Game & Science: Angry Birds in Space!!!

Angry Bird Space
Image from Angry Birds

In my earlier entry, News & Science: Science News Digest (22nd Feb), I have already announced the soon-to-be released Angry Bird Space game, in today's entry, we will look at the gameplay from a physics point of view.

First, the gameplay on Galaxy Note.

Some of you might be scratching your head as to how come the bird will travel with such trajectory? Well, first, let the NASA astronaut teach you.

WARNING!!! VERY TECHNICAL STUFF BELOW!!! Still having trouble understanding? Here's the experiment by Dot Science trying to find out how the gravitational forces on both moons will act on the birds. Newton's Law of universal gravitation If you like to read a little about physics, here's the formula we all should remember back in those secondary school days -- the gravitational forces acted upon the bird by the two moons: (m1 and m2 are the mass of the moons, r is the distance from the centre of one moon to another, vector r is the constantly changing distance between the bird and the moons, G is the gravitational constant  =6.674×10−11 N m2 kg−2. ) Image from Wikipedia If this one doesn't make sense to you, then this one below for kinetic and gravitational potential energy won't make sense either, Basically, at any time, the total of kinetic and potential energy should add up to 0. K is the kinetic energy and Ug is the gravitational potential energy of the bird.

Image from gamerant.

If this is too technical and you don't feel like reading any of that, here's the conclusion from the experiment:

"Clearly, I need more data."

That means, it is so far inconclusive as to how the birds can fly like that because it doesn't seem to match the calculation in Physics, but looks like we will soon know it, when there are more videos of gameplay on YouTube.

For now, let's just wait. 22nd March is on its way!!!


Vocabulary:
gameplay -- (n) [U] is the specific way in which players interact with a game,[1][2] and in particular with video games.
trajectory --  [C] specialized the curved path that an object follows after it has been thrown or shot into the air
inconclusive  -- (adj) not giving or having a result or decision


Resources:
News & Science: Science News Digest (22nd Feb) @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2012/02/news-science-science-news-digest-22nd.html

[GALAXY Note] Exclusive Level - Angry Birds Space @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=10eHOnufWkA

Angry Birds Space: NASA announcement @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxI1L1RiSJQ

Angry Birds in Space @ Dot Science
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/03/angry-birds-in-space/

Newton's law of universal gravitation @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_force#Gravitational_field

Angry Bird Space Official Website
http://space.angrybirds.com/announcement/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gameplay
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/trajectory?q=trajectory+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/inconclusive?q=inconclusive

Technology: Great News For Galaxy SII Owners!!!

Image from Samsung

What is official always sounds better! The moment which Galaxy SII owners have long been waiting for has finally come!!!! The official Ice Cream Sandwich update is rolling out for Galaxy SII in South Korea today via Kies 2.0! And Locky's English Playground is of course bringing you the latest news on that!

Image from Samsung

If you can't read the news in Korean, you can always use Google Chrome's Google Translate to help. From the English report by Mobile Burn,

"The upgrade will be offered to South Korean users beginning on March 13, 2012. It will also be available to users in other countries, including Poland, Hungary, and Sweden, before arriving in other markets like the UK. Galaxy S II owners in the U.S. will have to wait until their respective carriers approve the upgrade before it will be made available to them."

It doesn't say when Hong Kong users will get their updates, but I suppose we can all try using Kies 2.0 today after work, and I am thinking, maybe if I download the Kies 2.0 in Korean, maybe I will get ICS tonight!!!!

Smokin'!!!!


Vocabulary:
smokin' / smoking -- (adj) hot, great

Resources:

Samsung releases Android 4.0 ICS upgrade for Galaxy S II in South Korea, Europe @ Mobile Burn
http://www.mobileburn.com/18896/news/samsung-releases-android-40-ics-upgrade-for-galaxy-s-ii-in-south-korea

@ Samsung
http://www.samsung.com/sec/ics/ics_main.html

@ Samsung
http://www.samsung.com/sec/ics/01_shw-m250s_ics_sec.html

http://samsungtomorrow.com/2388

Kies 2.0 Official Download @ Samsung
http://down2.local.sec.samsung.com/uploadimg2/comLocal/service/support/download/sw/Kies_2.2.0.12014_18_8.exe

Technology: The new iPad, Blessing or Curse?

"Today we are announcing the new iPad and it is amazing!" -- Tim Cooks
Image from technologyreview

Apple's Tim Cooks announced "iPad 3" "The new iPad" on the 8th March, 2012 to celebrate the birthday of Locky's English Playground, International Women's Day,  the end of "iPad + number" naming system.

And here is what you all have been waiting for!!!!! The new iPad!!!!!

"Today, we are announcing the new iPad and it is amazing!" -- Tim Cooks

This is great, isn't it? But I'm afraid this is not what you get.

What will you get?

I tried so hard to find the full-length conference on YouTube and there was almost none! Netizens cut off Tim Cooks as quickly as possible and moved on to the specification part, which reflects how the public think about the performance of Tim Cook's speech.

But Locky is good at researching, so here's what I've found. (Start from 8:17)

Tim Cooks said, "Today, we are announcing the new iPad and it is amazing!" I don't remember Steve Jobs using such a word when he announced the revolutionary iPad, and he didn't! (Start from 5:38)

What does that mean? I think fans and English Players of this Playground knows the meaning of "Good wine needs no bush" by William Shakespeare as I have used it several times, it means that if the iPad 3 the new iPad is really good enough, you don't need to say it is "AMAZING" by yourself, the public will say so. If you are not bored to death by Tim Cooks' speech, go on and watch the Part 3,4,... and you will be sick of the word "AMAZING" forever!!

Okay, let's move away from the speech, how about the specifications?

1. 2048x1536  Retina screen resolution 
2. A5X faster processor
3. Support 4G LTE
4. 5-megapixel camera 
5. weighs 650g, 51g heavier and thicker than iPad 2 and the new Toshiba tablet.

What do the Californian public think about the iPad 3 the new iPad?

Is it a blessing or a curse? For consumers, of course it is a blessing, technology always goes forward, no one looks back, if you are still engaging in the old PC ICQ, you are not wrong, but you are out.

But for the web designers and programmers, this is a curse!!!

Image from technologyreview

Image from technologyreview

What they mean is, because of the increase of resolution, they will need to make their photo images so clear and so big in sizes such that you won't be upset with the lousy quality images when using the iPad 3 the new iPad. And that could mean, 16Gb isn't going to be enough.

Those who are thinking about touting the new product, 16Gb may not be the good choice this time round.

Vocabulary:
good wine needs no bush -- (proverb) sth or sb with quality does not need any hard sell.
revolutionary -- (adj) involved in or relating to a revolution
tout -- (vb) [T] UK (US scalp) to sell tickets for something such as a sports game or theatre performance unofficially, usually at a much higher price than the official price

Resources:

New iPad 3 Concept Features @ YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s2oYUy_cVY 

Part 2. New iPad. Apple Special Event, March 2012 @ YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlaEx366dCo&feature=youtu.be&t=8m18s

Apple Announces iPad (Part 1 of 10) @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kplxBc2iw8M

People: Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2011/03/people-steve-jobs-2005-stanford.html

New 4G iPad 3 Heavier Than iPad 2 @ Smart House
http://smarthouse.com.au/Home_Office/Notebooks_And_Tablets/R3V8C7K8

What are consumers saying about Apple's new iPad? @ USA Today

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2012-03-08/ipad-consumer-reactions/53421854/1

New iPad Means Even More Cumbersome App Downloads @ Technology Review

http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/mimssbits/27634/

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/revolutionary_1?q=revolutionary+
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/tout_2 

Message: Locky's English Playground Is Celebrating Cherry Blossoms Festival 2012

Image from Locky's English Playground

Some smart English Players might have noticed the new theme for our Playground logo and background (PC version only), and yes, you are right!! We are celebrating the Cherry Blossom Festival 2012 for the first time!

So don't get me wrong, these are Japanese Hanji, not Chinese.

"But they are also Chinese characters!!!"

Well, tomato-tomato! (Read as /təˈmɑː.təʊ/-/təˈmeɪ.t ̬oʊ/)

Cherry blossoms at the Tokyo Imperial Palace
Image from Wikipedia

Here's something to learn about the flower-viewing festival from Wikipedia,

1. "Hanami" is the centuries-old practice of picnicking under a blooming sakura or ume tree.
2. Every year the Japanese Meteorological Agency and the public track the sakura zensen (cherry blossom front) as it moves northward up the archipelago with the approach of warmer weather via nightly forecasts following the weather segment of news programs.
3. The blossoming begins in Okinawa in January and typically reaches Kyoto and Tokyo at the end of March or the beginning of April.

Okinawa Prefecture
View Larger Map

Vocabulary:
tomato-tomato! (read as /təˈmɑː.təʊ/-/təˈmeɪ.t ̬oʊ/) -- meaning, same same.
Hanami -- (n)[U] flower viewing, hana is flower in Japanese


Resources:

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/tomato?q=tomato

Flower viewing -- Cherry blossom @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_blossom#Flower_viewing

Okinawa @ Google Map
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Okinawa+&hl=en&ll=27.751608,129.671631&spn=6.559883,11.634521&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=46.677964,93.076172&hnear=Okinawa+Prefecture,+Japan&t=m&z=7

Message: Happy Birthday To Locky's English Playground!!!

Happy 3 Years Old To 

Locky's English Playground!!!

Fun Facts?

Poster for Women's Day, March 8, 1914
Image from Wikipedia

8th March, 1914: First "8th March" International Women's Day in Russia

8th March, 1997: Locky got to know amazing friends in Hwa Chong Junior College, Singapore

8th March, 1999: Locky graduated from Hwa Chong Junior College, Singapore

2009's Locky's English Playground

8th March, 2009: Locky's English Playground's Grand Opening-cum-Birthday

2010's Locky's English Playground

8th March, 2010: Locky's English Playground's was 1 year old

2011's Locky's English Playground

8th March, 2011: Locky's English Playground's was 2 years old

Birthday 2012 Locky's English Playground

8th March, 2012: Locky's English Playground's is 3 years old!!!!!

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Resources:
International Women's Day @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women%27s_Day

Learning Psychology: What's Your Focus?

Image from kdheks.gov

These two days I have been training the Form 3 students' oral skills in order to prepare them for the TSA (Territory-wide System Assessment) Group Interaction paper. Like I have mentioned in my earlier entry, Speaking: A Story Of My Learning, many students lack substance in their group interactions, but in fact for the Form 3 students, there is more than just that.

Every group of students who join me in the practice has no idea of the rules in the examinations, they do not even know how they will be tested. Could it be that the school hasn't prepared them for it, or they simply cannot care less?

After explaining the rules to them, I set my timer to 3 minutes and hit start for the countdown of the preparation time, some will talkto another student in Chinese during this "examination", some will make noises rapping their pens on the tables, and today, I had a classic student who did not even bother writing down anything! Really, it is a matter of choice in the examination for one to write or not write, but he performed terribly, and so I gave the entire group another chance to prepare, and this student looked at me and told me, "I don't have a pen."

I was absolutely disappointed. First, how can anyone go to school without a pen? What does he plan to do in school if he doesn't have to write down anything? Second, couldn't he tell me and ask for a pen before the "examination" started? Third, couldn't he literally ASK me and not say "I don't have a pen"?  The examiner has no obligation whatsoever to lend a pen to any students under any circumstances. The examiner needs not be smart and translate "I don't have a pen" into "may I borrow a pen from you?"

What are these students thinking? What's their focus? Why do they need to go school?

Image from waukesha

I am unsure whether any one of you readers are facing similar problems, fingers crossed, let's hope not, but we must try to ensure this will never happen to our future generations at all cost, otherwise, the future -- their future, is bound to be devastated.

As a teacher, I tried to wake them up, explained to them that in 3 years' time, they will be facing the grand challenge from the HKDSE (Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education) examinations, if they don't start working hard now, when they are in Form 6 they will look back with regrets and tears for their laziness. Some students appreciated and thank me before they left, while some walked out of the room thinking that this whole oral practice was a waste of time.

Obama speaking to high school students
Image from LA Times 

I hate to predict how these kids become who they are now, but if I had a kid, I would definitely be a very strict father because I knew, harder work in the early years means better days in the future.

One day late is one day lost.

Vocabulary:
fingers crossed -- (also cross your fingers or keep your fingers crossed) to hope that things will happen in the way that you want them to
devastated -- (adj) completely destroyed



Resources:
Speaking: A Story Of My Learning @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2012/02/speaking-story-of-my-learning.html

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/cross-your-fingers_2?q=fingers+crossed#cross-your-fingers_2__1
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/devastated_1?q=devastated+