Tempting Phones

When I first saw the Sony Ericsson P990i at end of 2005, I have decided to get that mobile phone. Sent an email to Sony Ericsson and enquired on the lauching date. I was told that it could be launched during the 3rd quarter of 2006. Almost bought in Oct 06 when I went window shopping but was thinking that I'll be bringing the phone to Sudan for what. Held the purchase then.

Towards end 2006, Nokia gave a preview on one of its upcoming mobile phone model, Nokia N93i. After reading its specifications, my heart was moved as well. A good 3.2MP camera plus a dedicated video camera. My my my.

That was not the end as news soon leaked out that a Nokia N95 could even provide even better features.

This is going to be neverending. This waiting game caused me more headache. In a dilemma now, to buy the Sony Ericsson model or hold on till mid-year when the other 2 Nokia models will be available.
Tags: Sony Ericsson, P990i, Nokia, N93i, N95, Mobile Phone

Panda Bears

Thought this was a cute picture of the panda cubs drinking milk at the Giant Panda Breeding Center in Chengdu, China (AP via Yahoo! News)

Tags: Panda Bear, Chengdu, China

Cost of Living in Sudan

Friends have asked before on what is the cost of living like in Sudan. The exchange rate here has risen a lot against the US$ Dollar. From a low of Sudanese Dinar 265 to a US$1.00 during October 2004 to a current high of Sudanese Dinar 201 to a US$1.00.

We do purchase our usual groceries / foodstuff around the Khartoum city centre. We have to go around to look for a reasonable price. See below a copy of a supermarket receipt for the normal foodstuff we bought and then you can compare it with the cost of living at your place. (please note that the receipt is denoted with the old Sudanese Pound rate which is 100 Sudanese Dinar equivalent to 1000 Sudanese Pound so the actual bill is actually 19,559 Sudanese Dinar).

The old Sudanese Pound was used by the country until the government changed it to the Sudanese Dinar some years back. Some shops still display their pricing under the Sudanese Pound rate.

The government of Sudan is changing its currency in stages starting with the smallest denomination note of 100 Sudanese Dinar to 1 Sudanese Pound (same name but under a different rate) as below in the picture below.

It will move to change other Sudanese Dinar notes of 500, 1000 & 5000 to Sudanese Pound as well.

Picture shown here is the 1000 Sudanese Dinar note (front & back).

When you look at the supermarket receipt, I think you could say that the purchasing power here in Sudan is really weak. Imagine 1000 Sudanese Pound is equivalent to US$5.00.
Tags: Journal, Life, Diary, Currency, Sudan, Sudanese Dinar, Sudanese Pound, Cost of Living, Purchasing Power

Difference Between Problem & Solution

Case 1
When NASA began the launch of astronauts into space, they found out that the pens wouldn't work at zero gravity (ink won't flow down to the writing surface). To solve this problem, it took them one decade and $12 million.

They developed a pen that worked at zero gravity, upside down, underwater, in practically any surface including crystal and in a temperature range from below freezing to over 300 degrees C.
And what did the Russians do...?? They used a pencil.

Case 2
One of the most memorable case studies on Japanese management was the case of the empty soapbox, which happened in one of Japan's biggest cosmetics companies. The company received a complaint that a consumer had bought a soapbox that was empty. Immediately the authorities isolated the problem to the assembly line, which transported all the packaged boxes of soap to the delivery department. For some reason, one soapbox went through the assembly line empty.

Management asked its engineers to solve the problem. Post-haste, the engineers worked hard to devise an X-ray machine with high-resolution monitors manned by two people to watch all the soapboxes that passed through the line to make sure they were not empty. No doubt, they worked hard and they worked fast but they spent a whoopee amount to do so.

But when a rank-and-file employee in a small company was posed with the same problem, he did not get into complications of X-rays, etc., but instead came out with another solution. He bought a strong industrial electric fan and pointed it at the assembly line . He switched the fan on, and as each soapbox passed the fan, it simply blew the empty boxes out of the line.

Always look for simple solutions. Devise the simplest possible solution that solves the problems. Always focus on solutions & not on problems.

Tags: Problem, Solution

Virtual Flower

Time to get those presents/flowers for your girlfriends/wives for the coming Valentine's Day. There is still time to order. Click the brochure below and you can order your gifts online from my friend's virtual shop.

Tags: Valentine's Day, My Virtual Flower, Flower, Online

Casino Dealer Training Course

With Singapore having approved two major tourism projects, Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World, that will materialise from year 2009 onwards, the country has prepared itself to supply the skilled workers to support such tourism industry.

The International Club Games Training Center in Singapore has a Casino Dealer Training Course that will issue either a Certificate in Casino Management / Certificate in Dealing Casino Games / Certificate in Table Games Supervision after a 6 months stint with them. The training centre is equipped/styled after a real casino and filled with dozens of baccarat, roulette and blackjack tables.

Graduates will learn the following skills in the course:-

* swiftly gathering the scattered casino chips from the green roulette table into her cupped palm in stacks of 20

* calculate pay-outs at the roulette wheel, where the winnings depend on the placement of a chip and require quick-thinking math skills

* schooled in theoretical situations such as how to spot a cheat

* how to remain calm with aggressive customers (source: The Star)

Tags: Casino, Singapore, International Club Games Training Centre, Casino Dealer Training Course, Baccarat, Roulette, Blackjack, Training Course

'Doomsday' Vault Design Unveiled

What Doomsday? Something's happening that I have not heard of?

Norway has designed a vault to house seeds from all known varieties of food crops. I like this country as they do really plan so far ahead. This vault is built in anticipation of future catastrophes, such as nuclear war, asteroid strikes and climate change.

Construction for this vault shall begin in March and the first seeds shall be in by year 2008.

The vault's location has been examined and climate forecast has been made up to 200 years ahead. The Norway government has begun its contribution of US$7.9m with Germany (US$9.5m) and Ireland (US$3.8m) following their footsteps. The collection and maintenance of this vault shall be done by The Global Crop Diversity Trust, a foundation for food security.

More info on the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.

Reading: Food crops in a changing climate - The Royal Society

Reading: What is a genebank and how does it work? - The Global Crop Diversity Trust

Tags: Food Crops, Doomsday, Vault, Norway, Svalbard International Seed Vault, The Global Crop Diversity Trust, Climate, Environment, Seeds