e = mc2

ET CETERA = MATHEMATICS * COMPUTERS ^ 2

I have decided to continue blogging by consolidating all contents under one blog, Knight In World or KIW. Despite some blogging pundits might say that a blog should be about one subject only and that its frequency should be three times a week, I have opted for their latter wisdom to keep on blogging.

KIW contents are divided into Et Cetera, Mathematics, and Computers articles. Each of their article are published once a week, between Monday to Sunday, therefore, three articles per week.

• Et Cetera articles are about other subjects like History, Art, Science, etc., etc., etc.
• Mathematics articles are about kindergarten math all the way up to doctorate math.
• Computers articles are about Computer Science, including its technologies and products like programming and Microsoft Word, respectively.

---

Et Cetera I: Physics - Theory of Special Relativity Equation e = mc²

The theory of special relativity was first introduced by Prof. Einstein before general relativity.¹ Einstein's famous equation, e = mc², came from his work in special relativity. In it, he posited that a particle with mass, for example, humans, cannot ever reach the speed of light because as his or her speed increases, so does his or her mass.

Take for example a coal train.² A train can go faster if it isn't heavy. But for the train to go faster, you need to put more coal into it. But where do you put the coal? You put in the train! Therefore, the train becomes heavier when you want it to go faster or go anywhere at all.

Einstein's famous equation also states that a tiny mass can be converted into a lot of energy, atomic energy, that is. Why? Because the mass is multiplied with square of c, the speed of light. And the speed of light is approximately 299,792,458 meters/second.

For example, a 5 year old child can have as much energy as an adult as calculated below:

40 pounds x 299,792,458 (meters/second) ≈ 10 billion energies.

140 pounds x 299,792,458 (meters/second) ≈ 40 billion energies.

Not much difference. Still billions of energies.

It's all relative!☺

John Sindayen

References:
¹http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_relativity
²http://www.tinplatetimes.com/Tinplate%20History/HertzBoucher/hb.htm
http://arstechnica.com/civis/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=178925
http://blogs.britannica.com/2010/09/e-mc2-the-unforgettable-equation-of-einsteins-miracle-year-picture-essay-of-the-day/

Programming Workshops

COLLEGE PROGRAMMING WORKSHOPS

I am a Computer Programming Tutor in my school, College of Southern Nevada, so I have the opportunities to present the following past and present workshops.  Not that it was a requirement, but it was something that I initiated to do among the quiet times of the job description.

GROUP PRESENTATIONS/WORKSHOPS FOR

SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER 2014

IN CHARLESTON CAMPUS ROOM C116
FOR THE FOLLOWING FRIDAYS AND SATURDAYS

PRESENTER: JOHN SINDAYEN

Sep. 12, 1:00-1:30pm: Review of Computer Hardware (IC3 Exam 1)
Sep. 13, 1:00-1:30pm: Review of Windows 7 Desktop & Explorer (IC3 Exam 1)
Sep. 19, 1:00-1:30pm: Review of Windows 7 Control Panel (IC3 Exam 1)
Sep. 20, 1:00-1:30pm: Review of How to Write a Program
                                     (IS 115, CIT 130-133, CS 135)
Sep. 26, 1:00-1:30pm: Review of Word 2013 Screen & Home (IC3 Exam 2)
Sep. 27, 1:00-1:30pm: Review of C or C++ Input/Output Programming Using
                                     Linux MobaXterm (account required),
                                     Visual Studio (account or own compiler required),
                                     or Dev-C++ (no requirement) (CS 135, CIT 131, CIT 133)

Oct. 3, 1:00-1:30pm: Review of Microsoft Word 2013 File (IC3 Exam 2)
Oct. 4, 1:00-1:30pm: Programming Selection & Loop in Raptor (IS 115)
Oct. 10, 1:00-1:30pm: Review of Microsoft Word 2013 Insert (IC3 Exam 2)
Oct. 11, 1:00-1:30pm: Programming If-Else & While in Python (IS 115)
Oct. 17, 1:00-1:30pm: Review of Microsoft Excel 2013 Home (IC3 Exam 2)
Oct. 18, 1:00-1:30pm: Programming Classes in Java Using DrJava (CIT 130)
Oct. 24, 1:00-1:30pm: Review of Microsoft Excel 2013 Insert (IC3 Exam 2)
Oct. 25, 1:00-1:30pm: Programming 1D Array in Visual Basic (CIT 132)
                                    (Requirement: account or own Visual Studio IDE)
Oct. 31: Nevada Day College Closed

Nov. 1, 1:00-1:30PM: INHERITANCE IN C++ (CS 202)
                                    Prerequisite: ability to program classes in C++
                                    Advanced programming concept in CS 202, CIT 233
Nov. 7, 1:00-1:30PM: MICROSOFT POWERPOINT SCREEN & FILE (IS 101 IC3 EXAM 2)
Nov. 8, 1:00-1:30PM: POINTERS IN C/C++ (CIT 131, CS 202)
                                    Prerequisite: ability to program in C/C++
                                    Advanced programming concept in CS 202, CIT 233
Nov. 14, 1:00-1:30PM: MICROSOFT ACCESS SCREEN & HOME (IS 101 IC3 EXAM 2)
Nov. 15, 1:00-1:30PM: RECURSION IN C/C++ (CS 202)
                                      Prerequisite: ability to program loops and functions in C/C++
                                      Advanced programming concept in CS 202, CIT 231, 233
Nov. 21, 1:00-1:30PM: LIVING ONLINE (IS 101 IC3 EXAM 3)
                                      Topics in Networking Topology, Internet Explorer, & Computer Viruses
Nov. 22, 1:00-1:30PM: SIMPLE LINKED LISTS IN C/C++ (CS 202)
                                      Prerequisite: ability to program structs and pointers in C/C++
                                      Advanced programming concept in CS 202, CIT 231, 233
Last Workshop:
Nov. 22, 2:00-2:30PM: INVITATION TO PROGRAMMING USING PYTHON
                                      Open to all current students to explore learning or majoring in Programming
                                      or Computer Science, especially women, visit this website:
                                      http://www.mercurynews.com/mike-cassidy/ci_25224467/women-missing-out-lucrative-careers-computer-science
For the November 1 presentation, I will be using the following short and descriptive C++ program to illustrate multiple inheritance:

#include <iostream>
#include <string>

class Man { //base class
   private:
      string eyes;
   public:
      Man() {
         eyes = "brown"; }
      string colorOfEyes() {
         return eyes; }
};

class Woman { //base class
   private:
      string hair;
   public:
      Woman() {
         hair = "red"; }
      string colorOfHair() {
         return hair; }
};

class Son : public Man, public Woman {
}; //derived class

int main() { //main program
   Son s;
   cout << s.colorOfEyes() << endl;
   cout << s.colorOfHair() << endl;
}

Happy Halloween! Happy Nevada Day!

John

WINDOWS 7 AND WINDOWS 8

WINDOWS 7 AND WINDOWS 8

The WINDOWS 7 USER INTERFACE (UI) is the DESKTOP environment.  Windows 7 DESKTOP is the first screen you see when using Windows 7 OPERATING SYSTEM (OS).

The Windows 7 User Interface is the desktop and everything inside the desktop.  The default icons in the desktop screen includes the following:
RECYCLE BIN on top of the desktop,
START BUTTON or START MENU, INTERNET EXPLORER, WINDOWS EXPLORER, WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER, in that order, on the left side of the TASKBAR,
SHOW HIDDEN ICONS upward arrow, ACTION CENTER pennant or flag icon (if activated), NETWORKING STATUS monitor and mouse icon or bar graph icon  (if activated), system current TIME AND DATE, VOLUME CONTROL, and the SHOW DESKTOP, in that order, in the NOTIFICATION AREA, the right side of Taskbar.

The Windows 8.1 UI is the START SCREEN environment.  The Start Screen is the first screen you see when using Windows 8.1 OS, that is, if you do not activate your LOGON SCREEN.

The Start Screen is made of the Start Screen itself, TILES and ICONS. The tiles can either be LIVE TILES or ordinary or static tiles.  The USER ACCOUNT TILE sits on the same line as the Start Screen TITLE, the POWER ICON, and the SEARCH ICON. These two icons, tile, and title are always shown on top of the METRO APP TILES.

There are hidden elements in the Start Screen that can be accessed in the Start Screen. Accessed these hidden elements by using the mouse to hover or using your fingers to hover and tap from the screen corner or edge, and following the guidelines below:
+------------------------------------------------------------------+
|hover down to show last apps         hover down to show Charms bar|
|                                                                  |
| Start screen title    User account tile  Power icon  Search icon |
|                                                                  |
|tap to right to show last apps      tap to left to show Charms bar|
|                                                                  |
| App rectangular tiles in small, medium, wide, and large sizes    |
|                                                                  |
| All apps icon appears when you scroll through the apps           |
|                                                                  |
|hover up to show Start Screen icon     hover up to show Charms bar|
+------------------------------------------------------------------+

For more computing related articles, visit my Facebook page in https://www.facebook.com/pages/I-T-Club/278692538999554.

Welcome to the new Microsoft Windows interface!

John Sindayen

Test Answering Strategies

TEST ANSWERING STRATEGIES

In order to pass an exam, you need to prepare for it and strategize your answering techniques.  Take for example the following question.

A person wants to buy a computer but doesn’t know what computer to buy.  She only knows that she needs a fast computer.  She had heard, however, that fast computers have fast processor speeds. Choose the correct answer from the following:

1. Get a computer with the highest processor speed.

2. Processor speed is not the only thing to worry about.

The multiple choice question gives 2 answers that are both correct, but one answer is the best answer to the situational question.  Both answers are good answers.  If the multiple choice question has multiple good answers, you need to choose the best answer or the better of the good answers.

How do you choose the best answer?  The best answer is the one that applies to the overall question or situation.  Moreover, you must realize that the aim of a multiple choice question is to check if you really KNOW ALL there is to know about a certain subject, and not just one or a few things about it.

So what is the answer to this question?  The best answer is choice 2 because choice 1 is only a partial answer when buying and choosing a computer for any consumer.

Additional strategies for passing a test are the following:
1. Loosen up, medidate, or relax for a few minutes before the hour of the test so that you can shake away anything that may trouble your mind.
2. Know how many questions there are and, if possible, check which questions will take some time for you to answer.
3. Answer the questions that you know the answers and take a guess on those where you can provide a good guess.
4. Skip the questions, if possible, that you don't know the answers or will take some time to make a good guess, and come back to them after you've written the answers to questions you know.
5. Answer all the questions, if there is no penalty for wrong answers, because guessing the correct answer for a question you don't know still adds up to your total score.
6. Review all your answers to make sure you read the questions correctly.

John

Future of Education

FUTURE OF EDUCATION

With the way Computer Technology is evolving these days, it is possible that most high school subjects will be taught to students via computers alone.  The possible exceptions are subjects that require hands-on physical or laboratory experience, like Chemistry, Physics, Music, Physical Education, Biology, Dance, Theater Arts (requiring stage presence), and Home Economics (requiring cooking).

All other subjects can be taught using a computer monitor, keyboard, speaker, and microphone, subjects like English, German, French, Spanish, Mathematics, Computer Programming, Microsoft Office, History, Drama, Literature, Social Studies, Ecology, Geography, Government, and General Science.

This will save federal and local governments from building and maintaining some school buildings, and will reduce staffing of school administrators, support staffs, and teachers.  But what would these unneeded personnel do for a job? The answer to that is actually the reason why there is no incentive for the government to optimize the school system.

But eventually, as the world's older working population who grew up without computers are replaced by those born in the 1980's, the school system will optimize with the newest available public Computer Technology.  This event horizon will probably occur by the year 2030.

On that note, it would be prudent for everyone to adapt to the new technology starting now, if not before. This web page can help: https://www.facebook.com/pages/I-T-Club/278692538999554 or just enter www.facebook.com/278692538999554 in the browser or URL address.  It is my Facebook page: I T Club or Information Technology Club.

Computer World here we come!

John

GOAL IN LIFE

YOUR MAJOR GOAL IN LIFE

For some people, having a title beside their name is their major goal in life.  They may want a title for varying reasons, some professionally, while some just like the way it sounds with their name.  These are examples of the possible titles:
     John Surname, CPA
     John Surname, Esq.
     Sir John Surname
     Cpt. John Surname
     Dr. John Surname, CISSP, Ph.D.

Some people would like to have a Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) along with their name so they can be called doctor so and so.  But getting a Ph.D. is not a trifle thing.  You would have to learn more new stuff and spend some time learning them.  And you also need some money to pay the university.  Moreover, you would have to write a dissertation or report on what you have learned.

A Ph.D. candidate would have to write over 50 pages of content (see http://io9.com/how-long-is-the-average-phd-dissertation-785483128).  It would be like writing a book on the subject.  But it would not be just a book on the subject, it would have to have a thesis that you need to defend and show in your report using all those pages of the report.  It is a daunting task.  And that is why you need to like the subject of your thesis, and possibly even the major of your doctorate degree, otherwise you might die of boredom.

If you would rather spend your time on something else other than this pursuit of knowledge and this degree, then do not waste your precious time on the pursuit of hardships and struggles that comes along with a doctorage degree.  Otherwise, have fun in your daunting pursuits.

A Ph.D. in Computer Science or Mathematics is a lot of work.  It is really, really a lot of work, especially if the subject does not come to you naturally.  It's work that may not interest you in the end, even if you have succeeded, if you have other things that interest you.  Work on the things that interest you first and fulfill this fascination before you embark on an adventure that only steers you away from the things that matters most.

Go with the flow!

John

COMPRESSING HARD DRIVE

COMPRESSING HARD DRIVE (NOT)

I compressed my H drive by clicking on the checkbox of "Compress this drive to save disk space". I never used this Windows 7 utility before, but I was bold to use it since I had backed up all my H files yesterday and I don't have any new necessary files there that I need to back up.  So clicked I went on the OK button to begin this new chapter of knowing computers.

After a minute of compressing, a prompt message came telling me that one of the folder cannot be compressed because it had run out of disk.  I had 21.8 MB of free space and 78.1 MB of used space when I started compressing and this message came up.  I pressed the Ignore All button after the computer kept prompting the same message over and over when I only clicked the Ignore button on the same folder but on different files in that folder.

Less than a minute later, the Properties dialog box returns a new picture of my H drive.  It turned the whole disk blue and the violet color signifying my free space were all gone.  In other words, instead of compressing, the computer used up all my disk space.

I was wondering what happened, of course, so I let the check remained on the checkbox of "Compress this drive to save disk space" and clicked the OK button again to see if it will compress the now-full disk space. Nothing happened.  So I unclicked the check out of the checkbox and pressed OK to see what will happen. The computer gave me a prompt message whether I want to uncompress the H drive.  So, I said let's go for it, since compression does not work.

The computer then uncompressed each one of my files and folders and in less than 30 seconds finished with all my files and folders the same as it was before this ridiculous experiment of trying out the "Compress this drive to save disk space".

There's something to be learned in this.  Probably not to compress the hard drive at all, whether it is a server drive like my H drive or a computer drive like the C drive.

John