Tongue in Cheek Guardian

I was reading the Guardian Books section (yes, i have to drop names just to try and pass off as belonging to the intellectual gentry) when I saw this tongue-in-cheek ad on the page.


I loved the "Go on George, its free" line in the third column best :-)
[click on the image, you can see it better]

Somethings Never Change

I came across this excerpt while reading Count Belisarius by Robert Graves -

" It is a well known that almost everyone in the world is discontented with his trade or profession. The farmer would like to be an emperor, the Emperor would like to plant cabbages; the lean captain of a trading vessel envies the big paunched wine shop proprietor - who returns the envy dissatisfied with his stay-at-home life."

That was during the 6th century Roman Empire. It holds true even today.  I suppose some things never change.

Some Help for Monday Mornings

Jayesh replied to my post "Monday Mornings" in the following way -

"Suggested happy thoughts just for Monday mornings:
(1) Your boss might be on vacation / call in sick / get hit by a falling aeroplane
(2) You will be promoted today to President from Vice-President (in charge of Photocopying, Faxing, Taxibooking & Getting Yelled At By Painful Clients)
(3) they have replenished the coffee in the vending machine
(4) Friday is JUST 5 days away
(5) Retirement is JUST 35 years away
(6) Your zodiac forecast says that you just might travel to Cambodia in two weeks with some really really cool people"

:-)

Why Are Men So Exasperating?

I wore this very 'Abercrombie & Fitch' sorta purple skirt that has this very gunny-sack, ragged and faded feel to it. My grandmother definitely wouldnt have like it. In fact she would have pointed out that her maid wears better rags than that.

Anyhoo, I was feeling very attractive in this skirt, and needed some feedback. If you havent already noticed, i need constant feedback from the men in my life. So, I approached the single most important male figure in my life, my dad. He was (you guessed it), watching news.

Me: Dad?
Dad: Uh huh.
Me: Dad, am I looking pretty?
Dad [without giving me a glance]: Uh huh
Me[whining]: Daaaaaaad
Dad[looking up]: Uh huh?
Me [doing a pirouette]: Dad, look! Look! Am I looking pretty in this skirt?
Dad [slightly puzzled]: Come a little closer.
Me[pirouetting some more]: See, its pretty, innit?
Dad [puzzled]:  you are wearing it inside out. All the thread and seams are on the outside showing.
Me[blinking]:Dad, its supposed to be that way. Its the design
Dad [more puzzled]: Eh? You mean its supposed to be worn inside out?
Me[patiently]: Dad, i aint wearing it inside out. Its the design.
Dad[even more puzzled]: You mean they instruct you to wear it inside out?
Me[accusingly]: YOU have no clue about the current fashions.
Dad[mumbling and grumbling ]: Well, i dont rightly understand rags that are being passed off as clothes these days. Not even our village beggar used to wear such  rags.
Me[sulkingly]: So, I am not pretty is it? Thats it, innit?
Dad[grudgingly]: Well in spite of wearing the rag inside out, you look alright I suppose.
Me[considerably cheering up]: Promise?
Dad[resuming watching news]: uh-huh
Me: ....blah blah blah....

But, honestly, why are men so exasperating?

'Seven Social Sins'

Food for thought :

"Politics without principle,
wealth without work,
commerce without morality,
pleasure without conscience,
education without character,
science without humanity,
and worship without sacrifice."

~ MK Gandhi

Monday Mornings

Monday mornings are such ghastly, hateful things.How does one survive 'em?
Call in sick and stare at the ceiling for ages? Take urgent leave and sleep in? Stay at home and watch reruns of Days of Our Lives? Quit the job and become a gardener?

There needs to be one thought, one damn happy, inspiring thought that should make it worth while to endure a Monday. One happy thought. What could it be?

Why did so many Nazis flee to Argentina?

Why Argentina? Well, number of reasons. But simplistically speaking, here are 1-2-3 -

1. Many Germans began to migrate to South Am since the 19th century. So, the SS men/ fugitives could integrate with the community there without raising any suspicions.

2. Although Argentina declared that she was neutral, Juan Peron, the then President during WWII was a known Nazi sympathiser.

3. Argentinian extradition laws are pretty rigid. Getting a fugitive extradited from Argentina is a Herculean task. Historically speaking, South American governments like Chile, Argentina, etc were always bogged by one coup or the other. Leaders often flee to neighbouring countries for political asylum or otherwise. Hence, South Am countries as a general rule have very strict extradition laws that seem to 'protect' fugitives. Think about it - You are President John Doe of a South Am country. You allow President Bud Joe who escaped to your country after a coup to be extradited to his Country C where he will be imprisoned or dropped into the Pacific. But, it might be your turn a few years down the lane. So you rather not rub Country C's allies or even some party in Country C in the wrong way. This results in an extradition culture that could sometimes provide a haven to Jack the Rippers and Son of Sam and so on..

"Oh! Sun, Oh! Land."

Aye, its "Land Ahoy!"
The leak has been plugged. I sailed the high seas and am back on land.
I can safely say, that I have a lot of time to bore you all till the paint peels from the wall.