Re: American's Individualism and cars

On 10/12/05, Tim Zhou <zhou_tim@yahoo.com> wrote:

Good reflection, Peter.  I was wondering if compact
car is the consequence or the catalyst of the
individualism ?

To my understanding, the compact car model is one result of the individualism. After all, American's individualism could be dated back when May Flower just docked hundred years ago. However, I believe cars also reinforce American's individualism. How do you think?
In Chemistry, what do you call the thing which is both the result and the cause?

No one should be content with going with the flow. I
thought that We all have the inclination of seeking
Control.  this is ubiquitous...

--- Shihwei Li <lishihwei@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> In Novartis, Wenlei is currently attending a series
> of English courses
> designed for Asian employees. In one course, the
> tutor introduced students
> an
> out-of-printed book, "Working with Americans".
>
> Accidentally, I discovered the book in Wenlei's bag
> and started
> reading it. It is an excellent book not only
> comparing cultures in America
> and
> in Asia countries, but also providing suggestions
> for Asian employees. The
> more I read, the more I understand the reasons
> behind a lot of
> observations I made in U.S.
>
> For example, while reading one chapter discussing
> American's
> individualism and the desire to control, instantly,
> I understand why
> cars are so popular in U.S.
>
> Another example comes from the observation I made on
> software. Software in nowadays allow users to
> configure according to
> users' own tastes. To the maximum extent, a user can
> totally change
> the outlook of the software. Again, the motivations
> behind the design
> are American's individualism and the desire to
> control.
>
> No one shall undertake the cultural impact from
> using software majorly
> designed by Americans. The impact is intangible, but
> real. For
> me, it is hard to use software which I can't
> configure since I
> already unconsciously accepted American's
> individualism and the desire
> to control by using software which I can configure.
>
> --peter
>




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Re: American's Individualism and cars

Good reflection, Peter. I was wondering if compact
car is the consequence or the catalyst of the
individualism ?

No one should be content with going with the flow. I
thought that We all have the inclination of seeking
Control. this is ubiquitous...

--- Shihwei Li <lishihwei@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> In Novartis, Wenlei is currently attending a series
> of English courses
> designed for Asian employees. In one course, the
> tutor introduced students
> an
> out-of-printed book, "Working with Americans".
>
> Accidentally, I discovered the book in Wenlei's bag
> and started
> reading it. It is an excellent book not only
> comparing cultures in America
> and
> in Asia countries, but also providing suggestions
> for Asian employees. The
> more I read, the more I understand the reasons
> behind a lot of
> observations I made in U.S.
>
> For example, while reading one chapter discussing
> American's
> individualism and the desire to control, instantly,
> I understand why
> cars are so popular in U.S.
>
> Another example comes from the observation I made on
> software. Software in nowadays allow users to
> configure according to
> users' own tastes. To the maximum extent, a user can
> totally change
> the outlook of the software. Again, the motivations
> behind the design
> are American's individualism and the desire to
> control.
>
> No one shall undertake the cultural impact from
> using software majorly
> designed by Americans. The impact is intangible, but
> real. For
> me, it is hard to use software which I can't
> configure since I
> already unconsciously accepted American's
> individualism and the desire
> to control by using software which I can configure.
>
> --peter
>

__________________________________
Yahoo! Music Unlimited
Access over 1 million songs. Try it free.
http://music.yahoo.com/unlimited/

American's Individualism and cars

Hi,

In Novartis, Wenlei is currently attending a series of English courses
designed for Asian employees. In one course, the tutor introduced students an
out-of-printed book, "Working with Americans".

Accidentally, I discovered the book in Wenlei's bag and started
reading it. It is an excellent book not only comparing cultures in America and
in Asia countries, but also providing suggestions for Asian employees. The
more I read, the more I understand the reasons behind a lot of
observations I made in U.S.

For example, while reading one chapter discussing American's
individualism and the desire to control, instantly, I understand why
cars are so popular in U.S.

Another example comes from the observation I made on
software. Software in nowadays allow users to configure according to
users' own tastes. To the maximum extent, a user can totally change
the outlook of the software. Again, the motivations behind the design
are American's individualism and the desire to control.

No one shall undertake the cultural impact from using software majorly
designed by Americans. The impact is intangible, but real. For
me, it is hard to use software which I can't configure since I
already unconsciously accepted American's individualism and the desire
to control by using software which I can configure.

--peter

I am going to have a 3-week trip in China. Now, I plan to choose a book and bring it with me
along the whole trip. I hope the book is small but insightful. The book could provide me a way to rethink and reflect what I am really interested in. The book could guide me in my life. What kind of book should I bring?

I have several candidates:

1. D. Knuth's "Selected Paper on Computer Science"
2. Christopher Alexander's "The Timeless Way of Building"
3. Donald Norman's "The Design of Everyday Things"

I am looking for a metapher, a paradigm, a way of thinking which can prfoundly reshape me.

Eclipse is a great tool. The more I use it, the more I want to master the tool in and out. It is a great example in front of me to learn about software architecture and design issues. I belive I will be closer to my ideal programmer model after understanding more about eclipse.

I will devote my time and concentrate on 'Contributing to Eclipse'

Bronx Zoo trip

Today is March 26th, 2005. Six years ago, Wenlei and I vowed to live together in Columbus, OH.

To celebrate this special date, we decide to take Anbo to Bronx Zoo to see some REAL animals otherwise normally only shown in Baby Enistein shows. ( Well, the real reason is that Wenlei wants to see a real Giraffe )

Both wether and traffic were perfect. We took off at around 10:30AM and got the zoo by 11:30AM. Many other parents also took their little babies to see animals, so there were really many strollers in the zoo. Most of the time, Anbo is not very interested in those animals because no baby would be interested in LAZY animals.... lazy tigers, lazy bisons, lazy bears... almost every outdoor animal was very lazy. Only one exception -- Giraffe. Anbo was riding on my shoulder when we looked at those graceful Giraffes. By feeling my hairs was firmly grasped by Anbo's hands and my neck was tightly pressed by Anbo's feet, I was pretty sure that Ano was exercited by Giraffes.

Shihyi and Kevin met us in the zoo. So, we actually had a family reunion in the zoo except for Father. He rested at home to recover from injuries in his feet due to over-exercises.

We had a little accident in the zoo. Wenlei, by accident, dropped $700 valued camera on the ground, and the camera malfunctioned. Wenlei was very depressed by what she had done. She kept blamming herself.. Well, given that circumstance, nobody in my family dared blame her.
Anyway, what is gone is gone.

We had dinners in Fort Lee which is only 20-minute drive distance from the zoo. I was too tired to go shopping after dinner, so we drove home directly from Fort Lee.

"No salary increasing for the next year", announced in CEO's letter to all employees today.

Actually, the $10M money was already allocated, but was called on hold yesterday. Then, followed by this 'no salary increase' news.

Almost everybody I ran into expressed his/her disappointment to this news. However, I was different. I did not feel depressing nor angry about this decision. Actually, I felt relieved. I was finally relieved from what holds me. I became a mentally free man.

I remembered there was a book called "Who moved my cheese" published around three or four years ago. Now, my cheese was moved away and I shall put on my running shoes again to look for cheese somewhere else.

Another thought is that we shall try to have finanically freedom as soon as possible. Take Gary for example. If he was not wise to be financially cautious, he would be in trouble soon since he may not be able to build a good financially net egg for his family. I am not as wise as Gary, so I should be more financially cautious, so I would be better preparred for this mid-year crisis.

Ran into Subir Das in the hallway yeterday.

We exchanged our opinions about the future of the company. I was quite surprised that we have many same ideas. Probably, everybody sees the same thing and holds the same idea in their own mind.

Through him, I also learned that Hong Liu moved to Seattle and worked in Microsoft now. Glad to hear that. I think it is a correct move for Hong. I myself is also arming myself and preparing for the predictable future.

Don't know why, but I am kind of obsessed to Knuth in these days. I kept listening to Knuth's talks. I gave a definition to those masters in their own fields: Masters are those who can deeply explain very complex concepts in a straightforward way. Yibei listened to Richard Feynman's talk on Probability, and he also expressed the same feeling. For Knuth, I found that he has a very regular life style. I envy his life style. I hope that one day, I can also have a life style like him. This life style is built upon a financial freedom.

I will summarize the financial book I just read, so those ideas could be carved into my mind board. I also plan to evaluate our financial situation tonight and move some money in eTrade over to Mutual funds.

I am better each day

After today, I will become a different person.

1. I love my family more.
2. I pay respect to my money and my work.
3. I won't be afraid of speaking out.
4. I listen to NPR and read newspaper daily.
5. I write diary before bed.
6. I read, and I write.
7. I think, and I share.

My son and I in the Mentropolitan Museum. 

Romeo and Juliet in the Central Park in NYC  

Wenlei and the Gates