This is indeed an actual article published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in December 14 2010. An before you go about dismissing/discrediting/condemning the article, take a read at the abstract. There is indeed a logical and insightful reason as to why such an absurd sounding article would be published in a respectable journal.

" Abstract:

The review paper is a staple of medical literature and, when well executed by an expert in the field, can provide a summary of literature that generates useful recommendations and new conceptualizations of a topic. However, if research results are selectively chosen, a review has the potential to create a convincing argument for a faulty hypothesis. Improper correlation or extrapolation of data can result in dangerously flawed conclusions. The following paper seeks to illustrate this point, using existing research to argue the hypothesis that cigarette smoking enhances endurance performance and should be incorporated into high-level training programs. "


Indeed, with the rise of the internet, science blogs, e-magazines and all, there have been multiple instances where stories are published and republished all over the web, without scrutiny into the facts/details, and ends up being taken as truth.

One recent wildfire occurred earlier in May, about how Canadian researchers cured cancer with DCA and the conspiracy that mainstream media were still not going public about it. Turns out, not only was it stale news, with the study being done in 2007, but the study was so preliminary, with a small sample size, and conflicting results, that declaring DCA as a cure just seemed absurd.

Source: CMAJ

So yes, while peer reviews and all are there to "guard the guards", the responsibility still falls on the individual to look beyond the published findings and question their significance. This article serves as a reminder to us all, how a person of authority can possibly put together a seemingly compelling argument built upon a slippery slope.

So what are the flaws in the argument in this article?

Serum Hemoglobin:
Smoking results in the inhalation of carbon monoxide, arising from incomplete combustion. Carbon monoxide binds strongly to hemoglobin, forming carboxyhemoglobin, and thus hindering the formation of oxyhemoglobin, and subsequent oxygen supply throughout the body.

The body responds to this lack of oxygen by creating more red blood cells, thus increasing the overall serum hemoglobin. However, unlike altitude training, this increase not translate to a richer supply of oxygen. Transversely, this increase in red blood cells, coupled with the increase of cholesterol, clotting factors such as fibrinogen and platelets, results in "stickier" blood and a higher tendency for clots and stroke.

Lung Volume:
In COPD, emphysema occurs, in which the alveolars or air sacs are inflamed or destroyed, and lung recoil is greatly reduced. This "unfolding" process results in a larger lung, with decreased surface area. This decreased surface area, coupled with the weakened lung recoil for expiration, and obstructed airflow, leaves the patient gasping, and constantly out of breath.

Weight Loss:
As stated above, most COPD patients are constantly out of breath. This usually leaves them bedridden or immobilized. As a result, muscle wasting occurs through disuse atrophy. In addition, if the patient develops lung cancer, muscle atrophy could progress on to cachexia, which can be fatal. Thus, despite the weight loss, it is unlikely that the muscle-wasting patient will be performing any endurance sports.




As the saying goes, no matter what you do, there's always an Asian who can do it better.



Edit:

Okay the previous posting didn't give this act full justice. Appears that the above video is only the later part of their act. Here's a longer video detailing the action before the TaeKwonDo moves. Appears that they were not only shuffling to LMFAO but also moonwalking to MJ!




Really clever spoof off typical whiskey advertisements.



and here's what a similar looking advertisement, for Irish Whiskey Tullamore Dew.




The latest Banksy in central London.

Source: Flickr - Unusualimage

Indeed the recent Black Friday was a crazy one, with a lady pepper spraying other customers over console games, another cop (off-duty this time) pepper spraying as crowd control, a grandfather bloodied and unconscious, when he was planted face-first onto the ground for wrongfully alleged shoplifting, and a bomb scare, just to name a few.









Yes, it is another cliche video compiling the sounds of make-shift instruments. But, big thumbs up for the clean minimalistic overall feel, the exact qualities encompassed by Muji products.




A second.
What is a second worth?
What do we give a second for?
What's worth a second look?
Do we make every second count?

Or are we just missing out?



190 years ago, Nicolas Rieussec recorded time to an accuracy of a fifth second for the first time - the chronograph was born. To celebrate this unique invention, Montblanc is announcing the one-of-a-kind "The Beauty of a Second" short-film contest presented by the famous film director Wim Wenders.

Your challenge as a video artist is to "seize the moment". Everyone - professionals, amateurs, cell-phone camera enthusiasts -- is invited to capture a one-second long moving picture. The subject can be anything you consider as beautiful: a smile, a child's face, a flower, a piece of the world around you, as long as the video lasts only one second. Capture your second beauty now and get the chance to win a Montblanc Nicolas Rieussec Chronograph. Watch the video to receive further information.




Honestly, not sure why I didn't post this before. IMHO he is STILL the epitome of Old Spice commercials. The best part is that all the commercials were captured in a single cut. Totally awesome!

And to the video that started it all and the wave of memes that followed



and if you're interested, here's a behind-the-scenes look into it. What followed was a wave of witty, smooth talking uncut commercials.









and Isaiah Mustafa was such a hit that he even started doing videos in response to fans' internet responses on Youtube, Facebook and Twitter. So much more awesomeness, smooth talking, wit, and random props altogether. Here are some of my favourites:








Another local wedding with a fan-boy twist to it. A pity that the bride and bridesmaid weren't really in on Star Wars theme. Some latex outfits or togas might have fit the bill, though their turquoise dresses do come close.

So, what's up next for our generation? Power Rangers? Teenage Mutant Ninga turtle?






Source: One Eye Click




Love the father-son bonding time here, really letting the child's imagination run freely beyond the limitations of the screen. Not to mention having an awesome room, much to the envy of his friends for sure.

Parenting - You're doing it right!






American Music Awards 2011.
LMFAO.
Party Rock Anthem.
Sexy and I Know It.
A shuffling Justin Bieber.
A wild wiggling David Hasselhoff.
Quest Crew.
Will.i.am
Striptease on Stage
Gyration on National TV
An inflatable Zebra

So much EPIC-ness all in one video.
Mind = Blown.

This is the highest resolution I could find thus far (720p). Enjoy ^^x




22 months
1,357 hours
30 people
2 ladders
1 still camera
288,000 jelly beans

Going considerably viral, the official MTV for this enchanting track. Really a unique MTV, reminding me of something OK Go would do, like their toast MTV for "Last Leaf"



and finally a peep at intense time consuming process behind it all. One word - Woah!



Thanks Nick for the share!




If you still do not know already, #OCCUPYWALLSTREET has turned into #OccupyTogether, and it is sweeping nationwide across the United States.

I guess largely the liberation of Libya has had global repercussions, similar to that during the fall of Eastern Europe and USSR. There is an overwhelming surge of belief in power to the people.

Even back home in Singapore, we too had a similar event and rush of emotions when against all odds, the Workers' Party made a historical breakthrough by winning Aljunied GRC in the General Elections.

The difference though between protests back home and in the States, is that, in Singapore, the battles are largely fought online, over social medias, or at rallies. Meek as we are, and all the restrictions in place, Singaporeans don't really hold protest rallies.

On the contrary, in the States, where views are much more liberal, protestors tend to use more action instead of words. However, it should be noted that despite the numbers, most of these protests have been really peaceful.

So now, you have an interesting situation. From history, we know that when Ghanhi stood up against British rule and fought for independence, his non-violent defiance was met with force, mostly in the form of arrests and detentions. There was a growing frustration to suppress him into submission.

Today, we have a similar scenario with the #OccupyTogether movement. As an official of the law, what do you do when a growing number of protestors, legally abide by the laws in place, exercise their civil rights, and refuse to back down?

As we've seen in #OCCUPYWALLSTREET, the ultimatum was macing/pepper spraying the protestors into submission.



10 years ago, the news only came from the media, in the form of photographs, videos or first-hand accounts from on-site journalists. It might have been possible to censor such events from the headlines, or even downplay it.

But today, with camera-phones everywhere, and the internet just a click away, events seen through the public eyes can spread like wildfire. The NYPD defended the use of the pepper spray, calling it "appropriate" use of force.

And now, just days after the above incident, a similar event happened, this time in the University of California Davis. From the National Public Radio article:

"... In a demonstration of support for the Occupy movement, a small group of protesters was sitting, arms linked together. Campus police told them to move. The students didn't. And that's when an officer walked down the line of seated men and women, pepper-spraying them. Some took it straight in their faces...

... Campus police said the officers had been surrounded by protesters and commanders have defended their actions. So did university Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi — which led to a call from the school's faculty association for her resignation. Katehi has since said she wants an outside, independent panel to review what happened and that she doesn't plan to step down..."



So yes, it begs the question. Pepper-spray, like the taser, is supposedly to be a less-than-lethal agent for self-defence, riot and crowd control. However, is it "reasonable use" to pepper-spray non-violent protestors? In my view, the officers could have just picked up the student protestors if they wanted to, it's not like they were armed and dangerous.

But the more impressive turn in this incident, is the response by the non-violent protestors. Also from the National Public Radio article:

"... On Saturday, after a news conference she held, Katehi remained inside one of the university's buildings for a couple hours. Outside, protesters regrouped. And when she emerged, there was one of the most amazing scenes so far related to the Occupy movement. As Katehi and another woman walked three blocks to an SUV, they passed through a gauntlet of several hundred students — who remained silent in a powerful show of their disdain.... "



The deafening silence. The walk of shame. Indeed, silence did speak volumes louder than words ever could.








So if you haven heard of Linsey Stirling, she is a 25 year old violinist from the states, and she really reminds me of a female David Garrett, in that she is really into her music, shuffles/struts/dances her way through it, and both take violins beyond classical genres.

Really love this collaboration she did. Shuffling with a violin is just awesome!



And she does take it one step further with theatrical performance too!




If you have never watched his videos, do yourself a favour and catch them. I really love how he is able to come up with simple anecdotes to scientific concepts, that makes learning light-hearted and totally enjoyable. Totally my idealistic notion of a great lecturer. Really hope that one day I can be like him.

In this video, he touches on Déjà vu, Blindsight, Presque vu, and Jamais vu




Really love the concept of the desk/bar counter. Overall less complex than the lego style apartment of Christian Schallert, which I think is nice too. Guess the trend is really catching on. Hope that they become a thing in Singapore in 10 years time =3




It's 5am, and I just finished reading minutes ago.

Gotta say as a whole, the novel was good. Liked the unconventional approach in storytelling, especially with the play on typography. But I also felt that Oskar was portrayed beyond his years and the approach was a tad too similar to "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time".

It is true that national disasters like 9-11 are effective means of showing the transient and fragile nature of human lives. The novel even goes a step further to draw parallels between 9-11 and the ugly nature of war. However, it is disappointing, and a tad unsavory, that the novel has to borrow the emotional turmoil of 9-11 to sell its sentimental standpoints. The time-frame/events of 9-11 were just not crucial at the crux of it all; any other disaster/accident could have yield the same effect.

However, what really struck me at 5 in the morning, isn't the novel, but rather, the heartfelt scribblings of a previous reader. Yes, it is the 3 lines in pencil marks.


I guess, in an odd cosmic way, these timely words really brought some measure of peace to my troubled mind.

And with emotions sweeping through me as dawn breaks, I like to pen these last few quotes from the books.
If you ever read it, you'll know it's for you.

" How could anything less deserve to be destroyed?

It was late, and we were tired.
We assumed there would be other nights...
I said, I want to tell you something.
She said, You can tell me tomorrow.

I had never told her...
There was never a right time to say it.
It was always unnecessary.
I thought about waking her.
But it was unnecessary.
There would be other nights.
And how can you say I love you to someone you love?

Here is the point to everything...
It is always necessary.
I love you. "





Maybe it's just me, but I totally cracked up to this.




For Ms Yan who has deactivated FB for the finals and for the LULZ.

" This is my generally silly dog, Haiku, a Siberian Husky / Australian Shepherd mix (we "think") who just turned one year old.

And this was his very first ride through the car wash.

Turns out, it was a very terrifying experience :)

(No animals were harmed in the making of this video. Soon after the ordeal ended, we stopped to vacuum out the inside of the car and Hike was bouncy and happy as ever. He makes the same horrified face when I drag him into the tub for a bath, although he loves running through puddles in the rain and swimming in mud.

I wasn't planning on posting this when I filmed it, so the real background sound was of me and my mother laughing over the situation in our native language. When I replayed the video at home, I figured it was too hilarious not to upload. And then the Jaws theme music just seemed more fitting. "




Love the nostalgic jerking from rotoscoping, a technique developed for older cartoons in which animated-action sequences were hand-drawn frame by frame from live-action shots. Really hope that even as computers get more advanced and photography gets more common, the art of drawing by hand never dies.




The latest bioscience jingle from Invitrogen. Really in time for the festive season and the LULZ




So yeah, The Rock finally returned to WWE, set for Survivor series. And I don't know about you, but I'm excited in a way of seeing The Rock again. Sure, he does look older (dang, makes me feel darn old too), and yeah the beard really adds to it, but I've never seen The Rock looking so defined. Man...

And, you just gotta love The Rock, he came from an era built by greats like Stone Cold, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Triple H and Mick Foley, just to name a few. It was a world of trash talk, embracing the fans, and bringing entertainment to new heights. All of them played both face and heel so well that they earned the fans respect. That is something really lacking in the WWE today. John Cena is long overdue as a heel.



For some added nostalgia, the LMAO Rock and Sock Connection.



And finally IMHO the best match ever that The Rock has ever been in - Wrestlemania 17. Feuding against Stone Cold and Mr McManaman, that match is still sends chills up my spine.




What started as a single photo from NTU, has now become a viral media including all 4 universities in Singapore, and even a snippet of the chums on exchange. Let's see how long it takes before it goes viral on mainstream media and even abroad. Totally meme worthy if it catches on.

PS: Click on picture for for larger original image.

Source: Credits to Justin on FB for this current version.




"... Can anybody hear me?
Am I talking to myself?
My mind is running empty,
In this search for someone else,
Who doesn't look right through me.
It's all just static in my head.
Can anybody tell me why I'm lonely like a satellite?

Cause tonight I'm feeling like an astronaut,
Sending SOS from this tiny box.
And I lost all signal when I lifted off.
Now I'm stuck out here and the world forgot.
Can I please come down, cause I'm tired of drifting round and round
Can I please come down?... "



" Being human is the most terrible loneliness in the universe. "
- AA Attanasio.




Sometimes, in life's little ways, a message can be hit home hard.

Earlier, in month, I had received a graduate employment survey from TP. Yesterday, I received the graduate employment survey from NTU.

And reality just snapped at me.
Yes, everyone has moved on, but I'm still stuck here.

It is crummy that strikes are occurring in UK and I'm affected by it.
It is crummy that the project might be in jeopardy.
It is crummy that I'm going nowhere fast.

"... Stop and stare,
I think I'm moving but I go nowhere.
Yeah, I know that everyone gets scared.
But I've become what I can't be... "


Darn it. The only comfort I guess, is that the Prof did ask the opinion of my references. As rejections are not informed, I guess it is up to my own discretion.

"... Stop and stare,
You start to wonder why you're here not there.
And you'd give anything to get what's fair.
But fair ain't what you really need... "


I can tell that the stress is getting to me.
Outbreaks even with regular sleeping hours.
Refreshing my gmail more than facebook.

These days, I'm just dreading gatherings. Friends. Family.
Always the same questions.
The same ones that haunt me each night.
The ones, which I too wanna know the answers to.
I know they mean well.
But it is just harder to keep a straight face with each passing day.

I'll give it another week.
Another hopefully 7 days.
Another long 168 hours.

I really need a distraction.

Christmas shopping seems to be helping.
I really love shopping for presents.
Especially when I'm about to start a new chapter.

To me, it is a journey down memory lane.
Reliving all the times spent together.
Past jokes. Dreams shared. Arguments fought. Tears shed.
The gift is never the target, but a culmination of the process.
Although it may seem totally random at times, it is not.
One way or another, it reflects the moments that our lives intertwined.
Moments that I hold dearly.

So yeah, if you are reading this and do receive a gift this Christmas, don't feel bad.
I do set aside cash throughout the year for this period.
From not going on holidays, not getting new clothes/specs, blogging, book scholarships and such.
All I hope is that random it may be, the gift has value to you to.

And if sadly you don't get a gift from me, don't take it to heart.
As much as I could save, the budget is pretty tight this year, so yeah.

Merry Christmas to all in advance!




Personally, I think this is the only great thing about the upcoming Twilight movie. Musically, it doesn't tug at my heartstrings as much as Jar of Hearts, but the cinematography used throughout just sends chills down my spine. And no, I am totally not referring to the Twilight snippets, could have well done away with those imho.




Shoddy workmanship and quality control, together with misplaced sensor, equal lots of LULZ.




Just came across this amusing story from CBS 5 - KPHO.com.

"... There's been documented cases of people going to the hospital with alcohol poisoning just from utilizing it that way," Thomas said.

Thomas spends his days patrolling the halls of a Valley high school. He's heard first hand how kids are getting tipsy.

"What we're hearing about is teenagers utilizing tampons, soak them in vodka first before using them," Thomas said.

"It gets absorbed directly into the bloodstream. There's no barrier, there's no stomach acid to prevent it," Thomas said... "



There's just so much fail in here that I don't even know where to start.

Nowhere in the entire article or video did the "experts" make a direct clarification or assertion that they've seen such a case. Worst still, Dr. Dan Quan seemed to be grossly misquoted, much of his speech is stitched and pieced together and he seemed to be describing what the possible outcomes and dangers could be, rather than giving first-hand insight.

Direct accusations of teen folly, and list of lethal consequences are mainly done by the narrator and not either expert. In all, the argument just seemed like a slippery slope, with one assumption leading to the next.

As amusing as this might be, I would also like to point out the following. Rectal insertions (Suppositories) deliver drugs much quicker and more potently than oral consumption because they escape dilution/digestion/interferences in the stomach/intestines. But more importantly, this route it bypasses the first pass effect and thus are not metabolised by the liver.

Unlike what is described in the video/article, there is still a barrier in place even with rectal insertions (ie: the mucous/rectal wall). The only method of delivery with no barrier would be intravenous shots (IV).

The other thing I would like to comment is that while the the tampon is shown to soak up 1 shot of alcohol, it had to be squeezed dry. Firstly, I'm not going to comment how tight/loose one's vag/rectum, but it is highly likely that you'll squeeze out a large portion of the shot trying to shove it up there. There's a reason why sex toys do have a certain level of rigidness.

Secondly, you would have to "suck" it dry to get the shot of alcohol, or what's left. That'll take awhile, preferable lying down. Suppositories usually advise that you lie down for 15 mins for maximum effect. So after that, they would have to remove the dry tampon and change it? Sounds really labourous work for a few shots.

Honestly, if they were willing to go through all that trouble, why not just do it the AWOL approach. Yes the actually machine is banned in various states, but if you are willing to go to such lengths, you would probably be able to replicate this with some bong/tube/pipe/cup and a flame.




Okay, so finally got my Dota 2 Beta invite earlier today. The game is quite small I must say, just around 1.5G, as compared to the enormous 12+G for L4D2. Will post up a photo later of the running game when the download is done.

So, how do you go about getting the invites, well, first off go onto steam and register for the Dota2 Beta. You should really have done this months back when the Internationals had just ended.

Next off, complete the official survey on Steam. The process should look something like this. Once is has been done in Steam, it is more or less, just a matter of waiting.

And yes, if you are one of the luckier ones who did this way before the current frenzy, you would probably already have one of these.





Sometimes, art just borders on amusing to disturbing. This is one of those moments. Some things are probably best heard and left unseen.



What has been seen, cannot be unseen




The shop caught my eye while I was at City Square Mall. Yes, I'm a sucker for such bright lettering. And on seeing that milkshakes were for sale, I was instantly sold.

Source: Makeshake Fb Page

Makeshake's concept is similar to that of Cold Stone Creamery, in that customers can choose from an array of add-ins to blend in. And boy are you spoiled for choice. Besides the usual Snickers, Kit Kat, fudge, raisins, granola, etc... there are more exotic items like English breakfast tea, earl gray, Nutella and even coconut. These are added to their homemade malted vanilla ice-cream and milk and blended into a smooth finish.
Gotta say, the main shocker for me was the size of the cups. I tried the Simply Marshella (Nutella & Marshmallow) for $3.90, and was simply stunned by the cute little cup I received. Yes, it is barely the height of my N9.

But, on hindsight, I would say that it was the right size. Having sold milkshakes before in TP, I would say, the cost of milkshakes is really in the volume of ice-cream used. Most vendors would increase the volume by adding ice, which ends up diluting the milkshake. Here at Makeshake, only ice-cream and milk were used, thus, the shake remained thick and consistent to the last drop.

Personally, I will opt for the larger cup ($5+) on a future visit, but that's just me. As Dawn put it when I shared with her, the small cup (about 2 scoops of ice-cream?) would probably be enough of a sinful indulgence for most.

So yes, if you get the opportunity, do drop by City Square Mall, Farrer Park MRT, and try it out. They're at #B2-K2/K11. You just can't miss the colourful sign! I will definitely be back again to indulge in the earl gray and breakfast tea flavours!




The trailer for the first of the Snow White trilogy is out. And yes, thankfully, Kristen Stewart is looking more kick a$$ than a vulnerable-despaired-needy-helpless-lovesick girlfriend. In fact, I think it is a rather interesting take on Snow White being the "fairest of them all", when she's all geared up like Joan of Arc.

And personally, I think I saw more emotions there on Kristen, than in the entire Twilight saga thus far. But then again, maybe that's me.




And cause the inner Indian geek in me just loves Tamilish-English and geeky gaming references.

And yes, totally love the following popularized phrase, totally the best online pickup line to me.

"We've got keyboard chemistry."




Miss watching this all from years back. Brings back lots of fun memories I must say. Heh, maybe I might even start playing DDO once again for the heck of it.




Previously, I blogged about how Gearbox went about fulfilling a fan's perfect proposal through Claptrap, and honestly these days, it might not seem as a lot, in the host of many different wedding stunts, outdoing one another.

Well, in all, marriage is just one of the stages of life. So is birth, and so it death.

Source: Gamingbits.com


As quoted from the Destructoid article:
" This morning, we received an email from a Destructoid fan named Carlo who shared a story about his late friend Michael John Mamaril. Last month, Michael passed away due to cancer at the young age of 22. Both were huge Borderlands fans, so Carlo thought a great way to honor his buddy's memory would be to shoot Gearbox Software an email asking for a short eulogy to be read by the game's smart-mouthed robot mascot Claptrap. Not only did Gearbox comply with the request, it also promised to insert Michael into the upcoming Borderlands 2 as an NPC. "

This just blew my mind. Gearbox truly has taken fan-interaction and integration to a whole new level. Totally worthy of a standing ovation and a salute.

The eulogy is on Soundcloud, but has been marked private, thus I'm unable to share it here. However, you can hear it for yourself from the Destructoid article




Was strolling along Orchard Road today, when I heard this melodious tune at the Junction of Cineleisure and H&M. Gotta say, it is my first time seeing or hearing a dulcimer, and I'm mesmerized by the notes it produces. As Daniel puts it, it is very much like those tavern BGMs in RPGs.

Speaking with Ivan, I learnt that it was a native American instrument. Looks-wise, it is a cross between a zither and a ukelele, and its neck was thin enough for a capo to be used.

Apologies on the first video, I was so absorbed into it all, that I only noticed later that my finger was in the way... and video quality is a tad down due to smudging.. and it only halfway as I was listening to him, and decided dang, this is too good not to be recorded. The second video, on the other hand, is a complete song. Enjoy!





It also appears that he performed live earlier at the Esplanade Concourse for free, so you might have caught him there.

" The Appalachian Dulcimer is an instrument native to the south-east region of the United States surrounding the Appalachian Mountains (Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia). This sweet sounding plucked instrument has a history of about 200 years and is most commonly heard in bluegrass and old-time music, also known as mountain music.

Ivan Ng, 19, is self-taught on the Appalachian dulcimer. With humble beginnings busking at Read Bridge, Ivan has since made appearances in Sentosa’s Lights of Spring and National Day Celebration together with Dulcet Project & MIG respectively. Apart from exploring the American folk tunes, Ivan also has great interest in trying out other genres of music on his instrument. "




One of those scientific "magic tricks" that never fails to amaze. Yes, it is based on Leidenfrost effect and some demonstrators even go so far as dipping a wet finger into Liquid Nitrogen.



and this was demonstrated really well by the mythbusters too, when they dipped hot iron into water, and human fingers into molten lead.



As quoted from Wikipedia:

" The Leidenfrost effect is a phenomenon in which a liquid, in near contact with a mass significantly hotter than the liquid's boiling point, produces an insulating vapor layer which keeps that liquid from boiling rapidly...

... The effect can be seen as drops of water are sprinkled onto a pan at various times as it heats up. Initially, as the temperature of the pan is below 100 °C (212 °F), the water just flattens out and slowly evaporates. As the temperature of the pan goes above 100 °C (212 °F), the water drops hiss when touching the pan and evaporate quickly. Later, as the temperature exceeds the Leidenfrost point, the Leidenfrost effect comes into play. On contact with the pan, the water droplets bunch up into small balls of water and skitter around, lasting much longer than when the temperature of the pan was lower. This effect works until a much higher temperature causes any further drops of water to evaporate too quickly to cause this effect.

This is because at temperatures above the Leidenfrost point, the bottom part of the water droplet vaporizes immediately on contact with the hot plate. The resulting gas suspends the rest of the water droplet just above it, preventing any further direct contact between the liquid water and the hot plate. As steam has much poorer thermal conductivity, further heat transfer between the pan and the droplet is slowed down dramatically. This also results in the drop being able to skid around the pan on the layer of gas just under it...




Finally got around to watch this documentary, and gotta say I'm impressed by it. I am normally quite skeptical towards exposé style documentaries. as they are normally quite biased or tilted, and tend to fall towards generalizations.

However, in "Addicted to Plastic" the facts are given to you as it is. Rather than just showing viewers the harmful effects of plastic to the environments and all, it shows you the fuller picture. You end up with a fairly light-hearted documentary, with a humour sprinkled in, that is informative for all, and filled with solutions.

By the end of the 1.5hrs, audience are left to find it within themselves. You could be just a consumer, or a designer, or even a manufacturer, and there will be something to take away from it all. Indeed, there is a sense of hope. This is a growing global issue, and thus, its only natural that actions have to be taken at all different levels of the community.



PS: I guess as a blogger, the question I have here is, how many of you, the readers, will actually watch it, and take an active step to share it over your social media outlets? Be be twitter, facebook, bloggers etc.

We are already sharing/spamming these social outlets daily with all forms of entertainment/LULZ/crap/jokes/quotes/photos. But when it comes to something meaningful as this, will be take the time to share it? Will we take such steps towards changing our society for the better?




What do you think, is the worst part of living? Disability? Cancer? A broken heart? Loss of a love one?

To me, the worst possible thing in life, is none of the above. Sure, the end is crushing, The knowledge that something is definite and can never be changed is devastating. But with each end, comes a beginning, a hope, a means of coping.

No.
The worst part of living,
is waiting for that end.

The sheer weight with waiting. The growing void of nothingness. The anticipation of the worst possible outcome. The replaying of options that could have made a difference. The torturous self-doubting. The uncertainty of when it will all end. The inability to control it all. The helplessness to affect it. The incapacity to move on. Paralysed, emotionally and physically. The lonely detachment from the world, that only those like you who were waiting too would understand. The eventual sense of loss in everything - track of time, grip on reality, hold on sanity. Yes, this unbearable agony when a swift death is denied. Indeed, it is life's sickest of torments.

And yet, we are guilty of it.
Possibly everyday.
To the people we love the most.

Yes.
The worst thing you could do to anyone, is to ignore them, deny them an answer, and leave them waiting.

The worst thing is you could give anyone,
is absolutely nothing.




A book. Music. Tea. Nature. The simple life.

This new Starbucks outlet is a tad out of the way, you have to take a 5-10 minutes walk from Buona Vista MRT. New appartment buildings are in the works around it, so hopefully carparks won't be an issue in future. Gotta say I love the serenity of the second floor. The feel just reminds me of Flutes at the Fort.


PS: As construction works are going on around it, especially more in this rainy season, do avoid wearing dark colours if you're intending to sit outdoors, lest you attract mosquitos.




Really sweet editing and nice camera angles and style. Mirror edge / Assassin Creed Singapore anytime soon?




Yes, it seems that it is based on the Super Sentai version rather than the Might Morphin' version we are nostalgic to, but hey, it's a start. Maybe they'll add characters as it goes? Gotta say though, the lack of a Megazoid equivalent in the teaser is quite a letdown.




Something I just had to do with my new N9! Different perspective to a common sight around Singapore.


PS: Yes it is from the dengue posters around town, the mosquito at the top of the photo was cropped out.




See.





Chat.






Find.

Remember.