Censorship can be loosely defined as the suppression of content in any form of communicative material that may be considered sensitive, harmful or objectionable by a censor. When talking of issues pertaining to a nations security, censorship finds a well-qualified place. However, in a society like today's, it is ludicrous to expect that censorship of improper content and language in public media by a government body or any other agency will in any way do good to mankind. Most especially when the argument being made is scattered with loosely defined words like "improper content" and "questionable language".

Censorship has in one form or the other prevailed in society over centuries. A this-is-right-and-this-is-wrong standpoint by any one particular body only serves to create feelings of unrest and consternation in one party or the other and hence should not be advocated. The ambiguity of what can or cannot be viewed only lends itself to such controversy. It is for each individual to decide for himself/herself, what content is appropriate and what is not, and in the case of a minor it is the responsibility of the concerned guardian or parent.

That the reduction in portrayal of violence in the media will somehow decrease crime rate is an argument that is flawed from the word 'that'. The causes of violence go beyond portrayals of anger and might in the media, and those are the ones that need to be researched and dealt with. An argument based on such a basis is comparable to claiming that it is the printing industry that is responsible for child abuse, that the banks are being robbed because Mr. Bachan does it in some movie, or that children have started smoking because they've heard that Mr. Khan does so.

Allowing censorship by a governing body would mean handing over a tool to certain sects of society that would not hesitate to use this to further their own propaganda, which is NOT unheard of in today's world. For example, a dictatorial regime could use such policing to suppress the spread of politically sensitive content and the rise of resistance. Or a theocratic government, as we have seen in the case of Europe, could use and has used such means to oppress the masses, thwart invention and the hinder the quest for knowledge. Governments have been known to and accused of using censorship to falsify scientific research, school- textbook material, amongst other things to abet its own interests.

Also, in the world of the world wide web it is absolutely farcical to think it is possible to try and control what content is available, what can be viewed and by whom. The problem is only compounded by the fact that the technology is only emerging and is hence more vulnerable.

Censorship not only curbs the right to freedom of expression but also prevents open debate about sensitive social and religious issues like homosexuality, prostitution, etc. An intellectually stimulating discussion of such like matter is of prime importance in not only creating awareness but also in impeding the creation and spread of fanatical sentiments.

Promotion of sensible and realistic censorship at home is a more pragmatic proposition. Yes, young minds are impressionable- but it would be fallacious to think that one could control somehow a child's perception by just removing a few scenes from a movie or beeping the bad words. It could be just an ordinary bus ride that could teach him about chain snatching, absolutely atrocious language and sexual abuse- what do you, stop him from taking the bus? Parental guidance is the need of the hour. The concerned bodies can be brought in to bring about regulation of timing of shows, after a survey and a generalization of the TV-time that children are allowed- this being the extent to which these bodies are allowed to exert power.

To conclude, it is absolutely imperative that a child/ person be aware of what is happening in and around the world he lives in and later has to face. This will facilitate the individual in equipping himself/herself to not only thrive but also prosper by making informed decisions that are based on a thorough understanding and analysis of consequences of what has happened and issues that are being created by what is happening today. Disallowing particular things in one region of the world is not going to stop people from just migrating to a place where these things are not illegal. Only prevention of the availability of "improper" content in public media does not in any way reduce the chances of a person being exposed to them, and in these cases caught unawares.

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Sentences you've GOT to use at least once in your lifetime

1. It was neither the lack of acuity nor that of acumen that actuated her drop into an abyss of academic abasement and her climb to the acme of acerbity ever seen in a lady.

2. The hirsute hoary filled with hubris of his hortatory talent failed to see how humdrum his homilies actually were.

I FINALLY managed to sit down and study today!! And not for five minutes, but a whole two and a half to three hours!! And I intend to put in the same amount in the night. It's a change to not being able to call myself a laggard.

Laggard, comes from "lag" and hence is hence what Joey calls a "freebie". It refers to a person who is lazy. 'Could also be used to call someone a slowpoke or a loafer. (Which is NOT how I used it when I was refering to me :D) In share markets, it's used to refer to a stock which is underperforming.

Which also means that holidays are officially over for me. I had a month, which is more than I had planned to spend- and hence, now it is time to make up for it. I really don't sound as excited as I am at the prospect. Really. Pinky swear. Oh wait, I can't lie then! *takes it back, takes it all back*

It IS a different sort of excitement. Which I really will describe when verbosity is not an issue. The reason of the "excitement" though, is pretchy simple- An excellent CAT score, and ultimately an admission into one of the IIMs, which for me will mark the start of halcyon times.

Halcyon derives from Latin (h)alcyon, from Greek halkuon, "a mythical bird, kingfisher." This bird is one that is fabled to nest at sea about the time of the winter solstice and calm the waves during incubation.

We use the word as an adjective to mean "serene, calm, peaceful, undisturbed" in "deep halcyon repose". Or to mark "peace and prosperity" as in "halcyon years" which is how I have used it.

We're probably the funniest family on the planet- we write emails to talk to each other. And it's not like we reside at opposite ends of the planet- we live under the very same roof. Whatever the means, I've said what I had to say. And am finally, pleasantly, relieved.

"This dark, opprobrious den of shame," states Milton. Opprobrium>,the noun form of the word, hence, refers to reproach or disgrace that is caused by something outrageously shameful.

F.D.Roosevelt uses a synonymous word infamy to mark a date as, "a date which will live in infamy". The opposite of which when used with respect to people means roughly translates to celebrity.

Speaking of shamefulness an obloquy is the usage of abusive/ slanderous/ censorious language used to defame a person. It's easier to remember than opprobrious because it derives from two very simple roots- ob which means "against" + loqui "to speak" .

Addison uses it in the same way when he asks "Shall names that made your city the glory of the earth be mentioned with obloquy and detraction?"

And with that, me childrens, good night.

Turns out, having too many songs at your disposal, isn't ALL that great. Because by the time you find just the "right" song, you're ready to move on. You get a Ben E. King "Stand by me" when you want to pound on something, and a Beatles "All you Need is Love" when THAT emotion is the last thing you want to even think about. You get the idea. I'm telling you, I spend most of my time just pressing the next button. Even with a shuffle on!

Also, The Happening, IS not all that you're hoping it will be. Here's a brilliant review on the same.

Words for the day?

1. I might refer to the general conviction and the common sense of society that such an investment cannot be treated as absolutely idle and nugatory.
Nugatory therefore refers to something that is trivial, ineffective, futile, something trifling.


2. Rannygazzo- is an awesome word I found in one of the Wodehouse s I was recently reading. It refers to "nonsense". For example, let's not pay attention to all that rannygazzo.

3. Picaresque is something that is of or pertaining to rogues or adventurers. Just like an article is picturesque when it talks about a beautiful scenery or to be precise describes a painting, picaresque comes from Spanish picaresco, from picaro, that means rogues and hence, the book on Robinhood is picaresque novel.

Hope you had a happy Monday!!

It's Friday the 13th, and I feel like writing.

Why is that a problem?

It's not a problem, it's just spooky.

*is singing How to Save A Life*

There's exactly one reason why I'd love to visit the states, other than "seeing the world"- it's to raid all the art shops they have. The fabric, the paper, the other tiny little accessories that make all the difference!!!

If you happen to be a member of any of these blog communities, you really should take the time to stop by the ones which are tagged with "Scrap booking" and if you're not, then you really should join one. People live such wholesome lives, and I keep thinking mine will be that way one day too. Only, I wonder why it can't be that way today?

I surprised myself with more wrong answers than right in a recent mock CAT, which is why henceforth, even if I have nothing to write- you will find a post on "word of the day", every day, at the very least. Verbal was supposed to be my strongest part!! Anyway, today's are actually very simple and appear in the newspapers alot-

1. The author has established the nexus between politicians and bureaucrats.
Nexus comes from nectere or to bind. It's mostly used to define a connection based on money between two or more parties.

2. The paperwork got lost in a quagmire of bureaucracy.
A quagmire hence represents a tangle (here) or a predicament of sorts.

3. Cassandra is used to refer to somebody who makes predictions which are never believed but turn out to be true.

According to Greek Mythology, Cassandra was the daughter of King Priam of Troy and his queen Hecuba, who captured the eye of Apollo and was granted the ability to see the future,as a gift from him. Love turned sour, and since he couldn't take the gift back he "extended" his gift so as to see to it that she would be destined to never be believed.

Moral of the story, my teacher informs me us, *wagging a suggesting finger towards the guys* is to be careful with what you give to your girl friends.

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As can be seen, I'm almost back to normal. So, be nice, and visit more often and let me know what you think!!

Lotsaluv always.