Copy Blindly and Understand Later

                                        By  Vic  Odarve

Failed to understand and behind in a math discussion? Just copy blindly and understand your notes later.

This is an engineering student’s way of life – abounds of mathematical theorems, formulas, principles, transformations, and a lot more. What a life! So, anybody would like to become an Engineer? And adding to the pain, once students behind in a discussion, teachers just told them boldly,” Just copy blindly and understand it later”. Copying without understanding? That’s it. This is the picture painted inside the classroom. The lecturer did no longer explain the details of the steps on how the previous course of mathematical principles and techniques are done. “These steps are supposed to be learned in your previous course, and the class is running out of time,” lecturer told the students. That’s why students who did poorly in the previous math are frustrated. Sounds hopeless? Not at all; just copy blindly and understand the notes later!

Math lecturer

 Copying blindly simply means noting down whatever the steps the lecturer has done in the classroom, even without complete understanding on what you have copied. This is the common scenarios in an engineering classroom. The lecturer is a lecturer and nothing more. He knows how to weigh things, whether to review or not, otherwise he will be behind or may not complete the topic before the semester ends. So as a result “just copy blindly “. It is the students’ initiative; teaching them that to become an engineer is not a bed of roses. Math professors like Einstein, work and solves worded problems lightning speed that only few can fully understand. Since math is like a ladder and if students had poor performance in their previous courses, this time it takes its toll. As a result, students just copy without understanding. But this is a significant step…first step to develop how the students can catch up the tremendous pressure to pass the course.

Madonna University

However, this scenario is not so horrible. This message” copy blindly and study later” encourages the students to study more. This means that students must revisit their notes and lessons after the class. The phrase “understand later” lingers in their memory urging them to review on what happen to their notes or else next meeting they do the same.... Copy blindly and completed the bachelor’s degree in six to eight years instead of five. Most often students will find that after a little review in a discussion that initially baffled them will all of a sudden make sense. Thus, like a gravitational pull exerted by dark energy in the expanding universe, “copying blindly and understand later” challenges the students.

Copy blindly and study later

Subsequently, the students develop a habit of opening the notes and review everything there on what was discussed by the teacher every after the classroom session. Believe it or not, that slowly and surely, the students develop the habits of doing these practices every after the class session. The turn of events is now clear: students find themselves loving mathematics! The phrase “copy blindly and understand later” becomes the thing of the past.

When the Baby Smiles

When the Baby Smiles

By Vic Odarve

When a baby smiles, it brings more than a smile. It is a smile that develops a feeling of attachment and bonding. Unlike all other smiles, a smile from a child is more powerful and appealing. It is contagious, that is, it has an ability to make others also smiling. Children are gifts from God and their smile captures the tenor of your day.

A smile can change your mood of the day

When a baby smiles we can’t help but smile back at them. There is something strange developed within your heart; a feeling of connection and bonding. This sensation plays an important role in their development. They felt secure and safe. Smiles are their way of communications and relay some important information. Your payback smile, too, helps the babies learn and understand about the world around them. Thus, slowly and surely, connection and bonding develop…a bond more powerful when two atoms share one or more pairs of electrons form a molecule.

Innocent smile

What makes their smiles more powerful and enchanting are their innocent and fascinating faces to look at. Their simple, sincere, and straightforward smile can attract more than admiring looks. Their cheeks rise and the skin around their eyes bunches up…a true feature of a true smile. Their smiles are also bliss for all those seeking happiness of other people. Unlike adults whose smiles are often fakes and superficial, children offer perfect smiles. Going back to our old pictures while we were still young and carefree, and eager to explore the world is itself a source of entertainment. Our smiles, then, were once powerful and fascinating… showing to the world our innocence!

Children have an ability to make others also smiling. Their gestures and smiles are very interesting, especially to observe if they are doing funny things in a crowd. It can make your day smiling and forget the daily toxic stresses. It alters your depressive mood to happier one and sets the tenor of your day. “To see the kids' smile on their face, it brings a smile to my face too," said Hagler, who has been involved with the

Young and carefree

foundation for children for over a decade. Over the long term, smiling can have a positive effect on our well-being; improve our health, perception at work, social life, and feel happier and less stressed. A good smile can help release emotions, especially those emotions that might bottle up inside our heart.

Therefore, children’s smiles are something that connects us together to their world; so unique and interesting that it makes also others smiling. Their smiles are more than a smile! 

Simple Joys That Nature can Offer

By Vic Odarve

Mother Nature has, and always be, offers her inexpensive entertainment. From the forested land and mountains, an orchestra of birds doing choir. In the sky, canopy of clouds is drifting above our heads doing a military drill and at night stars are twinkling in unison like an entertainment in the heavens. Back to our sandy beaches and rivers, beautiful sights will stick in your mind for the rest of your life. Nature has, and forever be, gives pleasures free of charge to everybody!

Dining at Floating restaurant in Loay,Bohol

It is always a joy to visit farms with our family and kids as weekend retreat area. Nearby are mountains, dense forest, and a pristine river. What we do there! Feel the earth. We feel like walking through mist and clouds along the mountain ranges, meet all the fairies and magical creatures, and watch the birds doing orchestra along the canopies. By remembering our good old childhood days, it is sort of feeling that cannot be captured on camera and more than the old pictures hanging on the wall.

Mayana Village, panoramic view - borders Boctol and Bangwalog

During daytime, clouds can be seen drifting above our heads. At nighttime, it is a joy to see the canopy of stars twinkling in all the heavens; stretching like an enormous spider’s web scattered in all directions across the vastness of the cosmic ocean. Feel the presence of our Creator; we owe our lives to these stars. By thus doing, we feel the joy the Nature gives.

Walking alone or with your love ones along the sandy beaches or take a ride on a floating restaurant alongside in a river is a joy by itself; spend some moments watching fireflies at the banks of a river or the thrill of observing trees decorated with bird’s nests or dined with your family seeing the

Tree flowered bird's nests

beautiful panorama underlining the river upstream open our eyes to the outside world. For a moment, we feel the tranquility of our lives from the toxic city life.

As we see it, Natur gives pleasure free of charge to everybody; from forested lands and mountains, clouds and stars, to sandy beaches and rivers. It is all given unconditionally… to the poor, the rich, and the mighty! 

Manny Pacquiao; the Last Frontier for Mayweather

By Vic Odarve

The fight is on! Both fighters have agreed on May 2, 2015!

Pacquiao has been an eyesore for Mayweather; a hindrance to his fame and glory; and his last frontier to cement his 47-win without a single loss to his record. For more than five years, boxing enthusiasts see Pacquiao as the legitimate contender- an eyesore to Mayweather. By all indications, a win in this fight puts Mayweather as the best welterweight boxers on this planet; hence this fight is the last frontier to cement his legacy.

Pacquiao vs Mayweather

Yes, an eyesore! To date Pacquiao keeps on winning after three fights among the best in his division… a picture difficult to ignore by Mayweather who is also on the same division. This megabout for this two pound for pound kings on the division has been a fight the boxing world has been clamoring for the past five years.

A win will catapult Mayweather to the best welterweight fighters of this generation. That is why Pacquiao would be his last frontier in boxing profession before retiring for good. But if Pacquiao wins, history puts him the honor and record as a boxer who beat Mayweather… tainting his zero loss record.

De la Hoya after the fight

Predictions on who will win this blockbuster fight are difficult. Mayweather is the defensive specialist, while Pacquiao is a punching machine with power. Many boxing analysts claimed Mayweather have many advantages; from the heavily built body, defensive boxing prowess, and able to read and adjust his game at early stage and exploit the weaknesses of his opponents. Pacquiao, on other hand, maybe one of the most versatile southpaws; with power punches deliver in uncanny angles, can move in and out, and exhibit faster hand speed.

A few years ago, my prediction for Pacquiao fights against De La Hoya and Margarito was terribly wrong. I believed that both de la Hoya and Margarito, with bigger frame and possess a track record as one of the best punchers won those fights. Instead, both were pulverized by the speed and the power of the smaller Pacquiao. But, that time Pacquiao was in the prime of his career!

Margarito after the fight

Today, it would be difficult to predict the outcome. It would be on May 2 the protagonists will give their best in the ring. This would put an end to a question on who is better among these two boxing superstars.  And who will win! Nobody knows! 

Math Becomes Easy

By Vic Odarve

“Really math becomes easy when the teacher explains well and I follow it up at home”, exclaimed an engineering student.

Competent teacher, conduct a review of the notes every after the class, and practice by reworking the steps, are all needed to understand math. Math professor, like King Solomon, must discuss math in an eloquent and conversationalist way, expert and master on the course topics, and has ability to challenge the students. Students, on the part, they must review the notes after the class to enhance memory retention. Then, actual rework or practice on what was discussed and solved in the classroom. And math becomes an easy prey!

Engineering students-madonna University,Nigeria

The professor  must know very well the intricacies and beauty of the numbers hidden in math; he can explain lucidly the subject matter in a simple way and invite the students who are afraid of numbers to ask and interact during the classroom discussion. The classroom becomes a learning place where students often refer to as their second home. This is the place where they can voice out and share their own opinion with others; and learn from their classmates by asking. Competent teacher is like an environmental designer; keeps classroom atmosphere conducive to learning. He establishes redlines; build up student’s confidence, and keep the math course easy and simple instead of intimidating and frightening.

Conducting a review on the topics discuss in the classroom proves to retain further one’s memory. The study showed that the first in a two- hour lecture is the most effective period for memory retention. Faced with this dilemma, a review after the class is needed to recover part of the time where memory retention was least. Reading the notes for a few minutes after classroom strengthen further your memory. Any lapses and misunderstood notes can be easily corrected by recalling your memory.

Professor in Math

Finally, students must rework the problems and its solution steps. Although simple as it is, this is the most important part of learning math. The practice enables students to understand the whys, how, and when, these steps are done. It keeps their mind working; challenging ideas at will, and keeps them on the state of analyzing and recognizing patterns. Math is like a game of chess; sometimes pondering the board to find the best moves over your opponents; the clearer the picture over the situation, the better your moves and win the games. Reworking the classroom’s lectures makes understanding perfect!

It is not that math is difficult because it is math

Workbooks in Math

and students could not get along with numbers; with competent teachers, coupled with regular patience to open your notes after the class, and constant practice, learning math becomes easy and enjoyable. Students and math, then become the very best of friends.

China and Russia; Equated to Nazi Germany

By Vic Odarve

A glimpse on world history showed that countries which started a huge, bloody conflict and blown out into catastrophic proportions have a common denominator; authoritarian rule, expansionist policy, and bullying small and powerless neighbors. Authoritarian rule is akin to martial law whose leaders often perceive as rulers with unlimited powers; few elite people make decisions and control the economy. In order to grow their influence and economic reasons, they have to expand the territories under the guises of freeing their oppressed people. Through their advanced and better military hardwares, they intimidate and bully small and powerless neighbors. Nazi Germany did it before. Today, China and Russia are equated to Nazi Germany.

President Putin

Both China and Russia are authoritarian countries; that is, only a few manage and control the government, and repress their citizens. Russia, a corrupt country fights its survival to make its place safe for corruption. Since authoritarian rule represses their citizens, many journalists who try to investigate the government’s shadowy activities and transactions die a horrible and excruciating death, leaving neither traces nor investigation. Both countries have a tightly controlled political system that leaves little room for dissent. Confrontation seems futile; people are too scared to form a united opposition. A few weeks ago, China executed prominent business tycoon Liu Han, chairman of the Hanlong Group, and Forbes ranked the 148^th richest person in China in 2012. He was charged of running a crime syndicate and involved in a campaign of intimidation since 1990. In Russia, Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man, was put in prison in 2005 on charges of tax evasion and fraud. Some European countries including the United States accused Russia of "selective prosecution" and abuse of the legal system.

China President Xi Jinping with Pres. Obama

One common ambition of these two countries is to expand the present territories, whether by force or by other stealthy moves. Putin wants to restore the old USSR with Russia as the center of its power and powerful army in the heart of its satellites including Ukraine. That is the picture before the collapse of the federation in 1992. Today, slowly and slowly, he is now attempting to reassert Russian leadership over the post-Soviet states, and intervenes economically and militarily in its “near abroad. Russia sent its tanks into Georgia in 2008, invaded and annexed Crimea by stealth last year, and played proxy war in Eastern Ukraine. Its shadowy incursion into Georgia and Ukraine speaks it all.

South China Sea

China, on the other hand,  claimed almost the entire South China Sea - an area defined by the "nine-dash line" which Beijing says its right to the area comes from 2,000 years of history where the Paracel and Spratly island chains were regarded as integral parts of the Chinese nation. Both the Philippines and China lay claim to the Scarborough Shoal which is located 100 miles (160km) from the Philippines and 500 miles from China.

With powerful military at their disposal, both countries tend to intimidate and bully their neighbors by military posturing, invading the sovereignty, and annexing territory. China, on the other hand, turned deaf ears from their neighbors’ complaints; built an airstrip and conducted oil exploration in the contested South China Sea. Russia warned US and NATO and EU to keep out from Ukraine for he has nuclear power that could lead to nuclear Armageddon.

Putin, far more dangerous than politicians, is on the diplomatic table for Ukraine on his proxy war; winning major concession such as restoration of Ukrainian control over the border with Russia in the separatist-controlled areas, and grant wide powers to the eastern regions, including the right to form their own police force and trade freely with Russia. China defies any diplomatic effort on his own; refuses to participate in a United Nations arbitration process. Economic sanctions hit Russia, but it does not deter Putin; cases were filed by Asian countries for China, but China ignores it.

As always shown in history, appeasement or concession to an aggressor does not work as in the case of Hitler; economic sanctions may bite, but does not always sway these leaders to back down; military solution accelerates the fuel burning. Only diplomatic effort may save from these conflicts to a nuclear explosion. These leaders when cornered choose instead to escalate the crisis and risk an all-out confrontation. China and Russia offer their new world order calculus, but, most people say, can be equated to Nazi Germany.

Connection Works!

                                By Vic Odarve

Due to the perennial problems of unemployment, salary increases and promotions, and business transactions, people look a connection to politicians, celebrities and government officials, and other among the country’s bigwigs for help or assistance. In finding a job, for instance, whether government or private corporations, it is whom you know and not what you know that matters most. These connections also pull salary increases and promotions. In business transactions, connections provide a loophole to facilitate faster on the paper processing. Connections to people in higher positions really work!

Napoles entangled three senators in scam because of connection

Nowadays, employment is easier if somebody introduces you and follow up your application. It is like politics in motion. With so many applicants, connection to a person with higher position or country’s stalwarts and bigwigs prevails over qualification, work experiences, and skills. Politicians and government officials often dictate the vacant positions; hence their families and relatives and those with connections come first. That is why parents with children searching for a job in the future build up connection with politicians and influential people. Job would be easier later.

Promotions and salary increases, the vital indicators of your working performances come easily if you have someone influential within the organization. They will recommend, assess, evaluate your work, then salary or promotion follows. Such was a case of an electrician for having somebody with a close connection with the company’s president. He received an unprecedented huge salary increase that a few months later his fellow workers, upon discovery, resign from their jobs because of dismay and discouragement. Today, we understand why many of our co-workers prepare cakes and pastries, offer helps and expensive gifts that

Old generation did not know  what connection is.

please our boss, especially on their birthdays, anniversaries, etc. just to establish connections.

Whether in government or private corporations, the connection works. In government, for instance, a business permit requires approval from a layer of offices; takes longer time and sometimes red tape. But with connections to these offices, usually officials and relatives, it is just as simple as eating peanut… no need to participate in the long queue for paper processing.

The world today seems to be cruel as the poor becomes poorer while rich becomes richer. Because of connection, it is usually the poor

These Nigerian students know very well what connection means.

that suffer much depriving of employment, salary increases, and promotion. Although connection is an art of corruption in a peaceful way, in a larger sense it is synonymous to graft and bribery. Like Janet Napoles, she set up parties for politicians and bigwigs in society to establish connections. She and the three senators entangled with the law and ended in jail for graft and corruption.

Just like Einstein’s theory of relativity space-time warps and bends in the presence of mass and energy, connection destroys the moral fiber of the population and trust of the people to the government. It contradicts our values and principles; shapes a different outlook on our life. Although often perceive as a bribe, the connection still works!