...
ohio state university
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Letter to a brokenhearted friend
You're not alone.
No, I am not brokenhearted too, nor was I dumped for another. No, not yet. I am saying that I think I can identify with your disappointment.
To this day, I am still dazed in more ways than one after being hit by the hard-punching machine a la Pacquiao that is reality. I am ambitious and my dreams are capricious. I am pensive; my goals, elusive.
While I have resigned from changing the world into something better than yesterday, now I want at least to live so that I could have reasons to smile when I die.
Alright, that's not always amusing especially for family and friends who during the wake, accidentally looks through the coffin.
Well, reality doesn't always favor those with good credentials or even good intentions. Frustration has a way of finding its way into our system or lack of it. We may be bruised, broke and battered bitterly, at least we're still alive. And while we're still breathing, ya panting, we might as well find a way of staging another valiant hurrah.
Ok, let's go to (monkey) business. No, not funeral parlor or embalming services (though that may be profitable these days when people are going berserk) but to my promise(s) when you were mourning the demise of your love (story). Ops, don't blame me if something eerie happens to (your) Jerry.
May I suggest that you take up graduate studies. I am proposing this with the knowledge that your job contract is about to end and your grief (because of him) is just starting.
I am not saying that a Master's degree will give you both money and honey immediately. I am neither speculating that you're also nearly broke nor assuming that you need a masteral so that you'll be better equipped to discern romantic overtures the next time you meet someone like Jerry. Certainly not.
There are scholarships abroad that give fairly good allowance that you'll feel like being paid as an executive while studying. While this is attractive (to my eyes), it is not my main point. I was just thinking that maybe, learning Japanese or doing research abroad will heal your broken heart. And bones. For instance, scientific literatures point out that yoga, no, yogurt has excellent therapeutic value for better digestion and regal posture as it supplies calcium and therefore, it fights osteoporosis. Well, you'll surely look every inch a beaten creature when, aside from a bleeding heart, you have a fragile and deteriorating spinal cord. Think about it. Drink Anlene today.
And what has yogurt got to do with foreign studies? Well, I was told that milk products in some countries are cheaper and abundantly available. Or, you might want to do research on adding pili to milk-based products. If you can sell pili tarts to your classmates, then, I'll call your (ad)venture a successful business.
Since you're over 22 now, the major step I think is to think of a research, not marriage proposal as early as today. Application for research scholarship takes time.
What if a good research proposal is just as elusive?
Ya, good question, bad disposition.
I can teach you AutoCAD for the mean time. For free of course. If your proposal gets dumped (again), at least you can easily move on to other job opportunities. Acquiring a skill, not knowledge, dramatically increases your market value.
For the mean time, drink Anlene regularly. When you think of Jerry, remember me.
....
I wrote this letter a few years ago and I thought it may fetch some amount of relevance this Valentine. I also learned that another friend (let's call her Sunshine) was brokenhearted recently. I don't know if her man was similarly named Jerry. Hopefully not or else that may tell you something about Jerrys. I am sure though that many details of this piece don't fit her case but at the very least, this piece might give her some diversion. The last and practical reason for posting this antique material is that I find my classes here dizzyingly fast so I don't have much time to compose longer, more decent articles. In fact, this is the primary practical reason of reviving my spot in this blog world. Updating is easiest compared to my other websites.
Friday, August 08, 2008
A night's tale
Trips to foreign land are made all the more memorable with some foible. I won’t disappoint you. I’ll end this brief report with one story of mine.
With piling paper works, I thought I’d need a computer I can use exclusively anytime as my schedule warrants. I was given one at the Graduate Students Office but it’s a struggle to go there during cold weather and football game days. Besides, the monitor quality and lighting in the room were straining my eyes quite badly.
One time on a scouting trip, I realized I missed the last bus and I was at a computer shopping store 75 km away from my dorm. Buses are few (about 1 hr interval) and their availability varies depending on route and day of the week. There was no taxi and I don’t have a phone or a phone card. It was already 8pm and the stores were closing. I had no choice so I braced for the worst. I separated my money, ID, debit card in different pockets. I had to walk home. If I walk at 5 km/hr, it would take me at least 15 hrs but this wasn’t the big problem. The first trip the next day was 4am so the longest walk until the next bus was about 8hrs. Definitely, I can’t run or jog back to the dorm even if I can. It was already dark and I might be suspected as a fleeing criminal. I was also worried getting mugged or robbed. I was wondering how a crime report about me will be written on tabloids. Probably, something like:
Thieves sue Fulbright scholar
for empty wallet, fake dollar
Then, the story would print my picture, pockets inside out, bruises and all. The caption reads: Buckeye with a blackeye.
Also, I don’t know by heart the route back. I had to rely on the map and trust that my interpretation is correct.
After 35 minutes into the journey, I saw a group of young adults across the street. Someone yelled: “How ‘ya doin’?” And so, I approached them while recalling all my self-defense lessons (I mean, the Jet Lee moves in his shaolin movies). He introduced himself as Andy, probably the oldest in the group. He said he can take me along in their car if I pay the $30 full tank fuel to the collective groans of his companions. For fear of me being a predator in the end or for rebuking Andy’s “extortion”, that I would never know. He backed off and instead called a taxi for me. While waiting for the cab, he asked if I want sex for $5, pointing to one of his lady friends. Of course, to make my loved ones and PAEF proud, I stuck with the predilection of a good Filipino and Fulbright grantee (ehem!). He dropped the sex but later, he again asked $5 from me. I didn’t budge. His companions reprimanded him.
All the while I was thinking if he really called a taxi. He showed signs of mischief but was kind enough to offer help to a stranger. The taxi did arrive and I was spared walking for 8 hrs through the night.
What can I say? Kindness comes in many forms.
...
Jones Tower, OSU, Oct 30, 2006
Blushing (thorny) blossoms ::
...:: Blushing (thorny) blossoms | North Market, Columbus, OH | Aug 5, 2008 ::
Romantic exploits of Lolo Albert
I started reading Einstein's biography with the preconceived notion that he was shy with the ladies. Although I already knew about his two marriages to Mileva Maric and his first cousin Elsa Einstein, I still suspected that his love life was dull. Or, I was hoping I had some adventures with girls that he sorely missed in favor of Physics equations.
One time at Ali Mall Cubao bus terminal, a girl caught my fancy. An idea came to mind. While still single and unattached, I better jump into adventures which my unique freedom allows. How does it feel to approach a girl out of the blue, with no introduction whatsoever? How will she react? Out of the paper receipt of a McDo Happy Meal, I created a flower by folding it a la origami. After summoning some inner strength, I finally approached and offered her the paper flower.
“Merry Christmas,” I stuttered.
She was puzzled. She just looked at me blankly.
“Kunin mo na, kunin mo na” her seatmate elbowed her.
She was frozen.
“Kunin mo na, kunin mo na” her seatmate nudged her again. And every time, I would extend the flower closer to her.
Maybe on the third or fourth “Kunin mo na” I was already blushing. No, my (very thick!) face was all red. For those who don't know, that Cubao Bus Terminal is always crowded, like a giant supermarket. I felt like everyone was looking at me.
I dropped the flower on her lap and I fled.
“Saan ka ba nagpunta? Ikaw na lang ang hinihintay!” the conductor furiously scolded me.
I was grinning.
In another occasion, I just approached a girl I don't even know at a school market. “Merry Christmas” then I extended to her a copy of Youngblood (the first ever essay anthology of twenty-something and below from Inquirer).
She was surprised. All she could mutter was “H-ha?”
Before she could regain her composure, I left the book beside her. My exit was swift.
That copy, though old, was still valuable. I attended the launching of that book and I even got the autographs of several authors in the anthology, plus that of Tintin Bersola and Julius Babao who happened to shop at a pet store at Megamall.
Later still, I would send about 30 text messages a day to someone I didn't know. All I know was her name and phone number. On the other hand, she knew everything about me in advance because of a partially-leaning common friend. I didn't know how she looks like for all the 6 months of texting (which oftentimes means, I text, she reads) and occasional calling. My messages were not the usual greetings or forwarded messages. I was basically sending her essays, stories about anything. On the pretense of a candlemaking workshop which I would teach at our house, she finally agreed to meet me with her two friends. I fetched her from her house. For a few moments, I was cross-eyed. That is, she looked like a cross between Maxene and Heart. While her aunt was interrogating me, I was thinking “What am I doing here? She's too innocent, too beautiful for me.”
The candlemaking was successful because years later, she became my wife. She still looks the same although I would chide her sometimes that I was not quite right about the innocent part. :)
From the latest and probably the most comprehensive book about Einstein, I learned many things including the realization that I don't even come close to his exploits with the ladies. There were 10 women in his romantic life from his teens up to his seventies. They were:
1] Marie Winteler [p. xxii, 27]
2] Mileva Maric [p. xxi, 42]
3] Anna Meyer who later became Mrs. Schmid [p. 153]
4] Elsa Einstein [p. xix]
5] Betty Neumann [p. 360]
6] Toni Mendel [p. 361]
7] Ethel Michanowski [p. 361]
8] Margarete Lebach [p. 362]
9] Margarita Konenkova [p. 503]
10] Johanna Fantova [p. 535]
The indicated pages are just some markers on the same book (reference cited at the end of this piece) where you can read about those characters. There was no special section for the ladies of Einstein. They were just mentioned every now and then, generally on a chronological circumstance. There was another lady who was with him for a long period but there was no concrete proof of romantic ties. Her name is Helen Dukas, a long time secretary (p.xix).
My vote could have gone to Marie if my opinion matters at all. They both showed sweetness and passion in their innocence. There was a good relationship between families. Even in the long run, the Winteler family has been closely associated with Einstein. His sister Majah later married Marie's brother. His bestfriend Michele (pronounced Mi-kel) Besso married Marie's sister. [p. 27] Einstein would still write to Marie's father in later years.
The first known love letter of a teenage Einstein to Marie is quoted below [p. 28]:
Beloved sweetheart!
Many, many thanks for your charming little letter, which made me endlessly happy. It was so wonderful to be able to press to one's heart such a bit of paper which two so dear little eyes have lovingly beheld and on which the dainty little hands have charmingly glided back and forth. I was now made to realize, my little angel, the meaning of homesickness and pining. But love brings much happiness- much more so than pining brings pain...
My mother has also taken you to her heart, even though she does not know you; I only let her read two of your charming little letters. And she always laughs at me because I am no longer attracted to the girls who were supposed to have enchanted me so much in the past. You mean more to my soul than the whole world did before.
His consenting mother even scribbled her own note on this same love letter. “Without having read this letter, I send you cordial greetings!”
Later, when Einstein was drifting apart, Marie wrote his mother. Pauline Einstein (Albert Einstein's mother) replied: “The rascal has become frightfully lazy. I have been waiting in vain for news for these last three days; I will give him a thorough talking-to once he's here.” [p. 40-41]
Here's another interesting note about Einstein and Marie's relationship. Marie was washing the laundry of Einstein. The interesting side is that they were apart. Einstein was in another place (Pavia?) and he would send by post office his laundry to Marie in Aarau. She would long for love letters that may go with the laundry. Then, Marie mails the clothes back to Einstein. The historical notes of this aspect is definitely Hollywood material:
In one letter she wrote of crossing the woods in the pouring rain to the post office to send back his clean clothes. “In vain did I strain my eyes for a little note, but the mere sight of your dear handwriting in the address was enough to make me happy.” [p. 40]
I guess they were just too young to handle the weight of the relationship. Marie was the one more devastated.
On January 6, 1903, Einstein eventually married Mileva Maric, the only girl in his Physics class [p. 85]. She's not as beautiful as Marie but she was more intellectually compatible with him. Theirs was also a passionate relationship which even resulted to a premarital daughter named Liesrl [p.72] who was buried into oblivion for unclear reasons.
The other interesting account about Einstein's capability for romantic overtures involved Anna Meyer who was a 17 year old, unmarried girl. He wrote this poem in her album:
What should I inscribe for you here?
I could think of many things
Including a kiss
On your tiny little mouth.
If you're angry about it
Do not start to cry
The best punishment
Is to give me one too.
Apparently, this happened when he was about 20 years old. It wasn't clear if he was attached to Marie or Mileva at that time. There was no strong evidence that Anna was his girlfriend and he had the gall to write about kissing her!
In succeeding chapters, Einstein would knowingly stray to other ladies, even though he's married. It could be due to a mixture of being emotionally unfulfilled and his resignation to the belief that man is inherently predisposed to something beyond his control. A similar example was when he surrendered to rescuing his son Eduard from a mental illness [p. 418].
I leave you to find out about his other affairs. Einstein's life is definitely rich with interesting surprises. And that includes his love life.
...
Reference:
Isaacson, W. 2008. Einstein: His Life and Universe. Simon and Schuster Paperbacks. New York. ISBN-13:978-0-7432-6474-7.
.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Light
The heaviest anchor of Physics is light.
Lando Asisten, Jr. and I have been contemplating recently on the foundations and frontiers of math and physics. (Lando is a genius Pinoy mathematician. Among his feats is a perfect score in Praxis Test, an international standard licensure examination and certification for teachers [1].) As a start, we are looking at the properties of light. After all, light should illuminate our way forward.
It has been widely believed that time is the great equalizer. All of us have 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week and so on. Technically speaking, this is false. Einstein's Relativity made it so. Instead, what is constant is light, or specifically, the speed of light. At least, this is the currently accepted principle among modern physicists.
When I checked the literatures, it appears that physicists eventually agreed to make the speed of light constant. The next question is, if it is constant, what is the value? Interestingly enough, the constant value varied or evolved through the years as a consequence of refinement on measurement experiments. The currently accepted value is 299,792,458 m/s (or about 186,000 miles per second) which was adopted only in 1983 [2]. The first experiment was done in 1676 by Ole Christensen Roemer, a Danish astronomer. Roemer made his calculations by observing the motion of Jupiter. [3]
We intend to join the fray. Our approach is a more intuitive way. Find first the value of the speed of light and if the values are the same wherever, then the speed of light is constant.
From the Cerebral Laboratory of the Institute of Math and Science in Ohio and Maryland, we came up with following Asisten-delaTorre Equation for the Speed of Light, c.
A is a fixed point while B is a point in space equidistant from A. Hence, B is the set of points on a spherical surface domain.
Time t is equal to the quotient of distance CD and film belt speed r. CD is the distance on a constantly moving film belt perpendicular to the path AB. C is the starting point while D is the point where light hits the belt first. The measurement is valid when the film belt is equal or greater than the speed of light. With some tinkering on this speed range, we may be able to demonstrate the wave-particle duality of light, hence offering us a glimpse of both the realm of Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. This can be observed from the print that the light would make on the film belt.
If the film belt is too slow, the light may hit it very close to C or at point C itself which makes C = D. This is the lower limit of the experiment.
Why are we proposing this? Well, we could see shady areas in the previous experiments. If you are curious, maybe you should contact us. If you do, you are probably a brilliant scientist.
Or a psychiatrist.
And your common message is: wake up!
...
References:
1] ETS. 2008. Praxis Test. http://www.ets.org/portal/site/ets/menuitem.fab2360b1645a1de9b3a0779f1751509/?vgnextoid=48c05ee3d74f4010VgnVCM10000022f95190RCRD&WT.ac=Praxis+Brochure+and+Front+Door. Last accessed: July 29, 2008.
2] University of California-Riverside Mathematics Department. 2008. How is the speed of light measured? http://www.math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/Relativity/SpeedOfLight/measure_c.html.
Last accessed: July 29, 2008.
3] Hawking, S. 1998. Space and Time. A Brief History of Time, Chapter 2, p. 19.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
French Kiss
This is my latest experiment, which I call French Kiss.
“It's sweet?!” said a German friend who looked surprised.
And it is not supposed to taste sweet?
It's already cooked when I found out more about it. There are actually several versions of it from the internet but I just picked the first one with a picture. The recipe is called Spinach-Mushroom Quiche. The proper pronunciation is with a long e, ending with sh. It is \'kēsh\, not ki-che [2]. However, I insist to call my own quiche a 'kiss' because I learned that quiche is a French cuisine [1] with German roots. Kuchen is German for cake and it soon became quiche [3]. I am neither French nor German so I can be excused when I say, “Would you like to try my French Kiss?”
Quiche is a baked dish which closely resembles a tart. The ingredients, mainly spinach, mushroom, cheese and milk, are mixed and poured into the crust for baking. Ham is also a popular ingredient. In the original version, cheese is not included [3].
The crust is either neutral or a bit salty, but not sweet. Well, there was only one kind of crust at Giant Eagle and I presumed (incorrectly, I found out later) that all ready-made crusts are general purpose. When I rechecked the pack, it says “crust for chocolate mousse.” No wonder.
Dough and crusts will be included in my next experiments. For now, here's my sweet French Kiss.
...
[1] Food Reference. 2008. Quiche. http://www.foodreference.com/html/fquiche.html. Last accessed: July 23, 2008.
[2] Merriam-Webster. 2008. Quiche. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quiche. Last accessed: July 23, 2008.
[3] Wikipedia. 2008. Quiche. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiche. Last accessed: July 23, 2008.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Princeton University
Now I can say, “When I studied in the US, I went to the top school: Princeton University.”
I realized only after the trip how prestigious Princeton University is. It belongs to the Ivy League and is currently the top school in the US. The 2nd to 8th spots are taken by the following: Harvard, Yale, Stanford, University of Pennsylvania, CalTech, MIT, Duke. Ohio State University is 57th [3].
Wikipedia says Princeton has been at the top spot from 2001 to 2008. Worldwide, Princeton University can be easily spotted at the top ten [7].
In 2008, it has the 3rd most selective acceptance rate of 10%. Both Harvard and Yale have an acceptance rate of 9%. Other schools have these figures: Stanford, 11%; MIT, 13%; CalTech, 17% [2]
I never looked at this figure before. All I care about was visit the workplace of Lolo Albert.
While Lolo Albert contributed a great amount of fame to Princeton University, it is also true that this school is home to many other breeds of geniuses. In particular, my readings about Lolo Albert brought me to these three:
Sir Andrew Wiles. He is largely known for solving Fermat's Last Theorem in September 2004. (Actually, Pareng Jong introduced Fermat's Last Theorem to me a long time ago in Nueva Ecija.) Just imagine, this math problem has eluded the most brilliant minds for 330 years. Dr. Wiles, only 55 years old now, is the current chair of the Math Department [4, 1].
Dr. Edward Witten. He is widely acclaimed as the modern Newton for his leading role in superstring theory. He has numerous awards including the Fields Medal (1990) and Crafoord Prize (2008). [5] I have read part of his writings on string theory and it is the most easy to read and understand material that I have touched so far on advanced physics. Well, I don't pretend to have learned a lot so as to be able to teach it myself but at least, I feel I have progressed considerably about the subject (with only one such paper) compared to my struggles with several other papers on the same topic. Sometimes, a difficult subject is easier to face by going to the advanced source.
With the amazing brains and elegant buildings around, I feel fortunate and dignified that at one point in my life, I breathed the same oxygen, walked the same path of Princeton grounds where Lolo Albert and the current geniuses of our time found home.
...
References:
[ 1 ] Princeton University. 2008. Faculty Directory. http://www.math.princeton.edu/directory/. Last accessed: July 11, 2008.
[ 2 ] US News and World Report. 2008. Lowest acceptance rates. America's Best Colleges 2008. http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/webex/lowacc_brief.php. Last accessed: July 11, 2008.
[ 3 ] US News and World Report. 2008. National Universities: Top Schools. America's Best Colleges 2008. http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/t1natudoc_brief.php. Last accessed: July 11, 2008.
[ 4 ] Wikipedia. 2008. Andrew Wiles. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Wiles. Last accessed: July 11, 2008.
[ 5 ] Wikipedia. 2008. Edward Witten. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Witten. Last accessed: July 11, 2008.
[ 6 ] Wikipedia. 2008. John Forbes Nash. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Forbes_Nash. Last accessed: July 11, 2008.
[ 7 ] Wikipedia. 2008. Princeton University. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princeton_University. Last accessed: July 11, 2008.
I realized only after the trip how prestigious Princeton University is. It belongs to the Ivy League and is currently the top school in the US. The 2nd to 8th spots are taken by the following: Harvard, Yale, Stanford, University of Pennsylvania, CalTech, MIT, Duke. Ohio State University is 57th [3].
Wikipedia says Princeton has been at the top spot from 2001 to 2008. Worldwide, Princeton University can be easily spotted at the top ten [7].
In 2008, it has the 3rd most selective acceptance rate of 10%. Both Harvard and Yale have an acceptance rate of 9%. Other schools have these figures: Stanford, 11%; MIT, 13%; CalTech, 17% [2]
I never looked at this figure before. All I care about was visit the workplace of Lolo Albert.
While Lolo Albert contributed a great amount of fame to Princeton University, it is also true that this school is home to many other breeds of geniuses. In particular, my readings about Lolo Albert brought me to these three:
Sir Andrew Wiles. He is largely known for solving Fermat's Last Theorem in September 2004. (Actually, Pareng Jong introduced Fermat's Last Theorem to me a long time ago in Nueva Ecija.) Just imagine, this math problem has eluded the most brilliant minds for 330 years. Dr. Wiles, only 55 years old now, is the current chair of the Math Department [4, 1].
Dr. John Nash. This mathematician is the subject of A Beautiful Mind (2001, starring Russel Crowe). (Again, Pareng Jong introduced the movie and Dr. Nash to me.) In support of his application to Princeton University Mathematics Department, his adviser Dr RJ Duffin wrote a recommendation letter with one short sentence: “This man is a genius.” Later, Dr. Nash (along with two others) won the 1994 Nobel Prize in Economics for his game theory [6].
Dr. Edward Witten. He is widely acclaimed as the modern Newton for his leading role in superstring theory. He has numerous awards including the Fields Medal (1990) and Crafoord Prize (2008). [5] I have read part of his writings on string theory and it is the most easy to read and understand material that I have touched so far on advanced physics. Well, I don't pretend to have learned a lot so as to be able to teach it myself but at least, I feel I have progressed considerably about the subject (with only one such paper) compared to my struggles with several other papers on the same topic. Sometimes, a difficult subject is easier to face by going to the advanced source.
[more princeton pictures here]
With the amazing brains and elegant buildings around, I feel fortunate and dignified that at one point in my life, I breathed the same oxygen, walked the same path of Princeton grounds where Lolo Albert and the current geniuses of our time found home.
...
References:
[ 1 ] Princeton University. 2008. Faculty Directory. http://www.math.princeton.edu/directory/. Last accessed: July 11, 2008.
[ 2 ] US News and World Report. 2008. Lowest acceptance rates. America's Best Colleges 2008. http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/webex/lowacc_brief.php. Last accessed: July 11, 2008.
[ 3 ] US News and World Report. 2008. National Universities: Top Schools. America's Best Colleges 2008. http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/t1natudoc_brief.php. Last accessed: July 11, 2008.
[ 4 ] Wikipedia. 2008. Andrew Wiles. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Wiles. Last accessed: July 11, 2008.
[ 5 ] Wikipedia. 2008. Edward Witten. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Witten. Last accessed: July 11, 2008.
[ 6 ] Wikipedia. 2008. John Forbes Nash. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Forbes_Nash. Last accessed: July 11, 2008.
[ 7 ] Wikipedia. 2008. Princeton University. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princeton_University. Last accessed: July 11, 2008.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Faint of Hart
Mike Hart stumbled badly today on his last game in their own turf, and so did the Wolverines to lose the 2007 Big Ten College Football Championship against the Buckeyes, 14-3.
He was a formidable bulldozer last year even against the stellar cast of Troy Smith and company. Aside from his very strong legs that can plow through the defensive line, he has also a competitive heart that can fire up teammates and belittle many bigger men in the football field. Though small in stature by football standards, any opposing team has to be very concerned of his offensive prowess.
This time though, his offense was just plain ugly offensive.
In one play early into the game, he made a good defensive bump to protect their ball against one rushing unidentified Buckeye. The ball was dead already and while this Buckeye was trying to get up from the ground, Hart shoved him down. Once on his feet, he returned the push.
Throughout the game, I have never seen any Buckeye dish out such an extra dirty tackle of any kind although anybody could have done it especially against their injured quarterback, Chad Henne.
Hart was probably desperate and worried with his own injury and so he tried to put up a courageous mask. On the other end, Beanie Wells has been nursing some injury of his own but his warrior spirit is far superior than Hart. Wells shrugged off pain and dazzled the defense with his record-setting 222 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the fierce, long-storied Ohio State-Michigan rivalry. Hart was held to his lowest 44 rushing yards with such a choking defense.
All in all, Wells, Vernon Gholston and the rest of the Buckeyes simply outclassed Hart and the Wolverines. And that refers not only to athletic terms but to every sense of the word.
...
I wrote this article immediately after the Nov 17 (2007) game. Then, I rewrote this piece into a short version for the comments/opinion section of The Lantern, the official student paper of Ohio State University. My piece was published next issue, Nov 19, as shown below.
He was a formidable bulldozer last year even against the stellar cast of Troy Smith and company. Aside from his very strong legs that can plow through the defensive line, he has also a competitive heart that can fire up teammates and belittle many bigger men in the football field. Though small in stature by football standards, any opposing team has to be very concerned of his offensive prowess.
This time though, his offense was just plain ugly offensive.
In one play early into the game, he made a good defensive bump to protect their ball against one rushing unidentified Buckeye. The ball was dead already and while this Buckeye was trying to get up from the ground, Hart shoved him down. Once on his feet, he returned the push.
Throughout the game, I have never seen any Buckeye dish out such an extra dirty tackle of any kind although anybody could have done it especially against their injured quarterback, Chad Henne.
Hart was probably desperate and worried with his own injury and so he tried to put up a courageous mask. On the other end, Beanie Wells has been nursing some injury of his own but his warrior spirit is far superior than Hart. Wells shrugged off pain and dazzled the defense with his record-setting 222 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the fierce, long-storied Ohio State-Michigan rivalry. Hart was held to his lowest 44 rushing yards with such a choking defense.
All in all, Wells, Vernon Gholston and the rest of the Buckeyes simply outclassed Hart and the Wolverines. And that refers not only to athletic terms but to every sense of the word.
...
I wrote this article immediately after the Nov 17 (2007) game. Then, I rewrote this piece into a short version for the comments/opinion section of The Lantern, the official student paper of Ohio State University. My piece was published next issue, Nov 19, as shown below.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Childhood memories
I learned a few years back that childhood memories tell something about our personal psychological profile. Usually, we are described only by temperament (the four famous, classical temperament: sanguine, choleric, melancholic, phlegmatic) but I agree with some authors that there are other significant factors defining our personality. Aside from temperament, these factors are: childhood memories, birth order and love language. I'll share some more about these but for now, I'll stay with childhood memories.
According to psychologists, memories stay for some significant reason or reasons. Memories may be sad or happy (or somewhere in between) but they are all significant. If past experiences were not that significant, time would eventually erase them. Of course, sometimes, diminished physical and mental abilities tend to wash out even the fondest memories and so we lose the details but we know there must be something very significant when we are moved deeply by some reminders. We may not be able to articulate the recollection but we know if it was something significant.
I was too young to know my age and other details of the circumstances but these are things that I recall of my childhood. To the best of my ability, this is my estimate of the chronological events in my life as a young, (smart, handsome) kid:
1] Builder, helper
Papa (my biological father) was working with a neighbor laborer, Sandy (Domingo Sarmiento), on the roof of our house. Our house was new, under construction but almost finished. I picked a piece of wood and I was giving it to them atop the roof although Sandy was closer the edge of the roof and therefore nearer to me. Well, he wasn't very near because I was just a small kid on the ground and the roof was definitely higher than me. I was looking upwards, extending my hand with the piece of wood. I remember the surprised look from both Sandy and Papa. They were smiling broadly. It was like them saying, “Hey, you're too young and small to help out as a laborer. You're supposed to be playing, not working. Besides, what do we do with that piece of wood?”
Well, I don't really know if they ever said those words. I just associate those statements with this memory.
2] Birthday specials
I remember a birthday was a very special event because I was pampered with these birthday specials: lechon (pinoy-style roast or barbecue pork), cake, birthday gifts (toy, new clothes, shoes). The lechon has always been a vivid image. We were raising several pigs and one of these has to be butchered and cooked for my birthday. The lechon was so big, overwhelmingly big that I felt it was quite a feast every time. It must really be a grand celebration.
Later, we also raised poultry (native, free range chicken, 45-days broilers and layers). Life must be getting hard so my parents would serve chicken (fried chicken and other chicken food variants) instead and spare the pigs. I guess the swine can bring more income than chicken.
In all these birthday food preparation, I remember the primary character behind was Mama Ging. She is the younger sister of my maternal grandmother. While staying with us, she was also running an eatery. She's a very good cook. She's very organized, quite a disciplinarian, excellent in managing finances. She was like a surrogate mother for us while our parents were at work. She enforces strict schedules for sleeping time, siesta, eating, playing, studying.
The other secondary characters (which means their images were not as vivid) were my parents, Pedring (a househelp), my siblings, Tito Nick and some godfathers and godmothers.
By the way, this kind of celebration was also true for all my siblings. The celebration would fade away as we grow older.
3] Brave, vigilant protector
My mother tagged me along one time to a class she was teaching. While she was writing something on the board, one of her students, on the way out of the classroom, passed by her table and quickly took her wallet (leather, cream colored with specks of dark brown flowers) underneath the open desk. I guess no one saw that except me.
I quickly dialed 911 on my iPhone and I also called the FBI. In a snap, hordes of heavily armed helicopters and fighter jets were hovering around the school. Snipers were deployed everywhere. CNN, GMA 7 and ABS CBN reporters were fielding questions to me left and right.
Alright, this is what really happened. I immediately approached Nanay, and frantically tugged her skirt with my tiny hands to alert her about the crime. She then called the security guard. The guard later caught the student hiding at the comfort room at a nearby building.
In that event, I never feared the student. I guess he knew that I saw him but he probably thought I was too young to ever care about reporting theft to anyone.
The event must have happened during weekdays and if I was with my mother during school hours, it is highly probable that I was younger than 5 and not yet going to school. (I entered grade 1 at 5.)
I also remember people praising me for my vigilance. I felt like a superhero of some sort.
4] Birth right
I must be school-age already when I learned about birth right although I think I received some sort of homeschooling lessons from my parents and Mama Ging. This memory is also related with birthday specials (above) to some extent. I had always received a profuse amount of affirmation that I am the rightful successor to the throne of my father. I may be the 4th child but I am the first born male and so I am special. The birth right, which I imagine as some sort of very, very grand privilege, does not go to Ate Joy even if she is the eldest because we were told that, as in biblical accounts, birth right goes to the first born male.
I attended the Inarihan Seventh-Day Adventist Multigrade School where Bible was one regular subject, just like Math or English. I was given some Bible lessons at home and in school about Abel and Cain, Isaac, Jacob and his sons Joseph, Benjamin, Reuben, etc. and the concept of birth right among these characters.
I don't remember any violent reaction from my siblings about me getting the birth right. It might be interesting to know how each of them felt about it especially Ate Joy and Fr Rico, my youngest brother.
5] Positive affirmation. In my earliest days and years as a young student, I had been showered with great amount of words of affirmation that I am intelligent. Later on, I observed that other people, including first time acquaintances and strangers would naturally compliment me or perceive me as someone very intelligent even without me doing anything or presenting any proof.
Of course, I enjoyed the attention and I didn't bother to check if their feedback was accurate enough.
There is something macho to intelligence even without you wearing designer clothes, working out at the gym or doing some skin and hair care regimen.
Kuya Dennis (a chemical engineer from UP Diliman) captured it succinctly when he said: “I never knew I'm handsome (to girls) until I became 7th placer.”
And so, I may not have the stature of Brad Pitt and Piolo Pascual but you know how I felt when I landed 5th place (agricultural engineering) some years later. Of course, movie offers didn't come and I would wake up to reality soon enough.
...to be continued.
next:
Family Sundays, concept of sin and God, attention and warmth, tatay, concept of responsibility, meritocracy, age of turbulence, life foot prints
According to psychologists, memories stay for some significant reason or reasons. Memories may be sad or happy (or somewhere in between) but they are all significant. If past experiences were not that significant, time would eventually erase them. Of course, sometimes, diminished physical and mental abilities tend to wash out even the fondest memories and so we lose the details but we know there must be something very significant when we are moved deeply by some reminders. We may not be able to articulate the recollection but we know if it was something significant.
I was too young to know my age and other details of the circumstances but these are things that I recall of my childhood. To the best of my ability, this is my estimate of the chronological events in my life as a young, (smart, handsome) kid:
1] Builder, helper
Papa (my biological father) was working with a neighbor laborer, Sandy (Domingo Sarmiento), on the roof of our house. Our house was new, under construction but almost finished. I picked a piece of wood and I was giving it to them atop the roof although Sandy was closer the edge of the roof and therefore nearer to me. Well, he wasn't very near because I was just a small kid on the ground and the roof was definitely higher than me. I was looking upwards, extending my hand with the piece of wood. I remember the surprised look from both Sandy and Papa. They were smiling broadly. It was like them saying, “Hey, you're too young and small to help out as a laborer. You're supposed to be playing, not working. Besides, what do we do with that piece of wood?”
Well, I don't really know if they ever said those words. I just associate those statements with this memory.
2] Birthday specials
I remember a birthday was a very special event because I was pampered with these birthday specials: lechon (pinoy-style roast or barbecue pork), cake, birthday gifts (toy, new clothes, shoes). The lechon has always been a vivid image. We were raising several pigs and one of these has to be butchered and cooked for my birthday. The lechon was so big, overwhelmingly big that I felt it was quite a feast every time. It must really be a grand celebration.
Later, we also raised poultry (native, free range chicken, 45-days broilers and layers). Life must be getting hard so my parents would serve chicken (fried chicken and other chicken food variants) instead and spare the pigs. I guess the swine can bring more income than chicken.
In all these birthday food preparation, I remember the primary character behind was Mama Ging. She is the younger sister of my maternal grandmother. While staying with us, she was also running an eatery. She's a very good cook. She's very organized, quite a disciplinarian, excellent in managing finances. She was like a surrogate mother for us while our parents were at work. She enforces strict schedules for sleeping time, siesta, eating, playing, studying.
The other secondary characters (which means their images were not as vivid) were my parents, Pedring (a househelp), my siblings, Tito Nick and some godfathers and godmothers.
By the way, this kind of celebration was also true for all my siblings. The celebration would fade away as we grow older.
3] Brave, vigilant protector
My mother tagged me along one time to a class she was teaching. While she was writing something on the board, one of her students, on the way out of the classroom, passed by her table and quickly took her wallet (leather, cream colored with specks of dark brown flowers) underneath the open desk. I guess no one saw that except me.
I quickly dialed 911 on my iPhone and I also called the FBI. In a snap, hordes of heavily armed helicopters and fighter jets were hovering around the school. Snipers were deployed everywhere. CNN, GMA 7 and ABS CBN reporters were fielding questions to me left and right.
Alright, this is what really happened. I immediately approached Nanay, and frantically tugged her skirt with my tiny hands to alert her about the crime. She then called the security guard. The guard later caught the student hiding at the comfort room at a nearby building.
In that event, I never feared the student. I guess he knew that I saw him but he probably thought I was too young to ever care about reporting theft to anyone.
The event must have happened during weekdays and if I was with my mother during school hours, it is highly probable that I was younger than 5 and not yet going to school. (I entered grade 1 at 5.)
I also remember people praising me for my vigilance. I felt like a superhero of some sort.
4] Birth right
I must be school-age already when I learned about birth right although I think I received some sort of homeschooling lessons from my parents and Mama Ging. This memory is also related with birthday specials (above) to some extent. I had always received a profuse amount of affirmation that I am the rightful successor to the throne of my father. I may be the 4th child but I am the first born male and so I am special. The birth right, which I imagine as some sort of very, very grand privilege, does not go to Ate Joy even if she is the eldest because we were told that, as in biblical accounts, birth right goes to the first born male.
I attended the Inarihan Seventh-Day Adventist Multigrade School where Bible was one regular subject, just like Math or English. I was given some Bible lessons at home and in school about Abel and Cain, Isaac, Jacob and his sons Joseph, Benjamin, Reuben, etc. and the concept of birth right among these characters.
I don't remember any violent reaction from my siblings about me getting the birth right. It might be interesting to know how each of them felt about it especially Ate Joy and Fr Rico, my youngest brother.
5] Positive affirmation. In my earliest days and years as a young student, I had been showered with great amount of words of affirmation that I am intelligent. Later on, I observed that other people, including first time acquaintances and strangers would naturally compliment me or perceive me as someone very intelligent even without me doing anything or presenting any proof.
Of course, I enjoyed the attention and I didn't bother to check if their feedback was accurate enough.
There is something macho to intelligence even without you wearing designer clothes, working out at the gym or doing some skin and hair care regimen.
Kuya Dennis (a chemical engineer from UP Diliman) captured it succinctly when he said: “I never knew I'm handsome (to girls) until I became 7th placer.”
And so, I may not have the stature of Brad Pitt and Piolo Pascual but you know how I felt when I landed 5th place (agricultural engineering) some years later. Of course, movie offers didn't come and I would wake up to reality soon enough.
...to be continued.
next:
Family Sundays, concept of sin and God, attention and warmth, tatay, concept of responsibility, meritocracy, age of turbulence, life foot prints
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Canon-ization
To ease my agony over which DSLR to buy, I created some criteria. These are price, image quality, speed, weatherproofing, image stabilization, cost of accessories and low light sensitivity.
These parameters have finally allowed me to clearly distinguish where the Nikon, Canon and Sony candidates stand.
From the start, I am resigned that I cannot buy yet a full frame DSLR. On the other end, I don't want to settle for a point and shoot, even if it is the best point and shoot in the world. I feel I need to move on from the compact cameras into the DSLR categories.
From Nikon line, I am considering D300, D200, D60 and D80. D300 is the 2007 Camera of the Year after some rigorous laboratory tests by Popular Photography. This is definitely a nice camera, which has also an extremely nice price of about $2,000 including the stabilized lens (called VR or vibration reduction). As such, D300 is virtually beyond my wallet, but I'll dream for a while. D200, though old still packs a competitive set of very good features. D60 is the newest entry level DSLR from Nikon but I haven't read any significantly positive review about it. This makes me consider D80, another old Nikon, but perhaps the closest to my budget.
From the Canon camp, I am looking at 40D and XSi/450D. 40D comes closest to Nikon's D300 in terms of features and performance based from laboratory tests. It is much cheaper though at $1,499. XSi is more like a close little twin of 40D rather than a big brother of its predecessor, the Rebel XTi. The Rebel XSi (called 450D in Europe and also in Asia, I guess) is the newest release this April. It has live view, IS lens kit (image-stabilized), higher resolution (12 MP, which is even higher than 40D), improved LCD, etc. From its heart and soul though, XSi is still an entry level DSLR and the semi-pro 40D still stands taller overall.
I am eyeing A350 and A700 from the Sony set. A700 has a semi-pro features and it was conceived to battle against Nikon D300 and Canon 40D. Sony falls short this time. In 2006, Sony A100 (Camera of the Year, Popular Photography) was able to momentarily knockdown the camera giants Nikon and Canon when it pioneered the in-camera image stabilization in its class. This time, A700 hardly created a buzz. Nikon and Canon were obviously decisive to flex muscles and show the world who's king when they both fortified heavily the D300 and 40D models and separate themselves from the new challengers (Sony, Pentax, Samsung). Sony A350 is the entry level little brother of A700 but A350 has a more glamorous feature set than A700. Perhaps the only advantages of A700 over A350 are build and speed. A350 has a new flipping LCD which can be useful for overhead and below the waist shot. It has also the best live view so far, even better than any Nikon and Canon. Both Sony A700 and A350 have built-in image stabilization which works with any lens. For a photographer who wants to get specialized wide and telephoto zoom lenses, the additional purchases wouldn't be as prohibitive. Nikon and Canon lenses, though available in more models, can be extremely expensive, even costlier than the camera itself.
I will not go into details here about what I found out about camera engineering and laboratory analysis. For now, this is how I rank the Nikon, Canon and Sony candidates.
Price
First: Sony A350 in a wide margin. Even Sony A700 is still cheaper than Canon 40D.
Second: Canon Rebel XSi, 40D.
The older Nikon models may have dropped in price already but then again, they are old. Both Canon and Sony models above are recent releases. Also, In about 2 years, Canon and Sony entry level DSLRs have slipped by almost half the introductory price. You'll be lucky if Nikon slides the price down of their $1,000-plus models by $300. That's as rare and as long as a solar eclipse.
Image quality
First: Nikon D300
Second: Canon 40D
Either Nikon D200 or D80 can take second place to Canon 40D should I knock off Nikon D300 by my reality wallet.
Speed
First: Nikon
Second: Canon
That is, generally Sony comes third when class-by-class models are compared. There is an inherent shooting and processing speed advantage in the camera engineering of Nikon and Canon. The speed is basically hinged on the CMOS versus CCD argument.
Image Stabilization
First: Sony
Second: Canon or Nikon
I am not sure about the extensive merits of in-camera stabilization (Sony) and lens stabilization (Canon and Nikon) to image quality. What is obvious is that Sony makes DSLR significantly cheaper because of in-camera stabilization. From what I have browsed so far about the physics of light and lens, I think it is wiser to put the image stabilization in the sensor, just as Sony does. I have been getting consistent complaints from camera analysts from various websites against the in-lens stabilization primarily due to the cost factor. The image quality from Nikon and Canon may still be superior but their system's overall excellent performance may be concealing the weakness of lens image stabilization. The lens itself has several moving glasses already and adding image stabilization into it can make it more delicate and complicated. My practical guess is this: both Canon and Nikon are protecting the interests of their bigger, older customer base. Canon and Nikon have several high-end cameras that do not have in-camera image stabilization. To allow their clients to experience image-stabilized shooting by not discarding or replacing their older, expensive cameras, the image-stabilized lens is offered. I suspect though that after some time, Canon and Nikon may shift to in-camera image stabilization and cease to develop image stabilized lens to be able to produce newer, affordable models.
Cost of accessories
First: Sony, definitely
Second: Canon
Just consider the additional lens and Sony blows up the competition. There are other accessories like flash, spare battery, camera bag, tripod or monopod, lights, etc. that an enthusiast may need to buy. In this regard, Nikon and Canon can definitely turn off consumers.
Low-light shooting capability
First: Nikon D300
Second: Canon 40D
This is one aspect of image quality but I am separating this as another criteria because noise is a serious concern. Nikon has made significant strides in this feature already.
Weatherproofing
First: Nikon
Second: Canon
This is one reason why Nikon has a very high resale value. Its build prevents its price from dropping so fast in spite of aging.
This was originally a minor concern for me but the more I read about DSLRs, the more I appreciate its importance. Dust is perhaps the top enemy of DSLRs. Moist and temperature are just secondary problems, I think.
Film cameras can easily replace a damaged film but a dusty sensor in DSLR is like damaging the heart of the equipment itself. To some extent, sensors can be cleaned or sealing can be repaired but generally, experts say better buy a new camera when the anti-dust removal system of your DSLR can't sweep the invading particulates. How serious can that be?
I intend to use the camera in the Philippines where there is significantly more dust than here. So, if I can only afford a camera with an average sealing (body and lens), I wouldn't buy at all. I don't want to turn my savings into dust, so to speak.
Overall, Canon 40D comes out on top based from the criteria above. I would be happy though if Canon comes up soon with 50D which improves the live view, low-light shooting capability and resolution of 40D.
When can this possibly happen? No one can tell for sure but with the DSLR competition heating up, Canon may want to establish its supremacy in such a dominating fashion. Historically, Canon produces newer models in about one and a half year. From this, it implies that we'll have to wait for one year more from now before we can see the successor of 40D (released Aug 2007).
Can I wait for Canon 50D?
I am not really sure given my heightening excitement to shoot with my first DSLR and document my US adventure. On the other hand, I remember canonization takes time. And miracles.
...
040808
#
These parameters have finally allowed me to clearly distinguish where the Nikon, Canon and Sony candidates stand.
From the start, I am resigned that I cannot buy yet a full frame DSLR. On the other end, I don't want to settle for a point and shoot, even if it is the best point and shoot in the world. I feel I need to move on from the compact cameras into the DSLR categories.
From Nikon line, I am considering D300, D200, D60 and D80. D300 is the 2007 Camera of the Year after some rigorous laboratory tests by Popular Photography. This is definitely a nice camera, which has also an extremely nice price of about $2,000 including the stabilized lens (called VR or vibration reduction). As such, D300 is virtually beyond my wallet, but I'll dream for a while. D200, though old still packs a competitive set of very good features. D60 is the newest entry level DSLR from Nikon but I haven't read any significantly positive review about it. This makes me consider D80, another old Nikon, but perhaps the closest to my budget.
From the Canon camp, I am looking at 40D and XSi/450D. 40D comes closest to Nikon's D300 in terms of features and performance based from laboratory tests. It is much cheaper though at $1,499. XSi is more like a close little twin of 40D rather than a big brother of its predecessor, the Rebel XTi. The Rebel XSi (called 450D in Europe and also in Asia, I guess) is the newest release this April. It has live view, IS lens kit (image-stabilized), higher resolution (12 MP, which is even higher than 40D), improved LCD, etc. From its heart and soul though, XSi is still an entry level DSLR and the semi-pro 40D still stands taller overall.
I am eyeing A350 and A700 from the Sony set. A700 has a semi-pro features and it was conceived to battle against Nikon D300 and Canon 40D. Sony falls short this time. In 2006, Sony A100 (Camera of the Year, Popular Photography) was able to momentarily knockdown the camera giants Nikon and Canon when it pioneered the in-camera image stabilization in its class. This time, A700 hardly created a buzz. Nikon and Canon were obviously decisive to flex muscles and show the world who's king when they both fortified heavily the D300 and 40D models and separate themselves from the new challengers (Sony, Pentax, Samsung). Sony A350 is the entry level little brother of A700 but A350 has a more glamorous feature set than A700. Perhaps the only advantages of A700 over A350 are build and speed. A350 has a new flipping LCD which can be useful for overhead and below the waist shot. It has also the best live view so far, even better than any Nikon and Canon. Both Sony A700 and A350 have built-in image stabilization which works with any lens. For a photographer who wants to get specialized wide and telephoto zoom lenses, the additional purchases wouldn't be as prohibitive. Nikon and Canon lenses, though available in more models, can be extremely expensive, even costlier than the camera itself.
I will not go into details here about what I found out about camera engineering and laboratory analysis. For now, this is how I rank the Nikon, Canon and Sony candidates.
Price
First: Sony A350 in a wide margin. Even Sony A700 is still cheaper than Canon 40D.
Second: Canon Rebel XSi, 40D.
The older Nikon models may have dropped in price already but then again, they are old. Both Canon and Sony models above are recent releases. Also, In about 2 years, Canon and Sony entry level DSLRs have slipped by almost half the introductory price. You'll be lucky if Nikon slides the price down of their $1,000-plus models by $300. That's as rare and as long as a solar eclipse.
Image quality
First: Nikon D300
Second: Canon 40D
Either Nikon D200 or D80 can take second place to Canon 40D should I knock off Nikon D300 by my reality wallet.
Speed
First: Nikon
Second: Canon
That is, generally Sony comes third when class-by-class models are compared. There is an inherent shooting and processing speed advantage in the camera engineering of Nikon and Canon. The speed is basically hinged on the CMOS versus CCD argument.
Image Stabilization
First: Sony
Second: Canon or Nikon
I am not sure about the extensive merits of in-camera stabilization (Sony) and lens stabilization (Canon and Nikon) to image quality. What is obvious is that Sony makes DSLR significantly cheaper because of in-camera stabilization. From what I have browsed so far about the physics of light and lens, I think it is wiser to put the image stabilization in the sensor, just as Sony does. I have been getting consistent complaints from camera analysts from various websites against the in-lens stabilization primarily due to the cost factor. The image quality from Nikon and Canon may still be superior but their system's overall excellent performance may be concealing the weakness of lens image stabilization. The lens itself has several moving glasses already and adding image stabilization into it can make it more delicate and complicated. My practical guess is this: both Canon and Nikon are protecting the interests of their bigger, older customer base. Canon and Nikon have several high-end cameras that do not have in-camera image stabilization. To allow their clients to experience image-stabilized shooting by not discarding or replacing their older, expensive cameras, the image-stabilized lens is offered. I suspect though that after some time, Canon and Nikon may shift to in-camera image stabilization and cease to develop image stabilized lens to be able to produce newer, affordable models.
Cost of accessories
First: Sony, definitely
Second: Canon
Just consider the additional lens and Sony blows up the competition. There are other accessories like flash, spare battery, camera bag, tripod or monopod, lights, etc. that an enthusiast may need to buy. In this regard, Nikon and Canon can definitely turn off consumers.
Low-light shooting capability
First: Nikon D300
Second: Canon 40D
This is one aspect of image quality but I am separating this as another criteria because noise is a serious concern. Nikon has made significant strides in this feature already.
Weatherproofing
First: Nikon
Second: Canon
This is one reason why Nikon has a very high resale value. Its build prevents its price from dropping so fast in spite of aging.
This was originally a minor concern for me but the more I read about DSLRs, the more I appreciate its importance. Dust is perhaps the top enemy of DSLRs. Moist and temperature are just secondary problems, I think.
Film cameras can easily replace a damaged film but a dusty sensor in DSLR is like damaging the heart of the equipment itself. To some extent, sensors can be cleaned or sealing can be repaired but generally, experts say better buy a new camera when the anti-dust removal system of your DSLR can't sweep the invading particulates. How serious can that be?
I intend to use the camera in the Philippines where there is significantly more dust than here. So, if I can only afford a camera with an average sealing (body and lens), I wouldn't buy at all. I don't want to turn my savings into dust, so to speak.
Overall, Canon 40D comes out on top based from the criteria above. I would be happy though if Canon comes up soon with 50D which improves the live view, low-light shooting capability and resolution of 40D.
When can this possibly happen? No one can tell for sure but with the DSLR competition heating up, Canon may want to establish its supremacy in such a dominating fashion. Historically, Canon produces newer models in about one and a half year. From this, it implies that we'll have to wait for one year more from now before we can see the successor of 40D (released Aug 2007).
Can I wait for Canon 50D?
I am not really sure given my heightening excitement to shoot with my first DSLR and document my US adventure. On the other hand, I remember canonization takes time. And miracles.
...
040808
#
Tulips and The Shoe ::
...
[Tulips and The Shoe]
:: Ohio State University, Columbus, OH :: 04.18.08 ::
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Going bananas
Several days after choosing peroxidase inactivation, it looks like I naively picked the wrong fight. From what I have read so far, peroxidase may be the most heat resistant enzyme [5] in fruits and vegetables but I now think it isn't the worst enemy.
In preserving the quality of fruits and vegetables, blanching (currently thermal treatment) is done to inactivate enzymes. By inactivating enzymes, biochemical reactions in plant tissues can be stopped thereby halting aging and other quality degradation.
How tough is peroxidase? Peroxidase in coconut water requires at least 90 0C microwave-induced thermal treatment to effect inactivation [4]. Other enzymes can be denatured at a lesser amount of heat. At 10-20% (w/w) sucrose solution, peroxidase has greater thermal stability [2].
Being the most heat stable, peroxidase (enzyme classification, EC 1.11.1.7) is the strategic target of blanching. Once inactivated, it is assumed that all other enzymes are considered denatured already. Hence, no further tests for other specific enzymes are required [5].
In the past several days, I have been thinking why should I hit peroxidase? What specific damage does it bring to plant tissues?
So far, I haven't found any serious charge that can be lodged against it. On the contrary, I found some benefits from the presence of peroxidase in plant tissues. It has been reported that respiration produces active oxygen species (harmful compounds) such as O2 - and peroxide (H2O2). Together, these form hydroxyl radical (OH-) and singlet oxygen, which is considered the most reactive species in chemistry, according to Trujillo and others in their 2003 paper published in the Journal of Agricultural Food and Chemistry. These compounds can cause lipid peroxidation, protein denaturation and DNA mutation [4]. Enzymes like peroxidase can prevent this excessive damage by breaking down the active oxygen species before they even become harmful radicals. For instance, peroxidase can break down peroxide into harmless water and oxygen molecules.
I remember in our microbiology class, peroxide can inhibit growth of some microorganisms. To survive, some bacteria produce their own peroxidase to neutralize peroxide. So, it is alright to let peroxide untouched by peroxidase in plant tissues to inhibit growth of peroxidase-negative microbes. In this case, inactivating peroxidase in plant tissues looks wise but I doubt if there is a significant microbial threat inside the plant tissues. Healthy, fresh fruits and vegetables should have minimal microbial load at harvest and these germs are likely on the surface, not inside the tissues where peroxide exists.
I also recall that peroxide (agua oxenada) is used to treat wounds. The peroxide works by oxidizing the microbes in the wound making the injured area more sterile thereby protecting us against infection. The reactivity of peroxide is generally lethal to microorganisms (and tolerable for humans), but I now digress.
In fruits and vegetables, I think it is better to ignore peroxidase and instead focus on other more damaging enzymes. This brings me to polyphenoloxidase (EC 1.14.18.1), an enzyme associated with browning in fruits and vegetables [1]. Notice that some fruits and vegetables become brown when tissues are cut and exposed to oxygen. Examples are potato, sweet potato, apple, mushroom and banana.
Browning happens when phenols in fruits and vegetables are oxidized into quinones by polyphenoloxidase in the presence of oxygen. Upon condensation, these quinones further react with phenolic compounds and amino acids to form complex brown polymers [1].
Treating fruits and vegetables with sulfites is one common way of preventing browning but sulfites have been associated also with allergic reactions, especially among sensitive asthmatics [1]. Some acids also inhibit to some extent the activity of polyphenoloxidase.
In my case, my interest is inhibiting polyphenoloxidase activity or inactivating polyphenoloxidase altogether using physical treatment (electric field), not chemical intervention.
My next concern was, what product should I choose? After some contemplation, I think banana is an excellent experimental sample because of two things. First, browning in banana tissues can significantly turn off consumers. In potato and mushroom, I think browning may not be as noticeable and customers are less likely to take issue with the discoloration. Browning of apple is also a serious concern but Philippines does not produce apple. This is my second reason for my pick. Banana is an economically important export commodity of the Philippines. By working on the polyphenoloxidase in bananas, I might stumble into a precious discovery.
If I can inactivate polyphenoloxidase in bananas, will it prevent browning even if a banana slice is left on the table, exposed in the air? Will there be no more discoloration?
If you are an executive or scientist from a multinational corporation (like Dole) involved in banana export, will you be interested in my work?
By getting affirmative answers to the questions above, I'll certainly go bananas!
::::::::::
[1] Chaisakdanugull, C., Theerakukait, C. and Wrolstad, R. 2007. Pineapple juice and its fractions in enzymatic browning inhibition of banana [Musa (AAA group) Gros Michel]. J. Agric. Food Chem. 55 (2007) 4252-4257.
[2] Chang, B., Park, K. and Lund, D. 1988. Thermal inactivation kinetics of horseradish peroxidase. Journal of Food Science, May 1988, Vol 53, Issue 3, pp. 920-923.
[3] Fernandez-Trujillo, J., Nock, J., Kupferman, E., Brown, S. and Watkins, C. 2003. Peroxidase activity and superficial scald development in apple fruit. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 51 (2003) 7182-7186.
[4] Matsui, K., Granado, L., de Oliviera, P. and Tadini, C. 2007. Peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase thermal inactivation by microwaves in green coconut water simulated solutions. J. of Food Science and Technology, June 2007, Vol. 40, Issue 5, pp 852-859.
[5] USDA. 1975. Enzyme inactivation tests for frozen vegetables. http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/ppbweb/PPBfilecodes/135a12.pdf. Last access: April 4, 2008.
...
Some interesting pieces about bananas here:
1] here, there and everywhere
2] vegparadise
In preserving the quality of fruits and vegetables, blanching (currently thermal treatment) is done to inactivate enzymes. By inactivating enzymes, biochemical reactions in plant tissues can be stopped thereby halting aging and other quality degradation.
How tough is peroxidase? Peroxidase in coconut water requires at least 90 0C microwave-induced thermal treatment to effect inactivation [4]. Other enzymes can be denatured at a lesser amount of heat. At 10-20% (w/w) sucrose solution, peroxidase has greater thermal stability [2].
Being the most heat stable, peroxidase (enzyme classification, EC 1.11.1.7) is the strategic target of blanching. Once inactivated, it is assumed that all other enzymes are considered denatured already. Hence, no further tests for other specific enzymes are required [5].
In the past several days, I have been thinking why should I hit peroxidase? What specific damage does it bring to plant tissues?
So far, I haven't found any serious charge that can be lodged against it. On the contrary, I found some benefits from the presence of peroxidase in plant tissues. It has been reported that respiration produces active oxygen species (harmful compounds) such as O2 - and peroxide (H2O2). Together, these form hydroxyl radical (OH-) and singlet oxygen, which is considered the most reactive species in chemistry, according to Trujillo and others in their 2003 paper published in the Journal of Agricultural Food and Chemistry. These compounds can cause lipid peroxidation, protein denaturation and DNA mutation [4]. Enzymes like peroxidase can prevent this excessive damage by breaking down the active oxygen species before they even become harmful radicals. For instance, peroxidase can break down peroxide into harmless water and oxygen molecules.
I remember in our microbiology class, peroxide can inhibit growth of some microorganisms. To survive, some bacteria produce their own peroxidase to neutralize peroxide. So, it is alright to let peroxide untouched by peroxidase in plant tissues to inhibit growth of peroxidase-negative microbes. In this case, inactivating peroxidase in plant tissues looks wise but I doubt if there is a significant microbial threat inside the plant tissues. Healthy, fresh fruits and vegetables should have minimal microbial load at harvest and these germs are likely on the surface, not inside the tissues where peroxide exists.
I also recall that peroxide (agua oxenada) is used to treat wounds. The peroxide works by oxidizing the microbes in the wound making the injured area more sterile thereby protecting us against infection. The reactivity of peroxide is generally lethal to microorganisms (and tolerable for humans), but I now digress.
In fruits and vegetables, I think it is better to ignore peroxidase and instead focus on other more damaging enzymes. This brings me to polyphenoloxidase (EC 1.14.18.1), an enzyme associated with browning in fruits and vegetables [1]. Notice that some fruits and vegetables become brown when tissues are cut and exposed to oxygen. Examples are potato, sweet potato, apple, mushroom and banana.
Browning happens when phenols in fruits and vegetables are oxidized into quinones by polyphenoloxidase in the presence of oxygen. Upon condensation, these quinones further react with phenolic compounds and amino acids to form complex brown polymers [1].
Treating fruits and vegetables with sulfites is one common way of preventing browning but sulfites have been associated also with allergic reactions, especially among sensitive asthmatics [1]. Some acids also inhibit to some extent the activity of polyphenoloxidase.
In my case, my interest is inhibiting polyphenoloxidase activity or inactivating polyphenoloxidase altogether using physical treatment (electric field), not chemical intervention.
My next concern was, what product should I choose? After some contemplation, I think banana is an excellent experimental sample because of two things. First, browning in banana tissues can significantly turn off consumers. In potato and mushroom, I think browning may not be as noticeable and customers are less likely to take issue with the discoloration. Browning of apple is also a serious concern but Philippines does not produce apple. This is my second reason for my pick. Banana is an economically important export commodity of the Philippines. By working on the polyphenoloxidase in bananas, I might stumble into a precious discovery.
If I can inactivate polyphenoloxidase in bananas, will it prevent browning even if a banana slice is left on the table, exposed in the air? Will there be no more discoloration?
If you are an executive or scientist from a multinational corporation (like Dole) involved in banana export, will you be interested in my work?
By getting affirmative answers to the questions above, I'll certainly go bananas!
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[1] Chaisakdanugull, C., Theerakukait, C. and Wrolstad, R. 2007. Pineapple juice and its fractions in enzymatic browning inhibition of banana [Musa (AAA group) Gros Michel]. J. Agric. Food Chem. 55 (2007) 4252-4257.
[2] Chang, B., Park, K. and Lund, D. 1988. Thermal inactivation kinetics of horseradish peroxidase. Journal of Food Science, May 1988, Vol 53, Issue 3, pp. 920-923.
[3] Fernandez-Trujillo, J., Nock, J., Kupferman, E., Brown, S. and Watkins, C. 2003. Peroxidase activity and superficial scald development in apple fruit. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 51 (2003) 7182-7186.
[4] Matsui, K., Granado, L., de Oliviera, P. and Tadini, C. 2007. Peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase thermal inactivation by microwaves in green coconut water simulated solutions. J. of Food Science and Technology, June 2007, Vol. 40, Issue 5, pp 852-859.
[5] USDA. 1975. Enzyme inactivation tests for frozen vegetables. http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/ppbweb/PPBfilecodes/135a12.pdf. Last access: April 4, 2008.
...
Some interesting pieces about bananas here:
1] here, there and everywhere
2] vegparadise
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Grade 6
While having breakfast at the canteen with a group of BPRE boys, we talked about Johncel, an officemate at BPRE, who was asking Mang Pol if he and his girlfriend could settle down now with a salary grade of 11 and 9, respectively.
Both of them are employed in the government sector where the salary is scaled into numerical grades. A salary grade 9 means a monthly compensation of about P8,000+ while salary grade 11, P10,000+.
Mang Pol said, “That’s not enough to raise a family. When you apply for a GSIS housing loan, your take home pay will be very small.”
“Ok lang yan,” said Kuya Danny, our photographer. “Grade 9 plus 11 is 20. Mataas na ‘yun.”
Our elder driver retorted, “Pinag-iisipan pa ba 'yan? Pareho kayong tapos ng college. E, ako nga nang mapangasawa ko ‘yung misis ko grade 6 lang!”
...
04.22.07
Both of them are employed in the government sector where the salary is scaled into numerical grades. A salary grade 9 means a monthly compensation of about P8,000+ while salary grade 11, P10,000+.
Mang Pol said, “That’s not enough to raise a family. When you apply for a GSIS housing loan, your take home pay will be very small.”
“Ok lang yan,” said Kuya Danny, our photographer. “Grade 9 plus 11 is 20. Mataas na ‘yun.”
Our elder driver retorted, “Pinag-iisipan pa ba 'yan? Pareho kayong tapos ng college. E, ako nga nang mapangasawa ko ‘yung misis ko grade 6 lang!”
...
04.22.07
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