Treasure Hunt - week 3 task

This week, we have a task like this:
 

Q) Answer these questions without using Google or Wikipedia, and then write your answers in an entry in your blog. Provide the URL (with the date you accessed it) of where you found the answer, and include extras like images, embedded videos, etc.

Well, let's begin!


1. What is the weight of the world’s biggest machine? How much did it cost to build?

A) The weight is 203 tons when it's empty, the capacity is 365 tons, and maximum operating weight is 592 tons. It costs US 3.5 million dollars.

This is an earth-hauling dump truck designed by a German manufacturer. Even the engine itself weighs 10.5 ton, 90 litre diesel, which is producing 3650 horsepower (2700kW). It's 14.5m long and 7.4m tall. (nobertbermosa 2009, World's Largest Machines Ever Built, Bukisa,viewed 13/08/10, http://www.bukisa.com/articles/40463_worlds-largest-machines-ever-built)


2. What is the best way (quickest, most reliable) to contact Ozzy Osborne?

A) contact his manager or agents.

Ozzy Osbourne's Manager:

Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Osbourne Management
9292 Civic Center Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Phone: 310-859-7761

Ozzy Osbourne's Agents:

Ari Emanuel or Ari Greenburg
Endeavor Agency
9601 Wilshire Boulevard
3rd Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Phone: 310-248-2000

Ozzy Osbourne's Music Agent:

Rob Light
Creative Artists Agency
2000 Avenue Of The Stars
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Phone: 424-288-2000

Ozzy Osbourne's legal representation:

Manatt Phelps & Phillips
11355 West Olympic Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Phone: 310-312-4000

(Ozzy Osbourne contact information, TopSynergy.com, viewed 13/08/10, http://famous-relationships.topsynergy.com/Ozzy_Osbourne/Contact.asp)

I cannot believe how easy to find his contact details like this....... almost scary.

3. When and what was the first example of global digital communication?

A) In 1836, Morse Code

Samuel Morse (1791-1872) demonstrated a series of short signals to communicate over wires in 1836.


(Morse Code History, White River Valley Museum, viewed 13/08/10, http://www.wrvmuseum.org/morsecode/morsecodehistory.htm)

4. What is the cheapest form of travel from the Gold Coast to Melbourne?

A) Take a walk, of course. But realistically talking, by air.

Flight Centre offers a one way ticket from $73 now! Gee, that's a deal.
(Flight  Centre, viewed 13/08/10, http://www.flightcentre.com.au/travel/product/1032390?WT.srch=1&gclid=CJTp__qxtqMCFROnbwod8Q47ag)

5. Who is Hatsune Miku? What company does she belong to? What is her birthday?

A) She is a Vocaloid character of the Vocaloid2 Character Vocal Series, developed by Crypton Future Media. She was firstly released on August 31, 2007.

She is the most popular Vocaloid which used to be just a voice synthesizer before Miku. Miku was released as a virtual idol, using a sweet voice. It became popular through Nico Nico Douga in Japan. (Miku Hatsune / Vocaloid (2007), Know Your Meme, viewed 13/08/10, http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/miku-hatsune-vocaloid)







6. Find a live web cam in Antarctica. Find a place to stay in Antarctica.

A)
webcam:
Australian Antarctic Division, Antactic Webcams, Mawson Station
(viewed 14/08/10, http://www.aad.gov.au/asset/webcams/mawson/default.asp)

accommodation:
We can stay on expedition vessels of our choice! (Where to stay in Antarctica, select Latin America, viewed 14/08/10, http://www.selectlatinamerica.co.uk/destinations/antarctica/accommodation)

hmmmmm.......I would like to stay on 'Ocean Nova' which was built in Denmark with a spacious dining room, 37 outside cabins featuring private facilities, lounge and bar and glass-enclosed observation lounge..... oh, wait. I found a news article telling me this ship had struck rocks in 2009, though! Oh, no. No way. I don't think I need any Titanic experiences at all!

(The Sydney Morning Herald 2009, viewed 14/08/10, http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/australians-rescued-from-stuck-antarctic-ship-20090219-8bwj.html)

7. What song was top of the Australian pop charts this week in 1980?

A) Magic, Olivia Newton-John

Oh my gosh. Look at the chart. #3 was 'It's Still Rock & Roll To Me' by Billy Joel, #4 was 'Sailing" by Christopher Cross..............It's sooo 80's!

(The ARC Archives: August 9, 1980, Rock On The Net, viewed 14/08/10, http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1980/08-09.htm)




8. How would you define the term 'nano technology'? In your own words, what does it really mean?

A) Nano technology is the technology of nano size machines. A Nano meter is one billionth of a meter, smaller than cells and it is about the size of three or four atoms. The small nano scale machines have so much potential to bring both benefits and dangers. For example, it can be used for medical robots or untraceable weapons. (Nanotechnology Basics for Students, Center for Responsible Nanotechnology, viewed 14/08/10, http://www.crnano.org/basics.htm)

9. What type of camera is used to make ‘Google Street View’?

A) Immersive Media Camera

This small and light camera mounted on top of a VW Beetle in America (Karch , M 2007) and a Holden Astra in Australia (Moses, A 2008). The driver of the vehicle drove up and down nearly every street and captured 360 degree images at 30 frames per second (Karch , M 2007) .

references:
Moses, A 2008,The Sydney Morning Herald, Smile Australia, you;re on Google's candid camera, viewed 14/08/10, http://www.smh.com.au/news/biztech/google-backlash-over-street-view/2008/08/05/1217701932020.html).

Karch, M 2007, Immersive Media - IMC - the Camera That Captured Google Maps Street View, About.com, viewed 14/08/10, http://google.about.com/od/experimentalgoogletools/ig/SIGGRAPH-2007/Immersive-Media-Camera.htm



10. Translate these questions into Klingon.

A)
1. nuq 'oH [the] [weight] vo' [the] [world’s] [biggest] [machine] chay' 'ar ta'ta' 'oH [cost] Daq chen
2. nuq 'oH [the] [best] [way] [quickest] HochHom [reliable] Daq [contact] [Ozzy] [Osborne]
3. ghorgh 'ej nuq ghaHta' [the] wa'DIch [example] vo' [global] [digital] [communication]
4. nuq 'oH [the] [cheapest] [form] vo' [travel] vo' [the] SuD baS [Coast] Daq [Melbourne]
5. 'Iv 'oH [Hatsune] [Miku] nuq [company] ta'taH ghaH [belong] Daq nuq 'oH Daj qoS
6. tu' [a] yIn [webcam] Daq [Antarctica] tu' [a] Daq Daq [stay] Daq [Antarctica]
7. nuq bom ghaHta' [top] vo' [the] [Australian] [pop] [charts] vam [week] Daq
8. chay' [would] SoH [define] [the] [term] ['nano] [technology'] Daq lIj ghaj mu'mey nuq ta'taH 'oH [really] [mean]
9. nuq [type] vo' [camera] 'oH [used] Daq chenmoH [‘Google] [Street] [View’]
10. [Translate] Dochvammey [questions] Daq tlhIngan


hahaha. How crazy is that? Someone made a language for Star Trek and someone else dedicated himself to make a automatic translator for that. I cannot believe that a few people are even able to speak Klingon. Gee, get a life, people!

(Klingon Translator and Dictionary, KLV, viewed 14/08/10,  http://sites.google.com/a/klingonword.org/klv/klingon-translator-and-dictionary)

Well, this is all for this week. Have a nice weekend!