Oldest of Lessons.
“And in my captivity in Gaza, I learnt again that oldest of lessons. That in life, all that really, really matters, are the people you love.” – Alan Johnston, BBC Correspondent. Captive in Gaza for 114 Days in 2007.
Trying to break free of the “mould”.
Came across this through here. I can relate to her in some ways. I left a comment not long ago on BD’s blog . Though not exactly identical, the issue of breaking free of the “mould” remains central. The rot that has sunk into the ambient society and forced us to be cast into some preconceived mold.
I am who I am first. Everything follows behind.
Human Factor in teaching.
This evening I caught a part of this documentary where Nigel Bispham of Cornwall visited Finland on a mission to find out what makes Finland score the highest in the world when their lower secondary school pupils were tested in mathematics. Interesting as it was, there was one point that I felt summed the quintessential core of any pedagogical profession – the finnish teacher mentioned that he felt (paraphrased) he was entrusted with the future of Finland in his hands. He did not wish for a classroom of more than 15-16 students, so that he could indeed invest in their education and not be part of a mass production of secondary school passers. In his own words, were the size to be larger and therefore, the basic objective (of educating the future citizens) be compromised, he would resign from his job. Now that’s principle! And commitment to a cause in a profession that was once noble – now..?? I only had more appreciation and respect for the finnish teacher after seeing his dedication and patience with students. It takes a really dedicated teacher to manifest such character. Hat-tip. If only all teachers at all levels, were as motivated and gifted as him. Or at least tried to have the same standards!
Not my business – my foot!
Den är helt otroligt och OACCEPTABELT.
Jag kan själv förstå hur det känns att VILJA arbeta, men inte få något jobb i Sverige. Men att utnyttja sig av människas vedermödor är absolut synd och helt omänsklig. OCH hur kan man leva med sig, och ha nånting som kallas för “samvete”, när man ser människa som slavar på arbetsplats…att sega, nej värre då…TÄNKA…att det är “inte min business”! Skäms!
Blah blah blah @ 30000 feet above sea-level
I am not sure I want to be hearing some teenager go “ohmygosh” 300 times in one heart beat, while cruising at 30000 ft. if this indeed becomes a reality! I sincerely hope they have thought out the pros and cons of having such a system in place. But then again, being as cramped as they are these days, I wonder if having the option of a “mobile-zone” in the aircraft would be thinkable. There goes my “enjoying a nice book on the flight” spot!
The big three.
I was chuckling at the caption on the BBC news website today, referring to China, India and Russia as the ‘Big Three’. In one way the description is apt indeed – the two most populous nations in the world, and the world’s largest country. What a formidable team. And what a formidable coalition if they were to join and form a unified entity of sorts. China and India with their super industrious economies that are already steering global economics in one way or the other. With the capitalization of their largest resource – human capital, they are indeed, the new ’superpowers’ of the world (even though I hate that term). The challenge ahead of politicians in both nations is to be able to make the most of this advantage, striking while the iron is hot. There is a need to address the pressing needs of the country in the area of planning and development, poverty and healthcare for the masses.
It will be interesting to see with time, how and what roles the Big Three play in the world. Their global presence will definitely have a large and far reaching impact on other nations in some way or the other.
