Giri Stores – Madras
A place I can never avoid when in Chennai – what was once a small one room shop is now transformed to a 3+1 storied well designed store to cater the needs of its traditional customers.
A huddle in progress
A huddle in progress………. did they also hear about the latest happening….. a final being played tomorrow… what a sorry state… wish they had formalised everything before – a bit more open allowing a free run and similar or more like WWF and similar events… Extremely sad to see what’s happening around. Glad that I thought about the Campaign PASS – Promote All Sports Simultaneously long back.
Kitchen Hood Fire – Safety precautions to avoid an inferno within our home
It is now very common to have Kitchen hood installed in at our home. Time has changed and with more modern amenities we have to be additional cautious. I am writing this from a recent personal accident that happened within our family. A fire incident that happened, and by sheer luck those involved survived without any injury. The trauma that followed still continues with family including adults and children. It is indeed an eye opener. What do we do to avoid such incidents to recur?.
Indeed, Kitchen Safety should be given high importance.
In kitchens, where deep fat fryers, special baking appliances, tilting-type frying pans, broilers and grills are in use, spontaneous fires must be expected. The chances are more common within Indian families, who use more oil and frying methods while cooking.
Therefore, if you have installed a Kitchen hood, it has to be cleaned.
Clean fire hoods prevent potentially dangerous particulates from escaping into the air, lowering the air quality and potentially posing a health hazard to all those involved. Therefore, If a kitchen installed with a kitchen hood is found with a dirty hood, all efforts should be done to clean and maintain it at the earliest to avoid potentially dangerous situation that may happen.
Practice kitchen safety.
Unattended cooking is a common fire-starter, whether you are using a range or a microwave oven. If small children are home, maintain a kids-free-zone of at least 3 feet and use back burners when possible. Unplug small appliances, including toasters and coffeemakers, when they are not in use or you are away for long periods.
Clean range hoods.
Grease build up in range hoods is another fire hazard, so be sure to clean the vents regularly.
Keep dryer vents clear.
Clean your dryers lint screen regularly to avoid lint build up, which was listed as a factor in many fires. Use rigid metal dryer ducts instead of flexible ducts made of foil or plastic, which can sag and let lint build. And check them regularly to remove any lint build up.
Stay in the kitchen when using the range for cooking.
If you are leaving for just a minute, turn off all the burners on the range. Going for a can of tomatoes, or running out to check the mail, going to the bathroom, answering the phone in another part of the house? Simply turn off all the burners. After all, you are just leaving for a minute. You can immediately turn the pot or frying pan back on when you return.
Taking this simple step will prevent one of the most common situations that cause house fires due to unattended cooking.
When cooking with oil, keep a lid or flat cookie sheet close by. If flames appear, simply suffocate the fire with the lid and immediately turn off the stove or fryer to let it cool down. Do not try to move the pan. Do not use water. The super-heated water will explode into steam, and can cause severe burns, and oil can splash and spread the fire.
Don’t cook when drinking alcohol, using drugs, or very tired. Eat something prepared, make a cold sandwich, and go to sleep. Cook your meal later, when you are fully conscious.
Check stove vent hoods, clean the filter regularly, and make sure that if it is equipped with an exterior vent, insects or birds do not build nests or otherwise impede the air flow through it.
Please ensure to employ a maintenance team with quality professional service who can provide grease trap cleaning, free waste oil removal, filter exchanges and hood fabrication as well as accessory services such as hinge kits, access panels and grease containment systems.
Each cleaning should include Filters, Fans, inside and out, Accessible Ducts from top to bottom, Fire Suppression Links, pipes and nozzles, detailed polish of all stainless steel exposures in the hood interior.
In essence, maintain kitchen safety thanks to a clean extractor hood
Measures for a Safe Extractor Hood
If you want your extractor hood to be safer and more efficient, you must clean the casing, inside and the filters, which are usually removable, regularly. The frequency with which it must be cleaned and maintained will depend on the use you give it and the type of cooking you do.
The efficiency and safety of an extractor hood are linked to its cleanliness and maintenance, for if the appliance is dirty, the fans have a lower output and consume more energy in order to perform the same function.
The energy consumption of this electrical appliance fluctuates between 70w/h and 125w/h for the minimum power (depending on the model) and 200w/h and 350w/h at maximum power.
Dirt increases the risk of fire
The accumulated grease in the filters increases the risk of fire, which may start with a flame from a frying pan or by the burners overheating; this grease, on catching alight, will start the fire.
The more you fry, the more you need to clean
If you use your extractor hood a lot and do a lot of frying, you must clean the casing, interior and removable filters once a week. With fat-free recipes (boiling and steaming) the dirt reduces, as such it is sufficient to clean it once every two or three weeks.
The safe method, step by step
Switch the appliance off at the mains, remove the filters, clean the inside of the appliance using a cloth that has been dipped in soapy water and liquid ammonia, and dry it well using a cotton cloth that does not leave fluff behind. Try not to touch the engine or fans.
Continue with the casing
How you clean the casing depends on the material that it is made from. If it is plastic you can use soapy water and liquid ammonia, but if it is made of stainless steel, it is recommendable that you use a specific product which polishes the steel. Never use this cleaner for the control panel, which will come perfectly clean using the solution that is acceptable for the plastic casing, but rinsing out the cloth completely.
Removable filters keep it like new
The best way of cleaning them involves placing them in a large bucket containing soapy water and liquid ammonia and scrubbing them with a brush used only for that purpose. Then you rinse them with clean water and leave them to dry outside. If it is sunny in your utility room or balcony, hang them up there. You can also put them in the dishwasher, placing them as vertically as possible in the lower shelf. If the filters of your extractor hood are disposable, replace them with new ones as often as the manufacturer’s instructions state.
In the event of excessive dirt
If the removable filters and the structure in which they are inserted are excessively dirty, apply an effective grease remover to both parts, leave it to take effect for five minutes, and then wipe the surface of the hood with a sponge, and scrub the filters with a brush, until you remove all of the grease. Remember that dirt increases the risk of a fire.
Did you know that…
The majority of domestic fires start in the kitchen, and especially in the extractor hood.
Get going, and have a look at your Kitchen hood and if you find it to be cleaned, do not delay.
Safety First, at all times.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
Sunday, 12th May 2013
More photos:
Illustration of dirt and grease accumulation that can turn potentially dangerous and turn in to fire incident:
Koolakkadan Kuttikrishnan in a playful mood
Young Koolakkadan Kuttikrishnan, a growing temple elephant was in his own playful world at the Koodalmanikyam Temple premises recently. I had the opportunity to watch him and be with him and click him as much as I wanted. Aware of what I am doing, he started showing his tricks in a more playful mood.
All for nothing – Kerala Forest department services at Temple festivals
Two officers from Kerala State Forest department verifying details and health condition of the elephants on duty each time for the temple festival and rituals associated. They take note of several details including the name of the elephant, its health condition, details of its mahout, whether he is drunk or not, whether proper food is given etc. I found them doing selfless service and much better placed in all aspects when compared to their colleagues working for Kerala Police force.
At a time when the department itself is without a minister, and the minister who left himself took more interest for the welfare of the elephant owners than the elephants, it will remain as a distant dream for the safety and comfort of the pachiderms and those who takes care of it.
Ramesh Menon
08 May 2013
എണ്ണയുടെ നാട്ടില് ഒരു സൗരോര്ജ നിലയം
എണ്ണയുടെ നാട്ടില് ഒരു സൗരോര്ജ നിലയം
Posted on: 04 May 2013
ചിത്രങ്ങളും എഴുത്തും: രമേഷ് മോനോന്
എണ്ണയുടെ നാട്ടില് സൗരോര്ജ നിലയമോ! അതെ, യുണൈറ്റഡ് അറബ് എമിരൈറ്റിലെ ഷാംസ് സൗരോര്ജ നിലയം, ലോകത്തിലെ തന്നെ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ സൗരോര്ജ നിലയങ്ങളിലൊന്നാണ്. അബുദാബിയില് നിന്ന് 120 കിലോമീറ്റര് അകലെ സ്ഥിതിചെയ്യുന്ന ഷാംസ് നിലയം കഴിഞ്ഞ മാര്ച്ച് 17 നാണ് പ്രവര്ത്തനമാരംഭിച്ചത്.
പാരബോളിക് ട്രഫ് ടെക്നോളജി ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്ന ഷാംസ് 1 ( Shams 1 ) ആണ് ഇപ്പോള് പ്രവര്ത്തനമാരംഭിച്ചിട്ടുള്ള ആദ്യഘട്ടം. സൗരോര്ജത്തെ താപോര്ജമായി പരിവര്ത്തനം ചെയ്ത് അതുപയോഗിച്ച് 100 മെഗാവാട്ട് വൈദ്യുതി ഉത്പാദിപ്പിക്കാന് ഷാംസ് 1 ന് സാധിക്കും. ഷാംസ് 2, ഷാംസ് 3 സ്റ്റേഷനുകള് താമസിയാതെ കമ്മീഷന് ചെയ്യും.
ഷാംസ് 1 നിലയത്തില് 100 മെഗാവാട്ട് വൈദ്യുതി ഉത്പാദിപ്പിക്കുക വഴി, പ്രതിവര്ഷം 175,000 ടണ് കാര്ബണ്ഡയോക്സയ്ഡ് അന്തരീക്ഷത്തില് വ്യാപിക്കുന്നത് ചെറുക്കാനാകുമെന്നാണ് കണക്ക്. 20,000 ഭവനങ്ങളില് വെളിച്ചമെത്തിക്കാന് ഇത്രയും വൈദ്യുതികൊണ്ട് കഴിയും.
സൗരോര്ജം ആഗിരണം ചെയ്യാന് 258,048 പരാബോളിക് ട്രഫ് ദര്പ്പണങ്ങള് ഷാംസ് 1 നിലയത്തിലുണ്ട്. ഈ ദര്പ്പണങ്ങളും അനുബന്ധ ഉപകരണങ്ങളുമെല്ലാംകൂടി രണ്ടര ചതുരശ്ര കിലോമീറ്റര് പ്രദേശത്ത് വ്യാപിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു.
അബുദാബി ഫ്യൂച്ചര് എനര്ജി കമ്പനിക്ക് കീഴിലുള്ള ഷാംസ് പവര് കമ്പനിയാണ് ഈ സൗരോര്ജ നിലയം നിര്മിച്ചത്. സ്പാനിഷ്, ഫ്രഞ്ച് കമ്പനികള് നിര്മാണത്തില് സഹകരിച്ചു.
പാരബോളിക് ട്രഫ് ടെക്നോളജി ഉപയോഗിക്കുന്ന ഷാംസ് 1 ( Shams 1 ) ആണ് ഇപ്പോള് പ്രവര്ത്തനമാരംഭിച്ചിട്ടുള്ള ആദ്യഘട്ടം. സൗരോര്ജത്തെ താപോര്ജമായി പരിവര്ത്തനം ചെയ്ത് അതുപയോഗിച്ച് 100 മെഗാവാട്ട് വൈദ്യുതി ഉത്പാദിപ്പിക്കാന് ഷാംസ് 1 ന് സാധിക്കും. ഷാംസ് 2, ഷാംസ് 3 സ്റ്റേഷനുകള് താമസിയാതെ കമ്മീഷന് ചെയ്യും.
ഷാംസ് 1 നിലയത്തില് 100 മെഗാവാട്ട് വൈദ്യുതി ഉത്പാദിപ്പിക്കുക വഴി, പ്രതിവര്ഷം 175,000 ടണ് കാര്ബണ്ഡയോക്സയ്ഡ് അന്തരീക്ഷത്തില് വ്യാപിക്കുന്നത് ചെറുക്കാനാകുമെന്നാണ് കണക്ക്. 20,000 ഭവനങ്ങളില് വെളിച്ചമെത്തിക്കാന് ഇത്രയും വൈദ്യുതികൊണ്ട് കഴിയും.
സൗരോര്ജം ആഗിരണം ചെയ്യാന് 258,048 പരാബോളിക് ട്രഫ് ദര്പ്പണങ്ങള് ഷാംസ് 1 നിലയത്തിലുണ്ട്. ഈ ദര്പ്പണങ്ങളും അനുബന്ധ ഉപകരണങ്ങളുമെല്ലാംകൂടി രണ്ടര ചതുരശ്ര കിലോമീറ്റര് പ്രദേശത്ത് വ്യാപിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നു.
അബുദാബി ഫ്യൂച്ചര് എനര്ജി കമ്പനിക്ക് കീഴിലുള്ള ഷാംസ് പവര് കമ്പനിയാണ് ഈ സൗരോര്ജ നിലയം നിര്മിച്ചത്. സ്പാനിഷ്, ഫ്രഞ്ച് കമ്പനികള് നിര്മാണത്തില് സഹകരിച്ചു.
To read it in original, please visit Mathrubhumi online
Mobile danger
Mobile danger
I always thought that using mobile phones while driving is a dangerous activity. I am now convinced that using mobile phones while doing any other activity is equally dangerous.
I read about two deaths that happened when those involved were crossing the railway track while listening to music on their earphones. They noticed only the train from one side and missed the fast one from the opposite side.
Here in the UAE too, I have read about a recent incident when a driver tried to send an SMS while driving, lost control of his car and perished in a collision.
It doesn’t end there. Just the other day, I was walking on the narrow corridors of a residential building.
A mother with a child in a pram and a daughter along with her were walking in a zigzag manner while talking on the phone. Whenever I tried to overtake and pass by, the mother unknowingly blocked that side.
She was also not careful about her child who was walking ahead. The child rushed as the lift arrived and stood in the middle of the door before it opened.
Suddenly a man rushed towards the exit while talking on his phone. He hardly noticed the little girl and literally ran over her. There was total commotion, argument and blame.
Don’t you feel talking on the mobile phone should not be done while engaging in other activities?
Ramesh Menon
for SHORT TAKE, GULF TODAY Dt. 20.04.2013
To read it in original, please visit GULF TODAY online:
Gold in short supply in Dubai
XPRESS reports:
Gold in short supply in DubaiBuyers come in droves to buy coins and biscuits
My comments as follows:
I believe the unexpected drop in gold price in UK market have forced the wholesale dealers in Dubai to hold their stock as reserves and wait for the market to move up again. If not, they will be incurring huge loss on stock they bought for high price which they have to release to the market to meet the demand created due to the current global scenario. I am sure it is the case in all the major gold markets, including India and in particular Kerala, where there is always a huge demand for gold. Those who have invested in gold, it is a time to hold on to it as prices will move up again. Those who have not invested in it, take advantage of the situation and buy some yellow metal for keep, only and only if you have reserve cash. However, caution to NOT USE YOUR CREDIT CARD for buying gold. You will regret heavily later.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
To read it in original, please visit XPRESS online.
Taxi ranks would beat queue-jumping
The summer is here already, and the heat is creating problems for those Abu Dhabi residents who have to wait for buses and taxis.
There are no sunshades available at many stops, and no discipline among those trying to board buses or taxis.
A lot of people jump the queue for taxis, while slower or more patient people have to wait forever.
I’d like to see dedicated taxi ranks in Abu Dhabi, with clear signage indicating where cabs should stop and where people should form queues.
Eventually I’d like to see state-of-the-art bus and taxi stops all across the city. And, if such a system comes, I hope all commuters abide by the rules.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
17th April 2013
To read it in original, please visit The National online.
ClicksandWrites 
You must be logged in to post a comment.