There’s the whiff of something distinctly rotten wafting from our justice system.

Justice Minister Simon Power has hastened to attend to the source of some of the pong. But not all of it.

He is to ask Cabinet to agree to sweeping changes to our legal aid service

after revelations hundreds of crooked lawyers are ripping off taxpayers.

He has vowed “urgent structural change” to shore up public confidence in the system.

Power has asked justice officials to compile an urgent report on how quickly the Legal Services Agency can be disestablished and folded into the Ministry of Justice.

Cabinet will be considering the report today, Alf has been advised.

According to the newspapers –

The agency, set up in 1991, doled out $124 million to legal-aid lawyers last year for 95,000 applications.

In a damning report on its performance, Dame Margaret Bazley says that potentially tens of millions of dollars have been pocketed fraudulently by lawyers “gaming the system”. At least 200 lawyers – possibly more – were involved in the practice, which Bazley described yesterday as “unscrupulous and corrupt”.

In one of the hardest-hitting reports in Bazley’s long career, the public service troubleshooter slated both the agency and the Law Society, saying they had a “dysfunctional” relationship and appeared either unable or unwilling to stop abuses in the system.

Fair to say, questions have been raised about the rigour of the investigation that led to those findings.

But to cut to the chase, Bazley is recommending a mix of public and privately-provided legal aid, with a public defender model using a pool of experienced lawyers set up in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.

In other centres, legal aid lawyers should be grouped under a senior lawyer responsible for quality. She recommended that legal aid work should be bulk-funded.

Repeat clients or those who dismissed their counsel should lose the right to appoint their own lawyer, Bazley said, while high-cost cases such as murder trials should be overseen by a senior public servant.

But let’s put the legal aid system aside for a moment.

Something more disquieting has been flushed into the open in recent days.

The highest court in the land has recalled a judgment – a rare event – after one of its judges disclosed that he effectively owed nearly a quarter of a million dollars to a QC who appeared before him in the Appeal Court.

In addition, a racing industry company, Rich Hill Ltd, owned by Justice Bill Wilson and Alan Galbraith, QC, was in the process of borrowing another $700,000 to help buy a property to enlarge a horse stud.

“The judge’s shareholding in Rich Hill Ltd was not at that time merely a passive investment,” the Supreme Court said yesterday.

“These circumstances … would, if disclosed before the earlier hearing, have led the court to the conclusion that the case on apparent bias was made out. There is … a very special reason why justice requires recall of our earlier judgment”.

In other words, we have a judge, now ensconsed in the highest court in our land, who has been found to have been found wanting in the judicious department.

The Government has displayed a bothersomne lack of sense of concern.

A spokesman for Attorney-General Chris Finlayson said he was studying the ruling. He had no immediate comment.

How much bloody study is demanded?

Alf would have the injudicious judge keel-hauled, if the Navy could spare one of its ships for the occasion.

As the Supreme Court has ruled, he should not have judged a case where one of the counsel was an active business partner.

If Wilson did not know he shouldn’t have judged the case, his judgement is dead dodgy and he is unfit to sit on the bench. Any bench, come to think of it, including the benches at Alf’s favourite park.

The ruling by Justices Peter Blanchard, Andrew Tipping, John McGrath, and Noel Anderson is the first on apparent bias relating to the relationship between a judge and counsel.

A fifth judge, Justice Tom Gault, sat on the original Supreme Court bench that on July 3 ruled in favour of Mr Galbraith’s client, but was not available for the recall hearing, a court official said.

The case in which participants have been failed by Judge Wilson and by our court system involves Saxon merino growers, including the Saxmere Company. They have spent years arguing their wool should be treated separately from other merino wools in allocating Wool Board funding.

Galbraith represented the Wool Board Disestablishment Company in the Appeal Court, where Justice Wilson found against Saxmere.

Saxmere owner Peter Radford – through his lawyer Sue Grey – appealed to the Supreme Court, alleging a potential conflict of interest because Mr Galbraith co-owned with Justice Wilson land for grazing race horses.

But the court ruled in July that a “fair-minded lay observer” would reasonably understand that Justice Wilson brought an impartial mind to his judgment.

Bollocks.

Last week,

the court said “it has emerged” that at March 31, 2007, shortly before the Appeal Court hearing, Justice Wilson had advanced $984,176 to Rich Hill, and Mr Galbraith had loaned the company $1,226,980.

Justice Wilson was to balance the contributions with a further $242,804, including interest and principal on $168,555 of bank debt.

“The objective lay observer could reasonably consider that … the judge was at the relevant time beholden to Mr Galbraith,” the court said.

Since the earlier Supreme Court ruling, it had also been disclosed that Rich Hill had contracted to buy a property to enlarge the horse stud, and had arranged to borrow its one-third share of the $2.16 million price.

“The judge and Mr Galbraith must have been reliant upon one another during the very time the Saxmere judgment was reserved in the Court of Appeal”, the court said.

The rehearing in the Appeal Court will be before a new panel of judges.

So far, so good.

But what happens to the Wilson bugger?

A few quiet words from his superior, and that’s it?

Alf has often harboured reservations about the quality of the justice dispensed by our courts.

He was outraged when the Clark Government did away with the right of appeal to the Privy Council and set up – at great expense – the Supreme Court as our top court.

The Wilson case shows why the Clark Government was so wrong to eschew the services provided freely by the Privy Council, thus denying our citizens the chance to take their cases for consideration by top British legal luminaries.

Enquanto continuo sem fazer algo que preste para o mundo, resolvi fazer mais um comentário inútil super útil sobre fansubbing. Como todos em geral devem saber, no Brasil, o fansubbing é extremamente amador (em geral), já que os “manos” que fazem isso não sabem nem direito o que estão fazendo.

Para verem o post completo, cliquem abaixo:

Resolvi comentar em tópicos, porque em geral subs no Brasil são amadores, da mesma forma que eu usei tópicos quando fiz o post anterior.

Começarei com tradução e irei até o lançamento:

• Tradução: Aqui o principal ponto de problema não é a tradução, mas sim a não tradução. Em geral os subs gostam de deixar termos em japonês. Isso é idiota. O trabalho de um fansubber é justamente traduzir um anime para a sua língua. Ao deixar termos em japonês, significa que ou você é incompetente demais e não consegue traduzir termos simples para o japonês, ou você acha que a língua japonesa superior a qualquer outra (no entanto não é capaz de ver um anime sem legenda, e se presta a legendar um anime para outras pessoas, que provavelmente ainda não leram um FAQ de algum grupo de rmvb explicando sobre isso) ou ainda você acha que como o trabalho é de “fã”, pode ficar uma bosta sem sentido. Quanto a tudo isso só posso dizer uma coisa: Se for para fazer alguma coisa faça direito.
• Tradução do Inglês: Aqui, vou comentar sobre tradução do inglês, que é utilizada por cerca de 99% dos grupos do Brasil. Em primeiro lugar, gostaria de dizer que não acho errado a tradução do inglês. No entanto, da mesma forma que traduzindo diretamente do japonês, se o tradutor não for suficientemente competente, a tradução ficará uma bosta. Não digo que não possam haver erros, mas os erros não podem ser triviais. Acho que as traduções do inglês são em geral ruins, não porque não é a tradução a partir da língua original, mas porque como o inglês é uma língua parecida com português, qualquer um se acha capaz de traduzir. Além disso, como qualquer um consegue digitar palavras em inglês no google, as traduções acabam ficando péssimas. Se quiser ser um tradutor, primeiramente compre um dicionário. Quanto à qualidade do sub americano, vou comentar isso no tópico “TLC”. A parte “Tradução de outras línguas” também será abordada no mesmo tópico.
• Timing: em geral inexistente. Os americanos lançando em softsub acabam facilitando muito a vida dos subbers, no entanto, em geral o timing fica defeituoso em algumas partes, e em certas horas as frases ficam mal divididas e seria melhor juntar tudo de uma vez, no entanto o sub não tem essa noção, e as frases em geral ficam mal colocadas e mal divididas.
• TLC: o TLC (Translation Check) é algo praticamente inexistente em subs no Brasil. Em primeiro lugar porque acham que precisam de alguém com alguma noção de japonês para fazê-lo. Não há essa necessidade, apesar de ser recomendável. O TLC buscará erros na tradução, em geral não possuem a mesma capacidade de umm tradutor, ou não tem tempo para traduzir à sério. No entanto é sempre bom ter pessoas diferentes olhando o script buscando incoerências. Quanto à subs fazendo TLC de inglês, acho que apesar de ser algo inexiste no Brasil, seria bem útil. Um TLC não significa que o tradutor seja ruim, significa que caso o tradutor erre a tradução (ou a interpretação do anime), haja mais alguém capacitado para arrumar o erro (já que erros de tradução não deveriam chegar à uma revisão).
• Revisão: Não é abrir o script no Word. A revisão não se trata de corrigir apenas ortografia. Apesar de serem os erros mais gritantes, a ortografia é o que menos incomodará quem estiver assistindo. No entanto frases difíceis de entender, sem nexo, redundantes, etc. em geral incomodam bastante (Nem que seja fazer o cara pausar o vídeo para pensar o que a frase quer dizer). Além disso o revisor deve adaptar os termos para o tipo de público. Neste caso, está aberta a possibilidade de animes para diferentes públicos. Certos animes podem ser feitos da mesma maneira com uma linguagem simplificada ou uma linguagem melhor trabalhada, que tem uma tradução de outro nível. Por isso, sr.Leecher, se não entender as frases, a culpa é do fansub, que foi incapaz de deixá-la de maneira apresentável. Se não entender o vocabulário utilizado, então provavelmente aquele lançamento não é do seu nível, foi feito para pessoas com português culto, que tentaram representar a existência de palavras difíceis na língua original (Isto também vale para níveis de formalidade, como existe no japonês diversos níveis de formalidade, no português eles também existem, talvez o problema seja que você não é suficientemente culto para entender, mas isso não é problema do fansub, e sim do seu Ensino Fundamental e Médio, e além disso, se em situações mais formais a tradução estiver mais formal, quer dizer que houve um melhor trabalho de tradução).
• Typeset: Deve ser utilizado quando necessário, e na medida certa. Se o anime mostrar um typeset de 5 frames que nem os japoneses conseguem ver, é perda de tempo traduzir. No entando, um texto que aparece por 15 segundos, e é suficientemente importante, deve ser traduzido, nem que seja com uma legenda com {\an8} (será um typeset feio, mas é melhor do que nada). No entanto o ideal é deixar sempre o typeset como uma opção, e não algo definitivo, por isso opte sempre por softsub. Se quiser fazer um typeset destrutivo, faça por todo o anime, para não ficar algo fora do contexto (Não adianta nada uma placa estar em português se todo o restante estiver em outra língua, é irreal). Ah, e nunca use Comic Sans.
• RAW: opte sempre por sources (DVD-ISOs, de preferência uncompressed, Transport Streams e BDMVs, de preferência uncompressed também). RAWs do Tosho/Winny/PD/Share devem ser utilizadas apenas em último caso (Projeto ignorado por todos os outros subs, com DVDs dificílimos de encontrar – ou impossíveis – ou que não foram cappados por ninguém). Se não utilizar uma source, o ideal é ter um encoder excepcional para compensar a perda já existente na RAW.
• Encode: o encoder deve saber o que está fazendo. Ele devve ter a mínima noção de como usar avs, e deve ter u PC e conexões razoáveis. Além disso deve ter noção do melhor custo benefício. De nada adianta usar uma configuração perfeita de encode, se isto implicar num encode a 0.05fps. Além disso o encoder deve ter noção com o que está trabalhando. Saber se o anime é upscaled ou não é essencial, para  não fazer um encode terrível (As vezes mais vale um SD de 100mb com poucos, do que um HD de 170mb com defeitos evidentes). Upscaled é só desperdício de banda, tanto para o encoder quanto para o leecher. Se tiver dúvida se um anime é HD ou não, consulte os links “tal anime é HD?” aqui do b log. Além disso tenha noção do que faz. Hoje com DVDs é idiota fazer encodes com 233mb para encaixar um anime direitinho. Estes tamanhos existiam para caber animes em CD (2 ou 3 episódios). Além disso, animes em 720p em geral pedem mais de 300mb para ter uma qualidade aceitável para poder ser considerado HD. Além disso, desprenda-se dos tamanhos fixos. Um crf obtem o mesmo resultado que um 2-pass do mesmo tamanho, encoda mais rápido e tem mais qualidade. Quanto ao áudio, só encode em casos extremos. Em geral o áudio ocupará pouco espaço no encode.
• QC: Se tudo correr bem, você não precisará. Se tudo der errado, é melhor mandar o seu amigo que errou embora e botar o cara que faz QC no lugar dele. Simples assim. (Que fique bem claro também, quem faz QC deve ser uma pessoa capacitada, não adianta o QCer ser alguém que vai ver o anime antes de todo mundo).
• Caraoquê: é algo desnecessário. Não perca tempo por causa de caraoquê (mas coloque a letra da música (em kanji ou romaji) e a tradução – se forem em uma língua inteligível). Se for para fazer faça bem feito, não faça efeitos toscos com o Aegisub. Qualquer um tem capacidade de fazer um \k e ou \kf. E qualquer um tem capacidade de fazer as letras rodarem com automation. Se for para fazer caroquês simples, use softsub.
• Distribuição: Veja o que é mais simples. Torrents são a principal solução, no entanto só de colocar um lançamento no haitou, você já fica mal visto. É bom ter cautela. Se não puder adquirir bots, links diretos podem servir. Se o seu anime for pouquíssimo baixado, também compensa mais utilizar uma forma de download mais rápida, do que comprometer a banda da equipe com o seeding de um torrent. Se quiser usar torrents, opte em primeiro lugar por trackers públicos. Não pensem que as pessoas não vão seedar o torrent se estiver num tracker público. Se não estiverem precisando de ratio, não vão seedar do mesmo jeito. E ter gente seedando o seu anime só para manter ratio é humilhante e deprimente. Sr. Leecher, se gostou do anime, seede! Se não gostou, ajude a nukar o lançamento gastanto sua banda com algo melhor!
• Reencodes: Reencoders são Idiotas. Hoje em dia qualquer um com o mínimo de vontadee consegue baixar um episódio de verdade. “Mas é para as pessoas que usam discada!”, bom, um episódio de verdade é extremamente demorado para ser baixado, no entanto, um episódio em rmvb vai demorar também para ser baixado. E você terá uma qualidade péssima que não é a disponibilizada pelo fansub (Se reencoder soubesse encodar, não seria reencoder, seria encoder). Além disso, pelo que andei vendo o tamanho dos rmmvbs subiu um pouco (Alguns anos atrás eram 15mb, depois 40~50, hoje já se acham rmvbs de 80~100). Com esse tamanho, é quase a mesma coisa baixar um episódio de verdade, e, apesar de a velocidade da conexão discada se manter a mesma há anos, o tamanho dos rmvbs só aumenta. Além disso, sites de reencode são cheios de propagandas, então, quando você baixa um rmvb, você está ajudando apenas pessoas mal intencionadas, que não falam português direito, que não falam japonês direito (isso quando entendem falam alguma coisa) e que não ajudaram em nada com a confecção do episódio. Lembre-se, ao invés de apoiar algum TROUXA, que traduziu e disponibilizou o anime para você sem cobrar nada, você está apoiando um aproveitador que está ganhando dinheiro às suas custas e às custas de uns TROUXAS, que traduziram um anime de graça para você. O mesmo vale para vendedores de DVD (vulgos camelôs), com a diferença que aqui a relação entre o seu dinheiro e o anime é mais evidente. Fansubs de verdade não visam obter lucro. Não quer dizer que não precisem de dinheiro (DVDs japoneses, servidores, etc. são caros), que dizer que não obtem dinheiro que não seja para se manterem. Se quiser apoiar o fansubbing no Brasil, exija um relatório transparente de gastos do fansub mensalmente. Além disso nõ clique no anúncio de um fansub se ele não merecer, assista o episódio e julgue o fansub. Se considerar o fansub bom, tente ajudá-lo de alguma maneira.

Por fim, vale lembrar que fansubbing é uma atividade ilegal, meramente tolerada pelas produtoras. Quando tiver oportunidade apoie o seu anime não ajudando um site, mas tirando o escorpião do bolso e comprando o DVD original para ajudar quem realmente trabalhou no anime que você assistiu. Sim, é caro, no entanto se não ocorrer isso a internet vai acabar com o anime. Não precisa comprar um DVD por anime, ou  um DVD a cada tempo determinado, mas tem que comprar quando puder, para mostrar que aprecia o trabalho da produtora.

E para finalizar, REENCODERS SÃO REALMENTE BURROS.

PS: Se você baixa animes de reencoders porque  o sub original faz uma versão muito overpower para você, o ideal é começar a juntar dinheiro para um computador novo.

PPS: Se se sentiu ofendido de alguma forma com esse post, culpe-se a si mesmo por ser um sem noção.

Enquanto eu idlo o release de tamagotchi, resolvi escrever alguma coisa explicando como funciona esse fansub.

Com exceção de alguns colaboradores somos praticamente um 1 man sub. Vamos ver como funciona o sub:

Tradução:  Em geral do japonês, se possível com closed captions. No entanto, o tradutor trabalha em outros subs, então em geral os releases atrasam.

• Timing: Idem ao de cima. O timer não faz isso para outros subs, mas odeia timer, então dá na mesma.

• Revisão: Realizada por free-lancers. Tradutor revisando seu próprio script = fail.

• Typeset: O typeset agora é softsub, o que previne erros, mesmo assim é chato. ;/

• RAW: Para os projetos novos usaremos apenas sources (mpeg-2 em .vob para DVDs, mpeg-2/h264 em .m2ts para BD e mpeg-2/h264 em .ts/.m2ts para TV).

• Encode: Os 2 computadores do encoder são um P4 3.0GHz, e um intel atom n270. Os encodes para 720p atingem no máximo 720p com uma configuração razoável.

• QC: Inexistente, se um episódio chegar até o ponto do QC estará praticamente pronto. Além disso, o QC é altamente desnecessário se o restante do sub é competente.

E como diz o gg (sub gringo troller):

Do nosso tempo subbando, chegamos à conclusão que o QC existe por diversas razões, nenhuma positiva:
1) É um bloqueio mental feito pelos fansubbers achando que algo tem que ser “perfeito”.
2) É para o timer/revisor/outro se sentir sem culpa se algo ainda estiver errado, dizendo “O cara que fez o QC não viu isso”.
3) Acaba sendo perda de tempo, porque se os seus timers/revisores/outros forem bons o bastante, os caras que fazem seu QC irão apenas tomar tempo.
4) É algo que você confia porque seus timers/revisorer/outros são uma bosta. Neste caso seria mais prático que o cara que faz o QC tome o lugar do seu timer/revisor/outro.

Além disso o QC tem vários resultados, sendo nenhum positivo:
1) O cara que faz o QC acha 1 erro. Parabéns, você perdeu um puta tempo por causa de 1 erro.
2) O cara que faz QC acha bilhões de erros. Parabéns, seu time perdeu tempo, o cara que fez o QC devia ter feito isso no lugar do cara que errou pra caralho.
3) O cara que faz QC acha 2 erros, mas deixa passar outros 2.
4) O cara que faz QC não acha nenhum erro, mas quer parecer que é útil, então faz mudanças inúteis. Mais perda de tempo.
5) O cara que faz QC na verdade não faz QC.
6) O cara que faz QC acha que QC é só uma extensão de revisão, então não faz mais nada além disso.

Para terminar, vou deixar vocês com essa screenshot do lançamento de Nodame Contabile Paris de um “grupo de qualidade”. Como podem ver, o QC deles é bem atento.

No Brasil QC é praticamente ver o episódio antes de todos os outros. Então, quem quiser poderá adquirir uma conta vip do fansub e fazer QC! (Mediante pagamento, óbvio)

• Distribuição: Enquanto não aparecer um tracker decente no Brasil (DECENTE, não merda cheia de leechers que não sabem nem falar português direito), usaremos apenas bots e o tracker anirena, que é público e não tem ratio (não queremos ninguém seedando porque tem que manter o ratio, queremos que seede se gostar e delete se não gostar.

Fora isso, gostaria de acrescentar que se eu não conheço você (em alguns casos, se eu conheço você) eu não vou dar a mínima em pegar o mesmo projeto que você, por mais que esteja “perfeito”.

Breve devo lançar alguma coisa. Bye o/

Ok, you’ve selected the high volume formulae for costing, and several high volume package configurations for costing. You’ve gotten price quotes for each component in a volume representative  of  the entire product line (e.g. 2 million 16 oz PE bottles screen printed with 25 different labels with closure Y and 3 million PE squeeze tubes, screen printed with closure X with 30 different labels).

Now you need to be able to manufacture and package as much of the product line as you’ve chosen to do. You need to work with mfging management and engineering to get the equipment needed quoted, installed and integrated. If you have good mfging people (as I’ ve always been blessed with) they will design the mixing, filling and packaging process and quote out each piece of equipment needed.  For example, they quote out a mixer with any automation needed for material handling and process controls, bulk storage tanks and process piping to filling. You may have a filler and capper already but now need a palletizer. They will provide an estimate for all installation needs( building modifications, power needs, etc). They think the entire process thru and quote everything you need. Smaller companies may not have all the resources for this. There are consultants who can do this part for you at reasonable costs. They generate a number for the total capital costs of the project- $850K. It doesn’t have to be perfect at this point, it just needs to be representative. The real number might be $800K or it might be $950K. That is close enough for the first cut.

Now mfging management also need to generate a labor cost for the process. This could be as simple as you will needs 3 people per shift for a 2 shift operation for a total of 6 people at 80% of the rated production rate of the system. You know a fully loaded laborer costs $50K for a total direct labor cost of $300K. At this point you don’t need much more detail than that.

Also, they need to think thru any indirect labor costs such as supervision, material handling or additional QC needs. Lets say you don’t need any of this for this exercise.

Lastly consider supplies for the processes- cleaners or sanitizers or solvents for clean out between runs, any specialty disposables for the process or for QC testing. My experience is that these are generally very small, but not always. Lets say you find $50K in annual expenses for this class of expenses.

Now, all this gets fed to your cost accounting/finance  group to compile and digest into the financial model.

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So I’m sitting here listening to The Point, and they’re hitting a truly skillful balance between good music and absolutely crap on toast.

I worked today– usually my shift feels just right, but today I really wished I’d kept going! I was having lots of fun. I learned how to use the espresso machine! It was vair exciting, and I made several drinks, and the people who drank them are still alive, so that’s good.

People who look/sound like famous people are always coming into the store. Last week I SWEAR the Vinyl Cafe guy who’s name I can never remember came in, or his doppelganger. And then this week somebody who looked freakishly similar to Jeph Jacques, and he had a wife, too o.O. I was so tempted to ask…. but I didn’t. I just gave them their salad in the little plastic containers, and wrote “Thai Peanut Chicken! Yum!”

My little tribute to QC– it’s what Dora/Raven would have done..

I’m reading the new Georgia Nicolson, it’s fab as usual. AND I just moved up a level in Farmville- I can plant cranberries and do the little levels thing, which is very exciting. I literally sat there waiting for XP so I could go up a level. I’m such a weirdo.

For those of you who are wondering why this blog is called, Bariole, I hereby tell you that I am not going to tell you. For those of you who aren’t/weren’t, now you will be .

Six hours was a pretty long time to run, and to run it at a consistent pace makes it more difficult.  This would be one of the longest races I’d have done, surpassed only by ultramarathons.

UP Diliman Campus

The good thing about running on major roads was that as long as there’s electricity there’s light so even if it was still dark when the marathon started you’re not running blind, especially with competitive and casual runners running side by side on very wide roads.  From Elliptical Road the road got considerably narrower entering University of the Philippines Diliman Campus but since the fast runners were already way ahead of us it was very spacious for us laggards.  Before we were able to leave UP for Commonwealth Ave. the leaders of the 21K leg were already entering the campus.  It’s always exciting to see the leaders of races—at that time we were simply “spectators.”

Competition

While running along Commonwealth Ave. I was startled by a very fast female runner that dashed very close on my right side, followed by another—they were the female leading pack of 21K, a Kenyan was leading chased closely by a Filipina.  Amazing!  It was competition happening right in front of my eyes!  Yet another spectator moment.  All we can do was just enjoy the show as our ordeal had barely just begun.

By the time we reached Commonwealth Market the leading pack for the marathon was already on their way back!  Of course this was the most exciting pack to see so us “spectators” can’t help but stop and just watch like we were in front of our TVs, only this was happening live in front of us.  A world-class level competition and we got front row seats.  Who says being slow at races meant being last?

World-class competition at the QCIM

Community

All along the route the community was also made aware and got involved with QCIM.  This actually made the race more festive and interesting which I thought was very nice.  By doing this QCIM successfully brought the sport closer to the masses and hopefully create more interest.  On the other hand I also do hope that the local government would provide the facilities for the sport.

The involvement of the community makes for a more lively race

Water(less)

Before we knew it we were back on my favorite part of the QCIM route, La Mesa Eco Park.  Not only because that the view here was spectacular, the cleanest air in the Metro is here.  The exciting part was that we finally got to pass through areas that were usually restricted to the public.  Ironically, there were no water station for the entirety of this section.  Luckily I was able to grab a bottle of water from a water station back in Fairview, but due to the rising temperature and the distance already covered it was also running out.  The water station at the Quirino Highway exit seemed promising, but alas, still no water.  Now we can really feel the heat.

Entering La Mesa Eco Park

Dangerous

From Quirino Highway the race passes in front of SM City Fairview, through Mindanao Ave. and eventually back to Commonwealth Ave.  By this time the roads were partially opened so it meant a slightly dangerous run for us at the back pack, not to mention unhealthy.  We were suddenly running side by side with buses and trucks, among others inhaling their fumes as they pass us by.  Thankfully conditions improved by the time we were in Commonwealth Ave. as there was a wide space between us and passing vehicles.

Courageous

I was virtually alone along Commonweath Ave. maintaining my pace for the six-hour finish and while I was cruising-along I stumbled upon a celebrity—Nene from the reality show Pinoy Big Brother.  Since it was practically just the two of us might as well have some conversation to help pass the time.  To my surprise she was actually very nice and I was very amazed at her feat—she’s never done any shorter races but instead just jumped off into a full marathon!  That for some could be considered “suicide” but for me I find it “courageous”—doing a marathon is not a walk in the park.  As much as I had wanted to stay, eventually I had run ahead of her to maintain my pace.  Duty calls.

The vastness of Commonwealth Ave.

Five hours into the race, around six kilometers to go

Grim Reaper

The downside of being a pacer near the end of the spectrum was the heartaches it causes.  Being an official race pacer I was virtually “married” to the time I signed up for.  The worst feeling I had during this duty was whenever I pass a runner—somehow it gives me a feeling of a heart break.  I am like the Grim Reaper of QCIM—whenever I pass by a runner somehow I felt like I killed his aspiration to finish within six hours.  Because of that I usually hold back to avoid overtaking runners but whenever I am a few minutes behind schedule, I had no choice but to keep up.  I was practically the personification of a six hour finish—if you spot me the six hours finish is near.  I had hoped that I’d be able to pull runners near the last parts of the races but sadly the most I see were already walkers.  On the good side though I was able to push those that are slacking—if I catch them they’d finish in more than six hours.  For the last 10 or so kilometers it was countless heartache for me, but it was a feeling that I had to endure if I was to reach my target time.

Finish

I was again alone at the last two kilometers of the race.  I kept looking at my GF405 to maintain my pace, and then I realized that I had assumed that the race would only be 42.195 kilometers long—what if the actual course was slightly longer? With this in mind I started to increase my pace and when I saw the digital clock on the finish line it was already a few seconds after six hours!  It was much faster than my GF405’s time which was based on gun time.  Naturally I’ve no choice but to haste and cross the line as soon as possible.

Final two kilometers along North Ave.

Since it was six hours after the race you won’t expect a lot of people at the finish line.  This was a new experience for me because the only time this had happened to me was during my finish at TNF100 (at 30 hours).  Fortunately there were some familiar faces there so I had a feeling of relief.  Vener (run unld.) was there to take my finish line picture and to my surprise the clock face facing the other side reads only six hours and nine seconds!  My GF405 was right after all!  Too bad, I was actually aiming to finish in 5:59:59 but due to the wrong clock face up front display that didn’t happen.  My actual finish time (gun time) was 5:59:48.

My finish line picture, courtesy Vener

The area near the finish line six hours into the race

Conclusion

In the end I had mixed feelings with being a pacer.  It was good because never before had I exercised so much control over my pace and patience for a very long time run.  It was bad that I felt awful passing several runners.  I didn’t know either if my decision to stick to the target pace and time regardless of other runners was right.  All I know was that it was easier to pace with specific persons than to be a pacer on a race.  I’m still willing to do it all over again though, and not just to get a free race.  Being a pacer is doing a public service to fellow runners, should they view me as the Grim Reaper or a chance to reach their target remains with their perspective.  As for me, it was a task successfully completed.  I sure hope though that that those that saw me beforehand were “pushed” into finishing their goals.  This has been the Grim Reaper, I mean, six-hour pacer, QCIM thank you for the opportunity.  Congratulations to all finishers!

Takbo.ph meets Nene of PBB

My proud QCIM finisher’s medal

There is a interesting project at sourceforge called qcMylyn.  The projects aims to provide a Mylyn connector for Quality Center. Support Eclipse 3.4.2, 3.5, Mylyn 3.0.5+.

I tried the released version 0.2.4 but it didn’t work because at work we are using an older version of QualityCenter (9.1). But this was no big problem I have the sourcecode (OS rocks) and I’m a programmer

I found out that a other project called QcTools4J contains the java code for manipulation a QC system. They using a com4j bridge to bind QC’s otaclient.dll.

If you have trouble with a older/newer version of QC you have to update the qctools4j.

You find a short tutorial how to update qctools4j here. (read this first) … then you will come to the point where you want create a new otaclient.jar from you local otaclient.dll. Here is my simple solution for that.

I create my own otaclient maven project with the following pom:

<project xmlns="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
      xsi:schemaLocation="http://maven.apache.org/POM/4.0.0 http://maven.apache.org/maven-v4_0_0.xsd">
      <modelVersion>4.0.0</modelVersion>
      <groupId>otaclient</groupId>
      <artifactId>otaclient</artifactId>
      <version>9.1.0.4372</version>
      <dependencies>
        <dependency>
          <groupId>org.jvnet.com4j</groupId>
          <artifactId>com4j</artifactId>
          <version>20080107</version>
        </dependency>
      </dependencies>
      <build>
        <plugins>
          <plugin>
            <artifactId>maven-compiler-plugin</artifactId>
            <configuration>
              <source>1.5</source>
              <target>1.5</target>
            </configuration>
          </plugin>
          <plugin>
            <groupId>org.jvnet.com4j</groupId>
            <artifactId>maven-com4j-plugin</artifactId>
            <executions>
              <execution>
                <id>gen-java-bridge</id>
                <goals>
                  <goal>gen</goal>
                </goals>
                <configuration>
                  <file>src/qc/OTAClient.dll</file>
                  <package>com.mercury.qualitycenter.otaclient</package>
                </configuration>
              </execution>
            </executions>
          </plugin>
        </plugins>
      </build>
    </project>

I using the maven-com4j-plugin to generate the java layer for otaclient.

All you have to do is to extract your “qc client package” (could be download from every qc server page) into src/qc and start mvn clean package.

Then target will contain a otaclient-9.1.0.4372.jar. Copy this jar into qctools4j/lib/com.mercury.qualitycenter.otaclient-9.2.jar and rebuild qctools4j. That’s all

Then copy the qctools4j.jar into org.tszadel.qctools and rebuild the whole eclipse feature.

Try it

So yesterday brightened up a little after the irritating emails. So far, I have only gotten one irritating email and it was not directed at me to answer! Yay!

Yesterday QC, who works with me and is the other part of the party planning committee, spent all day organizing pallets into the Haunted maze! It is so cool and with decorations it will be even better. I will post pictures for sure.

I am also concerned because my original living plans might go down the drain because her budget and my budget are much different. It makes me so sad. Maybe we can reach an agreement of some kind and still live together.

I think today is already going to be a great day, because weather or not it wants to be, I am going to make it be a great day!

Ronie's Birthday

This young man has been working hard and staying up late like a seasoned animator. True, he’s still got a long way to go, but from what we’ve seen, this guy is bound to do great things in Flash.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RONIE!

Inuman na!

A pacer is someone who sets the pace of a runner, or runners, to help them achieve their goal time.  His main responsibility is to finish as close as possible to his designated time so that those who avail of his services would achieve their target.  Having pacers are optional both for runners and races but QCIM went all out to make this international marathon a “finisher’s marathon”—one that does not set a cutoff time.  This is a story of a pacer—this is my story.

Origins

I never had prior experience of being an official pacer before, nor do I have a long marathon track record.  In fact QCIM was just my second marathon race, the first one during 33rd Milo Marathon Eliminations earlier this year.  And I never imagined being a pacer, especially for a marathon.

The rising costs of joining races were taking its toll on my budget, but despite that I was never deterred from joining.  When I first heard of QCIM I knew I want to run it, especially that I am a resident of Quezon City and it goes through the road I regularly pass, Commonwealth Ave.  When I heard that QCIM was employing volunteer pacers without hesitation I immediately signed up—I get to run the race that I want for free, and I get to be of service to my fellow runners.

Cutting costs doesn’t mean cutting races to join

Pace

Being a first time pacer wanting to do his duty properly I knew I had to pick a pace I’d be comfortable running for 42K.  Based on my lone marathon time of 4:47:XX I can sign up for a five hour finish—but that’s not my only consideration.  The weekend following QCIM the Subic International Marathon would be held passing along one of my dream route, SCTEX, which I dare not miss.  Why pick one when you can choose both?  Thus it was settled, a six-hour finish would be my goal—an “easy” pace suitable for beginners and those who don’t want to be spent.  I gave my commitment to the time when I realized that it was actually an 8:31/km pace—unchartered territory for me so it would definitely be a run for endurance.

During the bloggers’ launch where I officially signed up as a pacer

Prelude

Traffic flow was rerouted very early in the morning along Commonwealth Ave.  This spelled trouble for me as I was dependent on public buses which were rerouted far from the starting area in front of the City Hall.  Fortunately I was able to alight at the closest possible location near the assembly area, but unfortunately it was about one and a half kilometer away!  Because of the distance I had to cover and I was running out of lead time for our pacers’ meet I had no choice but to run—running late literally!  By the time I arrived at the assembly area I my sweat were already dripping—a forced warm-up you might say.

Runners eagerly awaiting the start of the race

Fly

There were numerous pacers for QCIM in various finish times for both 42K and 21K.  For runners to promptly notice us we wore a different singlet and for our finish times it was stuck onto balloons that we tied to our clothes.  If these balloons had helped us by reducing our weights or hindered us aerodynamically with drag I don’t know but one thing is for sure: kids want those balloons!

Fellow 42K pacers with our running partners (photo courtesy Marvin Opulencia)

The 21K pacers from takbo.ph with Sir Rene (JAZZRUNNER)

Race

Finally, the race that many (including myself) had been waiting for was about to start.  Five seconds before 4:30AM on my GF405 the race was started.  It was either Elliptical Road was very wide or the number of runners was less than anticipated as there was no overcrowding after crossing the starting gate.  This is it!  The start of the longest marathon race of my life was about to begin.  Six hours—that’s a pretty long time to be running.

A few minutes into the race, still at Elliptical Road

To be continued

Pronto gente, chegou.

Ainda nao está acumulando. Aposto um doce comigo mesma que amanha o chao vai estar igual a uma pista de patinaçao.

:**

Babi
22/10/2009

By Michael MacLeod

A SHERIFF told social workers to send text messages to cons during the “inevitable chaos” of the postal strike.

Thousands of Scots postal staff walked out in support of a national strike today (Thurs) over Royal Mail’s modernisation plans.

The Scottish Court Service uses traditional mail to alert criminals to attend social work meetings or interviews for background reports.

But Edinburgh Sheriff Deirdre MacNeill QC said yesterday that texting would be a more reliable option during the strike.

Presiding over a case at the capital’s Sheriff Court yesterday, she bailed an accused woman and told her: “Considering the inevitable chaos of the postal situation it might be a good idea for you to tell the social work office your mobile number.

“Ask them to send you a text instead of posting you the date of your assessment.”

It is expected around 78,000 delivery and collection workers across the UK will walk out today (Friday).

“Left with no choice”

Pickets gathered outside the Edinburgh Mail Centre yesterday morning signalling the start of the first wave of two 24-hour national strikes.

Causing disruption was “the last thing we wanted” according to the CWU’s Graham Steedman, who joined those striking outside the capital’s Cutlins Road depot.

He said: “There’s about 20 members here and that will increase as the morning goes on and people start turning up.

“We’re quite upbeat. Obviously the last thing we want is to be out on strike and causing disruption, but we were left with no choice.”

The strike had less of an impact in the South of Scotland, where post arrived as normal according to the Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce chairman William Rodgers .

He welcomed the “sensible approach” of Royal Mail staff in the Borders.

Strike is “self-defeating”

He said: “It’s a great relief to businesses across the region that the great majority of Royal Mail staff are working as normal.

“We know from communications with postal workers that they are keenly aware of their importance to the community they serve and that their jobs are wholly rooted in the loyalty of their customers.

“It’s just common sense that any withdrawal of labour at this time would be self-defeating.

“What we all need to see is a sensible modernisation of the Royal Mail based on discussion and agreement.

“We are not so confident of deliveries tomorrow when no doubt the militancy of the large sorting offices has cut in, but meanwhile we would like to thank the staff in our own region for their sensible approach and unfailing good service.”

See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel,  Deadline TV.

Unofficial race results for the first Quezon City International Marathon is now available courtesy Runnex:

• 42K
• 21K

• 10K
• 5K

• Age Categories
• Top Finishers

First and foremost I would like to congratulate everyone who participated in one of the best races in the country thus far, the QCIM. The first Quezon City International Marathon would surely go down in history as one of the most exciting races in the country in recent history by having the presence of international delegates particularly those from Kenya. Their presence ensured a true international-caliber race that would be the envy of upcoming international races. In the end the levels that the Kenyans gave proved to be too high for our local bets to match giving the former an almost guaranteed sweep, but of course our local runners made sure that they had to fight hard for it.

The Kenyan domination: the leading pack with sole Filipino challenger, Cresenciano Sabal, about 30 kilometers into the race

Running his first full marathon, the 22-year old Kenyan Hillary Kimutai Kipchumba took the top prize of P300,000 by clocking in a winning time of 2:30:08 beating his fellow compatriot Daniel Koringo (finished fourth with a time of 2:31:05 due to a pulled right hamstring) who was the early favorite for the race. The next spots were taken by Samuel Tarus Too (2:30:36) and Daniel Chirchir (2:30:49) bagging the P200,000 and P100,000 prizes, respectively.

Fresh from his Milo Marathon victory a week ago, Cresenciano Sabal didn’t hand the prize easily as he stuck it out with the visiting runners throughout the majority of the course but lost steam in the last five kilometers, settling for the fifth spot with a time of 2:36:58, taking home P150,000.

Over on the women’s side it was a Kenyan sweep of the top three spots with Doreen Kitaka with the winning time of 2:58.55, followed by Lydia Jeratich Rutto (3:09:30), and Sarah Maito (3:12:48) for the second and third place, respectively. Taking fourth place was the fastest Filipina of the race Aileen Tolentino (3:23:57).

Quezon City Mayor Sonny “SB” Belmonte was on hand to award the prizes and trophies to the winners of the event highlighting the city’s 70th founding anniversary celebrations.

TAYNANYU.

Depois de praticamente 20 dias de chuva e/ou dias nublados, finalmente Saint-Pierre, como diz a Dani, resolveu colaborar e mandou dias ensolarados no último feriado prolongado antes da dupla Natal-Boxing Day.
Decidimos aproveitar a beleza dos dias (tá bom vai, rolaram umas nuvenzinhas negras aqui e acolá e um ventããão gelaaaado) para finalmente  fazer a colheita de maças 2009 (ano passado, só husband conseguiu ir).

Abraços

Lapin-Mère
13/10/2009

Dalam tulisan ini, kita akan mempelajari pengertian kesetimbangan kimia, contoh aplikasi kesetimbangan kimia dalam industri, menentukan dan menghitung besarnya konstanta kesetimbangan kimia, mempelajari berbagai jenis kesetimbangan kimia, memanipulasi persamaan kesetimbangan kimia, serta mengkaji faktor-faktor yang dapat menggeser kesetimbangan kimia.

Salah satu proses yang sangat berguna dalam industri kimia adalah proses Haber, yaitu sintesis gas amonia dari gas nitrogen dan gas hidrogen. Reaksi kimia yang terjadi dalam proses Haber adalah sebagai berikut :

N_2(g) +  3 H_2(g) ——-> 2 NH_3(g)

Dengan cara penulisan ini, reaksi kimia menunjukkan bahwa gas hidrogen dan gas nitrogen bereaksi untuk menghasilkan gas amonia, dan hal ini akan terus berlangsung sampai salah satu atau kedua reaktannya habis. Tetapi, sesungguhnya, hal ini tidak sepenuhnya benar.

Apabila reaksi ini dilakukan dalam ruang tertutup (sebab reaktan maupun gas sama-sama berbentuk gas), gas nitrogen dan gas hidrogen akan bereaksi membentuk gas amonia. Namun, sebagian dari gas amonia tersebut akan segera terurai menjadi gas nitrogen dan gas hidrogen kembali, seperti yang ditunjukkan dalam persamaan reaksi berikut :

2 NH_3(g) ——-> N_2(g) +  3 H_2(g)

Oleh sebab itu, di dalam ruang tertutup tersebut, sesungguhnya terjadi dua reaksi yang saling berlawanan, yaitu gas nitrogen dan gas hidrogen bergabung menghasilkan gas amonia dan gas amonia terurai menghasilkan gas nitrogen dan gas hidrogen. Kedua reaksi tersebut dapat dituliskan secara bersamaan dengan menggunakan dua mata anak panah sebagai berikut :

N_2(g) +  3 H_2(g) <——>  2 NH_3(g)

Gas nitrogen dan gas hidrogen diletakkan di sisi kiri karena bahan itulah yang mula-mula dimasukkan ke dalam tempat reaksi. Kedua reaksi tersebut terjadi dengan kecepatan yang berbeda. Namun, cepat atau lambat, kecepatan kedua reaksi tersebut akan sama dan jumlah relatif dari gas nitrogen, gas hidrogen, dan gas amonia menjadi tetap (konstan). Ini merupakan contoh kesetimbangan kimia.

Kesetimbangan kimia dinamis tercapai pada saat dua reaksi kimia yang berlawanan terjadi pada tempat dan waktu yang sama dengan laju reaksi yang sama. Ketika sistem mencapai kesetimbangan, jumlah masing-masing spesi kimia menjadi konstan (tidak perlu sama).

Kadang-kadang, terdapat banyak produk (spesi kimia yang ada di sisi kanan tanda panah bolak-balik) ketika reaksi mencapai kesetimbangan. Tetapi, kadang-kadang, produknya justru sangat sedikit. Jumlah relatif dari produk dan reaktan dalam kesetimbangan dapat ditentukan dengan menggunakan konstanta kesetimbangan kimia (K) untuk reaksi tersebut.

Secara umum, untuk reaksi kesetimbangan hipotetis berikut :

a A  +  b B  <——>  c C  +  d D

Huruf besar menunjukkan spesi kimia dalam kesetimbangan kimia dan huruf kecil menyatakan koefisien reaksi pada reaksi kimia setara. Konstanta kesetimbangan kimia (K_eq) secara matematis dapat dinyatakan dalam persamaan berikut :

K_eq =  [C]^c [D]^d / [A]^a [B]^b

Persamaan K_eq dirumuskan oleh dua ahli kimia berkebangsaan Norwegia, yaitu Cato Guldberg dan Peter Waage, pada tahun 1864. Persamaan ini merupakan pernyataan matematis dari hukum aksi massa (law of mass action), yang menyatakan bahwa pada reaksi reversibel (bolak-balik, dua arah) yang mencapai keadaan kesetimbangan pada temperatur tertentu, perbandingan konsentrasi reaktan dan produk memiliki nilai tertentu (konstan), yaitu K_eq (konstanta kesetimbangan kimia).

Bagian pembilang mengandung produk dari kedua spesi kimia yang berada di sisi kanan persamaan dengan masing-masing spesi kimia dipangkatkan dengan koefisien reaksinya dalam persamaan reaksi berimbang. Penyebutnya juga sama, tetapi digunakan spesi kimia yang berada di sebelah kiri persamaan reaksi. Oleh karena satuan yang digunakan dalam konstanta kesetimbangan kimia adalah konsentrasi (molaritas), para ahli kimia menggunakan notasi  K_c sebagai pengganti K_eq.

Nilai angka dari konstanta kesetimbangan kimia memberikan petunjuk tentang jumlah relatif dari produk dan reaktan. Nilai K_c juga memberikan petunjuk apakah kesetimbangan cenderung ke arah reaktan atau produk. Apabila nilai K_c jauh melebihi satu (K_c >> 1), kesetimbangan akan cenderung ke kanan (produk), sehingga jumlah produk lebih besar dibandingkan reaktan. Sebaliknya, apabila nilai K_c jauh di bawah satu (K_c << 1), kesetimbangan akan cenderung ke kiri (reaktan), sehingga jumlah reaktan lebih besar dibandingkan reaktan.

Konsep kesetimbangan kimia sangat berguna dalam ilmu kimia. Konstanta kesetimbangan kimia digunakan dalam menyelesaikan berbagai permasalahan stoikiometri yang melibatkan sistem kesetimbangan. Dalam menggunakan K_c, konsentrasi reaktan dan produk saat kesetimbangan dilibatkan. Berdasarkan fasa spesi kimia yang terlibat dalam reaksi, sistem kesetimbangan dapat dibedakan menjadi dua, antara lain :

1. Kesetimbangan Homogen

Semua spesi kimia berada dalam fasa yang sama. Salah satu contoh kesetimbangan homogen fasa gas adalah sistem kesetimbangan N₂O₄/NO­₂. Reaksi yang terjadi adalah sebagai berikut :

N₂O_4(g) <——> 2 NO_2(g)

K_c =   [NO₂]² / [N₂O₄]

Konsentrasi reaktan dan produk dalam reaksi gas dapat dinyatakan dalam bentuk tekanan parsial masing-masing gas (ingat persamaan gas ideal, PV=nRT). Dengan demikian, satuan konsentrasi yang diganti dengan tekanan parsial gas akan mengubah persamaan K_c menjadi K_p sebagai berikut :

K_p =   (P_NO2)² / (P_N2O4)

P_NO2 dan P_N2O4 adalah tekanan parsial masing-masing gas pada saat kesetimbangan tercapai. Nilai K_p menunjukkan konstanta kesetimbangan yang dinyatakan dalam satuan tekanan (atm). K_p hanya dimiliki oleh sistem kesetimbangan yang melibatkan fasa gas saja.

Secara umum, nilai K_c tidak sama dengan nilai K_p, sebab besarnya konsentrasi reaktan dan produk tidak sama dengan tekanan parsial masing-masing gas saat kesetimbangan. Dengan demikian, terdapat hubungan sederhana antara K_c dan K_p yang dapat dinyatakan dalam persamaan matematis berikut :

K_p =  K_c (RT)^∆n

K_p =  konstanta kesetimbangan tekanan parsial gas

K_c =  konstanta kesetimbangan konsentrasi gas

R  =  konstanta universal gas ideal (0,0821 L.atm/mol.K)

T  =  temperatur reaksi (K)

∆n  =  Σ koefisien gas produk -  Σ koefisien gas reaktan

Selain kesetimbangan homogen fasa gas, terdapat pula sejumlah kesetimbangan homogen fasa larutan. Salah satu contoh kesetimbangan homogen fasa larutan adalah kesetimbangan ionisasi asam asetat (asam cuka) dalam air. Reaksi yang terjadi adalah sebagai berikut :

CH₃COOH_(aq) <——>  CH₃COO^-_(aq) +  H⁺_(aq)

K_c =   [CH₃COO^-] [H⁺] / [CH₃COOH]

2. Kesetimbangan Heterogen

Kesetimbangan ini melibatkan reaktan dan produk dalam fasa yang berbeda. Sebagai contoh, saat padatan kalsium karbonat dipanaskan dalam wadah tertutup, akan terjadi reaksi berikut :

CaCO_3(s) <——>  CaO_(s) +  CO_2(g)

Dalam reaksi penguraian padatan kalsium karbonat, terdapat tiga fasa yang berbeda, yaitu padatan kalsium karbonat, padatan kalsium oksida, dan gas karbon dioksida. Dalam kesetimbangan kimia, konsentrasi padatan dan cairan relatif konstan, sehingga tidak disertakan dalam persamaan konstanta kesetimbangan kimia. Dengan demikian, persamaan konstanta kesetimbangan reaksi penguraian padatan kalsium karbonat menjadi sebagai berikut :

K_c =  [CO₂]

K_p =  P_CO2

Baik nilai K_c maupun K_p tidak dipengaruhi oleh jumlah CaCO₃ dan CaO (jumlah padatan).

Beberapa aturan yang berlaku dalam penentuan nilai konstanta kesetimbangan kimia saat reaksi kesetimbangan dimanipulasi (diubah) antara lain :

1. Jika reaksi dapat dinyatakan dalam bentuk penjumlahan dua atau lebih reaksi, nilai konstanta kesetimbangan reaksi keseluruhan adalah hasil perkalian konstanta kesetimbangan masing-masing reaksi.

A  +  B  <——>  C  +  D                               K_c’

C  +  D  <——>  E  +  F                               K_c’’

A  +  B  <——>  E  +  F                       K_c =  K_c’ x K_c’’

2. Jika reaksi ditulis dalam bentuk kebalikan dari reaksi semula, nilai konstanta kesetimbangan menjadi kebalikan dari nilai konstanta kesetimbangan semula.

A  +  B  <——>  C  +  D           K_c’  =   [C] [D] / [A] [B]

C  +  D  <——>  A  +  B          K_c =   [A] [B] / [C] [D]   =   1 / K_c’

3. Jika suatu reaksi kesetimbangan dikalikan dengan faktor n, nilai konstanta kesetimbangan menjadi nilai konstanta kesetimbangan semula dipangkatkan dengan faktor n.

A  +  B  <——>  C  +  D                     K_c’  =   [C] [D] / [A] [B]

2 A  +  2 B  D  2 C  +  2 D             K_c =  [C]² [D]² / [A]² [B]² =  {  [C] [D] /  [A] [B] }² =  (K_c’)²

Salah satu kegunaan konstanta kesetimbangan kimia adalah memprediksi arah reaksi. Untuk mempelajari kecenderungan arah reaksi, digunakan besaran Q_c, yaitu hasil perkalian konsentrasi awal produk dibagi hasil perkalian konsentrasi awal reaktan yang masing-masing dipangkatkan dengan koefisien reaksinya. Jika nilai Q_c dibandingkan dengan nilai K_c, terdapat tiga kemungkinan hubungan yang terjadi, antara lain :

1. Q_c < K_c

Sistem reaksi reversibel kelebihan reaktan dan kekurangan produk. Untuk mencapai kesetimbangan, sejumlah reaktan diubah menjadi produk. Akibatnya, reaksi cenderung ke arah produk (ke kanan).

2. Q_c =  K_c

Sistem berada dalam keadaan kesetimbangan. Laju reaksi, baik ke arah reaktan maupun produk, sama.

3. Q_c > K_c

Sistem reaksi reversibel kelebihan produk dan kekurangan reaktan. Untuk mencapai kesetimbangan, sejumlah produk diubah menjadi reaktan. Akibatnya, reaksi cenderung ke arah reaktan (ke kiri).

Kesetimbangan kimia dapat diganggu oleh beberapa faktor eksternal. Sebagai contoh, pada pembahasan proses Haber sebelumnya, telah diketahui bahwa nilai K_c pada proses Haber adalah 3,5.10⁸ pada suhu kamar. Nilai yang besar ini menunjukkan bahwa pada kesetimbangan, terdapat banyak gas amonia yang dihasilkan dari gas nitrogen dan gas hidrogen. Akan tetapi, masih ada gas nitrogen dan gas hidrogen yang tersisa pada kesetimbangan. Dengan menerapkan prinsip ekonomi dalam dunia industri, diharapkan sebanyak mungkin reaktan diubah menjadi produk dan reaksi tersebut berlangsung sempurna. Untuk mendapatkan produk dalam jumlah yang lebih banyak, kesetimbangan dapat dimanipulasi dengan menggunakan prinsip Le Chatelier.

Seorang kimiawan berkebangsaan Perancis, Henri Le Chatelier, menemukan bahwa jika reaksi kimia yang setimbang menerima perubahaan keadaan (menerima aksi dari luar), reaksi tersebut akan menuju pada kesetimbangan baru dengan suatu pergeseran tertentu untuk mengatasi perubahan yang diterima (melakukan reaksi sebagai respon terhadap perubahan yang diterima). Hal ini disebut Prinsip Le Chatelier.

Ada tiga faktor yang dapat mengubah kesetimbangan kimia, antara lain :

1. Konsentrasi reaktan atau produk
2. Suhu
3. Tekanan atau volume pada sistem yang mengandung fasa gas

Untuk memproduksi gas amonia sebanyak mungkin, dapat dilakukan manipulasi kesetimbangan kimia dari segi konsentrasi reaktan maupun produk, tekanan ruangan, volume ruangan, dan suhu reaksi. Berikut ini adalah pembahasan mengenai masing-masing faktor.

1. Mengubah konsentrasi

Jika ke dalam sistem kesetimbangan ditambahkan gas nitrogen maupun gas hidrogen berlebih (reaktan berlebih), nilai Q_c menjadi lebih kecil dibandingkan K_c. Untuk mengembalikan ke kondisi setimbang, reaksi akan bergeser ke arah produk (ke kanan). Akibatnya, jumlah produk yang terbentuk meningkat. Hal yang sama juga akan terjadi jika gas amonia yang terbentuk langsung diambil. Reaksi akan bergeser ke arah kanan untuk mencapai kembali kesetimbangan.

Dapat disimpulkan bahwa jika dalam sistem kesetimbangan ditambahkan lebih banyak reaktan atau produk, reaksi akan bergeser ke sisi lain untuk menghabiskannya. Sebaliknya, jika sebagian reaktan atau produk diambil, reaksi akan bergeser ke sisinya untuk menggantikannya.

2.Mengubah suhu

Reaksi pada proses Haber adalah reaksi eksotermis. Reaksi tersebut dapat dinyatakan dalam persamaan reaksi berikut :

N_2(g) +  3 H_2(g) <——>  2 NH_3(g) +  Kalor

Jika campuran reaksi tersebut dipanaskan, akan terjadi peningkatan jumlah kalor dalam sistem kesetimbangan. Untuk mengembalikan reaksi ke kondisi setimbang, reaksi akan bergeser dari arah kanan ke kiri. Akibatnya, jumlah reaktan akan meningkat disertai penurunan jumlah produk. Tentu saja hal ini bukanlah sesuatu yang diharapkan. Agar jumlah amonia yang terbentuk meningkat, campuran reaksi harus didinginkan. Dengan demikian, jumlah kalor di sisi kanan akan berkurang sehingga reaksi akan bergeser ke arah kanan.

Secara umum, memanaskan suatu reaksi menyebabkan reaksi tersebut bergeser ke sisi endotermis. Sebaliknya, mendinginkan campuran reaksi menyebabkan kesetimbangan bergeser ke sisi eksotermis.

3. Mengubah tekanan dan volume

Mengubah tekanan hanya mempengaruhi kesetimbangan bila terdapat reaktan dan/atau produk yang berwujud gas. Pada proses Haber, semua spesi adalah gas, sehingga tekanan dapat mempengaruhi kesetimbangan.

Reaksi pada proses Haber terjadi dalam ruangan tertutup. Tekanan pada ruangan terjadi akibat tumbukan gas hidrogen, gas nitrogen, serta gas amonia terhadap dinding ruangan tersebut. Saat sistem mencapai keadaan setimbang, terdapat sejumlah gas nitrogen, gas hidrogen, dan gas amonia dalam ruangan. Tekanan ruang dapat dinaikkan dengan membuat tempat reaksinya menjadi lebih kecil (dengan memampatkannya, misal dengan piston) atau dengan memasukkan suatu gas yang tidak reaktif, seperti gas neon. Akibatnya, lebih banyak tumbukan akan terjadi pada dinding ruangan bagian dalam, sehingga kesetimbangan terganggu. Untuk mengatasi pengaruh tersebut dan memantapkan kembali kesetimbangan, tekanan harus dikurangi.

Setiap kali terjadi reaksi maju (dari kiri ke kanan), empat molekul gas (satu molekul gas nitrogen dan tiga molekul gas hidrogen) akan membentuk dua molekul gas amonia. Reaksi ini mengurangi jumlah molekul gas dalam ruangan. Sebaliknya, reaksi balik (dari kanan ke kiri), digunakan dua molekul gas amonia untuk mendapatkan empat molekul gas (satu molekul gas nitrogen dan tiga molekul gas hidrogen). Reaksi ini menaikkan jumlah molekul gas dalam ruangan.

Kesetimbangan telah diganggu dengan peningkatan tekanan. Dengan mengurangi tekanan, gangguan tersebut dapat dihilangkan. Mengurangi jumlah molekul gas di dalam ruangan akan mengurangi tekanan (sebab jumlah tumbukan akan berkurang). Oleh sebab itu, reaksi maju (dari kiri ke kanan) lebih disukai, sebab empat molekul gas akan digunakan dan hanya dua molekul gas yang akan terbentuk. Sebagai akibat dari reaksi maju ini, akan dihasilkan gas amonia yang lebih banyak.

Secara umum, meningkatkan tekanan (mengurangi volume ruangan) pada campuran yang setimbang menyebabkan reaksinya bergeser ke sisi yang mengandung jumlah molekul gas yang paling sedikit. Sebaliknya, menurunkan tekanan (memperbesar volume ruangan) pada campuran yang setimbang menyebabkan reaksinya bergeser ke sisi yang mengandung jumlah molekul gas yang paling banyak. Sementara untuk reaksi yang tidak mengalami perubahan jumlah molekul gas (mol reaktan = mol produk), faktor tekanan dan volume tidak mempengaruhi kesetimbangan kimia.

Katalis meningkatkan laju reaksi dengan mengubah mekanisme reaksi agar melewati mekanisme dengan energi aktivasi  terendah.  Katalis tidak dapat menggeser kesetimbangan kimia. Penambahan katalis hanya mempercepat tercapainya keadaan setimbang.

Dari beberapa faktor di atas, hanya perubahan temperatur (suhu) reaksi yang dapat mengubah nilai konstanta kesetimbangan (K_c maupun K_p). Perubahan konsentrasi, tekanan, dan volume hanya mengubah konsentrasi spesi kimia saat kesetimbangan, tidak mengubah nilai K. Katalis hanya mempercepat tercapainya keadaan kesetimbangan, tidak dapat menggeser kesetimbangan kimia.

Referensi:

Andy. 2009. Pre-College Chemistry.

Chang, Raymond. 2007. Chemistry Ninth Edition. New York: Mc Graw Hill.

Moore, John T. 2003. Kimia For Dummies. Indonesia:Pakar Raya.

Run for a cause and feel the dry pavement with your friends! Quezon City is holding its first international marathon, the 1st QC International Marathon. If you haven’t registered yet, register so you don’t miss out on this major event!

International runners such as the Kenyans, and our elite local runners, will blow away the level of competition. Pacers will be available to help you finish at a pace within your running level. Your running time will be electronically recorded using timing chips, and presented to you on the web. And lastly, win prizes and giveaways from our sponsors. The largest total cash prizes worth P3-M, and Nike Human Race shirts for all 42K runners and the top 1,000 21K finishers.

AND HERE IS FURTHER GOOD NEWS: Due to numerous requests from runners residing from the calamity areas of Marikina, Taguig, Pasig, Cainta and Muntinlupa City, the organizers of QCIM have announced that the registration for the 1st QCIM has been extended up to October 11, 2009. “All runners who were victims of the recent typhoon Ondoy should be given consideration for this tragedy” Runnex chair Mr. Art Disini reiterated. As such, there will no longer be any late registration penalty!

All runners who will register for each of the race categories (5K, 10K, 21K, and 42K) will pay the regular registration fees as follows:

Note that Timex stores which were previously part of our registration centers for the race will no longer accept registrations. Instead, the following registration centers will be accepting registrants:

• Nike Park
  Bonifacio High Street / The Podium / SM Mall of Asia / Festival Mall / Trinoma
• Secondwind Running Store
  88 Maginhawa Street, Teachers Village, Quezon City
  (02) 799 2089
• Quezon City Hall
  Ground Floor / Lobby, Elliptical Road, Quezon City
• National Eng’g Center (NEC)
  Room 403, Agoncillo Street, UP Diliman Campus, Quezon City
  (02) 920 4206