A Beginner’s Guide to Travelling On a Local Train

You’ll Need: One handkerchief (a must), 3 one rupee coins, one 10 rupee note, plenty of cash, headphones, empty purse

Step 1: Buy your ticket

If you have ever come across a joke like the one below and believe that this really works, you are in for trouble.

Engineers may be smarter than accountants. But Ticket Collectors are smarter still (in India!).

Step 2: Reserve thy seat

This is where your most precious item comes into play. Even before the train stops or the doors of the compartment open, drop in your kerchief on your favourite window seat. Now, not even Sheldon can move you from your seat!

Step 3a: Put on your headphones

Whether you wish to listen to Pink Floyd, Jagjit Singh or Enrique is your choice. But putting on headphones is a must. This will help you ignore all the low-profile scums and beggars that come along.

There will be surprises. Don’t panic. You cannot ignore little girls coming with harmless snakes in round boxes to be opened at the right moment (Pandora’s Box!?). Use your first lifeline. 1st one rupee coin. You have only 3 lifelines. So take utmost care while using them.

Step 3b: Take off your glasses

If you happen to be among the self-evident geeks with big spectacles on your nose, better take them off once seated. That way they cannot be kidnapped for ransom. In the worst possible case, use your 10 rupee note.

Step 3c: Know thy train

For more details, look up extension of joke above.

SPOILER (highlight to reveal): On another trip on a local train, the engineers buy 3 tickets and the accountants buy no ticket. Guess who is smarter?

Step 4: Follow the herd

Be ready before your station arrives. Once the train arrives, do not hesitate. Do not think. Just follow the herd.

A Beginner's Guide to ED Topa

Aim

As I had promised in my post on Jugaad, I am presenting the step by step procedure for light-tracing ED (Engineering Drawing) sheets.

Materials Required

1. Blank ED Sheets
2. Finished ED Sheet (to be copied)
3. Pencil, Eraser, Ruler etc.
4. Glass Sheet (At least the size of the ED sheets)
5. Clips - 3 Nos
6. Thick books
7. Working table

Procedure

1. Make two columns of books on the table to support the glass sheet.
2. Place the glass sheet on the books.
3. Place the lamp under the glass sheet in such a manner that it points upwards.
4. Place the ED sheets on top of one another and clip them together at 3 corners.
5. Place this arrangement on the glass sheet so that the blank ED sheet is on top.
6. Switch off the lights in the room.
7. Start copying!
8. It may not be very apparent which lines are dark and which are light. Use the fourth corner to check for thick/thin lines on the finished ED sheet.

Result

An exact copy of the original ED sheet.

Conclusion

Copying ED sheets does not require Rocket Science. Common sense is more than sufficient.

Precautions/Sources of Errors

1. The two columns of books must be of the same height. Increase/Decrease number of books as per requirement.
2. Check for thick/thin lines.
3. Erase off any traces of pencil marks created by the finished ED sheet on the backside of the new sheet. (Recall that they were in contact!)

Touch Typing

What is touch typing?

Typewriting in which the fingers are trained to hit particular keys. Typist can read and type at the same time. (S)He need not look at the keyboard. A touch typist knows the location of the keys through muscle memory.

Why should you touch type?

• It is ergonomically better. Fingers are not strained while typing
  
• You can concentrate more on your work than on the keys while touch typing
• Maximum use is made of your 10 fingers. Hence typing is very fast
  

How to touch type?

Touch typing involves placing eight fingers in a horizontal row along the middle of the keyboard(the home row) and having to reach out for other keys. Most computer keyboards have a raised dot or bar so that the typist can feel them when his fingers are on the home row.

It is recommended that you download a software such as SeSType or Typing Master and follow the instructions given there. SeSType is a freeware and focuses on accuracy whereas Typing Master focuses more on rhythm. It usually takes 1 to 3 months to learn touch typing depending on the effort put in & the grasping capability of the individual.

Typewriter vs Computer Keyboard

You could also join some typing classes in your neighbourhood where they might teach you on a typewriter. Typewriter has the advantage of having the different rows of keys at different heights. So it is easier to feel and type on a typewriter for the beginner. One might graduate to the computer keyboard after some time and then finally to the laptop. Laptop keyboard offers the best speed because of the proximity of the keys. However, it is upto the individual to decide what sort of keyboard to choose depending on his/her comfort level.

Accuracy vs Rhythm & Speed

Again it is upto the individual whether (s)he wishes to go in for accuracy or rhythm & speed. Both have their advantages & disadvantages. One point to be kept in mind though is that the more inaccurate you are the more backspaces you have to press and as a result your speed goes down. Again, accuracy comes when your rhythm is good. So both the aspects are more or less inter-related. A balance is what is required