list for a beginning programmer

relational database concepts

pk, fk, candidate key, referential integrity, 1NF through 4NF
indexes, triggers
sql: ddl, dml, dcl,tcl

data modelling (entity-relationship modelling)

Chen-style (relationships shown as nodes)
Information Engineering (IE) style (relationships shown as lines)

data-driven program design

“Principles of Program Design” by M. A. Jackson
“Jackson Structured Programming: A Practical Method of Programme Design” (Paperback) by Leif Ingevaldsson

software requirements and specifications

“Structured Analysis and System Specification” by Tom Demarco & P. J. Plauger (Paperback 1979) Dataflow diagrams can still be useful tools in certain contexts, even though they are obsolete for sofware systems analysis.
“Software Requirements and Specifications:” by Michael Jackson STRONGLY RECOMMENDED
“Problem Frames” by Michael Jackson

object-oriented programming

class, object (or instance), method, static method, instance variable
”Beginning Java Objects” by Jacquie Barker

domain-driven design

“Domain-Driven Design” by Eric Evans

event-driven programming

“Event-Driven Programming” http://eventdrivenpgm.sourceforge.net/

data structures and algorithms

variables (in non-object oriented languages), objects (in OO languages), pointers (references)
stack, queue, LIFO, FIFO, linked list, tree, node (and how to program them)
recursion (for traversing trees)
“Thinking Recursively” or “Thinking Recursively in Java” by Eric Roberts

process modelling, entity life-history modelling

finite-state machine (FSM) and state-transition diagrams
“Software Engineering Fundamentals: Jackson Approach” (Paperback) Leif Ingevaldsson

popular software design methods/tools/ideas

UML and its various diagram types
design patterns – “Head First Design Patterns” might be a painless introductory book

software development management

iterative/evolutionary development (as opposed to “big bang” development)
“waterfall” methods
“agile” methods

programming languages

Dynamically-typed language: Python (or Ruby)
Statically-typed language: Java (or C#)
A good IDE (Eclipse: don’t try to program Java without it!)

PAIN

Pain over here pain over there
Pain in my heart pain in my soul
Pain in my mind
Pain in my skin pain in my bones

Pain being caused left and right
Pain being caused till the heart bleeds red
Pain being caused till the skin and bones rip
Pain being caused till you break into tears

Pain at work
Pain at home
Pain in my head pain in my heart
Pain in my mind pain in my soul

Pain happening in my sleep
Pain happening in my thoughts
Pain happening when Im alone
Pain happening in the shower in my room in my bed in my house where Im all alone
Pain happening every hour every minute every second of my life

Pain caused by anger and hate
Pain caused by hurt
Pain caused by greed
Pain caused by sorrow and depresion
Pain caused by grief and confusion

Pain caused by your family and friends
Pain caused by the world
Pain caused by the people you love

Pain driving me crazy
Causing me to take pills till it fills up my veins
I go to sleep never to wake up and see the light
The light that will end my pain for good!

- brittney keith

GMIRT - 4

When it is realized that you live in the present moment, that you are indeed the present moment, (the what-is here and now) and that therefore apart from this there is no past and no future, you cannot but relax and taste to the full, the pleasure or the pain, His will - the present moment. And then everything becomes obvious: why this universe exists, why sentient beings have been produced, why sensitive organs, why space, time and change. The whole problem of analyzing and justifying nature, of trying to make life mean something in terms of words and lateral thinking - all this becomes meaningless. Obviously, it all exists for this moment, this kshana. It is a dance, and when you are dancing, there is only the dance, not any intent of getting somewhere.

-Ramesh Balsekar

False Sense of Authorship

"How do I look? How will I know when I see it?"

These are the questions that inevitably follow when I say, " look deeply. See what lies beyond the surface."

There is no "how" to looking. It is like breathing. It happens. Sure you can train yourself to modify your breathing but the breathing itself requires no effort or skill. Like your breathing, this looking is happening all the time. What the Teaching may bring is awareness of What Is...here, now in this eternal moment. To see it, only looking is necessary.

The question of "how do I do this looking?" is usually tied to the persistent involvement by the False Sense of Authorship. The FSA's job is to claim that it is responsible for what you do, therefore when you contemplate doing something there is inevitably an overlay of tension and fear. "What if I fail? What if I do it wrong?" When the FSA is active and claiming to be the "I" that does things, there can be no peace.

Look deeply without a "how."

How?

Just do it!!

- Wayne

Madhuram... Madhuram ....

His lips are sweet, His face is sweet. His eyes are sweet, His smile is sweet.
His heart is sweet, His walk is sweet. Everything is sweet about the Lord of
sweetness.

His words are sweet, His character is sweet. His garments are sweet, His navel
is sweet. His movement is sweet, His wanderings are sweet. Everything is sweet
about the Lord of sweetness.

His flute is sweet, His dust is sweet. His hands are sweet, His feet are sweet. His dancing is sweet, His friendship is sweet. Everything is sweet about the Lord of sweetness.

His singing is sweet, His yellow dress is sweet. His eating is sweet, His sleeping is sweet. His form is sweet, His tilaka is sweet. Everything is sweet about the Lord of sweetness.

His activities are sweet, His liberation is sweet. His thieving is sweet, His loving sports are sweet. His offerings are sweet, His peacefulness is sweet. Everything is sweet about the Lord of sweetness.

His gunja-mala is sweet; His flower-garland is sweet. His Yamuna is sweet, His ripples are sweet. His water is sweet, His lotuses are sweet. Everything is sweet about the Lord of sweetness.

His Gopis are sweet, His pastimes are sweet. His meeting is sweet, His food is sweet. His happiness is sweet, His etiquette is sweet. Everything is sweet about the Lord of sweetness.

His cowherd boys are sweet, His cows are sweet. His herding-stick is sweet, His creation is sweet. His trampling is sweet; His fruitfulness is sweet. Everything is sweet about the Lord of sweetness.

- Source Madhurashtakam

A chant

Neither the mother nor the father,
Neither the relation nor the friend,
Neither the son nor the daughter,
Neither the servant nor the husband,
Neither the wife nor the knowledge,
And neither my sole occupation,
Are my refuges that I can depend, Oh, Bhavani,
So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani.

I am in this ocean of birth and death,
I am a coward, who dare not face sorrow,
I am filled with lust and sin,
I am filled with greed and desire,
And tied I am, by the this useless life that I lead,
So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani.

Neither do I know how to give,
Nor do I know how to meditate,
Neither do I know Thanthra*,
Nor do I know stanzas of prayer,
Neither do I know how to worship,
Nor do I know the art of yoga,
So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani

Know I not how to be righteous,
Know I not the way to the places sacred,
Know I not methods of salvation,
Know I not how to merge my mind with God,
Know I not the art of devotion,
Know I not how to practice austerities, Oh, mother,
So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani


Perform I bad actions,
Keep I company of bad ones,
Think I bad and sinful thoughts,
Serve I Bad masters,
Belong I to a bad family,
Immersed I am in sinful acts,
See I with bad intentions,
Write I collection of bad words,
Always and always,
So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani.

Neither Do I know the creator,
Nor the Lord of Lakshmi,
Neither do I know the lord of all,
Nor do I know the lord of devas,
Neither do I know the God who makes the day,
Nor the God who rules at night,
Neither do I know any other Gods,
Oh, Goddess to whom I bow always,
So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani

While I am in a heated argument,
While I am immersed in sorrow,
While I am suffering an accident,
While I am travelling far off,
While I am in water or fire,
While I am on the top of a mountain,
While I am surrounded by enemies,
And while I am in a deep forest,
Oh Goddess, I always bow before thee,
So you are my refuge and my only refuge, Bhavani

While being an orphan,
While being extremely poor,
While affected by disease of old age,
While I am terribly tired,
While I am in a pitiable state,
While I am being swallowed by problems,
And While I suffer serious dangers,
I always bow before thee,
So you are my refuge and only refuge, Bhavani

- Source Bhavani Ashtakam

GMIRT - 3 (Rare song composed by the great king ravana - shiva thandava stotram)

[It is believed that Lord Shiva is the king of all dancers. He was anexpert in
the thandava style of dancing. This is a vigorous manly styleof dancing. This
stotra is about him while in the act of dancing.Alliteration and on omatopoeia
create roiling waves of resounding beauty in this great stotra. This stotra which
is so majestic was composed by none other than Ravana, the demon king, who ruled
over Sri Lanka, who was one of the great devotees of Lord Shiva. Once the proud
Ravana conquered the entire India and approached Mount Kailas on top of which Lord
Shiva resides with his consort Goddess Parvathi. Ravana called Lord Shiva to come
down. When he did not, he uprooted the mountain with his twenty hands. This made
Goddess Parvathi jittery. Then Lord Shiva pressed down the mountain with his
thumb. Ravana was crushed by the weight of the mountain. There he praised Lord
Shiva by singing the SamaVeda and this great stotra composed by him. Lord Shiva
was pleased and pardoned him.]

Jatata veega laj jala pravaha pavi thasthale,
Gale valam bhyalam bithaam bhujanga thunga malikaam,
Dama dama dama damanin nadavadda marvayam,
Chakara chanda thandavam thano thuna shiva shivam. 1

From the forest of his matted lock, water flows and wets his neck,
On which hangs the greatest of snake like a garland,
And his drum incessantly plays damat, damat, damat, damat,
And Shiva is engaged in the very vigorous manly dance,
To bless and shower, prosperity on all of us.

Jata kataha sambhrama bramanil limpa nirjari,
Vilola veechi vallari viraja mana moordhani,
Dhaga dhaga daga jjwala lalata patta pavake,
Kishora Chandra shekare rathi prathi kshanam mama. 2

The celestial river agitatedly moving through his matted hair,
Which makes his head shine with those soft waves,
And his forehead shining like a brilliant fire-daga daga,
And the crescent of moon which is an ornament to his head,
Makes my mind love him each and every second.

Dara darendra nandini vilasa bhandhu bhandura,
Sphuradigantha santhathi pramodha mana manase,
Krupa kadaksha dhorani niruddha durdha rapadi,
Kwachi digam bare mano vinodha methu vasthuni. 3

The consort of the ever sportive daughter of the mountain,
Whose mind rejoices at her side long glances,
With the stream of merciful look which removes hardships,
Makes my mind take pleasure in him who wears the directions as apparel.

Jada bhujanga pingala sphurath phana mani prabha,
Kadamba kumku madrava praliptha digwa dhumukhe,
Madhandha sindhura sphura thwa guuttha riya medhure,
Mano vinodha madhbutham bibarthu bhootha bharthari. 4

He, with the shining lustrous gem on the hood
Of the serpent entwining his matted locks,
He, who is with his bride whose face is decorated
By the melting of red saffron Kumkum,
And He who wears on his shoulder the hide
Of the elephant which was blind with ferociousness,
Makes my mind happy and contented,
In him who is the leader of Bhoothas*.
* can be taken to mean as souls or mythical beings guarding Kailasa.

Sahasra locha napra bhruthya sesha lekha shekhara,
Prasoona dhooli dhorani vidhu sarangri peedabhu,
Bhujanga raja Malaya ni bhadha jada jhootaka,
Sri yaichi raya jayatham chakora bandhu shekhara. 5

May he whose foot stool is decorated
By the ever flowing flower dust.
Falling the bent head of Indra and other Gods,
And may He, whose matted locks are tied by the king of serpents,
And may he, whose head is decorated
By the crescent moon who a friend of Chakora*
Shower prosperity for ever on me.
* A mythical bird which lives by drinking moon light.

Lalata chath wara jwala dhanam jaya sphulinga bha,
Nipeetha pancha sayagam saman nilimpa nayakam,
Sudha mayookha lekhaya viraja mana shekharam,
Maha kapali sampade, siro jadala masthu na. 6

May he with the raging fire
In his forehead, who burnt the God of love,
May He who is forever being saluted by king of devas,
And may he who has collected
The cool ambrosia like crescent moon on his head,
And may he who wears the collection of skulls,
Bless us to create wealth for us.

Karala bhala pattika dhaga dhaga jjwala,
Ddhanam jayahu thikrutha prachanda pancha sayage ,
Dhara dharendra nandhini kucha gra chithra pathraka,
Pra kalpa naika shilpini, trilo chane rather mama. 7

May He in whose dreadful forehead, fire burns "Dhahaga", "Dhaga,"
May He who burnt the one with five arrows* as an offering to fire,
May He who is the only one who can write decorative lines,
On the tip of the breasts of the daughter of the mountain,
And May He with three eyes make mind enjoy in him.
* The God of love

Naveena megha mandali nirudha durdha raths phurath,
Kahooni seedhi neethama prabhandha bandha kandhara,
Nilimpa nirjari darstha nothu kruthi sindhura,
Kala nidhana bandhura sriyam jagat duran dhara. 8

May He whose black neck is as dark
As several layers of new clouds,
Packed closely on the night of the new moon.
May He who wears the celestial river on his head,
May He who killed the Gajasura with an elephant head,
May He who is very handsome because of the crescent that he wears,
And may he who carries the entire burden of the world,
Bless us with all sorts of wealth .

Prafulla neela pankaja prapancha kalima prabha,
Valambhi kanda kanthali ruchi prabandha kandharam,
Smarschidham puraschidham bhavaschidham makhachidham,
Gaja chidanda kachidham thamantha kachidham bhaje. 9

I salute him, who shines with a black neck
Similar to the well opened blue lotus,
On which all the temples depend for prayer,
And him who destroyed God of love, the three cities,
The worldly problems and yaga destroyers,
And him who destroyed elephant faced Asura and also God of death.,

Agarva sarva mangalaa kalaa kadamba manjari,
Rasa pravaha madhuri vijrumbha mana madhu vrtham,
Suranthakam, paranthakam, bhavanthakam, makhandakam,
Gajandha kandha kandakam thamantha kanthakam bhaje. 10

I salute him who is like the bee who drinks the sweetened honey,
That flows from the flower bunch of collection of arts of the Goddess,
And him who destroyed God of love, the three cities,
The worldly problems and yaga destroyers,
And him who destroyed elephant faced Asura and also God of death.

Jayathwa dhabra vibra madbu jaamga maswasath,
Vinirgamath, kramasphurath, karala bhala havya vat,
Dhimi dhimi dhimi dhwanan mrudanga thunga mangala,
Dhwani karma pravarthitha prachanda thandawa shiva. 11

Victory to the great Shiva, who has the fire burning in his forehead,
Which is increased by the breath of the snake wandering in the sky,
And to Him who dances to the changing tunes and fierce sound,
Of Dhimi, dhimi, dhimi coming out the auspicious drum.

Drusha dwichi thra thalpayor bhujanga moukthikas rajo,
Garishta rathna loshtayo suhrudhwi paksha pakshayo,
Trunara vinda chakshusho praja mahee mahendrayo,
Samapra varthi kakadha sadashivam bhajamyaham. 12

When will I be able to worship that eternal shiva,
With a feeling of equanimity towards snake and a garland,
Towards great gems and dirt or friends and enemies,
Or Towards a blade of grass and lotus like eyes,
Or emperor and ordinary men.

Kada nilampa nirjaree nikunja kotare vasan,
Vimuktha dur mathee sada sirasthavan jaleem vahan,
Vilola lola lochano lalama bhala lagnaka,
Shivethi manthra mucharan kada sukhee bhavamyaham. 13

When will I live the life of pleasure, meditating on Shiva,
Sitting near a hollow place near the celestial river Ganga,
Releasing all my bad thoughts and with hands clasped above my head,
After releasing all passion for the pretty women with shifting eyes?

Imam hi nithya meva muktha mutha motha mams thavam,
Padan, smaran broovan naro vishudhi methi santha tham,
Hare Gurou subhakthima suyathina nya dha gatheem,
Vimohinam hi dehinaam sushankarasya chithanam. 14

This greater than the great prayer if read,
Remembered, or recited daily by man,
Will make him pure, eternal,
And he would get devotion to Shiva leading him to salvation,
For remembering Lord Shiva, is a sure method of removal of detachment.

Poojavasana samaye dasa vakhra geetham,
Ya shambhu poojana param padthi pradhoshe,
Thasya sthiraam radha gajendra thuranga yuktham,
Lakshmeem sadaiva sumukheem pradadathi shambu. 15

He who sings this song composed by the ten headed one,
At the end of every worship or,
Reads it after worship of Shiva on the Pradosha day,
Will get by the blessing of lord Shiva, chariots, elephants and horses,
As well as the affectionate sight of god of wealth.

Ithi Ravana krutham,
Shiva thandava stotram,
Sampoornam,

Thus ends the prayer of the dancing Shiva,
Composed by Ravana.