Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Prof. V.SRINIVASAN writes ......




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My good friend Reginald Victor has said what I wanted to say but was waiting for the right time. Some time back, in one of my posts, I had referred to the group backing Principal Chinnaraj Joseph as the sane group in the College. I however did not give any name to the other group. Now I would like to add that the sane group should saner and follow what Nelson Mandela had told the oppressed after gaining independence. Some months back when I was in Cameroon I met a (White) Doctor from South Africa. We were talking about the situation in South Africa. He had all praise for NM and he said he felt very safe. I think it is now the duty of the sane group to make the members of the other group comfortable. That is the only way you can make them repent for their follies.

Don’t forget the Chief Minister Kalaignar Karunanidhi who was waiting for some solution for American College situation to announce the revised UGC pay commission salary to all College teachers in Tamilnadu. Yesterday he has announced the changes in designations of all College teachers in Tamilnadu. You are all to be addressed as Professors (assistant, associate or full no one is a lecturer any more). Some may call it a coincidence. I will call it a good omen following the court verdict on American College issue. Rejoice


V.SRINIVASAN

Monday, November 9, 2009

THIS IS WHAT AMERICAN COLLEGE IS FOR.


Date:10/09/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/09/10/stories/2009091054570500.htm Back



Persons with disability undergoing training to become radio jockeys


D.Karthikeyan



20 aspirants have enrolled for the seven-day programme



Valuable tips: The training programme under way at the Jivana Jyothi Centre in The American College, Madurai on Wednesday.

MADURAI: In a novel effort, a training programme for persons with disability to become radio jockeys is under way at the Jivana Jyothi Centre of The American College here.

The idea is to bring them to the mainstream by providing an opportunity to find a job that does not require them to be mobile.

The seven-day programme was organised by the Vocational Rehabilitation Centre (VRC), Guindy (Department of Labour and Training) and SRI (Society For Regardless India) Media Foundation, Namakkal.

Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar, principal and secretary, The American College, inaugurated the programme on Monday. It will conclude next Sunday.

R. Murali, Programme Executive, All India Radio, Madurai, and Member, National Trust for the Disabled, said that there were 44 FM stations, including community FMs, and the training programme could provide the trainees a platform to explore these avenues.

Mr. Murali claimed that the effort was the first of its kind. More such programmes were planned

Twenty participants, most of them graduates and postgraduates from Madurai, Theni, Tiruchi and Virudhunagar, are attending the programme, which is being conducted free. It has practical sessions in the playback section.

Other topics covered are ‘Introduction to the tools of FM radio,’ ‘Drive drudgery — presenting music over FM,’ ‘Ethics and code for FM broadcast,’ preparation of promotions, radio jingles and media communication psychology.

Documentary films were shown to the participants to develop an interest in film appreciation.

V. Kathirvelu, instructor, VRC for Handicapped, and faculty members from Madurai Kamaraj University and Bharatidasan University are part of the programme. Successful RJs from among persons with disability have been roped in to address the trainees.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu

Saturday, October 10, 2009

TOWARDS A GREATER TOMORROW ...







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Dr. REGINALD VICTOR, Alumnus & Faculty





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To be a witness at an historical event is a privilege. I was there when it happened. After I arrived in Madurai on 17 July 2009, every Wednesday became a day of expectation and disappointment waiting for the verdict of the High Court. Finally it arrived and how! Fantastic! Victory on all counts! I gave a talk on 25 August, inaugurating the PG Zoology and Immunology and Microbiology Association for the year 2009. It felt like celebrating the birth of a child. There were joyous faces around and there were crackers going off, but there were also a few sore faces probably regretting to have chosen the losing side like those expecting a baby and getting an aborted foetus instead.

It is important to remember that one should be graceful in victory. It is like a boxing match; when you win you shake hands with your opponent who was trying to murder you a minute ago. Remember that the pain from blows received is common to both. If Nelson Mandela could forgive the South African White despite all atrocities committed in his homeland, so could you. NM was no Gandhi, he did not show his other cheek and NM’s supporters shed blood not only their own, but their enemies’ as well. There was a Robben Island, but there was no retribution when the victory arrived. If that could happen in SA, so could it in AC. Try and put back American College where it only originally belonged and build a great institution it once was. It will take time to recover from the trauma, but it would happen if faster energies are directed towards positive goals. Throw away the thoughts of revenge unless the individuals involved are criminals who have to be prosecuted in a court of law for criminal offences against people and property. Be more Christian than the Christians who tried to hurt you. A student or a faculty who supported the other side believing in their cause is not a criminal. So embrace them, rehabilitate them and integrate them into your community. I do not even see the need to vote and give an opinion on who the more serious criminal was. What are we going to achieve by it?

When I come back to American College, the next year, I would like to see my beloved college on solid tracks heading towards a greater glory. Would it be too much to ask for a “cleaner” college, both physically and ethically?


Professor Reginald Victor
Director, Centre for Environmental Studies and Research (CESAR)
Sultan Qaboos University, PO Box 36, PC 123
Sultanate of Oman

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

DONORS FOR THE CAUSE OF OUR STRUGGLE - UPDATED ON 3rd Oct, '09

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Prof. XXX (Faculty 1)* on a critical day of financial crunch advanced Rs. 1.5 lakh during the early phase of our struggle.

The following list of donors will be updated every Sunday. I will be happy if I am made very busy on every Sunday by you people!!
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NEW DONORS ADDED ON 3rd Oct, 2009...

Prof. Dr. M.R. JAMES .............5,000

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NEW DONORS ADDED ON 19th April 2009...

S. DEVIKA NAIR 90 PGE 06..............5,000

DEV ANAND PAUL * Mrs. ANNA BHARATI PAUL 1987-'92 & 19990-'93(PG ZOO & M.Phil)........5,000

Mr. EBENEZER FENN
(1981-1986 - UG & PG English)
- II instalment........................ 5,000



====================================
NEW DONORS ADDED ON 5th Feb 2009...

JAMES HELM, OBERLIN, USA . .......$ 100

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NEW DONORS ADDED ON 2nd Feb 2009...

AN ALUMNUS (98 zoo) . .......5,000

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NEW DONORS ADDED ON 18th Dec...

AN ALUMNA & FACULTY IN LDC . .......3,000

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NEW DONORS ADDED ON 15th Dec...

Mr.ELANGO KALLANAI Alumnus - Engl Dept....3,000

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NEW DONORS ADDED ON 5th Dec...

Mrs. SELVI VELU,88 PGP & D/O Dr.K.Paramasivam (Prof.KP),
former H.O.D. of our Tamil Dept. She has sent US$ 250 .. approx. ....... 10,000

AN ALUMNUS FROM TAMIL DEPT. ........................30,000
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NEW DONORS ADDED ON 1st Dec...

Rev. Fr. L. ANANDAM, Editor, "நம் வாழ்வு", Chennai
As a friend of our college ... ........20,000

Mr. S. KANNAPPAN, SW Engr., Atlanta, US
As a friend of our college ... ........20,000

CONGREGATION OF St. PAUL'S CHURCH P & T Nagar .......6500

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NEW DONORS ADDED ON 27th Nov...

*WEB CHURCH CONGREGATION .......................... 12,500

*CATHEDRAL CONGREGATION ..... 7,300

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NEW DONORS ADDED ON 19th Nov...

Dr. MURUGESAN 1961-'66 & Physics Faculty 66-69... 10,000

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NEW DONORS ADDED ON 10th-13th Nov...


JULIUS MOSES GNANARAJ DAVID 1978-83, Economics
Julius wants his contribution be dedicated to the memory of
Late Prof.G.DEVARAJAN ...................................50,000

G.P.REUBEN,Alumnus, and Former Librarian........12,000

Dr. RAMESH BABU, 1966-'67...................... 10,000

ALAGESA PANDIAN, Alumnus- Botany........... 2,000

XXX A PRESENT STUDENT ......................... 1,000

M/S VASANTHAM HOTEL ............................10,000

Mr. MUTHUKRISHNAN, M/S King Metro .........10,000

Mr. RAMAMURTHU, Textile Exporter, Sellur.. 5,000

Mr.MEENAKSHI SUNDRARAM, Textile Exporter, Sellur 5,000

Mr. DANIEL s/o Prof. P.T.C..................... 5,000

Mr. RAJA ......................................... 5,000

XXX ( A C.S.I. Rev. Pastor) .................... 17,000

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NEW DONORS ADDED ON 6th Nov...

Prof.XXX (Faculty 3)*..................15,000

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NEW DONORS ADDED ON 3rd Nov...

HANI BABU VINCENT (1985-90)BOTANY ...... 25,000

Mrs. S. AMUTHA (1985-87) ZOOLOGY.....10,000

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NEW DONORS ADDED ON 28th OCT...

Dr. Vai. RAMANATHAN 84Z0015 ZOOLGOY .................................. 25,000

R. RAJESH JEBA ANBIAH
(95PHY15, 98DCA21 & 99MCA30) .................. ...............10,000

NEW DONORS ADDED ON 28th OCT...

Dr. REGINALD VICTOR, Omen (1965-'71;
Lecturer in Zoology 1971-1974)and Mrs. REGINALD VICTOR (1969-'71)............................................ 25,000

==================================
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NEW DONORS ADDED ON 26TH OCT...


Prof. J VASANTHAN ................................... 5,000

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

Prof. P.T. CHELLAPPA,
FORMER PRINCIPAL ...........................................10,000

Prof. A.WINFRED,......................... 20,000

Prof. SOLOMON PAPPIAH .............10,000

Prof. (XXX Faculty 2)*............. 30,000

Prof. D.SAMUEL LAWRENCE ........... 16,000

Mr. NATARJAN, Textile Exporter, Sellur .... 5,000

Dr. RAJENDRAN, Alumnus ..................... 5,000

CHRISTOPHER RONALD, Indian Bank ................... 2,000

Prof. V, SRINIVASAN ........................ 2,000

Mr. JOHN PAUL ANBU ................ . 10,000

Prof. SAM EORGE ...................... 10,000

Dr. PAUL WYCLIFF............................. 7,000

Mr. VAITHEESWARAN
(1977-'81 ZOOLOGY).......................... 5,000

Mr. ALAGURAVI (1977-'78)ZOOLOGY........ 5,000

Mr. EBENEZER FENN
(1981-1986 - UG & PG English)

I instalment........................ 5,000



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

* Donors who prefer to remain anonymous here.


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MODALITIES FOR SENDING YOUR DONATIONS:

FROM ABROAD - BY WIRE TRANSFER:
In the payee's name write: “Centre for Promotion of Social Concerns” .
SB A/C No.20368,
Swift Code IOBAINBB001 of Indian Overseas Bank, Chokkikulam (018), MADURAI.

FOR INDIAN DONORS:
In the payee's name write: “Centre for Promotion of Social Concerns”(Current acount
No: 3031)
Indian Overseas Bank, Chokkikulam, Madurai.

Send the cheques to:
G.SAM GEORGE,
Secretary – JAC-G
31 CHEMPARUTHI NAGAR,
VILANGUDI,
MADURAI – 625 018

Send letter with the cheque stating that it is meant for JAC-G and also give in that some more particulars about you.
PLEASE SEND A MAIL TO G.SAM GEORGE (dharumi2@gmail.com ) GIVING THE DETAILS OF EITHER THE CHEQUE OR THE WIRE TRANSFER.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

JUDGMENT DAY - VIDEO



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So far all our judicial activities were only in Madurai. Some of our friends will be there in courts following the judicial procedure and will intimate others in the college through sms or mobiles. Even before the judgment some details at least will reach us. Campus and ‘Morning Side’ will all be holding people discussing the would be results. Tempo would be building up and finally the results would come.

But this time all the things were so different since the judgment was made in Chennai High Court. The timing was also not known to all. We thought the results would come in the afternoon after 2.30 pm. I thought it would take at least half hour after that for the results to reach us. However luckily I came to ‘Morning Side’ at 2.15. I saw Anbunathan being busy with his mobile as usual. I just got to a seat and even before relaxing Anbu barged into the room with the good news.

Anbu came with a garland – which he had in his car, so is his usual optimism ! – with the good news. So I had missed the very first chance of capturing him garlanding Principal and embracing him. But from the next minute ……. it was all shooting .. Bits and pieces of that for you ........




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link to this video:  http://youtu.be/Y5wjZZsq1YM

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Y5wjZZsq1YM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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link to this video: http://youtu.be/PXmfpbROxuQ

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PXmfpbROxuQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Monday, September 7, 2009

"POWER SHIFT"




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PHOTOS ARE FROM JOSHUA PRADEEP

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Judgment came in the afternoon of 24th. Copy of it was at hand in the evening. Officer-in-charge was duly informed. Principal has to take charge as immediately as possible. However till 25th noon nothing moved much. But the officer said that he would come by 2 pm which was then later changed to 4 pm.

Many staff including a very good number of women staff and non-teaching staff started their long vigil. They were all sitting in front of the Mail Hall. Anbunathan was making heavy bills to his mobile provider. Though the officers were kept in touch the time dragged and finally at 11.30 pm the officer came in. There were police officers to overlook the exchange of authority.




At 11.30 Principal signed and took up the college back.

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THE LONG WAIT ...







































LET THE GLORY AND THE GREAT LEGACY OF THE COLLEGE BE WITH IT ALWAYS .......

Friday, September 4, 2009

OUR FORMER CHAPLAIN'S E-MAIL



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Dear Dharumi:

This mail is from Rev. W. A. Kelly, a missionary Chaplain of American College during the days of Principal S. J. Savarirayan and early days of Dr. M.A. Thangaraj. He is now retired and settled in USA. We keep in touch. You may include Kelly’s mail in the IPAC blog. Melba Jesudason mentioned in the mail is the wife of Mr. Jesudasan a former logic lecturer and NCC Officer. Jesudason is now no more. This is for your information please.

Srinivasan



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Dear VS, Dick and Joyce:

When i sent a letter yesterday to VS about our enthusiasm for the Eye Hospital public television program, I was not aware of the celebration going on, in response to the Madras High Court's decision. Following up on his return reply, I went to the IPAC blog and discovered what has just transpired. From there I went to the Hindu's report of the text of the Court decision.

Congratulations all around! And Hallelujah!!! I join the College supporters every where - and how wide spread we are! - in celebration.

And I'm distressed at the behavior of the Bishop, the Diocese, and the wider church.

Bill Kelly

Sunday, April 19, 2009

THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES ... : Prof. D.S.L. writes.


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Anyone who happens to pass by our American College, cannot but be struck by the presence of police men on the campus. This is an unusual sight. Till last year, rarely was there any necessity to seek their help. But now, they have been there for more than one year, as per the Madras High Court orders, for the smooth functioning of the college. It is nothing but a terrible tragedy that this institution, founded by selfless and scholarly missionaries with a secular outlook should be facing a sad situation like this.

The diabolic desire of the Bishop of the Madurai-Ramnad Diocese, Rt. Rev.Christopher Asir, to make it a Diocesan institution and bring it under his control, is the root-cause for all the problems the college has been facing for the past one full year. Unfortunately, the then Vice-Principal Dr. George Selvakumar, who should have stood by the college was prepared to betray and barter. His traitorous act of accepting the order of the Bishop making him Principal-in-Charge, while being fully aware of the presence of the Principal, Dr. Chinnaraj Joseph on the campus attending to his duties, was the starting point for an agonizing period in the college.

The naked ambition for power of Dr. Selvakumar was on full display on April 12, 2008 when he tried to occupy the Principal's room with the help of police. (That he did not succeed in his attempt is a different story.) He has had the privilege of being a student, faculty member for decades and administrator of the college. He knows the traditions and he also knows that according to the constitution, the Bishop-Chairman of the Governing Council is just a figure head and cannot interfere in the administration. But, he was willing to dance to the tune of the Bishop sacrificing the interests of the college. If he had been just true to his conscience and stoutly refused to carry out the order of the Bishop, the College would not have plunged into this dismal chaos. It is a matter of shame that a few faculty members also supported him and the Bishop. If the Faculty had displayed unity and stood like a rock against the Bishop, it would have certainly prevented its slide down. Sadly, this did not happen too.

The remarkable courage and determination of the Principal, Dr. Chinnaraj Joseph and overwhelming majority of the Faculty, non-teaching staff and students both past and present and former Principals has gone a long way in protecting the college so far from the onslaught of the crooked and the unscrupulous. The valiant struggle has had its ups and downs; moments of happiness and frustration. But, it continues and will continue till it achieves the goal of preserving and protecting the identity and individuality of the The American College, permanently.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Dr. REGINALD VICTOR writes TO THE FACULTY ON UNITY



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To the faculty on unity

Guru VS was reminiscing about the unity of the faculty in standing up to a dastardly government lackey. Is his anecdotal account an exercise in euphemism? Is he hinting at the lack of unity among faculty today by remembering the unity that existed in those days? This theme of unity among faculty is what I would like to pick on in this post to start with and see where it goes.

When I crossed the line from being a student to a faculty in early 70s, the first thing I noticed was the mandatory need to be subservient. There was also a loose pecking order mainly based on bigotry rather than on intellectual superiority or even seniority. If one was a “Yes-Sir – No Sir- Three bags full Sir” sycophant, a smooth future in the College was more or less assured. If you showed signs of independent spirit, a modicum of courage to question the allegedly unquestionable authority or flashes of intellect that threatened the men above, they possibly could not fire you (if you had tenure) but your life could certainly be made miserable beyond belief. I have seen grown men reduced to tears out of sheer frustration. Three survival strategies prevailed at that time. The first is to play the fool, act as if everything is hunky-dory, put on your best kiss-ass face, kick the walls and curse yourself in private for being a wimp, work your butt off to find new avenues and get the hell out at the first opportunity. The second is to conform and be prepared to be yours truly for the rest of your miserable life in the hope that you will get your chance some day. The third is to keep fighting, seek solace elsewhere and go down to the end with or without any reward. Despite the tyrants and tyrannies, and some seriously flawed men in leading positions, there was one thing commendable in the College at that time – the unity among faculty! True – there were plenty of internal bickering and there were one too many bottom-feeders in frenzy, but when it came to a common cause, especially a worthy cause, there was unity! A good example is the heady times when the nascent MUTA came into existence.

When I started showing some interest in the College again in the early 90s, now as a visitor I was greeted with not one, but several rude shocks. The most revolting of these is the factionalism that has gone crazy! Factionalism has always existed in all walks of Indian life; it also existed in the College in those days. For example, couple of days after I joined as a Demonstrator, an academic staff from a neighboring Department asked a colleague in my presence whether I had affinities to a particular type of tree, an affectionate way of enquiring whether I was their kinsman! When he learnt that I was not, he was disappointed, but that did not prevent us from being good acquaintances (not friends) for a long time. The factionalism I saw after two decades was vicious and indecent. Several were wearing their caste affiliations like medals won for national service! It is true that colleges were and are still established purely to promote a particular caste in the name of affirmative action although they need “others” to service them. However, that was not the American College I knew. Its origins and goals as you all know very well were different.

Let us now take the religion. American College was a Christian college and to be more accurate, it is a Protestant Christian college. Nobody would deny that, but Christianity was not imposed on anyone, even on the so called Christians! It used to be a practice and it probably still is (unless this crisis has closed down the chapel) that all Protestant Christian members of the faculty will lead the morning prayers at least once or twice a semester. The chaplain produced a schedule and all involved picked up the bible and did their duty. When I joined the faculty, my number came up and I marched right into the chaplain’s office and asked him politely to take my name off the list. Naturally, he asked me why. I told him that I was a rotten bastard and did just about everything that Christianity told me not to do (of course I did not steal, rape or murder anyone) and did not think I was ready to tote the bible and preach my brethren. He told me if that is the case I will never be ready for the rest of my life. I again politely pointed out that it was my business and not his. We had an acrimonious discussion on what Christian life is, but he could not convince me. My tactless attempts to establish that Perumalsamy cleaning tables in the canteen was more Christian than many of my Christian colleagues deeply offended him. My name was taken off the chapel list the very next day and a friend told me now that I have kicked the dog I should expect it to bite! It did not and it never did for the next four years! That was the institution I left and what I saw after two decades was appalling. Not only the caste mattered, but it also had an unholy alliance with religion. I had the misfortune of listening to a pathetic story of a respected faculty member who has served the College all his life and was loved by students, humiliated with constant reference to him being a non-Christian. This was just one incidence and there were others equally bad or worse indicating that the true spirit, the sense of fair play, and the excellence of academic ambience in American College have all gone for a six!

What is it to do with unity among faculty? My contention is that the lack of unity you see today did not happen overnight. It was built block by block, painstakingly over a period, not only based on these major factors, caste and religion but also on others like greed, avarice and corruption. Factionalism with roots at department levels in small scale, coalescing with like-minded factions in other departments, fostering and fanning emotions, magnifying the differences and blocking reconciliatory processes must have led to the lack of unity you see today. I was told that the last Principal was trying hard to patch up these differences and reduce factionalism, but probably did not have enough time before this present crisis loomed up. The damage done over the past one or two decades to faculty integrity seems to have been enough to sustain the lack of unity through the present crisis.

Obviously some believe that the evil out there trying to swallow the College will one day succeed and when that happens they want to be sitting pretty. They have a motive and we do not have any choice except to fight them. Neutrals – somewhere in the Book it is said that one who is not with you is against you; I do not buy that! Neutrals would not have the guts to hurt you. In any case, it is not fair to compare people with worms; just ignore the neutrals and feel sorry for them if you can! I offer my sincere apologies to those who might have had a different experience and perspective from what I have said here. If you had the good fortune of working with exemplary men in an atmosphere of orgasmic bliss, I could do nothing but envy you. I also would give it you for the intra-factional unity shown in fighting this “B” and his cronies in the present crisis. How could I not, after seeing the photographs of all those men and women in euphoria?

Have you heard of WYTIWYG? What you teach is what you get! That in the context of the present crisis will be the next post! Blame it on Dharumi – he got me going!

RV
Sultanate of Oman

Wednesday, January 28, 2009