Debt Crisis: Greece May Be Bankrupt, But at Least Hermes Made a Bag Out of its Flag

Eurozone ministers are gathered in Brussels today to determine the fate of Greece in the Eurozone, and by consequence, the fate of the Euro itself. Greece may be bankrupt (according to its Finance Minister), but it is the only country that can boast of having a Hermes bag made out of the image of its flag.

 

eu greece flags
European Union and Greek flags near the Parthenon in Athens. Image from bloomberg.com

 

The recent tensions began when the left-wing and anti-bailout Syriza party assumed power in Greece this January. Continue reading Debt Crisis: Greece May Be Bankrupt, But at Least Hermes Made a Bag Out of its Flag

Chinese New Year: Investment and Money Tips for The Year of The Goat

Kung Hei Fat Choi! Today, February 19 is the start of the Year of the Wooden Goat / Sheep / Ram according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar. In this post, I will list some investment and money tips from experts in Feng Shui and Chinese Astrology.

 

2015 Year of the Goat
Goats and sheep are totally different creatures, but that’s not important, right? Image from fengshuiben.blogspot

 

I searched online for feng shui experts, those who are usually hired to advice business executives and financial professionals on money matters. Here they are and what they had to say.  Continue reading Chinese New Year: Investment and Money Tips for The Year of The Goat

Thank You: Readers from 100 Countries Have Visited my Blog

After starting my blog last month, I didn’t really expect that people will read what I write. I didn’t even bother to actively promote my blog in social media because I didn’t want to get my hopes up.

A few days ago, after 40 days of blogging, my geoview stats in WordPress showed this:

 

Number of Countries in my Blog's Geoviews
100 countries and counting – I hope.  If you try to count them, they won’t add up to 100 since countries like Singapore and Monaco are too small to be seen in that map. Image from wordpress

 

Readers from 100 countries have visited my blog. Thank you. Continue reading Thank You: Readers from 100 Countries Have Visited my Blog

“Spread” the Love: The Creator of Universally Loved Nutella Dies; Meanwhile, the World Still Hates Vegemite

On Valentine’s day, Michele Ferrero, Italy’s richest man, and the creator of Nutella, one of the world’s most loved bread spreads, died at the age of 89. In other news, another iconic spread, Vegemite, is still hated the world over.

Vegemite and Nutella
Vegemite vs. Nutella. Which would you put on your bread? Image from wanderingsheila.com

 

Nutella didn’t initially exist as we know it now. It started as Pasta Gianduja, a Continue reading “Spread” the Love: The Creator of Universally Loved Nutella Dies; Meanwhile, the World Still Hates Vegemite

Awesome Wedding: When the Bride Sings “It’s Not About the Money, Money, Money…” at the Reception to Set Things Straight With Her Groom’s Guests

Many people marry for love. Some people marry for money. It hurts though when you marry for love and people wrongly assume you’re marrying for money. What do you do and how do you do it? Set the record straight at the reception in grand style by singing “It’s not about the money, money, money” – from Jessie J’s Price Tag.

It's Not About The Money
“We’re paying with love tonight”. Image from careergirlnetwork.com

 

Three years ago. I attended the wedding of a friend. My friend, the groom, is rich, while his bride came from a simple background. Continue reading Awesome Wedding: When the Bride Sings “It’s Not About the Money, Money, Money…” at the Reception to Set Things Straight With Her Groom’s Guests

Single This Valentine’s Day? Don’t Feel Left Out – There’s Actually a Singles’ Day in November

February 14 is Valentine’s Day; when lovers celebrate their love, and when companies sell to these lovers all sorts of merchandise and services. What about singles? November 11 is Singles’ Day. Even companies get their turn to make money off singles.

Wait, isn’t there a Singles’ Awareness Day which is celebrated also on February 14? This serves as an alternative to people who are not in a relationship. Why is it called Singles Awareness Day? This might be the answer:

Happy Singles Awareness Day
#truth. Image from someecards.com

 

Ok, so maybe S.A.D. is not a holiday that should be taken seriously. Fortunately, the Chinese had made a Singles’ Day all on its own – without latching on Valentine’s popularity.  Continue reading Single This Valentine’s Day? Don’t Feel Left Out – There’s Actually a Singles’ Day in November

Love All Kinds of Love: Did Bench Create a Fake Controversy With its Gay Couple Billboard Ad?

The “Love All Kinds of Love” ad campaign by Bench (a Philippines’ based clothing brand) is heating up social media with its “defaced” billboard featuring a gay couple. Was the billboard vandalized? Was the billboard censored? or Did Bench marketing staff do the defacing themselves to generate controversy? Is other words, is #PaintTheirHandsBack just an elaborate gimmick?

The Philippines is home to more than 100 million people, so there must be a lot of gay people in the country. Fashion is also one of the industries that seem to be gay tolerant. Bench, a Philippines based clothing brand that now has an international presence, unveiled its ad campaign just in time for Valentine’s. The campaign, titled “Love All Kinds of Love”, featured platonic love between a grandmother (veteran Filipina actress Gloria Romero) and her grandson, and romantic love between straight, gay and lesbian couples.

This was the gay couple ad photo. It features Vince Uy and Nino Gaddi Continue reading Love All Kinds of Love: Did Bench Create a Fake Controversy With its Gay Couple Billboard Ad?