Giving ordinary people the ability to create commercials seems to be the fad these days. Many companies like MasterCard, Sony, and GM are doing exactly that. Well, the rationale seems to be if consumers are creating their own dog-and-pony shows, there is no way they can avoid companies' ads, right?

Maybe not for GM. These days, GM just can't seem to get it right even with their ad campaign. GM recently started a contest where you can design an ad for their Chevy Tahoe SUV. It seems that if the consumers don't like your product, they are not going to kind with the portrayal of the product. Needless to say there are plenty of parodies created from this ad campaign. Here are some of my favorites:

• Don't Buy Me
• Funny 1 - Finally, a non-environmental commercial. You will get a good laugh on this one. My favorite by far.
• Funny 2
• Jive Turkey

Feeling inspired? Let your creativity run loose at the Chevy Apprentice Challenge.

4/4/2006 8:09:16 PM (Eastern Daylight Time, UTC-04:00)

Comments [0]

Humor

With the weather going up to 60+ F yesterday, I ran Heartbreak Hill - the most fabled part of the Boston Marathon race - with Denise who will be running the Boston Marathon in 2 weeks. It was a great run.

Feeling exceptionally hungry after the run, I suggested going to Michael's Delicatessen at Coolidge Corner for food. I have never eaten at Michael's before but I have heard positive reviews of the place with some people telling me that the deli sandwiches here resemble to the those that one finds in New York City. I ordered a Michael's Special (I think) which is consists of roast beef, beef brisket, and horseradish sauce sandwiched between 2 breads. The sandwich was gargantuan but I easily finish it in one serving. It was delicious.

4/2/2006 1:52:20 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-04:00)

Comments [0]

Personal

Yesterday's interview with Tom Friedman on radio program Fresh Air with Terry Gross was excellent. It was one of the most thought-provoking (yet rational) views I have heard on foreign affairs and policies in recent months. Friedman talked about foreign affairs ranging from the recent Palestinian and Israeli elections, Iran, war in Iraq, and American energy policy. Definitely worth listening if you care about what is going on around the world. You can still listen to the interview here.

4/1/2006 12:01:24 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Comments [4]

Radio

Good news. After serving 1 1/2 year sentence of wearing the dental braces, I was finally told by my orthodontist last week that the braces will be taken off on April 12. I can't wait. Wearing dental braces can be unbearably uncomfortable and annoying. I have always been photo-phobic but my fear of picture taking intensified after I had the dental braces put on. I dared not open my lips whenever I have my picture taken. But this is trivial compared to the annoyance of getting food scraps stuck in the braces - perhaps one of the most vexing experience. But the most painful experience is having my 4 perfectly functioning teeth removed a month prior to putting on the braces. I am one of these people with huge teeth but tiny jaw - the wonders of heredity. The teeth were getting overcrowded and started to protrude. So 4 molars have to be removed to make room for the front teeth to move to the back of the jaw. I remember that my first visit to the oral surgeon wasn't too bad since I really didn't know what to expect. I was hoping that the oral surgeon could removed all 4 teeth in a day so that I didn't have to come back again; but no such luck as he said that I need at least 1 side of my mouth to chew. Knowing what to expect, there was a lot more hesitance on the second visit a week later. The sensation of getting my teeth pulled still haunts me to this day.

So why did I put on dental bracers? One word: vanity. Yep, that was price I pay for vanity... The good news is that I am finally taking it out.

3/27/2006 10:32:03 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Comments [4]

Personal

This semester, I am taking a course entitled 15.655 - Law, Technology, and Policy class (known henceforth as the law class). The course provides an introduction to the rudimentary concepts of the American legal framework and key legal philosophies. It also examines the interface between law, technology, and public policy; especially how law can be used as a competing paradigm besides science and economics to promote social justice, wealth distribution, economic sustainability, and environmental sensibility. This class is turning out slightly better than I had initially expected. A lot of the things that were discussed in class were not only pretty thought-provoking but encourage me to think in a different way that I normally won't.

Like last week, we were introduced on the concept of precautionary principle. The essence of precautionary principle is the idea that if there is reasonable suspicion of harm under an uncertain and irreversible context, then inaction may pose a risk of harm. To advert harm, a precautionary action or a less risky alternative must then be taken. In deciding how to apply precautionary principle, one may use risk assessment or cost-benefit analysis, which factors in both opportunity cost of not acting, and the option value of waiting for further information before acting (wikipedia). So far we have used the precautionary principle on the assessment of technology, policy, and law, all which may have some indication of possible detrimental impact or even harm on society; however, I can't help but to think if precautionary principle can also be applied to war?

3/19/2006 8:02:37 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Comments [1]

School

My thesis is a vehicle for me to make a strong statement of my research results; but before I can present my research, I first have to ask a good question that corresponds to a problem that is worth solving. I am interested in doing a thesis on a subject that straddles between innovation, entrepreneurship, and market dynamics in the private sector with industrial policies and nation competitiveness in the public sector. I am currently in the phase of my thesis proposal that demands deep contemplation and supplementary research. The bottom line is that I need to frame a proper question for my thesis.

As it stands now, I plan to synthesize a framework with guidance from my thesis advisor, Prof. Utterback, to determine how much (or less) government policy intervention is needed to foster innovations in the high-technology industry. I will probably develop a case study on the evolution of the semiconductor industry supplement my thesis research. I know the topic is still very vague and broad, I hope to narrow it down in the next two weeks. While my thesis proposal is not progressing at the pace that I had planned, I do think that this stage of my thesis is perhaps the most important as it defines my thesis.

3/18/2006 11:21:04 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Comments [2]

School

It is always fun to hang out with my fellow classmates at the Thirsty Ear, an on-campus dive at MIT. Last night was no exception. I, along with a bunch of SDM'05ers and '06ers, went down to the Thirsty and partied like rock stars. I can't believe it but the place was packed last night - I mean really packed with people standing. Since it was karaoke night, I was not ashamed of letting my vocal chords run wild on the stage. My favorite moment of the night was when Nick and Sergio pulled me to the stage last night to sing with them. I was so enthralled by the singing that I snatched the mic from Sergio and did my best rendition of Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer. I like nights like this. I was actually going to go home after class to catch up on some sleep after putting a few all-nighters the past few nights but I was glad that I caved in to peer pressure and spent some spirited time with my classmates.

3/17/2006 9:58:25 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Comments [3]

Social

After reading Ian's blog entry on the lack of publication or podcasting of Harvard University courses (surprise, surprise), I became motivated to find more lectures that are delivered through podcasting or video streaming. To my surprise, there are plenty of great lectures (at least those that I am interested in) are already available on the Internet.

First, there is MIT, which publishes some of its course materials through the MIT OpenCourseWare (OCW) initiative. Most OCW courses feature lecture notes, assignments, and exams. Some courses are limited to having just assignments and exams available for viewing. I think the OCW courses that have the most value for the self-learning types are the ones that offer video lectures. Here are the links to these video-enabled lectures:

• 5.74 - Introductory Quantum Mechanics II
• 6.002 - Circuits and Electronics, this is the course that all undergradate in electrical engineering take
• 6.641 - Electromagnetic Fields, Forces, and Motion, these are not lectures but video demos. I actually don't find them very insightful
• 7.014 - Introductory Biology
• 8.01 - Physics I (Newtonian Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics, and Kinetic Gas Theory)
• 8.02 - Physics II (Electricity and Magnetism)
• 8.03 - Physics III (Vibrations and Waves)
• 18.03 - Differential Equations, I actually found the material quite useful for a review on differential equations a while back
• 18.06 - Linear Alegbra
• 18.085 - Mathematical Methods for Engineers I, another excellent math resource.
• 15.084 - Nonlinear Programming
• 15.35 - How to develop "Breakthrough" Products and Services, the video lectures for this course is limited to 3 but I am always a fan of Prof. von Hippel
• BE.010 - Introduction to Bioengineering, no video lectures here but interviews of faculty from the Biological Engineering Division (I think BE is now officially called Course 20)
• CMS.930 - Media, Education, and the Marketplace, finally a social science course

In the next few days, I plan to search for video lectures beyond OCW. Let me know if you know of any sites where university lectures can be watched or heard.

3/12/2006 12:27:26 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Comments [1]

School