When in doubt, make a list

And don���t worry about common denominators.
Nothing satiates the need of us, rational animals, to categorise, like a nice, lengthy list. Especially power lists that tell you who���s who, separating the grain from the chaff. One such inventory has been drawn up by the US magazine Newsweek, arranging in descending order, 50 stars of public life. Topping it is Barack Obama (the reason, we know in black and white) with a little help from his Friends 29 places below; while Sonia Gandhi waves from the 17th spot, after a host of world leaders.King Khan rules at No 41, with, surprise, surprise, ���global terrorist��� Osama bin Laden breathing down his neck at 42. Adman Prahlad Kakar, however, isn���t surprised, ���Osama has changed the destinies of Iraq, Afghanistan and America. Nothing is what it was before 9/11. It���s been seven years, and we still live in fear of what he might do next.���
The tail end of the list gets a spiritual twist, with the Dalai Lama at No 46. Which makes us sympathise with the guys who have to do the math behind such catalogues.
���How can you decide whether Sunil Gavaskar or Pt Ravi Shankar is a bigger star? How can you evaluate who���s first and who���s second, when their fields are different? Even if it is the same, like for instance, footballers Pele and Maradona, you can���t judge which of them is greater, because they played at different times, in their unique styles. Such lists are drawn up by those who have nothing better to do,��� says Upal, vocalist, Chandrabindoo.
Though that description wouldn���t fit Irving Wallace, the writer, along with his son and daughter, authored The Book of Lists, compiling momentous trivia like ���Famous people who died during sexual intercourse���, ���People suspected of being the real Jack the Ripper���, ���People misquoted by Ronald Reagan��� and ���Breeds of dogs which bite people the most, and the least���.
No wonder VJ Cyrus Sahukar finds in these lists, fodder for comic take-offs. ���I remember seeing a list of people you could call to your New Year���s party in these times of recession, because you would get a huge discount. The list was of filmstars.��� And what if he had to draw up a list himself? ���It would be a list of the Top 10 Most Irritating Lists.��� Kakar, on the other hand, would prefer an index of ���sexual athletes rated by their real lovers���. Bet that would make it to the list of most-viewed lists, just after pink-slipped employees and reality show contestants.
So, should un-listing ourselves be one of our New Year resolutions? Ah, well, that���s another list...