Interesting thoughts in a Normal life!!!

Better follow apatheism reather than agnoticism!!!

2008-12-14T11:03:00.007+05:30

Theists have a belief in some sort of creator for the universe. They either have a somewhat exact view or at the very least a vague notion of what this creator is and the nature of that creator's existence. Theists qualify their belief by saying they only believe.

Atheists are the opposite of theists by either actively rejecting the entire idea of a creator or at the least rejecting specific definitions of a creator as defined by theists. Atheists qualify their belief by saying they don't believe.

We now move from belief to knowledge.

Gnostics have a belief in a creator. They apparently made claim to know things that others simply had a belief in. It is from this word that Huxley came up with the idea for the word agnostic to describe his lack of knowledge for such things as creation.

Agnostics do not have a defined belief in regards to creation because agnostics do not know. Agnostic means "without knowledge." An agnostic cannot be a theist because they can't have a belief in something that they do not have a knowledge of. You cannot believe in the undefined.

Agnostic's point of view is,

When asked, "who created the universe?", the answer is one which contains 3 words.
It is "I dont know" rather than "it is god".
It is foolish to believe in something you do not know.

This is the belief of agnostics which pulls them into a lot of debates and endless arguments with theists. When you know that there is no way to come to a conclusion what is the use in arguing? I hope that they would realise this soon!

If you take the Schrödinger's Cat thought experiment and apply it to belief then the cat is god. Theists believe the cat is alive, atheists believe the cat is dead, and agnostics claim not to know that a cat is even in the box and leaves it open to suggest that it could be a dog, a unicorn, something we've never encountered before in this universe, or simply nothing at all that we're arguing about. Without having knowledge of what's really in the box and believing that we shouldn't rely on Schrödinger to tell us, "unknown" can be the only correct answer.

But the correct answer always need not be the best answer. The best answer here is "i don't care"!!!

This is where apatheism comes in. Apatheism(a portmanteau of apathy and theism/atheism)--a disinclination to care all that much about one's own religion, and an even stronger disinclination to care about other people's religion.

I BELIEVE that the rise of apatheism is to be celebrated as nothing less than a major civilizational advance. Apathists sometimes referred to as pragmatic atheists are large in numbers though they don't voice out that they are one.

"A world of pragmatic atheists," the philosopher Richard Rorty once wrote, "would be a better, happier world than our present one."

Best of all would be a world generously leavened with apatheists: people who feel at ease with religion even if they are irreligious; people who may themselves be members of religious communities, but who are neither controlled by godly passions nor concerned about the religious beliefs of others.

I am proud to say that i am an apatheist, one in a million, one among a group of people which is growing fast, who are going to make our world a better and happier place to live, in the near future.

CRYPTIC CROSSWORDS - a guide to solve them!!!

2008-12-10T17:37:00.017+05:30

CRYPTIC CROSSWORDS

A cryptic crossword is a special sort of puzzle. Each clue in a cryptic crossword is actually a little puzzle of its own. Cryptics were invented in Britain, and continue to be extremely popular there. So popular that a cryptic crossword appears in every major British newspaper on a daily basis. With time, perhaps we'll be so lucky as to see them in every newspaper across our country too. As you'll appreciate when you learn to solve them, they are very addictive!

The charm of a cryptic clue is that it's deceptive at first, yet ultimately unambiguous. Deceptive, since no clue means what it first appears to on the surface. Yet unambiguous, since each clue gives you two ways to confirm its answer. The basic premise of cryptic clue writers is summed up in Afrit's Injunction: "You need not mean what you say, but you must say what you mean". (Afrit is the pseudonym of a famous British cryptician.)

While a standard crossword clue is usually a simple definition of its answer, a cryptic clue will be trickier.

For example, let's look at clues for the answer THERESA CUNNINGHAM(author of a lot of cryptic crosswords)

In a regular crossword, the clue might be:
Cryptic crossword writer

In a cryptic crossword, the clue might be:
Nicer man then hugs a wildly beautiful Canadian woman (7,10)

See how it works? The whole cryptic clue is a set of instructions for solving the answer. The letters in Nicer man then hugs a, when rearranged (written ildly), will spell Theresa Cunningham (a beautiful Canadian woman).

I started solving Hindu crosswords around 3 months back and have solved about 3 of 4 crosswords only completely all this while!!! Today is one of the days :) So I thought i could share some tips to solve any cryptic crossword :)

Here is the solution for today's Hindu crossword (December 10, 2008) :)

Have a look at it and understand the basics of solving a cryptic crossword :)

And some tips are also given below.

Across

1 Opinion found in to misguide arguments (4)IDEA

9 Designed an ice manor in shore regardless of the circumstances (4,4,2,5) COME RAIN OR SHINE

10 Sound of bells in the outer layer, overheard (4)PEAL

11 Refusal of an old style of English bird trap (5) NO OS E

12 Im a leader of Muslim men (4) IMAM

13 Many tear off a large container (5)CRATE

14 Starting off a close association with a friend by making a droning sound (7)HUMMING

16 Strikes out a container for the Church of England left in space (7) CAN CELS

18 Get-together a bit at the end of the day (5) PARTY

22 Black caliph on an island (4) BALI

23 Love the main kind of Arab inhabitant (5)OMANI

24 To start doing every big task is a liability (4)DEBT

25 For keeping secret information edit inflation to be disclosed within the borders of a country (15) CONFIDENTIALITY

26 Go through the net to ride a wave (4) SURF

Down

2 Daughter is keeping good health forever being a resident (7) DWELLER

3 Design of a giant salad sold despite many obstacles (7,3,4) AGAINST ALL ODDS

4 Dirty snowball to be available in a short time (5) COMET

5 Joining of a news agency being broadcast (5) UNI ON

6 Failures of rules by an Iran soldier having single relations (14) IR REGULAR I TIES

7 One saint head is within them having the belief in the existence of God (6) THEISM

8 Too strange for the peacekeepers with a girl unknown (7) UNC ANN Y

15 Father having a large solar shade (7) PARASOL

17 Persons in charge of life energy of the oriental ends of flowers (6)CHIEFS

19 Small child to cross an unusual line for almost an era (7) TODDLER

20 Virtuous person in South Africa is new in Information Technology (5)SAINT

21 To put an end to a mammal in a boat (5) ABATE

A GUIDE TO SOLVE CRYPTIC CROSSWORDS

The following is a list of substitutions which is frequently used :)

Just added up this list from a lot of other websites....

Favourite sources of abbreviations include:

Books of the bible: eg IS or ISA (Isaiah), MIC (Micah)
Bridge players: so, 'partners' might be NS or EW and 'opponents' might be NE, SW, etc
Chemical elements: eg AG (silver), AU (gold), CU (copper), W (tungsten)
Chess notation: B, K, N, Q, R, X
Directions: L, R or E, N, S, W (and compounds). Also note that the compass points are ometimes described as quarter points or cardinal points
Military terminology: eg COL, GEN, GI, IC, LT, OC, OR, RA, RE, TA. Often clued as soldiers', 'officer' or similar
Musical notes: either as a single letter (D, E, G) or as a phonetic note (DO, RE, MI)
Roman numerals: D, I, L, M, V, X. Often clued as 'lots', 'a number' or the specific numeral
Measurement prefixes: eg K, M.
Clue Word Possible interpretations
Appeal IT
Bishop B, RR (Right Reverend) Book B, VOL, any book of the BibleBooks NT, OT
Drug ACID, E, H, HORSE, sometimes even a 'real' drug name (eg ASPIRIN)!
Enemy DEATH
Friend ALLY, CHINA (from the rhyming slang), MATE, PAL
Italian IT (from Italian Vermouth in 'Gin and It')
Jack HANGMAN (after a famous executioner, Jack Ketch), J, KETCH (goes particulartly well with 'sailor'), see 'Sailor'
King COLE, ER, GR, K, LEAR, R
Learn CON
Lights LUNGS, WINDOWS, crossword answers (so, may be self-referencing)
Line(s) L, RY (railway), RWY
Love O (from 'love' meaning zero and the shape)
New N, signpost for anagram
Old O
Peter SAFE (a well-known brand name has become a slang word for safe)
Queen ER, Q, R
Sailor AB, JACK, TAR
See Remember that it can mean 'BISHOPRIC' (ELY most commonly used), signpost for extraction
Ship SS
Short time M, MIN, MO, S, SEC, T, TIM (ie 'time' shortened)
Smell HUM
soldier-GI(government issue)
sailor-AB(able bodied)
Time H, HR, M, MIN, S, SEC, T
Union MARRIAGE, NUR, NUT
Volunteers TA
Way AVE, RD, ST, any direction
worker-ant/bee/hand

Solving crosswords helps a lot in improving your language also :)

happy crossword solving from now on:)

Is Jingoism alone enough to save India???

2008-12-09T00:56:00.010+05:30

First let me explain what the term jingoism means. It is "extreme patriotism in the form of aggressive foreign policy". After this Mumbai terror attacks wat do you think has been done or changed???
I am not an expert on national security, not part of the media and not a politician either. I am just one among the billion that call this wonderful land homeland. The following are my personal views and nothing more.

Days after the terror attack on mumbai, having killed nine out of the ten terrorists and capturing the other. Indian security are trying to get out maximum information so that they can figure out the bigger plot involved in this attack. Though there are a million unanswered questions in my mind about this, the most important and the hardest is, 'what the intention of these barbaric attacks??'. Our prime minister Dr.Manmohan Singh said something similar with a speech that was intended to calm citizens down but all that this did was just fuel the anger in the minds of a lot of people. The words voiced out from a lot of Indians are "Dont we need to send a strong message across the border? Don't we have the leaders with courage that drove the British back anymore? Stop being diplomatic Mr.Prime minister!!!".

The central and state Home Ministers has resigned. Maharashtra Chief Minister was forced to put down his papers. With international support, the Indian government is trying to get tougher on Pakistan. Mumbai is slowly getting normal. Too much of bombastic talks on the TV have started to show clear signs of dullness. Debates are turning ugly. The whole nation is utterly disturbed and bemused. People came out on the streets in large numbers and demonstrating their rage against the political leadership. In due course the disaster dusts will settle and the real questions will start coming out.

The physiological impact of the Mumbai attack will be far-fetched. The attack has stimulated an initial fear psychosis and helplessness among the public which has now been transformed into widespread anger. Though at present the politicians are the main targets, it will not be difficult for them to recover their positions soon. Without much effort or time, demagogic elements in the society can divert this anger towards familiar targets of class, caste and creed. The talk on the TV screens about a robust response could easily get misdirected towards a chauvinistic movement.

This can already be seen from the interview of a well known politician who said "Patience is the companion of wisdom.I understand this but how long can we remain patient? India has a shot at redemption both economically and socially if we squander it now then I am afraid we may not get another shot at it for a very long time".

Many celebrity civilian and media experts are referring to the ‘American response to 9/11’ as a solution. Some of them have even turned into warmongers with bombastic proposals like ‘attack Pakistan’, ‘carpet bomb the Lashkar-e-Taiba camps’ and ‘gun down the jihadi leaders’. Either intentionally or foolishly, these experts tend to forget the fact that in vengeance to the horrific events of 9/11, America had invaded countries situated about ten thousand kilometers away from their international border. Due to the huge distance between the countries, the impact of these attacks has never brought any direct effect on American soil. If India attacks neighboring Pakistan, will the impact be similar? Will India really be able to teach Pakistan a fitting lesson without receiving an equivalent lesson in response? Will there not be any civilian casualties? What will India really achieve by raiding Pakistan? Will the country get completely immunized from terrorism? These are some questions that might not have happy answers.

Therefore, in response to today’s circumstances a sensible approach is expected from the Indian government, the Indian media and the people. As several military experts have explained, military action will be the last option for the Indian government in dealing with Pakistan. The first option of the Indian government is to undertake a tough diplomatic position in cohesion with the global community and force the Pakistan to act in co-operation. Today Pakistan is also suffering from similar terrorism threats. Pushing themselves in the verge of a full fledged war will therefore not be a pragmatic and desirable option for either side. So the present jingoistic attitude of the Indian goverment is not going to bring any positive result to the present intriguing situation which our nation faces now. Lets just hope the Indian politicians clear their muddled thoughts soon and start acting sensibly and give this nation a new peaceful future, in which the word terror can be removed from the minds of every Indian citizen. Hoping for the best!!

JAI HIND!!!

Does our country too need an "Obama"???

2008-12-08T02:22:00.009+05:30

A lot of people create history every day, we don't come to know about everyone. But every one does know that Obama has created history!! From the day one of his campaign, i did have a thought that he does look like a winner. I am really happy that my thoughts for once has been right. But it is also fascinating how McCain has graciously accepted defeat. It is rare to see someone accepting that he is not the best, that too after so much of hard work.

Ever seen such such speeches in India??? Never!!! Partly because we lack manners and also Indian politicians lack greatly what I would call a spirit of the 'greatest common good'. In the last few elections no one has really won!! Anything to get the majority!! A race to the magic number '272', and then some. The word coalition means a lot to Indian politicians! It's not over till it's over. Horses must be traded, MPs herded into camps, if we need a better India!!

The reason for Obama having created history is, as we all know, he is the first African-American to be elected as the President. The trick to winning over those Republicans wasn't adopting values or prejudices; it's talking them around the opposition's values and prejudices in order to get the people to a point where they can see where their real interests lie. The trick then is getting the people to listen. And maybe Obama has hit upon the trick.

A lot of people feel that Obama is an analogy to the Prahalad story. "Obama is also neither black nor white. He is either/or and at the best of times, both, black enough yet 'white' enough. Especially in education and outlook. Obama was created in a different mould because he was destined to slay the Demon of Race".

And here in India one has to wonder when we will see an 'Obama' who will help us rise above our differences. And lead us into 'change we can believe in'...

This is the thought running in a part of my mind!! That India would see another Indian Obama rise soon!!

But this is how the other part of my mind argues!!

I would like to reiterate what Zakir Hussain (former Indian president) told those who said he being president is a victory for secularism in India - "India can be truly secular only if people stop thinking of me as a Muslim president". Similarly US have to stop considering Obama as a black president, but will they? So this instead of slying the "demon of race", isn't this making it grow even more??!!

It has been lots written that we need an Obama, a difference...
But are we Indians ready for a difference ever??? Like any slightest deviation from normal, reports as "sentiments hurt" in the breaking news!!! All serials which have increased glycerine demand are still preferred over sitcoms(situational comedies) like Siddhanth which dealt with sensible issues.

I think the real issue is that we still are in search of a new leader who will BRING THE CHANGE!!! My question is WHY? Why do we need someone? Don't we have heads? Don't we know wats good wats bad. but then we need someone to do our work. What all Indians do is to look at agony aunt's columns, the spiritual channels!!! We know the questions n the best answers to them.. Still we need someone to assure that we are not wrong or we are not fools to think that way!!!

Lets be sensible ourselves n we all might find an OBAMA within!!!!

I cannot decide on which part of my mind is right!! Whichever maybe right, but the only truth and need of the hour is that India needs a change, Obama or no Obama doesn't matter!!

need for speed - undercover

2008-12-07T21:53:00.013+05:30

NFS Undercover- The 12th game of the nfs-series fails to meet up to its expectations....

I am a gaming freak and having almost completed the game i thought of just giving my personal review of the game in my blog....

With IGN ratings of 4.5 i didn't have much hopes... but it did prove to be better than carbon... but still nfs-mostwanted remains as the best of the series according to me!!!

game plot:- The game starts with you going undercover... den u have to take out every person higher than you in your mafia gang... Doesn't dis seem like plot which a 5yr old can think of???

Maggie-Q added just for the extra glamour fails to make the impact!!!

graphics:- It is worse than its previous versions!!! the website says it is developed than the previous versions but it doesn't make an impact!! i have a Nvidia Gforce 9600GT 1GB and even after keeping the detail at maximum it is not that great or anything!!!

In this screenshot can ya see anything great??? other than da blurring effect!! that is the only thing what the developers have worked upon i guess!!

Goofs:- One of the biggest mistake in the game is that even wen you are traveling at the max speed with the fastest car the police cars which are of lower performance overtake so easily!!

Game play:- New kind of races are highway battle, outrun and also some new kind of "jobs". the highway battle and outrun are too easy... the "jobs" include delivering a stolen car to a particular place within time limit to a particular pace after evading the cops... this can be said as the only new good thing developed in the game.

Busted:- this is another great goof!!! i am driving in a highway and i get boxed and busted... and guess what happens?? "I get a CGI cutscene, with troopers jumping on me...in a parking lot!" And when you think this happens in the 12th installment of a notorious racing game i dunno how this game passed their testing!!!

sound track:- the sound track is pretty good. though it is not even close to the great sound tracks of nfs-mostwanted, it does sound pleasing to the ears unlike the nfs-carbon sound tracks!!

Conclusion

If I had to award some scores, here's what I would gladly award to Need for Speed: Undercover these -

Story: 2/10
Graphics: 3/10( i am being generous!!)
Sound: 6/10
Gameplay: 5/10
Interest Factor: 5/10
Overall: 4/10

anyways!!! IF anyone wishes to have a try at the game then here is the torrent link....

http://www.mininova.org/tor/2021339

my first post!!!

2008-12-07T21:13:00.000+05:30

YO!!!
This is my first try at blogging :)
have had plans to start blogging for a long time but just didn't... now is the time i start i guess :)
am anyway not busy anytime so can update my blog daily i guess :)
i am a comp freak, so u can expect a lot of technical stuff and also a lotta fun stuffs in my blog :)
hoping for a brighter future ;)
cya everyday pals :)