After a magnificent season and one of the most exciting races of all time at Estoril, the 2006 MotoGP World Championship will go right down to the wire. The final race of the year, the Gran Premio bwin.com de la Comunitat Valenciana, will welcome what will surely be a sell-out crowd gathered to see either Valentino Rossi or Nicky Hayden take the ultimate accolade in motorcycle racing.
Rossi leads the championship for the first time this season, and could not have chosen a better race to enter with an 8 point advantage. The Italian has made an outstanding comeback against all odds after a series of DNFs gave him his worst ever start to a premier class season. Since his last mechanical failure at Laguna Seca, the reigning World Champion has been on a run of five consecutive podium finishes, his last victory coming in Malaysia at the start of the triple flyaway. If Rossi can make it six wins this season at Valencia, or finishes above rival Nicky Hayden in the race, then he will take a sixth consecutive premier class title and become the only champion of the 990cc era. All this sounds too familiar does it not?
Well the F1 championship has ended and I guess the best way to sum things up is like this: Massa wins, Schumacher shines, Alonso Champ! So the season is over and let look forward to the last race of Moto GP in Valencia and after let mope around till it all starts again next year!
M
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Monday, October 09, 2006
Luck?? Perhaps not!!
I guess in all fairness FA might have just won the WDC 2006. He may not be the best champion but he will be the champ nonetheless. Of course no one can fault his driving; he is a great driver, just wished he let his driving do the talking.
It was one of those times when you’d wish to have all the action on the race track but engine failure is a very real problem and that’s F1. This is something that MS fans and Tifosi know only too well, a-la-early MS-Ferrari days. Of course many would argue that it is not over yet, and yes it is not over yet. MS can still win it but that would be quite out of the ordinary as FA just needs one point in the next race to win. But then again Brazil is a race where just about anything can happen. Let’s hope it is an entertaining race to cap off a great season.
I guess the real fight will be down to whom finishes 3rd in the WDC, Massa or Fisi..It’s anyone’s game this one, with only one point separating the two. And of course there is the WCC to play for as well. Which I think can only be done with a Ferrari one-two.
It is unfortunate that the media has spun things around to make it sound that MS entire career is dependant on this one championship and that if he fails to clear it he is not that great after all. Well as media goes sensationalism is their way. Well I guess the 7 world championship and the name all over the F1 record books should remind the press.
With the end of the motor sport season near, F1 is almost sewn up. Moto GP as always has been a cracking season. Can Rossi do it again? He is closing in on Nicky Hayden to take yet another title but he is still on the back foot. So that would be one to keep a close eye on.
With WRC, this one is interesting. Loeb is leading the championship with almost 30 points and around 4 races to go from Gronholm. So seems like any other championship, but if you could not predict a spanner being thrown into the works, here’s one: Loeb has fractured his arm in four places in a mountain biking accident effectively putting him out of the season for the next few races. He will miss Turkey for sure and Rally Oz but, he says he will try to be back for the last two rallies.
Not to make things further dramatic…his replacement for the next two races is none other than Colin Mcrae. Well have to see how that one plays out.
It was one of those times when you’d wish to have all the action on the race track but engine failure is a very real problem and that’s F1. This is something that MS fans and Tifosi know only too well, a-la-early MS-Ferrari days. Of course many would argue that it is not over yet, and yes it is not over yet. MS can still win it but that would be quite out of the ordinary as FA just needs one point in the next race to win. But then again Brazil is a race where just about anything can happen. Let’s hope it is an entertaining race to cap off a great season.
I guess the real fight will be down to whom finishes 3rd in the WDC, Massa or Fisi..It’s anyone’s game this one, with only one point separating the two. And of course there is the WCC to play for as well. Which I think can only be done with a Ferrari one-two.
It is unfortunate that the media has spun things around to make it sound that MS entire career is dependant on this one championship and that if he fails to clear it he is not that great after all. Well as media goes sensationalism is their way. Well I guess the 7 world championship and the name all over the F1 record books should remind the press.
With the end of the motor sport season near, F1 is almost sewn up. Moto GP as always has been a cracking season. Can Rossi do it again? He is closing in on Nicky Hayden to take yet another title but he is still on the back foot. So that would be one to keep a close eye on.
With WRC, this one is interesting. Loeb is leading the championship with almost 30 points and around 4 races to go from Gronholm. So seems like any other championship, but if you could not predict a spanner being thrown into the works, here’s one: Loeb has fractured his arm in four places in a mountain biking accident effectively putting him out of the season for the next few races. He will miss Turkey for sure and Rally Oz but, he says he will try to be back for the last two rallies.
Not to make things further dramatic…his replacement for the next two races is none other than Colin Mcrae. Well have to see how that one plays out.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Verbal Diarrhoea : Knowledge Work in an Oblivious World
Ever looked at a candidate's resume and see that he has 10 years experience and only one job to boot and think hmmm this guy has got the right balance of experience and loyalty to the company. And then upon interviewing him, you find that his technical knowledge is a little rusty but you think; he can be developed. So you hire the guy only to find that actually the reason why this person was in that job for 10 years was nothing to do with loyalty. It was due to the fact that he was comfortable where he was and never chose to develop himself any further because the company just wanted to him to maintain status quo. So what went wrong here?
Another scenario, another Joe comes for interview, great resume as well. 10 years experience but 5 jobs. Hmmm..you raise an eyebrow, and are concerned that this guy could be a job hopper. So you decide not to invest in him, because you postulate that he may leave in yes you guessed it - 2years. So what went wrong here?
At this point you are probably wondering what the heck has what I have just said got to do with the title. Well the like hood is that the guy with 5 jobs will most likely bring more to the table than the guy with the one job. Of course it really depends on the industry in question. Are you in a knowledge industry or are you in an industry where throughput and turnaround time is the key.
Like our brothers in manufacturing, throughput and turnaround time is the key to being successful. However, banking on this type of industry might be the wrong way to go. Let’s take a page from the great American manufacturing industry. In the land where manufacturing began.....but ooohh wait there is
So what do we in
So where do we go then? What comes of us, who have had the traditional education? Do we go find a company where you can get lost in your own oblivion within the company and become part of the furniture in the office? So the question of the two earlier scenarios comes back, two guys both 1o years of experience but one has got 5 jobs and the other 1 job, what do you do?
Well ask them the question about where we are heading and their opinion about Knowledge industry as opposed as to Manufacturing base....and the answer will show you the way...
Disclaimer: Whatever has been said here should not be taken against the author as this is a rant, a rave and a non-violent means for venting of human emotion. If the thoughts and the flow of the above verbage are erratic this too shouldn’t be taken against the author as the word “diarrhoea” implies a lack of control.
"Champion" now turning on his own team
Yes I am right Alonso has lost it royally. This guy has taken being a spoilt sport to a new level! I will be glad when he is forgotten and lost to history. Perhaps his age could be blamed for his lack of maturity but, whatever the case maybe even if by some chance he wins the 2006 title he would not be a great champ!
You can turn on your rivals, your teammate, your fans even, but your team? He said that they are more focused on winning the constructors title, maybe some one should tell him if he wins the title most likely the team will win the constructors as well.
Sigh!
We are in for a treat for next two races! Whatever the case maybe it will go down to
M
Saturday, September 30, 2006
What's up with Alonso?
I think the pressure of being a forgotten champ is getting to FA! If he loses this season, he will become like the many world champions that just won for one year because they had a good car. Just like how Damon Hill and Villeneuve. There is one thing that these 3 losers have in common.There all have a common hatred for MS. However, the only true world champion other than MS during this era was Mika Hakkinen. He was a true world champion, never whinging or complaining how the FIA has wronged him. His was a championship won on skill of the driver and the team; true meaning of Formula One.
The recent news reports of Alonso's compliants about MS is getting bad to worse. I suggest he stop before he gets the same label as Villeneuve, the champ who has had his head hit too many time he's lost his mind. Of course the naysayers do not stop there... There's Niki Lauda, Keke Rosberg and Jackie Stewart have chimed in there displeasure of MS success, but it is typical of them since each of them represent one or more of the drivers or teams on the current grid.
I think FA should shut up and win the championship on the track rather than trying to lose it and the respect that a F1 champ deserves in the press!
M
Sunday, August 20, 2006
WTF
It was an unusual day today. It started out well and end sort of well, but the middle was not so good....Actually was very bad. Yes, Mimi and I got into an argument, this time it was something that was unexpected and got escalated to a point that was not necessary. And of course, I have to say that this time was my fault (as the title says was my last comment before all h*ll broke lose). Anyways let not dwell on that.
So tomorrow begins a new chapter for my Mimi as she starts her new career as a Financial Analyst. I must say that I am very proud of her to be able to venture into unknown territories in her career and be able to do well. I am sure she will do well as a Financial Analyst. Everyone around her has warned her that is it going to be tough, but if it was not tough I doubt that the challenge will be there for her.
You know a lot of us, myself included, are often content with staying in a cushy unchallenging job and willing to ride things out from one increment to another and from one AWS to another. But I have to hand to people like my Mimi, who are not afraid to dip their feet into different waters and know that sometimes drowning is a possibility. She is quite an inspiration to me! Of course if you ever have the pleasure of seeing her, she may not give you the impression she is what I am describing her to be but believe me she is a giant to me. I guess that's why I love her so much, arguments and all..
I hope you, my millions of readers out there, will join me in wishing my Mimi all the blessings in her new "swim" into this pool and bountiful favour to be on her...
To my Mimi,
M
So tomorrow begins a new chapter for my Mimi as she starts her new career as a Financial Analyst. I must say that I am very proud of her to be able to venture into unknown territories in her career and be able to do well. I am sure she will do well as a Financial Analyst. Everyone around her has warned her that is it going to be tough, but if it was not tough I doubt that the challenge will be there for her.
You know a lot of us, myself included, are often content with staying in a cushy unchallenging job and willing to ride things out from one increment to another and from one AWS to another. But I have to hand to people like my Mimi, who are not afraid to dip their feet into different waters and know that sometimes drowning is a possibility. She is quite an inspiration to me! Of course if you ever have the pleasure of seeing her, she may not give you the impression she is what I am describing her to be but believe me she is a giant to me. I guess that's why I love her so much, arguments and all..
I hope you, my millions of readers out there, will join me in wishing my Mimi all the blessings in her new "swim" into this pool and bountiful favour to be on her...
To my Mimi,
M
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Verbal Diarrhoea : Meetings – The Root of all Corporate Evil?
Are they justified? Sometimes they get so long and painful we often wonder, Why am I here and how did things get to this sorry state.
We play this corporate dance as we discuss (dance around) the subject in question with no resolution in sight. The irony at this situation is, we all know what needs to be done but no one wants to be the Hero or the 'Leader' to take the Stand and set the direction so we continue to dance.
Is that what we are paid to do; Dance? Well yes I guess if we can sufficiently justify it. Basically. In the corporate world, we can do anything we want to, if we can justify it. As long as there is a basis for it, there is no harm in doing it.
I wonder what sort of atrocities has been committed in the name of profit or making ones stock/share price go up. Look at the tobacco industry, the automotive industry. Did you know that Vehicle recalls are sanctioned only when the cost of recall is lower than the cost of vehicle owner/s suing the automaker for the defect? And don’t get me started on the tobacco industry.
Shouldn't this sort of behaviors be outlawed? Of course it should be but, how can you prove it in a court of law that such behaviour was conducted with the consequences in mind and that these actions were pre-meditated. Impossible.
Disclaimer: Whatever has been said here should not be taken against the author as this is a rant, a rave and a non-violent means for venting of human emotion. If the thoughts and the flow of the above verbage are erratic this too shouldn’t be taken against the author as the word “diarrhoea” implies a lack of control.
We play this corporate dance as we discuss (dance around) the subject in question with no resolution in sight. The irony at this situation is, we all know what needs to be done but no one wants to be the Hero or the 'Leader' to take the Stand and set the direction so we continue to dance.
Is that what we are paid to do; Dance? Well yes I guess if we can sufficiently justify it. Basically. In the corporate world, we can do anything we want to, if we can justify it. As long as there is a basis for it, there is no harm in doing it.
I wonder what sort of atrocities has been committed in the name of profit or making ones stock/share price go up. Look at the tobacco industry, the automotive industry. Did you know that Vehicle recalls are sanctioned only when the cost of recall is lower than the cost of vehicle owner/s suing the automaker for the defect? And don’t get me started on the tobacco industry.
Shouldn't this sort of behaviors be outlawed? Of course it should be but, how can you prove it in a court of law that such behaviour was conducted with the consequences in mind and that these actions were pre-meditated. Impossible.
Disclaimer: Whatever has been said here should not be taken against the author as this is a rant, a rave and a non-violent means for venting of human emotion. If the thoughts and the flow of the above verbage are erratic this too shouldn’t be taken against the author as the word “diarrhoea” implies a lack of control.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Michael Fay
I stumbled upon this joke from asianjoke.com as I was doing some research about Mr.Fay in light of the recent car vandalism fiasco in Singapore recently. I was wondering what happened to him. Anyways for people who don't know who Michael Fay is below is prose from Asianjoke.com that sums up satirically what went down.
Michael Fay By: asianjoke.com
There is an American named Michael Fay
He loves to take our public signs away
Sometimes graffiti on our cars he spray
Until by the police he was caught one fine day
The Chief Justice to Michael he says
" A small fine you shall have to pay "
" Four months in Queenstown Remand you'll stay "
" With six strokes of rotan coming your way "
This decision Clinton try to sway
For vandalism is a game their local boys play
We should find other means to keep crime at bay
Because caning is not an American way
Tried all means Fay's father and mother may
And even the American press got into fray
Desperate, the plea for clemency went President Ong's way
Authorized to pardon, hopefully he may
Finally, in order that Clinton's face shall not go away
Two strokes less of caning to Michael's dismay
George Fay, his father still shout " Nay! nay! nay! "
Once Fay out of prison, back to US they will forever go away
We ain't racist
We ain't sadist
We don't have a caning fetish
We just want some justice!
American press and the government was up in arms about this. But during my travels through the American Midwest, most of the regular folks that I spoke to seem to agree with that type of punishment, and said that the US authorities should practice that sort of thing for some of the crimes. Perhaps my opinions were skewed because most Midwest folk are Republican and if I had been in California things would be different.
Either way, when Michael Fay went back to US, his pattern continued where he beat his step-father so badly, the step-father actually said that he regretted lobbying for support to spare him off the rod. Then a couple of years ago he was stabbed to death in a bar fight. Rather sad I must say....
M
Michael Fay By: asianjoke.com
There is an American named Michael Fay
He loves to take our public signs away
Sometimes graffiti on our cars he spray
Until by the police he was caught one fine day
The Chief Justice to Michael he says
" A small fine you shall have to pay "
" Four months in Queenstown Remand you'll stay "
" With six strokes of rotan coming your way "
This decision Clinton try to sway
For vandalism is a game their local boys play
We should find other means to keep crime at bay
Because caning is not an American way
Tried all means Fay's father and mother may
And even the American press got into fray
Desperate, the plea for clemency went President Ong's way
Authorized to pardon, hopefully he may
Finally, in order that Clinton's face shall not go away
Two strokes less of caning to Michael's dismay
George Fay, his father still shout " Nay! nay! nay! "
Once Fay out of prison, back to US they will forever go away
We ain't racist
We ain't sadist
We don't have a caning fetish
We just want some justice!
American press and the government was up in arms about this. But during my travels through the American Midwest, most of the regular folks that I spoke to seem to agree with that type of punishment, and said that the US authorities should practice that sort of thing for some of the crimes. Perhaps my opinions were skewed because most Midwest folk are Republican and if I had been in California things would be different.
Either way, when Michael Fay went back to US, his pattern continued where he beat his step-father so badly, the step-father actually said that he regretted lobbying for support to spare him off the rod. Then a couple of years ago he was stabbed to death in a bar fight. Rather sad I must say....
M
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Back from Penang
Yes I am back to Singapore, and it went better than expected. Was there since Wednesday but only managed to speak to him on Saturday morning. This was due to procrastination on my part and some missed opportunities. Overall it went well, he was rather fatherly and of course he gave some good advice and asked some surprising questions.
In any case, I was expecting it to be much worse. I was expecting questions like, "how much do you make?", "can you support my daughter?", etc
So now that that is out of the way, we can start to plan the wedding proper. All parents have been consulted and its now time for execution. First thing, book the date with the hotel and by God's grace hope that church will have someone who is available to do the solemnisation and we are able to find a church on the said date. Tenatively, its 23rd June 2007!. Yes almost a year away but here in Singapore, it usually take almost 12-18 months advance notice to book a hotel. So here begins another adventure.
Of course Penang was great as it always is. The food was non stop, Penang Laksa, Char Koay Teow, and many other favourite from my future mother in law's kitchen. On the whole Penang has a rather rustic charm of a small back water town becoming a big city. It still holds the old while the new is apparent all around. There are still many kampung around the place and they are wonderful to photograph ( will post some up when I figure out how to :-))
One surprise that greeted me when I came back home was a flat battery. Yes I have driven this battery to the bone for the past two years and now its time to get it replaced. The trusty GTI is developing a temperament, and is getting cranky with age. Probably, I deserve it with the lack of attention that I have been showing her.
Okay....I am rambling now....
M
In any case, I was expecting it to be much worse. I was expecting questions like, "how much do you make?", "can you support my daughter?", etc
So now that that is out of the way, we can start to plan the wedding proper. All parents have been consulted and its now time for execution. First thing, book the date with the hotel and by God's grace hope that church will have someone who is available to do the solemnisation and we are able to find a church on the said date. Tenatively, its 23rd June 2007!. Yes almost a year away but here in Singapore, it usually take almost 12-18 months advance notice to book a hotel. So here begins another adventure.
Of course Penang was great as it always is. The food was non stop, Penang Laksa, Char Koay Teow, and many other favourite from my future mother in law's kitchen. On the whole Penang has a rather rustic charm of a small back water town becoming a big city. It still holds the old while the new is apparent all around. There are still many kampung around the place and they are wonderful to photograph ( will post some up when I figure out how to :-))
One surprise that greeted me when I came back home was a flat battery. Yes I have driven this battery to the bone for the past two years and now its time to get it replaced. The trusty GTI is developing a temperament, and is getting cranky with age. Probably, I deserve it with the lack of attention that I have been showing her.
Okay....I am rambling now....
M
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
To Penang
Today is the day that I will be flying to Penang to ask my future father-in-law for his daughter's hand in marriage. Seems old fashion, yes but I think it is the right thing to do. I am nervous of course, but I think it should be fine. So I got them some token gifts and will probably do it tonight or tomorrow.
Will try to update more when I am in Penang. Till then, pray for me ya!
M
Will try to update more when I am in Penang. Till then, pray for me ya!
M
My New Home
After blogging @ MSN Spaces and suffering the reliability that MS gives, I have decided to move to a hopeful more consistent blog provider. Either way, I hope that with this new page I will be able to post more frequently rather than getting "The page cannot be displayed" message all the time.
Was rather frustrating when you really felt like writing but that avenue was not there. Oh well, so here we are @ blogger.com. seems like a better provider already. Of course it does not have all the bangs and whistles of MSN spaces, but simplicity is good as the idea is to post thoughts, feelings, impressions and words rather than picture albums and favorite music.
For the fun of it I will continue to leave my previous 3 posts on my old blog so if you wanna check that out go ahead. My fiancee is complaining that the clicking sounds from my keyboard is bothering here sleep so this is where I will end.
Cheers,
M
Was rather frustrating when you really felt like writing but that avenue was not there. Oh well, so here we are @ blogger.com. seems like a better provider already. Of course it does not have all the bangs and whistles of MSN spaces, but simplicity is good as the idea is to post thoughts, feelings, impressions and words rather than picture albums and favorite music.
For the fun of it I will continue to leave my previous 3 posts on my old blog so if you wanna check that out go ahead. My fiancee is complaining that the clicking sounds from my keyboard is bothering here sleep so this is where I will end.
Cheers,
M
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