I had to read this twice just to see if it was real. Of course it is. After all, the Supreme Court did approve the draft on Monday (yesterday). How could it not be real?
So now the pressure is all on the child - all of five (or six) years old - to meet the standards set by the assessment process. 25 marks each for intelligence and aptitude. The balance 50 is allocated for parents/siblings. It all sounds very bizarre.
The last para was just outstanding:
"The independent selection committee of each school will comprise two representatives from the school past pupils` association, two from the school development society (not being teachers), the principal or his representative being a deputy principal or senior teacher, a representative of the zonal director of education and an eminent well-wisher of the school not being a person involved in politics."
That certainly sounds very "independent" to me. I'm sure that all members of this panel including the "eminent well-wisher" are going to be the least corrupt human beings in Sri Lanka.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Looks Like Rain
"How to Predict the Weather Without a Forecast" is a very interesting article that describes ten easy steps to follow. I am going to try this out out - starting with Step 8 (0bserving animals) - will update in a week.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Friday, July 20, 2007
Word of the Day
Sapiosexual
- One who finds intelligence the most sexually attractive feature.
"I want an incisive, inquisitive, insightful, irreverent mind. I want someone for whom philosophical discussion is foreplay. I want someone who sometimes makes me go ouch due to their wit and evil sense of humor. I want someone that I can reach out and touch randomly. I want someone I can cuddle with.
I decided all that means that I am sapiosexual."
This isn't as grand as "truthiness" but a good one to slip into a conversation nonetheless.
- One who finds intelligence the most sexually attractive feature.
"I want an incisive, inquisitive, insightful, irreverent mind. I want someone for whom philosophical discussion is foreplay. I want someone who sometimes makes me go ouch due to their wit and evil sense of humor. I want someone that I can reach out and touch randomly. I want someone I can cuddle with.
I decided all that means that I am sapiosexual."
This isn't as grand as "truthiness" but a good one to slip into a conversation nonetheless.
How Start a Fire Using Water
Had a lab partner in school who liked doing stuff like this. Sometimes I wonder what happened to him...
Random Stuff
Firefox 3.0 - here's a preview of things to come. I'm quite happy with the version I'm using now but some of those features are attractive.
Turns out Commercial Bank has been declared the Best Bank in Sri Lanka. I beg to differ. I'm not a corporate client but thanks to a job I held sometime back I had no choice but to open an account at this particular bank and the customer service has been nothing short of appalling. From rude managers to stoned-looking front desk staff, I have never wasted more hours of my life waiting in line to deposit money or make a payment than at a ComBank branch. Times have changed and I have moved on to more customer friendly places like Sampath and Nations Trust...but the memory of standing in a queue one day for half an hour and then being impolitely informed that the banks' computer network "down" and payments cannot be accepted that day will linger for the rest of my life.
An on-going dispute over teachers' salaries may result in the teachers boycotting work during this year's Advanced Level exam. Love those trade unions that decide to take a stand right before an important event.
Turns out Commercial Bank has been declared the Best Bank in Sri Lanka. I beg to differ. I'm not a corporate client but thanks to a job I held sometime back I had no choice but to open an account at this particular bank and the customer service has been nothing short of appalling. From rude managers to stoned-looking front desk staff, I have never wasted more hours of my life waiting in line to deposit money or make a payment than at a ComBank branch. Times have changed and I have moved on to more customer friendly places like Sampath and Nations Trust...but the memory of standing in a queue one day for half an hour and then being impolitely informed that the banks' computer network "down" and payments cannot be accepted that day will linger for the rest of my life.
An on-going dispute over teachers' salaries may result in the teachers boycotting work during this year's Advanced Level exam. Love those trade unions that decide to take a stand right before an important event.
Forever Live and Die - OMD
Here's a blast from the past:
Now I remember what a great song it was and still is!
Now I remember what a great song it was and still is!
Monday, July 16, 2007
Friday, July 13, 2007
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Ever Wondered Where "#" Came From?
The octothorp "#" - is s symbol that was originally used in mapmaking - representing a village surrounded by eight fields.
Read more fascinating facts about this and the origin of other symbols including this little gem about Prince:
In 1993, Prince’s dissatisfaction with his record label, Warner Bros., finally reached its peak. Despite his superstar status and $100 million contract, the Purple One didn’t feel he had enough creative control over his music. So "in protest," Prince announced that Prince would never perform for Warner Bros. again - this unpronounceable symbol would instead.
The symbol for the Artist Formerly Known as Prince combined three ancient symbols: the male symbol, the female symbol, and the alchemy symbol for soapstone, which was supposed to reflect his artistic genius. Prince retired the symbol when his contract with Warner Bros. ran out in 2000. Today, he is again Prince.
Read more fascinating facts about this and the origin of other symbols including this little gem about Prince:
In 1993, Prince’s dissatisfaction with his record label, Warner Bros., finally reached its peak. Despite his superstar status and $100 million contract, the Purple One didn’t feel he had enough creative control over his music. So "in protest," Prince announced that Prince would never perform for Warner Bros. again - this unpronounceable symbol would instead.The symbol for the Artist Formerly Known as Prince combined three ancient symbols: the male symbol, the female symbol, and the alchemy symbol for soapstone, which was supposed to reflect his artistic genius. Prince retired the symbol when his contract with Warner Bros. ran out in 2000. Today, he is again Prince.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Mind Games
I came across a list of things you can do to get rid of toothache, acidity and stop a nosebleed. Here's how you solve a very common problem:
"Need to pee? No bathroom nearby? You are male? Then fantasize...
Thinking about sex preoccupies your brain, so you won't feel as much discomfort, says Larry Lipshultz, M.D., chief of male reproductive medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine."
Link
"Need to pee? No bathroom nearby? You are male? Then fantasize...
Thinking about sex preoccupies your brain, so you won't feel as much discomfort, says Larry Lipshultz, M.D., chief of male reproductive medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine."
Link
10 Most Bizarre People on Earth
Whoever compiled this list obviously had no knowledge of the existence of my former schoolmates and colleagues....
The only familiar story on this list was that of Mehran, who inspired the movie The Terminal.
The only familiar story on this list was that of Mehran, who inspired the movie The Terminal.
Monday, July 02, 2007
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