Start Of School Blues/Don't Need No Inductrination Or Poor Quality Education: We Don't Need No Education By Pink Floyd

With the all the problems that I've been having with the internet that I forgot this week is the first week of school. I bet that a lot of kids are crying "Not Again" on their way to school. When we were younger, the first day of school was the worst day for a kid after two and half months of freedom. Nevertheless, education is still important as means to better future but the problem is the quality of education given to our children is so poor that they can't apply what they learn outside the classroom. For me, when the first day of school came, I would listen to Pink Floyd's song "We Don't Need No Education".

Even though we'd rather have an extension of even a few days, when it was time to go, it's time. Still, kids these should count themselves lucky because teachers now try to reach out to their students in an effort to get them motivated. Back in my days, the teachers were sadist who punished their students for the sheer joy of it and if you didn't meet their expectations, you can bet that you're headed for remedial, summer class or worst a repeat of another year. The problem today is that all the good teachers are now leaving because their salaries can barely make ends meet. Because of this, good teachers, let alone a good school is a hard find.

As a former teacher, try look into the school's back ground starting if it is accredited by DepEd. Also make inquiries regarding the type of students who are enrolled in the school and check out the teachers who are in charge of classes if they are certified to teach and most importantly if they use new techniques in teaching that motivate kids to learn. Motivating kids to study is important,especially in these hard times. That and their determination will get them through life.

Don't Want To Be A Cartoon Casualty: You Can Call Me All By Paul Simon

Man, I don't like what's happening lately. I feel that I'm repeating past events over and over again. The places and people have been rearranged, but I feel that I'm in the same situation once again. I fear that I'm living my life in a sick movie script where I'm playing the same character and the same skit with just a few re-assignment of character roles of the people around me. The reason I hate and fear this is because it proves that I haven't learned anything from the past and am doomed to repeat which is becoming more and more evident everyday. When I listen to Paul Simon's song "You Can Call Me Al", it reminds me of that awful fear that things in my life won't change.

I don't claim to have an exact interpretation of the song but there are a lot of parts in the lyrics that describes this fear that I have inside of me. I can really relate with the first part of the song about not wanting to be a cartoon in a cartoon graveyard which I too fear. At times when I was at my weakest, I found myself relying too much on others hoping that they have the magic solution, but alas, they don't. At the moment, it's been one problem after another, not only for me, but also my family as well and I don't find it amusing at all! This is one cartoon that has no humor and it it claims to have any, it's in bad taste!!

Right now the house is in an uproar because of plumbing problems which is one hell of a situation to come home to. Right now tempers are high and pockets are empty which is sadly part of this sick cycle. I don't know if there are people who find this funny and if they do, they are sick people indeed. If the Almighty, is watching and listening, please help me find a way to solve this problem and break this cycle. I know it's all up to me, but can you atleast help me make a stand because I don't want to go through this again.

Bad Times Warped Your Mind: Pretzel Logic

I don't if I'll be able to describe this song properly tonight. The daily grind has been giving me a bad case of the daily blues. If it's not one problem, it's definitely another. Either way, when it hits you, feel the tightening in you're chest and you slump to your sofa with a deep sigh. As you sigh, you think about all the things you wish to do and all the things that-could-have-been. Whenever I get into that state, I think those things are now gone. When that depressing, thought enters my mind, I play "Pretzel Logic" by Steely Dan.

When this song starts to play, I wish I had glass of Southern Comfort or Jack Daniels as I let the song take me back to times when those things were easy to attain. You hope that it's still there, but the sad truth is that it's gone and you get that feeling of being shut out or too late. The first three lines reminds me of things that will never come true and boy does that hurt. You're left with remnants and try to make the most of it.

It's wishful thinking, but I wish that there way to make those dreams come true. Sadly, when you miss your chance, that's it game over. Not everything will always be there and what they say about no-or-never is definitely true. I learned that the hard way and I'm trying to come to terms with it. You just have to move because life always moves on so make the best of it while you can.

Songs That Stick To You: More Than This By Roxy Music

Like I said before, I mostly listen to pop, rock, folk and metal songs during my youth in the 80’s; but there were times when my classmates’ persistent playing of song that were trendy back then sometimes got to me. I guess since I was part of that generation, it was not surprising that some of these songs caught my ear. A lot of these songs often were the type that had a very haunting melody and as well which always had that surreal effect of a woman’s perfume on a guy. I guess I can talk about it now because I’m at that age where you’re not shy about anything anymore. One such song was “More Than This” by Roxy Music from their album Avalon.

You can say that this is another new wave song above love that suddenly hits you out of nowhere. No matter what decade, past or present, there will always be songs like this. One thing that sets this song apart is that floating feeling that you get from listening to it. You can also say that it is one of those “spiritual massage” songs that sooths the weary soul after a stressful day. I’ll admit for some reason this is one of those songs that stop me in my tracks and again makes me drop everything I do and listen to it.

It’s been 26 years now and this song still has retained it’s magic. The fact that it still catches my ear, is proof of it’s effects on me. The most important thing about this song is that it gave me is a common factor with my peers at the time. Most of the time, I didn’t the music that they were playing, but this provided something that we can all appreciate during certain occasions. At least now I can listen to it without the ridicule.

Another Break Up Song: Never Be The Same By Christopher Cross

I remember the first time when I first heard Christopher Cross play was when my brother picked me up from school and he played one of his song on the car radio. The moment I heard it, I was hooked. His first album was so good that I never got tired of listening to it through the years. The fact that his songs are still beingplayed in various stations is a testament to the quality of his music which has endured through the years. I had a lot of favorites songs that I still like listening to from his first album. This is one of them called "Never Be The Same".

This song also talks about lost love which was very prevalent during the 70's and 80's. I admit the difference about this song is that although it talks about a painful break-up, you can help but feel good for some reason. Even though it's a sad topic, it make you feel good as you listen to it. I like the part when he's tells her that no one will touch me the way that she did that very first day.
It's very ironic that for a sad song, it has a lot of groove and makes you want to do dance to it.

Although Cross was able to come up with other great songs, he was never able to match the same intensity of the songs in his first album. Be that as it may, I still like listening to his old songs which are mainstays of 24k as well as other stations. Not too loud and soothing to the soul is how I describe his songs. You could never go wrong with any of the songs in his first album. It was great to listen to then, it's still great to listen to now.