Unmovable Culture

The next chapter of Liar game has been out, but unfortunately they stopped at some cliffhanger. =.= But one unexpected development has arose! The naive Nao Kanzaki has suddenly imbibed some brains and a lot of common sense! It is wonderful.

Anyway I was just thinking about a few things after catching up with Mei and asking her about her new job. Apparently her organization has a very different and modern culture, and they try to use that culture to heighten employee creativity and productivity. 

I remember as an intern I used to pay a lot of attention to Merck's efforts to shape a new culture after the merger of Merck and SP. I used to re-read my IA reports (yes I do things like that), and note my own mentions of such efforts. Changing the way people work, and their attitudes toward their work. In my HR lessons we do take note of such things. 

As an intern I noted these efforts, but now as a permanent employee, I notice the difficulties of implementing a new culture on something that has already more or less been hard-set. They've are doing it through the easiest way of implementing change: changing first the behaviors of people before working up to their attitudes and finally their convictions. But it is hard to change attitudes (although you can forcefully change behaviors) when these new changes are initially viewed with skepticism. The discussions of these barriers are very realistic after all, especially when people don't realize the necessity of making changes; or just take them as new fancy names for old things. No wonder now people take personality tests before going into a job. If you're not suited for a certain culture, it would be more useful for the organization as a whole not to hire you despite you having the required core competencies.

I still remember at Year 4 I was seriously contemplating going into HR at some stage of my life. Right now I'm still keeping my options open with regards to that, although I currently enjoy doing something that is related to what I've studied, and gaining new skills and knowledge in the process. But my perceptions of how HR policies are rolled out are now different. I'm glad to be working somewhere that I can observe how these policies of change making are carried forward. And the difficulties they go through. We've been harped through the '12 inclusive behaviors' for a year now, and still, the only behavior people probably really remember (and do not take very seriously) is the first one: 'Say Hello'. That's how difficult it is.

I used to think it was easy to hammer things into people - to get them to understand something or develop certain attitudes that are useful to themselves or to an organization. But I realize now it is very difficult. Visual reminders, examples by leadership, constant mentions and setting them as performance objectives: all these seem to not have their required impacts to move the inertia of the past. And no wonder certain things I've tried to do as a leader in the past has had its hitches. I'd never came up with creative ways to handle such obstacles, nor considered the background of people who are different from me.

May I continue to learn how to be an agent of change through example and be more willing to embrace change myself. Thank God for these lessons I can learn.

Some Comics I've Read

I usually don't go for comics, but I've started off with two.

The first is Gunnerkrigg Court, which I am currently reading. 

http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/index2.php

Jon and Jerome like this quirky comic, and I think it gets better as you go deeper in the story. The plot isn't really stable, I must say; it branches out in different directions. It mainly revolves around a girl, Antimony's, school life in Gunnerkrigg Court, a place where things happen and where advanced scientific technology co-exists with 'ethereal science' (read 'magic'). 

As I said, the plot branches out in side-plots here and then, and I wouldn't say it's a really first class plot, although it's engaging enough. But what really sticks me to reading this is the improved drawings and characterization of Antimony (she gets prettier as she grows up), and the improved graphics. And of course, Antimony's special gifts develop and she learns more about her background and those of the people around her. It's still being updated 3 days a week as of now.

It's weird to say that Antimony's being pretty hooks me to the comic as well as it's storyline, but well, it does.

The second comic which I've read is Liar Game 

(Free chapters here :http://www.mangahere.com/manga/liar_game/)

It is also being updated but they've stopped for a while (on hiatus). I wish they would get up and continue on with it.

In contrary to Gunnerkrigg Court, it is Liar Game's plot that makes this comic superb, rather than the characterization. To be honest, the main character Nao, is so naive and good to others that she is positively irritating. It is the other characters (enter the brainy and charismatic Akiyama, who looks even better in the movie than in the comic) that redeems whatever destruction Nao's character does, and the interesting intellectual and psychological qualities the book provides that makes it a wonderful read. 

The themes of the games are simple enough. Musical chairs. Yes or no votes where minority votes win. All easy-to-understand rules, but you'll be surprised by the amount of intellect and psychological tact required to win, and how the plot develops in most unexpected ways (how many ways can you win musical chairs). The drawing is intricate, and the plot is well thought out. In fact, the plot itself for all the sub-parts of the Liar Games are pure genius. This is by far the most interesting comic I've ever read, because it requires readers to think of solutions out of the box. I do wish the writers get out of hiatus soon. This is too good a work not to be finished.

There's a movie version of the comic out last year (storyline not lifted from any of the comic volumes), and several drama clips in Youtube. The lighting of the movie is quite bad (everything seems to be either dark or too neon-lighted), but the Akiyama is actual quite good looking as well as brainy. He's Mable's type of cool guy. 

Backdates

I haven't been blogging for a long time because my mind has been jumbled up by a massive amount of things. I've decided to mention bits and pieces of them here.

With regards to going home with Jon

Almost two weeks plus ago Jon volunteered to go home with me. Or rather his mum volunteered that he did so that I won't have to go home alone. So we chose the KTM option instead of my usual coach to reach home earlier, and of course KTM had to be late. But we had a lovely time home staying at Ah Gong's house and talked a lot. Of course Daddy, Ah Gong and Po Po had to stuff Jon up and we had to keep reminding them that he was not a Uni student with a constant need to eat any more. Jon's parents came down too, and they finally tried the Longkang Mee which proved to be a bit of a disappointment. Then we went to church too, and all the aunties in church crowded round and said that it's good to be attached, and Jon has put on weight. Altogether it was a lovely trip and I miss Tampin now. 

With regards to the Renggit Seafood Trip with Simon

This is my first (and last, I suppose) food trip with Simon (plus two Jons and one Geri) before he goes to the US. It is also, so far, the most expensive meal I've paid for myself. Still, with a lobster mountain and crab mountain, I guess such expenses should be expected. Besides eating we did many things in one day! :) Shopped for Uncle Ivan's Batam ministry, visited the beach (I forgot the name of the resort next to it), walked a bit at Johor Premium Outlet, had dinner and played a few rounds of Dixit. I'm still amused and amazed by the possibilities of Dixit by the way. Super action packed. Also after coming back Jon and I had a short catch-up with Wayne. It's sort of an annual Wayne-back from HK thingy. It was a little too short for a reunion though, but it was better than nothing. I just realized how terribly fast paced HK working life is. 10 days of annual leave not being able to spend all for fear of the workload lying in front of you when you're back!

With regards to work
Yes, I'm rather too wrapped up in my work environment. It's sort of like my favorite conversation topic with Jon now, poor thing. I like my colleagues and routine responsibilities, still. But I can't say I'm the same intern, or even the same new employee that started off happily to work here now. I have become less innocently positive as I have been before. I learned to care less about people's perceptions of me. If you do that too much you tend to get hurt in this way or another. I have learned to tread carefully and sensitively around people's feelings. I have learned, sadly, who are the ones that bravely and honestly stand out for you, and who are the ones that would rather keep quiet to avoid issues from branching out. I have felt what it is like to be suspected of doing something wrong, a suspicion that is there, yet not voiced out due to lack of proof. I have learned to be thankful that eventually my name was cleared, something that may not have fortunately occurred if not for a friend. I have learned to view people more objectively instead of being wrapped up by warm and fuzzy first impressions.

I have learned a lot. But there is still more to learn.

With regards to everything in general
I just realize I'm a person that processes everything in the head. Go into intrinsic depths. Go into immense satisfaction by having attained the understanding of those depths. But nothing comes back out. Nothing much. Except, maybe an output of analysis of those thoughts. Some writings in a blog (this one).

I need knowledge, I need understanding, I need things to get into my head and then work into my heart. But can they work into my hands too? And my feet? Only with the Spirit's strength, they can. But how much am I giving myself to the Spirit?

I just love these two quotes from Pastor Mike's audio sermons:

1. It's not how much you have of the Holy Spirit (you had all of Him when you were saved). It is how much the Holy Spirit has of you!
2. Every time you are tempted, say, "God, thank you for giving me a chance to prove to You I love You." (James 1:12)

Please Dear God, work these thoughts from my head, to my heart, and let them be seen through my hands and feet. 

Hunger Games Watched

I've finally went to watch Hunger Games last week. Had not planned to watch it initially because I felt that there's no way violence can be subtle and yet be true to the book. However one of my colleagues asked me out, and because I was curious on how the movie actually turned out (the were actually many good reviews) and since another of my colleagues had complained that it was 'not violent enough' as expected, I went to watch the movie at the Cathay anyway.

Anyway I'm glad I went. The violent scenes weren't too blatant (although the cruelty it meant to portray still went through). Casting was good. Jennifer Lawrence was a top notch choice to portray Katniss Everdeen. I was a bit doubtful with the casting for Peeta Mallark at first but in the end I think Josh Hutcherson managed to portray the Peeta whom I liked in the book. It was Lawrence (Katniss) that anchored the show of course (as it was in the book), but Hutcherson as Peeta was really not bad. 

Jennifer Lawrence really made Katniss awesome. In fact I think I preferred Katniss in the movie to Katniss in the book. Partially because the movie was simplified into something less emotionally complicated, and the plot was easier to understand. And because Katniss' motives weren't so diverged. They didn't show the bittersweet ending though, which makes it a bit hard to link to the sequel (I feel). 

*Movie spoiler alert*

One of the things that really touched me (kind of) was the attention they paid to the detail of the costumes. Without the costume and the designs of art, the world-building of the Capitol on screen wouldn't be so realistic. It really amazed me that the movie could come so close to my initial imagination of Capitol. The outlandish colour schemes, the dressings, and most of all, Katniss and Peeta's opening costume (the one with fake fire). I must say I was very moved by the production team's effort when they came out in that chariot with their capes lit up. It was totally the best moment of the whole movie for me - to see something from your imagination just come alive on the wide screen. It's the first time I've ever had this feeling watching a movie adapted from a book. Never thought it possible.

Of course there were a few weak points, but they were IMO pardonable. The Katniss 'Girl on Fire' theme didn't feel as forceful as it should be. Rue's time and character building was altogether too short, and there wasn't enough time for me to really like her properly. I had liked Thresh in the book, but I guess it's really asking for too much to have me like him in the movie here due to time limitations. I wish there was more emotional scenes of Peeta too. 

I kind of like the theme song for this movie too (too bad it wasn't played in the film). I never thought Taylor Swift could write a song of this genre. It is titled 'Safe and Sound', and it just sounds like something Katniss might sing to Prim. 

I think I can play this song now :)

Btw do watch the movie if you haven't yet. I think first-timers who have no experience with the book will like it too. In fact the book feels a little too melancholic for me now I have re-read it. I wonder if there will be movie sequels. I didn't really enjoy the sequels in the books, although I liked the first book. Still it would be interesting to see how they are interpreted on-screen.