The Paradoxical Dance of English: An Ode to Linguistic Quirks

Posted on by Reena Saxena

In the grand theatre of languages, English pirouettes with grace yet stumble over their contradictions. Let us unravel the ironies that make it both captivating and confounding. Orthography vs. Pronunciation: English spelling is a labyrinth where “gh” morphs into /f/ in “enough” but remains silent in “ghost.” It’s a game of hide-and-seek where “colonel” defies … Continue reading The Paradoxical Dance of English: An Ode to Linguistic Quirks

Critical Thinking

Posted on by Reena Saxena

Let’s face it. Critical thinking is all about structured thinking. It is like the financial modelling we do on Excel sheets by inserting data in a chart and arriving at conclusions that look sane because many others have been there and done that. It applies well to problem-solving, decision-making, learning, research, and analysis. It can … Continue reading Critical Thinking

Instability

Posted on by Reena Saxena

As India and the United States of America prepare for elections, comparisons between certain characters on both sides abound. The ruling party needs to show that it has fulfilled its promises. In the post-truth era, juggling figures is not a big deal, and the masses do not want to get involved in math. Narratives are … Continue reading Instability

Why/How/Where do I blog?

Posted on by Reena Saxena

When I need to express myself in short posts, I do it here on this site – in the form of flash fiction and poetry. I like the community engagement here, and it keeps bringing me back. Another one on WordPress is Empowered Women, which has been abandoned for some time. I chastise myself for … Continue reading Why/How/Where do I blog?

Commercial breaks

Posted on by Reena Saxena

I’m not much of a TV watcher. But from whatever little I do, what irks me most are celebrities endorsing harmful products. Almost every actor worth his stardom is endorsing some online game with a disclaimer “Addiction can cause financial losses. Play responsibly.” It is a disease that will destroy the financial wellness of idle … Continue reading Commercial breaks

Hunter, FM and Chhotu

Posted on by Reena Saxena

We used to feed a stray cat, Kitty, who loved to spend long hours on our couch or carpet. I learned that cats can trust when she delivered under our bed and made us parents. We were busy raising three kittens for the next five months, and each one of them taught us a different … Continue reading Hunter, FM and Chhotu

Progress

Posted on by Reena Saxena

I don’t like listening to remixes of songs. I feel as if dissonance is imposed on the original, sweet, harmonious rhythm. But what about someone who has never heard the original, and needs fast music on the dance floor? It is tailor-made to suit their requirement. This is how progress happens – break the old … Continue reading Progress

Wisdom of Insanity

Posted on by Reena Saxena

Science should not conclude that what we do not know, does not exist', Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev says Sadhguru in his interview with Steven Pinker, experimental psychologist and author.  I would modify it slightly to say that what we do not accept, does not exist. It happens every time we decry a story being peddled by an … Continue reading Wisdom of Insanity

Messages from the Dead

Posted on by Reena Saxena

The encounters with the paranormal are not all my own, but experienced by me and my close family whom I trust. MY DOG Chappy is perhaps my most loved child (a furry, 4-legged one) whom I lost in 2005. I was broken completely, as I was going through a tough phase and she left me … Continue reading Messages from the Dead