An Ode to the Dictionary

We look through a collection of alphabetically arranged definitions of words and phrases in a dictionary and accept the whole content as dogma,right down to the spellings and word pronunciations.A dictionary is meant to be consulted by everyman.Thoughts are sown,moulded and externalised in the form of actions courtesy the lexicon.It is the single most important book in any society.
To be without a dictionary is to be without a life sustaining system.One would be reduced to being an amputee. Some people claim their own experience will guide them through anything,including the understanding of words. These people’s experiences are frequently reduced to observing the number of times a word is spoken by other people who have taken the trouble of browsing or sifting a dictionary.They are thus limited by their immediate surroundings and complex guesswork.This kind of parochial overview must be outrightly rejected.
The English language dictionary first came into prominent use after the publication of Samuel Johnson’s “A Dictionary of the English Language” in 1755.The Oxford English Dictionary would later become the mainstream English language dictionary.There have been two print editions of the Oxford dictionary.However technology is making its impact felt even with the use of the dictionary.The click of the mouse to get the meaning of a word from the digital version of the Oxford English Dictionary is now an easier option than lifting the 20 volume set of the printed version of the dictionary or for that matter lifting the abridged Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary.The third print edition of the dictionary may no longer be released as there are plans of making the dictionary fully computerised.
Whether the print or online version reigns supreme,what matters in the end is the looking up of the word.What is important is that would be poets as well as ambitious corporate climbers read through.It boils down to the word,not the medium.Our thirst for knowledge and consequent satiation should remain constant.It is hoped that instead of odes we are not reduced to writing elegies with regard to the dictionary.

Why I Like History

History-it's the most maligned subject in your schooldays.People are afraid to cross its path.They'd rather be off cuddling their physics and biology books which by their sheer weight should give them spondylitis.They say they would rather use their brains."Phooey"is what i say to them.
The truth is they cannot see history in is fullest display.They're told by their peers that history is about memorising dates and names.They do not realise you do not ''know" about Ashoka 's reign by intaking pre -written qualitative descriptions according to how much marks the questions relating to the Mauryan emperor will have.No Sir no.
Knowledge is deeper and more immense than that.It was not meant to be like that.I want to do well in the history paper to improve my grades like the next person but i want to learn something too.And it's something the so called anti-humanities group should understand-knowledge is not about just technical terms and figures;it's about ordinary people as well,people who were there before us,people who lead their own way of life,good or bad,different from ours.I want to know how the world came to where it is now,and if in the process i get an idea of how the world will go from there on then so be it.I do not think knowing about other people's lifestyles involve leaving your brains at the doorstep.
It's not a foolhardy thing to do.It shouldn't be about whether the only mentionable job prospect you have at the end of the day is an archaeologist;and it definitely should not be about letting social approval dictate whether you like a subject or not.How you want to look at the world,and what you want to do in consequent to that decision should not boil down to how much you will earn per annum.I imagine the classification of subjects were not made on the basis of financial stability .I may be wrong.Maybe going through history books will enable me to know correctly.
But ground realities occupy a place in our lives.I myself spurned a chance to study history further.It's easier to say these things than actually lead our lives based on them.Maybe that's another reason to study history-present day presures don't occupy a place in those dusted shelves.
Let us hope the world gets rid off some more shackles from our personnel.

SEXUAL REVELATIONS

The three lettered word "sex" creates a flutter that is world wide in magnitude.Almost everyone has his or her opinion about it and everyone seems to be affected by it,one way or the another.It is also the basis of the world's oldest profession(kinda makes you wonder what else people did during that time).It's now there in the list of things you can get addicted to,along with drugs and alcohol.
The implications of even talking about it seems to send a shiver,especially among conservative parents in respect to their children.You might have to know about it from other sources,not necessarily reliable ones.Most politicians and would be socially responsible organisations say that sex is a disgusting topic to be discussed and the indian public finds it obscene.They know this because they are the people's representatives.India's the second largest nation in the world with over 1 billion people and it also has 2.3 million people(as of 2007,as given in the site avert.org)suffering from hiv/aids.It seems to me there is some discrepancy between opinion and fact.
A lot of these could arguably be prevented if everyone is well informed.India is a country which does not hesitate to put a moralistic spin to everything.If certain people came down from the higher altar a lot of people would be better off; they would not be left to fumble in the dark because some people dont want to shed light.Maybe everyone's in the same pool of ignorance and hence the secrecy,or maybe certain people are uncomfortable to dicuss what they believe to be a private thing;some people are losing out.I am no better than most people.I'm still trying to find my way.It has not been a comfortable ride.
A mature atitude is needed. I dont know how that can come about.A piece of legistlation may not mould that,especially if people indulge in hypocrisy and use salacious jokes as a means of reference.The people themselves need to know,and hopefully at the right time.

ORDINARY PEOPLE

I saw the 1980 film on UTV World Movies yesterday.In these times of academic pressure it's often difficult to unwind by watching a film,certainly not as regularly as you want to.I have a class test tomorrow but i decided to watch 'Ordinary People'anyway.
It was a good decision.It 's because of films like ordinary people that i watch films.The film is about a well off family having to cope with the loss of the eldest son in a drowning.The film centers on three members on the family-Calvin Jarrett(the father),Beth Jarrett(the mother) and Conrad Jarrett(the younger son).
The initial focus of the film is on Conrad.He was with his brother Buck when he died.He blames himself for not holding onto Buck;soon after his brother's death he tries to committ suicide.He survives and goes to a psychiatric hospital.The film starts a year after his return from there.
He cant get over his demons and consults a psychiatrist.This meeting would turn out to be a turning point for him.
Conrad Jarrett is not the only one who cannot get over the loss.His parents are coping with it their own way.
Conrad's mother is one of those persons who believe that the outward demeanor matters a lot, if not everything.She's a person who suffers the loss of her son; she does not manifest it in grief but in other ways.She does not get along with her younger son;Buck was a favourite of hers;Conrad's attempts at making a serious conversation are met with a metaphorical blank stare.She dismisses Conrad as provocative and tells her husband not to indulge him.She is not one of those manipulative people either.She frequently changes the topic if she comes across anything uncomfortable.Towards the end of the film one frequent plea of her will be that she is who she is and she cannot change.sshe says she cannot take any more pressure.thus she is damaged in her own way.
Conrad's father goes through the same amount of change as Conrad.A person who is considered to have a passive tempermant by both his son and wife,he tries to set things right for them but while doing so discovers uncomfortable truths .Thinking can be a painful process.
Like conrad's psychiatrist Dr.Berger says,''just because you feel something don't expect it to tickle.''
The film is about people's attempts to face their problems in a direct manner even when they are not in the best state of mind and still cannot quite get over the fear that nothing can be changed.The film is also about the people who would not even start to think so directly.Talking can provide a reilef.But it's not a smooth ride for anyone.The film also talks about something not often heard-sometimes it isn't really anyone's fault.
The director of the film does a masterful job of showing the characters as they are and stays with that depiction till the end;he uses flashbacks qute well.The most dramatic scenes are between conrad and Dr.Berger but the gradually developing confrontations between the husband and wife packs a punch.At no time is there any room for sterotype,though admitedly the moment when berger tells conrad that he is his friend made me cringe a bit.But all in all it's a worthwhile experience.

Grizzly Bear

People often talk of a song that can save your life.For me that song is Grizzly Bear's "Two Weeks".It has a heavenly ambience that can be truly appreciated only if you listen to the song;that is created via the amazing vocal work of all the four members of the band.Truly stunning;you feel nothing can go wrong while you listen to the song.The music provides a steady beat in the meantime.
The next Grizzly Bear song i heard was "Knife".It seemed to lack the momentous impact of "Two Weeks". It 's a bit overlong,but the vocals can do no wrong.
The song which probably surpasses "Two Weeks" is "While You Wait For The Others".Impatience regarding an unwanted person has never been expressed so bitterly and so eloquently.I think music wise this is the song i liked the most.The gradually increasing crescendo of the aforementioned vocals at the end of the song packs a punch.
The most recent song i've heard is "Cheerleader".They're still going strong.
All the four songs i've heard are from the album "Veckatimest".After hearing them i cant stop listening to them;am not even motivated to seek out the remaining songs of the album.
I'd like to thank Sanjoy Narayan,the editor of the Hindustan Times whose weekly column "Download Central" is the reason i got to hear this USA band in the first place.God bless.

how does it feel to be completely on your own like a complete unknown?
i'm not here this is not happening
the best thing that you've had is going away
do you want to make a memory
kill yourself to never ever stop
turn it into something you're not
oh yeah
when you're feeling sad remember how we felt upon an accidental paradise
no surprises please

WORDS

"Words are like a sawed off shotgun"-Radiohead
"And words are all i have to take your heart away"-the Bee Gees
Technology is such that we cannot access each other's brains yet.Thus we are left to guessing other people's motivations through their actions and words;others will similarly gauge us.People say your actions matter a lot.But people are not going to look favourably towards you if you behave like a mute at the same time.That is the prevalent reality.In one respect it makes sense.After all words are the primary mode of comunication.It is traditionally assumed you are who you speak.
Words can come in a couple of formats-written and vocal.People generally prefer the latter over the former,though the written format has risen in prominence because of social networking sites and text messages.People interact everyday and judge each other by what words they use.Some phrases are used for a short period of time in the form of catchphrases.Sometimes we're reduced to using catchphrases only it seems.People talk .In the midst of a verbal communication if someone is seen not talking , it's a strange sight indeed.
Talking in itself is never an end.Sometimes you can't always say what's on your mind.Social approval matters ,a bit too much at times.But at the very basic level,if you want to get along with people, then you'll have to talk.Hopefully you wont be reduced to following courtesies in this way.There's an art in speaking.That quality is measured by a parameter called articulation.You cannot take back your words.
But what about those people who are accustomed to leading a mute way of life?Do they have any chance to get back into a favourable social standing?Do they try and talk for the sake of convention and speak in a conventional format as well?How are these people going to be regarded in job interviews where somebody will have to make a snap judgement?All your life and how you've lead it will be decided will be scanned instaneously.How you lead your life in the future will also be decided at the same time. Another potent question is how will we try to woo someone.What words are we to use then?
"Be yourself" may not be a very applicable maxim in these cases.I personally believe you cant coach someone to talk.
Silence contributes as much as words.It is sometimes as judicially used as words.To somebody speaking, silence from a would be listener is not always golden.Nobody appreciates words always being spoken in a song.It's a medley of lyrics and music.Music can be free of words at least explicitly.An emotional outburst from within can be potentially released because of a compelling piece of music.
I don't think we'll be leading a very happy life if we have nobody to talk to.Sometimes it's a question of frequency in regard to appearance ,ours and others.Hopefully they will meet.