Just heard the news about the Popular Consultation Day (August 30) in East Timor. Tomorrow will be the 10th anniversary of East Timor independence. It reminds me how much difficult they have gone through to become an independent nation 10 years ago. Wish all the best to those brave people in East Timor who fought with their lives for the freedom and independence.
Agreement regaring the Modalities for the Popular Consultation of the East Timorese through a Direct Ballot
UN Volunteers to assist 'Popular Consultation' ballot in East Timor (18 June 1999)
East Timor buries independence fighters
By Sara Everingham in Dili, Posted Sat Aug 29, 2009 11:00am AEST
The remains of independence fighters killed in East Timor's remote hills were buried at a new site at Metanero.
Hundreds of East Timorese have been attending a ceremony near Dili to remember those who died in the fight for independence.
Sunday marks 10 years since East Timor's vote for independence on August 30 in 1999.
Answered by Fire
Read more!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Hot Winter in Brisbane
Today is August 25. I admitted that I came from North Hemisphere, so summer was in June-Aug in my past lives. But I am in Brisbane now, it is in South Hemisphere and June-Aug should be winter. I know it is end of winter in Brisbane and the weather in Brisbane is sub-tropical, but the temperature in Brisbane is still way too high in this week. 35 oC, 35 oC, it is like the summer temperature in my home at Taiwan.
Brisbane, Queensland: August 2009 Daily Weather Observations
Read more!
Brisbane, Queensland: August 2009 Daily Weather Observations
| Date | Day | Temps | Rain | Evap | Sun | Max wind gust | 9 am | 3 pm | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min | Max | Dir | Spd | Time | Temp | RH | Cld | Dir | Spd | MSLP | Temp | RH | Cld | Dir | Spd | MSLP | |||||
| °C | °C | mm | mm | hours | km/h | local | °C | % | 8th | km/h | hPa | °C | % | 8th | km/h | hPa | |||||
| 1 | Sa | 8.4 | 22.5 | 0 | 3.2 | 9.8 | W | 19 | 11:17 | 13.7 | 60 | 1 | SW | 9 | 1025.4 | 19.3 | 52 | 1 | ENE | 11 | 1022.3 |
| 2 | Su | 8.8 | 23.0 | 0 | 5.4 | 10.0 | SSW | 20 | 08:45 | 14.4 | 69 | 1 | SW | 9 | 1027.2 | 21.8 | 42 | 1 | NNE | 9 | 1024.1 |
| 3 | Mo | 9.4 | 24.3 | 0 | 3.2 | 9.1 | WNW | 24 | 13:03 | 15.0 | 73 | 0 | SSW | 6 | 1024.8 | 24.1 | 36 | 0 | WNW | 11 | 1020.1 |
| 4 | Tu | 9.1 | 22.8 | 0 | 3.0 | 9.8 | NE | 22 | 13:47 | 15.5 | 66 | 5 | SW | 7 | 1023.4 | 20.9 | 52 | 7 | NE | 11 | 1019.3 |
| 5 | We | 10.8 | 23.4 | 0 | 2.8 | 9.8 | ENE | 22 | 15:17 | 16.3 | 69 | 6 | SW | 9 | 1021.5 | 22.0 | 46 | 1 | ENE | 13 | 1018.8 |
| 6 | Th | 11.3 | 22.5 | 0 | 2.8 | 10.1 | ESE | 26 | 13:58 | 15.9 | 72 | 1 | SW | 9 | 1023.6 | 21.5 | 49 | 1 | ENE | 13 | 1020.0 |
| 7 | Fr | 10.4 | 23.7 | 0 | 3.6 | 10.0 | ENE | 19 | 16:36 | 15.9 | 73 | 1 | SW | 7 | 1021.6 | 22.8 | 50 | 1 | NNE | 9 | 1016.6 |
| 8 | Sa | 10.5 | 22.7 | 0 | 2.8 | 10.0 | E | 28 | 15:25 | 16.4 | 69 | 1 | SW | 9 | 1019.7 | 20.5 | 47 | 1 | E | 15 | 1016.7 |
| 9 | Su | 8.2 | 22.0 | 0 | 5.0 | 9.8 | NE | 19 | 15:48 | 14.3 | 59 | 1 | SW | 11 | 1021.3 | 21.1 | 43 | 1 | NE | 9 | 1017.6 |
| 10 | Mo | 9.3 | 22.5 | 0 | 2.6 | 10.1 | ENE | 22 | 14:24 | 15.1 | 71 | 4 | SSW | 6 | 1022.9 | 21.1 | 48 | 1 | ENE | 13 | 1019.7 |
| 11 | Tu | 9.5 | 23.0 | 0 | 2.4 | 10.1 | NE | 24 | 12:25 | 16.2 | 70 | 1 | SW | 6 | 1022.2 | 21.9 | 40 | 1 | NE | 13 | 1017.8 |
| 12 | We | 11.7 | 23.5 | 0 | 3.6 | 6.9 | E | 56 | 16:07 | 16.8 | 75 | 7 | SSW | 6 | 1018.7 | 22.1 | 62 | 4 | NE | 13 | 1013.3 |
| 13 | Th | 10.6 | 26.8 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 10.0 | NE | 19 | 14:10 | 19.5 | 67 | 1 | ESE | 2 | 1016.4 | 25.3 | 51 | 1 | NNE | 9 | 1012.1 |
| 14 | Fr | 12.1 | 26.4 | 0 | 2.8 | 9.5 | W | 30 | 11:36 | 18.6 | 53 | 1 | SW | 7 | 1018.1 | 26.4 | 22 | 0 | SSW | 7 | 1014.8 |
| 15 | Sa | 10.8 | 23.4 | 0 | 4.0 | 10.5 | NNE | 20 | 15:52 | 16.5 | 68 | 1 | SSW | 7 | 1021.6 | 22.6 | 48 | 1 | NE | 11 | 1018.0 |
| 16 | Su | 10.2 | 25.4 | 0 | 4.0 | 10.8 | NNE | 24 | 16:16 | 16.6 | 68 | 0 | S | 4 | 1022.2 | 23.0 | 51 | 0 | NNE | 15 | 1017.4 |
| 17 | Mo | 11.2 | 27.8 | 0 | 4.6 | 10.4 | W | 41 | 21:27 | 18.5 | 69 | 0 | SW | 7 | 1019.0 | 26.1 | 52 | 1 | ENE | 9 | 1014.6 |
| 18 | Tu | 13.3 | 23.4 | 0.2 | 5.0 | 10.6 | E | 31 | 16:10 | 19.2 | 50 | 1 | SSW | 7 | 1024.9 | 21.7 | 32 | 1 | ESE | 17 | 1023.5 |
| 19 | We | 10.9 | 23.4 | 0 | 5.2 | 10.5 | SE | 24 | 12:02 | 17.1 | 58 | 1 | SW | 9 | 1027.9 | 20.6 | 43 | 1 | E | 7 | 1023.4 |
| 20 | Th | 10.7 | 22.7 | 0 | 3.4 | 9.4 | E | 22 | 13:16 | 17.5 | 68 | 1 | SW | 7 | 1023.0 | 22.3 | 41 | 6 | NNE | 7 | 1017.8 |
| 21 | Fr | 11.6 | 24.6 | 0 | 4.4 | 10.2 | ENE | 28 | 13:19 | 18.5 | 63 | 0 | Calm | 1017.9 | 22.7 | 64 | 1 | NNE | 15 | 1012.3 | |
| 22 | Sa | 14.5 | 28.1 | 0 | 4.6 | 8.9 | E | 48 | 17:10 | 21.2 | 62 | 1 | NW | 2 | 1014.7 | 26.1 | 50 | 1 | ENE | 13 | 1010.5 |
| 23 | Su | 14.2 | 28.3 | 0 | 5.6 | 10.5 | ENE | 24 | 14:01 | 21.4 | 70 | 0 | SSW | 4 | 1015.7 | 25.4 | 54 | 1 | NE | 15 | 1011.4 |
| 24 | Mo | 15.5 | 35.4 | 0 | 3.2 | 10.4 | N | 28 | 16:08 | 24.1 | 68 | 3 | Calm | 1014.3 | 31.5 | 42 | 1 | ENE | 15 | 1008.5 | |
| 25 | Tu | 17.6 | 33.4 | 0 | 5.8 | 10.8 | W | 39 | 13:18 | 29.2 | 29 | 0 | WNW | 15 | 1011.8 | 33.1 | 23 | 1 | WNW | 17 | 1008.3 |
| 26 | We | 18.0 | 30.0 | 0 | 7.2 | 10.2 | W | 37 | 14:35 | 23.6 | 21 | 1 | W | 11 | 1016.8 | 29.5 | 8 | 3 | W | 17 | 1013.6 |
| 27 | Th | 10.8 | 26.5 | 0 | 5.6 | 9.1 | E | 22 | 11:53 | 17.5 | 39 | 6 | WSW | 9 | 1020.1 | 25.1 | 36 | 3 | ENE | 11 | 1016.3 |
| 28 | Fr | 15.8 | 29.3 | 0 | 2.8 | 9.6 | NNW | 28 | 12:45 | 21.6 | 62 | 1 | WSW | 7 | 1018.8 | 26.0 | 57 | 1 | NNE | 11 | 1013.7 |
| 29 | Sa | 19.2 | 0 | 3.8 | 22.0 | 79 | 4 | NNW | 7 | 1016.8 | |||||||||||
| Statistics for the first 29 days of August 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Mean | 11.9 | 25.4 | 4.0 | 9.9 | 18.2 | 62 | 1 | 6 | 1020.4 | 23.8 | 44 | 1 | 12 | 1016.5 | |||||||
| Lowest | 8.2 | 22.0 | 0 | 2.4 | 6.9 | 13.7 | 21 | 0 | Calm | 1011.8 | 19.3 | 8 | 0 | # | 7 | 1008.3 | |||||
| Highest | 19.2 | 35.4 | 2.8 | 7.2 | 10.8 | E | 56 | 29.2 | 79 | 7 | WNW | 15 | 1027.9 | 33.1 | 64 | 7 | # | 17 | 1024.1 | ||
| Total | 3.0 | 115.4 | 276.9 | ||||||||||||||||||
IDCJDW4019.200908 Prepared at 00:27 GMT on Saturday 29 August 2009
Read more!
Friday, August 21, 2009
Green Building
This is something I am interested. I will put some links in here first, then I might be able to do something more.
Def. in wiki: Green building
Rocky Mountain Institute: Rocky Mountain Institute® (RMI) is an independent, entrepreneurial, nonprofit think-and-do tank™. Their mission is to drive the efficient and restorative use of resources. They work extensively with the private sector, as well as with civil society and government, to create abundance by design and to apply the framework of Natural Capitalism.
Green Building Council Australia
Sustainable South East Queensland: South East Queensland's link to sustainability groups, services and resources: Sustainable Building Design: Design features of the building(s) housing a business, and ways they adhere to sustainability both in resource and environmental management and protection.
QLD: Smart Housing: Very useful and informative. Information provided by the Department of Housing, Queensland government could be used to create sustainable socially, environmentally and economically housing.
Your Home Design Guide: Design for Lifestyle and the Future: Very useful and informative. This is a joint initiative of the Australian Government and the design and construction industries. The buyer's guide, renovator's guide, SANCTUARY MAGAZINE and Technical Manual are worth reading.
(2) QLD: Sustainable, Bringing the built environment to life (??? need to check it): Business website of Sustainable Pty Ltd, featuring housing design, products, and the business’ building techniques with focus on sustainability and environmental friendliness. Site sections containing external links to environmentally friendly building resources include: the newsroom section with Top 10 Eco and Sustainability Ideas, our partners, sustainability Education links under the how we work section, and an obscure link to a Resources section listing design and building businesses.
(3) QLD: Welcome to UDIA Queensland (???need to check it):The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA - Queensland) is an organisation focused on the representation of Queensland's development industry. The website of their Queensland body features a section on their sustainable development initiatives, a News & Media section which includes publications, and an events section.
(4) National: Making it happen: Choosing Building Products: This website provides information on how to design and build a sustainable home using materials that have a positive impact on your health, the environment and bottom line.
(5) Resources/Publications: This section of the Green Building Council Australia website has links to reports and publications that provide information on the development and design of sustainable commercial buildings in Australia and its contribution to the environment and the companies’ bottom line.
60L: premier green commercial building in Australia (with detail information about design and technology)
Green Home
Green Building
Building Green
台大綠房子
綠森活LOHAS in EcoLiving
綠建築 中繼屋
【綠設計】組合屋之外的選擇--綠能貨櫃屋 (from ECO御宅綠活情報，I like this website)
====================
綠建築 中繼屋
(1) 【聯合晚報╱記者羅紹平/台東縣報導】2009.08.20
台東縣安置災民動作快，不僅覓得用地，也確定採用別墅外觀具節能減碳、環保功能的「中繼屋」安置災民，並委由台灣世界展望會為災民建造新家。
世展會東區辦公室組長蔡恆偉說，中繼屋每戶為2層樓別墅型外觀，總樓地板面積為31.4坪，室內有4房2廳1衛1廚，每戶造價50萬元，免費提供災民居住，採「以工代賑」由災民協力建造，災民不必具建築、水電技能，只要會用扳手鎖螺絲，就能自己動手打造自己的新家，災民蓋好新家還可獲5萬元月薪，若政府經費有困難，工資由世展會對外募款支應。
(2) 新竹縣五峰鄉天湖部落遷建工程－居住建築獎入圍
入圍理由：與震災區住宅重建略有不同，本案爲因1996之颱風雨量引發地層滑動而爲36戶原住民部落所執行之遷村案，謝英俊仍一本其爲弱勢團體爭取居住權之主張及熱誠，以協力造屋之方式完成居民苦等十年始獲完成之住屋，爲建築師參與社會重建立下典範。
設計：謝英俊建築師事務所/第三建築工作室
總樓地板面積：3708平方米
建築形式：二層連棟36戶
構造：鋼構
設計施工：2005年8月-2006年6月
...2005年8月，在臺灣世界展望會捐助和政府每戶一些補貼的情況下，湊得每戶95萬台幣（工程費90萬，設計監造費5萬），進行36戶建築集體興建，並於2006年4月完工。每戶樓地板面積103平方公尺，又在偏遠山區，必須在當地建屋行情價百分之六十的工程預算內完成，並且團隊秉持自參與921地震重建以來，所堅持的綠建築、協力造屋、小區自主營建、居民參與的永續建築理念下執行。
=======================
【綠設計】組合屋之外的選擇--綠能貨櫃屋 (from ECO御宅綠活情報，I like this website)
而在組合屋之外，究竟還有沒有其他的選擇，可以提供受災或陷於經濟困境的民眾們，一個安全舒適的替代方案？泰國的一家建築研究公司Site-Specific與Buatalah工作室，合1147;設計出極具質感，且符合環保綠能原則的貨櫃居住空間，或許可以提供台灣在災後重建上一些新的想法與可能。
這個環保綠能的貨櫃屋，運用了綠建築中最重要的4R的原則；包括Reduce減少使用、Reuse重覆使用、Recycle循環使用以及Renewable再生能源等四個要素。
事實上，貨櫃屋經常是許多設計師、建築師、藝術家...等，進行環保與再利用設計的重要素材。而在許多國家，貨櫃屋便宜，快速建造等優點，更是許多經濟弱勢者所賴以遮風避雨的重要工具之一。
而傳統的貨櫃屋常有過熱或過冷的缺點，只要透過新的環保綠能技術與綠建築設計，就有機會可以打造一個舒適又節能的綠能貨櫃屋。
Read more!
Def. in wiki: Green building
Rocky Mountain Institute: Rocky Mountain Institute® (RMI) is an independent, entrepreneurial, nonprofit think-and-do tank™. Their mission is to drive the efficient and restorative use of resources. They work extensively with the private sector, as well as with civil society and government, to create abundance by design and to apply the framework of Natural Capitalism.
Green Building Council Australia
Sustainable South East Queensland: South East Queensland's link to sustainability groups, services and resources: Sustainable Building Design: Design features of the building(s) housing a business, and ways they adhere to sustainability both in resource and environmental management and protection.
QLD: Smart Housing: Very useful and informative. Information provided by the Department of Housing, Queensland government could be used to create sustainable socially, environmentally and economically housing.
Your Home Design Guide: Design for Lifestyle and the Future: Very useful and informative. This is a joint initiative of the Australian Government and the design and construction industries. The buyer's guide, renovator's guide, SANCTUARY MAGAZINE and Technical Manual are worth reading.
(2) QLD: Sustainable, Bringing the built environment to life (??? need to check it): Business website of Sustainable Pty Ltd, featuring housing design, products, and the business’ building techniques with focus on sustainability and environmental friendliness. Site sections containing external links to environmentally friendly building resources include: the newsroom section with Top 10 Eco and Sustainability Ideas, our partners, sustainability Education links under the how we work section, and an obscure link to a Resources section listing design and building businesses.
(3) QLD: Welcome to UDIA Queensland (???need to check it):The Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA - Queensland) is an organisation focused on the representation of Queensland's development industry. The website of their Queensland body features a section on their sustainable development initiatives, a News & Media section which includes publications, and an events section.
(4) National: Making it happen: Choosing Building Products: This website provides information on how to design and build a sustainable home using materials that have a positive impact on your health, the environment and bottom line.
(5) Resources/Publications: This section of the Green Building Council Australia website has links to reports and publications that provide information on the development and design of sustainable commercial buildings in Australia and its contribution to the environment and the companies’ bottom line.
60L: premier green commercial building in Australia (with detail information about design and technology)
Green Home
Green Building
Building Green
台大綠房子
綠森活LOHAS in EcoLiving
綠建築 中繼屋
【綠設計】組合屋之外的選擇--綠能貨櫃屋 (from ECO御宅綠活情報，I like this website)
====================
綠建築 中繼屋
(1) 【聯合晚報╱記者羅紹平/台東縣報導】2009.08.20
台東縣安置災民動作快，不僅覓得用地，也確定採用別墅外觀具節能減碳、環保功能的「中繼屋」安置災民，並委由台灣世界展望會為災民建造新家。
世展會東區辦公室組長蔡恆偉說，中繼屋每戶為2層樓別墅型外觀，總樓地板面積為31.4坪，室內有4房2廳1衛1廚，每戶造價50萬元，免費提供災民居住，採「以工代賑」由災民協力建造，災民不必具建築、水電技能，只要會用扳手鎖螺絲，就能自己動手打造自己的新家，災民蓋好新家還可獲5萬元月薪，若政府經費有困難，工資由世展會對外募款支應。
(2) 新竹縣五峰鄉天湖部落遷建工程－居住建築獎入圍
入圍理由：與震災區住宅重建略有不同，本案爲因1996之颱風雨量引發地層滑動而爲36戶原住民部落所執行之遷村案，謝英俊仍一本其爲弱勢團體爭取居住權之主張及熱誠，以協力造屋之方式完成居民苦等十年始獲完成之住屋，爲建築師參與社會重建立下典範。
設計：謝英俊建築師事務所/第三建築工作室
總樓地板面積：3708平方米
建築形式：二層連棟36戶
構造：鋼構
設計施工：2005年8月-2006年6月
...2005年8月，在臺灣世界展望會捐助和政府每戶一些補貼的情況下，湊得每戶95萬台幣（工程費90萬，設計監造費5萬），進行36戶建築集體興建，並於2006年4月完工。每戶樓地板面積103平方公尺，又在偏遠山區，必須在當地建屋行情價百分之六十的工程預算內完成，並且團隊秉持自參與921地震重建以來，所堅持的綠建築、協力造屋、小區自主營建、居民參與的永續建築理念下執行。
=======================
【綠設計】組合屋之外的選擇--綠能貨櫃屋 (from ECO御宅綠活情報，I like this website)
而在組合屋之外，究竟還有沒有其他的選擇，可以提供受災或陷於經濟困境的民眾們，一個安全舒適的替代方案？泰國的一家建築研究公司Site-Specific與Buatalah工作室，合1147;設計出極具質感，且符合環保綠能原則的貨櫃居住空間，或許可以提供台灣在災後重建上一些新的想法與可能。
這個環保綠能的貨櫃屋，運用了綠建築中最重要的4R的原則；包括Reduce減少使用、Reuse重覆使用、Recycle循環使用以及Renewable再生能源等四個要素。
事實上，貨櫃屋經常是許多設計師、建築師、藝術家...等，進行環保與再利用設計的重要素材。而在許多國家，貨櫃屋便宜，快速建造等優點，更是許多經濟弱勢者所賴以遮風避雨的重要工具之一。
而傳統的貨櫃屋常有過熱或過冷的缺點，只要透過新的環保綠能技術與綠建築設計，就有機會可以打造一個舒適又節能的綠能貨櫃屋。
Read more!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
88 Flood
Typhoon Morakot has caused severe flood and mudslide in Taiwan. Many people were buried alive. It has been 7 days. Many Taiwanese have tried their best effort to save lives, but what did Taiwan's KMT government and Taiwan's president Ma have done?
Taiwan's KMT government and president Ma delayed necessary rescue badly, did not try to form an effective emergent rescue team, and closed up Taiwan to refuse international help except China.
Many people died. President Ma did not want to take any responsibility and said the reason that those people died is their own fault and it has nothing to do with him and the KMT government.
KMT government and president Ma even said that they do not want to dig out those bodies and would prefer to let everything be buried under the mud. Of course, KMT government and president Ma said that this is what those relatives of dead people want. I don't believe this because human being always wants to bury their love ones no matter in which culture and race. The only possibilities are that KMT government and president Ma (1) do not want to find out the truth; (2) try to cover up the death count by counting those people as missing; and (3) do not want to pay 1 million NTD per dead person and are only willing to pay 200,000 NTD per missing person.
I admire what those rescuers have done to save lives in this difficult disaster. I do condemn the bureaucracy of Taiwan government and president Ma's slow and inefficient response which cause more people die and alive people suffer and stave.
Some information:
Rescue for Morakat typhoon莫拉克颱風救災: 8月7日登陸的莫拉克颱風挾帶大量豪雨，「八八水災」造成全台人民生命財產極大損失。此救災專區彙整風災水災相關資訊，大家一起多多留意災情及救災資訊，共同協助救援行動。您可以查看最近的新聞以及 YouTube 上的影片。
莫拉克災情資料表
============
Some amazing words from Taiwan's KMT government and president Ma:
(1) 《官員勘災傻眼語錄》 馬讚女孩憋氣得第一 (2009/08/14 00:27) (from newspaper)
(2) 懶人包：莫拉克颱風官員勘災傻眼語錄新聞整理
1.八八水災／中央救援不力？ 馬英九怪地方警覺不夠 (Aug 8, 2009)
「可能各縣市覺得沒有那麼嚴重，到今天被水圍困才求救。」
2.7死46失蹤 總統要氣象局水利署檢討
3.災民向總統反映難以見到 (Aug. 11, 2009)
馬英九對災民說：「我不知道你要見我 ....你不是見到了嗎？」「我父親已經過世了，我非常了解這個感覺。」(相關文字、影像)
4.馬總統：救災模式 採地方負責 中央支援 (Aug 10, 2009)
5.八八水災／視察被批！ 王清峰回災民：至少可讓你發脾氣！ (Aug 12, 2009) (相關新聞)
6.劉揆談災情：政府救災速度比921快
針對外界批評行政院救災速度太慢，行政院長劉兆玄今天首度在行政院會見國內媒體，強調這次救災比起九二一震災，速度其實很快，至少「我的評價是很快」。
7.馬在接受災民陳情時，以食指比出「噓」的手勢，不悅地要一旁說話的民眾小聲一點 (相關新聞, Aug 13, 2009)
8.拒絕國際援助？總統：絕對沒有
府院黨決議 歡迎大陸人道援助
外交部通令外館說婉謝物資援助公文曝光
公文內文節錄：「倘駐在國政府或民間欲提供救援物資或派遣救援團隊， 請貴館處予以婉謝。」
韓外交人士：有意馳援遭台婉拒
9.外媒問防颱疏失 馬推災民不願撤離
相關新聞（英媒質疑救災 馬總統：災民不肯撤）、（影像）
外國記者（外媒）: Should Taiwan not have been more prepared for this weather of coming? (台灣對於這次的颱風來襲 不是該做更多的防災工作嘛？)
馬英九:
No, in this area... (這個地區(災區))
This is the first time in many years (這些年來從來沒這麼嚴重過)
That is why...They were not fully prepared... (這就是為什麼..民眾沒有做好充足的準備)
If they were.They should have been evacuated much earlier (如果有做好準備...民眾就該及早撤離)
Just because they stayed where they live. (可是他們死守著家園)
And...but...You see... (而且..但...你看...)
They didn't realize how serious the disaster was... (他們沒有理解到這次風災有多嚴重)
10.馬總統的勘災奇聞: 馬探養豬災戶 眼盯蔣經國照片緬懷(附影像)(Aug 13, 2009)
11.急欲參與救災的陸戰隊官兵在網路留言版抱怨，指部隊早已準備
好救災，卻苦等不到上級下令..行政院: 救災須整體考量 (新聞)
12.傻眼言行第一名：馬英九稱讚被泥石活埋而窒息小朋友：「你可以憋氣2分鐘，真是不簡單」
（出處新聞）（相關新聞）(Aug 14, 2009)
(3) 「中央與地方間溝通，一律透過媒體…」／民代批劉揆「莫名其妙」(Aug. 10, 2009)
〔記者童涵旎、李欣芳／綜合報導〕行政院長劉兆玄八日視察災害應變中心時，認為救援速度緩慢，是因為中央與地方溝通不良，要求「中央與地方間的溝通，一律透過媒體」，...
(4) About 「馬英九怪罪災民以前沒有被土石流淹沒滅村經驗，才會死守家園不懂得災前撤離，致令中央災變中心的眾將官手足無措十幾天遲遲無法回魂！」，I would like to point out that 「小林村、新開村等居民，不像南投神木村、花蓮銅門村、新竹土場及其他高山部落一樣己經擁有慘痛滅村經驗，and they are not listed on the mudflow and landslide warning list」
農委會發布157條土石流紅色警戒 更新日期:2009/08/07 19:41
（中央社記者楊淑閔台北 7日電）莫拉克颱風風雨增強，農委會水保局今晚發布土石流警戒區，紅色警戒共157條土石流潛勢溪流，座落於8縣市17鄉鎮64村里。農委會籲地方政府依實際狀況強制撤離，並作適當安置。
157條土石流潛勢溪流分布於台中縣和平鄉自由村。南投縣信義鄉自強村、明德村、豐丘村、羅娜村。屏東縣三地門鄉口社村、安坡村、青山村。
苗栗縣卓蘭鎮上新里、老庄里，泰安鄉八卦村、士林村、中興村、清安村、象鼻村、錦水村，獅潭鄉竹木村、新豐村、豐林村。
桃園縣復興鄉三民村、三光村、長興村、奎輝村、高義村、華陵村、義盛村、澤仁村、霞雲村、羅浮村。雲林縣古坑鄉草嶺村、樟湖村。
新竹縣五峰鄉大隘村、花園村、桃山村，尖石鄉玉峰村、秀巒村、梅花村、新樂村、嘉樂村、錦屏村，橫山鄉大肚村、內灣村、南昌村、橫山村。
嘉義縣大埔鄉永樂村，中埔鄉石弄村、東興村，竹崎鄉內埔村、文峰村、光華村、桃源村、塘興村、緞繻村，阿里山鄉里佳村、來吉村、達邦村、樂野村、豐山村，梅山鄉太和村、瑞里村、龍眼村，番路鄉公田村、公興村、觸口村等 8縣17鄉64村。
另同步發布黃色警戒計312條土石流潛勢溪流，座落在11縣市29鄉鎮123村里。農委會說，地方政府應進行疏散避難勸告，必要時須提早進行疏散避難。
============
(5) 關於拒絕外援的日期
八月九日日本書面提出要救援，
八月十日 美國書面提出，同時會見袁健生轉達
八月十日 馬英九府院黨 僅僅花二十分鐘，欣然同意接受中國援助，
八月十一日 外交部發文外館婉拒外援
=============
(6) 馬皇本紀，卷一 八月 13th, 2009 by derekhsu
.
.
.
馬皇驚之、先責欽天監、怠忽職守、喪盡天良；後責高雄州、屏東州牧、未盡其職、虛言妄為。馬皇單騎速趨之嘉義州、為水所困，不得進。
當朝宰相劉氏，臨高雄州視察、曰：「吾與災民共之。」夜宿國軍英雄館、隔日便返。
諸國欲往救，馬皇拒之曰：「吾國雖弊、尚足自保。」民皆怒之，淚求於諸國。逾二日，竟改其言：「何出此言，朕未曾拒之。」宰相付之：「吾皇英明，唯未備也，非不受也。」
一日，馬皇訪災區，一少年犯蹕，越守衛，近馬皇身前。守衛欲擒之，馬皇曰：「勿傷朕民。」守衛遂停。少年泣之曰：「草民欲見龍顏久矣！何以如此難得？」馬皇對曰：「朕不知也，今朕已至。朕若知汝意，必答應之。」少年對曰：「家父為水流之，不知所往，皇上可否代為尋之？」馬皇對曰：「汝之情，朕能體之，先皇亦逝，故朕深體之。」民皆無言以對。
對宰相問之曰：「與十年前前朝九二一相比如何？」宰相對曰：「速倍之。」
不列顛國使者問馬皇曰：「何以至此？」馬皇對曰：「此等災難，畢生僅見，民皆未備、彼若備，應早離之。因其固守、汝可見、民未能解此災之重，彼若知，必不至此。」
Read more!
Taiwan's KMT government and president Ma delayed necessary rescue badly, did not try to form an effective emergent rescue team, and closed up Taiwan to refuse international help except China.
Many people died. President Ma did not want to take any responsibility and said the reason that those people died is their own fault and it has nothing to do with him and the KMT government.
KMT government and president Ma even said that they do not want to dig out those bodies and would prefer to let everything be buried under the mud. Of course, KMT government and president Ma said that this is what those relatives of dead people want. I don't believe this because human being always wants to bury their love ones no matter in which culture and race. The only possibilities are that KMT government and president Ma (1) do not want to find out the truth; (2) try to cover up the death count by counting those people as missing; and (3) do not want to pay 1 million NTD per dead person and are only willing to pay 200,000 NTD per missing person.
I admire what those rescuers have done to save lives in this difficult disaster. I do condemn the bureaucracy of Taiwan government and president Ma's slow and inefficient response which cause more people die and alive people suffer and stave.
Some information:
Rescue for Morakat typhoon莫拉克颱風救災: 8月7日登陸的莫拉克颱風挾帶大量豪雨，「八八水災」造成全台人民生命財產極大損失。此救災專區彙整風災水災相關資訊，大家一起多多留意災情及救災資訊，共同協助救援行動。您可以查看最近的新聞以及 YouTube 上的影片。
莫拉克災情資料表
============
Some amazing words from Taiwan's KMT government and president Ma:
(1) 《官員勘災傻眼語錄》 馬讚女孩憋氣得第一 (2009/08/14 00:27) (from newspaper)
(2) 懶人包：莫拉克颱風官員勘災傻眼語錄新聞整理
1.八八水災／中央救援不力？ 馬英九怪地方警覺不夠 (Aug 8, 2009)
「可能各縣市覺得沒有那麼嚴重，到今天被水圍困才求救。」
2.7死46失蹤 總統要氣象局水利署檢討
3.災民向總統反映難以見到 (Aug. 11, 2009)
馬英九對災民說：「我不知道你要見我 ....你不是見到了嗎？」「我父親已經過世了，我非常了解這個感覺。」(相關文字、影像)
4.馬總統：救災模式 採地方負責 中央支援 (Aug 10, 2009)
5.八八水災／視察被批！ 王清峰回災民：至少可讓你發脾氣！ (Aug 12, 2009) (相關新聞)
6.劉揆談災情：政府救災速度比921快
針對外界批評行政院救災速度太慢，行政院長劉兆玄今天首度在行政院會見國內媒體，強調這次救災比起九二一震災，速度其實很快，至少「我的評價是很快」。
7.馬在接受災民陳情時，以食指比出「噓」的手勢，不悅地要一旁說話的民眾小聲一點 (相關新聞, Aug 13, 2009)
8.拒絕國際援助？總統：絕對沒有
府院黨決議 歡迎大陸人道援助
外交部通令外館說婉謝物資援助公文曝光
公文內文節錄：「倘駐在國政府或民間欲提供救援物資或派遣救援團隊， 請貴館處予以婉謝。」
韓外交人士：有意馳援遭台婉拒
9.外媒問防颱疏失 馬推災民不願撤離
相關新聞（英媒質疑救災 馬總統：災民不肯撤）、（影像）
外國記者（外媒）: Should Taiwan not have been more prepared for this weather of coming? (台灣對於這次的颱風來襲 不是該做更多的防災工作嘛？)
馬英九:
No, in this area... (這個地區(災區))
This is the first time in many years (這些年來從來沒這麼嚴重過)
That is why...They were not fully prepared... (這就是為什麼..民眾沒有做好充足的準備)
If they were.They should have been evacuated much earlier (如果有做好準備...民眾就該及早撤離)
Just because they stayed where they live. (可是他們死守著家園)
And...but...You see... (而且..但...你看...)
They didn't realize how serious the disaster was... (他們沒有理解到這次風災有多嚴重)
10.馬總統的勘災奇聞: 馬探養豬災戶 眼盯蔣經國照片緬懷(附影像)(Aug 13, 2009)
11.急欲參與救災的陸戰隊官兵在網路留言版抱怨，指部隊早已準備
好救災，卻苦等不到上級下令..行政院: 救災須整體考量 (新聞)
12.傻眼言行第一名：馬英九稱讚被泥石活埋而窒息小朋友：「你可以憋氣2分鐘，真是不簡單」
（出處新聞）（相關新聞）(Aug 14, 2009)
(3) 「中央與地方間溝通，一律透過媒體…」／民代批劉揆「莫名其妙」(Aug. 10, 2009)
〔記者童涵旎、李欣芳／綜合報導〕行政院長劉兆玄八日視察災害應變中心時，認為救援速度緩慢，是因為中央與地方溝通不良，要求「中央與地方間的溝通，一律透過媒體」，...
(4) About 「馬英九怪罪災民以前沒有被土石流淹沒滅村經驗，才會死守家園不懂得災前撤離，致令中央災變中心的眾將官手足無措十幾天遲遲無法回魂！」，I would like to point out that 「小林村、新開村等居民，不像南投神木村、花蓮銅門村、新竹土場及其他高山部落一樣己經擁有慘痛滅村經驗，and they are not listed on the mudflow and landslide warning list」
農委會發布157條土石流紅色警戒 更新日期:2009/08/07 19:41
（中央社記者楊淑閔台北 7日電）莫拉克颱風風雨增強，農委會水保局今晚發布土石流警戒區，紅色警戒共157條土石流潛勢溪流，座落於8縣市17鄉鎮64村里。農委會籲地方政府依實際狀況強制撤離，並作適當安置。
157條土石流潛勢溪流分布於台中縣和平鄉自由村。南投縣信義鄉自強村、明德村、豐丘村、羅娜村。屏東縣三地門鄉口社村、安坡村、青山村。
苗栗縣卓蘭鎮上新里、老庄里，泰安鄉八卦村、士林村、中興村、清安村、象鼻村、錦水村，獅潭鄉竹木村、新豐村、豐林村。
桃園縣復興鄉三民村、三光村、長興村、奎輝村、高義村、華陵村、義盛村、澤仁村、霞雲村、羅浮村。雲林縣古坑鄉草嶺村、樟湖村。
新竹縣五峰鄉大隘村、花園村、桃山村，尖石鄉玉峰村、秀巒村、梅花村、新樂村、嘉樂村、錦屏村，橫山鄉大肚村、內灣村、南昌村、橫山村。
嘉義縣大埔鄉永樂村，中埔鄉石弄村、東興村，竹崎鄉內埔村、文峰村、光華村、桃源村、塘興村、緞繻村，阿里山鄉里佳村、來吉村、達邦村、樂野村、豐山村，梅山鄉太和村、瑞里村、龍眼村，番路鄉公田村、公興村、觸口村等 8縣17鄉64村。
另同步發布黃色警戒計312條土石流潛勢溪流，座落在11縣市29鄉鎮123村里。農委會說，地方政府應進行疏散避難勸告，必要時須提早進行疏散避難。
============
(5) 關於拒絕外援的日期
八月九日日本書面提出要救援，
八月十日 美國書面提出，同時會見袁健生轉達
八月十日 馬英九府院黨 僅僅花二十分鐘，欣然同意接受中國援助，
八月十一日 外交部發文外館婉拒外援
=============
(6) 馬皇本紀，卷一 八月 13th, 2009 by derekhsu
.
.
.
馬皇驚之、先責欽天監、怠忽職守、喪盡天良；後責高雄州、屏東州牧、未盡其職、虛言妄為。馬皇單騎速趨之嘉義州、為水所困，不得進。
當朝宰相劉氏，臨高雄州視察、曰：「吾與災民共之。」夜宿國軍英雄館、隔日便返。
諸國欲往救，馬皇拒之曰：「吾國雖弊、尚足自保。」民皆怒之，淚求於諸國。逾二日，竟改其言：「何出此言，朕未曾拒之。」宰相付之：「吾皇英明，唯未備也，非不受也。」
一日，馬皇訪災區，一少年犯蹕，越守衛，近馬皇身前。守衛欲擒之，馬皇曰：「勿傷朕民。」守衛遂停。少年泣之曰：「草民欲見龍顏久矣！何以如此難得？」馬皇對曰：「朕不知也，今朕已至。朕若知汝意，必答應之。」少年對曰：「家父為水流之，不知所往，皇上可否代為尋之？」馬皇對曰：「汝之情，朕能體之，先皇亦逝，故朕深體之。」民皆無言以對。
對宰相問之曰：「與十年前前朝九二一相比如何？」宰相對曰：「速倍之。」
不列顛國使者問馬皇曰：「何以至此？」馬皇對曰：「此等災難，畢生僅見，民皆未備、彼若備，應早離之。因其固守、汝可見、民未能解此災之重，彼若知，必不至此。」
Read more!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Hail in Brisbane area
We are in UQ, St. Lucia campus right now. Pea-size hail felt from sky for several minutes about 5 minutes ago, then it become raining. This is the first time we saw hail after we came to QLD, Australia. I hope our car is OK.
Read more!
Read more!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Typhoon Morakot
Typhoon Morakot has caused huge damage in Taiwan. Morakot caused landslides, severe floods, blew down trees and billboards, stripped roofs from buildings, and severe mudslides in Shiao-Lin Village (小林, a 1300 residents mountain village in Jiaxian, Kaohsiung) and roads toward Namaxia, Kaohsiung. The rainfall in Pingtung County exceeded 2,500 millimetres (98 in) which broke all rainfall records of any single place in Taiwan caused by a single typhoon. Many people are dead and hundreds are missing.
I don't know what to say. Just pray and hope that God can bless Taiwan and Taiwanese.
Read more!
I don't know what to say. Just pray and hope that God can bless Taiwan and Taiwanese.
Read more!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Mouthwash vs. Osteoporosis
I don't know if this is true, but it is very suspicious.
I found that my molar tooth might have a cavity. We thought that it will help me to prevent teeth cavity if I use mouthwash twice per day after lunch and before sleep, so we went to buy one bottle of LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE Anticavity Mouthwash last Thursday night.
I used it in Thursday night and Friday noon, then I had a terrible pain in the left side of my left knee in Friday night. It is a one-spot type of pain. I forgot to use it in Friday night and the weekend, then the pain was gone on Sunday.
I used it again in this Monday night and Tuesday noon, then I got another terrible pain on several spots in the left side of my left knee in Tuesday night. It is so painful that I almost couldn't stand up and walk well with my left leg.
We are wondering if this pain is a osteoporosis due by mouthwash I used, so I did not use the mouthwash yesterday and my pain has been relieved very much now. The reason that we are suspicious my pain is caused by this mouthwash is because it contains fluoride and fluoride will increase the chance of osteoporosis.
What should I do now? I want to prevent teeth cavity, but I don't want osteoporosis. I still don't want the pain even it is not due to osteoporosis.
=============================
On the label of LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE
Take advantage of 6 benefits in one mouthwash: Helps Prevent Cavities, Restores Minerals to Enamel, Strengthens Teeth, Kills Bad Breath Germs, Freshens Breath, and Fights Unsightly Plaque Above the Gum Line.
Active ingredient: Sodium fluoride 0.0221% (0.01% w/v fluoride ion) (Purpose: Anticavity)
Use: aids in the prevention of dental cavities
Warnings: Keep out of reach of children. If more than used for rinsing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.
Directions
• Adults and children 12 years of age and older: use twice daily after brushing your teeth with a toothpaste, vigorously swish 10 mL (2 teaspoonfuls) of rinse
between your teeth for 1 minute and then spit out, do not swallow the rinse, do not eat or drink for 30 minutes after rinsing, supervise children as necessary until capable of using without supervision
• Children under 12 years of age: consult a dentist or doctor.
Other information: store at controlled room temperature 20° - 25°C (68° - 77°F), cold weather may temporarily cloud this product
Inactive ingredients: water, sorbitol solution, alcohol (21.6%), flavors, poloxamer 407, sodium lauryl sulfate, phosphoric acid, sucralose, dibasic sodium phosphate, D&C red No. 33, FD&C blue No. 1
Questions? Call 1-888-222-0182
Read more!
I found that my molar tooth might have a cavity. We thought that it will help me to prevent teeth cavity if I use mouthwash twice per day after lunch and before sleep, so we went to buy one bottle of LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE Anticavity Mouthwash last Thursday night.
I used it in Thursday night and Friday noon, then I had a terrible pain in the left side of my left knee in Friday night. It is a one-spot type of pain. I forgot to use it in Friday night and the weekend, then the pain was gone on Sunday.
I used it again in this Monday night and Tuesday noon, then I got another terrible pain on several spots in the left side of my left knee in Tuesday night. It is so painful that I almost couldn't stand up and walk well with my left leg.
We are wondering if this pain is a osteoporosis due by mouthwash I used, so I did not use the mouthwash yesterday and my pain has been relieved very much now. The reason that we are suspicious my pain is caused by this mouthwash is because it contains fluoride and fluoride will increase the chance of osteoporosis.
What should I do now? I want to prevent teeth cavity, but I don't want osteoporosis. I still don't want the pain even it is not due to osteoporosis.
=============================
On the label of LISTERINE® TOTAL CARE
Take advantage of 6 benefits in one mouthwash: Helps Prevent Cavities, Restores Minerals to Enamel, Strengthens Teeth, Kills Bad Breath Germs, Freshens Breath, and Fights Unsightly Plaque Above the Gum Line.
Active ingredient: Sodium fluoride 0.0221% (0.01% w/v fluoride ion) (Purpose: Anticavity)
Use: aids in the prevention of dental cavities
Warnings: Keep out of reach of children. If more than used for rinsing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.
Directions
• Adults and children 12 years of age and older: use twice daily after brushing your teeth with a toothpaste, vigorously swish 10 mL (2 teaspoonfuls) of rinse
between your teeth for 1 minute and then spit out, do not swallow the rinse, do not eat or drink for 30 minutes after rinsing, supervise children as necessary until capable of using without supervision
• Children under 12 years of age: consult a dentist or doctor.
Other information: store at controlled room temperature 20° - 25°C (68° - 77°F), cold weather may temporarily cloud this product
Inactive ingredients: water, sorbitol solution, alcohol (21.6%), flavors, poloxamer 407, sodium lauryl sulfate, phosphoric acid, sucralose, dibasic sodium phosphate, D&C red No. 33, FD&C blue No. 1
Questions? Call 1-888-222-0182
Read more!
Friday, July 24, 2009
July 2009 papers
Gee! It is almost end of July and I did not even put anything in yet. I am so tired this month. Anyway I will start to put some interest papers in.
Lack of direct evidence for the carbon-starvation hypothesis to explain drought-induced mortality in trees, Anna Sala, PNAS 106(26):E68.
Reply to Sala: Temperature sensitivity in drought-induced tree mortality hastens the need to further resolve a physiological model of death, Henry D. Adams, Maite Guardiola-Claramonte, Greg A. Barron-Gafford, Juan Camilo Villegas, David D. Breshears, Chris B. Zou, Peter A. Troch, and Travis E. Huxman, PNAS 106(26):E69.
Biogeochemistry: Climatic plant power, Yves Goddéris and Yannick Donnadieu, Nature 460:40-41.
Levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide constrain vegetation types and thus also non-biological uptake during rock weathering. That's the reasoning used to explain why CO2 levels did not fall below a certain point in the Miocene.
How Sweet It Is: Identification of Vacuolar Sucrose Transporters, Aleel K. Grennan and Jeremy Gragg, Plant Physiol. 2009;150 1109-1110.
A Versatile Zero Background T-Vector System for Gene Cloning and Functional
Genomics, Songbiao Chen, Pattavipha Songkumarn, Jianli Liu, and Guo-Liang Wang
Plant Physiol. 2009;150 1111-1121.
A Visual Reporter System for Virus-Induced Gene Silencing in Tomato Fruit Based on Anthocyanin Accumulation, Diego Orzaez, Aurora Medina, Sara Torre, Josefina Patricia, Fernandez-Moreno, Jose Luis Rambla, Asun Fernandez-del-Carmen, Eugenio Butelli, Cathie Martin, and Antonio Granell, Plant Physiol. 2009;150 1122-1134.
The Role of Annexin 1 in Drought Stress in Arabidopsis, Dorota Konopka-Postupolska, Greg Clark, Grazyna Goch, Janusz Debski, Krzysztof Floras, Araceli Cantero, Bartlomiej Fijolek, Stanley Roux, and Jacek Hennig, Plant Physiol. 2009;150 1394-1410.
Two Alternatively Spliced Isoforms of the Arabidopsis SR45 Protein Have Distinct Roles during Normal Plant Development, Xiao-Ning Zhang and Stephen M. Mount
Plant Physiol. 2009;150 1450-1458.
FRIGIDA Delays Flowering in Arabidopsis via a Cotranscriptional Mechanism Involving Direct Interaction with the Nuclear Cap-Binding Complex, Nuno Geraldo, Isabel Baurle, Shin-ichiro Kidou, Xiangyang Hu, and Caroline Dean, Plant Physiol. 2009;150 1611-1618.
Green Life Through Time, Jonathan P. Wilson, Science 325(5936):36 - 37.
An expansion and update of Taylor and Taylor's classic 1993 book, this lavishly illustrated volume offers a comprehensive survey of fossil plants and fungi.
Sweet Silencing, Jeffrey A. Simon, Science 325(5936):45 - 46.
A sugar molecule plays an unexpected role in controlling gene silencing by modifying repressor proteins.
When Earth greened over, Eric Hand, Nature 460:161.
Explosion of animal life could have been triggered by blanket of vegetation.
Adaptive prediction of environmental changes by microorganisms, Amir Mitchell et al., Nature 460:220-224.
Habitats where environmental change occurs in a reliable order offer microorganisms the opportunity to prepare in advance. Here, in both the bacterium Escherichia coli and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, stimuli that typically appear early in the ecology of the organism are shown to induce genes that are useful for coping with conditions that normally occur later, a process that is also shown to improve fitness.
Plain English: Free service helps scientists get published, Nature 460:295.
Two young researchers have launched a free manuscript-editing service to help scientists from developing countries get papers published in English-language journals. Justin Chakma, a research analyst at the McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health in Toronto, Canada, and Alexander Patananan, a biochemistry doctoral student at the University of California, Los Angeles, set up SciEdit earlier this year as a spin-off of the Journal of Young Investigators, an international student-run, peer-reviewed journal. In choosing which papers to improve, it assesses the merit of the science, not just the use of English. To date, SciEdit has accepted 10 manuscripts from India, South Africa, Pakistan, China and Nepal.
Glycinebetaine-induced water-stress tolerance in codA-expressing transgenic indica rice is associated with up-regulation of several stress responsive genes, Hitesh Kathuria, Jitender Giri, Karaba N. Nataraja, Norio Murata, Makarla Udayakumar, Akhilesh K. Tyagi, Plant Biotechnology 7(6):512 - 526.
The fungal RNA-binding protein Rrm4 mediates long-distance transport of ubi1 and rho3 mRNAs, Julian König, Sebastian Baumann, Janine Koepke, Thomas Pohlmann, Kathi Zarnack and Michael Feldbrügge, EMBO 28:1855 - 1866.
DOE's Push to Train a New Generation Falters in House, Science 325(5937):130 - 131.
Secretary of Energy Steven Chu has proposed a 10-year, $1.7 billion education program called RE-ENERGYSE to help the United States find the talent to fuel its clean-energy economy. But Congress may prefer to wait until next year.
Tofu Was Just a Start, Michael A. Grusak, Science 325(5937):150.
The contributors explore the range of foods made from soybean and the other ways soy products enter our meals, highlighting how important these foods are and how important they may become.
Drug Discovery and Natural Products: End of an Era or an Endless Frontier?, J. W.-H. Li and J. C. Vederas, Science 325(5937):161 - 165.
Ozone suppresses soil drying- and abscisic acid (ABA)-induced stomatal closure via an ethylene-dependent mechanism, SALLY WILKINSON, WILLIAM J. DAVIES, Plant, Cell & Environment 32(8):949 - 959.
Report claims no yield advantage for Bt crops, Cormac Sheridan, Nature Biotechnology 27:588 - 589 (2009).
A controversial report claims that traits introduced to food crops by genetic engineering (GE) have had, at best, a minor impact on yield.
NCBI Peptidome: a new public repository for mass spectrometry peptide identifications, Douglas J Slotta, Tanya Barrett and Ron Edgar, Nature Biotechnology 27:600 - 601.
Biomarker validation by targeted mass spectrometry, Martin McIntosh and Matthew Fitzgibbon, Nature Biotechnology 27:622 - 623.
A multilaboratory study demonstrates the potential for establishing quantitative targeted proteomic assays for moderately to highly abundant plasma proteins.
Fifteen years of microbial genomics: meeting the challenges and fulfilling the dream, Nikos C Kyrpides, Nature Biotechnology 27:627 - 632.
Now that ~1,000 microbial genomes have been sequenced, Nikos Kyrpides reflects on the past decade of microbial genomics and extrapolates forward to propose solutions to meeting challenges in the field.
Climate change: Beyond the CO2 connection, Rainer Zahn, Nature 460:335-336 (16 July 2009).
At times in the past, mobile ocean fronts in the subtropics have exercised an influence on the magnitude of climate change by decoupling temperature from levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Global patterns of speciation and diversity, M. A. M. de Aguiar et al., Nature 460, 384-387 (16 July 2009).
The question of why biological diversity is spread in characteristic patterns is perhaps the biggest problem in ecology. In recent years, the 'neutral theory' of biodiversity has modelled the distribution of species in a very simple way, without reference to species interactions or history. Sexual reproduction, mutation and dispersal are now introduced to the simulation of populations; the resulting predictions correlate well with real data sets.
Beyond the Type Genome: Discovery of Novel Avirulence Genes in the Rice: Blast Fungus by Genomic Resequencing and Genetic Association Studies, Jennifer Mach, Plant Cell 21:1325.
Membrane Rafts and Virus Movement in Plant Cells, Nancy A. Eckardt, Plant Cell 21:1326.
PUCHI and Floral Meristem Identity, Gregory Bertoni, Plant Cell 21:1327.
A Role for Arabidopsis PUCHI in Floral Meristem Identity and Bract Suppression, Md. Rezaul Karim, Atsuko Hirota, Dorota Kwiatkowska, Masao Tasaka, and Mitsuhiro Aida, Plant Cell 21:1360-1372.
Acquisition of flower identity in Arabidopsis is associated with the
switch from an indeterminate to a determinate growth pattern and
suppression of a subtending leaf called a bract. It is shown that the
AP2/EREBP gene PUCHI, together with the NPR1-like signaling genes
BOP1 and BOP2, are required for these processes, possibly
through position-specific activation of the floral regulators LFY
and AP1.
Association Genetics Reveals Three Novel Avirulence Genes from the Rice Blast Fungal Pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, Kentaro Yoshida, Hiromasa Saitoh, et al., Plant Cell 21:1573-1591.
This work uses genome resequencing, large-scale association genetics, and
in vivo functional complementation to identify avirulence proteins
AVR-Pia, AVR-Pii, and AVR-Pik/km/kp from among a large
set of candidate secreted proteins from the major rice pathogen
Magnaporthe oryzae.
Beneficial Biofuels—The Food, Energy, and Environment Trilemma, D. Tilman et al., Science 325(5938):270 - 271.
Exploiting multiple feedstocks, under new policies and accounting rules, to balance biofuel production, food security, and greenhouse-gas reduction.
Neutralizing Toxic RNA, Thomas A. Cooper, Science 325(5938):272.
Oligonucleotides that target aggregates of RNA and protein show potential for treating myotonic dystrophy.
What Drives Climate Flip-Flops? A. Timmermann and L. Menviel, Science 325(5938):273.
A numerical modeling study questions the validity of a key paradigm in rapid climate change studies.
The carbon count, Nature 460:436 (23 July 2009).
Scientists need better Earth-monitoring tools to see whether climate policies are working.
ExxonMobil invests in algae for biofuel, Nature 460:449 (2009).
Oil and gas company ExxonMobil, whose chief executive Rex Tillerson called the idea of ethanol as a biofuel "moonshine" in 2007, last week announced a US$600-million research alliance to develop biofuels from photosynthetic algae.
Read more!
Lack of direct evidence for the carbon-starvation hypothesis to explain drought-induced mortality in trees, Anna Sala, PNAS 106(26):E68.
Reply to Sala: Temperature sensitivity in drought-induced tree mortality hastens the need to further resolve a physiological model of death, Henry D. Adams, Maite Guardiola-Claramonte, Greg A. Barron-Gafford, Juan Camilo Villegas, David D. Breshears, Chris B. Zou, Peter A. Troch, and Travis E. Huxman, PNAS 106(26):E69.
Biogeochemistry: Climatic plant power, Yves Goddéris and Yannick Donnadieu, Nature 460:40-41.
Levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide constrain vegetation types and thus also non-biological uptake during rock weathering. That's the reasoning used to explain why CO2 levels did not fall below a certain point in the Miocene.
How Sweet It Is: Identification of Vacuolar Sucrose Transporters, Aleel K. Grennan and Jeremy Gragg, Plant Physiol. 2009;150 1109-1110.
A Versatile Zero Background T-Vector System for Gene Cloning and Functional
Genomics, Songbiao Chen, Pattavipha Songkumarn, Jianli Liu, and Guo-Liang Wang
Plant Physiol. 2009;150 1111-1121.
A Visual Reporter System for Virus-Induced Gene Silencing in Tomato Fruit Based on Anthocyanin Accumulation, Diego Orzaez, Aurora Medina, Sara Torre, Josefina Patricia, Fernandez-Moreno, Jose Luis Rambla, Asun Fernandez-del-Carmen, Eugenio Butelli, Cathie Martin, and Antonio Granell, Plant Physiol. 2009;150 1122-1134.
The Role of Annexin 1 in Drought Stress in Arabidopsis, Dorota Konopka-Postupolska, Greg Clark, Grazyna Goch, Janusz Debski, Krzysztof Floras, Araceli Cantero, Bartlomiej Fijolek, Stanley Roux, and Jacek Hennig, Plant Physiol. 2009;150 1394-1410.
Two Alternatively Spliced Isoforms of the Arabidopsis SR45 Protein Have Distinct Roles during Normal Plant Development, Xiao-Ning Zhang and Stephen M. Mount
Plant Physiol. 2009;150 1450-1458.
FRIGIDA Delays Flowering in Arabidopsis via a Cotranscriptional Mechanism Involving Direct Interaction with the Nuclear Cap-Binding Complex, Nuno Geraldo, Isabel Baurle, Shin-ichiro Kidou, Xiangyang Hu, and Caroline Dean, Plant Physiol. 2009;150 1611-1618.
Green Life Through Time, Jonathan P. Wilson, Science 325(5936):36 - 37.
An expansion and update of Taylor and Taylor's classic 1993 book, this lavishly illustrated volume offers a comprehensive survey of fossil plants and fungi.
Sweet Silencing, Jeffrey A. Simon, Science 325(5936):45 - 46.
A sugar molecule plays an unexpected role in controlling gene silencing by modifying repressor proteins.
When Earth greened over, Eric Hand, Nature 460:161.
Explosion of animal life could have been triggered by blanket of vegetation.
Adaptive prediction of environmental changes by microorganisms, Amir Mitchell et al., Nature 460:220-224.
Habitats where environmental change occurs in a reliable order offer microorganisms the opportunity to prepare in advance. Here, in both the bacterium Escherichia coli and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, stimuli that typically appear early in the ecology of the organism are shown to induce genes that are useful for coping with conditions that normally occur later, a process that is also shown to improve fitness.
Plain English: Free service helps scientists get published, Nature 460:295.
Two young researchers have launched a free manuscript-editing service to help scientists from developing countries get papers published in English-language journals. Justin Chakma, a research analyst at the McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health in Toronto, Canada, and Alexander Patananan, a biochemistry doctoral student at the University of California, Los Angeles, set up SciEdit earlier this year as a spin-off of the Journal of Young Investigators, an international student-run, peer-reviewed journal. In choosing which papers to improve, it assesses the merit of the science, not just the use of English. To date, SciEdit has accepted 10 manuscripts from India, South Africa, Pakistan, China and Nepal.
Glycinebetaine-induced water-stress tolerance in codA-expressing transgenic indica rice is associated with up-regulation of several stress responsive genes, Hitesh Kathuria, Jitender Giri, Karaba N. Nataraja, Norio Murata, Makarla Udayakumar, Akhilesh K. Tyagi, Plant Biotechnology 7(6):512 - 526.
The fungal RNA-binding protein Rrm4 mediates long-distance transport of ubi1 and rho3 mRNAs, Julian König, Sebastian Baumann, Janine Koepke, Thomas Pohlmann, Kathi Zarnack and Michael Feldbrügge, EMBO 28:1855 - 1866.
DOE's Push to Train a New Generation Falters in House, Science 325(5937):130 - 131.
Secretary of Energy Steven Chu has proposed a 10-year, $1.7 billion education program called RE-ENERGYSE to help the United States find the talent to fuel its clean-energy economy. But Congress may prefer to wait until next year.
Tofu Was Just a Start, Michael A. Grusak, Science 325(5937):150.
The contributors explore the range of foods made from soybean and the other ways soy products enter our meals, highlighting how important these foods are and how important they may become.
Drug Discovery and Natural Products: End of an Era or an Endless Frontier?, J. W.-H. Li and J. C. Vederas, Science 325(5937):161 - 165.
Ozone suppresses soil drying- and abscisic acid (ABA)-induced stomatal closure via an ethylene-dependent mechanism, SALLY WILKINSON, WILLIAM J. DAVIES, Plant, Cell & Environment 32(8):949 - 959.
Report claims no yield advantage for Bt crops, Cormac Sheridan, Nature Biotechnology 27:588 - 589 (2009).
A controversial report claims that traits introduced to food crops by genetic engineering (GE) have had, at best, a minor impact on yield.
NCBI Peptidome: a new public repository for mass spectrometry peptide identifications, Douglas J Slotta, Tanya Barrett and Ron Edgar, Nature Biotechnology 27:600 - 601.
Biomarker validation by targeted mass spectrometry, Martin McIntosh and Matthew Fitzgibbon, Nature Biotechnology 27:622 - 623.
A multilaboratory study demonstrates the potential for establishing quantitative targeted proteomic assays for moderately to highly abundant plasma proteins.
Fifteen years of microbial genomics: meeting the challenges and fulfilling the dream, Nikos C Kyrpides, Nature Biotechnology 27:627 - 632.
Now that ~1,000 microbial genomes have been sequenced, Nikos Kyrpides reflects on the past decade of microbial genomics and extrapolates forward to propose solutions to meeting challenges in the field.
Climate change: Beyond the CO2 connection, Rainer Zahn, Nature 460:335-336 (16 July 2009).
At times in the past, mobile ocean fronts in the subtropics have exercised an influence on the magnitude of climate change by decoupling temperature from levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Global patterns of speciation and diversity, M. A. M. de Aguiar et al., Nature 460, 384-387 (16 July 2009).
The question of why biological diversity is spread in characteristic patterns is perhaps the biggest problem in ecology. In recent years, the 'neutral theory' of biodiversity has modelled the distribution of species in a very simple way, without reference to species interactions or history. Sexual reproduction, mutation and dispersal are now introduced to the simulation of populations; the resulting predictions correlate well with real data sets.
Beyond the Type Genome: Discovery of Novel Avirulence Genes in the Rice: Blast Fungus by Genomic Resequencing and Genetic Association Studies, Jennifer Mach, Plant Cell 21:1325.
Membrane Rafts and Virus Movement in Plant Cells, Nancy A. Eckardt, Plant Cell 21:1326.
PUCHI and Floral Meristem Identity, Gregory Bertoni, Plant Cell 21:1327.
A Role for Arabidopsis PUCHI in Floral Meristem Identity and Bract Suppression, Md. Rezaul Karim, Atsuko Hirota, Dorota Kwiatkowska, Masao Tasaka, and Mitsuhiro Aida, Plant Cell 21:1360-1372.
Acquisition of flower identity in Arabidopsis is associated with the
switch from an indeterminate to a determinate growth pattern and
suppression of a subtending leaf called a bract. It is shown that the
AP2/EREBP gene PUCHI, together with the NPR1-like signaling genes
BOP1 and BOP2, are required for these processes, possibly
through position-specific activation of the floral regulators LFY
and AP1.
Association Genetics Reveals Three Novel Avirulence Genes from the Rice Blast Fungal Pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, Kentaro Yoshida, Hiromasa Saitoh, et al., Plant Cell 21:1573-1591.
This work uses genome resequencing, large-scale association genetics, and
in vivo functional complementation to identify avirulence proteins
AVR-Pia, AVR-Pii, and AVR-Pik/km/kp from among a large
set of candidate secreted proteins from the major rice pathogen
Magnaporthe oryzae.
Beneficial Biofuels—The Food, Energy, and Environment Trilemma, D. Tilman et al., Science 325(5938):270 - 271.
Exploiting multiple feedstocks, under new policies and accounting rules, to balance biofuel production, food security, and greenhouse-gas reduction.
Neutralizing Toxic RNA, Thomas A. Cooper, Science 325(5938):272.
Oligonucleotides that target aggregates of RNA and protein show potential for treating myotonic dystrophy.
What Drives Climate Flip-Flops? A. Timmermann and L. Menviel, Science 325(5938):273.
A numerical modeling study questions the validity of a key paradigm in rapid climate change studies.
The carbon count, Nature 460:436 (23 July 2009).
Scientists need better Earth-monitoring tools to see whether climate policies are working.
ExxonMobil invests in algae for biofuel, Nature 460:449 (2009).
Oil and gas company ExxonMobil, whose chief executive Rex Tillerson called the idea of ethanol as a biofuel "moonshine" in 2007, last week announced a US$600-million research alliance to develop biofuels from photosynthetic algae.
Read more!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Land-based whale watching
It is whale watching season in east Australia. We are thinking to go to the North Stradbroke Island. But it is so expensive to transport our car to there by ferry, i.e. $135 per car and $11 per person round-trip. Then we are thinking maybe we should take those whale watching tour by boat or do land-based whale watching. It is also expensive to take the boat tour, i.e. $89-115 per person. Sigh! Maybe a land-based one?
We did go to Burleigh Head National Park and Point Danger (Coolangatta/Tweed Heads border) on July 25, 2009. It was quite windy in both places which made me headache. We saw many human-shaped seals surfing on beaches around both places. We did not see any whale but we saw dolphins swimming toward coast reef or feeding around it. It is very clean and neat places.
There is a Point Danger Lighthouse, a memorial landmark for captain Cook, in Point Danger. Hmmm, captain Cook have named so many places in Australia. There is also a sand-pumping structure in Point Danger to avoid coast erosion.
Some informations about Land based whale watching in Australia
Point Danger: Point Danger (Coolangatta/Tweed Heads border) is a pretty good spot to see the whales from land.
Byron Bay: Another good spot for land based whale watching is Byron Bay.
Byron Bay lighthouse is the most easterly point in Australia. If you walk up to the lighthouse there are posters and museum with information about the whales.
The last time I went, they were recording the whale songs and there was a local university research student who was telling us all about what was going on and what we could hear.
It was actually live whalesong being recorded from the whales that were passing. Fascinating stuff.
That day, there was a lot of whale activity and we stayed at Byron Bay just enjoying the atmosphere for hours.
South Stradbroke Island: Although you are not high up on South Stradbroke Island you can be lucky with whales coming in close to shore. The beach is pristine there, so even if you don't see whales you can enjoy the solitude of the beach. You can usually join a whale watching tour from Couran Cove Resort.
North Stradbroke Island: I haven't been there yet but I understand that there can be some good whale watching from the northern tip of North Stradbroke Island. You can self drive to Cleveland and take a ferry across to Dunwich and then drive about 32 kms to the point. North Stradbroke Island has an aptly named resort right at the point: Whale Watch Ocean Beach Resort!
Read more!
We did go to Burleigh Head National Park and Point Danger (Coolangatta/Tweed Heads border) on July 25, 2009. It was quite windy in both places which made me headache. We saw many human-shaped seals surfing on beaches around both places. We did not see any whale but we saw dolphins swimming toward coast reef or feeding around it. It is very clean and neat places.
There is a Point Danger Lighthouse, a memorial landmark for captain Cook, in Point Danger. Hmmm, captain Cook have named so many places in Australia. There is also a sand-pumping structure in Point Danger to avoid coast erosion.
Some informations about Land based whale watching in Australia
Point Danger: Point Danger (Coolangatta/Tweed Heads border) is a pretty good spot to see the whales from land.
Byron Bay: Another good spot for land based whale watching is Byron Bay.
Byron Bay lighthouse is the most easterly point in Australia. If you walk up to the lighthouse there are posters and museum with information about the whales.
The last time I went, they were recording the whale songs and there was a local university research student who was telling us all about what was going on and what we could hear.
It was actually live whalesong being recorded from the whales that were passing. Fascinating stuff.
That day, there was a lot of whale activity and we stayed at Byron Bay just enjoying the atmosphere for hours.
South Stradbroke Island: Although you are not high up on South Stradbroke Island you can be lucky with whales coming in close to shore. The beach is pristine there, so even if you don't see whales you can enjoy the solitude of the beach. You can usually join a whale watching tour from Couran Cove Resort.
North Stradbroke Island: I haven't been there yet but I understand that there can be some good whale watching from the northern tip of North Stradbroke Island. You can self drive to Cleveland and take a ferry across to Dunwich and then drive about 32 kms to the point. North Stradbroke Island has an aptly named resort right at the point: Whale Watch Ocean Beach Resort!
Read more!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Metagenomics
I found this "metagenomics" is quite attractive. I am thinking to study this field for what it can do to understand our environment and solve environmental problem. I feel bad that I didn't know this field until July 7, 2009.
Metagenomics and Our Microbial Planet by National Academics
Metagenomics (also Environmental Genomics, Ecogenomics or Community Genomics) is the study of genetic material recovered directly from environmental samples. Traditional microbiology and microbial genome sequencing rely upon cultivated clonal cultures. This relatively new field of genetic research enables studies of organisms that are not easily cultured in a laboratory as well as studies of organisms in their natural environment.
Search result by google Scholar
Total: 7360
1997-present: 6090
2000-present: 6060
2001-present: 6050
2002-present: 6010
2003-present: 5940
2004-present: 5800
2005-present: 5540
2006-present: 4900
2007-present: 4150
2008-present: 2830
2009-present: 1090
Read more!
Metagenomics and Our Microbial Planet by National Academics
Metagenomics (also Environmental Genomics, Ecogenomics or Community Genomics) is the study of genetic material recovered directly from environmental samples. Traditional microbiology and microbial genome sequencing rely upon cultivated clonal cultures. This relatively new field of genetic research enables studies of organisms that are not easily cultured in a laboratory as well as studies of organisms in their natural environment.
Search result by google Scholar
Total: 7360
1997-present: 6090
2000-present: 6060
2001-present: 6050
2002-present: 6010
2003-present: 5940
2004-present: 5800
2005-present: 5540
2006-present: 4900
2007-present: 4150
2008-present: 2830
2009-present: 1090
Read more!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)