What’s up at Google Labs?

You may not be familiar with Google Labs, a.k.a. Google’s technology playground, but it’s the place where Google’s web-related services and applications are being created and tested on. According to the developers, “Google labs showcases a few of our favorite ideas that aren't quite ready for prime time. Your feedback can help us improve them. Please play with these prototypes and send your comments directly to the Googlers who developed them.” There are about 20 programs being worked on at the Google Labs. These prototypes are still in the development stage, and users can submit their ideas or suggestions to make them better.
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Shopping in Bacolod

Diin kamo nag-shopping, wala kamo nagkadto sa SM? (Where have you been shopping, didn’t you go to SM?)

I overheard this conversation while inside a jeepney. I can’t help but be amused to note the word ‘only’… which implied that Robinsons is a lesser preference than SM. To think that for a long time, Robinsons as a mall used to be the first priority for shoppers… this mall was always packed up, weekend or not. The parking lot was always filled up and traffic within the vicinity was heavy especially if there’s a big sale. It used to hold status as being the premier shopping destination in our city. But after the opening of a bigger mall which is SM, this once top choice is now overshadowed.

The north wing of the newly opened SM Bacolod at night.

Well, the consumers would always opt for a larger place to hang out and personally I had been waiting for SM to open here in Bacolod ‘cause I know I would find more goods and choices there compared to other malls. Guys would have more fun with a bigger DIY store at Ace Hardware, and ladies have more choices for clothes and accessories at their spacious department store. I’m happy that National Bookstore has its branch there too. Now I can browse for my favorite books and office supplies. Actually Robinsons and other malls here like Gaisano City have the basics, but SM just offers more choices. Another plus is that they close at 9:00 pm even on weekdays.

Oh well, this is one of the perks when stores compete…the consumers always win in the end.

Reaching goals through self-evaluation

While browsing through some of my old files, I came across this gem of an article titled “Self Evaluation” by Lisa Leguenec. I received this on my email inbox from Goals 2004 Monthly eTips Issue 11 for December 2004. Quite old huh? But the content still holds true until now, some thought-provoking questions to discover more about one’s self.

This article is actually intended for analyzing how one did the past year as preparation for the next year. Who says self-evaluation and introspection are only for New Year's day though? Stephen Covey, in his bestseller “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” suggested a weekly personal evaluation is best.

Here are the questions Lisa enumerated (you may substitute ‘year’ with ‘week’ or ‘month’ depending on what works for you):

1. What accomplishments do I consider significant in the last year?
2. What could be even better?
3. What prevents me from doing my best work? (more…)

Oh! Gravity

Disclaimer: This is not an album review.

I’m currently listening to Switchfoot, one of my fave alternative bands. Their latest album Oh! Gravity released December 2006 has been filling my room with music for the past weeks. The first time I heard this album, I thought, “Man, they still rock!” I was expecting them to mellow down a bit, but I was wrong.

Like their previous albums, this one brings a different atmosphere too — unusually rough on some songs though mixed with few mellow tracks. Over all, the album is too loud for my acoustic-inclined ears or maybe it’s just me getting old. heh. I remember that sniping radio station ad, “If it’s too loud, you’re too old!” Old or not, that’s just me. But hey, I didn’t say I don’t like this album. I do love it. It showcases another chapter in Switchfoot’s career. These guys have been around the music scene for a long time now and I’ve grown to love their music which evolved from the raw garage-sounding years of 1997-2000 with their first three albums Legend of Chin, New Way to be Human and Learning to Breathe to the more solid production of their recent albums The Beautiful Letdown and Nothing is Sound.
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