Earthequake this evening, 8.2 R scale

That is, per US Geological Services. Indonesian metereological service (BMG) still put it at 7.9 on the Richter scale. Indian Ocean tsunami warning in place. The USGS has a real nice wave travel time model here.

But I notice that there's been a heck of a lot of quakes these last few days. Four today alone, and the day's not over yet. Three of them in Eastern Indonesia, albeit lower on the SR.

Sigh. What a day to start Ramadhan. Hope the tsunami never materializes.

RIP Anita Roddick

Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop cosmetics chain, died today after suffering brain haemorrhage.

My first Body Shop product was bought more than 15 years ago, during early years of college. It was a small bottle of perfumed oil. I don't remember now it's exact name, something-berry, but I do remember the rounded bottle with its purple label, the content of which I remember using sparingly. It brought me zest every time I used it, and were amongst the first real perfume in the collection of this fragrance lover.

The Body Shop also provided an early glimpse into environmental issues, of pollution, waste, recycling and reuse. With each purchase of a frivolous lipstick, at least a small thought about how it's made, where it's ending up after use, and where profits go fleet by and make me more conscious of what my purchase means in all its insignificance.

Looking now at all the options a girl has when choosing her lipstick, her scent, Anita was a pioneer. So thanks Mrs. Roddick, for making a difference, and for making a girl smells like a million bucks even though she hasn't seen a shower in a few!

Ode to joy

Ah, a Bach violin concerto featuring Isaac Stern--courtesy of Yahoo via freshly-installed unlimited internet broadband--on a nice Sunday morning, with home-made pineapple jam simmering on the stove and perfuming the fresh morning breeze, oh joy!! Maybe I'll finish that report today after all....

change is painful

bought new laptop since about a month ago and yesterday willed myself to transfer files etc. painful process. still not completely settled in terms of programs etc but have to start using it otherwise i'd just have more files to transfer.

the laptop is nice, and technically significantly more powerful than my old machine. but this wide screen thing will need adjusting to, i don't like it (esp since last temp machine i used have 15 inc screen. well. an option will be to keep using that machine at home and use this one for travel. wirelessly connecting the two is not a hassle. let's see lah.

and what's up w/ blogger in indonesian? preview = pratinjau? wtf?!