I visited Raipur and Bhilai from 24/11/05 to 28/11/05. The idea was to attend a wedding of Mrudulas cousin and also in turn get the chance to visit a new place. Otherwise we would never have planned to visit these places.
Started from Mumbai at 20.35 by boarding the Samrasta Express at Kurla terminus.
We were 6 (3 of us and my sister in laws family). It was Anish's first long distance train journey.
Earlier whenever we have travelled long distance it was in a Sumo.
As expected Anish troubled us a lot. We reached Raipur on 24/11/05 at 16. Myself,Mrudula and Anish stayed in Hotel J.K. Raj. The hotel was very good for the price we paid.
There was the wedding reception on the same day(24/11) and we attended it. We reached for the next days wedding at 11.30am and stayed in the hall upto 20.30pm all tired especially Anish.
Next days plan was to reach Bhilai which is just 30-40Km from Raipur by 12.00pm, but we got delayed due to the post wedding ceremonies and also delay in getting transport.
Raipur the way I saw it is a quiet but dusty place. Surprisingly the 2 days we stayed in Raipur it was not cold and felt almost like Mumbai, maybe a shade cooler. We had expected bitter cold with temperatures below 14 degrees.
Bhilai is quaint little town and much cleaner and well planned than Raipur maybe due to the influence of the Bhilai Steel Plant. I was also very cold with climate remaining cool throughou the day.
The relatives whom we visited in Bhilai had a well furnished bungalow very much like the ones they show in TV serials and hindi movies. We reached there house on 26/11/05 at 14.00pm.
I had to go to the railway station to cancell my tickets for 28/11 as I was supposed to return 1 day earlier. Mrudula and others told me to stay on but I told them that it was crucial for me to reach Office on 28/11(Monday). I had to board the train at 11.40am from Raipur and would have to leave home at least by 10.15am. So there was not enough time to stay in this beautiful house. I offered to change my plans by cancelling all tickets and booking a ticket from Durg to Nagpur by bus and Nagpur to Mumbai by flight. Everyone agreed and I reached Chembur at 11.00am on 28/11/05. I travelled by Alliance Air. I landed at Nagpur at 4.30am and it was very very cold. I spent 3 hours at the airport.
Mrudula and Anish came back on the next day morning and both fell ill.
I am not getting much time to pursue my interests.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Book mania
One fine day (precisely 4 days before writing this) I got suddenly interested in reading fiction/non-fiction books rather than the usual computer stuff which I am more interested nowadays.
This interest was aroused when going through the books in the office library which although predominantly is stacked up with techno software books also has some management/leadership stuff. I was with a colleague who is exactly opposite and is only interested in general books (more of non-fiction). I am a good reader of books and have read many fiction books in my college days.
To list-Agatha Christie, Sidney Sheldon, Frederick Forsyth,Robert Ludlum,Jeffery Archer, Arthur Hailey etc... This list also included some stray authors of whom I have read only 1/2 books.
This is all total fiction. This was during 1985-91 my college days. Slowly lack of time and also loss of interest took its toll and I did not read much fiction from 92-present. Infact I shunned biographies/autobiographies/management etc. My interest was in software from 99. I have a good collection of some 45-50 books(I havent counted) on software and computers.
These days it is possible to get a book from the local bookseller(raddi) for Rs.150-200/-. This is the deposit and you get back Rs.120-180 on return. The return has no time limit. I have already read "Da Vinci Code", "Are you afraid of the dark", 2 popular novels through the above method. There was some little interest which had already aroused but it was just a spark and 4 days back it turned into fire.
Now the question was which are the really good books which should be read. I vaguely remembered that I had visited a site called pagalguy a premier MBA resource site. I had come across the url in the newspaper when the CAT results were leaked. It was a good site and I found a link on quizzing very interesting. I decided to visit this same site and find whether they have something realted to books. Yes, my hunch was correct I found a long discussion on books recommendations. It runs into 75 pages and I have gone through only 30 of them. I also started making a list of the books recommended even though I had not heard of the title nor the author.
From the 30 pages I read the following can be summarized
Ayn Rand-Fountainhead,Atlas Shrugged------------------Highly recommended read
also rated high by everyone-I had read Ayn Rand in college and everything went above my head as I found it boring. I read Anthem, We the living etc. Should try again especially Fountainhead
John Grisham-Partner,Juror etc--------------------------Highly recommended read
but many people complained about his latest novels being boring.
Akio Morita-Made in Japan-------------------------------Recommended
Paolo Coelho-The Alchemist,Veronika dies...--------------Recommended. I just Alchemist today and found it boring. The initial part was good then it really needed my will to finish the book.
Catch-22-------------------------------------------------Recommended
Sidney Sheldon-------------------------------------------Good read but new titles have lost the old charm
Above mentioned summary is solely of the pagalguy list posters.
I will refine it yet further as i go through other pages.
I read The Alchemist in the last 4 days when the book mania caught me.
Lets see now much I am able to read
This interest was aroused when going through the books in the office library which although predominantly is stacked up with techno software books also has some management/leadership stuff. I was with a colleague who is exactly opposite and is only interested in general books (more of non-fiction). I am a good reader of books and have read many fiction books in my college days.
To list-Agatha Christie, Sidney Sheldon, Frederick Forsyth,Robert Ludlum,Jeffery Archer, Arthur Hailey etc... This list also included some stray authors of whom I have read only 1/2 books.
This is all total fiction. This was during 1985-91 my college days. Slowly lack of time and also loss of interest took its toll and I did not read much fiction from 92-present. Infact I shunned biographies/autobiographies/management etc. My interest was in software from 99. I have a good collection of some 45-50 books(I havent counted) on software and computers.
These days it is possible to get a book from the local bookseller(raddi) for Rs.150-200/-. This is the deposit and you get back Rs.120-180 on return. The return has no time limit. I have already read "Da Vinci Code", "Are you afraid of the dark", 2 popular novels through the above method. There was some little interest which had already aroused but it was just a spark and 4 days back it turned into fire.
Now the question was which are the really good books which should be read. I vaguely remembered that I had visited a site called pagalguy a premier MBA resource site. I had come across the url in the newspaper when the CAT results were leaked. It was a good site and I found a link on quizzing very interesting. I decided to visit this same site and find whether they have something realted to books. Yes, my hunch was correct I found a long discussion on books recommendations. It runs into 75 pages and I have gone through only 30 of them. I also started making a list of the books recommended even though I had not heard of the title nor the author.
From the 30 pages I read the following can be summarized
Ayn Rand-Fountainhead,Atlas Shrugged------------------Highly recommended read
also rated high by everyone-I had read Ayn Rand in college and everything went above my head as I found it boring. I read Anthem, We the living etc. Should try again especially Fountainhead
John Grisham-Partner,Juror etc--------------------------Highly recommended read
but many people complained about his latest novels being boring.
Akio Morita-Made in Japan-------------------------------Recommended
Paolo Coelho-The Alchemist,Veronika dies...--------------Recommended. I just Alchemist today and found it boring. The initial part was good then it really needed my will to finish the book.
Catch-22-------------------------------------------------Recommended
Sidney Sheldon-------------------------------------------Good read but new titles have lost the old charm
Above mentioned summary is solely of the pagalguy list posters.
I will refine it yet further as i go through other pages.
I read The Alchemist in the last 4 days when the book mania caught me.
Lets see now much I am able to read
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Harrowing experience obtaining a passport
Finally I applied for a passport. This should have been done a lot earlier but I was lazy enough not to even think about it. I should have though "I am a professional and would need a passport sometime in my life"
The rules in India for obtaining a passport seem to be evolving but at a snails pace. Obtaining a passport being a prerogative of the government it runs according to the whims and fancies of the babus at the helm.There seem to be different rules at different places and nobody is well versed with these.India is a global economy or rather is fast becoming a globalised economy but the bureaucracy still persists. Yes, I have seen some changes in this bureaucratic state of affairs which is a whiff of fresh air,but these changes are really to a certain part of the monolith and it appears spreading in the govt wee bit slowly. I am not aware what procedure is followed for obtaining a passport in other countries but it should be somewhat similar less the bureaucracy.
So why is obtaining a passport so difficult. Here is an account of the same which includes my own application for a pasport (still waiting as of this writing).
First stand in a long queue and apply for the passport. This is just the first step. You are given a date on which you are required to submit/verify the originals. There is only one office where all the applications for Mumbai are accepted. Considering Mumbai is the financial capital there should be multiple cells for passport clearances. Here your graduation counts and not your professional degrees. I am a CA myself and this has no worth in the passport application.
Then comes the Police verification.
Firstly keep in your mind that you are a fraud/criminal. Yes this is the way the Police looks at you even though you may be the most honest citizen of India. So before going for the Police verification consider yourself as the most dreaded criminal or fraud and then go to the Police station. (Agreed the Police are doing their duty and they have every right to suspect you, but you could suspect one and still be helpful enough and not arrogant)
The trouble for me started here. A hawaldar came to my house verified my ration card/birth certificate and purposefully found some error on my ration card (which is not an error at all)
after almost 15 minutes he gave me a letter which stated that I was to report to the police station on 25/9/05 a Sunday. This document is barely readable. In this document is mentioned the timings when police verification is carried out. In this also it is mentioned that Monday is a holiday for passport police verification. This is not readable at all. I was happy till this moment. I could not make it to the Police station on Sunday and so I went on monday where I was told that it was closed on Monday and that my application was sent back as I had not reported on Sunday.
This was the most frustrating moment I had faced in my life. This is totally unacceptable. It is always possible that due to unavoidable circumstances one may not report for verification and a period of 3-4 days grace should be given. This is mentioned on the unreadable document given to me but this rule is not followed due to increasing volume of work.
Now I have to apply again and the whole thing will take another month. I have reapplied again on 11/10 and am still waiting for a call from the police station. Wonder of wonders you do not get an acknowledgement for the reapplication so I do not have any proof.
Another wonder if any documents are misplaced by passport office they are not at fault you are the one who are unlucky and at fault as you want to travel abroad
One really good experience I had was with the Police helpline. Well, i could not imagine such a service can exist in this bureaucratic jungle. They answered all my queries and that too in Marathi? Great stuff Police
One thing I was surprised was that every person (friend/relative etc) whom I inquired with about the passport process and what had happened with me told me a different story. So the rules are as per the whims and fancies of each police station at each locality. I stay in a suburb in Mumbai. In my locality it takes at least 35-40min to for a police verification as they agin check your originals.
Also there is another rule that you have to sign before the saaheb i.e the inspector. So if the saaheb is not there it is further delayed.
Why do we need such a cumbersome and lengthy process.
Some suggestions.
Maybe I will get the passport in 2006 or never at all...................
Maybe someday somebody will read this and change will take place..........
Maybe, Maybe ...................................................................................
The rules in India for obtaining a passport seem to be evolving but at a snails pace. Obtaining a passport being a prerogative of the government it runs according to the whims and fancies of the babus at the helm.There seem to be different rules at different places and nobody is well versed with these.India is a global economy or rather is fast becoming a globalised economy but the bureaucracy still persists. Yes, I have seen some changes in this bureaucratic state of affairs which is a whiff of fresh air,but these changes are really to a certain part of the monolith and it appears spreading in the govt wee bit slowly. I am not aware what procedure is followed for obtaining a passport in other countries but it should be somewhat similar less the bureaucracy.
So why is obtaining a passport so difficult. Here is an account of the same which includes my own application for a pasport (still waiting as of this writing).
First stand in a long queue and apply for the passport. This is just the first step. You are given a date on which you are required to submit/verify the originals. There is only one office where all the applications for Mumbai are accepted. Considering Mumbai is the financial capital there should be multiple cells for passport clearances. Here your graduation counts and not your professional degrees. I am a CA myself and this has no worth in the passport application.
Then comes the Police verification.
Firstly keep in your mind that you are a fraud/criminal. Yes this is the way the Police looks at you even though you may be the most honest citizen of India. So before going for the Police verification consider yourself as the most dreaded criminal or fraud and then go to the Police station. (Agreed the Police are doing their duty and they have every right to suspect you, but you could suspect one and still be helpful enough and not arrogant)
The trouble for me started here. A hawaldar came to my house verified my ration card/birth certificate and purposefully found some error on my ration card (which is not an error at all)
after almost 15 minutes he gave me a letter which stated that I was to report to the police station on 25/9/05 a Sunday. This document is barely readable. In this document is mentioned the timings when police verification is carried out. In this also it is mentioned that Monday is a holiday for passport police verification. This is not readable at all. I was happy till this moment. I could not make it to the Police station on Sunday and so I went on monday where I was told that it was closed on Monday and that my application was sent back as I had not reported on Sunday.
This was the most frustrating moment I had faced in my life. This is totally unacceptable. It is always possible that due to unavoidable circumstances one may not report for verification and a period of 3-4 days grace should be given. This is mentioned on the unreadable document given to me but this rule is not followed due to increasing volume of work.
Now I have to apply again and the whole thing will take another month. I have reapplied again on 11/10 and am still waiting for a call from the police station. Wonder of wonders you do not get an acknowledgement for the reapplication so I do not have any proof.
Another wonder if any documents are misplaced by passport office they are not at fault you are the one who are unlucky and at fault as you want to travel abroad
One really good experience I had was with the Police helpline. Well, i could not imagine such a service can exist in this bureaucratic jungle. They answered all my queries and that too in Marathi? Great stuff Police
One thing I was surprised was that every person (friend/relative etc) whom I inquired with about the passport process and what had happened with me told me a different story. So the rules are as per the whims and fancies of each police station at each locality. I stay in a suburb in Mumbai. In my locality it takes at least 35-40min to for a police verification as they agin check your originals.
Also there is another rule that you have to sign before the saaheb i.e the inspector. So if the saaheb is not there it is further delayed.
Why do we need such a cumbersome and lengthy process.
Some suggestions.
- Establish a set of standard rules and guidelines to be followed by each one of the persons involved in the passport application process. In framing these take help of experts.
- Reduce the amount of paperwork involved.
- Set timeframes for completion of each process.
- Establish independent cells preferably manned by Police at various locations in the suburbs to ease the rush
- Ensure transperancy of the full passport issuing process.
- Establish set rules and regulations to be followed for non availability of documents to be submitted.
Maybe I will get the passport in 2006 or never at all...................
Maybe someday somebody will read this and change will take place..........
Maybe, Maybe ...................................................................................
Monday, September 19, 2005
Still more rains
After the down pour on 26/7/05 it has been raining off and on and sometimes heavily enough to bring back the memories of 26/7/05.
Life has become a little better than what it was earlier, as I am getting some time to meet my personal and family obligations.
I have started making a list of work to be done on Monday for the week. I could achieve atleast 50% of what I had listed. From this week I have decided that 1/2hr of exercise to reduce my tummy and 1/2hr of pooja would be a standard activity daily. I have to arrange all other activities keeping in mind these 2.
Life has become a little better than what it was earlier, as I am getting some time to meet my personal and family obligations.
I have started making a list of work to be done on Monday for the week. I could achieve atleast 50% of what I had listed. From this week I have decided that 1/2hr of exercise to reduce my tummy and 1/2hr of pooja would be a standard activity daily. I have to arrange all other activities keeping in mind these 2.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Tsunami from heaven!!!!!!!!
On 26/7/2005 it started on 1.00pm in the afternoon. Well it was torrential rain with such speed and continued till the next morning upto 4.00am(26/7/05) with the same speed
It was like the end of the world prophecy and yes it felt like the world will come to an end.
This was first time in the history of Mumbai for 100 years that it had rained so heavily.
We ar alive and Mumbai itself is limping back to normal
July 26 2005 and July 27 2005 Days to remember
It was like the end of the world prophecy and yes it felt like the world will come to an end.
This was first time in the history of Mumbai for 100 years that it had rained so heavily.
We ar alive and Mumbai itself is limping back to normal
July 26 2005 and July 27 2005 Days to remember
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Blogging from my new job
It is surprising how things have turned out. After my last post I got the offer letter on 1/7/05.
I already had informed my boss on 20/6/05 but I informed all my colleagues on 2/7/05.
Sometimes I feel I have left a lot of things unfinished. But on the other side this work will always keep on increasing and something will always remain unfinished taking into consideration the number of people and calibre.
I am always in the fear that they will call me back for some mistakes which they will find.
This is really because of systems problems.
I havent recd any serious calls for doubts from my previous company.
Any way it is the 7th day in the new company(excluding sat and sun). I joined on 11/7/05 with a career change. I am into Oracle apps now. Hope to continue for atleast 1 year.
Thinking of taking broad band internet connection.
I already had informed my boss on 20/6/05 but I informed all my colleagues on 2/7/05.
Sometimes I feel I have left a lot of things unfinished. But on the other side this work will always keep on increasing and something will always remain unfinished taking into consideration the number of people and calibre.
I am always in the fear that they will call me back for some mistakes which they will find.
This is really because of systems problems.
I havent recd any serious calls for doubts from my previous company.
Any way it is the 7th day in the new company(excluding sat and sun). I joined on 11/7/05 with a career change. I am into Oracle apps now. Hope to continue for atleast 1 year.
Thinking of taking broad band internet connection.
Monday, June 20, 2005
Clicked?!!?!!?.Still keeping fingers crossed
The interview scheduled on Friday was good. I was caught off guard as it turned out to be a technical interview. I had a feeling that it was slipping out of my hands. Well I got selected and the offer verbally on phone was made then and there itself.
After this call there was even a call from the Indian liasion person. He told me that I should go ahead in putiing my papers in my current job. Now the control is transferred to Cap Gemini and I would get a call in the coming week for a physical copy of the letter and also a medical.
I dont know this has happened for the first time. Everything on the phone I have not seen anyone. I am tensed about this as without anything in hand it is difficult to go further.
I dont expect any technical snags further but still am keeping my fingers crossed till I get a letter in my hand.
I have already informed my boss abt it but officially have not put in papers
Will update further.
#$%%&&.................. hope everything goes smoothly!
After this call there was even a call from the Indian liasion person. He told me that I should go ahead in putiing my papers in my current job. Now the control is transferred to Cap Gemini and I would get a call in the coming week for a physical copy of the letter and also a medical.
I dont know this has happened for the first time. Everything on the phone I have not seen anyone. I am tensed about this as without anything in hand it is difficult to go further.
I dont expect any technical snags further but still am keeping my fingers crossed till I get a letter in my hand.
I have already informed my boss abt it but officially have not put in papers
Will update further.
#$%%&&.................. hope everything goes smoothly!
Friday, June 17, 2005
Something is clicking!!!!!!!!
Well for a surprise the interview scheduled on last thursday as mentioned in my last post has clicked. This means after 2 rounds of interviews today the final interview is scheduled today night.
The company is Sogeti which is a subsididary of Cap Gemini.
If selected I will be employed with Cap gemini and work for Sogeti in their internal Oracle Apps implementation.
I have a reputation of getting shortlisted and in the final stage being rejected (due to some other factors). This has happened in 2 cases only till now and I am afraid about that.
Let this happen. Let god help me.
Yes it will happen. Yes I am going to be selected.
Will keep this blog updated
All the best/ goodluck
The company is Sogeti which is a subsididary of Cap Gemini.
If selected I will be employed with Cap gemini and work for Sogeti in their internal Oracle Apps implementation.
I have a reputation of getting shortlisted and in the final stage being rejected (due to some other factors). This has happened in 2 cases only till now and I am afraid about that.
Let this happen. Let god help me.
Yes it will happen. Yes I am going to be selected.
Will keep this blog updated
All the best/ goodluck
Thursday, June 09, 2005
It worked!!! But has not clicked?
I finally prepared a revised resume highlighting my Oracle Financials exposure to try for a Functional Consultant job. I think i started applying from 6/5/05. I had prepared my revised resume 2/3 days before this.
Initially I applied for Mumbai based openings and realised that the maximum openings where in Bangalore and Hyderabad. I then started to apply irrespective of location except North India
This surely worked and within a week I was flooded with calls from placements.
There was a opening at HP in Mumbai and almost all placements asked me about the same
It was like almost 20 calls in 3 to 4 days.
Well from 6/5/05 to 9/6/05(today) I have given 4 telephonic interviews 3 of them averaging to upto 26minutes and my confidence has increased.
There is a telephonic interview scheduled today @10.30pm from USA
Infact on Sunday(5/6/05) there was a interview at 2.00in the afternoon. After the interview the inteviewer asked me to ask questions about his company and in the end said HR will contact.
These words itself increased my confidence level.
There has been a draught of calls this week and the calls which were expected have not materialise till now.
This is regular in my case when I am almost there bu still no there(due to other circumstances)
Even my horoscopes in the daily sunday newspapers mentioned a change and positive happenings. I never read these but this Sunday I read them.
4 interviews
Datamatics
Oracle
Tecumseh(not suitable for me)
Caritor
I even dreamt of going to Chennai and joining acompany called Maya Dal. I dont remember much but this was on the night when the Oracle Interview took place.
Waiting for something to happen............... and let it happen fast.
Initially I applied for Mumbai based openings and realised that the maximum openings where in Bangalore and Hyderabad. I then started to apply irrespective of location except North India
This surely worked and within a week I was flooded with calls from placements.
There was a opening at HP in Mumbai and almost all placements asked me about the same
It was like almost 20 calls in 3 to 4 days.
Well from 6/5/05 to 9/6/05(today) I have given 4 telephonic interviews 3 of them averaging to upto 26minutes and my confidence has increased.
There is a telephonic interview scheduled today @10.30pm from USA
Infact on Sunday(5/6/05) there was a interview at 2.00in the afternoon. After the interview the inteviewer asked me to ask questions about his company and in the end said HR will contact.
These words itself increased my confidence level.
There has been a draught of calls this week and the calls which were expected have not materialise till now.
This is regular in my case when I am almost there bu still no there(due to other circumstances)
Even my horoscopes in the daily sunday newspapers mentioned a change and positive happenings. I never read these but this Sunday I read them.
4 interviews
Datamatics
Oracle
Tecumseh(not suitable for me)
Caritor
I even dreamt of going to Chennai and joining acompany called Maya Dal. I dont remember much but this was on the night when the Oracle Interview took place.
Waiting for something to happen............... and let it happen fast.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Another weekend outing
As i wrote earlier about Ganpati Pule were I visited last month, This month I went to Marve beach just on the outskirts of Mumbai(actually in mumbai itself).
Stayed at the guest house and completely relaxed for the 2 days (Sat and Sun).
Great place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well I have started applying for Oracle Financials jobs from 6/3/05 onwards. No luck as yet only some stray calls here an there. I found out that maximum jobs are in Bangalore/hyderabad and Gurgaon for Oracle Apps. Well then have decided that I would relocate. I dont know whether this is the correct decision but somehow I have to quit and earn more money.
Some progress atleast.
Today I was surprised to hear that persons I never thought would do this are really experts in this field (Stock trading).
Day after day I sum up all my enthu and work harder with only one objective that someday the almighty will grant me the much coveted job. It is always good to do things that u like and computers and especially Linux are the most of which I like.
Nobody will take me as a software programmer or a IT person but to get into IT there is only one alternative enter through Oracle Financials.
Again at the moment havent lost confidence and will work with renewed vigour tomorrow.
Stayed at the guest house and completely relaxed for the 2 days (Sat and Sun).
Great place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well I have started applying for Oracle Financials jobs from 6/3/05 onwards. No luck as yet only some stray calls here an there. I found out that maximum jobs are in Bangalore/hyderabad and Gurgaon for Oracle Apps. Well then have decided that I would relocate. I dont know whether this is the correct decision but somehow I have to quit and earn more money.
Some progress atleast.
Today I was surprised to hear that persons I never thought would do this are really experts in this field (Stock trading).
Day after day I sum up all my enthu and work harder with only one objective that someday the almighty will grant me the much coveted job. It is always good to do things that u like and computers and especially Linux are the most of which I like.
Nobody will take me as a software programmer or a IT person but to get into IT there is only one alternative enter through Oracle Financials.
Again at the moment havent lost confidence and will work with renewed vigour tomorrow.
Monday, April 25, 2005
GanpatiPule
I went for an outing to Ganpati Pule and some adjoining areas. Great place but we had a hectic time as we had to return back on Sunday.
Desperately need to change the job. Maybe into Oracle Apps.
Atleast I finished revising my CV. Now it has to be just fine tuned and I can start applying.
According to many friends there is a shortage of these consultants and I should get a job.
But "apply apply and no reply" has been the case with me always.
Hope for the best.
Desperately need to change the job. Maybe into Oracle Apps.
Atleast I finished revising my CV. Now it has to be just fine tuned and I can start applying.
According to many friends there is a shortage of these consultants and I should get a job.
But "apply apply and no reply" has been the case with me always.
Hope for the best.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Month end,year end etc no time.......
It was month end time and hence did not have time to update.
Monthe end has ended and have to prepare for audit and of course a job in which I am interested nd get job staisfaction
Planning to go on leave from 8 to 12 outof station.
Donated blood for the first time today.
Monthe end has ended and have to prepare for audit and of course a job in which I am interested nd get job staisfaction
Planning to go on leave from 8 to 12 outof station.
Donated blood for the first time today.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Long time no post so this
I started a Linux/open source/ general computer info blog. Will post all linux and opensource info happennings there and not here.
Working hard to avoid the later finalization hassle. Still havent tried for a Oracle Financials job even though I am more knowledgeable than a year back. Still need to learn a lot. The demand for apps is high.
Sitting late every day trying to finish work
Will be working on Sunday.
next week is goin to be more hectic.
Working hard to avoid the later finalization hassle. Still havent tried for a Oracle Financials job even though I am more knowledgeable than a year back. Still need to learn a lot. The demand for apps is high.
Sitting late every day trying to finish work
Will be working on Sunday.
next week is goin to be more hectic.
Friday, March 11, 2005
Same old story
Nothing worthy to mention. I was preoccupied with my month end last week. Also Oracle Financials AR implementation was catching up speed. Did not get time to pursue other interests.
- Going to Nagpur again and this time it is Saturday and Sunday.
- All plans and schedules made in my prior post have not materialised.
- Atleast I am reading "Da Vinci Code" every day regularly.
- I am going for 2 days only so want to travel lite. Unnecessary load like books to be avoided as I know there is not much time to read as I will reach back in the Hotel after 12.00 am
- Logged on to IRC thru Mirc more than before.
- Found that Gentoo and Debian are the most popular on Freenode and of course Ubuntu is there in the top 10
- Managed to ask questions on IRC regarding modem detetction and direct booting to CLI instead of GUI and got good answers
- Synaptic started working this morning. Even though Ubuntu is a very solid distro a old Slack user like me is desperate for that Slack login. I do not have Slack anymore on my PC. I need Slack desperately. I have slack 9.1 CD's need the latest i.e 10.0 or 10.1
- No time to do anything as per plan as after office have to be with my kid, So take life as it comes.
- Which book to carry tommorow? Maybe "Da Vinci" or some techie book?????
- When I visited Distrowatch site last there were some 400 odd distros tracked. I wondered how many people used or tried more than at least 10. But suddenly I realised that whatever the distro is based upon it is different. So Ubuntu,Knoppix are not pure Debian.
- The open source seems to move at jet speed and I am a sloth.
- Gnome 2.10 was released
- I got FC3 cd's from a friend and still have to try it.
- Thinking of buying a CD-R/DVD combo drive.
- Really need some free time to re-organise myself
Thats it.............
Monday, February 21, 2005
General update
1> Trip to Nagpur meterialised. Was there 14-16 Feb 04
2>The obvious choice seems getting into Oracle Apps implementation but no firm steps taken as yet
3>I tried to load Slack9.1 on my Pc and found that the CD was bad. I wrote the CD in office but did not know nor had the time to find out how to make it bootable. I could not boot finally. Needed to have Linux desperately. I think it is like a drug which you are hooked on.
Finally i gave in to Ubuntu(Warty ) and loaded the same. It is Debian based.
4>Opened a Gmail account yesterday. You can get invited to open an Gmail account from the Gmail site itself. All these days was wondering of asking my friends for an invite.
5> Started subscribing to Ubuntu users mailing lists today through gmail.
6>Carried 2 books again when I visited Nagpur. This time it was "Learning Perl" -O'Reilly and "Open Source a perspective" by RMS but could not read a single page as always returned from office at 12.30p.m.
7>Bought "GNU C++ by Tom Swan". Well I am just buying books by the dozen I dont know when I will read them.
8>I had read "Are you afraid of the dark" by Sidney Sheldon a month back exchanged it with the local book seller for "Da vinci code" by Dan Brown and also bought "A brief history of time"
by Stephen Hawking". Da Vinci is supposed to be a bestseller and so wanted to read it. Every tom dick and harry is reading this book.
9>Started making yearly targets, and within them short term targets.
10>OCA/OCP-yearly, Finalise my CV w.r.t Apps by 28/2/05-short term, Learn a foreign language-yearly
11> Have to fcous on work also as year end is near and I have to plan to be ready for Audit by April 05 or May 05 Max
12> I do not get to operate my PC at home as I have to spend whole time with my kid.
13>I had joined Oracle SQL course for OCA a year back. For 3 papers there are totally 6 books.
Planning to read the basic book (Book 1) by 28/2/05
2>The obvious choice seems getting into Oracle Apps implementation but no firm steps taken as yet
3>I tried to load Slack9.1 on my Pc and found that the CD was bad. I wrote the CD in office but did not know nor had the time to find out how to make it bootable. I could not boot finally. Needed to have Linux desperately. I think it is like a drug which you are hooked on.
Finally i gave in to Ubuntu(Warty ) and loaded the same. It is Debian based.
4>Opened a Gmail account yesterday. You can get invited to open an Gmail account from the Gmail site itself. All these days was wondering of asking my friends for an invite.
5> Started subscribing to Ubuntu users mailing lists today through gmail.
6>Carried 2 books again when I visited Nagpur. This time it was "Learning Perl" -O'Reilly and "Open Source a perspective" by RMS but could not read a single page as always returned from office at 12.30p.m.
7>Bought "GNU C++ by Tom Swan". Well I am just buying books by the dozen I dont know when I will read them.
8>I had read "Are you afraid of the dark" by Sidney Sheldon a month back exchanged it with the local book seller for "Da vinci code" by Dan Brown and also bought "A brief history of time"
by Stephen Hawking". Da Vinci is supposed to be a bestseller and so wanted to read it. Every tom dick and harry is reading this book.
9>Started making yearly targets, and within them short term targets.
10>OCA/OCP-yearly, Finalise my CV w.r.t Apps by 28/2/05-short term, Learn a foreign language-yearly
11> Have to fcous on work also as year end is near and I have to plan to be ready for Audit by April 05 or May 05 Max
12> I do not get to operate my PC at home as I have to spend whole time with my kid.
13>I had joined Oracle SQL course for OCA a year back. For 3 papers there are totally 6 books.
Planning to read the basic book (Book 1) by 28/2/05
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Pc back into action but w/o Linux
My brother loaded Win XP and one of the PC is live again albeit without Linux. I tried to load Linux today morning but did not get enough time.
I have been trying to change my job for a long time but am not getting any good calls. I am more into system impelmentation rather than core finance. My salary is peanuts presently compared to others.
Well so systems is my forte and I have been implementing and using Oracle Financials at my current job for 2.10 years. I should capitalise on that. This feeling always comes of a sudden to me and then vanishes. I know even if I only concentrate on learning Oracle (for which all tools exist) I may be able to change my job (hopefully). Now fater all this I will start to learn Oracle and after 2 days again I will leave it as it is.
This feeling today has arisen because I saw an Ad for Oracle Financials from CapGemini
There is so much to learn just in Oracle itself leave alone Apps. I also have the relevant books and of course I can practice at work.
I came across a site asktom.oracle.com and it is a fundu site.
I have been trying to change my job for a long time but am not getting any good calls. I am more into system impelmentation rather than core finance. My salary is peanuts presently compared to others.
Well so systems is my forte and I have been implementing and using Oracle Financials at my current job for 2.10 years. I should capitalise on that. This feeling always comes of a sudden to me and then vanishes. I know even if I only concentrate on learning Oracle (for which all tools exist) I may be able to change my job (hopefully). Now fater all this I will start to learn Oracle and after 2 days again I will leave it as it is.
This feeling today has arisen because I saw an Ad for Oracle Financials from CapGemini
There is so much to learn just in Oracle itself leave alone Apps. I also have the relevant books and of course I can practice at work.
I came across a site asktom.oracle.com and it is a fundu site.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Both Hard disks formatted. 2 blank pc's with no OS
Hi
I have a spare PC at my house. This is an old one bought from my office in 2002. Recently y brother bought a new PC a P4 2.4ghz 256 mb RAM with a new cabinet. The old PC was lying idle w/o a HDD/FDD but with Mobo/RAM amd processor.
I had an idea of creating a home network connecting these 2 pc's. I bought a HDD and got a crossover cable abt 1-1/2 month back. I was free on Saturday so I decided to try connecting this to my old pc. I continued this on Sunday and inthe process I formatted bothe my HDD's.
Now I have both the PC's clean w/o anything on the HDD. This is bcoz we did not adjust the jumper settings.
Great experience will reinstall everything again fro scratch.
I have a spare PC at my house. This is an old one bought from my office in 2002. Recently y brother bought a new PC a P4 2.4ghz 256 mb RAM with a new cabinet. The old PC was lying idle w/o a HDD/FDD but with Mobo/RAM amd processor.
I had an idea of creating a home network connecting these 2 pc's. I bought a HDD and got a crossover cable abt 1-1/2 month back. I was free on Saturday so I decided to try connecting this to my old pc. I continued this on Sunday and inthe process I formatted bothe my HDD's.
Now I have both the PC's clean w/o anything on the HDD. This is bcoz we did not adjust the jumper settings.
Great experience will reinstall everything again fro scratch.
Monday, January 31, 2005
Bangalore visit
Visited Bangalore and returned on Sunday.
Was a good trip. I trained Bangalore accountants in my company on Oracle Financials
Hope to go again some time in Feb. I am more hopeful on a trip to our branches in Kolkata and Nagpur, hope they materialise.
Could not read even a word of the "Learning Perl" book I had taken along to Bangalore.
I read some 10 pages of "The Alchemist" in Bangalore.
In turn I bought 8 books on computers mainly relating to Unix and Linux.
I dont when I will read them or where I will keep it.
Books worth Rs.3300/- bought in Jan 05 itself.
Month end time no mood after the trip to Bangalore.
Was a good trip. I trained Bangalore accountants in my company on Oracle Financials
Hope to go again some time in Feb. I am more hopeful on a trip to our branches in Kolkata and Nagpur, hope they materialise.
Could not read even a word of the "Learning Perl" book I had taken along to Bangalore.
I read some 10 pages of "The Alchemist" in Bangalore.
In turn I bought 8 books on computers mainly relating to Unix and Linux.
I dont when I will read them or where I will keep it.
Books worth Rs.3300/- bought in Jan 05 itself.
Month end time no mood after the trip to Bangalore.
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Human mind-remains unexplored unexplained
My mothers Aunt who stays at the same place where we stay was admitted to the hospital due to suspected paralysis and other complications. We came to know about this on 14th Jan 05.
She is an old lady of 93 years old. I have never seen her ill during my lifetime. She has always remained active with the odd aging problems.
I came to know of this while I was working in my office. There was a little bit of tense feeling me because of the age at which she was suffering.
My mother immediately visited her in the hospital and the same day evening when I came back home from office my mother told me that she was alright and would improve in days to come.
The above sentence just had the right effect on my mind and I really did not think about my granny
right from Friday thru Tuesday.
On Tuesday night I came to know that she had a stroke and had been taken in Intensive care and she was at a critical stage.
This same sentence had a drastic effect on my mind and I again started to think otherwise and this also affected my work.
On Wednesday I visited her and that day I could not concentrate on work.
Death is an integral part of the package called life yet when it stalks our near and dear ones we fear.
Just 2 words had my mind work and think differently.
She is an old lady of 93 years old. I have never seen her ill during my lifetime. She has always remained active with the odd aging problems.
I came to know of this while I was working in my office. There was a little bit of tense feeling me because of the age at which she was suffering.
My mother immediately visited her in the hospital and the same day evening when I came back home from office my mother told me that she was alright and would improve in days to come.
The above sentence just had the right effect on my mind and I really did not think about my granny
right from Friday thru Tuesday.
On Tuesday night I came to know that she had a stroke and had been taken in Intensive care and she was at a critical stage.
This same sentence had a drastic effect on my mind and I again started to think otherwise and this also affected my work.
On Wednesday I visited her and that day I could not concentrate on work.
Death is an integral part of the package called life yet when it stalks our near and dear ones we fear.
Just 2 words had my mind work and think differently.
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
UBUNTU
Loaded Ubuntu Linux on my PCNow I triple boot Win Xp/Slack9.1(2.4.22) and Ubuntu.
It was a real sleek install. No problems whatsoever.Some issues still need to be sorted out in Gnome.
Some progs do not open.
I am used to the CLI and my favourite Midnight commander.
Ubuntu directly opens a GUI with Gnome 2.8.0.
I need to change the background but do not know how to mount my FAT32 drive.
I am not able to login to CLI.
What is the root password ?????????.
I was planning to try out FC3 but getting the CD's will take time.
The ubuntu site has a shipit link and ships the no. of cd's for free.I had logged in and entered my name almost a month back and I got the cd's yesterday.Want to keep this setup for some time and may be will start learning networking in the near future.
It was a real sleek install. No problems whatsoever.Some issues still need to be sorted out in Gnome.
Some progs do not open.
I am used to the CLI and my favourite Midnight commander.
Ubuntu directly opens a GUI with Gnome 2.8.0.
I need to change the background but do not know how to mount my FAT32 drive.
I am not able to login to CLI.
What is the root password ?????????.
I was planning to try out FC3 but getting the CD's will take time.
The ubuntu site has a shipit link and ships the no. of cd's for free.I had logged in and entered my name almost a month back and I got the cd's yesterday.Want to keep this setup for some time and may be will start learning networking in the near future.
Monday, January 17, 2005
Status Quo!
Well I visited my blog after a long time.Got inspired by somebody elses blog. Well nothing new to write about.
A self proclaimed linux fanatic has no time to use Linux due to personal reasons.
Let us see?
A self proclaimed linux fanatic has no time to use Linux due to personal reasons.
Let us see?
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