Game Addiction

I think I finally gave up my addiction to this online game from MSN game section - Bejeweled2!! Unfortunately what steered me away from this game was another one. I installed motocross on my PC last night and stayed playing it until 3am. My computer is now having problems starting up, I think it's because of the game. I haven't played it again, I think I'll un install it. I'm glad I haven't bought playstation 2 or an X-box. I know for certain that I would be addicted to the games on those consoles as well.

McDonald's to consider more humane method to slaughter chickens

Yowsers, I never thought of the killing process. I wonder what do they do to get the burgers? I'm feeling guilty for being a carnivore now...

The fast-food giant says it's studying the possibility of what's called "controlled atmosphere killing."

That process puts chickens to sleep with a gas. It would replace a slaughtering process in which chickens are hung by their legs on a moving conveyor line and their throats cut. | source: ABC7Chicago.com

Why Are We So Lucky?

Sometimes I really wonder why the U.S. is so lucky - Especially with the devastation occurring in the east. We have had our share of natural disasters but none compared to the likes of the Tsunamis that destroyed the coastal regions of Southern Asia. I had to turn the TV off, the news has too sad to bare.
View animation of the tsunami's path

Joke of the Day

Still within the holiday spirit, I'd like to spread good cheer.

Christmas 2004

Almost every guest showed up at the house. There was sooo much food, we gave some of our guest doggie bags filled with food to take with. There is a few casseroles left, good thing it's the dishes we prefer :) Julian as I predicted was showered with gifts, all very nice ones too. I received better than I expected. A few more than I wanted, because I now I feel guilty for not giving as big a gift as I received.

Oh well the holiday lights will come down soon, my sister already brought down her Christmas tree. I'm keeping mine up for at least two more weeks. I don't want to holiday to be over. This is how our house looks from outside.

Merry Christmas

Did I force my dog to pose with a silly Christmas hat this year? What do you think? Of course not, Charlie is always happy and willing to pose on his own. Wearing the silly hats... Well he can only commit for a few minutes. Merry Christmas Everyone!

Truths

From E-mail Forward:
GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:
1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap.

GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:
1) Raising teenagers is like nailing Jell-O to a tree.
2) Wrinkles don't hurt.
3) Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.
5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD
1) Growing up is mandatory; growing old is optional.
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.
6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician.
7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:
1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus.
4) You look like Santa Claus. > > > >

SUCCESS:
At age 4 success is . . . not peeing in your pants.
At age 12 success is . . . having friends.
At age 16 success is . . . having a drivers license.
At age 35 success is . . . having money.
At age 50 success is . . . having money.
At age 70 success is . . . having a drivers license.
At age 75 success is . . . having friends.
At age 80 success is . . . not peeing in your pants.

Google: We've fixed desktop search tool flaw

Google says it has fixed a flaw that could have allowed hackers to search the contents of PCs running the company's desktop search tool. | Source: CNET News.com

SEE!! This is what scares me. Every single file is scanned and location is stored in these desktop search systems. Google has fixed a known flaw. The question still remains are there others? A hacker will sure try to uncover more possible doorways into our personal files.

Holiday shoppers brawl over parking spot

"The dispute Sunday led to the arrests and court appearances for two women and a teenager for breach of peace.
Police said the confrontation developed just after 3:30 p.m. in the crowded lot of the Corbins Corner Shopping Center, home to Best Buy, Toys 'R' Us and other retailers.
When a parking space opened up, two cars turned up to fill it.
A woman riding in one of the cars tossed an orange peel at the other vehicle. Angry words erupted and three people jumped out of the cars and, within moments, Officer Kevin McCarthy said, 'all three went to the ground.'" | source:
The Modesto Bee

Yep, that's the holiday spirit folks! I've seen this upclose, when I use to work in retail. The patience tolerance of humans decreases to an all time low that cause tempers flare at all time highs. It's a few extra steps people, it will do you good to burn off those Christmas cookies you've been eating at the office. Damn it I have to go shopping today!!

Take This Survey: Are you a mall parking lot stalker?
Results yield that 87% of people claim to have a 'See it and take it' parking lot personality. Are they telling the truth?

Holiday Blues

I remember not so long ago - 2 years I think it was. The office was dead during Christmas week. Everyone was off on vacation, there was no work that needed to be completed. THAT IS NO LONGER THE CASE!!! This year and last year December has been one of the busiest months. At least time passes by quickly, however so much work is giving me the blues :(

Search Engine Strategies 2004 - Chicago

The conference ended today. After four days of what after the end of each day seemed to be information overload, I take a moment to reflect. Representatives from the major search engines were helpful, but I liked the forum from the New York conference better. I'm not sure if it was because I was so new to SEO that I was able to pick up A LOT more information. This time I picked up few nuggets here and there and got some good ideas. For the most part it served as a validation on the efforts made on my company's site and assured me that we are on track. I will have to make some modifications though.

There also seemed to be less exhibitors than the NY conference. I remember talking to many more vendors there. This year I enjoyed talking with MSN more. I like their new Desktop Search program, but I must admit I'm still scared of it. Even though the rep assured me that they were very diligent and thorough over security issues, having that program scan and reference all my PC files, contacts, apps is very scary. I might try it at my office PC :) I don't store much personal info there, so I can test it out with more assurance. It really is a powerful search tool and it's worth giving it a try.

Orland Square Mall

This week has been sooooooo busy. I haven't had time to check in. For the most part I've spent most of the week at a conference downtown. Strangely enough the various sessions are draining. By the end of the day I am physically exhausted! Tuesday and Wednesday, the days I've spent all day at the conference, When I arrived home within minutes I knocked out for a few hours. I then had to wake up to buy my groceries and take my mom Christmas shopping. I am finally done with my gifts but have tagged along with my sister and mom on their hectic gift buys.

This weekend I went to Orland Square mall. I prefer that mall over closer ones I have by my house. I didn't feel like walking through narrow passageways and crazed shoppers, luckily Orland is big enough and Christmas was still a full week away that it went fine. They did a nice job decorating the place for the Christmas season.

I was disappointed though to find out that they don't have a Santa in the store to take pictures with. My sister and I had primarily made the trip so my nephew could take his annual sit on Santa's lap picture.

Flash Movie - Give Bush a Brain

This one is funny. Beatgreets collected some George W. Bush poor grammar comments and tied it to a game. The name of this new game: Give Bush A Brain

Shopping mood

I'm glad tomorrow is Friday, this week has been a long, tough and emotional week. The plan for this weekend is to finish my Christmas shopping - YEAH!! We are having more guest coming for Christmas, that means more gifts I have to buy. Strangely even though my budget is tight, I don't' mind it. I'm looking forward to spending Christmas with my family and friends. It's always exciting to see the kids open up their gifts with such anticipation and excitement. My nephew will be showered with gifts of course. My little cousins will also be coming. I think I will get them a little something extra, so they won't feel so bad seeing my nephew with all his gifts, from our side of the family and my sis' in-laws.

We have already gift wrapped many of our gifts and I also have some hidden from my snooping mom and sister. OOOh, I have to get a little something for Charlie, cool another excuse to go to another store. Yeah-yeah, those of you who call me know that either I'm in a store, on my way to the store, or just coming from the store.

That's the reason why! I find excuses to go shopping.

How was my Thanksgiving?

It was nice, I know this is a late post but I still get that question. I noticed I didn't post anything as to what I did. Well aside from the normal dinner with the family here goes...

It was Thanksgiving day and Charlie wanted to do something different. Instead of going to the park he wanted to take a walk by the lake. I normally take him by the lake in the summer, I guessed he missed it, so he dragged me out to the cold. We geared up in our winter attire and took a drive by the Shedd Aquarium. After seeing this picture I realized Charlie needed a trim, and have cut his long beard and the fur around his eyes, since. He looks years younger now :) You wouldn't know from this picture but he is only three years old (21 in dog years) but by no means not as old as he looks here.
© 2004 Araceli Arroyo photograph

Flash Movie - Coffee?

May I offer you a coffee?
I am not that familiar with my Italian yet, but it's funny anyway. SEE BELOW FOR INSTRUCTIONS...
Coffee Vending Machine

1. CLICK ON THE LINK Above
2. PUT THE COIN IN THE VENDING MACHINE
3. CHOOSE YOUR DRINK
4. CLICK ON THE CUP WHEN IT IS READY
5. CLICK ON "APRI"
* ENJOY! Don't forget to click on < APRI > at the end

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