The Paradox of Our Time

After three post on the negative side of humanity (especially the bureaucratic types), its just about time I visit a friends's blog and find this message.

It takes a great comedian to spot such blatant irony of out time.
Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

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The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom! , and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills ! that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.


George Carlin
Comedian of the 70's and 80's

The inefficient machine

The previous post made me reflect more about efficiency.

Let imagine exist a machine:

The machine need at least one hour of warming out, cleansing and energy input each day before can function properly. Plus at least another hour at the end of the day

It have to be idle at least six hours each day.

Quality of output is distributed almost randomly among machine (even the almost identical one) and one machine tomorrow’s output can be totally in different quality from today.

The paint on the machine sometime cost more than the whole energy input over its productive time.

A machine has ability to destroy (and has been seen to exercise it) other machines, even the whole factory.

It survive by destroying lesser machine.

Would you acquire such machine?

Thankfully, God (or/and evolution, which ever you prefer) choose to have such an inefficient machine, some call it human, roam on earth.

The 7 Habits of Highly Ineffective People

There was an opening of Italian Language course in Università per Stranieri (literally mean “university for stranger” but “language Institute” is a more fitting translation). Thinking this is an opportunity to increase my understanding then I decided to enrol.

Little I know that the enrolment process itself is an initiation to Italian culture. Here are the steps:

1. Contact the head of program
This is the easy part (assuming he doesn’t forgot to convey your name). Then you will get an email (after about one month) conforming registration.

2. Go to International office
The staff there will give receipt to pay the course fee (52 euro) to the bank. They will also tell you to get two receipts there. So, the first sentence in Italian is “poi mi dai due ricevute”

3. Go to the bank
Show the receipt to bank counter and use your first sentence. Failure to remember might mean early termination of the course. (I go there to find out that Italian banks have break during 13.20 - 15.00 and must wait outside for a while, more knowledge on business culture)

4. Go (again) to International Office
Give the staff he bank receipt. Fill up a half page application form for them. Also get another application form to submit to Università per Stranieri. (did I mention that International Office is at fourth floor of a building without elevator?)

5. Go to Università per Stranieri.
Give the filled application form to staff there and get a receipt to pay tax (14.62 euro). He is kind enough to explain that this is different from course fee since the money goes to government and not to university.. In case you did not bring photo or passport then please come again with them. More knowledge on Italian public administration.

6. Go to bank (again) to pay tax
Its still open. Get receipt.

7. Go (again) to Università per Stranieri.
Give the receipt to the staff. All is finish and live is beautiful. La dolce vita!

Hmm, I am not a very effective people but how about some avant-garde ideas…like paying all the fee and tax at the same time… or one registration form.. Lets get really revolutionary and dream of a process where payment and registration is at the same place.

Stephan Covey, please come and spread your habits to Italy.

Facing the line

Yesterday I went to the questura (Italian immigration office) and tried to get my resident permit. Since I am a non-EU citizen, I can only come on Saturday and they only open between 8.30 and 11.30.

Therefore, I went with a flat mate from China and be in front of the immigration office at 8.15. There were already a long line, from the age I can guessed they were workers and from the face mostly from North Africa and Albania.

Let me remind you that even though Italy is on Mediterranean but winter is still winter. It was about 5 degree Celsius and I saw some women and old people standing in line.

The inefficiently of Italian bureaucracy is quite famous, but I never heard them to be called heartless. Nevertheless, it is time sometime do exactly that. Many ways can yield more efficient and human treatment for resident permit seeker.

I wonder if anyone in the office ever heard of scheduled appointment? Or at about a thing called numbered ticket so once people get their number they can sit down somewhere warm. Have I told you that to submit application you also have to do the same thing on a Saturday between 8.30 and 11.30?

I wonder aloud to my flat mate what would happen to visiting professor/other visiting dignitaries from non-EU countries and whether they have to endure the same treatment like us. He replied that during his last application he saw one visiting professor at his department that just skip the line and go directly to the office. Power and position matter.

I stood in line for one and a half hour (good thing I bring hot tea in thermos) and reach the end of the line. Inside the office, after a brief search, the officer told me that my resident permit was not ready yet. Since I am not a dignitary or visiting professor, I am making a mental note to wear a thicker jacket for the next time.

Life Is ...

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

- Mother Teresa -

Deep, moving and profound, isn't it?

About studying abroad

Have been hotly discussing the benefit and cost of studying abroad in a friend’s blog, especially when is the optimal time to do so.

The necessity of advance knowledge for development is undeniable. The most preferred way is to send young bright scholar to an excellent university or research centre abroad since the alternative of having too many foreigners advising a country is too costly. Moreover, the citizen would be more committed (hopefully) to develop its own country than an outsider.

Sending citizens to study abroad is exactly what Japan has done since Meiji Restoration and Singapore/Malaysia/China has been doing. Israel is the country with the highest percentage of PhD holder in the world.

My recurrent critic to my government (in informal chat, since I have no formal position) is why we have no (central) government-sponsored scholarship to study abroad. The only option is foreign scholarship. While the above countries has been getting benefit from returning scholars, my country spent the oil boom bonanza for so-called strategic industries (and who knows how much of it being corrupted).

But first, show me the money! Teacher/lecturer/researcher need to be able to pay the monthly bill with their salary since there is little side job available. It is illuminating how Singapore set their teachers’ salary as the highest among fresh bachelor graduates. My grandfather was a state lecturer while my grandmother was a high school teacher, they said that their salary (while they were still teaching) was quite high relative to living standard 30-40 years ago. Calling teachers as hero without medal while still giving ridiculously low salary will only lead to declining education quality in the future.

Remark must be also made on what to study and what to do after return. Engineering should make the biggest proportion, especially at master level with applied knowledge, in the field of biotechnology, oceanology/ship construction, IT and renewable energy. Some social scienctist and PhD (engineering and social) is necessary of course, but not too much if it is paid by the state. Human resource planning should be done ahead so that returning scholar will find appropriate and beneficial work. Should try to get them teach at least 1 class a week.

Now we come to the question of timing.

For many years, BPPT gave scholarship to study abroad since graduating high school. Most study technology and many stay abroad until PhD. Nevertheless, we heard little of them (except those on the spotlight of IPTN).

I would argue that it is better for state to give scholarship after finishing bachelor in (top) domestic university. The prospective scholar already more mature and will have less culture shock plus stronger domestic network to benefit from upon returning. It is also less costly since master degree is not more than two years while many PhD also offer financing as teaching/research assistant. Thus, offer more bang for the buck

The same calculation also apply to private individuals wish to study abroad. Do your bachelor in top domestic university, get some years of working experience then study abroad. Let the world be your oyster but get anchored to your root first.

Who Should Pay for New Year Fireworks?

Few people hate New Year firework and yet not many fond of discussing how it best paid.

In all but the last three years, I spend my new year at my hometown. I enjoy and cherished the opportunity to be abroad that not possible for many my fellow citizens. However, the differences of setting between Amsterdam and Trento are quite interesting to analyze.

In Amsterdam, anyone can put their own fireworks that they bought before in the Newmarkt square and light it at (and after) midnight. During the first fifteen minutes, the noise was deafening.

In Trento (and other big cities of Italy as I have been informed) the local government set up the fireworks so people can just come to the main square to enjoyed the fireworks. Since they hired professional teams, the fireworks more varied in types and last longer.

Can I say that the second way is always better and preferred?

Too bad that an economist’ answer will not be a wholehearted yes, at most a maybe and some school of thought may even say no.

Why?

Firework is a public good. For non-economist reader, that mean once the object provided there is no way to limit the use only to those who have paid. Then there is problem of free rider where people (like me) can just come to enjoy the view without contributing to the cost of providing it. There is no way to block the sky view to selected few.

The usual way to deal with the problem is to limit the usage, like putting a toll both or enacting membership card in front of bridge or highway to those that paid for building cost. But for some goods (like our problem) it is just not possible.

So how is to avoid problem of providing goods that is useful to all but not many willing to admit (and pay for it)?

Trento solution used coercive power of government to gather money in the form of tax. They benefit from economies of scale and can hire firework consultant to provide a better show for the people. The government can mispredict people’s preference and provide fewer (less enjoyment) or more (waste resources) fireworks than people wants.

The problem is maybe some people do not like firework, will not see it during New Year and prefer the money to use for something else. In this arrangement, they can do nothing but pay and shut up.

The Amsterdam solution is efficient in the manner that only those that willing to spend money for firework did so. Nevertheless, the total enjoyment is less since it is just a collection of bang. Like an orchestra without a conductor and shared harmony.

The first best solution will be the case where those people that willing to spend money for firework (and do not mind some non-paying people to share the enjoyment) to get together before the event, pool the money and hired a sufficiently good firework consultant to set up the event. This way there will be optimal use of money for maximum enjoyment.

Of course, it can only be done if the hassle of meeting up before the event and assigning the consultant is not too great. There is also possibility that such arrangement will reduce active participation and result in less than socially optimal outcome. Hopefully the local pride of providing the best new year show will check against that tendency

Whichever ways chosen, as a non-citizen I am looking forward for a better firework next year. It’s good to a tourist.