Interesting news from Apple (read: Steve Jobs): the iPhone now supports Microsoft Exchange.
Pretty cool. Too bad I’m stuck in a 2-year contract. But it’s okay, as I’d rather wait for the nth generation of the iPhone that I know will have more features and will have been tried-and-tested.
Let’s see how this pans out with the BlackBerry fans (I’m one of them). =0)
Here’s an article I found on the Discover Magazine website that talks about 14 currently on-going @Home-like projects. Remember SETI@Home? Apparently, it’s still going.
There was a need for me to obtain an affidavit and power of attorney document from the Philippine Consulate in Los Angeles for my upcoming 3-week trip to the Philippines. So on February 28, 2008, I went, filled out and paid the fees, and was told to come pick it up on March 3, 2008, a Monday.
Due to higher [preparation] priorities, however, I went on March 5, 2008 around 11:30 AM. The embassy was on the 5th floor and when I arrived, I was surprised to see the room quite empty. And only window #3 (with a young lady) was open to help people with their needs.
Since I was only there to pick up the documents, I went to window #4 (the Releasing window) but found the window blinds shut. So I asked the man in window #5 (the Cashier window) if he could help me. He said: “Please take a number.” At this point, I already found it frustrating.
I took a number – it was 87 – and at this time more people started to come in. The impatience and angry faces grew, including mine. I still thought it wouldn’t take long for the young lady in window #3 to call me, since she was already serving number 78. But no! It took almost 2 hours to get it! How inefficient is that?! And what frustrates me even more is that none of the employees there cared! Also, did I mention that I had to go down twice to prevent my parking meter from expiring?
Here’s what I think they (or someone) should’ve done:
I wasn’t the only one there “just to pick up” an already processed document. What the lady in window #3 or the man in window #5 should’ve done was to ask people who just needed to pick up a document then service them. This would’ve lessen the count of people needing help. Also, an office manager of some sort should be hired (or fired) to supervise and look for ways to make the staff and process run more efficiently. I didn’t see one.
This is wishful thinking, of course, since this is how governments run/work nowadays. No wonder why the Philippines (and other countries) is not going anywhere – they can’t even get a simple process to work/run efficiently.
Anyway, I don’t think anyone in the Philippine Consulate or government cares. Whatever…just take this as my way of venting my frustration. Take care. =0)
I normally don’t post anything that isn’t technical, but 2008 may be a different year. It’s probably about time to make it more personal – something that I’ve been itching to do since the very beginning of my blog/site. So here goes the first (I think) one of such posts.
You can download via torrent the first 9 tracks of Nine Inch Nails’s album Ghosts I-IV for FREE! The website states it’s high-quality and DRM-free. Also, it’s been rumored that a lot of the “90s” bands are going this route, giving away tracks/albums for free; most likely a new way of advertising/marketing.
Check out PC Mags‘s comprehensive list of the best free software for your computer. It includes apps for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and mobile; also has some interesting hardware choices.