How advanced is your technology?

The world doesn't need another corollary to Clarke's Third Law, to be sure. And yet …

Any insufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a spell that backfires.

Impressions of Manila

Humid Hot Security

• cars are stopped approaching the hotel
• bags are inspected at the hotel and office building
• many bomb-sniffing dogs (black labs who look hot and tired)
• Airport security has X-ray screening at the entrance, then again at the gate area, and finally flights to the US have a third hand inspection and X-ray of shoes. Hand inspection includes flipping through the pages of a paperback to see if there's anything concealed there.

English everywhere McDonald's McRice burger Pedestrian underpasses

• escalators up-only

The Thrilla in Manila is the taxi ride to the airport during rush hour

Sigh