Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the 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 to the dull and ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or 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 in your soul.
With all its sham,
drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.


by Max Ehrmann

RJ

Some like it, some hate it, some just do enough to get over it.

Since you have to do it, heck, why not just try to find ways to enjoy doing it.
as you would have read from - Cats and Cradle by a student post. He had fun doing it( yes, I checked how did he come up with the idea and he said he just wanted to enjoy doing it and be different)

When I studied computer science, the first thing we were taught was :
GIGO - ie garbage in, garbage out. whatever input we put in, the computer spew out.
Same for RJ, what you put in (effort, reflecting, thinking etc), will show in the output.

take care and always remember to have fun,while the sun is shining on you.

make hay while the sun shine. And in your youth, the sun always shine, regardless.

Cats in the Cradle- by a faci

Cats in the cradle


Hello Class,

Over the years, each of us would have listen to many songs. Songs act as milestone in our life, listening to it evokes emotion like some scent. Songs sometimes are teachers in disguise, if we stop and wonder and listen to its hidden meaning. The song can send different messages to different people or the same person, the same song may send different message each time we listen to it again.

"Cats in the cradle and the silver spoon" is one of those song for me. Each time I stop and listen to it, it share a different message/lesson.

Like an onion, one can analyse and peel the song and it has so many meanings. To some, it is about a father and a son. To another, it is a reminder to spend time with love one. Then again some one said it is a wake up call.

While the song was written in US, in the 70s, it is becoming more and more pertinent in our self achievement oriented. In one of my job, one of my colleague was nicknamed "Father Christmas". He fly so much in his position, his family don't get to see him (for more than 2-3 days at a time) except during Christmas.

When I first heard of this song (on the radio, yes normal radio, not internet radio that one can wind it back instantly), somehow it stop me in my track. I did not hear in again until sometime later. I realised I have to be careful on the amount of time spent flying on business and not seeing my kids. Ultimately, it lead me to quit corporate life. (and hey, I have not recover the TOTAL COMPENSATION PACKAGE, I used to get, so, stop for a moment and send me donation via Paypal, hehehehe)


The underlying message could also be : spend time doing what is important and not urgent. As you attend class each day, ask : what is important and what is urgent?. Putting slides together is urgent, but the discussion, researching, thinking, analysis is important and where most of the learning take place.

There are just too many dimensions in the song to analyse fully. I shall stop here. If you like the song, listen to also "Anak" by Freddie Aguilar - a much simpler, one dimension song. Listen to the Tagalog version first (to feel the soul) and then to the English version to understand.

PS : Freddie sing live(once a week) in Manila at the Hobbit House- a kind of a pub. Try to catch him live.

And if you have similar song (those that touches you), do share with me. DON"T BE LAZY. You don't need an account to comment. Just post a comment on the right. You can send anon comment too.

Cats in the Cradle- by a student.

Hi Class, this is one creative RJ done by one of my student.
Used with permission. Lightly edited.
Have fun reading.

============

This is STUDENTS IN WXXC

My students arrived just the other day
come to RP in the usual way
but there were meetings and lunch to catch
and grades to grade
they solve the problem while I was away
they were presenting for a minute
and as they learnt
they say they gonna be like you Faci
you know they gonna be like you

And the student in the RP
and the lap top
little student blue and the
faci in the school
When you go home student
i don't know when
we'll get together then
you know we'll have
a good time then

Well my student had graduated
just the other day
he said thanks for the knowledge faci
come on let's learn
can you teach me on enterprise
I said not today-I got a lot to do
They said that's ok.
and they walked away and they
smiled and they said
you know we'll gonna be like him yeah
you know we'll be like him

And the students in WXXC...

Well he came from uni
just the other day
so much like a man I just had to say
Im proud of you could you
sit for awile
they shook their head
and they said with a smile
what I'd really like faci
is to borrow the money
see you later can I have them please

And the students in WXXC...

I've long since retired
my student's go away
I called them up just the other day
they said
we love to faci
if i could find the time
you see my new job's hassle
and the kids have flu
but it's sure nice talking to you faci
and as i hung up the phone
It occurred to me

They'd grown up just like me
my students were just like me

And the students in WXXC...
And students in WXXC...

What is Corporate governance?

Hi Class,

check this out, good and brief intro to CG.

Only 7 minutes, but you will gain tons of info.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jV0AUjx6Ik

Leave a comment- Pleeeeeeeeeeease, like you find such link good, hate it, waste of time. etc etc.

Corporate governance - interesting topic - too much we get to touch it on the surface only.

The value of money is inversely proportionate to its volume.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXY1wat-5vkWsAMIxGubSYQ1utSYCUj5B-1i71n9f2W7o9s6JZSYqHAs7IZXeaJc2_Fd8ajO1ceWC1FLMn3BmES_Na0b6dYvBD_rVDI-38ETWl-PHfPnHtegfg2bUhrGkxC7QZp5ko04/s1600-h/msoft-book-philan.BMP

Class, I find this inspiring, and it is my dream to continously start social entrepenuer projects, that ADD value to people life.

from Newsweek, April XX.

Singapore getting hotter

Hi Class, in lesson 14, we discuss about corporate social responsibilities. One of the cause is global warming and climatic change and what activists and corporates do to mitigate these effects. Attached article is about climatic change in Singapore.