Buying Computer?

Technology and tech terms could be totally Timbuktu for most of the general public, like me. So, when I buy a computer, I make it a point to bring the husband, although I am definite I know more tech terms than him, so that there's someone I can blame for damages later on... But then, maybe, I was just exacting revenge because he was responsible in damaging my last, old reliable mac (I had two in my previous life--- a notebook and a desk top --- this is my third reincarnation, and I am 93 years old).

Here in Urdaneta, I bought the first desk top at JoyComp, 3F Magic Mall. Karen and her staff are very kind and helpful. Then, I had another unit for installment basis at Speed. Hardly used for 4 weeks, the computer bonked out. In most service centers, the usual excuse is "baka na-virus..." Most technicians will tell you that but most technicians don't know a virus from a text message (meaning, its familiar, but what is it, anyway?). It turned out the CD rom was not working as per specification, so, they had to change it. What irritates more was in the middle of explaining your problem, they ask you for receipts which are not even official, to begin with... Bad trip to the first degree! I also wanted the memory cards changed because my programmer said it was of low quality, one that performs erratically when it does not like the humidity, it will bonk-bonk. But the manager said cannot be... I'd like to presume this is one of the disadvantages of installment plans, or for buying at Speed? Since then, i had the unit re-formatted several times... while the JoyComp unit goes well...

In making choices, it is hardly valid to make one unless an experiment was undertaken. And this thing with Speed was not a good experiment at all. Installment or cash basis, I believe that my wasted time and their wasted time for unnecessary shut downs, repairs and hardware exchange is eating my and Speed's resources (but basically mine's). In fact, the unit shuts down without any reason at all most of the time while I was working, while the JoyComp unit, just sitting one meter away continue working!

I am about to purchase again for another unit, but my programmer advised me to try Strings. I would have gone back again to JoyComp if they had stocks, but Strings seem to stock more new items. Besides, my programmer who also buy his items at JoyComp and Strings said both establishments are reliable.

In a highly competitive market, the Total Quality Management (TQM) proponents argue that product and service must be competitive right from the start. The Speed manager reasoned to me why there were "old" and second-rate parts in the unit was because they were disposing old stocks. Thing is, there are a lot of establishments that try to get away with uncomfortable practices like that. My programmer showed the Speed technician that the CD-Rom they placed in my unit was performing below par, and the technician would have insisted everything was alright, until my programmer showed him it wasn't.

I think it is OK to use old stocks as long as these are of premium quality. But to dispose it for the sake of getting rid of old stocks could be hazardous to the customer, and their health... Units that break down in the middle of unsaved document or program is one of the highest cause of stress in the workplace.

And irritated customers that bring units for repair also causes a lot of stress. Good thing, Mr. Speed does not seem to frequent his service shop.

So, Mr. Speed, I hope you don't mind some piece of boomtarattattat in the middle of November... The unit you gave me rattattat most of my unsaved documents, anyway...

Food Trip

Bibingka is one of the most popular native rice cakes, if it must be considered Philippine native food at all. I say so because of its ingredients. Most native rice cakes I know of use mostly natural ingredients: tinubong, the rice cake packaged inside a bamboo variety Ilocanos call “bolo” uses in its simplest forms flour, sugar, and coconut. In its “supreme” form, milk, cheese, butter or star margarine, egg and even vanilla flavor is added. The same can be said of other rice cakes such as patupat (triangular-shaped), tinupig, (elongated) and my favorite sinambong made of diket (sticky rice), tagapulot (muscovado sugar) and wrapped in woven coconut leaves. I have not seen the production of sinambong but some say it is as tedious as tinubong. For tinubong, after mixing all ingredients, the semi-liquid mix is stuffed inside a bamboo hollow measured from one node cut prior to the next node, then, the bamboo is closed with a coconut husk. Dug-up earth holes will serve as oven for baking. The bamboos are lined up on the center hole while beneath it are flaming coals. Recalled from an experience when I was about 5 years old…

As for royal bibingka, my late grandma used to prepare it at least 12 hours prior to baking. The floured diket is sifted through very fine silk net, placed on a bamboo basket or bigao, scattered with strips of banana leaves to preserve its freshness. Egg is beaten with a wooden ladle in a mixing bowl, add sugar, milk, butter or Star margarine (original flavor), a bit of baking soda, finely grated Kraft cheddar cheese, Carnation or Alaska evaporated and condensed milk, and last, the flour. Vanilla may be added, but she preferred the flavor for leche flan. It is cooked in a red clay circular flat pot, with 1 cup per serving to control thickness. Flaming coals supported by galvanized iron on top serves as cover while another flaming coal is set below. Grated cheese is used as topping when it is nearly cooked.

But why go through all the hard work of mixing and preparation if same delectable flavor is within easy reach? This bibingka has been traditionally popularized by Vigan folks. I can recall Tongson’s, then, Mom’s, then, 3 Sisters, and most recently, Marsha’s Delicacy to come out with the same traditional flavor. What made the rest history is that Marsha’s has perfected the flavor I hardly distinguish a bite from my grandma’s. And besides, Marsha’s is now available in many tourist spot of Vigan, at the Partas station, and thankfully, has an outlet at Magic Mall Urdaneta (fronting the grocery). Besides bibingka, Marsha’s also carry in its product line chocolatey brownies, even baked macaroni, cassava cake, calamay (fame of Candon), leche flan, pichi-pichi, ube macapuno and maja mais.

And now that we’re talking about gastronomic delights, I’ll proceed within the confines of Urdaneta. I am a self-confessed Italian dish fan, and been a regular at Sbarro’s for they serve generous tomato sauce with most of their dishes. As there’s not much choices here but commercial flavored Pizza Hut and Greenwich, I have to go look for others. Eating is not just a stomach duty for me. I also like to enjoy eating, and how else but through savoring old familiar flavors and discovering new ones? Found an alternative at Tsaptiks along McArthur Highway in front of CB Balingit Mall. I also dig “eat-all-you-cans” and Tsaptiks hosts one every now and then, and it is how I discovered the place. The price is just about the same as Chowking’s, but why settle for less? Last I heard, there’s an eat-all-you-can going on again. I like best their seafood fried noodles, and dimsums. But there’s an array of Chinese dishes you won’t need to bet your money for.

You see, I am so disappointed with my recent dining at Pizza Hut. I could hardly taste the cheese and tomato sauce. I mean, pizza is all about its toppings and mix of seasoning. And, I used to believe pizza is automatically topped with (mozarella, or melted thick layer of Kraft cheddar) cheese and tomato sauce, and all those Italian herbs and spices. All I could taste was a bland mix of meat preserves (sausages, pepperoni, bacon, et al) and the bread which is no longer soft and supple but something you must struggle with for a bite! Yikes! I have noticed the same with Shakey’s, although Pizza Hut and Shakey’s were previously to me, two distinct pizzas: the other is pan (thick bread) and the other is thin crust, which I both loved. Now, they all taste alike with Greenwich. It’s disappointing how commercialism has gone this low.

Blandly low.