I haven’t tried any of these when I went on leave. Chances are I won’t be.

1: I am currently out at a job interview and will reply to you if I fail to get the position .

2: I?m not really out of the office. I?m just ignoring you.

3: You are receiving this automatic notification because I am out of the office. If I was in, chances are you wouldn?t have received anything at all.

4: Sorry to have missed you but I am at the doctors having my brain removed so that I may be promoted to management

5: I will be unable to delete all the unread, worthless emails you send me until I return from vacation on 4/18. Please be patient and your mail will be deleted in the order it was received.

6: Thank you for your email. Your credit card has been charged $5.99 for the first ten words and $1.99 for each additional word in your message.

7: The e-mail server is unable to verify your server connection and is unable to deliver this message. Please restart your computer and try sending again.?

( The beauty of this is that when you return, you can see how many in-duh-viduals did this over and over).

8: Thank you for your message, which has been added to a queuing system. You are currently in 352nd place, and can expect to receive a reply in approximately 19 weeks.

9: Hi. I?m thinking about what you?ve just sent me. Please wait by your PC for my response.

10: Hi! I?m busy negotiating the salary for my new job. Don?t bother to leave me any messages.

11: I?ve run away to join a different circus.

I have uploaded my lesser known email spam fighting plugin Transpose Email to WordPress Extend. So, now you can download and install and update the plugin from within WordPress Admin area itself.

Actually, the plugin has been lying neglected in the repository for several years now, before the directory even existed! However, it definitely wasn’t in usable form. I’ve rearranged the files and deleted the useless ones and the download is perfectly ready now.

Transpose Email plugin allows you to use JavaScript to create an encoded link. Clicking that link will trigger the user’s email client to open and create an email.

Download the plugin or read more about customizing the Javascript.

After having thought about it a while I’ve decided to use Google Apps for Your Domain for AjayDSouza.com.

I have already been using Google Apps to manage WebberZone email for a while now, and now AjayDSouza.com

What this means is now I have a 2Gb Email account, which has all the features of Gmail (which IMO is second only to Yahoo! Mail).
This is very useful because I can take a considerable load of my VPS. I have also found that Gmail’s anti-spam tools are a lot better than SpamAssassin.
I also have complete POP and SMTP access if I need to download any email.

I can also use my email address with Google Talk and Jabber.

Though I doubt I will use this, but I also have my very own Google Calendar for events.

One thing I don’t need is Google Page Creator.

The best thing is:

Organizations accepted by Google during the Google Apps for Your Domain beta period are eligible for free service for their approved beta users even beyond the end of the beta period, as described in the Terms of Service.

I have already added mail checking for my email to Netvibes. This will replace the default POP Mail account I was using.

If you look to using Apps for your domain and want to check email at Netvibes, then use the Gmail Module.

Logged in yesterday to my Windows Live Mail account and was completely blown away.

Firstly, the interface loaded in a jiffy, which was a really good experience from my past experiences with Windows Live Mail.

Next, it had a whole new look. You now have several user selectable themes and colors available at the click of a button.

For those unaware, Windows Live Mail is the new revamped interface of the old Hotmail. It has an Ajax interface with complete drag and drop support for emails. It also intergrates Live Contacts, Calendar and MSN Spaces.

Messages can be read either by themselves or in a Reading Pane.

You also can choose a light version of the interface, though I don’t think it needed with this update.

Hotmail is my oldest email account, registered way back in 1998 and I will confess that I haven’t used the email features of the account much, as I have always preferred Yahoo! Mail.

However, MSN has been a primary chat client, besides Yahoo! and GTalk.

I actually started using Windows Live recently after the beta version of the Mail interface released. And this was a little frustrating because the design had a lot to be desired.

I may however, start using Live Mail more often given this update.

Update: STC is now active on the blog. There has been a few improments in the code since I last used it.
Just one point I noticed is that the code for the “Subscribe without Commenting” form is not XHTML 1.1 complaint. For that you need to add <fieldset style="border:none"> after the opening form tag and a </fieldset> before the closing form tag.

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Thilak suggested that I get hold of the Subscribe to Comments plugin.

But, I am reluctant because of only one reason.

I had the plugin running on this blog a few months back for a good deal of time. However, I realized that I was getting comments from a lot of users giving incorrect email addresses.

I don’t really understand why users would do that, because your email address is completely safe with me (except if someone hacks this blog).

As a result, I used to get a good number of bounced email notifications everytime the Comments Added email was sent. This meant me manually “unsubscribing” these incorrect email address.

But, I am game to adding this plugin to my blog once again subject to feedback from readers, i.e. YOU!

Would you like to subscribe to comments on this blog? Your email address will not be disclosed and you will be able to unsubscribe and anytime.

Do comment below and let me know.

This is a really cute email I received a while back, especially in todays times

It goes:

A little old couple walked slowly into a McDonald’s one cold winter evening.

They looked out of place amid the young families and young couples eating there that night.

Some of the customers looked admiringly at them. You could tell what the admirers were thinking:
“Look, there is a couple who has been through a lot together, probably for 60 years or more!”

The little old man walked up to the cash register, placed his order with no hesitation and then paid for their meal.

The couple took a table near the back wall and started taking food off of the tray.
There was one hamburger, one order of french fries and one drink.

The little old man unwrapped the plain hamburger and carefully cut it in half.

He placed one half in front of his wife.

Then he carefully counted out the french fries, divided them in two piles and neatly placed one pile in front of his wife.

He took a sip of the drink, and then his wife took a sip as the man began to eat his few bites.

Again, you could tell what people around the old couple were saying. – “They were used to sharing everything.”

Then the crowd noticed that the little old lady still hadn’t eaten a thing.

She just sat there watching her husband eat and occasionally sipped some of the drink.

A young man came over and begged them to let him buy them another meal.

The lady explained that no, they were used to sharing.

As the little old man finished eating and was wiping his face neatly with a napkin, the young man could stand it no longer and asked again.

After being politely refused again, he finally asked the little old lady, “Ma’am, why aren’t you eating. You said that you share everything.

What is it that you are waiting for?”

She answered,

“THE TEETH”

I have been making quite a few changes to this blog for the past few weeks now.

Feed Changes

Feed Redirection

Began first by redirecting my blog feed /feed/ to the Feedburner one. So even if you have been subscribing to /feed/ you will be redirected correctly and I have better ways of keeping a count of everyone subscribed. Read how I did it.

Feed Flare

Next customization was with the Feedburner Feed itself. Have utilized FeedFlare. You can now digg the post and/or view the number of diggs.
Also choose to track the comments with co.mments. Also Add to del.icio.us or email your friend
What other flares would you like to see?

Link Splicer

I have also incorporated the Link Splicer in my feed. My feed subscribers will see an additional feed item (actually seven) which summarizes the links that I have added during the day.
Not subscribed to this feed? Why aren’t you?

The Whole New Look

The Theme

Have finally got down to customizing this theme as you can see. Have converted it to a 3-column layout with two sidebars to the right. The inner sidebar directly relates to the post, while the outer sidebar gives you things you can do on the site!
I plan on releasing this theme as Connections Revolutions. However, I have a few things I want to add to this theme before I do that.

Now XHTML 1.1 Compliant

Have been meaning to this for quite a while. This site is now XHTML 1.1 compliant!
This does mean that all links now will open in this window itself. While I prefer opening offsite links in new windows, XHTML 1.1 changed that behavior.
Besides this, I sure had to do a great deal of editting on a lot of posts and pages! It’s done now. If you find anything amiss, please do comment below.

Google Search integrated

I have integrated Google Adsense search into the site. If you can’t find what you are looking for with the inbuilt search, you have the option of using Google. Alternatively, use Google Search directly.
I still plan on a few more tweaks like choosing which search you want from the box to the right and better display on the results page. But that’s later.

Easy Browsing

You can now browse from post to post. When you are one one post, you can view links above it leading to the previous and next posts.

New Pages

A few more pages have been added to this site.

In view to encourage comments, you will now find a Comment Policy and Privacy Policy in addition to the Rules.

Are you interested in advertising on this site. Then this page will tell you more.

That’s it for now. Do comment and let me know what you like / don’t like (no abuses please) about this blog. Keep the suggestions coming. What would you like to see?

I have seen a lot of emails from African scamsters and most of these usually land up in my Bulk box.
Today, my dad today received a similar scam email. However, what was surprising was the nature of it’s customization.

Firstly, the subject of the email addressed my dad by his first name.
Secondly, my Dad is in the Gulf and the “merchant” also happens to be from there (or so he claims). Mere coincidence?
Thirdly, my Dad is also very active religiously, and the person in the email is rather repents.

However, the contents of the email remain similar to most scams. Person being diagosed with cancer, has a lot of money, wants to give it to you … blah … blah …

Hello dear,

I am Mr. Lawson Rhodes, a merchant in Dubai, Arab Emirate. I have been diagnosed with Cancer which was discovered very late, due to my laxity in careing for my health. It has defiled all forms of medicine, Right now I have only about a few months to live, according to my Medical Doctor. I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared for myself but the oil business. Though I am very rich, I was never generous, I only focused on my business as that was the only thing I cared for. But now I regret all this as I now know that there is more to life than just wanting to have or make all the money in the world.

I believe when God gives me a second chance and heal me I would live my life a different way from how I have lived it. I have sowed a seed for my healing I have willed and given most of my properties and assets to my immediate and extended family members and as well as a few close friends.

I want God to be merciful to me and accept my soul and so, I have decided to give arms to charity organizations and give succour and comfort to the less priviledged of the Tsunami Victims, as I want this to be one of the last good deeds I do on earth. So far, I have distributed money to some charity organizations in India and Malaysia. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do this my self anymore. I once asked members of my family to close one of my accounts in Saudi Bank and distribute the money which I have there to charity organization and to the less priviledged in Bulgaria and Sudan Africa They cashed the money but kept it only to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what I have left for them already.

The last of my money which no one knows of is the huge cash deposit of twenty two million dollars $ 22 million that I have in the Vault of a Financial company in europe for safe keeping.

I want you to collect this deposit on my behalf and disburse it to the Tsunami EarthQuake victims in Asia for the less priviledged.

I will set aside 20% for you for your time and efforts. I need your urgent reply so that I will not have to go on sourcing for a credible person to handle this project.

If you are okey with the condition, do not hesitate to send me mail so that i can furnish you up with all the informations needed.

I wish to hear from you soon.

God bless you.

Mr. Lawson

—————————————————————
Universia – Esse e o seu Universo.
www.universia.com.br

Please note that this is a scam and if you receive something like this delete it immediately.

Was out searching for a sample farewell email as today is my last second-last day at work and stumbled upon this really funny one.

How many of you identify / identified with this?

Just received the same email from two of my friends today via Orkut. It read:

Important
Dear user because of sudden rush of people signing upto orkut is come to an attention that we are vastly running our of resources so with in a week any one who does not receive this scrap will be deleted of our server.
We know that you are still using this account We want to find out which users are actually using their orkut accounts so if you are using your then please send this scrap to every orkut user that you can if u do not pass this scrap to anyone then we will delete your account

From
Orkut Buyukkokten

I am still surprised how people can fall for hoaxes like this.
Please ask yourself some questions before you forward an hoax mail.

1. Firstly who in the world is Orkut Buyukkokten? Why will he delete my account?
2. Do I know that Orkut is run by Google?
3. Have I bothered to research if this is a hoax or real?
4. Do I realize that every message / email / post / scrap I make on Orkut actually consumes more resources. And that this very email I sent consumed some amount of resources. If Orkut is really facing a resource problem then this email will just bother them not solve that problem?

Of the four points I listed above, the third can be a starting point for any hoax or email that you suspect. Most probably, this has already been documented by someone.

These few questions can go a long way in knowing that the email was actually an hoax. And “being safe” is not a valid explanation for forwarding an hoax email.

So what do I do?

So next time you receive something similar please pause for two minutes before hitting that Forward button.
Open your favourite search engine and search for some words in that email. And if you find it to be already listed as a hoax please don’t send it.

You may feel you are not doing much by sending one mail, but the people you send it to send it to still more starting what is known as a “snowball effect” :O

If all of us decide to stop and not send that hoax, it can mean a lot of less emails, a reduced chain (and hopefully terminated sometime) and a lot of resources saved!