What the?

Strolling along the road and this phrase came to my mind
'Realm of Unconscious Incompetence'
Yup, that's how my previous boss described the new officers when they first started work. What does it mean? Basically, it means that you're *dumb*, but you don't know it because you're too new. Hence unconscious incompetence.
Apparently there are four stages to this. The first being unconscious incompetence, which I have explained. The second stage is conscious incompetence. That's when you have been around long enough to know that you are dumb! Probably after countless scoldings and 'counselling' sessions with your boss. Next, you move to conscious competence. This is where you get good, but you have to make an effort to be good. That's conscious. Finally, the nirvana, the enlightenment, the mother of all stages, UNCONSCIOUS COMPETENCE. This is where you're 'there', the cream of the crop, the best of the best, yadda yadda. You're so good that you don't have to think, you just do good. That's where some people at my work place think they are at when actually, they're just merely unconsciously incompetent ;)

Civil Service Lingo

Ever wondered about the jargon used in Civil Service? Some of you might know something from your NS Days. Now, there's more to that, but I caution against using them too often. Especially in front of me *frown*

Expedite
- To hurry. Normally used when your boss is not happy at the speed you are doing your work.
- e.g. I need this submission done, could you please expedite?
- Can be used in other forms, e.g. Please proceed in an expeditious manner.

Operationalise
- Just a 'bigger' sounding word for implement
- e.g. Now that you have this framework, could you provide some proposals on how you intend to operationalise it in an expeditious manner?

Dovetail
- To flow into. I can't quite explain this, perhaps if some of you have better ideas, do not hesitate to let me know in an expeditious manner ;)
- e.g. This activity dovetails nicely into our framework that we are currently operationalising as it fits all the objectives, pls proceed in an expeditious manner

Incentivise
- To encourage. You won't find this word in the oxford dictionary, believe me
- e.g. The framework that we are currently operationalising should have the effect of incentivising our target audience to respond in an expeditious manner

Sensitise
- To be made aware of. You won't find this word in the dictionary as well
- e.g. We need to sensitise our subordinates on the urgency of the situation so that they can operationalise the framework in an expeditious manner

The ultimate killer paragraph. I got this from my colleague sometime back. I almost died when I heard this.
>>>
Yoz, our bosses are sensitised to the fact that we're not completing our project in an expeditious manner. Now, they are in the process of operationalising a framework to incentivise us to do so, I heard that it is because this project will dovetail nicely into the current initiatives being undertaken by HQ
>>>

I'll add on more as and when I come across. Perhaps I'll do a Singlish Dictionary equivalent of civil service speak when I have amassed enough of the phrase. Now, to operationalise it to dovetail into...

Casi-Yes

After all that has been said, after all that has been done and after all that has been promised.

Finally, the dust settled as the year long saga of deciding whether Singapore should build a casino drew to a close. The answer was a resounding NO! After all, since we're already deciding to build one, why not build two at the same time? Save the debate and tons of proposals that have to be put up if we want to build a second one?

Good decision or not, I say you take your pick, live with your choices and hope for the best whilst preparing for the worst

Shopping

Went with a two friends to shop for dive gear today. Both of them bought the same items: Wetsuit, Booties, Fins and a bag to carry them all. I joined in the spirit of buying by getting myself a dive computer and marine casing for my digicam. Cost me an arm, a leg and a finger thrown in for a good measure. Which is much for than the finger my friends paid for their gear. Looks like it's going to be a steady diet of wheatgrass and sky juice for the next two weeks or so.

Pool drew with Spurs 2-2 and Bolton won their match. For the moment, the table order is 4th - Bolton, 5th Everton, 6th Pool. Another friend and I (both of us Pool fans) were talking that it will be such delicious irony if Pool wins Champions League and Everton finishes 4th, implication being that Everton will not be able to qualify for CL as they would have and go to UEFA Cup instead. Now looking at the table, I wonder whether it'll be the Bolton fans who would have the last laugh. Bolton might end up qualifying for CL if Pool chooses to crash out in the semis and poor old Everton goes into UEFA. Pool? Just another season of inconsistency in the Premier League.

Motivation

Ever had those times where you don't feel like doing work?
"Haha, of course! How about everytime?"
Seriously, we are not talking about your run of the mill laziness here. It is more than that actually. Where you just sit down, stare at the laptop screen and wonder,"Why do I do this?" And you just don't feel rewarded, appreciated and you wonder whether what you do really adds value to the organisation. Well, I don't have a family to support, my parents are still working, no debts to pay off, 'Praise God' you say. I also say too. But that means that my source of motivation will have to be from elsewhere and not as a result of circumstances. As it should be anyway.
I am hoping that this is a phase that has been brought about by other events. Probably it is. But it does bring to light that I am not an emotionless robot after all and I do have feelings. I bet some of the people who know me would be laughing now. Him? Emotions? Call New Paper, I see a pig flying! Make that a herd of them!
Detractors aside, it's time to dust myself and get cracking. One can only be in this state so long before needing to move on. After all, I have Him who is greater than that's in the world within me, time to be victorious and face the world again :)