Speaking of MTV...

 ...here's something significant.

=====================================

by PAM

After speaking in my recent post here about how Duran Duran and their contemporaries in the second 'British Invasion' dominated the beginning of the MTV era in the '80s, I got reminded of the iconic collaboration between one of the best guitarists the world has ever seen, Mark Knopfler, and his famous band, Dire Straits, and the one and only legend himself, Sting.  Their song is called, "Money for Nothing"... which started with Sting filling the airwaves with his peculiar voice declaring how he wants his MTV.  And the very best time they shared the stage to perform their iconic song is at the historic Live Aid concert on 13 July 1985 in front of 72,000 people at the Wembley Stadium in London while 100,000 more watched them live via satellite from the other venue of Live Aid, at the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, PA.  It was watched all over the globe via satellite... and it dropped on our TV set in the Philippines, too.  And what an amazing experience it was!   

"Listen here, now that ain't workin' that's the way you do it.  You play the guitar on the MTV.  That ain't workin' that's the way you do it. Money for nothin' and your chicks for free."

The Live Aid concert was the coming together of the greatest music artists of the '80s across the Atlantic, organized by Sir Bob Geldof of the Irish band, Boomtown Rats, of the "I don't like Mondays" fame, and the Scottish musician, Midge Ure of Ultravox, to raise funds for and awareness of the famine in Ethiopia, Africa.  It started with the gathering of the frontrunners in the 'British Invasion 2' as a 'charity supergroup' called, Band Aid, to record the song, "Do they know it's Christmas?" (DTKIC) in 1984.  I remember, I was freshman in College.  I stepped out of my classroom one December morning to listen to it when it was played for the first time on radio... because I knew it was history unfolding.

One of the very best performances at  Live Aid happened in Wembley Stadium.  It was that of Queen with their larger-than-life late frontman, Freddie Mercury, showing why they are one of the very best music legends of all time.  And, of course, the genius guitar player that is Sir Brian May showed up, too, as well as their painfully awesome drummer, Roger Taylor, and their great bass player, John Deacon, strutted his thing on stage, too. 

"Mama, ohh, didn't mean to make you cry.  If I'm not back again this time tomorrow, carry on, carry on as if nothing really matters."

Ahh... didn't that make you feel nostalgic?  And speaking of MTV and other music media that sort of pushed back that classic music medium that endured many generations: the good old radio, how does this make you feel...

"You had your time, you had the power, you've yet to have your finest hour.  Radio, radio..."

Ahh... man, what I wouldn't do to go back to the '80s!  Queen is too good, right?  Right!  Alright!

Of course, the great Irish band, U2, with their legend of a frontman, Bono, and their legend of a guitarist, The Edge, also made their mark in Wembley as they performed two of their greatest hits, "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Bad".

"How long, how long must we sing this song?  ...'cause tonight we can be as one..."

Powerful, isn't it?  Then and now, U2 and U2 music are just so iconic... in so many ways.  They are absolutely brilliant!  I saw them in the Manila leg of their Joshua Tree World Tour... and I lost it, I wept! 

Let me end with a song that was staple in the '80s, "Everytime you go away", by the owner of the voice who sang the first line in DTKIC, Paul Young.  He just turned 68 yo... and he just got married for the second time, too.

Ah... there so many challenges in this world, but with great music such as these, it just makes our burden a bit lighter.  Thank goodness for good music, and thank God for brilliant music artists!

***

Video credit:  All videos belong to Live Aid - thanks, YouTube, for the video links.

*** 

I'll get by...

...with a little help from my 'friends'.
======================================================================
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'!

***

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

***

Saturday photo

Priceless!

Today, as per tradition, my Batchmates and I, being the Silver Jubilarians, were the host in the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Engineering's Grand Alumni Homecoming, "EngGAHling 2014".  It was a truly memorable occasion... exhilarating, fun, and heart-warming.

Here's something apt for the occasion, I think, one of the most popular songs when we were still students in the Faculty...

"Every breath you take, every move you make...

...every bond you break, every step you take... I'll be watching you."

Ours is the last of the '80s batches... the last of the "peaceful revolution" kids, the last of the "European Music Invasion 2" generation.  And so, for old time's sake, we rocked UST on our Homecoming!  "Revolution" again... this time, it's "Engineering Revolution", starting great trend... setting the bar high for the rest of the younger Batches! 

***

Photo credit:  Connie Yuson Fabros - thanks.

***

Fields of Gold...

...I'm walking in one right now!
============================================================================
by PAM


It's been a really incredible week-and-a-half... lots of hardwork and heavy 'weight lifting'.  It was extremely tiring, but was all worth it because the results were too awesome!  Lots of overwhelming moments of little triumphs here and there, tons of sweet bonding moments with people you didn't think you could get along with, loads of amazing discoveries, an overflow of renewed commitment and affection, a rich sprinkling of strange feelings and odd situations but amazingly nice just the same, mesmerizing beauty of friendship, faith and hope.  Lots of love in the air... for each other, for the Institution that sustains our sense of community and friendship, and for the one God that makes all this beauty and sense of appreciation possible.  

Yep, very, very nice days, indeed!  So much to celebrate for... so many, many incredible gifts from up above!  Therefore, we celebrate with something suitable... something extravagantly beautiful, soothing, and deeply touching...      

"Will you stay with me, will you be my love?

...I never made promises lightly.  And there have been some that I've broken.

But I swear in the days still left, we'll walk in the fields of gold."

"Fields of gold" by Sting... one of my favorite songs.  Beautiful words and beautiful music, put together by one beautiful man (*sigh*) - Sting, of course. :)  It's even nicer when you listen to it with earphones, hearing nothing else but the rhythm created by the bass (played by Sting himself) and some drums, the mesmerizing guitar playing, and Sting's beautifully accented singing. 

Oy!  Life is good... challenging, but good!  Thank you, Lord!

***

The celebration ain't complete without some 'rounded beauty'...  and I swear, I need to kick something round around, too, just to dissipate some energy.  My belly is on fire, I feel like I'm spittin' some anytime. :)  Therefore, time for some footie beauty via UEFA Champions League... bring on Milan vs. Barça!  Oy, oy, oy! 

***

Video Credit:  Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.

***

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.
================================================================================
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...

Someone to watch over me...

"I'm a little lamb who's lost in the wood... I know I could always be good to one who'll watch over me...." Oy!

Whew! Too good!

The only thing I do not appreciate about Sting's version of this classic is how he had to sing the line, "Although I may not be the man some girls think of as handsome, to her heart I'll carry the key..." Aw, c'mon! He is Sting, for cryin' out loud! It's hard to imagine that some girls would actually think of him as not handsome. Certainly not a Nat Geo nuts, that's for sure... and ya can bet on it, too! :)

So, how is this a break from all that weekend hyperventilation-inducing football awesomeness? I'm not sure... 'cause, while the music is uber romantic, there is nothing about this video that doesn't involve palpitation - the sweet kind! :) Oh, well...

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And while we're at it, let's just all drown in this genius's lovely music... taking a firm stand against the "philosophy of violence" this time.

"Perhaps, this final act was meant to clinch a lifetime's argument that nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could."

Definitely a perfection - genius! I know... life isn't fair! ;) And hey, don't you dare play a Gaga-sounding Lady (and the like) within my hearing distance right this moment... unless you'd want to know what "fragile" actually meant! ;)

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

It's a man's world!

Sackur as anchor, hurrah for Guardiola, etc., etc.!
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by Philipina A. Marcelo


While I believe, with unshakable conviction, in the awesomeness of the "fairer gender" (yaay, sisters!), I have no qualms about admitting that there really is such thing as "awesome men", too. :)

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An intellectual man, and a man of vision

Earlier this evening, BBC News surprised me once again. The network gave me another one of those "whoa!" moments. Stephen Sackur is achoring "GMT" on BBC... again! Really? Really! :) I caught him last week doing the same thing as I collapsed on my bed to decompress from a long day at work. Of course, right away, I got absorbed in the fantastic way he was manning the GMT helm, with most of their interviewees being subjected to tough questioning - in HARDtalk fashion - uncharacteristic of a "regular" news segment. :) The shaky stock market everywhere in the world was the center of discussion that time, and he tackled the issue with his usual "in command" intellectual stance. He then went on to lead a "short-selling for the dummies" dicussion/micro-lecture with the indomitable Aaron Heslehurst, using an apple. Happily, this dummy got it! =)

Here's an old clip... one of those instances when Sackur showed why he could be worthy of admiration:

"My job is to absolutely, rigorously challenge and test assumptions on all sides... to try to dig deep and get to, if there is such a thing, the truth of all these contentious issues."

If half of the journalists in the world (and especially here in the Philippines) were as intellectually endowed and as responsible as Sackur rather than as news sensationalism-driven and rating-conscious as most these days, then people in the world would be more well-informed and in a less-confused and confusing chaos. Yes, I certainly believe that Stephen Sackur is worthy of admiration! And I am definitely a big fan... and a very proud one, too. :)

Speaking of BBC, they will air their feature on the great Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, in Manila this weekend. Mr. Gorbachev's face was the inspiring image in my head everytime I sang along Sting's brilliant and valiant "Russians" - one of my favorite songs - on the radio in my teenage days in the '80s:

"We share the same biology regardless of ideology... there's no such thing as a winnable war, it's a lie we don't believe anymore."

The BBC's "Mikhail Gorbachev: The great dissident" promises to be an interesting feature... and quite nostalgic, too, for young people from the '80s who had witnessed the end of the "Cold War" and the fall of the Berlin Wall, thanks to Gorbachev's vision, wisdom and goodwill - embodied in "Perestroika". I can't wait!

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Sportsmen

Tennis. I know I have been posting more on football lately... but, no, I haven't forgotten tennis - that's not possible! First of all, I have been having a very limited "hobby time"... my schedule in my "day job" these days is a complete monstrosity, and it eats tennis blogging time like a, uhm, terrible monster. :( But, while I'm still smarting from the
Roger Federer getting back to (winning) form.QF exit of Roger Federer in the 2011 Wimbledon, I have been paying attention to the goings on here and there. Actually, I was finding things a bit weird last week, with World #2, Rafael Nadal, getting ousted from the Rogers Cup in Montreal in the second round of the tournament! And then, the following day, Roger Federer crashed in the third round - a repeat of his 2011 Wimbledon QF exit in the hands of Frenchman, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, after cruising into the third round. And the Wimbledon hurt was renewed - for me! ;)

Tsonga went on to beat the Spaniard, Nicolas Almagro, to reach the semi-final against Novak Djokovic, only to retire in the
Novak Djokovic, with his 5th ATP title for the season.second set. That set up a final between the World #1, Djokovic, and the American, Mardy Fish, who put aside the "other Swiss", Stanislas Wawrinka, in their three-set semi-final match. Of course, The Djoker went on to win the title... okay, I concede, nothing "weird" about that one! :) Seriously, the guy is simply unstoppable! As for Andy Murray... uhm, sorry, he vanished in the draw before I could pay him any attention. Nah, nothing weird about that either! ;)

The men are currently competing again over at Cincinnati for the last tournament before the last Grand Slam of the Season - the US Open - next week. Although work is threatening to crush me flat in the coming weeks (so, what's new, right? *sigh*), I'll try to make time to post some on US Open. Good luck to me! :)

Football. In the football front, Chelsea's hotshot new boss, Andre Villas-Boas, flopped in his debut as The Blues helmsman. The always surprising Stoke City sneaked a goal through Chelsea's defense, which The Blues didn't have an answer for in their season opening match... not that they had time to answer anyway. The pretty-boy Portuguese tactician
Sergio Agüero, Manchester City's new lethal weapon.will have a chance to right his slip-up as The Blues face West Brom tomorrow at Stamford Bridge.

Over in Manchester, many are awed by the newly acquired Machester City striker, the Argentine, Sergio "Kun" Agüero - formerly from Atletico Madrid - fresh from a fine showing at the Copa America last summer. Needless to say, after seeing his spectacular two-goal showing, debuting as a substitute in the second-half of Machester City's clash with the EPL "new boys", Swansea City, I share most pundits' opinion: Roberto Mancini is in serious business this season! However, I'm not sure if I could say the same thing about the embattled Arsenal FC boss, Arsene Wenger, these days. Oh, dear....

Speaking of Wenger and his sorrows, stories about how former Gunner captain and now Barça's new "precious one", Cesc Fàbregas (yes, he who launched Barça's bench to
Cesc Fàbregas (second from left),
a silverware in just three days.touchline "war" with Real Madrid), won his first silverware in six years - only three days after his unveiling at Barça - still proliferate in the internet. He played a part in the crucial Lionel Messi goal that secured the win for the Catalans in the Spanish Supercopa, too. The "brutal welcome" of Cesc to Spanish Liga of Real Madrid's Marcelo via a horrifically dangerous tackle, which sparked the latest El Clásico brawl, is still one of the most talked about incidents in the football world as well. The wonderful thing about Cesc is that he is not making a mountain out of it, regardless of it not being a molehill either... with José Mourinho and his destroyers' latest despicable antics going from ugly to really, really cheap!

Speaking of "wonderful conduct", Barça's boss, Pep Guardiola is doing a good job avoiding a "word war" with the deranged Madrid boss,
Guardiola and Mourinho, a contrast
in personality and winning style.Mourinho. He sticks to the issue of football on the pitch, and Barça's goal of retaining their hard-won glory in the previous season through commitment to honest playing of the beautiful game. He is not washing Barça's hands in the unfortunate brawl towards the end of the Supercopa final last Wednesday, however, and issued a warning that if both teams did not make real efforts to stick to football on and off the pitch, the bitterness and hot tempers on the pitch might boil over off the pitch, too... and not among the players either. That is actually a worth-heeding warning as Barça's and Madrid's most passionate fans exchange bitter words following the brawls that have become a usual spectacle in El Clásico.

Whether Pep's call for calm would be heeded by the two sides remains to be seen. In the mean time, many football fans are excited by how Real Madrid seemed to be getting closer to matching Barça's prowess on the pitch, as shown by the 5-4 score in the Supercopa. That was a BIG improvement from the 5-0 brutal thrashing they endured in the hands of Barça last November 2010. Whether Los Blancos would be able to sustain their momentum, despite their mentally and emotionallly out-of-control Portuguese boss, will be known when the new season opens. However, the Spanish La Liga's opening is postponed due to the players strike and the negotiation deadlock between the Professional Football League, LFP, and the players union. So, we wait.

Yep, it's been a "man's world" the past few days. Nope, not complaining! ;)

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Photos: Photos were grabbed from the Zimbio website - thanks.
Videos: Thanks, YouTube for the videos.

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!

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Acknowledgement: Thanks for the video, YouTube.

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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