Saturday, July 31, 2010

Firms here learn how to go ‘green’

MYPAPER, FRIDAY JULY 30, 2010, HOME, PAGE A4
From
http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ebook/web_php/fvbrowserjs.php?urljs=http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ecreator/sphopf/mya300710cnd_opf_files/mya300710cnd.js&ver=Gen
Website:
http://business.asiaone.com/Business/News/Story/A1Story20100730-229538.html
By
CHRISTINA NG, ncherhui@sph.com.sg



PHOTO: http://dyconconsulting.net/SMARTGREEN08/Images/ist1_5130513_green_business.jpg
http://business.asiaone.com/Business/News/Story/A1Story20100730-229538.html



PHOTO: Scotch-Brite comes out with green cleaning products
http://www.greenoptions.com/forum/thread/1286/scotch-brite-comes-out-with-green-cleaning-products
http://cdn.greenoptions.com/7/78/78768843_scotch-brite-greener-clean.jpg


"After a recent workshop, we started to look actively for opportunities to manage energy through heat-recovery systems within our plants. MR KERH CHWEE PENG, 3M SINGAPORE PLANT ENGINEERING MANAGER, ON THE EENP SCHEME." MYPAPER, FRIDAY JULY 30, 2010, HOME, PAGE A4



PHOTO: http://dyconconsulting.net/SMARTGREEN08/Images/Earth%20Recycle%20White%20copy.jpg
http://business.asiaone.com/Business/News/Story/A1Story20100730-229538.html


Since April, 77 companies here have signed up to improve energy efficiency and implement energy-management practices, an encouraging start, according to the National Environment Agency (NEA).

These firms are participants of the agency’s Energy Efficiency National Partnership (EENP) scheme, which organised workshops and seminars to help the companies understand how they can improve in areas such as industrial-energy efficiency, wasteheat recovery and energy-efficiency financing.

Technology firm 3M Singapore is one company that has benefited from these workshops. Its plant engineering manager, Mr Kerh Chwee Peng, told my paper: “After a recent workshop, we started to look actively for opportunities to manage energy through heat-recovery systems within our plants.


PHOTO: http://dyconconsulting.net/SMARTGREEN08/Images/greenhomeblue.jpg
http://business.asiaone.com/Business/News/Story/A1Story20100730-229538.html


For example, we are now exploring ways to recycle the heat produced by refrigerators in our kitchens. “In addition, we were introduced to vendors and consultants through the workshop, and this will be a great help in our sourcing efforts in this area.

Indeed, the EENP scheme will prove increasingly relevant to local firms in the near future.

At the two-day National Sustainability Conference, which began at Amara Hotel yesterday, Dr Amy Khor, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment and Water Resources, said that schemes such as the EENP will help firms make a smooth transition from wasting energy unwittingly, to the adoption of practices with more rigorous future demands.

She added that her ministry is preparing to introduce an Energy Conservation Act that will come into force in 2013. Under the Act, large energy users, especially those which consume more than 15 gigawatts yearly, will be required to appoint an energy manager, monitor and report their energy use to NEA, and develop and submit their energy-efficiency improvement plans annually.



PHOTO: ttp://www.treehugger.com/zeroimpct.jpg
http://www.treehugger.com/2008/05/25-week/

The EENP is also in line with the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint introduced in April last year, which aims to improve energy efficiency by 35 per cent, from levels seen in 2005. “We want to do more with less,” said Dr Khor.

For pharmaceutical and health-care company Glaxo-SmithKline (GSK) Singapore, the EENP scheme has helped it to go further down the path of energy conservation. “The EENP is aligned to our company’s belief in energy conservation,” said a spokesman for GSK.

The firm has set up an energy-monitoring system that helps it to identify areas in its office building and various processing areas that use a lot of energy. The company will then work out ways to reduce energy consumption in those areas.

Besides the EENP, the NEA also has in place initiatives like the Energy Efficiency Improvement Assistance Scheme, the Grant for Energy Efficient Technologies and the Singapore Certified Energy Manager training grant, to develop Singapore’s sustainability.

Yesterday’s conference, which attracted 130 participants, discussed various sustainable strategies for Singapore and the Asia-Pacific region.
By CHRISTINA NG, ncherhui@sph.com.sg



PHOTO: http://www.treehugger.com/GreenIsSexy.jpg
http://www.treehugger.com/2008/05/25-week/



HELPDESK
我的字典: Wǒ de zì diǎn

Implement: 实施 shí shī
Consultants: 顾问 gù wèn
Appoint: 委任 wěi rèn
Sustainability: 可持续性 kě chí xù xìng



Reference

Luring the ladies

weekend today July 31 - august 1, 2010, column, Page T3, the fairer text
From
http://imcms2.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/documents/006/PDF/20100731/3107COW003.pdf
By
Georgina Chang, georginac@mediacorp.com.sg



PHOTO: We women ... need more than just a guy in super tight shorts to catch our eyes. Really.
weekend today July 31 - august 1, 2010, column, Page T3, the fairer text




PHOTO: Georgina Chang, georginac@mediacorp.com.sg
weekend today July 31 - august 1, 2010, column, Page T3, the fairer text


Classic lessons in what makes a chick magnet
I’VE noticed that no matter how riveting the conversation is, how heated the discussion becomes, or how near death the moment gets, as soon as a lady walks past wearing a low-cut dress that’s super short, every man’s attention will automatically be diverted to her.



PHOTO: Low-cut dress
http://pic.big5.dbw.cn/0/01/54/15/1541559_094622.jpg
http://house.big5.dbw.cn/system/2008/01/17/051118904_02.shtml


When questioned, my male friends will break into guffaws, but they have never denied doing this.

The boyfriends, on the other hand, will indignantly claim that they were just looking at a stray cat running past.

We women, meanwhile, are such spiritual, philosophical and intellectual creatures that we need more than just a guy in super tight shorts to catch our eyes. Really.

We’re emotional creatures so tug at our heartstrings instead with these classic Chick Magnets. Like the guy who brings out an adorable baby dressed in pink ribbons and a pretty dress. He’ll definitely have flocks of women coming up to tell him how darling the baby is, asking if they can carry her.

The smart guy will oblige, obviously to suss out how nurturing her bosom is, among other things, to determine if he wants to make babies with her, too. If he is good with the baby, it shows that he has fatherly nesting instincts, very sexy, so we could be persuaded.

However, if none of your selfish friends will let you borrow their baby to hook women (because if it’s your baby, you have no business trying to hook women), the guy who takes his cute, fluffy, white puppy with the big eyes, oversized ears and floppy tail out for a walk will be guaranteed to entice women of all shapes and sizes to coo over Fido, and we’ll definitely ask if we can stroke his puppy. I don’t believe any straight guy will ever say no to a request like that.

No baby? No pets? Well, there’s always the sexy two-seater car. We don’t really care what make it is. We just care that it implies that we could be making many trips and outings together, just the two of us while everyone else looks wistfully on.

A man in a really good Italian suit also never fails to capture our attention. We feel a flutter in our hearts when we see a man carrying himself with poise and elegance. It goes beyond him just being easy on the eye (women are not so superficial, I keep telling you). It signals to us that this man has a sharp fashion sense, so he’ll never embarrass us with ugly shirts when we go out in public. He’ll make other women envy us and hate our guts for having such a handsome boyfriend.

Speaking of which, a handsome hot guy friend is a definite babe magnet. That is, as long as you accept that those women who mill around may not even notice you, and that you might have to settle for leftovers.

When we see a flash of a nice bicep (that happens very occasionally in Singapore, alas!) we also gaze a bit longer. I’m not talking about those massive bulging chunks that look like he’s got sprinter’s thighs for arms and he’s about to topple over. No, we like a reasonably well-formed bicep that’s hunky enough to sweep us off our feet, up the stairs and onto the bed without toppling over. (Any form of toppling over is a sign of weakness.)

Now, scrawny fellas, don’t lose heart. Some women feel a mental connection when they see a guy holding/reading/quoting a book that made an impact on them. That’s what my friends tell me. I don’t really read, so I don’t know what the fuss is all about. But if a guy is clutching the DVD of a meaningful movie, he’ll get my attention. The Waterboy never fails to pique my interest.

I threw the question of what else would capture a woman’s attention to a group of friends. One said: “A string of credit cards!” Another cooed: “Ooh, a Harley Davidson!” A third cried out: “Shoes and a belt that match!

This being Singapore, invariably one of the guys wryly remarked: “Here’s another babe magnet, he just has to be ang moh.”

Amid the peals of laughter, I noticed that none of the women disagreed.

So, while some of my dear Singaporean brothers are indignantly snorting at that last suggestion, can the rest of you guys please share with me ... Apart from a super low-cut and super short dress that I can never squeeze into), what would be a Dude Magnet?
By Georgina Chang, georginac@mediacorp.com.sg

The writer is the senior creative director of 987FM and Lush 99.5.


Reference

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Pencil Hardness Test - Wolff-Wilborn Pencil Tester

Website: http://www.sheeninstruments.com/products/hardness/wolff-wilborn.htm
Test procedure and datasheet:
http://www.sheeninstruments.com/datasheets/wol.pdf


PHOTO: Wolff-Wilborn Pencil Tester Sheen 720N
http://www.elektrophysikusa.com/images/content/pencil_hardness.jpg

The purpose of scratch hardness tests is to determine the resistance of coating materials or lacquers to scratch effects on the surface.



PHOTO: http://www.byk.com/instruments/products/images/products/146/HR9500a.tif.jpg



PHOTO: Twenty pencils in the range of grades from 9B to 9H ( ISO 15184 / BS 3900 - E19 )
http://pad2.whstatic.com/images/3/30/Pencil_hardness_452.jpg


In the Wolff-Wilborn Test, twenty pencils in the range of grades from 9B to 9H ( ISO 15184 / BS 3900 - E19 ) are used, each being moved over the surface under a fixed pressure and angle to the surface. The degree of hardness of the pencil which damages the surface is taken as a measurement of scratch hardness e.g. '3H' hardness.


PHOTO: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9UQ7q9Cj_BqN4GZoV4__hGXyfZ0ka02efJeckRuuRVZyjZl328_PZ5s9nhywOR7pQNuu6EIeJmeAO5B4G3gn5rW1gX_mo8SKF3MrBh_prE1rBMrCXYq4if4_2yuDLBYxZvSWKk7VLxE/s1600/PencilGradingChart.png


Complies with ASTM D3363, ECCA-T4-1, BS 3900-E19, ISO 15184.



INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
The test methods describe how the relative hardness of a coating is to be determined. This is achieved using a set of pencils of known hardness.

The test surface needs to be correctly prepared and smooth. (Please refer to the relevant test standard.) The test should be performed at 23°C ± 2°C with a relative humidity of 50 ± 5% (ECCA T4) or 25°C ± 2°C (ASTM D3363).

1. Select a mid range pencil eg. 2H.

2. For wood pencils, remove approximately 3/16 to 1/4 in. (5 to 6 mm) of wood from the point of each pencil using a draftsman-type mechanical sharpener, being careful to leave an undisturbed, unmarked, smooth cylinder of lead. Holding the pencil holder ( when using drawing leads) at an angle of 90° to the abrasive paper, rub the lead against the paper maintaining an exact angle of 90° to the abrasive paper until a flat, smooth and circular cross section is obtained, free of chips or nicks in the edge of the cross section.



PHOTO: Step 3
http://www.gardco.com/images/hardness/wolffwilbornGARDCO/calibraation_red.jpg

3. Stand the tester onto its end face and insert the pencil until its point touches the flat surface. Tighten the pencil clamping screw.

4. Place the 720N on the test surface and push it forward by approximately 1/4 -1/2" (6-12mm). Be sure to hold the gauge by the indentations on the wheels.

5. Rotate the pencil through 90° and move the gauge 1/2" (12mm} to one side of the first test. Repeat step 4.

6. Repeat step 5.

7. Examine the coating for indentation and scratching. If there is none, repeat the test using a harder pencil eg. 3H. If the surface is scratched or indented repeat with softer pencil eg. H.

8. Repeat step 7 until a pair of pencils is found, one of which scratches / indents the coating, the other does not.


PLEASE NOTE: This method is only applicable to smooth surfaces and coatings.




Reference

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Youth Olympic Village ready to roll

MY PAPER WEDNESDAY JULY 28, 2010, PAGE A18, SPORTS
From
http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ebook/web_php/fvbrowserjs.php?urljs=http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ecreator/sphopf/mya280710cnd_opf_files/mya280710cnd.js&ver=Gen
Texts:
CHIA HAN KEONG, hankeong@sph.com.sg
Photos:
JAMIE KOH




In fewer than two months, the National Institute of Education campus at the Nanyang Technological University has been transformed from a place of higher learning into the Youth Olympic Village (YOV).

Replete with plenty of amenities and state-of-the-art training facilities, the YOV will also host cultural and education activities, for over 5,000 athletes and officials during the Youth Olympic Games, which run from Aug 14-26.

Although the village has to be fenced for security reasons, those staying there can enjoy cultural programmes, visit an informative Olympic gallery, and have the chance to chat with Olympic champions, such as pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva.

The YOV kitchen is specially fitted to cater 300,000 meals and has a 10-day rotation of menus, so athletes can enjoy a wide variety of food and even sample some Singapore fare at the Singapore cuisine food station.
By CHIA HAN KEONG, hankeong@sph.com.sg



HOUSING THE OVER 5,000 YOG PARTICIPANTS
Not only will the Youth Olympic Games athletes and officials stay in the comfort of rooms at Nanyang Technological University's Halls of Residence, but they will also enjoy cultural and educational activities held at the Village Square area throughout their stay in Singapore.






VILLAGE SQUARE
  • Event Information Centre

  • Culture and Education Programme Plaza (above) – World Culture Village booths, evening festivals, Olympic gallery, art installations, health zone, career corridor, chat with Olympic champions.
  • Main dining hall
  • YOG transport mall for ferry services to competition venues
  • Retail outlets (e.g. banks, merchandise store, haircut outlet)


  • Gymnasium (above)



RESIDENTIAL ZONE


  • Dormitories to house over 5,000 athletes and officials



  • Medical clinic
  • TV rooms, wireless Internet hot-spot access, laundry services, prayer rooms
  • Chefs de mission meeting hall
  • Training facilities for basketball, handball, fencing, hockey and boxing
  • Internal shuttle services to Village Square or training facilities


OTHER YOG AREAS IN NTU
  • Welcome Centre at NTU main auditorium for accreditation and administration in the village.
  • Training facilities at NTU Sports and Recreation Centre for taekwon-do, judo, tennis, swimming, basketball, modern pentathlon, weightlifting and athletics.




HELPDESK
我的字典: Wǒ de zì diǎn

Campus: 校园 xiào yuán
Replete: 供应充分的 gōng yìng chōng fèn de
Informative: 增长见闻的 zēng zhǎng jiàn wén de
Cater: 承办 chéng bàn



Reference

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Huiji Herbalmint Cough Syrup

我报 星期五 2010723日, 赞助广告, B13
MY PAPER FRIDAY 23, JULY 2009, ADVERTISEMENT, PAGE B13

From http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ebook/web_php/fvbrowserjs.php?urljs=http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ecreator/sphopf/myb230710cnd_opf_files/myb230710cnd.js&ver=Gen


PHOTO: 百草仙化痰止咳露 (Herbalmint cough syrup)
我报 星期五 2010723日, 赞助广告, B13
MY PAPER FRIDAY 23, JULY 2009, ADVERTISEMENT, PAGE B13


近来天气炎热,忽晴忽 雨,很容易感冒、咳嗽。这时,百草仙化痰止咳露(Herbalmint cough syrup)可帮你改善喉咙的不适。
The recent scorching hot weather, one moment clear and raining the next, is very easy to have cold and cough. During this period, Herbalmint cough syrup can be a remedy for the throat discomfort.


百草仙化痰止咳露是由100%天然的草药研制而成,不含酒精,含糖成分低,喝了马上让喉咙冰冰凉凉,而且效果持久,服用后不会感觉昏昏欲睡。因此,百草仙化痰止咳露自推出市场以来,广受消费者的欢迎。
Herbalmint cough syrup is 100% developed from natural herbal medicine, non-alcoholic, low sugar ingredients, when drink is quickly ice cool to the throat, and is long lasting. No drowsiness after taking. Thus, since its release to the market, it has been well received by the consumers.



PHOTO: 甘草 gān cǎo (Glycyrrhiza uralensis, licorice root)
我报 星期五 2010723日, 赞助广告, B13
MY PAPER FRIDAY 23, JULY 2009, ADVERTISEMENT, PAGE B13



对于咳嗽、喉咙干痒、痰多等症状,传统中药材提供理想的治疗方法。从成分来看,百草仙化痰止咳露是采用不少草药,比如生半夏、紫菀、麻黄、枇杷叶、桔梗、远志,甘草、陈皮、薄荷油等。
For cough, dry itchy throat, phlegm and other related symptoms, traditional Chinese medicine provides an ideal treatment. From the composition, it is evident that Herbalmint cough syrup used a lot of herbs, such as the following healthly ingredient, aster tataricus, ephedra, loquat leaf, platycodon grandiflorum, polygala, licorice, dried tangerine peel, peppermint oil, etc..



PHOTO: 枇杷叶 pí pá yè (Loquat leave)
我报 星期五 2010723日, 赞助广告, B13
MY PAPER FRIDAY 23, JULY 2009, ADVERTISEMENT, PAGE B13


其中如桔梗常用于咽喉、失声;枇杷叶有助于清肺和胃,降气化痰;甘草可润肺清热,舒缓咳嗽……种种药材采用现代科学方式结合起来,入口有天然草药的冰凉香味,并且顺喉,适合男女老少服用,对于久咳与喉咙不适尤其有益。
Among the commonly used is the platycodon grandiflorus (the root of balloon flower) for the throat when lost of voice; Loquat leave helps to clear the lung and phlegm, lower gaseous phlegm; licorice root is able to provide relief to "hot" lung and cough. Many modern scientific methods combined to prepare the natural herbs. When taken will give cooling effect with fragrant scent. The syrup is suitable for all ages, genders and especially beneficial for those with chronic cough and throat discomforts.


百草仙化痰止咳露有两种包装,100毫升装每瓶$4.90,200毫升$7.90,在职总平价超市、昇菘超市、Unity、奥奇、指定的Guardian、Watsons和各大药材店售卖。
Herbalmint Cough Syrup is available in both 100ml and 200ml bottles for $4.90 and $7.90 respectively. It is available at resonably price supermarket, Sheng Siong, unity, OG, Guardian, Watson and other selected retail shops.


询问电话: 6748 2911
For enquiry call 6748 2911



有什么好处?
What are the Benefits?


  • 使用上等中药材制成。
  • The finest chinese herbal medicines are used to manufacture the syrup
  • 化痰止咳,舒缓喉咙不适。
  • Relieve and remedy throat irritation
  • 味道清香,效果持久。
  • Flavor fragrance scent with long and lasting effect
  • 服用后不会昏昏欲睡
  • No drowsiness or sleepy after consumption



天然草药小百科
Natural medical herbs and plants ingredient


小小一瓶百草仙化痰止咳露,含有多种天然草药:
A small bottle of Herbalmint cough syrup contains a great variety of natural herbs:

桔梗:常用于咽喉、失声。
Platycodon grandiflorus, balloon flower root: long period of consumption helps throat irritations and lost of voice.

枇杷叶:有清肺和胃,降气化痰的功效,针对肺热痰嗽。
Loquat Leaf: Clear the lung and stomach wind, reduce gassy phlegm, targets heaty cough.

甘草:缓解咳嗽,祛痰。
Glycyrrhiza uralensis, licorice root: relieve and alleviate cough and expectorant.
(Expectorant: A medication that helps bring up mucus and other material from the lungs, bronchi, and trachea. An example of as expectorant is guaifenesin which promotes drainage of mucus from the lungs by thinning the mucus and also lubricates the irritated respiratory tract. Sometimes the term "expectorant" is incorrectly extended to any cough medicine. From the Latin expectorare, to expel from the chest. From MedicineNet.com)
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=24354



听他们怎么说……
What other says .......


我有一次患上咳嗽,咳了很长时间,喉咙也变得很干,经过友人的介绍,服用了百草仙化痰止咳露后,就好多了。此外,百草仙带有薄荷味,不像其他咳嗽露那么难喝,味道清香。
张女士,60多岁
I once suffered from cough for a long time and the throat became very dry. Friends recommended taking Herbalmint which contains hundreds of herbs, and the cough becomes better. In addition, the herbs has a mint flavor and fragrant scent, unlike others which are difficult to take.
Ms Zhang, 60 years old

百草仙使我痒痒的喉咙马上感觉冰凉,非常舒服,对咳嗽与喉咙有很好的舒缓作用,而且效果久。
叶玲玲,25岁
Herbalmint makes my itchy throat feel instantly cool, very comfortable. Relieve the cough, soothe the throat, has good and long lasting effect.
yè líng líng, 25 years old


Translated by: Using nciku (www.nciku.com), an online dictionary with English and Chinese language (with Pinyin)



HELPDESK
我的字典: Wǒ de zì diǎn

改善 gǎi shàn: To improve
昏昏欲睡 hūn hūn yù shuì: Drowsy
症状 zhèng zhuàng: Symptom
尤其 yóu qí: Especially; particularly



Source:
http://www.huayfenghang.com.sg/english/p4.html
http://www.huiji.com.sg/english/p4.html



PHOTO: From Website:
http://www.huayfenghang.com.sg/english/p4.html
http://www.huiji.com.sg/english/p4.html

Ingredients
Herbalmint Cough Syrup is made using modernized scientific methods and precious natural medicinal herbs like Rhizoma Pinelliae, Herba Ephedrae, Radix Asteris, Radix Platycodi, Folium Eriobotryae, Radix Polygalae, Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, Radix Glycyrrhizae, Oleum Menthae, which helps soothes the throat, tastes good and is fragrant. Its effects are rapid, refined purely from natural medicinal herbs and plants. Its properties are mild with no side effects and no known contraindications.

Benefits
If your throat feels itchy and parched, Herbalmint Cough Syrup can quickly help it feel soothed. Moreover, since it has no alcohol, you will not feel dizzy or sleepy after consumption. 100% all natural and halal, the product helps to soothe the throat and has low sugar content. Since the launch of Herbalmint Cough Syrup, it has been very well accepted in the market place and its efficacy is especially apparent.

Packaging
Herbalmint Cough Syrup is available in both 100ml and 200ml bottles.

Where to Purchase
This product can be purchased from the following retailers: Bee Brand, cold storage, Giant, Guardian Pharmacy (Selected), NTUC (Selected), OG, Prime, Sheng Siong, Shop N Save (Selected), Unity, ZTP.

Huiji Herbalmint Cough Syrup is selling at $7.90.

Huiji Herbalmint Cough Syrup (100ml) is only available at Unity and Guardian and currently retails for $4.90.


PHOTO: 百草仙化痰止咳露 (Herbalmint cough syrup)
我报 星期五 2010723日, 赞助广告, B13
MY PAPER FRIDAY 23, JULY 2009, ADVERTISEMENT, PAGE B13



Reference