Don't Look Twice by Andrew Gross

Hi Everyone,

This is my 100th post for my blog already. My previous post two hours ago was the 99th post. This blog has been nearly one year old in about 3 months I think. 9oo+ visitors. Still not quite there though.

I just bought this book last week, Don't Look Twice written by Andrew Gross. Andrew Gross was co-author with James Patterson in some of James' books before writing on his own. This is his 3rd book. The paperback came out this year. I saw this at MPH 1 Utama where it is offering 20% discount to members and non-members (purchase of RM5 to quality for offer) until 31st July 2009. Because I am a MPH Readers' Club Member, I bought this at 20% off instantly without the need to buy at least RM5 of items for MPH. It is a savings of RM7.20. I bought this for only RM28.70 instead of the usual price at RM35.90.

It talks about a police detective, Ty Hauck who had a good life. He had a waterfront house, a new girlfriend and even a hero after unconvering a Wall Street scandal. Then during a day trip with his daughter, they encountered a shooting that an innocent man got killed. Now he has a new investigation to follow. It is just a normal shooting? Is it because of revenge? Ty suspects things go deeper and everyone, from the FBI to his own family wants him to stop finding out the answers. He could not turn away from the case for his estranged brother, Warren is also in danger. Here we will see how Ty continue to find out more about case despite the devastating consequences that he will be facing. I've started reading this book. Will have time to read it again when I'm overseas again. This is a summary of it. Another crime & mystery book in my collection.

I also have been waiting for The Associate written by John Grisham. The paperback will be out next month. I placed an order for it earlier this month at MPH already. The Associate will be another good book to read. You can find out more about The Associate at John Grisham's website.

Cheers,

Rogerkoo

Toyota Prius

Hi Everyone,

We have only seen a hybrid car on the market now which is the Honda Civic Hybrid. There are over 100 Civic Hybrid owners on the road. Priced around RM162,800 initially, it is now sold aroudn RM128,000. This price reduction is due to the reduction of several taxes for hybrid vehicles. It is still relatively expensive for some of us who wanted to play a part to save the environment. It is a 1.3L car which combined with the electric motor produces power similar to a 1.8L Honda Civic. It is priced nearly the same as the Honda Civic 2.0L.

Similarly, Proton is developing its own hybrid car as well. Dato' Seri Abdullah, our former primer minister has sat on it to go to one of the events he attended before he stepped down.

Toyota Prius, one of the first hybrid vehicles in the market, now 3rd generation has been selling well in US, Japan and Australia. Recently, Toyota Prius is the top selling car in Japan with over 22,000 cars sold. It is the number 2 car top selling car trailing only the Honda Fit (Jazz in Malaysia).¹

The 3rd generation Toyota Prius Hybrid will be launched in Malaysia next month. It is great to hear that this car is finally here in Malaysia. We can now play a role in reducing air pollution in the South East Asian region. The 3rd generation Prius has a 1.8L engine which produces 98hp and the electric engine produces about 80hp.² Combined, the new Prius performs like a 2.4L car. To differentiate Toyota Hybrids from the normal Toyotas, the logo has a blue glow around it.

Prices for the Toyota Prius in Malaysia is expected to hover around RM170,000 similar to a 2.4V Toyota Camry!³. So expensive for a Prius. If it is priced around the same price around a Toyota Vios or even a Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic Hybrid, it might appeal to more people. Why do we have to pay so much for a Prius? We can buy MyVi or Persona or even Viva which have high fuel efficiency? The Prius has a better fuel efficiency than these cars. Taxes for hybrid cars should be reduced so that the hybrid cars selling here would be less costly.

Why do we need to pay a high price to own a Toyota Hybrid or Honda Civic Hybrid? In Australia, it is priced at 37K for the normal model and 46.5K for the higher end model. More expensive for the 3rd generation model. Previously it was only about 30K. Even though it's higher now, if we do a direct conversion, it s around RM108-111K for the normal model and around RM137K to RM140K for the higher end model.⁴ I do not know the number of models are in Malaysia. Please note that the US Prius has 4 models to choose from. Not sure which models are available here. Prices in the US starts from US$22K.

I would be interested in the Toyota Prius if it would be priced lower. However, I will still stick to the normal petrol cars like the Persona or MyVi for now if I am to buy a car in the near future. Maybe in the future, I will be able to afford to buy hybrid cars.

To find out more about the Toyota Prius, you can go to Paul Tan's Automotive News or Toyota Prius website. You can also read The Star Motoring for more details of the car in Malaysia.

¹Toyota hybrid is Japan's top selling car in June, The Star Online, http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/7/6/business/20090706122753&sec=business ²The 3rd Generation Toyota Prius Hybrid, http://www.toyota.com/prius-hybrid/ ³3rd generation Toyota Prius - first impressions, Paul Tan's Automotive Blog, http://paultan.org/archives/2009/07/24/3rd-generation-toyota-prius-first-impressions/#more-16020 ⁴Toyota Prius vs Honda Civic Hybrid Road Test >> Car Advice, http://www.caradvice.com.au/2214/toyota-prius-i-tech-vs-honda-civic-hybrid-road-test/

Influenza A (H1N1) Information

Hi Everybody, Influenza A (H1N1) flu cases has started in April and the number of cases has been rising until now. It has started from Mexico and spread to the US. From then on, it has spread across 89 countries until now. According to WHO, as at 6th July 2009, there are over 94,512 cases of H1N1 reported all over the world with 429 deaths. ¹ Overall, only 0.45% of the reported A (H1N1) cases reported result in death. The number might be more because more cases were reported after this WHO update. It might be more than 100,000 Influenza A (H1N1) cases now. In comparison with the seasonal influenza, it is actually less than the number of deaths caused by the seasonal influenza. Initially Malaysia only had 7 cases and thought that it may remain there but suddenly it has now increased to 772 with 85% recovery rate over 2 months.² There were also more local transmissions than imported ones with 34 local and 28 imported. Other countries in South East Asia such as Thailand, Jakarta and the Phillippines also reported more cases now in the past few weeks. WHO has been monitoring the H1N1 situation in the past few months. In the start, WHO declared a low level of pandemic around April. Then WHO raised the H1N1 level from Phase 5 to Phase 6 (Level 6) on. It means that Influenza H1N1 was Pandemic. It was the highest alert that WHO can declare. ⁹ A lot of countries were infected then and continued spreading. Airports around the world uses the thermal scanner to detect if passengers show fever and other H1N1 symptoms. For passengers coming to Malaysia, they need to fill in a form to declare their health, This will enable easier follow up with the passengers if they show symptoms in the future. I also noticed that a majority of air passengers do not wear masks. Only a small percentage, I think about 5-10% wear masks. What is Influenza A (H1N1) ? It is a new Influenza A virus that has never before circulated between humans. It is not related to current seasonal or previous influenza viruses. There are also no cases of this strain being reported through exposure to pigs and other animals. It also has an unknown location of origin.³ Personally, I think that the definition above from WHO is more accurate than other sources. Here are some others as well: Definition from The Star Online: It is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by Type A strains of the influenza virus. It has a high flu outbreaks in pigs and low death rates. There are 4 main sub types of the virus but the most recent isolated cases are found in pigs.⁴ It is also most commonly known as Swine Flu. Signs & Symptoms^3,4,5

• Fever
• Cough
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Muscle / joint pains
• May have diarrohea and vomitting
• Lack of apetite
• Lethargic / fatigue
• Chills

Proper precautions need to be taken to curb the spread of the Influenza A virus. Prevention

• Cover our eyes and nose with tissue or handkerchief when we cough or sneeze^3,4
• Washing hands with soap or anti-bacterial soap such as Protex, Lifebuoy and Dettol and water^3,4
• Wear masks at airports or at the right situations. Incorrect use may increase the chances of spreading. According to WHO, you don't have to wear a mask if you are not sick. However, it is good to ensure proper precautions are taken to prevent H1N1 from spreading³
• Have good health habits such as having enough sleep, eating nutritious food and keeping physically active³
• Avoid touching eyes, nose or mouth^3,4
• Avoid crowded places³
• Avoid contact with people who are ill or sick^3,4

Vaccinations Tamiflu (osteltamivir)⁵ Relenza (zanamivir)⁵ However, it is reported in several cases that Tamiflu is not effective. Some of the viruses are resistant to Tamiflu. A vaccination that fully effective vaccine has not been developed yet. It is still under research by pharmaceutical companies. Also, the vaccine for H1N1 will take at least 4-6 months to develop. The vaccine therefore is excepted to be ready around year end by November and December.^7,8 Influenza A (H1N1) is a milder form of influenza as compared to the seasonal influenza. The seasonal influenza resulted in more deaths. However, we still need to take proper precautions to ensure we are not infected with H1N1. I am continuing to pray that the Influenza H1N1 situation will improve and in the future, the Influenza H1N1 pandemic will end. References: ¹ Pandemic H1N1 2009 - update 58, WHO (World Health Organisation), http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_07_06/en/index.html ² More local H1N1 cases, The Star Online, 14th July 2009, http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/7/14/nation/4314690&sec=nation ³ What is the new influenza A (H1N1)?, WHO, http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/frequently_asked_questions/about_disease/en/index.html ⁴ Influenza A (H1N1) FAQ, The Star Online, http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/4/28/nation/20090428132524&sec=nation ⁵ 2009 Flu Pandemic, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_flu_pandemic ⁶ WHO | What Can I Do?, http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/frequently_asked_questions/what/en/index.html ⁷ WHO sees little Tamiflu-resistant H1N1 flu spread, http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/7/8/worldupdates/2009-07-07t224352z_01_nootr_rtrmdnc_0_india-408745-2&sec=worldupdates ⁸ WHO: H1N1 Vaccine Will Take 4 to 6 Months to Make, http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/702258 ⁹ WHO declares swine flu pandemic, The Star Online, http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/6/11/ah1n1flu/20090611163547&sec=ah1n1flu

Random Photos

Hi Everyone,

Here are some of the photos that I've taken during the week. I tested out the new Panasonic Rechargeable Batteries that I bought with my camera. Quite long lasting so far even though the camera occasionally shows the low battery indicator. Maybe it's the camera problem. It's an Olympus Camedia C-350.

The Pearl & The Return

Hi Everyone, Still remember these? I last read these books in Form Five, that was 7 years ago. The English literature books introduced were The Pearl & The Return. I preferred The Pearl for it is easier to read and has a great storyline. The Return talked about the history of Ravi's family and tend to be quite difficult to understand. I studied at S.M.K St.John during secondary school. I think the teacher who took my class, 4H and 5H was Mrs. Smith. She was quite fierce but she was friendly too. Anyone comments on her? Still remember Mrs. Smith? .

Anime Theme Songs Part 2

Hi,

Another update on anime songs. This week, I will embed the opening themes for animes which has the classical music theme. La Corda Doro Primo Passo talks about a girl, Kahoko who has no talents in music. She studied in a school that has several music talents such as :

1. Azuma (Flute)
2. Kazuki (Trumpet)
3. Shoko (Clarinet)
4. Ryotaro (Piano)
5. Len (Violin)
6. Keiichi (Cello)
7. Shinobu (Violin)

She also found a classical music fairy, Lily who is hepling her to discover her talent by giving her a magical violin. The violin enables Kahoko to play the violin really well. In the end, Kahoko felt that it was not right to cheat the other musical students in her school and chose to start practising her musical skills again. After her adventure of playing the violin which includes getting second place in the school competition, she has the passion to learn and play the violin. She loves playing it. Here is the opening theme song:

Nodame Cantabilie talks about two main characters namely Chiaki (Shinichi Chiaki) and Nodame. Chiaki is a very talented pianinst and violinst who wanted to become a conductor. With the help of Nodame, he managed to become one. He is also afraid of being in aeroplanes. Nodame (Megumi Noda) is a playful girl and likes to play the piano. She can the songs that she wants only by listening to the piece. In the anime, she also falls in love with Chiaki and tried her best to gain his attention. They were lovers later in the show. Here is the opening theme song:

That's all.

Jakarta Fair PRJ Kemayoran 2009

Hi Everyone, I have visited to Jakarta Fair 2009 at PRJ Kemayoran. It is held at the Jakarta International Exhibition Centre (JI Expo) every year showcasing Indonesian various industries and products. There were great promotions ranging from sportswear, furniture, clothing, batik clothing, electrical appliances and products, IT and computer products, mobile phones, car tyres and food and beverage items. Singing and dancing performances were held at the event too. The fair is opened to all from morning to night. The MRT in Jakarta also its presence known at the fair. Jakarta will have its own MRT system soon implemented in a few stages. The MRT will be completed in 2016. I also went to the Skyway booth with my friends where we can make our own slippers free. Skyway is a company which makes slippers. There were more than 56,000 pairs of slippers made that day when we were at the booth. Might be more than 60,000 pairs after we left at 7pm. If you are not sure how to make your own pair of slippers, the company models will help you with it. There were a lot of people queuing up there in 6 or 8 lines to wait for their turn. Each line will have a model in front where they will monitor the process of making the slippers. Here is the picture below: I also bought a few cartons of Indomie Mi Goreng at the fair. It was cheaper there. Only Rp. 43000 which means it is only RM 14.33. There were also performances in the E-Joss (Extra Joss) energy drink booth where the musicians created nice drumming beats with kitchen utensils (pans) and empty containers. Several children were invited to join in as well. Loud but good music there. You can visit the Extra Joss website for more details on the energy drink. Only RM 0.36 for one pack. There are 40 packs in one carton. We can see the brands we have in Malaysia also have a presence in Jakarta together with several Indonesian home brands. The Indonesian home brands include Indofood, Extra Joss, Skyway, Bengawan Solo Coffees, Indomilk, Sampoerna and Nixxy. Nixxy is the manufacturer of keropoks there. Familiar brands include Samsung, Sharp, Elba, Fujiflim, Acer, BenQ, HP, Zebra Thailand, Dunkin Donuts, LG and KDK. I have taken quite a number of photos while I was there. You can see it at my Picasa Web Album, Picasa Web Albums - Jakarta Fair PRJ Kemayoran.

Anime Theme Songs Part 1

Hello Everybody, I like watching animes. The opening and closing themes for some of these animes can be really nice songs. Here are three of them in the latest blog entry. These are the opening and closing theme songs of Slam Dunk and the 1st closing theme from the Law of Ueki. Slam Dunk Opening Theme Slam Dunk Closing Theme The Law of Ueki Closing Theme 1