Category Archives: Writing

2023 Words of the Year

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Every year, dictionaries and language authorities take up the mantle of word sleuths, scouring the linguistic landscape for the term that best captures the zeitgeist of the past twelve months. These words of the year transcend mere dictionary definitions, acting as cultural barometers and reflecting our anxieties, aspirations, and the shifting sands of our collective consciousness.

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Oxford Dictionary
The Oxford Dictionary, the venerable custodian of the English language, crowned “rizz” its 2023 Word of the Year. Born in the effervescent realm of online slang, “rizz” defies easy definition. It encompasses charm, charisma, and an almost magnetic ability to attract and impress. Think smooth moves, witty repartee, and the undeniable swagger that makes hearts flutter and heads turn.

“Rizz” isn’t just a word; it’s a cultural phenomenon. Its meteoric rise reflects the growing influence of internet slang and the democratization of language itself. It’s a testament to the power of Gen Z to carve their linguistic niche, one meme and TikTok video at a time.

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Dictionary.com
Across the pond, Dictionary.com chose “hallucinate” as its word of the year. But fear not, no mass psychosis is upon us! This “hallucinate” refers not to the clinical variety but to the ever-blurring lines between reality and the increasingly sophisticated simulations crafted by artificial intelligence.

From deepfakes that make anyone say anything to the hyper-curated realities of social media, “hallucinate” captures the unsettling yet seductive power of technology to bend and reshape our perception of the world. It’s a cautionary tale in the age of digital illusion, urging us to remain discerning travellers within the labyrinthine landscapes of the virtual.

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Merriam-Webster
For Merriam-Webster, the quest for authenticity reigned supreme. In a world awash in filters and facades, “authentic” emerged as the word that resonated most deeply. It’s a yearning for genuineness, for connection beyond the carefully constructed personas we present online and offline.

“Authentic” reflects a growing societal desire for transparency, for experiences and relationships that ring true. It’s a pushback against the tide of artifice, a call to embrace our vulnerabilities and celebrate the unique tapestry of our narratives.

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Collins Dictionary
Collins Dictionary has crowned “AI,” the ubiquitous acronym for artificial intelligence, as its Word of the Year for 2023. This potent choice reflects the undeniable pervasiveness of AI in every corner of our lives, from healthcare to art, entertainment to ethics.

From self-driving cars navigating city streets to language models like myself parsing your questions, AI has become the invisible hand shaping our reality in profound and often unsettling ways. Choosing “AI” as the Word of the Year isn’t just a recognition of its technological prowess, but a call to examine its ever-expanding role in our society and, crucially, to define the future we want AI to forge for us.

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Cambridge Dictionary
Cambridge has also chosen “Hallucinate” as its word of the year. The surge of interest in this word has been prompted by an abundance of tools being released for public use, all of which depend on large language models. With this new technology comes a new language. Many existing words, such as hallucinate, have adopted additional AI-related meanings this year as well.

The Cambridge Dictionary team chose hallucinate as its Word of the Year 2023 as it recognized that the new meaning gets to the heart of why people are talking about AI. Generative AI is a powerful tool but one we’re all still learning how to interact with safely and effectively. This means being aware of both its potential strengths and its current weaknesses.

While 2023 threw its fair share of curveballs, the diverse tapestry of ‘Words of the Year’ also whispers a story of resilience, innovation, and a search for meaning. As we step into the unknown of 2024, let these words serve as a compass, guiding us towards authenticity, connection, and perhaps a sprinkle of digital rizz along the way. So, which ‘Word of the Year’ resonates most with you?

Poem: New Year, New Beginnings

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New Year, New Beginnings

The clock strikes twelve, a year takes flight,
Leaving echoes in the falling night.
Confetti rains, a glittering shroud,
On memories whispered, on dreams avowed.

Then dawn ignites, a canvas bare,
Painted by the hopes that fill the air.
Resolutions bloom like fragile buds.
Visions whispered where doubt once thudded.

Unburdened steps, on frosted streets,
Embrace the chill and the promise it brings.
For yesterday’s scars, though faint they trace,
Hold no dominion in this open space.

Let go of burdens, shed the tears,
With laughter’s light, dispel past fears.
Each page unturned, a chance to soar,
To rewrite stories, mend, and explore.

Embrace the dawn; let the echoes ring.
A melody of hope, like a sparrow’s wing,
New beginnings, a phoenix’s flight,
Rising from ashes to the morning light.

So raise a glass, to chapters turned,
Dreams ignited, lessons learned.
May this new year bring joy and happiness.
Fill every corner with light and zero bias.

Let resolutions soar, like kites on high,
As aspirations blossom, reaching the sky,
The New Year is a canvas, pure and bright.
A masterpiece of chances, bathed in light.

In the New Year, like a blooming flower,
We find the strength, the inner power.
The year lies open, a boundless quest,
It’s a new year and with these new beginnings, everything is blessed.

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2023 Wrap-up

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2023 was a decent year for me. The TL&DR version would read like this: I walked a lot, read a lot, started a new job and enjoyed time with my family!

This year, I read 70 books and crushed my annual goal of 52 books. This means I averaged roughly 1.5 books per week. I hope this trend continues in 2024 too, but with subscriptions to multiple OTT platforms and work, it will take some effort to make time to read.

I also managed to reach the retirement community where my parents live in early June and start my walk back to Singapore. This year, I walked about 3000 km and am currently very close to the coastal city of Visakhapatnam.

In terms of work, I managed to snag a good job, one where I can contribute to society as well as my family. It’s also quite fulfilling and I enjoy going to work and the company of my coworkers.

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This year, both BB and GG graduated from polytechnics. And for the first time in her educational journey, GG graduated with a higher cGPA than BB! BB spent the three years at the polytechnic mostly playing games and not being 100% present during online classes. GG has since then started university and will graduate with a degree in accountancy, hopefully with an honours degree. BB, on the other hand, is currently doing his compulsory service to the nation, his National Service.

I also finally visited my parents with S and the children for a couple of weeks and on the way back home, my parents came to Singapore with me. This was most likely their last overseas trip and I was so happy that it was to Singapore.

So, all in all, I am pretty satisfied with the year that was. As we move into 2024, I will take with me the lessons I learned in the year and want to carry forward all the good things that happened in 2023 so that 2024 is a better version of this year.

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Short Story: A Christmas Love Story

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The melody that snagged Elara’s attention on that wintry eve wasn’t just any tune. It was a lament, both mournful and strangely beautiful, weaving through the wind and the waves like a thread of moonlight. Driven by an inexplicable pull, she followed the music’s invisible path, her heart drumming a counterpoint to the ocean’s rhythm.

The path led her down a meandering trail, past gnarled trees that stretched skeletal fingers towards the sky and dunes whispering secrets in the salt-laced breeze. Finally, it opened up to a hidden cove, a crescent of sand cradled by towering cliffs. And there, bathed in the silver glow of the moon, stood a solitary figure.

He was as rugged and windswept as the landscape itself, his face etched with the stories of a thousand storms and his eyes the color of the winter sky. His hair, streaked with salt and sun, danced in the breeze, framing a smile that was both shy and radiant. He held a violin, its wood worn smooth by time, and as he played, the music spun around them, a spellbinding tapestry of joy and sorrow, of memories and new beginnings.

Elara found herself drawn to him, not just by the captivating music but by the spark in his eyes, a reflection of the same ember that had flickered to life within her own heart. They talked that night under the vast, star-studded canopy, his words as captivating as the melodies he played. He spoke of faraway lands, of vibrant cultures and ancient wisdom, of mountains that sang and of deserts that whispered tales of forgotten times.

Each day that followed became a canvas woven with the threads of their connection. They explored hidden coves and sun-drenched meadows, Finn teaching Elara the language of the wind and the waves and the secrets etched in the weathered faces of the cliffs. He brought laughter back into her life, a sound that had been dormant for far too long. In turn, Elara shared the island’s secrets with him: the symphony of gulls at dawn, the fiery sunsets bleeding into the sea, and the hidden poetry in the sway of the windswept grasses.

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The island, once a haven of solitude, became a crucible of transformation. They sat by crackling driftwood fires, sharing stories of love and loss, of dreams and disappointments. Elara spoke of Thomas, of the love that still bloomed in the garden of her memories, and the weight of grief that had threatened to consume her. Finn listened with a heart as vast as the ocean, his presence a balm to her wounds.

As the wind rustled through the holly bushes, and the first snow dusted the cliffs, a seed of something new blossomed in Elara’s heart. It wasn’t a replacement for the love she’d lost, but a different melody, a harmony that resonated with the echoes of the past. It was a love born not from forgetting, but from acceptance, from carrying the weight of grief alongside the glimmer of hope.

On Christmas Eve, under a sky glittering with a million diamond stars, Finn led Elara back to the hidden cove. He had built a bonfire, its flames dancing like playful tongues against the night sky. In his hands, he held a single, wind-polished seashell, a pearl nestled within its pearly embrace.

“This island,” he said, his voice husky with emotion, “has whispered your name to me since the moment I arrived. You, Elara, are just as much a part of its song as the crashing waves and the singing gulls.”

He placed the shell in her hand, the warmth of the pearl seeping into her palm. And in that moment, tears brimming in her eyes, Elara knew. This wasn’t just a Christmas miracle; it was a testament to the enduring power of love, a promise of a future where joy and sorrow could coexist, where new melodies could rise from the ashes of the past.

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Together, they decorated the cottage with seashells and driftwood, stringing tiny fish bones as makeshift fairy lights. They sang carols, their voices rough but joyous, a chorus against the lonely symphony of the island. And as the first rays of Christmas morning painted the sky, Elara, hand in Finn’s, felt a warmth bloom in her heart.

Life on the island would never be the same. But amidst the whispers of the waves and the cries of the gulls, a new melody had begun. Elara and Finn became an integral part of the island’s tapestry, their love story interwoven with the whispers of the sea and the rustling palms.

Mumbai vs Delhi: A Friendly Rivalry – Yes or No?

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Growing up in Mumbai, there was always this sense of rivalry between my city and India’s commercial capital, Mumbai and India’s capital, New Delhi. Introduction. This rivalry is age-old, one that has sparked countless debates, friendly banter, and good-natured arguments across India—the rivalry between Delhi, the nation’s capital, and Mumbai, its bustling commercial hub.

A city steeped in history and heritage, Delhi, because it is the nation’s capital, carries the weight of the nation’s past, present, and future on its broad shoulders. Delhi’s historical significance is undeniable. From the grandeur of the Mughal Empire to the colonial legacy of the British Raj, the city’s architecture and monuments reflect a rich and diverse tapestry of history. The Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb, and Qutub Minar stand as testaments to Delhi’s regal past.

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Delhi’s cultural diversity is another hallmark of the city. With residents hailing from all corners of India, Delhi is a melting pot of languages, cuisines, and traditions. The street food here is legendary, from mouthwatering chaats to the delectable kebabs of Old Delhi.

As the political heart of the nation, Delhi houses India’s key government institutions, including the Parliament and the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Residence). The city’s grand boulevards and iconic landmarks serve as symbols of India’s democratic ideals and governance.

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Now, let’s make our way to western India, to India’s commercial and financial capital, Mumbai. This city is synonymous with opportunity, dreams, and an unstoppable spirit. Often dubbed as “Mayanagari” or the “City of Illusions” and “Maximum City”, Mumbai is home to India’s Hindi film industry or Bollywood, where dreams come to life on the silver screen. The Indian Hindi film industry, centred in Mumbai, produces thousands of films each year, enchanting audiences across the globe. It’s a city where stars are born and legends are made.

Mumbai is the economic powerhouse of India. The city’s thriving financial district houses the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and numerous multinational corporations. Its bustling streets and markets are a testament to India’s entrepreneurial spirit.

One of Mumbai’s defining features is its stunning coastline, overlooking the Arabian Sea. The Marine Drive, often referred to as the “Queen’s Necklace,” is a breathtaking promenade offering panoramic views of the city’s iconic skyline.

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Delhiites, known for their love of history and tradition, often think that Mumbai is all about glamour and showbiz, lacking the depth of Delhi’s cultural heritage. On the other hand, Mumbaikars argue that their city’s cultural diversity and open-mindedness make it a true melting pot of ideas and creativity. I think this point goes to Mumbai because of the sheer diversity found in the city, where people mind their own business and no one cares where the other is from.

Delhi’s residents often pride themselves on their city’s measured pace of life, where history is savoured at every turn. In contrast, Mumbaikars, famous for their fast-paced lifestyle, appreciate the efficiency and dynamism of their city. This point could go either way, depending on what kind of lifestyle one prefers.

Delhiites claim their city as the culinary capital of India, with its rich array of traditional dishes and street food. Mumbaikars, on the other hand, tout their street food scene as unmatched, with delectable vada pavs and pav bhajis. This one belongs to Delhi. The food scene in Delhi is unmatched elsewhere in India and even Mumbai’s famed street food can’t beat the food and ambience in the capital.

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The rivalry even extends to the monsoon season. While Delhi welcomes the rain with open arms, appreciating the respite from scorching summers, Mumbaikars are known for their resilience during the annual deluge, continuing with their daily lives regardless of the downpour. This point belongs to Mumbai. The entire state of Maharashtra becomes lush and green during the monsoon season and the Mumbai monsoon is a thing of beauty (but not when the streets get flooded and life stops). A stroll at the Gateway of India or on Marine Drive during the rains is something that must be done while visiting the city during this season.

In the grand tapestry of India’s cultural diversity, the rivalry between Delhi and Mumbai holds a special place. It’s a lighthearted competition that keeps both cities striving for excellence. It sparks creativity, encourages healthy debate, and celebrates the unique identities of each city. Ultimately, the rivalry between Delhi and Mumbai is a microcosm of India’s broader cultural diversity and unity. These two cities, though different in many ways, represent the essence of India’s motto, “Unity in Diversity.” They coexist, thrive, and contribute to the nation’s progress in their unique ways.

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Delhi, with its regal heritage and political prominence, stands as a testament to India’s storied past. Mumbai, the bustling metropolis of dreams and commerce, symbolizes India’s entrepreneurial spirit and dynamism.

So, here’s to Delhi and Mumbai, two cities that may have their differences, but together, they represent the vibrant and diverse spirit of India. In the end, it’s not a matter of which city is better; it’s about celebrating the unique charms, contributions, and friendly rivalry that make both Delhi and Mumbai exceptional in their own right.