Lab Learning: Day 4

What us is a blog if it's not updated? I thought, for a change, I'll update my daily learnings here. At least there'll be some content on this blog. Today marks day 4 of our lab. We got ourselves a bollocking for being tardy. We're running a tight schedule, but we need to put our noses to the grindstone and get used to being timeliness. If we don't change here, we're not going to make a difference. The culture starts here. There are two types of change; positive change and negative change. Positive change: People are excited at upcoming changes, then experience discomfort when the change happens,then they see what could be possible and become hopeful for the change. These stages are uninformed optimism, Informed pessimism, hopeful realism and finally informed optimism. Negative change (SARAH): Shock when the change happens, followed by Anger, followed by Rejection and then Acceptance and finally, Hope. We spent the day in two groups, one setting up our Story area for the launch and finalizing details of the lab launch while the other group carried out syndication and work on further refining our model. We're still not efficiently working, as at the end of the day, there are still syndication arrangements not yet done, and four days have passed. We could use other resources to get the appointments done i.e. secretary, friends etc, yet because we insist on doing it ourselves, it's lost in the hustle and bustle of the other activities. In the initial syndications we were shooting in the dark over the questions we need to do, but once we realized there is a strategy needed, things started to move a little faster with the syndications. At the end of today, we were shown a simple way to keep track of the syndication findings. We had to create a table with the names of the syndicates on the left most collumns, and the different options discussed listed across as column headings. This meant that we had a tabular view of the syndicate response thus we could visually identify the opinions. At the same time, at the next round of syndication we could use it as a reference to remind them of their initial stand, thus making the buy in process easier. The table was still being drawn up when I left, so I'll post it up here tomorrow. Keeping things simple (you melancholics better pay attention! :-P) and visual really help! I think I missed an important learning as I was called away to a meeting; as I came back I found our chief facilitator end his session with ".. so remember this when you're doing.." *sigh* That's it for today. Hope that this info is useful!

Trying My New Toy

Ever the non conformist, while everyone else talks about the new iPhone, I went out and got myself a new toy: the galaxy notes 10.1. Just I got an HTC flyer when everyone went Samsung, this time it was no different. I went grocery shopping, saw the exhibition booth, fiddled around with the display unit, found that there was discount offered since it was the last day, I got it. My verdict? A little unwieldy compared to my HTC, but the pen needs no batteries and is super reliable. I give top marks for being able to take notes on the go. I don't need paper anymore. I haven't any use for the phone function, though, and with a tablet this size, I really don't think its necessary. Wish me luck as I continue to play around with it!

Singapore!

For the first time, I drove into Singapore. It was a pleasant drive, though many, cars were relatively few due to the Chinese New Year. Since then we've been to Sentosa island. Universal studios was great, and underwater world not too bad. The rides were great and the express passes minimised waiting times. The highlight of the underwater world was having stingrays eat off the back of your hand.What really spoilt it were the loud visitors, speaking at the top of their voices, rushing, crowding and pushing. There were also pedestrians meandering along at their own pace, getting into peoples paths. Today's the last day, and it's 10 am and we've hardly stirred from our rooms. Guess we're tired out from yesterday.

Someone just tried to Kill Santa!

I was happily trying to kill time when, at the stroke of midnight, the cool quiet night air was suddenly shattered by a barrage of Chinese crackers followed by whistling rockets and booming fireworks. At first, I thought that it might have been a sudden burst of violence. Then, my son's friend went: extremists!, they're trying to kill Santa! Though he may have been joking, it did for a moment cross my mind that Rudolph may be startled by the fireworks, swerving aside, the sleigh swerving and throwing Santa and all those presents off the sleigh. And, in tomorrow's news headlines, in truly Malaysian spirit: "Santa claus killed in freak mishap involving fireworks. Not wearing safety belt the primry cause" Anyway.. no offense intended. Just to wonder when fireworks became part of Christmas. Merry Christmas everyone. Have a safe and happy celebrations.

Don't We Want To Understand?

Friendship. Companionship. Attraction. Sex. We meet people that catch our eye, and we naturally drift towards each other because of interests, the little jolt of electricity that we feel when we see that smile. The tremor in our chests when we catch a whiff of that scent, the willingness to accommodate differences in opinions because we like the other person. The comfort in having a shoulder to cry on, the support in overcoming our fears. Do we jump in bed together because of that? Or do we continue to get to know each other better? There are some who jump into bed, there are other whose values tell them not to. We accept this as part of being human, as part of building relationships. Most of us go through these experiences that make learn to be good humans, governed by values instilled in us by society, by parents and by religion. Just as a man going out with a woman doesn't necessarily engage in sex, why should we expect differently from same sex relationships? There are those who, brought up with the same values as others, grow up to be good humans, good parents with families, even though in their hearts they feel differently. Some of us go through the same, guided by the same values, but unable to explain or understand the difference in their hearts. The majority condemns this few to be unnatural; to be dirty; to be bad. And these few, confused with their differences, follow different paths, unable to fulfill their potential as a productive member of society, condemned to discrimination and persecution. The truth is that these few never chose to be what they are, and just like the most of us, are governed by the same values. There are people who are born feeling like a man in a woman's body, a woman in a man's body, a woman attracted to another woman or a man, attracted to another man. People fear them, abominate them and persecute them even though they never had a choice in what they are. Events like Seksualiti Merdeka should be encouraged so we understand who they are, that they are normal human beings and we don't fear them with silly ideas like "promoting unnatural acts". The depth of our lack of understanding is evidently clear when we have to ban this event because we are afraid it propagates same sex. We need to understand them so that we do not fear them. So that they know they can speak to you about their feelings without fearing persecution, or punishment. Pretending that they don't exist, or persecuting them is not the answer. Supporting them, understanding them and accepting them is what they need. I do hope that our wise IGP will give the organizers a fair and objective opportunity.

Island holiday, again!

Thot that we could have another snorkelling holiday, again. It looked like a nice island. The drive took 6 and a half hours and the ferry did not run as listed in the schedule.
The boat ride was rather rough, made worse by the stifling heat in the cabin from a less than efficient aircond.
The hotel serenaded us as we arrived, the staff friendly, so friendly they took us to our chalets without our room keys.
Of course, there are great things here, too. The chalets are nestled amongst the trees, the sands sparkly white, the sea, azure. Tame deer roam the grounds and you get to feed them bread if u like.
The makings of a great holiday, i tell you.

Happy father's day

One just cannot not enjoy father's day when the ones you love bend over backwards to ensure its a day to remember.
Thank you, sayang, amalyna, amirul and ariff. I love you all. :-)