New TV Shows

There are quite a number of TV shows, new and new to me, that I’ve been lining up to watch. One, there’s the Buffy the Vampire Slayer spinoff Angel, the tale of the Slayer’s first love who had to leave Sunnydale and made a home in Los Angeles. There are familiar faces like Cordelia and Wesley, together with new faces, to make up a team of paranormal investigators led by a vampire. Then, there’s Battlestar Galactica, the widely acclaimed science fiction show that just ended its run. Joss Whedon’s new show Dollhouse is also making the news now. The old TV shows can be watched, I think, on syndication. The others are on cable. I wish I can have a service like the San Francisco Satellite Television. Satellite TV does sound better than ordinary cable; I believe its advantage is that it can reach areas that are not serviceable by terrestrial or cable providers. In areas like San Francisco satellite tv provides a wide range of channels and services. If only I can subscribe to something like that. Besides the TV shows, there are also many great m,ovie channels and also sports channels that I want to watch. I even miss watching the National Geographic Channel and the Discovery Channel. Sigh. Now I’m dreaming of Satellite TV San Francisco.

Let’s Travel: Dubai

When I think about traveling to a different country, I always think about Paris, London, or New York. That’s quite typical but there’s specifically something about these cities that I want to see. Well, for one, they each have a Grand Slam tennis event. On the side, they also have theaters where most of my favorite musicals are being played. But when I think about Asian countries, Singapore or Thailand immediately spring to mind. Singapore because I know quite a lot of people who  work there, and Thailand because ever since I saw Leonardo di Caprio’s movie The Beach, I can’t stop thinking about Phuket’s beautiful beaches. Lately, though, Dubai has also gotten my attention. A Dubai Holiday would seem to be a great one. My sister, for one, have long been wanting to work as a customer service agent there.I was always apprehensive when she tells me this because it’s too far and the culture seems to be really different, but I’ve read that Dubai is quite an open and free country. Besides, it also looks like a rich country with plenty of sights to offer. So I wouldn’t say no to Dubai Holidays if anybody would offer to sponsor one (wink, wink). Working there, on the other hand, may not be a life dream of mine. I’ll leave that to my sis. Holidays Dubai is all I’m looking forward to. Maybe I’ll see Roger Federer there. I know he has a house there and practices during the pre-Australian open season to get used to the heat. There are also ATP and WTA tournaments being held there so that’s more than just an added bonus.

Wheels

I was supposed to go badminton racket shopping today.  See, there’s this place that supposedly sells Carlton badminton rackets for up to 70% discount. And not just rackets, but also bags and all those other sports accessories. Friends of mine have already bought there and they were happy with the discounts they got so I figured I might as well check it out. The problem now is that I don’t know the place and it’s not easy to go to through commute. I probably will just take a cab but wouldn’t it be a lot easier if I have a car? I so need a car. It’sabout time I find myself a second hand car, because there’s no way I can buy a brand new one these days.

Every time I do groceries, carrying the heavy shopping bags and having to walk from the jeepney stop to my compound’s gate, I always dream about driving my own car. It doesn’t matter if it’s a used car. A lot of people I know buy used cars, especially those who are driving for the first time. I think I should wait until I have enough money to check for cars before I enroll in a driving school. I’m scared enough as it is, and I think I might forget it if I’ll study now and practice and drive later. I remember when I was barely 15, my father used to teach me to drive in our owner-type jeep. He even let me drive on the highway, with all those trucks and buses and with filled passengers of genuinely scared adults. That may not be such a good idea. Although I can remember that even with the paralyzing fear, I was in control. But then I didn’t really become a full-pledged driver then because I was judged too young and too reckless. I miss those times. When I was carefree and careless. I couldn’t imagine it now, but I’ll surely be a more careful driver in the future.

On Debts

Money comes and go so fast these days. It’s almost like you work hard, you get your pay, you hold it in your hands for a while, then off it goes to pay dues and basic needs. It’s downright depressing. Ok, maybe this is not something everyone can relate to but it has been an ongoing dilemma of mine. I wish I can find the end of the rainbow. There may be a pot of gold there. 

The whole process of DEBT COLLECTION is messy. I’ve read and heard about tales of people hiding from credit card debt. The card company will then call you incessantly; they will not give you peace. In some worse cases, they even go to the debtor’s home to force them to make payments. This is an example of debt collection that is so not funny. Well, I mean of course, they will have to hunt a debtor who is hiding from his or her responsibilities but can’t there be any more civilized way of doing things? Well, I guess I don’t know a lot of things so I better just avoid these instances and pay my bills diligently. Better than to get myself tied up to these weird and messy debt collection scenarios.

One time, I had a row with a customer service representative because he was so rude that as he was insisting that I get the loan he is offering, he’s almost showing no respect for the person on the other end of the line. I was actually amused as well as pissed because he talked to me like I am indebted of him or something. When I fuinally chuckled and said my piece, that I am in no way interested and he can do nothing to make me think otherwise, he slammed the phone that I was forced to report him to the credit card company. I never checked if it amounted to something but I am not excited in any way to deal with such people, ever, again.

Court Pretty

I’ve always wondered about how some professional athletes like to wear jewellery while playing, especially in tennis. With all the focus on glamor in women’s tennis, you’ll see players like Maria Sharapova or Serena Williams wear those dangling earrings, necklaces, bracelets, even watches, all in the name of fashion. Well, I certainly am not familiar with the professional play but just watching them will make you think that it’s kinda intense and you’ll have to think that all those accessories make a bit of a hindrance  in movement. It looks uncomfotable. But, again, what do I know?!

I tried to play badminton once while wearing my watch and I had to remove it after a few minutes of play for fear of being a cause of injury. It also can get damaged or can fall off. I’m quite weary of wearing a necklace because with all the sudden movements and lunging and running around, it can get tangled up in your neck and it can be very uncomfortable. It will only cause interruption in the game and a few bruises here and there. Well, it may be different for other people so I’m not gonna generalize. Besides, when you think about it, those in the pro circuit are probably sponsored by the companies that manufacture those accessories, for example citizen watches, so they really have no choice but to bear with it.

Speaking of sponsorship, how cool is it that women tennis players can “dress up” and look pretty on court and have all their dud come to them for free? With Sharapova, she earns a whole lot more with sponsors than out of her brilliance in the tennis court. She’s an empire! Well, she does deserve it, but it’s just funny that because she’s considered to be the most glamorous and statuesque player around, she gets so much more buzz and endorsements than the others, even those ranked above her, even if she hasn’t been playing for months now. Heck, her practice sessions even get coverage. Ah, to be young, popular, and pretty!

Let’s Trade

A friend of mine recently fessed up about trying the stock market once. That totally surprised me because I’ve never seen him as the type that is interested in stock trading. That was before recession took a hit to the world and people are still brave in investing money. I’ve always thought about doing just that although I have zero knowledge about that whole side of business. Truth be told, I have zero knowledge about business. Period. Anyway, my friend’s trial didn’t work out so I can’t use him as an options trading mentor or anything.  

I tried to read about how that thing works and it practically gave me nosebleeds. I’ll need options trading mentoring if I really want to get it. I do believe that this is neither a past time nor a hobby but a serious profession. Besides, you’re going to be shelling out money. That’s no joke. I think options mentoring will help to develop strategies beyond learning about the, well, trade (no pun intended).

I guess there are books about these things. Like a Dummy’s guide or something. Maybe I’ll also check those out sometime. Nowmaybe this is really not the best time to deal on something as risky as stock trading. I just thought that having at least an understanding might be a good thing.

You Be the Power

You know one thing that’s hard about blogging? Titles! Sometimes I come up with lameass types like that one up there. Oh, well, that’s what I get when I’m too sleepy to think of anything that makes sense. Probably shouldn’t blog when sleepy but the erratic Internet connection and the electricity surges makes me want to finish writing whatever it is I have in my head right away.

I’ve been advising my brother about possible courses in college where he can shift. He’s not much into the sciences but I really don’t know where his interest lies. Well, he’s good with drawings and computers. I told him to look into electrical schools if he is into fixing stuff like that but even I am a little squirmish about the dangers of jobs along that lines. But a good electrical school  will probably teach safety measures, so yeah. Besides, if he’ll get an electrician certification then our our home appliances can definitely use the help.  

Truth is, I want him to think about it really well as  that decision will impact his future prospects. If I had though about that when I was still in college, when I’m honestly at a loss where I want to be headed, then I probably would have been in a much different job - one that is more attuned to my interest and I will be more happy about.  

Preventing/Repairing the Damage

From the start, friends and family alike have been warning me about the dangers of using a credit card - that is, it’s very tempting to rely too much on it. Spending money that you have not earned yet seems appealing but it also opens doors to financial difficulty later on.

At first, it’s using the card to purchase basic neccessities, like in doing groceries and to buy clothes and other important stuff. Then, you’ll move on to buying luxury items. For me, I splurged on books, techie stuff and gadgets, sports equipments, and other things that are more on the “want” category than “need.” It reached a point where I was already searching for a credit repair company because I’ve maxed out the credit limit and I’m not able to pay the bills promptly. Now, it’s very important to erase bad credit not only because it will affect your financial credentials and eligibility to apply for important loans or even to apply for installment plans on purchases. Most importantly, a bad credit score means a really bad time of paying overdue bills and steep interest rates. If you only pay the minimum amount monthly, it’s like only paying for the interest; your credit doesn’t go anywhere and it may even force you later on to get bank loans just to cover the credit card bill. I tell you, it feels so bad to work so hard every single day and have your hard-earned money go straight to the credit card company. It’s so not worth the thrill of acquiring new things. The point is, do not live beyond your means. Better to save money first before buying anything you don’t really need -  if it’s not a matter of life or death. Legal credit repair will cost a lot more so better not get used to “rewarding yourself” all the time. I’m not saying that owning and using a credit card is evil; but you have to know and be diligent about where and when to use it to save yourself from troubles and headaches later. 

Professional Employer Organization Benefits

I realized that it has been a while since I last checked my payslip for discrepancies or possible unpaid hours. Considering that our company is not exactly an efficient one on this front, I think I have been doing a great disservice to myself. I often hear colleagues ask for pay adjustments because of errors in the number of hours paid, unpaid overtime hours, unpaid service incentive leaves, and other payroll mistakes. I think we need to get familiar with the concept of PEO here. In several countries like the United States, Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Russia, PEO Companies are operational and are the preferred business model. A professional employer organization (PEO) provides outsourcing of payroll, workers’ compensation, human resources and employee benefits administration. A PEO acts a co-employer and assumes responsibilities for legal regulations, insurance details, and tax laws, while the parent company remains in charge of its products and/or services. Some also provide Staff Leasing services which can help reduce company costs and liabilities. Small and large corporations may both benefit from the services of a PEO; in turn, the company employees also enjoy expanded and improved benefits.      

Now if only my company will enlist such services, then maybe people will encounter less problems with their bimonthly salary and everyone will be happy.

What About Filmmaking?

That’s a question I managed to blurt out to a friend before I managed to stop myself for fear of being laughed at. We were talking about short courses that we want to take up, mostly as a hobby and for leisure, and that’s the first thing that came to my mind. I’ve always been interested in films, although being a certified movie buff does not necessarily mean that I’ll make good on  actually making films. I don’t have even have the slightest idea how to transfer an 8mm Film to DVD. That much I know. It requires talent as much as a genuine desire to learn. But how would I know if I have it if I won’t try, right? So we searched for options and it turned out it ain’t cheap. I would have to spend hundreds of dollars to go to a film school where they also offer acting courses and other art forms. Not to mention I’ll definitely have to spend money on equipment and stuff. Man, that sucks. But I really want to learn and so someday when I have the resources, I’ll do it. I just hope it comes before I get to old and lose my enthusiasm.

I’d also like to learn how to do film editing and how they integrate music into scenes. I think it’s really cool and it would be such a fun job to have. Then maybe I’ll learn the process of 8mm Film to DVD transfer and start making little home movies at first. Who knows, I may someday end up either making films or getting into the business of Film Transfer for the pros. It’s free to dream.