Structure: Time, Space and Matter

In the final analysis, structure determines time, space and matter - the fundamental ingredients that make up the universe. Having structure gives us stability such that we have enough time to put in enough effort to accomplish things. Structure fixes when (time) and where (space) we do what we do (matter). With a structure in place, our struggles become effortless, just like a tree with strong trunk that can easily ride through storms.

Yet structure is often deemed lack of freedom. In the age of personal freedom, more and more people give up structure that our culture gives us. The consequence is not hard to imaging - our coming generations will be less structured in their lives, easily swayed by popular culture, and have to struggle harder to achieve what we used to achieve quite naturally.

遇見更好的自己 - 黑幼龍, 書軒講座

黑幼龍書軒講座：遇見更好的自己

影音網址：

20100814-1《靜思書軒。 心靈講座》遇見更好的自己 (上)

20100814-2《靜思書軒。 心靈講座》遇見更好的自己 (上)

20100821 1《靜思書軒。心靈講座》遇見更好的自己 (下)

20100821 2《靜思書軒。心靈講座》遇見更好的自己 (下)

Spoilt for Choice, to the Max

From a friend via email:

Once while visiting a very rich friend, the maid approached me and.....

Question : "What would you like to have....? Fruit juice, Soda, Tea, Chocolate, Capuccino, Frapuccino, or Coffee?"

Answer : " Tea please"

Question : " Ceylon tea, Indian tea, Herbal tea, Bush tea, Honey bush tea, iced tea or green tea?"

Answer : " Ceylon tea"

Question : "How would you like it? Black or white?

Answer : "white"

Question : "Milk, or fresh cream?

Answer : "With milk"

Question : "Goat's milk, or cow's milk"

Answer : "With cow's milk please.

Question : "Freezeland cow or Afrikaner cow?"

Answer : "Um, I'll just take it black."

Question : "Would you like it with sweetener, sugar or honey?"

Answer : "With sugar"

Question : "Beet sugar or cane sugar?"

Answer : "Cane sugar"

Question : "White, brown or yellow sugar?"

Answer : "Forget about the tea, just give me a glass of water instead."

Question : "Mineral water, tap water or distilled water?"

Answer : "Mineral water"

Question : "Flavored or non-flavored?"

Answer : "I think I'll just die of thirst"!

Death in Hard Perspective

I did a quick math yesterday, and the answer is quite revealing.

We know the world population is about 6 billion. Assuming average lifespan of 80 years, we know that after 80 years, the entire population will be dead. Here is the statistics that follows:

World population	6,000,000,000
Death per year (÷80)	75,000,000
Death per day (÷365)	205,479

That means everyday about 200 thousand people die everyday. That is about the number of people that was wiped out during the last South Asia tsumani. It is like that terrifying tsunami happening everyday.

We are not aware of this number because it is not reported in the media, simply because those deaths are not newsworthy.

But it is happening everyday and all of us will be the part of the statistics one day, regardless of who you are and what you have.

Copy Exactly

“Copy Exactly!” is a philosophy used by some companies, notably Intel, to quickly duplicate the process capabilities that are proven working in the lab into the production environment. The “!” mark behind the two words emphasizes the unquestionable copying – just copy, don’t think!

The key benefit is fast volume ramp. However, some time this sort of practice can be a laughing stock. There were times that you find some computers used in the production floor having full multimedia features, just because the computers used in the lab had them.

Nowadays Copy Exactly is frowned upon. That term has gained a bad name because it didn’t allow people to think. People have learnt its wisdom and benefit, and have let go of it.

Brand Awareness

The Art of Learning

I can’t put “The Art of Learning” down once I started reading it. It answers so many of my questions about learning. Since I name this blog “Growinglane”, you can guess how serious I am about personal growth.

Here is what you can (and should) do: (i) watch the video “Searching for Bobby Fischer” – it’s about how Joshua learn and excelled at Chess; (ii) Read more about Joshua on the internet – in Wikipedia, and his foundation website, (ii) read “The Art of Learning”. (iii) After you are through reading the book, watch this video: