...of "so-what" information.
======================================================
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!
***
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!
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.
***
Acknowledgement: Thanks, YouTube and www.ca2011 for the video links and photos.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Saturday photo
Just a few days ago I was sort of ranting about my frustration over health issues that won't go away, preventing me from dealing with backlog at work... and in life as a whole. And so, the backlog steadily grew into a mountain... and a very intimidating one, too! There was no help in sight either. The people who were supposed to help me were pushing me over the edge instead, as if my physical pain wasn't already battering me thoroughly. Running out of patience, I was ready to retreat. But taking the cue from Óscar Tabárez, the Uruguay football National Team's headcoach, who, when asked about what he planned to do to stop Lionel Messi when Uruguay was to meet Argentina in the Copa America quarter-finals, said, "if you have a problem but not the solution, why worry?" He had a point, of course... in fact, his demeanor earned Uruguay a place in the semi-finals, ousting the Argentine hosts, including the phenomenal Lionel Messi, in an exciting duel that befitted a championship! They went on to beat Peru in the semis, and are now set to face Paraguay in the final. Isn't that a totally remarkable feat for a team that was supposed to be beset with the seemingly unsurmountable "Messi problem" just last week? :)
And so, inspired by Tabárez's practicality, I detached myself from it all... went home, prayed... and slept! The next day I woke up feeling so much better - the pain subsided. Talk about miracle! Of course, my first stop that day was the church... and the Gospel was about casting one's burden upon God... for the yoke He will give us is easy, and His burden light. He did say, "come to me and I will give you rest." And rest, I did have. Just like that, and my physical pain sank to the bottom of my worries... as hope floated.
***
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Wednesday nostalgia...
Affairs of the (nostalgic) heart... with "my '80s men" and their music.
=======================================================================
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. ;)
***
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).
***
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! =)
***
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?
***
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? ;)
***
Video Credit/Acknowledgement: Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.
***
=======================================================================
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. ;)
***
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).
***
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! =)
***
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?
***
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? ;)
***
Video Credit/Acknowledgement: Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.
***
Sunday, July 17, 2011
"Finding out the hard way..."
...while "Staying Alive".
======================================================
by Philipina A. Marcelo
I know, this is supposed to be a "foodie day"... but my appetite is kinda "impaired" these days. It's probably a part of recent health issues "aftermath"... and today it was aggravated by the ouster of Lionel Messi and the rest of the Albicelestes from Copa America, following some misstroke of luck in their dramatic quarter-final match with "old continental foes" from Uruguay led by Diego Forlan. Oh, well... For some reason, I'd rather sleep than eat lately... part of it is because there is very little time for sleeping, too. And when I'm awake, I get pulled into "climbing and conquering" that mountain of backlog from work - another recent health issues "aftermath"... the not-so-funny kind. Therefore, there is very little time to eat... with the rituals and all. :(
But taking a short break - from work... and sleep - I found this video... and I can't help but be mesmerized by John Travolta's eyes and Cynthia Rhode's haunting voice. The song is
Travolta, the Disco king.called, "Finding out the hard way". It's from the soundtrack of the 1983 movie, "Staying Alive", directed by Sylvester Stallone and featured Travolta as that beautiful man of a dancer, Tony Manero. It was a sequel to the 1977 movie, "Saturday Night Fever"... a movie so well-known until now for its promotional poster with Travolta in white outfit on a killer (translation: cheesy) dancing pose in some disco. :) I was too young to appreciate the trend-setting SNF then... but "Staying Alive" was a completely different story - I so loved it, lameness and all! Nevermind that it was a flop compared with SNF. :) If I remember correctly, it was Cynthia Rhodes who convinced me that a girl - any girl, every girl - should really know how to sing and dance. And most of it had a lot to do with matching, and hopefully deserving, the delectable Travolta strut - aaaaawww, hot! ;)
Dang, did I just confess to a crushing for Travolta??? Oh, well... I guess everybody has a dark secret lurking somewhere. :) He couldn't be that bad... he was phenomenal in "Phenomenon", outrageous in "Pulp Fiction", incredible in "Face/Off"... and the guy can fly an airplane! And I love computing and mapping up the air velocity and pressure profile on an airplane's wings! Dang, that could've been a match made in heaven! =) Nevermind that he is 200 years older than me! Hmmm... 200 years? Uhm, nah, that's Sean Connery! =)
Going back to the video... at the risk of sounding like a hyperventilating crush-struck teenager, I suggest that you check out 1:23 - 1:27 and 1:41 - 1:47 min. Whew... delicious! ;) Uhmmm... wait, was that my appetite - back from hibernation? :) Welcome back, old friend, glad you finally found your (hard) way back! Let's stay alive, okay?
***
======================================================
by Philipina A. Marcelo
"A moment gone is gone forever...."
I know, this is supposed to be a "foodie day"... but my appetite is kinda "impaired" these days. It's probably a part of recent health issues "aftermath"... and today it was aggravated by the ouster of Lionel Messi and the rest of the Albicelestes from Copa America, following some misstroke of luck in their dramatic quarter-final match with "old continental foes" from Uruguay led by Diego Forlan. Oh, well... For some reason, I'd rather sleep than eat lately... part of it is because there is very little time for sleeping, too. And when I'm awake, I get pulled into "climbing and conquering" that mountain of backlog from work - another recent health issues "aftermath"... the not-so-funny kind. Therefore, there is very little time to eat... with the rituals and all. :(
But taking a short break - from work... and sleep - I found this video... and I can't help but be mesmerized by John Travolta's eyes and Cynthia Rhode's haunting voice. The song is
Travolta, the Disco king.called, "Finding out the hard way". It's from the soundtrack of the 1983 movie, "Staying Alive", directed by Sylvester Stallone and featured Travolta as that beautiful man of a dancer, Tony Manero. It was a sequel to the 1977 movie, "Saturday Night Fever"... a movie so well-known until now for its promotional poster with Travolta in white outfit on a killer (translation: cheesy) dancing pose in some disco. :) I was too young to appreciate the trend-setting SNF then... but "Staying Alive" was a completely different story - I so loved it, lameness and all! Nevermind that it was a flop compared with SNF. :) If I remember correctly, it was Cynthia Rhodes who convinced me that a girl - any girl, every girl - should really know how to sing and dance. And most of it had a lot to do with matching, and hopefully deserving, the delectable Travolta strut - aaaaawww, hot! ;)
Dang, did I just confess to a crushing for Travolta??? Oh, well... I guess everybody has a dark secret lurking somewhere. :) He couldn't be that bad... he was phenomenal in "Phenomenon", outrageous in "Pulp Fiction", incredible in "Face/Off"... and the guy can fly an airplane! And I love computing and mapping up the air velocity and pressure profile on an airplane's wings! Dang, that could've been a match made in heaven! =) Nevermind that he is 200 years older than me! Hmmm... 200 years? Uhm, nah, that's Sean Connery! =)
Going back to the video... at the risk of sounding like a hyperventilating crush-struck teenager, I suggest that you check out 1:23 - 1:27 and 1:41 - 1:47 min. Whew... delicious! ;) Uhmmm... wait, was that my appetite - back from hibernation? :) Welcome back, old friend, glad you finally found your (hard) way back! Let's stay alive, okay?
***
Video credit: grabbed from good old YouTube - thanks!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Saturday photo
Nah, that isn't my take on public display of affection. While I get disgusted by gross public display of unmitigated desire, I can definitely tolerate PDA. In fact, I'm a fan of cute, spontaneous, almost innocent PDAs! :)
Last year, around this time, I was walking along Michigan Ave. in Chicago, enjoying an afternoon of surprisingly gentle, almost amazingly "flippant", gust of wind under a slightly overcast sky. The slightly overcast sky that threatened a precipitation anytime on a summer day was definitely a Chicago thing that I came to expect everytime I visit, but the "gentle" blowing of wind... so gentle that it was almost like a caress - in the Windy City, no less - was a first for me! And it was very much welcome, too. It was one of those days when you can't help but accommodate a silly grin on your face in marvel of your luck to actually enjoy such a wonderful day... especially if you lived halfway across the globe and just happened to be there - for work, of all things! :)
I was breathing in the sweet Michigan Ave. air, letting myself intoxicated by my luck when I was slowed down by an elderly couple, walking hand-in-hand in front of me. Their gently smiling faces, unhurried strides and seeming contentment in each other's company was a picture of love... they completely took my breath away! The lady murmured something, making the old gentleman stop walking to turn to her, halting his lady... and me, too. And then, in the warmest of all gestures, he smiled the most charming smile in Chicago that day, leaned on his cane and gave her the cutest and sweetest kiss on the cheek. She giggled softly and patted his cheek in an equally warm gesture. :) I know, right?! PDA at its finest - major, major aaaaw! :) Of course, my own smile widened and deepened... convinced that life is good... oh, so good! :)
***
Uh-huh... the photo was taken using my good old Canon EOS Rebel 2000 Film SLR back in the Summer of 2007 in Ithaca, NY. It was in the same roll of film that got messed up.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
And Argentina clicked on the pitch...
...finally!
======================================================
by Philipina A. Marcelo
And they did it! The Argentina National Team beat Costa Rica... and they're through to the quarterfinals in Copa America!
Haven't thoroughly checked the sports news to see if the Argentinian press is singing a different tune now that Lionel Messi has found a way to make his fascinating skills weave magic on the pitch that bound the Albicelestes into a
Argentina's Number 10, Lionel Messi (center), with
attackers, Sergio Aguero (left) and Gonzalo Higuain
(right). (Photo: Fernando Vergara/AP)real team - thinking, feeling the ball and moving as one on the pitch. And in the end winning, 3-0, over Costa Rica. Good, good, good!
Pressured to come up with a strategy that will bring out the best in his star-studded side, Sergio Batista moved back Messi to the midfield to drive his team's attacks. The natural Number 10 didn't disappoint in his new role. He created opportunities with quick burst of movements and sharp passes that connected the team into an attacking pack, with Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel di Maria in front. And it worked! Like the magician that he is, Messi covered the field dribbling - fast and beautifully, passing the ball, setting the pace and rhythm of his team's play, building their confidence as they mounted their attack, pulling the Costa Rica defense to himself to open up opportunities for Argentina's attackers, all the time with an eye on the goal - not for himself, but for Argentina. Vintage Messi!
Sergio Aguero slotted two big ones, one from picking up where Fernando Gago left off, after Costa Rica's goalkeeper, Leonel Moreira, couldn't exactly kill the attempt for good, and another from a delectable pass from Messi. Di Maria settled all doubts on Argentina's noteworthy win, sealing their victory with a third goal from another Messi prettiful assist. All these in a beautiful second-half of awesome football from the blue-and-white shirts. And it's about time, too! While it was finally a decent show by the Copa hosts, Costa Rica fielded its heavy-on-defense Under-23 team... so, it remains to be seen whether Argentina's newfound strategy, which finally took advantage of Messi's brilliance and made the whole team coalesce into a real force to reckon with on the pitch, is the winning formula. We shall see.... when the Albicelestes face in the quarter-finals the mighty Uruguay National Team that reached the semis in the 2010 World Cup. In the meantime, back to work - at 11:00 PM! And keep working until... well, until, uhm... until it's time to go back to work again?! Ugh! :(
***
======================================================
by Philipina A. Marcelo
And they did it! The Argentina National Team beat Costa Rica... and they're through to the quarterfinals in Copa America!
Haven't thoroughly checked the sports news to see if the Argentinian press is singing a different tune now that Lionel Messi has found a way to make his fascinating skills weave magic on the pitch that bound the Albicelestes into a
Argentina's Number 10, Lionel Messi (center), with
attackers, Sergio Aguero (left) and Gonzalo Higuain
(right). (Photo: Fernando Vergara/AP)real team - thinking, feeling the ball and moving as one on the pitch. And in the end winning, 3-0, over Costa Rica. Good, good, good!
Pressured to come up with a strategy that will bring out the best in his star-studded side, Sergio Batista moved back Messi to the midfield to drive his team's attacks. The natural Number 10 didn't disappoint in his new role. He created opportunities with quick burst of movements and sharp passes that connected the team into an attacking pack, with Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel di Maria in front. And it worked! Like the magician that he is, Messi covered the field dribbling - fast and beautifully, passing the ball, setting the pace and rhythm of his team's play, building their confidence as they mounted their attack, pulling the Costa Rica defense to himself to open up opportunities for Argentina's attackers, all the time with an eye on the goal - not for himself, but for Argentina. Vintage Messi!
Sergio Aguero slotted two big ones, one from picking up where Fernando Gago left off, after Costa Rica's goalkeeper, Leonel Moreira, couldn't exactly kill the attempt for good, and another from a delectable pass from Messi. Di Maria settled all doubts on Argentina's noteworthy win, sealing their victory with a third goal from another Messi prettiful assist. All these in a beautiful second-half of awesome football from the blue-and-white shirts. And it's about time, too! While it was finally a decent show by the Copa hosts, Costa Rica fielded its heavy-on-defense Under-23 team... so, it remains to be seen whether Argentina's newfound strategy, which finally took advantage of Messi's brilliance and made the whole team coalesce into a real force to reckon with on the pitch, is the winning formula. We shall see.... when the Albicelestes face in the quarter-finals the mighty Uruguay National Team that reached the semis in the 2010 World Cup. In the meantime, back to work - at 11:00 PM! And keep working until... well, until, uhm... until it's time to go back to work again?! Ugh! :(
***
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Stuck...
...somewhere "dark and grim"!
====================================================
by Philipina A. Marcelo
I've been absent - here - I know. I have "good" reasons - health concerns... and more. I've been trudging that unavoidable rough patch in this journey called "life"... and my sense of humor decided to walk out on me, too! What a wretched thing to do, I know... and by "it" - sense of (positive) humor - too, of all things... and now, of all times! Wasn't it supposed to stick with me in times like this? Especially in times like this? Oh, well... I take comfort in the promise of thermodynamics and chemistry... that when "disturbance" comes in "peaceful" situations, nature will favor that path where a "new peace" or equilibrium is achieved eventually. While the equilibrium point doesn't necessarily promise to be a heavenly situation... at least, it guarantees a situation where all opposing forces cancel out one another's effects! Hmmm... so, does "equilibrium" in life, therefore, mean a point of "numbness" - or immunity - from the good and the bad? Tolerance? Compromise? Acceptance? Being at peace with the "realities" of the situation - good or bad? Adaptation, perhaps? Wait... how come none of those words sounds appealing to me right now? Yes, I'm talking to you, good old cynism! :) Tsk, tsk... I'm beginning to dislike this "equilibrium thing"! Forgive me... obviously, I haven't found the "new peace". ;)
But, yeah, while I watch Lionel Messi in Copa America being most unfairly and unjustly derided so ridiculously by his own countrymen in Argentina, stuck with that phenomenal force of nature called Diego Maradona as his only sympathetic public defender (apart from me, of course... then again, I am not an Argentine), I am getting frustrated going around a block - an immovable boulder of a block, at that - in my own path. I wish it was just a research-related block, 'cause then moving it with all my strength and guts until the block destabilized, and then rolled away, should be fun! In fact, it's one of the most heavenly ways to get stuck... especially if you're a nerd, of course! :) But alas, it's not just research-related! Dang! Therefore, wish me luck! If luck had an influence on this "equilibrium thing" at all, that is! Otherwise, I'm going to have to re-write that law on equilibrium! Uhm... but don't count on it, lest I get royally stuck again, which is very likely! ;)
Dang, I just ranted again, didn't I?
***
Image credit: grabbed from the awesome PHD comics website - thanks, thanks!
====================================================
by Philipina A. Marcelo
I've been absent - here - I know. I have "good" reasons - health concerns... and more. I've been trudging that unavoidable rough patch in this journey called "life"... and my sense of humor decided to walk out on me, too! What a wretched thing to do, I know... and by "it" - sense of (positive) humor - too, of all things... and now, of all times! Wasn't it supposed to stick with me in times like this? Especially in times like this? Oh, well... I take comfort in the promise of thermodynamics and chemistry... that when "disturbance" comes in "peaceful" situations, nature will favor that path where a "new peace" or equilibrium is achieved eventually. While the equilibrium point doesn't necessarily promise to be a heavenly situation... at least, it guarantees a situation where all opposing forces cancel out one another's effects! Hmmm... so, does "equilibrium" in life, therefore, mean a point of "numbness" - or immunity - from the good and the bad? Tolerance? Compromise? Acceptance? Being at peace with the "realities" of the situation - good or bad? Adaptation, perhaps? Wait... how come none of those words sounds appealing to me right now? Yes, I'm talking to you, good old cynism! :) Tsk, tsk... I'm beginning to dislike this "equilibrium thing"! Forgive me... obviously, I haven't found the "new peace". ;)
But, yeah, while I watch Lionel Messi in Copa America being most unfairly and unjustly derided so ridiculously by his own countrymen in Argentina, stuck with that phenomenal force of nature called Diego Maradona as his only sympathetic public defender (apart from me, of course... then again, I am not an Argentine), I am getting frustrated going around a block - an immovable boulder of a block, at that - in my own path. I wish it was just a research-related block, 'cause then moving it with all my strength and guts until the block destabilized, and then rolled away, should be fun! In fact, it's one of the most heavenly ways to get stuck... especially if you're a nerd, of course! :) But alas, it's not just research-related! Dang! Therefore, wish me luck! If luck had an influence on this "equilibrium thing" at all, that is! Otherwise, I'm going to have to re-write that law on equilibrium! Uhm... but don't count on it, lest I get royally stuck again, which is very likely! ;)
Dang, I just ranted again, didn't I?
***
Image credit: grabbed from the awesome PHD comics website - thanks, thanks!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Wednesday nostalgia...
...hairloom.
======================================================
by Philipina A. Marcelo
This photo was taken exactly 40 years ago! :) It was the day my Nanay - my late maternal grandmother - gave me a "huge" haircut. I say "huge" because I had a very long, very thick and very black hair before this photo was taken. I was shy and I used my long hair as a shield from the world. And Nanay said she didn't like how she couldn't see my face through all that hair. And so, when my parents left me to her care while they worked in Manila, Nanay cut my hair! I cried, of course, afraid that my parents might scold me for letting Nanay cut it... and worst of all, my shield was gone! Nanay appeased me by taking me to our town's photo studio - the only one in my then very rural place of birth. And she had this photo taken - as a late birthday present. :) While nothing could make me smile that day, Nanay promised that one day, I would look at this photo and would realize how "pretty" I was with my hair worn short... with my face accessible to the world's eyes... and the world accessible to me. I'm still waiting for that day, of course! =) And Nanay made sure that I'd always remember her words and that I'd keep waiting, and hoping... she passed away on my birthday seven years ago. I was in Cornell then... still waiting for that day, but hardly in need of a shield anymore. And so, I dedicate this, the 100th entry of my blog, to her - my Nanay - the woman who didn't leave me an heirloom, but she left me with a "hairloom"... a lasting gift where most of what I have now are hinged to.
***
======================================================
by Philipina A. Marcelo
This photo was taken exactly 40 years ago! :) It was the day my Nanay - my late maternal grandmother - gave me a "huge" haircut. I say "huge" because I had a very long, very thick and very black hair before this photo was taken. I was shy and I used my long hair as a shield from the world. And Nanay said she didn't like how she couldn't see my face through all that hair. And so, when my parents left me to her care while they worked in Manila, Nanay cut my hair! I cried, of course, afraid that my parents might scold me for letting Nanay cut it... and worst of all, my shield was gone! Nanay appeased me by taking me to our town's photo studio - the only one in my then very rural place of birth. And she had this photo taken - as a late birthday present. :) While nothing could make me smile that day, Nanay promised that one day, I would look at this photo and would realize how "pretty" I was with my hair worn short... with my face accessible to the world's eyes... and the world accessible to me. I'm still waiting for that day, of course! =) And Nanay made sure that I'd always remember her words and that I'd keep waiting, and hoping... she passed away on my birthday seven years ago. I was in Cornell then... still waiting for that day, but hardly in need of a shield anymore. And so, I dedicate this, the 100th entry of my blog, to her - my Nanay - the woman who didn't leave me an heirloom, but she left me with a "hairloom"... a lasting gift where most of what I have now are hinged to.
***
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Sunday foodie...
...breakfast for "champion" wannabes.
======================================================
by Philipina A. Marcelo
I'm a breakfast person... and it's not only because I like Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.'s "Breakfast of Champions". :) During workdays, I like waking up early in the morning and starting my day in the kitchen - cooking "big breakfast" - with the TV tuned in to a sports channel showing replays of tennis matches in
Big breakfast for a "big day"majors or football matches in the background. This suits my work schedule as well because I usually start my lectures at 7:00 AM, or I hear mass at the University church at 7:00 AM when I'm not lecturing. I live about 15 km from the University, and with the Metro-Manila rush-hour traffic, it means I need to leave my house at 6:00 AM to get to the University with a few minutes to spare, say "hi" to people before 7:00 AM. And so, I get up at around 4:30 AM, do my morning stretches and sit-ups while watching Stephen Sackur interview someone on BBC's "HARDtalk", cook... eat breakfast while getting my morning fill of the news... pack my fruit snack, and then prepare to go to work. Yes, I'm one of those lucky people who get to enjoy seeing their surroundings turn from darkness to light, until it becomes bathed in cheerful morning sunshine on an almost daily basis. :)
Hmmm... life is good! :)
***
======================================================
by Philipina A. Marcelo
I'm a breakfast person... and it's not only because I like Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.'s "Breakfast of Champions". :) During workdays, I like waking up early in the morning and starting my day in the kitchen - cooking "big breakfast" - with the TV tuned in to a sports channel showing replays of tennis matches in
Big breakfast for a "big day"majors or football matches in the background. This suits my work schedule as well because I usually start my lectures at 7:00 AM, or I hear mass at the University church at 7:00 AM when I'm not lecturing. I live about 15 km from the University, and with the Metro-Manila rush-hour traffic, it means I need to leave my house at 6:00 AM to get to the University with a few minutes to spare, say "hi" to people before 7:00 AM. And so, I get up at around 4:30 AM, do my morning stretches and sit-ups while watching Stephen Sackur interview someone on BBC's "HARDtalk", cook... eat breakfast while getting my morning fill of the news... pack my fruit snack, and then prepare to go to work. Yes, I'm one of those lucky people who get to enjoy seeing their surroundings turn from darkness to light, until it becomes bathed in cheerful morning sunshine on an almost daily basis. :)
Hmmm... life is good! :)
***
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Saturday photo
Being a "sari-sari person" who favors "variety", I usually experience "decision paralysis" when faced with a variety of attractive choices... especially shoes. :) Working with brilliant professors in a very demanding and fast-paced Ph.D. Program in Cornell University cured that paralysis! "Focus, focus, focus... to finish!" It was the mantra that got me through it all in the middle of a sea of great things - all very inviting - in that wonderful place of learning. :) But, alas, it was only for the Ph.D. stint and for my professional endeavors! Up to now, I still enjoy the bliss of "variety" in most aspects of my life! :) However, I think that focus is still achievable in the midst of variety when there is "balance" in one's life as well. Hmmm... no, I don't just think it, I believe it - I know it! ;)
***
Note: Once again, this photo was taken using my (very) old Canon EOS Rebel 2000 Film SLR back in the Summer of 2007 at my friends' garden in Ithaca, NY. Once again, because the film did not develop nicely, my scanner was put to task! :)
***
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