2Achieve-07

2009-03-09T17:17:00.024+08:00

HELLO PEOPLE!

It's been confirmed that we will be holding a 3d2n class chalet during the March holidays. Since it's the only appropriate holiday that we can play like crazy before our O levels, I would appreciate each and every one to come!

The chalet will be held at Costa Sands ( downtown east ) during the 16, 17 & 18 of March, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday! For those who are interested in helping to get the materials for the chalet, please contact HALEY at 94307049 for more information :}

The approximate cost per person is around $15.00 considering the price of the chalet, and the materials for the chalet. For those who are interested in coming, but are unable to pay the full amount, please talk to BINGFENG for more details. You can always take loans from CHUENJYE as well!

The current plan ( itinerary) is set as..

- On the 1st day, we'll check in at 1445 and proceed to activities such as swimming & other activities -.-" As for dinner, we'll be having bbq! Whooo ~ ! At night, we'll be going out for night walks and maybe cycling too :}

- On the 2nd day, . . . IDEAS NEEDED! :X Thanks!

For your information, the confirmed list of people going are as follow..

Weixiang √
Bingfeng √
Chenglip √
Junyuan
Marc √
Timotheus
Jessica √
Shaun √
Xing Ru √
Asyraf
Syafikah
Yais
Matin
Rozaihan
Nani
Haley √

The ones who ain't sure yet are,

Xiaohui
Jieling
Aminruddin
Gordon
Ferryandi

Fyi! Those who are going to the chalet, please turn up at 1445 or after :} Any matters considering finances, please turn to BINGFENG!

SEE YOU THERE THEN! WHOOOO ~ !

2achieve'07 Gathering 25/11/08

2008-12-15T15:06:00.010+08:00

Here are some pics for 2achieve'07 Gathering 25/11/08:

Travelling towards our destination

Settling Down...

Miss Lai n Boon Ping

Group Picture

2008-10-27T12:46:00.004+08:00

2achieve'07 Gathering
Date: 25/11/2008.
Time: 10am-5pm 5pm-7pm 7pm-9pm
Venue: Sentosa / Vivocity
*Plan R (Rain) Marina Barrage.

1000 hrs - Meeting @ Woodlands MRT
1130 hrs - Reach Sentosa
1400 hrs - Picnic
1700 hrs - Leave Sentosa, travel to have dinner
*If you intend to go home, can...*

1900 hrs - Finish Dinner
*If you intend to go home, can...*

1915 hrs - Movie
2100 hrs - Home.

2008-09-04T13:48:00.004+08:00

HEY GUYS, WE WILL BE MEETING AT 3.30 AT CAUSEWAY POINT AND TAKE BUS TO THERE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT BINGFENG AT 81609432.

AND LASTLY, THE BBQ IS FREE FOR ALL!

2008-09-01T20:18:00.002+08:00

Hey loves. I think we all can take bus 168 to Bedok interchange from woodlands interchange. and then get a bus from there, and maybe 4 people take a cab from there to support the bbq stuff. :) It's much nearer. Taking the mrt to bedok is extremely far la plss.

<3, Syafikah.

2008-08-31T12:07:00.005+08:00

Directions to East Coast Park.

Service 401 to East Coast Park Service Road (Sundays and Public Holidays only).
Services 16, 155, 196 to Marine Crescent or Marine Terrace and walk across the underpasses or overhead bridge.
Service 36 (from Changi International Airport) to City; alight at Carpark F3, outside SPARKc@Marine Parade. Then take, services 16, 31, 36, 55, 76, 135, 155, 196, 197 and 853 to Marine Parade Road

Service 16: Bedok Interchange

Service 155: Toa Payoh Interchange

Service 196: Bedok Interchange

Woodlands (NS9) - Eunos (EW7)
WALK TO AND BOARD THE TRAIN AT WOODLANDS (NS9) MRT STATION ALIGHT AT EUNOS (EW7) MRT STATION

Service 13
WALK TO AND BOARD AT EUNOS STN, SIMS AVENUE (149m away)ALIGHT AT BLK 45, MARINE CRESCENT AND WALK TO YOUR DESTINATION (369.31m away)

Service966. Board from Woodlands Regional Interchange. Alight at Marine Parade Road. Walk to East Coast Park.

Lets Meet Up !

Date: 05/09/2008

Time: 4.30pm

Meeting Point: Woodlands MRT, Passenger Service.

2008-08-29T22:25:00.007+08:00

HI GUYS! We are going to have a BBQ to celebrate 2achieve BBQ

2ACHIEVE GATHERING
Date: 05/09/08 [Friday]
Time: 7pm [We will start earlier if most of us have reached]
Venue: East Coast Park. Area D. Pit 44. [CONFIRMED]

Please bring 5 dollars along.

Food we will be eating.
Chicken Joint Wing
Cooked Banana Leaf Mackerel
Cooked Normal Otak
Sambal Sting Ray
Ketupat
Cooked Chicken Satay
Cooked Beef Satay
Black Pepper Lamb Chop
Choconana
Coca Cola
Chrysanthemum Tea

HOWEVER! THERE ARE STILL SURPRISES!

Pls come earlier if you want to play volleyball. PLS FIND SOMEONE WHO HAVE VOLLEYBALL, as volleyball will not be provided.
Pls bring lantern or candles too!

2008-07-30T20:15:00.003+08:00

Great Memories!

2008-07-23T22:02:00.002+08:00

Last monday [21/7], 2achieve had a farewell gathering for Miss Lai (aka Mrs Teo)

Pictures for the gathering.

JiaHui the 'PRO'

Shaun busy with his food

Looking At?

Syafikah eating...

Guys... [Frankly, bingfeng look so GAY!]

Guys2 [Dunno what JiaHui is eating]

ChiobuS

Syafikah and Miss Lai

Nicole and Miss Lai

Shuan, Andy and Miss Lai

4 Idiots?

Group Photo

Group Photo [FunShot]

WANT TO SEE MORE?
Go This URL:
http://s38.photobucket.com/albums/e136/Bingfeng1993/Miss%20Lai%20Farewell%20gathering/

2008-07-19T21:59:00.004+08:00

2ACHIEVE GATHERING [CONFIRMED]

Monday [21/7]
Right after school, option to walk to CWP or take bus to CWP together
We are going to seoul garden to eat (Or we can decide when we are on the way to CWP)
Pls bring 20dollars. (There will be leftover)

We will be meeting at canteen. We will be leaving together at 2.45pm

2008-07-17T19:45:00.002+08:00

There will be no 2Achieve gathering on this Sunday [20/7]. As Miss Lai is not free on that day. I think we better find a date that all of us are free. 31/7 is approaching

2008-07-16T20:46:00.002+08:00

To my fellow classmates,
please give me an answer on when you are free. add me in MSN, Phenomenonful1993@hotmail.com, i will be online most of the time. juz leave a msg can le. those who haven get the notebook from nicole, get from her ASAP.

bingfeng signing off

2008-07-14T21:44:00.001+08:00

There is NO gathering on Wednesday, i think we will postpone it till nxt wk.

2008-07-06T13:08:00.002+08:00

2Achieve'07 Gathering

Date: 16/07/08(Wed)
Time: 3pm
Will be meeting in school, then bus-ed to CWP

Please bring:

Ez-Link card.
$10

We will be having lunch with Miss Lai or Mrs Teo at Pizza Hut.

Please tag on the tagbox, if you cannot make it that day.

NOTE: Please get the notebook from Nicole, to write dedications for Mrs Teo. [If you haven done so]

Regarding the gathering!

2008-06-27T23:10:00.002+08:00

Hello all!

nicole here.

there will be a farewell party for Mrs Teo held probably next next monday. 07/07/08 . sch holiday. but might shift to any wkday's lunch time. will get her a cake. place should be pizza hut. all share the money for all the expenses. weixiang will pay first,right? so we pay him back slowly. will get her a nice notebook. so we can write our dedications put our photos , email , and whatever shits we want. all must write atleast a page ya.

our 2 ach gathering will be at next sat or sun; 05/07 or 06/07. will be watching a movie. Hancook by will smith, i suppose. then see what we plan to do then.

chalet will be held during the sept holidays. cant get a chalet now u see. so start saving up!

Gathering

2008-06-25T21:42:00.000+08:00

Guys, regarding the gathering.
We'll be organising a chalet(2days 1 night/3days 2 nights).
If you guys want it to be 3days 2 nights, the amount you have to pay will be more.
Date not comfirmed yet or rather the whole thing is not being comfirmed yet.
If you guys don't want the chalet, maybe give other suggestions?
Anw, those we comfirmed that they can make it for the chalet, please inform either me, Nicole or Xiaohui ASAP.
By the way, the chalet's gonna be on weekends.

;jieling

Outing soon?

2008-06-24T22:42:00.000+08:00

Hello all.
Plan a outing soon?
Any suggestion?(Tag at the tagboard)
It's either we have it on the weekend or during the september holis.
It's better if we have it during weekends.
As september holis is still like two months away._.

:D

2008-06-19T22:39:00.000+08:00

Our formal shot .
Our informal shot .

Hello all , jieling here . Came to changed the blogskin , to make the blog alive .
Well , if you guys think that the blogskin is not nice , go ahead and change it .
I'm fine with it .
Last but not least , spammers please kindly leave this blog .
I hate it when you guys spam without leaving your names behind .
Take care readers .

2008-05-14T22:12:00.002+08:00

2Achieve Gathering.

Hey guys, this 2achieve gathering, maybe the last time we are gathering. so try to make it. Please~

Date: 24/5/08
Time: 1330-2200

Activities:
1.Meeting at Woodlands MRT Station
2.Trip at Sentosa
3.Dinner
4.Night Movie
5.Home

I know it's abit expensive to watch movies during a saturday, however, i think those who cannot afford it. we will fork out money to help. Dun worry, as we are 2ACHIEVE

2008-05-09T15:38:00.004+08:00

Finally, MID YEAR EXAM ENDED!!!

Should we have a 2Achieve'07 gathering again?

If your answer is YES, then pls continue below:

We are going to Sentosa during the afternoon, guys would see hunks, i mean babes, and ladies would see hunks. Play around sentosa. After that, VivoCity for dinner then a night movie.

Please have your lunch, before meeting.
Meeting location at Woodlands MRT Station
Time: 1300
Date: MOSTLY ON WEEKDAYS [Due To: Expensive weekend prices]

2008-04-26T12:53:00.002+08:00

This song reminds me of 2achieve doing spring cleaning during last year Chinese New Year. Almost all the class sang that and Mr Sunjay laugh at us when we sang that. HAPPY MEMORIES!

2008-04-26T12:42:00.002+08:00

Good Luck FOR ALL 2ACHIEVERS'07 for MID YEAR!

CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE 'N' SHINE!

-Bing Feng

2008-03-31T18:15:00.026+08:00

Today we celebrated Miss Lai Birthday with her! It was so enjoyable!
Click on the pictures for a clearer view, due to some technical problems, photo quality is lowered [ALOT]
Pls take the disc from BingFeng, which contains the original file

2008-03-27T20:34:00.003+08:00

Hi guys bingfeng here,
Next monday [31/03/08] , is Miss Lai's birthday. Ching Yee, Yu Ying n I, is planning on the whole of 2Achieve, to celebrate with Miss Lai. We could not organise during night, as Miss Lai will celebrate with her dear husband.

Date: 31/03/08
Time: 1430 [2.30pm]
Venue: School Canteen
Fees: 2 dollars per person

Contact bingfeng at 81609432

2008-03-01T10:01:00.004+08:00

Miss Lai Weddding photos

2008-02-13T03:29:00.000+08:00

2achieve BBQ on the 6 of feb, we had a great time there, hahas, im really sorry for those who cannot attend on that day.
-Picture taken from jieling's blog [Thank you Jieling]

2008-01-28T16:39:00.000+08:00

Hey guys!
Wei xiang and me, are planning of a class BBQ, on 5th Feb (Tuesday), you guys would just pay a small sum of money 5-8 dollars if not wrong.

Venue: Sembawang Park, Pit number to be confirmed
Time: Around 2000-2200 (05/02/08) [Tuesday]
*Those willing to help out, come here by 1915
Fee: 5-8 dollars (To be confirmed)

*Vegetarians must be informed before either me or weixiang beforehand
*FOOD IS HALAL
PS: TELL ME WHETHER IF YOU ARE GOING OR NOT!!! GIVE ME A CLEAR ANSWER!

Memories twoACHIEVE

2007-11-07T13:37:00.000+08:00

Memories of twoACHIEVE '07

As requested by a single-digit number of you,
(I can't really say majority now, can I?)
here are some photos of twoACHIEVE '07 for memories.

Class Photos ^
The unofficial class photos.
I have yet to scan the official formal and informal ones.
Any kind soul? I doubt it.

TheBOARD ^
Yups. The board that everyone wants to take home.
Now you have a pathetic picture of it in this blog. Oh hurrah.
Come to think of it, what happen to the real thing?
Wonders.

teacher'sSIGNATURE ^
You can read, can't you?

NarimaH ♥

Lights Out

2007-06-27T13:53:00.000+08:00

Hey, anyone wants to watch the last soccer matches in the National Stadium before it will be teared down?

The student price is $8 and adult price [if there's a sold out for children's price] or $15. There is also the Premium Gallery price where you'll be receiving a goodie bag, but it also comes in a nice price of $40.

Anyone who are interested could give me a call at 94307049.

Thanks.

haley harrison :)

Please Don't Die Bloggy. :'(

2007-06-16T23:28:00.000+08:00

Y HALO THAR, FELLOW EARTHLINGS. How's it been. Feelin' good? How's yo momma!? ...Alright, alright. I'll skip the formalities. Tis' Hana here, by the way. Just thought this blog needs updating, is all. :)

Anyway, school's starting in just a week. Aren't you glad? Frankly, I'm not. I'm missing a few pieces of homework and life's been very uneventful for me. But, who cares? What have you guys been up to? Been scaling the Himalayan mountains? Gone through a marathon of ridiculously, tear-jerking Korean drama serials? Contemplated world domination? Wait, that's just me. Hehe, sorry.

Well, the holidays are coming to an end. Enjoy it while you can. AND DON'T FORGET YOUR HOMEWORK.

Like I did. =P

One more thing. Here's a video to educate you about the importance of safety. It's kind of in the stupid-funny genre so it's not meant to be taken seriously. =)

Die dulci fruere,
The Literal Nightwalker aka Hana

2007-05-27T21:45:00.000+08:00

Who wants to go and watch the movie "Blades of Glory"?
Marc, the organizer is asking whoever to join us for the movie tomorrow.

We are meeting at 6pm outside Breadtalk for an early dinner and to book the tickets for the movie at 7pm. Those interested or have any questions, could message or call Marc at 91178804 or myself at 94307049.

Thank you.

Haley Harrison

2007-05-10T12:37:00.000+08:00

there was a suggestion
on making a class jacket
those who agree hands up!

-whatever.

anyways, it's expected to be more expensive
than class t-shirts
but you all rich rich one where cannot afford.

suggestions on the design
appreciated
anyone?
objections pls inform

class jacket is..
very unique
[any other class got class jacket meh?]
can wear anytime
[class t-shirt cant be worn for class activities.]
[boring. jacket can wear during rainy rainy days]

and think of it's benefits yourself larh

.: AkaShiro NarimaH :. ♥

2007-05-03T17:46:00.000+08:00

first of all,
goodluck to everyone
for the mid year examinations.

keep it in mind that it is just 2 weeks or so of perseverence
just bear with those naggings from parents.
its normal.
they just want us to suceed
that at certain times
it pressures us, true?

secondly, im displeased.
how did ms lai found out about the books behind?
which mouth actually told her?
its betrayal.
we are supposed to stand as one,
and yet some people do this.
-_-
i know i dunt put books behind,
but what about the rest of the class pupils?
it would be rather inconvinient.

thirdly, i would like to congratulate some people.
the prefects.
yes, nani, dee jin and rozaihan.
hell yes, you 2 are already selected
(:
congratulations ok.

fourthly, happy birthday to the may babies.
everyone of them, from the beginning of the month
to the ending, or the middle.

fifthly, to the class couples.
no names to be mentioned
so as not to offend anyone.
good luck, who knows it owuld last.
xD

lastly, what do you htink should be the class theme
for BE YOURSELF DAY.
im looking forward. (:

take care,

syafikah.

2007-04-27T21:49:00.000+08:00

I realise something.
I dont know why it's just a just though.

anyways,
why do people only update the tag-board?
what the heck is the ~~bloody~~ posts for?

talk general arh.
i mean come on man.
the only thing that's updating is the tag-board.

wah piangs you know.

okay that was not standard english
there isnt even such words.

-whatever-

nutzzies.

.: NarimaH :.

2007-04-16T19:02:00.001+08:00

Im the 1st integrity guy, tml got compre test, as told by samsoo

2007-04-04T22:27:00.000+08:00

firstly,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO JESSICA
wahahahahh.
i enjoyed viewing Jessica being tortured by those many presents.
great for her.
we should do that again.
include big boxes of rubbish even maybe.
and bring along some cakes to dirty up her face.
wakakakakk.

come to think of it, i gave her a small cake to eat herself.
and a candle included.
i wonder what she wished for?
hmm...

secondly,
GOOD LUCK TO SYF PARTICIPANTS
even though you got to skipped class
still still, good luck
and try your best to get a silver.
then the school will be in an exuberant mood.
if you receive a bronze or C.O.P.
then of course, it'll be very depressing in school.
or so says Mr. Sam Soo

thirdly,
EXTRA DAY FOR WEEKENDS
since it's a good friday this friday.
enjoys people.
let's just pray that the teacher's remember no such thing of good friday.
and then never give us extra holiday homework.
wouldn't that be nice?

.: NarimaH :. ♥

Cheap Adobe Alternative

2007-03-31T11:57:00.000+08:00

So, you need to finish up a design project that requires the image-editing capabilities of Photoshop along with the vectorized lines of Illustrator, and it needs to be animated in Flash with documentation in a PDF. However, you blew your budget on bling and a sweet alpaca-skin bongo set.

Take your head out of the microwave. There is indeed a way to save your project and your wallet from the $2,500 price tag of Adobe Creative Suite 3. You just have to be a bit…creative.

Photoshop is arguably the most powerful and certainly the most well-known of the Adobe set. Heck, the term “photoshop” is now a slang verb that describes altering an image. The program’s popularity is well-deserved, with an array of features that is mind-boggling. Unfortunately, that incredible feature set comes with associated bloat, and Photoshop is quickly becoming the military tank of image editors: yes, it gets the job done, but no, the job description should not include cruising down Highway 101.

Paint.NET straddles the middle ground between The GIMP and simple photo editors.

We’ve got two great, free alternatives to Photoshop. First, Paint.NET utilizes the Microsoft .NET Framework to create a stable, lightweight app with nearly every major function the home user could want, from a Lasso tool to Gaussian blur. The interface is completely familiar, with the added benefit of translucent panels that make it easy to see what’s going on when the windows get cluttered. Paint.NET doesn’t yet support RAW format, however, which certainly limits its range.

If it’s not in The GIMP default interface, there’s likely a plug-in for it.

The second major image editor far more closely rivals Photoshop in features and functionality, if not in appearance or price. The GIMP is a freeware editor that started off in Linux and was eventually ported to Windows, boosting its audience and popularity. It seems to include almost everything that Photoshop does: channels, layers, masks, more than 100 filters and effects, tabbed palettes, RAW support, editable text tools, and color operations such as levels. And if the feature you’re looking for isn’t in the main program, chances are very high that someone has created a plug-in for it, including digital printing. Though the GIMP may be more difficult to install and start using than Photoshop, it takes less time to get it up and running once you’ve got it set the way you like.

Inkscape aims to create an open-source client that’s compliant with XML, SVG, and CSS standards.

Photoshop is not the only design juggernaut with a free analog. The tools in Illustrator, everybody’s favorite vector-graphics software, also can be emulated without too much fuss. Enter Inkscape. It’s not the only one of its kind, although it seems like it at times. Many of the now-essential tools found in its competition show up here, including paths, text, markers, clones, alpha blending, transforms, gradients, patterns, and grouping. The app also supports Creative Commons metadata, node editing, layers, bitmap tracing and direct XML editing. It does all this, and more, without an enormous system footprint or any installation fuss.

Much like its siblings, Adobe Acrobat does its job well, except that it, too, can become a black hole for system resources. If you’re looking for a good PDF reader, Foxit PDF Reader has been a favorite, deserving of its popularity. It opens PDFs from the Web quickly and without hanging our system, not even for a few seconds. Adobe Reader has improved recently, but it can still take some time to load.

Primo PDF works by adding a “Print” option to your existing software.

PrimoPDF is a great PDF maker for similar reasons. It’s lightweight with a small footprint and easy to use. Primo installs as a “Print” option in every program you’ve got, so you can create a PDF using anything from HTML documents in Firefox to images in Paint.NET. Simple PDF publishing doesn’t need to be any more complicated than that.

Last up for today, let’s look at Macromedia’s–correction, Adobe’s Dreamweaver. Though Dreamweaver is the acknowledged leader in the field (besting Microsoft FrontPage), there have been full-featured Web development editors floating around since the early days of the Web. KompoZer, built on the NVU architecture, is a good free option that is beginning to approach the functionality of Dreamweaver.

KompoZer’s three-tier toolbar is intuitive yet powerful.

The interface is different than Dreamweaver’s, but it should still feel familiar. Major editing buttons live in a three-tier toolbar at the top of the program that includes a one-click Publishing icon as well as one-click buttons for Image insertion and Table and Form creation. Font tweaks like Size and Style live in toolbars just below for easy HTML editing. A Site Manager, including File tree, is anchored on the left, although it can be collapsed. We didn’t notice any screwups when playing with the WYSIWYG function. Running lean and mean lets KompoZer compete more than adequately with better-known competitors.

As the cost of high-end graphics editing software shoots up, and digitally produced art continues to improve in quality, it’s going to be increasingly difficult for starving artists to acquire the tools they need. These apps show that not only can those tools be made for free, in many cases they run better than the expensive pay-for-use industry standards.

Tomorrow, I’ll take a look at some free alternatives for Flash, Premiere, InDesign, and other apps in the Adobe Creative Suite.

Source: Cnet.com

2007-03-31T11:56:00.000+08:00

The day appears to be dawning when you don’t have to treat your laptop as if it contained raw eggs, thanks to technology called solid-state drives (SSDs) that will replace hard drives and their spinning discs with banks of flash memory chips.

Units have appeared on the market recently from vendors like Samsung and SanDisk, in sizes ranging from 4 to 32 gigabytes, packaged so that they plug into disk drive slots. (Samsung has announced a 64-gigabyte unit to be available by summer.)

So far, none are sold through retail channels, but market research firm Gartner Inc. has issued a report estimating that global consumption of SSDs will increase by a factor of eight in the next three years, rising from 4 million this year to 32 million in 2010. Samsung has announced even more optimistic projections, expecting sales to grow by a compound annual rate exceeding 200 percent through 2010.

Better than memory sticks

You probably associate flash drives with USB memory sticks, which are not only slow but subject to their own form of Sudden Death Syndrome. But the new solid-state flash drives use a different form of flash memory, industry analyst Rob Enderle explained to LiveScience.

“Their speed used to be 20 percent faster than magnetic media, but now it’s two to four times faster,” said Enderle, head of the Enderle Group in San Jose, CA. Meanwhile, each flash memory cell can only change state so many times before wearing out, but the new drives make sure that the same cells aren’t used over and over, with repetitive actions being relegated to RAM, he added.

The speed is such that SanDisk claims that a portable computer using one of its SSDs can boot the Microsoft Vista Enterprise operating system in 30 seconds, where a mechanical drive would take 48 seconds.

Additionally, SSDs don’t make any noise, emit little heat, and consume on average about half the wattage that mechanical drives consume.

Shock resistant

But the big news—for all those laptops users who gingerly ease their machine onto the desk when setting it up—is durability.

Samsung claims that its SSDs can survive shocks about six times more powerful than hard drives can survive, and about 20 times more vibration. SanDisk calculates that the average life span of its SSDs is two million hours, or six times more than a mechanical hard drive. Meanwhile, hard drive failure is the cause of 25 to 45 percent of all laptop deaths, Gartner estimates.

Fujitsu has come out with a version of its portable Lifebook computer using an SSD. A unit with a 32 GB SSD costs $1,200 more than a unit with a standard hard drive. However, so far it is available only through volume purchases to institutional customers.

Source LiveScience.com

2007-03-26T20:56:00.001+08:00

In the near future, longer-lasting batteries could run on virtually anything sugary, including tree sap or flat soda pop.

Scientists say these sweet new batteries could operate three to four times longer than the conventional lithium ion batteries commonly used in cell phones, laptops, MP3 players and many other portable electronic devices. And they are biodegradable.

"By bridging biology and chemistry, we can build a better battery that's also cleaner for the environment," researcher Shelley Minteer, an electrochemist at Saint Louis University in Missouri, said in a prepared statement.

Sugar is used as fuel by all living things. Now Minteer and her colleagues have adapted enzymes from nature that can strip charges from sugar to generate electricity in fuel cells.

Like all fuel cells, the new device combines fuel—in this case, sugar—with air to generate electricity and water as the main byproducts. Unlike other fuel cells, all the materials used to build the sugary device are biodegradable.

The key ingredient making up the new device is the charge-stripping enzyme. The scientists incorporated this enzyme into membranes composed of chitosan, a commercial compound derived from crabs, shrimp and other crustaceans. These membranes are then integrated into fuel cells.

Minteer and her colleagues have developed a small prototype battery about the size of a postage stamp to successfully run a handheld calculator, findings they presented today at the American Chemical Society annual meeting in Chicago. They said the fuel cell could be ready for commercialization in three to five years.

So far the researchers have run the batteries on sap from trees and cacti, flat soda and sweetened drink mixes. They also tested fizzy sodas, but Minteer noted the carbonation appears to weaken the fuel cell. So far the best fuel source is simply ordinary table sugar dissolved in water.

Potential applications include portable cell phone rechargers. Other uses might include powering remote sensors for detecting biological and chemical weapons. Future research may include modifying the battery's performance for high temperatures and extending battery life, Minteer said.

Source: Livescience.com

Scientists Make Ice Hotter Than 100degrees

2007-03-19T21:23:00.000+08:00

Scientists have turned water into ice in nanoseconds, which means really, really fast. That's not the most interesting part, though. The ice is hotter than boiling water.

The experiment was done at the Sandia National Laboratories' huge Z machine, which generates temperatures hotter than the sun (setting a record here on Earth) and where researchers test what we know about those plain vanilla "phases" in textbooks: solid, liquid and gas.

"The three phases of water as we know them—cold ice, room temperature liquid, and hot vapor—are actually only a small part of water’s repertory of states," said Sandia researcher Daniel Dolan. "Compressing water customarily heats it. But under extreme compression, it is easier for dense water to enter its solid phase [ice] than maintain the more energetic liquid phase [water]."

Also at Sandia: Zero to 76,000 mph in a Second
Ice is odd. Most things shrink when they get cold, and so they take up less space as solids than as liquids. But regular ice, of course, takes up more space than water. A simple experiment of putting a (preferably cheap) full water bottle in the freeze overnight will demonstrate this.

In the new experiment, however, the volume of "water shrank abruptly and discontinuously, consistent with the formation of almost every known form of ice except the ordinary kind," according to a Sandia statement Thursday.

Apparently, there are at least 11 other types of ice that most of us don't know about. They're classified by how they behave at certain temperatures and pressures. You might have heard of one: Supercooled water can be below 32 degrees but not frozen.

Problem is, scientists don't know the specifics of all these states. Hence the Sandia research.

Dolan said the work "helps us understand materials at extreme conditions."

He was surprised by how quickly the water froze. Rapid compression—around 70,000 times normal atmospheric pressure in a tiny fraction of a second—caused the rapid freezing, he figures. When the pressure was relieved, the ice melted.

"Apparently it’s virtually impossible to keep water from freezing at pressures beyond 70,000 atmospheres," Dolan said.

That's good to know, for people who are trying to solve water's many mysteries.

source: livescience

2007-03-18T15:26:00.000+08:00

I do declare
it is of sheer nonsense to listen to Mr Sam Soo about this blog being -whatever-

do we really have to put a password?

why on earth are we listening to him about this?
this is a public blog after all.
and besides, it's not like his blog is being password protected.

it's like being a baby crab listening to out 'father' crab
who is asking us to walk straight.

go figure larh.
i know it doesn't make sense the first time you read it.

and anyway, the fact that the password is miss lai
could actually be mistaken for ms lai
or someone who is so -erms- spirited? (semangat)
could actually write 'miss lai zhen yue'
as the password.
or lazy ppl could just write
'lai'

the point is, the fact that this blog is password protected
annoys and irritates me.

oh well.
i could just joly well remove it.
since i know how to do it anyway.

what's the big fuss?

speaking for myself.

.: NarimaH :.

Route to Bishan Park for those KuKus' who forget or don't know how to get there

2007-03-07T22:37:00.000+08:00

Services 132, 133, 136, 165, 166, 169 and 262 from Ang Mo Kio Bus Interchange.

OR

Service 410 from Bishan MRT Station. RECOMMENDED as it is not mention on the powerpoint slides showed b the teachers, but maybe it is a long route, so the teachers dun wan

Help My Senior Vote

2007-02-20T13:07:00.000+08:00

Hey ppl, take ur family's IC n vote for BeeS Unite NOW!!!!!
Here's the link www.nemation.sg and click on view n vote

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

2007-02-18T21:41:00.001+08:00

hey guys!
here to wish everyone a HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!
well erm.
hope everyone get many ANGBAOs!
and hope everyone hav fun too!
=D
CHEERIOS!

-JESSICA here.

2007-02-13T19:21:00.000+08:00

Just to remind u guys/gals, pls bring the things are going to bring for the hamper wrapping thingy or else miss lai 'ki siao'

And ppl suggested to me dat we should put some picture of our class(mates), so pls select a date n go for a outing, or shuld we w8 until and excursion then we class ms lai take picture? so pls suggest on the cbox then i read liao, i make a survey on it

Bing Feng signing off

Those wif frenster

2007-02-06T18:21:00.001+08:00

Those wif frenster pls add dis group
http://www.friendster.com/group/tabmain.php?gid=249238

Announcement

2007-02-04T15:04:00.000+08:00

Please take note:

Homeworks will no longer be posted here.
For homework updates check

twoACHIEVE '07 group announcements.

this blog is for leisure purposes.
not to bring people more stress by telling them the homeworks.

please update.
do not leave this blog deserted.

thank you.

.: NarimaH :.

Homework Homework Homework!!!!!!

2007-01-18T21:29:00.000+08:00

Homework:
Maths TB EX5D(pg 72) 1,3,10,12,13,23,24,26,28,30,37,38,39,46,50,57
Geog. wrkbk if you have not complete it

Things to bring:
Again Distintion in Compre

Homework again

2007-01-17T14:10:00.000+08:00

Homework:
Maths Tb Ex5C, Questions: 1,2,7,8,9,17,23,25,27,28,43,44
Science Worksheet
Geo. wrkbk pg 6-8 or 9

Things to bring:
Distinition in English( for wadever) so fast go buy cos or else mr sam soo will blast his head off
Geog wrkbk

Xiao Aikidoist Signing off

homework

2007-01-15T14:56:00.000+08:00

Homeworks:
The science atom worksheet
English grammar worksheet( not sure)

Bring:
The english vocab book
tml got art hor so bring the art things

Tml must stayback for decorating the class so must tell ur parents u r staying back

Tests:
Science Test(16/1/07)
Vocab Test(16/1/07)
History Test(22/1/07)

Xiao aikidoist signning off

Greetings All

2007-01-13T21:50:00.000+08:00

Yo 2Achieve pupils, im goh bing feng(23) making this class blog, buay song i give u all the ID n password u all go edit urself. pls use dis blog to remind our fellow classmates got what homework today or wadever, ya all must work hard got the class u wanna go nxt yr