Words to Lyrics Ben Ho's observations from the cloud

30 July 2009

Phone in a jar.

Filed under: Reflection — Tags: , , — Ben @ 10:33 pm

This afternoon, I put my iPhone in a glass jar. It was nothing special; I just thought it looked nice in a glass jar. While carrying this around the place, I encountered conversations that went a bit like this:

Someone: Why have you got your phone in a jar?
Me: Long story.

Some people were persistent enough to ask what the long story was. Here it is.

I have some tea leaves. I needed a glass jar for them. I brought this one on Tuesday, but I found a smaller one. Hence, I am taking this home today, and I thought the iPhone looked good inside.

After this long story, some of the responses were rather interesting. Some people commented it being a new style icon: “iPhone in a jar”. Some thought I was rather stupid. Here is the most interesting response.

Ok. Well, good luck with the glass jar!

Overall, a very interesting experiment.

20 July 2009

Optimism + recount

Filed under: Reflection — Tags: , , — Ben @ 11:17 pm

I’d like to talk today about optimism. I think it is great to be optimistic about what you do and think. Often it allows us to focus and forget about things that have passed. But how much optimism is too much? Is it unhealthy due to its ability to cover up our shortcomings?

I recently applied for a traineeship at a large accounting firm (who will not be named here). They put a large focus on hiring the right people i.e. spend a lot on their recruiting, finding those who fit their ‘core values’. Now, I got a fair way through this recruiting process, met a lot of great people, but today, I got a call from their one of their recruiting staff. I didn’t make it. It does take a great deal of guts to deliver bad news, even over the phone. Most would rather use email to do the same. After that call, thoughts were provoked. Should one start to be sceptical about what people say, especially when they speak from an overlooking perspective (such as from the viewpoint of a company)?

The recruit staff had told the candidates all the way, “Be yourself … accountants are people, they like to talk”. When I look back at the experience, it was a mistake to take their advice literally, part or whole. Everyone there is so competitive, so you have to change your behaviours to set yourself apart. I now realise what has been apparent for so long. Life is competitive. Enjoy the challenge, but don’t let it drag you down. Let each failure be a lesson for the future.

Was it also a mistake to be too optimistic? Did too much enthusiasm spoil my chances?

If anyone who I met from that particular traineeship is reading this, it was great to meet you, good luck for the future, I hope we meet again somewhere, someday.

17 July 2009

Announcing Recognition Week

Filed under: Forward Thinking — Tags: , — Ben @ 9:46 pm

At the time of writing, it is 68 days until Recognition Week.

Today, I am announcing Recognition Week. It is going to run from the 24th September to 1st October. It will be a week for me to thank everyone for their contribution to Year 12, 2009. I’m doing this, because everyone has done so much for me, and also to show how much everyone has contributed to the Year 12 group.

I’ll be doing a lot of things for everyone to benefit from. Probably the most ambitious act during the week, will be my aim to give a free hug to everyone over the course of the week. Those who accept, will get a small card from me, saying thanks and also to remember the time spent. Certain others will get larger cards, for those with more stuff to thank them for.

This will not be limited only to Barker Year 12, I invite anyone who I have met, whether it is for one minute, one day, or one year to receive this free gift.

While I’m almost at the end of a significant part of life, it is a great opportunity to reflect on the happenings of the last few years. They certainly have made a considerable impact on my life, which has flown on to others, and that is something to be thankful for.

I hope you approve!

6 July 2009

I have a vision…

Filed under: I Wonder — Tags: , , , — Ben @ 6:43 pm

I think most people have a short term aspiration or a goal. It might be something small or something that is bold and daring. Nevertheless, we find sometimes that our own goals are fun to work towards, and rewarding in the end.

I’ve had this plan inside for months, and I’d like to share it with you.

When December comes, I want to start something revolutionary, something that everyone who contributes to it gets something out of it. It is a collaborative effort, based on something that has been done before, but not many of you may know or have seen.

Based on the Laughing Squid blog, it is a blog reporting on Sydney’s art, culture and current affairs. The reporting will come from those who are in the scene; you. One of the great things about this is that the reporting will be independent from any news/media agency. It’s like going underground, without going underground.

Some of the things that would make up the reports include: music, film, stage, art, photography, food, icons, places, happenings, gatherings, impromptu parties, style, fashion, trends, plus a few.

This blog will also act as a guide of what is to come, an events list gathered from venues that host such events.

Now, that’s just the “contributing” part. The “benefit” part can be seen as twofold. The first, well, is obvious. You get independent analysis and commentary on events in Sydney. The second is a bit complex, but well worth it. Because the blog is a collaborative, it will be big enough to give opportunity to our contributors to do things that, say, a freshman journo probably won’t be able to. I hope this project will at least give a contributor a new experience, from something small, as photographing a slightly publicised event, to getting press passes for something big. Basically, those things that only big organisations get to do, but most common folk want to experience. It’s hard to put in words though, so sorry if some of you are still confused.

I think, that as some of our readers near the end of school, there is a small focus on how to keep in contact with friends that we have known for years. It’s obviously easier to do so now, due to the rise of social networks. This is probably a more interesting way to keep in touch, as well as sharing useful information that isn’t well documented.

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