Author Archives: sinyaw

Leavenworth, WA

Posted on February 21, 2015 by sinyaw

In the 60s, the rail road company moved about 20 miles to Wenatchee. Losing its largest, and probably the only, employer, this city was to become another rail road ghost town. The mayor went to Solvang, CA, and the new … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Reviews, Seattle, Tour guides | Leave a comment

Ears on the Walls

Posted on February 14, 2015 by sinyaw

Back when cell phones were novel, it is a common treachery for eavesdroppers to park near a highway and listen to all those people talking while driving. Soon, the new generation of cell phones scramble all transmissions. Fast forward a … Continue reading →

Posted in Peek into my mind | Leave a comment

Vaccination Decision

Posted on February 8, 2015 by sinyaw

I have a very strong position on this question. But this blog is not about the medical merits of vaccination. It is about risk assessment and decision making. We human beings are not capable of evaluating very small probabilities. For … Continue reading →

Posted in Management Thoughts | Leave a comment

SuperBowl Decision

Posted on February 2, 2015 by sinyaw

Yes, I was shocked. Why would Pete Carroll make that play call and lost SuperBowl 49 for SeaHawks? Wouldn’t it be obvious to use the “Beast” to punch through Patriot’s wall and score the game winning touch-down? What was he … Continue reading →

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Point of Impact

Posted on January 25, 2015 by sinyaw

“Is that any good?” I asked my fellow traveler holding Sniper’s Honor. I always favor books reviewed by an actual reader, instead of professional critic. “It’s a good travel book,” he said and I understood perfect. “It is a series … Continue reading →

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Uber Controversy

Posted on January 19, 2015 by sinyaw

Had a lively debate over Uber’s legitimacy the other day. There are two primary points against Uber: Uber evades taxes. The government collects fees and taxes, excessively in some cities, from the taxi industry. These costs are generally transferred to … Continue reading →

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Life After Life

Posted on January 13, 2015 by sinyaw

The brilliant Andrew K. said this book was brilliantly written. He is well read with a good reputation for book recommendations. I put it on my reading list – only to found a long queue at the library for the … Continue reading →

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10 Tips for Better Email at Work

Posted on January 6, 2015 by sinyaw

For 2015, try this for resolution: “Always edit your email at least once.” And its corollary, “Never send out email right after writing it.” Have an informative signature text that includes your full contact data. Avoid Latin quotes, political or … Continue reading →

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My 2014

Posted on December 31, 2014 by sinyaw

Facebook has “my year” automatic services. This is the same 2014 retrospective, the hard (manual) way. This year saw many new babies and firmly established my “grand uncle” status. I tried to train every grand nephews/nieces to call me “Xiao … Continue reading →

Posted in Witness to my life | Leave a comment

Empire of the Pig

Posted on December 25, 2014 by sinyaw

The Economist’s December issue has a startling article on the economy of pig, particularly about its consumption in China: Chinese now eat half of the pork in the world. During my recent trip to Chengdu, we got stuck on the … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Peek into my mind | Leave a comment