Love the new look for blogger. Hope to post more these coming days.
I am thanking the Lord of the following blessings: the A that Sharon S. gave me for our Reporting on Conflict and Peace class, for finishing my MP draft on time, for being able to attend the US Embassy's Tagaytay Seminar and meeting a lot of wonderful new friends there.
Twin goals that I'm praying really hard for the coming days: to be able to find a suitable new home and have a new lease in my career.
I hope the last two months will be better; I had to postpone taking the Diploma in Photojournalism at the ACFJ, to concentrate on my twin goals for now.
It feels like I'm on a crossroads again, having officially finished my MA. New look, new hope, new beginning... I'm leaving it all up to the Big Guy up there to give His blessings and pray for the best.
31 October 2006
Sudoku crazy
Finally, I've caught on the sudoku craze. I tried to solve my first number place puzzle last Friday while at my hotel room in Tagaytay City (I was attending a seminar on anti-corruption sponsored by the US Embassy - details in my next post).
Soon after the delegation arrived at Taal Vista Hotel, we repaired to our own rooms to prepare for dinner and the evening session. While trying to catch a quick nap, I browsed the day's paper and chanced upon the Sudoku puzzle.
Since I was not feeling sleepy anyway, I simply plunged into solving it, not minding its level 5 difficulty rating. Naturally I failed to solve it. My MA classmate Jude, a co-delegate and who is a Mensa member who writes sudoku puzzles for fun, commiserated with my fortune. He did not fail to give me the lowdown on sudoku's origins either, being the genuis that he is.
Anyway, I solved my next attempt - a level 1. The feeling of accomplishment was quite zen-like. Now I'm hooked and on a roll already. Aside from my favorite newspaper, I get my daily fix from this generous site.
Soon after the delegation arrived at Taal Vista Hotel, we repaired to our own rooms to prepare for dinner and the evening session. While trying to catch a quick nap, I browsed the day's paper and chanced upon the Sudoku puzzle.
Since I was not feeling sleepy anyway, I simply plunged into solving it, not minding its level 5 difficulty rating. Naturally I failed to solve it. My MA classmate Jude, a co-delegate and who is a Mensa member who writes sudoku puzzles for fun, commiserated with my fortune. He did not fail to give me the lowdown on sudoku's origins either, being the genuis that he is.
Anyway, I solved my next attempt - a level 1. The feeling of accomplishment was quite zen-like. Now I'm hooked and on a roll already. Aside from my favorite newspaper, I get my daily fix from this generous site.
03 October 2006
Some things hurt more...
than Cars and Girls... or so Paddy wrote and sang in "Cars and Girls".
Paddy is Paddy McAloon of the superb 80's British band Prefab Sprout and thanks to YouTube.com, I've been seeing a lot of them lately these days. And like all honest to goodness music, which PS plays superbly (which is something greatly missed these days), it is healing and lifting my spirit.
Hearing Paddy sing again and seeing their rare videos brought good memories of growing up in a music-filled atmosphere. I discovered Prefab Sprout at about the same time I joined two choirs in the 80's - one in high school and the other in church. Suffice it to say I had a bit of formal training as a tenor in both choirs; I learned how to read notes, blend voices as well as sing solo. I remember having good times with my fellow choir members going as far as Baguio City to sing for churches there. We also took part in church Cantatas and university music festivals.
It's no wonder that music is among my passions. If there was one arena I would have wanted to succeed, it would have been in it; deep inside, I've always been a frustrated musician or rockstar if you will. Now, I only get to sing in the occassional videoke sessions either with my ACFJ classmates or with other good friends (because only good friends tolerate one's less than professional singing hahaha).
But I digress now - see how Prefab Sprout brought up good memories through their music? There is really nothing like to listening to good music - it just triggers a flood of good memories. In this case, I was in double heaven, for I was seeing music videos of again this little known band; I remembered complaining before that their videos rarely received considerable play on MTV.
Now, lo and behold, there they were in YouTube.com in all their 80's glory...
In my book, Prefab Sprout is one of the greatest yet underrated British bands to come out that from glorious musical decade of the 80's (many say THE musical decade and I agree). But while PS was critically acclaimed they only received moderate commercial success. But as Paddy sang, some things hurt more than cars and girls, like too much fame and fortune. Just look at Boy George and George Michael - all 80's icons too (what's with the name George and the slide from fame?).
I couldn't forget the band's line-up. While frontman Paddy McAloon wrote puzzling lyrics, for me he is a great songwriter, singer and guitar and keyboard player. His brother Marty McAloon played bass while childhood buddy Nick Conti played drums. Another friend Wendy Smith provided backup and I must say, hauntingly ephemeral vocals. In some of these YouTube videos, only Paddy and Marty sing, especially in the music festival that they joined in Ireland in 2000; I learned later that Wendy was giving birth hence her absence. Nick reportedly plays with them from time to time. Paddy looked a far cry from his movie star looks these days but his voice remains absolutely youthful and powerful.
The good news is, PS is still performing; I heard they have a new reunion album in the works. Judging from the comments in the youTube videos, I am not alone in wanting the group to come back to perform regularly again and I hope they do.
My all time favorite song by the band, which I consider to be their greatest song is When Love Breaks Down ; this was also their highest rating song which went to number two in the US charts. Paddy's lyrics in this song really hit a homer for me when I first heard it way back:
"...When love breaks down
The lies we tell,
They only serve to fool ourselves,
When love breaks down
The things you do
To stop the truth from hurting you
When love breaks down
You join the wrecks
Who leave their hearts for easy sex..."
There are several other immortal Prefab Sound songs; the following are my favorites:
- The Sound of Crying (haunting and gets better each time you hear it)
- The King of Rock and Roll (with PS' scarcely seen video)
- Appetite (the first PS song that got me hooked to the group)
- Cars and Girls (featuring Wendy's haunting back-up vocals)
- Goodbye Lucille (with Paddy's signature singing)
- Life of Surprises (great video; even greater lyrics = ..."never let your conscience be harmful to your health...")
Actually, all PS songs are classics. Rediscovering Prefab Sprout this time was absolutely providential. Now I'm consumed by the need to store these immortal songs in my walkman phone soon. You know, when the blues hits you, you just tune in to Prefab Sprout and everything turns out fine somehow.
For now, thank you YouTube for having these music videos, I am truly grateful.
To Prefab Sprout - thank you for the music. I am indebted forever.
Paddy is Paddy McAloon of the superb 80's British band Prefab Sprout and thanks to YouTube.com, I've been seeing a lot of them lately these days. And like all honest to goodness music, which PS plays superbly (which is something greatly missed these days), it is healing and lifting my spirit.
Hearing Paddy sing again and seeing their rare videos brought good memories of growing up in a music-filled atmosphere. I discovered Prefab Sprout at about the same time I joined two choirs in the 80's - one in high school and the other in church. Suffice it to say I had a bit of formal training as a tenor in both choirs; I learned how to read notes, blend voices as well as sing solo. I remember having good times with my fellow choir members going as far as Baguio City to sing for churches there. We also took part in church Cantatas and university music festivals.
It's no wonder that music is among my passions. If there was one arena I would have wanted to succeed, it would have been in it; deep inside, I've always been a frustrated musician or rockstar if you will. Now, I only get to sing in the occassional videoke sessions either with my ACFJ classmates or with other good friends (because only good friends tolerate one's less than professional singing hahaha).
But I digress now - see how Prefab Sprout brought up good memories through their music? There is really nothing like to listening to good music - it just triggers a flood of good memories. In this case, I was in double heaven, for I was seeing music videos of again this little known band; I remembered complaining before that their videos rarely received considerable play on MTV.
Now, lo and behold, there they were in YouTube.com in all their 80's glory...
In my book, Prefab Sprout is one of the greatest yet underrated British bands to come out that from glorious musical decade of the 80's (many say THE musical decade and I agree). But while PS was critically acclaimed they only received moderate commercial success. But as Paddy sang, some things hurt more than cars and girls, like too much fame and fortune. Just look at Boy George and George Michael - all 80's icons too (what's with the name George and the slide from fame?).
I couldn't forget the band's line-up. While frontman Paddy McAloon wrote puzzling lyrics, for me he is a great songwriter, singer and guitar and keyboard player. His brother Marty McAloon played bass while childhood buddy Nick Conti played drums. Another friend Wendy Smith provided backup and I must say, hauntingly ephemeral vocals. In some of these YouTube videos, only Paddy and Marty sing, especially in the music festival that they joined in Ireland in 2000; I learned later that Wendy was giving birth hence her absence. Nick reportedly plays with them from time to time. Paddy looked a far cry from his movie star looks these days but his voice remains absolutely youthful and powerful.
The good news is, PS is still performing; I heard they have a new reunion album in the works. Judging from the comments in the youTube videos, I am not alone in wanting the group to come back to perform regularly again and I hope they do.
My all time favorite song by the band, which I consider to be their greatest song is When Love Breaks Down ; this was also their highest rating song which went to number two in the US charts. Paddy's lyrics in this song really hit a homer for me when I first heard it way back:
"...When love breaks down
The lies we tell,
They only serve to fool ourselves,
When love breaks down
The things you do
To stop the truth from hurting you
When love breaks down
You join the wrecks
Who leave their hearts for easy sex..."
There are several other immortal Prefab Sound songs; the following are my favorites:
- The Sound of Crying (haunting and gets better each time you hear it)
- The King of Rock and Roll (with PS' scarcely seen video)
- Appetite (the first PS song that got me hooked to the group)
- Cars and Girls (featuring Wendy's haunting back-up vocals)
- Goodbye Lucille (with Paddy's signature singing)
- Life of Surprises (great video; even greater lyrics = ..."never let your conscience be harmful to your health...")
Actually, all PS songs are classics. Rediscovering Prefab Sprout this time was absolutely providential. Now I'm consumed by the need to store these immortal songs in my walkman phone soon. You know, when the blues hits you, you just tune in to Prefab Sprout and everything turns out fine somehow.
For now, thank you YouTube for having these music videos, I am truly grateful.
To Prefab Sprout - thank you for the music. I am indebted forever.
02 October 2006
Win or lose
Congratulations are in order to UST for winning the 69th UAAP Basketball championships tonight. It has been 10 years since they've last won... The university will surely go all out in celebrating their hard-earned victory. I've yet to confirm whether the UST Tigresses also won the women's basketball crown; if it's true it could be a double celebration for UST, who is considered an athletic powerhouse in the country.
Two of my sisters were athletes here; C used to be with the athletis varsity team while M is now a reserve for the volleyball varsity. M is probably going home late tonight what with the university's celebrations.
Too bad for Ateneo though; this makes it the 2nd or 3rd time for it to be the bridesmaid, with an absent DLSU at that. At any rate, the Blue Eagles will have to console with celebrating the win of the Juniors basketball team last week.
I'm just happy that the UAAP is providing such good sportsmanship for students; the cloud over the cheating scandal last year is slowly being eased out like a bad memory or a disastrous oil slick.
My 2 year stint in college in UST before plus a semester of teaching at the Faculty of Arts and Letters for a semester in 2000 and my current 2 year MA studies in Ateneo make me a proud product of both universities. So win or lose, I still come out privileged for having been associated with either institution. In my book, both schools are winners in their own right.
(It's just too bad that the UAAP site is not updated for people like me who were not able to watch the game live or on TV. Although the site indeed looked very promising).
Two of my sisters were athletes here; C used to be with the athletis varsity team while M is now a reserve for the volleyball varsity. M is probably going home late tonight what with the university's celebrations.
Too bad for Ateneo though; this makes it the 2nd or 3rd time for it to be the bridesmaid, with an absent DLSU at that. At any rate, the Blue Eagles will have to console with celebrating the win of the Juniors basketball team last week.
I'm just happy that the UAAP is providing such good sportsmanship for students; the cloud over the cheating scandal last year is slowly being eased out like a bad memory or a disastrous oil slick.
My 2 year stint in college in UST before plus a semester of teaching at the Faculty of Arts and Letters for a semester in 2000 and my current 2 year MA studies in Ateneo make me a proud product of both universities. So win or lose, I still come out privileged for having been associated with either institution. In my book, both schools are winners in their own right.
(It's just too bad that the UAAP site is not updated for people like me who were not able to watch the game live or on TV. Although the site indeed looked very promising).
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