tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394Tue, 05 Feb 2008 23:33:07 +0000http://www.ploni.net/blog/yossisblog.htmlYossi KarpBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-115865651809505723Tue, 19 Sep 2006 08:24:00 +00002006-09-19T12:01:58.113+03:00It's great when you get little knick-knacks from work - coffee mugs, clocks and all that. The longer you work in a place, the more stuff you acquire - all with the company logo. And not just your company. Calendars, pencil holders and keyrings from companies trying to make a good impression and gain your business. In my experience, I have found that most of these little trinkets seem to break, http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/09/when-free-gifts-hurt.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-115748491074593036Tue, 05 Sep 2006 18:47:00 +00002006-09-05T22:35:10.766+03:00An avid reader of this blog...well, let's just call him a "fan"... perhaps a more accurate description would be "casual reader"...okay he's some guy I just met because he asked me for directions - but that's beside the point. "Some Guy" asked me today where I come up with the topics I write about on this blog. Alright, he didn't ask me directly, what he said was "can you please point me towards http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/09/swimming_05.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-115645985856258003Thu, 24 Aug 2006 22:50:00 +00002006-08-27T11:35:50.483+03:00It would probably be an understatement to say that life in the Middle East is "exciting". It's a journalist's dream come true - always something to report. The news is rarely good, but there is always something to put in front of the newspaper editor. Actually, when you come to think of it, the world is also a pretty "exciting" place to live in terms of news stories. I mean, not that we have a http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/08/challenge-how-to-stop-them-news.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-115611555361633193Sun, 20 Aug 2006 22:45:00 +00002006-08-21T02:16:42.253+03:00I'm no business genius, but sometimes when I go into a cafe or restaurant and see all of the inefficiencies, where the service is lacking and how the decor is inappropriate, I feel I can fix up the joint better than the owner, who supposedly knows the business inside-out. For example, a restaurant serving "American Style Cuisine: specialising in business lunches and corporate dinners" should not http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/08/water-water-everywhere-and-still-no.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-115568132944215526Tue, 15 Aug 2006 21:57:00 +00002006-08-16T09:19:03.826+03:00It's a hot, sweaty night which has followed a day of oppressive temperatures and a glaring sun. You tried to take refuge under a tree, but the strong, hot wind wasn't afraid of the shade and you were not safe even there. You are tired, legs burning, aching. Your calf muscles are fighting a losing battle to stand their ground. The house is quiet, children sleeping, air-conditioner humming its http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/08/what-could-hit-spot-right-now.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-115542811779688354Sat, 12 Aug 2006 23:35:00 +00002006-08-13T03:19:32.126+03:00Welcome to my newly, and more appropriately, named blog: Shtusim (loosely translated as "Sillinesses"). I haven't written a blog for over a month. I decided to go into semi-retirement to see what would happen. Turns out, nothing. I wasn't exactly innundated with calls, faxes or emails asking why I haven't posted in such a long time. In fact, I think someone mentioned something to me once a few http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/08/consider-it-done.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-115256463337678086Mon, 10 Jul 2006 20:25:00 +00002006-07-10T23:58:18.090+03:00You have probably noticed that I changed the background colour scheme of this blog. This was done in response to an off-line comment I received that the previous colour scheme made the person feel wierd. It seems that the colour scheme out-wierded the writing, and I couldn't let that be, so I changed the colours around. Let me know what you think of the new look. Speaking of colour schemes, http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/07/subliminal-messages.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-115210106344569432Wed, 05 Jul 2006 10:37:00 +00002006-07-05T15:04:23.456+03:00Since I started writing this blog, I have mentioned at least two very dead celebrities - Jerry Garcia and Elvis Presley (alright, there's a doubt about Elvis...), not including the con-men mentioned in a previous post. There seems to be a fascination about celebrities who have died, especialy if they died young (James Dean) or in wierd circumstances (Isadora Duncan), or both (Brandon Lee). http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/07/why-being-dead-celebrity-is-good-for.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-115188465356726143Sun, 02 Jul 2006 22:59:00 +00002006-07-03T03:00:57.613+03:00[Congratulations to me on my first blog of the new financial year]. I worked late last night and took a cab back home. The taxi driver drove like a complete maniac. I think that he thought that fishtailing the car is a good thing. We wove in and out of traffic, leaving the ambulance in our wake, flashing lights and all. In full flight down Highway 1, the driver opens his door, looks back along http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/07/elvis-has-left-building.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-115130695788330018Mon, 26 Jun 2006 06:53:00 +00002006-06-26T12:50:54.916+03:00So there I was, innocently minding my own business, when I was visually assaulted by a woman wearing a bright pink T-shirt with the words "Party Girl" on the back, spelled out in shiny sequins. Now that summer has come around again (at least for those of us in the northern hemishphere), I have begun to pay attention to the T-shirts people wear. It's World Cup soccer time and, quite http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/06/t-shirts.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-115081600190938377Tue, 20 Jun 2006 14:56:00 +00002006-06-20T22:30:20.306+03:00What motivates you to do whatever it is that you have to do? I'm no psychologist, but I reckon that what motivation boils down to - and this really is the driving force behind any sort of motivation - is reward and punishment. Achievement = Reward; failure = punishment. It's a pretty simplistic perspective, but I think that it is true. Here's what I mean: I know that when the rubbish bin gets http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/06/motivation_115081600190938377.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-115006890508412858Sun, 11 Jun 2006 22:12:00 +00002006-06-12T02:35:05.100+03:00What would you do with a million dollars if it suddenly came your way? When you come to think about it, a million dollars isn't all that much. Once you go on a round-the-world first-class trip and then buy your new house and car, there really isn't much left. Should you just quit your job and then live a decent, but easy life? Will a million dollars be enough to retire on? All good questions. http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/06/jackpot-youve-won-lottery.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-115003279915120341Sun, 11 Jun 2006 11:44:00 +00002006-06-12T00:51:24.006+03:00Okay, I admit it. I am intrigued by stories about con men and how they trick people into parting with their money. I don't know why. I know it's wrong to swindle someone, but for some reason I find the whole subject fascinating. According to Wikipedia, the term "Confidence Man" came about because of a certain individual by the name of William Thompson. William Thompson was an American criminal http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/06/con-men.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-114977894838687147Thu, 08 Jun 2006 13:55:00 +00002006-06-08T18:04:00.356+03:00There are all sorts of easy ways to lose your money. Casinos spring to mind as the most obvious method. Let's see...then there are horse races and any form of lotto. But in this day and age, there are many more creative ways to lose your hard-earned cash. For example, you could set up a business deal with a Nigerian, or you can enter your PIN on a scam banking internet site. There are now many http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/06/how-to-lose-your-money.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-114950397872775032Mon, 05 Jun 2006 10:06:00 +00002006-06-05T13:39:38.740+03:00When I was a kid, we played many types of word games (I-Spy, Name a Country Starting With the Last Letter of the Country I Just Mentioned and so on). And then there were the word games, where you try to trick the other person into saying something that doesn't make any sense. For instance, get the other person to say "milk" ten times quickly and then ask them what a cow eats. Or, get them to say http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/06/word-games.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-114909871180087727Wed, 31 May 2006 17:26:00 +00002006-05-31T21:10:22.386+03:00Usually, I don't like the idea of personality profiling - I mean, profiling my personality. Go ahead and profile yourselves all you want. But I'm not into "getting in-touch with my inner self". The only way I know how to get in-touch with my inner self is to undergo invasive surgery. This attitude was solidified the other day when I attended a time-management seminar. Lo and behold, one of the http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/05/personality-profiling.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-114902365334329360Tue, 30 May 2006 20:51:00 +00002006-05-31T21:07:14.170+03:00My question for today is: who holds the real power in your company? Most people's first answer is that the Vice Presidents, Upper Management and Board of Directors hold the real power in the company. They are the ones to make the big decisions. They are the ones that set policy for the lowly minions beneath them. They are the ones who determine the direction of the company and they dictate the http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/05/who-holds-real-power.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-114842775677322144Tue, 23 May 2006 22:48:00 +00002006-05-24T12:14:34.986+03:00I noticed a while ago that my hair is slowly turning grey. It is rather interesting because I am only 32 and I didn't actually expect my hair to turn grey at this point in my life. Perhaps I am merely getting a-head of myself (ergh). When my late grandfather started to use a walking stick for support, he commented to me that all of a sudden there are so many people copying him by carrying http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/05/grey-hair.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-114825349484477292Sun, 21 May 2006 22:39:00 +00002006-05-22T02:18:14.856+03:00Watcha gonna do when you get a snack attack? Howdya keep away from junk? Howdya keep em off ya back? But when it's time to feed your belly Get off the beaten track Time to find a new direction Time to get a snack pack du du du du du du du When a snack attack does it to you You got the facts Nothin does it to you like a SNACK PACK! In case you are thinking to yourself that perhaps I have http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/05/wanted-brainspace.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-114796038721482702Thu, 18 May 2006 13:53:00 +00002006-05-18T16:57:27.116+03:00Graffiti is good. I mean, how else are we going to know what people are thinking - especially the youth? They need to write on walls to get our attention, and that's OK. Look, let's say that you and a crew of eight people worked really hard over the last four weeks building a wall along a highway, carefully placing the stones to make a pattern, or tiling a 5 meter high, 200 meter long wall with http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/05/graffiti-is-good.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-114764235362981469Sun, 14 May 2006 21:00:00 +00002006-05-15T00:46:51.176+03:00I bought a new pair of shoes the other day. I walked into the shop, saw a pair of regular, plain men's black shoes. Tried them on and handed over my credit card. I was in and out of the shop in less than 7 minutes. Some people can't do that. They have to spend time choosing things. Browsing through the choices. Selecting. "What if there is something better?" or "It's not exactly what I want. http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/05/i-chose-to-write-this-blog.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-114725291827736701Wed, 10 May 2006 06:38:00 +00002006-05-10T12:23:24.626+03:00Getting out of bed can be difficult, especially after a late night and/or a very deep sleep. So, despite that the Greeks had already done so in 250 BCE, at around about the 14th Century, we invented the alarm clock and again in 1876. And just on time, too. But then we had to go and ruin it all and invent the snooze button. Instead of waking you up, you quickly learn a new reflex action: the http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/05/babies-dont-have-snooze-buttons.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-114704468712093930Sun, 07 May 2006 22:49:00 +00002006-05-08T09:27:22.926+03:00When I grow up, I don't want to be a fireman, a fruiterer or a farmer. I don't want to be a policeman, a politician or a polution expert. I don't even want to be a baker or a banker or a barber; a doctor or a dentist or a doorman; a lawyer or a labourer or a lifeguard; or a psychiatrist or a psychologist or a psychotherapist; or a carpenter or a car repairer or a cardiologist; or a telephonist orhttp://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/05/what-i-want-to-be-when-i-grow-up.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-114674079194605465Thu, 04 May 2006 08:49:00 +00002006-05-04T14:22:21.830+03:00When I was in Grade 2, we were only allowed to write in pencil. But, if you could prove that your handwriting was neat enough, you could earn a "Pen Licence", which authorized you to write in pen. Should your handwriting lapse into illegibility, your Pen Licence could be revoked. Although at the time I probably wasn't the first to earn a Pen Licence, I clearly recall being presented with one. Ifhttp://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/05/if-you-can-read-this-my-handwriting.htmlYossi Karptag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22128394.post-114643893020425416Sun, 30 Apr 2006 23:00:00 +00002006-05-01T02:15:30.220+03:00Here is a very quick thought I think is worth sharing. It came to me all of a sudden so I felt compelled to write it down. There comes a time in every person's life when they just sit back and ponder the greater meaning of things in their life. That sort of feeling washed over me the other day when I was scrubbing the grouting in the bathroom. I suddenly stopped. It was as if the world was http://www.ploni.net/blog/2006/05/thought-i-thought-id-share.htmlYossi Karp