Sunday, 5 August 2012
Saturday, 4 August 2012
Bitching About The Olympics
Malaysia has never won a gold medal before as I am writing this though Chong Wei will be trying to go against the odds to beat the formidable Great Wall of Lin Dan. Its surprising we have never won gold I mean WHY is squash NOT an Olympic sport but bloody Beach Volleyball is??? Malaysia, for a small population and people of medium built, and minimal support from the government, have actually done very well if you consider that we have atheletes right at the very top in games such as squash, badminton and bowling. While we are at that, why is Bowling not an Olympic sports as well???
Michael Phelps is fantastic but he is certainly not the greatest Olympian. You cannot and should not count by the number of medal you win cause the entire Games is tilted to certain sports. If you are very good in swimming or gymnastics, you could win multiple medals. You can be the very best long jumper or boxer, and you will only win ONE. Great Olympians must generate the kind of indefatigable spirit, that something special, I think I would rank Carl Lewis way above Phelps.
None of the Olympics city planning committee can budget properly. I mean, do we understand what budgeting is? The average budget over runs for the past 17 summer and winter games is 179%. I mean, the next time we do a budget for the next Olympics, YOU MUST multiply that figure by 2 so as to get to a real sense of the real figure at the end. Budgets must take into account of exigencies, if you don't know how after so many games, don't think you qualify to run and plan any games. These IOC planning committees are sooo like Malaysian GLC projects, always massive cost over runs, I can understand if it was 10%-20% variance but to be so out of the budgeted figure means you have been:
- over optimistic
- don't know how what the exigencies are
- poor adherence to budget in implementation and execution
- the knowledge that the country will always be there to pick up the extra tab
London is almost ten times the original budget at 24 billion pounds. Great financial management.
Michael Phelps is fantastic but he is certainly not the greatest Olympian. You cannot and should not count by the number of medal you win cause the entire Games is tilted to certain sports. If you are very good in swimming or gymnastics, you could win multiple medals. You can be the very best long jumper or boxer, and you will only win ONE. Great Olympians must generate the kind of indefatigable spirit, that something special, I think I would rank Carl Lewis way above Phelps.
None of the Olympics city planning committee can budget properly. I mean, do we understand what budgeting is? The average budget over runs for the past 17 summer and winter games is 179%. I mean, the next time we do a budget for the next Olympics, YOU MUST multiply that figure by 2 so as to get to a real sense of the real figure at the end. Budgets must take into account of exigencies, if you don't know how after so many games, don't think you qualify to run and plan any games. These IOC planning committees are sooo like Malaysian GLC projects, always massive cost over runs, I can understand if it was 10%-20% variance but to be so out of the budgeted figure means you have been:
- over optimistic
- don't know how what the exigencies are
- poor adherence to budget in implementation and execution
- the knowledge that the country will always be there to pick up the extra tab
London is almost ten times the original budget at 24 billion pounds. Great financial management.
Friday, 3 August 2012
Thursday, 2 August 2012
IQ Test For The Deranged
Mathematical equations and symbols always look beautiful to me. Just like the women to me, great to admire but near impossible to fathom and work out. Below are some of the most important mathematical equations that changed the way we look at the world. See how many you can guess right. Assign the alphabets to the numbers. Answers tomorrow.
a) Schrodinger
b) Second law of thermodynamics
c) Black Scholes model
d) Wave equation
e) Shannon's information theory
f) Maxwell's equations (this is a freebie, note the plural)
g) Fourier's transform
1) Schrodinger's Equation - Models matter as a wave, rather than a particle.
2) Second Law Of Thermodynamics - Energy and heat dissipate over time.
3) The Wave Equation - A differential equation that describes the behavior of waves, originally the behavior of a vibrating violin string.
4) Shannon's Information Theory - Estimates the amount of data in a piece of code by the probabilities of its component symbols.
5) Maxwell's Equations - Maps out the relationship between electric and magnetic fields.
6) The Fourier's Transform - Describes patterns in time as a function of frequency.
7) Black Scholes Model - Prices a derivative based on the assumption that it is riskless and that there is no arbitrage opportunity when it is priced correctly.
a) Schrodinger
b) Second law of thermodynamics
c) Black Scholes model
d) Wave equation
e) Shannon's information theory
f) Maxwell's equations (this is a freebie, note the plural)
g) Fourier's transform
1) Schrodinger's Equation - Models matter as a wave, rather than a particle.
2) Second Law Of Thermodynamics - Energy and heat dissipate over time.
3) The Wave Equation - A differential equation that describes the behavior of waves, originally the behavior of a vibrating violin string.
4) Shannon's Information Theory - Estimates the amount of data in a piece of code by the probabilities of its component symbols.
5) Maxwell's Equations - Maps out the relationship between electric and magnetic fields.
6) The Fourier's Transform - Describes patterns in time as a function of frequency.
7) Black Scholes Model - Prices a derivative based on the assumption that it is riskless and that there is no arbitrage opportunity when it is priced correctly.
Get 5 or 6 correctly, you should be a Phd student in maths. Get all correct, you should have an IQ above 200 or be in a mental ward. Get 3-4 right, aren't you a bombastic know it all bastard. Get 0-2 correct, hey you are normal.
Wednesday, 1 August 2012
The Two Most Debilitating "Neuro-Programming" In A Person
I cannot think of a better term because I am no expert. So I chose "neurological-programming". Why I chose to post on this is a long held opinion of mine on the two main "thought programming" issues affecting most people, to the extent that it limits their ability to fully self-actualise, be the great and wonderful person that they can be. None of these are scientifically proven or back tested but I am sure it resides in us in some manner or form. If we are able to negate and rationalise away them properly, we have a better chance to succeed as a person in all aspects.
The first is fate. In particular if a person is aligned closely with most religion, fate is a concept that seeps into our conciousness. I am not saying that there is no such thing as fate. The bad thing about fate is our resignation to fate. In Malay, there is a powerful word, yet debilitating so, its called "rezeki". In Islam its got a wonderful higher meaning, God's Providence. That is all well and good. It gets negative when we use the word fate/rezeki to explain our dire circumstances or under achievement as a person.
If there is such a thing called fate, and all things are resigned to our fate, then we might as well close shop and do nothing. Some even get into the self defeating attitude that it is not holy or no use to fight against fate. I think if you are religious, they would all teach us to be the best person we can be, not one resigned to fate.
When bad things or not so pleasant things happen to us, it is how we react and behave to those dire situations that maketh a person. I do not believe any God in any religion is there to condemn us to the worst atrocities and situations deliberately to put us there forever. It is there to test our resolve, to re-measure our worth as a person, to hone and refine our determination to be a better person all the time.
There is a big difference in accepting and appreciating your situation, and acknowledging your situation and trying to make it better. Don't wallow, don't get overly indulgent in self-pity.
The second most debilitating "neurological programming" issue is the thought that "I hope nobody finds out how average I am". Even when we secure good, well paying positions, deep inside we sometimes tell ourselves that we are not worthy, that we are really not that good at all.
This does not affect just careers but relationships as well. Too many people have that deep seated apprehension and it affects and cloud the way they avail themselves to the rest of the world. In some cases, it can be so debilitating that they do not think they are deserving of the care, love and attention of another.
The often quoted phrase, "love yourself first so that you can love others" has been diluted thanks to over repetition. The negative reel playing in our minds every now and then causes us to doubt ourselves over and over again. When something good happens, you dare not take it up because you fear that its all going to blow up later when they discover that you are just "average".
Its not a matter of intellect, we deserve to be as best the person we are just because ... we are. Life is too short to make a mess of it. Live well, live strong .... bloom where you are planted.
The first is fate. In particular if a person is aligned closely with most religion, fate is a concept that seeps into our conciousness. I am not saying that there is no such thing as fate. The bad thing about fate is our resignation to fate. In Malay, there is a powerful word, yet debilitating so, its called "rezeki". In Islam its got a wonderful higher meaning, God's Providence. That is all well and good. It gets negative when we use the word fate/rezeki to explain our dire circumstances or under achievement as a person.
If there is such a thing called fate, and all things are resigned to our fate, then we might as well close shop and do nothing. Some even get into the self defeating attitude that it is not holy or no use to fight against fate. I think if you are religious, they would all teach us to be the best person we can be, not one resigned to fate.
When bad things or not so pleasant things happen to us, it is how we react and behave to those dire situations that maketh a person. I do not believe any God in any religion is there to condemn us to the worst atrocities and situations deliberately to put us there forever. It is there to test our resolve, to re-measure our worth as a person, to hone and refine our determination to be a better person all the time.
There is a big difference in accepting and appreciating your situation, and acknowledging your situation and trying to make it better. Don't wallow, don't get overly indulgent in self-pity.
The second most debilitating "neurological programming" issue is the thought that "I hope nobody finds out how average I am". Even when we secure good, well paying positions, deep inside we sometimes tell ourselves that we are not worthy, that we are really not that good at all.
This does not affect just careers but relationships as well. Too many people have that deep seated apprehension and it affects and cloud the way they avail themselves to the rest of the world. In some cases, it can be so debilitating that they do not think they are deserving of the care, love and attention of another.
The often quoted phrase, "love yourself first so that you can love others" has been diluted thanks to over repetition. The negative reel playing in our minds every now and then causes us to doubt ourselves over and over again. When something good happens, you dare not take it up because you fear that its all going to blow up later when they discover that you are just "average".
Its not a matter of intellect, we deserve to be as best the person we are just because ... we are. Life is too short to make a mess of it. Live well, live strong .... bloom where you are planted.
Monday, 30 July 2012
Saturday, 28 July 2012
How To Hire Well
Put about 100 bricks in some particular order in a closed room with an open window. Then send 2 or 3 candidates in the room and close the door. Leave them alone and come back after 6 hours and then analyze the situation.
If they are counting the bricks.
Put them in the census taking department or the estimator for the number who turned out for Bersih.
If they are recounting them.
Put them as returning officers for election votes.
If they have messed up the whole place with the bricks.
Put them in MCA.
If they are counting the bricks.
Put them in the census taking department or the estimator for the number who turned out for Bersih.
If they are recounting them.
Put them as returning officers for election votes.
If they have messed up the whole place with the bricks.
Put them in MCA.
If they are arranging the bricks in some strange order.
Put them in Pemandu.
If they are throwing the bricks at each other, put them in MIC.
Put them in Pemandu.
If they are throwing the bricks at each other, put them in MIC.
If they are sleeping. Put them in civil service.
If they have broken the bricks into pieces.
Put them in ETP Tender Committee.
If they are sitting idle.
Put them in VP positions of any top political parties.
Put them in VP positions of any top political parties.
If they say they have tried different combinations, yet not a brick has been moved.
Put them in PDRM.
Put them in PDRM.
If they have already left for the day.
Put them in VP positions of any top political parties.
Put them in VP positions of any top political parties.
If they are staring out of the window.
Put them in MACC.
Put them in MACC.
And then last but not least. If they are talking to each other and not a single brick has been moved. Congratulate them and put them in top management of any listed GLC.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)