Killed in Ritual

I think this news is a bit scary.
A middle aged couple were killed in “ritual”.
They were having a party (Hari Raya celebration), and the discussion went that the husband (47 years old) seeking helps to make him stop smoking, and his wife (41 years old) were also having asthma and liver ailment. One of their relatives, a 23-year-old male suggested family join forces to beat the husband and wife to death to rid them from their ailments. And the tragedy really happened.
It could be either a mutual agreed situation or a one sided action.
Their heads were smashed on a table, and beaten with broomsticks and motorcycle helmets at his house in Kuala Lumpur.
Ambulance was called within hours, but the couple couldn’t live after the beaten up. Several other family members were also injured.

Further details at http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7649851.stm
or
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7649851.stm
or
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hUxHsfRjFDhpOJ3s6ZcyIzzMCeRAD93IQTV00

Buck Converter - Power Electronics Design

Today, I searched for information on Buck-Based Converter. It’s a power electronics design where input voltage is stepped down to a lower voltage to supply to a targeted operational circuit. It’s also known as Switch Mode Regulator or Step-Down Switch Mode Power Supply. This design is good and can be an alternative to Linear Power Supply/Regulator. Switch-Mode configuration is also seen to be more efficient in driving higher power applications.

Here are some links I would like to share. First is this http://www.powerdesigners.com/InfoWeb/resources/pe_html/contents.htm .

It discusses in almost all aspects of the design of Power Supply, from a single diode rectification to buck or boost switch-mode designs, with proper illustration diagrams. I find it quite pleasant, as many discussions are pointed out with graphs and simple circuit diagrams.

Another link to share is this http://powerelectronics.com/power_systems/dc_dc_converters/power_buckconverter_design_demystified/ .
It discusses more on calculations to select inductor, capacitor, FET, etc. to form the required circuit specifications. This website also has contents related to many power electronics design (as it is a website of a Power Electronics Technology).

One of the simple Buck Converter Circuits is here http://www.powerdesigners.com/InfoWeb/resources/pe_html/ch07s1/f05c07s1.gif

A Power MOSFET is preferred to be used as Power Semiconductor Switch in the figure above. It should have fast switching time, and able to withstand high voltage spikes that might be produced by the inductor.

The PWM generator will be the main key to vary the output current, with varying On-Time and Off-Time.

Power Electronics Design is interesting. I actually am not so familiar with power supply design, except normal linear regulation design. I just started to get involved more in power conversion design, and so I have to study more about it. We can't run away from power conversion design, as every electronics design needs power input, and there are many different types of power conversion circuits nowadays.

References:
http://www.powerdesigners.com/InfoWeb/resources/pe_html/contents.htm
http://powerelectronics.com/power_systems/dc_dc_converters/power_buckconverter_design_demystified/
http://www.google.com.my/search?hl=en&q=buck+converter&meta=

Little Girl Dancing Pro (Korea) - Video

A very cute girl, who can dance like a pro.
She's just 4 years old.
Amazing...

19 hours laptop - Dell Latitude E-Series

My laptop can last up to 3 hours on 6 cells battery pack. This is more or less typical.

Now, you can achieve 19 hours of battery live...!!!

Wow...this is what Dell has come up with, with its Dell Latitudes, E Series.

Sizes include 15.4", 14.1", 13.3" and 12.1".

Namely the E6500, E6400, E5500, E5400, E4300, E4200.

The laptops are so efficient. Consume little energy, till can last up to 19 hours. This is really impressive.

However, the 19 hours live is true for 15.4" and 14.1", with 9-cell battery packs. The 13.3" and 12.1" use 6-cell battery packs, which can last 12hours.

If you want to have a look at some of its videos, you can have a look at them directly from Dell website here: http://www.dell.com/content/topics/topic.aspx/global/shared/corp/media/en/dell_latitude_webcast?c=us&l=en&s=gen

So, now, I guess if you want to use a laptop for longer time before a recharge is needed? Dell might be a choice here.

References:
http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/products/category.aspx/latit?%7Eck=anav&c=my&l=en&s=bsd&cs=mybsd1&ref=homepg

LEDs Replacing Incandescent Lamps

Live will not be lively without Light.

There’s no way a building will omit a lamp. You need lamps to shine internal of the building. Otherwise it could be a ghost house. Hehe.

So, these lamps, such as the fluorescent lamps, consume electricity.

How many people know that recently there has been efforts to replace incandescent lamps with LED light sources? Why replace?

In many countries, such as the USA, are now phasing out the conventional incandescent lamps, and phasing into using LEDs. The reason behind this is the LED’s energy efficiency which out beats incandescent lamps many times. LEDs consume many times less than incandescent lamps too. A set of LEDs emitting equal amount of light as the incandescent lamp, consumes less electricity. It can be more save by 50%.

Reducing electricity consumption will reduce burning of energy recourses. This is related to environmental concerns.

There are many sources of information to LEDs on the net.

Currently there are already many companies around the world design, manufacturing, and selling LED lighting products.

In fact, I’m also working closely with LED products in my current employment. I really encourage everyone to convert most of their lightings into LEDs.

And today, I happened to find one link which is quite a good resource of information on LEDs. http://www.solutionsforledlights.com/

I am also surprised to read that there’s LED University…!!!

If you would like to study LEDs, here you go http://www.leduniversity.org/index.asp

Alright, that’s all I would like to drop by here.

Last but not least,
Do help to reduce usage of energy resources by reducing energy consumption.

Welcome to Beijing - Olympic 2008 Beijing them song (one of) - Music Video

This is one of the theme songs of Olympic 2008 Beijing.
As far as I know, China has produced many theme songs. This is one of them.
Enjoy...

Riding with Robots - Recommended Blog for Space Exploration

Ever wonder what are the traces found on other planets?
I believe some might think of NASA when want to read or find out info about space.

Well, I found this blog website may be a good source of snaps taken from the space robots sent out to space to explore other planets. http://www.ridingwithrobots.org/blog/

It’s prepared and authored by Bill Dunford. As I have read his profile here, I think he’s quite an interesting man. Riding with Robots is a great blog he has prepared. He writes it as a hobby. He personally also likes photography.

In this blog, you will find photos taken from many planets in the outer space. Bill Dunford will update this blog pretty regular, with latest photos taken down from outer space. His posts will provide direct links to sources where the photos were taken. Further information can be tracked down through “Riding with Robots” linking to sources.

Riding with Robots surely is another interesting blog to be “talk of the town” for space boys.

References:
http://www.ridingwithrobots.org/blog/
Photo Credit:
http://www.spacetoday.org/images/Mars/MarsRovers2003/MarsRover2003_1.jpg

Nissan Skyline GT-R (R35) 2009 - Video

This is one of my favourite Sports cars.


Reference:
http://www.gtchannel.com/content.php?cid=23510
http://youtube.com/watch?v=z_7qRA_9qIw

Walking Assist Device - by Honda Motors

In robotic world, there are so many categories of robots. Examples can be manufacturing robots, medical robots, outer space exploration robots, agricultural robots, and the most recent one, the humanoid robot. Many will immediately think of ASIMO when talking about robots. It’s the popular robotic research by HONDA.

Now, HONDA, with its continuous R&D in its technologies in many sectors, has now announced its latest development in assisting human. It's the Walking Assist Device.


It’s a device to support people with difficulties in walking. Targeting at elderly or those having weak legs.

This device consists of two intelligent motors. Each motor responsible of supporting one leg. Both function in harmony to assist the person to walk more comfortably.

The device claimed to help one to increase his/her distance of footstep. This means, he/she will be able to walk with bigger steps. It’s meant for those having shorter than normal footstep. Well, I believe the footstep distance is limited to the actual possible step that the person is able to achieve comfortably. Otherwise he or she will have too big the footstep and that will pose unpleasant outcome.

(Quoted from Honda World Site) Honda Motor Co., Ltd. will begin collaborative testing of its experimental walking assist device as from July 1, 2008, with Shinseikai Medical Group, Kasumigaseki-Minami Hospital (Kawagoe, Saitama prefecture).


The device will be evaluated to monitor its performance in helping people at rehabilitation centre to relearn walking. Device bugs (issues) will be identified and solved during the period.

So, not long we will see many elderly able to walk more energetically with this Walking Assist device.

Reference:
http://world.honda.com/news/2008/c080630Walking-Assist-Device/

Hancock - New Hero - Action Movie

We all know Superman, Batman, Spider Man, Fantastic 4, Etc. but...there's a new supernatural human. Is he a new Hero? Well, we'll just have to see him in "Hancock"...



And here's the official website of Hancock (The movie): http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/hancock/site/main.php

Want to watch more clips? Here… http://www.youtube.com/user/HancockTheMovie

Will you miss it?
I definitely will not.

Water Powered Car (Japan)

So, petrol price is increasing and increasing and increasing. Ever ending?
We have to look for alternatives now, and here it is...

And it saves environment too...

New 11000 millionaires emerged in Australia (2007)

Erm…I’m no millionaire, but am trying to be one. Try? Means trying to earn more. Of course legally. Hehe…

I was reading news today, just browsing around news presses to get updates on fuel prices, and came across this news in The News Straits Times (Malaysia), titled: “Australia now has 172,000 millionaires”.

Wow…that’s huge figure for me.

The initial sentence of the news even shocked me more. It said: “Another 11,000 Australians became millionaires in 2007 in US dollar terms”.

Oh my god…!!! 11000 new millionaires emerged in a year?!!!

Ok…now, it makes me think that I might have to migrate to Australia to be one. Haha…!!!

So, which country has the most number of millionaires?
It’s United States with 3.03 million millionaires in 2007.

Notice the word “million” being printed twice. Million of Millionaires.

Ok…it sounds like I’m so amazed with this. Why not? I’m not a millionaire yet, and I want to be.

After United States, it follows by #2-Japan, #3-Germany, #4-United Kingdom, #5-China, #6-France, #7-Canada, #8-Italy, and #9-Switzerland. Australia being #10.

The end.

I need a break. Need to plan hard on how to catch up with them. :p

Or shall I just forget it?

Reference:
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/NewsBreak/20080625175330/Article/index_html

HP rocks market with 16 new laptops

Today, 10th June 2008, HP released 16 new laptop models for consumers and businesses. I personally have been waiting for this moment. HP really caught my attention today, and I believe many out there are also excited to hear this announcement.

For the entertainment laptops, it rolled out the new dv4, dv5, and dv7.

The Presario also has its new models as CQ45, CQ40 and CQ50 series.

And the most interesting and important release of all is the new lineup of HP Laptops, the EliteBook series.

The HP EliteBook laptops are built tough. It’s semi-ruggedized. It’s built to meet the MIL-STD 810F military-standard durability.

The EliteBook features HP DuraCase – brushed anodized aluminum exterior casing combined with a magnesium alloy chassis.

All these with latest hardware specifications to be picked.

More details at:
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/2008/080610xe.html?mtxs=rss-corp-news
and
http://www.hp.com/large/campaigns/personal_again/index.html

Malaysia petrol price at RM2.70 per litre

Ladies and gentlemen, all Malaysian settlers, it’s going to be RM2.70. You know what I’m talking about. It’s the petrol price. You have time to enjoy rate of RM1.92 till 12:00 am 5th June 2008.

This is earlier than expected. It's earlier than what they said yesterday that they are planning to hike it in August 2008.

Let’s try a rough calculation for the effect on my fuel consumption.

My fuel tank capacity is 50 litres.

However, I normally used up 40 litres before refuel. So, normally I pay RM76.80 for 40 litres of petrol. Now, I’ll have to pay RM108 for 40 litres. That’s an increase of RM31.20 for 40 litres of petrol.

Wow…!!!

Diesel price has also been raised up. It’s going to be RM 2.58 per litre.

References:
http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=22902

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/4/nation/20080604175025&sec=nation

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/Frontpage/20080604171620/Article/index_html