The Goa Project

On an orange background, a faint wave pattern runs down the right side. || On top, in a yellow rectangle: Society || Below, the headline: Monkey baat || Below, a subhead: Non-human primates and the city || Next, the session date: 26 October || Next, a circular windows with a portrait of person, head and shoulders, looking at camera || Next to that, the name: Anindya “Rana” Sinha || And below that, a descriptor: Researcher, fellow primate || Below, at centre, the logotype for The Goa Project Sessions, which has the words ‘The Goa Project’ in white text next to a stylised sunset-and-water image, and next to that, the word ‘Sessions’ within a stylised video camera image. || In a black strip at the bottom: Once every four weeks on Sundays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. IST, on Zoom.

On a green background, a faint wave pattern runs down the right side. || On top, in a yellow rectangle: Society || Below, the headline: Urban bungles || Below, a subhead: What we get wrong about animals in our cities || Next, the session date: 26 October || Next, a circular windows with a portrait of person, head and shoulders, looking at camera || Next to that, the name: Christopher Kelty || And below that, a descriptor: Anthropologist, mazerunner || Below, at centre, the logotype for The Goa Project Sessions, which has the words ‘The Goa Project’ in white text next to a stylised sunset-and-water image, and next to that, the word ‘Sessions’ within a stylised video camera image. || In a black strip at the bottom: Once every four weeks on Sundays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. IST, on Zoom.

This Sunday, 26 Oct, we chat about our non-human fellow citizens in urban life.
More about:
Rana: thegoaproject.wordpress.com/2025/10/23/m...
Chris: thegoaproject.wordpress.com/2025/10/23/u...
TGP Sessions: thegoaproject.wordpress.com
Register bit.ly/TGPSessions

The Goa Project and you Hello, TGPian. This is a little survey we have put together to get to know you better and to help us find the sweet spot between events you want to be part of and things that fascinate our organisin...

For our next TGP Sessions, we are reflecting on the last few years and to decide what we do next. So there will be no formal presentation.

Instead, please fill out this questionnaire and join us at an open house this Sunday, 24 August, 5:30 p.m., where we will discuss your feedback and suggestions.

We had to call off the feedback/workshop session because we got no submissions.
The open.mic is still open. Submit by tomorrow night (India time) to get yourself a slot.

We did not get any submissions in time for the workshop with Aditi, so that part is cancelled.
The form remains open for submissions to the open mic.

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11. Remember this is the hardest thing there is to do. If you can do this you can do anything.
12. I love my cracker roots. Get to know your family, be friends with them.

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9. Listen to what you are saying, ask yourself, “Why am I saying it and is it Necessary?” (This will filter all your material and cut the unnecessary words, economy of words)
10. Play to the top of the intelligence of the room. There aren’t any bad crowds, just wrong choices.

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7. Write what entertains you. If you can’t be funny be interesting. You haven’t lost the crowd. Have something to say and then do it in a funny way.
8. I close my eyes and walk out there and that’s where I start, Honest.

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6. NEVER ask the audience “How You Doing?” People who do that can’t think of an opening line. They came to see you to tell them how they’re doing, asking that stupid question up front just digs a hole. This is The Most Common Mistake made by performers. I want to leave as soon as they say that.

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5. You are not married to any of this shit – if something happens, taking you off on a tangent, NEVER go back and finish a bit, just move on.

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3. Only do what you think is funny, never just what you think they will like, even though it’s not that funny to you.
4. Never ask them is this funny – you tell them this is funny.

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Bill Hicks's Principles of Comedy
1. If you can be yourself on stage nobody else can be you and you have the law of supply and demand covered.
2. The act is something you fall back on if you can’t think of anything else to say.

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We did not get any submissions in time for the workshop with Aditi, so that part is cancelled.
The form remains open for submissions to the open mic.

NWMI urges the Indian government and the Indian Embassy in Cairo to ensure that Nikita’s passport is returned immediately, and that she be allowed to carry out her professional duties. Nikita Jain was reporting for Maktoob Media
on The Global March to Gaza.

nwmindia.org/statements/n...

Update:
We have extended the deadline until Sunday night (15 June).
Anyone submitting after that might still get a chance to perform, but you won’t get to learn from Aditi Mittal. And that would be a waste of an opportunity to learn from a pro.
Summon up your best words and courage and apply!

Last couple of days to register and also get a free workshop with Aditi Mittal!

📌JOIN THE TEAM!
The Community Library Project is looking for :
- Reading Specialist

आपकी लाइब्रेरी तलाश कर रही है :
- रीडिंग स्पेशलिस्ट

On a yellow background, a faint wave pattern runs down the right side. On top, in a yellow rectangle: Showcase Below, the headline: Laugh lines Below, a subhead: An open mic for comedy Next, the session date: 29 June Next, a circular window, which frames a picture of a microphone, and besides it, a name: You And below that, a descriptor: An amateur stand-up comic Below, at centre, the logotype for The Goa Project Sessions, which has the words ‘The Goa Project’ in white text next to a stylised sunset-and-water image, and next to that, the word ‘Sessions’ within a stylised video camera image. In a black strip at the bottom: Once every four weeks on Sundays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. IST, on Zoom.

On a yellow background, a faint wave pattern runs down the right side. On top, in a yellow rectangle: Showcase Below, the headline: L.O.L. Below, a subhead: Lots Of Learning: a comedy workshop Next, the session date: 16–17 June Next, a circular window, framing a portrait of the presenter, and a name: Aditi Mittal And below that, a descriptor: Comedian, actor, writer, teacher Below, at centre, the logotype for The Goa Project Sessions, which has the words ‘The Goa Project’ in white text next to a stylised sunset-and-water image, and next to that, the word ‘Sessions’ within a stylised video camera image. In a black strip at the bottom: Once every four weeks on Sundays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. IST, on Zoom.

Next in our open platform showcase series: an open mic for amateur stand-up comedians. The best submissions get a feedback and tips session with an expert mentor, Aditi Mittal, before they take their turn at the mic.
Read all about it: thegoaproject.wordpress.com/2025/06/02/l...

This is tomorrow, 5:30 pm IST.

Come join us today, 5:30 p.m. IST, to see what the selected photographers have shot for our open gallery. bit.ly/TGPSessions

A quick note to say that we extended the deadline to 23rd May.

Do you make good photographs, but don’t think you know enough yet?

Why not submit to our open gallery, where we also have a couple of experts lined up to offer you feedback and tips?

On a yellow background, a faint wave pattern runs down the right side. On top, in a yellow rectangle: Showcase Below, the headline: Exposure Below, a subhead: An open gallery for photographers Next, the session date: 1 June Next, a circular window, and a name: You And below that, a descriptor: A photography enthusiast Below, at centre, the logotype for The Goa Project Sessions, which has the words ‘The Goa Project’ in white text next to a stylised sunset-and-water image, and next to that, the word ‘Sessions’ within a stylised video camera image. In a black strip at the bottom: Once every four weeks on Sundays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. IST, on Zoom.

On a yellow background, a faint wave pattern runs down the right side. On top, in a yellow rectangle: Showcase Below, the headline: Focus group Below, a subhead: A mentored session on street photography Next, the session date: 24 May Next, a pair of circular windows, and two names: Gopal MS & Bharath Moro And below that, a descriptor: Photographers Below, at centre, the logotype for The Goa Project Sessions, which has the words ‘The Goa Project’ in white text next to a stylised sunset-and-water image, and next to that, the word ‘Sessions’ within a stylised video camera image. In a black strip at the bottom: Once every four weeks on Sundays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. IST, on Zoom.

Next in our series: an ‘open gallery’ for early-career and amateur photographers.

Plus a new element: a feedback session with experts before the open gallery.

Our mentors are @mumbaipaused.bsky.social and Bharath Moro.
Read all about it at thegoaproject.wordpress.com/2025/05/14/e...

Aside from our open gallery registrants, we have a couple of chats on the artist life with Rajiv Eipe and Aarohi Singh.
Please register at bit.ly/TGPSessions and join us at 5:30 p.m. IST.

We have kept our submission form open because we still have space for a few more.

Poetry-loving folx in the MMR, come join us?

Monday, 28th.
Come.
Register on the spot.

At the TGP Sessions, we’re doing an open gallery — like an open mic, but for visual artists — and want to feature artists at the early stages of their careers and dedicated amateurs too.
Please help us reach more people?
thegoaproject.wordpress.com/2025/04/18/s...

A Taxonomy of Middleware: How User Tools Can Improve Social Media - Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure at UMass Amherst Social media platforms have proven to provide users with a space to connect that is non-existent in the physical world. However, users struggle with mental health concerns, disinformation, and more. S...

Super excited to have my research, "A Taxonomy of Middleware: How User Tools Can Improve Social Media," published on the @idpiumass.bsky.social (initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure) website!

Check it out with the link below: publicinfrastructure.org/2025/04/23/a...

For Earth Day, here are some readings from our archives of poems with an environmental theme.

On a yellow background, a faint wave pattern runs down the right side. On top, in a yellow rectangle: Showcase Below, the headline: Screen share Below, a subhead: An open gallery for visual artists Next, the session date: 4 May Next, a circular window, and a name: You And below that, a descriptor: An up-and-coming artist Below, at centre, the logotype for The Goa Project Sessions, which has the words ‘The Goa Project’ in white text next to a stylised sunset-and-water image, and next to that, the word ‘Sessions’ within a stylised video camera image. In a black strip at the bottom: Once every four weeks on Sundays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. IST, on Zoom.

We continue our series of open platforms for early- to mid-career practitioners. After poets, storytellers, and musicians, the next one is for visual artists.
Please see thegoaproject.wordpress.com/2025/04/18/s...
And don’t forget to register! bit.ly/TGPSessions