Feeling The Heat; Will Soon Feel The Pinch

- Roshan

Man is it getting hot & humid. This will stay like this likely till the end of June when the monsoon season hits. Its the kind of weather that makes you want to borrow some snow and cold weather from the countries in the north. Anyways, a good air-conditioner will be a welcome respite. Now I already have an air-conditioner in my bedroom but I can’t enjoy it.

You see last year it stopped working. It needed to be serviced but I just kept putting it off. Finally a few weeks ago when I just checked it, it showed an error which I did not understand. I should have done the servicing done a while back. Anyways, I finally called them up and got someone to come in yesterday. He called me for directions and came in. He did the servicing but after that when he checked the error he told me that it’s gonna take some doing to fix it.

The error means indicates a communication error or an internal protector fault. This means the indoor and outdoor units might not be communicating properly, or a safety mechanism inside the AC has tripped. The outdoor unit might not be sending feedback to the indoor unit, which can be caused by issues like incorrect wiring, loose connections, or a faulty indoor/outdoor PCB (Printed Circuit Board). It looks like it will have to be replaced and that will cost me Rs.8000. That’s an amount I was planning to set aside to buy a new phone. It will have to wait I guess.

Arsenal Transfer & Contract Extension Talks

- Roshan

Arsenal are looking ahead to a massive summer transfer window after another trophyless season following their Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. Martin Zubimendi is a done deal according to Fabrizio Romano, with Arsenal getting the ‘here we go’ on a deal for the Spanish midfielder. Also according to Foot Mercato, incoming Real boss Xabi Alonso wanted to sign Zubimendi. Alonso has quit Bayer Leverkusen and is expected to replace Carlo Ancelotti at Santiago Bernabeu. The same source claims the Spanish tactician asked Los Blancos’ president Florentino Perez to sign the defensive midfielder and help Leverkusen star Jonathan Tah follow him to Spain.

Arsenal have opened talks with Leandro Trossard as clubs from the Saudi Pro League circle for the Belgian. He’s proved to be a big hit since moving to the Emirates and Mikel Arteta wants to retain the player. Trossard has come up with big moments since joining in January 2023 and his versatility has also been a huge plus. The north Londoners are ready to offer a new deal, which would run to 2029, reports the Daily Mail. Arsenal last summer turned down a bid from Al Ittihad but clubs from the Saudi Pro League are understood to be willing to return with a fresh offer as their interest remains. His current deal expires next summer, but there is a one-year extension clause to 2027. Trossard is currently 30 so being offered a new four-year deal is a huge show of faith from the Emirates hierarchy. His high fitness levels was a major contributing factor in Arsenal issuing such a lengthy deal.

Arsenal have opened contract talks with defender William Saliba, reports the Evening Standard. Saliba’s current contract will have two years left to run come the summer and the north Londoners are keen to reward him with a new deal and tie him down long-term. Real Madrid are interested in the Frenchman, but Saliba claimed in March that he was currently happy at the Emirates, but Florentino Perez is known to be a huge admirer.

Some Delicious Facts About Jollibee

- Roshan

It started out as an ice cream shop

In 1975, 22-year old Tony Tan Caktiong, who would later be the president and CEO of Jollibee Foods Corporation, opened 2 Magnolia Ice Cream shops – 1 in Cubao and 1 in Quiapo. By popular demand, he added sandwiches and hot meals to the menu which soon became more popular than the ice cream.  Finally, in 1978, Tan Caktiong transitioned his businesses into fast-food restaurants. Prior to opening his ice cream shops, Tan Caktiong had studied chemical engineering. If he didn’t transition to the food industry and adapt his food business, we may never have the Chickenjoy that we enjoy today. Today, Jollibee is a global brand with over 9,500 stores in 32 countries, known for its Chickenjoy, Yumburger, and Jolly Spaghetti.

Its name used to be spelled as “Jolibe” 

In 1978, Jollibee was called Jolibe. Back then, Tan Caktiong was at a loss on how to improve his restaurant’s branding and further its marketing. It wasn’t until after he met Manuel Lumba, a marketing consultant, when the establishment’s name changed to Jollibee to emphasize that it’s a combination of the words “jolly” and “bee”. The same year, Lumba came up with the fast-food restaurant’s logo – a bee similar to what we see today but not as refined.

The Jollibee mascot represents Filipinos 

Beyond just enticing customers to buy their food products with an image of a jolly bee, the Jollibee mascot was created to represent Filipinos. Filipinos are known to be some of the happiest people in the world – thus, jolly – and, like bees, Filipinos are hardworking by nature. The bees’ byproduct, honey, also represents “the sweet things in life” which Jollibee has undoubtedly attained throughout its many years in business.

It has more branches than McDonald’s in the Philippines

There’s a country in the world that has McDonald’s stores where the international fast-food giant doesn’t reign – the Philippines. While Jollibee has a whopping 1,150 stores in the country, McDonald’s only has over 600. In 1987, Jollibee also began to expand to the international market, opening its first branch overseas in Brunei. Today, the fast-food chain has more than 270 branches abroad, the latest being the one in Madrid, Spain.

There are menu items only available in Jollibee stores abroad

There areJollibee menu items that are only served at their branches abroad. Two of these are Singapore’s Nasi Lemak Chickenjoy and Brunei’s Garlic Chicken Curry. In Vietnam, they have Chilli Chicken, Roasted Chicken Pie, and Green Milk Tea. They also have Peach Pie instead of the Philippine Jollibee outlets’ famous Peach Mango Pie. Meanwhile, in some Middle Eastern countries such as Qatar and Kuwait, they have the Jolly Wrap – chicken tenders and veggies in pita bread – and Chickenjoy with kabsa or biryani rice.

Ideal Meals For Extreme Weather Conditions

- Roshan

What is your ideal meal after a burning hot day? Ideal meal after a freezing cold day?

What would be a good meal after a burning hot day? I dunno. A nice salad? Chicken salad with some garlic bread. A Chicken Caesar salad. Or a sandwich with some coleslaw on the side. A shawarma perhaps. Ice cream or fruit salads.

After a freezing cold day? Well let’s just say that since I life in tropical Kerala, the coldest we get is during the monsoon season when there is a heavy rainfall along with a cold breeze blowing in. On such nights I like pasta, like noodles and chicken or pork. Or some grilled chicken. Some coffee at the end.

Prompt from Journaling Prompts from The Coffee Monterz Co . Com

Get The Basics Right When It Comes To Spelling & Grammar

- Roshan

Outside of an academic setting, should spelling & grammar be corrected?

Absolutely yes. Atleast get the basics correct. Spelling is most important and goes a long way in establishing the fact that you are not an uneducated moron. I’ve seen so many people make such gloriously inept spelling & grammar mistakes that the inner spelling & grammar Nazi in me, wants to hurl some dung at the person who made the errors. Little things like that do bother me.

I suppose the only place where grammar & spelling doesn’t mean that much is on Whatsapp. It’s usually only meant for a single person so your conversations can have liberal takes on spellings as long as the meaning of the content is not lost. And it’s a very casual conversation so therefore it’s ok to be lackadaisical with spelling especially. Once again in this casual setting only! Anyplace else, especially on Social Media, I am gonna judge you and correct you.

So work on your grammar and spelling. Understand the simple things – like the difference between Your and You’re! I mean sheesh, come on!

Prompt from Journaling Prompts from The Coffee Monterz Co . Com

Arsenal 1 Paris Saint-Germain 2

- Roshan

Arsenal’s bid to reach the Champions League final ended in failure as they were beaten by Paris St-Germain on a night of drama at Parc des Princes.

The Gunners’ attempt to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit ran aground on another magnificent display by PSG’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. The Italian, outstanding in the first leg at Emirates Stadium, delivered a repeat performance with a series of stunning saves to keep Arsenal at bay early on. He made an outstanding stop from Gabriel Martinelli, then an even better save from Martin Odegaard’s low long-range drive as PSG were rocked back. PSG cashed in to take the lead on the night when Fabian Ruiz collected Thomas Partey’s headed clearance to flash a 20-yard finish past Arsenal keeper David Raya with the help of a slight deflection after 27 minutes.

In a thrilling encounter, Donnarumma produced another stunning save to deny Bukayo Saka, before Raya got in on the act by saving Vitinha’s poor spot-kick after Myles Lewis-Skelly was penalised for handball. Partey was the culprit when PSG extended their lead after 72 minutes, losing possession before Achraf Hakimi scored on the turn. Saka did finally beat Donnarumma with an angled finish four minutes later, but it was not enough to spark a comeback, although he then shot over an open goal, and PSG will now meet Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Munich.

Arsenal delivered a top-class display in Paris, but the bitter truth is they could not deliver enough of the “magic moments” manager Mikel Arteta had demanded and their barren run without a trophy now extends to five years. They stunned PSG and their supporters with a blistering early salvo, but Declan Rice headed a great chance wide before Donnarumma again broke their hearts and hopes of a comeback.  Arteta could not have asked for more from his players against this talented PSG team, who beat Manchester City in the league phase, then eliminated Liverpool and Aston Villa in the knockout rounds.

I’d Rather Be Bored Than Be Too Busy

- Roshan

Would you rather be bored or be too busy?

This might surprise a lot of people but I would rather be bored than be too busy. Shocking! Yeah I know. Its just that things have changed so much for me in the last few years. My health is not the greatest. I have miles to go before I can even think about going out and enjoying myself.

So rather than be too busy, I’d be ok with being bored. I can change that. I can make myself not be bored. I have the internet, I have my music and I have my movies and tv shows. I can keep myself entertained. I can think of stuff to read online. I have numerous stuff to watch on Youtube. I can watch documentaries or interviews. Or music concert clips.

If I was too busy, I’d not get enough rest. Nowadays I need more of that. I need to be careful of my health so I don’t mind being bored. I can even create stories in my head while I lie down and rest. Or drift off to sleep. Bored don’t bother me.

Prompt from Journaling Prompts from The Coffee Monterz Co . Com

Some Interesting Facts About Cafe Coffee Day

- Roshan

  • It was started in 1996. The first single cafe was in Bengaluru’s Brigade Road. VG Siddhartha started CCD with an initial investment of 1.5 Crores. In 2005, CCD opened its first international outlet in Vienna. CCD has a total of 1752 cafe’s spread over 243 cities.
  • It was in 2010 that CCD’s logo, the layout of the stores, and interiors were revamped. This happened because of an investment of INR 10 billion (US$140 million) in Coffee Day Resorts, owned by the company. This gave a boost to the coffee chain numbers.
  • The present CCD logo was chosen to denote the coffee chain as a place to talk. It was to convey a relaxed and fun hangout for the aspirational, urban youth in the country. That’s how Café Coffee Day touched the hearts of the Indian youth, assuring them that all they need is a cup of coffee and a peppy place to talk it all out.
  • Besides brewing happiness in coffee, the company also produces coffee machines and furniture for the CCD outlets. This is how the brand does its cost-cutting and focuses on making great coffee easily accessible and affordable for all.
  • The amazing coffee that we sip at Cafe Coffee Day comes from the coffee estates of 20,000 acres owned by the company. Out of these, 10,000 acres of coffee farms were inherited by V G Siddhartha from his parents and have been the secret behind the evergreen taste of CCD’s coffee.
  • Café Coffee Day grows three varieties of beans primarily – Dark Forest, Arabica & Robusta in the estates. Then too, it is the largest producer of Arabica beans in Asia. It exports the Arabica coffee beans to various countries including the USA, Europe, and Japan.
  • On 29 July 2019, Siddhartha went missing, and his body was found in the Nethravathi river  backwaters two days later. A letter, assumed to be written by Siddhartha addressing the board of directors and staff, was made public in which he takes responsibility for not creating a profitable business model. In 2023, the company managed to trim its debt by 95%, with a 75% year-on-year revenue increase in its retail coffee division. 

Scariest Places In The World : Saintlo Jail Hostel, Ottawa, Canada

- Roshan

The Saintlo Ottawa Jail Hostel, emblematic of a real prison, offers a unique historical experience that lacks the charm and privacy you might find in a traditional hostel. However, the experience more than makes up for it, especially for budget-conscious travellers. Open to all, Ottawa’s Jail Hostel makes for a memorable night’s accommodation that won’t break the bank.

For 110 years, the thick-stoned building on Nicholas Street was known as the Carleton County Gaol, an imposing hell designed to imprison Ottawa’s most notorious offenders. Built in 1862 as a model British prison, the reality of the jail was hardly civilized. Tiny, freezing cells were crammed with both men and boys as young as five years old, reeking of excrement, the floor crawling with rats and bugs. The prison was eventually shut down in 1972 due to cruel living conditions but opened the following year as a refurbished youth hostel.

As travelers started spending nights in the hostel, many reported unexplainable events that occurred all over the building and grounds.

  • The Ghost of Patrick Whelan: Arguably the hostel’s most famous spook, you’ll see Patrick Whelan walking the halls toward the gallows where he was hanged. His restless spirit is said to be caused by an undignified burial after his execution.
  • The Hole: Also known as solitary confinement, this area of the jail is filled with an ominous, negative energy. Visitors report overwhelming feelings of despair in this cramped, lightless space.
  • The Gallows: The jail’s preferred method of execution is still standing and functional, so don’t try it out. Hotel guests have heard footsteps, disembodied voices and other baffling sounds coming from the execution chamber.
  • The Lounge: The hostel’s lounge was once used to house women and children prisoners, echoes of whom can still be heard today. Visitors claim to hear sounds of children crying and screaming, as well as knocking on doors and footsteps in the empty room.

The Top 10 American States That Has The Most Nones

- Roshan

It’s difficult to definitively rank states based solely on atheism, as surveys often focus on religious affiliation and belief in a God. However, states with high percentages of “Nones” (those who identify as religiously unaffiliated) are often considered more atheistic. Here’s a list of states that tend to have a higher percentage of religiously unaffiliated individuals:

1. Vermont:
This state has consistently ranked high in the percentage of people identifying as religiously unaffiliated, sometimes exceeding 30%.

2. New Hampshire:
Similar to Vermont, New Hampshire also has a significant population of religiously unaffiliated residents.

3. Washington:
This state is known for having a high percentage of people who identify as “Nones,” although the exact percentage may vary depending on the survey.

4. Oregon:
Historically, Oregon has been among the states with a higher percentage of people identifying as “No religion, Atheist, or Agnostic,” although this may vary across different polls.

5. Maine:
Maine has also been cited as having a substantial number of religiously unaffiliated residents.

6. Alaska:
While not always at the top of the list, Alaska has a notable population of religiously unaffiliated individuals.

7. California:
While not a top-tier state for atheism, California has a larger proportion of atheists and non-religious individuals compared to many other states.

8. Massachusetts:
Like New England in general, Massachusetts has a relatively high percentage of religiously unaffiliated individuals.

9. Colorado:
Colorado also has a growing population of religiously unaffiliated individuals, often ranking among the top states in this category.

10. New Mexico:
New Mexico has a significant percentage of people who identify as religiously unaffiliated, making it a contender for the list.

May The 4th Be With You – Star Wars Day

- Roshan

It didn’t begin a long time ago or in a galaxy far far away, but every May 4 it feels like images, memes and promotional deals involving “Star Wars” have an inescapable gravity. May 4 — or May the 4th, as fans say — has evolved over the years into Star Wars Day, an informal holiday celebrating the space epic and its surrounding franchise.

What is Star Wars Day?
Star Wars Day was created by fans as a sly nod to one of the films’ most popular catchphrases, “May the force be with you.” Get it? Good, now May the 4th be with you too. It’s not an official holiday. The phrase “May the 4th be with you” was used by fans in the years after the first film was released in 1977, and even appeared in a British political ad in 1979 celebrating Margaret Thatcher’s victory as prime minister on May 4 that year.

For some fans, the official Star Wars Day comes on May 25, the date of the first film’s release. The Los Angeles City Council even declared the date to be Star Wars Day in 2007, although the California Legislature voted in 2019 to designate May 4 as Star Wars Day. May the 4th caught on informally among fans through inside jokes shared on social media and viewings of the films to mark the occasion. Businesses eventually joined in on the fun, with brands ranging from Nissan to Jameson Whiskey running ads or posting on social media about it.

Disney, which acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, embraced the day as a way to further promote the franchise with merchandise, special screenings and other events surrounding the brand.

Arsenal 1 Bournemouth 2

- Roshan

Arsenal’s hopes of building momentum before their crucial Champions League tie with Paris St-Germain in midweek were hit as Bournemouth came from behind to win at Emirates Stadium and boost their own European ambitions.

The Gunners head to France on Wednesday looking to overturn a 1-0 loss in the first leg and reach the final of Europe’s premier club competition. Mikel Arteta resisted the opportunity to rest his key players for the game but despite naming a strong Arsenal side against the Cherries, they were undone by a second-half fightback by the visitors. Declan Rice had marked his 100th appearance for the Gunners with the opener in the first half, rounding Kepa in the Bournemouth goal before firing in.

But the visitors were always in the game and, after missing some decent chances in the first half, they turned the game on its head after the break. First, Dean Huijsen equalised in the 67th minute when he headed in from Antoine Semenyo’s long throw. The visitors then took the lead eight minutes later as Evanilson bundled in from a corner to seal a first-ever win at the Emirates for Bournemouth. Arsenal remain second despite the loss but third-placed Manchester City are just three points behind.

Meanwhile, the win for Bournemouth boosted their hopes of securing European football next season as they move up to eighth. Europe is very much the focus for Arsenal as they look to win the Champions League for the first time. But they face a difficult task after losing the first leg of their semi-final to PSG last week, meaning they will have to produce one of their biggest performances in recent years at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.

7 Crunchy & Delicious Facts About Nachos

- Roshan

Nachos were invented in Mexico. There’s a widespread perception that nachos are a Mexican-American or Tex-Mex creation, but no, they were invented just across from the border from Eagle Pass, Texas. The wives of U.S. soldiers who were stationed at a nearby fort were in Mexico on a shopping trip and arrived at a restaurant after close. The maître d’ whipped them up—you guessed it—nachos. The year was 1943, and the city was Piedras Negras.

Nachos were named after a guy named Nacho. The maître d’ who came up with the dish was named Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya.

The “recipe” for original nachos was super simple. It only included freshly fried tortilla chips, shredded cheese and sliced pickled jalapeños. That’s it—no beans, no meat. So, if you think you’re a nacho purist, you probably aren’t. (If you’re a revisionist and comfortable with that, here’s a great nacho recipe for you.)

Tortilla chips (the foundation of nachos) were popularized in the U.S., not Mexico. Although the idea of the tortilla chip existed in Mexico and at restaurants in the U.S. at the time, they got legs as a packaged product in Los Angeles. There, a tortilleria started packaging them for the first time. They took warped and broken tortillas that were otherwise unsellable, fried them and sold them for 10 cents a bag. Tortilleria owner Rebecca Webb Carranza usually gets the credit on this one, although that’s also disputed.

Nachos were almost trademarked. Although Anaya never tried to copyright the recipe, his son contacted a lawyer in 1960 about it. Unfortunately, almost two decades after its creation, he was told it was too late.

The first U.S. restaurant to feature nachos is reputed to be El Cholo in San Antonio, Texas. The second is supposed to be the now-closed El Cholo in Los Angeles. Of course, these facts are hard to verify, but there they are, for what it’s worth.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest nachos ever made was at the University of Kansas stadium. It took 80 people to assemble 860 pounds of nacho cheese, 860 pounds of beef, 1,200 pounds of beans, 315 pounds of jalapeños and 600 pounds of tortilla chips.

My Cartoon Crew

- Roshan

Once upon a time this was 1999 or 2000, I had a dream that was like a movie of mixed live action & animation and set in a futuristic world. I was going to rescue my on again, off again girlfriend (I forget who the lead female was but she was a hot blonde) from the clutches of an evil alien syndicate and since I didn’t have any proof I had to get a spaceship on my own and my pets were my only crew – a set of cartoons. Now I have expanded on that crew and that’s what you see here.

So I live in a house and one rainy late evening, I am by the fake fire in the fireplace reading a report. As I sit in my comfy recliner drinking a hot cocoa in the same living room are my pets – Tom, Jerry, Nibbles, Spike, Tyke, Cleo & Figaro (the last two from Pinocchio) and ofcourse Shawny. Shawny is lying on a sofa next to me, while Spike is teaching Tyke something on a computer. Tom & Jerry are playing a card game with Spike & Figaro while Cleo in her bowl is watching them. As I try to connect with my hot blonde on again, off again girlfriend, I discover that she was headed towards a very dangerous section of the galaxy. A distress call is sent and then is abruptly stopped and hence no one is checking. But I jump into action and tell Tom & Jerry to go and get the girls (Toodles the female cat & Cherie the female mouse) and also collect Quaker the yellow duck and Fifi the female duck.

Spike and his son Tyke are sent to get Droopy, his wife and son Dribble. With Shawny, Figaro, Cleo and Nibbles in tow, I go and hire a small ship that can house all of us and a bit more space. In an hour or so, I get hailed by Tom that he has reached and that the six of them are ready to be beamed aboard. Jerry, Cherie, Toodles, Quaker & Fifi are with him and they join me on the bridge. Very soon Spike, Tyke and the Droopy family are on board as well. I tell them the plan and they are eager to go and find my girlfriend. We set off to the distant star system in search of her.