Manager and his/her caliber

Working in a software industry for the past three years I know that a team consists of a manager,team leader, team members. I learnt that a manager is responsible for the overall team performance and their lines of improvement. But CAN a manager be partial and overlook team members by showing favoritism?? I think this should not be allowed in companies or rather to dig deep... in a TEAM.
Generally a manager should be able to understand the abilities of a team member/lead infact. He should look at the professional and personal aspect i guess. I know that there are two ladders to choose from a team lead step... either Managerial or technical.
If one knows that they are much capable of contributing themselves to the technology, then they should go ahead in that path... Otherwise in the managerial perspective.
But some of the managers I have seen are very good technically... but they got very poor managerial skills... They are such a disaster and the morale of a team member is killed in such cases. A manager should be an inspiration of a team member and one should get the motivation to reach such good levels.... Alas!!!!!!!! nonetheless it doesn't happen everywhere.
Off late I realized that people play dirty politics for anything... they are willing to lick others a** for the sake of achieving them... sometimes drooling like a dog... whack!!!
its so nasty... Well thats my observation from the industry...
how i wish future managers are fairly impartial and only aim at team development.
Also team members should have little intellect in approaching such type of managers. When you dig down into the consequences, the most effected is the team member... becharaa it would be so embarrassing situation for him/her...
guys/galz... moving into software industry be BRAVE and STUBBORN!!!!

My plant

This plant is called "marvam"/"damanam" in telugu... its a scented plant...
I love the scent of the leaves... I got this plant for 20 rupees from nursery...
it was very small by then... now after 3-4 months its in this shape...
but one thing i dont understand about this plant... its growing in such a diversed way...
each of its twigs are growing in different directions.
As far as i have seen at other places it grows like a bush in a proper way. But this is strange about my plant... i dont know what it signifies...
also i have noticed that... some of its twigs have grown very tall and when the sun shines very brightly on it... they have faded away,dried and fallen down...
however it may grow... i just want it to be healthy and strong :)

An apple in the bag

A teacher teaching Maths to seven-year-old Arnav asked him, “If I give you one apple and one apple and one apple, how many apples will you have?”Within a few seconds Arnav replied confidently, “Four!”

The dismayed teacher was expecting an effortless correct answer (three). She was disappointed. “Maybe the child did not listen properly,” she thought. She repeated, “Arnav, listen carefully. If I give you one apple and one apple and one apple, how many apples will you have?”

Arnav had seen the disappointment on his teacher’s face. He calculated again on his fingers. But within him he was also searching for the answer that will make the teacher happy. His search for the answer was not for the correct one, but the one that will make his teacher happy. This time hesitatingly he replied, “Four…”

The disappointment stayed on the teacher’s face. She remembered that Arnav liked strawberries. She thought maybe he doesn’t like apples and that is making him loose focus. This time with an exaggerated excitement and twinkling in her eyes she asked, “If I give you one strawberry and one strawberry and one strawberry, then how many you will have?”

Seeing the teacher happy, young Arnav calculated on his fingers again. There was no pressure on him, but a little on the teacher. She wanted her new approach to succeed. With a hesitating smile young Arnav enquired, “Three?”

The teacher now had a victorious smile. Her approach had succeeded. She wanted to congratulate herself. But one last thing remained. Once again she asked him, “Now if I give you one apple and one apple and one more apple how many will you have?”

Promptly Arnav answered, “Four!”

The teacher was aghast. “How Arnav, how?” she demanded in a little stern and irritated voice.

In a voice that was low and hesitating young Arnav replied, “Because I already have one apple in my bag.”

“When someone gives you an answer that is different from what you expect don't think they are wrong. There maybe an angle that you have not understood at all. You will have to listen and understand, but never listen with a predetermined notion.”

PS: This is forwarded one. I wanted to share with everyone :)