Mga Kuwentong Barbero

YNAB - Personal Budgeting Software

It's been a while now since we started using You Need a Budget (YNAB)... If I remember correctly, we bought this amazing software last May 2009. Since then budgeting has never been easier! Here's why:

It has a super cool user interface that's robust, yet still easy to use --> Think Apple UI

: YNAB

I have always been confused with debit and credit, good thing, this app uses IN and OUT instead
It's more than an application... it encourages you to make saving a habit through goal setting and living by its 4 principles:

Give Every Dollar a Job

Each month you assign your Available dollars to spending/savings categories. This process takes 20 minutes and revolutionizes the way you think about your money.

Result: Dollars are told what to do. Your awareness will increasetremendously and you’ll find contentment as your spending aligns itself with your core values. Communication between spouses is restored.

Save for a Rainy Day

You’ll anticipate larger, less-frequent expenses and will be ready for them. Insurance premium due in six months for $600? Save $100 each month and watch the Car Insurance balance grow.

Result: Eliminate the crazy ups and downs in your life. Gain atrue picture of your discretionary income. Enjoy opening the mail again (the money will be there waiting to pay that bill).

Roll with the Punches

The key is to keep moving even when you fail (you will). YNAB will make small adjustments when you overspend, ensuring that you fix those mistakes before you go to the next month.

Result: It keeps you on your budgeting feet, so when you fail, you don’t quit. You start each month with a clean slate–a hugepsychological boost.

Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck

We want you to work toward living on last month’s income. Both the software and methodology will help you do just that.

Result: You’ll find breathing room. You’ll stop wasting time by timing paychecks with bills, and if you’re on a variable income, your budgeting “problem” will be eliminated.

: Budgeting

It is super lightweight and multi-platform, it even has an iPhone and now an Android application
Syncing is very easy, it highlights the updates or conflicts between devices, and allows you to easily check for it and approve as necessary

Beat this -- It has an awesome website, awesome community, awesome crew, awesome tutorials
It focuses more on changing lives rather than scoring money from its users because it focuses on YOU learning by giving free tutorials and coaching classes, it focuses on YOU getting the latest update for free for life, it focuses on YOU being able to access your application from all of your devices

If you're still in doubt, read what others think about YNAB:

Enough said, why don't you guys just try this wonder for free :) I know, this is starting to sound like a paid ad but that's how happy I am!

I can't stop spreading the good news! =) In fact, I'm glad that I am finally able to post this one because looking back, I really owe Jessy (founder of YNAB) big time! Read their story here.

If you have any question about this app, feel free to contact me via email. I'll be a YNAB consultant for free!

New Look of Apple iPhone 5?

Much has been talked about the iPhone 5, numerous speculations and requests have circulated all over the internet. But wouldn't it so lovely if the iPhone 5 were to look like this?

Revilla Enraged Over Ramgen and Janelle Manahan's Leaked Sex Video

Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. was enraged over the leaked sex video of his brother Ramgen and Janelle Manahan. He sought the help of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in identifying and prosecuting the culprits over Anti-Voyeurism Law of 2009 (RA 9995).

Bong said that what they did was "Sobrang pambababoy ang ginagawa nila sa kapatid ko. Karumal-dumal na nga ang pagkamatay ni Ramgen, sinisira pa nila ang pagkatao," Revilla said in a statement Tuesday.

"Mas grabe pa ang pambababoy na ginagawa nila kay Janelle. Grabe na ang kanyang pinagdaanan, at pilit pa nilang niyuyurakan ang pagkababae nito ngayon," he added.

Janelle admitted to the authenticity of the video but is sad and frustrated that it circulated on the Internet.

Katy Perry Live in Manila

My wife and I will soon be watching Katy Perry here in Mall of Asia Complex this January. We are both very excited about it but quite hesitant of how this concert will turn out, given that Katy is in the middle of divorce.

It's been a while since her last concert here in Manila and we really regret passing up on that opportunity to watch her because now, we might not be able to enjoy her full performance level because of her recent breakup with British comendian Russell Brand. Tsk too bad. :(

Anyhow, Katy is in the middle of her concert tour for her Teenage Dream album and in constant communication with Rhianna, her close friend who's now her shoulder to lean on. We pray that Katy recovers quickly because Russel is clearly not her loss.

New Year New Hope

Welcome 2012!
My family welcomes you with joy, hope, and positive foresight. This year we will:

Reach for the stars
Achieve our dreams
Make the calls
Seriously do the business
Aim for the 640k prize for hard work and patience
Look at only 1 direction as a team
Aim for that free Honda City
End the year with a bang, as we have with 2010 and 2011

May this year be fruitful, lovely, and kind. May this year allow us to realize our dreams :)
Signing off, Jameson.

I Lost Weight

There's no denying here... I lost weight! Will tell you more about it soon because my battery is running out. Cheers! Happy New Year!!!

iOS vs. Android or Smart vs. Globe?

I recently got myself an HTC Android phone (which replaced my old iPhone 3GS), sad to admit it but really, i cannot move on... i kinda miss iOS but i have all the reasons to love my Android device.

Now that my Globe contract is expiring, what plan should i get? What additional phone should i get? Just thinking about these things make me feel giddy, 1 more month and I am finally free!

Smart vs. Globe?

錢是你自己的，但資源是全社會的

English Version
我的馬來西亞朋友送我這篇文章。這是很好的閱讀。這篇文章不是我的。我只是想分享這篇。
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錢是你自己的，但資源是全社會的
~~~~~ 德國的一張罰單 ~~~~~ 值得馬來西亞人沈思
德國是個工業化程度很高的國家，說到賓士，BMW，西門子......沒有人不知道，世界上用於核子反應爐中最好的核心泵就是在德國的一個小鎮上產生的。
在這樣一個發達國家，人們的生活一定是紙醉金迷燈紅酒綠吧。去德國考察前，我們在描繪著、揣摩著這個國度。
到達港口城市漢堡之時，我們習慣先去餐館，已在駐地的同事免不了要為我們接風洗塵。
走進餐館，我們一行穿過桌多人少的中餐館大廳，心裡犯疑惑：這樣冷清清的場面，飯店能開下去嗎？更可笑的是一對用餐? 侶的桌子上，只擺有一個碟子，裡面只放著兩種菜，兩罐啤酒，如此簡單，是否影響他們的甜蜜聚會？如果是男士買單，是否太小氣，他不怕女友跑掉？
另外一桌是幾位白人老太太在悠閒地用餐，每道菜上桌後，服務生很快的幫她們分配好，然後就被她們吃光光了。
我們不再過多的注意她們，而是盼著自己的大餐快點上來。駐地的同事看到大家飢餓的樣子，就多點了些菜，大家也不推讓，大有「宰」駐地同事的意思。
餐館客人不多，上菜很快，我們的桌子很快被碟碗堆滿，看來，今天我們是這裡的大富豪了。狼吞虎嚥之後，想到面還有活動，就不再戀酒菜，這一餐很快就結束了。結果還有三分之一沒有吃掉，剩在桌面上。
結完賬，個個剔著牙，歪歪扭扭出了餐館大門。出門沒走幾步，餐館裡有人在叫我們。不知是怎麼回事：是否誰的東西忘記了？我們都好奇，回頭去看看。原來是那幾個白人老太太，在和飯店老闆嘰哩呱啦說著什麼，好像是針對我們的。看到我們都圍來了，老太太改說英文，我們就都能聽懂了，她在說我們剩的菜太多，太浪費了。我們覺得好笑，這老太太多管閒事！
「我們花錢吃飯買單，剩多少，關妳老太太什麼事？」同事阿桂當時站出來，想和老太太練練口語。
聽到阿桂這樣一說，老太太更生氣了，為首的老太太立馬掏出手機? 撥打著什麼電。一會兒，一個穿制服的人開車來了，稱是社會保障機構的工作人員。問完情況後，這位工作人員居然拿出罰單，開出50馬克的罰款! 。
這下我們都不吭氣了，阿桂的臉不知道扭到哪裡去了，也不敢再練口語了。駐地的同事只好拿出50馬克，並一再說：「對不起！」
這位工作人員收下馬克，鄭重地對我們說：「需要吃多少，就點多少！錢是你自己的，但資源是全社會的，世界上有則人還缺少資源，你們不能夠也沒有理由浪費！」
我們臉都紅了。但我們在心裡卻都認同這句話。這個富有的國家裡，人們還有這種意識。我們得好好反思：我們是個資源不是很豐富的國家，而且人口眾多，平時請客吃飯，剩下的總是很多，主人怕客人吃不好丟面子，擔心被客人看成小氣鬼，就點很多的菜，反正都有剩，你不會怪我不大方吧。
事實上，我們真的需要改變我們的一些習慣了，並且還要樹立「大社會」的意識，再也不能「窮大方」了。
那天，駐地的同事把罰單複印後，給每人一張做紀念，我們都願? 接受並決心保存著。阿桂說，回去後，他會再複印一些送給別人，自己的一張就貼在家裡的牆壁上，以便時常提醒自己。

Money is yours but Resources Belong to the Society

中文版
My Malaysian friend forwarded this and this is a nice read. The article below doesn't belong to me and I just want to share this.
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MONEY IS YOURS BUT RESOURCES BELONG TO THE SOCIETY
Germany is a highly industrialized country. It produces top brands like Benz, BMW, Simons etc. The nuclear reactor pump is made in a small town in this country. In such a country, many will think its people lead a luxurious life. At least that was my impression before my study trip.
When I arrived at Hamburg, my colleagues who work in Hamburg arranged a welcome party for me in a restaurant. As we walked into the restaurant, we noticed that a lot of tables were empty. There was a table where a young couple was having their meal. There were only two dishes and two cans of beer on the table. I wondered if such simple meal could be romantic, and whether the girl will leave this stingy guy.
There were a few old ladies on another table. When a dish is served, the waiter would distribute the food for them, and they would finish every bit of the food on their plates.
We did not pay much attention to them, as we were looking forward to the dishes we ordered. As we were hungry, our local colleague ordered more food for us.
As the restaurant was quiet, the food came quite fast. Since there were other activities arranged for us, we did not spend much time dining. When we left, there was still about one third of unconsumed food on the table.
When we were leaving the restaurant, we heard someone calling us. We noticed the old ladies in the restaurant were talking about us to the restaurant owner. When they spoke to us in English, we understood that they were unhappy about us wasting so much food. We immediately felt that they were really being too busybody.
"We paid for our food, it is none of your business how much food we left behind," my colleague Gui told the old ladies.
The old ladies were furious. One of them immediately took her handphone out and made a call to someone.
After a while, a man in uniform claimed to be an officer from the Social Security organization arrived. Upon knowing what the dispute was, he issued us a 50 Mark fine.
The officer told us in a stern voice, "ORDER WHAT YOU CAN CONSUME, MONEY IS YOURS BUT RESOURCES BELONG TO THE SOCIETY. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS IN THE WORLD WHO ARE FACING SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES. YOU HAVE NO REASON TO WASTE RESOURCES."
We all kept quiet. The local colleague took out a 50 Mark note and repeatedly apologized to the officer.
Our face turned red. We all agreed with him in our hearts. The mindset of people of this rich country put all of us to shame. WE REALLY NEED TO REFLECT ON THIS. We are from country which is not very rich in resources.
To save face, we order large quantities and also waste food when we give others a treat. THIS LESSON TAUGHT US A LESSON TO THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT CHANGING OUR BAD HABITS.
My colleague photocopied the fine ticket and gave a copy to each of us as a souvenir. All of us kept it and pasted on our wall to remind us that we shall never be wasteful.

RIP Steve Jobs

On one of his popular speeches, that was in Stanford, Jobs once again proved that he is one hell of a guy! Amazing mind, amazing heart, amazing skills...
This got me inspired once again to do my best everyday, to live the most everyday, to love like there's no tomorrow...
Hope these lessons do the same for you so I am sharing them to the world, and I do hope everyone gets the chance to read these three simple lessons:

1. Connecting the Dots – you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.

2. Love – You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on.

3. Death – is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

“No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” - Steve Jobs
‎”Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.” – Steve Jobs

Candy Train

Remember Pipe Dreams.... I first encountered this on Windows 3.1 claasic game. The objective of the game is to place the pipes from one end to another end. And make sure that the water will smoothly flo to the other end.

Pipe Dream for Windows 3.1

Here is its reincarnation... Candy Train.

Platform: iOS (iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad [HDMode])
Price: FREE

Similarity: Instead of Pipes, it became rails. And the train will just go round and round.

Objective: The train will just go round and round and you need to get the additionar train car. All you need to do is to prepare the tracks for the train. When the train get longer it became faster and difficult to manuver.

When you get the caboose a station will appear. And you need to let the train to get in to the station, so the train cars will be left at the station on the next level.

However you must remember DO NOT LET THE TRAIN CRASH!!!

Why addictive, because of compeion to the high score.. The game rules is so simple but it is hard.

My highest score is 24,120. And my friend, who introduced the game to me has a score of 36,xxx...

Here are some screen shot for this game.

Wring on iPad

I love writing on my notebook. The most effective way for me for note taking is writing, however these days, it is hard to share something if it is not in digital copy and scanning you notebook is not a goo approach.

Why writing is the best?
Do you know that when you right you remember the strokes.

Honesly I don't review my notesmuch often. I remember what I write because of the strokes. But in typing, aside from being a slow typer. It is hard o remember what you type.

Here are some tools in iPad that I bought for writing.

A. Penultimate
Like: when i write it looks my hand writing is nice.
Dislike: hard rest algorithm is not that good, cannot type, wrong touch you will go to next or next next page.

Screen shot of Penultimate.

B. Notes plus
Like: you can type, write, and put shapes. Can eport to PDF. can be sync with Google Docs. Nice wrist pad for hard writing
Dis like: Bad hand writing.

Screen shot of Notes Plus

Here is my stylus for writing

Word Press for iPad

I'm back and guess what, I'm using Word Press for iPad. This is a simple tool that allows you to write something specially while you are on the go.

This is so simple and all that you can do is to write,add photos, and add videos.

If you are expect enough you can use HTML commands to add color and change font. Who cares, you want art go to your PC. You want simple and fast, use mobile device.

By the way why we blog? Because we want to write and share something.

I tried some featues that i think useful for this application.

Sample screen shot.

Tip #4 Give Way

What is the difference of the street and race track?

In order to be successful on race track you need to win the race while on street in order to be successful you need to have a smooth traffic.

In Metro Manila, being ahead of other cars is better, there is no such award of arriving first at a destination. I don’t know why.

Whenever you want to change lane, most of the cars don’t give way, therefore at end of the intersection you can see a lot of cars struggling to make the turn from the inner lane since nobody gave way before they reached the intersection.

Bottom-line the traffic flow is still not smooth since nobody give way.

There is no value on reaching the destination first, but there is a great value on reaching the destination comfortably.

Tip #3 Mind you own Business (Wag maging Uzi)

Traffic accident is one of the common reasons why we have traffic jam. Because it clogs one or two lanes of the road, therefore traffic built up. Do you know what is the real reason of the traffic jam if there is an accident?

GOSSIP, people slow down and wondering what is the cause of the accident as if they can help. Yah right, they can only help by making the traffic jam worst.

By looking at the above photo, you are already wondering what happened on those motorcycle riders. People really want to know the story and others took a photo of it as shown on the above photo.

Almost all of the locations after the incident area, the road is already wide open. Most of the time, motorists don’t have an idea on the real story of the incident. Real story such as root cause, status of the people involve, etc.

This is not only common on accidents. There are some other scene that motorists slow down and take a look.

Someone made a traffic violation: normally people slow down and wondering what is the violation.

By looking at similar incidents same with the photo, do you know the root cause? Can you help the one who has trouble on the street. Definitely NOT! You only help to make the traffic jam worst by slowing down.

Picture Source:

http://autom.i.ph/blogs/autom/2008/05/22/motorcycle-accidents/

http://www.paranaque.gov.ph/news/2009/11/paranaque-is-a-traffic-discipline-zone-2/

No Littering on the Street of Metro Manila

Since time in memorial, we know that littering is prohibited anyway. It is against our moral to litter. Any kid knew that littering is bad for our environment. However it is very common to litter on the streets, why?

It is very comfortable, since if you want to dispose something just leave it anywhere and you don’t need to carry the litter since it is not your place anyway.
Lack of trash cans in the city, even in malls there is a scarce of trash bins. So who care, I rather leave my trash than look for a trash can
Laziness, since the street is not your place and hoping that someone will clean the streets, because we paid for there service through expensive taxes.

On the year 1999, there is the Anti Littering Resolution (99-006) by MMDA and this is not properly implemented until Sept. 16, 2010.

The MMDA has apprehended more than 100 litterbugs during the first day of the re-implementation of the Anti-Littering Law on Thursday.

Provisions:

Littering, Illegal dumping, Illegal disposal of garbage;
Urinating, defecating, spitting in a public place;
Dirty frontage and immediate surroundings for establishment owners;
Improper and untimely stacking of garbage outside residence or establishment;
Obstruction (any dilapidated appliance, vehicle, and etc., display of merchandise, illegal structure along sidewalk);
Dirty public utility vehicles, or no trash can or receptacle;
Spilling, scattering, littering of wastes by public utility vehicles; and
Illegal posting or installed signage, billboards, posters, streamers and movie ads., etc.

Fine:

500 to 1,000 pesos for fines, or
Render community service for those who cannot afford the fine

I hope that this should be implemented in the whole country. And if we want a clean city we must follow this rule. Let’s support MMDA.

Photo Source: http://www3.mb.com.ph/articles/277439/mmda-reimplements-law-against-littering-nabs-100

Further Reading: http://oh-wheezers.blogspot.com/2010/09/anti-littering-law-10-things-you-should.html

Goal Setting

I've just seen this video about "How great leaders inspire action" and I had a reflection on what happened to the last 10 years of my life.
[ted id='848']

Eight years ago I tried to set up an electronics retail business without knowing how to run a business. At that time, I believed that if I graduate college and end up as an employee, I won't have any bright future in front of me. Why? I am surounded by rich businessmen and I don't have any successful employee friend at that time.

As mentioned, The business went through and after a year it closed down. What happened? Wrong goals.

My only goal was to make money. No vision, no mission, no difference from my competitors, except that sometimes they are cheaper. I dreamt to be rich because I wanted to raise the living standard for my future kids even though my current standard of living at that time was already high.

Bottomline is, my shop was like the small DeeBeeDee (DVD) stores in Greenhills, where there is no difference between shop A and shop B. All films are the same, even the packaging, see one see all, the only difference is the bargain price.

After my business career, i went to an IT company to work. My goal was to learn something from that company, quit in 5 years, and start my own company. What was I thinking? I needed experience in order to be successful.

After six and a half years, I am still in that same company. Why? I still don't have a good enough concept to start up a business. Why? Because I realized that I will never succeed if making money is my only goal.

Anyway, I am very glad that i'm still with this company because there's never a dull moment, and never did a single day went by without me learning awesome and geeky things.

My goal now is to learn and not to earn. I have set aside my focus on income and is now more focused on my work. I see to it that i help people without expecting anything in return. I treat the team not as colleagues and officemates but as friends and family. What is my take away? I learned a lot. How about my money-making goal? I'll just follow my dreams and money will definitely follow. I'll leave everything to God and God will guide me according to His will.

Tip #2 Keep Intersection Open

Filipino drivers are normally impatient. Green light means go, so the driver will cross the street even if the intersection is not open. As a result, other cars can no long pass through.

I think that most of the drivers doesn’t know what keep intersection open means.

This is a common problem because driver always think about themselves and doesn’t care about other motorist.

Most people doesn’t know or doesn’t care what this sign means

Simple way on solving traffic jam in Metro Manila

Since the 90’s, Metro Manila experiencing daily traffic jams. As years goes by it becoming worst due to the following reasons

Population Growth
Increase of car volume – since now it is easy to buy a car. We can see car loan down payment as low as 25,000.
Driving Style

For the first two, as a simple Filipino we cannot do anything. But for the driving style, we can do a lot. The president’s order of removal of siren is a great help so local officials must act up to ease their daily problem, TRAFFIC JAM. For us, we just need to follow simple rules in order to have a smooth traffic flow.

Tip #1 Follow the Lane

Staying on the lane is very important, because the root cause traffic jam in Metro Manila is not due to the volume but it is due to clogging the road at one area.

Current Scenario

Based on the diagram if all the vehicles who is turning left will use the left lane therefore all vehicles on the right lane can go straight without any problem.

This is very common since people think if they go first they can reach their destination earlier.

Two Kinds of Taxi in Metro Manila

We all know that the standard color of taxi in Metro Manila is white and the standard rate is

First 2 kilometers : PHP 30.00

Next 0.2 kilometer : PHP 2.50

Normal White Taxi

Most of us are not aware that there are Airport Taxi with special rates

First 2 kilometers : PHP 70.00

Next 0.2 kilometer : PHP 4.00

Yellow Airport Taxi

Last night, it was raining so hard and it is very hard to get a cab. A yellow cab stop at my front and ask me if I want a ride, normally I don’t get these kinds of taxi because the fare is more expensive. I told the driver that I am not interested and he said that he will give me 20 Pesos discount. Since the weather is bad and I need to go home therefore I took the offer.

I found out the the fare is different but the boundary is the same as the standard white taxi, P1,400 in 24 hours.

After travelling 4.6km the bill is P122.00 and the driver only took P100 (P22 discount)

At a normal taxi the fare is P62.50 and normally I give P70 - P80 (P7.50 – P17.50 tip)

Bottom-line: Due to the competition, some yellow taxi driver needs to haggle in order to get passengers.

Photo taken from:

Yellow Taxi: Asia Trading Post Online

White Taxi: Filtours.com