by Anura Guruge
on August 28, 2024
Follow Anura Guruge on WordPress.com
Anura’s Picture Of The Day + 6 Others, August 28, 2024.
Leave a reply
Monthly Archives: August 2024
Why I Despair Of Today’s U.S. Colleges & Higher Education. I Have Seen This First Hand.
by Anura Guruge
on August 27, 2023
Follow Anura Guruge on WordPress.com
Yes, I have three kids who have been to colleges in the U.S. — & yes, I paid.
NO, I never went to College in the U.S. I got my higher education in the U.K. (thank you) & got my Master’s in Computer Science from the University of London. Yes, that London.
I did teach, as an adjunct, at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), for a couple of years, 20-years ago. I gave up in despair. I was teaching postgraduate courses and some of the ‘kids’, native born Americans, couldn’t write a proper English sentence. I was teaching a Master’s class on Web technology & the whole class of about 22 all had no notion, whatsoever, as to how the Internet was funded and maintained.
I maintain that the U.S. college system is totally commercialized — getting a degree is a FINANCIAL TRANSACTION. Give us the money & we will give you a degree. Just like buying a burger at McDonald’s. Well the above questions PROVE my point.
REMEMBER these kids have LEFT HOME to attend College.
They are COLLEGE STUDENTS. Just think about it.
Petting A Caged Tiger In A Zoo — What Can I Say. SMILE.
by Anura Guruge
on August 27, 2023
Follow Anura Guruge on WordPress.com
Long time ago; nearly 50 years. This was in the U.K.
I lived more or less next door to an open air zoo. They had a HUGE bengal tiger in an ‘open’ cage. I used to visit often, late in the day, after work. Can’t remember what the deal was. Whether I paid, had some arrangement or they just let me in because it was late and they knew I lived across the field.
I would go, sit by the cage, and talk to the tiger. Like a dog. I sat there & I would talk. After a while he got used to me being there, talking to him. Given the lateness of the day, there was never many folks around. He used to amble over and sit next to me across the fence! This went on for awhile. When I would get up to leave, he would get up too.
So, I was not a stranger. Yes, I progressed to sneaking my hand in and stroking him. Just like a dog.
Well I am typing & I have both hands. SMILE.
‘August 27’, The One Day Of Some Significance In My Wholly Insignificant Life.
by Anura Guruge
on August 27, 2023
Follow Anura Guruge on WordPress.com
Wow. I joined ‘IBM‘ 50-years ago. Wow. I wonder what would have happened IF I hadn’t left 5-years later. Maybe I could have made something out of life. Who knows.
Left Ceylon 57 years ago. Wow.
Last time I was back, also in late August, was 1992. That was 32 years ago! That was for the funeral of my adoptive mother.
Time moves on, inexorably.
Well, I shouldn’t dwell too much on this. Who cares. Nothing I can do.
SMILE.
Anura’s Picture Of The Day + 6 Others, August 27, 2024.
Last Time ‘Labor Day’ Fell On September 2, As It Does This Year, Was 5 Years Ago (i.e., 2019).
by Anura Guruge
on August 26, 2023
Follow Anura Guruge on WordPress.com
It is always the 1st Monday of September. So, it can fall between September 1 & September 7 — & as my table above shows, it has.
So, September 2 is at the front of the range. But, NOTHING special. All the days are equal.
It last fell on September 2, 5 years ago, i.e., 2019.
6 years gaps are the norm for this kind of fixed-day, yearly holidays — given we have 7 days in a week. But, with Leap Years in the MIX, as is the case this year, it can get reduced to 5. But it was 6 years prior to that.
The 11 year gap between 2002 and 2013 was caused by Leap Years. 7 days in a week & 4 years between leap years.
U.S. ‘Indian Citizenship Act of 1924’ — $1 Coin To Mark The 100-Year Anniversary.
by Anura Guruge
on August 26, 2024
Follow Anura Guruge on WordPress.com
Click to ENLARGE & read here. Link to the U.S. Mint listing.
Click to ENLARGE & read here. Wikipedia.
At best, if that, I was only vaguely aware of this, i.e., that there was a time when Native Indians did not have U.S. citizenship. I did NOT know about this act passed in 1924. Very neat. I was glad & excited to learn about.
<><><><>
It came to my attention, this morning, thanks to an Ad. on Facebook by the U.S. Mint. Wow. I had to look it up. Made my day.
<><><><>
I am tempted to buy a roll of coins. If I had seen this, well ahead of my trip to the Mi’kmaq Mawiomi I would definitely have got a roll. It would have been NEAT to give some — especially to kids.
Not sure whether I will be meeting any Natives in the next few months. No plans.
But, I will keep this in mind. Neat. Very neat. I am chuffed.
Anura’s Picture Of The Day + 6 Others, August 26, 2024.
Anura’s Picture Of The Day + 6 Others, August 24, 2024 — ‘Peter Previte’, ‘Jimmy and the Jesters’.
Pope Francis, Thank God, Gives Up On Praying For Peace, Acts Like An Adult & APPEALS For Peace Instead.
by Anura Guruge
on August 25, 2024
It is so good & such a relief that Pope Francis accepts REALITY. His prayers are beyond useless. Pathetic. God just ignore him. Has to be very galling & embarrassing to him. No wonder he refuses to claim he is ‘Vicar of Christ‘. He is nothing but a very mortal, Catholic bishop. I think, deep down, he understands that, BUT he has to play the role expected of him.
Two years ago he (the Pope) was ALL about praying for peace in Ukraine & the Middle East. Well we all know he was totally impotent.
Now he appeals. Sensible. He is acting like an adult. I like that. Good on him.