Today is reserved for Philip Island. My brother reckons we have enough time, so we drove to the Docklands precint first. Lots of spaces but not enough shops. Lunch at the food court, then off to the Shrine of Remembrance. By 2:30pm, we were on our way to the Philip Island Nature Park. More traffic on the road. Got to Philip Island around 5pm already. We were told that the penguin parade starts around 7:30pm, so we went to see The Nobbies first. Supposed to have lots of seals lounging about on the Seal Rocks, but we didn't see any. We did get to see the Nobbies Blowhole at the end of the boardwalk though. The wind is blowing hard, there are strong waves smashing into the rocks, which made the blowhole all the more spectacular.
By 6pm, we were parked at the Philip Island Nature Park. It was a very good parking spot, too. Right at the first exit. Then we noticed that our car is very low on fuel. I know there's a petrol station a few kilometers down the road. Instead of waiting till the end of the penguin parade, might as well top up now. We were gone for only about half an hour. By the time we came back, all the parking lots were full, and we had to park in an open grassy lot with hundreds of other cars. Worse, we got to the stands late. Fortunately, a group moved away, and gave us their seats.
Took a while for the little penguins to come wading in. Those guys were really small and hard to spot amidst the rocks and the pigeons standing around. As more and more penguins filed in, even my parents were able to see them. On our way back to the Visitor Centre, you can see the little penguins wandering about, calling out, and looking for their little holes. Worth the long wait, the cold winds, and the entrance fee.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Melbourne - Day Three
For today, the plan is to visit the Twelve Apostles via the Great Ocean Road. Made a quick detour to the Queen Victoria Market for some Sunday shopping. Mom bought a crystal flower for her altar, while I bought an egg-shaped jewelry case for GF. Had some snacks, then started our drive to Port Campbell. Traffic is quite bad. Seems like everyone else on the road is taking the Great Ocean Road. Stopped by a town called Anglesea for lunch.
By 3pm, we're still on Great Ocean Road, and nowhere near the Twelve Apostles. Took a short detour to check out the Spit Point Lighthouse. After some quick picture-taking, we're back on the road. Got to Port Campbell National Park around 4pm. Half an hour later, we're done with the Apostles. The place is super windy and freezing cold. In our haste to get back to the city, we got caught speeding by a hidden police car. No wonder very few people is using that long narrow stretch of road. Got back to our hotel around midnight already. No one is in the mood for dinner, so we just bought some takeaway chicken wraps from Hungry Jacks.
By 3pm, we're still on Great Ocean Road, and nowhere near the Twelve Apostles. Took a short detour to check out the Spit Point Lighthouse. After some quick picture-taking, we're back on the road. Got to Port Campbell National Park around 4pm. Half an hour later, we're done with the Apostles. The place is super windy and freezing cold. In our haste to get back to the city, we got caught speeding by a hidden police car. No wonder very few people is using that long narrow stretch of road. Got back to our hotel around midnight already. No one is in the mood for dinner, so we just bought some takeaway chicken wraps from Hungry Jacks.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Melbourne - Day Two
Today's agenda is simply to explore the city. Had a quick breakfast at our serviced apartment, then off we go. First stop is the Carlton Gardens. Took some photographs of the magnificent Royal Exhibition Building. It was completed in 1880 in time for the Melbourne International Exhibition. It also holds the distinction of being the first building in Australia to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. Nearby is the Melbourne Musuem. Entry to the museum is free for seniors. Next stop is the Victorian Parliament House for more picture taking. Nearby are St. Peter's Anglican Church with a statue of Christ on a cross at a street corner and St. Patrick's Cathedral where photography is not allowed. This I found out too late. We then walked down to Russell Street, and had lunch at a Chinese restaurant.
We made our way along Flinders to St. Paul's Cathedral, where we waited for the Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle. Lots of other people had the same idea. Half an hour later, the hop-on hop-off bus took us to the Docklands shopping centres with the Southern Star Observation Wheel, Melbourne Museum and Carlton Gardens, Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne Aquarium, the Shrine of Remembrance, Royal Botanic Garden, Chinatown, etc. We got off at the Arts Centre, and spent some time at the National Gallery of Victoria. Very similar in atmosphere to the Art Gallery of NSW. We walked along the Yarra River promenade, and had snacks at the Southbridge. Stayed around Crown Casino a bit to watch their hourly(?) Christmas show in the lobby.
From there, we caught a tram to bring us back to Parliament House, where we parked our car in the morning. Drove to St. Kilda Beach for a look-see. By the time we finished touring the nearby Luna Park, we didn't want to see the beach anymore. The wind picked up, and it started getting very very cold. So back to the car we went and back to the hotel where we had pizzas and chicken wings delivered for dinner.
We made our way along Flinders to St. Paul's Cathedral, where we waited for the Melbourne City Tourist Shuttle. Lots of other people had the same idea. Half an hour later, the hop-on hop-off bus took us to the Docklands shopping centres with the Southern Star Observation Wheel, Melbourne Museum and Carlton Gardens, Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne Aquarium, the Shrine of Remembrance, Royal Botanic Garden, Chinatown, etc. We got off at the Arts Centre, and spent some time at the National Gallery of Victoria. Very similar in atmosphere to the Art Gallery of NSW. We walked along the Yarra River promenade, and had snacks at the Southbridge. Stayed around Crown Casino a bit to watch their hourly(?) Christmas show in the lobby.
From there, we caught a tram to bring us back to Parliament House, where we parked our car in the morning. Drove to St. Kilda Beach for a look-see. By the time we finished touring the nearby Luna Park, we didn't want to see the beach anymore. The wind picked up, and it started getting very very cold. So back to the car we went and back to the hotel where we had pizzas and chicken wings delivered for dinner.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Melbourne - Day One
First day on our road trip to Melbourne is pretty uneventful. We left Sydney around 7:15am. My brother and I were driving, and we took turns at the wheel every two hours. First stop is at Gosford, where the Big Merino is. Breakfast at McDonald's. Next stop is at Goubourn. Lunch at Hungry Jack's and a full tank of petrol for the car. We had a short stop at this town called Holwich. The sign says "Holbrook Submarine Town", so I had to stop and look for the submarine. The town is quite small, and the submarine is parked right beside the main road. I don't think we're anywhere near the coast. No idea how the submarine ended up here. Would've liked to check out the sub, but it's pretty hot out in the open, and everyone's in a hurry to reach Melbourne, so we drove on.
Got to Melbourne around 5:30pm. First thing I noticed are the many flyovers and exits and the toll charges that go along with them. Checked in at Quest on Dorcas (right beside Royal Botanic Gardens), then drove straight to the CBD. The good thing about Melbourne is that the place is always alive and kicking. Many of the shops were already closed, but there's still lots of people about. Dinner is at the Yoyogi Japanese Cafe. Strangely enough, the owner and all the staff are Chinese. Today being Boxing Day, we went to David Jones (and Myer) for some late-night window-shopping.
Got to Melbourne around 5:30pm. First thing I noticed are the many flyovers and exits and the toll charges that go along with them. Checked in at Quest on Dorcas (right beside Royal Botanic Gardens), then drove straight to the CBD. The good thing about Melbourne is that the place is always alive and kicking. Many of the shops were already closed, but there's still lots of people about. Dinner is at the Yoyogi Japanese Cafe. Strangely enough, the owner and all the staff are Chinese. Today being Boxing Day, we went to David Jones (and Myer) for some late-night window-shopping.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Christmas Walk
It's Christmas, and nothing much is happening. All the malls and shops are closed, so I'm pretty sure it's quiet in the city. WHQ and I drove to the city to take the Christmas Walk. Started off at Martin Place to take pictures of the giant Christmas tree. Further on, there's a large stainless steel menorah near Macquarie Street. The menorah is a seven-branched candelabrum, which is normally associated with the Jewish faith.
Walking through Hyde Park, we saw another Christmas Tree. At the nearby David Jones, we spent some time looking at their Christmas-themed window displays, then went back home.
Walking through Hyde Park, we saw another Christmas Tree. At the nearby David Jones, we spent some time looking at their Christmas-themed window displays, then went back home.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
No-Fly Zone at Illawarra Fly
After a long time of talking about it, today is the day we try out the Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk. I suggested to WHQ that we take the Grand Pacific Drive as it's along the way. First stop is the Ottford Lookout. The day is a bit overcast, but from here we still have clear sweeping views of the ocean and the mountainside. Further down the road, we stopped by Bald Hill Stanwell Park to check out the hanggliding action. RY was seriously tempted to do some tandem hanggliding, but later decided against it. Said it was too cold.
At the Sea Cliff Bridge, we were thinking whether we should try walking across for the experience. Good thing we didn't. There's really not much to see. The $50m bridge is 1.6kms long, and walking across and back is no easy talk. Driving on to Wollongong, we stopped by Nan Tien Temple for some picture-taking. Lunch consisted of hamburgers that the ladies prepared.
By 3pm, we got to Knights Hill. As luck would have it, the whole place is drizzling. But it's not the rain that is the problem, we could've easily gotten a poncho. The whole area is blanketed by dense fog! From inside the information centre, visibility is only a few tens of meters. The weather didn't improve after our coffee and hot chocolate, so we decided to come back another day.
After a short rest in the afternoon, GF joined the family for a Christmas Eve dinner at HK Restaurant.
At the Sea Cliff Bridge, we were thinking whether we should try walking across for the experience. Good thing we didn't. There's really not much to see. The $50m bridge is 1.6kms long, and walking across and back is no easy talk. Driving on to Wollongong, we stopped by Nan Tien Temple for some picture-taking. Lunch consisted of hamburgers that the ladies prepared.
By 3pm, we got to Knights Hill. As luck would have it, the whole place is drizzling. But it's not the rain that is the problem, we could've easily gotten a poncho. The whole area is blanketed by dense fog! From inside the information centre, visibility is only a few tens of meters. The weather didn't improve after our coffee and hot chocolate, so we decided to come back another day.
After a short rest in the afternoon, GF joined the family for a Christmas Eve dinner at HK Restaurant.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Barbeque at Concord, Canapes at Burwood
WHQ's hosting a Christmas barbecue at her place. As usual, everyone arrived late. Start time is supposed to be 11am, so we started cooking the sausages around 10:30am. By 11am, there's only four of us eating the sausages and chicken macaroni. By 12 noon, people started arriving in earnest. Finished around 2pm.
I figured we can have a quiet afternoon, then go home early. Not to be so. Turns out WHQ's sister is attending a company party, and signed us all up. Actually, I was not invited, but one of WHQ's brother didn't want to go, so I had to take his place. Good thing it's just at Vee Vees in Burwood, so not too far. We had some drinks, lots of canapes, and party games till late night.
I figured we can have a quiet afternoon, then go home early. Not to be so. Turns out WHQ's sister is attending a company party, and signed us all up. Actually, I was not invited, but one of WHQ's brother didn't want to go, so I had to take his place. Good thing it's just at Vee Vees in Burwood, so not too far. We had some drinks, lots of canapes, and party games till late night.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Nybble Issue No. 206
N Y B B L E M O N T H L Y N E W S L E T T E R
A Free Ezine about Anything Tech and Everything Else
2008.12.14 Issue No. 206
Another car-related innovation I thought of. Aside from rear parking
sensors, why not have front driving sensors as well? This is how it's
supposed to work. You're driving along. The traffic light turns red.
You stop behind a car. You feel like napping a bit, but you can't. You
don't want the car behind you to start blowing its horn when the light
turns green, and your car is stuck in suspended animation because your
eyes are closed. The solution? Front sensors. The moment the car in
front of you starts moving, the front sensors detect this increasing
distance and starts beeping to wake you up. You open your eyes and
drive on. This is definitely a welcome feature for sleepy drivers like me.
Have an answer, comment, suggestion, or violent reaction? Send them my
way by clicking on Reply or join nybbletalk@yahoogroups.com to discuss
a topic. If you think Nybble is good enough, do tell the napping
drivers about it. Thanks.
_________TABLE OF CONTENTS_________
* Thinkpads with SMS Security
* True Waterproof Clothing
* Lasers that Heal
* Water from Air
* Finger Veins as ID
* World's Heaviest Robot
* Likeable Links
* Questionable Question
* Quotable Quote
* Trivial Trivia
* Laughable Laugh
_________THINKPADS WITH SMS SECURITY_________
http://tinyurl.com/5tylt6
Lenovo is adding a new layer of security to its ThinkPad notebooks
that will allow users to disable their laptop by simply sending a text
message through a cell phone. Called Constant Secure Remote Disable,
this new security offering was developed in conjunction with Phoenix
Technologies and embedded within the notebook's BIOS. This new
security feature allows a user to send an SMS (short message service)
text message from a cell phone to a Lenovo ThinkPad that has been lost
or stolen. Once the kill command is sent, the lost or stolen ThinkPad
is either disabled immediately or the notebook is disabled after the
PC has been turned back on. Since hard disk drive encryption will not
work properly if the PC is running or in hibernation mode, this
disable feature ensures that the data is secure by shutting the
machine down and allowing the hard disk drive encryption to work. If
and when the ThinkPad laptop is recovered, the user can restore the
notebook, its settings and the data contained on the PC by entering a
password. To work, however, the stolen or lost ThinkPad must be in
range of the user's GSM network. And obviously, you have to have a WAN
card in the PC (including the SIM) and you must be paying a data plan
for it.
The Lenovo Constant Secure Remote Disable will be a free download and
BIOS upgrade that will be available in either late December or the
first quarter of 2009.
_________TRUE WATERPROOF CLOTHING_________
http://tinyurl.com/5tlqrf
Chemists at the University of Zurich have created the most
water-repellent clothing-appropriate material ever. Drops of water
stay as spherical balls on top of the fabric and a sheet of the
material need only be tilted by 2 degrees from horizontal for them to
roll off like marbles. A jet of water bounces off the fabric without
leaving a trace.
The secret to this incredible water resistance is the layer of
silicone nanofilaments, which are highly chemically hydrophobic. The
spiky structure of the 40-nanometre-wide filaments strengthens that
effect, to create a coating that prevents water droplets from soaking
through the coating to the polyester fibres underneath. The silicone
nanofilaments also trap a layer of air between them, to create a
permanent air layer. This fine layer of air ensures that water never
comes into contact with the polyester fabric. It can be submerged in
water for two months and still remain dry to the touch. In addition,
the plastron layer can also reduce drag when moving from water by up
to 20% according to preliminary experiments.
The new coating is produced in a one-step process, in which silicone
in gas form condenses onto the fibres to form nanofilaments. The
coating can also be added to other textiles, including wool, viscose
and cotton, although polyester currently gives the best results.
_________LASERS THAT HEAL________
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/21687/
Physicists at Tel Aviv University have developed a laser system that
can be used to heal wounds. In principle, "laser-bonded" healing
offers certain advantages over classic needle-and-thread sutures,
including faster healing, decreased risk of infection, and less
scarring. Researchers have been working toward flesh-welding lasers
for more than a decade, and a number of human trials have shown
promise. But what was lacking, until now, was consistency. Flesh,
blood vessels, and nerves are delicate tissues that can easily be --
for lack of a better word -- overcooked.
To overcome this problem, Abraham Katzir and his colleagues developed
a laser-based system with a feedback loop that prevents overheating.
The group created a pen-sized tool that incorporates optic fibers: one
that channels a carbon dioxide-powered infrared laser to the wound
with pinpoint precision, and another that leads from the pen to an
infrared sensor, which measures the temperature and ensures that the
heat remains within the ideal range, between 60 and 70 degrees. All a
surgeon has to do is move the pen's tip along the cut, strengthening
and sealing the weld with a solder of water-soluble protein.
Until recently, the researchers worked to perfect their technique on
pigs, whose skin is most similar to that of a person. Those studies
told them that their method was sound: the laser-healed wounds were
just as strong, mended faster, and resulted in less inflammation and
infection than normal sutures, since a cut that's welded closed is
better at keeping bacteria out. Now, the group has finished their
first clinical trial on human patients. The researchers are waiting to
see how the closures perform 12 months after surgery before publishing
their results.
_________WATER FROM AIR_________
http://tinyurl.com/6rg73x
Eco-inventors from Canada claim to have found the solution to the
world's worsening water shortages by drawing the liquid of life from
an unlimited and untapped source - the air.
The company called Element Four developed a machine called the
WaterMill, which uses the electricity of about three light bulbs to
condense moisture from the air and purify it into clean drinking
water. From the outside, the mill looks like a giant golf ball that
has been chopped in half: it is about 3ft in diameter, made of white
plastic, and is attached to the wall. It works by drawing air through
filters to remove dust and particles, then cooling it to just below
the temperature at which dew forms. The condensed water is passed
through a self-sterilising chamber that uses microbe-busting UV light
to eradicate any possibility of Legionnaires' disease or other
infections. Finally, it is filtered and passed through a pipe to the
owner's fridge or kitchen tap.
For the environmentally conscious consumer, the WaterMill has an
obvious appeal. Bottled water is an ecological catastrophe. In the US
alone, about 30bn litres of bottled water is consumed every year at a
cost of about $11bn (£7.4bn). According to the Earth Policy Institute,
about 1.5m barrels of oil - enough to power 100,000 cars for a year -
is used just to make the plastic. The process also uses twice as much
water as fits inside the container, not to mention the 30m bottles
that go into landfills every day in the US. But the mill also has
downsides, not least its $1,200 cost when it goes on sale in America,
the UK, Italy, Australia and Japan in the spring.
_________FINGER VEINS AS ID_________
http://tinyurl.com/6au56q
Companies in Europe have begun to roll out an advanced biometric
system from Hitachi that verifies a person's identity based on the
lattice work of minute blood vessels under the skin. Finger vein
authentication, introduced widely by Japanese banks in the last two
years, is claimed to be the fastest and most secure biometric method.
The pattern of blood vessels is captured by transmitting near-infrared
light at different angles through the finger, usually the middle
finger. This can be done in a small instrument attached to a wall or
as part of an ATM machine. The light is partially absorbed by
haemoglobin in the veins and the pattern is captured by a camera as a
unique 3D finger vein profile. This is turned into a simple digital
code which is then matched with a pre-registered profile to verify an
individual's identity. Even twins are said to have different finger
vein patterns. Hitachi claims that because the veins are inside the
body, invisible to the eye, it is extremely difficult to forge and
impossible to manipulate. While fingerprints can be "lifted" and
retinas scanned without an individual realising it, it is extremely
unlikely that people's finger vein profiles can be taken without them
being aware of it. The gruesome possibility that criminals may hack
off a finger has already been discounted by Hitachi's scientists.
Asked if authentication could be "forged" with a severed finger, the
company says: "As blood would flow out of a disconnected finger,
authentication would no longer be possible."
Hitachi says finger vein authentication is less expensive than iris
scanning or face/voice recognition and that the false rejection rate
is much lower than with fingerprinting.
_________WORLD'S HEAVIEST ROBOT_________
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/11/06/monster-robot-truck.html
The largest truck in the world is about to become the largest robotic
vehicle in the world. Computer scientists from Carnegie Mellon
University have teamed up with engineers from Caterpillar to automate
the 700-ton trucks, which are made to haul loads up to 240 tons from
mines. That's nearly two million pounds of metal, fuel and stone
powered by a 3,550-horsepower, 24-valve engine moving at up to 42
miles per hour, with software and a robot at the wheel.
The Caterpillar trucks will be equipped with numerous high-tech
gadgets and software to keep them on the road. GPS receivers would
continuously monitor the location and direction of the trucks. Laser
range finders would sweep the road in front of the trucks to identify
large objects. Video equipment would then determine if the object is a
hazard, such as a rock, or not. All of the information would then be
run through a computer program that would tell the robotic driver to
avoid the obstacle or not and by how much. The software to run the
trucks will be adapted from CMU's part in the DARPA (Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency) Urban Challenge, a competition that required
unmanned vehicles equipped with sensors and artificial intelligence
systems to navigate through an urban environment filled with obstacles.
Fully automated mining trucks promise to reduce maintenance costs
while increasing productivity. By running at peak capacity 24 hours a
day, seven days a week, the trucks could be up to 100 percent more
productive. Fully automated consumer vehicles aren't likely to arrive
any time soon. Bits and pieces of the technology, like self-parking
cars and backup warning systems, already exist. More devices will be
added as costs come down, the sensors become better refined, and
drivers come to rely on them more. But drivers are still needed, at
least for now.
_________LIKEABLE LINKS_________
Compact Calendar Creator
http://www.chrisryu.com/compact_calendar_creator/en/
Wikitude
http://www.wikitude.org/
Use Wikipedia as location based service.
Gmail Backup
http://www.gmail-backup.com/
_________QUESTIONABLE QUESTION_________
How does a Thermos know whether to keep a liquid hot or cold?
_________QUOTABLE QUOTE_________
Love is blind, but marriage restores its sight.
~ Georg C. Lichtenberg ~
_________TRIVIAL TRIVIA_________
How did they get the ocean in that seashell?
The sound heard by a listener when holding a seashell to his ear does
NOT come from the shell itself. It is the echo of the blood pulsing in
the listener's own ear.
Source: Arcamax Trivia
_________LAUGHABLE LAUGH_________
A man was sitting alone in his office one night when a genie popped up
out of his ashtray.
"And what will your third wish be?"
The man looked at the genie and said, "Huh? How can I be getting a
third wish when I haven't had a first or second wish yet?"
"You have had two wishes already," the genie said, "but your second
wish was for me to put everything back the way it was before you made
your first wish. Thus, you remember nothing, because everything is the
way it was before you made any wishes. You now have one wish left."
"Okay," said the man, "I don't believe this, but what the heck. I've
always wanted to understand women. I'd love to know what's going on
inside their heads."
"Sheesh! I wish you'd make up your mind," said the genie as it granted
his wish and disappeared forever, "That was your first wish, too!"
_________DOWNLOADABLE DOWNLOAD_________
DVD Flick
http://www.dvdflick.net/index.php
Freeware, opensource DVD authoring tool
Free DVD Creator
http://www.minidvdsoft.com/dvdcreator/index.html
Freeware DVD authoring tool
TreeSize Free
http://www.jam-software.com/freeware/index.shtml
That's all for this week. Nybble is and will always be a work in
progress. Please do send me your comments and suggestions on how to
improve Nybble. Just hit the reply button to you know, reply.
A Free Ezine about Anything Tech and Everything Else
2008.12.14 Issue No. 206
Another car-related innovation I thought of. Aside from rear parking
sensors, why not have front driving sensors as well? This is how it's
supposed to work. You're driving along. The traffic light turns red.
You stop behind a car. You feel like napping a bit, but you can't. You
don't want the car behind you to start blowing its horn when the light
turns green, and your car is stuck in suspended animation because your
eyes are closed. The solution? Front sensors. The moment the car in
front of you starts moving, the front sensors detect this increasing
distance and starts beeping to wake you up. You open your eyes and
drive on. This is definitely a welcome feature for sleepy drivers like me.
Have an answer, comment, suggestion, or violent reaction? Send them my
way by clicking on Reply or join nybbletalk@yahoogroups.com to discuss
a topic. If you think Nybble is good enough, do tell the napping
drivers about it. Thanks.
_________TABLE OF CONTENTS_________
* Thinkpads with SMS Security
* True Waterproof Clothing
* Lasers that Heal
* Water from Air
* Finger Veins as ID
* World's Heaviest Robot
* Likeable Links
* Questionable Question
* Quotable Quote
* Trivial Trivia
* Laughable Laugh
_________THINKPADS WITH SMS SECURITY_________
http://tinyurl.com/5tylt6
Lenovo is adding a new layer of security to its ThinkPad notebooks
that will allow users to disable their laptop by simply sending a text
message through a cell phone. Called Constant Secure Remote Disable,
this new security offering was developed in conjunction with Phoenix
Technologies and embedded within the notebook's BIOS. This new
security feature allows a user to send an SMS (short message service)
text message from a cell phone to a Lenovo ThinkPad that has been lost
or stolen. Once the kill command is sent, the lost or stolen ThinkPad
is either disabled immediately or the notebook is disabled after the
PC has been turned back on. Since hard disk drive encryption will not
work properly if the PC is running or in hibernation mode, this
disable feature ensures that the data is secure by shutting the
machine down and allowing the hard disk drive encryption to work. If
and when the ThinkPad laptop is recovered, the user can restore the
notebook, its settings and the data contained on the PC by entering a
password. To work, however, the stolen or lost ThinkPad must be in
range of the user's GSM network. And obviously, you have to have a WAN
card in the PC (including the SIM) and you must be paying a data plan
for it.
The Lenovo Constant Secure Remote Disable will be a free download and
BIOS upgrade that will be available in either late December or the
first quarter of 2009.
_________TRUE WATERPROOF CLOTHING_________
http://tinyurl.com/5tlqrf
Chemists at the University of Zurich have created the most
water-repellent clothing-appropriate material ever. Drops of water
stay as spherical balls on top of the fabric and a sheet of the
material need only be tilted by 2 degrees from horizontal for them to
roll off like marbles. A jet of water bounces off the fabric without
leaving a trace.
The secret to this incredible water resistance is the layer of
silicone nanofilaments, which are highly chemically hydrophobic. The
spiky structure of the 40-nanometre-wide filaments strengthens that
effect, to create a coating that prevents water droplets from soaking
through the coating to the polyester fibres underneath. The silicone
nanofilaments also trap a layer of air between them, to create a
permanent air layer. This fine layer of air ensures that water never
comes into contact with the polyester fabric. It can be submerged in
water for two months and still remain dry to the touch. In addition,
the plastron layer can also reduce drag when moving from water by up
to 20% according to preliminary experiments.
The new coating is produced in a one-step process, in which silicone
in gas form condenses onto the fibres to form nanofilaments. The
coating can also be added to other textiles, including wool, viscose
and cotton, although polyester currently gives the best results.
_________LASERS THAT HEAL________
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/21687/
Physicists at Tel Aviv University have developed a laser system that
can be used to heal wounds. In principle, "laser-bonded" healing
offers certain advantages over classic needle-and-thread sutures,
including faster healing, decreased risk of infection, and less
scarring. Researchers have been working toward flesh-welding lasers
for more than a decade, and a number of human trials have shown
promise. But what was lacking, until now, was consistency. Flesh,
blood vessels, and nerves are delicate tissues that can easily be --
for lack of a better word -- overcooked.
To overcome this problem, Abraham Katzir and his colleagues developed
a laser-based system with a feedback loop that prevents overheating.
The group created a pen-sized tool that incorporates optic fibers: one
that channels a carbon dioxide-powered infrared laser to the wound
with pinpoint precision, and another that leads from the pen to an
infrared sensor, which measures the temperature and ensures that the
heat remains within the ideal range, between 60 and 70 degrees. All a
surgeon has to do is move the pen's tip along the cut, strengthening
and sealing the weld with a solder of water-soluble protein.
Until recently, the researchers worked to perfect their technique on
pigs, whose skin is most similar to that of a person. Those studies
told them that their method was sound: the laser-healed wounds were
just as strong, mended faster, and resulted in less inflammation and
infection than normal sutures, since a cut that's welded closed is
better at keeping bacteria out. Now, the group has finished their
first clinical trial on human patients. The researchers are waiting to
see how the closures perform 12 months after surgery before publishing
their results.
_________WATER FROM AIR_________
http://tinyurl.com/6rg73x
Eco-inventors from Canada claim to have found the solution to the
world's worsening water shortages by drawing the liquid of life from
an unlimited and untapped source - the air.
The company called Element Four developed a machine called the
WaterMill, which uses the electricity of about three light bulbs to
condense moisture from the air and purify it into clean drinking
water. From the outside, the mill looks like a giant golf ball that
has been chopped in half: it is about 3ft in diameter, made of white
plastic, and is attached to the wall. It works by drawing air through
filters to remove dust and particles, then cooling it to just below
the temperature at which dew forms. The condensed water is passed
through a self-sterilising chamber that uses microbe-busting UV light
to eradicate any possibility of Legionnaires' disease or other
infections. Finally, it is filtered and passed through a pipe to the
owner's fridge or kitchen tap.
For the environmentally conscious consumer, the WaterMill has an
obvious appeal. Bottled water is an ecological catastrophe. In the US
alone, about 30bn litres of bottled water is consumed every year at a
cost of about $11bn (£7.4bn). According to the Earth Policy Institute,
about 1.5m barrels of oil - enough to power 100,000 cars for a year -
is used just to make the plastic. The process also uses twice as much
water as fits inside the container, not to mention the 30m bottles
that go into landfills every day in the US. But the mill also has
downsides, not least its $1,200 cost when it goes on sale in America,
the UK, Italy, Australia and Japan in the spring.
_________FINGER VEINS AS ID_________
http://tinyurl.com/6au56q
Companies in Europe have begun to roll out an advanced biometric
system from Hitachi that verifies a person's identity based on the
lattice work of minute blood vessels under the skin. Finger vein
authentication, introduced widely by Japanese banks in the last two
years, is claimed to be the fastest and most secure biometric method.
The pattern of blood vessels is captured by transmitting near-infrared
light at different angles through the finger, usually the middle
finger. This can be done in a small instrument attached to a wall or
as part of an ATM machine. The light is partially absorbed by
haemoglobin in the veins and the pattern is captured by a camera as a
unique 3D finger vein profile. This is turned into a simple digital
code which is then matched with a pre-registered profile to verify an
individual's identity. Even twins are said to have different finger
vein patterns. Hitachi claims that because the veins are inside the
body, invisible to the eye, it is extremely difficult to forge and
impossible to manipulate. While fingerprints can be "lifted" and
retinas scanned without an individual realising it, it is extremely
unlikely that people's finger vein profiles can be taken without them
being aware of it. The gruesome possibility that criminals may hack
off a finger has already been discounted by Hitachi's scientists.
Asked if authentication could be "forged" with a severed finger, the
company says: "As blood would flow out of a disconnected finger,
authentication would no longer be possible."
Hitachi says finger vein authentication is less expensive than iris
scanning or face/voice recognition and that the false rejection rate
is much lower than with fingerprinting.
_________WORLD'S HEAVIEST ROBOT_________
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/11/06/monster-robot-truck.html
The largest truck in the world is about to become the largest robotic
vehicle in the world. Computer scientists from Carnegie Mellon
University have teamed up with engineers from Caterpillar to automate
the 700-ton trucks, which are made to haul loads up to 240 tons from
mines. That's nearly two million pounds of metal, fuel and stone
powered by a 3,550-horsepower, 24-valve engine moving at up to 42
miles per hour, with software and a robot at the wheel.
The Caterpillar trucks will be equipped with numerous high-tech
gadgets and software to keep them on the road. GPS receivers would
continuously monitor the location and direction of the trucks. Laser
range finders would sweep the road in front of the trucks to identify
large objects. Video equipment would then determine if the object is a
hazard, such as a rock, or not. All of the information would then be
run through a computer program that would tell the robotic driver to
avoid the obstacle or not and by how much. The software to run the
trucks will be adapted from CMU's part in the DARPA (Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency) Urban Challenge, a competition that required
unmanned vehicles equipped with sensors and artificial intelligence
systems to navigate through an urban environment filled with obstacles.
Fully automated mining trucks promise to reduce maintenance costs
while increasing productivity. By running at peak capacity 24 hours a
day, seven days a week, the trucks could be up to 100 percent more
productive. Fully automated consumer vehicles aren't likely to arrive
any time soon. Bits and pieces of the technology, like self-parking
cars and backup warning systems, already exist. More devices will be
added as costs come down, the sensors become better refined, and
drivers come to rely on them more. But drivers are still needed, at
least for now.
_________LIKEABLE LINKS_________
Compact Calendar Creator
http://www.chrisryu.com/compact_calendar_creator/en/
Wikitude
http://www.wikitude.org/
Use Wikipedia as location based service.
Gmail Backup
http://www.gmail-backup.com/
_________QUESTIONABLE QUESTION_________
How does a Thermos know whether to keep a liquid hot or cold?
_________QUOTABLE QUOTE_________
Love is blind, but marriage restores its sight.
~ Georg C. Lichtenberg ~
_________TRIVIAL TRIVIA_________
How did they get the ocean in that seashell?
The sound heard by a listener when holding a seashell to his ear does
NOT come from the shell itself. It is the echo of the blood pulsing in
the listener's own ear.
Source: Arcamax Trivia
_________LAUGHABLE LAUGH_________
A man was sitting alone in his office one night when a genie popped up
out of his ashtray.
"And what will your third wish be?"
The man looked at the genie and said, "Huh? How can I be getting a
third wish when I haven't had a first or second wish yet?"
"You have had two wishes already," the genie said, "but your second
wish was for me to put everything back the way it was before you made
your first wish. Thus, you remember nothing, because everything is the
way it was before you made any wishes. You now have one wish left."
"Okay," said the man, "I don't believe this, but what the heck. I've
always wanted to understand women. I'd love to know what's going on
inside their heads."
"Sheesh! I wish you'd make up your mind," said the genie as it granted
his wish and disappeared forever, "That was your first wish, too!"
_________DOWNLOADABLE DOWNLOAD_________
DVD Flick
http://www.dvdflick.net/index.php
Freeware, opensource DVD authoring tool
Free DVD Creator
http://www.minidvdsoft.com/dvdcreator/index.html
Freeware DVD authoring tool
TreeSize Free
http://www.jam-software.com/freeware/index.shtml
That's all for this week. Nybble is and will always be a work in
progress. Please do send me your comments and suggestions on how to
improve Nybble. Just hit the reply button to you know, reply.
The Ring
Buying an engagment ring is a real tricky business. Especially if you know next to nothing about rings and diamonds. More so if you don't know how much one typically costs. I asked my colleague. He tells me it's normally two o three months' worth of salary. I'm assuming he's referring to the guy's salary. That's a LOT! Not saying that I make huge bundles of money, but it's still a lot, even if we just use WHQ's salary as the basis.
Anyway, last Friday, I and WHQ (and her chaperone/adviser) hit the jewelry shops in Chinatown. Not familiar with the 4C's of diamonds, all we can say is "Show us your engagement rings" and "Which ones are on sale", and making selections based on just the carat and the price. By the time we checked out the 3rd or 4th shop, we're already talking about colour gradings, VS, VVS, SI1, etc. Even then, the pricing of the rings doesn't really make sense because some diamonds can have good specifications, yet are still reasonably priced. Some rings don't look as nice, but are more expensive. I guess it's really a combination of the carat, clarity, colour, cut, and design. Instead of giving WHQ a price range, I just told her to choose what design she fancies because ultimately she'll be the one wearing it. Fortunately, she has small fingers, so a big diamond is out of the question. Out of the blue, I remember my colleague's advice: "Let's hope she is wise and frugal!" After making a shortlist of two rings from two shops, we decided to give it a cooling-off period.
So we're back today to make the purchase. We checked out the rings again to make a final comparison, and decided to go with Ricco Ricco Jewelry. The diamond itself is not big, but it's set high and held in place by 6 claws (Tiffany-style). The ring tapers a bit leading to the diamond, making it look bigger. Small fingers help, too. The diamond itself is colour E, SI1. Really great value for money, since it's on sale. Even got another $150 discount as we paid in cash.
Anyway, last Friday, I and WHQ (and her chaperone/adviser) hit the jewelry shops in Chinatown. Not familiar with the 4C's of diamonds, all we can say is "Show us your engagement rings" and "Which ones are on sale", and making selections based on just the carat and the price. By the time we checked out the 3rd or 4th shop, we're already talking about colour gradings, VS, VVS, SI1, etc. Even then, the pricing of the rings doesn't really make sense because some diamonds can have good specifications, yet are still reasonably priced. Some rings don't look as nice, but are more expensive. I guess it's really a combination of the carat, clarity, colour, cut, and design. Instead of giving WHQ a price range, I just told her to choose what design she fancies because ultimately she'll be the one wearing it. Fortunately, she has small fingers, so a big diamond is out of the question. Out of the blue, I remember my colleague's advice: "Let's hope she is wise and frugal!" After making a shortlist of two rings from two shops, we decided to give it a cooling-off period.
So we're back today to make the purchase. We checked out the rings again to make a final comparison, and decided to go with Ricco Ricco Jewelry. The diamond itself is not big, but it's set high and held in place by 6 claws (Tiffany-style). The ring tapers a bit leading to the diamond, making it look bigger. Small fingers help, too. The diamond itself is colour E, SI1. Really great value for money, since it's on sale. Even got another $150 discount as we paid in cash.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
From Engagement to Married Life in One Day
Went to Hurstville with GF to watch Married Life. I knew something was wrong the moment we stepped in the cinema. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw GQ tell a couple of ladies "Here they are." and run off. So we took our seats and watched the pre-movie trailers and commercials. Suddenly the lights dimmed, the drum roll came on, and on the screen came the Powerpoint presentation I created:
It just so happened that the movie of the day was Married Life. So GF sort of assumed that this is just one of the teasers. I popped the question, and she didn't even mind me. Hmm, not the kind of reaction I expected. I sort of assumed that she got the message, and was just acting coy, so I asked her again. And again. Everyone else in the cinema seemed to know what's going on, and the place started to buzz with anticipation. GF finally realized that the video was intended for her. After the initial shock, she managed to say yes, which I promptly relayed to the expectant crowd, to their delight.
Married Life is probably not the kind of movie to watch on engagement day. In the movie, Harry cheats on his long-time wife Pat, and leads a double life with the younger Kay. He feels so happy and content he introduces Kay to his best buddy Richard. Now Richard is a playboy and he instantly takes a liking to Kay. He discovers Pat having an affair with another guy, yet he advises her to remain with Harry so he can have Kay for himself. Meanwhile, Harry decides to poison Pat to get her out of the way. At the last minute, he finds Kay together with Richard. He rushes back home to stop Pat from taking her medication, which he had replaced with poison. From then on, everything goes back to "normal". After the movie, GQ publicly congratulated us, and handed us some flowers and a DVD copy of the presentation. Very nice gesture.
The story is a bit sobering, bleak and sad, but not enough to dampen WHQ's spirits. By the time we finished our coffee/hot chocolate and pastries, she has already SMS'ed all of her friends and informed her parents who are overseas at the time, before I have a chance to change my mind. This is what is known as "the point of no return".
It just so happened that the movie of the day was Married Life. So GF sort of assumed that this is just one of the teasers. I popped the question, and she didn't even mind me. Hmm, not the kind of reaction I expected. I sort of assumed that she got the message, and was just acting coy, so I asked her again. And again. Everyone else in the cinema seemed to know what's going on, and the place started to buzz with anticipation. GF finally realized that the video was intended for her. After the initial shock, she managed to say yes, which I promptly relayed to the expectant crowd, to their delight.
Married Life is probably not the kind of movie to watch on engagement day. In the movie, Harry cheats on his long-time wife Pat, and leads a double life with the younger Kay. He feels so happy and content he introduces Kay to his best buddy Richard. Now Richard is a playboy and he instantly takes a liking to Kay. He discovers Pat having an affair with another guy, yet he advises her to remain with Harry so he can have Kay for himself. Meanwhile, Harry decides to poison Pat to get her out of the way. At the last minute, he finds Kay together with Richard. He rushes back home to stop Pat from taking her medication, which he had replaced with poison. From then on, everything goes back to "normal". After the movie, GQ publicly congratulated us, and handed us some flowers and a DVD copy of the presentation. Very nice gesture.
The story is a bit sobering, bleak and sad, but not enough to dampen WHQ's spirits. By the time we finished our coffee/hot chocolate and pastries, she has already SMS'ed all of her friends and informed her parents who are overseas at the time, before I have a chance to change my mind. This is what is known as "the point of no return".
Saturday, December 6, 2008
1st Year Anniversary
Spent most of the day checking out houses at West Ryde. With the current global economic crisis (GEC), property prices are falling and interest rates are dropping, which make it a good time to buy property. People are also looking to take advantage of the first home owner's grant, which the government has doubled to $14,000. Anyway, GF called me up and said she had put down deposit for a Campsie unit. She went to see the unit today. The real estate agent told her that another party is very interested, so if she likes the unit, she needs to pay a deposit to secure it. So that's what she did. That's my girl - no beating around the bush. :-)
Later, we went down to the city for mass at St. Patrick's Church (Grosvenor Street) and dinner at Blue Fish (Harbourside). Happy anniversary, dear.
Later, we went down to the city for mass at St. Patrick's Church (Grosvenor Street) and dinner at Blue Fish (Harbourside). Happy anniversary, dear.
Friday, December 5, 2008
PPT to AVI
So I got my PowerPoint presentation working in EXE format. I tried to send it to my partner-in-crime at the theatre, but Gmail won't allow the attachment through for security reasons. Yahoo!Mail doesn't have such concerns though. On the other end of the tunnel, GQ can't even open the attachment via Outlook, again because it thinks there might be a virus inside. GQ also tells me that he might not even have a PC to run the EXE app. All he has is a DVD player. At this point, I had a better idea, why not convert it to AVI?
Lots of hits came up on Google for a PPT to AVI converter. I eventually chose the E.M. Free PowerPoint Video Converter from EffectMatrix Software. Not all the slide animation was captured/converted perfectly, but hey, it's freeware. With an AVI output, all GQ had to do was burn it on a DVD and play it.
Lots of hits came up on Google for a PPT to AVI converter. I eventually chose the E.M. Free PowerPoint Video Converter from EffectMatrix Software. Not all the slide animation was captured/converted perfectly, but hey, it's freeware. With an AVI output, all GQ had to do was burn it on a DVD and play it.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
PPT to EXE
In case you have a need to create a self-running PowerPoint presentation, this is how you would do it.
- Once you're happy with your presentation, Save the presentation then choose File | Package for CD.
- Give the project a name, then choose the Copy to Folder option (instead of the Copy to CD option). What this does is that all files required to playback your presentation are copied to a directory you specify.
- Go to the Start menu, choose Run, then type in 'iexpress'. This will bring up IExpess Wizard, which is a installation package created bundled with Windows.
- Click Next, and choose the first option - 'Extract files and run an installation command', then Next.
- Since we want a standalone, automated EXE file, we choose the 'No prompt' option. Next.
- Same rational for displaying the license agreement. Choose 'Do not display a license', then Next.
- Next screen asks what files to add in the package. Browse to the folder you selected, then Add all the files. Next.
- Now, this is the most important part. In the Install Program field, type in 'pptview.exe
' OR to avoid typos, type in 'pptview.exe /L /S playlist.txt'. - For Show window, choose the 'Hidden' option.
- For Finished message, choose 'No message'.
- For Package Name and Options, give the final package a name, and select 'Hide File Extracting Progress Animation from User'.
- For Configure restart, choose 'No restart'.
- In the next screen, decide whether you want to save a self-extraction directive file or not. Create package. Finish.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Sydney Christmas Parade 2008
The second Sydney Christmas Parade promises to be bigger and better this year. More floats, more giant balloons, more dancers, celebrities, and cartoon characters. The parade starts off around 11:30am around Circular Quay, traveling two kilometers down George Street, and finishing at Tumbalong Park for Santa's Village around 2:30pm.
At 12 noon, I'm still at Rhodes Phoenix having yum cha with the family. By the time GF and I got to the city, the parade has already passed by and on their way to Tumbalong Park. Since we're near QVB anyway, GF went shopping at L'Occitane and bought a few Christmas presents for her Dad. Then we went to Chinatown's Capitol Square to buy an 8GB USB stick, which we later crammed full of Chinese movies, MP3s, and ebooks for a personal touch. At Tumbalong Park, we visited the information booths that are still there. Most of the floats are already gone or in the process of being dismantled. Oh well, better luck next year.
At 12 noon, I'm still at Rhodes Phoenix having yum cha with the family. By the time GF and I got to the city, the parade has already passed by and on their way to Tumbalong Park. Since we're near QVB anyway, GF went shopping at L'Occitane and bought a few Christmas presents for her Dad. Then we went to Chinatown's Capitol Square to buy an 8GB USB stick, which we later crammed full of Chinese movies, MP3s, and ebooks for a personal touch. At Tumbalong Park, we visited the information booths that are still there. Most of the floats are already gone or in the process of being dismantled. Oh well, better luck next year.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Birthday Bash with a Quantum of Solace
KC's kids are celebrating their birthdays today. GF and I went to their grandma's place for their birthday bash. Surprisingly, we were the first (adult) guests to arrive. Some of the kids are already trying to best to destroy the jumping castle. Food selection was relatively small (for a Filipino party), but pretty good. The guy who did the pancit canton used to work at Max's Restuarant in Manila. No wonder it's delicious. We stayed around for the chocolate fountain, the big smiley birthday cake, and the piñata party game.
After that, we watched Quantum of Solace, Daniel Craig's second outing as Bond 007. I still like Casino Royale better. Director Marc Forster focused too much on the action scenes instead of focusing on the plot. By the end of the movie, I still didn't get why people were doing what the did? Too many things happening at the same time with no central theme. And why would somebody build an eco-friendly hotel right in the middle of the desert. And why would you fill it with explosive gas? Just so Bond can blow it all up? Bah! If you haven't seen this movie yet, then don't. That's a quantum of solace for you.
After that, we watched Quantum of Solace, Daniel Craig's second outing as Bond 007. I still like Casino Royale better. Director Marc Forster focused too much on the action scenes instead of focusing on the plot. By the end of the movie, I still didn't get why people were doing what the did? Too many things happening at the same time with no central theme. And why would somebody build an eco-friendly hotel right in the middle of the desert. And why would you fill it with explosive gas? Just so Bond can blow it all up? Bah! If you haven't seen this movie yet, then don't. That's a quantum of solace for you.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Handel's Messiah at Our Lady of Dolours Church
The Willoughby Symphony Orchestra and Choir is performing Handel's Messiah tonight at Our Lady of Dolours Church in Chatswood tonight. The last of their concert season for this year. GF and I got there early and got a parking spot right beside the church. Had dinner at this basement Chinese restaurant that her family frequents. Food must be really good because she felt comfortable and chatty enough to share her secrets with me. I was not the same person ever since. :-)
The concert was ok. Acoustics of the church was great, but I'm not really familiar with the piece. The only part I know is the Hallelujah Chorus, courtesy of Mr. Bean. Everybody stood up during that section, as is the common practice. It was said that King George II started the tradition. Was he so moved by the performance? Did he suddenly feel the need to stretch his legs? No one knows.
The concert was ok. Acoustics of the church was great, but I'm not really familiar with the piece. The only part I know is the Hallelujah Chorus, courtesy of Mr. Bean. Everybody stood up during that section, as is the common practice. It was said that King George II started the tradition. Was he so moved by the performance? Did he suddenly feel the need to stretch his legs? No one knows.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Non-Movie Weekend
Supposed to watch Welcome to the Sticks (Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis) at St. Leonards Park as part of Helga's European Film Festival. It was cloudy and windy and started to drizzle a bit, so we decided not to go. Went to Westfield Burwood instead for Rocknrolla. Movie starts at 6:45pm. Had early dinner at Something Sweet. By the time we finished our meal, it was just past movietime. Gave the movie a pass and went back home.
On Sunday, we're supposed to watch The Orphanage at Hurstville. Went to Elica's house blessing at Ropes Crossing in the morning. GF had so much fun chatting (and eating), we decided to stay. Went to Kamayan later at Rooty Hill to buy some takeaway. Because it was already late in the afternoon, we only managed to get embutido and relyenong bangus.
On Sunday, we're supposed to watch The Orphanage at Hurstville. Went to Elica's house blessing at Ropes Crossing in the morning. GF had so much fun chatting (and eating), we decided to stay. Went to Kamayan later at Rooty Hill to buy some takeaway. Because it was already late in the afternoon, we only managed to get embutido and relyenong bangus.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Nybble Issue No. 205
N Y B B L E M O N T H L Y N E W S L E T T E R
A Free Ezine about Anything Tech and Everything Else
2008.11.14 Issue No. 205
The mobile office has truly come a long way. My colleagues and I were driving along the freeway to a town 85 kms. away when we got a call from our client. They want us to join a conference bridge. Sure thing. What we used: a Nokia E65, a Pop-Port to a 3.5mm audio connector, and an audio cable to the car stereo's aux in port. By pressing the mute button at appropriate times, I was hoping the customer wouldn't know we're not in the office. Next, they wanted us to log on to the network and implement some changes for them. No problem. What we used: a Lenovo T61, an Optus Wireless Broadband USB dongle, and an inverter to power the laptop from the car's 12V port. By connecting to the Internet, then using a VPN to the intranet, it's as if we're in the office. All throughout the road trip, our voice and data connections never dropped. By the time we got to the parking lot at Terrigal, we've edited some configuration files, restarted processes, and restored service. Mission accomplished.
Have an answer, comment, suggestion, or violent reaction? Send them my way by clicking on Reply or join nybbletalk@yahoogroups.com to discuss a topic. If you think Nybble is good enough, do tell the techie road warriors about it. Thanks.
_________TABLE OF CONTENTS_________
* Robotic Plants from Korea
* Breaking the 1000mph Land Speed Record
* Cancer-Fighting Beer
* Aussie Electric Vehicle Network
* Cancer-Busting Robot
* NY Driver's License with RFID
* Likeable Links
* Questionable Question
* Quotable Quote
* Trivial Trivia
* Laughable Laugh
_________ROBOTIC PLANTS FROM KOREA_________
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200810/200810160007.html
The robot research laboratory at Chonnam National University has developed a robotic plant that has humidifying, oxygen-producing, aroma-emitting, and kinetic functions, like a real plant. It is 130 cm tall and 40 cm in diameter and consists of a pot, a stem, and five buds of a flower reminiscent of a rose of Sharon.
The "plant" responds in various ways to stimuli from outside, such as approaching persons, music or light. When a person comes within a 40 cm radius of the flower, its supersonic sensor perceives the approach, the stem bends towards the person, and the buds come into full bloom. When the person leaves, the plant returns to its original state. If a person's voice becomes louder than a certain level, the flower buds will come into bloom, and the stem shakes slightly to suggest a greeting. When the room lights up, the buds open and close, and when music is played, the plant dances.
_________BREAKING THE 1000MPH LAND SPEED RECORD_________
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7685049.stm
The British team that claimed the land speed record in 1997, taking a car through the sound barrier for the first time, is planning to go even faster. RAF pilot Andy Green made history in 1997 when he drove the Thrust SSC jet-powered vehicle at 763mph (1,228km/h). Now he intends to get behind the wheel of a car that is capable of reaching 1,000mph (1,610km/h).
Known as Bloodhound, the new car will be powered by a rocket bolted to a Eurofighter-Typhoon jet engine. The team-members have been working on the concept for the past 18 months and expect to be ready to make their new record attempt in 2011.
The 12.8m-long, 6.4-tonne Bloodhound SSC (Super Sonic Car) will be expected to travel faster than a bullet fired from a handgun. Its 900mm-diameter wheels will spin so fast they will have to be made from a high-grade titanium to prevent them from flying apart. The car will accelerate from 0-1,050mph (1,690km/h) in just 40 seconds; and at its maximum velocity, the pressure of air bearing down on its carbon fibre and titanium bodywork will exceed 12 tonnes per square metre.
_________CANCER-FIGHTING BEER________
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9117656
A team of researchers at Rice University in Houston is working to create a beer that could fight cancer and heart disease. The team is using genetic engineering to create a beer that includes resveratrol, the disease-fighting chemical that's been found in red wine.
Scientists at the University of Wisconsin had noted that adding small doses of resveratrol to the diet of middle-aged mice significantly slows their aging and keeps their hearts healthy. (Resveratrol is a natural component of grapes, pomegranates and red wine.) They added that giving high doses to invertebrates extends their life spans, and high doses also stave off premature death in mice fed a high-fat diet.
The Rice research group came up with the idea of adding resveratrol to beer during a casual conversation about potential projects to undertake. The students are now in the process of developing a genetically modified strain of yeast that will ferment beer and produce resveratrol at the same time. The team turned to the Saint Arnold Brewing Co., a craft brewery in Houston, for some good beer-making yeast to use. In general, the addition of the resveratrol shouldn't affect the taste of the beer, since the chemical is odorless and tasteless. The modified yeast strain could one day be sold to breweries where beverage companies could make their own disease-fighting beer.
The research team is looking to enter their so-called BioBeer in the annual International Genetically Engineered Machine competition next month in Cambridge, Mass.
_________AUSSIE ELECTRIC VEHICLE NETWORK_________
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5il6f9UKjXLMrq0sQ-Ccd8vh5VANA
A US firm called Better Place unveiled plans to build a massive one-billion-dollar (667 million US) charging network to power electric cars in Australia as it seeks cleaner and cheaper options to petrol.
Better Place, which has built plug-in stations for electric vehicles in Israel and Denmark, has joined forces with Australian power company AGL and finance group Macquarie Capital to create an Australian network. Under the agreement, Macquarie will raise one billion dollars to build electric-vehicle networks in the country's largest cities -- Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane -- while AGL will power the system with renewable energy.
Under the plan, the three cities will each have a network of between 200,000 and 250,000 charge stations by 2012 where drivers can plug in and power up their electric cars. In addition, 150 switch stations will be built in each city and on major freeways, where electric batteries can be automatically replaced in drive-in stations similar to a car wash. Under the scheme, drivers will pay to recharge their cars through various power supply agreements similar to mobile phone contracts. Drivers can pick a plan and rate that best reflects their car use.
Franco-Japanese automaker Renault-Nissan and General Motors are both planning electric cars to debut in the next two years.
_________CANCER-BUSTING ROBOT_________
http://media.www.diamondbackonline.com/media/storage/paper873/news/2008/10/10/News/Robot.Will.Be.Able.To.Detect.Destroy.Breast.Cancer.Cells-3481447.shtml
Mechanical engineering professor Jaydev Desai from the University of Maryland has spent the past year and a half developing a robot that can perform biopsies and destroy tumor cells all in one session, making the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer less time-consuming and more accurate than ever before.
After a tumor is located on an MRI, the robot will perform a biopsy of the breast while the patient is inside the scanner. This way, the doctor who controls the robot can see where the tumor is located during the procedure. (Since the robot is made of titanium and stainless steel, it's not affected by the MRI's magnetic field.) If the biopsy displays cancerous cells, the robot will then insert a probe into the breast until it reaches the tumor. The probe will then burn the cancer cells until they are destroyed. This entire process is conducted while the patient is inside the MRI scanner, so the doctor controlling the robot can more specifically target the cells. With the robot, the three months between mammogram and treatment can be reduced to a hospital visit and the cancer can be stopped before it spreads.
Desai and his team have built only a preliminary model so far. The final version of the robot will take about four years to complete. Then, the robot will have to go through FDA approval, follow guidelines and prove it makes a big difference before it is widely used.
_________NY DRIVER'S LICENSE WITH RFID_________
http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/tuesday/news/ny-nylice165845220sep16,0,5665783,print.story
New York becomes the 2nd US state, after Washington, to offer licenses that can be shown at the U.S. border instead of a more expensive passport.
The optional license will include a picture and radio frequency identification tag that can be scanned to verify a person's identity. The tag will not contain any personal information - only an assigned number. The enhanced driver's license will satisfy the land and sea requirements, which take effect June 1, 2009, but not for international air travel.
The optional license will include a picture and radio frequency identification tag that can be scanned to verify a person's identity. The tag will not contain any personal information - only an assigned number that would be meaningless except to Homeland Security agents. Drivers, though, should be prepared to offer a stack of identifying paperwork when they apply for an enhanced driver's license - in addition to the old license, a birth certificate or other proof of U.S. citizenship, their Social Security card and two proofs of New York residency, such as recent property tax bills or credit card statements. The documents will be scanned for authenticity, a step that will add 10 to 15 minutes to the application process. All of the licenses are produced in Albany and mailed to drivers.
The enhanced license, which like the current licenses will be valid for up to eight years, will cost about $80, compared with $50 for a basic license and $100 for a new passport.
_________LIKEABLE LINKS_________
Media-Convert
http://media-convert.com/
100% free online file conversion
7 Important Fitness Tips for Web Workers
http://www.dumblittleman.com/2008/10/7-important-fitness-tips-for-web.html
Block Posters
http://www.blockposters.com/
Create large wall posters from any image for free!
14 Simple Ways to Super-Charge Your Brain
http://www.dumblittleman.com/2008/06/14-simple-ways-to-super-charge-your.html
_________QUESTIONABLE QUESTION_________
What is bated breath? I think I might have it, and I'm worried. Can my dentist help?
_________QUOTABLE QUOTE_________
Age does not protect you from love, but love to some extent protects you from age.
~ Jeanne Moreau ~
_________TRIVIAL TRIVIA_________
How is a penny different from other coins?
Other than its color, the penny is the only coin currently minted in the United States with a profile that faces to the right. All other coins the silver dollar, half dollar, quarter, dime, and nickel all feature profiles that face to the left.
Source: Arcamax Trivia
_________LAUGHABLE LAUGH_________
Q: Did you hear about the unique platypus?
A: He was unlike all the otters.
Q: Did you hear about the robbery in the laundry room?
A: Two clothespins held up a pair of pants.
_________DOWNLOADABLE DOWNLOAD_________
DivXLand Media Subtitler
http://www.divxland.org/subtitler.php
SubDownloader
http://www.subdownloader.net/
Fast and Easy Subtitle Downloader
Fast Copy
http://www.ipmsg.org/tools/fastcopy.html.en
MKN TaskExplorer
http://www.mkn-software.de/en/software/desktop/taskexplorer/
That's all for this week. Nybble is and will always be a work in progress. Please do send me your comments and suggestions on how to improve Nybble. Just hit the reply button to you know, reply.
A Free Ezine about Anything Tech and Everything Else
2008.11.14 Issue No. 205
The mobile office has truly come a long way. My colleagues and I were driving along the freeway to a town 85 kms. away when we got a call from our client. They want us to join a conference bridge. Sure thing. What we used: a Nokia E65, a Pop-Port to a 3.5mm audio connector, and an audio cable to the car stereo's aux in port. By pressing the mute button at appropriate times, I was hoping the customer wouldn't know we're not in the office. Next, they wanted us to log on to the network and implement some changes for them. No problem. What we used: a Lenovo T61, an Optus Wireless Broadband USB dongle, and an inverter to power the laptop from the car's 12V port. By connecting to the Internet, then using a VPN to the intranet, it's as if we're in the office. All throughout the road trip, our voice and data connections never dropped. By the time we got to the parking lot at Terrigal, we've edited some configuration files, restarted processes, and restored service. Mission accomplished.
Have an answer, comment, suggestion, or violent reaction? Send them my way by clicking on Reply or join nybbletalk@yahoogroups.com to discuss a topic. If you think Nybble is good enough, do tell the techie road warriors about it. Thanks.
_________TABLE OF CONTENTS_________
* Robotic Plants from Korea
* Breaking the 1000mph Land Speed Record
* Cancer-Fighting Beer
* Aussie Electric Vehicle Network
* Cancer-Busting Robot
* NY Driver's License with RFID
* Likeable Links
* Questionable Question
* Quotable Quote
* Trivial Trivia
* Laughable Laugh
_________ROBOTIC PLANTS FROM KOREA_________
http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200810/200810160007.html
The robot research laboratory at Chonnam National University has developed a robotic plant that has humidifying, oxygen-producing, aroma-emitting, and kinetic functions, like a real plant. It is 130 cm tall and 40 cm in diameter and consists of a pot, a stem, and five buds of a flower reminiscent of a rose of Sharon.
The "plant" responds in various ways to stimuli from outside, such as approaching persons, music or light. When a person comes within a 40 cm radius of the flower, its supersonic sensor perceives the approach, the stem bends towards the person, and the buds come into full bloom. When the person leaves, the plant returns to its original state. If a person's voice becomes louder than a certain level, the flower buds will come into bloom, and the stem shakes slightly to suggest a greeting. When the room lights up, the buds open and close, and when music is played, the plant dances.
_________BREAKING THE 1000MPH LAND SPEED RECORD_________
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7685049.stm
The British team that claimed the land speed record in 1997, taking a car through the sound barrier for the first time, is planning to go even faster. RAF pilot Andy Green made history in 1997 when he drove the Thrust SSC jet-powered vehicle at 763mph (1,228km/h). Now he intends to get behind the wheel of a car that is capable of reaching 1,000mph (1,610km/h).
Known as Bloodhound, the new car will be powered by a rocket bolted to a Eurofighter-Typhoon jet engine. The team-members have been working on the concept for the past 18 months and expect to be ready to make their new record attempt in 2011.
The 12.8m-long, 6.4-tonne Bloodhound SSC (Super Sonic Car) will be expected to travel faster than a bullet fired from a handgun. Its 900mm-diameter wheels will spin so fast they will have to be made from a high-grade titanium to prevent them from flying apart. The car will accelerate from 0-1,050mph (1,690km/h) in just 40 seconds; and at its maximum velocity, the pressure of air bearing down on its carbon fibre and titanium bodywork will exceed 12 tonnes per square metre.
_________CANCER-FIGHTING BEER________
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9117656
A team of researchers at Rice University in Houston is working to create a beer that could fight cancer and heart disease. The team is using genetic engineering to create a beer that includes resveratrol, the disease-fighting chemical that's been found in red wine.
Scientists at the University of Wisconsin had noted that adding small doses of resveratrol to the diet of middle-aged mice significantly slows their aging and keeps their hearts healthy. (Resveratrol is a natural component of grapes, pomegranates and red wine.) They added that giving high doses to invertebrates extends their life spans, and high doses also stave off premature death in mice fed a high-fat diet.
The Rice research group came up with the idea of adding resveratrol to beer during a casual conversation about potential projects to undertake. The students are now in the process of developing a genetically modified strain of yeast that will ferment beer and produce resveratrol at the same time. The team turned to the Saint Arnold Brewing Co., a craft brewery in Houston, for some good beer-making yeast to use. In general, the addition of the resveratrol shouldn't affect the taste of the beer, since the chemical is odorless and tasteless. The modified yeast strain could one day be sold to breweries where beverage companies could make their own disease-fighting beer.
The research team is looking to enter their so-called BioBeer in the annual International Genetically Engineered Machine competition next month in Cambridge, Mass.
_________AUSSIE ELECTRIC VEHICLE NETWORK_________
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5il6f9UKjXLMrq0sQ-Ccd8vh5VANA
A US firm called Better Place unveiled plans to build a massive one-billion-dollar (667 million US) charging network to power electric cars in Australia as it seeks cleaner and cheaper options to petrol.
Better Place, which has built plug-in stations for electric vehicles in Israel and Denmark, has joined forces with Australian power company AGL and finance group Macquarie Capital to create an Australian network. Under the agreement, Macquarie will raise one billion dollars to build electric-vehicle networks in the country's largest cities -- Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane -- while AGL will power the system with renewable energy.
Under the plan, the three cities will each have a network of between 200,000 and 250,000 charge stations by 2012 where drivers can plug in and power up their electric cars. In addition, 150 switch stations will be built in each city and on major freeways, where electric batteries can be automatically replaced in drive-in stations similar to a car wash. Under the scheme, drivers will pay to recharge their cars through various power supply agreements similar to mobile phone contracts. Drivers can pick a plan and rate that best reflects their car use.
Franco-Japanese automaker Renault-Nissan and General Motors are both planning electric cars to debut in the next two years.
_________CANCER-BUSTING ROBOT_________
http://media.www.diamondbackonline.com/media/storage/paper873/news/2008/10/10/News/Robot.Will.Be.Able.To.Detect.Destroy.Breast.Cancer.Cells-3481447.shtml
Mechanical engineering professor Jaydev Desai from the University of Maryland has spent the past year and a half developing a robot that can perform biopsies and destroy tumor cells all in one session, making the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer less time-consuming and more accurate than ever before.
After a tumor is located on an MRI, the robot will perform a biopsy of the breast while the patient is inside the scanner. This way, the doctor who controls the robot can see where the tumor is located during the procedure. (Since the robot is made of titanium and stainless steel, it's not affected by the MRI's magnetic field.) If the biopsy displays cancerous cells, the robot will then insert a probe into the breast until it reaches the tumor. The probe will then burn the cancer cells until they are destroyed. This entire process is conducted while the patient is inside the MRI scanner, so the doctor controlling the robot can more specifically target the cells. With the robot, the three months between mammogram and treatment can be reduced to a hospital visit and the cancer can be stopped before it spreads.
Desai and his team have built only a preliminary model so far. The final version of the robot will take about four years to complete. Then, the robot will have to go through FDA approval, follow guidelines and prove it makes a big difference before it is widely used.
_________NY DRIVER'S LICENSE WITH RFID_________
http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/tuesday/news/ny-nylice165845220sep16,0,5665783,print.story
New York becomes the 2nd US state, after Washington, to offer licenses that can be shown at the U.S. border instead of a more expensive passport.
The optional license will include a picture and radio frequency identification tag that can be scanned to verify a person's identity. The tag will not contain any personal information - only an assigned number. The enhanced driver's license will satisfy the land and sea requirements, which take effect June 1, 2009, but not for international air travel.
The optional license will include a picture and radio frequency identification tag that can be scanned to verify a person's identity. The tag will not contain any personal information - only an assigned number that would be meaningless except to Homeland Security agents. Drivers, though, should be prepared to offer a stack of identifying paperwork when they apply for an enhanced driver's license - in addition to the old license, a birth certificate or other proof of U.S. citizenship, their Social Security card and two proofs of New York residency, such as recent property tax bills or credit card statements. The documents will be scanned for authenticity, a step that will add 10 to 15 minutes to the application process. All of the licenses are produced in Albany and mailed to drivers.
The enhanced license, which like the current licenses will be valid for up to eight years, will cost about $80, compared with $50 for a basic license and $100 for a new passport.
_________LIKEABLE LINKS_________
Media-Convert
http://media-convert.com/
100% free online file conversion
7 Important Fitness Tips for Web Workers
http://www.dumblittleman.com/2008/10/7-important-fitness-tips-for-web.html
Block Posters
http://www.blockposters.com/
Create large wall posters from any image for free!
14 Simple Ways to Super-Charge Your Brain
http://www.dumblittleman.com/2008/06/14-simple-ways-to-super-charge-your.html
_________QUESTIONABLE QUESTION_________
What is bated breath? I think I might have it, and I'm worried. Can my dentist help?
_________QUOTABLE QUOTE_________
Age does not protect you from love, but love to some extent protects you from age.
~ Jeanne Moreau ~
_________TRIVIAL TRIVIA_________
How is a penny different from other coins?
Other than its color, the penny is the only coin currently minted in the United States with a profile that faces to the right. All other coins the silver dollar, half dollar, quarter, dime, and nickel all feature profiles that face to the left.
Source: Arcamax Trivia
_________LAUGHABLE LAUGH_________
Q: Did you hear about the unique platypus?
A: He was unlike all the otters.
Q: Did you hear about the robbery in the laundry room?
A: Two clothespins held up a pair of pants.
_________DOWNLOADABLE DOWNLOAD_________
DivXLand Media Subtitler
http://www.divxland.org/subtitler.php
SubDownloader
http://www.subdownloader.net/
Fast and Easy Subtitle Downloader
Fast Copy
http://www.ipmsg.org/tools/fastcopy.html.en
MKN TaskExplorer
http://www.mkn-software.de/en/software/desktop/taskexplorer/
That's all for this week. Nybble is and will always be a work in progress. Please do send me your comments and suggestions on how to improve Nybble. Just hit the reply button to you know, reply.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Hairspray at Brett Park
Hairspray is one of GF's favourite movies. We've watched it on the theatre. We've watched it on cable TV. I believe she has watched it on DVD. She even has the soundtrack CD. Now, she also wants to watch it on open-air cinema. If I didn't know better, I would say she has a crush on that Zac Efron guy.
Organized by Communities by Communities, Cinema at the Park is showing Hairspray at Brett Park, Henley Marine Drive.
Organized by Communities by Communities, Cinema at the Park is showing Hairspray at Brett Park, Henley Marine Drive.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2008
Now on it's 12th year, the Bondi Sculpture by the Sea is again back from Oct. 16 till Nov. 2. GF and I drove down on its last day to view the sculptures. Still a lot of people from Bondi Beach all the way to Tamarama. With some of the sculptures, I get this feeling that I've seen them before. Same concept, different execution. Or same sculpture but with a little modification.
On our way back to Bondi Beach, we noticed that everyone is looking out to sea. Following their gaze, we can see a lifeguard inflatable raft moving about. Thinking it's a shooting for Bondi Rescue, we stayed around and watched. Then we saw it. A black lump coming out of the water, followed by a forked tail. Further away, another one. WHALES! First time I've seen one. Quite close to the shore, too.
After Bondi, it's off to Leichhardt for dinner at Bar Italia. Spaghetti Bar Italia for GF, Fettunicni Amatriciana for me. Almond gelato for dessert.
On our way back to Bondi Beach, we noticed that everyone is looking out to sea. Following their gaze, we can see a lifeguard inflatable raft moving about. Thinking it's a shooting for Bondi Rescue, we stayed around and watched. Then we saw it. A black lump coming out of the water, followed by a forked tail. Further away, another one. WHALES! First time I've seen one. Quite close to the shore, too.
After Bondi, it's off to Leichhardt for dinner at Bar Italia. Spaghetti Bar Italia for GF, Fettunicni Amatriciana for me. Almond gelato for dessert.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Movie 2008.11.01 - Burn after Reading
More like Burn after Watching. What could've induced me to watch Burn after Reading, given that there are other good movies around, I can't really recall anymore. Was it the interesting and funny movie trailer? Was it because of the collective involvement of Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and John Malkovich? Of was it because it was written and directed by the Coen Brothers? (Not that I've seen anything good from them.)
In any case, that's one and a half hours of my life wasted. Agree, there were a few LOL moments, but as with most moviegoers, I'm after an entertaining coherent whole. And that's where the movie fails. The characters are inept and unbelievable. GF said she felt "disturbed" after watching the movie. Hopefully that Japanese dinner afterwards calmed her nerves a bit.
In any case, that's one and a half hours of my life wasted. Agree, there were a few LOL moments, but as with most moviegoers, I'm after an entertaining coherent whole. And that's where the movie fails. The characters are inept and unbelievable. GF said she felt "disturbed" after watching the movie. Hopefully that Japanese dinner afterwards calmed her nerves a bit.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Canon Photo5 Entries
Competition deadline is already on Oct. 22, and I have yet to take pictures of all my mystery items. Actually not a mystery anymore. Here are the items for this year's competition:
- a green Faber-Castell crayola
- a tealight
- a plastic bottle of bubble liquid
- a cocktail umbrella
- a red ribbon
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Movie 2008.10.19: Memory and Black Water
7-minute short about aboriginal woman choosing how to "bury" her husband.
Black Water about a group of three going out on a fishing trip and getting attacked by this huge croc. One by one all of them gets attacked, some eaten. The last survivor got so fed up getting stalked she stuck a gun into the croc's mouth and fired a bullet through it's brain. That killed it for sure.
Lots of screaming and crying in the movie.
Black Water about a group of three going out on a fishing trip and getting attacked by this huge croc. One by one all of them gets attacked, some eaten. The last survivor got so fed up getting stalked she stuck a gun into the croc's mouth and fired a bullet through it's brain. That killed it for sure.
Lots of screaming and crying in the movie.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Terrigal and The Entrance
Woke up from a colleague's SMS saying that they can see whales (or was it dolphins) from the beach. Looks like they did some early morning fishing again. By the time I got to the beach, the whales are gone.
After a sumptuous buffet breakfast, everybody got ready to head back to Sydney. I stayed behind because GF is driving over with a couple of her overseas friends. We took some pictures at Terrigal Beach, then had lunch at the hotel. Went to The Entrance for a short tour. The tourists (and GF) had a great time at the pelican feeding. Back in Sydney, we had dinner at Ramen Ken.
After a sumptuous buffet breakfast, everybody got ready to head back to Sydney. I stayed behind because GF is driving over with a couple of her overseas friends. We took some pictures at Terrigal Beach, then had lunch at the hotel. Went to The Entrance for a short tour. The tourists (and GF) had a great time at the pelican feeding. Back in Sydney, we had dinner at Ramen Ken.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
NSN Day at Terrigal
The past week has been pretty stressful. After months of testing, our customer launched this prepaid wireless broadband service. Turns out it's not yet ready for primetime. Once in a while, the servers would give up the ghost, and service go offline. When that happens, we get called up 24x7 to resolve the issue. We'll get it running, then after a while, it'll all go bad again.
Today, the whole company is off to Terrigal for a two-day outing. It's true I'm not on call, but that never stopped the customer (and our boss) from calling us at odd hours and asking us to "help out". Well, if other people can simply drop whatever they're doing and have fun, I should be able to do the same. And it looks like the only way I can stop myself from worrying too much is by having a forced break.
We just got on the freeway when we got a call from the boss. Our software team came up with a new binary, and the customer wants it put into production immediately. As in right now. Thank heavens for mobile computing. I had my mobile dialed into the conference call. Using a special dongle, we connected the mobile's audio out to the car's aux in, so everyone in the car can listen in through the car's speakers. My colleague fired up his laptop, and using a USB HSDPA dongle, we got on to the Internet. From there, we used a VPN to connect to our intranet. For power, we had a device that connects to the cigarette lighter to provide 220V AC. By the time we got to Terrigal, we've copied in the new binary to the servers and coordinated with our colleage in Melbourne to confirm that everything works fine. All this time updating the customer in the conference call. I doubt if they even know we're doing all this from inside a moving car.
That gave us a respite to enjoy the rest of the day. While everyone else went for a game of laser tag, we went down the bay to do some fishing. Joined the group for buffet lunch at Crown Plaza. More fishing after lunch. I went around the area taking pictures. At night, we have our Hawaiian-themed buffet dinner. Most of the guys simply put on a Hawaiian shirt for their costume, just like me. Easy. Didn't stay around for the post-dinner entertainment anymore. We headed down to the beach for more fishing. Way too cold for me. Went back to the hotel around midnight.
Today, the whole company is off to Terrigal for a two-day outing. It's true I'm not on call, but that never stopped the customer (and our boss) from calling us at odd hours and asking us to "help out". Well, if other people can simply drop whatever they're doing and have fun, I should be able to do the same. And it looks like the only way I can stop myself from worrying too much is by having a forced break.
We just got on the freeway when we got a call from the boss. Our software team came up with a new binary, and the customer wants it put into production immediately. As in right now. Thank heavens for mobile computing. I had my mobile dialed into the conference call. Using a special dongle, we connected the mobile's audio out to the car's aux in, so everyone in the car can listen in through the car's speakers. My colleague fired up his laptop, and using a USB HSDPA dongle, we got on to the Internet. From there, we used a VPN to connect to our intranet. For power, we had a device that connects to the cigarette lighter to provide 220V AC. By the time we got to Terrigal, we've copied in the new binary to the servers and coordinated with our colleage in Melbourne to confirm that everything works fine. All this time updating the customer in the conference call. I doubt if they even know we're doing all this from inside a moving car.
That gave us a respite to enjoy the rest of the day. While everyone else went for a game of laser tag, we went down the bay to do some fishing. Joined the group for buffet lunch at Crown Plaza. More fishing after lunch. I went around the area taking pictures. At night, we have our Hawaiian-themed buffet dinner. Most of the guys simply put on a Hawaiian shirt for their costume, just like me. Easy. Didn't stay around for the post-dinner entertainment anymore. We headed down to the beach for more fishing. Way too cold for me. Went back to the hotel around midnight.
Monday, October 13, 2008
RadioBlog 2008.10.13
Last time I changed the songs on my Radioblog was more than a year ago. To keep things fresh, I've put in a bunch of Japanese ones, and kept some favourites.
- Folder - All or Nothing
- Globe - Feel Like Dance
- Misia - Everything
- Pizzicato Five - Sweet Soul Revue
- Ryoko Hirosue - Escalation
- Track03
- Track12
- Utada Hikaru - Close to You
- BoA - Feel the Same
- BoA - Goodbye
- BoA - Pit-A-Pat
- Aled Jones - Count Your Blessings
- Bic Runga - When I See Your Smile
- Carly Simon - I've Got a Crush on You
- Diana Krall - S'Wonderful
- Hayley Westenra - Pokarekare Ana
- Kathy Troccoli - If I'm Not in Love with You
- Katie Melua - The Closest Thing to Crazy
- Lani Misalucha - Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw
- Lisa Keith - None Better than You
- Lou Pardini - What Might Have Been
- Morten Harket - Can't Take My Eyes off of You
- Paul Jackson, Jr. - If I Go Away
- Robbie Williams - Somethin' Stupid
- Sarah McLachlan - When SheLoved Me
- Shanice & Jon Secada - If I Never Knew
- The CompanY - Baka Ikaw
- Vonda Shepard - Hidden Persuasion
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Four Seasons at Chatswood
Been quite a while since I've visited the Zenith Theatre again. Today, the Willoughby Symphony is staging a concert entitled Four Seasons. Programme as follows:
Met up with GF at Westfield Chatswood, then off to Bhudda Raksa Thai Restaurant in Enfield for dinner.
- Corelli - Concerto Grosso, Op. 6 No. 8
- Quantz - Flute Concerto
- Puccini - I crisantemi (The Crysanthemums)
- Vivaldi - The Four Seasons
Met up with GF at Westfield Chatswood, then off to Bhudda Raksa Thai Restaurant in Enfield for dinner.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Bundeena Birthday
Drove to Bundeena for AS' birthday party. Apparently, they rented a house along Loftus Street for the weekend, so here we are. The house sits on top of an elevation with an outdoor entertainment area looking out to the sea. A few minutes walk and you're at the beach already. Since GF and I got there early, we helped set up the tables and pretty much blew up all the balloons. That gave us an appetite for lunch. While GF is having a meeting with the girls, I went to the beach with KC's kids. Left the party around 4pm. Dropped by Horderns Beach for a short walk, then passed by the Royal National Park Visitor's Centre, before heading back to Sydney.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Strathfield Spring Fair
Went to the Strathfield Spring Fair with GF. This is what's on hand:
"This year’s Fair will include 100 stalls including food from around the world, jewellery, clothes and gifts to name a few, free amusement rides, free pony rides, an animal farm, a Kidz Zone tent and roving entertainers. Centre stage will feature Channel Nine's most lovable Bear Humphrey B Bear as well as a range of live entertainment including performances from FABBA an ABBA style tribute band, Rick Allison a talented juggler, Horns Plus Big Band, the Leaping Loonies, ventriloquist Michael Fox, there will also be performances from various other live acts including local performers."
Spent a couple of hours going through the stalls. We found this stall selling discount items. GF got a 16CD case for only $3. Me, I bought two 512MB JNC SSF-F10mp3 players at $8 each. Pretty good value for that price - FM radio, FM radio recording, direct mp3 encoding, voice recording, dual 3.5mm earphone jacks, external SD memory card support, upgradeable firmware, etc. The stall was also selling mobile phones from Sagem, Philips, Siemens and Nokia for only $5 each. Didn't get those anymore.
After the stalls, we rested by watching the shows on stage. Caught Rick Allison and his partner doing his juggling/comedy routines. Listened to the Horns Plus Big Band while having chorizo roll and garlic prawns. Yum!
Dinner with family at Newtown Cocina.
"This year’s Fair will include 100 stalls including food from around the world, jewellery, clothes and gifts to name a few, free amusement rides, free pony rides, an animal farm, a Kidz Zone tent and roving entertainers. Centre stage will feature Channel Nine's most lovable Bear Humphrey B Bear as well as a range of live entertainment including performances from FABBA an ABBA style tribute band, Rick Allison a talented juggler, Horns Plus Big Band, the Leaping Loonies, ventriloquist Michael Fox, there will also be performances from various other live acts including local performers."
Spent a couple of hours going through the stalls. We found this stall selling discount items. GF got a 16CD case for only $3. Me, I bought two 512MB JNC SSF-F10mp3 players at $8 each. Pretty good value for that price - FM radio, FM radio recording, direct mp3 encoding, voice recording, dual 3.5mm earphone jacks, external SD memory card support, upgradeable firmware, etc. The stall was also selling mobile phones from Sagem, Philips, Siemens and Nokia for only $5 each. Didn't get those anymore.
After the stalls, we rested by watching the shows on stage. Caught Rick Allison and his partner doing his juggling/comedy routines. Listened to the Horns Plus Big Band while having chorizo roll and garlic prawns. Yum!
Dinner with family at Newtown Cocina.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Chargrilled Jumbo Prawns
Ingredients:
Place the olive oil, 2 chopped garlic cloves, sweet chili sauce and lime juice in a large bowl, and mix together well. Add the prawns, toss to coat, and marinate for 30 minutes.
Heat a barbecue or chargrill plate until hot. Drain the prawns and cook cut-side down first, brushing with the marinade, for 1-2 minutes each side, or until cooked. Divide the lettuce among four serving plates, place the prawns on top. Season and serve.
- 8 large raw king prawns (800g)
- 1/3 cup (80ml) olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoon sweet chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- mixed lettuce leaves, to serve
Place the olive oil, 2 chopped garlic cloves, sweet chili sauce and lime juice in a large bowl, and mix together well. Add the prawns, toss to coat, and marinate for 30 minutes.
Heat a barbecue or chargrill plate until hot. Drain the prawns and cook cut-side down first, brushing with the marinade, for 1-2 minutes each side, or until cooked. Divide the lettuce among four serving plates, place the prawns on top. Season and serve.
Lamb Cutlets with Mint Gremolata
Ingredients:
To make the gremolata, finely chop the mint, parsley, garlic and lemon strips, then combine well.
Heat a chargrill pan or barbeque plate to very hot. Lightly brush with 1 tablespoon of the oil. Cook the cutlets over medium heat for 2 minutes on each side, or until cooked to your liking. Remove the cutlets and cover to keep warm.
Trim the ends from the carrots and zucchini and peel the vegetables lengthways into ribbons. Heat the remaining oil in a large saucepan, add the vegetables and toss over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, or until sautéed but tender.
Divide the cutlets among the service plates, sprinkle the cutlets with the gremolata and drizzle with the lemon juice. Serve with the vegetable ribbons.
- 4 tablespoons fresh mint leaves
- 1 tablespoon fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1½ tablespoons lemon rind (white pith removed), cut into thin strips
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 8 French-trimmed lamb cutlets
- 2 carrots
- 2 zucchini
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
To make the gremolata, finely chop the mint, parsley, garlic and lemon strips, then combine well.
Heat a chargrill pan or barbeque plate to very hot. Lightly brush with 1 tablespoon of the oil. Cook the cutlets over medium heat for 2 minutes on each side, or until cooked to your liking. Remove the cutlets and cover to keep warm.
Trim the ends from the carrots and zucchini and peel the vegetables lengthways into ribbons. Heat the remaining oil in a large saucepan, add the vegetables and toss over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, or until sautéed but tender.
Divide the cutlets among the service plates, sprinkle the cutlets with the gremolata and drizzle with the lemon juice. Serve with the vegetable ribbons.
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