oh, here i go again. reacting to the ruling of the judge on the three girls that vandalized their school over the weekend. you can read my blog "tweens gone wild", which also has a link to the story.

according to local reports the judge in this case has sentenced the three girls - two 10 years old and one 12 years old, to community service. what kind of community service can they do at this age that would be meaningful for them? how will they learn from this? i had a suggestion, which you can read in my blog post "tweens gone wild".

again, i'm struggling with what would be best for these kids. i read a comment from another source where one person said in essence that nothing will ever happen to these kids because of their age, so just move on. really? is that the approach we should take?

even though i do agree that nothing of consequence is going to happen to them, i disagree that we should just "move on" and forget about it. i do believe that a message need to be sent so that others who would think of doing something similar would think twice before acting out their thoughts.

would a news report using video showing them cleaning up the mess they did in the school be helpful? in addition the authorities could have them wear the orange jump suit that prisoners wear while they clean up the school. i believe this might and i said might, serve as a deterrent. what do you think?

As the ribbon cutting approaches, the LBMT Scenic Highway Committee has now
formed a sub-committee to handle all of it's public relations needs.

Much work needs to be done and many hands will make it light. Help is needed
with data entry, Internet research and data verification. If you feel you can
help just 2 or 3 hours in a month, even from home, please come to a meeting on
July 23, 7pm at Blinds Blinds Inc. We'll be discussing the goals of the New
Public Relations Sub-Committee and the best way to accomplish them.

Come get some refreshments, and meet some of your neighbors!

WHAT: LBMT Scenic Highway Public Relations Sub-Committee Meeting
WHEN: Wednesday, July 23
TIME: 7pm
PLACE:
3579 South Access Rd
Englewood FL 34224
Blinds Blinds Inc
Newport Square Englewood

RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE FAN LADY

Contact Elaine Sullivan, Sub-Committee Chair, for more details
941 460-0200

... we can all bring our ideas to a common table while under air conditioning. If we get all of our "ducks in a row" as a group, maybe something amazing will be the result.

Come one, come all!  We'd love to see some citizen participation in our efforts to make LaVergne "The Green" (although La Vert is really "the green" in French)!

It's the little things.

Jai Nandalala! I hope you and your family are doing well.
I work for a non profit organization called Nandalala Mission, located
in Sunnyvale, CA.

This year, I am in charge of the backpack drive. It costs $25.00 to
sponsor one child's backpack filled with school supplies for one year,
and I was wondering if you would be interested in helping this cause.
Since we do a lot of community service, we definitely have many
community service/ volunteering hours if you are interesting in
volunteering or if you need community service hours for helping fill
these backpacks.

Thank you so much, and please call me at 510-676-1395 or email me at
nandalalamission@gmail.com.

Thanks again! I hope you have a great day and I hope to see you soon
in one our activities.

Sincerely,
Shaina Sethna

There is a community service - "Mathru Seva" - being offered by Nandalala Mission this weekend. The details for the Mathru Seva are as follows:

WHEN: Sunday, July 20th 2008
WHERE: Emergency Housing Consortium (EHC)

ADDRESS: 2011 Little Orchard Street, San Jose, CA 95125
TIME: 05:00AM to 08:00AM - BREAKFAST SERVICE

Sponsorship: Up to $275. Checks may be made payable to Nandalala Mission, and mailed to 1556 Halford Avenue #319, Santa Clara, CA - 95051.

Please forward the email to friends and family who will be interested in joining us in our volunteer efforts. Please indicate your participation; it would help us manage our volunteers better.

"From the reactions I received, I can tell you that an 18-month-old from Westchester was equally excited as a 20-year-old from a really rough neighborhood. Not easy to make such a diverse group happy but we did! One mom compared our service project to the visits from celebrities like Joe from Blues Clues, Derek Jeter, American Idol contestants (including David Cook) and others. She said before having a really sick baby, she never realized how special and wonderful efforts such as ours make the patients feel.

"Another mom was super grateful as they have already spent $500 on art supplies and are running out of ideas. So many patients are desperate for activities, even though they have a wonderful Child Life program on the floor. Spending months in a hospital room is not easy. The chocolate courtesy of the Chip Shop did not last long. One patient who has cancer and diabetes kindly offered hers to her nurse on the floor who did not have time to eat lunch. Very sweet! Another teenage boy who arrived with the shirt on his back (literally) and very little family around was so excited to have a brand new hat. He is about to start chemo and knowing he will lose his hair, the cap could not have arrived ata better time. The fleece blankets were also a huge hit and the cheery colors brought big smiles. I also included directions on how to cut and tie the blankets in case the patients wanted to make their own. Several patients have already asked their parents to order fleece.

"So one last time, thank you thank you thank you on a job well done!"

The project was initiated when John Shirk of Chicago’s Urban Encounter contacted the leadership of Pritzker Elementary School in Wicker Park. Shirk wanted to design a project to assign to some Virginia teenagers visiting Chicago to learn methods churches could use to love and serve people in urban communities. He thought there might be something they could do to help the school as a service. Dr. Albert-Reese, principal, pointed out the need to repaint and redecorate the hallways of Pritzker but that they were under a limited budget.

Shirk now had a plan, a place, money for supplies and the labor needed, but he still needed artists. The teens were going to do more than apply coats of paint to the school walls - they would decorate the walls with murals, representing school themes. The 3 school levels would display 3 new themes- Discovery, Courage & Heroes, and Legacy, complimented by images throughout the building.  Murals would also be placed on a wall adjacent to the auditorium (highlighting the arts) and a wall adjacent to the gymnasium (highlighting athletics).

Shirk contacted Chicago’s Ben Butter (born Shasa Ward), a multi-talented artist and friend, who agreed to come aboard. However, due to an overflowing schedule, Ben Butter offered to assemble a team of local artists, who would be under his supervision, to direct the mural project on-site. Artists currently committed to the project include: Joel Maxime, Jr.; CZR PRZ; William Colón; and Aquil Charlton.

The teens, representing Spotswood Baptist Church of Fredericksburg, VA, joined by school volunteers (Sylvia Ramos, Terrie Donaldson, Kathy McNamara and John Hayford) have been painting the walls in preparation for the murals. Beginning the week of July 6^th, painting was underway, as the first mural started on Tuesday July 8^th. The project is scheduled to finalize August 17^th.

Living where I live (not only in San Francisco, but on the edge of the Castro), AIDS is still a very prominent problem and concern. So far it's avoidable, but not curable. I believe in the programs this walk supports. I believe they can make a difference. And I believe that you are willing to help.

Sure, my part is small. I just take a lovely walk through Golden Gate park with some of my favorite people. What's impressive about the walk itself is how many people show up. That means something. It means that every person there wants to make a change for the community, for the country, for the world. And that moves me. I love looking at the pictures of the hordes of people. I get a little teary.

So, yes. Please support the San Francisco AIDS Foundation (and a host of other worthwhile groups) and make a donation. You can even donate through Paypal! If online isn't your thing, contact me personally and we can work something out. Or, even better, you can come walk with us. It would mean a lot to me, and also to my community. Thank you.

As I write, my friend Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, is busily backing down and performing u-turns and somersaults on the subject of knife crime initiatives. And there is much talk about extending the right to search of teachers to include searching for weapons, drugs, and alcohol. What has the world come to? In my day we would have jumped to comply with an "Empty your pockets, boy!" bellow from a domineering teacher. Mind you, in my day, all you were likely to find in a teenage boy's school trouser pockets were a snot-soaked hankie, a comb (metal ones with a sharp handle could be considered a weapon!), a pack of Top Trumps Cards, and illicit sweets or chewing gum (both of which were banned inside of school). And, of course, cigarettes. Cigarettes were schoolboy currency. You "collected" cigarettes even if you did not smoke yourself.

That is not to say that the problems with teenage kids so evident today did not exist twenty or thirty years ago. Kids smoked - the local shops around my school would sell cigarettes in singles to make them more affordable. Kids drank - not out of bottles of cheap cider on street corners, but, in pubs with a relaxed attitude to underage drinking (as long as you took your school blazer and tie off you were in). Kids had sex. Kids stole. Kids fought. And, kids carried knives. While I choose not to implicate myself in any of these various crimes and misdemeanours - my dad reads these posts, occasionally. I was personally impacted by schoolboy knife crime back in 1983 when a 13 year old bully was stabbed through the heart by a 12 year old victim and died in my arms. See my earlier post.

Indeed, I understand that 80% of kids who carry knives do so out of a belief that they need to defend themselves. A belief driven by a fear of bullying, mugging and gangs. Well, I hope my personal experience shows the foolishness of carrying a knife to deter a bully. From victim to killer in a single motion.

In reality, only 16% of kids admit to carrying a knife because of an involvement in criminal activity such as mugging and gang-related crime.

But, some of the initiatives that the Government and others are touting around to tackle the problem are just non-starters. Parenting classes? Many of these kids are born into single-parent families to pramface mothers who have dropped out of education. Jail? We would have to scrap all greenbelt initiatives to build all of the jails that would be needed. Awareness? Do we really think that these kids are going to be deterred by meeting convicts and victims? These are kids that are largely excluded from "adult" or "normal" society. They have few positive role models (unless you include Jeremy Kyle - which I do not). They do not read newspapers or watch the news. They live a You Tube, Facebook or Bebo existence. They live on street corners and in bus shelters. They have welcomed our politically correct world and become mini-lawyers aware of their rights (but seemingly not their wrongs).

So what can be done? Well I am all in favour of Alf Hitchcock's (the so-called Knife Tsar) for a form of National Service. Schools should be able to ban and confiscate those things which may encourage muggings such as mobile phones, MP3s, and designer goods. Schools should revert to strict school uniform rules which would eliminate gang paraphernalia. Parents and teachers should be able to use reasonable punishment to clamp down on bad behaviour, including the cane or a slap round the back of the legs. Put metal detectors on school doors and into the hands of the police. For those that get caught carrying knives, give them hard community service - cleaning the streets and sewers and the like. Lock up those that use the weapon. Remove the privileges and benefits for the families of repeat offenders - take their council house, housing benefit and unemployment benefit away until they and their offspring comply with a strict social contract.

Take away temptation, impose real and meaningful deterrents and punishment. And, make Jeremy Clarkson Prime Minister.........

7月5日，一個下著傾盆黃雨的清晨；一群接近八十位志願工作朋友們緊隨陳啟明教授 – 世界華裔骨科學會主席，”站起來STAND TALL”就5•12四川大地震提供骨科綜合康復、全人治療計劃的發起人，魚雁登上從沙田威爾斯醫院直開往廣州的大巴士；大家一起見證香港和國內醫護人員就第一階段醫務工作做一個總結。

倒數自5月26日陳教授發起以”站起來”計劃名義跟廣州各大醫院與骨科同道合作，幫助在四川地震受傷而轉送到廣州的病人作全面康復評估、訓練及前期的臨時義肢裝配；聯同100位來自香港的骨科醫生、物理治療師、職業治療師、義肢矯形師、護士和社工等專業人士正由6月7日起展開在每星期六分別被安排前往各個合作醫院單位配合和參與多方向在進行的有關康復工程。

5月26日至6月28日期間，上述的醫護人員和義工們探訪超過十五間醫院，接觸及應診多達百多名不同程度受傷的截肢病人；包括看關節、肱骨段、手肘關節、前臂段、手腕段、髋關節、股骨段、滕關節段、脛骨段及踝骨段切除及其他傷患病人。

此行有機會參與關愛傷者的探訪，眼前飽受天災帶來身心重創後的同胞，在香港和國內醫護人員的偉大、無私診療奉獻及接受到各方善長們捐贈相關物資支援下，均表現出多麼珍重目前不幸受傷、存活的生命；勇敢面對痛失家人、家園和截肢的萬般哀傷；忍受多少手術中要承受的痛楚而堅毅地康復過來，深深讓我感受到”活著”

經過第一階段的運作後，陳教授已定出一個較為完整的方案，分為前、中、後期：前期工作為期六個月，將集中照顧在廣州的病人；中期工作為期六個月至兩年，設定在四川省內建立合作點，針對兒童的折肢、雙腿的截肢，重點就轉移技術、義肢的科技、訓練課程及醫學文獻等項目提供服務；後期工作為兩年至十年。

本人有感7月5日只是整個計劃自5•12起首三個月的”綜合康復、全人治療”的使命宣言序幕，讓各界人士明白一群醫、護人員，義務工作參與的有心人如何履行其抱負去關愛所有”5•12”四川地震中截肢致傷殘者，提供優質康復計劃及支援服務，幫助同胞們重拾自尊、自信；待完全康復後得以自立，重建新生。

本人期待接踵收到此長期計劃要負責的工作實踐指引，藉此亦祈願各方朋友，發心加入慈悲善行，與我們一起分享施比受更有福的迴響。

_____________________________________________________________________

]]> http://thisislavergne.wordpress.com/?p=1020 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:11:31 +0000 Kathy T. http://thisislavergne.wordpress.com/?p=1020 Officer Tartt was doing a benchpress last January and felt a strange pull. When he went to the doctor, he learned he needed surgery and after the operation, his left leg doubled in size.  He had developed blood clots and is now taking medication to thin his blood in preparation of more surgery.  Though his blood hasn't thinned quite enough, the surgery must move forward.  This Wednesday, July 16th, he is again going under the knife.

Officer Tartt needs the support of this community and I am writing to implore you to help.

I just spoke with Officer Tartt and at this point, he isn't sure he even has a job with the City of LaVergne*.   He was cleared for "light duty" but was told they have no light duty positions available.  

The good people at the First Baptist Church and the parish of St. Luke Catholic Church have helped him and his 15-year old daughter Sondrea by providing the family with food.  Meanwhile, the money raised several months ago was applied toward his medical bills which Officer Tartt greatly appreciates.  In the interim, though, his short-term disability is about to expire and he doesn't know if he'll be given long-term disability.  And he and his daughter still need to find a way to pay utilities, rent, and buy food.

If you can make a food or monetary donation, please call Officer Tartt at 573-1662.  If you prefer, you may contact me by email at kathy (at) bobparks (dot) com and we can make arrangements to get your donation to him.

If you can't make a donation of money or food, I ask that you offer some prayers for someone who has worked hard to look out for the safety of those of us who live here.

*Come on LaVergne!  What's is wrong with you that you can't tell a man if he has a job or not?!  Have the kahunas compassion to let the man know his employment situation, for crying out loud.

]]> http://traditionofexcellence.wordpress.com/?p=627 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:16:36 +0000 Tanisha http://traditionofexcellence.wordpress.com/?p=627 by Andrew Astleford, Washington Post

The poignant moments are frequent for John Mason as he watches his young swimmers grow up. He may melt at the sight of their gummy grins or smile when they coo as the cool water washes over them. But there's more to it than that: He is helping to save lives.

"To see the kids start where they can barely put their faces in the water," the swim coach said, "and three or four weeks later, they're over here doing this stuff, you're like, 'Wow.' "

Mason leads 130 students, 104 of whom are black, ages 2 1/2 to 14 at a Prince George's County learn-to-swim program. They come to Fairwood Community Pool in Bowie five days a week with bright faces, their hands clasping beach-themed towels and sunscreen. The large black representation is in contrast to a study released in May that said almost 60 percent of black children can't swim, about twice as many as white youth.

"When you're in the water," said Jessica Lewis, 13, drying herself under a canopy, "you just feel free."

The program was one of the first of its kind. In 1988, SwimAmerica, a national learn-to-swim program, began with five pilot programs, one of which included Mason's. He held lessons at Bowie State University and attracted children from Crofton and north Bowie, predominantly white areas. In 2003, the school decided not to rent its pool to outside groups and Mason was forced to look elsewhere.

The move changed the demographics of his clientele. He relocated about 12 miles southwest, to the Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex adjacent to FedEx Field in Landover. (Sessions are held only at Fairwood Community Pool during the summer.) By the 2000 census, the population of greater Landover was 92 percent African American. Mason's students reflected the figures.

"We've been doing it for a year now," said Cheryl Steplight, whose children Naomi, 8, Christian, 7 and Micaiah, 4, attend. "I had a bad experience at another program, and I spoke to [Mason], and he was adamant about the process and the way he taught. Based on what he said, I gave it a try, and we love it."

USA Swimming would, too. Last October, the organization approached five University of Memphis Health and Sport Sciences faculty members to conduct a study on the swimming habits of minority children. Researchers surveyed 1,772 children ages 6 to 16 at YMCAs and public schools in lower-income areas of Chicago, Houston, Memphis, Miami, Oakland, Calif., and Philadelphia. Researchers found 58 percent of black and 56 percent of Hispanic children couldn't swim, compared with 31 percent of white children. They said parental influence played a role; if a mother and father avoided water, it was likely their children would as well.

"Minority swimmers, despite having the access, don't swim," said Carol Irwin, a researcher involved with the study. "Especially [with] the African American population . . . there are a lot of cultural issues about how parents don't engage their children in early swim lessons.

"It's a socioeconomic issue more than anything. The poor white respondents and the poor black respondents responded very closely to one another, so the economic issues were very strong throughout. It isn't just [about] race."

The race factor has historical implications. Accounts mention that during the mid-19th century, public pools served as bathhouses where blacks, whites and other ethnic groups socialized in immigrant neighborhoods. By the 1920s, pools became a symbol of middle-class leisure that attracted families wary of racial interaction. Some locations became segregated and facilities were constructed in areas away from minority populations.

Later, aquatic areas became sites of contention during the civil rights movement. Groups held wade-ins at municipal pools and along white-only beaches. Past barriers prohibiting access may account for the dearth of interest for some.

"What we discovered through the research . . . [is] parents from Hispanic communities and African American communities who represent drowning [accidents] of children under the age of 16 are dealing with some inherent fears of the water," said John Cruzat Jr., USA Swimming's diversity specialist. "This manifests in them not taking their children to quality learn-to-swim programs even if they exist in their communities."

USA Swimming hopes to change the trend. In March, the organization teamed with YMCA of the USA in launching a campaign to offer free or low-cost swim lessons for at-risk children. "I know USA Swimming has a long-term strategic plan to increase minority participation, not only from a competitive standpoint but a public health standpoint," said Richard Southall, a researcher involved with the study.

Back at Fairwood Community Pool, Mason's lessons continued. During a recent 9:30 a.m. session, a group of 14 children, none older than 4, joined hands with instructor Angela Cummings to form a circle. They bobbed above water, their toes grazing the smooth surface three feet below. It was time to end the day with a game called "Tea Party."

"Go under [the water] and set the table!" Cummings told the children. "Go, go, go! Good job!

"Go under and pass out the cookies!

"How many cookies did you eat, Tomi?"

"Eighteen!" the girl said.

"Eighteen! Oh, my goodness!"

"The kids, their smiles are always so happy," Cummings said later.

"You can't be in a bad mood when you have 2-year-olds happy to swim."

]]> http://potatoriolefan.wordpress.com/?p=51 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:33:11 +0000 potatoriolefan http://potatoriolefan.wordpress.com/?p=51 Student community service is a rewarding non-student loan option that may not pay you with money, but it can help you develop the social skills and experience needed to get a good job.

College grants and scholarships are free sources to help fund your college education, but student community service is a free source for personal and professional gratification.

The benefits to participating in student community service projects are limitless. Even though you are volunteering your time for free, what you get out of your student community service is something money can't buy.

Here's why:

* Your self-esteem will rise

* Many young lives and families will benefit from your hard work and they will forever appreciate you

* Your grades will get better because you are learning the value of time management and dedication

* You can help small organizations build up their reputation, and they could be great references or possible employers in your future

So you see, community service may not put money into your college savings account, but it can put a wealth of experiences in your life.

]]> http://topstockblog.wordpress.com/?p=284 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:48:21 +0000 topstockblog http://topstockblog.wordpress.com/?p=284

Miss Venezuela was just crowned Miss Universe for 2008 + top viewed pictures from Yahoo!  Sunday July 13th in Vietnam the elegant Beauty queen contest occured.   She is beautiful inside and out.  She delivered a speech of hope to young ladies around the world about dreams coming through. Never giving up hope. Many of the worlds most beautiful woman inside, and outside were in the contest that took place in Vietnam.

Miss Universe pageant is on NBC est at 9 PM. I am late but, the women are pretty. Photos of Miss Universe pagent in swimsuits.

Entertainment purposes, The world is beautiful; figure it out.

]]> http://rotaractkl.wordpress.com/?p=195 Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:11:43 +0000 rotaractkl http://rotaractkl.wordpress.com/?p=195 When? 12 July 2008, Where? SportsPlaza Futsal Court in Petaling Jaya
RACKL has kicked off to an exciting 2008/09 term ahead!

We brushed the dust off our sports gears and squared our shoulders as we faced the competition - Eleven kids aged 10-16 with the legs of steel from Rumah Ozanam. Thankfully after quick strategizing on our part (we would have been mercilessly creamed otherwise), they were game enough to accept mixed teams of RACKLians and kids.

After a quick warm-up and being divided into four teams, it was time for the matches. Having had much practise, it was obvious who controlled the ball as the kids took off like Speedy Gonzales tackling, passing and scoring goals at a blink of the eye. That's not to say the RACKLians and our guests did not perform as we did (at least we think) some justice when the ball drifted our way. The spirit of sportsmanship was high in the air as everyone cheered at a good pass or goal and the team players were constantly changing when someone got too tired.

Two hours later, the final match was played and we adjourned to enjoy our potluck brunch made up of meehoon, nuggets, fried chicken, orange jelly and chocolate & orange cake. We decided that winners of the day were the kids and they deserved to be given both the first and second prize hampers. Each of the kids also received an exams stationery kit.

[caption id="attachment_198" align="alignright" width="76" caption="andy & cow"][/caption]

RACKL also welcomed our newest member - David Lee Wai Hoo, who was inducted in the middle of us wolfing down our meal... Not forgetting, a special shout out goes to our guests from RAC Bangsar as well as Andy Stoll - Rotary Peace Scholar and now, world traveler (check out his blog www.noboundaries.org to read about his adventures across the globe) who joined in the fun with his equally world travelling cow.

More pictures from our futsal outing can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/rotaractkl/FutsalMatchWithKids

]]> http://traditionofexcellence.wordpress.com/?p=617 Sat, 12 Jul 2008 19:24:47 +0000 Tanisha http://traditionofexcellence.wordpress.com/?p=617 by Dwight R. Worley, Journal News

YONKERS - The next Tiger Woods just might be on display next week when a nonprofit group hosts a free golf camp for dozens of local children.

African American Men of Westchester, a group of professional black men active in social causes, is hosting its annual Free Youth Golf Camp at Dunwoodie Golf Course in Yonkers.

"The purpose is to give the youth in Westchester, especially minority youth, a chance to play a sport they wouldn't normally get an opportunity to play because it's such an expensive sport," said James Robinson, assistant to the commissioner of Greenburgh's Parks and Recreation Department and co-chairman of the golf camp. "Once they get out on the course and start hitting that ball, it's a lifelong sport. They really like it."

On Wednesdays between July 16 and Aug. 20, volunteer instructors will teach the basics. Free snacks and drinks will be provided by co-sponsor Westchester Links, Robinson said.

About 80 children ages 8 to 18 are expected to enroll, Robinson said. Campers who show up for all six weeks will receive a free set of starter golf clubs, Robinson said, to encourage them to continue playing.

]]> http://researchub.wordpress.com/?p=107 Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:43:46 +0000 talkresearch http://researchub.wordpress.com/?p=107

Calling all dentists to help the free mobile dental van that serves the communities around the South Coast. They are a group of dentists that are mobile and serve the low-income communities that do not have oral health care insurance plans and can't afford dental care. If you are a dentist or know of one, please spread the word out.

The article and video provide some details about the van and it's current needs.

Sponsored by Oregon Coast Community Action, a mobile dental van visits the area several times throughout the year, serving 10 patients at a time.

It's a full service clinic that provides x-rays, fillings and extractions.

But, just recently, the waiting list has grown to more than 125 patients, with not enough dentists and trained support staff to help.

"Teeth get so bad because of the wait people have to go through," says Bob More, director of housing and emergency services for Oregon Coast Community Action, "By the time they do get to the dental van, most of what happens is extractions. That's an unfortunate consequence of the lack of dental health coverage for low income folks."

How do you get in touch with them?

To help, call Oregon Coast Community Action at (541) 888-7108. Their next service day in the area is Friday.

Over the past couple of years Pathways has experimented with alternative forms of worship expression, straying from the standard music/sermon arranged forms that are typical within the Christian tradition.  Pathways hasn't and probably won't abandon the more traditional approach to worship, but it continues to seek new and meaningful ways to incorporate God-encounters into community life.  Worship, regardless of the way in which it is practiced (or perhaps because of the way it is practiced) is a formative experience for the faith community.  Yesterday, Pathways engaged in another new form of community-wide-worship, and  this has been by far my favorite.

Yesterday Pathways cancelled its regular Sunday morning services so that it could serve the community instead.  Not that Pathways is unfamiliar with community service, but to cancel the central Pathways gathering in order to serve the larger community was a new twist for us, and I have to say, an unqualified success.  Not only did Pathways show up in full force, but it experienced worship in a new way - through humble service to strangers.  Pathways was able to deny itself, abandon the familiar and comfortable practice of a gathered worship service, and selflessly serve the community without asking for anything in return.  As any casual reader of the New Testament will attest, this is a remarkably Christlike posture for a church, and one that unsurprisingly had a profound impact upon the community.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7515891.stm

This time not fatal but once again I find myself saddened by the story.

I wrote a couple of weeks ago about this subject, it's such a frustrating issue.

Last week there was debate here in the UK about whether those caught carrying knives - particularly youngsters - should be made to visit hospitals to see the trauma (physical and mental) that knife crime can cause. Personally I think the last thing the victim of a knife crime needs whilst being treated is being peered at by a group of disinterested yobs and their probation officers. What an absolutely ridiculous idea.

Those caught carrying knives should be prosecuted and punished. It's debatable what the punishment should be, because we all know that some youngsters sent to prison do come out hardened, better trained criminals. However there has to be a deterrent as well as a programme of education.

Perhaps someone convicted of carrying a knife as a weapon should be jailed, but then compulsorily taken OUT of the dangerously influential immediate environment for a very significant part of every single day of the sentence to work - unpaid. Groups of such criminals could be used to clean up our country - removing rubbish, cleaning graffiti, restoring canals and other waterways, and so on. I'm a keen walker and cyclist and it often depresses me how much crap there is lying around our country. An improved environment would benefit the whole community.

No doubt do-gooders and health & safety freaks would cringe at the thought of sending criminals into the canals to recover shopping trolleys, or onto a motorway embankment to collect rubbish, but I think that such work will do more good than visiting a stab victim, both for the community at large and for the mind of the criminal involved.

Comments?

Jai Nandalala!

We are happy to inform you that one more dream project of Sri. Akka, Mathi Oli Vidhya Bhavan under the management of Yogasaras Educational Academy (Unit of Nandalala) was launched on Monday, July 14, 2008 at Hyderabad. We give below a brief note on the school.

We attach the invitation for the function and extend our warm invitation to one and all to make the happy occasion a grand success.

About the School 'Mathi Oli Vidhya Bhavan', Munirabad, R.R.District, A.P.

The school 'Mathi Oli Vidhya Bhavan' is a long cherished brain child of Pujyasri 'MathiOli' R. Saraswathy, President Nandalala Seva Samithi Trust, Chennai which has become a reality thanks to the munificence of Dr. Kris Yogam. As President of Yogasaras Educational Academy which will manage this school Pujyasri 'Mathi Oli' R. Saraswathy plans to make her dream a reality, shaping this school into a model that everyone can look up to. The work that she undertakes, be it her organization 'Nandalala Siruvar Sangam' (Nandalala Children's Forum) which she has been running for more than a quarter century in Chennai or the Nandalala Temple in Chennai, unfailingly stands apart as a landmark and the standard it sets is not easily met by others.