Napoleon's next coming?

I came across this weird and amusing, but highly disturbing video on Youtube:



First of all, I am pretty sure that the fangs of this snake would have been destroyed beyond recognition. Forget about venom, I don't even think the snake has enough saliva to hiss it's way out out of trouble here. But still, asking a 1 year old kid to play with a cobra is not going to get you the "Parents of the Year" award. I showed this video to my friends and everyone were disturbed and angry at the spectators for cheering the baby. I am sure there are a lot of folks who must be cursing the baby's parents for this "adventure to demonstrate their extreme stupidity". But one of my friends remarked that the victim here is the "venom-less" snake and not the baby. Towards the end of this stupid video, the child manages to grip the snake. Remember that a baby's grip is strong... its strong enough to actually strangle and kill the snake. For all we know, the snake might have met a cruel end at the baby's hands. So, here are three things I learned from this video:

1) The baby shows a remarkable absence of fear very similar to the only leader and warrior to have come out of France... Mr.Napoleon Bonaparte.
2) Snakes, especially Cobras, are highly intelligent creatures that uses venom for killing their prey and as a form of defense mechanism. Cutting their fangs out for one's amusement is plain wrong. Just wait for "Anniyan" to kidnap you and throw into a pit of snakes as explained in "Garuda Puranam"
3) Where are the folks at PETA when you need them?

A painting worth 2 crore Indian rupees !!!

I came across this article (http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/19/stories/2010031956382000.htm) today in The Hindu newspaper on noted painter M.F.Husain's work sold for over 2 crore Indian rupees. That's a lot of money for a painting! To quote from the newspaper, "An untitled oil-on-canvas work, with four horses and a woman rider, by M.F. Husain was sold for Rs. 2.01 crore, the highest at the spring sale of online auctioneer Saffronart.".

Well, I am no painter myself and I am a certified idiot when it comes to evaluating and appreciating arts and paintings. But still.... isn't 2 crore rupees a lot of money for a painting??? In fact, I really don't understand the idea of people spending a truck load of money on the so called "valuable" paintings. Apart from this money, they spend a good amount of money on insurance, security alarms and a diamond studded frame for the painting. And they probably keep it in a vault and view it six times an year when they throw these ego-boasting parties. So, what's the point on spending a large amount of money on a single painting? I have come across some really amazing paintings of the so called "starving artists" who are no-less talented than the likes of Mr.Husain. As a society, we have the responsibility to promote and develop arts. And I believe the way to do this is to promote the lesser known artists and buy their paintings. This will give them the money and confidence to further their talents for the better.

And maybe in doing so, we are creating the next M.F.Husain and the loop starts again!

A joke to start my blog