Boycotting Red in West Bengal

There once lived a smarty who said,
"We must boycott everything red.
I strongly advise,
Against CPM ties,
Be careful, dear folks, who you wed."

"So henceforth we Bongs, won't have red.
Even colour of blood, will instead
Be re-dyed bright blue
(None other will do)
For you see, we are doubtless purebred!"

"Neither saree, nor sindoor, nor bangle
Should be red -- it's the CPM angle.
The colour we'll rout,
From our palette, no doubt,
It is Marxist -- we must disentangle"

India Today 16/04/2012: West Bengal - State food supplies minister Jyotipriyo Mallick issued a diktat ordering his party members to socially boycott the CPM in Bengal. The startling remarks came as Mallick, at a public rally in Kolkata's adjoining North 24-Parganas' Habra area, asked Trinamool members not to have marital ties with the family members of any CPM leader or activist. Get the story here

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/socially-boycott-cpm-in-bengal-appeals-trinamool-minister/1/184750.html

Daisy who?

"My memory", he said, "maybe hazy,
But to date unknown actors like Daisy?
If you really must know,
I will never stoop so low,
As to propose to a struggler - that's crazy!"

6th May, 2009: Indian Cricketer Sreesanth denies rumors of romancing a little-known actress, Daisy Bopanna. Get the story here

The art of currying favor with the boss

At the workplace, you've oft come across
Those who constantly butter the boss.
You may turn up your nose,
But a new study shows,
It's a matter of profit and loss.

Reuters 14/04/09: Workers "sucking up" is bad for business, says experts - By Ellen Wulfhorst. Get the story here

In case you now would like to learn this skill, here are some pointers: 1, 2 & 3. Happy buttering!

It's a Jolie good affair, this!

"This Jen will get my Brad to stray"
Thought Jolie with shock and dismay.
"And I have a hunch
That it's more than mere lunch--"
What goes around, comes around, ay?

Entertainmentwise 07/04/09: Angelina Jolie Furious Over Jennifer Aniston And Brad Pitt's Cosy Lunch? Get the story here

On domestic violence

Domestic abuse -- it is hell.
It's violence that we have to quell*.
Help bring to a halt,
This in-home assault -
Just go ahead, ring that door bell!



Here is a message from Breakthrough asking everyone, both men and women, to get involved in their Bell Bajao campaign.

We're writing to call on you to get involved in our campaign, Bell Bajao (Ring the Bell), calling on men and boys to join women in bringing domestic violence to a halt.
As you know, Bell Bajao, has been already reached millions across India and is encouraging unprecedented engagement on the ground. We want YOU to be part of the action to promote women's rights.
Breakthrough is celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8, by celebrating all those who are speaking out, through their actions, their beliefs, their music or art. Join the blog action week from March 2 - 8 on http://www.bellbajao.org/blog.php and tell us your stories. Write about those people who support women’s rights either through their passion, their work or in their personal lives. Stories can include photographs, videos and other visual elements to be posted online. Do include a short description of yourself as well (name, age, location, any additional details). You'll be joining some amazing male leaders like Bollywood actor and Bell Bajao ambassador Boman Irani http://www.bellbajao.org/flim_details.php?id=127 . Notable author and former UN Undersecretary General Shashi Tharoor is writing...Fashion designer Sandeep Khosla is talking…Bell Bajao campaign creator Zenobia Pithawalla speaks out…Ad film director Bauddhayan Mukerji frames his views...Copywriter Ryan Mendonca crafts lines...activist Harish Sadani is taking a stand on The Bell Bajao Blog http://www.bellbajao.org/blog.php.
So join Breakthrough in bringing domestic violence to a halt! Bell Bajao !

This is undoubtedly a good initiative and warrants active support. However, in my mind, domestic violence is NOT only about violence against women. It could be violence against men (yes, it happens), children or the elderly.We need to work towards alleviating all forms of family violence and make the home a safe haven for the people living in it. Help STOP all forms domestic violence. RING THE BELL!

*Quell = stamp out

Will the real Dutt please stand up?

I.
Just who is that man flying high?
None other than our Munnabhai
The actor turns 'neta',
'Khalnayak' to 'Vijeta'--
By talking Gandhigiri -- what a guy!

The Hindu 18/01/09: LUCKNOW: Ending speculation about his entry into politics, film actor Sanjay Dutt was on Saturday presented to the people of Lucknow by the Samajwadi Party as its candidate for this year’s Lok Sabha elections.The actor responded saying that ‘Gandhigiri’ would be his election agenda and he would endeavour to carry forward the political legacy of his late father, Sunil Dutt. Get the story here

II.
Said Munna, "I swear on my life,
My sister just can't stand my wife.
Now my partner and me,
We're the true Dutts you see,
And that's what is causing the strife!"

TOI 19/01/09: No sister gets along with her brother's wife, say's Dutt. Get the story here

When nagging does you a world of good

Now here is a lesson, you guys.
When wife nags, don't grumble; be wise.
Whatever the tasks,
Go do as she asks-
And you too may just win that prize!

Yahoo News 09.12.08: A "nagging" wife who pushed her husband to buy a lottery ticket helped scoop the $4.2 million ($7.7 million New Zealand dollar) first prize — with only minutes to spare. Get the story here

Sugar daddy

A lass tells her hubby, "Hey lad,
Am leaving, but don't you feel bad.
For your competition,
Is an older edition,
Of you, my dear - Yes! It's your dad!"

MSN News 17/11/08: Woman dumps hubby, kids for his father. Get the story here

Much married

The honored judge let out a roar;
"86 wives at age eighty-four?
It takes a single belle,
To make man’s life hell -
At the most, I will let you keep 4!"


But now, the 86 wives are protesting. Get the story here

A time to heel

If your love life no longer appeals
And you're bored, a new study reveals,
My dear girls, don't despair,
Go on, change your footwear -
Get the spark back in life, with high heels!


TOI 07/02/08: The sight of stilettos may shoot up a man's libido. But, if a study is to be believed, wearing the high-heel shoes can boost a woman's sexual desire. Read more about it here

And then there was love

Mad Kane is offering some themes on which to write limericks and haikus on her humor blog. Today's theme is love at first sight or, simply love.

So, here is one on love.


My great-grand mom always opined;
"If love at first sight you should find,
You must be on guard,
And stare long and hard,
Before you can make up your mind.

For love at first sight may be blind,
And could turn out bitter like rind.
So to find a true love,
Keep eyes open, my dove,
And surely you'll land the right kind!"

Breaking up

Relationship's soured, can't mend it?
But too scared to face up and end it?
Then whip out your cell
And type in "FAREWELL!
WE ARE OVER AND DONE" - now send it.

Yahoo News 14/12/07:Lovers turn to text message to say it's over. Read the story here

For Rezwanur: Let the "andar ki baat" see light of day

A young pair decided to wed,
The bride's dad in anger saw red.
(For there was a catch.
Their backgrounds didn't match.)
And soon, the young man, he was dead.

O how did he die? Was he slain?
Did he end his life under a train?
Let truth come to light
In Rezwanur's fight
And may he have not died in vain.

TOI 09/10/07: CPM veteran Jyoti Basu may be keeping up the heat in the Rizwanur Rahman case, demanding stern action against police officers, but the administration is doing little to speed up the probe into the death of the 30-year-old graphic designer. Get the story here

For those who are not aware of the Rizwanur case, here is a short background

*'andar ki baat', or 'the inside story' is the tagline of the Lux Cozi, an innerwear brand owned by Ashok Todi, father of the bride.

A wife's complaint

"From the time that my love and I married,"
Said the wife, looking tired and harried,
"My once helpful mate,
Stopped pulling his weight,
And his share of the housework he parried!"

Woman, do you have complaints that your husband does little to help you around the house? That the helpful boyfriend you married, the one who used to jump up and rush to the kitchen to help you with the dishes in those good old live-in days, is now glued to the TV and does little else?

Well, lady you can take heart, you are not alone. It's a global truth! Don't believe me, check this out.

:D

breaking up ain't so bad after all

So you and your girl plan to breakup?
You're dreading the heart break? The shake up?
Well this survey here,
Gives you reason to cheer -
They say it's not bad once you wake up!


Yahoo news: Advice to the lovelorn: you will survive. Get the story here

These research topics never fail to amaze me!

No kidding!

The old man said, "It's my desire
That 100 plus kids I should sire,
I've fathered, till date,
Some seventy-eight,
O get me more wives - loin's on fire!"

CNN.com 20/08/07: Father of 78 aims for 100 children. Get the story here

Vegan love

When a vegan boy's lady love said:
"Listen, why don't we curl up in bed?"
The poor chappie sighed,
"No, I can't," he replied,
"When I see you, I think of the dead!"


Yahoo news 31/07/07:Vegans shun sex with carnivores, says researcher. Get the story here

There is no dearth of researchable topics, it seems :P

Exposure

In Rajkot, the moral cops quip,
"Our culture's at stake, crack the whip!
Ill-treating our wives,
Is a part of our lives -
How dare this babe protest and strip?"

IBNLive 13/07/07: On July 6, a young woman in Rajkot protested dowry harassment by walking semi-nude on the city streets.Twenty-two-year-old Pooja Chauhan hit headlines after she took to the shocking form of protest alleging torture by her in-laws and husband, embarrassing the police into filing a dowry harassment case under the Domestic Violence Act. But now there’s a fresh twist to the case. Get the story here


The other side of the coin:Now, husbands’ group comes to Pratap’s rescue

Freedom of expression

The menfolk have gone into shock
On hearing that women don't talk
More than their share;
Said one, "I could swear -
My better-half yaps round the clock!"

"16,000 words? That's a joke!"
I soon heard another man croak.
"My lips have been stitched,
Since the time I got hitched-
'I do', were the last words I spoke!"

ABC News 05.07.07: Study: Women Don't Talk More Than Men. Researchers Find That Both Sexes Speak About 16,000 Words a Day. Read about it here

The breastfeeding fatwa: It sucks!

The male workers let out a chuckle
"Mr. Ezzat should be firm and not buckle.
We are starting to drool,
At the thought of a rule,
Where every female colleague we can suckle!"

Reuters UK 21/05/07: Cairo's al-Azhar Islamic University on Monday suspended a lecturer who suggested that men and women work colleagues could use symbolic breastfeeding to get around a religious ban on being alone together. Read about it here

It seems there is a high buzz around this fatwa both in the blogworld and in nursing homes, where nursing is to take on a new meaning.

What a knocker!