Brain Exercise

Exercise of the brain is as important as exercise of the muscles. As we grow older, it's important that we keep mentally alert. The saying: "If you don't use it, you will lose it" also applies to the brain.
Below is a very private way to gage your loss or non-loss of intelligence. So take the following test presented here and determine if you are losing it or are still a MENSA candidate. OK, relax, clear your mind and . . . begin.
1. What do you put in a toaster?
The answer is bread. If you said "toast", then give up now and go do something else. Try not to hurt yourself. If you said, "bread", go to question 2.
2. Say "silk" five times. Now spell "silk". What do cows drink?
Answer: Cows drink water. If you said "milk", please do not attempt the next question. Your brain is obviously over stressed and may even overheat. It may be that you need to content yourself with reading something more appropriate such as "Children's World". If you said, "water" then proceed to question three.
3. If a red house is made from red bricks and a blue house is made from blue bricks and a pink house is made from pink bricks and a black house is made from black bricks, what is a greenhouse made from?
Answer: Greenhouses are made from glass. If you said "green bricks", what the heck are you still doing here reading these questions? If you said "glass", then go on to question four.
4. Twenty years ago, a plane is flying at 20,000 feet over Germany. If you will recall, Germany at the time was politically divided into West Germany and East Germany. Anyway, during the flight, TWO of the engines fail. The pilot, realizing that the last remaining engine is also failing, decides on a crash landing procedure. Unfortunately the engine fails before he has time and the plane crashes smack in the middle of "no man's land" between East Germany and West Germany. Where would you bury the survivors - East Germany or West Germany or in "no man's land"?
Answer: You don't, of course, bury survivors. If you said ANYTHING else, you are a real dunce and you must NEVER try to rescue anyone from a plane crash. Your efforts would not be appreciated. If you said, "Don't bury the survivors" then proceed to the next question.
5. If the hour hand on a clock moves 1/60th of a degree every minute then how many degrees will the hour hand move in one hour?
Answer: One degree. If you said "360 degrees" or anything other than "one degree", you are to be congratulated on getting this far, but you are obviously out of your league. Turn your pencil in and exit the room. Everyone else proceed to the final question.
6. Without using a calculator - You are driving a bus from Farmgate to Uttara. In Farmgate, 17 people get on the bus. In Mohakhali, six people get off the bus and nine people get on. In Banani, two people get off and four get on. In Uttara, 11 people get off and 16 people get on. On the way back in Banani, three people get off and five people get on. In Mohakhali again, six people get off and three get on. You then arrive at Farmgate again. What was the name of the bus driver?
Answer: Oh, for heaven sake! It was YOU, Read the first line!!!

Cool Adda

Location: Bashundhara.
Are you tired of the hectic life in Dhaka city? Are you tired of the chaotic traffic jams you have to go through everyday on your way to school or office? Need a break from all these to a place which is right here in Dhaka city?
I am not talking about going to any restaurants nor am I talking about going to any university campus. I ain't even talking about going to Fantasy Kingdom. The place about which I am talking about where you can get peace and serenity is Bashundhara. I am sure a lot of you know this place by know.
Bashundhara is going to be the next big thing in housing societies but what is left to be seen is when the time comes. No one know for sure now. The place is mostly occupied with empty plots with one or two houses scattered over the whole area. As the result the place is almost barren and hence you have your noiseless atmosphere.
Its is preferable to roam around the place in a rickshaw and the real atmosphere of Bashundara can be enjoyed. Me and my friends usually head off to a corner of Bashundara where there is nothing but empty plots. Check out the names of the roads and try remembering them all. It's a real jaw breaker.
What is more interesting is that many of the plots have sign boards stating "House TO-LET" or "Bari bhara hobe". It is interesting because there aren't any houses in those plots or even a mile from those plots. So it really makes you wonder where the houses are. I guess this is where the Invisible Man and his family lives.
You won't find any traffic jams, restaurants, fast food joints or any hi-fi shopping complex. It's a simple place with a simple atmosphere, so far.
Here are some recommendations for going to Bashundhara.
(i) Since the roads are empty most people go there to learn driving, don't go there often otherwise the "darwans" wont let you in and accuse of "TURRRRRNING", that's their way of pronouncing "training".
(ii) Go there when the weather is windy and cloudy. You will enjoy your time and have a relaxing experience. 100% guaranteed.
(iii) If you have the time check out International Standard School (ISD) and gasp at the place where kindergarten students pay around 20,000 + per month

By Ziad Bin Hyder

Rising Soap

real-life drama in the office

Episode Seven:
I'm sure EVERYONE'S heard of our in-house comic, the head honcho of hilarity…(drumroll) Hamdu Mia. He's been creating a lot of laughs the past few weeks that somehow didn't make it into Soap. Sad, sad oversight! So, to make up for all that, today's soap takes a look at what the guru of giggles has been up to over the past two weeks.
Scene I: Farewell party for Riyana, the A-twins and Alien-angel
The RS crew, with Shanaz Apu from LS as their supervisor, is seated at a table in a hotel near the Daily Star. While the girls are screaming for Mountain Dew, Hamdu Mia and Solitary Sniper are discussing their future prospects in the absence of the lady problem-solver, Riyana.

Hamdu Mia: "I think I ought to get the column…I've run a column before…"
Alex: "Yeah, 'Hamdu's Monthly Horoscope'…sure, that is winning proof of capability"
Solitary Sniper: "Look…no offense to Riyana, but don't you think most of the problems she dealt with could have been solved more effectively with a healthy dose of humor?"
Afreen (shuddering): "Knowing the kind of …err, bovine humor you possess, do you think it's safe to unleash you upon the innocent public?"
HM (leaning back with a satisfied sigh of reminiscence): "Ah, yes, the Qurbani Cow article…those were the good days…”
SS (slapping Alex on the shoulder): "I think Alex here's done a nice job of creating a stir, though."
HM (scoffing): "Bah…he's just one-controversy old. Give him some time, let him anger some important people, and then we'll talk."
Mood Dude: "Hmm…Hamdu, you sound like you could use some ritual of dominance that would ensure your supremacy in this field…"
SS: "Hey, that's not a bad idea, brother…what do you propose?"
(The two nuts put their heads together and whisper for a few minutes, before they break off with an air of achievement.)
HM: "We need a burping contest to show who's boss…"
Alex (grimacing): "Eughie! Count me out!"
SS (wistfully): "But…but…he needs a challenger!"
(Hero entry music)
MD: "I challenge Hamdu Mia!"
SS: "Let the belching begin!"
(The scene fades out as the unappetizing sounds commence. Just for the record, despite his valorous efforts, our hero Mood Dude had to bow down before the indomitable Hamdu Mia, whose winning burp lasted almost a whole minute.)
Scene II: RS office, the following week
In Episode Six, I had been one of the last people to come in to work, and missed the great meeting between The Character formerly known as Boycott Babe (TCFKABB) and the pop princess Soshma. I'd also missed the violent encounter between Mood Dude and Solitary Sniper. However, I got there just in time to catch a piece of Hamdu action.
HM: "Hey, Sabrina, how come you didn't mention my contest in your soap?
(This attack followed the more menacing one by TCFKABB over her nomenclature, so you can well imagine how intimidated I was)
HM: "What, my burp wasn't loud enough to burst your Rising Soap bubbles?"
(Sensing my plight, Mood Dude came to my rescue…honestly, I don't think I could've picked a better hero. Thanks, Riyana, for opening my eyes.)
MD: "Hey, Hamdu…did you check your mail today?"
HM (sitting down at the computer) "I don't believe this!"
SS: "What? Another love letter from your female fans?"
HM: "Fan mail, all right…but this one's from a guy…see, he calls himself "Gorgeous Guy"
Me: "Ooh…what does he want?"
HM: "He sent me a whole questionnaire…"
TCFKABB: "Lemme see…oh my God… 'What's your favorite color?' That's so…Popstars!"
While we were expostulating over this development, my soap-hungry gaze landed on Solitary Sniper, who was busy drawing up a layout for a new column.
Me: "What's going on, SS?"
SS: "Hamdu and I are replacing Riyana!"
DBB: "Says who?"
HM: "Hey, she's gone…someone needs to solve the problems…and TGND can't do more than copy and paste!"
TGND: "Excuse me?
SS (singing): 'Ctrl+C…Ctrl+V…" (looks at TGND's expression) "Right, I better get back to this…"
DBB (with an air of waning patience): "Let's see…a problem-solving column…run by Hamdu Mia and Solitary Sniper?"
HM (hopefully): "Yes?"
DBB: "ABSOLUTELY NOT!"
So ends this week's soap. If you're feeling bad for Hamdu, mail him and let him know. As for what happens to Page 2 now that "It's not your problems anymore" is gone, keep reading RS (both the magazine and this column) to find out…

By Sabrina F. Ahmad