The Paradox that makes us say that Sunday is longer than monday

You know what is a paradox? Well, most of us study or hear this problem where you are lost in an island; with two tribes; one says truth and the other lies; and you have to ask them which one is saying the truth;…. Well that’s a textbook paradox. But if you want a real paradox, let me first introduce you to the concept of “Sunday is longer than Monday”.
If you actually cannot relate to this particular phrase, then you must be a person who doesn’t wear a kai-vecha-banian aka, sleeved vest. Or, if you do wear one, you are surely a full sleeve wearing working class member.
If you are none of the above, then you really don’t understand the pain that a whole lot of us undergo on a routine basis.
And just in case you belong to the minority that endures this phenomenon, but doesn’t know what I am talking about, then this picture should clear the air.

As you can see, I am referring to the problem that a lot of us grown men suffer from when they wear a sleeved vest and a half-sleeved t-shirt or regular shirt over it. This is not a very pleasant sight, and is a slightly delicate one which makes it impossible to point at and laugh. Or alert the person directly. Which is why people suddenly say that Sunday is longer than Monday, hoping that only the person with overflowing vest understands what they say and would take corrective action. But then the phrase is known to many and if you suddenly utter that phrase, everyone around you immediately checks their sleeve. And therein lies a paradox. 

What has to be considered is the root cause of the problem, which if you think about it is the main paradox. On the one hand, the vest makers think that their clientele are constantly increasing in body size and hence, the vests they make must be flexible enough to stretch. Issue however, is that the rate at which a human expands is a tad slower than the rate at which the hosiery does.
On the other hand, the makers of t-shirts and half-sleeve shirts seem to think that their clientele is so fitness conscious that they have to make their product with really tight and short sleeves. For some reason, they believe that the models they use to advertise their product basically represent the entire population, whereas they represent only the models.
Shouldn’t cloth makers make clothes with the same assumption? Paradox?
Coming to adverts, it is almost impossible to find any banian ad where they show an average Uncle type wearing a kai-vecha-banian. It is always a gym body youth who wears a kai-illaadha banian. The very purpose of a banian is to ensure that the body sweat doesn’t show up in the outer layer. So, in the generally hot conditions of this country, why should anyone wear the kail-illadha banian if sweat is going to be pouring out of the most porous part of the body – the underarm. That again is another paradox.
Is there a solution in sight? I can at least offer my experience and hope others benefit. Or feel inspired to share theirs. We sufferers have to keep constantly folding up the vest or tuck it inside the outer sleeve. Some may even have to resort to using a paper clip to hold it in place.
The trick that I usually try is folding the inner sleeve along the hem a couple of times. This way, the vest still stays hidden, and it doesn’t look like you suddenly developed your biceps overnight. The other more painful way is to tuck in the vest into the deep ravines of the underwear. The idea being that the tightness of the elastic in the underwear holds the vest in place and ensures that there is no peek-a-boo from either arm.
Obviously, this method carries the inherent risk of asphyxiation, especially when sitting. And sitting is what we mostly do the whole day and so, this technique may require a lot of training before it can be implemented without supervision.
Until we find a long term solution to this issue, we have no choice but to wear full-sleeve shirts.

Cat on the wall

Spotted this cat on my compound wall.

Random Observation # 032

There is a saying in Tamizh - 'kumbida pona dheiyvam, kurukkae vandha maadhiri'. When loosely translated it sounds like "while you are going to pray, God himself cuts across your path". The meaning of course is on the lines of you looking for something and that something presents itself to you.

Anyways, is there a direct opposite to that phrase in Tamzih or even in English? The closest I can think of is "Think of the devil and there it is".

Background to this q: I went to the FC this morning with the sole purpose of avoiding someone and even as I was paying for my tea, that person came up to the counter and the rest, as the say, is history. :(

Random Observation #030

We say that if our ullangkai arichufies (itchy palm), then we are in for some unexpected influx of money.
Is there anything specified for ullangkaal arippu (itchy foot)?

Random Jotting # 024

In Tamizh, people quite often say "oru aathara avasarathukku....".
e.g.: If you are questioned about keeping an additional bottle of water in your car, the response is "oru aathara avasarathukku". Or when you lament the lack of a pharmacy along your daily route, you wonder "oru aathara avasarathukku kooda inga oru marundhu kadai kedayaadha" etc etc.

I can understand the "avasaram" part of the phrase. But where does the "aathiram" fit into the picture?