Keeping Quiet.

Now we will count to twelve

and we will all keep still.

For once on the face of the earth,

let's not speak any language;

let's stop for one second,

and not move our arms so much.

It would be an exotic moment

without rush, without engines;

we would all be together 

in a sudden strangeness.

Fishermen in the cold sea

would not harm whales

and the man gathering salt

would look at his hurt hands.

Those who prepare green wars,

wars with gas, wars with fire,

victories with no survivors,

would put on clean clothes

and walk about with their brothers

in the shade, doing nothing.

What I want should not be confused

with total inactivity.

Life is what it is about;

I want no truck with death.

If we were not so single-minded

about keeping our lives moving,

and for once could do nothing,

perhaps a huge silence

might interrupt this sadness

of never understanding ourselves

and of threatening ourselves with death.

Perhaps the earth can teach us

as when everything seems dead

and later proves to be alive.

Now I'll count up to twelve

and you keep quiet and I will go.

By Pablo Neruda.

*                *                *

Math jokes and puns

  1. Why was the fraction apprehensive about marrying the decimal?

       Because he would have to convert.

  2. Why do plants hate math?

       It gives them square roots.

  3. Why did the student get upset when his teacher called him average?

       It was a mean thing to say!

  4. Why was the math book depressed?

       It had a lot of problems.

  5. Why can you never trust a math teacher holding graphing paper?

       They must be plotting something.

  6. Why was the equal sign so humble?

       Because she knew that she wasn't greater than or less than anyone else.

  7. Why is the obtuse triangle always so frustrated?

       Because it is never right.

  8. What do you call the number 7 and the number 3 when they go out on a date?

       The odd couple (but 7 is in her prime).

  9. What do you call a number that can't stay in one place?

       Roamin' numeral. 

 10. Did you hear the one about the statistician?

       Probably.

 11. What do you call dudes who love math?

        Algebros.

 12. I'll do algebra, I'll do trig. I'll even do statistics.

       But graphing is where I draw a line.

 13. Why should I never talk to Pi?

        Because she'll go on and on and on forever.

 14. Why are parallel lines tragic if they have so much in common?

        It's a shame they'll never meet.

 15. Are monsters good at math?

       Not unless you Count Dracula.

 16. What's the best way to flirt with a math teacher?

        Use acute angle.

 17. Did you hear about the mathematician who is afraid of negative numbers?

       They would stop at nothing to avoid them.

 18. How do you stay warm in any room?

       Just huddle in the corner, where it's always 90 degrees. 

 19. Why is six afraid of seven?

        Because seven eight nine!

 20. Why did seven eat nine?

        Because you're supposed to eat 3 squared meals day.

 21. Why does nobody talk to circles?

        Because there is no point.

Tailpiece.

Had got up around a half past 5 to go to the rest room and could not sleep any further. We got ready and kicked off on the next phase of our journey around a quarter past 10. Since it was a Saturday, there wasn't much clogging of traffic and we could pass through the choke points without delay. However, we reached Lekha's sister's place by a half past 2. After Letha's scrumptious lunch and armed with packed dinner, we set off for Raj Nivas and reached there by a half past 3. A quick opening up of the house and we soon settled down to a badly needed siesta. And it was a quiet evening thereafter! I did brief mom and dad about our programme.

Tomorrow the work force will descend at our place, around 6 AM, to clear the wild growth.Will rain - as per prediction - spoil the show?