MUPPETIFICATION

 

Anil Abraham wrote in The Times of India editorial page  on 21 July 2026 on Muppetification. 

MUPPETIFICATION

Muppetification generally refers to the creative or cultural process of turning non-Muppet subjects, characters, or media into the style of Jim Henson’s Muppets.

A muppet is a type of puppet created by Jim Henson, a famous character from shows like The Muppet Show or Sesame Street, and informal British slang for a silly or foolish person.

Examples of Muppetification in the article

Senseless interventions are sadly unnecessary and potentially harmful

He (the President) stayed on when everyone wanted him.to leave

When Argentina lost the writer found himself surreptitiously sliding away from his sofa even as his wife tried to cheer him up

The prize distribution was akin to Photo bombing of Spain's victory

Each performer a star, but put together in a completely chaotic manner, resembling celebrities fighting for attention (The musical interlude at the half-time of the World Cup Final)

Perhaps Messi's loss had indicated that it was, 'Time to hand over reins to a new generation'

OFFERTORY

 OFFERTORY is a simple word.

OFFERTORY is not just the oblation in the offertory bags or boxes at the places of worship.

Whatever the faithful offers to God is offertory.

Those who govern have only what the faithful offer, individually or collectively, at the feet of God.

If the offering is deployed to generate income, it  never belongs to the people in authority

It is the natural multiplication of the offertory. 

No one has the right to employ it as they like.

God's assets are God's alone.

It's for God to assiduously marshal its deployment

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WRITE LONG

 A grief stricken member of a Church wrote a lengthy letter on the misappropriation of  precious resources of the Church

He received a sound advice

You don't have to write long.

Just make a call to stop giving to the church.

If money is not there, how can they spend as they like.

File a suit in the courts to stop the ones at the top from dipping into cash balance - both physical and bank accounts. 

File another suit to prevent them from selling off the assets of the church.

When you cut off the access to money, they won't be able to be spendthrifts with God's assets

PIECE DE REISTANCE

 PIECE DE REISTANCE

pièce de résistance

piːˌɛs də rɪˈzɪstɒ̃s

The phrase pièce de résistance means the most impressive, important, or excellent part of a group of things, an event, or a meal.

"Piece of resistance"  is from French.

Original use: 

The main or heaviest dish of a meal (the main course).

General use: 

The highlight, showpiece, or crowning glory of an event, collection, or performance.

Examples in Daily Use

 Food: 

"The dinner was wonderful, but the pièce de résistance was a rich chocolate cake."

Design: 

"The old house had lovely rooms, but the pièce de résistance was the glass sunroom."

Performance:

"The band played many great songs, and the pièce de résistance was their final guitar solo."

AD HOMINEM

 AD HOMINEM

ad hominem

ad ˈhɒmɪnɛm

An ad hominem argument is a personal attack on an opponent rather than addressing the actual facts or logic of their claim. 

The phrase is Latin for "to the person". 

Direct insults or name-calling aimed at a person's character.

Claiming someone is only arguing for selfish reasons or hidden motives.

Accusing the speaker of hypocrisy or saying "you do it too" instead of answering the point.

It Fails Logic because:

A person's flaws or bad habits do not make their factual point false.

It shifts focus away from the real topic to win an argument through insult.

JOHN KURIEN FORMER CGM CHIEF GENERAL MANAGER NABARD WRITES

 

JOHN KURIEN FORMER CGM CHIEF GENERAL MANAGER NABARD WRITES

"You have been in a spree jotting multiple and varied instances 

Hats off for your perseverance and energy with clear portraying of incidences of yesteryears and present day

I will have to appreciate my friend always"

I replied

Among a host of messages this had escaped my attention.

Just now it gapes at me, accusing me of casual approach to priority. It is nothing but indifference of the highest order.

Grateful to you for the handsome feedback.

I cherish it, coming as it did from such a great personality 

I value it to the utmost

When your values are clear, making decisions becomes easier. (Roy E Disney)

IT IS GREAT HELPING SOMEONE YOU DON'T KNOW OR YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN

My post to the Principal, KUTSeminary, Kannammoola on 28 July 2026

"This is going to be pretty long. But I felt the Principal, KUTSeminary, Kannammoola had to be aware. 

Today (28.07.2026), Mohanan brought the final marksheet of his daughter Ajisha to me. In fact I had been pestering him for that. 

Why? will be evident when you scan through  copies of the two posts attached.

One  to my cousin Rachael Jacob, a PhD, who has retired from Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad. She did the funding from her own tithe and the tithe of her son, Anish, an  IIM Graduate, currently at Hong Kong. Anish has entrusted his mother with his tithe.

Second to my aunt, Annie Daniel, now 90 and a US Citizen. Earlier she had been employed at Honnavar, Karnataka ."

Rachael Jacob

I am indeed grateful to you for part-funding the Post Graduate education of Ms Ajisha Mohan.S, this year.

I am happy to convey that she has passed her M.Sc. Biotechnology from the CMS College, Kottayam(Autonomous) with B+

She has scored 825 marks out of 1100 in the Fourth Semester and 2522 marks out of 3500 for the four semesters put together.

Hailing from South Kerala, she belongs to the Nadar(SIUC) community.

Her father, B.T.Mohanakumar, is employed by the KUTSeminary, Kannammoola as Peon/Watcher/Gardener.

He draws a total salary of  Rs.23420.00 where his net is Rs.11590.00.

The difference is the recovery on account of the loans and advances he has availed. He is not an SSLC pass.

His family consists of his wife and a son in addition to the two members of the family earlier mentioned. Both the wife and the son have some temporary jobs.

His salary had been low. But due to two revisions in the past ten years it has reached the current level. Educating his daughter had been quite a struggle for him. Since the course had been self financing the fee/board load was pretty heavy.

The Rs. 30000.00 assistance you had extended has gone a long way in the excellent result Ajisha has achieved.

Of course, a person with better means could have reached a higher level. But considering the hardships she had been through all her life, I consider her achievement grand.

They are grateful to you

I too am for your kindness and for giving me a patient ear

It is great helping someone you don't know or you have never seen

Forwarding the marksheet separately for your information

May God bless you abundantly

Annie Daniel

I am indeed grateful to you for part-funding the Post Graduate education of Ms Ajisha Mohan.S, during her first year.

I am happy to convey that she has passed her M.Sc. Biotechnology from the CMS College, Kottayam(Autonomous) with B+

She has scored 825 marks out of 1100 in the Fourth Semester and 2522 marks out of 3500 for the four semesters put together.

Hailing from South Kerala, she belongs to the Nadar(SIUC) community.

Her father, B.T.Mohanakumar, is employed by the KUTSeminary, Kannammoola as Peon/Watcher/Gardener.

He draws a total salary of  Rs.23420.00 where his net is Rs.11590.00.

The difference is the recovery on account of the loans and advances he has availed. He is not an SSLC pass.

His family consists of his wife and a son in addition to the two members of the family earlier mentioned. Both the wife and the son have some temporary jobs.

His salary had been low. But due to two revisions in the past ten years it has reached the current level. Educating his daughter had been quite a struggle for him. Since the course had been self financing the fee/board load was pretty heavy.

The Rs. 20000.00 assistance you had extended had gone a long way in the excellent result Ajisha has achieved.

Of course, a person with better means could have reached a higher level. But considering the hardships she had been through all her life, I consider her achievement grand.

They are grateful to you

I too am for your kindness and for giving me a patient ear

It is great helping someone you don't know or you have never seen

Forwarding the marksheet separately for your information

May God bless you abundantly

Ms Ajisha Mohan.S is a smart girl. Despite her hardships she had been bent upon doing well in her studies. She worked hard. And see what she has achieved solely due to her determination. I was suggesting to her father, she ought to try for admission in Universities abroad.

Rachael Jacob replied at once
That's wonderful 👏🏼praise God 🙏🏻wishing Ajisha all the very best in every endeavor and success in fulfilling her dreams🙏🏻