I just happened to view a clip by Jonathan Harris in TED, who goes around the internet to the find the keywords "I Feel" in blogs, websites and so forth.
It collects basically the feelings of what is described in the internet.The results from http://www.wefeelfine.org is very interesting.
Guess which city is the most saddest amongst all cities in the world? Goto to this URL: http://www.wefeelfine.org/findings.html#saddestcities, and you all shall find out..
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Burning Man
Recently read The Google Story by David Vise and Mark Malseed. Also had read The Search by John Battelle before it. I think everyone knows about Google and its incredible story. It is also the the best company to work for in the world in 2007 according to Forbes magazine.
Anyway, the story of the how the Googlers going off to the festival called Burning Man was interesting. So, I checked out in the internet or rather googled the term "burning man" and found the website.
Apparently, every year, a community of people will converge on a area called the playa in somewhere called the Black Rock Desert. I read it, but can imagine the kind of electric atmosphere it generates for its participants. This being an self-organizing event that is being held over a period of a month and reach a climax of burning the man.
Saw the photos from the website and a video from youtube and I am really amazed all these were put up in a middle of a desert by people. Would love to see it myself sometime. IT takes place every year with a different theme.....
Anyway, the story of the how the Googlers going off to the festival called Burning Man was interesting. So, I checked out in the internet or rather googled the term "burning man" and found the website.
Apparently, every year, a community of people will converge on a area called the playa in somewhere called the Black Rock Desert. I read it, but can imagine the kind of electric atmosphere it generates for its participants. This being an self-organizing event that is being held over a period of a month and reach a climax of burning the man.
Saw the photos from the website and a video from youtube and I am really amazed all these were put up in a middle of a desert by people. Would love to see it myself sometime. IT takes place every year with a different theme.....
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Singapore's Third Place
In Ray Oldenburg's book The Great Good Place, he talking about First (home), Second (work) and our Third places. So, what really is a Third Place in that sense?
I think what Oldenburg was trying to address was the disconnect between ourselves and the community that modern life has brought to us. In the age of fast-food and suburban sprawl, where we close our doors, the moment we reach our homes, there is no common place, where people can congregate and converse. This problem is far more prevalent in the US, then Europe or Singapore for that matter.
Anyway, he defined third places with the following:
I think what Oldenburg was trying to address was the disconnect between ourselves and the community that modern life has brought to us. In the age of fast-food and suburban sprawl, where we close our doors, the moment we reach our homes, there is no common place, where people can congregate and converse. This problem is far more prevalent in the US, then Europe or Singapore for that matter.
Anyway, he defined third places with the following:
- It is on neutral ground - It resides on a place where people can come and go anytime.
- It is a leveler - Membership is available to all with no distinction.
- Conversation is the main activity- Colourful talk and storyteller amongst the people
- It is accessible and accommodative.
- Regulars characterized third place - The same people who frequents the place.
- Third place has a low profile - Undistinctive decor and plain.
- It has a playful mood
- It is a home away from home
He goes on to cite several examples of cafes, beer gardens and taverns in US.
So, I was doing some thinking and I thought, our very own Kopi-Tiam was a good example of the Third Place as well. In terms of being a place where we always congregate to eat, talking and conversation is also high on the agenda. We have uncles sitting down there in the evening with bottles of beer, and maybe perhaps watching the English Premier League game there.
Certainly, the idea of the Kopi-Tiam was good one. I see in Toa Payoh, the Kopi-Tiams were just right below at the block of the HDB flats. Its a perfect Third Place for the residents to be there in talk, share local news and maybe even gossip. Remember the old SBC Chinese series, 'Kopi-O'. It was hit in the 80's... why so? Its because people can identify themselves as part of this culture. So much so, that the new MediaCorp shot its sequel 'Kopi-O II' in 2002.
But, I have noticed that the newer estates tend not to have Kopi-Tiams like Toa Payoh. SengKang for example, I heard from some friends only have 2-3 of them in the entire estate. This pales in comparision to the older estates.
In a way, the sense of community would be difficult to build and maintain if the newer estates do not have a Third Place as envisioned by Oldenburg.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Shackleton and Apollo 13
A friend recommended a book to me recently and I could remember it vividly, because I had read it while I was away on a overseas business trip sometime in 2003. The nights were boring, so I took the time to read it.
Ernest Shackleton was perhaps the most amazing character in terms of leadership and charisma in my opinion. Read the book Shackleton's Way by Margot Morrell and Stpehanie Capparell.
How he could sustained his crew of 27 what got trapped in the Antarctica for two long years is really quite an achievement. This man showed all manners of leadership in harnessing the inante power of his people. He not only was able to reshift his priorities quickly after his ship Endurance was crushed by the ice, but he showed that he led by example. I remembered he threw away all his valuables in the snow, to demonstrate his resolve to his crew that anything else other what is a necessity should be not be brought along.
In a sense, what the authors said about Shackleton was true. He led the most successful unsuccessful mission in the history of our time. Perhaps, only the incident of Apollo 13 can rival that. But Shackleton's true greatness I think, lies in his ability to really foster camaraderie of his people without the usual disintegration that occurs when turmoil is the order of the day. What is even greater was that none of his crew perished in the whole entire ordeal which took two long years.
Apollo 13 in contrast had a shorter duration of a couple of days, but itself is not an easy feat, considering the engineers in NASA were racing against time.
Got another book relating to his story in Alfred Lansing's Endurance, but have not had the opportunity to do so.
Ernest Shackleton was perhaps the most amazing character in terms of leadership and charisma in my opinion. Read the book Shackleton's Way by Margot Morrell and Stpehanie Capparell.
How he could sustained his crew of 27 what got trapped in the Antarctica for two long years is really quite an achievement. This man showed all manners of leadership in harnessing the inante power of his people. He not only was able to reshift his priorities quickly after his ship Endurance was crushed by the ice, but he showed that he led by example. I remembered he threw away all his valuables in the snow, to demonstrate his resolve to his crew that anything else other what is a necessity should be not be brought along.
In a sense, what the authors said about Shackleton was true. He led the most successful unsuccessful mission in the history of our time. Perhaps, only the incident of Apollo 13 can rival that. But Shackleton's true greatness I think, lies in his ability to really foster camaraderie of his people without the usual disintegration that occurs when turmoil is the order of the day. What is even greater was that none of his crew perished in the whole entire ordeal which took two long years.
Apollo 13 in contrast had a shorter duration of a couple of days, but itself is not an easy feat, considering the engineers in NASA were racing against time.
Got another book relating to his story in Alfred Lansing's Endurance, but have not had the opportunity to do so.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Learning by Babies - Influences
Just an observation on babies. Their ability to learn and adapt is really amazing. One week, they may just be sitting down, looking you in the eyes and may look like he does know what to do. The next week, they surprise you by doing something out of the ordinary; which you really do not expect to happen.
They are like sponges, absorbing every visual and auditory details that the world have bombarded them with. I think in certain ways, they have been trying to sense-make what the world is all the about, and along the way managed to figure it all out one thing at a time.
It makes me wonder whether we should return to a state of being babies. We were definitely curious and inquisitive then, and open to new ideas. Now, as adults, we tend to be more closed minded and have certain bianess in our perceptions. Perhaps, we have already molded and shaped by our influences in life.
As a fellow student said to me, we are constantly being influenced by various sources which can ultimately shape our beliefs and eventually become the person we are. Sounds like we do not have independent thinking at all yeah... So therefore, we should always try to develop critical thinking skills or logic reasoning with an eye on human emotions (paradox ah?).
What I meant is that cool reasoning of a given situation should be guided by keen observation of the human emotions relayed by the actors of the situation. This should lead us to a more effective and successful resolution of any problem or issue.
They are like sponges, absorbing every visual and auditory details that the world have bombarded them with. I think in certain ways, they have been trying to sense-make what the world is all the about, and along the way managed to figure it all out one thing at a time.
It makes me wonder whether we should return to a state of being babies. We were definitely curious and inquisitive then, and open to new ideas. Now, as adults, we tend to be more closed minded and have certain bianess in our perceptions. Perhaps, we have already molded and shaped by our influences in life.
As a fellow student said to me, we are constantly being influenced by various sources which can ultimately shape our beliefs and eventually become the person we are. Sounds like we do not have independent thinking at all yeah... So therefore, we should always try to develop critical thinking skills or logic reasoning with an eye on human emotions (paradox ah?).
What I meant is that cool reasoning of a given situation should be guided by keen observation of the human emotions relayed by the actors of the situation. This should lead us to a more effective and successful resolution of any problem or issue.
Technology Entertainment and Design
Totally enjoyed this website http://www.ted.com. This yearly conference brings about the best speakers from around the world.
So far, I have watched Malcom Gladwell with his different viewpoints on happiness, Al Gore who happens to extremely funny where he made several jokes and Steven Pinker on Violence.
I thought the quality of the speakers with breadth of topics is invaluable. Anyone with any interest in anything can go down there and find something related. Best thing is that it is short and to the point (less than 20minutes for most videos).
Kudos! to TED for making available for everyone
So far, I have watched Malcom Gladwell with his different viewpoints on happiness, Al Gore who happens to extremely funny where he made several jokes and Steven Pinker on Violence.
I thought the quality of the speakers with breadth of topics is invaluable. Anyone with any interest in anything can go down there and find something related. Best thing is that it is short and to the point (less than 20minutes for most videos).
Kudos! to TED for making available for everyone
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