The Parking Game

Parking. I find it difficult. I need to learn it.

So I've been playing this game, hoping it helps enhance my spatial skills - or whatever skill I'd need to improve my parking skills.

Check it out: http://www.driverseddirect.com/game/

I was terrible at parallel parking (first part of the game). For all the other levels, I was able to park the car, but not without some crashes. Hence, I still did a bad job. After playing for some time, I felt like hitting the keyboard so I just crashed the car to the parked cars nearby to vent my frustration. Sadly, there wasn't too much "crashes" and "destruction" in the graphics but I felt better afterwards.

Thanks to Steph for referring me to this site.

 

On Dial-up and Malls

I am only on dial-up internet connection here in the Philippines. As a result, the websites that I visit are extremely limited. I can't view videos on Youtube (which is also where I listen to music) and I can't fully utilize sites that have complex user interfaces and/or long load durations (e.g. NBA, CNN).

At least, I can access my email and that is the most important thing. Oh, and I can (online) chat as well.

******

This weekend, I visited SM Mall of Asia for the first time - it is easily one of the largest malls in Asia, and perhaps the world. I also went to Robinsons Place in Ermita - THE mall that I always frequented during my high school and college days.

I'm not uploading nor linking any pictures of those malls. I'm too lazy to do so. As I said, I'm only on dial-up as of the moment.

 

Approved

My application for H1B Visa was approved. The consular officer didn't really ask too many questions about my job or the company. Most of his questions were more of clarifications.

I'm just waiting for my passport to arrive with the new visa stamped on it. I hope everything gets settled before the end of the month.

Now, I hope to make the most of my stay here. I'm looking forward to meet my friends.

 

Defining Moment

Tomorrow is my interview with the US Embassy in Manila for my new H1b (working) visa. If all goes well, I'd be back in the US by last week of Feb at the earliest or maybe first week of March the latest.

 

Captain America Returns

I used to be a Marvel fanatic. I probably still am although I haven't gotten my dose of Marvel stories lately. So a returning Captain America with a gun is still welcome news for me (he carried a gun before according to this).

 

The Right Kind of Capitalism

William Easterly argues that Bill Gates' "creative capitalism" still does not compare to profit-motivated capitalism in helping the poor.

Bill Gates' creative capitalism: Boost the recognition of corporate philanthropy to encourage for-profit companies to serve the poor since it enhances their own reputation and appeal to customers.

William Easterly's profit-motivated capitalism: Regular capitalism, where companies act on their own self-interest to sought the most efficient and productive mechanisms.

I do not know enough to embrace and maintain a particular stand on this debate. However, when pressed, I might take Easterly's side. If his numbers are even approximately correct that globalization and capitalism have increased annual average income since 1950, then the burden of proof is on Gates to claim that his scheme will perform better.

On a side note, I just found out from the same article that the Philippines has 72% of the world market in electronic integrated circuits. But I knew before that Intel had a big office (almost) near our place.

 

Colbert-Stewart-Conan Showdown

These three TV talk show hosts (Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, and Conan O'Brien) duke it out to settle their feud: "Who made Mike Huckabee?"

It started earlier on The Daily Show:





Continued on to The Colbert Report:



And led to this classic, can't-miss showdown on Conan's Late Night:

 

Gasol, Now a Laker

From Memphis...

























...To Los Angeles.