The patent war is heating up. After being foiled by Apple, Microsoft and RIM to acquire Nortel Networks’ patent portfolio, Google is now acquiring Motorola Mobility primarily for its patent portfolio. The thing is, Motorola builds it’s own Android mobile phones and tablets. Back when Nokia was still exploring Android, it asked for preferential treatment, which Google rightly denied. One of the reasons that led Nokia to instead go to the Microsoft and the Windows Phone platform. Now that Google will own Motorola, will it be giving preferential treatment? Will it be able to avoid doing that? This is probably something all of Google’s Android partners are thinking even as they heap praise on Google for this latest move.
Learning to talk is probably one of the greatest milestones in a child’s development. Based on my experience and research, focusing on one language helps the process. I guess, consistency in the names for all the objects and concepts the child encounters every day is very important. So we’ve decided back then that Jeanne’s first language is English.
I believe that English is the best foundation. It is the stepping stone to the most books which are the keys to knowledge expansion. It is the medium of teaching for Math, Physics, Chemistry, and other science and technology subjects. I have no doubt that my early English evened the odds or even gave me an advantage on these subjects over many a smarter classmates.
In my opinion, it’s better to struggle in Filipino than in those critical and actually useful subjects. What’s the use of Tagalog other than for conversations with friends and attempts at cultural preservation? It’s not even the only language of the diverse cultural landscape of the country. Just a “national” language foisted upon everyone by the inheritors of the American colonial administration.
Of course, we want Jeanne to be multilingual: English, Tagalog (unfortunately), Cebuano (an attempt at cultural preservation heh), French, and maybe another language or two. But that will come in due time. Meanwhile, I’d better get my French ready.
Michelle had to work for a few hours this afternoon so to let her focus, Jeanne and I went to UP. I also needed to photocopy some documents as well as visit Elwyna. Photocopying was quickly accomplished but Elwyna wasn’t responding so we just went to and strolled through the amphitheater and the lagoon. At the end of the stroll, Jeanne was already tired. Considering that it was just a short one, it seems she needs exercise. I got her a cone of ice cream and she sat down on one of the sidewalk ornaments. We headed back shortly after, picking up french fries and spaghetti from Jollibee on the way for snacks back home.
Hanna is a spy thriller and growing-of-age drama. Sort of like Leon but different, quite different. Erik (Eric Bana) is a widowed ex-CIA officer living in remote isolation with his daughter Hanna. He is raising Hanna to prepare her for going out into the world. And that world just happens to be a worst case scenario. Toss in shades of the Grimms’ fairy tales (e.g. Cate Blanchett is “The Witch”) and the almost surreal (watch it) and you have a quite an interesting movie. The action choreography needs a bit of work but is quite passable.
Last night, Michelle was having a hard time dealing with Jeanne and dinner. So I invited Jeanne to the bedroom with a small bag of candies. Since the bed is off limits to food, I sat on the floor and leaned on the wall. Jeanne did the same. And we sat side by side eating candies :)