Poem: My Grandmother, Living Alone! – V. N. Giridharan -

Grandma's home – that's you!
It is from that very home
my grandma used to fry vadai.
I once asked my mother
why grandma was frying vadai
from over there.

My mother replied:
“She used to fry them here before.
But the crows became too much of a nuisance,
so she started frying from there.
Now, there are no crows to bother her there, right dear?”

President Trump's Policy on Illegal Immigrants

There are millions of illegal immigrants living in the USA. They are not stealing Americans' jobs. In fact, they work very hard to serve the American public. They work as kitchen helpers, dishwashers, farm workers, and in low-paying factory jobs. They are not competing with American workers who typically get the higher-paying positions—such as those in the automotive industry.

If you examine high-paying government jobs and top-tier factory positions, you’ll find that most of these are held by Americans—primarily white Americans. A census of those sectors would reveal the low percentage of minorities employed there.

Two Useful Cardiology Videos: An Interview with Cardiologist Dr. S. Ramasamy and a Video by Dr. Pradip Jamnadas, MD

I recently watched these videos. In them, cardiologist Dr. S. Ramasamy shares clear explanations about heart attacks and their treatment options such as angioplasty, stents, bypass surgery, blood vessel blockages, and blood clots that may result from them. He also discusses how to approach doctors’ advice when blockages are found in the coronary arteries. These are not my recommendations—I'm merely sharing the information. At times, I’ve also added my personal opinions, but they should not be considered medical advice—only my personal thoughts.

In general, when a patient has over 70% blockage in three arteries, most cardiologists will recommend bypass surgery without hesitation. If not, they may suggest angioplasty and placing a stent.

Poem: Kuruman Kaadu! by V. N. Giritharan

 * (Illustration – AI. Kuruman Kaadu was once a small village in Vavuniya, Sri Lanka. Today, it has become a town.)

The Kuruman Kaadu I hold in memory
is not the one that exists today.
It now seems like a dream world.
At times, I even wonder—
did it really exist?
But alongside that doubt,
I also feel—
there's no need for such questions.
Whether it existed or not
is not important to me.
The memories of it
still stir within my feelings.
Those are what matter.

Facebook! by V. N. Giridharan

Facebook has unveiled
the true nature of many individuals to me.
It has exposed the genuine selves of those
I once believed held revolutionary ideas.
Even when Facebook revealed the true faces of those
who loudly proclaimed they would change society,
they felt no shame, did not flee, and
continue their outcries as before.
Facebook has thoroughly exposed
many who are immersed in petty desires and false pride.
Cowards, hiding their identities, perform as heroes;
Facebook has revealed these cowards
who fear showing their faces.
It has made me understand
the depth of friendship among many
who roamed under the guise of being friends.
Facebook has pointed out
the good snakes that display venom within
and sweet smiles outside.

Poem: A Library’s Dream and Thoughtful Immersion by V. N. Giritharan

On this wondrous blue planet,
No matter which direction I gaze,
I witness it engulfed in flames of conflict.
Outside, you collide with one another,
Clashing incessantly.
I see rivers of blood swelling and surging.
Your frenzied games make it evident
That children, women, the elderly—none hold value to you.
I feel ashamed thinking of you.
Observing your antics, as if you are the rulers of this universe,
I can only laugh.
Before you lies a vast expanse.
Yet, seeing you buried in profound silence,
Noticing your solitude,
I am filled with pity for you.​

The Importance of Children's Sections in Newspapers: Reflecting on the Toronto Star's 'Brand New Planet'

Once, the Toronto Star published a weekly supplement for children aged 9 to 14, called Brand New Planet, every Thursday. My eldest daughter contributed to that paper while she was in elementary school. It was a wonderful publication that served children well. I'm not sure why the Toronto Star stopped publishing it. In my view, every newspaper should reserve a few pages for children to encourage them to improve their writing and reading skills.