Most of the mailing list programs only allow importing of email addresses in certain formats, e.g. plain text or Excel csv, the one I am using - PHPList - is no exception. Unfortunately, Apple’s OS X Address Book doesn’t come with any feature like that. The only format it can export data to is vCard.

Thanks to Address Book Exporter, a free and super user-friendly utility created by David Martin at Gwenhiver.net, I am able to export my address book data to a tab-delimited plain text file that can be imported to PHPList painlessly. I can choose which field(s) I want and it works with Chinese too.

Combine the Edit template feature in OS X Address Book (shown in left) with the User Attributes feature in PHPList, then you get a powerful mailing list database tool!

After my birthday party earlier this month, I feel I have had enough partying and have decided to stay home in the coming holidays. The only thing that could drag me away from computer screen is tennis. Tennis games have been arranged for Dec 23, 25 and 26. David helped me put together this nice greeting card, and I sent it to all my clients and friends using the ever-reliable PHPList. Hopefully you won’t lose it in your junk folder.

It’s a very busy month at work and the long holiday is a great chance for me to catch up, I swear that I must clean up the mess on my desk … right after the break there will be an Annual Dinner (great buffet at Mr. Steak), I really doubt how I could lose all these calories.

Goose liver (foie gras) is one of the most evil food on earth, but it tastes really, really unbelievable (if you’re eating the good ones):

Expect to find me drooling in front of the shop window of Le Monde d’ Ulysse (see foodeasy.com / openrice.com) from time to time.

Can’t believe how fast year 2006 has passed and I finally reached my last 20th birthday today. Over the weekend I was blessed to be with my family, friends and colleagues celebrating. Check out the photos at my party last Saturday, thank you all for coming (as well as those who couldn’t make it) and made such a special day, I love you all!

How am I doing lately? Well, imagine how it is like to work from 8 am to 4 am every day including weekends. Is that crazy? Of course it is, but I don’t really hate it. I get enormous satisfaction from my work, seriously, and I know this is just temporary. I feel like I’m now going through an essential transitional period that would bring about a new, bright chapter for my career.

So, excuse me for the lack of blog updates and responses on MSN/ICQ/iChat lately. Nonetheless, I would always make myself available for your birthday treat anytime!