Suppose you could make your own pizza with unlimited free toppings. What would you pick to maximize the value, while not compromising on taste and integrity of the pizza?
Pizza is my favourite food. Nothing else compares. Although I have ha pizza before the age of 14 (just a few times and it was usually from Pizza Hut), it was the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie that I watched at the age of 14 that made me a pizza lover. I started looking for pizza in various places in the city but it was slim pickings until I turned 21.
By then a few places in town had what they would call a pizza, however it was a pale imitation of what the glory of pizza actually is. No proper oven, forget about wood burning or brick ovens. In my 20s I do remember a couple of good places that we could pizza from and also around that time when I was 21 or 22, Domino’s opened up in the city. Also there were a couple of cafes that made decent pizzas, thought it still isn’t as great as what we get now, they also had really good coffee. For a while I would go there for lunch once in a while and more regularly when I worked in Ravipuram for Idea, during the years 2004-2006.
Since then we have come a long way. From Pizza Hut & Dominos to Indian chain La Pino’z, to multiple cafes that serve way better pizzas than the aforementioned big guns. My pizza would have toppings like tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, bacon, pepperoni, Italian sausage, olives and mushrooms. Yummy! And I would love to have a cold beer to pair with it.
In its original iteration, Dunkin’ was called Open Kettle. Caterer William Rosenberg founded the business in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1948, serving coffee and donuts to locals. In 1950, the business was renamed Dunkin’ Donuts. And today, it’s just Dunkin’. Feeling nostalgic? The original Dunkin’ is still standing in Quincy and has been restored to its ’50s glory.
According to Dunkin’ itself, an executive architect is rumored to be responsible for the name change from Open Kettle to Dunkin’ Donuts. Not many people dip their donuts into coffee these days, but it sounds like it was a popular thing to do at the time.
America runs on Dunkin’ now, but at one point, those Americans were getting their coffee and tea from across the pond. In 1989, Allied-Lyons, a British food and spirits conglomerate, bought Dunkin’ Donuts for $325 million. After French-based beverage company Pernod Ricard took over Allied Domecq in 2005, it sold Dunkin’ Brands to a consortium of three U.S. private equity firms.
Back in the day, doughnuts were cut by hand, which resulted in plenty of holes. (Now, modern machinery dispenses just the rings of dough and the holes are made separately.) When Dunkin’ started selling donut holes in 1972, the company named them “Munchkins” after the Wizard of Oz characters. The company marketed the holes to kids while the grownups went for the whole donuts. Those mini donut balls arrived on DD menus in 1972, but no, you can’t buy just one. While the minimum varies from store to store, it’s been reported that four munchkins are the least you can walk out of the shop with.
Every year, Dunkin’ sells about 2 billion cups of hot and iced coffee globally, and there are more than 15,000 different ways to order your coffee. Yes, 15,000! That’s thanks to the chain’s wide variety of syrups, shots, and sweeteners. Hate the taste of burnt coffee? So does Dunkin’. According to DD, the chain’s coffee is freshly ground, freshly brewed, and most importantly, freshly served. The company’s website states that the chain brews a fresh pot of coffee every 18 minutes, if not sooner. So you’ll never get a stale cup.
In response to the popularity (and elusiveness) of the quick-to-sell-out Cronut at Dominique Ansel Bakery in NYC, Dunkin’ launched its own croissant-donut crossover pastry in late 2014. It was initially meant to be a temporary item, but because of its insane popularity—8.5 million were sold in the pastry’s first three months—it became a permanent menu item in the United States for a while. The product initially debuted in South Korea under the name “New York Pie Donuts” (pictured).
Dunkin’ is considered a hot spot in South Korea. There are hundreds of stores, and the experience is a lot different from the American one. Patrons are allowed to pick donuts off the shelves themselves, cups are paper, and the most popular drink is an Americano, which features hot water and a shot of espresso. Along with traditional donuts like glazed, there are black rice doughnuts, jalapeño sausage pie doughnuts, and bubble tea lattes.
Repetitive mouse clicks can cause muscle strain and discomfort. You may be able to minimize discomfort when switching from a traditional mouse to an ergonomic mouse. The ergonomic mouse is specially designed to work with and fit the human body. Your hand can rest naturally on the mouse and help keep the wrist, elbow, and arm in a natural position, reducing the potential for developing carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and other issues. An ergonomic wireless mouse also limits the number of wires on the desktop.
Cable organizers
Our work environment can affect how we work. We can experience higher levels of stress and anxiety and limited productivity when our workspaces are cluttered. With the number of devices we keep on our desks, cables and cords can quickly become a mess and add to workday stress. Just think about problems you’ve had with untangling cables for chargers, headphones, and backup devices. Cable organizers help manage the clutter and keep the workspace organized and tidy.
You can find a wide variety of these helpful desktop gadgets, including pet-proof sleeve cord covers for those working at home with a pet. Sleeve type covers not only organize cables but add a layer of protection. They also come with inexpensive clips and Velcro ties.
Power strip
A power strip is great for plugging multiple electrical devices into one outlet. Many models include an internal circuit breaker to protect connected devices in the event of a short circuit or energy overload. Consider a smart power strip for more energy efficiency. Unlike traditional strips, smart power strips power off when a device goes into sleep mode.
External hard drive
Large data files or multimedia can zap the memory space on your Mac or PC. Rather than use your computer’s precious memory space, an external hard drive can store your work product. These devices can also be great for backing up your hard drive. With their portability, you can change devices or take them on the go.
Arsenal had a late goal disallowed as they missed the chance to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to four points with a draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Bukayo Saka thought he had given the Gunners all three points when he headed in Gabriel Martinelli’s cross two minutes from time, but the goal was disallowed after the Brazilian was found to be offside during the build-up. Raul Jimenez, with his sixth goal of the season, put Fulham in front against the run of play when he latched on to Kenny Tete’s ball down the line to fire past David Raya from a tight angle. Arsenal, looking to capitalise on the postponement of Liverpool’s Merseyside derby against Everton on Saturday, struggled to carve out opportunities from open play in the first half and managed just one shot on target from Saka.
But Mikel Arteta’s side were level within six minutes of the second half after a well-worked corner kick routine saw William Saliba convert Kai Havertz’s knockdown. It was one-way traffic after that as Arsenal pushed to find a winner but they struggled to break down a resolute Fulham side. The draw means Arsenal are six points behind leaders Liverpool, having played a game more. After the 4-1 defeat at home to Wolves a fortnight ago, Fulham fans could have been forgiven for dreading a games against Tottenham, Brighton and Arsenal within seven days. In hindsight, they need not have worried. A spirited draw against Spurs last weekend was bettered by a 3-1 win against Brighton in midweek.
The visit of Arsenal, though, was the toughest of the lot. The Gunners were well below their best in the first half, lacking the sharpness that that they have shown in wins against West Ham, Manchester United and Sporting in recent weeks. Saka had the Gunners’ only shot on target in the opening 45 minutes as the Gunners struggled to create opportunities from open play. Declan Rice whipped a brilliant in-swinging corner in from the left to the back post, where Havertz nodded down for Saliba to tap home. The goal – which survived a video assistant referee (VAR) review – was Arsenal’s 23rd scored from a corner since the start of the 2023-24 season, more than any club in Europe during that time. Arteta’s side managed just four shots on target during the game and their best opportunities once again came from dead ball situations.
What is the best vehicle for ice cream: cone, cup, or popsicle? The other two will no longer be offered in this world.
Hmm that is a tricky one. I love ice cream and any chance to get it in any of these forms is a happy day for me. I think cones are an awesome way to eat ice cream as you can eat the delicious (in a lot of cases as I have had some cardboard tasting cones as well) cone after you have had the ice cream. The cone with some melted ice cream on it is so satisfying at the end.
I am not big on popsicles – unless you mean ice cream on a stick. That’s what we call them. I used to like them a lot especially Magnums but also other brands. However most of them in India melt off quickly and you tend to drop some of it down or have to be really quick like Jackie Chan and catch it before it drops on your shirt.
And finally we have my preferred method which is in a cup. Paper or glass I don’t mind. It’s less messier and let’s face it, you usually get more. You have a tub in your freezer – just get a big bowl and a spoon and you are as happy as you can be. Get one while you watch a good movie or tv show.
Following yesterday’s news that Nicko McBrain will retire from touring with Iron Maiden, the band announced this morning that British Lion drummer Simon Dawson will be behind the kit for 2025.
“As The Future Past Tour concludes after 81 shows to over 1.4 million fans, from Ljubljana to the Coachella Valley and from Western Australia to Sao Paulo, Iron Maiden are delighted to announce that stepping in behind the kit for 2025 is a name familiar to many of our fans – Simon Dawson, a former session drummer and Steve’s rhythm section partner of the past 12 years with British Lion.”
A native of Suffolk, England, Simon first teamed up with Steve Harris back in 2012. He debuted on three tracks on the first British Lion album and all of the second critically acclaimed ‘The Burning’, plus the many subsequent tours in the US, UK, Europe, Australia, Japan, New Zealand &, most recently, both Mexico and South America.
Iron Maiden celebrate their 50th Anniversary next year with The Run For Your Lives Tour starting in Budapest. Yesterday, after more than 42 years in the band, Nicko McBrain confirmed his departure from Iron Maiden in an emotional statement shared on the band’s website, just under two years since he suffered a stroke that threatened to affect his ability to tour and play some of Maiden’s hallmark anthems.
Finally got a new desk after a very long time. The desk I was using was a small one that I had bought for Rs.3000 back in 2006 when I first moved to this apartment and bought a desktop computer. Since then I have bought 3 laptops, including the one I currently use but it was always the same desk for the past 18 years. Now, it was a small desk and it as also hard on the back because I didn’t have leg room to tuck my legs in due to the racks that it had. It was good for keeping my modem/routers and an extension plug for the various chargers for my devices but not for the legs. Which also affects your back.
So after an extensive online search for desks on both Amazon & Flipkart I had 4 to 5 desks that I was looking at as becoming my new one. I had selected this one, the ABOUT SPACE Computer Table with 3 Tier Bottom Storage & Keyboard Tray because I felt that it as the best not just that it looke really good but it also has three open rows for me to keep things an also have plugs and stuff easily accessible. It was Rs.5499 on Amazon and costlier on the manufacturer’s website. By the middle of November I was searching almost on a daily basis, hoping to find one that was cheaper and though I found a couple that I really like, none were as practical as this one. So I waited till he 28th of November before placing the order.
Shock of shocks I found that the item, which I put in my cart was now out of stock but I found another seller who was selling it with a Rs.400 discount on Amazon – if fact it was recommended to me as the other one was out of stock. All I had to do was now to select among the two options that they had – natural wood finish and the white one. I decided to go with the white because my plan was to get a desk mat any ways and the one I had in mind would go really well with white. The delivery was scheduled for Tuesday the 3rd of December and they would also arrange for someone to come on Wednesday for the installation.
So around 2 pm on Tuesday Amazon’s large items delivery came by and brought the box in. I asked them to keep it in my room propped up against the dvd shelf. On Wednesday the arrangement was for the guy to come and assemble the desk between 10 am and 2pm. Now I start my work at 12:30 pm and I had hoped that I could that he would come in before that but as that didn’t happen I quickly showered and shaved. By 2 pm as no one had come, I had my lunch and called customer care. They said that they would investigate but they would try and reschedule it.
I tried calling the number of the guy who was supposed to come using the contact information that they had shared but I saw that the messages had two different people. I called and spoke to one guy but he said that he didn’t see my details in his route and that he was in a different area of the city. I couldn’t connect with the second guy and I had to get ready for a review with the clients by 3pm. The guy calls me back and says that he was delayed at two places and that he was on his way to my place. I quickly let him in and told him to start assembling but that I would be attending the meeting.
He promise me that he would take less than an hour and yes within 45 mins he was done. I slid the desk into my room, as he was doing the assembly in the living room of my apartment, and went back to work. When I took a break at 7pm, I took most of the things from my old desk and spread them out
on this new one. I got back to work in 30 minutes and post shutdown, I admired my new purchase. Ofcourse the laptop is now 5 years old and the speaker and Echo are not new but hey atleast it looks so much better.
I have 3 rows to store stuff; the bottom row is empty for now and the middle one has my modem/router and the extension chord for my chargers and stuff. The top row has all my external hard drives for personal data storage. And finally on my desktop I have my laptop, bluetooth speaker, Amazon Echo, US Mouse, a coaster, headphone stand and headphone and a bunch of earpods. I also bought a footall pitch design desk mat. Hope you like the pics!
Shit! Iron Maiden’s enigmatic & fun loving drummer Nicko McBrain has announced on the band’s official website that he will be retiring from touring and that Dec 7th’s Sao Paulo concert will be his very last with the band. Nicko had suffered from and recovered from a stroke last year but there were certain songs that he couldn’t play anymore, so the band change their set list.
Statement from Nicko McBrain:
After much consideration, it is with both sorrow and joy, I announce my decision to take a step back from the grind of the extensive touring lifestyle. Today, Sat, Dec 7th, Sao Paulo will be my final gig with Iron Maiden. I wish the band much success moving forward.
I will, however, remain firmly part of the Iron Maiden family working on a variety of projects, my long time managers, Rod Smallwood and Andy Taylor, have in mind for me. I’ll also be working on a variety of different personal projects and focusing on my existing businesses and ventures, including The British Drum Company, Nicko McBrain’s Drum One, Titanium Tart, and of course, Rock-N-Roll Ribs!
What can I say? Touring with Maiden the last 42 years has been an incredible journey! To my devoted fan base, you made it all worthwhile and I love you! To my devoted wife, Rebecca, you made it infinitely easier and I love you! To my kids, Justin and Nicholas, thank you for understanding the absences and I love you! To my friends that are always there for me, I love you! To my bandmates, you made it a dream come true and I love you!
I look into the future with much excitement and great hope! I’ll be seeing you soon, may God bless you all, and, of course, “Up the Irons!”
Irish coffee is a classic cocktail that combines hot coffee, Irish whiskey, brown sugar, and a layer of lightly whipped cream on top. It’s both a warming beverage and a dessert-like treat.
Interesting Facts:
Origin: Irish coffee was created in the 1940s by Joe Sheridan, a chef at Foynes Port (a precursor to Shannon Airport) in Ireland. It was originally served to warm up cold and weary travelers arriving by transatlantic flights.
Naming: When an American passenger tasted it, they asked if it was Brazilian coffee. Joe Sheridan replied, “No, that’s Irish coffee,” and the name stuck.
Presentation: The whipped cream is floated on top by pouring it gently over the back of a spoon. This technique ensures the cream doesn’t mix with the coffee, creating its iconic layered appearance.
Authenticity: Traditional Irish coffee is served in a specific type of glass with a handle and a wide rim, often called an Irish coffee mug.
Famous Quote: Joe Sheridan described Irish coffee as: “Cream as rich as an Irish brogue, coffee as strong as a friendly hand, sugar as sweet as the tongue of a rogue, and whiskey as smooth as the wit of the land.”
If you could have a 5 storey building all to yourself, what would each storey be for?
I have thought about this a few times. Let’s say I get rich enough, like a few billion in the bank account. My thought is to buy or build a very high end luxury building. So let’s say that it is a 5 storey building, but it is huge and spreads out on a huge lot. Which means that I can have apartments that are the size of houses but across instead of up and down 2 or 3 floors.
You know what I mean; imagine the same number of rooms as in a large house with say a living room, dining room, kitchen, pantry, laundry room, a family room/tv room, a large den/home office, a powder room and like 5 bedrooms each that have large walk in closets an attache 4/5 piece bathrooms. Excellent luxury, nice furniture and tv sets, computers etc. And large balconies where you can spread out with patio furniture and fake grass. And there are 3 apartments on each floor bringing the total to 15 such large apartments.
And what would I do with this large beautiful building? Simple, I will have my extended maternal side of the family all live in these 15 apartments. Each will get these apartments so they can live in relative luxury and comfort and we can have weekly get togethers of fun drinking and eating great food while enjoying every one’s company. Fuck let’s a two common storeys for game rooms, a gym, a couple of bar lounge areas and dinning room for group gathering and even a couple of movie rooms. That’s what I would do with that much real estate.
Arsenal scored twice from corners to comfortably beat Manchester United as Ruben Amorim suffered his first defeat in English football.
Defenders Jurrien Timber and William Saliba did the damage as Arsenal took advantage of Liverpool dropping points to trim their lead at the top of the Premier League table. Arsenal sit third with 28 points, level on that mark with Chelsea and seven behind Arne Slot’s Reds. The home side took the lead in the 54th minute when Declan Rice’s corner was headed in at the near post by full-back Timber. The Gunners then almost doubled their lead when United’s Manuel Ugarte had to clear off the line after team-mate Joshua Zirkzee flicked on another Rice corner. Saliba made sure of the win when Thomas Partey headed Bukayo Saka’s corner against the French defender’s back and the ball went past Andre Onana in the United goal.
Arsenal have become a force to be reckoned with from set-pieces under manager Mikel Arteta. Timber and Saliba’s goals means they have scored 22 goals from corners since the start of last season, more than any other Premier League side. Amorim’s United did threaten the Arsenal goal when Diogo Dalot flashed a shot past David Raya’s post in the first half, and the Arsenal keeper made an excellent save to deny Matthijs de Ligt in the second half. Substitute Mikel Merino headed wide from another excellent Arsenal set-piece and Kai Havertz had an effort saved by Onana as the Gunners dominated the closing period of the match. It meant that Amorim, who warned that a “storm will come” for United before this game, saw his three-game unbeaten start come to an end in north London.
Since losing back-to-back games to Inter Milan and Newcastle at the start of November, Arsenal have hit on a hot streak. The return of Martin Odegaard has coincided with a five-match unbeaten run and Arteta’s side are back to looking like title contenders. This victory, in Arsenal’s 500th match at Emirates Stadium, means they have won three successive league games for the first time this season.
Mind Your Language is a British sitcom that aired on ITV from 1977 to 1979, with a brief revival in 1985. The show is set in an adult education college in London and focuses on the class in English as a Foreign Language taught by Mr. Jeremy Brown, who teaches a group of enrolled foreigners.
Here are some interesting facts about the show:
Inspiration: The series was inspired by the 1937 book “The Education of HYMAN KAPLA*N” by Leo Rosten, which is set in a New York night class for English learners.
Cancellation: Michael Grade, then Director of Programmes at London Weekend Television, commissioned the show but later canceled it after three series, believing it had exhausted its comedic potential.
Revival: The show was briefly revived in 1985 (or 1986 in most ITV regions) with six of the original cast members.
International Popularity: Despite criticisms of racial stereotyping in the UK, “Mind Your Language” found significant success abroad and continues to be rerun in countries like India.
Cast Diversity: The show featured a diverse ensemble cast portraying students from various countries, each bringing their unique cultural backgrounds to the classroom setting.
“Mind Your Language” remains a notable example of 1970s British television, reflecting both the era’s comedic tastes and its evolving perspectives on cultural representation.
Yet another zombie shoot out game – I have an addiction!
Zombie Frontier 4 is an action game where you need to infiltrate a city that has been overrun by zombies. In the first part of this FPS saga, you must be quick to fire at these living dead.
The visuals in Zombie Frontier 4 show the action from a first-person point of view. Armed with different guns and high-precision missiles, you must make your way through different scenes and shoot the zombies. You can rotate the camera however you need to while tapping the action buttons to shoot or reload. It’s important to remember that on some occasions it may be necessary to shoot your enemies more than once to wipe them out.
From the main menu in Zombie Frontier 4, there is an extensive map that you can consult to locate the different infected zones. While you earn rewards, you’re fighting to rid the entire city of zombies. This is not an easy task; evil is expanding at a staggering rate, and you must make the most of your weapons to be victorious. The dynamic controls in Zombie Frontier 4 help you to swiftly intercept all the zombies. Try to free the city from these infected beings by shooting at your enemies as quickly as you can. But don’t forget, you also need to defend yourself to avoid being killed at the hands of these hoards.
India’s pizza market is dominated by several major chains, each with a significant presence across the country:
Domino’s Pizza: The largest pizza chain in India, with over 1,900 stores in 2023. Domino’s was the first American pizza brand to open in India in 1996. It has about 55% of the organized pizza market share and 70% of the home delivery market share.
Pizza Hut: The second largest pizza chain in India, with 922 stores. ntering the Indian market in 1996, it offers a diverse menu that blends international and Indian flavors, appealing to a broad customer base.
La Pinoz Pizza: The biggest Indian pizza company, with 700 stores. La Pinoz is growing quickly.
U.S. Pizza: Positioning itself as the third-largest pizza chain in India for a while, until La Pinoz grew, U.S. Pizza focuses on delivering fresh and cheesy pizzas. Their menu includes classic pan pizzas and authentic Italian crust options.
Chicago Pizza: Specializing in takeaway services, Chicago Pizza boasts over 100 outlets across India. The brand emphasizes customizable pizzas made with fresh ingredients.
These chains have successfully adapted to Indian consumers by incorporating local flavors and preferences into their menus, contributing to their widespread popularity.
So it is finally done – I ordered the new desk via Amazon on Friday morning and it was getting delivered today. The desk is question is the ABOUT SPACE Computer Table with 3 Tier Bottom Storage & Keyboard Tray – Modern Tabletop Office Desk for PC Laptop, Study, Writing, Gaming Open Bookshelf with Storage [L100 x B45 x H75 cm]White – Matte. It was a tough choice between the natural wood finish and the white. The wood finish really looks good but white won on in the end.
The delivery guys called me by 11:45 pm and asked me if I would be home and I told them the way to get to my apartment. They were just 1 km away from me so I was waiting at the lobby for them. The one guy came up to my apartment and I asked him to leave the box next to my dvd shelf. He then gave me some info about the assembly and answered a couple of my questions. I signed and he left.
So now I wait till the next day for the guys to come in and assemble it for me. I hope they come by 10 am tomorrow.
The Hammer Horror Dracula films are a series of British Gothic horror movies produced by Hammer Film Productions, beginning in the late 1950s. These films are known for their atmospheric storytelling, vivid color cinematography, and striking performances, particularly by Christopher Lee as Count Dracula and Peter Cushing as his nemesis, Professor Abraham Van Helsing.
Key Films in the Series
Horror of Dracula (1958)
The first Hammer Dracula film and arguably the most iconic.
Christopher Lee debuts as Dracula, with Peter Cushing as Van Helsing.
A loose adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel, known for its sensuality, graphic violence (for its time), and vibrant visuals.
Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966)
Lee reprises his role, though Dracula has no dialogue in this installment.
The story follows a group of travelers who unwittingly revive the vampire.
Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968)
Dracula returns from the dead to terrorize a small village.
Known for its religious themes and lush, Gothic visuals.
Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970)
Focuses on a group of bored aristocrats who revive Dracula as part of a satanic ritual.
Lee continues to deliver a menacing presence.
Scars of Dracula (1970)
Offers a more violent and gory take on the Dracula mythos.
Dracula is portrayed as particularly cruel and sadistic in this entry.
Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972)
A significant departure, bringing Dracula into a contemporary London setting.
Features Van Helsing’s descendant battling Dracula.
The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973)
A sequel to Dracula A.D. 1972, blending Gothic horror with espionage thriller elements.
Dracula plots to unleash a deadly plague on humanity.
The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires (1974)
A unique blend of Gothic horror and martial arts.
Does not feature Christopher Lee; Dracula is portrayed by John Forbes-Robertson.
Hallmarks of the Series
Christopher Lee’s Dracula: Tall, imposing, and with a mix of seductive charm and monstrous brutality, Lee’s portrayal redefined the character.
Peter Cushing’s Van Helsing: A fearless, intelligent adversary to Dracula, often serving as the moral and physical force against evil.
Production Design: Lavish Gothic sets, moody lighting, and Hammer’s signature use of Technicolor heightened the sense of dread and macabre beauty.
Themes: The films often explored themes of repressed sexuality, religion, and societal decadence.
Legacy
The Hammer Dracula series had a profound impact on the horror genre, influencing subsequent vampire films and popularizing Dracula as a cultural icon. The films remain celebrated for their performances, style, and ability to blend terror with an underlying sense of tragedy.