SimplyMaggies

It’s no secret (to anyone that knows me that is…) I’m a bit of a history buff. So the History Channel is a big treat for me, unfortunately I cannot really watch it here… Na matter, sometimes I get lucky when a few episodes are broadcast, for instance “The Lost Worlds”

The series is extremely absorbing and every week I find myself starring at the TV set with open mouth (not a pretty sight, I’m sure) and eat up every word and scene of each episode. “The Lost Worlds” provides information about the lost civilizations, such as Mayan, Inca, Minoan, Egyptian etc. The ides is to go to the sides where any given civilization lived and thrived and find any clues and evidence that isn’t necessarily commonly known. Based on this and with the help of modern technology, the scientists are able to reconstruct and present a picture of everyday life and the amazing achievements of the civilizations long past.

And often the images are mind-blowing! It certainly changes the perception of the ancient peoples that we got from history classes. It appears that most (if not all) of the civilizations that came before us were quite ingenious. Take Minoan society, for instance. They flourished about 4000 years ago, but what is most astonishing is that they had plumbing systems in all their cities, running warm and cold water to all their houses, extremely efficient sewage system that allowed them to have bathrooms on the upper floors (yes, they had a kind of flushing toilet; might’ve actually been the first flushing toilet in the history of human kind!). And yes, they built cities with streets (cobblestone but streets nonetheless) and building at least three stories high that didn’t look much different from the modern Mediterranean houses. Quite awe inspiring, especially when you remind yourself that it all existed 4000 years ago!

Hence, it leaves me thinking: if people had toilets and advanced plumbing systems, including running water, so long ago, what the hell happened in Medieval Ages?! It seems we took a huge step back in our development. Well, a lot of it had to do with a dominion of the Christian (Catholic, at that time) Church, which nipped in the butt any sign of independent thought. It’s common knowledge after all that uneducated masses are far easier to control. But that’s a subject for a whole new discussion.

Going back to the matter at hand, “The Lost Worlds” is an eye-opening series that will leave you gasping with awe. Even if you’re not quite taken up with history, you’d still find it interesting and enjoyable to watch. And you never know… there might just be a bit of history buff in you…

“As a new age dawns in England’s twelfth century, the building of a mighty Gothic cathedral sets the stage for a story of intrigue and power, revenge and betrayal. It is in this rich tapestry, where kings and queens are corrupt, that a common man shows eternal promise—and one majestic creation will bound them forever…” reads the firs page of the novel.

Ken Follet is an author of numerous international bestsellers but one of my personal favorites is “The Pillars of the Earth” (and Oprah’s obviously since she included it in her book club). It is an epic tale spanning nearly the whole 12th century (from 1123 to 1174) that will hold you from the very first to the very last page. And even though it is a pretty large novel (nearly 1000 pages!), you will find it quite difficult to put it down and may often find yourself reading until the wee hours of the morning.

The story touches upon all human emotions, from love and hate, through loyalty and betrayal to hope and despair. It is full of well-developed and three-dimensional characters that seem alive and who will make you either root for them or hate their guts. The descriptions are so vivid you can smell the odors, see the landscapes and the grand masterpieces of medieval architecture and feel the pain the characters undergo. On the other hand, however, some of the scenes are so violent and shocking, they will make your skin crawl.

So if you appreciate a very well written novel that will thoroughly fascinate and occupy you, read Ken Follet’s “The Pillars of the Earth” It truly is a treat and a gem among modern literature.

As I have mentioned previously, I am quite passionate about language and English in particular. Perhaps it is because of the training in linguistics that I have undergone during my college years. Whatever the reason, I cannot stand when people make fundamental mistakes. It simply gets under my skin… So much so sometimes, that I find myself yelling at the TV set because someone has just made a principal error while speaking.

I think I am past wondering why this happens to take place, I just want it to stop. Take yesterday for example… I was watching “Oprah” (as I do once in a while) and the topic of the show was quite engaging so I was actually paying attention to what was said. You wouldn’t expect intelligent and highly educated people to still make these awful language mistakes but there it was… A guest said she did a certain mental exercise to “better her life”… ‘Better one’s life’?—I ask. Where in the world have you found a rule that lets you use an adjective (and a comparative degree at that!) as a verb?!

Granted, there are some words that have the same form for a verb and a noun, for instance ‘produce’ but this is not the case. There is a perfectly good verb, i.e. ‘to improve’, which means “to make something better in quality or condition or become better” (quoted from Encarta Dictionary) and it should be used in such cases. However, most Americans seem to forget about its existence. And everywhere I turn I hear people say: to better myself or my life etc, which makes me cringe. Why can’t they say “to make my life better” for instance. Now, that would make sense and be grammatically correct. And seriously, it really is not that difficult to remember!

So I wonder if perhaps the educational system in the US is profoundly wrong or at least lacking something since it allows for such alarming slipups. Do me a favor, please, and next time you’re about to say something so incorrect and improper, think before you speak. I want to believe that the correct information is buried somewhere in your brain, it just needs a bit of prompting to come out… Good luck, then.