Dream Wheels

FEATURES: 2008 BMW M1 Homage Concept
April 28, 2008
By David Gluckman
Source:http://www.automobilemag.com/features/news/0804_bmw_m1_homage_concept/index.html

BMW has created the M1 Homage in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the M1. The design study was unveiled at the 2008 Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este held in Cernobbio, Italy.

Produced from 1978 to 1981, the M1 was BMW's first and only mid-engined street car. The project was originally contracted to Lamborghini for chassis development and assembly, but when the Italian firm hit a financial rough patch BMW took over. A total of 456 M1s were built.

The original car was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and was itself based on the 1972 BMW Turbo concept penned by Paul Bracq. BMW has kept the overall proportions and many design cues of the M1 alive on the Homage, including the small kidney grille, hood vents, and rear window louvers. Also present are the original's hidden headlights, but instead of pop-up units the lights on the M1 Homage are tucked under the hood overhang and are only visible when illuminated.

The M1 was powered by a 3.5-liter six-cylinder that was later modified and used in the M5 and M6. No powertrain details were shared for the M1 Homage as the car was built as a design showpiece.

Health - Eye Care

Hi fellow alumni,
An interesting eye exercise.
Hope that it works for you as it has done for me.

Regards, JL Chew

Build Up Better Vision by Martin Sussman
(source: http://www.bettervision.com/EM2008-12-b-lnd.html)

"How Flexible Are Your Eyes?"
Those of us who are near- or far-sighted have a rigid focusing system so that the muscles that control our ability to focus are more stiff and inflexible than they need to be to focus clearly.

TRY THIS NOW: (without glasses or contacts)
Hold your hand up near your face and focus on it, and then quickly look at something past your hand in the distance. Then look back at your hand. Out of the corner of your eye notice the same distant item.

If you've got clear vision, here's what you should see:

Your hand will be clearer than the distant item when you are focusing on your hand. When you're focused on the distant item, it will be clearer than your hand.

However, if you're nearsighted, your hand will be clearer, even when you're looking at the distant item.
And if you're farsighted, the distant item will be clearer, even when you're looking at your hand.

In other words, if you've got a vision problem, your eyes can't change focus, swiftly, easily and sharply, from far to near.
Many people think there's nothing that can be done about that, perhaps even believing that it's because the eye is the wrong shape (that's another one of the 5 Vision Myths that I tear apart in The Program for Better Vision).

But you can train the muscles in your eyes to focus better at different distances, and here's why:

FATTER OR FLATTER:CAN YOUR LENS MAKE THE CHANGE?
The lens in the eye changes its shape to bring objects into focus. The lens needs to be flatter to see objects that are further away more clearly. And it needs to become fatter to focus on something closer.
We are always changing what we are looking at, so the lens is continually making fine adjustments in its shape.
Normally, the lens changes its focus - and thus its shape - more than 100,000 times each and every day.

The shape of the lens is controlled by a group of muscles that surround the lens. These muscles have to work together to change the lens into the exact shape required to bring whatever you are looking at into sharp focus.
This changing of the eye's focusing power is called Accommodation. (It's one of the 6 Critical Visual Skills you'll develop when you use The Program for Better Vision.)

But if you've got a vision problem, these muscles around the lens become stuck and stiff. Some of them can't relax when they need to, while others can't stretch when they need to.
If you're nearsighted, they're stuck for near vision and the lens has too much power. On the other hand, if you're farsighted, these muscles are stuck for distance vision; the lens has too little focusing power.
Like any other group of muscle in the body, the muscles around the lens can be exercised. When you exercise them correctly, they can regain flexibility and tone, and they'll work the way that they're supposed to.

Here's one exercise from The Program for Better Vision that re-trains accommodation: Near-To-Far Shifting.

TRY THIS NOW: (without glasses or contacts)
1. Look at your finger, about 4-6 inches in front of your eyes.2. Shift your focus to a distant target, at least 10 feet away.3. Shift your focus back and forth from your finger to the distant target 10 - 20 times.4. Repeat as many times during the day as you remember. The more the better!
Make sure that your focus rests for a brief moment before you shift your vision again.

With practice, you'll be able to train the muscles around the lens to become more flexible and to change focus more easily and quickly. The result: You'll see better and better through an increasing range of distances.
Near-To-Far Shifting is one of 24 different exercises, techniques and processes that you'll find in The Program for Better Vision.

The Program for Better Vision: A powerfully effective combination of eye exercises, muscle control techniques, brain/eye coordination and complete body, mind and eye relaxation.

Semiconductor Industry

Dear fellow alumni,

Today, I would like to share a personal experience with you.
My personal experience in the Semiconductor industry started two decades ago at AMD. At that time, I was so "green" that I do not realize that I was venturing into an industry that was going to shape the way we do business, change our lifestyle and communicate. It was so new to me even when it was already 4 decades old. Everything looks so new to me.

So, it struck my mind to share this article with all of you, just in case you have not heard about this industry.

As time pass, I realized that this is a fast paced industry. The pace was governed by Moore's Law (A 1965 prediction by Gordon Moore, Intel's Co-Founder). Moore's Law, states that the number of transistors on a chip will double about every two years. Intel has kept that pace for almost 4 decades, leading the way and on hot pursuit by other Semiconductor manufacturers (source: http://www.intel.com/technology/mooreslaw/ ).

To most of us, we take for granted that mobile phones, LCD TV, DVD player, MP3 player, computer and digital watch are just ordinary inventions out of needs. But, I would like to point out that these miracle electronic gadgets would not be invented if the silicon-germanium junctions transistors were not discovered.

The Semiconductor history started with the discovery of the Si-Ge transistor by John Bardeen and Walter Brattain of Bell Laborotary in 1947. The discovery paved the way to miniturisation of gadgets. Today, the central processor unit (cpu), the brain of a computer is only 2" x 2" x 0.25" in size, weighed only 100 grams and constructed over 800 million transistors. The first computer, ENIAC weighed 27 tons, was roughly 8.5 feet by 3 feet by 80 feet (2.6 m by 0.9 m by 26 m), took up 680 square feet (63 m²) of space was commissioned in 1946.
(source:http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Andrew_Wylie/history.htm source: http://www.intel.com/technology/timeline.pdf)

The Semiconductor industry is ranked 20 out of the Standard & Poor Top 500 Ranking, registering monthly sales of US$ 23 billion until Sept., 2008 when the world faced an economic meltdown Sales after then had been sluggish and demand for Semiconductor chips had suffered a drastic decline.
(source:http://www.businessweek.com/pdfs/2004/0414_bw50industries.pdf source :http://www.rncos.com/Blog/2008/11/Growth-in-Global-Semiconductor-Sales-Dying-Down.html ).

Anyway, we would not have computers, laptops, PDA, cell phones, blackberry, digital cameras, ipods, calculators and many other gadgets without Semiconductor industry. Imagine a world without them. Maybe life would have been simpler.

Embeded within these gadgets are semiconductor chips made from silicon wafers and interconnected with tiny aluminium, gold and copper wires of sizes as small as 20um diameter, ten times smaller than the human hair by wire bonders.

The following video shows a wire bonder in action. This equipment is capable to placed 100 mils long gold wires of 25um diameter at the rate of 16 wires per sec.





Let us hope the economy will improve by end 2009 and more trendy gadgets will be available by then. Till then.

Cheerios!

Pls forward any enquiry to:
JL Chew PMA., MBA., DBA.
email : jl_chew@hotmail.com

EDSC Terms and Conditions

Member Signup, Renewal Terms and Conditions

EDS Circle (EDSC) is a borderless frontier for sharing knowledge, friendship and opportunities. The formation is solely to enhance the networking channel of EDS alumni and associates.

If you are not yet a EDSC member, do so now.
If you are an EDSC member, thanks for the support and happy networking.

EDSC is growing and expanding! Don't be left out, join in the excitement, the fun and the learning. Don't miss these golden opportunities to exchange ideas with our strong pool of professionals and leaders in their field.

EDSC Membership Privileges
Special Access to EDSC internet sites:
1) EDSC Communities
i) Fun & Friendship – Events, Party, Outdoor, Office
ii) Lifestyle – Health tips, Trend Fashion, Technology, Travel, Free Maps,
iii) Success Sharing – From Alumni
iv) Biography – Monthly Personality

2) Library
i) Experience Sharing Database
ii) EDS Knowledge Sharing Database.
iii) Opportunity Corner
iv) Literature Corner - Online Library

3) EDSC Helpdesk

4) EDSC InfoNews, Publication, Job Search

5) EDSC Survey & Feedback

6) EDSC Directory; Fun, Knowledge or Opportunity

7) EDSC Store, Discounts & Promotion Corners

EDSC Membership Package

EDSC Board is happy to offer the following membership packages.

i) Ordinary Member
ii) Associate Member
iii) Life Member
iv) Honorary Member

Membership Application

Submit applications to EDSC registrar with a one-time registration and first subscription fees for the chosen membership package to:

The Registrar,
EDSC Board,
C/O EDS Advance Academy,
48 Lorong Kurau 17,
Chai Leng Park,
13700 Prai, Penang,
Malaysia.

Successful applicants will receive email notifications within 5 working days and their welcome packages will be send to their mailing address within 2 weeks.

For subscription fee and schedules, please refer below:

Package Fee__(USD*)___ Schedule
Ordinary ______15_____ Renew Annually
Associate______20_____ Renew Annually
Life _________ 150_____Once during registration
Honorary_____ xxxx _____EDSC Board Approval

* US Dollars or equivalent

Personal Data Privacy Policy
Personal data provided by applicants will be treated with the strictest confidentiality and use only for processing the EDSC membership application, communication between ESDC Board and its member, mailing of EDSC newsletters, notification, promotion and publicity of EDSC activities. Membership database will be processed, maintained and kept by EDSC Board. General information of EDSC members will be listed at the EDSC directory at:

http://www.eds2ac.blogspot.com/

Disclaimer
Unless EDSC Board rejects an application, fees paid are non-refundable.
Membership database are processed and maintained by EDSC Board.
A one time registration fee, USD15 payable by all applicants.
Payment by cheque is acceptable, payable to EDS Advance Academy.
Please write your name and contact number behind the cheque and send payment to:

The Registrar,
EDSC Board,
C/O EDS Advance Academy,
48 Lorong Kurau 17,
Chai Leng Park,
13700 Prai, Penang,
Malaysia.

EdSc Application

EDSC Membership Application Form

Kindly fill in the form:

Name : ………………………………………..
Program Taken:..............................................
Commence Date:..........................................
Completion Date: …………………………….
Present place of work and Designation …………………..
Current contact: Telephone……………...Fax……………………
E-mail…………………………………
Postal Address………………………………….
……………………………………
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Membership Type:..........................
Directory Listing Preference:....................

*(Fun / Business Opportunity / Knowledge)
Interest: .......................................................

And submit to:

The Registrar,

EDSC Board,

C/O EDS Advance Academy,
48 Lorong Kurau 17,
Chai Leng Park,
13700 Prai, Penang,
Malaysia.
Contact: Telephone: + 604-390 1396
Fax: + 604 390 9766
Email: edscircle@gmail.com

EDSC Membership

EDS alumni Constitution
1 EDS alumni Circle (EDSC)’s Mission is to “Make Things Happen”
1.1 To maintain and foster the bonds of friendship among students who had studied at EDS Advance Academy" (hereinafter called "EDS"), EDS faculty members and individuals with keen interest in EDS activities.
1.2 To organize social, cultural and educational activities among members of the EDSC which may involve the participation of EDS Alumni, faculty and staff.
1.3 To establish and maintain social contacts with other educational and cultural institutions that would benefit EDSC.
1.4 To promote sharing of experience, knowledge and opportunities for the welfare and interests of EDSC members.

2 Membership
2.1 For recording purpose, registration of EDSC members is declared not to exceed one hundred thousand individuals..
2.2 EDSC members shall be comprised of the following categories:
- Ordinary Members;
- Associate Members;
- Life Members; and
- Honorary Members.

3 Eligibility for Membership
3.1 Ordinary & Life Member requisite
3.11 - Attended at least 3 EDS modules
3.12 - Graduates of EDS
3.13 - Individuals currently pursuing degree courses with EDS or its affiliations.
* Life Member application will be subject to the approval of the EDSC Board.

3.2 Associate Member requisite
3.21 - Certificate, Diploma or Degree Holders who had affiliations with EDS.
3.22 - Working professionals, business owners or practitioners.
3.23 - Individuals who have keen interests in EDS activities and support the objectives of EDSC.
3.24 - Full-time students aged 18 or above may join as Associate Members with a 50% discount on annual membership subscription.
* All Associate Member Application will subjected to approval from the EDSC Board

3.3 Honorary Members
3.31 - Individuals who had made contributions towards the betterment of the community and society.
3.32 - Individuals who have contributed or are deemed to be capable of contributing towards the Circle may be nominated as Honorary Members by the EDSC Board or through nominations from at least three other Honorary members of the Circle. The maximum allowable number of Honorary Members is limited to ten per year.

4 Membership Fees
4.1 The following Membership Fees shall apply:
a) "Registration Fee" for application of membership with EDSC and
b) "Annual Subscription Fee", payment on or before 30th June of fiscal year will be valid until 30th June of the following fiscal year, for maintaining the status of Members.
4.2 The rates of Membership Fees are as follows:
4.2.1 For the first year of the establishment of the Circle:
a) Registration Fee is at USD10, payable by the applicants for Ordinary Members, Associate Members and Life Members;
b) Annual Subscription Fee is at
• USD15 per calendar year for Ordinary Members;
• USD20 per calendar year for Associate Members; and
• USD150 per one time payment for Life Members.
For first-time subscription, if the application is made between 1st Jan and 30th June, the Annual Subscription Fee for Ordinary Members and Associate Members will be extended to the calendar year following the year in which membership application is made.
4.2.2 The rates set out in 4.2.1 may be subject to revision if recommendation is made and approved by the EDSC Board.
4.2.3 Membership Fees are not refundable.

5 Authority
5.1 - The EDSC Board, appointed by EDS Advance Academy, will handle all matters related to the operations of the EDSC.
5.2 - Elective committees will act as advisory bodies to EDSC to enhance its services to the EDS Alumni.
5.3 - EDSC reserves the right to suspend membership of an individual, found of any wrongdoing or violation of the By-laws or acts in a manner prejudicial to the interest of EDSC, the Board may expel or suspend the member concerned for a certain period of time. However, the Board shall give a written notification to the member on what ground he is being expelled or suspended. The member shall be given the opportunity to explain and defend himself. The decision of the Board shall be implemented immediately unless the member make an appeal against the decision and submit evidence to support his defense.