Good fences make good neighbors

There where it is we do not need the wall:
He is all pine and I am apple orchard.
My apple trees will never get across
And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.
He only says, ‘Good fences make good neighbors‘.

When I read those lines for the 1st time, I was in total agreement with Mr. Frost, that the mankind need no bounds, and the nature desires to break down the barriers that the humans place between each other, but as time passed by, I discovered many things which made me think otherwise.
As very aptly put, “When two things come too closer there comes the friction between them” Mr Frost described the ideal world which doesn’t exist… I’d like to be in the world with no boundaries and free society, but for all practical purposes, Good Fences Do Make Good Neighbors!!

Who Needs Certificates?

My friend recently told me that he wanted to do a sun certified java course because the company he is going to join works on Java… I said more to myself than him, its not the certificates, but the knowledge, that runs the company… don’t you agree??!!

Do certificates really show credentials? or those with certifications perform better than those without it… I certainly disagree… I know people with no formal education about computers and they actually know more than a computer science graduate… In my view, the projects you’ve worked on, the learning that comes from failures and the actual experience counts for a lot more than some test.

I coundn’t agree more to what Mr. DeMarco has to say

Though the rationale for certification is always societal good, the real objective is different: siezure of power. Certification is not something we implement for the benefit of the society but for the benefit of the certifiers. It is heady stuff be be able to decide which of your fellow human beings should be allowed to work and which should not. Those who hope for a share of that heady stuff are the core of the camp that favors certification.

Well I don’t know what the company requires, but certainly I don’t believe in certifications; there is no substitute for the real work you’ve done. I don’t say, the certificates are worthless, what I want to say is as long as you know the things and you’ve got the experience to support that, certificates don’t get in the way.

Good Programmers Write Good Code; Great Programmers Steal Great Code

The above line is the sophisticated version of what I call “learning by Copying“

One of my teachers used to say:

“How did u learn the alphabets; counting..whatever…?? It’s by copying; why not extend it to everything else…“

I like the idea, and there is wisdom in those words!! This applies to almost all the things.. The idea is to see the existing way of doing it and if you can do it the better way, go for it; otherwise why waste your time designing the same thing what you can steal!!

So next time when you are trying to do something either learn how to do it a better way by having a look at things previously done (unless you are doing something innovative this holds), or now you know what to do…

If some of you dont agree to this, I’d be happy to know your views!

Vijayadashami

It marks the grand culmination of the 10-day annual festival of Dussehra or Navaratri. According to Hindu Mythology, it was on this day that Lord Rama killed the demon-king, Ravana and won over Lanka, his kingdom. It signifies the triumph of good over evil.

Its celebration all around.. I used to have all the fun at home!!
I missed the fun for last 4 yrs, since they don’t celebrate it here… But the good part is , this being last year of my college, I can enjoy Dussehra again from next time(most probably)…

For the time being I am preparing for the sessionals oh what a badluck… Till 12th we never even thought of studying during festivals… and now we don’t even get to know its there.. all I remember is sessionals due this week… Anyways you ppl have fun!!

Happy Dussehra to all!!

Java

Yes I know Java is very powerful language… I realised that today… No, I didn’t learn it in 1 day… We had Java lab test today and I realised that the programs which seem difficult in c++ is child’s play in “Java”!! I found it better and powerful than c++ but people might have different opinions… Read a comparison here. I don’t think just reading the comparisons would help…We’ve been doing that for long, but to actually feel the power you got to use it!!!

Sessionals due next week and I got lots to study. Me leaving now… Have a nice weekend!!

Professionalism

I’ve been studying people’s attributes, that differentiates a successful person from not so successful ones, for quite some time. (No, this isn’t an attempt to write a book; I’m still a full time student.) One of the most important things I found out is “Being Professional” i.e. doing the work professionally.

I’ve seen people climbing the ladder of success through their professional attitude towards work and life. Take the example of the “Chemist” whom I know since childhood, he is so dedicated to his work; the way he handles things or customers is great. He knows exactly what you are looking for, his response makes you feel you’ve come to the right place!! No wonders he is successful and generates the maximum income in the area he belongs to. The credit goes to his attitude!! As they say “Success is more of an Attitude“

Now take an example of the Travel Agent whom I’ve been dealing with recently,

He is not responsive : Hardly listens to the customer well.

Doesn’t seem to care about the work : not so good to deal with, not at all seem to be concerned about delivering a great service to the customers.

I’ve been visiting him continuously for some days for a simple work and everytime the response I get is “come in afternoon or tomorrow”, same response the next day!!

Do u spot a difference between the “Chemist” and the “Travel Agent”. Bingo… It won’t come as a surprise, if after 10 years I see the the latter person at the same position booking tickets.

So my friend, Professionalism is the key here.

As Martin Luther King, Jr. said :

If a man is called to be a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well.