Saya U Moe Aung (Tekkatho Moe War) has given several refresher courses on the various aspects of Electrical Power & Distribution. He also wrote articles on electrical hazards (e.g. electrocution, downed power lines).
110-120V systems pose less risk to users than 220-240V systems.
Main and auxiliary circuit breakers, proper earth connections, and using electrical devices that are certified to conform to safety regulations … can help minimize tragedies.
Saya U Htin Paw (EE58) joined UBARI upon his return from his further studies in the USA. He then transferred to Electrical Inspectorate.
The Chief Electrical Inspectors (e.g. U Aung Than) and Chief Engineers of ESB/EPC taught part-time at the engineering colleges.
Sad to hear the voice of Saya U Aye Win Kyaw recounting the “bad experience” that led to his son’s untimely death. He pleaded to the clinics and the hospitals to prioritize safety for the patients and their caretakers. Saya U Myat Htoo (C68) sent me the voice message.
Road Safety
Traffic accidents happen and often result in injury and death.
They include the following (a) fender bender (b) multi-car crash (c) car hitting pedestrians (d) head-on collision (e) tumble & roll-over …
They can be caused by (a) roads (which are designed or maintained properly) (b) drivers (not obeying traffic rules) (c) inclement weather (d) road rage (e) engine and mechanical failure (f) not land-worthy vehicles (g) unsafe tires (h) medical emergency (to the driver) …
An alumni gave a seminar on “Traffic control (e.g. how to design monitor and synchronize traffic lights).”
Many countries employ the “STOP” sign and the letters “STOP” printed on the road. Most drivers obey them. The violators are cautioned with citations.
Automobile associations and the volunteers for Public Safety give refresher courses for “Safe Driving”.
Safety of Food and Drug
FDA
Most countries have a Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
They perform tests before certifying if a food or drug is safe to take.
Water
Some departments monitor if tap water is safe to drink.
Some check if the claims for the “bottled water” are true.
Recall of products
Over the years, I have read “recall” notices
Beef and chicken products that are contaminated
Pickled tea leaves that have been prepared using “unsafe” dyes and chemicals
Toys that are unsafe for children
Concern
During a visit to Yangon, a friend took me to his favorite restaurant. He handed to the Chef the oil bottle that he had brought from home to be used in preparing the dishes. He felt that some cooking oils and cooking styles might be harmful.
Our immune systems may degrade over time.
Commercialism may overtake the health concerns.
I hope that there are no malpractices in the preparation of food (e.g. ah thoke, ah kyaw, …).
Most Senior Centers require members to be 50 years or older. They want young, active seniors. Some volunteers are in their 80s and 90s.
AARP (Association for American Retired Professionals) admits “retirees” who are 50+ years old. This leaves room for marketing to people who are still active.
Some restaurants and shops provide discount to 60+ years and older.
The “official” age recognized by Federal and State Agencies is 65+.
Senior in Myanmar
According to U Tin Htut (Harry, Mon Yu), a Sar Yay Saya has to be 80 years or older to be a recipient of the “Thet Kyee Pu Zaw Pwe“.
MES sets 75 years as a threshold for the “Paying Homage Ceremonies” for Engineers and Architects. They may or may not be sayas.
At the All Mechanical Gathering in 2019, engineers who are 80 or more years old were invited on the stage. The attendees paid respect standing.
Seniors and SPZPs
Some seniors are reluctant to attend Saya Pu Zaw Pwes (SPZP). They could not easily find their classmates among the huge crowd. Some are uncomfortable to pay respect to the younger sayas on the stage.
A partial solution was provided at some SPZPs.
The sayas and sayamas were divided into three (or more batches).
The advantage is that Seniors can choose to pay respect to their mentors, and relax when the younger sayas are on stage.
A drawback is that it takes long to get the sayas and sayamas get on and off the stage.
Joke about Seniors
“Uncle, you call you wife Honey. What is her name?” “I forgot her name 30 years ago.”
The most notable is known as the “Sterling Pound“. The British manufactured the “Silver Penny” made out of pure silver. 240 Silver Pennies presumably weighed one pound. Hence, the name “Sterling Pound”. 1 Pound = 20 shillings = 240 pennies
At one time, the Pound was tied to the “Gold Reserve“. In our younger days, 1 Pound was equivalent to about 13 Kyats.
Many Myths have been debunked, but they still appear in posts.
Do not share Myths without verifying them first.
U E Maung is not Bagyi Aung
A post wrongly said Professor U E Maung was “Bagyi Aung”. It was liked and/or shared by thousands of readers even after U Nay Oke (St. Paul’s) had given TEDx InyaLake talk about his mother (Daw Khin Saw Mu), father (ICS U Ba Tint), his Bagyi (ICS U Tin Tut) and Minthuwun (Saya U Wun). U Nay Oke mentioned that the four main characters in “Bagyi Aung Nyar De” have all passed away.
The three younger sisters were in the charge of ICS U Tin Tut especially during the school / university holidays.
ICS U Ba Tint was U Tin Tut’s deputy.
Dr. Htin Aung is not Bagyi Aung
The earlier wrong version said that Dr. Htin Aung was Bagyi Aung.
At least the names share “Aung”.
ICS U Tin Tut is Bagyi Aung
U Tin Tut
The knowledge was a family secret, but it was later known by close friends.
U Nay Oke (St. Paul’s) gave a TEDx InyaLake talk on the subject.
In the US, second Sunday of May is celebrated as Mother’s Day.
For multi-generational families, it would also be Grandmother’s Day and Great Grandmother’s Day as well.
U Hla Min, spouse and two grandchildren
Some countries and cultures celebrate “Mother’s Day” on a different day. In Myanmar, it is celebrated on the Full Moon Day of Pyatho.
The first words that most people learn in their lives include the following and their variants. Mum, Mummy, Mom, Mommy, Mah Mah, May May, …
We extend the term Mother to our schools (e.g. Alma Mater) and our country (e.g. Motherland).
In idiomatic usage, Mother is “the hand that rocked the cradle”.
Mother’s unbounded love is honored in many real-life stories (e.g. “Toe Aye” ship wreck).
The following song has been recorded by many artists.
I have reprinted a sample verse. The verses may have variations.
M-O-T-H-E-R (song)
M is for the Mercy she possesses (Variant: Million things she gave me)
O means Only that she’s growing Old (Variant : that I Owe her all I owe)
T is for her Tender sweet caresses (Variant : for the Tears she shed to save me)
H is for her Heart of purest gold (Variant: her Hand that touch and hold)
E means Everything she’s done to save me
R means Right and Right she’ll always be
Put them all together
They spell MOTHER
A word that means a world to me
My Beloved Mother
My beloved mother
I would like to acknowledge my beloved mother. When we were young, she would wake up before her housemaids at 4 a.m. to prepare breakfast for us. She supervised our homework when we were in primary and middle school. She bought us cameras (e.g. Yashica and Kodak), bicycles (e.g. Rayleigh and Hercules), scooter (e.g. Silver Pigeon), cars (e.g. Datsun and Dodge Jeep), two typewriters (e.g. Remington for English, Olympia for Burmese), musical instruments (e.g. guitar, harmonica), comics (e.g. Beano, Dandy, Topper, Beezer), Classics Illustrated and Junior Classics Illustrated, “How and Why” series, “Myanmar Swel Sone Kyan” (Burmese Encyclopedia), Reader’s Digest and other periodicals, to name a few.
Although my parents were devout Buddhists, they sent their children to SPHS (St. Pauls’s High School) and SJC (St. John’s Convent) — run by the Roman Catholic missionaries — to get a good education.
The seeds that were sown by my beloved parents have bloomed allowing me to pay back to my alma mater and my community.
I have served as
Organizer, SPZP-2000
Chief Editor of “RIT Alumni International Newsletter” and Editor of several other newsletters (BAPS Newsletter, Dhammananda Newsletter)
Contributor to the Encyclopedia of Asian American Folklife and Folklore (published by ABC CLIO)
Burmese Language expert for a course developed by the National Foreign Language Center, University of Maryland (College Park)
Docent at Computer History Museum
Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) at Toastmasters International
Translator/interpreter at meditation retreats (e.g. at Tathagata Mediatation Center)
Editor of books and magazines Homage to Sayadaw U Silanandabhivamsa Collection of dhamma talks by Sayadaw U Silananda Three books by Sayadaw U Jotalankara 90th Anniversary Issue of RUBC.YUBC) Bawa and Dhamma Cetana Thi Thar Kan
Without my mother’s exhortation “Eyes have you and you see not, Ears have you and you hear not, …”, and “Any thing that’s worth doing is worth doing well”, I would not be here today.
Their motto : “Anything that’s worth doing is worth doing well“.
My mother would scold me lightly by saying “Eyes have you and you see not. Ears have you and you hear not.”
She would tell the story of Robert Bruce and the spider, and remind us “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try and try again.”
RUBC (Rangoon University Boat Club)
Motto : “Row Till You Are Dead.”
The background story is covered in Sir Arthur Eggar’s autobiography and in the commemorative issues for the 40th and 90th Anniversary of the founding of RUBC.
RUBC members are used to the shout “Give her a ten” during a race (especially near the finish line), and also at the Close of the Awards Presentation at the Regatta.
After a long day, in the tradition of RUBC, I shout, “Give her a ten”. 10 – 9 – 8 – 7 – 6 – 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 -1 followed by EASY OARS.
Companies
The motto may change over time.
International Business Machines (IBM)’s slogan was “Think“.
General Electric (GE)’s claim to fame was “Built to last.“
HlaMin 