129_Nimeralin_ BloG's

Best Cars for the Money

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 16:00:00 +0000

The numbers don't look good. November car sales were down 30 percent from last year. While shoppers are used to doom and gloom sales numbers coming out of Detroit, the declines are now industry-wide, with Honda posting a 32 percent decline, Toyota sales dropping 34 percent, and even venerable Porsche reporting a nearly 50 percent drop in sales.

While these numbers obviously spell trouble for automakers, what they mean for car shoppers isn't immediately clear. The credit crisis has continued for months and with belt-tightening becoming the new American pastime, car shoppers are finding themselves adrift in a sea of bad industry news, rising new car incentives, and little advice for consumers.

That's where this year's U.S. News Best Car for the Money awards come in. Car shoppers face an uncertain economy and a shrinking ability to borrow. The key to surviving the current marketplace is to stretch your dollars as far as they'll go -- but that doesn't mean flocking to the biggest incentives. It means focusing on cars that are proven winners and offer a great value over the entire life of the car.

The Awards

The Best Car for the Money awards use data from U.S. News' online automotive rankings (at www.rankingsandreviews.com) to find cars that are among the best in their class. The rankings are based on the collective opinion of the automotive press, which helps to eliminate subjectivity and elevate expert opinion about each car. The awards also take initial price into account, but more importantly, they incorporate the five-year total cost of owning the car. Using data from IntelliChoice, an industry leader in determining new car values and ownership costs, the awards include how much buyers can expect to spend on maintenance and fuel, as well as how much of a hit they'll take from the car's depreciation. As a result, the awards tell you which cars are the best for your money over the long haul. Read more on the awards methodology.

The Winners

Across 14 new car classes, the clear winner is Toyota. Five Toyotas won Best Car for the Money in their classes, with Lexus, Toyota's luxury marquee, pulling in another three. Chevrolet and Mazda each claim two awards and Honda and Korean upstart Hyundai each claim one. Five of the award winners are even available as hybrids - most of which are also great values.

Despite ranging in size from the tiny Honda Fit to the hulking Chevrolet Tahoe, the winners have a lot in common. They share a high level of build quality that makes for worry-free and low-cost ownership. One of the reasons Toyota models take so many of the awards is because of their bulletproof quality. That not only lowers the cost of maintaining Toyotas -- it means that they retain value better than most other cars.

The winners have something else in common: they are favorites in the automotive press. Not because they tear up drag strips or star in music videos, but because they are extremely livable. Each winner occupies an automotive sweet spot that makes it an attractive choice for the vast majority of car shoppers. Take the Lexus ES, the Best Upscale Car for the Money: it doesn't drive as sharp as the BMW 3-Series and doesn't look as sharp as the Mercedes Benz C-Class, but taken as a total package, it's very comfortable to drive and easy to live with on a daily basis -- not to mention easier on your wallet.

Some winners, like the Mazda5, the Best Compact Crossover for the Money, take the best of what class leaders like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V have to offer, but pack in an appealing lower price. The case of the Hyundai Elantra, the Best Compact Car for the Money, proves what many have been saying for years: Honda and Toyota should watch their backs because Hyundai is making not just economical cars, but very good ones.

Time to Buy

It's a confusing time to be shopping for a new car. While there are some incredible deals to be had, many of those incentives are for cars that don't offer a lot of value in the long term. Worse, a car with thousands of dollars in cash-back offers may be tough to drive, and laden with features you don't need.

The U.S. News Best Car for the Money awards cut through fog surrounding the auto industry to point out the cars that combine value with day-to-day livability. As scary as it is to part with thousands of dollars in this economy, by sticking with the cars that offer maximum satisfaction at a minimal cost, your money will go further and your driving will be happier. And, who knows? Happy new car buyers may be just the stimulus this economy needs.

Mushrooms that glow in the dark

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 07:47:00 +0000

No, you’re not hallucinating; you really are seeing bright green mushrooms, but if you are partial to the odd magic mushie, these images won’t faze you in the slightest.

These neon green mushrooms, or Mycena chlorophos, to use the technical term, emerge during the rainy season in Japanese and Brazilian forests, scattering the floor with glowing spores. The bases of tree trunks, fallen branches, leaf litter and moist soil provide perfect breeding grounds for the mushrooms.

Found mostly on Mesameyama island in Ugui, Japan and Ribeira Valley Tourist State Park, Brazil, the appearance of these garish looking fungi is due to bioluminescence, one of the weird but wonderful reactions that happen naturally in many plants and animals.

Bioluminescence occurs when the natural chemical energy produced within an organism is converted to light energy. The result is an amazing display of natural fluorescent light, or ‘cold light’ (as opposed to red hot light). The color of bioluminescence is normally at the blue/green end of the visible light spectrum.

This organic light display can be seen in the late summer months, and although there are nightly visits to the forests in Japan, these rare shrooms only thrive where they are because they’ve been relatively undisturbed by humans. So, for now it’s probably best to enjoy them from the comfort of your own home, that way they’ll be around for a while longer. And, no, you can’t get high on them, although no doubt someone has tried!

Have u ever experience ur front car glass break?

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 12:12:00 +0000

I was in the car with my bro... was on the way to go to somewhere to eat in KL..
On the way... We think that let just eat at TGI friday at subang parade...
So, we u-turn and go back to USJ....
On the way back... Just b4 a toll..
The glass suddenly... *BOM (i oso dunno how to explain the sound)
We thought someone wit no work throw a rock to us....
But, we dont see any rock and dont see any people there....
Fortunately, the glass was double layer..
It does not break.. It make lines first...
I was sitting infront go back to the back seat..
For my safety scared if the glass broke and go in to my eyes..
Furthermore, i dont wear spectacles.. more dangerous...
My bro drive so slow... Scared if the wind blow the wind and causes it to break...
The place to my destination really far...
The glass make a sound.. every second got sound... sound like *creek...
And every sound will got a line on the glass....
After sometimes... The glass on the driver's became more worse...
It makes my bro hard to drive...
What i realize is, people that drive passing us, rarely see the car's glass was broke...
We really thank god because we back home safely...
My bro call mechanic and ask how much it will cost..
The mechanic monday onli know...
So, we go out eat 1st using another car...
At last wanna go to shah alam... Go to a place which is my teacher recommendation...
After go there... We really don know where the place.. So i call my teacher..
My teacher said it is not open at night...
So, we go to TGI Friday...
The next day...
My bro go to search to repair it as soon as possible..
becoz on 1 dec my bro got exams...
At last found a place and repair it right away...
The new glass really cool~!!!

The glass broke.....

If u try to touch the outside of the glass...
It is really smooth...
really flat..
but if u touch from inside really thorny...
so scary~!!!

Rare fragment of early copy of Gospel goes on sale

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 05:15:00 +0000

An unusually large fragment from possibly the oldest copy of part of the Gospel of John will go on sale next month, when the torn piece of papyrus with Greek writing is expected to fetch up to 300,000 pounds.

The fragment is believed to date to 200 AD, less than 170 years after the crucifixion of Christ, when Christianity was still illegal and around 100 years after experts believe the original Gospel was first written.

"This is either the first or the second oldest copy of this part of the text of the Gospel of John," Sotheby's specialist Timothy Bolton told Reuters as he held the document displayed between two sheets of clear plastic.

"It is one of the finest and most celebrated of Gospel fragments, as there are very few pieces of this spectacular quality."

The appearance of page number 74 in one corner shows the leaf came from a relatively large volume of the whole Gospel, he explained, and adds to the rarity of the piece.

Its Greek text is an account of Jesus preaching in the temple, where people challenge his right to give evidence on his own behalf. It includes the cryptic and prophetic words: "Whither I go, ye cannot come."

The fragment was discovered in 1922 by British archaeologists Bernard Grenfell and Arthur Hunt at the site of the important early Christian community at Oxyrhynchus, about 120 miles (193 km) from Cairo. It is believed to have been written in Alexandria.

Most finds from the site ended up in the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and the British Museum, although some pieces, including the fragment, were sent to seminaries and colleges.

The U.S. divinity school where it ended up sold the fragment in New York in 2003, and it fetched $400,000, which Sotheby's said was the highest price ever paid at public sale for an early Christian manuscript.

MARCO POLO COMPENDIUM

Another highlight at the London sale on December 3 is a large compendium containing a previously unknown, 14th century manuscript of Medieval traveller Marco Polo's adventures along the Silk Road and into China the century before.

According to the auctioneer, only six manuscripts of Polo's account have appeared on the market in the last century and none since one was sold by Sotheby's in 1930.

Bolton said the Latin volume was probably copied by a monk from a selection of manuscripts in the library of Glastonbury Abbey which are now almost completely lost or destroyed.

It is believed to have passed into the possession of the Earl of Devon in the 16th century and has passed by descent to the current owner, the 18th Earl of Devon.

As well as the Marco Polo account, there are sections on British history, near- and far-eastern affairs and a collection of prophecies.

"This thing has been in England since the 1380s and you could go to a Medieval library and pick this volume off the shelf, and read not only about China but about the whole world wrapped up in one document," said Bolton.

The compendium is expected to fetch 200-300,000 pounds.

5 Questions to Ask When Deciding to Buy a Home

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:44:00 +0000

Today's housing market may be bad news for borrowers saddled with mortgages they can't afford and developers stuck with houses or condos they can't sell. But it can be a golden opportunity for first-time home buyers.

Home prices in the 20 largest metropolitan areas have fallen 17% over the past two years. Meanwhile, the average interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was recently 6.5%, which is low by historical standards.

And, says Elizabeth Blakeslee, regional vice-president for the National Association of Realtors, "there is excellent inventory all over the country." During the peak of the housing boom, first-time buyers were fretting that they'd never be able to afford a home. Now, it seems, they can take their pick. But just because it's a buyer's market doesn't mean you should dive in. Before you rush to put in a bid on the house down the street, answer the following five questions.

Can You Stay Put?

Aside from the price itself, purchasing a home is an expensive process. As the buyer, you'll have to pay closing costs for expenses such as a title search, title insurance, attorney's fees and much more. In fact, those expenses typically total 3% to 5% of the purchase price.

In the past, the rule of thumb was that you should plan to own the house at least three years in order to recoup your closing costs through price appreciation. But given the uncertainty of today's market, you're better off with a five- to seven-year time horizon. Consider any imminent life changes -- such as switching careers, going back to school or getting married -- that could throw a wrench into your plan.

Are Your Financial Ducks in a Row?

When applying for a mortgage, three factors are critical: your income, your down payment and your credit score. In the heady days of subprime loans and relaxed lending standards, "you could get away with having two out of those three," says Jan Valecka, a financial planner in Lewisville, Tex. "But now you need all three."

Needless to say, stable employment is a must if you're thinking about buying a home. Lenders will also look at your other debts, such as student loans, when determining how large a mortgage you can take on.

As for the down payment, Blakeslee says 10% is the minimum and 20% is even better. That will save you the $50 to $100 per month you would otherwise pay for private mortgage insurance on a loan for more than 80% of your home's purchase price. You may be able to tap your IRA or Roth IRA to beef up your down payment.

Applying for a loan insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is one option that allows you to make a down payment of as little as 3%. There are limits on the size of a mortgage the FHA will insure, and you'll pay a slightly higher interest rate in return for the insurance. For help finding an FHA-approved lender, go to www.hud.gov.

Order your credit report at least six months before applying for loan preapproval, and fix any errors you find. It costs $48 at www.myFICO.com to get your report and credit score from each of the three credit bureaus. FICO can simulate how certain actions, such as paying all of your bills on time for a year, would affect your score. To qualify for the best interest rates on a mortgage loan, you'll need a credit score of at least 760; a score below 620 places you in subprime territory. The FICO Web site also lists current average mortgage rates for different credit-score ranges.

How Much Can You Afford?

If you're serious about buying, spend some time tinkering with Kiplinger's housing calculators that cover everything from home prices in your area to closing costs, homeowners insurance and more. But rather than stretch your finances to the max, think about what you can comfortably fit into your budget.

Rich Bergen, a financial planner in Garden City, N.Y., recommends that you compare your current monthly rent with the monthly net cost of ownership. Don't forget to factor in maintenance costs, utilities, homeowners insurance and property taxes, plus savings from your mortgage-interest tax deduction. And you'll still need to sock away money for an emergency fund, retirement and college for the kids.

Zach and Sarah Kirk, a recently married couple in Austin, Tex., who are in the market for their first home, decided that even though they qualify for a $350,000 loan, they're going to buy a home in the $200,000 range. Zach may attend graduate school, and Sarah will likely take time out of the workforce when the couple have children. "We could buy a house at the top of our budget range," says Zach, "but if there were any sudden changes and we lost one income, we'd have to reevaluate the whole situation."

Are You Ready For the Responsibility?

Your home will likely be the biggest investment you ever make, so you need to be mentally and financially prepared to take it on. If the hot-water heater leaks, you can't ask the landlord to fix it. And someone's going to have to mow the lawn and clean the gutters, whether you do it yourself or hire help. "There are some people who just don't want to have to think about 'What if the toilet breaks down in the middle of the night?'" says Avani Ramnani, a financial planner in Jersey City, N.J.

Still, "there's nothing like walking into your own home for the first time after settlement," says Blakeslee. "You can paint the walls plaid if you want to, and you don't have to worry about the landlord coming down on you."

Do You Know What You're Looking For?

Gorgeous, spacious and sunny? Sure, but think practical, too. If you drive to work, look for the most convenient route. If staying downtown is a priority, you may have to scale down your vision to a condo. "If you start out looking for the perfect home, you're not going to find it," says Elizabeth Blakeslee, of the National Association of Realtors. "You need to think about what's important to you."

Terri Carguillo was pregnant when she and husband Tom started looking at homes in North Babylon, N.Y., so a good school district and a safe environment were top priorities. "We did a lot of research," says Terri.

Educate yourself about the local market. Even within the same city, markets may differ depending on the neighborhood or the type of housing, says Elaine Scoggins, a financial planner in Seattle.

Go to www.zillow.com to research prices in areas that interest you so you can drive a hard bargain. "Prices are crazy right now, so you need to do some serious digging," says Scoggins.

Why would I have trouble remembering things?

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 02:05:00 +0000

Q:-
Hello I'm 26 years old and I have been experiencing some memory problems for the past week and a half. it all started Halloween morning I woke up everything was fine and then when I went to do something that required remembering a name I could not think of it this has been going on now for the last week and it's starting to make me worry that maybe there is something wrong with me simple band names that I know now seem hard like it's the first time I have herd them celebrity names and people in the news back home now seem like a hassle to remember. I even seem to struggle with some family names on my husbands side and friends names that I have known forever.

my question is what can cause this? I have to add that I recently was married a year ago on the 10th to my life partner who is a Marine and we moved away from all family and friends to Hawaii which is completely been a downer for me since I have never been out of my home state so this has been a constant stress factor and then my husband and I have fought a lot because of my unhappiness being here can this be the result of why my memory has started to slip? or could it be something else more serious that I should have a doctor take a look at. my biggest fear is ending up like my grandma who has Alzheimer's or my grandfather who had dementia I don't want to lose my memory so if someone could give some advise Id appreciate it thanks for your time.

A:-
it not alzheimers!!!
It is stress.

I went through the same thing , once your stress gets under control, you will have an eaier time remebering things but just dont keep checking in on yourself, overanalyzing what you remeber or not because that ads more stress and prolongs your recovery, I think though that if you are that stressed, you need to

change your attitude/outlook...for your own good

exercise

sleep good

eat good

do relaxation techniques

be patient this will take some time to resolve but soon you will be able to think clearer

see your doctor too because a doctor would know better about what you are going through and what you should do

JUST DON'T WORRY!!!!!! You could not have alzheimers at 26!

(Q&A) Physics question

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:05:00 +0000

Q:-
A rectangular block of ice 6 m on each side and 1.1 m thick floats in sea water. The density of the sea water is 1025 kg/m3. The density of ice is 917 kg/m3.

a) How high does the top of the ice block float above the water level?

m
5.3678 NO

HELP: Use Archimedes' Priciple.
HELP: The buoyant force of the water must balance the weight of the ice.

b) How many penguins of mass 24 kg each can stand on the ice block before they get their feet wet?

A:-
a. The fraction of the ice that is submerged in water is: 917/1025.
Thus, the height submerged is: (917/1025)*1.1.
Thus, the distance from the top of the ice floats to the water is: 1.1-(submerged height)

b. #penguins = (1025-917)/24

Do rabbits eat their young?

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 04:11:00 +0000

Q:-
I have a Netherland Dwarf Rabbit she is only 5 months and I found out that she is expecting babies. I am wondering if their is a chance that she might eat them. Do rabbits eat their young's? If so, how can I prevent that?

A:-
Hi....I've been raising and showing rabbits for 10 years. They do sometimes kill and eat their babies. But it does not happen very often, in my 10 years of experience I have only had it happen twice and it was the same doe (female rabbit) both times. This is probably the least of your concerns though. Your rabbit is a little bit young to have babies, but I would say she will be fine (does this mean she is with other rabbits now? If so she needs to be separated). The worst thing is that first time mothers almost always are unsure of what to do and do not take care of their babies or have them outside the nestbox. But if you check on her every few hours then you should be able to save them if they are born outside the nest box. Make sure you give her a nestbox a couple days before her due date though. Rabbit's gestation period (length of time they are pregnant) is 28-32 days. The nestbox I have found to be the best can be bought at Tracor Supply and is metal with a removable wood floor, for cleaning. Put about a 2 inch layer of sawdust (pine, not cedar) across the bottom of the box along with a handful of straw (not hay, hay is what they eat and straw is bedding) in the box and a couple more handfuls outside the box so that she can carry more in to build her nest if she chooses. She will then line the nest with her fur and should have them with 24-48 hours and most likely at night. Just be sure to keep her area pretty quiet. Hope this helps and please feel free to contact me with any other questions you may have. Especially if there are any complications with them after they are born, I would be glad to help you in any way possible.
P.S. Touching them will not make her eat them, just remove her from the cage before messing with the babies as that can stress her out some. It is not true that your scent on them will affect her taking care of them at all though. Check on each one to make sure it is ok after they are born and contintue to do so each day after.

(Q&A) What is a good way to temporarilly dye hair for a week?

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 14:52:00 +0000

Q:-
I want to dye my hair for 3 days to a week. How can I do this easily and cheaply?

A:-
go to the salon and ask for a TEMPORARY color. The molecules in the color don't penetrate into the hair and because they're on the outside of the hair they will only last a certain number of shampoos. Do not use a semi-perminent color because 1/2 of the molecules go into the hair and will stay.

I speak from experience.

Or just go to the drug store and get the halloween hair spray that has color in it or get hair mascara.

2 days no on9 becoz of this

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 02:41:00 +0000

On the last thursday,
My parent wanna get a new maid....
Then agent was really slow...
Firstly, she said that the ferry still not yet reached the pelabuhan...
Then, my dad call... She said at 9pm she will call back...
At 10pm she called and she said the maid have reached the pelabuhan...
Me and my bro go to the Bukit Lancang to get the agent for showing the way to the pelabuhan..
We drive about 33km...

But my dad got a call from a person named Mr Zamri...
He said that the maid was alone... the maid has been there about 3 hours....
Then, my dad call my bro...
After get the info, my bro ask the agent tat if she knows who is this Mr Zamri...
The agents was like huh? who is Mr Zamri...
When we got there... I stay in the car becoz i bring laptops with... For safety reason....
I waited about 20min...
Then, my bro, the agent and the new maid came back...
So, we are on our way to Senawang, Seremban...
I didnt take pict of the new maid...
Becoz she was not cute and she is fat... LOL
Thats why my bro car cannot go over than 140km/h...
It is becoz of the overloaded person at the back seat....
By the way, the car was a jeep car... (High) So, got more air pressure... means the car wasn't design for speed..
When we start our journey from the pelabuhan to senawang.. it was 11.35pm
The maid was sleeping
While driving, my bro said that the maid's smells killing my bro.. He ask me u can stand the smells?
I said my nose has a blockage (flu) that why i didnt smell anyhing... >.<

Straight line road...

The sky was dark..

But my dad got a call from a person named Mr Zamri...
He said that the maid was alone... the maid has been there about 3 hours....
Then, my dad call my bro...
After get the info, my bro ask the agent tat if she knows who is this Mr Zamri...
The agents was like huh? who is Mr Zamri...
But, the agent wan to fetch her's maid too... how could be the zamri said tat onli my maid alone?
and where got government so detail bout our process....
even u call, government will said "dalam proses" or "dah siap" or "belum lagi"
When we got there... I stay in the car becoz i bring laptops with... For safety reason....

no idea

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 05:41:00 +0000

Evol Reverof: Chapter 5

nice story from my friend...
LOL

Ways To Improve Your Memory

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 14:12:00 +0000

The human brain is like a library that stocks memories instead of books. In some ways, that makes the hippocampus, the part of the brain most involved in memory, the brain's librarian. The hippocampus has the most responsibility in this cranial library, juggling the new releases of short-term memory while cataloging materials for the permanent collection of long-term memory. It's not the only part at work, however, in storing these chapters of our lives. Different kinds of memory are stored in different areas of the brain. With such a large system, the brain needs a system of encoding and retrieving memories, something a bit more complex than the local library's Dewey Decimal System.

The brain has to be able to pull information at the drop of a hat, whether it's a fact on hold (such as a telephone number) or a dusty memory that's been sitting in storage for years (the memory of your first kiss). No one likes a library that loses books or shelves them in the wrong place. Yet sometimes we find ourselves with a very poor librarian on our hands, one that doesn't allow us to retrieve memories when we need them. Sometimes it's trivial, like when we tear apart our homes looking for glasses perched innocuously atop our heads, and sometimes these lapses in memories are more embarrassing, such as when we call a colleague "sport" because we simply can't remember his name.

Whether you're a college student studying for an important test or an aging baby boomer concerned about forgetting a recent doctor's appointment, there are a few things everyone can do to optimize the storage and checkouts in our private libraries of memories. Alert the librarian and head to the next page for the first tip.

(Q&A) Solve: cos2x+cos4x=0 ?

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:01:00 +0000

Q:-

Solve between (0, 2pi): cos2x +cos4x = 0

A:-

0 = cos2x + cos4x = cos2x + 2(cos2x)^2 - 1
because cos2a = cos^2 a - sin^2 a = cos^2 a - (1 - cos^2 a)

Put A=cos2x.
Then from the above:
0 = 2A^2 + A - 1 = (2A - 1)(A + 1)
and this implies
A = -1 or A = 1/2
ie
cos2x = -1 or cos2x = 1/2

cos2x = -1 implies:
2x = pi or 3pi, so x=pi/2 or 3pi/2

cos2x = 1/2 implies:
2x = pi/3 or 5pi/3 or 7pi/3 or 11pi/3
so x=pi/6 or 5pi/6 or 7pi/6 or 11pi/6

So all the solutions are:
pi/6, pi/2, 5pi/6, 7pi/6, 3pi/2, 11pi/6

HDTV

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 10:42:00 +0000

When the first high-definition television (HDTV) sets hit the market in 1998, movie buffs, sports fans and tech aficionados got pretty excited, and for good reason. Ads for the sets hinted at a television paradise with superior resolution and digital surround sound. With HDTV, you could also play movies in their original widescreen format without the letterbox "black bars" that some people find annoying.

But for a lot of people, HDTV hasn't delivered a ready-made source for transcendent experiences in front of the tube. Instead, people have gone shopping for a TV and found themselves surrounded by confusing abbreviations and too many choices. Some have even hooked up their new HDTV sets only to discover that the picture doesn't look good.

Fortunately, a few basic facts easily dispel all of this confusion. In this article, we'll look at the differences between analog, digital and high-definition, explain the acronyms and resolution levels and give you the facts on the United States transition to all-digital television. We'll also tell you exactly what you need to know if you're thinking about upgrading to HDTV.

Analog, Digital and HDTV

For years, watching TV has involved analog signals and cathode ray tube (CRT) sets. The signal is made of continually varying radio waves that the TV translates into a picture and sound. An analog signal can reach a person's TV over the air, through a cable or via satellite. Digital signals, like the ones from DVD players, are converted to analog when played on traditional TVs. (You can read about how the TV interprets the signal in How Television Works.)

This system has worked pretty well for a long time, but it has some limitations:

* Conventional CRT sets display around 480 visible lines of pixels. Broadcasters have been sending signals that work well with this resolution for years, and they can't fit enough resolution to fill a huge television into the analog signal.
* Analog pictures are interlaced -- a CRT's electron gun paints only half the lines for each pass down the screen. On some TVs, interlacing makes the picture flicker.
* Converting video to analog format lowers its quality.

Analog TVs like this one can't use digital signals without a
set-top converter.

United States broadcasting is currently changing to digital television (DTV). A digital signal transmits the information for video and sound as ones and zeros instead of as a wave. For over-the-air broadcasting, DTV will generally use the UHF portion of the radio spectrum with a 6 MHz bandwidth, just like analog TV signals do.

DTV has several advantages:

* The picture, even when displayed on a small TV, is better quality.
* A digital signal can support a higher resolution, so the picture will still look good when shown on a larger TV screen.
* The video can be progressive rather than interlaced -- the screen shows the entire picture for every frame instead of every other line of pixels.
* TV stations can broadcast several signals using the same bandwidth. This is called multicasting.
* If broadcasters choose to, they can include interactive content or additional information with the DTV signal.
* It can support high-definition (HDTV) broadcasts.

DTV also has one really big disadvantage: Analog TVs can't decode and display digital signals. When analog broadcasting ends, you'll only be able to watch TV on your trusty old set if you have cable or satellite service transmitting analog signals or if you have a set-top digital converter.

This brings us to the first big misconception about HDTV. Some people believe that the United States is switching to HDTV -- that all they'll need for HDTV is a new TV and that they'll automatically have HDTV when analog service ends. Unfortunately, none of this is true.

HDTV is just one part of the DTV transition. We'll look at HDTV in more detail, including what makes it different from DTV, in the next section.

DTV vs. HDTV
The Advanced Television Standards Committee (ATSC) has set voluntary standards for digital television. These standards include how sound and video are encoded and transmitted. They also provide guidelines for different levels of quality. All of the digital standards are better in quality than analog signals. HDTV standards are the top tier of all the digital signals.

The ATSC has created 18 commonly used digital broadcast formats for video. The lowest quality digital format is about the same as the highest quality an analog TV can display. The 18 formats cover differences in:

* Aspect ratio - Standard television has a 4:3 aspect ratio -- it is four units wide by three units high. HDTV has a 16:9 aspect ratio, more like a movie screen.
* Resolution - The lowest standard resolution (SDTV) will be about the same as analog TV and will go up to 704 x 480 pixels. The highest HDTV resolution is 1920 x 1080 pixels. HDTV can display about ten times as many pixels as an analog TV set.
* Frame rate - A set's frame rate describes how many times it creates a complete picture on the screen every second. DTV frame rates usually end in "i" or "p" to denote whether they are interlaced or progressive. DTV frame rates range from 24p (24 frames per second, progressive) to 60p (60 frames per second, progressive).

Many of these standards have exactly the same aspect ratio and resolution -- their frame rates differentiate them from one another. When you hear someone mention a "1080i" HDTV set, they're talking about one that has a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and can display 60 frames per second, interlaced.

Broadcasters get to decide which of these formats they will use and whether they will broadcast in high definition -- many are already using digital and high-definition signals. Electronics manufacturers get to decide which aspect ratios and resolutions their TVs will use. Consumers get to decide which resolutions are most important to them and buy their new equipment based on that.

Until the analog shutoff date, broadcasters will have two available channels to send their signal -- a channel for analog, and a "virtual" channel for digital. Right now, people can watch an over-the-air digital signal only if they are tuned in to the broadcaster's virtual digital channel. After analog broadcasting ends, the only signals people will receive over the air will be digital.

However, even though a digital signal is better quality than an analog signal, it isn't necessarily high definition. HDTV is simply the highest of all the DTV standards. But whether you see a high-definition picture and hear the accompanying Dolby Digital® sound depends on two things. First, the station has to be broadcasting a high-definition signal. Second, you have to have the right equipment to receive and view it. We'll look at how to get an HDTV set and signal next.

(Q&A)I need to calculate volume of C7H16 required to boil 36L of water with 15% efficiency

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 02:53:00 +0000

Q:-
std enthalpy is -224.4 kJ
density is .78g/mol

36,000g * 4.184 * 75 = 11296.8 kJ required to heat the water

which leaves (224.4*.15)x = 11296.8 or x = 335.62 moles of C7H16

335.62 moles * 100 g/mol = 33562 g / .78 = 43027.56 mL of C7H16 required to heat the water...

Except the answer 43027.56 is not right...

Here is the problem:
When backpacking in the wilderness, hikers often boil water to sterilize it for drinking.
Suppose that you are planning a backpacking trip and will need to boil 36 L of water for your group.

What volume of fuel should you bring? Assume each of the following:
the fuel has an average formula of C7H16 ; 15% of the heat generated from combustion goes
to heat the water (the rest is lost to the surroundings);
the density of the fuel is 0.78 g/mL; the initial temperature
of the water is 25.0C; and the standard enthalpy of
formation of C7H16 is -224.4 kJ/mol..

i'm still missing something subtle... I come out to 43000 mL of C7H16 each time....

A:-
Your problem is the you supplied the dHf of heptane and NOT the heat of combustion!

-224.4 kJ/mole vs -44.566MJ/kg is a BIG difference.
I thought 224 kJ for combustion was small but did not check it out earlier.

Let UNITs guide you; always USE THEM in your calculation to prevent errors

Firstly, the eqn: C7H16 + 11O2 -----> 7CO2 + 8H2O + heat

dH comb/ mole C7H16 = 44.566 MJ /kg C7H16 = 44.566 kJ/g

dH comb J /ml C7H16 = 44.566kJ/ g * 0.78 g/ml = ?? 34.76 kJ/ml

heat needed, if 100% eff = 36000 g * 4.184 J/gC * 75 C = ??
11.3 MJ

if 15% eff then heat needed = 100% eff/15% * heat needed if 100% = 75.3 MJ

vol of C7H16 needed = heat needed / (+dH comb / ml C7H16) = 75.3 MJ / 34.76 kJ/ml ?? 2167 ml

liters C7H16 needed = vol ml / 1000ml/liter = ?? 2.17 liters

1 liter = 0.26 US gal; so 2.17 liters * 0.26 gal/liter = 0.56 gal

Plug and SOLVE

Basic mathematics is a prerequisite to chemistry – I just try to help you with the methodology of solving the problem.

My life~!!

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 01:52:00 +0000

My exam ends alreadi...
i wanna go out...
but, even i'm freed...
my sis gonna have exam, my 1st bro busy working, my 2nd bro is the exam b4 graduate...
my father and mother busy.. only saturday and sunday got time...

2 days back..
my mother invite me to go to sunway pyramids..
becoz my father got public mutual ceremony...
by that time, my mom and my sis go to sunway pyramid..
i said i don wan go... becoz..
me go with my mother and my sis??
i more like to go with my father..
becoz me and him got same interest...
furthermore, i don wan meet any of my friend there when i'm walking with my mom and sis...
my dad said it is better me stay at home,
becoz got someone come to repair my gate...
i watch tv...
at last, when they back home...
i ask hows shopping?

my mother said "when we were at the sunway, my dad call to invite my mom to the ceremony, the its okay la and the ceremony was great"
my sis said "we just decided to go to so much place there... the ceremony is for the person that wanna pencen... so boring.. but the cakes was delicious..."

fortunately, i didnt go..
kwahah~!! ^^
i can watch my favorite story..
happy sunday (kbs world)

Thrust SSC (SuperSonic Car)

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:16:00 +0000

Thrust SSC (SuperSonic Car) is a British-designed and built jet-propelled car developed by Richard Noble, Glynne Bowsher, Ron Ayers and Jeremy Bliss.[1]
ThrustSSC.
ThrustSSC.

ThrustSSC holds the World Land Speed Record, set on October 15, 1997, when it achieved a speed of 1,228 km/h (763 mph) and became the first land vehicle to officially break the sound barrier, not considering the earlier, unsubstantiated claim of the Budweiser Rocket.

The car was driven by Royal Air Force fighter pilot Squadron Leader Andy Green in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada, United States. It was powered by two afterburning Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan engines, as used in British F-4 Phantom II jet fighters. It is 16.5 m (54 ft) long, 3.7 m (12 ft) wide and weighs 10.5 tons (10.7 t). The twin engines developed a thrust of 223 kN (50,000 lbf) and burned around 4 Imperial gallons per second (18.2 l/s or 4.8 US gallons/s). Transformed into the usual terms for car mileages based on its maximum speed, the fuel consumption was about 5,500 l/100 km or 0.04 mpg U.S.

After the record was set, the World Motor Sport Council released the following message:

The World Motor Sport Council homologated the new world land speed records set by the team ThrustSSC of Richard Noble, driver Andy Green, on 15 October 1997 at Black Rock Desert, Nevada (USA). This is the first time in history that a land vehicle has exceeded the speed of sound. The new records are as follows:

* Flying mile 1227.986 km/h (763.035 mph)
* Flying kilometre 1223.657 km/h (760.343 mph)

In setting the record, the sound barrier was broken in both the north and south runs.

In 1983 Richard Noble had broken the world land speed record with his earlier car Thrust2, which reached a speed of 1,018 km/h (633 mph). Both ThrustSSC and Thrust2 are displayed at the Coventry Transport Museum in Coventry, England.

The date of Andy Green's record came exactly a half century and one day after Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier in Earth's atmosphere, with the Bell X-1 research rocket plane on October 14, 1947.

Several teams are competing to break the record, for example the North American Eagle project.

(Q&A) Equations

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:16:00 +0000

Q:-
C5H8O2 + CoCl2.6H2O --> Co(C5H8O2)3 + Cl2 + H2O

A:-
3C5H8O2 + CoCl2 * 6H2O ► Co(C5H8O2)3 + Cl2 + 6H2O

(Q&A) How many aspirin tablets could be made from 4g of salicylic acid?

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:14:00 +0000

Q:-
A regular dose of aspirin contains 325 mg of aspirin. How many aspirin tablets could be made from the aspirin prepared when 4g of salicylic acid was used with excess amount of acetic anhydride?

A:-
after balance equations they are one to one ratio so:

4g (C7H6O3) x 1mol salicylic acid (s.a)/138.07g s.a. x 1mol aspirin (as)/ 1 mol s.a x 180.07g as/ 1 mol as = 5.2174g of aspiring.
now divide the theorical yield over the regular dose of aspiring in a tablet, (dont forget to convert milligrams to grams) so: 5.2174g/0.325g= 16.0 tablets

Active~!!

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:10:00 +0000

At last..
after i waited for more than 60+ days...
it already ends...
i felt very happy...
right now,
i can celebrate the day...
but b4 this,
my family always say to me go study, study after this, study, study, study....
right now,
go do see why the pump not working, go clean the pond, go water the plant, go buy things at shop...
kwahaha~!!

Not going to on9 or update...

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 05:44:00 +0000

My exam already near...
so..
i want to get ready by studying...
it is 20+ days from today..
sorry~!!
after exam..
i will have much time
yeah~!!

(Q&A) My transformer size?

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 05:43:00 +0000

Q=
Not looking for questions just answers from people who know there stuff
40 condos, spread over 30,000 sq ft.
(15) 12,000 BTU AC
(45) 9,000 BTU AC
(40) INSTANT HOT WATER HEATERS
(20) STACKED WASHER DRYER
(360) LIGHT FIXTURES SINGLE BUlBS
(1) 1500 SQ FT POOL WITH PUMP AND ACC
(15) Stacked washer dryers
(40) FRIDGES full size.

Plus about 800 plugs for random small items

A=
(15) 12,000 BTU AC (15) * 15A = 225A (steady)
(45) 9,000 BTU AC (45) * 12A = 540A (steady)
(40) INSTANT HOT WATER HEATERS (40) * 100A (peak) = 200A @ estimated useage factor at 5%
(20) STACKED WASHER DRYER (20) * 30A (peak) = 30A @euf 5%
(360) LIGHT FIXTURES SINGLE BUlBS (360) * 0.2 = 36A @50% euf using alot of CFL bulbs
(1) 1500 SQ FT POOL WITH PUMP AND ACC (1)@ 5 HP = 30A * 0.1euf = 3A
(15) Stacked washer dryers (15) * 30A (peak) = 23A @euf 5%
(40) FRIDGES full size. (40) * 0.25HP = 62.5A * 0.25euf = 16A

total: 1073A ~= 1100A @120V = 132 kVA.

You can probably get away with anything between 125 and 150 kVA, or go 'safe' and get something closer to 200 kVA.

Edit: oops, I forgot the plugs. Better stick with 200 kVA.

(Q&A) What are the names of these compounds? They are: S2Cl2 and Hg2Cl2.?

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 02:16:00 +0000

Q=
What are the names of these compounds? They are: S2Cl2 and Hg2Cl2.?

A=
S2Cl2 = disulfur dichloride, Cl-S-S-Cl

Hg2Cl2 = mercury (I) chloride

The mercury (I) cation is Hg2^2+. It is sort of a diatomic ion. In the +1 oxidation state there is no single Hg. In other words, HgCl does not exist. HgCl2 does exist, except in this case, mercury is in the +2 oxidation state.

The only thing you have to remember is that there are no single mercury (I) ions, mercury (I) exists as Hg2^2+.

========= Follow up =========

I don't think Hg2Cl2 will be very ionic, what with an electronegativity difference of 1.16. That translates to a percent ionic character of 28.6 for the Hg-Cl bond.

Hg2Cl2 would NOT be named mercury chloride. Mercury requires a Roman numeral in the stock system.

Or you could name Hg2Cl2 as mercurous chloride.

(Q&A) The rational function is G(x)=7x^2-6x-1/x^2-1. As x approaches -infinity, what is G(x)?

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 06:13:00 +0000

Q: The rational function is G(x)=7x^2-6x-1/x^2-1. As x approaches -infinity, what is G(x)?

A: [7x^2 - 6x - 1] /(x^2-1)

=(7x+1)(x-1)/(x+1)(x-1)

=(7x+1)/(x+1)

lim x--->∞ (7x+1)/(x+1) = ∞/∞, since it is indeterminate form apply

L'Hopital's rule

lim x --->∞ derivative of (7x+1) / derivative of (x+1) = 7/1 = 7

(Q&A) This stopping distance D of a car after the brakes are applied varies directly as the sq of the speed R.?

noreply@blogger.com (129_MeGaT_) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 06:44:00 +0000

Q: If a car traveling 40mph can stop in 90ft, now many feet will it take the same car to stop when it is trsveling 70mph?

A: The car increases the speed by (70/40) times. Which means the distance will increase by (70/40)^2 times

so the answer is (70/40)^2 * 90 = 275.625ft