Here is a TV reality show idea: visit homes with basement after Chicago style storms.
Everyone has a story to tell... "I woke up in the morning, and whoa there are ___ in/ft of water!"
Follow by "I have never have any flood in ____ years".
Follow by a) "My Sump Pump is busted" b) "There is crack in the foundation" c) "Power got knocked out", d) I don't even know.
Yes, my basement is flooded.
Storms are getting more and more severe. Thunderstorm brings tremendous amount of water in every time. This is mother nature reminding you again She is NOT HAPPY with you earthlings!
Look, it really is stupid to have carpet in basement. I should know better. In fact, it is stupid to have a basement. It is better to have an attic than a basement.
Basement is bound to get wet. Even if you have a perfect sump pump, mother nature may decide to knock out your power. Ha, you got a generator to outsmart it? Good! Are you sure it won't fail you when you most need?
Business idea: manufacture devices that have self-check routines and make it connect to a display.
So if the sump pump stopped working I would know. Things like smoke detectors should have some mechanism to send battery life status to the display so I change the battery before high pitches hit my ear.
Even if it work perfectly, the city's water system may overflow and water may come out of your drain and give you a feet of water!
So carpets need to be ripped out, dehumidifier and fans need to be in and tiles to be put on. Even if you have tiles water may still damage you if you don't mop quick enough.
Insurance did you say? They don't cover it, unless you buy their ultra expensive policy that outweighs your damage. They only cover the most unlikely events such as UFO abducting your house for fun.
It is a horrible calculation to do if you add up how much innocent dollars to quietly pay them over your lifetime.
It really was a horrible weekend. Some highways had to be closed. Everyone has a story to tell.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
On Company Meetings
Company meetings are meant to be a way for high level employees to communicate to the lowly regular employees. The speakers most likely deserve an applause or two. It is supposed to be informational, positive experience. Unfortunately for the past decade I just haven't gone to good ones. They are boring, chess sharpening experience (I just have to make sure sound is not on).
Look, first of all, you don't HAVE to have one. Don't schedule one if you don't have meaningful things to say. News items that you think are exciting can be communicated through your intranet or a broadcast email. If you have 100 employees, each making $10 an hour that's a $1000 an hour. Make good use of that hour and money.
Microphones: if your company don't even have good microphones go get some. There is gotta be a radio shack somewhere. This is the FIRST item on your company agenda if you are going to have company meetings.
Even if you have working microphones, unfortunately, most people don't have good speaking skills. This is why late night hosts make millions. People yap and yap an idea that can be summed up in 1 sentence into half and hour. Keep it short and to the point. Allow ME to demonstrate a good speech (but I forgot I am a lowest ranking lowly employee)
Topics: your topic is telling me that industry trend is that people are using more iPhones now then ever? How long do you want this speech to be? you've got to be kidding if intend to talk about this for half an hour. Talk about things that interest everyone such as quarterly earnings, # of new hires (don't make them stand and say "Hi I am so-and-so"), new projects etc. have a fun demo or two.
Projectors can be turned off. Look, if your speaker isn't talking about something on the projector, kinda hide the slides. If there is light, people's attention go there (not to the speaker)
Hours: don't schedule in late afternoon. People want to go home around 5:00. don't keep me after 5:00pm unless something is important. Don't make me come before 9:00a unless it is something absolutely necessary.
Make it a happy experience by being kind to your employees. 1. schedule it something like 9:30am. Provide good coffee and donuts. 2. Have short, interesting presentations. 3. Have the CEO speak to demonstrate connection. 4. Don't ever provide beer, it is simply stupid. What if one guy get drunk and start hitting people?
Look, first of all, you don't HAVE to have one. Don't schedule one if you don't have meaningful things to say. News items that you think are exciting can be communicated through your intranet or a broadcast email. If you have 100 employees, each making $10 an hour that's a $1000 an hour. Make good use of that hour and money.
Microphones: if your company don't even have good microphones go get some. There is gotta be a radio shack somewhere. This is the FIRST item on your company agenda if you are going to have company meetings.
Even if you have working microphones, unfortunately, most people don't have good speaking skills. This is why late night hosts make millions. People yap and yap an idea that can be summed up in 1 sentence into half and hour. Keep it short and to the point. Allow ME to demonstrate a good speech (but I forgot I am a lowest ranking lowly employee)
Topics: your topic is telling me that industry trend is that people are using more iPhones now then ever? How long do you want this speech to be? you've got to be kidding if intend to talk about this for half an hour. Talk about things that interest everyone such as quarterly earnings, # of new hires (don't make them stand and say "Hi I am so-and-so"), new projects etc. have a fun demo or two.
Projectors can be turned off. Look, if your speaker isn't talking about something on the projector, kinda hide the slides. If there is light, people's attention go there (not to the speaker)
Hours: don't schedule in late afternoon. People want to go home around 5:00. don't keep me after 5:00pm unless something is important. Don't make me come before 9:00a unless it is something absolutely necessary.
Make it a happy experience by being kind to your employees. 1. schedule it something like 9:30am. Provide good coffee and donuts. 2. Have short, interesting presentations. 3. Have the CEO speak to demonstrate connection. 4. Don't ever provide beer, it is simply stupid. What if one guy get drunk and start hitting people?
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Animal Instincts and Programming
My mom's favorite (public) TV station is channel 11. WTTW Chicago. Well she is not so interested in education programs. She likes to watch documentary about animals because it is the few programs she can understand, without needing to understand much English.
So there was an episode about lions. Roar!
Male lions will roar and fight each other for territories and win the lady lions of their choice. (Roar!) The loser gets to go to another mountain for different adventures. If things go well, the lady lion would get pregnant and get little lions. The father? Not so civilized enough to stay with the cubs. (GOTO step 1) That's the lions life: hunt - survive.
The programmers is doing much the same. The consultants are the male lions: they go out to do their things and exit from the scene. They brag about what they do, and they often leave behind poor stuff. The poor support guys are lady lions... take care of the young. (Roar! )
Which role do you want to be in?
So there was an episode about lions. Roar!
Male lions will roar and fight each other for territories and win the lady lions of their choice. (Roar!) The loser gets to go to another mountain for different adventures. If things go well, the lady lion would get pregnant and get little lions. The father? Not so civilized enough to stay with the cubs. (GOTO step 1) That's the lions life: hunt - survive.
The programmers is doing much the same. The consultants are the male lions: they go out to do their things and exit from the scene. They brag about what they do, and they often leave behind poor stuff. The poor support guys are lady lions... take care of the young. (Roar! )
Which role do you want to be in?
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
World Cup
I did not watch a minute of it. Don't have access to ESPN, nor got invited to any lets-watch-some-sports parties. Not just me. Americans are not jumping up and down each time a GOOOAL is made. America is a unique place in the world that doesn't catch World Cup fever. I wonder why. Well, America has too much sports to watch already: NBA, hockey, their own football, baseball, tennis etc. Hockey and soccer have almost exact same concept: get the puck in the goal. Hockey catches on and soccer doesn't.
I think the problem (and gem) of soccer is this: scoring is too rare. The entire game of the final has just 1 goal. I think Americans prefer to see scoring more often, more fast paced, scoring action like the NBA. They don't care as much about the actions in between. The soccer field iS VERY big. Although the soccer players run real fast it seems to take forever to go coast to coast.
Sports... it brings the world together. It IS the common language for mankind.
I think soccer is the most successful of sports in popularity because it is the most accessible sport: all you need is a relatively inexpensive ball, some cones or some old shoes to mark your goal post and start kicking. You don't need hoops or concrete ground, or nets or hoops. Simple is beautiful.
I think the problem (and gem) of soccer is this: scoring is too rare. The entire game of the final has just 1 goal. I think Americans prefer to see scoring more often, more fast paced, scoring action like the NBA. They don't care as much about the actions in between. The soccer field iS VERY big. Although the soccer players run real fast it seems to take forever to go coast to coast.
Sports... it brings the world together. It IS the common language for mankind.
I think soccer is the most successful of sports in popularity because it is the most accessible sport: all you need is a relatively inexpensive ball, some cones or some old shoes to mark your goal post and start kicking. You don't need hoops or concrete ground, or nets or hoops. Simple is beautiful.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Transformers and girls
Sure, Megan Fox has spiced up the Transformers movies. Oh and she is not in the 3rd movie and she will be replaced by another great looking girl?
These guys don't get the theme of Transformers. It is NOT about girls.
Megan Fox's role roughly relates to Carly in the old TV series, and of course, Shia LaBeouf's role corresponds to Spike. These are MINOR characters of the Transformers.
What TF movies should focus on: 1. heroic properties of the autobots. They save people from the Decepticons 2. the evil of the Decepticons and the evil within themselves... including Starscream's ambitions
These guys don't get the theme of Transformers. It is NOT about girls.
Megan Fox's role roughly relates to Carly in the old TV series, and of course, Shia LaBeouf's role corresponds to Spike. These are MINOR characters of the Transformers.
What TF movies should focus on: 1. heroic properties of the autobots. They save people from the Decepticons 2. the evil of the Decepticons and the evil within themselves... including Starscream's ambitions
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Fireworks and Firearms
Fourth of July... woohoo, fireworks, BBQ! Are we that happy to gain independence from British in 1776?
It is not just fireworks and BBQ... it is a violent crime weekend. Some people also decide to kill their enemies this weekend.
See this link for details.
Yikes, SO CLOSE to where I live.
Chicagoans LIVE IN A WAR ZONE.
Are police able to catch all these? Seems like I need to GET OUT of Chicago.
But yikes, where is America are we really safe from gun violence?
Also, every year, people has arms blown off or other horrible firework accidents. Look, if you HAVEN'T seen fireworks, turn on your TV. See it.
If you've seen it once, you've seen a thousand times. Don't need to risk your hearing or burn your money to buy those firecrackers and stuff.
Are you that happy to be independent from the British? can you tell me a phrase or two from the Declaration of Independence? Most of you don't even know what you're celebrating.
So don't play with fireworks! Let official professionals deal with it. Just WATCH, don't play.
When a boom sound comes, is it fireworks or is it firearm?
It is not just fireworks and BBQ... it is a violent crime weekend. Some people also decide to kill their enemies this weekend.
See this link for details.
Yikes, SO CLOSE to where I live.
Chicagoans LIVE IN A WAR ZONE.
Are police able to catch all these? Seems like I need to GET OUT of Chicago.
But yikes, where is America are we really safe from gun violence?
Also, every year, people has arms blown off or other horrible firework accidents. Look, if you HAVEN'T seen fireworks, turn on your TV. See it.
If you've seen it once, you've seen a thousand times. Don't need to risk your hearing or burn your money to buy those firecrackers and stuff.
Are you that happy to be independent from the British? can you tell me a phrase or two from the Declaration of Independence? Most of you don't even know what you're celebrating.
So don't play with fireworks! Let official professionals deal with it. Just WATCH, don't play.
When a boom sound comes, is it fireworks or is it firearm?
Thursday, July 1, 2010
I'd stay away from McCafe
So there are people passing coupons around... FREE McCafe Frappe with ANY* purchase. So I decided to give it a try, with a small fries. Then the manager reads the fine print and says, "you can't order it with the dollars menu". Gee, I don't bother hiring a lawyer to defend the definition of "ANY" so I got some other cheap item: the Snack Wrap.
Ok, let's see how my free Frappe taste...
YIKES, there are more sugar than coffee! I already swiped that cream away.
Look McDonalds: buy some other people's frappuccino and taste them yourself and compare to yours. Other people have more coffee taste and (much less) sugar. Your food is already not healthy items, you cheat with your coupon's fine print and your coffee tastes bad.
If you want to stay in business you better have good products.
Ok, let's see how my free Frappe taste...
YIKES, there are more sugar than coffee! I already swiped that cream away.
Look McDonalds: buy some other people's frappuccino and taste them yourself and compare to yours. Other people have more coffee taste and (much less) sugar. Your food is already not healthy items, you cheat with your coupon's fine print and your coffee tastes bad.
If you want to stay in business you better have good products.
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