Sometimes its better to just shut up and sit quietly!

To combat the Energy crisis that the world is forced to face, the Indian goverment has decided to re-introduce load-shedding. In other words called power cuts. I hate the very idea of it, but no I'm not one to complain as I do realize the whole project is done in common interest of the nation and its future generations.

Now the authorities have also asked the citizens to cooperate in the mission by using electricity judiciously, which in other words means "turn off the damn computer when you are not at your desk and go easy on the AC”

Few days back the electricity board people in my locality forgot to switch off the street lights in the morning. Now a normal person with normal problems in life would've ignored this and continued with the chaos of the day. But not my neighbor.

My neighbor who is a man of right values decided to do something about this. He like a true hero called up the electricity board and notified them on the same. So what do you expect from such an act, I'll say maybe reward him with no power cuts in his house for a couple of days. No, the electricity board thought differently, they decided to punish my neighbor and his whole neighborhood for their stupidity.

Yes they instead of just turning off the street lights, cut out the electricity of the whole locality for the next 5 hours. 5 hours for gods sake, I don't know how I survived it. I mean with no computer or T.V (yeah I know I sound like a moronic slave to technology, but it was too sunny to go outdoors and I wasn't in the mood to read books).

My mom was upset cause she couldn't use the mixer to grind something she needed for a new recipe. My dad wasn't at home when the tragedy happened, though he won't admit it I sense it was good news to him (the logic is lesser the electricity used, lesser the bill he has to pay).

A Family in the neighborhood was renovating their house, they were using some electricity run. Hi-Tech machine to saw a portion of their staircase, this had to be kept on hold due to the power failure. Similarly every house had an interesting sob story because of the cursed power cut.

So I'm just wondering if the damn government was so irresponsible how did they expect us to act. What was going through their mind when they played this lame joke. Maybe they were laughing at us this time, but only to ensure that next time their pee brains with automatic controls forgot to do something they ought to the people who suffered the wounds on this fatal day wasn't going to notify them if it posed any threat to their existence.

In between all this I wondered what the 'Hero' was doing, did he regret the call? Did he try calling them again? Would the incident transform him from the calm gentleman to the angry old man? I don't know. But I do know that next time I notice the governments power being wasted on the street lights in broad daylight the 1^st thing I 'll do is to call my neighbor and beg him not to repeat his heroic act!

Things to forget this ONAM

This Onam I shall forget my poverty stricken and malnourished fellowmen and instead I shall spend generously on the 'ONASADYA'.

This Onam I shall forget the stink from the overflowing garbage dumps and instead I shall Enjoy the fragrance of the beautiful flowers that make up the 'POOKALAM'.

This Onam I shall forget the doors i have double locked for the fear of thieves and beggars and instead i shall leave it wide open for 'Mr. MAHABALI' to visit me.

This Onam I shall forget the political differences within the State and instead shall enjoy the Fake Communial harmony that fills the air.

This Onam I shall forget my Tee-Shirts that fills my wardrobe and instead I shall dress up in my 'ONAKODI'.

This Onam I shall forget my fav Rock songs and instead I shall Enjoy the "ONAPATTU'.

But this Onam I shall not forget to remember that tomorrow I will have to return back to reality!

DUMBER THY STUDENTS, SMARTER THE TEACHER!

Today is teacher’s day. So this post is dedicated to the teacher-student relationship. I have to admit it’s not a post that puts teachers in the limelight. If any teacher of mine gets to read this, please take no offense, for this is just an observation I have made through all the years of student life. Since I, till very recently was a student myself I think it’s entirely appropriate for me to speak on behalf of the students.

Every teacher needs to be a good analyst, because a major portion of a teachers working (and non working) hours is spend analyzing. Analyzing students, analyzing answer papers, analyzing changes in the subject etc. etc. Now time to time they do a self analysis to see how good they are in the business of ‘passing on the education'. Most of them have their own mysterious techniques for this process. Many rate themselves based on their student’s performance, and strangely a few on the under performance of their students.

They make sure that it’s almost impossible for someone to pass their papers. They teach in frequencies much above their student’s levels, making points just clear enough for the students to realize that the teacher knows his/her stuff but never getting it themselves. This phenomenon is noticed even in the best institutes of the world, famous for their well-regarded teachers.

I wonder what makes teachers this way, is it the sadistic nature in them or a superiority complex (though I never understood that word, I mean why would you get a complex for being superior?). Maybe they do it to encourage students to try harder or make them realize they have a long way to go. But most often (I speak with experience) what happens is these teachers are considered a big joke by their students. Students think “Screw it, anyways he/she’s going to flunk me, so why bother”.

Well maybe seeing your students fall badly makes you feel better about yourself. The student community is all cheers for you and would love to spread your name world wide, but if only we could understand what you were really trying to say.

PS: I thank all my teachers who helped me become a better person.

Fantasy Mike

' Only in America can a cute black boy with a big fat nose turn into a delicate pretty white woman with no nose at all'. That was just one of the many jokes i have heard about the rightly labeled 'king of pop' Michael Jackson. So the half man-half woman turned 50 this Friday, and how did he choose to celebrate it? He spend the day watching cartoons at home with his 3 children. Not a party fit for king, but atleast the kids aren't complaining.

Michael is said to have had a very trying childhood, controlled by
his dominating father. But he is a perfect example of a child prodigy. At the tender age of 6 he was lead singer to the band 'Jackson 5' and the media has been religiously following his life since the 'ABC' days. the band even had a cartoon series on them at the time.

The boy grew up to be a world wide star. His albums like thriller, bad, dangerous were instant hits. The music industry grew with Michael, but not the boy inside him. His greatest regret to this day is missing out on a normal happy childhood, which he blames on his parents. To compensate this he decided never to grow up, to relive his childhood as an adult.

He got an estate for himself, named it 'Neverland', converted it into an amusement park and filled it with zoo animals. He was constantly seen hanging out with pre-teen boys (which was another reason for controversy in his life). During his brighter days there was no one even remotely qualified to beat him at his job. To top it all he married Lisa Marley Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley. oh what a lovely fairytale it all was, until...

His life was filled with controversy and rumors. Even at the peak of his career, during his 'thriller' days there talks of surgeries being done 'to lighten the skin'. There were alleged stories that he was taking female hormones to keep up the pitch and avoid facial hair. then later to reclaim his 'male' title he was rumored to have transplanted some hair to own a Goatee (i shudder think where he got the hair from).

Then there was the great controversy over the child molestation charges. This really broke his heart (or him?), he couldn't take the limelight anymore. It converted him into the whining, weeping, hurt, abused , misunderstood victim. his constantly shrinking nose, and skin that gets paler by the day never failed to get the attention it deserved. The time he decided to give his 11 month old son a peak into the wild, horrible world by dangling him off a hotel window didn't go well with child activists. The man has had it rough for more than a decade now. During his crazy days he was lovingly referred to a 'Wacko Jacko' by the media.

But all things apart i do remember the good old days. I remember the time when no party survived without Michael's music. I remember the time when dance meant Michael's moves especially the moon walk, I've seen a million people, professional dancers included who have tried to imitate the moon walk, but none have got close to the master. I remember the time my sister and myself used to scream every time his videos were shown on TV (and we were hardly 10 then) . I remember the days when people believed a skin problem caused his color change and even sympathized with him. I remember the days he came for interviews with that infectious smile, when he didnt have to cover his nose (which is almost non-existent now) during public appearances. The days he had hit after hit, broke record sales and let his music do the talking.

So on his 50th birthday i was expecting him to do something crazy but predictable. Maybe come out with a new album or adopt a child or announce a world tour. But no, as usual he stunts us by doing something very unstar like by spending time with his kids. But the funny part is even that is news. Well what to say except that michael you never stop to amuse us, whether intentionally or unintentionally.