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Firefox 3.0 sneak peak
2008-05-27 23:00:00
All you Firefox fans will be happy to know, if you already don't know that the team has released a test version of Firefox 3 .0. This is apparently intended for developers and for the community who wish to provide feedback.The site claims that it has added many new features to the new version including better memory management. Those of us who use Firefox on a daily basis know how much memory it takes up if you keep the browser open and use it for a few hours. I hope this is fixed. I just downloaded it and I guess I'll find out soon enough. Flock, with all its fancy features that we don't really use was a little crap cause it took some time to open and managed memory worse than Firefox did.What I don't like at the moment with the new FF is the search bit in the address bar. If you type Google, all the addresses in history with the word Google show up in the drop down, including Gmail and all. Its a little cluttered because the logos and the interface are a tad big. But maybe I ju...
More About: Software , Internet , Tech

Explosion in train - Dehiwala
2008-05-26 14:10:00
A bomb has exploded on a train near the Dehiwala train station. Lots of people are injured although they say only 5 are confirmed dead at the moment. Almost rush hour, train was packed... you can imagine the rest...And I thought the train was the safest and fastest form of public transport... Bugger!
More About: Terrorism , Train , Colombo , Explosion

10 Things that make me happy...
2008-05-16 20:56:00
Seriously, I can't believe she tagged me and I feel bad about writing about things that make me happy when another fucking bomb went off. But as they say, life must go on.So here's the list of things that make me happy. Am not so sure about the order but hell...10. Pr0n9. Bicycle8. Arrack7. Pudding6. Chocolate Milkshake from Commons5. Pr0n4. Camera3. Music2. Katrina Kaif1. Internet So there we have it. The list from the absolutely can't be bothered love tagging side of town. And do I have to tag someone now? Hmmm? Prabhakaran... Do it man.. and (drum-roll) number 1 is... suicide bombers.
More About: Sri Lanka , Insane , Happy , Make

Human rights...
2008-05-01 20:23:00
A series of unfortunate circumstances led to having a chat with a few guys who?d been arrested because they were suspected of being LTTE. The reason for being suspected was because they were Tamil. They had legit papers and were even engaged in legit employment, but a fun Saturday afternoon by the beach got them arrested. WTF? You would think that people in this country have rights. It doesn?t seem so, if you are Tamil and poor. Being arrested for no reason at all is a bitch. Living conditions inside the police stations are far from ideal. The stench emanating from the toilets is unbearable. But what can you do? You are poor and were unfortunately born to a family bearing the wrong kind of surname and speak the wrong language.Cops in this country are probably the worst kind of scum. They like to hide behind their uniforms and flush all their insecurities down the throats of young boys who can?t do anything about it. They have no lawyers, no contacts with higher-ups and hence the id...
More About: Politics , Terrorism , Government , Sri Lanka , Human

Staying logged in to Facebook
2008-04-23 15:15:00
Here's the newest facebook sensation, facebook chat. I think they launched it sometime this week. I saw this just today. A little status bar at the bottom of your facebook page displays your friends online, number of notifications and your chat status. It's almost un-noticeable until people start messaging you. It also keeps all your message windows minimized, in one neat little row. There are a few words about the whole chat thing on Tech Crunch.So here's a brand new way to keep you logged in to facebook even if you have nothing to do on the site. I guess this is neat cause it allows everyone who doesn't have Google Talk to chat with their friends. Also, since everyone, including the hardcore facebookers are getting tired of fighting each other, adding applications to their profile page, super poking and super walling people and inviting other people to add some stupid application or the other, this is the newest way to keep all these Web 2.0 enthusiasts logged in to facebook. W...
More About: Internet , Entertainment , Facebook

Imagine Cup: Sri Lanka Finals
2008-04-22 20:32:00
I decided to take the invite and drop in for the Microsoft Imagine Cup Sri Lanka finals for software design. I entered the Photography and Short Film competitions but didn't have time to work on the photography but did create a story board for the short film. We didn't get enough votes to make it to the global top 30 hence no chance of France '08.The event was supposed to start at 1400hrs but it started around 1515hrs, in true Sri Lankan style. Of all the software design submissions in Sri Lanka a panel of judges chose six that they deemed to be the best. The theme for this year's competition was Tech nology for a Sustainable Environment. A tough topic but the six who were chosen had designed and developed a few applications. I had high hopes for this competition because it was a global event and in past years some of the contestants produced a few stunning apps. Sitting through the presentations it was one disappointment after another. Some of the apps were practical and quite u...
More About: Software , Finals

Random stuff
2008-04-21 20:28:00
Was taking a break and going through a few sites hoping to learn something while enjoying the unhealthy smoke from a cigarette. Here's a few that may make you wanna waste some time too.Cool Photoshop tutorials - There are plenty that you can try out and waste time on.Firefox shortcuts - Some Firefox shortcuts that may turn out to be absolutely useless and you may never use. But it makes you go aaaah! and nod your head in front of the computer.Speaking of keyboards take a look at this Godaay! shit.... Would you really?Plenty of issues have been running through my head, especially just before going to sleep. I know what you are thinking keep a pen and piece of paper by your bed man! I do. But I just can't be bothered turning the light on and writing things. Thinking is easier. You also forget in the morning and don't have to write a blog post about it. Some of the things that have hung around include equality (men, women, gay, straight, race whatever), the rising cost of living (wh...
More About: Software , Internet , Tech , Random , Issues

Advertising... an art? an industry?
2008-04-07 18:30:00
Most of the drunken conversations these days seem to revolve around advertising. Talking politics has suddenly taken a back seat to advertising. Why? I think everyone is just sick and tired of talking about the pathetic situation here. We needed something new to talk about. Ads. As I briefly mentioned in my last post, the ads people blame the brand managers and the brand managers blame the ads people. So whose fault is it?Let’s take the brand managers’ point of view first. The ads people seem to have developed a little world of their own it seems, that they think of themselves as artists, rather than a business organization. It’s given that the creative guys are artists in a way, but not so much that they can develop what they want and expect the client to accept it. Art on the other hand is something you create because you want to and there will always be a sect who will admire and appreciate it. Unfortunately, within the ad industry, this isn’t going to work because at the...
More About: Industry , Advertising

A Lesson For all Local Advertisers
2008-03-23 10:21:00
Most individuals in the advertising industry in Sri Lanka complain that brand managers don't allow for creative campaigns. Most good brand managers complain that their agencies can't come up with good, creative campaigns. So how do we find the balance between the two? As in most cases in this country the wrong people have the wrong job. The talented are slaving their asses off doing something else because someone somewhere didn't allow them to get in to what they should be doing. Tough shit. I just saw this commercial while watching the Malaysian Grand Prix; actually a slightly different version.Now isn't that a great example of what creative advertising can be? Excellent positioning, while retaining the status of the brand. And the creative aspect is through the roof don't you think? Good example for our guys huh?
More About: Video , Advertising , Advertisers , Issues

How is this possible?
2008-03-04 15:11:00
We all love making fun of the Indian accent. Most of you may have already heard this, but it's hilarious even the second time around. Best listened to if you are stoned, you'll be laughing till morning.Enjoy!
More About: Entertainment , Pranks , Insane

Right? Wrong? Left?
2008-02-09 19:36:00
A heated argument on the Wellawatta rail tracks as the smokers split up in to two groups, one that defends Mahinda and this stupid war, the other a bunch with a zest for life and peace. Smokes out and strolling back to the lobby the argument got quite fierce. The point of the Mahinda Supporters has been detailed here. A response via comments would have been too long and a little annoying. So here's my view...The government has just 3 real options: Negotiations, War and granting an Elam Home Land. Honestly, granting an Elam Homeland would be the easiest. But as a responsible government we cannot allow this small island to be split up and the government has the responsibility to safeguard the rights of all people, hence this option gets thrown out the window automatically.The Peep's rationale for the failed negotiations is that that the LTTE put forward too many demands before coming to the table. That they did. But as a responsible government it was their duty to come to a suitable...
More About: Terrorism , Left , Wrong

Independence '08
2008-02-03 17:05:00
This is not what the scene at the Fort Railway Station looked like this afternoon. Deserted, Army and Police officers all over and yellow tape sealing off the area. A day before we celebrate the 60th anniversary of independence; independence from the west. 60 years later, look what we have gotten ourselves in to. We have a bunch of retards running the country who couldn't care less about the people or their well being. Some fucking independence that is.My parents started hinting today, after a long time that I should cut down on my roaming and stick around at home if it isn't important. Why? Because I have to go through Fort, Kollupitiya, Bambalapitiya, Wellawatta etc., on a daily basis and most of my travel in to town consists of walking or using public transport via high security zones or probable terrorist targets. But wait. I refuse to let the terrorists run my life. A bunch of lunatics who seem to have forgotten the cause they are supposed to defend. NO. I will not change my ...
More About: Politics , Terrorism , Sri Lanka , Independence

No More Personal...
2008-01-30 17:27:00
So, since this blog has become a personal to politics to personal to politics achcharu, I've decided to move the personal bit to another blog, which is here. Most of you already know who I am or know my real name, hence I don't give a fuck about the pseudonym anymore. In any case it was just to shield me from those pukes at work who had nothing better to do than to read skurj and try to figure out who he was. I've left that building and I don't care.I know that some have gotten properly sick of the Oh! I got my ass-whipped again and a woman I fell in love with left me again..." babble. So the shit has been moved to C Life - The Story. Therefore, Skurj is only going to have my political two cents worth and how I think this whole conflict should be resolved etc., shit. If you like that, read this... If you fancy reading my personal stuff and having a laugh.. then go to >>>>Another public service announcement brought to you by Skurj....
More About: Personal

Sun, sea and sand - minus Marshmallow
2008-01-20 17:40:00
The beach in Unawatuna is possibly one of my favorite places. Not just because of it's beauty but for the sentimental value it holds for me. I hit the beach on Friday afternoon and nostalgia hit me like an angry grandmother with a broomstick. Walking through the restaurant at Happy Banana for the first time without Marshmallow was painful to say the least. I walked through the restaurant, slowly, marveling at the beauty of clear turquoise water gently lapping the shore. Something was missing, something important, something dear. Marshmallow. I missed her. Of the many times that I've visited this marvelous beach, it was the first without her. I missed her so much. Not even the cool, clear waters nor the stunning views of that wonderful bay could take away the blues. I missed her.Putting the blues aside we opened a bottle of Old Reserve and I found that I was the only one interested in Arrack. I drank. She rolled. I drank some more and smoked some. I was buzzing. But soon Memories...
More About: Personal , Sand , Allo

Where to?
2008-01-13 16:26:00
So, where to now? 07 has been a rocking year and I think I've finally come to terms with the fact that Marshmallow was never meant to be mine. With hindsight, it was too good to last, or rather too good to be true I guess. But who knows what the future holds, perhaps something may come of it... I certainly hope so. Life goes on. No point hoping. It'll happen if it should. After years, Marshmallow made me feel like I've never felt before. It was a strange feeling at first, a little scary especially since I didn't want to get hurt again. But what the hec right? You don't fall in love everyday and it, i suppose, is a risk worth taking. I am glad I did. The few months we shared was nothing less than amazing. However, as they say all good things had to come to an end. An amicable break-up if there was ever one. But it seems to have eroded our closeness and friendship and has left me wondering if falling in love was worth losing an awesome friend... I guess we shall find out pretty s...
More About: Politics , Personal

'07 the year that was
2008-01-05 19:06:00
2007 has been more hectic and more exciting than I ever anticipated. It all started calm enough, as far as I remember, just like this year has begun. It's been a year of bombs, war, world-cup finals and sqaush balls, a Ferrari championship victory and much more. I rediscovered love, only to lose it again. I learned quite a few things and made quite a few new friends. Facebook. Writing and photography and web design for money, who would have thought. It's definitely been one of the greatest years ever. Lots of parties, booze and cigarettes. Lots of trips and a holiday postcard addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Scourge. Almost quitting smoking. No drugs though, this year has been a totally drug free year.The second half of the year was amazing to say the least. It's been such a long time since I've fallen in love that it felt quite different. I couldn't even remember how awesome it feels to be in love with someone special. I also couldn't remember how much it hurts when it's taken away...
More About: Personal , Year

Two is better than one...
2007-11-29 03:50:00
Two bombs went off in Colombo today. Douglas Devananda managed to escape another attempt on his life. Sixteen or so innocent civilians at the Nugegoda bus stop weren't so lucky. Doug's PR guy was also among the unfortunate. I don't know what to say. I heard a government guy say something to the effect of due to the progress the SLA is making in the north, the LTTE is left with only one way of retaliating. Therefore these kind of attacks are to be expected....blah blah blah. Right, tell that to the families of the people who died today.This fucking war is killing innocent people in the North or killing innocents in the south. One way or the other innocent people are losing their lives, or in the case of the people in the north losing their lives and/or their homes. A friend of mine who knows a woman who lives in one of the border villages was telling me about an attack on the village a few days ago. Some people were shot dead and the others just ran and hid. Apparently it's day-...
More About: Politics , Rant

Is it the people?
2007-11-22 14:55:00
There?s been a lot of talk, especially by our politicians about how great things were when our little island was governed by Kings. We were self-sufficient, our technology was excellent, we built tanks and dams and Buddha statues (massive Buddha statues), we fought off invaders, and we were a civilized people. According to the Jay-Wee-Pee and other such parties of limited intelligence, the reason for the decline in our civilization is the fact that we sold out to those from the west and embraced their ways. How to fix? To go back to eating jackfruit and manioc and stuff like that. Go back to sewing paddy fields and having a king and traveling by bullock cart or elephant. I heard some professor on TV the other day state that homes of the past were self-sufficient unlike today, because they had a jackfruit tree, a coconut tree, a paddy field, some greens, some vegetables and so on in their gardens. They didn?t have to look further than their own garden for breakfast lunch and dinner....
More About: Politics , Life , Government , People , Sri Lanka

Since I last posted
2007-11-19 16:05:00
I don't post anything for a month and look what's happened to the country. Insane no? Mahinder is partying away, two years in power and he's managed to satisfy a lot of parliamentarians with posts that are totally irrelevant. What the hec? Who cares? Not like he's spending his money giving all these fat bastards what they want no?So we get our asses kicked in Anuradhapura and the whole country is bitching about it. A week later while I was sunning myself in Unawatuna, Thamilselvam gets whacked. Now the whole country is rejoicing cause we are winning the war. Now that the war is being won, our friend Mahinder is spending more of our money throwing a party to commemorate two years in power, yay!I would think that since we are winning the war and all that, security checks and road closures to allow parliamentarians to get to work will be less. Besides since we are winning, there's no risk of any of those fools getting their heads blown off right? Even if we weren't winning the wa...
More About: Politics , Personal

I just discovered Flock
2007-10-14 13:38:00
I hate Internet Explorer with a passion. Why? Well because it doesn't do what you want it to do. Instead it does what it wants and takes it's own time loading the pages. Most of the computers in the lab only have internet explorer and students don't have rights to install anything. Was checking random computers for a possibility of Firefox when I came across Flock . Flock is a browser that supports web 2.0. What? Well it's got built in tools for uploading photos, blogging, media bar, feeds and a web clipboard. So what right?I just started using it and it has the capability of loading pages just a tad faster than Firefox. There's no big difference but there is a difference. The interface is also quite neat and funky. I likes. It works on the same engine as Firefox methinks, but has a few nifty tune-ups of its own. They've also given it the tag line "social web browser". Makes life easier for those of us who love to upload photos, download shit and in general waste time on the in...
More About: Tech

Personally...
2007-09-13 14:43:00
It's been a while since I wrote about my personal life. Apart from getting drunk and passing out or coming home at 9 am and heading straight for the toilet and throwing up, a lots been happening. Between working, studying and getting to know marshmallow life hasn't given me time for blogging; rather my mind hasn't been in one place to put my thoughts together. So, marshmallow and I have been doing things together for about two months now and things are going somewhat great. She's working and am not and that's a little crap since I don't get to see her as often as I would like to. WTF right? Beats being single man!My life has largely been reduced to a lot of reading, namely Terry Pratchett's Discworld Series, which I find rather interesting and pretty hilarious at the same time. I also read a book called Monsoons & Potholes by Manuka Wijesinghe that was hilarious to start with but ended with a rather serious note about the current situation in the country. Good read. My entert...
More About: Personal , Life , Sona , Ally

Who's duty?
2007-08-22 12:10:00
The fact that we, the Sri Lanka n public voted for a bunch fools who have no idea how to manage a seven-eleven let alone a country is becoming irritatingly more obvious. I was reading the papers today and the front page said Billions in public funds for MPs vehicles. Right below that story? ok not right below that story but below that story at the bottom of the page was another headline that read Marking of A/L answer scripts disrupted. Now why would the marking of A/L answer scripts be disrupted? Terrorists? Threats? Political influence that pissed the teachers off? Floods? Tsunami? WW III? Not really, just that the teachers are a little pissed about not getting their salary anomalies sorted out and decided to stage a strike. Yes they didn?t get the money that they were promised.So teachers don?t get paid what they should be paid and I don?t think they were entirely wrong in going on strike. Just take a look at the prices of shit and anyone could understand the why they wanna get ev...
More About: Politics , Insane , Duty

Terrorized
2007-08-19 17:06:00
Last Friday, I was on my way in to the city, for a rather important rendezvous with my group to finalize and complete a project that is due tomorrow. To my dismay I encountered heavy traffic in Kiribathgoda. I moved about five hundred meters within an hour. It was about an hour before news arrived via vehicles travelling in the opposite direction that the traffic lasted up to the Kelaniya bridge where they were conducting security checks, on all vehicles. I was never going to be able to make it Wellawatta at any time, hence I turned back after spending an hour and a half going no where and being pissed at the government and the LTTE. The terrorists are calling the shots again and telling me where I can go and when. I?ve always been told by parents and loved ones that I shouldn?t go here and there because there might be a bomb or something and I might lose my life. I?ve never changed my plans because of some threat, not to be a hero or whatever but simply because I don?t want my life...
More About: Politics , Terrorism

For country and people...
2007-08-06 04:26:00
Politics in Sri Lanka is a fascinating thing. Watching a discussion last night on Derana, I wondered as to why anyone with half a brain would cast their votes for these assholes and let them run our country, make decisions on behalf of us; decisions that affect ?us? and not them. The topic of the discussion was ?is switching sides for the benefit of the public?? It all started off decent enough until one of the dudes, Mithrapala, got offended and started butting in to the other guy?s time. All hell broke lose and it all became a little hilarious when Mithrapala said that the COL is down and the country is heading up, instead of the obvious down.Was thinking to myself and wondered if the politicians and Cabral have like a special computer or a report they refer to when they make statements like that. Development is on the rise, hospitals are coming up, roads are being done up, new roads are being added to the system, schools are coming up, COL is going down and we?ve had an eight per...
More About: Politics , Entertainment , People , Country

Kudu - June in review
2007-07-02 19:39:00
Image Stolen from Yacht BoyJune has been one crazy month. I can't remember the last time I drank this much; probably back in the day when I had a job. It all started on the day before Bradby when I met up with Stu, Steve and Mel. Then Jane and some other plastic surgery birds showed up and Indi and Wenu and whole load of other people showed up at Cheers. More beers, more beers, more beers. I hadn't drunk so much beer in all my life. Steve, Mel and I headed for R&B and had more beer. I woke up a few hours later to get ready to head for Kandy for more drinks and found out that someone had stuck a jack-hammer in my head. I swore not to drink so much beer ever again.By the time we got to Kandy I was thirsty again and Cargills was the first place we hit. Old Reserve, coke, bites the lot. Parked the car and filled the bottle, half coke, half arrack. Yum! We spent the night at a friends place, which was unbelievably beautiful, overlooking the Victoria Lake and I would have drunk close t...
More About: Personal , Insane , Review

Reverse...
2007-06-18 14:54:00
Religion is something that I try to avoid talking about. Each one is entitled to their opinion and no one should try to shove their beliefs on others. So just in case anyone is wondering, I am not trying to belittle any religion or endorse another.Saturday, June 16th, around 7pm local time, I hop a bus heading towards the city. The radio on the bus is playing a sermon conducted by a Buddhist priest. His sermon is on the environment and how we should care more about it. He starts with an analogy from the time of the Great Buddha (Siduhath Kumaru) and how he treated the environment around him. As the sermon progresses attention is slowly diverted toward the society we live in today. Suddenly, he breaks out in to a total anti-west rant. He starts going on about how countries in the west try to come and tell us how to control our waste, although they are the ones who are causing global warming. True enough right? Then he claims that the Americans and other western nations come here, pos...
More About: Sri Lanka , Insane , Verse

Bringing back me!
2007-06-14 00:45:00
It?s been a little rough since I told one of my bestest friends how I feel about her. It seemed like the logical and genuine thing to do at the time. No point letting her dangle not knowing how I feel about her right? With hindsight, I understand that buried feelings are better left buried. After unearthing those feelings, which I buried in her best interest, I felt attached and wanting something I shouldn?t want to have. One thing led to another and I became possessive and jealous of some gender confused, aliceband wearing fairy. Taking a little time to lie in bed and think about things as clearly as I could, I seem to have figured out where I went wrong. Besides I am not sure why I felt shitty cause it?s not like I am gonna have something with her. It must be the fact that she?s always been available and now suddenly her new friend(s) seem to take up most of her time. Not that it matters but it does feel a little weird. But that is how humans are. At least that?s how women ar...
More About: Personal , Insane , Issues , Back

Ethnic Cleansing? Nope, just stupidity...
2007-06-08 05:02:00
What started off somewhere in 1983 or so as a fight to give Tamil people the right live in a land where they aren?t discriminated has eventually led to innocent Tamil people having no place to call home. The government which is sworn to protect the rights of its people has now evicted hundreds of Tamils for no ?valid? reason. In my understanding of the constitution, any Sri Lanka n has the right to travel and live in any part of the country. So why is the very same government that the people elected violating their constitutional rights? Oh! Wait, these people didn?t elect him did they? Boss made a deal to ensure they don?t.The LTTE came about because the Tamil people were being harassed left, right and center and no one stood up for them; not the police, nor the politicians of that era. Some of the Marxist, racist movements of that day still prevail and to a certain extent still hold within themselves that all Sinhala nationalist fucking mentality. That mentality that is just NOT go...
More About: Politics , Terrorism , Government , Issues

Top Ten TV birds I'd like to get with...
2007-06-04 16:43:00
These are the top 10 birds on TV who I'd like to take home with me, get marooned on a desert island with or get locked in a jail cell with. There's no particular judging criteria cause, well, its my list and also its just the way I feel about them.I start off with Dana Delany who stars in the hit series Kidnapped. Sure she's old and blah blah, but there's something about her that turns me on. I like the hair for one thing and although she's old she looks damn fit. So Dana is at number 10 cause she's old and I can't really figure out why I like her, but I certainly do like her.The classic Baywatch Babe, big boobs, nice ass and wonderful legs; oh! how marvelous it is to watch her run. Carmen, as hot as she is, she's at number 9 because she's too stereotypical. Classical playboy bunny na? Apparently she's smart and has a black belt or something. Wouldn't wanna piss her off but sure as hell wouldn't miss the chance to beat her...Heroes' Claire Bennett is probably the hottes...
More About: Entertainment , Birds , Like

Had a drama filled weekend with parents up in the ...
2007-05-28 21:36:00
Had a drama filled weekend with parents up in the hills. It all started on Friday night when I had a few drinks with some friends at Buba. After quite a few drinks and discussions that varied from getting laid to politics to the corrupt actions of our dear president, we headed for R&B. I wanted to go to R&N cause I met this hot chic at Buba and she was going there. Got home at around 5.30 am and had to get ready to leave for the mountains with the parents.After stopping for breakfast, I drove. Got copped for doing 77 kmh near Kuruvita. What to do? Stood in a queue of people traveling from Colombo who'd been copped and paid the fine. There's a Rs. 100 service fee that goes to the post office on top of the fine. Hell of a joke. Total damage of Rs. 1100. Went back and got my license. Drove up again. This time waited for a guy driving fast to get ahead of me and tagged along behind him. The views were spectacular. Blue skies, green mountains, like something out of a movie. They'...
More About: Personal , Life , Drama , Sri Lanka , Weekend