'No Parking', no fine

Here's a 'Law and Order' curiosity: Does the law that we abide by apply for Police officers as well? Apparently, not always. It seems, as the picture shows, this officer parked his little bike on the no parking zone, as far as leaning it against the 'No Parking' sign and then making his way into the mall right in front of the place. So, it's a Friday and he needs to buy his wife some stuff and he is a man of the law, so why the hell fickle about parking space, when he can park right where no one else possibly will? He does that and goes on and this scene is right on the camera. But looking beyond the bike, it seems more private cars have derived example from the policeman as they too have parked where they shouldn't. This is such an everyday scene in Dhaka, especially in Dhanmondi, where the picture was taken, that one really shouldn't be surprised. But we would expect something subtle from men of the law, when flaunting their power, albeit the fact they are really careless. I should've handed him a parking fine, though he could've claimed to have parked to fine someone or save a life…yeah right, like that's believable!

By Osama Rahman

Goddess of Mercy

One of the deities most frequently seen on altars in China's temples is Quan Yin Quan Yin is loved rather than feared and is the model of Chinese beauty. Regarded by the Chinese as the goddess of mercy, she was originally male until the early part of the 12th century and has evolved since that time from her prototype, 'Avalokiteshvara', (the merciful lord of utter enlightenment) an Indian bodhisattva who chose to remain on earth to bring relief to the suffering rather than enjoy for himself the ecstasies of Nirvana. One of the several stories surrounding Quan Yin is that she was a Buddhist who through great love and sacrifice during life had earned the right to enter Nirvana after death. However, like Avlokiteshvara, while standing before the gates of Paradise she heard a cry of anguish from the earth below. Turning back to earth, she renounced her reward of bliss eternal but in its place found immortality in the hearts of the suffering.

She is also the goddess of fecundity. Worshipped especially by women, this goddess comforts the troubled, the sick, the lost, the senile and the unfortunate. Her popularity has grown such through the centuries that she is now also regarded as the protector of seafarers, farmers and travelers. She cares for souls in the underworld, and is invoked during post-burial rituals to free the soul of the deceased from the torments of purgatory.

In addition she is often referred to as the Goddess of the Southern Sea and has been compared to the Virgin Mary. She is one of the Three Great Beings, renowned for their power over the animal kingdom or the forces of nature. Quan Yin is a shortened form of a name that means 'One Who Sees and Hears the Cry from the Human World'. So Quan Yin is not only beautiful physically, her inner self is exquisite also.

By Nishita Aurnab

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Laff Lines

The weather was very hot and this man wanted desperately
to take a dive in a nearby lake. He didn't bring his swimming
outfit, but who cared? He was all alone. So he undressed and
got into the water.
After some delightful minutes of cool swimming, a pair of old
ladies walked onto the shore in his direction. He panicked, got
out of the water and grabbed a bucket lying in the sand nearby.
He held the bucket in front of his private parts and sighed with
relief.
The ladies got nearby and looked at him. He felt awkward and
wanted to move. Then one of the ladies said: 'You know , I have
a special gift, I can read minds.'
'Impossible', said the embarrassed man, 'You really know what
I think?'
'Yes', the lady replied, 'Right now, I bet you think that the
bucket you're holding has a bottom.'