Team Up Your Batteries For Better Life

I found this article at Matt Dunmore Photography website and I thought this might be of help. Here's the article:

Disclaimer: This article is own and written by Matt Dunmore. You may visit his site by clicking on his name.

Here is a little tip I thought I would share. I learned this a while back from my friend Jason and then have heard it several times from different sources.

Teaming up your batteries can greatly improve your batteries life and longevity. Apparently there is something about using and charging your batteries together in the same set that helps them last longer when used and also improve their over all life. Don’t ask me why I just thought I would pass along the info.

I currently have 7 sets of 4 AA batteries and I have used a Sharpie to place numbers on the side. I also have a case that I can store them as sets so that it is easy to find the teams.

The Story Of Hanamichi Sakuragi

I received an e-mail from Andy about the life of the "so-called real" Hanamichi Sakura who inspired the hit anima/manga "Slam Dunk." Whether it's real or not, you decide. Below is the content of the e-mail:

Hanamichi Sakuragi was born in 1968 in a family of the common working class. His mother passed away when he was very young, without the love of his mother he use the violence (out-on-the-street fights) to resolve his problems. As a young boy he was very tall at the age of 12 average 1.75 mts, and his body began to acquire force and a lot of resistance through his fights. Once he had a fight with the students in the sports zone of the University of Tokyo; his abilities to fight, velocity and tough physicality they attracted the coach of the basketball team, and offered him to join the team.

In a party of practice, at the age of 17, against the National Team of Japan, Hanamichi of 1.89 mts, was the unique one that was not frightened by the professionals and noted 33 points alone: 10 shots, 3 nailed, 1 triple, 1 shot that did not find the terminology to explain, and 2 free shots.

Although its team lost with only 59 points (59 - 115), had been an excellent first game for Hanamichi. Basketball was in chaos, and he was named "The Hope of the Japanese Basketball". Nevertheless, its father fell sick a year later. Hanamichi went of, return to Tokyo, and this trip would cost him all. He descended of the bus in Tokyo and he was on the verge of crossing the street across the hospital when a car that went very fast hit him . Although he had the "body of steel", the impact simply was too strong. He collapsed, they carried him to the hospital. Unfortunately it was too late... before they sent him to the operating room (he) died from internal hemorrhage, only with 18 years of age.

The World of the Japanese Basketball was completely destroyed, they called this loss "Colossal". The mangaca Takehiko Inoue created its series" Slam Dunk" based on the history of his youth.

First Tag Of 2008

I've been tagged by Kev and this is my first tag for 2008.

1. Name 1 thing you do everyday:
- Pray

2. Name 2 things you wish you could learn.
- Scuba Diving
- Surfing (waves)

3. Name 3 things that remind you of your childhood.
- Playing
- Story telling
- Make beliefs

4. Name 4 things you love to eat but rarely do.
- Durian
- Pizza
- Ice Cream
- Lechon

5. Name 5 things that make you feel good.
- Smile from other people
- Compliments
- Creating Komiks
- Talking with family and friends
- Taking photos

Well I am tagging Pao, Ymon, Reigh, Meryl and TL

Family Day

The photo above was taken during the Metro Kidapawan Water District (MKWD) Family day last December 28, 2007. They've been doing this activity since I was very little and we always attend it. From left to right: Spike, me, Epoy, Labing, and Myking. I love my family.

This other photo above was taken a year ago. Same place. Imagine how much fast a person changes in just a year. We were thinner back then and now we've gain pounds. Except of course for Spikey who maintained his built. From left to right: Epoy, Spike, Myking, Labing and me.

My NIkon D40

Last Friday (January 11, 2008) I bought my very first camera and its a DSLR - Nikon d40. I bought for a very good price at Henry's Camera Photo Supply at the back of SM Carriedo. The Nikon d40 kit includes a 18-55 mm VR lens, a camera bag, a 2GB SD card, and a 1 year warranty. I tried it on their shop for a while and I really like it. It's not heavy at all and the photos I took was enough to satisfy me. They also have the Nikon d40x kit too but I don't need the extra 4 megapix so I decided that extra money will definitely go to another lens - the 55-200mm. The lense is a bit expensive so I thought that I should try the other stores nearby and finally I bought the 55-200mm at Watson Photo Shop for a really good price. After buying my camera and some accessories I went home and tried for hours until the battery was completely drained. I am so happy with my Nikon d40.

The following day I went back to Hidalgo to buy some accessories. I decided to check all the stores and how much those accessories will cost me. That day I bought a tripod and two 52mm UV filters for my lenses at Henry's, Watson offers a cheaper price but all 52mm UV filters were already out of stock. Then I bought extra battery at Watsons and finally two 2GB SD card at Mayer's. I ran out of money so I was not able to buy a flash. I am thinking of buying either the SB-400 or the SB-600 but I am undecided yet which to buy. After the purchase I went to CD-R King to buy CD-RW's for storage.

Below are my sample shots. I know it's not much because I am a complete newbie but I will practice a lot and read a lot of tutorials to hone my "skills" and I know in time I will be very good at it. By the way, who amongst you know a very good tutorial site that I can visit? I really need to read a lot. Does anyone here have a group that I can join to wherein they meet and shoot and teach and discuss? I am so excited to meet up with you guys and learn from you and of course have fun shooting with people of the same hobby as I do. Hope you'll critique these three photos I've taken.

Contact/s:

Henry's: 733-7723, 735-7989, 735-5099 and look for Nick or Henry but if you are bisaya you may look for Nelia (bisaya ni siya).

Watson: 733-7697 and look for the white-haired chinese guy.

Mayer: 733-7722 and look for Mang Ramon.

Barbeque

I think a lot of us here love to eat barbeque. Whatever celebrations we have we often see barbeque on the table. Christmas, New Year, birthdays you name it barbeque never misses the menu. We can see vendors selling it almost anywhere. Yes, barbeque (especially pork, chicken intestines, chicken feet, and even chicken blood) is arguably the world’s favorite food.

Preparing barbeque depends on the taste of the one’s preparing it but cooking or grilling it can be very tiring and not to mention the heat and smoke that comes with cooking/grilling it. Well for those who doesn’t want to prepare the coals, lit it, wait for the coals to get burned up, and inhale smoke then gas grill is the best solution for that. Using gas grill saves a lot of your time preparing where to cook/grill your barbeque. You just have to click on its push-button igniter (pretty much like your gas range) and put the barbeques on to cook. The good part about gas grill is that you can place it on the kitchen or right outside your backyard or transfer it anywhere you like because most gas grills have built-in wheels. It’s really convenient and no hassle at all. Preparing and cooking your favorite barbeque is much easier now.

Christmas Carol

Last December 20, 2007, a group of children came by our office to sing us Christmas songs. I didn't pay much attention to them because having children sing Christmas songs are not unusual and in fact you see them almost anywhere. But when one of my office-mates told me that those children are deaf and they came from a special school, I was intrigue as to how are they going to sing Christmas songs in a group. Then when they start to sing, my heart almost melt. I just can't describe the feeling hearing them sing and watching them dance. I was moved. There's nothing special about the song or how they sing it but there is something that I find so hard to pin-point what about their performance that really hit me. Then I realize I see hope and strong will in them. It was one of the best and most touching sight I've ever seen. Christmas spirit was totally felt that time.

Just look how happy and lively they were as they sang a couple of Christmas songs.

Here are some photos of them after their performance. I felt that I am so blessed that I have all my senses complete and yet most of us just ignore and forget that fact. While those children are doing their best to go on live like a normal person and forget that they are in fact deaf. Another lesson was learned that day.