👋 Hey there! I'm TJ. I write about data products, technology, software, and economics.
I'm a husband and father, living in Singapore, and from the Philippines. I explore data engineering and accounting at Titanium Birch.
On iPhone Exchange Rate and Tax Arbitrage: In which country can you buy the least expensive iPhone?
iPhones and iPads are all set to be the top gifted items during the Christmas season. (Photo: Janitors/Flickr, CC BY 2.0
ARBITRAGEURS REJOICE - Due to exchange rate and tax differences, the effective cost of your favorite gadget can vary from country to country, so if you’re looking to buy yourself or a loved one an iPhone or other similar item during your Christmas vacation, here the most attractive ‘iPhone tourism’ sites. Read on to find out more.
On the Best Webcomics for your Inner Nerd
SATISFY YOUR INNER NERD - If you’re looking for a place to get laughs, there are various free webcomics that can cater to your inner egghead (don’t kid yourself - everyone has one), so here are six webcomics that can start you off, and how to subscribe to them.
Don’t pretend it’s not funny
On the Globe iPhone Forever Plan: Am I just "paying for the phone"?
An iPhone, every year, forever! But is it worth it?
FOREVER? - Globe Telecom has recently announced a new postpaid plan for iPhone-loving subscribers. You can trade-in your old iPhone every year for the latest model, provided that you abide by a lock-in period, of course. The question is: are you getting some benefit or do you just ‘pay for the phone with the plan payments?
On Yolanda (Haiyan) Foreign Aid: Who is giving what, and to whom?
Foreign aid for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) has reached staggering levels, with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs pegging the value at P19.53 billion. Data on these massive aid flows can be visualized to show the donors, and through which channels the donations were made.
On True Filipino Resilience
The scale of death and destruction in the eastern provinces of Leyte and Samar is immense. (Photo: EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection/Flickr, CC BY-ND 2.0)
TRUE RESILIENCE IS PREPAREDNESS - Super Typhoon Yolanda (international codename Haiyan) struck the Philippine central islands last November 8, 2012. The humanitarian disaster was immense, with the death toll well into the thousands. The Philippines will recover and get back to business, but by no means can this cycle of rebuilding and destruction continue for the island nation.
On the Risk-Return Relationship of your Love Life
The Chinese Zodiac predicts your love compatibility with people of other signs, but let’s do more than that and bring statistics to the superstition. (Photo: Janet Hudson/Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0)
RETURNS ON LOVE - Chinese astrology tells of certain animal signs that, because of their inherent characteristics, have varying love compatibilities with each other. By applying statistics to superstition, we can also determine - generally - how nice, and how rocky, your love life ought to be based on your ruling animal. Also, we find that there is no positive risk-return relationship in Chinese astrology; that is, having a tumultuous love life doesn’t guarantee a reward.
On Giving Cash to the Poor
(Photo: Kris/Flickr, CC BY 2.0)
GIVE A MAN A FISH SOME CASH - New research suggests that unconditional cash transfers to the poor may not be as misguided as usually perceived. Some studies have found that providing cash increased spending on food, education, and healthcare, as well as investment in productive goods, contrary to the popular notion that the cash would go towards questionable purchases. Data for the Philippines suggests that this might have potential, providing a more cost-effective manner to deliver poverty aid.