Hee-haw: A sassy miniature donkey 'Mambo' is being used to relieve stress during long videoconferencing sessions
Animal crackers and hee-haw laughs break the tedium.
By ET Bureau | Updated:
Agencies
As its owner proudly puts it, Mambo is ‘like a pesky little brother who doesn’t let anyone relax too long’.
David Copperfield’s Aunt Betsey would keep a sharp eye out for the quadrupeds, and the moment she’d spot them on the adjacent common, she’d call out to her maid, ‘Janet! Donkeys!’, and the duo would rush to drive the offending creatures away. The good lady would be not a little put out to learn that far from being a bane, the long-eared animals can be a boon, helping to relieve the tedium of long sessions of videoconferencing by introducing an element of barnyard humour in the proceedings.
A sassy miniature donkey called Mambo can be hired from a North Carolina farmer for $50 for 10 minutes to ‘camera crash’ an online meeting and add pizz-ass to the palaver.
As its owner proudly puts it, Mambo is ‘like a pesky little brother who doesn’t let anyone relax too long’. Mambo remains the favourite on farm that has three horses, and hens and ducks, among others. Indeed, the animal that Chesterton defended as being unjustly derided as ‘The devil’s walking parody/ On all four-footed things’ can be a winsome critter.
And don’t just believe donkey’s putative associations with stupidity in popular lore. During his US presidential campaign, when Andrew Jackson was called ‘a jackass’ by opponents, he adopted the animal as his mascot and became the US’ first Democrat president, making the donkey the party symbol and showing that a gadha can turn out to be a smartass.
Viru’s A-Level Humour, Virat’s Style Statement, Women Team’s Big Win Stole The Show At BCCI Awards
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One of the most awaited nights in Indian cricket, the BCCI awards, took place in Mumbai on Sunday. The awards were meant to honour the best in cricket for the year 2018-19 in over 25 categories.
The who’s who of Indian cricket, from captain Virat Kohli, team coach Ravi Shastri to teammates Shikhar Dhawan, Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma and others were in attendance. Honouring the cricketers with awards were the newly appointed BCCI Chief Sourav Ganguly and BCCI Secretary Jay Shah. Here are all the major highlights of the star-studded night.
One of the most awaited nights in Indian cricket, the BCCI awards, took place in Mumbai on Sunday. The awards were meant to honour the best in cricket for the year 2018-19 in over 25 categories.The w..
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Taking home the biggest award of the night was former cricketer, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who was felicitated with the Colonel C.K.Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award. Srikkanth shared the stage with BCCI Chief Sourav Ganguly and BCCI Secretary Jay Shah.
However, one of the highlights of the evening was former cricketer Virendar Sehwag’s A-level humour which stole the show at the awards. Our very own ‘Viru’ delivered the seventh Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi lecture at the BCCI awards. The lecture was established to honour former captain of the Indian cricket team Tiger Pataudi.
Commenting on the ICC’s plan to revamp Test cricket by shortening it to four days, Sehwag said, “Chaar din ki chandni hoti hai, Test match nahi...Jal ki machli jal main hi acchi hai, bahar nikaloge toh mar jaegi (Test matches aren’t meant to last 4 days. A fish is better suited for water. It will die if taken out of its habitat).”
Taking a strong stand against ICC’s move, Sehwag, in his usual style, said, "...Test cricket ko chanda mama ke pass le jaa sakte hai. (We can take Test cricket to the moon). We can have Day-Night Test cricket. If there is a day-night Test, maybe people will come to watch game after office. Innovations should happen but within the five days. It should not be shortened" he asserted.
(With inputs from PTI)
Taking home the biggest award of the night was former cricketer, Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who was felicitated with the Colonel C.K.Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award. Srikkanth shared the stage with ..
Read More
Taking away the biggest honour of the night was ace bowler Jasprit Bumrah who was feted with Polly Umrigar Award for the Best International Cricketer - men’s category. BCCI secretary Jay Shah felicitated Bumrah with the honour. The award includes a trophy, a citation and a cheque worth Rs 15 lakh.
Bumrah took home another honour, the Dilip Sardesai Award for Highest Wickets in Test Cricket 2018-19. The award honoured the bowler’s international exploits. Bumrah took 34 wickets in six matches with three five-wicket hauls.
Poonam Yadav, on the other hand, was given the Best International Cricketer Award in the women's category.
Taking away the biggest honour of the night was ace bowler Jasprit Bumrah who was feted with Polly Umrigar Award for the Best International Cricketer - men’s category. BCCI secretary Jay Shah felicit..
Read More
Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore also made an appearance at the red carpet of the BCCI awards. The ‘Chupke Chupke’ actress dressed her sartorial best and looked graceful as ever in a turquoise-blue saree.
Also seen accompanying mommy dearest was daughter Soha Ali Khan who sported a funky dark green polka-dot top complete with black leggings.
Sharmila Tagore’s BCCI association dates back to her late husband, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, who used to be the captain of the Indian cricket team.
Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore also made an appearance at the red carpet of the BCCI awards. The ‘Chupke Chupke’ actress dressed her sartorial best and looked graceful as ever in a turquoise-blue sa..
Read More
Arriving at the BCCI awards in style were the members of the women’s cricket team who owned the night, thanks to their wardrobe. Former captain of the national women’s cricket team, Jhulan Nishit Goswami, wore a black blazer with pink highlights.
Smriti Mandhana wore a stunning black jumpsuit with white highlights, perfectly paired with a pink jacket. Cricketers Shafali Verma and Richa Verma broke gender stereotypes by going for shirts and pants paired with coats. Poonam Yadav followed suit and went for a black ensemble paired with a light-blue waistcoat.
Arriving at the BCCI awards in style were the members of the women’s cricket team who owned the night, thanks to their wardrobe. Former captain of the national women’s cricket team, Jhulan Nishit Gos..
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While women stole the show at the BCCI awards with their killer wardrobe, the men’s cricket team were looking dapper and sharp too. Shades of black and blue dominated the choice of suits of the cricketers.
While Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan went for black coats paired with white shirts, Rohit Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav stunned in blue hues. Dada, on the other hand, kept it simplistic by opting for a blue blazer paired with blue pants.
While women stole the show at the BCCI awards with their killer wardrobe, the men’s cricket team were looking dapper and sharp too. Shades of black and blue dominated the choice of suits of the crick..
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