Decoding it with dictionary

I am glad that I have cultivated a habit of using dictionary as soon as I come across that unfamiliar word. The fact is if I am reading and I come across a strange word, my mind simply refuses to go ahead until I unearth its meaning, unveil its usage and learn the correct pronunciation. Have you experienced the extreme euphoria when you come across a word again which was foreign some time back?

I love reading. I cannot read until I am assured that there is a dictionary by my side. I am quite lucky that I started taking interest in reading when I was a kid and all credit goes to Childcraft and Worldbook encyclopedia. The two huge Wordbook dictionaries played a vital role in shaping my vocabulary. I remember my reading sessions with mom every night before going to bed. My mom used to sit beside me, making me read aloud and underline words that are not familiar. The next thing was to look up the meanings in the dictionary and write it near the underlined words. I thoroughly enjoyed the bedtime reading activity in my childhood.

Later I understood that learning to pronounce a word is as important as knowing its meaning. I was 12 or 13 when we bought our very first computer. Gradually I discovered the valuable use of thesaurus. Soon the fascination of internet grew and after learning how to open an email account, the next thing was to use online dictionary. Online dictionary was simpler, you just have to type the word and within a blink of an eye you are ready to explore the word. Thanks to online dictionaries that provide audio files to actually hear the right pronunciations.

One day I purchased Oxford Pocket Dictionary from some book exhibition. After all buying a dictionary is an investment, isn’t it? Pocket dictionary made it possible for me to grab it whenever I banged on an alien word. But still I wanted something more, a lexicon I can carry with myself wherever I go. I was quite thrilled when I learnt about portable electronic dictionary and thesaurus, but I thought it is not a smart option to spend money on such device.

Finally I found the solution to continue boosting my vocabulary in an easy way, nothing but my cell phone. My Sony Ericsson W200i with my Loop SIM card solved my purpose of decoding unknown words and that is also for free. Isn’t it great? Of course it is as it comes with multiple advantages too. It is quick, it is portable and thus it is comfortable. Now it is as easy as ABC to make sense of that word which appears to be from some another planet. But still whenever I get time I take hold of those old heavy dictionaries, flip through the pages and look up for the meaning of the word in an old traditional way.

What dO thOse dOOdles say abOut yOu?

Do you remember doodling on the last page or in the column of your ruled notebook back in school? What did you scribble most of the time? Leaves and vines, stars and moon or ugly looking faces? Everyone at some point or the other had passed the time doodling some meaningless dots, lines and curves to avoid some boring lecture. But were those scribbles really meaningless or they carried a deep dark secret in them that could have revealed your personality? Experts have unplugged the real meaning behind those doodles.

If you used to draw a lot of artistic stars then you are a person who craves for fame. You used to daydream about becoming someone famous someday. Those who draw stars could lack in their efforts to get success. They are highly diplomatic in their approach. Their ego can be a big problem for them.

A person who loves to dream a lot often makes clouds. Instead of confronting the realities, a cloud doodler prefers to be in his own little world. Such people rarely stop daydreaming.

A person who draws eyes has some detective genes in him. He knows the best how to keep an eye on others. Such person is very moody and choosy. But they might make great discoveries or disclose hidden treasures with their ability of being observant.

A person whose interest is into doodling geometric shapes is quite a perfectionist. He will fight to prove his point of view. He holds a set of firm beliefs and opinions that he will not change come what may. Geometric shape lovers learn new things without much trouble.

A flower-doodler is an artist at heart. He is a complete environment enthusiast. Apart from his interest in nature, such person is very emotional and can make a fantastic friend and a life-partner. He is inclined to make career in creative fields.

A person who produces pictures of trees on a piece of paper is someone who can teach everyone what patience is. Such person will never miss a deadline and will complete a task assigned to him within a given deadline. Such people are highly intellectuals.

Sketching hearts might put forward two meanings. It might say that a person is emotional and gives importance to his loved ones than anything else. But on the other side it could also mean that a person could not tolerate heart-break at all. Such person might go into depression after a break-up.

Those who enjoy portraying houses are keen on living safe and secured lifestyle. They value their relations and are prudent while handling their life matters. Such people prefer to be in a joint family rather than a nuclear family.

A Person who draws arrows is either straightforward, optimist and goal-oriented or one who can break your trust by backstabbing you.

Finally, a person who sketches faces a lot is not being himself. He is constantly pretending to be someone who he is not. Such people are self-centered, but they can make excellent artists or media professionals.

Thinking about your personality type? Go down the memory lane, stress your mind, think what did you doodle when your teacher was busy analyzing world wars in the history period or when your boss was in the middle of his speech in the last meeting.

(Idea for this article came from the article appeared in Mumbai Mirror, Tabloid)

जुन्नर

हजारो वर्षांचा इतिहास लाभलेले जुन्नर हे सहयाद्री पर्वताय्च्या कुशीत वसलेले एक सुंदर शहर आहे। भारताच्या महाराष्ट्र जिल्ह्यातील पुणे तालुक्यात असलेले जुन्नर वीर मराठा छत्रपति शिवाजी महाराजांच्या शुरतेची आठवण करून देते। जुन्नरपासून जवळ असलेला शिवनेरी किल्ला जेथे महाराजांचा जन्म झाला, एक प्रेक्षणिय एइतिहासिक स्थळ आहे। अषठविनायकाँनपैकी लेन्याद्री (गिरीजात्मक) तसेच ओझर (विघ्नहेर) ही दोन गणपतीची रुपे पुजन्यासाठी जेथे दूर दूरून भक्त एकत्र येतात असे जुन्नर भक्तांसाठी तर जणू एक पवित्र स्थान आहे।

जुन्नर येथील जमीन अतिशय पिकाऊ असून तांदूळ, गहू आणि उस ही येथील प्रमुख धान्ये आहेत। शहरातील रविवारच्या बाजारात ताज्या भाज्या व फळांचे घड ग्राहकांच्या स्वागतार्थ सज्ज असतात। हिर्वळीची शाल पांघरलेले जुन्नर, अनेक धरणं लाभलेले जुन्नर पर्यटकांना आकर्षित करते। वडाज आणि माणिकदोह ही जुन्नर येथील लोकप्रिय सहलिंची ठिकाणे आहेत। जुन्नरमधील पुरातन नानेघाट लेण्या तर इतिहासातील काही पाने ताजी करुन जातात।

गणेश उत्सवाची जर खरी झलक पाहायची असेल तर जुन्नर सारखे दुसरे ठिकाण नाही। जुन्नर येथील सार्वजनिक गणेश उत्सवातिल सजावट डोळे भरून पाहिल्याशिवाय रहवाणार नाही। जुन्नर येथे अनेक चांगल्या शाळा असून, उत्तम महाविद्यालये देखिल आहेत। जुन्नर येथील वन्यजीवन अतिशय स्म्रुद्छ असून, येथे चित्यांची संख्या जास्त आहे। जुन्नर मधील हवामान प्रसन्न आणि थंड आहे।

जुन्नर चा इतिहास हा इसवी सन ९० पुर्वीचा असून, खुपच रोमांचक आहे। जुन्नर हे निसर्ग सानिध्यात वसलेले अतिशय सुंदर पर्यटन स्थळ आहे। जुन्नर मध्ये एखाद घर असाव जेथे सहपरिवार सुट्टीची मजा लूटावी अस वाटाव असे शहर आहे जुन्नर। नैसर्गिक सुख-समृध्हीने नटलेल्या जुन्नरच्या तुम्ही प्रेमात पडला नाहीत तरच नवल।

SweEt N sOur!

A bowl of steamy sweet n sour soup was looking yummy. I thought I could gratify my taste buds as quickly as possible as my mouth had begun watering, but the soup was piping hot. I pulled the sauce container. First I made my soup little spicy by adding a few drops of chilly vinegar sauce, then I wanted it to be little pungent so I stirred in red chili sauce. Finally a few drops of soy sauce dived into my soup. I could wait no more. Sweet, sour, tangy and spicy aroma was overpowering my senses.

I dipped the spoon in the bowl and stirred for a moment. Soon I was busy sipping delicious soup until my nose started running. I had to stop to use tissue. I thought there is no other delightful thing in the world than having a bowl of hot and sour soup. I did not stop till I reached the base of the yellow and blue color bowl. I gulped down the soup and I got the chance to look at the bowl. It was a beautiful Chinese bowl. It had a yellow stripe at the top as background with elegant colorful flowers painted on it. I thought I could even lick the bowl, but I did not.

I licked my upper lip. I was going to eat nothing for a while as I wanted to relish the taste. A few moments passed, still the flavorsome taste of soup was lingering on my tongue. Suddenly a thought bumped onto my mind. A thought brought a question with it. Isn't our life similar to sweet and sour soup? Yes, it is. We have sweet and sour experiences and memories. We realize the importance of sweet moments only after experiencing sour ones. Good things in life won't get value they have, if bad things do not exist.

Finally I came to the conclusion. Life is nothing but a bow of sweet n sour soup. We have to face awesome as well as awful occasions. I found myself relishing the thought, when the main course of food arrived in front of me.