Well, this goes without saying, but if you want your blog to be read, your blog needs to be found. Hence, Technorati the search engine of blogs!
Here's my profile:
Technorati Profile
And also a nice way to "claim" this as my blog!
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Internationalization...
Well, I don't know if this is a lesson in irony, but check this out.
Yes, the MSN team has created an e-card celebrating American Independence Day with a picture of fireworks over Hong Kong. Now, I understand that July 4th is synonymous with fireworks. And I understand that Hong Kong has pretty crazy fireworks (since the Chinese did invent it). In fact, this July 1st, HK had a pretty impressive fireworks display.
But the real funny thing is that fireworks display's highlight was the etching of "Chinese People" in the sky. Right...
Yup. Hong Kong, which just celebrated its 10 year anniversary of its return to its motherland, the People's Republic of China, is the shiny example of American independence and liberty. Lets not forget that HKSAR has no universal suffrage. I mean, theres a lot of autonomy, but really MSN team, I thought better of you.
Its not that this is a really hot-shit political debacle. And well, taste is every individual's fetish. And Hong Kong is the most free economy in the world. But HK as the symbol of independence? Give me a break.
This is why internationalization is important. You end up confusing a lot of people. I'll give the MSN team the benefit of the doubt, and state the goal of American independence was to have a free economy. There, everybody wins!
BTW: I love Truemors. Heres my post
Yes, the MSN team has created an e-card celebrating American Independence Day with a picture of fireworks over Hong Kong. Now, I understand that July 4th is synonymous with fireworks. And I understand that Hong Kong has pretty crazy fireworks (since the Chinese did invent it). In fact, this July 1st, HK had a pretty impressive fireworks display.
But the real funny thing is that fireworks display's highlight was the etching of "Chinese People" in the sky. Right...
Yup. Hong Kong, which just celebrated its 10 year anniversary of its return to its motherland, the People's Republic of China, is the shiny example of American independence and liberty. Lets not forget that HKSAR has no universal suffrage. I mean, theres a lot of autonomy, but really MSN team, I thought better of you.
Its not that this is a really hot-shit political debacle. And well, taste is every individual's fetish. And Hong Kong is the most free economy in the world. But HK as the symbol of independence? Give me a break.
This is why internationalization is important. You end up confusing a lot of people. I'll give the MSN team the benefit of the doubt, and state the goal of American independence was to have a free economy. There, everybody wins!
BTW: I love Truemors. Heres my post
Monday, July 2, 2007
Transparency and the Blog
Blogs are interesting - a person is shielded more by being exposed more. Thats like thinking "if I run around naked on the battlefield, arrows won't hurt me". Interesting side note, the Celts used to fight nude and that scared a lot of their enemies (who wants to fight another man with his dong hanging around?).
Back to the point. Heres an interesting article I read recently about how one makes exposure of corruption in the government is being shielded by his blog. As he increased the transparency of the Indian bureaucracy as a whistle-blower, he was soliciting dangerous enemies. In defense, his wife and kid made a blog to help expose his activities to the world, and thus people are aware of his existence (or lackthereof).
Its interesting to see that he is kind of trapped in a perpetual loop now though. His blog exists to expose corruption, and to defend himself against corruption, he uses his blog. Nothing too shabby, I only hope that corruption ends to the point that he doesn't need the blog to save himself.
Blogging for transparency is not an unknown concept. More and more corporations incorporate a blog somewhere in its public relations division. A PR blog tends to be some kind of development blog, something to keep you on track of progress. Then a lot of employee blogs are on the same track.
Students of economics know that perfect information is the oil that lubes up the gears of the businesses. Any business entity that doesn't rely on being the first in a market stands to gain with increased transparency.
Transparency inspires confidence. Confidence is important in business. To use the gaming industry: People following up on a game development blog become attached to the game, knowing what to expect when it comes out, and therefore become nice excited converts creating buzz on the net. Forget secret-workings of the corporate cult, the future lies of prideful open exposure. Draw the people in, theres nothing to hide but excellent work.
I think blogging in the corporate world is very important, especially in the context of this day and age. People are becoming more active about their consumer habits. They may not buy from you if your carbon footprint is too big, or if you're employing little six year olds to produce goods (child labor is definitely another post). Or what the company may be doing with its pension founds *cough cough*.
A blog inspires trust, and with that trust, it inspires growth in yourself. Knowing that you are exposing your inner-workings make you think about all the stakeholders much more. At the very least, this increased consideration of people may expand your revenue base by product marketing.
This is why I blog. That is not to say, to expose anything illicit that goes down in my firm. But to keep myself on track, doing what is right not just for the firm but for others, and to increase transparency. Now, this is still an anonymous blog, because I'm not looking to foul my firm by saying irresponsible stuff. However, to make this blog useful, I've also let my firm be aware that I'm doing this.
This isn't an official blog for the firm, but one more for industry. The goal here is to create a nexus for other people interested in corporate governance, globalization and information technology. But its just one example of how being open & honest inspires trust to improve.
Back to the point. Heres an interesting article I read recently about how one makes exposure of corruption in the government is being shielded by his blog. As he increased the transparency of the Indian bureaucracy as a whistle-blower, he was soliciting dangerous enemies. In defense, his wife and kid made a blog to help expose his activities to the world, and thus people are aware of his existence (or lackthereof).
Its interesting to see that he is kind of trapped in a perpetual loop now though. His blog exists to expose corruption, and to defend himself against corruption, he uses his blog. Nothing too shabby, I only hope that corruption ends to the point that he doesn't need the blog to save himself.
Blogging for transparency is not an unknown concept. More and more corporations incorporate a blog somewhere in its public relations division. A PR blog tends to be some kind of development blog, something to keep you on track of progress. Then a lot of employee blogs are on the same track.
Students of economics know that perfect information is the oil that lubes up the gears of the businesses. Any business entity that doesn't rely on being the first in a market stands to gain with increased transparency.
Transparency inspires confidence. Confidence is important in business. To use the gaming industry: People following up on a game development blog become attached to the game, knowing what to expect when it comes out, and therefore become nice excited converts creating buzz on the net. Forget secret-workings of the corporate cult, the future lies of prideful open exposure. Draw the people in, theres nothing to hide but excellent work.
I think blogging in the corporate world is very important, especially in the context of this day and age. People are becoming more active about their consumer habits. They may not buy from you if your carbon footprint is too big, or if you're employing little six year olds to produce goods (child labor is definitely another post). Or what the company may be doing with its pension founds *cough cough*.
A blog inspires trust, and with that trust, it inspires growth in yourself. Knowing that you are exposing your inner-workings make you think about all the stakeholders much more. At the very least, this increased consideration of people may expand your revenue base by product marketing.
This is why I blog. That is not to say, to expose anything illicit that goes down in my firm. But to keep myself on track, doing what is right not just for the firm but for others, and to increase transparency. Now, this is still an anonymous blog, because I'm not looking to foul my firm by saying irresponsible stuff. However, to make this blog useful, I've also let my firm be aware that I'm doing this.
This isn't an official blog for the firm, but one more for industry. The goal here is to create a nexus for other people interested in corporate governance, globalization and information technology. But its just one example of how being open & honest inspires trust to improve.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
iPhone, iAdmire
The iPhone craze is remarkable. Every single of my RSS feeds that were not someone's personal blog had an entry on the iPhone (including CollegeHumor!).
To call the iPhone a success now may be considered too presumptuous. But not by far.
It appears that theres more buzz about the iPhone than the London attempted bombing (terrorism), Hong Kong's 10 year handover anniversary (democracy vs communism), and the flooding in South Asia combined (environmental catastrophe). I would link the articles on this post, but really, maybe it will do you good to scour the web for news on global issues. Chalk one up for corporate branding and success of human consumerism over the tragedy of life. I guess thats a win?
No matter my opinion on the iPhone, it is a remarkable success for marketing and the Apple brand. Even the techies who are aware of iPhone's numerous competitors drool like Pavlov's dog (heres one). But this isn't a blog about why people are obsessive about the iPhone...
iPhone's contract with the new AT&T (including the former Cingular) has dispelled hope for standardizing the carrier market. If the iPhone was built with one standard for any carrier, the massive demand would force carrier to switch to that standard until another product can withstand the onslaught. Now that its all AT&T, what may happen is simply a lot of breaking and switching contracts. Again, now the other carriers are looking for their iPhone killer.
What does this mean globally? Well, the US launch of the iPhone has already started some stirs in China.
Wow, AADD moment here... Apple popup wants me to install the new iTunes (are they on to me?).
Back to the point. It appears the craze will not stop for a while (unless someone figures out that the iPhone steals your soul or something). In the long run? I know its going to irritate me due to its ubiquitousness. I refuse to buy an iPod for this reason. And I also refused to buy a Razr (I had a cooler Motorola one with stereo lights to go with the music...).
Does that ring any bells? The Razr? Everybody was crazy about it for a while. "Ooooh, its so thin!" Well, if you like anorexia, go to Asia, in more ways than one, they have one up on the US (the cellphone market is much faster in Asia). Hopefully, the craze will die, and I won't feel like a heretic for dissuading people from buying an iPhone.
But to be honest, if theres one thing I really like about the iPhone is its seamless integration with AT&T. Pick and choose your voicemail? Oh wow, I love that feature.
If only they had GPS.
Or tactile feedback for your keyboard.
Or decent security for enterprise users (I admit, it is a consumer product though).
Or if Apple wasnt so bad on the environment thing. Article here. And here.
Then maybe I'll buy it. Otherwise, its a Crackberry for me.
To call the iPhone a success now may be considered too presumptuous. But not by far.
It appears that theres more buzz about the iPhone than the London attempted bombing (terrorism), Hong Kong's 10 year handover anniversary (democracy vs communism), and the flooding in South Asia combined (environmental catastrophe). I would link the articles on this post, but really, maybe it will do you good to scour the web for news on global issues. Chalk one up for corporate branding and success of human consumerism over the tragedy of life. I guess thats a win?
No matter my opinion on the iPhone, it is a remarkable success for marketing and the Apple brand. Even the techies who are aware of iPhone's numerous competitors drool like Pavlov's dog (heres one). But this isn't a blog about why people are obsessive about the iPhone...
iPhone's contract with the new AT&T (including the former Cingular) has dispelled hope for standardizing the carrier market. If the iPhone was built with one standard for any carrier, the massive demand would force carrier to switch to that standard until another product can withstand the onslaught. Now that its all AT&T, what may happen is simply a lot of breaking and switching contracts. Again, now the other carriers are looking for their iPhone killer.
What does this mean globally? Well, the US launch of the iPhone has already started some stirs in China.
Wow, AADD moment here... Apple popup wants me to install the new iTunes (are they on to me?).
Back to the point. It appears the craze will not stop for a while (unless someone figures out that the iPhone steals your soul or something). In the long run? I know its going to irritate me due to its ubiquitousness. I refuse to buy an iPod for this reason. And I also refused to buy a Razr (I had a cooler Motorola one with stereo lights to go with the music...).
Does that ring any bells? The Razr? Everybody was crazy about it for a while. "Ooooh, its so thin!" Well, if you like anorexia, go to Asia, in more ways than one, they have one up on the US (the cellphone market is much faster in Asia). Hopefully, the craze will die, and I won't feel like a heretic for dissuading people from buying an iPhone.
But to be honest, if theres one thing I really like about the iPhone is its seamless integration with AT&T. Pick and choose your voicemail? Oh wow, I love that feature.
If only they had GPS.
Or tactile feedback for your keyboard.
Or decent security for enterprise users (I admit, it is a consumer product though).
Or if Apple wasnt so bad on the environment thing. Article here. And here.
Then maybe I'll buy it. Otherwise, its a Crackberry for me.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
No Job For You! - HR Nazi
The H1-B opponent's arsenal just got an upgrade, check out the YouTube video below:
The video was created by some Law firm giving a free seminar on how to maneuver past the Program Electronic Review Management (PERM) act which "stipulates requirements for placing help wanted ads to fill job vacancies, with the intent of either hiring U.S. workers or showing that no qualified Americans are available" (quote from
ComputerWorld). I guess propz goes to the Programmer's Guild for unearthing it.
Basically, its pretty low stuff. To think that companies will actively look for avenues to hire a foreign-worker for any whatsoever reason, and that this seminar was tailored to helping them do so. It definitely got a lot of people on YouTube all railed up.
I'm a proponent of increasing the H1-B visa caps, because I believe in the benefits of globalization. My belief is that foreign-workers can bring in ingenuity that is in high demand in the US at an efficient price, thereby empowering the industry and economy. Unfortunately, many people translate this to "Americans lose jobs".
So on one hand, as a "patriot" I am appalled that companies engage in this type of behavior. On the other hand, I shrug my shoulders and say "so what?"
If foreign-workers are cheaper and can get the job done just as well, why not employ them? It's better for the economy! I'm probably highly influenced by this article I read today in the Economist about how voters favor irrational policies (read: voters are idiots who vote for stupid policies) - Lexington "Vote for me, dimwit". Another way of looking at the article is that economists are cursed with knowledge.
So besides seeming like a complete elitist prick here, my point is this: Yes, the forces of globalization may harm Americans in some ways. Skilled labor may be at risk from foreigners. Not that we, Americans, are not accustomed to a life of milk and honey that globalization has brought to us (cheap cheap cheap foreign goods, though that will probably hit us in the butt soon). So really, can we complain?
Yes, we people have the right to be pissed. I'm a capitalist at heart, and I realize free markets hurt individuals for the benefit of the mob. The problem is this "race to the bottom" corporations are suspected to play. So don't hate the playa, hate the game!
Corporations have the right to be as efficient as possible. And consumers have the right to choose their products they buy. So boycott those services that you think are abusing the H1-B visas (though I admit, it might be hard to target individually)!
The key isn't MORE regulation about who can do what. That will make more inefficiencies that will prove why foreigners are better alternatives to local skilled labor. The point is changing the corporation's viewpoints. This applies to many things. If consumers are honestly concerned about factors besides the bottom line, they shouldn't purchase by the basis of price.
Woah, you ask, how the hell did we end up consumer politic territory when we really talking about labor. Its all the same, man. *takes a drag* The neo-capitalism of today is killing the world. *drags* hahahhaa... Okay, I promise to get back on track.
Corporations should have loyalty to local workers. Boom! There ya go, that left hook. Corporations, as entities, are citizens to America and the world. They owe it all of us to be ethical and hire labor morally. That is not to say, only Americans showed be hired, cause the company so happen to office here. Nor to say, only foreigners, because they're cheaper. Hire the quality you need to do a job well done.
There are plenty of job opportunities for skilled labor in the US. Foreign workers aint the problem. But don't be evil and actively search out ways to cheat some poor local kid.
Awwe shucks, just for the hell of it: Increase the size of the entire pie, not just your slice. This is probably gonna be my favorite saying for the blog.
The video was created by some Law firm giving a free seminar on how to maneuver past the Program Electronic Review Management (PERM) act which "stipulates requirements for placing help wanted ads to fill job vacancies, with the intent of either hiring U.S. workers or showing that no qualified Americans are available" (quote from
ComputerWorld). I guess propz goes to the Programmer's Guild for unearthing it.
Basically, its pretty low stuff. To think that companies will actively look for avenues to hire a foreign-worker for any whatsoever reason, and that this seminar was tailored to helping them do so. It definitely got a lot of people on YouTube all railed up.
I'm a proponent of increasing the H1-B visa caps, because I believe in the benefits of globalization. My belief is that foreign-workers can bring in ingenuity that is in high demand in the US at an efficient price, thereby empowering the industry and economy. Unfortunately, many people translate this to "Americans lose jobs".
So on one hand, as a "patriot" I am appalled that companies engage in this type of behavior. On the other hand, I shrug my shoulders and say "so what?"
If foreign-workers are cheaper and can get the job done just as well, why not employ them? It's better for the economy! I'm probably highly influenced by this article I read today in the Economist about how voters favor irrational policies (read: voters are idiots who vote for stupid policies) - Lexington "Vote for me, dimwit". Another way of looking at the article is that economists are cursed with knowledge.
So besides seeming like a complete elitist prick here, my point is this: Yes, the forces of globalization may harm Americans in some ways. Skilled labor may be at risk from foreigners. Not that we, Americans, are not accustomed to a life of milk and honey that globalization has brought to us (cheap cheap cheap foreign goods, though that will probably hit us in the butt soon). So really, can we complain?
Yes, we people have the right to be pissed. I'm a capitalist at heart, and I realize free markets hurt individuals for the benefit of the mob. The problem is this "race to the bottom" corporations are suspected to play. So don't hate the playa, hate the game!
Corporations have the right to be as efficient as possible. And consumers have the right to choose their products they buy. So boycott those services that you think are abusing the H1-B visas (though I admit, it might be hard to target individually)!
The key isn't MORE regulation about who can do what. That will make more inefficiencies that will prove why foreigners are better alternatives to local skilled labor. The point is changing the corporation's viewpoints. This applies to many things. If consumers are honestly concerned about factors besides the bottom line, they shouldn't purchase by the basis of price.
Woah, you ask, how the hell did we end up consumer politic territory when we really talking about labor. Its all the same, man. *takes a drag* The neo-capitalism of today is killing the world. *drags* hahahhaa... Okay, I promise to get back on track.
Corporations should have loyalty to local workers. Boom! There ya go, that left hook. Corporations, as entities, are citizens to America and the world. They owe it all of us to be ethical and hire labor morally. That is not to say, only Americans showed be hired, cause the company so happen to office here. Nor to say, only foreigners, because they're cheaper. Hire the quality you need to do a job well done.
There are plenty of job opportunities for skilled labor in the US. Foreign workers aint the problem. But don't be evil and actively search out ways to cheat some poor local kid.
Awwe shucks, just for the hell of it: Increase the size of the entire pie, not just your slice. This is probably gonna be my favorite saying for the blog.
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