Filthy Keyboards

Here's a yuckiest piece of finding posted on BBC's website on May 1st, 2008. The information is so relevant to us, computer users that I thought of posting it on my blog.

Some computer keyboards harbour more harmful bacteria than a toilet seat, research has suggested. Out of 33 keyboards swabbed, four were regarded as a potential health hazard and one harboured five times more germs than one of the
office's toilet seats. Microbiologist Dr Peter Wilson said a keyboard was often "a reflection of what is in your nose and in your gut".
During the tests in January this year, a microbiologist deemed one of the office's
keyboards to be so dirty he ordered it to be removed, quarantined and cleaned.
It had 150 times the recommended limit for bacteria - five times as filthy as a
lavatory seat tested at the same time, the research found.

This news wants to make you touch your keyboard with a pair of tongs. But would all this be necessary if we clean our keyboards at our workplace and home periodically?

Pink turns Red

Yesterday evening at 7:15 P.M., Jaipur a.k.a. Pink City was rocked by a series of bomb blasts that left around 100 people dead. This is one more attempt by the terrorists to rip apart the thread of democracy that binds India together.

If we look at the records the following bomb blasts have taken place in the last two years that have been linked to sectarian groups: (Source credit: AFP)
November 23, 2007: At least 13 people were killed from serial blasts outside courts in three cities in Uttar Pradesh.

August 25, 2007: At least 43 people killed and more than 70 others injured as two bombs rock a crowded outdoor auditorium and a popular eatery in Hyderabad.

May 18, 2007: At least 10 killed and more than a dozen injured in blast at 17th century Mecca mosque in Hyderabad.

February 19, 2007: Sixty-eight people killed and dozens more injured after four explosions on board the Lahore-bound Samjhauta Express.

September 8, 2006: Thirty-eight people killed and more than 100 injured in three nearly simultaneous blasts, including one in a mosque, in the town of Malegaon in Maharashtra.

July 11, 2006: Seven bomb blasts in a period of 11 minutes on Mumbai's suburban trains. A total of 186 people were killed and more than 800 injured.

April 14, 2006: Fourteen people, including a woman and a girl, injured in two explosions at New Delhi's Jama Masjid, after Friday evening prayers.

March 7, 2006: Twenty-eight killed and 62 injured after three bombs rip through the holy city of Varanasi.

The following patterns are emerging from the bomb blasts that have taken place:

1. The terrorists are now targetting secondary cities (instead of metropolitan cities) in India which boasts a sizable number of tourists/population.
2. They are carrying out blasts on days which are holy to a particular religion (be it Hindus or Moslems).
3. The blasts are occurring generally near a place of worship where a large population congregates.
4. No substantial surveillance is being carried out to track the movement of these black listed terrorist outfits by our intelligence agencies.
5. The usual cliche of "foreign hand" honked out by our government to cover up its own shortcomings.

For all those who have died, let their tormented souls rest in peace.

First PTA Meeting

Today me and my wife attended the first Parent Teacher Meeting at our son's school. I was pleased to know that my son is doing well in school. This was a special occasion for us, as this is my son's first year of education.

We also got a pleasant news that our son had stood first in the Fancy Dress competition that had taken place in the school. The theme of the competition was that each participant should come dressed as a character from a nursery rhyme. My son had gone to school dressed as a baker and performed the nursery rhyme "Hot Cross Buns".

My only wish, as any parent is that he earns more laurels in his future life.

Online Translation in Hindi

This is a cool tool from Google which translates/supports 506 language pairs and therefore must be the most comprehensive online tool that is available for free.

It is not yet perfect or coherent but at least enables you to understand the ideas from a text. Here is a hazy snapshot of the translation in Hindi, which I could not capture properly.

Menu for a Party

As mentioned in my earlier post about my homecoming, the following items will be prepared for the party.

This is a typical vegetarian fare that is served during any Maharashtrian get-together.

Limbu - Lemon rinds meant to be sucked at the end of a meal or to apply an additional tangy taste to the other items.

Hirvi Chutney - Green Chillies, Coriander leaves, Mint leaves and other assorted spices along with salt are ground to a paste and served as an accompaniment to the main course

Kakadi Koshimbir - Cucumber cut or grated and then added with salt and other spices is served as an accompaniment.

Papad / Kurdya - These are Sago based spicy fritters used as starters or as an accompaniment to the main dish.

Sadha Bhaat - Steamed Plain Rice

Masale Bhaat - Steamed Rice doused with spices, vegetables, and garnished with dry grated coconut,coriander leaves, and added with a dollop of clarified butter (ghee).

Okra (Ladyfinger) or Potato Curry - A curry prepared from okra.

Polya - Wheatcakes prepared from wheat flour.

Kaddhanyachi Usal - It is a potpourri of a variety of grain sprouts that are cooked along with spices.

Amti - A watery concoction made from lentils and hooked up with mild spices and a dash of sugar to give it a unique taste. Eaten along with wheatcakes as well as with rice.

Jalebi with Mattha - A sweetmeat which resembles a squiggly pretzel and is eaten with the accompaniment of Mattha which is buttermilk.

I am looking forward to this fare. What typical items are prepared in your family get-together?

Homecoming in Summer

After a gap of two years I will be taking a hiatus for a period of two weeks (from 22nd May - 5th June) and going to my hometown Pune. During my homecoming, I will be celebrating my Dad's 75th birthday. We are throwing a surprise party whereby we will be inviting his close friends. The event will be held on 1st of June.

Besides, I will also be taking my son to Katraj Snake Park as he is fascinated about these slippery slithery reptiles. A young herptologist in the making I reckon. As in all Indian families, I will be visiting all my relatives who stay in and around Pune.

One of the games that I intend to play on my PC is FIFA 2008. This urge to play arises after watching my nephews who are champs in playing this game. Since I do not get time, I will use my vacation to check out this game.

What are your plans for this summer?

Umpteenth attempt to create a blog

Whosoever reads this let him/her know that this has been my umpteenth attempt to create a blog. But now finally I need a resting place to pen(type) my thoughts and what better option than to create this blog in Blogger. This may interest a wide variety of people ranging from umm... say a numismatist to a porn addict (Do not raise eyebrows. People do love these things).

For now I will sign off with a quote

The only place where Success comes before Work is in a
Dictionary