In some Hindi film of a bygone era I remember a cheesy line that went - English is a very phunny language. Could not be further from the truth - the whole kind.
Take for example the juxtaposition of two simple words - Passing and Out. When used as a verb and said in a sentence it can imply a lot of things to people.
Commonly if I hear it I run away. Clearly something is not alright with the atmosphere where I am at and human condition being referred to with that verb should be cause for concern. Could it be an ammonia leak from that bathroom over there? Could it be that hydrogen tank gone awry over at the factory or simply an excess of flatulence from that awkward dude on the fence.. if he passed out (some form of toxin) then the neighbor passed out. Simple. I want 'out' from the scene.
Then there is the Queen's English or its Indian incarnation anyway. People as they graduate from their schooling careers are said to 'pass out' left and right. As in they are graduating. To what you ask? More passing out of whatever they set their minds to.
Not the leaflet kind but actual solid education I say. One that teaches them subtleties of passing out!
Over and Out.
On an informal mission to read one book a week as long as the eyes allow for such ambition. Fiction or non is not important as long as it entertains and /or educates. To that end the past few weeks have brought a bounty in the form of some wonderful and then not so engaging literature. Among the notables are - Non fiction category: 1. Good arguments by Bo Seo (how to handle a dispute or debate the most efficient way possible) 2. Genesis by Eric Schmidt (and former US Secy of State Henry Kissinger, who recently passed) - how AI might affect our lives as we know it 3. One in a billion - Zarna Garg (an autobiographical look at an Indian born American woman with a bindi narrated in a standup format - yes it is at times cliched but still funny) Fiction: 1. Personal by Lee Child (a vigilante story with Jack Reacher the giant, nomad protagonist of Child's novels goes hunting for a sniper) 2. Ramayana unraveled by Ami Ganatra (she might disagree about it being a work of fiction but oh wel...
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