Google Sheets "#NA" Vlookup Error Fix

One of the most important advantages of Google Sheets is that you can use the same form/sheet for routine (daily/weekly/monthly) reports by just updating the raw data for the new report. However, sometimes when we update the sheet with new data, we get an error and instead of the expected result we get the "#NA" error on the cell. This is because, unseen by us, these data might not be just the literal value of the text but also carries metadata (text style, font-size, etc). And when vlookup tries to look for the value in the new data, they would not find the exact match. Work-around to this error is, select-all the new data, go to title bar, go to format/number, select plain text. Then go back to title bar, go to format/number, select automatic. You have just erased all metadata from the raw data and "#NA" error should be fixed.

How to get a PASALO housing loan via Pag IBIG

Yes, it is possible. And, again, it is completely legal. BUT... you have to do it the proper way. So DO NOT... go into a private/personal deal with a seller, even if they are honest, trustworthy, or even family. Because, in 15-20 years, who knows, they may no longer be alive, no longer in the country, or no longer interested to complete the transaction.

So that means even if you have your own private "Deed of Absolute Sale" and even if the seller is not contesting the validity of the contract, that is all you have. You have no real power of ownership. You can not legally sell your property (unless your buyer is willing to buy the property without a title), can not legally bequeath the property to your children, etc. Is this what you want?

But we got our own unit thru Pag IBIG, and yes, it was a pasalo kind of transaction. 

So how to go about it?

You have to do it with Pag IBIG. Apply for a loan, let them know what you intend to do. They will guide you on the documents and the steps that you need to take. It takes about 2 months for this initial process of your qualification to be completed.

Once this is done, be prepared to complete the other documents, fees, taxes to be paid. It is a long tedious process that took about a year to complete. So be prepared for that. Also the taxes and fees (for a property worth roughly 1M php, was about 60-70K php in total, not including the money you would need for commuting to and from Pag IBIG, BIR, Land and Registry of Deeds, City Hall.)

But it can be done. We did it. And now we are paying a monthly mortgage that is way below the monthly mortgage of the pre-selling condo units,  and we have the legal title to the unit.

If you have questions, please comment below.

 

MacBook Air update

My MacBook Air is currently caught in an endless loop. I am being prompted every 15 minutes to update my OS, then once I try to update, it tells me that I already have the latest version. It is super annoying since the prompt closes my Google Chrome and requires me to click on the Chrome icon to go back to work.

My MacBook was working fine before this update. I called our company IT (PC is company issued) and I was told that I need to go to the office to have my Mac replaced with a Windows laptop since they can not fix this via remote. I have not been to the office since the lockdown (2 years ago).

Good job Apple, you just fixed a non-problem with a big hassle solution.

So yeah, so much for this overpriced piece of garbage. It forces an update, on average about once a month, and not a simple 15 minutes Windows version of updates, but a major 2 hours complete overhaul of the OS -- about 30 gigs worth of data kind of updates. And every now and then, you get this wonderful result, the newest feature of MacBook Air. It is not a bug, it is a feature. It is your own personal reminder (every 15 minutes) that Apple products are overhyped.

How to fix blurry / low resolution webcam

After about 2 months of non-use, my daughter’s webcam was suddenly giving out what appears to be low resolution video. 

I Googled a possible fix to this, and found some articles about changing settings, etc. None of them worked. I even reinstalled the drivers from the manufacturer. Tweaked settings in Windows, still, no dice.

But I know that the webcam is ok. It worked the last time it was used for online classes, end of school year.

I checked again, wiped it with a cotton handkerchief, still low resolution video. One last try, I used a cotton bud dipped in alcohol and used it to thoroughly clean the lens. And just like that, good as new!

Remember, your webcam is autofocus. This means, even one speck of dust that might not be big enough for us to see might be enough for your webcam to focus on that speck of dust, thereby rendering everything else in the background as low resolution. I hope this helps.

Bayantel DSL is a scam

Or it might as well be.

I subscribed to their unlimited P1,299 monthly package and it was installed Dec 1, 2015. The package consisted of a landline and 2 mbps internet per month. I was attracted to their absolutely "no data cap" internet promise. Today is Dec 5, 2015 -- of the 5 days total I've been subscribed to Bayantel DSL, 3 days are "intermittent internet service" -- currently it is OFF. ZERO mbps. Flatline. It is DEAD. I've been loading my stupid Smartbro pocket wifi to get internet (now data-capped at 800 mb), while I am subscribed to an "unlimited" plan -- how stupid is that? So yeah, if you are going to buy the Bayantel DSL UNLIMITED internet promise know that what they are actually selling is actually unlimited FRUSTRATION!


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UPDATE:

After that one week of TOTAL FRUSTRATION, Bayantel was finally able to hook my internet as advertised. I am now counting 2 weeks straight of ZERO internet disruption, at 2 mbps, and absolutely no data cap -- I would know, SmartBro's 800 mb data cap means I lose internet at 9 am (you read that right, 9 in the morning). Definitely getting what I am paying for. Not going to edit out my initial assessment above however, because I still believe it is highly unprofessional to take one week to hook up an internet connection. But hey, right now, I am HAPPY with Bayantel internet connection.


UPDATE: First billing

Got my first billing from BayanTel today. Apparently, because I complained vehemently for the days when I had no internet, I did not have to pay for those days.

Meralco refund

I was pleasantly surprised to see my Meralco bill for the month of April was less than 1K php. Normally, this time of year, it should be close to 2K php. Careful examination of the document revealed that this is due to the Meralco refund of the overcharge late last year that was deemed illegal by the Supreme Court. "Overcharge" is too kind a word, let me rephrase that, Meralco returned the money they tried to steal last December because they got caught red handed, there, that's more like it. This is not the first time that this thieving company was caught trying to steal from the public and sadly it won't be the last. Maybe some bright lawyer out there can file criminal charges against the Meralco execs to teach them a lesson.

Smartbro Pocket Wifi

I have been testing SmartBro's pocket wifi for about a week now. And as a device, I find it very useful and convenient. It's about the size and weight of an old Nokia phone, and has it's own independent power source (i.e. battery) and therefore quite convenient if you're on the move. This little gadget can sniff out Smart's broadband signal even in places where the old SmartBro USB stick can not, and this without the hassle of putting up a canopy or anything of the sort.

First four days at home and the pocket wifi was clocking at over 4 mbps! It was advertised as "up to 7 mbps" so 4 mbps within the Metro Manila area seems fair enough. At almost 2K Php, it's definitely a good buy.

Oh except for one issue, and I found about it, ironically, because the pocket wifi did clock at an almost constant 4 mbps the first four days of my seven day unlisurf load.

Fifth day of the seven day unlisurf load, and the pocket wifi was down to 200 kbps tops. So I called *888 (smart tech support) and reported the issue. Each time  I called (I called three times) I get an immediate speed boost -- for about an hour or so and then it's back to 200 kbps or so. So I Google searched, and there I heard rumors of this mythical creature called the "Fair Usage Policy". While Smart has admitted to the existence of such a policy, they remain cryptic about the details of this creature -- how much is the cap? Talk about fine print! You need to be a psychic now, I guess. Just how fair is the "Fair Usage Policy" if Smart can not talk about it? Fine print using invisible ink, yeah, Smart, that seems fair!

Is Smart trying to kill it's post-paid business?

I have never bothered with the hassle of applying for a postpaid contract with an ISP provider. I have always been a prepaid subscriber of either Smart Bro or Globe Tattoo, depending on where I am currently residing, whether it is Smart or Globe territory. While prepaid services can be as much as 20 percent more expensive as postpaid, the appeal is the convenience of no long term contract. I hate you today, I'm moving on to another ISP. I don't even have to text or call you. We are done. It is as simple as that. That's the beauty of prepaid.

So what would be the advantage of postpaid? That it is cheaper or was cheaper -- for Smart, at least. With Smart's new pricing scheme for the Smart Bro UNLISURF packages, prepaid is now the same price as postpaid. 1 month service is 995 Php, 15 days is 500 Php, and 7 days is 250 Php. That being the new pricing scheme of Smart, I am thinking, why would anyone want a postpaid contract with Smart now? What's the value in that?

The only logical answer is that Smart is moving it's business from postpaid to prepaid. It saves them the hassle of collecting the monthly payments. Prepaid is convenient not only for the consumers but even for the providers. It makes perfect sense.

Iwata Evaporative Cooler

I bought my Iwata evaporative cooler, summer of last year, so this is a product review after one year or so of use.

First of all, after one year, my evaporative cooler is still working. I had been warned by some people that these coolers are fragile gizmos, prone to breakage and malfunction. Mine is working perfectly after one year use.

But do evaporative coolers work in the first place? Yes and no. If you are looking for an air conditioner, air coolers are definitely NOT the way to go. But if you are looking for a cheap way to cool off without having to pay the high price of electricity of an AC unit, you have to lower your expectations. My evaporative cooler is on the higher-end of the spectrum at around 6K Php but still, in no way comparable to an airconditioner.

But better than a fan at least? Definitely so. Just using unchilled water straight from the faucet will lower the temperature of the air being blown by the cooler to around 28 degrees Celsius. If you add 2 pieces of the 3 peso ice blocks you can buy from the sari-sari store, and the temperature will drop to as low as 22 degrees for about 3 hours depending on how hot the ambient temperature is.

So summertime, before going to bed, I load up my cooler with water and  2 to 3 pieces of  sari-sari store ice, then I am set for the night. By the time the ice effect is lost, it would be around 11 pm at night and the ambient temperature will be cool enough anyway. So yeah, it is a pretty good appliance if you ask me. Just know what you are buying -- it is NOT an air conditioner, it is rather inconvenient loading the thing with water and ice, and electric consumption is comparable to running two traditional electric fans.

Be a Human Call Reviewer

I just got paid 12 USD for reviewing phone calls for Humanatic. This is my first PayPal payout from this new online income stream. The job is as simple as simple can be. You work in your computer from home, you listen to phone calls -- I am currently reviewing phone calls to a car dealership somewhere in Texas, USA, and you just tag or label the conversation according to the definitions supplied to you by the system. Easy enough.

But it takes a lot of patience. Payout for one phone call reviewed is just 2 US cents (amounts vary depending on what calls you review). And it takes around 30 seconds, on average, to properly label a call -- of course, while listening to calls, I'm on another tab reading internet stuff, reason I am a bit slow.  So, in an hour, I make around 1.20 USD. And of course, if you are in the Philippines like me, it means that calls start coming in around 10 PM and ends at around 8 AM. So if you intend to make it to the leaderboard, some people actually make more than 30 USD, you have to stay up all night listening to calls.

So in conclusion, the site Humanatic.com is legit. They will pay you. You will earn based on your output. So it's a pretty solid income stream.

Push texts

I was watching the news the other day. Apparently, push texts are illegal. That is, companies should not send unsolicited promo text messages to your phone. Says so the NTC. Yeah, that impotent government department that ought to be abolished for being useless. No one will miss it. No one will even know. But I digress.

So what are we, the hapless consumers, to do now? I average 2 text messages from Smart everyday, and 2 from BPI every week. It is a minor annoyance at first. But now that I have a baby, these push text messages are more than an irritant. They are a major hassle.

This is what I resolve to do. Whenever I receive a push text, I will call their free-toll help line. Clog that system just a bit. Let me harass that agent -- tell him/her that their push text just woke my baby up. Ask that agent to put my baby to sleep over the phone. You get the idea.

Hey, you are all welcome to join in the fun. Every little bit helps. They push their texts on us, we push back. Make it cost them.

CD-R King Wi-Fi Router

I'ma keep this short and sweet.

Bought one, tried it out and I'm happy with it.

A good mix of economy and functionality.

For those looking for a router while on a budget, I'd highly recommend it.

Chowking Meycauayan Review

I have been to different places, both urban and otherwise, and I can't help but notice that the quality of food differs with the kind of place the branch is located.

For example, I ordered a yang chow fried rice from an Ortigas branch for take-out and ate it on the bus ride home since I was already famished. The taste was superb and I don't think it was just because I was already starving. Then on another branch on the suburbs, the quality of the yang chow fried rice differs with the kitchen work shifts. Back then, it was better at morning but it got bad at night. Or that branch on SM Marilao that served me some King's Congee with a rotten century egg. Management insisted that century eggs do taste like that but I insisted that I have been eating Chowking congee for a long time and it never tasted like it did on that day. Afterwards, I made sure I avoided that branch.

However, there is one branch I've been to the most (even if I tried my best t avoid it.)

Chowking Meycauayan Branch. My hometown, so naturally, it's the closest to my heart.

However, I noticed a lot has changed in a rather short span of time.

Previously, they would just occasionally serve me saltier-than-bagoong Congee but I could let that slide as a random mistake from the kitchen crew. Besides, Chowking isn't purely about Congee.

Having been introduced to it since I was but a child, I know it's all about noodles or at least mostly about noodles.

A few weeks ago, it broke my heart to learn that the Meycauayan Branch has stooped down to unbelievable depths. Unforgivable sins towards the gods of cookery.

The Pansit Canton smelled and tasted like soot and I won't be surprised if there were anything else on that.

But that's not the entire point.

Their noodles broke my heart. What was supposed to be a small serving or Wanton Noodles came out of the kitchen in a different way than usual.

The broth was just lukewarm, the wanton was still half-frozen from inside and the noodles itself was old and was cold. (And no, I didn't order cold noodles.)

To top it all off, the previously interesting Nai Cha was now turned into some bubble tea drink and the sago they used was almost at the point of spoilage. (And may I remind you that I have lower standards for food compared to that of an average guy.)

Scribie

The internet is not a magical cash machine. Stop dreaming that it is. There is no form filling job that will earn you 20K USD a month. Any job that requires you pay a fee upfront is a scam. Don't even bother looking into it.

That said, it is possible to make a few bucks here and there online. But you have to work for it. Here is the real deal, the only upside of working online from home is that you don't have to dress up and commute, otherwise, online work is still work.

A quick way of earning a few bucks online is scribie.com. All you need is a computer with a fairly good internet connection, a good set of headphones, and a lot of patience. To get paid, you will also need a verified Paypal account. The job is transcribing audio files into text format. It is not rocket science. You don't even have to type that fast, as you are given 2 hours to transcribe 6 minutes of audio. You work only on the files you want to, when you want to. You are even given a 1 minute preview of the file before you have to select the job.

If you are interested, prepare yourself for a test, which is a paid test if you pass. Pay is 1 USD per 6 minutes of audio, which translates to 10 USD per audio hour transcribed. It will not pay for the rent, but it can pay for the internet and a little more. Downside to the site is that there are times when files are scarce. It is first come first served. Right now however, start of 2013, I see a good amount of files available.

Smart Bro complaint by Neckromancer

Last week I called up SmartBro about my internet connection again. It seems to be that I can only get good connections between 1AM until 6AM. I prepared myself: I purchased a Smart SIM rather than waste prepaid credits from my cellular. I called them up on a Sunday afternoon, with Matt Monro in the background (I hate their hold music).

Before the agent told me to do troubleshooting, I told him that I already did those things. The issue at hand does not lie with my device, whether I got a router, or the location of my receiver. The main significant fact is the time I can get a good internet connection. It is just like 1997 that there's an off-peak time where I can connect. The poor agent can only mumble call center cliches to say sorry. He put me on hold, got back and told me there is an ongoing adjustments in our area, I barely believed it, being in the call center industry myself. Around us we get internet cafes without interrupted connections. And I am one of the first people in our area to apply for a postpaid connection with SmartBro. Should I pay more? Should I "upgrade" my connection to 4G? With no answers forthcoming, the whole experience only left me seething for the whole experience.

PLDT MyDSL Application

Frustrated with my current internet service provider, SmartBro, I wanted to try switching to another provider and sent out an online application to PLDT MyDSL. I realize of course that PLDT and Smart are practically the same, but I am switching to a post-paid service that will not be dependent on cell-sites but cabled.

So I sent out the application at least a week before Christmas last year. And they replied with an email yesterday. Yes, YESTERDAY. They took more than one month to give out a confirmation that they even received my application.

And so I replied, to the effect that -- it took you more than one month to reply to my email application, I wonder how long it would take you to respond to a tech-support request. No ma'am, I am no longer interested in your product.

The gall of these people! Does PLDT still think they have a monopoly the way they did during martial law? That they can sit on your request for a phone line for ten years, and still you would like to have their service because their crappy service is the only service in town? I'd rather suffer the up-and-down intermittent signal of my current ISP than give them my business.

Update : Smart Bro and CDR King Wifi Router

Last week, Smart Broadband's signal was up-and-down. I would get over 1 mbps one minute, then completely lose signal the next minute. Because the internet is my second office, I require at least a moderate speed, but more importantly, a very stable internet signal. So you can imagine the mental aggravation of this whole situation was. And so every time I would lose signal, I 'd hard reboot my poor over-a -year-old 3G Wireless-N Broadband Router I bought at CDR-King last year for 1,400.00 Php.

After a whole afternoon of abuse, basically hard rebooting every 15 minutes or so, the CDR King wifi router finally gave up. I'm sure if I bring the thing to the store it can still be resurrected from it's current "factory reset" status, but then again, this is a symptom that the router has no longer much time to live. And that it would be too much hassle from hereon out.

Lucky for me, I know a friend who has upgraded his own internet service and as a result now owns a spare Smart Bro post-paid wifi router. And he let me borrow the thing. I just changed the post paid sim card with my own prepaid sim card, and that's it. The old post-paid Smart Bro wifi router is now converted to a prepaid wifi router. The service is still Smart. And as of last night, the signal is still intermittent. But for now, I have internet.

If Smart's service remains like this for the rest of the year however, I've already decided to get another internet service provider. I'm seriously considering BayanTel as I only need around 500 kbps -- BayanTel is promising "up to 768 kbps" for 899 Php monthly fee. I am willing to pay that price for a real 500 kbps or around 2/3 of that promise. I hope this is not another promise of  "up to 2 mbps", when actually, you'd be lucky to hit 300 kbps on a constant basis, which is what Smart Bro is really about -- at least the past two months or so.

No excuses Smart, we are paying you the premium price so it is only right that we expect that you give us a premium service. I would've been happy if you had delivered on even just half of that promise. Although it is technically not lying, less than 500 kbps should never be advertised as "up to 2 mbps." That's just wrong.

The former post-paid wifi router converted to pre-paid. Yes, it sits on top of my washing machine. And yes that is not the original antennae, my friend lost the original also the stand. But over-all the router is doing very well. And as of 10 am today, looks like Smart is going to give out a good signal today. But with Smart, you never know. It has been like that for about 2 months now.

Text overcharging

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), the government agency tasked to regulate the telecommunications industry in the Philippines has set the price ceiling of one text message sent in the Philippines at 0.80 Php since late last year (2011). All telecommunications companies, specifically Smart Communications, Globe Telecoms, and Sun Cellular, are ordered to follow this price ceiling. But to this day, this order has been ignored. As a consequence the NTC is now ordering that a refund be given to the consumers.

I will not go into the boring details of how the NTC came up with the price of 0.80 Php per text, which I think is still too expensive by the way, let me just say that the NTC is the government regulatory body. How dare these telecom companies ignore an order by the government. These companies are above and beyond the control of government?

Globe came up with a statement in the media that basically argued that the telecoms industry is a "free market therefore they are free to set whatever price they want". Okay Globe, you have a point. It is indeed a free market. And you have the right to set the price as high as you want. But oh wait, you are using the airspace in the Philippines? That belongs to the state -- the people if you will. Applying the same free market principle on you, we, the, the people, have decided to raise your rent of that airspace by 1,000 percent. Take it or leave it. You will not be missed.

As for the NTC, if you can not regulate these companies, then you have ceased being relevant. How dare you take your salaries when you can not do your job? You have only one job. If you can not do it, then please abolish yourselves and stop taking salaries.

 Enough of this drama and just give me my refund!

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UPDATE:

Saw this on this news again yesterday, 8 May 2014. I noticed that this was posted originally on 20 November 2012. So the Telcos somehow managed to ignore the NTC for more than a year without consequence! Wow. Either crack the whip or abolish yourselves NTC -- you useless piece of drain on taxpayer's money. Stop taking your salary if you can not do your job. As of  the news yesterday, the spokespersons of these Telcos are still saying they are going "study" the memo once they receive it.

Quickly Super Taro Drink by Brando

May 5 peso coin sa loob ng Quickly Super Taro Drink!!! Me and my son bought said drink in its booth inside greenhills arcade near celphone area. Half way of my son's drink he noticed a 5 peso coin inside the sealed glass. Confronted the crew nobody admits any fault. Talked to the owner personally nothing happened. made online complaint with DTI nothing happend...oh saan ka pa? Only in the Philippines! 

Tubiiiiiig!

Maynilad is going to turn off the water supply in my housing unit late this afternoon. My wife texted me this information just this morning. And I feel helpless as I am currently on the road doing field work and not due to return till Thursday or Friday. Tell me Maynilad, how fair is it that I am fully paid, heck, OVER paid having shouldered the penalties of "system's loss" for the last two or three months, and still I get this harassment. My seven-month pregnant wife is home alone, and you are turning off her water! I am FULLY PAID damn it! Fuck you Maynilad. FUCK YOU!