The Importance of Back Ups

My laptop crashed a week ago and boy - did i regret not having a backup of half my files (over 1 year of stuff just gone). Thanks to P, I was able to regain most of my files (THANKS P!!! <-- a="" am="" be="" but="" cannot="" d="" didn="" exclamation="" first="" give="" go="" grateful="" have="" how="" i="" in="" into="" losing="" lot="" more="" of="" p="" panic="" place.="" points="" put="" sentiment="" show="" t="" the="" them="" through="" to="" wish="" words="">
Lesson learned a bit too late: if you have a computer, you need an external drive big enough to contain everything inside (and a bit more) - and you should use it regularly (at least once a month).

Nowadays, I recommend getting at least 1TB of extra space... they're not so expensive now (around P3k) : especially if you're willing to get the non portable ones. The newer, smaller ones are more expensive but they're a lot more portable.

Of course, there's always cloud storage for those willing to pay a lot more, but I don't think its a very popular option in the Phil ($20/month for 1TB on iCloud)... though it does have the benefit of being super accessible (just don't keep nothing really sensitive inside) given a good net connection.

So there, I lost some of my stuff: which is why posting will probably be delayed :( But, silver lining: I learned a very valuable lesson that will stick with me forever.

On Miss America

A few days ago, I heard about the extremely negative reaction of some people regarding the coronation of Miss America.

All I can do is give a giant facepalm.

It is not just that these people have accused a person based on her name and skin tone as a terrorist. It's also the fact that they never bothered to learn that there are many different "races" which are non-caucasian in color and name.

Also, the fact that they have posted their misplaced ire over the internet when a quick search would have easily given them the truth.

I do not watch beauty pageants, but the furor over this event has shown me that people place a lot of importance on these, and that some are more ignorant than I thought possible.

Skin does not equal race - get a tan if you don't believe me.



A name is not a person. A person is not a group.

It's 2013. How long will it take us to learn this?

LRT adventures + Starbucks Musings

I am reborn! I am a phoenix! I am Jean Grey!

I'm just a redhead as a treat to myself for the school year. Here's to maintenance - I'm sure it'll be a b*tch.

Also, I'm poor now. I had it done at a reputable-(ish?) salon.

Anyway.

I was commuting yesterday and I could kick myself because I had forgotten:

1. Not to wear slippers on the train - your feet will be bruised and smushed by the stampeding feet.

2. Discipline means delay - the horde of people who don't know what a line is will force you out of your place as they cannot wait for passengers to disembark before surging forward as a mob. Although on the bright side, the EDSA line had crowd control - passengers couldn't enter the waiting area unless the place isn't that crowded. A bit annoying, the waiting, but better than being suffocated by a mob.

3. That I had a stored value card - and bought another one. T_T

It was a trying couple of hours. I even went on a jeep which thought they could fit 8 butts in a 7 person bench. They succeeded by having 6 + .5 +.5 butts on it. I was one of the lucky 6.

At the end of the day, I ended up in a Starbucks. Their Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappucino is really good! I noticed two people, separate parties, who entered Starbucks and never ordered. The first one, a male, stayed for a good 30 mins, charging his phone. The second one was an elderly female. She stayed for over 2 hours, charging her phone and occasionally napping. She even asked me to watch it as she went to the bathroom. Afterwards, she asked for a glass of water.

Now while I do know that in emergency situations, it could be excused for someone to charge a phone or use a bathroom or ask water. However, two hours by a lady who obviously had the means (she spent a lot of time on the phone talking business and was wearing jewellery  to "pay for her use of the space" is not really excusable in my book.

There may be people who do that, and are proud to do so, but I think it's very rude, and unfair to the cafe. If all people acted like this, then Starbucks would close down because everyone would use electricity and water with no income to offset it. But the thing is, if you see something like this happening, should you tolerate it?

It seemed easier to hold my peace - and I excused it saying that maybe, she would order in a few more minutes (as if waiting for another party member). But am I part of the problem?

Beauty Secrets at the Spa

Due to time constraints, my parents gave me a voucher to use to Beauty Secrets at the Spa in Grand Emerald Tower. Though I decided, thanks to my latest facial experience, that I disliked facials that did not come from my derma, I couldn't turn it down since no one else would use it.

Here's how it went: I set an appointment and showed up exactly on time. I was asked if I was in a hurry, and I said that I wasn't. Listened to Lady A talk to a client about diet and going organic. 30 minutes later, I asked them when they would be able to accomodate me. I was given a reply: 15 minutes longer. I berated them for it, and though they apologized, I was already very annoyed: why bother setting an appointment if they would give others without them precedence? The service was supposed to take 45 minutes, and I should have been done with it by that time. Punctual? No.

I went inside a cubicle, finally, so Lady A (a doctor, I think) could examine my skin. I won't reiterate my conversation with her, but there were some not so subtle cues to buy products or add on to the service. The receptionist already tried when I first came in. I rebuffed all of them, already in a bad mood. It got even worse when I was told to use ice everyday to shrink my pores.

The doctor left and another woman, Lady B, came in (don't know if it was a doctor or not, by this point, I really didn't care). She cleaned my face with Neutrogena, I think, and aqua sponges. She also used a layer of 35% glycolic acid before steaming. After which, the usual extraction and cauterization before the diamond peel. She had a light hand and the process was bearable.

I left around 45 minutes later.

Though I liked the way Lady B treated my skin, I will NOT return. I cannot trust a doctor who tells me that ice tightens pores. Pores can be "shrunk" by lasers and drugs, but the idea that ice could work when it's used everyday...

I did spot a CO2 laser machine, and the service was good, so this place may be for those who want such services (price unknown)- but a basic facial + diamond peel at the full price (P1445 - according to the voucher) is definitely out of my price range when I can get more back out of my buck with my derma. More importantly, the product pushing and misinformation, even unknowingly, is a big turn off for me.

Next day: New zits. I guess I can't really blame them since you aren't supposed to DP when you have zits. Since the zits did have a specific pattern... Lesson learned: acne really sucks.  Peeling present, but I'm not sure if it's because of the DP or the glycolic. My nose was defintely clear of blackheads though.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend this place. But if you have the budget, you might want to try them yourself.

Thoughts: Taxation of Association Dues (ToADs)

A Taxing Society

It’s not exactly a recent event, but for those who don’t know – the BIR has decided on taxation of association dues – we’ll call it ToADs for short. Now, I don’t know if this is a response to the weakening dollar, but this income generating project (for the government) seems ridiculous at best and terrifying at worst.

In case you’ve never lived in a condominium: association dues are a pooled fund used for the maintenance of the building, including the salaries of the staff. The amount given is based on a value set by the homeowners’ association multiplied by how much space you have. In short, it’s the combined resources of several families for upkeep of their homes.

Now, I’m no lawyer but I can see how unreasonable that is because if you think about it: Homeowners earn money via salaries which are taxed (income); this money is used to pay off utilities (which will now also taxed via e-vat) and personnel, who will also be taxed (income). The BIR will acquire a slice from all ends. So why is it that the government has decided on ToADs? There is nothing earned in the collection process (no work was done), it is simply a way to handle the expenses of a large amount of people at one time. As such, this tax seems to be an expression of greed - as a child eyes another’s dinner, knowing that he has his own. I don’t know if ToADs is legal, but I know that it’s not right. A government that allows – even encourages – such a thing is reprehensible because it both discourages its people’s comfort and disparages group organization.

There are two things in this world that are constant: the first occurs only once in one’s lifetime, while the other permeates nearly all aspects of today’s existence. Is it no wonder that I find the former less disturbing than the latter?

-SS

Student

Oversharing About Underarms Part I

Ever since I've reached puberty, I've had 3 problems with my underarms.

1. Hair
2. Skin darkening
3. BO

There are many ways to get rid of the first problem and they all come with pro's and cons. Also note that they also all have risks of ingrowns, etc.

1. shaving
+quick
+painless
+can be done continuously (you can always look "hairless")
+cheap on the short term
-expensive in the long term (considering how many blades you'll need over your lifetime along with shaving cream)
-hair grows quickly after one day
-possibility of nicking skin
-may cause skin darkening

I avoid shaving unless I'm in need of a quick fix. I think it's a good idea to have a razor stocked at home in case of emergencies.

2. plucking
+slow return of hair
+may be done at any time (you can always be "hairless")
+cheap (all you need are tweezers)
-time consuming
-painful
-may cause skin darkening

This is only to get rid of any stray hairs: I don't use it as my primary hair removal method.

3. epilating
+slow return of hair
+quick
+cheap in the long term
-painful
-expensive in the short term
-hair has to be a certain length

I like using this, except it doesn't get all the hair sometimes (hair grows in different directions) so you have to change angles.

4. depilating
+hair grows back quickly compared to 3 and 5 (not as quick as shaving)
+painless
-expensive
-possibility of chemical injury
-slow

Not something I'd recommend for underarms (sensitive as they are).

5. waxing
+can be cheap (DIY)
+slow return of hair
-hair has to be a certain length
-painful
-can be expensive (done in a salon)

When using hot wax, i tend to burn myself (darkening my skin in the process), and I can' get the hang of using sugaring or cold wax. I prefer having it done professionally, and be hairless for a around 10 days, but it does get expensive.