I'm just blogging anything that interests me at the moment. It could be about new discoveries, movie or tv episodes, work issues, interesting topics found on the net -- whatever catches my fancy! (",)
You're well educated and cultured, and the places you travel to reflect that. You appreciate the best art, food, architecture, and local flavor. A true traveler, you are destined to be multi-lingual and very worldly.
Which do you follow, Eat Healthier or Eat Cheaper? Do you agree that health foods are more expensive than junk foods? What do you prefer between the two?
Have you ever tried sending a message composed of features?
There's a new message sending site on the net using pictures instead of text. It's what you call Visual Talking. I've tried this although it's quite too early to see some advanced features.
Here's a link to the DNeero Social Networking Site regarding this topic:
Gymnastics has always been the sport I monitor every Olympics. It probably started when I first watched the event in 1996 cheering for the Magnificent 7 (US Team) as they clinched that gold with that courageous performance by Kerri Strug. Twelve years later, I'm now cheering for the Chinese team. I dunno why but it seems like my preference has changed. Hehe... Same with my team preference in Figure Skating (from the US figure skaters to the Japanese and South Korean skaters).
As I cannot watch the event on television, I had to rely on the Internet. I know that today the team finals will happen and so I searched for news. And... My team won! Yes!!! Their FIRST ever in the Gymnastics category (Women and Men).
The Chinese Team led by captain Cheng Fei won with a 188.90 total. The USA scored 186.525 to grab the silver while defending olympic champion Romania got 181.525 to get bronze.
Alicia Sacramone of the US, tipped to be Cheng's strongest contender, blundered on the beam and floor. Reigning all-around world champion Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin landed outside the line in floors to add to the US' problems.
After the finals, seems like the US coach hinted that they lost the gold because Sacramo lost concentration when she was made to wait before performing on the beam. The US Gymnastic Federation has stated they do not agree to this statement. Well, for me... using the delay as a reason in not valid enough. Hehe...
I was quite surprised early this morning when I received a text message informing me that I won some Getzmo Olympic Items and that I should confirm my receipt of the announcement in their forum. I remembered sending my answers early last month so I registered in their forum and looked up the Beijing Olympic Promo post. I was listed under the 2nd batch of winners (but it seems like my name is misspelled).
Here are the prizes that I can claim -- if I can claim them by Aug. 15:
1. Olympic Shirt 2. Key Chains 3. Stickers
My problem now is that items are supposed to be claimed in their Makati office and I'm residing here in Davao. *Sigh* How can I claim my prizes by Friday? Rather, who can claim them for me.
When you ask what supermarket I usually buy my groceries, I always answer SM or Gaisano Mall (in Davao) or Robinsons (CDO). But my mom does her grocery at NCCC Mall. I don't like buying groceries there as I find the their supermarket so disorganized. It's quite difficult to find items I need in that big supermarket. Now, that dislike has escalated to HATE. I won't do my groceries there any longer.
So what happened that I reacted like this?
Well, I was planning to go somewhere in San Pedro St. this afternoon when I suddenly wanted to buy some microwaveable popcorns. So I dropped by NCCC Mall on the way (supposedly) to San Pedro to buy a box. I'm aware of the frisking done when you go inside a mall. Even when you enter the supermarket. I just prepared my bag (sling bag) for inspection. Then the lady guard said:
guard: Iwan mo na lang yang bag mo sa counter. me: huh?! guard: Iwan mo na lang yang bag mo and just bring your wallet. Wala naman masyadong laman...
WTH!!! I was so surprised why I was told to just bring my wallet and leave my other stuff at the baggage counter. I've bought groceries in that supermarket a number of times wearing that bag so why single me out -- and in such a tone like I was going to steal or something. There are those who go inside bringing large bags but they don't comment like that. They don't tell those people to just bring their wallets and leave their bags at the baggage counter on a floor below the grocery section. What does she think of me? That I'll steal some stuff and place them on my bag? I got infuriated. P*ny*t*! I can't help myself... If she thinks I'll do what she said, then she's wrong. I walked out, went to SM where customers are treated well, and swore not to buy again in their supermarket and department store sections. Late last year I posted another entry about our grocery there which lasted 3 hrs. 1 hour for the actual shopping and 2 hours falling in line in the payment counters.
At home, I told my mom and my sis... we're not doing our groceries there ever. It's either SM or GMall. To think they spend quite a lot for groceries in NCCC. Well, they better stick to the other 2 malls -- or I'll get my CC back.
Come to think of it. NCCC used to be known as a place where you can shop affordable items compared to other malls. But, shopping there with my mom and sis, I realized they now cost as much as the other malls (if not higher). What I don't like the most is their customer service. And when a particular music is being played, all employees stop and do their ridiculous dance. I mean, it's ok if its only for a couple of seconds... or a minute but since it goes on for a couple of minutes, they're already distracting the shoppers aside from not being able to assist them. For service, SM always comes on top of my list -- in whatever SM branch I've been. GMall is my choice for variety...
Because of this event, I wasn't able to go to my real destination. Instead, I was stuck at SM buying more than just plain popcorns. =( The guard at SM supermarket just inspected my bag and let me in. No more unnecessary comments...
As much as I would like to watch the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics, the only channel I can watch this live (?!?) is RPN 9 (C/S) courtesy of Solar Sports. I frantically searching the net on what channel I can watch this and finally saw a post in PEx that RPN 9 will be showing it with barely 15 min before 8:08pm last night. I immediately switched channels. However, tv reception wasn't quite good. Somebody fixed it and only the sound had a little problem. After a few minutes more, it started and I was so excited.
Just a few minutes into the show, we've lost coverage. And this will go on for almost an hour. GRRRRRR!!! By the time it went back, the parade of nations was starting (the boring part). Well, I did get to see Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark, Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Spain, Roger Federer, Pres. Bush, Pres. Putin, some I can't remember the names, and then there's Pacman who seemed to have difficulty carrying the flag. hehe... GMA wasn't shown -- well, maybe the cameras can't find her. But seriously, Solar Sports gained the rights to broadcast this here in the Philippines yet they can't even show the Philippine Delegates properly. I've also read in forums I'm in that many aren't happy with their broadcast. So many cuts, delays, and LOTS of ADVERTISEMENTS!
I know I'm ranting here but I wanna see the performances and the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron and I wasn't able to watch the former.
The lighting of the Olympic Cauldron has, in recent Olympics, been kept a secret and many people love to guess how the host country would do it. Ever since I've watched the lighting at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, that will forever be etched in my mind.
That paralympic archer shooting the arrow that will light the Olympic Cauldron. That still remains as my fave Olympic to date although I've read in some posts todays that if you watch in a different angle, you'll se that it did not hit teh cauldron. Whatever, that was still awesome!
Here's a video clip I saw on Youtube:
The 1996 Atlanta Olympics cauldron lighting was quite emotional and dramatic -- with Muhammad Ali as the one who lighted the cauldron.
Here's a video posted in Youtube:
Then there's the one at Sydney in 2000 lit by Cathy Freeman. This one involved Fire and Water.
Here's the clip:
In Athens (2004), Here's the clip:
And last night's Olympic Cauldron lighting in Beijing was awesome -- former Olympian Li Ning (Gymnastics Gold Medalist) soared above the Nest, "ran" the length of the stadium while a "scroll" unfolds showing footages of the places the Olympic Flame has travelled and then lit the cauldron. Quite a show-stopper just like the previous Chinese performances. I'm glad I finally saw a clip of this in Youtube:
I'm not too sure about posting the link to China's Cauldron lighting... But if it's against anything, I'll remove the link...
PS: Saw the lighting in Seoul and all I can say is: the poor doves... :(
Here's My Ranking:
1] Barcelona 2] Beijing 3] Atlanta 4] Sydney 5] Athens
I don't feel quite well today. I woke up today and inquired about my credit card dues... I have been bugged about this for more than a month now. I'm too tired of paying off bills that I didn't incur but listed under my name. First inquiry, for Bankard. I have trouble logging to their online system to view my account. But I have forgotten my password and so I called customer service and asked told them that I'd like to avail of their paperless statements (email). I've also asked about my current balance and was quite shocked at the amount that has to be paid by tomorrow. Well, some might prefer paying just the minimum or a little bit higher than the minimum. But I don't. I hate it because it means I can't control my expenses. I always make it a point to use my card on purchases that I know I will be able to pay by due date. I was told a little bit earlier that my CC has been paid. I just dunno how much... This constitutes problem #1.
The second problem: I want to avail of a balance transfer. Availing of Balance Transfer from Bankard now seems like a very bad idea. Next option: Metrobank. I have always prided myself in being able to control my spending and I always pay my bills in this card. But this last month came my biggest blunder. For the first time, somebody from collections called me up and told me that I did not pay a single cent for my last bill. *SHOCKED* What the?!?!?!?!?!? Before I went home, I left some money... with a couple of days more before due date. Turned out, my card wasn't paid. Fine... So there's going to be some charges. I was told it will be paid the next day. That was on a Monday. By Friday (billing date) when I asked, no minimum amount was paid. Huh?! If the amount was paid Tuesday, it should have been posted by billing date. Again, I found out, it was paid Friday using a check. I felt so pissed. I was told to pay the entire amount immediately. The lacking amount was paid the next day but the check still has to reflect on my account. It's now August 5, and again, I was informed quite bluntly that there was no check payment. Am I supposed to believe that for more than a week, the check was not returned to the owner because the SIGNATURE WAS WRONG??? I feel like I'm being made a really big fool here. My clean record has been damaged. I was told the balance transfer option was not made availbale for my account. But if I insist, I can avail using regular rates. I need it by Wednesday but I don't think there would be enough time for processing. For the first time ever, I felt so bad... Really Bad. And I feel like crying. All those years I've been such a good CC customer...
Seems like I will have trouble availing in Metrobank, I called up Citibank to inquire about their paylite rates. I was told it's 1.5%. Still quite high for a paylite transaction. Then the CSR told me I can avail using the Call-4-Cash promo. Call-4-Cash lets you avail of a part of your credit limit in Cash for a fixed term and reduced rates. Now, I'm confused. My laptop is still under installment in this card. Then I have to avail of another installment. But I'm left with no choice... I can pay for that damn spend but my money is currently tied right now -- from payments that I have to collect and from the ATM card that I still have to claim in another week. I am in such a bind right now!
But the biggest problem would probably be my former officemate/"friend" who purchased some items in my card and FAILED TO PAY. This friend also invited me, ate Julie and Faye, to invest in their new biz... Which turned out to be such a scam. Well, it was supposed to be a biz but she spent the money on something else. Therefore, the money did not earn anything and more than a year since then, I can't even get my principal back... Much worse, I even paid for the interest she's supposed to pay ate Julie. She just kept on saying she's going to pay this blah, blah, blah... for more than a year already. I still have her text messages. Such a big scammer! And she also has the gall to get mad at me. Hah! When I confronted her about her "other activities" she made other excuses-- Geez! That's why I don't really trust people who work for the government on institutions like that. No offense guys and gals. I just have quite a number of bad experiences from gov't people. Until now, I still haven't got my money back... just dates on when I might be able to get paid a "penny." You know who you are and I can say you can't get out of the deep sh*t you are now because you are such a BIG LIAR!!!
I think I've been quite helpful financially... but I hate being abused. I really HATE it! And I'm not going to let other people borrow money or use my card again. Look for help elsewhere. I've had enough!!! People just don't care that your record gets bad because, hey, it's not theirs. Well, what is there to get afraid of when their records are already damaged in the first place.
I don't want the damage done to become bigger. I have to look for solutions. And I have to do it alone because I know I can't expect them to pay me back or explain to the CC companies. Until now, I still don't have the energy to think about anything or enjoy my current freedom... In my mind, I'm still tied to a lot of obligations... I feel like being buried in debt. I have to start again... and that's why I feel so bad. After all the hard work I've been through...
When will I ever get the chance to rest? All these are affecting my mindset... I feel so damn Negative and I hate myself for it.
I have to find the strength to convince myself I can overcome this...
addicted to the internet, figure skating, anything colorful, blogging, techie stuff, gadgets, gadgets, more gadgets, ebooks, girltalk, and various online thingy... (",)
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