Khuman Ngakpa

Trying to leave on a high note

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 16:16:00 +0000

Another week from today, we will be into a new year 2010 with lots of hopes, wishes, inspirations and resolutions like every new year.

2009 was mix of luck for me. Few things turned out as per plan and the way I wanted. But, some other things turned out to be really bad and bit unexpected. Bad things / luck had the upper hand throughout the year. Except for my marriage and getting house from office, I couldn't remember anything great or special for 2009.

To leave this year on a high note, we went to Kashid Beach for a day picnic. The place is really great though bit inside. The above photos are from that place.

Hoping that 2010 will be my year.

New adolescent in Career

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:00:00 +0000

I’m looking back from now since the time I joined office and started working for the first time.

In the beginning (first few years) of my career, my boss acted like a “Controlling Parent” who protected me from everyone and same time guided / taught me wherever / whenever the need arose. Like a good child, I followed him word to word and had learned a lot from him. It was the time when our relation reached the pinnacle of height. Due to which I was also known as his shadow to many of my colleagues. In many cases, our opinions and taking things were similar though not equal.

But, few years down the line, I have grown, grown enough to understand things. The fear of failure is now replaced with urge of curiosity and courage of wanting to do something new and challenging of my own way. I have realized that there are also other ways of doing things maybe not the best but, good enough to make it acceptable and working. My creativity and way of taking / doing things has started taking shape and can no longer be kept under wrap. Like a new adolescent, I want to have my own world and rule.

At this point, I wanted my boss to change and take up the role of “Nurturing Parent”. But, he is still the same “Controlling Parent” who refuses to accept ideas from my end. This has lead to many unnecessary arguments and hurting the relation beyond repair. He has refused to let go, refuse to understand that I have grown, grown enough to take care of myself.

After saying all these, I still say that I need him but, as a “Nurturing Parent” who accepts the change in me and new ideas.

[Some parts censored compare to the original writings]

Avatar : My Review

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:55:00 +0000

By this time, you may have seen the latest spell binding flick from James Cameron “Avatar” which was made with a budget of Rs 12,00 crore (enough money to make all the bollywood movies for 2 years atleast).

As expected the movie was really good and stand up to the reputation of James Cameron standard (Abyss, Titanic, Gorilla etc to name few of his works). Like any James Cameron movie, the concept was ground breaking and so does the animation, screen play etc. Everything was so perfect that you started believing that this could actually happen very soon. I could see the dedication and commitment to this project by James when he said it took almost a decade to perfect things. It was simply breathtaking. He captured the minutest details of each character.

And, to make people believe in your new concept / fantasy world (which we can’t think) takes hell of a job and commitment. After matrix this was perhaps, the second film that I started believing fantasy becoming reality.

This movie reminded me of “The Matrix” when they get into Pandora world through the humanoid form through their mind. And, the story line reminded me of “Dances with Wolves” when the Kevin Costner became part of the Red Indian culture.

My only repentance is that I watched the movie in 2D because I could no longer control my excitement when I was not getting ticket for 3D for next 2 days.

If you haven’t seen it, you are missing something in life. If you have seen it in 2D than you’re missing the better part of the movie like me.

Watch it in 3D.

Bangaluru Trip

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:51:00 +0000

I was out of Mumbai for more than ten days due to work. I was in Banguluru. Things have changed a lot since the last time I visited Bangaluru more 3 years back. There are constructions almost everywhere. New flyovers and malls criss-cross the city. The E-City which was used to be a deserted place is now seeing a wave of new constructions from residential to new office building.

The last ten days were one of my busiest days for this year. Everyone in my team was hitting more than 12 hours every day. Getting up at 6am every day, reaching office by 8am and working till 10pm was routine for all of us. Being in situation like pressure cooker, everyone was tensed and at the same time worried arguing with each other in smallest aspect for the final day. The final d-day went without a glitch. It was a huge relief. That night I fell to sleep so fast unlike the previous night because the mind which was controlling my body suddenly let go. My body being badly jaded went to immediate sleep mode.

In between, I squeezed my schedule to meet old friend. We went to that restaurant which we used to go during our college time very frequently. Meeting him brought out lot of fond memories and feeling of nostalgia.

The ten days has made me realized many things and started me in thinking mode. For the first time, I realized and genuinely felt for the need of finding new cheese in life, going out of the comfort zone and making my new own territory. It may too late if I don’t start now.

Watchmen Culture : A time bomb

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:19:00 +0000

Sometimes back, there was a small seminar cum discussion on security in my society complex. The tag line of the seminar says “The watchman knows you but, you don’t know him.”

This tagline drew my attention. Though I skipped the said seminar but, I’m in thinking mode since then about this watchman culture which can seen everywhere across the country specially in metro cities.

They are idle almost throughout their working hours which may/will become workshop for devil in period of time. They sit and watch each one of us every day. After a period of time, they know very well of our timings, friend circle and kind of influence. But, we don’t even remember their faces except for the dirty uniform and the foul body smell.

We are trusting too much on these watchmen. Even in my office, the watchmen have access to almost the key and important rooms, cars etc even to those areas which I don’t have. Suspecting them is not right but, taking a caution will be good. All of them are paid with very meager salary for the kind of services they render to us. Moreover, there is little respect for them from us. Most of them are poor immigrants from far away UP or Bihar and very little educated. Tracking them after they ran away after crime will be something enormous task for anyone of us. The same thing happens to every housing society including mine and those swanky hot properties.

We trust and empower them too much without knowing them properly. Agreed that they are hired through security agency after a thorough background check like that of maid who came every day. But, they are also human like us. Asking them to watch something worth hell lot of money with the kind of salary and respect they earn will be something like sitting on time bomb.

We hear about maid running away with booty and stealing almost on everyday across the country. It will be not far away when the same thing will happen with the watchmen. It will be not a single incident but, a series of such stealing incidents. Caution: That day is not far away unless we revamp the system and most importantly our mindset.

Self invented Quote

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:59:00 +0000

"Unless it is not perfect, it always comes back"

- The above quote is particular true for me specially in work place. There are always something which get approved / closed based on certain boundary conditions. But, inside me I always know that there is also something else to check but, I prefer to remain quiet for my own advantage. This thinking / un-perfection / un-finish thing haunts me but, I ignore it everyday somehow or I can't find time to re-visit the same.

Such conditions which I'm not comfortable are checked again due to some other reasons / issues / things many months / days down the line only to find that my fear has come true. Then I have to re-visit again pressing hard on myself to recollect things which skids my current work schedule and little pride inside me.

It always comes back no matter how hard I try to ignore / sleep over it. Perhaps, I need to keep it open till the point of time I'm satisfied or all my fears are over.

Long way, I have come

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:02:00 +0000

Some weeks back my cousin who is still a student called me asking whether it was possible for me to transfer some money to his friend in Delhi for which he would give me in hard cash. As my account was running in few thousands, I was not comfortable answering it immediately. Uncomfortable because I lend from my friend in terms of thousands only and saying that my account is running low is something which I really didn't want to.

At dinner place of my ex-roomie, I asked my ex-roomie to help out my cousin as I was well aware that he could help him. So, I finally mustered my courage asking the amount to be transferred to his friend. He said proudly Rs 500/-. On hearing the amount, it make me little emotional. Emotional because this made me realize that I have come a lot way since the time I depend on my parents for my pocket money during the tenure of hostel.

This incident reminds me of my hostel life where every hundreds count. Borrowing was in terms of hundreds only unlike nowadays where a hundred rupee note do not last more than few hours. It was the time where we used to think that having Rs 200/- in pocket was something really something and big.

Read : Mental disorder cases pile up in Manipur

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:04:00 +0000

This article appeared in NDTV website. A wonderful read. Reality of Manipur in less than thousand words.

http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/manipur_violence_continues.php

After simmering in militancy for a quarter of a century, Manipur is a wreck.

There are at least three dozen separatist militias operating in the state. The fall-out: an average of two psychiatric cases are reported everyday, each of them stemming from conflict-related disorders, and that's just at one government mental health centre in Imphal. The state has only 13 psychiatrists. It needs at least thrice the number to attend to the growing number of patients.

Virtually every family in Manipur has at least one member who had been -or remains - abducted by militants. Every second family has lost a member or more to militancy.

We choose a house at random to find a state government officer who managed to return to safety. ''I had to escape, otherwise they would shoot me or beat me. It's because of my driver I could escape," he says on the condition that his name is not revealed.

It's also an open secret that every single family pays a monthly fee to militants. Reportedly, even the police and politicians are not exempt. Any attempt to avoid the extortion, or abandon the negotiations for how much, leads to kidnapping.

So often in Imphal, people live in half-constructed houses; a finished house would suggest a higher income, leading to a bigger amount demanded by the militants.

So Manipur tries to live quietly, hoping to not catch the attention of either the separatist groups, or the armed forces, which locals say, are often a bigger terror.

More than anyone else, they blame New Delhi for an indifference to their problems, which are now affecting not just their physical but also their mental safety.

New Delhi's indifference... and terror tactics by at least three dozen separatist militias operating in the state.

Obituary

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:38:00 +0000

We were together since so many years. I had known him for more than a decade or so. A friend whom I could depend during my worst and best time to be with me. Fun without him was never complete and will never be complete and same.

Your memories will be with me forever. The absence is going to make lot of difference to me for sure.

It's was only yesterday we talked on phone. It was only past few months we were together.

The news of his death has numb all senses since morning and every moment I'm hoping that it is just a dirty prank or dream. The more I tried to stop thinking the more it is dragging me into.

PS : One of my best friends since the time we were in half-pant as uniform (for more than 15 years) died in a freak road accident today morning.

Rusting Body

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:19:00 +0000

There was a time when I could eat only a guava and spent my day with no lunch / dinner. A maggi would suffice for the day. After a heavy dinner / lunch, I could run or walk. It was the time I was fit , very fit. Illness came very rarely then.

But, nowadays it seems my immunity has dropped very low. Eating even an apple on empty stomach in morning will bring fever though it doesn't last not more than few hours. Catching fever, headache and migraine seems to be very normal and routine now. I can't remember a week without any illness. After a dinner / lunch how light it is I want to avoid brisk walking even for a small distance - like to next room.

My body is rusting. I still wondering for the very reason because I never did anything special when I was very fit also. Perhaps, the time has come to pick the jogging shoes and do something extra to stay fit and trim.

Happy Diwali

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 05:14:00 +0000

Happy diwali to all.

Let the lights from diwali light up your life. It would be delightful celebration all across India except for Manipur who is currently fighting for the survival which is again complicated by the deadlock between the CM and protesters resulting in boycott of classes since last 2 months. The state board exam currently faces the situation of canceling which will result in losing of years, hopes for thousands of students if it happens.

I decided to stay away from crackers unlike the previous diwalis. Not because I don't like them but, because staying away from them atleast would save some child from forced labour as the report suggested that many of these crackers were made by kids as young as ten. Just a day before there was blast in cracker factory in Tamil Nadu resulting in death of as many 32 people but many people inspite of repeated broadcast in TV failed to notice this.

Unless we stop ourselves, any kind of laws and law enforcement agencies can't stop it. At least, this year I had done my part by staying away from crackers. Hoping that you'll join me sooner than expected.

Wake Up Sid : My Review

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:15:00 +0000

I was about to give "Wake Up Sid" a miss. Not because of any reviews but, the teasers of the movie looks like Lakshya's first half. Lakshya being one of favorite movies so I hate any kind comparison / remake with it.

With the coming of unexpected holiday due to election in Maharashtra (Mumbai) and good reviews from close friends make me watch the film at the end.

To begin with I would say it was nice and refreshing movie. And would recommend you for the same.

The story line of the movie is,perhaps, inspired from Lakshya (as I said earlier) and Waqt - Race against time (the first movie which I watched with my own money after first pay cheque) and Konkana's part was probably lifted from "Luck By Chance" with little change. But, to this Karan Johar has added lot of youth and Ranbir Kapoor delivered the perfect "Sid" in him.

The movie have shown how bollywood is fast maturing in story telling without going to stupid angles like the Sid in the movie who was fast maturing and learning every next scene - simple, straight and bull's eye.

Go for it. Missing it will be disappointment because such movie rarely comes in Bollywood.

Education in Manipur

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:36:00 +0000

The above picture (taken from net) perfectly describes the education in Manipur. The classes from Pre-Nursery to level of University including those private courses like computer are in state of boycott for more than two months. And, there is no sign of letting up of protest in weeks to come.

Education has become latest casualty. All the appeals are going to deaf ear and Chief Minister is clung to power as if it is birth right shamelessly in spite so much protests from all sides since July Last Week.

Not to be watched

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:02:00 +0000

There are two things which I feel it's highly over-rated and not to be watched :

1. T20 and ODI
Too much of cricket is killing the interest whatever interest I have. There are so many tournaments, tours that I have lost track of them since past one year or so. Too much of cricketers on ads and news (for wrong or no reasons) is taking a toll on my interest. But, I'm still watching and following Test Match of great interest. Rumour is saying that ICC is introducing another trophy for acting next year and all the Indian cricketers are front runner.

2. Reality Shows
First it was "Big Boss" then came so many that I lost interest at all. Even during the first year of Big Boss, I used to fight with roomie then asking him to put some other channel. Now, every channel has more one reality show running at the same time. I will better switch off my TV set rather than watching some stupid reality show.

A hectic Week and the new twists

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 07:41:00 +0000

A very hectic week. One of uncle's friend and his brother had put up in my place for past 4 days as they were here to attend some IT-related seminar. I went to receive them at airport but, it was sleepy experience. The flight was delayed by over 3 hours due to the stormy weather since past few days. By the time they reached, it was well past midnight. So, by the time I went to bed it was too late for office next day.

But, eventually I had to go to office after lunch for my half yearly performance discussion with my boss as it was last day according to the mail by HR. It was a fun filled engaging debate throughout for more than 2 hours. The longest discussion in my group. I had been honest with my points. No buttering. It's all filled with bitter truth. At the end, my boss applauded me and gave me a rating of "very good" with some encouraging and good comments. But, when it's comes to appraisal, I'm skeptical due to my past experiences. But, I think I'm about to grow beyond that stage as I'm finding myself more comfortable in handling criticism and bad remarks without much setback.

My apartment with no guest room was finding little small specially with 2 guests who are very much senior to me. So, I had to skip the online conference for writing the letter for the upliftment of class boycott in Manipur. Juggling for the office and to attend to my guests made this week really hectic. Finally, they left today early morning.

Last day of the week was the twist and may bring in some dynamical change in career if things work out in my way. One of my previous bosses gave me hint that I'm ready for bigger role and I should approach my resource manager for the same. I wrote a mail about the same. Things were under discussion then among them it seemed. Let's see how things unwrap. I'm keeping my find cross as of now.

Quick Gun Murugun : My Review

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:31:00 +0000

I would have repented a lot more if I had given “Quick Gun Murugun” a skip in theatre. Extended weekend due to Id falling on Monday had made me idle without anything to do.

So, my ex-roomie S and I made up the plan of catching the matinee show of the said movie (after many weeks of release) as there was no movie worth our time and money at this time.

The trailers / teasers of the said movie had failed to capture my attention. But, the good review coming from many friends / colleagues make me wonder of the said movie.

The movie was out rightly funny. I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end. Each dialogue was delivered was master-piece and very funny. They took a pot-shot on many movies, ideas and celebrities. The dialogue delivered in the pure south Indian ascent added the real spice and magic to the movie. Mind it.

I won’t be surprised if this movie gets cult status in matter of time.

Watch it if you can still catch in some theatre. I’m very sure this movie will make your day.

Hopeless State

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Being away from my homeland brings me a lot of fond memories of that place.

Religiously, I will browse all the websites bringing any information from that place since many years. I follow every bits of news on it as if there is something I can do about it. I didn’t care to read the newspaper while in home but, the distance has made me grew fonder of that place.

In spite of knowing that there is little thing I can actually do remotely for that place, I’ll spent whole night sleepless thinking about the same, connecting with like-minded people and doing what everything is possible from our end. From writing mails to concerned people and articles we did everything which was in our capacity and still there is no stopping to these activities.

But, it seems the place is deterioting each day. Our best effort to do something is worthless. All the discussions on what can be done next always ends in discussing the vicious cycle of corruptions which is existing at every level and part of life. The kind of feeling after a long discussion on the same is feeling of sinking.

At times, I think it’s worthless spending precious times on it but, the love of the place always drags me back even though deep inside I know how much hopeless and worthless it is.

Kaminey : my review

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:36:00 +0000

I finally catch the much acclaimed 'Kaminey'.

First I thought I was watching some kind of renowned Quentin Tarantino film. As Kaminey had all kind of Tarantino's signature. Perhaps, it was a bit of challenge for bollywood to deliver such a movie. Vishal experimented on it (perhaps, inspired) and got acclaimed including from shrewd Rajiv Masand who thinks many times before even giving a single star. Perhaps, all the critics in India are giving stars for doing something new in bollywood and nothing else.

But, to me it was re-run of some Tarantino's movie laced with some bollywood masala.

Except for the acting skill of actors / actresses specially Shahid and Priyanka in that movie it was an awful movie.

I would rather skip. My rating for the said movie won't go beyond 2 star and a thumbs down.

Reliance : a very money minded company

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 06:03:00 +0000

Reliance Electric Bill carries a number of guidelines and advisory for reduction of electricity usage. Previous month, my electric bill hit a roof top when my cousin and brother were at my place and every possible appliance was virtually on throughout the day. In that month’s bill, Reliance Electric Bill didn’t say anything about it.

That day I read on newspaper that a woman was complaining that the Reliance wrote to her when her electric bill was cut down by more than half due to efficient usage but, not in vice-versa.

At first, it was heard to believe until I saw the same message on my bill when bill was cut down to more than 50% than previous month as my cousin and brother had left. It is surprised and shocking to find the message in the column of ‘Important Message’.

Maybe they may something in their mind but to me (and many users) it shows how money minded they are.

Weighty Issue

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:28:00 +0000

My weight ,some months back, was 74Kg. The doctor who came for routine check-up in office told me that I was over-weight by about 5-6 kg and adviced me to worked on it then.

Today again I checked. The indicator is still showing 74 Kg. I didn't speak to the doctor afterward due to feeling of embarrassment.

From the past few months, I had cut down the intake of cold drinks to almost zero. Previously, I used to gulp down atleast 1 litre in a day or two. I started walking home from office which takes me around 20 minutes. But, somehow it is making no impact on my weighty issue.

From that slim and trim body then , I now look complete ugly with stomach coming out, double-chin and face becoming rounder. The photos taken 3 years back make me feel envy of how I used to look then when my weight was around 64Kg. A junior in my office was telling 'the specs (frame) is now looking funny with my face becoming rounder .'

My resolution to go for morning jogging is still only a wish.

The only silver lining is that I'm able to hang on to 74 Kg for quite sometime. But, question remains 'how long?'

Grim Truth of Salaried Class !

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:06:00 +0000

Today, I was speaking to my uncle on phone for quite some time vis-a-vis on the upcoming IPOs and which one were good to invest or not. It was a general talk with little or no brain.

In between, my uncle mentioned that he had read a book (couldn't re-collect the name) which said a salaried class person couldn't become rich due to inflation, de-valuation and tax.

After the phone conversation, I gave a thought on the said conversation.

Inflation : If I stick to a single company my salary will rise by about 10% on average yearly given a scenario that the company is not doing re-structure of salary, the current average inflation is around 5-6% (the price of the cabbage flower is Rs 60 per Kg and Tur dal is Rs 100 per Kg for you information right now) so a part of the salary goes to balance out that inflation.

De-Valuation : Secondly, the investment which I did with the hard earned is de-valuated to the depreciation of money. So, the return on the hard-money investment is less than expected value even though they look and appear to be same. A 10 rupee note in hand today has more value than t’row.

Tax : Third and most important, the Income Tax department is always around to levy tax as much as possible. Because of TDS (Tax Deduction at Source) for salaried class nothing can be hidden from their eyes. For, every 100 rise, I ended up paying 30 bucks in returns. Moreover, there is indirect tax on everything which I buy. With the already taxed money, I'm again giving tax through indirect tax. It’s tax on tax. But, the most painful part comes when you have to pay when your investment from hard-earned money gets matured at the same rate after such a long and painful wait.

So, at the end whatever the rise is nullified. Rich and Salaried Class goes go together seldom.

No wonder many of the salaried class ended up in small flat (or a large flat in faraway places) and a small car by the time of retirement which they manage with the entire EPF and gratuity fund.

This is the price every salaried class is paying at the end. This is the reality of being salaried class.

PS : I’m also a ‘salaried class’.

Watching Movies : New Found Habit

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 09:41:00 +0000

It was reading when I was in college. I indulged in lot reading. It was part of my habit. Even during exams I would read some novels to de-stress myself from tensions and pressures. I would travel for more than hours to buy 'cheap' second hand novel and also exchanged the already read ones. In a go, I would buy atleast 3-4 novels and would try to finish them in least than a fortnight. The conversation with my friends / colleagues were "Have read that one? It's fabulous."

But, after I started working and specially after buying the computer with almost 24-hours connected to net, I'm finding it more and more difficult to keep on reading. Not because I don't have time but, because I have lost interest in reading. Even the recommended from my friend about a novel goes to my deaf ear. At best, I would read few pages and finally, dumped it.

It's been almost a year or more that I had almost gave up reading. My new found habit is watching movies (in home). I started watching movies of all the generations. I have a collection of more than 300GB in movies. More than 200 GB yet to be watched. I watched all sort of movies from Korean to French to Germans to Russians, I have few close knit friends with whom I keep on exchanging movies. Watching with subtitle (even for english movies) makes things more understandable of the movie as their is some difference in the ascent.It's true that movie doesn't that kind of feel that a novel gives but, somehow movie has taken over reading for me atleast.

First thing, I go to wikipedia and read something like plot / summary about the movie to find out whether the movie is of my taste or not. (Many times my likings are slightly different from my friends). My favorites are movies based on WWII or any cartoon movies.

The current rate is "one movie per day or 2".

Being Ethical !

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:08:00 +0000

Some months back we had a week dedicated to the ethics in workplace. That week was like a normal week where the message regarding the work ethics is renewed, re-vowed and refreshed to all the employees. It was something very normal in my many years of working experience. But, as part of the opening the ‘ethic week’, the MD made an opening speech on the same topic. He quoted one example and that example is still lingering in my sub-conscious thoughts.

The example – “One employee of the company does online shopping from office for few hours during office hours. Legally, he is being unethical in the workplace. But, his justification is that – ‘what’s the harm in spending a few minutes to do online shopping from office as by the time I reach home the shops are already closed and has to take leave from office to do same shopping which mean more loss to the office’. He is wrong and right at the same time. It is very difficult to draw the line of ethics to each employee so it is the conscience of the employee to decide what is ethical and unethical. But, being ethical is line laksman-rekha. Once you crossed, it’s hard / impossible to come back.”

The above example from our MD which I still remember vividly makes me feel guilty many times. Guilty because I do check mails which is not related to office and reply to them many times spending quite some time to do the same. Here, I’m not talking of the forward-chain mails but, mails which need my reply / attention to a large extent.

I’m doing introspect from that day. I realized myself I’m spending a quite some time on such mails. Such mails are sometimes take lot of emotion to write. And, after writing such mails, it becomes really hard to come back to the reality of office which eventually affects my productivity and creativity.

Even though I wished / wanted to stop from that moment but, the prior commitments to the group which I’m actively involved doesn’t allow me. But, slowly I started disassociating from such things during the office hours. Finally, after much efforts and self-convincing I almost stop such things.

Terminator Salvation : The Ugly Duckling

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:47:00 +0000

The new terminator edition has failed to live up to its legacy. You can't find any heart stopping actions or layers of stories. The story is quite confusing. It looks like a disjoint movie compare to the previous stories of legacy.

Arnold (animated or real ?) which featured for less than a minute trying to link this edition to those legacy which had Arnold as main role is redundant and completely unnecessary.

Watch it for the actions and Christian Bale (looks more of supporting role) and you'll love this movie.

If you watch (which I did) for the sake of terminator legacy than this is completely disappointing movie.

I will rate it 1 on a scale of 5.

Reason for (infamous) segmentation fault / Core dumping

ngakpa.oinam@gmail.com (Khuman Ngakpa) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:42:00 +0000

It is seen that inspite of capturing lot of requirements and coding meticulously, the code which we wrote is bound to some kind of core dumping at certain point of time if it is part of large application / system.

Many of the analysis of the core dumps through debugger always point to something which was totally unexpected while coding, some kind of input which is not expected and not taken care.

In a large application, it will be very difficult to ensure that all the methods / functions behave properly and gives you the right return everytime for the next functions / methods which is a very much ideal / perfect situation.

One way of encountering it is to make your method takes care of such unexpected inputs which is like conquering the hell to make heaven safe because you never know what hell can be of. I feel this is very difficult or next to impossible in a large system.

So, the next easier way of dealing with the same problem is to check your input before you processed or passed to your methods / functions. This will ensure that atleast your code don't dump because somebody feeds you something wrong. It is simple logic GIGO (Garbage In and Garbage Out). Check the input reject it if it garbage / unwanted to your code. I think this will resolve as much as more than 90% of your core dumps provided you code it as expected with your sets of input.