Everyone, Go Google! Even Dennis The Menace Advises The Comic Strip Reader To Consult Google!

Today, Wed 20 Nov 2024, on Facebook I read Dennis The Menace advising someone to go Google for something not understood. Good advice; thanks, Dennis!

Even scientists can learn from Dennis’ advice. Andrew Boryga writes about “Helping Students Read Complex Texts” (15 Nov 2024, Edutopia, edutopia.org, top image). My immediate edit: “Helping Students Understand Complex Texts.” Not simply Read: Understand.
(image from freepik.com)

Mr Boryga says:

“We’ve all had the experience. We’re reading along and suddenly realize that although our eyes are scanning the words on the page, nothing is actually registering.”

Mr Boryga, it always happens with technical material – I say that with my experience of being The Editor In Chief (TEIC) of a good number of Philippine-based publications in Agriculture and Forestry. And it happened beginning at the Typewriter Era (1975-1980) and continuing to now, Digital Era, in my case starting 2000, blogging. In particular, I will mention being TEIC of the Philippine Journal of Crop Science (PJCS), owned by the Crop Science Society of the Philippines. The PJCS was 3 years late in its issues when I took over in 2003. Literally single-handedly, being TEIC, I produced the issues of 3-year-late PJCS and (1) made it up-to-date within 3 years (2006), and (2) improved its quality that it was included in the much-coveted international list of expert-accepted technical journals called “ISI” (now “Web of Science”) in 2007.

So I know: Anybody’s understanding technical material is not easy – I also know that the Internet can help tremendously.

In “Helping Students Read Complex Texts,” Mr Boryga introduces his material by saying, “By cultivating metacognitive reading habits, you can help students remain focused as they persist through challenging material.”

“Metacogntive” – By itself, Mr Boryga, your language is much too deep for students to understand at once! Personally, my editorial experience of 50 years does not help me understand the word “metacognitive” in the introduction. No idea.

So! As a digital writer of 24 years, my advice is much simpler, in only 7 words: “Google, google, google! Then, read, read, read!” Only then can you understand.

On the statement, “By cultivating metacognitive reading habits, you can help students remain focused as they persist through challenging material,” I say – teach the students to search the Internet for knowledge, especially those terms they don’t understand – search and read, search and read until they understand!

The objective is not for students to remain focused “through challenging material” but to help themselves understand the material. They will understand any complex material if they search the Internet diligently, if they search repeatedly, not just once or twice.

(Not to mention that teachers should learn to simplify their language in the first place!)

Mr Boryga says:

“In a 2024 study of “mindless reading,” researchers from the University of Würzburg tracked the reading speed and attention of undergrads poring over a complex science text. ,,, Students confirmed multiple instances of loss of attention.”

Exactly! Technical material is hard to understand – but Internet searches for intellectually reachable meaning should help tremendously!@517

“Do You Love God?” – Facebook Sharer, Unnamed. “Do You Love Good?” – Frank A Hilario, TEIC

Yesterday and today, Saturday, 16 Nov 2024, I began seeing posts sharing the same message in different displays: “Do you love God?” without the double quotes and question mark. As editor, I am taking the message seriously.

I just turned 84; I am a Roman Catholic and I have gone through many decades of attending church services – several versions of non-Catholic beliefs – so I know personally that directly or indirectly, to love God is not easy!

“Do you love God?” Now then, I would like to turn this very challenging question into a more practical one: “Do you love Good?” My mortal assumption is that, whatever godly belief you profess, in the end, if you love Good, you love God. There is no other way around that!

Now then, let us learn from others how to be good (all quotes from AZ Quotes, azquotes.com):

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” – William Arthur Ward, American motivational speaker. Excellent teacher advice!

"Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever." ~ Charles Kingsley, Quaker. I say, “Doing good is enough!”

"To be good, and to do good, is all we have to do." ~ John Adams, a founding father of the United States. I take that to mean to do good in whatever you are doing. And to do good to others directly or indirectly.

“This is the world. Half of it is lit by the sun and the other half remains in darkness. It is the same with life. There is good and bad and it's our duty to remain in the light, be good.” – Anita Nair, Indian novelist

“But spirituality, it seems to me, when answering the question, "Why should I be good? Why should I care for others? … Because that is the best, most fulfilling way to live. Whether or not you receive an award or a payment is incidental. You are good and kind and loving because it is right, even though it is difficult sometimes. It fulfills the highest law, to treat others as we wish to be treated.” – Philip Gulley, Quaker

Here’s some warning!

“If you punish a child for being naughty, and reward him for being good, he will do right merely for the sake of the reward; and when he goes out into the world and finds that goodness is not always rewarded, nor wickedness always punished, he will grow into a man who only thinks about how he may get on in the world, and does right or wrong according as he finds advantage to himself.” – Immanuel Kant, German philosopher and Enlightenment thinker

“Most of us want to live in harmony and peace and be good to others. Right now, however, the world is in a very turbulent time, and our leadership has gone crazy.” – Hany Abu-Assad, Palestinian film director

Whoever & wherever you are, someone needs to lead to be good! You do not love God if you are not good enough.@517

Today Wednesday, 30 Oct 2024, At Her 79th Birthday, For My Wife Amparo, My Birthday GIFTs: “God, I’ll Forget That!” “God, I’ll Forgive That!” “God, I Forgo That!”

Today, Wednesday, 30 Oct 2024, my wife Amparo Medina Reynoso is exactly 79 years old. I woke up at about 4:30 AM, that early, which is unusual, and I kissed her while she was sleeping – and at once, she shoved me on the face, hard! Something wrong with her? That’s my Amparo!

Actually, she has not been feeling well since she fell down about a year ago and broke her left hip bone. She has had that hip replacement. She has been recuperating, but apparently her natural feelings have not recovered!

Amparo. After being shoved by Amparo while showing love, should I now invoke the juridical law “Writ of Amparo” as an aggrieved person? Ah, but I am not an aggrieved person – rather, I am a gift person; so to my Amparo, here are my
GIFTs:
“God, I’ll Forget That!“
“God, I Forgive That!“
“God, I Forgo That!“
“God, I’m Forever True.”

There is that saying, “If you love someone, let them go.” Andriy says about the saying (Psychology Tips, psychology.tips):

“Contrary to popular belief, real love isn’t about possession or control. It’s about cherishing someone for who they are – flaws and all – and wishing the best for them…”

So to my Amparo, my gifts! I wish you the best with them!

Oxford Dictionary says (oxcon.ouplaw.com):

“1. …. Thus, the function of the writ of amparo is to give persons (both individuals and juridical persons) an instrument to challenge acts of authorities (including administrative, judicial and legislative acts), for being contrary to the fundamental rights contained in the Constitution.”
(top image from prezi.com)

Ah, but my own personal Constitution is written in only 2 words: “God’s Love.”

A health note: Amparo was sleeping on her left side, the one with the doctor-repaired hip.

“Specifically, a small body of research suggests that, for many people, sleeping on the left side may be the ticket to better health and better sleep.”

LifeHack says (lifehack.org):

“So why all the fuss about sleeping on the left side? Turns out it may be good for our digestion, our backs, and even our hearts due to the positions of different organs.”

Jennifer Chesak says (20 March 2023, “How These 3 Sleep Positions Affect Your Gut Health“, Healthline, healthline.com):

“Pro Tip For Side Sleeping

“Start out on your left side at night to prevent heartburn and allow gravity to move waste through your colon. Alternate sides if your shoulder bothers you. Place a firm pillow between your knees and hug one to support your spine.”

So much for sleeping and being shoved on the face for kissing!

The bottom image is my favorite picture of Amparo – she is holding a bunch of sweet rambutan fruits and her smile is sweeter than wine!

God gifted us with many children: Tina, Jomar, Dida, Jay, Techie, Cynthia, July, Jenny, Ernie, Daph, Neenah, Edwin and Ela.

Today? Amparo cannot make me angry anymore. That’s how much I love her!@517

Rewriting Albert Einstein’s Equation E=mc2 Into frankEinstein's fE=mc2 – For The Infinitesimal Energy Of Love!

This one has been inspired by the Facebook sharing of friend Jerry R Yapo on Sunday, 13 Oct, from BookPlug: “Here Are 10 Key Lessons From Why I Write By George Orwell” – today, I agree with all 10 lessons, except #5: “Writing as a form of protest.” In fact, up to a couple of months ago, I was writing as a Protestant, I mean Protester! Today, I write as a Creator & Convincer – changing from Negative to Positive. I love it!

Instead of looking for something to decry, somebody to blame, some excuse to insult groups or people, I now look forward every single day for a Brave New World! Which is the title of a book by British author Aldous Huxley. Wikipedia says of it (en.wikipedia.org):

“Brave New World … Largely set in a futuristic World State … the novel anticipates huge scientific advancements in reproductive technology, sleep-learning, psychological manipulation and classical conditioning…”

Differently, my Brave New Word (note the 3^rd word) is set on the present. I write on current knowledge available on the Internet.

Thus, I owe the world’s genius Albert Einstein’s genius erarth-shaking equation – E=mc² – my new formula for writing:

fE=mc²
where
fE is frankEinstein
m is manuscript squared by
c  = any or all of these: care, collaboration, consent, cooperation,
(NOT condemnation, contempt, criticism, cussing…)

frankEinstein – I love my Brave New Word!

And so I learn from Orwell (I’m selecting now):

“7. The Moral Responsibility of Writers: Orwell believed that writers have a moral obligation to use their platform for good, by speaking truth to power and addressing social issues. Writers should be honest and fearless in their pursuit of truth.”

I see and insist about the moral obligation of writers: “to use their platform for good.” How? Orwell says, “by speaking truth to power” and that “writers should be honest and fearless in their pursuit of truth.”

Ah! This is where I beg to disagree with Orwell, as I do not pursue truth for its own sake. I call my writing “THiNK! Journalism,” which runs like this:

Is it
True? If True, is it
Helpful? If Helpful, is it
Inspiring? If Inspiring, is it
Necessary? If Necessary, is it
Kind? THiNK!

Orwell’s line of thinking is fit in this modern world especially with the tempting offer of a Nobel Peace Prize for the “Brave New World” of “Truth Journalism,” which earned for Filipina journalist Maria Ressa the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011, bringing home US$1,000,000/2!

Would I like to receive myself a Nobel Peace Prize? Oh yes, absolutely! Would my writings satisfy the Nobel Committee’s overall measure of “Truth Journalism,” which is Maria Ressa’s? Absolutely not!

The Nobel Prize-winning Truth Journalism of Ms Ressa will not even satisfy the requirement of the Rotary Club’s “4-Way Test” – “Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”

Now, do you see how my new formula “fE=mc²” is related to my old THiNK! Journalism? THiNK!@517

 

Where To Quickly Find What You Don’t Know About Agriculture – The Human-Assembled Library of Inspired Knowledge in Agriculture (HALiKA). Coming Up!

After 116 Years of UP Los Baños, this is how much we Filipinos publicly know about Soils and how they influence Philippine Agriculture – Negligible!?

Above, below the image “Illusion Of Knowledge” (en.shortcogs.com), it says, “I am under the impression that I know and understand more than what I really know and understand”! Don’t look at Frank A Hilario – as an indefatigable writer, I always accept when confronted with what I do not know. I don’t have to be ignorant or un-informed – what I definitely know is that there’s always the Internet – where you get all sorts of answers to your asked (and unasked) questions.

Does the UP College of Agriculture, now UP Los Baños, have the illusion of super knowledge in agriculture? I don’t know. What I do realize is that UPLB is now 116 years old (being founded by Americans on 08 March 1908) – but the past century has not educated UP Los Baños with, for instance, mastery if not full knowledge of soil fertility!? (Unashamed, I am saying this about my alma mater, where I graduated 1965 with a BSA Ag Educ, 2.36 pt “Satisfactory”.)

UPLB probably does not think knowledge of natural soil fertility is important, very important, most important. Or, it does think that but does not put in writing or where anyone can access such knowledge. Unfortunately.

I am reading the non-Filipino “How To Improve Soil Fertility” (Post by Nchimunya Mazuba & Mozes Habanji, Facebook sharing 28 Sept 2024 by William Dar, my favorite Secretary of Agriculture). Here’s the Mazuba-Habanji List:

1.    Practice crop rotation.

2.    Use organic fertilizers.

3.    Reduce tillage.

4.    Irrigate wisely.

5.    Plant cover crops.

Now The Editor In Chief speaks: The title is “How To Improve Soil Fertility,” mind you, not “How To Maintain Soil Fertility.” The difference is huge! “Improve” means the soil itself has to be prompted to/cannot by itself conserve its fertility. “Maintain” means the soil can and if allowed, should be able to conserve its fertility – naturally!

Considering the above list, I agree only with #1 and #5 – I know organic fertililzers are not that necessary if you practice Regenerative Agriculture (RA) and not Chemical Agriculture (CA). (Why RA and not CA? That should be in HALiKA.)

1. Practice crop rotation

“By planting different crops in a specific order, farmers can help to prevent soil nutrient depletion and improve soil structure. This method also helps in breaking pest and disease cycles, promoting healthier crops overall.”

Yes.

5. Plant cover crops

Wikipedia says (“Cover Crops,” en.wikipedia.org):

“In agriculture, cover crops are plants that are planted to cover the soil rather than for the purpose of being harvested. Cover crops manage soil erosion, soil fertility, soil quality, water, weeds, pests, diseases, biodiversity and wildlife.”

Got it?

Remember HALiKA. Except that it has yet to be built. I still have to find a financial sponsor for my dream Internet website for farmers anywhere to be able to farm gainfully and rise from poverty to prosperity!@517

Why Is There No Development Journalism Covering PH Agriculture? Very Sad Reason – There Is No Development Program!

Ever since PH Pres Ferdinand “BBM” Marcos Jr without much ado replaced in 2022 Secretary of Agriculture William Dar with himself, and now with current Secretary Francis Tiu Jr , there has emerged not a Vision for development, not a Mission for that Vision, no Strategy/ies for that Mission, and no Programs to fulfil that Mission.

Don’t tell me BBM and Tiu Jr  do not have enough wisdom about management and enough knowledge on the problems of agriculture – especially, if you ask me, the 3 million Filipino farmers who are poor!
(lower image from youtube.com)

If you are astute, you will have noted by now that I am using my journalism to point out 2 things:

(1)   Lack of Development Leadership in PH Agriculture.

(2)   Lack of development programs in agriculture

(3)   Lack of media encouraging such leadership and programs.

Sorry! But as an Agriculturist – BSA major in Ag Educ 1965, UP Los Baños – my heart goes to the poor farmers.

Ayesha Ashfaq, a Lecturer of Pakistan Studies and Current Affairs (Google Scholar, scholar.google.com, source of upper image). writes Sept 2023, “Building Peace Through Development Journalism: Uniting For A Common Goal,” gamma.app) [sorry, can’t find website anymore]:

(1) “Explore the power of development journalism in promoting peace and fostering positive change around the world.”

We can use Development Journalism (DJ) to promote peace and positive change in our Common World of Agricultue.

(2) ”Discover how journalism plays a crucial role in advancing peace and development globally.”

If you use DJ to also promote peace, you will promote both development and peace!

(3) ”Learn about the concept and purpose of development journalism and its impact on society.”

Yes, we all have to learn more about DJ especially its power to impact society.

(4) ”Understand how development journalism can contribute to conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts.”

An unexpected power of DJ is to help resolve conflicts and promote peace in the country as a whole and in communities in particular.

(5) “Explore how journalists and organizations can work together to achieve sustainable development goals.“

Sorry, but pursuing “sustainable goals” means preserving such as Chemical Agriculture (CA) – CA sustains the status quo of Farmer Poverty!

So, I myself prefer the “regenerative goals” brought about by Regenerative Agriculture (RA) as RA helps Mother Nature revive the fertility of the soil exhausted by crops, revive the power of crops to produce high yields, restore the nature-based health of foods produced, and regenerate the farmer from poverty to prosperity!

Yet we cannot avoid the challenges in Development Journalism, as according to Ms Ayesha:

(1) Limited access to information

You cannot fight City Hall, so what you can do is scour the Internet!

(2) Political interference

“Political interference” becomes a problem if the politicians know that the journalist is only looking for “bad news” to report! My alternative? “THiNK! Journalism” and it goes like this:

True? If True, is it
Helpful? If Helpful, is it
Inspiring? If Inspiring, is it
Necessary? If Necessary, is it
Kind? THiNK!@517

How Intelligent Is Your Teacher? If As Smart As Mr Vladimir Queta, You Have A Problem!

Again: “How intelligent is your teacher?” I’m referring to the one trying to teach you something, whether s/he has a license to teach or not – I don’t know about Vladimer Queta, Chair of the Alliance Of Concerned Teachers (ACT), who above is quoted as saying in a lecture sponsored by ACT & Ateneo De Manila:

“The teaching of Mother Tongue as a subject is foundational in developing literacy skills as learners can learn to read and write the easiest with the language that they use and most understand” (Unnamed, “22nd Jaime V Ongpin Memorial Lecture Spotlights Challenges, Difficulties In Philippine Basic Education” (21 Nov 2023, Ateneo De Manila, ateneo.edu).

Immediately, we have a multiple of problems there:

“What if the teacher does not know the mother tongue?”
“What if there are several mother tongues among the learners?”
“What if the teacher did not learn how to teach in the mother tongue?”

Mr Queta is saying, “The teaching of Mother Tongue as a subject is foundational in developing literacy skills.”

I teacher am saying, “Such purpose in the teaching of the Mother Tongue is nowhere found in any educational theory in the world! Teaching is not that simple!

Where are the review/s or somment/s on Mr Queta’s lecture? That’s the lookout of The Editor In Chief of that website of Ateneo De Manila!

I say:

With those 54 words, Mr Queta is changing the very essence of education in the Philippines – “Teach the local language first!” As a teacher, I disagree. If Mr Quetua is right, then we should start educating our students at home, not at school!

Lengkon Sera says, “Unesco says (18 Feb 2022, Unesco, unesco.org):

“Unesco has been leading the way and advocating for multilingual education based on the mother tongue from the earliest years of schooling. Research shows that education in the mother tongue is a key factor for inclusion and quality learning, and it also improves learning outcomes and academic performance.”

Where are the research results of teaching the mother tongue as a factor for quality learning? Googling, I cannot find any!

As a teacher, I would instead recommend the teaching of Multiple Intelligences (MI), the educational philosophy of Harvard professor Howard Gardner. With MI, all the students would love to learn! (If you don’t know MI. you have much to learn especially if you are a teacher!)

MI says there are 10 in-born intelligences of every human being:

1. Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence
2. Creative Intelligence  (added by FAH)
3. Existential Intelligence
4. Interpersonal Intelligence
5. Intrapersonal Intelligence
6. Mathematical-Logical Intelligence
7. Musical Intelligence
8. Naturalist Intelligence
9. Spatial Intelligence
10. Verbal-Linguistic Intelligence.

It’s up for the teacher, whoever s/he is or wherever, to nurture the innate intelligence of a learner. Whatever Mr Queta says, the cultivation of cultural identity is not an objective of the school at whatever level, Grade School to Grad School. Let the schools instead cultivate the hidden talent(s) of each learner! Anytime, anyhow, somewhere, somehow.

Multiple Intelligences is for me, for us all!@517