Decline of SU?

I agree that some units in SU are not doing as well as their counterparts in other universities, or as well as they were in the past, but there are a number who are.

Consider this... "Silliman now has the most Level III offerings than any school in the country" (http://www.su.edu.ph/pres_speaks/bsm_strategicchallenges_silliman.htm).
SU also has 4 Centers of Excellence: Nursing, Education, Marine Science, and Accountancy;
and 2 Centers of Development: Biology and Information Technology.

Some of them got their upgraded status only quite recently, so there must be improvements going on around SU. So, keep your head up, because the way things are going, we're on a steady rise.

Assignment on BioPhysics

1.) The equation of a certain traveling transverse wave is given below:

y = 2 sin 2 pi [ (t/0.01) - (x/30) ]
where x and y are in cm, and t in seconds.

What are the waves:
a) amplitude
b) wavelength
c) frequency
d) speed of propagation


2.) What is the difference between the speeds of longitudinal waves in air at -3 degrees Celsius and 57 degrees Celsius?


Merry Christmas guys!

SU Physics Christmas Party 07

TTMS Worm: Removal & Prevention

My friend's flash drive has been infected with a worm that disables the user to open it directly by simply double-clicking and even through "exploring" it by right-clicking then selecting Explore. Sometimes, it displays this line: "TTMS NAA NA DIRI, DON’T WORRY I’M NOT A CORRUPT LIKE YOU!" especially when you try going into the registry.

This, along with other .vbs or .wsh viruses/worms/trojans, can easily be removed and prevented by doing any of the following methods:

CAUTION: None of these methods are fully 100% safe. Even using an updated anti-virus may cause irreversible damage to your Windows computer. BACK UP YOUR DATA FIRST! I am in no way responsible for any lost data, corrupted files, or any of the like. You have the sole responsibility to your computer. Proceed at your own risk!

A.) Use your anti-virus

Screen shot taken from http://www.avast.com/

This is the most easiest way to remove the worm. However, if your definitions are not updated, then they may not be detected and thus you cannot remove them. There are only a few free anti-virus software like AVG, Avast, and BitDefender. I suggest using a primary one, either AVG or Avast and as a back-up, BitDefender. AVG/Avast will most likely find the worm you have and BitDefender is a good back-up anti-virus since it lacks the real-time scanner (Real time scanner means that while your browsing a folder, and your anti-virus manages to see a virus, it warns you in "real time" without scanning the whole folder or drive manually. AVG and Avast have this real time scanner while BitDefender does not.)


B.) Disable .vbs scripts on your Windows machine manually

Most viruses are written in Microsoft's Visual Basic. It's a simple programming language with a graphical user interface (GUI) and allows the user to easily create programs that they need. However, viruses, worms, and trojans, are also created in this manner.

Although I do not recommend this process for the programmers, basic users can disable the running of .vbs files and other dangerous formats through disabling the Windows Scripting Host. Click here to view the link. Find your operating system, and follow the guide. Use the Windows 2000 guide if you are using XP/Vista. Again, this step is not recommended for programmers who use Visual Basic or do programming. Proceed at your own risk.


C.) Download and install Script Defender by Analog X

Image screen shot taken from http://www.analogx.com/contents/download/system/sdefend.htm

If you are afraid of doing letter B, then you can use this software to manage your file extensions instead. This simply allows you to monitor certain types of file extensions like .vbs and .wsh. When they try to execute themselves, Script Defender will not allow them to do so unless you allow it. It basically asks you first before the file executes. Think of it this way, the virus shows up and decides to steal all your personal information in your entire system. It can and it will, but Script Defender makes the virus ask you first before it does so. Pretty neat, eh? Download it here. Please read below before using.

After you have installed it, press "install intercepts" and it will intercept anything that was placed in the dialog box before it executes. However, do not add any file extensions you want to block which you might regret later. Use the default that it already has. I tried adding .txt to it, and it did work, but when I removed .txt and opened a .txt file, it gave me some sort of error saying that it couldn't open it. I could open it through notepad but not through double-clicking it. Again, proceed at your own risk and don't add anything you will regret later.

D.) Plug the USB flash drive into a Linux computer.

Screenshot taken from www.linux.org

Some of you might be wondering what LINUX is. It is an open source operating system which you can get for free. Most viruses are targeted only at Microsoft's operating systems like Windows 98, XP, ME, 2000, and Vista. Since this worm has an extension (.vbs), then it only targets Windows (which is capable of running visual basic scripts).

First, find someone who has Linux installed on their laptop or desktop and boot into that system. If you have your own Linux OS, that's great! It doesn't have to be a specific flavor of Linux. It can be Fedora, Ubuntu, or PCLinuxOS. As soon as you have booted into the system, plug in your drive and open it. Find the files which ends with .vbs or something like TTMS1218.dll.vbs. That is the problem.

By the way, while your USB is mounted on the Linux system, you might find other viruses, trojans, or worms. If you suspect that they are, please be careful in deleting them. They could be files you really need.

After you have removed the files, safely unmount by right clicking the icon of your device and left clicking on remove or unmount. (NOTE: Some of the flavors might require you for administrative access or the use of the terminal to mount/unmount the drive.)


E.) Format your computer

This is the last resort to removing any other kind of viruses. This worm, TTMS, isn't that hard to remove especially if you use a Linux machine to remove it, but never do this method before backing up all your data first.




=======================================================================
TTMS has several definitions and the nearest one I found was "Trojan Transportable Mini-Switch" found here. This worm could have been written by someone outside the Philippines and was edited by a Filipino by simply changing the output error message into Cebuano.

When I plugged the infected device into PCLinuxOS, I managed to get the source code by opening the .vbs file in KWrite. Here's a screen shot:

Image taken on Dec. 20, 2007


=========================================================
I do not own AVAST, AVG, BitDefender, and Analog X & its software.
All images here were taken on Dec. 20, 2007.

Meteor Shower Viewing at Silliman

Last Friday, Dec. 14, the physics students of Silliman gathered to watch the Geminids meteor shower. Aside from the physics majors, other students joined in watching the said meteor shower.

Mini-lecture series: Astrometeo lab

*Dec. 11, 2007 (NOT Dec. 9)

Comet Holmes

The month of October and November was colored with the highlight of the night, the Comet 17P or Comet Holmes. Comet Holmes is a periodic comet in our solar system. As of the moment, Comet Holmes is the biggest object in the Solar System, even bigger than the sun.
The comet changed magnitude from 17 to 2.8; meaning it became brighter by half a million times. The next time the comet will return is predicted to be at March 22, 2014.

suphysics.org

SU Physics Peeps:

The upcoming "suphysics.org" will feature pictures from the older batches to the latest batch, different audio and video podcasts about Physics, other sciences, and technology, and will cater to high school and college student needs on the subject Physics.

Let's make this work. We need your cooperation. Post on comments if you have any questions or contributions. =)

Thanks for the domain and space!

Meteor Shower

For those interested in astronomy:

The Orionids meteror shower is visible in the Philippines from October 17 - 25. The new moon would be favorable for those who wish to see it. The maximum rate of showers may reach 20 - 25 per hour which may be observed under favorable conditions.

The shower could be found at the direction of the star Betelgeuse, the brightest star of the Orion constellation.

happy viewing

for more astronomical events visible in the Philippines, check out the astronomical diary of the pagasa website.

To get a domain or not

I chatted with Alex Aguel (the BS Physics with Emphasis on Computer Applications alumnus who has put more emphasis on the computer side of the course) this morning. He's now somewhere in Europe doing some programming thing. Anyways, he has offered to set up a domain for us. Maybe something like www.suphysics.org. As an overview, he explained to me that some of the advantages of having such a domain over this blog are:

• we would have our own email addresses like eliel@suphysics.org.
• we could have our own forum
• etc. (I actually forgot the others that he mentioned. Maybe you can help me with this one, Lex. just post a comment.)

I want to know what your opinions are on this thing, so please post your comments now.

web.link: OCW Consortium

OCW Consortium seems to be a useful tool to increase our visibility with the goal of increasing awareness and interest in SU Physics curriculum.

To quote
"An OpenCourseWare is a free and open digital publication of high quality educational materials, organized as courses. The OpenCourseWare Consortium is a collaboration of more than 100 higher education institutions and associated organizations from around the world creating a broad and deep body of open educational content using a shared model. The mission of the OpenCourseWare Consortium is to advance education and empower people worldwide through opencourseware."

Read more from here.

Sample physics curriculum using OCW
Free Online MIT Course Materials

Other institutions using OCW can be found here.

web.link: Physics-related sites in the Philippines

Looking for research ideas? Want to correspond with fellow enthusiasts? Looking for research grants and/or scholarships? Find them all here. Listed below are physics-related websites in the Philippines:

Philippine Physics Society

National Institute of Physics
NIP: Plasma Physics Laboratory
Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas (Philippine Society of Physics)
BKR (Bahay Kubo Research)
BKR Blog
PCASTRD (Philippine Council of Advanced Science and Technology Research and Development)


More sites to follow soon.

If anyone knows more physics site please comment, so we can edit the article. Thanks

retro.news: RP's best school of physics

Well, since this is a physics blog, i have to post something physics-cal. Hehe. I came across a 2006 article from DOST that might interest you enthusiasts and/or advocates if you want to want to put your school on the map and get the title "RP's Best School of Physics". Nothing like a healthy competition eh? If you ask me, I'd like Silliman to get that title. Being the best IMHO, doesn't have to entail costly equipment [why? coz we will always be left behind], it should 1: Interest more students [whether they pursue physics or not] and increase their understanding of its purpose. 2: i'll edit this later.

To quote:
“Filipino physicists are acquiring the competence to recognize more interesting researches in the field of physics and, in fact, [they have] gained worldwide recognition through [their] publications in high-impact journals,” Dr. Saloma said in his institutional report “Physics in the Philippines Today”.

Trivia: If you glance quickly at the photo, which SU Physics teacher comes to mind?

A tribute

See ya guys!

Taclobo & Silliman High Pictures

Thanks, Sir John Villanueva, for your continuing support.


As promised, the pictures from the Science events:
[ click here for more photos ]



... and a little eye-candy for the sweet toothed:





Thanks again guys! (additional photos soon)

Physics Olympics: Silliman and Taclobo High School

We would like to thank every faculty that have made the Physics olympics possible in Silliman University High School (2:00pm - Sept. 21, 2007) and Taclobo High School (9:00am - Sept. 21, 2007). Today's events were fun and exciting for the students, the audience, the faculty, and the JPPS facilitators. Thank you, everyone, for participating!

These were the several events held in each school:
> Paper tower (SU & Taclobo)
> Paper airplane (SU & Taclobo)
> Bridge building (SU & Taclobo)
> Egg drop (SU)

The results for the various events in each high school will be published in this blog soon. The photos will also be uploaded as soon as possible.

We personally had a lot of fun being your facilitators. Again, thank you for letting us share to you the science spirit!

Recovery Password

Hey, who asked for his/her password to be recovered? The email says that everyone in SUPHYSICS is receiving the notice for password recovery in their GMail accounts.

For security purposes, DO NOT CLICK ON IT. Play safe unless you really have forgotten your password. This could be a small security breach or a misinterpreted bug.

Sad icecream machine

This is a fast paced technological world. So there's a lot of news around. Here's one:

Usually, we eat icecream when there's an occassion. But it has been a forgotten tradition to buy children icecream when they're sad or they've done something nice. So now there's an icecream machine that gives off icecream based on the sad tones of your voice.

Again, the sadder the tone of your voice is, the more the machine gives off icecream.

Image taken from www.we-make-money-not-art.com/

Who says this is only for children?
Depressed? Time to gain some weight!
(Note: this machine is perfect for me!)


Read more at we-make-money-not-art.com.

Technology makes people shy

On to other news....

Okay. Before I receive any comments about why I put this up, let me just say that technology is an application of science. So technically, this is still a "science & technology" news.


image taken from http://www.freeimages.co.uk/


So does technology affect shyness?

So the article over at news.com.au(The Sunday Telegraph) says that iPods make you bright. No, seriously. Technological gadgets and new information technologies such as the infamous MP3 player, the iPod, and the diabolical cell phone and text messaging makes people SHY.

"People shop online, they listen to their iPods rather than the radio -- and they e-mail or text each other rather than talk."
-Ms. Abrahams, Hardvard Business School Researcher

Are you one of them?


Read more at News.Com.Au

THANK YOU!

For those who helped in raising funds for the booth.
For the equipment shared for our exhibits.
For parents who supported.
For the students who have visited.
For the heartwarming comments and feedbacks.
For the kids who came back almost every night.
For our floating pig ^_^
And for the majors who have sweat hard, slept less, lost their voices, and hardly ate.

Our hardships did not come to waste.

Congratulations and a thousand Thanks to all.

In behalf of the Physics majors, it has been an honor to serve you.

BOOTH OF THE YEAR

It can finally be told. The road to the booth area has finally come to an end. And while it might sound cliché, I just couldn’t resist saying it:

They came… they saw… and, yes… they conquered.

When, finally, the last nail was hammered down, and theirs stood as merely one of the scores of tents that dotted the battlefield, it all boiled down to what their knights could do. The Knights of Physics rode fast and hard, and the outcome was no less than utterly decisive:
JPPS got

• Best Academic Booth Exhibit
• Best Academic Booth Gimmick
• BOOTH OF THE YEAR

Sorry, couldn’t resist adding a little drama there.

If you saw them work as hard and as passionately as they did (literally sweating it out) every single night, you’ll know they truly deserve no less than this. When a bunch of very brilliant and gifted youngsters, no matter how few they are, embrace the spirit of teamwork, this is what you get… complete and utter victory.

Perhaps Eliel, president of this bunch, had summed it all up when he sent me a text after the results were announced:
“...All glOry 2 GOD…”

To all those who supported, THANK YOU.

To all our BS Physics students, CONGRATULATIONS.

We, the faculty, staff and alumni are all so proud of you.

This is it

To the Physics community of S.U..., alumni, faculty, staff, friends....
and fellow physicists!


Here we are

(initial pictures)


notice the crowd!!!! sikat au ang physics sa booth area

The making of the Physics Booth

IMAGE SLIDESHOW: (Working on Physics Booth)

VIDEO: The Making of Physics Booth (with most Physics majors present)



VIDEO: The Making Part 2 (2nd Floor)

salamat

Hello! mga kuya n ate...and Dr. Hope Bandal...

In behalf of the Junior Philippine Physics Society of Silliman University, I express my deepest appreciation for your support in realizing our booth.

Construction is done, and we're good to go... interior design na lang kulang..

hence, to: Dr. Hope Bandal, Von Ryan Locsin, Mona Lisa Ragay, Juvelyn Reniva, Mark Jason Alcala, Carm Albert Boiser, Josh Emmanuel Alquiza, Raymund Vincent Piñero, Anatoly Karpov Buss, Liza Marie Dangkulos, Toribio Ortega III, Alex Ramil Aguel

Salamat...salamat...salamat...
thank you au for all your support!!!!!

Booth Complete! (well, almost)

The booth was finished by the pandays last Thursday (as far as I could recall). There are a few fixes and improvements that we will be doing this Monday (because its a holiday).

Anyway, here are the pictures and video clips for the day:


(Booth photo taken today, Aug. 18, 07)




Stairs onto the 2nd floor



You may enter for P5.00



The 2nd floor


The 2nd floor



It must feel good up there!

=====
Videos:
=====
VIDEO: A view of the booths



Just a little fun at the Physics booth:



Thanks again everyone!

Today's Headlines (Aug 14)

• SU Physics booth building on Day (2)
  Click here.

• SU Physics Olympics pictures
  Click here.
  
  
  
• Rare meteor shower will not be visible in the Philippines.
  Click here.

========================
Thank you to everyone who gave their pledges for the SU Physics booth for the upcoming 106th Founder's Day Celebration this 2007!

Thank you to the SU Physics majors who did the activities required to put up the booth!
Thank you to the SU Physics Department, faculty and staff who supported the society!
Thank you to the families of the SU Physics majors who have supported their sons & daughters in their education!
Thank you to those who support the society's activites!
And a special thank you to God for making everything a reality!

Pictures: SU Physics Booth (as of Aug 14, 07)

Looking good eh? All these in two days.

Back view

The "insides"

2nd floor

Front view

SU Physics Olympics pictures!

EGG DROP COMPETITION



"Whoa! Too high for me!" -Chick in a shell


Amazingly, this won 2nd place.


Bomb's away!

===

PHYSICS TRICKS COMPETITION

THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR PARTICIPATING!

Rare shower will not appear in the Philippines

The said alpha Aurigids meteor shower will not be visible in the Philippines. The following locations are the only places where you might be able to see them: Western USA, Hawaii, Canada, and Mexico. Read more at their official website.


Source: http://aurigid.seti.org/

Graduates from Silliman University Physics Department

Here is a list of students who graduated from the SU Physics Dep't since 1996.

1996

1. Aguel, Alex Ramil
2. Alcala, Mark Jason
3. Badon, Melvin
4. Fajardo, Jasmin
5. Camaso, Ma. Corina
6. Gara, Ma. Mardi
7. Girasol, Zarujo
8. Lumapguid, Carolyn Joy
9. Magaso, Jovito
10. Mananquil, Marie Antonette
11. Mapula, Jenever
12. Ogoc, John Arvin
13. Valencia, Erwin Rommel
14. Vercide, Joel
15. Villanueva, John Carl

1997

1. Beseleres, Dinah Rose
2. Naniong, Noreen
3. Uy, Jeoffrey
   

1998

1. Acaba, Karl Joy
   
2. Elnar, Allan Roy
   
3. Gaite, Michael Allan
   

1999

1. Reniva, Juvelyn
   

2000

1. Arnejo, Josef Darnel
   
2. Claro, Erwin James
   
3. Cloma, Sherlyn Love
4. Lim, Adrian George
5. Patron, Dexter Kim

2001

1. Alcoran, Giselle Ann
   
2. Torres, Philip
   

2002

1. Alquiza, Josh Emmanuel
   
2. Cunanan, Timothy James
   
3. Galanza, Therese Joanne
4. Grapa, Danilo Jr.
5. Piñero, Raymund Vincent
6. Ragay, Monalisa

2003

1. Buss, Anatoly Karpov
2. Capatar, Gina Marie
3. Espiritu, Junor
4. Manso, Aileen
5. Nunez, Michelle Nena
6. Ortega, Toribio III
7. Talingting, Roda Vee

2004

1. Dangkulos, Liza Marie
2. Enario, Cherry Mae
3. Locsin, Ryan
   

2005

1. Boiser, Carm Albert
2. Estrebello, Anna Liza
3. Quiambao, Nelvin
4. Villagracia, Rhodora

2006

1. Acosta, Anilyn
2. Esterioso, Blesilda
3. Tubio, Virginia Jr.

2007

1. Crispo, Franz Josef
2. Ragudo, David
   

Road to The Booth

SU Founders Day is fast approaching. And this year, the current bunch of BS Physics majors embarked on a quest:
to be where the action is ...

The Booth Area.

And just like any other organization vying for a slot in THE Area, the majors had to work hard to earn the required points. Aaah, yes, that explains the Limpyo-Limpyo article 2 posts ago.

A little over two weeks to go before the vacant field beside the gym turns into an arena of booths, and it already looks like they're certain to be there. Thanks to our very supportive alumni. On this post, we would like to thank the following who have pledged (most have already actually sent) their support:

• Von Ryan Locsin
  
• Mona Lisa Ragay
  
• Juvelyn Reniva
  
• Mark Jason Alcala
  
• Carm Albert Boiser
  
• Josh Emmanuel Alquiza (big thanks to this $big$ benefactor)
  
• Raymund Vincent Piñero (special thanks to this dude. He was the one who contacted all those names above.)
  
• Anatoly Karpov Buss
  
• Liza Marie Dangkulos
  
• Toribio Ortega III
  
• Alex Ramil Aguel
  

Please post a comment if I forgot anybody.

As of yesterday, we have already hit our target budget. If our estimates are right, then we have more than enough. The extra support will be used as seed for future projects.

Stay tuned to this blog for updates re our adventures on the road to the Booth Area. Pictures will be posted once construction starts.

Rare shooting stars this September!

On September 1, 2007, there will be a meteor shower called the "alpha Aurigids", which was only seen on Earth three times.

The shower probably won't return for at least 50 years, according to Jenniskens' calculations. "It's a once in a lifetime event." (2007, NewScientist.com)

Dr. Peter Jenniskens currently works as SETI's Institute Principal Investigator. [source]

Read whole article at [NewScientist.com]
Special report on Comets and Asteriods [link]

Image taken from [ImageAfter.com]

Old TVs to be phased-out by 2009

An announcement has been made by the US Congress that there will be a conversion of broadcasting. Digital broadcasting will be introduced; TVs with analog tuners will become useless by 2009. In other words, you should go out and buy a TV with a digital tuner and then you can watch shows in HD because of digital broadcasting! Converters from digital to analog are also available at around $70.

HD-capable TVs are OK. Also, if you have cable TV, you don't have to worry about this.

The Philippines may be affected by this conversion by 2010.

Read more at FCC.gov
Wikipedia: Digital tuner; TiVo

image by ASilentCurse Blog