Single-malt Scotch whisky named world’s best
London: A 21-year-old single malt whisky distilled in one of the most remote places in Scotland has won the coveted title of “World Whisky of the Year”.
The title has been mentioned in the 2012 edition of writer Jim Murray’s guidebook “Whisky Bible”.
Murray said that during his search for the top-ranked whisky, conducted 1,200 tastes and “many more retastes” over four months.
“The Pulteney distillery in Wick, Caithness, scored a record-equalling 97.5 points out of 100 for its 21-year-old Old Pulteney single malt. It is only the third time that a single malt has ever won the prestigious award, and just the second Scottish distillery to do so,” Murray said in a statement on his Whisky Bible website.
He said he was surprised to find the winner came from “the most northerly distillery on mainland Britain and one of the most remote in all Scotland”. (IANS)
Steve Jobs’ belief in afterlife behind no ‘on/off switch’ on Apple devices: Biographer
Washington: Late Apple Inc. chief executive Steve Jobs’ hope that there might be an afterlife led him to avoid putting simple “on/off” switches on the company’s devices, his biographer Walter Isaacson has disclosed.
Jobs said that despite being only “50/50” about the existence of God, he found himself “believing a bit more” in life after death after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
“I want to believe in an afterlife. That when you die, it doesn’t just all disappear. The wisdom you’ve accumulated. Somehow it lives on,” Jobs had told Walter Isaacson.
“But sometimes I think it’s just like an on-off switch. Click and you’re gone. And that’s why I don’t like putting on-off switches on Apple devices,” he had added.
Many Apple products, such as the iPhone and the MacBook, were designed to be put on standby or “to sleep” when not in use, some feature a pulsating light to signal that they can quickly be revived. (ANI)
Schoolgirls learn to wrap a sari on ‘Diwali Day’
Nevada (US): Children at Charlotte House Pre-Prep and Prep School in Rickmansworth (England, United Kingdom) reportedly learned how to wrap a sari as a part of its Diwali Day celebrations.
They heard the story of Rama and Sita; discovered why Diwali is celebrated; and took part in mendhi hand painting, designing-making rangoli patterns, Indian cookery and making diwas.
Hindus have lauded Charlotte House for dedicating a day as “Diwali Day” and have urged all primary and secondary schools of UK to include Diwali celebration as an annual activity.
Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that it would be highly productive to include Diwali celebrations in UK schools. Awareness about other religions thus created by organizing festivals like Diwali would make the UK pupils well-nurtured, well-balanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow. It also made a good business sense to know the beliefs of “others” in a global community.
Moreover, students should have knowledge of the entire society to become full participants in the society.
Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, argued that with school celebrations including festivals like Diwali, ethnic minorities would feel as equal and full members of British society, thus bringing cohesion and unity in the community. With change in demographics of United Kingdom, it would be “a step in the right direction”.
S. Hayes is Headmistress while C. Smith is Board of Governors Chairman of this girls-only (three to 11 years) over 100 years old prep school “which gives girls the opportunity to develop in an unthreatening and secure environment, where they are encouraged to show exactly what they are made of” and whose motto is: “I am, I can, I ought, I will”.
Founder of Pennsylvania William Penn was a resident of Rickmansworth which was used in Hollywood movie “Raiders of the Lost Ark”. (ANI)
Portsmouth lifts ban on anti-Charles Dickens’ book after 80 years
London: Portsmouth, the birthplace of Charles Dickens, has finally decided to lift the 80-year ban on the book, which portrayed the author in bad light.
Carl Roberts, through his novel, This Side Idolatry, written in 1928, intended to dismiss the myths surrounding Dickens and it caused an outrage when it was released.
“The author of the novel, Carl Roberts, has made out that Charles Dickens was a hypocrite, philanderer selfish, an egoist, vulgar, morose, and avaricious, caricaturing his friends in his books behind their backs,” The Sunday Times said in a review.
“Dickens in Roberts’s novel is represented as unscrupulous in his dealings with his publishers, and was always prepared to treat promises and engagements lightly, and callously jested over the death of the artist who illustrated Pickwick Papers,” it added.
It were these allegations which compelled the city’s council to impose the ban on this novel but now,ahead of Dickens’ 20th birth anniversary, the council has chosen to settle the rift and restore the books in the library.
“We’ve decided it’s time to let bygones be bygones,” the BBC quoted Dom Kippin, Portsmouth City Council’s literature officer as saying.
“The library was acting in good faith at the time, protecting the legacy of Dickens, but we think it’s important to have freedom of expression and debate. As Dickens himself would agree I’m sure.”
“Dickens’s literary legacy is strongly established and [Robert’s] book merely adds to the rich tapestry of ideas and opinions that make him one of the English language”s greatest writers,” he added. (ANI)
Brit woman gives birth on same day as sister, again!
London: A British woman defied the odds of 125,000 to one, when she gave birth to her son on the same day as her sister and that too, for the second time.
Zoey Parker, 23, had been due two weeks after her 16-year-old sister Courtney.
But, to everyone’s amazement, Zoey welcomed her second baby, Riley on the same day and the same ward as her sister, Courtney, who gave birth to Robbie, at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary.
The pair gave birth 12 hours apart, with Riley being born at 9.45am on July 30 and Robbie James Armstrong making an appearance at 10.45pm.
“The whole family were shocked, I wonder what the odds are for it happening twice! Talk about history repeating itself,” the Daily Mail quoted Courtney, from Heaton in Newcastle, as saying.
“When I arrived at the hospital the staff said ‘Oh, we’ve already had a Parker in here today.”
“I was like, ‘Yeah, I know, she’s my sister!’. I think the staff were all really surprised,” she added.
Previously, Zoey had given birth to her first son, Michael in 2007 on the same day as her elder sister Tammy.
“Nobody could quite believe it when I gave birth a couple of hours later. It’s a coincidence for it to happen once, but twice? No puppies this time, though,” Courtney said. (ANI)