How to Post a Blog with HTML Codes

While Publishing the post below, I found I cannot simply hit Publish and have the HTML codes in my post stay unchanged, like other alpha-numeric-symbolic elements in my post. The HTML codes in the post are treated as part of the post's HTML file, so that when you publish your blog those HTML tags are either altogether gone or are visible in bits. How in the whole wide world could that have occurred to me! But my stars aren't all muddled, at least not all the time. I remembered to save a copy in Word. How about slicing out all the code tags from the word doc using the Snipping tool (one of my fav. IE8 features) and publishing them as image files? But that would turn my post literally meaningless because how the hell would one copy the HTML script from files. It has to be a right click, copy, paste thing.

After all that big big proclaimation -- this will create history, this is my first tech blog, I'm lit up like a 100 watt bulb, trust me - mislead you I shalt not, trust me, this that -- it would be both embarrassing and unfair to write a blog on codes, with half codes gone. I know you guys would be kind enough not to come looking for me (inspite of my disclaimer) or you would?

Google can be such a life saver (Sorry Bing, I'm yet to bing in such situations). I found this magic link.....

http://centricle.com/tools/html-entities/

Now this site allows you to decode/encode your codes into different formats. For my post, I copy pasted each code tag into the sites' code-transform window and got it encoded into a format so that the tag scripts look like regular alphabets and not like special charatcters. This way I converted all my HTML code tags and got my post replaced with the encoded ones. And when I published it finally and saw all the codes in the present format, this time, I really did beam up like a bulb.

But the temporary alignment of my stars was over by then and once again the turmoils of life stood there looking at my face. All done, all tags added, the post will now not scrape off with the Read More leading to the expanded post. Would that not be a complete anti-thesis of the very soul of the post - my toil of an hour and a half or more. Jeeees......... But good Lord intervened and I thought of copy pasting the entire post in the notepad to set it free of all bugs. This done I copy pasted it back to my blog and all fell into place. Phew! Hallelujah!

How to "Read More" in 10 Steps

10 steps, when one can just do it with one little "click" on the damn link!! :-O

(This girl got to be crapping again)

Dear Readers, I swear to god, this blog is going to make history - in my own little life, that is. You will soon know why.... I first wanted to call it "How to add the 'Read More' link to posts and create expandable posts", but considered.....

1. My Friend Blog Readers will fall off their chairs laughing and that too at office. Some will simply faint. I care for them you know.

2. My we-know-what-she-writes Blog Readers will simply not bother to read (haven't she unabashedly admitted, time and again, to her being a complete tech-nitwit?).

3. Wouldn't that be too long for a title?

4. Only Newbies will be curious

Now, in case you haven't noticed all my blog posts now end with a "Read More" link that leads to another page with the entire post. I found this way my posts look petite, one can view more posts in a single scroll and my blog, on the whole, looks pretty hara-bhara at a glance with many posts one after another, which could be a huge boost when I get into my blogger's-block next. It's saying, it has been tried and tested and mislead you into messing with your blog template ---- I shalt not. So here goes my FIRSTest Tech-post..... (I look like a 100 watt bulb, saying this) :)

How to add "Read More" link and create expandable posts in 10 simple steps

Step 1: Go to Layout --- Edit HTML --- Download your full template (Just in case)

Step 2: Now in your Template code file, search for </head>

Step 3: Copy paste the given code before </head> so that it lies between ]]></b:skin> tag and </head> tag

<style>

<b:if cond='data:blog.pageType == "item"'>

span.fullpost {display:inline;}

<b:else/>

span.fullpost {display:none;}

</b:if>

</style>

Step 4: Save template

Step 5: Check the Expand Widgets option

Step 6: Search for <data:post.body/> and add the given code immediately after it

<b:if cond='data:blog.pageType != "item"'>

<a expr:href='data:post.url' target='_blank'>Read more!</a>

</b:if>

Step 7: Save Template

Like I did, please do not expect all your posts to suddenly sit there peeking their heads out on the Homepage with their torso embedded somewhere else in the Read More link. There's way to go.

Step 7: Now go to Settings --- Formatting --- Scroll down for Post Template box

Step 8: Copy paste the given code in that box and save settings

Here is the beginning of my post. <span class="fullpost"> And here is the rest of it.</span>

Step 9: Say "Abracadabraaaaaaaaaaaa..........." and aloud and clear.

Step 10: In your Create Posts, you'll now find: "Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it." already written there.

Simply begin to type in your blog so that the first bit appears instead of "Here is the beginning of my post" section and the rest in the "And here is the rest of it." section.

And you're done!!!

But that only does good to your posts henceforth. What about the older posts? That would be so step-motherly to leave them unattended and all exposed in your homepage.

A little tedious but this works great and you can in fact apply this you all blogs you write instead of overwriting everytime on Here is the beginning....And here is the end....:

Step 1: Take up any past blog and click on Edit

Step 2: Go to Edit HTML and add <span class="fullpost"> where ever you want to chop it off with a Read More Link. And add a </span> at the end of the post.

Step 3: Say Gi-lee-gi-leee-gi-lee choooooo. Repeat thrice. Now take a deep breath. Save your post.

Congratulations......................................................! You did it!

In fact, for every post I create, I do Cntrl A + Del and clear the space of the "Here's the...And here's the rest...." shit. After I'm done writing, I simply go to the HTML and add <span class="fullpost"> where ever I want and close the post with </span>. Like I'll just do.......

Hope that was good gyan and useful one at that! All the best!!

Disclaimer: For any fuck-ups, please do not come looking for me. I already confessed on having a peas-sized brain, totally hopeless with anything that contains the word "tech" ;-)

I set the street ablaze. Part II

27th day of May, 2009: I CAN DRIVE....................................

After the first few days at the steering wheel, next few picking up the ABCs (Accelerator, Brake, Clutch), today I learnt 'the wonders of the gear'. How drivers co-ordinate all of these props - I could never understand till I did it myself. And it felt heroic.

And that's not all - I already banged into a scooter (not my fault TRUST ME) and I showed him the middle finger (D. never does that and warned me not to repeat it EVER. And I gave him my devilish smile. Heh heh.)

Muzeeb (the trainer from Escort Driving School and who recognizes his burqa-clad sisters from their sandals) must have trained at least a hundred blokes in his career of 10 years, and there is no reason, whatsoever to consider me special. Even though after 15 min of driving I take to humming some song and begin to look around checking out people, shops and.... M., very curtly reminds me "Rastey ko dekho madam, idhar udhar dekhne ko baadme bohut time milenga" and that I'm only 6+ class old. Even though I leave both my hands from the steering wheels to shift to 2nd gear (must be the car) and M. goes totally crazy "Madam sterring wheel chodoge to gadi kaun chalayega". Even though I bring the car to a screeching halt every time there's a dog even intending to cross the road. "Darne ka nehi. Kutta aye, jo bhi aaye. Apna life sabse important hai, baadme dusro ka. Full confidence se chalaneka." Even though I make him feel suicidal with my pen and paper and get him draw and explain the entire mechanism of the car. He would only be thanking his stars, visiting the mosque for his namaaz every Friday, when he passes this test - of patience in teaching me How to Drive. And D. will be thanking him (it could have been D.!). And I will forever remember
"Rastey ko dekho madam, idhar udhar dekhne ko baadme bohut time milenga"
"Madam steering wheel chodoge to gadi kaun chalayega"
"Darne ka nehi. Kutta aye, jo bhi aaye. Apna life sabse important hai, baadme dusro ka. Full confidence se chalaneka".

To be at the center-stage and ALONE

I have a question ----

How does it feel to stand at the center of the stage...alone...the mike in your hand, your voice piercing through the sheer silence of the auditorium, every pair of eyes transfixed at you, if not to admire or admonish, to check out the source of that booming voice, and all the while weighed down by the pressure of the need to humour, to entertain?

I am all ears for a first timer's experience (and almost sure it'd match mine) so that I know I'm not the only phattu around. Here's what I went through:

I was barely awake, after the Friday night's hangover (from sleeping at 4am after a get together at P's), when R.G. called. After this and that, he came to the point at once:

"The lady who was supposed to anchor today's Bihu function has cancelled out at the last moment. Would you phuleez do it?"
"Jeeez, I'll pee in my pants. I've always been in-a-group, on the stage"
"Arrey, it's easy, you just have to read out the script and there's always a first time. Now come on"
"Umm, can I call you back?"
What a proposition to jolt you out of a perfect Saturday morning snooze. But instead of cursing him for the temptation, and screwing the first morn of my precious weekend, I was thrilled, surprizingly. Ran for dear D.
"You want to do it?"
"Yes, but I aint confident."
"Do you know Frankie?" (Rocky Balboa this time and could I have missed that pounding effect?)
"Frankie who?"
"Frankie Fear. He's your friend and you need not be ashamed of him. He keeps you sharp. You fear because you want to give in your best. Which is good. Just keep Frankie Fear in your control. Don't let it overcome you."
"Feels better already." (Grinning wide)
"There's another way of looking at it. Imagine your audience is dumbass and you're the best. But then you might get careless."
"Franky Fear is better"
"'ll do it", I sms'ed R.G. (Later, it took time to believe I said that)

Unlike the mukali Bihu (usually held in a field, a shade on top, a stage and remains unbounded from the three sides), this time it was a huge amphitheater-like auditorium.
"D., there's a high probability of my succumbing to do the runaway act just in case, please be around and keep the keys handy".
"Don't worry, you'll do it." (But Jiski ph***i hai, usi ko pata hota hai)
The first time I heard my own voice on the microphone, tell you man, I was startled. It was like waking up to a nightmare -- I was "there, doing that" and there was no turning back. Coming to terms with the consciousness of eyes roving all over me, getting used to the many flashlights that made my cheeks burn, feeling the sweat roll down my nape, all in the May heat, in that jazzy silk mekhela-sador - it was everything but easy. I took time to get used to that voice - my voice supposedly, bellowing in the auditorium. In front of me was Hyderabad's Assamese community. Every sixth face was familiar and I could see that let's-see-how-you-do-it look written on each.
The script was unbelievably crappish and in between the show I tried to make as much amends as I could. Okay, I did not do a great job. I did not get them applauding aloud with my wit and humour nor tittilate them enough to leave their seats and run for the stage to join the Bihu dancers. But no chappals came (recession time or politeness I could not tell), no jeering comments heard (at least not where I stood - on the stage).
And I did not run...away.
I did it! :)

Ask Neela!

It has only been 7 months in Hyderabad and right from the commonplace where-to-eat-whats or what-to-buy-wheres, to the not-so-common, which Telegu movie is running its 7th week in which theatre or which artist is Kalakriti Art Gallery hosting this week, have all found themselves secure lodgings in my otherwise always-too-full-to-store-more memory. I do not aspire to become a Tourist Guide or pen "Know Hyderabad" post marriage, nor do I gorge on Hyderabad Times every morning. All I do is.... write for asklaila!!

And I am glad I chose India Syndicate to Deloitte as my career launchpad in Hyderabad or else it would have taken years for me to know the city the way I know it now. At that time India Syndicate meant an opportunity to make my 'pen more fertile' (it feels better to refer to it as the good old "pen") and good moolah right from the comforts of my giant revolving chair at home, while Deloitte meant nothing more than the hugest office I'd ever work for (well, I kind of regret that decision now and that's a different story altogether). I was also a little unsure about how I will weave my stories out of a city I had just landed. And how I love challenges - all you do to get me doing something is give me a - "You can't do it"!

The best part about being an online writer is you may edit what you wrote as and when you want to. So every discovery, overlooked or missed out on in my first dig, due to lack of first hand experience, would promptly appear in or dissappear from my features.

And the way I'm being Google'ed lately by friends, I am actually tempted to set off an askneela.com myself with honest, no-frills-attached reviews and informations. And then I'll expand it into a local Just Dial service of sorts. Gradually I will expand and will answer to all your city specific queries of the entire nation you'd have otherwise Google'ed for. Next, askneela.com will go global (remember askjeeves?) and very soon tabloids will be full of Askneela Vs. Goolge warfare and then one fine day Misrosoft will send me an acquisition proposal. By then I'd have become quite rich and it would not give me an heart-attack like I'd have had today counting the zeroes in the offer. I'd show it to Don (I'm convinced Don will retire as a Microsoftian by then) and inspite of all his convincing, I'd refuse the offer.

Tabloids would next read: Askneela Vs. Google Vs. Misrosoft.

Then somebody will write a book on me and you'll see my photographs and interviews splattered all over...........................

Sometime mid-way while writing this, I felt like listening to Don McLean's "Starry starry night" (a tribute to Vincent Van Gogh)...which I did....

I'm sure Larry Page or Bill gates sounded as crazy some many years back.....if you know what I mean!

Hail Insanity!

Wanna try what I did last SummerS?

I like customising just everything.. Take these gifts for instance.. Only recently it got registered (screwed into my cerebral cortex) - not everybody's is worth all that effort! No regrets though...all of it was done with passion and wasn't I oh-so-happy to hear all those 'wows'... You too can try making one of these - say it with more than words and gifts...

1. Cig at its best: Made sometime around Oct for my guy. An ash-tray samples an easy gift for smokers. But when the smoker is your gonna-be-husband and if you are a Cancerian (they're all mothers first) - it can't be just any ash-tray. I first hunted for those skull ash-trays (Archies). And then thought - it can get better than that!

What goes in: 1. Layer any ordinary ash tray (I used a Bonjour one) with Fevicol, 2. Rip open few cigs and use the tobacco to cover the damn thing, 3. Use the butts for flowers - streak through it with a pin, 4. Use wooden beads (those Janpath bead strings should do) to prettify your flowers 5. Tie your flowers to a copper wire and deck it around the thing

Time taken: Some 1 hr at the max and you're done!

Rev. Dr. Nathan Brown (1807-1886) - a tribute

For The Assam Tribune (Published on: 25th June, 2007)
Foreword: Wrote it on my Uncle's (Mr. Dilip Thomas') behest on the occassion of the the 200th Birth Anniversary of Dr. Nathan Brown.

The advent of the Christian Missionaries in India has been both valorised and criticised. Keeping the political inference aside, there's no denying the fact that we Indians have profited greatly from them. Take Rev. Dr. Nathan Brown, for example. An American Christian Baptist Missionary, he pioneered the establishment of vernacular schools in Assam, was the founder Editor of the first Assamese newspaper periodical - "Orunodoi", translated the New Testament and many significant literary works into Assamese. One of the most versatile Missionaries of that period, Dr. Nathan Brown's gamut of Missionary activities encompassed three countries (Myanmar, India and Japan) and of which, he laid the foundation of Baptist Missions in the North-East India.

Rev. Brown was an enthusiastic Evangelist and was committed to spread the word of the Gospel and in the process got involved with Assamese language and culture. It was actually the then Commissioner of Assam who was so impressed by his work, that he sent Dr. Brown an official invitation to come and help 'civilize' the warrior tribes of Shan, Khamtis and Singphos, who were threatening the smooth functioning of the British administration. Little did they expect then that the Brown's arrival would usher in a new era of literary development in the region. Brown discovered the uniqueness and popularity of the Assamese language in "its open aggreeable vocation, its picturesque Sanskritic characters, its quaint inflexious idioms", chose its purest form [as spoken in Upper Assam] as his language of teaching and preaching. He therefore started learning Assamese, Khamti and Singhpho languages, and very soon (by July 1837), he had prepared spelling books in English, Assamese and Khamti languages.

Rev. Brown laid the cornerstone for the publication of Arunudoi Sambad Patra (later Orunodoi), the first Assamese newspaper periodical in January 1846 and with illustrative articles on Geography, Astronomy, History and many other topics, it soon found an encouraging readership amongst the Assamese intelligentia, fueling an intellectual awakening of sorts. He played a pivotal role in retaining Assamese as "the vernacular dialect of the people". In his Journal dated October, 1838, Brown writes: "From the last papers we learnt that the Government has resolved on establishment of 21 schools in Assam, in which the bengali language only is to be taught. This makes it pretty certain that Assamese as a distinct language, will, in course of a few generation become extinct, and Bengali supply its place". He forwarded his objection before the Inspector of the Government of Schools stating that Assamese is more indigeneous to Assam than Bengali and that "..It [Assamese] never came from Bengali...[and] has much greater affinities with other branches of Sanskrit then with Bengali. It is more easy flowing, agreeable language and not less copious, and is fully entitled...to be considered as the vernacular language of the people".

Towards the end of 1844, Dr. Brown travelled some 200 miles on foot, from Sibsagar to Guwahati, visiting the villages to ascertain personally the racial elements of the inhabitants. Under his able editorship, the periodical published its first "Chutia Buranji" (1850) and "Purani Asom Buranji" (procured and translated by Rev. brown himself). His array of contributions include - A Spelling Book in english, Assamese and Tai; Catechism in Assamese, Tai and Khamti scripts; The Alphabet and Spelling lessons; A Hymn in Assamese; Worcester Primer in Assamese and many more. Rev. Brown was the first to publish "History of Assam", compiled by a learned Assamese Pundit Kashinath Tamuli Phookan in early 1842 and printed at Mission Press, Sivasagar. The most outstanding literary publication of this Press was the booklet, "A few Remark on the Assamese L and on Vernacular Education" (1855), by Ananda Ram Dhekial Phukan. Rev. Brown's original papers include: "The Alphabet of the Tai Language", "Comparison of Indo-Chinese Language" and "Specimen of Western Languages". He chanced on the translated Assamese Bible by Atma Ram Sharma of Koliabor, and seeing it so full of Bengali and Sanskrit terms, volunteered to transtlate the New Testament into pure and simple Assamese, intelligible to the common people. Next he took up "The Life and Gospel of Christ" for translation into Assamese. By the time Brown left Assam, he had translated a considerable part of Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and handed over the responsibility to Nidhi Levi, the first Assamese convert, to assist Rev. Danforth in completing it.

Inadequate assistance, domestic and financial worries, and tribal aggression (of the Khamits in 1839), compelled Rev. Borwn's Mission to shift bases several times within Assam, while his Missionary and educational activities continued undaunted. Due to acute financial constraints, the Home Board decided to cut down on their missionary activities and Assam, being remote and recent, Dr. Brown doubted, would probably be one of the first fields to be abandoned. He appealed to the Board, saying, "The call of the RETURN is one which we could never obey, so long as life and a moderate share of health is granted to us". But fresh problems cropped up between the Home Board and the Missionaries pertaining to the educational work the latter was doing, instead of concentrating completely on Conversion work. Rev. Brown, on the other hand, was crippling from within with every passing day owing to the work-load, several deaths in the family and ill health. On his doctor's advise and due to his long due furlough and disagreement with the Home Board, Rev. Brown, heart-broken and hurt, left Assam on February 12th, 1855. On his parting, he wrote: "One of the hardest partings I ever expereinced. If God in mercy restores my health so that I can again be useful, I will return and labor till life ends with all my heart". Unfortunately, this was not to be and though he gathered himself up for the service of humanity and spread of Christianity, he never came back to the land he so loved and cherished.

Rev. Brown's next destination was Japan. Within no time he learnt the language, translated the New Testament and part of the Old Testament into Japanese, composed religious hyms, founded the Yakohama Church in Japan and so on. He became so much a part of the land that the inscription on his tombstone had a: "God Bless the Japanese", so requested by the genius himself before he died. This 22nd June, 2007, we celebrate the 200th Birth Anniversary of one of the most influential and humble Missionaries the world has known and reminisce with gratitude his unparalled contributions to Assam - its people and culture.

Vaastu for Websites?

Have you ever heard of Vaastu for websites? Well, I am not kidding - we already have a book written on that topic - Webvastu? A Delhi-based Vaastu expert, Dr. Smita Narang's brainchild, Webvastu is applying the fundamentals of Vaastu Shashtra (the science of balancing the energies between the individual and his surroundings) to the construction of a website. And the purpose is enhancing the overall performance of the site (which means more visitors, more hits, more profit out of the site). Well, well, well, I see many an eye-brow raised and twisted! Let me elaborate...

An altogether new concept to the World Wide Web and the Search Engine (Mr. Google, are you even aware have different plans for you now!), I chanced upon it fortunately as I was asked to write Dr. Smita Narang's profile.

And trust me, Dr. Smita is not just any lady. An once Interior Designer, ex-First Class First from DU - Botany, Dr. Smita has this knack for doing things differently, making her presence felt in her own little ways - be it parenting the neighborhood street dogs (one interest we share), giving instant and effective Vaastu remedies to her friends (I too bagged some fine tips), promoting the science of Vaastu, or playing the perfect cheerful host to the endless strand of guests at her home.

Her husband Raj Narang, is one of the 'pillars' (Yes, I can vouch on that) of India's largest online B2B website pulishing manufacturer (IndiaMART InterMESH) and for obvious reasons, one fine day she thought - Vaastu being a science of directions, can we apply it to websites! The idea must have been like hitting the Jackpot - for how many of us come up with such crazy thoughts (sure was one before the research took place). Years and some hundreds of websites concluded with --- the Five Basic Elements that make up the world, each correspond to those that go into the making of a site, like: Earth Element to the Layout of the website, the Water Element to the Fonts & Graphics, the Air Element to the HTML coding, the Fire Element to the colours used, and the Space Element to the URL or Domain name of the website.

The self-proclaimed gurus of the World Wide Web did not respond very positively to her hypothesis. Why, wasn't Galileo hanged when he first told that the Earth moves round the Sun?

WIRED approached her and asked her to review one of their sites - Slashdot.org and began her round of fame and criticism.

Infact her research for a full-proof hypothesis is on, and I hope, like her acclaimed Vaastu consultations (her clientele fan-following is quite huge), she is able to make it another standalone Practice in itself.

Nah, I am not here to do the trumpets, nor have I read the book. But I am curious and want to share my 'chance discovery' of this interesting topic and the person herself. Right from her impressive drawing room, the myriad curious (mementos from the different places across the world she has visited) to her impecable love for Turbo (pet dog who actually chewed her cell phone to chunks), and enviable hand at cooking, 'meeting her' is something you will remember. And, just like my pronounced love for my other 'firsts', I am fond of what I wrote about her.

~~~ Needarshana

My SITE: India Tourist Spots

This is 'where, how and what' I unwind...and though it dawned really late on me, that of all the bric-a-bracs I do or can-make-myself-capable of doing, 'writing' is the best of it all. Lets save this topic - my chance discovery that I can make a living out of my passion - for another Post. This one is dedicated purely to promote my baby, my love, my produce... (the slog is still on) --- "India Tourist Spots''.

And in case, this unbound fascination for a portal makes you raise an eyebrow, I wouldn't really mind an explanation. Well, this is not just any portal (at least nowhere near the other portals I have written for). And the reason is simple - this is my maiden project and I have really labored ( laboring still) to make 'some mark' (with myriad limitations of course).

India Tourist Spots is just the place (MEANT TO BE) to drop by before you pack your bags to India. Here you will find detailed destination guides, enticing tour packages, the most visited attractions, hotel reviews, theme vacations ideas (honeymoon, adventure, pilgrimage, tea-tourism etc.), unbiased travelogues (you can also mail me yours) by real tourists and almost everything a trip to India calls for! If you are tempted and actually want to book a trip to India, all you need to do is send your query and one of our subject matter experts will give you a call with the best suited travel deal for your vacation.

I am adding pages everyday. The recent addition is the hotel section where you have pages on individual hotels. And next, I plan to add new cities....lots of cities actually. If you have a suggestion to make, we at India Tourist Spots, will be more than elated to listen...(so sweet of you, if you've one, please leave a comment or mail to me at: indiatouristspots@gmail.com)...

~~~ Needarshana