Grandmas’ training to be Solar Engineers in India

In a little village in the state of Rajasthan in India, there exists a college, Barefoot College, active since 40 years already.

In this college, most of its students are grandmothers from the Least Developed Countries of the world (Asia, Africa & the Pacific Islands), who had left their families for a 6 months training to become solar engineers.

Objective of the College: Train exploited poor rural inhabitants to become self-independent women and live with dignity and self-respect (Equality of Women)!

After obtaining their diploma, they would take homes the solar lanterns they’ve built and use their newfound knowledge and skills to help in the development of the villages from where they’ve come from.

The college works under the Gandhian Principle:

Finally, at night, most of the children gather around a big solar lantern and the college provides night schooling to these children, since during the day they have to help their parents in the fields.

Self-Descriptive Image

Sometime a single picture can convey soo many messages:

Are you grateful for what you have?

How many times do you halt your busy schedule and appreciate what you have? There are many things we should be grateful for, but nowadays, we take most of these things for granted.

"We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives." -John F. Kennedy

When I was a kid, I took almost everything for granted, but as I grew up, I learn to enjoy every little thing that life could offer.

Take education for example… Here in Mauritius, school is compulsory but some people don’t realize how lucky they are to be literate; some people might think that being educated is part of their basic Rights, but, it is more likely to be a gift, an opportunity, a privilege…

“An attitude of gratitude brings great things.”  -Yogi Bhajan

There are tons of things to be grateful for: your life, your family and friends, your health, nature, technology, to be able to read this post right now… some people don’t even have a decent place to live and here you are, at your desk, using a PC or cell with an INTERNET CONNECTION!!!

 “We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” - Cynthia Ozick

Have you ever noticed the more you get familiar to someone or some situation in your life, you are more likely to take it for granted? Sometimes, we ought to give more attention and show more gratitude to these things…

Be more thankful for this amazing world we are living in... Even if sometimes you are going through a tough time, remember there's always tons of reasons to be grateful for in life.

One day before exams...

What do you do one day before exams?..

Relax cos u already studied ealier and yu just need to quickly go through your notes??

Well...

Personally, I wait for the last minute to revise & every fckin time I'll be askin myself the same questn: "Why didnt i start studyin earlier?"

Has it ever occured to you to do all the dumbest, random stuffs the eve before exams rather than actually studying?

I mean only during the exams week, we will want to watch all our favorites tv shows, painting your room, painting your nails, play games, clean up the house, bath your pet, SLEEEEP, procrastinate...

-----------------------

1 week before exams --> XD

4 days before exams --> :D

2 days before exams --> :)

1 day before exams --> :S

Night before exams --> :(  :'(  :@ :@ !!!@@@ :'(

Every fckin time!!!

Internet.org

Internet.org – Imagine a world where the Internet connects us all

This new project with the collaboration of Facebook, Ericsson, MediaTek, Nokia, Opera, Qualcomm & Samsung, is targeting on making the internet accessible to everyone using their cell phones, thus reducing the digital divide between developed countries and developing countries.

Currently, only one third of the global population has access to the internet!

The statement said: "Potential projects inclide developing data compression tools, enhancing network capabilities to more effiiciently handle data, building systems to cache data efficiently and creating frameworks for apps to reduce data usage."

Certes, this is a very good initiative, specially to countries where internet access is expensive!

But take the African continent for example, they have other urgencies to deal in with first: food, health, education, electricityyyyyy!!!

It would be like: “Ok I don’t have food nor shelter but at least I’m connected to the internet!”

Finally, is it because the digital markets in developed countries have become saturated that those companies want to spread out to developing ones, or is it because they really want the nation to be connected via the Internet? 

More information on:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/08/21/214117156/tech-giants-launch-internet-org-a-global-plan-to-widen-access

http://www.internet.org/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23779172

Mood swings due to Facebook

Scientists have confirmed that using Facebook can make you feel miserable in the sense that it can reduce your sense of well-being and satisfaction with life.

 

 Most people use Facebook when they are feeling lonely because it makes them feel like they have a lot of friends out there! They just log onto the site & scroll up & down their newsfeed and, instantly, seeing some posts, these might cheer up their mood or, make them unhappy.

Stuffs that might cheer up your mood:

1. New Friend Request(s) or Subscribers

2. New message (specially from your crush :p)

3. Notifications about someone commenting or liking your posts

4. Seeing a funny troll on your newsfeed

Stuffs that might worsen up your mood:

1. No friend request, no message.

2. Notifications only about game requests or stuffs…

3. Seeing pictures of your friends/family having more fun than you.

4. Seeing your crush/partner liking or commenting on someone else’s pictures/posts.

5. Seeing couples uploading pictures while you’re single or you’ve just broken-up with you bf/gf.
6. Nobody liked your status, picture or whatsoever.

There’s a theory known as FOMO-Fear Of Missing Out: a side effect of seeing friends and family sitting on the beaches or having fun at parties while you are on a computer.

Well, using Facebook may make us feel more connected but it does not necessarily make us happy. 

Relationship nowadays...

These days, due to the increase in the number of social networking sites, relationships are becoming harder.

Whether you’ve met your partner online or in real-life, there is one little thing that you should give to ‘validate’ your bond: your Facebook Password.

It’s like the gf/bf want to have total control over that person’s account: with whom he’s/she’s chatting, whose pictures they are commenting on and all that stupid shit...

It’s like, liking or commenting on someone’s else picture is more pernicious than actually sleeping with someone else!

Moreover, everything has become kind of virtual:

- You seldom meet!

- Most of your conversations take place over skype, text messages, IM...

- You fight over the phone!

- Your feelings become status update on facebook – its like announcing their problem to the world instead of the person they have a problem with…

Well, maybe its time for us to get out of this virtual world and go outside, meet people, talk & all that kind of stuffs: A real relationship :)

Make your Job Interesting

"The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it." -Steve Jobs

What was your childhood ambition/dream job? Is it the job you're exercising right now?

Very often, we end up at a post that we do not like at all. Maybe cos that's the only available job or financial issues or other stuffs...

But no mattter what your job is, you can always try and make it interesting:

The Tuned Out Programmer

Two computer programmers are explaining how they go about doing their job, designing programs to fill the pressing business needs of their clients. 

Recounts one: "I heard him say he needed all the data in a simple format that could fit in one page." So the programmer followed through and deliver just that.

The second programmer, however, seems to have trouble getting to the point. Unlike the first programmer, he doesn't mention the needs of this clients. Instead he launches into a litany of technical talk: "The HP3000/30's BASIC compiler was too slow, so I went directly to a machine-language routine." In other words, he focuses on machines not people.

The first programmer was identified as outstanding at his work, able to design programs that are user-friendly; the second is at best mediocre at this task - he has essentially tuned out his customers. 

The first computer programmer displays emotional intelligence; the other exemplifies its absence.

Both were interviewed using a method developed by McClelland to detect the competencies that distinguish star performers in jobs of every kind.

Source: Working with Emotional Intelligence. A book by Daniel Goleman

Conclusion: Technical expertise isn't enough to excel at any work, you should also be emotionally intelligent, have good communication skills and have a passion for what you're doing.

Choosing your Career

Some children already have an idea about what job they want to do when they'll grow up or atleast in what field they want to be. Others will discover that during their journey in High School. Yet, there are still some students who don't know into what field they should pursue their tertiary education even after completing their Higher Studies. 

Certes, there are Career Guidance fairs, but are these really useful? Whenever I've been to a career guidance fair, I would just look for the stalls where they would offer free pen, notepad, sweets and stuffs!

How some students choose their University Course?

1. Childhood's Ambition/Dream.

2. You're passionate about that field.

3. You would get a highly-paid salary.

4. Your parents forced you.

5. The university rejected your application for a particular field, so you just joined any available courses.

6. Most of your friends signed up for that course.

Moreover, there are some students, despite having majored in a particular field, they completely changed career afterwards. Maybe because there's no job available in their field or maybe they majored in the wrong field.

Finally, there are some people who despite having no Diploma/Degree but who are really successful.

In a nutshell, think well before joining any particular course and don't let yourself be influence by anyone...  And, it feels much better to do what we have  passion for, even if the rewards are greater elsewhere...

Our Educational System

Different people are good at different things, so, is exams a fair way to assess a person's capabilities?

Personally, I think that we should not limit ourselves to only whatever we are learning in school. We should always be opened to learn something new, opened to new ideas and innovations, cos ultimately, "Imagination is more important than knowledge."

And LIFE... Life ain't just about how well you know your calculus or anything else, life is:

"Photographers" nowadays...

Nowadays, some people just buy a professional camera, take some shots, apply some effects & instantaneously, they think they've become professional photographers...

They could take any, any shitty picture of any, any shitty stuff, apply some filter & some quote and... "Yayy! I'm a Professional Photographer!"

 

Some people would even pose for these amateur "photographers" and they would think of themselves as being  top models...

...

Some of the Tallest Buildings in Dubai

Here are some Engineering Wonders in Dubai:

1. Burj Khalifa (828m)

2. Emirates Office Tower (355m)

3. Burj Al Arab (321m)

4. Ocean Heights (310m)

5. Infinity Tower (306m)

6. 21st Century Tower (269m)

Photo Credit: Google

For other Dubai Architecture, visit: http://www.dubai-architecture.info/DUB-GAL1.htm

Will Smith Quotes

Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart will consume you too.

Too many people spend money they haven't earned to buy things they dont want, to impress people they don't like.

I don't know what my calling is, but I want to be here for a bigger reason. I strive to be like the greatest people who have ever lived.

The things that have been most valuable to me I did not learn in school. 

We all want to be in love and find that person who is going to love us no matter how our feet smell, no matter how angry we get one day, no matter the things we say that we don't mean.

I want the world to be better because I was here.

Stop letting people who do so little for you control so much of your mind, feelings & emotions.

Dont chase people. Be yourself, do your own thing and work hard. The right people, the ones who really belong in your life, will come to you. And stay...

I may no be there yet, but Im closer than yesterday.

Your life will  become better by making other lives better.

Everybody needs a partner to stand right by their side.

Learning to Live without Recognition is a Skill

There was a farmer who had a horse and a goat! One day, the horse became ill, so he called the veterinarian, who said:

"Well, your horse has a virus. He must take this medicine for three days.  I'll come back on the 3rd day and if he's not better, we're going to have to put him down."

Nearby, the goat listened closely to their conversation. The next day, they gave the horse the medicine and left.

The goat approached the horse and said: 

“Be strong, my friend. Get up or else they're going to put you to sleep!”

On the second day, they again gave the horse the medicine and left. The goat came back and said: 

"Come on buddy, get up or else you're going to die!  Come on, I'll help you get up. Let's go! One, two, three..."

On the third day, they came to give the horse the medicine and the vet said:

"Unfortunately, we're going to have to put him down tomorrow. Otherwise, the virus might spread and infect the other horses".

After they left, the goat approached the horse and said: 

"Listen pal, it's now or never! Get up, come on! Have courage! Come on! Get up! Get up! That's it, slowly! Great! Come on, one, two, three... Good, good. Now faster, come on...... Fantastic! Run, run more! Yes! Yay! Yes! You did it, you're a champion...!!!"

All of a sudden, the owner came back, saw the horse running in the field and began shouting:

"It's a miracle! My horse is cured. We must have a grand party. Let's kill the goat!"

The Lesson:

Nobody truly knows which employee actually deserves the merit of success, or who's actually contributing the necessary support to make things happen.

If anyone ever tells you that your work is unprofessional, remember:

Don't judge a Book by its Cover

Definitely, our physical appearance doesnt define who we really are, but is appearance soo important nowadays?

Many people formulate conceptions (true or false) about any person without really knowing them!

In the same way, some boys/girls would rather date a physically appealing person instead of the opposite!

Personally, I find it really stupid for someone to be judgemental towards anybody without really knowing their stories, what they've been through & all the stuffs...

Here's a link to an earlier post: http://velocity93.blogspot.com/2011/09/fake-people-all-around.html

"Stop allowing people to dilute or poison your day with their words

or opinions. You stand strong in the truth of your beauty and journey

through your day without attachment to the validation of others." -Steve Maraboli

Deluge in Mauritius- 30 March 2013

170mm in 4hr... and 11 deaths!

Who’s to be blamed?

The Government? The meteorologists? The Engineers who designed the flyover or Caudan Waterfront? The people for polluting the atmosphere?

Where’s the structural problem?

The roads ? The drains? Blocked water pipes ? Or did they assume the tunnel subway to be the evacuation chamber when designing the whole stuff?

The downpour not only took the lives of so many people, but is also responsible for some tangible losses: many houses were flooded, cars were destroyed and other buildings were severly damaged! Guess Insurance companies would have a busy week!

This is the first time we're witnessing such a calamitous situation in our little 'heavenly' island. My sincere condolence to all the people who lost someone dear to them, and also to those who've become homeless...

I wonder what would have happened if this would have happened during the weekdays with students all around.. :/

And as The PM announced, tommorow, 1st April 2013 will be a Public Holiday in memory of the persons who lost their lives... :(

Photo Crefits: Facebook (Sorry could not acknowledge each photo-owner personally cos of all the Shares).

Another Gang Rape in India :/

After the gang-rape of a 23 year old student on a bus in Delhi 3 month ago, a Swiss woman, aged 39 years old has been gang raped in a the state of Madhya Pradesh last Friday!

The woman, along with her husband, were camping overnight at a village when they were attacked by 8-10 men! The aggressors got the over hand on the husband before sexually assailing the woman... :/ To top it off, the assailants even stole the valuables stuffs the couple had on them! 

Is India a safe place for women?

Accodring to TrustLaw, India has been ranked as the worst G20 country in which to be a woman! Crimes related to raping is on the growth, with a rise of 9.2% over the previous year. Not to mention the several kidnapping cases or murder over the dowry payments, torture, woman trafficking...

"Female foetuses are aborted and baby girls killed after birth, leading to an appallingly skewed sex ratio. Many of those who survive face discrimination, prejudice, violence and neglect all their lives, as single or married women."

Source: bbc.co.uk/

It was only last week that we celebrated International Women's Day, but don't you think that women are being disrespected, sexually discriminated? Not only in India, but all around the world?

Maybe we've built highways, huge buildings but our minds are becoming narrower and more perverted! Families are breaking, values are being jeopardized... We may be gaining more and more knowledge, but at the expense of possessing Wisdom! 

Can a teacher call a student stupid?

Defn of stupid: Lack of intelligence, understanding, slow to learn…

Does that mean if we suck at Math, we’re stupid?

Definitely NO!!!

A small anecdote: My maths teacher would often refer us as being stupid/retarded cos we’re not understandin any shit he is explainin! He would even say, I quote, “You need to be clever to do Maths, which you are not!”

Soo, can a teacher call a student “stupid”?

A teacher, by no means, should call a student stupid or retarded! A teacher’s job is to explain you when you don’t understand something, and not the opposite! As one of my teacher said: “A teacher is a guide, someone to make a difference! Someone who should treat the students the same way he treats his own child…”

Teachers should have good pedagogical skills:

Effective teachers use an array of teaching strategies because there is no single, universal approach that suits all situations. 

Different strategies used in different combinations with different groupings of students will improve learning outcomes. 

Some strategies are better suited to teaching certain skills and fields of knowledge than are others. Some strategies are better suited to certain student backgrounds, learning styles and abilities. (Souce: http://the-teacher.wikispaces.com/Pedagogy+-+Teaching+and+Learning+Strategies)

Besides, intelligence has to do with your capability to learn new things & think intuitively, creatively. I really think that being street smart is far more important than being book smart! Book smart will get you through your calculus class, but it will not get you through life! Math is just a learned skill, you just need to study them enough until eventually you can just memorize most of the information!

Personally, I think that street smart and common sense skills are much more important than something in a book… :)

You can also check out: What defines a good teacher?