If you are a 90's kid, then you must have fond memories of computer games. Those days when the Joystick of the television had been taken over by the mouse and keyboard. Ain't it? My father gifted me a Compaq computer which was installed with Windows 98. And it came preloaded with four games: Solitaire, Freecell, Hearts and Minesweeper. So three out of four were card games and that's how my obsession with card games began. I started with Solitaire (found it the easiest; I was really young) and then moved over to Free cell and Hearts gradually. With time, I mastered the game of Hearts and started beating good opponents (online games) but it was Solitaire which still remained my comfort game. Whether feeling low or high, bored or simply blah, I used to play Solitaire for hours. This is way before I got into medical college and career and life took over my passions of pastime.

Fast forward, there are millions of games available today; especially online. Believe me, I don't at all feel the temptation to play them. Most of them require downloading the app, and if you are anyone like me, you will refrain from overloading your phone further. Also, if I play online, too many ADs bombard the page, rendering you confused and irritated. Hence, I could not find what I was looking for. Clean online games like good old times; before I came across solitaire.org

What attracted me was its name. I clicked it planning to play my favourite good old Solitaire, but it turned out to be more than that! And the best part? It's free! From various Card games to Logic games, Word games to hidden object ones, you are spoilt for choice. What tempted me as a Solitaire game, turned out to be a Pandora's box for me.

Even the Solitaire game has varieties like Classic, Klondlike, Spider, Freecell, Pyramid etc. Among the various Card games, some are Blackjack, Jim Rummy, Hearts, Crazy Eights, Spite and Malice, etc. It means, if you are more in to the addictive types, this site has you covered. Remember Tetris? Did you like it? You can play Tetra games here !

However it were the intellectual games that got me hooked. Of course, you can take the person out of the academy but can you take out the academician out of the person? I guess nope!

I started with Crossword puzzles. There is one puzzle daily which is printable. Of course, I have become rusty (don't remember the last time I solved one on a newspaper or magazine) that's why time was running by. And PS, I didn't cheat. With google the very next page, I could have easily typed my way into victory, but I did not!

Next what got me going was Worduku. Yes. it's dear Sudoku's cousin! The Word games are my jam. From Word Scramble to Letter Logic, Word Search to Crossword, I love them all.

Well there are so many other logic games like dear old Chess, Sudoku, Tetra Blocks, Sokoban, Battleships etc While if you want to jump into the fantasy land, then games like Candy Fiesta, Candy House, Treasure Atlantis, etc are for you. The graphics of these games as well as the background scores are top notch. 

So guys, if you slightly relate with me (using computers to play, likes free games, no app download, etc) then what are you waiting for? Go visit Solitaire.org and thank me later. PS let me know your favourite game in the comments section!

Title: Tijara's Mystery Codes

Author: Hemma Myers Sood

Genre: Thriller, Mythology, Fiction

Pages: 277

Review: This story is set in the premises of the grand palace of Tijara Fort, Alwar. Right now the Tijara Fort Palace is a luxury hotel which sits in the lap of Aravallis in Neemrana. It's a stunning work of architectural, and the writer has set the story so vividly here that you can actually feel living through those times.

The story starts with the story of King Pandu and how he angers the Rishi when King Pandu kills him when he was making love. As a result, King Pandu got cursed that whenever he would get aroused, it would be his moment of death. As a result, he was made to drink Amrit to remain immortal, but as one day he just loses his control and gets involved with his wife, he perishes. Queen Madri offers herself on Sati in his memory and burns to death.

There began the history and mystery of Amrit or the nectar. The Amrit definitely had maintained the health of Pandu, too bad it couldn't save him from the curse.

The story then moves to the current scenario and ruler of the Tijara Fort. Seems someone had discovered the much sought after formula of the Amrit. And guess what, a doctor is murdered in the Tijara Fort premises.

An investigation is started to find out the murderer, and for that, a super competent detective from Delhi , Siddharth is sent. He had solved a huge number of cases so far but used offbeat clues for the same and relied heavily on intuition and omens. This makes the solving of the mystery even more exciting.

The story again moves to the most turning point of Mahabharata, when the Pandavas had completed exile and the Kauravas were trying to deceive them again.

This murder mystery moves in the most unexpected ways, with references from the Mahabharata and other historical anecdotes in between and finally presents a very justified ending.

I loved how detailed Syd's observations were, and how he reached conclusions. Also the description of Tijara Fort is par excellence. I personally love this palace and had been reminiscing my stay while reading the book, as if I was actually there with Syd.

If you are a fan of murder mysteries, with a twist of Mythology, then this book is a must read for you.

 The capital of Virginia is one of America’s oldest cities – but that doesn’t mean it’s behind the times when it comes to nightlife.

 

Richmond is a vibrant community whose aesthetic borders on hipster. It’s also got a low cost of living, strong job market, and is an area with activities suitable for any taste.

 

If you are someone who appreciates a good nightlife scene, you’ll want to consider checking out Richmond houses for rent. You can sit down for a cocktail and a chat with a friend, or head to a raucous live show and jam to the music.

 

Live Music with Your Libations

There are plenty of live music venues on deck in Richmond, no matter your favored genre.

 

The National is a historic theater with wooden floors, brick walls, and seven full bars. The venue brings in acts of all kinds, from podcasts and punk acts to blues artists and big bands.

 

The Camel offers a wide menu to pair along with entertainment by local and regional acts.

 

If you like a place with niche horror decor on the wall, Wonderland will be your jam. This informal hangout caters to fans of punk and metal music.

 

The Tobacco Company is a restaurant that also hosts bands on the weekends.

 

Raising The Bar

There are a variety of bars in the Richmond area, whether it’s a jeans or t-shirt kind of night or one where you want to pull out a little black dress.

 

Poe’s Pub is an Edgar Allan Poe-inspired Irish eatery that offers food, drink, and entertainment. It’s also close to the Edgar Allen Poe Museum, so you can make a day of imbibing in all things having to do with the macabre writer.

 

Heavy metal band Gwar has interests that lie outside of their insane live shows, and that includes opening a restaurant with Travis Croxton, Richmond’s Restaurateur of the Year 2014. The bar is a well-known late-night watering hole that caters to clientele of all kind, not just the heavy rocking variety.

Dance It Out

If your aim is to shake your booty all night long, check out one of the many clubs in Richmond.

Godfrey’s (which also has a famous drag brunch) has been around since 1997 and has mostly LGBTQ+ clientele, though all are welcome.

 The Tobacco Company club may host bands, but it also houses a higher energy dancing space on its lower level.

Experience the Arts

If a quieter night seeing a theatre show or walking about a gallery is more your speed, Richmond still has a lot to offer.

Check out Coalition Theater for the best of the comedy shows in the area, or the Virginia Repertory Theatre to catch an energizing musical.

The Hippodrome Theater in historic Jackson Ward features many artistic acts and also a Speakeasy Bar and Grill.

You might want to kick off your night at Painting with a Twist, where you can sip a cool beverage or two while receiving step-by-step instructions to create a beautiful picture of your own.

 For majority of the people in this world, owning a home is a dream come true. Be it any strata of the society, almost everyone wants to buy or build their dream home. The rich aims for the bigger and swankier while the low to middle class aims to have a nice roof above their head; which they can call their home. No matter what the economic capability is, buying a home is a tedious task and requires a lot of money, in which financing is involved. That can be quite tricky and these days, the young and savvy generation are doing their math and opting for renting, instead of buying. Because some of them are digital nomads, who can't decide which city to settle in; while some are too smart to calculate that renting would be cheaper than paying the hefty EMIs. No matter what, buying your home is a matter of pride.

The first step in buying your dream home is taking the plunge.  Because no matter what strata of financial background we belong to, the property we dream of acquiring is usually more than our reach. Therefore it's usually a long process trying to figure out whether you are in the position to buy or should you continue to rent, and if you are planning to buy, how much do you need to start saving in order to pay the down payment.

During this process, you may need to be open minded about your budget. Often it happens that you have something is mind but you end up liking something more expensive. For example, you are in the market to buy a two bedroom apartment, but when you start looking, you fall in love with a three bedroom flat and all your budgeting goes for a toss. In such cases, something that helps estimating affordability, saves the day.

Owning a property is always like a safety net. No matter what the money moguls say about calculating whether paying rent is more profitable in certain scenarios (when investing the down payment gives you more return). Because a home is not like a dress, you just can't buy it from the mall the moment you want to; and this pandemic has really made us realise what Home Sweet Home actually means.

So when does one usually start looking to buy a property?

*The commonest reason is when you decide on settling down, whether alone or with someone. Usually when you live in a place long enough to fall in love with it, you start looking for reasons to settle down there. And if there is a partner you would like to start your life with, or you are planning to start a family, you always need a safe place for shelter.

* When you outgrow your current home. As family grows, so does the requirement for a bigger space. From a unit of three (couple plus pet) to having your first child, or going from two to three kids, the need for bigger space gradually increases. Earlier a three bedroom apartment may suffice , but now you may need a townhouse. This is also a major reason why families move from the city to the countryside. Moving to the country means more space and lesser cost of living; ideal for a growing family.

 This pandemic has definitely taught us the importance of a working space at home. So no matter how big (or small) your family is, a personal space is so important for growth. A dedicated home office means more productivity and less stress. Infact, people have started looking for bigger spaces since working from home became such a norm during this pandemic.

* A vacation home: Well, this one is really a dream of mine. To own a property at a beachside where I could unwind with my family during holidays. This is excellent from an investment point of view too, as the property is put up for rent for the rest of the year. Of course, like any other asset, there are maintenance charges, but eventually it pays in the long run.

*Solely for investment. When you have saved quite a bit of your earnings, you have spent in the stock market, you are not looking for a home upgrade but want to multiply your savings, buying a property is an excellent option. Even when you have to finance the rest of the amount after down payment, the property pays for itself in the form of monthly rent.

I along with my husband bought our first home 5 years back. Although it's a spacious three bedroom apartment in the heart of the National Capital Region, with every source of transport and facility nearby, we have outgrown our current home. However we refuse to move because we Indians are obsessed with living in the city centre in spite of lesser space and double cost of living!

What's your take on property investment? How many homes do you own? Or do you prefer renting? Share your valuable feedback in the comments!

 If this question had been asked 10 years before, eyebrows would have been raised. Though blogging or "ónline journaling" had started more than 20 years back. I mean Phew! Yes, the Blogspot platform was established in 1999 and then followed this revolutionary thing called blogging. The online world became more about sharing authentic experiences, people started opening up about the good as well as the bad. While a part of it seemed a bit narcisistic to some, it was helpful to the majority nonetheless. 

The global influencer marketing platform had a 6 Billion USD worth in 2020. So does it say something?