Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Firefox 3 Download Day Certificate

I downloaded Firefox 3 today and i am proud to say that i am one of the people to have helped Firefox in creating a world record. I downloaded Firefox twice :) On my office computer and my personal computer at home. I feel Firefox is one of the safest ways to surf the big bad world of the Internet. With lots of useful Add-ons and themes, Firefox for me is the best Internet browser.

Look what i got!!!



I understand that millions of people across the globe have downloaded Firefox today and have got this certificate. So what makes me so proud to show it off?? Well, i feel proud because my download has been instrumental in making it a huge success :D

So go ahead and show off your certificates as well!!! Cheers!!

Firefox 3 Ready For Download

Finally folks, it’s here! The final version of Firefox 3 is available for download starting today! I downloaded it this morning, and I must agree that its totally awesome!!! It comes with some really cool themes and add-ons. In fact, some add-ons did not work with the Firefox RC’s; this final version has taken care of all those worries. Till now I haven’t had any difficulty in installing it or using it. There are some cool add-ons like the WOT add-on which identifies if a website is spam free or not, the super PicLens add-on which defines a totally new way to watch videos, photos etc, the McAfee site advisor which was missing in the Firefox RC’s and a whole load of other stuff as well. There are some awesome new themes which look uber cool. Check out the Black X theme. I am using it and it is very good.

There are some issues with few add-ons and themes not working with this version of Firefox, but hey, who’s cribbing? I love Firefox and this version in one word is “Awesome”. Mozilla, is attempting to set a Guinness world record by getting the most downloads of Firefox in a day. To download it right now, visit www.mozilla.com!

Saturday, June 14, 2008

The Worst Video Game Ever

Okay, I have played many video games, but i just haven't played E.T. Now all of you must be wondering why E.T? Well that's because it is the Worst Video Game that has been ever made and i am intrigued to find out what was so bad in it that made the creator's a big bunch of losers. They went bankrupt in a single day and all the people who have played this game are still mad at it because it cost them a lot to buy the game.



Yahoo! has compiled a list of the worst video games to ever hit the gaming industry and E.T is among them. I am a big fan of the movie that Steven Spielberg made, but hey i want to play this game and see how it feels to play the worst game ever made. Reportedly the game maker had to suffer almost $50m in losses.

Yahoo! says "No list of video game flops would be complete without the game that's widely credited with causing the great videogame crash of 1983. Atari paid somewhere around $25 million for the movie license, then had their programmers hammer out a game in a mere five weeks. The video games industry celebrated its release by disappearing into a recession that took years to cure, and Atari was broken up and sold just a year later. E.T. is still remembered as the worst game ever made. Still, if that hasn't put you off (perhaps you are a masochist or otherwise insane) head for the desert and start digging: untold millions of unsold E.T. cartridges were dumped in an Alamogordo, New Mexico landfill where they remain to this day. Best place for 'em."

For all the other "Worst Video Games Ever", please visit Yahoo!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Of Amulets and Beliefs

India is known as a very orthodoxical (this word is my copyright) and traditional country. Since a very long time (probably thousands of years) there have been beliefs and superstitions in India regarding various things. From not cutting nails in the evening to not wearing black colored clothes for a ceremony, every Indian has some or the other beliefs or superstitions.

One particular belief that almost 60% of people in India have is for Amulets. Yes, the shiny or pale, sharp or blunt objects that are worn around the necks more commonly known as amulets. These objects are believed to possess the power to cure diseases, bring strength, protect a person from evil and yes also to increase the male or female libido. A tiny little (or not so tiny) object hung around the neck with a piece of string or steel or gold or silver or plastic strings is also believed to possess magical powers. There are lots of stories and myths about amulets that have inspired many films, short stories and generations of people. They are not restricted to any particular set of people. Even people from developed nations like the US of A, UK and others believe in this power of amulets. In India most particularly people wear them with the object being a pendant depicting various gods, coins from the bygone era, tiger nails, horse hair, tiger teeth etc etc.



Today when I was traveling by my usual local train in the morning, I overheard a conversation between two co-travelers. One of them was boasting about an amulet which a friend of his had got for his 2 year old son. This particular piece of amulet was a tiger nail tied to a string of gold. This person was telling his friend that the amulet had magical powers and it was supposed to make the child strong and keep him away from fear and all other evils. Woah!! Tiger nails! Isn’t it illegal to kill a tiger and procure a tiger nail or in that matter procuring a tiger nail by any means is considered illegal in India, and this person was boasting his was to glory! His friend had got it from some part of Madhya Pradesh which is a state in India. Everyone knows that a tiger possesses immense strength, valor, vigor, keen sense etc but isn’t it totally rubbish and foolish to believe that a small tiger nail brings such unbelievable abilities in a human being. Scientifically speaking tiger nails as any other nail is dead skin which is immune to pain, shock etc but some superstitious people still believe that it has such immense powers. I mean, come on, it’s just another piece of nail isn’t it? People need to understand the logic behind this. Why can’t such people just use their brains instead of believing in what other say! But, then again, wouldn’t the world be a better place if everyone used even 10% of their logic and common sense?

Idol worship is very common in many parts of the world. In fact in India you will find a different deity for every different region or state. It is estimated that there are at least 330 million different varieties of ‘gods’ in India. People worship in temples, churches, mosques etc etc. However, what is the whole idea of wearing a deity around the neck? People tend to think that this will keep them away from the ‘evil eye’ and bring happiness. As some one had said ‘true happiness lies within’! This needs to be understood by most of the people. People except to be protected by a piece of metal hung around their neck. Isn’t this very absurd? We actually depend on this piece of metal to protect us?? In India many religions actually encourage the use of amulets and pass them off as a ‘part of the tradition’. The question that arises here is ‘who made the traditions’? Was it us or was it god? Certainly us because humans really don’t have the guts and patience to listen to anyone who commands them. Also, where is the ultimate proof that god told humans to follow these traditions? Traditions are the brain child of humans and hence these amulets are also the brain child of a very wise person who found out a way to treat insecure and over anxious people. People just need a medium through which they can express their thoughts, fear etc and wearing such amulets is an absolutely indigenous way of showing that they have faith in god.

Such amulets are available all across the globe but for a price. They are sold in temples, across the street, by the hakim, the crooked person whom people fondly call ‘baba’ and so called saints who are believed to have powers unknown to mankind (yeah right!, like the world needs more powers!) People have to wake up to the fact that these amulets contain powers that we believe they will have. It is our mind which makes us think that they have powers behind comparison. Only, the human mind and a pure heart without any guilt, dishonesty or wrong doings in life can have true happiness. These amulets just use our will power, confidence and motivation to ‘possess’ the power that we want them to have. We have to stop believing in all these gibberish and realize the fact that they are nothing but a human creation to blame some one else but us. Humans have a very uncanny ability to blame god for everything and these amulets serve as the right medium. They are held responsible for bringing happiness, strength etc. What we fail to realize is that we are responsible for our actions and nothing else. The day people start realizing this, the world will truly be free of these ‘objects’ that we fondly call ‘amulets’.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Jeffrey Archer - A Prisoner of Birth Book Review



As an avid reader, I was waiting for the book A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer to hit the book shops in India. I was eager to know what he had written in this book that had already become a world wide bestseller even before it was published. Jeffrey Archer is known as a master of fiction stories. His books Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less, The Eleventh Commandment are some of the books that I read over and over again. These books fail to lose their essence even after you re-read them. However, how latest book, A Prisoner of Birth fails to live up to the hype.

The story starts with an incident that happens outside a watering hole in England. This incident changes the life of the protagonist Danny Cartwright and his fiancee Beth Wilson as Danny is charged with a crime he has not committed. The crime that of his to be brother-in-laws' murder. There are four friends who have actually got into a brawl with Danny and his best friend (aka his brother-in-law). However, the fight soon ends in a brutal murder which catches Danny unawares and he is accused of the murder as the four friends who have actually murdered the person are very powerful in the society.

Then Danny is sentenced to twenty two years in prison. This is the part of the book where the real story begins. The story takes many twists and turns like typical Jeffrey Archer novels and keeps the reader involved. However, some times the story line turns to be somewhat predictive and the reader can lose interest.

I have read ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ and it is arguably the inspiration behind this novel. The plot ends in a wicked twist which the readers should not miss. It could have been much better though. The book lacks clear writing, has some very usually used storyline and fails to impress even after beginning on a good note.

This book is for die-hard Archer fans and as I am one, I would recommend this book to them. I would still like to believe and say that ‘The Eleventh Commandment’ is the best work by Archer. This book could have been much better, but as they say ‘to err is human and to forgive is divine’ Jeffrey Archer fans will surely look forward to his next novel and expect it to meet the expectations of readers worldwide and also live up to all the hype that they generate before the book is published.

The book is a best seller no doubt, but I don’t think any reader would go in for a second reading. For 295 Rupees, I had expected a lot more from Archer, however, this book is a must read for every Archer fan, despite its flaws. Watch out for the protagonist Danny Cartwright in this book. Archer has really put in some strong points in him!!

Friday, June 6, 2008

Oh so Rainy!!!

Ah! The rains are finally here. It has been a loooonnnng time since I posted something on my blog. Today while I was traveling back home, after a not so tiring day at work, I thought why not rejuvenate my blog with my thoughts on the best time of the year. It is the time of the year that I await the most. As a true Indian, I absolutely hate the summers. The winters are more or less like the summers except for the fact that it is a lot cooler in the morning. The rainy season is the only time of the year in which a person can expect cool mornings, a cooler afternoon and a much cooler evening and night. The skies are overcast and the clouds are brimmed with ‘water’ waiting to burst over and fall on the ground.

In Mumbai, the city where I live, the rains come a bit late than usual. If I were to speak like a typical god-fearing Indian (which I am not), I would say; “The rain gods have finally smiled upon us” How can any ‘god’ smile and make the water fall from clouds?? This is one thing that intrigues me. I won’t say that I don’t believe in god, but I certainly don’t blame god for everything and I most certainly don’t attribute my success to god. It’s my hard work which has lead to my success. Wait!!! Why am I diverting from the topic? The topic here is ‘Rains’. I will get back to my thinking about the 330 million Hindu gods in my later posts (and a bit of bashing to all the ‘god-fearing’ Hindu people in India)

The skies have been overcast since the last two days and the last two days have seen the rains getting into Mumbai. I stay in Dombivli which is a suburb, located almost 50 Kms away from Mumbai. However, today was the day, which saw the skies, laden with dark clouds and strong winds for the entire day.

When I was traveling today from home to my office in Mumbai, it had already started to drizzle. I thought it would be yet another day which would bring false hopes to all those people who love the rains. The Mumbai Metrological department had predicted that the rains will strike Mumbai by 10th June. And, like every time, they got it horribly wrong! The rains struck Mumbai and how! The overcast skies refused to get cleared and it started raining. The weather was awesome and legen….wait for it….dary! As I was working on my workstation jotting away email to my books’ reviewers, my attention was always diverted outside whenever it used to thunder. I longed to go outside and enjoy the rain with the rain drops falling on my smooth silky hair (yes, you got it, I am exaggerating the hair part) As always, I was deprived of an opportunity to step out of my office and enjoy the rains for even 10 minutes, as I was pathetically busy listening to awesome songs by Pink Floyd, Cranberries etc and also doing some ‘work’. As I was about to step out of my office for some time, the HR guys of our organization had organized ‘Funday’ today which needless to say was no fun at all. To add to it, there was the employee of the month award, which as usual was given to person who totally ‘did not’ deserve it. I personally believe that these awards are given to people when the organization thinks that the person is not eligible for a promotion, but not too bad enough to let go. More on this will follow in my ‘soon to come’ blog posts.

Finally, the time to bid adieu to today’s work came and I joyously left my office to drench in the rains. The best part about the monsoon is that it brings lot’s of joys to people as they bring water to the city (which is the most important aspect to a bustling city like Mumbai, which has been dubbed as the melting pot of India). The rain drops bring joy to my eyes and needlessly to say to my heart.

I enjoy sipping on a cup of tea by the roadside tea stall, which have made their presence felt in each and every corner of the city. I especially enjoy a hot vada pav to go with the awesome taste of the tea. Many Mumbaikars (this is what the people residing in Mumbai are called) hate traveling in the train after a hard and long day at work. But, I prefer traveling in a train, standing at the train door and I love it when the cool wind blows in my face messing up my awesome hair (yes, I am obsessed with my hair)!! I love the sweet though distinguished smell of the rain drenched soil. Most mumbaikars hate the rains because the streets get very dirty owing to the loads of plastic bags, satchets etc etc which get accumulated over a period of time and which are washed on the street adding to the list of many woes that a normal every day traveler has.

I absolutely love the rains. In fact, I was longing for the rains to arrive this year as I was fed up of the heat this summer. I wanted to fell the cool breeze and the drops of water on my face and I did get my share of ‘drenching in the rain’ yesterday and today. I beg to differ from all those people who think that rains are very messy. They according to me are the most beautiful part of the year. I love the thunders, the clouds, the overcast skies, the lightning…everything!!!

Yes, I might be a fanatic for rains, but hey that’s how I am, whether you like it or not!

Three cheers to the monsoon!!!