Methods of Writing

1. Working With Words

1. The Right Word

Example 1:

Websites like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest and Linkedin have played a major role in bringing people together.

Social media websites play a major role in bringing people together.

Example 2:

The main reason for the recent health issues are foods like burger, pizza, noodles, sandwiches, hotdogs and fries which are made of poisonous ingredients.

The main reason for the recent health issues are the fast food items made of poisonous ingredients.

2. Remove Qualifiers and Intensifiers

Example 1:

Lily felt utterly heartbroken and sad over her wine stained dress.

Lily felt sad over her wine stained dress.

Example 2:

I want this job because I’m so intimately passionate for it and I would do anything to prove that I’m the best employer that you could ever find.

I believe I’m qualified for the job as it is my area of interest and expertise and I am assured that I can do my best.

3. Remove Tautology

Example 1:

Over the past five years the Kerala State government has been traumatized and blamed for a number of drawbacks and faults, it is pretty sure that the government has failed to keep the trust of the public.

The Kerala State government has failed to keep its goodwill as it has a staind reputation for the past five years.

Example 2:

This year’s Academy Awards nominees are all white; so major Hollywood actors have decided not to attend the function as there has been a racist approach over the issue that black artists are intentionally removed from the nominee list.

The 2016 Academy Awards is blamed of racism due to its all-white nominee list so that major Hollywood stars have protested by declining the invitation to attend the function.

4. Avoid Repetitive Words

Example 1:

Benedict Cumberbatch had been nominated for the Best Actor at the Oscars for the movie ‘The Imitation Game’. ‘The Imitation Game’ is based on the life of Alan Turing, who is the father of computer programming.

Benedict Cumberbatch had been nominated for the Best Actor at the Oscars for the movie ‘The Imitation Game’ which is based on the life of Alan Turing, who is the father of computer programming.

Example 2:

The principal’s office was filled with students who had assembled to complain about the recently issued exam timetable. There was such a rush in the principal’s office.

The principal’s office was filled with students who had assembled to complain about the recently issued exam timetable. There was such a rush in the room.

5. Improve Verbs, Nouns.

Example 1:

Robin tried not to tell his mother and father about the broken glass but he started to worry about the incident.

Robin tries to be quiet about the broken glass to his parents but he worried about it.

Example 2:

I am going to record the humiliating incident so that it could act as a reference to the persons who come after me and I hope this could help them initiating legal action in the event when these events happen again.

I’m recording the humiliating incident so that it could be a reference to my successors and could be of help in initiating legal action in the event of recurrence of such events.

6. Avoid ‘There’ and ‘That’ Traps

Example 1:

There is this is ongoing problem between my parents and me that I can never agree to what they say and they can never accept what I do.

My parents and I need to have some mutual understanding.

Example 2:

Mr Nair stood there and stared at the shouting audience who were demanding that the gathering should be adjourned.

The agitated people demanded to adjourn the meeting as Mr Nair stared helplessly.

7. Avoid Replaced/Overworked Words

Example 1:

I regularly walk 10 miles every day to keep my body fit.

I walk 10 miles every day to keep fit.

Example 2:

The recent reports which arrived yesterday showed that basically I might need to avoid sweets for a while.

The recent report says I should avoid sweet in the meantime.

2. Working With Sentences

1. The word ‘feminism’ has become quite misleading in the aspects of gender equality.

Reworked: Feminism doesn’t mean women should be prioritized or given more importance; it is not about hating and criticizing men. Feminism demands equal opportunity and unbiased treatment for everyone regardless of their gender.

2. The genre of electronic music mostly uses electronic musical gadgets.

Reworked: The genre of electronic music doesn’t involve live musical instruments like acoustic guitar, piano, etc. it uses electronic-based gadgets like synthesizers and further computer software to create and design new music.

3. Sentence Structures

1. Simon wants to be a musician, so he joined the Julliard School of Music to pursue his dream.
2. Simon joined the Julliard School of Music in order to pursue his dream of being a musician.

4. Distinguishing Formal and Informal

Could you kindly pass the files which were recorded on the last meeting, which was held by the Board of Directors, on my table, please?

Pass me the last board meeting’s files.

Analyzing Advertisements

 

The KALYAN JEWELLERS Ad

Kalyan Jewellers is one of the major gold jewellery networks in the state of Kerala as well as abroad. The television advertisements of Kalyan is pretty famous for its hit tagline “Vishwasam Athalle Ellam” (Trust, isn’t that what matters). However, the theme of the advertisements was also outstanding from the usual bridal ads of any typical jewellery. The ad showed a young daughter eloping with her boyfriend in midnight and later as she prepares to leave her home, she suddenly remembers her parents and the love she received from her family, she decides to return back home. The ad ends when she runs into the arms of a raged father who has just seen her note, but he forgives her and welcomes her back as they hug each other.

One can say that the ad aims to earn an emotional appeal from the audience, especially the youngsters, who also seemed to take the specific tagline to the masses and made it a hit. The ad also meant to say that buying gold jewellery from Kalyan is trustworthy enough. Anyhow, the both media and the viewers seemed to take it well.

The next couple of advertisements which came up from the same jewellery where a lot more different; studded with glamorous celebrities from both Bollywood and Malayalam film industry rather than plain faces, although the emotional appeal of the ads remained to stay the same, but the stories where different. 

 

The NO SMOKING Ad

The public service ad of central government which voices against smoking is pretty common amongst us. The ad is repeatedly shown in the movie theaters before a show, middle of a show and who knows how many times in between! The ad portrays a little girl and her Father, the Father is a smoker and as both of them watch TV they happen to come across a program which shows the seriousness of side effects of smoking. As the daughter raises questioning eyes towards her Father who looks disappointed and gets up and gets rid of his cigarette, thus giving the viewers the impression that he is done with the bad habit. Of course the message that the ad would like to convey is very clear, but, is or that effective? From personal experience, after watching the ad for a millionth time, I don’t feel so, yes, it was good in the beginning but the content needs to be updated after a particular period of time or after a particular number of views so that the viewers may not feel tired. But one should also notice that these types of ads are not meant for entertainment either.

Being a Teacher

Well, I’ve been a student for the past seventeen years; still, I don’t have a favorite teacher. But just one of the teachers I’ve met, and been blessed enough to be a student of, has had an everlasting impact on my life and her name was Parvathy Ammal. She used to teach me Accountancy in 11^th and 12^th Grades. She was one of those teachers who would literally give up their lives to make sure that their students got the best results that they can have and every time we would get a problem solved or a balance sheet tallied, she would burst with pride and joy. She loved us and we loved her, I just cannot say who loved who more.

When I asked her about how she got into teaching field, she smiled widely and said it was an unexpected miracle. While she was young, doing her B.Com, she had had this fantasy of being an Accountancy teacher. “I’ve always loved teaching, it is one rare job in the world where you can get both genuine respect and hatred! But trust me, the hatred never stays once your students leave your classes, then they just love you more, they will remember you as a part of their lives, and that’s worth it! Besides, Accountancy is the perfect toughest subject to put you on your students’ black/best list!” But she never wanted to teach at a college, she said. She wanted to teach higher secondary students; or in her own words “school kids who are not kids anymore”. So, she pursued to go for M.Com after her marriage and having a daughter. Meanwhile, although her husband was very supportive about her career plans but they needed better financial aid; so she joined as a librarian at St Ann’s Higher Secondary School (which is also my school). As she was working there, the commerce students had not been able to get a teacher for Accountancy. The one who was in the post had just resigned and the school couldn’t find a replacement, as the academic year had already started, so when they learned that there’s an M.Com student in their library who would like to take the post, they were more than happy to give her a chance. “So, that’s how”, she smiled, “dreams come true; look for it in the unlikely places.” And as I recall, she was the best Accountancy teacher we’d ever had.

“What is the best part of being a teacher?” I’d asked her and she replied, “oh, everything!” The love and also the mount of knowledge that you are lucky enough to give and receive; as she reminded me that teachers’ responsibility doesn’t end with teaching the students some facts or theories, she said, “a teacher should always look for something to learn from her students too, that’s how it works, you give you take, it’s a two-way thing. And besides, I am a student too, you see. I believe anyone of my students can be brainier and smarter than me, and I’m always ready to accept that. I can’t just sit there and say that I teach this is this so you should repeat after me the same. Anyone can think a little better and prove you wrong and when it happens, you can’t let your ego rule you, in fact, which is the best part I love about teaching. Each time I go to take a class, I return with something new up my sleeve, something new that my students have just given me, they teach me loads of stuff”

She was very enthusiastic and positive about the new generation waning to follow the teaching field. “Yes, a lot of students, especially Commerce and Arts students are taking teaching as their career, which is very assuring, as long as it’s not just about the money you can earn.” She mentioned that a lot of students are going for this career because of their parents’ pressure, which includes getting a government job, discouraging young candidates to accept jobs from private institutions. Well, the situation is a bit compromising but it would be nice if there are some teachers out there who really did this for the passion of teaching and generating knowledge. This happens because the government jobs would pay you more and the job is more secured too. 

 

When I asked her about the mount of natural ability in the field, or the talent of teaching, which most of the new candidates in the field seem to lack, she shrugged, “that’s right, everyone cannot teach, you need the skill to go out there and really make a difference, but of course I think you can improve from the point where you started and keep getting better in this. You cannot go up and tell them to stop doing that, to stop being a teacher. But maybe, if the case gets worse, the children might take care of it!” She laughed. “But there are always ways to get you better, like attending a seminar, training program, a workshop or so. Try to fake it till you make it, it’s true in every field.”

If I Could Meer Lights Poxleitner...

Lights Valarie Poxleitner Bokan is a Canadian electro-pop artist. She is an exceptionally talented singer, songwriter and instrumentalist. Lights is, in many ways, totally different from what you call a typical ‘celebrity’. She has this aura about and around her which is sort of divine and enlightening; starting with her name itself to her lyrics and style of music. Her first debut album was ‘The Listening’ released in 2008. Lights is married to Beau Bokan, the lead vocalist of the band called Blessthefall. They have a beautiful daughter together named Rocket Wild Bokan. If I could just have only one interview with any contemporary musician, it would be Lights! She’s one of my role models and she continues to be my source of infinite inspiration for the past 3 years.

Here are some of the questions which I would want to ask if I could meet Lights!

1. From ‘Lights’ in 2008 to ‘Little Machines’ in 2014, you have come such a long way in your career as well as your personal life. What has changed and how are you feeling about it? How have these changes made you stronger and wiser as a person?
2. Tell us about your upcoming ‘Midnight Machines’, especially the two new songs.
3. From what I’ve noticed from your songs, they have such a deeper sense of meaning and a way of relating to one’s life so directly. How do you come up with such lyrics, is there anything you do specially to prepare yourself before writing a song, like reading a spiritual book or so? Or are they taking forms from your own life experiences?
4. From 2006 till now your looks and style have undergone such a huge change and it is getting so much better too! What’s your style-inspiration? Who is your fashion icon, do you have one? Do you design your own clothes like you do with your album designs?
5. One of the things I envy about you is your beautiful collection of tattoos! Do your tattoos define the real you? How would you choose what to get before getting it?
6. Tell us about your daughter Rocket, how much do you love being a Mom plus artist?
7. You pull up your family life and career along so well, do you have any advice for the young artists out there who aspire to do the same?

Talking about Tay

Talking about Tay

Microsoft’s AI (Artificial Intelligence) Powered Chat-bot

This week Microsoft had decided to introduce a chatbot, named Tay, on Twitter. The chatbot was expected to talk like a ‘teen girl’ with the social media users. Tay was equipped with AI and she was expected to learn basic human characteristics and behavioral traits from the conversations she would have with the target group of youngsters on social media aged from 18-24 years old. Well, looks like it didn’t even take one whole day for the beloved humanity to turn the poor robot into a flirty racist Hitler fan! Everyone is busy blaming Microsoft for the damage being done and the company has already put the teen-chick chatbot offline, saying that they need to do some adjustments with Tay,

Microsoft has released a public statement in their defense for the ongoing criticism. According to an online source the company has released an official acknowledgement about Tay’s off-color language acquisition.

“The AI chatbot Tay is a machine learning project, designed for human engagement. As it learns, some of its responses are inappropriate and indicative of the types of interactions some people are having with it. We’re making some adjustments to Tay.” 
 

One would think it is a nice save of public relations, but if one is thinking rationally about the incident, Microsoft can never be said to have the complete responsibility of this outcome. The way I see it, this is exactly how the process of raising children into responsible adult goes. The people who made Tay to talk like this by having conversations with the chatbox ought to be the real villains of this story.

Glimpses of the Colonial Times

Whenever there is a discussion, conference, seminars or any kind of speeches on the Indian independence, there are always mentions about the freedom fighters and how the war had affected adversely the people’s lives. Unfortunately, throughout these, the influence of and on South India during the British era is rarely mentioned which is disappointing because there were remarkable amount of freedom fighters from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and so on. Regardless, there were a number of common people whose daily lives were affected with the hardships of the war. The other day, I was talking to my Grandmother on telephone and I was asking her about the colonial times and what did she remember of them. She said she couldn’t remember much for she was barely 8 years old or so at the time. The place where she lived was the southern regions of Kerala where most of the aftereffects of the war were poverty and hunger. She recollected her mother talking about how they did not have enough food to feed the family and how they had to depend on tapioca, during those days, for food.

Then she recollected about the sense of fear and hopelessness which blinded in the people’s minds as everyone used to inquire about the situation in the North where the fight mostly had its effects. She also mentioned the caste system that prevailed in the state during those times, called ‘Ayitham’. It was a form of caste system which had the main feature of ‘untouchability’ which was imposed by the Brahmins, who considered themselves as the superior caste, on the lower castes of the society like, Ezhavas, Nairs, etc. These created social tensions among the people of the state as a whole as the lower caste people were not allowed to visit the temples, attend the same schools with the higher caste population and such restrictions were fought by a number of leaders like Sahodaran Ayyappan, T.K. Madhavan, Mannathu Padmanabhan, E.M.S Namboodiripad, C.V Raman Pillai, etc; and movements were held like the Vaikom Satyagraha where held to protest against such social injustice. The Vaikom Satyagraha was the first systematically organized agitation in Kerala against orthodoxy to secure the rights of the depressed classes. For the first time in history, the agitation brought forward the question of civil rights of the low caste people into the forefront of Indian politics. No mass agitation in Kerala acquired so much all-India attention and significance in the twentieth century as the Vaikom Satyagraha. (Source: Wikipedia) 

Thus, there may not be any direct impact on the southern regions of India, mainly in Kerala, during the British rule but the people were indirectly affected with the hardships of the war in a number of ways and social barriers were at its highest. Whereas, after the Indian independence, the situation has improved to be so much better as the war had ended and so did the brutal injustice which was based on the caste system. “Maybe,” my Grandmother said, “our leaders were too busy fighting the villains inside their own state to fight the ones from the foreign country.” 

Upside Down World

I’m not the type of person who reads books related to politics or history or anything of that sort. In fact I have zero knowledge about the world wars and stuff like that. The book Upside Down: A Primer for the Looking-Glass World is not really my thing but recently I went through some portions of it and I found it very impressive and realistic. As far as I know (thanks to Google and Wikipedia), the book was originally published in Spanish in 1998, was written by Eduardo Galeano, a Uruguayan author who was greatly impacted by the political turmoil during the 20^th century military regimes in Latin America. The ruminations of this book were formed as a result of Galeano's desire to remember the past traumas and as well as to learn from them. Though focusing on Latin America, Galeano uses what he has learned from the political and social environment within Latin America to understand injustices and social dynamics throughout the rest of the world.

The twenty pages that I had to read, and tried to comprehend as best as I can, describe matters which relates to economy, war and injustice in the society and the developed world. The introductory part states the rewards that the upside down world provides: scorns honesty, punishes work, prizes lack of scruples and feeds cannibalism; which, I find very true and relatable. Throughout the pages one can find statements so powerful that they almost hit you with their iron fists. For example, as Galeano talks about survival of the fittest, he states that ‘killer instinct is an essential ingredient for getting ahead’ which is a fact we witness in almost every political, social and economical scenario. Talking about the world economy and how it exploits the poor in favor of the richest, Galeano states that, ‘the world economy is the most efficient expression of organized crime.’

As Galeano points out that the worst violators of nature and human rights never go to jail but they hold the keys, he is mocking the authorities who misuse the power vested upon them. He also portraits the pathetic situation of human relations these days as he states that the looking glass world trains us to view our neighbor as a threat, not as a promise. We recognize ourselves in our differences and build links based on them. The economy of today’s world is so terrible that the common man can no longer survive in peace and thus Galeano writes ‘advertising enjoins everyone to consume while the economy prohibits the vast majority of humanity from doing so.’ He also points how discrimination causes a sense of hatred in the minds of the unfortunate ones who don’t have their voice in the society; as he says that ‘the ones who count arise desire and envy among those of us the market discounts in a world where respect is measured by the number of credit cards you carry.’ He also says that the mass media informs us to look at ourselves in a single mirror as he reflects how media shows us what we are supposed to be and how far we are from that, making us frown at our own media-made flaws and inefficiencies.

The disgraceful situation prevails where governments play the smiling villain’s role as in many countries social justice has been reduced to criminal justice. Galeano rightfully states that public rights are reduced to public charity and handed out only on the eve of elections. Along with the government, Galeano also talks about poverty and how it is portrayed. He says that poverty used to be the fruit of injustice, now it’s the fair reward for inefficiency, which shows the attitude of the rich towards the poor as in the reason behind their poverty is nothing but sheer laziness. He also states that poverty may create pity but it no longer causes indignation, as people often tend to think that the poor people ‘deserve’ to be so. Wealth and poverty emerge from eternity and towards eternity they march, and that’s the way things are because God or customs prefers it that way.

Moving on to issues related to drugs, Galeano says that the war on drugs in a cover for social war. The following points are stated:

•       Among the ghosts of international terrorism, narco-terrorism is the one that’s most frightening.
•       US Citizens spend $110 on drugs a year
•       Drugs make fortunes for the bankers and offer useful pretexts for the machinery of war
•       A problem of public health has been turned into a problem of public security that respects no borders
•       If imported cocaine were to disappear, in two months it would be replaced by synthetic drugs
•       In Brazil and everywhere else, those who die in the war on drugs far outnumber those who die from an overdose

Thus to conclude, Upside Down presents the relationship between developed (or “first world”) and developing (or “third world”) nations. Galeano suggests that we can start to understand our perceptions of power as based from media interpretations when these "facts" are turned upside down again and forced to stand on their own, Galeano also challenges the First World, Eurocentric readers with the question of why Europe and America are always presented on the top of the world, and why can't Latin America and Australia and Africa be seen as the top of the world. As globalization continues, the difference between the rich and the poor of the world just keeps growing, and with this increased polarization has come a new vocabulary of degradation to describe class and racial differences. People are drawn to capitalism with the promise of choice, but as Galeano points out, those who are allowed to actually make those choices are limited often by money, gender, and race.