tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48334682658185775082024-03-13T18:39:06.814+08:00From Donelle's point of viewMy thoughts on digital marketing, personal development, fun stuff, technology and more.teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.comBlogger225125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-85408862974485903582011-12-12T21:23:00.001+08:002011-12-12T21:23:39.723+08:00You can never win a Chess game against Chuck Norris......it's chuckmate the moment you sit opposite him.<br />
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Thanks 9gag!teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-62156992794810473622011-12-10T10:03:00.001+08:002011-12-10T10:05:49.060+08:00Simple Joys of Life 1: When I throw my clothes into a clothing hook, and they don't fall down<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yPXiQ8h6Skg/TuK-ciZzRHI/AAAAAAAAAjw/BjNmZbdiGsM/s1600/clothing+hook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yPXiQ8h6Skg/TuK-ciZzRHI/AAAAAAAAAjw/BjNmZbdiGsM/s1600/clothing+hook.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-58293209904205824892011-04-05T16:53:00.000+08:002011-04-05T16:53:51.076+08:00Kate Upton teaches how to DougieKate Upton dancing. I like Kate Upton here more than the photoshoots she's done so far. Why? Because it shows her personal, fun-loving side.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tMpQgDbqz6U" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe>teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-77023787188337240412011-04-01T00:42:00.000+08:002011-04-01T00:42:04.630+08:00Funny interactive Skittles commercialMy only advise to you is this: Follow the instructions in the video :)<br />
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It is indeed challenging to be in the advertising industry nowadays. There are too many things competing for the consumer's attention now, so agencies have to come up with amusing, entertaining, and interactive ads to engage and influence the consumer.<br />
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Enough talk - view the commercial here.<br />
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<object height="390" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/eDlaJlb1ezg&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eDlaJlb1ezg&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object>teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-51444400724918301272011-01-27T18:57:00.002+08:002011-02-24T22:41:11.532+08:00Mind-blowing stuff<b></b><br />
<b> 1. Mind-blowing toughness in an animal: Water Bear</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2QxfJF2iZaw/TWZt2RJHm6I/AAAAAAAAAgg/yOTxTdewwC4/s1600/water_bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2QxfJF2iZaw/TWZt2RJHm6I/AAAAAAAAAgg/yOTxTdewwC4/s320/water_bear.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, this is the water bear. Thanks to mudfooted.com </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Water Bears, known formally as Tardigrades, are microscopic creatures that are tough as nails. They are able to survive in extreme environments that would kill almost any other animal. Some can survive temperatures of −273 °C (−459.400 °F), close to absolute zero, temperatures as high as 151 °C (304 °F), 1,000 times more radiation than other animals, and almost a decade without water. In September 2007, tardigrades were taken into low Earth orbit on the FOTON-M3 mission and for 10 days were exposed to the vacuum of space. After they were returned to Earth, it was discovered that many of them survived and laid eggs that hatched normally. (Wikipedia)<br />
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<b>2. Mind-blowing idea espoused in a mathematical theorem: Banach Tarski paradox</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://geopolicraticus.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/pumpkin_carving-1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://geopolicraticus.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/pumpkin_carving-1.png" /></a></div><br />
The Banach Tarski paradox is a mathematical theorem that states that a solid sphere can be divided into pieces such that the pieces can be reassembled into two spheres, with each sphere the same size as the original sphere. Colloquially, it is also termed as a pea can be broken into pieces and reassembled to form the sun. It is mind-blowing because it just doesn't make sense! The key things to realize is that the sphere mentioned here is a mathematical sphere not a physical sphere, and the cardinality of infinite numbers.<br />
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<b>3. Mind-blowing awesomeness in a human: Chuck Norris</b><br />
Chuck Norris destroyed the periodic table because he only recognizes the element of surprise. Chuck Norris counted to infinity twice. Chuck Norris's computer doesn't have the CTRL button because he's always in control. Kids wear Superman pajamas, Superman wears Chuck Norris pajamas. <br />
For more proof, please refer to the true to life accounts below.<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Truth-About-Chuck-Norris-Greatest/dp/1592403441?ie=UTF8&tag=fromdonespoin-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="The Truth About Chuck Norris: 400 Facts About the World's Greatest Human" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1592403441&tag=fromdonespoin-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=fromdonespoin-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1592403441" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chuck-Norris-Collection-Missing-Action/dp/B00000G3RI?ie=UTF8&tag=fromdonespoin-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Chuck Norris Collection (Delta Force / Delta Force 2 / Missing In Action / Missing In Action 2: The Beginning / Braddock: Missing in Action III)" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B00000G3RI&tag=fromdonespoin-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=fromdonespoin-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00000G3RI" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /><br />
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<b>4. Mind-blowing hotness in twins: The Davalos Twins</b><br />
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</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TUGnPS_uBLI/AAAAAAAAAgA/yHgBa85yxSw/s1600/camila-and-mariana-davalos-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TUGnPS_uBLI/AAAAAAAAAgA/yHgBa85yxSw/s320/camila-and-mariana-davalos-09.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TUGnSX9h3WI/AAAAAAAAAgE/jVCxwZYU31o/s1600/camila-and-mariana-davalos-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TUGnSX9h3WI/AAAAAAAAAgE/jVCxwZYU31o/s320/camila-and-mariana-davalos-20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.egotastic.com/media/pictures/1009/camila-and-mariana-davalos-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>I don't know all the twins on earth, but I am pretty sure we have the hottest set of twins ever right here in the persons of Camila and Mariana Davalos.(pics thanks to <a href="http://egotastic.com/">egotastic.com</a>)<br />
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<b>5. Mind-blowing violence in a book: 120 days of Sodom</b><br />
120 Days of Sodom tells the story of four wealthy male libertines who resolve to experience the ultimate sexual gratification in orgies, while locked away in a castle. As the days pass by, their activities become more and more violent and gross. Let's just say the novel involves a lot of s**t. I don't want to publish violence in this blog, so let me just refer you to this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/120_days_of_sodom#Plot">Wikipedia article</a>.<br />
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<b>6. Mind-blowing awesomeness in music: Soothsayer by Buckethead</b><br />
A youtube comment said it best: "The True Story of the Origin of the Un<wbr></wbr>iverse: there were two all powerful gods of awesome who fought before the universe was created. Their names were Buckethead and Chuck Norris. They fought for eternity until Chuck Norris kicked his most powerful round house kick at Buckethead while Buckethead shredded the most epic solo ever and their two titanic attacks collided and ripped a hole in the fabric of time and then the most massive explosion ever recorded occurred. This event is known today as the Big Bang."<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/adV8-_hgL4g?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="425"></iframe><br />
If you like the song, you might like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crime-Slunk-Scene/dp/B0022XY4P0?ie=UTF8&tag=fromdonespoin-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">the entire album</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=fromdonespoin-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0022XY4P0" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />.<br />
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<b>7. Mind-blowing horror due to a disease: Fatal insomnia</b><br />
Just imagine what it would be like one day to wake up and never fall asleep again, to be tortured in a twilight world of perpetual insomnia, lying in bed, exhausted but with eyes wide open, listening to the groans and whispers of the night -- sleepless, until death mercifully claims you. That is fatal insomnia. (<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6822468/ns/dateline_nbc/">MSNBC</a>)<br />
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<b>8. Mind-blowing sniper: Simo Hayha</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.badassoftheweek.com/badass-simo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.badassoftheweek.com/badass-simo1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Finnish sniper Simo Hayha killed 705 Russians in the Winter War of 1939. Consider these:<br />
<ul><li>He accomplished this feat in 100 days </li>
<li>He did it in six feet of snow </li>
<li>The temperature was 20-40 below zero</li>
<li>A task force, a team of counter snipers, and artillery strikes tried to take him (just him) out. But they all failed. Instead, the task force and counter snipers were all taken out. </li>
<li>He didn't use a scoped rifle. </li>
</ul>teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-7598496105060326732011-01-20T16:02:00.000+08:002011-01-20T16:02:46.761+08:00Foolishness is part of human nature...Tim Jackson mentioned the following in a TEDTalk, and I paraphrase: We're using money we don't have (credit cards etc) to buy stuff we don't need, that don't make a lasting impact ("flavor of the month"), to impress people who don't really matter to us.<br />
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I believe this applies to life in general. People like to spend their energy doing things that don't make a lasting impact.teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-25938595988546930472011-01-04T16:55:00.001+08:002011-01-04T17:42:10.677+08:00Happy New Year song!Happy new year everyone!<br />
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Let me share with you a song I discovered recently by a great band called Thanatopsis. The song is aptly entitled "New Year." <br />
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If you like their songs, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/AXIOLOGY-THANATOPSIS/dp/B000NBWP72?ie=UTF8&tag=fromdonespoin-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">you can buy them here</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=fromdonespoin-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000NBWP72" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />.teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-66092850520264275632010-12-28T00:48:00.000+08:002010-12-28T00:48:24.218+08:00Things to be thankful for in 2010As 2010 draws to a close, let me look back at what I had done this year, the successes and the setbacks, and share some of my thoughts with you. I've never formally done this before (if a blog entry can be considered formal), but the pastor in Church last Sunday mentioned that thanking God for His blessings is the right thing to do, so here I am. <br />
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Turns out, there are quite a number of things to be thankful for. In terms of...<br />
1. <u><b>W</b><b>ork</b></u>, this year had been smooth sailing. I've had some pretty tough projects that got exponentially more challenging as the year ended, but it seems that these difficulties can be surpassed before 2011. I wouldn't have imagined this to happen 3 weeks ago. I have also gotten a small recognition at work this year, something that only happens once every few years. This year was also the year where I traveled the most - to China/HK twice, Korea, Singapore, even Boracay. <br />
2. <u><b>W</b><b>ork</b></u>, I'm happy to be active in the recruiting space. It is mildly gratifying to know that you are helping people by giving them jobs. The key to this though is to balance the students' futures versus your goals, which can be a tough decision to make sometimes. <br />
3. <u><b>L</b><b>ife</b></u>, I'm really glad I started going to the gym at the start of 2010. I do not go to the gym regularly, and yet I have gained around 15 pounds. But of course, the task of keeping yourself fit does not end after a year of work. <br />
4. <u><b>F</b><b>amily</b></u>, I'm glad that everyone in our family is still in relatively good health and the family still has a strong bond though we don't deliberately create memorable experiences.<br />
5. <u><b>L</b><b>ife</b></u>, what seems like a golden business opportunity has opened up for me and my friends (actually, the opportunity opened to him - and my friend invited me and another friend). I'm hoping and praying that this really is one. <br />
6. <u><b>S</b><b>piritual life</b></u>, this is the year where I have begun to be more active in Church. In fact, I had been virtually absent from my Church since I graduated from college! Finally I'm getting myself back on track...<br />
7. <u><b>L</b><b>ife</b></u>, it's great to have good friends. I'm not the emotional type, but it's great to have friends you can talk to about anything. Another reason I'm thankful is that the resulting circumstances in #5 actually led me to find an awesome friend, someone who wowed me the moment our glances connected. <br />
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And one more thing - it's awesome to receive a birthday SMS from a friend as the clock hit twelve midnight 2 days ago :)<br />
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In terms of improvement areas: <br />
1. I've got to learn to be more flexible with my personality, and realize when to be deliberately more emotional in my dealings with people. I think from an all too logical perspective (thanks to my years of studying chess, math, and playing RTS games), and radiate a very neutral outlook (eg: hiding/tempering down emotion, which is actually a double edged sword.). <i></i>These two things combined is often mistaken by others as a very cold demeanor, even though I do not intend it to be. <br />
2. And yet, I need to be more rigorous at work. Managing increasingly tougher projects makes this all too critical. <br />
3. I need to get more experience. I'm 26, and I still have a lot of things to learn and experience. The professional situation I end up with in 2011 can help steer this I think...teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-24929707884888664442010-11-10T14:07:00.000+08:002010-11-10T14:07:23.282+08:00Even the Einstein of humans is still... just a human<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://abstrusegoose.com/strips/genetically_we_are_94_to_98_percent_chimpanzee.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="537" src="http://abstrusegoose.com/strips/genetically_we_are_94_to_98_percent_chimpanzee.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Found the insightful comic above from <a href="http://abstrusegoose.com/314">abstrusegoose</a>. You can just as easily substitute the monkey for a human, and the human as a "higher entity" (multidimensional beings? Read Clifford Pickover's hyperspace book for an explanation. God?)teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-33270156253988857292010-11-10T11:06:00.001+08:002011-01-14T16:27:59.942+08:00Classical movies I have seen (and why) - part 1I've never been a fan of classical movies until very recently. Black and white just didn't appeal to me, and I thought that the stories were too shallow. Not to mention that the camera techniques and effects back then are very primitive compared to the present - hence boring. <br />
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But then I chanced upon a list of the best movies ever created and I was shocked to see majority of them being dominated by very old movies. How could movies created with ancient technology come through as being best of all time? That piqued my interest, and I began watching a few of them... <br />
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...and now I can say I am more or less hooked. This from a guy who's seen probably only Ten Commandments among the classical movies before. It wasn't the technology - it was the story and the storytelling that carried movies back then - no amount of special effects can substitute that. Every now and then, the technological breakthrough would happen, which would go on to become the standard for all succeeding movies. <br />
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Without further ado, here's the list of the movies I have seen, in no particular order:<br />
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<u><b>1. Ikiru <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ikiru-Criterion-Collection-Takashi-Shimura/dp/B00005JLMU?ie=UTF8&tag=fromdonespoin-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">(buy the movie in Amazon)</a></b></u><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Ikiru_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3a/Ikiru_poster.jpg" width="227" /></a></div><br />
<b>What it is about</b>: A man - who spent the last three decades of his life dedicated to work - suddenly realizes he has stomach cancer and has only a few months left to live. He realizes he's been dead for the last three decades, and begins looking for ways to truly live his life. <br />
<b>Why did I watch this movie</b>: Roger Ebert said it is the greatest movie of Akira Kurosawa. And Akira Kurosawa's movies are always among the top of the list of greatest movies ever. <br />
<b>Why you should watch this movie</b>: Every person who's been working for a few years now should watch this. Before it's too late. Let me rephrase Ebert: Watch this movie every 5 years and inevitably you'll see how you're slowly transforming into the man in the movie. <br />
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<u><b>2. Rashomon <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rashomon-Criterion-Collection-Toshir%C3%B4-Mifune/dp/B00003CXC6?ie=UTF8&tag=fromdonespoin-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">(buy the movie in Amazon)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=fromdonespoin-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00003CXC6" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></b></u><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://filmjournal.net/mjocallaghan/files/2009/04/rashomon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://filmjournal.net/mjocallaghan/files/2009/04/rashomon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<b>What it is about</b>: A priest, a woodcutter, and a passerby sit under a gate discussing the most bizarre experience they've had - a hearing about the murder of a samurai and the rape of his wife. <br />
<b>Why did I watch this movie</b>: Because it is another highly regarded Akira Kurosawa work - in fact, this was the movie that catapulted him to international fame, winning the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival <br />
<b>Why you should watch this movie</b>: This movie will make you think very hard about truth, justice, and people's motives. Listen to the testimonies of the priest, woodcutter, thief, wife, and (how did this happen?) the samurai himself. As Ebert wrote, "The wonder of 'Rashomon' is that while the shadowplay of truth and memory is going on, we are absorbed by what we trust is an unfolding story. The film's engine is our faith that we'll get to the bottom of things"<br />
<i>- is it clear I am an Ebert fan? :)</i><br />
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<u><b>3. The Passion of Joan of Arc (free movie!)</b></u><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rt2WhktEtJA/S0ZXpToVrNI/AAAAAAAAFP4/IVwnCwPEk4Q/s400/passion-de-jeanne-darc-falconetti-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Rt2WhktEtJA/S0ZXpToVrNI/AAAAAAAAFP4/IVwnCwPEk4Q/s320/passion-de-jeanne-darc-falconetti-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<b>What it is about</b>: The last few days of Joan of Arc's life, starting from her trial in front of the priests until her execution. <br />
<b>Why did I watch this movie</b>: I watched this movie because many have said that the performance of the lead actress Renee Falconetti is widely considered one of the best - if not the best - performance ever caught on film. <br />
<b>Why you should watch this movie</b>: The performance is indeed mind blowing. Many shots are taken close up, showing only the faces, but even these alone carry the emotion and tension of the movie very well. I watched this movie with Richard Einhorn's musical composition "Voices of Light" which makes the silent movie all the more haunting. <br />
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The whole movie is available on youtube!<br />
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This is a long overdue post.teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-17109172103734804302010-10-21T15:16:00.001+08:002011-01-21T01:10:52.107+08:00Modern capitalism isn't that ruthlessly profit-focused.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/the_economic_argument.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/the_economic_argument.png" width="298" /></a></div>So true.teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-25779914276355865032010-10-01T11:11:00.000+08:002010-10-01T11:11:00.827+08:00If I delivered our graduation speech...<i>If I was the one who talked during our graduation ceremony 3 years ago, I would have said something like this. I wrote the following note 3 years ago, a few hours after our graduation. The same idea was forming in my mind when I was asked to apply for the grad speech, but I decided not to write it down until after graduation. I will not edit this to reflect my current thinking :) I noticed the ending was abrupt - sorry for that. </i><br />
<i>The essay follows...</i><br />
<br />
I am angry, but I am also quite happy. This would be the best way to explain how I feel right now, as a graduating student standing before you all, and soon, the Philippine society. I know this wasn't the type of opening you all were expecting from me at such a grand event as commencement exercises, so let me explain myself.<br />
<br />
Happy.<br />
<br />
There are several reasons to be happy.<br />
<br />
One. We are students schooled in ideas, concepts, and technology that will be obsolete in 2 to 3 years. We are schooled to find solutions to problems that don't even exist yet.<br />
<br />
Now why be happy about this? Because there is one competitive advantage the Lasallian education gives us: the ability to adapt to change, and the discipline to attain success in the face of dizzying changes. And that means we can manage almost anything that the world may slap on us. We will soon find our way around these hurdles, thanks to the torture that our school training gave us. Do I need to elaborate on the "torture" part? On the "dizzying changes" part, I recommend you to watch "Did You Know" in youtube.<br />
<br />
Two. The education that we have is not manifested in our diplomas alone. This is an education that is also deeply rooted in values. And that means we have a smaller probability of getting swayed by corrupt practices when we leave the University's four walls. We have a smaller probability of instigating the corruption in our areas. We have a bigger probability of putting an end to corruption and lead the country out of poverty, like Moses who lead the Israelites out of Egypt. But I will come back to this topic in a while.<br />
<br />
Three. The third reason is us. There is unlimited potential in each of us, and we can tap these to affect our society. Whether or not we tap these potentials is outside the scope of the school. The school has equipped us with the two important things I have stated above, and it is up to us to awaken our passions and awareness. That will be our foundation for our impactful contributions to society.<br />
<br />
Angry.<br />
<br />
But why angry?<br />
<br />
We are not special. We are not the only batch of graduating students of DLSU. To think in numbers, hundreds of thousands of Lasallian graduates have come before us. Scores of graduation speeches have been said. I bet all of them declare that we - the graduating students - are the future of this land. That we should help those in need, that we should not only look for bettering ourselves but always to think of the common good. The list of these grand ideas goes on.<br />
<br />
People say this because these lines are proper, and at such a time when our egos are tremendously boosted by the attire, diplomas, and medals, why can't we? Having it any other way would seem completely stupid. But ask ourselves: If we hear these, do we take it to heart? Or are we already thinking of how we will spend the night in celebration of this "momentous" event? Or thinking of where you can find work? Or, as quite many scientific studies tell, thinking of sex?<br />
<br />
Picking up from where I left off a few minutes ago, we should be angry because even after the hundreds of thousands of graduates that have come before us, many of whom carried a huge sense of idealism we currently (might) have, the Philippines has not progressed far. Some would even argue we have progressed in the opposite direction. Corruption is still the norm in most of our government. Worse is many of the people who occupy positions of power in our society are from the creme de la creme of Philippine Tertiary Graduates (like La Salle). What has happened? They have forgotten the speeches they've heard or written years back. They have switched off these ideals talked about so loftily. <br />
<br />
But, being angry can sometimes be a good thing. Suppose someone tells you that you did a poor job, and you won't be able to bounce back. What do you do? Accept what you were told? Or will you get angry and tell the person, "I will shove your words up your rear." Then propelled by this anger, you deliver and make the person eat his words in the end. <br />
<br />
There are other things we should be angry about, but as we are all graduating students, I believe we have the capacity to figure these out ourselves. This serves only as a spark plug.<br />
<br />
Therefore we should be angry, and keep this anger in our hearts and minds.<br />
<br />
These are the reasons why I am both happy and angry.teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-83442432272574805982010-09-03T18:29:00.001+08:002010-09-14T10:07:48.474+08:00Please watch: Akira Kurosawa films screening at CCP/UP Film Institute<i>**Update: I just called CCP today. They confirmed this is free, but you have to be early as they don't accept any reservations and the maximum seating capacity of the theater is only 100. </i><br />
<i> </i> <br />
From Sept 14-19 and Sept 22-30, the Cultural Center of the Philippines and UP Film Institute respectively will be screening the movies of acclaimed Japanese director Akira Kurosawa for free. This is done in partnership with the Japan Foundation.<br />
<br />
Akira Kurosawa is in my opinion one of the best directors who ever lived. Just look at what other directors have said about him:<br />
<ol><li>Steven Spielberg (E.T., Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, Jaws, and a lot more)- "I have learned more from him than from almost any other filmmaker on the face of the earth."</li>
<li>Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather, enough said): "One thing that distinguishes Akira Kurosawa is that he didn't make one masterpiece or two masterpieces. He made, you know, eight masterpieces"</li>
<li>Martin Scorsese (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Aviator, Shutter Island): "Let me say it simply. Akira Kurosawa was my master, and... the master of so many other filmmakers over the years" </li>
</ol>For a list of his numerous awards, please refer to this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akira_Kurosawa:_List_of_awards_and_honors">resource</a>. <br />
<br />
He directed some of the best films I've ever watched - Rashomon, and <a href="http://www.donellegan.com/2010/02/why-i-love-ikiru.html">Ikiru (I even wrote about Ikiru)</a>. So I wholeheartedly recommend to everyone to please go to CCP or UP Film Institute to catch some of his films!<br />
<br />
Please see the schedules below:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TIDNgmbQ9aI/AAAAAAAAAfk/MWrEBN8ddDY/s1600/kurosawa1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TIDNgmbQ9aI/AAAAAAAAAfk/MWrEBN8ddDY/s400/kurosawa1.PNG" width="316" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TIDNmLta6xI/AAAAAAAAAfs/Z6VQ7t3Feug/s1600/kurosawa2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TIDNmLta6xI/AAAAAAAAAfs/Z6VQ7t3Feug/s400/kurosawa2.PNG" width="316" /></a></div>See you there!teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-48384263752012810062010-09-01T01:43:00.001+08:002010-09-02T13:23:36.960+08:00The deadliest, most terrifying diseases everEveryone of us hates disease. But there are some diseases that are utterly terrifying. Here's a quick list of the most terrifying diseases I've ever come across. <br />
<br />
<b>1. Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva</b> - Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is an extremely rare disease of the connective tissue. Essentially, this disease screws up the body's repair mechanism, causing fibrous tissue (including muscle, tendon, and ligament) to be ossified when damaged. Ossified - turn to bone! In many cases, injuries can cause joints to become permanently frozen in place. What's worse, surgical removal of the extra bone growths has been shown to cause the body to "repair" the affected area with more bone.<br />
<br />
This is a terrifying disease because it restricts your life so much. You can't put yourself at risk of injury, otherwise you risk ossifying a part of your body, and losing movability of that body part. That effectively rules out almost all physical activity! Being careful/paranoid doesn't guarantee that you won't suffer some sort of injury, and the moment you do, you will probably be permanently disfigured. <br />
<br />
The best known FOP case is that of Harry Eastlack (1933–1973). His condition began to develop at the age of ten and, by the time of his death from pneumonia in November 1973, six days before his 40th birthday, his body had completely ossified, leaving him able to move only his lips.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/orthopaedics/orthopaedic-journal/pics/p59f1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="330" src="http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/orthopaedics/orthopaedic-journal/pics/p59f1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image thanks to <a href="http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/orthopaedics/orthopaedic-journal/1998/oj11sp98p59.html">this source</a>.<br />
Notice that the bone has "grown" irregularly, leaving a man stiff in areas where he should be able to move. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>2. Naegleria fowleria</b> - Ok, so this isn't really a disease. Naegleria fowleria is actually a free-living microorganism (think of something like an amoeba) typically found in warm bodies of fresh water, such as ponds, lakes, rivers, and hot springs.<br />
<br />
Why is it terrifying? Imagine that you're taking a simple, relaxing swim in a pond or lake. Then unknowingly, N. fowleri can enter your body normally via the nose. You can not detect it or shoo it away. And here's where it gets scarier.<br />
<br />
The more common name of this organism is "brain-eating amoeba," and it's meant in a literal sense. While it rarely attacks, it almost always means death. How does a very small organism like N. fowleria do that much damage to a human?<br />
<br />
In humans, N. fowleri can invade the central nervous system via the nose. The penetration initially results in significant necrosis of and hemorrhaging in the nose. From there, they climb along nerve fibers into the brain. The amoebae begin to consume the cells of the brain piecemeal by means of a unique sucker apparatus extended from their cell surface. It then becomes pathogenic, causing primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM or PAME). PAM is a syndrome affecting the central nervous system, characterized by changes in olfactory perception (taste and smell), followed by vomiting, nausea, fever, headache, and the rapid onset of coma and death in two weeks. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Free-living_amebic_infections.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="335" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Free-living_amebic_infections.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<b>3. Fatal familial insomnia</b> - This is by far the most terrifying disease I've ever come across. As you can probably determine from the name of the disease, it is fatal insomnia. So, one night, you realize that you can no longer sleep even though you're very tired. Then the next. And the next. And the next. Until you die.<br />
<br />
Here's one story of a person who suffered from such disease:<br />
<br />
Shortly after his 40th birthday in 1991, Michael Corke, a music teacher from Chicago, began having trouble sleeping. In the following weeks, the insomnia grew worse and his health rapidly deteriorated. Eventually he couldn’t sleep at all.<br />
<br />
The doctors were baffled but could do nothing for him. Michael was physically and mentally exhausted, and wanted nothing more than to be able to fall asleep. But his brain wouldn’t let him.<br />
<br />
Video footage of him appearing at a school orchestra concert revealed a frail old man - a far cry from the fit and healthy individual he was just months earlier. Eventually he was admitted to hospital and doctors diagnosed him with an extremely rare genetic disorder discovered just seven years prior: Fatal Familial Insomnia (FFI).<br />
<br />
Michael Corke died in hospital after six months from a complete lack of sleep.<br />
<br />
Fatal Familial Insomnia strikes between the ages of 30 and 60 years, with no apparent trigger that the sufferer can relate to. Patients have been known to survive for up to three years, gradually passing through four stages of illness:<br />
1. The onset of insomnia, creating panic attacks and unfounded phobias, lasting for four months.<br />
2. Severe insomnia, worsening panic attacks and hallucinations, lasting for five months.<br />
3. Complete insomnia and rapid weight loss, lasting for three months.<br />
4. Dementia and unresponsiveness, lasting for six months. FFI is eventually fatal.<br />
<br />
Why is this so terrifying? Have you ever gone for a week without sleep? Just imagine how much this pain/exhaustion/depression will be magnified, if this is to last for as long as you live (not long, actually). <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks to wikipedia and suite101.com for the references.</span>teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-66072941603486712392010-08-24T19:02:00.000+08:002010-08-24T19:02:30.729+08:00WTF bus hostage by policeman game - why crimes end up in games<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/THOkwl28vzI/AAAAAAAAAfc/ZxL2mb-s3LQ/s1600/bus.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/THOkwl28vzI/AAAAAAAAAfc/ZxL2mb-s3LQ/s400/bus.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Barely a day after the deadly bus hostage killings by estranged policeman Rolando Mendoza, an online game about the event had been <a href="http://www.nometz.com/games/action/bus-hostage-by-policeman/">released</a>. <br />
<br />
The game was definitely done in bad taste, reminding me of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DTjLG3usQo">dreadful Atari ET game that destroyed Atari itself</a>. No need to explain why, right?<br />
<br />
On the other hand, this game reminds me of the <a href="http://www.columbinegame.com/">Super Columbine Massacre RPG</a>, wherein two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a massacre, killing 12 students and one teacher. They also injured 21 other students directly, and three people were injured while attempting to escape.<br />
<br />
I guess there are a few people who like to take advantage of bad times to make a few bucks.teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-85138059082965233522010-08-10T01:43:00.006+08:002010-08-19T02:09:40.803+08:00Watching Starcraft live in Korea - MBC HERO Game Center, SeoulBeing a Starcraft: Brood War <a href="http://www.donellegan.com/2009/12/my-favorite-athletes-1-lee-jaedong.html">fan</a> (and eventually a Starcraft 2 fan), no trip to South Korea would be complete without watching a Starcraft pro-game live. It was the chance to experience physically what I had watched only via Youtube uploads. <br />
<br />
August 8, Sunday. I planned to watch this game:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TGAyEqxjL4I/AAAAAAAAAek/mf3bxAH9lU8/s1600/SC_schedule.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="56" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TGAyEqxjL4I/AAAAAAAAAek/mf3bxAH9lU8/s320/SC_schedule.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Now getting around Korea without knowing a bit of Korean can be a challenge. Good thing Teamliquid had a <a href="http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=80483">write-up</a> (complete with photos!) of how to get there. The game above was broadcasted from the MBC HERO Game Center, which was fortunately just 3 train stations away from the guest house at Hapjeong.<br />
<br />
So after walking a few minutes of walking under a hot Korean sun and asking a few Koreans who knew English along my way, I finally got to the MBC Hero Game Center. Free entrance! :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TGA2l6pyvDI/AAAAAAAAAes/3k30itnmDJE/s1600/SC+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TGA2l6pyvDI/AAAAAAAAAes/3k30itnmDJE/s320/SC+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The view inside. When I got there the event wasn't starting yet.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TGA2xm7IlQI/AAAAAAAAAe0/HWzp2Ebk_Bk/s1600/SC+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TGA2xm7IlQI/AAAAAAAAAe0/HWzp2Ebk_Bk/s320/SC+003.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Players enter the booth. That is to avoid distractions from the spectators, who tend to shout loudly.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TGA3NuZg5fI/AAAAAAAAAe8/fNH2qxXVEVo/s1600/SC+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TGA3NuZg5fI/AAAAAAAAAe8/fNH2qxXVEVo/s320/SC+004.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entire thing was televised! So I made my television debut in Korea...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Turns out that the game that day was Woongjin Stars versus Hwaseung Oz - the latter being the team of my favorite SC player, Jaedong. It's a race to 4 wins. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TGA3j4dRbhI/AAAAAAAAAfE/qCGHLfp5TbY/s1600/SC+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TGA3j4dRbhI/AAAAAAAAAfE/qCGHLfp5TbY/s320/SC+006.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Woongjin stars bow before the crowd. Hwaseung does too, later.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TGA4FnXo21I/AAAAAAAAAfU/J-RRUSxWXHQ/s1600/SC+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TGA4FnXo21I/AAAAAAAAAfU/J-RRUSxWXHQ/s320/SC+013.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's Jaedong vs Free for the first game. Jaedong opens with a 12 pool into gas into hatchery. Free opens with a forge FE. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>I'm not going to talk about the plays that happened. But instead, I'm going to talk about what struck me watching the games live.<br />
1. Set is amazing - For a pretty small set (probably 2-3 classrooms big), it had a whopping 12 screens! The big screen, 4 screens each to show the first person view of each player, and 3 screens near the back of the set. It's easy to see what's happening, but it's a bit hard to follow the overall game, since you can look at 3 views. <br />
2. Atmosphere is intense - In a Youtube game, the excitement isn't there. You can see how long a game lasts, and more often that not, you find out who wins beforehand. That's not true when you watch live. The audience screams "<player's name=""><player name=""><i>player name</i> hwaiting" before every game. The TV camera focuses on people who are doing something weird - like this Korean guy who took a photo of a player and uploaded it into a photosite - the camera zoomed in on the guy's computer! </player></player's><br />
3. Fangirls - What I found weird was the fact that there are way more girls than guys who watched this game. And they seem to be the highschool-early college type. I was able to talk to one student who told me she's a biomechanical engineering student, and despite busy schedule, she would find time to watch these games. And indeed, after the game, she patiently waited for her favorite player to come out. <br />
<br />
Please take a look at the video I took of the place: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dySe9bAv7nWWUhBsRyj2pn7Y75smZ8IlfZb3nBglSGq-kI4JLmDbHNB0V1C2xkUCvAf85401Col8YggDl9WPw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-90425958309933745562010-08-02T00:20:00.000+08:002010-08-02T00:20:45.180+08:00Why you shouldn't try robbing Chuck NorrisHave you ever imagined what would happen if one - or two - incredibly stupid men would actually try and rob Chuck Norris? Well, this happened in real life! Thanks to <a href="http://listverse.com/2010/07/16/10-truly-ridiculous-criminal-acts/">listverse </a>for this funny story. These criminals are so stupid, it's funny.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://crossfitasia.com/ChuckNorris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://crossfitasia.com/ChuckNorris.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<i>It happened in 1994. Norris mentions this whole thing in his autobiography, “Against All Odds.” And, by his testimony, this is what happened. Honest to God, it really happened.<br />
<br />
In 1994, right at the beginning of his run as Walker, Texas Ranger, Norris was, and still is, living in Dallas, Texas, where the show was filmed. One day he was walking down the street by himself, no entourage, no fans following him, no bodyguards, not even his wife. He turned a commercial block in the downtown skyscraper area and saw two men a little bigger than he coming straight for him from the other end of the block.<br />
<br />
They were staring right at him, and he figured they wanted autographs, which he enjoys signing. So he walked up to them and stopped with a smile, whereupon they stood in front of him, whipped out a couple of large pocketknives, and one of them demanded, “Give me your wallet, Chuck! Give it here!”<br />
<br />
Norris actually opened his mouth wide and then asked, “Are you insane!?”<br />
<br />
“No! We know who you are! And we know you got a lot of money! Now give it up, or you’re dead!”<br />
<br />
Now before we go further, let us just go over a few of the particulars. All jokes aside, Chuck Norris truly does have the following black belts: 1st degree in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, 8th Degree Grandmaster in Tae Kwon Do, 9th degree in Jeet Kune Do under Bruce Lee and Lee’s best student, Dan Inosanto, 10th degree in Shito Ryu Karate, 10th degree in Tang Soo Do, 11th degree in Chun Kuk Do.<br />
<br />
Granted, the last art is his own concoction, a hybrid of all the best moves he has learned over the years, all blended for both self-defense and competition, and you are only allowed a 10th degree or better in anything when you found your own dojo. But suffice to say, the muggers didn’t even use guns. From a hundred feet away. They used knives within arm’s reach. What happened next was rather anti-climactic.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The police arrived about 4 minutes later, 3 officers in two cars, and were greeted by the scene of two men with SEVERELY broken arms (the bones had gone through the skin) sitting on the curb, two bloody knives in the gutter, and Chuck Norris, the Almighty Himself, leaning against the wall, wearing his beard, jeans, cowboy boots and a cowboy hat….he shrugged at them. The police started laughing so hard that they bent over, holding their sides, unable to put the handcuffs on the muggers. One of them managed to ask, “Did you not know who he was?!”<br />
</span><span style="font-size: large;">One of them said, “Yeah, we knew who he was! We figured all that crap on TV was fake!” </span></b></i>teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-83344002916025831582010-07-30T12:02:00.002+08:002010-07-30T12:06:27.541+08:00Hilarious Old Spice ad parody - Study like a Scholar, Scholar<object height="298" width="496"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2ArIj236UHs&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2ArIj236UHs&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="496" height="298"></embed></object><br />
<br />
The amazing success of the Old Spice ads have spawned a number of parodies. Here is arguably the best parody - Study like a scholar, scholar.<br />
<br />
When ads spawn parodies, that means something!teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-6187288280742485022010-07-28T14:38:00.002+08:002011-01-21T01:15:22.520+08:00On seeing the 100% perfect girl one beautiful April morning - Haruki Murakami<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fromdonespoin-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B003XT602W&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>This amazing short story by Haruki Murakami was shared to me by a Korean friend. The charming part of this story is that it can happen to you - have you ever anticipated getting close to the person you desire, and you begin thinking about the myriads of possibilities that may happen once you're there, and how you'd rehearse reacting to each of the situations? The stuff daydreams and other dreams are made of. <br />
<br />
The whole story follows, below. There's only one thing this story is about: how would you react if you met the 100% perfect girl one morning, while walking on the street? This story is a part of Murakami's The Elephant Vanishes, a collection of short stories.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>On seeing the 100% perfect girl one beautiful April morning</b><br />
<br />
One beautiful April morning, on a narrow side street in Tokyo's fashionable Harujuku neighborhood, I walked past the 100% perfect girl.<br />
<br />
Tell you the truth, she's not that good-looking. She doesn't stand out in any way. Her clothes are nothing special. The back of her hair is still bent out of shape from sleep. She isn't young, either - must be near thirty, not even close to a "girl," properly speaking. But still, I know from fifty yards away: She's the 100% perfect girl for me. The moment I see her, there's a rumbling in my chest, and my mouth is as dry as a desert.<br />
<br />
Maybe you have your own particular favorite type of girl - one with slim ankles, say, or big eyes, or graceful fingers, or you're drawn for no good reason to girls who take their time with every meal. I have my own preferences, of course. Sometimes in a restaurant I'll catch myself staring at the girl at the next table to mine because I like the shape of her nose.<br />
<br />
But no one can insist that his 100% perfect girl correspond to some preconceived type. Much as I like noses, I can't recall the shape of hers - or even if she had one. All I can remember for sure is that she was no great beauty. It's weird.<br />
<br />
"Yesterday on the street I passed the 100% girl," I tell someone.<br />
<br />
"Yeah?" he says. "Good-looking?"<br />
<br />
"Not really."<br />
<br />
"Your favorite type, then?"<br />
<br />
"I don't know. I can't seem to remember anything about her - the shape of her eyes or the size of her breasts."<br />
<br />
"Strange."<br />
<br />
"Yeah. Strange."<br />
<br />
"So anyhow," he says, already bored, "what did you do? Talk to her? Follow her?"<br />
<br />
"Nah. Just passed her on the street."<br />
<br />
She's walking east to west, and I west to east. It's a really nice April morning.<br />
<br />
Wish I could talk to her. Half an hour would be plenty: just ask her about herself, tell her about myself, and - what I'd really like to do - explain to her the complexities of fate that have led to our passing each other on a side street in Harajuku on a beautiful April morning in 1981. This was something sure to be crammed full of warm secrets, like an antique clock build when peace filled the world.<br />
<br />
After talking, we'd have lunch somewhere, maybe see a Woody Allen movie, stop by a hotel bar for cocktails. With any kind of luck, we might end up in bed.<br />
<br />
Potentiality knocks on the door of my heart.<br />
<br />
Now the distance between us has narrowed to fifteen yards.<br />
<br />
How can I approach her? What should I say?<br />
<br />
"Good morning, miss. Do you think you could spare half an hour for a little conversation?"<br />
<br />
Ridiculous. I'd sound like an insurance salesman.<br />
<br />
"Pardon me, but would you happen to know if there is an all-night cleaners in the neighborhood?"<br />
<br />
No, this is just as ridiculous. I'm not carrying any laundry, for one thing. Who's going to buy a line like that?<br />
<br />
Maybe the simple truth would do. "Good morning. You are the 100% perfect girl for me."<br />
<br />
No, she wouldn't believe it. Or even if she did, she might not want to talk to me. Sorry, she could say, I might be the 100% perfect girl for you, but you're not the 100% boy for me. It could happen. And if I found myself in that situation, I'd probably go to pieces. I'd never recover from the shock. I'm thirty-two, and that's what growing older is all about.<br />
<br />
We pass in front of a flower shop. A small, warm air mass touches my skin. The asphalt is damp, and I catch the scent of roses. I can't bring myself to speak to her. She wears a white sweater, and in her right hand she holds a crisp white envelope lacking only a stamp. So: She's written somebody a letter, maybe spent the whole night writing, to judge from the sleepy look in her eyes. The envelope could contain every secret she's ever had.<br />
<br />
I take a few more strides and turn: She's lost in the crowd.<br />
<br />
Now, of course, I know exactly what I should have said to her. It would have been a long speech, though, far too long for me to have delivered it properly. The ideas I come up with are never very practical.<br />
<br />
Oh, well. It would have started "Once upon a time" and ended "A sad story, don't you think?"<br />
<br />
<i>Once upon a time, there lived a boy and a girl. The boy was eighteen and the girl sixteen. He was not unusually handsome, and she was not especially beautiful. They were just an ordinary lonely boy and an ordinary lonely girl, like all the others. But they believed with their whole hearts that somewhere in the world there lived the 100% perfect boy and the 100% perfect girl for them. Yes, they believed in a miracle. And that miracle actually happened.<br />
<br />
One day the two came upon each other on the corner of a street.<br />
<br />
"This is amazing," he said. "I've been looking for you all my life. You may not believe this, but you're the 100% perfect girl for me."<br />
<br />
"And you," she said to him, "are the 100% perfect boy for me, exactly as I'd pictured you in every detail. It's like a dream."<br />
<br />
They sat on a park bench, held hands, and told each other their stories hour after hour. They were not lonely anymore. They had found and been found by their 100% perfect other. What a wonderful thing it is to find and be found by your 100% perfect other. It's a miracle, a cosmic miracle.<br />
<br />
As they sat and talked, however, a tiny, tiny sliver of doubt took root in their hearts: Was it really all right for one's dreams to come true so easily?<br />
<br />
And so, when there came a momentary lull in their conversation, the boy said to the girl, "Let's test ourselves - just once. If we really are each other's 100% perfect lovers, then sometime, somewhere, we will meet again without fail. And when that happens, and we know that we are the 100% perfect ones, we'll marry then and there. What do you think?"<br />
<br />
"Yes," she said, "that is exactly what we should do."<br />
<br />
And so they parted, she to the east, and he to the west.<br />
<br />
The test they had agreed upon, however, was utterly unnecessary. They should never have undertaken it, because they really and truly were each other's 100% perfect lovers, and it was a miracle that they had ever met. But it was impossible for them to know this, young as they were. The cold, indifferent waves of fate proceeded to toss them unmercifully.<br />
<br />
One winter, both the boy and the girl came down with the season's terrible inluenza, and after drifting for weeks between life and death they lost all memory of their earlier years. When they awoke, their heads were as empty as the young D. H. Lawrence's piggy bank.<br />
<br />
They were two bright, determined young people, however, and through their unremitting efforts they were able to acquire once again the knowledge and feeling that qualified them to return as full-fledged members of society. Heaven be praised, they became truly upstanding citizens who knew how to transfer from one subway line to another, who were fully capable of sending a special-delivery letter at the post office. Indeed, they even experienced love again, sometimes as much as 75% or even 85% love.<br />
<br />
Time passed with shocking swiftness, and soon the boy was thirty-two, the girl thirty.<br />
<br />
One beautiful April morning, in search of a cup of coffee to start the day, the boy was walking from west to east, while the girl, intending to send a special-delivery letter, was walking from east to west, but along the same narrow street in the Harajuku neighborhood of Tokyo. They passed each other in the very center of the street. The faintest gleam of their lost memories glimmered for the briefest moment in their hearts. Each felt a rumbling in their chest. And they knew:<br />
<br />
She is the 100% perfect girl for me.<br />
<br />
He is the 100% perfect boy for me.<br />
<br />
But the glow of their memories was far too weak, and their thoughts no longer had the clarity of fouteen years earlier. Without a word, they passed each other, disappearing into the crowd. Forever.<br />
<br />
A sad story, don't you think?</i><br />
<br />
Yes, that's it, that is what I should have said to her.teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-32542452169648110132010-07-26T00:31:00.001+08:002011-01-21T01:15:39.061+08:00To the people who don't know, this is Cheryl ColeWhy many people in my social circle don't know of Cheryl Cole is a mystery to me. This woman is easily one of the hottest women singers/reality show judges on the planet. She isn't famous here in Asia, but if you're that hot, shouldn't the news travel? Anyway, according to Wikipedia:<br />
<div><br />
<div><div><i>Cheryl Ann Cole (née Tweedy, born 30 June 1983) is an English singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, model, and television personality. </i></div><div><i><br />
</i></div><div><div><i>Following her appearance on The X Factor, the media have referred to Cole as "the nation's new sweetheart". Simon Cowell stated, "she must now be the most popular person on TV." </i></div><div><i><br />
</i></div><div><i>In a 2009 poll by the Style Network, Cole was voted best dressed woman of the year and style icon of the decade. Cole was also named the "Sexiest Woman in the World" in the 2009 edition of FHM's 100 Sexiest Women poll, having reached number seven the year before.</i></div></div><div><i><br />
</i></div><div><i>Unfortunately, she was married - Cole married Chelsea and England football player Ashley Cole in July 2006. In February 2010 the couple separated. In May 2010, the singer filed for divorce from her husband.</i></div><div><br />
</div><div>Anyway, here are some of Cheryl's pictures: (images thanks to kineda.com askmen.com current.com) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.celebgossipz.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/cheryl-cole-calendar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.celebgossipz.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/cheryl-cole-calendar.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://thisisdiversity.com/img/forall/Image/Cheryl%20Cole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://thisisdiversity.com/img/forall/Image/Cheryl%20Cole.jpg" width="335" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kineda.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/cheryl_fhm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.kineda.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/cheryl_fhm2.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kineda.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/cheryl_fhm4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.kineda.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/cheryl_fhm4.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.asiaenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/cheryl-cole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.asiaenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/cheryl-cole.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is probably one of her most famous pictures<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.askmen.com/galleries/singer/cheryl-tweedy/pictures/cheryl-tweedy-picture-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://images.askmen.com/galleries/singer/cheryl-tweedy/pictures/cheryl-tweedy-picture-4.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.askmen.com/galleries/singer/cheryl-tweedy/pictures/cheryl-tweedy-picture-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://images.askmen.com/galleries/singer/cheryl-tweedy/pictures/cheryl-tweedy-picture-1.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><br />
<div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.askmen.com/photos/cheryl-cole-aka-cheryl-tweedy/83987.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://images.askmen.com/photos/cheryl-cole-aka-cheryl-tweedy/83987.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-39136678548981000592010-07-24T02:12:00.000+08:002010-07-24T02:12:19.059+08:00This blog article is now... DIAMONDS!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TEna9P4uK7I/AAAAAAAAAec/0wroNdAveis/s1600/Diamonds.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TEna9P4uK7I/AAAAAAAAAec/0wroNdAveis/s400/Diamonds.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can't read this blog because Old Spice Guy converted this article to diamonds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>More <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owGykVbfgUE">here</a>. Even more at Old Spice's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/OldSpice">Youtube channel</a>.teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-79908668093234981202010-07-06T23:46:00.004+08:002010-07-07T11:14:52.131+08:00The long term joys of teachingLet me start with this - at the beginning, teaching is a thankless job. These are the two biggest barriers in my opinion:<br />
<br />
1. <u>It's tiring</u> - before the lecture, as you have to plan what to say; during the lecture, for obvious reasons; and after the lecture, for I chose to walk back home :)<br />
I taught Math during Saturdays at my high school - the school wanted its students to know more Math beyond what's taught in the curriculum, so they invited me to teach a few of their current students. I also taught summer Math classes in my nursery school. At that time, I was still a University student. Because I was a student for five days of the week and a campus journalist for seven days of the week, teaching during the weekends becomes exceptionally more tiring.<br />
<br />
2. <u>Is it really worth it?</u> - In many university classes, some students would always quip, "am I really going to use <<subject x="">> when I graduate?" Some students do not appreciate the things that are being taught to them. Now imagine when you teach in what others would say optional classes. How less appreciated would you be? </subject><br />
I told my students that in the academic arena, the primary object of learning is to learn how to learn, because school can't teach you all that you need to know in life. But it can equip you with the right framework and discipline for learning, for adapting, for succeeding. Even with that, I've had some (young) students give a blank stare from the beginning till the end of class, and these would hurt me. Some though would believe me, and that consoles me.<br />
<br />
At least to me, the joy of teaching becomes imminent once you realize that you've changed someone's life, or you've imparted something that they still remember after a long time. Those have happened to me!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://philspector.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/teacher.jpg?w=300&h=276" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://philspector.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/teacher.jpg?w=300&h=276" /></a></div><br />
1. <u>Changing someone's life</u> - In my summer Math class, I had a young high school student. He said because he was struggling in Math, it being his worst subject in school, his mom enrolled him for summer. So we went through the summer, and he was one of the energetic students in class. He even came to my house a few times to say hi, play games, or ask questions.<br />
<b>The good part:</b> One year later, he told me that Math is now his best subject! He even asked if I was teaching the next summer. Unfortunately, I couldn't make the next summer...<br />
This memorable experience could not have happened without the help of <a href="http://www.paulgarilao.com/">Paul Garilao</a> and my brother. They helped make this summer class possible by substituting for me in quite a number of classes. (I was doing my thesis, and working as the editor in chief of the university paper at this time.)<br />
<br />
2. <u>Imparting something</u> - Continuing what I said to my students about school, since school is primarily about learning to learn, what is more important to achieve then is excellence and well-roundedness.<br />
<b>The good part</b>: 5 years later, someone told me that she remembered this point I said. :)<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">img thanks to </span><a href="http://philspector.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">http://philspector.wordpress.com</span></a>teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-26239315765976743612010-07-06T16:24:00.001+08:002010-07-06T17:02:58.979+08:00This is honesty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TDLnroqVNzI/AAAAAAAAAeU/2mwnZkRs4Oo/s1600/Dutu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RKzQLIUiGFM/TDLnroqVNzI/AAAAAAAAAeU/2mwnZkRs4Oo/s640/Dutu.jpg" width="456" /></a></div><br />
Now, this is honesty!<br />
<br />
For more <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance_fee_fraud">419</a>-related fun (this is the serious type), go to <a href="http://419eaters.com/">419eaters.com</a> - scambaiting at its best.teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-38198601199113077032010-07-03T13:43:00.001+08:002011-01-21T01:15:51.236+08:00Just who is this woman, the face of Estee Lauder?Estee Lauder ads seem to dominate airports both in and out of the Philippines. So in my recent forays abroad, I have frequently seen their ads and wondered just who the model in those ads is.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DbYGS2gU9qI/R8sff4DQ7II/AAAAAAAABgI/IEkiQ8eot44/s1600/Estee%2BLauder%2BCyber%2BWhite%2BEX%2BSpring%2B2008%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_DbYGS2gU9qI/R8sff4DQ7II/AAAAAAAABgI/IEkiQ8eot44/s400/Estee%2BLauder%2BCyber%2BWhite%2BEX%2BSpring%2B2008%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.proscoutblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/hilaryrhodaesteelauder2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="383" src="http://www.proscoutblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/hilaryrhodaesteelauder2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Thanks to a stroke of luck, I now know who this woman is. Her name is Hilary Rhoda, a 23 year old American model.<br />
<br />
Seems that Hilary is a well accomplished supermodel. According to wikipedia:<br />
<br />
<i>She has appeared in advertisements for Balenciaga, Valentino, Belstaff, Dolce & Gabbana, Givenchy, Donna Karan, Gucci, Gap, Dsquared, Shiatzy Chen, Blumarine, and Ralph Lauren, and in Victoria's Secret catalogs. She has also appeared on the covers of American Vogue, Vogue Italia, Vogue Paris, British Harper's Bazaar, Time, Numéro, and W.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>In January 2007, Rhoda signed an exclusive contract with Estée Lauder as their newest face. In July of that same year, earning at an estimated total of $2 million in the past 12 months, Forbes named her twelfth in their list of The World's 15 Top-Earning Supermodels.[5] She is the current face of St. John Knits (replacing Angelina Jolie), ERES Beachwear, and the Neiman Marcus spring/summer 2009 campaigns. 2009 also marks Rhoda's debut in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Images thanks to proscoutblog.com and atouchofblusher.blogspot.com </span>teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833468265818577508.post-55335686893834185182010-06-29T17:12:00.000+08:002010-06-29T17:12:19.031+08:00When you know the answer, but not how to solve it, improvise! Force fit.<div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/3x9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/3x9.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div>Many people are like this, especially in business. Given a problem, and our own personal biases and experience, we will always tend to favor a certain answer. Then what would normally happen is that we force fit the scenario to make our preferred answer the right one. </div></div><div><br />
</div><div>Did the folks at BP experience this, during that fateful project? </div><div><br />
</div><div>Not sure how many ideas have been killed because of this thinking.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Take a look at the alt tag of that image: </div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1aa6; font-family: monospace; white-space: pre-wrap;">Handy exam trick: when you know the answer but not the correct derivation, derive blindly forward from the givens and backward from the answer, and join the chains once the equations start looking similar. Sometimes the graders don't notice the seam</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1aa6; font-family: monospace; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #1a1aa6; font-family: monospace; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; white-space: normal;">Thanks XKCD! </span></span></div>teslaman2003http://www.blogger.com/profile/09296669445943433500noreply@blogger.com0