The Electric Mosquito Swatter (EMS)

To the pacifist this is a weapon of war; to others it is just another way to ensure what is theirs’ remains with them. Having donated blood a few times I have come to appreciate that blood donation is a voluntary act, it is not a two way process, further there are no detrimental impacts to the donor. I would not call a mosquito nonchalantly landing on my skin to feast on my blood as voluntary blood donation, okay even if I were to allow it to; it would feel obligated to exchange diseases like Dengue, Malaria, Chickengunia things I do not care for.

What is worse with the mosquito is that it announces its presence much before it actually sits down to eat. The whine of a mosquito making a pass at a ‘meal’ is enough to get the ‘meal’ clapping with the hope that the mosquito magically gets sandwiched between the hands. But invariably what happens is that the meal just hurts himself as the mosquito deftly dodges the hands. What adds insult to injury is when the hand misses the mosquito absorbed in its bloody business on another part of the body.

The EMS, pictured here, is an instrument that solves a problem before it becomes one. It changes the rules of engagement by making the user more proactive.
It would make George Bush and Advani extremely happy as with the EMS the user can ‘hot-pursuit’ the target all over. The user could also use stealth and guile - acting as bait to draw the mosquito and then using the EMS when the mosquito is in reach, this in-effect means that the EMS can be used to create a no-fly-zone and enforce it.

The EMS gives grace to an unpleasant activity. To some this tool provides the much
needed athleticism to an otherwise sedentary lifestyle because the technique for use is badminton like so well captured in the image on the left. Its design also allows the user to adopt more fluid movements that are less stressful than the method pictured above. The movements of Taichi can be moulded into the use of the EMS. As the EMS is not about force but about reach and touch it suits well to the Dao of this system.

Besides the benefits mentioned above the EMS has been found to enhance relationships as it is a gift of concern and one based on empathy. Gifting an EMS is about empowering the other as it provides a painless solution to the user who till then only had a pair of hands and reflexes to deal with the mosquito.

The EMS is a tool of ingenuity as it combines the idea of the regular fly swatter with the broad sweep of a badminton racket. I don’t know what is more ingenious these adaptations or the fact that it was electrified or is it the whole package. I have written this with the EMS by my side not only did it provide me the requisite inspiration but it helped me enforce a no-fly-zone.