Dropping by...

 ...real quick for this awesomeness here.

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by PAM

Coming from a 10-day work coast-to-coast, and coming back to State College last Sunday afternoon, hitting the ground running, I am submerged in chest-deep work, I am completely exhausted!  It's almost 9:00 pm of Tuesday here in PA, and I am sleepy, hungry, and can't wait to get off the hook from work.  

I am taking a short break as I work on this post, and what else could make me regain energy... and interest but these seven souls: BTS!  This time though, they are joined by kindred spirits, Chris Martin and the rest of Coldplay, recording "My Universe" in South Korea.

"We are made of each other, baby!  You, you are my universe..."

The song is "about how the power of love transcends all things...," and it's absolutely beautiful!  There is only one thing that is more beautiful that the song itself, and that's seeing BTS and Coldplay put together this masterpiece while they have fun.  I love how Chris Martin (CM) summed up what he saw, "It's been very cool to see each character and meet each personality and see how everyone's very individual but they still work as a group."  And it is nice to hear him say wonderful things about each member's performance while they record the song.  The unmistakable admiration and high regard for each other's artistry resulted in a beautiful song that is bound to be a classic... and I love what CM said, "I think it's very special to me that the most popular artist in the world speaks Korean and is like a group of brothers not from the West. And it just feels very hopeful to me in terms of thinking of the world as one family.  Then, of course, when you see who they are as people and their songs, it's really a message of togetherness and finding, being yourself.  All that stuff I agree with."

I couldn't agree with CM more... and I do love these seven souls from soulful S. Korea!  It's also extremely cute that CM wears a jacket that says "BTS Crew" at the back while Jungkook wears a hoodie that says "Coldplay" on the right sleeve while they all sing the chorus together.  With that, let's be energized by another show of perfectionism that defines these boys that the universe gravitates to these days.  

"Our fans will enjoy it... fighting!"

And, yes, indeed, FIGHTING! Back to work.

***

Video credit:  Thanks, BangtanTV, and YouTube, for the video links.

'Royally mental'...

...and it's awesome!

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by PAM

"It's okay to suffer as long as you talk about it - it's not a weakness."

Prince Harry hosts a BBQ for @heads_together with sports stars to talk mental health. Here's what they had to say...https://t.co/nQhrLKwI4t

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) July 25, 2016

It's really good that someone of 'royal stature' like Prince Harry (and even the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) are not afraid to speak about about mental health, and how their own mental health is also vulnerable to being compromised by untoward experiences - like all of us.  It is excellent that, with Prince Harry's 'princely crusade on mental health, there is now greater awareness and interest in it because this is one aspect of human health that is often neglected, and even ignored altogether. And this is odd because, in many cases, crippling physical pains can be manifestations of poor mental health.

These days, we have students who were star students in High School, and they go through College showing less than stellar performance.  And, it makes me wonder all the time why this is.  You ask them about it, and they just give you a shrug of disinterest... or avoid the question altogether.  They suffer silently... and their performance in the University is

On his mother's death, H said, "you know, I really regret
not ever talking about it."

compromised, when they should be having the time of their lives, transitioning from kids with big dreams to responsible and capable adults - well-shaped by their education.  They shy away from talking about their ordeals, allowing these to gnaw at their minds, and their mental health suffers... their insecurities taking up a great space in their minds, and the little part that's free from insecurities are used in figuring out ways to dodge situations that would expose their insecurities.  Their whole mental energy is exhausted by this fruitless cycle.  With their mental health compromised, they fail to progress in their studies... and their insecurities grow even bigger and more crippling.  In the end, their personalities are altered - for the worst, and their future, adversely affected.  The failure just keeps mounting, one on top of another.

Sometimes though, I ask myself, was that their failure... or ours?

It's great that Prince Harry lends his royal star power to shed light on this issue... encourage young and old people alike to come out of their shell and speak up, speak out... talk about their issues, and unload their minds from their troubles.  Free their minds from the weight of fear of being judged, self-doubt and uncertainties; allow their minds to breathe and gain health... in order for the cloud to lift, and for them to have a clear vision of themselves in the future, and allow this vision to guide them as they move forward... enjoying life, as they do!

Aaww, H, you're such a true princely hero! :) 

***
Photo credit:  The photos were grabbed from the BBC video - thanks. Also, embedded is the tweet from @KensingtonRoyal - thanks.

*** 

So long, Dave...

...you'll be missed.
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by PAM

"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve our country
as Prime Minister..."

Just when I'm really, really liking David Cameron, UK's immediate past Prime Minister (PM), due mainly to the wider involvement of UK in global development through education and cultural exchange; and have been considering his opinion on many things in my collage-of-things-that-I-enjoy-thinking-about just because we are in the same age bracket, he decided to exit 10 Downing Street prematurely - after merely a year into his second term as British PM. Okay... from another perspective, it could also be said that fate decided to evict him from 10 Downing Street.

Of course, his move out of 10 Downing Street crystallized from 'Brexit', UK's decision to leave the European Union in a tumultuous referendum, which happened about three weeks back.  People would argue that Cameron brought this to himself by calling the referendum,

Giving tribute to his beloved wife and children as he said his last
goodbye to the country that he so ably served as Prime Minister
for six years.

which exposed a horrendously messy Tory Party, and divided UK to a bitter debate.  Cameron was usually adept in taking 'calculated risk' since his fresh-faced MP days... and he is a real risk taker, too.  But he got this one wrong... obviously!  

The EU leave-remain referendum eventually resulted to a 52%-48% win for the Brexiteers, led by one of Cameron's old friends from his Old Etonian boyhood, the flamboyantly indomitable former Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.  While in heated and bitter debate, it was indeed remarkable to watch the two prominent Old Etonian battle it out, making their case to the British public with Cameron campaigning to remain in EU and BoJo campaigning for the opposite.  It turned out that Cameron's charm, or the lack of it, was no match to Johnson's no holds barred messily out-and-out appeal that incited the British public to let the worst in them poke its nasty head through, especially on the issue of immigration. The scandal on his late father's involvement in seeking to grow his business through investment in tax havens, implicating Cameron, which unfolded prior to the vote didn't help his case. His popularity dipped as more and more flaws in hid government were found and magnified under the lenses of the referendum.  These got everyone's mind wandering away from all the other practical issues of being in or out of EU.  I watched in awe of the eloquence, and admittedly, sometimes in pure disgust, as the debate between the two camps went bitter and ugly.  While always remaining quite intelligent in words, the opposite sides missed going in depth on essential aspects of their respective arguments.  And yet, I have to admit that it was a wonderfully entertaining alternative to the Philippines' own Presidential and Vice-Presidential race around the same time.  But, let's not go there... because I cannot say that I've recovered from that as of yet.

Going back to David Cameron, I'm really fascinated by his sharp mind and eloquence, becoming the

Farewell, PM Dave!  
Will miss all the eloquence and rhetorical swagger.

youngest British PM in almost 200 years at the age of 43 years... it's the UK, so that's gotta mean something huge.  While he did have a 'snubbish' upbringing... and many believed he brought this to 10 Downing Street, including myself, he got a number of things good for UK.  He moved to 10 Downing Street while raising a young family, and that's after the world saw him and his beautiful wife, Samantha, mourn the death of their eldest son, Ivan, from a neurological disorder.  I also enjoyed tremendously his gag of a sense of humor - that 'very British' kind - that he used so masterfully in besting counterparts across the aisle in the Commons. :)  Amid the challenges that go with his work as British Prime Minister, he seems to be a good family man.  It is particularly wonderful to see how he beams with pride of his wife, and what tender words he has for his children.  All the wonderful speeches, all the progress that UK enjoyed under his Premiership... there are simply so many things to think and marvel about his brand of leadership.  Although, of course, other people have other ideas, believing he made a mess of the government he led and failed miserably to forge unity in the Tory party on the way to Brexit.  Anyway, I just realized that I took all the good 'Cameronian' stuff for granted over the last six years.  In fact, I'm so utterly surprised that, after all these years, I can't find a 'David Cameron' tag in my blog!  I was fascinated, but I never actually expressed it, believing then that there was plenty of time to, one day, write something here about David Cameron.  

And then... Brexit happens.  And the 'future' suddenly became the past.

And all that was left for me to do is to stay up all night and watch him go about the business - a remarkable British tradition with Her Majesty, The Queen - of "changing of guards" in the highest office of the British government, family in tow.  And, I have to say that, with a shade of yellow in her first-day-as-PM coat, Theresa May is probably off to a good start... never mind that she doesn't have children!  *wink-wink*... *sigh*  See, if some Brits can hurl something hurtful like that to a woman who was bound to become their PM, there is no telling how they'd rate their outgoing PM based on 'sky-high standard'. 

Anyway, I wish Cameron and his family the most wonderful days after life at 10 Downing Street.  I will always be fascinated... then again, from the "Lord of the Rings" to James Bond to Beatles to Adele, I've always been fascinated by many things British since girlhood... it just doesn't always seem that way.  Or, doesn't it?

***
Photo credit:  Grabbed from the BBC video - many thanks!

***

And Andy grabs the big green one...

...for the 'first time'.
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by PAM

It must have been truly special for Andy Murray, as he hugged the Wimbledon Gentlemen's Singles Championship trophy to himself, after beating Milos Raonic from Canada in this year's championship in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-2) at the All England Club.  

The temperamental Scot was absolutely emotional from the time he raised his hands in victory, more so when he received his trophy.  One would think it was his first time to win the championships when, in truth, it was his second time.  The first time he won in

To win the second time is sweet, one can cry.

Wimbledon was three years ago, in 2013 - against the Number One player in the world, Novak Djokovic.  The year before that, he was runner-up to Roger Federer, who collected his 7th Wimbledon title to equal the record set by Pete Sampras in 2000.  Prior to this, Murray and Federer clashed at SW19 for the 2012 Summer Olympics where the Scot emerged on top of the Swiss Maestro to win his Olympic gold for Great Britain. It was a big win for Andy, and for Team GB, too.  But the man and the country remained wanting for more, hungry for more, thirsty for the 'big green one', the one that belonged to the British soil.  Both finally quenched their thirst when, after 77 years, Murray won their first Wimbledon - and from a back-breaking, nail-biting terribly exciting of a contest with the 'iron man' himself, the World #1, who was perceived by many then as utterly unbeatable.  That year, Murray took the Wimbledon title as the reigning Olympics gold medalist - only the second tennis male player to do so in the open era, after Rafael Nadal.  Now, he is the first male tennis player in the Open Era to win SW19 twice as the reigning Olympics gold medalist.  

In 2013, when he collected his first Wimbledon championship trophy, it was for his

country, and only a little bit for himself.  UK had waited long enough to see a Brit win in

Dave Cameron, the outgoing Brit PM, took the jeering with humor.

the most revered tennis court in the world.  Before seeing Murray win in 2013, the whole nation would usually express their 'eloquent disappointment' whenever he came up short within mere inches from the trophy... and it drove him over the edge, making him not just temperamental and moody, but utterly sulky.  His self-doubt was almost tangible, palpable, always muttering to himself on court at every error - forced or unforced... and the whole tennis world grieved with him, while the Brit crowd expressed how unforgiving they can be.  Such is the terrible cruelty of the British public when their lofty expectations are not met.  Andy knows this, that was why he felt compelled to sort of defend the outgoing British Prime Minister, David Cameron, when he was jeered at by Brit fans when Andy acknowledged his presence. 

But, yes, in 2013, UK's #1 son in tennis finally delivered the goods: he won Wimbledon for the 'first time'... and it heralded a national celebration that freed Murray from the 'obligation' to win any more.

Therefore, when lady luck favored the Scot to get a hold of the Wimbledon trophy once again, he hugged it to himself - this time, he won it for himself.  This one he will keep as his, and his alone.  This one he will actually enjoy, and the taste of victory in garnering it he will savor with true gusto.  And we all rejoice with him - nuts of tennis fans that we all are!

Congrats, Andy!  Enjoy your victory... you so deserve it!

***
Photo credit: The photos are a screen captures I took from the live telecast by Fox Sport - thanks.

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I'll get by...

...with a little help from my 'friends'.
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by PAM


Have you ever had one of those days when none of the very few good things that are not brain-numbing around you can seem to console you into believing that you are going to survive another day without freezing your brain over?  Well, I'm in that 'hole' right now, and boy, is it dark!  It's not that there aren't enough good things in this world, 'cause there are -  more than enough, too, actually.  It's just that they decided to take a 'vacation' today... and they didn't say so.  So, I planned to conduct my day as I usually do.  However, without the good things around, it's the worst of worst ideas!  

But because it's all here, and I'm not about to go wailing, I'll deal with it. Therefore, I'm getting my 'friends' together and haul 'em all in to my 'happy place'.  

"The silicon chip inside her head gets switched to overload...

...tell me why I don't like Mondays."

Hmmm... I did say 'happy place', but Sir Bob is wailing like a wounded whale. Oy!  C'mon, Sir Bob, lighten up, will ya now?

But, we gotta understand, aside from that being his singing style, it was an emotional day for the big guy.  He just saw his "big vision", "Live Aid", become a reality.  Live Aid was the biggest gathering of artists back in the '80s in various rock stages in the world, but mainly in Wembley Arena in London, England and in John F. Kennedy Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.  Phil Collins had to famously take the Concorde to perform in both the Wembley Arena and in the JFK Arena on the same day.  The live performances were shown around the globe via satellite on 13 July 1985, and with the crowd in Wembley seeing what's going on at JFK and vice versa.  Uh-hmm, that's right, they did it back in the days when internet (and all its "brother and sisters", and "cousins, too") was merely taking off. 

Actually, Live Aid was the concert that seemed to have come so naturally after assembling the biggest British acts of the '80s to one group called, Band Aid, just before Christmas of 1984.  The objective was to record a song,"Do they know it's Christmas?", and all proceeds from record sales was to be used to bring aid to Ethiopia, which was hard-hit by drought and economic woes resulting in widespread famine and death.  The front man of Boomtown Rats, Bob Geldof, and Midge Ure of Ultravox assembled the Brit acts to form Band Aid.  Little did they know then that such a seemingly small act of compassion would turn to a historical moment in the global music industry.  More than that, it turned the world's eyes to the dire plight of the Ethiopians... making many people in the world more conscious of the economic, political and social aspects, and even the scientific aspect, of the famine that they were suffering from.  It was, indeed, an eye-opener for the whole world... one that will change the way we view our global community.

"There's a world outside your window, and it's a world of dread and fear."

Hmmm... of course, Phil Collins had to play the drums.  It's such a natural thing to expect from the man.  But, Sting and Bono, and Boy George and George Michael together... and Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet together?  And Paul Weller and Paul Young, and Bananarama, too? You bet!  And back in the days when they're all in their glorious "big hair" days, too. :) Too good, too good!  Just beautiful.

I say, forget NATO, let's celebrate Band Aid and Live Aid instead!  And then... reality hits.  NATO is here to stay - and, indefinitely, too.  Oh, well....

So, why is this important... to me, that is?  Well, it is very important because most parts of this huge idealism that I carry around like a sack full of bricks rooted from this.  It was when I was watching the live broadcast of this concert on our worn out television that I truly understood what idealism meant!  It was when seeing how these guys who loved what they do turned their joy in doing what they do to something really useful and meaningful.  Everytime I felt lonely in my own "crusade" to make a difference in my workplace, I'd always turned to these guys.  That's how I know that what they did back then had a lasting impact.  And, this is part of the reason why I really believe the '80s was a golden decade... and I'm proud that I was a part of that generation that saw the '80s become such an unforgettable decade.

Hmmm... since I'm now in my happy place, let me make the most of it with this...

"Every little thing the Reflex does must be answered with a question mark..."

Bizarre lyrics, bizarre get up, bizarre dance moves... ah, happiness! :)  

Now, that was good.  Thanks, 'friends'!

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Video credit:  Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.

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