Updates
1) My project at IITM on microcontrollers has finally started and my blagging intensity should drop (as it has over the past two days). I'm probably going to have to work my shinbones out to finish this thing T_T
2) The QFI Open quiz is on June 7th. Its to be held at Egmore museum and there will be two quizzes - SpEnt (2 in a team) and General (3). If you're in town, don't miss it!
2) The QFI Open quiz is on June 7th. Its to be held at Egmore museum and there will be two quizzes - SpEnt (2 in a team) and General (3). If you're in town, don't miss it!
Spam going Oink! :@)
Hurrah, it's time for another news update!
Those of you that follow the *technology* article that pops up in The Hindu every sunday should have seen this already; everyday spam that includes suggestions for enlargement products seems to be evolving - at least the part of it that tries to catch your attention. The latest subjects are not about the cheapest new drugs from Pfizer but about pop idol Madonna sneezing away with a swine flu infection. All you Hard Candy fans out there needn't worry though; the queen of pop is fine, a bit blue over the use of her name, if anything. She isn't the only one though; with names running from Sarah Palin to Pam Anderson, a few clicks seem to be occuring if Symantec figures are anything to go by.
The reason I bring this is up is not to warn you about the new threats. Heck, I couldn't care less and I do trust most of you empty the spam folders without a second's glance. I decided to write about this because I found it funny. Some of the quizzers out there might have already hit this, but for those that don't rummage through Wiki, here is a little about the history of spam:
The term is common now with its liberal usage in mainstream media (which pretty much amounts to spam itself) but all of it originated some time in 1970. Yup, before internet and Sildenafil products were commonplace. During the British food rationing during World War II, one of the few meats excluded was a processed meat product that contained pork shoulders and some ham - and called spam. As the people tired of it, a group known as Monty Python made a sketch for TV revolving around spam taking over the menu in a restaurant. Taking off from here, the term had its circulation and eventually entered the digital world where it came to stand for the e-mails that are hated today.
The whole thing is funny when you think about it. The pork and bacon in the beginning, and the eventual emergence of the spam going Oink! Full circle, eh?
Those of you that follow the *technology* article that pops up in The Hindu every sunday should have seen this already; everyday spam that includes suggestions for enlargement products seems to be evolving - at least the part of it that tries to catch your attention. The latest subjects are not about the cheapest new drugs from Pfizer but about pop idol Madonna sneezing away with a swine flu infection. All you Hard Candy fans out there needn't worry though; the queen of pop is fine, a bit blue over the use of her name, if anything. She isn't the only one though; with names running from Sarah Palin to Pam Anderson, a few clicks seem to be occuring if Symantec figures are anything to go by.
The reason I bring this is up is not to warn you about the new threats. Heck, I couldn't care less and I do trust most of you empty the spam folders without a second's glance. I decided to write about this because I found it funny. Some of the quizzers out there might have already hit this, but for those that don't rummage through Wiki, here is a little about the history of spam:
The term is common now with its liberal usage in mainstream media (which pretty much amounts to spam itself) but all of it originated some time in 1970. Yup, before internet and Sildenafil products were commonplace. During the British food rationing during World War II, one of the few meats excluded was a processed meat product that contained pork shoulders and some ham - and called spam. As the people tired of it, a group known as Monty Python made a sketch for TV revolving around spam taking over the menu in a restaurant. Taking off from here, the term had its circulation and eventually entered the digital world where it came to stand for the e-mails that are hated today.
The whole thing is funny when you think about it. The pork and bacon in the beginning, and the eventual emergence of the spam going Oink! Full circle, eh?
Case closed?
Its not everyday that articles in the newspaper catch your attention. The past few months have been rather uninteresting (to us normal students, at least) as the papers spoke of little more than the recession and the cruise of the obamobile through a country to the west. However, with the recent hunting of tigers in Sri Lanka, some juice had entered the print. Not that I love blood or anything, but something happening closer home is certainly much more thought provoking.
I was reading through the newspaper today when I came across an article which reported that Veluppillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the LTTE had his body 'reduced to ashes'. That's right, its been just two days since he was found (dead) and his body has been burnt already. Had this been a regular soldier of the Eelam, this action by the Lankan military might have been considered standard procedure and dismissed without further ado. But, with Prabhakaran being the head of a terrorist organization that has assassinated an Indian prime minister among other things, a few questions were raised about the whole mission.
As soon as the first reports came in about the slaying of the LTTE chief, loyal voices dismissed it as a ploy by the Lankan military to assert its victory. As photos of the felled tiger were printed, conspiracy theories started claiming it was a double. And as the day passed, news descended that LTTE lieutenants had confirmed the authenticity of the body found. The Indian government took this as the proof it needed to close the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and chop the warrants issued for Prabhakaran's arrest. DNA tests carried out on the body are said to have matched the samples from his son (shot; body recovered the previous day). This is where the tale ends if you are satisfied with reading the english dailies.
Controversially, this is where it all starts for the tamil weeklies. A particular weekly carried a report today from a retired DGP (if my memory serves me right) about the procedures to be followed when bodies are recovered - especially those that are of some importance. The bottom line was that they are to be preserved, not reduced to ashes. An example stated was that of the hitherto unidentified man that was responsible for the suburban train hijack-cum-crash that occurred a few weeks back; since he could not be identified, his body, under court order, was to be preserved for a year. This is the point where the conspiracy theories start to kick in again - now ranging from a mere coverup to a coordinated plot for the LTTE chief's escape with a government hand in it. What made matters worse was the discovery (reportedly) that there was no centre in Sri Lanka capable of carrying out DNA testing - which served as the gate to close the issue. Also, such testing generally takes around a week. Facts do differ depending on the publication - the article in an english daily claimed he had no cyanide capsule on him (which is mandatory for the tigers) while the tamil weekly put the number at two. Truth would be hard to glean from the papers alone. The hurry with which the Lankan administration finished everything and the eagerness of the Indian government to close the related cases seems a tad suspicious.
Then again, conspiracy theories aren't my cup of tea; So, I'll just leave it there. Maybe he is alive and maybe, some of this was planned. Without any evidence, it wouldn't make sense to delve into this any further. If the Indian government sees fit to close the assassination case, nobody is going to stop it. Besides, it doesn't really affect us now, does it?
I was reading through the newspaper today when I came across an article which reported that Veluppillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the LTTE had his body 'reduced to ashes'. That's right, its been just two days since he was found (dead) and his body has been burnt already. Had this been a regular soldier of the Eelam, this action by the Lankan military might have been considered standard procedure and dismissed without further ado. But, with Prabhakaran being the head of a terrorist organization that has assassinated an Indian prime minister among other things, a few questions were raised about the whole mission.
As soon as the first reports came in about the slaying of the LTTE chief, loyal voices dismissed it as a ploy by the Lankan military to assert its victory. As photos of the felled tiger were printed, conspiracy theories started claiming it was a double. And as the day passed, news descended that LTTE lieutenants had confirmed the authenticity of the body found. The Indian government took this as the proof it needed to close the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and chop the warrants issued for Prabhakaran's arrest. DNA tests carried out on the body are said to have matched the samples from his son (shot; body recovered the previous day). This is where the tale ends if you are satisfied with reading the english dailies.
Controversially, this is where it all starts for the tamil weeklies. A particular weekly carried a report today from a retired DGP (if my memory serves me right) about the procedures to be followed when bodies are recovered - especially those that are of some importance. The bottom line was that they are to be preserved, not reduced to ashes. An example stated was that of the hitherto unidentified man that was responsible for the suburban train hijack-cum-crash that occurred a few weeks back; since he could not be identified, his body, under court order, was to be preserved for a year. This is the point where the conspiracy theories start to kick in again - now ranging from a mere coverup to a coordinated plot for the LTTE chief's escape with a government hand in it. What made matters worse was the discovery (reportedly) that there was no centre in Sri Lanka capable of carrying out DNA testing - which served as the gate to close the issue. Also, such testing generally takes around a week. Facts do differ depending on the publication - the article in an english daily claimed he had no cyanide capsule on him (which is mandatory for the tigers) while the tamil weekly put the number at two. Truth would be hard to glean from the papers alone. The hurry with which the Lankan administration finished everything and the eagerness of the Indian government to close the related cases seems a tad suspicious.
Then again, conspiracy theories aren't my cup of tea; So, I'll just leave it there. Maybe he is alive and maybe, some of this was planned. Without any evidence, it wouldn't make sense to delve into this any further. If the Indian government sees fit to close the assassination case, nobody is going to stop it. Besides, it doesn't really affect us now, does it?
Oh noes -_-
Even if I have gallantly marched into the blagosphere, it takes more than plain desire to chew up the word-space they offer. I don't really plan on going crazy with the whole package but this should prove fun enough for me to fill up the time I have in my holidays (one of the few reasons we still haven't blown up our college).
Since the next two months will see me gaming, reading xkcd (more on this later) and scouting for girls at the beach, expect to read about these soon ^_^
Oh, and yeah, it is blag. There is no other way it can be written.
Since the next two months will see me gaming, reading xkcd (more on this later) and scouting for girls at the beach, expect to read about these soon ^_^
Oh, and yeah, it is blag. There is no other way it can be written.
Konichiwa! (TL: Elo ^____^)
Yay! I'm finally back to blogging after a failed blog and a three year sabbatical! Not that my keenness or interest blagging improved tremendously - I've just decided to spout the rubbish here instead of writing it on Facebook and Orkut (Forgive me father, for I have sinned...) for all to see.
I just hope this isn't the only post you see -_-;
Yay! I'm finally back to blogging after a failed blog and a three year sabbatical! Not that my keenness or interest blagging improved tremendously - I've just decided to spout the rubbish here instead of writing it on Facebook and Orkut (Forgive me father, for I have sinned...) for all to see.
I just hope this isn't the only post you see -_-;
