The world is your oyster

I am excited for one of my lab group members. He has just been offered a position at a National Lab. He is not a US citizen/PR, in case readers are wondering. I hope to be able to join him at the same Lab sometime later in my career, as I will be going to industry first.

He actually has two offers - the other is from a university in the Northeast; They are willing to sponsor his H-1B while as a post doc, plus a position for his wife as well.

My advisor's recommendation does have an impact. Woot!

The American Dream

Like the many international students who want to work and contribute to their host country after graduation, I wonder if the US government would one day adopt immigration policies similar to Singapore's. But of course chances of it happening is slim. Unlike the latter, most of the foreign students do wish to be given the chance to settle down and sink their roots here in America.

Isn't the US is the land of freedom and opportunities? Then I look at how fast the H1-B visa ran out this year and the situations of the undocumented college students, I think the freedom and opportunities are mostly belong to those who have legal status. Then my next question is, why is it so difficult for some people to acquire a legal status? I think it is the issue of having an abundance vs. scarcity mindset. If you believe the resources of a country will be depleted when there are more people in a country, of course you don't want too many people to "share the pie" with you, right? - Right-minded Actuary

Stanford's Parody of Harvard's Econs; Aqua Harp; H1-B Quota

Taken from Greg Mankiw's blog - Stanford econs students' parody of Harvard's 2006 recruitment ad.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Animusic's Aqua Harp reminded me of my childhood teens' visits the Singapore Science Center's planetarium. You know, the kind of music they would play while you waited for the show to start.

The background of the MV fits too - ...a serene setting -- a cross between a water garden and a planetarium.

The first thing that caught my eye was the visible harmonics on the harp.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Lottery for the H1-Bs. This is just getting so crazy.

Points to note - 1. Students who have Masters or Doctorate degrees from US institutions are eligible for a further quota of 20,000.

2. Institutes of higher education and research (e.g Universities, research labs); Related or affiliated nonprofit entity; or Nonprofit or government research organizations are NOT subjected to the H1-B hiring cap.

3. Singapore citizens are eligible to file for the H1-B1 visa, which has its own 5,400 (separate) quota. The H1-B1 however does not allow you to apply for a green card.

Edit (8 Apr): Peishan's case.