There is no fixing this grainy picture of the hospital’s waiting room. Continue reading “Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Musical Chairs”
Tag: random
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Windows
Here are some of the special windows I have encountered during my travels. I hope you enjoy my selection. Continue reading “Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Windows”
Thursday
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Roofs
Here are some of the roofs I have encountered… Continue reading “Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Roofs”
Tuesday Thoughts
Election Day Thoughts
Another Incident with Manners
My first incident with public manner was about three years ago (and I wrote about it) and for a long time, this subject had escaped my mind but recently, it came flying back like a boomerang. Continue reading “Another Incident with Manners”
Different Forms of Water
There are so many different forms of water – snow, rain, hail, ice, etc. – not only that, water can come in large bodies like an ocean or small bodies like a man-made pond. Therefore, for this week’s photo challenge, I will spotlight a few. Hope you will enjoy my selection. Continue reading “Different Forms of Water”
Thursday Morning
Being Pampered…
I have a confession: I am a baby when it comes to illnesses and pain. Continue reading “Being Pampered…”
My Take on the Evolution of the Camera
Nowadays, with iPhones and other smart phones and tablets, 4G web everywhere, and social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), most people can simply tap a button on their phones, snap a picture, and share it with everyone but did you know…
that once upon a time, a camera looked like this? It was bulky and worst of all, it uses film rolls instead of SD cards. Not only were we limited in the amount of pictures we can take (usually between 33 and 35 per roll) but we also had no idea how they will turn out unless we drive to the nearest store and wait an hour or so for the pictures to be printed out. If the pictures turned out terrible, oh well.
Oh, and let’s not mention if you accidentally open the back cover, all your pictures will go poof. Been there, done that.
Around mid-2000’s, digital cameras came into existence. I remember when my mom bought our very first digital camera and getting extremely frustrated learning to use it. She kept whining about how there was no reason to go digital other than being able to send pictures over email. It was a 3.2 megapixel digital camera with a 512 MB memory card.
Still, it wasn’t much better than the camera that used a film roll. It was bulky and difficult to use. I took the camera to Disneyland for my 8th grade
field trip and remember standing in front of the castle, taking picture after picture and never satisfied with any one of them. The pictures were blurry and grainy.
In 2008, during her job training, my mom realized she needed a camera and luckily, it was 4th of July and there was a sale. I still have no clue why she went with this pink 7.2 megapixels Fuji Finepix Z but this camera ended up taking us a long way.
It was with this camera I took my first macro photo and got me addicted to photography. It was with this camera I got interested in learning all about photography and eventually posting pictures on my blog. It’s also the camera that took me on many trips – to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, and the East Coast.
In November, 2015, however, when we saw a Sony 20-megapixels camera on sale for less than $100 on Amazon, we decided it’s time for an upgrade. My first time to use the new camera was at a Christmas party when I shot a picture of a chandelier. I thought the picture turned out amazing.
This is it, I thought, we’re finally caught up with the trend.
I couldn’t be more wrong. The amount of megapixels for cameras nowadays are way higher than 20. I saw some smartphone cameras are in the 40’s or even 50’s or 60’s megapixels. It’s unbelievable and here I was goggling over a 20 megapixels camera.
Now, of course, a 20 megapixels camera takes a better picture than a 7.2 megapixels or a 5 megapixels (my tablet) camera. Comparing the pictures now, I believe the amount of megapixels makes the most difference in landscape and macro photos. I mean, just compare the left to the right. The left was taken with the pink camera and the right taken with the new camera. Both were taken around the same time a year apart. You’ll see a difference, even if it’s slight.
In conclusion, while I know I’m behind with the trend of digital photography, I realize that I might never catch up and I’m okay with my current digital camera. I also realize that almost everything in the universe evolve whether it’s technology, people, or land. Some just evolve quicker than others like the camera going from old fashion film rolls cameras to digital to digital DSLR and very soon, a super compact camera that is loaded with amazing features.
Originally published on May 7, 2014
Revised and re-posted on September 27, 2016
Image Credit: Google (unless noted)
Piano Progress #4
It’s been a long while since I have updated on my piano progress. Almost three months, wow?! Continue reading “Piano Progress #4”
Changing Seasons at a Mountain Edge
For this week’s photo challenge, Edge, I decided to show two more pictures. Both pictures were taken at roughly the same spot at different times – one at the beginning of summer and the other at the beginning of autumn. I hope you enjoy my selection. Continue reading “Changing Seasons at a Mountain Edge”
Hello August!
At last, August! I thought July would never come to pass. It’s been a weird month for me, July. Continue reading “Hello August!”
Narrow and Fine
For this week’s photo challenge, I am going to go in a different direction. Continue reading “Narrow and Fine”
Piano Progress #3
Wow, so it’s been almost a month since I shared my piano progress. Continue reading “Piano Progress #3”
Essay: Why isolate between two poles? Hire Ambiverts!
Here is the third speech I wrote for my public speaking and please note that this is a counter-persuasive speech in which I am against managers hiring introverts (no offense to all introverts out there, I’m one myself but that’s the assignment). Continue reading “Essay: Why isolate between two poles? Hire Ambiverts!”
Essay: Why Introverts Make Great Leaders?
My public speaking class officially came to an end this morning, after I turned in all the research I conducted for my speeches and receive the grade from my final speech along with a great big donut. My finance class will end tomorrow and then I hope I can finally take a breath before my corporate tax class starts next Monday. In the least to say, I’m happy with the grade I got for my public speaking class because who wouldn’t be happy with an A? 🙂 Anyway, here is my second speech and please note this is a persuasive speech.
Why Introverts Make Great Leaders?
If I were to ask you to picture a stereotypical leader, what qualities would immediately spark in your head? According to an article in the ASCA Newsletter, most people would immediately picture someone confident, brash, and outgoing. Were those the qualities you thought of? If yes, then you’ve pictured a classic extrovert. From my last speech, I talked about an experiment done to compare the effectiveness of an introverted vs extroverted leader. The results were that the stores with an extroverted leader earned a higher profit than the stores with an introverted leader. So does this mean a company shouldn’t hire introverts for leadership positions? In my opinion, as an introvert, I think companies should hire introverts for upper management positions and in the next 4 minutes or so, I’m going to talk about the pros and cons of introverted leaderships as well as what can the companies do to close the gap between introverted and extroverted leadership.
The ASCA Newsletter article, 7 reasons Introverts Make Great Leaders, says that introverts make great leaders because they are great listeners and are usually calmer and better prepared than extroverts. They often prefer to collaborate rather than telling others what to do, unlike extroverts who prefer to lead. Also introverts don’t typically settle on a single idea. They like to explore deeper for alternatives and will explore until they are satisfied. In addition, introverts prefer solitude to reflect and theorize on ideas and if they’re not doing those things, they’d write.
However, everything always comes with a downside. For introverted leaders, it is that they prefer to be alone and they prefer not to be the initiator of conversations and social interactions. Therefore, it is sometimes difficult to brainstorm with an introvert. Also introverts prefer one-on-one conversations rather than speaking to a group. Lastly, according to an article by J.G. Skakoon, a consequence with having an introverted leader is that the introvert’s performance can be impaired by distractions whereas distractions would go unnoticed for an extrovert.
So what can a company do to close the gap between introverted and extroverted leaders? To cancel out the cons I just spoke of? Well, a company can rethink open-plan offices despite many studies suggest that open-plan offices tend to lead to counterproductive behavior. Or a company can provide separate meeting rooms to reduce distraction as well as allow employees ample time to prepare for presentations. Secondly, companies should encourage employees to think like an introvert, allow them quiet to reflect on ideas. Finally, companies should allow introverts to shine! Companies should allow introverts to perform tasks normally done by an extrovert. Employees should encourage to show patience when introverts speak, to allow them the time to think before speaking. Lastly, leaders should be allowed to choose their team members.
So why should companies hire introverts for leadership positions? Because instead of jumping to conclusion and into the task, introverts are good listeners of ideas and quiet observers as well as they often go beyond a single idea. Now that you’ve heard all about the pros and cons of an introverted leadership, does it cause you to rethink the image and qualities of a stereotypical leader?
Essay: Difference between Introvert and Extrovert
As my public speaking class draws to an end, I’ve decided to share the speeches I wrote for the class. Yesterday, I shared the last speech, today, I’ll share the first speech I wrote for the class. As you read, please keep in mind that this is an informative speech.
Difference between Introvert and Extrovert
True or False? Introverts are quiet and shy, extroverts are wild. False. People who prefer introversion just tend to think before they speak while extroverts tend to speak before they think. However, with these two completely polar opposite personalities, don’t you wonder how they will get along in a group? First, though we have to define what really makes an introvert and extrovert, then we’ll compare and contrast the two personalities in a group and leadership setting.
What categorizes one as an introvert or an extrovert? Well, it depends. From the research of psychiatrist Carl Jung, introversion and extroversion refers to the origin of our energy or what energizes us and what drains our energy. However, contrary to popular beliefs, introverts are not quiet or shy, they are simply those who prefer to observe before they speak rather than the other way around. For example, when socializing with strangers, introverts tend to want to get to know the person better before sharing their inner thoughts and beliefs. Extroverts are the opposite of that. They are those who have no problem speaking to a large group of strangers. Basically, extroverts get their energy from being surrounded by people while introverts get their energy by focusing internally on thoughts, ideas, and reflection. What happens in a group setting, when introverts and extroverts are forced to communicate? According to senior organizational consultant at the University of Arizona, Mark Trommer, “it can be hard for people to communicate with one another if they have different styles.”
And now, we are going to compare and contrast between those different styles. First of all, you should know that the effectiveness of introverted and extroverted leadership is dependent upon the type of work structure. Under the leadership of an introvert, team members tend to be proactive. It is the team members’ duty to take the initiative in introducing changes and new ideas to the team. Therefore, experts believe that the performance of a team led by an introvert tends to perform better. On the other hand, under the leadership of an extrovert, team members tend to be dutifully followers looking for guidance. They do what they are told and their leader tends to feel threatened when a team member attempts to introduce a new idea to the team because it would mean the team member is stealing the spotlight. Let’s apply those characteristics to a real life experiment conducted by the University of Carolina.
This experiment was conducted by Adam Grant and David Hoffman and it is an experiment to test whether higher performance would come from passive employees as when being led by an extrovert or proactive employees as when being led by an introvert. The profits of 57 different stores of a single US pizza chain were compared over 7 weeks and it is according to whether the store manager is an extrovert or an introvert. The results show that the stores with extroverted managers earned 16% more profit than the stores led by an introverted leader while stores led by an introvert earn 14% less profit.
So there you have it, the quantitative analysis between extroverted and introverted leadership in a group setting. Just to recap, introverted leaders are most effective when the team members are proactive while extroverted leaders are most effective when the team members are passive, meaning they’re followers. Based on the experiment’s results, does this mean the company should only hire extroverts for manager positions? Does this proof extroverts make the best leaders? I guess we’ll find out.
Essay: What has people done?
For once in a long time, I don’t have anything written today. I spent the entire weekend writing my final speech for my public speaking class and I am giving that speech today. Continue reading “Essay: What has people done?”
Piano Progress #2
Well, it’s been almost a month since I began playing the piano again after 9 years and so far, I think it’s having a good effect on me. My memory is beginning to improve, my typing is getting faster, and I’m happier. 🙂
I’m making my way through the piano book which I used to learn to play the piano the first time and so far, it’s going fine. I’m already learning Amazing Grace, which is the last song in the book. I’m an overachiever, I learn the hardest song first. Besides, I used to play Amazing Grace a hundred times a day, so it shouldn’t take long for my tiny fingers to relearn the song.
Anyway, last time, I said three of my favorite songs to play on the piano 9 years ago are Greensleeves, Auld Lang Syne, and Scarborough Fair. I guess you can call them my childhood anthems. Well, I’ve mastered all three songs! Scarborough Fair was the toughest of the three. It took me a week to get my hands to play the right notes. The eighth note really messes me up. No matter, I got it at last. I just kept humming and playing until my fingers played the correct notes.
Here is the recording of me playing Scarborough Fair. I decided to use the “vibe” setting on my electric piano just because I think it sound better than the piano.
I’m not sure if the sound will be loud enough. I tried to reduce a little of the noises in the background but unsuccessful. I’ve also been trying to find a way to connect the piano to my computer so the recording will come out clearer and the background noise will be reduced to a minimum but as you might have guessed, school’s been super busy. Maybe later.
Thanks for reading.
Piano Progress #1
So it’s been about a week since I got my new (old) electric piano and so far, I’ve been playing it a lot and I think I’m improving quite quickly based on the fact that I haven’t played in almost a decade. My mom says I shouldn’t praise myself too much. She thinks praising oneself is bad but who cares. Sometimes, a little praise can go a long way.
I guess what they say it’s true though. “It’s just like getting back onto a bicycle.” I got my old piano book back from my friend last weekend and so far, although my fingers are still not as flexible as they should be, I can already play one of my three favorite songs from the book.
Here is me playing the song: Greensleeves. It is one of my favorites and one of four songs that I used to play a lot. The other three are Auld Lang Syne, Scarborough Fair, and Canon in D. Now that I’ve started playing again, I couldn’t stop humming those songs. It’s crazy!
It took me many tries before I got it down perfect, by the way. Every time, it was either a single note or a single chord that messed up the entire recording. I curse my bad memory and lack of confident fingers. It’s beginning to feel calming once again and I hope that by playing the piano, it will help ease my anxiety and at the same time, spark and flourish my imagination and creativity.
Cee’s Odd Ball Challenge: 2016 Week 19
I’m joining the challenge for the first time because well, I’ve found some weird pictures in my files. Continue reading “Cee’s Odd Ball Challenge: 2016 Week 19”
This is Another Story 