Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Random Vignette

Some recent 'terminology' that caught my attention:
Perennial Underachievers : Obviously this can be no more attributed to 'Spain's Soccer team'. But still this can be used for South Africa's Cricket team. Will the Spain's success on their soil inspire the Proteas? We have to wait till next year world cup in India. And how much can we Indians be worth of this tag? Yeah, i think we too can be referred with this when ever i see Media headings like: "Yet another Indian-American in Obama's team", 'Kerala's rubber for Jabulani Balls', "Famous Wimbledon towels-Now Made In India". If these headings are treated as (under)achievements, then we are worthy of this tag.

Contagious: Not just new words are being added every year (much to the chagrin of the Purists at Oxford), but even the context and usage of many words are changing. Just like you can no longer be 'gay' :) See the new contexts in which word 'contagious' is being used - contagion of financial meltdown, contagious scourge of 'horror killings' or 'communalism'. May be that's why the 'contagious' viruses strike back now and then..

Vuvuzela: This plastic horn of Africa has been voted as the word of this world cup. But the Uganda bomb blasts on the final of the world cup took my attention to the real 'Horn of Africa' - the countries Eritrea, Dijibouti, Ethiopia & Somalia. As per UN Stats, Eritrea is with highest number of refugees per capita and recently 'Somalia' topped the list of 'World's failed states'. Seems like our India- Bharat contradictions, Africa also has its share of contradictions.

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