A tribute to Nelson Mandela - a fighter against injustice who happened to become President

Today, the world continues to mourn the loss of one of the greatest men to walk the Earth - Nelson Mandela (died 05 December 2013).

The best time to evaluate a man is after his death, as he can no longer make worldly mistakes that may undo his positive image.

As Calvin Coolidge once said, "No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave". This is benefitting for Nelson Mandela. He went through temptations to test his courage, to test his strength of character, hoping to discover his breaking point - his price tag. But, they never succeeded in finding his price. "Every man has a price, but some are far more expensive than others". In Mandela's case, it has been difficult to find his price. As Arch. Bishop Tutu puts it, "he was always perfect". He made mistakes, as he is human, but his impact on people's lives makes his mistakes look like a drop of water in a bucket full.

He stood for what he believed in and fought for it, by any means necessary. At the height of the struggle to dismantle apartheid, he was different things to different people. He was a freedom fighter for some, a rebel for others, and a terrorist for some. However, he did not allow the noise of the market to distract him. He knew what he wanted and constantly reminded himself about his mission - his life's purpose.

Mandela dreamt of equality. However, equality is an elusive dream. There will always be inequality as we are all created different. What we humans should aim for is to reduce the inequality gap. The inequality gap has led us humans into all sorts of problems, manifesting itself in discrimination. Yes, the real crime is DISCRIMINATION. We face discrimination everyday - based on race, gender, social status, nationality, physical abilities and many others.

Mandela, and people like him, has given us hope. They have contributed in their own way to reduce the inequality distance by dismantling the apartheid (racial discrimination). It's now up to us to keep the momentum and address the other inequalities that we face in our daily lives.

Africa as a continent, and we Africans should take this as an opportunity to unite and stop our own discrimination. As a first step, why should Africans need visas to travel in African countries?

Let us not allow the dream to die with the man.

My heartfelt sympathy to the Mandela family and those whose lives he touched and continue to inspire.

May his soul and the souls of those before him who fought against injustice rest in peace.

Google Ideas: Conflict in a Connected World

Exploring the Impact of the Internet of Things - IEEE - The Institute

Exploring the Impact of the Internet of Things

A new IEEE group is taking on the quest to connect everything

By KATHY PRETZ 7 October 2013

Image: iStockphoto

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The “next big thing” is the Internet of Things, a world of networked devices equipped with sensors and radio-frequency identification aimed at interconnecting all things electronic to make them more intelligent and programmable. About 50 billion machines and devices could be linked by 2020, according to Cisco Systems, a leader in the IoT movement. Such smart devices are already being used, for example, to check soil moisture in vineyards, control the carbon emission of factories, alert drivers to traffic jams, and monitor patients’ blood pressure—all without human intervention. But people will have a major role to play as they generate and use the data coming from these myriad devices.

Exploring the Impact of the Internet of Things - IEEE - The Institute

Back to school (Wednesday 14 August)

The 2013 / 2014 school year has started and they're back!

No more late night movies during the week,
No more waking up late,
No more late breakfasts,

and...
stuff staying longer in the fridge these days :-)

Common sense tips on strengthening relationships

Common sense tips on strengthening relationships (in marriage and in friendship)

Relationships need to be nurtured. Often, we take for granted that relationship is like a beautiful flower. If left unattended, it will wither and die. We often admire its beauty but fail to realise that the beauty needs to be be maintained if it has to remain to be admired.

There are simple things that we take for granted, simple words that we say or fail to say that can either nurture or starve relationships. When you care about someone, you need to pay attention to what you to that person and how it is said. The deeper someone cares about you the more significant is the impact of the spoken words.

Some simple (two and three letter) words and how much they can mean when said with sincerity.

Commitment: "I love you"

These three words are very powerful. When you love someone, do not hesitate to tell them that you love them. In fact, do not be afraid to tell the world! There are no words so uplifting as these words when spoken to someone who really cares about you. It is a reaffirmation of commitment to that person. It can only lead to stronger bonds and deeper commitment in a relationship. Say them as often as you can.

Caring: "I am sorry"

There are times when you may hurt someone who loves you without you comprehending why they should feel hurt. It is very important to observe how that person reacts to the incident, bearing in mind that it is not what happened that is important, but the way the person reacted to it; the way the person feels about it. If you realise that the person is hurt, even though you may feel that it is unjustified, it is important to acknowledge the hurt and say the magic words - "I am sorry". Letting someone know that you genuinely care about how they feel about something is a very positive thing in strengthening relationships. Do not be shy or reluctant to say that you're truly sorry. The benefits far outweigh the negative consequences. Say them whenever necessary.

Appreciation: "Thank you"

These two words are very powerful in expressing your appreciation of someone who cares about you. Whenever someone gives, no matter how small, remember that that person is making a sacrifice. When people make sacrifices they expect to be rewarded. The best reward is to appreciate their effort. So, never forget to say thank you no matter how small the effort may seem in your eyes.
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Editor's note: These tips are coming from a non-expert in the field of psychology, human sociology or the behavioural sciences. They are purely based on observations and experiences.