Mirror mirror on the wall

In fairy tales, we had a magical mirror that answers any question, to whom we often asks: "Mirror, mirror on the wall, Who in the land is fairest of all?"


But in the 21st century, here is a cool and incredibly hi-tech Maitre mirror from Stocco of Italy.
The Maitre mirror is polished and flush-mounted on an attractive aluminum frame, complementing any contemporary style and bringing an understated elegance to your spa-inspired space. It is available in sizes from 90 centimetres up to 2metres.

The best feature of this wonderful mirror is the touch screen controls on its surface. The touch screen console in the lower-right corner, which offers MP3 player, programming and operation of a radio, and it could display as a clock as well. It can control and playback your music player with the touch screen featured.

Though this hi-tech mirror looks more like a concept than something that is actually being sold, anyway it is a real product on the market. If you loves to sing in the shower, you might find the Stocco Maitre Touch Screen Mirror to be the perfect bathroom accessory for you to sing your heart out in your bathroom. Plus, you can also fight the morning lethargy with some good music in the bathroom itself.

Do I need this kind of mirror when I could just bring a radio into my bathroom and it works the same without costing so much just for the Mp3 mirror? You asked.

Well, a simple radio is not as fun as if you could have such special mirror that plays songs and you can watch yourself and practice for your American Idol audition. Besides, it would definitely impress your guest that use the bathroom in your house.

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Light up

It is doubtless that having lights on your bicycle will dramatically increases your visibility to motorists. However, most of the bicycle's light is not luminous as it's only reflects light at night. Hence, cycling in a big cities can be really dangerous especially at night and without any right equipment.

In this case, designers Fraser J. Mort has created a perfect solution to bike light issues with his truly shining LED Bike Light. It is an LED dot matrix display which hanging below the seat and it can be used to display the left, turn right, stop, and other signals. The most interesting part is that these icon signals are not uniformly fixed left or right arrow, the user can design their own graphics, animations or phrases to use as their rear light. At the same time, allowing people behind them to know what they're thinking.

This LED bike light is made of a solid piece of aluminum, which consist of 8x8 LED dot matrix. As for the bike dock is made from ABS plastic and connects to the bicycles dynamo via USB socket at the back of the light. The light is designed to be used either on a bike or plugged into a home computer. It can be programmed with still graphics, animations, words or phrases via web-based software.

Hence, this creation of Fraser J.Mort is perfect for bikers who ride in the dark, and it provides a clearly visible from anywhere behind them at the same time to make cyclist to feel more secure and confidence.

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Iphone Mania

Hi earthling, this is my very first post that I'm gonna talk about the latest smashed hits in Malaysia. The new installment by Apple- the Iphone 4 is spreading like wildfire and there were more than hundreds of Malaysian patiently waited on long queues just to get an Iphone 4 which was exclusively distributed by Maxis and Digi ( two main mobile phone companies in Msia) and it's even out of stock until now.

So, why iphone is a smashed hit, does it really worth to wait in lines just to have one of their own ? you asked.

Perhaps I would like to comment about the wait and effort of buying it was all worth it.

First of all, the Iphone is more than just a phone. Why? Because it's touch screen. NO! It's become very common and most of the phone in 21st century are touch screen, Aren't they? Of cause I have the reasons of telling why the Iphone's touch-screen is different from many of other devices. When you touch the screen on other devices you typically need a slender or a pointed stylus. In this point, the Iphone made a difference where it requires to use your fingers. But not ur nails, even how hard you're trying tap with your nails and yet you'll remain in the original page.

One thing, I find it really special of an Iphone is it's always under control. What I'm trying to say is when you're connected to the wifi and surfing the net, do you find that your browser on your phone is always outta of control when you are trying to scroll it up and down. It always jump to the other page when you're accidentally tap on a link infact you're just wanted to scroll the page downwards. Have you experience it? And now I don't think it's a problem for my Iphone, everything is just under my control.

Next, it supports over million of application which you can simply search on Appstore. However, most of them are meant to be sold instead of FOC. No worry, there's always a choice with the Iphone, you can jailbreak your Iphone and yes you can get all the application for FREE!

Applications for example Games, there are many genre of games you can choose to download it and to have fun all day long. Besides games, social networking like facebook and twitter are one of my favorite. I bet who can live without facebook and twitter nowadays? And What's always catch your attention? Isn't it free stuff? Besides you can get free apps after you've jail broken, you can also text for free as well as call for free. There's multiple apps allow us to text for free among iPhones.

Next, Iphone 4 vs Iphone 3gs? Is it worth to upgrade?

According to Apple, the iPhone 4 is the biggest leap forward since the original Iphone. In comparison between Iphone 4 and Iphone 3gs, the iphone 4 is thinner than its predecessors. The device is 9.3 millimeters thick, about 24 percent thinner than the iPhone 3GS. A 3.5-inch display shows images at a 960-pixel-by-640-pixel resolution, and about four times as many pixels in the same amount of space than earlier iPhones as it supports retina display which provide clearer images and icons are popping out like after a 3D effect. It also lasts longer on a charge due to the internally developed A4 chip, offering 7 hours of talk time and 6 hours of web browsing time over 3G networks as well as 10 hours of browsing over Wi-Fi networks, 10 hours of video playback and 40 hours of music listening.

The device includes more than 100 new features and offers two-way FaceTime video chat which will only work over wi-fi connection for now. You also get HD video recording and an all-new three-axis gyroscope that should make gameplay even more immerse. The device are run in Apple IOS4 which was previously released as Iphone OS 4.0 beta. The new OS will bring multitasking capabilities in order to run more applications at the same time.

Check out the spec and feature comparison between the iPhone 4 and 3GS at http://www.apple.com/iphone/compare-iphones/.

Love it or hate it? Without a doubt, the performance of the Iphone is really nothing much left to be desired. Well, do let me know if it’s enough to tear you away from your current phone?

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F.A.T.S!

Have you ever been call as a fat ass? fatty boom boom?


Do you know there's saturated fats and unsaturated fats?
Well, this is all about fats!

Fats and oils are belong to a group of naturally occurring substances called lipids. Lipids are a group of organic compounds that make up the structure of cells found in plant and animal tissues. The lipids are water insoluble compounds by using organic solvent such as esther and benzene.

Fats and oil are chemically very similar, but differ in their physical states. Fats normally found in animals like goats and cows. It is in solid state at room temperature such as butter and tallow. Whereas fats from plants are in liquid states known as oils.The example of vegetable oil such as palm oil, coconut oil, olive oil,soybean oil and corn oil.

Basically fats and oils consist of a variety of long chain carboxylic acid called fatty acids with alcohol propane-1,2,3-triol(known as glycerol).


Fatty acids are long straight-chain carboxylic acid and a molecule of glycerol may combine with one two or three fatty acids to form monoester,diester or triester.


Hence fatty acid playing the main role determining whether it is saturated fats or unsaturated fats. A saturated fatty acid has all carbon atoms joined together by carbon-carbon single bonds. Palmitic acid is a saturated fatty acid. In an unsaturated fatty acid, the carbon chain has one or more carbon-carbon double bonds. Monosaturated is formed if the fatty acid molecule has one carbon-carbon double bond


whereas polyunsaturated has more than one carbon-carbon double bond.

Fats which contain esters of glycerol and unsaturated fatty acids are classified as unsaturated fats. Example like plants or vegetable oils contain a large proportion of unsaturated esters.Thus, it has lower melting points.



In other words,fats which contain esters if glycerol and saturated fatty acids are classified as saturated fats. It containing a large proportion of saturated esters tend to have melting points and are solids at room temperature. Medical research has found that a diet high in animal fats, particularly saturated fats is considered unhealthy. High consumption of food high in saturated fats is likely to result in obesity. It is also found that animal saturated fats pose a greater risk for coronary heart disease and strokes than unsaturated vegetable oils. Hence, unsaturated fats are more favorable and healthier than saturated fats.



Therefore, chemist developed an idea to convert unsaturated fats to saturated fats through a process call hydrogenation. Each carbon-carbon double bond absorbs one mole of hydrogen. The hydrogenation process is carried out by bubbling hyrogen gas through hot liquid oil in the presence of fine particles of nickel catalyst. A temperature of about 200C and pressure about 4 atm are used. As more and more of double bonds get hydrogenated, the relative molecular mass of the oil molecule increases. And causes the Intermolecular forces become stronger and more energy is need to overcome them. As a result, the boiling point of the oil increases and the physical state changes from liquid to solid.





Margarine is an example or products produce through hydrogenation. It is a soft solid with low melting point at room temperature. It is made by hydrogenating some of the carbon-carbon double bonds in polyunsaturated vegetable oil such as palm oil and sunflower oil. If you were to compare butter and margarine, which is better for health. I would assure you that margarine is healthier than butter because margarine is made from vegetable oil, is low in saturated fat and has no dietary cholesterol.
VS

In a conclusion, vegetable oils do not contain cholesterol because only animals would make cholesterol. These unsaturated fats do not have the damaging effect of saturated fats to cause cardiovascular problems. The sentence only can conclude that we are suggested to consume unsaturated fats than saturated but doesn't means that we can consume unsaturated fats in large quantities. Too much of fats consumption, whether unsaturated or saturated will make us overweight. A balanced healthy diet will keep the vital processes in our bodies to function efficiently to maintain a healthy body.

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Synthetic Polymers

Let's just begin with a question.What is polymers?

Polymers are long-chain molecules formed bu joining together thousands of monomers(small repeating units). A polymer is molecule is synthesis in a process call polymerisation by joining together the monomers molecules. Besides synthetic polymers, natural polymers are exists and found in living things. For example, protein, DNA, cellulose, starch and natural rubber.
Well, this post are going to concentrate on synthetic polymers which is so called man-made polymers. They include plastics such as polyethylene and fibres such as nylons.

For example plastics are the largest group of synthetic polymers which have the important property of being easily formed. The raw materials to make plastics came from the products of cracking of petroleum fractions. The monomers of making plastics polymers is alkenes, they are formed by addition reaction. Polythene , polyvinyl chloride (PVC) , polypropene and perpex are the example of plastics.

Polythene also known as polyethene.

The monomers for is ethene.


The polymerisation process produces polyethene.

Polypropene


and its monomers propene


Both of this polymers are used o make plastic bags,pipes, containers moulded objects and toys.

Polythene , polyvinyl chloride (PVC)


the monomer, chloroethene.

The reaction to form polychloroethene is shown below.


PVC is normally used to make pipes, wire and cables,records and apparels such as footwear and rain coats.



Perspex

The monomer is Methyl 2-methylpropenoate.

Polymerising this monomer will produce the polymer methyl2-methypropenate. It is used to replace glass, fibre optics and illuminated signs.

Besides plastics , there are two important groups of fibres polyamide which is nylon and polyester which is terylene. Both nylon and terylene are produced by condensation polymerisation.

Nylon


Nylon is used to make textile fibres, threads, ropes, toothbrushes and electrical insulators.

Terylene.
A condesation reaction will join thousands of diacids and diols together to produce polyester.

Terylene is used to make textile fibres, parachutes, stockings, fishing nets and tapes.

Synthetic polymers are usually cheaper than natural materials and it can be tailor-made by chemists to suit certain specifications.Synthetic polymers vary widely in physical such as strength, flexibility, resistance to chemical attacks and softening temperature.
For the last fifty years or so, the development of synthetic polymers has led to a great change in the world where we live. Many materials of great usefulness are developed. The manufacture and use of synthetic polymers have increase rapidly over the years. And they are steadily replacing traditional natural materials. Plastic chairs and tables are replacing wooden ones; PVC is replacing leather in sofas; nylons and terylene is replacing natural wool and cotton.

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Let it snow..

Ever since I was born, I always dream that it would snow in Malaysia one day. When day goes by, people are growing up mentally and physically and then we started to realize that it never snow where we live. Oh well, I still wish to touch the snow. I want to feel it on my cheeks, build a snowman on a snow land instead of building the sandcastle on the beach and throw a snowball at someone's face. I don't mind I'll get frost bitten, I just wish I could travel overseas and learn how to run in the snow.

During Christmas, it is traditional to decorate every places with lights and sometimes with illuminated snowflake, snowmen and other Christmas figures. I remember I've seen snowflakes the most because snowflakes are one of the most recognizable and endearing symbols of winter. It has it's delicate shape and it happens in real. Hence, I did some research about snowflakes.
There you go..

In western country where you will see snowflakes are particular form of water ice.Snowflakes form in clouds, which consist of water vapor.When the temperature decreases water freeze to become ice. And there's where science kicks in. There are several factors affect snowflake formation such as temperature, air currents, and humidity which are all influence their shape and size. Water might get mixed up with dirt and dust particles and affect crystal weight and durability.
Snowflake formation is a dynamic process.First, the tiny ice crystal becomes hexagonal (six-sided). This shape originates from the chemistry of the water molecule, which consists of two hydrogen atoms bonded to an oxygen atom. The water molecules in a snowflake chemically bond to each other to form the six-sided flake due to the angle of the water molecule and its hydrogen-bonding, . The flake eventually sprouts six tiny branches. Each of these branches grows to form side branches in a direction and shape that are influenced by the clustering of water molecules on the ice crystal surfaces.

Researchers show that not all snowflakes are symmetrical. Changes in temperatures, presence of dirt, and other factors may cause a snowflake to be lop-sided. Yet it is true that many snowflakes are same in all side and intricate. This is because a snowflake's shape reflects the internal order of the water molecules. Ice and snow as water molecules in the solid state, form weak bonds (called hydrogen bonds) with one another. These ordered arrangements result in the symmetrical, hexagonal shape of the snowflake. During crystallization, the water molecules align themselves to maximize attractive forces and minimize repulsive forces. Consequently, water molecules simply arrange themselves to fit the spaces and maintain symmetry.

However, there's no snowflakes are alike due to the precise number of water molecules, spin of electrons, isotope abundance of hydrogen and oxygen, etc. But sometimes it is possible for two snowflakes to look exactly identical and any given snowflake probably has had a good match at some point in history. Anyhow, it is improbable that anyone would see two identical snowflakes since there are so many factors affect the structure of a snowflake.

And lastly, are you wondering why snow is white?I'm gonna tell you why.
During the formation of snowflakes, water droplets in cloud are saturated with dissolved gases. When the environment temperature decrease until freezing point, insoluble gases in snow are trapped inside and form tiny bubble. The size and the distribution of the tiny bubble are quite uniform due to small droplet size and fast freezing rate. Visible light are reflected by tiny bubble ; and because snowflakes have so many light-reflecting surfaces they scatter the light into all of its colors, so snow appears white.

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Pools are cool!

With the really warm weather we are having in Malaysia, I thought it would be a great time to immerse ourselves into an Olympic size of swimming pool. Don't you agree with me? I guess there's no better place to get away from the hotness and what’s more fun than some ice cold water on a hot day.
When we talk about swimming pools, have you ever smelled the high level of chlorine in the water? Did you ever feel itchiness on your skin with your bareback polyester sheath?
Well, I did. I smelled the strong odor and my palms always happen to appear some red patches after I swam and it's itchy. Some people are even highly allergic to chlorine, so do you know what exactly chlorine is? and why is it chlorine is added to the swimming pool.

Let's explore deeper.

According to wikipedia, Chlorine is a powerful oxidant and is used in bleaching and disinfectants. Therefore swimming pool need to be properly sanitized to ensure hygience of swimmers.Basically, it is an oxidizing agent used to disinfect water to reduce or eliminate microorganisms such as bacteria, algae and viruses.

There's few types of chlorine used for swimming pools such as

1. 56% to 62% Sodium Dichloro-S-Triazinetrione in granular chlorine
2. 90% Trichloro-S-Triazinetrione in chlorine tablets or stick
3. 65% Calcium Hypochlorite in the form of Granular Chlorine Sodium Hypochlorite in liquid form


All type of chlorine above will form hypochlorous acid which are similar to following reaction.

Cl2 + H2O → HOCl (hypochlorous acid) + HCl (hydrochloric acid)


HOCI will attack the microorganisms and bacteria in the water by destroying the lipids in the cell wall and the enzymes within the cells. HOCI causes the bacteria cells oxidized as thgey destroy the structure inside the cells. Therefore, HOCI is considered a very strong oxidizing agent.

In aqueous solution, HOCI can partially dissociate into anion hypochlorite CIO- which is weaker oxidizing agent. Hence, basic condition (high PH) will reduce the effectiveness of chlorine.

HClO ↔ OCl- + H+


Nevertheless, HOCI is unstable under high temperature. At the moment, HOCI will decompose into HCI and oxygen with the presence of sunlight. Cyanuric acid can stabilize HOCI but reduce the effectiveness of HCIO.The reaction is occurred like below.

2Cl2 + 2H2O ↔ 4HCl + O2

HOCI may combine with other chemicals to form chloroamine even with cyanuric acid as stabilising agent. Hypochlorus acid may combine with ammonia, found in urine to produce various chloroamine. Chloroamine is the main source of causing skin and eyes irritation and the unpleasant odor. Thus, the strong smell, taste and eye irritation associate with swimming pools are actually due to chloroamine but not hypochlorus acid.

NH3 + HOCl → NH2Cl + H2O

Alright, now you will think that you won't be exposed to chlorine if you promised you don't swim. I shall tell you that you are wrong. Did you ever stepped into morning shower and realized that each time you take a shower,your body is exposed to chlorine and you absorb it right into your body.

Anyhow,Scientists consider chlorine one of the most toxic elements found in nature and yet the number of people allergic to chlorine is extremely small. Eye irritation, dry skin, coughing, sneezing, stuffy or itchy nose may be just the symptoms of an intolerance to chlorine instead of a true allergy.

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