This and that.... Random thoughts and Jottings!
Friday, July 1, 2011The strange paradox of Indian women India is a land of many inequalities ! On one hand you have powerful women ruling the country and on the other hand the plight of women and girl child is appalling. Click here... Laila Rajaratnam ...and read on for more.   Tuesday, June 28, 2011My Ice Cream Mania
'I scream, you scream We all scream for Ice cream.' As a kid, I considered that as the most perfect, ultimate rhyming poem. As a teenager, I reflected that Wordsworth, Shelly and Shakespeare's verses in all their glory, were not a patch on this Ice cream rhyme. The very word ‘Ice-cream’ sends a chilly tingling sensation through me! It was love at first taste for me, when the first dollop of ice cream hit my taste bud and did I experience a symphony of ecstasy? Most certainly yes and I was hopelessly hooked!
Once, while sitting through a very boring sermon half asleep, I heard the word ‘ice cream’ My ears pricked up and I was all attention personified. The preacher was saying that our Maker is like an ice cream maker – he creates us in different flavors. Awesome! What a delightful thought! God, an Ice cream maker? Well, this concept impresses me. I think I would like to be the minty choc chip flavored ice cream, with maybe just a little hint of Kahlua liqueur for added flavor? Done, that’s decided.
Back then, while growing up, Vanilla, Strawberry, Pista, Chocolate and Mango were the only flavors available here, while there were about a couple of exotic deserts like peach Melba and Banana split and a sundae containing two or three scoops of assorted ice creams with chocolate sauce and nuts topping. That’s it!That’s about all ! Surely the present generation will shake their heads in utter disbelief at this measly choice, but we were quite happy, after all, icecream is icecream. Then came along another slogan -‘Monday, Tuesday, we want Sundae.’ Sounds adorable! Now the market is flooded with unimaginable amazing flavors of ice creams and gelatos! I don’t know if the following story is true or a myth. It seems, an ice cream vendor at a fair, did not have enough vessels to serve ice cream, so he took the help of a waffle maker and rolled up the ice cream in waffles and served . Thus, waffles and ice cream were invented. A real innovative genius, in the category of Edison and Newton! Thro’ my life’s journey, I’ve learnt the following frosty icicles of wisdom- “Ice-cream transcends all ages... Ice-cream never lets you outgrow it.’ How very true! The internet is also cashing in on the icecream passion where e-cards sites call July 13th as the Ice cream month! Ice cream cone day is supposed to be on July 23rd , Soft Icecream Day on August 19th, Banana Split day on Aug22nd , Icecream sundae Day on Aug 2nd and so on and so forth. Well, well.. what can one say? And finally, in conclusion I’d like to add, a teeny weeny twirl to the Bards famous words: ”Age cannot wither the fascination for ice creams nor custom stale its infinite flavors”
 Copyright © 2011 Laila. All Rights Reserved Wednesday, June 22, 2011An Array of Twigs
You need.
ethod Step 1. Apply white glue on the container. Gather the soft twigs and spread white glue on it as well. Smoothen the twigs and press it on the container. Press it well. Let it dry. Step 2.
Step 3. If you want to paint the container to match your décor ,use a suitable matching paint. I had painted it dark brown, to go with my decor. Step 4. Place the dried arrangement inside the container.
Yes, that’s it! Your home made twig arrangement is ready! Monday, June 20, 2011The Seven Damsels(Never mind if they are grand moms , moms in law and in-waiting moms in law)
There are these seven damsels, Tucked away in a remote corner of South India, But then, there burns a flame Inside each one of them, To make footprints in the sands of time. Munira, loaded with fun ideas to create terrific get-togethers, Bindiya, the fashion diva, Uma, the dancer with delightful twinkle toes, Sureka, the writer and journalist, Lashmi, the resourceful, handling everything over her cell phone, Shashi, the social worker and Tamil poet And last but not least, Laila the dreamer!
Like crayons of various hues, This bunch of assorted damsels Share a common love for Laughter , fun and cooking . Each damsel is an unique individual Doing her own thing her way But together times are beautiful times! These damsels sowed seeds of friendship,two and a half decades ago, And now they reap bushels of amity and happiness! Like fine wine their friendship has gotten sweeter, Like antique it has become valuable, Like river it just flows! Whether they could make footprints in the sands of time one cannot tell, But they have certainly made footprints in each others' hearts!  Tuesday, June 14, 2011Back to our WorldI’m back! Back to our world! Back to our normal, regular good old chaotic
It all started in such a harmless manner. I bought a piece of land in this virtual idyllic world, where I built my own house, my sheep and pig pens, nursery barn, chicken coop, with the help of amazingly wonderful neighbors. I ploughed , sowed the lush virgin soil and harvested bushels of crops, raised chickens , watered the seedlings ever so lovingly and grew them to trees. I even bred polka dotted and star sheep and not to mention the checked and striped pigs. Awesome! I had a stable with a variety of such handsome stallion and mares, that they could put any Arabian horse to shame. I was so very engrossed tending to my farm from morning till midnight , that I shunned my real-time friends and outings. I abandoned my passions like dressing, cooking and writing. But the biggest casualty was my figure. Did I go out of shape? Of course not, I am still in shape! Round is a shape is’nt it? The virtual world to where I was transported is, FARMVILLE- a farming game in Facebook. It ‘s a wonderful ,peaceful and beautiful world where neighbors lived in perfect harmony - ever ready to help you out, the animals and birds were so cute and colourful and to top it all, you could even harvest cupcakes, fruit bars and grow cotton candy trees, bubblegum trees , gem and crystal trees as well. Is’nt it just perfect! The ultimate Eden. Let me hasten to add that I am not giving up on Farmville totally but just spare it a limited time each day! Returning back to reality, I decided to rehabilitate myself by doing the following:
My friends and loved ones rejoice that they have found their lost one. Am I a prodigal daughter?
Friday, September 18, 2009Earn money from Video BlogYes, you can make money from video blogs as well. A video blog? Yes, a video blog is when you make a video, link it to your blog and publish it on the internet for the whole world to see. It is also known as vlog. All that you need to start a vlog are: * A camcorder or a mobile phone or even a web cam (A web cam is fine as well , but a digital video camera will produce better results ) * A computer with video editing software installed onto it. * A blog. * An RSS feed to "syndicate" your content. Additional tip - Instead of the microphone built into your camcorder or web cam use a separate microphone so that you will be able to produce a much better sound quality. Yes, that’s it! That’s about all you need to start a vlog! What about the topic? You can make a video about anything that fancies you, but do pick a topic that you are passionate about ,so that you can continue to make episodes after episodes. Would you like to share your happiness, your talent, your craft ideas, a humorous episode, or maybe even a product that you would like to market? Just ANYTHING as long as it holds the attention of your audience! You can use a variety of video file types like Windows Media, Quicktime, Real Media and MPEG to make your video. But then, FLV (Flash Video) or SWF (Shockwave Flash) file formats can be viewed by both Mac and PC users . After you are done with the shooting of your video you can edit it in the Windows Movie Maker software that comes free with windows XP. You will be able to save it only as a Windows Media file (.wmv) but you can convert it with converters like Pazera Free Video to Flash Converter 1.1 to any format you want. Now that you are done and ready with your video, upload it to your blog and create a RSS feed to syndicate your site. Yes, Done! Voila! You have started your very own video blog!Now you can make money from your vlog just like you would on a regular blog! In course of time you will develop your own style and there is no limit to creativity. Don’t hesitate, just do it! Your video doesn't have to be great, just enough to hold the attention of your viewers! Happy shooting and all the best in your endeavor to make money! :) Copyright © 2009 laila. All Rights Reserved Thursday, September 17, 2009Internet is like Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde
Internet has a got split personality like Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde! How so? Well, you see, the internet has become the very core of everyday modern life .It is an excellent source of information, unparalleled in history. The whole world is dependant on it right from instant communication, instant information, entertainment, services and E-commerce. This is the good and positive side or the Dr.Jekyll side of the internet!
On the other hand, as with all science and technology innovations there is a negative side to the internet as well. The negative side is mostly a replay of all that happens in the real world. This negative Hyde side of the internet is a dark sinister one, where people commit crimes, show negative and antisocial behaviour audaciously because of the anonymity the internet provides. The internet offers people a world wide platform to air their views and thoughts, which criminals use to their advantage. Many official looking websites and hate communities are created focusing on hatred, violence and racism that sound natural and normal influencing young minds in particular. Another most disturbing negative trait of the internet is pornography which is located in just about every corner of cyberspace. These are available for easy viewing by children and teenagers .With the internet, child pornography has flourished and so has the ability of pedophiles to connect with unsuspecting kids has increased enormously. The chat rooms are another haven for stalkers, pedophiles, perverts, racists and cult members who can easily befriend anyone on the internet, especially a young child .Moreover the easy access to emails, messengers and web cameras are dangerous for vulnerable minds especially if they have struck friendship with objectionable characters. The internet has also unleashed a new breed of criminals indulging in cyber crimes like phishing , identity theft, hacking computer, sending virus ,salami attack and many more. Cyber terrorism is a recent threat, where terrorists routinely communicate with their henchmen by steganography and encrypting messages into image files. Other disadvantages are that there is no quality control for certain publications since anyone can publish on line, whereas on the other hand a treasure trove of information and knowledge is available. Last, but not the least the predicament of getting addicted to the net. This addiction is looming so large that family and social life is being affected all over the world. Despite the fact that internet can create chaos and devastation if misused, the positive side of the internet by far outweighs and compensates the negative side of the internet! So, with two sides to it, the internet is just like Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde! Copyright © 2009 lyla. All Rights Reserved Pin It now! Wednesday, August 26, 2009A writer in the making
I browse through the stationary shop, feeling the smooth touch of papers. My mind is racing.. shall I pick up the onion skin paper, plain white notepaper or the handmade paper ? No wait! I'll pick up the recycled paper. It makes me feel real good and smug about myself. I've done my bit for the world environment. Why do I need these papers? Because, I have to write! I know I can use the word processor, but then, having a few sheets of exotic paper around is a good idea. You see, I had always wanted to become a writer, right from my college days, never mind that was more than 30 years ago! I still feel like when I was in college, don't I? My mirror can go and crack itself. Its important how you feel and not how you look. Right ?
Next I eye the neat array of pens. A writer should have a good pen! All the brands look so shiny and classy. Parker, Sheffield, Waterman , Pelikan , which do I choose? Oh gosh! Shall I pick up the ball pen or fountain pen or just gel. The colors? Flashy red , black? Well, I'll settle for the dignified navy blue. It will suit my image of a serious writer! Then I decide on a dark tan leather file to keep my papers, that odious plastic file is an absolute no no! I walk back home, already feeling like a writer and pass by an electronic shop. What's that shining like a pearl on the display window? Its a laptop, a white Apple laptop! Yes ,I definitely must have that one. It's so chic and I am to be a chiclit writer, honestly, I am! How can I write without a word processor? A laptop is a must. The laptop that I bought six months earlier, is already a tad ancient and slow with all the spy wares and adwares happily sitting inside the machine. I keep walking , calculating how to pay the bill if I do buy it and of course it hits me! I'll pay it all back from the earnings I make from writing! Good, that's settled! I reach home and look at my tiny corner. That chair does look uncomfortable! Doesn't it? I'll have to spend hours sitting and writing. Maybe, I'll buy a white leathered cushioned one to match my laptop. With my mind full of calculations, I open my engagement book. Dear me, I do have a party tonight !Oh no, tomorrow there is a baby shower and the next day, my friends are coming over for a girlie weekend .Gosh,I have appointments for this whole month, just like last month and all the months before that. Never mind, relax,I'll start writing from next month. What's the big deal? I have waited 30 years to become a writer, so another month of waiting will do no harm! Copyright © 2009 lyla. All Rights Reserved Pin It now! Monday, August 24, 200932 Social Networking Icon sets for Craft Blogs and sites Icons! The icons in your blog or website reflect you. It speaks volumes about you, your likes and taste, your moods and state of mind ! So, I spent hours scouring the web to compile these amazing and astounding social networking icons just for you! These will definitely look real awesome in crafter's blogs or site. Social bookmark icons on your blog or site, are so very essential, as they are the keys to the door of communication to your social network sites! Of course, social networking has become a way of life, whether it is to be in touch with the global community, your family or even to promote your business! Therefore, keeping in mind the artist in you, these icons were handpicked to touch your aesthetic chord ! :) Click Read More to view the 32 Social Networking Icon sets for Craft blogs and sites. The sets include social media graphics for Delicious, Reddit, Linkedin, Digg, Facebook, StumbleUpon, Technorati and Twitter as well as commonly used icons such as RSS etc. Enjoy picking the icon after your heart! :) Check out the Cool Social Networking Icon sets here.(Coming soon!) Web 2 Origami Icon Set  Hand Drawn Doodle Set  Glossy Waxed Wood Social Networking Icons Social Media Icons by Plechi  Hand Drawn Photoshop Social Networking Shapes  Social Icons Hand Drawn Sticky Notes Social Media Icon Set  Free Hand Color Stroked Icon set  Coffee Stain Social Networking Icons  Page Peel Free Social Media Icon Set  Orange Grunge Stickers Social Bookmarking Icons  Handy Icons  Black Magic Marker Social Bookmarking Icons Social Grunge Icons by Tydlinka Social Bookmark Sketchy Icons  Woodgrain Social Media Icons Worn Cloth Social Networking Icons  Post Stamp Social Icon Set  Black Ink Grunge Stamps Social Media Icons Wooden social Icon Sets Handycons - Hand drawn Social Media Icon set  Retro Grunge Stripes Social Media Icons  Hand-drawn Social Media Icons  Watercolor Social Networking Icons Free Crumpled Paper Social Networking Icons Grunge Social Icons Glassy Space Social networking Icons Hand-drawn Sketch Icons Color Pencil Social Media Icons Glossy Social Icon Set Whitewashed Star Patterned Social Bookmarking Icons Grunge Style Social Bookmarking Icons Please do drop in a word if you enjoyed this or was useful to you! :)Pin It now!
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