Received a SMS message early yesterday.
A collague's 4-month old baby passed away. Apparently, the little one suffocated on her own vomitus.
And to think the child was placed in "professional" child care with four baby sitters tending to 6 babies on the average.
I'm deeply saddened.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
Reunion
Went for a function today and saw many people.
The general mood was one of exasperation. One where people resigned to their eternal curse of being mere puppets permeated the atmosphere, leaving it heavy and ominous. One could not feel the happiness even though the function was one where happiness should rule, at least for the afternoon.
I took a welcome break from work. I didn't feel too up to the event since my tonsils had flared up again and I just had a long-drawn dinner function the night before. However, I tried to soak in the whatever little happy feelings that I could sense there.
One main reason to cheer was I met people I know and it had been a long time since I last met them. In particular, I found a long-lost friend. The last I saw him was 1998. We were undergraduates then. We met in a English Language Syntax Course. Caught up with stuff since then and I'd be looking forward to meeting him for dinner sometime soon.
Anyhow, this friend was probably the talk of the function for the wrong reasons too. He wore an orange shirt, a pair of red jeans and a pair of cobra skin cowboy boots for a shirt and tie event. Well, that's him all right. I'd hesitate to call out to him if he hadn't dressed this way, honestly.
And of course, I met someone else whom I cannot wait to eliminate from my life. He made the incredible mistake of saying to me "Hey, I think I know you. Where did I meet you?" Spoke volumes. We were classmates during our education diploma course in 2001 - 2. Anyway, why would he remember me when his ego, self-righteousness, lack of humility, among his other qualities, would have precluded him from learning social etiquette skills and developing some iota of EQ.
Met my ex-boss. She's doing well. I'm happy for her.
I met a very good friend, a senior of sorts. Met him in 2002. Looking at him now, I get chills down my spine. He's been sidelined by his boss. Clearly passed over. There are some battles you can never win because circumstances are beyond your control. But do you then get faulted for that? I shudder to think coming 5 years in 2012, where will I be.
I chatted with a junior who exclaimed about my current posting outside of the circle I'm trained in. We'll have lots to catch up some time in the future.
A big player called out to me when the function was over and I was obliged to indulge him. Surprisingly, putting aside the superior and subordinate (well, not direct relationships - he's way up in the heavens already), he is actually a very nice guy. Very measured and thoughtful. Opens up and shares. As a HR guy, he knows where his good people are but powers bigger than him may be hindering him somewhat.
Overall, the reunion of sorts was interesting. I've done my share of networking.
The general mood was one of exasperation. One where people resigned to their eternal curse of being mere puppets permeated the atmosphere, leaving it heavy and ominous. One could not feel the happiness even though the function was one where happiness should rule, at least for the afternoon.
I took a welcome break from work. I didn't feel too up to the event since my tonsils had flared up again and I just had a long-drawn dinner function the night before. However, I tried to soak in the whatever little happy feelings that I could sense there.
One main reason to cheer was I met people I know and it had been a long time since I last met them. In particular, I found a long-lost friend. The last I saw him was 1998. We were undergraduates then. We met in a English Language Syntax Course. Caught up with stuff since then and I'd be looking forward to meeting him for dinner sometime soon.
Anyhow, this friend was probably the talk of the function for the wrong reasons too. He wore an orange shirt, a pair of red jeans and a pair of cobra skin cowboy boots for a shirt and tie event. Well, that's him all right. I'd hesitate to call out to him if he hadn't dressed this way, honestly.
And of course, I met someone else whom I cannot wait to eliminate from my life. He made the incredible mistake of saying to me "Hey, I think I know you. Where did I meet you?" Spoke volumes. We were classmates during our education diploma course in 2001 - 2. Anyway, why would he remember me when his ego, self-righteousness, lack of humility, among his other qualities, would have precluded him from learning social etiquette skills and developing some iota of EQ.
Met my ex-boss. She's doing well. I'm happy for her.
I met a very good friend, a senior of sorts. Met him in 2002. Looking at him now, I get chills down my spine. He's been sidelined by his boss. Clearly passed over. There are some battles you can never win because circumstances are beyond your control. But do you then get faulted for that? I shudder to think coming 5 years in 2012, where will I be.
I chatted with a junior who exclaimed about my current posting outside of the circle I'm trained in. We'll have lots to catch up some time in the future.
A big player called out to me when the function was over and I was obliged to indulge him. Surprisingly, putting aside the superior and subordinate (well, not direct relationships - he's way up in the heavens already), he is actually a very nice guy. Very measured and thoughtful. Opens up and shares. As a HR guy, he knows where his good people are but powers bigger than him may be hindering him somewhat.
Overall, the reunion of sorts was interesting. I've done my share of networking.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
40 Rules of Management
Words of wisdom from Mr James Ament's Blog.
Laws of Survival in the Corporate World (Principles That Will Protect Your Sanity)... Or...
A Hired Hand’s List of Unoriginal (Stolen) Ideas That Work… At Least They Worked in the Old Days... Or...
Cultivating Success (Having What You Want) in a System Where Your Time Belongs to Everyone Else... Or...
Things I Knew But Didn’t Necessarily Do:
1. The secret of my success is in the hands of those who work for me. And you’ll never get them to follow you until they give their consent. Be tough on the expectations, not on extracting remedies or giving penalties. When dealing with a wavering employee, increase the firmness of what is expected from him or her in terms of output; deny acceptance of inappropriate behavior and reinforce appropriate behavior. Understand the employee’s point of view but not to the neglect of the company’s legitimate requirements. Insist that the work be done. If it isn’t working, apply corporate surgery. Get a good soldier – one who gives sweat equity.
2. Make the boss look good. I am being paid for getting the right things done (my objectives) not for what I know and don’t use. It’s my job to give management the information and quality advice they need to make the right decisions. Keep the boss informed, anticipate his needs and help her contribute. Don’t let him be surprised about trouble in connection with your work.
3. Practice the art of self- nomination. I hereby appoint myself to assume positions of greater accountability. Cultivate the ability to articulate verbally and in writing and to present a case. Sell internally – persuade. Maintain high levels of energy and aspirations. Be a clean operator.
4. Hock your halo. What happens when you take your hand out of a bucket of water? The hole fills up right away. Don’t be too impressed with your own importance in the overall scheme of things. (Some folks wear their “hero file” on their sleeve.)
5. Remember the “tyranny of the urgent”. Maintain a sense of urgency on important matters but not everything that is urgent is important. Learn to segregate the important from the unimportant. Ask, what is the return on time invested? The effort requires less analysis and more courage because what one labels unimportant one actually postpones or abandons. Aim high – for something that will make a difference – the big-ticket items.
6. Don’t dip your pen into company ink.
7. Remember the “Law of the dog team”. “The only one with a decent view of the world is the lead dog”. (You know what the rest are looking at.) When you think you have everything figured out, be mindful that there are those ahead of you who just may have a better perspective.
8. Work. Delegate but don’t abdicate your authority because of laziness and then label it delegation. One is paid for doing ones own work. The implication that the manger with nothing to do is the best manager is not only nonsense; it is immoral, e.g. dumping a problem on someone who isn’t able to deal with it. Making my strengths and the strengths of those who work for me productive is the key to success. Also, unless I reach those with whom I have little control and can make my contribution effective for them and their work, I am ineffective. Thinking, communicating, giving advice, making good decisions, getting results is work.
9. Apply Drucker’s rules of decision making:
a) Concentrate on generic/strategic problems, not just symptoms. The repeating event that clamors for attention is really a symptom of a more fundamental structural problem. Band-aids don’t cure real problems.
b) Ask, what will the solution make happen? What are the objectives the decision has to reach? What will be improved? The decision needs to be adequate for its purpose.
c) One does not make a decision unless there is disagreement – insist on it. It is a safeguard against favored preconceived notions and provides alternatives plus it stimulates imagination.
a. Focus on what is right rather than what is acceptable, then think about who is right. There will be enough time for compromise. Don’t tamper with the truth.
b. Force yourself to see the opposition as your means to think through the alternatives. Use conflict of opinion as your tool to make sure all major aspects of an important matter are looked at carefully. Make conflict work for you.
c. When you choose a card, be sure it’s from a full deck.
d. Act or do not act. A surgeon doesn’t take out half an appendix. He operates or he doesn’t.
e. Convert the decision into action. The action must be appropriate to the capabilities of the people who have to carry it out.
f. Don’t look back. Admit your errors frankly and promptly. Learn judgment. Establish the fact that you are reliable and the welfare of the group comes before personal pride.
g. Finally, ask yourself if you would want your decision published in the Wall Street Journal?
10. Be a catalyst. Believe in self, not luck. Commit to the idea of personal excellence, improvement, and challenge. Relentlessly feed and build on your strengths and the strengths of others. Set an example by having a positive attitude. Nurture mutual understanding and acceptance.
11. Don’t pick up everyone’s gauntlet. The BBB’s (bright but belligerent) of the world are motivated by seeking out and then pressings other people’s hot buttons. The adversity can sometimes be healthy but also diversionary. Don’t be seduced into battle because you enjoy the fight! Decide to ignore; it is a choice. Do not give credibility to a time waster. Don’t let other people decide how you are going to feel. You set the tone.
12. You can’t push a rope. Don’t spend your career promoting and working on something that doesn’t contribute to your objectives if there is little likelihood of success. Keep your thoughts but don’t waste your energy. The idea may be brilliant but the timing may be wrong.
13. Develop emotional stamina. It is the primary demand of leadership. The obligation is upon the leader to understand the other person, not on the other person to understand the manager and his or her problems. Evaluate your actions with others in terms of intelligent self- interest. Ask, “Is this action directed toward my real goal”? Not, “am I justified in taking this action?” Management style should be to guide and assist your peers and subordinates. I can either be a helper or a hinderer; it’s a choice.
14. Sustain yourself on less praise than you know you deserve. Whining about being unappreciated is a waste of your time.
15. Line vs. staff is a host/guest relationship. Line makes and sells and is accountable. Staff is project oriented, gives advice and counsel, and is an ambassador for the function. Host says, “Tell me again why I need you.” Guest reconfirms with a definition of the “products” provided.
16. Remember the Wizard of OZ – all bluster and no substance. You have power; use a, b, and c more than d, e, and f.
a) Power to do; make and implement decisions
b) Power to help; facilitate the efforts of others
c) Power to influence; impact those who have the last say
d) Power over; dominance in a given situation
e) Power to hinder; block efforts to carry out a decision
f) Power to frustrate; negate efforts by withholding the make or brake input that would spell success.
17. Have a coping strategy. Rather than complain about the political environment, develop understanding and acceptance of the dynamics of the power structure. Without keen insight to the unwritten rules, you will be destined to bang heads more than necessary. Effectiveness stems from one’s negotiation skills, particularly in a political environment. Most business environments are political.
18. If you buy a dog, don’t bark yourself. If you hire a professional to do a job, allow the person to do it, hold the person accountable, measure his or her performance.
19. If you want the mice to run differently, move the cheese around. Productivity equals competence x motivation x satisfaction.
20. Some people don’t like being human related with. How’s your wife? She’s still dead. Develop the ability to listen and avoid insincerity.
21. Daydream purposefully. Prepare facts and the agenda for a presentation or pitch but also your psyche. Imagine every facet and sense of what would have to happen to make it a success. Also, think through the catastrophic expectations. When evaluating a risk, determine the worst that could happen and decide whether you can live with it or not.
22. Remember the Wisdom of Solomon. You cut the last piece of pie; you choose first.
23. You don’t have to be democratic. Managing by taking votes isn’t leadership. The contributions of the competent need to be sought.
24. Big egos have big hurts. They also retaliate when they are hurting.
25. Share your tough problems. Ask a subordinate, “please see me at 9:00 sharp. I want to know what you think… thanks for your input.” It allows participation in broader issues; indicates that the opinion is valued. Since the response is non-reactive, continuing the pattern will foster objectivity in future input; final decision still rests with you, where the responsibility lies.
26. Build two-way communication. Treat new employees as if they just got off the boat, that is, be patient and explain. To the new person: “Everything I am going to learn about your performance starts from this day forward.” To everyone, reinforce expectations. Don’t pick up the report laid on your desk; instead, restate what was desired and give the employee the opportunity to complete it as you wanted it without your having to turn it back with criticism. Expect completed work. Pass along their good suggestions; give them credit; train them to replace you.
27. Have a recommendation ready. Outline the situation, isolate the problems, explore possible solutions, decide; list the advantages and disadvantages of each. Which solution solves the problem? Have an alternate plan. Have the facts and figures ready; double-check them.
28. If you don’t know, admit it. Appearing to know all the answers is a great temptation. If it’s your area of responsibility, admit you don’t know but then find out.
29. Make it a rule to date everything. You’ll never have to wonder when the matter in question came up.
30. Don’t pass the buck; grab it. It isn’t necessary to assume responsibility for mistakes not remotely connected with your work, but if even part of the blame is yours, assume it. Establish a reputation of courage and responsibility, even when things go wrong.
31. Write one-page memos. It is more difficult to write a short cogent letter, memo, or report than a long one as it takes more time. But it increases the chances of being actually read and then accepted.
32. Pig rule. Never negotiate with a pig. You’ll just get dirty and he’ll love it.
33. Negotiations. No only means no for now.
34. Marketing is simple. Build a quality product that your customers want. Build long-term relationships with your customers. Provide solutions to their problems.
35. Grit and gumption are preferable to intellect and inertia.
36. Every business has crisis. They all deserve a mourning period. Give them a few minutes of proper respect. Then move on; get on with the job. Self-pity is nice too; give yourself 30 seconds.
37. What should we be working on? Because its purpose is to create a customer, the business enterprise has two, and only these two, basic functions: marketing and innovation. All the rest are costs.
38. Forecasting. I don't know the future but then neither does anybody else. Who is in a better position to make a judgment?
39. Don’t die wondering what your convictions are. Develop some personal business standards, a management style and some solid principles that you believe in. Have a repertoire of behaviors appropriate to the demands and consistent with your personality.
40. Far better to ask for forgiveness (for a well conceived decisive action) than permission. The focus is on effectiveness rather than following the rules. Recognize that breaking rules doesn’t necessarily equate to effectiveness particularly when stepping on someone else’s turf.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Hand Reading
| What Your Hands Say About You |
 You are logical, analytical, and rational. You have good verbal skills. Flexible and broad minded, you can fit in to any situation. There's no telling where your life will take you. Consistent and reliable, you like to count on structure and routine in your life. Your emotions tend to be nervous and potent. Your energy - both positive and negative - deeply impacts your life. |
Control Freak
| You Are 20% Control Freak |
 There's no way you're a control freak. You're totally laid back - and able to take life as it comes. While you definitely have a healthy mental attitude, don't get suckered into letting someone control you. |
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Are You An Elite Chauvinist Pig?
Came home one evening and saw a magazine at my doorstep. It was a pretty impressive magazine, all wrapped out and printed on semi-glossy paper.
The mag is called "Lexean". It was a second issue and it retailed for $15.80 (USD 10) at the news stands. Hey, I didn't subscribe to this and I hell ain't gonna pay that price for something that may not relate to my needs.
Anyhow, the theme of the issue, "Are You An Elite Chauvinist Pig?" interested me.
So I unwrapped from magazine and found a letter inside the cover. It was a browsing copy from one of my credit card companies.
Isn't it so interesting huh, to send a mag to a card subscriber asking if he was an elite chauvinist pig?
As I thumbed through the pages, I realised it is a Singapore magazine, aiming to address the gap left behind by the National Geographics, Readers Digests, 8-Days and i-Weeklys, Time, Asiaweek, Economist and other periodicals. Lexean aimed to meet the needs to the intellectually endowed and current affairs-attuned MEN.
After reading the namesake article in the magazine, I must admit that the writing was great. After all, the contributors are mostly magazine and newspaper editors or they have had extensive experience in work requiring reading and writing such as lawyers, critics and playwrights.
There is, of course, no prizes for guessing that the issue was inspired by Wee Shu Min's diatribe against Derek Wee in her blog. Yes, she and her father got much flak for that.
Sadly though, Ms Wee made very valid points. Except that Singapore was not ready for her candor and righteousness.
We still prefer to languish as "sick men of the East" even though Singapore is very much in the First World Nation league. This is not surprising because Singaporeans' favourite past time is to blame the privileged elite for every thing bad that befell them.
I am neither elite, chauvinist nor both even though you can argue that I look like a pig. (You are entitled to your your opinion while I am entitled to mine.) Do I begrudge the elite, the chauvinist pigs and the elite chauvinist pigs? The more rightful question is: Should I?
A society like Singapore is merciless in leaving behind those who cannot keep up. While the government is trying its level best to make sure that no one is left behind while Singapore progresses, I am painfully aware that there will come a day when I am told that someone can do my job twice as well at half my pay. Should I grudge? Should I lament? Should I begrudge the people coming up to replace me?
I would be really worried if there is no one better than me who is coming up after me in hope to replace me. Eh, these are the very people who are going to pay the taxes in the future to pay my upkeep (assuming I remain single and eventually would get destitute).
I need them. And thus, I have to give way. Who knows? I may end up in the backwater tutoring kids for a meagre income. But would I then say that I won't work? No. We should work to keep ourselves useful while we still can.
You may not agree me but I still believe that each individual is ultimately accountable and responsible for himself or herself. To expect someone else to do that would be the thoughts of a chauvinistic fatalist.
The mag is called "Lexean". It was a second issue and it retailed for $15.80 (USD 10) at the news stands. Hey, I didn't subscribe to this and I hell ain't gonna pay that price for something that may not relate to my needs.
Anyhow, the theme of the issue, "Are You An Elite Chauvinist Pig?" interested me.
So I unwrapped from magazine and found a letter inside the cover. It was a browsing copy from one of my credit card companies.
Isn't it so interesting huh, to send a mag to a card subscriber asking if he was an elite chauvinist pig?
As I thumbed through the pages, I realised it is a Singapore magazine, aiming to address the gap left behind by the National Geographics, Readers Digests, 8-Days and i-Weeklys, Time, Asiaweek, Economist and other periodicals. Lexean aimed to meet the needs to the intellectually endowed and current affairs-attuned MEN.
After reading the namesake article in the magazine, I must admit that the writing was great. After all, the contributors are mostly magazine and newspaper editors or they have had extensive experience in work requiring reading and writing such as lawyers, critics and playwrights.
There is, of course, no prizes for guessing that the issue was inspired by Wee Shu Min's diatribe against Derek Wee in her blog. Yes, she and her father got much flak for that.
Sadly though, Ms Wee made very valid points. Except that Singapore was not ready for her candor and righteousness.
We still prefer to languish as "sick men of the East" even though Singapore is very much in the First World Nation league. This is not surprising because Singaporeans' favourite past time is to blame the privileged elite for every thing bad that befell them.
I am neither elite, chauvinist nor both even though you can argue that I look like a pig. (You are entitled to your your opinion while I am entitled to mine.) Do I begrudge the elite, the chauvinist pigs and the elite chauvinist pigs? The more rightful question is: Should I?
A society like Singapore is merciless in leaving behind those who cannot keep up. While the government is trying its level best to make sure that no one is left behind while Singapore progresses, I am painfully aware that there will come a day when I am told that someone can do my job twice as well at half my pay. Should I grudge? Should I lament? Should I begrudge the people coming up to replace me?
I would be really worried if there is no one better than me who is coming up after me in hope to replace me. Eh, these are the very people who are going to pay the taxes in the future to pay my upkeep (assuming I remain single and eventually would get destitute).
I need them. And thus, I have to give way. Who knows? I may end up in the backwater tutoring kids for a meagre income. But would I then say that I won't work? No. We should work to keep ourselves useful while we still can.
You may not agree me but I still believe that each individual is ultimately accountable and responsible for himself or herself. To expect someone else to do that would be the thoughts of a chauvinistic fatalist.
Friday, April 20, 2007
The New Look
The reason is simple: I wanted to clean up some outdated stuff like the defunct counters in the old blog layout and after I deleted the parts which I thought should be deleted, I removed the command to display the posts as well.
As luck would have it, I did not paste the stuff on a notepad or a word doc so there was no way I could replace the chopped off portion.
I guess it may be time too for a change. Otherwise, the Aquarius in me will be happily trudging along the old layout and forever bitching about not having changed it. Yet when it comes to making a change, the very same Aquarius is resistant to seeing different things.
The inner battles I face every day...
As luck would have it, I did not paste the stuff on a notepad or a word doc so there was no way I could replace the chopped off portion.
I guess it may be time too for a change. Otherwise, the Aquarius in me will be happily trudging along the old layout and forever bitching about not having changed it. Yet when it comes to making a change, the very same Aquarius is resistant to seeing different things.
The inner battles I face every day...
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Curse of the Lizard
Curse of the Lizard
Watched a rerun of "Extreme Gourmet" last week and was laughing that the hosts and the guest had to each eat two house lizards when they were visiting some province in China. Apparently, it is a delicacy.
I was just telling myself that I would definitely be able to overcome my dislike, disgust and mild fear of lizards and pop a couple down my gut.
Then this evening, there was this large, pinkish, sluggish, FAT lizard in the bathroom. It had a swollen tummy and it moved a little slow. And it wouldn't buzz off from the bathroom despite my constant agitation.
Finally, I decided to go for the kill. Two whacks and I still could not kill it. I thought it might be reasonably injured that I could flush it out with a jet of water, and let it run down the sewer pipe. But no! It held on to the floor.
Two water jets later, I was really incensed. I decided to look for my guns. I mean, my other weapons of lizard destruction. Then I remembered that I have a electric jug of hot water.
Bingo.
Two splashes of hot water later, the reptile was past dead. The second splash probably locked its soul in the boiled body, denying it a chance to meet its maker even. Then I flushed it out with another jet of water. Before you scream and call the SPCA or accuse me of being violent and uncaring to the lizard, I did only what I had to to make sure it was dead. I won't be rushing to find other lizards to kill soon.
So as the lizard was flushed out from behind the sewer pipe, lo and behold. It looked exactly like the lizard delicacy that the Extreme Gourmet people had to eat.
I cringed when I saw the dead lizard. I wanted to flush it down the sewer but then I was worried that if it were stuck on its way down, the rotting stench would be too much to bear. So I decided to flush it down the toilet instead.
Gingerly, I took a wad of toilet paper, folded it into a thick pad and squatted beside the dead thing, eyeing it suspiciously for any other movement.
Finally convinced that any motion was the result of water flowing past the body, I picked up the dead offender and dumped it into the toilet and I flushed.
Just then a bug landed on the back of my hand and I almost jumped out of my skin. Sigh... Overcoming a fear is definitely not easy!
Watched a rerun of "Extreme Gourmet" last week and was laughing that the hosts and the guest had to each eat two house lizards when they were visiting some province in China. Apparently, it is a delicacy.
I was just telling myself that I would definitely be able to overcome my dislike, disgust and mild fear of lizards and pop a couple down my gut.
Then this evening, there was this large, pinkish, sluggish, FAT lizard in the bathroom. It had a swollen tummy and it moved a little slow. And it wouldn't buzz off from the bathroom despite my constant agitation.
Finally, I decided to go for the kill. Two whacks and I still could not kill it. I thought it might be reasonably injured that I could flush it out with a jet of water, and let it run down the sewer pipe. But no! It held on to the floor.
Two water jets later, I was really incensed. I decided to look for my guns. I mean, my other weapons of lizard destruction. Then I remembered that I have a electric jug of hot water.
Bingo.
Two splashes of hot water later, the reptile was past dead. The second splash probably locked its soul in the boiled body, denying it a chance to meet its maker even. Then I flushed it out with another jet of water. Before you scream and call the SPCA or accuse me of being violent and uncaring to the lizard, I did only what I had to to make sure it was dead. I won't be rushing to find other lizards to kill soon.
So as the lizard was flushed out from behind the sewer pipe, lo and behold. It looked exactly like the lizard delicacy that the Extreme Gourmet people had to eat.
I cringed when I saw the dead lizard. I wanted to flush it down the sewer but then I was worried that if it were stuck on its way down, the rotting stench would be too much to bear. So I decided to flush it down the toilet instead.
Gingerly, I took a wad of toilet paper, folded it into a thick pad and squatted beside the dead thing, eyeing it suspiciously for any other movement.
Finally convinced that any motion was the result of water flowing past the body, I picked up the dead offender and dumped it into the toilet and I flushed.
Just then a bug landed on the back of my hand and I almost jumped out of my skin. Sigh... Overcoming a fear is definitely not easy!
Who Moved His Kimchi?
Who Moved His Kimchi?
I cannot fathom why Cho Seung-Hui would go on a mass killing spree on that fateful day.
32 innocent victims were killed.
But I am in no position to judge the one murderer. Was he not a victim himself?
And I have to get this thought out of my mind, and fast!
I think Cho must be very furious because someone moved his kimchi. But who, what, and why?
The search for more answers will probably continue.
I cannot fathom why Cho Seung-Hui would go on a mass killing spree on that fateful day.
32 innocent victims were killed.
But I am in no position to judge the one murderer. Was he not a victim himself?
And I have to get this thought out of my mind, and fast!
I think Cho must be very furious because someone moved his kimchi. But who, what, and why?
The search for more answers will probably continue.
Quote of the Month - April 07
Quote of the Month - April 07
(For that matter, it's not that hard to make your own nasty weapons, including firearms and explosives.) Your reeducation camps - excuse me, education system - won't be able to shut down evil imaginations.
- Old Whig, reacting to the call to ban civilian rights to own firearms in the aftermath Virginia Tech killings where a South Korean gunman singlehandedly killed 32 people before taking his own life by shooting himself in the head.
(For that matter, it's not that hard to make your own nasty weapons, including firearms and explosives.) Your reeducation camps - excuse me, education system - won't be able to shut down evil imaginations.
- Old Whig, reacting to the call to ban civilian rights to own firearms in the aftermath Virginia Tech killings where a South Korean gunman singlehandedly killed 32 people before taking his own life by shooting himself in the head.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Virginia Tech Massacre
REST IN PEACE
Dedicated to the 32 victims of the Virginia Tech Massacre
whose lives came to an abrupt end on
16 Apr 07 (US)
17 Apr 07 (Local)
Monday, April 16, 2007
Lucky Me
Very interesting read.
Lucky Me
From The Wall Street Journal 12 Apr 07
The following is an unsent email from 2007 found on the laptop of the late Sam Zell, beloved real-estate mogul, who decades ago flirted with a career in media by proposing a leveraged buyout of the Tribune Co. financed by an employee stock option plan.
Dear Fellow Investors:
Please join me in disregarding the guff you've been reading about your new ESOP (some of which, I admit to uttering myself!). The government wouldn't have to dangle giant tax inducements to encourage companies to adopt this ownership structure if employee ownership produced the benefits that its fans claim for it.
Yes. I've seen the studies claiming employee-owned companies are happy and have higher growth. Is that because employee ownership creates happiness and growth, or because employee ownership only thrives under circumstances where the underlying business can produce happiness and growth?
You don't work in a business that's happy and let's not imagine that happiness and growth will be conjured out of shifting ownership to an ESOP. Our business is not growing and we had better get unhappy about it. We need to rid of people we can't afford. We need to stop paying people to do what they've always done just because they like doing it. You seem to believe you have a sacred right to carry on despite the customer's lack of interest in what you do.
By "you", I mean the Los Angeles Times. Dude - to quote my acquaintance Donald, you're fired!
I'm joking. You're not fired. You're laid off. Perhaps you're offered a generous exit package. I''ll get back to you. (Actually, my secret hope is to get somebody to take the L.A. Times off our hands.)
Between you, me and the lamppost, we're structuring this deal as an ESOP for the tax benefit. As employees, your role in the ESOP is to serve as - what's the word? - a patsy? No, a cut-out. Your participation is what makes us eligible for the giant tax handout, so don't worry, we're going to cut you in. You betcha.
Believe me, I'm not saying the ESOP can't pay off for you. It could. But I'm honor-bound to point out that it's not good financial sense to double down on your own employer by recycling your income back into your company's stock. Sure, the stock could take off. So could any stock. If you want to swing for the fences, at least give yourself some stocks to choose from. And don't forget ESOPs typically deny their employee "owners" the basic prerogatives of ownership. In our case, I will have control, you won't.
You aren't dumb (I'm told). You understand that the newspaper industry faces a problematic future. Our Tribune predecessors did a great job of preserving our fat profit margins by cutting, cutting, cutting. We'll be cutting too - to pay down the $8 billion loan to put the company (nominally) in your hands. But don't worry. There will still be plenty of work around here. You can do valve checks on my Ducatis. They need one every 3,000 miles. Talk about high maintenance! (I'm joking. Don't touch my bikes.)
On a serious note, the world's appetite for news and information is hardly shrinking. There's a future for us distributing local news and information that readers can't get elsewhere and wouldn't exist if we didn't produce it. We got sidetracked by the Times Mirror merger that brought the L.A. Times aboard. We will concentrate again on becoming a local Chicago e-commerce giant.
Between there and here, we'll be struggling to pay down our huge debt. Being realistic, you wonder why I have put up a tiny sum of my own money to become the engineer of this train wreck (and mix metaphors, which is a boss's prerogative!).
At some point, we might hit on a new business model that really pays off, in which case your stock would actually be worth something. For me, I only have to wait for the transaction to close a few months from now. Then I've got a 15-year option to buy 40% of the company (current market value $8 billion) for the bargain price of $590 million. Talk about backdating!
I know. I can hardly believe it myself. I'm a great guy and my lack of media experience is probably a plus at this point, and the value of my stake would have to be discounted for my share of the massive debt taken on partly to buy it and hand it to me. But it still adds up to a giant signing bonus for agreeing to serve as chairman. What's more, the agreement basically gives me control whether or not I spend the money to exercise the option.
Boy oh boy, this is a deal for the M&A record books. I've heard of acquirers paying a "control premium" but a "control discount"? I just hope Burkle, Geffen and Broad (the West Coast billionaires whom I outfoxed in bidding for Tribune) don't steal my ESOP idea and offer to pay a more realistic price for my controlling stake, with the extra cash reducing the ESOP's debt. What's the estimated value of my option? Good question. It's not in the documents and Trib's chief spokesman claims not to have seen a figure. Even I don't really understand what the ESOP is getting in return for basically letting me buy control of the company for 15 years with $90 million. (I'm also lending the firm $225 million, but that will be paid back.)
Lordy, I just thought of something: What if the ESOP trustee asks for a "fairness opinion"? Can you imagine the lawsuits? You media types will say the flaw in the negotiation was the absence of anybody with a motive to protect the ESOP's interests. The Chandler Trusts might be sued too. You'll say we got together and concocted the ESOP to buy out Chandler at top dollar, turn around and sell me a controlling stake at a knockdown price.
Geez, what was Tribune CEO Dennis FitzSimons thinking when he let me brainstorm up this convoluted deal? And I have such a good reputation too. I'd better rethink, pronto. What a drag - because I really might have been the guy to save the newspaper business from itself!
Your pal, Sam.
Lucky Me
From The Wall Street Journal 12 Apr 07
The following is an unsent email from 2007 found on the laptop of the late Sam Zell, beloved real-estate mogul, who decades ago flirted with a career in media by proposing a leveraged buyout of the Tribune Co. financed by an employee stock option plan.
Dear Fellow Investors:
Please join me in disregarding the guff you've been reading about your new ESOP (some of which, I admit to uttering myself!). The government wouldn't have to dangle giant tax inducements to encourage companies to adopt this ownership structure if employee ownership produced the benefits that its fans claim for it.
Yes. I've seen the studies claiming employee-owned companies are happy and have higher growth. Is that because employee ownership creates happiness and growth, or because employee ownership only thrives under circumstances where the underlying business can produce happiness and growth?
You don't work in a business that's happy and let's not imagine that happiness and growth will be conjured out of shifting ownership to an ESOP. Our business is not growing and we had better get unhappy about it. We need to rid of people we can't afford. We need to stop paying people to do what they've always done just because they like doing it. You seem to believe you have a sacred right to carry on despite the customer's lack of interest in what you do.
By "you", I mean the Los Angeles Times. Dude - to quote my acquaintance Donald, you're fired!
I'm joking. You're not fired. You're laid off. Perhaps you're offered a generous exit package. I''ll get back to you. (Actually, my secret hope is to get somebody to take the L.A. Times off our hands.)
Between you, me and the lamppost, we're structuring this deal as an ESOP for the tax benefit. As employees, your role in the ESOP is to serve as - what's the word? - a patsy? No, a cut-out. Your participation is what makes us eligible for the giant tax handout, so don't worry, we're going to cut you in. You betcha.
Believe me, I'm not saying the ESOP can't pay off for you. It could. But I'm honor-bound to point out that it's not good financial sense to double down on your own employer by recycling your income back into your company's stock. Sure, the stock could take off. So could any stock. If you want to swing for the fences, at least give yourself some stocks to choose from. And don't forget ESOPs typically deny their employee "owners" the basic prerogatives of ownership. In our case, I will have control, you won't.
You aren't dumb (I'm told). You understand that the newspaper industry faces a problematic future. Our Tribune predecessors did a great job of preserving our fat profit margins by cutting, cutting, cutting. We'll be cutting too - to pay down the $8 billion loan to put the company (nominally) in your hands. But don't worry. There will still be plenty of work around here. You can do valve checks on my Ducatis. They need one every 3,000 miles. Talk about high maintenance! (I'm joking. Don't touch my bikes.)
On a serious note, the world's appetite for news and information is hardly shrinking. There's a future for us distributing local news and information that readers can't get elsewhere and wouldn't exist if we didn't produce it. We got sidetracked by the Times Mirror merger that brought the L.A. Times aboard. We will concentrate again on becoming a local Chicago e-commerce giant.
Between there and here, we'll be struggling to pay down our huge debt. Being realistic, you wonder why I have put up a tiny sum of my own money to become the engineer of this train wreck (and mix metaphors, which is a boss's prerogative!).
At some point, we might hit on a new business model that really pays off, in which case your stock would actually be worth something. For me, I only have to wait for the transaction to close a few months from now. Then I've got a 15-year option to buy 40% of the company (current market value $8 billion) for the bargain price of $590 million. Talk about backdating!
I know. I can hardly believe it myself. I'm a great guy and my lack of media experience is probably a plus at this point, and the value of my stake would have to be discounted for my share of the massive debt taken on partly to buy it and hand it to me. But it still adds up to a giant signing bonus for agreeing to serve as chairman. What's more, the agreement basically gives me control whether or not I spend the money to exercise the option.
Boy oh boy, this is a deal for the M&A record books. I've heard of acquirers paying a "control premium" but a "control discount"? I just hope Burkle, Geffen and Broad (the West Coast billionaires whom I outfoxed in bidding for Tribune) don't steal my ESOP idea and offer to pay a more realistic price for my controlling stake, with the extra cash reducing the ESOP's debt. What's the estimated value of my option? Good question. It's not in the documents and Trib's chief spokesman claims not to have seen a figure. Even I don't really understand what the ESOP is getting in return for basically letting me buy control of the company for 15 years with $90 million. (I'm also lending the firm $225 million, but that will be paid back.)
Lordy, I just thought of something: What if the ESOP trustee asks for a "fairness opinion"? Can you imagine the lawsuits? You media types will say the flaw in the negotiation was the absence of anybody with a motive to protect the ESOP's interests. The Chandler Trusts might be sued too. You'll say we got together and concocted the ESOP to buy out Chandler at top dollar, turn around and sell me a controlling stake at a knockdown price.
Geez, what was Tribune CEO Dennis FitzSimons thinking when he let me brainstorm up this convoluted deal? And I have such a good reputation too. I'd better rethink, pronto. What a drag - because I really might have been the guy to save the newspaper business from itself!
Your pal, Sam.
Advance Awareness
Advance Awareness
If you keep a pet that can kill, such as a killer dog, and you walk the dog without choke chains or muzzles. The dog kills someone. Is the owner culpable of murder?
If you operate a machine that can kill, such as a car, and you drive the car without care or caution. The car kills someone. Is the driver culpable of murder?
I thought the point was moot - of course the owner is culpable - but the larger question is why people are still rearing such dogs when conditions clearly do not permit safe pet-keeping? At least with a car, you can avoid getting into accidents by not driving it. But a dog has its needs - nature calls and primal needs (to kill, maybe).
So, should we not indict the pet shop owners too for making available such dogs for the public to rear? What if one day the dog does its owner in? Will it then be too late? Or are we finally seeing poetic justice?
Full story below.
Dog case may set murder standard
Infamous attack and subsequent trial consumed San Francisco and sparked a nationwide debate over killer dogs.
By Maura Dolan, Times Staff Writer
April 16, 2007
Did Marjorie Knoller know that walking her dogs without choke chains or muzzles could mean someone would die?
The answer to that question, now before the California Supreme Court, will decide whether Knoller is returned to prison for the murder of Diane Whipple, 33, who was mauled to death six years ago by Knoller's two Presa Canarios in the hallway of her Pacific Heights apartment.
The infamous attack and subsequent trial consumed this city and sparked a nationwide debate over killer dogs.
Now the case may lead to a new standard in California for determining when an unintentional killing can be murder. At issue is the state of mind of someone whose dangerous act triggers a death: How much advance awareness must they have of the risks?
The courts have already ruled that drunk drivers involved in fatal accidents can be culpable for murder; a change in the law could mean more murder cases against people who unintentionally kill by starting fires, causing industrial accidents, shooting guns in celebration or neglecting children.
Attorney Dennis P. Riordan, who represents Knoller, believes that for the crime to have been murder, Knoller would have had to know: " 'If I go out of this apartment, there is a real chance somebody is going to die.' That has to be a conscious thought in her head."
State Deputy Atty. Gen. Amy E. Haddix contends that dozens of aggressive acts by the dogs made Knoller aware that they could be deadly and satisfied the requirements for what is called an "implied malice" murder — when the killer has no intent to kill but acts with a conscious disregard of life and the knowledge that his conduct endangers people.
"If you anticipate that level of danger to human life, it doesn't matter that you might hope you could intervene ... ," Haddix said. "The risk is great enough that you are on the hook for the worst possible result."
Knoller, 51, a lawyer, was convicted of second-degree murder, but the judge threw out that conviction. Before overturning the jury's murder verdict, San Francisco Superior Court Judge James Warren pondered whether Knoller "subjectively knew on Jan. [26, 2001] that her conduct was such that a human being was likely to die."
Turning to Knoller in the courtroom, Warren said: "There was one time on the stand, Ms. Knoller, when I truly believed what you said. You broke down in the middle of a totally scripted answer and you actually, instead of crying, you actually got mad and you said you had no idea that this dog could do what he did and pounded the table. I believed you."
She left prison in 2004 after serving 33 months for involuntary manslaughter, and is said to be living with family in Florida.
Her husband, Robert Noel, 65, also a lawyer, was not present during the attack but served time for his role in maintaining the dogs. He is believed to be residing in Solano County, about an hour's drive from San Francisco.
An appeal court reinstated Knoller's murder conviction, and she appealed to the high court. Depending on what it decides — a ruling is expected any day — Knoller could be returned to prison for 15 years to life. Given the difficulty of winning parole in California, Knoller could die in prison.
On the afternoon of Whipple's death, Knoller said that she had taken Bane, her 140-pound male Presa, to the roof of the apartment building and was returning to her apartment when the dog noticed Whipple.
Carrying groceries and reportedly terrified of Knoller's dogs — one had bitten her the month before — the college lacrosse coach was at her apartment door when the dog charged. Hera, Knoller's female Presa, slipped out Knoller's open door and followed suit.
Summoned by a neighbor peering out from a peephole, police arrived to find Whipple covered with bites from head to toe, her clothes shredded and her neck torn apart. Blood soaked the hallway carpet and streaked the walls. Pieces of Whipple's clothing and groceries littered the floor.
An officer later testified that Whipple was on her stomach in the hallway, trying to crawl to her apartment. The officer told her to remain still, that an ambulance was on the way, and Whipple seemed to relax. But her breathing and pulse stopped as paramedics arrived.
A court document described the attack as "typical of a predatory animal that mauls the neck of its prey to cut off the air supply."
Fatal dog attacks in the United States are rare. Only about two dozen people are mauled to death each year in a nation with 70 million dogs, said Karen Delise, founder of the National Canine Research Council, which tracks and investigates fatal dog attacks.
Pit bulls and Rottweilers most often top the list of killers, according to various studies, but killer canines have included a Yorkshire terrier, a dachshund, a Labrador retriever, a cocker spaniel and a collie.
Besides Knoller, only two people in the United States have been convicted of murder for killings by dogs. One was a man who ordered a pit bull to attack his girlfriend. Fewer than half of all fatal dog attacks are even prosecuted, according to Randall Lockwood, an expert in the epidemiology of dog attacks.
But Whipple's death incensed San Franciscans, in part because of comments by Knoller and her husband suggesting that Whipple might have been responsible for her demise. Knoller reported that Whipple dallied and gave the dog time to kill, while Noel noted that she might have exuded a pheromone fragrance that crazed the animal.
During the couple's trial, moved to Los Angeles after the judge decided that the defendants could not get a fair hearing in San Francisco, the prosecution tried to show Knoller acted "in conscious disregard" of her dogs' killing nature.
Knoller and Noel acquired the dogs as a favor to a prison inmate, Paul "Cornfed" Schneider, whom they had met in the course of their legal work and later adopted, even though he was an adult.
Schneider was trying to run a business from prison, breeding and selling Presas as guard dogs. He was unhappy with the care Bane and Hera were getting from a woman who was raising them on her farm near Hayfork in Trinity County.
Schneider was particularly displeased to learn that Bane had become friendly with cats and urged the caretaker not to make "wusses" of the dogs. Hera was not a "wuss." She had escaped several times and killed a cat, a sheep, chickens and other animals, according to court records.
Even before Knoller took possession of the dogs, a veterinarian who examined them told her he would be "professionally amiss" if he did not alert her to their menace.
Dr. Donald Martin, who vaccinated the dogs before their transport to San Francisco, wrote Knoller that the dogs were "huge," with "no training or discipline of any sort." They would be "a liability in any household, reminding me of an attack in Tehama County to a boy by large dogs. He lost his arm and disfigured his face."
"The historic romance of the warrior dog, the personal guard dog, the gaming dog and so on may sound good but hardly fits into life today."
Trouble began soon after Hera arrived on April 31, 2000. In June, she bit a man on his rear end in the building lobby, according to later testimony..
In September, after Bane arrived, one of the dogs lunged, teeth bared, at the stomach of a pregnant woman, another witness testified.
Noel also had to be hospitalized after Bane bit his hand in a dogfight. A piece of literature in the couple's apartment said that police used Presas to disable pit bulls.
Knoller testified that she had tried her best to save Whipple, even getting between her and the dogs.
There was no evidence at trial that either dog had killed before, that any dog of the Presa Canario breed had ever killed a person or that a dog of any breed had killed while being walked by its owner, Riordan said.
Although rare, dogs have killed while on leash or in the presence of an owner, Delise, the researcher on dog attacks, said in an interview. One dog even snatched a baby from a woman's arms. But the prosecution's expert testified he had never heard of such a killing. The presence of an owner was usually enough to deter an attack, he said.
"Knoller had no conceivable motive to decide to take her dog for a walk knowing and not caring that someone was likely to die by the time she returned to her apartment to cook dinner," Riordan said.
If you keep a pet that can kill, such as a killer dog, and you walk the dog without choke chains or muzzles. The dog kills someone. Is the owner culpable of murder?
If you operate a machine that can kill, such as a car, and you drive the car without care or caution. The car kills someone. Is the driver culpable of murder?
I thought the point was moot - of course the owner is culpable - but the larger question is why people are still rearing such dogs when conditions clearly do not permit safe pet-keeping? At least with a car, you can avoid getting into accidents by not driving it. But a dog has its needs - nature calls and primal needs (to kill, maybe).
So, should we not indict the pet shop owners too for making available such dogs for the public to rear? What if one day the dog does its owner in? Will it then be too late? Or are we finally seeing poetic justice?
Full story below.
Dog case may set murder standard
Infamous attack and subsequent trial consumed San Francisco and sparked a nationwide debate over killer dogs.
By Maura Dolan, Times Staff Writer
April 16, 2007
Did Marjorie Knoller know that walking her dogs without choke chains or muzzles could mean someone would die?
The answer to that question, now before the California Supreme Court, will decide whether Knoller is returned to prison for the murder of Diane Whipple, 33, who was mauled to death six years ago by Knoller's two Presa Canarios in the hallway of her Pacific Heights apartment.
The infamous attack and subsequent trial consumed this city and sparked a nationwide debate over killer dogs.
Now the case may lead to a new standard in California for determining when an unintentional killing can be murder. At issue is the state of mind of someone whose dangerous act triggers a death: How much advance awareness must they have of the risks?
The courts have already ruled that drunk drivers involved in fatal accidents can be culpable for murder; a change in the law could mean more murder cases against people who unintentionally kill by starting fires, causing industrial accidents, shooting guns in celebration or neglecting children.
Attorney Dennis P. Riordan, who represents Knoller, believes that for the crime to have been murder, Knoller would have had to know: " 'If I go out of this apartment, there is a real chance somebody is going to die.' That has to be a conscious thought in her head."
State Deputy Atty. Gen. Amy E. Haddix contends that dozens of aggressive acts by the dogs made Knoller aware that they could be deadly and satisfied the requirements for what is called an "implied malice" murder — when the killer has no intent to kill but acts with a conscious disregard of life and the knowledge that his conduct endangers people.
"If you anticipate that level of danger to human life, it doesn't matter that you might hope you could intervene ... ," Haddix said. "The risk is great enough that you are on the hook for the worst possible result."
Knoller, 51, a lawyer, was convicted of second-degree murder, but the judge threw out that conviction. Before overturning the jury's murder verdict, San Francisco Superior Court Judge James Warren pondered whether Knoller "subjectively knew on Jan. [26, 2001] that her conduct was such that a human being was likely to die."
Turning to Knoller in the courtroom, Warren said: "There was one time on the stand, Ms. Knoller, when I truly believed what you said. You broke down in the middle of a totally scripted answer and you actually, instead of crying, you actually got mad and you said you had no idea that this dog could do what he did and pounded the table. I believed you."
She left prison in 2004 after serving 33 months for involuntary manslaughter, and is said to be living with family in Florida.
Her husband, Robert Noel, 65, also a lawyer, was not present during the attack but served time for his role in maintaining the dogs. He is believed to be residing in Solano County, about an hour's drive from San Francisco.
An appeal court reinstated Knoller's murder conviction, and she appealed to the high court. Depending on what it decides — a ruling is expected any day — Knoller could be returned to prison for 15 years to life. Given the difficulty of winning parole in California, Knoller could die in prison.
On the afternoon of Whipple's death, Knoller said that she had taken Bane, her 140-pound male Presa, to the roof of the apartment building and was returning to her apartment when the dog noticed Whipple.
Carrying groceries and reportedly terrified of Knoller's dogs — one had bitten her the month before — the college lacrosse coach was at her apartment door when the dog charged. Hera, Knoller's female Presa, slipped out Knoller's open door and followed suit.
Summoned by a neighbor peering out from a peephole, police arrived to find Whipple covered with bites from head to toe, her clothes shredded and her neck torn apart. Blood soaked the hallway carpet and streaked the walls. Pieces of Whipple's clothing and groceries littered the floor.
An officer later testified that Whipple was on her stomach in the hallway, trying to crawl to her apartment. The officer told her to remain still, that an ambulance was on the way, and Whipple seemed to relax. But her breathing and pulse stopped as paramedics arrived.
A court document described the attack as "typical of a predatory animal that mauls the neck of its prey to cut off the air supply."
Fatal dog attacks in the United States are rare. Only about two dozen people are mauled to death each year in a nation with 70 million dogs, said Karen Delise, founder of the National Canine Research Council, which tracks and investigates fatal dog attacks.
Pit bulls and Rottweilers most often top the list of killers, according to various studies, but killer canines have included a Yorkshire terrier, a dachshund, a Labrador retriever, a cocker spaniel and a collie.
Besides Knoller, only two people in the United States have been convicted of murder for killings by dogs. One was a man who ordered a pit bull to attack his girlfriend. Fewer than half of all fatal dog attacks are even prosecuted, according to Randall Lockwood, an expert in the epidemiology of dog attacks.
But Whipple's death incensed San Franciscans, in part because of comments by Knoller and her husband suggesting that Whipple might have been responsible for her demise. Knoller reported that Whipple dallied and gave the dog time to kill, while Noel noted that she might have exuded a pheromone fragrance that crazed the animal.
During the couple's trial, moved to Los Angeles after the judge decided that the defendants could not get a fair hearing in San Francisco, the prosecution tried to show Knoller acted "in conscious disregard" of her dogs' killing nature.
Knoller and Noel acquired the dogs as a favor to a prison inmate, Paul "Cornfed" Schneider, whom they had met in the course of their legal work and later adopted, even though he was an adult.
Schneider was trying to run a business from prison, breeding and selling Presas as guard dogs. He was unhappy with the care Bane and Hera were getting from a woman who was raising them on her farm near Hayfork in Trinity County.
Schneider was particularly displeased to learn that Bane had become friendly with cats and urged the caretaker not to make "wusses" of the dogs. Hera was not a "wuss." She had escaped several times and killed a cat, a sheep, chickens and other animals, according to court records.
Even before Knoller took possession of the dogs, a veterinarian who examined them told her he would be "professionally amiss" if he did not alert her to their menace.
Dr. Donald Martin, who vaccinated the dogs before their transport to San Francisco, wrote Knoller that the dogs were "huge," with "no training or discipline of any sort." They would be "a liability in any household, reminding me of an attack in Tehama County to a boy by large dogs. He lost his arm and disfigured his face."
"The historic romance of the warrior dog, the personal guard dog, the gaming dog and so on may sound good but hardly fits into life today."
Trouble began soon after Hera arrived on April 31, 2000. In June, she bit a man on his rear end in the building lobby, according to later testimony..
In September, after Bane arrived, one of the dogs lunged, teeth bared, at the stomach of a pregnant woman, another witness testified.
Noel also had to be hospitalized after Bane bit his hand in a dogfight. A piece of literature in the couple's apartment said that police used Presas to disable pit bulls.
Knoller testified that she had tried her best to save Whipple, even getting between her and the dogs.
There was no evidence at trial that either dog had killed before, that any dog of the Presa Canario breed had ever killed a person or that a dog of any breed had killed while being walked by its owner, Riordan said.
Although rare, dogs have killed while on leash or in the presence of an owner, Delise, the researcher on dog attacks, said in an interview. One dog even snatched a baby from a woman's arms. But the prosecution's expert testified he had never heard of such a killing. The presence of an owner was usually enough to deter an attack, he said.
"Knoller had no conceivable motive to decide to take her dog for a walk knowing and not caring that someone was likely to die by the time she returned to her apartment to cook dinner," Riordan said.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
The Husband Store
The Husband Store
[Courtesy of Miss J. She's one big hearted lady!]
A store that sells husbands has just opened in New York City, where a woman may go to choose a husband.
Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates. You may visit the store ONLY ONCE!
There are six floors and the attributes of the men increase as the shopper ascends the flights.
There is, however, a catch. ... You may choose any man from a particular floor, or you may choose to go up a floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building!
So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband. .
On the first floor the sign on the door reads:
Floor 1 - These men have jobs and love the Lord.
*********
The second floor sign reads:
Floor 2 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, and love kids.
*********
The third floor sign reads:
Floor 3 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, and are extremely good looking.
" Wow," she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going.
*********
She goes to the fourth floor and sign reads:
Floor 4 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, are drop- dead good looking and help with the housework.
"Oh, mercy me!" she exclaims, "I can hardly stand it!"
*********
Still, she goes to the fifth floor and sign reads:
Floor 5 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, are drop- dead gorgeous, help with the housework, and have a strong romantic streak.
She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor and the sign reads:
*********
Floor 6 - You are visitor 49,363,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please.
Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store. Watch your step as you exit the building, and have a nice day!
*********
[Courtesy of Miss J. She's one big hearted lady!]
A store that sells husbands has just opened in New York City, where a woman may go to choose a husband.
Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates. You may visit the store ONLY ONCE!
There are six floors and the attributes of the men increase as the shopper ascends the flights.
There is, however, a catch. ... You may choose any man from a particular floor, or you may choose to go up a floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building!
So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband. .
On the first floor the sign on the door reads:
Floor 1 - These men have jobs and love the Lord.
*********
The second floor sign reads:
Floor 2 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, and love kids.
*********
The third floor sign reads:
Floor 3 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, and are extremely good looking.
" Wow," she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going.
*********
She goes to the fourth floor and sign reads:
Floor 4 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, are drop- dead good looking and help with the housework.
"Oh, mercy me!" she exclaims, "I can hardly stand it!"
*********
Still, she goes to the fifth floor and sign reads:
Floor 5 - These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, are drop- dead gorgeous, help with the housework, and have a strong romantic streak.
She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor and the sign reads:
*********
Floor 6 - You are visitor 49,363,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please.
Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store. Watch your step as you exit the building, and have a nice day!
*********
Kids' Talk
Kids' Talk
[Courtesy of J.]
1. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.
The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.
Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.
The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah".
The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"
The little girl replied, "Then you ask him".
2. A kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work.
As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.
The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."
The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."
Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."
3. A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to "honour" thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?"
Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, "Thou shall not kill."
4. One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head.
She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?"
Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white."
The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, "Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?"
5. The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture.
"Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.'
A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher, she's dead."
6. The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray:
"Take only ONE . God is watching."
Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.
A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples."
The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.
Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.
The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah".
The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"
The little girl replied, "Then you ask him".
2. A kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work.
As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.
The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."
The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."
Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."
3. A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to "honour" thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?"
Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, "Thou shall not kill."
4. One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head.
She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, "Why are some of your hairs white, Mom?"
Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white."
The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, "Momma, how come ALL of grandma's hairs are white?"
5. The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture.
"Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer, she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael, He's a doctor.'
A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher, she's dead."
6. The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray:
"Take only ONE . God is watching."
Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.
A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples."
Sick
Sick
The fever comes and goes. The body aches. The ears are blocked. The sinuses are acting up and I'm smelling rotting things (infection of the sinuses). The head throbs and I can't keep eyes my eyes open.
Yet I had to carry on working from home despite being on medical leave.
Sigh. How I *love* my job.
The fever comes and goes. The body aches. The ears are blocked. The sinuses are acting up and I'm smelling rotting things (infection of the sinuses). The head throbs and I can't keep eyes my eyes open.
Yet I had to carry on working from home despite being on medical leave.
Sigh. How I *love* my job.
Monday, April 09, 2007
For Always
For Always
Watched the ending parts of A.I. on Channel 5 last night. I just had my bath and was seated in front of my laptop, peering at the TV out of the corner of my eye.
Was not wearing my glasses so I was not getting a sharp image of the screen but I had clear reception of the on-screen conversation.
It was rather interesting when the robot asked for his mum to be resurrected after 2000 years. And the cute little teddy bear came up and produced a strand of "mummy's hair" so that the "creator" could recreate his mum.
Honestly, I am not a Spielberg fan. Never was, still isn't and likely never will be. Nothing tortured me worse than science fiction. I'd fall asleep grading a stack of science fiction compositions. Well, anyone would, since if not for the genre, the poor language would have achieved the same coma-inducing effect(or caused you to put out your own light by testing the hardness of your own head with the wall).
Well, I thought that was interesting since I should start hugging my toy dogs more. Hopefully, 2000 years later, I could come back to this pathetic place called Earth and see if it had become any better or worse. Maybe better. I believe in peaks and troughs. We must bottom out soon; when we stop pretending that global warming is our fault (hey, how much carbon can I produce? A night in Al Gore's mansion would probably produce more carbon than I ever can in my life. Such hypocrisy!) and start living like there is no tomorrow, then we will trough out faster.
As with all systems, there are tipping points. Once we go past the point of no return - event horizon, a series of events will take place. Maybe we will create Shangri La (not the hotel!). What I see now is this: We are on the Titanic with all the floatation chambers breached. Why are we trying to keep the Titanic afloat? Do we think we could keep the Titanic afloat?
We are all born to take the inevitable road to death. Some of us think we will come back to die again. Some of us think we will go to our creators arms. Some of us think we should take some of us together with us on the journey. Some of us like to go up in flames. Some of us like to be flushed apart. Some of us will become the very soil that nourished us when we were alive. But upon conception, our paths have been marked out for us. Every roadsign says "THIS WAY [insert directions] TO DEATH ([insert number] YEARS)".
So while we are living on Earth waiting to die, we think that if we "save" the earth by reducing carbon emissions, the earth can last longer. WRONG. The system called EARTH is in stoichiometry. The number of atoms we started with and the number of atoms we end up with are constant. Think about it. We can't produce any more than we can destroy. And vice versa. What we have done is to change the forms of the compounds. Whereas in the past, carbon was mostly earth-bound, they are now mostly gaseous and freely moving.
Instead of restricting carbon emissions, which is a foregone cause by any measure, why not think of how to harness the free floating carbons and other greenhouses gases by turning them into something useful again? For instance, airplanes that fly through the air suck in carbon compounds and turn them into methane or ethanol and store them somewhere on board. When they reach the ground, they can be burnt again as fuel. Technological advances should be able to achieve this eventually.
Harness rather than reduce because reduction is tough. I mean, if we get the world's population to hold their breaths for 10 seconds every hour, would we drastically reduce carbon emission? Got the picture yet?
Ok, I'm now lost in my greenhouse gases and carbon compounds and forgotten about my initial intent of this blog entry.
So I went back to put on my glasses. Bear looks fake. Robot looks fake. Well, the show is fake. Perhaps that's why it is called A.I. or artificial intelligence. I suspect many people in the world have only A.I., measurable by examinations. Beyond that, there is nothing natural or real about their abilities or intelligence.
But then, as I was about to pour more scorn on the show, a familiar tune came on. Surprisingly, I knew that piece. It was as though I have heard it since the longest time ago.
Curiosity got the better of me. I found out that the familiar tune was "For Always". Josh Groban has sung it. Now I remember. I hear this very very frequently on someone's CD.
Maybe the brain does indeed code sounds and music differently. Perhaps that's why music, unlike movies, have the endearing quality of being remembered "for always". I never remembered most of the movies I've watched but I remember the sound tracks of movies with well-written music. Maybe that's why a band or any musical group can play a theme and people would roughly remember the movie where the song came from.
Now that I figured out that song (and having emitted lots of carbon with my laptop googling for the information and then bitching about it on my blog), I should be able to go back and do the more mundane work.
Oh, before I go - I'll lay a bet here that in 400 million years' time, most of the world's oil deposit would be found in the place where Indonesia used to be now. Whoever's back here or managed to stay on Earth for always, remember to credit me for this discovery!
Watched the ending parts of A.I. on Channel 5 last night. I just had my bath and was seated in front of my laptop, peering at the TV out of the corner of my eye.
Was not wearing my glasses so I was not getting a sharp image of the screen but I had clear reception of the on-screen conversation.
It was rather interesting when the robot asked for his mum to be resurrected after 2000 years. And the cute little teddy bear came up and produced a strand of "mummy's hair" so that the "creator" could recreate his mum.
Honestly, I am not a Spielberg fan. Never was, still isn't and likely never will be. Nothing tortured me worse than science fiction. I'd fall asleep grading a stack of science fiction compositions. Well, anyone would, since if not for the genre, the poor language would have achieved the same coma-inducing effect(or caused you to put out your own light by testing the hardness of your own head with the wall).
Well, I thought that was interesting since I should start hugging my toy dogs more. Hopefully, 2000 years later, I could come back to this pathetic place called Earth and see if it had become any better or worse. Maybe better. I believe in peaks and troughs. We must bottom out soon; when we stop pretending that global warming is our fault (hey, how much carbon can I produce? A night in Al Gore's mansion would probably produce more carbon than I ever can in my life. Such hypocrisy!) and start living like there is no tomorrow, then we will trough out faster.
As with all systems, there are tipping points. Once we go past the point of no return - event horizon, a series of events will take place. Maybe we will create Shangri La (not the hotel!). What I see now is this: We are on the Titanic with all the floatation chambers breached. Why are we trying to keep the Titanic afloat? Do we think we could keep the Titanic afloat?
We are all born to take the inevitable road to death. Some of us think we will come back to die again. Some of us think we will go to our creators arms. Some of us think we should take some of us together with us on the journey. Some of us like to go up in flames. Some of us like to be flushed apart. Some of us will become the very soil that nourished us when we were alive. But upon conception, our paths have been marked out for us. Every roadsign says "THIS WAY [insert directions] TO DEATH ([insert number] YEARS)".
So while we are living on Earth waiting to die, we think that if we "save" the earth by reducing carbon emissions, the earth can last longer. WRONG. The system called EARTH is in stoichiometry. The number of atoms we started with and the number of atoms we end up with are constant. Think about it. We can't produce any more than we can destroy. And vice versa. What we have done is to change the forms of the compounds. Whereas in the past, carbon was mostly earth-bound, they are now mostly gaseous and freely moving.
Instead of restricting carbon emissions, which is a foregone cause by any measure, why not think of how to harness the free floating carbons and other greenhouses gases by turning them into something useful again? For instance, airplanes that fly through the air suck in carbon compounds and turn them into methane or ethanol and store them somewhere on board. When they reach the ground, they can be burnt again as fuel. Technological advances should be able to achieve this eventually.
Harness rather than reduce because reduction is tough. I mean, if we get the world's population to hold their breaths for 10 seconds every hour, would we drastically reduce carbon emission? Got the picture yet?
Ok, I'm now lost in my greenhouse gases and carbon compounds and forgotten about my initial intent of this blog entry.
So I went back to put on my glasses. Bear looks fake. Robot looks fake. Well, the show is fake. Perhaps that's why it is called A.I. or artificial intelligence. I suspect many people in the world have only A.I., measurable by examinations. Beyond that, there is nothing natural or real about their abilities or intelligence.
But then, as I was about to pour more scorn on the show, a familiar tune came on. Surprisingly, I knew that piece. It was as though I have heard it since the longest time ago.
Curiosity got the better of me. I found out that the familiar tune was "For Always". Josh Groban has sung it. Now I remember. I hear this very very frequently on someone's CD.
Maybe the brain does indeed code sounds and music differently. Perhaps that's why music, unlike movies, have the endearing quality of being remembered "for always". I never remembered most of the movies I've watched but I remember the sound tracks of movies with well-written music. Maybe that's why a band or any musical group can play a theme and people would roughly remember the movie where the song came from.
Now that I figured out that song (and having emitted lots of carbon with my laptop googling for the information and then bitching about it on my blog), I should be able to go back and do the more mundane work.
Oh, before I go - I'll lay a bet here that in 400 million years' time, most of the world's oil deposit would be found in the place where Indonesia used to be now. Whoever's back here or managed to stay on Earth for always, remember to credit me for this discovery!
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Parenting
Parenting
Listening to my Country Poughskeepsie (WRWD) internet radio station.
Then Watching You by Rodney Atkins came on (Youtube). It's probably a 2006 song.
Hearing the lyrics of Watching You, I could not help but think of Harry Chaplin's 1974 hit Cat's in the Cradle. (Youtube)
Both point to the immense influence of a dad on a impressionable child.
Although there is a 32-year gap between Cat's in the Cradle and Watching You, the role of a father in a family is that of a model - role model or not is really not important but an existent dad is a model of sorts - and sons, if not the children, will also pick up the actions of the father.
I have also made the conscious decision to end the post like this. The role of a father, his responsibilities and how he discharges those responsibilities are not for me to discuss or dictate. I am neither a father nor if I were, I would a sufficient authority to write. Even as a son, I have my own assessment of fathers: others' and mine. And these are also not for public consumption.
Society may have progressed, things may have changed but has the role, function, and responsibilities of families and their heads changed or has it frozen? Do they need to change? Can lesbian mothers or gay fathers be good parents? Is adoption natural? Many more questions requiring even much more thought.
Expectedly, there will be few answers.
Listening to my Country Poughskeepsie (WRWD) internet radio station.
Then Watching You by Rodney Atkins came on (Youtube). It's probably a 2006 song.
Hearing the lyrics of Watching You, I could not help but think of Harry Chaplin's 1974 hit Cat's in the Cradle. (Youtube)
Both point to the immense influence of a dad on a impressionable child.
Although there is a 32-year gap between Cat's in the Cradle and Watching You, the role of a father in a family is that of a model - role model or not is really not important but an existent dad is a model of sorts - and sons, if not the children, will also pick up the actions of the father.
I have also made the conscious decision to end the post like this. The role of a father, his responsibilities and how he discharges those responsibilities are not for me to discuss or dictate. I am neither a father nor if I were, I would a sufficient authority to write. Even as a son, I have my own assessment of fathers: others' and mine. And these are also not for public consumption.
Society may have progressed, things may have changed but has the role, function, and responsibilities of families and their heads changed or has it frozen? Do they need to change? Can lesbian mothers or gay fathers be good parents? Is adoption natural? Many more questions requiring even much more thought.
Expectedly, there will be few answers.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Chinese All Souls' Day
Chinese All Souls' Day
The exact day of Chinese All Souls' Day is determined the lunar calendar. This year, it is 5 Apr 07. That means prayers can be done 10 days before or 10 days after 5 Apr. Did my prayers last week.
The temple prayers were fine but the trip to clear the wild grasses at the actual burial site in the cemetary and then buring some incense papers was a challenge. It was raining cats and dogs and honestly, the incense papers and dollar notes for my deceased paternal grandfather were largely unburnt.
It is the thought that counts. I have staked out long enough in my friend's car waiting for the rain to stop. The first round when the rain abated, I hired the "gardener" to clear out the grass. He hardly finished with the downpour resumed. And the next round, I tried to finish my prayers. Before I was done, the rain came back with a vengence. I tried to burn whatever I could and I took my leave.
Another year, another round, another experience, another...
The exact day of Chinese All Souls' Day is determined the lunar calendar. This year, it is 5 Apr 07. That means prayers can be done 10 days before or 10 days after 5 Apr. Did my prayers last week.
The temple prayers were fine but the trip to clear the wild grasses at the actual burial site in the cemetary and then buring some incense papers was a challenge. It was raining cats and dogs and honestly, the incense papers and dollar notes for my deceased paternal grandfather were largely unburnt.
It is the thought that counts. I have staked out long enough in my friend's car waiting for the rain to stop. The first round when the rain abated, I hired the "gardener" to clear out the grass. He hardly finished with the downpour resumed. And the next round, I tried to finish my prayers. Before I was done, the rain came back with a vengence. I tried to burn whatever I could and I took my leave.
Another year, another round, another experience, another...
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Random Thoughts
Random Thoughts
Apparently, more teachers were promoted this year after the enhanced career structure was introduced. There is a bumper crop of 10,861 promotees in the Education Service in 2007 (compared with 4,257 in 2006) due to the introduction of an enhanced career structure for teachers and the larger teaching force. However, the workload and the quality of students have not changed.
Australia will send a medical team and more relief supplies to affected areas of the Solomon Islands following the earthquake and tsunami that left dozens dead and thousands homeless. Looks like it may be good to avoid where the fellows down under congregate. They seem to be disaster magnets recently, starting with the Garuda incident in Yogjakarta and the tsunami in Solomons. Who knows what's next?
The American College of Physicians has just added another element to the confusion and debate concerning mammograms for women in their 40s. The American College of Physicians has issued a new set of guidelines today that offer some unexpected advice to women in their 40s. While until now they have been warned to undergo mammograms in order to identify breast cancer at its very beginning, the ACP says there are risks attached to this routine. Undoubtedly, some women would be cheering the news - the mammogram procedure has been described as squeezing the breasts hard between the refrigerator and its door. Some doctors, however, would probably be decrying the loss of income.
Researchers have created a cheap and simple way to convert all donated blood into group O, the universal group that can be given safely to anyone. While they are at it, can they find a cheap and simple way to make all blood repulsive to mosquitoes and other blood sucking organisms so that we can keep devastating illnesses such as malaria and dengue at bay?
Older men may show less interest in sex because they don't get enough testosterone-producing sleep. A new study, published in the April 1 issue of the journal SLEEP, measured the quantity of the primary male sex hormone in 12 healthy men, ages 64 to 74, following a night of sleep in a laboratory environment. Diminished sleep was the best independent predictor of declines in testosterone, the researchers found. Testosterone levels are highest in the morning. Duh, less sleep means less sex, but of course. I'm going to bed.
Apparently, more teachers were promoted this year after the enhanced career structure was introduced. There is a bumper crop of 10,861 promotees in the Education Service in 2007 (compared with 4,257 in 2006) due to the introduction of an enhanced career structure for teachers and the larger teaching force. However, the workload and the quality of students have not changed.
Australia will send a medical team and more relief supplies to affected areas of the Solomon Islands following the earthquake and tsunami that left dozens dead and thousands homeless. Looks like it may be good to avoid where the fellows down under congregate. They seem to be disaster magnets recently, starting with the Garuda incident in Yogjakarta and the tsunami in Solomons. Who knows what's next?
The American College of Physicians has just added another element to the confusion and debate concerning mammograms for women in their 40s. The American College of Physicians has issued a new set of guidelines today that offer some unexpected advice to women in their 40s. While until now they have been warned to undergo mammograms in order to identify breast cancer at its very beginning, the ACP says there are risks attached to this routine. Undoubtedly, some women would be cheering the news - the mammogram procedure has been described as squeezing the breasts hard between the refrigerator and its door. Some doctors, however, would probably be decrying the loss of income.
Researchers have created a cheap and simple way to convert all donated blood into group O, the universal group that can be given safely to anyone. While they are at it, can they find a cheap and simple way to make all blood repulsive to mosquitoes and other blood sucking organisms so that we can keep devastating illnesses such as malaria and dengue at bay?
Older men may show less interest in sex because they don't get enough testosterone-producing sleep. A new study, published in the April 1 issue of the journal SLEEP, measured the quantity of the primary male sex hormone in 12 healthy men, ages 64 to 74, following a night of sleep in a laboratory environment. Diminished sleep was the best independent predictor of declines in testosterone, the researchers found. Testosterone levels are highest in the morning. Duh, less sleep means less sex, but of course. I'm going to bed.
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