Saturday photo

"All you need is now...."
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by PAM

A diamond in the mind... now was the future.

"Return to now"....  

Sometimes we think too far ahead.  We feel overly anxious to see what lies ahead.  We try to imagine over and over again the many different possibilities.  Will it be good?  Bad?  Will it make us happy?  Will it make us cry?  Too many questions... paralyzing us from moving forward and taking the needed action. We spend too much time wondering, speculating, wishing the future wouldn't be as lamentable as the past... and we miss much of what goes on around us - now.  When the future finally comes, we are perplexed by it - happy or sad - simply because we didn't experience now and, therefore, cannot find the connection between the future right in front of us and "the now" just slipping behind us.  We didn't do enough to make sure that the future will be as how we wished it to be - "now".  It's too late when we finally realized that, indeed, to be all set for the future, all we need is now.

***
Something old, something new... now

I made time to drop by the record store a couple of days back... and I finally got a copy of "All you need is now" - Duran Duran's 2011 album.  Yeah, I know, some fan I am!  Well, I was busy... and had no life!  Anyway, missing an important US Open match just to get the album was an atonement for missing their "Diamond in the Mind Tour" last summer in the US and their Pre-Olympic performance at the Hyde Park in London.  As for the album... no, they haven't lost their touch as far as I'm concerned.  John Taylor's bass playing is still as awesome as ever, and it is beautifully complemented (and vice versa) by Roger Taylor on the drums to make a clean, "just right" rhythm.  The subtlety of Nick Rhodes's signature electronic inputs were tastefully done, not a misplaced "shriek" anywhere... and Simon Le Bon sounds fantastic - better than ever before.  Yeah, the "Wild Boys" of the old "Second British Invasion" days transformed Duran Duran's older sound a few notches toward laid-back... but not lazy - a welcome transformation for the now transformed old fans... like myself.  Did I just say "old"?  Oh, well....    

***

Save a prayer...

...'til the mornin' after.
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by PAM


It's my late mother's birthday today, and this is for her...

"...take a chance like all dreamers can't find another way.

You don't have to dream it all... just live a day." 

..."Save a Prayer" - one of Duran Duran's biggest hits back in the '80s.  I remember how an older sister and I had to "wrestle with wits" to reason with our mother over decorating our room with Duran Duran's colorful posters (in addition to our Star Trek posters), which my sister "smuggled" through our mail from her friend in Hawaii, who, in turn, "sneaked out" on her own mother to buy and send the posters to us. Aaah-hahaha... the things "silly teenagers" do to fight for a "worthy cause".  I don't remember how we reached a compromise... 'cause, ya bet, we did have those posters put up on our walls alright. O, yah!  :)


Oh, oh, oh... I think Mama sneaked on me and my sister one time in one of our hard-earned VH1 TV time allotments (wash dishes for five days = 30 minutes per week of VH1) and saw this video...

"The Reflex... buy time, don't lose it."

...and maybe, aside from digging the incredible bass tracks by JT, she thought he was cute, that's why she softened a bit on our "Duran Duran issue".  Aaawww!  :)  But, yeah, that's exactly how she was though... always acting "tough" on us, but the truth is... she was "easy".  And, I miss her.

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


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On teaching, Part 1: The internet, pop culture and teaching "big kids" these days

An observation from an '80s person who "hangs out" in University lecture rooms and labs.
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by Philipina A. Marcelo


Disclaimer, er, Intro 


This is something I wrote sometime in November 2011 while taking a break from work, quite sick again, of course... and I've forgotten about it since.  Now that I'm taking a big break (from life, in general!  Haha...), this suddenly came to mind, particularly after reading these NY Times articles that found their way into my inbox: "Top Universities Test the On-line Appeal of Free" and "Universities Reshaping Education on the Web", both of which seem to suggest that the way to the future of education is via the cyber highway.  Luckily, this old piece that never got posted here (until now, that is) is still in my little "cyberspace external thought storage".  Ah, the wonders of technology - takes my breath away everytime! :)


So, I gave my old "rant" a little facelift for some "critical update".  Hopefully, it makes a little sense.

***
Rewind...

Okay, first, let me entice you with this old video...

No, it's not by coincidence that this video features John Taylor of Duran Duran - the iconic "New Romantic" idol of the '80s. I have been waiting for an opportunity to put this up here 'cause this is another "justification" why this man remains to be (one of) the biggest crush(es) of this life of mine - excellent artist, brilliant thinker and absolutely charming (that's the surviving teenager in me talking, obviously)... and very good looking, too (there... I said it!  I'm that shallow - then and now.).  Not that you care, right?  Right! =)  


But, yeah, admittedly a chunk of my teenage life was sweetly anchored on Duran Duran - their music and poetry, unique and glamorous style, youthful wisdom and daring... anchored mostly on JT, mainly on JT. :)  And that's how the "pop culture" then was a large "part" of my College education... it provided the soundtrack for my College life, and JT was the best part of it all.  At some point though, when he's fallen in that notorious show business moral abyss, it kinda broke my heart.  But he came around, has evolved... and now, that gorgeous British young man who glamorize playing bass and who has always been a big inspiration for me for years is now giving talks in Engineering events... in the academic world, too - my supposed world!  Wow!  :)   Makes me think about how far I've gone, too, in my own path, and how much I've evolved as an individual... after all these years.  See, JT - the prince of the "pop culture" of my teenage and young adult life - has that effect on me... until now.  And, I don't mind.  :)


As delicious as the idea might be, this post is not about JT though... it's about something else. Boooo! Hey, I'm on a crusade here (ahem, if you must know, I'm trying - very hard - not to laugh), so bear with me, okay? ;)


Alright, folks, ahem, I demand seriousness now... please?  Thank you. :) 


***
What's up in the classroom these days?

"Ordinary 18-year-olds love digital technology because it allows them to construct a reflexive surrounding. The part-time job tires them and the classroom irks them to death, but the blogs, games, shows, videos, music, messages, updates, phone calls... they mirror their woes and fantasies. It's a pre-packaged representation of the world, a "Daily Me," a rendition of things filtered by the disposition of young users. All of them groove the input, and the screen becomes not a vein of truth but a mirror of desire."

- Mark Bauerlein
  Author of "The Dumbest Generation"

"The classroom irks them to death"???  Really?  Wow!  What a scary thought - for an academic!


While the book was written based on observations on American young people, still, reading the book by Mark Bauerlein back in 2010 caused some panic for me.  Therefore, I have been trying to understand how so many internet-savvy, pop culture-worshipping University kids these days behave, at least, in this developing country where I am from. It's a bothersome activity that a University professor with more than 20 years of experience can get sucked into these days.And it's proving to be dangerously close to an activity in futility, too. So, why bother? Well, because it's worth it, our students - our future - are worth it. 


All the "trouble" is worth it... 


(1) ...because there is such a huge change in the "knowledge traffic" in the classrooms and lecture halls these days. It used to be a predominantly easy one-way stream, where the source is the professor and the receivers are the students, and switched to a two-way conversation as the traffic cruised to perfect times. Lately, however, the traffic has been building up to a jarring congestion - mostly, in the minds of the students.  But the change, methinks, can be managed into a platform of high productivity. 


(2) There are frustrating barriers between the source and the receivers these days that a one-way traffic, where it survives to an aching wreck, has become a robotic sort of activity - devoid of real involvement. And that conjuring a "true" two-way traffic has become close to impossibility. However, I seem to have found another route to reach out to kids on the other side of the conventional learning realm where they hang out mentally... and that's exciting! 


(3) Most kids these days care more about their physical image rather than cultivating a culture of brilliance in their personalities - symptoms of overdose of that venomous Hollywood concoction, also known as "pop culture v. 2k" - that version that is mostly the frustratingly shallow and sex-crazed spin-off of the old ones, and it's so potent and far-reaching that it can invade many societies via a mere click - of the mouse, that is!  But an overdose can be fixed... if we do the right thing - quickly.


No, I'm not complaining nor am I criticizing. I'm just talking about an honest observation, which, for all I know, could be downright idiotic and misinformed - so forgive me - and finding a way to contribute in dealing with it, so the University does not become irrelevant in educating kids these days. Heavens forbid!


***
Is there a way out of this... or around this knowledge traffic congestion?


It might be worthwhile for "old" University pillars to realize some of the benefits of "web reading", the most important of which, is that it "permits non-linear strategies of thinking" (Sutherland-Smith, The Reading Teacher, 2002).


For the serious academics, that should sound exciting - an unknown territory to be explored and conquered. Alas, one-way and two-way traffic is no longer the route of
Generation Y: exciting, challenging generation.choice by this internet-savvy, wired generation. They are the "here and now - right now!" generation.  They prefer the "randomness" of things... the swift and constant movement, and turning about of discussion - on the internet... and in the classroom! They want greater participation, in fact - in their own terms - in the classroom, the way they get to conduct their activities in the internet independently - with considerable freedom. The taste of independence on-line is like taking a bite of the proverbial apple... the effect is permanent and irreversible. The "biter" can only be "saved" from "eternal damnation" by a "legitimate redeemer". The question is, are University educators willing to play the role of "redeemers"?  How does one redeem this generation, in the first place?  Do they need redeeming at all... especially when their world - hooked up mostly to the world wide web - is now the "real world"?  Perhaps, it is us, educators, and our "antiquated" methods of teaching that needed redeeming?  Perhaps, it is the educational institution on this side of the planet, as a whole, that needed some sprucing up?  Tough!


While granting these kids the "permission" to take the helm of dicussion in the classroom may not be wise, and in fact, spells all sorts of danger for "chaos", it might be worthwhile for the professors to try stepping back and let the kids weave their own thread of intelligent spell. Of course, much of the success of that depends on the educator's ability to moderate the "weaving" of thoughts in the "random traffic"... and that requires an extensive know-how and massive updating in one's field of expertise. The
Dedicated and committed faculty: key to
addressing the issue.question is, are educators willing to do that? And the even bigger questions are: Is the University willing to allot a big chunk of its resources to assist its faculty members along this line to ensure long-term impact towards excellent education? Are University administrators willing to dedicate their energies to explore these areas of "new approaches" that will turn this massive internet influence and internet-inspired behavior as vehicle for success rather than obstacle? Are Universities willing to acknowledge the end of the "traditional" one-way and two-way approaches in the classroom? While, I admit, that these are not easy questions to answer, especially for some universities where faculty members view the Academic profession as a mere 8-h a day job, they need to be answered nevertheless - and quickly, too!


In the hope of making students feel at home, rather than "irked to death", in the classroom as they do in their personal "cyber spaces", I tried a few things to give a sense of "randomness in the classroom". I tried to provide the "we're in charge here" feeling to the students as well, while we all managed to stick to the contents of the syllabus.


(1) Injecting the lectures with interesting here-and-now goings on in the specific
Multi-media-enhanced lectures.topic - providing multi-media illustrations via Powerpoint slides in a lecture so designed that all components appeared random, unplanned and unexpected... they "just came up" - 'cause the topic is that cool, practical and very relevant to what they do everyday, and what they hope to do later professionally... and that is true, too! Most of the materials are a mix of those from on-line scientific resources and pop media centers that I enroll in, which provide updated materials relevant to courses I'm teaching, be it, Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics or Membrane Technology. The key is blending "serious science" with "pop culture" in a formula that inspires curiousity. I found that it's very effective to put these blends in front of the lecture because that stirs students' interests and compels them to willingly "commit" themselves to the topic on hand.  Why?  Because the lecture was set on a backdrop that's familiar to them, a fabric they consider "non-allergenic" - their beloved www. 


(2) Giving students their sure "five-minute shot to fame" in the classroom through Problem Set discussions, and paper presentations that are relevant to the subject matter in the syllabus. It's amazing how that turns out each time!
Group presentation/thesis
defense.Many of those who first struck me as shy or aloof take the helm of discussion with inspired gusto... unleashing highly insightful ideas that astonish me to speechlessness - in a very good way, I assure you! Obviously, their hours and hours of "practice" in their very own cyberspace give them all that "raw intellectual ammunition"... all educators have to do is point them to the target so they get their shot to fame right.  Once their "fame" is established, the students become more confident in actively participating in the "randomness" environment... and they move on to the next semester owning a part in their class's collective brilliance. None of that can be achieved in the "traditional one-way going two-way" approach where only the "most confident" and born-to-privileged-life people shine and the "shy ones" are constantly pushed to the rear and stay in the shadows until the end of their stay in the University... their potentials never tapped and groomed to perfect bloom.


(3) Using laboratory courses as a platform for "innovation" where the students are largely in-charge. "Boring" lab courses where "recipe-type" experiments are followed in activities that effectively box intelligent thinking to coma-like sleep can be resuscitated
Innovation Challenge.to life by dangling a huge challenge on your students faces! This "internet kids" are highly competitive... that's why they spend sleepless nights trying to win on-line games, or best their peers in their blogs' design and contents, or outdo everyone else with the most witty tweet. Their competitive nature could be channeled to productivity in the classroom. Discuss the basics... and then have them work on their own projects where you discreetly see to it that the basic lab skills are incorporated. They work to perfect their prototypes, competing for the prize of the most innovative project... not realizing how skilled and creative they have become once their prototypes are perfected. And they only have themselves to thank for it... they are in-charge, right? :)


***
Is there a way to reach these kids in their hangout?


They hang out in the cyberspace... and professors need to figure out how to gain access into their "strong passworded" psyches.  And I'm not talking about faculty members (ahem, especially administrators!) hanging out on Facebook and Twitter (and blogs!  hehe...) 24/7 with no worthwhile intention... they just want to be considered "in" and "cool", and be popular with students!  My friends, there are better things to laser point our energies to - seriously!  I should know... right?! ;)


Kids these days seem reluctant to accept an "invitation" to go deeper into the heart of a subject matter presented to them. They want a "personalized" approach... like the "invite" was exclusively for them.
Peer-assisted activities in
the lab and in the classroom. They need to identify themselves with the subject matter before they let themselves engage with it. This is why, the subject matter, no matter how technical, say vena contracta effect or pump cavitation, has to be "spinned" to a pop culture ("the culture of now") language when the invite is issued to them.  Sometimes, it helps to solicit the assistance of their more "learned" peers whom they look up to as well, to issue the invitation.  And when they accept, guide them in by talking in a more "experiential language" until they become interested and decide to try things out for themselves. And then when they're involved already, and have reached the point-of-no-return, "pull a trick on them" with learned subtlety - without them knowing it - and bathe them with pieces of new knowledge, using technical language this time.    


Later, when they leave the classroom or the lab with new information gained, they had the feeling that whatever new things they know now, they discovered on their own - via their own decision to learn, too - and it's cool! Once again, that feeling of being in-charge, of being given the free reins to steer their learning experience in a way that is meaningful to them.


Sure, I admit, none of these is an easy task. It can be physically, emotionally and mentally taxing... why do you think do I get sick so often these days??!  It's hard!  This is why it is imperative that Universities must be very careful in recruiting faculty members... while absolutely necessary, it is not enough for a prospective faculty to just have a scholarly track record and/or stellar industry experience because teaching is more about the ability, willingness, passion and the humility to keep working hard to convince these kids that learning is an integral part of their personal development - the most fun part, in fact!  It is through learning that they could continuously evolve as individuals... and they learn learning best in the campus. Faculty members should be willing to demonstrate this by seizing every opportunity to learn new things themselves as well...  because how do they teach about learning and the positive and joyful impact of sustained learning, not only in the personal level, but in the societal level as well, when they've stopped learning a long time ago?  That is why, it makes sense that: (1) generally, PhD - the ultimate test to withstand the initially enormous pressure of systematic learning, that later empowers one to conjure up and acquire that "sixth sense" to enjoy and share the true beauty and bliss of learning - is the minimum requirement for University professors, and that (2) sustained research - the "direct line" to learning - must be a part of the faculty's work program.  


Uh-oh... I think I just drove right into the parade of those who believe otherwise.  Oh, well... we all choose our battles, and I choose this!     


***
Physical image vs. personal image is decided via role models


It is a pity that kids these days have to live in a culture of shallowness - the kind of culture conjured up irresponsibly by the Hollywood media... and annoyingly being "championed" by local TV/Cinema outfits through their own Programs/movies. Gah! From Paris Hilton to the out-of-control Lindsay Lohan - why the media has to exploit and exaggerate reports on their misconduct and sad down spiral is appalling. Why the media won't focus on what ever talent Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Rihanna or Madonna had rather than their eccentric ways and/or their penchant for exposing their underwear (and what's beneath it) is not helping either.  Ugh, and don't get me started with the Kardashians - please!!  Local media and local TV/Cinema outfits follow suit, of course - all for the love of money!  Tsk!  The media influence is so freakishly huge and hard to avoid, even when parents cut-off TV/cable services, because of the limitless accessibility to just about everything through the internet.  And the poor misguided kids tend to confuse the message with the physical image they see, and follow those sick images instead rather than striving to polish their own talents and be good at what they do.


But vanguards of the "old pop culture" can provide a bridge between the "then and now" divide, and bring back the idea that pop culture is not necessarily a dumbed down, sex-crazed collage of real artistry, and intellectual and scientific adventures! Fortunately, most professors these days lived back in the days when pop culture was still highly respectable.  Therefore, once in a while, Sting gets into the discussion of sound waves in Physics, or the film "The Hunt for Red October" in discussions on sonic, subsonic and supersonic flows in Fluid Mechanics, or even "The Real Genius" when discussing the ethics of research. :)


Being there when confusion creeps in will help these kids significantly.  Educators must not be afraid to lose "popularity" with their students by pointing out the good message behind the confusing images that assault their impressionable minds... because that's what they're there for in the first place.


***
So what now?

As JT pointed out, pursuing a passion at an early age, was a test of manhood for him, and it was through the constant and ardent pursuit of this passion that he followed his dream... and succeed, too! Kids these days, while highly competitive, have everything at the tip of their fingers - via internet. Very little challenge, and therefore, they rarely experience the truly exhilarating joy of success. Therefore, educatorss must strive to make them feel that exhilaration... because that can be "addicting", too - in a very good way. 

With my research students, I usually create a huge challenge to them... by "using myself" as the biggest "obstacle" to their success... and yet, might hold the "key" to
The excitement and fulfillment
of working hard in the lab.their success, too, at the same time.  Therefore, they have no choice but to figure out this obstacle while keeping the key within their reach.  Without being obvious, I steer the "project ship" to safe waters... while they see me as a perilous iceberg!  And because, they want to steer clear from the peril, they try to work out a plan and execute it, trying desperately to avoid mistakes by the painstaking attention to details, all the while keeping their eyes on the key... not realizing the tremendous training and discipline they are getting as they go along.  Once the research project becomes successful, I let them bask in the glory of success, so they experience the wonderful feeling, and get convinced that the struggle to reach it is just a small price to pay.  And then, that realization becomes a learning experience, which firms up their character, a constant reservoir of energy and inspiration when the going gets tough, and it becomes a part of themselves... a transformation, which is what education is really all about.


Care must be taken when this approach is employed though... there is no one-size-fits-all to this.  Students have different characters.  Others can take the heat, others breakdown at the slightest pressure.  Therefore, the balance between the obstacle and key to success must be calibrated and re-calibrated to obtain the same outcome each time.  There is a simple technique: sincere and deep caring.  Therefore, this approach is strictly not recommended for the educator with unhealthy ego and prone to power tripping... it can ruin both the educator and the student... and, perhaps, the learning institution.  That could be tragic.      

***

Another note:  I originally planned to write this in a three-part series of posts, and this is the first, but things changed.  So, this might just be the first and the last post on this topic... but things are in a flux these days, so we'll see....

***

Wednesday nostalgia...

Here's to you, raise a glass for everyone. Here's to them underneath that burning sun... Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

It's Christmas time! Well, everyday is supposed to be Christmas day, isn't it? And Band Aid's music marked Christmas with a song that makes people aware of their ability to free millions of less fortunate people from the enslaving bondage of hunger... and actually challenges people to do so: "Feed the World".

Watching this video is like watching my teenage days... frame after frame is filled with memories. I consider myself very lucky to have spent my teenage days in the '80s - during those awesome days of the second "British Invasion". And this video is a testament of those wonderful days... showcasing those brilliant British and Irish acts - from Duran Duran to U2, from Culture Club to Wham, from Status Quo to Ultravox, from Spandau Ballet to Bananarama, from Sting to Paul Young, from Paul Weller to Jim Kerr, from Phil Collins to Bob Geldof. Ah, they who filled my teenage days with unforgettable music.

Assembled by Boomtown Rats's Bob Geldof of the "I don't like Mondays" fame and Ultravox's Midge Ure of the original version of "Dancing with tears in my eyes" fame, Band Aid was a gathering of among the most famed British and Irish (and American) recording artists in the '80s. The "supergroup" recorded "Do they know it's Christmas?" to raise funds to aid the famine victims of Ethiopia. It was a successful single, shooting to #1 in the British Chart upon its release in November 1984, and remained in the #1 spot for five weeks. With one million copies sold on its first week of release, the record remains to be the fastest-selling record of all time in the UK, and one of the biggest-selling records in the UK (and the world) to date. It raised more than £10 million for the Ethiopian famine relief fund.

In the following year, the record became a concert dubbed as "Live Aid", featuring the contributors in the original single plus a few more, and their American counterparts, USA for Africa - the brainchild of the late Michael Jackson, and Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones. I remember being awed by how Phil Collins flew on the Concorde to be in two continents (North America and Europe) to perform in the two venues for the intercontinental concert and via-satellite global airing of "Live Aid": the Wembley Stadium in London, England and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Close to 2 billion people from about 150 countries watched the live broadcast of "Live Aid"... and it was a truly joyous occasion for music fans all around the globe. As a teenager, it was a "magic moment" for me. I saw how talent, will and commitment to wonderful things can create a miracle - bringing people together for a common cause, and producing remarkable results, too. All of that while letting happiness envelope the globe... through music. Absolutely brilliant!

***
Acknowledgement: Thanks for the video, YouTube.

Wednesday nostalgia...

...you're the best thing.
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by Philipina A. Marcelo


One of my fave songs from the '80s... by one of my fave bands - ever...

"I may get it wrong sometimes but I'll come back in style..."

"You're the best thing" by the talented British act, The Style Council. TSC music was the result of the brilliant partnership between Paul Weller and Mick Talbot, and "You're the best thing" was one of their signature songs.

I like the song because it isn't your "regular" love song. While it does have a "healthy serving" of good old cheesiness that defines helpless romanticism (like I know what that is *wink*), it has pride, expressed in the eye-roll-evoking smugness - so adorable, I just love it! :) Aside from PW's soulful singing, the guitar strumming is fantastic, and the sax gives it a touch of sexiness as well. Add to that a dash of endearing British sarcasm ("I could be a lot, but I know I'm not" *eye roll*) and subtlety ("...and commit the sin of wanting more than I've already got" *wink*) - and you've got a real irresistible mix... unique and classy.

Needless to say (but I'm saying it, anyway), I like Paul Weller - a lot. Nevermind that his idea of dancing consists mainly of "vertical writhing"... it's the moody face, the grit in his voice (which he unleashes when the situation calls for it... and you wonder how a slight figure like his could generate so much power. Uhm... Second Law of Thermodynamics - in reverse - perhaps? :) Hey, I didn't say I wasn't a dork!), fantastic falsetto (which he exhibits in ample quantity - bless him!), great music - so full of soul, very smart, and a talented writer of many critically acclaimed songs too. Two words: '80s men. Oy! :)

***

And here's another awesomeness that usually compels me to do exactly what Weller and Talbot suggest, "Shout to the Top"!

"Y'see it's a frightening thing when it dawns upon ya... that I know as much as the day I was born."

I know... Mick Talbot is insane! =) And the Weller was doing his writhing thing - to the max - in this video! :) I remember having to put up with my sister's taunting when she saw this more than 20 years ago... she couldn't see the likeness between Paul Weller and John Taylor (the crush of my life - until now) of Duran Duran. :) I had to point out that it was about the talent and being brilliant in what they do that came first... okay, who was I kidding, right? Right! :) Hey, I was a teenager that time! But later, after seeing different parts of the globe, and meeting and conversing with interesting people from different cultures and walks of life, I came to mean that - with all my heart. :)

***

Ah, The Style Council. Hmmm.... I should thank them, actually... their songs were a constant source of "inspired topics" in my High School essays, even when they messed around with "my ever changing moods", too! :)

"I wish to stay forever, letting this be my food. Oh, but I'm caught up in a whirlwind... and my ever changing moods...."

And you thought it's just about one's ever changing moods, too, huh? Well, maybe we're wrong! ;) This could apply to our latest "economic woes", too, these days... as economists talk about "double dip" and stuff like that. ;) Oh, boy!

"The past is knowledge, the present our mistake.
And the future we always leave too late.
I wish we'd come to our senses and see there is no truth
in those who promote the confusion...
for this ever changing mood."

Ah, I miss those days... when songs actually mean something... a lot of things - things that evoke intelligent thoughts, ignite passion, and titillate the heart to incredible joy! While I know that it's impossible to bring them back, I'm just glad I experienced those good old days... and that wonderful past will always be my little happy place - and it's the best thing! :)

Alright, bring on shallowness!

***
Acknowledgement: Thanks, YouTube, for the videos.

Bits and pieces...

...of "so-what" information.
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by Philipina A. Marcelo


Nope, no "Foodie" today. :(

Dear old appetite is still going on-and-off on me... and there's too much work, I can't concentrate on convincing my appetite to stay put when it decided to run away from me again. At least, it usually stays long enough to sustain life... just nevermind that even good old See's or Lindt doesn't sound as inspiringly mouthwatering as they should. While that's alarming, it's temporary... I hope. :)

I plan to spend the whole of tomorrow, chasing and seducing my renegade appetite. So, work, you're taking the backseat tomorrow.

***
Curiousity sustains the Duranie kitty...

With my appetite for food getting quite seriously "impaired", and remains "unrepaired", I concentrated on other forms of appetite... one of which is "curiousity", if you could call it a variant of appetite, that is.



Browsing through a few of Duran Duran's latest videos, I came across the fantastic Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, or simply "Coachella Fest". Hmmm... it's been a long time since I last heard of it... starting from the Pearl Jam gig there the very first time, and last year's appearance of Echo and the Bunnymen - yes, them, of the 80's "Killing Moon" fame - one of the most remarkable songs in the "second British Invasion" playlist of the 80's! That EATB should grace the stage of Coachella was quite remarkable indeed!


"Dance into the fire..." Uhm, anytime... I guess! :)

Two years ago, I even grabbed a Coachella "sort-of-a-t-shirt" when I did a presentation in a conference in California and had a chance to roam. But I lost the t-shirt. Ugh! Anyway, this year DD scored a slot in the Fest - and, on the last day, too... opening their segment with "Planet Earth" and with the beautiful sky ablazed in the flaming color of sunset in the background. They were awesome, of course! Nick Rhodes's brilliant touches gave DD's distinct sound a very "now-sounding" quality about it. With the still deceivingly sullen-looking but actually incredibly fast-and-hard-hitting Roger Taylor on drums and the unbelievably talented John Taylor on bass, DD's rhythm section is still crazy, crazy, crazy! C.R.A.Z.Y! The beautiful JT is still totally rocking that bass... at 51! Whew!


"Girl panic!" Aww, what else!

And, man, Simon Le Bon, I think sounds great! His voice is so much better... it's less "shrieky". Of course, the shriekiness was fine in the 80's - a part of the Duran sound appeal, in fact - but now, this more toned down and deeper quality in his voice appeals to my also-grown-up taste. :) And he looks good, too! Unfortunately, his throat is quite impaired, too, lately, forcing the band to postpone their "All you need is now" British tour - a first in a long time. I hope he gets well soon... 'cause the world deserves more from this wonderful band! It's fantastic - almost moving - to see them still passionate and having fun doing what they do best: DD music. I hope I could get away from work to see them perform live... again... when they resume touring. Aww, gosh!

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Kick-ah America

And so, the side that kicked out the Albicelestes from their own backyard lifted the Copa America silverware! The Óscar Tabárez managed National Team of Uruguay picked up their country's 15th Copa as they beat Paraguay, 3-0, in the final. Wasn't I just talking about Tabárez last Saturday? Hmmm... he's really got it in him. He led Uruguay to the semis in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa - the last South American Team standing, bowing only to the Oranjes, who went on to challenge the eventual Campiones - the fabulous Spanish side, of course - in the final!

Goal scorer, Luis Suarez (kneeling), the Player of the Tournament, with Uruguay's #10, Diego Forlan, who scored two goals in their championship match against Paraguay in Copa America.

And what do you think alerted me with this info, despite my inactivity, away from the football scene eversince Lionel Messi and the rest of the Albicelestes were ousted by Uruguay from Copa about two weeks ago... ah, what else but the most "reliable" football news site of 'em all - kickette.com?! :) Those gals (or are they?) writing in that website are unashamedly and unremorsely scandalous - unbelievably hilarious! =) I survived my health ordeal over the last three months because of the very potent daily "laughter medicine" from that site - totally awesome! :) Now, the "healing medicine" has turned to an "addictive" drug - the fabulously potent, devoid of any decency, laughter-inducing kind. =)

Alright, that's it... my "hobby time" is up. I think I need to get some work done now if I were to spend tomorrow taming my recluse appetite - for food.

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Acknowledgement: Thanks, YouTube and www.ca2011 for the video links and photos.

Wednesday nostalgia...

Affairs of the (nostalgic) heart... with "my '80s men" and their music.
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by Philipina A. Marcelo


Uh, a-hem, excuse me, gentlemen... this post is for the ladies - only. But if you insist on joining "the party"... well, I guess you could. But if you started gagging, please don't say you weren't sufficiently warned. ;)

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So, yeah... it's an affair of the heart.

Twelve straight hours of Protein Chemistry + Membrane Technology + Fluid Mechanics + Thermodynamics! One more minute of this and, no matter how passionate I am about these subjects, I can't be held responsible for any horrific consequence of a stomach revolt - the (very, very) violent kind!

What I'm saying is, I'd really like a few minutes away from my "boring Academic self"... and be, uhm... myself? for a change? =) That's not too much to ask, is it?

Since the week started with "crush confessions"... it might as well continue that way. :) At this point, you know about "that Travolta thing" and how his "delectable '80s strut" melted my resolve to stay away from flop movies. Well, there were so many of them gorgeous and extremely talented '80s men... and this space would be insufficient if I were to mention all of them. But I guess I could mention three of them here... those who had a vena contracta effect on my '80s heart: Rick Springfield (the beautiful rockin' doctor in "General Hospital" who sent countless '80s girls in serious delirium), John Taylor (or, JT... that sumptuous bassist of Duran Duran of the "Wild Boys" fame), and Sting (yeah, him... that awesomeness of a Police who got us wrapped around his finger with a simple De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da).

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Okay, so how do we do this...? Uhm, how 'bout we begin with the beautiful Aussie-man, Rick Springfield? Well, he got ahead of everyone else with that opening video, which prompted this post. Can you blame me? But just to get us all in the same page, let's listen, and feast our eyes some more on his 80s gorgeousness with this:

Okay... now, that that has been taken care of... we can now begin to gush! :) That smile, those dimples... I'm sure you noticed those, too... and the move... and the voice. Didn't they just compel you to take his advice - to love somebody??? But, of course, only if he - and his Grammy-winning musician self - was that "somebody"! It's a shame that I am not posting another video of him here, speaking - in his adorable Aussie accent. But that would make him perfect... not fair - to most men! I think that's enough justification, isn't it? It'd better be, 'cause I don't think I can handle more "gushing"... especially that I'm working on my lecture slides on another window... in the same computer! =)

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Moving on... the wild boy, JT! Hah... and you thought there was more than enough gorgeousness on the football pitch, didn't you? Duran Duran is one of the biggest - HUGEST - faves in this life of mine. I watched their concert at the Araneta Coliseum back in 1989... and I caught chicken pox - so bad, I almost missed my College graduation! All for the love of DD... and JT! :) While I've been hooked to Duran Duran's music since their album "Rio", the moment I saw JT rocking that bass superbly in the Duran Duran video of "The Reflex" from their "Arena" album in 1984, I instantly believed in "love at first sight"! Seriously, that can't be anything else. :)

And he's a fantastic musician - one of the most remarkable bassists to emerge in the music scene. He founded Duran Duran with his long-time pal, Nick Rhodes in Birmingham, England... and, hey, he wanted to re-make (and actually did, too!) that T.Rex classically loud "Bang a gong (Get it on!)" on the side with the incredible (the late) Robert Palmer of the "Addicted to Love" fame, the little-dude-with-fast-fingers-on-guitars Andy Taylor of DD, and the hard-hitting Chic drummer (the late) Tony Thompson as the "one-night-stand" band, "The Power Station". He did record a whole album with the Power Station... and it was sweetly LOUD, mindblowingly dense on rock, and totally smokin' hot. Naturally, I was one of those who grabbed one from the very first batch of Power Station tapes, and later, CDs! Hey, I wasn't a card-carrying "Duranie", with a special membership in the "JT, I'm yours" Section, for nothing! :)

The PS music was absolutely different from the new wave music of DD, which I dig, too, needless to say, mostly because it was prominently anchored on JT's unique bass rhythm, making DD music so different from the New Wave "generic formula". But with all the '80s hype around DD's be-ruffled "New Romantic" image, who would've thought that the delicately lovely JT had a viscous blood of heavy rock running supersonically in his gorgeous veins?? Hah! New Romantic Pop + heavily rhythmic rock... and successful in both, too. If that didn't make JT a legitimate musician of the truly great kind in the middle of all the dizzying hype around his staggering beauty, I don't know what would! Hmmm... exquisitely beautiful, talented and stylish... plus that accent! Aww, Mamma mia!

Still hungry? Okay, if you're thinking of asking me for more on JT, I would have to warn you - I have a weak heart... and it limits my capacity for excitation! :) So, let's move on, shall we?

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Hmmm... Sting! I just said I have a weak heart, didn't I? He is such a painfully beautiful man, it's so incredible! There is nothing about his marvelous being that a faint heart of a common mortal could withstand. I'm serious - dead serious. Therefore, we pray that he doesn't stand so close to us... in spite of ourselves... and our hearts' common desire - him! Oy! :)

I think the person who invented the word "sexy" had the "ideal image" of Sting, the Englishman in New York, in mind. And what do we know... the gods played a joke on humanity, by putting Sting in our midst - an insult to beauty, intellect, talent, sexiness and wit - as common mortals know them! He is truly the rarest of rare gems one can find, ever so unexpectedly in magnificent fields of gold. Every inch of the man is gorgeousness... and every inch has the brain of a genius! Even Nat Geo can't help but marvel on the man's music brain... and his many other brains, maybe? Oooo-kay! I have to stop here lest I say more self-incriminating stuff... that is, if I hadn't said enough already! =)

But wait, was it just a coincidence that both JT and Sting played bass in their respective bands? Hmmm... maybe, maybe not. I am just totally fascinated by how they took the less than flashy bass to an instrument of glamour - with their awesome talents and incredible personalities and charisma. I know, I know... this must be love - no other name for it!

Okay, I think I feel better now... back to work! Oh, and I love this particular tone of nostalgia... as Sting said, "be yourself, no matter what they say." So, let's do this again soon, okay? ;)


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Video Credit/Acknowledgement: Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.

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