Science & Technology : Hydrogen Future

WORLD OF HYDROGEN

Using wind and solar power, NASA plans to produce fuel for a hydrogen-powered Cleveland bus to demonstrate what may be an ultimate in renewable energy.

Thinking about clean fuel like I do?

Natural gas, petroleum, coal are out due to the carbon dioxide (CO2) they emit during combustion. Solar power (energy from sun), hydropower such as tidal power and wave power, and wind power are among my favourite ones because they cause no greenhouse gases, but they next level, is definitely the eco-friendly hydrogen power!!!

Hydrogen is a gas lighter than air, exists in a huge amount on our planet in the form of water (H2O). During the combustion of hydrogen in air, it will release a great amount of energy together with and only water. Because of this, "some environmentalists believe a hydrogen economy could greatly reduce the emission of carbon dioxide and therefore play a major role in tackling global warming." [1]

I wish this day will come sooner! How I wish to breathe fresh air even when I am standing behind a heavy trunk or dirty lorry!

If hydrogen is so great, then why haven't we been using it all along? The reason lies in the practicality of the production:

ELECTROLYSIS OF WATER 

"Hydrogen must first be broken out from its compound form with oxygen as water (H2O) using electrolysis or gathered by other means as it does not naturally occur by itself. Hydrogen cannot be mined or drilled as with fossil fuels and requires more energy input to produce it than is generated with its combustion." [2]

In simple words, it means that it will take more energy producing hydrogen than the energy hydrogen will produce later. Metaphorically I put it, it is like spending $100 to make $90. (Do you know why this is the case?)

So it was both practically and economically unbeneficial, but not anymore!!!

From Discovery News, "The project, spearheaded by NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, would use power produced by a windmill and solar energy cells to run a machine called an electrolyzer that splits water molecules into its base elements of hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen, in turn, would be used as fuel for specially-equipped buses."[3]

Don't believe it? Watch it for yourself!!!! Click here!!

And the economical benefits? 

"The idea is that you'd stimulate jobs for the community by folks learning how to build these devices, how to operate them and also what you could use hydrogen for," said Valerie Lyons, a program manger at NASA Glenn. "Maybe people would make forklifts and other small vehicles that run off hydrogen, or convert gasoline-powered cars.

"There's a lot of things that could simulate the economy with different types of jobs spinning off from the hydrogen economy."[4]

Still driving the old dusty money-eating dudes? Think green! Think cheap! Think clean! Say "Aloha!" to the new hydrogen era!!!!!

Citation:

[1][2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_fuel

[3][4] http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/05/06/hydrogen-electrolyzer.html

Resources:

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/05/06/hydrogen-electrolyzer.html

http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/tech-is-it-future-yet-hydrogen-cars.html

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/05/20/echinoderms-co2.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_fuel

Picture resources:

http://img.sparknotes.com/figures/0/02480ae8fc1a41b131a3fdb5a698e9a3/lyticcell.gif

http://pds7.egloos.com/pds/200805/09/81/a0001681_48233259c6f04.jpg

http://www.portaec.net/library/energy/solar_power.jpg

http://www.portaec.net/library/energy/wind_power.jpg

Idioms: Nit-picker

DO YOU NIT-PICK?

Do you know anyone who is picky?

If someone set a higher standard than yours, and you think that is asking too much, we call them the nit-pickers.


You see the picture on the left? That is a louse (plural "lice"), and nit is the egg from this very tiny little insect, which appears on the body of your pet cats and dogs, or maybe even inside your bed or clothes, etc. Since louse is already so small, its nits are even more microscopic. Thus a nit-picker is a person nobody likes to work with because they are "trying to pick bones inside the eggs" as the Chinese put it.


Examples includes:
1) Monkey

2) Children

3) Parents

4) Old men






picture resources:

http://www.licehunter.org/images/louse_big.jpg

http://tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:I5uGAY8V1W7-4M:http://www.insectpod.com/images/20070828_bark_louse_big.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/2550887565_34241d2cf8.jpg

http://fotosa.ru/stock_photo/Westend61_RF/p_1701296.jpg

http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1487/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1487R-54927.jpg

http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/rma/lowres/rman5276l.jpg

Vocabulary: News Article "Tough questions at rumpus school"

Today, I read an article on the Standard and I think that it was very well written as the author has used a variety of vocabulary which definitely suits my taste.


Of course, there are many many articles you can read in a day and there might be a whole lot of words you need to learn, but I myself enjoyed the moments of checking dictionary for meanings,usage and IPA because,

"One word learnt is one word MORE in your head, LESS in your guess." -- Locky

And after checking each word, don't forget to try to relate the words to something to help you remember them. Such as relating the words to the spelling of the word (if possible) or a story you can think of.






Here is the entire article:

Tough questions at rumpus school

NickkitaLau

Friday, May 29, 2009

Education chief Michael Suen Ming- yeung has been rapped on the knuckles for remarks about the troubled Pegasus Philip Wong Kin Hang Christian Primary and Junior Secondary School.

According to him, the school in Yau Tong is not equipped to conduct both primary and secondary classes.

Vexed by that view, Hong Kong Education Policy Concern Organization chairman Mervyn Cheung Man-ping said yesterday the Education Bureau should not therefore have approved an application to run junior secondary classes.

This came after officers from the Independent Commission Against Corruption raided the school late on Wednesday. They took away boxes said to contain evidence.

Suen said the bureau did not ask the graft busters to get involved. However, the bureau has appointed three people to the school's management committee specifically to look into the accounts.

They start work on Monday to ensure a transition of operating rights to the bureau before July 14 so a new sponsoring body can be in place by September 1.

On facilities, Suen said the premises were designed as a primary school and could not accommodate a secondary school at the same time. Still, remaining junior high students may be able to finish the curriculum, he added, and the bureau contacted parents over the past few days to canvass their views ahead of selecting a new sponsoring body. A set of criteria will be announced early next week.

But Cheung wanted Suen to explain why bureaucrats gave approval for primary and junior secondary programs if the premises were inadequate. A decision on a secondary program should be made after consultations with parents and students, Cheung added. He fears a hasty decision will cut interest of potential sponsoring bodies and spur students to go elsewhere.

Board member Ada Wong Ying-kay, meanwhile, claimed that when Carmen Leung Suk-ching was principal she failed to provide documents, which led to incomplete audits. And a parent said Leung admitted at a Parents Teachers Association meeting she was being checked by the ICAC.

The school was named after Ada Wong's father, Philip Wong, and she felt disappointed the ICAC was involved.

She also urged the Pegasus Social Service Christian Organization to stop releasing "inaccurate information."

Vocabulary:

rumpus -- [informal] a lot of noise, especially a loud and confused argument or complaint

to rap sb over/on the knuckles for sth -- to speak officially to someone, in a severe or angry way, because you disapprove of their actions

to be equipped -- to be given someone the skills they need to do a particular thing

vexed by -- Made Angry, annoyed or upset by someone

raided -- (of the police) entered a place suddenly in order to find someone or something

be said to -- [+ to be + noun or adjective] When something or someone is said to be a particular thing, that is what people think or believe about them

graft busters -- officials who fight the act of obtaining money or advantage through the dishonest use of political power and influence

be in place of sth/sb -- instead of sth or sb

to canvass -- to try to discover information or opinions by asking people

inadequate -- not good enough

hasty -- describes something that is done in a hurry, sometimes without the necessary care or consideration

to spur sb to do sth--to encourage someone to do something or make it happen faster

to urge sb to do sth-- to strongly advise or try to persuade someone to do a particular thing

Picture source:
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/newsimage/20090529/5_2009052821053900193SUEN.jpg



Resources:
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=11&art_id=82768&sid=24029680&con_type=1&d_str=20090529&fc=8

Sports: Common Terms in Basketball

Another of my favourite sport when I was in Secondary school. Almost every week, my hostel friends and I would play basketball. Usually, we go by teams of Nation; however, since there weren't enough Taiwanese to form a team, Hong Kong will merge with Taiwan to play against the against PRC, Thai, Vietnameses and Indonesians.

I have to say that we generally played quite well, as we had the "twin towers", two junior boys who were both around 2m tall, but the Indonesians jumped the highest!!!

Anyway, back to the NBA playoffs. It has been playing for awhile now and the Lakers are not as brilliant as many might have expected. I'm no fan of any teams, I just want to see some great basketball, so if you are also interested, I guess you can catch the match on Saturday mornings on TVB Pearl.

Time for some common terms used by the NBA commentators, taken and adapted from the resource links at the bottom of this entry:

VIOLATIONS:

Travelling -- the person with the ball is moving both feet without dribbling the ball.

Double (dribbling) -- the person dribbled once, stop and held the ball, and then dribbled again.

Backcourt Violation -- when a player with the ball crosses the half way line and then back to his own court again.

Goaltending -- when the player attempt a shot and the ball is blocked by the opponent player while the ball is on its downward flight to the basket, that is, has already reached its top point in the air and is coming down.

Foul-Out -- when a player has committed enough fouls to be sent off.

Free Throw -- a kind of compensation for suffering from a foul, a chance to shoot from the free-throw line.

And-one -- when a player is fouled during a shot attempt and is awarded with a 1 point free-throw.

SHOOTING

Jump shot -- attempt a shot when one is jumping.

Layup -- jumping from below the basket, laying the ball up near the basket

Slamdunk/ Slam / Dunk -- to put the ball into the basket by slamming the ball in with one or both arms

Goes for 3 / from downtown -- to attempt to shoot from the 3 point line

Air ball -- when the ball hit nothing at a shot attempt

Brick -- a bad shot

Alley-oop -- a player pass the ball high and over the basket and another player receives it in mid-air and performs a dunk.

Fadeaway -- a jump shot while the player is jumping backwards away from the basket

Hook-shot -- a player with the ball swings the arm in the path of the shape of hook and so the ball gently leaves the hand and heads for the basket.

GAME PLAY

Pick and roll / Screen and roll -- one player blocking the opponent player, acting as a screen for the teammate with the ball and then roll around the opponent to receive the ball.

Double team -- defending one opponent player using two players.

Full-court press -- the defense team apply man-to-man or zone defense for the entire length of the court.

DRIBBLING

Crossover -- to move the ball from left to right or vice versa.

Picture resources:

http://paperthoughts.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/allen-iverson-picture-5.jpg

Suggested reading:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball#Playing_regulations

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Basketball_terminology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball_moves

Grammar: Singular They

Singular "They"

Following the question I asked you guys in the Learning Psychology: Afraid of Speaking in English? entry, I have decided to post the answer here on a separate entry.

From the title, I guess you have already found the answer you want, but how do we actually use it?

Take a look at the following examples:

1. "That's always your way, Maim—always sailing in to help somebody before they're hurt." — Mark Twain, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884)
   
2. "Arise; one knocks. / ... / Hark, how they knock!" — Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

From the above examples, you can see that the word "they" only refers to one person, but we use this to convey the point that:

a) you don't know what the person's gender is.

b) if doesn't matter what the person's gender is.

c) you don't want the readers to know what the person's gender is.

d) you don't want to use generic "he" to confuse others that the person is a male figure because of a) or c).

So, next time, if you are facing the problem of using he/she/it, you can use "they".

Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender-neutral_pronoun
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singular_they

Picture resources:
http://i40.tinypic.com/707vab.png

Animals and Environment: Do Sharks Deserve to Die for Their Fins?

I LOVE SHARKS

Recently, I bumped into a video of my favourite animal since I was young, a video that showed something that I never would have thought about but appeared to be true, that sharks can really be trained just like dogs, dolphins and seals, that they can even perform tricks for human!!!!

How bizarre (meaning "very strange and unusual") is that!!!!

http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/shark-week-training-a-shark.html

I have transcribed the script of the movie clips here for everybody to read:

********************************************************************

"At Chicago's John G. Shredd Aquarium, scientists have opened their revolutionary classroom, a training program used on dolphins and whales has been adapted for an unlikely subject.

It started about 3 years ago, when I first started aquarium's shark school new exhibits, and we began training them behind the scenes in our holding facilities.

For the first time, Shedd placed all shark species in one big tank to avoid feeding frenzy of wild breed, each specie now answers to its own dinner bell.

All the sharks are given auditory call, and then you put their shape in the water. We do our colour contrast to make sure that if they don't see colour necessary but they do see the contrast so they understand that's their shape. And as they approach the shape, we feed them food on the end of tongs as a positive reinforcement.

The training does more than reduce competition, it shatters stereotype.

The idea that these sharks are man-eaters that don't think is definitely starting to change. These animals are very intelligent, they respond to so many different things and they can learn and they understand when they are doing something right.

A star pupil named 'Seamour' not only responds to touch, he performs like a trained seal.

My favourite is looking for Zebra sharks. They are the most responsive to the training, they are sort of like puppy dogs, they love to have their noses rubbed, they loved to be rubbed on their bellies, it just have been so enlightening and very rewarding to see a shark do something that ...you know you normally see a dolphin do. I enjoy every day coming in and seeing these guys just knock my socks off. They amaze me every day."

********************************************************************

I have loved sharks all my life. I despise the eating of shark fins and I never eat it myself. In fact, sharks being at the top of the food chain, carry so much mercury that anyone who eats sharks is prone to mercury poisoning. After watching the movie clip, I understand that sharks are indeed way more clever than we thought. If sharks can do what dogs can do, and we are eating them, doesn't that make you feel like eating dogs?

Looking up on the internet and you can easily find cruel photos of many shark massacres. Like the photo above, the sharks are killed with their fins removed, also known as "finning", while they were still alive and then thrown back into the sea when they eventually died agonizingly of blood loss and suffocation. Have you ever put salt on your wounds? Guess how the sharks feel in the salty sea water?

According to an article on Encyclopedia Britannica -- Advocacy for Animals, "about 73 million sharks are killed each year in this (finning) fashion.

Sharks are not always man-eaters. They are in fact monitors and monitresses of the sea. They helped to clean up injured fish and sea animals thus maintaining the ocean's eco balance. Just like too many sea stars will do very bad harm to mussels and beautiful corals, thus some sharks consume these sea stars to keep the balance.

The tiger sharks are famous for their unbiased appetite, that they eat anything they come across, and it is not hard to find tin-cans, boots, car license plates, plastics, etc. inside their bodies. Who throws all these into the ocean? Man does. Who cleans them up with their body? The tiger sharks do. Who is doing more for the environment? I think you have the answers.

Let me introduce some sharks I like to you next time. Till then, please go to this WWF website for further reading and take a look at the leaflet they published.

Please love the sharks. Will you?

Vocabulary:

revolutionary -- completely new and having a great effect

frenzy -- uncontrolled and excited behaviour

shatter -- to end something

stereotype -- a fixed idea that people have, especially one that is wrong

knock sb's socks off -- to surprise sb very much

despise -- to dislike sb or sth very much, to hate sth or sb
be prone to -- tending to suffer from sth

agonizing -- causing extreme pain

suffocation -- death due to lack of oxygen

Resources:

http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/shark-week-training-a-shark.html

http://advocacy.britannica.com/blog/advocacy/2007/08/man-bites-shark/

http://www.wwf.org.hk/eng/conservation/seafood/sharkfin/

http://www.wwf.org.hk/eng/pdf/conservation/footprint/seafood/sharkfin-e.pdf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbz1Caiq1Ys

picture sources:

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/descript/zebrashark/zebrashark3.jpg

http://advocacy.britannica.com/blog/advocacy/wp-content/uploads/sharks.jpg

http://www.elasmodiver.com/Sharkive%20images/Dead%20Tiger%20Shark%20020.jpg