Are you a candidate of the Quagmire Syndrome?

 Are you a candidate of the Quagmire Syndrome? 

Goya's most intriguing painting - a lecture on humanity.

Dr Abe V Rotor

Living with Nature School on Blog

Goya's Two Peasants Fighting, 1819-23 Oil on plaster transferred to canvas 48.5 x 105 in. Museo National del Prado, Madrid. They are so concerned with their quarrel that they do not appear  to realize that they are sinking into quicksand.  

When people in a community fail to establish by whatever reason a strong sense of cooperation and mutual trust; 

When the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer; more so when the rich are preying upon the poor; 

When measures of progress are based merely on Economics (GDP), and not on Human Development Index (HDI); 

When growing affluence and rising income, the key to the Good Life, does not bring in true happiness to the individual and society;

When people are drawn out of their natural communities in search of opportunities, leading to the growth of cities into megapolises; 

When tradition and change become estranged, holding on to each other's own schools and followers, creating divided cultures;

When differences among nations are brought to the ultimate solution which is war, rather of fully exploring peaceful means; 

When genders are no longer respected of their roles in procreation, in adhering to ethical and moral norms, and true sense of identity in society;

When forests continue to vanish, rivers run dry, air and water fouled, wasteland expands,  at the expense of progress - and bleak future of the next generations;   

When knowledge pushes its limits into breakthroughs of inventions and discoveries both beneficial and destructive, and not knowing the difference;

When a person blindly believes in his or her own holiness as a means of reaching heaven after death, without due regard of the environment, of others particularly those who are less fortunate;

When families become divided by opportunities and circumstances, and fail to keep the family as the primordial social unit; 

When globalization continues to erase the boundaries of knowledge, faith, ideologies, culture, commence, and the like; 

When governance fails as it is likely exacerbated by fast increasing population and growing affluence, unheeded by conventions and summits; 

Then, we are for these matters mentioned, candidate victims of the Quagmire Syndrome. ~
     

The Cricket - Nature's Violinist

The Lighter Side of Human Nature 

The Cricket - Nature's Violinist

Dr Abe V Rotor 

                                                  Field cricket (Acheta bimaculata) fiddling

Aesop called you like your kin, the grasshopper, sluggard,

     for heeding not your want for the rainy day;
In summer you fiddle all day and the whole night through,
     lilting the spirits of those at work or play.

I say, what could earn best their place and their existence,
     but to unburden the load of the world;
etching a living, each thought nothing else but living,
     than sweet violin and a little kind word? ~ 

Listen keenly the music of the crickets on a dark night.

and analyze their cacophony of sounds - from mating 

calls, territorial warnings, to battle cries. 

Another fiddler of Nature is the long-horned grasshopper (Phaneroptera furcifera).  Note personal dedication of the book - Light from the Old Arch - for the late Monsignor Danny Sta Maria.  He did not live long to receive the book.  He was one of the early victims of COVID-19.

Author plays the violin before an aquarium of Oscar fish.  At home, QC Do fish understand human music?

Deceiving Beauty in Nature

Deceiving Beauty in Nature

"Oh, beauty!  

Empty valley, dying waterfall, 

no birds, no living soul!"  - avr

Paintings by Dr Abe V Rotor

Avalanche

"Beauty in destruction, consequence of man's vanity

 in creating a world against natural beauty." - avr

Forest Cemetery 

"Once high rise, 

proud, lord of the sky, 

 humbled by the elements,

neglect and time." - avr 

Spent Landscape

"Oh, beauty!  

Empty valley, dying waterfall, 

no birds, no living soul!"  - avr

Predators Lurking 

"Where is Pieta in the deep,

           compassion, love, peace?" - avr

Where are the nesting birds?

"Beauty in emptiness, only the artist can tell;

real or imagined, the secret in his brush." - avr 

Take a break with jokes more often in these pandemic times. The lighter side of Human Nature

                               The lighter side of Human Nature 3 

                             Take a break with jokes*

Dr Abe V Rotor 

Living with Nature School on Blog 

Light moments, Amadeo, Cavite, author (3rd from right) with his students at the UST graduate school. 

1. When the Creator gave out brains, I thought he said trains - and I missed mine! When He gave out good looks, I thought he said books - and I didn't want any! And when He said noses, I thought he said roses - and I ordered a big red one.

 2. A fellow in a lunatic asylum sat fishing over a flower bed.  A visiting doctor, wishing to be friendly asked.
"How many have you caught?"
Answered the not-so-dumb fisherman, "You are the ninth."

Here are two kinds of jokes: witty but biting (left); and humor built on homonyms - words that sound the same but have different meanings.. 

 

3. Not so long three lunatics escaped from a large asylum. Search officers combed the surrounding countryside for twenty-four hours, and they finally brought in five.

4. A grade-school student was having trouble with punctuation. "Never mind, sonny," said the visiting school board president, consolingly. "It's foolish to bother about commas; they don't amount too much, anyway." "Elizabeth Ann," said the teacher, "please write this sentence on the board: "The president of the board says the teacher is misinformed." "Now," she continued, "put a comma after the board and another after teacher."

5. It often happens that I wake at night and begin to think about a serious problem and decide I must tell the Pope about it. Then I wake up completely and remember that I am the Pope. (Pope John Paul XXIII)

6. Here's a story about smart kids. "I wonder why people say Amen and not Awomen?" Bobby questioned. His little friend replied, "Because they sing hymns and not hers, silly."

7. Motorist: "Your honor, I was not drunk.  I was only drinking."  Judge: "Well, in that case I an not going to send you to jail for one month - only for 30 days." 

 8. Here's a story for the political candidate for the coming election. Voter: "Why, I wouldn't vote for you if you were Saint Peter himself." Candidate: 'if I were Saint Peter, you couldn't vote for me - you wouldn't be in my district."

9. In prehistoric times, cavemen had a custom of beating the ground with clubs and uttering spine-chilling cries. Anthropologists call this a form of primitive self-expression. When modern men go through the same ritual, they call it golf.

10.  Here is a "sick" joke 
A young woman boarded a crowded bus. A tired little man got up and gave her his seat. There was a moment of silence. "I beg your pardon?" said the tired man. "I didn't say anything," replied the young woman. "I'm sorry," said the man. "I thought you said 'Thank you.'

 Here's another sick and sadistic joke - indeed a very bad example. 

*July 1, 2021 - International Joke Day Celebration

Lesson on former Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio 738 DZRB AM Band, 8 to 9 evening class, Monday to Friday   

Acknowledgment: Jokes, Quotes and One-Liners for Public Speakers by Prochnow H V and HV Prochnow Jr; Speaker's Encyclopedia of Humor by Jacob Braude, Prentice-Hall; Internet for posters and quips. 

Activity: Write down jokes you can recall. They should be witty, clean and meaningful. Avoid vulgar jokes. Give credit to the source. Compile them into a collection or book. It could be your masterpiece of a lifetime. ~

Practice the art of telling jokes. The Lighter Side of Human Nature

The Lighter Side of Human Nature  

“Everything in nature invites us constantly to be what we are.” – Gretel Ehrlich

Practice the art of telling jokes 

"Compile your jokes into a collection or book.  

It could be your masterpiece of a lifetime. " - avr

Dr Abe V Rotor

Author takes time out from hectic work schedule. Tagaytay

The art of telling stories that are humorous and witty, jolting people from their seats, or simply breaking the ice, so to speak, is an art. It disarms people from bad mood, lightens the load of daily grind, and makes them share it.. their own jokes and wits as well.

1. On waking up and find yourself a millionaire

Five Filipinos were discussing what they would do if they awoke one morning to discover that they were millionaires.

• The Cebuano said he would build a big cockpit arena.
• The Manileño said he would go to Las Vegas and have a good time.
• The Palaweño said he would build an island resort.
• The Ilocano said he would deposit the money in the bank and live on its interest.
• The Boholano said he would go to sleep again to see if he could make another million.

2. Why does a captain go down with his ship?

A soldier who lost his rifle was lectured by his captain and told he would have to pay for it.

"Sir," gulped the soldier, "Suppose I lose a tank, will I have to pay it, too."

" Yes, you will, even if it takes your whole life in the army."

"Now I know why a captain goes down with his ship."

3. Honesty really pays

Two friends were riding a bus and had just reached their destination. At the station one of them realized she hadn't paid her fare. Confessing to her friend she asked, "Did you pay for me?" To which her friend wryly answered, "No."

"Well, I'll go right up and pay."

"Why bother? That's just a small matter, and you were able to get away with it."

"I believe that honesty always pays." And virtuously she went to see and pay the conductor.

She returned holding a fifty-peso bill. "See, I told you honesty always pays!" "I handed a twenty-peso bill and he gave me this change." ~

3. Time and space

"The distance between Manila and New York is the same as from New York to Manila." Explained one of three friends.

"Well, not when you come back on the other side of the globe."

"What do you think, Jon-Jon?"

"I dunno; its just a week from Christmas to New Year, but is it a week from New Year to Christmas?"

4. Just the same

"If you have your life to live over," the prominent octogenarian was asked, "do you think you'd make the same mistakes again?"

"Certainly," said the old man, "But I'd start sooner."

5. Memory lapse

"Have you forgotten that 500 pesos I lent you a month ago?"

"Not yet, give me time." ~

6. Disparity

In his Sunday mass homily, the priest told the faithful, "As I look around, I ask myself, 'Where are the poor?' "

"But when I look at the collection, I say to myself, 'Where are the rich?' "

7. A five-letter word is the real problem

A five-letter word,

not enemy, not study,

not bored, not birth,

neither dying nor death;

wanting around the world

in springtime or autumn,

in dark days or sunny -

this five-letter word;

craved by everybody

none other but money.~

Author with his students at UST in a field work; children in frolic shrieking in joy and lilting at the top of their voices.

Activity: Write down jokes you can recall. They should be witty, clean and meaningful. Avoid vulgar jokes. Compile them into a collection or book.  It could be your masterpiece of a lifetime.

Anecdotes: Qualities and Examples. Yes, you can be a good story teller.

Anecdotes: Qualities and Examples 

Yes, you can be a good story teller. 

Dr Abe V Rotor

Living with Nature - School on Blog [avrotor.blogspot.com]


Lesson: We are all storytellers. Everyday we love telling, and listening to stories. Stories come in anecdotes, fables, parables, folklore, humorous quips, and simply short accounts of an experience or about the surroundings. But how good are we in this art of story telling? Our aim is to hone this talent and to express it well.

Jose Rizal and the moth. He wrote My Last Farewell with the symbol of the moth which singed into the flame – martyrdom. 

Guy de Maupassant, French short story writer. His works are wide read in school in different languages. Ernest Hemingway, novelist and short storyteller, Nobel Prize awardee. Camilo Osias books were extensively used in the elementary schools during the Commonwealth and Post Commonwealth Period. Abraham Lincoln, Father of American Anecdotes.

Story telling is an art. Strive for the “state-of-the-art of story telling”

It is characterized by

• Witticism
• Humor
• Inspirational, positivism
• Informative and educational
It is a combination of these elements that make a good story, depending on the topics and application.

Application

• As a speaker/ resource person
• Presiding in meetings and conferences
• Informal gatherings /parties
• Writing, news, features
• Broadcasting – radio and TV

Stories are used as tool in

• Driving a point indirectly, diplomatically
• Hitting the nail on the head, so to speak
• Friendly advice and reminder
• Admiration of a person, institution or place
• Tapping a shoulder in words, kudos, congratulations

A good story / anecdote is never

• Moralism (Even a homily should strive not to proselytizing)
• Criticism, especially on persons
• Bulgarism – use kind words be, discreet, dignified
• Familiarism – not all too familiar topics
• Fatalism – bato bato sa langit syndrome
• Propagandism – like politicizing

Selected Anecdotes of the Great

Christopher Columbus waited for seven long years for the King of Spain to decide on his plan to search a new land West. King of Portugal refused to help him. Henry the VII refused.  Charles VIII of France also refused. All hopes gone … then the queen of Spain through Juan Perez her chaplain, sent money to buy clothes and hose, to see the Queen Queen Isabella received Columbus. Condition to be promoted to Admiral and entitled one-tenth of all the wealth, He was refused. A messenger overtook him. And Columbus once more went to the Court . Got the nod of the King and Queen but actually cost them nothing. Port of Palos under displeasure for unpaid taxes and liable of heavy fines. Palos was ordered to provide Columbus his needs. Three ships and men from the town. Came the Pinzon brothers provided Pinta, Nia and Santa Maria.

Magnetic North – is not the true north, and its direction varies from different places on the earth’s surface. But Columbus told the worried crew that it’s not the compass that is wrong but the north star which moved from time to time. And the sailors were satisfied – and they headed into the unknown. It took five long weeks to see land. West Indies (Columbus believed it was part of India) part of Cuba.

David Livingstone – After 4 and 1/2 years no news about him, thought to have been dead, a young man by the name of Stanley was sent by an American newspaper. There at Ujiji, he found Livingstone. Stanley took off his hat.

“Dr Livingstone, I suppose?”

“Yes,” he said with a kind smile, lifting his cap slightly and shook hands. It was one of the most famous meetings in history.

David and Goliath the boy. Everyday for 6 weeks Goliath was challenging the Israelites to a duel. David arrived carrying food for the soldiers. David was not afraid and said, “Who does this great boaster think he is?” His brothers scolded him. But Saul the king heard him. David offered to fight Goliath.

"But you are not even a soldier."

"Back home I took care of my father’s sheep... fought lions, bears. I chased and killed them."

"But put your armor first." It was too big and heavy. David took his staff and sling, picked five smooth stones from a stream, and walked confidently to meet Goliath.

It was Goliath's last laugh of his life.

Florence Nightingale – In the night hours, sometimes long after midnight, Florence used to walk through the quiet wards to see that all was well, carrying a little lamp to light her way.

Such was her love for her patients. And soldiers loved, even the rough soldiers, used to kiss her shadow as she passed. Thus she was called The Lady with the Lamp.

She received the highest award from Queen Victoria – a diamond brooch with “Crimea, Blessed are the merciful” engraved on it. ~

Napoleon Bonaparte took the crown from the hands of the Pope and he crowned himself as Emperor of France Dec 2, 1804 church of Notre Dame. He owed the crown to no one except himself. His mother shook her head and murmured, “If only it lasts.”

After a series of victories, even after the battle of Trafalgar (combined Spanish and French fleet defeated by Nelson), he tried to govern all of Europe.

He met his defeat at Waterloo in the hands of the Duke of Ellinton. Today, Waterloo is the inevitable downfall of a person.

Joan of Arc did not use her sword. She led the attack on New Orleans with shining armor and banner, and rallied the French forces. On seeing her army, the English soldiers were terrified - The Maid, The Maid! Believing in witchcraft, they fled headlong.

Wounded by an arrow in the shoulder at Tourelles after New Orleans, the French soldiers retreated, until she reappeared. And the French won.~

NOTE: These anecdotes were purposely contracted as outline for speech or similar presentation. The reason is to discourage reading before the audience, and to allow spontaneity and flexibility in telling the story.~

*Lesson on former Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid (People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio 738 DZRB AM, [www.pbs.gov.ph] 8-9 evening class Monday to Friday 

Self-Administered Test on Lives of Great Men and Women

 Self-Administered Test on Lives of Great Men and Women

Dr Abe V Rotor 

1. Admiral Horatius Nelson protected England by ruling the seas while Napoleon Bonaparte ruled the land – two titans who knew their games.

Vincent van Gogh, self-portrait

2. “If I were given three days to see,” Helen Keller said that on the first day she would feast her eyes on God’s creation, near and far.

3. Rembrandt, the greatest Dutch painter painted his masterpiece “Night watch” a huge mural; it can be compared with our own Juan Luna who painted “Spolarium.”

4. Vincent Van Gogh is a founder of impressionism, a revolution in art which started in France in the later part of the 18th century.

5. So realistic are Van Gogh’s paintings that sunflower is sunflower, and starry, starry night is starry, almost real to the senses.

6. Two saints who lived with the people – at the grassroots are Joan of Arc and Francis of Assisi. They are people’s saints.

7. Francis of Assisi is the father of ecology. Ecologists today have apparently missed St. Francis brand of an ecologist – reverence for life. Before anything else, revere life.

8. Julius Caesar was so proud he compared himself with Alexander the Great that at the age 30, he said that there is no empire left which he had not conquered.

9. Alexander the Great, two thousand five hundred years ago conceived the idea of a United Nations, and a European Union, both of which are today the greatest institutions ever built by man.

10. Princess Diana’s greatest legacy to humanity is a life she led – so personal, so touching, so concerned for the commoner – nay the unfortunate, that ultimately provided a “mirror on the wall” for the aristocracy, humiliating and humbling.

11. Mother Teresa was never undaunted, never wavered from her commitment for the poorest among the poor; never losing hope, never doubted her fellowmen.

12. “The Lady of the Lamp” is referred to no other than the Madam Curie, because the radium she was handling emitted tremendous radiation.

13. Philosophy – both ancient and modern – can be traced ultimately to Socrates, be it Platonian, or Aristotelian, the philosophies of Emmanuel Kant, Marx, Thoreau.

14. There are great men who became famous for their prophesies - Nostradamus and Malthus. One saw tomorrow, the other the four horsemen of Apocalypse.

15. Mozart and Beethoven had extreme temperaments, so with their music. Mozart is therapeutic, Beethoven’s forceful and majestic.

16. Charles Dickens was one of the greatest storytellers of all times, he wrote Les Miserables and War and Peace, the world acclaimed best novels. 

17. Albert Schweitzer and David Livingstone were both explorers and Christian missionaries in the South America.

18. If Americans have Abraham Lincoln, Filipinos has Ramon Magsaysay.

19. If Austrians had Amadeus Mozart, we Filipinos have Felipe de Leon.

20. If England has a Florence Nightingale, we have Fe del Mundo. (PHOTO)

21. If US has a Luther Burbank, the plant Wizard, we have also Nemesio Mendiola, the man who made kenaf spineless.

22. Louis Pasteur was medical doctor, so Charles Darwin. Both however, did not practice their profession.

23. Perhaps the greatest inventor of the 19th century with the greatest number of patented inventions was Thomas Alva Edison. His most difficult invention was the incandescent lamp – he experimented on hundreds of materials in search of the bulb’s filament.

24. One man fought a nation, and save a nation, abhorring violence His only weapon: peaceful protest and civil disobedience in asceticism that swept the land, people revering him as father and almost god. His name is Gandhi.

25. Little do we know of the unknown great man, like the Unknown Soldier, yet he represents countless people whose deeds are also those of great men and women we revere today. ~

Author's Note: 

In Thomas Gray’s Elegy on a Country Churchyard, “Full many a gem of purest ray serene at the bottom of the ocean, full many a many flower that bloom in the desert… this unknown great man did not die in vain, in the same way we should regard ourselves because we – all of us has the capacity to be great. Bringing up our children to become good citizens, being a Samaritan on a lonely road, embracing a returning Prodigal Son, “plugging a hole in the dike like the boy who saved Holland from being engulfed by the sea,” or living life the best way we can that make other live the same – these and countless deeds make us great, and if in that little way we fall short of it, then each and everyone of us putting each small deeds together, make the greatest deed ever, for the greatest thing humans can do is collective goodness – the key to true unity and harmony.

4F (Expressionism), 5F, 12F (Florence Nightingale), 16F (Victor Hugo),  17F (Africa), 19T/F (also Nicanor Abelardo), 22F.  The rest of the items are True.

LESSON on former Paaralang Bayan sa Himpapawid

(People's School-on-Air) with Ms Melly C Tenorio
DZRB 738 AM Monday to Friday, 8 to 9 Evening Class