My apartment looks really messy right now because I sprinkled baking soda all over the carpet. Apparently baking soda gets rid of carpet odors. I read in this article that baking soda absorbs and neutralizes odors and that it's best to leave baking soda on the carpet overnight before vacuuming it all away. How fascinating. I'm not too sure if it'll really work because my apartment doesn't exactly reek of stinky odors, but hey, nothing to lose from trying this out! Maybe I should put some baking soda in the sneakers too, hrms.

Cool poster hey? Too bad our once-off event Chill Sessions @ Alumbra wasn't the big hit it should and could have been. Such atrocious weather! The skies were grey and gloomy the whole day of Saturday and the rain started pouring like mad at 6pm onwards all through to 11am Sunday morning! So much for dancing in the sun in our uber-cool aviators and having sun-kissed skin after. Can't complain much about my personal inconvenience because Victoria is suffering a serious water shortage problem so really the rain was a good thing. Definitely much needed here, and God-sent! However, it did kind of suck to be me because I had work all weekend and got caught in the rain more than a couple of times. I was in the worst of moods on Sunday morning because I was sleep-deprived and tired from the day and week before. It was indeed a rather full on week of work last week. I felt so bad because I couldn't stop yawning at work on Sunday at the Langham Hotel! With every rain drop, I could feel the sandman pouring sand into my eyes. *Grumble grumble* Wish I'm at home sleeping. Lucky Kelvin is surely asleep like a dead log. I miss my bed. were thoughts that kept repeating in my head pre-breakfast and coffee. On a positive note, 30 hours of work last weekend means lotsa money. *hurray*

Some photos from Alumbra...



YUMMY GOURMET BBQ for $15 per plate. Very worth it and filling.



With Rachel and Sarah at Alumbra. Poor girls were drenched on Saturday night because they had to work in the rain doing door.



Kelvin and I. The closest colored shirt he has that matches orange is red ;)



This was supposed to be a couples photo but Charm wanted in. She loves taking photos oh-so-very much! Here she is hugging her imaginary other.



Last round of wet p*ssies before heading off to Lavish. I got a $100 drink card at 9pm right before I had to leave. Dong dong organizer, you should have given it to me earlier!

We all had fun but it would have been ten times more if the sun was out!

***

Did a spot of shopping at my favorite shop Seduce just now in Melbourne Central and am happy with my two new (full priced) dresses, however, I really wish I checked my hotmail inbox when I woke up this morning. The email from Seduce read Seduce Chadstone VIP Night. 30% off all full price merchandise. Bullocks.

Anyway, I am excitedly anticipating the runway show of Chanel's Cruise 2009/10 Collection this Thursday. Just two sleeps away. *jumps in the air*

Toodles!

A humble act of respect, or a sign of the West losing their title as the Occident?

Many have criticized Obama for bowing to Japan's emperor. Critics say that Obama has shamed his country by bowing to another world leader. On one hand, I believe that Obama rightfully adopted Japanese values and in doing so, he has humbled himself (and America) and this is a sign of great respect and thoughtfulness. On the other hand, I understand why critics are so concerned. America is (and has been) going through tough times. By breaking history and bowing to another world leader sort of further enhances America's current weak condition.

America may be a world superpower and the West may be seen as the superior Occident, but the East Others such as Japan, China and India are not at all far behind. Western critics should stop orientalising the East as the weaker destined Other. Learn to be more courteous instead of being so jiao au (arrogant) and stop trying to enforce your superiority unto others every chance you get. Remember, China and India alone makes up 1/3 of the world population. Pretty soon, they will be the leading superpowers of the world (if they aren't already).

Click on this article titled Outrage in Washington over Obama's Japan Bow for more information.