Author: Roshan

Blast From The Past – What Is The Saddest Meal You’ve Had?

- Roshan

CHEEZEZIA pizza corner in the now defunct Kochin Food Mall in the Revenue Tower building just past Marine Drive. I can never forget that experience of going there with my cousin one Summer evening and getting the oddest looking pizza ever. This was only my second visit to the Food Mall and the first time ordering the pizza, if you can call it that. We were a little scared but tried them anyway. A medium sized pie with 8 small to medium slices. We slowly picked up a piece each and ate them.

There were toast crusts of what seemed like rusk to us (if you don’t know what rusk is it’s a hard, dry biscuit or a twice-baked bread) – basically what they did was they served us a circular disk of rush, on top of which they added some cheese and – wait for it – the toppings that go with a usual BHEL PURI! A fucking bhel puri! The toppings other than the tomatoes were lots or coriander, chopped onions, tomatoes & Sev (a slight crunchy noodles made from chickpea flour paste). And ofcourse cheese! The sheer audacity to call that a pizza!

We managed a small slice each and then paid and left, laughing so loudly. In no way, shape or form was that a pizza and the people running it should have been in prison doing hard labour for even suggesting that it was!

For How Many More Years Do You Think Humans Will Exist?

- Roshan

No one can say for certain. I think we will live for many many millions of years, evolving as we go along. Who knows what humans will look like in a million years from now, what evolutionary changes will happen along the way but I believe that a species we will survive on and continue living and find ways to have that existence continue for as long as we can. I dunno about whether that life will continue to remain on this earth as I do think that the resources of the planet will die out or get depleted in a few 100 years or so but we can always find new homes on other planets.

Within 500 years from now, although I think it will be earlier, we will have landed on and started to colonize an Earth like planet and perhaps more down the line. Humankind will move on from the earth, hopefully having learned some lessons on how not to ruin a planet, and I think realistically we will need atleast 2 to 3 planets or moons to be our new home base as the population is already huge now and will only keep growing. Perhaps 12 to 15 billion by then. Or possibly more and it’s better to spread those numbers on few planets/moons rather than cram everyone on one rock.

On these planets the humans will thrive and go on to explore and colonize even more planets and moon. We will survive and thrive and meet alien species. Not all of these species will be friendly but we will fight off the ones that want to kill us and make friends wherever we can. And hopefully long before this happens we do realize that humans can’t be divided and instead we need to have each other’s back and support every human so we have as much success as possible.

Prompt from Journaling Prompts from The Coffee Monterz Co . Com

Back To The Office Today After A Long Gap

- Roshan

So I have a new training batch that starts today. I have been working from home from mid-September once we closed out the temporary floor and then a training room that our 45 member process was using at the office. Our process was signed as a work from home process as it is a content moderation type job and there are no customer details or financial transactions or addresses etc that we work on and hence everyone can safely work from home.

Now unfortunately or I should say fortunately for me, due to a scheduling issue, I can only get a training room for my batch of 10 agents and newly promoted Team Manager in the evening slot which is 5:30 pm to 2:30 am. Now with my health issues I don’t want to go to the office in that shift. But I managed to get it agreed that I will go to the office today, set everything up for the 11 folks and get them their new laptops assigned for this process among others (they were internally moved from another process and were using clunky desktops till now). Then I will continue working from home for the rest of the week as the TM will be there to supervise the 10.

Next week another TM will be coming to the office for 3 weeks and I will continue to work from home. This is so that if there is any issue that they face with the client tool, which they will only use from next week, he can help them. Then from the 27th onwards the shift reverts back to a 12:30 pm to 9:30 pm and I and the TM will help the 11 with their on the job training for 2 weeks. Hopefully my stint back in the office will only last for 2 weeks. I am a little apprehensive going back to the office.

Arsenal Lose To 10 Men Manchester United On Penalties In The FA Cup

- Roshan

Joshua Zirkzee scored the winning penalty as a 10-man Manchester United beat Arsenal in a thrilling encounter to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup. United had to play with 10 men for nearly an hour after Diogo Dalot was shown a second yellow card, having mistimed a tackle on Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino. Manchester United took the lead through an excellent Bruno Fernandes goal in the 52nd minute, after Alejandro Garnacho took advantage of a Gabriel slip and crossed for Fernandes to curl the ball into the top corner. Dalot was sent off in the 61st minute after his clumsy tackle and Arsenal were level just two minutes later when centre-back Gabriel volleyed in from inside the area.

The Gunners then had a massive chance to take the lead when Kai Havertz was adjudged to have been brought down by Harry Maguire in the box and referee Andrew Madley awarded a penalty. There was a delay in the spot-kick being taken after a melee in the box in which Maguire, Havertz and Gabriel were all booked. Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard then stepped up but Altay Bayindir dived to his left to push away the ball and keep the scores level. Mikel Arteta’s side had big chances through Declan Rice and Havertz again to win the game but could not beat the impressive Bayindir. United were made to defend throughout extra time as Arsenal looked for ways to take the lead with their numerical advantage.

But Arteta’s side could not find a way through and Havertz had his penalty saved by Bayindir before Zirkzee sent David Raya the wrong way to win the shootout. The result means Arsenal have exited the FA Cup in the third round for the third time in four seasons. This was Arsenal’s second of a run of five fixtures in a row at home this month. Mikel Arteta will have hoped he could build momentum during these games, but two home defeats in a row has done little to lift morale. It was almost the perfect start when Gabriel Martinelli slotted the ball past Bayindir in the first half, but the strike was ruled out for offside and seemingly set the tone for the match.

The MageGee MK Star75 Mechanical Gaming Blue Backlit Keyboard

- Roshan

With a total of 83 keys, the STAR75 gaming keyboard retains separate arrow keys, making the desktop cleaner without sacrificing essential functionality. It can perform the commands of a full-size keyboard with more space for mouse movement. A great addition to the desktop for gamers and office users. This 75% keyboard has ice blue backlighting, supports 18 lighting modes, 5 brightness levels, 4 speed levels, and can also be turned off or on with one click. Dynamic or static lighting modes are available, so you can choose the lighting effect that appeals to you as required.

Yellow switches are sensitive to trigger, less audible and require less force to press, making it smoother to use. 100% anti-ghosting, each keystroke is correctly detected even if you press many keys on the keyboard. 2-IN-1 Multi-functional knob : The knob controls the audio / backlight, long press to switch between them. When the keyboard is in audio mode ( by default ), the indicator M is not lit, turn left and right to adjust the volume, press the knob to pause or play. When the keyboard is in backlight mode, indicator M lights up, turn left and right to adjust the light brightness, press it to switch light effects.

The stepped keycaps and two-step legs provide a comfortable typing angle and reduce wrist stress. The keyboard has a double layer of sound deadening construction with an EVA interlayer foam and bottom foam to reduce noise from the keyboard’s internal cavities. The keycap color scheme is simple – black & white, with an additional 16 red keycaps available for DIY. Using the USB cable means no need to rely on Bluetooth. This will however take up one of your USB ports – I have only 3 and since one is permanently used by my USB mouse, I might get a USB extension.

Though targeted to gamers, you can use it as your main keyboard if you are a blogger, for office work etc. I find it pretty smooth to type with and so far, after just a few hours or use, I must say that I like it. The Thonk Thonk sound does not bother me and infact it actually sounds kinda nice. If the typing is a breeze and fun to use, then this is a great purchase. At Rs. 2698 on Amazon (there was a slight discount as a day later it is now showing as Rs. 2999) I used two Amazon 1000 coupons and the rest off my debit card to buy this and it was delivered in less than 24 hours. Highly recommended at this point in time.

I Got A New USB Mechanical Keyboard

- Roshan

And finally, what was old is now new! Like Brendan Frasier, the mechanical keyboard made a soaring comeback many years ago. Mechanical keyboards were a standard feature of many early PCs. Early IBM PCs were known for the Model M keyboard, with keys that offered a famously satisfying response and audible “clack” as they were depressed. My first time using a computer was at age 9 or 10 I think, back in 1986. Just a bit mind you, I didn’t have a pc at home. Then fast forward to 1992 and I signed up for a 2 month summer course at Datapro and learned a few basics of the computer and ofcourse, they used the old style keyboards.

It would be 1995 when I finally got a computer at home and it was a nice 15 or 16 inch monitor, with 50 MG of storage and yes the old light greyish white, or whatever the colour the systems were, keyboard. The next pc I bought would be back in 2006 and I had an assembled one with the old mechanical style keyboard. In 2010 I bought my first laptop and since then it’s been the chicklet style keyboards. I had a Lenovo and then a Dell and now I have my 5 year old HP. The HP has the nicest softest keyboard ever but after 4.5 years of steady usage (I do type a lot and use my laptop quite a lot at home) some of the keys take a little too much pushing to work. Like S & D & B & F! What the heck have I been typing!

Anyways I got this device after a long look at several ones. I do have a chicklet style external Bluetooth keyboard but it’s not a very good one. I decided to try one out that wasn’t very expensive and see how I like it. So far I am liking it a lot!

What Food/Drink Is Your Ideal Afternoon Pick-me-up?

- Roshan

Coffee and coffee! What else? Well some fruits also act as a good pick-me-up in the afternoons, like a cold apples or a large orange. These are fruits that I can only have cold, so I usually keep them in the fridge and take one whenever I want. The juiciness and freshness just tastes better when is is cold. But I will admit that nothing works quite like coffee. Drinking iced coffee can be a refreshing way to enjoy coffee on a hot day. Iced coffee can contain caffeine, magnesium, and other compounds that may have health benefits.

It is believed that the coldness enhances the drinking experience and releases more nuanced flavors. To iced coffee lovers, it’s more than just a product — it’s also an experience. While iced coffee can be expensive, they’re often willing to splurge on it because they see it as an affordable luxury. Is there anything better on a hot summer’s day than sitting back, relaxing and enjoying an iced coffee? Is there any difference in how the iced one is prepare compared to a hot one?  An iced latte has a larger amount of chilled milk added to it, whereas a regular iced coffee can have no milk at all or just a small amount.

Because the coffee to milk ratio is different in these two drinks, an iced latte is likely to have less coffee content than an iced coffee. Therefore, an iced latte will be sweeter than an iced coffee. Another difference is the preparation. While an iced latte is not just a latte cooled down, an iced coffee can be made with espresso that is then chilled and poured over ice. A small amount of milk can then be added to taste.

Prompt from Journaling Prompts from The Coffee Monterz Co . Com

Some More Fun Facts About The FA Cup

- Roshan

  1. The FA Cup competition did not take place during the First and Second World Wars, except for the 1914–15 and 1939–40 season, though the 1939-40 competition was abandoned during the qualifying rounds.
  2. Only one non-English team has ever won the Cup. In 1927 the FA Cup was won by Cardiff City, a team which plays in the English Football League despite being based in Wales.
  3. In 1953, a hat-trick by Stan Mortensen remains to be the only hat-trick ever scored at Wembley in the competition’s final.
  4. Louis Saha, Everton, scored a goal after 27.9 seconds in the 2009 Cup Final – the fastest goal in FA Cup Final history.
  5. There have only been two Cup Finals that have required a penalty shootout – in 2005 and 2006.
  6. In the 2012 Cup Final, Didier Drogba of Chelsea became the first player to score goals in four different Finals.
  7. The 2020 FA Cup series was disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, and the final match was played behind closed doors. The winners received the trophy on the pitch and rather than by climbing steps to the Royal Box for the presentation as is usual.

Slide It In – Whitesnake

- Roshan

Slide It In is the sixth studio album by English rock band Whitesnake. Originally released on 30 January 1984 in Europe, by Liberty/EMI, it was remixed for the American market, later issued on 16 April 1984 in North America by Geffen. In Japan, it was issued a “European” Mix release date on 23 March 1984, and an “American” remix on 21 December 1984 by CBS/Sony. Widely regarded as a moderate success, it helped open the American market to the band’s sound and breakthrough throughout the later 1980s. Historically, it was the final Whitesnake recording to use the band’s original “snake” logo. The album peaked at number 9, marking their fourth Top 10 appearance in the UK & In the US, it peaked at number 40 at Billboard 200, eventually going double platinum.

Give Me More Time was the second single released on 3 January 1984 in Europe and 9 January in Germany. The song was written by David Coverdale and Mel Galley. Musically it reminds me of more of AC/C. The song reached number 29 in the UK and number 27 in Ireland. Standing in the Shadow is a song by the English hard rock band Whitesnake as the 3d single from Slide It In. While it does not have a music video, it was released as a single by Liberty Records with the B-Side American version of “All or Nothing.” The single only charted No. 62 in the UK Singles chart and stayed for three weeks. Slow an’ Easy easily the best song on the record, which was released as a promo single, became a hit on rock radio and reached #17 on Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

Love Ain’t No Stranger which is a power ballad is onne of the group’s best known songs, it’s been included in multiple multi-artist compilation albums as well as in various media from Whitesnake’s own labels. Due to its popularity among fans, Whitesnake has performed the song over eight hundred times as of December 2022, making it one of the group’s top five most played pieces. The song charted at number 44 on the UK Singles Chart and 34 on the U.S. Mainstream rock charts. But my favourite song off the record, and which introduced me to the band, is Slow n Easy which was released as a promo single, became a hit on rock radio. Slow an’ Easy has a cool lead guitar licks and reached #17 in Billboard’s Rock Charts.

The intro to Spit It Out reminds me of All Right Now by Free. The more upbeat and fun loving Hungry For Love which is reminiscent of a lot of 70s rock n roll bands is a good song. Guilty of Love was release as a single in 1983, well before the actual album was released Written by vocalist David Coverdale, he described the track as a “very simple and honest love song”. It has frequently been compared to Thin Lizzy for its dual lead guitars. It reached number 31 on the UK Singles Chart and a music video was also shot at the Monsters of Rock show on 20 August 1983. On the Japanese release also had a cover of Need Your Love So Bad a song first recorded by Little Willie John in 1955.

Avacado & Eggs On Toast

- Roshan

What is your favourite toast topping? Avacado and eggs on toast seems too very popular breakfast choice and that just sounds like magic to me. I love avocado toast, and if you add an egg to it you have a full meal. Some people use balsamic vinegar to flavor the avocado instead of the lemon juice. You can make the egg any way you like, but I would go for sunny side up or poached.

Ingredients:

  • 1 teaspoon butter
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 slices multigrain bread
  • 1 ripe avocado, pitted, peeled
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice, or to taste
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • sea salt to taste
  • ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Melt butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Crack eggs into the skillet side by side and cook until eggs are white on the bottom layer and firm enough to flip, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip eggs, trying not to crack the yolk, and cook until egg reaches desired doneness, 2 to 5 minutes more.

2. Meanwhile, toast bread slices to desired doneness, 3 to 5 minutes.

3. Mash avocado in a bowl; stir in lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and sea salt. Spread avocado mixture onto toast. Top with fried egg and season with sea salt and pepper.

5 Fun Facts About Hot Dogs

- Roshan

1. Hot dogs are an approved space food.

Alongside Tang and freeze-dried ice cream, hot dogs have passed NASA’s lengthy approval process for food that is allowed to be taken and consumed in space. Even the Apollo 7 astronauts enjoyed this classic meal on their way to the moon!

2. Americans eat a lot of hot dogs!

According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC), Americans purchase 9 billion hot dogs per year from grocery stores! Adding in what would be consumed at restaurants or ball parks, the NHDSC estimates that the total number consumed in a year is approximately 20 billion hot dogs!

3. The world record for hot dog eating is 76.

Last year (2021) at the annual Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on July 4th, world-famous Joey Chestnut broke his own world record and consumed 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes. For those keeping score at home, that’s about $68 worth of hot dogs in one sitting.

4. The most expensive hot dog costs $2,300.

According to rarest.org you can find this pricey dog at the restaurant 230 Fifth in New York City. It’s made out of top-grade Japanese wagyu beef and topped with onions (that have been caramelized in champagne), caviar, and sauerkraut (that has been braised in, you guessed it, champagne). Oh, and if you’re planning to indulge in this delicacy any time soon, you should know that it has to be ordered 48 hours in advance.

5. There’s a reason hot dogs and their buns don’t match.

By now, we’re sure you’re aware of the bun vs hot dog quantity controversy that made national news last year. But did you know that there is a historical reason for this mismatch? When hot dogs were first sold in the United States, they were not sold in the grocery stores. So, for the hot dog cooks ordering wholesale quantities, ten seemed like a natural choice for packaging. However, when wholesale bun and roll bakeries started to bake the matching buns, they worked with pans that bake long rolls in groups of four that are then stacked to make eight – not ten.

8 Year Old Who Was Claimed To Be The Youngest Serial Killer In The World

- Roshan

I just heard about this case early this morning and I am not sure how accurate and true it is but it seems to have been featured on many major newspaper’s websites hence it must be a true story. Listening to the story at 1:30 am did send a chill up my spine, mainly because of the ages of the victims and the murderer.

An 8-year-old boy from the Indian state of Bihar, Amarjeet Sada, is claimed to be the “youngest serial killer in the world.” You read that right. He was born in 1998 in the village of Mushahar in Bihar. He has murdered three people, including from his own family. Sada committed the first murder at the age of 7. In 2006, Sada allegedly murdered his six-year-old cousin, the daughter of his uncle. It is thought he also killed his own baby sister who was only eight months old. His last victim was even younger – a six-month old baby girl called Kushboo who lived in the neighbourhood, the report says.

It has been stated that when in police custody, Sada smiled a lot and showed no remorse after admitting he murdered his sister a few months earlier and his cousin the year before, swinging his legs as he sat and told his story an even demanded biscuits from the police. At the time of his capture, one psychologist called him a “sadist who derives pleasure from inflicting injuries”. He is understood to have been released in 2016 and his current whereabouts are unknown – possibly having changed his name and assumed a new identity.

Should I Get An External Mechanical Keyboard?

- Roshan

I am thinking of getting a new keyboard for my laptop as some of the keys have issues and since I cannot afford a new computer at the moment, I thought why not get an new external keyboard? I have one that was gifted to me from the office but I do not like it much and also it is kinda lousy. Should I get a mechanical keyboard? Looking at the benefits I might be tempted.

Mechanical keyboards have many benefits, including:

Typing experience – Mechanical keyboards provide tactile feedback and an audible click for each key, which can help you type faster and more accurately.

Durability – Mechanical keyboards are built to last and can withstand heavy use for over a decade. They are made with high-quality parts and durable materials, and damaged parts can be fixed without replacing the entire keyboard.

Customization – Mechanical keyboards can be customized to your needs and preferences. You can program macro keys, and you can also change the body, keycaps, layouts, and switches.

Ergonomics – Some mechanical keyboards are designed with ergonomics in mind, with features like a split design or wrist rest to reduce strain on your hands and wrists.

Gaming – Mechanical keyboards are a good choice for gamers because they offer superior key rollover and anti-ghosting capabilities. This ensures that every key press is registered accurately, even during intense gaming sessions.

Compatibility – Mechanical keyboards are compatible with many devices, including PCs, Macs, and some gaming consoles.

Aesthetic appeal – Mechanical keyboards often have a more premium look and feel than traditional membrane keyboards.

Arsenal 0 Newcastle United 2

- Roshan

Alexander Isak’s rich goalscoring form continued as Newcastle United took control of their Carabao Cup semi-final with a superb first-leg win against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. Newcastle have never won the competition but will make their second final in three seasons if they avoid defeat, or lose by a one-goal margin, in the second leg at St James’ Park on 5 February. Arsenal, second in the Premier League, started the tie as favourites, but have it all to do in the return fixture. Isak scored his 14th goal in 15 games to set Newcastle on the way to their seventh successive win.

Goalkeeper Martin Dubravka’s free-kick was launched forward, Sven Botman headed the ball on and Jacob Murphy played it into Isak’s path with the Swede lifting a composed finish past David Raya. Anthony Gordon doubled the visitors’ lead in the 51st minute, converting the rebound after Raya could only parry Isak’s shot. Gabriel Martinelli had hit the post for the Gunners when the game was goalless, with Jurrien Timber and William Saliba also failing to score with close-range headers. Newcastle have been English champions four times and won six FA Cups, but have not lifted silverware since the Fairs Cup in 1969. However, their fans will be dreaming this is the year that long wait for a trophy ends.

Isak, a striker long linked with a move to Arsenal, showed the Gunners what they were missing with an excellent performance which got him a goal and an assist as he provided constant problems for Gabriel and Saliba. Having just seen his side lose at home for the first time this season, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta remained in defiant mood. Asked about his team’s chances of overturning a 2-0 home loss to Newcastle in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, the Spaniard said he had “full belief” Arsenal could turn the tie around and still get to Wembley.

If I Could Have My Perfect Backyard

- Roshan

If you could pick any view to see from your bedroom window, what would you pick? (e.g. a meadow with cows)

This actually reminds me about how things have changed from when I was younger. When I was younger I would have wanted to see wide streets, cars going left and right, buildings nearby and the skyline of large houses and tall apartment buildings, shops, restaurants, grocery stores and cafes dotted on the streets.

However as I have grown older the image has changes and the wish has changed. Now I wish for a huge, lush green lawn on my backyard with a canopy in one corner and some chairs and a table. Ofcourse I want a barbecue as well and the two dogs that I have had loved in my life and my two cats frolicking in the grass and chasing butterflies. Happy as can be. Outside the fences I can see greenery all around and I see birds chirping in the trees and squirrels and chipmunks looking for nuts.

No noise of vehicles, no people running around, no horns or anything. Total bliss with some animals and nature.

Prompt from Journaling Prompts from The Coffee Monterz Co . Com