Any Colour You Like

There are constant (and somewhat annaoying) debates about whether climate change is really happening. The best way to tell in my opinion that I read recently involves long periods of ‘record collecting’ and the harmonic series. What is he on about you may wonder?

Take an example. Annual rainfall in the UK. Data collection began in 1748 and clearly that year will have experienced record levels of rainfall by default. If rainfall is a random event unaltered by humans then the next year there is a 50 – 50 chance of there being a new record. Year three will have a 1 in 3 chance and so on. It turns out that the expected number of record years follows the harmonic series i.e. 1+(1/2)+(1/3)+(1/4)+(1/5)…+(1/n) up to the number of years we have been keeping track. This clearly grows very slowly and in the 256ish years since 1748 we would expect 6.12 record years. This was fine up untill 2004 but has started going significantly awry…

I found the following post on an internal GE message board and found it interesting:

What is the right formula for self-confidence?

In order to succeed in life you must have self-confidence. Self-confidence is the amount of ones belief in ones ability. That’s great, but how does this work? Do I need to believe in myself more or do I need to acquire more skill or both.

Let’s consider believing in myself. How far can that take me? Can it compensate for a lack of skill? The answer is yes. We have all witnessed people in sports, business, etc., achieve beyond their capabilities. We call them over achievers. However, are they able to sustain a high level of performance? The answer is most cannot. They have had their 15 minutes of fame.

Let’s consider ones ability. How far can this take me? Can it compensate for a lack of belief in ones self? The answer is yes. We have all witnessed people in sports, business, etc., who trained and worked hard to achieve success. We call this the American Way. Can people continue to succeed on hard work alone?

There is one common denominator that is implied in the formula for self-confidence. It is success. You have heard it said, “Success breeds success.” However, success is not possible without self-confidence. That brings us back to the original question, how does this work.

The definition suggests the amount of ones belief is the key. If so, how do I assure that I have the right amount of belief. If I have less ability, do I need more belief and vice versa. I think we all struggle, some more than others, believing in our abilities. That is probably a good thing because if we did not, self-confidence would be replaced with arrogance.

It’s a really great concept. A group of enthusiastic people take over an abandoned building, bring along a random missmatch of furniture, candles and cutlery and set up shop. Or should I say kitchen. They then distribute invitations to partake of fine cuisine via blogs and texts. Just before they open you get a message telling you when the restaurant will be and for how long. You then go along and enjoy a three course meal and leave a donation afterwards.

The food was good if somewhat weird, but definately ambitious. Pigs head stew and ‘wet’ paella…

Eeek, I have been neglecting this blog majorly again. Only excuse – too much work. Anyway, I took some time out this weekend to go and see Elley and Avenue Q in London and it was hysterical. Go see it, especially people with a dave like sense of humour!

It is -10ºC and a brand new year. A brand new decade and so much is going to be new this coming year. Different, scary, exciting, a good mixture I hope…

My five years at uni are quickly running out (less than half a year to go!) and I can’t believe dad is already discussing graduation plans and dates. I am also going to break my longest standing principle at Easter by prioritising work over a holiday. I have never ever ever done that before, and it is going to break my heart sending twelve eager souls off to Tarifa South Spain for the annual kitesurfing trip with out being one of them. A few weeks from now I will be handing over my society presidency for the same reason. But at least it is one of the things I am most proud of from my years at university. I am pretty sure I have sacrificed the odd percent of a grade here and there for my society involvement but it has been worth it several times over. Incidentally, not dancing this year has been killing me slowly and painfully so I have decided to pass on the kitsurfing but take on some kind of dance class one night a week. I am feeling so stale these days without enough regular sport. I also hope to practice with Sammy again a bit next term and enter an open ballroom competition for a bit of fun before the deadlines come crashing down.

Did I say I was skipping holidays? Well that is a lie because in a few hours I am leaving for Austria will Elley and her parents and sister and sister’s fiancé. The snow isn’t great but it hopefully will be by the time we get there. Europes biggest interconnected ski resort – bring it on!

And then when I get back it is jobs. I have a visit to DCA design to prepare myself for an interview and I need to ring up GE Research in Munich and ask them to get a move on and make a decision. I also hope to be able to approach a product design agency in london with an offer from DCA in hand and try and bribe them into hiring me. All of this whilst doing my IEE and project work. It is going to be busy… especially since I will be visiting Elley in London lots. And especially now she has a tea pot!

Happy New Year everyone =)

Google have recently posted a note on open software, open information and the open internet. It finally explains a fair amount about the business model of Android – something which has mystified many for quite some time – and is generally good reading if you such way inclined…

It was super great to get nearly everyone in one place round Orsi’s on Saturday. I still can’t believe someone fished out photos from the ball, Barcelona, Prague and all the other weird stuff we have been upto throughout the years. Looking at those, I definately need to get my hair cut soon! Thanks everyone, it wasn’t so hard to sort out so we should so it again.

For some reason Wills Memorial is green tonight

Hmm, not much written here in a long time. Very bad. Needless to say I am projecting like mad, kitesurfing like crazy and have booked an epic snowbaord holiday for after New Year. Speaking of… I hope people are around in Malmö for NYeve =)