The week in re(ar)view

Holidays coming again
Starting next Sunday we go on yet another unofficial holiday. These days seeing roads choked with traffic is starting to become an unexpected site instead. The norm is to see empty roads with people walking hand-in-hand through the middle and rickshaws ruling all thoroughfares.

People can say that Bangladesh is poor and corrupt and whatnot but they cannot say that we are not a joyous party loving people. CEC Aziz finally steps down from his beloved post and people continue with the day-long 'oborodh' as a sign of celebration over a victory. They could have simply called off the blockade but heck no, they needed the wide open streets to par-tay!

Funny pictures of the week:
It goes to show just how cool our political party dudes are when in these hectic times they take time out for going to parties. On November 24, a bunch of in-service senior civil servants went to party hosted by former energy advisor Mahmudur Rahman. Many see this as a possible attempt at election engineering. Usually and word followed by engineering means good and hints at progress. This time the meaning is 'bad'.

Now if you are going to a party, you should be dressed in bright clothes, have intoxicating drinks in hand and puke on someone's car. What these conspiratorial dudes were doing was they started running like the proverbial cockroaches do when you turn on the kitchen light in the middle of the night. The moment reporters turned up these service-men started running helter-skelter hiding their facers behind their hand and in their armpits. Damn journalists don't even let people enjoy their parties.

Self appointed kings
This is one cool act of power play going on. Everybody can do everything. Election Commissioner Justice Mahfuzur Rahman authorized himself on 23 November to become CEC (that's 'Chief” before the EC). All this without conferring the president as it should be done according to former CEC's.

But there's nothing to say about that when the President himself ends up becoming Chief Advisor without any heed to proper procedures. We have decided to become joint kings of the nation starting the day all you lowly peasants read this article.

By Gokhra and Mood Dude

AQUADEXTROUS (ak wa deks' trus) adj. Possessing the ability to turn the bathtub faucet on and off with your toes.

CARPERPETUATION (kar' pur pet u a shun) n. The act, when vacuuming, of running over a string or a piece of lint at least a dozen times, reaching over and picking it up, examining it, then putting it back down to give the vacuum one more chance.

DISCONFECT (dis kon fekt') v. To sterilise the piece of candy you dropped on the floor by blowing on it, assuming this will somehow `remove' all the germs.

ELBONICS (el bon' iks) n. The actions of two people manoeuvring for one armrest in a movie theatre.

FRUST (frust) n. The small line of debris that refuses to be swept onto the dust pan and keeps backing a person across the room until he finally decides to give up and sweep it under the rug.

LACTOMANGULATION (lak' to man gyu lay' shun) n. Manhandling the "open here" spout on a milk container so badly that one has to resort to the `illegal' side.

PEPPIER (pehp ee ay') n. The waiter at a fancy restaurant whose sole purpose seems to be walking around asking diners if they want ground pepper. PHONESIA (fo nee' zhuh) n. The affliction of dialling a phone number and forgetting whom you were calling just as they answer.

PUPKUS (pup' kus) n. The moist residue left on a window after a dog presses its nose to it.

TELECRASTINATION (tel e kras tin ay' shun) n. The act of always letting the phone ring at least twice before you pick it up, even when you're only six inches away.

Gone are the days when teenagers were expected to adhere to their textbooks- aka, the days of all study, no play. Today, we see youngsters supplementing their academics with work, volunteer and social activities. This is the proactive generation, exuding enthusiasm and effusing exuberance. Chetona is a proof of just that.

Chetona is a student organization that focuses on social welfare and charity. Its primary aim is to raise fund for various social causes (such as the elevation of poverty) as well as induce awareness among the young people themselves.

Amongst its previous achievements, Chetona boasts selling T-shirts to raise funds for 820 poverty-stricken families in Kurigram last year.

Moreover, it has worked to raise awareness regarding water-logging in Jessore, with the program titled "Vobodoho". Other notable activities of the organization include the hosting of a free medical camp for 600 patients, and distributing education materials to 3500 primary students in Monirampur.

As for its next venture, Chetona is embarking on a program to collect warm clothes from donors, and dispense them among the poverty-stricken families in Kurigram.

For now, it is open to students who are interested in being a part of the change. Members must be above the age of 15, and be a full time or part time student of a recognised school, college or university.
For further information, please contact: 0152330858

By Shahmuddin Ahmed Siddiky

One- liners

My favorite mythical creature? The honest politician.
Anybody that wants the presidency so much that he would spend two years campaigning and organizing for it should not be trusted with the office.

The president of a democracy is a man who is always ready, willing and able to lay down your life for his country

The wind is blowing now
Running its fingers
Through the sea of grass in the mountainside
I can't see the wind;
But I wish I could.
Your shoulder feels warm as I lean on
You wrap one arm around me,
Tonight, not for once have I turned,
To see your face.
I know you are here; it's all that matters
It's an assurance,
Beyond words or writing.
The wind creates mad ripples
Through the sea of green...
The mountains are quiet, waiting;
The stars:
Bright enough to light the way
Yet dim enough to hide us both.
I keep my eyes fixed
On the landscape; so proud
Of its artist..
For every canvas, we ever painted
Are matchless to the glimpses
Of a world,
Beyond the world itself.
The moment itself is defining
I no longer wish:
To see the wind,
Or for anything at all...

by Tausif Salim

Only for your heart

Let lanterns be lit
Along your path,
White petals be bathed
Each step apart,
Let rose water scent
The corridors of your heart,
The moon be-gone
From the pond by the stairs,
And each dew drop be warm
As dawn comes near…
For I will shower you
With my hidden tears
Shed silently on every sight
Of the moon, of rain
Of music tales
Of walks by the ponds
Of memories that we hold.
Be it in tears, or rain
Or music or pain
I will shower you
With every bit of my love
That I store so tenderly
Only for your heart.

By Adnan M. S. Fakir

GEORGE WASHINGTON'S MOTHER: "The next time I catch you throwing money across the Potomac, you can kiss your allowance good-bye!"

JONAH'S MOTHER: "That's a nice story, but now tell me where you've really been for the past 3 days!"

SUPERMAN'S MOTHER: "Clark, your father and I have discussed it, and we've decided you can have your own telephone line. Now will you quit spending so much time in all those phone booths!"

THOMAS EDISON'S MOTHER: "Of course I'm proud that you invented the electric light bulb, dear. Now turn off that light and get to bed!"