Earth Axis Tilted Shorten Time by 1.26 Microseconds

Lately I heard a very interesting new. It was about the massive earthquake that struck Chile this year may have shifted Earth's axis and created shorter days according to the scientists at NASA. The change is negligible, but permanent.

We should be having 1.26 microseconds (a microsecond is one-millionth of a second) shorter each day, according to preliminary calculations. The large quake shifts massive amounts of rock and alters the distribution of mass on the planet, which changes the rate at which the planet rotates, where the rotation rate determines the length of a day.



The Earth spins on an axis that is tilted some 23.5° from the vertical. But this position is far from constant – the planet's axis is constantly shifting in response to changes in the distribution of mass around the Earth.

The changing climate has long been known to move Earth's axis. The planet's north pole, for example, is migrating along 79 °W – a line of longitude that runs through Toronto and Panama City – at a rate of about 10cm each year as the Earth rebounds from ice sheets that once weighed down large swaths of North America, Europe, and Asia.

Scientists estimate that the melting of Greenland's ice is already causing Earth's axis to tilt at an annual rate of about 2.6cm and that may increase significantly in the coming years. Now, they calculate that oceans warmed by the rise in greenhouse gases can also cause the Earth to tilt.

Researchers found that as the oceans warm and expand, more water will be pushed up and onto the Earth's shallower ocean shelves. Over the next century, the subtle effect is expected to cause the northern pole of Earth's spin axis to shift by roughly 1.5 cm per year in the direction of Alaska and Hawaii. The effect is relatively small but the motion is strong enough that it needs to be taken into account when interpreting shifts in Earth's axis.

The German Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam, says the new work overturns previous ideas. "Up to now, people had believed that height variations [from ocean temperature changes] gave no contribution to polar motion," he told New Scientist. "This is an effect that now has to be considered."

Climate change can also affect the Earth's spin. Previously, the researchers showed that global warming would cause Earth's mass to be redistributed towards higher latitudes. Since that pulls mass closer to the planet's spin axis, it causes the planet to rotate faster. This is similar the the earthquake in Chile.

In summary, by thinking about all the information we gathered, Chile is one of the best example that redistribution of Earth's mass can cause the Earth to rotate faster, which causes shortening of Earth time. Global warming may cause the ice to melt and changes the Earth's mass, and thinking it back, this might lead to another time shift.

Would you want to create a world that we all live right now to change to a degree that beyond recognisable? Lets do our part to preserve Earth as out time has just shorten by 1.26 microseconds from the Chile incident.

All information were cited from various sources such as:
1. CNN website
2. NewScientist.com

Methane Hydrate May Lead To Extinction of Mankind

I guess not many of us actually know what is methane hydrate. I do not want my blog to be too lengthy, so I will briefly explain about it. Methane hydrate or also known as methane clathrate is a frozen lattice-like substance, which can be found underlying our oceans and polar permafrost in huge amount. This crystalline combination of a natural gas and water looks remarkably like ice but burns if it meets a lit match. For more details about this substance, do read it from Wikipedia or Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory websites.

The reason this substance capture my attention to share it with you is not of its special features such can it can be burn in ice form but the potential of this substance to wipe out mankind. Yes, I am not kidding if we keep on contributing to global warming. It's not a joke.

Methane is a powerful green house gas which has a global warming potentil (GWP) of 62 over 20 years and 21 over 100 years (IPCC, 1996; Berner and Berner, 1996; vanLoon and Duffy, 2000). The sudden release of large amounts of natural gas from methane hydrate deposits has been hypothesized as a cause of past and possibly future climate changes. Events possibly linked in this way are the Permian-Triassic extinction event. Recent research carried out in 2008 in the Siberian Arctic has shown millions of tons of methane being released with concentrations in some regions reaching up to 100 times above normal.

Why is this a concern to us? Methane gas is not very stable in the atmosphere, which they literally converted to carbon dioxide which have a longer shelf life. If we did not play our part in order to reduce global warming, it might lead to the ocean's temperature increase, which later causing the methane hydrate to melt. The consequences, it triggers a positive feedback mechanism where it increases carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and lead to severe green house effect. You may read this in Discovery News on "Gas Releases Helped End Ice Ages" to know more how this may cause catastrophic effect to us.

Below is a video from YouTube about methane hydrate. Do watch it as it is a very informative.


Hope this blog does aware us about the importance of reducing global warming. I'm blogging about this in conjunction with the Earth Hour. It's part of my contribution to make an awareness to all of us. Lets save our Mother Earth in order to save ourselves. Salvation is in our hand. You may want to visit some of the websites that I have link it. Do visit some of this relevant site below too:
1) Jasa Eco official website or Jasa Eco blog
2) Earth Hour

Earth Hour 2010

I guess I will be blogging the same thing again as per last year blog about Earth Hour day. This year, the Earth Hour day falls on this Saturday, 27th of March. So, do play your role as part of the society that cares for our Mother nature and our Earth. Switch off the light for 60 minutes (1 hour) at 8.30pm. Approximately 88 countries are participating this event to save our Earth from global warming. Be a part of the society who cares for our future generations yet to ourselves.

You can always use the candles if you are afraid of dark like I do. Prepare some as precaution measures and don't forget the matches. Share this with your friends and family either by telling them directly, blog it or any other forms to convey it.

It Have Been A Busy Weeks

It have been so busy for me previously for almost 2 to 3 weeks already. We have overtime at worst almost everyday. The most worst scenario was that we need to be coming back to work even on Saturdays.

So tired after working for long hours for such a period. But cannot help it because too much claims were submitted during the end of last year and everything piles up like mountain. We have to clear it up as soon as possible.

Finally, today the queues are empty after seriously few weeks of hard work from all the team member trying their best to clearing up all the claims. For myself, I felt something good and not too good at the same time.

The good point is that we need not to worry sick of clearing up all those claims and having overtime to do it for the moment. However, emptying the queue also means that there is nothing much to do temporary.

Everything also have pros and cons. For me, need not to do overtime too often will be good enough already. I need some time for myself to relax and do else stuff. I need to have my life. I can't be doing claims 24/7. LOL.

By the way, today I went to Mid Valley for the chocolate fair. It just a small fair I feel. However, it was crowded and I did not really enjoy the entire fair all about. Not much nice chocolate that I can find there. There is a few, but since my budget is limited, I did not get anything for myself. So sad. LOL.

Year 2010!!!

It's the very last few hours left for year 2009 and year 2010 is coming into picture. Here goes the old year, all the bad stuff, all those stupid fight, stupid hatred and lousy things we have been through and it's time to welcome the new year with new hopes and dreams.

New year suppose to be something to be cheering about but then for me, it's nothing much to be joyful for. I still have to go to work on the very next day on new year, the Saturday for overtime as there are a whole lots of claims to be settle. I guess I will be having overtime for the coming week as well after having so many days overtime already.

New year does not seems too good too. It sounds more likely to tell you that you are older another one more year, you are soon to be someones uncle or aunt, or even that we are closer to the year 2012, the so-call-end-of-the-world myth.

However, there are still some good things about it. You have a day off from work as it's a public holiday, you can have new dreams, you can hope for increment of salary or bonus (if you eligible to) and repeat those special days with your loves ones.

So hope you guys have a nice new year and enjoy your holiday. Happy New Year 2010!! ^^

Best Christmas Tree of AIASS

Yay!! Our team, which combines SGGMD Claims and SGPMM team won the "BEST CHRISTMAS TREE" for our AIASS Christmas celebration. Well, if you guys have not seen the tree yet, feel free to view the it from my previous blog, titled "Christmas Gift Exchange in My Work Place" to view it.

We were given a small door gift upon registration to enter the auditorium around 6.00pm, which is a thermos mug from AIA Group. There is lucky draw session, however as usual, I did not manage to get anything. It seems I am pretty unlucky, never get anything from any lucky draw before. LOL.

I'm not nagging for not getting anything. Maybe I just simply make a fuss over it. LOL. I do help out the decoration of the venue, mainly the Christmas tree at the lobby of Wisma AIA. Although it's a little bit tiring and I guess nobody actually notice your effort, however those that knows will remember it.

It's still good thing and I'm feeling great yet pleasant as I do contribute a small part in this event. I just do not want to be a working machine that only work on my job and have no fun at work. Anyway, since my team leader deducted my productivity hour, so why not help out? LOL.

I was helping my team leader to capture some short video for the event, such as performance and the lucky draw session. It's cool since I need not to just be sitting there. I can walk around a bit. Nothing beats my colleague as she was performing tonight and she really enjoy her performance and performed fantastically.

If tomorrow we need not to work, that will be the best thing for this week after tonight's event. However, we still need to work tomorrow as my team follows Singapore's public holiday. I guess I will be going to work slightly earlier tomorrow and finishes my work on time so that I can go back straight after my working hour. ^^

Christmas Gift Exchange in My Work Place

My team from my working place, AIASS has organized a small lunch to celebrate Christmas together before the actual Christmas celebration of my company tomorrow. It was a simple lunch, where one of our colleague sponsors the lunch for the whole team.

Meanwhile, our team SGGMD have join forces with SGPMM team for the Christmas tree decoration. We will be competing with some other department and I have no idea what is the result at the moment. My team mainly just help out to put on the empty boxes of our gift exchange that we planned last week.

Below is the picture of the Christmas tree that we decorated and the following picture is the gifts of my team. After exchanging gifts, we just put the empty boxes with the wrappers intact back under the tree. LOL.

The whole thing seems short but we really enjoy ourselves. Maybe I like it simple so that I need not to think too much on what to make it more happening. For now, I'm still having no idea what to wear for tomorrow's Christmas party in my company. The theme is "SPARKLING".

I have nothing 'sparkling' to wear. I guess they will make fun of us that does not dress sparkling enough for that event. Well, I guess the guys in my team might most likely to suffer the same thing as I am facing right now. Maybe they do not even give a damn about it.

Surreal Graduation Fashion Show 2009 by Raffles Design Institute

I was invited by my friend, Keith to attend his graduation fashion show, which called "Surreal Graduation Fashion Show 2009". It is held on Tuesday, 6th of October, which is tomorrow at J.W. Marriott Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. The time of the show is around 6.30pm.

There are some of the samples of the designs are posted below. Please do not ask me which one looks good. I have no idea how to appreciate or look at highly fashion sense clothing.

~ This last design my design my my friend, Keith, where his theme is "Paranoia" ~

Since he invited me and given me the ticket for the show, I think I have no excuses to run away from it already. I have to be there to cheer for his designs and support him too. The problem is that it is a fashion show, but then I cannot think of anything good to wear for such an occasion.

I guess tomorrow, I'll be looking like a nerd or geek there, among those who well dressed or fancy looking or even those who have high fashion sense kinda people around there. I'm kind of worried that I'll be embarrassing myself there that evening.

Dancing + Dinner at Crown Palace Restaurant, Sri Petaling

I just come back from dinner cum dancing at Crown Palace Restaurant, Sri Petaling, organized by the dance instructor (Ms. Janice) from Fitness Fitness. There were the IOI Mall, Puchong members, Leisure Mall (Cheras) member, and two more which I'm not so sure of. It's just a normal Chinese dinner cum with the dance floor for us to dance around (either to play around or to practice outside of the classroom or studio).

Well, I'm pretty tired because I dance kind of a lot too. I tried the Tango, Quickstep, Waltz, Chacha, Rumba, Samba and some I forgot the name of the dance (because I just learn today last minute for it. LOL). Anyway, some of the dance, like Rumba and Chacha, I dance badly because I tends to forget the steps and only remember some of the groups. So I was like kinda repeating the few groups that I remember with my partner.

It's fun although there are not many youngster like me (aged between 20~25), but there still got some mature guys and ladies (aged between 25~35) dance around with us. Those older ones (above 40) also got almost like 40% out of all those who attended this event. LOL.

Hope they organize this kind of event again next time (but not so soon, as I need to brush up my dancing skill. LOL). The more I practice, the more I can remember I think. Tomorrow going to attend my ballroom dancing class again at 9.30am. The worst thing is I gotta be there earlier as I need to work out with Chee Yuen at 7am.

Gosh, I think I better go to bed as soon as possible. This might be the last few weeks I'm going gym with Chee Yuen as he is going to Germany to study soon already. So, I do not think I wanna turn him down for the work out session. Hope I can wake up tomorrow morning for all the routines. ^^

Ghost Festival

In Chinese tradition, Ghost Festival is celebrated every year according to the Chinese calender (a lunisolar calendar) on the 14th night of the seventh lunar month. For further understanding about this day, please refer to Wikipedia.

As usual, parents will advise us not to go out late at night or come home too late. Preferable not after 11pm or 12am. They worry that we will bump into those 'dirty' things and get us some misfortune or bad luck or bad things happen to us.

Well, I don't really care much about those. Maybe I'm not that superstitious. However, I'm rotting at home now. I've just helped my mother with the 'paper burning' (where I personally thinks that's kinda not environmental friendly - causing so much air pollution, releasing a bunch of carbon dioxide and increase global warming). Although I'm not very environmental, but I still think that this few Chinese festivals seems pretty harsh to the environment (toxicating the air that we breath).

Since nobody asking me out tonight, I'll be at home (that's why I'm blogging here) doing nothing. I guess I'll have to sleep early tonight. Tomorrow I'm going to meet up Chee Yuen for gym. I gotta replace my Fitness First member card since I lost it that day working out at The Curve. Then at noon, going to meet up my cousin, accompany him to watch "Final Destination".

I can't find anyone want to watch that movie with me. Anyway, I hate watching horror movie at cinema. I gonna embarrass myself there because I'll jump around. I don't know how long I can last in the cinema. Maybe next time I should learn to say NO. So, the day after Ghost festival, I'm going to watch such a horror movie, hope I wouldn't get heart attack. Pray hard to God ^^.

My Convocation 2009

On Sunday, 9th August 2009, it's a pretty tiring day but an amazing and unforgettable day for all my course mates and as well all graduands on that very day. It's UTAR 9th Convocation (which held on the 7th, 8th and 9th of August), and mine was the fifth session, which is on the morning of 9th of August. It was so great and yet so tiring. YBhg Dato' Dr. Lim Khaik Leang was my guest of honour for my Session 5, UTAR Convocation Day.

We reached Wisma MCA early in the morning and I have to be getting to the Robing Room to register and get changing before entering to the ceremony hall. The whole programme for Session 5 is as follows:
Finally, everything is done and we went out for our photo taking session with family and friends. It's was a great day of mixing feeling. So I can't tell you much. I guess all the photos I'm posting here tells much more than words can be describe all about.

I'm not going to put any caption for all the photos I'm posting it here in this blog as too many to be put it in. I guess you can manage to find yourself in the picture if you are there and to those not there, it just simply means you didn't take picture with me or you didn't even turn up at my convocation. So need not to mention lor.. Haha, kidding. You just have to guess who are they, and if you wanna know them, let me know. I'll tell you. LOL.

~Some photos taken by my family and course mates~
********************************************************~The effect of scanning a picture from a texture photo~

A Treat Before Convocation

Today, the eve of my own very convocation day. LOL. I did a lot of things this week. In my previous blog, I did mention that I went for facial spa, then i did my hair cut, get my convocation gown etc., and of course some of my own stuff. As usual, I went for gym and my dancing class. Too bad, tomorrow I gotta skip this week class for my convocation.

This morning, I went to Fitness First, The Curve to work out with Douglas. I joined that RPM class which I didn't go for it before. It's pretty good actually cause it does really make me sweat. However, I would only join once a week I guess next time. I don't want to kill all my calories, ended up getting thinner. LOL. After the gym, I got treated lunch at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., and the experience is amazing. The food there is great. I guess you would hardly get disappointed dining there, just it might burn a hole in your wallet.

If you gonna ask me how good it is, I have to ask you go and try yourself. It's good until I forgot to even take some photos of it. LOL. That's a lie. Actually I'm starving that time and totally forgot to capture some for my blog. If I have a chance to dine there again, I will capture some (provided I have the budget to dine). Luckily this is a treat, or else I'll be washing plates there.

It's just another 10 hours, my convocation is going to be held in Wisma MCA. I'm happy that my family are coming, I'll meet back most of my course mates. Maybe take some photos and I guess it will be last one that we all will be taking together. After that, I'll be taking graduation photo with family back at my area. I think it's cheaper than the one offer in UTAR.

Mantoux Test

I have been study about Mantoux test in university last time. It's been some time since I last read about it and now I finally have the chance to experience it. Actually I wasn't so ready to blog about it earlier on. But then I guess it's my blog, i just want to throw out my feeling here.

It's all started when I got that job offer and I went to the medical check up. The doctor of the panel clinic told me that she suspected that my lung got some kind of infection or worst tuberculosis (commonly known as TB). I was so shocked that time I don't know how to response to this. I still manage my emotion and went to Institut Respitori Negara (National Respitory Institute) in Jalan Pahang for specialist check up.

Last week, they asked me to produce the a sputum test (analysis of the plegm) and come back again on this week Tuesday (yesterday) for further testing. They took another 2 more sputum test before asked me to wait for the doctor. Waited for almost 2 hours then the doctor summoned me, just asking me a few question regarding my history whether I had been infected any lung disease before or not.

After all those waiting, just 2 minutes there with that doctor, he asked me to go for further testing to confirm whether it's not tuberculosis or not although my phlegm seems free from that mycobacteria. So I went for blood test, urine test, Mantoux test and produce them another sputum for testing. I got to go back this Friday for Mantoux test dianogsis and as well to produce them another last sputum for testing I guess. That doctor told me that I'll have another appointment with him on 14th August. I guess that is the day that I'll be inform about my testing result.

Asking me whether am I nervous about it? I don't know it either. I don't feel I'm sick no matter how but it's up to luck at times. I do pray for everything is fine and everything is good so that I can start working as soon as possible. I'm currently running out of cash. LOL.

Bon Odori 2009

Today, I went to Bon Odori in Matsushita Stadium, Shah Alam. This year seems to be having a lot pf people. Maybe more and more people know about this event. It's so crowded. I took some pictures to share with all of you.

This year Bon Odori seems pretty okay for me. A lot of foods and drinks are avaible, lotsa 'leng chai's and 'leng lui's there too. LOL. However, none of my friend I know able to go for it. None that I know is going. Anyway, I should apologize to Afiq for not meeting you up there. I didn't notice your SMS earlier. LOL.

So this year, I ended up going with Noel only. We grabed something to eat, I brought some Yakult (as it's slightly cheaper than the market) and I brought some Beryl's Tiramisu chocolates. No money, so I dare not to buy so much of things. Did enjoy the first cultural dance performance and the first guest performance. We planned to leave early to prevent traffic jam. Anyway, it's almost the same every year. So I need not to stay till everything is over. Anyway, just 2 of us only. LOL.

*******

~The usual opening drum performance~

~The dance - first part~

~The Crowd~

~The crowd following the dance~

~The first guest performance~
*******

Earth Hour

Today, 28th of March is the Earth Hour day. Please play your role as part of the society that cares for our Mother nature and our Earth. Just a simple action, switch off the light for 60 minutes (1 hour) at 8.30pm to joint he 80 participating countries in order to save our Earth from global warming. Be a part of the society who cares for our future generations yet us ourselves.

Well, i think u can always use candles if you are afraid of darkness since it's at night. Get some candles as precaution measures and don't forget your matches. LOL. Do help to advise your friends and family member to participate in this campaign by telling them, teach them, blog it or any other forms of conveying this message to others. Happy Earth Hour Day to all. PEACE^^

Happy Chinese 牛(New) Year ~ 黑皮牛耳~ 2009*

Happy Chinese New Year... 黑皮牛耳 (Hei Pi Niu Er)... LOL...

For those who can't read Chinese character, the direct translation of 黑皮牛耳 is "Black Skin Cow Ear". While the Hanyu Pinyin is "Hei Pi Niu Er", simply just similar sound to Happy New Year... I learned this through a friend of mine. Funny isn't it?

This year is also the year of ox (牛), which in Chinese (Mandarin) pronouns as "Niu", some how similarly to the sound of "new". That's why I can text most of my friends Happy Chinese 牛 Year!!!

So this festive season is kinda normal routine for me. As usual, I need to help out my mum a bit such as cleaning the house - although I spend more time cleaning and tidying my own room, and drive her here and there to get most of the stuff needed for this festive season.

As you all know that last night was the special occasion for the Chinese to have their Reunion Dinner. Well, my family went to my grandpa's place in Kepong for the reunion dinner. I think I don't need to explain much about it, as you can see it in the picture here...

~Reunion Dinner~

As for today, the first day of CNY, I need to go visiting relatives. But then this year luckily only two places to go before I need to go to my uncle there as the last stop. So as usual again, we went to my granduncle's house then my grandaunt's house. They are the main places to go so everyone will gather there. So all angpow also get it from there, which I mean those far relatives.

Nothing much I can say also as nothing special as usual just all those chit chatting with cousins and aunties, uncles. So after all those, the last stop, my uncle's place for a lunch before we went back home. But what capture my attention is this little kitten that my aunt petting now. Cute little Siamese kitten, although I prefer other type of cat and colour. Anyway, cat is still cute. LOL...

~Isn't it cute~

Toxicology Poster Presentation

Today in UTAR, my course (Biomedical Science) and the biochemistry have out poster presentation for toxicology subject. I think we done the best we can in this presentation. Well, I don't have much to say about this event, just that today, I can't talk that well. My gum still in pain when I talk too much.

However, I think my group done a very good job. My group got the third place after Janet's group consist of Janet, Aki, Suet Ying, which is the winner & Caren, and Lit Teng's group the second consist of Lit Teng, Vivian, Yin Sian & Wie Kee. So I guess I gotta thank my group mate that they have done a superb job. Well done Naresh for his lead, Jun Hou for his idea and arguement, and Jing Yung for his journal and his design of the poster.

For more pictures of the poster, click this link.

~Our poster~

~My Group~

~ The left: 1st place; The right: 2nd place ~

32nd Bon Odori Festival

Yesterday, my family, Bryan and I went to Bon Odori festival in Shah Alam... It was the first time for all of them except for me to be in the festival... I drove there around 4.45pm from my place to Shah Alam... Since it was early, I arrived there kinda earlier too cause no jam... Although I reached there around 5.20pm, there was a huge crowd already... I think at least 30% of people that attended the festival last night was there at least when I arrived...

My mum who was the one that take a few fans rather than me myself or my sister although my sister wanna the fans so much... LOL... Feel like my mum also kinda sporting... Then we walked around the stalls areas... There was so much things selling there as usual... My mum brought some Yakult since it's cheaper there... Kinda all sort of promotion was there... We even brought some Berryl's chocolates, some Japanese potatoes chips and a loaf of bread that cost RM18... It's RM18 for a loaf of bread, imagine it... My mum wanna buy it because she said it is tasty so let her get whatever she wants... It's her money anyway... I just treat around the ice-cream that cost RM6 for each, takoyaki (octopus balls thingy which I can describe), Udon and Ika (squid)... Get some juices to drink as well...

I meet Jasper there and a girl from my university that I can't recall her name already... LOL.. Melissa, which I ought that she will be there as well as my imoutosan, Wynne were not to be seen there... Haiz... Nevermind... Maybe next year...

The things happening there I don't think I wanna talk much about it because it is the same old routine or events only... So ask me instead if you wanna know more about it if you never ever been to it before or ask around...

I think there is no need for me to explain this famous Bon Odori fan right?

The usual cultural dance stage

Two cute girls wearing yukata running around... I saw them a few times already... Kawaii the yukata...

Such a huge crowd even this early

My sister enjoying her udon

The drummers and the dancers were readying for the cultural dance...

The dance begin...