What’s the Significance?
Until his untimely death at the age of 31, Eric Rauch was a biologist and theoretical ecologist at MIT. In his article Productivity and the Workweek, he argues that while productivity has steadily increased in developed countries since 1950, workers’ subjective sense of well-being has not seen a similar increase. In other words, the work week could be drastically shortened without painfully reducing workers’ standards of living. In fact, Rauch points out, “shorter hours were assumed to be a natural consequence of increased productivity in the US until the 1930’s, appearing in the platforms of all major parties.”
But what would we do with all that free time? According to Dan Ariely, lots of things – some directly work-related, some not, but all likely to improve the quality of our working lives. Humans are not, Ariely notes, motivated only by money on the one hand and the desire to sunbathe while sipping martinis on the other. Ironically, a shorter “official” work week would likely weaken the defensive barriers many employees erect between work and play, freeing their minds to reach “a-ha” solutions to work-related problems even while sunbathing, and to use their time at the office more efficiently and effectively.
For companies curious – yet anxious – about becoming more Google-like, a first step might be to take a hard look at your office culture. Do people seem relaxed and enthusiastic about their jobs? Do they spontaneously share ideas and collaborate informally when problems arise? Or is everybody hunched over his or her respective desk all day, radiating a “Harder-Working-Than-Thou” aura?
If b), ask yourself this: is all that hard work translating into the kind of innovation and progress your company dreams of? Chances are it isn’t. The reason, says Ariely, is that human productivity isn’t a simple “numbers game.” And any job that robots won’t be doing 50 years from now needs an employee with a sense of balance and personal freedom, not a slave mentality.
via The Four Day Work Week | Inside Employees’ Minds | Big Think.
Rams' ten principles to "good design"
Rams’ ten principles to “good design”
Good design:[1]
Is innovative – The possibilities for innovation are not, by any means, exhausted. Technological development is always offering new opportunities for innovative design. But innovative design always develops in tandem with innovative technology, and can never be an end in itself.
Makes a product useful – A product is bought to be used. It has to satisfy certain criteria, not only functional, but also psychological and aesthetic. Good design emphasises the usefulness of a product whilst disregarding anything that could possibly detract from it.
Is aesthetic – The aesthetic quality of a product is integral to its usefulness because products are used every day and have an effect on people and their well-being. Only well-executed objects can be beautiful.
Makes a product understandable – It clarifies the product’s structure. Better still, it can make the product clearly express its function by making use of the user’s intuition. At best, it is self-explanatory.
Is unobtrusive – Products fulfilling a purpose are like tools. They are neither decorative objects nor works of art. Their design should therefore be both neutral and restrained, to leave room for the user’s self-expression.
Is honest – It does not make a product more innovative, powerful or valuable than it really is. It does not attempt to manipulate the consumer with promises that cannot be kept.
Is long-lasting – It avoids being fashionable and therefore never appears antiquated. Unlike fashionable design, it lasts many years – even in today’s throwaway society.
Is thorough down to the last detail – Nothing must be arbitrary or left to chance. Care and accuracy in the design process show respect towards the consumer.
Is environmentally friendly – Design makes an important contribution to the preservation of the environment. It conserves resources and minimises physical and visual pollution throughout the lifecycle of the product.
Is as little design as possible – Less, but better – because it concentrates on the essential aspects, and the products are not burdened with non-essentials. Back to purity, back to simplicity.
via Dieter Rams – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Dan Pink on the surprising science of motivation.
The you tube link is here.
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I’ve been recently toying with the idea of change. I don’t know where this was coming from but I’ve been slowly losing motivation. This is problematic because I am strictly fueled by the desire to do something and when that desire wanes the persons stops doing stuff.
Hunter X Hunter Ants Saga Musings
I was really bored in some parts of this saga.
Seems Gon has leveled up geometrically although it wasn’t explained how.
Probably the chapter with the most social commentary.
If memory serves me correctly, the first romance chapter for a HunterXhunter saga.
I don’t know if I’m just particularly sensitive right now but 317 brought me to tears.
“I was …….I see. I’m sure. I was born for this moment.”
+Meruem ang Komugi
HIMYM SE07 EP01 Musings
How I Met Your Mother Season 07 Episode 01
Ted Mosby strikes me as someone who’ll brag about a magazine cover feature.
I was not crazy about Robin’s hair but after her dance number with Barney, she seemed soo sexy.
The phone call scene with barney and Robin was one of HIMYM’s most poignant scenes. I have this feeling of being able to relate to it although my memory is failing to recall why.
GILAS Live Stream
Here is a link:
http://www.gilaspilipinas.com/
http://www.seeon.tv/view/19952/
PHILIPPINES vs. CHINESE TAIPEI
SEPTEMBER 23,2011 | 6:00PM
(Live on AKTV13 & BTV)
Douthit, de Ocampo, Alapag, Williams, Casio, Lassiter, Lutz, Tiu, Barroca, Taulava, Aguilar, Baracael.
TED::The 6 Killer Apps of Prosperity by Niall Ferguson
RANT:2011 09 21
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Sometimes you just can’t help but feel the need to just say fuck it I quit.
Just saying.
have to remember to remove the auto export to facebook when I get home.
rePost :: Concrete Elbow by Steve Tignor – Mr. One More Ball
I said yesterday, in talking about Sam Stosur, that it’s satisfying to see a player find herself, surprise herself, get out of her own way, when even she may have thought it was never going to happen. The same has been true for Djokovic in 2011. The guy who we thought was too volatile, too easily frustrated, too prone to doubt, too ready to throw caution to the wind or hit a bail-out drop shot, has transformed himself into a paragon of steadiness on all fronts—the Djoker has grown up and become Mr. One More Ball. Watching him today was to see tennis at it most holistic, as a package rather than a group of individual strokes or weapons or weaknesses. Whether it’s doing the spectacular, like hitting a backhand return crosscourt for a winner while lunging to his left in the ad court, or the routine, like working his opponent into his backhand corner and then finding the open court up the line, Djokovic is making it all look easy right now—everything looks safe. His lack of Federer-esque showiness only adds to the impression of easy efficiency.
via TENNIS.com – Blogs – Concrete Elbow by Steve Tignor – Mr. One More Ball.
:Great Career Advice::#27: BPO blues and expired friendships | JessicarulestheUniverse
Gertrude, and anyone who is reading this, if you are happy with what you are doing, keep doing it. Yes, it really hurts if the people you value belittle what you do. Do not let their words sink in. I am tempted to sing a Selena Gomez song, but I will not. You have no obligation to explain your life to anyone else. Your obligation is to live your life the best way you can. Being happy is all that matters.
via Auntie Janey’s Old-Fashioned Agony Column #27: BPO blues and expired friendships | JessicarulestheUniverse.
Read the whole fucking thing! I totally fucking agree. If your happy and you aren’t hurting other people in a direct way then just fucking do it and let the haters die in envy!