Some risks are not worth taking and that's precisely why we have to be very careful about our privacy and security online. Sometimes, what applies in real life needs to be applied in our virtual lives. The online world could be a lot more dangerous than the world itself. There are cyber-bullies, scammers, online thieves, spammers and hackers that could ruin our reputations, devastate our careers and businesses or worse, destroy our lives.

I've once been a victim of one of those online threats. In fact, even up to now that nightmare is still far from over just yet. That's why I'm eager to let others know about how they can be safe amidst all dangers that lurks in the dark corners of the internet.

So check out my 10 Internet Safety Tips!

1.) Never Share Your Personal Information - This is good rule of thumb in the times when old friends wants to reconnect with us, acquaintances who wants to get to know us more, relatives who just wants to maintain the same kind of relationship we have with them from reality to the online world and strangers who seems intrigued by our existence. The problem there is that these people may not be who we think they are. Your so acquaintances, relatives and friends may be posers who wanted to take advantage of you. That's why we have to be cautious and verify their identities as well, how much more with strangers who we barely know. I think it's a no-brainer not to share personal info such as your finances, address, contact number and above all personal conversations. This brings us to a solution in number 2.

2.) Don't Talk to Strangers - You can always verify if your relatives and friends are really the one's you're chatting to. You can call them or ask them directly if you see each other or even during chat I'm sure your instinct will know if it's really them or not. Chatting with strangers is another story though. When you were a child I'm sure your mom taught you not to talk to strangers. That's actually a good first line of defense but apparently it's not the only one. And that brings us to number 3. Again, don't talk to strangers - most especially if you really don't have a good reason to do so.

3.)  Set Up Your Privacy -  Setting you privacy will do so much in Social networks. You can filter to which set of people or specific people can you share your thoughts and activities online. This will make you feel safe from unwanted prying eyes. But not if you're in an internet shop which is the case of the next tip.

4.) Avoid Public Computers - Your computer broke down! Your life is a mess so you went to find life somewhere else. Then you're back online, but this time, in an internet shop and you're using an old public desktop computer with other people around. The dangers of using public computer does not only include the probability that people surrounding you may have bad intentions (to you) but the softwares installed on that computer may actually put your identity in danger. Public computers might be infected with spywares, malwares and even viruses that can track your activity and hack your password. This leads us to the 5th tip!

5.) Install Antivirus - You should check if an antivirus software installed on your computer is still working or if there's even one. You see, antivirus is a necessity for your online or basic computer needs. It stops viruses, spyware, and solves all the problems in the 4th tip. Well, it depends on what you mean by a 'broken down' computer and an Antivirus cannot move internet shop bystanders away from you. The next time you use a public computer always check if they have installed an antivirus.

6.) Cancel Auto-Downloads - I know most of you love torrenting movies and tv shows. But I hope you understand that when you download you have to consider that whatever it is you downloaded is a potential threat to the health of your computer. And that's gonna lead us back to number 4 and 5. There are websites though that you can trust when it comes to download but you must be aware that there are pages in the internet that automatically downloads stuff on your computer. In the event that you'll open one, your browser may prompt a dialog box about the download and be sure to cancel it.

7.) Copyright Do it Right! - This has nothing to do with the 5 previous tips but most people upload and share a lot of their original photos, thoughts in the internet and it is best to keep them within the bounds of the privacy users set. But if you post it somewhere, like a blog or your public facebook page, then you must take great caution as some people can just steal your ideas, photos and videos online. Always remember that the internet is one big public domain. And everything you have publicly posted online can be credited to search engines and stolen from you. There are some laws, however, that states we are protected by a certain copyright law which starts the moment our crafts has been created. But it's always safe that we take precautionary measures on this line by placing watermark on our photos and videos and a disclaimer about our ideas. Remember, getting Sotto-ed is a pain in the ass!

8.) SHAMELESS PLUG - This tip is as simple as reading my post about avoiding the 20 kinds of websites I hate! If you do you will not only be saved from online threats but from headaches as well.

9.) Avoid Joining Heated Public Online Debates -  This tip is actually for everyone. Behind every facebook page you like, behind every forums you join and public threads you comment on there are page administrators and moderators. These people most commonly referred to as 'admins' can be as ruthless as Hitler and when one side crosses the line harsh moves will take place and result to the other one being cyber-bullied. Exercise Freedom of Speech only when necessary!

10.) Strong Password and No Hints! - Just because you want your relationship to be strong - by showing trust - you're gonna give away the log-in details in all of your cyber accounts. That's the trend recently whenever you're in a relationship. Passwords, when discovered by others, may result for your virtual life being destroyed.

So that's it! If you don't really want something to go around the internet, don't post it! It's as simple as being responsible and I hope you are and will be after this blog post.

There's something about doughnuts that makes me nuts! I forgot why though. I was shaken in bed by a reminder with an alarm that today's the birthday of my doughnut-addict alter ego. And I was extremely happy because finally, I'll get to stuff a couple of donuts in my mouth after a week of craving for it or so. And here's the thing. They're not just donuts! They're Krispy Kreme donuts which brings my craving to an international level.They're world-famous right!?

My only problem is that I'm actually late for the event. So I called a friend who was there at the event if it's still okay to come over and she said that they're still having lunch. I quickly searched for my invitation card and found out that I actually have two. In case you wanted to know I got them from Abreeza Ayala Mall over a meet-and-greet dinner with the mall's new manager. So I immediately went downstairs to drag my cousin (Minorca) who was caught unprepared for the things in store for her, I mean, in store for us at Krispy Kreme. Luckily it would only take us 5 minutes to get to the venue. ^_^ So it was a GO!

I think I have to tell you that my cousin is not really a blogger. She's not even interested but I've been bugging her ever since about it. I know she's really got a big potential of being a fashion blogger. I just know it. She needs a little help in the writing part but I know she'll improve later on. So, I dragged her along and when we arrived - BOOM! My happy-o-meter rose up declaring it's indeed my donut-addict alter-ego's self-proclaimed birthday. Oh, I know that sounds so 'assuming' but it really made my day.


What made it even more special is that I got the chance to create my own donut! More appropriately customize one. It's so simple. You pick an original glazed donut, dip it on their chocolate swirling machine, dribble it for some time, shake it 20 times (Yes, every shake counts!), pick it up and sprinkle it with whatever topping you want. :-)

It sounds so simple but it was NOT!! At least for me. You see, I've got big hands and it was a little hard for me to hold the donut without deforming its base. So I need to loosen my grip a little which got me scared that the donut might fall on the chocolate swirling machine. Halfway through I got so nervous that I forgot to count during the shaking part. (O__O) Suddenly, I was the one shaking. I was actually surprised that I got to do it - finally! *sigh*




After that my cousin and I ordered snicker doughnuts and iced coffee to fill our hungry tummies. Yey!


It wasn't my first time to try any Krispy Kreme doughnut but I've got to say that they have the best tasting doughnuts which is perfect for the Davaoeno's taste buds. Now I remember why I get crazy over doughnuts! I'm a Davaoeno. As simple as that.

Whenever a Davaoeno comes home to Davao from abroad or even just in Manila they would always bring a box of doughnuts as "pasalubongs". Somehow, I could say it has become a tradition. A Davao thing that's been going on since God knows when and now that Krispy Kreme has finally landed the Royal City of the South. There's no more flying! Only more of Krispy Kreme's goodness nextdoor. :-)

Life is Here!

P.S.

Please also check my cousin's first post on her blog! New blog actually since we couldn't recover her tumblr account. :-)  Check it here: Welcome Krispy Kreme! Be nice.

I rarely eat breakfast these days and when I do it's either I'm forced to wake up early to travel, attend an event or I'm about to sleep. No school. I stopped. Don't ask! Good thing there's brunch. It's supposed to be my tummy's new best friend as of my current lifestyle. But here's the thing. I usually wake up at around 10 in the morning and I'm left with a cold pandesal and some egg dish in the kitchen every fucking day. In fact, today I woke up with a cold pandesal and scrambled eggs for brunch. Tomorrow I'll probably wake up with another cold pandesal but with a sunny side up. The following day, I expect to have a cold pandesal and a scrambled egg with hotdog chunks. Then the day after that I think I'll wake up with another plate of a cold pandesal and a weird tasting tomato omelet. I know I should be thankful because I still got something to eat (even if it's always egg and pandesal) and most of all because I still get to wake up. Thank God! But I just can't imagine five more days, five more years, five more lifetimes eating egg and pandesal for brunch. If that ever happens - knocks on wood - I'll probably be able to lay eggs.



And in case there's a need for you to know, I don't usually eat rice during brunch or even breakfast. Not that I am on a diet or anything. I just don't feel like it. Char. I eat rice during those times only when I don't have a choice and my Mom's around to tease me about dieting. Which really ruins my day. Another thing, actually together with the egg and pandesal are either hotdogs, corned beef, preserved meat stuff and other canned goods cooked for breakfast. Unfortunately to me, these goods would always end up to the lunch boxes of my siblings who goes to school


Then one morning I was just staring at the cold pandesal and the hard-boiled egg on the table. And I swear I thought I was gonna die or something. Suddenly I heard a noise in the living room. I didn't budge because I still feel so fucked-up of waking up from my short sleep. When I turned back to the egg and the pandesal, the two looked back staring at me and I was like WTF! The hard-boiled egg quickly rolled itself down the table and the pandesal followed hopping like Jimminey Cricket. I immediately composed myself and tried to snapped out of what the hell was going on but I realized my brunch suddenly became interesting (At least, at last!). Choose the best answer in the parenthesis.

I went under the table to check but the two weren't there anymore. So I turned back and saw that the pandesal and the egg each developed some tiny arms and feet and that they're actually running towards the living room. I crawled going to their direction and noticed that they are headed to the wall clock that fell on the floor. As they neared the clock some beam of light came out of it and the egg and the pandesal leaped up to the light. They held each others hand while the song "Hawak Kamay" was playing on the background. I could also hear the ticking of the clock and suddenly everything was in slooooooowwww mooooottttioooooon. The two just floated on the light and got sucked inside the clock. I thought it was some kind of portal that leads to a world full of food. So with all my might and my craving for something else than pandesal and egg, I leaped towards the clock in slooowww motiiooon too. As soon as the light touched my skin I was vacuumed to reality, half-asleep and about to choose which meal set to pick.



There's a hand waving in my face and I heard someone saying "What do you want to eat?". I collected myself back and quickly chose the Roasted Chicken with Macaroni Salad on the table. Sooner reality on me and I realized "OMG! I'm at Cafe France" and I barely had any sleep. Stupid daydreams! It was around 11:00 o'clock already and my stomach started to grumble in hunger. So I immediately eat my food. The roasted chicken tasted nice by the way, but I thought if there's anything I need to try in Cafe France it had to be Cafe France's pastries. From the internet I've read about that Cafe France offers a wide array of yummy treats and their best sellers comes from the baked ones. And since it's their first branch in Davao, in fact, outside Luzon I was more than eager to try out nearly everything they could offer us during the Press Launch.



So I tried their Seafood Marinara, some California Chicken Clubhouse, salad and the croissant from the breakfast tray. And the winner for me was their croissant! In fact, I totally agree with what Jesse said about Cafe France's Croissants! "They are God's gift to human kind." And thank God my pandesal-and-egg infected floppy tongue is back to normal again.


Since then I've been going back to Cafe France just to order croissants! I've tried their Chocolate Croissant, Butter Croissant and Choco Almond Croissant and oh..they're perfect with a hot chocolate and sometimes even with the milktea I'd bring. Hehehe

Cafe France is more than your usual coffee shop. They offer a wide selection of great tasting pastries, stomach filling meals and a croissant that doesn't only satisfy one's tongue but snaps you out of your nightmarish egg and pandesal daydreams.

Credits:
Photos Courtesy of Chic Foodies! Thank you Algene. :-)

WARNING: This post can be utterly annoying because it's full of borrowed thoughts, grammatical errors, interrobangs, emoticons and bullshit that it poses risks of injury, potential global catastrophe – or worse, the end of mankind.