Anything Everything

I recently read Agatha Christie's masterpiece novel – And Then There Were None. This amazing crime novel is a true classic, which is about a perfect crime. The plot and suspense are extremely well. I was simply baffled by the water-tight plot and the suspense. This is not a detective novel. It's a mystery crime novel. It's about a series of perfect murders. I don't want to reveal the plot further. But, what interested me was the plot itself. After reading this, I wondered whether it is really possible for a man to design a perfect crime, without getting himself known (or caught). As an avid reader of detective fiction, I usually read a story and try to figure out the culprit before the end, both logically and psychologically. Psychologically means, the least suspicious one is the culprit. But, both these techniques have failed in this case. No wonder over 100 million copies were sold!
Now, coming back to the topic. Often a perfect crime (rather, every crime) require a trustful ally. But, how trustworthy can he be? Will he succumb to the pressure, or support him? Another important factor is Mother Nature. The unpredictability of Mother Nature can wreck a foolproof plan. Sometimes, an unexpected rain can leave clues that will ultimately betray the criminal. Yet another important factor is Human Nature. Here too, we can't predict what a man will do next. Often an unexpected witness can reveal the whole story. Also, attempts to exterminate such a witness can leave unexpected clues for a sleuth. Some unexpected situations prove too much for even a hard core criminal. In such situations, emotion take control over intelligence, making them act foolish.
Throughout the above passage, the word 'unexpected' is encountered a lot of times. The uncertainty in the nature, human activities, trust can play a spoil sport in case of crime, which is a rather good news to sleuths. This is often refered to as “The fingerprint of GOD”. Whatever it may be, it is a boon. As theory states, every criminal leaves a clue behind him. The success of a sleuth is to find that, and exactly that particular clue, which stands out of the rest.
Of course, there are unsolved crimes, especially homicides throughout the world. Some of the famous ones are:

• The Black Dahlia (Elizabeth Short) murder in 1947 at Los Angeles
• William Goebel, American politician in 1900 at Kentucky
• Jack the Ripper murders, 1888 at London
• Zodiac Killer murders at Northern California, 1968-1969
• Jack the Stripper murders, at London, 1963-1964

I don't think most of the unsolved crimes remain so due to careful planning and execution. There are other factors too. Inefficiency of detectives, corrupt officers, the murderers being members of highly organised crime syndicates, external agencies interfering the investigation (usually politicians) etc.
After reading a handful of detective novels I think, the steps to solve a crime are: rely only on concrete evidences; consider witness statements suspiciously; suspect everyone; form a pattern using the available data. The last one is the most important step. Form a theory with the initial clues. Modify this theory when more REAL clues pour in. Abandon a theory, if new data stands out (if the data is real). View everything suspiciously. Every crime has a pattern of it's own. If the sleuth is able to identify this, he wins. Also, I've read somewhere that if more than one solution exists, the simplest one wil be the right one.
Hoping for a perfect WORLD, and not a perfect crime....

The latest version of Ubuntu Linux, Ubuntu 9.10 codenamed Karmic Koala is ready from October 29th, 2009. Like it's predecessors, this one too is free and you can download it from the ubuntu website or request for a free c.d.

As I have earlier stated, using open source applications have many advantages over propreitary ones. The world is now embracing Linux and its companions. Our Kerala Government too promote open source applications. This reduces cost, increases efficiency and security. Please support open source applications by switching to Linux. Think free, Breathe free and Live free with Ubuntu.

UBUNTU means HUMANITY TO OTHERS

BE HUMANE; PROMOTE UBUNTU

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Live free or Die-hard is again the topic of the day. This time we deal with the spiritual aspects of this Hollywood movie title. Here too you are left with two options – either think free (and hence live free) or be a die-hard believer of any particular religion. Don't frown, it's a fact. BEWARE OF THE FACT; BE AWARE OF THE FACT.
Let me ask you a simple question. Are you HUMAN?
Of course you are. Only a human being can operate a computer and read a blog (to the best of my knowledge)
But, ARE YOU HUMANE?
Don't rush into a conclusion. Think... Let your conscience answer this question, while you read the rest of this post.
Do you believe in GOD?. If so, which GOD do you believe. The one defined by the various religions in their on unique way (often contradicting each other) through a set of stories. (The one you are familiar with) or, ******* (whom you will eventually find out)
Let's start from the roots. I'm switching the question from “Is there a GOD?” to “Is there the necessity for a GOD?”. And my answer is YES. But that doesn't mean I'm religious. What I meant was that there is a “something” that is needed by us for our survival, who will bestow us with boons and whose laws we can't disobey (the characteristics of so called GOD). Right?
Now, can you think of any other possible solution for this “something”, other than GOD ? I can. The answer is SCIENCE, or more precisely, PHYSICS. This omnipotent is needed for our survival, who will give us BOONS, and whose laws we can't disobey (Try disobey Law of Gravity!!!). From friction to quantum mechanics, we use it's various incarnations to do ALL our activities. (Can you think of a single task that doesn't require physics? Even praying requires many aspects of physics). Physics encourages (or, rather compel) us to QUESTION, to THINK, to ARRIVE AT A RATIONAL CONCLUSION. It don't simply state a fact, without proof. It even allow you to abandon a great theory, if you find a single observation that it can't account for. Will any religion allow such a move? Physics is constantly improvising itself for the future. That is the greatness of physics.
But, if you still adhere to your belief, I don't want to pursue you to be a non-believer. That's not my motto. Also, if you still can't think of physics as omnipotent, you have another option left. Believe in YOU. Your mind has many abilities that baffle scientists all around the world. Let, LOVE FOR HUMANITY be your prayer. The human mind has got the power to heal the deepest of all wounds, or deadliest of all diseases (like GOD). The only thing you need is FAITH. That faith is not in GOD, but in yourself. Believe it or not, your mind can bring about miracles in your (and other's) life, if you have the determination to tap that immense power, with which you are born. Thus, faith and love are the two important things you need in your life, not religion.
You may argue that all religions urges us to love and have faith. But, there's a major difference, they all need a GOD (governed by so called 'Men of God') who has created you, watch you, and ABOVE you. No religion will entertain this “Mind-is-GOD” concept, because, then no-one will heed to their lectures, stories, et al. They all want to control us. They take us into their confidence, for their various needs. We are like puppets in their hands. Okay, I will devote another post for that. What I meant was that the untapped potential in you, your mind is the true GOD. If you have that real power, do you still need a religion? Again, the choice is up to you......

This is the alternate title of 2007 Hollywood film Diehard 4.0 starring Bruce Willis. But, in this technical world, it has got a different perspective. Either you can live (and think) freely using open source softwares or be a diehard user of proprietary softwares.

Open source softwares have many advantages over proprietary ones. The major one is the cost. Usually open source softwares are free of cost. One can download it from net and install in one's computer, and are encouraged to spread it. Operating systems like Ubuntu even ship you a c.d ABSOLUTELY FREE OF COST!!!! (Isn't it too tempting an offer?). Proprietary softwares, on the other hand, cost you money (and your freedom). Also, they are designed for a single use. You can't simply borrow your friend's software and install it in your system (legally). Ofcourse, they may design it for many users, but the cost too will be manifold (exponentially!!).

If you are well versed in programming, and you feel that your existing software doesn't have a feature you want (or it has a bug), then you can modify (or debug) it in open source softwares ONLY. Because, only they come to you with their source code. You can alter it, spread it. You can't get the source code of a proprietary software.

The major drawback of a Windows (a proprietary software) system is, it is prone to virus attacks. These harmful little programs can affect your valuable data. But Linux systems are unassailable to Windows viruses.

One major setback to the open source softwares is “THE COMMON MAN'S ATTITUDE”. For most people, Windows is synonymous to computer. Most people are under the impression that Linux is like a command line O.S, that is not user friendly, lacks technical perfection etc. Gone are those days. Modern Linus O.S are beautiful, user-friendly, technically advanced et al. There are various Linux distributions, like,

UBUNTU, REDHAT, SUSE, FEDORA, MANDRIVA and even LINSPIRE (which is not free though)

One more advantage of Linux O.S is that it comes with an office suite (openoffice.org), an image editinf software (GIMP). But in Windows, you have to buy these additional ones. Also, it has Firefox as it's browser (a major browser software and a major threat to I.E). Also, if you need a software for a particular purpose, you can simply download it, install in an instant, get going. (as simple as 1,... 2,.... 3)

Linux is not without some limitations. If you are looking forward to install Linux, sit back and enjoy some music, or watch a video, you may be disheartened at first, because the inbuilt media player can't play them. (due to proprietary limitations of formats like mp3, wav etc.) But you can (of course, you will) download the required codecs from the net , WITHOUT PAYMENT (of course, excluding the nominal data charges) and ROCK ON..... So in Linux, there is always a way. You just need to log into a community website, post the question, get the answer, implement it. Simple!!!

So, you have two options- to LIVE FREE or be DIEHARD. The choice is upto you....

From now on, this blog will be entirely different. Now, I will write about my thoughts and feelings on various subjects, mostly religion, politics, literature etc.
This will not be a simple blog, it will deal will big things.(At least, things I consider big)
A.R

I think it's time for a small post on Kerala, my land.
I havn't travelled much through this land. But, I've read & heard about different lands, their cultures from my friends & acquaintances. I've often wondered why it's called "God's own country". But, now I think I know why.
It's probably due to the aesthetic greenery and soothing backwaters of this land, especially that of "Kuttanad".

After about 2 months of silence, I'm blogging. But unfortunately i'm not ready with a topic. So, excuse me.
I'll b back soon...