untying, caging it and retying it), laying it down for a woman to lay offerings and pray; pulling out every last bit of its innards; scrubbing it clean in a stream; slicing, torching and singeing the hair, puncturing, chopping and slicing.

The appointed butcher, a local in striped shirt, straw hat and rubber boots, wore rings on his fingers and a gold watch on his wrist. He directed much of the action, finally pulling out 2 knives, comparing their relative sharpness – and doing the deed. Those gathered around watched with detached curiosity.

Through it all, and until its demise, whenever its snout was untied, the pig squealed and tried to free itself. All for naught.

From beginning to end, the men smoked, chatted, snickered, joked and laughed. They went atrather than same-day, for better rates.

30 July 2012

A mere 12 years ago, a tweet was a sound a bird made, tablets were something you swallowed when you were sick and a blackberry was a fruit you ate. No one had heard of social media, iPads, blogs, Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. Since then, social media has become the dynamic way of communication for personal and professional purposes. With its far reach and immediate response capability, it connects people from all over the world. On Twitter, problems are often solved in 140 characters.

Various airlines are using social media to build their brand and make customer service first class. They are using Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and blogs to interact with potential and existing customers, and to learn what these customers like