World’s Unfamiliar Laws

Eat your chewing gum, do the French kiss at the train, driving without your shirts or wear your bathing suit. There are some places that they will caught you for some reasons. To avoid these troubles when you’re going to a certain place, here are the laws in their countries that you should know and to be careful.

1. No Feeding of Pigeons (Italy)

In Venice, there are pigeons flock at the park as additional attraction. Giving food to pigeons by tourists is not allowed. When you caught, the officials or policeman will reprimand you. Fines can reach up to $600 but not more than $50 or $60 if you want to pay quickly.

2. Stopping on the Autobahn (Germany)

While you’re driving along the highway, your car runs out of gas to stop at the side of the highway. Another, you tried to walk along the highway to find the gas. All of these are illegal! Your penalty is just under $100.

3. Driving Without Shirt (Thailand)

You experienced sweat on a humid place. Then you’re going to remove your shirt while you’re driving a car or motorcycle. The consequence is a you’re going to pay the penalty fee of around $10 when a policeman caught you’re driving shirtless!

4. Paying in Pennies (Canada)

Canada’s Currency Act of 1985 was implemented, where there’s a limit on paying endless coins, including penny. Never use those small coins when you’re going to buy at $1 or more. The seller wants you to get out and the transaction is automatically denied!

5. No Kissing at Train Stations (France and England)

In 1910, kissing on those French railways is prohibited. How about in England? The truth is, nowadays there’s no penalty for smooching in those countries except in Warrington Bank Quay at northwestern England. Folks will ask you politely to move out to the designated kissing place.

6. Driving a Dirty Car (Moscow, Russia)

Exempted to Moscow police for that one-of-a-kind law regarding those cars. The police will caught you if he found your license plate was dirty because he can’t read that. You will receive the ticket. It’s okey to pay the penalty at $100 in front of an officer in a politely manner then go on!

7. Wearing the Bathing Suit (Grenada)

Local police in Grenada can spot those tourists who were wearing bathing suits. There’s a fine for that violation and supposed to wear jeans.

8. Driving While Headlights are Off (Denmark)

According to a law in Denmark, always drive with headlights on to prevent further accidents on the road. If you violated, you will fine under $100.

9. Chewing Gum (Singapore)

The government of Singapore teaches tourists and folks to maintain tidiness. There are some violators may face a trouble, such as spitting, non-flushing of public toilets and feeding birds, and they’ll pay huge fines. One of them is eating chewing gum. The fine is $100 a ticket. Be cautious and alert at all times while enjoying your stay. Be aware about laws or rules when you’re there.

The nature of earthquake

Earthquake is the movement of 2 plates on the crust of our planet and it bursts out the energy immediately. It can detect the magnitude of earthquake using the Mercalli scale. It’s a natural phenomenon or possibly caused by humans. Volcanic eruption, aftershock or tsunami, as additional warning to the community,  may occur after the natural earthquake.

We cannot predict precisely when the earthquake will come but preparation is always the best thing for safety.  Until now, scientists are still searching for the answer about the definite time of calamity occur.

Like what happen in L’Aquila in Italy as the latest. On midnight of April 6, an earthquake hit. Most of the Middle Age landmarks were devastated. 150 people were died. The search for those victims from buried debris are still going on. Condolences received from Pope Benedict XVI and leaders from around the world.

There are some countries may struck earthquake. In terms of magnitude, the highest scale was 9.5. It happend in Valdivia, Chile on May 22, 1960. Only 5,700 people were died. Tsunami followed after the event. Huge wave crossed along the Pacific Ocean and affected other countries. In Shannxi, China last January 1556, there are fearfully 830,000 fatalities because of possible landslides and poor foundation of their establishments. It was the deadliest earthquake in the history.

Safety, alertness and preparation are the best thing to survive in case there’s an earthquake.

The Segway PT

Segway PT is a double-wheeled self-balancing electric wheel. It was invented by Dean Kamen and produced by Segway Inc. based in New Hampshire, USA.

Balancing is set for Segway when you’re in upright position and it controlled by computer and motor. The user can go forward, backward or turn using the “Leen Steer” handlebar. The speed of Segway is up to 12.5 miles per hour or 20.1 kilometers per hour. Balancing technology controls by Gyroscopic sensor, which it is used to detect tilting of a device, stands to a departure from perfect balance.

The success of Segway is one of a useful transportation for police departments, military bases, warehouses, corporate campuses or industrial sites.  However, that single-person transporter can adapt as a motor vehicle, which depends on legal system on road. Helmet is one requirement to wear for the user from possible accidents.

Dean Kamen’s invention launched in 2001 for testing operation and released into the public on the following year. Despite the success sale of single-person computer vehicle, Segway made a recall for patch software and hardware improvements. Last May 2006, the municipality of Chicago signed the 5-year contract with $580,000 deal, which purchased 100 Segway GTs, accessories, replacement parts and repair services. The problem to Segway Inc. was not profitable because of two reasons: the recession struck in US and the rest of the world; and the sales record of only 30,000 units from 2001 to 2007.

Top Ten Popular Dog Breeds

According to AKC (American Kennel Club), there are 160 recognized dog breeds in the list to this date. Dog owners are responsible for taking care of dogs as a pet or guard, inside and outside of the house. Sometimes dogs trained for security and emergency purposes, such as sniffing for suspicious items, to attack those criminals or to save the life of an individual. Everybody knows that dog is “man’s best friend”. Here are the latest top ten popular dog breeds in the US and why is it popular:

1. Retriever Labrador

Retriever Labrador is very popular breed in US and the world because it has a unique traits such as exceptionally affable, gentle, intelligent, energetic, sociable and good nature. Aside for good characteristic of Labrador, it is a good companion for people of all ages!

2. Yorkshire Terrier

In terms of Toy group, Yorkshire Terrier is awesome to take care that pet. Despite the long silky coat, it is highly energetic, very protective and loyal to their family. It is a good companion for the single or elderly person.

3. German Shepherd

A popular dog breed from Germany shows the strength, intelligence and obedience. German Shepherd is the part of police and military services worldwide for strong detection of victims in case of calamity, sniffing illegal elements for the crime or to attack enemies.

4. Retriever Golden

Like Golden Labrador, Golden Retriever is good companion for nature hunters. It is capable to swim and he can retrieve anything undamaged because of the soft mouth.

5. Beagle

Snoopy, from the comic strip “Peanuts”, is very popular character as promoting another English breed of dog to the world called “Beagle”. Beagle is suitable for hunters (for rabbit), quarantines and sometimes, for testing. Despite being temper and hard prone to health problems, it barks loudly when intruders are present.

6. Boxers

This combination breed of English Bulldog and extincted Bullenbeisser from Germany shows friendly to pet owner, agile, alert, strong, and suspicious to strangers. Aside for companion at home, Boxers also exercise for police and military activities.

7. Dachshunds

This short-legged and elongated body animal breed can hunt, chase and seize burrow-dwelling animals. Pet owners described Dashshund as “sausage dog”, which is popular in some cities of US and other parts of the world.

8. Bulldog

Bulldog is strong, temper and sociable pet. It was originated from England. Bulldog became popular in US for movies and television as a popular culture, even in universities and schools as mascots.

9. Poodle

Another popular dog from Germany is “Poodle”. It is intelligent, obedient and agile pet. Aside from strong skills in sports, Poodle is always honor during the dog shows, which it shows a “fashionable” pet. Notable celebrities and media carry with their popular Poodle to promote their one of excellent breed of dog.

10. Shih Tzu

It is also known as “Lion Dog” or “Chrysanthemum Dog”. Shih Tzu is one of an adorable pet, which originated from China. Pet owners of Shih Tzu require to maintain his or her pet’s health, including groominess and feeding, because of long coat.

Read more: “Top 10 Most Popular Dog Breeds for 2009: These top dogs make perfect family pets” – http://dog-breeds.suite101.com/article.cfm/top_10_most_popular_dog_breeds_of_2008#ixzz0BV7dXrZk

No pistachios for the meantime

The Food and Drug Administration (or FDA) warned consumers not to eat pistachios because of  possible content of salmonella.

Another scary news broke out about pistachios yesterday. After the milk scare last year, now pistachios is next. So I had to stop buying pistachios for the meantime until the salmonella scare is over. I really know why the recall issue came out suddenly.

Roasting is the best process to kill microorganisms for pistachios. Make sure that packaging process is clean. The facility is free from rats, mice or birds because those animals can carry diseases and transmit into foods like pistachios then to human. The consequence of taking a food with salmonella is diarrhea, fever and cramping. It is life-threatening for people with weak immune system, specially for children and elderly.

That recall issue was alarming for our food that we take. Food industries must be neat in packaging and the facility to store nuts properly. Also, hygeine is very important for the food industry employees for the benefit of safety of consumers. Sanitation is a big factor to maintain cleanliness of food processor or packager.

For us, as consumers, it’s an isolation problem. I hope that issue will resolve as soon as possible. Let’s try other nuts like almonds and hazelnut instead of pistachios. Always check the exact expiration date to know and be wise in choosing the product.

Hints about Sony PS3 announcement

On March 31, Sony will announce worldwide regarding the PS3. Playstation 3 enthusiasts are circulating rumors about that announcement. No leaks found while I’m searching for details of spreading news. Let’s enumerate what are the hints (only in my opinion or guessing but don’t criticize about this):

1. Sony Playstation 3 may cut the price at $99 (?). Commonly what gamers say. The sales of PS3 were somewhat bad because customers can’t afford to buy PS3. It would be a strategy to attract gamer enthusiasts to purchase PS3 to regain the market. Maybe the same for PSP and PS2.

2. Possible upgrade of firmware or components (?). Despite the excellent graphics for PS3, there would be some changes or improvements for hardware and software.

3. Possible recall of PS3 (?). Maybe there’s a possible defect to one of the components of PS3. Until now there’s no news knew about the PS3 bust or hazard to gamers.

4. Possible integration of PSP and Sony Ericsson or other inventions to release in the market(?). Maybe there’s some endless innovation produced by Sony for launching a concept to integrate for PS3. The slimmer version of PS3 may launch.

5. Possible nightmare for Sony employees (?). In the wake of financial crisis that struck worldwide, fears and anxiety are the emotion from the employees of Sony. They’re facing uncertainity that lies in the future of the leading Japanese electronic industry. Families of their employees may affect their lives.

6. Possible slowdown of PS3 production (?). Sony may slowdown the PS3 production because of low orders worldwide, which affects the economic crisis.

These 6 answers are just guessing game but not proved yet until March 31. I respect your criticism about my blog entry. So let’s find out!

World’s 10 Famous Trains

In world of transportation, train is one of the fastest transportation in the land. Depending on the destination that it travels by the guide of a pair of rail steels. It operates from steam locomotion to the electric and magnetic application. There is a beginning and the end of destination as it could reach by. Over the past 180 years, train continues to innovate for improvement. Safety travel to commuters and faster delivery of commodities or items are the key to efficiency of travel. Here are the 10 famous trains that became remarkable in the world history of transportation:

1. Orient Express

Stretching from Paris to Istanbul, Orient Express started the operation in 1883. It travels 6 countries with the cooperation of 10 different railroads. Why is it famous? Diplomats, royalty or government couriers are the passengers and they served for the 5 course French meals. During World War II, the Orient Express operation was halted and it resumed after the war. In 1962, the service became limited in the height of Cold War and Iron Curtain.

2. Peruvian Central Railway

Peruvian Central Railway started in 1895 and it is the highest railway in the world. Travelling from La Oroya to Lima, the train climbs up to 13,000 feet. It passes 66 tunnels and 59 bridges. Zigzags and the steepness of the mountain are included on those obstacles. Doctors are on-board for commuters had a problem in breathing on a high altitude and they’ll give them oxygen.

3. Trans-Siberian Express

It built in 1889 and the operation began in 1898. Trans-Siberian Express is the longest railway trip in the world, stretching at 9228 kilometer or 5772 miles from Moscow to Vladivostok. The travel time is up to 9 days as the maximum. Nowadays, Russia and Japan are negotiating for the efficient train, possibly using Shinkansen (shall inform this later).  The purpose of that negotiation is to deliver goods more efficiently instead of delivering by sea and to shorten the time travel.

4. 20th Century Limited

20th Century Limited was an express passenger train. It was operated in 1902. It travels from New York to Chicago, passing on the Hudson River and the shores of Lake Erie included. That train became famous in the world. But in 1967, the 20th Century Limited operation was ended. Currently, Amtrak operates on New York-Chicago route.

5. Flying Scotsman

Traveling from London to Edinburgh, Flying Scotsman was the express passenger train. When the train operation began in 1928, it was the non-stop train. Inside the Flying Scotsman, there’s a hairdress salon, King Louis XIV’s restaurant and bar style and a cinema coach. Nowadays, Flying Scotsman was operating by National Express East Coast.

6. Super Chief

Super Chief was one of the named passenger trains and the flagship of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. It was often referred to as “The Train of the Stars” because of the many celebrities who traveled on the streamliner between Chicago and Los Angeles, and vice versa. The maiden operation was the year 1936. But in 1971, it turned over to Amtrak.

7. Blue Train

It is one of the luxurious train in the world since 1939. Traveling 1600 kilometers or 1000 miles between Pretoria and Cape Town. Additional television and telephone applied in 1997 for better comfort of those passengers.

8. Bullet Train

It is also known as “Shinkansen” in Japanese, which literally means “New Trunk Line”. It operates by Japan Railway Group from 1964. That train started at 210 km/h connecting the network of cities on the island of Honshu and Kyushu. The Shinkansen improvement began in 1970s for faster travel time until the application of maglev (magnetic levitation) in 2003 that it became a world breaking speed record of 581 km/h! No fatalities recorded for that train until now! In the event if there’s an earthquake, the train will stop quickly.

9. Indian Pacific

The first national train operated in 1970, connecting between Sydney and Perth at 2461 miles or 4352 kilometers. The trip takes 65 hours, covering 3 Australian states. That route has the world’s longest stretch of straight track, which lasts for 297 miles.

10. TGV

TGV stands for “train à grande vitesse”. The French translation for “high-speed train”. That train uses only the electric system. From 1960s to 1980s, French engineers developed TGV. French government supported for that project in 1976. In 1981, TGV was serviceable to the public and traveling from Paris to Lyon. Improvement on TGV continues. The speed of TGV aimed at 574 km/h in 2007, second to Japan. Until now, TGV journey stretches into Marseille and outside France.

Understanding Earth Hour

Earth Hour is the yearly campaign to switch off their lights around the world in 60 minutes. The purpose of this campaign is to encourage people to cut the energy use and to decrease energy emission from fossil fuel. Former US Vice President Al Gore presented a documentary film called “An Inconvenient Truth” in 2006. It was all about the effect of global warming to the world, which it became a wake-up call to all nations. Because nowadays, we are facing that climate problem. Too much emissions and carbon dioxides coming out from factories or industries in any part of the world. The ozone layer continues to deplete. Global warming causes heatwave, more floods, more droughts, rising sea levels and extinction of animals and plants.

The U.N. Climate Panel said that rich nations will have to cut their emissions to a level between 25 and 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 to avoid the worst effects of warming. Developing nations will also have to slow the rise of their emissions by 2020, it says.

Australia started the Earth Hour campaign in 2007 by switching off all lights.The following year, it became global and growing. This year, the participants for that campaign was even growing more! The WWF (World Wildlife Fund) urged that campaign to the UN (United Nations) and all of the leaders of their nations to fight global warming. March 28 at 8:30-9:30pm of our local times around the world to turn-off our lights. It’s the celebration for us to give a gift to our Mother Earth.

The Power of Youtube

Youtube is very popular video website in the world. Those are uploaded videos or clips. Youtube users contribute talents, evidences, moments, slideshows, recorded videos from TV or movie (sometimes they deleted those videos from unauthorized distribution)… anything as you want to share for all. For videos containing offensive content, it’s available for ages 18 and above. Video pornography, defamation and gore are prohibited by Terms of Service. Videos from Youtube can embed in their blogs to share. You can share your comment or reaction about a video that you saw. You’re going to judge independently by giving them a positive or negative remark. It is a tool for fame or shame.

Youtube started in early 2005 by 3 former PayPal employees.  On November 2005, it was officialy launched to the public and 65,000 new videos were uploaded everyday. There’s a big impact to the society about Youtube. Simply upload their videos and they can watch them in few minutes. From any video format file, you can upload and convert into Adobe Flash Format at the maximum capacity of 10 minutes and/or 100MB of video content.

There are some critcisms facing on Youtube such as copyright infringement, privacy and inappropriate contents that irated by media owners. Sometimes, media owners sued against Youtube. That Internet video tool was on conflict because of sensitive issues throwing by individuals, ethnics or media owners. Youtube made an action against users who uploaded sensitive or recorded videos from TV or movie.

Until now, people are enjoying to watch Youtube video contents until now.

Brief History of Televison (from CRT to LCD)

Television is one of the most important communication tool by just watching information and entertainment stuff in front of your screen. Also, it transmits moving images and sounds. The evolution and development of television continues for more than 80 years and counting to improve the technological innovation for the future.

The experiment began in 1925 when John Logie Baird, a Scottish inventor, demonstrated the transmission of moving silhouette images. The scan rate was at 5 frames per second. Baird continued to improve that experiment until it reached 12.5 frames per second and over the air transmission between London and Glasgow in January 1926. Other scientists like Herbert Ives of USA and Leon Theremin of Soviet Russia made their different pre-television concept. In 1928, General Electric of USA initially released a “television” model called “Octagon”. Octagon was a mechanical set instead of electrical and the size of screen was just 4 inches. In the same year, Baird Model C released that same concept by Baird.

Before the World War II, the first electronic TV was developed. Commercial televisions of their companies were initially sold to US, UK, Germany and Russia. Other countries followed during and after the war. In late 40s, the cathode ray tube applied and the size of the screen increased to 7″.  Around 1950s, the “fishbowl” CRT tube came out in the market. That design was existing until now. From black and white screen, it turned out to a colorful viewing and the additional application using remote control. In mid-90s, projection television came out in the market. The screen size of that television is wider and the bulk size was slimmer. In 1997, plasma television technology introduced into the market and it became popular. In 2005, CRT was almost dead in terms of production and the advent of LCD (liquid crystal display) emerged. The width of the television was even slimmer to just only 2-3″. Sony introduced the first full HD screen, where HDTV was born. Afterwards, Samsung introduced 100Hz frame doubling technology. The purpose is to smooth out the motion blur and shakeness.

Thinner width of television, lower power consumption and greater resolution of the screen. These are objectives to improve more the quality of television nowadays.