If I Could Just Have My Full Fleet Of Starships

Posted on by Roshan Leave a comment

If you could have the full range of something, what would you choose? (e.g. all 108 tombow dual brush pen colours)

Well I can think of several things that I would want a full range of. So many things like a Samsung range – phone, laptop, earbuds, smart tv & tab. However I am poor.

What I would love to get, as a big Trekkie, is to get the entire range of Eaglemoss’s Star Trek starships. I did buy quite a few of them and I love them but, that was when I had a freelance gig for a couple of years and I had some extra cash to spend. So what I did was buy some of the ship models an dvds and a few Funko Pops. Speaking of dvds & Funkos, I would like to get a whole range of them to add to my collection as well.

However since mid 2021 I haven’t been getting those freelance work and it trickled down to zero by early 2022. Hence I haven’t bought any since then as our expenses are crazy in recent years.

Prompt from Journaling Prompts from The Coffee Monterz Co . Com

Saudi Arabia Will Host The 2034 FIFA World Cup

Posted on by Roshan Leave a comment

Saudi Arabia was officially named the hosts for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, opening the path for further sporting events in the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia will become the second nation from the Middle East to host the mega football event, 12 years after neighbours Qatar staged the 2022 edition, where Argentina lifted the prestigious trophy. The decision was announced by FIFA President Gianni Infantino following a virtual extraordinary Congress. The 2030 and 2034 World Cups each had only a single bid and both were confirmed by acclamation.

The Saudi Arabian Football Federation greeted the news by posting a message from Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on its official X account. FIFA restricted the hosting eligibility to Asia or Oceania after it made the decision to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup on three continents (Africa, Europe and South America). Observers characterized this as bending FIFA rules to pave the path for Saudi Arabia to host the 2034 edition by substantially reducing potential competing host bids. And ofcourse we know that FIFA is as corrupt as they come.

Saudi Arabia has an atrocious humans rights records. Football is for the masses – how enjoyable is the World Cup gonna be in that country – do women who attend all have to wear burkas? No alcohol, no homosexual couples – who know how things will be there!

Some Delicious & Fun Facts About Banana Splits

Posted on by Roshan Leave a comment

Since its invention in 1904, the Banana Split has become an iconic part of American dessert culture. Its history began when David Strickler, a 23-year-old “soda jerk” at a drugstore in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, started experimenting with different ice cream combinations. He cut a banana lengthwise, added three scoops of ice cream – typically vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry – and then topped it with sweet syrups, marshmallow, chopped nuts, whipped cream, and a maraschino cherry. It was an instant hit!

The Banana Split quickly gained popularity, particularly among the students at nearby St. Vincent College, who would frequent the drugstore to indulge in the delicious dessert. Strickler’s banana-based sundaes quickly became known as “Dr. Dave’s” among the students, who would rave about them to their hometown soda jerks, spreading the word about the new dessert.

Within a few years, the Banana Split gained national recognition. The dessert had become a staple of American dessert culture, and Strickler had become a pioneer of the ice cream industry.

Strickler went on to buy the Latrobe pharmacy where he had invented the Banana Split, and he even added an optical business upstairs. He was a staple in the local community until he passed away in 1971 at the age of 90.

The Great American Banana Split Festival has been a staple in Latrobe since 2013, when the Pennsylvania Historical Society unveiled a marker at the former site of Tassel’s Pharmacy where Sticker was working at the time of his invention, cementing Stricklers legacy in historical record.

Today, the Banana Split remains a beloved dessert across the United States and is often found on the menus of ice cream shops and restaurants. It is also the official dessert of Pennsylvania!

Nostalgia : Blank Cassette Tapes And The Era Of The MixTape

Posted on by Roshan Leave a comment

One of the things that brings back so many memories from my early childhood upto my 20s. The cassette tape as one of the things that I loved as it had my music on it and I love music. We used blank tapes to record songs from the radio or if you had the twin deck on your stereo system you’d get that elusive album from a friend or someone, and record the whole album. Or ofcourse you made your own mix tapes.

TDK was my jam. We had Sony and some other brands but TDK as the one I loved! I used to buy so many of them so I could my favourite rock and some pop songs & artists recorded on them if we couldn’t get the particular album in the shops.

I made so many mixtapes. I would give them to friends and in particular, at the age of 17, to a girlfriend – songs i thought at the time were some of the best romantic songs. The girlfriend is long gone but I do love the songs just as much.

Arsenal 3 AS Monaco 0

Posted on by Roshan Leave a comment

Bukayo Saka scored twice as Arsenal beat Monaco to strengthen their position as one of the sides likely to progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

The Gunners were well on top in the first half, but missed a number of chances to make the outcome even more comfortable. Arsenal took the lead in the 34th minute after Myles Lewis–Skelly played in Gabriel Jesus and the Brazilian crossed for Saka to tap in. Substitute Kai Havertz then forced a mistake from keeper Radoslaw Majecki in the 74th minute and Saka steered in from close range. The England forward then set up the third with two minutes left as Havertz turned in his cross. Arsenal should have added more to their tally, though, before their late flurry. Gabriel Jesus was denied twice by Majecki when through on goal.

Captain Martin Odegaard was next to go close when he intercepted a loose pass from Monaco midfielder Soungoutou Magassa but shot wide from inside the area, while Gabriel Martinelli curled wide of the post when well placed too. The Gunners were almost punished immediately after the restart for their wayward finishing when Thilo Kehrer headed wide from inside the box from a Monaco free-kick. Former Liverpool midfielder Takumi Minamino and striker Breel Embolo also went close for the visitors. However, the missed chances did not matter in the end as the late goals from Saka and Havertz gave Mikel Arteta’s side the success.

Arsenal moved up to third in the table on 13 points and are in a strong position going into their final two group stage games. They host Dinamo Zagreb next on 22 January before visiting Girona a week later. The Gunners looked to have been hit by another injury crisis when Thomas Partey, Jurrien Timber, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riccardo Calafiori missed the open part of the training session before the match. However, Partey was able to start and defender Timber named on the bench in a changed line-up for Arteta.

Buy ‘Em All : Album Sales For Metallica

Posted on by Roshan Leave a comment

Metallica, one of the most successful heavy metal bands in history, has released numerous albums that have achieved massive commercial and critical success. Here are their most successful albums, both in terms of sales and influence:

1. Metallica (The Black Album) (1991)

  • Sales: Over 30 million copies worldwide.
  • Key Tracks: “Enter Sandman,” “The Unforgiven,” “Nothing Else Matters.”
  • Impact: This self-titled album is their best-selling and most commercially successful. It marked a shift toward a more mainstream sound and catapulted them into global superstardom.

2. Master of Puppets (1986)

  • Sales: Over 10 million copies worldwide.
  • Key Tracks: “Master of Puppets,” “Battery,” “Welcome Home (Sanitarium).”
  • Impact: Often regarded as one of the greatest heavy metal albums of all time, it showcased complex compositions and cemented Metallica’s reputation in the metal community.

3. Ride the Lightning (1984)

  • Sales: Over 6 million copies worldwide.
  • Key Tracks: “Fade to Black,” “Creeping Death,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls.”
  • Impact: This album demonstrated the band’s growing maturity, with a blend of thrash metal and more melodic elements.

4. …And Justice for All (1988)

  • Sales: Over 8 million copies worldwide.
  • Key Tracks: “One,” “Harvester of Sorrow,” “Blackened.”
  • Impact: Known for its complex song structures and politically charged themes. The single “One” earned them their first Grammy.

5. Kill ‘Em All (1983)

  • Sales: Over 3 million copies worldwide.
  • Key Tracks: “Seek & Destroy,” “Hit the Lights,” “Whiplash.”
  • Impact: Their debut album introduced the world to thrash metal and laid the foundation for their future success.

6. Reload (1997)

  • Sales: Over 4 million copies in the U.S. alone.
  • Key Tracks: “Fuel,” “The Memory Remains,” “The Unforgiven II.”
  • Impact: A continuation of the more experimental, hard rock sound from “Load.”

7. Load (1996)

  • Sales: Over 5 million copies in the U.S. alone.
  • Key Tracks: “Until It Sleeps,” “King Nothing,” “Hero of the Day.”
  • Impact: This album saw the band experimenting with a more alternative and hard rock style.

8. Death Magnetic (2008)

  • Sales: Over 2 million copies worldwide.
  • Key Tracks: “The Day That Never Comes,” “Cyanide,” “All Nightmare Long.”
  • Impact: A return to their thrash roots, widely regarded as a comeback album.

9. Hardwired… to Self-Destruct (2016)

  • Sales: Over 1.5 million copies worldwide in its first year.
  • Key Tracks: “Hardwired,” “Moth Into Flame,” “Atlas, Rise!”
  • Impact: Showcased their ability to stay relevant in modern music while returning to their aggressive style.

Summary

  • Biggest Success: The Black Album remains their most iconic and commercially successful work.
  • Critical Favorite: Master of Puppets is often lauded as their magnum opus within the metal genre.

Metallica’s albums continue to influence generations of fans and musicians alike, making them one of the most enduring acts in heavy music history.

Benefits Of Using A Humidifier At Home

Posted on by Roshan Leave a comment

Humidifiers add moisture to the air. They can help people with dry skin, allergies, and respiratory problems. They may also help prevent influenza and reduce snoring, among other benefits. Dry air can cause moisture to evaporate from the skin and respiratory symptoms to worsen over time. Adding moisture to the air with a humidifier can counteract these problems.

Benefits of a humidifier may include:

1. Preventing influenza

Authors of one study noted that humidifiers might reduce the risk of catching the flu. After adding the influenza virus to the air with a simulated cough, researchers found that humidity levels above 40 percent rapidly deactivated virus particles, making them much less likely to be infectious.

2. Making a cough more productive

Dry air can cause a person to have a dry, unproductive cough. Adding humidity to the air can get more moisture into the airways, which can make a cough more productive. A productive cough releases trapped or sticky phlegm.

3. Reducing snoring

Increasing the amount of moisture in the air can also reduce snoring. If the air is dry, a person’s airways are less likely to be sufficiently lubricated, which can make snoring worse. Adding humidity to the air by running a humidifier at night may help to relieve some symptoms.

4. Keeping the skin and hair moist

Some people notice that their skin, lips, and hair become dry and fragile in the winter. Many types of heating units pump hot, dry air through the house or office, which can make the skin dry, itchy, or flaky. Cold air outside can also dry out the skin. Using a humidifier to add moisture to the indoor air may help to reduce the occurrence of dry, cracked skin.

5. Benefits for the home

Moisture from a humidifier can be helpful around the home. Any moisture-loving houseplants may become more vibrant, and wood floors or furniture may last longer. Humidity can also help to prevent wallpaper from cracking and static electricity from building up. Humid air can also feel warmer than dry air, which could help a person to save money on utility bills in winter months.

Unlimited Toppings On My Ultimate Pizza

Posted on by Roshan Leave a comment

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.

Some Delicious Facts About Dunkin Donuts

Posted on by Roshan Leave a comment

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.

Four More Best Work-From-Home Accessories For You

Posted on by Roshan Leave a comment

Ergonomic mouse

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.

Fulham 1 Arsenal 1

Posted on by Roshan Leave a comment

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.

Cup, Cone Or Popsicle

Posted on by Roshan Leave a comment

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.

Prompt from Journaling Prompts from The Coffee Monterz Co . Com

British Lion’s Simon Dawson Joins Iron Maiden As Touring Drummer

Posted on by Roshan Leave a comment

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.

New Setup For My Home

Posted on by Roshan Leave a comment

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.

IMG_20241203_121623

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.

IMG_20241204_161046

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.

IMG_20241205_215542

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!

IMG_20241206_053423