tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6620911979921562482024-03-13T06:26:51.124-07:00Creativity becomes me...Unleashing the creativity in me, one little blog post at a time. =)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-4639461955031230452013-05-26T05:30:00.005-07:002013-05-26T05:30:24.620-07:00This blog has moved<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yep, it has.<br />
<br />
You can follow my blog <a href="http://silv3rglee.com/diy/#.UaIAD7Wot5I" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Don't forget to subscribe to the new blog to get updates. <br />
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=)</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-44484226267205056332012-01-07T06:03:00.000-08:002012-01-07T06:08:28.608-08:00Storing tea, sugar & green tea<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
You know that feeling you get when you're moving into a new house? And you ideally want everything to be new? Including the furniture and utensils and well, pretty much everything else. =)<br />
<br />
I recently moved to England from Dubai and set up the house here with my husband. We got here a couple of months before our MBA classes started. And it was during this time that I got to put on my creative-crafts hat and get to work. =)<br />
<br />
This was my way of getting everything around the house a <i>new</i> feeling, at the same time making sure that I wasn't spending on things that I could save up on. I do have thing for recycling and reusing, I won't lie! =)<br />
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So, amongst the many things I've made, this set is the most used of the lot.<br />
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Most people I know are consumers of some kind of warm beverage - tea, coffee, hot chocolate, green tea, etc. And most kitchens I've been to have some form of storage containers for these tea bags or coffee beans or coco powder. Needless to say, we needed such containers for our house as well. I did go out and look around for some containers that I could use, but I just wasn't convinced.<br />
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And then it struck me - why not try making these on my own? =)<br />
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The backdrop to this is that I'm a big, massive, absolutely crazy [bordering psychotic] consumer of <a href="http://www.nutellausa.com/" target="_blank">Nutella</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KuZ_rNeEWbQ/TwhP5g0huSI/AAAAAAAADxs/nGC9pxvpoOU/s1600/IMG-20110825-00030-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KuZ_rNeEWbQ/TwhP5g0huSI/AAAAAAAADxs/nGC9pxvpoOU/s200/IMG-20110825-00030-2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Due to this, I have far too many empty bottles of Nutella lying around the house. And what better way to help the environment than to recycle and reuse to make these lovely storage containers!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xwG2lgNxgGk/TwhHwwMcwqI/AAAAAAAADwk/iykmNC0K7yE/s1600/Craft+%252896+of+44%2529-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xwG2lgNxgGk/TwhHwwMcwqI/AAAAAAAADwk/iykmNC0K7yE/s320/Craft+%252896+of+44%2529-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Let's be honest here for a second - making these crafty-containers isn't rocket science. But sometimes a little guidance gives us exactly what we need to get our act together and make things. =) So, here goes!<br />
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<b>What you'll need (supplies)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5iSXd-xLq3s/TwhJYO2REiI/AAAAAAAADws/Kasb8W2rtM8/s1600/Craft+%252819+of+36%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5iSXd-xLq3s/TwhJYO2REiI/AAAAAAAADws/Kasb8W2rtM8/s200/Craft+%252819+of+36%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xJmvyIo4Huc/TwhJZfDAuaI/AAAAAAAADw0/Qk25xzUqfK0/s1600/Craft+%252820+of+36%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xJmvyIo4Huc/TwhJZfDAuaI/AAAAAAAADw0/Qk25xzUqfK0/s200/Craft+%252820+of+36%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>old Nutella [or any other empty bottle / plastic] containers</li>
<li>white school glue</li>
<li>acrylic paint [you can use one color or mix and match with different colours]</li>
<li>paint brushes</li>
<li>mixing palette</li>
<li>old newspaper</li>
</ul>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Procedure / steps</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<u><b>1.</b></u> Wash thoroughly and dry the Nutella containers.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><u>2.</u></b> Cover your workstation with old newspaper so as to avoid any damage to it by paint spills.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><u>3.</u></b> Take a mixing palette, add a dash of your paint of choice, and add a bit of white school glue. The reason for adding white school glue here is that it'll help the paint stick to the container. Else, there is a possibility that every time you touch the container, a bit of the paint will come off. I haven't faced this problem, and again, this might be because of the white school glue. This somewhat acts like Mod Podge, but on a much lower and inexpensive level.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i3yFAlNl4KM/TwhNFKC9zTI/AAAAAAAADw8/_qbd-s4xu7Q/s1600/Craft+%252821+of+36%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i3yFAlNl4KM/TwhNFKC9zTI/AAAAAAAADw8/_qbd-s4xu7Q/s320/Craft+%252821+of+36%2529.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<b><u>4.</u></b> Now take the Nutella container and start applying thin, consistent paint coats to it.<br />
Try to keep the paint coats as thin and as free-flowing as possible.<br />
Carefully place the Nutella container upside down and coat the bottom of the container with paint.<br />
Take special care to avoid paint going <i>inside</i> the container - you wouldn't want your sugar or tea bags taking on the color of the paint!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5CoT4R1FLmk/TwhNvcrcf2I/AAAAAAAADxE/ONywv1j7Tps/s1600/Craft+%252823+of+36%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5CoT4R1FLmk/TwhNvcrcf2I/AAAAAAAADxE/ONywv1j7Tps/s200/Craft+%252823+of+36%2529.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cXXHlEVyWhs/TwhNweKGpuI/AAAAAAAADxM/uL9xamlxz7o/s1600/Craft+%252824+of+36%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cXXHlEVyWhs/TwhNweKGpuI/AAAAAAAADxM/uL9xamlxz7o/s200/Craft+%252824+of+36%2529.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cmg34trZQOc/TwhNxoI9xlI/AAAAAAAADxU/PIDOAFukNM4/s1600/Craft+%252826+of+36%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cmg34trZQOc/TwhNxoI9xlI/AAAAAAAADxU/PIDOAFukNM4/s200/Craft+%252826+of+36%2529.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u>5.</u></b> Let these sit till the paint is completely dry. The time frame here might vary depending upon the thickness of the paint coat applied, the temperature outside, etc.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GPeWbKLeDHg/TwhNyyMi-nI/AAAAAAAADxc/AAtPvBWePTY/s1600/Craft+%252827+of+36%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GPeWbKLeDHg/TwhNyyMi-nI/AAAAAAAADxc/AAtPvBWePTY/s200/Craft+%252827+of+36%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><u>6.</u></b> Once these are completely dry, take on a contrasting color [poster paint or acrylic paint] and paint on the words. You can chose to use a stencil here or you can even take print outs / cut out of words and stick them on with the help of Mod Podge or superglue or something equivalent.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nlFcKV-OmA4/TwhPul7gvQI/AAAAAAAADxk/0hokkfdRot0/s1600/Craft+%252893+of+44%2529-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nlFcKV-OmA4/TwhPul7gvQI/AAAAAAAADxk/0hokkfdRot0/s320/Craft+%252893+of+44%2529-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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What'd I tell you - not rocket science! And I'm sure you already knew the steps before you even read them! But it's nice to see visuals and steps to potentially refer back to someday. =)<br />
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Alright, more crafty stuff that I haven't blogged yet will be coming up real soon. Meanwhile, if you get around to making these, do please drop in a comment and let me know. I'd love to see what you're creating!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3Birmingham, West Midlands, UK52.486243 -1.89040152.331536 -2.206258 52.640950000000004 -1.574544tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-91300218102791628542011-09-02T15:36:00.000-07:002012-01-07T06:08:07.102-08:00Picture frame from recycled magazines<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Wow - I'm overwhelmed with the kind of feedback I've received on my <a href="http://silv3rglee.blogspot.com/2011/09/recycled-magazines.html">previous blog post</a>!<br />
<br />
In that post I promised to let you know what I finally did with my set of black, red and white round bits. Well, this, ladies and gentlemen, is what I made:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PbkGIqS0w8s/TmE9k1wI6qI/AAAAAAAADuY/Xh5mLXvizjg/s1600/IMG-20110901-00074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PbkGIqS0w8s/TmE9k1wI6qI/AAAAAAAADuY/Xh5mLXvizjg/s400/IMG-20110901-00074.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I absolutely love the way it finally turned out! =)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The inspiration behind this project was, well, from all over the place!<br />
<br />
But if you go to my <a href="http://pinterest.com/silv3rglee">Pinterest</a> page, you'll see projects I've pinned like <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/56330085/">this</a>, <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/55741556/">this</a> and <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/57292253/">this</a> that really inspired me. My biggest problem with these was that I couldn't really find decent frames. So I thought long and hard about what I could substitute for the frame and came up with the idea of using old magazines.<br />
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<br />
I'd like to add that this frame is completely made of recycled (magazine) paper. Quite proudly so, I won't lie! =)<br />
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<br />
But at the end of the day, I ended up mixing and matching a number of things I've come across and just jumbled them all together to create this. A bit o' this and a bit o' that and bam - a masterpiece! =)<br />
<br />
I must admit, this post deserves a tutorial in itself.<br />
<br />
You already know how to make the round bits from <a href="http://silv3rglee.blogspot.com/2011/09/recycled-magazines.html">this post</a>. What I'm now going to do is give you a quick run down of what you'll need to do to re-create this one.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>What you'll need (supplies)</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7pbTLgDyceQ/TmFBFr1G5sI/AAAAAAAADug/WglgRS97Jek/s1600/Craft+%252812+of+17%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7pbTLgDyceQ/TmFBFr1G5sI/AAAAAAAADug/WglgRS97Jek/s200/Craft+%252812+of+17%2529.jpg" width="200" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-edupOnM2t34/TmFAQV8e1wI/AAAAAAAADuc/pIP7Gu8Av3k/s1600/IMG-20110825-00015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-edupOnM2t34/TmFAQV8e1wI/AAAAAAAADuc/pIP7Gu8Av3k/s200/IMG-20110825-00015.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7pbTLgDyceQ/TmFBFr1G5sI/AAAAAAAADug/WglgRS97Jek/s1600/Craft+%252812+of+17%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>stack of old magazines (that's right, some more!)</li>
<li>old newspapers</li>
<li>glue stick / white school glue / home made glue / any other form of glue you prefer</li>
<li>knitting needle / long pencil / long stick or rod</li>
<li>poster paints and paint brushes</li>
<li>old rope (if you have any spare old rope around) or thick thread or yarn</li>
</ul>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
<b>Procedure / steps</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Follow steps 1-6 from <a href="http://silv3rglee.blogspot.com/2011/09/recycled-magazines.html">this</a> tutorial - pay special attention to step 6. =)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Once you have your stacks of rolled up magazine paper ready, get ready to get the ball rolling! =)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
7. Take two of these cylindrical paper rolls and put one inside the other. There's no better way to explain this than to actually show you. So, do this:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hFsmXraFd54/TmFIBZB9PvI/AAAAAAAADuw/WtsxuBexBLk/s1600/IMG-20110902-00080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hFsmXraFd54/TmFIBZB9PvI/AAAAAAAADuw/WtsxuBexBLk/s200/IMG-20110902-00080.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Place one paper cylinder on top of the other and then, well, put one inside the other.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ezQAsAWWNaI/TmFH8oEfmBI/AAAAAAAADus/khrJHuMHwR4/s1600/IMG-20110902-00081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ezQAsAWWNaI/TmFH8oEfmBI/AAAAAAAADus/khrJHuMHwR4/s200/IMG-20110902-00081.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Voila! They stay!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
Don't stick them all the way inside each other, but make sure they're firmly placed so they don't fall out. Don't worry about gluing them. The next few steps will take care of that bit for you. =)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
8. You'll have rolls like these. The tiny ones are there just for comparison.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GT5Oxg_4_50/TmFJG_vl3iI/AAAAAAAADu0/RhEcl878yh4/s1600/IMG-20110830-00053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GT5Oxg_4_50/TmFJG_vl3iI/AAAAAAAADu0/RhEcl878yh4/s200/IMG-20110830-00053.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For the frame that I made, I used three cylindrical paper rolls one-on-top-of-the-other for the length. And two of 'em stacked up for the breadth.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
9. Then I glued three of these cylindrical stacks together in a row and waited for them to set. And I created another such stack. At the end, I had two stacks of three cylindrical stacks together. That is 2 x giant cylindrical stacks composed of 3 individual paper cylinders.</div>
<div>
I placed these 2 identical stacks on top of each other and glued them together. And then I let this duo set.</div>
<div>
If none of that made sense, take a look at this picture - it might help you figure out my gibberish! =D</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ebCbyPZtq0I/TmFLikvdUbI/AAAAAAAADu4/h_P1WHTqCaI/s1600/IMG-20110830-00055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ebCbyPZtq0I/TmFLikvdUbI/AAAAAAAADu4/h_P1WHTqCaI/s200/IMG-20110830-00055.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hope that makes it clear!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
10. Once I had all my four sides created and set, I got out my painting gear and let the Picasso in me out.</div>
<div>
Basically, I coloured the length of the frame black and the breadth red. And then I let these dry off.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b1N_bBOIhps/TmFSdQygGtI/AAAAAAAADvU/Kk3F0k5GreQ/s1600/IMG-20110831-00063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b1N_bBOIhps/TmFSdQygGtI/AAAAAAAADvU/Kk3F0k5GreQ/s200/IMG-20110831-00063.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
11. The next step was tricky. This is where I struggled the most!</div>
<div>
I had a tough time trying to figure out how I was ever going to glue these four sides together. Doesn't matter what glue you use, it's rolled up paper and will just tear apart the minute there's any sort of pressure applied to it.</div>
<div>
And there would be pressure on this little baby, given what I had in mind.</div>
<div>
So after a lot of thinking and pondering, it finally hit me - tie the damn ends together with some good old string! Sturdy string, but string!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pz8OMC-_dqk/TmFQvD5VPvI/AAAAAAAADvQ/c2ecaWuUf4g/s1600/IMG-20110831-00065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pz8OMC-_dqk/TmFQvD5VPvI/AAAAAAAADvQ/c2ecaWuUf4g/s200/IMG-20110831-00065.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kE5OYeClats/TmFQqsQMzWI/AAAAAAAADvM/Y92CNf7VnZY/s1600/IMG-20110831-00066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kE5OYeClats/TmFQqsQMzWI/AAAAAAAADvM/Y92CNf7VnZY/s200/IMG-20110831-00066.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
12. Once the sides are secure, you're going to need a mesh of sorts to clip your pictures or other stuff onto. I realised that I wouldn't be able to stick a mesh like <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=mesh&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1441&bih=762&tbm=isch&tbnid=_jAwezyoCRT69M:&imgrefurl=http://www.sculpties.info/%3Fp%3D828&docid=coupUpVz6ZWmPM&w=1024&h=1024&ei=bFFhTuO2Ice38gP045AK&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=352&page=4&tbnh=134&tbnw=134&start=86&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:10,s:86&tx=46&ty=68">this</a> or <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=mesh&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1441&bih=762&tbm=isch&tbnid=qPvZBzlinaTUOM:&imgrefurl=http://www.critter-cages.com/index.php%3Fmain_page%3Dindex%26cPath%3D1&docid=Os9Q6LyxUvKFZM&w=600&h=517&ei=bFFhTuO2Ice38gP045AK&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=794&page=4&tbnh=142&tbnw=165&start=86&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:26,s:86&tx=47&ty=35">this</a> onto a paper frame. So I thought it's best to go ahead and recreate a mesh with my newfound secret weapon: string!</div>
<div>
With the ends attached and mesh created, this is what my frame looked like:</div>
<div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WEGJxtSMYS8/TmFSnOeZe1I/AAAAAAAADvY/HR7Sgbh5_C8/s1600/IMG-20110831-00067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WEGJxtSMYS8/TmFSnOeZe1I/AAAAAAAADvY/HR7Sgbh5_C8/s200/IMG-20110831-00067.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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13. Bland. That's what the string looked like to me. </div>
<div>
<b>*shrugs*</b> Sorry, but I put in a lot of effort and I just didn't like it looking plain smack in the centre of all the gorgeousness! So what'd I do? I got some golden dust (acrylic) paint thingamajig and went straight to work. I painted the strings tying the ends of the frame together as well the strings creating the mesh.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dNeosVf9nT4/TmFTr4yEmfI/AAAAAAAADvc/ntyv_mw5n3k/s1600/IMG-20110831-00069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dNeosVf9nT4/TmFTr4yEmfI/AAAAAAAADvc/ntyv_mw5n3k/s200/IMG-20110831-00069.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brush on some tap water onto the string before you paint over it.<br />
The string won't 'drink up' any of the actual paint when you start painting.<br />
Also, it'll make the painting go smoother.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1WHeVqoETJE/TmFUmYdFJ-I/AAAAAAAADvk/i4mi9RjRW0E/s1600/IMG-20110831-00070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1WHeVqoETJE/TmFUmYdFJ-I/AAAAAAAADvk/i4mi9RjRW0E/s200/IMG-20110831-00070.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There you go - works like a charm!<br />
Nice glittering gold paint!<br />
And it goes really well with black, red and white!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
14. Once this is all done, it's time to add the little round bits from <a href="http://silv3rglee.blogspot.com/2011/09/recycled-magazines.html">this tutorial</a> onto your frame! Figure out what placement looks best and glue 'em on nice and strong. Pretty straightforward, really. =)</div>
<div>
The result? This:</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iXVU9XE1g9M/TmFVhc4AdJI/AAAAAAAADvo/XSTCzxd2Pjw/s1600/IMG-20110901-00073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iXVU9XE1g9M/TmFVhc4AdJI/AAAAAAAADvo/XSTCzxd2Pjw/s200/IMG-20110901-00073.jpg" width="146" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_GcwVrXLpKg/TmFVzIydkvI/AAAAAAAADvs/XBWHAUaMC-I/s1600/IMG-20110901-00075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_GcwVrXLpKg/TmFVzIydkvI/AAAAAAAADvs/XBWHAUaMC-I/s200/IMG-20110901-00075.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-03PB_RKhQz8/TmFV-4pyDHI/AAAAAAAADvw/vSLGL6UFNTM/s1600/IMG-20110901-00076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-03PB_RKhQz8/TmFV-4pyDHI/AAAAAAAADvw/vSLGL6UFNTM/s200/IMG-20110901-00076.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GghFH8m6k-E/TmFWeP8oQrI/AAAAAAAADv0/fXuvq_o1hK8/s1600/Craft+%25281+of+17%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GghFH8m6k-E/TmFWeP8oQrI/AAAAAAAADv0/fXuvq_o1hK8/s200/Craft+%25281+of+17%2529.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8eh8NH1AC4/TmFXIkrNxsI/AAAAAAAADwA/y7lmECEJvuQ/s1600/Craft+%252810+of+17%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z8eh8NH1AC4/TmFXIkrNxsI/AAAAAAAADwA/y7lmECEJvuQ/s200/Craft+%252810+of+17%2529.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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You can touch up the little round bits, if you want. I like mine like this - giving a hint of what's underneath. </div>
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Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand that, ladies and gentlemen, is my <b>first</b> completed crafts project in the UK. =)</div>
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Needless to say, if you recreate this, do drop in a link or a picture to share with me. I'd love to see what you guys got up to. =)</div>
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And of course, if you have any comments on this blog, drop in a comment below. </div>
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=)</div>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-28786852216994565042011-09-02T11:39:00.000-07:002011-09-02T15:43:56.940-07:00Recycled magazines<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ald-dwTkrqU/TmEQ6d1NNgI/AAAAAAAADrs/NTeHNuI-vhE/s1600/Birmingham-20110825-00034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ald-dwTkrqU/TmEQ6d1NNgI/AAAAAAAADrs/NTeHNuI-vhE/s320/Birmingham-20110825-00034.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They look quite raw here, but there's so much more you can do with them!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We all have those stacks of magazines we've held on to for heavens knows how long. We're not quite sure why we've held onto them, but we just have.<br />
<br />
Maybe for that one idea someday somewhere that'll get us to recycle them in the most creative way possible?<br />
<br />
Well, here's one such easy, quick and quirky way to recycle and reuse them old magazines! =) And it requires very little skill (which is a very important criteria for someone like me that doesn't have much skill!).<br />
<br />
It's rather simple, to be honest, but a tad bit time consuming. Which worked out well for me given that I have a lot of time on me before I hit uni in less than 20 days. =)<br />
<br />
You can find many many mannnny more ideas on how to recycle old magazines on this website that I came across thanks to <a href="http://pinterest.com/silv3rglee">Pinterest</a>: <a href="http://chrysti.squarespace.com/always-chrysti/2010/9/24/100-ways-to-creatively-reuse-old-magazines.html">100+ Ways To Creatively Reuse Old Magazines</a>.<br />
<br />
There are some absolutely fantastic tutorials there! I had a quick read through some of them and decided to mix and match and create my very own version of crafts from recycled magazines! =)<br />
<br />
Without blabbing any further (I can really get carried away!), lemme give you a quick round up of what I did with those magazines.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>What you'll need (supplies)</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jScRYdE1Xa8/TmEOINYQUhI/AAAAAAAADrk/1KdQ9RYUHbU/s1600/IMG-20110825-00015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jScRYdE1Xa8/TmEOINYQUhI/AAAAAAAADrk/1KdQ9RYUHbU/s200/IMG-20110825-00015.jpg" width="200" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bX7EqyWMvLE/TmEONj7Uh2I/AAAAAAAADro/1n8zLa-yq48/s1600/IMG-20110825-00021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bX7EqyWMvLE/TmEONj7Uh2I/AAAAAAAADro/1n8zLa-yq48/s200/IMG-20110825-00021.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jScRYdE1Xa8/TmEOINYQUhI/AAAAAAAADrk/1KdQ9RYUHbU/s1600/IMG-20110825-00015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>your stack of old magazines</li>
<li>old newspapers</li>
<li>glue stick / white school glue / home made glue / any other form of glue you prefer</li>
<li>knitting needle / long pencil / long stick or rod</li>
<li>optional: poster paints and paint brushes</li>
</ul>
<b><u><br /></u></b><br />
<b><u>Procedure / steps</u></b><br />
<ol style="text-align: left;"></ol>
1. Make sure your working area is clean. Get your supplies together and ensure that you place a layer of old newspapers on your working area before you start. This will keep the area clean and save you trouble once you're done.<br />
<div>
<br />
2. Now grab a knitting needle (or equivalent), keep it at one of the corners of the paper and roll along till the end.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ypsini8OzTQ/TmEUNGC8rkI/AAAAAAAADtQ/lzy6CSskiII/s1600/IMG-20110825-00016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ypsini8OzTQ/TmEUNGC8rkI/AAAAAAAADtQ/lzy6CSskiII/s200/IMG-20110825-00016.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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3. You'll be left with a tiny little triangle at the end of the sheet. Use your glue stick on this triangle and stick it onto the rest of the roll.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_qrMeYNka7o/TmEVaBl8UYI/AAAAAAAADtU/jCYfjUjw3y4/s1600/IMG-20110825-00017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_qrMeYNka7o/TmEVaBl8UYI/AAAAAAAADtU/jCYfjUjw3y4/s200/IMG-20110825-00017.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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4. After you've stuck the triangle, wait for a few seconds to ensure it's stuck properly. Then, carefully get the knitting needle out of the roll of paper.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6yJ8S1yOApA/TmEWV3m1NdI/AAAAAAAADtY/f4IvgeoXovQ/s1600/IMG-20110825-00018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6yJ8S1yOApA/TmEWV3m1NdI/AAAAAAAADtY/f4IvgeoXovQ/s200/IMG-20110825-00018.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's me - hard at work!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JjcxOjOS5Zc/TmEb7zuQRCI/AAAAAAAADuE/mEGvHNVXQaY/s1600/IMG-20110825-00099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JjcxOjOS5Zc/TmEb7zuQRCI/AAAAAAAADuE/mEGvHNVXQaY/s200/IMG-20110825-00099.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And that's my little helper husband! <3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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5. Repeat these steps till you have enough paper rolls. You can never quite be sure of how many you need till you actually start making what you want. But you can always go back and make these and continue with your project. =)</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q89nV6v4wPs/TmEXN9T893I/AAAAAAAADtg/8SOAkzKqPVY/s1600/IMG-20110825-00020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q89nV6v4wPs/TmEXN9T893I/AAAAAAAADtg/8SOAkzKqPVY/s200/IMG-20110825-00020.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zsvtBwqsCwk/TmEXHGSsqpI/AAAAAAAADtc/mqbhq0iF5rM/s1600/IMG-20110825-00019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zsvtBwqsCwk/TmEXHGSsqpI/AAAAAAAADtc/mqbhq0iF5rM/s200/IMG-20110825-00019.jpg" width="200" /></a> </div>
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6. Projects like these take a while. And sometimes one tends to lose focus. Don't forget to keep yourself motivated at all times. I had my motivation with me throughout. <b>*wink*</b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5p_cYO3bB9A/TmEdUGOojmI/AAAAAAAADuM/MO-4T-gULWs/s1600/IMG-20110825-00030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5p_cYO3bB9A/TmEdUGOojmI/AAAAAAAADuM/MO-4T-gULWs/s200/IMG-20110825-00030.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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7. Once you have your paper rolls in place, you'll need to roll 'em up and then paint them (if you want to paint them at all!). </div>
<div>
Now, you may chose to paint the roll of paper first and then roll, or roll it first and then paint it. Either way is ok, but from personal experience, rolling first and painting later is a lot more convenient. But I've shown you both ways below.</div>
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<div>
<b>TIP:</b> Whichever way you chose, try to complete one thing completely and move onto the next. For instance, if you're rolling first, then ensure that you roll all your paper rolls and then move onto painting. And of course, vice versa.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<b>a]</b> <br />
Take a roll of paper and flatten it out.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AvypoBo-2h0/TmEYZWNmpwI/AAAAAAAADtk/w25agcqLLPs/s1600/IMG-20110825-00024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AvypoBo-2h0/TmEYZWNmpwI/AAAAAAAADtk/w25agcqLLPs/s200/IMG-20110825-00024.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Roll this flattened roll of paper and glue the end shut. Hold it there for a few seconds (or even a minute) to ensure that the end is tightly glued on.</div>
<div>
<b>TIP:</b> When you're rolling these, try to roll them in different sizes - some really tightly packed, some farther apart. It'll give more character to your project. =)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0mR7w8Knf_E/TmEZGfDz53I/AAAAAAAADto/3Cpf33RwBow/s1600/IMG-20110825-00025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0mR7w8Knf_E/TmEZGfDz53I/AAAAAAAADto/3Cpf33RwBow/s200/IMG-20110825-00025.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Once it's glued on tight, you can paint away! =)</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vb6MT_aoSuE/TmEZbTT7uWI/AAAAAAAADts/eINkqox8U7s/s1600/IMG-20110825-00026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vb6MT_aoSuE/TmEZbTT7uWI/AAAAAAAADts/eINkqox8U7s/s200/IMG-20110825-00026.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<div>
<b>b]</b> <br />
Start painting a roll of paper. Make sure you cover it completely. Also, ensure that you have lots of newspaper so you don't mess up your working area!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XPQWRZO9jxI/TmEZ3GIItAI/AAAAAAAADtw/7dX26-2yDPo/s1600/IMG-20110825-00022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XPQWRZO9jxI/TmEZ3GIItAI/AAAAAAAADtw/7dX26-2yDPo/s200/IMG-20110825-00022.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Once this is completely dry, flatten it out.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lVgRAdqu98s/TmEaJjLq-cI/AAAAAAAADt0/lxX7PRItn9M/s1600/IMG-20110825-00027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lVgRAdqu98s/TmEaJjLq-cI/AAAAAAAADt0/lxX7PRItn9M/s200/IMG-20110825-00027.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now roll this up and glue it shut. Make sure it's tightly glued at the end.</div>
<div>
<b>TIP:</b> When you're rolling these, try to roll them in different sizes - some really tightly packed, some farther apart. It'll give more character to your project. =)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xqarjV0Wam8/TmEaZlvnHBI/AAAAAAAADt4/y-hjBdKP3H4/s1600/IMG-20110825-00028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xqarjV0Wam8/TmEaZlvnHBI/AAAAAAAADt4/y-hjBdKP3H4/s200/IMG-20110825-00028.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<div>
It doesn't matter which one of the above two methods you use, the result is exactly the same! Tell me if you can make out the difference between these two little boys:</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e5w_vxcA4lY/TmEazFlzsaI/AAAAAAAADt8/1XaiZoMc0wg/s1600/IMG-20110825-00029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e5w_vxcA4lY/TmEazFlzsaI/AAAAAAAADt8/1XaiZoMc0wg/s200/IMG-20110825-00029.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<div>
8. I was just experimenting with the blue color here. I ended up using red, black and white colours for the project I made. I simply painted over these blue ones and made them a part of the stack. =)</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qbx78i22Lh0/TmEcQok0YaI/AAAAAAAADuI/AqNDj9OK-Kg/s1600/IMG-20110825-00101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qbx78i22Lh0/TmEcQok0YaI/AAAAAAAADuI/AqNDj9OK-Kg/s200/IMG-20110825-00101.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like to have the TV / Radio playing in the background while I work - keeps me company! =)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
Now, once you're all done with rolls (with or without painting them), you'll find you have a nice mix of different shapes and colours with you. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There's a lot you can do with theses - create mats or coasters by sticking them close together, or create a nice little wall hanging (<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/113369852/">check this link</a>) or you can even create a beautiful photo frame with these! Basically, they're yours to experiment with and use as you please!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6gu1NqIHJKY/TmEevOd0WJI/AAAAAAAADuQ/SFwQBl16Eyg/s1600/Birmingham-20110826-00036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6gu1NqIHJKY/TmEevOd0WJI/AAAAAAAADuQ/SFwQBl16Eyg/s200/Birmingham-20110826-00036.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see I used two different kinds of red paint here!<br />
This makes a lovely mat or even coaster.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eV6NwQmKnvg/TmEbnNP7yMI/AAAAAAAADuA/KVCFnQW9Vkc/s1600/IMG-20110826-00045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eV6NwQmKnvg/TmEbnNP7yMI/AAAAAAAADuA/KVCFnQW9Vkc/s200/IMG-20110826-00045.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An abstract wall hanging, maybe?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S4f_RbiVwKo/TmEfKN-QNsI/AAAAAAAADuU/CSeXVuqQXh8/s1600/Birmingham-20110826-00037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S4f_RbiVwKo/TmEfKN-QNsI/AAAAAAAADuU/CSeXVuqQXh8/s200/Birmingham-20110826-00037.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely picture frame use!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
There is one thing I would say, though - if you do create these and make something with them, please do share them with me here. I'd love to see what you guys make. =)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Also, in case you're wondering what I did with these little babies, hold your horses - my next post is all about how I used them to make something spectacular - even if I say so myself! =) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As you can see, I'm mighty proud of myself for having made what I did - so don't forget to check back! Once I have the post up, I'll drop in a link here as well. =)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've just redone this blog to make it exclusively 'creative', which means that it includes cooking, crafting and any other creative ideas I might have (<a href="http://silv3rglee.blogspot.com/2011/08/send-me-postcard.html">such as this one!</a>). I'd love to know what you think of it so far - do please drop in a comment below and lemme know!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
=)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
***********************</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
UPDATE:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here's the link I promised I'd post: <a href="http://silv3rglee.blogspot.com/2011/09/picture-frame-from-recycled-magazines.html">Picture frame from recycled magazines</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Hope you enjoy it!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
=)</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-16125888373226482742011-08-28T07:02:00.000-07:002011-08-28T09:54:10.325-07:00From Aloo ke Paranthe to Aloo Tikki's<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LKvcx_aOvoY/TlpwVgTAivI/AAAAAAAADqU/-la0e1nRKlQ/s1600/Screen%2Bshot%2B2011-08-28%2Bat%2B17.43.28.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LKvcx_aOvoY/TlpwVgTAivI/AAAAAAAADqU/-la0e1nRKlQ/s320/Screen%2Bshot%2B2011-08-28%2Bat%2B17.43.28.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645948597611563762" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LKvcx_aOvoY/TlpwVgTAivI/AAAAAAAADqU/-la0e1nRKlQ/s1600/Screen%2Bshot%2B2011-08-28%2Bat%2B17.43.28.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LKvcx_aOvoY/TlpwVgTAivI/AAAAAAAADqU/-la0e1nRKlQ/s1600/Screen%2Bshot%2B2011-08-28%2Bat%2B17.43.28.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Not the best looking picture, but they tasted superb! =)</span></a></div>
<br /><div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I'd be writing a blog post on anything remotely related to food.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>And yet, here I am talking about aloo (potato) and gobi (cauliflower) ke paranthe (stuffed bread) and tikki's (patties?). Whaddaya gunna do, eh? *shrugs*</div><div>
<br /></div><div>To be fair, I've always enjoyed cooking. Never had much of a chance trying my hand at it while I was growing up (that's what happens when you have the world's best cook for a mother!), but when I moved into an apartment with my best friend during our M.Sc. days, I did my fair share of cooking.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>That's where experimentation began. And boy, was it fun!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>And now that we (my husband and I) have moved to the UK, the experimentation with cooking has begun yet again. =)</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Two nights ago I gave my Mom in India a frantic call asking her to email me recipes for aloo and gobi ke paranthe. It was, after all, Rohit's 'cheat' day, which meant carbs galore. No wheat, no gluten, but good ol' carbs.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>I made the aloo mix for his and gobi mix for my paranthe, got out some gluten free aata (flour) and went to work on them paranthe.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>And what a disaster they were!</div><div>
<br /></div><div>I shall not dwell into why (but if questioned, I will blame gluten free aata <b><i>entirely</i></b>).</div><div>
<br /></div><div>So here I was with a lot - and I mean a <i><b>lot</b></i> of aloo and gobi mix but with no intention of trying to make paranthe with gluten free aata again. Ever again.</div><div>
<br /></div><div>But I couldn't let all that mix go to waste either. So what do I do? Why, I recycle, of course! =)</div><div>
<br /></div><div>I had this ingenius (ok, not that ingenius of even original, but hey!) idea to make tikki's from the mix. And despite what you're thinking, they turned out pretty damn good. =)</div><div>
<br /></div><div>Let's take a walk through the tikki preparation, shall we?</div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >What you'll need (or ingredients)</span></b><div><ul><li>potatoes / cauliflower</li><li>onion</li><li>ginger</li><li>garlic</li><li>green chilies</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garam_masala">garam masala</a></li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaat_masala">chaat masala</a> (another <a href="http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-amchoor.htm">link</a>)</li><li>salt
<br /></li><li>chili powder
<br /></li><li><a href="http://www.natco-online.com/acatalog/info_amchoor_powder.html">amchoor powder</a> (another <a href="http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-amchoor.htm">link</a>)</li><li>aata (flour) - gluten free, preferably!
<br />
<br />Note: all masalas above should be readily available in a store near you!</li></ul></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >What you're going to have to </span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >do (or procedure)</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >[This mix can be used for aloo / gobi paranthe as well as aloo tikki's]</span></b></div><div><ul><li>Boil potatoes and allow them to cool off. You can run them under cold water to speed up the process. Once done, peel off the skin and mash the potatoes.
<br />Or, wash the cauliflower and allow it to dry. Once dry, grate the cauliflower.
<br />
<br /></li><li>Chop up an onion into real small pieces and add to the potatoes.
<br />
<br /></li><li>To this, add some grated ginger, garlic and green chilies. Make sure these are grated well else you'll bite into them.
<br />
<br /></li><li>Add garam masala, chaat masala, amchoor powder (just a pinch / pinch and a half) salt and some red chilli powder (optional if you have green chillies in there) to this mix.
<br />I won't give you a specific quantity to add but when you've added the different ingredients, grab a chunk and taste. If it's tangy enough for you, then you've done it right. =)</li><div>
<br /></div><li>Now grab a bowl, pour some aata (gluten free!) into it, add a little water and make a thick paste.
<br />
<br /><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2vBP7RCsPV8/Tlpw6RfYyaI/AAAAAAAADqc/_hUTPJ4WI-Y/s320/IMG-20110827-00051.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645949229292112290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " />
<br /></li><li>Get some oil in a pan and heat it.
<br />
<br /></li><li>While this oil gets heated up, start rolling the potato + spice mix into little round, flat balls (or tikki's!).</li><li><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WVF6X0T_oU0/TlpuxabJ4QI/AAAAAAAADqE/JF_uE5mSeRM/s320/IMG-20110827-00048%2B%25281%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645946878048198914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " />
<br /></li><li>Dip these tikki's (one at a time) in the aata mix and add it to the oil to fry. This layer of aata mix is required to ensure the potatoes don't disintegrate as soon as they hit the hot oil. =)
<br />
<br /><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5i6CEnJe20k/TlpvR9IVviI/AAAAAAAADqM/paXkcMAmo6E/s320/IMG-20110827-00049.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645947437120339490" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></li><div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div></div><li>Flip these tikki's occasionally but not too much. Let them cook nicely and you'll have yourself some yummy tasting aloo tikki's! =) </li></ul></div><div>
<br /></div><div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pVS28rOQoGo/Tlpt-BR6y8I/AAAAAAAADp8/iIeI6wB29Vg/s320/IMG-20110827-00047.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5645945995125246914" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></div><div>
<br /></div></div><div>
<br /></div><div>And there you have it...them tikki's! =)
<br />
<br />Boy, I can't believe I'm gonna say this, but if you make these at home, lemme know they turn out!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-5060368324780230982011-08-15T11:07:00.000-07:002012-04-18T04:00:44.672-07:00Send me a postcard!So, I've got a bit of a crazy idea. Not necessarily original, I'll tell you that.<div><br />
</div><div>A bit of background (if you know me, you know I like backgrounds with most of my posts!) - I've got four blogs. I've got this one on Blogger, another one on <a href="http://silv3rglee.posterous.com">Posterous</a>, one on <a href="http://silv3rglee.wordpress.com">Wordpress</a>, and the final one on <a href="http://silv3rglee.tumblr.com">Tumblr</a>.</div><div><br />
</div><div>There's a bit of distinction in my mind as to which host is for what. Posterous is for my #AwesomeHandles, Wordpress for the more serious me and Tumblr for a series of my favorite shots.</div><div><br />
</div><div>This one, ideally, I would like to maintain for the craftster in me. And boy is there a huge craftster in me! =) </div><div><br />
</div><div>Now, given that I've recently moved to the UK and will be setting up the house, I've been going insane trying to figure out what I can create on my own. My <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/silv3rglee">Pinterest</a> page will tell you what I've been thinking! =) </div><div><br />
</div><div>During this process, however, I came across an idea. A 'what if', as it were. Again, I know this one's been done before but there's no harm in taking this further and seeing where it goes, eh?</div><div><br />
</div><div>What exactly am I on about? Well, I thought it'd be interesting get a collection of postcards from the lot of you! </div><div><br />
</div><div>I sent out a tweet and had four people ask for my address within 20 minutes. Now that's bloody encouraging! </div><div><br />
</div><div>So this is what I ask of you: wherever you are, whichever part of the world, whether you're at home or on holiday or travelling for work, just take a moment, pick up a postcard (hey, pick up as many as you want!) and mail them to me! =) </div><div><br />
</div><div>If you are interested in sending me a postcard, drop in an email to me at "swatirandev at gmail dot com". Put "I want to send you a postcard" in the subject line and tell me a bit about yourself in the body of the email - heck, even leave the body blank! =) Once I get this email from you, I'll send you my postal address and you can send me the postcard!</div><div><br />
</div><div>A bit complicated, I know, but I thought this was a bit safer than randomly advertising my home address here on the net!</div><div><br />
</div><div>I'm going to keep a collection and constantly update this blog with the postcards that come in. </div><div><br />
</div><div>If you've chanced upon this blog post and have no idea of who I am, you can check out my profile at http://about.me/silv3rglee to know more. And I would especially like to get a postcard from you! </div><div><br />
</div><div>I'm a bit skeptical about the success of this tiny project, but hey, I'll be happy even if I get two postcards! =)</div><div><br />
</div><div>*rubs hands in glee* I can't wait to get all your lovely postcards! =)</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-46941488822534000782011-03-02T05:27:00.000-08:002011-03-02T05:55:52.831-08:00Twits and their #AwesomeHandles 5.0<meta name="Title" content=""> <meta name="Keywords" content=""> <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> <meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> <meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 2008"> <link rel="File-List" href="file://localhost/Users/swatiraudev/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Arial; panose-1:2 11 6 4 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Times; panose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} h3 {mso-style-link:"Heading 3 Char"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; mso-outline-level:3; font-size:13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Times; mso-hansi-font-family:Times;} span.Heading3Char {mso-style-name:"Heading 3 Char"; mso-style-locked:yes; mso-style-link:"Heading 3"; mso-ansi-font-size:13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Times; mso-ascii-font-family:Times; mso-hansi-font-family:Times; font-weight:bold; mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Ok, so this post's been sitting in my drafts for a number of weeks! Sorry about that!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >*****</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Here I am with another set of #AwesomeHandles!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span style="font-weight: normal; " >
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; " ><span style="font-weight: normal; ">In my last post (</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; "><a href="http://silv3rglee.blogspot.com/2011/01/twits-and-their-awesomehandles-40.html">Twits and their #AwesomeHandles 4.0</a>) I’d mentioned how the point-oh came into being. So, while this is the fifth edition of #AwesomeHandles, it’s technically the second edition of the point-oh system.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " >
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">You’re right, that’s got nothing to do with anything. That was just FYI. =)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " >
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">What, how, when, why and various other w’s and h’s are featured in the <a href="http://silv3rglee.blogspot.com/2010/09/twits-and-their-awesomehandles.html">first edition</a>, <a href="http://silv3rglee.blogspot.com/2010/10/twits-and-their-awesomehandles-second.html">second edition</a> and <a href="http://silv3rglee.blogspot.com/2010/12/twits-and-their-awesomehandles-third.html">third edition</a>. Skim through to get an idea. Or even if you just wanna see who’s been featured so far. =)</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " >
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">That reminds me, another feature that’s emerged from this trend is a handle I’ve created: <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/awesomehandles">@AweseomHandles</a>. This handle only follows #AwesomeHandles that have been featured in my blogs so far. Some of the handles on my previous posts no longer exist: some users have deleted their accounts, while others have changed their handles to newer, more interesting ones!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; " >
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; ">In any case, all #AwesomeHandles that still exist are being followed by <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/awesomehandles">@AwesomeHandles</a>. So in case you want a comprehensive list of which ones to follow, go on and follow this handle. But remember: if your handle isn’t featured on any of the #AwesomeHandle blog editions, then this handle won’t follow you. *</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">shrugs*</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " >
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">Also, I don't really tweet a lot from that handle. It sort of just sits there following a bunch of #AwesomeHandles. <b>*shrugs again*</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " >
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><b></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">For those of you who have no idea what I’m going on about: I essentially have a collection of Twitter handles (usernames) that are, well, kinda fascinating. Some of these I come across via numerous RT’s and mentions. However, most of these are on the list because someone recommended the handle. If it weren’t for these recommendations, I prolly wouldn’t have a list this long!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " >
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">For this particular edition, I had heaaaaaps of help from two special people: <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@0__1">@0__1</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@md610">@md610</a>. Thanks guys! #AwesomeHandles 5.0 wouldn’t’ve happened if it weren’t for your recommendations! You rock! =D</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " >
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">Alrightie then…here goes the next set of #AwesomeHandles:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " > <meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <meta equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"> <title></title> <meta name="Generator" content="Cocoa HTML Writer"> <meta name="CocoaVersion" content="1038.35"> <style type="text/css"> p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.1px Arial} </style> </span></p><p class="p1"></p><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@_">@_</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@addicted_idiot">@addicted_idiot</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@AmreekanGandu">@AmreekanGandu</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@bitiyakebabul">@bitiyakebabul</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@blinkandumissit">@blinkandumissit </a></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@buttercheesefly">@buttercheesefly</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@chalu_chori">@chalu_chori </a></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@chupchap">@chupchap</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@Coconutsurfing">@Coconutsurfing</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@cranialopulence">@cranialopulence</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@deathclause">@deathclause</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@DevilsRejection">@DevilsRejection</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@disruptiveplay">@disruptiveplay</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@doofus_">@doofus_</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@EscF12">@EscF12</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@Fhrooti">@Fhrooti</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@FiveRupees">@FiveRupees</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@freegeek">@freegeek</a></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@God_Damn_Batman">@God_Damn_Batman</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@gora_khargosh">@gora_khargosh</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@GothVag">@GothVag</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@HaltViolence">@HaltViolence</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@IAmHandled">@IAmHandled </a></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@IamSilverFox">@IamSilverFox</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@iFUCKEDhimSILLY">@iFUCKEDhimSILLY</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@JackAss">@JackAss</a></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@KdProQuo">@KdProQuo</a></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@LastManAndRound">@LastManAndRound</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@LiteraryLapses">@LiteraryLapses</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@MaddoMomo">@MaddoMomo</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@middle_dt_fingr">@middle_Dt_fingr</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@NeoAaragorn">@NeoAaragorn</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@NonSlave">@NonSlave </a></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@OyeHooye">@OyeHooye</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@papercutjigsaw">@papercutjigsaw</a></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@paperslut">@paperslut </a></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@peeketalli">@peeketalli</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@Pickledsnob">@Pickledsnob</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@pishipotty">@pishipotty</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@PsychoSurd">@PsychoSurd </a></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@punkpolkadots">@punkpolkadots</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@StondImmaculate">@StondImmaculate</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@stridewallops">@stridewallops </a></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@Sweetly_Corrupt">@Sweetly_Corrupt</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@thenoblemaster">@thenoblemaster</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@thesulk">@thesulk</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@UnnamedEntity">@UnnamedEntity</a></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@utterflea">@utterflea </a></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@WolframZeta">@WolframZeta</a> </span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@Word_Witch">@Word_Witch</a> </span></li></ol><p></p><p class="p1"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <meta equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"> <title></title> <meta name="Generator" content="Cocoa HTML Writer"> <meta name="CocoaVersion" content="1038.35"> <style type="text/css"> p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.1px Arial} </style> </p><p class="p1"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <meta equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"> <title></title> <meta name="Generator" content="Cocoa HTML Writer"> <meta name="CocoaVersion" content="1038.35"> <style type="text/css"> p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.1px Arial} </style> </p><p class="p1"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <meta equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"> <title></title> <meta name="Generator" content="Cocoa HTML Writer"> <meta 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content="text/css"> <title></title> <meta name="Generator" content="Cocoa HTML Writer"> <meta name="CocoaVersion" content="1038.35"> <style type="text/css"> p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.1px Arial} </style> </p><p class="p1"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <meta equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"> <title></title> <meta name="Generator" content="Cocoa HTML Writer"> <meta name="CocoaVersion" content="1038.35"> <style type="text/css"> p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.1px Arial} </style> </p><p class="p1"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <meta equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"> <title></title> <meta name="Generator" content="Cocoa HTML Writer"> <meta name="CocoaVersion" content="1038.35"> <style type="text/css"> p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.1px Arial} </style> </p><p class="p1"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <meta equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"> <title></title> <meta name="Generator" content="Cocoa HTML Writer"> <meta name="CocoaVersion" content="1038.35"> <style type="text/css"> p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.1px Arial} </style> </p><p class="p1"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <meta equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"> <title></title> <meta name="Generator" content="Cocoa HTML Writer"> <meta name="CocoaVersion" content="1038.35"> <style type="text/css"> p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.1px Arial} </style> </p><p class="p1"></p><p class="p1"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <meta equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"> <title></title> <meta name="Generator" content="Cocoa HTML Writer"> <meta name="CocoaVersion" content="1038.35"> <style type="text/css"> p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.1px Arial} </style> </p><p class="p1"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <meta equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"> <title></title> <meta name="Generator" content="Cocoa HTML Writer"> <meta name="CocoaVersion" content="1038.35"> <style type="text/css"> p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.1px Arial} </style> </p><p class="p1"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <meta equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"> <title></title> <meta name="Generator" content="Cocoa HTML Writer"> <meta name="CocoaVersion" content="1038.35"> <style type="text/css"> p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.1px Arial} </style> </p><p class="p1"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <meta equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"> <title></title> <meta name="Generator" content="Cocoa HTML Writer"> <meta name="CocoaVersion" content="1038.35"> <style type="text/css"> p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.1px Arial} </style> </p><p class="p1"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <meta equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"> <title></title> <meta name="Generator" content="Cocoa HTML Writer"> <meta name="CocoaVersion" content="1038.35"> <style type="text/css"> p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.1px Arial} </style> </p><p class="p1"><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <meta equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"> <title></title> <meta name="Generator" content="Cocoa HTML Writer"> <meta name="CocoaVersion" content="1038.35"> <style type="text/css"> p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.1px Arial} </style> </p><p class="p1"><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><h3><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; " >
<br /></span></h3><h3><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; " >There you have it – #AwesomeHandles 5.0!</span></h3><h3><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; " >
<br /></span></h3><h3><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; ">Remember – you can contribute to my ever-growing list by dropping in a comment below or by giving me a shout at <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/silv3rglee">@silv3rglee</a>. In case you're wondering, yes, you can nominate your own handle if you think it's awesome!</span></span></h3><h3><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; " >
<br /></span></h3><h3><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; ">Let’s see how far this list goes.</span></span></h3><h3><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; " >
<br /></span></h3><h3><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; ">Total #AwesomeHandles count as of today: 432.</span></span></h3><h3><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; " >
<br /></span></h3><h3><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-weight: normal; ">=)</span></span></h3> <!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-69750343131544657432011-02-02T22:18:00.001-08:002011-02-02T22:28:47.932-08:00United Egyptians stand!<span style="font-family: arial;">As Egypt fights towards a better tomorrow, Egyptians show the world what they are truly made of: harmony and unity.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">This picture completely blew me away. Credit for this picture goes to a friend of mine on Facebook (FB) who shared it on his wall. The caption underneath the picture is exactly as is on his FB page.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Even as the government declared a ban on Friday prayers, Egyptians came together in communal harmony to protect their countrymen that practice a religion different from theirs.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Oh, how much the world needs to learn from them!</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TUpJqR2Jn4I/AAAAAAAADmI/UvXpuMar5ww/s1600/168968_1815940596111_1167974602_2158432_4444270_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TUpJqR2Jn4I/AAAAAAAADmI/UvXpuMar5ww/s320/168968_1815940596111_1167974602_2158432_4444270_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569344879890898818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: arial;" class="messageBody">Truly iconic photo from Tahrir Sq. yesterday, before the chaos.<br />Christian Egyptians protecting their Muslim compatriots during prayer.</span></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-43052394750096309742011-02-01T05:49:00.000-08:002011-02-01T22:41:01.673-08:00It's your turn now, Middle East<span style="font-family:arial;">As the day's events unfolded and over 2 million (estimate / rumored number) took on the streets of Egypt at Tahrir Square, it isn't a wonder that the first thing I thought of was Tiananmen Square. Will it turn out to be the same? It's now 5.51pm in Dubai, and Egyptians continue to ask for a respite from Mubarak. Will it turn out to be another Tiananmen Square, I ask myself again. I don't know. </span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TUgV_XzjMtI/AAAAAAAADl8/5WembfXen3g/s1600/w-tahrir-square-cairo-now-j.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TUgV_XzjMtI/AAAAAAAADl8/5WembfXen3g/s320/w-tahrir-square-cairo-now-j.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568725117709791954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Egypt's Tahrir Square on 1 February 2011</span></span><br /><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2011/01/25/cairo-egypt-protest-tunisia.html"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Image source</span></span></a><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Tweeps from all over the world continue to show their support on Twitter (hashtags #Egypt, #Jan25) and those on Facebook have set up</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> a page for <a href="http://www.facebook.com/silv3rglee/posts/189382007752787#%21/event.php?eid=126197157451259&index=1">"<span style="font-style: italic;">A Virtual "March of Millions" in Solidarity with Egyptian Protestors"</span></a>. Live feed of what is happening in Egypt is available via Al Jazeera English's online link.<br /><br />This is the true age of social media. A revolution supported and promoted and carried forward via various social media platforms through the people. True power to the people. This is the age. This is the time. This is <span style="font-weight: bold;">us</span> creating history.<br /><br />As the world comes together to support and promote Egyptians and their protests, in some way or another, we are all now officially a part of history. History in the making. This day, needless to say, is going down in history as the day the world came together and supported the people of Egypt in their revolution, in their attempt to empower themselves.</span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />And even as Egypt continues to seek power, news of Jordan has just trickled in. King Abdullah has just dismissed the Jordanian government.<br /><br />The Middle East is waking up to a brand new world. To brand new possibilities.<br /><br />And amidst it all, I can't help but wonder:<br />is this is the kind of "end of the world as we know it" scenario that has been prophesied for 2012? Is this the beginning of the end of political monopolies across the world? Or at least in the Middle East? Is this the end of oppression and the dawn of democracy?<br /><br />I suppose one will only have to wait and watch.<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-1279693299933197192011-01-30T22:52:00.000-08:002011-02-03T03:07:18.962-08:00Insanity Over Sanity<style>p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Tears of glory;</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Tears of pain.</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Contrasting people:</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Some agonized, some insane.</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Hatred, cruelty, destruction –</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">In the path of humanity, an obstruction.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Cries of anguish;</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Cries of joy.</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Playing with terror</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">As though a child’s toy.</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Shattered, tortured, hurt hearts –</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Terrorizing people, part by part.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Shouts of horror;</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Shouts of cheer.</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Horrifying the innocent,</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Attacking peace with a spear.</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Anger, retaliation, revenge –</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The only sane way to avenge?</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Smoke from blasts;</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Smoke from fire;</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">With everyone in it together,</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Peace had to retire.</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Pain, horror, tears: the common trend.</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Insanity, hereon, shall lead to the end…</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">*note: this is a poem I wrote a day after 9/11.</span><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-16665204703052856652011-01-27T01:45:00.000-08:002011-01-27T02:01:05.692-08:00My email to Al Futtaim / Volvo in UAE<span style="font-family: arial;">For those of you who don't know, I bought a brand new Volvo C30 on August 10, 2010. It is January 27, 2011 and my car has been in the service station for almost a month and a half since I bought it. This is due to a recurring error ("Transmission Performance Low") that kept popping up, making my car go into limp mode.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">I have been in touch with Al Futtaim representative at different stages. I will be writing another blog post detailing the kind of experience (not pleasnat!) I've had, but this is an email that I just wrote to them after a very disappointing call with their National After Sales Services Manager.<br /><br />I just wanted to share it with you all.<br /><br />Also, if you have any contacts within Al Futtaim UAE or Volvo, do please share with me.<br /><br />A detailed post with the exact timeline of what has happened with me and my car will be up shortly.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(136, 136, 136); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >**********</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >Dear Mr. X,</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />I have reviewed the letter you have attached herewith for my reference. I refuse to accept this letter from your side.</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />The meeting I had with you and Mr. Y yesterday has clearly been a complete waste of time. Whilst my request to you was to state that you give me a guarantee that the recurring error ("Transmission Performance Low") would not come back again, all I see in this letter is that you are "quite assured" that the error will not occur.</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />Every single time I have reported the very same error to you or someone at Al Futtaim, I have walked away with the car with an utmost 'assurance' from your side that the car is fixed 'this time'. And yet, the error came up each and every single time.</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />I made myself very clear yesterday that I needed a guarantee from your end that this would not happen again. Instead, I get Mr. Y's "opinion" that all the issues in my car are resolved.</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />I had given you two options during our meeting yesterday: give me a letter guaranteeing my safety on the road in that car (wrt 'Transmission Performance Low' error) - that is to say, guarantee that the error will not come back again, or kindly take the car back. You have now reverted back to me with a letter that merely states what you have done with the car since I started reporting the error to you, along with 'assurances' and 'opinions' on the current and potential future state of its performance. It does not give me any guarantees, whatsoever.</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />Not only am I disappointed in the letter that you have sent, but I am also disappointed in the way I have been spoken to by Mr. Y. He made no attempts to hold back his utter frustration while speaking to me on the phone. If dealing with a harassed customer that has reported the same issue to you repeatedly is such a hassle for you, then you should make that clear to us at the very beginning. If he has to heave a sigh of frustration when I tell him why I am agitated, rest assured it will do anything </span><i style="font-family: arial;"><b>but</b></i><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" > bring my temper down! In no way am I assured of my safety on the road, and on top of all that, I am spoken to in a way that is most offensive!</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />I no longer wish to receive any kind of an assurance or guarantee letter from Volvo / Al Futtaim. I have sat back and been extremely civil thus far. Whilst I will remain to be civil in the future as well, I won't sit back anymore. </span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />In addition, I no longer wish to deal with you both. Clearly these attempts have failed drastically and I am now being treated like a child that is throwing a silly tantrum. Instead of being reassured, my intelligence is being insulted by the way I have been spoken to. If you sat back for one minute and put yourself in my shoes, I am sure you would appreciate my plight and agitation. Alas!</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />I wish to reiterate that despite the fact I reported the same error to you over and over again, it has not been rectified. Yes, you may say that it has </span><i style="font-family: arial;"><b>now</b></i><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" > been rectified, but I cannot believe you because this is exactly what you have said to me each time in the past that I communicated this error with you.</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />I would like you to kindly send me yours and Mr. Y's superior's contact number and email address so I can take this matter up with them. </span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />Again, I no longer want a letter of guarantee from your end. </span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />After the way I have been spoken to just about an hour ago, I do not want to interact with anyone, except for your superiors. </span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />Kindly revert back to me at the earliest with these email addresses. Under the circumstances, I'm sure you will appreciate and agree that this is the least you could do.</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />Regards,</span><span style="color: rgb(136, 136, 136); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br />Swati Randev-Verma<br />One of your most upset, agitated and disappointed clients</span><span style="color: rgb(136, 136, 136); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(136, 136, 136); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >**********</span><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(136, 136, 136); font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" ><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" >Copy of the letter from Volvo to which numerous references have been made in this email / blog post:<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(136, 136, 136);"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TUFANWLPvJI/AAAAAAAADlg/XpG0KsMjwWU/s1600/Screen%2Bshot%2B2011-01-27%2Bat%2B1.49.11%2BPM.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TUFANWLPvJI/AAAAAAAADlg/XpG0KsMjwWU/s320/Screen%2Bshot%2B2011-01-27%2Bat%2B1.49.11%2BPM.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566801212441869458" border="0" /></a></span><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-34538859365703589032011-01-16T22:19:00.000-08:002011-01-16T22:27:04.593-08:00Beyond The Black Restriction<style>@font-face { font-family: "Calibri"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; line-height: 115%; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Behind the veils of injustice,</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Do you feel, as do I?</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Do you feel the passions, aches and needs;</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Do you then feel humiliated, ashamed, shy…?</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Do you see the blurry world outside</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">And sometimes, silently cry?</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Do you look beyond yours,</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Wish, hope, pray; then just heave a heavy sigh?</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Do you feel the need to break free;</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Do you want to sometimes fly…?</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Do you sometimes look at you</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">And simply wonder: why…?</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Do you sometimes wish that you,</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Yourself could go real high?</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Do you feel the lack of privacy,</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The presence of someone always there to pry…?</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Does life seem very unfair to you,</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Does it appear awfully sly?</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Do you feel you can help yourself;</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">At least give it a try?</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Do you let it all get to you;</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Let the tear escape your eye?</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Hidden behind the veils of coyness,</span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Do you sometimes feel, as do I…?</span><br /><br /><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-65538890888156107922011-01-11T03:33:00.000-08:002011-01-11T03:35:37.970-08:00Shhh…can you smell it?<style>@font-face { font-family: "Arial"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">As a child, I always associated particular smells with the city I was in. We moved a lot, thankfully. Every new place I went to, I associated a smell with it. Seasons too. Every season has a smell…Delhi’s winters, Mumbai’s summers, Bangalore’s all-year evenings, Kuwait’s bone chilling cold, Budapest’s flowery June…</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Every time I revisited that city in that season, I smiled. I related ‘where and when’ with the smells around me. As an adult, I thank childhood me’s curiosity for this gift I carry now.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The best part about winters in UAE is that I can finally associate smells to this country.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">As I roll down the windows in my car, I take in what this city is made of. As I go through the last underpass on Sheikh Zayed Road towards Garhoud Bridge, I can hear the city buzzing and echoing – literally. The blaring music in my car is shushed by the zipping cars, screeching ahead, hazards flashing. I hear the slightest brakes being applied by trucks around me, as I cringe my nose trying not to inhale the ugly smoke they let out as they halt in the traffic. What does Sheikh Zayed Road smell like? Smoke. Metal. And finally, character.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I zip past the airport towards Khawaneej and hear the gentle roar of a flight about to land. A subtle gush of dust flies around me and I take I can smell the versitility of nature. I glance up, smile, and take it all in.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">As I enter Sharjah, the smells around me become far more profound. As my C30 crawls ahead on Al Khan, I glance to my left. I smell grass, sometimes freshly cut, on the mini-hill asking me to smile because I’m in Sharjah. And involuntarily, my lips curve into a lopsided grin.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Rolla, smelling like tandoori chicken, shows me what it’s made of. My elbow on the ‘window sill’, if I may, and eyes all around, I see the transition that Sharjah makes from tandoori chicken to…well, manure. As I drive towards my house, the four lane road divided by a broad stretch of concrete screams to me in agony. And why not, when it is being overloaded with manure, forcing a man made chunk of land to suddenly turn fertile?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In a few months this smell will become more pleasant. The stench of manure will be taken over by a pleasant, flowery one.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Unfortunately, in a few months when I drive past the same road, all I’ll smell is my car.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">With windows rolled up, the air conditioner on high, I’ll drive past everything around me, and miss out on all of UAE’s summer smells.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-88214253462795659952011-01-09T03:20:00.000-08:002011-01-09T05:27:35.394-08:00Twits and their #AwesomeHandles 4.0<style>@font-face { font-family: "Arial"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color: blue; text-decoration: underline; }a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color: purple; text-decoration: underline; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">As is the law of nature, everything evolves. We evolved from monkeys – although some would contest that a few of us haven’t quite evolved all the way.<br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Regardless, as everything around us evolves, so must #AwesomeHandles.</p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Not so much in the handles themselves, but in the way I blog them.</p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">It’s interesting. I was going through titles of my archived MS word copies of #AwesomeHandles editions (OCD? Yes.), and saw that I didn’t quite foresee this becoming a regular feature at the time. At least not in terms of the blog titles. The first one should’ve had some kinda “first” or “numero uno” kinda annotation or something of the sort. But it doesn’t. It’s very simply called: <a href="http://silv3rglee.blogspot.com/2010/09/twits-and-their-awesomehandles.html">Twits and their #AwesomeHandles</a>.<br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">I did become a tad more, umm, shall we say perceptive? Yeah, I like that. It’s a 50 dollar word, at least. </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">So yeah, the next couple of rounds saw me being a bit more perceptive (<b style="">*grin*</b>) and titling them ‘<a href="http://silv3rglee.blogspot.com/2010/10/twits-and-their-awesomehandles-second.html">Twits and their #AwesomeHandles – Second Edition</a>’ and ‘<a href="http://silv3rglee.blogspot.com/2010/12/twits-and-their-awesomehandles-third.html">Twits and their #AwesomeHandles – Third Edition</a>’.<a href="http://silv3rglee.blogspot.com/2010/12/twits-and-their-awesomehandles-third.html"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;"></span></a><br /></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">When I was formatting and reformatting my excel document with the fourth and fifth editions (yep, 14 handles down, 36 more to go for the next blog!) while I simultaneously updated the ‘Master List’ (one that has all #AwesomeHandles so far, arranged alphabetically), I said to myself, nah…this isn’t working.</p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; font-family: arial;">What sounds more…what’s the word I’m looking for – futuristic! – what sounds more futuristic than just numbering out the editions? And that’s when I came up with this point-oh system.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; font-family: arial;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; font-family: arial;">And now, ladies and gentlemen, allow me to present you with <b style="">Twits and their #AwesomeHandles 4.0</b>!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; font-family: arial;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; font-family: arial;"><br /></p><ol style="font-family: arial;"><li> <style>table { }.font5 { color: windowtext; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; font-family: Arial; }td { padding: 0px; color: windowtext; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: bottom; border: medium none; white-space: nowrap; }.xl24 { background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; }ruby { }rt { color: windowtext; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; font-family: Arial; display: none; }</style><a href="http://twitter.com/@69fubar">@69fubar</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@acp_pradyuMAN">@acp_pradyuMAN </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@almostbutnotyet">@almostbutnotyet</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@arauser">@arauser</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@asli_asli">@asli_alsi</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@ASSHOLINESS">@ASSHOLINESS </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@BitchPlease">@BitchPlease </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@BwahahaO_o">@BwahahaO_o </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@chulbul_pandi">@chulbul_pandi </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@churumuri">@churumuri</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@ConfuseusSay">@ConfuseusSay</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@Crotchingtiger">@Crotchingtiger </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@CrudeInterlude">@CrudeInterlude </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@hallucinations">@hallucinations</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@HamraBihar">@HamraBihar </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@HotnessGodness">@HotnessGodness </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@HotTottie">@HotTottie </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@ijusthadsex">@ijusthadsex </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@imfucked">@imfucked </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@impsidermonkey">@imspidermonkey</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@JadoPado">@JadoPado</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@jesus">@jesus</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@jun6lee">@jun6lee </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@little_chuckle">@little_chuckle </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@lovethewayulie">@lovethewayulie </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@McDarkTwisty">@McDarkTwisty</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@NameFIeldEmpty">@NameFieldEmpty </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@offstumped">@offstumped</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@omg">@omg </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@pAaTsHaLa">@pAaTsHaLa </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@PHILOPHISM">@PHILOPHISM</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@powerpointgirl">@powerpointgirl</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@probablytrippy">@probablytrippy </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@reincarnated_er">@reincarnated_er </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@SantaComes2Town">@SantaComes2Town</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@Stark_Mad">@Stark_Mad </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@tallikya">@tallikya </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@TheAngrezJailer">@TheAngrezJailer </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@theevilp">@theevilp </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@TheVoiceOfNeo">@TheVoiceOfNeo </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@TimbaLiyah">@TimbaLiyah </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@UberDoucher">@UberDoucher </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@unfairandlovely">@unfairandlovely</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@unnamedentity">@unnamedentity</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@urbanturbanguy">@urbanturbanguy</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@UsmileIsmile">@UsmileIsmile </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@veryvitriolic">@veryvitriolic</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@WhatTheFuck">@WhatTheFuck </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@yeayeaiknow">@yeayeaiknow </a><br /></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@ZingXongVong">@ZingXongVong</a><br /></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; font-family: arial;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; font-family: arial;">There it is - the first point-oh edition of #AwesomeHandles.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; font-family: arial;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in; font-family: arial;"> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Arial"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color: blue; text-decoration: underline; }a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color: purple; text-decoration: underline; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Arial"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color: blue; text-decoration: underline; }a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color: purple; text-decoration: underline; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Like I said, 36 more to go for Twits and their #AwesomeHandles 5.0 to be blogged!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Think you have an #AwesomHandle or know of someone else who does? Drop in a comment below of send me a tweet (<a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/silv3rglee/">@silv3rglee</a>) and I’ll put your recommendations on the next blog!<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;">=)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-61896845951011229022010-12-21T03:51:00.000-08:002010-12-26T04:34:13.845-08:00When Axl met Bryan<style>@font-face { font-family: "Arial"; }@font-face { font-family: "Wingdings"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }@font-face { font-family: "Arial Bold"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color: blue; text-decoration: underline; }a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color: purple; text</style><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Ok, so that didn't really happen.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >It <b style=""><i style="">did</i></b> happen in an alternate universe, yes. But here, this boring universe that we live in, no it didn’t. That’s why I wanna relocate. But let’s leave that for another post.</span><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" > </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;">So anyway, I’ll get to Axl and Bryan details in just a bit. But to start off, the month began with a lot of adrenaline and excitement over the crazy line up of artists. <a href="http://www.creamfields.ae/">Creamfields</a>, you say? Well, yeah, that too. But you see, for someone like me, Creamfields is equivalent to<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRYfcBuQOxI/AAAAAAAADhs/QhbF51kWpQ4/s1600/kanye_west.gif"><br /></a></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRYe6gbMgeI/AAAAAAAADhk/VVRbfMAxV64/s1600/Ravi-Shankar.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 324px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRYe6gbMgeI/AAAAAAAADhk/VVRbfMAxV64/s400/Ravi-Shankar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554661180893331938" border="0" /></a></span></p> <div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.washingtonbanglaradio.com/content/ravi-shankar-interview-voice-america-15-years-ago-1993-listen-pundit-ravi-shankar-speak-voa-">Image source</a></span><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><a href="http://www.ravishankar.org/">Ravi Shankar</a><br /><br /></span><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style="color:red;"> </span></b></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://kanyewest.com/"><br /></a></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRYfcBuQOxI/AAAAAAAADhs/QhbF51kWpQ4/s1600/kanye_west.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRYfcBuQOxI/AAAAAAAADhs/QhbF51kWpQ4/s400/kanye_west.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554661756767320850" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.celebrity-sunglasses-finder.com/Kanye-West-Sunglasses.html">Image source</a></span><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;">or <a href="http://kanyewest.com/">Kanye West</a></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" > </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRYgyxF8xbI/AAAAAAAADh0/td3SFN1N6Bg/s1600/justin_bieber1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRYgyxF8xbI/AAAAAAAADh0/td3SFN1N6Bg/s400/justin_bieber1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554663246951925170" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://quotes.whyfame.com/justin-bieber-doesnt-know-alexander-mcqueen-is-dead-270">Image source</a></span><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;">or even <a href="http://www.justinbiebermusic.com/myworlds/">Justin Bieber</a>.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" > </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" > </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;">That is to say that whist they might be fantastic musicians, and even the best in their genre, I don’t quite relate to their music.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" > </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;">I have nothing except the highest regard for these people for having achieved tremendous success in their careers doing what they’ve done. And they must’ve done <b style=""><i style="">something</i></b> right to be where they are.<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" > </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;">But yeah, no, doesn’t work for me.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" > </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">This is just like when people turn around to me and say, “I’m not a big chocolate fan. In fact, I don’t even like it that much”. I know, right. Yeah, such people <b style=""><i style="">do</i></b> exist. *<b>rolling eyes*</b></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><br /></b></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" > </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Moving right along, then.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" > </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" > </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;">So yeah, to cut a long story short, Creamfields isn’t what got my knickers in a knot (I know it doesn’t fit, but I wanna use it! <b>humph</b>); it was two artists / bands playing on two consecutive days: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns_N%27_Roses">Guns n’ Roses</a> and <a href="http://www.bryanadams.com/">Bryan Adams</a>.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" > </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" > </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;">It all started when I accidentally spotted a tweet on Gn’R performing in Abu Dhabi. And the rest, well, wasn’t quite history. I was willing to do anything to get to Abu Dhabi on that fateful Thursday evening, but there was too much to consider. Organizing tickets, getting people together for the drive, the drive…oh man, the drive! And that’s when <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/dollz87">@dollz87</a> came to our rescue and agreed to not just organize the tickets for a few of us for the concert, but she agreed to drive us to <b>and</b> back from the concert. Bless her!</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" > </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Now, some last minute SOS calls were being made by friends and some of their friends for tickets. Were there any left? “Could we get some?” “Just one?” “Is there place in your car to take us with?” “Yeah, just one” “Promise we’ll be there on time” “No no no, you won’t have to wait for us!”</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" > </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;">And so on. =)<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" > </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Finally, those who tried hard enough managed to get their tickets and on the fateful day of the concert, <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/pAaTsHaLa">@pAaTsHaLa</a> and I (<a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/silv3rglee">@silv3rglee</a>) met up with Ekta (<a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/dollz87">@dollz87</a>), Radhicka (<a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/RadhickaKC">@RadhickaKC</a>) and Mel (he isn’t on twitter – <b>gasp</b>!!!).<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Radhicka ditched us for her other girlfriends (*humph*) but no worries, we had a great drive into Abu Dhabi – with drinks and snacks in store. <b>*wink*</b> We were the lucky few that got parking on time. =)</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" > </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;">We had a weeeee bit of an issue with our ticket cuz the morons who gave us the tickets had cut off the darn bar-code, but hey, we sorted that out and pushed our way right through. =)</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRbeGsHfyuI/AAAAAAAADiM/ftRGe_fd0v4/s1600/P1030947.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRbeGsHfyuI/AAAAAAAADiM/ftRGe_fd0v4/s320/P1030947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554871396911270626" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">Oh yeah!<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">\m/</span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRbeG_WoIkI/AAAAAAAADiU/ttQvTtFfgKo/s1600/P1030948.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRbeG_WoIkI/AAAAAAAADiU/ttQvTtFfgKo/s320/P1030948.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554871402075005506" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">Mel can't get that smile off his face!</span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcaYIcZPXI/AAAAAAAADkE/vn4iQR8F59c/s1600/P1030950.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcaYIcZPXI/AAAAAAAADkE/vn4iQR8F59c/s320/P1030950.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554937667270557042" border="0" /></a></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" > </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" > </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" > </p> <p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">From shy and sober I went on to...well, to what no words can describe!</span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;">The next batch of rockers showed up shortly, namely Surekha [<a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/iyerina">@iyerina</a>], Mithun, Minie and Vicky [<a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@Vickyeda">@Vickyeda</a>].<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRbwhofAGMI/AAAAAAAADic/OPv44np0fAs/s1600/P1030956.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRbwhofAGMI/AAAAAAAADic/OPv44np0fAs/s320/P1030956.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554891651001882818" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">Deer and headlight moment for Mithun!</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" > </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" > </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRbzqOtKB-I/AAAAAAAADik/B3FX44NCGy8/s1600/P1030960.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRbzqOtKB-I/AAAAAAAADik/B3FX44NCGy8/s320/P1030960.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554895097235638242" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">Woodstock, baaaaabie!</span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRb33cavQsI/AAAAAAAADis/wTd7dzHqoAk/s1600/156905_10150117714515865_717525864_7797963_5831554_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRb33cavQsI/AAAAAAAADis/wTd7dzHqoAk/s320/156905_10150117714515865_717525864_7797963_5831554_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554899722301293250" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:78%;">There's two of my most favourite people - Minie and Rohit!</span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;">Once the “OMG, I haven’t seen you in for-EVA” ‘s were exchanged, we got to venting our excitement! Well, our excitement was legit. The opening band had just finished and they’d announced our big boys were up next! So we stood there, screaming out and ‘oh-maaaaaan’-ing a ginormous list of songs we wished they’d play! Some of us felt they could’ve charged us extra to cover up the bribe amount to pay Slash for showing up.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRb4ks6b6MI/AAAAAAAADi0/o4-l_6i120s/s1600/21672_2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRb4ks6b6MI/AAAAAAAADi0/o4-l_6i120s/s320/21672_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554900499823323330" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/crossfade/2007/10/interview_slash_of_velvet_revo.php">Image source</a></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;">Ok, so that was just me saying it over and over again. <b>pfffft</b> They could’ve at least tried. </span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;">Anyhow, as I was saying, we kept talking about how much we were gonna miss Slash, but hey, they’d still do November Rain, wouldn’t they? Sweet child? DUH! Live and Let Die? Not popular enough.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;">And so we went on and on and on.</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;">But ya know what the darn icing on the cake was? They played EVERY SINGLE song on our list!!!</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcHZjTU1AI/AAAAAAAADi8/15tN19kXT30/s1600/P1030963.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcHZjTU1AI/AAAAAAAADi8/15tN19kXT30/s320/P1030963.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554916800939217922" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:78%;">Axl doing what he does best - making me go week in the knees!</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;">We managed to spot <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/Khaledtron">@Khaledtron</a> , <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/mzaher">@mzaher</a> , <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/metallicsmile">@metallicsmile</a> at some point during the evening. =) How I wish we'd had the sense to take some pictures.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;">On second thought...naaah...it was better this way cuz booooooy did we scream and shout!<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;">And we head-banged and air-guitared. We hugged each other and screamed out the lyrics. We drunk-dialed our friends who weren’t there and we sang to them. We jumped and spilled our drinks. We laughed, but we didn’t cry tonight. =)</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcIVOMwejI/AAAAAAAADjE/TY8sYeIDMPo/s1600/Screen%2Bshot%2B2010-12-17%2Bat%2B14.13.49.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 279px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcIVOMwejI/AAAAAAAADjE/TY8sYeIDMPo/s320/Screen%2Bshot%2B2010-12-17%2Bat%2B14.13.49.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554917826066676274" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:78%;">C'est moi</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzPC6nQQ_JFDqR1m1s_N0xwNO6ZWPIEEWGq-vvnv2GkogQ9twlfKfpsMz4RxywAyxWk4AV2xAgIm6QZE0PtDQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><br />Trust Rohit to do something like this when I'm completely unaware!</span><br /><br /><br /></span></div> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;">As the end of the night inched closer, I turned towards Mithun and said these simple yet utterly honest words to him: Paradise City dude. That’s all I need to die happy. I promise you I will die happy.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal" face="arial"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">And when Gn’R closed the night with Paradise City, I could’ve sworn I had one thought in my head: kill me, kill me now so I can die with this smile on my face. =)</span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Surreal? Oh yeah. =)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Whoever said Gn’R isn’t the same without Slash is, well, probably correct. But if that’s the reason you didn’t show up for their gig then ---> <b>*points and laughs*</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">For me the night ended as soon as I got back into Ekta’s car. I passed out almost instantly. I slept through the drive from Abu Dhabi to Dubai and then from Dubai to Sharjah. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Big hugs going out to Ekta for driving us to and from Abu Dhabi…and another one going to Rohit for driving me home.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">And another one going out to Mel for stealing that Gn'R flag for me. Man, I coulda never mustered up enough balls to do that.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcaYEQwZqI/AAAAAAAADj8/DYUC88mZhHI/s1600/P1030942.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcaYEQwZqI/AAAAAAAADj8/DYUC88mZhHI/s320/P1030942.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554937666148001442" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Not this particular one, but a flag mounted on one such pole was what Mel grabbed for me!</span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">You're my rock start! </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >*muuuah*<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Love you guys! =)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The night behind me, home and safely in bed, all that I remember next is waking up at noon the following day thinking I’d missed the Bryan Adams concert! <b>*yikes*</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">But wait, I hadn’t.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>*snicker snicker*</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">As I staggered out of bed, I had a smile plastered on my face. From last night. And for the night that was to come.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Bryan Adams, Bangalore. The first concert of my life. Ever. In the best city in the world. With the best set of friends. =) </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Bryan Adams at Bangalore = no pictures.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Yeah it was long before we could afford cameras at college! Hell, when he played there, the world was still on a Nokia 3315 craze! =)</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Oh…the nostalgia! =) Just the thought of going for his concert brought back oh-so-many memories. Memories of a time when there wasn’t anything sweeter than skipping college and sitting in Styx on MG Road, sipping on screw drivers, listening to music in it’s greatest element. At noon. =) </span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Yeah…those were the days. =) </span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">As I left home with Rohit, I started coordinating with <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/PolarBent">@PolarBen</a>t on how and where we were going to meet up. Inside the arena, it was decided! =)</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Personally, I'd've preferred to be in the 'regular' area and not the VIP area. But hey, there's only so much you can do when you win VIP tickets on air! *</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >giggle*</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">And as a very mature Rohit portrays here, there's nothing better than the feeling you get when you cut the queue to get to your seats cuz, well, you're a winner with VIP tickets. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >*wink*</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcXUshAVCI/AAAAAAAADjs/Hx8YJHHScnY/s1600/P1030971.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcXUshAVCI/AAAAAAAADjs/Hx8YJHHScnY/s320/P1030971.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554934309699212322" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">We won VIP tickets - nanee nanee poo poo!</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcXU-IRQ9I/AAAAAAAADj0/09tFtIH-2rM/s1600/P1030972.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcXU-IRQ9I/AAAAAAAADj0/09tFtIH-2rM/s320/P1030972.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554934314427302866" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">*eeeeeeeeeeeee*</span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">As we gloated, the crowd outside was getting thicker by the minute. Tweets were flying around from <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/NikitaTJM">@NikitaTJM</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/AkankshaGoel">@AkankshaGoel</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/presch">@presch</a> stating that they were going to be there. While we tried to figure out where each of us was, I suppose we ended up cozy and comfy wherever we found the space.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRceor-TGOI/AAAAAAAADkM/sKUr-Q_45z8/s1600/P1030974.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRceor-TGOI/AAAAAAAADkM/sKUr-Q_45z8/s320/P1030974.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554942349732419810" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">Crowd starting to trickle in</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Rohit and I managed to get Elham to leave her nice little cozy spot in the 4<sup>th</sup> of 5<sup>th</sup> row to join us back-benchers.<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcMQpd0rsI/AAAAAAAADjc/_ZAQ5RekqlM/s1600/P1030986.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcMQpd0rsI/AAAAAAAADjc/_ZAQ5RekqlM/s320/P1030986.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554922145533177538" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">Aaaaand we go shutterbug crazy!</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcMQSlO9UI/AAAAAAAADjU/QSZYj-C7IQ8/s1600/P1030983.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcMQSlO9UI/AAAAAAAADjU/QSZYj-C7IQ8/s320/P1030983.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554922139390244162" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Bryan, you've got some seriously crazy women-fans in the audience! *tsk tsk*</span><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">And I couldn’t stop clicking pictures of her hair!</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcKl_JhWtI/AAAAAAAADjM/u9oQ5ewQsv0/s1600/P1030982.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcKl_JhWtI/AAAAAAAADjM/u9oQ5ewQsv0/s320/P1030982.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554920313107602130" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">Elham's gorgeous hair!</span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">We did run into some annoying bit of “oh you can’t be here because I said so and because I’m Security because that’s what it says on my shirt and because I can’t understand what you’re saying because that’s just the way life is” kinda nonsense. But nothing we couldn’t handle. Rather, nothing Elham couldn’t handle. <b>*wink*</b></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b> </b></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">And then, just like that, Bryan came on and started playing…and boy did he play! There we were, back-benched during the concert, screaming, shouting and singing! And boy, were we singing! Every song…every stanza…we just couldn’t get those smiles off our face!</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">And when he played Summer of ’69 – yeah, clichéd, but boy did the entire arena go crazy or did they go crazy! =)</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcfjAMR-hI/AAAAAAAADkU/2Y-57cJp-bM/s1600/P1030995.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcfjAMR-hI/AAAAAAAADkU/2Y-57cJp-bM/s320/P1030995.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554943351592188434" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:78%;">Where were you during the Summer of '69?</span></div><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">I got my phone out and made that much expected long distance call to Anamika. This song, like Sweet Child, had to be screamed on the phone. It was a given. Well, I’d’ve rather sung Heaven to her, but it didn’t kinda go with my mood of wanting to yell over the phone! =)</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcgk_C805I/AAAAAAAADkk/5-1T-UgHFIM/s1600/P1030994.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcgk_C805I/AAAAAAAADkk/5-1T-UgHFIM/s320/P1030994.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554944485155984274" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">Cameras (and a few old-school Zippo's) in the air for 'Heaven'</span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcgk6RwD_I/AAAAAAAADkc/GGbE2jUyrPc/s1600/P1030988.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcgk6RwD_I/AAAAAAAADkc/GGbE2jUyrPc/s320/P1030988.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554944483875885042" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:78%;">Cameras (and a few old-school Zippo's) in the air for 'Heaven'</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">He sang his heart out and in the bargain, we ended up losing our voices!</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Since I last saw him (perform) in Bangalore, he's gotten older. Much, much older. But I'd be damned if he didn't kill the stage that night!<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcUH5w6xmI/AAAAAAAADjk/MCtKo5RTwRI/s1600/P1030989.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRcUH5w6xmI/AAAAAAAADjk/MCtKo5RTwRI/s320/P1030989.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554930791382435426" border="0" /></a></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:78%;">You still turn the fire on, Bryan</span><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">And when he finally came around to singing 'Baby When You're Gone', I jumped and screamed and shouted my lungs out in the lamest ever attempt to get him to pick me to get on stage for that duet.<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Like that was gonna happen! *</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >sigh* </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Plant or not, I must admit, that Jill girl from Goa did a fantabulous job at the song! Well done, you! =)<br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">As Bryan finally walked off the stage and the lights came on, you could see people tucking their lighters back into their pockets, hugging their other half and walking out with satisfied looks on their faces.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" face="arial" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" face="arial" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The night ended with Nikita bringing a mile wide smile to my face when she tweeted: </span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" face="arial" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">“Shoutouts to <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/AkankshaGoel">@AkankshaGoel</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/silv3rglee">@silv3rglee</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/presch">@presch</a> ! Although we couldn't meet, felt good to know you were somewhere in the crowd!”</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" face="arial" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">And that, strangely enough, summed up those crazy couple of days.</span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" face="arial" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The weekend wasn’t over yet! Another night, another day to go. And yet, nothing in store could compare to the last couple of days. Nothing.</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" face="arial" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">And these are going in my collection - with Iron Maiden (Bangalore) and Aerosmith (Bangalore).<br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRYoOotc9jI/AAAAAAAADh8/1s7EQKeC-94/s1600/IMG-20101225-00138.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRYoOotc9jI/AAAAAAAADh8/1s7EQKeC-94/s400/IMG-20101225-00138.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554671422319425074" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRYoOxgyW0I/AAAAAAAADiE/P2mtv--6xns/s1600/IMG-20101225-00140.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TRYoOxgyW0I/AAAAAAAADiE/P2mtv--6xns/s400/IMG-20101225-00140.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554671424682220354" border="0" /></a></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The year couldn’t have been ending on a better note. =)</span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-87790480345752198152010-12-12T01:49:00.000-08:002010-12-12T02:42:43.373-08:00A Writer’s Nightmare<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">They call this thing ‘writer’s block’</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When words come out as a shock.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There is no rhyme scheme anywhere</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And all I see is facial hair.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The thoughts are stuck, trapped and tied</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And the beauty seems to have dried.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Not actually, for it’s just colder,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And I no more am the beholder.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The pen moves without any grace,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And of decent writing, there is not trace.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Spellings seem to go hay-wire</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And I seem to quickly tire.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Eyes locked onto the pen and pad,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I feel immense gloom and sad.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When, oh, when will I write again</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">With that same feel and lots of pain?</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This question today I cannot answer,</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For as of now, I’d much rather be a dancer.</span></span></p> <!--EndFragment-->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-18477097678137802662010-12-10T07:14:00.000-08:002010-12-10T07:44:27.798-08:00Twits and their #AwesomeHandles – Third Edition<style>@font-face { font-family: "Arial"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">It’s been a while since I posted the last #AwesomeHandles edition. I'm through with two editions and this is the third of the lot!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Now, the thing is, if you haven’t read the other two editions – well firstly, why haven’t you?!? The links are right there! *pffft*<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Anywhoooooo, in case you haven’t read the last edition specifically, you won’t quite know why this edition has only 40 entries. To catch up on the reasoning, read up <a href="http://silv3rglee.blogspot.com/2010/10/twits-and-their-awesomehandles-second.html"><b style=""><u>here</u></b></a>. =)</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Also, the next editions will feature 50 handles each, making it a perfectly even number. And a multiple of 5. And 2. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Oh, just read the previous damn post already!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Now, as tradition holds, it’s time for shout outs to those who dropped in their suggestions and recommendations! My man <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@PremPiyush">@PremPiyush</a> and my babe <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@md610">@md610</a> never fail to contribute, and not just contribute, but spread the word so other can contribute and then they drop in their suggestions, so technically, if there were any royalty attached to the recos, then these guys would be getting it! You get the drift. =)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><br /><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">So guys - big shout out to you both! *huuuuugs*<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand…here goes “Twits and their #AwesomeHandles – Third Edition”:<br /> </span></p><br /> <style>table { }td { padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-left: 1px; color: windowtext; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: bottom; border: medium none; white-space: nowrap; }.xl24 { text-align: left; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; }.xl25 { background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; }ruby { }rt { color: windowtext; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; font-family: Arial; display: none; }</style> <table style="border-collapse: collapse;" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="157"> <col style="" width="42"> <col style="" width="115"> <tbody><tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12" width="42">1</td> <td class="xl25" width="115"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@2morrowknight">@2morrowknight</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">2</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@abeychup">@abeychup </a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">3</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@badinsomniac">@badinsomniac</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">4</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@BeAGirl_Today">@BeAGirl_Today</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">5</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@bhenchod">@behenchod</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">6</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@blackrosegal">@blackrosegal </a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">7</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@blahssome">@blahssome </a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">8</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@BunnyMandala">@BunnyMandala</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">9</td> <td><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@chootiya">@chootiya</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">10</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@Cleverjackal">@Cleverjackal</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">11</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@complicateur">@complicateur </a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">12</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@ConfinedWisdom">@ConfinedWisdom</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">13</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@Decloned_Taz">@Decloned_Taz </a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">14</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@flamelily3">@flamelily3</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">15</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@indigocat">@indigocat</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">16</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@indigypsy">@indigypsy</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">17</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@jugni_on_acid">@jugni_on_acid</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">18</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@NameFieldEmpty">@NameFieldEmpty</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">19</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@OhTeri_BhenDi">@OhTeri_BhenDi </a></td> </tr> <tr height="13"> <td class="xl24" height="13">20</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@overrated_me">@overrated_me</a></td> </tr> <tr height="13"> <td class="xl24" height="13">21</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@p_a_r_a_d_o_x">@p_a_r_a_d_o_x</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">22</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@PariahWisdom">@PariahWisdom</a> </td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">23</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@peachbiscuit">@peachbiscuit</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">24</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@punkster101">@punkster101</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">25</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@RaapChick">@RaapChick</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">26</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@Ramblinggeek">@Ramblinggeek</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">27</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@rockstah">@rockstah</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">28</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@saffrontrail">@saffrontrail </a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">29</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@sixtematik">@sixtematik </a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">30</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@SoundofDementia">@SoundofDementia</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">31</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@TheSolutionBaba">@TheSolutionBaba</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">32</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@vSAMosa">@vSAMosa</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">33</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@Your_Boss">@Your_Boss</a> </td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">34</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@thejunebug">@thejunebug</a> </td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">35</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@raagwasgood">@raagwasgood </a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">36</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@MaidyCook">@MaidyCook </a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">37</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@Athingofjoy">@Athingofjoy</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">38</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@OldFunnyJoker">@OldFunnyJoker </a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">39</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@itssotweet">@itssotweet</a></td> </tr> <tr height="12"> <td class="xl24" height="12">40</td> <td class="xl25"><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/@shortpitched">@Shortpitched </a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br /><br /> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Arial"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">If you’re featured here then, well, bravo! =) </span></p> <br /><br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">And if you aren't and want to be or know of others with #AwesomeHandles that aren’t featured in the <b style=""><a href="http://silv3rglee.blogspot.com/2010/09/twits-and-their-awesomehandles.html">first edition</a>, <a href="http://silv3rglee.blogspot.com/2010/10/twits-and-their-awesomehandles-second.html">second edition</a></b> or this one, then drop in your / their handles in the comment box below, or lemme know on twitter (@silv3rglee).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">=)<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-18368091146723585102010-10-18T00:27:00.000-07:002010-10-18T01:18:35.168-07:00Twits and their #AwesomeHandles – Second Edition<p><span style="font-family:arial;">After the stupendous success (hey, it’s <strong>my </strong>blog!) of the first edition of #AwesomeHandles, I now present to you ‘Twits and their #AwesomeHandles – Second Edition’!<br /><br />I’m quite ashamed to say that I missed mentioning a number of AwesomeHandles in the first edition. And that sort of brought around the second edition. And if I’m honest with you, I’ve already started compiling the third edition! Yes, yes…me = geek. Proudly so. <strong>*humph*</strong><br /><br />Anywho, so just to give you guys a heads up on why the number differences in the different editions: I’d been waiting for a while to blog the first edition of #AwesomeHandles and the list sort of just, well, kept growing! I ended up blogging 156 in the first edition. Corny as it may sound to you, the second edition will have 104 handles to even out the number to a grand total of 260 #AwesomeHandles. The third edition (which, by the way, is halfway through) will have a list of 40 #AwesomeHandles to make the total then at 300. The editions that will follow will have 50 #AwesomeHandles each!<br /><br />Why, you ask? Because I said so. And also because, like I said earlier, I’m a bit of a geek. I can’t work without whole, even numbers. Eats me alive! <strong>*shudder*<br /></strong><br />Before moving on, a special mention going out to two people who changed their old handles just so they could be featured here! You guys are the <strong>sweetest!</strong> Big shout out going to <a href="http://twitter.com/RamyStrips">@RamyStrips </a>and <a href="http://twitter.com/FultoFaltu">@FultoFaltu</a> – *muuuuuuuuuuuuuuah*</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">And a big bear hug going out to <a href="http://twitter.com/md610">@md610</a> for her constant recommendations for #AwesomeHandles! You’re <strong>awesome,</strong> sugah!<br /><br />Soooooo…without further ado, I present to you the second edition of ‘Twits and their #AwesomeHandles’:<br /> </span></p><span style="font-family:arial;"><ol><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/2w8er">@2w8er</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/ABHIandNOW">@ABHIandNOW </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/ahem_rudra_asmi">@ahem_rudra_asmi </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/AhsWeepay">@AhsWeepay </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/appadappajappa">@appadappajappa</a> </li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/apunbindaas/">@apunbindaas</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/AshikOnFire">@AshikOnFire </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/AuraofDreams">@AuraofDreams</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/awayandout">@awayandout </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/b0nkers">@b0nkers </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/Baby_priesT">@Baby_priesT</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/badnaam">@badnaam</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/BLANK_NOISE">@BLANK_NOISE</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/blogadda">@blogadda</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/blustorm">@blustorm</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/bubblegumburst">@bubblegumburst </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/bubblegumburst">@Bumbhai</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/busy_idling">@busy_idling </a></li><li><a href="http://www.blogger.com/candinam">@candinam</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/cerebral_PULP">@cerebral_PULP</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/Chirpy_Kulfi">@Chirpy_Kulfi </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/ChodafoneIN">@ChodafoneIN </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/DamnItsTrue">@DamnItsTrue </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/DesiMurga">@DesiMurga</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/dhakkanz">@dhakkanz</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@DrYumYumSingh">@DrYumYumSingh</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@dunkdaft">@dunkdaft</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@fartfree">@fartfree</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@fartingpen">@fartingpen </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@FearlessinDubai">@FearlessinDubai</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/fitehal">@fitehal </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@friedeye">@friedeye</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@FuckMeBiebs">@FuckMeBiebs</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/@FultoFaltu">@FultoFaltu</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@goDODOgo">@goDODOgo</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@GucciFemme">@GucciFemme</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@hankypanty">@hankypanty </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/@hellomehippo">@hellomehippo </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/highandwild">@highandwild </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/i_r_squared">@i_r_squared</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/IAmNotBot">@IAmNotBot </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/impsyche">@impsyche </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/InaFryingPan">@InaFryingPan</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/iRapedhim">@iRapedhim </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/JaggedArrowHead">@JaggedArrowHead </a></li><li>@<a href="http://twitter.com/JalMeinKahin">JalMeinKahin </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/jhakaaas">@jhakaaas </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/kaalicharan">@kaalicharan</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/KabaadiWalah">@KabaadiWalah</a> </li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/kanwarsation">@kanwarsation </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/khatmal">@khatmal</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/khuljasimsim">@khuljasimsim</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/KickByStick">@KickByStick</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/laapata">@laapata</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/legendofrajni">@legendofrajni </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/lifeisbetter">@lifeisbetter </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/livestradamus">@livestradamus </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/Lord_Ram">@Lord_Ram</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/lostshouts">@lostshouts </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/madinsomniac">@madinsomniac </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/manuscrypts">@manuscrypts</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/maximustoxicus">@maximustoxicus</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/mental_floss">@mental_floss </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/Merafarz">@Merafarz</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/moderncrusader">@moderncrusader</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/mojorojo">@mojorojo </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/monkeyblazer">@monkeyblazer </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/mPhreak">@mPhreak</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/MTVbakra">@MTVbakra </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/naamakool">@naamakool </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/ouchmytoe">@ouchmytoe </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/pappupager">@pappupager </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/pehchan_kaun">@pehchan_kaun </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/pinkmoonpeeps">@pinkmoonpeeps </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/prempanicker">@prempanicker </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/probabilism">@probabilism </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/PsychoMaan">@PsychoMaan</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/pumpkinking06">@pumpkinking06 </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/raggedtag">@raggedtag </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/ram_dulari">@ram_dulari </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/RamyStrips">@RamyStrips </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/ROTFLMAOCOPTER">@ROTFLMAOCOPTER </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/satanbhagat">@satanbhagat</a></li><li>@<a href="http://twitter.com/shikaari_shambu">shikaari_shambu </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/silentcroonings">@silentcroonings</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/silentmedia">@silentmedia </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/silv3rglee">@silv3rglee</a> (on popular demand - from my previous post - I've gone ahead and added my own handle to the list! *halo over head* )</li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/SLotH13">@SLotH13</a> </li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/SparklinGuy">@SparklinGuy </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/Spoilt_Bratt">@Spoilt_Bratt </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/tantanoo">@tantanoo </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/tarzanhoon">@tarzanhoon</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/textualoffender">@textualoffender</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/theAngrezJailer">@theAngrezJailer </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/THEKOMINAS">@THEKOMINAS </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/themovingcloud">@themovingcloud</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/theregos">@theregos</a> </li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/umennet">@umennet </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/unknownuser666">@unknownuser666</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/verbalKungFu">@verbalKungFu</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/ViceCapt_Planet">@ViceCapt_Planet </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/want_beer">@want_beer </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/wildchildsk">@wildchildsk </a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/Zooberry">@Zooberry</a> </li></ol><p> </p><p>If I’ve missed your AwesomeHandle, then gimme a shout and I’ll add it to the next edition! :)<br /><br />Don’t forget to drop in your recommendations for #AwesomeHandles in the comment section below, or gimme a shout on twitter (<a href="http://twitter.com/silv3rglee">@silv3rglee</a>) with your recommendations!<br /><br /><strong>PS: if the link to your twitter page in the list above doesn’t work, lemme know – I had issues with a few of them!</strong></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-71546589419646320892010-09-26T09:35:00.000-07:002010-09-26T11:08:19.351-07:00Twits and their #AwesomeHandles<span style="font-family:arial;">It was just another day at work. But as history holds witness, the best ideas in the world come in the most mundane, regular environments.<br /><br />A regular Sunday it was. Wait, maybe it was Monday. No, it couldn’t have been a Monday, I have too many meeting lined up on Mondays. Tuesday. That’s it – it was the Middle Eastern ‘hump day’. The hardest day of the week to get by, they say. Although...hmmm…personally, I always think Wednesdays are the hardest. One day before the last day of the week and you’re not quite sure how to feel. Yeah, you’re kinda getting excited about the weekend, but then, you don’t really wanna over-do it and kill the Thursday-buzz, but then you don’t wanna sulk cuz you’re almost done with the week. Yeah, Wednesday. It had to be a Wednesday. Or…was is a slow Thursday…?<br /><br />*facepalm*<br /><br />Moving on (finally!) – on a particular day of the working week a couple of months ago, I parked at 7.30, sat at my desk at 7.45, switched on my laptop and waited for it to load. Ten minute later I had Lotus Notes, Facebook, Gmail and Gtalk open on my laptop. Not to mention my lifeline – Tweetdeck.<br /><br />In case you’re wondering, yes, I’m one of those social-media-enthusiast-thingamajig-people.<br /><br />As the day progressed with GM’s and #earlyriser tweets, traffic updates, news, random tweets and retweets, I couldn’t help but notice that a few RT’s stood out. Not so much for the tweets themselves but for the handles that were tweeting the tweets. Walkin’ the walk. Talkin’ the talk. LIvin’ the life. Runnin’ the lap.<br /><br />Sorry, I get carried away sometimes. :S<br /><br />Anywho…as I was saying, there were a few handles that stood out and made me take notice. Not to say that I hadn’t noticed some insanely creative handles before, but sometimes things just hit you like a bold of lightening. This was one of those moments.<br /><br />I forget if it was </span><a href="http://twitter.com/bitchwanti"><span style="font-family:arial;">@bitchwanti</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">, </span><a href="http://twitter.com/ChamatkariBaba"><span style="font-family:arial;">@ChamatkariBaba</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">, </span><a href="http://twitter.com/BollywoodGandu"><span style="font-family:arial;">@BollywoodGandu</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> or </span><a href="http://twitter.com/gabbbarsingh"><span style="font-family:arial;">@gabbbarsingh</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> that triggered this ‘concept’ for a blog post. It could’ve been any one of them, or any one of the other 150 handles. Can’t really be sure. Point is, I got thinking about these crazy handles that I was coming across on a daily basis.<br /><br />How many more of these are out there? What levels of creativity have people gone to?<br /><br />And that’s when the hashtag was created – #AwesomeHandles. I’m not saying it got too popular, but I’m not saying it didn’t. Some extremely awesome and fantabulous tweeps fed me with numerous suggestions for #AwesomeHandles and that’s how the list went from 15 to 150 in a matter of a few days!</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Big shout out going out to </span><a href="http://twitter.com/ParulBh"><span style="font-family:arial;">@ParulBh</span></a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/md610">@md610</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> and </span><a href="http://twitter.com/prempiyush"><span style="font-family:arial;">@prempiyush</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> for their crazy help and constant suggestions for #AwesomeHandles! </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Parul, for having sent over 50 of them in one day alone, and Prem and MD for constantly feeding me with their recommendations (even when I was on vacation!). Prem offered to be my 'assistant' at one point of time to help me get this blog out there. It's finally done, mate! :o)<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">And a special shout out to <a href="http://twitter.com/musingsman">@musingsman</a> who actually changed his old handle to this one just so he could be featured on the list. You made it, man! :o)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />I’m hoping this blog post will be followed up with another one (or multiple blog posts) as and when my list grows. And I have a strong feeling that it will. :o)<br /><br />Now, initially I’d written down meanings against as many of these handles as I could, but then I realized that most of them are far beyond explanations. You have to enjoy these for the sheer brilliance and creativity behind them.<br /><br />And just FYI, I’m </span><a href="http://twitter.com/silv3rglee"><span style="font-family:arial;">@silv3rglee</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> - :o)<br /><br />Ladies and gentlemen, without further ado, I present to you the first set of #AwesomeHandles:</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><ol><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/_OutofOrder_">@_OutofOrder_</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/0__1">@0__1</a> </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/AamAdmy">@AamAdmy </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/abhi_nahi">@abhi_nahi</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/absurd">@absurd </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/Accha_Baccha">@Accha_Baccha </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/agyaani">@agyaani </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/albelinaar">@albelinaar</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/AliceInDumyland">@AliceInDumyland </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/amreekandesi">@amreekandesi </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/Anusual">@Anusual</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/arabicaah">@arabicaah</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/arbitthoughts">@arbitthoughts</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/aslipatrakaar">@aslipatrakaar </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/baavri">@baavri </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/bagoffortune">@bagoffortune </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/BakwasBandKar">@BakwasBandKar </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/bejafry">@bejafry</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/Bell_Bajao">@Bell_Bajao</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/Bew_D">@Bew_D</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/bhalomanush">@bhalomanush</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/Bheja_Fried">@Bheja_Fried</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/bitchwanti">@bitchwanti</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/BlinkySprite">@BlinkySprite</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/BollywoodGandu">@BollywoodGandu</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/boozychef">@boozychef</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/boy_inthe_box">@boy_inthe_box</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/brainstuck">@brainstuck</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/ButterHotShoes">@ButterHotShoes</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/bythebai">@bythebai</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/caramelcheeks">@caramelcheeks </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/ChamatkariBaba">@ChamatkariBaba</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/cho_chweet">@cho_chweet </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/chorbazari">@chorbazari</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/cookiemonster82">@cookiemonster82</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/cow_herd">@cow_herd </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/cracked">@cracked </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/CruciFire">@CruciFire</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/DaddyBird">@DaddyBird </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/DedhShaani">@DedhShaani</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/deementiaa">@deementiaa</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/delhidreams">@delhidreams </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/desihitler">@desihitler </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/DevilOnBunk">@DevilOnBunk</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/dhartiparbojh">@dhartiparbojh</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/dhinkchak">@dhinkchak</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/DingDongMong">@DingDongMong</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/dram_e_baaz">@dram_e_baaz</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/ekthappadmaaru">@ekthappadmaaru</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/EnigmaticDosa">@EnigmaticDosa</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/fangpyre">@fangpyre </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/feedkoko">@feedkoko</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/fibonaccifreak">@fibonaccifreak</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/flyfiddlesticks">@flyfiddlesticks</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/flyyoufools">@flyyoufools</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/fossiloflife">@fossiloflife</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/gabbbarsingh">@gabbbarsingh </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/Gambl3R">@Gambl3R </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/GeekyInaneTwit">@GeekyInaneTwit</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/geekykarma">@geekykarma</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/GiggleFlower">@GiggleFlower</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/GoIdDustWoman">@GoIdDustWoman</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/Gulabo_Massi">@Gulabo_Massi </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/haramkhorBaccha">@haramkhorBaccha</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/Idefinecrazy">@Idefinecrazy</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/iemofreak">@iemofreak</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/InstantMusings">@InstantMusings</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/itsCreation">@itsCreation</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/ivfwaladoctor">@ivfwaladoctor </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/jarofjuice">@jarofjuice </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/jibberjabbajude">@jibberjabbajude</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/justMouse">@justMouse</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/Kaala_Bander">@Kaala_Bander </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/KarmicThoughts">@KarmicThoughts</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/laaajo">@laaajo </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/lafannga">@lafannga</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/Letzliveagain">@Letzliveagain</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/likethatonly">@likethatonly</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/LimeIce">@LimeIce </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/LiveHeartDie">@LiveHeartDie</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/lokarlotweet">@lokarlotweet</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/lost_soul_">@lost_soul_ </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/madFrogg">@madFrogg</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/madversity">@madversity</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/malgudiman">@malgudiman</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/ManIndigo">@ManIndigo </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/MarkWalaTeja">@MarkWalaTeja</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/mentalexotica">@mentalexotica</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/MeraAfsana">@MeraAfsana </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/metallicsmile">@metallicsmile </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/metalsaint">@metalsaint </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/morfinrider">@morfinrider </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/mostlyharmless">@mostlyharmless</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/musingsman">@musingsman</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/mycrotchetyluv">@mycrotchetyluv</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/MystiqueWanderr">@MystiqueWanderr</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/nautanki">@nautanki</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/NomadWanderer">@NomadWanderer</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/nonstopthinker">@nonstopthinker</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/normaltusker">@normaltusker</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/numbminded">@numbminded</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/oneblackcoffee">@oneblackcoffee</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/OyeBehenDeTakke">@OyeBehenDeTakke</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/Pagal_Ladki">@Pagal_Ladki</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/panchhi_bawara">@panchhi_bawara</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/perniciously">@perniciously</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/Pissed0ffPari">@Pissed0ffPari</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/pitusultan">@pitusultan </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/plasmadog">@plasmadog</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/pleasefindthis">@pleasefindthis</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/poeticgooner">@poeticgooner</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/poojars">@poojars</a> </span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/PurpleNaNo">@PurpleNaNo</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/qwiky">@qwiky</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/RangeenPanda">@RangeenPanda</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/Roflindian">@Roflindian</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/SaaliKhushi">@SaaliKhushi</a></span></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/Sacredinsanity">@Sacredinsanity</a></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/Sala_jamesbond">@Sala_jamesbond</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/satanictweets">@satanictweets</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/schmmuck">@schmmuck</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/semi_conscious">@semi_conscious</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/SickPuppyDawg">@SickPuppyDawg </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/softykid">@softykid </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/spymaami">@spymaami </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/stupidusmaximus">@stupidusmaximus</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/suddentwilight">@suddentwilight</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/taklooman">@taklooman</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/Tau_ke_bole">@Tau_ke_bole</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/terimaaki__">@terimaaki__</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/The_HappyNoodle">@The_HappyNoodle</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/the0ddball">@the0ddball </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/TheBusyBrain">@TheBusyBrain</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/thecoffeenazi">@thecoffeenazi</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/TheHumerus">@TheHumerus</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/TheOmRudra">@TheOmRudra</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/Thewastebin">@Thewastebin</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/trailblazr">@trailblazr </a></span></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/twilightfairy">@twilightfairy</a></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/twitballiye">@twitballiye</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/twittafart">@twittafart</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/twittardaputtar">@twittardaputtar</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/UpjauDimaag">@UpjauDimaag</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/virtualgoddess">@virtualgoddess </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/VisH2So4">@VisH2So4 </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/vodkaholic">@vodkaholic</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/whatdbeep">@whatdbeep</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/whitecrayon">@whitecrayon </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/whizkidd">@whizkidd </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/whygrow_up">@whygrow_up </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/WickedNoize">@WickedNoize</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/wittophile">@wittophile</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/wraith_ness">@wraith_ness</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/yearning4d_sky">@yearning4d_sky </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/yummit">@yummit </a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://twitter.com/zararock">@zararock</a> </span></li></ol><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-84986744561011195372010-08-07T23:04:00.000-07:002010-08-10T00:10:16.586-07:00Where am I from?<p><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">[This blog entry has been submitted for BlogAdda's <a href="http://blog.blogadda.com/2010/08/04/mera-bharat-mahan-india-shining-proud">'Mera Bharat Mahaan' </a>contest, sponsored by <a href="http://www.pringoo.com/">Pringoo</a>.]</span><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:78%;"> </p></span><p><span style="font-family:arial;">As I sit at my desk to give you a humble account of the last 26.99 years of my life, I am amazed to note that I cannot.<br /><br />Cannot give you a 'humble' account, that is. I am oh-so-extraordinary that there is nothing humble about how I have lived or what I have done in my life thus far!<br /><br />Did I mention humility is one of my most privileged assets?<br /><br />I was born in Mumbai (thankfully!) and brought up around the world. My father, now a retired diplomat (from the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi) has been on several postings across the globe, and I as a privileged child have gone along with my family everywhere.<br /><br />I’ve studied in countries like Germany, Kuwait and Thailand and have worked in various fields in Hungary and UAE. Oh, what a life! What a life I’ve had!<br /><br />Global nomads. That’s what we call us ‘young members of diplomatic families’. That and DiploBrats. But hey, who’s judging? I’m often asked – “How does it feel to have moved around the world so much, to have never lived in one place for longer than 3 years of your life? Must be odd?”<br /><br />My answer to these people is always in the form of another question: “How does it feel to have lived in one place all your life? Never moved around in your life? Having had the same set of friends, having grown up in the same environment for 18 / 20 / 25 / 50 years of your life?” When I get a confused look as an answer, I answer for them: You don’t know, do you? When you’ve lived life a certain way, you know of no other way to live. I cannot tell you how I feel about having moved around all my life as opposed to lived in one place since I’ve never done the latter. I do not have a basis for comparison. I do, however, have immense gratitude for the life I have been exposed to. Immense joy and gratitude.<br /><br />Gratitude towards whom? Towards my family? Of course! If it weren’t for my father’s job and my mother’s dedication, my brother and I wouldn’t have been brought up the way we were. But more than that, I hold my head high and salute my country. For if it wasn’t for them, we would’ve never got the kind of education we did, we would’ve never travelled to these exotic locations and we would’ve never known of life the way we do now. The best schools in the world, the best education one can have, the highest form of respect (being young members of the diplomatic community) and immense amount of pride. That is how I have grown up. That is what my country has done for me.<br /><br />What have I done for the country? Nothing. I’ve done so little for my country, that I have done nothing. My head hangs in shame when I think of what I can do and what I am doing. I see a path in front of me – a path that I will soon take. A path that I have been working towards, a change that I have dreamt of ever since I was a child. I dream to serve my country.<br /><br />My dream was to do so as a combat soldier in the Indian National Army, but this dream was shattered the day I found out that as a woman, I cannot be a combat soldier for my nation. I took that with a pinch of salt, but pledged that day forward to do my bit every single day towards the change that I want to see.<br /><br />I have been given many nicknames over the years because of this passion of mine – desh-premi, paagal and patriot are mere examples. The list goes on and on. But there are two nicknames that are extremely close to my heart: kooradaan (dustbin) and don (goon).<br /><br />Of course there’s a catch behind me liking these names. And you’re shaking your head, smiling and saying to yourself: I’m going to have to read the stories behind these two nicknames – might as well light that cigarette. Go right ahead. This might take a little while.<br /><br />Kooradaan. Trashcan. Dustbin. Yep, one of my favorite nicknames for me. There have been a number of occasions where my friends have dug into my bag to find a certain something and come up with a million items that, had it been them, would’ve found their way on the streets. Toffee wrappers, chocolate boxes, scrap paper, used tissues, broken pens and many other things have always found home in my bag / purse because I refuse to trash the streets. Now, if there were dustbins / trashcans on the roads in India, I wouldn’t need to do so. But that’s an entirely different discussion. Moving on with kooradaan: I have pledged not to litter the streets of my nation and I stand by that pledge. If that means that my handbag / purse is overflowing with garbage, so be it!<br /><br />“Swati, you are in Bangalore, not Boston” followed by uncontrollable laughter – one of the reactions I have received when I’ve outright refused to let those around me litter and volunteered to stuff my bag with their trash too. My response is always the same: If you want Bangalore to turn into Boston, then start behaving as you would in Boston. Else, stop criticizing the government for everything.<br /><br />Of course, this is followed by further fits of laughter. At this stage when I join in the laughter these people don’t seem to get that I am not laughing with them, but at them.<br /><br />Alas! Such as the ways of the wise. Them thinking they’re wise, that is. I am no more than a fool. A privileged one, but a fool, by their standards. Such is life, and shall always be.<br /><br />I want to say “that leads us to my second favorite nickname”, but unfortunately I can’t find a decent way to link the two together. So let’s pretend that I’ve made some ridiculously intelligent connection between the two nicknames. Here goes…<br /><br />And that, my friend, leads us to my second favorite nickname: Don. Yes, this five and a half foot tall, 47 kg heavy girl has had this name associated with her for a while now. (Daymn, how’d I get into this third person mode?)<br /><br />Known for picking fights with anyone and everyone, I have always stood for what I believe in. Be it the fact that chocolates should become tax free, or that corruption needs to be eradicated at the grass root level, I practice my beliefs and hold tight to the stand(s) I take in life.<br /><br />As a fresher in college I have stood by my juniors, refusing to allow any kind of ragging; as a citizen I have refused to pay 10 rupees to the peon who wanted to get my papers signed by the Principal – I’m quite capable of standing in line for 2 hours, thank you very much.<br /><br />I have also flagged – or tried to – those individuals who have approached me with leaked papers. Needless to say, I got nothing but apathy from the authorities. I did not stop talking about it, nor did I stop openly declaring who these people were. From frail threats to open arguments to potential fist fights – I’ve been a part of it all. And proudly so.<br /><br />When I walk the streets of my country, I walk with my head held high, for I know that I am making a difference. Out of a hundred people who have seen me fight for a cause or who have seen me smile while putting away a wrapper in my bag, at least one will think before handing that money to a peon ‘under the table’ or before chucking that scrap piece of paper on the road.<br /><br />That’s what I am doing for my country. That’s how I am trying to make a difference. Is that enough, you ask? It may not be enough, but is one thing: a beginning.<br /><br />I was recently asked to send my details for a city-wide contest that was happening in India. Whilst I do not reside back home, home will always be home. The self-nomination resulted in this lengthy monologue and I ended up extracting bits and pieces from it for this blog entry. However, I never did get to hear back from the guys about the nomination. I suppose this last bit of my write up / letter is the reason – they probably never figured out where to place me:<br /><br />I will not be able to tell you which city I am from. Originally a Punjabi from Amritsar with ancestors hailing from Lahore (now Pakistan) and Sialkot; born in Bombay (now Mumbai); lived briefly in New Delhi in between postings; moved to NOIDA and lived there between postings; and finally lived in Bangalore (the only city I can call home) for 5 years, while currently living in the UAE.<br /><br />Where am I from, you ask?<br /><br />India.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-55846357938035622832010-07-06T23:29:00.000-07:002010-07-07T00:57:32.815-07:00My very own brand-timeline!<span style="font-family:arial;">I wrote this blog a while ago. In May 2009, to be exact. Since I'm planning on getting rid of one of the three blogs I have, I'm stealing the old posts and putting them on here. *halo over head*</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">At some point during this blog I mention about an upate to this... *sigh*. I'll get to that sometime. I want to say 'soon'.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">The original blog no longer exists...I believe it has been deleted by Jane, but I'm leaving the link in.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Aite...here's the old blog. :)</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">*****</span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">So here I am going through my Facebook like I do once every few hours. Ok, ok, so it’s every half an hour – bite me! :) Anyhow, so on my Facebook landing page I see that a friend of mine’s posted a webpage. Me being the cat that curiosity killed, had to look up the link. So I did. :)<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">At first it seemed merely interesting. Someone setting out a timeline and enlisting logos of brands (of products) they use on a daily basis. My first thought was: gee, someone’s got a lot of time at hand! And as went through the blog and the timeline itself, I realized that I was making a mental list of all the brands that I use in a day!</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">It’s addictive, I tell you. And more than merely a brilliant idea, I might add. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I’m not gonna steal Jane’s thunder here. I suggest you take a look at her blog and see what a cult following it’s got now. :) And it’s picked up more readers in a few days than it has in the past year, from what I read on someone else’s blog!<br /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Now, me being the tech-idiot, will not have a fancy looking timeline like she does, or like the millions of other guys who’ve posted links on her blog have, but it’s an honest attempt.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">And of course, you can read Jane’s blog at:</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://dearjanesample.wordpress.com/2008/05/19/fun-with-brands/">http://dearjanesample.wordpress.com/2008/05/19/fun-with-brands/</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">The actual time for the use of each brand usually varies from a weekday to a weekend, but essentially, the brands remain the same. :) Toh without further ado, I present to you my very own brand-timeline!Morning alarm, thanks to me phone and off to the loo in slippers!<br /><br />Morning alarm, thanks to me phone and off to the loo in slippers!<br /></div></span><div><span style="font-family:arial;"> </div></span><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491049076235591858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 119px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TDQgCsFCYLI/AAAAAAAADd4/-ovYAM6E3n0/s320/morning.bmp" border="0" /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Then in the loo, which isn't quite that pleasant, so I'll keep the details to myself.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491049589516807522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 228px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TDQggkM0LWI/AAAAAAAADeA/Iyeuj1S68eI/s320/bathroom.bmp" border="0" /><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I tend to get quite annoying with details, but ah well! Once outta the loo , I tend to use these brands quite often.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491050160231145122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TDQhByRt3qI/AAAAAAAADeI/NLqTXvSrd-w/s320/out+of+loo.bmp" border="0" /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Now that the transformation from the ugly-duckling to a homo-sapien look-alike has happened, me peers into the closet and gets ready to walk outta the house (if on a weekday), to run out lest I miss my cab, grabbing my glass of milk on my way out. In this flash, these are the logos I come in contact with...</span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491051357655572738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 151px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TDQiHfB8oQI/AAAAAAAADeQ/XRVutu78GJ8/s320/getting+dressed.bmp" border="0" /></span></div></div></div></div></div><p><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></p><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;">Next I'm at work (on a weekday, of course)...and this is gonna a biggie! Since I spend most of my time at work, I come across most brands here. Here are some of the brands that I could think of. I'm sure I'll slap myself later for forgetting dozens of others!</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491052042602044338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 283px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TDQivWp6W7I/AAAAAAAADeY/P0IF2jQniqs/s320/work.bmp" border="0" /></span></p><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The next set of logos is a bit of a mix of work-place and home.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491065112214958226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TDQuoGwc8JI/AAAAAAAADeg/zsPO4f6tZB8/s320/work+2.bmp" border="0" /> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">And last, but not the least (till the time I remember the others, that is!), is this set, when I go to the gym *wince*.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491065639480068370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 291px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_XD0WGaQSlSM/TDQvGy-QCRI/AAAAAAAADeo/1iGHFfkytgg/s320/home.bmp" border="0" /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">So, there you have it! My personal brand-timeline!<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Thanks again, Jane, for this ingenious idea!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">I have a strong feeling that this post will need further updates... :) </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-55307063307417233282010-07-04T23:38:00.000-07:002010-07-04T23:46:45.567-07:00Mirages and Illusions<span style="font-family:arial;">Stepping out of the confined walls of the house after a period of 48 whole hours, I realized how much I’d missed life. Not only had I missed the smiling faces of kids, playing, spitting at each other, but I had also missed the cows being milked smack in the middle of a busy junction.<br /><br />I do so love my India.<br /><br />As I hopped onto a cycle rickshaw and made my way to my destination, I couldn't help but keep an eye out for hooligans. What can I say – force of habit.<br /><br />And that's when I saw him.<br /><br />Looking ridiculously gorgeous, there he went on his mean machine...my knight in shining armour. I knew now that he had come to rescue me from this third-rate, old school rickshaw and take me away with him on his shiny devil of a bike. Oh, if only I could see myself right now, I’d see my pupils replaced with tiny hearts!<br /><br />He was merely a few feet in front from my rickshaw, waiting for the light to turn green. Ah, noble citizen, I thought. He stops at a traffic signal! I could hear my heart thump so loud I thought he’d hear it. And just when I thought I was calm enough to learn to breathe, he turned ever so slightly in my direction. He was going to be the death of me! My Tom-Cruise-from-Top-Gun looking dream-boy grabbed the chin of his helmet and proceeded to slowly take it off in that utterly seductive, bad boy way, while he balanced the bike with his other hand.<br /><br />I could hear the background music then: a medley of <em>Eye of the Tiger</em>, <em>Hells Bells</em> and <em>Jo haal dil ka</em> (from <em>Ghulaam</em>). I all but saw him shake his head to ruffle out his helmet-hair. As my heart fluttered in fast-forward, I saw him bend his head slightly. I knew he was going to slowly angle his head and raise his eyes to meet mine. I just knew it Knew It KNEW IT!<br /><br />With a silly grin plastered on my face, and eyes the size of golf balls, I waited to bat my eyes at him.<br /><br />And just then he angled his head, pulled it back just a tiny little notch, grunted…and BAM – he spat out a giant blob of three-day old phlegm on the side of the road, missing me and my rickshaw wale bhaiya by mere inches.<br /><br />Tom Cruise had just taken on his desi avatar: Taam babu.<br /><br />“Chalo yaar, bhaiya. Kahin phirse thook diya toh bus, is baar ya aap gaye ya phir main”, I complained to rickshaw wale bhaiya. The background score had now changed to the sound of my heart breaking into a million pieces.<br /><br />Taam babu, you bad boy, you! </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-46886106649878698532010-06-28T05:03:00.000-07:002010-06-28T05:04:37.216-07:00Ah, these men!In my love for him, I'd regained everything that I'd lost. Yet, I somehow feel like I have nothing left anymore. What had been is priceless, what is now is worthless.<br /><br />I was asked, "Did you think it'd go on forever?" It took me no time to reply, "Of course not!"<br /><br />Sometimes I wonder what a skilful liar I am! And a convincing one at that. I hadn't, in fact, thought of that question or an answer to it but at that moment it was as though my answer would end all the doubts and queries that people had. For all I know, it did! I didn't hear anyone speak on the topic again.<br /><br />Yet, as I relaxed and thought about the entire affair, I realized that, frankly speaking, I really didn't know if I'd expected it to carry on forever or not. If I had, then I was plain stupid. But I hadn't really, so I wasn't. However, if I hadn't, then why this enormous pain…?<br /><br />I'm reminded of another peculiar incident. This is when I was still at ISB. More like, when Fatima was still at ISB. I'd gone to her place with Ashima after school and Fatima was to drop the two of us back home later. I don't remember how exactly the conversation had started or why it had begun in the first place, but from where I remember it, we were talking about joint families. And I'd adored mine. However, the family had split by then and had given birth to three nuclear families. Since the time the family had broken up, I'd somehow felt incomplete, more so after my grandpa passed away. He had been the one holding our fragile family together. Lord, how I loved him. And how I miss him. I regret not having spent enough time with him.<br /><br />As I told Fatima and Ashima all this and more about him, I don’t know why or from where the sudden storm of emotions took over me and I started weeping. Both of them were as perplexed as I at my outburst of emotions. When it actually dawned upon them what was happening, they started to console me.<br /><br />"It's okay," Ashima consoled.<br /><br />Fatima was dragging me into the bathroom to wash my face. "Often people we love tend to leave us forever and go. But they leave behind pleasant memories for us to recall and remember them by. You have to accept some truths in life, and death is the most important one," she explained.<br /><br />That night when I was back home lying in my bed, I wondered where those tears had come from. Ever since grandpa's demise, I hadn't cried. I'd thought of him but never of the good times we'd had. Maybe I'd purposely done so, so that I wouldn’t feel vulnerable and weak inside. I missed him, yes, but there had never been tears. Yet, today there had.<br /><br />It was that night that I realized how much I still loved him. And I wondered: if I didn't really feel the emptiness around me, if those memories that we'd shared were mere instances, then why the tears? Why this enormous pain…?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-10391143205516354682009-10-21T04:28:00.000-07:002009-10-21T04:30:02.473-07:00Feeding your hatred?Every once in a while – when I’ve had a particularly bad day, or something’s been bothering me – I tend to think of the last most hurtful thing that happened to me.<br /><br />Why?<br /><br />I’m not quite sure.<br /><br />Not only do I think of what’s hurt me, I tend to follow a trail that led to it. Incidents leading up to it, how I missed the most obvious signs…how the build up was, or was supposed to be at least.<br /><br />Needless to say, the wrath that I feel brings me to new heights of self-loathing and self-disgust. And that teeeeeeenie weeeeeeeeeenie bit of ‘ok’ that I was feeling is dissolved and it gives an all new angle to my horrible day.<br /><br />Why do I tend to feed this hatred?<br /><br />Because it reminds me every single time of how naïve I’ve been. It tells me to be cautious. It makes me take a step back and reconsider. And reconsider I do. I start to think about things that I’d unintentionally taken for granted and being to contemplate the flipside of the situation.<br /><br />It numbs me further to feed this hatred. It makes me wanna slap myself – and sometimes I do. Yes, physically slap myself. Just to remind myself. Of everything.<br /><br />Some days are easier to get by than others. But a bad day is a bad day. A month, a week, a day or even an hour is enough to bring the worst of the lot back and it’s just as well.<br /><br />As the day or week or month goes by, the wrath begins to take a back seat. It begins to slowly be overpowered by utter numbness.<br /><br />As it turns out, it’s better not to feel than to feel and bear the consequences.<br /><br />Detachment.<br /><br />They don’t call me a saint for nothing.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-662091197992156248.post-394558805201509242009-05-13T04:59:00.000-07:002009-05-13T22:00:35.690-07:00How much do we owe to mythology?<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link style="font-family: georgia;" rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CSRANDE%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Quite a bloody lot, you’d be surprised!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Sitting across from an acquaintance over a quick post-lunch cigarette, we couldn’t help but focus on the sole bird that walked the outskirts of the smoking area of a high rise in nemma-Dubai.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Out of sheer lack of anything else to talk about, my acquaintance commented, “Isn’t bird the one that has beautiful feet?” After a moment’s thought, he added, “Good lord, have you seen a peacock’s legs? Ugly!”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">I sat there, thinking of the time when my mythology-Hindi-Bollywood-घाटी language-desi slang-trivia teacher (a.k.a my closest friend in the ‘whole-wide-world’) had once commented on a mutual friend’s ultra pink toe-nail polish. “मोरनी के से पैर लग रहे हैं! (her feet look like peacock-legs)”, she’d said. I’d sat there with a blank look on my face, which was my typical expression when she came up with these long-lost much-forgotten terms that one either hardly heard or hadn’t ever heard. I belonged to the latter category.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Not needing to voice the unspoken question, I’d merely given her the head-tilted-out-of-sheer-confusion look that dogs often give to anyone or anything that goes beyond their comprehension (usually obnoxious sounds that kids like me used to make just to point and laugh at our pet dogs). Suddenly changing into her guru-mode, she looked me in the eye and preached so: “You see, peacocks are gorgeous creatures. Oh, that is something everyone knows. But if you ever pay close attention, you’ll see that they have obnoxiously hideous feet! For a creature that gorgeous, it’s quite an amazing anti-climax.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Clearly, I wasn’t as observant as I’d always prided myself to be! How on earth had I missed that? I’d made a mental note to Google up ‘peacock’ and scrutinize a close up picture. When I did, the feet were all I could see…! Not that I wanna sound weird, but they are quite grotesque compared to the over-all look of the gorgeous peacock.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Why, is what hit me the most. The answer was quick and obvious: nature’s balance. What else could explain this absurd phenomenon, if I can even call it that? The beauty that a peacock exhibits needs to be balanced out with a speck of ugliness, even if in this case it isn’t in the form of a mere काला टीका (kaala teeka = black mark).</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">It was this memory which made me turn to my present company and say philosophically, “It is nothing but a mere case of natural balance…for every good, there is bad; for every tear, there is joy; and for every beauty, there is ugliness। It is this balance that makes sure that one aspect of life isn’t overpowered by another. Gotta strike a balance, man.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">“Nope,” was his instantaneously harsh response to my beautifully philosophical justification। He went on, “They say, the peacock was extremely proud of his beauty. He perpetually had his nose up in the air and would think no end to himself. It was when his pride got to the others and they saw how he ill-treated the other animals, that he was cursed for all of eternity. Yes, with ugly feet! He had to be humbled, they say.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">I’ve always wondered…who <b style=""><i style="">exactly</i></b> are ‘they’, again? Ah well, that’s quite beside the point.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">It made me wonder, though: wasn’t this ‘their way’ of <b style="">striking a balance</b> between ‘giving’ too much power, in this case in the form of beauty, and then humbling the peacock by then disgracing him (I constantly say ‘him’ because it’s the male that’s more beautiful than the female!) with such legs/feet to live with for “all of eternity”, as my acquaintance so aptly put it?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">How much reason do we block out just to give way to mythology? To stories passed down from one generation to another? Made up, probably, by a grandmother to instil values in her grandchildren? How much of what we hear during our childhood do we carry with us for ‘all of eternity’, and swear by for the rest of time?
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">How many of us brake while driving when a cat crosses our path, not to ensure we don’t run it over (which probably was the origin of the superstition) but to ensure that no harm comes in our path?
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">How many of us stop, even if it is for a brief second, when we sneeze just as we’re about to walk out to for something auspicious? Could it not be that back in the day one was stopped to ensure one didn’t have a cold…and rest, lest one falls sick on route our auspicious journey?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">But then again, what is life if there isn’t a bit of mystery involved? After all, don’t words of that legendary poem (albeit taught at an age when the meaning was lost to us) talk about the joy of magic? The joy of believing? The little girl with innocent, gleaming eyes asking her daddy to look at the spider that was hanging in mid air – sheer magic! Logic is logic…but the little girl reminds me today to let go of reason and logic every now and then…and for a minute forget that the spider is weaving a web…she urges me to believe that it is, indeed, hanging in mid air. Believe.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">For what is life without a bit of magic? Without a bit of faith…?<span style=""> </span>What is life without a little spice of a story or a legend or a superstition or a mythological connection behind everything…?</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">
<br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-GB">Turning to my acquaintance, cigarette burnt to ashes, not having so much as reached my lips, I smiled. I looked at him, the belief in his eyes, and said, “You’re right…that’s it. That’s <b style=""><i style="">exactly</i></b> what I’ve heard as well.” </span></span></p><span style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2