Blank Post-it Friday

I tried, but I couldn't come up with anything remotely interesting for today. 

Not even an entertaining music video from Youtube. 

Or a wise quote from really clever people.

Or a current news article.

Or a funny picture.

Or anything. 

Maybe tomorrow, who knows? 

Do come back again, when you can!

God is able!

It might seem bleak at times, but here's what I know - God is able!
Have a great day!

Happy 13th Birthday, Google!

Google was 13 yesterday. 13 years since the word Google replaced the word Search.

Happy Birthday Google. You are now officially a teenager!

• Hopefully no attitude, no bad behaviour and certainly no eye-rolling at the grown-ups (in this case, your faithful customer base!)

• Hopefully, you'll keep things as simple as they are now and not resort to making elaborate changes to user interfaces and platforms - just because you can.  (Facebook - **Hint)

• Hopefully, you'll keep bringing back relevant results to your searches and not just random links that have no bearing on the search phrase. 

• Hopefully, you'll keep providing us with creative, unique and fun 'versions' of your Google logo, showing that the word Google can be spelt using any weird collection of animate and inanimate objects. Click here to see some examples. 

• Hopefully, you'll keep drawing our attention to important events, dates and birthdays. (By the way, I'll be sending you my details shortly to include in that list!) 

• Hopefully, you'll keep showing the world that choosing a silly name for a business can actually work! Who would have thought?! 

• Hopefully when someone types the word 'Relax' or 'Entertain me' in a Google Search window, you will immediately direct them to my super blog (!)

And on a final personal note, I hope that my blog will get to its teenage years too and be part of the world domination brigade that Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Apple are all known for!

And then, you, my dear reader, can say with pride - 'I've been hanging with this blog for a very long time!'

On with World Domination!

5000!

I always wondered what it would be like when I get to 5000 hits on this blog!

Well, here we are! 5000!

7 continents

+

40 countries,

+

182 cities,

+

210+ posts  (one day at a time),

+

280+ comments,

=

1 very happy blogger who is always thrilled to have you drop by! 

It's certainly been well worth it for me.

Thank you for indulging me while I wrote about sense and nonsense!

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you'll keep coming back!

Too 'desperate' for me...so far!

Apologies if you do not watch Desperate Housewives, I'm a huge fan, you see!

Desperate Housewives is back and I've been on Cloud 9 all day

In anticipation of a funny, witty yet satirical script

Gabby, Lynette, Bree, Susan and Renee

And we mustn't forget the husbands and kids!

An anti-climax - that was my first impression

I'd forgotten just how scatter-brained my 'friends' are

And how nothing on Wisteria Lane ever makes sense!

Or maybe I grew a brain over the summer?!

The police officer boyfriend - so trusting and daft

Not to realize that his lady love Bree, was up to no-good?

The car-jacking still has me reeling

Surely I'm not the only one who smelt a rat with that storyline???

(I'm really not buying that story - it's way too simple - PLEASE!!!)

Lynette Scavo - what's going on?

Make up your mind what you really want!

You really can't have your cake and eat it!

Oh, FYI - your kids probably know!

Susan Delfino - you're not in pre-school

Get a grip and defend your stance

You're either with your friends or not at all

But your whimpering behaviour is really irritating!

Gabby and Carlos, kidnapping a priest?!

Surely that will only extend your rap sheet

If you feel that strongly, then please go and confess

Although I firmly believe self-defense will get you out!

Renee, Renee when will you learn

The whole world isn't lining up awaiting your goodies

Have some finesse and show some reserve

You'd be surprised how attractive that can be!

So, we've had the first episode and I'm a tad disappointed

But watch it, I must, cos I love the ladies

I just hope the story gets better and much less batty!

This is your final season - please, please make it pop - for me! 

He is Lord!

Have a great Sunday!

Money quotes....

 "Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like." - Will Smith

"Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time." - Jim Rohn

"It's good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it's good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure that you haven't lost the things that money can't buy." - George Lorimer

Edge of Glory

"I'm on the edge of glory, and I'm hanging on a moment of truth
Out on the edge of glory, and I'm hanging on a moment with you
I'm on the edge, the edge, the edge, the edge, the edge, the edge, the edge,
I'm on the edge of glory, and I'm hanging on a moment with you
I'm on the edge with you!"


Isn't life funny?! I never thought I'd be inspired by Lady Gaga but I have to say that the lyrics in the chorus of this song (Edge of Glory - Lady Gaga) leap out at me. In a good way.


If you take the lyrics of the chorus in isolation, they can minister to one in an entirely different manner, from what, presumably, was Lady Gaga's intended meaning. (On the other hand, I could be making a totally wrong assumption here, as Lady Gaga has been known to flirt precariously in her lyrics - tottering between spirituality and sheer lasciviousness) 


I see the words as a PROMISE of what is about to happen. A REVELATION that one is on the verge of something huge. A CONFIRMATION that the future is about to brighten up - exceedingly, abundantly. A MANIFESTATION. A PROCLAMATION that the best is yet to come. (The upbeat, catchy music also contributes to raising that sense of anticipation and expectation) 

I'm certainly on the edge of glory and hanging on a moment of truth! Are you?

Here's the entire song for you to listen to. Do you feel what I feel? 


BTW, I usually hum to drown out the rest of the lyrics....

The good old days...

This is an excerpt from a book which I stumbled across. Sadly, I do not know the name of the book.
I hope you can zoom in to read it. But just in case you can't (and because I really want you to read this!) I have also typed the text below.

Here you go:- 

'When retiring to the bedroom, prepare yourself for bed as promptly as possible. Whilst feminine hygiene is of the utmost importance, your tired husband does not want to queue for the bathroom, as he would have to do for the train. But remember to look your best when going to bed. Try to achieve a look that is welcoming without being obvious. If you need to apply face-cream or hair-rollers, wait until he is asleep as this can be shocking to a man last thing at night. 

When it comes to the possibility of intimate relations with your husband, it is important to remember your marriage vows and in particular your commitment to obey him. If he feels that he needs to sleep immediately then so be it. In all things, be led by your husband's wishes; do not pressure him in any way to stimulate intimacy. Should your husband suggest congress, then agree humbly all the while being mindful that a man's satisfaction is more important than a woman's. When he reaches his moment of fulfillment a small moan from yourself is encouraging to him and quite sufficient to indicate any enjoyment that you may have had. 

Should your husband suggest any of the more unusual practices be obedient and uncomplaining but register any reluctance by remaining silent. It is likely that your husband will then fall promptly asleep so adjust your clothing, freshen up and apply your night-time face and hair care products. 

You may then set the alarm, so that you can arise shortly before him in the morning. This will enable you to have his morning cup of tea ready when he awakes.' 

Seriously....???

I don't know what you think, but (I think) this is a seriously disturbed author. (Surely, it can only be a man that would write like this?) If, on the rare chance the author is a woman, she certainly needs urgent help to discover herself and rebuild her self-worth! 

Don't get me wrong - I fully believe in respecting your partner, but not to the extent that one partner fades into the woodwork whilst the other has full control and dominance of the territory. Respect, not repress.

Probably explains why the children of that generation - after watching their parents through the years subsist in this manner - developed serious dysfunctional issues leading to drinking, drugs, wild partying, divorces and a huge increase in the popularity of medicine and law as good and profitable University courses to study! 

The partying continues even to today, but phew(!), I am so glad that it's 2011! Have a great day!

P.S. What exactly is congress??????

21st September, 2011

Of brick walls and open windows....

There are times when life really feels like one is hitting a brick wall constantly.

Nothing is moving ahead, everything appears to have come to a standstill, the news on TV is depressing and the zeal for life has completely evaporated.

Desolation and despair creep in. Deep dark thoughts reign in the mind.

Doom. Gloom.  

Simply put, life has lost its luster.

Try findng the open windows. An open window signifies opportunities and possibilities....

Sitting behind the brick wall isn't going to change anything, but heading out the window might. 

This might not be a conventional window and it might not be one that you would usually look out of (under normal circumstances), but one thing to keep in mind is this - a window provides light and a view to the outside, which the brick wall is currently obstructing.

Be creative with ideas and never lose sight of what you believe could lie beyond the open window.

Conflict = Good Politics

Learn something new everyday, they say. Here's what I learnt today.

Former President Bill Clinton

I never actually looked at it this way, but with all the squabbles going on with opposition parties, lunging at the incumbent (and this is not just in the USA, by the way), this statement actually makes a whole, lot of sense!

I guess like reality TV, the bigger the drama, the higher the viewer ratings!

Father,can you hear me?

Have a great Sunday.

In or Out?

With the weather getting cooler, I am considering changing my workout regime.

Going to the gym worked during the summer months, but I have to confess that it is getting pretty boring now and I'm fast losing the motivation to go.  (Get to the gym, get on stair climber or treadmill, turn on TV, watch Today show, keep moving, do weights, drink water, go home.....)

Jogging outside seems like a really good idea. Especially if you do it first thing in the morning, at the crack of dawn. The crisp fresh air and the feeling of openness really does it for me!

On second thoughts, with all the wildfires occurring in my neck of the woods, maybe one should exercise some caution in heading out to jog in the park. I'd hate for the gentle jog in the park to suddenly become a race for life!

How do you spice up a jaded exercise routine?

You're fired...by phone?!

Here's an article about how Yahoo boss was fired by phone.
And here's the excerpt below of her email to her staff telling them about the news.

'To all,
I am very sad to tell you that I’ve just been fired over the phone by Yahoo’s Chairman of the Board. It has been my pleasure to work with all of you and I wish you only the best going forward.


Carol'


How would you have reacted, if you were in her shoes?

15th Sept, 2011

REPOST

Source:- http://www.theeducationpeople.com/

We all need a box!

When feeling pressured and rushed for time

When sometimes 24hrs doesn't seem enough

When life seems to be throwing so much at you

And there aren't enough hands to catch it all

Within a box, therein lies a solution

The four corners and lid provide a safe haven

From life's problems and daily upheaval

Within this box, safety is guaranteed

Crawling and hiding sometimes seems feasible

Ignoring that which seems so imposing

Hoping and praying the tension will subside

Because life isn't always easy, this much has been said

To some, it's just a physical box

To others, an exercise in compartmentalization

Putting aside the things that cause strife

Looking ahead to things that bring joy

I think this kid's got it right. Don't you sometimes wish you had a box to crawl into?!

This too shall pass....

Courtesy http://presentoutlook.com/this-too-shall-pass/

REPOST - Famine in Somalia

REPOST

Somalia is a country located in East Africa, right there in the horn of Africa, on the edge of the Indian Ocean.

Between the encroaching US debt ceiling deadline and the saga going on with the UK based News of the World newspaper, one might be forgiven for missing the news headlines about Somalia and the famine in that region.

One might also be forgiven for not paying attention (or even feeling inclined to help even), especially as Somalia is notorious for having a huge number of pirates operating off the coast of the country, hijacking boats and holding sailors, tourists and holiday makers hostage.

But we do need to keep things in perspective and remember the following:-

When famine occurs, this means there is a shortage of food for the general population. In Somalia's case, a combination of severe drought and increased strife within the country has led to this aggravated situation. (this country has been in strife since 1992, and also without effective leadership. Many of its citizens have fled to neighbouring countries, seeking safety and a better life).

So far, tens of thousands of people have died already as a result of this famine, and majority of these - poor helpless malnourished children.  (According to the report, in some regions, 6 in every 1000 children, under 5 years of age, die daily...)

How can we help? 

The volatile nature of the region, as well as the complicated political climate,  makes it extremely difficult to get into the area and help.  Here is a link to a web page that lists organisations, currently helping to alleviate the situation in that region through medical assistance, providing temporary refuge and food.

If you feel so inclined, please click on the link above to see how you can help.

Source:- Click here for the full story from Washington Post. 

9-11

Where were you on this day, 10 years ago? I'm sure most people remember.

I was in Tulsa, Oklahoma and 9 months pregnant. It was a Tuesday morning, my husband had just gone to work and I was pottering about the house - you know, the uneasy calm before you go into labour.

My phone rang and a friend asked me to switch on the TV. And I did. And I saw it.

I personally thought I was watching a movie - it was very surreal, very unreal, certainly impossible to my naive mind - because I simply could not believe another human being (or group of human beings) would seek to wreak such havoc on others.

So much has been said on this topic, so I'm not going to write a really long essay, rather use words to describe my understanding of the feelings and emotions of the people during and post 911.

9/11 and Beyond

The conflagration

The decimation

The damnation

The disruption

The devastation

The confusion

The congestion

The desperation

The emotion

The depression

The lamentation

The trepidation

The situation

The revaluation

The resolution

The determination

The transition

The transformation

The veneration

The commendation

The unification

The glorification
The exaltation 

The population - One Nation Under God.

Today is...

9/10/11


Geddit?!

Facial expressions.

3 people, same event, same topic, same moment, totally different reactions.... Interesting.

They're all listening to the same thing - right?
Not sure now, because if I go with what the pictures are suggesting -

• One gentleman thinks it's a 'joke'
• A second gentleman finds it very funny and 
• The third gentleman is taking it very seriously!

Self Employment - would you consider it?

Self Employment - A scary concept to most, but with commitment, dedication and a really AWESOME idea - it can be well worth it. 

You do need tons of persistence and bags of passion to see it through. 

The initial financial outlay is also a major consideration and a lot of start-ups baulk within the first 6 months (earlier even) due to finances depleting.

Would you consider it?

The power of whinging!

I think my whinging about the weather is finally working.

I woke up this morning, walked out the door and had to pinch myself to confirm that my incessant pining after cooler weather had not inadvertently and subconsciously resulted in my being teleported back to England - the 'cool' place!

What a difference a day makes!
No I am not in England and yes, we are in the 60s! (60 degrees Fahrenheit = 15.5 degrees Celsuis)

Finally.....it seems the cooler weather is here (at least for today!)

Who knows, I might actually consider going for a walk in the park, now that it's cooler!

In fact, now that the whinging seems to be working, I do think that I might need to pick another topic to concentrate my whinging powers on. Suggestions anyone?

Versatile Blogger Award

I got this award last week from a fellow blogger whom I discovered recently. 
Here's the link to his blog, which I hope you will enjoy as much as I do. Even the name of the blog, gives you an idea of the fun that lies ahead! 
The rules for winning this award are: 
1) Thank the blogger who awarded you and link back to them.
2) Share 7 things about yourself.
3) Pass the award along to 15 other newly discovered blogs.


It feels good when you get recognized for things you do, so naturally, I am pretty excited about this! 


1) Thank you, Cranky-Old-Man for nominating me as one of your winners of this prestigious award. 
2) 7 things about myself - A, B, C, D, E, F, G, 

• I wanted to be an Accountant when I was younger
• I still can't ride a Bicycle
• I love Computers - madly, badly, sadly 
• I'm kinda scared of Dogs
• I love Eastenders
• I love Fried food
• I believe in God wholly. No question, no logic - just a simple plain belief  

3) I'm afraid I'll have to skip the 3rd condition (please don't be mad!) but I really do not know up to 15 new blogs! 

Can I still wear white?

Courtesy The Good Life - Houston Chronicle

Happy Labour Day, America!
The first Monday in September is celebrated as Labour Day.

A day set aside to celebrate the economic and social achievements of workers.

Labour Day is also viewed here in the USA as the end of summer, as many schools have either reopened after a long summer holiday, or are preparing to reopen.

(It is really very tempting to use this as a launchpad for a conversation on unemployment and the adverse effects of the recession on the workforce - but I don't know enough about this(!) - so I'll just focus on what I do know :-))

I have a different issue with Labour Day.

You see, it's right about this time that I start worrying about what to wear. What is socially acceptable?

Apparently, it's a fashion faux-pas to wear anything White after Labour Day. (Not sure the origins, but it seems to be a fairly well-known fact)

I had a different view about white articles of clothing - they kept you cool on a hot day, they made you look cool (white linen slacks on a cool, breezy day is extremely appealing), they could be worn all summer long (just alternate the other pieces that go with it - pretty much like you would do with a pair of jeans and several basic tees) and finally, nothing says professional and ready for business like a crisp white shirt! Or so I thought...

My local newspaper actually ran an article on whether or not it was acceptable to wear white after Labour Day and I've listed some of the comments from the article below with my remarks. Be kind!

• Avoid head to toe white. (There goes my Skiing-in-the-Alps ensemble, which I usually wear when I go grocery shopping at my local grocery store! Not!) 
• Select appropriate material - white cashmere, luxe sweaters, crisp white shirts. (Out goes the linen and tissue thin fabrics. But the crisp white shirt stays! Seriously though, tissue thin shirts in winter time?!)
• Try outerwear - faux leather, fur, cardigans, jackets. (Ok, this makes sense)
• Use white as an accent - pearls, large white watch, French tip manicure (Will a bright smile with sparkling white teeth work?)
• No white shoes (Oh dear!) 

Fashion victims - take notes and make sure you do not fall short of these commandments!
On the other hand, if you are just happy to find a clean outfit that fits(!) in your closet, then you probably don't care about White after Labour Day!

Summer is definitely over.....

Promises, promises

I know I've been harping on about the weather for a while now, but it is giving me great concern that we still haven't got a decent shower in so many weeks, months even.

OK, 'Great concern' might be over-stretching my feelings, but I am quite worried, especially when

• I step out of my house and the hot, blazing sun as well as the humidity in the air hits me viciously. 
• I look at the dried up brown plants and feel really sorry for them. (I really can't use the word wilted, because that suggests they've still got some moisture in them! That moisture left in July). 
• I see mirages on the tarred roads
• I see lots of bloated, exhausted, sticky looking people waiting at the bus-stops for buses. (You know that type of look you have when you are really hot - sweat trickling down your temples, a few random wet patches on your clothes caused by your sweating, perspiration all over your forehead and above your upper lip, your eyes squinting in the sun, despite your sunglasses....) 
• I read one of my earlier posts written in June and now wish fervently for those 95 degree days...(that would be a cold spell compared to what we've been getting!) 

I also feel sorry for the TV weather men every evening, because you can see that they try so hard to be optimistic and yet the results remain the same. They have become very good at finding creative reasons to explain why it still did not happen!

We started this week with a 50% chance of rain this weekend, and I watched it drop from 50 to 40 to 30 to 20. So far, nothing has happened. We've had lots of wind, but no rain! Not a trickle!

In an ideal world......

Do you think Houston is slowly drying up and will suddenly become like the Sahara desert....

Maybe...

Speechless

That's me for today!
Have a great Saturday!

The ''EMBER' months are here!

You know the end of the year approaches when you get to the 'ember' months. September, October, November, December. (October doesn't quite fit the 'Ember' mould and I've always wondered why. It really should be Octember - so it rhymes with the other months!)

Once we get to September, it suddenly starts feeling very rushed. So much to do, so little time!

• Shorter days and longer nights (depending on where you are)
• Cooler weather (depending on where you are)
• Kids go back to school (and the traffic on the highways increases!)
• Labour day 
• Ramadan fast and the Eid celebration thereafter
• Halloween 
• Thanksgiving
• A period of retail insanity where everything in the stores becomes a possible 'holiday gift idea' - toothpaste and toothbrushes even - it all depends on the creativity of the salesperson!
• Christmas 
• Carol singing in the malls
• The incessant jingling bells of the Salvation Army volunteers
• Prospect of some vacation days as the year draws to an end
• Lots of good cheer and merriment generally! 

Until you sit back and take stock....

Are you on track? Are you ticking off the boxes that you lined up at the beginning of the year?

So-To-Hi, Hi-So-To, To-Hi-So?

SONY, TOSHIBA and HITACHI (all Japanese electronics giants) are about to merge their LCD panel business in order to keep strong competition like Sharp, Samsung, LG and Taiwan's AU Optronics at bay and also strengthen the LCD arm of the business.

With 70% of the funding coming from the Japanese government, the projections for future growth are very optimistic - up to 180 billion yen by 2016 -  especially bearing in mind that all 3 companies have been reporting losses on the LCD business for a while now.

I don't dispute the fact that their very clever (and well-paid) accountants and business analysts have done due diligence with research to come up with these projections and numbers. Or should I?

Read the full story here..

As a simple consumer, the word Monopoly (and control of the market) comes to mind. This merger gives them 21.5% of the market and the largest chunk of the industry. With monopoly comes price fixing and all the related 'industry control' issues. I wonder if this is really for the benefit of the consumers (moreso as it is Government money being spent), or is this just another ploy to keep the shareholders and investors happy?

I also wonder if other countries and companies are considering following in their footsteps, current legislature permitting. Oh, wait a second, isn't that what Oracle has been doing for the past few years - buying up all the ERP software companies available?!