The Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) is the highest award given by Microsoft to those who actively share their technical expertise with Microsoft and its Community forum.

Dystin Joy, Binu Bhasuran and Shoban Kumar all working in Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram are now Microsoft Most Valuable Professional’s, awarded for sharing their deep, real-world knowledge about Microsoft technologies with others in Microsoft Community. Microsoft Most Valuable Professional is a annual certification program by Microsoft and this year a total of 4000 professionals are qualified. Among them 128 professional are from India and eight of them from Kerala.

Dystin Joy who works in UST Global is specialized in Microsoft SharePoint server which is a developing tool that can set up Web sites to share information with others, manage documents from start to finish, and publish reports to help everyone make better decisions with a centralized access to enterprise information and applications on a corporate network.

Shoban Kumar who works at Allianz Cornhill got MVP award for his specialization in Client Application Development tool TweetMyPC and Binu Bhasuran, employed in NEST earned MVP for his contribution in Visual C# which is a programing language used in .NET.

MVPs are nominated by other technical community members, current and former MVPs, and Microsoft personnel who have noted their leadership and their willingness and ability to help others make the most of their Microsoft technology.

To receive the Microsoft MVP Award, MVP nominees undergo a rigorous review process. A panel that includes members of the MVP team and Microsoft product groups evaluates each nominee’s technical expertise and voluntary community contributions for the past 12 months. The panel considers the quality, quantity, and level of impact of the MVP nominee’s contributions. Active MVPs receive the same level of scrutiny as other new candidates each year.

MVPs are independent of Microsoft, with separate opinions and perspectives, and are able to represent the views of the community members with whom they engage every day.

News Sourced from “City Kaumudi”

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Android Developer/ Team Leader

Job Description:

• Extensive Programming skills in Java
• Experience in java programming for 3-5 years
• Experience in developing Android applications
• Good Experience in Web Services

Availability: Immediate

Skills : Developing applications for Android, Java, Web Services (J2EE will be an added advantage)

Send resume to : hrm@aqlanza.com / careers@aqlanza.com

PHP Team Lead

We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Solution Architect to come onboard for our ambitious project. You have to take control of the solution architecture and oversee the development and delivery of the project.

• The person should have rock-star PHP skills (including Object Oriented PHP)
• Solid experience of working on an MVC framework CodeIgniter, Zend etc.
• Should possess technical leadership.
• You are very much hands-on and can mentor a team of developers – even on Object Oriented PHP.

Availability: Immediate

Skills : PHP, MVC, solution architect, MVC architecture, Zend framework, Codeigniter

Send resume to : hrm@aqlanza.com / careers@aqlanza.com

.Net Developer

Experience : Minimum 2 to 3 years of experience.

Job Description:

• Must have experience with ASP.Net 3.5, C#, WCF, ADO.Net, SQL Server 2008
• Experience with WCF is essential
• Good communication skills & strong team player
• Willing to join within 10-20 days

Preferred Skills:       

Please send resumes in word format. Please ensure that you place the ‘Job Title’ as the subject line along with the resume

Send resume to : careers@eisplc.com

Designer Trainees

Job Description:

Applications are invited from freshers for trainee positions with knowledge in CSS, HTML java scripting, and Adobe Photoshop. Those who have done certification courses in web development, Multimedia will be given preference.

Send resume to : career@zoondia.in

Customer Support Executive

Job Description:       

• Handling customer support operations (both English & Malayalam).

Preferred Skills:       

• Having 3 months to 1 year of experience in Customer Support / Call Centre and holding bachelor’s degree (any discipline) can apply.

Send resume to : hr@experoinglobal.com

Marketing Executive

Job Description:       

• Male candidates  with good Communication skills and a go-getter attitude.
• Candidates should have a two wheeler.
• Any degree/MBA
• Freshers are also preferred

Send resume to : careers@nozioneinfo.com

Test Engineer

Experience: Minimum of 2 year total experience, 1 yr experience in QTP

Job Description:

• Demonstrates the ability to analyze a problem and complete detailed reports.
• Able to methodically produce the steps which exhibit bugs in the product and be able to reproduce and communicate these steps.
• Shows initiative in gaining in-depth experience in areas of technology relevant to testing of company products.
• Shows initiative in gaining theoretical knowledge in software testing.
• Works well in a team environment and alone.
• Has ability to adapt to the changing needs of a project.
• Has ability to meet deadlines.
• Has a strong communication skill, both in writing and orally.

Education: B.E/B.Tech/MCA/M.Sc.

Preferred Skills:

• Done a Software Testing course from a reputed institution (Testing certification like ISTQB is a plus).
• Familiarity with testing methodologies and the defect reporting process.
• Experience: Minimum of 2 year total experience, 1 yr experience in QTP
• Knowledge of programming languages.
• Experience/Knowledge with automated testing tools like QTP, Load Runner, Quality Centre.

Send resume to : hr@kamedainfologics.com

News Sourced from “Kerala Kaumudi”

News Sourced from “Metro Manorama”

The 2-km Kowdiar – Peroorkada stretch; 2.75-km RR Lamp – Statue – Overbridge – Pazhavangadi stretch; 1.46-km Attakulangara – Sreevarahom – Enchakkal stretch; 2.7-km Museum Junction – Bakery – Panavila – Model School Junction stretch; and the 600m new alignment at Shanghumughom are the corridors that are to be officially thrown open for traffic.

Although the works on the 3km Murinjapalam – Poonthi Road – Venpalavattom – NH Bypass has been completed, it will not be commissioned on Wednesday.

The five corridors form part of the 18.62-km taken up in phase II of the CRIP by the Thiruvananthapuram Road Development Company Ltd (TRDCL), the concessionaire of CRIP.

“Vehicle movement will become predictable as there is not much deviation towards the left and right from the carriageway. The commuting time will be reduced drastically and safety of road users will be ensured. Savings in fuel bill is another benefit for the motorists,” a project official told.

Road users had been put to much hardship because of the delay in the roadwork. The work had dragged on due to a host of problems ranging from land acquisition to cutting of trees. Now, motorists can look forward to roads developed as per international standards with medians, signage, solar-powered traffic signals, and footpaths.

GPS enabled streetlights have been installed in the VJT – Overbridge stretch. It will be extended to Attakulangara Junction once the Melepazhavangadi flyover is completed.

Busy junctions like Model School, Panavila and General Hospital have been redesigned. Work on to 16.437 km of the 18.62-km road has been completed in the second phase.

News Sourced from “THE HINDU”

Thiruvananthapuram is yet again in the centre of world’s attention as the Honorable Supreme Court appointed committee started the valuation of priceless treasures found in the vaults of  Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. Representatives of International and National media arrived here and were present in front of the Temple from yesterday morning onwards.

A 15-member team  initiated the documentation of the treasure in the morning by listing antiques in the presence of members of the expert committee deputed by Supreme Court of India and a supervisory committee. Those participating in the documentation include officials of the public sector Kerala Electronics Development Corporation (KELTRON), ISRO and Archaeology Department of Kerala. A control room has been opened in the temple for the purpose.

As part of the documentation, listing of antiques in “E” and “F” vaults of the temple is being done now. Though earlier it had been decided that the “C” vault will be opened first, it could not be done as the vault had been sealed by the Thiruvananthapuram Sub Court. Subsequently, it was decided to open other vaults first. It has also been decided to file an appeal before the apex court to allow opening of “C” vault.

News Sourced from “Mathrubhumi” & Image Courtesy “Reuters”

“Finally !” the work for the flyover at Thakaraparambu has started on Monday after a long wait of nearly 7 years ! This is the second flyover under the Thiruvananthapuram City Road Improvement Project (TCRIP), after the one at Bakery Junction. The flyover will come up over MG Road connecting Thakaraparambu Road and Power House Road having a total length of 510m and a width of 12m. The piling work for the construction of 13 piers will start soon.

News Sourced from “Kerala Kaumudi”  & Image Courtesy “Metro Manorama”

The project will be implemented in two phases with the first phase extending from Pallippuram to Thampanoor (22.2 km) and the second phase from Thampanoor to Neyyattinkara (19.6 km). The project is estimated to cost Rs.6,270 crore, taking into account the Rs.150 crore needed for one km of the corridor and the cost of providing low-floor bus connectivity.

News Sourced from “Metro Manorama”

The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple

According to mythology, Attukal Bhagavathy is supposed to be the divinised form of Kannaki, the famous heroine of Chilapathikaram, written by Elenkovadikal, the Tamil Poet. The story goes that after the destruction of ancient city of Madurai, Kannaki left the city and reached Kerala via Kanyakumari and on the way to Kodungalloor took a sojourn at Attukal. Kannaki is supposed to be the incarnation of Parvathy, the consort of Paramasiva. The all powerful and benign Attukal Bhagavathy reigns eternally supreme at Attukal and nurses devotees as a mother does her children. Thousands of devotees from far and near flock to the Temple to bend before the Goddess with awe and reverence to prostrate and redress their affliction and agony.

The Pongala Mahotsavam is the most important festival of Attukal Bhagavathy Temple. The offering of Pongala is a special temple practice prevalent in the southern part of Kerala and some parts of Tamilnadu. It is a ten-day programme commencing on the Karthika star of the Malayalam month of Makaram-Kumbham (February-March) and closing with the sacrificial offering known as Kuruthitharpanam at night. On the ninth day of the festival the world famous Attukal Pongala Mahotsavam takes place. The entire area of about 5 kilometre radius around temple with premises of houses of people of all caste, creed and religion, open fields, roads, commercial institutions, premises of Government offices etc. emerges as a consecrated ground for observing Pongala rituals for lakhs of women devotees assembling from different parts of Kerala and outside. The ceremony is exclusively confined to women folk and the enormous crowd, which gathers in Thiruvananthapuram on this auspicious day is reminiscent of the Kumbhamela Festival of North India.

For More Details, Visit – http://www.attukal.org

The much awaited inventory and documentation of the treasures found in the vaults of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple will begin on Monday. The inventory will be conducted by an eight-member team in the presence of an expert committee headed M.P Nair and the overseeing committee headed by Justice M.N Krishnan.

The eight-member expert team will include officials from KELTRON, VSSC, Archaeological Department, Gemologist and Antique Experts. The inventory will begin at 9 am and no timeframe has been fixed for completing the process. The first inventory will target the ‘C’ vault where jewels and other utensils used for daily use in the temple are kept. During the first phase, the inventory of five vaults will be completed and a decision on vault ‘B’ will be taken later.

The advanced inventory system developed on an open source software by KELTRON will be used for the purpose. Rs 2.5 crores have been spent to strap the inventory process in place

A group of officials from KELTRON completed a two-week training module to use this software.

The inventory will be performed a specially formed enclosure set up inside the temple campus. A tight security will been set up in and around the temple for the process. The artifacts will be brought out of the temple vault in a trolley and immediately a unique ID, which is a running number, will be generated. The item will then be photographed using 2D and 3D camera.

An accession code with a drop-down menu will be added to the unique ID. The accession code essentially classifies the artifact into ornament, vessel, ritualistic item etc as per international archaeological standard. Malayalam words can be used in inverted coma to describe artifacts and ornaments. The accession code will include date, vault in which the artifact was found. The entire code of an object can run up to 18 digits and contain meaningful data.

Then an electronic weighing machine interfaced with the computer system will register the weight. If the artifact is big enough to measure, then its length and breadth will be charted.

A purity testing machine will chart all metals according to a periodic table classification and test each metal for individual purity. If there are precious stones in the ornament, two gemologists on stand-by will determine the age, and clarity of the gem. This is the only manual process in the inventory and documentation procedure. The artifact will then be packed in natural yarn, put in a pouch, bar-coded and kept in the outbox that will be taken back to the vault.

To avoid redundancy and to double the workflow in coming days, two numbers of each machine have been brought. It includes, a purity testing machine 4 categories of weighing machines totalling to eight, laser engraving machine borrowed from ISRO, 2D and 3D photography cameras, bar coding machine.

KELTRON is using FOSS software for the documentation and inventory process and works on two independent isolated networks. Surveillance and videography is also being carried out by KELTRON with the police as its monitoring agency. The inventory takers will have to stand the entire time, as no one is allowed to sit before the God, and dress according to temple rules in ‘Mundu’. Some of the artifacts may only be handled by temple priests.

News Sourced from “Times of India”