2007 » Page 3 of 17 » Pinoy Money Talk

Robot patients used for dentist training

A new robot has been invented in Japan which can help train dentists regarding dental pains experienced by patients. Read on, this one’s just absolutely cool.

Humanoid robot teaches dentists to feel people’s pain

Japan’s future dentists may soon be able to better appreciate patients’ pain by training on a humanoid robot that can mumble “ouch” when the drill hits a nerve.

The dental-training robot, dubbed Simroid for “simulator humanoid,” has realistic skin, eyes and a mouth fitted with replica teeth on which students practice drilling. A sensor fitted where the nerve endings would be raises the alert when they drill too close triggering a yelp from the robot.

“Ow, that hurt!” a female robot squeaked, narrowing her eyes as a young dentist drilled on her replica teeth. “Now, I’m OK,” she said as the dentist eased off.

Comments and reactions on the Makati standoff

The mutiny aka rebellion aka standoff at Ayala, Makati on November 29 led by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV drew mixed reactions from various groups in the Philippines. One side praised Trillanes and the Magdalo Group for their courage and determination in fighting for what they believe is right. The other criticized their method and was worried about the negative impact it has on the country.
In the PinoyMoneyTalk forum, a number of members voiced opposition against the commotion, albeit a few concurred with what Trillanes did. Here are a few of these comments culled from the discussion thread Trillanes, Lim, walkout from trial, call for GMA ouster; standoff in Makati.

Oops, Trillanes did it again

Update (7:30 p.m.): The show is now over. The standoff has ended with Sen. Trillanes and the rest of his cohorts arrested and sent back to jail. Better luck next time, Senator.
——————–
Update (3:00 p.m.): Thirty soldiers led by elected Senator Antonio Trillanes IV walked out today of a Makati court and holed themselves up at a hotel in Makati, the Philippines’ central business district.
The scene is reminiscent of the Oakwood saga in 2003 where more than 300 soldiers also led by Trillanes took over the Oakwood Hotel demanding the resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA), except this time the hotel setting is The Manila Peninsula.
The 2003 mutiny ended unsuccessfully after it failed to rally support from the public and the Armed Forces. Will Trillanes be successful this time around?
I think the odds are still stacked against him. The walkout comes at definitely a less-than-expected time: the Philippine peso is surging against the dollar, the stock market is rallying, and OFW remittances are flowing in at all-time high. How can you convince the majority of Filipinos to join in destabilizing the government if the economy is on an upswing?
Oh, and the date was just plain wrong. Tomorrow’s a non-working holiday and a lot of people have already made plans. Rising up against the government surely was not one of them. Earlier today, people just wanted to unwind and go home — not be stuck in Ayala because of this Oakwood Mutiny Part 2.

Examples of Online Scams in the Philippines

For several months now, we’ve been receiving emails from people around the world reporting the scam activities of some Filipino scumbags.

We are reprinting below some of these emails in order to warn others against the modus operandi of these horrendous scammers.

How to earn money from Paypal

Do you know that you can earn as much as $1,000 per person you refer to PayPal?

Under PayPal’s Merchant Referral Bonus Program, you are eligible to receive a portion of the transaction amounts of people you referred to PayPal.

PayPal discourages phone calls to get Expanded Use Number

The Expanded Use or EXPUSE Number is a requirement to lift the $100 sending limit in PayPal.

Those who paid the $1.95 Expanded Use fee via credit card can normally get the EXPUSE Number on their billing statement the next month.

Peso may rise to P38 in 2008

To those earning in or holding US dollars, brace yourself because the Philippine Peso might appreciate some more and even increase to P38 by next year.

That’s according to a BusinessWorld article published today:

The peso may appreciate towards P41.50 per dollar by year end and to as much as P38 by early 2008 as dollar remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and inflows from the asset sale of local firms surge.

“The surge of dollars gives support to the thought that the peso will be stronger than what it is today… Itâ€™s a more sustainable trend right now,” Michael G. Manuel, chief investment officer of Sun Life of Canada (Philippines), Inc. told reporters yesterday.

Mr. Manuel attributes the possible appreciation of the Philippine currency to the sale of assets by local companies, increased remittances of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), and expected interest rate cut of the US Federal Reserve.

Year: 2007

Pinoy Money Talk