Documentary: Sicko

Photo from wikipedia

This is an amazing video by Michael Moore who investigate the american health care system. He is also famous from filming the documentary Farenheit 9/11. Its the kind of video everyone should watch.

Sicko talks about US health insurance and pharmaceutical company who operate base on for-profit. The insurance company deny many policy claim although the patient need them critically while the pharmaceutical company bribe many US congress including George Bush to pass a policy that enable the pharmaceutical company to charge their medicine at a high price/watever price they wanted.

In US there is no free medical care. So those who could not pay are usually abandon by sending them away in taxi cab to union rescue mission. After that he compare US with Canada, UK, France and Cuba that have universal health care (meaning free health care).

Spoilers ahead~
Some of the part that caught my attention is the guy who accidentally cut his middle and ring finger while working. He went to the hospital and the doctor told him that his middle finger will cost $60k while his ring finger cause $16k. He decide to keep the ring finger and throw off his middle finger. Another part that are interesting is that Hilary Clinton has tried to past a bill for the universal health care but due to many protest from big company, she could not past the bill. Eventually instead of fighting to pass the bill, the health care paid her off for her silence. There is also a touching scene where Michael Moore brought some 9/11 volunteers who suffered illness as a result of the collapse building (they could not claim anything from the $50 million fund to help rescue worker of 9/11 because congress make a difficult process out of it) by bringing them to Cuba. A rescue worker who suffer breathing problem found out that the pharmacy shop there sell her breathing medicine for 5 cent while in US it is sold for $120.

After all this i begin to appreciate universal health care in Malaysia. Malaysia government health care is practically free and i am very great full for it. However they still have many things that they can improve on. For starters I think it would be nice if they can cut short queuing time :)

Movie: Ratatouille (Animation by Pixar)

I really love this animation. Its a heartwarming film that shows that dreams do come true if u persevere. This story is special because it talks of a rat who wanted to become a famous gourmet chief. The idea of a rat who cook for human is a repulsive idea but Remy is more of a out of water rat. I really like the ending too~

This story tells of a Remy (rat) that loves to cook. He is inspired by 5 star world famous chief, Auguste Gusteau that "anyone can cook". Auguste later died because a famous jaded food critic (Anton Ego) criticize his food.

Remy has a family/colony of rats but when he got seperated from them during an incident, he stumble into Auguste Gueteau restaurant and met Linguini who are young and has no talent for cooking.

Linguini is a new staff. His job is to throw rubbish and clean the place. On his first day he mop the floor and accidentally spill the soup. Fearing that he will be in trouble he added spices and water to repair the soup.

When Remy saw what Linguini did, he was horrified and quickly went to the rescue. When no one was looking, Remy crept into the kitchen and help to repair the soup but was caught by Linguini. In the tussle Skinner walk past and thought that Linguini was tampering with the soup. Before Skinner can stop the head waiter, he scope up the soup and serve a food critic outside. The food critic love the soup and Skinner promoted Linguini position albeit resently. From then on Linguini and Remy start to pair up to cook delicious meal. Linguini become very popular and Skinner's resentment for him grows and at the same time he is skeptical that he can cook so well suddenly. Meanwhile jaded Anton Ego, the food critic came back again to judge Linguini skill because he did not belief that they can cook.

Documentary: Einstein - Equation of life and death (e=mc2 )

Photo: Einstein

This video is about Einstein e=mc² (publish in 1905). This eq was famous when it is use to create the atomic bomb that hit Hiroshima in 1945.

What is e=mc² (energy = mass x speed of light)?
This equation concern mass and energy. Mass can be transform into energy and energy into mass. This eq is special because Einstein can give the exact value in the amount of energy that are contain in mass. The result is that a small amount of mass can create a lot of energy. Eg. a cup of water can power London for a week.

How is the sun powered?
What really powers the sun? If the sun just burns like bond fire then it should have died out millions of years ago. Einstein eq explain that the sun's core mass are constantly converted into energy. Tiny particle are smash together. And mass transform into energy.

The race for atomic bomb begins
Soon ppl start to think if e=mc² can power the sun, then could we use it to generate power on earth? Can we release energy inside atom for our own purposes?

Einstein reply to this is that it is not practical to get energy out of atom. However hard that it is tried it will always take more energy to smash an atom than was created.

In 1933 Hitler came to power in Germany. Germany is a great centre in Physic. They research on how to release energy from atom to create bomb. They have found that radioactive are suitable as the substance. But how to break them is another challenge altogether.

In 1933 Leo Szilard work out how to make e=mc² into a bomb. He study in Berlin and left shortly after Hitler came to power. He realizes ppl are going about the wrong way. Scientist release energy by hitting alpha particle (consist of 2 proton and 2 neutron) onto nuclear but create very little energy. Since both the particle and nuclear carry positive electric charge they are like 2 magnets that will repel each other. This prevents it from blasting apart.

He recently discovered neutron. It has no electric charge. It won’t repel. It will hit on nuclear and nuclear can be split.

Leo’s theory: if u hit an atom with a neutron, as the atoms are divided, it will not only release energy but also create 2 or 3 more neutrons. Then the neutron will break more nuclear. As chain reaction multiplies then you have a bomb. This is a way of getting energy out of atom without pumping in vast amount of energy. All u have to do is have one tiny neutron to get a chain reaction.

In 1938, less than a year before outbreak of World War 2, he receives news that the German has found out about neutron.

He decides to use Einstein to alert the world of Nazi’s atomic bomb. He believes he is saving the world. When Einstein realize how the bomb can affect the world. He wrote a letter in 1939 to Franklin Roosevelt about the bomb.

In the wilderness in New Mexico, the US gov set up a top secret project. They name it Manhattan. 2.2 billion dollar is spent. It is today’s 50 billion dollars. In May 1945 before the bomb is complete, the Nazi surrenders. The war in Europe is over.

Although there is no threat, the work of Manhattan continues. 2 month after the defeat of Nazi, the bomb is complete. Japan war continues. The target has been selected. Hiroshima, Japan.

Aug 1945. The first atomic bomb is drop. It fell through the air 43 second. 0.6gm of mass is converted into 12.5 kiloton of energy in 6/10 second. That is the power of e=mc². Hiroshima bomb is a small bomb that cos the death of 70k ppl. Radiation sickness causes another 70k death. The bomb destroys 98% of city.

Einstein was horrified. He campaign against the spread of nuclear weapon and development.

There is another side to e=mc² . It is only clear after his death. Scientist discover that the e=mc² are not only the eq for destruction but also the eq of creation.

A small amount of mass = energy. Energy can condense back to mass. The universe begins 50,000 million years ago. At dawn of universe, energy was created through a big bang that evolves and condenses into material and mater. Which eventually transform into mass that makes out everything in the universe. Universe begins with a ball of energy then transform into mass. Everything in our planet exist because of the underlying work of Einstein eq.

However, Einstein did not live long enough to realize that e=mc2 is not only an eq for destruction but also an eq for creation.

Anime: Kenichi (History's Strongest Disciple Kenich)

I really love watching this anime. The plots are good and their jokes are hilarious. Best of all they don't drag the series like bleach or naruto. I strongly recommend this anime to everyone. I like furinji miu, kenichi and apachai~~!! They are really adorable :D

This is a story of how a weak person (Kenichi) decided to quit running and become strong. His life change when he met Furinji Miu and decided to learn martial arts in the dojo she live in. To become strong, he goes through grueling (or hilarious) training so that he wont be pick/bullied by others anymore. Just when he thought he has ended the bullying in school when he finally won the first fight in his life, he ended up drawing even more attention onto himself. Eventually every gangsters (Ragnarok) wanted to fight him and so he has to train even more to save his own life. Since he has a very sincere nature, some of the people he fight with eventually become his ally/best pal. As the story proceed he not only fight to protect himself but also the people he care for.

At the moment the show is still ongoing and there is no ending yet~ lets hope this show will always be this good~~ :)

I give this anime 4 1/2 star

Kenichi: Episode 1

Documentary: Megastructure - Dubai's Palm Island (Jumeirah)

I think this project is an amazing feat. Its like making a dream structure come true. Looks like a really cool place. If i am really rich i will definitely visit. But i wonder how this structure will be a solid structure forever...I mean wont the sea wash away the sand slowly...haha call it paranoia... really a great video shd watch also...

Photo: The Palm Jumeirah

Photo: The designs of the three palm islands.

The Palm Islands in Dubai are the three largest artificial islands in the world. Each settlement will be in the shape of a palm tree, topped with a crescent, and will have a large number of residential, leisure and entertainment centers. The Palm Islands are located off the coast of The United Arab Emirates in the Persian Gulf and will add 520 km of beaches to the city of Dubai.

Photo: A Palm Jumeirah Villa

Photo: Entering The Palm on 28 January 2007

Between the three islands there will be over 100 luxury hotels, exclusive residential beach side villas and apartments, marinas, water theme parks, restaurants, shopping malls, sports facilities and health spas. The creation of The Palm Jumeirah began in June 2001. Shortly after, The Palm Jebel Ali was announced and reclamation work began. In 2004, The Palm Deira, which will be almost as large in size as Paris, was announced. Palm Jumeirah is currently open for development. Construction will be completed over the next 10-15 years.

The first island build is island Palm Jumeirah, 2nd island is Palm Jebel Ali and 3rd island is Palm Deira.

Documentary: Megastructure - Ice hotel

This is a really "cool" hotel~~!! Everything is made from ice except the toilet and bed... I wonder how will it feel like to stay in this hotel... wont it be too cold?Photo: Ice hotel

The ice hotel near the village of Jukkasjärvi, Kiruna, Sweden (near north artic circle) was the world's first ice hotel.

Photo: Kiruna Municipality

In 1989, Japanese ice artists visited the area and created an exhibition of ice art. In Spring 1990, French artist Jannot Derid held an exhibition in a cylinder-shaped igloo in the area.

Photo: Ice hotel room

Photo: Ice hotel bar. The cup is made from ice. After drinking the cup will be thrown away

Since its creation, the hotel has been featured in many television travel programmes, magazines, and newspapers. The entire hotel is made completely out of ice blocks taken from the Torne River - even the glasses in the bar are made of ice. The hotel has more than 80 rooms and suites, a bar, reception area and church. It charges around 1,400 Swedish Krona (approx. 196 US dollars) per person/room/night in the winter. The hotel only exists between December and April. In its latest incarnation it will probably be over 5000 square metres (53,700 square feet) in size. Each room is unique and the architecture of the hotel is changed each year, as it is rebuilt from scratch.

There is also ice hotel in Canada, Finland and Romania.

Documentary: Megastructure- The Ultimate Rollercoaster

The tallest and fastest roller coaster in the world: Kingda ka

Wow check out the height of this roller coaster in US~ It look as tall as a building (45 storey)~ i wonder how ppl survive this ride... who need bungee jumping, F16 and free falling when there is kingda ka :p

Photo from wikipedia

Type of coaster: Hydraulic rocket coaster
Height: 45 storey high
Top speed: 206k/hr in 3.5 second (as close u get to be shot of air craft carrier or pulling a dive in f-16)
Budget: 25 million project
Location: Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey
Coaster elements: 456-foot tall top hat tower, with 90-degree ascent and descent
129-foot second hill designed to provide free-floating airtime.

http://themeparks.about.com/od/sixflagsparks/a/KingdaAnnounce.htm