Secret Of Rainforests

In a rainforest the ground cover receives only filtered sunlight. Whereas plants in the middle growing from branches of trees get more share of light. They get light but not as much as trees at the crown. These tree canopies receive sunshine directly from sunrise to sundown. If the ground cover and plant life on the middle were to survive they would require the wind to do its job. The wind has been at work for months and years striking the canopies together gradually wearing away here and there, letting more sunshine in. In time there may, by a gust of wind some trees shall be sent down, clearing the way for the ground cover to survive; fire also does its own bit. These are not disasters but Nature’s way of clearing the old and useless so the rainforests may still flourish. Happiness of trees is thus regardless of age or external circumstances; in the knowledge that their absence or death is in the nature of things.
Do we call the wind as cruel? Or blame the trees for denying the ground cover adequate sunlight?
If winds did cast their seeds to create a forest elsewhere their falling ought not seem such a disaster. Man who understands his role similarly shall learn to accept his position and take comfort. He gives his best shot at all times because life offers him opportunities; he is aware that success or failure is outside his control. (He is wise because his strategy is to work with what is in his control.) Happiness for him is beyond external circumstances but made secure as part of the living.
benny

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Who Is Kidding Who?

Think of democracy as government of the people by the people and for the people. If that is the case how come the rich become super-rich and the poor become poorer?

benny

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Illustrating Arabian Nights

Tales From One Thousand and One Night

Currently I am illustrating the stories from Burton’s classic.
It is a venture I have tried earlier in the 70s and 80s.
The illustrations are taken from the first episode titled The Tale of Two brothers from which rest of the tales evolve. Perhaps I may be able to collect them all into a series of graphic books. Richard Burton’s translation is in 16 volumes and the stories are on a grand scale with wealth of characters and locales to put off any one who hopes to complete the project in a lifetime. Well I shall never know unless I give it a try.
The first illustration shows King Shahriar, the misogynous elder brother.

Second is titled Two Brothers Meet and the last one shows Shaherazad On Her First Night.
benny

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Press Here

A fellow who regularly took part in Mardi Gras was once brought before the Judge for ‘crimes against the State’. Before sentencing him the Judge asked him if he had any last wish. “Ah I wish to give a performance of a lifetime, get me a good press and an appreciative audience.”
“Appreciative audience? And a good press?” the judge exclaimed, ”These are not in my power to give.” He ordered for the rack instead.
benny

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Stories For Dudes

A World Of Illusions

In one of the Central African states the government was hard pressed by rebels. The rebels wanted to takeover the diamond mines that the President of the Republic held in monopoly. “ I am the State!” cried the President and he passed more strict rules to keep his government secure.
In such a violent condition both parties began recruiting child soldiers. Akomo a child volunteered immediately. When he was warned his childhood might not last longer he laughed it outright. ‘ I shall enjoy it after I played soldier!’ He knew he was fighting with real bullets that went bang, bang, left and right. While his classmates escaped to the comfort of distant relatives who all lived out of harm’s way he stayed back. He said such flight was rank cowardice. “ I will come back to my childhood tomorrow or in near future.”
It was an illusion that Akomo came to realize too late. By the time Akomo was discharged he had lost the use of his limbs and the will to live.
* We live in a world where everything changes. Any one who forgets to take note of today lives in a fools’ paradise where illusion is the rule of Law.

benny

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Stories For Dudes

Mr. Success and the Stranger

Mr. Success went through cities in a carriage drawn by Hard Work, Grit, Chance and Luck, four sturdy fellows of pleasant features. One day as he came into a city the crowd as usual came to him dazzled by his person; they wanted to touch him and be seen with him. They sure adored Mr. Success. They asked him for advice but he did not answer them. His attention was drawn to one who stood apart from them. After observing how they ignored him, Mr. Success called him up and said with a grin, “ Pardon me, it seems the folks avoid you like a plague.”
“Well, they are so taken up with you.” “ But I don’ t oblige all.” Replied Mr. Success.
“ Isn’t it a shame?” asked the stranger,“ I am related to all of them, yet claimed by none.”
“ Who are you?” Mr. Success asked.“ Death,” Said the stranger.

benny

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Critic’s Choice

CRITIC’S CHOICE.

Supposing newspapers were available in the days of Nero, the morning after the Emperor’s abortive attempt to burn down the Capitol, would have witnessed in the Senate Hall a scene on the lines given below, more or less.
Waving a newspaper Nero growls in the best traditions of a student of Rhetoric: “I feel almost tainted by the scurrilous piece of writing!” A pause. Nero continues: “Look, it smacks of the underground press.”
Before an attentive body of senators in varying degrees of corruption, he sniffs his nose in disgust and adds: “An infamous rag which goes by the name of ‘The Christian Monitor’. What it insinuates is too much for a sensitive soul to bear!”
One senator: “Ave Caesar! ‘Roman Tribune’ is no better. Did you read its editorial? What a gall to run down your policies!” Quoting from the article in question he adds: “The Emperor needs to check his burning enthusiasm for creating a brave new world, which only encourages divisive forces at work….”
Shaking his neronic locks of which he was unduly proud of, Caesar interrupts: “Bah! A conservative paper funded by the patricians! One cannot expect them to smell bacon when it is done to a turn.”
“Ah, here it is!” Nero nearly leaps with joy, “One column in this is worth all the trouble! What a sensitive piece of writing!” He has a tabloid in his hands now. “Read, you must Gaius.” he exclaims, tugging at the sleeve of a portly senator. “My lyre-recital has been well received by the music critic of ‘La Scala’. By Jove I already feel deified!
benny

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A Fool Is A Wiseman…

A Fool Is A Wiseman (Who just missed the bus)
‘Mad’ Max was designated as the biggest fool who ever lived in a town with a curious name Pie-In-The-Sky. As soon as he learned to assemble a refrigerator he knew he wanted to sell one. So he took off to the North Pole. But the Inuit didn’t buy a single one and he died a very poor man. All that he left behind was some ice boxes and a technical manual.
On the other hand Dr. Faustus having made a pact with the devil became the most celebrated scholar who knew everything that went under the Sun, which passed for knowledge. How the crowned heads and scholars alike feted him! Then came the computers that made him redundant. He died in grief. He said that a machine beat him. Yes.
The world went a-changing! Then came a thaw and ice melted. The polar caps vanished as an icicle in a furnace. The people in Nunavut learnt to live with the climate changes. Then someone found the papers of ‘Mad’ Max and it was a discovery that electrified the whole region. They learnt to make fridges themselves and control their houses to the right temperature. Who contributed to the welfare of the world more? A fool or a scholar?

(selected from Sufficient Unto This Day: Introduction p.11-12 http://www.lulu.com/content/416344)

benny

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Stories For Dudes

CREDIBILITY GAP ©

While reviewing the balance sheet of his rule, the dictator of a South American republic realised there had been double entries all through.
“Where is the accountant?” cried the ex-bookkeeper of a Banana Exporting Company. A general, mustachioed and bristling with medals who looked more like a pineapple than a banana hurried to the chief. When informed of the errors, the Accountant-General of the Republic in well-oiled tones said: “Your Excellency, our request for aid on soft terms is coming up shortly before the Global Aid Panel. They ought to be given one set. The other is for people. If GAP passes it, none will bother us any further.”
“But are you sure GAP will accept our balance sheet as it is?” the dictator asked anxiously. “It all depends, your Excellency, on the ledger books of GAP there is a fifth column, which is overlooked by developing nations in their eagerness for credit. There hangs our economy!”
benny

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Stories For Dudes

Labor vs. Capital ©

In one of those South American republics where Military Junta ruled one after the other, a dictator came to the end of his tether. He asked the new dictator a safe passage for him to live abroad.  When he proposed Las Vegas his successor demurred.
“You cannot have any objection to my gambling?” asked the loser.” You gambled all through your career, lives of your soldiers. I promoted you out of turn to a colonel’s rank and you lost quite a few wars. Did I mind that?”
“ Well,” replied the new dictator, “ what I gambled was with labor, cheap labor. What you are now proposing to do is, gamble with the capital. The republic may not survive if you have had your way.”

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