Innovation and Best Practise, Droughts and Guns, Dunedin

[tcpip]

The past few days I've dedicated much of my time to completing two assignments, one for Managing Innovation, where I concentrate on the need for software development in GPGPUs just as Robert Faber has a great article on the same thing. It hasn't really entered into popular consciousness yet just how important how China's ascendancy to hold the most powerful computer in the world using a GPU-based cluster is. The second assignment on Organisational Best Practise involved making some fairly useful technical and administrative changes to our help-desk process.

It has been rather wet in Australia, indeed sufficiently wet to cause a a number of deaths and dozens missing. Spare a thought in memory of the 1100 who died in Pakistan recently due to flooding. Our alternative Prime Minister, showing typical acumen and sensitivity, has taken the opportunity to suggest that the country builds more dams. Apart from engaging in crass popularism, he appears to be ignorant of how flood plains actually work.

Much has been said about the recent shooting in Arizona where the apparent intended target, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords seems very likely to survive, not so for six others however. Meanwhile sixty are killed in Sudan during their historic vote for independence, whilst fifty are killed in Tunisia as the the crackdown on anti-government protests continue. Just to put it in context, you understand. In any case, one thing is certain. Giffords's would-be assassin was not a part of a well-regulated militia by any stretch of the imagination.

Deposited a sizable sum of money into a trust account for the Dunedin retirement home, leaving me rather cash poor. Took weeks to wrangle a simple international account details out of agents making me wonder if Piggy Muldoon's famous quote didn't have the nationalities around the wrong way. Amazingly, rather than provide such details they sent me a deposit slip for a NZ bank without a branch in Australia. Twice.

Comments

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Of course they're not perfect, but I fail to see how dams will help floodplains without nearby catchment areas.. Unless one is proposing a 4m high wall that snakes around some 1500km.

Yes, international money transfers are easy. Once one has been provided the correct information. Blood from a stone, herding cats & etc.

A Digression & I hope one that makes you smile or laugh

[castleclear.livejournal.com]

We have those same expressions here: Blood from a stone (or turnip) as well as "herding cats"; however, as one faculty member I worked with once remarked, "Herding cats is easy; just get out the can opener." (which presumes of course the cats are accustomed to eating canned food). She followed it up by saying, "It's herding frogs that's hard."

Re: A Digression & I hope one that makes you smile or laugh

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Actually I developed a koan, that the impossible task could only be achieved by the most useless object.

That is, herding cats and laser pointers... Ever seen a cat chase the dot of light from a laser pointer?

Re: A Digression & I hope one that makes you smile or laugh

[castleclear.livejournal.com]

No, I have not seen that. It sounds like fun for both the pet and the person. I do have a friend who has a small fishing pole with a feathered something she made for playtime with her feline friend. The cat rather seems to enjoy chasing and stalking the feathered object.

I rather like the koan, but snarkily point out we already had George W. Bush in the White House. (I know, I know, I should now be remanded to the Sunday Flowers and Banners committee along with Brother Gatling Gun of Patience, or worse, for making such an observation.)

I pledge to make today be one of greater compassion. BTW, have you ever posted any of your sermons (if that's the correct term) to the IUUJ web site? I think I'll re-read my translated copy of the Tao Te Ching; my spirit needs some nourishment.