This is worth sharing

http://opinion.inquirer.net/73964/blinded-by-light

Read on...

Jump shot

Will do this soon!

Rubbing elbows

In the past days, I have been depriving myself with a good night sleep and the perks of holiday rest, all for one big reason, the boss is coming and everything has to be in order so just to please the technocrat and politician ego in him. Even if I am dreadful with numerical encounters, I faced the challenge and pound on several revisions on statistical figures, millions of pesos, columns and rows in excel and the formulas I don't even remember using before. I took the pressure on interpreting these figures, making analyses, comparing the numerical universe to the contextual field of comparison. All these and more have been taking much of my time. I have been going home from the office late and drag myself the next day back to the reality that there still things that need to be done. Even until the day, I embraced the fact that sleeping is an option and I have to brace myself with the on-going revisions on the program. I still managed to compose myself and strike a fake smile on top of  everything that is turning against the original plan.

I am not alone on this course of struggle, the Regional Management has to be flexible and quick in every new arrangements made. The Field Offices have to be alert to respond on every new instructions provided and everyone in the circle is on their toes. The stress and pressure are evident in the atmosphere yet we managed to keep calm and work with grace. We have to contend with every element. The dogs are on standby giving their own versions of instructions. We remain to be steady despite the shaking conditions. I was tasked to run the show and it was the hardest and most stressful tasked I have ever done. The master is so hard to please and he bears the image for that. On top of that are the dwellers on his circle who appears to be the screening committee before we deliver anything in front of the demi-god. Protocols have to be observed and some have to be ignored due to their stupid nature and absurdity at some point.

I am not a believer of the master's words. I used to look at them as purely superficial and a showcase of hypocrisy but I don't give damn chance to speak out loud and let my sub-conscious over rule my sanity. In the end, I still bear that posy and polite smile and try to be as civil as expected. That one day activity has opened me to several realizations that helped me sort some confusions I have in the past days.

We managed to push through the activity. Rubbing elbows with the demi-gods is quite a task worth my life's sanity and calmness. I will surely have next encounters and probably I'll know how to deal with it better.

Worka(holic)

Just when I am ranting about my work I got to stumble into this article from Rappler. Secretary Jesse Robredo's words to her daughter were so perfect that I deemed the timing so impeccable.

Read on:
http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/54143-robredo-letter-aika-graduation-career

Smiles in Disguise

Most of the people around me would probably describe me as one happy person who never fails to inject humor even at the dullest moment. This is probably because of my disposition to take things at the most positive way possible. However, there are times when despite the positive aura I try to bear I could not help but endure that silence from within and disguise a smile I knew I never meant to display. These are the moments when I could only stage a fancy stare towards the farthest horizon and make every words phrased so awkwardly just to form sensible thoughts.

At some point, there a disappointments, frustrations and regrets I can never fathom to rationalize. These are thoughts I could hardly process and make some justifications to appease my restless soul. During these moments, I can only be as sane as possible but inside it is ripping me apart. Things become uncontrollable and I can no longer reconcile them to what is at hand. When frustration creeps in, I just take a deep sigh and look forward to a good night sleep to let it pass and hopeful that tomorrow will be another good day!

Uncovered

Since its inception in 2005, the DILG Region VI has been promoting and sustaining Knowledge Management as a core principle towards  excellence in local governance. This also led to the paradigm shift for the Department as a knowledge-centric organization, fostering a culture of learning. This mechanism has been embedded to the establishment of the Local Governance Regional Resource Center which serves as the KM point of the Department. Working on the KM cycle, the LGRRC is in the frontline of KM activities in the region. This new approach has been very beneficial for the Department as well as to the Local Government Units as end users.

Working on the platform of transferring tacit knowledge to explicit knowledge, LGRRC has been a repository of knowledge products from the various best practices of LGUs in the region which have been used in the benchmarking of performance as well as a source of ideas for future innovation. The availability of these materials has become a selling point for the Department in its effort to popularize the different programs and projects under its banner.

The concept of participation and multi-stakeholdership has been very vital for the Department as the LGRRC expands its network of alliances to academic institutions and Non-Government Organizations working in the local governance aspect.  This provided the LGUs with wider opportunities and venues for knowledge acquisition and replication. The materials available within partner institutions have been very significant in the Department's effort to offer knowledge products across all facets of local governance. Convergence has also become an advantage for the Center as it pursue the strategies of Knowledge Management, creating a focal point especially in the region when it comes to material resources and manpower through the pool of experts.

In the long run, the biggest barrier would be the lack of a champion who will be spearheading the implementation of the KM in the organization. The support from the top management will be very critical as KM  processes require capital investments (infrastructure and manpower).

True to the adage, Knowledge is indeed Power and Knowledge sharing is empowerment. Like energy it remains potential unless we create movement which makes the energy kinetic in nature. So to say, the impact can be marveled upon once we transfer knowledge outside our realms.
http://lgrrc6.org.ph/
http://wvlgrc.org/

Cracked

Consequential-ism would always teaches us to examine standards for the rightness and wrongness of our action. Definitively, ethics plays a big role in our action in whichever facets of life. Software piracy has been a constant headache for industries who have been investing billions in its research and development. The recent news on the underground business of illegal software distribution has been hurting the industry itself. http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-20004783-93.html  

It all boils down to affordability and accessibility of the software especially those who come from countries or areas where their national GDP is incomparably lower than the average requirement for decent living. However, with the rise of IT-based industries, the demand for softwares have been increasingly dictating the surging price which even a regular employee would hesitate to buy. This is even worst when software piracy is tolerated and has become a mainstream choice over the original. Who would not like this, when the cracked version is way cheaper than the original. At some point buying original becomes a source of guilt and frustration after knowing a friend acquiring the same software at the cheapest price possible. Is it not unfair?

The end does not always justifies the means but when it comes to price and spending capacity, buying pirated and original seem to be relatively fine!  Then the promise of not sharing it for conscience sake tries to rectify the action but afterwards a needy friend would always be another story. So the blame game now tries to point out whose action should be considered liable, the seller of the pirated copy or the person who shared it to others in the act of goodwill? (This will need another blog concentrating on normative ethics)

New generation softwares have been the name of the game and having it in original is tantamount to huge investment which at our end point seem to be impossible to recover considering our competitors (in a business set-up) would have the cracked version of the same software sparing them from cashing out that big. Then the loser's sign creeps in the forehead!

Perhaps, software companies should start thinking the other way around. Well it is a challenge to turn the tides towards the consumers whose thinking revolves on how much rather than if it is right or wrong. Punitive measures will not work I suppose, especially in countries where there is limited capacity to crack down the illegal trade, unless they will have to invest much and set-up one for each target country.

At my point of view, it is time to rethink the campaign strategy of these software companies. In countries where retail is a dominant style of procurement, why not come-up with pre-paid software offers which come handy to those who only need it for a specific time. This might be like load wallets or e-loads common to cellphone users wherein you only pay what you want. The strategy might be effective in countries like the Philippines (taking-off on the assumption that loading business has been significant contributor in the growth of mobile providers).

This might not be an overnight job but with careful measures initiated by the software industries along with the host countries, the issue might be taken minimal. However, as long as the crack versions are made readily available, still consistent patrons would prefer this over the original, unless they grow some concern for the software companies (Conscience working here insert ).

N.B.This is conscience perhaps talking behind my back while doing this piece. I am not confessing anything in this blog, the authorities might be tracking every piece in the net (paranoid) but I enjoyed the cracks(ers). They are life savers, by the way they helped me along the way finishing my communication degree in college.