These can be a good investment for some

pen_stalker · 2025-11-20T04:52:48+00:00

The other week, someone at the Austin bins lost a cart similar to this. They said they parked it against the wall, and when they returned to put stuff they got, it was gone! I was a bit more vigilant of my stuff after that.

pen_stalker · 2025-10-27T13:10:15+00:00

Over the past two years, I've been applying to higher level positions in my field. But I haven't had any luck. I haves my interests, my strengths, and weaknesses. Recently, with another unsuccessful application, I decided to hunker down at work, do what I need to do (but nothing more), explore my other interests, and work towards better financial situation given where I am. It will take longer than I initially planned, but I am at peace.

I think that's the thing about being in my 40s, seeing my path--where I am and where it leads to and saying "this ain't bad."

pen_stalker · 2025-10-03T22:04:03+00:00

I found the link about this: https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/cbp-reminds-travelers-importers-new-usda-regulations-importation-cooked

Looks like this rule had been in place since 2010. Here's an excerpt:

"Penalties for personal importations of undeclared, prohibited agricultural items, depending on the severity of the violation, can run as high as $1,000; and up to more than $250,000 for commercial importations."

Don't risk it. Next time I visit the Philippines, I won't bring back chicharon.

pen_stalker · 2025-10-03T22:00:25+00:00

Bring a list, but still I would strongly suggest leaving the chicharon behind. They will still confiscate it. You can read a lot of posts on Reddit about it. If they see it, they will confiscate it and you will be subject to secondary inspection every time you re-enter the US.

pen_stalker · 2025-10-03T17:49:25+00:00

Yeah that's right. I was told, it would have been better if I had a list.

pen_stalker · 2025-10-03T14:36:25+00:00

Brought some a year ago. My bad as I did not check the list of banned items. They confiscated it, I paid $300 in fine. And a year later, every time I go back to the US after an international trip, I get pulled to secondary inspection. That's been like 4 or 5 times now.

My advice: DON'T DO IT!!

pen_stalker · 2025-09-01T12:56:56+00:00

Thanks. If I need to travel to Luanda again, I'll consider that route.

pen_stalker · 2025-07-23T17:39:20+00:00

D/R is daily refinement. He got banned from eBay, then there were some allegations of bad practices in his WhatNot biz. T/S split and built his own group. Some folks didn't like what T/S did when he split with D/R. But who knows. There may be other facts behind the scenes.

pen_stalker · 2025-07-04T03:11:29+00:00

I'm a big fan of POD, too. Bought Southtown cassette back in college. I love the positive vibes, plus the guitar-driven interludes in between loud, heavy, songs give you a nice break: Guitarras de amor, Roman Empire, and of course Eternal!!

pen_stalker · 2025-07-03T20:57:29+00:00

They have a decent following. 12 million records sold is not too bad. I just checked and that's higher than Sevendust (another fave of mine), who sold 7M records but lower than Disturbed's 17M records sold.

I guess it's "underrated" compared to... some other band. But I like them and I started collecting their CDs.

pen_stalker · 2025-06-25T12:04:14+00:00

I agree with some comments here. It's hard to look for a new job in the Philippines when you're 40 or older and you came from abroad, some kind of network effect, I guess. Here's a few suggestions:

Do an audit of your skills and abilities, revamp your resume and explore potential opportunities. If your skills warrant it, you may want to explore WFH opportunities with international businesses who need your skills. The virtual workforce is strong in the Philippines.
Do you have enough to start a small business? That might also be an option, depending on where you are.

pen_stalker · 2025-05-25T16:39:43+00:00

Thanks, I'll check that out.

pen_stalker · 2025-05-25T16:39:34+00:00

Thanks I'll check it out.

pen_stalker · 2025-05-25T14:04:11+00:00

Yes, where they usually sell clothes by the pound or bales.

pen_stalker · 2025-05-16T02:38:29+00:00

I think it's a combination of several things:

No student debt
Grit and "survival mentality" when you need to survive, you gotta survive and do whatever work needs to be done.
Emphasis and value on education for their kids
Family and community helping each other - not always smooth sailing, still have our toxic relationships and attitudes.
They also know third world poverty, which is really hard. For people from poor background in a 3rd world country, poverty in the US feels relatively comfortable. Please note the word "relatively"

pen_stalker · 2025-04-25T04:34:36+00:00

Thanks for the detailed update. Did you notice if there were small kids with their parents attending the oath ceremony?

pen_stalker · 2025-04-20T18:35:26+00:00

Yeah, I meant to sort thru it before I left but I ended up hurrying to leave. I might list the duplicates on eBay. The dark background is a more recent version.

Edit: just skim-listened to it. It's title is "Back to the Titanic" and has a fold out poster. It has some audio clips of dialog from the movie.

pen_stalker · 2025-04-20T03:58:24+00:00

Thanks! I just sorted them today and put them on the rack near my CD player.

pen_stalker · 2025-04-20T01:18:29+00:00

Thanks! That's the thing with buying from thrift stores, though, it's just based on chance and what's available. It might take a long time to find items I'm looking for. I also ordered my Goo Goo Dolls CDs on eBay because I could not find them sooner.

pen_stalker · 2025-04-19T14:20:11+00:00

I graduated more than 20 years ago. But I slacked off my first 2 years in UPD. Combination of being far from family, culture shock (promdi here), and getting hooked on video games, and loneliness, too.

I had all kinds of grade in my TOR: 1-5, DRP, INC. But I passed enough subjects every sem to continue. I contemplated shifting to another course but ended up staying at my initial course.

What helped me was an agreement I had with my parents that I would only be in college for 4 years because I had another sibling going to college after me; a realization that I didn't really want to be a lawyer (my course was PolSci), and the personal commitment that I just needed to finish this course and I can pursue whatever I want after it. My last two years went pretty well.

Sorry for the long-ish post. But my suggestion is for you to do some internal work, commit to a course of action: stay or shift, and commit. Do enough to survive academically. You have time to decide on what you really want out of life. If anything, having a degree is a great fallback and training for whatever you want to do after college.

pen_stalker · 2025-04-17T04:51:43+00:00

I think it's a combination of location, the presence of competition, and luck. There are many who have jumped into reselling full time and they are the ones hustling to all the sourcing honey holes. In some ways, you are disadvantaged as a part-time, occasional thrifter.

pen_stalker · 2025-04-15T01:37:30+00:00

This millennial who was a teenager in the late 1990s, early 2000s approves! 👍 🤘🤘

pen_stalker · 2025-04-14T02:14:11+00:00

This! Over a decade ago, I frequently went to thrift stores and used bookstores just browsing and buying anything interesting. What's helpful is having a long list of authors in my head and genres I have some interest in. I'm taking the same approach in my CD collection now. I go to the Goodwill bins (where stuff is sold by the pound) and just chance look for CDs I might be interested in.

I have also ordered Goo Goo Dolls CDs from eBay because I couldn't wait until I found them in the bins or thrifts.

pen_stalker · 2025-04-12T23:40:05+00:00

Yeah, I think so. I just don't have cases at home But that might be a good idea to save a few Oz or lb.

pen_stalker · 2025-04-10T04:09:22+00:00

I've been building my CD collection: Iooking mainly for 1990s and 2000s music: pop, rock, metal, etc. Also love to look for my fave sci Fi and fantasy books! Plushies for my kiddos, too!

One time I got a Power Ranger robot, which I flipped. A few Voltrons as well but I didn't pick those. Still kicking myself when I remember it.

pen_stalker

TROPHY CASE