.analox

.blog move

2016-07-09T09:55:00.002+08:00

This blog has been moved to: http://analox.a2nh.com/

See you there...

.blockchain, financial services & fintech

2016-03-11T22:56:00.003+08:00

What is block-chain?
Block-chain is a technology to store information with 3 key characteristics:

Distributed (so called "distributed ledger")
Secure: only the owner & authorized parties can read the relevant records and not from others. No administrator rights.
Non-reversible: data/information is stored in the system in the form of blocks that linked to each others in the chronological order. It is not possible to modify previous blocks once it is committed.

Why block-chain?
Borrow words from "Global Insight: Blockchain in Banking:Disruptive Threat or Tool?"

"...Because, in fact, blockchain technology – although when you get into the technology itself, there is some complexity there and some ingeniousness – is nothing more than a new form of database … approach to database architecture, that is. Fundamentally, an improvement over the way that, traditionally, databases have been designed and used in the past.

So, what's a database? You know, it's a place where we store important information that we want to refer back to for various purposes, at some point in the future. Visually, you can imagine it as a cylindrical thing. It's owned by someone, it's administered by someone, it typically exists in a physical location. The administrator of the database is very interested in investing and ensuring that the perimeter security to that cylinder that protects the contents is strong, impenetrable. The lucky ones are the ones that know that it turned out that penetration happened, and then there's the rest of us who just don't know yet. And, typically, the information that's kept in databases is raw information, not encrypted, not further protected other than the perimeter security which, increasingly proves to be penetrable. So when someone gets in there, that isn't authorised to do that, the consequences can be dire, whether it's the theft of someone's identity for theft of funds or what have you, you read about this every day. So that's traditional database architecture, and pretty much everybody keeps databases because they have important information about their activity, their client's activity, that they need to keep a record of, and as a matter of fulfilling their fiduciary responsibilities, they need to keep that record.

Interaction between entities who keep their own separate databases requires a process of taking information from that database, sending it off to another party, for whatever the relevant purpose is, independently validating, verifying and then, of course, when the two sets of information aren't consistent, reconciling the reasons for the differences. And, simply put, that reconciliation process between different renditions of the same data that needs to be communicated between parties accounts for tens of billions of dollars of cost every year, in the financial manufacturing process.

So that's the way things have traditionally worked in financial database architecture for years, and along comes a new technology, this is blockchain technology or distributed ledger technology, which makes a few fundamental changes to what I just described. The first thing is that instead of this cylinder in one place, you have a network with multiple nodes, and you have a technology which enables the multiple nodes in that network to be accessed by those with a need and right to know it, and for ensuring that the data, the important information that we're all referring back to, can be kept in sync and replicated continuously, on a real-time, or as near as need to real-time basis, between parties.

And protecting all of this is the fact that the data itself is encrypted, and the identity of the users or those who have the right, need and right, to access that information, is subject to a sophisticated identity management regime involving, again, cryptographic tools, so that it is very possible to independently verify whether or not an actor is who they say they are and has the right to access that information. And, simply put, what that allows you to do, for the first time, is responsibly share, mutualise, common infrastructure and use this database environment as a place to keep a record of important transactional information that is one record, a golden or prime record, that can be shared by multiple, independent entities, that is protected through cryptography, so that only those with a need and right to know, only the piece of information in that environment that they have the need and right to know, can do that."

Video references:

Bitcoin: Transaction block chains: The mechanics of a bitcoin transaction block chain, which is a construct that is generated by bitcoin miners and functions as a global ledger for recording and validating bitcoins.

Latest market news:

.assets & investment - bond / stock / commodities

2016-02-14T18:18:00.001+08:00

... topics that I'm curious about:

Trading

USA

Europe

China

Oil Prices

to be continued...

.about space & time

2016-02-14T18:05:00.001+08:00

... on the event that we have detected the gravitational waves

Relativity

.about society

2016-02-14T18:02:00.002+08:00

Powers

Religions

.the land

2016-01-24T21:35:00.003+08:00

I have very little knowledge in Middle East / Arab but watching the news of wars and oil prices.

Here is the starting point of learning about the issue:

And Vox seems to do a really great work in explaining the news. Cheers.

.about money & currency

2015-12-19T10:37:00.001+08:00

Objective: to gather thoughts around the topic which I found interesting given the volatile market recently. Not about making money though.

19-Dec-2015
First, start with why I'm interested in the topic: bitcoin, crypto-currency & blockchain. Many talk about it but I have no idea what they are. Shame on me :(.

Video to watch:

Notes: Money represents trust and facilitate exchanges. Money is recorded by ledger. Ledger makes public - thanks to Blockchain technology. Currency recorded in blockchain public ledger is bitcoin.
Questions: How to get/mining bitcoin? How to determine fair-value of bitcoin?

Notes:very simplified introduction. for viewer's curiosity only

Notes: not finish watching yet... To be updated.

On recent news, interest rate for USD deposit in Vietnam drops to 0. So what?

Tendency to convert to VND deposit for normal customers who don't need transact using USD (such as importing)
Exchange rate USD/VND likely drops (more demand for VND?)
Holding USD deposit with view of market as USD gets stronger than interest rate of VND. Probably supported by FED increasing interest rate in US.
... what next? (thinking...)

26-Dec-2015
I keep on thinking about the value of money/currency. How much is a dollar worth of? And under which perspective?

Anyway, came across this series in Youtube. Seem interesting...

28-Dec-2015
It occurs to me that the previous series might relate to the following one. Thinking about the bridge of all these jargons: money, currency, purchasing power or store of value, gold/silver, and credits.

24-Jan-2016
It is very interesting watching the two videos and I am certain to recommend those to anyone. In fact, I spent three first days of 2016 to complete the series.
At the end, probably it changes my view of:
1) currency/money as representation of purchasing power,
2) how we should focus on protect and increase purchasing power more than money as numbers,
3) view of credit / debts as good or bad factor of the economy. Credit causes inflation (partially). Increasing productivity stabilizes inflation. Two forces cause cycles in a good & healthy economic growth.

With that, I somehow have better faith in Bitcoin giving how it fits as a good (non-fiat) currency. Anyway, next questions probably are on the exchange of currencies and where are the gold now?

To be continued...

.suffering

2014-04-20T21:37:00.001+08:00

My aunt passed away two days ago. Ending her suffering from cancer in the past few months. She's always positive, tells jokes and gets things done fast. Cancer took them all... Seeing her in the past few weeks, I kept asking myself "God, what's the point of these suffers?". Why don't we just live a healthy life and when the time comes, just... finish?
Until she passed away. Until what's left is my memory of her, not just her last days but those jokes she told when I was a kid. Until I remember how everyones in our family loved her, visited her everyday in the past months. Until it reminds me that the time left to be with the ones we love can only be shorter as time passes.
I'm not sure if that is the points. But now it's all over. We miss you. Rest in peace, my aunt.

good stuff for new year

2013-12-31T17:17:00.002+08:00

13 for 13 – Excellent Rules to Live by (Plagiarized from Duncan Neideraur)

1) Have a plan, but not one that is over-engineered. Opportunities will inevitably come your way, and you want to be poised to consider them.

2) Every boss is a role model from whom you can learn. Some will be role models you'd do well to emulate, and others...not so much. Either way, you can learn a lot from them about what to do or what not to do.

3) The road less traveled is more interesting, so take it once in a while. It will give you the courage to stand behind your convictions.

4) Remember that most of the advice you will get is conventional wisdom, which is synonymous with playing it safe. Follow your heart, not someone else's mind.

5) Bring passion and energy to what you do every day. If you find things you enjoy, this won't be a challenge.

6) Success is highly correlated with one's self-awareness quotient. Play to your strengths, and understand your shortcomings.

7) Keep your friends and family close and consider them your personal board of directors. They will be your compass and your foundation.

8) Show up prepared...for every encounter.

9) Stay on the high road - it isn't very crowded, but it should be!

10) Treat everyone with respect and kindness, not based on what they can do for you.

11) Be an optimist. As the saying goes, a pessimist sees the challenges in every opportunity, while an optimist sees the opportunities in every challenge.

12) Expect more of yourself and those around you.

13) Leave every situation better than you found it. Find your own way to pay it forward.

.rejection

2013-09-16T19:54:00.001+08:00

3rd time.. over-qualified? does it make sense or it's a time to leave?

sigh... broken pieces!

.next

2013-09-10T09:55:00.001+08:00

như đi trên con đường, cứ có mốc km thì mình lại suy nghĩ về quãng đường đã qua và sắp tới. Hết năm, anniversary, sinh nhựt - lắm mốc quá, nghĩ mãi cũng mệt.

qua tuổi 30 - có 2 cảm giác lẫn lộn: depressed and thankful. Nói chung chưa quá tệ để vẫn thấy thankful (viết ra tiếng Việt thì hơi sến, keke) cho những gì nhận được, nhiều phết... Depressed vì thấy mình thật là underachiever (phát hiện ra từ này thấy tâm đắc ghê)...

dù sao - cứ đi tiếp đã... Tin là sẽ ổn thôi :)

'If', by Rudyard Kipling

2013-08-27T22:35:00.001+08:00

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

Phủi bụi

2013-05-05T15:07:00.001+08:00

Lâu lắm chả blog gì bên này.

Ngồi trên tàu điện, nhớ câu nói về chỉ tiễn bạn đi được một quãng đường, thấy đúng. Tiễn nhiều, có dịp thì gặp lại, chả (muốn) níu kéo. Lại hay!

Bẵng một thời gian, focus cũng đang thay đổi. Đợi "connecting the dots"...

Tàu dừng rồi.

30...

2012-09-10T23:46:00.000+08:00

Bước vào tuổi 30. Thấy nghĩ nhiều hơn về quá khứ. Thấy nhiều thứ đã quên - những điều tưởng như quan trọng giờ lại mờ nhạt. Hoặc những thứ mờ nhạt giờ lại rõ nét hơn.

Hôm rồi đọc được bài trên mạng - thấy cũng có vài ý hay. Để ra đây để nhớ những người đã và đang đi với mình trên những đoạn đường..

Du Vũ Minh (soạn văn)

Chỉ có thể đi cùng bạn một đoạn đường

Sau cơn mưa vào ngày xuân hôm ấy, người bạn tốt của tôi ngỏ lời từ giã. Tôi kiên trì đòi đưa bạn ấy ra đến trạm xe. Bạn ấy ngăn cản tôi: ("Tống quân thiên lý, chung hữu nhất biệt) Đưa người ngàn dặm, cuối cùng rồi cũng cách biệt, dù thế nào đi nữa thì bạn cũng chỉ có thể đưa tôi đi chỉ một đoạn đường, thôi thì chỉ đưa tôi đến cửa thì ngừng bước nhé."
Tôi đành tôn trọng theo ý kiến của bạn ấy.

Mỗi con người đều chỉ đan xen vào một đoạn trong cuộc sống của người khác. Điều chắc chắn vĩnh viễn là chỉ có thể đưa người đi cùng một đoạn đường.

Bạn thương yêu cha mẹ mình, hy vọng họ sống lâu trăm tuổi, nhưng trong lúc bạn đang rất hiếu thuận với cha mẹ mình, thì họ cũng sẽ rời xa trước mặt bạn, bạn cũng chỉ có thể đi cùng cha mẹ mình chỉ một đoạn đường mà thôi.

Bạn yêu thương con cái của mình ư, từng giờ khắc bạn mong rằng mình có thể vì chúng mà ngăn gió chắn mưa, vậy mà bạn đang lớn tuổi từng ngày, rồi cũng có một ngày, trước mặt các con bạn cũng phải bỏ chúng mà đi, bạn chỉ có thể cùng đi với con cái chỉ một đoạn đường.

Bạn có người vợ tâm đầu ý hợp, nhưng hai mươi mấy năm trước cô ấy thuộc về cha mẹ, vài mươi năm sau cô ấy cũng bị con cái, vận mệnh, mà chia cách, bạn cũng chỉ có thể đi cùng với nàng chỉ một đoạn đường.

Bạn xem trọng trong tình nghĩa bạn bè, nhưng mà nếu không phải là bạn bè lìa xa bạn, thì cũng chính là bạn sẽ lìa xa bạn bè, bạn chỉ có thể cùng đi với bằng hữu một đoạn đường.

Cũng vì chỉ có thể cùng đi với nhau một đoạn đường, Nên bạn càng thêm quí trọng tiếc thương.

... (rút ngắn vì không hiểu đoạn này viết gì!)

Bởi vì chỉ có thể cùng người ta đi chỉ một đoạn đường, Bạn đáng lẽ cũng nên học cách từ bỏ.
Cha mẹ chỉ có thể vỗ về nuôi nấng bạn trưởng thành, không nên kỳ vọng cha mẹ là cái quải trượng (cây gậy) vĩnh viễn của bạn, để có thể chống đỡ toàn bộ cuộc đời của bạn.

Con cái cũng chỉ là cùng liên quan huyết nhục với bạn, chứ không phải là vật phẩm phụ thuộc của bạn. Bạn cần phải biết tôn trọng sự lựa chọn cuộc đời của chúng.

Vợ con vì bạn mà cung phụng dâng hiến hết tình ái, nhưng sinh mệnh của nàng không phải là vật phẩm thế chấp của ái tình, nên dành cho nàng những khoảng không gian riêng tư cần thiết.

Bằng hữu có thể cho bạn sự ấm áp, nhưng loại ấm nồng này là loại tình cảm mở, bạn không thể cưỡng hành độc chiếm tình hữu nghị của người khác...

Bạn chỉ là người khách qua đường trong cuộc đời của người khác, chỉ có thể cùng người đi cũng chỉ một đoạn đường đời. Điều đó chính là tính hữu hạn mà bạn cho người khác, vậy thì làm sao có thể mong cầu người khác cho đi sự vô hạn được?

Little updates

2012-08-05T16:33:00.001+08:00

Firstly, I'm blogging from iPad. Yup, can't resist a pad. Hehe! Buying app Blogsy for blogging seems not a bad decision, it serves me well.

In the past four months, many things happens. I'm much busier at the new workplace and the new job. Big gap to the time in NTU. There are times of doubts but overall, work is good.

I'm officially entitled to Dr. Le now. Yay! Encountered questions like "what will you do next?" or "you've got your dream, what's next?" - let's just say: we have climbed a mountain, and we will climb another mountain. For now.

My big family has just visited. Were quite nervous for 8 members to stay in a small house. It went fine. But reminder of much to be achieved. And a reminder of ages, of nothing that last forever.

SYTYCD is still a best show to me. Glad to saw a dance that make me nearly cry. Glad to know that side remains.

That's all. Hope for good updates in months to come... Cheers!

dr...

2012-06-19T22:13:00.001+08:00

it arrives. today. :)

chả biết nói thế nào

2012-05-18T23:46:00.001+08:00

it is back.. and not for good..

God keeps sending me message: life is fragile.. again :(

noted to remember. and keep my finger crossed..

Last day with NTU

2012-03-29T19:39:00.001+08:00

it has been 10 years... :)

.

2012-03-28T15:26:00.001+08:00

Nhớ thế. Mà chả muốn đào sâu vào. Không lại cay mắt. Nghĩ dài. Nghĩ xa...

Nhìn lên. Nhìn xuống.

2012-03-20T15:22:00.001+08:00

http://vnexpress.net/gl/the-gioi/cuoc-song-do-day/2012/03/ngoi-nha-hanh-phuc-trong-toilet/

Trễ

2012-03-19T15:14:00.000+08:00

Hôm nay dọn dẹp bàn làm việc ở C2i, cuối tháng này là rời NTU rồi.

Thấy tấm thiệp này ở trong ngăn kéo. Lại buồn và tiếc. Ngày trước quên không đưa, lần lữa vì đàng nào cũng trễ rồi, giờ thì không thể, quá trễ...

Sẽ cố gắng - không để phải tiếc như thế này nữa... :(

Hàng về. hihi

2012-03-07T22:59:00.001+08:00

yay!

2012-03-06T15:15:00.001+08:00

revised thesis submitted... closer to the other side :)) :S

.

2012-03-04T22:18:00.001+08:00

tối cn. mình ngồi review paper cho gecco và bạn vợ tập đàn.

mai đầu tuần. hope thing will be done.

Weekend finally. Yay!

2012-03-02T22:29:00.001+08:00

friday. working late.
luckily, things get done.
back home.
dinner with wife.
happy...