Job Applicant

Reaching the end of a job interview, the Human Resources Person asked a young Engineer fresh out of MIT, "And what starting salary were you looking for?"

The Engineer replied, "In the neighborhood of $125,000 a year, depending on the benefits package."

The interviewer said, "Well, what would you say to a package of 5-weeks vacation, 14 paid holidays, full medical and dental, company matching retirement fund to 50% of salary, and a company car leased every 2 years - say, a red Corvette?"

The Engineer sat up straight and said, "Wow! Are you kidding?"

And the interviewer replied, "Yes, but you started it."

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The lesson here might be: Do not overstate expectations on salaries when applying for a job.

Solarve Bus

The "Solarve Bus" is Japan's solar powered bus developed by Sanyo and Ryobi is sure to be the world's futuristic bus that is environment-friendly.

The question is: Can every country afford to have one so that its citizens will be enjoying the cleaner air and the convenience that it can offer? Maybe this clean bus is good only for the developed nations to enjoy.

Photo Attribution: http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/life/solarve-bus-get-your-motor-running-sanyos-solar-powered-bus-236370?hpt=Mid

America's Worst Colleges?

If we have the best colleges, maybe we can also have the worst colleges. In the case of the U.S., there are at least 10 Worst Colleges ranked and posted in the Washington Post.

See the story at  http://voices.washingtonpost.com/class-struggle/2010/08/americas_worst_colleges.html?hpid=sec-education

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So, whose standards are we following? What are the criteria involved in the ranking?

The rate of graduates as a criterion doesn't justify the ranking. What about the drop-out rate, the administration factor, etc, etc....?

Mechanic vs. Heart Surgeon

Heart Surgeon

A mechanic was removing a cylinder head from the motor of a Harley, when he spotted a world-famous heart surgeon in his shop. The heart surgeon was waiting for the service manager to come take a look at his bike.

The mechanic shouted across the garage, "Hey Doc can I ask you a question?" The famous surgeon, a bit surprised, walked over to the mechanic working on the motorcycle.

The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and asked, "So Doc, look at this engine. I also can open it up, take valves out, fix'em, put in new parts and when I finish this will work just like a new one. So how come I get a pittance and you get the really big money, when you and I are doing basically the same work?"

The surgeon paused, smiled and leaned over, and whispered to the mechanic, "Try doing it while it's running."

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Sometimes, it takes some lazy thinking before whining....);

Irony Picture 1

Life is full  of ironies. This is just one photo which I find rather funny.

Then and Now (1)

Here is an anecdote about a grandpa talking about his good old days. Read on.....

The Good Old Days

Grandpa was always going on about the good old days, and the lower cost of living, in particular...

"When I was a kid, my mom could send me to the store, and I'd get a salami, two pints of milk, 6 oranges, 2 loaves o' bread, and a magazine, some new blue jeans... all for a dollar!!

Then Grandpa said sadly ..."You can't DO that any more...they got those darn video cameras everywhere you look......" 

Philippine's S.W.A.T. Team

It must be a horrible experience for the survivors of the tourist bus hostage drama in Manila days ago.
http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view/20100825-288710/4-SWAT-members-relieved-over-hostage-crisis   report:

MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE 2) Four members of the Special Weapons and Tactics team were relieved from their posts following the botched rescue operations during a hostage-taking incident Monday, a spokesman for the Philippine National Police said Wednesday.

"Pending the results of the investigation, they have been administratively relieved from their positions," Senior Superintendent Agrimero Cruz told reporters.

Cruz identified the four as Chief Inspector Santiago Pascual, Senior Police Officer 4 Reynaldo Antonio, SPO3 Alfonso Gameng, SPO2 Bernardo Espinosa.

Cruz said there would be an examination of the bullets found at the scene of the bloodbath at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila where nine people – eight foreign tourists and hostage-taker Senior Inspector Rolando Mendoza – died.

Eight of the hostages were killed and police admitted to tactical and operational blunders in handling the situation.

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If the rescue team  really committed the mistake, then it has to be renamed: SWAT- "Sorry We Are not Trained".

Amazing Liu Wei on the Piano

China's Liu Wei chose to live an outstanding life even without his hands. He proved his piano teacher wrong to have said that  he would never succeed.
His rendition of "Mariage d'Amour" on the piano with his toes can amaze a viewer.

See him at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVYMBOQxte8&feature=player_embedded

Skateboarding Priest?

And who says priests are sluggish movers? It is a mindset among Christians that these holy people are not to be seen enjoying what the common people do, skateboarding, for example. For one thing, skateboarding is a good exercise (though I cannot do myself).

See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvPVz8jzp5U

Old Enough To Fly

Only babies - as in babies cannot book plane tickets this time. Minors unaccompanied by their parents or adults to travel by plane can just get away all by themselves, especially when the selling agency wants the money. Of course, there should have been questions why minors are travelling at their own. What about the security in the airport? There seems to be something amiss in this regard.

When the three kids (aged 15, 13, and 11) were able to reach Nashville from Jacksonville by plane, their parents were stunned and scared upon knowing the kids' adventure.

See the story at http://www.mb.com.ph/node/272342/3-kid

Holiday in Chanthaburi

Chanthaburi (Moon city) is such a nice place in the northeast of Thailand. There, Rissa and I went for Mothers' Day holiday on August 11-13. We enjoyed every second of our trip though it was so tiring. We took some pictures which we wanted to share.

A Buddhist Temple in Chanthaburi

Rissa @ King Taksin Park

Thais believe that rabbits inhabit the moon. Since Chanthaburi means "Moon City, rabbits dominate the logos of official boards aside from the abundance of fruits as symbol of the city. Chanthaburi also boasts of its worldwide re-known production of fruits, especially durian. The city is also known as the "Gem Center" in the region.

Even the lamppost carries a rabbit that seems to enjoy its unlikely place.

The Church of Our Immaculate Conception

Manipulated Rules of court

Judge to the court, at the start of a case: "I have to declare an interest in this case. Last week, the plaintiff sent me a check for $10,000 to find in his favor. 

Two days later, I received $20,000 from the defendant to find in his favor. 

I have therefore sent $10,000 back to the defendant and can try the case without bias."