Sunday, November 28, 2010

CRYPTOGRAM # 5

Here's the next Cryptogram:

TW GIO ZTNCWA: CW RMTJMW, VRM YGICBM TFM UFCVCZR, VRM BRMHZ TFM HFMWBR, VRM QMBRTWCBZ TFM AMFQTW, VRM IGJMFZ TFM CVTICTW, TWO MJMFNVRCWA CZ GFATWCPMO UN VRM ZXCZZ. CW RMII, VRM YGICBM TFM AMFQTW, VRM BRMHZ TFM UFCVCZR, VRM QMBRTWCBZ TFM HFMWBR, VRM IGJMFZ TFM ZXCZZ, TWO MJMFNVRCWA CZ GFATWCPMO UN VRM CVTICTWZ.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

DOES YOUR PARENT HAVE TIME FOR YOU?

PARENTS ought to read this ...

If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in
— Cleveland Abbe (American meteorologist, inventor and astronomer)

Is this quotation relevant to today's families?
Does every child have an adult at home with whom he/she can discuss things that are learnt in school, the news that newspapers publish, and the activities that The Genius exposes them to for the first time in their lives?

One of the important things we do is to have Mock Press Conferences, where each student acts out the part of a leader, a decision maker, and the rest of the group becomes press correspondents, and come prepared to fire away questions.

Our politicians often kick up an infernal ruckus in the sacred precincts of the parliament instead of having an intelligent debate. They would be put to shame by the tactful and well-informed manner in which some of our young students handle the questions that they are asked!

When these competitions are in progress, we can identify children whose parents are too busy to be of active intellectual assistance. We also observe children whose attention spans have been nearly destroyed by the importance given to television serials and movies of pedestrian tastes in some homes.

Parents who read this would do well to contribute to children's development on a daily basis, and proffer them quality conversation time as often as they can.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

One eventful day at The Genius

Not really just one day - it's a series of events every weekend for four or five weeks, but to each child, it is just one day - one day of great expectations, looking forward to specially prepared dishes - enchiladas, cannellonis and the works - all served in courses from soft drinks through soup, cutlets et al until a succulent dessert appears on the table at the end of a scrumptious repast. Appropriate bowls, plates, spoons, forks and knives are laid out for each course, and they are not served by flunkies (we have no flunkies at THE GENIUS), but by Mentors of exceptional calibre, especially trained - not in table service - but in development of thinking skills. Visit http://the-genius-blog.blogspot.com/2008/03/raison-dtre.html and you will understand why we need to do stuff that parents and schoolteachers ought to be doing.

To cut it short, I shall just say that THE GENIUS is indeed the whole enchilada! (..."the whole enchilada" is an idiomatic expression referring to something that is complete in itself. Refer to a good dictionary before you use it in writing or speech).

If you wish to see some of the pictures of one of the evenings, please click here.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

CRYPTOGRAM # 4

Another Cryptogram for the enthusiast --

LY LYPLX, IKJJWGC GKULCLILXYH PKY'C TK CK VXLU; HKNM TK CK GXJULXNMYC. LZ CEMR XJM ... FKCM-SXYA CEWTH, CEMR NXR MFMY SMIKNM IXSLYMC NLYLHCMJH -- JXFL HEXYAXJ

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

YOU need a Dictionary too!

Anu Garg [whose http://wordsmith.org/ has reached phenomenal subscriber numbers] says:
"There's a new exhibit here in Seattle, showcasing props from the Harry Potter series. As I make my way through it, I see kids holding magic wands in their little fingers and pretending to cast spells. If only we all had a book of spells we could use to make things happen!
"It turns out we do. It's called a dictionary. It has all the magical words we need (though some assembly is required). We can use them to convince (from Latin vincere: to overcome), to motivate (from movere: to move), to inspire (from inspirare: to breathe [life] into), and more."

A Dictionary is a tool of the trade for those who seek to speak fluently, to speak using words that are appropriate to the context, and to those who desire to write impressively.
We at THE GENIUS recommend that every child from the very youngest possess a dictionary, and learn all aspects of using it.

Older students may also subscribe to
http://wordsmith.org/ for a daily dose of words and their interesting origins.

Monday, November 1, 2010

CRYPTOGRAM # 3

An irresistible temptation

When I come across a good quotation - that is, one that does not preach to us from a high pedestal, but has a bit of tongue-in-cheek humour as well, and a sprinkling of truth spiced with satire, I am sorely tempted to share it with the many students and Mentors at THE GENIUS as well as with other friends and well-wishers. I posted the last Cryptogram only two days ago, yet here's another one - swiftly following the last one.

Here's Cryptogram # 3:

SYVT XRP XGTP GX QPJYDK XV XJQO PAPYU NRGQC TJOPK J CYPJCSMQ DMGKJDNP VS GXKPQS EU JKOGDH 'ZRU?'. XV KXVI XRGK DMGKJDNP KVNGPXU GDAPDXPC J TJYAPQQVMK KUKXPT NJQQPC PCMNJXGVD ZRGNR EYGDHK XV JD PDC XRPGY CPKGYP XV JKO XRJX LMPKXGVD. XRP SPZ SJGQMYPK VS XRGK KUKXPT JYP ODVZD JK KNGPDXGKXK -- KGY RPYTJDD EVDCG

I am publishing only the names of the first two all-correct solvers. I need your opinions if I ought to put up the solution as well. I had thought of avoiding display of the solution in order that anyone who visits the page ought to have the mental challenge of the puzzle without the solution available. If anyone finds it difficult to solve a Cryptogram and would like me to send the solution, please put in your comment saying so, and you will receive it directly by mail as
quickly as possible.

Happy deciphering!