The 8th International Exposition on Worldwide Food and Beverage, Technologies and Machineries will happen on August 6-9, 2008 at the World Trade Center, Manila.

There are seminars, workshops and cooking demos that will happen simultaneously. Most of these are free but there are some like the Food Styling with Hands-On seminar, Meat cutting/Cooking techniques, French Baker seminar, “How to Flair” seminar, bar tending seminar, and Conceptualizing and Costing seminar, these have fees ranging from PhP600 - PhP1,000.

All the other activities with featured food products are for free.

Children under 16 are not allowed entry though.

To those who will go to the event, please attend the Floor Safety Maintenance in the Food Service Industry seminar to be given on Thursday, August 7, 2008 at Seminar Room Cleo (C) at 3:00pm. This is going to be sponsored by Global Safe Philippines.

What is SCTEx?

SCTEx is this: Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway which runs from Tarlac up to Subic or SBMA and back of course.

Well paved roads. Lush green country side. Peaceful ride. Almost isolated expressway (for now I guess) where thinking about having an engine trouble is not an option. Sure, one needs to pay extra (we paid Php112.00) and travel extra kilometers from the usual route but that would not matter because travel is really pleasant.

No need to navigate through road with vehicular and foot traffic. I shudder to think about the trees and the mountains that they have to cut in half just to make this happen.

Traveling at night it was a different story. We traveled through a heavy downpour. Zero visibility. Fog was thick. It was eerie but it was still fun. The photo above was taken as we were approaching Clark, hence lights on the road.

Another post about this can be viewed here.

There is an ongoing contest for The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. It is called What’s Your Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Story and you can read the mechanics by clicking the link.

Here is the invite:

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf invites you to share your most memorable experiences while enjoying a soul-warming cup of Chai Latte or chilling out with friends over original Ice Blended drinks by joining My Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Story.

If your story is our cup of tea, you might just become the winner of a trip to Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA for 4 days and 3 nights, with accommodations and pocket money.

What is the grand prize?

Grand Prize – a trip to Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA for 4 days/3 nights, with accommodations and pocket money around June - August 2008

Here is a condition: Only those with a US Visa may avail of a grand prize.

Thanks for the link, Noemi

Debt that the British had incurred for the last decade has been astonishing $2.8 trillion or 1.4 trillion pounds, according to that New York Times article.

Spending more than one can earn is dangerous. Being in debt is not a good thing. So how would one pay for those debts? With used designer shoes? With foreign holidays already consumed? With used designer clothes? I don’t think so. As if there is still value with these goods that were purchased through credit.

People have things so easily these days, it seems. Children having their own cellphones or laptops. People getting trendy cars and designer clothes and tech gadget that get out of style after a few months. Whatever happened to delayed gratification? Whatever happened to working to earn to be able to buy what one needs or wants?

However and whatever people spend their money on, I think, in my humble opinion, it is better to pay in cash than pay with a plastic card where you end up paying more. Or swimming in debt.

Paper boxes anyone? Paper boxes are great for organizing knick-knacks around the house or in an office, just label the boxes according to what’s inside and one would not have a hard time looking for what is needed. These can come handy too for gifts, just add a big ribbon or glue some embellishments and a card.

Great for a business venture too.

No, they don’t know I am blogging about them.

These paper boxes are available here -> He Cares Foundation