Sharp tongue, sharp brain

Heightened security in offices around the world has become a norm after the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington. Especially so in media houses following a series of Anthrax exposures/cases at US news networks.

For the most part, employees have dealt with tougher security measures — and the accompanying inconvenience — with remarkable sanguinity. This tale, however, has nothing to do with either cheery dispositions or tolerant behaviour.

After being intensively security-checked for days on end, a harassed employee of an American television company had had enough. In the process of being interrogated about the contents of her bag, the lady was asked by this unassuming security chap, “Are you carrying anything sharp?” The employee — noticeably upset — shot back, “Yes, my brain.” She then added, “I could leave it behind, if you say so.” The security guard’s reaction? After recovering from his initial shock, he burst out laughing!

Shifting gears
Recently, eavesdropper had an opportunity to meet with a prominent ideologue of the Kerala Marxists. As the discussion progressed, conversation veered into dangerous territory — that of Kairali TV, promoted by the Marxists, sacking its 20-odd employees.
Immediately, the intellectual discarded his usual working class line of
talk and launched into a ‘discussion’ on globalisation.

Prepared to listen to the usual rant on modern-day economic imperialism, eavesdropper was in for a surprise. The intellectual, in fact, held forth on intricate aspects of global business operations and liberalisation — competition, profitability through margins and cost cutting and, indeed, the virtues of right-sizing! Goes without saying, eavesdropper gently accepted defeat and exited the scene. Behold the new class of Marxist intellectuals.