Gymnastics vs. UFC...

As one is prone to do on a lazy Sunday afternoon, I was partaking in my usual travels in cyberspace and came across images of both gymnasts in action and fighters of the Ultimate Fighting Championship or as it is known, UFC. I was wondering why gymnastics was not more popular than UFC. Maybe it is, I do not know based on any empirical research.My opinion is completely anecdotal, of course, and is based on the fact that I am more likely to pay for a pay-per-view telecast of a UFC card than I am for a gymnastics competition...

Then again, the pictures tell a thousand words, so I will let them tell the story...

Manohara Odelia Pinot -- Part XVII -- The Prince to Make A Film

The Manohara saga just keeps getting more saga-y with each passing day. I know that I am having fun following the to and fro between the young Indonesia starlet in-the-making and victim of domestic abuse, Manohara, and her estranged husband, the Prince of Kelantan State, Tengku Fakhry. I am guessing that Unspun is also enjoying it. Unspun has been covering the whole story a little longer than I have.

However, Unspun does have the excellent idea of a soap opera shootout with the best soapy being crowned the crowd favourite, where Unspun and yours truly act as the judges. I am up for that. As 'Big' John McCarthy would say in the UFC, "let's get it on!"

As most of my loyal readers are aware, Manohara has kicked over her entry into the soap opera realm with her self-titled, Manohara. I have not watched it as it is not available in my neck of the woods. Although there are a few of us who are thinking about lobbying our local multicultural broadcaster to pick it up. However, some of the people I have alked to that watched it said it was only average viewing as Indonesian soap operas go. And, that Manohara did not have all that many lines. So, it is probably a good thing she is not getting paid by the word or the number of lines she speaks.

Not to be outdone by his estranged wife, Tengku Fakhry, has decided to tell his side of the story through a movie. It is being billed as his version of the Fakhry and Manohara love story. Yet, in recognition of the fact that the marriage was not all wedded bliss and peace, harmony, and love, the working title of the Prince's film is "The Stormy Love Story of the Prince" or in Malaysian "Kisah Prahara Cinta Pangeran".

The film is to be directed by Malaysian director, Kardi Syaid. Interestingly, the stormy relationship in the film is going to suggest that the love affair went off the rails because of a third party. It would have been better if the third party had been some adulterous stud who swept the young bride off her feet even though she was married to a prince. Unfortunately, the third party seems to be an interfering mother-in-law, who allegedly has enough legal problems of her own that she does not need to be getting involved in those of her daughter.

I have to say, movies with gratuitous violence and kinky sex are always likely to do good business in Indonesia. I am not sure how the over-bearing mother angle will work though. The film is sure to be interesting as the director has already suggested that the reporting of the "facts" in the case have all been one-sided and it is time that people learned the real truth.

I do not know about the rest of you, but I am kind of looking forward to a knock 'em down, drag 'em out bar fight through the small and silver screen mediums. The film is likely to have some authenticity to it as the prince has granted permission for the actual Kelantan State Palace to be used as the location for the shooting of some of the scenes.

I guess that the real issues will have to wait to see the light of day in the inside of a court room. It seems that the most pressing matters for these two former love birds is a grudge match on the screens of out living rooms and movie theatres. Sounds like fun!

Let the battle begin.

People With Kids

I notice people with kids much more frequently now. I do not know whether there is a causal link that can be traced to my own pending fatherhood or not, but I am assuming that there must be. I particularly notice parents of kids whose kid is in the midst of a temper tantrum, crying uncontrollably, or other such incidents of typical kid-like behaviours.

I am generally trying to work out how I am going to respond. I guess this is because I am certain that when the Kid is being well-behaved he will be Mommy's boy and when he is acting up he will be Daddy' boy and I will be the one responsible for disciplining the little fella.

I have had plenty of practice with the nieces and nephews and with other people's kids. So, I am quietly confident that I am going to be able to handle the changed sleep patterns and the general lack of sleep. As Big John McCarthy of UFC fame was known to say, "let's get it on!"