Sagging Pants: Fashion or an act of defiance?
He passed by in front of our house again and stood at the corner then lit a cigarette.
**There he goes again. He is my neighbor living in the next block.**
What about him? Why is he my subject for today’s post?
Well by merely looking at the title, I know for sure you already have a clue.
Previously, I have made a series of posts about technology so I guess I have to make a way to write about other things.
I was reading some of my email notifications from Quora and found it interesting to read about the question, *“What are some signs that someone is a keeper?”*
You know if you are new to writing and find it hard on what to write about, just think of a question and start from there.
In terms of questions, **Quora** is one of the best places to find interesting topics on the internet. https://www.quora.com
After I have read the answers to that question, I scroll down and this next question gives me an idea of what to write about for today.
**What disgust you?**
The question was posted by **Hannah Baty** and then followed by the answer*, “Men who intentionally wear their pants down to expose their backsides and underwear.”* Then photos of two guys with sagging pants were shown. https://www.quora.com/profile/Hannah-Baty-2
Going back to my neighbor who is in his mid-30s, who has lots of tattoos and is a member of a famous fraternity group, he used to go out with sagging pants. I have nothing against him, in fact we always have a conversation every time he catches me outside. He was an OFW too that is why we can relate things. It just disgusts me seeing him in sagging pants. What's worse is that he is used to going out for a smoke wearing only boxer shorts.
**How did sagging pants exist and where did they originate?**
For sure there are also youngsters in your place who used to imitate this type of “fashion” as they knew it, which looks like idiots walking around like having stains on their pants.
**Sagging Pants**
According to some facts, sagging pants originated in prison. It was said that if an inmate is lowering his pants showing his underwear, it is a signal that he is available for sex. They are ready for sexual relationship with whomever inside the prison. In short it is a signal for sexual availability.
However according to snopes.com who posted the origin of **sagging pants**, it really was originated in U.S. prison but with no sexual connotation. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/sagging-pants/
The screenshot above is quoted from the post. It appears that prisoners were given clothing that doesn’t fit them, mostly oversize and then the lack of belts. So, most inmates have their pants falling off their asses. Belt is no longer needed to avoid inmates from hanging themselves for a possible suicide.
*Later on the practice of sagging was adopted by rap artists like* ***Ice-T and Too Short*** *until it became a fashion trend.*
The US has great influence in PH and one particular trend is the wearing of clothes. So Filipinos would always want to imitate US celebrities and artists when they see them wear new trending clothing. No wonder that most people in PH would always want to wear T-shirts, jeans and sneakers.
No one would prohibit us from wearing what we want or imitate the new trends in fashion but make sure that it fits us.
Sagging pants were once famous fashion for men in the 90s and I am still seeing a few of them which includes my neighbor.
I mean there is nothing wrong with that. But did he know the story behind sagging pants?
The oversized clothing provided to the incarcerated ones makes sense. However knowing that most convicts are dangerous I tend to believe that there is sexual connotation with sagging pants.
If you are a female reading this do you think it is appropriate to look at you little brother or teenage neighbor walking around showing their asses on?
Anyway what can you say about this post? Do you still see males in your area walking by with sagging pants? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Resources:
**https://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/20/us/sagging-pants-era-over/index.html**
**https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/sagging-pants/**
https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/30/fashion/30baggy.html
Lead image source https://static01.nyt.com/images/2007/08/30/fashion/30baggy190.5.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale
Live Stream From The Moon
In my previous post I have talked about a Smartphone which is rumored to be made by Tesla Company.
**One main feature of such a phone is its ability to connect to the internet when used in outer space, even on Mars using a satellite internet connection.**
Funny may it seems but the truth is satellite internet has been used by space explorers in the early years.
Today’s post I will be talking about Satellite Internet. This might not interest some of you, particularly those who are not inclined to electronics and technology.
I know you are already content being consumer electronics and knowing how it’s made or what made it to function no longer bothers you.
But anyway since we are here to write and share anything with regards to community rules, I will be sharing with you more information about technology. You might notice that I am always posting about this topic. I have a lot of niche and technology is one of them since I have a lot of experience about this field, but not for complex stuff.
I wanted to talk about satellite internet because a few days ago I saw a YouTube video that baffled thousands of people on such a platform. It is one of YouTube’s unsolved mysteries. You know in the past couple of months I just found myself having more time watching videos about paranormal and unexplained things. I was kind of eager to watch them every night before I go to sleep until they are already appearing in my dreams (laughs).
So the video that I want to share with you is something like a person having an internet connection on the moon and then posting a live stream on YouTube. **Yes, a channel that was doing live streaming from the moon!**
The case was investigated by **TheTekkitRealm** YouTube channel. The live stream was posted by the YT channel named (Chinese character)langrenus2021-14. It appears that the live stream was kind of realistic that it broadcasted 24/7 in one week. What you will see in the videos were a landscape that appears to be on the moon. It was like someone or something was on the moon, set his camera up and started a live stream. **Click here for the video**. (For skeptics only) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHOgE8XeaCjlgvH0t01fVZg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFySsl55jaM&t=630s
While I was watching it, I first thought of **Starlink** as they provide satellite internet access. Then **SpaceX** with Ellon Musk as the person behind all those space exploration. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlink https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX
Could it be that Ellon has to do with this? What was their intention? If not, who did the live stream? Are there really extraterrestrials out there who would want to connect with us? Or is it just a hoax?
There are a lot of questions if you are with me on the same page.
After watching the video I think of the first moon mission back in 1969. Although there are people saying that moon landing never happened and footage on the moon that was shown to the public was just fabricated. But the fact the names have been recorded in history with regards to space exploration we have to believe that it was true.
Speaking of the moon missions, why man did not return to the moon since its last visit in 1972?
I checked Google for a possible answer to that question and I found a somewhat reasonable answer. It says that the reasons are budgetary and political hurdles, not technical challenges.
I think there is something more beyond those reasons. It’s been 50 years and today where technology is more advanced than in 1972. Why not go back?
Or maybe just maybe they have established a site there during their last visit and the live stream from the moon that just went viral was proof that humans are already staying on the moon for fifty years.
What do you think?
Lead image source credits to NASA https://unsplash.com/photos/jlV2k_Fx0fc https://unsplash.com/@nasa
Revolutionizing Communication - Tesla Pi
**Imagine owning a Smartphone without having an AC-DC charger, mind control capability, vehicle remote control, crypto mining and can still connect to the internet even on Mars.**
**Sometimes we want to upgrade or replace our Smartphone with better functionality. We even wanted to have a Smartphone with all the things we want, in other words an all-in-one phone.**
In my previous post I have talked about differences between a removable and non-removable battery for a Smartphone.
I would like to share information about smartphones again which is something you would want to have just in case it will be out in the market.
There have been a lot of rumors about this type of phone circulating on the internet and YouTube as well and its features are really futuristic.
**So here is the rumor**
Given the features in my introduction, the new Smartphone with such brilliant capability is **Tesla Pi.**
Perhaps the name **Elon Musk** is no longer new to you. He is a billionaire and chief executive of **Tesla**, a company that produces electric cars. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elon_Musk https://www.tesla.com/
According to some sources on the internet which includes YouTube, Elon is making his own brand of Smartphone which is the Tesla Model Pi. For the sake of your curiosity I will list down below the would-be features of the said Smartphone.
**Tesla Model Pi Phone Features**
**Satellite Internet Connection:** Have you heard about **satellite phones**? Satellite phones or satphone existed in the early 90s. They are commonly used by the military so that they can communicate whenever they are in remote areas with no cellular service. It means you can connect to the internet via satellite wherever part of the globe you are, even on Mars. That’s the power of the Tesla Pi. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_phone
**Solar Charging:** From the word itself, charging your phone under the heat of the sun. Tired of bringing heavy power banks, charger and cable? I guess you will get one of these phones when it is available in the market.
**Neuralink Support:** **Neuralink** is one of the companies that have been working on computer and brain interfaces. According to the company, they said that they will design the first neural implant that will let users control a computer or Smartphone anywhere they go just by thinking about it. So the first phone that is capable of such functionality would be the Tesla Pi. https://neuralink.com/
**Car Control:** Can you imagine your younger brother playing a remote control car? Yes, this Tesla phone has a vehicle control function. Although there is already a Tesla app that can do such basic functions like lock/unlock or summon your car, Tesla Pi would have a unique feature to integrate Tesla cars remotely.
**Mining Crypto:** Elon Musk was remarkable for tweeting about Bitcoin and he has been talking about cryptocurrencies in the early days, so it is likely that he would want to have such a feature in his phone. The rumor said that it would mine a new coin called MarsCoin in which he tweeted about. He would need to have serious hardware installed on this phone to work for crypto mining.
**Tesla Pi Basic Info**
The Tesla Pi has four cameras with 108 megapixel resolution with its main camera. It is powered by a snapdragon 898 SOT chip and has up to 2TB of storage. Battery capacity is 4700mAh and 16GB RAM.
For its physical appearance, please check the video **Tesla Model P** by **adrstudiodesign** in which all the rumors have begun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1H4JOsv-o0 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh2uM2X_ItSaMZF5CnfGFBw
The rumor said that Tesla Pi would be released by the end of the current year with a price ranging from $800 to $1200 US dollar.
What can you say about this Tesla Model Pi? Would you want to have one when it is available for consumers? As for me, I should say, I want that Tesla Model Pi!
**Resources:**
**Tesla Pi 2022 (5G): First Looks, Price, (April 2022) & Release Date** https://smart-phoneprice.com/new-tesla-phone-2022/
**Tesla model Pi 2022: phone price, release date and what we know so far** https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/technology/2022/03/17/what-we-know-so-far-about-teslas-rumoured-model-pi-smartphone/
**Tesla Phone: News, Price, Release Date, Specs, and Rumors** https://www.lifewire.com/tesla-phone-5212799
All photos are screen grab from the **video source** by **adrstudiodesign** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1H4JOsv-o0 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh2uM2X_ItSaMZF5CnfGFBw
Replaceable Vs. Non-replaceable Smartphone Battery: Which do you prefer?
What features of a Smartphone do you usually look for when planning to purchase a phone?
**I bet you would prefer to buy a phone with the coolest camera feature for posting in your social media accounts.**
These days people would want to purchase a phone with a good camera quality. They would want to be on the loop with the current trend. They don’t want to be left behind by their friend’s activities on their socials.
Today’s post, I will be sharing information about technology again. Smartphone features to be more specific. It’s been a while since my last post about a similar topic that I almost forgot to write about.
You know when you don’t have a specific niche in writing and choose general information you might neglect other topics that you already have in mind. But I don’t think I am having an issue with that.
Anyway, before I go any further let’s proceed to our topic for today which is about removable and non-removable batteries for smartphones.
I first held a 2G phone back in early 2000. Nokia was revolutionizing the cell phone back then. People are already satisfied with its features. Eventually the company always innovates their product. They keep on adding features like Bluetooth, colored screen, camera features and wireless application protocol (WAP).
When I held a Nokia 3G (Nokia N70), I was fascinated by its features. I can do a lot of things with that phone. It’s like I was having a personal digital assistant (PDA). I made a post about it nine months ago. You can check it **here**. The only problem I had with that phone was the battery. https://read.cash/@Bjorn/the-free-unlimited-browsing-technique-7f32d20c
Most cell phone brands back then had a removable battery feature. I don’t remember the times I replaced batteries with that phone. The reason was that it was mainly used for the internet via data connection. Yes you read it write. Nokia N70 doesn’t have a Wi-Fi feature but I was able to maximize its internet capability by means of free browsing technique (FBT).
When I held my first android phone, the battery was also my main problem. However it is not really a problem at all because of its replaceable battery feature. So, whenever I purchase a Smartphone I always check its battery specification.
However as cell phone manufacturers keep on producing new phones and adding new features, it appears that they prefer to produce non-removable battery phones.
At first I was doubtful when I purchased my Huawei phone because its battery is built-in. But at least I know the comparison between removable and non-removable battery phones.
Here is my own experience between the two.
Sometime ago, I accidentally soaked my Samsung in beer spilled over the table. So what I did was to remove the back cover and dismantle the battery as quickly as possible. Then let it dry for at least twelve hours. But since it was risky for my phone I opened it so it would dry up entirely.
That is a good thing about phones with removable batteries. You can easily prevent your phone from possible short circuits inside. Unlike with built-in batteries there is no way you can do that. But of course non-removable batteries can still be replaced. It is just that you need to be knowledgeable enough about electronics to do that.
**Please do not put it in a bag of rice as what you saw in videos circulating on social media and YouTube whenever your phone was totally soaked in liquid. It will not be fixed unless you have it checked by a real technician.**
For some reason there is also an advantage with phones that have built-in batteries. Aside from slim design, it helps a lot for easy tracking whenever a phone is stolen or lost. A replaceable battery can be easily removed if the phone falls into the wrong hands. Unlike with the battery untouched inside the phone, it is harder to remove the battery that disables the tracking features.
These are only few of the differences between the two. Whether you prefer to have a phone with a built-in battery or removable one, it is a matter of personal choice.
As for me it doesn’t matter if I use either of the two. You know phones these days don’t last for two or more years in our hands.
As you can see, phone companies are constantly innovating their products for consumer’s satisfaction.
We must understand that the main function of a cell phone is to communicate. Camera and other apps are only second to its main purpose.
How about you, which is best to use, a phone with a removable battery or a built-in one? Share your thoughts in the comment.
Lead image source credits to Jonas Leupe https://unsplash.com/photos/o0A5BpHxziU https://unsplash.com/@jonasleupe
The Planet With a Heart: Earth
Two months ago, I posted about Severino Reyes who was featured in Google Doodle to commemorate him as the “Father of Tagalog Plays”.
**I guess you already know about today’s Doodle.**
Today, 22nd of April 2022, is Earth Day just in case you are not aware and have not yet dared to click the images of earth showing in Google’s homepage.
I am not really an environmentalist person. In fact I am guilty of things I have done to harm the environment even if it is just a simple fart. That can be considered as air pollution. Imagine if all people on earth would fart simultaneously, it could result in a global suffocation.
Anyway before this post could start stinking let me drop it down and tackle things about our home planet.
You may raise your eyebrow and ask why should I care? You will think that large factories are contributing a lot in harming the earth so littering a piece of candy wrapper is nothing compared to dark smoke coming out from factories or hazardous chemicals dumping into rivers.
I don’t need to sound like I care a lot about our planet. As I have said a while ago I have done things in the past that add harm to the earth, cigarette smoking to be more specific.
If you click on today's Google Doodle, it will redirect you to a page of Google Earth Timelapse with the title Warming Planet. There you will see pictures of earth from 1984 up to present that shows different places where climate change has occurred. Events like melting ice, shrinking lakes, increasing wildfires, extreme weather and rising in temperature are the things that happened in the last three decades that are clearly visible as shown in the timelapse.
As I was watching the presentation and reading the brief description, I couldn’t imagine the devastation the climate change has brought to our planet.
I thought climate change was just a joke and that I needed proof to believe how it will affect humanity.
If you are a Filipino reading this perhaps you are aware of the typhoon Agaton (internationally known as Megi) that just passed the archipelago twelve days ago.
Did you ever wonder how on earth there would be a Tropical Storm (TS) in the middle of the summer? In my younger years I don’t recall typhoons occurring during summer. Maybe there was and I just haven’t done any research about it.
In the melting of ice in the Arctic, the warming of temperature is responsible for sea ice and Greenland’s ice sheets to melt. If this ice melting is consistent global sea level would rise. It can also contribute to expanding water sources. On the other hand there is also shrinking of lakes like that case in Lake Urmia in Iran. It is the second saltwater in the Middle East. However due to illegal activities like wells, dams and irrigation, the lake continues to shrink.
It is good to know that Google can give information like this across the planet.
We may have nothing to do about climate change but I think we can help save our planet by becoming responsible human beings.
Somehow Google has shown us how the global climate is changing. At least we are aware of what was going on with our home planet in the last three decades.
I hope in the future Google will show us images about revitalizing the earth. In the next thirty years maybe, I think there will be a development if people around the world will unite to fix mother earth.
Happy Earth Day Everyone!
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
Lead image source credits to Greg Rosenke https://unsplash.com/photos/1TjORT2dLOw https://unsplash.com/@greg_rosenke
What Happened on Monday?
The title sounds familiar, right?
No, this post is not a film review. Not the 2017 film “**What happened to Monday?**” https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/what_happened_to_monday
But if you haven’t heard of the film, you better watch it. It makes a lot of sense. I highly recommend it.
Today is supposed to be my rest-day but for some unexpected internet outage last Monday I changed my day off from Wednesday to Monday.
This is the privilege with my type of job because I can suddenly switch rests days or change schedules without affecting my duties and responsibilities. Unfortunately we don’t have control of electricity and internet connection so whenever unavoidable circumstances happen, our workflow will be affected.
Anyone here from PH that experienced fourteen hours of no internet connection last Monday (April 18, 2022) put your hands in the air.
Yes, that sudden terrible internet failure just delayed my reports. It was just my deadline for submission of reports every payroll cut off.
This post is about what had happened last Monday not what happened to Monday.
Just as I was about to start working on the spreadsheet at 8AM, our internet connection suddenly shut down. I thought it was just some fluctuation in the power line so I don’t mind much. I waited for at least fifteen minutes hoping that it would resume shortly but it did not. I waited until 12 noon and decided to change my shift that day. I can still submit my report if ever that internet would resume even until 3PM but unfortunately I was hopeless that day. My ISP was totally down until 10PM. It was a massive internet failure in Quezon City.
So I ended up registering to a mobile data connection just to connect with my teammates and colleagues telling them that I will not be able to report due to sudden internet failure.
My ISP posted on their FB page about the conflict as my wife told me and she said that the comment was turned off. For sure they don’t want to be flooded with harsh words from the raging subscribers.
My kids of course who were having their virtual class that day were not able to continue their classes with their classmates whose ISP is the same as ours.
I told my immediate superior of what had happened when I reported to work the next day and his remark was, “Would you like to report to work onsite instead?”
Actually I have been planning to work onsite in the last couple of days as I think it’s quite safe now. Looking at the scenario on the streets every day, it appears like there is no more pandemic. As if people are confident enough to walk outside. Some don’t even have to wear a face mask while talking to each other.
So I finally decided to work onsite starting May first next month. It’s not that I feel bad about the internet outage last Monday. It is just that my internet subscription is only good for residential usage. Unlike in the office, the internet speed is faster than at home. In addition, internet failure in the office is less likely to happen.
I know some or most subscribers of that particular ISP are in great anger. For sure they have posted their rants on their social media or perhaps some have done it here.
As much as I wanted to, I don’t want to make this post appear to be a rant because this is not. Ranting would not make the lost time come back.
Frankly, I feel really disappointed by what had happened to the internet last Monday. But instead of adding rage to my ISP I just let it pass and think of the positive things if I would shift from WFH to WOS.
Are you one of the affected by the internet outage last Monday? How did you handle the fourteen hours of no internet connection? Share in the comment below.
Lead image source credits to JJ Ying https://unsplash.com/photos/8bghKxNU1j0 https://unsplash.com/@jjying
Resource:
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-the-fastest-and-slowest-internet-speeds-in-the-world/
How Painful is to Repent
Happy Easter everyone!
**For sure some of you are enjoying their vacation and are relaxing in some beach resort right now.**
It is a long weekend in PH as we are celebrating the holy week which is about to end today, Easter Sunday.
When I was kid my family would go to my mother’s hometown to celebrate the holy week. That was also the time most of our relatives would gather every year which has been a family tradition even today. Unfortunately I have not celebrated the holy week in our place for nearly 20 years since I went to Manila for work until I have my own family now.
Let me share with you some experiences during my childhood about holy week.
Firstly, let me clear with you that I was baptized as catholic. My parents, especially my mother, are kind of religious and would let us memorize the five mysteries of the rosary.
I was kind of stubborn as a kid and my mother was afraid that I would be a big trouble when I grow up so she was consistent in disciplining me and the rest of my siblings. Thus she devotes herself to church duties and would always want us to attend the mass every Sunday and pray the rosary every 5AM and at night before bedtime.
But now I don’t remember the last time I attended a holy mass. You know as we evolve, we tend to ask so many questions particularly with our faith and beliefs. So it doesn’t matter to me now whether I no longer attend mass as long as I have faith.
Anyway for you guys who are celebrating the holy week I know for sure that you are aware of the events that are happening within those seven days.
My eleven year old daughter asks me about holy week as if she has completely no knowledge about it. So I asked her if it hasn’t been taught by their teacher in religion and she answered me no. Then I explained to her about things that I know about the holy week.
**Flagellation**
Yesterday as I was watching the TV news, I saw video clips of some people who appeared to be devotees performing re-enactment of the passion of Jesus Christ. This is common to some Catholics whenever holy week happens.
I remember seeing re-enactment when I was a kid. It was so realistic that you can figure out how Jesus Christ suffered before he died. They even do the nailing on the cross which is kind of risky. But to some devotees I think they have strong faith and that they are just fine after doing such an act of penitence. Perhaps they are guided by the Holy Spirit while they endure the pain.
Unfortunately the video clips about re-enactment that were shown on the report appear to be unusual. It was more than just re-enactment. The punishing looked real.
One video that was captured and uploaded on social media was showing a devotee who was tied with ropes and was dragged by at least five men.
Another re-enactment video was posted with devotees being punched and kicked several times for real. Even the *barangay* police can be seen ceasing the re-enactment.
According to some Catholic priests there is nothing wrong with the re-enactment of the passion of Christ because it is an act showing penitence. There are different personal reasons why some people would want to do such a thing. However some devotees are doing it to the extent that the participant can inflict physical injury.
Here in PH it is a tradition since the 1950s even if the Church disapproves such practice. It is a way of showing repent by some people. Even if it is painful they still have to do it because they have made an oath, pledge or similar things like that.
Nevertheless penitence need not have involved physical pain just to show repentance. But since the act is kind of promoting tourism, they have made it to show a realistic re-enactment. I think we can also promote culture and tradition in a less harmful way.
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
Lead image source credits to Alex Shute https://unsplash.com/photos/bqFVFBkZMJw https://unsplash.com/@faithgiant
Learning From You
Education is a lifelong process as commonly known by all teachers.
**Indeed learning appears to be never ending, only when our physical body expires.**
In my previous posts, I have mentioned several times that I graduated education and LET passer too. Unfortunately I am not teaching.
Teaching is the best of all professions just in case you don't know it. Why? Because there will be no engineers, doctors, lawyers and all other professionals without at least finishing grade school.
I know after reading the third line, a curious question pops into your mind. Why am I not teaching? Let us just say that teaching in school is not my destiny or that it is not the main purpose of my living here on this planet.
Aside from schools, learning can be acquired by a person from other things.
Generally speaking we can learn all things from around us. The things we perceive by all of our senses are the things we learn.
Reading is one way of acquiring knowledge. Watching films and documentaries is also another way of learning. Even TV commercials teach us lessons.
Not all knowledge and information are taught in school. There are things that we should learn by ourselves.
Most influencers and internet marketers are self taught.
For example blogging, it was not taught in schools in PH during the 90s but most bloggers these days are millennial.
**So what is the purpose of this writing?**
*This is to let you know that I am learning from you all. Yes, we can learn from each other here and to all the community in every platform that we participate in.*
I don’t need to mention you all. But I know who posts good articles and writes well. For us people that English is just a second language, I appreciate those who can write even if they try hard to construct good English sentences. *They write from their heart.*
I also learn from users who don’t just write but can integrate their photography skills. I also like photography but I guess photography doesn’t like me (laughs).
**If you copy content from someone else and use it as your own, that can also be called learning. However, you are learning for the worst not for the better. Do you think you acquire knowledge with that?**
You see, learning should not stop while we are breathing.
It’s funny sometimes when lessons in life can be learned from a child. You know kids always tell the truth even if they may seem odd.
On the other hand some animals are teaching us lessons. Ants for example are best for teaching us to plan and look ahead. They always store food so that when times of scarcity, they have enough supply of food.
So what have you learned from someone in this community? Share in the comment below.
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
Lead image **source** credits to James Wainscoat https://unsplash.com/photos/0Ja1g9HKGSk https://unsplash.com/@tumbao1949
Forget Me Not
Are you the type of person who is kind of forgetful?
**When was the last time that you freaked out because you forgot something very important?**
Let me share with you first a tragic story of a person who forgets something very important that leads to his death.
*“In 1988 Ivan Lester Maguire, 35 years old, an experienced skydiver and with more than 800 jumps of experience was preparing to do his job in his skydiving company. In order to increase sales, the jumps of the clients would be recorded so the client would pay for the parachute jump and extra for the video recording. A brilliant idea but due to the expense everything have to be done only once. If for some reason the camera failed, for example not being charged or forgetting to put in a memory card, they would not be able to perform a second jump. Therefore Ivan Lester always checked once, twice and even three times that everything about the camera was all good on the plane.*
*While the instructor is giving the preparatory lessons for the jump to the client, Ivan would even check his camera one last time so that the filming would come out perfectly. He would clean the lens and make sure it was loaded then put on goggles so he could see well.*
*When they reached the altitude of 12, 000 feet, Maguire jumped from the back of a plane to film the client and instructor who jumped from the front of the plane. Everything was going according to plan. The instructor pulled the parachute ripcord and they both rose while Ivan took one last shot with their parachute open.*
*When the shot was ready, Ivan took his hand to the metal ripcord to open his parachute too. But to his surprise, his ripcord wasn't there. Ivan indeed has something on his back but it was not the parachute. Instead it was the backpack with camera stuff inside. It was only that he realized when already being in the air he had been so preoccupied with the camera that he had forgotten the most important thing – his parachute.”*
According to reports, Maguire was an expert jumper. The reason for him forgetting his parachute was that he was so preoccupied with his video equipment. He has been working a lot when it comes to his video photography.
Sometimes our friends would tease us when we tend to forget something. They would say it's like a sign of aging or that we should drink milk that would boost our memory.
I have been experiencing a lot of forgetfulness. The most recent was driving without a license because I forgot to put it in my pocket. Good thing no bad circumstance happened so I was able to drive back home with no license. However I was nervous enough because traffic enforcers here in our area are kind of strict. Besides they have posts in almost every where adding to the checkpoints due to the approaching presidential election.
Sometimes we are so preoccupied with something that we forget the most important thing just like what had happened with Ivan Maguire.
It’s funny when you have already secured everything, even checking it for more than three times but then there is still something missing. Something left out and the most shocking is that the thing missing is the most important one.
Sometimes my wife would tell me that I am like a broken record when I tend to reiterate reminders with her. This is because I don’t want to forget things or miss important things. But still no matter how hard we try to secure things before we go, we still forget important stuff to put in our backpack.
Are you a forgetful person? Share your views in the comment below. I would love to read it.
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
Lead image **source** credits to **Dominik Scythe** https://unsplash.com/s/photos/forgetmenot https://unsplash.com/@drscythe
Resource: https://apnews.com/article/ad6734fd502c80db0d71695b53605229
Glitch in Reality
Technology today is seemingly the main reason for all things to move.
Different systems have been made to use for every purpose.
A biometrics form is a type of system that captures employee’s time logs and a CCTV is another system that captures events for security and documentation.
Computers, cell phones or any electronic device that record, capture and modify digital information has its own system. They have different programs depending on the type of application.
However these systems sometimes fail and this failure is what we commonly name as “**Glitch**”.
Every system encounters errors. For systems that need power to operate, some possible reason for error can be a simple fluctuation in electrical supply or Internet loss for systems that use communication.
According to Wikipedia, “**A glitch is a short-lived fault in a system, such as a transient fault that corrects itself, making it difficult to troubleshoot.**” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glitch
For example in my current job, we have a system that captures our time in and time out aside from the Biometrics system.
Sometimes some of the employees would complain that their time logs were not captured accordingly even if they log in and log out on time.
My teammates too would sometimes complain that they are not getting accurate data when they are exporting them out of the system.
They will report this to the IT department and categorize it as a system glitch or simply system error.
The term is most common in video games like in GTA there are instances that the character is moving not according to your command.
**A Glitch In Reality**
On the contrary there is also believed to be a glitch in reality. There are events occurring in the real world that seem to look like a glitch in the virtual world.
These days cameras are so sophisticated that they can already capture and record the unseen even the so-called glitch in reality.
**This glitch in reality seems to happen in our everyday activities as if there is another world existing parallel to our world with a very thin boundary. With just one blink a thing could just vanish and enter into another dimension. It could bounce back or freeze things when the glitch occurs.**
We will never notice such an error in reality unless captured by a camera. We might see things and events happen every day as if it was normal. But when accidentally captured we will not believe what we have seen in the recording.
There are videos that seem to be proof of this glitch in reality that are uploaded in several video platforms, particularly YouTube. Of course some of you don’t just believe all those extraordinary videos on that platform since they can be monetized. However at some point you will have this curiosity and ask yourself, what if it is real.
These videos that prove about glitch in reality are just one that is hard to understand aside from videos about paranormal activities, UFOs, teleportation and unknown entities.
I have been watching this channel for a couple of weeks now and as for my own opinion these videos are not invented or edited.
Sometimes it gives me chills but for the sake of curiosity I just ignore whether the hairs on my skin are rising.
I have already experienced ghost encounters and some similar stories are directly told by my mother because she had experienced it.
Anyway the video below will show you some of the so-called glitch in reality. See for yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRJ8mjrZ8DM
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
Lead image **source** credits to Michele Bitetto https://unsplash.com/photos/TEjq7cyC-ZA https://unsplash.com/@michelebit_
Love Your Eyes
Sometimes we feel that we are okay all the time until we find out that we are not for a long time.
**Let me first share with you a funny TV commercial.**
*There was a wedding held inside a church. The priest was on the way to finishing the ceremony and then said, “You may now kiss the bride.” The husband was about to kiss his wife and then the wife was preparing her lips in a kissable manner. She then leaned her head forward hoping that her husband’s lips would touch her. But then the crowd was in great awe because the wife’s lips landed on the priest’s cheek instead of her husband's lips.*
The TV commercial was about a company brand that provides and offers optical products and services.
The commercial story might be exaggerated but somehow it relates to a real life situation where we experience embarrassment due to poor eyesight.
Last week, the company I am connected with held the annual physical examination.
The medical team went to the office site so that the employees would just go there instead for ease of the process. This was the usual way of conducting APE in the company but last year it was not due to the pandemic.
So I went there in the office and was happy to see my colleagues that I have not seen for not so long. Then they collected the stool and urine sample as they always do. After that I went to the actual physical examination one after the other.
When I was on the eye test, I was able to read the letters on line number eight in the eye test chart. But then I noticed that the letters were kind of blurry reading it with my left eye closed and vice versa. I find it hard to identify the letters F and G which would look like T and C.
I remember last year my eyesight was still good although I am using an anti-radiation blue light lens with transitional glasses. I was experiencing frequent headaches due to long exposure to the screen monitor. And then direct sunlight when I am outside so the Ophthalmologist advises me to wear that type of eyeglasses.
But when I am done with the eye test, I just found out that I am already a nearsighted person as the doctor had said. I could not believe that I already have a problem with my eyes. Then the ophthalmologist had me wear the optical trial lens. It was only then that I realized I already have poor eyesight. The trial lens had made my vision crystal clear.
That was not really frustrating and I can accept it without any hard feelings. What is kind of unacceptable is when your friends would tell you things like a “sign of aging” even if you are just in your early 30s. Considering that I am no longer in my 30s is kind of acceptable when people would tell me such remarks (laughs).
It no longer bothers me because we all would go to that stage where we will be taking care of again like babies. You know what I mean? What bothers me is that I am driving so it is kind of risky driving with poor eyesight.
I am a person who doesn’t always visit the doctor for a simple tolerable pain. You know sometimes when you visit the doctor for a simple check up you will freak out when you leave. You will just realize that you have a lot of illness hiding in your body for a long time.
But it is important that we should see the doctor regularly. They are the ones who know more things about the human body than us.
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
Lead image source credits to Clay Banks https://unsplash.com/photos/xxD2aVmBuV4 https://unsplash.com/@claybanks
PEZA Memo Circular: 70/30 Scheme
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) and IT Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) accredited companies had a meeting regarding the implementation of a 70/30 ratio starting April to September this year.
**Four days ago the HR manager from the company I am connected with issued a memo about this released memo by PEZA.**
This means that employees need to return to work in their offices from a work from home set up. However instead of returning 100% employee’s onsite it will only be 70% then the 30% will still be working at home.
They conducted a survey for all of us employees regarding the memo that offers relocation for employees working outside Metro Manila.
**Are we ready to work back onsite?**
First things first when the health crisis has almost come to an end, the economic status is going back to its normal state globally.
Most people that had been laid off from the job started anew and some companies begin to operate just like normal but should still follow health protocols.
If I am going to ask, I can agree to the memo released by PEZA. I would be willing to go back to work in the office even if I would still want to work at home. I don't think I have a valid reason to be a part of the 30% employees still working from home.
I always wanted to be working at home but for the two years that I have been on this work type, I can now compare the differences between work from home and work onsite.
Below are few comparisons I have made based on my own experience working at home and work onsite:
As you can see the first factor that affects my work from home set up is the ventilation. I don’t have an air-conditioning system at home. That is why it is really a struggle working in poor ventilation especially now that it is already summer here in PH.
Then the variety of noises from outside like cars passing by, children playing and shouting, construction working from the neighborhood and the undying *videok*e.
As for transportation, I will not have to worry about coming late due to traffic conditions because I will no longer commute.
We are given an allowance when we start to work at home and definitely it will be deducted again when we will have to go back onsite.
Sleeping time of course will be less because I have to travel back and forth from home and office. That will consume hours. Unlike when working at home, you can even login on time even if you wake up late.
Lastly, the expenses, which I will have to spend for my lunch and snacks compared to working at home. Then the gas for my motorcycle but it is way cheaper than commuting.
One thing that worries me is the chance of going back to smoking again. I stopped smoking when I started working at home. Honestly I never smoke at home or even go to the store next block to light a cigarette. But when I am at the office there is always a tendency for me to smoke. I think because I have a stress reliever at home and that the only thing that relieves my stress in the office is through smoking.
***Sometimes I would like to believe in the joke, that being a Workforce Analyst is as easy as riding a bike. Except that the bike is on fire. You are on fire. Everything is on fire and you are in hell.***
Anyway I hope some of you whose employers are abiding by the PEZA regulations can manage to go back working onsite. Particularly those living far from their offices and need to endure the struggles of commuting.
But most importantly everything is slowly going back to normal.
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
Lead image **source** credits to **Israel Andrade** https://unsplash.com/photos/YI_9SivVt_s https://unsplash.com/@israelandrxde
Sound Mode: Metal
I have seen some users on this platform posting about comfort shows.
**I thought it was a new challenge circulating on this community.**
From the word itself, comfort, perhaps you already have an idea of what it is about. It is self explanatory.
I would like to make this post similar to that although I am not used to watching recorded shows over and over again when I don’t have much to do at home.
There are times that we just feel bored for no reason and one thing that comes into our mind when boredom strikes is to entertain ourselves.
Honestly I am not used to entertaining myself by watching the same film again and again but I do have a favorite TV show that I watched.
During my free time I watched films old and new as long as I have not watched it yet.
But when I find myself totally bored, the thing that comforts me is listening to my favorite music. I guess listening to the same music over and over again is way better than watching a film over and over again. But don’t get me wrong because sometimes when a movie was played on TV that I have already watched in the past, say a 5 to 10 years old film, I would sit and watch until the end even if there were cuts and commercials.
Sometimes I felt nostalgic of the film and because it was too old it was like new to me again because I have already forgotten the story.
One of my favorite shows that gives me comfort is the local gag show “**Bubble Gang**”. One of the oldest gag shows of **GMA network** that still exists up to this time since 1995. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubble_Gang https://www.gmanetwork.com/
My kids when they were young used to watch Marvel films and kids cartoons over and over. I guess that’s normal for every child.
During my younger years when I didn't have much to do at home, most likely getting bored, I would play my favorite metal music in cassettes on full volume. My mother was used to it and the neighbors of course. I would not care if I was disturbing the neighborhood. The place was noisy anyway so they would not mind me.
But then when we get older and wiser we just realize that things are really changing especially if you are having your own family. There is no more room for boredom. Your attention is divided between your family and work.
When I felt like I was totally drained I would grab my BT headphones and play my comfort music - heavy metal. I would sit back in my chair, close my eyes and feel the music.
I really am relaxed listening to that type of music. Well if you have been reading some of my previous posts, I always mentioned that I am a metal music fanatic and once had a teenage rock and roll band in the 90s. So that makes it how metal music comforts me when I am bored.
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
Please read post from @itsmeCguro as the idea of this writing came from her post, **Comfort Shows That I Watch Over and Over Again**
https://read.cash/@itsmeCguro/comfort-shows-that-i-watch-over-and-over-again-ec901412
Lead image source credits to Ovinuchi Ejiohuo https://unsplash.com/photos/nQ1lhLVZYWI https://unsplash.com/@oviidaniel
No Cure For Stupidity
There are hospitals for insane people but none for stupid ones.
**I remember my father would humor his friends during their drinking session with that line.**
It may sound funny but that is reality.
When was the last time you did something stupid? Well me, I just did eight hours ago.
In our daily lives we are used to doing things that need not have critical thinking. I mean our daily routine like brushing our teeth, taking a shower or drinking coffee are things that are already set in our mind. The only difference is that we don’t brush our teeth or take showers with the same exact timeframe every day. Or we don’t prepare coffee with the same exact amount of sugar and coffee granules. Unless you are drinking 3 in 1 coffee that is an exact mixture but it will also depend on a person’s taste.
People are stupid I mean no one can escape stupidity. Even the most prominent person can do stupid things.
I do a lot of stupid things which I think normal for a person that has not lost his sanity.
So, today’s posts I will share with you an experience that really made me feel stupid.
Four years ago I opened a savings bank account in one of the local banks here in our place. The savings account will be used to deposit all my extra income online which includes earnings from this platform.
I don’t normally withdraw money from that account only when there is a need for emergency cash assistance.
Last month I was trying to withdraw via ATM but for some reason my account was blocked. It says I have entered the incorrect PIN three times and it will resume after three days. I am pretty sure I have entered the 4-digit PIN correctly. So I went home and forgot about the withdrawal as I have already acquired extra cash from other sources of income.
Yesterday I tried to withdraw and confidently entered the 4-digit PIN and to my surprise the machine told me that my account had been blocked again due to an incorrect PIN. So I decided to go to the bank earlier this morning to report about what had happened.
When I approached the guard I told him about my transaction and he said my card needs to be activated and then he gave me a contact tracing form.
When it’s my turn I told the teller about what had happened. She then told me my cash card is already activated and that there is nothing wrong with my account. She told me to try again from the ATM outside. But then again the same problem occurred. It has exceeded the incorrect pin attempt. Then I went back to the teller and told her that it did not push through. She reset it and told me to try again and if the problem still persists, I need to change my card which will take seven days. And I said that’s fine with me and I went out to try again for the last time.
Before I did my final attempt, the guard told me that after I had entered the pin he would check the screen before I proceed.
I then entered the four digits PIN and then told the guard to see and check. The guard went near and upon seeing the ATMs screen he then told me politely, **“Sir, Unionbank is a 6-digit PIN.”**
I was like, jeez! That was hard. I felt like I was melting because of my blunder.
You know I am used to withdrawing with another cash card using a 4-digit PIN. That is why I was used to entering a four digits password. Besides, I frequently withdraw from that savings account that I already forgot that it needs 6 digits of PIN.
Anyway I hope you can forgive me with that (laughs).
Finally I was able to get the cash and I was thankful to the security guard.
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
Lead image source credits to CardMapr https://unsplash.com/photos/s8F8yglbpjo https://unsplash.com/@cardmapr
They Are Not Just Pet Animals
I was about to start writing for today's post but then I was interrupted again by my buddy here who is too cute to get annoyed with.
He always does this to me whenever he wants food. He would jump on top of my table and sit or lay so that there he then would make sound like he is starving. He would not leave until I gave him food.
He did it twice when I was on a zoom meeting with my boss. You know he jumped in and then started demanding meow asking for food. So I had to pause and pour cat food quickly on his plate. My boss just laughs afterwards.
Anyway speaking of my cat since my attention was diverted to him, I drop down my topic for today and write about him instead.
His name is Kitkit and he just turned one year old this month. Of course he is tender and adorable just like most of the cats. He doesn’t go out because we don’t want to. He just stays inside the house ever since he was a kitten. He also uses the toilet whenever he poops and pee.
Last month he was ill and suffered from the flu. I have been petting cats since I was a kid and this is the first time that my cat got the flu. He never goes out so it is impossible that he gets the virus outside.
This happened when my wife was sneezing and then she hugged Kitkit and kissed him like she used to do. The next day Kitkit was sneezing. I was suspecting that he was infected by my wife although she doesn’t seem to believe it when I tell her.
The following day his condition worsened. Clear water was flowing out of his nose and he kept on sneezing. I thought human flu cannot infect domestic animals. I Google it and it was true that our pet can acquire human flu just like what has happened to my cat.
On the third day he was really in bad shape. He doesn’t eat cat food but drinks a lot of water. He always wanted his nose up and the breath thru his mouth. He got a clogged nose and then fell asleep in a sitting position.
I was worried about him because we can’t bring him to the vet as we don’t have a vet clinic near our place. So I just did research on the internet about a home cure for domestic animals, particularly the flu with cats.
There is a lot of information on how to care for a sick pet on the internet and one home remedy is by steaming aside from giving those meds for pets. So what I did was to steam him at least two times a day because he was resistant when I was trying to give him medication. I also tried to feed him by guessing what kind of food he wanted to eat. I was thankful that he ate sardine instead when he felt he could no longer stand the starvation.
He was sick for almost three weeks. Now he is in good shape again and back to his usual way of messing around.
Some people don’t like petting cats and prefer dogs. For some reason, there are also people who don’t like petting animals at all.
There is a positive effect of having pet animals in our home. Unless you have allergies with them for sure you wouldn’t like having one.
Pet animals are my stress reliever. You know it just feels good when your pet animals seem to sympathize with you whenever you are completely drained. They can feel it too and even if they can’t talk you can feel their compassion.
I hope you have learned something from this post especially if you are not an animal lover.
We have to understand that animals have feelings because they have a heart too. Remember that pet animals can see the unseen, I mean they can foretell danger so that it can warn us and save us from any unfortunate event.
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
If Something Was Lost it Can be Found
New films for you to watch
**Today’s post I will share with you new films that you may want to include in your next movie marathon.**
Let’s go straight without any further ado.
**The Adam Project**
***“Time travel exists, you just don’t know it yet.”***
This film is about time travel and of course yours truly is kind of obsessed with time machines, quantum theory and similar information pertaining to time travel.
The film was released by Netflix on March 11, 2022 with **Ryan Reynolds** as the main character. Yes, it’s him nothing but the sarcastic dead pool. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Reynolds
This is the first time I have seen Reynolds in a time travel film or perhaps there was in the past of his movies that I am not aware of. When you see him in movies you already know that the story has a lot of sense of humor. I mean his deep jokes that you will have to think first before you can laugh.
The film is about a guy Adam Reed (Ryan Reynolds) who travels back to the past to stop his dad from pursuing the concept of time travel. He was about to go back to 2018 but he encountered technical problems during his jump from 2050 and ended up meeting his kid self in 2022.
**The Adam Project** is now available on Netflix though I never subscribe to Netflix movies (laughs) I prefer to download films in torrents because I am collecting good movies. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_adam_project
**Spider-Man: No way home**
***“With Great power comes great responsibility.”***
Who else here doesn’t recognize that line?
Spiderman movies immortalize that phrase. It was said by Uncle Ben to Peter Parker (**Tobey Maguire**) in the first film of Spiderman in 2002. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobey_Maguire
**Spider-Man: No way home** was released on December 17, 2021 in the United States by **Fox Village Theatre**. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spider_man_no_way_home https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Theater,_Westwood_Village
There are numerous posts about this film here and perhaps you have read one from them. Well if you have not watched it yet I guess you should because it has received a lot of positive feedback from critics. MCU has always entertained us with their marvelous films.
Spider-Man: No way home tells about Peter Parker (**Tom Holland**) who wanted to hide his identity again being Spiderman because it was revealed in *Far From Home.* He went to **Dr. Strange** and asked to use his magic so that people can forget the connection between Spiderman and Peter Parker. However something went wrong with the spell. The multiverse was broken allowing visitors from alternate realities to enter in Peter Parker’s world. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Holland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Strange_(Marvel_Cinematic_Universe)
**Uncharted**
***“If something was lost, it can be found.”***
**Uncharted** is a film based on the video game with the same name. The main characters are **Tom Holland** as Nathan Drake and **Mark Wahlberg** as Victor Sullivan. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/uncharted_2022 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Holland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Wahlberg
The film was released on February 18 this year in the United States by **Sony Pictures Releasing**. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Pictures_Motion_Picture_Group#Sony_Pictures_Releasing
You may find this film boring if you think that this is just another movie about thieves. One thing that interests me more was that the film is kind of educational. It tells about finding treasures but not just treasures. They are finding the treasures of Ferdinand Magellan.
We all know that Ferdinand Magellan was credited for traveling around the world. But unfortunately he was killed here in the Philippines by Chief of Mactan Datu **Lapulapu** on April 27, 1521 during a battle. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapulapu#:~:text=Lapulapu%20or%20Lapu-Lapu%20(1491,the%20Visayas%20in%20the%20Philippines.
Nate has found the ships of Magellan somewhere in the remote island in the Philippines and the treasures are still there. However he has never recovered it all but brought home a few pieces of it.
So I hope I have given you an idea of what film to add in your movies list. These are all good movies. I highly recommend watching it.
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
Lead image source credits to Jeremy Yap https://unsplash.com/photos/J39X2xX_8CQ https://unsplash.com/@jeremyyappy
In The Summertime
The heat is getting hotter here.
**Summer time is approaching as the temperature has been rising in the past couple of days.**
How about in your place can you feel the heat or is it the opposite?
Here in PH the weather is not so friendly during the months of March and April. This is due to the hot season. It’s summertime again.
When the government lowered the health risk alert level, people were like being pulled out a thorn in the chest. Party here and there, some are going out to their nearest recreation area or to the nearest beach resort to celebrate. Yes it was like a celebration. In fact most of my neighbors started their regular habit again of drinking and *videoke* until dawn.
Who wouldn’t want to celebrate or at least inhale deep and exhale outside without having a covering in their nose?
Everyone wants to be free. To move without restrictions and observe a lot of health protocols just like old times.
Last night the news said that the number of tourists going to **Boracay** is rising again. Even local tourists are also eager to go to beaches and resorts to spend the summer with family or friends. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boracay
In fact the company I am connected with is also starting to hold events like sports fest and anniversary party starting June. Unfortunately no company outing this summer.
It is good to know that the economy is beginning to become stable despite the war between Russia and Ukraine.
**People are being fooled**
It’s undeniable that the world health crisis that just happened is thrilling. But what is more terrifying is the conspiracy behind the pandemic. We never know the real reason behind the existence of it.
Some said that it was an act of bloodless mass depopulation which I am kind of certain about. Whether true or not, I think it is not a good way of ending the uncontrollable growth of world population. If we want to stop a tree from growing too many leaves, cutting its branches is not the solution. We should cut the roots to stop it from growing.
This pandemic had made me feel like I was being fooled and I just can’t move on. Although we have survived this even if one of us was nearly getting infected, It just doesn't feel right the way people think about the covid and vaccination. I mean people around the world have to believe that we are under attack by a deadly virus from a bat and to point out that it nearly depopulates the entire planet.
I hope there are no other similar cases that will happen in the future. One thing I know for sure is the possible threat of AI to humanity in the next century.
Anyway I just wanted to let you guys know that I am still here despite the inactivity in the last four days. I have always mentioned in my previous post that I’ll be busier in the coming days from now on due to things that need to be prioritized.
We might have survived in the recent chaos but we must remember that the invisible enemy is still out there and has not been completely defeated.
Even if it's kind of safe now outside, I think we should make it a habit to wear masks. You know it’s not that we want to be protected against the virus but the air pollutants that we should get rid of.
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
*Lead image is own photo.*
Too Salty or Too Spicy: Would you rather…
As a kid when my mother caught me saying bad words or telling a lie, she would let me eat red pepper as a punishment.
**Of course no kid would want to eat that and I would always resist. I did not open my mouth but then she would forcefully have me eat the red pepper by crushing it in my closed mouth.**
You may think that my mother was kind of cruelsome but no she was a disciplinarian.
Anyway don’t think that this post is another story of me being punished by my mother for doing foolish things as a kid.
This post is my entry for the **Writing Prompt #25**, **Would you rather…** https://read.cash/@JonicaBradley/writing-prompt-25-would-you-rather-fb526a93
I was thinking of writing and publishing this tomorrow but I just remembered that I won't be able to do it because I will be busy for the next couple of days. So I made this quick post while I still have time today.
Just as I checked my notifications this morning, the Writing prompt first caught my attention so I went directly to Ms Jonica’s post and read.
**Would you rather…** is a simple but fun game and while I was reading it, words were already rushing in my brain trying to create phrases and sentences.
So I have chosen the, *“Would you rather eat too salty food or eat too spicy food?”*
Given the scenario above, you may think that I would rather eat too spicy food than too salty. But you are wrong. I like to eat salty foods. I always have fish sauce or soy sauce whenever I eat dinner or lunch. Sometimes my wife would nag at me because she thinks her prepared dish lacks salt. She would remind me that having too much salt in our body is risky to our health. Then I would respond to her that I am already aware of that. She would become more annoyed. But combining spicy and salty sauce makes it more appetizing.
I then ask my eleven-year old daughter if she would rather eat too salty or too spicy food. Her answer was that to eat too spicy food than to eat too salty because according to my daughter there is a higher risk of becoming ill when always eating too salty food. So eating too spicy food is okay with her.
I wanted to ask my son but he is busy with his online class but I know his answer would also be to eat too spicy food rather than too salty. Since he was a child I have already noticed his good appetite whenever eating spicy food.
When my wife came, I asked her too. Her answer was the same as my daughter. Of course she always knew the health risk of eating too salty food. But take note that both my daughter and my wife are not used to eating foods that are too spicy.
I still asked my son now that his online class is finished and he still prefers to eat spicy food. According to him he could endure more spicy taste on his tongue than too salty foods.
It’s quite fun that they gathered around me while writing this post.
So I ask them random questions from the rest on the list.
We were able to have fun for a couple of minutes with this game. And then they grabbed their own tablets and phones thereafter while I am finishing up this writing.
Anyhow this is my participation for **writing prompt #25** by @JonicaBradley **Would You Rather…** https://read.cash/@JonicaBradley/writing-prompt-25-would-you-rather-fb526a93
If you would like to participate in her writing prompt please join the community **here**. https://read.cash/c/promptlyjonica-b4a0
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
*Lead image is own photo.*
Just A Bad Habit Not An Addiction
It’s been a while since I have not submitted an article in writing prompt.
**I guess I have to submit another entry in Promptly Jonica’s community.**
Firstly I would like to give thanks to you guys for staying with me for a year now. Yes Bjorn has exactly one year on red dot cash. You know writers and bloggers on this platform come and go. Sadly, some are unable to consistently write until they lose interest in it. Others just vanished for whatever reason that hinders them to continue.
I would also like to take this opportunity to give thanks to this brave woman, Ms Jonica Bradley, who keeps sharing her words and wisdom despite the hardship that she has been through. We may not know her personally but through her writings it helps us know her better.
Anyhow, this post is about bad habits as of the writing prompt 24.
Who among you here doesn’t have bad habits? I bet no one.
Speaking of bad habits, we can’t deny the fact that everyone has. It may not be as bad as we imagined but the truth is we have it.
Most male when they reach adulthood have a natural tendency to learn to smoke and drink. This is one type of bad habit that eventually turns into addiction.
Females in the same manner tend to adapt to this kind of habit just as males do but they have their own personal reason for doing so. Although the number of females who are into this type of bad habit are less compared to males.
Since smoking is the common bad habit of people male or female, I would take it as one of my worst bad habits.
My father was a smoker. He always sent me to a *sari-sari* store when I was just a kid to buy him cigarettes, which during those times selling cigars to a child is less questionable. But today it is prohibited to sell cigarette to a child even if the child is just obeying his parent to buy him a cigarette.
I started smoking during my late 20’s just as I was learning to drink. It begins with a single stick during a drinking session with college friends.
You know when you meet people who drink and smoke then eventually become friends with them, it is more likely that you become one of them. They will influence you and for the sake of fellowship you will have to join them.
When I had my own job, I just realized that I was already buying a pack of cigarettes instead of per stick. It became habitual but not to the extent that I was addicted to it. My cigarette consumption has become worse. I have quitted for one year but then I met a new friend and offered me one stick and there it goes again.
So far I have stopped smoking since the start of the pandemic up to this time, meaning I have not smoked for two years straight.
I also have other bad habits like procrastination. It may not sound like a bad habit but for me I consider it as one of my bad habits.
There is also this purchasing stuff that may seem not useful but I just like to have it for future use or emergency purposes.
I also tend to argue with my wife which is habitual of me but not to the extent that we would yell at each other. You know it is just my nature to argue or debate on things that seem improper. But I am not doing it to irritate or offend someone.
Anyway this is my participation for the latest **Writing prompt** by @JonicaBradley which is about **Bad Habits**. https://read.cash/@JonicaBradley/writing-prompt-24-bad-habits-39b554ae
If you would like to participate in her writing prompt please join the community **here**. https://read.cash/c/promptlyjonica-b4a0
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
*Lead image is my electric arc lighter*.
Ukraine to Fund Armed Forces With NFT
We all know the current issue between Russia and Ukraine.
**Within the few days of the crisis in Ukraine, it has affected the economy in some countries, particularly in PH.**
The pandemic is almost over but then another crisis arises although it does not have a great effect worldwide but there is one thing that motorists are complaining about, the sudden oil price hike.
There are less than 400 OFWs in Ukraine and according to the latest news mandatory evacuation has been implemented. There is another batch of OFWs that have been repatriated safely on this day as of this writing.
According to the **New York Times**, the US is considering not sending troops to fight for Ukraine as the latter is not a member of NATO alliance. The US instead has sent anti-tank and anti aircraft to Ukraine to strengthen the American military in NATO countries in the borders of Russia. https://www.nytimes.com/article/russia-ukraine-nato-europe.html
On March 3, the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Mykhailo Fedorov, tweeted an announcement that Ukraine will issue a non-fungible token to fund their armed forces. This is because cryptocurrency is becoming more and more popular in donating support to Kyiv. No further details have been said about NFT from Federov.
**https://twitter.com/FedorovMykhailo/status/1499348177002151937**
The idea of NFT donation comes when Federov tweeted a request for donation in support to Ukranians in cryptocurrency specifically of bitcoin, ethereum and tether.
**https://twitter.com/FedorovMykhailo/status/1497549813205848068**
The Ukrainian government has now raised **$54.7m** according to the blockchain data analytics, Elliptic. More than 102, 000 cryptoasset has been donation to Ukraine since the invasion which includes the donation of Gavin Wood, co-founder of Polkadot, amounting to $5.8m. In addition to the donations, the WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, has also donated the NFT sales amounting to $1.8m and wort $200, 000 has been donated too by **CryptoPunk NFT**. However, Elliptic also added that some scammers are taking advantage of the current issue by tricking users who are planning to donate to Ukraine. https://www.elliptic.co/blog/live-updates-millions-in-crypto-crowdfunded-for-the-ukrainian-military https://www.larvalabs.com/cryptopunks
Ukraine is also raising funds by other means. If you want to donate please click the link below.
I hope this crisis in Ukraine will end soon before it will lead to a more devastating event.
**https://www.comebackalive.in.ua**
**https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZMRc-UyPm0**
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
Lead image source credits to Subham Dhage https://unsplash.com/photos/GTkOJuE1_cE https://unsplash.com/@theshubhamdhage
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**Disclaimer:**
*All contents are from the author’s experiences, knowledge and research. For educational and entertainment purposes only. You may find interesting topics with every post and you always have the right to disagree. Some posts can be used as a guide but the author will not be held responsible for any unpleasant circumstances it may bring.*
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Three hundred sixty days of earning Bitcoin Cash means a lot
Six days from now, March 11 is the day of Bjorn’s existence in this community. It means I have been sharing my thoughts and stories with you guys for almost a year now.
Allow me to give thanks and praise to the people behind this wonderful community and all the people joining this platform and become generous enough. Not to mention those few who can do nothing but to take advantage of this platform and scam it’s people.
So far, read dot cash has never disappointed me in every post I make. But if you have gone this far like me you will notice some changes in its algorithm.
When I posted my first article, **The Disappearing Objects**, second to my introductory post, I never received a reward yet nor from any of the readers. That was normal for any noob on this platform I guess. https://read.cash/@Bjorn/the-disappearing-objects-a0609433
My niche was to write anything that relates or pertained to time travel. I was fascinated by time travel films and stories so I just used it hoping that the random rewarder would be interested enough to read.
I published my third and fourth post but then again I did not receive a reward. I was in my second week as a new read dot cash blogger and it seems that the robot doesn’t have interest in my articles.
Until finally, the random rewarder noticed my fifth post, **I Went to the Future, Believe Me**. However I am thankful because even if the robot did not notice my post during my first two weeks of writing, there are members of this community who welcomed me and gave me additional courage to continue. No need to mention their names. I just wonder how they have been because I have never seen them active in the last couple of months. I never met them and they have good quality articles. I just hope they are alright although one of them is already 70 years old. He is from Venezuela. https://read.cash/@Bjorn/i-went-to-the-future-believe-me-cef2ffd8
So from then on I started to write and publish my article daily and the robot seems to have noticed my post every day. I am beginning to earn BCH out of writing.
I Am Nobody
But what excites me more is when one famous Crypto investor noticed one of my posts and gave it a favorable reward. The post “**Famous 80s Hollywood Actors That Still Kicks Ass in this Present Time**” was my fourteenth post and the first article to receive exciting rewards from the robot and from MDM as well. I couldn’t imagine the joy I experienced that time. It may be very small to some but the pleasure I have felt knowing that Marc has noticed my article is kind of overwhelming. It came as a surprise. https://read.cash/@Bjorn/famous-80s-hollywood-actors-that-still-kicks-ass-in-this-present-time-e300a328
To wrap it up I have earned enough BCH as an additional income in nearly one year. I have always mentioned in my previous post of how Bitcoin Cash gave meaning to my needs, from paying bills to purchasing general merchandise. But of course it’s not only the random rewarder that I should give thanks. It’s always good to remember those people who show generosity either by upvote or sponsorship. You know who you are.
Prioritizing great opportunity
If you have been reading my post from the start, you will notice that I am becoming less active. In fact, my last published article was three days ago. Unlike before, I am publishing posts every day.
The reason is I have become busier with my current day job and the fact that the pandemic has almost come to an end. We will now go back to our normal working habit which is to work in the company’s premises. Most likely I can only post during my rest days.
Not only that, if you remember my post two weeks ago with the title, “**Foreigner Guys Marrying A Pinay**”, I talked about my sister in-law who is soon to marry a foreign guy. They have plans of putting up a business here in PH and they wanted me to manage their business. You know my sister in-law only has one sibling and that is my wife so there is no one whom she can trust to put up a business aside from us. https://read.cash/@Bjorn/foreigner-guys-marrying-a-pinay-124bfa4e
That is the reason why I have been very busy lately. If by all means it will come to materialize I will have to resign as a workforce analyst in my current employer and just run the business.
**I don’t think I can still write for you guys but maybe I can if I still have time so that I can share with you things that might interest you just as I used to do.**
You know it really is tiring when you have work to do and then during your free time you will have to process documents like business permits, housing papers and car loans.
Doing business with Bitcoin Cash
Anyway don’t think that I am leaving this platform. It’s just that things are not always the same. There are opportunities that we have to prioritize.
Bitcoin Cash adoption gives an impact to my life and I am planning to integrate it with whatever business I can come up with in the future. So most probably I will stay with read dot cash as long as it continues to exist.
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
The Pop Punk Queen
Avril Lavigne’s latest and seventh album was finally released on February 25th of this current year.
**“Love Sux” is the name of the album and is the song title of the fifth track.**
Who wouldn’t recognize her for her looks with black eyeliner, straight blonde hair, and spikes and skirts rock outfit? That’s Avril Lavigne’s signature look.
Avril at 37 still looks great and appears to be never growing old. She is admired by many teenage girls because of her glamorous face and quality of voice. I mean she can rock and sing at the top of her lungs.
But wait who is Avril Lavigne by the way. Google it! But to give you little information about her, she has been noted as the “Pop Punk Queen”.
**Avril Ramona Lavigne** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avril_Lavigne
Avril started her rock and roll fame at the age of sixteen. The songs Complicated and Sk8er Boi are only two of her influential songs that she became famous with. In case you haven’t heard of her, just go over her profile in Wikipedia or visit her **website**. https://lovesux.avrillavigne.com/?ref=https://www.google.com/
Anyway this post is just a review of her latest album which I have just downloaded from torrent. I will give my own personal opinion and verdict as well after I have listened to the songs.
**Love Sux Album**
Love Sux is the name of the album. I guess the title tells what it is. Very straightforward, love sucks. For some reason that a person has been through a lot of things with relationships, perhaps some might say that love really sucks. The album consists of twelve tracks which of course will rock you like the way she used to in her younger years. Love sucks talks about what has been with Avril I think for the past years of her career and relationships.
**Cannonball** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx4C6LQPknc&list=OLAK5uy_l3YR0qHx3IuoLn3hyuMW1sxhXb0s6jc5c
Cannonball is the first track of the album and start with riffs and Avril intro with a shout that goes, “*Like a ticking time bomb, I'm about to explode*.”
I think this song is about her comeback as a skater punk like a bomb. But then the entire lyrics of the song talk about moving on as the lyrics goes, “*I just deleted every memory from inside of my head*.”
“*I'll come in hot like a cannonball*.” Indeed Avril is a really hot chick knowing that she is already 37 years old.
**Bois Lie** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvWOBY_aJZ0&list=OLAK5uy_l3YR0qHx3IuoLn3hyuMW1sxhXb0s6jc5c&index=2
Avril is really fun making song titles like the words used in chat or SMS. She first did this with her song **Sk8ter Boi** (Skater boy) in 2002. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIy3n2b7V9k
Anyone from here who has not ever told a lie put your hands in the air (I hope none). The second track might raise the eyebrows of some boys here. But before you misjudge the song you should listen or read the lyrics first.
All of us here have been told a lie by someone or we have lied to our friends and even family. Avril is not just telling the boys lies in a song. She is saying that she lies too and that everybody lies. As the lyrics goes, “*Bois lie, I can too*”. This song is collaborated with **Machine Gun Kelly** and he does the male part of the lyrics that says, “*Bois cry and so will you. Bois lie, but girls lie too.*” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_Gun_Kelly_(musician)
Boys lie, Girls lie, and everybody lies.
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-liar…
**Bite Me** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciqUEV9F0OY&list=OLAK5uy_l3YR0qHx3IuoLn3hyuMW1sxhXb0s6jc5c&index=4
Bite me is the first single from the album that premiered on YouTube last year on November 21st. It was a song about a relationship that has been fed up. You know a relationship is going to a rocky road sometimes and then sh_t happens. I think Avril was expressing her true feelings about what she has been through and that she can have her sweet revenge on guys who messed up her life.
Anyway, before I make three pages telling about the tracks in the album in this post, I will have to cut this short now so as not to add more nonsense stuff.
**Love Sux** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q34NVtdJy_0&list=OLAK5uy_l3YR0qHx3IuoLn3hyuMW1sxhXb0s6jc5c&index=5
Sometimes when everything’s got f*ck up with our relationships, we will exclaim and say, love sucks! We ended another boring relationship then after we moved on we started all over again.
Avril had been in so many relationships but she was married only twice. First was with Deryck Whibley who was the lead vocalist of the band **Sum 41** and the last one was with Chad Kroeger, front man of the band Nickelback. Her most recent relationship that started in 2021 is with another music artist **Mod Sun**. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deryck_Whibley https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sum_41 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_Kroeger https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickelback https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mod_Sun
I think Avril is somewhat fed up with relationships but still not learning her lesson when it comes to relationships. She divorced her first and second husband and then broke up with men she had been dating in the past years.
Overall the album sounds like the old Avril Lavigne. You know the skate punk persona is what I really like about her style. Nothing compares to Avril lavigne.
Her songs with the Love sux album are already on YouTube for public viewing/listening.
What do you think about her comeback as the Pop Punk Queen? Let me know in the comments below.
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
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**Disclaimer:**
*All contents are from the author’s experiences, knowledge and research. For educational and entertainment purposes only. You may find interesting topics with every post and you always have the right to disagree. Some posts can be used as a guide but the author will not be held responsible for any unpleasant circumstances it may bring.*
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The Ghost Face is Back
It’s just three months since the last Halloween and this year I think it’s awkward to celebrate during heart month.
**This post is not an early Halloween story.**
It’s about this slasher film that is continuously giving thrilling entertainment to people since 1996. But who’s going to be entertained by killing and murdering people for no reason? It’s only a film anyway.
If you happen to watch a horror film that starts with a teenage girl that is alone at home, then suddenly the phone rings. She answers the call from an unknown person. The caller then talks about horror films and would become sadistic. Eventually the caller would reveal that he is in someone’s house, probably a friend of whom he called. He would also demand and ask questions about horror films and if the answer is wrong he would kill her friend.
Horror movie fans would know exactly what film I am trying to talk about – **Scream**. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scream_(franchise)
I like watching horror films but honestly I was kind of a timid person when I was a kid. So to overcome my fears I kept watching hair-raiser films until I got used to it even if it laterally gives me chills.
I have recently watched the Scream 2022 film or Scream 5. Yes, it’s now on the fifth of its series. The first Scream film I have watched was in 1996, I was in high school back then. Do I sound like I am revealing my age? Forget it! (laughs).
Anyhow, let’s get back to the main topic. Scream 5 was not that scary, that is if you have watched the film since the first Scream movie. Same plot, same events. It's just that the original cast is still present, of course they get old.
**The Immortal Ghostface**
If you have not watched any of the Scream sequels yet, perhaps you are already familiar with the Halloween figure of a person wearing a black robe and a ghost mask. The Scream franchise has immortalized that character – The Ghostface.
The film is not recommended to watch with kids at home so I suggest you should watch it when there are no minors at around. You know the killings were brutal and blood spilling is inappropriate to watch if you’re not used to watching similar films like that.
The puzzling thing about the film was that the viewers are clueless about the serial killer and in the end you will be surprised of who the real killer was. The funny thing is that the killer or killers are with them the whole time and that each and every one of the characters can be their suspect.
Overall I still like the film and seeing the image of ghost face is kind of nostalgic. You know things in the 90's bring me back with this film.
I would still recommend this film if you like some thrilling movies to watch this weekend. But then again you should not watch it when kids are around.
If you want a more realistic thrilling film you can also try watching **Spiral**. It was released last year which was the sequel of **Saw** in 2004. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spiral_from_the_book_of_saw https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/saw
Anyways I am not trying to scare you or make you uncomfortable with these movies I have shared. But if you have gone reading until here, most likely you like scary movies.
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
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**Disclaimer:**
*All contents are from the author’s experiences, knowledge and research. For educational and entertainment purposes only. You may find interesting topics with every post and you always have the right to disagree. Some posts can be used as a guide but the author will not be held responsible for any unpleasant circumstances it may bring.*
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Begin Again
**It’s been a couple of weeks now that the highway near our place is going back to its normal traffic congestion.**
**Commuters are like ants again crowding alongside the highway to hitch a ride just like old times.**
How about in your area, is everything slowly going back to normal?
On the other hand some schools in our area are now having face-to-face classes. However the Department of Education is not yet implementing a total face-to-face classes to all its divisions.
It’s been two years since my kids have had their classes online. It means that the COVID19 pandemic is still out there infecting people. Health professionals and doctors are not stopping from curing people and scientists as well are still finding a cure. However it seems that until now there is no cure for this virus but they have made vaccines as prevention. With these vaccines being strictly implemented, people are protected and the COVID cases have lessened at least. Besides, there are now vaccines available for four years old kids and above.
Face-to-face
The next school year, the Department of Education will be implementing schools to go back to regular classes face-to-face. The reason is that due to the drop down of cases being infected. Opinions of parents and students are divided. Some disagree but most students are in favor of this.
If I am going to ask, I think it’s about time to get things back to normal, just when there is no pandemic. We know how easy it is when our kids are going to school every day. They can easily understand the lessons because it was being taught in a live session. Honestly, some lessons are hard to understand when conducted online or virtually because there are factors that can affect the learning process. I have witnessed my kids how they cope up with their virtual classes in the last two years working at home. One major problem is the lack of internet connection or getting disconnected.
One more thing is that socialization has been missing. This is also important in the teaching-learning process because students need to interact with fellow students whom they can exchange opinions and share ideas with. They can also touch or even hug their beloved teacher whom they care about. After all, it is a little bit hard to talk to someone in front of a screen for a long time.
Get used to it
It appears that this virus will not leave us. So from now on we have to learn to live our life with this deadly virus just like with other diseases that emerged in the past.
Eventually, we will get used to it because it will be just like normal flu in the future.
Even if we have survived we cannot deny that this event is terrifying. The fact that millions have died globally including our relatives and the most heartbreaking is a member of our family is lost.
Next month Metro Manila will be under alert level one. This means that everything will be going back to normal. It will also mean that we have to go out at our own risk.
I just hope we can do the same thing as we did before without the virus and that this will not hinder us from evolving.
Let’s start a new life and move forward.
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
Lead image source credits to Dayne Topkin https://unsplash.com/photos/y5_mFlLMwJk https://unsplash.com/@dtopkin1
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**Disclaimer:**
*All contents are from the author’s experiences, knowledge and research. For educational and entertainment purposes only. You may find interesting topics with every post and you always have the right to disagree. Some posts can be used as a guide but the author will not be held responsible for any unpleasant circumstances it may bring.*
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Don’t Get Fooled: Read The Description
Online purchase these days is more convenient than going out to buy something at the nearest general merchandise outlet.
**Online sellers on the other hand eventually became a trending business when pandemic arose.**
I began purchasing products online sometime in 2016 and the first item I bought was a wearable device, a Smartwatch.
I thought buying products online was kind of expensive because of shipping fees. But then I was surprised to know that there are products sold online for as low as $1. It was only when I began visiting the website of one leading online store that time.
I like wearable stuff even if it is just a cheap one. You know, from sunglasses, wrist watches to mp3 players, I just like to buy it for myself. Maybe because I was born with no privileges of these kinds and some rich parents in our place can provide things like these to their kids. So, when I grow up and can provide something for myself, I tend to have such even if it’s only a cheap one.
**What type of online customer are you?**
Are you the type of customer who tends to buy things at the lowest price? If yes, well we have something in common.
So from then on, I have been buying products online instead of going out to the nearest mall. The things I used to purchase online are mostly tech products, tools, home fixtures and anything that can be useful at home and for my kids needs.
I guess you also do the same when purchasing products online, to rely on the customers feedback. Yes, I always do that and often I will go and read the customer's comment who gave three stars below. That way I already have an Idea whether the product is good to buy at the given price.
Sometimes it is more reliable to get negative feedback because they tell the truth. I am not saying that those who give 5 five stars rating to a product are not telling the truth. People have their own satisfaction when it comes to their experience of a particular product. And the good features of one product may be bad to other consumers.
However, most products online with cheap prices are deceiving so you have to check carefully the product details in the description. They will post the most colorful photo or the best photo angle of a product just to entice the customers.
Most complaints I have read in feedback are misleading descriptions and that the product is not what they expected in physical appearance compared to the picture.
In my own observation and experience, there is nothing wrong with those photos and descriptions. Sometimes the product title is more deceiving and that is where some customers fail to understand.
Consider the example below:
The product title is:
**E58/JY018/JY019/GW58/X6/E010/E010S/E013/E50 Foldable Arm RC FPV Drone storagebag**
But then when you look and read the feedbacks, it goes like this:
The consumers were showing disappointment because they expected a drone for a very cheap price and yet it was only the bag they received .
**However the description clearly says that it is a storage bag not a drone.**
You see how deceptive the product is?
I don’t see any wrong with this. Somehow if the consumer could have read the description he will not be disappointed or he will not even dare to purchase the product because it is only a bag.
There are a lot of misleading photos in some online stores like this and you just have to be cautious especially if you are not regularly purchasing products online.
So far I have not been stupid enough to purchase a product without reading the description. But most cheap products don’t last long. There are only very few sellers who offer good products for a cheap price.
Below are some cheap products I have purchased online that don’t last long. But I can still use these tech items in some of my projects so I don’t normally dispose of them.
The next photos are other products with cheap prices but are good and quite satisfactory.
Anyway I hope you enjoyed reading this and have an idea somehow when it comes to buying products online with cheap prices.
You must understand that sellers will do their best just to attract customers or gain traffic.
Remember that these are only marketing strategies.
The choice is still yours.
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
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**Disclaimer:**
*All contents are from the author’s experiences, knowledge and research. For educational and entertainment purposes only. You may find interesting topics with every post and you always have the right to disagree. Some posts can be used as a guide but the author will not be held responsible for any unpleasant circumstances it may bring.*
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Permanent Vacation
More and more foreigners are migrating to the Philippines. Do you know the reason why?
**In my previous post I have talked about foreigners marrying a Filipina.**
Since I have started it I want to make a follow up post which I think is more relevant to the subject.
If a foreigner guy marries a Filipina, he would definitely want to live in the Philippines for the rest of his life.
I just find it interesting to talk about this topic since I will be having a foreigner *bilas* (sister in-law future husband) sooner or later.
I don’t remember if I posted something like promoting my country or my local area for some recreation or tourist attraction. If I do, I think it was just random photos shared in relation to the story being told.
Anyway I hope this post doesn’t sound like I am a tourist guide because I have not explored the entire archipelago or have met its people entirely.
**It’s More Fun in the Philippines**
We (*Pinoys*) know how it feels to live in the Philippines although some rich people wanted to migrate to other countries for whatever their reason.
Allow me to share with you some possible reasons I know why foreigners want to migrate to the Philippines.
**We are living in a tropical country**
What does a tropical country mean? Don’t Google it. It means we have good weather here. Not so hot, not so cold. So for most western people who hate snow, they will surely love staying in the Philippines. They will never have to worry about shoveling snow during winter.
**Standard of living**
We have a low cost of living here although for some it is kind of high. But for foreigners who have a monthly basic pension of at least $2000 (100,000.00Php), it will be too much if they will spend it here in the Philippines. They can already buy a property here and can even establish business with that amount.
**Great biodiversity**
Since the Philippines is composed of islands, it is surrounded with beautiful beaches. Some immigrants would want to settle in some provinces in which beaches are just a few minutes away from their home. Most foreign people wanted to live near the beaches and would want to always get in touch with nature. It didn't cost them that much.
**We can speak and understand English**
Filipinos have high value with education so whenever part of the Philippines a foreigner go, he will not get lost because Filipinos can understand English.
I remember an old story joke about an American who wants to go to a beer house. He asked for directions from a *pedicab* driver. Then the guy responded to the American, “*You go this way, you go that way, the music play*”.
Those are only a few possible reasons why foreigners would want to migrate here. Living in the Philippines is not that hard. The food is cheap and commodities are always available because almost every block has a store. Besides, Filipinos are friendly and hospitable to foreigners. They will always greet you with a smile.
Anyway I hope I have given you some helpful information about staying in the Philippines as a permanent vacation. It may not be as concise as it should be but at least you have an idea of how it is to live in my home country.
Fellow Filipinos please add some helpful information in the comment if you want to, we never know how this small information can help with our foreigner friends in this community.
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
Lead image source credits to Mohd Elle https://unsplash.com/photos/oji_NGmBI5o https://unsplash.com/@mohdelle
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**Disclaimer:**
*All contents are from the author’s experiences, knowledge and research. For educational and entertainment purposes only. You may find interesting topics with every post and you always have the right to disagree. Some posts can be used as a guide but the author will not be held responsible for any unpleasant circumstances it may bring.*
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Foreigner Guys Marrying A Pinay
Why do some foreigner guys want a Filipina as a lifetime partner?
**Let’s forget about technologies first and talk about other serious matters or I should say relationships.**
You may notice that I posted almost everything about technology and consumer electronics in the past two weeks. I will have to make a post about relationships this time for now.
It’s been months that I have not posted about this topic but please don’t think that I am good at relationships too. As we all know that there is no perfect relationship but being a husband and a father of two kids for thirteen years (going fourteen this April) is quite satisfactory.
I know you might wonder why I am writing about this subject. Well let’s get it straight. My sis in-law, who is currently working as an OFW in Bahrain for almost eight years, is in a relationship with a Pakistani guy. The good news is they are planning to get married sooner.
She called last night, as she normally does, talking to her sister (my wife) about anything even if it sounds nonsense (laughs). Her fiancé wanted to speak to her sister for the first time. My wife refuses as she is not used to talking in English. But then the guy wanted to speak to anyone from us so my wife handed me the phone and I talked to the guy instead. I speak to him in Arabic instead of English as I am kind of confident enough talking to him in such language.
Before we go somewhere else let’s get back to the question. Why do some foreigners want a Filipina partner?
**I have a cousin who was married to an Australian guy and when asked about why he wants a** ***Pinay*** **to marry, his answer was that he doesn’t like divorce.**
In the Philippines we don’t have divorce. So most likely foreigners like him want a partner for a lifetime.
I didn’t dare to ask my sis in-laws fiancé as we just chit-chat for a couple of minutes. Maybe when he visits the country sooner I can ask him why.
Let’s exclude divorce first from the answers because countries have different laws when it comes to marriage.
**How do you define a type of Filipina to marry?**
I am not sure if I can characterize all of them but I will set my mother, my sisters and my wife as an example.
Firstly, seeing my mother how she raised her five kids and then took care of my father, I can say that you will not regret marrying a Filipina.
Generally speaking a typical Filipina is hard-working, honest, smart and sweet to name but a few. But don’t you ever mess with her because she will make your life a living hell (jokes). But seriously, never treat her badly if you want to live with her for the rest of your life.
So if you are one of the foreign guys out there who wants to settle in the Philippines for good, I can say that marrying a Filipina will be one of your greatest happiness in life. Beautiful places here are just bunos to the jackpot.
But as I have said a while ago that there is no perfect relationship, it will still depend on the personality and attitude of a person to keep a sweetest couple relationship going.
Anyway I have to cut this post short and there is nothing more to say, girls can add and continue in the comments below.
By the way, shout out to @Bloghound. I think she knows exactly what this post means.
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
Lead image source credits to Dominic Sansotta https://unsplash.com/photos/99mN3NEGrMA https://unsplash.com/@dsan_nowsay
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**Disclaimer:**
*All contents are from the author’s experiences, knowledge and research. For educational and entertainment purposes only. You may find interesting topics with every post and you always have the right to disagree. Some posts can be used as a guide but the author will not be held responsible for any unpleasant circumstances it may bring.*
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You Are Being Watched!
Here is another set of information about privacy and security.
I have been posting a series of information about tips and ideas with some of our personal devices and home technology for the last couple of days. I hope you are not bombarded by this but at least it has helped you somehow.
Three days ago I posted information on how someone could be spying on us without our awareness.
In today’s post I will be tackling a similar post but this time it is about hidden cameras.
These days it seems that cameras are almost everywhere. Large malls and even small business establishments have video recording systems installed or Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV).
The reason for doing so is obvious, to make sure everything is secure and documented.
However there are establishments that take advantage of the cameras capability and use it to monitor people without their knowledge.
Examples of these establishments are apartments, hostels and or public restrooms. They are using hidden cameras to spy on people and for whatever their purpose is, it is against the law.
Cameras these days can be as small as the needle. Below is the camera I have extracted from a broken Smartphone.
This is the smallest so far I have ever extracted from old phones. It is so small that it can fit inside a pen.
It means it can be hidden to anything like clocks, picture frames, smoke alarm, key chain, Bluetooth speaker or anything that may act as a display in a room.
You may want to consider checking some stuff for possible hidden cams the next time you check in during your next vacay.
Before you freak out below are some tips on how to check if there are hidden cams installed inside lodging houses.
**Hidden camera detector**
You may want to purchase a device that can detect hidden cameras. There is a lot of this in several online stores and it costs more than $10. This may seem helpful but it will just add to stuff in your purse. But if you are more concerned about your privacy you are always free to choose whether you want to be secured or not.
**Your Smartphone is camera detector**
Yes you read it right. Just open the camera of any type of Smartphone you have and you can start searching and detecting hidden cameras.
**How is this possible?**
The truth is it’s not really the camera that your phone camera can detect. It is the infrared (IR) LED light it detects. All digital cameras have IR sensors that have a very high frequency range so infrared emitted by IR diodes can be detected by these sensors even if they are invisible to our eyes.
Photos below are actual demonstrations I made for you. Just in case you have no idea of how it works.
So the next time you enter a private room, you may want to test and check if there are hidden cams installed. Here is what you should do upon entering the room. Don’t turn off the lights first. Open your phone's camera, which I know for sure you always hold, turn off the flash if it is on then start scanning the entire room. If your camera can see a flashing light in the dark, be alert because that could be a possible IR LED of a hidden camera.
You can test your phone camera detecting an IR with your TVs remote control. Open your phone's camera and then place TVs remote control in front of it and press any key. You will see the IR LED flashing.
Note that this tip may not be working with tiny cameras because they don’t have IR LED exposed. But there are other ways to check if hidden cameras are installed inside a hotel room. Mostly they are installed in the best angle of the room. You may want to check valuable items on the desk too, and then check the mirrors and even AC sockets. If you see tiny holes in an unusual spot, there is a possible hidden camera installed on it.
This may sound ridiculous but if you care about your privacy you may want to consider this practice whenever you are checking in places far from your home. You are not just saving yourself but your friends and loved ones too.
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
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**Disclaimer:**
*All contents are from the author’s experiences, knowledge and research. For educational and entertainment purposes only. You may find interesting topics with every post and you always have the right to disagree. Some posts can be used as a guide but the author will not be held responsible for any unpleasant circumstances it may bring.*
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Today in History: Severino Reyes
Have you noticed the Google logo today?
**Google is changing its logo temporarily during holidays or sometimes you will see images of a person just like you are seeing with Google homepage today February 11, 2022.**
If you have not tried clicking on the image in today’s Google logo, the person is Severino Reyes.
**Google Doodle**
Just an FYI if you are not aware, a Google Doodle is (according to Wikipedia), temporarily alteration of Google’s Homepages to commemorate holidays, events, achievement and remarkable historical figures of certain countries.
Google has been doing this for almost two decades although sometimes they are being criticized by some organizations for not featuring America’s patriotic holidays or gender and race imbalance.
I will not be mentioning a lot more of Google Doodle in this post. Just go **here** and see for yourself. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Doodle
**Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang (Stories of Grandma Basyang)**
**So who is Severino Reyes?**
Honestly I did not know about him until Google has featured him in today’s Google Doodle.
**What seems so special about him?**
He was a writer and a Filipino. Thanks to Google for letting me know (shame on me).
If you are a fellow *Pinoy* reading this, you may have heard of the name *Lola Basyang.* Actually I have heard of her since I was a kid and she was famous for her stories *Alamat ng Lamok* (The legend of the Mosquito)*, Walang Sugat* (No Wounds)*,* and *Ang Halik Ni Hudas* (The Kiss of Judas) to name but a few.
I was thinking that *Lola Basyang* was really an old woman. I don’t know if some of you already know for a long time that it was Reyes’s pen name.
Today, February 11 is the natal day of **Severino Reyes**, known as the “Father of Tagalog Plays” and as the “Father of Tagalog Zarsuela”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severino_Reyes
I am proud to include him in my articles and this post is to commemorate one of the historical figures of the Philippines. You can view his complete profile in Wikipedia.
There are a lot of great Filipino writers in the past that have been part of Philippine history. In fact I still hold a copy of Jose Rizal’s “*Noli Me Tangere*” published in 1957 (Fifth Printing) that I have been preserving for almost two decades now.
It’s kind of old that the pages can tear off easily so I just wrapped and kept it untouched.
We see a lot of information everyday and often we tend to ignore it because it may have no importance. Or if not we may have known a little and just ignore them as there are more things to devote our time to than paying attention to them.
We have to understand that most information we receive is freely given to us. It only takes our time to take that information and store it in our minds.
So the next time you see Google has changed its homepage, take time to check it out. I think two or three minutes is not a waste of your time to learn new information.
Who knows, maybe someday Google will feature the person who drilled small holes in a cattle bone, tied a bunch of swine fibers, passed through a hole and then glued them while he was in prison.
Do you know who he is and what he invented?
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
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**Disclaimer:**
*All contents are from the author’s experiences, knowledge and research. For educational and entertainment purposes only. You may find interesting topics with every post and you always have the right to disagree. Some posts can be used as a guide but the author will not be held responsible for any unpleasant circumstances it may bring.*
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3 Signs That Someone is Spying on You Without Your Knowledge
Everybody wants that rectangular object that seems to entertain and sometimes can’t live without.
**Who doesn’t need a Smartphone? I think in this era of technology everyone does.**
Six days ago I posted about **5 Important Settings We Need To Change On Our Phone** which includes stuff like tracking a mobile phone. https://read.cash/@Bjorn/5-important-settings-we-need-to-change-on-our-phone-a3c7d829
When it comes to tracking a mobile phone, there are two different cases. One is you track your own device and the other one is someone is tracking your device.
For some reason that you lost your phone or it was stolen you can go to android.com/find and for iPhone it is something like iCloud.com/find. Then you will be able to locate your phone and do necessary actions remotely.
There are instances that our Smartphones heat up a lot. This is common to all mobile devices especially if you are using your phone for online games for more than an hour with mobile data connection. Or you are watching a movie with it.
*By the way it is not safe to use your mobile devices while charging and connecting it to the internet. You must understand that phones heat up when charging and using it at the same time will just add heat to the device. Besides, it will slow down the charging time.*
Sometimes you might notice that your phone just suddenly consumes a lot more battery charge than usual. You have to be careful because this might be a sign that you are being tracked and that someone is accessing your phone to steal information like the password to your bank account.
Below are three things you need to pay attention to for a possible hacking activity on your device.
**1. Increase in data usage**
All apps installed in our phone have logs to their data usage. Of course it will only record its logs when we are using our phone. However if it increases its data usage for no reason then there is something suspicious about the apps installed in your phone. Whoever installed that app in your phone has set it to constantly monitor and record all information on your phone then upload it to their storage somewhere in the web. And by doing so it needs a lot of data.
**2. Your Phone heats up a lot**
Because your phone uses a lot of data, most likely it will consume a lot of battery power. You will notice that your phone lasts for only two or three hours more than normal. Obviously, something is going on with your device. There is an app that keeps on running in the background without you noticing it. So it will drain all of your battery’s juice.
**3. Screen activity**
If your phone is on standby mode then suddenly the screen lights up even if there is no notification or something, you better pay attention. There is something running on your device without your permission. Someone might be recording on your device like screenshots and voice recording. You have to always check your gallery of screenshots. If you see a screenshot of your messages, websites you visit or anything that you are sure was not captured by you then you should be alert. Same thing with voice recording, if you see a lot of voice recordings that you sure did not record, then it is a hundred percent that somebody is accessing your device remotely.
**How will you clean this mess?**
Before you freak out if one of these things are currently happening in your phone, here is what you should do.
Install an antivirus on your phone but if you don’t like installing one because sometimes anti-virus could be annoying, you may need to reset your phone. But first you have to backup your phone before doing so.
After resetting your phone you have to carefully check those apps that you are going to install for your personal use. You know sometimes we tend to install an app then for some reason we uninstall it without knowing that the app was a virus sneaking into personal information inside our phone.
Remember that our phone does not really remove the apps we uninstalled. The cache and logs are still there in one of our phones folders. So we should be cautious with every app that we install.
Thanks for reading. Ciao!
Lead image **source** credits to **engin akyurt** https://unsplash.com/photos/O5_9g3PToNo https://unsplash.com/@enginakyurt
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**Disclaimer:**
*All contents are from the author’s experiences, knowledge and research. For educational and entertainment purposes only. You may find interesting topics with every post and you always have the right to disagree. Some posts can be used as a guide but the author will not be held responsible for any unpleasant circumstances it may bring.*
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@Bjorn
