The Things Behind The Veil- MICSS Science Camp CHHS KL

1 June 2011 5.00pm - On my way back to my rental room in SS15, Subang Jaya right after the dusk of the 7th MICSS Science Camp, a procession of stuffs - the people, the 3D glasses, the lectures, the water rockets, the notes, the "Woa!" and so on - kept swinging around in my mind despite the fact that I was seriously worn-out at that moment.

With all due introspection and now retrospection, I feel an exciting realization had been learned throughout the whole process. 7th MICSS Science Camp was my third experience as a part of this national splashy festival. I would say, if there were one-word-definition for these three experiences, it would be the 'Exploration' for the first, 'Reach-Out' for the second and 'Understanding' for the third, for this time.

Obviously, I'm not going to spend much more time talking about the fun stories and social activities in the science camp, which most of the participants was already done the job. Instead, the 'Understanding' will be the protagonist of this entry - the understanding of the essence behind the veil of science camp, and just as much, the understanding of the seamless influence between the people and the living environment.

The Things Behind

Chong Hwa Independent High School, Kuala Lumpur was the host of this 7th MICSS Science Camp, which is one of the finest independent Chinese high school in my country. Being as one of the team leaders, I worked with the teachers and the student facilitators to make sure the whole process of the science camp was in the right pathway. I was wholly impressed in each time when we were in the meeting room discussing the related matters. First, the teachers, energetic and reverend, they tended to ensure every single tiny stuffs of the science camp would follow their way - the proper rules - ahead. We did been scolded and advised because we didn't seriously bring their instructions into account and wind up the jobs which we should completely take care of. It made sense, we deserved it. They created a phenomenon to perk up all of the working team people doing their right jobs determinedly and delibetately cut down the possibility of the occurrence of mistake.

Second, the student facilitators - the students from CHHS KL, they were another big impression I found in the science camp. They kept working, kept working and kept working under the deadline pressure. They not just worked efficiently and feverishly, but also willing to share out their ideas of coping the problems when teachers were exhausted and struck in several particular plannings - this was a very important element that I'm always talking about to my follow juniors - the involvement. I saw this spark over there which performed extraordinarily and differently from a group of machines - the machines only run the task that have been told - which produced by our sealed-minded education system. You guys were really awesome.

In the end, that kind of spirit turned out to make the 7th MICSS Science Camp become the most time-efficient and work-efficient science camp after all. So, what is the true reason in behind? I would like to cite out one word for this - Discipline. They were the great examplers of that, they did it. Discipline is the vital and fundamental principle that shape up a co-operation work. It's the result of successful leadership and organization. People might have tons of big dream and ideas, but if they forgot to hold on the underlying discipline - slowly climb up the ladder, just thinking to spring from bottom to top, they will just keep falling down, those big dream will still always be the far and unreachable dream.

"To turn really interesting ideas and fledgling technologies into a company...requires a lot of disciplines." - Steve Jobs, Apple Inc.

The Difference of the Environment

One of the major reason that I love to engage in this kind of national camp/event is because I get to meet and know the people from everywhere of our country, ranging from rural area to big downtown. It's true that a group of people living in a same community would have a smiliar collective of mindset, they create their unique way of communicating with people, they follow the way what their predecessors coped with the matters, I think that's what so-called 'culture'. Another fact that, the world is so huge from an angle of view as a human being. People from every corner of the world shape their own unique culture and which is very different than others, I think we call it 'diversity'. When various 'cultures' meet with mixed 'diversities', a significant impact will happen and people starting to exchange their beliefs, perspectives, attitude and so on - It's absolutely what the chemical change behind the every camp and event. However, I noticed that, some of the students was misunderstood the concept, they were aiming just for the prizes/awards - I know, a fraction of them were under the pressure of school as well.

A good story like this: It was really an unexpected surprise when I was talking with a girl who was a senior one student from CHHS KL. She asked a lot about my post-high-school opinions and, you know, according to my past experiences, I assumed that something a senior one student might not know, I unwittingly tried to make my answer to be simple. However, I was wrong afterwards. Apart from the way she talked, she does have a clear idea of the world issues and something like SAT, AP, Ivy League - In contrary, most of the students, even the teachers in my high school would just know the 'SAT' as the past tense of 'sit'...Woe. The apparent difference as a result of the difference in both living and study environment.

So, the importance of conveying this story is to point out the uncanny problem in our current society - public ignorance. Undeniably, we might born into a small town with limited information, but all of us, in normal situation, have the same privilege to get to know the information through newspapers, internet, social works, books and so on. Here are my suggestions: Grasp the chance to talk with people when you're in front with a group of new faces, for instance, in the science camp. Secondly, read more, listen more and be enthusiastic in one or more hobbies. Make sure to follow up the current world issues and probe into the particular area that you're interested. Even though those informations would never appear in your exams or tests, but they're basically the practical wisdom and knowledge that would enrich your personal life and mold your own personality and critical thinking.

Oh ya, lastly, I would like to apologize over here for my less 'caring' on my team members. Unlike my second science camp experience, I did have plenty of time sharing and interacting with my fellow members, we had a great time over there. This time, I was rushing around and turning around throughout the science camp which turned out to have only a fleeting moment to talk and accompany with you guys. Haha. Since the social networks are ubiquitous now, let's keep in touch no matter where we're =)

Gonna stop over here now. I'm getting more sort of like anthropological-style of writing. Haha.

Seize on every opportunity to explore out yourself. The experience will be more precious than getting an award or attending a class. Think about it.

Super Weird: "SUPERMOON"

Thanks to an epidemic of the social media and social network. News and informations are spreading too fast to be aware of. Since the Japan's devastated earthquake and worst-ever nuclear crisis are roaring up recently, tons of dim rumours regarding natural disaster, leak of radiation, iodine aid, even the 2012-The-End story are brought into limelight. However, without precise information and authentic judgement, a procession of unnecessary panic over people keep arising from hollowness. What a weird scenario when you were keep witnessing people foolishly proliferating the rumous which derived from unreliable source and starting to be in fermet over that. Gossips and rumours are always interesting and fascinating, people take great relish on them. But, as a civilized man, think about them before you believe on them.

For example, the title of this entry, SuperMoon. The tragic earthquake and tsunami in Japan Friday set the Internet abuzz with the idea that the moon, which will be at its fullest of the year on March 19, played a role in the devastating natural disaster. Even worse, the buzz indicates that an ever-greater disaster will descend upon our lovely earth on that day, keep tons of people into the dismal mood.

The seed for the idea was planted by an astrologer, who contended that this large full moon – a so-called "supermoon"– would touch off natural disasters like the Japan earthquake since the moon would make its closest approach to Earth in 18 years. Remember, astrology isn't a science.

So, what is the real theory behind? In accordance with the info. source from NASA. NASA scientist Jim Garvin explains the mechanics behind the moon's phases and the causes of the supermoon. Garvin is the chief scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

"'Supermoon' is a situation when the moon is slightly closer to Earth in its orbit than on average, and this effect is most noticeable when it occurs at the same time as a full moon," Garvin wrote in the NASA statement. "So, the moon may seem bigger although the difference in its distance from Earth is only a few percent at such times."

The full moon of March will occur next Saturday on March 19, when the moon will be about 221,567 miles (356,577 kilometers) away from Earth. The average distance between the Earth and the moon is about 238.000 miles (382.900 km).

"It is called a supermoon because this is a very noticeable alignment that at first glance would seem to have an effect," Garvin explained. "The 'super' in supermoon is really just the appearance of being closer, but unless we were measuring the Earth-Moon distance by laser rangefinders (as we do to track the LRO [Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter] spacecraft in low lunar orbit and to watch the Earth-Moon distance over years), there is really no difference."

It was astrologer Richard Nolle who linked the full moon of March 19 to natural disasters. He claimed that this "supermoon" would trigger massive earthquakes, volcanoes and powerful storms when it arrived. But scientists assure that this is not the case.

Garvin, for example, said the moon's effects on Earth have been the subject of extensive studies.

"The effects on Earth from a supermoon are minor, and according to the most detailed studies by terrestrial seismologists and volcanologists, the combination of the moon being at its closest to Earth in its orbit, and being in its 'full moon' configuration (relative to the Earth and sun), should not affect the internal energy balance of the Earth since there are lunar tides every day," Garvin wrote.

But while the moon helps drive Earth's tides, it is not capable of triggering devastating earthquakes.

"The Earth has stored a tremendous amount of internal energy within its thin outer shell or crust, and the small differences in the tidal forces exerted by the moon (and sun) are not enough to fundamentally overcome the much larger forces within the planet due to convection (and other aspects of the internal energy balance that drives plate tectonics),"

Full story and more related scientific articles right here:

Space.com: NASA Scientist Explains Science Behind 'Supermoon' Phenomenon

Life's Little Mysteries: The 'Supermoon' Did Not Cause the Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami

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My thinking: Whenever we come across any of statements, informations or rumours, please seriously ponder over them. Use our rational judgement and practical wisdom to distinguish between the truth and fake. Don't be so impetuous to show your caring by sharing them out to others. Checks the source of the rumour, reviews the content by using scientific method and intellectual mindset. The creators of those phonies are not the only one to be blamed for. The person who spreading out the lame rumous is the one who hold the responsibility as well to avoid any unnecessary panic.

Be wise to use our social tools. Don't be dim-witted to get involved into the part of irresponsible rumour-spreading progress.

19 March 2011, hava a good night with our stunning and peaceful 'Supermoon'. =)

Graphene chip could hit 1,000GHz, make your Core i7 feel totally inadequate- From MIT

8GHz (with the help of liquid nitrogen) not quick enough? Leave it to the folks at MIT to make sure your zaniest desires are well taken care of. As research forges ahead on graphene, carbon nanotubes and buckyballs (remember those?), gurus at the university have discovered a breakthrough that could eventually lead to microchips that make existing silicon-based CPUs weep. In fact, the research could lead to practical systems in the 500 to 1,000 gigahertz range. The magic all ties back to advancements on a graphene chip known as a frequency multiplier, and while the nitty-gritty of all this is far too complicated for the layperson to grasp, all you really need to know is this: finally, you can rest assured that you'll one day own a chip capable of handling Universe Simulation.

According to a report issued by the MIT news office last week, the research findings will be discussed in a paper in the May issue of Electron Device Letters. They also were described last week at the American Physical Society meeting by Tomas Palacios, assistant professor in MIT's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS).

Graphene is a form of pure carbon that was identified in 2004. It's essentially a one-atom-thick honeycomb lattice of carbon. Since the discovery of graphene, researchers at various institutions have been exploring possible uses for the substance. Palacios believes it will play a key role in future electronics.

While frequency multiplication technology is used in current electronics, these systems generate noisy signals and require significant filtering and power, according to the MIT news service. The graphene chip uses only a single transistor and its output is clean, requiring no filtering.

Palacios, the professor of EECS, said the technology could be commercialized in a year or two. The research is being funded by the MIT Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology and by the Interconnect Focus Center program, and is being followed both in the federal government and by private-sector chip companies.

Looking ahead, MIT's researchers are trying to develop a way to grow graphene wafers suitable for use in electronic manufacturing.

Secondhand smoke is poisonous

http://www.smokeispoisonous.com/ Here is a website that show about how a secondhand smoke release such a lot of poison.According to this website,we can totally know what poisonous thing that secondhand smoke contain:

1)carbon monoxide: This is a gas that we can usually find at the waste gas of the car.
2)benzyne:It usually use to manufacture rubber,detergent and solid oil bomb.Inhale too much of benzyne will cause a people barren and the worst become is Albinism.
3)arsenic:A material that use as a pesticide.But after it had been check can cause the cancer,it is already stop using.
4)Toluene:A additive matter use in production of rubber and bomb.After touch with this matter in a long time,that will cause a people become daftness.
5)lead（Pb）:It always have many badness manufacturer use it product some decoration or even a toy,it can damage the kidney and nerve system.
6)butane:It is one of the destroyer to the ozonosphere,inhale this matter will cause arrhythmia.
7)ethyl carbomate:Use in production of medicine.If have it in long time,it will make a people sick up.
8)acetone:The material of the narcotics.
9)hydrogen cyanide:It is always use to destroy the posion animal.If people inhale it will go into faint and headache.
10)formaldehyde:The most important material of the antiseptic.Cause the people body a lot of poison such as cancer.

Now,you can know that the secondhand smoke is damage our health a lot.Inhale secondhand smoke same with self-murder.So lets we recommend this website to all the people especially the smoker.