Sed Vitae

It's That Scammer Again

2006-09-10T08:27:00.000-07:00

Oh goodie! It is such a privilege to be finally noticed by the Esteemed Nigerian Scammer, or it could even be South African. The IP address in the header tells a different story though.

A quick WHOIS check points me to California, USA. Marvelous! This new age technology. A letter from a First World scammer to a Third World dunderhead like me. I'm not worthy of this. Really! But what do I do now, what do I do? Do I toy around with him just like Chris Condon or do I just ignore him? I can't stop rubbing my hands in glee.

Let me introduce you to my Honourable Scammer. He call himself Barrister Esom Ndu. "Are you originally from Assam, Me Lord?. I am not familiar with Ndu as an Indian surname I must inform, Sir."

He informs me that and his rich client has met with a tragic plane crash. So what else is new? Here is the transcript of his letter with a few inputs from yours truly. Enjoy!

ATTN: FROM THE DESK OF: BARRISTER ESOM NDU.
Ndu & Associates
No. 54 Idowu Matin Street.
Private E-mail: barristeresomndu1@myway.com

Dear: Friend,

I am Barrister Esom Ndu a solicitor at law. The personal attorney to a late Mark, foreign expatriate who hails from your country and shares the same last name with you. I wish to bring to your hearing a business proposition, which is by nature strictly confidential, and i beg your pardon to accept my unsolicited email to you, (What?) I will like to seek your help in which I know that a deal of this magnitude will make anyone worried and apprehensive but I am assuring you not to be afraid, as all will be well at the end of this endeavor.

This is a genuine transaction and is 100% risk free. All I'm demanding from you is your honest co-operation to enable us achieve our goal, and not a perfidious person. On the 6th of May, 2002 it was reported to us that my Client, his wife and their only daughter were involved in a Local Plane Crash (He writes a lot like J. A. Prufrock.) at Kano State,enroute Abuja (The Capital City) all occupants in the Plane lost their lives, unfortunately on this same flight were other dignitaries like the Sports Minister and a host of others. (Poor fellow!)

The following websites could be referenced:
http://www.usafricaonline.com/ngrkanocrash.html
http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/05/05/stories/2002050503070101.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1968616.stm (Ah, references! How thoughtful?)

Since then I have made several enquiries to your Embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.

I contacted you to assist in claiming this fund from the finance house where he deposited it before his untimely death. The finance company where the deceased had an account valued at about USD$7. Million dollars has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confiscated within the next ten official working days.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at USD$7. million dollars can be paid to you as the next of kin. (Yipee! I'm rich, I'm rich!)

All I need is your full maximum support and cooperation to enable us achieve this transaction within 10 working days and I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. (You're a barrister afterall.)

If you are interested in this transaction, kindly furnish me with your full name, address, private telephone and fax numbers to enable us commence all the legal documents immediately.
Your direct telephone and fax number's are needed for easy communication and do your best to maintain the absolute confidentiality involved because of the officials.

Best regards,
Barrister Esom Ndu
PLEASE SEND YOUR REPLY TO MY PRIVATE E-MAIL.
(Private E-mail:( barristeresomndu1@myway.com )

Whattodo folks, whattodo?

Serenity

2006-09-06T19:20:00.000-07:00

This weeks OT post.
Free image from MorgueFile.

Early Morning Surprise

2006-09-05T19:47:00.000-07:00

I wake up this morning and out of curiosity decide to check the India Blogstreet Top 100 list...my favourite steel tea mug in hand. Surprises of surprises! There is the blog at 73. How... Who... When? I think I can sum it up with that beautiful expression.

Duh!?

Crime and Punishment

2006-09-03T07:16:00.000-07:00

The Indian Supreme court upheld the decision of the Bombay High Court against Renuka Shinde and Seema Gavit, thus condemning the sisters to the hangman's noose once again. Their only hope now lies in a Presidential pardon but it wouldn't be unreasonable to predict that a pardon is not forthcoming. The Indian judiciary is very conservative about capital punishment and so awards such sentences only on what it terms as the 'rarest-of-the-rare' cases. And this is one. Traditionally there is huge uproar among the diaspora when such verdicts are read out, especially within the Anti Capital Punishment fraternity - as was in the case of late Dhananjoy. It is occasion for heated debates in all forums but interestingly all is quite this time around. Have they switched loyalties?

The reason for their silence is understandable once the gravity of the crimes of these two 'blood' sisters sink in. Their modus operandi was to kidnap toddlers and play the agent provocateur and force them into petty crimes such as picking pockets. Then they snuffed out the lives of the very innocent hands that fed them once they outgrew their utility or became a risk factor. It is also horrific to learn that the sisters were initiated into crime by their own mother Anjana Bai, who at one time was the godmother of this gang which also included Kiran Shinde husband of Renuka. Anjana Bai died in prison. Kiran later turned approver and had all charges dropped against him. Evidence of 13 kidnap cases and 9 blood-curdling murders have been corroborated and confirmed.

So what were the acts that tipped the scales against these fiends? A verbatim quote from the paper version of The Telegraph is in order here.

"Santosh, barely 18 months old, began crying one evening at a bus stand. Fearing he would draw people's attention, the women banged his head against the floor and then an iron pole till he died.
Another 18 month old, Bhavna, was gagged, bundled into a handbad and dumped in the ladies' toilet of a cinema.
Two year old Naresh was starved and beaten to death because he would wail for his mother. Three year old Pankaj made an even bigger mistake. He would talk to passers-by about his parents. So he was hung upside down from the ceiling and his head slammed against a wall." I am not a believer in capital punishment too, but even I must admit that I feel these murderous women have forfeited their chance of a good life.

These women didn’t show an ounce of remorse.

Another report informs that, “These women didn’t show an ounce of remorse. They are cold-blooded murderers. Kiran, who was also involved in the murders, was the only one who showed any emotion during the trial.”

'Not an ounce of remorse'. This was what caught my attention. The primary objective of the judiciary is reform. How will the judiciary evaluate itself on this case then? And how will it rate outcome of the verdict, which if executed, will incidentally be the first time a noose has been tied around women in independant India. Debates on capital punishment usually revolve around the following lines. Supporters claim that death-row inmates are not worthy of life or that it is inappropriate to keep them alive on tax-payers money or that death penalty acts as a deterrant. Abolitionists are quick to point out that no one has the right to another's life or that society has not benefitted much. Close, unprejudiced observation may highlight some truth about all of those claims.

As I have claimed before, I am not too convinced about terminal punishments, but my views vary from the average abolitionist. To my view, there are two kinds of victims in such instances. One, the primary victim and the other, a secondary victim. The person who has been violated and all his/her loved ones could be termed as primary victims. On the other hand the criminals' near and dear ones could be the secondary victims. It is not all that easy to be living with habitual killers and it is all the more difficult in a close-knit, conservative society like ours to come to terms with the fact that a kinsfolk has gone horribly astray. The penal laws of today have very tiny apertures and often fails to see beyond the victim, the accused, the crime scene and associated evidence. Sadly interpretations too have to be based on the pictures it shows.

The current penitentiary system in India is no less a joke. A typical day in prison would constitute morning ablutions, morning tea, meditation, then some menial labour, breakfast, some labour again, lunch, a siesta, a game of volleyball, supper, personal work and bedtime. Now most crime in India is committed to allay hunger and that most felons are by-products of abject poverty is a sad fact of India. So isn't prison-life in India perquisite enough to villainy? It is high time that this system is re-evaluated.

The daily ritual of survival is punishment enough on an average human being. It is so funny that a prison is a means of escape from that Biblical curse. The prison system should incorporate compulsory labour. New means of trade should be part of this system. A felon should be made to work not only for his own survival but also for others who have suffered in his/her hands. They could work as daily wage earners or for other forms of payment. A strict 'food for work' policy should be in place. Under the new system, prison life could be 14 hours of intense labour, 4 hours of personal time and 6 hours of rest. Further they should be made to pay routine compensation to primary and secondary victims from their own earnings. And further, life imprisonment should literally mean life imprisonment.

I can only hope my dreamy aspersions bring fruit someday. Until then, like someone said, "It is good to dream!."

Linked to Samantha Burns.

To Quote Coolidge

2006-08-25T19:58:00.000-07:00

Nothing in this world can take the
place of persistence.

Talent will not; nothing is more common
than unsuccessful people with talent.

Genius will not; unrewarded genius is
almost a proverb.

Education will not; the world is full of
educated derelicts.

Persistence and determination alone
are omnipotent.

The slogan 'press on' has solved and
always will solve the problems of the
human race.

He's Got A Point

2006-08-03T05:40:00.000-07:00

Trackback without fear of retribution.

Who are more clever? Bush supporters or non-supporters?

2006-08-01T05:13:00.000-07:00

This is stale news. Almost a year ago, MyBrainTrainer.com tested the mental acuity of people from the two opposing sections in the US political spectrum. According to MyBrainTrainer.com this test was a "completely non-partisan test designed to gauge mental speed, cognitive function, and immediate memory". The tests revealed that non-Bush supporters were "slightly more agile on the cerebral front". The founder Bruce C. Friedman is quick to point out that these tests are purely for fun and not designed to yield any scientific results.

non-Bush supporters were "slightly more agile on the cerebral front".

I bring this up as an interesting anecdote and it not my intent to ruffle someone's feathers. Interesting though it may sound, it is a fact that the brain need not age as your body ages. In most cases age-related losses in memory or motor skills simply result from inactivity and a lack of mental exercise and stimulation. Perhaps it is time for the pro-Bush coterie to renew their mental skills so that the next time such silly tests are conducted, they can beat the yellow out of their adversaries.Cognitive development is necessary in today's fast-paced world. Here are a few brain exercises you can do.

Use the hand that you normally do not use to do simple everyday tasks like brushing your teeth, dialing the phone, operating the TV remote, etc. It stimulates the opposite side of the brain than that you generally use.
Learn new things. Examples include, a new language, tai chi, yoga, dancing, modeling, sculpture, etc. It helps develop agility and hand-brain coordination.
Traveling also stimulates the brain. Visit new places. It doesn't have to be far away, a different grocery store per se.
Try neurobics. Developed by Lawrence C. Katz, Ph.D., these exercises can activate underused nerve pathways and connections, helping you achieve a fit and flexible mind. Some simple neurobic exercises like combining the two senses are fun and easy. For example, try listening to music and smelling flowers at the same time.
Read, play scrabble and bingo. These simple mind games keep your brain tick that little extra.

So much for brain trainers. Some physical exercises improve mental capacity too.

It is possible to fend off Alzheimer's disease

Walk. It is good for your brain.
Wiggle your toes when you wake up in the morning. Apparently wiggling your toes activates nerves that stimulate your brain and internal organs and keeps you perky all day.

It is possible to fend off Alzheimer's disease and other related illnesses.

How old are you biologically?

There is a simple test at Grow Youthful to guage your biological age. (I suggest you to try the longer version. The short test does not work for some reason).

Openly trackbacked @ Tor's Rants, Bloggin' Outloud

A Joke

2006-07-29T01:11:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd share a joke with you today. This one has been doing the rounds lately and is quite funny. It goes like this:
A man walks into a bar and orders a large drink. He looks very stressed out so the bar-tender says, "That's a heavy drink. What's up buddy?"
The man, still looking downcast, looks up to the bar-tender and says, "I just caught my wife in bed with my best friend."
"I'm sorry dude! So what did you do?," asked the barman.
"I looked my wife in the eye and told her to pack her bags and 'Get lost'"
"And what did you tell your friend?"
"I looked him in the eye and said 'Bad dog'"

Linked to: 123beta, Leaning Straight Up

Virtual Laser Keyboard

2006-07-28T05:19:00.000-07:00

Ever done some typing on your latest mobile phone? Isn’t it unwieldy? A good number of mobile phone come with some sort of keypad and most are inadequate for the task. Here is where the Virtual Laser Keyboard makes a killing. It is a nifty little mobile accessory ever produced. It connects to your cell phone, PDA device or computer via Bluetooth and projects a laser image of a full-size QUERTY keyboard onto any flat surface. And there you have it, a virtual keyboard! Now, even your mum won't mind you tapping the table.

It is compatible with almost any Bluetooth enabled cell phone, about the size of an average cigarette lighter and supported on PalmOS 5, PocketPC 2003, Windows Smartphone, Symbian OS, and Windows 2000/XP. It is not fully supported on MacOS as of now but things should change. The Virtual Laser Keyboard is selling like hot cakes. Expect backorders for this gizmo.

Don't we all look alike?

2006-07-26T22:36:00.000-07:00

Track without fear of retribution.

Will it be different tomorrow?

2006-07-23T23:36:00.000-07:00

He comes home tipsy and coated with blood and his scalp has been split open by a sharp object. Though the bleeding has subsided, his appearance could make everyone queasy. He has been in a fight again. It is not the first time that this has happened, but this is by far the most murderous.
So, he tiptoes into home trying to avoid the melee that usually follows upon discovery. And he also knows how emotional mother gets. It is also no secret that he is rather fond of the tipple and he never misses a chance that entitles him to a bottle. But his love for the spirits is not without side-effects, for he is uncontrollable when inebriated. Such people should avoid the drink but as we all know it is much easier said than done.
Presently, crimson water runs down the sides of the sink as he rinses the caking blood around his face and the clothes-soaked water in the washing machine has already turned vermillion. He drains and then refills the machine. Mother enters the bathroom on some pretext and then it is pandemonium. Her faint heart is unable to bear the streaks in the sink and tiles and the vermillion water. She then goes into a tirade, hurling the choicest words (but short of curses) at him. All the while, he remains quiet. Father is drawn to the commotion and issues further reprimands. He (father) is a lenient man and his caveats are not harsh but wise, usually an invective based on experience and the Bible.
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked…,” he cautions. Further words of wisdom issue from his mouth. The culprit does not talk back.
An air of uneasy calmness encapsulates the family that night and supper is eaten in silence. TV time is boring. Never has been this way! We watch in silence, uninterested as someone repetitively flips channels.
The offender quietly stands and walks away to his bedroom. He has rediscovered sobriety.
Sleep brings peace but soon it will be morning. Will the new day be different? Will he change?

Avant Garde? Really!

2006-07-22T03:39:00.000-07:00

Quite true, actually!

Your Blogging Type is Unique and Avant Garde

You're a bit... unusual. And so is your blog.

You're impulsive, and you'll often post the first thing
that pops in your head.

Completely uncensored, you blog tends to shock... even
though that's not your intent.

You tend to change your blog often, experimenting with
new designs and content.

What's Your Blogging Personality?

India Bans Bloggers

2006-07-20T02:48:00.000-07:00

I was wondering for days, why on earth I could not access any blogs (including my own). It apparently is the Indian government’s doings. All popular blogging domains have been deliberately blocked. A high-handed retaliation to the recent Mumbai blasts. I count myself lucky that I can still post, though I cannot say for sure if it has been published because I cannot read my own writing. We have not had any official announcements as of now but if the press is to be believed, a few moronic bloggers have been issuing anti-India statements and lambasting its policies on all fronts. A few have even gone a step further so as to praise the perpetrators of the heinous seven blasts that rocked Mumbai. Thus, this!

Much as I value democratic principles, especially the right to freedom of speech, I cannot commend such remarks at this juncture. ‘There is a time and place for everything’ as the popular adage goes. About two hundred lives were lost, many more seriously maimed for life both physically and psychologically, others were very moved at the carnage, the country is seeking clues and motives and much of India (especially Mumbai) submerged under a deluge even after all this…yes, this is not the right time! The gory details are still too fresh. But then again, what do bigots care?

I am not protesting this time, as long as it is temporary

It is very true that one’s Right to Freedom of Expression and Right to Information have been seriously violated but I am not protesting this time, as long as it is temporary and I can keep posting. For how long I can maintain this state, I cannot say. At present my commiserations are fully upon the victims and that should keep me engaged for some time. But that does not mean that I endorse this interventionist policy.

As for the bombers and their consorts….. It is such a pity that I do not have a word of advice nor a reprimanding caution for them. Suddenly I am dumb. Now, if that happens to a few more, then they should know that they have toiled for nothing and not a single convert has been won over to their side. It would be better to quit than to labour for no results. Men (and women) such as these say that they are working for higher goals but in my simplistic and academic overview of things – how can one guarantee success on Graduation Day when one has rebelled in the sophomore years? Any answers?

Trackback without fear of retribution.

Political Leanings

2006-07-16T19:39:00.000-07:00

Blogging has added yet another dimension to the World Wide Web. Expressing your emotions, views, daily activities, interests and opinions never has been easier. Earlier chatrooms and bulletin boards provided fertile spaces for lexical brouhaha. Sadly chatrooms also became the favourite haunts of sexual maniacs, paedophiles, script kiddies and squeaky teens. So people who were neither had only one thing to do - quit. Blogs brought with it some respite for people who always had something to say. Blogging is spreading like wild fire with many new blogs being created every minute. Numerics are irrelevant here as long as one knows that a lot is being created every minute. Blogging isn't the domain only of the English speaking part of the world. Almost every language has a presence in the blogosphere. Interestingly, there are more Japanese blogs than that of English. Though short of a reference, I am very sure that I got this fact right. Needless to say that bloggers have categorized themselves each according to tastes and interests. The blogosphere is very colourful indeed.

most Indians are blasé too all political shenanigans

Perhaps the most read and most influential are the political blogs - and I would like to reiterate that every statement from now will be referencing the English blogs. American blogs hold the major slice of the pie in this category. Traditionally most American political blogs are liberals and so is the most widely read, Daily Kos. But that doesn't mean that the conservatives are non-existant. Many conservative bloggers are making their presence felt. From an outsider's perspective, we observe here the vibrancy of the American political system or perhaps even it's limitations. It is interesting to note what they have to say for themselves, the government in power, the politicians and oftentimes about their political adversaries. The dissertations from both sides are not always a feast of reason and the flow of the soul. Even then, heated though their dialogues may be, the sheer ability to promulgate one's beliefs with full freedom and without fear of starting riots (the bloody kind) is commendable. Tis not so the case in India though. A democracy we are and constitutionally assured of freedom of speech too, however one has to be extra careful to play the right notes especially in public. The average American however, is not given a choice of a middle path. One is either on this side or the other side. Surely, there are 'moderate conservatives' or perhaps even 'orthodox liberals' but they still are divided by their loyalties. A lack of choice could be one drawback of the American political system in my point of view. It is quite the contrary here in India. There is no dearth of choices for an average Indian. An Indian has the option to switch loyalties every day of a year (or two), literally. The over-abundance of political parties is a stark reality in India. And parties continue to sprout. Most new parties are formed by breakaway groups who somehow have fallen out with the parent body - sometimes on trivial or whimsical issues.

India is no place for a two party political system in my opinion. It could be attributed to the eclectic weave that the Indian diaspora is. Ideally, a democracy should not be divided on social, religious or regional lines. Such an idyllic political setting can at best be described as romantic and could take an awfully long time to emerge, if ever there has to be one. At present though, it is impractical. With every 29 odd or so states and Union Territories having their own major language or dialect and in many instances every district (sub-division of a state) having one too. Solely for pedantic reasons, it should be interesting to note that a few states in NE India can boast of a separate culture in each of their villages. Further, to compound matters, every major religion is represented in some numbers. With such a varied playing field as this, how can a few national parties with all-encompassing agendas ensure not hurting sentiments of any group? I wonder. Thus we have many political groups formed on regional lines. Even the larger parties have regional divisions (which is known to have been unsupportive of their own bosses on occasions merely to safeguard local interests).

Quite unlike our American counterparts, most Indians are blasé too all political shenanigans (and we should be forgiven for that). It should be safe to assume that most Indians vote the candidate and not the party. How can I say such a thing? And I'd say, where else can you find people being paid to attend political rallies? Yet we are bombarded from all quarters with Republican and Democrat philosophies, however irrelevant it may be to us. Finally a passing repartee, I know more about US politics than I do of my own country. Now, is that bad or good? I do not know!

Facelift

2006-07-08T21:45:00.000-07:00

It is finally presentable! I've spent the last four days testing my design on various platforms, viz. Firefox, IE and Opera with interesting conclusions. Another thing, testing your design on your computer is one thing and verifying if Blogger accepts it is quite another. The design had come a long way since its inception as a doodle on a scrap of paper and I was immensely pleased. In my opinion, the concept passed in each of the browsers I use. "Not bad for a first attempt at tableless holy grail design," I kept repeating to myself boastfully. I was completely flummoxed when once on the system, the design failed miserably. The painstaking pixel-by-pixel measurement disintegrated completely. Something had gone terribly, terribly wrong. Strange, my layout wasn't supposed to do the splits! A thorough scrutiny ensued, a line at a time. Nothing! A test on my computer proved nothing but the same code copy-pasted into Blogger produced ghastly results. Just when I was about flog myself with a bunch of French beans, the culprit was discovered in the guise of empty divs that Blogger generates for reasons unknown to me. Horrible, horrible divs and my three-column layout was anything but three-column. I was now in damage control mode - carefully nudging the columns into place but the outcome was inconsistent. While it seemed to work for one browser, others literally threw up.

To cut the story short - after much hair plucking - I can now take it easy. Only a few things remain to be done, those little extras that a blog should have. They can be done at leisure. The design shows up fairly consistently on most browsers so I am willing to share my design (if you care) under an Open Design License. You can write to me at and please do mention 'Blog Design' in the subject line. Also, corrections are welcome, moreso improvements. With due respects, I however will not do troubleshooting. You are on your own once you get the code. Thank you!

Trackbacked at: Samantha Burns

Old Things Must Make Way For The New

2006-07-05T05:48:00.000-07:00

Every year around this time the monsoons sweep across India bringing with it good tidings of a bountiful harvest. The rustic denizens of thousands of villages raise their eyes heavenward in expectant search of tiny flecks dispersed across the azure. And in an opportune moment, they converge, hold council and decide which part of India shall be blessed and which cursed. Thus has been the ways for generations.
When the rains finally do arrive, the dull browns give way to fresh greens, expediting a new lease of life once more. The air is rife with a sweet earthy odour that no perfumery in Europe can replicate. Old things must make way for the new, and so shall it be here.
I much needed a break after a gruelling month. I was both physically and mentally spent as is the case with anyone preparing for a test - only mine was extended over a fortnight. Particularly agonizing was the hectic schedule I had to keep almost every alternate day which included a 3 hours drive down the mountainous terrain to Siliguri (where my testing centre is located), write my exam in the 30+ ° C sweltering heat and then commute back again from the plains to the cool hills. Also, the profound effect the difference in climate in the two regions had on my migraines needs special mention. I am glad that I've seen the last of my Master in Computer Sciences course. And here ends my academic pursuits.
A phase of my life has just ended and I am anticipating a shower of blessings on my life too.

...the new design is still a work in progress...

I was the only among my posse of buddies who had a reason enough to celebrate - but sadly couldn't. So there I was among the sombre lads hypocritically donning an expression of disdain, albeit reluctantly. I finally weaned myself away from the depressive society when the mood got a bit too much to take. With no congratulatory tunes for me I took it upon myself to celebrate in my own special way. I finally wound up in a nondescript tea-stall and had a celebratory cuppa and buttered toasts.
The next two days were mine without doubt, and then it was back to handling the family business - the best intermediary support system the Indian joint family has to offer before I make it on my own. I spent the days reading a few of my favourite blogs and deciding to re-design my own. As you can see the new design is still a work in progress.

Please Bear with Me

2006-06-08T20:28:00.000-07:00

I have an exam coming up so I might not be able to post as much for the next twenty days or so. Apologies in advance and thank you for your good wishes. In the meantime, you can trackback this post to your heart's content. This is an OT post you know!

Survey Results

2006-06-01T00:11:00.000-07:00

I had asked if my blog needed a facelift fifteen days ago. The response to that survey was overwhelming and a whopping seven (yes, seven) people managed to vote. Very reminiscent of any democracy. People want it but forget to vote. Nevertheless, I am grateful to all who voted.
The decision is pretty much split between those who want a design change but not the colour scheme and those who want a new colour scheme but the same design. All right people, I can take a hint. Opera users seem to be having some issues with the present get-up too. Thanks David for pointing that out. Expect an overhaul in the near future.
I have been scouting around for new design templates for my blog. I have found quite a few. Have a look at these great free templates for Blogger and others. (Beth should be pleased with this). Don’t expect me to copy paste any of them. Whole scale plagiarizing is not my forte, free or not. Instead I will settle on one of the designs, learn the layout and techniques and aim to design my own. Everything, including the code will be mine. Thank you.

Permalink and trackback for this post. As usual is where the party is. Rhymes with Right trackbacked here previously. So did Planck's Constant. Linked to TMH Bacon Bits, Gribbit's Word.

This is what I call Home

2006-05-31T06:26:00.000-07:00

This is an OT post feel free to trackback.

Free Image Host and Online Game

2006-05-30T09:57:00.000-07:00

I had to share this with one and all. What can be better than a photo host that requires no registration, login and all that nonsense? Simply upload your picture, copy your URL and paste it to your blog. As simple as that - and no limits too.

Have a go at this online game called Sink My Ship. It is Ajax based so you might need a browser that supports it. Once again, no registration and no login. Just type in a nickname and join the game. Expect some swearing and taunting on their chat system.

Permalink and TrackbackURL for this post.
Trackbacked to: the florida masochist, Planck's Constant, Adam's Blog, Bluestar Chronicles, third world county,

Of LIfe, Autocrats and The Bottomless Pit

2006-05-29T09:05:00.000-07:00

Her story touched my heart. This sweet little cheerleader found God and much more, leaving me much to ponder about. The slide show celebrating her life was equally moving. There is only one reason why she had to go so young. I think God needed a cheerleader in his squad too.
Requiescat in pace, Staci Stephens.

At the other end of the spectrum are people who have not found or are seeking God. Their letters to God are both amusing and emotive. Then there are those who show us a glimpse of paradise through the muzzle of a gun. Good to see that a few have discovered that it is the wrong apparatus for the purpose. It is a step in the right direction and the outcome of the efforts of these brave young souls.

Now, see where this autocrat has landed up for his despotic follies. Thanks for the link, J. Bowen.

Permalink & TrackbackURL for this post.
Open trackbacker today: Mark My Words

Lake of Destiny

2006-05-26T01:48:00.000-07:00

Satan bow’d, and was silent. “Well, if you,

With amiable modesty, decline
My offer, what says Michael? There are few
Whose memoirs could be render’d more divine.
Mine is a pen of all work; not so new
As it was once, but I would make you shine
Like your own trumpet. By the way, my own
Has more of brass in it, and is as well blown.

He ceased, and drew forth an MS.; and no
Persuasion on the part of devils, saints,
Or angels, now could stop the torrent; so
He read the first three lines of the contents;
But at the fourth, the whole spiritual show
Had vanish’d, with variety of scents,
Ambrosial and sulphureous, as they sprang,
Like lightning, off from his “melodious twang.”

Saint Peter, who has hitherto been known
For an impetuous saint, upraised his keys,
And at the fifth line knock’d the poet down;
Who fell like Phaeton, but more at ease,
Into his lake, for there he did not drown;
A different web being by the Destinies
Woven for the Laureate’s final wreath, whene’er
Reform shall happen either here or there.

He first sank to the bottom – like his works,
But soon rose to the surface – like himself;
For all corrupted things are buoy’d like corks,
By their own rottenness, light as an elf,
Or wisp that flits o’er a morass: he lurks,
It may be, still, like dull books on a shelf,
In his own den, to scrawl some “Life” or “Vision,”
As Welborn says – “the devil turn’d precisian.”

As for the rest, to come to the conclusion
Of this true dream, the telescope is gone
Which kept my optics free from all delusion,
And show’d me what I in my turn have shown;
All I saw farther, in the last confusion,
Was, that King George slipp’d into heaven for one;
And when the tumult dwindled to a calm,
I left him practicing the hundredth psalm.

Excerpt from ‘The Vision of Judgment’ by Lord Byron.

This is an OT post. Feel free to trackback. Trackback URL & Permalink.
I took it upon myself to re-design the Linkfest chiclet in the unwritten standard-size that's doing the round these days. I didn't quite like the original, to be blunt (but modest). I will be using this from now on. You may use this if you wish but I think it would by nice to ask the Linkfest guys first. Please host it on your own server if you do use it.
Blogs I followed last night & the night before: Samantha Burns, Bluestar Chronicles, Customer Servant, Mark My Words, Third World County, Conservative Cat

Hot Rodding your PC

2006-05-23T20:57:00.000-07:00

What do you think this is? A microphone used by the gyrating King of Pop? Think again. Believe it or not, it is a computer. Another trivia. What is the case made of? Aluminum! Wrong again. It is made of wood and it’s ingenious creator is Jeffrey Stephenson. Computer modification or ‘modding’ is all a rage nowadays. Clever geeks are coming up with newer and flashier designs. Some of them, like the microphone above, are so cleverly disguised that it difficult to pass them off as a humble PC at first glance. Take the case of this retro 1960s~70s style radio PC designed (again) by Jeffrey.

Computer ‘modding’ was initiated by gamers who were ever trying to get more out of their PCs. It first started of as little tricks or hacks to impress their fellows, such as custom paint jobs, addition of accessories and over-clocking, which in essence is augmenting the speed of a PC by little tweaks on the motherboard. Over-clocking has now gone mainstream and anybody who’s somebody with a PC can do it. Then came, see-through cases, LED and neon lights to spruce up the boring towers or cabinets. Lately it is water-cooling systems, LCD processor temperature displays, touch-sensitive drives, et cetera. The possibilities are inexhaustible. Computer modification is a booming business and presently even conventional PC manufacturers are joining in. What was ‘hot-rodding’ in the 1970s is ‘modding’ today.

Water Cooling Kit

So do you want to give it a shot? All that is required is some ingenuity, some knowledge of hardware (or how a PC is put together), a few coppers to spare and plenty of time to carry out the task. Are you game? Get those rusty carpenter’s tools out and build yourself a simple wooden computer or if you want to try something simpler still, how about custom painting your computer. And don’t forget to turn off the PC while you are at it.

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Today's links on linkfest & some random Open Trackbackers: Third World County, This May...or Not, Those Bastards.

Evil Spammers

2006-05-18T12:12:00.001-07:00

I should have written this long time ago. It concerns a serious offence in the internet world today, aka spamming. Spamming has been controlled to some degree by a few edicts but, as we all know, no law is deterrent enough for hardened criminals. Thus we continue to receive unsolicited mail. Spam promoting products, get-rich-quick schemes, stocks, replica watches, etc. though very vexing seems pardonable when compared to those that contain viruses, spy-ware and key-loggers. These usually come as attachments and should not be opened at any cost. I have been receiving these persistent buggers for some time now and it can all be traced to that one fateful day when I decided to send a friend an e-card through 123Greetings.com.

I have been receiving these horrible emails ever since with very beguiling subject-lines such as ‘Hello’, ‘Earn money’, ‘Hi’ and so on. Not one to be easily outsmarted, I have never dared to take a peek at the attachments that follow besides my email service provider has also correctly sensed them to contain viruses. These emails are difficult to block because 123Greetings.com uses the hundreds of email addresses of unsuspecting users like me to send through proxy. I was horrified when I received one such email from my own address. More so when I received one from another cautioning me against mailing viruses (in not particularly beautiful language). The only way to block these emails, I presume, is through the IP address though I am not aware of any email service provider that does just that. Any information is welcome on this front. Sadly now, this particular inbox is unusable.

I am not the kind to jump to conclusions. Oh yes, I am not. So, just to give 123Greetings.com the benefit of doubt, I tried a simple test. I opened up another email account and I decided to send myself a greeting card through 123Greetings.com to this brand new address. Presto! The trick worked. I now receive spam at this address that no one else knows save but I and 123Greetings.com. On closer inspection, I traced the sending IP address to the Middle-East (UAE).

I am now doubly confirmed, 123Greetings.com emails viruses. Beware of 123Greetings.com. Don’t send e-cards through 123Greetings.com and don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Spread the word. I want this caveat to show up on the first page of Google, Yahoo, Dogpile and the like. There are a zillion other similar unpleasant sites. Fellow bloggers, let us fight back.

Linkfest for more...
Ideazione, 123beta trackbacked the previous OT post.

Does this blog need a facelift?

2006-05-15T09:08:00.000-07:00

I have re-designed this blog not less than 6 times and 3 times this year already. Call me obsessive but that is something I like to do. I still haven't found my design nirvana. I don't aim to win awards with my design. I prefer a simple home-page that can take a lot of ever changing information. So what do you think? Do you think this blog needs a new design? Or is it just fine.

Please take a quick (5 question) survey and let me know. Your insights will be greatly appreciated. The results will be posted towards the end of May.

The survey is here.

Open Trackbackers today: Pirate's Cove, Courting Destiny, Bloggin' out Loud, Land of Ozz, Committees of Correspondence, The Tar Pit, Pirates! Man your Women!, Forward Biased, Conservative Cat, Right Wing Nation. Some great blogs are listed on Linkfest.