Pointing to the Moon » Thoughts

As You’ve Noticed. . .

manjulakoza — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 21:41:57 +0000

Thanks for stopping by Pointing to the Moon.

As you’ve noticed by the dates of postings, I’ve not been updating this blog recently. My time and focus has been on other projects. Please feel free to peruse older posts, visit the sites noted on the Resources page, or visit the . . . Continue reading As You’ve Noticed. . .

The landscape changes, but do we?

manjulakoza — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:07:07 +0000

The photos were taken from the same spot in Kabul, Afghanistan. The photo on the left was taken in 1970. The photo on the right was taken in 2010. . . . Continue reading The landscape changes, but do we?

Women resisting militarization

manjulakoza — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:58:24 +0000

On June 29, The Global Fund for Women hosted an evening discussion featuring three of their grantee partners working to stop the spread of militarization and the related threats to human -- women's -- values and safety. . . . Continue reading Women resisting militarization

House arrest in Saudi Arabia ends for Canadian woman, but is she free?

manjulakoza — Mon, 10 May 2010 21:20:43 +0000

Nazia Quazi, the 24-year old Canadian-Indian citizen imprisoned in her father's home in Saudi Arabia for three years, has been freed. . . . Continue reading House arrest in Saudi Arabia ends for Canadian woman, but is she free?

How much of the media do you believe?

manjulakoza — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 18:58:12 +0000

I learned at a very early age that far too many (dare I say "most"?) individuals took anything and everything written on newsprint as The Truth. That "truth" extended to anything said on the radio or TV (or a pulpit) by a man in a serious voice. . . . Continue reading How much of the media do you believe?

The Blind Project: Poster highlights key blind side of prostitution stats

manjulakoza — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 20:44:26 +0000

The following chart, posted on The Blind Project's blog, powerfully presents the scale of sex trafficking and prostitution. Aside from the other mind-boggling figures, this chart reveals the violence facing prostitutes, and the cloak of invisibility the media places over prostitutes and prostitute-related violence. . . . Continue reading The Blind Project: Poster highlights key blind side of prostitution stats

Sound and gratitude

manjulakoza — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 19:45:59 +0000

Yesterday I was reminded of two principals I know well, still contemplate with awe, and practice as best I can: gratitude, and the power of sound. Expressing gratitude for what we have in our lives is something many forget to do, even though it's a cornerstone of all spirituality, religious traditions, and the best self-improvement books. While I think often of the people, situations, and things in my life for which and whom I'm grateful, sometimes an unexpected situation evokes a stronger level of gratitude. I've had a lot of these gratitude epiphanies in the past few -- rough -- years, and I feel even more gratitude would be better! . . . Continue reading Sound and gratitude

Ada Lovelace Day, Honoring the woman often called the first computer programmer

manjulakoza — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:07:01 +0000

March 24 is Ada Lovelace Day, honoring the woman often hailed as the first computer programmer. Ada worked in Britain in the mid-1800's and wrote an algorithm and specifically for Charles Babbage's mechanical general-purpose computer. Inspired by the group at FindingAda.com, bloggers around the world are writing about women in technology on this day. . . . Continue reading Ada Lovelace Day, Honoring the woman often called the first computer programmer

Updates and other sites

manjulakoza — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 22:35:41 +0000

As well as writing posts for Pointing to the Moon, I have some other sites to which I'd like to introduce you, if you've not yet explored links here and found them on your own! . . . Continue reading Updates and other sites

International Women’s Day: 364 more needed

manjulakoza — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:04:12 +0000

Much is being said, written, and celebrated on International Women's Day. I personally feel a tinge of sadness, for women still must travel a long road before being recognized and treated as equals to men. Traveling the road, and attaining the goal, is critical to the world -- not just to women. I think of a speech given to the Global Peace Initiative of Women Religious and Spiritual Leaders by Mata Amritanandamayi (commonly known as Amma, or Mother) in Geneva in 2002. In the speech, Amma addressed the pressing need for women to arise and bring their strength, compassion, patience, selflessness, and love into their individual lives and into the world, for their own benefit, and for the benefit of humanity. . . . Continue reading International Women’s Day: 364 more needed

How did you mean?

manjulakoza — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 23:57:24 +0000

A business collaboration to which I recently presented a series of classes has its own social-network type website, and over the course of the last week, I kept noticing but not reading a particular entry from one of the participants. The headline caught my eye because it made no sense to me . . . Continue reading How did you mean?

Creative Commons, copyrights, and courtesy

manjulakoza — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 07:10:38 +0000

Photos, images, and asking individuals how they'd like their image and likeness used: When you use photos, images, and videos created by others -- and especially those depicting others -- do you provide Creative Commons attribution, respect copyrights, and show courtesy to those whose work or likeness you use? . . . Continue reading Creative Commons, copyrights, and courtesy

Valentine’s Day reminds us all need compassion and love

manjulakoza — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 03:36:17 +0000

Valentine's Day is not just for romantic sweethearts! Love is the only medicine that can heal the wounds of the world. Just as the body needs food to grow, the soul needs love to unfold. . . . Continue reading Valentine’s Day reminds us all need compassion and love

Extending the circle

manjulakoza — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 02:49:18 +0000

Women across the world are doing tremendous good, yet all too often, we never hear of the work done, the nonprofits started, and the communities changed by the compassionate action of local women. To raise awareness about small and growing nonprofits and organizations started by and serving women, I'll be showcasing them in an ongoing series, Extending the Circle. . . . Continue reading Extending the circle

Women in technology: Thoughts on mobile applications, WordPress, and education

manjulakoza — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:54:07 +0000

Technology plays a critical role in helping women collaborate, gain knowledge, and establish their rightful presence across the globe. Mobile technology and the Internet are especially important and equalizing tools for women. In terms of Internet-based tools, social networking, blogging, and websites are vital. . . . Continue reading Women in technology: Thoughts on mobile applications, WordPress, and education

Cultivating you in the new year

manjulakoza — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 21:10:20 +0000

As we usher in the new calendar year, plans are laid and goals are made. While it's important to make SMART (significant, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound) goals about what we want to achieve and where we want to go in the new year, we must remember and consider a number of things that are also smart, but in a different way! We must remember that even though the calendar year changes at midnight on December 31, the first of January is really no different than any other day. Every day begins a new year. Each day is a new beginning, giving us the opportunity to adjust our plans, actions, attitudes, and ways of being. . . . Continue reading Cultivating you in the new year

Inspirational quotes from notable women

manjulakoza — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 20:25:08 +0000

For the new year, I thought I'd share quotes I find inspiring, from notable women. Enjoy. . . . Continue reading Inspirational quotes from notable women

Thirty years and still lagging in support of CEDAW and women

manjulakoza — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:31:44 +0000

The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) turns 30 today. This treaty, designed to protect the rights of women worldwide, has been signed by 186 of the 193 United Nations member countries. The United States has not signed CEDAW. Iran, Somalia, and Sudan are among the other six countries that have yet to ratify the treaty. . . . Continue reading Thirty years and still lagging in support of CEDAW and women

(Wo)men with pens: The sad, inspiring story of James Chartrand

manjulakoza — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:34:09 +0000

James Chartrand, a respected blogger from Men with Pens and Copyblogger, recently came out as a woman who, driven by necessity when faced with rebuilding her life and supporting two young daughters as a single mom, assumed a pen name -- a male name that garnered her very different results from the same clients and editors who slighted her when she used her real name. The writer's work or style didn't change; only her name changed. The male name opened the door to more contracts, better pay, fewer rejections, and a decreased number of rewrites and nasty comments from editors. . . . Continue reading (Wo)men with pens: The sad, inspiring story of James Chartrand

Celebrating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

manjulakoza — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:09:18 +0000

Sixty-one years ago, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Much contested and debated at the UN before its acceptance, the UDHR was developed as a non-binding agreement of nations working towards and upholding basic human rights for all individuals around the world. Eleanor Roosevelt, a key player driving the drafting and acceptance of the UDHR, stated that the document would educate people as to their basic rights as humans and encourage nations to adopt laws promoting and safeguarding essential human rights. . . . Continue reading Celebrating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights