My Wish

I wish for many things most of which are not feasible and mostly flights of fancy. But this one wish is more practical and well, lots of people have similar dreams of such kind. Here is a simple wish; to win the big lottery!

Lots of money, lots of cash. Enough that I never have to go to work another day in my life. I just want the money, honey. So I want to win a few crores in the lottery and after the taxes – ka ching – I still should have a huge amount of money with me. More money that I would know what to do with.

I would instantly resign/retire from work and go and buy a new luxurious apartment. Two or three actually and make sure that my family is comfortable and have every thing that they need. I would get myself one of those large apartments and settle down with my new furniture. I’d adopt a couple of dogs and maybe a couple of kitteh’s as well. And I would enjoy a quiet life, doing whatever I want or nothing at all. Travel a bit. Stay in nice places.

Sounds good?

Afternoon In Couchyn

My only agenda for today was to go and pay the advance for the new dvd/bookshelf that I am having custom built at a furniture store nearby. After I did that I went to Coucyhn for some drink and good food.

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I hadn’t had any breakfast and having woken up at 9 am and the fact that it was almost 12:45 pm by then, I was starving. I ordered a half tandoori chicken and a Budweiser. That went down well indeed.

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A while later I moved onto vodka. My cousin turned me onto Smirnoff Espresso vodka mixed with Coke which makes it taste a lot like iced coffee. This is awesome.

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I also ordered a plated of grilled beef with veggies, which is a superb dish. They ought to market this dish a lot more.

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At around 3pm I left and came back home and watched a movie. Now I’m listening to some tunes and drinking a juice.

Arsenal 0 Sporting Lisbon 0

Arsenal fear forward Danny Welbeck has suffered a “very big injury” after he was carried off on a stretcher during his side’s Europa League game against Sporting Lisbon on Thursday. It ended goalless at Emirates Stadium as the Gunners secured a place in the last 32, but the match was overshadowed by the 27-year-old England international’s ankle injury.

“He is at the hospital. The news is that we are going to wait, but we think it’s a serious injury,” said Arsenal boss Unai Emery. “Every injury is different. This could be a break of something in the ankle. “It’s clear that we’re with him in these minutes. He’s a very good person and his commitment with us is very big. “It’s a very big injury for him, for us, for all people who like and love him as a person.” Welbeck was hurt in the 25th minute when he jumped for a header and landed badly on his right ankle. He received oxygen and had his leg in a protective brace as he was taken off the pitch, with up to 10 medical staff around him as he received treatment.

Sporting ended the game with 10 men when ex-Barcelona defender Jeremy Mathieu was shown a straight red card after fouling Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang when he was clean through on goal – although the hosts could not find a winner. The result, along with a 1-0 win for Azerbaijani side Qarabag over Vorskla Poltava of Ukraine in the other Group E match, was enough to take the Gunners through to the knockout phase. They join Chelsea in the last 32, who had secured their place in the next stage with a 1-0 away win at BATE Borisov.

A Regular Work Day Look Into My World

What does a regular work day look like in your world?

I’m gonna give you the current way that it goes like at work since I am in the midst of training batches of new hired employees. This is my 4th such batch in a row and I think I might have 2 or 3 more before the year ends.

I arrive at the office by 4:15 pm and I head to the area where we keep our bags and stuff (you cannot carry your belongings inside the production floors or training rooms) and then I head to the cafeteria for my evening cup of coffee and a snack. At 4:30 pm I head to the training room assigned to me and the batch that I am training and then log in to the system, while the trainees log in to theirs. After greetings, I make them start their online course for an hour before starting the training sessions for the day.

I give them a break at 6:30 and after that we continue till 9pm when we break for dinner. Post dinner, more online courses while I work on reports and then I continue to take training sessions until 12 midnight. We wind up by 12:30 am and then I continue to work on reports till I can knock off for the night and hail an Uber/Ola and then head home.

Blog prompt from 30 DAYS OF NOVEMBER WRITING PROMPTS at the SitsGirls

WIFI On Optic Fibre Is Here

So we have these monster speeds now available in Kerala. I just saw this add spring up all over Youtube and a couple of other places. Would I really need 200Mbps speed for my internet at home? What am I planning to download – the history of the world? Unless you are on the USS Enterprise or one of the other starships, I doubt you could really need those astronomical speeds (maybe) and I bet the monthly charges are astronomical as well.

I will wait and watch as my 10mbps speed seems ok to me at the moment (I could use 25 but let’s see).

More Indian Jokes

An American businessman goes to India on a business trip, but he hates Indian food, so he asks the concierge at his hotel if there’s any place around where he can get American food. The concierge tells him he’s in luck; there’s a pizza place that just opened, and they deliver.

The concierge gives the businessman the phone number, and he goes back to his room and orders a pizza. Thirty minutes later, the delivery guy shows up to the door with the pizza. The businessman takes the pizza, and starts sneezing uncontrollably.

He asks the delivery man, “What the heck did you put on this pizza?” The delivery man bows deeply and says, “We put on the pizza what you ordered, pepper only.”
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An aspiring Yogi wanted to find a Guru. He went to an Ashram and his preceptor told him, “You can stay here but we have one important rule: all students observe Mouna or a vow of silence. You will be allowed to speak in 12 years.”

After practicing for 12 long years, the day came when the student could say his one thing or ask his one question.

He said: “The bed is too hard.”

He kept going for another 12 years of austere discipline, meditation and silence and finally got the opportunity to speak again. He said: “The food is not good.”

Twelve more years of hard work and he got to speak again. Here are his words after 36 years of practice: “I quit.”

His Guru quickly answered: “Good, all you have been doing anyway is complaining.”

Turkey Shoot!

Turkey. Dressing. Cranberry Sauce. Pumpkin Pie. What does Thanksgiving dinner look like at your house?

Turkey dinner. Lots of turkey. A big huge platter on which a hot, just baked in the oven turkey bird sits. With cranberry sauce in a bowl and some dressing stuffed both inside as well as surrounding the  bird. Hmmm delicious!

Well I have never had that but it does sound like it would be a great dinner. I have only see in it American and Canadian movies and tv shows. Hmm, I could really go for some turkey legs right about now. I wish I could have some. Unfortunately the only few times I have had turkey are the turkey slices I get in Subway’s sandwiches. Damn, I wish turkey wasn’t so expensive here.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving America – when is it in November? Canadians had theirs in October and I drooled at some of the pics.

Prompt from 30 DAYS OF NOVEMBER WRITING PROMPTS at The SitsGirls

The First Purge

The First Purge is a 2018 American action horror film directed by Gerard McMurray and starring Y’lan Noel, Lex Scott Davis, Joivan Wade, Mugga, Luna Lauren Velez, Kristen Solis, and Marisa Tomei. The fourth installment in the Purge franchise, the film is a prequel depicting the origins of the first annual “Purge”, a 12-hour span once a year in which all crime in America is legal. Written and produced by James DeMonaco, it marks the first film of the series not to be directed by him.

This movie offers nothing new to the now 4 movie franchise. It shows us that after a period of turmoil, violence and poverty mixed with lack of opportunities has led to a 3rd party named the New Founding Fathers of America, who have grown into power and form the new government. NFFA members Arlo Sabian and Dr. May Updale announce an experiment to take place on Staten Island where for 12 hours, citizens will be allowed to purge and release their inhibitions in any way they choose. The NFFA offers residents of the Island $5000 to stay in their homes during the experiment and a compensation for those participating as well. They also outfit the participants with tracking devices and contact lenses with cameras in them so that they can monitor all activity.

The movie focuses on anti-Purge activist Nya and her younger brother Isaiah, who is working for drug lord and Nya’s ex, Dmitri. There’s also Nya’s friends Dolores, Luisa, and Selina, Dmitri’s gang and Skeletor, a crazy drug addict who just wants to kill people and use the Purge as his outlet. Other than Skeletor, most purgers on the Island want to loot and steal from stores and otherwise have parties. So the NFFA sends a mercenary team in masks and outfits on to kill a bunch of people. At the NFFA headquarters, Updale starts becoming suspicious due to the Purge’s sudden change in the crimes committed, as well as the presence of masked participants.  Sabian explains that he sent the mercenaries to make the experiment look successful, and eventually to help “balance” the rich and the poor.

Updale protests this tampering of the experiment and informs Sabian her realization that NFFA only wants to eradicate the poor because they don’t want to take care of them. With Sabian’s corruption revealed, he has Updale taken away and killed, before erasing all footage of the event. Dmitri ends up becoming a mix off Die Hard era Bruce Willis and any Arnie shootout movie to kill a bunch of the mercenaries and save Nya, Isaiah and their friends who had escaped to their apartment. He is hailed a hero at the end of the 12 hour cycle and another of those stupid rap songs starts to play.

Not really sure why this prequel was needed. It’s a mix of rap music, lots of struting and posing, Black American culture and the “hood” and people dying. Skeletor was an overacting nightmare. 6 outta 10!

Shopping For A Bookshelf

Well after two weeks I was out again today. Finally got two days off together again so I could go out and enjoy myself.

First up I went to The Burger Junction and got myself a real burger. There’s a few places in Cochin if you want a nice juicy beef based burger and TBJ is the best of the best. I had a double patty with fries and a shake and it wasn’t even that heavy. I stayed there a while and then went to Marine Drive near the High Court junction and went to find the small furniture place where I had bought my bookshelf, slightly altered, to house my Star Trek starship models. I wanted a new one as I am starting a small but decent dvd collection.

So I went there, and it was a hot day, and sweated until I gave the rough measurements that I was looking at and they showed me a couple of shelves  that they already had. Finally it was decided that they would make me one from scratch as I wanted something smaller and less wide. As they were taking more time, I said that I would called later in the day and get the final price (which turns out to be Rs.4,600). I then went to Center Mall and shopped for groceries and essentials in Big Bazaar. By then I was quite thirsty and bit hungry again so I went to Subway in the mall and had a sub and a large ice tea.

By 5pm I came back home and relaxed for the rest of the evening.

Arsenal 1 Liverpool 1

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp says his side made “life a bit too easy” for Arsenal to fight back for a hard-earned 1-1 draw in a thrilling encounter at Emirates Stadium. Alexandre Lacazette’s late equaliser extended the Gunners’ unbeaten run to 13 games. James Milner’s powerful strike just after the hour, drilled home after Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno’s clearance rebounded off Rob Holding, looked to have put unbeaten Liverpool on course for victory. Lacazette, however, had other ideas and drew the Gunners level eight minutes from time with a superb finish on the turn after he had taken the ball away from Liverpool keeper Alisson.

The point puts Liverpool back on top of the Premier League but they will feel hard done by after a first-half strike from Sadio Mane was incorrectly ruled out for offside, while Virgil van Dijk hit the post with a header and forced a fine save from Leno after the break. Arsenal’s persistence deserved reward despite those escapes and their display confirmed their development under new manager Unai Emery. Despite Arsenal’s unbeaten run, questions remained unanswered about the new Emery regime, no matter how impressive their results since defeats in their opening Premier League games at home to Manchester City and away at Chelsea.

They showed real urgency in the first half to shade an enthralling first 45 minutes but arguably even more satisfying will be the manner in which they dug in to rescue a point after Milner put Liverpool ahead and Klopp’s side looked in the mood to finish Arsenal off. Arsenal, with Lucas Torreira a fine addition and Lacazette a force up front, stuck to their task and were rewarded with a point.

Have You Ever Changed Your Name?

Have you ever changed your name?

No but I had thought about it many years ago. When I was a kid I didn’t like my name. I wanted to change my name to Michael. Because of Knight Rider. Michael Knight! Hey, be glad I didn’t want to change my name to Knight Industries Two Thousand aka K.I.T.T.! I was 9!

But since then, no I like my name. Infact I love my name. Roshan – sounds so beautiful and sexy! :P I love the name to be honest with you. But I have wanted to change my surname as it’s my dad and grandad’s name that is added to my first name. It doesn’t make sense to me. I would have preferred to have the name Menon as my last name and a few years back I was almost about to get it changed officially.

But I didn’t and now, I guess it’s too late and so I don’t care.

Prompt from 30 DAYS OF NOVEMBER WRITING PROMPTS at The SitsGirls

Have You Ever Used A Typewriter?

Yes but not too much. I was born in 1976 after all and only started using a computer at home in 1995! The typewriter has always had a place in my family home since I can remember and my dad bough the latest electronic one whenever he could as he used it for work once in a while.

My sister used it for a while as well though I do not know if it was for school work or anything else. I certainly never used it for anything important and just typed for keeping a few notes or perhaps a few letters. I think that’s what I used to write letters to my cousins who didn’t like in town with the rest of us and it was fun to get them back. Ah, the days of the snail mail! Sheesh, how ancient am I!

Anyways, there are still documents being typed on in some small and government jobs here and there. Nothing major. Now that I think about it, we had to type up applications for school and stuff back in the day. I’m glad we don’t use them anymore.

How Can Professional Illustrations Increase Sales?

Making as many sales as possible is the bottom line for all businesses. This is why entrepreneurs apply all marketing strategies that are appropriate to boost revenue. Did you know that illustrations are an excellent marketing strategy that promotes an increase in sales in many ways? Hiring an expert who creates illustration for big-brand products is advantageous to the company. To make this issue clear, let us look at how using professional illustrations increases sales for a company.

A Compelling Website

Illustrations are an amazing way to make your website look better and enhance user experience. Professional illustrators create authentic yet attractive media that will not slow down website visitors because it is too heavy. Entrepreneurs who employ the work of these experts realize an increase in sales within no time as more people visit the website. Illustration can be included with the products that a business is offering. Experts will make the illustrations attractive so that potential buyers will be convinced to buy.

Higher Conversion Rates

Now that the business has a website with an excellent user experience, the conversion rate determines the sales it will experience. Some businesses even use specific strategies that are aimed at converting potential customers to actual buyers of the offered goods or services. As the potential buyers admire the attractive and professionally branded product, they are compelled to buy them. Illustration can also be employed on free promotional gifts and samples. Clients will want to try these products even if it is their first time using them.

Increased Brand Awareness

Making people aware of your brand can be an uphill task. But did you know that illustrations are one way of increasing awareness? As a matter of fact, this is extremely effective when proper strategies are engaged. Illustrations are used to brand the website, social media pages, sold goods and packaging. As the illustrations on these items make their way to the web, homes, streets and magazines, people get to know of your brand. In return, this will increase sales for your company.

Communicating the Message

When people are researching a product, they expect to find as much information as possible before they will purchase it. The more information they get, they more convinced to buy they become. Illustrations are an attractive way to communicate information to the audience. Experts argue that products with attractive and informative illustrations easily convince potential customers to buy. Therefore, your work as a business person is to ensure that your illustrator is professional enough to provide this level of quality.

Creating a Desire

Have you ever looked at an illustration of a food product and felt hungry? Well, such a desire is often experienced across a variety of categories of goods and services that have attractive and compelling illustrations. Experienced illustrators work to create a desire to buy particular products. Most people actually do not need to read the accompanying text if there is any. The art is enough to trigger the urge to acquire that product.

From the above details, it is clear that professional illustrators can increase sales for a business. They require cooperation from owners and managers to reach their goal easily.

Arsenal 2 Blackpool 1

Arsenal will play arch rivals Tottenham in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals after surviving a late fightback from League One visitors Blackpool as both sides finished the game with 10 men. Gunners full-back Stephan Lichtsteiner slid in his first goal since joining from Juventus before teenager Emile Smith Rowe doubled the Premier League giants’ lead after half-time. Arsenal were coasting until French midfielder Matteo Guendouzi was given a second yellow card for pulling back Jordan Thompson, leaving them facing the prospect of playing the final 35 minutes with a numerical disadvantage.

Blackpool, who are mid-table in the third tier, narrowed the gap when centre-back Paudie O’Connor headed in from a corner. That meant the game turned into a nervier finish than it should have been for Arsenal, who fielded a much-changed side which still contained several experienced stars. However, Blackpool were also reduced to 10 men with a few minutes left to play when O’Connor was shown a straight red card for scything down substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. O’Connor’s dismissal checked Blackpool’s momentum as Arsenal stretched their unbeaten run to 13 matches under new manager Unai Emery.

“We controlled a lot of moments in the match,” the Spaniard said. “At 2-0 the match is good but the red card gave more balance to them. But I think we deserved the victory.” The Gunners, who lost to Manchester City in last season’s League Cup final, will host Tottenham in the last eight during the week of 17 December.