Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Throughout history, humans have always been prone to accidents. Some, such as the exotic car crashes seen on this page, can be very expensive. But that's trivial compared to the truly expensive accidents. An accident is defined as "an undesirable or unfortunate happening that occurs unintentionally and usually results in harm, injury, damage, or loss". Our aim is to list the top 10 most expensive accidents in the history of the world as measured in dollars.

This includes property damage and expenses incurred related to the accident such as cleanup and industry losses. Many of these accidents involve casualties which obviously cannot be measured in dollar terms. Each life lost is priceless and is not factored into the equation. Deliberate actions such as war or terrorism and natural disasters do not qualify as accidents and therefore are not included in this list.

# 10. Titanic - $150 Million



The sinking of the Titanic is possibly the most famous accident in the world. But it barely makes our list of top 10 most expensive. On April 15, 1912, the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage and was considered to be the most luxurious ocean liner ever built. Over 1,500 people lost their lives when the ship ran into an iceberg and sunk in frigid waters. The ship cost $7 million to build ($150 million in today's dollars).


# 9. Tanker Truck vs. Bridge - $358 Million



On August 26, 2004, a car collided with a tanker truck containing 32,000 liters of fuel on the Wiehltal Bridge in Germany . The tanker crashed through the guardrail and fell 90 feet off the A4 Autobahn resulting in a huge explosion and fire which destroyed the load-bearing ability of the bridge. Temporary repairs cost $40 million and the cost to replace the bridge is estimated at $318 Million.


# 8. MetroLink Crash - $500 Million



On September 12, 2008, in what was one of the worst train crashes in California history, 25 people were killed when a Metrolink commuter train crashed head-on into a Union Pacific freight train in Los Angeles . It is thought that the Metrolink train may have run through a red signal while the conductor was busy text messaging. Wrongful death lawsuits are expected to cause $500 million in losses for Metrolink..


# 7. B-2 Bomber Crash - $1.4 Billion




Here we have our first billion dollar accident (and we're only #7 on the list). This B-2 stealth bomber crashed shortly after taking off from an air base in Guam on February 23, 2008. Investigators blamed distorted data in the flight control computers caused by moisture in the system. This resulted in the aircraft making a sudden nose-up move which made the B-2 stall and crash. This was 1 of only 21 ever built and was the most expensive aviation accident in history. Both pilots were able to eject to safety.


# 6. Exxon Valdez - $2.5 Billion



The Exxon Valdez oil spill was not a large one in relation to the world's biggest oil spills, but it was a costly one due to the remote location of Prince William Sound (accessible only by helicopter and boat). On March 24, 1989, 10.8 million gallons of oil was spilled when the ship's master, Joseph Hazelwood, left the controls and the ship crashed into a Reef. The cleanup cost Exxon $2.5 billion.


# 5. Piper Alpha Oil Rig - $3.4 Billion



The world's worst off-shore oil disaster. At one time, it was the world's single largest oil producer, spewing out 317,000 barrels of oil per day. On July 6, 1988, as part of routine maintenance, technicians removed and checked safety valves which were essential in preventing dangerous build-up of liquid gas. There were 100 identical safety valves which were checked. Unfortunately, the technicians made a mistake and forgot to replace one of them. At 10 PM that same night, a technician pressed a start button for the liquid gas pumps and the world's most expensive oil rig accident was set in motion.
Within 2 hours, the 300 foot platform was engulfed in flames. It eventually collapsed, killing 167 workers and resulting in $3.4 Billion in damages.


# 4. Challenger Explosion - $5.5 Billion



The Space Shuttle Challenger was destroyed 73 seconds after takeoff due on January 28, 1986 due to a faulty O-ring. It failed to seal one of the joints, allowing pressurized gas to reach the outside. This in turn caused the external tank to dump its payload of liquid hydrogen causing a massive explosion.. The cost of replacing the Space Shuttle was $2 billion in 1986 ($4.5 billion in today's dollars). The cost of investigation, problem correction, and replacement of lost equipment cost $450 million from 1986-1987 ($1 Billion in today's dollars).


# 3. Prestige Oil Spill - $12 Billion



On November 13, 2002, the Prestige oil tanker was carrying 77,000 tons of heavy fuel oil when one of its twelve tanks burst during a storm off Galicia , Spain . Fearing that the ship would sink, the captain called for help from Spanish rescue workers, expecting them to take the ship into harbour. However, pressure from local authorities forced the captain to steer the ship away from the coast. The captain tried to get help from the French and Portuguese authorities, but they too ordered the ship away from their shores. The storm eventually took its toll on the ship resulting in the tanker splitting in half and releasing 20 million gallons oil into the sea.
According to a report by the Pontevedra Economist Board, the total cleanup cost $12 billion.


# 2. Space Shuttle Columbia - $13 Billion



The Space Shuttle Columbia was the first space worthy shuttle in NASA's orbital fleet. It was destroyed during re-entry over Texas on February 1, 2003 after a hole was punctured in one of the wings during launch 16 days earlier. The original cost of the shuttle was $2 Billion in 1978. That comes out to $6.3 Billion in today's dollars. $500 million was spent on the investigation, making it the costliest aircraft accident investigation in history. The search and recovery of debris cost $300 million.
In the end, the total cost of the accident (not including replacement of the shuttle) came out to $13 Billion according to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.


# 1. Chernobyl - $200 Billion



On April 26, 1986, the world witnessed the costliest accident in history. The Chernobyl disaster has been called the biggest socio-economic catastrophe in peacetime history. 50% of the area of Ukraine is in some way contaminated. Over 200,000 people had to be evacuated and resettled while 1.7 million people were directly affected by the disaster. The death toll attributed to Chernobyl , including people who died from cancer years later, is estimated at 125,000. The total costs including cleanup, resettlement, and compensation to victims has been estimated to be roughly $200 Billion. The cost of a new steel shelter for the Chernobyl nuclear plant will cost $2 billion alone. The accident was officially attributed to power plant operators who violated plant procedures and were ignorant of the safety requirements needed.



Achluophobia Fear of darkness.
Acousticophobia Fear of noise.
Acrophobia Fear of heights.
Agoraphobia Fear of open spaces or of being in crowded places.
Ailurophobia Fear of cats.
Alektorophobia Fear of chickens.
Alliumphobia Fear of garlic.
Allodoxaphobia Fear of opinions.
Altophobia Fear of heights.
Amaxophobia Fear of riding in a car.
Ambulophobia Fear of walking.
Ancraophobia or Anemophobia Fear of wind.
Androphobia Fear of men.
Anglophobia Fear of England, English culture, etc.
Anthrophobia Fear of flowers.
Antlophobia Fear of floods.
Anuptaphobia Fear of staying single.
Apeirophobia Fear of infinity.
Aphenphosmphobia Fear of being touched.
Apiphobia Fear of bees.
Apotemnophobia Fear of persons with amputations.
Arachnephobia/Arachnophobia Fear of spiders.
Arithmophobia Fear of numbers.
Arrhenphobia Fear of men. Arsonphobia Fear of fire.
Astraphobia/Astrapophobia Fear of thunder and lightning.
Astrophobia Fear of stars/space.
Ataxophobia Fear of disorder or untidiness.
Atelophobia Fear of imperfection.
Athazagoraphobia Fear of being forgotton or ignored or forgetting.
Atychiphobia Fear of failure.
Aurophobia Fear of gold.
Automatonophobia Fear of ventriloquist's dummies, animatronic creatures, wax statues
Automysophobia Fear of being dirty.
Autophobia Fear of being alone or of oneself.
Aviophobia/Aviatophobia Fear of flying.

Bacillophobia Fear of microbes.
Bacteriophobia Fear of bacteria.
Bathmophobia Fear of stairs or steep slopes.
Batophobia Fear of heights.
Batrachophobia Fear of amphibians (like frogs)
Belonephobia Fear of pins and needles.
Bibliophobia Fear of books.
Botanophobia Fear of plants.
Brontophobia Fear of thunder and lightning.

Cacophobia Fear of ugliness.
Cainophobia/Cainotophobia Fear of newness, novelty.
Caligynephobia Fear of beautiful women.
Carnophobia Fear of meat.
Catagelophobia Fear of being ridiculed.
Catoptrophobia Fear of mirrors.
Cenophobia / Centophobia Fear of new things or ideas.
Ceraunophobia Fear of thunder.
Chaetophobia Fear of hair.
Chionophobia Fear of snow.
Chiraptophobia Fear of being touched.
Chirophobia Fear of hands.
Chorophobia Fear of dancing.
Chrometophobia/Chrematophobia Fear of money.
Chromophobia/Chromatophobia Fear of colors.
Chronomentrophobia Fear of clocks.
Cibophobia/Sitophobia/Sitiophobia Fear of food.
Claustrophobia Fear of confined spaces.
Climacophobia Fear of stairs.
Clinophobia Fear of going to bed.
Coimetrophobia Fear of cemeteries.
Coulrophobia Fear of clowns.
Cyberphobia Fear of computers.
Cyclophobia Fear of bicycles.
Cymophobia Fear of waves.
Cynophobia Fear of dogs.

Demophobia Fear of crowds.
Dendrophobia Fear of trees.
Dentophobia Fear of dentists.
Didaskaleinophobia Fear of going to school.
Dipsophobia Fear of drinking.
Dishabiliophobia Fear of undressing in front of someone.
Dromophobia Fear of crossing streets.

Eisoptrophobia Fear of mirrors.
Elurophobia Fear of cats.
Emetophobia Fear of vomiting.
Entomophobia Fear of insects.
Ephebiphobia Fear of teenagers.
Epistaxiophobia Fear of nosebleeds.
Equinophobia Fear of horses.
Ergophobia Fear of work.

Felinophobia Fear of cats.

Gamophobia Fear of marriage.
Geliophobia Fear of laughter.
Genophobia Fear of sex.
Gephyrophobia, Gephydrophobia, or Gephysrophobia Fear of crossing bridges.
Gerascophobia Fear of growing old.
Glossophobia Fear of speaking in public or of trying to speak.
Gynephobia/Gynophobia Fear of women.

Haphephobia/Haptephobia Fear of being touched.
Harpaxophobia Fear of being robbed.
Heliophobia Fear of the sun.
Hemophobia/Hemaphobia/Hematophobia Fear of blood.
Hierophobia Fear of priests or sacred things.
Hominophobia Fear of men.
Hylophobia Fear of forests.

Iatrophobia Fear of doctors.
Ichthyophobia Fear of fish.

Judeophobia Fear of Jews.

Keraunophobia Fear of thunder and lightning.
Kymophobia Fear of waves.

Lachanophobia Fear of vegetables.
Ligyrophobia Fear of loud noises.
Limnophobia Fear of lakes.
Liticaphobia Fear of lawsuits.
Lockiophobia Fear of childbirth.
Logizomechanophobia Fear of computers.
Logophobia Fear of words.
Lygophobia Fear of darkness.

Macrophobia Fear of long waits.
Mageirocophobia Fear of cooking.
Maieusiophobia Fear of childbirth.
Megalophobia Fear of large things.
Melissophobia Fear of bees.
Methyphobia Fear of alcohol.
Microphobia Fear of small things.
Misophobia Fear of being contaminated with dirt/germs.
Monophobia Fear of solitude or being alone.
Motorphobia Fear of automobiles.
Musophobia/Murophobia Fear of mice.

Necrophobia Fear of death / dead things.
Neophobia Fear of anything new.
Nosocomephobia Fear of hospitals.
Numerophobia Fear of numbers.

Ochlophobia Fear of crowds or mobs.
Ophidiophobia Fear of snakes.
Ophthalmophobia Fear of being stared at.
Ornithophobia Fear of birds.

Pedophobia Fear of children.
Peladophobia Fear of bald people.
Phasmophobia Fear of ghosts.
Placophobia Fear of tombstones.
Plutophobia Fear of wealth.
Pogonophobia Fear of beards.
Potamophobia Fear of rivers or running water.
Pteronophobia Fear of being tickled by feathers.
Pupaphobia fear of puppets.
Pyrophobia Fear of fire.

Rhytiphobia Fear of getting wrinkles.
Rupophobia Fear of dirt.

Scolionophobia Fear of school.
Selachophobia Fear of sharks.
Sesquipedalophobia Fear of long words.

Tachophobia Fear of speed.
Technophobia Fear of technology.
Telephonophobia Fear of telephones.
Testophobia Fear of taking tests.
Theophobia Fear of gods or religion.
Trypanophobia Fear of injections.

Venustraphobia Fear of beautiful women.
Verbophobia Fear of words.
Verminophobia Fear of germs.
Vestiphobia Fear of clothing.

Xenoglossophobia Fear of foreign languages.

Zoophobia Fear of animals

Friday, August 28, 2009



Let's go through the steps of the events that occur from the time you first push the power button on your computer to the time you click the "shut down" button.

1. You press the buttons to turn on your monitor and computer.

2. A signal is sent to your power supply telling it to turn on. The power supply is what keeps your entire computer system running; it is what makes the difference between a box with a whole bunch of odd-looking devices connected to it and a working computer system! The power supply changes the electrical current from the outlet in your wall into a voltage that can be used by your computer.

3. The fans found in the power supply will begin working. These fans are vital to your computer system. They circulate the air inside the computer case to make sure that the devices do not overheat!

4. Your computer's BIOS(Basic Input) goes to work. BIOS is the software that gives your CPU its first instructions when the computer is turned on. Your BIOS will:
Perform a power-on self-test (POST), an inspection checking to make sure that all of your computer's components are working properly.
Check to see if a reboot is necessary. If not, then it will perform a read/write test for your computer's random-access memory (RAM), it will check the keyboard and the mouse, and it will also check the PCI bus and expansion cards. You will see a string of text on your computer screen as your computer's BIOS checks everything.
Check the CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) for your system settings. It will check for what components are installed in your computer system as well as for important information concerning your computer's operating system.
Usually, you will see a string of words on a black screen when your computer first turns on. This is your BIOS system displaying information about your computer's central processing unit, information about how much memory your computer has, as well as information about your hard disk drives and floppy disk drives.

5. The bootstrap loader will load the your computer's operating system into the computer's memory. Bootstrap, or boot, for short, is the process of loading the operating system. The whole process of loading your operating system is called booting up your computer.

6. The operating system will go to work. At this point, all control of your computer system is transferred from the BIOS to the operating system. The tasks your operating system must perform can be broken up into six major categories:
Processor Management: The operating system breaks tasks down into chunks that your CPU can handle and it prioritizes the tasks before sending them off to the processor.
Memory Management: The OS coordinates the information as it flows in and out of the computer's random-access memory.
Device Management: The operating system will let the numerous devices that are part of your computer system communicate with each other and with the central processing unit.
Storage Management: The OS will direct data and information to the places where they are to be stored.
Application Interface: The operating system lets your computer's hardware interface, or talk to, the software.
User Interface: Of course, now you'll need someway to communicate with your computer. This is controlled by your operating system.

7. You open up and run certain programs or applications. First, let's say you open up a word document to type a letter to your Great-Aunt Betty.
Your operating system will realize that you have a word processor open, so when you use either the keyboard or the mouse to input information, it will know to accept the information you input for the word document. Sometimes, if you have more than one program open at a time, your operating system will have to determine which program it is that you are using at the given time, but for now, we will just concentrate on the word processor.

8. Let's say you wanted to type in the letter "D"
You press the "D" key on the keyboard
Your keyboard will send an electrical signal to your computer telling it that you have just pressed a button
The keyboard controller will send an interrupt to the central processing unit telling it to take a look at the key you just pressed. The "D" will be temporarily stored in a special memory until your CPU is ready to deal with it.
Most often, your CPU also has to deal with other tasks. Your operating system will prioritize these tasks. Finally, it is time for your CPU to deal with the key you just pressed.
The CPU determines which program you were using when you pressed the key. In this case, you were in a word processor.
The CPU will tell your operating system to display the letter "D" on the screen. The letter is displayed by adding it to your graphics card, which tells your monitor what to display on the screen! This seems like a long and complicated process, but it occurs almost instantaneously! That shows how fast a computer is!

9. Now, you've finished typing your letter to Great-Aunt Betty, and you want to save it. When you press the "save" button in your word processor, a message will be sent to the operating system. A window will pop up, in which you can choose where you want to save the document to. Then, the operating system will transfer the document from the computer's RAM to the specified storage device.

10. After you have saved your letter, you decide that you want to print it out. Your operating system will translate the file from its present form into a form that your printer can comprehend. Then, your printer will go to work!

11. Now, that you've finished your letter, you decide that you want to go online to chat with some friends. You open up a web browser. Once again, it is your operating system that controls everything. This time, you can either type in the URL of the website you want to go to, or click on a link. By using a modem, your browser software can direct you to the right website, which will be displayed on your monitor!

12. After you've finished chatting, you're done using your computer. You click on the "shut down" button.

13. The operating system will close any programs that you have left open. However, if it finds that you have left a word document open, and that the document contains unsaved information, a prompt will come up asking if you would like to save the file before you exit. How convenient!

14. The operating system will save your current settings for your computer system. This way, it will remember them the next time you turn on your computer.

15. Usually, your computer has special software that will automatically shut down its power supply. If not, you will have to manually press a button.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

IBM DB2 does not support Windows XP Home Edition. So I had to change my os to windows XP Professional (inorder to use IBM DB2). When the XP installation is run from windows os , it actually allows us to upgrade XP Home to XP Professional. It's a pretty fast process! So there's no need to install the OS and drivers again.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Atlast I have connected to internet from ubuntu.
Here are the steps.
Have the router/modem on. This is applicable only for ethernet (I'm not sure about USB)

Ethernet Connection

1. Connect the modem/router to the ethernet card.
2. Assign an IP address for the ethernet card; the router has a fixed interface address of 192.168.1.1, so you can use 192.168.1.2 for your ethernet interface.

$ sudo ifconfig eth0 192.168.1.2 (It is not ipconfig. It is 'ifconfig')


3. Add 192.168.1.1 as default gateway.

$ sudo route add default gw 192.168.1.1

4. Enter the address of some DNS servers in /etc/resolv.conf. These DNS adresses are provided on BSNL’s instruction manual.

$ sudo vi /etc/resolv.conf

The entry will be of type nameserver 218.248.255.193, where the IP will be the one provided in your DataOne instruction manual (or contact BSNL for this).
5. Access the router’s management interface via a browser by typing the address 192.168.1.1. The admin username/password is admin/admin

* Set the connection type to `PPPoE’. On Settings--->PVC0
* Enter your user name and password (username is of the form xyz@dataone)
* Reset the router. It will take 2-3 minutes for the box to come up again

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Well I had started a fan-fiction of HP 7 way back in 2007 and written few chapters.
Thought my blog readers shall have a read of this incomplete story.

CHAPTER 1

VOLDEMORT VS.HARRY POTTER

With all the horcruxes destroyed and only the last bit of soul to be conquered Harry would soon meet voldermort in their final match.Who would win it?It's been a long journey for Harry right from the day he had seen Hagrid for the first time!

Harry had been in greatest despair when dumbledore died.And wanted to kill snape.But found that Snape was innocent too.Now snape too had died to save Harry.

And Ron and Hermione were in St,Mungo's,injured while destroying the sorting hat.So he was alone and had to kill Voldermort on his own.

when all these thoughts were crossing Harry's mind.

Harry heard someone calling "Potter",voldermort has entered the room.

"Voldermort",screamed harry and lifted his wand like a gladiator would lift his sword.

"what are you doing in this department of mysteries?Potter how do you want to die,as your Godfather black died?or as Ginny died,or as the traitor snape died?,or as Dumbledore died?".

As voldermort was speaking Dumbledore appeared out from nowhere but air!He was standing in between Harry and Voldermort!

"Good evening Tom, Hello Harry ",he said with his usual warmth.

Voldermort was stunned "how could this be possible?"

"I could not believe my eyes",he said.

Harry was shocked surprised,happy,and many other emotions filled him all together.

"Tom,the power of love which you constantly ignore saved me, and would now kill you"

Suddenly a cry of "AVADA KEDAVRA" was heard.Voldermort fell down,the person who killed voldermort is............................................................................................

to be contd.,


CHAPTER 2

LUPIN’S STORY

“Harry, Harry”, harry was pinched hard by Hermione.

Harry woke up from his sleep.

“It’s getting late for the marriage.Get ready soon Harry you should not be late.”

“Hermione. I had a strange dream , voldermort being killed by someone and Dumbledore coming alive.”

He explained his dream in the best possible way,he remembered it.

Hermione was surprised to hear such a dream from Harry.

But for a second she thought ’what a happy day that might be,if the dream comes true ’

She sighed and said ”Harry we would all be happy if that becomes true but it is too early to predict.”

“We’ll discuss it later Harry.Bill would be very happy to see you, I’ll move on.”, cheered Hermione and left.

Harry was giving the dream a thought.‘I had been standing in the department of mysteries and I should have destroyed all the horcruxes for someone to kill Voldemort.Who is that person for I could see only his shadow when he was about to see who he was? Hermione woke me up.Only if I had seen who it was thought Harry.

He had planned to go to the godric hallow after bill’s marriage, which was going to happen today.

Harry who was picked up by uncle Vernon at the end of 6th term
had escaped himself from Surrey to Grimmaud palace after a brief stint of one week there.

“Potter sir, Harry Potter sir”, squeaked a voice which was from none other than Harry’s favorite elf Dobby. “Potter sir, shall I make the breakfast ready”

“Yeah, Dobby. You make it ready while I make myself ready.”

*********************************************************************************

The marriage hall was filled with lot of people who Harry recognized just by seeing once.Harry raised his eyebrows seeing Percy .

Hagrid smiled at Harry.

But Harry was surprised not to find the man who was obvious to be present.Lupin was nowhere to be seen.Harry wanted to discuss about his strange dream to Lupin.Harry was disappointed.
A sudden thought crossed Harry’s mind if he was not here then he should be with Grayback’s werewolf team and Lupin had promised to.......

To be contd.,

Lupin had promised to locate the Godric hallow for Harry and Harry’s travel to the Godric hallow will depend a lot on Lupin’s presence.

Harry didn’t know how 2 hours passed as Bill had exchanged the rings with Fleur Delacour.

Gabrielle (Fleur’s sister)was present too.

She gave a pleasing look towards Harry,seeing him,which he hardly noticed.

Just after the rings were exchanged, Lupin entered the palace , grievously injured,
With blood covering his robes.


Lupin came straight towards Harry.

“Harry, come with me, we have to leave now to you know where”.

Harry started ”why are you so badly injured? ”

Lupin cut him “Later Harry.we have to leave now .”

“come with me immediately ”,said Lupin.

Ron and Hermione started protesting.

“We would like to come with Harry wherever he goes.”, they pleaded.


“You don’t understand. We have to go alone” ,said Lupin.

Tonks started to say something…

“We would soon return, we should go”, Tonks was cut in by Lupin.

“Listen here all off you. It’s my decision that really matters. I decide to go with Lupin. Don’t try to stop us please ”,Harry said.

Many wizards and witches present in the marriage were left as silent spectators of what was happening.

They didn’t have any clue of what was happening.
(NOTE: THE MARRIAGE IS TAKING PLACE IN GRIMMAUD PALACE)

Harry left with Lupin.

All were discussing about what further surprise they might
in this marriage?

Ron and Hermione were hugely disappointed by the way Harry dealt with them
They were angry with Harry as he didn’t explain the reason for leaving them.
One hour passed………………


Lupin came back alone.Harry was nowhere to be seen.
His robes were drenched in blood.

He came straight to Hermione (the closest person)
He asked “Hermione Where is Harry?”

To be contd.,



What’s this?”, shouted at least twenty persons.

“Harry had gone with you”, Hermione said.

“No”, cried Lupin.

“I was attacked by some person, I don’t know who it was, right outside this building,
He bound me with Incarcerous , and hit me with few more spells and I started bleeding heavily I went unconscious and I don’t know how long I had been unconscious”

As Lupin was talking,
Tonks pointed her wand towards Lupin and said “Episkey”. The nose which was bleeding, very badly, Stopped bleeding.

“Well, someone who had come in your disguise had taken Harry with him , and the last thing we wanted is losing Harry”, said Hermione.

“Even if he attacked me how was he able to plot the Palace?, unless he was in the order of the Phoenix.”, questioned Lupin.

“Why did you send Harry alone. Is this the way you protect him?”,said an angry Lupin, seeing Lupin angry was a very rare sight, and this is the first time people had seen him angry.

“But whoever the person was he has hoodwinked all the witches and wizards here and had taken Harry” , said Bill.

“So. We had lost Harry….”, declared Hermione.

“No you haven’t”, said a voice which everyone there,knew.

It was the voice of Harry Potter himself.

CHAPTER 3

THE PERSON IN HIDE


“Harry, where were you”, asked Lupin , Bill, Ron ,Hermione, Hagrid and many others.

“Well it’s a long story”, said Harry.

“I guessed something was wrong with Lupin. I wanted to sort it out. Further,
I wanted to discuss with him a matter.So I left with him.”

“We left. Lupin asked me to hold his hand as we had to apparate to the Godric hallow.
After we had apparated I found that the person was no longer Lupin.
He had transformed into some other person. Guessed he was not Lupin.
He should have taken the polyjuice potion. That place was too creepy.
That man didn’t talk too much. I had never seen him before.
I thought that it was unsafe to be with him.
So I had apparated back, in a flash.” Harry finished.

Well this is what Harry said them. But he lied, at least partially

The actual story is…………

Harry left with Lupin. They had apparated to the creepy place, which Harry mentioned.

But the person spoke lot.

The person started to speak as his figure transformed into a tall, slim, fair guy, with a pinch of sadness in his eyes but with sharp nose and blonde hair.

“Harry, I am not Lupin”,he said.

“I very well see that”, replied Harry.

“I knew you were not Lupin even before traveling with you ,for Lupin would always show a lot of patience which was missing in you, but I wanted to find who you were, so I came with you, so Who are you?, are you a death eater” demanded Harry.

“Well I was one, you may not believe me, but I am Regulus Black”, said that person.

Harry could not believe his ears.

“How could I believe you?”, asked Harry.

“I have two proofs, first read his”, he handed a parchment to Harry.

It read

To the Dark Lord
I know I will be dead long before you read this
But I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret.
I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match,
You will be mortal once more.
R.A.B

It was the replica of the parchment which Harry earlier gained.

“How is it possible? You are R.A.B?”, Harry was shocked, surprised, and he went dumb.

Regulus continued,“The second proof is…………” he showed Harry a locket.

Harry asked ,“Is this the locket still a horcrux, haven’t you destroyed it yet.”

“Certain questions are difficult to answer Harry. But the Dark Lord is a very clever person. I think he had developed the potion in such a way that that the person who drinks it would never be able to destroy his horcrux.”, Regulus said.

“Where were you so far and Sirius said to me that you were killed by Voldemort in person.So how did you escape death?”

“Harry,I was trying to find the remaining horcruxes of Lord Voldemort,after many years of hard work I found one”

“What is that horcrux?”Harry grew anxious.

“Well,it might be hard to digest but you have to, it’s YOU”,said Regulus.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO”,yelled Harry.

To be contd……..

“Harry, Harry don’t get upset I had been observing you for the past four years Harry,knew that you could not take it, but I had to tell you , the time’s come for you to know”

Harry who had by the time gone restless started to shoot a series of questions towards Regulus ,“How do you know I am a horcrux, How did you escape Voldemort, Sirius said that you were directly killed by Voldemort?,Where were you all these years? Why did you disguise yourself as Lupin,? How had you been observing me for four years?Why did you bring me hear and what do you want me to do?”

“Well Harry not too many questions together! Ask one by one.”,replied Regulus.

“How do you know I am a horcrux?” said Harry.

“I got this theory only after seeing you Harry.You possess some of the rare qualities of the Dark Lord , further the curse ‘AVADA KEDAVRA’ never leaves any mark, u have a scar Harry, which is an indicator that he never used the killing curse on you instead he should have made you a Horcrux. Making a wizard as a Horcrux should have deprived him of his power” explained Regulus.

“Well it’s only your guess right? How could you be so sure that I’m a horcrux.And is Voldemort so foolish to destroy his own horcrux.”, said Harry.

“Harry, you don’t know much about the Dark Lord, he would always have a reason beyond every action of his which I’m now not sure of ” , you being a horcrux is not only my say but Dumbledore too has the same feeling.

Harry could not believe his ears.This day has been one in which Harry has heard too many bizarre stories and now he hears that Dumbledore feels something.

“How do you know what Dumbledore feels or rather felt? He’s dead don’t you know that?”,said Harry.

“Harry sometimes truth is stranger than the fiction but believe me Harry Dumbledore’s portrait has become active.I don’t know how. I went to Hogwarts to check whether an object of the Dark Lord was still there.While searching, I entered the Headmistress’ room.There I was surprised to see Dumbledore arguing with Phineas, my grandfather. Dumbledore too was surprised to see me alive,like you.He asked me many questions which outnumbered you.After answering them all,he believed me.He took me to his confidence.He gave me a lot of instructions one was to take persuade you to go to Hogwarts and meet him.”,said Regulus.

Harry’s brain was jammed with too many thoughts.

“I’ll answer all your other questions later, we are running out of time, except for one question.How was I able to observe you for the past four years?.........though this is not your question”, paused Regulus

And continued “Harry like my brother I’m an unregistered animagus too and I’m the cat who was named as crookshanks by Hermione,your friend” finished Regulus.

Harry’s excitement was going up.

Regulus took out a teacup from his pocket. He raised a wand and murmured “PORTUS”. For a moment the teacup vibrated, glowing with an odd blue light; then it quivered to rest, as solidly black as ever.

“Harry you take this ”, he said handed the teacup to Harry.

“This is a portkey to Hogwarts, Dumbledore would be waiting there for you”he said and added “Not Dumbledore himself but his Portrait”.

“But I would not like to leave to Hogwarts without informing Ron and Hermione”,said Harry.

“You need not Harry ,for according to them you are not going to leave.”

“What?”,said Harry.

“I said according to them you are not going to leave”,saying so Regulus took a large bottle full of potion,Which was present in a shelf in that creepy place,Which Harry recognized in his first sight. It was the polyjuice potion.

CHAPTER 4

BACK TO HOGWARTS

What’s happened since that is quite understandable?
Regulus had taken the polyjuice potion and transformed into Harry and had returned to the Grimmauld Palace and Harry’s left to Hogwarts……………

Harry held the portkey tightly into his hand on the count of three he said to himself
One………..two………..three………….
He was swirling fast.He reached the Headmistress room.The portkey had taken him there.

He had a voice “WELCOME BACK TO HOGWARTS,HARRY”, the voice very familiar to Harry, he could never forget the voice of that person, it was the voice of Albus Dumbledore the late Headmaster of Hogwarts, from his portrait.

“Sir…Sir…..How are you?”, Harry could not form any other sentence with his brain jammed with too many thoughts for a 16 year old(Harry’s yet to celebrate his 17th birthday).

“Harry, rather than the question how are you it might be more prompt to ask what are you?, My senses are no more active. But my sense is very active, last week I had a great fight with Phineas on the issue of being a portrait”, said Dumbledore who looked like a person filled with over whelming joy.

“Sir I’m glad that you are back”, said Harry.

“I’m as happy as you are”, replied Dumbledore.

“Sir, I said about Snape to you. Finally he turned out to be a villain and had……..had………….k……………”, Harry could not finish.

Dumbledore finished “And he had killed me Harry”.

“Harry.The episode you witnessed of snape killing me has many reasons lying behind it.But that is to be explained later.As for now I can only tell you that we have to continue our lessons.Harry go near the pensieve placed on the table…..”

To be contd.,

Three days passed.

At the Grimmaud palace, Harry was sitting aloof from all the persons in the house.

Lupin saw Harry, he came near Harry and said,”Harry,you asked me to take you to the Godric Hallow.Shall we go there now?”

“Yes definitely”,laughed Harry,well Regulus in Harry’s disguise.

“We would accompany Harry this time.Last time Harry was sent alone and the consequences were not exemplary”,declared Ron and Hermionein unison.

“So let it be”,said Lupin.

Lupin continued

“I have a portkey for Godric hallow.Hold it.On the count of three.Three……..two……….one…….”

This feeling of traveling using a potkey was not new for them,being wizards they all have had the experience of using a portkey.They landed in a place.

“It is similar to Hogwarts grounds”,said Ron.

“It is not similar to Hogwarts Ron,It is Hogwarts”,said Hermione pointing towards the castle.

“Where have you brought us”, before they finished the question to Lupin he had vanished.

**I am using Harry (Regulus) to indicate Regulus is in the form of Harry Potter

To be contd.,

They started to move around the castle grounds in search of Lupin.
Harry (Regulus) said, “What is the point in uselessly roaming? Let us go and meet McGonagall and explain her, what happened.”

Though Ron initially hesitated he agreed after Hermione showed little of her persuasive skill and imperative skill mixed together.

They went to a spot in the seventh floor corridor where a single gargoyle stood against the wall.

Ron asked, “Now how to enter the office without knowing the password?”

“FELIX FELICIS”, said Harry (Regulus).

“What a vague guess”, said Ron.

For a moment nothing happened then suddenly, the gargoyle leapt aside; the wall behind it slid apart, and a moving spiral stone staircase was revealed, on to which all the three stepped, so that they were carried in smooth circles upto the door with the brass knocker that led to Mcgonagall’s office.

“How did you know this password Harry”, questioned Hermione with lot of suspicion that was visible in her way of questioning itself.

“Oh! come on Hermione. It was after all a good guess from Harry”, said Ron.

Harry (Regulus) said, “No Ron. Hermione is right. I am not Harry Potter. I am Crookshanks”, saying so Harry (Regulus) transformed into Crookshanks.

Both Hermione and Ron wondered what other surprise they had to face.

Well, they are in for lot more surprises.

To be contd.,

And it was never continued. I started my research work for Mystic Murder(my first novel), so I left this story incomplete! (Before I could resume, the original book released :-))

Hope you had a good time reading it.

Thursday, August 6, 2009



Whenever I feel bogged down, I get such morale boosters! This is one such story, which drives me to work to travel beyond the boundary.

This is a story of an elderly carpenter who had been working for a contractor for the past 53 years. He had built many beautiful houses but now as he was getting old, he wanted to retire and lead a leisurely life with his family. So, he goes to the contractor and tells him about his plan of retiring. The contractor feels sad at the prospect of losing a good worker but agrees to the plan because the carpenter had indeed become too fragile for the tough building work. But as a last request, he asks the old carpenter to construct just one last house.

The old man agrees and starts working but his heart was not in his work anymore. He had lost the motivation towards work. So, he resorted to shoddy workmanship and constructed the house half-heartedly. After the house was built, the contractor came to visit his employee's last piece of work. After inspecting the house, he handed over the front door keys to the carpenter and said, "This is your new house. My gift to you." The carpenter was shocked and upset. Had he known that he was building his own house, he would have done a better job!”.

Think of ourselves as the carpenter. Though we work hard every day, we put our least to some work, which we don't like and get shocked at a situation we have created for ourselves and try to figure out why we didn't do it differently.

Learn to enjoy your responsibilities with pleasure and not with pain. "Life is a do-it-yourself project". Do your job enthusiastically and with devotion, a positive output and a pleasing life will certainly be on your way.

A different Love letter and a beautiful reply to it.

A teenage college guy sent a love letter (in Q/A format) to his classmate.

My Dearest Reshma,
Please answer the following questionnaire. Select (a), (b) or (c)

1) Whenever you enter the class room, your sight always falls on me because:

(a) of love
(b) you couldn't control seeing me
(c) really ... am I doing it?

2) Whenever professor cracks joke, you laugh and turn and look at me because:

(a) you always like to see me smiling
(b) you are testing whether I like jokes
(c) you are attracted by my smile

3) When you were singing in the class, I entered and immediately you stopped singing because:

(a) you are so coy to sing before me
(b) my presence influenced you
(c) you feared that whether I'll like your song

4) When you were showing your childhood photo, when I asked for it, you hide it because:

(a) you felt ashamed
(b) you felt uneasy
(c) you don't know

5) During trekking, myself and my friend gave you hand for lifting you and you took only my friend's because:

(a) you enjoyed my disappointment
(b) you won't feel leaving my hand after grabbing
(c) you don't know

6) You were waiting yesterday for bus and didn't get into your bus...

(a) you were waiting for me
(b) you were dreaming about me and didn't notice the bus
(c) that bus was crowded

7) You introduced me to your parents when they came to college because:

(a) I am going to be your groom
(b) you just want to know what your parents think about me
(c) just you felt like introducing me to them

8) I told that I like girls wearing roses. Next day, you came with a rose on your head because:

(a) to fulfill my wish
(b) you like roses
(c) by chance you got a rose

9) On that day, it was my birthday. you too came to temple early at 6:00 A.M because:

(a) you want to pray along with me
(b) you want to meet me before any one could meet on my birthday
(c) you want to wish me at temple because you are spiritual.

Your score:
For Options
(A) 10 marks,
(b) 5marks and
(c) 3 marks.
If you have scored more than 40, then you are loving me. Don't delay in expressing it.

If you have scored between 30 and 40, love is budding in your heart and it's getting ready to bloom. If you have scored less than 30, you are in confusion whether to love me or not.

Eagerly awaiting your reply..

Love, Aakash

Reshma's reply letter was also in Q/A format......

Aakash,
Please answer the following Yes/No questionnaire.

1) If somebody sits in the first row, normally people entering the class, sees them.

(a) Yes (b) No

2) If a girl laughs and looks anyone, is it love?

(a) Yes (b) No

3) While singing, if somebody forgets lines of the songs, will he/she stop singing or not?

(a) Yes (b) No

4) I was showing to my friends (who are all girls) my childhood photo.

You poked your nose inside..... right ?

(a) Yes (b) No

5) I avoided to hold your hand during trekking. Couldn't you understand yet?

(a) Yes (b) No

6) Should I not wait for my best friend (Anjali) at the bus stand?

(a)Yes (b) No

7) Shouldn't I introduce you to my parents as a friend?

(a) Yes (b) No

8) You have said you also like Lotus, cauliflower, banana's flower. Is it true ?

(a) Yes (b) No

9) Oh was that your birthday. That's why I could see you in temple. I come daily to Temple. Do you know ?

(a) Yes (b) No

If you have answered "Yes" to any of the question, then I am not loving you. If you have answered "No", then you don't know the meaning of Love.

Hope everything is clear to you!

Thursday, July 30, 2009

I had been bugged by the newfolder.exe virus often.
Here is a simple way to remove it from your pen drive.
Search *.exe in your pendrive.



Arrange icons by modified.
Delete the exe files which have the image of a folder!
Just thought of it, when my pendrive got affected by the virus!