I wasn't sure before but have my doubts now..

I generally do not want to encourage conspiracy theorists or read about them. But I saw "Loose change" on my friend's insistence and I have my doubts now. Though I have not checked every fact presented, as a layman and playing the role of a jury in a trial who goes by the facts presented to him and then makes a decision based on that, I think the government ought to explain a few things and open up few more to close the 9/11 controversies.

It definitely is not very far fetched and asking few more questions won't hurt...

Who made it to PC World's 100 Best/Worst Products of the Year 2006?

I always look to see where Microsoft and its products stand in these. To my surprise and disappointment, the greatest and biggest software house in the World didn't make it for the 10 best list and only 2 listed in the 100 best products of the year. Here are the notables:
1. Intel Core Duo Notebook/Desktop CPU
2. AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core Desktop CPU
3. Craigslist.org Web Classifieds
4. Apple iPod Nano Digital Audio Player
5. Seagate 160GB Portable Hard Drive Portable Hard Drive
6. Google Earth Satellite Imagery
7. Adobe Premiere Elements 2 Video Editor
8. Canon EOS 30D Digital SLR Camera
9. YouTube.com Video-Sharing Site
10. Apple Boot Camp Mac Dual-Booter
...
54. Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 Keyboard
...
89.Microsoft Xbox 360 Game Console

and also very disappointing to see that Microsoft took 2 spots in the top 10 Worst tech products of all time. The list is:
1. America Online (1989-2006)
2. RealNetworks RealPlayer (1999)
3. Syncronys SoftRAM (1995)
4. Microsoft Windows Millennium (2000)
5. Sony BMG Music CDs (2005)
6. Disney The Lion King CD-ROM (1994)
7. Microsoft Bob (1995)
8. Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 (2001)
9. Pressplay and MusicNet 2002
10. Ashton-Tate dBASE IV (1988)
...

I recognize that Microsoft needs a lot of work ahead to convince people that its products are top notch.

Microsoft Office to remove PDF support

Whatever the truth is or who ever is on the right side, here are the indesputable facts based on my research:

1. PDF is claimed to me an open format and any one is free to incorporate PDF support as long as they conform to the format and thus not break the compatibility. Here is the Adobe partner documentation
2. There are already many products out there from Vendors/ISVs which support PDF to other formats conversion and vice versa. So it is not just the Microsoft that is taking a lead here or trying a new approach. If it is O.K for others to do it, I do not see any reason why Microsoft should be a exception.
3. At least there is no publically available information on whether Microsoft is altering the format and as some one who has inside information and knew the folks who were doing it, I can say this isn't the case. I for one was involved in sort of PDF support for a Microsoft product a while ago and I know the reality.
4. There is no question or doubt that Office customers will benefit from this as they do not have to buy Acrobat to author PDF content.

So in my simplistic view, Adobe is the evil company here and not Microsoft.

UMPC?, No thank you

http://www.samsungq1.com/

I think it is one of the coolest gadgets that I would like to own due to its form factor and being a little more general purpose device as compared to the gadgets with specific functions. But, looking at the price at which they are going to sell (~$1000), I am just going to wait for the second generation or third. If I need something, I would rather settle for a untra compact laptop from Sony Viao series rather than going down the UMPC line.

Great concept but only for people with fat wallet!

Stop the insanity Mr.Muhammed

I was reading Imran Anwar's In My Humble Opinion to get some ideas about what the other side has to say about the controversial cartoons. But he is not very convicing (at least to me) since his arguments are pretty baseless. He gives the following example:

"...Would all these "fair and balanced" media and publications, from Denmark to France to the USA, publish cartoons (in the name of free speech if not on merit) showing Prophet Jesus Christ as a nasty, pedophile, Homosexual telling his homosexual apostles and followers to become Christian priests and rape little boys in Churches?"

I am a christian and I have no problems with that whatsoever and it did not get infuriated as the muslim world did. Why do they care so much about what a non-believer has to say about their beliefs? A better response would have been to simply express their disagreement through BoyCott of the publications or media that is not sensitive to their feelings and start a more meaningful dialog instead of burning the embassies or killing the people.

He goes on to say the following:
"... I also don't think either cartoon would get published - at least in America or Europe because they would be considered "offensive" or "bigoted" .... Sorry, free speech is not so free and it depends on what country you are in and what group you dare to attack. Shameful double standards!"

Even if that happens in America, I am sure people are not going to burn the newspaper building or kill people. Sure there will be some protests but I am not expecting to see stupidity. Since he mentioned this, it occured to me what if an American newspaper invites cartoonists from Middleeast and portray Jesus the way they want to and pusblish it? It would teach the world muslims how different we are from them. But I don't think anyone here has the courage to even think or do it.

My word to the muslims is, Grow up guys!

OMG, OMG, I got one!

You sure heard me complain a lot about it. But I had the luck of getting "My precious" XBox 360 last week. It wasn't a planned hunt and was checking out something else in CompUSA and happened to ask the store clerk if they had anything in stock and the rest is history. The funny part was that I almost got that for free. The sales person thought I had already paid for my 360 and was letting me walk away w/o having to pay for it. Being a very honest person :-), I told her that I hadn't paid for it and duly paid $435 and took it home with a lot of pride.

I sure enjoy the device for its HD gaming experience and Dolby Digital 5.0 channel audio and its seamless integration with "XBox market place" which is a cool idea and I am starting to like it.

The only thing that isn't working out well for me is connecting the 360 to my PC. Will have to call tech support to figure that one out.

All because of cartoons?

Muslim world enraged by cartoons

I don't believe this. This more or less confirms my belief that the Islam is not a progressive religion at all and Muslims by far the most close minded compared to any society.

Well, there is always a camp that says "Hey, not all muslims are like that yada yada yada...". But if that camp is a minority and cannot control the events that are happening (I am talking about the violent protests and burning of embassies), I am to believe that most are on the other camp.

With most of the Islamic nations having blasphemy laws that could hang a person just for his views or for exercising his freedom of speech or expression, I don't think I would ever consider living in one of those nations and they shouldn't expect my sympathy and support ever.

To me, there are no sacred cows and everything is subject to scrutiny and I strongly believe in freedom of speech no matter what they have to say.

Grow up guys for your good!

[Update on Feb 6th, 2006] Wikipedia has the most comprehensive report I can find on the web. Fantastic and be sure to check that out.