Software Wars: Free software, software sharing and software freedom

The current state of the free software movement by comparing it with Hackers' Ethic

1. Always yield the Hands-On Imperative! Access to computers - and anything else which might teach you about the way the world works - should be unlimited and total.
2. All information should be free.
3. Mistrust Authority - Promote Decentralization.
4. Hackers should be judged by their hacking, not bogus criteria such as degrees, age, race, or position.
5. You can create art and beauty on a computer.
6. Computers can change your life for the better.
(Levy, 1984)

The Free Software Foundation was founded by Richard Stallman of the MIT AI labs. He was also responsible for the GNU project. The GNU tools liberate people from dependence on proprietary software/development tools.

The picture above, shows the original vision before software went proprietary, a world where Software is by the people, Of the People and For the People. (click for a larger copy of the picture)

Microsoft Firefox 2007 Professional

Article reproduced with permission from AskStudent. Check out the original article here

Here comes the hottest new product …. Microsoft Firefox 2007 Professional, the new award winning browser from Microsoft which is now a lot faster, secure and quicker than anything else on the market.


Some of the advantages

Enjoy a better Web Experience
MS Firefox 2007 delivers a dramatic boost in the download speeds of online pornography. By utilising a proprietary dynamic algorithm - anything that remotely resembles a tit or a boob will download up to 10 times faster. Fun at the speed of light!

Stay Secure on the Web
Firefox 2007’s new TakeOver(TM) technology protects the Windows Kernel by automatically recognizing all McAfee and Symantec programs as viruses. Downloading has never been safer.

Interactive Multimedia
Microsoft’s AKobe Phlash(TM) Plugin delivers awesome online interactive content; anything from music, videos to games. (Lawsuit from Adobe pending)

Personalize Your Browser
Choose from three excellent browsing styles! Minimized, Maximized and Fullscreen!

The best part, check out the System Requirements

System Requirements: Credit card, Microsoft OS, Microsoft mouse and Keyboard(hyperlinks will NOT work without these), Quad core processor(for loading Hotmail.com), 1024 MB of RAM(compensation for frequent memory leaks) among others.

Warning: Also, if you visit the following websites, MS Firefox 2007 will shut down your computer unexpectedly. The sites include google.com, gmail.com, apple.com, itunes.com and yahoo.com and any sites with the phrase microsoft/windows/explorer/vista/bill sucks.

Also, you can download the various versions of the browser for different windows OS. The file is a 14 Megs something file. I did not get a chance to check it out on my Virtual PC yet. If anyone has a chance, post it in the comments and if possible a link to some screenshots.

Warning: This is obviously a major spoof mocking Microsoft and its latest browser IE7. Check out the the full link including downloading MS Firefox 2007 for different versions of Windows at msfirefox.com. AskStudent is not affiliated with MS firefox 2007 or Microsoft or Firefox/Mozilla foundation

The latest scoop on Halo3 : New pictures, map information, levels, weapons

This article is being posted from AskStudent. Check out the original article here

Bungie announced the release of Halo3, the third and final game in the Halo Trilogy that it will be released for Microsoft's XBOX 360 sometime in 2007. The game was revealed to the world at the Microsoft press conference at Grauman's Chinese Theater, in Hollywood,CA on May 9th 2006. Since then, besides the trailer, Bungie has not been forthcoming with a whole lot of information about the most anticipated game ever. Gears of War and Halo Wars trailer are doing their best to prepare us for next year's release for Halo3. Read on for all you have been waiting for since summer, information about new levels, maps, weapons, vehicles... and more

Fortunately for the rest of us who can't wait to lap up more information about Halo 3, a Swedish games magazine released some pictures and more details. Watch the slideshow at the end of this article.

New Levels
There are three different multi player levels and none of them will be limited by walls. If the player goes too far from the center of the map he will be attacked by some kind of automatic defense. The text doesn't specify what the real point of this freedom is supposed to be.

- One of the levels is "snowbound". It's a battlefield in a winterlandscape with large covenantbases. On the map there are bunkers protected by energy shields. They can't be penetrated by bullets or grenades, but players will be able to go through them.
- Another one is called "highground", which is made for teamwork and reminds of Halo 2:s "zanzibar". One team defends a base on the top of a slope. The other team begins on a beach below the base and their objective is to attack the base. Inside the base you can open a big door that will allow a warthog from the beach to drive inside the base.
-The third is called "valhalla" and has a forest and mountains on the horizon. It's a large map made for vehicles, and has two bases.

New Vehicles
- One new vehicle will be the "moongoose". It's smaller than a warthog and only has place for two persons. It's used mostly for transport. Also, it does not have any weapons but players can fire while in it.
- The other vehicle is "man cannon" which as the name explains is a human cannon launching you in the air. Remember jump pads from Quake. It also means you are a potential weapon if you collide with someone physically.

New weapons
When it comes to weapons there has happened quite a lot. Bungie has listened on the critique from Halo 2, that mostly concerned that it was so important to use two weapons at the same time, aka dual wield. Now they have made the standard assault rifle a bit more powerful, but it is still inferior to a lot of the other weapons in the game.All the weapong the players carry aroung will be vizualised in game. Ie you will see if an enemy carries around a shotgun on his back.
- One new weapon will be the “Spartan Laser”. It's made for destroying vehicles, and even if it takes a long time to use and isn't hard to evade it deals out massive damage. You don't want to let your vehicle be hit by it's glowing red beam.
- Another new weapon is brutes “spiker”. It's a one hand shotgun that shoots sharp nails.
- Bungie has also thrown in a new "nail grenade". It detonates it's payload of nails in one direction and can be placed on walls or the ground

New control
The controls are somewhat new: RB and LB will be used to reload weapons. RT and LT fires them. So if our have two weapons you will reload them using the corresponding buttons.The x-button will be used to do something that will supposedly “change the entire game” but Bungie isn't ready to say more about that at this time.

Legendary edition
Bungie will release Halo 3 in a “ Legendary edition” that looks like the Master chiefs head. It will contain four dvds. One with the game, one with a documentary and a comments-track, one contains spin-off materials like “Red vs Blue” and “Spark of Life”, and the last one with movie sequences from the game series in a chronological order.

Credits
1. Thanks to Bungie and Microsoft for Halo3. You guys rock!! All images and videos shown in this article are copyright Bungie and Electronic Gaming Monthly. For EGM, head over here to check out their magazine to subscribe and view the original content
2. Translated from http://www.level7.nu/texter/read.php?id=115814
3. Thanks to AskStudent

AskStudent wants me as a guest editor... hell ya

Hey all, in my last post, I kinda reviewed AskStudent. Looks like they are definitely kicking some ass in the blogging community, churning out good articles one after the other. I emailed their mail editor Xer0 if I could contribute in any way. Guess what, he wants me in... yup that's right. I will be contributing as a guest author/editor for AskStudent starting today. What do I get in return....?

Well, its like that open FTP box full of music and movies on campus... only in this case, I can repost/republish their most popular articles here at Student-rant, no questions asked.

By the way, if you still did not check out AskStudent, check them out here

New player on the block : Ask Student

Welcome Student Rant readers. There is a new player on the block ... Ask Student. I believe these guys launched sometime over the summer and have worked up a pretty impressive list of articles.

As the name of their site says, this site is mainly catered towards students in general with an impressive array of topics. They have topics on Computer security, Hacking including video and picture tutorials, Coding, General topics ( there is a howto get out of a speeding ticket in there .. i needed those tips ) , relationships, money, career , jobs ( interview tips article was good) among others. The site is laid out pretty good and all in all ... good job to you guys over at AskS.

Check them out : AskStudent

Welcome back ...

Hello everyone... I know its been a while since I updated Student Rant. The last summer was quite hectic for me. I was interning for a major Silicon Valley company in California and unfortunately did not get a chance to post as much as I wanted to .

However, school's back in session and so will the posts.

Welcome back loyal readers

Pretty interesting quest/puzzle from one riddle guys

Hey Folks, check out this new quest from one riddle guys. Pretty innovative

http://riddle.nirajsanghvi.com/one/

-Student

Student Rant: The Da Vinci Code Quest on Google: Final Challenge

Final Challenge on Google

Review of The Da Vinci Code: the movie... the verdict is in

Well, if I can sum up the movie in one word, it can be "disappointment". I watched the movie with a couple of buddies, one of whom has read the book and two others did not read the book. In the end the review seems divided, people who read the book including me were definitely disappointed whereas those who did not read the book were thoroughly impressed. Seems to be the general trend in the reviews so far.

For those who read the book and watched the movie, you would definitely agree that the character developement left a lot to be desired. Tom Hanks seemed to go through the motions for the most part. Sophie had a good actress playing her character... very pretty too. Sir Teabing's and Silas characters were the best in the whole movie. Overall, pretty slow although in fairness to the director, he did manage to capture important chunks of the book into the movie.

However, those who read the book can/should definitely pass on the movie. For those who did not read the book, go out and watch the movie, it's pretty good.

Final Challenge: Google Da Vinci Code quest

Hello all... I hope everything is well. I have been away moving and doing end of semester stuff. Sorry about that.

Congratualations to all the finalists. I am one of the lucky ones too. Okay so this place is for all of you guys to discuss , post and rant about the final journey.

May the worthy prevail.

Also, don't forget the movie comes out today. I will post a review of the movie sometime later today once I watch it and also post my observations once I am done with the final quest.

Good luck solving!!

A new Da Vinci Code quest from Eurostar

Hello everyone. An anonymous post from the comments in the quest # 24 section informed me of another Da Vinci Code quest going on and the prizes are pretty good there too.

Here is the link for the Eurostar Da Vinci Code webquests
http://quest.eurostar.com/

The best part is it lets Americans to participate in the challenge too even though it's a European based company. I just finished the first part of the challenge and they are definitely harder than the Google webquests. Also, for all those complaining that I give out too many hints on this blog, the puzzles are more structured in a way to prevent explaining , cheating/helping by others.

I am going to go step by step on this blog in the next couple of days on the Eurostar Da Vinci Code quest. If any of you guys find any instructions on the deadline for the competition, let me know.

Watch out on this space for more instructions and the Eurostar Da Vinci Code webquest.

-Student

A Finalist confirmation from Google and Sony?

As many of you reported in the previous posts comments, I too have received two emails from Sony(davincicodequest@sonypictures.com) and from (spotlight@news.sonypictures.com).

The content of both the emails is exactly identical other than the source of the email and the subject message. I belive that everyone who got to finish the final quest and fill out the registration form got this email and Google/Sony will begin to contact the finalists starting coming Monday (05/15/06). So everyone else outside the first 10000 but still got to complete the registration form will receive a surprise gift as a consolation prize.

Following is the content of the email(s)

" Thank you for participating in "The Da Vinci Code" Quest on Google.

This email is to confirm that you have completed all 24 puzzles within the quest and successfully registered for a chance to participate in the final challenge. Well done!

We will be contacting the 10,000 finalists on Monday 5/15 via email regarding their cryptex shipment. Within that email the 10,000 finalists will also receive instructions on how to participate in the final challenge.

All remaining players who finished the quest will also receive a surprise message via email.

Thank you all for participating in "The Da Vinci Code" Quest on Google and making it such a success. We hope you enjoyed playing.

The Da Vinci Code In Theaters 5/19
http://news.sonypictures.com/rspba/r2.php?b=131&970826/67438430/970828/T/www.SoDarkTheConOfMan.com

------------------------------------------------------------

You are receiving this email as part of your participation in THE DA VINCI CODE QUEST ON GOOGLE. "

Google Da Vinci Code quest # 24: Observation Challenge

Hello folks, welcome to day # 24 of the Google Da Vinci code webquests. It has been a great journey sharing these wonderful quests with all of you guys. For the Aussies and the Brits, the quest ends today, but for us Yanks, we have a while to go. So, let's get started on the final quest for Phase 1.

UPDATE: If you get an error message "
... but your query looks similar to automated requests from a computer virus or spyware application. To protect our users, we can't process your request right now. We'll restore your access as quickly as possible, so try again soon. In the meantime, if you suspect that your computer or network has been infected, you might want to run a virus checker or spyware remover to make sure that your systems are free of viruses and other spurious software. We apologize for the inconvenience, and hope we'll see you again on Google.",

Don't freak out. Google sees a lot of people updating the Google/ig homepage and thinks its a virus or a bot. At the bottom of the page, you will see a verification text. Enter the text into the box and you will be redirected to your homepage. Click on solve the next puzzle link and you should be all set.

Today's challenge is being called "The Observation Challenge"

The instructions are as follows

" Jean Reno is Bezu Fache, a police Captain known for his unrelenting pursuit of the truth.

Find the clip using the given search terms, watch it, and use your observational skills to seek the truthful answers to the questions.". You can watch the video on Google video or here below



The observation challenge gives us these hints in the form of instructions
"Answering these questions requires interpretation of ciphers and other cryptic messages. Who better to help you than cryptographer Sophie Neveu?"

Question # 1: Knowledge is a source of power, and books are a fountainhead of knowledge that Sophie's grandfather shared with her. How many books are shown in the flashback where they are reading together?
The answer could be found around 5 seconds into the video where young Sophie and her grandfather are reading together. Find the number of open books.

Question # 2: Langdon asks Sophie if she has heard certain words before. To what words is he referring?

The answer could be found around 12 seconds into the video with text inscribed.

Question # 3: The answer to the last question is an anagram.Please rearrange the letters to reveal a famous work of art by Leonardo that is housed in the Louvre in Paris and in the national gallery in london?

I have solved this one before but your answer could be found in the Wikipedia entry here

Once you are done, you are shown the congratulations message. When it asks for your google account, it is the account you have been using to sign in onto the personalized google home page. Punch it in. You are asked a whole bunch of questions, mostly about yourself. Make sure you do this as soon as possible because this is the timestamp google is taking about. It doesn't matter if you solved the previous quests in 5 seconds or 500 minutes. You are being time stamped here.

Winners please post back here...
Good luck solving!!

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How to be one of the finalists and win prizes

Hello everyone. Today we are at day # 24 of the Da Vinci Code webquests. I have received tons of emails regarding this and moreover a lot of people have been chipping in, providing the rules and everything else in the previous post's comments. I want to lay it out for all and how to become one of the elite finalist.

As you can see, today's quest would be an observation challenge. This might be very tricky or be very easy.
The previous three observation challenges all had three questions each and for the most part, the questions were not random. Google might change this for the final observation challenge.

As in the forums, for prizes and eligibility, I am going to break it down into three sections; US, UK and AUS, the countries whose residents are eligible to win the prizes.


UNITED STATES:
As you are all aware, this Contest begins at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time ("EDT") on April 17, 2006, and ends at 1:00 p.m. EDT on May 21, 2006 ("Contest Period"). To enter Phase 1 of the Contest, access the Contest Welcome Site located at: www.google.com/davincicode and follow the online instructions to select the United States and download The Da Vinci Code Quest On Google content module ("Module") to your Google Personalized Home Page. The Module requires Internet Explorer 6 or higher, Firefox 1.0 or higher and Macromedia Flash 8.

The Contest is divided into two (2) phases: Phase 1 and a Final Phase. (A third Phase consisting of an essay competition will be employed only in case of a tie in determining the grand prize winner, as described below).
In Phase 1, you will need to solve at 24 daily skill based, time-sensitive puzzles which need not be completed sequentially as outlined below. Only the first 10,000 participants who, having correctly solved all 24 Daily Puzzles during Phase 1, submit a Puzzle Completion Form (and who thereafter submit a Contest Entry Form) in accordance with these Rules before 1:00 p.m. EDT on May 11, 2006 will be deemed "Finalists." Only Finalists are eligible to advance to the Final Phase.
So in other words, you need to solve the puzzles and submit the contest entry form by 1:00PM Eastern Time tomorrow(May 11th). Finalists will be notified by email on or about May 15, 2006 and at time of receipt of their Finalist Prize which will be shipped by postal mail to be received by May 18, 2006.

Second Phase:The Final Phase of this Contest consists of a skill-based, time-sensitive series of five (5) puzzles which must be completed sequentially (collectively, "Final Puzzle Challenge"). The Final Puzzle Challenge is a skill-based, time-sensitive series of five puzzles which must be completed in sequence. The Final Puzzle Challenge will be made available to Finalists starting on or about 1:00 p.m. EDT on Friday May 19, 2006 and must be completed by 1:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday, May 21, 2006 ("Final Puzzle Time Period").

For the full list of rules, check it out here
For the prizes list in the US, check it out here

UNITED KINGDOM
Unfortunately for our UK visitors, the suspense ends today, where there is no final phase of the competition. All your entries must be submitted by the midnight GMT on May 12th 2006. Another messed up part is that the winners are drawn randomly and under independent supervision, from all entrants who have correctly completed all 24 puzzles, and notified within 28 days of the closing date. Also, the winners may be required to participate in publicity connected with this promotion. However, the upside is that the prizes being given out are awesome.

You can check out the full list of other rules here
Check out the prizes in UK here

AUSTRALIA
For our Aussie visitors, the promotion commences on Tuesday, April 18th, 2006 and closes 11.59pm, Thursday May 11th, 2006. The rules page doesn't mention whether the 11:59pm time mentioned is Eastern time, or GMT or local Aussie time. So make sure, you fill in as soon as possible.The judging will take place on Monday May 15th, 2006 at Sony Pictures offices, Sydney, 2000 and the winner(s) will be contacted by mail. There are a total number of 66 winners for Australia.

Check out the full list of rules here
Check out the list of prizes here

Good luck everyone.

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Student Rant: Google Da Vinci Code quest # 23 : Geography Challenge

Hello folks... welcome back to another day of the Da Vinci Code webquests.

Today's challenge is being called the "Geography Challenge"

The instructions are as follows
"Paul Bettany is Silas, a man who in blind faith will do whatever it takes to track down a secret that must be destroyed, no matter where it leads him.

Assemble the jigsaw puzzle pieces to reveal and identify a geographical location.


Step # 1: The first thing you need to do is seperate the puzzle components which have text on them identifying the google copyright.

Step # 2: Usually the copyright text is placed on the bottom right. However, today's section has them on the bottom left.

Step # 3: Finish up the bottom row and work your way up to the top.

If you find this tricky, find the puzzle pieces which are flat on the side and the top, flat on bottom and right, flat on bottom and left which is the section with text on it and representing the edges of the puzzle. Put them in place first and work around it.

We are then asked our trivia question
"Surely you recognize this city of light. After all, it's home to the most famous painting in the world. What is the name of the city?"

The Mona Lisa is definitely the most famous painting in the world. A google search for the city of light would give you the correct answer.


We are then told that there are nine Cinquefoil icons hidden among the streets. They are easy to locate. Find and click on them.

After we solve this, we are asked to identify a sequence of numbers. An important hint is given in the question itself where the numbers go like
0,1, 4, 9 ... It is easy to identify them. A hint is the next in this sequence would look like 0,1,4,9, 16, 25,36,49 ... and so on.

Good luck solving !!

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Student Rant: Google Da Vinci Code quest # 22 : Chess Challenge

Hello folks... welcome back to another day of the Google Da Vinci Code webquests.

Today's challenge is being called the "Chess Challenge"

The instructions are as follows
"Ian McKellen is Sir Leigh Teabing, a man whose every move has been in preparation for a Grail Quest.

Determine the only sequence of three moves that will lead to checkmate the given chess scenario. Knowledge of The Da Vinci Code may help you, as may Google Web search.


Question # 1: The leading member of the Priory of Sion is called

a. The Duegard
b. Iluminati
c. The Chief
4. The Nautonnier

A Google search can give you the right answers. A more effective place in on answers.com here



Question # 2: Which of these men was not rumored to be a Priory of Sion member?

a. Nicolas Poussin
b. Sir Issac Newton
c. Francois Mitterrand
d. Victor Hugo

For this answer, under the Wikipedia entry for Priory of Sion, we can find the answer.

Hint: Most of the above people were rumored to be the grandmasters of the Priory of Sion.

Question # 3: What is the name of the ancient Egyptian goddess of fertility?

a. Shiva
b. Isis
c. Gaia
d. Nerio

A simple google search would give you the right answer. In some cases, if you scroll down the results on the first page, the answer is in the description for some of the search results.

Good luck solving !!

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Student Rant: Google Da Vinci Code quest # 21 : Curator Challenge

Welcome back folks.. for the latest Google Da Vinci Code webquest.

Today's challenge is being called the "Curator Challenge"

The instructions are as follows
"Audrey Tautou is Sophie Neveu, a Police Department Cryptographer with a special connection to the murdered curator of the Louvre.

Use your curator's eye to hand the works of art such that the hooks match those on the gallery wall. Not all the hooks on the gallery wall will necessarily be used. Some art may have already been placed and cannot be moved.


With the quests involving pictures, it is always a bit tricky. The key to solving this quest is to make sure you take care of the largest painting first and go down progressively.

Note: The number of paintings on your quest might vary along with the locations some of them might have been placed. However follow the approach and you should be okay.

Step #1: Take the largest painting and try to position it on the board. Note: There are only a couple of locations where you might be able to place the paintings. An easy clue is that the paintings stick to like a magnet as soon as it thinks you are placing it in the right location. Also, since there is more than one position you can place these large paintings, make sure that use the space which occupies the least number of hooks.

Step # 2: Go down progressively in terms of size and take care of the next largest painting.

Step # 3: Take care of the horizontal ones with 3 hooks first. Also a tricky issue is one you need to place the vertical painting with just one hook.


Once we are done assembling the paintings, we are asked our daily trivia question.

"Petarch sent three presents to the Bishop of Cavaillon. What was the color of the first present?"

We are recommended to use Google Book Search. Once you go to google book search, type in the section of the question in bold and you should be able to find your answer.

Good luck solving!!

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Student Rant: Google Da Vinci Code quest # 20 : Restoration Challenge

Sorry everyone. After a while, I gave up on Blogger to load the pictures for me. Finally got it work. I hope by this time, a lot of you guys have finished this quest.

Today's challenge is being called the Restoration Challenge

The instructions are as follows
"Alfred Molina is Manuel Aringarosa, a Bishop dedicated to preserving, if not restoring, conservative values.

A question is hidden in plain sight on this class work of art - parts of the question are unclear, obscured by debris. Clear the particles of debris by selecting pairs that are seperated by one space, they will merge into one particle. When there is only one particle left, the question will be revealed. Ignore any text obscured by the last particle and solve the mystery.


The strategy for solving this is simple. We need to make sure that there is no single piece of debris lying in far flung place, left all by itself.

Select the piece of debris in the extreme corners and try to pair them up.

In the earlier restoration quests, some of you have emailed me that they just click randomly and then the quest is solved. However, this one is ddefinitely harder where you need a strategy. For selecting items, it you click on a piece of debris, to merge them, click on the other piece of debris which is highlighted. Make sure you pair up the far flung pieces of debris first.

Finally, the daily trivia question.

Decidedly, the Florentine is prepared for what?

Again, we are recommended to use Google Book search. A simple search query on Google book search gave me the right answer.

Note: The trivia question on your screen might be different. Just copy paste the section of the question in the google book search which should help you find your answer faster.

Good luck solving!!

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Student Rant: Google Da Vinci Code quest # 19: Symbol Challenge

Hello everyone... welcome back. On a personal note, I just got done with the last of my finals. I guess you might have noticed that in the last couple of days, I was trying to be brief at the best with respect to the puzzles. Sometimes I posted the wrong quest number... stuff like that. Well, finals done, let's get rocking on the quests.

We are approaching the final stretch of the Da Vinci Code webquests starting today. Today's quest is the Symbol Challenge

The instructions are as follows
"Tom Hanks is professor Robert Langdon, an expert on the interpretation of symbols.

Use your logic skills and drag the symbols onto the grid such that the symbols in each row are all distinct, the symbols in each column are all distinct, and the symbols in each shaded region are all distinct. Some symbols may have already been placed and cannot be moved.

Okay, let's get started...
Today's challenge looks definitely like a good challenge. The number of blocks have increased. We now have a 6 x 6 block with 6 unique symbols... the new addition being a key looking symbol. NOTE: The puzzle and the location of the symbol might vary on your screen. However, follow the approach and you should be all set.

Step # 1: Look for the region with the maximum number of symbols already placed, whether a row or a column or a shaded region. Using my example, I will approach column 1 first with four symbols already placed and fill them up with 2 more unique symbols

Step # 2: Next, i approach the region with the max symbols already placed. This would be the dark red shaded region on the top. Fill them up with unique symbols taking care of the row and column requirements too. Also, I finish up the first row which now has 5 symbols already placed and fill it up with the unique symbol for that row.

Step # 3: Now its a lot more trickier with a max of 3 symbols in any region. A good approach would be finish up the corners and then come towards the middle. So I go for the last column on the right hand side which has 3 symbols already placed in them.

Step # 4: Again, a similar dilema with a max of 3 symbols placed in any region. Now with both our extreme ends filled, don't go for the bottom row. Approach a shaded region with the most symbols in it. I go for the light brown shaded region knowing that once i am done with that, I will have more information for the next rows. Fill the region with 3 more unique symbols taking care of the row and column requirements and the shaded region requirements.

Step # 5: Next, i finish out row 4 which just needs 1 more symbol and also row 3 which needs 2 more symbols. Once i am done with this, I am also done with the brown shaded region.

Step # 6: Now, i finish out column 5 which has 5 symbols already placed and with that row 2 which has 4 symbols placed.

Step # 7: Now, towards the end, approach towards filling up the columns instead of the shaded regions. Finish up the remainder.


Next, we are asked our trivia question.

During his Italian Journeys, William Dean Howells visits the Protestant ragged schools at this city.

We are told to search for this information using Google Book Search. A quick query gives me the answer to the name of the city.

NOTE: The trivia question on yours might be different. Open up Google Book Search and then type in the part of the question given in bold and if you don't get the answer, follow it up with the name of the author.

Good luck solving !!

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Student Rant: Google Da Vinci Code Quest # 18 :Geography Challenge

Hello everyone ... welcome back to day #18 of the Google Da Vinci Code webquests. I received some very valuable input with respect to the manner in which the puzzles are discussed. Thanks a lot for that... and I will be doing my best to incorporate as many of those suggestions as possible.

Today's challenge is being called the" Geography Challenge"

The instructions are as follows
"Paul Bettany is Silas, a man who in blind faith will do whatever it takes to track down a secret that must be destroyed, no matter where it leads him.

Assemble the jigsaw puzzle pieces to reveal and identify a geographical location."

So, lets get started....

Step # 1: Start of with identifying any pieces with text on them which indicate the copyright of Google images. I had three of them. Find the one with a flat end on its right hand side and with text on it and place in on the bottom right. Attach the remainder of the pieces with text on it on bottom right section

Step # 2: Since we completed most of the bottom section, finish up the one last component by looking for the right piece and attaching it.

Note: you will observe that as soon as a right piece is in place, those sections are locked and you can't move them anymore.

Step # 3: Keep it up this way. First bottom row. Finish up bottom row. Attach the section on the left hand side... finish up the row. Then attach the section on the right hand side... keep going left until you finish the whole puzzle... bottom --> top ; left -->right ; right <-- left.

The next question we are asked is
"Leonardo's reverse-handwriting manuscript on perpetual motion wheels can be found in this city. What is its name?
(For another clue, Hyde in the north;)"

The first thing, I did was assume the black flowing spot might be a river or some water body and the hint Hyde is being referred to that.

However the answer of New York does not work. Next, assumed that it might be a park or some nature resource.

This time, I was more successful. A Google search for "Hyde park" would help you find the answer. Warning: There are multiple locations for Hyde park but the location could be found in the first page.


Next, we are given another trivia question.
"Well done ! There are four Blades hidden around the city. Please find them and click on them"

This is pretty easy. A blade is a symbol that looks like a triangle.



We are asked one more trivia question after that.
"You have found all four blades, and lo! they draw an X over a place just slightly north of the Victoria and Albert Museum, home of Leonardo's Codex Forster. What is its name?"

You need to log on to Google Maps , and once you check on here, the location of the college is easily found. It is very near to the location of the Victoria and Albert Museum

Good Luck solving !!

Update: As ScottJG points out, Using google maps, instead of using satellite use.. Map and where the 4 blades point will have a name.. " .... ".

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Google Da Vinci Code Quest # 17: Observation Challenge

Hello everyone.. welcome back to day # 17 of the Google Da Vinci Code quests

Today's challenge is being called "The Observation Challenge"

The instructions are as follows
" Jean Reno is Bezu Fache, a police Captain known for his unrelenting pursuit of the truth. Find the clip using the given search terms, watch it, and use your observational skills to seek the truthful answers to the questions.

Watch the video first here on Google videos or below



We are given three questions. The comment is "You'll have to use wit and wisdom in your quest. Look for Sir Leigh Teabing, yet another facinating character , on Google Video.

The three questions are:

Question #1 : Speaking of fascinating characters, there's only one letter in the entire video that is clearly written in lower case. What is that letter.

You can find the answer by watching the video and observe carefully when the Mona Lisa comes in the background.

Hint: When there is "So dark is the con of man" scribbled in the background. Another hint: it is not o

Question # 2: In just one word, the noble Sir Leigh describes the persuit that both he and you are on. What is that word?

You can find the answer 16 seconds into the video.
Hint: Also, the answer is given in the instructions along with the questions. Another hint... it is in bold

Question # 3: And to bring this back to the topic of movie spectacles, how many times is Sir Leigh Teabing shown wearing his spectacles, that it?

This is pretty simple. Simple observation
Hint: The answer rhymes with a movie that came out recently... Lucky number Sleven.

Good luck solving!!

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Google Da Vinci Code Quest # 16: Chess Challenge

Hello folks... welcome back to day 16 of the Google Da Vinci Code quests

Today's challenge is being called "The Chess Challenge"

The instructions are as follows
"Ian McKellen is Sir Leigh Teabing, a man whose every move has been in preparation for a Grail Quest.

Determine the only sequence of three moves that will lead to checkmate in the given chess scenario. Knowledge of The Da Vinci Code may help you, as may Google Web Search.

Question # 1: The Louvre's famous Pyramid was designed by:

The answer for this question can be found by a quick google search.

The answer is given in the paragraph description under the first search result.

You can also search for the answer at Wikipedia here.

Question # 2: What French king built the Louvre?

This is a tricky question. If we go to the Wikipedia entry of the Louvre here, we will find the whole history of which kings or emperors patronized the constuction and renovation of the Louvre.

The answer is the name of the first king who started the construction and not the one who ended up commissioning it.

Question # 3: Which of these people in history never set foot in Notre Dame?

Since it is not the university of Notre Dame I was stumped as there is no relevant google query for this. I had to jump to solving chess and got the right answer straight away as it provides one of the two options that will lead to a checkmate.

Hint: Since the location of the various chess pieces might vary on your screen, it doesn't matter explaining the chess moves. However the answer for this question: He was once upon a time the Bishop of Rome and head of the Roman Catholic Church

Good luck solving!!

If anyone has a google query for the last question, please post in the comments or email me

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Google Da Vinci Code Quest # 15: Curator Challenge

Hello everyone... welcome back to Day # 15 of the Google Da Vinci Code webquests.


Today's challenge is being called the "Curator Challenge"

The instructions are as follows
"Audrey Tautou is Sophie Neveu, a Police Department Cryptographer with a special connection to the murdered curator of the Louvre.

Use you curator's eye to hang the works of art such that the hooks match those on the gallery wall. Not all of the hooks on the gallery wall will necessarily be used. Some art may have already been placed and cannot be moved.

Note: The number of paintings and the location where they are placed might vary from your puzzle.

In my case, I had 7 paintings and one was already placed for me in the bottom left corner.

Step # 1: Place the larger image first on the board making sure that it occupies the least number of hooks. Also, if you place it at the wrong place or if you overlap a different painting, it just drops to the ground.

Step # 2: Take care of the next largest painting and fill up the board. If among the paintings, you have a long vertical one, make sure you have atleast three hooks. In my case, i would place it on the bottom right hand side.

Once we are done with assembling all the pictures, we are asked our daily trivia question. It is a translation question again.

In my case, it was " Translate flight to Italian". You can either use Google SMS or use Google Translator.

Good luck solving!!

Student Rant: Google Da Vinci Code quest # 14: Restoration Challenge

Hello everyone... welcome back to Day # 14 of the Da Vinci Code webquests on Google

Today's challenge is being called " The Restoration Challenge"

Alfred Molina is Manuel Aringarosa, a Bishop dedicated to preserving, if not restoring, conservative values.

A question is hidden in plain sight on this classic work of art - parts of the question are unclear, obscured by debris. Clear the particles of debris by selecting pairs that are seperated by one space - they will merge into one particle. When there is only one particle left, the question will be revealed. Ignore any text obscured by the last particle and solve the mystery.

NOTE: Remember the objective is break this whole debris down into one single block.

Step # 1: Start from down or the place where there is text first. Try to clear them out and bring them to the place where there is more debris to match and select.

Step # 2: When you select a piece of debris, it is matched up with another piece. If there is text in between, click on the text to merge them or else click on one of the ends for them to merge.

Step #3: Keep clicking until all of them are cleared and we are just left with one piece.

Once we are done clearing the debris, we are asked our daily trivia question.

"Translate fogizerlovg from Atbash."

Atbash is a form of cryptology. In the Bible, a Hebrew ciphering method is used at times. In this method, the last letter of the alphabet is replaced by the first, and vice versa. This is called 'atbash'. For example, the following table gives a translation of this sort for English. The word "HELLO" becomes "SVOOL"

If you asked a similar question of conversion from Atbash, use the following ATBASH cipher.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
ZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA

Good luck solving !!

Update: An easier way for translating from ATBASH is use the following link -- Thanks anonymous

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