Splendid! This word best describes Ravi Zacharias speaking engagement. He skillfully uses powerful words to describe heretowith unknown and even abstract philosophical ideas. He then expertly weave the concepts with bibilical passages forming a solid bedrock of convincing arguments debaters pale in comparison!
A thought-provoking sermon he recently made, which I agree half heartedly, is on the topic of 21st century "visual stimulation".
Apparently in our generation today, we are plagued by ever increasing shift to image-induced stimulation. This, he said, inhibits abstract reasoning! Reasoning which is highly essential for mathematical and logical development. He added that studies showed younger generation lacking the rigors of logical reasoning simply because their minds are more receptive to earlier stimulants such as media advertisment, computer graphics, magazines, prints etc.
On the other hand, most public speaking books that I have came across talks about the 'visualize it' approach in media communication. "Picture it" is the battlecry! And this runs directly into a collision path with what Ravi is arguing.
I tend to agree with Ravi a fair bit. Specifically these days. I find it very difficult to communicate to kids without resorting to drawing objects! In the end, perhaps a healthy balance of words and visual images would render the message being communicated more powerful!! Digital cameras anyone?
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Monday, April 24, 2006
Exhorbitant ex-CEO Pay Package
I read in the business week magazine an ex-Morgan Stanley Bank CEO obtained a mind-boggling US$100M+ pay package for being fired! The lucky guy's name is Philip Purcell. Over at the web, a similar article reads "Philip Purcell's golden parachute has a platinum lining".
Overpaid? Perhaps. Well-deserved? Maybe. Googling his biography however, the guy's a whiz kid! Or so it appears. After earning his MBA and MS in Finance at London School of Economics, he became the youngest principal of a consulting firm. This apparently propelled and prepared his way to Wall Street.
Somehow, this kind of overachievers getting the best end of the bargain is ludicrous!
Overpaid? Perhaps. Well-deserved? Maybe. Googling his biography however, the guy's a whiz kid! Or so it appears. After earning his MBA and MS in Finance at London School of Economics, he became the youngest principal of a consulting firm. This apparently propelled and prepared his way to Wall Street.
Somehow, this kind of overachievers getting the best end of the bargain is ludicrous!
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Of Theatrical Sermons
There is something magical to a Holy spirit-led and delivered sermon. One can immediately discern whether the message is meant to its intended audience. Often, when one is relying on his/her own capabilities, chances of the congregation being 'blessed' by the speaker is slim.
However, there is great news!
Relying on GOD and letting the spirit guide and lead the speaker is the trick. Easier said than done! It is but an age-old practice only a battle-worn preacher would know. Today, I just witnessed one - comparing a gifted from a mediocre to the theatrical rendition of GOD's Word. It's a pity! But hey, folks need bread to be laid on their mealtables too, you know.
However, there is great news!
Relying on GOD and letting the spirit guide and lead the speaker is the trick. Easier said than done! It is but an age-old practice only a battle-worn preacher would know. Today, I just witnessed one - comparing a gifted from a mediocre to the theatrical rendition of GOD's Word. It's a pity! But hey, folks need bread to be laid on their mealtables too, you know.
Global Dimming
Yep. This is the latest "breakthrough idea" our good-natured climatolist have come up with. Funny, after global warming, a phenomenon where emitted CO2 gases engulfing our atmosphere is trapping the heat on earth - hence warming it, here comes now global dimming!
Scientist further studied and proven that the sun's rays have not been 100% efficient. Additionally, it is being partially blocked for over 30 years now! The reason they say is dust and pollutants circling the earth. Having identified these as the culprit behind global dimming, the rate of evaporation they added, has slowed for the last 3 decades.
Oh well, what else is new? Global cooling?
Scientist further studied and proven that the sun's rays have not been 100% efficient. Additionally, it is being partially blocked for over 30 years now! The reason they say is dust and pollutants circling the earth. Having identified these as the culprit behind global dimming, the rate of evaporation they added, has slowed for the last 3 decades.
Oh well, what else is new? Global cooling?
Financial Intelligence
Over the last 3 days, I have painstakingly taught my 10- year old son some finance principles and concepts. My immediate problem was how to go down to his level and introduce concepts which has has no idea how to apply i.e stock market principles and the like.
Several sittings in front of his computer later, we managed to pick 3 blue chip stock. I introduced the game fondly called 'monitor your stock' to him. I got a lukewarm response at the beginning.
At the end of a 3-day barrage of stock price upswings, I finally saw glitter in his eyes when all 3 choices we made earned x points!! To top of it all, I had him summarize 3 key points he learned from the excercise. I figured he hit the nail on the spot!
If only my dad used the same approach as I did. Well, only time will tell whether the concepts my son learned from me this week bears fruit. Patience is indeed a virtue!
Several sittings in front of his computer later, we managed to pick 3 blue chip stock. I introduced the game fondly called 'monitor your stock' to him. I got a lukewarm response at the beginning.
At the end of a 3-day barrage of stock price upswings, I finally saw glitter in his eyes when all 3 choices we made earned x points!! To top of it all, I had him summarize 3 key points he learned from the excercise. I figured he hit the nail on the spot!
If only my dad used the same approach as I did. Well, only time will tell whether the concepts my son learned from me this week bears fruit. Patience is indeed a virtue!
Of Neurons and Old Age
Just as I was finishing off my new posts-I miserably forgot to log down my hard-earned password!! Ah, seems like my memory is failing me. Or, perhaps it has something to do with the active neurons still kicking in my brain. Just how many neurons dying at this very moment-only my wired-up brain would know.
Which reminds me of my former university professor-a self-confessed beer-lover. Approximately 1 million brain neurons die as a resulf of drinking a single bottle of beer. He shunned the idea, obviously!
Only to remind us he'd rather lost his train of thought than to give up the 'memorable and savory' taste of beer! What a photographic memory!
Which reminds me of my former university professor-a self-confessed beer-lover. Approximately 1 million brain neurons die as a resulf of drinking a single bottle of beer. He shunned the idea, obviously!
Only to remind us he'd rather lost his train of thought than to give up the 'memorable and savory' taste of beer! What a photographic memory!
Saturday, April 22, 2006
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