An abode for write ups and paintings

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I found myself looking at a bunch of pens on a friend’s desk recently.  Having some time to kill I wanted something to do.  A couple of Pilot rollerball’s caught my eye & I decided to make a comparison

The Pilot V7 Hi-Tecpoint is a refillable rollerball pen, available in a 0.7 size, writing a 0.5mm line, and also a 0.5 size (the V5), and in red, blue, green and red. The black version is properly black, which, sadly, makes a nice change from the grey you so often get.

The Pilot V7 is great to write with. The nib is smooth (as opposed to the V5, which I found to be a little scratchy, even taking into account that it’s narrower) and lays down a very consistent, though pretty wet, line.

AUTHOR : Satish Y. Deodhar

SUMMARY

“If there’s a book you really want to read but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” - Toni Morrison.

This book solely suffices this idea and caters to the ever growing curiosity in minds of readers who want to explore the field of economics and are in general concerned with the institutions and  decisions which we encounter in our day to lives. This book has been written to act as an instrument to get us introduced with the critical elements of Economics which we encounter in our day to day life.

: REVIEW OF THE BOOK

Day to day economics is a book for all those who want to understand the economy specially in Indian context. This book primarily covers the key institutions and structures and has been divided into chapters in order to explain each of them meticulously. Let us look through some:

Medley of government and the private sector: This chapter opens up as the pilot to the book and explains us the concept and purpose of existence of the government. It explains to us how the government, as an institution, defines the rights and obligations of citizens and secures them by enacting and enforcing laws. It also explains to us the different aspects of the government: the law and judiciary, police, defence, and administration. It takes us through some of the core concepts as to how the government functions in relation to the existence of private firms and helps us find answers to some key questions such as why does the army work under the government and why can’t it be privatised. 

In Budget, deficit and taxation; the author takes us through the evolution of the concept of budget, its importance in an economic scenario, and how the nation budget of a country affects an individual’s economic decisions.

: In a later chapter, the author talks about money and its existence in the society, the roles which it plays and how is it important in mankind’s existence. The author also takes us back to the inception of bank - the goldsmiths, and explains us through the modern-day concept of the sharemarket and shareholders. 

In the chapter of freer trade and the world trade organisation, the author explains us the trade theories and how have they shaped up the concept of free trade, and how realistically things have been different; how restriction in free trade led to the world wars and how the World Trade Organisation was formed eventually. 

In the chapter called anatomy of inflation, the author explains to us the concept of inflation, when does it happen and why does it happen. Through this, we also discover the idea of a business cycle and get the vivid understanding of the different forces which govern the economy and the business cycle.

The lucid style of writing and the non-usage of technical management oriented jargons is something which really makes this book an easy picking for anybody. There are a lot of areas where the author has striked the perfect balance between history (evolution) and present day scenario of a specific economic model or entity. What really interests me is the fact that the author has, instead of diving straight into core concepts of Economics like demand, supply and market; has tried to orient and familiarise us with the basic institutions which shapes an economy and influences us in our day to day life.

: LEARNINGS FROM THE BOOK

"INSIDE OF A DOG "

AUTHOR: Alexandra Herowitz

SUMMARY

“It is when language stops that we connect

most fully

”

Alexandra Herowitz, explains that the non-linguistic silence

of a dog is the most enduring trait about them. In short,

this book is devoted to understand a dog

’

s perspective of

the world: what it’

s like to be able to smell not only food

but emotions, or even the passage of time? what’

s it’

s like

to use your mouth as a hand? or experience life from two

feet off the ground, gazing at human

’

s ankles and knees?

ABOUT THE

AUTHOR

A psychologist with a PhD in cognitive science,

Alexandra Horowitz has studied behaviour in humans and

animals and Inside of a Dog is the result of her studies of

numerous canines. Herowitz began her career observing

rhinos and bonobos, which are apparently much more

respectable subjects for a young graduate. Then she

took a camera to her local park to film other people

'

s

dogs and, sitting through hours of footage, realised that

she was watching

"

a complex dance requiring mutual

cooperation, split-second communications and-

assessments of each other

'

s abilities and desires. The

slightest turn of a head or the point of a nose now

seemed directed, meaningful."

R E V I E W

A N D E V A L U A T I O N

The heart of Herowitz's work is an empathetic

quest to experience the world from a dog's

perspective. In every chapter she has cited

examples of her own dog, Pumpernickel,

which illustrates the beautiful relationship of a

dog and his owner. Professionally she is wary of

anthropomorphising animals, that is,

attributing human characteristics or behaviour

on them; this is the most intriguing aspect of

the book.

She takes the reader on a beautiful ride to

understand the world through the dog’s

sensory organs. Not only the exceptionally

sensitive olfactory system but also the

uniqueness of the vomeronasal organ that can

detect fear, anxiety or sadness attains special

mention. Imagine how he must feel when he

goes out on a walk, assaulted by all the smells

around him because he can not only establish

what those smells are, he can also smell a time

line – where a paw print came before another,

where one smell has been overlaid by another.

To see the world through the dog’s eyes from

two feet off the ground is one hell of an

experience . As for dogs’ ability to respond to

language, it has more to do with the “prosody”

of our utterances than the words themselves.

Herowitz also discusses about the evolutionary

history of dogs, claiming their descent from

wolves. “Dogs do not form true packs,” she

writes. “They scavenge or hunt small prey

individually or in parallel,” rather than

cooperatively, as wolves do. Herowitz reminds

us of one obvious but easily forgotten

difference between our perspective and a

dog's: they are much closer to the ground.

Dogs , unlike wolves are keen observers and

can interpret human behaviours: They take

their cues from their owners, following our

wishes and learning how to use us to get what

they want.

Mostinterestingly, Herowitzdescribes how dogs also

learn to confirm our prejudices about other people.

Dog owners often claim that their pet is a good

judge of character; in fact, when their dog greets a

stranger with a wagging tail orraised hackles, he will

be mimicking his owner's own unconscious signals,

which he has gleaned through body language and

smells.

In crisp, clear prose, she draws on herresearch in the

field of dog cognition to give readers a sense of a

dog’sperceptual andcognitive abilities—andpaints a

picture of what the canine experience is like.

Horowitz’s own scientific journey, and the insights

she uncovered, allowed her to understand her dog

betterandappreciatehermore.

The tone of the book at times is perplexing: an

almost insistence on the value of dogs, as if they’d

long been neglected by world opinion. But then

Herowitz will drop in some lovely observation, some

unlikely study, some odd detail that causes one’s

dog-loving heart to flutter with astonishment and

gratitude.

Although I have never had the opportunity to pet a

dog at home, but I am a keen observer of their

behaviour. Beingadogperson, Ithoroughly enjoyed

the book and the way Herowitz contradicted the

habitofanthropomorphismonthem.

On a scale of 10, I would give this book a 7. I would

recommend it to anyone and everyone who

considers themadogperson.

L E A R N I N G S

F R O M T H E B O O K

Thisbookhas got a lot ofthings todeliverto the readers. The reader can

gather an impressive amount of information on the biology of dogs —

their sensory abilities,theirbehaviour — andonthepsychologyofdogs —

theircognition.

I gained an insight of the efforts made to study animal cognition.It was

also interesting to know how the relationship between dog and man

evolved.Theprimarylearningis thattobeabletounderstandtheirworld

throughtheireyesandnotbyanthropomorphisingthem.

Although this book certainly isn't a training manual, Herowitz offers all

kindsofuseful advice fordogowners. Suchas “Let yourdogdawdle and

sniff”, she suggests,ratherthan yanking himon a speedy jog aroundthe

park”.”Don'tbathehimtoooften;he'dmuchrather smellofhimselfthan

shampoo”. Sheneatlydismisses several ofthe simplistic theories that are

oftentrottedoutbytrainers.

To be able to get into the mind of the dog and have a glimpse at the

dog’s point of view have changed my perception on that furry pile of

dogness.

#NSHM

Theme . Food

#maractivities

Theme :Lockdown .

#maractivities

A small cottage in the middle of a lifeless world, kinda dilapidated yet zestful. The warmth bestowed by the fireplace at the isolated corner was the only almost-life-like stuff that night;

And obviously , Pillow, just in case you don’t know her, she is my pet; but in my dreams .

Not a cold loving person as such, so had to cover up this bulky mass with some warm stuffs.

Its was a roofless abode I must mention.

A window on the roof, to be precise.

Lying on the cozy couch, I witnessed something magical , just above my head.

Just close your eyes and imagine the universe being captivated in a bowl hanging from the top . Imagine that you have no one other than the huge white ball up in the sky garnished with some stardusts and topped with bits and pieces of the dark blue sky.

The Moon was quite awake that night.

So, me and Pillow decided having a chit-chat with Him. He mostly talked about his mother, Earth and remained nostalgic while recapitulating his childhood days. If somehow you are curious about the language we were talking in, I must mention ,none of us were actually uttering any word. The only means of communication was nostalgia ; unuttered , unexplained. Days when we used to be free and young; green and pure. There was no room for complaints, except about chocolates and toys .

Bits and pieces of memories gathered and shared; words remained unuttered yet the ambience was humming with various familiar sounds and vibrations. I could have written a little more if my dad wouldn’t have interrupted my sleep rather my dream .

The Moon has always been a part of my dreams and this one wasn’t an exception too.

The succeeding night turned out to be a déjà vu .

As soon as I turned off the lights and surrendered myself to the bed , a silver incandescence usually never welcome peeped through the window . The thought of drawing the curtains was hindered as soon as my eyes caught a glimpse of someone very familiar and intimate up above the wild blue yonder.

He was like a shimmering orris-silver salver hanging from the lonely sky. The sky seemed like an uninhabited island hoarding a magic ball in the middle , vibrant enough to enlighten the ambience ,hopeful enough to shower assurance on every creature beneath .His grace and elegance doomed me in some unalloyed numbness. An incomprehensive feeling of oblivion filled my lungs. I couldn’t take my eyes off the imperfection and asymmetry created by the sensual allure of those scars on his face.

Its was different and magical.

Have you ever talked to the moon? Have you ever thought of befriending him?

No ,right? Neither did I .

In a world where movie halls make more money than coffee shops, where facebook statuses hold more reactions than the amygdalae, where gifts are appreciated more than blessings, where friendship is confined in filling the galleries and not the souls, where inboxes are heavier than letter boxes and where love is a luxury , I made a new friend , the night friend.