Light of Day

By 7:00 pm, the sky has already turned dark. It serves as a good reminder that Fall is here, and that the string of holidays is just about to begin. I actually never liked this time of year. Besides the holidays, I only associate Fall with cold and wet weather, and of course, darkness. I'll wake up in the morning with a dark sky, and then I leave work with a dark sky. It always feels like I've been stuck in the building all day long without seeing the light of day. The only thing I like is the extra sleeping hour, which I especially appreciate lately.

I've just been promoted to a new position and to a new department. As in all new things, there is a learning curve. However, I feel like my grace period is a short one...it seems like everyone is expecting me to pick things up and know enough to answer any questions that come my way, now. It's hard to juggle with the unfamiliar and the unknown. I have been putting in extra hours to do "homework" (work-at-home). I am hoping that my 14-hour days will prepare me enough to run this new position smoothly. And eventually, my goal is to have my hard work pay off in getting me back to normal working hours. Despite the sky turning darker earlier, I really do want to see the light of day, work-wise.

Everyday I get over 100 emails in my inbox. Unfortunately, about 99% of them are junk. But once in a while, I do receive an email or two that just makes me smile. No, I am not referring to those recycled jokes that get circulated over and over again. I’m talking about a personal email from an old friend, a picture of a newborn baby, or simply an invitation to a get-together. Today, I got an email from a friend relaying such good news that brighten my day. That’s why-- as much as I hate getting those annoying junk emails, I still look forward to opening my inbox everyday to find one or two of those special emails that will make me smile.

Gun Control and the Right to Bear Arms

I am so angry to learn that the federal ban on semi-automatic weapons expired yesterday. I'm especially mad at lawmakers in Congress who didn't make it a priority or have the initative to renew the ban. Now it is legal in some states for people to buy weapons such as AK47's and UZI's. The legislation, drafted by Senator Dianne Feinstein in 1994, came about when a disgrunted man shot and killed people in a law office at 101 California. The tragedies of sniper attacks in the Washington DC in 2002 and the Columbine High School masscre in 1999 were also results of people using these assault weapons. Now, with the federal ban lifted, it's easier than ever to obtain the dangerous weapons.

The 2nd amendment of the Constitution states that people in this country has the "right to bear arms." This, I get. No doubt about it. I understand that people should have the right to possess a gun for self-defense and for gaming. However, why do these people need to have semi-automatic weapons that can fire hundreds of bullets in a few seconds? Weapons that can pierce through a policeman's bullet-proof vest? Weapons that can kill scores of people? There is absolutely no reason and need for that at all. Why should any sane individual need to have a weapon that can do so much damage? The advocates for the legalization of these weapons are the gun manufacturers who want more business. Worse is that we also have those lawmakers who care more about campaign contributions than the welfare of their constituents.

The Brady Campaign Organization is a strong supporter and leader in preventing gun violence. Their website contains a lot of useful information and it includes a "scorecard" of how the individual Representative voted in relation to gun control. I would urge everyone to check out the website to find how your rep voted, and that you let him/her know your thoughts on this very important subject.

The Art of Negotiating

I dedicate this posting to the art of negotiating. Not until recently did I realize how often do we need to utilize this skill and how difficult it is to actually be successful at it. Everyday in our lives, we have situations where we are faced with someone who doesn't think like us and that a mutual decision needs to be made. Whether the case is to get a company to offer you a better compensation package, or to get your spouse to agree on a DVD rental, the list is endless. How can we be able to win the concession without getting into a nasty fight or damaging the relationship? No, of course, I do not know the answer. Thank goodness there are experts on this very subject.

Most people might think that in order to win at a table of negotiations, you have to be good at persuasion and good at influencing others to accept your opinion and choice. Or you can be so powerful that you can bully the other party in accepting your terms. I have been reading Herb Cohen's Negotiate This!, a self-improvement book on tips on how to be successful at negotiating. Among all his valuable insights, I took this piece of advice to heart-- "Always view yourself as a problem-solver, " he said, "and search for creative alternatives to satisfy both sides' real concerns and interests." In any situation, I learned that there is always more than just a black and white solution. It's never only my way OR your way. It can be a combination of both your way AND my way. The trick is to find the right combination and develop from there. And that is what I believe the art of negotiating is all about.