Author Archives: sinyaw

More teachers, not less

Posted on June 1, 2010 by sinyaw

In Collapse, Jared Diamond explored the possible reasons civilizations chose the path leading to their own demise. There were societies that lived in plentiful and nature will provide them forever. Yet, without external interferences, such as natural disasters or foreign … Continue reading →

Posted in Peek into my mind | Leave a comment

No Downhill Please

Posted on May 26, 2010 by sinyaw

Sun seduced me to run outside. Temperature seemed friendly, so I laced up and went. As an obsessive planner, I plotted my route first: go north on Olive, it turns into John, turn right on 15th, and turn right on … Continue reading →

Posted in Witness to my life | 1 Comment

Arizona

Posted on May 22, 2010 by sinyaw

Arizona stands among these united states like Ugly Betty in a cheerleader squad. They didn’t observe Marin Luther King’s birthday, they don’t change to daylight saving time, and now they passed the laws that are unfriendly to immigrants. Americans did … Continue reading →

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China’s Domicile Registration System: HuKou

Posted on May 17, 2010 by sinyaw

Years ago, I wrote about China’s HuKou systems. I compared that to U.S.’s immigration policy, only applied to China’s own citizens. Several weeks ago, the Economist had an article on the same subject. What saddened me most is its the … Continue reading →

Posted in China | Leave a comment

On the road again

Posted on May 12, 2010 by sinyaw

Was it a Willie Nelson song? Business trips are the time I read and write at personal level, since I am alone and had time for introspection. A colleague talked about her family. Her husband is in Utah operating a … Continue reading →

Posted in Witness to my life | 3 Comments

An Unique Compensation System

Posted on April 30, 2010 by sinyaw

People respond to incentives, said Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner of Freakonomics and SuperFreakonomics. How does a company incentivize people to stay loyal and align with the company’s goals? A Chinese company figured this out. This unique system is probably … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Management Thoughts | 2 Comments

To Seattle, with Link

Posted on April 24, 2010 by sinyaw

The best way to come in town is via the Link Light Rail system, if you can drag your luggage through about 600 meters or so paved and sheltered path. That’s less than half a mile. After you get leave … Continue reading →

Posted in Seattle, Tour guides | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

City Slicker

Posted on April 19, 2010 by sinyaw

Sunday, 8am, woke up hungry. The refrigerator was empty, like the rest of the apartment. I needed to feed. Internet showed the way. So I braved into Seattle’s cool morning and find Bauhaus Books and Coffee. The street sign said, … Continue reading →

Posted in Tour guides, Witness to my life | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Boot Camp

Posted on April 16, 2010 by sinyaw

“Stop, or I am going to fall,” I commanded my legs that had gone independent. They are moving roughly according to my will, but not exactly. I willed them to move in sync to the way my weight was shifting, … Continue reading →

Posted in Witness to my life | 3 Comments

Emerald City

Posted on April 9, 2010 by sinyaw

Had I not live in Beijing for three years, I wouldn’t have dared to re-pot myself again. Five years ago, I had an anxiety attack on that final “one-way-trip” to Beijing with the entire family in tow. I was leaping … Continue reading →

Posted in Tour guides, Witness to my life | Tagged | 1 Comment