Studies have proven that you're much more productive, alert, creative etc with at least seven hours of sleep.
Some researchers say that it isn't enough to get sleep, but the timing of it is crucial- the body recuperates best during the hours of 10 pm and 4 pm. Keeping these sleeping hours can decrease your chance of becoming ill and can even reduce your risk of cancer and heart-failure.
That being said, I'm in the season of final exams...I have probably been in bed a total of 12-15 hours total in the last three days (an optimistic forecast)...and out of that 12-15 hours, I've probably had 7 sound hours of sleep total (did I mention this in the last three days?)
It's such a defeatist cycle- you need to stay awake to produce, you have to sleep properly to be productive...Oh well....
Friday, February 23, 2007
Thursday, February 22, 2007
The road less traveled...
Life as a MBA student (or any graduate student) is lonely.
Not a big surprise, but it dawned on me that I've been spending most of my days in front of a computer screen or hunched over some reading material or the other.
I guess it was thrown in harsh relief when I realised that I spoke to a total of 6 people yesterday! -->
Disclaimer: I totally blame this on the MBA experience and not my (gregarious) social skills and (extroverted) personality...smile!
(me: 'pretending' that the mere act of
putting on some spectacles makes me
appear more studious)
Not a big surprise, but it dawned on me that I've been spending most of my days in front of a computer screen or hunched over some reading material or the other.
I guess it was thrown in harsh relief when I realised that I spoke to a total of 6 people yesterday! -->
- 2 (or was it 3?) were the quick, generic 'hi, how are u?' greetings...I know it shouldn't count but...
- I got a 'hi toots' from Ike (smile...don't know how I'd survive Business Forecasting w/out you!)
- One was totally school related- 'hi, sorry I didn't turn in my part of the project yet, you'll have it before the end of the night'...(so says Chris, my student body president - luv ya Bax!)
- 2 were actually more than 5 mins!
---Went beyond the 'hi's and hello's' with Justin -super smart guy sitting next to me in Law and Finance of Equity Markets class- yea, we actually got into 'how are classes/ exams going?' and 'how the hell do we study for this exam?!'
---Cheryl stopped by while I was having breakfast to tell me this guy from the Divinity school who is in my Project Pyramid class has a crush on me (oh yea, did I mentioned I've probably directly spoken to him only two times?)... this was pathetically my most entertaining conversation for the day!
Thank God I'm really good at entertaining myself (yes, I'm one of those people who are frequently carrying on another conversation in their heads...w/ themselves or the alter ego/ talk to God alot too. He even answers on occasion :) ).Disclaimer: I totally blame this on the MBA experience and not my (gregarious) social skills and (extroverted) personality...smile!
(me: 'pretending' that the mere act of
putting on some spectacles makes me
appear more studious)
Don't be S.A.D.
S.A.D. - Seasonal Affective Disorder aka Winter Depression
I have an intense dislike for the winter season!
Coming from the beautiful, tropical, warm, breezy, sunshine-filled, 'it's summer-all-year!' islands of Trinidad and Tobago, can you blame me?
So I reiterate- I don't mix well with the winter season. I tolerate it, but I generally spend my time unconsciously counting down the days till it's warm again.
Well, we've been having some nasty weather here in Nashville for the last couple of weeks- and needless to say it's been somewhat depressing. I've come to the realization that I'm one those people who needs the exposure to sunlight ... While I don't have full blown Winter Depression (seasonal mood variation caused by exposure to light), my mood is definitely affected.
I know you're saying 'Ria- it's caused by light not temperature'.
Well- it's cold- Ria stays indoors, no natural light ... hence, I'm SAD.
I have an intense dislike for the winter season!
Coming from the beautiful, tropical, warm, breezy, sunshine-filled, 'it's summer-all-year!' islands of Trinidad and Tobago, can you blame me?
So I reiterate- I don't mix well with the winter season. I tolerate it, but I generally spend my time unconsciously counting down the days till it's warm again.
Well, we've been having some nasty weather here in Nashville for the last couple of weeks- and needless to say it's been somewhat depressing. I've come to the realization that I'm one those people who needs the exposure to sunlight ... While I don't have full blown Winter Depression (seasonal mood variation caused by exposure to light), my mood is definitely affected.
I know you're saying 'Ria- it's caused by light not temperature'.
Well- it's cold- Ria stays indoors, no natural light ... hence, I'm SAD.
Seeing that I'm not going to be able to get away from these temperate regions, I guess I need to learn to manage my mood - someone say light therapy? - until then, I'm just extremely thankful that the days are getting warmer and my trip to India and Dubai should expose me to enough sunlight until all out summer is here!"There's nothing like cold weather, just inadequate clothing!" by one of my part time philosophizing friends
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Globalization? Yes, but....
So spring break is approaching! Yippee!
(Before I start jumping for joy, I have to get through my finals first! Say a prayer for me)
However, it is somewhat of a challenge concentrating on this task, when I'm all set to visit Dubai and India for my break. I'm so excited about it as I've never been to that side of the world, yet it's where my story begins as most of my ancestors are from India.
In going through the bureaucracies of obtaining my Visas, I made a very interesting discovery:
Having an Israel stamp in your passport will stop you from visiting: Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Sudan, UAE (Dubai) and Yemen.
Now this might not be a shocker for most people, unfortunately, I'm not part of that chosen group. It's sad when neighbours are so antagonistic with each other- be it on the individual/ micro state or the larger/ macro one. I know much of this has it's ties in the history of the region...so i have to say it's even sadder when we let our past determine our present.
Maybe that's too much of an idealistic view, but that's how change (positive change) happens. I think this principle holds true for both the individual and the nation state.
I pray our generation promotes this much needed change instead of holding on to our traditions which are more a barrier, than source, of power in today's globalized world...change- happening one person at a time.
(Before I start jumping for joy, I have to get through my finals first! Say a prayer for me)
However, it is somewhat of a challenge concentrating on this task, when I'm all set to visit Dubai and India for my break. I'm so excited about it as I've never been to that side of the world, yet it's where my story begins as most of my ancestors are from India.
In going through the bureaucracies of obtaining my Visas, I made a very interesting discovery:
Having an Israel stamp in your passport will stop you from visiting: Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Sudan, UAE (Dubai) and Yemen.
Now this might not be a shocker for most people, unfortunately, I'm not part of that chosen group. It's sad when neighbours are so antagonistic with each other- be it on the individual/ micro state or the larger/ macro one. I know much of this has it's ties in the history of the region...so i have to say it's even sadder when we let our past determine our present.
Maybe that's too much of an idealistic view, but that's how change (positive change) happens. I think this principle holds true for both the individual and the nation state.
I pray our generation promotes this much needed change instead of holding on to our traditions which are more a barrier, than source, of power in today's globalized world...change- happening one person at a time.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
KPMG: Story of salvation?
As a young person growing up in church, I’ve heard the message of salvation being preached. Curious, and probably literal to a fault, I decided to look up the meaning of salvation. If memory services, my Webster dictionary stated that it was ‘the act of being saved’. From a Biblical perspective, we come to that place of salvation when we confess our sins before God, repent in the name of Jesus and by faith believe we are forgiven. Then begins the arduous journey of reforming ourselves…
What does this have to do with KPMG? Maybe nothing, maybe everything.
In May 2005, KPMG learnt that it was facing indictment from the Justice. One month after, then Chairman, Eugene O’Kelly, learns that he has a brain tumor with only months left to live. Five days later Timothy Flynn, personable accountant and one time HR head, is appointed chairman.
At this point I’m wondering- what the hell was Flynn thinking? Voluntarily stepping up to captain a sinking ship (or maybe that’s stepping down if the ship is sinking?).
Charged with this seemingly impossible task, Mr. Flynn did the unthinkable for most corporate leaders, he admits wrong! Three days after taking up his position as Chairman, Flynn admits to Justice that KPMG improperly sold shelters designed to evade taxes.
Risky? Yes. The act of a desperate man at the edge of cliff? Probably. A leap of faith? Hell yes- I mean, what else is a desperate man at the edge of a cliff expected to do?
This gutsy move gave KPMG a second lease on life. In August 2005, prosecution was deferred with the company having to meet some strict requirements. But in November 2006, Flynn was able to report that KPMG’s revenues had grown by 2% and in January this year, the deferred criminal charge against KPMG was finally dropped.
Admittedly it wasn’t smooth sailing after Flynn’s public confession, and KPMG still has some rough waters ahead, but hey that’s the story of salvation. The battle doesn’t stop after our ‘amen’. God speed Mr. Flynn!
What does this have to do with KPMG? Maybe nothing, maybe everything.
In May 2005, KPMG learnt that it was facing indictment from the Justice. One month after, then Chairman, Eugene O’Kelly, learns that he has a brain tumor with only months left to live. Five days later Timothy Flynn, personable accountant and one time HR head, is appointed chairman.
At this point I’m wondering- what the hell was Flynn thinking? Voluntarily stepping up to captain a sinking ship (or maybe that’s stepping down if the ship is sinking?).
Charged with this seemingly impossible task, Mr. Flynn did the unthinkable for most corporate leaders, he admits wrong! Three days after taking up his position as Chairman, Flynn admits to Justice that KPMG improperly sold shelters designed to evade taxes.
Risky? Yes. The act of a desperate man at the edge of cliff? Probably. A leap of faith? Hell yes- I mean, what else is a desperate man at the edge of a cliff expected to do?
This gutsy move gave KPMG a second lease on life. In August 2005, prosecution was deferred with the company having to meet some strict requirements. But in November 2006, Flynn was able to report that KPMG’s revenues had grown by 2% and in January this year, the deferred criminal charge against KPMG was finally dropped.
Admittedly it wasn’t smooth sailing after Flynn’s public confession, and KPMG still has some rough waters ahead, but hey that’s the story of salvation. The battle doesn’t stop after our ‘amen’. God speed Mr. Flynn!
Inflation: The power of expectation…
It used to be that unemployment rates were a seen as a direct and prominent influencer of inflation, where traditional economic thought emphasized the inverse relationship between unemployment and inflation rates.
Now, there seems to be a new man on the block- the expectation of inflation (based on past inflation rates) seems to be a primary determiner of inflation, seemingly reducing the sway that unemployment rates have.
It is not that unemployment rates are insignificant, just that a bigger change is needed to have the same historical effect on inflation rates. Even Ben Bernanke, backed by the Fed economists seem to embrace this new way of thinking.
This evolving change takes the power of expectation to a whole new level…
Now, there seems to be a new man on the block- the expectation of inflation (based on past inflation rates) seems to be a primary determiner of inflation, seemingly reducing the sway that unemployment rates have.
It is not that unemployment rates are insignificant, just that a bigger change is needed to have the same historical effect on inflation rates. Even Ben Bernanke, backed by the Fed economists seem to embrace this new way of thinking.
This evolving change takes the power of expectation to a whole new level…
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