Saturday, December 27, 2008

Alcohoroscopes

Based on your Sun Signs, Alcohoroscopes explains your expected behaviour after you get drunk.

ARIES Drinking style Impulsive Aries people like to party and sometime sdon't know when to call it a night. Their competitive streak makes them prone to closing-time shot contests. They're sloppy, fun drunks, and they get mighty flirty after a couple tipples. Getting Aries people drunk I sa good way to get what you want out of them, should other methods fail. Aries can become bellicose when blotto, but they will assume that whatever happened should be forgiven (if not forgotten) by sunrise. They can be counted on to do the same for you -- so long as you haven't gone and done anything really horrible to them last night, you sneaky Gemini.

TAURUS Drinking style Taurus prefers to drink at a leisurely pace, aiming for a mellow glow rather than a full-on zonk. Since a truly intoxicated Taurus is a one-person stampede, the kind of bull-in-a-china-shop inebriate who spills red wine on white carpets and tells fart jokes to employers, the preference for wining and dining (or Bud and buddies) to body shots and barfing is quite fortunate for the rest of us. This is not to say thatthe Bull is by any means a teetotaler -- god, no. A squiffy Taurus will get, er, gregarious (full of loud mouth soup, some would say) and is extremely amusing to drag to a karaoke bar when intoxicated.

GEMINI Drinking style Gemini's can drink without changing their behavior much-- they're so naturally chatty and short-attention-spanned that it's just hard to tell sometimes. They can amaze you by conversing with finesse and allusion, then doing something to belie an extremely advanced state of intoxication, like puking in your shoe. Gemini's possess the magic ability to flirt successfully (and uninfuriatingly, which is very tricky) with several people at once. They like to order different cocktails every round -- repetition is boring -- and may create a theme (like yellow drinks: beer, sauvignon blanc and limoncello) for their own amusement.

CANCER Drinking style Cancer is a comfort drinker -- and an extra wine with dinner or an after-work beer or six can be extra comforting, can't it, Cancer darling? Like fellow water signs Scorpio and Pisces, Crabs must guard against lushery. Cancers are brilliant at ferreting out secret parties and insinuating themselves on VIP lists -- and, in true Hollywood style, Cancers are never really drunk; instead, they get 'tired and emotional' (read: weepy when lubricated). But there's nothing better than swapping stories (and spit) over a few bottles of inky red wine with your favorite Cancer. Even your second-favorite Cancer will do. The sign also rules the flavor vanilla, and you'd be adored if you served up a vanilla vodka and soda.

LEO Drinking style Leo likes to drink and dance -- they're often fabulous dancers, and usually pretty good drinkers as well, losing their commanding dignity and turning kittenish. Of course, they're quite aware they're darling -Leos will be Leos, after all. They generally know their limit, probably because they loathe losing self-control. When they get over-refreshed, expect flirting to ensue -- and perhaps not with the one what rung them. But Leo's not the type to break rules even when drunk, so just try to ignore it (try harder, Cancer) and expects a sheepish (and hung over) Lion to make it up to you the next day.

VIRGO Drinking style Cerebral Virgos are compelled to impose order onto their bender. Their famously fussy quest for purity could lead to drinking less than other signs, sure --but it could also lead to drinking booze neat, to sucking down organic wine or just to brand loyalty. They rarely get fully shellacked -- but, oh, when they do! Virgo's controlled by the intellect, but there's an unbridled beast
lurking within, and they let it loose when walloped. It's dead sexy (and surprisingly unsloppy). As one Virgo friend used to declare, 'I'm going to drink myself into a low-level of intelligence tonight.' A
toast to the sub genius IQ!

LIBRA Drinking style 'I'm jusht a social drinker,' slurs Libra, 'it's jusht that I'm so damn social?' Libra loves nothing more than to party, mingle and relate to everyone. Whether dipped in favor of Good Libra (with Insta-Frienddevice set to 'on') or heavier on the Evil Libra side (they are little instigators when bored), the Scales can really work a room. Charming as they are, Libras are notoriously
lacking in self-control, however, which can get them into all sorts of trouble --including wearing their wobbly boots waaaay too early in the evening, flirting with every man/woman in the roomor even blacking out the night's events entirely. Oops!

SCORPIO Drinking style Don't ever tell Scorpios they've had enough, for they'll smirk at you and quietly but intentionally keep tippling till they're hog-whimpering drunk, out of 100-proof spite. Scorpios like to drink, and screw you if you have a problem with that. Most of them seethe sauce as something to savor in itself, and not as a personality-altering tool -- though if depressed, self-loathing Scorps seek total obliteration. But generally, they're fascinating drinking pals, brilliant conversationalists and dizzying flirts. They also remember everything -- especially what you did when you were blitzed. Only drink with a Scorpio who likes you.

SAGITTARIUS Drinking style In vino veritas -- and, for Sagittarius, in booze blurtiness: When buttered, they'll spill all your secrets and many of their own. Tactlessness aside, Sagittarius is just plain fun to drink with. This is a sign of serious partying (what else would you expect from the sign of Sinatra, Keith Richards, the Bush twins and Anna Nicole Smith?). They're the people who chat up everyone in the room, then persuade the entire crowd to travel somewhere else -- like a nightclub, or a playground, or Cancun. Good-natured hijinks are sure to ensue (including a high possibility of loopy groping; spontaneous Sag is a brilliant booty call).

CAPRICORN Drinking style Capricorn is usually described as practical, steadfast, money-hungry and status-thirsty -- no wonder they get left off the astrological cocktail-party list. But this is the sign of
David Bowie and Annie Lennox, not to mention Elvis. Capricorn is the true rock star: independent, powerful and seriously charismatic, not too eager to please. And if they make money being themselves, who're you to quibble? But just like most rock stars, they're either totally
on or totally off, and they generally need a little social lubricant to loosen up and enjoy the after party, especially if they can hookup with a cute groupie.

AQUARIUS Drinking style Aquarius and drinking don't go together that well(except for water, that is). They have an innate tendency toward know-it-allism, and if they get an idea while sizzled, they're more stubborn than a stain or a stone. If they're throwing a party or organizing an outing, however, they're too preoccupied with their duties to get combative -- and they make perfectly charming drunks in that case. Fortunately, they're usually capital drink-nursers.. They also make the best designated drivers (if you can get them before they start raising their wrist):Aquarius is fascinated by drunk people and capable of holding interesting conversations with soused strangers while sober.

PISCES Drinking style If you're a Pisces, you've probably already heard that you share a sign and an addictive personality --with Liz Taylor, Lisa Minnelli and Kurt Cobain. Not only do Pisces like to lose
themselves in the dreamy, out-there feeling that only hooch can give, but they build up a mighty tolerance fast. Who needs an expensive date like that? On the other hand, they're fabulously enchanting partners, whether in conversation or in crime. With the right Pisces, you can start out sharing a pitcher of margaritas and windup in bed together for days. The phrase 'addictive personality' can be read two ways, you know.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Critical Mass Ride - Bangalore

Critical Mass - Bangalore

All you people out there with any kind of cycle...doodhwala cycles,
newspaperwalla cycles, mtb's, road bikes,
with and without gearwallas (and walis), with and without helmets...
here's calling all of you to bring along your cycles and join in the
first ever Critical Mass ride in Bangalore
spread the word and join the bandwagon....
Let's make it happen guys!!!!

The intention is to ride in a single line (i.e one cyclist behind the other)
and draw attention to the fact there there are people who cycle on the roads
and that other people using the road should know about us and provide us
equal opportunity to use the roads.
Just a simple peaceful ride!
Be there and lets have fun and make a statement!

Those who are interested to participate please turn up at the start point by 6.30pm.

Start : Lalbagh West Gate
End: To be decided
Time : 6:30 pm.
Date : 28.11.08 (last Friday of the month)

We cycle in a single file
No breaking red lights
No cussing
No arguing with motorists
Just a quiet ride. And it'll be fun.

A little background about Critical Mass.

All over the world, The Critical Mass (CM)
is done on the last friday of the month
..
Even though its a working day, the idea is to spread the message in
a live form to a large commuter base. If it were to be on a weekend
it would simply be a weekend leisure ride. CM helps in recognizing
the importance of respect that cyclists who commute daily deserve.

The first Critical Mass event was organised on September 25,
1992 in San Francisco, USA.
Over the years, citizens of 300-odd cities across the world have
embraced the concept. It is known by different names, such as
bike-lifting, corking and mass-up, in various cities.
Some Critical Mass events across the world have participants
not only on cycles, but also on skateboards and wheelchairs.
India is still not convinced about promoting cycling as a means of
transport but Amsterdam (Netherlands), New York, San Francisco,
Chicago, Portland (in USA), London (UK) and Paris (France)
boast of a flourishing bicycle culture

Btw, Even Delhi is having a CM on the same day
http://www.cyclists.in/events/delhi-critical-mass-on-28th

http://www.delhicriticalmass.in/how_to_start_Index.htm

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Dooms-(the)-day

Let me see. I've had my breakfast. My daily 1 hour dose of watching music video on YouTube. Have read the morning paper. Now the only thing left to do, doomsday be doomed, is hit the bed and go to sleep; for those who don't know, I work in the night shift for BPO in Bangalore so don't be surprised about me hitting the sack at 9 in the morning. Like all Doomsday predictions and prophecies, this too shall pass. I'd rather not (literally) lose my sleep over it, even in the unlikely event that the LHC or Large Hadron Collider does cause a black hole. For those who want to pray, this video is for them. Juggy D's Akheer, a devotional song in Punjabi




If all goes well, and it will, I'll make my next post once I wake up, unless as usual I'm too lazy for it.

Sunday, August 03, 2008

Yahoo Steals Photo From Flickr (?)

Flickr has been heaven for copyright violaters and photography thieves for quite some time now.. There are numerous stories on how someone's pic got stolen and was used by all the way from I-cant-shoot-good-but-I-cant-steal-and-show-off-online type of guys, to ad agencies and newspapers of national and international repute.. But who would have guessed something like this happening, or did someone? Yesterday, when I into the Yahoo mail ID, I saw a pic of a pug in one of the advertisement links.. After seeing the loads of dog pics day in and day out from the CUPA dog show that Bangalore Weekend Shoots/BWS (online Flickr group) attended recently, I thought I must be mistaken but that photo looked too familiar.. So thought would check it out starting with the BWS group pool itself then if I dont find it maybe check out individual pools of the photogs who attended the shoot that day. Anyway, I didnt have to search far.. A couple of pages down in the group pool, and I found the photo here http://www.flickr.com/photos/muttly/2663009361/

Click here to see the screenshot of the Yahoo page that I uploaded to Zooomr. The ad link directed to Yahoo Music site.

Can you believe Yahoo stealing directly from its own website (Flickr)? Do note that the photograph is copyrighted and tagged All Rights Reserved so Yahoo has no right of using the photograph anywhere. Even if Flickr is a Yahoo Co., the Copyright still belongs to the photographer. Yahoo does use Flickr images on its Flickr sign-in page but those are under Creative Commons licence. And yes, I did check with the photographer, Prabhu, who happens to be my friend, and he denied having given usage rights of this photo to anyone.. So, there you have it.. Wonder what explanation Yahoo can give for this one..

-------------------------------------------------

I wrote the above entry in my blog yesterday..
I did login to my mail again today and though I F5'd a couple of times, I couldn't see the ad again today.. Today, as an afterthought, what baffles me is the quality of the pic in the ad was such low quality but the Flickr photo is of high quality.. Plus no mention of Yahoo Music anywhere on the photo despite the fact that the link pointed to that site. What sort of ad has a totally unrelated picture with no mention of the site its pointing to? Freak technical accident? Perhaps and quite possible but how?

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Human Chain Protest 22nd June 2008, 11.00 am, Agara Lake, Kormangala, Bangalore

Join the Human Chain on Sunday, 22nd June 2008, 11.00 am at Agara Lake (Kormangala).

This is to protect and save our lakes from privatization, which will ruin our water bodies and exploit them for commercial interests.


Most people think "There'll be thousands of people there, it does not matter if I don't go". Unfortunately, most people's protest does not extend beyond their armchair, and you'll find that your presence does make a huge difference.

So please do take part yourself, and forward this to as many people as you can.

Every person counts.

For details on why we are doing this, see the petition below.

www.ipetitions.com/petition/blorelakes/


16th June 08

To:

Dr. Dilip Kumar, IFS
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests
Karnataka State Forest Department
Aranya Bhavan
Bangalore – 560003

Dear Sir,

We are aware that the Honorable High Court of Karnataka has directed you to file a status report with regard to status of lakes in Bangalore that are being privatised.

The undersigned wish to express their deepest concern over the ongoing efforts of the Government of Karnataka through the agency of the Lake Development Authority (LDA) to privatise lakes in Bangalore, and hand them over to private profit making bodies. Already four prime water bodies - Agara Lake, Hebbal Lake, Vengaiah Kere and Nagawara Lakes have been already been leased out by LDA. As per the lease agreements signed between the LDA and the private entities, these lakes have been handed over on lease of 15 years, subsequently extendable, ostensibly for development of the lakes.

Such development involves introduction of restaurants, kiosks, boating, water sports, jetty etc, as it has already been seen in the case of the Nagawara Lake by Lumbini Gardens Pvt Ltd, and by M/s Par – C Systems in the case of Vengaih Kere. We are deeply distressed by this development as we find this unethical and counter to the objective of environment conservation and maintenance of lakes as our public commons. The kind of activities that have been allowed distance visitors from nature, and feed into a consumerist culture that we could well do without.

Incidentally, these lakes were comprehensively de-silted, restored and rehabilitated by grants from the Norwegian Government under the Indo-Norwegian Project and the National Lake Conservation Programme of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. As a result these lakes are fantastic water bodies and excellent habitats for birds - both migrating and local. In addition they support a wide diversity of flora and fauna, and support the livelihoods of tens of fishing families.

Over time, these lakes have been intensively used by all local residents and the general public for various purposes. While Agara is being used for walking, jogging and recreational purposes, Hebbal Lake has been used for customary and traditional occupations like fishing, grazing and irrigation. In addition, birdwatchers have been visiting these wetland habitats regularly documenting the excellent diversity of migratroy waterfowl. All these lakes, and Hebbal in particular, have been the subject of numerous scholars and researchers studying wetlands, birds, aquatic life and so on. Hebbal Lake has infact been repeatedly proposed for conservation as a bird refuge, and its watershed as a Regional Park (per the Lakshman Rau Committee Report – 1988).

These water bodies are also critical open spaces for children of surrounding neighbourhoods whose sensibilities towards nature and its dynamics are also awakened by the easy access to such open spaces.

We sincerely believe that it is an unnecessary and damaging investment to now lease out these very lakes for advancing commercial interests. Besides being illegal this will take away our public commons and our natural heritage and will only benefit a few commercial entities. This loss will be dear and felt by present and future generations.

Keeping all this in view, we urge you to recommend to the Honorable High Court of Karnataka that the programme of lake privatisation must be abandoned. We strongly feel that lakes must be maintained as our common heritage, their maintenance undertaken with the cooperation of local communities and no activity inconsistent with the traditional and specific use of the water bodies should be allowed now or in the future.

As concerned individuals, we are keen to assist the Government of Karnataka and its agencies in any intervention that will ensure the protection and sustenance of our lakes systems.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

FireFox v3.0

So the much awaited update for FireFox is out. Mozilla is trying to achieve a Guiness Record for the maximum number of downloads for a software in 24 hours. So take my word and go ahead download it first from here http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/. You can get fully localised browser versions also from http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-rc.html. I have hardly used it for 15 minutes now and it already rocks. For starters, its faster than the previous version. Honestly, I didnt like the previous one much. I have had some issues but my loyality doesnt permit me to speak out against FF. Anyway, thats history now I guess. The only temporary downside I have noticed until now is that about half of my add-ons are yet to release v3 compatible updates but that will not be long.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Twitter

I just created an account in Twitter -(username: Shreelesh). I have no much idea how it works and even lesser idea about how its going to help. Though I do know some people who are twitters.

Friday, April 11, 2008

When Virus Attacks - Virtumonde

A while back I had this bad infection by, what I found out later to be an AdWare called, Virtumonde. There were 2 infected .dll files in my system32 folder what I believe 2 different strains of Virtumonde. ZoneAlarm successfully detected both the infected files but it could neither rename, delete, quarantine or do anything with it despite repeated attempts over many days. I tried scanning the system with AVG and Avast antivirus but neither detected the virus. Now, since it was an AdWare as it proclaimed itself as, I tried using AdWare and SpyBot to no avail. Then somewhere in the www I found its a Trojan! And I started downloading Trojan/Malware removers. Tried a lot of them but none seemed to even detect it. I tried to unhook the .dll from its process using Unlocker but the moment I unhook it the system used to restart. After some a dozen odd softwares failed to fix it, something just struck and I scheduled a boot-time scan on my Avast antivirus and THAT finally got rid of the virus and I haven't had any problems with it after that.

Now, there is a lot of stuff on many forums on how to remove it but none of those methods worked either for me nor for the people who had posted for help. It is such a damned persistent virus that it keeps coming back and infecting the system sometimes by even residing and hiding in memory. Besides, all those process were too long. It is an old virus so I am surprised why I couldn't find any credible cures on the net. Anyway, thats one lesson learnt for me.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Gtalk and Winamp 5.5 Incompatibility

Now this is one stuff I never expected. Two of the most loved (and free) apps incompatible with each other. I have not been using Winamp for a while now - ever since I lost all my songs in a HD crash. Anyway, just downloaded Winamp 5.5 yesterday, started playing Shanghai Breezes by John Denver and clicked on "Show current music track" in Gtalk and forgot about it. A while later, I noticed Gtalk has frozen. Initially, I thought it has something to do with Azureus. I mean who would think Winamp would cause a problem! (?) Finally figured that out. I knew the old versions worked like a breeze so the first option was to install an older one but why give up so easy. Googled for it came across Winamp Forum. I'll leave out the technical stuff and come to the point. To fix the problem you can either use the old version or if you want to use v5.5, open notepad and save it with the name "winamp.m3u" in the winamp directory.

Of course, there's a roundabout way of installing an old version and then just upgrading to v5.5 but what that does is still the same I guess - retain the .m3u file in the directory.