CD-R King Products that Actually Work (and Last)

December 22, 2007

More often than not when it comes to CD-R King, you get what you pay for, i.e. crappy items that you can’t get to work, crappy in-store service which consists almost entirely of a one-liner: “papila na lang” and even crappier after-sale service that only exchanges the crappy item you got from them with yet another crappy item. Either that or after-sale service is nonexistent altogether, just an annoying crackling sound at the other end of the line. And so you curse and vow never to buy anything from CD-R King again. But the allure of “cheapo alternatives” and the hopeful thought that it might work this time are just too hard to resist that you who once, twice, thrice vowed not to step in a CD-R King shop again finds himself in a long cue inside a CD-R King store. The cycle of crappiness begins anew. Once in a while though, the cycle is broken and you are blessed with cheap but actually functioning and durable CDR-King products.
Lady luck must be smiling on me every time I visit a CD-R King kiosk because albeit the inattentive and rude sales staff, the items I bought from them actually work! From all my countless blank CD and DVD purchases, I only had to return 5 DVD+R which were not compatible with my writer. They replaced them with DVD-R without fuss. As for non-CD/DVD items, I try not to rely on luck alone. If a certain item tickles my fancy, I rummage through local forum reviews for that item. If the reviews turn out to be good, then I buy the item. If not, then I don't.

I present to you my favorite CD-R King products - items that actually work and last.

Imation and Iomega CD/DVD

First in my list is their Imation CD and DVD+/-R. Even the choosy DVD-ROM drive of my laptop has no issues with these. I also learned from a local forum that Imation DVD-Rs can be used to "back up" Wii games and they work without a glitch. Iomega is another reliable brand as far as my burning needs are concerned. But these "brands" are hard to come by these days. I hope CDR-King replenishes their Imation and Iomega stock soon.

CD-R King AA Rechargeable Batteries

The CD-R King AA Rechargeable batteries are second in my list. Not only they're so darn cheap (Php 280 then, Php 300 now), they even work better than my 2500 mAh Sanyo Ni-MH batteries.When fully charged, they take more shots than my Sanyo batteries before completely draining out. Not only that, CD-R King batteries do not lose juice easily that they can still be used even after prolonged storage (about 2 weeks) without the need to recharge them.

1 GB PQI SD Card

When I bought a Nikon D40 last October, it came with, among other freebies, a 1GB PQI SD card (Php 450). The card was bought by the previous owner from CD-R King. I did not expect the card to last but it did and it's still with me and works just fine.

LP-8187E Wireless LAN USB 2.0 Adapter (with Antenna)

If setting up your home computers wirelessly is something you don't think you can do by yourself, then you're probably right. That is, if we're talking about wireless routers. Fortunately, Wifi USB dongles simplify things for the uninitiated. CD-R King's Wifi USB adapter does the job. Just stick it into a USB port of your main computer, install the drivers, connect your Wifi-enabled device and that's it. Up to 5 devices can be connected simultaneously. For just Php 750, this is a real steal. By the way, if you are a PSP owner just dying to play online games with fellow PSP gamers, then here's great news - this nifty device is 100% compatible with XLink Kai (Similar devices are sold at twice the price of this adapter.).

Dispose of your Old Cell Phone Batteries Properly

November 20, 2007

The DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) in partnership with major mobile phone manufacturers and mobile network service providers has launched a campaign on proper e-waste management, particularly the proper disposal of used, defective cell phone batteries and chargers. Twenty collection bins in three designated areas have been put up as drop-off points for discarded cell phones and parts. These bins may be found in strategic locations inside the Glorietta Mall in Makati, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong, and Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan.

Cell phone batteries are just one example of electronic waste or e-waste. With over 2 billion mobile users in the planet today, the disposal of broken cell phones and parts has become an environmental concern. Their components are made from non-biodegradable materials. Furthermore, modern cell phones are using lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are relatively safe but when overcharged, punctured, heated or incinerated, they could explode as the lithium oxide in the battery gets converted to its metal form (in the case of overcharging and heating).

The campaign's collected batteries and parts will then be collected by HMR Envirocycle Philippines for recycling. Metals from lithium-ion batteries such as cobalt, nickel, copper and iron are all recyclable.

Let's support this program. Dispose of your cell phone parts and batteries properly.

Kudos to DENR for this wonderful project. But why cell phone batteries only? Why not include all sorts of batteries in this project?

Hot Fruit Fly Sex and other Macro Shots

November 13, 2007

While looking for butterflies in a private garden in U.P. Diliman, I chanced upon this pair of fruit flies busily procreating. Fruit flies (well, flies in general) are an ideal subject in macro photography for they keep still and seem not to mind if the photographer invades their space and in this case, their privacy.



Butterflies, bees and dragonflies are not as cooperative and accommodating as fruit flies. I have to keep a certain distance when photographing these creatures. But capturing them in action is just as rewarding.


Then, the easiest of macro subjects: flowers (so long as the wind isn't blowing hard)

Glorietta Post-Blast Images

October 28, 2007

Pictures taken last Saturday (October 27 - 7 days after the blast) using a camera phone:

Under normal circumstances, this part of Glorietta would have been packed with passing vehicles and crossing shoppers.

A makeshift altar was constructed where family and friends can offer prayers, flowers and candles for the 11 innocent lives lost in the blast.

Third floor corridor of SM is so shiny and squeaky clean - no heavy foot traffic going to the MRT station. No foot traffic at all.

Empty tables collecting dust: no afternoon beer drinkers

Nearby malls such as SM are just as affected by the blast

Glorietta 2 blast ground zero - damaged vehicles outside Glorietta 2 have been removed, area cleared of debris but remains barricaded. Police and security guards are manning the area.

Many shops and fast food restaurants around the perimeter of Glorietta 2 remain closed - due to damages sustained (cracked walls, shattered glasses). Most of these shops seem intact but have been sealed off to prevent possible gas leak from Glorietta 2.

Walled up and painted white: But many parts of the mall particularly the wing going to SM (Giordano area) and Glorietta 4 reek of noxious gas stench seeping through these open areas of the mall.

PRC FINALLY Releases Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) 2007 Results

October 26, 2007

After two gruelling months of waiting, the Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC) finally released the results for the Licensure Examination for Teachers 2007 just this morning. From philstar.com:

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 18,376 elementary teachers out of 66,709 examinees and 16,811 secondary teachers out of 57,723 examinees successfully passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (L.E.T) given by the Board for Professional Teachers on August 26, 2007 in 19 testing centers all over the Philippines.

TOP 10 HIGHEST PLACES IN SECONDARY LEVEL

1.Joel Lising Adamos (University of Santo Tomas) Manuel Tablante Eusebio (University of the Philippines-Diliman) Aaron Dalisay Galamgam (University of the Philippines-Diliman)

2.Virgo Mamaclay Gulan (Philippine Normal University-Isabela) Melissa Elinore Manuel Wang (Ateneo de Manila University -QC)

3.Sherwin Barrete Iñigo (Mindanao State University-Marawi City) Missy Dazzle Molinyawe Olea (University of the Philippines-Diliman) Blessilda Perez Rapoza (Philippine Normal University-Manila)

4.Eisha Vienna Maliksi Fernandez (Philippine Normal University-Manila) Julius Abel Bicos Galpao (Centro Escolar Unversity-Manila)

5.Rommel Ambal Ramos (University of Batangas)

6.Jorge JR Salvador Baclor (Philippine Normal University-Manila) Tom Ng Chu (University of the Philippines-Diliman) Celina Punzalan Sarmiento (Philippine Normal University-Manila)

7.Nestor Gonzales Acala (Mindanao State University-Marawi City) Ferdinand Licup Aguila (University of the Philippines-Diliman) Rachel Edita Oñate Roxas (University of the Philippines-Los Baños) Mona Lisa Pardilla Siacor (Central Philippine University)

8.Gissella Bahoyo Lebron (De La Salle University-Manila) Helma Yusa Mesa (University of the Philippines-Diliman)

9.Agripina Lagasca Arboleda (Saint Louis University) Oliver Garejo Daitol (University of the East-Caloocan) Angeli Soledad Roque Echiverri (University of the Philippines-Diliman) Angelita Profeta Radiel (University of the Philippines-Los Baños)

10.Krystal Dianne Masangkay Dolarte (Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Sta. Mesa) Glaiza David Tarine (Holy Angel University)


And miracle of all miracles, I landed in the top ten (that's me in no. 8 position)! I would have been happy just to see my name in the list of successful examinees but to be in the top ten is too much of a blessing.

Although credit is given to De La Salle University, my alma mater (B.S. Chemistry) in the official PRC release, equal credit should be given to Philippine Normal University where I took my education units that made me eligible to take the board examination in the first place. If not for the training and schooling and disciplining I got from these two fine universities, I don't think I would have even passed the boards. Special thanks to Immaculate Conception Academy (San Juan), St. Theresa's College (Q.C.), De La Salle University Physics Department and University of Santo Tomas Pharmacy Math Department - schools where I taught and grew as a teacher. But no thanks to MSA reviewer (I didn't enroll in any review center but I made the terrible mistake of picking up an error-laden MSA reviewer).