I barely have time to eat and sleep when I get home, and then I'm off to work again. Shucks. I hope to post a more meaningful entry soon! Taa taa...

Erap found guilty of plunder

While on my way to the office today, I heard the verdict. Former President Joseph Estrada was acquitted of the perjury charges against him, but was found guilty of plunder. His two other co-accused, Senator Jinggoy Estrada and Atty. Edward Serapio (who happens to be a former teacher of mine) was acquitted of the plunder charges.

In my opinion, the case is far from over. Should Erap decide to file a Motion for Reconsideration or appeal the case, I foresee that the case will drag on for several more years.

For Senator Jinggoy, life goes on. He may feel unfortunate that his father was found guilty, but he still has his career and his family to go back to.

For Atty. Serapio, however, the case is still far from over. Yes, he can go back home to his family who I'm sure will welcome him with open arms. But I'm not sure the legal profession will look at him kindly, having been dragged into the Erap controversy. With no legal career to fall back on, it's as good as finding him likewise guilty of the plunder charge. And with 6 years of his life spent behind bars, I do not foresee any company welcoming him with open arms. For him, convincing the public of his innocence is just about to start.

Think again before reaching for that bag of popcorn

A fondness for microwave buttered popcorn may have led a 53-year-old Colorado man to develop a serious lung condition that until now has been found only in people working in popcorn plants.

Apparently, all fingers point to diacetyl, the ingredient that puts that buttery taste in microwave popcorns, as the probable culprit.

On the other hand, producers of microwave popcorn said their products were safe.

Studies show that "Heated diacetyl becomes a vapor and, when inhaled over a long period of time, seems to lead the small airways in the lungs to become swollen and scarred. Sufferers can breathe in deeply, but they have difficulty exhaling. The severe form of the disease is called bronchiolitis obliterans or “popcorn workers’ lung,” which can be fatal."

Of course, this study is not conclusive at this point.

Dr. Cecile Rose, director of the occupational disease clinical programs at National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, said that she first saw the Colorado man in February after another doctor could not figure out what was causing his distress. A furniture salesman, the man was becoming increasingly short of breath. He had never smoked and was overweight. His illness had been diagnosed as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, an inflammation of the lungs usually caused by chronic exposure to bacteria, mold or dust. Farmers and bird enthusiasts are frequent sufferers.

But nothing in the Colorado man’s history suggested that he was breathing in excessive amounts of mold or bird droppings, Dr. Rose said. She has consulted to flavorings manufacturers for years about “popcorn workers’ lung,” and said that something about the man’s tests appeared similar to those of the workers.

“I said to him, ‘This is a very weird question, but bear with me. But are you around a lot of popcorn?’ ” Dr. Rose asked. “His jaw dropped and he said, ‘How could you possibly know that about me? I am Mr. Popcorn. I love popcorn.’ ”

The man told Dr. Rose that he had eaten microwave popcorn at least twice a day for more than 10 years.

“When he broke open the bags, after the steam came out, he would often inhale the fragrance because he liked it so much,” Dr. Rose said. “That’s heated diacetyl, which we know from the workers’ studies is the highest risk.”

“This is not a definitive causal link, but it raises a lot of questions and supports the recommendation that more work needs to be done,” Dr. Rose said.

I guess the man overdid it a bit by eating popcorn at least twice a day for 10 years. Moi? I still love my bag of popcorn especially when watching a good movie. Heck, we only live once right???!

Note: You can read the rest of the story here.

My Current Obsession

Just to clarify, I don't own a Nikon D80.....YET. Not enough moolah anyway. You see, I have more important things to spend my money on like food, food and more food...heeheehee.

Looking at the photos posted by these fellow bloggers Abaniko, Eric, Kyels, Rey and Sidney convinced me that DSLR is the only way to go. Please Santa, I've been good this year. What can I do to afford one? Let me count the ways:

1. I can buy tickets to the lotto and hope to win the jackpot. Wow! I can buy not only one DSLR camera but a whole truckload of them!!! Problem is, the chances are 1 in 10,000,000 or some similar digit before I can win the jackpot. I'll have more chances of being hit by a lightning than winning the lotto! Arrghh!

2. Try to join the next Philippine Idol and hope to convince everyone that I'm a deserving winner. Problem is, I can't sing even if my life depended on it. Do-re-mi, do-re-mi... I can still give this a try though, not everyone who joins these kinds of contests are excellent singers...remember Sanjaya Malakar??? Nuff said.

3. Maybe I can enter into a government contract to supply millions of equipments to some far-flung barangay??? Problem is, I don't have anything to offer 'cept my legal services and that's not for sale.

4. Maybe I can join a photo contest where the prize is a DSLR camera. Problem with this plan is that those who win these contests are those who already have a DSLR camera which they used to take the winning photograph! It's the chicken-and-egg cycle once more.

5. Buy tickets to the Oprah show and pray that the episode I get to watch is one where Oprah gives away the latest gadgets and hope that it includes a DSLR camera. But I guess there are many loopholes in this plan. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get to Oprah's show??? And what are the chances I get to watch the episode where she gives away stuff?? Boy, I would love to have been part of the audience when she gave each one a car.

As you can see, I'm running out of ideas. Can you help me formulate a plan??? Hahaha...all in the spirit of fun ha, nothing serious or illegal, ok?