16 May,2011 06:18 AM IST | | Lindsay Pereira
Making sense of the good, bad and often strange trending topics online
The government continued to endear itself to citizens over the weekend by announcing another hike in petrol prices. It did this a day after assembly election results, inexplicably assuming most citizens to be as dim-witted as the few politicians who aren't currently behind bars. It didn't work. According to someone called Dinesh, one of the best new pick up lines now is: 'I have a full tank of petrol.' Another wise soul, referring to the unique way politics is conducted in Tamil Nadu, predicted that the next election could be won by any party offering free petrol. Sadly, this no longer sounds farfetched.
Speaking of money...
Dominique Strauss-Kahn, head of the International Monetary Fund, became an unlikely trending topic following reports of him being arrested for attempted rape. There was much outrage, naturally, with the most pertinent comment coming from a certain Kieran Healy: 'No one told Strauss-Kahn that being Director of the IMF doesn't mean you get to do to people what the IMF does to countries.'
Posthumous fame
Who is Mahendra Singh Tikait? Not many people online would manage an answer a week ago. The 76-year-old leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union passed away though, prompting a number of politicians to promptly recognise him as a crusader for farmers' rights. Naturally, Narendra Modi paid a 'heartfelt tribute' too, 'praying to god that his soul rests in peace.' I hope God listens to Modi, if only for Tikait's sake.
The last word
Consider this tweet by actress Genelia D'Souza: '10days in2 d sched n hv bn shootin an avg of 16hrs evryday bt hv 2admit doin sum gr8 wrk n lets hpe it nly rocks newys lets chat-10 best qs (sic).' This is why, in my humble opinion, all Bollywood stars should be forced to go to school before being allowed to face a camera.
