to the Husband that he likes both his old school and new school. :)
Thursday, 21 February 2013
Tuesday, 19 February 2013
Gracefully protecting his IP
I confess: I am a big fan of the Far Side comics. Gary Larson penned each single panel cartoon to depict the quirks of life... A wise priest shared the Far Side with us during a youth retreat, and I have been devouring his cartoons for 18 years.
In the Internet age, it seems all too easy to google and come up with a list of Far Side cartoons. Larson wrote the following masterpiece to all such interlopers, and lo and behold, most of his cartoons are offline.
Amazing stuff, this letter.
==========================
RE: Online Use of Far Side Cartoons
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
I'm walking a fine line here.
On the one hand, I confess to finding it quite flattering that some of my fans have created web sites displaying and / or distributing my work on the Internet. And, on the other, I'm struggling to find the words that convincingly but sensitively persuade these Far Side enthusiasts to "cease and desist" before they have to read these words from some lawyer.
What impact this unauthorized use has had (and is having) in tangible terms is, naturally, of great concern to my publishers and therefore to me -- but it's not the focus of this letter. My effort here is to try and speak to the intangible impact, the emotional cost to me, personally, of seeing my work collected, digitized, and offered up in cyberspace beyond my control.
Years ago I was having lunch one day with the cartoonist Richard Guindon, and the subject came up how neither one of us ever solicited or accepted ideas from others. But, until Richard summed it up quite neatly, I never really understood my own aversions to doing this: "It's like having someone else write in your diary," he said. And how true that statement rang with me. In effect, we drew cartoons that we hoped would be entertaining or, at the very least, not boring; but regardless, they would always come from an intensely personal, and therefore original perspective.
To attempt to be "funny" is a very scary, risk-laden proposition. (Ask any stand-up comic who has ever "bombed "on stage.) But if there was ever an axiom to follow in this business, it would be this: be honest to yourself and -- most important -- respect your audience.
So, in a nutshell (probably an unfortunate choice of words for me), I only ask that this respect be returned, and the way for anyone to do that is to please, please refrain from putting The Far Side out on the Internet. These cartoons are my "children," of sorts, and like a parent, I'm concerned about where they go at night without telling me. And, seeing them at someone's web site is like getting the call at 2:00 a.m. that goes, "Uh, Dad, you're not going to like this much, but guess where I am."
I hope my explanation helps you to understand the importance this has for me, personally, and why I'm making this request.
Please send my "kids" home. I'll be eternally grateful.
Most respectfully,
Gary Larson
In the Internet age, it seems all too easy to google and come up with a list of Far Side cartoons. Larson wrote the following masterpiece to all such interlopers, and lo and behold, most of his cartoons are offline.
Amazing stuff, this letter.
==========================
RE: Online Use of Far Side Cartoons
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
I'm walking a fine line here.
On the one hand, I confess to finding it quite flattering that some of my fans have created web sites displaying and / or distributing my work on the Internet. And, on the other, I'm struggling to find the words that convincingly but sensitively persuade these Far Side enthusiasts to "cease and desist" before they have to read these words from some lawyer.
What impact this unauthorized use has had (and is having) in tangible terms is, naturally, of great concern to my publishers and therefore to me -- but it's not the focus of this letter. My effort here is to try and speak to the intangible impact, the emotional cost to me, personally, of seeing my work collected, digitized, and offered up in cyberspace beyond my control.
Years ago I was having lunch one day with the cartoonist Richard Guindon, and the subject came up how neither one of us ever solicited or accepted ideas from others. But, until Richard summed it up quite neatly, I never really understood my own aversions to doing this: "It's like having someone else write in your diary," he said. And how true that statement rang with me. In effect, we drew cartoons that we hoped would be entertaining or, at the very least, not boring; but regardless, they would always come from an intensely personal, and therefore original perspective.
To attempt to be "funny" is a very scary, risk-laden proposition. (Ask any stand-up comic who has ever "bombed "on stage.) But if there was ever an axiom to follow in this business, it would be this: be honest to yourself and -- most important -- respect your audience.
So, in a nutshell (probably an unfortunate choice of words for me), I only ask that this respect be returned, and the way for anyone to do that is to please, please refrain from putting The Far Side out on the Internet. These cartoons are my "children," of sorts, and like a parent, I'm concerned about where they go at night without telling me. And, seeing them at someone's web site is like getting the call at 2:00 a.m. that goes, "Uh, Dad, you're not going to like this much, but guess where I am."
I hope my explanation helps you to understand the importance this has for me, personally, and why I'm making this request.
Please send my "kids" home. I'll be eternally grateful.
Most respectfully,
Gary Larson
Back to School
Dropped off Medium Boy and Small Boy to school this morning after the Chinese New Year break in Malaysia.
The director, Teacher D, was downstairs and we chatted for a while. She observes that Medium Boy looked a little bit grouchy, whereas Small Boy seemed fine. Yes Medium Boy did tell me last week that he liked his old school better because they had toys for him to play with... and he did not want to come back to Singapore.
Ah, said Teacher D. She understands now why Medium Boy seemed miffed this morning. The Montessori method of education starts from the premise that the child is a rational being who works at his learning. The 3 hours of school each day are very intense in learning activities... the children rotate between language, math and a sensorial activity in school.
I am very comfortable with Medium Boy's development.... He knows how to write his own name now *smile* But I still need to watch him for dyslexia. His lower case letters b, p and d are frequently written wrongly....
I hope I am being oversensitive in this area.
The director, Teacher D, was downstairs and we chatted for a while. She observes that Medium Boy looked a little bit grouchy, whereas Small Boy seemed fine. Yes Medium Boy did tell me last week that he liked his old school better because they had toys for him to play with... and he did not want to come back to Singapore.
Ah, said Teacher D. She understands now why Medium Boy seemed miffed this morning. The Montessori method of education starts from the premise that the child is a rational being who works at his learning. The 3 hours of school each day are very intense in learning activities... the children rotate between language, math and a sensorial activity in school.
I am very comfortable with Medium Boy's development.... He knows how to write his own name now *smile* But I still need to watch him for dyslexia. His lower case letters b, p and d are frequently written wrongly....
I hope I am being oversensitive in this area.
Feedback from AJ
I asked for feedback from my work team on my displayed behaviours and how it maps to the new leadership attributes of authenticity, growth, performance and collaboration.
This is how I look like to A and J from Germany.
It is fun to interact with me as I have a good sense of humour and offer different views on an issue! thank you thank you *grin*
My resilience needs working on... This is not shown by losing composure, but rather by hiding from a situation and affecting my health.
I view all feedback as a gift and it is very obvious that A and J spent some time on my request for feedback. I am grateful I have honest and open teammates to open Room 2 (Blind Spot) of my Johari Window.
Will chase the rest of my teammates and my ex boss for the feedback. Accepting feedback is easy.... acting on that feedback is a life long learning process.
This is how I look like to A and J from Germany.
It is fun to interact with me as I have a good sense of humour and offer different views on an issue! thank you thank you *grin*
My resilience needs working on... This is not shown by losing composure, but rather by hiding from a situation and affecting my health.
I view all feedback as a gift and it is very obvious that A and J spent some time on my request for feedback. I am grateful I have honest and open teammates to open Room 2 (Blind Spot) of my Johari Window.
Will chase the rest of my teammates and my ex boss for the feedback. Accepting feedback is easy.... acting on that feedback is a life long learning process.
Friday, 15 February 2013
Sisu and Schadenfreude
English is a really adaptable language. It freely claims words from other languages and makes them its own.
I read a feature on Finnish F1 driver Kimi Raikkonen a couple of months back in the Straits Times sports section and came across this word - sisu - used to describe him. Today I have a bit of time in between running work reports, hence googled.
[My porous brain remembered the word as risu... at first I tried google translate, typed risu in, and google translate detected first Malay (!!!) then Italian (!!!!!!)]
From Wikipedia: Sisu is a Finnish term loosely translated into English as strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity. Sisu is not bravery, not courage, not strength. It is the ability to finish a task successfully, the will and decisiveness to surmount challenges despite impossible odds.
Loosely translated into English, the German term Schadenfreude means happiness at another's misfortune. There is a lot of German schadenfreude around these days in Singapore, where my dear countrymen takes delight in pulling one another down.... oh, the trash that goes onto STOMP, Straits Time's online portal for everything and nothing.....
Methinks everyone needs more Sisu and less Schadenfreude
I read a feature on Finnish F1 driver Kimi Raikkonen a couple of months back in the Straits Times sports section and came across this word - sisu - used to describe him. Today I have a bit of time in between running work reports, hence googled.
[My porous brain remembered the word as risu... at first I tried google translate, typed risu in, and google translate detected first Malay (!!!) then Italian (!!!!!!)]
From Wikipedia: Sisu is a Finnish term loosely translated into English as strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity. Sisu is not bravery, not courage, not strength. It is the ability to finish a task successfully, the will and decisiveness to surmount challenges despite impossible odds.
Loosely translated into English, the German term Schadenfreude means happiness at another's misfortune. There is a lot of German schadenfreude around these days in Singapore, where my dear countrymen takes delight in pulling one another down.... oh, the trash that goes onto STOMP, Straits Time's online portal for everything and nothing.....
Methinks everyone needs more Sisu and less Schadenfreude
Introverts and Extroverts
As part of my personal development, I dip into the Company's database of e-books to broaden my own knowledge. The first book that caught my eye today is Nancy Ancowitz's 'Self Promotion for Introverts: The quiet guide to getting ahead'. In the introduction, she lists the difference between introverts and extroverts.
Looking at the list, I am definitely an introvert, which is borne out by my MBTI scores on the intraversion / extraversion scale. I used to be even more introverted in uni but have since learnt to talk a little bit more.
Society seems to value extroverts more than introverts. Hence I arm myself with the necessary tools to promote myself, and well, generally be a more pleasant person to be around :). Susan Cain in her TED talk makes an interesting point that when introverts do get to leadership positions, followers intuitively sense that they are there because of their deep belief in the cause and not for themselves. In fact, followers sense the introverted leader will much rather be home alone, or in this case 'office alone', with their own thoughts but are compelled to be leaders by the courage of their conviction.
That's true for me. I prefer not to speak, but to listen attentively.... there was one work interaction which led to a deeper connection between me and my Indian teammate S. J, my ex boss, usually starts our fortnightly work meeting with work or personal highlights and lowlights. S shared that she had been in hospital for a week but she is ok now. My antenna immediately went up, and I pinged her to ask how she is. From her hestitant and slow responses on IM (she is normally an open and chatty person), I deduced that she had just suffered a miscarriage, then told her "You and husband must be very sad to lose baby". S was initially taken aback.... she was silent for a long while, then said yes I m right, but how did I know.... we spoke for a while more and shared our traditional medicine (me: traditional chinese medicine, S: india ayurvedic medicine) remedies for women who miscarry.
Looking at the list, I am definitely an introvert, which is borne out by my MBTI scores on the intraversion / extraversion scale. I used to be even more introverted in uni but have since learnt to talk a little bit more.
| Introverts | Extroverts |
| Get energy from “down time” | Get energy from people contact |
| Think before speaking or acting | Think out loud |
| Listen more | Talk more |
| Speak more softly | Speak faster and louder |
| Are more inclined to make deep conversation | Are more inclined to make chitchat |
| Prefer to speak with one or two people at a time | Prefer to work the room |
| Wait to be approached in social situations | Initiate conversations in social situations |
| Are typically reserved | Are typically active and expressive |
| Enjoy working alone or with one person | Enjoy working in a group |
| Know a lot about a few topics | Know a little about a lot of topics |
| Are reflective and appear more calm | Are more energetic |
| Are more detail oriented | Prefer faster, less complicated tasks |
| Need more personal space | Enjoy more people contact—the more the merrier |
| Are more private and hesitant about self-disclosure | Are more readily open |
| Have a few deep interests | Have many interests |
Society seems to value extroverts more than introverts. Hence I arm myself with the necessary tools to promote myself, and well, generally be a more pleasant person to be around :). Susan Cain in her TED talk makes an interesting point that when introverts do get to leadership positions, followers intuitively sense that they are there because of their deep belief in the cause and not for themselves. In fact, followers sense the introverted leader will much rather be home alone, or in this case 'office alone', with their own thoughts but are compelled to be leaders by the courage of their conviction.
That's true for me. I prefer not to speak, but to listen attentively.... there was one work interaction which led to a deeper connection between me and my Indian teammate S. J, my ex boss, usually starts our fortnightly work meeting with work or personal highlights and lowlights. S shared that she had been in hospital for a week but she is ok now. My antenna immediately went up, and I pinged her to ask how she is. From her hestitant and slow responses on IM (she is normally an open and chatty person), I deduced that she had just suffered a miscarriage, then told her "You and husband must be very sad to lose baby". S was initially taken aback.... she was silent for a long while, then said yes I m right, but how did I know.... we spoke for a while more and shared our traditional medicine (me: traditional chinese medicine, S: india ayurvedic medicine) remedies for women who miscarry.
Chinese New Year in Malaysia
For the past 6 years, I spend my Chinese New Year in Malaysia at the in laws' home. Some rituals remain the same... the yearly visits to relatives that we see only once a year.... to the extent that my 3rd sister called them "New Year relatives" when she was ~6 years old. Some rituals are slightly different.
The difference between CNY in Malaysia and CNY in Singapore is
Companies usually give their Chinese employees the entire week off for them to return for the all-important reunion dinner 团圆饭. All members of the family - sons and daughters in law plus grandchildren, and any unmarried daughters - gather at their parents' table to partake in food that will give good fortune to all. The traditional CNY reunion dinner will have
The difference between CNY in Malaysia and CNY in Singapore is
- Fireworks and firecrackers are commonplace in Malaysia; they are banned in Singapore. The Chinese believe that loud noises scare the demon (年) away to ward off evil
- The in laws bake our own new year goodies like pineapple tarts, (pineapple sounds like 'prosperity come' in Mandarin), cheesecakes, steamed cakes and assorted crackers. *Yummy. Burp*
Companies usually give their Chinese employees the entire week off for them to return for the all-important reunion dinner 团圆饭. All members of the family - sons and daughters in law plus grandchildren, and any unmarried daughters - gather at their parents' table to partake in food that will give good fortune to all. The traditional CNY reunion dinner will have
- Fish to represent abundance
- Lotus Root soup to signify that we will have sufficient to eat every year
- Prawns for happiness as prawns in Mandarin 虾sounds like the haha sound of laughter.
- Mushrooms with dried oysters and black fungi. Oysters to represent 'all good things' and black fungi for 'monetary prosperity'.
- Steamed molasses cakes 年糕 for sweetness in life.
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