Smitten By Swift

Sometimes a song can lift you when you are down. A certain tune can bring back sweet memories or make you think of a wonderful time that lies ahead. Sometimes more than the lyrics, it’s the notes that make a first impression in your heart. The best way to feel good is to keep such a tune as your ringtone. As you get a call in the middle of a busy schedule, suddenly you feel divine, the tension is gone and you are lost and alone in midst of everyone.

When I first heart “Love Story” by Taylor Swift, I was experimenting with fresh country songs. The song struck me as a sweet love song, everyone has a love story and it was destined to remind me of mine. But as the initial phase passed out, I realised it’s the intro music which had caught my heart. The moment I heard the cute D progression, something nice happened inside. The lyrics are touching, as it’s always nice to hear a girl tell a boy “You are everything to me, I’m begging you, please don’t go....” The song starts with a sweet little rift which touches your heart and the lyrics are beautiful “We were both young when I first saw you, I close my eyes and the flashback starts, I’m standing there....” This will take everyone back to the moment when we first saw that special person in our life, because no matter whether we are in love or if we have love and lost, there are some ecstatic moments where the eye met the eye that we can never forget for the rest of our lives. The song is what it sounds, a love story, which might make you forget your present and plunge into the past if you are the romantic sorts.

“You Belong with Me” was the first Taylor Swift song I heard. A fast paced song with nice beats, this has a fresh lively feeling about it. It’s all about being so accustomed to having someone in your life that sometimes you do not understand her worth. How does she feel? Taylor Swift matches heartfelt lyrics with catchy tune and voila! You are obsessed! “I’m the one who makes you laugh, when you know you got to cry...”

And then I heard “White Horse”. Getting over someone is hard and the feelings that fall out of this song are priceless. Once your heart breaks, you are divided into two. One part of you wants back the life you had, because obviously that was divine, perfect. Losing someone could be sad, but looking back at millions of beautiful memories of togetherness makes the ordeal of life worthwhile. Moving on is harder when you cannot let go, you hold on to the many little precious moments and refuse to believe that things will be better. You forget the many times you have been let down, you just dismiss them. The other part is optimistic, looking forward towards a stronger self and a better life than what was. There is realisation of the truth... “I’m not a princess; this ain’t a fairy tale... I was a dreamer before you and you let me down; Now it’s too late for you and your white horse to come around...”White Horse is a really great song, in the way it makes you feel if you are going through the trauma or if you have a sane life, you can be moved by the sadness felt by the lady.

In the end I am completely smitten by Taylor Swift. Sweet voice, wonderful lyrics and heavenly tune! What more could a music lover want, I ask?

The Rhino Horn - Assam takes a Stand!

Ever since I shifted to Assam, it had been a hard time. Almost every other week there is news of a rhino being killed by poachers. Till date, already 5 Rhinos have fallen prey to poachers, 3 of them killed when they had strayed out in search of food or to avoid in-fighting. Last year, 14 Rhinos were killed by the poachers. Although rhinos are of large size and have a reputation of being tough, they are actually very easily poached. Because it visits water holes daily, the rhinoceros is easily killed while taking a drink. The sight of the Rhino carcass, with the horn missing is very demoralising.
But I was delighted to read a special report on the Telegraph dated 23.02.2010. Assam had finally taken a stand. Poachers mainly kill rhinos because of the vague medicinal value of their horns. These horns can easily fetch a few lakhs. Unfortunately even though human beings are supposedly superior to the rhinos in the stages of development, Rhinos know a basic truth which is a myth to the human fraternity. The horn is just a body part, a little different from our nails, but blessed with as much magical powers as them. But spiritual vandalism is the integral part of the human nature and thus, the horn becomes a keeper of magical powers, which can cure many dreaded illness and do great unexplained things! For the fanatic human belief, the Rhino has to pay. Its beauty is definitely its greatest enemy.
According to the report, nearly 1500 rhino horns, lying in different treasuries, will be burnt next month, possibly in the presence of members of international conservation agencies. This should provide a strong message to poachers and insane believers alike that the horn is, with the pun intended, price-less. The horn is not worth anything and neither does it have any magical powers. The Rhino horn is quite different from that of a sheep or antelope because unlike these creatures, the horn is not attached to the skull. It lacks the bony core that is characteristic of bovine animals. In other animals, the horn is composed of a bony core, covered by a thin sheath of keratin. Rhino horn is made entirely of compressed keratin fibres, the same material that is found in fingernails and hair! This study was carried out by Scientists at the Ohio University and they found that the horn contained dense mineral deposits made of calcium and melanin in the middle. According to the study, the calcium deposits make the horn core harder and stronger, and the melanin protects the core from breakdown by the sun’s UV rays. The softer outer portion of the horn weakens with sun exposure and is worn into its distinctive shape through horn clashing and by being rubbed on the ground and vegetation. The structure of the rhino horns is similar to a pencil’s tough lead core and weaker wood periphery, which allows the horns to be honed to a sharp point.
So it is irrational that the rhinoceros horn in powdered form is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, prescribed for fevers and convulsions. Doctors who practice Traditional Chinese Medicine mistakenly see rhinoceros horn as a life-saving medicine. Patients have no idea where these horns come from or what happens to the Rhino which loses its horn. Sadly, all of them die.
To prevent poaching, in certain areas, rhinos have been tranquilized and their horns removed, but this is not the answer to the problem. If this kind of practice is the only solution, very soon leopards will be skin-less, and elephants will have no tusks. Ironically, realisation of the larger section of the human race regarding the wild life is scarce. Humans are not at all compassionate towards the animal race. We sit back, expecting the Forest Department to act and when they fail, we cry treachery! Unfortunately, only the wild life personnel alone cannot save the world’s fauna, we all need to understand our roles here. Unless all the people act as one, the Rhino and its horn are going extinct, separately.
The Rhino horn is precious, and its beauty and genuine value lies where it truly belongs. Just like the Rhino is most beautiful in the wild, its horn is majestic when left intact. I wish to salute the Assam Forest Department for taking a stand and paving the correct path to sanctity. Hopefully, the common man shall follow soon.

Courtesy: The Telegraphy and the World Wide Web.