From Yahoo!Movie. It's a must-see movie, particularly for those who have faith in Jesus that never think He has decensdants. And those who want a visualization of what have been read.
Teaser Trailer
Theatrical Trailer
The Da Vinci Code (movie trailer)
Windows Reinstalled Instead
Dell is well-known for the quality of its phone support and one of its technical suggestion was to convince me to replace the hard drive due to my laptop failure.
Yesterday, I just believed the suggestion from the accent guy who I didn't even know his name and then called the sales service for a quote. But, I also tried to get second opinions from my IT friends. And right, they gave me a better suggestion. "Back up the files and reinstall the windows."I think my friends are more qualified than the "accent" phone guy.
In other words, while Dell asked me to find a new wife (which is quite expensive), my friends advised me to keep the old one by conducting a kind of purification ritual.
Yes, I can say that I have purified my hard drive by reinstalling the windows. My hard drive has been set back to its virginity and last night was our first night. Quite many things to do afterwards like installing all the drivers and applications, and the other softwares as well.
Hey, what have I forgotten here? The wireless network adapter I think, I'm not sure. I'll stop by Starbucks this afternoon to test it.
My Dell is down
At the moment, my Dell Inspiron is down. I'm back with my old ThinkPad.
STOP: 0x000000ED (0x8236A590, 0xC000009c, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)
error code: 1000-0146
It means I have to call Dell for hard drive replacement . Yeah... I know. Damn...
Update:
The Windows XP and other softwares have been reinstalled.
The harddrive actually has to be replaced.
Bond Duration and Convexity - the Closed Form Formula
In Feb 06 I submitted some short of article in Wikipedia about closed form formulas for bond duration and convexity. Below is the clone and hopefully it can be useful for those who may use the formulas for bond analysis modelling in Excel spreadsheets.
As far as I know, these have never been published on the web like this as I experienced some problem in finding them when doing some bond pricing project.
Closed-form formula:
A single arithmetic formula obtained to simplify an infinite sum in a general formula. The general formula of bond duration and bond convexity cannot be said closed-form as there is an infinite sum over the different time periods. Using a closed-form formula, a bond’s duration or convexity can be calculated at any point in its life time.
Bond duration closed-form formula (Richard Klotz):
C = coupon payment per period (half-year)
P = present value (price)
i = discount rate per period (half-year)
a = fraction of a period remaining until next coupon payment
m = number of coupon dates until maturity
Bond convexity closed-form formula (Blake and Orszag):
D = coupon payment per period
P = present value (price)
B = face value
i = discount rate per period (half-year)
a = fraction of a period remaining until next coupon payment
m = number of coupon dates until maturity
Download the sample Excel spreadsheet >>>
password protected, email anymatters@gmail.com for permission
Family Assistance Calculator
Try this NZ Family Assistance Calculator (from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007) to work out how much you entitle to receive payment from IRD (Inland Revenue).
You would find a surprising result if your work time meets the required hours (above 20 hours single and 30 hours couples). In some case, you would receive something like the hypothetical examples below.
If "No", it means that your family works 29 hours @$20 for 52 weeks:
If "Yes", it means that your family works 30 hours @$20 for 52 weeks:
Can you see the difference? Yes, with 1 hour difference @$20 for 52 weeks ($1,040), the difference of weekly payment is $60 per week or $3,120 per year.
Why don't add one more hour then?
V8 Supercar Championship in Hamilton NZ
After turning down by Auckland and Wellington, V8 Supercar Championship finally has been secured to be held in Hamilton starting from 2008.
My old posting (May 2005) in the community blog has been answered... At least, apparently it seems like that...
Ok, now for Indonesian community in Hamilton, are you guys ready to sell or show something on the roadside for fund raising? Selling satay for example, or wearing some kind of traditional customes in the middle of the crowd?
Hamilton secures rights to V8 Supercar Championship Series round
Release Date: 16/02/2006
Hamilton has secured the rights to New Zealand’s only round of the V8 Supercar Championship with a proposed street race starting from 2008. Hamilton mayor Michael Redman says the city has been working for nearly a year to position Hamilton as the exclusive New Zealand host city for the international event in an arena of fierce national and international competition.
V8 Supercars Australia agreed for a further two-year extension for the PlaceMakers V8 Supercars at Pukekohe Park Raceway this year and finally in 2007, with a preference for a street race for a further seven years from 2008.
Mr Redman says Hamilton’s major advantages in being able to secure the race include:(link)
- An ideal geographic location with New Zealand’s largest population catchment within two hours by road
- Hamilton’s high youth population
- A comfortable fit for the region with a strong Ford/Holden customer base
- A superb street circuit for drivers, corporates and spectators
- A positive and practical attitude of the Hamilton City Council organisation and the political cohesion of elected members
- A realistic opportunity to secure the necessary resource consent with the proposed course.
Bitty Browser - a small browser in a webpage
(via Scobliezer)
Bitty Browser can create a browser inside your webpage as you can see in Anymatters Links under Blogs and News Feeds, which is actually my Bloglines public feeds.
To test it, just click the links, try a search, or click "back" and "forward". It is a browser indeed, though without an address bar.
Google Measure Map
(via shellen.com/on the side)
From GoogleBlog:
It was this feeling that led to the idea of Measure Map. Our goal has been to use the power of web analytics to help bloggers feel that same sense of connection with their audience. Today, as the Measure Map team joins Google, our mission remains the same: to build the best possible user experience so people can understand and appreciate the effect their blogs - their words and ideas - can have.Adaptive Path has sold Measure Map to Google.
I'm not sure if this service would be relevant to me, however I'm so keen on knowing anymatters' traffic.
British Troops Beating Up Iriaqi Teens (The Video)
Source from News of The World:
[RealPlayer plugin is not supported in Firefox/Netscape, follow this link to watch the clip.]
So, what do you think after watching this clip?
I think this may relate to the psychological problem showing the typical human hunger for power to torture others who in fact have less power.
Can you see that such big guys beating up smaller teens? They may also beat up their kids at home.
Has No Brain
Your computer has no brain but sure you have one. So use your brain. Using your computer as external memory may threat your memory.
This means two matters below:
Firstly, we certainly need to use our brains in order to operate computers particularly in using softwares.
- We don't just rely on some clicking functions or shortcuts without knowing what they use for or whether they are necessary.
- Logics and English are basically needed. Most computer softwares employ English and logical patterns, as long as we know what we are doing, we would never lost.
- We sometimes apply a trial and error method rather than reading the help content and manual.
- Even on memorising just a few characters of a password.
- Even doing a simple maths calculation with spreadsheets.
- Some people never know the right spelling of some words.
- As most computer users using the internet, a lot of information stored may lead to a lost of focus on some particular or important things.
- Through the internet we want to know everything that can be looked up on, even just finding a definition of something, rather than reading the books.
- Spending too much time in finding some information on the internet may reduce the chance of resolving something in a real life context.
The key to successful online reporting is using the brain rather than a search engine, according to journalism lecturer Steve McIlwaine.There are many things showing that our computer dependency can make us less brainy. New research is showing that more people in their twenties and thirties are suffering from severe memory loss. The cause? Reliance on computer technology. If you can find any other examples, please suggest on the comment below.
Our brains need to be stimulated in order to develop, so it's wise to use our brain all the time. The more sophisticated the computers' functions and systems, the less sophisticated we are.
Automation is an end and your brain is a mean to an end.
Paste this code:
Nordic (Scandinavian) Cross and Japhetic
The fish icon formed by two curves was used by the early Christians as a secret code to secure their movement from the Roman Empire authority. A single curve drawed by someone would be confirmed by completing the other curve by another person, in order to be identified as a Christian. 
But after the Roman Empire being Christianised, "a (latin) cross" was somehow considered as the popular icon of Christianity. This icon has been well used until now, in the Christian churches and cemetery, even somewhat appears in the national flags.
All Nordic (Scandinavian) countries, i.e., Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland choose to use the basic shape of a cross for their national flags' design. Surprisingly, these warrior nations were just Christianised around the year 1000.
Do these countries represent Christianity? Hmmm... it's not easy to answer, but the fact is that there is a shape of a cross in the flag.
Below are their flags:
Now, can you see the cross more clearly?
One more thing about the Nordic theory. The Caucasian race is divided into three sub-categories: the Nordic, Alpine and Mediterranean races.
According to the theory, the Nordic is the most advanced group. In other words, the Nordic race is the most inferior amongst Europeans, who can be identified by tall stature, long head and facial form, straight and fine blond, red, or light brown hair, and blue, grey or green eyes.
In 2001, BBC broadcasted the hypothetical image reconstruction of Jesus' face, which appears to be close to a face of a Middle Easterner. Prior to that hypothesis, the traditional Jesus was used to be potrayed in an image of a Nordic face.
Ssssh... This issue becomes more complicated. Here is one interesting story.
Once upon a time, Noah had three sons named Shem, Ham and Japheth.
Shem is somehow considered as Arabs/Jews origin. The popular term is Semitic and it is believed to be the origin of three major religions: Judaism, Christian and Islam.
Ham, the cursed one after seeing his father naked, somehow becomes the father of Africans (Hamitic). Later, the curse was justified as slavery and discrimination against black by a few people. Some findings in the Bible (Gen 10:16-18; Isaiah 49:12) conclude that Mongoloid is originated from Hamitic.
Japheth, the youngest one, somehow becomes the father of Europeans (Caucasians) as his tribe has populated Europe started from the Caucasus region.
A few Japhetics are unique. They try to put the older brother (Hamitic) into slavery and occupy the oldest one (Semitic) in someway. (Gen 9:24-27)
Nevertheless, the abovementioned strory is just a part of old Medieval Europe intepretation of history and has nothing to do with what happens nowadays.
The facts now are totally different:
- Anti-Semitic gets to be such a term of anti-Jewish.
- Semitic apparently is Caucasoid and skull/facial bone shape matters as omitting colour.
- At one time, a guy named Hitler merged Nordic and Aryan to be the basic of Japhetic.
- Aryan (Iran) wants to develop Nuclear weapons, because it's however still Japhetic.
- Most Japhetic countries are at the top four ranks in 2005 Corruption Perceptions Index. Good thing!
- One cursed Hamitic lady becomes the tough US Secretary of State and another one is Oprah Winfrey and she is definitely rich.
- One Hamitic country owns Sony, Toshiba, Toyota, Honda, etc. and another one bought IBM Laptops and turned it into Lenovo.
- Prakash Padukone, Liem Swei King and Morten Frost Hansen play badminton.
- R'nB rocks, NBA rocks as well!
New Species in West Papua Indonesia
Once again, it has been proved that Indonesia is a land of biodiversity and nature acts. Some new odd and spectacular things have been found and originated, from the largest eruption in history (Mount Tambora) to the "Hobbit man", even devastating Tsunami and now, new species. God definitely matters in the islands.
Image from BBC
New species found in Papua 'Eden'Read more from BBC
An international team of scientists says it has found a "lost world" in the Indonesian jungle that is home to dozens of new animal and plant species.
"It's as close to the Garden of Eden as you're going to find on Earth," said Bruce Beehler, co-leader of the group.The team recorded new butterflies, frogs, and a series of remarkable plants that included five new palms and a giant rhododendron flower.
The survey also found a honeyeater bird that was previously unknown to science.
The research group - from the US, Indonesia and Australia - trekked through an area in the mist-shrouded Foja Mountains, located just north of the vast Mamberamo Basin of north-western (Indonesian) New Guinea.
The researchers spent nearly a month in the locality, detailing the wildlife and plantlife from the lower hills to near the summit of the Foja range, which reaches more than 2,000m in elevation.
"It's beautiful, untouched, unpopulated forest; there's no evidence of human impact or presence up in these mountains," Dr Beehler told the BBC News website.
South Park: Bloody Mary another Blasphemy
I guess, you'd better not watch it if you're a Roman Catholic. It's obvious that the people of agnostism and secularism originated from western culture never show respect towards religions for the sake of sense of humour. Why? I think they just don't believe that they (the cartoon creators) have done something wrong. Who can decide anyway? The answer is you. Is it wrong or not?
(via YouTube macchianera)
Muhammad Cartoon a Blasphemy
Below are the cartoons published in Denmark's Jyllands-Posten. Click each image to enlarge. (source Human Events)
(Sorry, as asked by a best friend of mine in Indonesia, I have to hide the images. But, you can look up the source directly.)
As a Christian who originated from Indonesia, I have to say that the cartoon creators are just a bunch of stupid Danish non-believers who don't show respect to Islam as using a matter of freedom of speech to justify their action. These guys don't even understand what religion is. So pitiful.
No wonder if the people of Islam all over the world will be angry. If I were one of them and rich, I would have hired "a group" to eliminate the cartoon creators forever as showing my own justice of faith. Read more an opinion from a muslim.
It's much better than making it such a global political issue that may create instability in each of any country impacted. Read more about the controversy issue.
Moreover, I can say it's kind of "blasphemy" for people who believe that Muhammad is one of God's prophet.
Valid Flash XHTML script
Embedding flash movie (.swf) into XHTML cannot be valid by using the conventional embedding script. Here's one the valid way written by Daniel Duris.
Keep flashing and being valid XHTML.<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash"
data="images/banner.swf" width="288" height="128">
<param name="movie" value="images/banner.swf" />
<img src="banner.gif" width="288" height="128"
alt="banner" />
</object>
ISP broadband comparison in New Zealand @ $39.95
Say that we have an internet budget of $39.95 per month, which one is worth it?
(... I think Ihug.)
Xtra:
Data allowance per month: 1GB
Download speed per second: 256KB
Ihug:
Data allowance per month: 2GB + bonus 2GB (12am-8am)
Download speed per second: 2MB
Orcon:
Data allowance per month: 1GB
Download speed per second: 2MB
Woosh:
Data allowance per month: 1GB
Download speed per second: 256KB
Google profit at risk from "click-fraud"
Google profit could have been from click-fraud according to Sam Gustin report in New York Post (via Seeking Alpha).
CLICK FRAUD CHAOS By SAM GUSTIN
January 29, 2006 -- Google's long-simmering click-fraud problem could explode into a billion-dollar headache for the Web giant, some Web marketing experts are warning.
In fact, a growing number of Google-watchers claim the search giant is ignoring the click-fraud issue because it's so large.
Click-fraud happens when surfers click on Goggle advertisers with no desire to get to the advertiser's site. Knowing Google charges advertisers based on how many surfers click on their ads, the fraudsters click on the ads simply to drive up the advertiser's costs.
