Girl bonding at Chocolat

Me and my girl pals went to SM Mall of Asia before unpacking our stuff and arranging the tables in our new office at PICC. While looking around, we spotted Chocolat and decided to eat dessert there after a light lunch at Max's. We ordered for three (3) cakes: Deep Dark Chocolate, Bailey's and Kalhua.

Kalhua cake

Deep Dark Chocolate cake

Bailey's cake

The cakes had similar taste and appearance. Plus they were not too sweet. Based from their names (Bailey's and Kalhua), we thought that we will be able to taste the strong flavor of the liquor while eating the cakes, but we didn't. The restaurant has a good ambiance. If you look from the outside, their cakes are presented infront to attract people's eyes. And it worked... for us! We were quite satisfied and plan to go back again to try other cakes.

Visit their multiply site, http://www.chocolatcakes.multiply.com/ for more information.

Self-evident Computing

Jason Hiner's article , Self-evident computing: What does it mean in the future, has a good point.

I think that IT workers should create products that are user friendly. Yung hindi kumain ng tanga! Many IT users are teenagers and professionals who use these technologies in their everyday lives. I use MS Word and MS Excel everyday in preparing reports and memorandas in the office. I can't live without them! On the other hand, people who are in their late 50s, are not so interested in technology because of their age and simple lifestyle.

One of my immediate supervisors, who is in her late 50s, has a computer but she doesn't use it because she always tell me the same old excuse... Matanda na ako para matuto niyan at mahihirapan akong gamitin yan. I find her reason so lame! The office bought the computer for her to make work easier but she refuses to use it or even learn how to use it. Sayang ang computer. The computer became an opportunity cost for the office.

According to this survey conducted by the British Telecom Home IT Support, 71% of Britons has up to 10 gadgets lying around the home unused, as they find them too hard to use. Over half of Brits have abandoned gadgets because they don’t know how to use them properly. (http://www.uselog.com/2009/01/survey-consumers-abandon-complicated.html)

If IT companies will start producing easy-to-use products, I'm sure consumers will buy them most especially the old ones. I think that tech companies should also include them in their list of target markets to further increase their market shares and sales. For example, Nokia can create a cellular phone that is so simple to use but chic. The company may hire Christian Siriano (Project Runway winner) to design a phone for them. EASY but FIERCE!

The First Internet Browser Wars

I'm glad that the "The True Story of the Internet Browser Wars" was available in Youtube. The video was cut down into 5 because it was quite long. The documentary is about the first Internet browser war, Microsoft's Internet Explorer versus Netscape's Navigator.

Reminiscing... When I was still studying high school in OB Montessori Center in Greenhills, me and my classmates used to hang-out in Virra Mall. After class we went straight there to kill time while waiting for our sundo or school bus. The mall was a haven for kids because there were plenty of computer game shops and internet cafes. I always used Netscape Navigator whenever I searched the web because it was the only browser available in the PCs at that time. Though I am a user of Internet Explorer, I don't have negative comment against the Navigator.

Going back, the competition was similar to David versus Goliath, but with a different ending. Netscape, a small corporation, had a good start when they introduced the Navigator in the market. Success came when there usage share increased, but that success threatened Bill Gates' Microsoft. It was a pitty moment for Andreessen, Clark and their engineers because Microsoft introduced their Internet Explorer, bundled it with its Windows OS, and successfully knocked them down. Obviously there wasn't a healthy competition during those times because any company who may want to compete against the monopoly giant will really go down.

Bill Gates succeeded, but there were more problems ahead of them. The US Department of Justice filed an anti-trust lawsuit against them for monopolization. Microsoft lost this round. It's karma for them. For me, this lawsuit didn't have any negative effect to Microsoft because until now a lot of commercial businesses and individuals use their Internet Explorer. Plus... Bill Gates is still one or the richest man in the world!

Another pitty moment for Netscape when it was bought by America Online (AOL). I think that AOL tried its best to revive it but to no avail. Early 2008, AOL announced it will no longer give support to the brand, hence, brought Netscape to its death. RIP....

The anti-trust lawsuit benefited others because new browsers entered the market like Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Google Chrome, etc. And this opened the way for the second browser wars.

For me, all browsers are just same regardless of their features. As long as it helps me explore the World Wide Web, its OK.

I also don't find Rain SEXY at all!

PopSeoul is a blogsite that I always visited... I think almost everyday?... because it updates me with the latest Korean entertainment news. I learned this site from my mom who is also a Korean fanatic. I just read this news about G.Na, a rising Korean pop-star and she was quoted saying...

"Personally, I don’t find Rain sexy at all. He is tall, good-looking and very charismatic but he feels more like a family friend to me. I find Korean-American model-actors Daniel Henney and Dennis O’Neil very cute and adorable. The two of them have very chiseled features and good bodies.” (http://popseoul.com/2010/10/01/g-na-exclaims-i-don%e2%80%99t-find-rain-sexy-at-all/#more-85082)

Rain

And I totally agree with this...

I always see Rain as a talented singer, dancer and actor. Obviously he has the complete package which made him one of the most popular Asian artists in the world (though all his international films were flop in the market). I heard that he underwent a very strict diet and exercise program to lose more weight, in preparation for his films, but he is still ain't sexy for me.

I think that G.Na and I have the same taste. Daniel Henney and Dennis O'Neil are really sexy! When I watched their TV dramas, My Name is Kim Sam Soon and Sweet Spy, I started to like them. I had observed that Dennis looks like Superman's Brandon Routh.

Dennis Oh

Daniel and Rain are currently working in a TV drama "The Fugitive". They went in the Philippines few weeks ago to shoot some scenes in Boracay and promote the TV drama as well. Ruffa Gutierrez is so lucky cuz she got the chance to interview Daniel for her Paparazzi show.

Daniel Henney

My mom is a big fan of Rain and I'm sure she will not agree with me! :D:D:D

THE PINOY IT MANAGER

The Pinoy IT Manager is a case study about Mr. Emerson Siscar, an IT Manager who works for a prominent educational institution. His responsibility is to ensure that all IT services work efficiently. Further, he needs to provide enterprise systems aside from computer units to various offices. However he is facing a big dilemma: the IT staff is starting to quit their low paying jobs. Mr. Siscar consulted the HR Director, but it provided more challenge because HR cannot increase the salaries.

This kind of situation is very common in the IT industry. Since IT is highly in demand plus the economic instability around the world, IT professionals, especially the ones who are highly experienced, tend to leave their companies and seek more satisfying jobs locally or abroad.

So...

How can the Pinoy IT Manager prevent his staff from leaving their jobs despite work demands and low pay?

Mr. Siscar can apply ANY or COMBINATION of the following alternatives:

1. He may allow his staff to do or accept IT job from small or medium businesses that are also in need of IT services during the weekends to increase their income;

2. If the school is in need of IT professors, he may allow his staff to apply and teach students. Through this, the staff can increase their income and also feel satisfied because they are able to share their knowledge/skills to others; and

3. He can recommend his staff to participate in international or local IT training/seminar if HR permits so he can help in their career development.

A Banapple Moment

I invited my officemate to eat in Banapple and I am glad she accepted it. I knew she hasn't tried eating in Banapple so I was confident that she will not reject me. We left the office early because it is always full with customers who work around the area.

Banapple is a local restaurant located in Il Terrazo, Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City. It is one of my favorite eating place within that area aside from Burgoo and Amici.

As we arrived, the restaurant was full and lucky enough that there was a single empty table outside for us to dine. We ordered a slice of Banoffee Pie (P85), a slice of Strawberry Crunch Cheesecake (P90), one Lasagna Roll-ups (P170), Baked Creamy Cheesy Penne (P175) and 2 Ice Teas.

The cakes and ice teas were served first. The Banoffee Pie was great! My officemate loved the combination of the bananas and chocolate.

Then came our pasta orders. The serving was big so we decided to share. They were tasty and delicious. My officemate said that she found the penne dish a little spicy, however, it wasn't even spicy at all for me.

Soon our tummy was starting to feel full so we paused for a minute. Afterwards we decided to take out all the leftover cakes and pasta. Sayang naman kasi.

We returned to the office in time. I was so sleepy while we were on our way back.

I will truly miss Banapple and hope that it will not be the last time I will set foot in their restaurant. :)

x

Ya Kun Kaya Toast

After buying some fruits in the supermarket at Robinsons Place-Manila, I stopped by Ya Kun Kaya Toast to have a snack. Ya Kun Kaya Toast is a kopitiam that originated in Singapore and it sells kaya toast, coffee and bottled kaya. My brother introduced me to this kopitiam few months ago and since then I keep coming back. I love their kaya toast especially their coffee because its creamier. Singaporeans use condensed milk for their coffee instead of powdered creamer or sugar (because it is expensive there). I lived in Singapore for 3 months and I used to eat snacks in Kopiroti at Sun Plaza in Sembawang. There is also Kopiroti outside Robinsons Place-Manila but Ya Kun Kaya Toast is way better. I also like their staff because they are very friendly just like me! hehehe... I always order their Kaya Toast Set, but this time I ordered for the Butter Sugar Toast Set - Butter Sugar Toast+Soft Boiled Egg+Coffee (P115.00) for a change. After eating, I think that I like the Butter Sugar Toast more than Kaya Toast. I also think that Ya Kun Kaya Toast is also a good alternative for Starbucks, Coffee Bean, etc... if you're out of budget.