It has always made me nervous when I checked this online exam score inquiry. But, no more nervous day. I got my score today. At last. The score of Auditing and Attestation, the last section of U.S. Certified Public Accountant exams.
Because I've already passed the Examination on Rules of Professional Conduct, now I just need wait for my certificate to come, and get a new job.
This isn't neither my plan A nor B. When I quit my job last March, the original plan was to take (and pass) two sections of the exams respectively in May and July. Given my exam results last August, however, I changed my focus on finding a new job rather than on studying Auditing and Attestation, the section I failed.
But, what can I say? That's life.
Since it took longer than I expected, I feel a sense of relief rather than that of achievement. But, thanks a lot to my friends who studied together, advised and supported me. Also to Starbucks. The specialty coffee chain is my study room where I sometimes stay as long as 5 hours per day, and a cup of drip coffee always jumpstart my brain. And last but not least, my special thanks to my wife. You're my cheerleader and lighthouse.
Now, is anyone interested in offering me a good job?
11/18/2008
Welcome Back
Although "Akafuku (赤福)" is back on store shelves early this year, I finally got this box today.
sweet treat, no more trick
スタバカ日誌 - What the third places are for -
Howard Schultz, the founder of Starbucks, envisioned his specialty coffee store as a "third place" where people spend most of their time besides their home and office. So at Starbucks, customers not only sip coffee but also read a book, enjoy conversation or study. If lucky, a pretty barista passes you a sample of new coffee or food, and have a little chat.
But, not all are coming to the third place for such purposes. A young college student came in to a store the other day. He was talking on the phone (I don't know how he ordered his coffee). He kept talking for all his 1/2 hour at the store. Even when he left.
For an Asian couple, the coffee chain is merely a meeting place with a roof and aroma. A couple of days ago, an Asian girl was seated without a cup of coffee. Later, her boyfriend arrived. They didn't order anything, but talked for a while, and were gone.
Only God knows if Howie expected such visitors to his coffee stores. But, if the store doesn't welcome such people, I insist Starbucks stop playing all the Christmas songs right now but rather play some pop music like Madonna's "Hang Up" and will.i.am's "Spending Money".
But, not all are coming to the third place for such purposes. A young college student came in to a store the other day. He was talking on the phone (I don't know how he ordered his coffee). He kept talking for all his 1/2 hour at the store. Even when he left.
For an Asian couple, the coffee chain is merely a meeting place with a roof and aroma. A couple of days ago, an Asian girl was seated without a cup of coffee. Later, her boyfriend arrived. They didn't order anything, but talked for a while, and were gone.
Only God knows if Howie expected such visitors to his coffee stores. But, if the store doesn't welcome such people, I insist Starbucks stop playing all the Christmas songs right now but rather play some pop music like Madonna's "Hang Up" and will.i.am's "Spending Money".
11/05/2008
Cheers
Having watched Barack Obama's victory speech on CNN, I walked down to a nearby Starbucks coffee shop. Unlike Starbucks in U.S.A., the Japanese arm serves no free drip coffee. But, it did offer an alternative: "Kenya Coffee" for today's coffee - I have no clue whether it did on purpose. Although I had to wait for several minutes to be brewed and prepared, I picked a cup of "Kenya Coffee" rather than that of "Christmas Blend". (We have a plenty of time for celebrating Christmas!!)
a new president, a new America,
a new paper cup, a new insulating sleeve
and
a new world?!
After the "bitter" 8 years, what will the new administration be like? I also wonder how long a Caramel-Macchiato-like honeymoon will last. For your information, Starbucks describes Kenyan Coffee such that "medium-bodied Kenya has layers of flavor, from black currant or blackberry to sweet, tropical fruit" and that "the coffee is prized for its bright and refreshing quality." It wasn't my favorite flavor, though. I rather prefer "Breakfast Blend", "Espresso Roast" and "Colombia".
10/31/2008
"SouthSide" (by Common feat. Kanye West)
Back to Chicago again.
The sky's so high.
Double Chi (Chinatown in Chi-City)
A new biography of Michelle Obama
Perfect autumn color
The sky's so high.The weather is windy and chilly, so I headed south. A bit.
Double Chi (Chinatown in Chi-City)To my surprise, Obama color is less dominant than I expected.
ODD...
Rather, more Michelle, Michelle and Michelle.
A new biography of Michelle ObamaThe city is colored more by autumn than by the Obama campaign.
Perfect autumn colorDrinkability of this water fountain? I'm sure it's not BudLight, though.
I also stopped by the University of Chicago to congratulate Dr. Nambu, one of this year's Nobel prize winners, but couldn't find him.
10/29/2008
"Rise & Fall" (Craig David feat. Sting)
Last Friday a piece of USA Today article provided me an eye-opening view for watching this year's World Series. Coincidentally, the rivalry of the World Series has some similarities with that of the U.S. presidential election next month (but in only a week now!).
Tampa Bay Rays's General Manager Andrew Friedman is 31 years old, and Manager Joe Maddon 54. Owner Stuart Sternberg, 48, and President Matt Silverman, 32, are both young and former investment bankers from Goldman Sachs, and Friedman, a former Bear Sterns analyst, it's no wonder this team is good at data analysis and scouting. Needless to say, they constantly use Blackberries.
On the other hand, the Philadelphia Phillies's management team is "old-school baseball guys" of General Manager Pat Gillick, 71, and Manager Charlie Manuel, 64. The Phillies was founded in 1883 while Rays in 1998.
All look familiar? Yes, the Phillies is just like John McCain, 72, and the Rays Barack Obama, 47. They even have a similar twist (read the article for the details) such that Obama appointed experienced, 65-year-old Joe Biden for his running mate while Sarah Palin, 44, for McCain's running mate.
Will the old-school guys survive as life expectancy gets higher? We will see those results as early as today or in a week, but this is a kind of dynamism America has, I believe. What about Japan? Well, its politics seems hopeless, but as appointing Tatsunori Hara, 50, for the manager, there is ray of light for the team Japan of the World Baseball Classic.
After all, as somebody said, baseball is national pastime. And hopefully international one.
Tampa Bay Rays's General Manager Andrew Friedman is 31 years old, and Manager Joe Maddon 54. Owner Stuart Sternberg, 48, and President Matt Silverman, 32, are both young and former investment bankers from Goldman Sachs, and Friedman, a former Bear Sterns analyst, it's no wonder this team is good at data analysis and scouting. Needless to say, they constantly use Blackberries.
On the other hand, the Philadelphia Phillies's management team is "old-school baseball guys" of General Manager Pat Gillick, 71, and Manager Charlie Manuel, 64. The Phillies was founded in 1883 while Rays in 1998.
All look familiar? Yes, the Phillies is just like John McCain, 72, and the Rays Barack Obama, 47. They even have a similar twist (read the article for the details) such that Obama appointed experienced, 65-year-old Joe Biden for his running mate while Sarah Palin, 44, for McCain's running mate.
Will the old-school guys survive as life expectancy gets higher? We will see those results as early as today or in a week, but this is a kind of dynamism America has, I believe. What about Japan? Well, its politics seems hopeless, but as appointing Tatsunori Hara, 50, for the manager, there is ray of light for the team Japan of the World Baseball Classic.
After all, as somebody said, baseball is national pastime. And hopefully international one.
10/05/2008
Global Festa 2008
Hope you didn't miss this year's Global Festa Japan at Hibiya Park.
Embassies, NGOs, international organizations and some CSR-conscious corporations - over 200 in total - were present, introducing their countries and activities, selling foods, drinks and souvenirs, or recruiting volunteers and job applicants. It's always fun to sneak around at such an event, but this year I feel very lucky to be there when a panel discussion was held.
It was a discussion of four panelists. They were:
Misako Konno, an actress and a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador
Masato Kitera, Director-General, International Cooperation Bureau from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Yukie Osa, a representative of Association for Aid and Relief Japan, a NGO, and
Nobuhiko Hanasato, a professor of Nagoya University
Introducing how JICA volunteers were helping the people in Africa, what the Japanese government is doing by holding TICAD and what NGO frontline is like, they discussed what and how Japanese can contribute for global good. The discussion was resourceful and insightful, but Ms. Osa's story was especially inspiring. She quit her job at an foreign financial institution to join AAR. Her salary was down by two thirds!! I can't make such a move, but the stories and discussion of "Fantastic Four" gave me an opportunity to think about how I can take part in an NGO activity and how to build my career.
I would like to thank all the four panelists, but above all, my big applause to an NHK anchor, Aiko Doden. As a moderator, she tossed insightful questions and guided sometimes-Möbius-loop-like discussion. Her job was splendid!!
Embassies, NGOs, international organizations and some CSR-conscious corporations - over 200 in total - were present, introducing their countries and activities, selling foods, drinks and souvenirs, or recruiting volunteers and job applicants. It's always fun to sneak around at such an event, but this year I feel very lucky to be there when a panel discussion was held.
It was a discussion of four panelists. They were:
Misako Konno, an actress and a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador
Masato Kitera, Director-General, International Cooperation Bureau from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Yukie Osa, a representative of Association for Aid and Relief Japan, a NGO, and
Nobuhiko Hanasato, a professor of Nagoya University
Introducing how JICA volunteers were helping the people in Africa, what the Japanese government is doing by holding TICAD and what NGO frontline is like, they discussed what and how Japanese can contribute for global good. The discussion was resourceful and insightful, but Ms. Osa's story was especially inspiring. She quit her job at an foreign financial institution to join AAR. Her salary was down by two thirds!! I can't make such a move, but the stories and discussion of "Fantastic Four" gave me an opportunity to think about how I can take part in an NGO activity and how to build my career.
I would like to thank all the four panelists, but above all, my big applause to an NHK anchor, Aiko Doden. As a moderator, she tossed insightful questions and guided sometimes-Möbius-loop-like discussion. Her job was splendid!!
a US$10 T-shirt for feeding North Korean refugees in China
For more details, check Life Funds for North Korean Refugees.
By the way, it was too bad that I wasn't qualified for this year's ODA monitor to Africa, which Ms. Konno also joined.
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