The Last Month Of The Year 2021

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December promise you gave unto me
December whispers of treachery
December clouds are now covering me
December songs no longer I sing

So tomorrow starts the final month of the year 2021, the transition year post pandemic. I say the transition year because we were still getting used to the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 was the year where we learned to adjust to the new normal and the way things are and the way that things are going to be for a few years. When will it end, I do not know. Are we still in trouble? You bet your last rupee we are.

With a new strain of the Coronavirus looming it’s head to threaten the whole of the planet, Omicron promises to be more dangerous than ever. The variant known scientifically as B.1.1.529 was little known to the public until November 24, when South African officials reported it to the WHO. It took the organization just two days to elevate its profile and status substantially. And while some places have gone back to some sense of normality, the pandemic is saying “Uh uh, I am gonna make you guys have to work for it a while longer”. So while organizations like my own employers are trying to get us back to the office, we may have to rethink that.

But it is the last month of the year, a time I usually like a lot. I hope things go good for everyone.

Setting Up A Youtube Channel & Creating Content For Your Videos

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How to Set Up Your Youtube Channel 

Setting up a new YouTube Channel is simple. It helps if you already have a Gmail account, which allows you to associate your new channel with your email address.

  1. Sign in to Youtube
  2. Click your picture in the top right corner (desktop version)
  3. Select “Create a Channel”
  4. Decide if you want to use the name associated with your email address or create a custom name for your channel
  5. Add details to the “about” section
  6. Customize the look of your channel with a cover photo and profile picture
  7. Upload your first video
  8. Add playlists, fill out your profile with more details, and link to your other social media accounts

Using your smartphone is certainly an acceptable way to record videos, but if you want viewers to enjoy your content, it really helps to invest in the right equipment. Most YouTubers use DSLRs or mirrorless cameras, along with other essential accessories for videography such as tripods, lenses, and studio lighting. For those who normally vlog on-the-go, a mirrorless or action camera and a good monopod or handheld gimbal stabilizer are typical gear staples. Invest in a good microphone that you can mount on your camera.

You need advanced software (like Final Cut Pro) to edit your content. These software programs don’t necessarily improve your content, particularly if you’re going to be struggling with it a lot during the first few weeks. If you’re new to video editing, you’d do much better with simple programs like Windows Movie Maker or Apple iMovie. These are a lot more user-friendly and are easily downloadable (for free), if you don’t already have them on your computer.

Next, plan your content and start shooting!

A Voice For My Audio Book

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If your novel is published, who would you choose to narrate your audio book of it?

If I did ever finish my novel, which is unlikely, and get it published, which is even more unlikely, I would love to have it on audio book as well. Mainly because it would be good to hear someone reading out my words and also because a lot of people would prefer to have the book read to them rather than read it out.

So if this does happen I have three names that I would want to read my book:

  • Morgan Freeman
  • William Shatner
  • James Earl Jones

If it were a woman’s voice I would guess I would choose from:

  • Meryl Streep
  • Rachel McAdams
  • Kate Winslet

Prompt from NOVEMBER BLOG PROMPTS: NANOWRIMO EDITION at Living A Sunshine Life

Maple Bacon French Toast Sandwich & Eggs

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November 28th – National French Toast Day. Do I really need to explain this? It’s good food — just go with it.

Ingredients

Directions

Step 1 : Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Lay bacon strips in a single layer on prepared baking sheet.

Step 2 : Bake in the preheated oven until browned and crisp, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels.

Step 3 : Beat 3 eggs, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a large, shallow bowl. Dip each slice of bread into egg mixture to saturate completely.

Step 4 : Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, cook bread slices in hot oil, turning once, until browned on each side, about 5 minutes. Transfer toast to a plate.

Step 5 : Beat remaining eggs in a bowl. Cook and stir eggs in the same skillet over medium heat until eggs are scrambled and set, 3 to 4 minutes.

Step 6 : Place 1 slice of toast on a plate and top with 1/2 of the bacon, 1/2 of the scrambled eggs, and 1 slice of toast. Repeat with remaining toast, bacon, and eggs. Top each sandwich with maple syrup.

Prompt from November Holidays and Newsletter Ideas — 2021 at Blogs. Constant Contact

I Wish I Could Get Those 3 Years Back And Do Them Over

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I was just about to write a blog post about this when I see this. However I would say three years 2011–2014. The worst years of my life. Mainly because, due to a very hostile working relationship that some of us had with the idiot who was the boss at the branch of the company I was working for, I realized that it was better to leave rather than making a big issue about it. The corporate life had kind of left me bitter at that time so I wanted a change.

I gave my resignation and worked for the 2 months notice that I had to but joined a start up company that the brother of a former colleague of mine was working as the HR/Admin for. I joined them in April of 2011 and a few days realized that I had made a huge mistake. The two men who started the company, a BPO, had no clue what to do and tried to make us do their jobs as well. It was terrible. We had some down time when they ran out of money and then tried to bring us back for another project. In a little over a year I joined another company, desperate as I was running out of money.

That too was a startup but they were better off. Still in about a year they started running into financial issues. Things went from bad to worse as two of the partners left the company putting my boss into trouble. I was soon out of a job (though technically still on their rolls) for many, many months as I did freelance work from home. 10 months I had no pay coming in as well. By the end of 2014 I had attended a few interviews and got selected for my job at my current company.

So those 3 years were the worst of my life. I never want to experience that again. But it is becoming apparent that 7 years here is enough time as well and it is good for me to look out.

Arsenal 2 Newcastle United 0

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Arsenal eventually broke Newcastle United down to leave Eddie Howe’s side bottom of the Premier League without a win. Howe, in the Magpies dugout for the first time after missing last weekend’s 3-3 draw with Brentford because of Covid, set up a team to try to contain Arsenal and eke out a point. It appeared as if the strategy might be working until Bukayo Saka slotted home from Nuno Tavares’ through ball in the second half.

Saka went off injured and his replacement Gabriel Martinelli scored with his second touch, a wonderful volley from Takehiro Tomiyasu’s clipped pass over the top. Both sides had hit the woodwork in an otherwise uninspiring first half. Jonjo Shelvey’s long-range drive was tipped on to the bar by the diving Aaron Ramsdale – and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hit a sitter off the post from six yards out. Arsenal remain fifth in the Premier League, while Newcastle are five points adrift of safety with just over a third of the season gone.

The Gunners’ quality eventually showed when Saka finished off a nice passing move, which also involved himself, Emile Smith Rowe and Tavares. Martinelli’s glorious volley past the onrushing Martin Dubravka – making his first Newcastle appearance of the season – wrapped things up. Arsenal are back to winning ways now, after last weekend’s 4-0 thrashing by Liverpool ended a 10-game unbeaten run. They should have won by more, with 23 shots – including Aubameyang hitting the upright after Dubravka had parried Smith Rowe’s header when a goal looked inevitable.

What Is Your Ideal “ME” Time?

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Me time is doing things that I love to do. I would love to be left alone. I want my laptop with me so I can do whatever I want on it. Blogging, watching Youtube, playing music and checking out various things online. I also might do a videochat with a friend or my cousins. I love catching up with them and with the various vlog channels that I follow.

I need music; my fav blues, rock, metal and other music that I tend to follow. Some country, some instrumental but mostly rock n metal. I could use some beer to chug down while I relax at home. And then some good food. How about some pizza? Or a cheeseburger and wings? Maybe some Chinese food? Okay and we can also substitute the beer with a vodka & sprite on the rocks from time to time.

Some football on tv or watching a good movie or my fav tv shows. Relaxing in my bedroom. I don’t ask for much but these things do make me relaxed and they are my favourite kind of me time.

Prompt from 30 Blog Post Ideas for November at Grande Life

The Seven Days Of The Week

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The reason why we organize our lives around a 7-day week is, quite literally, above our heads. Like many other calendars, today’s Gregorian calendar is ultimately based on the phases of the Moon. It takes the Moon around 29.5 days to cycle through all Moon phases. For everyday purposes, this is a fairly long and impractical time span, so it makes sense to break it down into smaller segments.

Enter the Babylonians. This ancient society, who lived in Mesopotamia in what is now Iraq, rounded the Moon cycle down to 28 days and divided this time span into 4 periods of 7 days each, using leap days to stay in sync with the Moon phases in the long run. This 7-day structure is also believed to have ultimately informed a number of popular creation myths, such as the Book of Genesis in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles, which states that God created the world in seven days: six days of work followed by one day of rest.

Avid astronomers and astrologers, the Babylonians developed a kind of horoscope around 500 BCE where each day of the week was assigned to one of the classical planets – the seven non-fixed celestial bodies visible to the naked eye. These are the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn. Some historical sources claim that the connection between the days of the week and the classical planets was introduced later by the ancient Greeks.

However, historians generally agree that it was the Romans who, a few hundred years later, added many features of the modern 7-day week by adapting the Babylonian system to their world view. From around the 1st century BCE, they introduced a system where each day was named after one of their pagan gods, each of whom was associated with one of the classical planets.

For example, Saturday was dies Saturni, the day of Saturn and Thursday after the Norse god Thor as in Thor’s day!  Tuesday after Tiw (Norse TĂ˝r) was a one-handed god associated with single combat and pledges in Norse mythology and also attested prominently in wider Germanic paganism & Friday, meaning the day of the Anglo-Saxon goddess FrĂ­ge. The Norse name for the planet Venus was Friggjarstjarna, ‘Frigg’s star’.

Arsenal Transfer Rumours : Mari, Pepe, Torriera Exit; Sanches In? Wenger To Come Back?

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta could be left red-faced as Pablo Mari, a player he signed in 2020, flirts with an exit from north London. The Brazilian is linked with a return to former club Flamengo as he struggles to make his mark on the Gunners’ defence, owing to the broadly positive form of Arteta’s starting quartet. Arsenal had been notable for their defensive solidity in recent weeks, until Liverpool fired four past them at Anfield last weekend. Unfortunately for Mari, he was not part of that recipe after playing a role in the Gunners’ torrid start to the campaign.

Lille’s Renato Sanches has acknowledged the interest from the Gunners and other teams. And he may be ready to move to North London if a deal finalizes. The 24-year-old midfielder first burst onto the scene with Benfica in the 2015-16 season. This gave him the golden ticket to play for Portugal in the 2016 Euros. He had a strong showing in the competition and went on to win the tournament with his fellow teammates. In 2016, Renato Sanches got a €35 million move to Bayern Munich but failed to settle there. He would play a season with Swansea City on loan before moving to French club Lille in 2019. At Lille, Renato Sanches finally seems to have settled down again. He and his fans around the world would hope that he reaches new heights in the coming years.

Former Premier League striker Noel Whelan said Everton should consider a loan move for Nicolas Pepe, amid recent speculation linking the Ivory Coast star with an Emirates exit. Pepe arrived into North London with a huge reputation and an enormous ÂŁ72m price tag, however, consistency has been hard to find for the former Lille forward. French outlet Jeunes Footeux claim Everton, Newcastle and Crystal Palace are all reportedly courting the precocious 24-year-old in lieu of a potential transfer. Arsenal could receive ÂŁ40m from selling Nicolas Pepe and Lucas Torreira, according to reports.

Torreira has been on loan from Arsenal this season at Fiorentina, with the Serie A outfit prepared to pay the ÂŁ15m option-to-buy in the clause. Nicolas Pepe, however, is also attracting attention from Italy and will be sold for around ÂŁ25m. Torreira initially impressed in north London. The Uruguayan scored early on in his Gunners career against Tottenham Hotspur and was seen as a dynamic midfielder – but in his second season with the club, things dramatically took a turn for the worst.

The Gunners manager wants his former boss back involved at the club and the pair have discussed a possible return. Mikel Arteta has held talks with Arsene Wenger over a return to the club. Arteta has now revealed that he has held discussions with his former manager about returning for the first time since he left in 2019. Arteta was asked in what capacity he envisaged Wenger returning to the club, with the idea of some sort of ambassador role being mooted. The Arsenal boss would not reveal what he had in mind, however, but said that he believed he would benefit massively from having that 72-year-old back from time to time.

Get The Best Gaming Experience Possible With These Tips

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If you are someone who loves gaming, then you are going to want the best gaming experience possible. Simply buying a game and then playing it is not going to allow you the full experience which is why you have got to go one step further. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the tips that we have come up with to help you achieve the best experience possible when you are gaming. Keep reading down below if you would like to find out more.

Buy The Best Device

First, you are going to buy the best device. Now, there is a lot of controversy around this as some people think XBOX are the best, and others think that Play Station takes the cake. PC is also another awesome option that a lot of people love, which is why these three are usually the main contenders. Of course, it depends on your personal preference as to which is classed as the best. Have you had experience with either of these in the past? Or, do your friends use a certain device that you have played on before? If you have some kind of experience with a console, then you should be able to make a choice as to which one you want to use.

You should also think about the games that you want to play when making this choice. The reason for this is that some of them are exclusive to either Sony or Microsoft meaning that you can’t play them on the other console. If there is a game that you know you want to play with all your heart, then the decision has been made for you.

Also, make sure that you have taken a look at all of the specs. While they might not be the be all and end all of purchasing a device, it will help to make a choice. It may be the case that one of the devices has something that you think is desirable and it will help sway your decision that way. This is an important part of the buying process, so make sure that you have taken a close look before making any commitment.

All The Accessories

The next thing that you are going to need to think about is slowly building up your accessories for your gaming experience. For example, if you have ever watched a Twitch stream, you will notice that they don’t just have the one console and a controller, they usually have a bunch of cool stuff to enhance the area around them. Some people who use PC’s to game use keyboards with lights on them, monitors with backlights and so on. It makes the surrounding area cool and helps you to really immerse yourself into the game that you are playing.

If you’re going to be playing online with other people, then you’re going to need a headset at the very least to ensure that you can all communicate. Take a look at reviews and buy the best one that is in your budget.

What Kind Of Games Are You Into?

We also highly recommend that you think about the kind of games that you are into so that you can get everything set up. Make sure that you download and install the game before the time that you want to play it, otherwise you’re going to be in a very frustrating position. You should also think about whether you are going to need to find a server for your game. For example, you may need to look into the best server hosting for Ark if this is a game that you are interested in.

Think carefully about the needs that come with each game so that you can ensure they are being met. If they’re not, then you are not going to get the best gaming experience, which isn’t going to be fun for you.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you can do in order to get the best gaming experience possible. If you are going to do something like gaming, you may as well do it right! That’s the best way to think about it when you are going through these steps. We promise that it will enhance your experience if you think carefully about all of these things before you start jumping into anything. Good luck and have fun!

Write About How You Started Your Career

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Let me take you back to 2000. After a 2 year diploma in Computer Science at NIIT and then a 6 months course, which took a year because of issues that the institute had, I realizes that I did not have a future in programming as I didn’t have the knack for it. This had really dawned on me after I completed the project I had completed – yeah that complicated, drawn out battle woke me up and crashed my dreams of that career.

I ended up managing an internet cafe in the early 2000s for a year and then trying to do some marketing for internet concepts and other stuff for a few months and then after a while many people talked to me about joining a call center for either sales or customer care. This led to me applying to a couple of them based in Bangalore but they conducted some of their recruitment drives here in Cochin. At one of them, the guys in the recruitment really wanted me to go to Bangalore for the final interview but I said no as I didn’t want to go and stay there and then not get selected. It was expensive for me and I was broke.

Finally I got a chance to go to Calicut for joining a call center. That last only 8 months due to financial issues for the company and then I joined a small BPO run by a large company in Fort Kochi. This was stable but it was sales and some of the sales were not genuine as the client companies were basically fraud. I then joined the mobile service provider industry as a customer care call rep and then a supervisor and trainer and I was with one process for 3 years and the other for 4. That was my entry into training and I mostly love training.

It’s the corporate nonsense that I don’t like but otherwise I do enjoy what I do.

Prompt from Blog Ideas to Scare Away That Tormenting Blinking Cursor

Recommended Specs For A Bloggers’ Laptop

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As a long time blogger, I have been asked for recommendations for a laptop for someone who is mainly going to blog and ofcourse browse the internet. Since I am not a techie, I had to dip into some websites to find a proper recommendations for specs that a blogger can use. Here are some tips that you can look at before finalizing on a machine for your blogging purposes.

CPU
Avoid anything with the labels: Pentium, Celeron, Atom/Arm, AMD E2, AMD A9, A6, MediaTek unless you are going to buy a ChromeBook. However it is strongly recommended to get Intel Core i3 CPUs from the 8th gen upwards and AMD Ryzen 3 Chips. Core i5 Chips and AMD Ryzen 5 chips might be useful if you want to do some heavy photoshop+light video editing a walk in the park. Core i7/AMD Ryzen 7 chips and up are only useful for heavy video editors, most bloggers rely on simple cuts/transitions.

RAM
2-4GB is fine for ChromeBook/Linux/Windows 10 in S mode/MAC OSX set ups. 8GB is a must for  Windows 10 Home. 16GB (though that is what I have) is wasted unless you’re going to do some pretty hardcore video editing.

Display
Size: get the biggest one you can handle. Obviously, if you’re going to be on the move, you can’t go for a 17”.
Resolution: This is the most crucial part of the display.At  least a FHD resolution, the higher the better. Pair that with a 17” display you’d have an insane amount of free space to multitask. A FHD/Retina Display will also make a 13” display have enough space for you to work with.

Storage
Size isn’t important. The type of storage is. Now that HDDs are almost obselete, pick an PCIe NVMe SSD if you can. It will make your laptop soar through the sky and perform tasks several seconds faster which will add up to minutes then less hours spent blogging.

My First Choice When It Comes To Buying Meat

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My go to online delivery system for fresh meat – be it chicken or fish and the odd occasional mutton (lamb) is from Fresh To Home. These guys are the best at their customer service and I like their variety of options available on their website/services.

We eat a lot of fish in a week. I love my sardines, mackrel, bassa, tuna and seer fish – these are the most common ones we eat at home. Sometimes we get anchovies, which I love, barracuda, maybe even some squid or shrimp (though not on the barbie). Kerala is a fish place. But ofcourse, as I have mentioned it earlier on my blog – pearl spot reigns supreme as the king of all fish. I love me some pearl spot, though it isn’t the cheapest to get. Fry that up or even cook them in a banana leaf with a whole lot of spices and chilli powder and it will make your mouth water as the food is being cooked.

Ofcourse we eat a lot of chicken. The go to is to buy a kg of chicken, cut for us and delivered, and make a curry that lasts us for a couple of meals at least. Sometimes a 3rd if we are being miserly. Or we can get the whole leg – thigh and leg – either marinated in a tandoori masala or just as it is. I like those as well. Fry them up and eat them with chapati or porota or even with some rice. Amazing and delicious.

Now like I mentioned, we do get mutton or squid or prawns once in a while and I do enjoy the change of meat when that happens. But yeah the usual fish and chicken is always so good. So if I were to buy some I would first check on freshtohome and if they don’t have it, is when I look for something else.