That’s what u gotta call HALO, the sci-fi shooter of epic proportions. Apart from the extremely gratifying (combat wise) game trilogy, I recently found out about the existence of complete HALO (official)novels covering all the back story and more. And the novels are a sci-fi treat in themselves even if u havnt played the game itself. The first of the books “The fall of reach”(which I got in the Delhi book fair for a measly 50 bucks!!) tells us of the events prior to the halo game, the creation of the Spartan project(turns out Master Chief’s isn’t one of a kind), the first contact with covenant(though I believe it is covered in more detail in another book – contact harvest), and more details of the war between humans and the aliens as such. Reach is a human battle stronghold and the home of project Spartans(IIs). The plot has a some practical and innovative concepts like the priority of keeping earth’s location secret via a ‘cole protocol’ and the presence of a hierarchy in the ranks of covenants, covenants being a mixture of species rather than a single one. The books are well written by Eric Nylund, a chemical engineer himself(what do u expect by a microsoft framchise?).
but the books do have some weak points. It focuses on very particular individuals and their extremely specific experiences instead of giving a bigger holistic view of the human covenant conflict. The book has extremely few characters considering the scope of its events. Also, this may depend from person to person, the Spartans are depicted to be sometimes inhuman and insensitive(?) sometimes, they consider the complition of their mission a prority over everything, including lives others or their own, which seems noble and idiotic at the same time.
However, it is the concept that takes it in the star wars league, its probably the only sci-fi I have heard involving a full scale inter-galactic war between humans and aliens. And that’s not all of it. Theres another seemingly extinct alien race which was much more advanced than either of the battling factions and both factions are in a race to unlock the secrets of the surviving technology first. It was these people who had actually created HALO to contain the flood, by the way. And here ends my knowledge of the halo universe. I am trying to get my hands on the other halo books but with no luck yet(shucks I havnt even played halo 2 yet).
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Friday, October 5, 2007
20/20....next best thing since krackjack 50/50?
Aahh…the familiar feeling of anticipation, excitement, restlessness. The occasion is none other than the Indian Pakistan clash and in a match no less than the 20/20 finals! Though not a great cricket buff myself(not since the Indian team went bust in late 90’s), I could not help getting swept up in the futile pursuit. The new format seemed to be an answer to my own thoughts. After all, who has the patience of sitting and watching back to back 50 overs of the gentleman’s sport intersped leisurely with advertisements/gaps after every over, every wicket, every boundary, every case of ‘third umpire’ and what not! A 20 overs might just be bearable. However even having considered all this, the finals were the first time I finally got to break my ‘sanyas’ from cricket. And guess what? Here I was sitting in Digital Electronics lab wreaking my head trying to find a fault in a mod-3 down counter, when somebody comes and announces “FSC 20/20 finals convo mein dikha rahe hai!!’
FSC = film screening committee
Convo = convocation hall, dats where convocation’s held(hah) and many other such irrelevant events.
Well well isn’t this a surprise, fsc doing some noble work after all. Ok, so we quit the lab a little early and go to convo to get some good seats. We are a little early, 5 pm, match’s not till 5:30, nothing to do but sit. Yawn. Working in digital lab always makes me sleepy, it’s a mystery yet to be solved. People start piling up in scores and its not much time before covo’s packed…Toss, India won.'
…
Ah, the match’s finally started. India batting. 12 runs in first over. Hmm…this might be interesting after all! But soon the first wicket falls. The match’s intensity suddenly drops. Couple of more overs. Runrates down from 12 to 7.something(the term has a new meaning since joining college). Yawn. A couple of more overs, a couple of wickets, some more runs………………….
YEAHHHH! I wake with a start. Seems I had dozed of the last 6 overs..an amazing feat considering I am sitting upright and the packed hall’s roaring with yells. someone must have hit a boundary or something…the bastard. I finally come to a conclusion this is not the best place to sleep and start wading my way though the seats and set for the hostel.
Reach hostel. More shouting. Jobless ppl sitting in common room(one with a 70” TV inside) avoiding all the zillion things they should rather be doing. I make my way up the long steps to my room dear room. Rooms locked, roomie must be in common room. Fortunately its not one of the days when I have forgotten the keys. I walk inside and realize I am not that sleepy anymore. I sit on the comp for a while, but soon decide I am sleepy again. So I just lie down and let the sweet enamor of sleep consume me.
...
YEAH!!!!!!!! I awake with a start. What this time? I have been sleeping for a little over 1.5 hours. The sounds coming from the adjacent hostel….jobless ppl piling in its common room too(which by some complex 3D geometrical principles is closer to my room than my own hostel’s common room). Guess India must have won! Now dats something I guess warrants cheering. Soon my roomie and a couple of other jobless guys come over and start chatting over how India seems to have won from the hairraising finale(I guess when India is considered, even a match with Bangladesh and Kenya is hairraising until its over). I listen to them patiently trying to figure out exactly what I had been dreaming just when I woke up…
A little while later, I get a call from home, thats Ranchi people, hometown of the venerable MR. M.S.D H O N I. and for records…hes lives just a couple of blocks away from me(can anyone imagine how else could I be so enthusiastic about the sport?!). well, its dad, reporting live from the roads of ranchi(hes out for an evening walk). Seems hundreds of jobless people have come up to Mr. Dhoni’s residence for only-god-know-what(I do hope they realize Mahendra isn’t inside, or they would be terribly disappointed), to just cheer probably(I could hear some boo-booing form the phone).. noble of them.
Guess noones getting much sleep tonight….
So here ends my adventure of the night when India won its 2nd world cup after almost 25 years. I congratulate u all...and Thank you for bearing with me. I know it was a monumental task, and I am proud of you all.
FSC = film screening committee
Convo = convocation hall, dats where convocation’s held(hah) and many other such irrelevant events.
Well well isn’t this a surprise, fsc doing some noble work after all. Ok, so we quit the lab a little early and go to convo to get some good seats. We are a little early, 5 pm, match’s not till 5:30, nothing to do but sit. Yawn. Working in digital lab always makes me sleepy, it’s a mystery yet to be solved. People start piling up in scores and its not much time before covo’s packed…Toss, India won.'
…
Ah, the match’s finally started. India batting. 12 runs in first over. Hmm…this might be interesting after all! But soon the first wicket falls. The match’s intensity suddenly drops. Couple of more overs. Runrates down from 12 to 7.something(the term has a new meaning since joining college). Yawn. A couple of more overs, a couple of wickets, some more runs………………….
YEAHHHH! I wake with a start. Seems I had dozed of the last 6 overs..an amazing feat considering I am sitting upright and the packed hall’s roaring with yells. someone must have hit a boundary or something…the bastard. I finally come to a conclusion this is not the best place to sleep and start wading my way though the seats and set for the hostel.
Reach hostel. More shouting. Jobless ppl sitting in common room(one with a 70” TV inside) avoiding all the zillion things they should rather be doing. I make my way up the long steps to my room dear room. Rooms locked, roomie must be in common room. Fortunately its not one of the days when I have forgotten the keys. I walk inside and realize I am not that sleepy anymore. I sit on the comp for a while, but soon decide I am sleepy again. So I just lie down and let the sweet enamor of sleep consume me.
...
YEAH!!!!!!!! I awake with a start. What this time? I have been sleeping for a little over 1.5 hours. The sounds coming from the adjacent hostel….jobless ppl piling in its common room too(which by some complex 3D geometrical principles is closer to my room than my own hostel’s common room). Guess India must have won! Now dats something I guess warrants cheering. Soon my roomie and a couple of other jobless guys come over and start chatting over how India seems to have won from the hairraising finale(I guess when India is considered, even a match with Bangladesh and Kenya is hairraising until its over). I listen to them patiently trying to figure out exactly what I had been dreaming just when I woke up…
A little while later, I get a call from home, thats Ranchi people, hometown of the venerable MR. M.S.D H O N I. and for records…hes lives just a couple of blocks away from me(can anyone imagine how else could I be so enthusiastic about the sport?!). well, its dad, reporting live from the roads of ranchi(hes out for an evening walk). Seems hundreds of jobless people have come up to Mr. Dhoni’s residence for only-god-know-what(I do hope they realize Mahendra isn’t inside, or they would be terribly disappointed), to just cheer probably(I could hear some boo-booing form the phone).. noble of them.
Guess noones getting much sleep tonight….
So here ends my adventure of the night when India won its 2nd world cup after almost 25 years. I congratulate u all...and Thank you for bearing with me. I know it was a monumental task, and I am proud of you all.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Orkut/Youtube/Firefox Virus
If you are being bugged by the virus which prevents you frm opening firefox, or the orkut and youtube sites(which is accompanied by the first-hilarious-but-soon-gets-irritating voice MUHAHAHA), check out this link, the guy has researched it out well and written out a comprehensive step by step procedure to remove it -
http://harshaonline.wordpress.com/2007/05/17/firefox-vi
http://harshaonline.wordpress.com/2007/05/17/firefox-vi
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Chandler's jibes
Well, this post is a spinoff from the one on Vivek’s blog..
Ok, This is one seriously funny guy…had an instant liking towards him the first time I saw Friends(tho cant pinpoint th episode)..
Played to perfection by Matthew Perry, his distinctive talking style (I do not talk like that) and remarkable timings with the most absurd and wittiest remarks sets him apart…
Some of my favorite taunts –
“Look, the monkey’s got a Ross on his ass”
“Well, Joy was born, and 25 years later, I was robbed!!”
(This is when Ross says he got a gift of time for Christmas)
“Well, I got the gift of space last year…lets combine and make a space time continuum!”
(how can I forget this one)
“On second thought, gum should be perfection.”
“handle is the middle part of my name” (it really is)
(Rachel – grumpy, loony etc etc)
“stop calling me dwarf names!”
(when he was on a bet to not make fun of anyone)
“Ross has got leather pants! Don’t you people see, Ross has got leather pants!”
(10th season – when he erases Ross’s hard-disk containing his speech)
“You didn’t have a copy? You must be pretty mad with yourself now”
(when Ross needed to remove his The Ross thingy)
“so I was lucky, well but not as lucky as those not born with it.”
And many others, which I cant remember just now(has been some time since I watched it), please comment people...
And also there were the chandler “moments” like the one where he dressed up as a bunny, when he get a new roomie(who used to watch him sleep), ones with Janice…
Some trivia –
Full name – Chandler Muriel Bing
The name Chandler is actually named for an archaic trade - a chandler was a candlemaker.
Monica accidentally severed Chandler's pinky toe with a knife one Thanksgiving. This is a play on reality, as Matthew Perry is missing part of his right middle finger.
Chandler lost his virginity at age 23 and first touched a girl's breast at age 19.
Chandler's computer is an Apple PowerBook G3.
Finally Chandler’s job (before he went into advertising) - Statistical Analysis and Data Reconfiguration.
Ok, This is one seriously funny guy…had an instant liking towards him the first time I saw Friends(tho cant pinpoint th episode)..
Played to perfection by Matthew Perry, his distinctive talking style (I do not talk like that) and remarkable timings with the most absurd and wittiest remarks sets him apart…
Some of my favorite taunts –
“Look, the monkey’s got a Ross on his ass”
“Well, Joy was born, and 25 years later, I was robbed!!”
(This is when Ross says he got a gift of time for Christmas)
“Well, I got the gift of space last year…lets combine and make a space time continuum!”
(how can I forget this one)
“On second thought, gum should be perfection.”
“handle is the middle part of my name” (it really is)
(Rachel – grumpy, loony etc etc)
“stop calling me dwarf names!”
(when he was on a bet to not make fun of anyone)
“Ross has got leather pants! Don’t you people see, Ross has got leather pants!”
(10th season – when he erases Ross’s hard-disk containing his speech)
“You didn’t have a copy? You must be pretty mad with yourself now”
(when Ross needed to remove his The Ross thingy)
“so I was lucky, well but not as lucky as those not born with it.”
And many others, which I cant remember just now(has been some time since I watched it), please comment people...
And also there were the chandler “moments” like the one where he dressed up as a bunny, when he get a new roomie(who used to watch him sleep), ones with Janice…
Some trivia –
Full name – Chandler Muriel Bing
The name Chandler is actually named for an archaic trade - a chandler was a candlemaker.
Monica accidentally severed Chandler's pinky toe with a knife one Thanksgiving. This is a play on reality, as Matthew Perry is missing part of his right middle finger.
Chandler lost his virginity at age 23 and first touched a girl's breast at age 19.
Chandler's computer is an Apple PowerBook G3.
Finally Chandler’s job (before he went into advertising) - Statistical Analysis and Data Reconfiguration.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Harry Potter the last Chapter
Ok…this is the one of the most awaited moments of this whole year...at least for me (Have been a die hard potter maniac since I read the first installment in standard nine).
I have been planning this excursion from a long time...of the order of a couple of years…embarrassing really.
Well let’s get going…
Things we don’t know/would like to know –
(In no particular order…well in order that they come to my mind)
• What’s the thing with Fawkes? It’s obvious that it’s no ordinary bird…not even an ordinary phoenix even I would say…
• Where are the other horcruxes? One of the most obvious questions…a more elusive one I think is how is Harry gonna find them all and destroy them along with Voldemort??
• How did James n Lily get together? How how?
• Is Snape good or evil?
• Where is Wormtail?
• Why was Hagrid’s brother introduced?
• What exactly happened at THE night at Godric’s hollow?
• Where is Sirius’s bike?
• What exactly is behind the veil?
• What is in that locked room in department of mysteries? LOVE?
• What the hell is Dumbledore’s brother Aberforth doing?
• An history of Dumbledore…his victory over
• What did Dudley see as his worst memory? I find this a really silly question….but its making quite a few rounds online..
• Snape’s past? Remember one of his memories where he is a small kid in a dysfunctional family?
• Jkr says one non magical character is gonna show magical tendencies….ehhem?
• Where did voldemort learn to make horcruxes?
• Whats up with Harry’s scar?
• Where did Dumbledore get his scar (of the tunnels of London)?
• What is deathly hallows?
• How far had RAB(Regulus Black) accomplished his mission?
• How did the ghost who teaches history actually die?
Where are the horcruxes? I came up with these likely locations but are merely wild guesses –
Aragog’s lair
Chamber of secrets (shredded skin of basilisk)
Slytherin common room
The locket at grimmauld’s place (nicked this one)
Room of Requirement
Some things I expect –
• Isn’t it weird how convenient the traveling cupboards proved to the death-eaters? Or how come it’s other pair was in Borgin and Burkes. Where voldemort worded previously? And also voldemort wanted to enter Hogwarts….I don’t think it would be inappropriate to assume vodemort had infact placed those cupboards in their locations. Further on this theory…
• How did Lily started liking James? Well, this theory might be speculating too far but still….. She ran into our dark lord during one of his visits to Hogwarts through the cabinet and James risked his life to save her…classic.. And of course the cabinet was damaged which Draco corrected.
• Does anyone remember that voldemort offered to leave lily? I think there’s more here we don’t know about.
• Dragons must come into the picture. There has been simply too much discussion and to less action on them.
• Some action on part of Scrimgeour…how about a one on one fight with the Dark Lord?
• Greyback has to die….via Lupin? (too sweet) but more probably by one of weasley kids…not necessarily Bill. Actually Wormtail is also a candidate with his debt and silver hand and everything.
• Fleur Delacour might display some special powers of her own.
• Wormtail has a debt to Harry remember?
• This is only wishful thinking: Only the trio in the final stand…no accomplices.
Why Dumbledore had to die
Many still try to avoid it…but it was long coming. The books are called “Harry Potter”. So far he hasn’t done anything to justify this honor. Dumbledore had to go for us to clear Harry’s way to legend hood. Harry’s character was vastly improved in HBP…not just the temper. He was a lot sharper and clear thinking. Dumbledore’s death left him in an emotional void…now he must rise and follow his destiny.
Did Dumbledore foresee his death? Well…..most probably. I think he must have seen it coming but didn’t know it would be that night. Also he must have known everything about Draco…he was not bluffing anything at the tower there. This must have been one of the consequences of the failure of his plan (one he says at the end of OotP).
Is Snape good or evil?
Neither I would say. and I have my far fetched reasons. First thing Dumbledore trusts him completely…and we know he isn’t a fool. Second thing..Voldemort trusts him…and neither is he a fool…
On two separate occasions when Harry challenges the innocence of Snape, Dumbledore simply says – I trust him completely. There might be more here then it seems at first site. JKR has always tried to signify the importance of love as power to children. Is that the only emotion worth it? What about others….what about trust? Here Dumbledore might be actually concluding the point. He trusts Snape completely, thus Snape is loyal. Or maybe he can’t help being loyal as long as Dumbledore trusts him. Maybe result of a spell Dumbledore placed on him when he came to take refuge under him? Maybe old magic…voldemort’s weak area? Lets divert here to let your imagination fly…
Hypothesizing
Ok….first the beginning
I expect the first couple of chapters to once again be different…most probably of the death eaters important discussion going on between them with voldemort presiding, Snape alongside him. His efforts now should be of taking over the ministry…Dumbledore out of the way… potter would be considered a threat.
This side…Potter should have a new found courage, ambition, strength etc etc…most importantly, a new found feeling for the subtleties of magic (only way I think he could take on voldemort).
The Bill-Fleur wedding…peaceful event I hope…probably some elder will fill in the gaps in storyline for Harry (and us)….maybe Lupin…Aberforth..
Godrics hollow….well; Dumbledore must have known Harry would come here…. I think he would have left a clue here as to guide Harry on the correct track. Tell him to go to Hogwarts for one. I expect a pensieve here, possibly with a ghost of Dumbledore (like Trelawney’s in PoA) appearing out of it.
So much for storyline…
There has to be a real showdown between the order and death eaters….and between Harry and Voldemort….otherwise it wouldn’t be as fulfilling….however their wands lock...I am at a loss here. Maybe Harry uses someone else’s wand…as simple as that. More interesting, where will the showdown occur? Ministry..nah been there…Hogwarts? Might be….(i was imagining some place beyond the veil)
Ron-Hermione: well, they know their feelings….but haven’t come to terms with it...a nice scenario would be a battle with DE where suddenly Hermione is struck down.. and Ron shoots one hell of a spell in rage(making up for his lack of action in the series)…holds her down as she is fatally wounded and confesses his love…but then Harry summons Fawkes to come and heal her.
A visit to department of mysteries is imminent.
Attack on Hogwarts? How about giants vs. dragons? (Dementers vs. House elves?)
Aragog’s death has to be significant…we should also see more of centaurs, Mr.Weasley’s car.
This was a pretty long post...and a great load off my head. Now either of two things will happen on 21st...either I will get the liberty to say "i told u so"...or we will have a nice topic for a hearty laugh for somedays....
I have been planning this excursion from a long time...of the order of a couple of years…embarrassing really.
Well let’s get going…
Things we don’t know/would like to know –
(In no particular order…well in order that they come to my mind)
• What’s the thing with Fawkes? It’s obvious that it’s no ordinary bird…not even an ordinary phoenix even I would say…
• Where are the other horcruxes? One of the most obvious questions…a more elusive one I think is how is Harry gonna find them all and destroy them along with Voldemort??
• How did James n Lily get together? How how?
• Is Snape good or evil?
• Where is Wormtail?
• Why was Hagrid’s brother introduced?
• What exactly happened at THE night at Godric’s hollow?
• Where is Sirius’s bike?
• What exactly is behind the veil?
• What is in that locked room in department of mysteries? LOVE?
• What the hell is Dumbledore’s brother Aberforth doing?
• An history of Dumbledore…his victory over
• What did Dudley see as his worst memory? I find this a really silly question….but its making quite a few rounds online..
• Snape’s past? Remember one of his memories where he is a small kid in a dysfunctional family?
• Jkr says one non magical character is gonna show magical tendencies….ehhem?
• Where did voldemort learn to make horcruxes?
• Whats up with Harry’s scar?
• Where did Dumbledore get his scar (of the tunnels of London)?
• What is deathly hallows?
• How far had RAB(Regulus Black) accomplished his mission?
• How did the ghost who teaches history actually die?
Where are the horcruxes? I came up with these likely locations but are merely wild guesses –
Aragog’s lair
Chamber of secrets (shredded skin of basilisk)
Slytherin common room
The locket at grimmauld’s place (nicked this one)
Room of Requirement
Some things I expect –
• Isn’t it weird how convenient the traveling cupboards proved to the death-eaters? Or how come it’s other pair was in Borgin and Burkes. Where voldemort worded previously? And also voldemort wanted to enter Hogwarts….I don’t think it would be inappropriate to assume vodemort had infact placed those cupboards in their locations. Further on this theory…
• How did Lily started liking James? Well, this theory might be speculating too far but still….. She ran into our dark lord during one of his visits to Hogwarts through the cabinet and James risked his life to save her…classic.. And of course the cabinet was damaged which Draco corrected.
• Does anyone remember that voldemort offered to leave lily? I think there’s more here we don’t know about.
• Dragons must come into the picture. There has been simply too much discussion and to less action on them.
• Some action on part of Scrimgeour…how about a one on one fight with the Dark Lord?
• Greyback has to die….via Lupin? (too sweet) but more probably by one of weasley kids…not necessarily Bill. Actually Wormtail is also a candidate with his debt and silver hand and everything.
• Fleur Delacour might display some special powers of her own.
• Wormtail has a debt to Harry remember?
• This is only wishful thinking: Only the trio in the final stand…no accomplices.
Why Dumbledore had to die
Many still try to avoid it…but it was long coming. The books are called “Harry Potter”. So far he hasn’t done anything to justify this honor. Dumbledore had to go for us to clear Harry’s way to legend hood. Harry’s character was vastly improved in HBP…not just the temper. He was a lot sharper and clear thinking. Dumbledore’s death left him in an emotional void…now he must rise and follow his destiny.
Did Dumbledore foresee his death? Well…..most probably. I think he must have seen it coming but didn’t know it would be that night. Also he must have known everything about Draco…he was not bluffing anything at the tower there. This must have been one of the consequences of the failure of his plan (one he says at the end of OotP).
Is Snape good or evil?
Neither I would say. and I have my far fetched reasons. First thing Dumbledore trusts him completely…and we know he isn’t a fool. Second thing..Voldemort trusts him…and neither is he a fool…
On two separate occasions when Harry challenges the innocence of Snape, Dumbledore simply says – I trust him completely. There might be more here then it seems at first site. JKR has always tried to signify the importance of love as power to children. Is that the only emotion worth it? What about others….what about trust? Here Dumbledore might be actually concluding the point. He trusts Snape completely, thus Snape is loyal. Or maybe he can’t help being loyal as long as Dumbledore trusts him. Maybe result of a spell Dumbledore placed on him when he came to take refuge under him? Maybe old magic…voldemort’s weak area? Lets divert here to let your imagination fly…
Hypothesizing
Ok….first the beginning
I expect the first couple of chapters to once again be different…most probably of the death eaters important discussion going on between them with voldemort presiding, Snape alongside him. His efforts now should be of taking over the ministry…Dumbledore out of the way… potter would be considered a threat.
This side…Potter should have a new found courage, ambition, strength etc etc…most importantly, a new found feeling for the subtleties of magic (only way I think he could take on voldemort).
The Bill-Fleur wedding…peaceful event I hope…probably some elder will fill in the gaps in storyline for Harry (and us)….maybe Lupin…Aberforth..
Godrics hollow….well; Dumbledore must have known Harry would come here…. I think he would have left a clue here as to guide Harry on the correct track. Tell him to go to Hogwarts for one. I expect a pensieve here, possibly with a ghost of Dumbledore (like Trelawney’s in PoA) appearing out of it.
So much for storyline…
There has to be a real showdown between the order and death eaters….and between Harry and Voldemort….otherwise it wouldn’t be as fulfilling….however their wands lock...I am at a loss here. Maybe Harry uses someone else’s wand…as simple as that. More interesting, where will the showdown occur? Ministry..nah been there…Hogwarts? Might be….(i was imagining some place beyond the veil)
Ron-Hermione: well, they know their feelings….but haven’t come to terms with it...a nice scenario would be a battle with DE where suddenly Hermione is struck down.. and Ron shoots one hell of a spell in rage(making up for his lack of action in the series)…holds her down as she is fatally wounded and confesses his love…but then Harry summons Fawkes to come and heal her.
A visit to department of mysteries is imminent.
Attack on Hogwarts? How about giants vs. dragons? (Dementers vs. House elves?)
Aragog’s death has to be significant…we should also see more of centaurs, Mr.Weasley’s car.
This was a pretty long post...and a great load off my head. Now either of two things will happen on 21st...either I will get the liberty to say "i told u so"...or we will have a nice topic for a hearty laugh for somedays....
Monday, May 28, 2007
hello again
ok...sorry about another long absence but these attacks of lethargy seem to be an integral part of my being...anyway...
Sunday, April 8, 2007
taming the monkey
Some links in reference to my last post -
http://greasemonkey.mozdev.org/ (*Greasemonkey homepage*)
http://rb286.blogspot.com/ (*Scrapbook flooder*)
http://platypus.mozdev.org/
(*another firefox extension - make changes to a page and save then as a javascript in GM...how cool is that?*)
userscripts.org (*thousands of community made javascripts*)
http://greasemonkey.mozdev.org/ (*Greasemonkey homepage*)
http://rb286.blogspot.com/ (*Scrapbook flooder*)
http://platypus.mozdev.org/
(*another firefox extension - make changes to a page and save then as a javascript in GM...how cool is that?*)
userscripts.org (*thousands of community made javascripts*)
how the monkey tamed the fox
It surprising how a sequence of actions in a normal days work can end in a completely different domain from where it started. I am not talking philosophy or zoology here as it may appear..this is a tale of Orkut, fake profiles, scrapbook flooding and the weirdest monkey..
Well it started last week when a jobless orkut crazy pal of mine got the very innovative idea of creating a fake profile of a girl and started scrapping everyone. Well it also turns out that people here at a sub level are very technologically challenged. So, I decided to use a quite (in)famous scrapbook flooding technique from the web to flood this guys scrapbook :making public his deeds. This seemed nothing short of magic(maybe I am being a little too imaginative....but what the hell..its my blog) to the guy and for a person whose religion is orkut...this was a blasphemy and he literally sat that night and deleted all the flooded scraps...too bad I had not gone into 1000s...
But during execution what happened was...I had to IM my friend in Kanpur to ask exactly how to use the flooder...and he mentioned in passing an extension in firefox by the name of Greasemonkey. I had heard of it .. but hadnt quite checked it out. (You wouldd be surprised how ignorant ppl even in IIT can be.) When I finally checked it out..seems its a really great extension that can run a javascript(user created/downloaded) on specifically designated specific pages(decided by the javascript) . So you can basically edit a page or preprocess it locally before viewing it! Imagine skinning every page you see on web, removing adds, and a load of other stuff(scrapbook flooding anyone?)..
But the best part is the vibrant community behind the extension...making available thousands of scripts to download...this is going to keep me busy for a while!
Well it started last week when a jobless orkut crazy pal of mine got the very innovative idea of creating a fake profile of a girl and started scrapping everyone. Well it also turns out that people here at a sub level are very technologically challenged. So, I decided to use a quite (in)famous scrapbook flooding technique from the web to flood this guys scrapbook :making public his deeds. This seemed nothing short of magic(maybe I am being a little too imaginative....but what the hell..its my blog) to the guy and for a person whose religion is orkut...this was a blasphemy and he literally sat that night and deleted all the flooded scraps...too bad I had not gone into 1000s...
But during execution what happened was...I had to IM my friend in Kanpur to ask exactly how to use the flooder...and he mentioned in passing an extension in firefox by the name of Greasemonkey. I had heard of it .. but hadnt quite checked it out. (You wouldd be surprised how ignorant ppl even in IIT can be.) When I finally checked it out..seems its a really great extension that can run a javascript(user created/downloaded) on specifically designated specific pages(decided by the javascript) . So you can basically edit a page or preprocess it locally before viewing it! Imagine skinning every page you see on web, removing adds, and a load of other stuff(scrapbook flooding anyone?)..
But the best part is the vibrant community behind the extension...making available thousands of scripts to download...this is going to keep me busy for a while!
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Athiest philosophies....
I am not an atheist myself ( I claim to be agnostic but not even sure of that).. but this compilation by a certain guy named Sood was still a thought provoking one( and a little humorous)....
Is god willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him god.
- Epicurus
"When did I realize I was God? Well, I was praying and I suddenly realized I was talking to myself.![]()
"
- Peter O'toole.
"Gods are fragile things; they may be killed by a whiff of science or a dose of common sense."
-Chapman Cohen
"Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived."
-Isaac Asimov
"I believe in God, only I spell it Nature."
Frank Lloyd Wright.
Architect
"I cannot believe in a God who wants to be praised all the time."
Friedrich Nietzsche
(German classical Scholar, Philosopher and Critic of culture, 1844-1900.)
"Theists and Atheists are not much different. Both are ignorant. Theists just are ignorant about their own ignorance too."
-NH
"Theists and Atheists are not much different. Both are ignorant. Theists just are ignorant about their own ignorance too."
-NH
"From all the miracles Theists always refer to, the one I find most impressive is the transubstatiation of words."
-NH
"Science is when you make up questions and then try to find out the answers.
Religion is when you make up answers and then try to find out the questions."
-NH
"Most kids are often told by their parents they should not believe in imaginary friends. Looking at the adults, it's clearly not working."
- NH
"Out of convicted rapists, 57% admitted to reading pornography. 95% admitted to reading the Bible."
-Author unknown
"Life is but a momentary glimpse of the wonder of this astonishing universe, and it is sad to see so many dreaming it away on spiritual fantasy. "
- Carl Sagan
"The only excuse for god is that he doesn't exist." - Nietzsche
Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion." - Steven Weinberg
"The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one."
"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours."
"The foolish reject what they see and not what they think; the wise reject what they think and not what they see."
"The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike."
"It is not as in the Bible, that God created man in his own image. But, on the contrary, man created God in his own image."
* A stupid man's report of what a clever man says is never accurate because he unconsciously translates what he hears into something he can understand.
* It is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatever for supposing it is true.
- Bertrand Russel
Everyone who believes in telekinesis, raise my hand.
- James Randi
Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
- George Carlin
* The patient typically finds himself impelled by some deep, inner conviction that something is true, or right, or virtuous: a conviction that doesn't seem to owe anything to evidence or reason, but which, nevertheless, he feels as totally compelling and convincing. We doctors refer to such a belief as "faith."
* Religious people split into three main groups when faced with science. I shall label them the "know-nothings", the "know-alls", and the "no-contests".
* Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence.
* I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world.
- Richard Dawkins
"It would be very nice if there were a God who created the world and was a benevolent providence, and if there were a moral order in the universe and an after-life; but it is a very striking fact that all this is exactly as we are bound to wish it to be."
Philosophy is like being in a dark room and looking for a black cat.
Metaphysics is like being in a dark room and looking for a black cat that isn't there.
Theology is like being in a dark room and looking for a black cat that isn't there and shouting "I found it!"
"It seems to me that the idea of a personal God is an anthropological concept which I cannot take seriously. I also cannot imagine some will or goal outside the human sphere. ... Science has been charged with undermining morality, but the charge is unjust. A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death."
— Albert Einstein
"Morality and religion are but words to him who fishes in gutters for the means of sustaining life, and crouches behind barrels in the street for shelter from the cutting blasts of a winter night."
Horace Greeley.
"One who doesn't believe in himself believes in God"
— Aravind Chandrasekaran
"The fool says in his heart: 'There is no God.' The Wise Man says it to the world."
— Troy Witte
"Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear."
- Thomas Jefferson
Is god willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him god.
- Epicurus
"When did I realize I was God? Well, I was praying and I suddenly realized I was talking to myself.
- Peter O'toole.
"Gods are fragile things; they may be killed by a whiff of science or a dose of common sense."
-Chapman Cohen
"Properly read, the Bible is the most potent force for atheism ever conceived."
-Isaac Asimov
"I believe in God, only I spell it Nature."
Frank Lloyd Wright.
Architect
"I cannot believe in a God who wants to be praised all the time."
Friedrich Nietzsche
(German classical Scholar, Philosopher and Critic of culture, 1844-1900.)
"Theists and Atheists are not much different. Both are ignorant. Theists just are ignorant about their own ignorance too."
-NH
"Theists and Atheists are not much different. Both are ignorant. Theists just are ignorant about their own ignorance too."
-NH
"From all the miracles Theists always refer to, the one I find most impressive is the transubstatiation of words."
-NH
"Science is when you make up questions and then try to find out the answers.
Religion is when you make up answers and then try to find out the questions."
-NH
"Most kids are often told by their parents they should not believe in imaginary friends. Looking at the adults, it's clearly not working."
- NH
"Out of convicted rapists, 57% admitted to reading pornography. 95% admitted to reading the Bible."
-Author unknown
"Life is but a momentary glimpse of the wonder of this astonishing universe, and it is sad to see so many dreaming it away on spiritual fantasy. "
- Carl Sagan
"The only excuse for god is that he doesn't exist." - Nietzsche
Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion." - Steven Weinberg
"The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one."
"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours."
"The foolish reject what they see and not what they think; the wise reject what they think and not what they see."
"The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike."
"It is not as in the Bible, that God created man in his own image. But, on the contrary, man created God in his own image."
* A stupid man's report of what a clever man says is never accurate because he unconsciously translates what he hears into something he can understand.
* It is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatever for supposing it is true.
- Bertrand Russel
Everyone who believes in telekinesis, raise my hand.
- James Randi
Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
- George Carlin
* The patient typically finds himself impelled by some deep, inner conviction that something is true, or right, or virtuous: a conviction that doesn't seem to owe anything to evidence or reason, but which, nevertheless, he feels as totally compelling and convincing. We doctors refer to such a belief as "faith."
* Religious people split into three main groups when faced with science. I shall label them the "know-nothings", the "know-alls", and the "no-contests".
* Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence. Faith is belief in spite of, even perhaps because of, the lack of evidence.
* I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world.
- Richard Dawkins
"It would be very nice if there were a God who created the world and was a benevolent providence, and if there were a moral order in the universe and an after-life; but it is a very striking fact that all this is exactly as we are bound to wish it to be."
Philosophy is like being in a dark room and looking for a black cat.
Metaphysics is like being in a dark room and looking for a black cat that isn't there.
Theology is like being in a dark room and looking for a black cat that isn't there and shouting "I found it!"
"It seems to me that the idea of a personal God is an anthropological concept which I cannot take seriously. I also cannot imagine some will or goal outside the human sphere. ... Science has been charged with undermining morality, but the charge is unjust. A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death."
— Albert Einstein
"Morality and religion are but words to him who fishes in gutters for the means of sustaining life, and crouches behind barrels in the street for shelter from the cutting blasts of a winter night."
Horace Greeley.
"One who doesn't believe in himself believes in God"
— Aravind Chandrasekaran
"The fool says in his heart: 'There is no God.' The Wise Man says it to the world."
— Troy Witte
"Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear."
- Thomas Jefferson
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Foretold
I knew this was gonna happen. The same thing happened the couple of times I started writing a daily diary.. i would always write with great zeal for 3-4 days and then completely swipe the notion of it from my mind..one day wudnt matter wud it? Just yesterday there was an article in TOI about some millions of dead blogs just clogging up the cyberspace.
Well..I have made a reso.... close one there... closer to truth.. i have thought, am hoping to write some crap here every week from now on...
so until next time...tc
Well..I have made a reso.... close one there... closer to truth.. i have thought, am hoping to write some crap here every week from now on...
so until next time...tc
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Deathly Hallows
Harry Potters all set to be released on saturday, 21st july 2007. I had almst lost hope of it being released this year with the hype so low... anyways, JK Rowling says she's already finished the final draft and its been three weeks since.....
Nows the time all new theories should start popping up as a desperate last minute attempt of fans trying to outwit JK Rowling at her own game..I may also join in and write something, but thats for another time..
Nows the time all new theories should start popping up as a desperate last minute attempt of fans trying to outwit JK Rowling at her own game..I may also join in and write something, but thats for another time..
Friday, January 19, 2007
Prison Break.....
Well, this was one of the forst things I tried out coming back to college, having heard lots about it in the winter break..and man, wasnt it justified!! An (inter)national conspiracy, an innocent guy on death row, his brother brainstorming to escape him from prison...also add a decent dose of double crosses and cold blooded murders...what more could you want? A stereotype for a 'studapa' serial...even though the story does get a little farfetched some times. however, a must see for any guy worth his salt.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007
In the Beginning...
Hello everyone, this is the genesis of my new blog. I have only a very vague(read none) idea of what form this it will take. Might be technical, personal, philosophical or whatever....time will tell. I will be writing in any free time i get(which is plenty) provided theres something interesting brewing in my mind. Cant think of anything more to say here...
Adieu
Adieu
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