Home Interior Design-Series-014 Balt Lapmaster Laptop Stand

I was recently searching for a new laptop stand and workstation in regards to my own computer work. I’d spent too long sitting on comfortable chairs with my laptop on my lap and my concentration suffering as a result of the extremely comfortable conditions. I wanted a computer stand that would securely hold my laptop and provide storage space for a printer and reading material. That’s where the Balt Lapmaster Laptop Stand as seen in the image below came in very handy.

If you’re looking for a mobile workstation that is modern, stylish and highly adjustable, then the Balt Lapmaster Laptop Stand is in fact one of the best on the market and indeed, one of the most highly recommended. It provides a comfortable yet solid structure that will aid in concentration and the work ethos. The Balt Lapmaster Laptop Stand is an adjustable mobile workstation that is ideal for a home study or library that will instil an office-like ambiance to an otherwise domestic room.

What makes the Balt Lapmaster Laptop Stand so well liked is the additions it has that make it more than just a laptop stand. These include a copy binder as well as a clipboard on which to place documents for hands-free reading which can come in immensely helpful when typing and reading at the same time. At the base of the Balt Lapmaster Laptop Stand is a platform of a printer. This is positioned nicely and prevents what are usually ugly looking printers becoming center of attention.

As one can see from the image, the Balt Lapmaster Laptop Stand has a number of features which are adjustable including the copy binder, clipboard and the laptop surface itself which can be adapted to people of all heights and sitting measurements. The Balt Lapmaster Laptop Stand also has coasters, hence it being a mobile workstation, which means it can be moved from one side of a home study or kitchen, to the other and of course from one room to the next. This is handy if you work from home in the living room and want to move the Balt Lapmaster Laptop Stand out during the evenings or when guests come to visit.

இன்று பாரதியாரின் பிறந்த தினம்(மார்கழி 11 ஆம் நாள்)

பாரதியாரின் சில துளிகள்

" கவிதை எழுதுபவன் கவியன்று. கவிதையே வாழ்க்கையாக உடையோன், வாழ்க்கையே கவிதையாகச் செய்தோன், அவனே கவி"

யாமறிந்த மொழிகளிலே தமிழ்மொழி போல் இனிதாவது எங்கும் காணோம்

செந்தமிழ் நாடெனும் போதினிலே - இன்பத் தேன்வந்து பாயுது காதினிலே

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யாமறிந்த மொழிகளிலே தமிழ்மொழிபோல்
இனிதாவ தெங்குங் காணோம்
பாமரராய், விலங்குகளாய், உலகனைத்தும்
இகழ்ச்சிசொலப் பான்மை கெட்டு
நாமமது தமிழரெனக் கொண்டிங்கு
வாழ்ந்திடுதல் நன்றோ? சொல்லீர்
தேமதுரத் தமிழோசை உலகமெலாம்
பரவும் வகை செய்தல் வேண்டும.
யாமறிந்த புலவரிலே கம்பனைப்போல்,
வள்ளுவர்போல், இளங்கோவைப் போல்
பூமிதனில் யாங்கணுமே பிறந்ததில்லை
உண்மை, வெறும் புகழ்ச்சி யில்லை
ஊமையராய்ச் செவிடர்களாய்க் குருடர்களாய்
வாழ்கின்றம், ஒருசொற் கேளீர்
சேமமுற வேண்டுமெனில் தெருவெல்லாம்
தமிழ் முழக்கம் செழிக்கச் செய்வீர்


பிறநாட்டு நல்லறிஞர் சாத்திரங்கள்
தமிழ் மொழியிற் பெயர்த்தல் வேண்டும்
இறவாத புகழுடைய புதுநூல்கள்
தமிழ்மொழியில் இயற்றல்வேண்டும்
மறைவாக நமக்குள்ளே பழங்கதைகள்
சொல்லுவதிலோர் மகிமை யில்லை
திறமான புலமையெனில் வெளிநாட்டோர்
அதை வணக்கஞ் செய்தல் வேண்டும்.

நோபல் பரிசு தொகை குறைப்பு

உலகின் உயரிய சாதனை செய்தவர்களுக்கு வழங்கப்பட்டு வரும் நோபல் பரிசு வழங்கும் திட்டத்தை ஸ்வீடன் நாட்டை சேர்ந்த ஆல்பர்ட் நோபல் என்பவர் 1901ம் ஆண்டு உருவாக்கினார். இதற்காக ஒரு அமைப்பை ஏற்படுத்தி பரிசை தொடர்ந்து வழங்க ஏற்பாடு செய்தார்.

இதற்காக குறிப்பிட்ட தொகை வங்கிகளிலும், பல்வேறு துறைகளிலும் முதலீடு செய்யப்பட்டு உள்ளது. இதில் இருந்து வரும் வருமானம் மூலம் பரிசு தொகை வழங்கி வருகின்றனர்.

ஒவ்வொரு நோபல் பரிசுக்கும் ரூ.7 கோடி பரிசு தொகை வழங்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது. ஆனால் உலக பொருளாதார மாற்றங்கள் காரணமாக நோபல் அமைப்புக்கு வரவேண்டிய வருமானம் குறைந்துவிட்டது. எனவே இனிவரும் காலங்களில் நோபல் பரிசு தொகையை குறைத்து வழங்க திட்டமிட்டு உள்ளனர்.

இது பற்றி நோபல் அமைப்பின் நிர்வாக இயக்குனர் மைக்கேல் ஷால்மர் கூறும்போது, “எதிர் காலத்தில் பரிசு தொகையை குறைக்க வேண்டிய கட்டாயம் ஏற்பட்டு இருக்கிறது. இதை தவிர்க்க முயற்சித்து வருகிறோம். ஆனால் நிலைமை சீராகும் வாய்ப்பு குறைவாக உள்ளது” என்றார்.

"சே"

அடச்சே என்று வாழ்வில் சொல்பவர்களும்

கூட

இவர் எங்கள் "சே" என்று கொண்டாடுகின்றனர்

உன்னை.

பல தோழர்களைக் கண்டேன்

பெயர்களுக்கு முன்னால் தோழனே

தோழனானதை உன்

பெயரில் மட்டும் தான் கண்டேன்.

ஒரு இரு சக்கர வாகனச்

சுற்றுப் பயணம் இயக்கியது

உன் பிற்கால வாழ்க்கையை.

கண்டாய் அங்கே தொழுநோயாளிகளை

மருத்துவனானாய்

கண்டாய் அங்கே அல்லலுறும் மக்களை

போராளியானாய்.

எங்கோ ஓர் மூலையில் ஒளிந்திருந்த

மனிதம் காக்கும் கனல்

உன் மூளையில் அமர்ந்து ஒளிரத்

தொடங்கியது இந்த பயணத்தில் தான்.

முன்னூறு வைத்து ஏழாயிறம்

கழித்தாய் கணிதத்தில் அல்ல

உன் கொரில்லா போர் சரிதத்தில்.

கற்பனை அவதாரங்களில் இல்லை

என்றும் நம்பிக்கை எனக்கு

உன்னுடைய அவதாரங்களைத் தவிர்த்து

எத்தனை கண்டாய் நீ தோள் கொடுக்கும்

தோழனாய்

நோயை விரட்டும் மருத்துவனாய்

போரிலே களப் போராளியாய்

தொழில் திட்டங்கள் தீட்டும்

தொழிலமைச்சனாய்

பொருளாதார திட்டங்களிடும் நிதி

அமைச்சனாய்

மீண்டும் களப் போராளியாய்

அது ஒரு தொடர் கதை...

மூச்சுக் குழல் நோயும் முட்டிப்

பார்த்து முடியாமல் பின்

மூச்சு வாங்க ஓடியது .

எல்லை என்றுமே உனக்கு தொல்லை

எல்லைகளற்ற ஏகாதிபத்தியமற்ற

கனவு உலகம் தான் உன் இலட்சியம்.

புரட்சி வரலாற்றில் முற்றுப் புள்ளி

அல்ல நீ

என்றுமே புரட்சியை தொடரும்

தொடர் புள்ளி தான் நீ...

நன்றி ப.ல.வெங்கடேசன்

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‘Nayagan’ in top 20!

The Tamil cult classic ‘Nayagan’ starring Kamal Haasan and directed by Mani Ratnam is now selected as one of the top 20 movies made in India cinema. That’s logical coz who can ever forget that as the ever memorable Velu Nayakar?

The celluloid classic was a part of the T20 of Indian films at a contest arranged by the IFFI. Sources confirmed that ‘Nayagan’ was the only Tamil film to get placed among the top 20 ranks. And guess what? There were about 1.9 million entries and it’s a real pleasure for us to know that Mani Ratnam’s classic made it. Six persons from different parts of the country were announced winners of the first ever “T20 of Indian Cinema” competition launched by the Entertainment Society of Goa.

Mother India, Anand, Meghe Dhaka Tara, Charulata, Sholay, Do Bhiga Zamin, Guide, Mughal-e-Azam, Pyasa, Bhuvan Shome, Garam Hawa, Ghatashraddha, Elipathayam, Kagaz Ke Phool, Pather Panchali, Sant Tukaram, Madhumati, Jane Bhi Do Yaro, and Nayagan were the final 20 contestants of this mega contest.

It’s worthy to mention here that ‘Nayagan’ also holds the glory for being told as one of the best Indian movies of the century by the ‘Time’ magazine

Home Interior Design-Series-013 Who Tall Are You? – Famous People Mirror Measure

If you like to entertain guests on a regular basis then you might be looking for an interior decor feature that can provide some entertainment. This exact scenario came to mind when I ventured across this appealing mirror-cum-height measurer called the “Who Tall Are You”. The original and fun design means visitors to your home will automatically want to stand in front of the long mirror which highlights the heights of famous people, both past and present.

Perhaps your girlfriend is the same size as Kylie Minogue or your boyfriend is on a par with Clint Eastwood. Maybe your granny is towering above Elle Macpherson or your uncle is smaller than Charlie Chaplin with his hat on. Place them in front of this fun measuring mirror and you will quickly see which celebrity or famous figure from history your friend or relative closely resembles in height.

There are a total of 120 famous names listed on this measuring mirror which will provide a well known name for people of all heights, from the tallest to the smallest, male and female. One might well find some guests standing on tip toe in order to appear more like David Hasselhoff than the more diminutive Danny DeVito. The list of names include people from around the world including celebrities from the US and Britain but also counting figures such as Mother Teresa, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Peter the Great and Prince Felipe who is the heir apparent to the Spanish throne.

Vaali crosses 5000 songs!

The ever-youthful legendary lyricist Vaali is surely a man to be celebrated. He has just finished writing his 5000th song for Shankar’s ‘Endhiran’. Whatta massive achievement, we say!
“Little beetle leaf, beetle nut, few papers and a pen this is what I need to start writing a poem,” says the great man naively.

“My childhood passion was to become an artist. There was a popular artist called Maali who was working in Vikatan then. One of my close friends named me Vaali after that artist and told that I would become popular like the artist one day,” revealed the poet whose original name is Rangarajan.

It was TMS who invited Vaali to Chennai and cinema. Vaali became a household name when MGR was in his career’s peak. “I penned ‘Machchana’ Pathingala while I was working for ‘Oodum Mehangaley’ and ‘Naan Aanaiyittal’ songs meant for MGR. Same way I gave ‘Chikku Bhukku Rayiley’ for Rahman, then went on to give ‘Thathai Thathai’ for Yuvan,” says the poet with pleasure.

The 78-yr old Youngster’s songs were loved by the people of 4 generations. Yet the man is not outdated, he can still write kinky duets and give lyrics for peppy youthful songs.

Mahatma Ganthi said....

"...As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the World – that is the myth of the atomic age - as in being able to remake ourselves... We must become the change we seek in the world..."-Mahatma Ganthi-

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Home Interior Design-Series-012

Moebius double armchair


For a seating arrangement that incorporates eco-friendly materials with social functionality, the Moebius double armchair is just the ticket. The unique furniture piece is the creation of Belgian designer Gaëtan Van de Wyer and is manufactured in Thailand by Onyx. It’s a perfect setting for romantic conversations and perhaps some poetry reading. Unlike regular sofas, the reverse seating means the gaze of the other person can be easily met and held.

The Moebius double armchair is made out of rattan and water hyacinth, the latter of which I have explored before on Home Interior Design Themes. The makers of this figure-of-eight double armchair, Onyx, are a relatively new company who specialise in making furniture out of renewable materials and through eco-friendly techniques

The Man from Marathur and Malai Nadu

M.G.Ramachandran - MGR

17 January 1917 - 24 December1987

Part-I

Ninety two years ago, a baby boy was born to a migrant couple, Gopala Menon and Sathyabama, in a ‘line-room’ of a tea estate in Kandy. Later, this baby boy would grow into a leader with the name Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran (popularly adored by Tamils all over the world with the acronym MGR).

Maruthur was the ancestral village in the Kerala state from where his parents hailed from. Many have ridiculed the uncertainty of his birth date, though MGR had used 17 January 1917 in his personal documents. One should sympathise with MGR on this matter because he was born to an Indian immigrant family in a tea plantation in Ceylon, which was then under British colonial rule. Way back in 1917, the health care facilities available for the plantation workers were atrocious, leave alone the requirements related to birth registration. That he survived into adulthood itself was an achievement.

Though as a two-year old he was taken to Kumbakonam by his mother (who had been widowed after the birth of MGR), the destiny would make it that in his last five years of life, MGR would again have close links with the Tamils in the land of his birth.

After landing in Tamil Nadu, MGR would rise in his professional ranks with perseverance, hard work and the smile of Lady Luck. He reached the ‘top’, step by step; 10 years as a vaudeville child actor, 10 years as an apprentice actor with secondary roles in movies, 30 years as an ‘uncrowned king’ in the Tamil movie land and finally 10 years as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Having experienced poverty personally during his young days and forfeiting the opportunity to have a formal education, MGR would see to it that at least one song in his movie had some educational value to the average man.

He would take a keen interest in the theme of the song, its musical composition and its exact appearance in the movie. Not surprisingly, it would turn out to be a hit song.

1. Acheham enpathu madamaiyadah - Anjaamai Dravidar udamaiyadah (on Dravidian glory and heroism) அச்சம் என்பது .. மடமையடா.. அஞ்சாமை திராவிடர் .. உடமையடா
2. Thoongathe Thambi Thoongathe - Nee somberi enra peyar vaankaathe (on the consequences of idling and procrastination) தூங்காதே தம்பி தூங்காதே - நீயும் சோம்பேறி என்ற பெயர் வாங்காதே!
3. Chinna payale Chinna payale Chethi keladah (on character-building and self confidence) சின்னப் பயலே, சின்னப் பயலே சேதி கேளடா
4. Thirudathe - Paapaa Thirudathe (on prevention of bad habits, especially stealing, while young) திருடாதே, பாப்பா திருடாதே, வறுமை நிலைக்கு பயந்து விடாதே
5. Moonrezhuthil En Moochchirukkum - Athu mudinthapin thaane Pechehirukkum (on the dignity of duty) மூன்றெழுத்தில் என் மூச்சிருக்கும்.... அது முடிஞ்ச பின்னாலும் என் பேச்சிருக்கும்...
6. Onru Engal Jathiye - Ouru Engal Neethiye (on the unity of human race)
7. Unnai Arinthaal Nee Unnai Arinthaal Ulagthil Pooradalaam (on developing self confidence) உன்னை அறிந்தால்...நீ உன்னை அறிந்தால், உலகத்தில் போராடலாம்
8. Buddhan Jesu Gandhi pirandathu Bhoomiyil etharkaaka (on the dignity of labour)
9. Atho Antha paravai pola vazhayendum (on freedom and liberty) அதோ அந்த பறவை போல வாழ வேண்டும்
10 Thaayillamal Naanillai Thaane evarum piranthathillai (on mother love) தாய் இல்லாமல் நான் இல்லை...
11. Chirithu vazhavendum - Nee chirikka vazhnthidathe (on dignity of the labour)
12. Poomazhai thoovi vasanthangal vaaztha oorvalam nadakkirathu.(on sibling love)

MGR would also make sure that he will teach good manners and discipline to the masses through the movies. Therefore, in the characters he played in 120-odd movies, he would never smoke or take alcoholic drinks. On top of that, he would never physically or mentally abuse women. This self-imposed rigidity restricted the character roles he would play and movie critics ridiculed him for this 'un-natural style' of his characters. But MGR would have the last word. Ultimately, he claimed the respected honorific ‘vaathiyar’ (teacher) in its proper sense of the word.

Home Interior Design-Series-011

Magazine Cabinet End Table with Pull-out Shelf

Do you often find that magazines and newspapers begin to take over your living room space? If you like to daily peruse the latest interior design styles, fashion trends, vintage cars or football news, the magazines and publications can begin to build up. What’s needed is a special storage area which can be located in the living room or bedroom but which looks good and blends in with the rest of the room. I believe this magazine cabinet end table in sage green is just the answer.

The magazine cabinet table is convenient, compact and charming. All of these are important for any storage furniture piece that you want located in one of the main rooms of the home. This cabinet table comes with a two-tier magazine rack on one side which can hold a great many newspapers, magazines and related paper-based publications.

What’s ingenious about this construction is the fact that there are two doors, one at the back and one at the front. This means the magazine cabinet end table can be placed at either end of a sofa or armchair by simply being turned in the direction you want the side tiers to face.

Of course, magazine and newspaper reading go hand in hand with tea or coffee drinking. The designers didn’t forget that aspect and so incorporated a pull-out shelf on which cups, mugs and plates can be placed. In this regards, the magazine cabinet end table can be used for more than just a storage cabinet but also as a regular side table. Its sage green color is particularly attractive.

Home Interior Design-Series-010

Attic Remodeling Ideas and Considerations



The attic is one of the most under-designed and unused spaces in the entire home. Most people use the attic space as a storage area where long forgotten antiques, clothes, photo albums and assorted junk gather dust and cobwebs. However, this needn’t be the case, for the attic can quite easily be transformed and remodeled into a usable space such as a spare bedroom, playroom or home study. The following are some considerations you need to take into account before you plan your next move in regards to refurbishment of this area.



The most important rule to abide by is the local building code applicable in your area. These are usually pretty much the same nationwide but there can be variations. Most building codes in the United States require the height of any room to be 7 1/2 feet over 50% of the living area. This means if the highest point in your attic space is 6 feet, then you might face difficulties in developing it much further.



Lighting will be one of the most important interior design considerations for a remodeled attic. If you can get planning permission and have the means and structural ability to install a window or skylight, then this will be perfect. Otherwise a lot of artificial lighting will be needed and whilst this will be more than adequate for a bedroom, it will mean the attic won’t be such an attractive interior to be used for long periods of time during the day. Natural light really is better if you’re going to convert the attic into a playroom or study area and is indeed, much more healthier for your emotional well-being.



Heating in the attic will be required for the colder months of the year. As mentioned in an earlier post (winterizing your home), it will be wise to install a thermostat which will keep the interior at a temperature above freezing so as to avoid damage to pipes, furniture and precious items. Think about running new ducts and check the state of the existing insulation. Replace if necessary.



Another heat-related aspect to take into account is the temperature the attic could reach during the summer months when the sun is blazing down upon the roof. Correct ventilation, fans and protective layers can all help keep the temperature down in this situation.



The floor material might need to be changed or strengthened depending on the type of room that will be created. For example, if the attic is to be changed into a bedroom, then heavy furniture pieces such as beds, chests and wardrobes will need to be carried by a strong and sturdy floor, as well as the extra human traffic.


One of the most difficult and possibly most expensive alterations to the attic will be the creation of an access route. In many cases, the attic is reached via a ladder, which won’t be suitable unless you’re a tree-house crazed child. If there is an existing stairway then you’re in luck but if not, then one will need to be created. This could be a problem depending on the interior architecture of your home.


When all the above considerations have been taken into account and the attic has been transformed into a study, playroom, bedroom or even a meditation room, then the only thing left to do is decorate. This is the fun part and one you can find inspiration for by reading through the posts on this blog.

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Chelsea Nook 3 Piece Dining Set For a Corner of the Kitchen

Depending on the number of rooms in your home and also the size, it can be more suitable for a family to eat in the main kitchen area rather than a dining room. Whether this is the case for you or if you purely seek some extra seating space in the kitchen, then this Chelsea Nook 3 Piece Dining Set made from pine wood might well be just what you’re looking for.

It’s important to make the kitchen an inviting and attractive area of your home. The act of food preparation and consumption should take place in an environment that appeals to the whole family as well as visiting friends and relatives. Too often in our home kitchen, we find there is an absence of seating and table space, perhaps because we have placed the main dining table in another room. It can be quite easy to have concentrated on fitted cupboards and electrical fittings such as fridges and washing machines whilst having forgotten the all important family focal point, the breakfast table.

One of my favorite areas of my own home is the kitchen. I tend to eat breakfast in there, especially as it faces in the direction of the rising sun. If you are in a similar position, then this very attractive wooden 3 piece dining set will provide a delightful furniture piece for this all important morning meal. As is often the case, the kitchen looks back onto the rear yard and in Summer, fresh air can be let in to the kitchen as well as birdsong, whilst ones eats breakfast. The almost rustic appeal of this Chelsea nook set, takes one back to the traditional country cottage interior scenes from centuries gone by. Before I descend into whimsical and romantic verse about such corner nook sets and related interiors, I will tell you where you can purchase the one you see in the image above. From here: Chelsea Nook 3 Piece Dining Set For a Corner of the Kitchen.

As you can see, the set is designed to fit into the corner of your kitchen and provides a focal seating area for the whole family. You can even place it in another room such as the living room, master bedroom or even the hallway if it’s large and open enough. I must say, I like the style of this piece very much. It’s a great place to read the morning newspapers.

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Funky Jazz Metal Wall Art Sculpture

If you’re a huge jazz fan like myself, then this funky jazz metal wall art sculpture will make a great addition to your home. It can be difficult deciding how best to display our love of jazz and we usually often dabble between purchasing posters or paintings. However, metal wall art is a great alternative and one that will indeed last a lot longer than other mediums.

One of my favorite types of Jazz is improvised jazz and is the style that comes to mind when looking at this metal wall art sculpture. It’s expressive, dynamic, energizing and emotionally stimulating whilst at the same time entrenched in a certain order that keeps it from spiralling out of control. A common misconception about improvised jazz is that it is plucked from the air, when it fact it is set to regular rhythm and harmony but with a flexible structure.

In many ways, this description matches the sculpture itself. It’s made from rigid 1/8? mild steel which has been cut by an expert craftsman in South Carolina. We normally expect cut metal to be straight and uniform but this wall sculpture is the opposite and seemingly alive. However, it still holds to the rules of metalwork and is cut from natural, unrefined, unpainted and unburnished steel. This gives it a delightfully individual quality much like the subject it portrays.
This jazz metal wall sculpture will make a great accent for a variety of home interiors. If you have a father or son who are into Jazz music, then this will make an excellent gift. Hung up on a bedroom or living room wall, the jazz band will lend an expressive and artistic display that will enliven the ambiance of a room.

I love listening to Jazz and one of my favorite Jazz musicians is Maceo Parker.

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Burnt Out Market to Stylish Library Interior in Bangkok

Inspiration for home interior design can be found anywhere and everywhere. With the advent of the internet, this has made viewing different styles and cultural decorations even more easier. The pictures below will hopefully provide you with both visual enjoyment and a jumping board for ideas when it comes to a room or two in your own home. More often th an not, just a little detail in a larger interior scheme can ignite a decor concept for a domestic living room or bedroom.

There are many reasons to re-decorate a home, one of these being reconstruction after a fire. Thankfully this is a very rare reason. However, this was the case with an old market building in the Min Buri district of Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand. The local area deteriorated after the major fire which occurred in the late 1990’s. Slums began to develop and business people moved out.

Then came along the Norwegian non-profit organisation, Tyin Tegnestue. This group consisted of five architectural students from Norway who sought to pursue humanitarian ends through architecture. Over a few years, Tyin Tegnestue managed to garner the support and funding from over 60 companies and private payers to help improve the lives of communities affected by poverty across Thailand.

Last year, the project pictured in this post, was completed. Out of the burnt out ruins of the old market came a modern library and a meeting point for the local community. Locals and tourists alike congregate to socialise, read books and generally relax in a warm and attractive interior environment.

The designers tried as best they could to keep their designs in line with the fundamental identity of the area. Materials for construction were gathered from the local region, which would appeal to the locals and also keep costs down. A nearby carpentry carried out most of the woodworking. Since it has opened, the library has been a spring board for regeneration of the surrounding area. Businesses have returned and new people have set up home nearby.

Tyin Tegnestue hope that their refurbishment of the old market will spur on the locals to do the same elsewhere. By using materials that are abundant and cheap, the Norwegians are hopeful that the people of Min Buri will act on their own initiative from within the resources available to them.

Like with these Thai townsfolk, images in magazines, on the net and on television can act as a catalyst for your own interior design endeavours. It’s always fun to take inspiration from bits and pieces we see around us and try and fit them in to our own décor schemes at home. Hopefully these wonderful pictures above will give you something to chew on.

The Man from Marathur and Malai Nadu

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New Zealand Interior Architecture on the Scenic Coromandel Peninsula

The beauty of the New Zealand landscape is well known across the world. Many movies were filmed on these islands including the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It’s not surprising therefore that an architect and interior designer would want to work with this stunning setting to create a home like the one shown in the images below.

The setting is Coromandel Peninsula in the north of the country on the aptly named North Island. The intention of the designer was to recreate the traditional New Zealand building methods which included the crafting of wood into a modern expression of architecture. A connection to the natural world is provided by the very building materials used; sustainable and renewable timber

from the local region.

The house is built in a simple rectangular fashion and has been erected on a patch of cleared bushland overlooking the Pacific ocean. One can assume its aim has been achieved in that the essential spirit of the New Zealand has been captured in the merging of the environment with traditional building techniques.

What is particularly interesting about the house is the open living room. There is no wall or window dividing the outside from the inside as one can see in this image. It’s almost like a camp-site, a popular hobby in New Zealand. The sleeping quarters are enclosed however. Notice the large fireplace that will be a much needed functional necessity during the Winter months.

Like the living room, the bathroom is also open to the elements. A wooden slatted floor allows for

shower water to drain without the need for a cubicle. The bathtub is also highly manoeuvrable allowing for a dynamic bathing experience as close to the open deck as so desired.

வீரபாண்டிய கட்டபொம்மன்

உலகின் உயிரின பரிணாம வளர்ச்சியில் மனிதன் என்ற படைப்பு மிக உன்னதமாகக்கருதப்படுகின்றது. உலகம் தோன்றியது முதல் இன்றைய காலகட்டம் வரை பிறந்து மறைந்தவர்கள் எல்லோரும் நம் நினைவில் நிற்கமுடியாத நிலை. ஆனால் காலத்தால் மறைக்க முடியாத மனிதர்கள் இன்றும் நினைவில் வாழ்ந்து கொண்டுதான் இருக்கின்றார்கள். அத்தகைய சிறப்பை அவர்கள் பெற்றதற்கு காரணம் அவர்களின் தனித்தன்மை வாய்ந்த அவர்களின் குணாதியங்கள்கள்தான். அப்படி வாழ்ந்து மறைந்த மாவீரனாக நம் நெஞ்சங்களில் வாழ்ந்து கொண்டிருப்பவர்களில் ஒருவர் வீரபாண்டிய கட்டபொம்மன்.

03-01-1760 ல் அழகிய வீரபாண்டியபுரத்தில் (இன்றைய ஒட்டப்பிடாரம்)பிறந்தார். இவருடைய தந்தை ஜெகவீரபாண்டியன். தாய் ஆறுமுகத்தம்மாள். கட்டபொம்மனின் முன்னோர்கள் தெலுங்கு தேசத்தை சேர்ந்தவர்கள. விஜயநகர பேரரசினரால் புலம் பெயர்ந்தவர்கள் எனக்கருதபபடுகின்றது. .இவர்களின் மூனறு புதல்வர்கள்தான் கருத்தையா என்ற வீரபாண்டிய கட்டபொம்மன், தளவாய் குமாரசாமி என்ற துரைசிங்கம் மற்றும் செவத்தையா என்ற ஊமைத்துரை.

இவர்களின் முன்னோர்கள் தெலுங்கு நாட்டின் பிரசித்திபெற்றவர்கள். கெட்டி பொம்முலு என வீரத்துக்கு அடையாளமாக சொல்லப்படும் சாஸ்த்தா அய்யணசாமி என்ற தெய்வத்தின் பெயரால் அழைக்கப்பெற்றவர்கள். அந்த வீரத்துக் காவல் தெய்வமாகக்கருதப்பட்டதனால் என்னவோ பிழைக்க வந்த வெள்ளையர்களுக்கு கட்டபொம்மன் ஒரு சிம்மசொப்பனமாகத்திகழ்ந்தார்.

சங்க காலத்தமிழ் காப்பியங்களில் வீரத்தமிழ்மன்னர்கள் தம் நாட்டு மக்களின் துயர் தீர்க்க தன்னுயிரையும் தர இசைந்தார்கள். "தாய்ப்புலி தான் ஈன்ற குட்டிகளை தன்னுயிர் போனாலும் கவர்ந்து செல்ல யாருக்கும் அனுமதியளிக்காது. அவ்வாறே ஒரு மன்னன் தன் நாட்டு மக்களை காக்க வேண்டும் என்ற எண்ணம் கொண்டவர்களாக அன்றைய தமிழ் மன்னர்கள் திகழ்ந்தார்கள்" என புறநானூற்றுப்பக்கங்கள் நமக்கு பறைசாற்றுகின்றன. இதற்கு உதாரணமாகத்திகழந்தவர் கட்டபொம்மன். தம் எதிர்கால மக்கள் சுதந்திரமாக வாழவேண்டுமென்பதற்காக கொண்டகொள்கைகளை கடைசிவரை காப்பாற்றி தமிழகத்தின் வரலாற்றில் ஆழமாக பதியப்பட்டு நிற்கின்றார்.

பாஞ்சாலங்குறிச்சியை ஆண்ட கட்டபொம்மனின் மூதாதையர்களில் ஒருவர் காலத்தில் நடந்ததாகக்கருதப்படும் கதைகளில் ஒன்று இன்றும் பேசப்படுகின்றது. "ஒரு நாள் வேட்டையாடும் நேரத்தில், வேட்டை நாய்களினால் துரத்தப்பட்டு வந்த முயலொன்று குறிப்பிட்ட இடத்தில் வந்தவுடன் வேட்டை நாய்களை நோக்கி முயல் சீறிப்பாய்ந்ததாகவும் அதைக்கண்ணுற்ற அன்றைய கட்டபொம்மர் அதுவே தாம் கோட்டை கட்டுவதற்கு உகந்த இடம் எனத்தீiமானித்து அவ்விடத்திலேயே பாஞ்சாலங்குறிச்சி கோட்டையை நிறுவியதாகவும்" கூறப்படுகின்றது.

கருத்தையா என்ற வீரபாண்டியன் 02.02.1790ல் கட்டபொம்மர்களின் வாரிசாக கருதப்பட்டு ஆட்சி அமைக்க அன்றைய மதுரைப்பாளையர்க்காரர்களால் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டார். கட்டபொம்மன் பாஞ்சாலங்குறிச்சியின் மன்னனாகப் பொறுப்பேற்றார்.

1736 க்கு முன் ஏறத்தாழ இரண்டு நூற்றாண்டுகள் மதுரை நாயக்கர் வம்ச அரசர்களால் பரிபாலனம் செய்யப்பட்டு வந்தது. அதன் பிறகு சந்தாப் சாகேப் ஆர்கோட் என்பவரால் மதுரை அங்கு கடைசியாக ஆண்ட ராணியிடமிருந்து பறிக்கப்பட்டு நவாப் ஆட்சியின் கீழ் கொண்டு வரப்பட்டது. இக்காலகட்டத்தில் மக்களின் வரிப்பணம் பெருமளவில் சுரண்டப்பட்டதின் காரணமாகவும் மக்கள் மிக்க அதிருப்தி கொண்டிருந்தனர்.

அத்துடன் இஸ்லாமிய ஆட்சிமுறையை பெரும்பாலான பாளையக்காரர்கள் எதிர்க்கத்துணிந்தனர். இத்தகைய போக்குகள் இறுதியில் ஆர்க்காடு அரசினை வெள்ளையர்களிடம் நாட்டை அடகு வைக்கும் நிலைக்கு கொண்டு சென்றது. சரியான தருணம் பார்த்திருந்த ஆங்கிலேயர்கள் ஆர்க்காடு நவாப் அரசுக்கு கொடுத்துள்ள கடனுக்காக நவாப்பிடமிருந்து வரிவசுலிக்கும் அதிகாரத்தை தங்கள் கையில் எடுத்துக்கொண்டு மக்களிடமிருந்து தாறுமாறாக வரி என்ற பெயரில் கொள்ளையடிக்க ஆரம்பித்தார்கள்.

வரியை மக்களிடமிருந்து வாங்கிக்கொடுக்காத பாளையக்காரர்கள் கொடுமைக்காளானார்கள். இத்தகைய நிலை ஏறத்தாழ 40,50 ஆண்டுகள் நீடித்த நிலையில்தான் பாஞ்சாலஞ்குறிச்சியில் கட்டபொம்மன் ஆட்சிக்கு வந்தார். மக்களின் வரிப்பணம் பாலாக்கப்பட்டு நிர்வாகம் தறிகெட்டுக்கிடந்த ஒரு காலகட்டத்தில் மக்களை புரட்சியிலிருந்து ஒடுக்குவதற்கு ஆங்கிலேயர்கள் கடுமையான நடவடிக்கைகளை மேற்கொண்டார்கள். இத்தகைய போக்கு பிரச்சனைகளை மேலும் மோசமாக்குவதாக அமைந்தது.

இத்தகைய குழப்பமான நிலையில் ஆங்கிலேயர்கள் தங்களுக்கேயுரித்தான பிரித்தாழும் சதிவேலைகளை மேற்கொண்டு மக்களிடம் ஒற்றுமையின்மையை ஏற்படுத்தினார்கள்.
இக்காலகட்டத்தில் ஆஙகிலேயரின் ஒடுக்குமுறைக்கு சற்றும் சளைக்காமல் கட்டபொம்மன் அவர்களுக்கு வரி சேகரித்துக் கொடுப்பதை நிறுத்தினார். புல அச்சுறுத்தலுக்களுக்கும் பணியாமல் கட்டபொம்மன் தன் நிலையில் உறுதியாக இருந்தார். இதனால் கட்டபொம்மனை வஞ்சக வலைவிரித்து கவிழ்க்கத் தருணம் பார்த்திருந்தார்கள். கட்டபொம்மனின் மந்திரியாக செயல்பட்டு வந்தவர் தானாதிப்பிள்ளை அவர்கள்.

பிரதான தளபதியாக அமைந்தவர் சுந்தரலிங்கம் என்று அறியப்பட்டு பாஞ்சாலங்குறிச்சிக்காக தன் இன்னுயிரைத் தியாகமாக்கியவர். மதுரை பாளையக்காரர்களால் அணைவரிடமிருந்தும் கப்பம் பெற்றுக்கொண்ட ஆங்கிலேயர்களால் கட்டபொம்மனிடம் தங்கள் கொட்டம் பலிக்காமல் அவமானம் அடைந்தனர். அதனால் சமாதானம் பேசுவது என்ற போர்வையில் கட்டபொம்மனுக்கு தூது அனுப்பினார்கள்.

பேசுவதற்காக ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்ட இடம் இராமநாதபுரம் சேதுபதி ராஜா மாளிகை. பேச்சுவார்த்தைக்கு பொறுப்பாக நியமிக்கப்பட்டவர் ஜாக்ஸன் துரை. கட்டபொம்மன், தானாதிபிள்ளை மற்றும் தன் குழுவினருடன் இராமநாதபுரம் சென்றார். அங்கே நடந்த பேச்சுவார்தை தோல்வியாகி கைகலப்பில் முடிந்தது. ஆங்கிலேயரின் இந்த திட்டமிட்ட வஞ்சக வலையில் சிக்காமல் தன் வீரத்திறமையால் அங்கிருந்து தப்பினார். ஆனால் தானாதிப்பிள்ளை கைது செய்யப்பட்டார்.

இந்த நடவடிக்கைக்காக ஜாக்ஸன் துரை பதவி நீக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டார். இதற்காக அமைக்கப்பட்ட கமிட்டி ஆலோகனையின்பேரில் திருநெல்வேலி கலெக்டர் கட்டபொம்மனுக்கு வரி கொடாமைக்கு காரணம் கேட்டு கடிதம் 16..03.1799ல் அனுப்பினார். இதற்கு கட்டபொம்மன் வரி செலுத்த வேண்டிய பணம், தானியங்கள் எல்லாம் கொள்ளையடிக்கப்பட்டதாக பதில் அனுப்பினார்.

கட்டபொம்மனின் தலைவணங்காத்தன்மை வெள்ளையர்களை மேலும் கோபத்துக்குள்ளாக்கியது. கட்டபொம்மனை நாட்டின் பொது எதிரியாக்கி தீர்மானம் நிறைவேற்றினர். தங்கள் நயவஞ்சக திட்டத்துக்கு கட்டபொம்மனுக்கு எதிராக எட்டப்பனை தேர்ந்தெடுத்து கட்டபொம்மனின் ஒவ்வொரு நடவடிக்கையும் ஆராய்ந்து சரியான தருணம் பார்த்து இராணுவத்தளபதி பாணர்மேன் தலைமையில் பாஞ்சாலம்குறிச்சி கோட்டையை தகர்க்கும் திட்டமத்தை உருவாக்கி,. கேர்னல் கொலினிஸ் தலைமையில் கோட்டையின் நாலாபக்கமும் தாக்குதல் நடத்தினார்கள்.

வெகு சுலபம் என எதிர்பார்த்த கொலின்ஸ் தாக்குதலை சமாளிக்கமுடியாமல் பின்வாங்கி மேலும் ஆயுதங்கள் தேவை என செய்தி அனுப்பினார். இதைப்பயன்படுத்தி கட்டபொம்மன் கோட்டையை விட்டு தப்பிச்சென்றார். பெருத்த ஏமாற்றத்துக்குள்ளான வெள்ளையர் கட்டபொம்மன் தலைக்கு விலை வைத்தார்கள். தானாதிப்பிள்ளை முதலிய 16 பேரை கைது செய்து அழைத்துச்சென்றார்கள். கைது செய்யப்பட்ட தானாதிபிள்ளையின் தலையை வெட்டி பொது மக்கள் பார்வைக்கென பொது இடத்தில் வைத்தார்கள்

கட்டபொம்மன் புதுக்கோட்டை ராஜாவிடம் தஞ்சம் புகுந்தார். ஆனால் வெள்ளையரின் வஞ்சனையின் காரணமாக கட்டபொம்மன் சரணடையவேண்டிய கட்டாயம் ஏற்பட்டது.

16.10.1799 ல் கைது செய்யப்பட்டு மூன்று வாரங்களுக்குப்பிறகு, இன்றைய தூத்துக்குடி மாவட்டம் கயத்தாறு என்ற இடத்தில் புளியமரத்தில் தூக்கிலிடப்பட்டார். அவருடன் சேர்ந்து தங்கள் இன்னுயிரைத்தந்த வீர மறவர்கள் என்றென்றும் போற்றுதற்குறியவர்கள்.

கட்டபொம்மனின் வீழ்ச்சிக்கு காரணகர்த்தாவாக விளங்கிய எட்டப்பன், எட்டயபுர ராஜாவாக ஆக்கப்பட்டு அவருக்கு சர் பட்டம் வழங்கப்பட்டது. பாஞ்சாலஞ்குறிச்சி கோட்டை கொள்ளையடிக்கப்பட்டு தரைமட்டமாக்கப்பட்டது. ஆனால் வீரபாண்டியகட்டபொம்மன் என்ற மாமனிதனின் பெயர் உலகம் உள்ளவரை நிலைத்திருக்கும் என்பதில் சந்தேகமில்லை.

முப்பத்து ஒன்பது ஆண்டுகளே வாழ்ந்த அவரின் தியாகத்தை போற்றுவோமாக.

கட்டபொம்மனின் நினைவு என்றும் போற்றத்தக்க வகையில் கயத்தாற்றில் அவருடைய சிலையும், பாஞ்சாலஞ்குறிச்சியில் கோட்டையும் நிலைபெற்றுள்ளது.

விடுதலைக்கு விலையாக பாஞ்சாலஞ்குறிச்சி என்ற ஊரும் கோட்டையும் அன்று வெள்ளையர்களால் மண்மேடுகளாகப்பட்டது. இந்திய சரித்திரத்தில் ஜல்லியன் வாலாபாக் படுகொலை மிகப்பெரியதாக கருதப்படுகின்றது. அகைவிட பலமடங்கு பெரிய தியாகங்களை தமிழர்கள் இந்திய விடுதலைக்காக ஆற்றியுள்ளனர் என்பதற்கு பாஞ்சாலஞ்குறிச்சி ஒரு உதாரணமாகும்.

வரலாறு

சரித்திரம் என்பது விளம்பர மனிதரின்
சாகச முத்திரைகள் - கடல்
தெறித்திடும் போதினில் புகைப்பட மாகிடும்
சிற்சில நீரலைகள்!

ஆயிரங் கோடி மனிதரில் ஒருசிலர்
அடைகிற பிரபலங்கள் - பல
ஆயிர மாயிரம் பெயரை மறைத்திடும்
அற்புதப் புதைகுழிகள்!

வையத்து மாந்தர் நடந்துசென் றேகிய
வழிகளின் ஓவியங்கள் - சில
பொய்யையும் தூக்கி
மெய்யென ஆக்கிப்புகன்றிடும் மூலங்கள்

-மு.மேத்தா-

Super Seniors-81-Year Marriage

Anita Milford was happily married for 81 years. Now, she'll have to find a way to go on alone.Her husband, Frank Milford, died in the couple's assisted living home in Plymouth, southwest England. He was 101.

Super Seniors Frank and Anita Milford of Plymouth, England, celebrated their 81st wedding anniversary on May 26. That Frank had died at the age of 101. Anita was at his side, holding his hand. They were recognized as the longest-married couple in Britain.

The Milfords met in 1926 at a YMCA dance in Plymouth. They were married two years later.
They were recognized as the longest-married couple currently in Britain. In February 2010, they would have broken the record of 81 years and 260 days for the longest British marriage ever.

Anita Milford, also 101, was with her husband when he died. "She's very upset obviously, but she was sitting holding his hand when he passed away," their son, also named Frank.

"For the past three weeks or so he hadn’t been eating or drinking and I think we all realized he was ready to die," the 76-year-old son said. "He knew it was his time and I think he simply died of old age."

When they celebrated their 81st wedding anniversary in May, the Milfords credited daily disagreements for keeping their marriage strong. "Not big rows, just the odd cross word," Anita Milford told The Times of London. "As far as I am concerned, it’s healthy."

The couple had two children, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Home Interior Design Themes-Series-005

Free Standing Butler Toilet Tissue Holder With Pinched Nose

Are you looking for a little humor to brighten up your bathroom? If so you might be seeking something which offers both light relief and a functional yet decorative quality. With this in mind I would like to introduce you to this delightfully helpful butler toilet tissue holder made from hand-painted resin. It’s a bathroom accessory that will bring a smile to all the family and visiting guests.

Placed beside the toilet, this free standing butler tissue holder will provide a close-to-hand supply of toilet paper. Beneath the top hat is a place to store a second toilet roll for when the first runs empty. This gives the benefit of being able to hide the extra roll away from the visual ambiance of the interior and keep the bathroom uncluttered.

One problem might be the height of the butler toilet tissue holder. As one can see it is placed low to the ground. However, by placing the butler on a small table, shelf or decorative box, this can be overcome. If you have children in the household or often have nieces, nephews and/or grandchildren visiting, this will make a wonderfully humorous focus for naughty little minds. Poop time will never be the same again. It’ll make a super gift for a son or daughter leaving home to go to Uni as well.

World's oldest dog dies in NY at 21 — or 147

NEW YORK – A wire-haired dachshund that held the record as the world's oldest dog and celebrated its last birthday with a party at a dog hotel and spa has died at age 21 — or 147 in dog years. The dog, named Chanel, died Friday of natural causes at her owners' home in suburban Port Jefferson Station, on Long Island.

Chanel, as stylish as her legendary namesake, wore tinted goggles for her cataracts in her later years and favored sweaters because she was sensitive to the cold, owners Denice and Karl Shaughnessy said Monday. The playful dachshund was only 6 weeks old when Denice Shaughnessy, then serving with the U.S. Army, adopted her from a shelter in Newport News, Va.

Along with her owner, Chanel spent nine years on assignment in Germany, where she became adept at stealing sticks of butter from kitchen countertops and hiding them in sofa cushions in the living room, Shaughnessy said. She also liked chocolate, usually considered toxic to dogs, Shaughnessy said. "She once ate an entire bag of Reese's peanut butter cups, and, you see, she lived to be 21, so go figure," Shaughnessy added. Karl Shaughnessy nominated Chanel for the title of world's oldest dog after noticing the Guinness World Records book had no record.

Guinness World Records officials presented Chanel with a certificate as the world's oldest dog at a Manhattan birthday bash hosted by a private pet food company in May. Chanel loved the party, especially the cake, which had a peanut butter flavor and had been made for dogs, Denice Shaughnessy said. Chanel exercised daily and ate home-cooked chicken with her dog food, but good care wasn't entirely responsible for her long life, said her owners, who attributed God.

"Dogs are God's angels sent here to look out for us," Denice Shaughnessy said. A dog from New Iberia, La., named Max, is vying for the record of world's oldest dog. Owner Janelle Derouen said Max marked his 26th birthday on Aug. 9. She said Guinness World Records officials were reviewing documents to authenticate his age; a Guinness World Records official in London didn't immediately answer an e-mail from The Associated Press requesting confirmation of that.

When asked the secret to her dog's long life, Derouen said she was shocked he's still with her.

NEW YORK – A wire-haired dachshund that held the record as the world's oldest dog and celebrated its last birthday with a party at a dog hotel and spa has died at age 21 — or 147 in dog years. The dog, named Chanel, died Friday of natural causes at her owners' home in suburban Port Jefferson Station, on Long Island.


Chanel, as stylish as her legendary namesake, wore tinted goggles for her cataracts in her later years and favored sweaters because she was sensitive to the cold, owners Denice and Karl Shaughnessy said Monday. The playful dachshund was only 6 weeks old when Denice Shaughnessy, then serving with the U.S. Army, adopted her from a shelter in Newport News, Va.


Along with her owner, Chanel spent nine years on assignment in Germany, where she became adept at stealing sticks of butter from kitchen countertops and hiding them in sofa cushions in the living room, Shaughnessy said. She also liked chocolate, usually considered toxic to dogs, Shaughnessy said. "She once ate an entire bag of Reese's peanut butter cups, and, you see, she lived to be 21, so go figure," Shaughnessy added. Karl Shaughnessy nominated Chanel for the title of world's oldest dog after noticing the Guinness World Records book had no record.


Guinness World Records officials presented Chanel with a certificate as the world's oldest dog at a Manhattan birthday bash hosted by a private pet food company in May. Chanel loved the party, especially the cake, which had a peanut butter flavor and had been made for dogs, Denice Shaughnessy said. Chanel exercised daily and ate home-cooked chicken with her dog food, but good care wasn't entirely responsible for her long life, said her owners, who attributed God.


"Dogs are God's angels sent here to look out for us," Denice Shaughnessy said. A dog from New Iberia, La., named Max, is vying for the record of world's oldest dog. Owner Janelle Derouen said Max marked his 26th birthday on Aug. 9. She said Guinness World Records officials were reviewing documents to authenticate his age; a Guinness World Records official in London didn't immediately answer an e-mail from The Associated Press requesting confirmation of that.


When asked the secret to her dog's long life, Derouen said she was shocked he's still with her.

Home Interior Design Themes-Series-004

The Refurbished Home of Belgian Architect Leon Stynen

I was recently browsing a photography site and saw the refurbished interiors of what was once the home of Modernist architect Leon Stynen. Built in 1933, the house in the city of Antwerp was one of nine that the famous Belgian designer created for the city council. Originally, Stynen wanted to mimic the modernist housing complex of Weissenhofsiedlung in Stuttgart. This German housing complex consisted of an estate of working class housing which became the symbolic international style of modern architecture. Mies van der Rohe was one of the principle architects involved.

Leon Stynen is probably the foremost Belgian architect of the 20th Century. The scope of his work was legendry and his works are seen throughout Belgium and indeed across Europe. His style can be considered close to that of the more internationally acclaimed designer LeCorbusier who Stynen was good friends with during the latter part of his career. They both also knew well one of the designers I studied most at Art School, one Walter Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus.

Buildings designed by Leon Stynen include the Casino in Oostende (1949) and the Church of Harelbeke (1952), which in itself was an interesting piece of work merely for the fact that Stynen was rather anti-clerical.

The pictures below show the re-designed interiors of Stynen’s Antwerp home which was recently renovated. Much of the style and decor has been placed in a way that compliments and echoes the original style and period of his life. For anyone familiar with the works of the above designers, there will be a recognition of such features.

This wonderful spiral staircase brings to mind a quotation by the Czech playwright Vaclav Havel: “Modern man must descend the spiral of his own absurdity to the lowest point; only then can he look beyond it. It is obviously impossible to get around it, jump over it, or simply avoid it.”

The proliferation of books adorning the walls is something I greatly appreciate in any interior space. Notice in most of the pictures, books seem to be everywhere. Wonderful!

Books!! A wall is never more beautiful than when its covered with books from floor to ceiling. Can you tell I am a bookworm?

Gandhi's Daily Resolution

Let the first act of every morning be to make the following resolve for the day

I shall not fear anyone on earth

I shall fear only God

I shall not bear ill toward anyone

I shall not submit to injustice from anyone

I shall conquer untruth by truth And in resisting untruth

I shall put up with all suffering

ஆத்திசூடி

அறம் செய விரும்பு .....................Enjoy giving alms
ஆறுவது சினம் ...............................Anger is to be controlled
இயல்வது கரவேல் .......................Never stop learning
ஈவது விலக்கேல் ...........................Don't prevent charity
உடையது விளம்பேல் ..................Avoid injurious words
ஊக்கமது கைவிடேல் ..................Don't give up persevering
எண் எழுத்து இகழேல் ..................Don't despise learning
ஏற்பது இகழ்ச்சி ................................Accepting alms is despicable
ஐயமிட்டுண் ........................................Eat after donating
ஒப்புர வொழுகு ................................Act virtuously
ஓதுவது ஒழியேல் ...........................Don't give up prayers
ஒளவியம் பேசேல் ..........................Don't carry tales

America's First Newspaper-Scheme of a Lottery

An ad from the back page for a Scheme of a Lottery, which was created to sell 6000 tickets at $2 each to raise funds to pave the highway in Charlestown from the Ferry to the Neck. Of the $12,000 to be raised, according to the ad, $10,800 is earmarked for prizes and $1200 for paving the highway..

America's First Newspaper

America's first continuously-published newspaper, the Boston News-Letter published its first issue on April 24, 1704. John Campbell, a bookseller and postmaster of Boston, was its first editor, printing the newspaper on what was then referred to as a half-sheet. It originally appeared on a single page, printed on both sides and issued weekly.

In the early years of its publication the News-Letter was filled mostly with news from London journals detailing the intrigues of English politics, and a variety of events concerning the European wars. The rest of the newspaper was filled with items listing ship arrivals, deaths, sermons, political appointments, fires, accidents and the like.

One of the most sensational stories published when the News-Letter was the only newspaper in the colonies was the the account of how Blackbeard the pirate was killed in hand-to-hand combat on the deck of a sloop that had engaged his ship in battle.
Campbell relinquished his stewardship of the paper in 1722 to Bartholomew Green, its printer. As editor, Green devoted less space to overseas events and more to domestic news. When Green died after a decade as its editor, the News-Letter was inherited by his son John Draper, also a printer. Draper proved to be a better editor and publisher than his predecessors. He enlarged the paper to four good-sized pages, filling it with news from Boston, other towns throughout the colonies, and from abroad.

On view here is the May 14, 1761 issue of the News-Letter. The front page is displayed in its entirety. Notice the credit line Printed by J. Draper appearing under the masthead. As was the custom then, the front page was devoted to events overseas. This issue contains news from London, a speech by the King to the House of Commons, and various accounts from Westminster and Whitehall.

Also displayed from this issue is an ad from the back page for a Scheme of a Lottery. The lottery was created to sell 6000 tickets at $2 each to raise funds to pave the highway in Charlestown from the Ferry to the Neck. Of the $12,000 to be raised, according to the ad, $10,800 is earmarked for prizes and $1200 for paving the highway.

No such thing as "deleted" on the Internet

It's always fun to write about research that you can actually try out for yourself.

Try this: Take a photo and upload it to Facebook, then after a day or so, note what the URL to the picture is (the actual photo, not the page on which the photo resides), and then delete it. Come back a month later and see if the link works. Chances are: It will.

Facebook isn't alone here. Researchers at Cambridge University (so you know this is legit, people!) have found that nearly halfof the social networking sites don't immediately delete pictures when a user requests they be removed. In general, photo-centric websites like Flickr were found to be better at quickly removing deleted photos upon request.

Why do "deleted" photos stick around so long? The problem relatesto the way data is stored on large websites: While your personalcomputer only keeps one copy of a file, large-scale services like

Facebook rely on what are called content delivery networks to manage data and distribution. It's a complex system wherein data is copied to multiple intermediate devices, usually to speed up access to files when millions of people are trying to access the service simultaneously. (Yahoo! Tech is served by dozens of servers,for example.) But because changes aren't reflected across the CDN immediately, ghost copies of files tend to linger for days or weeks.
In the case of Facebook, the company says data may hang around until the URL in question is reused, which is usually "after a short period of time." Though obviously that time can vary considerably.

Of course, once a photo escapes from the walled garden of a social network like Facebook, the chances of deleting it permanently fall even further. Google's caching system is remarkably efficient at archiving copies of web content, long after it's removed from the web. Anyone who's ever used Google ImageSearch can likely tell you a story about clicking on a thumbnail image, only to find that the image has been deleted from the website in question -- yet the thumbnail remains on Google for months. And then there are services like the Wayback Machine, which copy entire websites for posterity, archiving data and pictures forever.

The lesson: Those drunken party photos you don't want people to see? Simply don't upload them to the web, ever, because trying to delete them after you sober up is a tough proposition.

போனால் போகட்டும் போடா-கவியரசு கண்ணதாசன்

Let the passions and bonds pass-by

Who has lived in this land forever?

Path of arrival is known - but

Path of departure and the route unknown.

If all who came opt to stay

Where's the space in this sphere?

Life is just a business -in which

the birth is credit and death is debit.

DRAVIDIAN TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE-SERIES-01

DRAVIDIAN TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE"The following works of art ...are among the most remarkable contributions of the Tamil creative genius to the world's cultural treasure and should be familiar to the whole world and admired and beloved by all in the same way as ... the cathedrals of France and the sculptures of Greece ...... Dravidian temple architecture, of which the chief representatives are perhaps the temples of Tanjore, Chidambaram and Madurai....." (Tamil Contribution to World Civilisation - Czech Professor Dr. Kamil Zvelebil in Tamil Culture - Vol. V, No. 4. October, 1956)

"...The plan of a temple closely resembles the plan of a human body in which the Sanctum Sanctorum (garbha gudi) is the head and the outer gate is the lower limb. The spine (gopuram) on the outer gate is the foot of the Lord. Even if a visitor does not enter the temple, he can as well contemplate on the gopuram and derive the benefit of a darshan. Temple architecture developed in two streams, Saiva style and Vaishnava style. Silpa is the architecture and Agama is the mode of worship. Agama of the Saivas is different from that of the Vaishnavas. The Vaishnava worship is again in two different styles, the Vaikasana and the Pancharatra. .." Architecture of a Hindu Temple - Sthapathi

From T.V.Mahalingam, Professor of Ancient History and Archaeology, University of Madras on Tamil Art & Architecture paper presented at Second International Conference Seminar of Tamil Studies, January 1968

"Before sketching in outline the evolution of architecture it is necessary to acquaint ourselves with the major types of extant structures. These basic shapes are fivefold, viz., square (caturasra), rectangular (ayatasra), elliptical (vrittayata), circular (vritta) and octagonal (astasra). Generally speaking the plan of the temple was conditioned by the nature of the consecrated deity. The shrine of the reclining Ranganatha, for example, can only be rectangular.

The basic shapes are amply reflected in the superstructure of the vimas . Though square and rectangular shrines are frequently met with, circular and octagonal shapes are very rare. However these forms are represented in the sikhara of the vimana. The apsidal form, a derivative from Buddhist architecture, was popular up to the 10th century in the

Tondaimandalam, after which it declined in usage.
Mention should also be made here of the temples which have more than one shrine in the vertical order. This is to be found in a handful of Vaisnava temples as those at Kanchipuram, Uttiramerur, Madurai, Tirukkostiyur etc. Three shrines, one above the other, are found in these and are intended for the seated, standing and reclining forms of Visnu.
Unlike other parts of India the architectural history of the Tamil country starts only with the beginning of the seventh century A.D., the monuments built before that period having perished. In early Tamil literature we hear of such structures as koyil, maddam, nagaram, palli, pali. etc., which are apparently references to temples or religious edifices. Presumably they were built of impermanent materials which have succumbed to the ravages of time.

The earliest extant monuments in the Tamil country are the rock-cut caves scooped out under the Pallavas, and following them by the Pandyas, Muttaraiyars, and Atiyas. In his inscription in the cave of Laksitayatana at Mandagappattu, South Arcot district, Mahendravarman I (610-630 A.D.) declares that he caused the construction of the temple for Siva, Visnu and Brahma without the use of conventional building materials like brick, timber, metal and mortar; and the tenor of the language has been taken to indicate that the king was introducing a new mode of architecture by scooping out the cave.

Many other cave temples are definitely attributable to Mahendravarman on the authority of his inscriptions in them. These include the excavations at Pallavaram, Mahendravadi,
Mamandur, Tiruchirapalli, Slyamangalam and Dalavanur. The Vasantesvaram at Vallam was also excavated in Mahendravaraman's reign by a feudatory of his.

Besides these caves of definite authorship, those at Kuranganilmuttam, Vilappakkam, Aragandanallur and the Rudravahsvara cave at Mamandur are stylistically attributable to the period of Mahendravarman. These caves of Mahendra are simple in plan and consist of a mandapa with one or a few shrines. The sculptural decoration of the caves is inconspicuous. The pillars in them are equidistant and have square sections both on base and top with the portion in between chamfered octagonally. In the square section are seen delicate carvings of lotus medallions. The pillars and pilasters carry on top massive corbels with beams.

This 'Mahendra style' was continued by his son and successor Mamalla, the famous Narasimhavarman I, who, however, introduced certain variations in some of his caves. In these the entablature is almost completely finished, unlike in those of the Mahendra variety. Besides kudu arches in the cornice, it carries salas, karnakutas and alpanasikas. The pillars in Mamalla's caves are not only taller but also more slender than those of his father. The strutting figure of a lion ro vyala as the base of the pillar is a notable feature. Again in Mamalla's caves one can also find large bas-reliefs on walls in striking contrast to their plain nature in all but one of Mahendra's caves. The Konerimandapam, Varahamandapam, Mahisamardanimandapam,

Trimurti cave, Adivaraha cave, Ramanujamand. apam, etc. - all at Mahabalipuram - are typical examples of the Mamalla types of rock architecture.

The Pandyas, who were ruling in the extreme south of the Tamil country, appear to have soon adopted the rock-cut technique and developed certain interesting variations in their excavations. It is possible that the cave at Pillaiyarpatti is one of the earliest Pandya attempts in the rock medium as evidenced by the archaic palaegraphy of the inscription in Vatteluttu characters in it. The Siva cave shrine at Malaiyadikurichi is assignable on the basis of an inscription to the second half of the seventh century and the Narasimha cave at Anamalai and the Subrahmanya cave at Tirupparankunram are on the same ground datable respectively to 770 to 773 A.D.

At Tiruttangal, Piranmalai, Kudumiyamalai and Sittannavasal are to be found other caves of the Pandyas. Though similar to Pallava caves in plan and design, the Pandya examples differ from them in their adoption of certain Calukyan features such as the introduction of the rock-cut linga and Nandi and sculptural representations of Ganesa and Saptamatrkas. The pillars are large and reminiscent of those of the Mahendra variety with corbels generally with a plain level.

In this movement of scooping out live rocks for divine abodes minor dynasties like the Atiyas and Muttaraiyars also participated, though stylistically their excavations are much akin to those of their political master. The cave at Namakkal is evidently an Atiya enterprise while Muttaraiya involvement may be seen at Tiruvellarai, Narttamalai, Kunrlandarkoil etc.

Door Without Glass-Fun

Home Interior Design Themes-Series-003

Double Cross Shoji Folding Screen Featuring a Japanese Bamboo Tree

If you have a large room in your home, it can be wise to break it into sections to reduce the empty feeling that might arise. A divider like the double cross folding Shoji screen pictured below provides an easy to move and adjustable solution.

A shoji is a traditional Japanese door, window or room divider composed of a light wooden structure and translucent paper covering, known as a washi. Most were designed to slide sideways but many are also folding.

This double cross folding shoji screen will be an ideal addition to a room which receives a lot of light, preferably natural. When light shines upon the thick white rice paper the resulting glow will be reminiscent of a tropical sunrise with the silhouette of bamboo trees.

For obvious reasons, this screen will be most suited to an eastern themed room, whether a bedroom, study or living room. However, it will also fit nicely in a modern, almost minimalist style interior which in a way mimics the traditional tea rooms of Japan a century ago.

If you know a scholar of Eastern history and philosophy, indeed, like my very own father, then this double cross shoji screen will be a wonderful gift to surprise them with.

தேமதுரத் தமிழோசை உலகமெலாம்

யாமறிந்த மொழிகளிலே தமிழ்மொழிபோல்

இனிதாவ தெங்குங் காணோம்

பாமரராய், விலங்குகளாய், உலகனைத்தும்

இகழ்ச்சிசொலப் பான்மை கெட்டு

நாமமது தமிழரெனக் கொண்டிங்கு

வாழ்ந்திடுதல் நன்றோ? சொல்லீர்

தேமதுரத் தமிழோசை உலகமெலாம்

பரவும் வகை செய்தல் வேண்டும.

யாமறிந்த புலவரிலே கம்பனைப்போல்,

வாள்ளுவர்போல், இளங்கோவைப் போல்

பூமிதனில் யாங்கணுமே பிறந்ததில்லை

உண்மை, வெறும் புகழ்ச்சி யில்லை

ஊமையராய்ச் செவிடர்களாய்க் குருடர்களாய்

வாழ்கின்§ம், ஒருசொற் கேளீர்

சேமமுற வேண்டுமெனில் தெருவெல்லாம்

தமிழ் முழக்கம் செழிக்கச் செய்வீர்

பிறநாட்டு நல்லறிஞர் சாத்திரங்கள்

தமிழ் மொழியிற் பெயர்த்தல் வேண்டும்

இறவாத புகழுடைய புதுநூல்கள்

தமிழ்மொழியில் இயற்றல்வேண்டும்

மறைவாக நமக்குள்ளே பழங்கதைகள்

சொல்லுவதிலோர் மகிமை யில்லை

திறமான புலமையெனில் வெளிநாட்டோர்

அதை வணக்கஞ் செய்தல் வேண்டும்.

93 year old newspaper headlines

Home Interior Design Themes-Series-002

Unique Modern Wall Clock with an Explosive Flair

This explosive wall clock’s modern quality is found in its unique design that separates it from its usually rather boring counterparts. For a room which needs a dynamic flair, then this clock is the answer.

Each numeral is made from black matte metal and sits dynamically around the center body of the clock face. Time metaphorically explodes, sending shards of ticking seconds into the room’s interior, or so it seems. It’s reminiscent in many ways of Cornelia Parker’s exploding shed which was entered into the British Turner Prize competition in 1997.

This modern wall clock will suit an interior that’s basking in its own funkiness. An artist’s studio, a writer’s study, a musician’s piano room will all be natural backdrops to this wall clock’s modern style. A trendy living room or basement that caters for guests will find an added accent that will compliment the overall ambiance.

What is That

Ted Kennedy's legacy shapes Obama's path

Ted Kennedy's legacy shapes Obama's path

Through two years of wearying campaigning, defeats and victories, the cool, disciplined Sen. Barack Obama rarely was overcome by emotion. Once was on the eve of the election, when his grandmother died.
The other time, a close aide recalled, was when Sen. Ted Kennedy endorsed him.
Kennedy's endorsement may have won Obama the nomination. His legacy, health care legislation, has already shaped Obama's presidency, and Obama will deliver a eulogy at Kennedy's funeral Saturday. But it wasn't until the last minute, in late January 2008, that Kennedy decided to take sides at all - throwing himself into a hard-fought primary between two of his friends, Obama and then-Sen. Hillary Clinton.
When he did, it was without reservation. He addressed critics, declaring Obama ready to lead. And he invoked his family's legacy:
"The torch will be passed again to a new generation of Americans. The hope rises again. And the dream lives on," he said, as the future president sat on a tall stool on stage behind him at American University in Washington on Jan. 28, 2008. Read more:

Tower Of Glass

Home Interior Design Themes-Series-001

Circular Eclipse Etagere from Johnston Casuals Furniture Range

It was only quite recently that I learnt what an Étagère was. My French was pretty dire at school and I was thankful when given the option of studying German instead. However, even a Germanophile like myself has to admit, French does sound more lovely, sophisticated and perfect for the naming of a type of furniture. So what is an Etagere and why are they popular?
An Etagere is basically the French version of the English what-not. A what what? A what-not! It was a piece of furniture that was extremely popular during the early to mid 19th century in England. The original Étagère, which the English of course couldn’t pronounce properly and so changed the name, was a highly desirable item of furniture popular in France during the late 18th Century.

Let’s focus purely on the Étagère now, for in the picture above there is a circular eclipse Etagere from Johnston Casuals furniture range. As the name suggests, the furniture piece consists of a series of shelves that provide stages for ornaments, china and other small decorative items. Unlike its later English counterpart which was decidedly dull in design, the French Étagère was usually quite splendid in look. The old Louis XVI shelves made from exotic woods were the best example of these.

The contemporary circular eclipse Etagere has been created in a visually stimulating shape much unlike any of its predecessors. It was constructed using a high quality powder-coat metal and given an “onyx” finish. However there are a number of finishes you can choose from. Each shelf is made from strong glass and the item as a whole was individually hand-crafted in the United States.

It will suit a wide range of interior decor from the modern minimalist living room to the cosy study or home library where books fill the shelves. The circular shape offers an alternative and/or complimentary look to pre-existing rectangular furniture. For a focal and conversational item, it cannot be beaten. Display your best china, vases, decorative sculptures and “what nots” with pride.

Project Management 001 The 5 Goals of a Project Manager

These goals are generic to all industries and all types of projects. Regardless of your level of experience in project management, set these 5 goals for every project you manage.

Goal 1: To finish on timeThis is the oldest but trickiest goal in the book. It's the most difficult because the requirements often change during the project and the schedule was probably optimistic in the first place.

To succeed, you need to manage your scope very carefully. Implement a change control process so that any changes to the scope are properly managed.
Always keep your plan up to date, recording actual vs. planned progress. Identify any deviations from plan and fix them quickly. Use Project Templates to get things done faster.

Goal 2: To finish under budgetTo make sure that your project costs don't spiral, you need to set a project budget at the start to compare against. Include in this budget, all of thetypes of project costs that will accrue, whether they are to do with people,equipment, suppliers or materials. Then work out how much each task inyour plan is going to cost to complete and track any deviations from this plan.

Make sure that if you over-spend on some tasks, that you under-spend on others. In this way, you can control your spend and deliver underbudget.

Goal 3: To meet the requirementsThe goal here is to meet the requirements that were set for the project at the start. Whether the requirements were to install a new IT system, build a bridge or implement new processes, your project needs to produce solutions which meet these requirements 100%.

The trick here is to make sure that you have a detailed enough set of requirements at the beginning. If they are ambiguous in any way, then what was initially seen as a small piece of work could become huge, taking up valuable time and resources to complete.

Goal 4: To keep customers happyYou could finish your project on time, under budget and have met 100% of the requirements-but still have unhappy customers. This is usually because their expectations have changed since the project started and have not been properly managed.

To ensure that your project sponsor, customer and other stakeholders are happy at the end of your project, you need to manage their expectations carefully. Make sure you always keep them properly informed of progress. "Keep it real" by giving them a crystal clear view of progress to date. Let them voice their concerns or ideas regularly. Tell them upfront when you can't deliver on time, or when a change needs to be made. Openness and honesty are always the best tools for setting customer expectations.

Goal 5: To ensure a happy teamIf you can do all of this with a happy team, then you'll be more than willing to do it all again for the next project. And that's how your staff will feel also. Staff satisfaction is critical to your project's success.

So keep your team happy by rewarding and recognizing them for their successes. Assign them work that complements their strengths and conduct team building exercises to boost morale. With a happy motivated team, you can achieve anything!

And there you have it. The 5 goals you need to set yourself for every project.