Thanks. No.

I guess though we've been living with internet and email for years already still not many people really know how to use email correctly. Not many of them realise that in this age that we live now, email address is like our home address. Well, not literally, but hey email address is something private too. Who want to have their inbox get inundated by junk emails from spammers?

I don’t understand every time I receive a mass email with all email addresses in the "To" line instead of "Bcc," I wonder why the sender never think that s/he actually already exposes those email addresses –including mine- to people who are stranger to each other? Of course I don't mind if the other receivers are also my friends. Even though maybe all the friends of my friends are no spammer but who can assure there's no leak to spammer?

What a coincidence last night on one of my blogwalk stops I found something handy, and just now I receive that kind of email again from a friend.
I guess it's a perfect time to shoot the first missile: Thanks. No.

Those who still don't know the difference between "To, CC, BCC" have to educate themselves with this Email Etiquette.

Giveaway: Laptop

I'm sure whoever gets The Thinking Blog 1st Anniversary giveaway will be like having a jolly Christmas present because the winner will be announced exactly on December 25th 2007.

Just look at Ruff PC laptop pictures: water and mud is all over it yet it's alive.
It's because Ruff PCs are designed to expect rough –or even the harshest, like its site mentions- environmental condition such as -20°C and 55°C temperatures, as well as shock, vibration, humidity, drop, grease, water and fire.
It is indeed a rugged computer which does not only make its notebooks as spill proof notebook, but maybe –as seen on the picture- shower proof notebook too
This giveaway is valid worldwide, so I'm trying my luck by posting this good news and crossing my fingers now.

I am curious about the fire thing, too bad the video about its toughness is not yet on.

etc ♥ emoticon : moargh
               ndesign-studio

Still Mango

The Häagen-Dazs Ice Cake that I ordered for my Pa's birthday was great, much better, fresher and prettier than Bakerzin's Mango Mousse Cake. The whole family were enjoying it.

Last Saturday I was a bit hopeless that I couldn't find a nice substitute for Mango Mousse cake from Bakerzin. My family and I always ordered that same cake for many occasions. The only alternative that I could think was Häagen-Dazs.

Then some friends suggested me Secret Recipe. One friend said Secret Recipe makes fresh cake and he even told me that it also has Mango cake though it's not a mousse cake one. Most of those friends were complimenting Secret Recipe cheese cakes, and I don't really fancy cheesecake. However I still went there with my friends to check how the Mango cake really looks like and to see its other cakes.
I was not satisfied with what I saw. This was not because the cakes were not scrumptious but because they just didn't look scrumptious enough to my eyes
Their prices are very reasonable compared to those at Bakerzin though.

Since I didn't want to take a risk, we then went to another Shopping Mall to find Häagen-Dazs. Unfortunately –which is good because that means it's fresh- all the cakes there can only be ordered 4 days in advance. I was almost regretting myself for not preparing it much earlier, until the waiter told me about the ice-cake type that can be ordered 2 days in advance and the price is reasonable since Häagen-Dazs has been known worldwide for its super premium ice-cream quality. So it I ordered -I forgot the name!!- the ice-cake which is actually 1.5 kg ice cream in a cake form and it's made of strawberry ice cream and our favourite Mango.
The best thing is they even provide a free delivery service for that, I think it's because my place is not very far from there.

There is a bit turn-off though, I found out later from its website that for my purchase I would actually be entitled for four stamps, and with ten stamps collected within a five-months period I would be able to get Häagen-Dazs Super Premium Club (SPC) Membership.

Oh well, nothing is perfect.

On Evil is Selling!!

My Mixaloo mix is really selling. I didn't believe it at first when I read a comment notification from Blogger saying:

CGHill ha lasciato un nuovo commento sul tuo post "Mixaloo":
Out of curiosity, I bought your Mixaloo. Interesting collection, and thanks.

This really makes my day somehow :-D
Although I don't get profit from Mixaloo since I'm outside the USA, I'm still happy!!
Happy to know that other person, especially a stranger, also is enjoying my creation........
I mean what I mix :-P
Thank you.

Right or Left, We decide

Well...I don't believe this.
First, it's too easy to 'turn' the spin direction of the dancer or to have the spin keep changing unintentionally. Second, and this contradicts what the article says - my friend Gianni who's a graphic designer saw the dancer spinning anti-clockwise at first. According to the article then he must be a left brain person which means he uses more of the left side of his brain, while I believe he's actually a right brain person because he is a visual and artistic person - afaik.

Although at first I saw it clockwise, but since I read here -where found it- and on the source article that we can see it clockwise and anti-clockwise so I tried it, and yes I can see either way.

I found the easiest way to make the dancer spin as I wish, either clockwise or anti-clockwise.
I just close my eyes or shift my eyes from the dancer and imagine her spinning clockwise if I want to see her spinning clockwise, or anti-clockwise if I want her spinning that way.
As simple as that, no need concentration at all, just a split second imagination.

Mixaloo

Mixaloo invite finally arrived in my inbox last night. I make my mix this morning and here is my first Mixaloo. These songs probably don't match each other, since I just put all those songs that currently have been occupying my minds. No more saying....just listen.....to my current mood.....

Tiny Wonder Frog

At first I didn't really pay attention when I saw a tiny frog –or maybe even a baby– down on the bottom side of one of the walls that surround our property. The wall where the tiny frog clings on is 4-meter height, the frog's size is a little less than 3 centimetre in length, and it's very thin too. Therefore it never crossed my mind that the tiny frog wants to climb that wall. I thought it's just wanna exploring its world like toddlers and puppies who are always curious about anything.

Guess that I'm wrong. I don't know how long has it been exactly when I pass that wall again, but I don't find the frog there anymore. I am a bit curious because the frog is so tiny and also, sorry to say, it looks actually a little bit disgusting (disgusting is not the proper word though, I just can't think of another word right now).
Disgusting because its skin is like having been peeled off!!
I've seen a few kinds of frog, but I have never seen a frog like this before.

Finally I can spot that tiny mutant; it is on its way reaching out the top of the wall, freestyle climbing. I start to feel awestruck, and I am rushing to take my camera and to come back immediately.
I feel that I need to document it.

Unfortunately I'm so unskilled at handling a camera and my camera battery is running out. I use the maximum zoom to capture that tiny frog and I don't know anything else.


I already rotated this digital video result with this deciphered manual.

On Evil

I've just started Emule-ing!
Yes I was ages behind about this cos I didn't have fast connection.
Now that I own it, Fabio one of the nicest gurus (wow) on the net taught me the nitty-gritty of open source, which for me, Emule!!

Since I've been on evil -possessed by some ghost on Pluto- yesterday I searched emule for some spiritual sugar healing songs.
Here they are queuing on my player now:

Bittersweet Faith – Bitter:Sweet
Love Song – The Cure
Deep Inside of You – Third Eye Blind
Foundations – Kate Nash
Falling From Grace – The Gentle Waves
Don't Explain – Billie Holiday
The Ballad of Tom Jones – Space feat. Cerys of Catatonia
For Once in my Life – Harry Connick Jr. <3
Too lost in You – Sugababes
I Miss You – Bjork
Godsend – DC Talk
No One – Alicia Keys

So Much for Your Promises

Seems I have to start to find another cake shop now after some disappointing fact with Bakerzin service at Plaza Senayan.

I ordered a Mango Mousse cake for my Mom's birthday, but I asked them to make it less sweet. The head of the staff (I supposed that because she's not in uniform) told me that they might try to make it if there's no stock available. Her reply confused me. I thought since the cake was pre-order 24-hours in advance, it should be fresh then.

She said that they stock cakes every 2 days, so they would try to fulfill my request if it's possible. She continued telling that the cake would still be fresh even if it's 2 days old since they put them in a frigde. I still didn't like the idea, because for me logically any cake that is garnished with fresh fruits on its top should always use fresh fruits only. Besides the cake uses some easily spoiled fruit like star fruit, and of course mango.

I told her the reason why I wanted it to be less sweet is because my parents have diabetic –which is true, although mild diabetic- and to be honest, other than that reason –now that I heard that 2 days-old cake fact- I just wanted a fresh cake with fresh fruits.

She quibbled that I better ordered the cakes made especially for the diabetic people, pointing three choices of diabetic cakes. Oh, and so she they could clear off their stock cake? But of course I didn't say that, instead I told her that mango cake was the only cake that we wanted from there, and it's true, we always have had mango cake for most any celebration at home.

I couldn't get her guarantee on the cake freshness, but since I needed it for the next day and I couldn't remember any other cake shop at that moment, so I carried on it.
I only asked them not to put the cake on the display –which they usually do- and this time they didn't argue me but the first response from that manager was funny. She said “oh of course, you don't want your Mom to see it when she picks it up.” Before I was out of my amazement hearing what her just saying, she seemed finally aware of her own weird statement.

The actual reason why I don't want them to put the cake on display before the picking time because once I spotted a flying insect on the display. I already told the waiters there once or twice about my experience since they tried to debate me when I asked them to put my cake in the fridge before I picked it up. It's not a fly, but still this is not a cheap cake shop as it pronounces on its website: It wasn't long before we became well known for our exquisite desserts. By 2000 it became obvious that the time was right to cater to the more upmarket palate.

Of course who said money can buy cleanness? :-P

Actually this also proves my suspicion about the cake and the fruit decorations freshness there because last June this year I also pre-ordered one mango cake and coincidentally my brother bought the same kind of cake from the same place and we picked it up at the same day and they were for the same event. I don't remember which one, but one of the cakes had a fresh mango and strawberries while the other one didn't look so fresh.

So much for your promises. Disappointing.