Go Abroad, If You Please

By | October 16, 2016

By Butch G. Galicia

October 10 was Thanksgiving Day. Did you know that it was also World Mental Health Day?

Thanks, but I’ll think about it. On second thought, never mind!

By the way, will a regular slice of roasted turkey help clean and sanitize the brain? Zombies, please reply.

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Mahirap talagang mag-isip! Kaya kung may tanong at hindi alam ang sagot, malamang:

Tanong: “Ano’ng toothpaste ang gamit niya?” Sagot: “Ang masyadong mapili, nauuwi sa bungi.”

Tanong: “Nagmumumog kaya siya tuwing umaga?” Sagot: “Ang malansang isda, nahuhuli sa bunganga.”

Tanong: “Palamura ba siya talaga?” Sagot: “Pu…..na! Isa ka pa.”

Tanong: “May malubhang sakit ba siya?” Sagot: “Mahaba man din daw ang prusisyon, eh ‘di hintayin natin.”

Tanong: “Tatagal kaya siya sa puwesto?” Sagot: “Kahit na anong posisyon, makapasok lang.”

Tanong: “Ano ang tingin mo sa EJK?” Sagot: “Hatinggabi na, naka-sunglasses ka pa.”

Tanong: “Tutuo bang marami siyang naipatumba?” Sagot: “Mag-piko, luksong tinik at patintero ka kaya.”

Tanong: “Bato-bato sa langit, tamaan nga ba’y hindi dapat magalit?” Sagot: “Aanhin mo pa ang damo, kung patay na ang kabayo.”

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Still trying hard to make sense of what comes out of foul-mouthed politicians?

Stop trying hard. Make sense. Use your palms or some cotton balls or a couple of ear plugs.

Don’t even get lost in translation.

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When a politician’s tongue-in-a mouth habitually and repeatedly spits out creepy and weird projectiles that explodes in other’s faces, not only mental health is on the line.

Ergo, if you know what you are in for, keep distance or just be farther. Go abroad, if you please.

Better yet, walk away before you get caught in a misfire and end up as another statistic in the growing number of collateral damage.

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The “so-called” Free World will mark United Nations Day on October 24. Mark a calendar, yes. But celebration and jubilation are doubtful.

With the mess nations and the world are in today, pray tell me just how free and united are the weak and the powerful, the developing and the developed, the left and the right, the East and the West, the North and the South, and everything else in between or at the extreme edges?

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Media reports on Slenderman and “prankster-clowns” have lately hogged the headlines.

BBC News says folklorist Prof Evans describes this as ostension, or the acting-out of urban legends. Benjamin Radford, who wrote a book on clown sightings, says the seemingly widespread occurrence is temporary and may peter out after Halloween, BBC News adds.

Whatever, anyone wearing a creepy mask and acts strangely should always be regarded with suspicion and be dealt with accordingly before anything gets awry.

Happy Halloween!

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Throwback: After an 11-inning wildcard 5-2 walk-off over the Baltimore Orioles, the Toronto Blue Jays flexed its wings to a 10-1 fly-by over the Texas Rangers to clinch Game 1 of the five-game American League Division Series (ALDS), at the Rangers’ turf in Arlington on October 6.

Still at Arlington the next afternoon, the last-batting AL West champion Rangers failed to stage its season-famous come-from-behind act, as the Blue Jays dealt them a 5-3 peck in the neck to grab a commanding two-to-nothing lead and a possible ALDS sweep as the next face-off moves to its nest in Toronto. 

History has repeated itself for the Blue Jays. They replicated last year’s straight triple victory over the Rangers 7-6 on October 9. Like that decisive game against the Orioles, the moment was secured on a walk-off. For the second consecutive year, the Blue Jays hatched their way to the American League Championship Series (ALCS).

Sports has gifted its North American followers a great reason to see another exciting Cleveland-Toronto championship run-in this year. First was the May 2016 National Basketball Association Easter Conference Finals (Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors, 4-2); at late is the mid-October Major League Baseball ALCS (Cleveland Indians vs. Toronto Blue Jays).

Great moments and memories surely reassure every Blue Jays fan, whose hopeful forecast extends to an ALCS cap and a cinch at a World Series.

The accuracy of a pitch, the arc of a baseball, the crack of a bat, the flap of a glove, an imprint on a base, footprints across the field, excitement at the stands, a slide or a tag, etc. etc. etc., will determine who really reigns. 

May history once more be at the side of the Toronto Blue Jays.

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The Toronto Blue Jays and the Cleveland Indians ruled their respective ALDS outings with convincing 3-0 sweeps. The Blue Jays were back-to-back 1992 and 1993 World Series champions. Similarly, the Indians have won two World Series championships, in 1920 and 1948. Are the stakes equal? Of course not, and a team has to win.

Friendly Reminders: ALCS, Game 1, Cleveland Stadium, Oct. 14, 8:08 p.m.; Game 2, Cleveland Stadium, Oct. 15; Game 3, Rogers Centre, Oct. 17; Game 4, Rogers Centre, Oct. 18; Game 5, Rogers Centre, Oct. 19; Game 6, Cleveland Stadium, Oct. 21; and Game 7, Cleveland Stadium, Oct. 22.

Game time is still to be determined for Games 2 to 7. The fifth to seventh games are called off, in case of a 4-0 sweep by any of either team in the seven-game series.

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Hurrah! Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says he is thinking of completely banning smoking in public places, a feat he successfully carried out while still Mayor of Davao City and which still holds in the archipelago’s largest city in terms of land area.

I am a smoker, but I am with President Duterte on this one. Those who wish to go on Emission Tests or Cancer Breaks may as well look for a private area to do their thing.

Just one question: Does the ban cover smoking guns in public places? butchgalicia@yahoo.com