Certified

I made a late decision to take the ITIL V3 Certification. It was like now or never. I was tensed about the outcome. It was not about about passing/failing. It was about the money involved. The certification itself costs around 165 USD .Man... that's lotsa money right there.
So...attended the certification today and passed by god's grace .The strangest thing is that I got 100 % in it. I am not trying to be humble but the last time I got cent percent in a paper was in LKG.So at the end of the day, i am a very happy man.


**The Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) is a customizable framework of best practices designed to promote quality computing services in the information technology (IT) sector. The Certification enables people to understand the terminology used within ITIL. It focuses on foundation knowledge with regard to the ITIL Service Support and Service Delivery sets as well as generic ITIL philosophy and background

At last ....Gold!!!

Its very strange that it took India 108 years of participation in Olympic games to win an individual Gold medal .The last time India won the gold was for Hockey at the 1980 Moscow Olympics .It's a welcome relief as it may wash away some angst at the National Hockey team for not qualifying.

Cheers to Abhinav Bindra for making the country proud. News is already out that various States and Organizations are competing in announcing cash prizes. Good for Abhinav .He deserves every bit of it .But why doesn't anyone realize that he will be earning exponential amounts for endorsements in years to come. If they had so much money to spare, there are numerous ways to use it to develop our infrastructure. But anyways...better not dig graves on this awesome occasion.

No one believed it could happen until it actually did. Better late than never

Nobody cares!

In today's world, the rich are getting richer and poor becoming poorer. But there is no space for sympathy or even empathy. People just keep moving blindly forward without giving a damn about what's happening around them. I bet you and even me would think twice before helping someone in need. I saw an article in the local news paper which showed the sad plight of a 10th standard kid and his suffering family. I normally read right through these pages so as to get to the sports or entertainment column .But, I don’t know why, i just stopped and read the complete article. I was very moved by it and decided to send some much needed cash (whatever I can afford).I talked to my friend who a social worker was trying to get her to talk to her roommates as I thought help from any quarter was to be taken. While she was telling explaining the story to them, they all crowded around her .But as the story unfolded, they began to lose interest. Comments like," These kinds of stories come in news everyday. How can you help all of them?” Even though she has had heard enough, as loyal a friend she was, my friend asked them again if they will lend help. Silence! She later told me that she felt embarrassed by non- responsiveness. I think it should have been the other way around.
She always sees the glass half full than half empty and says everybody has their own opinion about these things and we should respect it. I am not a Buddhist and do not take things like these too kindly.
I was not ready to give up. Rang up dad. Talked to him. First thing he said was,"Give me the address the money has to be sent" .It may sound dramatic but I truly feel blessed to have a family who always stands by me no matter what.

Later, when I went to office, I thought of letting my team mates know of the matter. After all, they are rich folk who like most of their IT counterparts spent large chunks of money on meaningless things .So, I sent across a mail to my teammates which go like this...

Hey Guys,

This is a heart touching story I read in today’s paper. It’s about the sad plight of family of two brothers both of who are woodcutters.
5 years ago, the elder brother had an accident .While cutting a tree, the roots gave way and the tree fell on him .He was paralyzed .He is unmarried. The younger brother who has wife and 2 kids had to take the burden of the family on his shoulders. Two months ago, disaster again struck. While cutting a tree branch he slipped and fell breaking his back. He too is bed ridden .His elder son who is in 10th standard works in order to support his family. He cannot even manage to get enough money to buy medicines .Even though the school he studied in offered him free education he cannot continue as he needs to support the family. His mother is unable to go outside the house as her husband and brother need help for everything .They even need assistance in doing their basic body functions. A committee has been set up by good hearted people living near by. They are expecting assistance of any kind for the suffering family
This is a terrible story and I was really moved by the plight of the family. I have decided to sent in some help .I thought I would let you know of this as you can also pitch in as this is for a good cause. Doesn’t matter if you are not interested in doing any monetary aid. A prayer or two would do.

Vivek


After getting the mail there was absolutely no response from the team. I was becoming embarrassed now.

Then came a mail from one of the guys!
It was a one liner - "Sure will do it ….!"

I was delighted .At least some one cares. He was sitting near me. So I went to him and said-"So you will really help eh?” His reply proved to be the final nail in the coffin-

“Yes dude.....I will definitely... pray.”

Brutal

This is a piece of news which really shocked me.
This is a story which appeared in Hindu, July 23, 2008

Belgaum: On Tuesday morning, passers-by on Belgaum-Ganeshpur Road in front of Benon Smith School here were shocked to see an abandoned calf bleeding. The animal was in pain after someone had cut its ears and tail.

With no help coming from anybody, the calf collapsed on the ground and people, who watched the animal suffer, did not inform the veterinary hospital or the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Belgaum unit.

When this correspondent reached the spot, the calf was lying on the ground with very little energy to stand on its own. However, the bleeding had stopped.

Street vendors present at the spot since morning said that it was not a case of accident. They alleged that it was a deliberate act of violence. Efforts to trace the owner of the animal went in vain. Some people tried to feed the animal with bananas, but it could not take them.

On being informed, the staff of the veterinary hospital rushed to the spot and administered first aid and anti-septic medicine to the calf. But, efforts to trace the SPCA activists failed. Though the SPCA had opened an office on the premises of the veterinary hospital, it does not function from there anymore.

A senior official in the hospital feared it to be a case of superstition. He said many people, including farmers and cattle owners in villages, cut ears and tails of cattle as mark of sacrifice in the hope of getting divine blessings

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Note: How can God be satisfied by the heinous torture of the baby animal.I have nothing more to say?