Error #1

Never give your supervisor your mobile number :)

BS De La Jour 28/07/2010

File of photos from a conference.

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BS De La Jour 27/07/2010

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-491236/A-pint-beer-better-workout-water-say-scientists.html

JUST NO.

"Professor Manuel Garzon, of Granada's medical faculty, made his discovery after tests on 25 students over several months. They were asked to run on a treadmill under stifling temperatures of 40C (104F) until they were close to exhaustion.Half were then given two half pints of Spanish lager to drink, while the rest were given water. Both groups were then allowed to drink as much water as they wanted. Professor Garzon said the rehydration effect in the students who were given beer was "slightly better" than among those given only water.....(blah blah) The best way of rehydrating after exercise was with a sports drink containing sugars, water and salt, he added."

BS De La Jour 26/07/2010

It's not the desk that counts it's the stuff that happens on top of it

B&W\neqGrayscale

Compromise is not a progression, it is a limbo.

To go forward synthesise or adopt a polar position.

Rainy Day

We rule our day, we can decide if it's a bad one and it's our decision no one else's if it's going to be good or not.

Errors in Our Time

Went to see a film after training. Decided I was very hungry and deserved a large popcorn (£4.50). Obviously I choose sweet.

NEVER EVER EVER EAT A LARGE POPCORN ON YOUR OWN

List of stuff that happened:

• Dry mouth.
• Hyperactivity, not appreciated at 1am on a weekday.
• Lack of sleep, see above.
• Stomach churning, no fibre...
• No protein, so I ached the next day.

Lesson well and truly learnt, next time I am having nachos and ice cream.

Rule #1

Whoever asks for the pleasure pays the measure.

End of.

Chasing

Want to chase paracetamol ....

...do it with a coffee

Monkeys

Monkey see monkey do (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_see,_monkey_do)

"learning of a process without an understanding of why it works. "

I wouldn't have thought it, the phrase, as like that. I saw it as

Monkey see => Object/Process has value (e.g coat, coding, whatever)

{In between the lines} The 'seeing' imparts an emotional response which mitigates the formation of rational thinking, 1+1\neq2 (yes I just typed that) but 1+1 could equal 5 if it's shiny!

Monkey do => Subject operates/purchases.

But if it's

Monkey do => Subject operates/purchases {e.g coat, coding, whatever)

{In between the lines} Because the monkey already operates in a certain way the monkey will have a distorted view and will influence what it 'sees' .

Monkey see => Object/Process has value (e.g coat, coding, whatever) or has a completely different meaning.

Devil's Advocate:

The process is like chicken-egg (although egg is clearly first). The monkey from birth is taught by the mother and as it grows up learns iteratively from weighted experiences and training. So the original phrasing fits this better but one should always keep in mind that the next thing we see might not be a unequivocal as we think.

Starting Again

According to Malcolm Gladwell (from Hayes, 1978) it takes 10,000 hours to obtain mastery. About three hours a day for ten years. I wonder if anyone has thought of how long it takes to become intermediate or just competent?

Maybe it only takes 2,500 hours to have a competence in a subject, i.e. that you are able to carry out the task in an unspectacular or inconspicuous fashion. What about 5-7,500 hours to become intermediate, i.e. that you are able to carry out the task in fashion worthy of promotion or such that it can be commended?

To be a jack or all trades and a master of none or someone who makes mistakes in a niche (an expert)?

Hayes, J. R. (1978). Cognitive psychology: Thinking and creating. Homewood, IL: Dorsey Press

Cyclic Life

The ICE, Institute of Civil Engineers, states that CPD (Continual Professional Development) is

"‘The systematic maintenance, improvement and broadening of knowledge and skills, and the development of personal qualities necessary for the execution of professional and technical duties throughout your working life.’"

and that

"5.3 Biennially, the registrar will ask you to provide details of both your CPD plan and record. Both will be subject to review.Failure to submit or incomplete or inadequate, CPD details could result in your removal from the Register."

Pretty stringent rules; if you don't submit proof of voluntary improvement your membership is revoked. Whilst it is clear, at least to this author that CPD is important to an engineer as design practise is constantly reviewed and renewed, such that utilising old knowledge is costly and at worse dangerous

May it be possible to transfer this sort of demand of 'personal development' to our lives. What have we achieved socially, characteristically and in the things we love to take part in? Have we improved? Have we learnt something about ourselves?

I suppose for the secular person a diary will suit or at least just musing with a friend over a slow lowering of the level in a wine bottle. Else if you are Jewish remember that "Shabbat (Saturday) is not just a passive holiday in which we spend time on reflection", the caveat is that although Jews get something regular, familiarity breeds contempt.

Go find a friend and grab a bottle of wine (and preferably find a quiet square) and tell them what you have done this year.