An Eco Mosquito Trap

By today's definition, this is not a high-tech thing. But the process they found a way to capture thousands of mosquitoes is purely scientific! I believe our education needs more teachers and students like this. If someone really wants it, I will translate it into English.

http://share.youthwant.com.tw/sh.php?do=D&id=62005009

環保捕蚊罐

一個在網路流傳的小秘方，激發了小學生實驗靈感，經過不斷嘗試，成為真正的環保新聞、網站)良方！台北市永安國小師生從網路偏方得到靈感，利用資源回收(網 站)的寶特瓶，以及不到2.5元的成本，製造出「環保捕蚊罐」，放在地下室，一罐最多竟可抓到超過1427隻蚊子，連環保專家都驚歎不已。

「環保捕蚊罐」的環保之處，不只在利用資源回收的廢寶特瓶，更因這種捕蚊法不需使用化學的殺蚊劑，無毒又安全。學生估計，只要有五分之一的人改用這種環保捕蚊法，每年全球就可省下10億元新台幣的購買殺蟲劑費用。

其實很多人都曾收到過這則網路偏方的電子郵件，指出只要在室內放一小盆水，再加點洗衣粉，蚊子就會全部溺死在盆中。永安國小學生郭家安的媽媽也看到了這則郵件，並付諸實施，雖然效果不佳，但卻激發郭家安動手研究，並在老師徐佳璋指導下，找出真正有效的捕蚊良方。

徐佳璋表示，剛看到這則網路偏方時，就懷疑是什麼東西誘使蚊子前來？是洗衣粉的成分還是香味？結果按網路傳聞操作，三天只抓到11隻蚊子，把洗衣粉濃度調高後，三天只抓到一隻蚊子，效果並不好。

因 此，師生動手實驗，希望找出更有效的誘蚊法。蚊子會被高溫吸引嗎？試試看暖暖包。蚊子會對不同顏色有反應嗎？試著用不同顏色寶特瓶來誘蚊。捕蚊罐放置的高 度是否有差異？把捕蚊罐吊高到蚊子飛行高度試試看。學生還試過用蜂蜜、蘆薈、黏鼠板膠來誘蚊或黏蚊。最後發現，蚊子會受到二氧化碳及黑色吸引，即利用發酵 糖水會釋出二氧化碳的原理來製造捕蚊罐。

徐佳璋表示，「環保捕蚊罐」研發成功後，曾創下單罐一周內在地下室停車場捕獲1427隻蚊子的紀錄；另一次測試放置九罐捕蚊罐，更共抓到超過五千隻蚊子。徐家安回憶整個實驗過程，最「苦」的就是撈出一坨坨的蚊子屍體，計算到底有幾隻。

而這項成果不但讓永安國小這群師生獲得全國科展特優，並在環保署舉辦的2005年全國環保創意競賽中得到佳作殊榮。有人質疑蚊子會不會再度飛出？糖水罐反而成了「養蚊罐」？徐佳璋指出，只要上下半部的寶特瓶密合，蚊子絕對「只進不出」

Snow Storm?

Below is the weather forecast I just copy-n-pasted from weather website. CSAIL has warmed snow storm for tomorrow. So, it is likely no one will be here tomorrow!

Eventually, it looks up we will have enough snow for a snowman!

Friday

Partly cloudy with a chance of snow in the morning... then snow in the afternoon. Snow may be heavy at times in the afternoon. Snow accumulation of 4 to 6 inches. Highs in the lower 30s. North winds 5 to 10 mph...becoming northeast 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph in the afternoon. Chance of snow near 100 percent.

Friday Night

Snow. Snow may be heavy at times in the evening. Additional snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches. Cooler with lows around 14. Northeast winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. Chance of snow near 100 percent.

Courage in New York

A few days ago, I visited JFK Presidentail Museum. I knew JFK is a very attractive person before that, which is pretty shallow. Now I probably know more about why he is so attractive. I think he tried to be a courageous person as the eight senators in his book "Profiles in Courge".

I haven't have a chance to read that book. But I believe I just saw another example of courage: The budget proposal by New York State governor: David Paterson. There is an editorial on New York Times. 

To minimize the gap between budget and expense. He is willing to conflict with many interesting groups. For example, he is going to add obesity tax on non-diet soft drinks which definitely will have trouble with soft drink companies. He plans to charge one-time tax to New Yorkers who make more than 500,000 dollars a year.

I believe we need some one who is brave to take away pies from interests groups. And create a fair world. For example, public servants typically receives more bonus than those employed by private company. But they are never considered efficient comparing to most of us.

This exmaple is only a corner of an iceberg. We definitely need some people willing to change. If courage is in place, a future would be not far away.

New Way of Cost Down

For those that know my company, they typically recognize it as a seriously cost-cutting firm. We cost-cut virtually anything. However, here comes the new way to do the cost cutting:

Use a New Font Face on Printers

A Dutch company has added holes to Font Face so it would save up to 20% of printer inks.

This is a good news to every one. Also those that waste ink and paper: they can use 25% more ink than they used before without increasing cost. The catch is they still have to pay 25% more for papers they used.

Writing a Trojan Horse Email?


I get some scam mails daily. But this one is interesting for me because it is so content independent but non-real. I guess there might be some viruses or Trojans in it. But the content of this mail is funny:

Good morning

We have already made ready the contract and we also joined some points you’d asked to add to it.
The lawyers change some points on the last page. Read the contract, please, and if there are no objections from your part we can pay for the first batch on Friday.
You can find the contract in the attached ZIP Archive.

We also ready to send it by fax if you need
Kind regards