Disha, AID and Endeavour

From the egroups...

The last week ended up being a science week of sorts at V.

With some simple and quick experiments downloaded from the net and the materials needed to do it reaching the kids on Wednesday night, V started gearing up for Disha 2006 pretty late. The experiments were very simple ones demonstrating persistence of vision and newton's third law using rotational motion. Thursday, the experiments and the fundas associated were explained to the kids, Friday some lingering doubts were cleared. When our reporters left the camp on Friday, the charts were getting prepared and the execution plan was being given final touches.

Saturday morning: The two project teams, Rajini and Jhansi, Jyothi and Padmini, landed up at Teresa's early enough. After registration and all, settled at their tables, they were soon assailed by the judge and a retired IIT professor who currently works with Agastya science foundation. Though I suspect the kids didn't exactly answer all the questions very well, I think the questions and the explanations and a few demos that the experts gave made things lively and exciting for our kids. Afternoon, the remaning kids (high school and PU) came to Teresa to see the exhibition. They hardly spent much time at the exhibits. But the best of the day was undoubtedly Mangala's captivating talks and pictures, kids (and I too) were enraptured, I'm sure. (I'm personally floored by the woman!!! She IS awesome!!!) After the event too, they were all jumping around to talk to Mangala. Quite a few, of course, want to become scientists now. Mangala has agreed to come to V, hopefully next week, to share some more pics with the kids.

The price distribution too had some bit of excitement for our kids: Jyothi and Padmini won the best write up award. And that was quite exciting. Though, probably, we should actully thank the website guys for the write up, it must have been quite an impetus for them and the rest of the kids too, to see some from them winning a prize.

Sunday, we had the AID person, Balaji coming and demonstration air, water and pressure fundaes to the kids. Very surprising and pleasing was the animated response from the kids, all shouting out explanations for the observations and quite a few correct ones too. It was good to see the kids thinking in the right direction as far as the science fundaes were concerned.

Evening, I went back to V to formally convene the first meeting of V science club - we decided to call it "Endeavour" (There is a story behind that too, but I don't want to make my notoriously long emails, any more notorious... I mean, long). The club, alarmingly, has 26 or so members!!! I sincerely hope a considerable chunk would drop out soon, otherwise the sessions would not be effective or meaningful. Want to chart out a few rules (about keeping time and being disciplined, yet active and attending regularly etc.) for the club and stick it up somewhere in V. Endeavour will meet every Sunday 4pm to 4.30pm. The meetings are intended to be short and interesting (yeah, right!! who drives them!!) and with strictly half an hour for duration, it is best to keep some rules. They would do well to be a little disciplined for half an hour a week ;-))

That was how the week went at V, we could almost call it a science week. I'm happy. And I'm enamoured by Mangala.

Meeting Minutes:: 15 Oct 2006, Sunday

From the egroups...

Folks,

We finally had that long pending meeting with the current lady volunteers at V and I am pretty pleased with the way it turned out. I hope, everyone else shares the feeling too.

Attended by: Ami, Geetha, Nisha, Shaheen, Srinka, Sujata. Hurrah for all the girls who made it for the meeting!!!

Here is a brief (subjective, I agree) update about the meeting.

1. The most important and positive development in the recent times is that we have got 3 new regular volunteers in Geetha who some of you may remember used to come to V along with Sowmya during the golden days and has now finished her Masters in Psychology (and is preparing for her GRE this year... yes, we will most probably lose her for the next acad year, but we have her very much for this year), Nisha who works with Infosys and has been actively participating in NBDs for the last 2-3 yrs and has now been coming to V for a good part of a month and a little more and Sujata who works with lucent and is preparing for her CAT this year (She confesses her preparations are not going well, so why not at least give her best to V, way to go, Sujata!!) and has been coming to V for around the same time frame as Nisha. All three come with a lot of enthu; besides, we know what fresh blood often does to a group ;-))

2. We'd received info from Akash about the LifeSkill modules that we might be able to source from Dream-a-dream foundation (which is an NGO) as well as Akanksha (a Mumbai NGO) through DSF. We need to see how we can adapt it to suit our needs at V. Ami duly shared the info with the rest of the group

3. We generally discussed about where we stand with Hema ma'am's sessions. She was supposed to start her next session probably yesterday. We haven't heard from her. So may be, Mohammed should go to the mountain.

4. In the light of the PC donation and the proposed computer classes, the Shaheen, Srinka and Sujata (Nisha, I don't remember whether you said yes for this or not, let us know once again, sorry!) are as of now planning to handle these sessions for the kids, starting with only 10th kids for now. Only 10th kids for two reasons: We want to start on a small scale and 10th kids have it in their curriculum as well, it seems. So, we thought we can start with the ones for whom there is an immediate benefit. Sonia, it would be terrifc if you can join us on this. As we discussed, we will look at their curriculum and bring out a tentative plan on what we want to do with the kids. Then you can see how and where you can pitch in. We need to take our plan to Srilatha ma'am and get her blessings and a suitable time slot for the session (as well as get the PC in). I will talk to her (she was not reachable yesterday) and update you all.

5. All of the volunteers felt that this year kids have not been very prompt or punctual or even available at the sessions most of the times. They would mostly be engaged in some domestic or personal chores during our designated time, often under supervision of the wardens/authorities . We also promptly agreed that we ourselves are mostly to blame for this, as we have not been very regular from our side either. The plan of action to address this is to be more regular at V as a group and keep both the groups of kids engaged during all weekends except when we give them planned 'off's. (For example, we've decided that the diwali weekend will be off for the kids and us. ;-p) To do this, we, volunteers, have to coordinate more effectively among us. So, this is what we have decided to do - coordinate more effectively, plan for a month at a time, inform your 'partners in crime' about your unavailability, so at least the others can back up for you.

6. Geetha and Sujata are interested in joining the junior kids. Srinka will be continuing with the junior kids. These three will initiate their planning for the month of November through mails. (Srinka may be out of action for 2 weeks or so, owing to her as yet unplanned trip eastwards.)

7. Ami, Nisha and Shaheen will be joining the elder kids. Ami and Nisha are taking some time off for various reasons, so the action item on them is to "generally chill madi" to quote Ami. ;-)) These three can still discuss and evolve general plans for the elder kids. I will jot down some of my thoughts on that in a separate email later.

8. Srinka to publish the previous news letter (and start working on the next too??)

9. Akhila's spoken english needs immediate attention. Plan is to look out for a spoken-english class for her near/around Wilson Garden. M, can you take this up?

I think I've covered all the main points we discussed. If I've missed or misrepresented anything, please feel free.

I've added Geetha, Nisha and Sujata to the group. Sujata has already joined, the others are yet to accept the invitation. Gals, we are thrilled to have you folks join us. Welcome aboard and all that, now please make yourself at home and start shooting. ;-))

Hoping to get the 'z'ing back in the group,
Yours truly,
Shaheen

colors of india...

didn't quite realize that's what we have here on the blog... kewl!

Life Skill Meeting minutes - 09/Jul/06

D's MoM from the groups

Attendees:
Maria, Ami, Shaheen, Srinka, Jaya, Varsha (?), Akash, Anil, Murtuza,
Dharin

Discussion details:

- Maria brought out importance of life skill - what is life skill, various topics covered under life skill.

- Life skill concentrates on development of "X" number of life surviving skill needed for overall development of human living in society- like confidence building, decision making, creative thinking, critical thinking, effective communication, interpersonal relationship, self awareness, empathy, coping with emotions, coping with stress.

- Point was driven that we should start with non-personal skills first before venturing into personal circumference. This will enable children to open up before we embark on latter.

- We decided that we should start with confidence building exercise.

- How often we should have life skill session is an open topic as of now. Once a month is something attendees found comfortable with. (Am I right?)

- Maria will train / talk on how to take life skill class before we start on this - start date for life skill is: 30/Jul/06. She wanted to have a class room but later on decided that Wilson garden park is fine. The pre-session will be about an hour or so. She would like to have most of the regular volunteers in the session so as to get everyone trained at the same time.

There are some old documents on this which can be made available on requirement basis.

Open items -
1. What is Hema ma'm from Saranga trust going to take? There should not be a repeat on similar kind of topics.
2. What is the frequency of life skill session that we are targeting?

09 Jul 2006:: Sunday #4

Folks, this update is late... but better than never...

Ami and I'd spoken and settled on a composition cum grammar session for the kids. The idea was to get them to write a paragraph or so on some topic. Multiple aspects - we get to see how their writing is, we read it on the spot and correct the mistakes, if any, using those live examples to drive in the grammar fundaes...

I was supposed to go earlier and help Akhila with MS Word and Excel, but couldn't manage to do it because of poor commitment and poor planning and poor will power. Anyway, i landed up at 2.30 and after usual 'hi and how are you's (met Geetha as she was leaving, more on her in the next installment) sat down with akhila trying to understand on what all she needs help (with an SOS call to M in between for translation services), consoling/pep talk on the results, checking her LABS notes etc. Ami joined around 3 or so and she too, after the routine stuff, sat down with Rekha to chat about her plans. I think I'd discussed the concerns out of both discussions in an earlier mail (the thread on Akhila's results. Reminds me, anybody got any update on Ammu's results? Can anyone follow up??)

Jaya and Varsha were already there, engaging the younger ones. Sowmya had messaged she wouldn't be able to join (more on her too later). Srinka joined us soon. It was quite some time (3.30 or so) before we could get ourselves to the classroom. Ami was leading the session, Srinka and I joined the kids. It didn't really look like we could go ahead with our composition plan. Discussions touched up on summer holidays (which was what we thought we will ask the kids to write on), moved on to keerthi's new watch (a cool one), TV, football, italy, idli, food etc. Kids were not in a mood to do anything much, they were in one of their moods of vivacious abandonment. Finally, the discussion settled on Ami's height. (It is 5' 6", btw) I should say, Ami expertly put a full stop to idle banter there. By asking the conversion statistics for inches, feet and cm, mm, etc. Ami finally got a hold on the kids. Then on, though elementary, the discussion stayed around the conversion factors and units. Got the kids to do/learn those elementary conversion fundas, converted Ami's height into cms, later Prathibha came and converted one more feet, inches to cms and then Keerthi's height was converted from cms to feet etc. There was lot of energetic participation from the kids the whole time. Ami didn't forget to remind the kids, though, that what we did was really 4th class maths or something at that level. We ended the session (aptly) with some nursery rhymes and a directive to the kids to be ready on time next week.

Maria came to the class room, prompting cries of "Sonia Aunty" from some of the kids. After a short hi, bye etc., we proceeded to Wilson garden. While leaving, Varsha was seen teaching a bunch of kids (yes, acads!!) Wilson garden and the rest of the story, refer D's minutes (which I'll upload here too).

02 Jul 2006:: Sunday #3

Folks, this account is pretty late and what's more, grossly ill-informed. I was out of station for the weekend. Srinka, Sowmya, Jaya and Sangeetha (and probably Geetha too) managed the show on 2nd, I believe. From what I could glean from Srinka, it was a fun session with the kids involving some singing and dancing and stuff. If some one has more information on this session, please fill in. This mail is just for the records, so I can get to the next weeks' updates.

25 Jun 2006:: Sunday #2

One chap landed up upsetting almost all our weekend schedules. But we managed against all adversities and got the 2.30 appointment right (though late) ;-))

Folks, this sunday, we were 5 girls at V. Sangeetha came this weekend too. A new girl, Jaya, joined us this weekend. She is doing her engineering @ Suratkal and is in bangalore for a few months to do her project at NAL. Sowmya was, of course, in; Srinka is out of action (slip disk). But the star attraction this weekend was Ami aunty, who was heartily welcomed at V with all 'josh'. (Dharin uncle was also eagerly greeted by the kids when he dropped in to wish us all luck)

Ami asked the kids for a recap of what we did last weekend. And surprisingly, Rani came up with a very succint summary of what we told them!!! She did miss out a few things, particularly those that were mentioned for the elder kids. But, it is still a positive.

This time again, it was a little hard gathering the kids together. Some of the 10th class were absent because they are having unit tests today. A few others were missing too, as they were taking bath etc. (We need to make sure this doesn't happen every time). But we ourselves were late this time, so no scope for complaining!!

We divided the kids into separate groups. Sowmya, Jaya and Sangeetha took the 7th and below kids out to the playground for some fun and games. Ami and myself, stayed back with the reduced number inside the classroom. Ami sort of did a recap of last session asking the kids about the usefulness of our sessions last time etc. The verdict this time around too was that they found everything useful and wanted to continue Spoken English, Grammar, Quizzes etc.

Our discussion veered (deftly manuevered to, would be more correct ;-p) on to Shyamala's marriage and the dangers/risks of child marriage and the appropriate age for marriage etc. Keerthi showed a good level of maturity when she said above 25 and below 30 is what she feels is the appropriate age for marriage. May be following her lead, the majority agreed on ~25. Ami did some math (finishing acads etc.) and showed them that 25 to 27 is what they should ideally be looking at as an age for marriage. The dangers of 'misplaced affections' were also touched up on. Keerthi, Jyothi and Urvashi translated the discussions into Kannada just to make sure everyone is on the same page.

We agreed to meet again next weekend and start off on our regular activities. Composition/Grammar, Spoken English, Quizzes are what emerged as the kid's demands.

Out of the room and into the playground. We found Sowmya, Jaya playing with a bunch of kids, Sangeetha chatting up with another bunch etc. Sowmya would shout out a color and all the kids who have it on them are to jump up and down. Ami and I joined them for sometime, but when the drizzle started getting a little harder, we dispersed, saying bye-bye to the kids.

That's all for now, from All India Radio.

18 Jun 2006:: Sunday #1

Last sunday, we had our first session of 2006-07. Ami was crying at home because she couldn't join in and Srinka was doing the same thing at the doctor's (S'h'rinks, how are you?) ;-)) So the serious task of starting the year with an expectation setting session was bravely taken on by the remaining S & S.

A new volunteer Sangeetha had come in on Sunday... Sowmya's friend. Told her what we want to do, what we have been trying to do, what's plan for the day etc. Sowmya too turned up after some time. Now we had the herculean task of gathering all the kids into the study room. I don't think I'd would be stretching it if I say that it took us a whole half an hour to gather them all together. Lots of pushing and prodding was required, we saw quite a few making faces - and to top it all Keerthi and Prema flatly refused to join because they are no longer in school!! It was interesting to see that "grown up" attitude in them and I loved it too, but I would've been happier if they eventually joined in.

Finally, with all the kids in the room, we were ready to start around 3.30 or so. If the faces we saw earlier were disheartening, the kids had more in stock for us. Sowmya started the 'proceedings' with an attempt to get them energized, she asked them some questions about vacation and school and things like that, hardly eliciting any responses and if I remember right, there was some question about us being there and the response was even more disheartening. But we put up a brave face and continued. Sowmya had some energizer games up her sleeve and she launched one of them, making the kids stand up and follow her actions and repeat her words. Soon the place was brimming with energy.

Then, Sowmya passed on the baton to me. And I delivered my first ever lecture on something like this. Told them about our plans to divide the kids into younger and older groups, told them that our focus for the younger ones would be on reading and writing (english and kannada), basic maths and basic history/science/geo/whatever and for elder ones it would be spoken english, career orientation and an overall personality development focus. Told them we will have lots of fun, but we also want them to get something more than fun at the end of the day. Asked them to talk to us freely about any problems academic or personal that they are facing, so we would be able to help out better. Told them our association doesn't end with 10th, we are ready to take it forward too. Reviewed last years programs with them and asked them what they liked and disliked about it. Asked them what else they would want from us apart from what we are doing. There were no responses about what they disliked or what else they want, but said they liked everything we did (spoken english, grammar, story reading, quiz, biodata etc.) and wanted all that to be continued. That sounded more like a formal response. Told them that we want to add some value and we need their cooperation by sharing with us their opinions, feelings, problems etc and make use of us to the fullest. Told them that we are in this as a team and we work together well as a team, we will be able to make this a success.

In spite of some of the negatives and a pervading sense of disinterest, at the end of the session, I did get a feeling that we could strike a chord somewhere, at least with some of them, if not all. Have a feeling that we could do a talk like this a little more frequently and not just at the beginning of the year. Could have an informal session with them once in a while where we compare notes and reiterate our message and our mission and listen to their responses (if at all they make any).

I'm feeling positive, lets look forward and work for a better year, like we told the kids. And on that note, let me sign off (and relieve you all from further misery ;-p)...

Action Items #1

1. Keep pushing on the warden issue gently - Akash/Ami
2. Saranga trust - science - talk to them about the frequency/timelines etc. - Akash initially, and then the girls can take it forward.
3. Saranga trust - career counseling - Akash to follow up with Hema Srinivas
4. Meeting with srilatha (and co) - Ami to follow up.
5. Talk to maria 'more concretely' about her involvement, meeting with lady vols - Akash to do the honors
6. NIE - talk to them and arrange a meeting for further discussion - Sowmya to follow up (Note to sowmya: meeting preferrably on a weekend evening)
7. Push for english medium for all kids - subtle, gradual process blah blah. Action on srilatha interfaces.
8. Fine tune the specifics - Action on each of us (???) mails?? further meetings??
9. Trek - Akash to drive (yeah, right!!!)
10. Spoorthy - Murtuza to drive
11. NIE - propose the plan he has in mind - Rohit
12. A mission document on V - Dharin
    

Minutes of Meeting:: 21st May, 2006 (7-9PM)

Meeting @ A/D's residence. Attended by Akash, Ami, Anil, Dharin, Murtuza, Shaheen, Sowmya, Srinka.

Highlights

* Warden - we can help in the search. (they are looking for one warden for 3-3.5k. no funds from us, thank you)

* Saranga trust - science sessions to happen. at least 4 sessions (yes, we know it is not enough. the more the better, but we're drawing up our boundaries). We also need to provide the kids with a platform to demonstrate/showcase their improved science experience.

* Saranga trust for career counseling - to be discussed with Hema Srinivas. This is only a broad plan. More details will evolve as we discuss with hema srinivas (who is currently out of india, expected back in june/july or 3 months).

* We need to push for english medium for new kids and as many of the existing ones as possible. This can be a gradual process.

* 4th to 7th std kids. As always, catch 'em young. 1st to 3rd can sit along if interested, but our focus will be more on 4th to 7th to strengthen the foundations. Key Focus Areas:

1. reading and writing (english and kannada)
2. basic maths (using practical, real life examples),
3. weave multiple subjects into reading sessions to make it broad based.

* 8th to 10th kids. Here again, 10+ kids can sit in, but our focus will be more on 8-10. In specific LS sessions were the 10+ too can benefit, we will make sure they are in. Key Focus Areas:

1. spoken english (english skills, in general)
2. more all round personality development (I added this, though i guess this is a given)
3. saranga for science
4. NIE - Newspaper In Education, The Hindu initiative has well-developed modules for dramatics, life skilss etc. We will get in touch with them for the possibility of getting them into V for sessions or using some of their modules ourselves. Proprietary/IPR issues are involved.
5. Get Maria to either do sessions at V or impart some of her expertise to us (lady volunteers), so we can use the fundas.

[S Observes]:: When we discussed NIE and Maria, we were doing this more for 8th to 10th kids. But I feel it is more general stuff that can be used across levels. Even saranga science, for that matter, can be for both groups. I think we need some more definition about the focus areas for 8th to 10th group. Currently, we have language skills and overall P.D as focus. Of course, PD covers almost everything, but do we want to get a little more specific here??

* Our sessions will be once a weekend (as against more, take it slow). We are considering change of timings to accomodate volunteers' convenience. Decision on specifics later.

* Once in 2 months, we should try and organize something like a career day. The funda is to get people from different fields/careers to talk about their profession.

* Involve wardens in activities to whatever extent we can. This is to pull wardens into the system, make them feel more responsible etc. and take more interest in the overall development of the kids. Do this without worrying about the effectiveness with the current wardens.

* Profiling - Fine tuning to be done later. Involve wardens to get inputs. Do a dry run of profiling with a few kids (as in what details, how we want to put it etc.) and then take it to Srilatha. Details, as mentioned earlier, to be worked out about what information we will record and how we will go about collecting it. (No background/sensitive information etc.)

* Calendar: ~36 weeks for us.

1. one trek
2. at least 4 saranga science sessions
3. 2 spoorthy
4. 6 life skills (this is particularly Maria's sessions or the NIE folks' sessions)
5. that leaves 17 weekends for our other sessions (specifics to be worked out)if you really did work out the math, we just kept 6 weeks buffer. :D
   

[S observes]:: What about summer camp (like this time)?? I suppose the summer camp is outside of these 36 weeks.

If there are any omissions or additions (;p) or misrepresentations, please feel free...

R's Bangalore Notes - #2 (Profiling)

R's bangalore notes on profiling...

Continuing with my notes...

Although we had initiated various modes of documentation in the past, most of them were activity based. I strongly feel the need for Student based profiling. I noticed quite a few issues regarding the information we have about the students at V.

(I'm bringing in some history here & there, coz I feel it would help the new vols with some orientation; Pls feel free to crib if you don't want it)

There was a time when the average weekly interaction of a regular volunteer with the kids was nearly 5 - 6 hours and atleast 50 % of the time dedicated to academic teaching. As a result, vols thoroughly know the capabilities of the students and their weak spots, and teaching-activities were more often than not tailor-made and dynamic to suit the needs.

The reduction in time spent and the nature of activities being conducted now poses a lot of challenges. I feel these points below are some of them.. How imposing each of the challenge is, is something the vols can input.

-> Individual focus and attention goes low
-> Specific difficulties in learning can go unnoticed
-> The scope of discussing personal issues takes a beating
-> Continuity of overall progress at individual level is unclear
-> Volunteer - Student mutual accountability at individual level (..I know this is a sensitive one)

I am sure you have got the gist of what I am trying to put across. To overcome this, as has been suggested earlier, I favour taking up the task of individual student profiling.
It means that

-> We maintain a database wherein each student's information is regularly updated.
-> Standard info - age, class, past academic progress, extra-curricular achievements if any, spl skills, etc (you can think of more)
-> Background, Management remarks when admitted - lets debate on this

The above is static info; now for some dynamic stuff

-> Need to identify areas where we can define the progress of the student qualitatively like language & communication, participation, leadership qualities, career interests (these will and should keep changing), role models, etc.. (brainstorming needed)

-> Problem areas: (Personal, academic, general) - needs defining

-> Vibes: What they feel about V, Warden, their school, environment, friends/foes,
teachers, (Cribs & praises)

-> Progress: (Academic, lifeSkills, problems handled, overall periodic review)

Maybe what I have listed above are rather broad lines, but I would like the group to initiate the debate on this NOW, so that by the time the academic year starts we have some idea of what we want to profile. But we need to answer these questions first.

1. Are we agreeing to have this?
2. Who are the action owners? (A suggestion is that one person can co-ordinate the database, while we have people taking responsibility for primary, secondary, high-school levels) Names please
3. Format of the database?
4. Other finer aspects like time & resource involved in setting this up.

I guess its enough fodder for now. Can we have these questions answered asap, and also action-owners decided soon.

Let me end this mail with what I feel is the underlying philosophy for the need of profiling; that is to see to it that the kids don't stray away. This is one of the ways volunteers can be more active in this, since the individual involvement with the kids could go a long way in relationship building with the volunteers and feeling more secured and responsible.

R's Bangalore Notes - #1

R's bangalore notes from the egroups...

After a hectic multi-agenda Bangalore trip, I would like to bring forth a lot of notes concerning Vatsalya, which I have made after talking to volunteers, kids and ofcourse Srilatha madam.

The main points which I want to drive home concern the upcoming academic year and how we want to prepare for the same. We have seen the healthiest exchange of mails ever on the Vatsalya e-group in the last 2 - 3 months and I feel now is the time to consolidate those ideas, while at the same time having a macro view of the many threads going on.

Its nice to see many threads, but what I would like to put forth here is a few top priorities. We need to look at them as a year's project with specific targets, specific action-owners and periodic reviews. The reasons are varied and many. What I hope to see from the group is a consensus on the top-focus areas and decision on the action owners to start with. Modus operandi can follow.

I shall write separate mails on each of these so that the threads of discussion can be consolidated.

1. Career awareness: Research - Contacts - Database - Sessions - Interaction with different professionals - Professional career guidance - Resources
2. Science Club: Regular experiments - association with Saranga, planetaurium, Science olympiad foundation (??) - seminars - projects - quizzes - fun - Disha (??)
3. 10th and above: Support - College admissions - vocational training - jobs
4. Students Profiling: Talent identification - monitoring - problem spotting - review

I have not mentioned lifeSkills since I believe it is going on at a set-pace and according to a well managed program. Also important is PR with management (Policies - programs - wardens - liaison) I'll be happy if someone other than me writes on this.

Also, relation building with the kids now needs to be specifically thought about, since the duration of interaction with the kids has gone down. Periodic camp-ins, etc and other counselling activities on health, sexuality, EQ are more necessary now than ever before.

I am sure there are other ideas of what the top priorities are; these are merely the lines on which I have made some mental notes. More stuff to follow.

In Railway Halls

In railway halls, on pavements near the traffic,
They beg, their eyes made big by empty staring
And only measuring Time, like the blank clock.

No, I shall weave no tracery of pen-ornament
To make them birds upon my singing tree:
Time merely drives these lives which do not live
As tides push rotten stuff along the shore.

- There is no consolation, no, none
In the curving beauty of that line
Traces on our graphs through history, where the oppressor
Starves and deprives the poor.

Paint here no draped despairs, no saddening clouds
Where the soul rests, proclaims eternity.
But let the wrong cry out as raw as wounds
This Time forgets and never heals, far less transcends.

-- Stephen Spender(1909-1995)

One of my favourites.

Desiderata by Max Ehrmann

A poem that captivated me coupla months back... Have been meaning to print this out and post at V notice board somewhere... Guess I'll eventually get to it one of these days... Desideratum (Latin origin) means something considered significant or highly desirable.. Enjoy the poem!

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.

Monday blues

Monday morning.

The deadline....skip the run...land at office....after a grand bath (tried a new shampoo)

And start the work (new project)....and soon lost in many a thing.....deciphering a pseudocode....need to figure out some 60 variables.....who are these blokes, what are they doing to each other kinds.

Life Sucks.

Go for a coffee.

Tell Partha 'When Life Sucks, we go for a coffee'.
He thinks, and retorts.

'Earth Sucks, otherwise we would fall off' ;-))

Ladies & gentlemen,
Earth Sucks.
For all those kids
Worrying 'bout the next meal
Warm clothes
And a shelter
And not worrying 'bout
Teachers, & Exams.

Shattered homes/Relationships
Unseen love/care/affection

Thats where we will pitch in, right ??

13 minutes taken up, need to get back to that ^%$^& code.

Life Sucks!!!