January 2011
2 posts
A Spoon & A Keyboard
Their is no simplicity. Thing are just deceivingly simple to use or acquire. I type on this “simple” keyboard on my smartphone for which the accumulated hardware and software engineering spanning many fields of science and generations of scientists would require me more than a life time to comprehend. I eat with a simple spoon for which if I were required to produce, starting from...
A Spoon & A Keyboard
Their is no simplicity. Thing are just deceivingly simple to use or acquire. I type on this “simple” keyboard on my smartphone for which the accumulated hardware and software engineering spanning many fields of science and generations of scientists would require me more than a life time to comprehend. I eat with a simple spoon for which if I were required to produce, starting from...
October 2010
4 posts
Presenting Controversial Ideas
I’ve noted that cutting edge thought is controversial by definition. This is because it goes against conventional wisdom and/o set boundaries. But this doesn’t mean that it should not be presented or discussed. Information is a lagging indicator of reality. To produce Information, it must be registered, gathered as data, analysed, and tested. Some people, for various reasons and...
Turn 90 Degrees
A person that focuses on his weaknesses is much like a knife that is being used by it’s broadside. If turned only 90 degrees and used by its sharp edge, the situation changes completely, and it becomes a much more potent tool. In many cases, we have strengths within that require only a minor adjustment to surface and be utilized. In many cases, our weaknesses are necessary for our...
Holding A Grudge
Posted via email from Khalid’s Stream | Comment »
A Closed Frame of Thought
These ants will rotate like this until they die. Each one will follow the one ahead until they parish. Some people’s frame of thought is like this. Their frame of thought doesn’t allow any new stream of contrary notions to penetrate … by design. We would do well to listen to others and most importantly to the feeble voice within. Posted via email from Khalid’s...
September 2010
1 post
Nice Quote
“Getting lost will help you find yourself”. Posted via email from Khalid’s Stream | Comment »
April 2010
4 posts
What The Hell is This America!
</object> Posted via email from Khalid’s Stream | Comment »
Class Management
<div class=”prezi-player”><style type=”text/css” media=”screen”>.prezi-player { width: 550px; } .prezi-player-links { text-align: center; }</style><div class=”prezi-player-links”><p>Class Management on Prezi</p></div></div> Posted via email from Khalid’s Stream | Comment »
On the IPad
As a result of introducing the IPad, there is a debate going on in the inner web about the pros and cons of open vs. closed platforms. You can read more on this here and here.I kind of think that with the introduction of the IPhone and the IPad, a seismic shift has occurred. What is happening is normal; people are just trading off what they just want for what they really need to gain significant...
Untitled
“You can’t just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they’ll want something new.”Steve Jobs Posted via email from Khalid’s Stream | Comment »
March 2010
1 post
Leveraging the Virtual Classroom for Effective...
This is the title of a video from the UMBC Youtube channel which is basically about research on what works and what doesn’t in eLearning. Here are some of the most important points: Visuals =Learning is almost the same regardless of medium (computers, print, instructor-led) ; the only increase occurs when using appropriate techniques (demos, practice, examples, etc.) and aids...
February 2010
2 posts
Change Something
Posted via email from Khalid’s Stream | Comment »
Spelling It Out
Sometimes there is a certain idea lingering in my mind that is still not well defined; it is still far way and vague to my mind’s eye. I’ve noticed when I write or talk about it, starts to come closer and become more vivid. Believe it or not, this article was vague before I started to write it a few moments ago, but now it becoming more vivid. The reason, I guess, is when you say...
January 2010
3 posts
Why Islam Works Across Cultures
Islam has spread in all continents and many, many cultures. By some accounts, it is the fastest growing religion in the world and particularly in the USA. It is doing especially well in Texas! Think about that for a minute. An area known for its religious conservatism in a country that was struck by 9/11 is adopting Islam notably! I’ve even read some title about a family that was a victim...
A Peek Behind The Curtain
I feel that we live in many worlds. Although, every one lives in his own world, they coexist in the same plain. They have distinct currencies, laws, peoples, hierarchies, cultures, and values. If only we could use a dye to color these worlds to start to see how people interact, which person is living in what world, the laws they live by, what each world values…get a peek behind the curtain...
Knowing It All!
Some supervisors think they know it all. This is a problem at two levels: the macro and the micro. At the macro level, they fail to realize that everyone has a tendency to build self-containing systems and theories. They build a theory that works well enough and which they think represents reality. The problem is that in many cases it really doesn’t represent the entire picture. I’ve noted...
December 2009
3 posts
Jeddeh Flash Flood
A short time into the video, you will start to see the cars passing by like logs in a river. Unbelievable!</object> Posted via email from Khalid’s Stream | Comment »
Encoding Issue with Python 3.1 cp720 with Arabic...
Click here to download: cp720.py (13 KB) I’m running windows vista (Arabic Enabled) and have python 3.1 installed. When I try to run python form the command line by typing python to whichever path I have there (in my case:C:\users\KE>) or I when change the path to the directory that contains python 31 and enter python (c:\python31>), it just...
Posion
We will do well to learn from doctors that even poison can be used as medicine if applied to the right ailment. Posted via email from Khalid’s Stream | Comment »
November 2009
7 posts
Registering Reality
I’ve noticed that sometimes I deny certain aspects of reality because it doesn’t fit with my mental model of reality or as certain part of it. This is, of course, wrong. A person should be able register all aspects of reality wither he understands it or not. It seems to me that this is a natural tendency as it sometimes requires rethinking they way you understand things.
Posted via...
A Leader is Like Air
A leader should be like air: transparent and unseen, yet a vital source for other’s success and an organization’s life. Posted via email from Khalid’s Stream | Comment »
Real & Organic Administration
’ve been thinking about two concepts related to leadership and management: Real and Organic. I’ve noticed that effective leadership and management have a real and organic nature to them; but I write this entry to note that both elements correspond well with established aspects of management (and life, for that matter); those aspects are Focus and Execution.
“Real” management has to do with...
Identfying the Few Key Objectives
In a complex organization it is considered quite enough for a manager to identify the few key objectives, formulate and good plan, and execute it. Otherwise, more would be less. Posted via email from Khalid’s Stream | Comment »
Too Many Directives
One of the problems that I notice with managers is that they issue too many directives. This tendency is simply too much to contain or maintain. This approach has several negative side effects: · It deteriorates an administrators influence over time because he won’t be able to follow-up on everything. · It disempowers his subordinates as they will have no time to focus on their...
Disfunctional Management
I’ve attended lots of meetings and worked with several managers, I’ve noticed that there is lots of motion, but little progress. This applies to individual managers (me included) as well to whole administrative entities.By motion I mean such things as meetings, projects, targets, visions, committees, plans, etc. And by progress I mean actual results. Sometimes, I see managers trying to...
Knowledge vs. the Conceptual
Sometimes raw brain power or theorizing is no substitute for knowledge and experience. In theory, lots of scenarios are possible, but in reality, either they simply don’t exist, or only few are feasible. Flying polka-dot elephants are theoretically possible, but they don’t exist! The fact of the matter is that experience and knowledge anchor you in reality and acquaint you with the...
October 2009
3 posts
Google: A Company That is Doing It Right
Google keeps generating great new stuff in a consistent flow of innovation and value. I was just looking into one of its latest services, its new navigation system and it has so many great features for FREE. The fact of the matter is that Google is outperforming companies with its non-core business in their core business. For example, in my opinion, Chrome is better than IE or FF, Android (and...
The Dilemma of the Knowledge Worker
When working with the knowledge worker (who gets more specialized as we get deeper into the knowledge age by the way) you are faced with a dilemma as a supervisor or manager. He knows more than you do! In other words, you can’t tell:
· If he’s doing the right thing.
· If he has done the right thing correctly or not.
· If there is a better way for doing the right...
Adolf Hitler's Oratory Ability
</object> I’m not much for Adolf Hitler or what he stood for, but I post this video to note his great oratory ability. I mean you get excited just by listening to him without knowing what he is saying. Try listening without reading the subtitles. Many criminals have great abilities and are brilliant in their own right If only it were used constructively. Posted via email from...
September 2009
32 posts
1 tag
The Galaxy Within
We have so much inside us that we don’t understand.
We deal with most things on a very superficial level, including ourselves. No one cares how a computer works, how electricity comes to the home, how medicines are created, how our eyes see, or for that matter, how the my county is functioning to provide me security and a working economy, and for many, how we were created and why we are...
On Constraints
Allah the almighty tells the prophet (sala Allahu alaihi wa salam) to say, “if I knew the unseen, I would gather more fortunes”.
Once I was talking to my brother, Majid, and he mentioned a very interesting idea the basic concept of which was that if we could calculate the exact location of cars in roads and highways, it wouldn’t matter how fast cars went because we were...
WatchA summary of a project we did at work. The topic might not be of interest, but you might find the methodology useful. If it doesn’t work, you can view it here.
1 tag
Competition is Easy... If You Have the Money.
I was just thinking of how the telecom companies here in Saudi are competing. Some of them have a certain advantage. For example, STC’s position enables it to deliver a value proposition to its customers that the rest just can’t.
Anyway, I was thinking how difficult it is for these companies to slug it out; each wanting to do one better than the other. But then I thought that,...
“A man begins cutting his wisdom teeth the first time he bites off more than he...”
– Herb Caen
Organizational "Labs"
Following Google Labs, Adobe Labs, etc., why don’t we have a platform for employees in our organizations to try out things in a kind of “labs” environment. The things they try out don’t have to work, but they should have the potential to.
This platform would:
increase buy-in and involvement by the empoyees
potential increase profit and/or reduce loss due to innovation...
“Many of us are like football players that are playing great, but in the wrong...”
– Anonymous
Silent Evidence
We see the criminals that are caught, but no one publicizes the ones that are not. We see the businesses that are successful, but not the many that don’t succeed. We see the ones that reach the 90s, but not the many that don’t. We feel confident of what we know, but don’t allow room for error in our knowledge for the vast amount that we don’t know. We talk about our...
Children are Our Ore
Children represent us in our most basic and true form, before the pretence of knowledge, power, importance and all we think we own.
If only they knew Allah, they would be great worshippers as they would inherently realize the urgency of their need.
Google Wave: You need to pay attention to this. -... →
Suspending Thoughts
when I’m researching something, I usually use suspension of thoughts and ideas.
this is kinda like one of those shopping carts in Amazon where you see something you like, but you are not sure if you are willing to buy it, so you store it for later.
sometimes the ideas are from me, and sometimes they are from others.
anyway, I’ve found it to be very useful for getting the full...
“I learn by listening to myself”
– Peter F. Drucker
Here
embracing our weakness leads to strengh
admitting our weakness can be very liberating. in fact, it can strengthen us.
I remember a saying by Peter Drucker where he says that weakening a certain part of engine can boost its performance.
when we acknowledge our weakness we can focus on what we are good at, and give room for others to excel in what we are weak in and fill the void. we just can’t be everything. inter-dependence is...
many posts today... →
I’m getting many posts in today because this light blogging service make you so productive..
you don’t have to think things in detail and gather all you thoughts; just post what comes to mind.
actually, I’ve been going over my blog and doing some spring cleaning by going over the drafts that I’ve never had the energy or time to finish and just doing some minor editing and...