本書是英國《Financial Times》上的專欄收錄而成，Tim Harford的妙筆生花把經濟學變簡單了！平易近人的字句，讓人竊笑的巧思文筆，將經濟學的想法帶入我們日常生活的抉擇中。一般人對於經濟學家的印象，不外乎是滿口數學，叨念著眾人一看就會頭痛的數學統計論證。但是Tim Harford轉換了這個刻板觀念。讓我們知道，經濟學也是可以用來解決生活中的事情，也很好理解。畢竟，所有的學問，都該是用來解決問題的，不是嗎？Steven D. Levitt和Stephen J. Dubner合著的『蘋果橘子經濟學 – Freakomomics』也是這麼一本讓人有同樣感覺的書。（註：Freakomomics的統計數據比較多，本書都是直接採用結果。）
愛情過招，工作職場，養兒育女和婚姻，交友與嗜好，瑣事和困擾我們的選擇。這本書裡通通都有解答，呃………或許不是你想要的解答，不過倒是給我一種新視界。畢竟我們也都知道，傳統和約定俗成不一定是對的。書中的解法，至少對我來說是比傳統有說服力。也具有紮實的經濟學理論和研究論證。每每打破傳統的判斷，總是讓人有種莫名奇妙的衝動。每篇回信的最後，Tim都會以一個切題的形容詞來形容自己這次的回答。這是我覺得頗詼諧的地方。本書也算是簡單地把經濟學的東西帶入了我的生活中。雖然仔細想了一下會有點銅臭味，但，沒辦法，誰讓經濟學是以完全理性為出發點呢？
至於內容，因為是一篇篇的短專欄，寫在這裡就會ネタバレ了。再者，書中並沒有一致的主題。我根本不知道從哪下手。
這本書可以推一下，我個人覺得還不錯。很輕鬆的一本書。
2011年11月13日 星期日
2011年11月2日 星期三
2011-11-02 「職涯の相談」
今天遇到個同事來找我做職涯の相談，感覺還蠻有趣的。跟同事這樣聊聊也不錯，交流討論一下人生經驗。
今年這是第2位同事來找我相談了，兩位都有不淺的資歷了。只是目前面臨轉變或是有點迷惑，希望找些人給點建議，或者說從我這邊找到支持自己選擇的理由和尋求慰藉(？)。台灣的半導體產業跟國外不太一樣，國外的工程師或是Technician往往都可以任職到20~30年，甚至退休。台灣這邊大概10年左右就到頂了，5～6年沒撈到管理職，運氣不好可能會面臨到中年轉業的問題。新血進公司“正常”的狀況下，培育個2~3年就可以成為可用的技術資源。這樣的狀況下，安於現狀在我看來不是個好事，應該多爭取一些機會來增加自己的經驗，以突顯出差別。這樣說好了，一樣的能力，要用便宜的還是貴的？更別說貴的可能會有嬌懶之氣。
什麼機會呢? 例如當基層管理職、接專案、搞物料、玩工安等等較為通用的知識領域。總之盡量減少在你的技術領域上面浪費的青春年華，把時間放在別的領域發展學習。遞減效應會發生在技術領域鑽研，就像碩士比學士難以拿到一樣（拿到了也沒有足以讓你繼續鑽研的資源）。2～3年工程師資歷可以培養出不錯底子的技術領域知識，足以當作轉向其他知識領域的基礎。但也不是完全將技術領域棄之不顧，只是著力少點而已。畢竟不能跟時代脫節嘛！總之，求生技能多一項是一項。不會在中年轉業危機時，發現只能去炸雞排賣滷味，自己累積10年的技術經驗完全沒辦法用到其他產業。（如果是這兩項個人興趣或夢想就不在討論之列）
後記：
我好奇的問他為什麼來找我談？他說『因為你年紀比較大，比較有歷練，想法成熟。』（我稍微美化了一下 XD） 我當場就感覺很錯愕，我明明年紀跟他一樣！繼續聊下去之後，原來他說的是我的心理年齡比較成熟，一些想法比較有見地。這倒是讓我釋懷不少。不然我今天要哭一整夜了。
我提供的建議，我自己心裡也沒個底，大部分都是象牙塔裡的建議。希望對這兩位同事是帖有效的安慰劑吧！
聽聽別人的想法和苦惱迷惑也是讓自己學習的好方式，我想我會是個稱職的傾聽者。
要相談一下嗎?
我所遇見的每一個人，或多或少都是我的老師，因為我從他們身上學到了東西。
Every man I meet is in some way my superior.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
今年這是第2位同事來找我相談了，兩位都有不淺的資歷了。只是目前面臨轉變或是有點迷惑，希望找些人給點建議，或者說從我這邊找到支持自己選擇的理由和尋求慰藉(？)。台灣的半導體產業跟國外不太一樣，國外的工程師或是Technician往往都可以任職到20~30年，甚至退休。台灣這邊大概10年左右就到頂了，5～6年沒撈到管理職，運氣不好可能會面臨到中年轉業的問題。新血進公司“正常”的狀況下，培育個2~3年就可以成為可用的技術資源。這樣的狀況下，安於現狀在我看來不是個好事，應該多爭取一些機會來增加自己的經驗，以突顯出差別。這樣說好了，一樣的能力，要用便宜的還是貴的？更別說貴的可能會有嬌懶之氣。
什麼機會呢? 例如當基層管理職、接專案、搞物料、玩工安等等較為通用的知識領域。總之盡量減少在你的技術領域上面浪費的青春年華，把時間放在別的領域發展學習。遞減效應會發生在技術領域鑽研，就像碩士比學士難以拿到一樣（拿到了也沒有足以讓你繼續鑽研的資源）。2～3年工程師資歷可以培養出不錯底子的技術領域知識，足以當作轉向其他知識領域的基礎。但也不是完全將技術領域棄之不顧，只是著力少點而已。畢竟不能跟時代脫節嘛！總之，求生技能多一項是一項。不會在中年轉業危機時，發現只能去炸雞排賣滷味，自己累積10年的技術經驗完全沒辦法用到其他產業。（如果是這兩項個人興趣或夢想就不在討論之列）
後記：
我好奇的問他為什麼來找我談？他說『因為你年紀比較大，比較有歷練，想法成熟。』（我稍微美化了一下 XD） 我當場就感覺很錯愕，我明明年紀跟他一樣！繼續聊下去之後，原來他說的是我的心理年齡比較成熟，一些想法比較有見地。這倒是讓我釋懷不少。不然我今天要哭一整夜了。
我提供的建議，我自己心裡也沒個底，大部分都是象牙塔裡的建議。希望對這兩位同事是帖有效的安慰劑吧！
聽聽別人的想法和苦惱迷惑也是讓自己學習的好方式，我想我會是個稱職的傾聽者。
要相談一下嗎?
我所遇見的每一個人，或多或少都是我的老師，因為我從他們身上學到了東西。
Every man I meet is in some way my superior.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
2011年6月24日 星期五
2011-06-24 蒼白的正義
蒼白的正義 - Pale Justice
這段特別讓我感覺樣象深刻，鑄造這把劍的目的只有一個：毀滅邪惡。
雖然它是把強大的武器，「蒼白的正義」卻有個相當平凡的出身。
This sword was made with one purpose: to destroy evil. Though a powerful
weapon, Pale Justice has humble beginnings. The plain sword was crafted by a
devout worshipper of Tyr named Renold. Renold spent thirty years of his life
perfecting the metalworking techniques that allowed him to craft an almost
flawless blade. As soon as Renold had completed the unadorned weapon, he
turned it over to the church of Tyr. The priest who received it placed the
naked blade on his monastery's altar. He asked his brothers to join him in
praying to Tyr to ask their god to bless the weapon with holy power. The
brothers never touched the blade, nor did they speak of it. After ten years,
despite the fact that all of the other brothers lost faith in the blade ever
becoming enchanted, the original priest, Edan, continued his prayers in
silence. Another twenty years passed, and there was still no sign from Tyr.
Visiting priests of Helm scoffed at Edan's blind devotion to the blade. It
was then that, without warning, Edan walked up to the altar and gently
removed the dust-covered blade from the altar.
The priest of Helm asked Edan if he had finally come to his senses. Edan
replied that he had, that he had been expecting the wrong thing from Tyr the
entire time. He stated that Tyr had done his work long ago.
The priest of Helm laughed out loud at Edan's claim and asked his bodyguard
to draw his sword. The magnificent weapon in the hand of the Helmite had a
gilded guard set with pearls. Runes were etched along the blade, with a
small cluster of fine rubies set in the ricasso. The priest of Helm laughed
again and spoke. "This is truly a sword blessed by the gods. Your weapon
looks like an ordinary soldier's blade. It pales in comparison."
Edan calmly grabbed the blade by the tang and swatted at the guard's weapon.
The priest of Helm's laughter cut off quickly as he stared down at his
retainer's broken weapon. He stood there speechless as Edan set the blade
down and began to reply.
"Justice always pales in comparison to vanity and ostentatious displays of
power." I expected Tyr to manifest his divine will in this blade with
lightning and fire. I should have remembered how the blade was given to
me... with simple charity and humility. Justice is the right of every man,
no matter how rich or poor, no matter how educated or ignorant. It should be
found as often in the fields of farmers as it is in the fields of battle."
Edan took the blade to a local weapon smith and had him put a wooden, leather
wrapped grip on it. He then gave it to a fledgling paladin and asked him to
always remember the potential for charity and kindness in the human race.
STATISTICS:
Damage: 1D8 +4, +7 vs. Evil Creatures
THAC0: +4, +7 vs. Evil Creatures
Damage Type: Slashing
Special: Immune to Cloak of Fear, Horror, Dire Charm and Symbol of
Hopelessness
Weight: 5
Speed Factor: 1
Proficiency Type: Large Sword
Type: 1-handed
Only Usable By:
Paladin
這段特別讓我感覺樣象深刻，鑄造這把劍的目的只有一個：毀滅邪惡。
雖然它是把強大的武器，「蒼白的正義」卻有個相當平凡的出身。
『正義跟虛榮、虛有其表的力量相比，本來就是遜色而蒼白的。』
This sword was made with one purpose: to destroy evil. Though a powerful
weapon, Pale Justice has humble beginnings. The plain sword was crafted by a
devout worshipper of Tyr named Renold. Renold spent thirty years of his life
perfecting the metalworking techniques that allowed him to craft an almost
flawless blade. As soon as Renold had completed the unadorned weapon, he
turned it over to the church of Tyr. The priest who received it placed the
naked blade on his monastery's altar. He asked his brothers to join him in
praying to Tyr to ask their god to bless the weapon with holy power. The
brothers never touched the blade, nor did they speak of it. After ten years,
despite the fact that all of the other brothers lost faith in the blade ever
becoming enchanted, the original priest, Edan, continued his prayers in
silence. Another twenty years passed, and there was still no sign from Tyr.
Visiting priests of Helm scoffed at Edan's blind devotion to the blade. It
was then that, without warning, Edan walked up to the altar and gently
removed the dust-covered blade from the altar.
The priest of Helm asked Edan if he had finally come to his senses. Edan
replied that he had, that he had been expecting the wrong thing from Tyr the
entire time. He stated that Tyr had done his work long ago.
The priest of Helm laughed out loud at Edan's claim and asked his bodyguard
to draw his sword. The magnificent weapon in the hand of the Helmite had a
gilded guard set with pearls. Runes were etched along the blade, with a
small cluster of fine rubies set in the ricasso. The priest of Helm laughed
again and spoke. "This is truly a sword blessed by the gods. Your weapon
looks like an ordinary soldier's blade. It pales in comparison."
Edan calmly grabbed the blade by the tang and swatted at the guard's weapon.
The priest of Helm's laughter cut off quickly as he stared down at his
retainer's broken weapon. He stood there speechless as Edan set the blade
down and began to reply.
"Justice always pales in comparison to vanity and ostentatious displays of
power." I expected Tyr to manifest his divine will in this blade with
lightning and fire. I should have remembered how the blade was given to
me... with simple charity and humility. Justice is the right of every man,
no matter how rich or poor, no matter how educated or ignorant. It should be
found as often in the fields of farmers as it is in the fields of battle."
Edan took the blade to a local weapon smith and had him put a wooden, leather
wrapped grip on it. He then gave it to a fledgling paladin and asked him to
always remember the potential for charity and kindness in the human race.
STATISTICS:
Damage: 1D8 +4, +7 vs. Evil Creatures
THAC0: +4, +7 vs. Evil Creatures
Damage Type: Slashing
Special: Immune to Cloak of Fear, Horror, Dire Charm and Symbol of
Hopelessness
Weight: 5
Speed Factor: 1
Proficiency Type: Large Sword
Type: 1-handed
Only Usable By:
Paladin
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