Blogging rocks.
I accidentally discovered two parenting sites…
Brian’s mom is right about information being so readily accessible nowadays. There’s so much to read with so little time! One day I am going to get one of those bio-chips implanted and become 1000x smarter and 1000x more memory-efficient.
Being a parent definitely is almost all rewards almost all the time. It’s not always fun, but it’s always satisfying — almost.
Watching Bryan growing up on the daily basis is a strange experience. There are times when I held him in my arms, rocking him to sleep, that I wished time could pause and that he’d stay a tiny baby forever… (until my back started aching like a thousand needles piercing through the spine.) But the truth is, time seems to have tripled in speed now that Bryan has entered our lives. I almost think it’s unfair that other parents have to work 8+ hours a day away from their child(ren) when i get to stay home with my son almost 24×7.
When Laura was constantly interrupting my conversation with Brian, I thought that was just super cute. And I thought to myself, “Some day that’s what Bryan’d be doing to ME when I talk to Brian.” I secretly envied Brian and Birgit for a brief moment. But then I thought I’d sorely miss Bryan at this very stage as Brian has confessed to me at times that he missed when Laura was just a tiny baby at times.
Bryan is going to have a healthy and comfortable life ahead of him. But just for my selfish pleasures and inconsiderate egocentric fatherhood, I hope he doesn’t grow up too fast — just so that his dada and nana can savor these fleeting moments before he leaps into his own independence.
I don’t know where he found it, but Murdza sent me a link to City of Cupertino’s webcast archives. And in it, there’s a short appearance of Steve Jobs announcing Apple’s decision to stay in Cupertino for its second campus it decided to build.
To view it, you can download the Real Player file here. Or you can go to the webcast archive, under “CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS”, and in the “MEETING VIDEO” drop down menu, select “April 18, 2006” to download. When your player of choice launches, there should be a menu somewhere around the main video itself. Simply click on “Oral Communications”. Steve is the first one to speak.
Murdza said Steve looks drunk. I thought the image of him scratching himself didn’t look too graceful. But at least he was true to his all-too-cliche image… he wore a black turtle-ish long sleeve shirt with jeans. I wonder if he considers that outfit his uniform… I mean, I wear similar stuff all the time, but not to the extreme of wearing the same thing day in and day out… I guess the way he thinks is the same as how school administrators in most Asian countries think: Don’t get distracted by what you have to wear everyday to school/work. Thus, if everyone wears exactly the same thing everyday, there’s one less thing to worry about which allows one to concentrate on what matters the most — work.
Hu looks normal. But Gates and Ballmer look like idiots.
What’s up with Gates’ haircut? Did he fire his stylist again?
via [News.com]
After getting off of Skype with Brian ealier this morning, I started reading an article (Million-Dollar Murray) he sent me from earlier. The article is so fricking long that I had to break it up and read it thoughout the day. But it was more than worth the time it took to read. I haven’t read a powerful article like this in such a long time.
It started with a powerful story of a homeless man, Murray, an ex-marine, whose medical bills came out to an estimated million dollars over the years he’d been homeless. Quite simply, for the sake of economics, maybe it’s cheaper to just solve the homeless problem than to ignore it. But then on the ethical stand point, simply treating the homeless issue as an economic problem is almost immoral and unfair (unfair to those who work three jobs to put their kids through school but still makes too much to qualify for social services). And politicians on both sides don’t want to touch this issue precisely because of that — Republicans want to be fair, and the Democrats want to treat the issue with more dignity.
The article is broken up into five parts. If you don’t have time, at least read part one and part five to get a closure to Murray’s story. But if you can spare 20 minutes, the article will enlighten you on the issues of homelessness, economics and politics (and even pollution) in a way that you’d never thought about before.
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For those who have been in at least an Econ 101 class can probably still recall why rent control actually puts more people out on the street. The same reason applies to the very basic question as to why millions of people still live in hunger EVERYDAY even though there’s an over abundance of food collectively in the world. I used to think Economics is such a dull subject, but my instructor constantly attaches a human face to every single concept we learn in class, making each theory we learn unforgetable. The more I learn about the truths of how the world operates through the goggles of economics, the more frustrated I am about how the system operates. Malcolm Gladwell puts it best in the article:
Our usual moral intuitions are little use, then, when it comes to a few hard cases [referring to the hardest cases of the homeless people]. Power-law* problems leave us with an unpleasant choice. We can be true to our principles or we can fix the problem. We cannot do both.
* Power-law is a systematic way to prioritize solving social issues using economics. We take care of the people who cost the system most resources first and then others later. This is what causes outcry from people who think this methodology is unfair.
Harsh realities versus principles of our ethics. What a predicament.
Talking to Brian always works up my brain cells. We had a good three-hour chat on Skype tonight. Technology is a good thing.
While we were having some casual talk about religion and childraring practices, he brought up a practice by some parents from a book called Babywise. It literally broke my heart when he told me that someone he knows is following the teachings of that book, a book that instructs parents to treat babies as if they are mind-manipulating bastards, a book that goes against EVERYTHING modern science and research has told us NOT to do to a baby. It broke my heart not because the book exists, but rahter, that I kept on having an image in my head of a baby being treated the way the book instructs parents to treat him/her — how can any parent have the heart to do those things to an newborn infant!? It’s so distrubing on so many levels. And I wish there was something I can do for those poor babies.
People are blind when it comes to inaccurate information published in books — if it’s in print, it must be true. Or, is it?
For the first time in over seven months, Grace and I finally got a chance to eat out by ourselves while her mom stayed and home to babysit Bryan (well, he was already sleeping by then anyway). It was a refreshing experience I know we will get very few of.
One unrelated note: On the way to the restaurant, we saw a mother driving a luxury SUV with her child in the backseat watching a LCD monitor playing cartoon. I wonder if most parents are spending too much time and effort trying to keep their children pre-occupied with “stuff” instead of trying to get to know them, REALLY get to know them or bond with them with parent-child activities. Not too long ago, NPR had a guest from Sesame Workshop introducing their latest product, Sesame Beginnings, a DVD set for infans 6+ months to watch WITH the presence of parents. The rationale behind the production of the series, according to Sesame Workshop, is that their research showed that parents have been showing Sesame Street to young children even though the program was not produced with young children in mind. So they figured they might as well produce something more age appropriate for that age group. Makes sense, I guess.
The issue is, of course, how young is too young to get a child “hooked” on TV? This raised some serious concerns from some early childhood experts and educators. There simply weren’t enough studies to support or disprove either side’s arguements. To me, I see TV monitor and DVD players as another education medium. You shouldn’t abuse it. When used appropriately with careful measure, it can be as effective as a read-along electronic book (and there are TONS of those in the market today — more batteries down the drain).
Mark posted an article about waiters and how to tell someone’s personality from how this person treats waiters. The article is very interesting and made me recall my own experience as a waiter as well as how some people I have known have treated them. It’s probably a pretty good indicator of, not just personality, but if this person can be a true friend, someone who’d extend a helping hand when you are in deep shit (metaphorically speaking).
The article was based on a set of management rules developed by Bill Swanson, CEO of Raytheon Company, called Swanson’s Unwritten Rules of Management. Raytheon gives the booklet away for free in hope to inspire young people to become leaders. I placed an order for a copy but couldn’t wait for it to come in the mail. So I Googled and found this instead (taken from an article at CCG):
- Learn to say, "I don’t know." If used when appropriate, it will be often.
- It is easier to get into something than it is to get out of it.
- If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much.
- Look for what is missing. Many know how to improve what’s there, but few can see what isn’t there.
- Presentation rule: When something appears on a slide presentation, assume the world knows about it, and deal with it accordingly.
- Work for a boss with whom you are comfortable telling it like it is. Remember that you can’t pick your relatives, but you can pick your boss.
- Constantly review developments to make sure that the actual benefits are what they are supposed to be. Avoid Newton’s Law.
- However menial and trivial your early assignments may appear, give them your best efforts.
- Persistence or tenacity is the disposition to persevere in spite of difficulties, discouragement, or indifference. Don’t be known as a good starter but a poor finisher.
- In doing your project, don’t wait for others; go after them, and make sure it gets done.
- Confirm your instructions and the commitments of others in writing. Don’t assume it will get done!
- Don’t be timid; speak up. Express yourself, and promote your ideas.
- Practice shows that those who speak the most knowingly and confidently often end up with the assignment to get it done.
- Strive for brevity and clarity in oral and written reports.
- Be extremely careful of the accuracy of your statements.
- Don’t overlook the fact that you are working for a boss.
* Keep him or her informed. Avoid surprises!
* Whatever the boss wants takes top priority.- Promises, schedules, and estimates are important instruments in a well-ordered business.
* You must make promises. Don’t lean on the often-used phrase, "I can’t estimate it because it depends upon many uncertain factors."- Never direct a complaint to the top. A serious offense is to "cc" a person’s boss.
- When dealing with outsiders, remember that you represent the company. Be careful of your commitments.
- Cultivate the habit of "boiling matters down" to the simplest terms. An elevator speech is the best way.
- Don’t get excited in engineering emergencies. Keep your feet on the ground.
- Cultivate the habit of making quick, clean-cut decisions.
- When making decisions, the “pros” are much easier to deal with than the “cons”. Your boss wants to see the “cons” also.
- Don’t ever lose your sense of humor.
- Have fun at what you do. It will reflect in your work. No one likes a grump except another grump.
- Treat the name of the company as if it were your own.
- Beg for the bad news.
- You remember 1/3 of what you read, 1/2 of what people tell you, but 100% of what you feel.
- You can’t publish a sneaker
- When facing issues or problems that are becoming drawn-out, “short them to the ground.”
- When faced with decisions, try to look at them as if you were one level up in the organization. Your perspective will change quickly.
- A person who is nice to you but rude to others is not a nice person. (This rule never fails).
- Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, an amateur built an ark that survived a flood while a large group of professionals built the Titanic!
Additional rules from an interview in USA Today:
- When in charge, be in charge. “When you get the key to the bus, it’s time to drive.”
- Hold people to the highest standard or the organization will gravitate toward mediocrity.
- When things go wrong, true leaders take responsibility and rectify a mistake with speed and passion. They take action that most people would find too hard.
- If you are doing something and it doesn’t work, no one will care that it was done on cost and on schedule. If it works and exceeds expectations, no one will remember if it was late and overrun.
Good stuff.
Some dude in Canada has been using a paper clip to try to trade up to a house (eventually). He’s been doing a pretty good job at getting that goal… If you are into “MySpace”, this is him.
An excerpt from C | Net:
MacDonald, 26, currently lives in Montreal and has spent the last year doing odd jobs and traveling. But the project that began as a throwback to “bigger and better,” a game he and his friends played as children, has now become his full-time occupation. And it’s allowed him to spawn a Net cult following that’s hoping he’ll succeed. Popular blogs such as boingboing have been tracking his progress for months.
MacDonald’s trades have gone as follows:
• Paper clip for a fish-shaped pen
• Fish-shaped pen for a clay doorknob with a funny face on it
• Clay doorknob for a camping stove
• Stove for a generator
• Generator for an “instant party”
• Instant party for a snowmobile
• Snowmobile for an all-expenses-paid trip to Yahk, British Columbia
• Yahk trip for a panel van
• Van for a recording contract
• Recording contract for the year of free rent in Phoenix
Pretty crazy and GOOD idea!
via [News.com]
It’s crazy how nature never stops coming up with stuff that just stumps the best scientists of the day…
The bacterium Caulobacter crescentus uses the toughest glue on Earth to stick to river rocks, and now scientists are trying to figure out how to produce the stuff.
The adhesive can withstand an enormous amount of stress, equal to the force felt by a quarter with more than three cars piled on top of it. That’s two to three times more force than the best retail glues can handle.
The single-celled bacterium uses sugar molecules to stay put in rivers, streams, and water pipes, a new study found. It’s not clear how the glue actually works, however, but researchers presume some special proteins must be attached to the sugars.
“There are obvious applications since this adhesive works on wet surfaces,” said study leader Yves Brun, an Indiana University bacteriologist. “One possibility would be as a biodegradable surgical adhesive.”
Engineers could use the superior stickum too, Brun and colleagues say.
But making it has proved challenging. Like a mess of chewing gum, the gunk globs to everything, including the tools used to create it.
“We tried washing the glue off,” Brun said. “It didn’t work.”
Nuts!
Even though the scientists don’t know why it’s working the way it is working, I am glad they didn’t retreat to “Creationism” and give up….
Finally got all the paperwork from my accountant in NYC. It’s SOOO worth it to have a tax accountant to look into every possible way of saving money and get my max possible returns every year. I so don’t understand why some people still think they can save more money on taxes than the money they spend on a good tax accountant (ahem, you know who you are 😉 ). I mean, what can their $30 software know that a good tax accountant doesn’t know more about? And besides, a software can’t help you save what it doesn’t know. On the other hand, a good tax accountant can always put 2 and 2 together, ask follow up questions if he thinks additional savings can be itemized or simply being there to answer all the questions throughout the rest of the year on best practice to save money before the next tax season comes.
On the flip side, my corporate tax filing was late because stupid FedEx messed up. Either way, this is going to be another good year despite (or maybe because of?) my unemployment… My accountant never disappoints. He’s always come through even when I didn’t think I could get too much more out of the previous year’s return!!
For the most part, I don’t mind paying taxes because the United States still has great social services for its people. Brian used to tell me that he’s always glad to pay Austrian taxes because their social programs far outweight the high percentage of taxes he pays in Europe. Even though U.S. still has a lot to improve upon in some areas, but hey, things could be worse!
After having installed a couple of blog spam quarantine solutions, I finally decided it’s time to stop the spam bots to even have a chance to waste the server resource. So I went ahead and installed Anti-Spam Image plugin. Don’t get me wrong, I think Sebastian’s advise to install Spam Karma was an excellet idea (I only wished I’d listened sooner), but I hate the fact that those spam messages even got a chance to live in the database and waste my server’s resource to process them… Hopefully Anti-Spam Image will at least cut down on the spams from spam bots so that I can just deal with the less annoying spams manually…