Database Management System
June 15th, 2007A database is a collection of inter-related data, representing information about a specific domain. In other words, every time you group information that can be related to the same subject, you can say that you have a database. For example: a phone list, a CD catalog or a human resource control system of a company.
However, Database Management System (DBMS) is a software that has resources capable of manipulating database information and interacting with user. Some examples of DBMS’s: oracle, sql server, db2, postgresql, mysql, access, paradox, etc.
At last, we have to picture database management system as the set of four basic components: data, hardware, software and users. In other words, database system can be depicted as an electronic data room.
The main goals of a database system are isolating users from internal details of the database (to promote data abstraction) and making data to become independent from applications.
Color Psychology of Red
June 15th, 2007Psychology does not limit to people – colors have a psychology of their own. More precisely, I am referring to our reactions and senses that are stimulated by different colors. Colors have a major role in our lives, even if we are not permanently aware of their importance. The fact is that we take many of our decisions regarding our likes and dislikes toward different colors. Think about it: we like a certain eye color, a certain hair color, we enjoy wearing clothes of a certain color and we even select the items we buy regarding their color. This is why the term “color psychology” was invented.
But which color is the one that has most meanings? It’s simple: red. Red is, for sure, the most intense and vibrant color. Therefore, it can cause very different psychological reactions, if put into different context. Since it symbolizes romance (due to the red color of the heart), emotions, intimate relations, love and passion, love might seem overwhelming in certain situations. Psychologists explain that this is precisely the reason why individuals avoid creating a red living space, with red walls and red furniture. Instead, red is used for accents, for accessories, since they seem to capture attention in a less aggressive way.
Furthermore, wide red surfaces are a great point of attraction – this is why there are numerous red cars that have been the target of thieves, since they capture attention so well. Red clothing does the exact same thing – while in some romantic context, complete red clothing is appropriate, a complete red outfit is rarely seem in business environments or on day time. Some people hate it, some love it; red is the most debatable color and the one that causes the most intense psychological reactions.
Biology vs. Life: the Cloning Debate
June 15th, 2007If Adam and Eve didn’t know much about their organisms or about the processes taking place inside their bodies, we can’t say the same about nowadays society. Luckily enough, biology has a lot of data available, which can tell us almost everything we need to know about the body structure or any other living being. But, there were a few times in the history of biology when this amazing science came to question the origin of human life.
Biology was seen as a sort of enemy when Darwin’s “Origin of Species” appeared, as it shattered the common belief that human existence had a biological root. But throughout the years people came to understand that biology offers explanations and doesn’t force people into automatically adopting its theories. The 20th century faced one of the most serious dilemmas when biology specialists managed to create a sheep clone, thus making the discovery that life can be produced in some laboratory.
Naturally, the biology cloning issue separated the world into two side camps: the pros and the cons. The DNA cloning allowed biologists to create new entities by a combination and modification of DNA, the result being the birth of a new being who bore a perfect similarity to the previous one. The star of cloning technology was Dolly, a sheep created from embryonic cells and who became the first successful experiment of this type of biology procedure.
Those who disagree with cloning made several protests to argue against biology’s attempt (in their opinion) to double life and destroy the uniqueness principle. But if we take a close look, we will see that, with cloning, biology has basically hit the jackpot: cloning can be used in critical situations or, at least, it can serve as a basis for future development and child birth ration in poor countries on the African continent. As new technologies are being elaborated, the developments in the field of biology and human treatment will vastly expand.
Enterprise JavaBeans
June 15th, 2007Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) are key elements in J2EE (Java 2 Enterprise Edition) platform. They represent a server-side component technology, with focus on business logic shaping and object distribution. Enterprise JavaBeans are not a product, but they are a public specification which determines the rules to create business objects in special servers (EJB container in application servers).
Applications build using architecture based on EJB are inherently distributed and transactional, allowing huge scalability and safeness. For example, a business component being executed on a server requests transparently the services provided by other component being executed in other server. Enterprise JavaBeans can start transactions in a given resource (for example, a database) and those transactions are diffused locally or remotely.
EJB emphasizes reusing of business object through an development architecture where software engineers perform many distinctive and complementary tasks:
- Enterprise Bean Provider (business specialist).
- Application Assembler (application constructor).
- Deployer (the one responsible to adapt application to business local conditions).
- EJB Server Provider (middleware specialist).
- EJB Container Provider (programmer).
- System administrator.
A Summarized History of Basketball
June 15th, 2007You would be surprised to know the fact that, even if basketball seems quite a recent and contemporary sport, its origins date from the 19th century. More precisely, at the end of that century, a university professor was thinking about various ways to improve his students’ physical abilities. In order to do so, he actually adapted the rules of the game called “Duck on a Rock” and managed to set the basis for a new sport. Still, this game seemed a lot like a certain type of handball and did not present all the rules of basketball, as we know it today. For example, there was no dribbling, since the game was mostly focused on the bounce passes to the teammates.
Shortly after that, women started to play the same sport, while causing, at the same time, certain debates. The first basketball game was played in an educational environment, meaning at YMCA. Due to its great popularity, the new game spread quite fast all throughout United States, and was played in various clubs (at first in amateur clubs, then in professional ones). At the same time, basketball was intensively played in universities, where it actually started.
There is another interesting thing when talking about the history of basketball: at first, this game was not played with the ball that is used today. Instead, a soccer ball was used (which was lighter and with less elasticity). Just in the middle of the previous century, the famous and typical orange ball was introduced as the official ball of this game. At the same time, dribbling became an important part of the basketball game.
Funny Maths – A Game of the Mind
June 15th, 2007You don’t have to worry about being called a nerd just because you have a thing for math. On the contrary, knowing how to solve difficult problems could very easily bring you that smarty allure, being all of a sudden the popular kid in your school. So why is math thought of as being such a tough subject? Could it be the mazes of calculus, the lies and curves of geometry or simply the signs in algebra? Just take a shot at the fun part of math and you will be amazed at the mysteries it will reveal!
Math isn’t always about putting signs between numbers or infinitely drawing triangles and spheres. It is very often a testing of your mind accurateness and promptitude and it is often the best method to check if someone is fast or slow thinking. But math has a great advantage: it can make you look a lot smarter than you already are. For instance, if you want to expose your intellectual qualities you could very well use the “guess two numbers” trick: you ask another person to choose a number, multiply it, make sums etc, and all you have to do is follow the backwards process. There you go, it doesn’t take a genius!
If algebra is not among your strengths why not try geometry? Developing a drawing skill might turn in useful for a future architect career and that is something for which math is worth studying. You will be soon capable of projecting triangles inside circles and viceversa, without even knowing that the outcome could be an ecological house. Or, if you dare dream further, studying geometry will be knock-out for those willing to be web-designers. And trust me, making 3D puzzle, or Morley’s miracle will be piece of cake after your first try.
Cat Toilet Training
June 4th, 2007If your cat has no idea of the toilet, you have to give an important attention to this matter. However, the training process is not as complicated as it appears to be at the first sight. If you are determined to educate your cat, you should start with a kitten, because training a big cat is more difficult.
Let us start from this:
- You have to look after your cat for a while, because otherwise, the training process will take too long and it will be too tiring. The best moment to start the cat training is when you are on weekends or on holidays – in this way, you will have enough time to look after your darling and correct its deeds.
- Consider your kitten like a young baby: therefore, do not holler or beat it if it “does” on the floor.
- Be patient: Just take the cat to the toilet. If after some weeks of acquaintance with you your kitten, it still keeps its old habits, talk to it loudly (but not shout), show the “heap” and keep the cat near it and say: “What is this?, Who did this?, Never do this again! “After this, take the cat to the box, dip into the sand, and let it dig into it.
- Remember! The cats’ organism is built in a way that correction process follows only after feeding, so feed your pet while training.
- If your cat goes around, looks for a place or sits on its legs, the training may be considered successful. Now take the kitten to the box and do not let it out of the box until it is not finished.
- It is not a secret that the cats find the toilet by the smell! So, if your beloved kitten “did” in an unexpected place, you must clean the place properly because it will continue to “do” there in the future.
Build a friendly relationship with your kitten - cats get accustomed very quickly to use the toilet and to maintain their hygiene in a perfect state. Good luck!
Science - The Universal Knowledge
June 4th, 2007Scientists are among the most respected beings on the planet because they always manage to come up with the exact explanation for whatever question there is in our minds. Indeed, so far, science has elaborated complex, yet plausible, theories for any possible subject and field that deals with forces and actions of the world. As a matter of fact, surveys show that when a man/woman is spoken of as being knowledgeable, they are immediately associated with excellence in science knowledge prior to any other topic.
Science, many times obscure and mysterious, hides infinite secrets waiting for us to discover and use them properly. Not only does science inform us on the composition of the universe, but, if we look closer, we will be surprised to learn the many tips it has to offer. For instance, we all know that the ocean is salty. But what we might not know is the fact that if the salt in the seas and oceans could be removed and spread evenly on the surface of the Earth, it would form a very thick layer, about the size of 40-story office building.
As useful as it may be, science is very often underappreciated by teenagers, who only watch it as a subject they have to take up when in high school. But once they penetrate the kernel of the scientific ideas and vision, they are very likely to forever fall in love with this science mirage. If the primitive people were amazed by any event such as eclipses, nowadays science has reached such a level that we practically get a preview notice on any event to take place, not to mention the afterwards analysis.
Fitness Tips - How to Build Muscles Fast
June 4th, 2007Think about it: you can’t actually get fit without practicing fitness, since the two words are actually related. Sure, you can lose weight without fitness, but your body will not look tones or fit, in case you do not weight train. But guess what happens? Most people start a fitness program in order to tone up or to build muscles fast and, due to the fact that they can’t actually see results in a week or two, they give up. In order to avoid being in this situation, here are some basic things you should know in case you want to build muscles fast and efficiently:
First of all, you should eat enough. But what should you eat? The answer is quite simple: as many proteins and vitamins. Avoid junk food and processed carbs, avoid great amounts of fat, but consume meat, fruits, veggies, eggs, dairy products and integral carbohydrates.
Secondly, you might be surprised to know that you can’t actually grow muscles fast and properly, in case you do not warm up correctly. Furthermore, a good warm up can prevent various accidents. For sure, a good warm up is followed by a proper training. In order to benefit from a proper training, choose a complex gym, with an experienced trainer. Make sure you use appropriate weights and do not exhaust yourself from the beginning.
There is one more thing: in case you want to build muscles fast and to actually grow, then you might need to take supplements. But which one of these actually work and which ones are healthy? The best thing is to ask both a nutritionist and a fitness specialist. Tell them your desires, listen to their advice and make sure you don’t make any abuses. Extra vitamins and minerals can help you increase your strength in any context, so taking them involves no risks, but there are many more which can be tricky in certain situations. Good luck!
Eclipse - Most Popular Java IDE
June 4th, 2007Eclipse is one of the most popular IDEs nowadays. It is used to develop Java programs and it is considered to be a key tool when talking about open-source programs. Eclipse has some facilities, such as visualization of all files in the project in a clear way and tools for collective work management.
Due to plug-in technology, Eclipse allows developer to personalize his work environment according to the project that it’s being developed. This project can be a simple one with static HTML pages, or even applications using EJBs, several frameworks or J2ME, for example. The basic version of Eclipse found on web comes with some plug-ins, such as Ant and CVS. Besides, plug-in technology also allows you to create your own plug-ins.
Despite of being a free IDE, Eclipse allows you to do in your environment the same you could do using paid tools, such as Jbuilder or WSAD.