Saturday, August 28, 2004

In the middle of my chips trading on BlogShares, someone interrupted me on Yahoo! messenger with this message, "Cooked food is poison." Puzzled, I didn't send any replies but he sent the same message for the second time. So, here is the continuation of our chat history:

lady_laila (5:22:36 PM): is that all what you can say? just to let me know cooked food is poisonous?
helocosmos (5:22:51 PM): yes dear
helocosmos (5:23:04 PM): IT IS
lady_laila (5:23:45 PM): look, i am a mother of three and i know what i am doing... i am busy and please do not teach me something you believe is good...
helocosmos (5:24:03 PM): visit www.living-foods.com & you will get the answer
lady_laila (5:24:05 PM): find someone who is a vegetarian
helocosmos (5:24:06 PM): ok
helocosmos (5:24:18 PM): ok
lady_laila (5:24:29 PM): no one would like to argue with you what kind of food you are eating, ok? be sensible...
helocosmos (5:24:39 PM): ok
helocosmos (5:25:00 PM): forget what I said
helocosmos (5:26:40 PM): Just see my profile & you will know how sensible I am.Bye & good luck
lady_laila (5:36:08 PM): Judge? So what?
lady_laila (5:36:52 PM): I have a neighbor who was a vegetarian all her life, but, she died too...
helocosmos (5:37:47 PM): I have been empowered by the Govt to give death penalty.I am50.I ca'nt be insensible
lady_laila (5:38:30 PM): Law is different from food... but, what you are doing is sending someone a message that food is poison...
helocosmos (5:38:35 PM): I am talking about uncooked food, not vegetarian
lady_laila (5:38:51 PM): what do you want me to do? not cook our food?
lady_laila (5:39:15 PM): i said be sensible because what's the purpose of your statement, 'food is poison'?
helocosmos (5:40:51 PM): If you visit www.living-foods.com, www.gardenofhealth.com, www.rawlife.com , you will get all the answers
lady_laila (5:41:03 PM): and?
helocosmos (5:41:14 PM): I AM talking sense
helocosmos (5:41:39 PM): I am NOT a fool
helocosmos (5:42:29 PM): I ate cooked food for4 46 years & then left it completely
lady_laila (5:42:55 PM): Look, Mr. Judge, i appreciate your warning... but, if the purpose of what you're telling me is not to cook our food, and we'll get sick from bacteria, will you shoulder the expense?
helocosmos (5:43:39 PM): YES
lady_laila (5:44:24 PM): thanks but no thanks... just wish someday when you die, God will make you an angel and guide those people who are still alive not to eat cooked food...
helocosmos (5:44:46 PM): ok
helocosmos (5:45:08 PM): I never insist anyone
lady_laila (5:45:24 PM): we live in a metropolitan area where fresh foods are not accessible... they're handled by different hands before reaching supermarket...
lady_laila (5:45:35 PM): vegetables have chemicals
helocosmos (5:46:42 PM): I already told you, you visit the website & you will get all the answres
helocosmos (5:47:05 PM): to these querries
lady_laila (5:47:22 PM): i am fine, didn't like to scare myself
helocosmos (5:48:10 PM): It is not scaring.It is educative, my dear
helocosmos (5:49:58 PM): Dr.Bernarr is eating uncooked food for last 50 years & you will find his article also
lady_laila (5:50:02 PM): i want to live a normal life, otherwise, i should live in the mountains, and stay away from normal people who cook their food
helocosmos (5:52:23 PM): Anyway ! If you are really interested in VERY GOOD physical,mental & spiritual health,You can get it
lady_laila (5:52:52 PM): maybe when i am old enough to correct many things...
helocosmos (5:53:08 PM): as you please
helocosmos (5:54:01 PM): I will be happy if you will remember in your old age what I said today
lady_laila (5:54:15 PM): yes sure...
helocosmos (5:54:23 PM): OK
helocosmos (5:54:37 PM): God bless you
lady_laila (5:54:49 PM): Thanks, you too.
helocosmos (5:54:58 PM): Bye

So, that's my chat history. I barely chatted online but the said judge intrigued me with his first sentence, "Cooked food Is Poison." I couldn't imagine myself eating raw foods like meat and fish. We knew somebody who was a vegetarian all her life. She was very particular with the food she's eating but then, she died at an early age. The reason of her death was, she had a car accident (may her soul rests in peace). If the purpose of not eating cooked food is to stay healthy and live longer, I don't think I will be totally safe eating raw food as well. Anyway, for the sake of remembering things, I have posted this conversation.

I hope the judge is happy now.

Friday, August 27, 2004

Confused which e-mail account to use as my default e-mail addy, I had thought to give GMail a chance. I have downloaded and installed GMail Notifier so that it will check my Gmail messages without opening my browser. Remember that I have neglected to open it few days ago when I was busy updating my newsletter subscriptions?

Now, I don't have to check my mails, GMail Notifier will do it for me. I added my daughter's voice wav file to the Notifier by following instructions at GMail Notifier FAQ page.

Thursday, August 26, 2004

Kids had no school since yesterday due to heavy monsoon rains. Many areas in Metro Manila were flooded and suspension of classes was announced immediately long before my children leave the house.

I was feeling so sad for those families who had lost their family members, belongings, and properties to flashfloods and landslides. Life, sometimes, is cruel to those unfortunate victims of neglect and corruption.

Although the kids and I are safe, may God bless and have mercy on us all...

Wednesday, August 25, 2004

After initial inspection made yesterday by J. Dawpog, a technician sent by LG Electronics Philippines, Inc. (Tel. no. 6402525), with our LG 6.0 kg. washing machine Model WP-8003, he came back this morning as promised and brought with him replacement parts: a Gear Case and P. Pulley which cost me Php 1,615.00 only, including labor fee. Parts are under warranty for 3 months only.

Thanks, God... the problems were not serious with my washing machine and tv! It's almost end of the month again and I have lots of laundry to take good care of...

Photo image was taken from NOKIA 3660.

For the record, here is the contact information of LG service center:

LG ELECTRONICS PHILIPPINES, INC.

15 F Legaspi St., bo. Maybunga, Pasig city, Philippines
Tel. No.: (02) 6414181 FAX No.: (02) 6420226

Tuesday, August 24, 2004

When I called Samsung Service Center at 7227777 last Monday morning, they immediately scheduled us this afternoon after giving them the details of Samsung 21" TV Hitron Silver, Model CT-211SZ, Serial Nos. 393N700367.

They sent Ed, technician of Chronicles Electronics, Samsung's authorized service center. According to Ed, normal complaints of users of the above product was its sound system.

So far, my TV is working well now and it's under warranty for 3 months. The labor charge was Php505.00 only.

For the record, here is the contact information of Samsung authorized service center:

CHRONICLES ELECTRONICS
MAIN: 412 C Shaw Blvd., cor torrest St., Mandaluyong City
Tel. nos.: 7181766 Telefax: 7181768

BRANCH: 1221 Quiricada St., cor. Almeda St., Tondo, Manila
Tel. No.: 2530087

BRANCH: 1801 E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave., Diego Bldg., Cubao, Quezon City
Te. No. 4150879

Due to the inconvenience of migrating my newsletter subscriptions to my new e-mail addy, I neglected opening my gmail account (Icqmail previously forwarded all my mails to GMail and pop mail). To my surprise, when I logged in today, I have 7 GMail invitations available to friends! Besides, there's an option now where I can view external image if e-mail is in html format.

However, I'm pondering lately whether a decision has to be made soon. I need one permanent e-mail address and I am thinking whether to extend Yahoo! Mail subscription and use it as my default e-mail addy. Believe me, I just do not understand why I have this gmail account? Trendy?

Most internet users have more than 5 e-mail addresses. Guess it's about time we should consider using one permanent address.

For those who are looking for JJLHS contact details, here it is:

Monday, August 23, 2004

Late this afternoon, I received an e-mail with subject line: SAVE ME, from Malaysia. The 'boy' said that I must help him with the amount of US$ 7,000,000.00 because his parents were fighting all the time and he needs help. If nothing is done with his problems at home, he's going to commit suicide. The e-mail did not eleborate what is the money for but, he said he's visiting my site regularly and that I have some money recently. He said, what am I going to do with my wealth if someone will commit suicide should I turn him down.

Prank e-mail or not, I was trying to look for that mail today but, I couldn't find it. My mail option was set to empty trash folder upon exit of Mozilla mail client. I want to advise this 'boy' to join BlogShares and enjoy fantasy money than thinking of commiting suicide.

I'd thought that he might have seen my BlogShares portfolio located at the right side navigation on this page for which I have over B$ 13 Trillion networth. Well, earlier, BlogShares offers fantasy money only but with the introduction of chips recently, some players auctioned those chips at e-Bay for real money.

Chips as BlogShares defines, "Chips are the 'social currency' of BlogShares. Unlike B$ dollars and their wildly varying value, chips are based on time spent by our members."

BlogShares chips can be used for Text Ads on BlogShares main page, buy rare or artefact ideas on special arrangements with fellow players; can be used to join in BlogShares raffles and other contests. Current value of 1 chip is more or less B$ 25 Million while 10k chips is worth US$13.50 at eBay.

At present, I ranked 2nd on BlogShares Top Chip Holders and Rank 2nd, too, on BlogShares' Best Karma. 25 chips are given for every 1 karma adjustment by a player as incentive either by voting a blog into correct industries or by moderating a vote made by a player for voting a blog. I suggest you visit BlogShares Fantasy Stock Market to know more about it.

To know how auction is done with BlogShares chips, visit Randy's auctions at eBay:

• Item number: 5916949322
• Item number: 5916949773

Sunday, August 22, 2004

Today is Egay's 34th Birthday! Happy Birthday, Egay!

Egay is the youngest among my siblings. He is now back in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, because Bhoie is on vacation, too. They cannot leave their work at the same time because their presence are badly needed at work.

For the last few days, I had been sleeping late. Not that I was missing somebody at night (don't ever think about it), but, because my Sweety Pearl used to sleep late as well, doing her homework.

I often told the kids that Saturdays and Sundays should be my days-off and they should be the one attending to household chores on weekends. Daughter held a Saturday night party and her friends spent overnight at home. Since we moved here, I never invited my friends over, I am not a party animal though.

Whenever Vera and I had a chance to meet, that's the time when we're both attending Holy Masses and religious festivities. We're responsible mothers and our top priorities are the welfare of our families.

Although we had a smooth weekend, I have some fears and uncertainty about the future. When I prayed this morning, I sought God's help that hopefully the problems with my TV, washing machine and oven are not that serious...

Saturday, August 21, 2004

When my oven didn't work after cleaning it, I never bothered to use it again. I was scared some water went inside and I will be electrocuted. Never mind if I cannot heat the food, I shall wait until I find time to send it for repair. I'd thought things will run smoothly after that but, I was wrong.

Sweety Pearl told me late last night, that our LG 6 kg washing machine stopped rotating in the middle of rinsing our clothes. I shrugged my shoulders after checking whether she's joking with me or not. She's right, it stopped running.

Just the other day, something was wrong with my Samsung 21" inch Television set. We had thought it was from the SkyCable because the whole area of Project 8 had no cable connection for about three days. When cable service was restored, our TV's audio had weird sound and it was so loud I got scared it will explode even if it was in mute.

At times like this, I just wish my eldest son, Junjun, is around. Paul Denise is at the university fair since this morning. It's Saturday, no one is answering the phobe, there's no one in the office anymore...

Friday, August 20, 2004

It's a busy day updating all my newsletter subscriptions with my new e-mail addy. I was not expecting ICQ webmail will charge their ICQ members for premium membership to avail a mail forwarding service. Since GMail was launched 'as part of Google's mission to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful' this year, Yahoo! webmail increased their member's webspace up to 100 mb. Well, I believe, ICQMAIL made a mistake by offering a paid subscription, they're not competitive enough to do so.

Speaking of e-mail, I received an e-mail today from Adonis Aldave Conanan, a Judge Juan Luna High School alma mater. He found my details at alumni.net. Although he told me that he knew me, of all those years that passed by, I had a little memory about my school mates. I even had thought he might be my high school crush but since he told me he belonged to evening class, I was sure then that he's not the one...

My brother, Bhoie, arrived today from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He's on a 45 days vacation here.

Thursday, August 19, 2004

It's a holiday today in Quezon City and Quezon province in celebration of Manuel Luis Quezon Day.

Paul Denise took advantage of the situation and he went to SM North Edsa with his cousin, Jessie, and played computer games. I told him to buy me a new mouse but he forgot about it and spent the money...

Now that icqmail.com changes their free mail forwarding service and will reactivate only if I will pay US$19.95 for annual premium subscription, I will shift for the time being with the new ones.

Please take note of my new e-mail addresses: lmgpmjr at pldtdsl.net and lmgpmjr at gmail.com.

Wednesday, August 18, 2004

The above title was the message thread in BlogShares Forum which I had a dispute with a player and a moderator. I finally resolved it and hopefully, other players will be guided accordingly to plan their bond issuance well to avoid further misunderstanding with quick players hunting for rare or artefact ideas bonds.

Here is the CC I submitted to the Forum...

Before anything else, I was determined not to reply on this message thread but, somehow, after further "research", I find it necessary to say something. Personally, I won't do this initiative at all but, for the sake of those players that might encounter the same experience like mine, READ ON:

Quote from: Aine on August 16, 2004, 08:56:23 pm
Whether you post your intentions to sell something to a specific player in these forums or not, or you message someone in private or not, all salable items in this game are placed in Public markets, open to all, available to any player who has the funds to make such purchases... regardless of your (or anybody else's) wishes to the contrary. If players choose not to play by "your rules" they are well within their rights to do so.

I called my friend who is a manager of a bank today. I asked her about bonds and after telling her "my story", she told me that once I offered a bond to the public, anyone can take it. Although I didn't liked what I heard, I must say, newbies and pioneers alike have to practice all precautions and care when entering into bond transaction because the likes of Mr Pilot or Bear can take it from us without due considerations and will still be a legal play.

Although I didn't like to see a dog-eat-dog play, somehow, as members of this community, it is within ourselves whether we wish to return what is meant for someone else.

Quote from: Gunnar Langemark on August 15, 2004, 11:12:15 pm
Laila don't get me wrong. I think that you are the most excellent addition to this game in the time between my last "stint" in Blogshares and now.
But I fail to see what wrong anybody has done you.

Gunnar

Gunnar, that's the sweetest comment I ever received so far here on BlogShares. Thank You for the sweet compliments... I must admit, since I started playing here on BlogShares, I have learned a lot of things while playing here and although I have learned it the tough way from Mr Pilot, I believe I'm a better Bond Issuer now than few days ago.

Quote from: MrPilot on August 15, 2004, 10:21:29 pm
Believe what you want. What I explained is exactly what I did, and why.

Yeah, I still believe that you're mean. Although what you did was within rules, I believe you have set a bad example. This is my personal opinion and I am entitled to it. (period)

Quote from: Aine on August 16, 2004, 08:56:23 pm
Have a little more class than that.

I do.

If you know me, you will have a second thought, Aine.. but, anyway, thanks for the time you have spent on this message thread. And, by the way, did you know that I pronounced your name as 'Ayn-e'?

Quote from: bear on August 15, 2004, 06:27:08 pm
Just because I didn't take up your origional offer doesn't mean I was trying to get back at you or do anything malicious. I don't have any bad will towards you, honestly.

Bear, I believe you served as an instrument and a victim of circumstance. And, I want to correct something: I didn't originally offered you, you have sent me a private message on 22:14 09 Aug 2004, remember?

Quote from: RWO on August 16, 2004, 09:34:37 pm
Is this the example we want to give to the new players that have just entered the forum? Get to the top 25 so you can call each other names, degrade thier play, and accuse them of cheating.

We are above this folks. If you have a problem with someone don't do it in the forums. Do it in private with the PM. After all that's what it is for.

Sorry, Randy, if you were around, these things will not gonna happen in the first place..

The purpose of this message is to let all players play the game well and never be emotional on sensitive issues. Price your precious ideas in billions and never complain if someone poaches (ooppsss!) your ideas bond. Set my experience a weird example.

By the way, have you noticed? There are more moderators in the Forum than players? Anyway, I will appreciate if everyone will give me a chance to rest this case and let's give Bear a chance to sell his rare ideas...

Every life has a story.
And every experience, there's something to be learned.
Be glad that you became part of that experience...
regardless, whether you're a student or a teacher!

Mabuhay and regards from the Philippines,

Laila*

Monday, August 16, 2004

For those who are reading this, BlogShares is not only a gaming community, but, a community of bloggers. It's a fantasy stock market where weblogs are the companies. Players invest fictional dollars on shares in blogs. Blogs are valued by their incoming links and add value to other blogs by linking to them. Prices can go up or down based on trading and the underlying value of the blog.

When is wrong right, or when is right wrong? In this lifetime, I normally raised issues based on what I feel is right, even no one supported the things that I believe in. So what if the world turns against me? If they believe what they have done is within the rules, so be it!

But, in my sensitive nature, no matter what happens, no one can put a good person down. Maybe I won't get people support my stand because who will care about my feelings, anyway, except myself? I had my part in the game, I openly said what I was supposed to say and if they didn't liked it, don't cross my path! I believe it's just a matter of time, that each individual be victimized by the same rules, by then... just by then... they will have 'no class' too, as they had thought I was...

Following Bear's 'accusations' on his message thread that, "Just because I didn't take up your origional offer doesn't mean I was trying to get back at you or do anything malicious."

Excuse me? I beg your pardon? Who made the offer? Was it me or you? Here is the copy of private message of Bear to me:

trade ?
From Bear
To Laila*
Date 22:14 09 Aug 2004

Laila,

I would be interested in trading you 735 chips for 2100 tourism ideas and 2000 golf ideas. Interested?

Few months ago, I had a fight with Bear, too, thru private messages when he dropped the prices of stocks I just newly bought. Both Bear and Jessica themselves were sending me private messages while at the same time, in BlogShares Forum, they were under fire for transactions on top blogs. They had completed the PRD, Restructure, Hyping and Sell Order in less than two hours, etc. People just easily forget. Why there are new rules about limited amount of shares to gift was because both players involved made questionable transactions before... and also, because of these two players, I avoided playing on BlogShares Top Blogs' shares!

While I do not question the existing rule, everyone focused on the rule of the game. But, no one have noticed that Mr Pilot, had intentionally played against me to upset me, which no other player, would do the same with me, especially in a stubborn way!

Well? This is life! If you cannot beat them, join them! Alan Dean said also in the forum:

Point Of Order

For the avoidance of doubt (in case any newbies are reading this thread):

The Bonds market is entirely public. There is no means of making an 'agreed player-to-player' deal. There is no etiquette that requires a player to abide by posted intentions in the forums. It is a free-for-all, dog-eat-dog market with no friendly rules.

Put simply, the fastest click wins.

I'm still pondering though... Hey, Alan! I am not a dog! [Grin] Anyway, even I argued with people because of indifferences, after some time, they returned back to me, only to say, I was right in the first place. Sometimes, it takes days, months, and years. But, one thing is for sure, I just want to be fair...

Sunday, August 15, 2004

As Macky (Mars/Iris Securities) posted Chips for Missing Industries on August 13, 2004, 07:52:47 pm at BlogShares Forum, I offered him 100+ industries for 1.5 chips or 15 chips per 10 rare ideas for the industries Macky doesn't have yet.

Today, while I bonded 116 industries in sets of twelves to transfer the ideas, Bear interrupted our transactions by poaching 4 industries, which in return, Macky complained of invalid bonds. I was certain that I have issued the ideas properly as bonds until I found out that Bear took it. I sent couple of messages on his Rare idea bonds for sale message thread. The BlogShares Global Moderator, Mr Pilot, instead of settling the dispute, he added flame and interruption with my bond transactions with Macky by poaching one of the bonds Bear rebonded to returnn those industries he purchased in the bonds market.

After I finished with Macky's bonds and he got 1160 ideas from me, I found out later that interruptions made by Bear and Mr Pilot made me lose the opportunity to sell my 10,272,408 Farsi ideas on time at B$ 54,343.40 or a total loss in the amount of B$ 558,237,576,907.20 at 23:14 system time!!!

I didn't know why this guy is picking on me but, one thing is certain, I didn't liked his style...

Friday, August 13, 2004

Yesterday morning, when I woke up for the second time, I had a dream which disturbed me for the whole day. The dream feels so real I could hardly believe it was just a dream. I saw in my dream the Salvacion Family!

Since I was busy in the bank yesterday afternoon, I had no opportunity to make some calls. Paul Denise and I were back at six. When I was about to send them a text message, I called them first even it was late in the evening hoping they're home at that time, but, the Salvacion couple were in the hospital! Raffee, one of their triplets, had raptured appendicitis! After the phone conversation with Inday, I sent my text message to Brother Rommel.

At past two in the morning, I received a text message from Brother Rommel twice and he asked me to attend a mass healing in Don Bosco at 7 p.m this evening. I replied that I couldn't make it but will pray for Raffee's safety and fast recovery from the operation which I did twice: I prayed last night for Raffee's welfare and also this morning, when I recited the rosary.

When I called again this morning, before taking my first coffee, I have learned from Inday that Raffee was under operation during the time I was talking to her on the phone last night. By then I realized my dream was some kind of a message that I should get in touch with the Salvacion couple.

Vera told me this afternoon on our telephone conversation that Brother Rommel was even featured in Mel and Jay Talk Show aired on GMA7 along with wise people. Brother Rommel does couselling for free and never accepts cash from disturbed people, whether emotionally or spiritually. I designed their Sinauna Crafts Antique Furniture website few years ago.

Thursday, August 12, 2004

While voting blogs for categorization purposes to be listed under BlogShares industries, I surfed across one site entitled: The DaVinci Code: Uncover The Code Contest

Of course, I don't know the answers but, after I did some googling, I found the answers one by one to the questions. They are here but, you won't see them if you don't look very closely...

1. What is the more common name of Leonardo Da Vinci's famous painting
   "La Giaconda"? Answer: The Mona Lisa
2. In what city does The Mona Lisa reside? Answer: Paris
3. To what secret society did Jacques Saunière belong? Answer: The Priory of Sion
4. What enigmatic sculpture stands one degree North of the location indicated
   in the code? Answer: Kryptos
5. According to Kryptos, what are the initials of the person who "knows the
   exact location"? Answer: WW
6. The cover flap describes the novel's plot,
   But simple words can often hide a lot.
   Within those paragraphs (and shrouded fast),
   Resides a mystic phrase from ages past.
   To make your quest... abandon any fears,
   If you are bold, the font of truth appears. Answer: Is there no help for the widow's son
7. For which ancient brotherhood (still active today) does this phrase have
   special meaning? Answer: Freemasons
8. What famous phrase is printed around the seal? e pluribus unum
9. The eyes of Mona Lisa launched this quest.
   And now her knowing gaze lays it to rest.
   The French would say her "OEIL DROIT" holds the key
   Just point and click on it (referring to the image)
   -- and you're home free! Answer: Oeil droit = right eye (Click HER right eye!)

If you wish to uncover the code yourself, visit The DaVinci Code: Uncover The Code Contest. If you cannot find the answer, you may come back here again and locate the answer to complete the game or visit Matt Thornton site, who claimed copyright on difficult answers...

Related Site For Reading:
Breaking The Da Vinci Code By Collin Hansen
Leonardo da Vinci
Matt Thornton

Wednesday, August 11, 2004

This posting is a community experiment that tests how a meme, represented by this blog posting, spreads across blogspace, physical space and time. It will help to show how ideas travel across blogs in space and time and how blogs are connected. It may also help to show which blogs (and aggregation sites) are most influential in the propagation of memes. The dataset from this experiment will be public, and can be located via Google (or Technorati) by doing a search for the GUID for this meme (below).

Please join the test by adding your blog (see instructions, below) and inviting your friends to participate -- the more the better. The data from this test will be public and open; others may use it to visualize and study the connectedness of blogspace and the propagation of memes across blogs.

The GUID for this experiment is:

as098398298250swg9e98929872525389t9987898tq98wteqtgaq62010920352598gawst

The above GUID enables anyone to easily search Google or other search engines for all blogs that participate in this experiment, once they have indexed the sites that participate, which may take several days or weeks. To locate the full data set, just search for any sites that contain this GUID.

Anyone is free to analyze the data of this experiment. Please publicize your analysis of the data, and/or any comments by adding comments onto the original post (see URL above). (Note: it would be interesting to see a geographic map or a temporal animation, as well as a social network map of the propagation of this meme.)

INSTRUCTIONS

To add your blog to this experiment, copy this entire posting to your blog, and then answer the questions below, substituting your own information, below, where appropriate. Other than answering the questions below, please do not alter the information, layout or format of this post in order to preserve the integrity of the data in this experiment (this will make it easier for searchers and automated bots to find and analyze the results later).

REQUIRED FIELDS (Note: Replace the answers below with your own answers)

(1) I found this experiment at URL:
http://www.thegreatseparation.com/newsfront/2004/08/testing_meme_pr.html

(2) I found it via "Newsreader Software" or "Browsing the Web" or "Searching the Web" or "An E-Mail Message": Browsing the Web

(3) I posted this experiment at URL: www.ladylaila.net/blog/

(4) I posted this on date (day/month/year): 11/08/04

(5) I posted this at time (24 hour time): 18:07:04

(6) My posting location is (city, state, country): Metro Manila, Philippines

OPTIONAL SURVEY FIELDS:

(7) My blog is hosted by: PlogHost

(8) My age is:

(9) My gender is: Female

(10) My occupation is: retired

(11) I use the following RSS/Atom reader software: FeedReader

(12) I use the following software to post to my blog: MT v 2.661

(13) I have been blogging since (day, month, year): 26 April 2003

(14) My web browser is: Mozilla 1.6

(15) My operating systems are: Windows 98 SE and XP

Paul Denise and I claimed today 3 ATM cards and picked up some statements in Allied Bank-BLS. Edith Pacio and Luz gave us excellent service. No wonder I haven't change my bank yet even though we're now almost four months here in the building.

At present, I have 30-70 chance of finding a property to buy. Cost of land here is about PHP 18,000/sqm. The education of the kids is my top priority...

I'm still hopeful something good will come our way. Life goes on...

Sunday, August 08, 2004

Having grownup kids at home is sometimes harder than having smaller kids messing the house with their toys.

As usual, I had trouble with Paul Denise on computer usage. Early this morning, he wanted to play Diablo on win98 OS while I haven't clean up my room yet. I have a mouse problem and cannot let him use it to play games that requires lots of mouse movement and clicking. As expected, he felt bad about it. The only way to pacify him was when I served pancakes for his breakfast. I guess he's real upset because he had eaten four pieces!

At twelve noon, I received a phone call from my father. He said he cooked "kiyampong", a rice cooked with some meat (chinese food), and I must send my son to pick it up. Still feeling bad, my son was hesitant to follow orders from me. I told him my father is asking siopao on his way to him so, he must buy Four Kowloon Dimsum's Jumbo Siopao, two for my father and two for my mother. When he realized he could play computer games at my sister's house, he pretended that he didn't liked to go but, saw him getting ready.

When I had a chance, I talked with Sweety Pearl, my only daughter, to allow Paul Denise to use her computer instead. But, she's tough on not allowing her big brother to use the old PC for playing games. After heated arguments, she uninstalled all her programs, shuts down PC and slammed the door of her room! Ouch! My little sweety is mad and didn't understand me. The new PC in my room was under her name, it belongs to her. But, while I haven't find a cheaper laptop for my personal use, it will remain in my room.

Until to this writing, I didn't know what has happened with the computer. When Paul Denise arrived home, he didn't know what has happened while he's gone. After I prepared their dinner, I stayed in my room and updated my blogs. BlogShares Ideas Market was offline, pending bug fix, the longest ever since I started playing on BlogShares last January (this year).

Anyway, I just wish that my children will somehow understand me. I want them to share the old PC equally for their school projects instead of buying another one for Paul Denise' usage.

This evening, my eldest son, Junjun, called up from Saudi Arabia. He wanted to leave his present job because someone is offering him a better pay which is equivalent to 400% of his current salary. I got hysterical upon knowing his plans. He has signed two years contract with his employer and he might be in trouble if he breaks it without valid reason. I scolded him and talked endlessly until he reminded me that it's an overseas call. He said he will explain everything with me by Friday on Yahoo!

Giving kids what they want is not always effective, just like what my father did. He's probably the most stingiest man I have ever known but, somehow, I should thank him for being one. I managed an independent life since I was 18 and I resolved whatever problems I encountered all by myself. Even if there were times I feel I couldn't find solutions, I turned to God for strength and guidance. And, thanks to God, after couple of years staying home, the kids are now back to school.

There were times I have fears and insecurities, but, as long as God is taking good care of us, nothing is impossible...

Friday, August 06, 2004

My brother, Nasser, who arrived from Dammam, Saudi Arabia, on July 25th visited us this afternoon. We had serious argument over the telphone and text messages few months back (while he was abroad) and I decided not to talk to him since then. My EX found out about our misunderstanding and I have heard that they met in the office on July 29th. Since then, my brother was calling me by phone apologizing for his misbehavior. He said he was just confused that time and he promised not to do it ever again.

I was still busy in my room when he arrived, along with Boyet, my brother-in-law. We had lunch together and he explained to me why he left his job. He said my EX is currently helping him and he might be deployed in Riyadh this time, the city where my eldest son is currently working.

Nasser has one child studying in nursery. He has to leave his family because there's no good job opportunities here in the Philippines. Local jobs are mostly covered by 5 months contract (subject for termination or if lucky, renewable for another 5 months but it means submission of prerequirements again) while if Filipinos will work abroad, they will surely get monthly salary for 2 straight years. It's ironic that we're exporting the best skilled workers abroad and the stupid, crooked ones remain in the country (and some are even employed in government offices).

Thursday, August 05, 2004

I received a call for three consecutive days now from PLDT telemarketing that they have a Mega Bundle Promo which includes caller ID, call-waiting, call-forwarding, and three-way party conference features for only PHP 99.00 a month.

These features were requested with telephone line application form I submitted earlier but, when our telephone line was installed, all we had was basic feature and no IDD/NDD either. When I asked them when my caller ID will be activated, I remember they told me to buy a telephone unit first with caller ID feature but, I told them I had two units purchased sometime in October last year. Surpringly, they want me to register the unit at their nearest PLDT branch since they said both unit was not under my name! Well, what's the difference if the telephone unit was under the name of my daughter? We bought the units last year because of their promotional offer wherein they slashed 40% OFF its original price.

Anyway, I was too busy to think about PLDT promos as my things are crowding my room. Didn't know where to place the 5 Balik Bayan boxes full of my travelling clothes, coats, and lingeries: these boxes make my room ugly.

Wednesday, August 04, 2004

My brother, Egay, together with his wife, Ana, arrived early in the afternoon. He took the measurement and bought some materials needed for the wall adjustment. The building maintenance, Raymond, helped and finished the installation since the couple has to pick up their only daughter, Trixia.

My room was a complete mess. I didn't know where to place my bed after A/C was installed. At times like this, I felt a bit sad because I was missing my house in Parañaque. I have spacious room there with separate walk-in closet and a nice toilet and bath with bidet and big bath tub... Ah! Those were the days... (sigh)

Late this evening, Ate Neth arrived and get her cash for her calendar business. She brought a CD to show me the calendar designs she created but, it was saved in .psd and my PC crashed when it failed to open. My goodness! The two image files she saved was quite big until my program had an error and the blogs I was voting to be listed on its proper industries on BlogShares disappeared! Whew...

Anyway, tomorrow will gonna be a busy day for me and I should really stop mixing playing on BlogShares while running errands at home...

Tuesday, August 03, 2004

The item was delivered this afternoon but, we have to wait until my brother finds time tomorrow to help us install it.

I missed my eldest son who is working in Saudi Arabia. If he's here, he'll probably do something to fix it for me.

Monday, August 02, 2004

I promised myself, I will live simply and try to live within our means. But, since we relocated here, I always got sick. My room is warm at daytime, and the heat from my PC caused more heat, making me feel uncomfortable. Every now and then, I coughed and catch cold, which seldom happened when we were in Parañaque City. I missed my house but, life has changed with us and I have to fulfill my vow to God (to send my kids back to college) by all means.

Anyway, in observance of Lung Month this August, I decided to buy 1.0 HP Uni-Air air conditioner at SM Star Appliance Center today with Paul Denise. I know it will hurt me to pay my electric bills monthly but, health is more important than couple of hundred pesos savings.

As gasoline price increases today by 50 centavos a liter, I'm worried electricity and prices of commodities will be next...

Sunday, August 01, 2004

Spending more time playing, voting, and moderating blogs at BlogShares kept me busy from blogging. Actually, last month was the busiest month for most active players who participated in voting and moderating blog's industries (categories). My karma points showed how much dedication I had given in adding blogs under its correct categories (industries). As Jay introduced CHIPS as incentives to players who voted/moderated blog's industries correctly, we earned 25 chips for every 1 karma, from 58,000 blogs that need (vote) moderation, it's now down to less than 2,500 blogs!

Anyway, from rank no. 15th on BlogShares Top 100 Richest Player last month, I am now at 8th place beginning the month of August.

At BlogShares, it's fun to play, trade, and interact with fellow players at the Forum.