tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-309718202024-03-07T17:05:18.530+08:00Fresh BrainzOh no you didn'tThe Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.comBlogger558125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-42723953993476821872012-03-11T09:26:00.010+08:002012-03-12T19:57:19.048+08:00Brian Cox: Everything Is Connected<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 78px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 106px" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJy_TmUNdTQ7sg3nNNkSkkArW11bTmdxc2v_2nrnJAWoSqjH8koygWJx4oWQ25aSJKoqFsN7zvUwoopNsujm7Ar66MrNzEotKeYtC7vQJLXjpIX2aYJh890NGWjJHMOFnT2OwCQ/s400/Svetlana.JPG" height="205" />Physicist Brian Cox, who is a professor at the University of Manchester and a well-known BBC science presenter, caused a sensation when he was trying to explain <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauli_exclusion_principle">Pauli Exclusion Principle</a> in layman's terms on TV.<br /><br />Here is the segment in the show:<br /><br /><iframe height="338" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Mn4I-f34cTI" frameborder="0" width="600"></iframe><br /><br />And here is the relevant quote from the segment:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">"...but this shift in the configuration of the electrons inside the diamond has consequences, because the sum total of all the electrons in the Universe must respect Pauli. Therefore, every electron around every atom in the Universe must be shifting as I heat the diamond up, to make sure that none of them end up in the same energy level. When I heat this diamond up, all the electrons across the Universe instantly but imperceptibly change their energy levels. So everything is connected to everything else."</span><br /><br /><br />Apparently this statement caused quite a stir on the net, especially on Twitter where Prof. Cox was greeted with a flurry of criticisms from physicists and non-physicists alike.<br /><br />Recently, physicists Ed Copeland and Tony Padilla on the YouTube channel "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/sixtysymbols?feature=watch">Sixty Symbols</a>" weighed in on the discussion and here are their views:<br /><br /><iframe height="338" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ASZWediSfTU" frameborder="0" width="600"></iframe><br /><br />In summary, they felt that Prof. Cox should have used the term "quantum state" rather than "energy level", since two electrons CAN have the same energy level.<br /><br />Prof. Padilla mentioned the example of helium, where two electrons do occupy the same energy level but don't violate Pauli Exclusion Principle because they have different angular momentum.<br /><br />But both of them felt that there was nothing controversial in what Prof. Cox said; Prof. Padilla thought that the spirit of what he said is OK, while Prof. Copeland enjoyed the TV lecture and expressed surprise that it provoked such a reaction.<br /><br />He thought that some people might have interpreted the "<span style="font-size:130%;">everything is connected</span>" part as applicable to the connection of human consciousness, which is not what Prof. Cox meant at all.<br /><br />**********<br /><br />Here at Fresh Brainz, we are NOT SURPRISED that this statement could have sparked such a heated debate.<br /><br />In fact, I see three key parts in what Prof. Cox said that have the potential to generate controversy.<br /><br />And here they are, in order of increasing intensity:<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">1. Energy Level<br /></span><br />As mentioned earlier, two electrons can share the same energy level but not the same quantum state.<br /><br />This simply means that no two electrons can have the same four <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_number">quantum numbers</a>.<br /><br />Energy level is one of the quantum numbers, but there are three more: angular momentum, projection of angular momentum, and spin.<br /><br />Prof. Copeland observed that people who notice this technical inaccuracy tend to be physicists.<br /><br />He defended it by noting that Prof. Cox was speaking to a TV audience who might find the idea of "energy level" novel enough, let alone the concept of "quantum state".<br /><br />Since these physicists don't consider this a major inaccuracy, I'll have to take their word for it.<br /><br />Nevertheless, I should mention that the choice of words is important, especially when there are different meanings of the same word in academia and everyday use.<br /><br />This can't be helped because it is the regular language users, and not scientists, who determine the <em>common</em> meanings of terms, unless it is a new term invented specifically for the science, eg. "quantum state".<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">2. Everything Is Connected<br /></span><br />"Oooooooo..."<br /><br />I can almost hear the groans from science educators and communicators.<br /><br />Although Prof. Copeland didn't think there was anything untoward about this assertion, Prof. Cox himself <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/02/20/why-quantum-theory-is-so-misunderstood/">saw it coming</a>:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">"This statement received some criticism in scientific circles. Not because it’s wrong, because it isn’t; without this behavior, we wouldn’t be able to explain the bonds that hold molecules together. The problem is that it sounds like woo woo, and quantum theory attracts woo-woo merde-merchants like the pronouncements of New Age mystics attract flies – metaphorically speaking.<br /><br />For the record, the reason that everything being connected to everything else does not allow us to be, (selects randomly from a pit of drivel), at one with the Universal consciousness, is that the subtle interconnectedness in quantum theory cannot be used to transmit information. Quantum theory, in other words, describes a counterintuitive world, but not a mystical one."</span><br /><br /><br />Unfortunately, in popular culture, statements like "everything is connected" are already strongly associated with New Age mysticism.<br /><br />Supporters of such beliefs immediately interprete it as the "connection" between consciousness, or something like that.<br /><br />I think they feel that their views are validated when a well-known particle physicist actually said it!<br /><br />From what I see, much of the negativity on the net is directed against this phrase, and I empathize with Prof. Cox.<br /><br />Let me explain what I think is going on.<br /><br />As part of the training, scientists have to give presentations, sometimes to people outside the field who may not understand the significance of their research.<br /><br />The style of presentation called "<span style="font-size:130%;">zoom-in, zoom-out</span>" is a useful strategy to keep the attention of your audience.<br /><br />Start with a broad overview, zoom into the technical details, and then finally zoom out again to discuss the wider implications of your work.<br /><br />Prof. Cox is doing exactly that; by widening the scope to that of the entire Universe, he is trying his best to capture the attention and hopefully the imagination of his audience.<br /><br />Moreover he is trying to impress on his audience the power of quantum mechanics, which as Prof. Copeland explained, can describe all of the particles with just one wavefunction.<br /><br />The difficulty here is to choose a statement that has impact so that the audience can have a "take-home message" that is easy to remember.<br /><br />It might be technically more accurate to say that the electrons in the heated up diamond will affect the quantum state of all other electrons in the Universe, but such a statement clearly lacks the impact of "<span style="font-size:130%;">everything is connected</span>"!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">3. Instantly But Imperceptibly</span><br /><br />Although many criticisms target the "everything is connected" part, personally I find the part "...all the electrons across the Universe instantly but imperceptibly change..." more contentious, especially the latter bit about "imperceptible change" which I will talk about later.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">a.</span> But first, I'll briefly mention the former bit - "instantly".<br /><br />Dr. Copeland insisted that by "instantly" Dr. Cox didn't mean to say that Einsteinian causality has been violated.<br /><br />Other people are not so sure.<br /><br />In an <a href="http://blogs.scienceforums.net/swansont/archives/11081">online discussion</a> between physicist Tom Swanson and Prof. Cox, there are people who sought clarification about this.<br /><br />For example twistor59:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">"However in the present discussion we’re talking about a correlation, not just of a spin direction which could give either up or down when you measure it, but in energy levels – energies can be measured, and if my excitation of an electron in London can cause an instantaneous change in an electron energy in the Klingon system, wouldn’t that mean that information can be transmitted instantaneously in principle?"</span><br /><br /><br />And Moshe:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">"So for example, if you start with such a stationary state and “wiggle” one subsystem, the full system does not have to instantaneously adjust itself so that it stays in a definite energy state. The story is more complicated, and certainly is causal: if an electron 5 lightyears away wiggles, all the electrons in my body will certainly adjust, but not until at least 5 years from now. This is not much different from what happens in classical physics, where we interact in small ways with faraway objects (nor should it be different, physics is classical on those scales)."<br /></span><br /><br />Since I'm not an expert in this area, I'll leave it at that.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">b.</span> What disturbs me more is the latter part about "imperceptible change".<br /><br />In that same discussion forum, commenter "The Jab" described it this way (in a very colourful language!):<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">"As to the validity of his claims, it is indeed true in a trivial way. If QM is correct, and if his model is accurate, then it is true that if he shakes the crystal all electrons in the universe will adjust to it. But there is nothing novel to it. Newton’s theory of gravitation could make exactly the same claim: if Newton flicked a booger in one direction and not another, all planets in the solar system would readjust to it (instantaneously, by the way). As for the claim, it was indeed correct at the time of Newton, and nobody would dispute it then (with the risk of getting some nasty letters from Newton himself). The question is of relevancy for the effect."<br /></span><br /><br />JG noted that:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">"I think everyone would agree that Cox’s jiggling is not there for all practical purposes, I mean we’re talking about shifts of probability in the many googolplexth decimal place. It’s irrelevant to science in the same way the poincare recurrence theorem is irrelevant to statistical mechanics (maybe even much less relevant)."</span><br /><br /><br />And stringph added:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">"Hmmm, I would hope that an experimental physicist would place a little more emphasis on what could either in principle or in practice ever be measured.<br /><br />The difference between physics and pure mathematical or metaphysical speculation is precisely in this point. Asking yourself whether the ‘connections’ have measurable consequences is a great way of clarifying whether they represent any physical reality."</span><br /><br /><br />I think these commenters hit an important point in this entire discussion, which is the main reason why this TV lecture makes me feel uncomfortable.<br /><br />Let me illustrate this with an imaginary scenario.<br /><br />Suppose I am a counsellor, and my goal is to encourage you to feel good about yourself.<br /><br />I could say inspirational things like...<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">"One tiny drop of water will make waves across an ocean."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">"If you jump for the sky, you will move the Earth."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">"Even a candle in the dark will light up the whole Universe."</span><br /><br /><br />And these are not merely metaphors - they are also technically correct, like The Jab's flying booger example.<br /><br />Backed up by actual (classical macroscale) physics!<br /><br />But the problem is, I neglected to tell you just how much change has been produced, and whether that change is even measurable.<br /><br />In other words, these are "imperceptible changes".<br /><br />Without knowing the size of the effect, the audience would walk away feeling encouraged and empowered; I have inspired them to feel better about themselves using metaphors that are given weight because they are based on technically correct physics.<br /><br />Since that is my goal as a counsellor, I have succeeded.<br /><br />However, if I was a science communicator, I did not succeed in conveying an accurate representation of the truth to the audience.<br /><br />It is not inspirational that everything is connected to everything else... if the connections are practically undetectable.<br /><br /><br />Would you like to know more?<br /><br />Critique of Prof. Cox's TV lecture:<br />- <a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2012/02/23/everything-is-connected/">Everything is Connected (by Sean Carroll)</a><br /><br />The reason why everyday objects don't pop in and out of existence:<br />- <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_decoherence">Quantum Decoherence</a><br /><br />More about Quantum Mechanics:<br />- <a href="http://www.freshbrainz.com/2009/04/serge-haroche-talk-at-nus.html">Power and Strangeness of the Quantum (Public Lecture by Serge Haroche)</a>The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-27592839130483601542012-03-03T18:28:00.011+08:002012-03-03T20:32:31.162+08:00Tiny Green Insect<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 104px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 68px" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20Whm2Ak-aCDdqnUiMmb80QJml4H8vcH-uRxs1hb5TxW-w6MBvYeK87rduzHE_aXkGkJu3Q8CxQXmu6yLa0hhLtY5t0AJS7zhAULvU1PBBLJKxRoni5G6BWDVvvy2n7PwE6AsNg/s400/Sally.JPG" height="57" />While cleaning my table today, I spotted a fleck of coloured dust. I was just about to flick it away when I noticed that the "dust" seems to have eyes!<br /><br />It is a tiny green insect.<br /><br />Which is dead.<br /><br />So I put it on a piece of memo paper and took some photos of it:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSmzvbpaT7K1EH6l2AJZPhENHvUnHXRyaaj_bDzSpNSOjHjw8OVyxkOnTASXyt32EZUgczm1pSnVS3ZEqaJm5wuP2jbt4nnw9604thWd9UvWu3b_luc6nOnla8MkivLo4OJmk7g/s1600/Tiny+Insect+01.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715617024122505986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSmzvbpaT7K1EH6l2AJZPhENHvUnHXRyaaj_bDzSpNSOjHjw8OVyxkOnTASXyt32EZUgczm1pSnVS3ZEqaJm5wuP2jbt4nnw9604thWd9UvWu3b_luc6nOnla8MkivLo4OJmk7g/s800/Tiny+Insect+01.jpg" /></a><br /><br />There it is. <br /><br />Neon-green body with irridescent orangey-pink wings... and very obvious BLACK eyes.<br /><br />Isn't it cute?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxvxC_CIEs03ZnZ4RaY-o1UNqbauauADJ5aVGeBuGIiM6bVHfBVYRRHqQlzx6n1z7r4Ac4soZLrVuzgVlI7ia2lZk0Xdv1pzYwxCsp6Gm8DncqHtg7ubUudF42acTFLjyRoWAgw/s1600/Tiny+Insect+02.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715619313657236210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxvxC_CIEs03ZnZ4RaY-o1UNqbauauADJ5aVGeBuGIiM6bVHfBVYRRHqQlzx6n1z7r4Ac4soZLrVuzgVlI7ia2lZk0Xdv1pzYwxCsp6Gm8DncqHtg7ubUudF42acTFLjyRoWAgw/s800/Tiny+Insect+02.jpg" /></a><br /><br />I placed a regular 10 cent coin beside it.<br /><br />Next to the insect, the coin looks like a gigantic, hefty hunk of pig iron.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVICuXUprONYRY9VEX7ww1v9aGblKa0Ujuqin1Z1Tf_mP2pBI9AsM1SJ25-YEwL8s_PJjja_firYVHmcfBtvTDoYLZqDNYcB3VYgT7_2t1axUfNG4hJU8xozoZTbPP7YpF2Gm7g/s1600/Tiny+Insect+03.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715622312953533922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVICuXUprONYRY9VEX7ww1v9aGblKa0Ujuqin1Z1Tf_mP2pBI9AsM1SJ25-YEwL8s_PJjja_firYVHmcfBtvTDoYLZqDNYcB3VYgT7_2t1axUfNG4hJU8xozoZTbPP7YpF2Gm7g/s800/Tiny+Insect+03.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Here is a crop of the previous photo at 100% full resolution.<br /><br />As you can see, the insect is about as long as the thickness of the coin.<br /><br />Which means it is about 1 mm long, with wings that are less than 2 mm long. I count three obviously visible wings; one might have broken off. So it used to have four wings and not two wings like a housefly.<br /><br />You can also see that it is at the limit of my camera's resolving power. I can't get much more detail than that.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2uWZyLlgl4xBL7yrtEUBllRxbVZbsrWFKEVtKkTGNWE0wgPNv1PA6w7Z6YhJ1IBt7EBaMEvrnnWDU8BOHeojJBJ72Dqi1twHw6C3z8P6H6ZqJC8EIPrEw0TYS4r0Q8Jd3rusag/s1600/Tiny+Insect+04.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715626610404605922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2uWZyLlgl4xBL7yrtEUBllRxbVZbsrWFKEVtKkTGNWE0wgPNv1PA6w7Z6YhJ1IBt7EBaMEvrnnWDU8BOHeojJBJ72Dqi1twHw6C3z8P6H6ZqJC8EIPrEw0TYS4r0Q8Jd3rusag/s800/Tiny+Insect+04.jpg" /></a><br /><br />So I tried to take photos of it through my trusty 6X loupe - like a makeshift macro lens.<br /><br />It's not very good but some additional details become visible.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaAfK14YLOETq16xeOt_DCfO1FrCNUEaFyFamfhfMUbSwMRzGHLf-OvCUiWh7oTOEkzCkxTczzLip0kJiZJTUr3ArDrt2_AoU1huy9Q9I9ZeU8krH0tzD_Udslzhqykb4D6ZS2A/s1600/Tiny+Insect+05.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715627907544935954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaAfK14YLOETq16xeOt_DCfO1FrCNUEaFyFamfhfMUbSwMRzGHLf-OvCUiWh7oTOEkzCkxTczzLip0kJiZJTUr3ArDrt2_AoU1huy9Q9I9ZeU8krH0tzD_Udslzhqykb4D6ZS2A/s800/Tiny+Insect+05.jpg" /></a><br /><br />At 100% resolution you can now see some veiny details on the wings, the blue-green thread-like legs, and what looks like two mouth parts below its face.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8-83lZPcZCIr_IwiW7fPsIpVpKfe3C691eLolcX3zbq7xc-x6-wgLIfcqqUi9iMCk5q_iHQdI2nCrSEWBshszqN6DGKX-lwPPiozwmfIOzCYhcBJ2_qJH9SvrQ68Pgsv6ITeMA/s1600/Tiny+Insect+06.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715630109553228946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8-83lZPcZCIr_IwiW7fPsIpVpKfe3C691eLolcX3zbq7xc-x6-wgLIfcqqUi9iMCk5q_iHQdI2nCrSEWBshszqN6DGKX-lwPPiozwmfIOzCYhcBJ2_qJH9SvrQ68Pgsv6ITeMA/s800/Tiny+Insect+06.jpg" /></a><br /><br />From the front, the face of the insect resembles a mantis, but it's hard to tell if the elongation below the eyes is mainly part of the mouth or the neck.<br /><br />You can also see some serrations on its legs. I estimate the length of each spike to be less than 0.05 mm - well below the resolving power of the naked eye.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv_B1FwYNw4kSBSGRmUPN1_947oAOOyWWVXw9ImnLs7A8OaFmKI-wd4Wtuu3TBQWZKewyxKXvJTWmXZZlAshspbjg1VQPyqAyFWO1uw5JhYy_JGA_qliCaaRfIksO30GY1VJtEA/s1600/Tiny+Insect+07.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715630114234409602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv_B1FwYNw4kSBSGRmUPN1_947oAOOyWWVXw9ImnLs7A8OaFmKI-wd4Wtuu3TBQWZKewyxKXvJTWmXZZlAshspbjg1VQPyqAyFWO1uw5JhYy_JGA_qliCaaRfIksO30GY1VJtEA/s800/Tiny+Insect+07.jpg" /></a><br /><br />From the side, it doesn't look like an insect at all. It looks more like a frog with wings... on snow skis!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNa0_JsJuS6ZSiq9NFrPfVkULueCzJLUt2LYrUeR6fyuNA08R_LEpfA6pZ-6MuwS-mG_0TzYlrekqAjQxT6UAHRxKC6njp1wFWmfZHV7WEU_-i5gXUlV777U9sOepEn0b5i9rGg/s1600/Tiny+Insect+08.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5715630119935715330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNa0_JsJuS6ZSiq9NFrPfVkULueCzJLUt2LYrUeR6fyuNA08R_LEpfA6pZ-6MuwS-mG_0TzYlrekqAjQxT6UAHRxKC6njp1wFWmfZHV7WEU_-i5gXUlV777U9sOepEn0b5i9rGg/s800/Tiny+Insect+08.jpg" /></a><br /><br />From the back, its three wings can be clearly seen.<br /><br />I haven't been able to identify this insect yet. It's not a lacewing fly and it doesn't look like a parasitic wasp.<br /><br />Whatever it is, it is the smallest <strike>flying</strike> <em>previously flying</em> insect I have ever examined.<br /><br /><br />Would you like to know more?<br /><br />Other denizens of my neighbourhood:<br />- <a href="http://www.freshbrainz.com/2010/03/grey-lizard-that-isnt-really-grey.html">A grey lizard that isn't really grey</a><br />- <a href="http://www.freshbrainz.com/2008/08/bugs-in-city.html">Bugs in the city</a>The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-5633781931467620452011-12-05T22:25:00.010+08:002011-12-06T11:15:38.972+08:00Structure In A Structure In A Structure...<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 73px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 88px" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6060/3780/320/Mystery.gif" width="77" height="88" />I'll briefly interrupt the usual whooshy wind and tumbleweed here at Fresh Brainz with this video you just HAVE to see.<br /><br />Check it out in 720p for all the astounding detail.<br /><br />At first, it seems like a well made, Transformer-esque CG virtualscape...<br /><br /><iframe width="600" height="338" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Yb5MRbgNKSk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />... but when it zooms in, you start to see recursive patterns of Lego-like metallic plates, and it zooms further in and...<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">HEY! SELF SIMILARITY!</span><br /><br />It's a fractal!<br /><br />Yes my friends, now solids can also be fractals.<br /><br />Apparently, such 3D fractal sets have only been developed a couple of years ago, and mathematicians are still considering if it is a "true" 3D Mandelbrot set.<br /><br />But mathematical rigour aside - just think of the artistic potential!<br /><br />The ability to generate visually spectacular landscapes with both sweeping scale AND detail - simply by plugging numbers into a formula.<br /><br />Incredible, bizarre environments that goes to the limit (or beyond?) of human imagination. <br /><br />Filmmakers and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSE1bjCEsYA">gamemakers</a>, get a crackin'.<br /><br /><br />Would you like to know more?<br /><br />Other epic 3D fractal videos:<br />- <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO9ugnn8DbE">Mandelbox trip</a> (YouTube)<br />- <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E91yxk_pT_A">Trip to center of hybrid fractal</a> (YouTube)<br /><br />About the mathematics of 3D fractals:<br />- <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18171-the-mandelbulb-first-true-3d-image-of-famous-fractal.html">The Mandelbulb: first 'true' 3D image of famous fractal</a> (New Scientist)<br />- <a href="http://www.skytopia.com/project/fractal/mandelbulb.html">Mandelbulb: The Unravelling of the Real 3D Mandelbrot Fractal</a> (by Daniel White)<br />- <a href="http://sites.google.com/site/mandelbox/">Mandelbox</a> (by Tom Lowe)The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-39646520697154677402011-10-01T23:47:00.005+08:002011-10-02T00:05:50.236+08:00Tech Review: Garmin eTrex 20 Handheld GPS<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 78px; FLOAT: left" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsZIsEJVmqte0KZM6iQswaQQMUHrawwbAuL49GZvjth9ZNkcjQbIy9OyveIWx_WR7PsaPJl2pN5GieMuiSuJ43Ra-zVAt9iSS4_8I_GWnuszPa7sw7fsof5xOqM2xr3R2ZZHCdQ/s400/Nick.JPG"/>I just purchased a Garmin eTrex 20 handheld GPS (released in late September 2011) and I decided to do a quick user review of it.<br /><br />Here, check out my video:<br /><br /><iframe width="600" height="450" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Nwa5BSxCnPk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />This is my first GPS device, which means I can't do a relative comparison with other units. <br /><br />So, based on its own merits, here are my comments on the eTrex 20:<br /><br />1. Build quality is solid, and when loaded with batteries it has a nice, reassuring heft to it. Dark grey areas are rubberized for wear resistance. USB connection is hidden under a rubber weather-resistant flap, and the micro-SD slot is protected inside the battery compartment, which are thoughtful design features.<br /><br />2. The glassy LCD screen is tad reflective when viewed under direct sunlight.<br /><br />3. Ability to decode both GPS and GLONASS satellite signals is a very useful feature. In the field, it takes less than a minute to get a position fix, and the precision is quite good, around 4 metres at best.<br /><br />4. It works well inside vehicles too, I've tried it in buses and get practically instantaneous position and speed readings. It will definitely work as a car GPS, though that is not its intended function.<br /><br /><br />Would you like to know more?<br />- <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System">GPS</a> (Wikipedia)<br />- <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLONASS">GLONASS</a> (Wikipedia)The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-58032620473627665212011-09-15T12:02:00.010+08:002011-09-15T14:17:17.304+08:00Space Launch System: The "Shutturn V" ?<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 78px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 106px" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJy_TmUNdTQ7sg3nNNkSkkArW11bTmdxc2v_2nrnJAWoSqjH8koygWJx4oWQ25aSJKoqFsN7zvUwoopNsujm7Ar66MrNzEotKeYtC7vQJLXjpIX2aYJh890NGWjJHMOFnT2OwCQ/s400/Svetlana.JPG" height="205" />NASA has <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-nasa-rocket-20110915,0,292138.story">announced</a> their latest plan for a heavy launch vehicle - capable of manned missions into space - called the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Launch_System">Space Launch System (SLS)</a>".<br /><br />That isn't a particularly imaginative name. <br /><br />YouTube commenter <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/linghun">linghun</a> dubbed it the "Shutturn V", which is actually quite appropriate, since the SLS is both technological and visually a hybrid of the Space Shuttle and Saturn V vehicles.<br /><br />Here, check out NASA's video...<br /><br /><iframe width="600" height="338" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KQxdrFeZkbA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />The SLS is a multistage, non-reusable vehicle that can launch both cargo-only and human-rated missions, much like the Saturn V. <br /><br />The core stage uses an arrangement of five engines (Saturn V), which will consist of five RS-25 engines (Space Shuttle), while the upper stage uses a modernized version of the J-2 engine (Saturn V).<br /><br />The first stage fuel tank will have the same diameter as the external tank of the Space Shuttle, and likely manufactured using similar methods. Two solid-fuel rocket boosters are attached, one on each side (Space Shuttle).<br /><br />Visually, it either looks like a short Saturn V flanked with extra boosters, or a tall Space Shuttle external tank but without the Shuttle orbiter itself.<br /><br />Appearances aside, expert observers seem to be <a href="http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/space/nasa/nasas-space-launch-system-unveiled-analysis-6432937?click=pm_latest">unimpressed</a> with the SLS programme and are already predicting its demise, calling it more of a job-creation exercise that may cost more than a completely new launch system, due to the re-hiring of the expensive legacy workforce. <br /><br />To me, the SLS appears to have a much safer layout than the recently cancelled <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ares_I">Ares I</a> which perched human passengers on top of a solid-fuel first stage that cannot be throttled down or even shut down after ignition.<br /><br />Of course the longevity of this new initiative is difficult to predict in this gloomy economic climate, and in light of less costly alternatives such as the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_Heavy">SpaceX Falcon Heavy</a> system, which is further along in development and has better scalability by using essentially the same engines and fuel tank components throughout.<br /><br />Nevertheless, the SLS vehicle can initially lift 70 tonnes of payload into low-Earth orbit, up to a maximum of 129 tonnes in later configurations (more than Saturn V's 118 tonnes!). Even at 70 tonnes it would already be the heaviest lift launch vehicle in the world, compared to other launch systems currently in service.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_super_heavy_lift_launch_systems">Maximum lift capacity to LEO</a>:<br />Delta IV-H (USA) ~ 23 tonnes<br />Proton M (Russia) ~ 21.6 tonnes<br />Ariane 5 (EU) ~ 21 tonnes<br />H-IIB (Japan) ~ 19 tonnes<br />Atlas V (USA) ~ 18.5 tonnes</span><br /><br />If all goes according to plan, the first flight (unmanned) of the SLS is slated to be in December 2017.<br /><br /><br />Would you like to know more?<br />- <a href="http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/space/nasa/nasas-space-launch-system-unveiled-analysis-6432937?click=pm_latest">NASA’s Space Launch System Unveiled: Analysis (Popular Mechanics)</a>The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-69561547756983664162011-07-21T18:50:00.005+08:002011-07-23T14:38:43.175+08:00Space Shuttle Rolls Into History<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 78px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 106px" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJy_TmUNdTQ7sg3nNNkSkkArW11bTmdxc2v_2nrnJAWoSqjH8koygWJx4oWQ25aSJKoqFsN7zvUwoopNsujm7Ar66MrNzEotKeYtC7vQJLXjpIX2aYJh890NGWjJHMOFnT2OwCQ/s400/Svetlana.JPG" height="205" />A quiet night landing of the space shuttle Atlantis, returning from the STS-135 mission, marked the end of the US space shuttle programme.<br /><br /><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://cdn-akm.vmixcore.com/vmixcore/js?auto_play=0&cc_default_off=1&player_name=uvp&width=600&height=389&player_id=1aa0b90d7d31305a75d7fa03bc403f5a&t=V0jcavJoECkUI2jSmdS2RrGlH64emuaBBy"></script><br /><br />NASA's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constellation_program">Constellation Program</a>, which was projected to develop a replacement rocket for the space shuttle, was cancelled last year.<br /><br />While the government is not currently working on a shuttle replacement, potential private sector candidates include the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_9">Falcon 9-Dragon</a> vehicle from SpaceX, which has been successful in test launches so far, but is still in early development. <br /><br />Thus for the foreseeable future the USA will no longer have any human-rated launch vehicle.<br /><br />Without manned spacecraft, US astronauts will now have to rely solely on the Russian Soyuz to access the International Space Station.<br /><br /><br />Would you like to know more?<br /><br />About the <strike>past</strike> future of spaceship design:<br />- <a href="http://www.freshbrainz.com/2009/12/counterintuitive-science-fast-speed-fat.html">Counterintuitive Science: Fast Speed, Fat Shape</a>The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-19706942369638232672011-07-01T01:21:00.002+08:002011-07-01T01:38:13.488+08:00Goodbye To Tanjong Pagar!<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 78px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 106px" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJy_TmUNdTQ7sg3nNNkSkkArW11bTmdxc2v_2nrnJAWoSqjH8koygWJx4oWQ25aSJKoqFsN7zvUwoopNsujm7Ar66MrNzEotKeYtC7vQJLXjpIX2aYJh890NGWjJHMOFnT2OwCQ/s400/Svetlana.JPG" height="205" />Here's my video of the last train service to leave Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, taken from a pedestrian bridge.<br /><br /><iframe width="600" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KlZch_PbcXI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><br />Apparently there was an additional 11:00pm train driven by the Sultan of Johor himself. <br /><br />I didn't catch that but somebody else did; please check out <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_eQpt808-Q">his video</a>.<br /><br />So... I only managed to film the <span style="font-size:130%;">penultimate</span> train.<br /><br />I love that word.<br /><br /><br />Would you like to know more?<br />- <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_eQpt808-Q">Video of last train out of Tanjong Pagar, driven by the Sultan of Johor</a><br />- <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfEXyJNm0GI">Video of last afternoon train</a>The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-41527775540248800822011-06-25T18:01:00.039+08:002011-06-25T21:27:04.505+08:00Snapshots of Malaysia<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 78px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 106px" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJy_TmUNdTQ7sg3nNNkSkkArW11bTmdxc2v_2nrnJAWoSqjH8koygWJx4oWQ25aSJKoqFsN7zvUwoopNsujm7Ar66MrNzEotKeYtC7vQJLXjpIX2aYJh890NGWjJHMOFnT2OwCQ/s400/Svetlana.JPG" height="205" />Here is a video and some photos I took on my travels in Malaysia over the past year.<br /><br />For this video, I took fairly short clips because my previous computer had less than 10 Gb free space to store all my media files, but this is no longer a limitation. In future videos, longer segments will be more common.<br /><br /><iframe width="600" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/l7n8gemvWn8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />As for the photos, I picked those with striking colours and patterns... plus some with a touch of curious.<br /><br />I try not to feature photos of regular touristy attractions - because, as you know, they have been photographed millions of times.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrxeSvRTeBp2DyP-ab6OdhP0_ZJoKC71N05eLHyJrPVBvdbd34iL6Xt_03JDe2Ep91Ozx_HAJRCyJ1u0of6Nj6fFpVK62c_fRoc-nKKmmqTQo1H3VF0kLJ0Z9tE7bFAtgAFBlgw/s1600/Public+hand+wash.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622116395755403506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimrxeSvRTeBp2DyP-ab6OdhP0_ZJoKC71N05eLHyJrPVBvdbd34iL6Xt_03JDe2Ep91Ozx_HAJRCyJ1u0of6Nj6fFpVK62c_fRoc-nKKmmqTQo1H3VF0kLJ0Z9tE7bFAtgAFBlgw/s800/Public+hand+wash.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Public hand wash (May 2010) - Johor Bahru</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2dOEa9qAxuGlUNdmPFQsPhd2jXWSgk8-SRTjdkDOMLRKNtObHmzVikD0pcd3hFZjYV_5SIuiFdM664qg3FfXomouAMioaJXG8M1IQBGlt4dzzph0Oxdw8zU1JI3TKyAWjljt_w/s1600/Motorcycle+park.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2dOEa9qAxuGlUNdmPFQsPhd2jXWSgk8-SRTjdkDOMLRKNtObHmzVikD0pcd3hFZjYV_5SIuiFdM664qg3FfXomouAMioaJXG8M1IQBGlt4dzzph0Oxdw8zU1JI3TKyAWjljt_w/s800/Motorcycle+park.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622120176236622210" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Motorcycle park (May 2010) - Johor Bahru</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UVmYdfx3CSM43TtCvRIrZWKZH58SVXh3cWKOhMcXNElSnILc1qHTaevUZxoy-3ooeYfU7zv3PUm2kQnxq8qDaQ4Hw5wE3SHyPeNaFb4xdNttDE3vUENoiGNUGL4NrExpVdX5fg/s1600/Sculpture.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UVmYdfx3CSM43TtCvRIrZWKZH58SVXh3cWKOhMcXNElSnILc1qHTaevUZxoy-3ooeYfU7zv3PUm2kQnxq8qDaQ4Hw5wE3SHyPeNaFb4xdNttDE3vUENoiGNUGL4NrExpVdX5fg/s800/Sculpture.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622120777902681186" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Sculpture (May 2010) - Johor Bahru</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNLxH6y9hhiRhK9_MxsEm87FNCl1GHNrJLrlKKUk9r1DnF8xrMUvwT9I9Yvm3bx0uq3XQP48r0QrbKWSiz8eeA2u1aZ11NgvFiqK-frxCH0KQttREVAAe0ZixL6AQUhK7q84Gyw/s1600/Bus+number+666.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizNLxH6y9hhiRhK9_MxsEm87FNCl1GHNrJLrlKKUk9r1DnF8xrMUvwT9I9Yvm3bx0uq3XQP48r0QrbKWSiz8eeA2u1aZ11NgvFiqK-frxCH0KQttREVAAe0ZixL6AQUhK7q84Gyw/s800/Bus+number+666.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622121156983995122" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Bus number 666 (Jun 2010) - Larkin</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dWbTrs4qkjvx78RhHZtfB4K0SOZeB9-_uZHgDwDRY1iq3o66nuRxai7-KJNGlwn4D5AJ-g-FKRyhHwCwg8LKpoS0RKgEQQlWfE18fOrmuySARG55f-eYwziBaZ-7m6uWr-2NXw/s1600/Gazebo.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dWbTrs4qkjvx78RhHZtfB4K0SOZeB9-_uZHgDwDRY1iq3o66nuRxai7-KJNGlwn4D5AJ-g-FKRyhHwCwg8LKpoS0RKgEQQlWfE18fOrmuySARG55f-eYwziBaZ-7m6uWr-2NXw/s800/Gazebo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622121878242073234" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Gazebo (Jun 2010) - Kota Tinggi</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnYhMYZRyzEA46XOgoWyIAPACwaRijb1wbqYu-cRYokhSRClD6Ir-FHEaf9a646sRUY4dLcZboPiL8UCb3UnLHCLJbhP87hTYFhjHN9zLkdpOpnfOO0C3uZyHoJR3aEVwb0r0Xg/s1600/Raw+latex.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnYhMYZRyzEA46XOgoWyIAPACwaRijb1wbqYu-cRYokhSRClD6Ir-FHEaf9a646sRUY4dLcZboPiL8UCb3UnLHCLJbhP87hTYFhjHN9zLkdpOpnfOO0C3uZyHoJR3aEVwb0r0Xg/s800/Raw+latex.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622122581927741826" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Raw latex (Jun 2010) - Kota Tinggi</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHQ3qDigqrtjy5wj7VHSgAHetuxuVy-ucZIX2bJYntdKalYm8VWOpnEM5ejc7kFeNF24G2fqdCypAGm4O2k1jQt7unDbFclqZCIYY2IJY5UTbz0uHQMklNObM3O438h8WlZ1pcA/s1600/Street+football.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHQ3qDigqrtjy5wj7VHSgAHetuxuVy-ucZIX2bJYntdKalYm8VWOpnEM5ejc7kFeNF24G2fqdCypAGm4O2k1jQt7unDbFclqZCIYY2IJY5UTbz0uHQMklNObM3O438h8WlZ1pcA/s800/Street+football.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622122832812167554" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Street football (Jun 2010) - Kota Tinggi</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4seBpnDZ1Q7ZU_Zldg8irEnikgj80K5Fs2AMUhuwDlRCl-UPJpJW9W0N_QexXlXXZlkRi1eXOw_x4e4QRskeJE05MmXWyGoZhyphenhyphen0OAwTOPnJQQK5_seOMwocyxA-QTuzP9FO2cbw/s1600/Melaka+Sentral.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4seBpnDZ1Q7ZU_Zldg8irEnikgj80K5Fs2AMUhuwDlRCl-UPJpJW9W0N_QexXlXXZlkRi1eXOw_x4e4QRskeJE05MmXWyGoZhyphenhyphen0OAwTOPnJQQK5_seOMwocyxA-QTuzP9FO2cbw/s800/Melaka+Sentral.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622123401259643442" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Melaka Sentral (Jun 2010) - Melaka</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcwP1gLQONpHoAM7-AXYuktDhqe8NKizZaqku2IluzWThYf78_1Lz8s4Stwbud08IRSWv2S05Ixq_XF4AV3BIPqPuDKQsf7lZwil3wvcWQY3e1tzAFqAPYaiGnoHdveXeEUftaw/s1600/V+formation.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcwP1gLQONpHoAM7-AXYuktDhqe8NKizZaqku2IluzWThYf78_1Lz8s4Stwbud08IRSWv2S05Ixq_XF4AV3BIPqPuDKQsf7lZwil3wvcWQY3e1tzAFqAPYaiGnoHdveXeEUftaw/s800/V+formation.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622124058735656994" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">V formation (Jun 2010) - Melaka</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAtJ3XHAJ0D8nSvnxkgJY0TlplI5lVZ1-vBMYfQVLIP-6T-glSpYGwoFo61I6l-0hXtuR6hQm79UnRhO9bRexu_O9wwRGcIKia0Me_8srB2aR3aDxbW5xXGlUHEk7CheiTm4kwQ/s1600/Viaduct.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAtJ3XHAJ0D8nSvnxkgJY0TlplI5lVZ1-vBMYfQVLIP-6T-glSpYGwoFo61I6l-0hXtuR6hQm79UnRhO9bRexu_O9wwRGcIKia0Me_8srB2aR3aDxbW5xXGlUHEk7CheiTm4kwQ/s800/Viaduct.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622124707109616594" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Viaduct (Jun 2010) - Melaka</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVn9Xv7TmjqqlEisHNh8M6AInT2nbq28BXZ-GlCWX1lg2j10wRIre0Pqn-yyYP835TUshvFmDW-YCaS37BudNz_1m2KG1R-3WIGOmgHLGB5Q9YpJ1cdZhIxtfbnP13RQGFYAtR3g/s1600/Menara+Taming+Sari.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVn9Xv7TmjqqlEisHNh8M6AInT2nbq28BXZ-GlCWX1lg2j10wRIre0Pqn-yyYP835TUshvFmDW-YCaS37BudNz_1m2KG1R-3WIGOmgHLGB5Q9YpJ1cdZhIxtfbnP13RQGFYAtR3g/s800/Menara+Taming+Sari.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622126725143140098" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Menara Taming Sari (Jun 2010) - Melaka</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclBm-MqdmGwq4CRF5Onhy5JvHE9WlnxfRLbGgCOTIl9bUhpAfoz11jXbzv0rN45bQWDhtdOq9ClnwcDjY1crEyoMEnNzb9PXHxmOq5CEANSAMtEmZZ7cgU37QIusPbrm-egVbkQ/s1600/Colourful+trishaws.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclBm-MqdmGwq4CRF5Onhy5JvHE9WlnxfRLbGgCOTIl9bUhpAfoz11jXbzv0rN45bQWDhtdOq9ClnwcDjY1crEyoMEnNzb9PXHxmOq5CEANSAMtEmZZ7cgU37QIusPbrm-egVbkQ/s800/Colourful+trishaws.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622127527900240770" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Colourful trishaws (Jun 2010) - Melaka</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2ees8SRn8AL_bjdyqgJRyvadP9Lwy-_VtRmCKLWU-Y0HuXTaYvFgZImsBUrop2kwoNZt8vHli4WCZGCVjSoxXLlzdEbW-fNL2DW8vJFop3mPQdRJx8SCtFXY84GsxQeBs-H5pQ/s1600/Old+propeller.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2ees8SRn8AL_bjdyqgJRyvadP9Lwy-_VtRmCKLWU-Y0HuXTaYvFgZImsBUrop2kwoNZt8vHli4WCZGCVjSoxXLlzdEbW-fNL2DW8vJFop3mPQdRJx8SCtFXY84GsxQeBs-H5pQ/s800/Old+propeller.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622127980695550850" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Old propeller (Jun 2010) - Melaka</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj62R6laXyPF_c-XV_zy3eOtWP1sdyz7xyK16IRDwGWdiYj6eFZ05vB1hQB-kEdnL1gK7_I-iZp71N5YsGre9wkcYL3ejsv4j6FY7obe_4uRl0p2JbJgguRS_I-akL0bnLpKea8A/s1600/Rusty+musket.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj62R6laXyPF_c-XV_zy3eOtWP1sdyz7xyK16IRDwGWdiYj6eFZ05vB1hQB-kEdnL1gK7_I-iZp71N5YsGre9wkcYL3ejsv4j6FY7obe_4uRl0p2JbJgguRS_I-akL0bnLpKea8A/s800/Rusty+musket.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622128466068349234" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Rusty musket (Jun 2010) - Melaka</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuDWO2h6X8-im3oaWYUzBDkyJPk8p4EiGrRx-_bzMnpCNF9mJTWpEmU5fqQfcxnMKD-ER09nplbWhLNlAD942eO_wKq7UtL1DMajw85XPxH8VHLLl_wqkvEpDkm-EJXjFrh5I_A/s1600/Ornate+bridge.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZuDWO2h6X8-im3oaWYUzBDkyJPk8p4EiGrRx-_bzMnpCNF9mJTWpEmU5fqQfcxnMKD-ER09nplbWhLNlAD942eO_wKq7UtL1DMajw85XPxH8VHLLl_wqkvEpDkm-EJXjFrh5I_A/s800/Ornate+bridge.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622128954371853458" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Ornate bridge (Jun 2010) - Melaka</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN32XCWoEHe6dujMZ2LWwJm02wxdCQk7GjLIGnJ0s1024dkxL5pib4wpD8LijEb6N0HgZZ_WfDBOSXh7c6t0Wgp9-tlk2dQR9pvu1Q_F_LWxZ7PqJJ8Df2h5xlrEfK61JDGwlr2g/s1600/Jonker+Walk.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN32XCWoEHe6dujMZ2LWwJm02wxdCQk7GjLIGnJ0s1024dkxL5pib4wpD8LijEb6N0HgZZ_WfDBOSXh7c6t0Wgp9-tlk2dQR9pvu1Q_F_LWxZ7PqJJ8Df2h5xlrEfK61JDGwlr2g/s800/Jonker+Walk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622129660953187922" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Jonker Walk (Jun 2010) - Melaka</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYPtBAPcE2yc2uo4nHUUTc3rtNyOmAzjvG0mw1-uTG7dUWtJwi_pgbnZHVjZAxFfs4RRqCfLsHjHjm17yYan2P7KsbkWXF3oExkMkvt9dGlFzDktJfv_p935EIkOBnLXpVFVg_Q/s1600/Use+Malaysian+rubber.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYPtBAPcE2yc2uo4nHUUTc3rtNyOmAzjvG0mw1-uTG7dUWtJwi_pgbnZHVjZAxFfs4RRqCfLsHjHjm17yYan2P7KsbkWXF3oExkMkvt9dGlFzDktJfv_p935EIkOBnLXpVFVg_Q/s800/Use+Malaysian+rubber.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622130834466836386" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Use Malaysian rubber (Jun 2010) - Melaka</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoz1WNZltoIFmI1GNIYxRLw-R0mtlaQUrushP0sbGD8s6Rw5LIAQx6EDkeds8pwpyJy_Ex1LZSTEDrB7HWh3x5sq0yyB67m0dI1FqrHFgJemZ-uP2rDWUzvsPlJ7rtnRdq4ePuLw/s1600/Berjaya+Times+Square.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoz1WNZltoIFmI1GNIYxRLw-R0mtlaQUrushP0sbGD8s6Rw5LIAQx6EDkeds8pwpyJy_Ex1LZSTEDrB7HWh3x5sq0yyB67m0dI1FqrHFgJemZ-uP2rDWUzvsPlJ7rtnRdq4ePuLw/s800/Berjaya+Times+Square.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622131454005163266" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Berjaya Times Square (Jul 2010) - Kuala Lumpur</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFCILuiZPU8LgHibpndUJYMnKj9gVG78uVIY9TdBegkSt7Vcz-fppFFinrN4mzW47xRHeRdMeMkWMrMWjJ9N-SpOyPeFHLQK-xQyJY91V1UGvRuCNAeL-WRULn9yKbIWfuxmGhA/s1600/Maybank.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFCILuiZPU8LgHibpndUJYMnKj9gVG78uVIY9TdBegkSt7Vcz-fppFFinrN4mzW47xRHeRdMeMkWMrMWjJ9N-SpOyPeFHLQK-xQyJY91V1UGvRuCNAeL-WRULn9yKbIWfuxmGhA/s800/Maybank.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622132617317876914" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Maybank (Jul 2010) - Kuala Lumpur</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGOcJDxuqfA3OMgyfHE6XDYEWrIRz9henIDs5NSbhlSfcMt-aVIKv6aFl-sDoM-z6Ek8DcAqPd736r4mzD7Wn-ivb3HBpJ9_k8ZKnZNuNjyJEV_LQ5ffYtdC8XXkEkqgT8lwzfw/s1600/Muzium+Negara.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGOcJDxuqfA3OMgyfHE6XDYEWrIRz9henIDs5NSbhlSfcMt-aVIKv6aFl-sDoM-z6Ek8DcAqPd736r4mzD7Wn-ivb3HBpJ9_k8ZKnZNuNjyJEV_LQ5ffYtdC8XXkEkqgT8lwzfw/s800/Muzium+Negara.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622133216272814770" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Muzium Negara (Jul 2010) - Kuala Lumpur</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WhA-rtjnfF8eOGjAyrclEIpYjTJs3JxIFZnltX9bh8rCJyGdXQKQlOa9vtoiw6OuSQ-0vWd9JItVJy1n5zVobRVGtKDJgI9tWtuj38nuG1wL2Wl-nmBiK8lI6uq73jw8L-AQtw/s1600/Sultanate+of+Malacca.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WhA-rtjnfF8eOGjAyrclEIpYjTJs3JxIFZnltX9bh8rCJyGdXQKQlOa9vtoiw6OuSQ-0vWd9JItVJy1n5zVobRVGtKDJgI9tWtuj38nuG1wL2Wl-nmBiK8lI6uq73jw8L-AQtw/s800/Sultanate+of+Malacca.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622134096806486178" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Sultanate of Malacca (Jul 2010) - Kuala Lumpur</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQqGkSskMk9RxlXaSlxwa3YNWd9Y4mXf74TREruVjlayPydWqYJlO5-In4emD_XUX1THEMIDD1SXEJ5S5_flQnh5LWH40p6MTQesm4d-4GZsai0_IahQ1sYs-OQ87RN4yw5I_hQ/s1600/Communist+hat.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQqGkSskMk9RxlXaSlxwa3YNWd9Y4mXf74TREruVjlayPydWqYJlO5-In4emD_XUX1THEMIDD1SXEJ5S5_flQnh5LWH40p6MTQesm4d-4GZsai0_IahQ1sYs-OQ87RN4yw5I_hQ/s800/Communist+hat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622135012276885026" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Communist hat (Jul 2010) - Kuala Lumpur</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SIqcvIBtTAx6JqikQPVE0zaSTtlXHR8XbneU7PJqdpjDEbulol5HFXcknXoCpRgznweoQFhM7dzGqDJA1hcZnWX2UuzM3nr-SUAeEnUUDbp9Pmo15vZMyxzMuoabVXNKAtcXQQ/s1600/Demolishing+Pudu+Prison.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SIqcvIBtTAx6JqikQPVE0zaSTtlXHR8XbneU7PJqdpjDEbulol5HFXcknXoCpRgznweoQFhM7dzGqDJA1hcZnWX2UuzM3nr-SUAeEnUUDbp9Pmo15vZMyxzMuoabVXNKAtcXQQ/s800/Demolishing+Pudu+Prison.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622135378212241138" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Demolishing Pudu Prison (Jul 2010) - Kuala Lumpur</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOj4PhM34lYjJeXJWudrA8oLSDJUqzO8rH8NboOlclz2sCNuhVakpwHucael_m606CpiKn72CQVeoVJUaYasC3WS8ub2hlNiNw0q1H1s3AJ6igJMuwCt4qeSgUeNzpRbPD-vEkQ/s1600/Petaling+Street.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOj4PhM34lYjJeXJWudrA8oLSDJUqzO8rH8NboOlclz2sCNuhVakpwHucael_m606CpiKn72CQVeoVJUaYasC3WS8ub2hlNiNw0q1H1s3AJ6igJMuwCt4qeSgUeNzpRbPD-vEkQ/s800/Petaling+Street.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622136057285263970" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Petaling Street (Jul 2010) - Kuala Lumpur</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYjRdCkmaBxdiypvs23DhTZyJF38duNpCykb8D_95W8SDXBK_4Iyb6dtF6tVSziN8BDoXRTsYalDj_9PtmxnBpOKl6z8wg-WynL6aF0OPgHzNSUyH7R8aVSdwlKfk43xd0W6zBw/s1600/Petronas+Twin+Towers.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZYjRdCkmaBxdiypvs23DhTZyJF38duNpCykb8D_95W8SDXBK_4Iyb6dtF6tVSziN8BDoXRTsYalDj_9PtmxnBpOKl6z8wg-WynL6aF0OPgHzNSUyH7R8aVSdwlKfk43xd0W6zBw/s800/Petronas+Twin+Towers.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622136378335807186" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Petronas Twin Towers (Jul 2010) - Kuala Lumpur</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflHPVMQPnyxImIIsaTZMQkJ58kRqPfLQbXn7c7Sh_JPAKchFoYZ4YpebkIbtVNokh82LHy06p-zeHeUmu1hqplVuM4e6CyMmHC529ZkszhmDmxbyG0XnsqOxLAQ2Wds0as_joRQ/s1600/Parit+Waterfall.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflHPVMQPnyxImIIsaTZMQkJ58kRqPfLQbXn7c7Sh_JPAKchFoYZ4YpebkIbtVNokh82LHy06p-zeHeUmu1hqplVuM4e6CyMmHC529ZkszhmDmxbyG0XnsqOxLAQ2Wds0as_joRQ/s800/Parit+Waterfall.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622137060559971602" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Parit Waterfall (Aug 2010) - Cameron Highlands</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8jGOkRNJY6nYIRNsQBtUEsHm97NbmsSDMuh1GD8jXqZ5G2_CKTTwAo89VXDsMtWlK4JgnGJRsB6Mas7aLuN1DR7C1Y_QNAB-eEGD3Ymmvj8PTHRZ-15o_EX65r5wDngwcFM0zQ/s1600/Giant+fruits+and+vegetables.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8jGOkRNJY6nYIRNsQBtUEsHm97NbmsSDMuh1GD8jXqZ5G2_CKTTwAo89VXDsMtWlK4JgnGJRsB6Mas7aLuN1DR7C1Y_QNAB-eEGD3Ymmvj8PTHRZ-15o_EX65r5wDngwcFM0zQ/s800/Giant+fruits+and+vegetables.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622137809575046754" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Giant vegetables (Aug 2010) - Cameron Highlands</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_aItqsnHQ0I_-wWkxDXnKKetyJn1fygC9uENNvH5scUJd5faY0inX1Pg50YMXUswiFhv2g20eI8QrX7G0BvQJ4Vh9F0qe5hOXCOk97ZM3FDdIqOOb4FVW2Isx5Cgvm3A067vew/s1600/Double+helix.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_aItqsnHQ0I_-wWkxDXnKKetyJn1fygC9uENNvH5scUJd5faY0inX1Pg50YMXUswiFhv2g20eI8QrX7G0BvQJ4Vh9F0qe5hOXCOk97ZM3FDdIqOOb4FVW2Isx5Cgvm3A067vew/s800/Double+helix.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622138187421078898" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Double helix (Aug 2010) - Cameron Highlands</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCdmSX-je5R5QajgB_Nc7fT6WINe1_IgCQ-579PpiuEvvXkt4bgs8uPo2TfVUDfV2l7Hcg0F4g1ACtgKF5asQ3wlOREaDTAsmlosVbaskEpOmA3cXI7S8Zv1kOMiFnqFWfqNyDw/s1600/Strawberry.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCdmSX-je5R5QajgB_Nc7fT6WINe1_IgCQ-579PpiuEvvXkt4bgs8uPo2TfVUDfV2l7Hcg0F4g1ACtgKF5asQ3wlOREaDTAsmlosVbaskEpOmA3cXI7S8Zv1kOMiFnqFWfqNyDw/s800/Strawberry.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622138743272422514" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Strawberry (Aug 2010) - Cameron Highlands</span><br /><br />Unlike in my previous photo galleries, I've decided not to mention the brand and model of the cameras used for these pictures, since it doesn't really matter. <br /><br />Suffice to say that they were not SLRs and no tripods were used for any of the above shots. That's right, they were all handheld.<br /> <br />Please tune in next time for a media-rich, day-by-day account of my recent journey to Japan!The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-64344856414402369192011-06-21T16:40:00.008+08:002011-06-21T17:07:41.525+08:00Planes And Trains<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 78px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 106px" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJy_TmUNdTQ7sg3nNNkSkkArW11bTmdxc2v_2nrnJAWoSqjH8koygWJx4oWQ25aSJKoqFsN7zvUwoopNsujm7Ar66MrNzEotKeYtC7vQJLXjpIX2aYJh890NGWjJHMOFnT2OwCQ/s400/Svetlana.JPG" height="205" />I've been travelling a bit in the past year, and thus I have accumulated so many hundreds of photos and videos that I'm not sure where to start.<br /><br />Stay tuned for a more substantial series of blog entries soon, but for now, here are some videos about the transportation I took during a short trip to Kuala Lumpur a couple of months ago.<br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Flying from Singapore to KL</span><br /><br /><iframe width="600" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DFG3J0-Hfsg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Taking the KLIA Ekspres</span><br /><br /><iframe width="600" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/An19anKVNRU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Taking the Aerotrain at KLIA</span><br /><br /><iframe width="600" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7UoE4fKN7fU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Return flight to Singapore</span><br /><br /><iframe width="600" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6Qroz0JXKd8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-24410849091306120482011-05-24T14:34:00.005+08:002011-05-24T15:19:02.800+08:00Steamshovel Harry<img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 73px; HEIGHT: 88px" height="88" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6060/3780/320/Mystery.gif" width="77" border="0" />Everything is better with Auto-Tune.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><iframe width="600" height="493" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/81tKjFvKnBs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />You won't get it unless you play the <a href="http://www.e4.com/game/steamshovel-harry/play.e4">game</a> first...<br /><br />Steamshovel Harry Song<br />----------<br />by Brad Sucks<br /><br />Lyrics:<br /><br />Watch out for that gravity, watch out, watch out.<br />Gravity, watch out... watch out for that gravity.<br /><br />Science times mass equals gravity.<br /><br />Gravity is gonna kill you, Harry.<br />Gravity is gonna kill you... gravity.<br /><br />It's time to learn about astronomy.<br />It's time to learn about astronomy.<br />It's time to learn about astronomy. Hey...<br /><br />Steamshovel Harry, Steamshovel Harry.<br />Steamshovel Harry, Steamshovel Harry.<br /><br />Asteroids are smaller than planets.<br />Asteroids are smaller, wo oh wo oh.<br /><br />Asteroids are larger than meteorites.<br />I meant to say meteroids then, wo oh wo oh wo oh wo oh.<br /><br />Steamshovel Harry, Steamshovel Harry.<br />Steamshovel Harry, Steamshovel Harry.<br /><br />That meteor is gonna kill you, Harry.<br /><br />Physics are gonna kill you, Harry.<br /><br />Physics are gonna kill you, Harry!<br />Physics are gonna kill you, Harry!<br /><br />It's gonna kill you and make you dead.<br /><br />Physics gonna pull out a gun.<br />Shoot you right in the head.<br />BLAM oh no, look out now! Hey...<br /><br />Physics.<br /><br />Oh yeah. Oh...<br /><br />Oh...<br /><br />I can't wait to make love... to physics.<br /><br />Gonna love her all night long.<br />Making physics love, singing the physics song.<br />Throw another downwards to double jump.<br />Or throw it up to not jump as high.<br /><br />Do it Harry, do it to win.<br /><br />Punch that missile right in the face.<br />Punch that missile all over the place.<br />One two three four, punch that missile!<br /><br />When we open the door...<br /><br />Steamshovel Harry, Steamshovel Harry.<br />Steamshovel Harry, Steamshovel Harry.<br />Steamshovel Harry, Steamshovel Harry.<br />Steamshovel Harry, Steamshovel Harry.<br /><br />Physics are gonna hunt you down and kill you in the middle of the night.<br />Physics are gonna hunt you down and make everything all right.<br /><br /><br />Would you like to know more?<br /><br />About the Steamshovel Harry game:<br />- <a href="http://www.e4.com/game/steamshovel-harry/play.e4">Steamshovel Harry flash game</a><br />- <a href="http://www.bradsucks.net/archives/2009/07/08/steamshovel-harry-music/">Steamshovel Harry music</a><br /><br />What the hell is going on!?!!:<br />- <a href="http://waxy.org/2011/02/metagames_games_about_games/">Metagames: Games About Games</a>The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-2335174078870011152011-03-18T11:27:00.002+08:002011-03-18T13:34:31.115+08:00Explanation Of Millisievert<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075058923241048546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMhQ_uzfiutSFnxkQ8jqDOJqMtTChjzMOm7Jj-B0f9st2eGyPqaVz0DS5Ad99OvnN5I39y8gQZeCrvXTkprZz9ra2aGwbQ9IhSyW4Tp6j5rt_w19oWmRwfk02N-bVcW69SKXvZw/s320/Hot+button.JPG" />With the international media spotlight on the Fukushima 1 nuclear power plant emergency, radiological terms such as "millisievert" have entered the public consciousness.<br /><br />Here is a video that clearly explains what the sievert is, plus a demonstration of two instruments that are used for measuring radioactivity:<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="600" height="366" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/doTHPDMhWGM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />It is understandable that the international media is more focused on Fukushima than the devastation caused by the tsunami, since they reflect the concerns of foreign nationals living in Japan.<br /><br />However, some of their headlines seem sensationalistic and have the potential to cause unnecessary worry among Japanese residents.<br /><br />Take for example this headline - "<a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/tokyo-radiation-levels-23-times-normal-officials-2011-03-15-04540">Tokyo radiation levels 23 times normal: officials</a>". This brief article states that radiation levels in Tokyo "surged to 23 times normal on Tuesday" and reported a measurement of 0.809 microsieverts, presumably over the hour (10am local time) mentioned.<br /><br />Without explaining the significance of this reading, a 23-fold increase in radiation levels sounds very serious indeed.<br /><br />However, if we take into account the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sievert">average annual background radiation dose</a> per person, which is around 2000 microsieverts, we can see that the reported radiation level spike is actually about 1/2470 of the average annual dose.<br /><br />Further, by doing this form of comparison, we can find out that 0.809 microsieverts is about:<br /><br />- the dose received during <a href="http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110316a4.html">6 hours</a> of flying time in a jet airliner.<br />- 1/120 of the dose of a chest X-ray.<br />- 1/12400 of the dose of a CT scan.<br />- 1/24700 of the annual limit of a radiation worker (20mSv).<br />- 1/124000 of the <a href="http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/fact-sheets/bio-effects-radiation.html">lowest level</a> that can cause a measurable increase in cancer rates.<br />- 1/309000 of the lower limit for acute radiation sickness.<br /><br />Just for comparison, a news report about more recent readings in Tokyo has this headline - "<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110317-707021.html">Tokyo Area Radiation Around Typical Background Levels - City Government</a>", which I think is a more responsible headline.<br /><br />The article states a measurement of 0.05 microsieverts per hour, slightly higher than the background level of 0.035 microsieverts per hour - which could have led to a headline like <span style="font-size:180%;">"Tokyo radiation levels 143% of normal!"</span>, but their editors didn't do that.<br /><br /><br />Would you like to know more?<br /><br />About units used for measuring radiation dose:<br />- <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sievert">Sievert</a> (SI unit)<br />- <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roentgen_(unit)">Roentgen</a><br />- <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roentgen_equivalent_man">Rem</a><br />- <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_(unit)">Gray</a><br />- <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rad_(unit)">Rad</a>The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-4897951014999965422011-03-11T20:26:00.024+08:002011-03-13T08:28:03.159+08:00Japan Hit By Severe Earthquake And Tsunami<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075058923241048546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMhQ_uzfiutSFnxkQ8jqDOJqMtTChjzMOm7Jj-B0f9st2eGyPqaVz0DS5Ad99OvnN5I39y8gQZeCrvXTkprZz9ra2aGwbQ9IhSyW4Tp6j5rt_w19oWmRwfk02N-bVcW69SKXvZw/s320/Hot+button.JPG" />A severe earthquake hit Japan today at 2.46pm local time (0546h GMT).<br /><br />The epicentre of the quake was about 100km off the east coast of main island Honshu, at a depth of about 20km.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.jma.go.jp/en/tsunami/">Japan Meteorological Agency</a> reported it to be 8.8 on the Richter scale, which makes it the most intense earthquake ever recorded in Japan.<br /><br />In addition, the northeastern coast of Honshu was hit by <a href="http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110311x4.html">tsunamis as high as 10m</a>. Boats, cars and even houses were swept away in the flood caused by a series of tsunamis. The worst hit areas appear to be in the region around the city of Sendai in Miyagi Prefecture.<br /><br />Earlier today I watched some of the live TV coverage of the earthquake on NHK World; for those of you without cable TV, here are a couple of videos:<br /><br /><font size="4">Severe Tremors at NHK Sendai Newsroom (from NHK World)</font><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" height="365" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/J17cVVXoJfM" frameborder="0" width="600"></iframe><br /><br /><font size="4">CCTV Footage of Tsunami Wave at Sendai Airport (from Russia Today)</font><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" height="487" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-DSSssHxm4Y" frameborder="0" width="600"></iframe><br /><br />I think this footage of the wave front sweeping into the airport - almost at a walking pace but gradually covering the entire tarmac - is especially chilling.<br /><br />It is disturbing to see how unstoppable and how much damage the visually unspectacular flood flow was causing, if you compare these scenes to the hyped-up special effects in Hollywood disaster movies.<br /><br />Videos taken by the NHK helicopter also show the wave front moving gradually and relentlessly, engulfing everything in its path. As it moved inland over farmlands and residential areas, the wave front picked up so much mud and debris that it became dark in colour and had a chunky appearance.<br /><br />Live video from the air also helped to convey the huge scale of the tsunami waves as they approached the coast. The photo below is a screen capture from NHK video that shows several such waves, each of them hundreds of metres long, about to reach the coast of Sendai (treeline at the lower left):<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Kin7ZdUtA3XtJR3sJgEWtjw-q5ANALgH5f4fEUmMnAd1CqvcpQEgR5TWb2lNjEeQL2k3Wrg83lp_GgmfOPNfc_lw7QDwf_ihApyQ8OfZSus2YZswG901utRrRk8m3_z9Lsfd6w/s1600/Sendai+Tsunami.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582810044266294674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Kin7ZdUtA3XtJR3sJgEWtjw-q5ANALgH5f4fEUmMnAd1CqvcpQEgR5TWb2lNjEeQL2k3Wrg83lp_GgmfOPNfc_lw7QDwf_ihApyQ8OfZSus2YZswG901utRrRk8m3_z9Lsfd6w/s800/Sendai+Tsunami.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Based on latest reports, at least 300 people are dead.<br /><br />Please click <a href="http://earthquake-report.com/2011/03/11/massive-aftershock-brings-a-destructive-tsunami-in-japan-part-2/">here</a> for a compilation of the latest reports on casualties and damage.<br /><br /><br />Would you like to know more?<br /><br />Latest warnings:<br />- <a href="http://www.jma.go.jp/en/tsunami/">Japan Meteorological Agency: Tsunami Warnings/Advisories</a><br /><br />Latest news:<br />- <a href="http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/index.html">NHK World English</a><br />- <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698">LIVE: Japan earthquake (BBC News)</a><br /><br />Latest casualty and damage reports:<br />- <a href="http://earthquake-report.com/2011/03/11/massive-aftershock-brings-a-destructive-tsunami-in-japan-part-2/">Massive earthquake brings a destructive tsunami in Japan (Earthquake-Report)</a>The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-81394332893070205982011-01-07T21:50:00.011+08:002011-01-08T01:51:11.285+08:00How To Avoid The Featured Video On YouTube<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 87px; FLOAT: left;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5126211062813625410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZsZIsEJVmqte0KZM6iQswaQQMUHrawwbAuL49GZvjth9ZNkcjQbIy9OyveIWx_WR7PsaPJl2pN5GieMuiSuJ43Ra-zVAt9iSS4_8I_GWnuszPa7sw7fsof5xOqM2xr3R2ZZHCdQ/s400/Nick.JPG" />For quite a while now, the YouTube.com main page has been showing a "Featured Video" section on the top right part of the page.<br /><br />This feature appears every time you visit YouTube.com, whether you are logged in or not, and often displays videos that are completely irrelevant to your interests.<br /><br />Unfortunately, it cannot be removed like the customizable modules on the left side of the page. It also cannot be minimized or even shifted downwards.<br /><br />Apparently there are many YouTube users who dislike this "Featured Video" section on their YouTube homepage.<br /><br />If you google "how to remove featured videos on youtube", you'll get a whopping <span style="font-size:130%;">777,000,000</span> results!<br /><br />Just to get an idea of why some users are unhappy, here are some of their <a href="http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/youtube/thread?tid=64e9a6deb9a96a1d&hl=en">comments on the YouTube help forum</a>:<br /><br /><br /><em>"I agree completely. I used to love watching featured videos when they were good, but now, all they feature now is stupid makeup and gossip videos I don't even want to see"<br /><br />"I know , i hate those Featured Videos , they got nothing interesting on it, not only that, i have blocked some of the users on my account and still they keep showing up on the feature list, i don't want to see them at all, i don't like their videos , i don't want to know about them , and i wish i could remove them from my list forever and never see them again. but they keep showing up. Youtube pls ."<br /><br />"I hate the featured videos. But what I hate more is the fact that youtube does not give us the option of disabling them. Who cares if they pay to have them on there? Some of these featured videos are just garbage that equate to visual polution. Let us turn it off!!! Well I guess there's always Vimeo; hmmm, maybe I'll give them a try."</em><br /><br /><br />As mentioned by some other commenters, one method of preventing the Featured Video from appearing is to use the Mozilla Firefox browser and install ad blocker addons.<br /><br />However, there is a simpler method to avoid seeing Featured Videos - by avoiding the YouTube.com page altogether!<br /><br />Here at Fresh Brainz we have worked out how to do this:<br /><br /><br />First, you'll need to delete the "http://youtube.com/" autocomplete entry from your Web browser.<br /><br />Eg. For IE8, just type "youtube" in the address bar and a dropdown box will appear below with the "http://youtube.com/" suggestion. Use arrow keys to highlight this line and press delete (or click the red "X") to remove the entry.<br /><br />Next...<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">1. If you have a YouTube account</span><br /><br />Enter "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/my_subscriptions">http://www.youtube.com/my_subscriptions</a>" in the address bar.<br /><br />If you are logged in to your YouTube account, you will reach your Subscriptions page, which is full of videos that you like.<br /><br />If you are not yet logged in, you will get a login page to key in your username and password, before you get directed to your Subscriptions page.<br /><br />Either way, you will not encounter any Featured Videos.<br /><br />Once you are in your Subscriptions page, you can use the top search bar to navigate throughout YouTube.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">"</span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/my_subscriptions"><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.youtube.com/my_subscriptions</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">" is now your new YouTube homepage.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">2. If you don't have a YouTube account</span><br /><br />Enter "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=">http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=</a>" in the address bar.<br /><br />You will reach an empty search page that says "No video results for “”".<br /><br />There are no videos on this page and certainly no Featured Videos.<br /><br />Just use the top search bar to navigate throughout YouTube.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">"</span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query="><span style="font-size:130%;">http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">" is now your new YouTube homepage.</span><br /><br />Of course, this method also works if you have a YouTube account.<br /><br /><br />Easy, isn't it?The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-23613442465029584122010-12-30T13:33:00.011+08:002010-12-30T15:24:00.998+08:00林湘萍 (Yvonne Lim) vs 陈邦鋆 (Andie Chen)<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 102px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 74px" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79-v0LBErDD1LT5V2WlonxUSzDlHUPDV-wHsFyts2eLJ5FU7HTitJ2C0pRg_ioMyoPZMnFAgKRC91pfjUak3UeT-7qYctUSPqngUS7yIcKJOyg4tY-yvu3alJL5107jU_nZwpLw/s400/Fran.jpg" height="86" />I can't be the first person on the planet to have noticed this...<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3O4nMCKmuA_aYKiB0e3pcFBk_Snux8NtRvx21IxNQkHGfkF6QuO_2hMmuM9-6YCeO0mcMdc2K_xKDnxY-NCUo1hz9xLnyw1-Y-KnhtaYRQoBOgsCqSn1Fcg2nYe9znqemvtinfg/s1600/Comparison+01.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556345759900552290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3O4nMCKmuA_aYKiB0e3pcFBk_Snux8NtRvx21IxNQkHGfkF6QuO_2hMmuM9-6YCeO0mcMdc2K_xKDnxY-NCUo1hz9xLnyw1-Y-KnhtaYRQoBOgsCqSn1Fcg2nYe9znqemvtinfg/s800/Comparison+01.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The resemblance is uncanny.<br /><br />That. Same. Smile.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyM6fUCPxHAGGVhW-L4bPhnQ3RrWw2HwzXtgmwWdrKiNpLJFomEY5-ZMcaUROHiP6OK5NOeh0SSajX08hJXVsNR-IrTeszZhDXT6HKUIgOuUjc45NNx_mu3uHKBgM78LeGo__u3A/s1600/Comparison+02.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556346352604618914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyM6fUCPxHAGGVhW-L4bPhnQ3RrWw2HwzXtgmwWdrKiNpLJFomEY5-ZMcaUROHiP6OK5NOeh0SSajX08hJXVsNR-IrTeszZhDXT6HKUIgOuUjc45NNx_mu3uHKBgM78LeGo__u3A/s800/Comparison+02.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />From the side, there are some differences.<br /><br />Andie clearly has a more angular jaw and broader chin, but MAN... the positions of the eyebrows, eyes, nose and mouth are spot on.<br /><br />Did I mention that Yvonne Lim was a Star Search '97 finalist while Andie Chen was the '07 winner?<br /><br />Or that both of them are Poly grads (albeit Yvonne was in SP while Andie was in NP)?<br /><br />Oooh scary!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcg28ZBv-ykWCq0p0_ZkDqRdt7nFyPKRc0G0NlZeodC-qZ8sW9dgsGFYXOrrtaHitmd_RN19QOjlftbkzhNyE2NiOcfUnIEgf4tJO68pFK6ubg8HBRbcqX1zT3A3m4FS-GZAjmw/s1600/Comparison+03.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556349824041543970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKcg28ZBv-ykWCq0p0_ZkDqRdt7nFyPKRc0G0NlZeodC-qZ8sW9dgsGFYXOrrtaHitmd_RN19QOjlftbkzhNyE2NiOcfUnIEgf4tJO68pFK6ubg8HBRbcqX1zT3A3m4FS-GZAjmw/s800/Comparison+03.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It's the exact same smile I tell you... the way the smile line extends straight below the edges of the mouth.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qPkGa7X6BCyWLLv-RDmd6UvqRwFMhFqk6ax8JlNngSGW0wTNIwWBFcg6_6ZDyOhyJZioz7_AqL7kgtfnwkQTe9w41wQhkRm2kehxHbyCxD8aapA3aKr3N3S-TKOdELiZRYxedA/s1600/Comparison+04.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556354791909816978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qPkGa7X6BCyWLLv-RDmd6UvqRwFMhFqk6ax8JlNngSGW0wTNIwWBFcg6_6ZDyOhyJZioz7_AqL7kgtfnwkQTe9w41wQhkRm2kehxHbyCxD8aapA3aKr3N3S-TKOdELiZRYxedA/s800/Comparison+04.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />As you can see, other facial features are pretty similar too.<br /><br />I guess it doesn't help my case to point out that at 1.83 m tall, Andie is a towering 21 cm taller than Yvonne.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2y4gVmBrtUR7G5itYyUxV-sN7FDutJt9AGGr68sxREfLoqiqLShfnhBG0uEv_nYK35IXgh7OI9VQc_G4QRFjV_EpaHGe5l6ePPl-bSMM_8H_3MrqiOYcODGV78CUcupCninESA/s1600/Carrie+and+Harrison.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; FLOAT: left; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556365082672713938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2y4gVmBrtUR7G5itYyUxV-sN7FDutJt9AGGr68sxREfLoqiqLShfnhBG0uEv_nYK35IXgh7OI9VQc_G4QRFjV_EpaHGe5l6ePPl-bSMM_8H_3MrqiOYcODGV78CUcupCninESA/s400/Carrie+and+Harrison.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Though you don't have to be Jedi Twins to have the same smile.<br /><br /><br />Would you like to know more?<br /><br />- <a href="http://alive.tom.com/andiechen/Fighting-Spiders-Season-2-12-8-10-profile-1027155.html">Andie Chen's photos</a>The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-17641583595824866172010-12-18T23:09:00.016+08:002010-12-19T11:22:59.289+08:00Science Reporting By The Straits Times<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 76px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 103px" border="0" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6060/3780/320/BrainyBrad.jpg" height="210" />Just read a science article in the Straits Times entitled "Brain Illness Leaves Woman Fearless." (ST 18 Dec 2010 Page C14)<br /><br />The research study that is featured in the article (diminished fear experience of a woman with a genetic condition of the amygdala) is quite interesting, but what is even more interesting is how the Straits Times presented the news.<br /><br />Since the ST article was edited mainly from an <a href="http://news.asiaone.com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20101217-253208.html">original article by Agence France-Presse</a> (with some details from an <a href="http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/signup/Article_2010-12-16-Fearless%20Woman/id-35ccfb850e634dcd98114ffb017c7cf0">Associated Press report</a> added in), it is informative to compare the ST and AFP versions to see the differences.<br /><br />Words that are different or missing in either version are highlighted in <span style="color:#cc0000;">RED (additional source marked with asterix)</span>.<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">ST Version</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Brain illness leaves woman fearless</span><br /><br />WASHINGTON - United States scientists have discovered a woman with a rare brain disease that makes her afraid of nothing - not a huge snake lurking near her children, not a knife to her throat, and certainly not a horror movie.<br /><br />The <span style="color:#cc0000;">44-year-old*</span> woman cannot experience fear because of a condition that has destroyed the part of her brain - the amygdala - where researchers believe the feeling of fear is made.<br /><br />Over the past two decades researchers have been analysing the woman, known as SM, for clues about her condition which they say could help them treat post-traumatic stress disorder, particularly in soldiers returning from war.<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">A study of her fearlessness was published online on Thursday in the journal Current Biology by University of Iowa researcher Justin Feinstein and colleagues.*<br /></span><br />"It is quite remarkable that she is still alive," said <span style="color:#cc0000;">Mr Feinstein</span>. "The nature of fear is survival and the amygdala helps us stay alive by avoiding situations, people, or objects that put our life in danger," he said.<br /><br />Instead of fear, SM, whose rare condition is known as Urbach-Wiethe disease, describes "an overwhelming feeling of curiosity."<br /><br />The woman's eldest son, who is in his 20s, told researchers he could not ever recall seeing his mother afraid.<br /><br />He said he remembered one event in particular from his childhood when he was playing with his two brothers and they saw a big snake in the road nearby.<br /><br />"Well, <span style="color:#cc0000;">mum</span> just ran over there and picked it up and brought it out of the street, put it in the grass and let it go on its way," he said.<br /><br />The woman also told researchers that when she was in her 30s, a man grabbed her and stuck a knife to her throat.<br /><br />"She looked at the man and confidently replied, 'If you're going to kill me, you're gonna have to go through my God's angels first.' The man suddenly let her go," said the study, adding the woman then described walking calmly home.<br /><br />Other experiments devised by the researchers - leading her through a haunted house where people dressed as monsters and ghosts sprung from the darkness, and showing her a series of scary video clips - fell flat too.<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">She considered the haunted house to be "highly exciting and entertaining", like the rush she gets from a roller coaster, Mr Feinstein said.*<br /></span><br />Scientists believe she was once able to feel fear because she has described <span style="color:#cc0000;">childhood memories of being afraid of the dark, and being once frightened by a dog</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">Mr</span> Feinstein said he hopes that SM's experience could help treat people with post-traumatic stress disorder, a problem he has seen in his work treating US soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.<br /><br />"Their lives are marred by fear, often times unable to even leave their home due to the ever-present feeling of danger," he said.<br /><br />"By understanding how the brain processes fear, we may one day be able to create treatments that selectively target the brain areas that allow fear to take over our lives."<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">*From AP report<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="http://news.asiaone.com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20101217-253208.html">AFP Version</a> </span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><br />Woman who knows no fear could offer brain clues<br /></span><br />WASHINGTON - US scientists have discovered a woman with a rare brain disease that makes her afraid of nothing - not a huge snake lurking near her children, not a knife to her throat, and certainly not a horror movie.<br /><br />The woman cannot experience fear because of a condition that has destroyed the part of her brain - the amygdala - where researchers <span style="color:#cc0000;">say they</span> believe the feeling of fear is made.<br /><br />Over the past two decades researchers have been analysing the woman, known as SM, for clues about her condition which they say could help them treat post-traumatic stress disorder, particularly in soldiers returning from war.<br /><br />"It is quite remarkable that she is still alive," said <span style="color:#cc0000;">lead author Justin Feinstein whose study appears in the journal Current Biology.</span><br /><br />"The nature of fear is survival and the amygdala helps us stay alive by avoiding situations, people, or objects that put our life in danger," he said.<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">"Because SM is missing her amygdala, she is also missing the ability to detect and avoid danger in the world."<br /><br /></span>Instead of fear, SM, whose rare condition is known as Urbach-Wiethe disease, describes "an overwhelming feeling of curiosity."<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">To test her reaction, researchers led her into an exotic pet store filled with spiders and snakes, animals she repeatedly said she "hates" and tries to avoid.<br /><br />"Upon entering the store, SM was spontaneously drawn to the snake terrariums and appeared visually captivated by the large collection of snakes," the study said.<br /><br />Asked by a store employee if she would like to hold one, SM agreed and then played with one for about three minutes.<br /><br />"She rubbed its leathery scales, touched its flicking tongue, and closely watched its movements as it slithered through her hands," it said.<br /><br />"Her verbal behavior revealed a comparable degree of fascination and inquisitiveness: she repeatedly commented, 'This is so cool!'"<br /><br />When she reached for a tarantula, however, she had to be stopped because there was a high risk she could be bitten.<br /><br />"When asked why she would want to touch something that she knows is dangerous and that she claims to hate, SM replied that she was overcome with 'curiosity,'" the study said.<br /><br /></span>The woman's eldest son, who is in his 20s, told researchers he could not ever recall seeing his mother afraid <span style="color:#cc0000;">of anything</span>.<br /><br />He said he remembered one event in particular from his childhood when he was playing with his two brothers and they saw a big snake in the road nearby.<br /><br />"Well, <span style="color:#cc0000;">Mom</span> just ran over there and picked it up and brought it out of the street, put it in the grass and let it go on its way," he said.<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">"I thought that was kind of weird."<br /></span><br />The woman also told researchers that when she was in her 30s, a man grabbed her and stuck a knife to her throat.<br /><br />"She looked at the man and confidently replied, 'If you're going to kill me, you're gonna have to go through my God's angels first.' The man suddenly let her go," said the study, adding the woman then described walking calmly home.<br /><br />Other experiments devised by the researchers - leading her through a haunted house where people dressed as monsters and ghosts sprung from the darkness, and showing her a series of scary video clips - fell flat too.<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">"She reacted to the monsters by smiling, laughing, or trying to talk to them," the study said.<br /><br />"She found the fear films to be exciting and entertaining, and in one case, she inquired about the name of the movie so she could rent it from the video store later that day."<br /><br /></span>Scientists believe she was once able to feel fear because she has described<span style="color:#cc0000;"> a childhood memory of being afraid of a dog</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">They also note that "SM has never been convicted of any crime, but rather has been the victim of numerous crimes."<br /></span><br />Feinstein said he hopes that SM's experience could help treat people with post-traumatic stress disorder, a problem he has seen in his work treating US soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.<br /><br />"Their lives are marred by fear, often times unable to even leave their home due to the ever-present feeling of danger," he said.<br /><br />"By understanding how the brain processes fear, we may one day be able to create treatments that selectively target the brain areas that allow fear to take over our lives."<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">Feinstein said science should look for PTSD treatments that "focus on ways to safely and non-invasively dampen amygdala activity," mainly through medication and psychotherapy.</span><br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />A significant portion of the original AFP article is omitted from the ST version.<br /><br />Interestingly, the missing parts are mostly related to the downside of having practically no fear, such as the inability to detect and avoid danger, fascination with potentially dangerous animals, becoming a victim of crimes etc.<br /><br />A quick survey of other new reports indicates that this danger of lacking fear is actually an important message from the researchers - here are some excerpts:<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">1. </span><a href="http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/signup/Article_2010-12-16-Fearless%20Woman/id-35ccfb850e634dcd98114ffb017c7cf0"><span style="font-size:180%;">Associated Press</span></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /><br /></span>a) Her case shows that the amygdala plays a key role in making people feel afraid in threatening situations, researchers say.<br /><br />Her life history also shows that living without fear can be dangerous, they said.<br /><br />b) She apparently hasn't felt fear as an adult, not even 15 years ago in an incident described by the researchers. A man jumped up from a park bench, pressed a knife to her throat and hissed, "I'm going to cut you."<br /><br />SM, who heard a church choir practicing in the distance, looked coolly at him and replied, "If you're going to kill me, you're going to have to go through my God's angels first."<br /><br />The man suddenly let her go. She didn't run home. She walked.<br /><br />"Her lack of fear may have freaked the guy out," Feinstein said.<br /><br />But it also got her into that situation in the first place, he noted. SM had willingly approached the man when he asked her to, even though it was late at night and she was alone, and even though she thought he looked "drugged out."<br /><br />SM has also walked into other dangerous situations because of her lack of fear, and all in all, it's remarkable she's still alive, Feinstein said.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">2. </span><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/woman-iowa-damaged-amygdala-shows-fear/story?id=12404875&page=1"><span style="font-size:180%;">ABC News</span></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span><br />a) S.M. also had exposure to fearful situations in her past. She was held up at gunpoint and at knifepoint and was almost killed during a domestic incident. S.M. told researchers she did not feel fear during these life-threatening situations. She was also aware that her inability to react to fearful stimuli was not normal.<br /><br />b) S.M.'s case is also important to understand because the ability to experience fear and respond to it is essential to survival. The researchers believe that because she could not detect threats to her safety and avoid them, she wound up in numerous life-threatening situations.<br /><br />"Indeed, it appears that without the amygdala, the evolutionary value of fear is lost," the authors wrote.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">3. </span><a href="http://healthland.time.com/2010/12/16/where-does-fear-come-from-hint-its-not-the-creepy-basement/"><span style="font-size:180%;">Time.com (Healthland)</span></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span><br />a) The authors note that SM's response to what would normally be considered fear-inducing situations was not characterized simply by a lack of responsiveness, but rather a heightened arousal and interest. In other words, she practically courted danger.<br /><br />b) The researchers stress that SM's condition is more a curse than a blessing: "[SM's] behavior, time and time again, leads her back to the very situations she should be avoiding, highlighting the indispensable role that the amygdala plays in promoting survival by compelling the organism away from danger. Indeed, it appears that without the amygdala, the evolutionary value of fear is lost."<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">4. <a href="http://news.discovery.com/human/fear-fearless-brain-emotion.html">Discovery News</a><br /></span><br />a) That wasn't the only occasion that SM, who was living in the projects in a seedy part of town, got herself into a precarious situation. There was the time, for example, that a man approached her from behind, put a gun to her head, yelled "Boom!" and then ran away. She figured her attacker was a drug dealer whom she had repeatedly turned in to the police, but she didn't consider calling the cops after the incident.<br /><br />"She described the situation as strange," Feinstein said. "She's not reacting in normal ways that anyone who had fear would."<br /><br />b) "We don't suggest by any means to remove this area of the brain," Feinstein said. "We don't want a million SM's walking around getting in trouble. This one case highlights why we do need an amygdala."<br /><br />Instead, it's possible that drugs or behavioral methods could quiet the amygdala just enough to free people whose lives have been taken over by fear.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">5. </span><a href="http://scienceblogs.com/neurophilosophy/2010/12/the_woman_who_knows_no_fear.php"><span style="font-size:180%;">Scienceblogs.com (Neurophilosophy)</span></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span><br />a) SM has been studied extensively during the past two decades. Early investigations showed that her non-verbal visual memory was signficantly impaired but that otherwise she had an IQ in the low-average range. She also displayed inappropriate social behaviours, quickly becoming friendly with the experimenters and making sexual remarks, due to disturbed executive control. Subsequently, it was found that she was unable to recognize emotions in facial expressions, and a study published earlier this year showed that the brain damage had eliminated her monetary loss aversion - that is, she makes risky financial decisions that most of us would avoid because of a fear of losing money.<br /><br />b) But based on interviews with her and her three children, the authors suggest that she probably has not experienced fear at all throughout the whole duration of her adult life, despite having encountered an unusually high number of traumatic and life-threatening events. Aged 30, she had a knife held to her throat by a drug addict while she walked through a park at night, but did not panic and walked away calmly when he let her go. She has also been held at gun point, was nearly killed in an act of domestic violence, and has been the victim of numerous crimes in the poverty-stricken area in which she lives.<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />From these excerpts, it can be seen that all the above news articles - except for the Straits Times version - emphasize the researchers' point about the dangers of lacking fear.<br /><br /><br />Would you like to know more?<br /><br />- <a href="http://www.cell.com/current-biology/abstract/S0960-9822(10)01508-3?switch=standard">The Human Amygdala and the Induction and Experience of Fear (Feinstein <em>et al.</em> 2010) <em>Current Biology</em></a>The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-2945633756303403132010-11-23T20:48:00.007+08:002010-11-24T10:49:52.012+08:00Right Round Round Round<img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 76px; HEIGHT: 103px" height="210" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6060/3780/320/BrainyBrad.jpg" border="0" />Enjoy unsolved mysteries?<br /><br />Here's one for you: why do people travel in circles when they can't see a fixed landmark?<br /><br /><br /><embed src="http://www.npr.org/v2/?i=131050832&m=131389645&t=video" height="386" wmode="opaque" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" width="400" base="http://www.npr.org"></embed><br /><br />Apparently, difference in limb lengths doesn't explain this behaviour (eg. driving the car) so this remains an unsolved question.<br /><br />I wonder if you'll see the same circling movement if you make the blindfolded person lie down on a skateboard, so as to position the inner ear balance organs 90 degrees to the usual orientation.<br /><br />Or if there is still circling if you give the subject a fixed <em>auditory</em> landmark, like a tall loudspeaker.<br /><br />Via <a href="http://mindhacks.com/2010/11/23/walk-this-sway/">Mind Hacks</a>.<br /><br /><br />Would you like to know more?<br /><br />- <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2010/11/03/131050832/a-mystery-why-can-t-we-walk-straight">A Mystery: Why Can't We Walk Straight?</a> (npr.org)The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-44110381007821165812010-11-02T11:46:00.005+08:002010-12-24T09:46:30.160+08:00Beware Of Geeks Bearing Fembots<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 102px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 74px" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79-v0LBErDD1LT5V2WlonxUSzDlHUPDV-wHsFyts2eLJ5FU7HTitJ2C0pRg_ioMyoPZMnFAgKRC91pfjUak3UeT-7qYctUSPqngUS7yIcKJOyg4tY-yvu3alJL5107jU_nZwpLw/s400/Fran.jpg" height="86" />Latest development by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroshi_Ishiguro">Hiroshi Ishiguro's</a> group: the Actroid-F.<br /><br />Now attempting to bridge the uncanny valley with fast facial expressions!<br /><br /><embed height="385" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/27qJIcvpQsk?fs=" hl="en_GB" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed><br /><br />The multiple eye blink demonstration from <span style="font-size:130%;">1:26 - 1:33</span> is very impressive. To me, one major reason why androids today look so stiff is due to the sluggishness of the actuators.<br /><br />People don't slowly move their heads and facial muscles into position; they sort of "snap" into it.<br /><br />In that respect, the current Actroid-F appears to have the fastest motor response of any android so far. Older videos of the Actroid-F in April still show the slow eye blink and head movement, so something must have been enhanced since then, be it faster motors and/or software.<br /><br />Also, I think there is one point in this video where the Actroid briefly slips across the uncanny valley.<br /><br />It's at <span style="font-size:130%;">1:46</span>, when after repeating a series of mechanical-looking mouth movements, the Actroid suddenly shifts attention to the left in a snappy, human sort of way.<br /><br />In that instant, the robot seemed to be alive.<br /><br />Looking at the progress so far, this is merely a little taste of what is to come.<br /><br /><br />Would you like to know more?<br /><br />- <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJRH_9b7ZXk">ACTROID-F: Android robot that coexists with human (AIST Channel)</a>The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-72040447874754266422010-10-29T11:14:00.004+08:002010-11-02T12:34:45.875+08:00Pick Your Brain For Some Loose Change... And Your Watch<img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 76px; HEIGHT: 103px" height="210" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6060/3780/320/BrainyBrad.jpg" border="0" />Here's an intriguing <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/video.cfm?lineup=1406165298&id=652064535001">Scientific American video</a> that uses street magic to help illustrate some concepts in neuroscience.<br /><br />Or is it using neuroscience to help illustrate some concepts in street magic?<br /><br /><embed name="flashObj" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=" src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/1399191810" width="510" height="550" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="videoId=652064535001&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scientificamerican.com%2Fvideo.cfm%3Fid%3D652064535001&playerId=1399191810&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://console.brightcove.com/services/amfgateway&servicesURL=http://services.brightcove.com/services&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&domain=embed&autoStart=false&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" seamlesstabbing="false" swliveconnect="true"></embed><br /><br />Not surprisingly the street magician steals the show, after all, it's his job to capture your attention by being in your face, enthusiastic and funny.<br /><br />Whereas the scientists appear standoffish and matter-of-fact.<br /><br />This distinct contrast tells us that there's some showmanship going on here, and obviously it's the magician who's doing it.<br /><br />Or is it?<br /><br />via <a href="http://mindhacks.com/2010/10/28/a-misdirection-of-mind/">Mind Hacks</a>The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-89135927491897585402010-10-20T11:23:00.010+08:002010-12-24T09:43:33.358+08:00Next Up, World Domination. But First, Here's A Song For You!<img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 102px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 74px" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79-v0LBErDD1LT5V2WlonxUSzDlHUPDV-wHsFyts2eLJ5FU7HTitJ2C0pRg_ioMyoPZMnFAgKRC91pfjUak3UeT-7qYctUSPqngUS7yIcKJOyg4tY-yvu3alJL5107jU_nZwpLw/s400/Fran.jpg" height="86" />You know them pop stars - celebrities who don't play instruments, can't sing and can't really dance either.<br /><br />Behold the next step in prepackaged, manufactured entertainment...<br /><br /><embed height="362" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xcZJqiUrbnI?fs=" hl="en_GB" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed><br /><br />Whoa, that's almost... adorable.<br /><br />As YouTubber <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/anharmyenone">anharmyenone</a> grimly observed: "Skynet is a Japanese idol singer."<br /><br />Verily I say, beware of Those with the half-bent knees and awkward head-shake.<br /><br />Heh.<br /><br />via <a href="http://www.tokyomango.com/tokyo_mango/2010/10/robot-sings-j-pop-song-with-human-backup-dancers.html">Tokyo Mango</a><br /><br />Update 24 Dec 2010: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JOzuTUCq6s">Video</a> with clearer (less buzzy) sound quality and some close-ups of the robot - from AIST Channel.<br /><br /><br />Would you like to know more?<br /><br />- The star: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpO57NltoAI">HRP-4C Gynoid</a><br />- The synthesized singing: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBZOlipfjkQ">Vocaloid Hatsune Miku</a><br />- The song: "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJDAB1NerkQ">出逢った頃のように</a>" by EveryLittleThingThe Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-33102399326020093662010-07-25T19:47:00.003+08:002010-07-25T20:46:07.777+08:00Later!<img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 102px; HEIGHT: 74px" height="86" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi79-v0LBErDD1LT5V2WlonxUSzDlHUPDV-wHsFyts2eLJ5FU7HTitJ2C0pRg_ioMyoPZMnFAgKRC91pfjUak3UeT-7qYctUSPqngUS7yIcKJOyg4tY-yvu3alJL5107jU_nZwpLw/s400/Fran.jpg" border="0" />Wow, it's been months since my last post! Currently I don't have the need to blog any more, and I'm often travelling regionally, so unlikely to have regular updates.<br /><br />For the long time readers of Fresh Brainz, many thanks for your support in the past four years! Cheers and so long!The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-35430261095848798942010-05-19T13:10:00.004+08:002010-05-19T14:19:34.191+08:00Many Or Most?<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075058923241048546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMhQ_uzfiutSFnxkQ8jqDOJqMtTChjzMOm7Jj-B0f9st2eGyPqaVz0DS5Ad99OvnN5I39y8gQZeCrvXTkprZz9ra2aGwbQ9IhSyW4Tp6j5rt_w19oWmRwfk02N-bVcW69SKXvZw/s320/Hot+button.JPG" border="0" />In Singapore, the mainstream media has often been criticized by our online community for biased, pro-ruling party reporting.<br /><br />However, I think that even the mainstream media itself is not entirely homogeneous.<br /><br />Compare these two news articles, both reporting on the response of Mr. S. Iswaran (Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry) in Parliament to questions about the Integrated Resorts.<br /><br />Click on the headlines for the full articles:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">1.</span> <a href="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1057444/1/.html"><span style="font-size:130%;">No compromise to concept of IRs, with small portion for gambling</span></a> (Channel NewsAsia 18 May 2010)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">2.</span> <a href="http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC100519-0000067/Too-early-to-judge-success-of-IRs--Iswaran"><span style="font-size:130%;">Too early to judge success of IRs: Iswaran</span></a> (TODAYonline 19 May 2010)<br /><br />Here are excerpts from both reports to highlight a small but crucial difference between them:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">1. </span>Channel NewsAsia - <em>He also addressed concerns from opposition MP Low Thia Khiang that <span style="font-size:130%;">many</span> Singaporeans were hitting the casinos. He felt there is a novelty factor at play, but pledged that agencies are monitoring the trends closely.<br /><br />Hougang MP Low Thia Khiang said: "There are reports that <span style="font-size:130%;">most</span> visitors to the casinos are actually Singaporeans, is that a concern of the government?"<br /><br />Mr Iswaran replied: "Obviously we want to ensure that Singaporeans who choose to go to the casinos give due thought to that before they go in and not do it on an impulse — which is why we have a whole slew of measures that have been put in place.<br /><br />"It would be fair to say that there is a novelty factor in place, and to say that whatever we see at play in terms of numbers, in terms of performance in the first few weeks and months is an accurate predictor of what will be happening 12 months, 24 months down the road, I think may be stretching the argument a little bit."<br /><br />"I think what I can assure the member is that the agencies are monitoring the situation closely and I think once we have a better sense of the patterns and trends, then I think we will better know how the measures we have put in place are working."</em><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">2. </span>TODAYonline - <em>Opposition MP (Hougang) Low Thia Khiang asked if the Government was concerned that <span style="font-size:130%;">many</span> of the casinos' patrons so far seem to be Singaporeans.<br /><br />To this, Mr Iswaran replied that the "novelty factor" was at play and may not accurately reflect the situation one or two years down the road.<br /><br />"The agencies are monitoring the situation closely, and once we have a better sense of the patterns and trends, then I think we'll know how the measures (against problem gambling) we've put in place are working," he said.</em><br /><br />If the Channel NewsAsia's direct quote is accurate, then Mr. Low actually asked if the government was concerned that MOST casino visitors appear to be Singaporeans.<br /><br />He didn't ask if the government was concerned that MANY casino patrons appear to be Singaporeans, which is how TODAYonline paraphrased it.<br /><br />MOST is not the same as MANY.<br /><br />There is a difference because MANY refers to raw numbers whereas MOST refers to a proportion.<br /><br />Over time, any foreign-owned casino that opens its door to native citizens will have MANY native visitors.<br /><br />But if the casino was planned to be a tool for boosting tourism, then MOST of its visitors should be foreigners, not natives!<br /><br />Otherwise it would have become yet another shiny new avenue for citizens to transfer their money to foreign corporations.<br /><br />Interestingly, Mr. Iswaran did not dispute Mr. Low's observation; instead, he talked about the novelty factor and the need for more time to determine the trends, which seems to be a tacit acknowledgement of the current situation - if you read the Channel NewsAsia version, that is.<br /><br />In contrast, that insight cannot be obtained from the TODAYonline version.<br /><br />For any piece of news, I think it's a good idea to read a number of sources to get a better picture of what is going on.The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-32478793743666024592010-05-17T13:34:00.005+08:002010-05-17T15:40:22.218+08:00Gong Fu, Noh, And A Magical Robot Unicorn<img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 73px; HEIGHT: 88px" height="88" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6060/3780/320/Mystery.gif" width="77" border="0" />During the 1990s, the 80's must have seemed like the gayest decade in human history, with its big shiny clothes and big multicoloured hair.<br /><br />Little did we realize that the 90's turned out to be even gayer than the 80's.<br /><br />Ladies and gentleman, may I present to you the <span style="font-size:130%;">Year 1994</span>:<br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/eSMeUPFjQHc&hl=" width="480" height="385" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" fs="1&" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed><br /><br />And with the advent of free flash games, kids today are rediscovering the gayness of the 1990's all over again, one high score at a time...<br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OdPXskJBFl4&hl=" width="480" height="385" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" fs="1&" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed><br /><br />Would you like to know more?<br /><br />- <a href="http://www.cwu.edu/~robinsos/ppages/resources/Costume_History/findesiecle.htm">The Gay '90's</a><br /><br />- <a href="http://games.adultswim.com/robot-unicorn-attack-twitchy-online-game.html">Robot Unicorn Attack flash game by [adult swim]</a><br /><br />- <a href="http://games.adultswim.com/robot-unicorn-attack-twitchy-online-game.html">I want to be a magical rainbow unicorn, chasing neon butterflies and flying dolphins through a purple marshmellowly land! OH YES!</a><br /><br />- <a href="http://games.adultswim.com/robot-unicorn-attack-twitchy-online-game.html">I am secure with my masculinity.</a>The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-63218408413127548782010-04-23T01:19:00.004+08:002010-04-23T09:50:16.475+08:00Can Science Answer Moral Questions?<img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 76px; HEIGHT: 103px" height="210" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/6060/3780/320/BrainyBrad.jpg" border="0" />Just watched an interesting TED talk by Sam Harris about how science can shed some light about questions of morality.<br /><br />I like many of Harris' talks, and as a structuralist I agree with the overall premise that questions of morality can be investigated scientifically.<br /><br />Thus I was looking forward to hearing his arguments; however, after listening to him I realized that I mainly disagreed with him instead!<br /><br />Here, check it out first:<br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Hj9oB4zpHww&hl=" width="640" height="385" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" fs="1&" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed><br /><br />Eloquently articulated, to be sure, but I have so many disagreements with his view that... wow, where do I even begin?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">1.</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">"Values are a certain kind of fact. They are facts about the well-being of conscious creatures."</span><br /><br />Firstly, I don't know which moral philosopher would agree with Harris' definition of "values", but dictionary.com defines "values" as "the ideals, customs, institutions, etc., of a society toward which the people of the group have an affective regard."<br /><br />In common language the term "values" has a very strong social component which is missing in Harris' definition - making "values" appear to be some kind of individual-level property.<br /><br />This is a very big problem. There is a difference between the moral sense/personal principles of individuals and the social values of groups.<br /><br />Harris makes it look as if social values can ultimately be reducible to neuroscience, which in my view is pitching it at the wrong organization level.<br /><br />Secondly, how would you measure "well-being" in the context of social values?<br /><br />There are many cultures that consider some amount of physical/psychological pain to be an important aspect of a person's development toward adulthood, or to be recognized as a legit member of society.<br /><br />Even if someone was able to create some kind of standardized "well-being" metric, how would you convince other people to agree with it?<br /><br />Take for example, our "civilized" culture in Singapore where children are subject to at least a decade of institutional education, usually longer.<br /><br />It is a system which regularly inflicts pain of varying degrees.<br /><br />Does anyone think that most teenagers <em>want</em> to be scolded by teachers/prefects, spend their holidays on homework/tuition, learn calculus/linear law, or train furiously/contort their bodies in order to get silver for their NAPFA test to avoid PTP during NS?<br /><br />So are all these activities immoral?<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">2.</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">"There are truths to be known about how human communities flourish - whether or not we understand these truths. And morality relates to these truths."</span><br /><br />During the talk, Harris constantly emphasized human "flourishing".<br /><br />Harris was trained as a biologist, as was I. From a biological perspective, the <em>survival</em> of a population can be easily measured - in terms of reproductive fitness, children per woman, population growth rates etc.<br /><br />But how would anyone agree on what "<em>flourishing</em>" means, let alone how to measure it?<br /><br />Take for example, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparta">Spartan civilization</a> in Ancient Greece.<br /><br />Spartan society was highly structured, militaristic and brutal - from the cradle to the grave.<br /><br />Small or deformed babies were left to die of exposure. Boys began military training at age seven - deliberately underfed to encourage them to learn the skill of stealing food.<br /><br />By eighteen they were trained to kill members of the Helot minority; at twenty they were eligible for military service and they would remain on duty until they were 60 years old.<br /><br />If a Spartan soldier lost his shield in battle and returned alive, it was assumed that he attempted to flee and thus was subject to punishment by death or banishment. Even mothers enforced the militaristic lifestyle that Spartan men endured!<br /><br />Yet, for such a cruel and warlike society, Sparta was well-admired during its day, considered by many people - even some of its rivals in Athens - to be an ideal state free from the corruption of commerce and money. Spartan women also enjoyed more rights and equality to men than elsewhere during that time period.<br /><br />In terms of survival as a group, Sparta managed to maintain its political independence for several centuries.<br /><br />So did the Spartans "flourish"?<br /><br />And how do we critique the morality of their societal practices scientifically?<br /><br />**********<br /><br />There are many, many other things that I disagree with, but it's late and I need to sleep.<br /><br />Suffice to say that I am amazed to see how reductionist Harris' view is, and how much he is attracted by the concept of a universal morality - eg. continuum along a single dimension, fixed peaks and valleys in his "moral landscape".<br /><br />I realize that the systems perspective is not immediately intuitive, and people, even science-trained people, like to see things along a simple spectrum of black and white, right and wrong.<br /><br />This spectrum, especially for social values, cannot exist because of confounding variables such as short-term vs long-term benefit, individual vs group benefit, stability vs flexibility etc - there are multidimensional trade-offs that preclude simple optimality.The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-12581121043457846882010-04-17T12:30:00.007+08:002010-04-17T13:57:20.570+08:00Ash By Any Other Name Would NOT Smell As Sulphurous<img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; alt: " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjNZFZXJ6RmTAcqit8B6C6FiJgsVhueSUeNuRAUSl3P6_-Da0nMykqXSEaJBJqDWV39tWTvYG3K5SOFvJ8YtBhG3hxX15T0zt3pG80Qj3PhsdX2zGRjh4D4Mm3HVjIXM7rsqPKg/s400/Sci+Sat.JPG" border="0" />The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyjafjallajokull">Eyjafjallajökull</a> in Iceland must surely count as one of the most unpronounceable volcano names in the world.<br /><br />Nonetheless, the effects of its latest eruption can be easily communicated.<br /><br />Check out this satellite photo by <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/iceland-volcano-plume.html">NASA</a>:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/iceland-volcano-plume.html"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460961339556273250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 311px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgun_2qcZd2Pyuszv7XT4XEYVLfGjRdyurqPgXUf9MaCDf0whTG2w5R6tN_-1wtpZf2JyOu-W5xY_S9ga8iJyNmvPBFxcxBSdInSQQN0rxOH0hBITND7cUqrHxc2irfzvdgPFg2Nw/s400/Iceland+volcanic+ash.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Iceland is outlined on the upper left of the photo, spewing what looks like atmospheric diarrhoea towards northern Europe on the lower right.<br /><br />Volcanic ash clouds gradually spread over Europe causing numerous cancelled airline flights in... SINGAPORE?!??<br /><br />That's right.<br /><br />About 6,000 travellers at the Changi Airport have been affected by flight disruptions in Europe, many of them stranded at the transit lounges due to insufficient hotel rooms.<br /><br />According to the Straits Times, about one in two travellers at Changi are transiting through Singapore to destinations in Europe or North America.<br /><br />Also in that news report - an affected traveller Mr. Ken Jones said: "I am resigned to what is happening. It is nobody's fault, I guess, but of course I am annoyed and frustrated."<br /><br />Understandably he is annoyed, but Mr. Jones may also add "relieved" to his mixture of emotions if he only knew what happens when a jet aeroplane flies through a plume of volcanic ash at 900 klicks an hour.<br /><br />On the 24th of June 1982, passengers and crew of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Airways_Flight_9">British Airways Flight 9</a> had the terrifying experience of just how <em>that</em> feels like:<br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cF09Mu9CoUA&hl=" width="480" height="385" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" fs="1&" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed><br /><br />Ah, the imprecision of the English language - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcanic_ash">volcanic "ash"</a> sounds harmless enough, but it is not the same sort of "ash" that you get from burning paper or cigarettes.<br /><br />Volcanic "ash" is actually made up of tiny, irregular pieces of <span style="font-size:130%;">rock</span> and <span style="font-size:130%;">glass</span>.<br /><br />Oh my.<br /><br /><br />Would you like to know more?<br /><br />More satellite photos of the Icelandic eruption:<br />- <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/iceland-volcano-plume.html">NASA Observes Ash Plume of Icelandic Volcano (NASA)</a><br /><br />News of passengers stuck in Singapore:<br />- <a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_515456.html">Stranded in Singapore (Straits Times)</a><br /><br />Full video of the British Airways Flight 9 incident:<br />- <a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5620835202130688048#">Air Crash Investigation - British Airways Flight 9 (Google videos)</a><br /><br />Another imprecision of the English language:<br />- <a href="http://www.freshbrainz.com/2008/08/seven-years-of-science.html">Seven Years Of Science (Fresh Brainz)</a>The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30971820.post-60192807697716167032010-03-09T10:40:00.010+08:002010-03-09T11:46:50.985+08:00A Grey Lizard That Isn't Really Grey<img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 104px; HEIGHT: 68px" height="57" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20Whm2Ak-aCDdqnUiMmb80QJml4H8vcH-uRxs1hb5TxW-w6MBvYeK87rduzHE_aXkGkJu3Q8CxQXmu6yLa0hhLtY5t0AJS7zhAULvU1PBBLJKxRoni5G6BWDVvvy2n7PwE6AsNg/s400/Sally.JPG" border="0" />Last month, during the Chinese New Year period, I was passing through a jogging track beside a canal in Ghim Moh when I spotted this little critter:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsC_f86x5vPJettAWTHuM8umFLcIdQ4GSCbJgWYVr7cwj_cvMf_CZo28z3wEsZuZsyy2XkTqu_xluYvavUhhyjuYBIxkMXzRWy0QwNt_whb2n6HPGqSprDaiPeH0bv6aUKvHXJQ/s1600-h/Grey+lizard+01.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446459472790784466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsC_f86x5vPJettAWTHuM8umFLcIdQ4GSCbJgWYVr7cwj_cvMf_CZo28z3wEsZuZsyy2XkTqu_xluYvavUhhyjuYBIxkMXzRWy0QwNt_whb2n6HPGqSprDaiPeH0bv6aUKvHXJQ/s400/Grey+lizard+01.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">GREY LIZARD!</span><br /><br />It had a surprisingly deep grey colour that matched the surrounding asphalt very well. If not for the fact that it was dashing across the track right in front of me, I would have missed it.<br /><br />I think that its grey skin is a good camouflage to protect the lizard against predators, such as birds.<br /><br />I don't know much about lizards, but I find its even grey tone surprising since I've only seen garden lizards in brown and green.<br /><br />My first thought when I saw it was - maybe there is a selection pressure for "jogging track lizards" to be grey?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9JlcIEPwh4T2hqZmqUcJ4pz4k3VmCBQbEZ9XLefk3SFenUR3fsC0Y5aTx_r9Y97hNW-0w9YWCgiSigV8PQbIrXXpj927V3slMyEr9Qsv-ZT06AJNrdUpRHkXY4sUOLr6lM3ExA/s1600-h/Grey+lizard+02.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446459463039570418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9JlcIEPwh4T2hqZmqUcJ4pz4k3VmCBQbEZ9XLefk3SFenUR3fsC0Y5aTx_r9Y97hNW-0w9YWCgiSigV8PQbIrXXpj927V3slMyEr9Qsv-ZT06AJNrdUpRHkXY4sUOLr6lM3ExA/s400/Grey+lizard+02.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here's the fellow next to a ten cent coin.<br /><br />The lizard was about 3 cm long. It could be a juvenile, so the grey colouration could be a transitory feature.<br /><br />Most scientists who study the evolution of animal features tend to focus on the adult form. That doesn't mean that the features of young animals are less important.<br /><br />We must remember that the environment starts to act against an animal, even before it was born!<br /><br />If an animal cannot survive its youth, it cannot become an adult.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpShkU2Ep1IWX-tQ2qJZp9kJ9rXfPczqteVNGhJHX7qy2pjcc2VyzWk1RHg3tJD_JiL1dH37Uow8nqhmPzEi-B5BfXX4JcIgbVETlORH_1IU4197GnRCFsU4uQ0CZylczLyw9YQ/s1600-h/Grey+lizard+03.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446459452733982354" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpShkU2Ep1IWX-tQ2qJZp9kJ9rXfPczqteVNGhJHX7qy2pjcc2VyzWk1RHg3tJD_JiL1dH37Uow8nqhmPzEi-B5BfXX4JcIgbVETlORH_1IU4197GnRCFsU4uQ0CZylczLyw9YQ/s400/Grey+lizard+03.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />When I took a close-up photo of the lizard, I realized that it wasn't really grey!<br /><br />The scales were in a mottled pattern of light and dark brown, and coupled with the fact that the lizard appeared to be moulting, the resultant colour from a distance was a dull, dark grey.<br /><br />It made me ponder about the concept that quantitatively different features at the component level can result in qualitatively different features at the system level, ie. emergence.<br /><br />After all, if you try to find a novel "grey gene" on this grey lizard, you might end up finding nothing! It might have been the combination of expression level changes to existing brown colour genes and opacity of the scales that contributed to its overall grey appearance.<br /><br />Well, that's too much speculation for one day.<br /><br />So I left the lizard, which had remained frozen in that position for minutes on the asphalt and didn't leave even after I had walked several metres away.<br /><br />Survival instinct or excessive fear?<br /><br />Seconds later, a bicycle zipped by that same spot.<br /><br />I didn't look back.<br /><br /><br />Would you like to know more?<br />- <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tertiary_color">Tertiary color</a> (Wikipedia)The Key Questionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05426898630563791849noreply@blogger.com3