This Year's End

    There's only two weeks left on a year that has got to be one of the memorable ones, but for all the wrong reasons.

    The year we're still in feels like a lengthy thriller TV series stretched into 12 seasons (for the 12 months), complete with different conflicts for each month and with the main storyline that is the global pandemic. This is not to romanticize the negative effects of whatever that has happened to everyone globally which would include, but not be limited to health and economical disruptions.

    However, one good thing we can all hold on to are the very words that kicked off a triple album for George Harrison immediately after being a Beatle: All Things Must Pass. All things, whether good or bad, will ultimately breathe its final breath and bid farewell to the world. The only distinguishing factor between the two will have to depend on whether the send off will bring relief or separation anxiety.

Which one would you choose if you were to know when your time's going to be?

    Nah, don't think about it because in reality, nobody can really tell when our own clocks will tick their final tocks. What's certain is that time will always be running ahead of us. Tick-tock, tick-tock.

    Another takeaway that we call all embrace, since we are now in the final chapter of this year, let's recognize the fact that we won't last longer than a season without being strong and keeping our minds sane. That's a reason more than enough to call for an extended Thanksgiving and recognition of all necessary efforts and adjustments.

    As this year takes its final days, year-end countdowns will surely come our way. This leads me to my final note for this entry:

    You've come this far, don't let this year end turning you into a last-minute entry for the countdowns.

Dating Apps in the New Age of the COVID-19 Scare

    How do we flirt, engage with, and/or meet and greet new people amid the Covid-19 pandemic? It may not be of top priority in situations like these. However, it's not bad to still look for someone whom you can truly share life stories, and even life itself. After all, we all have our own distinct lifelines.

With more than half of the year being consumed by efforts to contain and ultimately eradicate the Coronavirus scare, most of us are now well-informed about the various effects that the pandemic has brought to our lives. Everything is literally cancelled, not only in Twitter or other social media platforms, but in all aspects. Though there is one thing, among other essentials, that the virus has not cancelled and that is dating, or “online dating” to be more appropriate.

Big-budget movies, concert tours, and public gatherings had been postponed, if not cancelled. For a time, basketball biggest stage was postponed until the NBA Bubble was set. Schools were forced to switch to online learning to limit face-to-face interactions of the teachers and students. These events basically kept the general public in their homes, with massive amount of free time to dive into wherever their unabsorbed minds would take them, since the best way to combat the disease would be via social distancing.

If necessity is the mother of invention, it may be safe to say that boredom and having lots of available time can be father and mother to soul-searching, contemplations, developments, and ultimately, “online dating”.

· Online Dating

Dating applications and sites started surfacing way back 1959 via IBM’s “Happy Families Planning Services” (Wikipedia, 2020). Since then, we have had “Date-Mate”, “Match.com”,   “OkCupid”, and “Scout” among other dating apps and sites that have innovated based on the needs and desires of their eras. These would bring us to the modern day counterparts such as “Bumble”, “Tinder”, “Grindr”, and “Omegle”, among others.

Bumble interface from Bumble.com

    

Dating app “Bumble” recorded a 21% increase in Bumble Video Call usage (Costa, 2020) during the early stages of the Covid-19 quarantine measures. Still from the early stages of the quarantine, from March 12-22, Bumble had a 21% increase in Seattle, 23% increase in New York City, and 26% increase in San Francisco with regard to the tally of sent messages.

Another dating app, “Tinder”, also had an upsurge due to more people staying in their homes. Recorded on March 29 were 3 billion swipes made worldwide for that day alone, the most swipes the app had for a single day (Shaw, 2020).

The busiest hands now belong to only two groups of people: those who are medical researchers and professionals, and those who are swiping left and right, whether day or night, in these dating apps.

It would be not surprising to see more folks switching to online dating as another means of preventive measures due to the elephant in everybody’s room that we cannot afford to risk going out and contract the virus at the expense of the people we share our homes with. It wouldn’t just be worth the risk. Just don’t provide your exact location, or turn any GPS equipment on so you will not have unexpected visitors knocking on your doors with hands infected with Covid-19 droplets.

Additionally, it would not really be far-fetched considering that most of the things we have to do have switched to the Internet, the digital way of doing things. Take for example online streaming services replacing the satellite TV and cinemas, online classes replacing face-to-face classes, online corporate meetings via video-conferencing applications, and online banking.

· The Trouble with Online Dating

Still, online dating still has its own perils. Because romantic relationships shall still be based on both physical and emotional attractions, falling in love with someone you know only via avatar may bring risk. There is a risk of fraud. The Internet is highly vulnerable to fraudulent activities which may eventually lead to security risks. There is the risk of being hacked and exposed to the online community against your will. However, what’s worse is that fraudulent people can actually track down your location due to the access to various GPS equipment that can be manipulated into tricking you to provide information about your location.

· Dating Priorities in this Pandemic Era

The coin always has a flip side as folks would say. Having the privilege to do something at your command also brings with it certain responsibilities. Always be reminded that the use of online dating may either be a permanent adjustment or just an alternative for the physical dating we used to do. It shall still depend on how you think you are doing with dating. If doing things online increases your “datability” (the chance of you being dated by someone you want), then keep on doing the good things inclined with it.

It will always be best to have a clear understanding of what your priorities shall be. With Covid-19 still lurking, to be safe and free from the virus shall still remain at the top. No matter how long your drought has been going!

 

Sources:

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/24/how-singles-are-meeting-up-on-dating-apps-during-the-coronavirus.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52743454

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_online_dating_services

10 Elton John Songs Playing On Repeat

As I've written a few posts ago, I just watched the Sir Elton John biopic, "Rocket Man" due to the lengthy lockdown we have been having due to the Coronavirus scare.

Not only was I given the chance of viewing the film, I also had the chance of being introduced to other Elton John songs I haven't really given any attention before. 

Here are other Elton John and Bernie Taupin masterpieces I've completely been under the influence of during the past few days. 

1. Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me

I first heard this song on Elton John's Live Aid performance with George Michael, and again on the Music for Montserrat concert. 

2. Tiny Dancer

3. Crocodile Rock

4. The Bitch Is Back

5. I Want Love

6. Saturday's Night Alright (For Fighting) 

7. I'm Gonna Love Me Again

8. Rocket Man

9. We All Fall In Love Sometimes

10. I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues

MOVIE REVIEW: Through Night and Day

As hopeless romantics, we have been yearning for a love that would last a lifetime, one that would go on through days and nights of romance with the one you love. 

"Through Night and Day" promotional poster for Netflix streaming from Twitter.com

Filipino movie, "Through Night and Day", gave us a love story so watchable you could finish it in one sitting. It won't take you a whole day and night to satisfyingly finish the movie, with the tearjerking romance of Ben and Jen.

The film started off smoothly, a typical opening scene for a love story. Ben asked for Jen's hand in marriage after serenading her in front of a huge local bar crowd. Jen gladly accepted the proposal and the marriage planning was on.

Part of the marriage planning was them going to Iceland for both a vacation and a chance for their prenup photo ops. During this stretch of the film, the struggles of dealing with your significant other were shown effectively. There was Ben's annoyance of Jen's indecisiveness, while for Jen, there was Ben's short temper. The film proved to be prophetic when it said that you would really get to know someone when you're just by yourselves, like when you're traveling.

However, the tragedy of the film was only beginning by then. The persistent misunderstandings of the two led to a break up while they were about to head home, during Jen's favorite time of the day on her favorite place.

Years went on and they were apart with new lives. It was revealed that Ben's got a new fiancée, while Jen's got a new problem to deal with - a disease that would eventually get the better of her by the end of the film.

The events of the third part of the film weren't about resolutions but about redemptions instead. Upon knowing about Jen's sickness, Ben reached out to her by making time to make up for lost chances they should've had, had they not broken up. Ultimately, Jen's exit was ushered through a sunset moment with Ben - a much better sunset moment that would take the place of the tragic sunset moment they had back in Iceland. 

The best bit of the film for me was when they were both lectured about love and long-term relationships from their parents. Compromise, patience, and respect should always be important elements of a relationship. Love alone couldn't do the trick. 

Taking the First Step

It has been four months since the first lockdown in Manila. With that, I've yet to have my hair cut until today. After weeks of debating with myself regarding whether or not I should have my hair cut, I finally decided to do it today.

With the new normal due to the pandemic, it'd be very surprising to still see barbershop scenarios like these. (From Facebook.com)

It wasn't easy. Since I was a kid, I wanted a longer hairstyle, one that I could slip onto the back of my ears, one that could hide my ears. School regulations didn't allow me to try having that. So when I graduated, I saw that as a chance to sport that long hairstyle, except that I had lost my silky smooth straight hair I used to have when I was a kid. Also, the Coronavirus scare was not ready to leave us yet.

My curly wavy hairstyle got me through my licensure exam last year. Now, it got me through the first four months of the Coronavirus lockdown. 

Not like last year, I was motivated and eager to do what I had to do because I knew I wouldn't ace my licensure exam without doing the essentials.

However, things were different during the past four months. I procrastinated and used the pandemic era as a reason to not strive the same. way I did last year. I was neglecting my side hustles, my writing, and further development in my profession.

For some reason, I thought that cutting my hair would be the first step in beating down this procrastinating season I've been having. Cutting my hair would mean I would no longer be accepting mediocrity in my outside appearance. Lousy hairstyles sometimes could reflect a lousy lifestyle in any aspect. 

Just as I am now back on track with my hair, I hope to also be back on track with regards to my eagerness and drive for further improvement in my professional career, passion, and character. 

It's a work in progress, but it will never start without taking that first step.

MOVIE REVIEW: Rocketman

Due to the extensive community quarantine, we have been having, I finally had the chance to watch "Rocketman", the Elton John biopic, on a Saturday night. 

"Rocketman" movie poster starring Taron Egerton as Sir Elton John from Forbes.com

After "Bohemian Rhapsody", the Freddie Mercury biopic, received mostly positive reviews from critics and fans, came another biopic of a music legend. This time it was the biopic of Sir Elton John, a world-renowned musician responsible for hits such as "Your Song", "Skyline Pigeon", and "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" among many other songs that he and composer Bernie Taupin have contributed to the music industry for more than half of a century.

The film was not exactly what I expected it would be. It was more of a (A) musical film rather than a (B) film filled with musical numbers. I don't know how to better distinguish the two other than explaining what differentiates A from B.

Take for example the movie "Sing Street". This movie featured an up-and-coming band in the era of the New Wave trying to make their entry in the music scene. The musical numbers were stitched into the narrative and the band was shown playing their instruments that accompanied the songs. To cut it short, there were no multiple narratives in one song number, no characters were dancing to the songs as if they were in a musical play. That would be B.

Otherwise, it would be A, which was what "Rocketman" was. And I thought it helped in telling a complicated story easier and it also helped to squeeze in storylines in the time allotted for the movie.

What differs "Rocketman" from "Bohemian Rhapsody" was the timeline considered for the main characters, Elton John and Freddie Mercury respectively. "Bohemian Rhapsody" opted to have the Live Aid performance as the conclusion of the film. That made it hard to squeeze in 15 years, more or less, worth of backstory to cover the rise of Queen. This also created the solution of stating a false story with regards to the timeline of Freddie Mercury's illness, just to make up for a good comeback story of the band via Live Aid.

As for "Rocketman", it had a good set up for the conclusion right from the start. We already knew Elton John was seeking the help of a support group, making the conflict present already in the beginning. What we didn't know were his reasons for reaching out to the support group. And these reasons were presented afterward. It was also a good choice not to make the conclusion in any way linked to Elton John's Live Aid performance, which was also one of the best performances from the event.

As for the accuracy of the movie's events, I couldn't react to the matter because I haven't checked about it. Although I have been listening to Elton John since I was a kid, I had not been into the details of his life outside his music.

With regard to the acting, Taron Egerton made a very good job of playing Elton John. What made viewers convinced that he was playing Elton John was the acting primarily. The looks and outside appearance were just confirmations that he was indeed Reggie Dwight.

With all these biopic films being made, especially with the rumors for the David Bowie one, I'd really be expecting a Live Aid documentary/film someday. Tall order though.

On an additional note, it was really inspiring to see the songwriting relationship between Elton John and Bernie Taupin. It was amazing to know that the song's words and music were written separately but were still a perfect fit when bound together. 

The best day of the week to watch this film? How about Saturday night? Why so? 

"Saturday's night alright for fighting, get a little action in!" 

Wish I Was

Here goes verses I thought of during one my worst days. Here's another thought though: Why do we call the "end" as the "judgement time" when most of our time in this world are used on judging our fellow inhabitants? 

I sometimes wish I was dead

People only think of the good things

What good things were said

And not the bad that I did

I sometimes wish I was dead

Life was a race, and definitely a waste

'Cause I ain't the one who led 

For I don't got the haste

I sometimes wish I was dead

'Cause it's hard to leave my past mistakes

Of such tragedies, I was always reminded

Like a bootleg recording with lots of takes

I sometimes wish I was dead

For they say I couldn't change my attitude

No matter how I try to bend

I still seem to be up to no good

Will my wish ever be real 

Can I be hopeful instead, and not just wishful

I don't really know what else to feel

I don't have much more to say, I'm a fool

Maybe I shouldn't even rush it

We'd all be going, at present day's rate

I just hope when my time's been hit

I'd take with me all your disgust, anger and hate

Canceled Era

This year has not been going smoothly ever since it took off from where the previous year left.

There have been numerous calamities, whether caused by man or by multiple forces of nature. As of writing, a lot has changed with the way most inhabitants of this world live since I last posted here.

However, it was not until March when the larger portion of my country started taking things seriously. Among other dilemmas that this year has faced so far, it has been the Coronavirus pandemic that has impacted the countrywide enough that every single thing has been canceled or on lockdown. 

Events and gatherings that would require physical human contact had been canceled. No more concert tours from our favorite artists. No more movie screenings in theaters. Bond 25, No Time To Die, was postponed again at a later date (November 2020). The NBA season was canceled along with other sporting events scheduled in 2020. All forms of entertainment, recreation, and cultural activities were either canceled or postponed to a later date. Even schools and most works were also stopped due to the outbreak. 

We really are now in the "Canceled Era". This is a term that has been surfacing social networking sites referring to people who are being judged and canceled by other people due to their actions, beliefs, culture, among other criteria that social media jurors are looking at. However, the big change here is that in this "Cancelled Era", the one being canceled is the life we used to live. Basically, everything that you had planned to do in 2020 when you were having New Year wishes back in 2019 would have to be postponed to 2021, or by the end of the year if we'd be all lucky and blessed. 

It's said that every single day, at least 17 million people celebrate his or her birthday.  With over a hundred days done for this year, that would have to be a lot of celebrants who had wished for this thing to be stopped and be controlled finally.

If I could, and if it does matter, I would give 10 of my future birthday wishes just to give this Coronavirus a blasting send-off, one that would make it rethink about ever coming back in the next century.

But in reality, well-wishers don't really do much aside from boosting the morale of those who actually do the significant things. These are the frontliners who risk their lives trying to save and help save everyone in whatever way they are willing to do. If not for them, we'd all be just added figures to this virus' death toll. THANK YOU!

In line with that, well-wishers (that's us who are not actually doing frontliner duties) could still helpand actually contribute to the send off the frontliners have been setting up for this virus. 

How?

A famous line I've heard for a number of times goes like this, "If you cannot find a solution, make yourself the solution." But I want to change it up a bit to this: If you cannot be a part of the solution, do not be a part of the problem.

We should try our very best to be not part of the problem that the frontliners have already been facing. The problem has been overwhelming for them to handle and it would not help them one bit if we would still be loitering around, or not doing the safety precautions that trusted health experts have laid out to the general public.

It would be best to stay informed regarding the developments made in the battle against the virus because the battle would never go according to plan if there would be misinformation present.

Stay updated. 
Stay at home. 
Stay healthy and safe!