HPA Alumni Update 01Apr05(5th)
Introduction
Dear Folks,
More than a handful of you kept asking me where, when, time of upcoming Annual General Meeting. I recommend ginko nuts! Read the last item, probably more useful. Here goes again..sigh.as a bonus, you now have a picture of the location. Show it to the cab driver.
Venue for Annual General Meeting 8 Apr05(Fri) 6pm to 8pm
Forbidden City, Indochine Clarke Quay. 3A Merchant's Court River Valley Rd #01-02
*** Free for members, non-members pay $15. Please don't bring your tupperware as if attending an AGM of a public listed company. We're not there yet! Working on it **
Does IT matter?
In May03 (?), Nicholas Carr created a big stir when he wrote the article "IT doesn't matter?" in Harvard Business Review.
In the last 6 weeks, 2 speakers came to town reassuring all that IT still matters!
- Robert McDowell, Mircrosoft Vice-President
- Dr John Seely Brown (ex-Director, Xerox)
I guess it's easier to write or talk about IT. Life is too short. Let's get on with IT.
Just when the technology is supposed no longer to matter to anyone is when it matters most of all to everyone.William Janeway
Devil or the deep blue sea
My doctor told me this story. Earlier on this year, bees on SICC course stung 4 flights of golfers. It was the opening day of the suspension bridge, located in the Central Catchment's nature reserve. Nature has its way of getting back at us... I guess half of Singapore was there and those poor bees did not like so many people trmapling all over its territory!
A victim with 100+ stings, after recover,asked my learned doctor what one could do in such an attack. He replied: "I guess you could lie down, cover your face, play dead and pray. Alternatively, you would run, look for a pond and jump in."
The poor fellow claimed that he did the latter, found a pond and hesistated because of a warning sigh that reads : "Beware of crocodiles!"
Giving Sight.do your part!
Francis Wong, an alumni member, owns Capitol Optical Co, a chain of optical shops in 16 locations island-wide. His company is helping to collect used spectacles (must be in good working condition) for Tsunami victims. You may donate your used glasses at any of these outlets. A $20/- voucher will be given for each pair donated.
Circus vs Zoo
I was lamenting thro' SMS to my sister about my twin horses going through adolescent phase. She replied promptly: 'be thankful you have 3 generations of 4 horses and 1 monkey'. It's easier to run a circus. For me, it's a tall order having 1 pig, 1 monkey, 1 horse, 1 dragon and a small mouse (rat)! We should always count our blessings!
Report from frontline...NIAS earthquake
The Asian Medical Foundation, collaborating with Raffles Medical Group, Red Cross and Munich Reinsurance, has sent a medical mission to Nias to extend assistance to the victims. Our friends have arrived in Nias yesterday and started work immediately. We have managed to obtain an update from Dr Michael Lee at 10 am today. Here are the points he made:
- There is still a shortage of field camps, as resources are still being moved in from "outside". There is also a shortage of food and drinking water. The SAF team has been working round-the-clock to move assets to the affected areas.
- Our team has been assigned to run the A&E department in the main hospital in Nias. Before the team took over the A&E department, casualties suffering from severe injuries were transported to Medan for treatment. Now, they will be directed to this A&E department. Most of the casualties suffer trauma injuries.
- More casualties are coming down from the mountains. Currently, it is difficult to send adequate assistance to those living in the remote areas.
Every muscle needs to be used
and that includes our gray matter. It doesn't have to be serious study-scientists have found that people who read, do crossword puzzles, visit museums or pursue mentally stimulating activities lower their risk of Alzheimer's disease and other types of cognitive decline. Here are other fun ways to push your mental limits:
- Read fiction that requires brain activity - complex plot, sophisticated use of language, interesting characters, rather than shallow stories (I guess including office plotting!)
- Watch educational TV shows (Discovery, National Geographic) rather than sitcoms
- Learn tech by reading manuals and figuring out how to work gadgets yourself rather than picking up just-enough pointers from the salesman or your friend(be honest.how many features of your handphone have you put to use!)
- Get hands-on with DIY activities like handicraft, carpentry, gardening which work the brain's prefrontal cortex(yes, including volunteering your time to HP ALUMNI and make things happen!)