Well today I am writing about this fabulous creation, this network of shared knowledge and resources. Some theorized that this tool improves the quality and efficiency of work. These people have no idea what they are talking about :P.
Communication wise the internet is provides a solid background for communication tools, such as skype, MSN, etc. These when used appropriatly give you easy and immediate access to people that might be abble to answer questions that you might have. For example a ex college that did something similar. The funny thing is, although this is true, it is only true under a solid social network, which as everybody knows takes time to build, and specially takes time to maintain. The fact of the matter is most communications are mainly social. Another example of this are emails, another great tool, but I want to pose a question how many social or social based (funny emails, facebook(ohh don't get me started on those :P), etc.) emails do you get a day? How about the work emails? Don't see this as an attack on the internet, I would not be able to work without it, the work mails are fundamental and as such not dismissible, but how much time do you lose on the other type?
And then there is the boredom, when you are bored with work, well you have a fun world in front of you, I mean the imagination is the limit you can find everything, online games, news, TV programs, blogs ;P, seriously there is no end, there is no end to the internet... Although a friend of mine told me once otherwise, but I think he meant that there weren't enough football news being released a minute.
Easy information, free information, shared knowledge, well all is great but how do we contain ourselves from abusing it? It is amazing the amount of work one does considering this temptation ;P.
Well I guess I let the porn slip on this post, that would deserve its own post, and to be fair nobody does it on the job, perhaps an email or so but you know how it goes ;P.
To end in a high note check what some think ;P
P.S. - I thought about give useful links for, let's say finding more of the internet ;P but well I don't want to spoiled you efficiency :P
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Papercut...
A short post, who doesn't relate to this at times?
Why does it feel like night today?
Something in here's not right today
Why am I so uptight today?
Paranoia's all I got left
I don't know what stressed me first
or how the pressure was fed/but
I know just what it feels like
To have a voice in the back of my head
It's like a face that I hold inside
A face that awakes when I close my eyes
A face that watches everytime I lie
A face that laughs every time I fall
(And watches everything)
So I know that when it's time to sink or swim
The face inside is here in me/right underneath my skin
It's like I'm/paranoid lookin' over my back
It's like a/whirlwind inside of my head
It's like I/can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin
I know I've got a face in me
Points out all the mistakes to me
You've got a face on the inside too and
Your paranoia's probably worse
I don't know what set me off first but I know what I can't stand
Everybody acts like the fact of the matter is
I can't add up to what you can
But everybody has a face that they hold inside
A face that awakes when I close my eyes
A face that watches everytime they lie
A face that laughs everytime they fall
(And watches everything)
So you know that when it's time to sink or swim
That the face inside is watching you too/right inside your skin
It's like I'm/paranoid lookin' over my back
It's like a/whirlwind, inside of my head
It's like I/can't stop, what I'm hearing within
It's like the face inside is right beneath the skin
It's like I'm/paranoid lookin' over my back
It's like a/whirlwind inside of my head
It's like I/can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin
(The face inside is right beneath your skin)
(The face inside is right beneath your skin)
(The face inside is right beneath your skin)
The sun goes down
I feel the light betray me
The sun goes down
I feel the light betray me
(The sun)
It's like I'm/paranoid looking over my back
It's like a/whirlwind inside of my head
It's like I/can't stop what I'm hearing within
(I feel the light betray me)
It's like the face inside is right beneath your skin
(The sun)
It's like I'm/paranoid looking over my back
It's like a/whirlwind inside of my head
It's like I/can't stop what I'm hearing within
(I feel the light betray me)
It's like I/can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like I/can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin
Why does it feel like night today?
Something in here's not right today
Why am I so uptight today?
Paranoia's all I got left
I don't know what stressed me first
or how the pressure was fed/but
I know just what it feels like
To have a voice in the back of my head
It's like a face that I hold inside
A face that awakes when I close my eyes
A face that watches everytime I lie
A face that laughs every time I fall
(And watches everything)
So I know that when it's time to sink or swim
The face inside is here in me/right underneath my skin
It's like I'm/paranoid lookin' over my back
It's like a/whirlwind inside of my head
It's like I/can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin
I know I've got a face in me
Points out all the mistakes to me
You've got a face on the inside too and
Your paranoia's probably worse
I don't know what set me off first but I know what I can't stand
Everybody acts like the fact of the matter is
I can't add up to what you can
But everybody has a face that they hold inside
A face that awakes when I close my eyes
A face that watches everytime they lie
A face that laughs everytime they fall
(And watches everything)
So you know that when it's time to sink or swim
That the face inside is watching you too/right inside your skin
It's like I'm/paranoid lookin' over my back
It's like a/whirlwind, inside of my head
It's like I/can't stop, what I'm hearing within
It's like the face inside is right beneath the skin
It's like I'm/paranoid lookin' over my back
It's like a/whirlwind inside of my head
It's like I/can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin
(The face inside is right beneath your skin)
(The face inside is right beneath your skin)
(The face inside is right beneath your skin)
The sun goes down
I feel the light betray me
The sun goes down
I feel the light betray me
(The sun)
It's like I'm/paranoid looking over my back
It's like a/whirlwind inside of my head
It's like I/can't stop what I'm hearing within
(I feel the light betray me)
It's like the face inside is right beneath your skin
(The sun)
It's like I'm/paranoid looking over my back
It's like a/whirlwind inside of my head
It's like I/can't stop what I'm hearing within
(I feel the light betray me)
It's like I/can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like I/can't stop what I'm hearing within
It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
The hesitation before action...
Today a more serious topic, it can't all about humor and parties.
Some say that hesitating is a sign of weakness, of lack of backbone, that if you hesitate you lose the boat. Well it is true that this might happen but then again you might find that you boarded the wrong boat (And next stop is nowhere ;P).
For some reason the word hesitation has a kind of bad connotation, don't get me wrong it is not bad, but it is one of those words you have difficulties using in a positive context.
The think is hesitation is part of most decision making processes, the need to second guess yourself to understand other scenarios and their own implications. From my perspective sometimes we can't hesitate, but that is more about gut feeling than it is about being a rational human being. I praise logic, but at the end of the day it can't justify a deadlock on your actions simply because of certain uncertainties (eheheh, putting those two words together is quite an achievement ;P).
Hesitation comes from the unknown, and since we can't know everything, it is present in most of our actions. But at the end of the day one should be pragmatic about it, you can't hesitate forever, and after all inaction is just another form of action.
Some say that hesitating is a sign of weakness, of lack of backbone, that if you hesitate you lose the boat. Well it is true that this might happen but then again you might find that you boarded the wrong boat (And next stop is nowhere ;P).
For some reason the word hesitation has a kind of bad connotation, don't get me wrong it is not bad, but it is one of those words you have difficulties using in a positive context.
The think is hesitation is part of most decision making processes, the need to second guess yourself to understand other scenarios and their own implications. From my perspective sometimes we can't hesitate, but that is more about gut feeling than it is about being a rational human being. I praise logic, but at the end of the day it can't justify a deadlock on your actions simply because of certain uncertainties (eheheh, putting those two words together is quite an achievement ;P).
Hesitation comes from the unknown, and since we can't know everything, it is present in most of our actions. But at the end of the day one should be pragmatic about it, you can't hesitate forever, and after all inaction is just another form of action.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Nottingham Nightlife : Student Monday...
All paths lead to Oceana, basically you can't go wrong, if you are not a student, well find a way to be one because this is the place to be on a Monday night. Honestly, it is simply party central.
If you are a curious researcher, as I am, it is also the place to be. Why? Well it is the perfect place to study the social dynamics of the English culture. One of the examples is the dress code, or should I say absence of one. But don't think this is bad and people go sloppy, actually it is the opposite most people, particular girls, simple dress to impress. The size of the skirts makes you question if they can be called skirts, or if they are simply slightly oversize belts. They go with dresses, with lingerie, with costumes, well pretty much they want to stand out, and they do :P. Well if you think the boys are different, well guess again...
Another interesting aspect for studying is the mating rituals (and here the word actually applies). There are two distinct periods in the night, the first is between ten and midnight, that is the girls on the prowl time. During this period the ratio between boys and girls is astonishing, at least, and really at the very least 5 girls to 1 boy. And if you think it is because the place is empty, well think again, it is packed... For a southern European, this is way to early to be in the club, but well worth it, because you don't hunt them, they hunt you ;P.
The second period starts around half midnight, where the ratio equalizes and at times slightly tilts, and i mean slightly. During this period the men have arrived and lost all their normal inhibitions due to the effect of alcohol in their systems. Thus they proceed with the amazing mating procedure, they go behind the girl, dance ever so slightly, put their hands on their waste, the girl looks back, if she says "no", the guy takes the hand off and moves to the next one, if she says nothing, well 5 minutes and their are making out ;P. Although this is a slight exaggeration, it is not a big one, the thing is not even with alcohol some of the guys can do it, but it is quite frequent to see it happening around you. Obviously for the purpose of doing research you might try it out to see if it works for you ;P. I could go on, talk about the Baywatch, but I think that deserves its own post ;P. Just trust me, if you can simply go there ;).
Last piece of advice, do not, I repeat, do NOT talk much in a club to a girl (in England), or when you blink they are already gone ;P.
A song that makes them while, at least at the moment... ;P
... guaranteed fun ;)
If you are a curious researcher, as I am, it is also the place to be. Why? Well it is the perfect place to study the social dynamics of the English culture. One of the examples is the dress code, or should I say absence of one. But don't think this is bad and people go sloppy, actually it is the opposite most people, particular girls, simple dress to impress. The size of the skirts makes you question if they can be called skirts, or if they are simply slightly oversize belts. They go with dresses, with lingerie, with costumes, well pretty much they want to stand out, and they do :P. Well if you think the boys are different, well guess again...
Another interesting aspect for studying is the mating rituals (and here the word actually applies). There are two distinct periods in the night, the first is between ten and midnight, that is the girls on the prowl time. During this period the ratio between boys and girls is astonishing, at least, and really at the very least 5 girls to 1 boy. And if you think it is because the place is empty, well think again, it is packed... For a southern European, this is way to early to be in the club, but well worth it, because you don't hunt them, they hunt you ;P.
The second period starts around half midnight, where the ratio equalizes and at times slightly tilts, and i mean slightly. During this period the men have arrived and lost all their normal inhibitions due to the effect of alcohol in their systems. Thus they proceed with the amazing mating procedure, they go behind the girl, dance ever so slightly, put their hands on their waste, the girl looks back, if she says "no", the guy takes the hand off and moves to the next one, if she says nothing, well 5 minutes and their are making out ;P. Although this is a slight exaggeration, it is not a big one, the thing is not even with alcohol some of the guys can do it, but it is quite frequent to see it happening around you. Obviously for the purpose of doing research you might try it out to see if it works for you ;P. I could go on, talk about the Baywatch, but I think that deserves its own post ;P. Just trust me, if you can simply go there ;).
Last piece of advice, do not, I repeat, do NOT talk much in a club to a girl (in England), or when you blink they are already gone ;P.
A song that makes them while, at least at the moment... ;P
... guaranteed fun ;)
Monday, October 27, 2008
Chinese and Pigeons...
Chinese and Pigeons what do these have in common, well this one I heard last Friday and I just had to share :P. Please keep in mind this is a joke so don't get emotional about this ;P.
So apparently, or at least according to someone's views, Chinese are just like Pigeons, they are in every big city, they multiply more than the average, etc.
Honestly I heard a lot of jokes about Chinese, but on Friday this just made me laugh a lot more than usual ;P.
Here is something to complete the post, more jokes enjoy ;P:
So apparently, or at least according to someone's views, Chinese are just like Pigeons, they are in every big city, they multiply more than the average, etc.
Honestly I heard a lot of jokes about Chinese, but on Friday this just made me laugh a lot more than usual ;P.
Here is something to complete the post, more jokes enjoy ;P:
Friday, October 24, 2008
The Fisherman...
Well there we go a post on fisherman again, actually I don't recall if I mentioned it before but I think I did. What I didn't know is that this is a quite common illness for all PhD students, not the day dreaming of becoming a fisherman but the dreaming to do something simpler, the wishing for a simpler life. The thing is I don't think that the problems that I am solving are that complex, but the fact that I have to solve them in a formal and descriptive way, well it just tires me out even before I started doing it. The knowledge that it is not as simple as it appears to be, and that I will find problems in the details, just puts me off of it. It is like if I don't start the problems don't really exist because on generic terms I know what needs to be done. On the other hand the feeling of being useless sets in, and thus the need to dream about practical work one could do, something that you would see the results, and without any hidden problems (this might be a exaggeration, there are always hidden problems, then again that might be my PhD side of the brain talking ;P).
For me it is to be a fisherman, I guess partly for my cultural history, which also entails my love for the ocean. The fact that I am in Nottingham doesn't help due to the absence of the ocean. All in all a hut by the sea sounds like a good plan today, and most days of a PhD life. A friend from Thailand knowing about this sent me this:
Seams lonesome, but nice... And simple...
All of this reminded me of a great song enjoy...
I’m all at sea
Where no one can bother me
Forgot my roots
If only for a day
Just me and my thoughts
Sailing far away
Like a warm drink it seeps into my soul
Please just leave me right here on my own
Later on you could spend some time with me
If you want to, all at sea
I’m all at sea
Where no-one can bother me
I sleep by myself
I drink on my own
I don’t speak to nobody
I gave away my phone
Like a warm drink it seeps into my soul
Please just leave me right here on my own
Later on you could spend some time with me
If you want to, all at sea
Now I need you more than ever
I need you more than ever now
If you don’t need it every day
But sometimes don’t you just crave
To disappear within your mind
You never know what you might find
So come and spend some time with me
And we will spend it all at sea
Like a warm drink it seeps into my soul
Please just leave me right here on my own
Later on you could spend some time with me
If you want to, all at sea
Ooooh
If you want to, all at sea
If you want to
Simply great...
For me it is to be a fisherman, I guess partly for my cultural history, which also entails my love for the ocean. The fact that I am in Nottingham doesn't help due to the absence of the ocean. All in all a hut by the sea sounds like a good plan today, and most days of a PhD life. A friend from Thailand knowing about this sent me this:
Seams lonesome, but nice... And simple...
All of this reminded me of a great song enjoy...
I’m all at sea
Where no one can bother me
Forgot my roots
If only for a day
Just me and my thoughts
Sailing far away
Like a warm drink it seeps into my soul
Please just leave me right here on my own
Later on you could spend some time with me
If you want to, all at sea
I’m all at sea
Where no-one can bother me
I sleep by myself
I drink on my own
I don’t speak to nobody
I gave away my phone
Like a warm drink it seeps into my soul
Please just leave me right here on my own
Later on you could spend some time with me
If you want to, all at sea
Now I need you more than ever
I need you more than ever now
If you don’t need it every day
But sometimes don’t you just crave
To disappear within your mind
You never know what you might find
So come and spend some time with me
And we will spend it all at sea
Like a warm drink it seeps into my soul
Please just leave me right here on my own
Later on you could spend some time with me
If you want to, all at sea
Ooooh
If you want to, all at sea
If you want to
Simply great...
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Mate...
So today's topic is yet again related to the British culture. The word "mate" is one of those words that the Brits just love to use (much like cheers, but that is another story that does disturb me, but in a different way :P). Some background knowledge first.
When I first came to England, not as a tourist(in that capacity things are not so clear to you), I notice that people kept calling me "mate", like "thanks mate" or "cheers mate". This was a bit odd for me, because I always associated the word mate, to the mating, which is clearly not what they were intending it as, or at least one hopes it was not ;P. So this obviously required me to do some digging on the meaning of the word, and a simple Google search provides you with 22 definitions for it. 22 come on, I know they try to simplify the language but this just drains all meaning from the word, after all you can mean whatever. Check it out:
1. husband or wife; spouse.
2. one member of a pair of mated animals.
3. one of a pair: I can't find the mate to this glove.
4. a counterpart.
5. an associate; fellow worker; comrade; partner (often used in combination): classmate; roommate.
6. friend; buddy; pal (often used as an informal term of address): Let me give you a hand with that, mate.
7. Nautical.
a. first mate.
b. any of a number of officers of varying degrees of rank subordinate to the master of a merchant ship.
c. an assistant to a warrant officer or other functionary on a ship.
8. an aide or helper, as to an artisan; factotum.
9. a gear, rack, or worm engaging with another gear or worm.
10. Archaic. an equal in reputation; peer; match.
–verb (used with object)
11. to join as a mate or as mates.
12. to bring (animals) together for breeding purposes.
13. to match or marry.
14. to join, fit, or associate suitably: to mate thought with daring action.
15. to connect or link: a telephone system mated to a computerized information service.
16. to treat as comparable.
–verb (used without object)
17. to associate as a mate or as mates.
18. (of animals) to copulate.
19. (of animals) to pair for the purpose of breeding.
20. to marry.
21. (of a gear, rack, or worm) to engage with another gear or worm; mesh.
22. Archaic. to consort; keep company.
OK, it is not that bad considering the meaning are related, the reality is probably the Brits use it because they were a big naval nation thus a lot of sailors. On the other hand the other interpretation of the word might be an indication on what they did in the ships. I mean think about it, no girls, months at sea, you do the maths ;P.
The funny thing is they don't find it weird at all, this words double meaning is completely ignored, which is quite strange considering the Brits usual sarcasm.
Well anyway, just a thought that occurred to me once, and today the bus driver did said "cheers mate", so guess why I am sharing ;P.
When I first came to England, not as a tourist(in that capacity things are not so clear to you), I notice that people kept calling me "mate", like "thanks mate" or "cheers mate". This was a bit odd for me, because I always associated the word mate, to the mating, which is clearly not what they were intending it as, or at least one hopes it was not ;P. So this obviously required me to do some digging on the meaning of the word, and a simple Google search provides you with 22 definitions for it. 22 come on, I know they try to simplify the language but this just drains all meaning from the word, after all you can mean whatever. Check it out:
1. husband or wife; spouse.
2. one member of a pair of mated animals.
3. one of a pair: I can't find the mate to this glove.
4. a counterpart.
5. an associate; fellow worker; comrade; partner (often used in combination): classmate; roommate.
6. friend; buddy; pal (often used as an informal term of address): Let me give you a hand with that, mate.
7. Nautical.
a. first mate.
b. any of a number of officers of varying degrees of rank subordinate to the master of a merchant ship.
c. an assistant to a warrant officer or other functionary on a ship.
8. an aide or helper, as to an artisan; factotum.
9. a gear, rack, or worm engaging with another gear or worm.
10. Archaic. an equal in reputation; peer; match.
–verb (used with object)
11. to join as a mate or as mates.
12. to bring (animals) together for breeding purposes.
13. to match or marry.
14. to join, fit, or associate suitably: to mate thought with daring action.
15. to connect or link: a telephone system mated to a computerized information service.
16. to treat as comparable.
–verb (used without object)
17. to associate as a mate or as mates.
18. (of animals) to copulate.
19. (of animals) to pair for the purpose of breeding.
20. to marry.
21. (of a gear, rack, or worm) to engage with another gear or worm; mesh.
22. Archaic. to consort; keep company.
OK, it is not that bad considering the meaning are related, the reality is probably the Brits use it because they were a big naval nation thus a lot of sailors. On the other hand the other interpretation of the word might be an indication on what they did in the ships. I mean think about it, no girls, months at sea, you do the maths ;P.
The funny thing is they don't find it weird at all, this words double meaning is completely ignored, which is quite strange considering the Brits usual sarcasm.
Well anyway, just a thought that occurred to me once, and today the bus driver did said "cheers mate", so guess why I am sharing ;P.
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