Global Game Jam Denver University

FUN

Global Game Jam 2011, at Denver University, Denver Colorado. 2 hours away from deadline. I still see some people hard at work coding and doing art.

The atmosphere is pretty laid back. I don't know whether that's because they are mostly done, or because they gave up completing their project.

It does surprise me, though, that I do not see written plan, or milestone, or pseudocode. Some kind of checklist to show progress, you know? I think it's crucial to do so, especially in team environment.

We'll see how it goes. It's too bad that I didn't get to participate here, except as an observer. Maybe next year.

Hiring People

Hiring people

There is a long-standing believe that when you hire somebody, you're better off hiring a specialist, instead of a generalist. Unfortunately, that can be harmful. You really are better off hiring a multi-talented person who can do anything.

People ask me, "What's wrong with hiring QA personnel if you want QA personnel?" Nothing. However, that person had better be more than QA or somebody of lesser status, trying to get ahead in the industry. Perfectly matched is actually harmful. In my case, it actually end up shutting the department down! I'm not going to convert the people who believe in hiring specialists, but let me walk through the rationale a different way:
"Do you have a job now?" Yes. "Do you want to move to another company?" No. "What if that company offers more money?" It'd better be a lot more money. "How about less money?" Absolutely not. "So, this person you're hiring right now, that you say is a perfect fit, does he come here with 'a lot of money' offer?" Umm, no. "What could convince you to work for somebody else for same amount of money?" If I'm about to be fired. "So, you're saying that this guy you're hiring is about to be fired?" I didn't say that.

Something like that.

Notice that it isn't that deep of an analysis. It is simply putting yourself in the other person's point-of-view.

I had a correspondent with someone who said that when a company is hiring a QA position, that person should stay longer than 6 months. I asked her point-blank, "How long must this person stay in that position?", pointing out that QA as a stepping stone position, 5 years is not acceptable. What do you know? She never answered the question! Neither did the hiring manager of the company, BTW. Yeah, I notice things like that. Not that difficult, actually.

But what gets me is that she then advises people to apply QA position as QA specialist, but that a few months later, after establishing their reputation as excellent QA tester, start to fish for other opportunities. To me, that effectively saying "We want people who stays in their job for more than 6 months, but it's okay to apply to another job in a few months." Talk about mixed signal!

She's actually a nice person, and is trying to be diplomatic. But I wouldn't want to work for her.

Really, the only things you need to know about new hire are:
1. Can you do the job?
2. Will you do the job?
Answer yes to both question, and you have the perfect candidate. You don't have to have a perfect fit. In fact, you shouldn't.

And the good boss? It doesn't matter what the job is, a good boss will take care of things right. It can be the difference between leaving in disgusts, and leaving when a replacement is found.

I have had situation where it's the same company, same job, same salary, same policy, etc, with the only difference being a good boss, and a bad one. With good boss, I was happy. With bad one, I was so miserable, that I'm contemplating of quitting. People, not jobs, makes the difference.

If your people started to have "holier-than-thou" attitude, and belittling the "little people", then watch out! Your company is going down!

Sent from my iPod

Setting goal

ZEN

It never cease to amaze me that people sometimes would stumble at the most basic thing. The most important thing in life is happiness. The question is: what would make you happy?

Life is too short to be spent on a job you don't enjoy. So, the obvius question is: what do you like, and how do you make that into your job?

Sometimes the answer is: no one will offer me that kind of job. If that is so, then go the self-employed route! No one is stopping you.

The thing is, people would fail at the most basic step: setting goal.

When I ask people what they want, most people would say that they want to be rich. But there they stop. It is up to me to ask them: at what income level do they consider being rich? Some people make $150 K per year, but want $300 K per year to be rich. Others will be happy with $30 K if they don't have to work for it.

So the goal to be "rich", isn't a good goal. A better one would be "30,000 per year in passive income." or "a salary $300,000 per year or more." A good goal is objective, not subjective.

That way, you can make plans on how to achieve it. The goal $300K per year cannot be achieved by working low wage companies as servers, stock boy, or janitor. But you can make that amount by working as CEO, or stock traders of said companies. See how concrete goal making clarifies things?

There is an advice that I give people who is empowered, yet not happy:
1. Make plan
2. Do plan
3. God Bless You!

It's that simple, and it begins with setting a good goal.

Last Will

PERSONAL

On second though, maybe "Nearly to die" isn't mean for my mortality. My gift is that of Telepathy, not Clairvoyance. So, maybe a lot of people are planning suicide instead. In case, I'm wrong, in case I die, I want all my possession to go to my father, else sister, else brothers. No time for formal will, so this will have to do.

Those Australian twin girls suicides reminds me that no everyone is planning to live a long and productive life. I hope you do live a long and prosperous live.

May you have a happy Thanksgiving. I know I won't be.

Nearly to die

RANT

I have another one of those dream. A warning light box, colored blue, say "Nearly to die". It lit up quite bright, and yes, it was directed at me, no question. I woke up soon after. What a way to wake up at Thanksgiving day.

Life's a pickle. It's easy to die because someone else screw up. You can be the safest driver on the road, but if other people want to hit your car, they'll be able to do so. Saw too many accidents yesterday, much more than usual. I wonder what will hold for today?

Ah, well. Nearly doesn't mean absolutely. It doesn't mean future or past. Who knows? Only God does. Life can be terminated at a moment's notice. Heart attack and all that. It's important to be prepared to go anytime. Got any sins that needs forgiving? Better do it right now!

It's too bad people are too focused on one thing. They don't consider side effects. They don't listen. John Pistole essay on USA Today for example, says that we need the procedure beause it is safe. He is deaf to the complaints that it is invasive. Yes, it's safer, but people aren't complaining that it isn't safe. People are complaining that it's rude, invasive, immoral, and in conflict with religious beliefs.

Muslims should've been provided with Imam approved inspector; Jews, Rabbi. Instead of aggressive pat down, how about just wear a swim suit and strip to that? Is there any exemption to pilots and foreign dignitaries? Is the hidden inspector viewing the image a certified medical professional? These would have alleviated most complaints.

Instead, John Pistole provided statistic that says 4 out of 5 like the full body scanner. That means 20 percent dislike it. Yet, 99 percent prefer to go through body scanner? Does that mean lots of people aren't flying anymore? That explains the fact that I see much more accidents than usual.

I'm also having trouble making the statement that "passengers are fully screened" with the statement "3 percent goes thru aggressive pat down." Seems to me that most people are going thru metal detector instead of the x-ray one. I thought the metal detector can't detect plastic explosive? People aren't screen properly, I think.

TSA need better management. It is rather shameful that the screeners can't tell what Nexus and TWIC cards are. It's obvious the mandate didn't go down properly, when it should have. This should've been a non-issue. I wonder if the managers are going to be replaced anytime soon?

If it was me, I'd have taken the privatisation issue as body blow. It'd be as if the airport fired me, which is the case. Even the hated FMCSA has it's rule challenged, not the organisation itself. When lots of people call for TSA to be abolished, including Congress, I think that's a clear indication that you screw up. If that isn't, then what is?

FAREWELL Y/N?

TRAVEL

I had a dream last night, and it disturbed me greatly. In it, I was filling a computer form like I usually do, and at the first line, top of screen, it says "FAREWELL Y/N".

Obviously, this is travel related. I was surfing the web quite a bit, but especially TSA website, and what I see there does not please me. It seems that a lot of people are upset about TSA procedure, and will be driving up to 800 miles this weekend.

Folks, that is dangerous! I'm okay because I regularly drive long distance, but most people are bored silly. That is when accident most likely to happen. Not to mention that just this Sunday, shopping and picking up the mail, I saw no less than 5 dangerous drivers swiping at my car.

So, please, if you can fly this Thanksgiving week, please do so. It won't be pleasant, but it won't be pleasant for me as well. I will be packing especially light this week. I suggest you do,too.

If you choose to drive, here's a few tip:
1. Always be alert. Take twice as many breaks as needed.
2. Always obey the speed limit. And stop signs.
3. Buckle up, and turn off your phone.
4. Eat well. Drink lots of water. Easy on cofee.
5. Carry winter emergency kit. Be prepared.
6. Take your time. Be patient. Better be late than never.
7. Drive extremely defensively. Leave lots of room to maneuver.

Please be safe out there, and have a happy Thanksgiving.

Big Christmas Toy Book

FUN

I am looking at ToysRus "The Great Big Christmas BOOK", where they have all kinds of wonderful toys listed inside. Wow. I can't even imagine the sophistication of toy industry when I was young. Kids today are so spoiled.

A few highlights:

TOMICA Hypercity Super Big Set

Hypercity! Super Big! Wow. And it only costs $59.99! Manufacturing costs certain have come down lately. Lot's of toys like that. $10 more for the Mega Station Set.

Zhu Zhu Pets/Kung Zhu Pets

I think this is going to be the next big thing in toys. No, I don't know why.

Elmo: Tickle Me, Rock&Roll, Potty

I can understand Tickle Me and Rock&Roll. I don't understand Potty. Since when Potty humor is appropriate for children?

IMAGINARIUM: Medieval Castle, Grand View Dollhouse

I find it strange that Medieval Castle costs $79.99, but Grand View Dollhouse costs $224.99. It's a 3 story, taller than the kid doll house. Kids today are so spoiled.

LEGO/MEGA BLOKS

Lots of LEGO Star Wars, and MEGA BLOKS Halo. Am I the only person who is concerned that extremely young children are exposed to what is essentially a terrible, violent war theme?

MATTEL Mindflex

If this really works, I think some wheelchair bound people will be very interested in technology!

CRAYOLA Masterwork Art Case

200 Art supplies for $24.99. I'm not even going to comment on this thing. It's really cheap for the price.

Lots of Kitchen play set

I can't help but think that a similar set is sold by camping stores, but really usable, and packable for tailgating purposes, instead of just pretend play.

DIPPIN' DOTS: Frozen dot maker

I love DIPPIN' DOTS. But I thought those are chilled using liquid Nitrogen. If this really works, though, I'm thinking of getting one.

BARBIE: Digital Nail Printer

Ugh. I wish they put on a warning before turning the page. The pink is overwhelming! Anyway, they have Digital Fingernail Printer for $149.99. I don't know what it is with girls and painted nails, but they seem to be enjoying it. Don't you think sticker pasted on your face would be more eye catching? Larger size after all. Bigger is better! Why stop with fingernails?

BARBIE: Video Girl Doll

I am a REAL working video camera. You know, of all the product I think Barbie makes, I don't think that they'd actually put a camera inside a doll. I'm okay with Barbie licensed video camera, but somehow, putting privacy invasion device in a little girl's toy seems wrong.

SPY NET Video Watch/Snake Spy Cam

This is the boys' equivalent of Video camera and I think it makes more sense. The flexible cabling that is Snake Spy Cam is useful in finding out what's going on inside clogged plumbing, for example. Ewww. Did I just say that?

Paper Jamz Guitar

Silly me, I thought it was an expensive cardboard. It's real guitar sounding toy. Another best seller, I think.

AIR HOGS: Hawk Eye

I actually have this. Pretty cool! There is no hover, and it's no good in windy situation. Otherwise, it works well.

NERF

Various guns. I'm very much tempted to get the sniper rifle version. The longest Nerf ever. Probably just for show, though, as the weak spring means that the distance will still be limited to about 30 feet or so.

AIR ZONE Punisher

I admit that I'm somewhat worried about that mini-Gattling gun shooting 30 darts in 20 second. I think that there should be a line defining toys and non-toys.

RAZOR: E300 Scooter, Ground Force Drifter, Dirt Quad

Okay, these are no longer toys. I wonder what's the range on these things, and whether or not they make electric skate board?

POWER WHEELS

Are you sure these are toys? FM radio, headlights, seatbelts. Kids today are SO spoiled!

APPLE: 32GB iPod touch

No, I'm not kidding. ToysRUs is selling Apple iPod touch for $299.99! FaceTime? I thought that requires phone connection? How does that work? Are these supposed to be for kids?

ASUS: Eee PC 1001 HA

Netbook for $269.99. I have to think about this. Laptop prices are so much lower these days, that I have to think about getting myself a netbook.

XBOX 360: Kinect

I know Microsoft has a tradition of having senior people use the product before releasing it to the public, but somehow I'm having trouble picturing Steve Ballmer jumping up and down in testing this thing.