Wrote the FAQs page from 1:45 to 4:15. Good, got some work, or else, I'd have had to continue with the data entry work that I was doing in the morning.

End of a dull and boring day in office!

The sky is grey and overcast. It should rain heavily.

Went to meet Nidhi and Shreya at the Begumpet Railway Station. They left for Ahmedabad this afternoon.

I've to check this link.
Google Groups 2: You can create your own groups, that's the new feature added.
The url to check is http://groups-beta.google.com/

All Brainbench certification tests will be Free for 2 weeks, from the 1st to the 14th of July.

28th June: Today is Apurva's Marriage.
Dear Apurva, (If you're reading this!)
Here's wishing you & Swati a Very Happy Married Life.
God Bless You, Bhai!
I'll meet you & Swati, when I'm in Bombay.

28th June: Today is Punit's Birthday!
Dear Punit, Wish you a Very Happy Birthday!
Have great year ahead! Here's wishing you lots of progress and prosperity!

The Czech Republic is in top form in Euro 2004.
The Portugal v/s. Netherlands (Holland) semi-final will be a tough contest. Both are my
favourite teams, although I'd prefer Portugal to win the semis and meet the Czech Republic in the finals.

I visited The Salar Jung Museum and Birla Mandir last afternoon, alongwith Nidhi and Shreya. Afterwards, we went to Cafe Coffee Day and then to Chandana Bros. at Ameerpet to buy Pochampally Cotton Sarees.
Bought 'Bisticks' from Almond House in the evening. Saw 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam' on television last night.

Google Labs. To read the Personalized search link.

'Poetry in Motion'.

People would compare that phrase with different meanings.

Some examples of Poetry in Motion.

A tall, slim and lovely girl walking in a sleeveless saree.
Sonali Bendre, in that lovely black salwar-kameez, in the song, "Aye
Naazneen Suno Naa" from the movie 'Dil Hi Dil Main' that was a remake of 'You've got Mail.'
Sonali Bendre, in that white salwar-kameez and orange dupatta in the song, 'Hoshwalon ko khabar kya Bekhudi Kya Cheez Hai' from Sarfarosh.

The silken strokes of VVS Laxman. Absolutely brilliant.
Those shots, stepping outside the crease to a ball pitched outside the legstump and caressing it through the covers, against the turn, for a boundary! Amazing!

The joy of biking on an empty road.
A walk in the rains, along the lush green fields.

My idea of 'Poetry in Motion'

Hanging out of a second-class compartment of an Indian Railways
express train; cutting across the country-side, on a cold, gray,
overcast winter morning; the wind on my face, taking the fresh air,
one hand on the door handle, hair swaying, face out of the train
looking ahead, going fast to somewhere!

I like hanging out of trains, enjoying the countryside and I make it a
point to spend most of the time enjoying the view. I don't read much
on train journeys. I look out of the window, or hang out of the train,
watching the fields go by, the vast, empty countryside, I feel like
spending time there!

Nayi hai Manzilain, Naye hai raaste, naya naya safar hai tere vaaste...
New destination and roads are calling you, there's a new journey for you!

I'm in office. I'm working today. Reached office at 11 a.m.
Went to drop Shreya to IIIT in the morning. It was overcast, there was a cool breeze blowing. I like the wind on my face while riding my bike. It makes me a 'Feel Good'

Ghazals of Mirza Ghalib. The Ghazals are after a few paragraphs from the top of the page.

Hazaaro khwahishain aisi ki har khwaish pe dam nikle
Bahut nikle mere armaan par phir bhi kam nikle

Thousands of desires and each one takes a lifetime
I've had a lot of desires and yet they are less!

Mohabbat mai nahin hai fark jeene aur marne ka
Usee ko dekhkar jeete hai jis kaafir pe dam nikle

There is no difference between living and dying in love
I live by the sight of her, that unfaithful taking whose name I die!

I'm feeling better at work today. For the first time in almost five months, I did some 'official' writing work! My manager is impressed, my colleagues are impressed. How can you work so fast? It's good! And the challenge for me is to find this kind of work daily!!

For a change. A good-looking, beautiful and lovely (omg! so many adjectives!!!!) girl in an orange salwar-suit came to our office in the afternoon. She'd come for conducting a survey on Employee Retention policies. She was doing some research on that. Pity I didn't get to interact with her, I'd have taught her a thing or two, about research. It was like sunlight in London (very rare), a girl in our office! She didn't interview me, only my manager and a senior colleague.

For the first time in so many months, feels like I've done some work! Wow! I like this kind of work, work that pushes me to achieve. I'm going for lunch now. I'm planning to complete a lot of work today and then work tomorrow too, so that I may impress upon my manager to give me a holiday on Monday! :-)

What is the point of working, when I can't get a holiday to meet my relatives? I don't have much work and whatever work I have, I'd be able to complete in a couple of days (over the weekend), still, I'm not being given holidays.

The company where I'd appreared for an interview is so slow in responding, they haven't given any information. I'll wait for a week or so, after that, I will try for opportunities in Bangalore, through naukri and other sites. I'm bored here.

I won't be going to Shirdi and Bombay over the weekend. I won't be getting leaves as we have a project review next week, so my Manager isn't allowing any leaves. So, I won't be able to attend Apurva's marriage. I have leaves but I won't be able to take them. This isn't right. I'm still planning to complete more than the given work by Saturday evening, so that I can leave on Sunday, although coming back on Tuesday would be difficult, I'll have to take two days off, which will create a 'Panga'.

Read today's Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad/Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Search result on singingfish for Eagles Tequila Sunrise MP3.

A short quiz, five questions about the Internet.

Now, Hotmail is going to offer 250 MB of free email space.

Gmail: 1GB
Rediffmail: 1GB
Yahoo.com: 100 MB (I have a yahoo.co.in account and I haven't yet got 100 MB of space there, I suppose, Yahoo has provided 100 MB of free space for only .com accounts and they'd be hopefully, gradually providing the same to all domains).
Hotmail: 250MB from the first week of July onwards. Or is it already there? I haven't checked my hotmail account.

Google AdWords

I've to read this - Google AdWords Frequently Asked Questions.

Click here to read eBay buys baazee.com for $50 mn

Last evening, on my way back home from office, I bought 'Bisticks' (Biscuit sticks with almonds) from Almond House, for Deb. He'd given me his cellphone number in that context.

I have this habit of remembering telephone numbers. I do note and save cellphone nos., but before that, I remember them.

Deb, my colleague, gave me his cellphone number in the afternoon, I remembered it, he asked me whether I wanted to note it and I said that I prefer to remember. Before going home, he asked me his cellphone number and I told him the same and he was surprised. I wasn't, because, that's how I remember tel. nos. For example if it is 98850, then Hutch and then break the five digit number in Hindi like if it is 72034, then hutch, and 'saat so bees' 'chautees' in Hindi, and, visualise it written in air in English alongwith with a photo of the person, now, I can read that number in front of me 98850 - 72034 easy, isn't it! That's my way of remebering telephone numbers.
Another good way is to say the number once or twice as soon as you get to know it and visualize it written in air with a photo of the person.

ResearchandMarkets.com - World's largest market research resource. (Paid, not free).

For my ready reference, my username on webmasterworld and search engine watch forums is wordsmith.

My Blog on Blogshares

My blog information on BlogShares.

For my ready reference.

Search Toolbars. (I'll give the links later)

Google, Alexa, Hotbar, Vivisimo, MSN, Yahoo, Teoma, Dogpile, Cnet Searchbar, Groowe (combined search toolbars, for example, google, yahoo, msn etc., in one toolbar), hotbot, overture, gigablast, altavista, page tracer, About.com, AOL, Ask Jeeves, Kanoodle, Monster Jobs, Barnes and Noble Shopping, Tucows, Download, iSearch, Gator, ixquick, ebay, Amzon, lycos, advanced searchbar, Trellian, MetaEureka, Gophoria, Copernic.

Also, search for Search Toolbars and Utilities for a complete list from searchenginewatch.com

Have you read, Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet?

These lines from the last chapter (The Farewell) are beautiful.

The noontide is upon us and our half waking has turned to fuller day, and we must part.
If in the twilight of memory we should meet once more, we shall speak again together and you shall sing to me a deeper song.
And if our hands should meet in another dream, we shall build another tower in the sky.
(These lines remind me of someone!)

I had Dum Aloo and two butter rotis for lunch and then had a sweet lassi at 'Persis' (Paradise). What did you have for lunch?

I had taken a long lunch break. Met Karishma and her Parents this afternoon. She's fat as compared to me and she looks old, that's my opinion. So does that mean, I'm Single and now, I've started 'Looking' for girls. Yes, it means that! No, not exactly, it doesn't mean that! Although, I've started the process.

Google Websearch Program alongwith Google AdSense.

Google WebSearch Program alongwith Google AdSense. Add a Google Search Box to your site. It displays Paid and Unpiad listings. Generate revenue through clicks on the Paid search results.
Need a Google AdSense Account (Register) for that.

This makes for interesting reading!

List of Oxymorons (Oxymora is the right word, it is the plural of oxymoron).
Oxymoron List.

Humour - Peanuts, Glasbergen, ucomics.com.

I'll write a post on Google's Advanced Search operators with examples and links very soon. I've read the undermentioned link and also searched on those lines. insubject: is a useful search operator for Google Groups.

To read all the ten pages from the link given below.

Googleguide.com's Advanced Search Operators page. Of Use. To read, understand and implement.

Links to various search engines. Faganfinder.

Search Toolbars & Utilities.

I am surfing Hawaii Pictures. Nice wallpapers.

I have filled the Performance Appraisal Form.
The appraisal would be done in the first week of July and there would be an increase in payscale from July onwards.

Appraisal Form - Thoughts

Section B, Point No.2 says,
"Commitment to Schedules"
Description: "Able to put in the best to deliver the outputs as defined with quality."
Such a big sweeping statement!!!! What does this mean?
I bet even the HR Manager would not be able to explain. They'd have copied this from some HR manual! ;-)

Let me try and explain, as per what I understood of those words.

"Able to put in the best" - Alright, understood, you give your 100%.
(I know I haven't given it :-) or else, I wouldn't be here!! :-))

"To deliver outputs as defined with quality."
Now what does this mean?

Does it mean you give the results as suggested by the quality people, or you give results as per a set standard given by the quality department, or you give the answers, results as per what quality says.

Now, who/what/where is 'Quality'?
If they define something, is that always right?

Take the overall sentence, "Able to put in the best to deliver the outputs as defined with quality."

Let me see if this is what it means...

The quality dept. has given some guidelines, so you put in your 100% and perform at your optimum level and deliver the results on those lines.

Now, what if I don't perform to my optimum and still get the results?
What if, there is no Quality department? The HR copied this sentence from some place and while copy/pasting forgot to read! :-)
What if, I don't want to put in 100% because without going to my optimum level, I'm able to deliver the results.
Who decides what are the best results?

Only a few words, at the wrong place, create such a mess.

Anyways, I'm writing this on my blog.

Like an obedient employee, I read the sentence, didn't think much about it, yes, I didn't think much about it while filling the form, entered a number, 4 out of 5 and moved ahead. That's what one has to do!

I'm doing all the thinking, on my blog.

I don't care what hike I get, maybe 10 or 15 percent or more or less!
It will be a figure in the bank account at the end of the month!

I'm waiting for a reply from the company where I'd appeared for an interview in the second week of June. In the meantime, I've sent my CV to a Pune based company. I'm waiting for their reply, let's see.

I won't be in Hyderabad from this Saturday evening to wednesday morning. I'd be going to Bombay for Apurva's marriage.
Atleast, I'm planning too. Then don't know. If I ask, then definitely, I won't get a holiday, there's a project review etc. in the first week of July.

ColorQuiz - The Free, Fun Five Minute Personality Test. Select the colors, that's it!! 
BoredGuru.com --> Articles.

A beautiful Quote on Rain!

Rain! whose soft architectural hands have
power to cut stones, and chisel to shapes of grandeur the very mountains.
~ Henry Ward Beecher

I received a Birthday Card and a bouquet of red roses from our office.
Our HR Executive, Renu gave me the bouquet and card.

"A Birthday wish for you because you mean so much to us."

To check this link.
RSSfeeds.com - The Complete Online RSS Feeds Directory.

I gave a treat to my colleagues. Samosa, Jalebi & Chamcham bought from the sweets shop near our office.

Sudam's Birthday was on the 3rd of June. Sudam, if you're reading this, Belated Birthday Wishes! I've also sent you a mail.

I received a mail from Sudam, he was with me at Seed, Pune. He's working as a lecturer in a New Bombay college. "Are you following Euro 2004?" So far, I wasn't, the cable operator wasn't showing ESPN. Now that he has, I will start following it. Although, I doubt whether I'd be able to see the late night matches.

A Thought for Yesterday

You didn't remember my birthday for even a year!
I won't forget yours for a lifetime!

This goes into my database of original ones! :-)

Dining Links:
Etiquette, Tips, Pizza.

I came to office at 9 this morning.

Last night had dinner with Achal & Arpee at Pizza Hut, Banjara Hills.
The service was slow, one reason could be that it was almost closing time.
Had a very late lunch last afternoon. Got Rice & Manchurian packed from Chopsticks at Srinagar Colony.

Yesterday was another day in life. It was my birthday, no one made me feel it.
Achal got a cake at midnight.
In the morning, the least they could have done was to spend sometime with me. We could have gone for an outing or to a park or for a ride. Instead they choose to do house-cleaning and then had lunch at 3:45 and then they went out in the evening. I didn't like it.

I haven't told Achal. I did feel bad. Anyways, that was yesterday and it's over! :-)

A Thought for Today

Love me the most when I deserve it the least, that's when I need it the most.

Read this nice print advertisement in today's Times of India.
(This is an advt. for Indiatimes Spirituality).

I like the inspirational and exhorting tone of this advertisement.

Read it, it is fantastic! A good piece of copy-writing.

In a universe scattered with zillions of galaxies,
is a small galaxy called the Milky Way,
clustered with billions of stars.

Rotating around one of its small stars
is a tiny planet called Earth,
further divided into continents and countries.

In those countries are cities with proper localities
criss-crossed by streets on which there are buildings with many floors, and on the fifth (third!) floor of one building is your office.

That office has so many departments,
further broken up into cubicles
and in the far left (right!) corner is one such cubicle
with your name written on it.

Does your vision end there, in that cubicle, in front of your computer screen?

Or?

No! My vision doesn't end there!!!

It's a big world out there and I'm going to explore it to the fullest!

I bought a Philips DVD (CD/VCD/DVD) Player (DVD320) last evening from TMC, Begumpet. I bought it for Rs. 3990/-

I'm not in office in the afternoon.

Photo Albums
Yahoo Photos, Ofoto, Fotango, Snapfish.
Search related:http://www.ofoto.com/.

What did you have for lunch?
I had rumaali-roti, after a long-time and, alu-gobi.

It is overcast here. It will rain. It has been overcast for the last week or so, however it hasn't rained heavily.

I'm planning to buy a CD/VCD player in a couple of days.

I haven't yet received any reply from the HR of the company where I'd given an interview last week. They said a week or two, so let's see.

I've uploaded Dadi's pics. on my Yahoo Photos site. Check them here.
Check the Dadi_Hyderabad album.

Rediffmail Offers 1 GB of Free Storage Space!

Gmail has competition. Rediffmail is offering 1 GB of Free space and one can send and receive attachments upto 10 MB. I have used only 0.53% of my 1 GB on rediffmail. Rediffmail works with IE5 and other browsers too. Gmail is compatible with IE6. Still, I'll prefer Gmail.

Magic of the Net.

I received a mail from Sameer from London. He's a Punekar working in London. He's planning to come to Hyderabad and wanted some information.

So Sameer, if you're reading this blog, here's the info. that you enquired for.

Hi Sameer,

Good to receive your mail.

Sameer, nice to know that you may consider an offer from a Hyderabad based company.

To answer your questions,

Hyderabad is a very nice city. It is very clean as compared to other Indian cities. I would say it is one of the cleanest Indian cities.

If you're planning to join a Hi-Tech City based software company, then the best areas for you would be Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills which are upmarket areas.

For example, Jubilee Hills has Bungalows, with rents ranging from Rs. 7500/ to Rs. 15000/-

Banjara Hills has rents ranging from Rs. 5000/- for a 1 BHK to Rs. 12000/- plus. Banjara Hills has bungalows as well as Apartments.

These two areas are on the higher side. They are the best areas to stay in Hyderabad.

Nearer to Hi-Tech City, Madhapur is a good area. It was on the outskirts of Hyderabad, but now, it has expanded a lot and lots of houses are available on rent in and around Madhapur. Madhapur is comparatively cheap with Rs. 7000/- to Rs. 8000/- good enough for a Three Bedroom House!!!

Madhapur would be a good area if you're interested in a place near your office. It would be say 10-15 mins. from Hi-Tech City.

Hi-Tech city itself has two part, one comprises of the twin buildings, a kilometre apart of Cyber Towers and Cyber Gateway. Beyond that, say a kilometre or so, are the Madhapur Software Technology Parks which house the offices of lots of Software Companies.

Pics: Hitech City, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.


CyberTowers. 


Cyber Gateway. 


Pune to Hyderabad is an overnight journey by Bus and Train.

By Regular Bus it takes about 12/13 hours. Same as a Train. There are frequent trains and buses from Hyd to Pune and vice-versa.

By Flight Pune to Hyd is about an hour or so.

The best way is to catch an evening Volvo A/C. Bus (Ticket range is between Rs. 600 to Rs. 800/- depending on the season) and reach Pune early in the morning on Saturday and similarly catch a late-night Volvo A/c. Bus from Pune and reach Hyd. on Monday morning.

Hyderabad is a very clean city, especially, if you're around Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills and other areas, you will really appreciate the wide, clean roads and the greenery.

Everyone understands Hindi in Hyderabad. I haven't felt the need to learn Telugu.

Regarding food, if you're a Rice Lover :-) then you're in for good times!!!
Hyderabad is popular for its Biryani.

Besides that there are lots n'lots of eating places, new restaurants opening every other week, new malls coming up and food is not at all a problem.

If you prefer North Indian food or plain roti-sabzi-dal-chawal then there are Dhabas around Madhapur where you may eat or else there are lots of restaurants around Madhapur, Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills that offer different cuisines like Punjabi, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Andhra Meals etc.

Hope this helps.

My Yahoo id is chirayu20. Add me to your Yahoo Messenger list of friends.

Keep in touch!

Wish you All the Best!

Take Care and God Bless!

Regards,
Chirayu

Changed the Blog Template

This looks good. A white background always looks good! Plus, the links are highlighted better. I've also added Google Site Search on this blog.

June is the month of birthdays. Today is Sai's birthday. 13th was Pooja's, 15th Kamal's, 16th Ganesh's and 28th is Punit's birtdhay!

Poem: She Walks in Beauty

Units registered under STPI, Hyderabad.

Google Guide's Advanced Search Operators Link.
Google Web Search Features. Google Advanced Search Operators.
I'm mentioning this link once again.

I need to put a Free, customizable Google Site and Web Search Box on my Blog so that I don't have to search for the links that I have mentioned here.

I have put a Free Site search box on my Blog. Check the right-hand side of this blog. Now, this blog has it's own search. There are 122 pages of this blog indexed by Google.

FRIEND - First Relative In Every Difficulty.

Read this acronym written on a car window while waiting for the signal at Begumpet Police Lines.

AllSpirit Poetry Index, Love Poems.
Bjorgul - Search the major search engines from one page.
Singing Fish for audio and video searches. A very handy resource for listening to songs online.

A Thought for Today

'Hope' is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all.
~ Emily Dickinson

From 10 million light years to 100 attometers.
From the Infinite to the Infinitesimal.
Check this Amazing Slideshow from The Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, US.

How small we are, in this big, vast, wide, world!

I have uploaded pics. of last week's visit to Golconda fort.
Check the pics. here. Check the Hyd_Golconda Album. The album also has pics. taken at home and around KBR park. I'll upload some pics. on this blog too.

Petrol has become dearer from today.
Earlier I used to fill 2.63 litres for Rs. 100/- now it is 2.495 litres for Rs. 100/-

Gmail Keyboard Shortcuts.

c- compose
r - reply
f - forward
/- search
n - next mesaage
p - previous message
k - Move to new conversation
j - Move to old conversation
y - archive

The difference between a Conversation and a Message?

A Conversation is a Group of Messages.
A Message is a single mail, a part of a group of mails, that make a conversation.

u - Return to conversation list
x - select conversation
s- star a message or a conversation
a- reply all
o or enter - Opens the Message or Conversation

Keys: (tab) and then (enter) - To send a message

Yahoo's Free Email Service Upgraded to 100 MB.
Watching Google Like a Hawk!

Time to add some colour to my blog, alongwith links.

Add Pictures to your Blog with Picasa's Hello Software.

This is my pic. Chirayu

Posted by Chirayu with Hello Software

Wow! I've three more Gmail Invites!!!! Anyone interested in a Gmail Account. Let me know. What's the deal? Dates over the weekend! :-) I've sent one Gmail invite to Arpee. Now, I've two more left with me.

I reached home in Hyderabad at 08:15 this morning. It was raining continuously in Pune throughout yesterday.

On Sunday afternoon, I went for a bike ride. Madhapur to IIIT to Gachibowli to Lingampally, turn left from there go through the railway crossing to the Hyd - Pune (NH9) highway, till Miyapur and beyond.

Sunday evening started for Pune with Dadi. Gurdev had come to drop us to the station. Gurdev told me that it was Pooja's birthday (13th June). I wished her. If I'd been at home then we'd have gone out somewhere. The train started on time. Reached Pune the next morning around 10. It takes about 12/13 hours by train while it takes 12 hours by regular bus and only ten hours by Volvo Bus, between Hyd. and Pune. In Pune it was drizzling since morning. Road construction work is going on along the Pune-Nagar highway. The roads of Pune are in very bad shape! Didn't go out anywhere. Spent sometime on the terrace. That's my favourite place! Started for Hyd. at 10 last night. Reached Ameerpet at 8 this morning. Took exactly ten hours and that too after a half an hour traffic jam on the outskirts of Pune.

It's 10:05 on a cloudy morning here in Secunderabad. I'm in office. Typing this. One day without the blog and I wanted to get to office, atleast to write my Blog!

Today is Punit's Final Project Oral. His last day of graduate studies. He'd be joining a Pune-based software company, as a Trainee Software Engineer from the 1st of July.
Wish you All the Best Punit! Good Luck and God Speed! All the Best, Bhai!

Arpee's brother, Parth is going to Ahmedabad this afternoon. I'd bought sweets for him from Pune. He was sleeping, so said bye to him. I've to collect the pics. taken at Golconda Fort last Saturday. I'll collect them in the evening, on my way back home from office.

Visit to Golconda Fort on Saturday afternoon.

Visited Golconda fort today. 12th June 2004. Saturday.

Before coming to Hyderabad, I'd decided I wanted to visit Golconda fort. It took a long time, almost, eight-nine months, still, one fine day, yesterday, I finally went to Golconda fort.

I went to Golconda fort on Saturday afternoon alongwith Achal, Arpee and Parth. We had two bikes, Achal & Arpee on one and Parth and I on another. It was a good outing. We had taken a guide, saw the fort, came to know about it's history, took lots of pics. (I'll put them online next week), had fun, enjoyed the evening! There's a Sound and Light show at the Golconda fort and we sat through that also. It was very good. The entire fort covered with various shades of orangeish red, yellow, green abd blue lighting with the story of Golconda fort being told in the background.

Visiting forts always amazes me about the engineering skills of those years. Some points worth noting.

1. Communications: You clap at the start of the fort and the sound can be heard a hundred and eight feet away (yes, a good 480 feet away!!) at the top of the fort. We went to the top of the fort and we clapped from there and ther person at the entrance of the fort clapped and yes, we could hear the sound, lod and clear! Amazing way of communication, still working fine! Marvellous!

2. Architecture and Sound: The King's courtroom was madce in such a way that while sitting the view is obscured, so that only the window is seen and not the head and if one gets up and tries to throw something, the wall is constructed such that nothing can be directlyb thrown towards the window and even if one claps the whole room vibrates with the sound, leave aside clapping, even if one swishes one's shirt, the sound magnifies and vibrates. Amazing sound architecture!

3. Echo Points: Call from a place and the sound echoes.

4. Air-Conditioned Room: At the top of the fort, the rooms of the king and queen, they're just stone walls now, obviously, still, the cool breeze that comes at anytime of the day is to be experienced to be believed. Amazing architecture. They've made the entrance wide open and the path leading to it very narrow and the wind dashes against the mountains, swirls, creates its own rotational motion, without a fan (wow) and comes inside the room and at any time of the day or night, summer of winter the room is airy. Now, they keep cold-drinks at that place!!!! Wow! :-)

5. The water facility. Pipes taking the water from down to the top of the fort. The water being tested (for contamination etc. by horses before going to the rooms.

So many other things. I gtg now. I'll write later.

I'll visit the fort again. I like visiting forts. The next time, I'll take a book too and read about Golconda Fort and then go!

The main difference between Sinhagad Fort in Pune (it is in absolute ruins) and Golconda is that, Golconda is a Tourist attraction. It is more of a tourist spot, understanding history, the light and sound show, while Sinhagad Fort in Pune is a picnic spot. The ride up Sinhagad fort, especially, when you have a gal clinging to you, is what is great! Sinhagad is a place where you go with friends, enjoy the breeze, enjoy the bike ride. Golconda is a fort in ruins with so much to see, learn, observe!

I enjoyed last evening! :-)

I'm going to Pune in the evening. I'm taking Dadi to Pune. I'll be back in Hyderabad on Tuesday morning.

Yesterday's interview was good. I've done well. I'm going to get a call, I know that. They've said a week's time. Did negotiate about salary too. The work profile is interesting. The salary will be more, hopefully and times are good for me! So cheer up, Brother! I'm going in search of my dreams and slowly getting there! :-)

Btw, had a good discussion with Achal, last afternoon. We talked in general. The problem (not the right word!), Achal's Thought Process and my thought process are totally different. I respect the opinion of everyone and each individual has a right to his/her opinions, so nothing against that, but because someone says this has to be done this way, it doesn't always have to be. Right and wrong, happy and sad, good and bad are not lines that you can demarcate them. Achal & I, we're like that, we discuss things, although Achal gets extreme, either he thinks too conservative or else blows up and talks to me in extremes, he didn't even look at me most of the times, anyways, I didn't mind. We can discuss passionately, it's always discussion, never arguments and the next moment crack a crazy joke and laugh! :-)

I'm too hyper. I don't get tired easily. After going for the interview, coming home, going to the netcafe, going out, then going to Golconda, running, climbing, laughing, clicking photos, standing on walls, going to the photo studio, the same evening for developing the roll, buying a new roll, going at 85+ on LV Prasad road, stopping by for a Lemon candy, going home, taking a walk for half an hour, having dinner and then again taking a walk and then I wanted to go out! I need sweat rolling down my forehead, I need freedom, happiness! Yesterday was a good, morning, afternoon, evening, late evening and night.

I'm at the netcafe writing this. I'll go home. Achal, Arpee, Dadi and Parth have an 'Upvaas' (Fast) today. I've never understood this thing about fasts. We are eating, ok, something else, and it is a fast. We shouldn't call it that. It's only a change of menu for the day, instead of dal-roti and sabji, eat something else. That way!

Thoughts about Parth, later on. Must say, Ahmedabadis are strange. (Hey, no offence meant to anyone! :-) Chill! :-))
It is difficult to find a hotel, restaurant, eating-joint in Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh that serves food without onions and garlic. The one place I know of is 'Utsav' at Secunderabad, a good twenty kilometres away from our place. We could have easily gone out for dinner last evening, but didn't go as Parth doesn't eat onions and garlic, so Arpee made 'Pohe' at home and we had 'Sev-pohe' and tea!

Enough for now. More later. Bye for now! Cheers! Chirayu

I'm thinking of going to a company in Pune. I'm in Pune on Monday. It is a working day, so I may as well go and meet them! Depends on how tired am I! :-)

The interview went off very well. More about it later. They'd let me know in a week's time. This will be a good break for me.

I've taken the test this morning. It was a half an hour test of thirty questions on DHTML, JavaScript, XML, Web Services and I hadn't studied for anything, although it was easy and I've done fair enough, but not very well. They'll give the result by 10:30. I'm waiting. I've been short-listed for the interview.

For my ready reference. Google's Form S-1 Link is on my 17th May post.
BlogPulse.com
Article: Simple Writing.

No, I'm not going to send the mail written below. Although, I may send it next Tuesday.

I'll be 28 next weekend. I'm resigning from this job in the evening. I have an interview tomorrow. I'm going to Pune on Sunday evening. I may not come back to Hyderabad, even if I get the job after tomorrow's interview. I want to join a gym. I want to play football in the rains. I want to go for a looooong bike ride. I'm bored! I want to take a vacation. Go to Goa. Go to Sinhagad Fort. Visit Bushy Dam near Khandala. Visit Khadakwasla Lake.
Go for a very looooong bike ride with someone special!

Last year, on my birthday, I'd made a list of things that I'd like to do in the next one year. It's time to review that list and check the status. Have I been able to do all that I'd mentioned on my list or quite a lot or very little.
I'll put that list online in a few days.

So, I'm resigning this evening. Yes, I do have a notice period and all that, but, I don't care. I don't mind, not being paid for this month.

Here is the draft of my resignation letter.

Hi,

Sub: Resignation

This is Chirayu from Secunderabad.

Please accept my Resignation from the position of a Content Developer.
Today is my last day in this office. I won't report for work from Monday onwards.

Please let me know of the formalities to be completed, if any?
Also, let me know whether I'd be getting the salary for these thirteen days?

I'm bored at work. I want to do something else, hence the decision to move from this place. I'm planning to join an e-learning/knowledge management company.

Thanks for all the help. I appreciate it!

God Bless!

Regards,
Chirayu

"In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities."

So, I've written the draft. Now, I've got to send this through mail in the evening. Will I do it? Yes, I want to. Although, rationally, it would be foolish! :-) Leaving one job without having another in hand. I want to be unemployed for a few days, atleast one! :-)
I'll take the interview tomorrow and then decide whether I want to work in Hyderabad or try in Pune or some other place. I haven't worked in Bombay. I want to work in Bombay. Bombay is my kind of a city.

I've written above that I'm going to send this mail. Even I don't know whether I will. It will be a spur of the moment decision in the evening. Although, I don't think, it's that big an issue. If I want to go, then, it's my life, it's my pace and I decide what I want to do with it!

Any of you reading this, working in e-learning, content development, knowledgement management, online research, internet marketing, search engine optimization, web design and usability, web development etc. please let me know, if you have to outsource your projects from US or any other place to India. I'm interested in doing Freelance work. Ultimately I do want to work on my own. Start something of my own.

I have to register on elance.

A Collection of (mainly) Special Search Engines.
Searchability: Guides to Specialized Search Engines (with Descriptions).

Link: Dinesh Prabhu's Urdu Dictionary.
This is for my ready reference.

Google Advanced Search Operators.
I didn't know about intitle and inurl before reading the above link.

Examples of intitle and inurl searches.

intitle:Meta Search Engines - Searches for the first word, Meta, in this example in the title of the page and the next words, Search Engines, anywhere on the page.

Similarly, for inurl:SEO Message Boards - Searches for SEO in the url (web site address) and for the next words, Message Boards, anywhere on the page.

ISEDB.com: Internet Search Engine Database.

I want to read the book, 'Google Hacks', does anyone have a copy?

Amazon's A9.com Search Engine.

An Interesting Article: How many Google Machines?

Football: Schedule of Euro 2004 to be held in Portugal from June 12 to July 04.

Jeevan kya hai... Tez hawa mai teer chalaana hai.

A beautiful line of a song from the film, 'Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin'

(This Night has No Dawn)

Jeevan Kya Hai... What is Life
Tez hawa mai... in strong wind
Teer chalaana hai... shooting an arrow

Jeevan kya hai tez hawa mai teer chalaana hai
Life is shooting an arrow in strong wind!

Words. Beautiful quote. Pure Romanticism :-)

A Lovely Thought for Today

If words were leaves on an autumn forest floor
Oh what a bonfire mine would make,

If words were little drops of water,
You would drown if I said "I love you."

Time for a quick quote.

Always be a first-rate version of yourself rather than a second-rate version of someone else!

You're never as good as everyone tells you when you win, you're never as bad as everyone tells you when you lose, you have to believe in yourself! (Have I written this before, I might have. I like this quote very much and I always keep it in mind, in times of successes and failures, which are always relative, isn't it!)

Lyrics: Stairway to Heaven, Hotel California

Anyone (only for single girls :-)) to give me company for a late evening show of HumTum or Main Hoon Na at Prasads?
Let me know.
Last evening, I'd reserved a ticket for the late-evening show of Yuva, I didn't go as I didn't have company. I won't go this evening too, or else, I'll go with Parth, Arpee's brother who's coming to Hyderabad today.

On the right hand side of this page, I've put a list of Blogs that I read off and on. I haven't met most of these people. I like to read their blogs. Hope those of you who visit my blog and find a link to your blog, don't mind!

Louis L'Amour Quotes.

Up to a point a man's life is shaped by environment, heredity, and movements and changes in the world about him. Then there comes a time when it lies within his grasp to shape the clay of his life into the sort of thing he wishes to be. Only the weak blame parents, their race, their times, lack of good fortune, or the quirks of fate.
Everyone has it within his power to say,
"This I am today; that I will be tomorrow."
~ Louis L'Amour

He might never really do what he said, but at least he had it in mind.
He had somewhere to go.

Knowledge is like money: to be of value it must circulate, and in circulating it can increase in quantity and, hopefully, in value.

No memory is ever alone; it's at the end of a trail of memories, a dozen trails that each have their own associations.

No one can get an education, for of necessity education is a continuing process.

To disbelieve is easy; to scoff is simple; to have faith is harder.

Too often I would hear men boast of the miles covered that day, rarely of what they had seen.
~ Louis L'Amour

Online Booking has commenced at Imax Prasads.
Check the link http://www.prasadz.com/
Registration Required to Book Tickets. Tel. No. and Driving Licence is mandatory.
Payment by cash at the counter. One has to reach an hour before the start of the show.

A Google Search Tip. Related Search.

The best way to find sites similar to your query is to do a related (Similar Pages) search.

I searched for "Search Engine Forums" as a string (phrase) search.
A string (phrase) search is done by enclosing the words in double quotes, as compared to a regular keyword search.

The first search result for the above search query was that of searchengineforums.com
I did a related search on that and got most of the other sites related to Search Engine Forums.

Google Related (Similar Pages) Search Example: related:www.searchengineforums.com
The same results are obtained by clicking on the 'Similar Pages' link in the description of the search result.

The above search query means, search for the sites related to the web site (similar to, like the) web site of searchengineforums.com

I've received a call from the company where I'd taken a test in the last week of May. They've called me for another round of Test and then interview/s this Saturday.
Now this is my chance and I'm going to take it. Again, I won't go to Pune. I haven't even tried for a job in Pune and here is one waiting for me in Hyderabad! I think, I'll remain in Hyderabad. Now to study for the test, or do I need to? Just go ahead and take it. It will be a good change for me, plus a bigger company, although that was never my consideration, still, it's a good chance and I'm going to grab it!

Article: Search Engine Watch Forums launched.
Link: Search Engine Watch Forums. Registration required.

WebmasterWorld Forums Registration required.

MESA Meta Email Search Agent. Email Search.

Technorati: Book Talk. The books bloggers around the world are talking about.

W3Schools.com: Free DHTML, XML, Javascript Tutorials.

I sent three Gmail invites this morning. Now, I have none left.

This means Google gives Gmail invites on a monthly basis.

I had sent two Gmail invites in the first week of May and sent three more today, in the second week of June. So the next set of Gmail invites would be available for me in the second or third week of July. I'm planning to swap that. So any of you who are interested in a Gmail account in July keep in touch with me! :-)

Cheers!
Chirayu

It's raining outside! I want to play football in the rains!

You will fill up my senses like a night in the forest.
You fill up my senses like a walk in the rains.
You fill up my senses like a mountain in springtime.
Read Anne's Song by John Denver (I've added two paragraphs)

An Inspirational Quote for Today.

I touch the future, I teach!
~ Christa McAuliffe

I miss no one. Then why am I feeling lonely?
That means I'm missing someone. Whom?
I'm missing myself!
That's a good joke.
No, it isn't!
I'm missing my carefree nature.
Since when have I started thinking so much about life, job, career, friends and, so on. Time will bring everything.

Here is a quote to cheer myself!

Nike Advertisement.

Life isn't about keeping score.

Life isn't about keeping score.
It's not about how many people call you and it's not about who you've dated, are dating, or haven't dated at all.
It isn't about who you've kissed, what sport you play, or which girl or guy likes you. It's not about your shoes or your hair or the color of your skin or where you live or go to school.
In fact, it's not about grades, money, clothes, or colleges that accept you.
Life isn't about if you have lots of friends, or if you are alone, and it's not about how accepted or unaccepted you are.
Life just isn't about that.
But life is about who you love and who you hurt.
It's about how you feel about yourself.
It's about trust, happiness, and compassion.
It's about sticking up for your friends and replacing inner hate with love. Life is about avoiding jealousy, overcoming ignorance, and building confidence.
It's about what you say and what you mean. It's about seeing people for who they are and not what they have.
Most of all, it's about choosing to use your life to touch someone else's in a way that could never have been achieved otherwise.
These choices are what life's about

Driving on Hyderabad's Roads.

Being from Pune, I didn't have to make major adjustments, still Hyderabad's driving takes some beating. Cars, buses, motor-cycles, scooters, mopeds, autos, cycles all jostling with each other trying to find a way out of non-existing space. Even with six lane roads, good street-lighting, signals working, traffic policemen on duty, still the sheer density of traffic is such that those big six lane roads too need to be widened five-fold to take in all the traffic.

Even after so many flyovers, such wide roads, still the S.P. Road (Anand Theatre, Begumpet, Lifestyle), Somajiguda, Panjagutta Circle, Nagarjuna Circle are forever in a state of traffic jam. S.P. Road is the road that connects the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. In the morning it takes me about 25 minutes to reach office. In the evenings, depends on what time I start for home, anytime between 6:30 and 8:30 it takes atleast 45 minutes to reach home. Last Wednesday, it took me almost an hour and fifteen minutes. There are so many vehicles in Hyderabad. The city needs more flyovers. There are quite a few of them (four, I suppose on S.P. Road itself!!) still the traffic is out-of-proportion.

Just imagine what would be the case, if Hyderabad's traffic would be on Bangalore's roads? :-)) It will take two days to clear the traffic jam! :-))

Our cities are expanding like anything and infrastructure is lagging behind.

Okay, now to the fine art of driving on Hyderabad's roads.

In a humorous way, always be ready to swear and drive fast.
Those who want to stop have brakes, why to bother! Hmm.. :-)

On a serious note, you never know from where an auto is going to turn, or from which bylane a car may suddenly appear or why would a car drive on the wrong side of the road in peak-hour traffic or why would someone park their car on the flyover in peak hour traffic, trucks breakdown, always on the bridge, parked autos turn and cross to the other side of the road without giving signals. Signals are for those who are on the right side of the road, isn't it :-) for those on the wrong side, it is understood they're going to the other side, is it so? :-))

It's fun!

The worst is cars, trucks, buses breaking-down on flyovers. That creates major traffic jams.

I want to read this blog.
Poems, poetry, sayings, quotes etc.

I need to change my work profile. I'm not learning anything. I am stagnating.
I am not doing any work. I don't have anything to do. No one is doing any work, although won't be right for me to comment on my colleagues, I'll keep this to myself. I come to office at around 09:15, I reached office at 09:45 this morning. I surfed a few sites, read the newspapers online, checked my Gmail account, checked some job sites, read blogs, surfed sites, checked pics, did some searches on google, wrote some posts, checked my blog and it was time for lunch. After lunch, its 02:05 pm on a sunny afternoon here in Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. I'm in office typing this.
I need to seriously search for a job, most probably, in Pune.

For the time being, I'm going to download and chat on Mirc.

I should be able to answer these questions.

1. Why do you want to change your job?
Ans. I'm interested in the fields of online writing, internet marketing, online research and allied activities. I joined my job as a Content Development, however, my work profile is more related to content research, collection and aggregation with very little or almost no writing work. I need a change. A change of work profile. I want to get in the e-learning industry. I want an opportunity to work in e-learning, instructional design and related areas.

2. Do you have Instructional Design/e-Learning experience?
Ans. No, I don't have Instructional Design experience. However, I'm a very fast learner and with my experience of web authoring, online writing and my fluent and effortless way of writing I would easily be able to learn Instructional Design. Right now, I'm learning Instructional Design from various resources on the net. I have done web content authoring and development work. I'm looking for a chance to work in the field of e-Learning.

3. Why do you want to join an e-Learning company?
Ans. I like to teach. I like technology. I have a techno-commercial profile. I have good English communication skills. I am a good writer. I want to do this work. I want to teach people. I want to use the power of technology and global communication to impact the lives of people and I'm not merely saying these words. I was earlier working with a Gaming/Gambling based ITES company from there I'm now working with a small software company working on a start-up project. My line of reasoning is, "If all the Gambling Companies in the world close, it is a Business and there will be losses, however it won't impact the life of people, but even if one child remain illiterate it does affect the world." I don't want to waste my life earning 'x' amount at the end of the month. I want to live my life to change the world in my own small way. This is what I want to do. I want to be an online teacher.

4. You keep on changing jobs, saying you're not satisfied with your work profile. If that is the case then you will leave our company in six months.
Ans. It is a question of Progress v/s. Stability. Stability necessarily does not always mean Progress. In the same context, Speed and Change also do not always mean Progress, however my line of thinking is, "If I like to do something and I want to do something so who's stopping me from going there?" If I get a chance to work in an e-Learning company, I'd prefer to stay with the company and learn. However, yes, I cannot say whether I will leave the job after six months or I will not leave the job. It depends on what I have learnt and am I happy with what I am doing?

5. You don't have experience in e-Learning/Instructional Design. You don't know about these concepts?
Ans. Theory can always be learnt. And, after that if the work is intellectually stimulating and that which I like to do, then, as I mentioned earlier, I'm a very fast learner and I'll definitely pick things fast. I'm the kind of a person who doesn't like to be taught, but likes to learn. I don't like to be taught. I like to learn.

I'd taken a test at a company in the last week of May and they haven't yet updated me about the further progress. Why cannot HR send a simple mail and inform. There may be three reasons. One - They're too busy sorting applications that they don't have the time to check their mails, two, they haven't yet started the process of recruitment, they're waiting for more CVs to flood their mailboxes, three, they're too lazy to reply.. whatever!

I'm not feeling satisfied with what I am doing.

Right now, I'm writing such long posts on my blogs, updating them frequently, spending time reading poems, quotes, sayings, newspapers online, articles etc. That is beacuse I have the time to do it. I don't mind checking my mail twice a day and updating my blog only over the weekend, provided I have that work to do.

It's a Dilbert scenario. I'm getting paid for doing nothing.
I like work. I'm hyper about work. I can't sit idle. And, here I am, because I'm getting paid, wasting ten hours of my life daily!

Acchi khasi aaram ki naukri hai, kayko chodneka.
It's a well-paying, easy-going job, why to leave?
Wohi to vanda hai, apneko aaram pasand nahin hai...
That's the problem, I don't like an easy-going job!

I want to work in Pune. The loneliness at office, at home is getting to me.
I'm in office for about ten hours. Reach home by 8 in the evening. Then again, I don't have anything to do. Earlier, I used to watch TV and used to pass time. Now, Arpee is there. She is preparing for tests/interviews and she studies in the evenings, so I don't watch TV. So that source of entertainment too is over. Yes, I can go for bowling, I can go for movies, take a walk in the park, visit gardens, go for shopping, buy books etc, do so many things, but again who's there to do all that with me. I'm all alone.

What did you have for lunch today?
I had the usual stuff, Three tandoori rotis, alu-palak and lassi.
Daily for the past two months I've been having lunch on almost similar lines.
Three/four Rotis, one sabji (Alu-gobi, alu-palak, alu-mutter, dal fry, alu 65, alu-chole, mix. veg., noodles) and lassi.

Why doesn't Abhishek Bachchan have a Hit film to his name? He's a good actor. I have seen a lot of his films. So what if he can't dance like Hrithik, still Abhishek Bachchan is special. I've seen Yuva, it is a good film. For a change the setting is of Kolkata and not Bombay. Abhishek's character is well-etched. The weakness is in Ajay Devgan's and Vivek's characterisations. The storyline falls there.

A thought on the spur of the moment.

In Bangalore, on RadioCity91 FM, there is this character Miss LingoLeela who teaches a new 'Kannada' word daily and then her parting line is, "Never lose an opportunity to use today's word." A thought on similar lines, "Never lose an opportunity to keep your mouth shut." :-)

Another one, "Never have second thoughts on a third opinion."
This goes into my database of original ones.

A humorous quote by Mark Twain.
"It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid rather than open it and remove all doubts!"

Read a humorous quote, if I recollect correctly this is from, "I moved your cheese" a spoof on "Who moved my cheese" which deals with change and attitude.

It's about attitude. "What will you think if the glass is half-empty?"
This is hilarious. :-)
"We don't care whether the glass is half-empty or half-full, as long as it is half anything, it is time for another round!!" :-))

On Writing University Exam Papers.

My way of writing University exam papers was simple.
Start from the first line of the first page and end at the last line of the last page. Fill the sixteen pages of foolscap paper. No one reads the answers, who has the time to go through crap written by thousands of people, and being paid peanuts for that checking. I always used to write sixteen pages and was assured of atleast sixty percent marks.

Link: List of e-Learning Blogs.
To surf links from the above site.

I'm having a bad backache. I won't say Terrible. Nothing is too tough!
I need to go to a doctor, maybe this weekend! My back is paining a lot. It really is. It could be because of the continuous sitting in office and the daily 30 kms bike ride (to and fro).
This backache has been a constant problem, although sometimes it is severe, sometimes it isn't. I've been having these backaches for the past so many years. I need to do something about it.

Could this be because of too much of tension or am I thinking too much about it.

I'm surfing Dan Heller's Photo Gallery.
A nice collection of nature pics. from around the world.

Links:
Congress & Allies. New Government's Common Minimum Program.
President Dr. A.P.J. Kalam's Address to the joint session of Parliament on 7th June 2004.

Whose birthday is it today? Ganesh's Birthday is on the 16th of June.

A combination of two quotes. One from Rabindranath Tagore and another from Laurence Hope.

My heart, the bird of wilderness, has found its sky in your eyes.
~ Rabindranath Tagore

Give me your love, for a day, a night, an hour; if the wages of sin are death, I'm willing to pay!
~ Laurence Hope, The Complete Love Lyrics.

The Birds of Wilderness ~ Rabindranath Tagore

My heart, the bird of the wilderness,
has found its sky in your eyes:

They are the cradle of the morning,
they are the kingdom of the stars;
My songs are lost in their depths.

Let me but soar in that sky,
in its lonely immensity!

Let me but cleave its clouds
and spread wings in its sunshine.

A Beautiful Poem.
On the Seashore of Endless Worlds Children Meet.
~ Rabindranath Tagore

This is lovely...
You are the Evening Cloud Floating in the sky of my dreams
~ Rabindranath Tagore

Reached Hyderabad at 10:15 this morning. Reached Office at 12:15 p.m. I'm in office.
The bus from Pune supposed to depart at 09:30 pm arrived at 10:30 and departed at 10:45 hence reached Ameerpet around 10:00 this morning.

In Pune, was not feeling well. Rested for two days.
Didn't go out anywhere. I didn't have my bike too.
Ate home-cooked food! :-)

I don't know what happens. When I'd been to Pune in Jan. I wasn't feeling well. Yesterday too (June) I wasn't feeling well.

Really, I didn't want to come back to Hyderabad! :-)

Reached home at 6 this morning. I'm in Pune! I got a bus ticket from Hyderabad last evening. I'm in Pune right now!

I'd taken two days off to go to Pune and there are no Bus tickets available! I'm in Hyderabad.

Yesterday, chatted on Mirc for three hours, got the photographs developed, took a round of KBR park, the entire stretch, not walking, on my bike, ate Chinese at Chopsticks, Srinagar Colony, was enough for lunch and dinner!

This morning enjoyed the rain, went out on a bike ride, had Pizza for lunch, again went to Ameerpet to enquire about the tickets, they're not available, read Teju's blog at the netcafe and posting this online!

Will go to Crossword to buy books, go to Durgam Cheruvu, plan to go to Golconda tomorrow. So that's the plan.

Types of Google Searches.

I will give the hyperlinks later.

1. Regular Keyword Search. Cricket Scores
2. String Search. "Cricket Scores"
3. Definition. define:Relativity
4. Title Search. allintitle:Centuries of Sachin Tendulkar
5. Url Search. allinurl:Sachin Tendulkar
(where the url, the web site address includes the words Sachin Tendulkar)
6. Anchor Tags. allinanchor:Sachin Tendulkar
(where the anchor tags include the text Sachin Tendulkar)
7. Filetype. E-Commerce Case Studies filetype:ppt
e-Learning White Papers filetype:pdf
filetype searches for doc, xls, ppt, pdf, rtf, htm, html etc.
8. Cache. cache:http://www.gmail.com/
9. Related (Similar). related:http://www.bartleby.com/
10. Site Search. Hyderabad site:http://www.blogspot.com/
11. Link (Find the no. of Links to a web site. link:http://www.google.com/
12. At least one of the words. use or. India OR Cricket
13. Without the words. Search for Aishwarya without Rai Aishwarya -Rai
14. Image Search. India filetype:jpg India filetype:png India filetype:bmp
15. Groups Search. allingroup:India

I'm not in office today. I have taken two days off.
I'll go for a movie, alone :-(

A soulful Thought for Today.
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field.
I'll meet you there.
~ Jalaluddin Rumi

Read this lovely poem on PoemHunter.
Touched by an Angel by Maya Angelou.

e-Learning Links, Resources, web sites to check and read.

For the first time, I've given a bold heading.

My reasoning for that.

When I write, I write spontaneously, not thinking before-hand about a topic and then progressing to write - like an essay, hence I don't give a Bold Heading (although, it does help in Search Engine Optimization).

I've given a bold headline to this post, as

a) I want this for my ready reference.
b) I had decided before-hand that I'm going to find information about these things and put it online.
c) The Bold tag will help in Search Engine indexing (although, even without it, this post will be on feedster in a couple of hours).
d) This will remind me to check and read from these links.

So here are the links. Links of use. To check and read.

Instructional Design Models.
I have to check the above link. This link has links to a lot of
e-learning resources.

ADDIE Model.
Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement and Evaluate.

Bloom's Taxonomy (Learning Domains)
Bloom's Taxonomy. Competence Levels.

Edgar Dale's Cone of Experience


Instructional Design Theories. Developing Instruction.

Robert Gagne's Conditions of Learning

Introduction to Instructional System Design

Instructional Design Knowledge Base. IDKB. (Lots of Links).
I have to check this extensive collection.

An Introduction to AICC and SCORM.
Registration required.

Instructional Design Resources and Links

I've found a lot of information.
Now to study!

It's pretty simple.
Btw, it's pretty, even when not simple! :-))
(I have a sense of humour!!)
I want to learn these things as I want to get into this field.

Now, if I get a job and learn on-the-job in the field of e-learning
that will be the best way. However, if that doesn't happen, then I'll
learn on my own and then go ahead! There are no courses to teach
Instructional Design. Btw, why am I thinking on those lines? I don't
want to do a course for a certificate, I want to learn a thing that
I'm interested in. And, the best way is to start. I've found the
information, now to read!

I have a lot of advantages. I know technology. I understand search
engines and their way of functioning. I write in a simple, precise,
fluent and effortless way. I am good at explaining things in an easy to understand manner. I am aware of web design and usability guidelines. I enjoy online searching, net surfing. I use the net a lot. I can read, understand, explain and write about a variety of topics. I enjoy reading. And, I Believe in Myself!
So there's nothing to stop me, except myself!

Aparna, thanks for being online! You're always there to discuss professional and personal matters. I appreciate your friendship! Thanks!

Btw, I want to read, 'The Principles of Instructional Design', online/offline. If anyone has a copy of the book, please let me know. I want to read the book!

No, this is not right. If I really want to read, I'll find info. on google, take print-outs and read tonight. Yes, I'll do that, right now!

Found the link, now I've to check the links from this link.
Another one, Instructional Design Models.

Life is like a Google Search, you need the right keywords to reach your destination!
A thought on the spur of the moment.
This goes into my database of original ones!

Bye for now! Cheers! Chirayu

Start the month on a Humorous Note.

HR Executive: Why did you leave your last job?
Applicant: The company relocated and didn't tell us (the employees) where!!

Check this link from ET. (Pune new hotspot on BPO map).

An excerpt from the above article.
------------------------------------------------------------------
"social scientists believe that ‘Puneites’ have a ‘stable’ mindset and are, thus reluctant to move out of the city."

"Consequently, most are unlikely to switch jobs easily, which is a huge advantage for the (ITES)sector, beset with a 42 per cent rate of attrition."
------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, I'd agree with the first two lines. People from Pune prefer stability and yes, as a general trend, Maharashtrians (no offence meant to anyone!) prefer their own space.

This has primarily two reasons.

One, Pune has a lot of facilities in terms of education, commercial and professional opportunities, short-distances, middle-class residential areas alongwith good climate, almost throughout the year (although it is hot in summers!); so people don't feel the need to go out, go away from Pune. There are a lot of jobs available in Pune, why to go somewhere else.

The other reason, Puneites have this 'closed' outlook. They don't prefer to explore. If a job pays well in Pune and another pays very well in some other city, still people will stick to the one in Pune.

To the next two lines, regarding attrition levels being as high as 42% in the ITES industry and Pune, because of it's 'Stable' outlook, being a preferred choice. The argument is specious.
The ITES industry has overall high attrition rates and even if it is Pune or any other city, the change of body-clock that comes with working in shifts gets to people and so I don't think the attrition rates would come down because Puneites are 'stable' and don't change jobs easily. On the face of it, the argument sounds convincing, however, this would be true for any other industry, not for the ITES industry, where the dull, monotonous, brainless, against the normal body-clock work gets to you.

I've worked in shifts. Right now, I'm working in a regular 09:00 am to 07:00 pm shift, however, I've worked from 5:30 pm to 2:30 am, 1 pm to 10 pm, 12 am to 9 am, 6 am to 3pm, 12 pm to 9 pm, 4 pm to 1 am and I can vouch for the fact that it totally upsets one's body-clock.

I was working from 12 am to 9 am. I used to be back home by 10:30 in the morning, go to sleep for a few hours, say till 5/6 in the evening, so lunch was skipped by default, once I woke up at 6 pm, felt like eating something, felt hungry, then used to have tea and snacks or noodles, then didn't feel like eating at night and it was time to reach office at 12 am and had to start at 11 pm. Means, I used to miss lunch as well as dinner and on top of that if one has staggered holidays and one is working on weekends then one's social life turns upside down, don't meet friends, don't get to see family members.

I've been lucky to work outside Pune, staying as a Bachelor. So no problems on that front for me. However, working in shifts and staying at home upsets the life of others. Odd working hours and people will cook, wait for you to come home and it upsets their life too.

Working in call centers is hopeless, although it pays well!
As far as possible, one should not take a call-center job, although there are times when money is all that matters and who cares for what the work profile is. I've been through those times, they're over! :-)

Humour in Life. Humour in Hyderabad!
A Hyderabad Incident. This happened almost two years ago (Aug. 2002). Once again, what to do, I'm good with names, numbers and dates. Find it difficult to forget! ;-)

We went to Ramakrishna theatre for the evening show of 'Chhal'.
Ramakrishna Theatre has two screens. Devdas was the other movie on show. The Black-marketers were busy with "Devdas Honaa, Devdas Honaa." Honaa in Hyderabadi Hindi is chahiye (want). Honaa means 'to become' in Hindi.

The Black-marketer asked me, "Devdas Honaa... Devdas Honaaa.."
I replied, "Bhai, Payle (pehle) pyaar mai to padne de, aur woh bhi do-do ke, yahan ek nahin milti, baadme Devdas honeka sochenge!"

"First let me fall in love, and that too with two girls, here it's difficult to find even one, then I'll think of becoming Devdas!"

Interesting Link: FullHyderabad Discussion Boards.

I've given the link to my pic. online on Blogger. Still, it seems, the pic. is not being displayed. So here are the links to my pics. online.

Chirayu - Pose on the Terrace in Pune.
Chirayu - Maroon Kurta
Chirayu - Yahoo Photos Link

All the links will open in a new window.
If the page doesn't display then please refresh it.
Even then, if it doesn't display then, copy and paste the web site address in a new browser window and hit enter.

Happiness is a state of mind. Right now, I'm unhappy! Again, what does that mean? Am I Unhappy or I feel I'm unhappy beacuse of the circumstances or I'm unhappy because I want to be Unhappy!
Whatever salary I get at the end of the month, I'm unhappy. Money doesn't make a difference to my life. I'm too restless.

I don't understand why are the HR people taking such a long time to reply. All I have asked them is, whether I've been selected or not selected! HR is the most hopeless and redundant department in office (in general). HR is useless. They're always busy doing nothing!

I'm unhappy, beacuse there's no interactivity here. I need to talk, I need to do something new! I need a real big change in my life!

Meri Zindagi mai Ek Ajnabi ka Intezaar hai!

I read a soulful poem last evening.

Here it is...

Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there... I do not sleep.
I am the thousand winds that blow...
I am the diamond glints on snow...
I am the sunlight on ripened grain...
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you waken in the morning's hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of gentle birds in circling flight...
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry—
I am not there... I did not die...

Best of Luck to Punit for his exams!

It's 08:50 a.m. on a Tuesday morning in Secunderabad and I'm already in Office! I was awake from 03:45 a.m. onwards. Filled three buckets of water at 05:00 a.m. Switched on the motor for five minutes. Had a cup of tea at the Irani Cafe at 06:30 a.m. The bakery wasn't open, there were no Samosas at the cafe, the idliwala also wasn't there, Foodworld was closed. Hyderabad is sleeping at 06:30 in the morning. Ek cheez khane ko nahin hai. Ultimately came home, made tea and had some 'Pohe'.

I had Smirnoff and Sprite for dinner and 'tears' for dessert last night!