Man Versus Machine

Sorry for the delay in posting.. My posts were going through several beta versions :-)
What spurred me on this topic of Man Vs Machine was after I had the experience of losing a sizeable amount in an ATM transaction.
Just as my cash was about to pop out the ATM machine went dead.
I checked my balance at the nearest ATM and found that the money that I had not recieved had been debited from my account.
After several visits to my bank I found that they had found that there was no record of the transaction in the ATM logs, none on the website that keeps record of all these transactions and absolutely no proof that I had actually got the money, the money was dispensed or whether the ATM machine simply had a mind of its own.
At the Branch Manager's office, who happened to be a graduate in computer engineering, I told him my sad story and on cue he told me one of his sad stories.
"I don't know why they introduced computers in banks in the first place", he started. "Ever since we have been plagued with network failures.. blah.. blah.. blah.... In fact even I have also lost some money. I even know which account it went to, but I can't do a thing about it."
Since the cash I had intended to give to a certain person wanted it immediately, I decided to deposit the money directly to his bank account. As soon as I entered the branch, I found chaos inside. A large group of people were milling around the cash transaction windows but not a single transaction was being done.
Eyeing me accusingly(I was decorated with one of those access tags software engineers hang around their neck while at office), one of the distraught ladies behind the counter exclaimed once more to added effect, "The systems have hung up.. You will all have to wait till we get back the network." And she got up to do her thing, which all government employees are known to do when they get or make some spare time- she went off for a cup of tea, and possibly an early lunch.
At the LIC office..
I had dropped down to my regional LIC office to get some personal work done. Me and the branch manager were in earnest discussion on how I could proceed with a certain transaction, when he was interrupted by one of his subordinates.
The guy said agitatedly "The good lady's husband has died and she wants the record now. Unfortunately the computer..."
A smile played on the manager's lips as if a death was one of the good things that happened in his office.
"You could get that detail if you do this," he said, turning to his computer. He opened a site, clicked on a link and bingo, there was the information.
The computer was playing truant, but this old man who headed the office had learnt enough of the loopholes to beat the machines at their own game, though he most probably didn't know a thing about the software! That was probably why he was the branch manager. Beating the odds!
I need not mention the mayhem at the railway reservation counters when the network goes down. The wisest thing to do would be to return home and come next day with a prayer to the network gods on your lips!