IBM on a hiring spree

IBM has been on a hiring spree for the last one year or so. It is recruiting like crazy for Instructional Designers. Now that in a way, is definitely good news for the numerous IDs across the country, both experienced and freshers. The importance of India for IBM is reflected in the fact that it has opened up a Knowledge Factory in the past year, which services IBM's global bases. The focus is on understanding the content needs of the market, devise innovative learning solutions and meet the design needs of the elearning market. To ensure this, IBM is recruiting IDs who can set up the elearning system in India and APAC for IBM. Having said that, the first thing that would come into the minds of an ID is that how well would he/she be paid considering the fact that it is IBM. Whatever be the case, Instructional Designers in India are not very highly paid. In fact, in comparison to their American counterparts they draw peanuts. The reasons in my opinion are two. One, IDs in India do not have a degree in Instructional Designing or Learning Psychology (If it makes them any less competent from their counterparts is another debate altogether) and the second reason being that elearning is still not recognised in the Indian circuit as much as IT or anything else. And if you are talking about the remuneration, there are people who are paid as less as 1.2 LPA and it can touch up to 12 LPA. So what are you waiting for? Jump into the bandwagon and make hay while the sun shines!!

The three mistakes of my life

It is the latest by the most famous writer of the engineer-MBA grad-turned writer clan of India, Chetan Bhagat. The third in the series, its certainly not as good as the first but better than its precursor. This is one novel I would not speak much about because I feel a chetan bhagat novel is best devoured when you know nothing about it. Nevertheless, I would stick to the fact that Chetan Bhagat is bad at the climax. Three novels and I feel he kind of goofs it up at the end, whaddasay writers? Anyways, a 6.5 on 10 is what I would give this novel.

The Secret Friend Game

Since the last week, we have been playing this game at my office. The game is about making someone feel special. Well, heres how it all started! Everyone in the team picked up chits and the name which they got is their special friend for the next one week. Now what they need to do is make this person feel special, be it by suprise and anonymous gifts. As a matter of fact, anything that has some thought gone into it. This is nice!! You know the reason, I am richer by loads of chocolates, a cute lil key chain and not to forget a novel. I am enjoying it and its getting better by the day. Not really a secret though!! What can I say.. enjoy as long as it lasts!!

Milan Kundera's IGNORANCE

Ignorance by Milan Kundera was my last read. I liked it. Yeah. I did. Its pretty much on the same lines as Ulysses and Ithaca. The plot revolves around these two emigrants who dont really want to recollect the past few years of their lives. Circumstances have brought them to a point where they get face to face with their past but there is not much they want to remember or rather they remember. It can also be titled something related to forgetting. The novel kind of speaks of the same emotions that Kundera must have gone through himself being a Chezh emigrant. I guess its about wanting tp return to the bestest past in your lives when he/she is moiving on in life. And this can be rightly termed as Ignorance. An apt title for sure. Reading it is definitely a pleasure.

Tangled relationships

Very lately, I have been coming across quite some real life issues with regards to relationships. The time frame for which it has been there doesnt really make a difference per se. There can be situations where in people realise the vagueness of the relationship they are in and wonder what needs to be done to get it sorted out. Now what I am gonna figure out is how do things change if one gets married. Or should I say, do things change if one gets married?

I was talking to this long time buddy of mine. She has been married for almost a year now and there she was, confessing about having thought of some other man in her life with whom she once had a fling even when she was making love with her husband. She says, "its a strange thing to happen. Its not like I dont love him or something but the very fact that disturbs me is that I am having these thoughts even when my husband is around."

Well, I told my friend that she should take some time and try and figure out the reason as to why its happening. I for one had expressed my disapproval for her getting married to this guy not because he is a bad person or something like that but for the plain reason that she should know the person for a longer time before committing for a lifetime. She was plain dumb to listen to her friends and take their opinion that the guy could be the best one she would ever have in her life. Stupid is the only word I have for this girl!

And now, she still fantasizes this other guy with whom she once had a fling. She knows things could have turned their way and they could have been together if at all at any point of time, they would have tried taking their deep friendship a step ahead. Nevertheless, they are in touch and still love the fact that they can be themselves when they speak or are with each other. Now my friend's husband is not completely unaware of this chemistry that she shares with the other guy and at the same time is understanding enough not to mess up her relationship with either of them.

I see and perceive this as one of the most tangled and intricately coiled relationships that could have existed on the face of this earth. I know the other guy as well and he is apparently got a girlfriend now. But then there are weak moments. He and she would probably be the best of couple had they been together but its too late. And so, I suggested my friend to get outta this entire mess because in the end, the only person who would be getting affected is not anyone else, not the other guy but my friend.

My friend, if you are reading this, and feel my suggestion wasnt right, have the audacity to take a decision without thinking if its socially acceptable or not. But do not deceive yourself or your husband. Seriously, DONT!!!

Blogging is my religion

Yes...am back! And with a mind that has made up to blog religiously for as long as I can..rather forever! It gives me immense satisfaction and pleasure to know that the pieces of writing that I put on this blog are indeed read by a few people. Of course, these are the people who will probably read it anyways.. for the love or hatred that they so very deeply feel for me. But what the heck! It is good for me anyways..people want to read it and thats all that matters and is incentive enough for me to blog more regularly than I generally do! So here it is.. starting off with today. Hope this blog finds more readers excepting the people who read it when I ask them to or sometimes even threaten/force them to..

Weekend over U, Me aur Hum

Over the weekend, I caught up with this new hindi flick called "U me aur hum." Well, it was one of those movies which I decided to watch inspite of expecting to be a bad one anyways. Nevertheless, I convinced Kunal to come along( or take me along) for the movie and needless to say that it didnt work out too well. All the cribbing that I had to take post the movie was never worth it. What the heck anyways! By the way, it is supposed to be INSPIRED by a book by Nicholas Sparks' "The Notebook."

Now, coming to the flick, I didnt really like it that much. Surely felt Kajol was the saving grace. and when I say that, I really mean it. Hubby Ajay for one, should not be trying his hand at direction. A very lame attempt at something too serious like alzheimer's but he did succeed in putting up a realistic how nevertheless! The first half of the movie falls flat on your face thanks to Ajay's histrionics and attempts to be a laugh riot. Kajol doesnt really get much of scope as well. What really happens here is the fact that there are these wimpering couples and this cruise that get all of our director's attention. One good point would definitely be the cinematograhy of the movie. Every frame looked like a picture postcard in itself.

The second half however, is something that you can hold on to your seat for. A brilliant performance from Kajol and a decent one from the director-actor is what one can really remember at the end. It comes across as a very poignant depiction of the gamut of emotions attached to the illness and associated with companionship. So with all the pluses and minuses, I would give this movie a 2.5 stars on 5. Catch it for sure.. if you dont have anything better to do.

The nothingness of void

My fingers refuse to type anything sane.. my mind declines any rational thought..it refuses to acknowledge the fact that I am supposed to complete my work on time. My mind refuses to brew any questions that I am expected to script. Why? A little exhausted mentally and this entire slow phase is making me ashamed of my own speed at work. A victim of my own speed!! Thats probably the right thing to say.

Strangely enough, I generally real fast. At least thats what my peers and seniors have time and again told me. But then today, something is really wrong. Having completed a considerable amount, I feel lost. Lost in a huge gamut of emptiness.. in the nothingness of the void. Wondering how I would return from this reverie to the stark reality of work.

Just a thought, I havent really taken a holiday ever since I have started working..thats after I completed college. Guess I desperately need one!