Marked with a number of high-profile events, the retail debut of the video game is expected to help Microsoft battle against Nintendo and Sony for dominance in the video game console market.

Microsoft might be notorious for virtually monopolizing the market with its bloated and clunky desktop operating systems, but all is forgiven with the coming of the final installment of the software giant’s version of the trilogy. Halo 3 is expected to become the best selling video game title in history, even though some of us instinctively mistrust the accompanying hype.

It has easily out-earned some of Hollywood’s hottest box office hits, in the process, making critics and analysts alike to finally take notice and concede that indeed video games have become a mainstream cultural phenomenon. Not to mention, a true industry by itself.

While Halo 3 is expected to boost sales of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 game console, it is also likely to benefit the whole video game industry, some industry analysts believe.

By now, I guess, Microsoft executives are one in wishing that Vista could sell as well as Halo 3 does.

Social networking Web site Facebook faces legal problems arising from the presence of sexual predators amidst its user base. The New York Attorney General (http://www.oag.state.ny.us) subpoenaed the privately held company after its failure to act on the complaints by investigators who received solicitations for sex while posing as teenagers on the Web site.

Apparently, the state’s attorney general deployed a number of investigators to create Facebook accounts, with profile details mimicking those of minors. Immediately, these "minors" received messages unequivocally and graphically asking to meet up for sex, or engage in sexual, even obscene, activities online.

Parents, better watch what your kids are doing online.

Samsung Electronics partnered with fashion house Giorgio Armani. Under the terms of the agreement, the Korean electronics giant will develop fashion-themed electronic products including mobile phones and flat-screen TVs.

Samsung’s foray into the world of fashion follows that of rival LG Electronics who earlier partnered with fashion company Prada to design a mobile phone.

Please allow me to tell this story. My wife is a social worker, who after working for more than 15 years in the country, decided to go to the United States on a J1 visa. My wife took this career move for two reasons: first, to have a break from those long, continuous years of practicing her career as a social worker; and second, because we could use the extra money to provide our two autistic sons with badly needed therapies and other intervention.

Some of you may know the hardships that come with being a social worker in this country. It is extremely hard, emotionally and physically draining, and at times, even dangerous. Remember that social worker who was shot and killed while distributing relief goods in Tondo, Manila, a couple of years ago? Did I mention that it is also a thankless job, most of the time?

All those years of training and hard work did not go to waste, apparently. My wife’s employer must have been impressed by her performance and dedication to work. They decided to sponsor her for an H1B visa once her J1 or exchange-program visa expires. They also told her that she would be in line for a promotion once her working papers are in order.

Taking this development as a sign of Divine will and intervention, my wife filed her application for an H1B visa when the proper time came. She even retained the services of an immigration lawyer to make sure that everything she does is legal. She also applied for a No-Objection Statement from the Philippine government, which is required by the US government before it would issue a waiver to the J1 visa’s two-year residency requirement.

That was seven months ago. My wife is still waiting for the government’s nod for her NOS application.

I sincerely hope the President learns about my wife’s situation. Being a mother herself, she sure can empathize with my wife and understand what she is going through, the sacrifices she is making for her children, her family. The President alone can help her now.

That’s all for the meantime, folks. Join me again next time as we keep on watching IT.