Mental Excursions

Friends and readers, Due to things beyond my control, I shall not be able  to post anything this Saturday, the 28th of May, 2022 . I hope to talk to you next week.                                                                 - Anupama S Mani

Ready for summer travel? All those who hate winter, are you happy with this insanely hot summer now? The mercury has been wiggling between 45- 49 degrees Celsius in the plains of India and Pakistan, say all newsreports. (The weather gods have gone kind of sweet this morning with lower temperatures and a breeze, but just wait till they realise what their purpose in life is and return with greater fury.) According to The Guardian temperatures have repeatedly hit almost 50C (122F) in Balochistan while Jacobabad, a city in Sindh province of Pakistan, hit 49C last Saturday .   If you think you want competition with the neighbours in that field, please note that our own national capital recorded 49 degrees last week. The sudden and early heat wave has caused damage to the wheat, vegetable and fruit crops, and put increased pressure on power and water supplies. We are already looking at the results! But my word attack is not about this brutal heat wave. I am looking at crow...

  ‘The Chaos’ that English is How dare I say that? You are right, I am writing in English, na? Besides, I am no authority on the language. It is just that I found a gem and like most of other things wanted to share it with you all. A 274-line poem written by Charivarius whose actual name was Gerard Nolst Trenite (1870-1946) and who was a teacher and writer is named The Chaos. He has given as many as 800, yes, that many, examples of how English spelling and pronunciation are irregular. We owe it to the Spelling Society, which in 1993-94 published ‘the most complete and authoritative version ever likely to emerge’ of the poem. It might be more fun to read and enjoy it in parts if 274 lines is too much for you at one go. Dearest creature in creation Studying English  pronunciation , I will teach you in my  verse Sounds like  corpse, corps, horse  and  worse . I will keep you,  Susy, busy , Make your  head  with  heat ...

  Mom's day? It is Mother’s day tomorrow. Thousands of words have been written in the past few days about how hard they work, how important mothers are, how all of us should celebrate them and their contributions, what special to do on this day and what to buy for them. While some of us get into the spirit of celebration, expect some kind of acknowledgement in the form of card, chocolates, flowers, gifts et al, others look at it with indifference and hope the family would not make a big issue of it. Some tired ones just wish that their offspring and spouse would leave them alone for  one day and let them do as they please . The market and social media are abuzz with ideas, torpedoing us with rock-sized hints through messages, emails and sale notifications about what to buy to celebrate our birth-giver Devaki or caretaker Yashoda .   So go ahead, help the economy. Buy her a card, chocolates, her favourite food (or make it), sari/dress, handbag, perfume, jewellery, boo...