CHATTY CHAIRS

CHATTY CHAIRS

Think about the furniture and you will realise that most items have very specific names which define the purpose of the piece as clearly as possible. Take for example chairs, which have names such as dinning chair, easy chair and rocking chair just to name a few variations.

Similarly one hcair which made its debut during the French Renaissance was specificallydesigned to help woman gossip.

Here are some fascinating facts:

1) Known as the caquetoire, the chair got its name from the French word caqueter which means "to chat".

2) At the time, woman used to wear baggy style farthingale skirts that required the wide chairs to sit comfortably.The caquetoire chair was designed accordingly to hold these wide skirts.

3) The shape of a gossip chair is not the rectangular or square like any other chair. The chair is usually a wooden one supporting a trapezoidal or a or a triangular seat with the front base winder and narrowing at the back. The arm rests were curved in a u-shape to provide more room for the large skirts. The back is high and panelled and may support various curved design.

4) The variations in designs over theyears included an upholstered seat and back. The most common wood used to manufacture these chairs included oak and walnut. Usually the hieght would be around 40 inches with a width of 23 inches.

5) These chairs were hardly ever manufactured in pairs hence it would be difficult to find two similar design.

6) Today, these chairs are mostly used as a desk chair or a head of the table chair in a dinning area.

THE SCULPTURED POCKET

THE SCULPTURED POCKET

It is hard to describe what a netsuke actually is, Although it would not be wrong to call it a sculpture , it can easily mistaken for an elaborate toy or an antique piece of decoration. However, in actuality, the netsuke is a carved or sculpted button-like armament that secures the cord at the top of the sash of a kimono which is used as an external pocket.

The containers themselves are shaped like pouches or purses with design variations that include crafted wooden boxes, woven baskets or plain cloth ones. The fastener tat is used to close the lid is usually a netsuke.

Typically, a netsuke is four inches long , and weighs less than a baby rodent. But the intricacy of the design and the detailed sculpting accounting for simulated wrinkles, fur, folds and creases makes you wonder at the genius behind such seemingly simple object.
Whether in ivory, stone, wood, or metal, netsukes can be found in any shape, material and style. You will find netsuke designs representing portly lizards, weeping philosophers, serving spoons, while two most popular are the ‘Seated Monkey’ and the ‘Wandering Friar’. It is the variety in design that gives them a time less appeal.
In Pakistan, nutsukes have not received the personalized attention they deserve. They are bunched with other decoration pieces and many sell accordingly in gift shops, with only their class and distinctive styling setting them apart.

INTELLIGENT LIGHTS

INTELLIGENT LIGHTS

Like tyres, headlights form an integral part of any automobile. Headlight technology has evolved over the years and today different types of illumination and light intensities are easily available.

In terms of advancement, one major revolutionary change in the functionality of headlights took place in the late 196s when adaptive headlamps were introduced for the citroen DS. The new technology enabled the headlights to move with the direction of the vehicle's steering wheel. The idea was to provide ease of driving and illuminate the direction in which the driver turned the steering wheel rather than the actual position of a car.

Over the years this technology has evolved to adaptive Light Distribution which not only moves with the turning of steering wheel but also controls the intensity of the light emitted from the headlights. For example, on city roads, a low beam is used automatically to light up the road directly ahead thus reducing disconcerting headlights glare.

At higher speeds, the intensity of headlights is raised to augment visibility to provide more relaxed driving experience.

The latest technology allows the headlights to turn up to 15 degrees in any direction based on the information received in the control unit from the steering. This allows the headlights to illuminate the same direction in which the vehicle is moving. The strategy is helpful in regulating direction of the automobile at high speeds where as at slower speeds the entire mechanism functions much more slowly, thus proving its adaptability to the prevalent condition.

Research is under away to make the technology more useful by linking the headlamps to Global Positioning System which operates via satellite. This facility will alert the driver in advance of any impending hazards thus enabling the driver to steer in right direction. In Pakistan, this technology7 is available only in European super luxury cars.

LIP SERVICE

DIGGING ROOTS

DIGGING ROOTS

The writer has honestly described the inevitable situation experienced by the nation on the verdict history.

The absence of diligent and qualified scholars has created gap between the past and the present which the youth finds monotonous. One learns from mistakes and nations learn by their history and ethical values.

Being an educationist i have personally observed the lack of contentment of students in history. This article is an eye opener and it shows the writer's concern and respect for history and its moral values.

LIVING IN THE 9 TO 5 BOX

LIVING IN THE 9 TO 5 BOX

I remember embracing the 9 to 5 work life with soaring ambitions and an iron-clad resolve to prove myself as a committed professional. While commitment was an inherent quality that did not require much effort (or so i genuinely believed), efficient time-management was an art that came with time.

Six years after successfully earning the 'certified seal of approval' from my employers in the time management, (which comes with its fair share of benefits), i would like to share some key learnings with all newbies hoping to start the year 2009 with a leap in to corporate world:

1) PRIORITISE: Learn to differentiate between work that is 'priority' and work that can wait. Focus first on work that is pressing and tackle it head-on. For work that is not urgently required but is pending nonetheless, give yourself deadline and stick top them.

2) DO NOT PROCRASTINATE: The more time you have, the more time u will waste. As cliched as it may sound, do not put off work that can do today for tomorrow. you never know what new tasks will come your way that next day so make your life easier by doing the maximum you can do each day.

3) GET A HEAD START: Learn to respect time. It is one thing to scroll in late for meeting one day, but make a practise out of it and u will lose all respect no matter how good your are at what you do. So try to get a head-start each day. Remember, staying ahead of time is the only way you can stay ahead of the game!

4) GET RID OF THE CLUTTER: Sometimes the smallest task can take the most time. UN-clutter your mind by using the early hours of the day to get rid of the small things (approvals, reminders, status updates ) that are pending to allow yourself to focus in the bigger picture.

5) ENSURE CLARITY OF VISION : Before you step in for work, have a clear vision for each day. Remember time is money so work out you need to achieve each day. The clearer you are, the more you will achieve.

AUTOMOBILES

A THIRD GENERATION ICON

The 1960s heralded the arrival of pony cars, that were compact, speedy and designed to kill. Launched in 1970, the Challenger was the most potent pony car ever, with a staggering number of style and trim options and an engine selection ranging from 3.2 to 7.2 litres.

Offered as a convertible, hardtop and coupe, the Challenger became an instant hit, and despite the slowdown of pony sales after 1970, it sold over 165500 cars in three years in the US, Canada, France and Switzerland, only closing down the production in 1974 with demise of the pony car category.

Auto-enthusiasts loved the Challenger for its sporty design, longer wheelbase, luxurious interior and the Torque Flite auto transmission, which attracted many young and affluent American drivers.

The second generation Dodge Challenger came in the market, the car was sold as the Sapporo and the Galant Lambda. while meeting limited success, the car's real claim of fame was to be the first in the US market to use balance shafts to damp out engine vibrations.

In 2007 the iconic Challenger was relaunched. Stylised like the first generation Challenger but considerably longer, it is available in engines ranging from 3.5 to 6.1 litres with options for four or five speed automatic and six speed manual transmission.

The third generation retro styled Challenger has been extremly well-recieved with the entire 2008 production run of6400 cars per-sold, ehich proves that even four decades after its introduction, the Challenger is a pony that continues to rise high.

THROUGH THICK AND THIN

THROUGH THICK AND THIN

In our everyday lives we come across thousands of situations that one way or the other leaves certain impact on our minds. These situations could be in various capacities, either personal, or professional .

Sometimes we observe incidents in our surroundings that can easily boil our blood. Like the chaos on our roads. We would always come across people who talk about lack of time or their busy schedules, but they would somehow find the time to witness the aftermath of an accident, regardless of the magnitude. This doesn't include those people who are willing to help, but rather those who either view the drama silently, or air their opinions animatedly.

I witnessed such an ordeal a few days ago when I was waiting for my bus at a stop. A minor accident had happened minutes ago and dear me, within seconds-or so it seemed - a large group had gathered around the two poor fellows, who were already quite upset. courtesy that, my bus was more than 30 minutes late.

And the less said about crossing roads, the batter. Every time i venture out, and make my way, or rather scuttle my way across the busy streets that are swamped with speeding vehicles, I fear for my life.

More often than not, my mother feels her heart lurching the minute my dainty feet crosses the line that separate the footpath from the jungle of two, four, and six wheelers.

What people lack, is civic sense. Drivers behind wheels drive like mad, hardly caring for pedestrians, and if by chance, one does find some space to cross the road, a two wheeler would zoom in from somewhere, causing one to retreat hastily. As any pedestrian would tell you it takes an average of eight to ten minutes to reach to the other side-alive.

Of course, this spares the rare breed that still shows respect to man on the road, and slows down to let him pass.

Perhaps if people would stop to think about the dire consequences of speeding and irresponsible driving, our roads would present a very different picture. It doesn't take much to give way to others, for their own safety, if nothing else.

WHAT IS YOUR STORY

1-WHAT IS YOUR STORY?

Success is a choice-and so is a failure. In either case, a story is wrtten. Some stories go in to history books, some to hollywood/bollywood (as true stories) but many remain unsung.People who choose to make their life a sucess, write their story before events take place.

Here's how u can make ur story an amazing one...

a)SELF BELIEF. This page needs to show that you believe in yourself. It needs to have a challenge that u over come not because the problem was easy, but beacuse you believed it could be done. If you have the mindset of a victim you will see a problem. If your mind set is of a victor you will see success.

b) INSPIRE. Make ur story of the day inspirational by ensuring that you are enthused about what you do. Focus on purpose not problem; on creating not cribbing; on winning not whining.

c) NETWORK. Make friends. In the morning, determine the people you intend to interact with. You can wish others well without well without bias. Understand that alone you cannot achieve success. However, together you can create a perfect team.

d) GROW. No one has ever succeeded without developing themselves physically, spritually and emotionally. Unfortunately, most people waste their lives wanting to be someone or have something without developing themselves. Success is hard works! Every day spend some time developing yourself. Learn new things and put them in to action the next day. This is true growth.

So what stories are you building your life around? Are they enhancing your potential or minimising it?