Musings of a mermaid

Red Herring Description of Red Herring:A Red Herring is a fallacy in which an irrelevant topic is presented in order to divert attention from the original issue. The basic idea is to "win" an argument by leading attention away from the argument and to another topic. Finance:A preliminary prospectus,subject to amendment for an issue of security:from the notice printed on the front in ink. This sort of "reasoning" has the following form: 1. Topic A is under discussion. 2. Topic B is introduced under the guise of being relevant to topic A (when topic B is actually not relevant to topic A). 3. Topic A is abandoned. This sort of "reasoning" is fallacious because merely changing the topic of discussion hardly counts as an argument against a claim. Examples of Red Herring# "We admit that this measure is popular. But we also urge you to note that there are so many bond issues on this ballot that the whole thing is getting ridiculous. # "Argument" f

An Indian walks into a New York City bank and asks to see the loan officer. He says he is going to Europe on business for two weeks and Needs to borrow $5,000. The bank officer says the bank will need some kind of security for such a loan, so the man hands over the keys of a new Rolls Royce parked on the street in front of the bank. Everything is checked out, and the bank agrees to accept the car as collateral for the loan. An employee drives the Rolls into the bank's underground garage and parks it there. Two weeks later, the man returns, repays the $5,000 and the interest, which comes to $15.41. The loan officer says, "We are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and found that u are a multimillionaire. What puzzles us is why would you bother to borrow just $5,000?" The Indian replied," Where else in New York can I park my car for two weeks for 15 buc

There was this faint crying sound which I vividly remember.Had a peep through the window.It was a small puppy,brownish in color,standing near the gate sniffing the ground.Where did it come from?May be it got lost or the Mother had gone away leaving it to look after itself or someone who did not want it got it here and left. So small,good-looking,bright .Just not like any other dog who roamed the streets in the neighbourhood..A stray dog-unloved,un-cared for,hungry,cold,lonely and chased by everyone. My heart melted at once for the thought of this puppy growing into a stray dog.I went back home,brought some milk and through the grill of the gate offered it by placing a small bowl.The puppy moved back,trembling in fear,its stringy tail struck behind its twiggy hind legs.The eyes rolled,showing whites-indicating fears.I moved back.Now it stopped moving and eyed suspiciously.Small encouraging sounds were made by clicking the tongue.Now the tail came out and it wagged it once or twice hesit

“Fate chooses our relatives, we choose our friends”,quipped Jacques Delili.As we grow up and form preferences,we develop definite idea on what should determine our friendship. One can be good friends with one’s own parents,bros and sis.Cousins generally make up suitable friends as they belong to the family but we are not too closely related and so have objectivity and detachment. Intelligence and good judgement is what makes a valuable friend and he is one who has interests at heart.Though rivalry and healthy competition are desirable among friends,jealousy has no place in this wonderful friendship.It does not help to have a friend who is not interested in studies or has bad habits for we are judged by the company we keep and bad habits are more contagious than deadly diseases. Since friendship is such a cherished concept great writers have waxed eloquent about it.When friends have been timed and tested,”….grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel”,said Shakesphere.His play,Timon of

The two characters,a lady and a doctor,whose names had the suffix of “Ism” in the English language were Mrs.Malaprop and Dr.Spooner . Mrs.Malaprop was actually a character in Sheridan’s play entitled “The rivals” wherein she spoke a sentence:”She is as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of Nile”.The word "allegory" was used instead of the word “alligator”.Another one Dance a Flamingo,instead of "Flamenco".When using a difficult word and getting it wrong,and ridiculously misusing or pronouncing it,it is termed “ Malapropism .” In the case of Dr.Spooner he has the habit of having the intitial letters of words mixed up.The time-old example was:”An under-gratuate had hissed all the mistery lectures.” He wanted to say “missed all history lectures.” Other examples of Spoonerism could be” “It is a tip of the slung(slip of the tongue) and “Will you please take me?”(make tea).” Mr.X took the town drain to Bangalore”(down train)

Life is a always like a game of chess,we play it with nature.Our mind and heart are the pawns and the prize is happiness.We have the first move and nature plays the counter-move.Our moves are choices and the counters are consequences.Interestingly,nature always wants us to win.But it’s we,who either reject it or postpone it. Life is indeed a game.Play caustiously and be prudent in assigning priorities in life.Then life is simple. “A rose given in life is always better than orchids in grave”.