DR KOH KHO KING

Earth quake today at the place where I stay, Higashi-Hiroshima. I live at 9th floor, a 10th floor building, so I can feel the earth quake quite clearly. My wife felt it a few seconds before me, and the shaking last for around 10 seconds (I think). After checking Yahoo weather, my place is experiencing 3rd degree of earth quake. Not as strong as I felt before, as last time there were things falling in my kitchen.

Below is some summary from Yahoo, where you can get full report at:

http://typhoon.yahoo.co.jp/weather/jp/earthquake/

情� �発表時刻 � � � 2007年4月26日　9時10分
発生時刻 � � � 2007年4月26日　9時3分ごろ
震源地 � � � 愛媛県東予
緯度 � � � 北緯33.9度
経度 � � � 東経133.6度
深さ � � � 40km
規模 � � � マグニチュード 5.4

Just a reference for myself for all the standard Country codes and ISO2 and ISO3 codes.

1 Afghanistan AF AFG
2 Albania AL ALB
3 Algeria DZ DZA
4 American Samoa AS ASM
5 Andorra AD AND
6 Angola AO AGO
7 Anguilla AI AIA
8 Antarctica AQ ATA
9 Antigua and Barbuda AG ATG
10 Argentina AR ARG
11 Armenia AM ARM
12 Aruba AW ABW
13 Australia AU AUS
14 Austria AT AUT 5)
15 Azerbaijan AZ AZE
16 Bahamas BS BHS
17 Bahrain BH BHR
18 Bangladesh BD BGD
19 Barbados BB BRB
20 Belarus BY BLR
21 Belgium BE BEL
22 Belize BZ BLZ
23 Benin BJ BEN
24 Bermuda BM BMU
25 Bhutan BT BTN
26 Bolivia BO BOL
27 Bosnia and Herzegowina BA BIH
28 Botswana BW BWA
29 Bouvet Island BV BVT
30 Brazil BR BRA
31 British Indian Ocean Territory IO IOT
32 Brunei Darussalam BN BRN
33 Bulgaria BG BGR
34 Burkina Faso BF BFA
35 Burundi BI BDI
36 Cambodia KH KHM
37 Cameroon CM CMR
38 Canada CA CAN
39 Cape Verde CV CPV
40 Cayman Islands KY CYM
41 Central African Republic CF CAF
42 Chad TD TCD
43 Chile CL CHL
44 China CN CHN
45 Christmas Island CX CXR
46 Cocos (Keeling) Islands CC CCK
47 Colombia CO COL
48 Comoros KM COM
49 Congo CG COG
50 Cook Islands CK COK
51 Costa Rica CR CRI
52 Cote D\Ivoire CI CIV
53 Croatia HR HRV
54 Cuba CU CUB
55 Cyprus CY CYP
56 Czech Republic CZ CZE
57 Denmark DK DNK
58 Djibouti DJ DJI
59 Dominica DM DMA
60 Dominican Republic DO DOM
61 East Timor TP TMP
62 Ecuador EC ECU
63 Egypt EG EGY
64 El Salvador SV SLV
65 Equatorial Guinea GQ GNQ
66 Eritrea ER ERI
67 Estonia EE EST
68 Ethiopia ET ETH
69 Falkland Islands (Malvinas) FK FLK
70 Faroe Islands FO FRO
71 Fiji FJ FJI
72 Finland FI FIN
73 France FR FRA
74 France Metropolitan FX FXX
75 French Guiana GF GUF
76 French Polynesia PF PYF
77 French Southern Territories TF ATF
78 Gabon GA GAB
79 Gambia GM GMB
80 Georgia GE GEO
81 Germany DE DEU 5)
82 Ghana GH GHA
83 Gibraltar GI GIB
84 Greece GR GRC
85 Greenland GL GRL
86 Grenada GD GRD
87 Guadeloupe GP GLP
88 Guam GU GUM
89 Guatemala GT GTM
90 Guinea GN GIN
91 Guinea-bissau GW GNB
92 Guyana GY GUY
93 Haiti HT HTI
94 Heard and Mc Donald Islands HM HMD
95

Due to the popular demand worldwide, Dell has announced the re-introduction of Windows XP in their computer system. Effective immediately, customers can now order new Dell computer from Dell website with the option of choosing Windows XP as the operating system. According to Dell, customers can choose to have either Window XP Home or Windows XP Pro pre-installed on four Inspiron notebook systems (the 1405, 1501, 1505, and 1705 models) and Dell’s Dimension E520 and E521 desktop computers.

This might be due to the recently lots of compatibility issue of Windows Vista with some hardwares and softwares. However, Dell will not offer Windows XP forever, as Microsoft has announced at their website the end of life date of Windows XP as of 31st January 2008.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/lifecycle/default.mspx

Support for Windows XP will be available till 31st January 2009, a year after Windows XP stop selling from retails.

Nokia has always cater and not forgetting the HIGH END market of handphone users. I am sure there are many millions and billionaires out there that would want to have a handphone that is NOT affordable by the general public.

Handphone has been an everyday life NECESSARY for most. Even Apple has realized this and put their hands into the BIG CAKE market. Steve Jobs said he just need 1% of the mobile phone market, which is equivalent to 10 millions units.

Back to the Nokia Gold news…

Nokia has unveiled the Nokia 8800 Sirocco Gold – a bold and prestigious new style statement. Encased in luxurious 18-carat gold plating, the precisely crafted Nokia 8800 Sirocco Gold combines timeless design with contemporary flair, resulting in an exclusive display of personal style and elegance. A sirocco is a strong wind, originating in the sun-bathed Sahara desert and travelling all the way to the Mediterrean. This blending of the strength and sensual beauty of nature is the inspiration for the extire Nokia 8800 Sirocco line.

Combining its heritage of highly desired communication devices with stunning organic designs derived from surfaces found in nature, the Nokia 8800 Sirocco Gold pays artful attention to the smallest details and selection of materials. A stunning achievement of craftsmanship, fine white gold accents enhance the 18-carat gold plating while the sapphire-coated, scratch-resistant glass display helps to ensure that the beauty of the Nokia 8800 Sirocco Gold endures.

Somebody emailed me and asked about the Hakuba KMC-04, so I thought I would share my opinion here as well as reference for others.

Hakuba Ultra Strong Anti-Fungus Packs for Camera Lens

The Hakuba KMC-04 is a moisture absorber, keeping the moisture in your camera bag low, hence preventing or reducing the risk of fungus growing in your camera bag.

However, do note that it is NOT advisable to keep your camera and lenses in your camera bag while not using them for an extended period. Reason is because most camera bags are made from fabric and sponge, which are a moisture absorber in nature and keep the bag damp and wet most of the time. Although the Hakuba can reduce the humidity inside the camera bag, but it is not a 100% fool proof product to prevent fungus, as it still mainly depends on the environment of where you store your bag.

I would still recommend you getting a drybox to store your D70s and lenses at home:

http://shashinki.com/shop/dry-cabinet-dry-box-c-36.html

The Hakuba is good and useful when you are traveling with your camera bag.

It is Easter today! Jesus is alive! He died on the cross but resurrected from death and is alive today!

The very difference of Christian religion than others is that Jesus is alive!

May God blesses those who believe in him…Emmanuel (God be with you!)!

(Two easter eggs from my church)