Did Bill Gates really say, "If I have to start all over again, I would choose NETWORK MARKETING"

I could not find a respected source of the above statement! You see people are using that statement allegedly stated by Bill Gates, to impress people to join their networking [multilevel marketing]business.

Here is what I got from Google search, a posting in Facebook in 2011! (click for a better view)

The billionaire Microsoft Chairman does have star attraction for those who wants to earn more money quickly.But beware: But the lure of riches is an untrustworthy mistress. And any entity using Bill Gates alleged statement does not inspire trust and confidence,important components for success in business.


The statement was actually stated by Mr. Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad! - “If I had to do it all over again, rather than build an old style type of business, I would have started building a network marketing business.”


Verdict: An urban legend.

Habal-habal, a dangerous mode of transportation

They call this an example of Filipino ingenuity. No need for expensive tricycle attachment instead passengers seat dangling on the left and right sides of a horizontal contraption attached to the motorcycle. Here is a photo of a habal-habal with a roof(!) from a classmate:

It requires that there is a balance between the left and right riders. Now this will be banned in other countries, but it shows the state of transportation in the Philippines, especially in rural areas.






Here is another photo, shared by an Facebook friend. (If this is copyrighted, I will remove it immediately). It is incredidble that passengers seem oblivious to the dangers of riding this type of motored transportation.Dont be suprised of learning in the newpapers accidents involving habal-habal!

This mode of transportation can bring thrills of riding a roller coaster. But that is another indication of the fatalistic attitude of Filipinos!

Stop the addiction to liquid fuels!

Do you know what is the cheapest source of energy at the moment? It is not SOLAR, WIND or COAL. It is GAS, natural gas which sells for the ridiculous price of USD 2.28 per thousand cubic feet, compared with USD 84.99 per barrel for petrol (oil). Certainly we should express this in common unit such as thermal BTUs. Here is a rough conversion formulas per equivalent caloric heat content (BTU):

For natural gas:2.28$/ thousand cubic feet* (thousand-cubic-feet / 1,020,000-BTU) = 2.235 USD /million-BTU

For fuel oil: 84.99 /barrel * (1-gal / 149,000-BTU) * (1 barrel/ 42-gal) = 13.5 USD / million-BTU




Thus the price of oil is around 6 times more than the price of gas!

See also EnergyKinetics.com


The United States is awash in natural gas, with new technologies such as the controversial fracking technique. The estimated natural gas US preserve is at a stunning 100 years, in spite of the record consumption of natural gas.

The Philippines should consume more natural gas for electricity generation if it wants to increase the pace of its economic growth and general technology. Forget about the alternative energy sources such as solar, wind or even dirty coal. The production costs and construction costs for natural gas fired powered plants are just too economic to be ignored by the country's planners.

Certainly we should be efficient in the consumption of natural gas. We should build multipurpose natural gas fired power stations as in chemical industrial or refigeration-electicity cogeneration plants. And popularize more gas powered cars and taxis. But we should ensure that systems do not leak! One can get poisoned by leaking taxi gas fuel! Not the best feeling to have.

Of course, natural gas is also a component in methanol conversion plants.

CDRKing jelly lens are a big disappointment.

Jelly lens are supposed to be inexpensive add-ons to cell phone cameras to provide special effects like closeups and multiple images. I bought two today this afternoon and I am disappointed that the jelly lens do not have sufficient adhesion.

I will have to return them tomorrow. Luckily I still have the receipt. The 80 peso price is ridiculously high for such simplistic gadgets, which can elevate them to customer rip-offs.


[INSERT PHOTOS HERE]


Verdict: Wait for CDRKing to provide a higher quality and cheaper jelly lens.

I dont mind the expense of buying them, if it can save our readers money.

According to a blog article, Divisoria's 168 is a good source. See honestley.

How much does a bargain P688.00 airline ticket cost?

You still save money, but here is a breakdown of fees which horribly increase the actual cost of a P688.00 to , to P1686.96

Description	Charges
Base fare:	688.00
Aviation Security fee	15.00
Fuel Surcharge	400.00
PH-VAT	153.96
Web Admin Fee-manual	80.00
Insurance Fee(ancillary)	250.00
Seat Selection Fee	100.00
Total Amount	1686.96

As far as I know, the insurance fee may be deselected, but the web-admin and seat selection fees are forced upon the traveller.

Thus expect bargain prices of P688.00 to end up more than double (1,376 pesos) from one airline.

Gadgets: Inexpensive stylus for capacitive touch screens from CDRKing

Here is a winner from CDRKing! An inexpensive P30.00 2-in-1 Stylus Pen. On one end is a rubber tipped stylys and on the opposite end is an ordinary ballpen. Since it is quite inexpensive, one may just buy another one when the pen runs dry.
To think that another store was selling a P399.00 stylus! I tested it on my basic entry level Android Motorola Fire XT cellphone and it worked well. This will result in higher accuracy when "typing" characters.

There were actually thicker versions than the stylus I chose. Here is the product information:

item number: STL-001-YSC
description: 2-in-1 stylus pen
features: dual purpose, writes on paper and used as stylus; rubber tipped, for capacitive touchscreen device, brass metal finish, 7.5 mm diameter, length 138mm, weighs 9.6 gram.

I got my stylus at the CDRKing branch in the second floor of SM Bacolod.


April 27, 2012: The stylus pen clip has detached already.It was actually difficult to remove from your shirt pocket since the design is like a barb.

And the stylus has to be assisted by a real finger or thumb touch since it sometimes lose sensitiviy!

Gadgets: 8-in-one pen type screwdriver from National Book store.

I bought this 8-in-one pen type screwdriver from National Book Store. When I opened the package only four screwdriver tips got out. I was about to get mad when I peeked and saw that four tips were stuck up inside the barrel.

The tips are magnetically held in the tip holder but it may still be easy to lose some of the tips. It may fall out and drop nowhere. This tool will set you back for 104 pesos.

I think it is not good to put this in your pocket though as it may sag your shirt pocket due to its weight.




Recommendations.

CDR King provides various styles of multi-tip screwdrivers with more convenient case. One model even has an LED flashlight, which was sold also in NBS. Even sidewalk vendors might sell them. What to be sure of is that they should not cost more than 200 pesos.