Astronomy: Century's second Venus transit on June 6

KOLKATA: In a rare celestial occurrence, Venus - the second planet from the Sun and the Earth's neighbour - will transit across the solar disc early June 6.


The transits of Venus occur in pairs (within eight years) with more than a century separating each pair, according to an M.P. Birla Planetarium official here. The last transit of the planet was seen on June 8, 2004.

The celestial event, lasting for about five hours 40 minutes, will start around 3:40 a.m. at locations in and around Kolkata. Hence, the beginning of the celestial happening will not be visible until the sunrise, said Debiprosad Duari, the planetarium's director (research and academic).

The occurrence will be visible from anywhere in India. The greatest transit, when the black dot of venus can be observed at the innermost point of the solar disc, will occur around 7:02 a.m., Duari said. The transit will end (called egress) around 10:20 a.m.

The small disc of Venus will touch the Sun's disc internally at 10:04 a.m., and by 10:21 a.m. will be completely out of it. The transit can be viewed properly only after half an hour post sunrise, Duari added.

The entire event (i.e., the four contacts) of the transit, will be visible from eastern Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, the Philippines, north Asia, eastern China, Korea, Japan, islands in the western Pacific Ocean, Hawaii, Russia, Alaska and north-west Canada.

Only the first part of the transit will be visible before the sunset from eastern Canada, the US, Central America, the Caribbean and northwest South America. The last part of the transit will be visible in western Asia, India, Europe, the Middle East and eastern Africa.

Throughout the world, tremendous amount of interest has been generated for this event, as the next transit will occur in 2117.

"One needs to be extremely cautious while observing this event, as Venus will only cover 1/32 of the sun's disc, and looking at the Sun with the naked eye should be completely avoided.

"One should look at this event through scientifically-tested aluminised Mylar filter (also called solar goggles) or, No.14 Welder's glass. Under no circumstances one should use exposed x-ray plate or smoked glass to look directly at the transit of Venus," Duari said.

Historically, the discovery of the transit of Venus not only started a new era of scientific experimentation through international collaborations, but also gave us the first concrete concept of the structure of the solar system.

From ESCIENCENEWS.com

May 22, 2012, 2:40 AM

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Morals: In Every Closed Door Opens a New Window

Many say that when you lost into something, a contest or a game, it is over. When you are out of the spotlight, it is the end. It is always that when we put out something, we thought that it was end, but take off that fear  because it is not true. We receive events that happen after the loss itself, and the world is still not stopping, that means that in every closed door, there is an open window.

In these situations, we really need to strengthen out ourselves because we have two options in life, thinking positive and starting positive, and thinking negative and act negative, too.

Remember that when we lose, this is not the end, rather it is the start of a new event that will blow our lives again, and we should not think bad about it. Let us go with the wind, because as the wind goes, we let go of what will happen to us. We will realize in that way, the good and the bad things life is offering us, so we should not be stereotypical, rather, let life judge your ways. We cannot force everything under our control, because in the end, the real destiny will occur.

Don't cry, be cheerful. Every end is a new beginning. Whether it may be good or bad, this is life. This is what life is to offer, and now summer has to end, starting a new year to study, recall and ponder lessons again, we should now prepare for this loss. Let us study right away and adjust because that is how life goes on. There are transitions in this life that we should be letting go.

Good Day!

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Cars 101: Japan Grows Back

Last March 11, 2011, at 2:46 pm, an earthquake struck Japan. The earthquake damaged several buildings, even the R&D facilities of Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Mazda, and Toyota. The following month, Toyota's production lowered from 254,000 to 49,000. The loss of supplies on car-building, like electronic chips, sensors, and many forms of plastics and rubbers for building tires.

Honda Cars Phils. Inc.(HCPI) had not affected yet because it sourced most of its parts, including the complete CR-V, Jazz, Civic, Accord, and City models- from Thailand. HCPI president Hiroshi Shimizu said,"Some parts we do get from Japan but Honda's production facilities in the region are prepared to take up the slack.

In Japan itself, Honda is the unluckiest of all carmakers. Its Tochigi engine plant and multi-model Sayama assembly complex are in the quake zone and severly damaged. Nissan, too, had a big hit. It has only two engine plants in Japan, and one, at the Iwaki district, was so badly damaged and there is a rumor that it will be abandoned, because it is 56 km(34 mi) from Fukushima.

The carmakers donated vehicles: Toyota sent vans and Prii(plural of Prius), Nissan gave 65 Leafs to medical emergency workers, and Mitsubishi gave 30 i-MiEVs. Why electric cars? It is because the shortage of fuel and gas leaks.


NUMBERS THAT PROVE THE AUTOMOTIVE OF JAPAN

685,655 cars produced in February 2011
99,507 trucks produced in the same date
249,772 cars produced in April 2011
40,305 trucks produced in the same date
60% is the amount of decrease in vehicle production in Japan
756,615 cars produced in September 2011
115,846 trucks produced in the same date
818,817 cars produced last February
123,803 trucks produced last February

NUMBER OF UNITS PRODUCED LAST APRIL 2011

Suzuki: 58,398
Toyota: 53,823
Nissan: 44,193
Mazda: 35,313
Mitsubishi: 27,481
Subaru: 25,391
Daihatsu: 25,391
Honda: 14,168
Isuzu: 4,794

NUMBER OF UNITS PRODUCED LAST FEBRUARY

Suzuki: 86,584
Toyota: 346,215
Nissan: 111,786
Mazda: 70,279
Mitsubishi: 52,205
Subaru: 49,495
Daihatsu: 74,189
Honda: 115,920
Isuzu: 22,666

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Cars 101: CRDI (Common Rail Direct Injection)

Overview

CRDI stands for Common Rail Direct Fuel Injection used in diesel cars, and originated from Japan, Another Definition for CRDI is Diesel Direct Fuel injection, fuel injection is found on most modern cars these days it helps cars to be a lot faster and more realiable and it's another way to make cars cheaper by using direct fuel injection rather than those big expensive unreliable carburetor, CRDI can be found on some of Hyundai's cars such as the Hyundai Accent, Hyundai SantaFe, Hyundai Tucson, Hyundai Starex and a few other of Hyundai's vehicles (Philippines) it is also found on Toyota's vehicles although toyata renamed it to D4-D, It can be found on most toyota SUV's such as the Innova, the Fortuner, and the Toyota Avanza

So what are the advantages of CRDI compared to gasoline engines and Diesel carbeurators?
For One an advantage of CRDI is it burns less fuel and delivers more mechanical energy to the vehicle compared to a normal gasoline engine, CRDI is also cheaper and more reliable than a carburetor because normal carburetors are more prone to damage than Direct Fuel Injection, but the main reason of consumers buying Diesel engines is because of the price, diesel is averagely about 5-10% or maybe even more cheaper than gasoline, they are also better at saving gas.

Disadvantages of CRDI

Some of the common disadvantages of CRDI are high maintenance, compared to gas, diesel engines tend to get very dirty overtime compared to gas, Diesel is also noisier and less environmentally friendly compared to gas, the disadvantage of CRDI compared to carburetor is, Direct fuel injection relies on clean gas without contaminants because Direct Fuel Injection uses a small sort of hole where the gas goes out to the spark plugs which make it more prone to drainage, so tip when using CRDI is gas up at a gas station that doesn't easily get flooded or else your vehicle's engine may get clogged up.

Conclusion

So now we know the advantages and disadvantages of CRDI, so I'm not going to tell you any tip of which you should invest in, gas or diesel or CRDI, the choice is up to you, but just another quick tip: If you wanna save the environment gas is obviously your choice, want a car that's easy on gas, choose CRDI or diesel, just pick wisely, but hey, technology is advancing, engineers are thinking of alternateive ways of saving gas, in the future who knows, diesel may be environmentally friendly, maybe gas would be less consumative, etc. Me and my family own a Hyundai SantaFe CRDI, its quite silent compared to toyota's fortuner you know, these are the hints technology is advancing, humanity is going forward, so choose wisely, and if there's one emotion of human i love, well its wisdom...

By EUGENIO ARAULLO, Writer- Technology **

May 15, 2012, 1:51 PM

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Gospel of the Week: The Unconditional Love

We have read through the Gospel the true meaning of love in our neighbor.

"Love your neighbor as yourself." 

Now that we also are celebrating Mothers' Day, we also commemorate their unconditional love for us, not loving you like how they love themselves, but loving you gravely more than what is expected.  Mothers were sent to be our guides. From being born from their womb, they also admitted the responsibility of nurturing you. They show their deepest feelings with us. In a mother, you could only see the unbeatable joy,  the most grievous cry and the most sincere thanksgiving.

Our moms are the apparitions of God's most humble gift. Its with our mom when we celebrated our first feelings. Our mothers are our pillars. They are supporting us no matter what happens. They are the light, that conquers all darkness in our hearts. They are the planes, that sets us high when we are low. For our mothers, too, we are their happiness, our sadness and our thanksgiving, in all the gifts they received. In short, we are everything to them.

To all mothers, who are presently nurturing their children, and continues in guiding their sons and daughters in the brightness of life, Thank You for inspiring us to do things. Thank You for being the role model of unconditional love. The love of a mother does not require another love back. They give it sincerely and unconditionally. We are challenged today at this Gospel to love unconditionally to our mothers and to our neighbors as well.

Good Day and Happy Mothers' Day!

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Cars 101: Racing Disciplines

Racing is fun and good when it comes to motorsports. The world has created multiple racing disciplines which is legal.

Here are the disciplines:

1. Formula 1- The ultimate form of racing, single-seater, and the elite racing event by the Federation Internationale de' Automobile(FIA). The participants use a 1-seater car, an open-wheel, and carbon-fiber tub.

2. World Rally Championship(WRC)- The ultimate form of rallying, with the harsh gravel, dirt, snow, and even sand. The cars they use are 5, 3, or 4 door cars, equipped with large spoilers for friction.

3. World Touring Car Championship(WTCC)- Touring cars are cars that are tuned up for racing, like a Chevrolet Cruze. These cars compete in world races until there is a winner.

4. Drag Racing- Drag is sometimes illegal, but it is also considered a racing discipline because some drivers think it tests driving skills. Example: Chris Rado, a Team NFS Driver, has set a 1/4 mile time of 6.9 secs.

5. Endurance- Also called enduro racing, it is basically a long, long race. Enduros take 12 or 24 hours. There are multiple enduros in the world, like the Nurburgring 24H.

6. Standing Mile- It looks like a drag race, but the difference is the target is the speed not the time. The driver with the highest speed wins. Example: Marc 'Koz' Kozeluh has a 2,000 horsepowered Dodge Viper, so it can win several standing mile races.

7. FIA GT1 World Championship- The highest form of car racing, partnered by multiple sponsors. This 2012, McLaren, Mercedes, Porsche, and etc. joined. The next race will be at Spain on May 25-27.

Website: http://gt1world.com

8. FIA GT3 European Championship- Just a few steps below the GT1, this one takes place in the Europe continent, while the GT1 takes place in the whole world. Website: http://gt3europe.com

9. Formula DRIFT- It is a tournament for drifting, not racing. The drifting is originally created in Japan, but the Americans introduced it. This 2012, Team NFS drifter Matt Powers will compete in the season.

Website: http://formulad.com

10. Legends- The old-school cars are racing in this kind of event, and racing on the ancient tracks. They compete the same way as other racing disciplines do.

11. Time Attack- Drivers race against the clock to beat the posted time. There are two types: Global Time Attack and the World Time Attack. Trivia: Chris Rado drives the Team NFS Scion tC, which packs more than 1,200 horses.

12. Retro- Old-school cars participate in this discipline. This event challenges drivers that power, handling, and torque of the old cars cannot be seen from modern one.

Trivia: Darren "D-Mac" McNamara drives the Team NFS Toyota Corolla AE86.

13. Muscle- Muscle cars like a Mustang RTR-X compete in this discipline. They compete in world races, just like in other races.

Trivia: Vaughn Gittin Jr. drives the Ford Mustang RTR-X.

14. Works- It doesn't look like a racing discipline, but it pushes your car to the next level. Nothing will make a car more competitive than a Works conversion.

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TechBoy: Windows 8 Review

Windows has currently been working on their newest OS known as Windows 8 that would possibly be released this year, 2012 or 2013, sadly nobody still knows much information about Microsoft's new development, I have watched many videos in YouTube showing various videos of Windows 8 Consumer preview, in consumer preview however, people can't unlock the true potential of Windows 8, as for one the Windows store is still locked, there are no updates available yet et cetera. Even though some of you heard all about the buzz of Windows 8 But I would still like to explain Windows 8 and all of its features.

Features: Windows 8 has various new features such as Microsoft's secret development as Windows 8 would be the first 128 bit Windows platform, it will also be now available on tablets, but on my opinion, Microsoft's Decision to turn Windows 8 to Tablet capable is a big yes, and also it's another first, it will be the first Windows OS to be available on tablet, there's also the new Metro start menu available but we've heard of rumors that Microsoft has left the Metro start Menu plan and turned the start menu back to the Windows 7 look start Menu, it also has other Features we currently don't know as these are kept secret

Summary: So Windows 8 won't probably be one of the best OS Microsoft will ever make, and possibly it wont be as powerful as when windows XP was released, and even though we know Microsoft's secrets are still hidden, we do know there are a lot of customers out there, just waiting for the new OS to arrive.

By EUGENIO ARAULLO, Writer- Technology **

April 21, 2012, 9:00 AM

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Motivation: Where Do You Find Inspiration?

If you are a child of the ’90s, like me, you have come to age in an era dominated by consumerism. Technology allows us to consume or to create. Constant connectivity means that we are free to choose where we would like to be, but it also means that we are overly compelled to always be ‘connected.’ This distracts many of us from being creative. Even I fall into this trap.

My first introduction to computers happened around 1991. Microsoft Paint was my first digital pastime. I would spend hours meticulously connecting lines on my father’s laptop, a Toshiba Satellite 3300 Series. For its time, it was an advanced piece of machinery with a staggering battery life of maybe 40 minutes.

Fast forward to 1995, when I received my own computer. It had a state-of-the-art Pentium 75 MHz processor and 16 MB RAM. That was some serious power. Windows 95, which came with it, was a whole new way of using the computer with its novel start menu. It was the age of Sim City 2000, Age of Empires, and click-and-point adventures like Full Throttle and Blade Runner. Those were the halcyon days. Surely many who read this will recall that time.

Computers suddenly looked to be a viable tool for creativity. Since 1995, I’ve used digital tools to boost my creativity, but also, it is hoped, be more efficient with quotidian tasks. When I first used Photoshop in school, I was happy that, finally, possibilities were limitless. Using the evolving Internet tools, I was able to do research and find inspiration.

One can peruse the Internet for countless iterations of beautiful photos overlaid with motivational quotes. Is that what we require to kindle an idea today? Where has genuine inspiration gone, I wonder? My fiancee and I often discuss this matter. She cannot comprehend how I can simply write an article, seemingly out of nowhere. What I write for you to enjoy reading does not come from anywhere. It originates in all the books, websites, and blog posts I have read and films I have watched. So in truth, we all have ideas in abundance, already. The missing link is the courage to will something into reality.

The Internet is an amalgamation of talent, genius, and beauty. Yet these items are hidden in endless rows, filled with goods and distractions — a bit like a supermarket. Over time, I have collected some useful websites where I can always find ideas to write about. Sometimes, one of my articles comes from a simple thought while watching TV or reading news stories. This should be the same whether you are a writer, a photographer, or even a programmer. Ideas spark one’s imagination, and then result in great products, hopefully. I guess the latter is privy to skill, as well.
Here is the story of continuously wasted opportunities. Long before I ended up in London to study creative writing, I wanted desperately to become a filmmaker. My parents supported me whichever way they could — mostly financially. That dream never came true, though, because I let ego bar my path. Too often, I had to feel the frustration of misjudging my own abilities. Overestimating one’s skills can be very destructive. There is, however, always salvation in the form of self-discovery. One must connect the dots, which means to combine one’s best talents to make a new skill. For me, this new skill was storytelling.

There is a man, who, by saying the following, perfectly reflected upon inspiration:
Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: “Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.” It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.
It is, of course, Steve Jobs who said this, during his now famous Stanford commencement speech in 2005. The closing words, shown above, encapsulate the quintessence of inspiration — always to be curious.

From http://www.lockergnome.com/news/2012/05/08/where-do-you-find-inspiration/

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Morals: Eyes aren't like CCTV Cameras

We can compare our eyes with a CCTV Camera, or any other camera. We can see everything, but we are only programmed in a certain situation. Like a CCTV Camera, we are just tasked/programmed to see one segment of an establishment, while our eyes were only meant to see what we care, other than that, we don't care.

Eyes are vital parts of the body. They maintain balance in our hearing ability, and it helps us in reading, writing, and seeing signs in precautionary measures. The question is, "Do we use it properly? Do we utilize this gift as what is it to be?"

Our eyes were fortunate to see the wonders of God. God made it for us to see and care about the happening today. Eyes are made to see a feeling and respond on it through our senses.

Don't be an "on and off" like a CCTV camera, because our organs manipulate our eyes. We are in charge of it. We are holding our eyes. Now, all we are responsible is to see the right things. Let us be careful in every situation we have so that we can responsibly answer through our mind and heart the situation we see.

Good Day.

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Cars 101: The Lamborghini Sesto Elemento

The Lamborghini Sesto Elemento (literally "sixth element" in Italian") is V10 high-performance concept car produced by Lamborghini, which is debuted at the 2010 Paris Motor Show. The Elemento is equipped with a 6-speed paddle-shift, semi-automatic transmission and AWD(all wheel drive) system, mated to a 5.2 liter V10 borrowed from the Lambo Gallardo, generating 572 bhp and 540 Nm of twist.

The chassis, body, driveshaft components are made of carbon-fiber, reducing weight from 999 kilos(2,200 lbs), making it the lightest car Lamborghini has ever produced. Air is released through 10 distinctive hexagonal holes in the engine cover, while two intakes funnel cool air into the mid-mounted engine compartment. The Sesto Elemento's high amount of horsepower combined with low overall weight translate to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.57 hp/kg (0.26 hp/lb). Lamborghini claims a 0–100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration time of just 2.5 seconds, and a top speed of 350 km/h (217 mph). Lamborghini sources said

"...It will never be road legal". AutoWeek magazine said a "...A stratospheric price tag, perhaps about $1.7 million..."

The Sesto Elemento's name stems from the car's extensive use of carbon fiber, carbon being the sixth element in the periodic table of elements. Lamborghini plans to make 20 Sesto Elementos for track use only.


Video game apperances

The car is featured in the video game Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, in the downloadable content (DLC) pack Lamborghini Untamed, alongside the digitalized Lamborghini Countach and Lamborghini Diablo SuperVeloce, and become a limited-buyable car in Car Town. The 2011 Lamborghini Sesto Elemento also made an appearance in the racing game Forza Motorsport 4. It is also featured in the racing game Need for Speed: The Run and on the PlayStation Vita racing game titled Asphalt: Injection. Recently, the car was featured in the racing game "Drag Race" for the Windows Phone.

From: TopGear.ph

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Morals: Ang Anak ay Isang Buhos ng Ulan

Ang ulan ay isang mapariwarang bagay. Aalis ito sa kanilang kinaroroonan, sa langit ngunit wala ring mangyayari kung hindi bumalik uli sa kinaroroonan. Ang buhay ay para ring ulan. Tayong mga kabataan ay tumatalikod sa ating mga magulang, sinsagot-sagot ang kanilang mga tanong at higit sa lahat ay hindi natin ginagalang ang kanilang mga desisyon. Umaalis tayo ngunit nasa huli lagi ang pagsisisi. 

"Tama nga pala si Inay at Itay," wiwikain ng isang taong napariwaara dahil sa maling desisyon, na hindi na mababawi at pinalitan na lahat ng gawing karapat-dapat.

Ang mundo ay isang pabilog na daigdig. Kahit anuman ang asamin natin sa ating mga sarili ay ulan tayo. Umaalis man tayo sa piling o gawain na kinagisnan natin, may mapagtatantuan tayong resulta rito at babalik tayo sa dati nating kinagawian upang alamin ito ng mabuti at maunawaan ang mga desisyon nating pinili.

Ngayong hapon, nais kong sabihin na hindi pa huli ang lahat. Magdesisyon tayong mabuti upang hindi mapariwara. Ang oras natin ay hindi ganoon katagal para mag-isip nng padalos-dalos. Sa mga anak na napapariwara ngayon sa kanilang mga magulang, pag-isipan niyo ito. Wala namang magulang na maghahangad ng kasamaan sa anak. Balansehin natin ang panahon ng pag-iisip sa ating desisyon at sa desisyon ng iba.

Magandang araw. 

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National: Araw ng Manggagawa

Walang proseso ng pag-unlad sa ating bansa kung walang mga manggagawa. Sila ang nagtratrabaho para sa ating bansa at tumutulong na pataasin ang ating ekonomiya. Sama-sama silang nagtutulungan para mapaganda ang buhay ng isa't isa at ginagawa ang lahat upang matulungan lahat na magkaroon ng isang masayang pamumuhay sa bansa.

Bigyang pugay natin sila sa mga ginagawa nila. Kahit sa loob man ng ating bansa o sa ating bansa, kailangan nating alalahanin na tinutulungan nila tayong makamit ang ating mithiin.

Isang bagay lamang ang nais naming sabihin sa kanila, at iyon ay maging pursigido sa trabaho. Hindi dapat ginagawa ang trabaho para lamang sa pera. Ito ay dahil kung hindi mo mahal ang ginagawa mo, magkakapera ka nga, ngunit isa ba itong "fulfillment" sa parte mo?  Kailangan, kung gusto mong umasenso, kailangan mahalin mo ang trabaho mo at maging dedikado ka sa mga pinapagawa sa iyo. Sigurado akong kahit anong kalupitang hatid ng trabaho ay kayang-kaya pa rin ng isang manggagawa dahil gusto niya ito at walang pumipilit sa kaniya.

Sa mga manggagawang dedikado sa kanilang trabaho, saludo ako sa inyo. Kahit pa man brain-drained na ang Pilipinas, huwag tayong mabahala. May kabataan pa namang pag-asa ng bayan. Dapat nating mahalin ang pag-aaral upang matutunan din nating mahalin ang trabaho na ating papasukin sa hinaharap.

Magandang Araw sa inyo!

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Cars 101: The AMG Black Series Family

Mercedes-Benz and AMG (Aufrecht Melcher Großaspach ) cooperated to create the best cars, which they call the Black Series. They are faster than their standard variants, generating more horsepower and torque from their engines.


Here are the three cars from the Black Series family:


1. Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG Black Series- This car runs at 320 kph, and 0-100 kph in 3.7 seconds. It generates 661 bhp at 6,000 rpm, about 1 time faster than the standard SL65. The use of carbon-fiber reduces weight, thus increasing speed and horses, thanks to the use of this material in the trunk, roof, and the front fenders.


2. Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe Black Series- This car runs at 321 kph, and 0-100 kph in 4 seconds(estimate). It generates 500 bhp at 7,200 rpm, and 630 Newton-meters of torque. In the inside, there are bucket seats and a rear bench. The rear can be spec'd out, making it a 2-seater coupe. It has a carbon-fiber wing, front-splitter and flics.





3. Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series- On September 20, 2011, AMG director Tobias Moers announced that they will be launching a 'Black Series' version of the SLS. "We absolutely have to do a Black Series" he said, giving no more additional information. We currently don't have any specifications, all we know that it will generate an estimated 600 horses and 650 Nm of twist.

By LANCE CHRISTIAN SAN PEDRO, Editor- Technology 

April 25, 2012, 1: 45 PM

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Launched: Apora's Musik Learning Center

Music is one of the most expressive language we have presently. It makes colors through giving emotions in every sound we hear. What better to do during this summer is to be engaged in the beauty of music. If I would be chosen to recommend something to you, better enhance your musical skills in Apora's Musik Learning Center. 

Apora's Musik Learning Center was founded by Mr. and Mrs. Jose Apora, April 8, 2012. With its fully-air-conditioned room, you will find their services hospitably. The goal of this learning center is to share music to our society and therefore build, uplift and empower the musical knowledge to the next generation. As their goal says, this can enhance your musical skills and empower you more to share your talent.

If you are deciding to spend your month in a Musical May, better join this Learning Center.

For inquiries, contact the numbers you see above or email AporasMusikLearningCenter@gmail.com for more inquiries. What are you waiting for? Join now!

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techBoy: The Modern Virus

There are many viruses in the modern world today, most include trojans, worms, spyware, malware etc. And viruses are now created virtually each day, antivirus programs and companies are now having a harder time tracking and cleaning viruses these days, viruses are no longer cookies that just stay there and practically do nothing, viruses already are capable of doing hard core stuff such as giving your password to another user or crashing your PC and leaving virtually no trace of itself, I myself experience this in my own Windows Xp computer, I hate it when my computer suddenly crashes/launches BSOD at a random part of the day, I would wait for a while maybe about an hour then use the computer again, Viruses can be very overwhelming these days, even if you have your firewall enabled along with a strong antivirus, viruses are unpredictable these days, they can duplicate themselves and can sometimes even destroy your computer, I for one had an old windows 2000 computer, viruses weren't that widespread those days so we didn't care that much of updating our antivirus, after about 2 years the antivirus crashed and suddenly became uncontrollable, when we started updating our antivirus program, it was too late for that, every now and then a tiny screen on the bottom right would suddenly blur and after a while would go to normal, that's how powerful viruses are, in fact Microsoft themselves are giving huge bountys to whoever can find the makers of these viruses, clearly the virus world has now been uncontrollable, even though if you have an updated antivirus there you should still be careful of everything you do or download in the internet, even if your friend on Facebook attatched a file you can never tell when delivering the file, a virus might have clinged to the file or a virus can also come from the computer itself of the sender. 

So there are lots of Questions about virus Rolling around but I find this Question very interesting

-Why do hackers/people make virus

Answer: In my own opinion viruses are actually only made because the hacker is resentful to someone, and wants to have revenge, they make a virus, send it to the user, so usually 1 virus would be like an ant but that's why the hackers make the virus duplicate itself so that the victim's computer would be affected quickly, and sometimes the victim's computer may have a thumb drive or the internet connected and the virus travels to the internet and affects other innocent users not on purpose.

What to do:

I advise you to use any of the following antiviruses (Top 3 that's free)

1.) AVG Free Antivirus ~ (Download at http://www.freeavg.com and it will redirect you to C|Net to download the file)

2.) Avast! Free Antivirus ~ (Download the file at: http://www.avast.com/ and download the free version, it will direct you how to get the free registration code)

3.) Microsoft Security Essentials ~ (Download at: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/products/security-essentials)

By EUGENIO ARAULLO, Writer- Technology **

April 21, 2012, 9:00 AM

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Cars 101: A visual guide to car keys of luxury brands

By Vernon B. Sarne — 18 Apr 2012
From Top Gear.com.ph *

Let's face it: Many of us will never get to actually see car keys of luxury brands, let alone own them. Which is another way of saying many of us are probably unaware of the kind of technologies that these high-end car keys pack these days. In fact, we're not even sure whether to still call these little implements "keys," because this might already be a misnomer. When you hear the term "keyless entry," that's exactly what it means: keyless. Which literally means the absence of a key.

As you know, most cars today are so high-tech you no longer need to insert a key into a lock to open the door. Remote controls now do it for you--some so advanced they have a "proximity" sensor that allows you to open the door without even pushing a button on the key. When the car's sensor detects that the vehicle's key is within a set range, it automatically unlocks the door once you grab the handle. You don't even need to take the "key" out of your pocket.

And then, of course, there is now the keyless engine start/stop button, which even subcompact cars already have. Paired with the aforementioned proximity sensor, you can now enter your car, start it and then drive away without ever having to touch some sort of a key (as long as it's on your person). Amazing.

Today, the automotive business is so cutthroat that carmakers are seriously slugging it out for even the tiniest of edges. So much so that even the previously neglected car key is now also a focus of R&D resources. Remember when car keys used to be so inconsequential that they all looked the same? They all had a generic-looking bow and an equally generic-looking blade. Precisely why we bought gaudy keychains to attach them to, just so we wouldn't mistake them for those of the next guy.

Now, car companies exert no small amount of effort to make their car keys look distinct. It is not uncommon these days to see car keys that seem to have been designed to be a conversation piece. Car keys are now a source of entertainment by themselves. I remember when I first saw a key with a blade that flicked out with the soft push of a button. I think it was from Volvo. I was so amazed I must have flicked the blade more than a dozen times before hitting the road. And the level of craftsmanship was amazing. The impression I got from that encounter was this: If Volvo had pulled out all the stops in making a fabulous key, it must have also left no stone unturned in ensuring the high quality of the car itself.

Today, car keys--especially those from luxury brands--look so pretty and elegant that USB sticks are fashioned after them. They have become chic accessories that we love to flash before our ogling friends. If the sight of the simple-looking key tickled you in the past when you took delivery of a newly purchased car, modern "keys" will now surely make you swoon.

Still, the fact remains that many--perhaps even most--of us will never get to see and hold a key to a luxury car--never mind a supercar. Premium car keys are such works of art that they could cost you a thousand dollars if you lost them. I shudder to guess how much losing a Lexus LFA key (shown below) would set you back. For one, it's made of carbon fiber. For another, I doubt even the best counterfeiters in China can duplicate it.

The Porsche Panamera key (shown below) is shaped like a scale model of the car. I think it can stop the whining of a toddler during a long drive. And the Aston Martin DBS key (shown below) looks James Bond-fancy. I think all your opponents across the poker table will fold their cards if you lay this thing on top of yours.

Of course, there will always be the Ferrari key, the very symbol of simplicity and even manliness. Its lack of artificial sophistication is a loud statement that says real drivers don't need ornaments. The 458 Italia key (shown below), believe it or not, consists of just the traditional bow and blade. Just like my Honda Jazz key, except mine won't seduce women into flirting with me.

Car keys today do a lot more things than just simply opening the door and turning on the ignition. They can also trigger the alarm or even immobilize the car if somebody manages to pry it from you. But more important, I think, is their role as eye candies. They give their beholder something to aspire to. They also add fun to motoring. They make the simple task of walking up to the car quite an event. Indeed, modern and stylish car keys help to make us feel good about the car purchase, especially when the wife won't stop haranguing you for getting a coupe instead of a sedan.

Many, if not most, of us will never get to see or touch a luxury or supercar key. Here they are in all their two-dimensional glory. May their images inspire you to do better in life. Then maybe--just maybe--somewhere in the future you can make me fold my pocket jacks when you go all in while fiddling with a Lamborghini key.

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techBoy: Not a browser, a WOWser!

(by Mr. Eugenio Araullo)
Writer, Technology *  


Rockmelt, a project of Chromium the creators of Google Chrome, is basically similar with Google Chrome but just jam packed with more features. Rockmelt has the combined speed of google chrome along with Facebook dock and sidebars that inform you of current events, notifications, emails, tweets, etc.of different websites such as Yahoo, Facebook, Twitter, 9Gag etc. Rockmelt is also seemingly faster than mozilla and Chrome, but has all of the same benefits and more.


Features:

FB Chat in any website: I think this is one of the most requested extensions on google chrome and mozilla. Have you ever wanted to just get out of facebook, play a game or do a project online with still having the ability of chatting your friends, the thing is chat is one of the best ideals of facebook, but now with Rockmelt you can chat anyone, anytime at any website using rockmelt, you can locate your available/online/offline friends at the right side of Rockmelt, Rockmelt, not a browser, a WOWser.

Instant Facebook notifications: Whenever you're doing something that requires you to leave Facebook and you want to keep up with current events and be notified of stuff, just click the Instant Facebook Notification bar In the top left of Rockmelt you can see your notifications, chat, and friend requests.

Share any website button: When you're on youtube and you find a nice video and you're currently watching it, you wouldn't want to pause the video, open a new tab and post the URL , it would spoil your current mood watching the video so Rockmelt devised a plan and now, you can just go to the top right and click on the share button.

Lightning Fast: Have you ever been just at home or school, maybe work, wondering why is your internet speed so slow even if you're at 54mbps well, the problem may be with your web browser, Rockmelt has compiled the Technology of Google Chrome and the apps and websites Social World to make a browser that you won't just enjoy because of being with facebook or twitter but a web browser that you can actually rely on, You can rely on Rockmelt, Rockmelt Outperforms most browser (including Google Chrome And Mozilla Firefox) and is currently blasting at thunder speeds (may vary from computer speed and internet speed).

Instant News: Rockmelt has a lot of gadgets and stuff, and one of those gadgets is the Instant News, when you feel a bit lazy or you dont want to go to the main webpage of facebook,Gmail, etc. You can go to the Rockmelt Apps center, (click on the add more apps or + button on the left side of Rockmelt) then pick a webpage and you can now click your app and view FB, Twitter etc. without going to the home page.

To visit Rockmelt's website, log on to http://www.rockmelt.com/

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techBoy: The iPhone 4S

The iPhone 4S, one of the most revolutionary phones that apple has built is now a worldwide known phone, it has continued to live with apple’s motto of “Think Different” because of the uniquness from this phone, from the simplicity of it’s interface to the technicality of its features, it’s the first ever phone to introduce Siri, a voice command software that can understand your every command, an 8Megapixel Camera with 1080p video recording that lets you shoot crisp photos from each pixel, it also includes the same Retina Display on iPad 3 and of course the very famous A5 chip from iPad 2 that lets you play


Its Key Features:

Siri: Is Your Very own personal assistant, you can use your own voice to make Siri do any particular task such as call dad, or set the timer to 15 minutes, send a message, etcetera. Siri is also the very 1st program to understand what you mean, it finds the right app for the right task, it can understand anything you tell Siri and it will act on it, a lot of devices can recognize your voice, but the ability to act on it, well, that’s the breakthrough in Siri.

Dual Core A5 Chip: The iPhone combines all of its hi-end technology and apps with the dual core A5 Chip that comes in iPad 2 that makes the iPhone become 10x faster compared to its previous products, apps will launch and run faster, graphics will run 7x quicker, and in Safari webpages will load twice as fast, but even though with all of that the iPhone still boasts the same 10 hour battery life.


iSight Camera: The iSight camera is a 1080p 8megapixel camera, it might just be basically the best camera on a phone, it has all new advanced optics, face detection, and you can access your camera from the lock screen, you can shoot photos using the volume button and instantly crop, merge and restyle photos easily


iPhone’s Retina Display: iPhone is nothing without a screen, the screen of the iPhone or any other device is the main thing especially with the iPhone, the Retina display lets you see every detail of every word and photo crisp clear, the Retina display is so sharp and the pixels are so small, it’s virtually impossible to see the pixels. The Retina display that’s what the iPhone is all about


The IOS 5: is the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, to explain things, a bit more, imagine the windows operating system without intel, the main processor, IOS 5 is like intel mobile but not associated with intel, without IOS 5, the computer would cease to work. IOS 5 what keeps it ahead? Its simplicity in controls but technicality in the inside, iPhone would be nowhere without IOS 5


iCloud: the iPhone is now supported with iCloud, iCloud is a hardware that automatically pushes your iPhone content to all of your apple devices and vice versa.


Copyright © 2012 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.

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Cars 101: Hyundai Elantra bags 2011-2012 Philippine Car of the Year Award

After going through 36 cars and 11 finalists over a one-month period, the Car Awards Group (CAGI) has finally revealed that the new Hyundai Elantra is the 2011 - 2012 Car of the Year Philippines (COTY-P).

The Elantra received high marks in the qualitative tests where scores are based on aesthetics, comfort and drivability. It also performed well in technical tests that evaluated the acceleration, braking and handling characteristicswhile offering great value for money.

According to CAGI, organizer of the Car of the Year search in the Philippines, the Hyundai Elantra's victory proves that the title is not for the fastest, cheapest, or most popular car in the market. Instead, it goes to "the car that best caters to the consumers."

"The COTY-P award is well-deserved by the Hyundai Elantra and makes this the fourth COTY award received worldwide by the Elantra. The results are also a validation that CAGI's COTY testing procedures are internationally up to par," said CAGI president and Top Gear Philippines' technical editor Ferman Lao. The Elantra also claimed the Car of the Year award in Canada, North America and South Africa.

Aside from the prestigious Car of the Year title, CAGI also recognized category and special award winners.

2011 - 2012 Car of the Year Category Winners

Basic Subcompact Car - Kia Picanto 1.0 M/T

Subcompact Car - Suzuki Swift 1.4 A/T

Compact Car - Hyundai Elantra 1.8 GLS A/T

Crossover - Kia Sportage 2.0

Luxury Mid sized Car - Volvo S60 T4

Luxury Compact Crossover - MINI Countryman S

Midsize SUV 4x2 - Mitsubishi Montero Sport 4x2 M/T

Midsize SUV 4x4 - Mitsubishi Montero Sport GTV 4x4 A/T

Luxury SUV - Ford Explorer V6 AWD

Pickup 4x2 - Mitsubishi Strada 4x2 A/T

Pickup 4x4 - Mitsubishi Strada 4x4 A/T




2011 - 2012 Car of the Year Special Awards

Standard Insurance Worry-Free Award - Chevrolet Cruze Diesel

BOSCH Technical Innovation Award - My Ford Touch Sync (Ford Explorer)

AAP Road Safety Award - Volvo S60

Papa J's Best Value Award - Kia Picanto 1.0 M/T

Caltex with Techron Enjoy the Journey Award - Nissan Teana 350XV

Cartrige World iSwap iCare Award - Suzuki Swift 1.4 A/T

All Terra All Activity Vehicle Award - Toyota Hilux 3.0G 4x4

Victoria Court Most Spacious Award - Foton MPX 2.8L CRDi Long Wheelbase

Red Rock Travel Most Affordable Car Award - Lifan LF320 M/T

Speedlab Tuner's Choice Award - Hyundai Elantra 1.6 M/T

Clark International Speedway Motorsports Award - Tuason Racing School and Ford Group Philippines (TRS Cup powered by the Ford Fiesta)

From: http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/hyundai-elantra-bags-2011-2012-philippine-car-of-the-year-award

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techBoy: Review: Samsung SH100

Samsung continues to live up to its promise of innovation and uniqueness. Its Samsung SH100 sets new standards in the digital camera industry as it is the first one to be WiFi-enabled. Through this advancement, users can easily share photos directly on their favorite social networking sites, just as soon as they’re taken.

The SH100 can be connected to your smartphone with the use of WiFi to enable geo-tagging, control the camera remotely or preview the scene. This way, you can pose with the group while looking at the shot on your phone in real time. When you’re ready to shoot, you can also activate the shutter from the phone.

I tried connecting through the wireless Internet, took shots of kids swimming and uploaded these on Facebook. It failed the first time but when I tried it again it went through. Checking the photo later on my notebook, I found photo quality was simply amazing.

I am always afraid of losing my files, so uploading photos right away is one thing but automatically backing up your shots is another. The SH100’s built-in WiFi can back-up photos to your PC just by pressing several buttons. I tried uploading photos on my Facebook, it took about 20-30 seconds to upload and is in a separate folder with all the photos from the SH100. Photos are not instantly shrunk for fast uploading; it stays on the same quality. Zooming in on the photos 10 times wouldn’t hurt quality.

There are tons of effects, settings and programs to choose from. There is even a smart auto, program auto, smart movie, scene, vignetting, beauty shot, movie, magic frame, movie filter, night, palette effect, close up, simple shot and object highlight features. There is also a voice recorder, photo editor, magazine layout, slide show and 3D album. Whichever way you want to use your camera, the Samsung SH100 can do it for you.

WiFi enabled devices can eat up your battery life, but I found that you can put it in energy-saving mode or adjust the brightness, which will help save on battery juice.

The exterior of this camera is just like any other Samsung Cameras. It has a metal finish and is big and thin enough to fit into a pocket. The 3.0-inch LCD full-touchscreen is just enough to navigate through all the photos and features of the camera. There’s also a stylus included in the bundle if ever your hands are too big for the buttons. To avoid pushing the wrong buttons, you can also adjust the sensitivity with the touch calibration.

Specifications:

• Dimensions (WxHxD): 3.66 x 2.12 x 0.74 inches
• Weight: 110.2g
• Resolution: 14 megapixels
• LCD Type: 3” LCD Touch Screen
• Optical Zoom: 5x Optical Zoom
• Storage: MicroSD, MicroSDHC

What’s Hot: • WiFi enabled
• Easy sharing of photos and videos
• Social network-friendly
• Range of effects on offer
• Programmed photo editor

What’s Not:• Unresponsive touchscreen

Bottomline:If you like uploading photos on your social networking site, you can never go wrong with the Samsung SH100.

Buy Meter: 8.7

[This review originally appeared in the July 2011 issue of Gadgets Magazine]

This article was written by  M.R. Gavin and our resource was  http://www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph/gadgetslab_1/review-samsung-sh100.html 

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