LONDON (Reuters) - Ryanair's chief executive said Europe's largest budget carrier might start charging passengers for using the toilet while flying, but his spokesman cautioned Michael O'Leary often just made things up at will.
"One thing we have looked at in the past and are looking at again is the possibility of maybe putting a coin slot on the toilet door so that people might actually have to spend a pound to spend a penny in future," O'Leary told BBC television.
He said this would not inconvenience passengers travelling without cash. "I don't think there is anybody in history that has got on board a Ryanair aircraft with less than a pound."
A spokesman said the airline had considered the fee as a possible source of extra revenue since passengers had the option of not using the toilet on board, but added that "maybe O'Leary was just taking the p*ss this morning."
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Climate disaster is occuring faster than expected
Polar bears can't catch seals in open water. They are only able to do so on the sea ice.
On the ice, the bears catch their prey when they surface to breathe.
Seals swim to the surface to breathe every five to fifteen minute but because they visit as many as fifteen breathing holes, a polar bear's wait for its prey can be long.
Polar bears locate breathing holes with their powerful sense of smell. When a bear finds an aglu, it waits patiently for the seal to surface — which can take hours or days.
Polar bears depend on the presence of ice for access to seals. In summer, when the floes retreat north, polar bears will travel hundreds of miles to maintain contact with their prey.
Between summer and winter the amount of ice-covered water can change rapidly. Polar bears learn to follow the ice to stay with their food source.
Those polar bears that are stranded on land in summer must stay there until the ice forms again in fall. On land, the bears face lean times, for they seldom catch seals without a platform of ice.
The picture above is a polar bear being killed as it went rampaging into a nearby town looking for food.
With the thinning ice caps, more polar bears are dying day by day...
The SUN, 26th February 2009
ALLIGATORS bask off England. Brazil is a desert. Saigon, New Orleans, Venice and Mumbai have disappeared — along with 90 per cent of the human race.
This is what scientists believe could happen 41 years from now if the world warms by just 4°C.
Here we graphically illustrate how Earth could become a whole new world.
Rivers would disappear, as would entire species such as lions and tigers. Most marine life would be extinct.
These are among the dire predictions made by experts in the latest New Scientist magazine, on sale this week.
They have begun to consider what the world could look like if we are unable to do our bit to stem climate change — and say only one in ten humans would survive to see it.
Many scientists believe this could happen by 2100, but others fear it is just two generations away, and could arrive as soon as 2050.
Peter Cox of the University of Exeter, who studies climate systems, says: “Climatologists tend to fall into two camps. There are the cautious ones who say we need to cut emissions and won’t even think about high global temperatures — and there are the ones who tell us to run for the hills because we’re all doomed. I prefer a middle ground. We have to accept that changes are inevitable and start to adapt now.”
If the planet warms by an average of 4°C — as it might this century — it will change beyond all recognition.
All of the world’s major deserts are predicted to expand, with Africa’s Sahara reaching right into central Europe, while we would see Europe’s rivers drying up, from the Danube to the Rhine.
Two massive belts of desert-dry land would girdle the earth’s central zones.
The only places with guaranteed water will be in the high latitudes.
Former NASA scientist James Lovelock, one of the UK’s most highly regarded environmentalists, says: “Everything in that region will be growing like mad. It’s where all the life will be.
“The rest of the world will be largely desert with a few oases.
“Humans are in a pretty difficult position and I don’t think they are clever enough to handle what’s ahead.
“I think they’ll survive as a species but the cull during this century is going to be huge.
“The number remaining at the end of the century will probably be a billion or less. And you can forget lions and tigers — if it moves we’ll have eaten it. People will be desperate.”
Relocate
The world’s population would relocate to the coolest regions — including Britain, Scandinavia, Russia, Canada, Greenland, New Zealand and North Australia. However, with less land the world will be crowded and food scarce.
Human survivors’ diet will be mostly vegetarian — as the seas become acidic with higher amounts of dissolved carbon dioxide killing off most marine life.
This is not the first time the world has faced a catastrophe on this scale.
Similar temperature rises occurred 55million years ago, when vast quantities of methane bubbled explosively from the deep ocean, filling the atmosphere with carbon and wiping out sea life.
The planet’s temperature rocketed almost 6°C, sea levels rose 330ft higher than today’s and desert stretched from southern Africa into Europe.
Sadly we have no survival lessons to learn from it — mankind didn’t develop on the planet until quarter of a million years ago.
Nobel prize-winning scientist Paul Crutzen says: “I would like to be optimistic that we will survive but I’ve got no good reason to be.
“In order to be safe we would have to reduce our carbon emissions by 70 per cent by 2015. At the moment we are putting them up by three per cent... ”
Coming soon: Ecology disaster
Arctic ice cap keeps melting under the effects of global warming.
August 2008 saw second largest summer shrinkage since satellite observations began 30 years ago.
Artic sea ice shrank to the smallest area on record recently, US scientist have cofirmed.
The Artic sea ice which spread across he north pole could disappear during the summer in 1-2 decade (as early as 2013), US scientist warned.
It is silly to say global warming is not taking place on a massive scale.
The world already is experiencing major changes.
Global warming no longer can be stopped.
What has to be done now is to deal with a planet with ultra high speed winds, sudden deserts and large scale extreme weather events.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Hospital Kuala Lumpur- a world class health facility
How I envy those working in this world class hospital.
I was told that only the best could work there.....
Truly a people's hospital.
I will want to be admitted there if I fall ill.
RM5/= for anyone who can spot Dr Ghazali
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Best coffee on high street? Not Starbucks
Times online
Starbucks is peddling the worst coffee at the highest prices according to a survey of the big three coffee houses on Britain's high streets.
A report published today calculates that choosing the world’s largest coffee chain instead of an independent shop for your cappuccino three mornings a week will cost you £126 a year.
The Which? Magazine survey did not stop at lamenting the cost of a Starbucks, it also placed the global brand at the bottom of its taste test. It concluded that when it came to too much water in an Americano and a surfeit of froth on a cappuccino, “Starbucks was the worst offender”.
Despite this, Starbucks is still by far the biggest coffee chain on the planet with more than 15,000 stores in 44 countries.
The report also examined the calorie content of coffees. The full range of drinks ran from 17 calories in a black Americano to a white chocolate mocha with whip and whole milk from Starbuck that came in at 628 calories – more than a quarter of recommended daily calorie intake.
The sandwiches available in the coffee shops also came under scrutiny, with several found to contain more calories, fat and salt than a McDonald’s Big Mac.
Four sandwiches at Starbucks and four at Costa exceeded the 495 calories in a Big Mac. Fat content in four Costa sandwiches, five from Starbucks and one from Caffe Nero was higher than the burger and 32 sandwiches from the three shops had more salt than a Big Mac.
COFFEE PRICES
Starbucks
Medium cappuccino £2.29; single espresso £1.40
Come on guys...
It's ok to fork out 2 pounds if what you getting is a decent cup of coffee.
But that's not the case here.
You are just buying the 'brand' with its associated psychological '?feel good' effect.
Make your own coffee.
I have been making my own cup of coffee each morning from bean to cup.
And the coffee that i am getting is far superior from theirs.
(And this done with only a bialetti stovetop coffee maker. My 2nd hand gaggia espresso machine is on the way!).
And it gives you far superior 'feel good effect'- becoz it taste better and saves you money!
Starbucks is peddling the worst coffee at the highest prices according to a survey of the big three coffee houses on Britain's high streets.
A report published today calculates that choosing the world’s largest coffee chain instead of an independent shop for your cappuccino three mornings a week will cost you £126 a year.
The Which? Magazine survey did not stop at lamenting the cost of a Starbucks, it also placed the global brand at the bottom of its taste test. It concluded that when it came to too much water in an Americano and a surfeit of froth on a cappuccino, “Starbucks was the worst offender”.
Despite this, Starbucks is still by far the biggest coffee chain on the planet with more than 15,000 stores in 44 countries.
The report also examined the calorie content of coffees. The full range of drinks ran from 17 calories in a black Americano to a white chocolate mocha with whip and whole milk from Starbuck that came in at 628 calories – more than a quarter of recommended daily calorie intake.
The sandwiches available in the coffee shops also came under scrutiny, with several found to contain more calories, fat and salt than a McDonald’s Big Mac.
Four sandwiches at Starbucks and four at Costa exceeded the 495 calories in a Big Mac. Fat content in four Costa sandwiches, five from Starbucks and one from Caffe Nero was higher than the burger and 32 sandwiches from the three shops had more salt than a Big Mac.
COFFEE PRICES
Starbucks
Medium cappuccino £2.29; single espresso £1.40
Come on guys...
It's ok to fork out 2 pounds if what you getting is a decent cup of coffee.
But that's not the case here.
You are just buying the 'brand' with its associated psychological '?feel good' effect.
Make your own coffee.
I have been making my own cup of coffee each morning from bean to cup.
And the coffee that i am getting is far superior from theirs.
(And this done with only a bialetti stovetop coffee maker. My 2nd hand gaggia espresso machine is on the way!).
And it gives you far superior 'feel good effect'- becoz it taste better and saves you money!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Immunisation in renal transplant patients
Update from the NCP Nephrology.
Visit renaltransplanthkl.blogspot.com
Visit renaltransplanthkl.blogspot.com
Dumped in Africa: Britain’s toxic waste
By Cahal Milmo, the Independent
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Tonnes of toxic waste collected from British municipal dumps is being sent illegally to Africa in flagrant breach of this country’s obligation to ensure its rapidly growing mountain of defunct televisions, computers and gadgets are disposed of safely.
Hundreds of thousands of discarded items, which under British law must be dismantled or recycled by specialist contractors, are being packaged into cargo containers and shipped to countries such as Nigeria and Ghana, where they are stripped of their raw metals by young men and children working on poisoned waste dumps.
In a joint investigation by The Independent, Sky News, and Greenpeace, a television that had been broken beyond repair was tracked to an electronics market in Lagos, Nigeria, after being left at a civic amenity site in Basingstoke run by Hampshire Country Council. Under environmental protection laws It was classified as hazardous waste and should never have left the UK.
Britain is responsible for around 15 per cent of the EU’s total e-waste, which is growing three times faster than any other muncipal waste stream.
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Tonnes of toxic waste collected from British municipal dumps is being sent illegally to Africa in flagrant breach of this country’s obligation to ensure its rapidly growing mountain of defunct televisions, computers and gadgets are disposed of safely.
Hundreds of thousands of discarded items, which under British law must be dismantled or recycled by specialist contractors, are being packaged into cargo containers and shipped to countries such as Nigeria and Ghana, where they are stripped of their raw metals by young men and children working on poisoned waste dumps.
In a joint investigation by The Independent, Sky News, and Greenpeace, a television that had been broken beyond repair was tracked to an electronics market in Lagos, Nigeria, after being left at a civic amenity site in Basingstoke run by Hampshire Country Council. Under environmental protection laws It was classified as hazardous waste and should never have left the UK.
Britain is responsible for around 15 per cent of the EU’s total e-waste, which is growing three times faster than any other muncipal waste stream.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
My story of the espresso machine and grinder- by kfChan
from kfchan.wordpress.com
Note: in the world of coffeegeeks, the recommendation is always to get the grinder first. Then if you have money, go for the espresso machine.
Why grinder first? Well, to enjoy good coffee, you can do so without an espresso machine. The french press is a coffee brewing device you can find easily in shopping malls and they cost between RM50 to RM100. The Bodum has some very nice french presses.The grinder is most important because freshly grounded coffee tasted the best.
A note about roasted coffee beans. Unlike tea, let me assure you that aged coffee beans are worthless. The roasted coffee beans aroma and taste peaks between 4days to a week from the roasting date. After that, it starts going downhill. No technology in the world today are able to prevent the deterioration of roasted coffee beans. It is like preventing human aging. In fact, you can prevent human aging better than coffee beans.
Therefore, I can say all the coffee beans you see on the supermarket shelf are practically stale. Whatever they state on the “expiry date” are nonsense. The first time you open the package, you’ll get the whiff of aroma. After that, it is over. Now, I’m not saying that there is really no more taste and aroma in the coffee. It just meant that you are merely enjoying maybe only 30% of what could have been 100%.
I define freshness as coffee that is less than 2 weeks from roasting date. (in Malaysia, I stretch it to 2 months due to lack of supply)
What is worst than coffee beans that is not fresh? Grounded coffee. Even if you have a batch of fresh coffee beans (say 1 week old), after you grind the coffee, it will lose its potential within 30mins to an hour.
That is why you need a grinder. If you grind your coffee and use them immediately, it has higher potential than grounded coffee.
Therefore, if money is an issue, get a decent grinder and a french press and you will be able to start enjoying decent coffee at home.
One big concern and one big question.
The big concern = It is notoriously difficult to get fresh roasted coffee in Malaysia.
The big question = How much is a decent grinder?
That depends on the brewing methods.
Coffee press (french press) and drip coffee = About RM 300++
Espresso type = RM 2,000.00
Summary: If all you want is nice coffee via presses and drip, just RM 300++ and a french press. If you want espresso, cappuccinos, lattes, mocha… those types that you pay RM10+ at Starbucks… It is a long term investment.
Note: in the world of coffeegeeks, the recommendation is always to get the grinder first. Then if you have money, go for the espresso machine.
Why grinder first? Well, to enjoy good coffee, you can do so without an espresso machine. The french press is a coffee brewing device you can find easily in shopping malls and they cost between RM50 to RM100. The Bodum has some very nice french presses.The grinder is most important because freshly grounded coffee tasted the best.
A note about roasted coffee beans. Unlike tea, let me assure you that aged coffee beans are worthless. The roasted coffee beans aroma and taste peaks between 4days to a week from the roasting date. After that, it starts going downhill. No technology in the world today are able to prevent the deterioration of roasted coffee beans. It is like preventing human aging. In fact, you can prevent human aging better than coffee beans.
Therefore, I can say all the coffee beans you see on the supermarket shelf are practically stale. Whatever they state on the “expiry date” are nonsense. The first time you open the package, you’ll get the whiff of aroma. After that, it is over. Now, I’m not saying that there is really no more taste and aroma in the coffee. It just meant that you are merely enjoying maybe only 30% of what could have been 100%.
I define freshness as coffee that is less than 2 weeks from roasting date. (in Malaysia, I stretch it to 2 months due to lack of supply)
What is worst than coffee beans that is not fresh? Grounded coffee. Even if you have a batch of fresh coffee beans (say 1 week old), after you grind the coffee, it will lose its potential within 30mins to an hour.
That is why you need a grinder. If you grind your coffee and use them immediately, it has higher potential than grounded coffee.
Therefore, if money is an issue, get a decent grinder and a french press and you will be able to start enjoying decent coffee at home.
One big concern and one big question.
The big concern = It is notoriously difficult to get fresh roasted coffee in Malaysia.
The big question = How much is a decent grinder?
That depends on the brewing methods.
Coffee press (french press) and drip coffee = About RM 300++
Espresso type = RM 2,000.00
Summary: If all you want is nice coffee via presses and drip, just RM 300++ and a french press. If you want espresso, cappuccinos, lattes, mocha… those types that you pay RM10+ at Starbucks… It is a long term investment.
Top Gear UK and Proton- shared by CL Loh
This is one of the few hot programmes currently running in BBC.
Top Gear is an International Emmy Award-winning BBC television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars.
The show is presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and The Stig, an anonymous test driver.
The programme is estimated to have 350 million viewers worldwide.
The show has received acclaim for its visual style and presentation, as well as considerable criticism for its content and comments made by presenters.
This is what they say about Proton cars.
Go into their official website for a detail review of each Proton model.
Those currently driving Proton cars should probably avoid reading further.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Starbucks to sell instant coffee
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Starbucks Corp,the company plans to unveil its Via soluble coffee product on Tuesday and said it would soon send samples to stores.
The company says Via replicates the taste of Starbucks coffee in instant form and will be available next month after more than 20 years in development.
Instant coffee products such as Nescafe were popular decades ago in the United States and remain popular in parts of Europe and Asia.
This is just how low some people are prepared to go to....
As I have said, make your own coffee! (From bean to cup)..
The company says Via replicates the taste of Starbucks coffee in instant form and will be available next month after more than 20 years in development.
Instant coffee products such as Nescafe were popular decades ago in the United States and remain popular in parts of Europe and Asia.
This is just how low some people are prepared to go to....
As I have said, make your own coffee! (From bean to cup)..
Children having children
A 13-year-old from Eastbourne has reportedly become a father.
According to the Sun newspaper, Alfie Patten conceived baby Maisie with his 15 year old girlfriend when he was just 12 years old.
Teenage pregnancies are highest in UK among western european countries.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Freshness of Coffee
The freshness of coffee plays an important role in how coffee tastes.
Common sense says that the fresher the ingredients the better the flavour.
The two processes which affect the length of time coffee stays fresh for are roasting and grinding.
Roasting
In green bean form, coffee can stay fresh for up to 2 years.
However, once it has been roasted it only stays fresh for up to 2 weeks.
Ideally you should purchase your coffee in small amounts - only as much as you would use in a 1-2 week period.
Coffee beans should be stored in airtight containers(preferably vacuum sealed) in a dark, dry and cool location.
If you have to buy more then a 2 week supply of coffee beans, you should freeze part of this purchase.
Freeze the beans in a waterproof and airtight (preferably vacuum sealed) container and they will stay fresh for up to a month.
Frozen coffee beans must be allowed to fully defrost, between 2-4 hours at room temperature, before they can be ground; and great care must be taken to ensure that no ice from the freezer comes into contact with the beans, as moisture will cause them to deteriorate.
Grinding
Once coffee has been ground, it should be used as soon as possible. Air is coffee's worst enemy, and as a ground coffee bean has a much larger surface area then a whole coffee bean, it is therefore more exposed to air and becomes stale quicker.
If you do not have a coffee grinder at home and so buy your coffee pre-ground, then it is a good idea to divide your coffee supply into several smaller portions.
Keep each portion in an airtight container and take coffee from only one of these portions at a time, using up all the coffee grounds before moving on to the next one.
So what's the moral of the story when drinking coffee?
1. Roast your own coffee beans
2. Grind your own coffee
If not, forget about a good cup of coffee.
Because there are hardly any shops serving good coffee/expresso in Malaysia
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Its snowing again
Severe weather warnings have been issued across the north of Scotland, where thick snow is falling and more is forecast.
Blizzard conditions are also affecting major roads in the county of Angus and Market Weighton in East Yorkshire.
How I wish I have my Canon 5DII to capture these moments..
Photo gallery account suspended
Just to inform everyone that my photo gallery http://edwinchow.photobook.org.uk/ has been suspended.
I have recently exceeded my upload quota of 500MB and was then asked to pay for additional memory or risk suspension of my account.
I got pissed off and decided not to continue using their services.
I have recently exceeded my upload quota of 500MB and was then asked to pay for additional memory or risk suspension of my account.
I got pissed off and decided not to continue using their services.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Don't Drink Instant Coffee
Instant coffee bears little resemblance in taste to freshly brewed coffee. It is commonly made with inferior 'robusta' beans.
The truth is that instant coffee does not contain any actual coffee beans; it is simply a dried coffee flavoured solution that is the product of a complex brewing process.
Extraction: The process starts by passing water through a series of cylinders full of ground coffee beans. Each of these cylinders is heated to a different temperature and in at least one of the cylinders pressure is applied to achieve a fuller extraction.
One of reasons why instant coffee is bitter is because during this extraction process the coffee grounds become burnt as they are exposed to temperatures of up to 180°C. (The widely agreed optimum temperature, among coffee enthusiasts, to brew coffee is between 90-95°C).
Filtration & Concentration: This coffee solution is then filtered to remove any unwanted particles before the concentration stage. Here water is removed from the coffee solution to increase the flavour. There are several different techniques to do this, one of which involves heating the solution further to evaporate the water.
Dehydration: In this stage the coffee solution is converted to a dry form. There are two commonly used methods; Spray drying and Freeze drying.
Aromatisation: All these different stages and the high temperatures used in them, destroy most of the natural flavours that occur in coffee. The dry form of the coffee solution is therefore both stewed and bitter. So to help improve the taste, aromas produced during the various stages of this process are captured and then sprayed onto the dry coffee particles.
If that is not enough to make you switch from a cup of instant coffee to a freshly brewed cup then you may want to consider that instant coffee, in the vast majority of cases, is not fairly traded. In fact, it can be argued that the instant coffee industry, which is mainly made up of large multinational companies, is chiefly responsible for the low price coffee farmers receive for their harvest. They have the power to drive down prices and buy when the market is lowest, leaving the farmer and their family to live a meagre existence.
User Guide To Cafetieres (French Press)
Cafetieres are a great way to make coffee. They are simple and quick to use and are fairly easy to clean afterwards.
Cafetiere Brewing Method
This method is intended as a basic guide. In due cause, and after some experimentation, you will figure out for yourself the best and most convenient way for you to brew coffee using a cafetiere.
1. Warm Cafetiere: The majority of cafetieres are made from glass, which is highly conductive of heat. Therefore it is important to warm the cafetiere with hot water before use to ensure your coffee is hot when it comes to serving it.
2. Add Ground Coffee: After you have warmed the cafetiere, discard the hot water and add the ground coffee. The coffee should be coarsely ground; if it is too fine it will pass through the mesh filter on the cafetiere and result in a sludgy residue at the bottom of your cup. You should add 7 grams of ground coffee per cup.
Note that cafetieres are measured in tazze cups, which are only 4oz (approx 115ml), so a 3 cup cafetiere is equivalent to one mug.
3. Add Water: Never use boiling water as this will burn the coffee and impart a bitter taste. Instead use water between 90-95°C; i.e. allow water in the kettle to cool for between 3-4 minutes after it has boiled before adding it to the cafetiere. Fill the cafetiere to just below the spout and give the coffee solution a quick stir to help release the flavour.
4. Replace Plunger: Replace the lid of the cafetiere, allowing the plunger to rest just on top of the coffee solution. This will help trap the heat in.
5. Infuse for 3-4 Minutes: the coffee solution to infuse for between 3-4 minutes - experiment with this time to see which length suits you.
6. Depress Plunger: Using only the weight of one hand, depress the plunger while holding the cafetiere steady with your other hand. Once the plunger reaches the bottom, allow the coffee solution to settle for around 20 seconds before serving.
Cafetiere Care
Make sure the cafetiere is thoroughly cleaned and rinsed with hot water after use. It is not necessary to dismantle the cafetiere's filter every time you wash it, but ensure that there are no trapped coffee grounds or any residual coffee oil in the filter as this will give future cups of coffee made in the cafetiere a bitter and rancid flavour.
Most Expensive Shit in the World !!
Would you pay 50 pounds for a cup of shit?
People would...
It's Kopi Luwak- the most expensive coffee in the World (mainly from Sumatra).
luwak is a local name of the Asian Palm Civet.
The raw, red coffee berries are part of its normal diet, along with insects, small mammals, small reptiles, eggs and nestlings of birds, and other fruit.
The inner bean of the berry is not digested, but it has been proposed that enzymes in the stomach of the civet add to the coffee's flavor by breaking down the proteins that give coffee its bitter taste.
The beans are defecated, still covered in some inner layers of the berry.
The beans are washed, and given only a light roast so as to not destroy the complex flavors that develop through the process.
Kopi Luwak is the most expensive coffee in the world, selling for between $120 and $600 USD per pound.
Only 1,000 pounds (450 kg) at most make it into the world market each year.
Floods and snow batter Britain
Guardian UK, 10 Feb 2009
• One month's rainfall in 24 hours
• Storm prompts 90 flood warnings
Britain is taking another battering from wintry weather today, as a storm brings gale-force winds and torrential rain and snow, causing flooding, power cuts and widespread travel disruption in England and Wales.
Almost a month's rain fell in 24 hours in some parts of southern England, while a band of snow stretching from south Wales to the Midlands left up to 3,000 homes without electricity.
A severe flood warning, which indicates extreme danger to life and property, is in place for the rivers Chelmer and Can at Chelmsford, Essex.
UK DECIDES NOT TO INTRODUCE VISA REQUIREMENT FOR MALAYSIANS
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- Malaysia welcomes the decision of the United Kingdom (UK) not to introduce visa requirement for Malaysian passport holders.
The Foreign Ministry in a statment here today said Malaysia was pleased with the outcome of UK's Visa Waiver Test (VWT) for Malaysians and that the positive result reflected the close working relationship between the British High Commisioner to Malaysia Boyd McCleary and his officials and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Home Ministry and Department of Immigration Malaysia.
It said Malaysia would continue to ensure the UK government on the high level of security at all international airports in order to prevent Malaysia from becoming a transit point for illegal immigrants into the UK.
Malaysia would impose sanctions on Malaysian immigration offenders who continue to overstay and work illegally in the UK while cracking down on people smugglers in Malaysia, it added.
The Foreign Ministry in a statment here today said Malaysia was pleased with the outcome of UK's Visa Waiver Test (VWT) for Malaysians and that the positive result reflected the close working relationship between the British High Commisioner to Malaysia Boyd McCleary and his officials and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Home Ministry and Department of Immigration Malaysia.
It said Malaysia would continue to ensure the UK government on the high level of security at all international airports in order to prevent Malaysia from becoming a transit point for illegal immigrants into the UK.
Malaysia would impose sanctions on Malaysian immigration offenders who continue to overstay and work illegally in the UK while cracking down on people smugglers in Malaysia, it added.
Monday, February 9, 2009
UK set for blizzard conditions and more snow
• Temperature drops to -18C in Aviemore overnight
• Heavy rain, sleet and snow hit rail and roads
• Council uses table salt on roads as grit stocks run low
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee
Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee or Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee is a classification of coffee grown in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica.
Over the last several decades, this coffee has developed a reputation that has made it one of the most expensive and sought-after coffees in the world.
In addition to its use for brewed coffee, the beans are the flavor base of Tia Maria coffee liqueur.
This coffee has a few distinct features.
The first is a notable lack of bitterness, and the second is a mild, very complex, almost creamy flavor.
Coffee tasters often detect a profusion of floral notes in Jamaican Blue Mountain, along with an almost chocolaty flavor.
Fans are willing to pay high prices for this incredible coffee, which is delicious when drunk black or with cream.
This coffee is well worth trying, if you have an opportunity to do so.
Whittard UK, sells it for 24 pounds (per 250g of ground coffee) but is not available at the moment as stocks are scarce. As you can see, the price is 10 times of ordinary coffee that we usually buy from the stores.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Ng Sum Kwai
During the Ming Dynasty in ancient China, a Ming general by the name of Ng Sum Kwai betrayed the Cinese people and his government by opening the gate to the city he was charged to defend.
The city being in a strategic location fell and with it the Manchu armies were able to strike into the heart of China and China fell to the Manchus who then establish the Ching Dynasty.
This Ng Sum Kwai is now known as a traitor who sold his people and country to the barbarians for wealth and riches and his name is now use to describe a traitor.
Chinese now spit at his name.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Death-trap fear as salt runs low
The gritting salt keeping Britain's roads clear of snow and ice is running out amid a warning from the AA that some roads are becoming "death traps".
Many councils in England and Wales are having to ration supplies and have stopped using salt on minor roads.
The AA wants the government to lead a co-ordinated response to the crisis.
The Highways Agency is putting 25,000 tonnes of salt on main roads a day, but producers can only deliver 30,000 tonnes a week.
RAC motoring strategist Adrian Tink added: "The number of roads that haven't been gritted is a big concern and has a serious impact on driver safety.
Warwickshire County Council has confirmed it is rationing gritting, while in Wiltshire only main routes are being gritted.
There, smaller roads have become extremely icy in patches and some have been blocked by jack-knifed lorries or double-deckers stuck in the road.
Gloucestershire County Council said it had halved its salting operation to preserve stocks as it tries to hunt around for alternative supplies.
Many councils in England and Wales are having to ration supplies and have stopped using salt on minor roads.
The AA wants the government to lead a co-ordinated response to the crisis.
The Highways Agency is putting 25,000 tonnes of salt on main roads a day, but producers can only deliver 30,000 tonnes a week.
RAC motoring strategist Adrian Tink added: "The number of roads that haven't been gritted is a big concern and has a serious impact on driver safety.
Warwickshire County Council has confirmed it is rationing gritting, while in Wiltshire only main routes are being gritted.
There, smaller roads have become extremely icy in patches and some have been blocked by jack-knifed lorries or double-deckers stuck in the road.
Gloucestershire County Council said it had halved its salting operation to preserve stocks as it tries to hunt around for alternative supplies.
UK prepares for freezing weekend
Forecasters have warned of very low temperatures overnight, after snow brought a fifth day of chaos to the UK.
Road, rail and air transport was again badly affected, while hundreds of schools were again closed.
The West Country and south Wales were worst-hit, with Okehampton in west Devon seeing 22in (55cm) of snow.
Heavy snow, some of it a foot (30cm) deep, cut off some villages in Devon and Somerset and snow continued into Friday.
The bad weather left 21,000 homes across the West Country without power.
Western Power Distribution (WPD) said 12,000 residents in Devon were without electricity.
Another 8,000 homes in the Taunton area were also without power.
The AA had received more than 3,000 callouts by 0930 GMT on Friday, double its normal workload, and it warned that shortages of road salt had created a "road safety crisis".
It said that by the end of Friday it expected to have answered 70,000 calls since Monday.
Emergency services had spent Thursday night rescuing about 200 stranded motorists from the A38 at Haldon Hill, near Exeter, Devon after the weather deteriorated suddenly.
A few miles west, the Army was called in to pick up about 60 people stuck on the A386.
Many drivers in Devon and Cornwall spent Thursday night in emergency centres.
Some councils in England have been running out of road salt, with the Highways Agency saying supplies were "very limited".
Authorities in Wiltshire hoped to get 500 tonnes of salt from Devon County Council.
Stocks in West Berkshire are at 20% of normal levels and are expected to last only another two or three days.
Cheshire-based Salt Union said staff were working around the clock but still could not meet demand.
A container ship is travelling from Spain with 40,000 tonnes of salt, and another ship is also heading to the UK with salt from Germany. Both are expected to dock on Wednesday.
Why the roads are now death-traps in UK.
The roads now resemble third world countries as gritting salt is running low in UK enabling authorities to only grit main roads.
Road, rail and air transport was again badly affected, while hundreds of schools were again closed.
The West Country and south Wales were worst-hit, with Okehampton in west Devon seeing 22in (55cm) of snow.
Heavy snow, some of it a foot (30cm) deep, cut off some villages in Devon and Somerset and snow continued into Friday.
The bad weather left 21,000 homes across the West Country without power.
Western Power Distribution (WPD) said 12,000 residents in Devon were without electricity.
Another 8,000 homes in the Taunton area were also without power.
The AA had received more than 3,000 callouts by 0930 GMT on Friday, double its normal workload, and it warned that shortages of road salt had created a "road safety crisis".
It said that by the end of Friday it expected to have answered 70,000 calls since Monday.
Emergency services had spent Thursday night rescuing about 200 stranded motorists from the A38 at Haldon Hill, near Exeter, Devon after the weather deteriorated suddenly.
A few miles west, the Army was called in to pick up about 60 people stuck on the A386.
Many drivers in Devon and Cornwall spent Thursday night in emergency centres.
Some councils in England have been running out of road salt, with the Highways Agency saying supplies were "very limited".
Authorities in Wiltshire hoped to get 500 tonnes of salt from Devon County Council.
Stocks in West Berkshire are at 20% of normal levels and are expected to last only another two or three days.
Cheshire-based Salt Union said staff were working around the clock but still could not meet demand.
A container ship is travelling from Spain with 40,000 tonnes of salt, and another ship is also heading to the UK with salt from Germany. Both are expected to dock on Wednesday.
Why the roads are now death-traps in UK.
The roads now resemble third world countries as gritting salt is running low in UK enabling authorities to only grit main roads.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Engage Engineers, Not Doctors, To Control Dengue
by M. Bakri Musa
Florida in the summer has the same hot and humid climate as Malaysia. Its topography too is like Malaysia, with plenty of swamps and other stagnant bodies of water. Unlike Malaysians however, Floridians are not regularly threatened with outbreaks of dengue.
The secret is not that Florida has more and better doctors than Malaysia (although that is true) rather that Florida engages its civil engineers and not medical doctors to control vector-driven diseases like dengue. That is much more effective as well as cheaper, both in financial costs and human suffering.
While it is commendable that Dr. Ismail Merican, the Ministry of Health’s Director-General, is spearheading public awareness of dengue during this latest outbreak – the most severe – he is not the best person to do that. Neither his professional background nor his regular duties prepares him for this awesome responsibility. His ministry is not the most appropriate agency to undertake this monumental task.
Like Florida, we should engage civil engineers in local councils and the Ministry of Works, instead of medical doctors in local hospitals and the Ministry of Health. If those engineers could get away from their air-conditioned offices, they would notice those stagnant drains, silted ponds, and ditches with overgrown weeds. If those officers could brave the stench and examine closer, they would see mosquito larva luxuriating in the stagnant waters.
The solution is not to pour toxic chemicals into the water or fog them into the air. Yes, that would be effective, but those same chemicals could eventually leach into our water tables and poison us, that is, if we have not already inhaled them. Get rid of the stagnant water and you would kill off the larva. No larva, no adult mosquitoes, and no vectors to spread the dengue virus.
There is of course a major role for the Ministry of Health. The most obvious is to educate the public and health professionals in recognizing and treating the disease early. The other is in collaborative research with international agencies for prevention (as in vaccine development) as well as treatment. Its Public Health Division could develop sophisticated surveillance strategies using the Internet, GPS, cell phones, and traps laced with chemicals to attract pregnant mosquitoes so as to get real-time information so we could initiate effective and immediate interventions, as the Brazilians are doing.
Learning Favors The Prepared Mind
Many Malaysian doctors, engineers and civil servants visit Florida. What they remember of their experiences there are Mickey Mouse and the Magic Castle. Few would notice the well-trimmed parks, underground drains, and smooth flowing streams. And of course, the absence of pesky mosquitoes!
Those visitors would not realize that the beautiful marinas with their posh waterfront restaurants they patronized were once mosquito-infested swamps. Through the marvels of modern civil engineering, those once sources of pestilence are now major tourist attractions.
Malaysia spends considerable sums sending its officers abroad so they could learn how to improve things back at home. However, to modify Pasteur’s famous quote, learning favors only the prepared mind. You have to know ahead what you want to learn; you have to know your deficiencies so you could actively seek out to remedy them. Meaning, there would have to be considerable preparations beforehand and at home if you were to maximize the learning potential of your overseas trip. If it is only a vague notion of “wanting to learn something new,” then you would only be a tourist.
I once had some senior civil servants visit me at my modest suburban California home. They were impressed with the neighborhood, and yet when I queried them what exactly they found attractive, they could not answer.
Only when I pointed them out would they realize that there were no overhead power and phone lines (all underground), no open storm drains (all covered), and no front yard fences or tall walls to blight the open, park-like ambience of the neighborhood.
When they saw the clean sidewalks and well-trimmed side-street lawns, they attributed that to American city councils being efficient providers of municipal services. That may be true. However, I reminded them that homeowners are responsible for keeping the sidewalks and lawns well cared, for if they do not they would not only be fined but also have to reimburse the city for doing that job for them.
When living in Johor Baru in the 1970s I paid my gardener extra to cut the weeds and unclog the drains outside my compound. He initially reminded me that those were the responsibilities of the Town Council. However when I gently chided him in not wanting to increase his income, he readily complied. He could not comprehend why I would do something that should have been done by the “authorities.” He could not appreciate the benefits I would enjoy. At the very least I would not have to endure the stench of clogged drains or risk my children being bitten by snakes.
I could readily excuse my poorly-educated gardener for his narrow perspective. However my neighbors there included a banker and a corporate executive; they too shared my gardener’s view!
I once suggested to my father’s neighbors in Seremban that if they were to contribute a few thousand ringgit each, their neighborhood could have sidewalks and covered storm drains. That would reduce the mosquito population, as well as the stench and unsightliness of plugged drains.
They balked at the added expense, rationalizing that they have already paid their cukai pintu (assessments). It is the responsibility of the Town Council, they argued like my gardener earlier, in between slapping themselves trying to kill the pestering mosquitoes. Yet the costs of these “common space” improvements would be a fraction of what they spent for their gilded gates and high brick fence walls. Had they gone beyond their narrow concerns, they would have gotten not only a functionally wider streets but also safe sidewalks, quite apart from making their neighborhood healthier.
They would also recoup many times more their investments through the increased in property values.
Septic tanks are also major breeding grounds. They should be banned in urban areas anyway; houses and buildings there should be connected to a central sewer system instead. Nevertheless, an engineer from East Malaysia successfully invented a system (light Styrofoam balls placed in the venting pipes of these tanks) that would allow gases to escape but not mosquitoes. This device should be mandated in all septic tanks.
Then there are civil engineering innovations as having V-bottom storm drains with a U-shaped channel in the center so as to maintain fast flow during low volumes. The usual flat-bottom channels would have puddles of stagnant pools during the dry season.
Personal Actions
Mosquitoes have a range of about half a mile. Even if you were to keep your drains flowing and your yards trimmed, but if your neighbors were slothful, you still would have to endure the nuisance of mosquitoes. Hence a neighborhood approach is needed.
Those factors notwithstanding, there are still many things that individuals can do to minimize the threat of dengue. Installing screens on doors and windows is one; another would be using insecticide-impregnated or even plain mosquito nets, though that is more effective against malaria rather than dengue, which is spread by daytime mosquitoes.
Covering your body as much as possible is also protective. You do not need to be in a burka if that is not your sartorial style; light-colored long-sleeved shirt or blouse, with a sarong, long skirt or pants would achieve the same result.
Even an umbrella is useful. Not only does it protect you against the blistering sun, the constant movement of the umbrella causes micro turbulence underneath it, enough to discourage mosquitoes.
Our officials need not venture far to learn these things. If they have paid attention to their colonial predecessors, our officials would know the importance of cleaning up drains during the dry season so that they would not be clogged with the inevitable rains. I learned that during my childhood days watching those coolies employed by the Public Works Department scraping the drains. And this was long before I even heard of Florida and Disneyworld.
Florida in the summer has the same hot and humid climate as Malaysia. Its topography too is like Malaysia, with plenty of swamps and other stagnant bodies of water. Unlike Malaysians however, Floridians are not regularly threatened with outbreaks of dengue.
The secret is not that Florida has more and better doctors than Malaysia (although that is true) rather that Florida engages its civil engineers and not medical doctors to control vector-driven diseases like dengue. That is much more effective as well as cheaper, both in financial costs and human suffering.
While it is commendable that Dr. Ismail Merican, the Ministry of Health’s Director-General, is spearheading public awareness of dengue during this latest outbreak – the most severe – he is not the best person to do that. Neither his professional background nor his regular duties prepares him for this awesome responsibility. His ministry is not the most appropriate agency to undertake this monumental task.
Like Florida, we should engage civil engineers in local councils and the Ministry of Works, instead of medical doctors in local hospitals and the Ministry of Health. If those engineers could get away from their air-conditioned offices, they would notice those stagnant drains, silted ponds, and ditches with overgrown weeds. If those officers could brave the stench and examine closer, they would see mosquito larva luxuriating in the stagnant waters.
The solution is not to pour toxic chemicals into the water or fog them into the air. Yes, that would be effective, but those same chemicals could eventually leach into our water tables and poison us, that is, if we have not already inhaled them. Get rid of the stagnant water and you would kill off the larva. No larva, no adult mosquitoes, and no vectors to spread the dengue virus.
There is of course a major role for the Ministry of Health. The most obvious is to educate the public and health professionals in recognizing and treating the disease early. The other is in collaborative research with international agencies for prevention (as in vaccine development) as well as treatment. Its Public Health Division could develop sophisticated surveillance strategies using the Internet, GPS, cell phones, and traps laced with chemicals to attract pregnant mosquitoes so as to get real-time information so we could initiate effective and immediate interventions, as the Brazilians are doing.
Learning Favors The Prepared Mind
Many Malaysian doctors, engineers and civil servants visit Florida. What they remember of their experiences there are Mickey Mouse and the Magic Castle. Few would notice the well-trimmed parks, underground drains, and smooth flowing streams. And of course, the absence of pesky mosquitoes!
Those visitors would not realize that the beautiful marinas with their posh waterfront restaurants they patronized were once mosquito-infested swamps. Through the marvels of modern civil engineering, those once sources of pestilence are now major tourist attractions.
Malaysia spends considerable sums sending its officers abroad so they could learn how to improve things back at home. However, to modify Pasteur’s famous quote, learning favors only the prepared mind. You have to know ahead what you want to learn; you have to know your deficiencies so you could actively seek out to remedy them. Meaning, there would have to be considerable preparations beforehand and at home if you were to maximize the learning potential of your overseas trip. If it is only a vague notion of “wanting to learn something new,” then you would only be a tourist.
I once had some senior civil servants visit me at my modest suburban California home. They were impressed with the neighborhood, and yet when I queried them what exactly they found attractive, they could not answer.
Only when I pointed them out would they realize that there were no overhead power and phone lines (all underground), no open storm drains (all covered), and no front yard fences or tall walls to blight the open, park-like ambience of the neighborhood.
When they saw the clean sidewalks and well-trimmed side-street lawns, they attributed that to American city councils being efficient providers of municipal services. That may be true. However, I reminded them that homeowners are responsible for keeping the sidewalks and lawns well cared, for if they do not they would not only be fined but also have to reimburse the city for doing that job for them.
When living in Johor Baru in the 1970s I paid my gardener extra to cut the weeds and unclog the drains outside my compound. He initially reminded me that those were the responsibilities of the Town Council. However when I gently chided him in not wanting to increase his income, he readily complied. He could not comprehend why I would do something that should have been done by the “authorities.” He could not appreciate the benefits I would enjoy. At the very least I would not have to endure the stench of clogged drains or risk my children being bitten by snakes.
I could readily excuse my poorly-educated gardener for his narrow perspective. However my neighbors there included a banker and a corporate executive; they too shared my gardener’s view!
I once suggested to my father’s neighbors in Seremban that if they were to contribute a few thousand ringgit each, their neighborhood could have sidewalks and covered storm drains. That would reduce the mosquito population, as well as the stench and unsightliness of plugged drains.
They balked at the added expense, rationalizing that they have already paid their cukai pintu (assessments). It is the responsibility of the Town Council, they argued like my gardener earlier, in between slapping themselves trying to kill the pestering mosquitoes. Yet the costs of these “common space” improvements would be a fraction of what they spent for their gilded gates and high brick fence walls. Had they gone beyond their narrow concerns, they would have gotten not only a functionally wider streets but also safe sidewalks, quite apart from making their neighborhood healthier.
They would also recoup many times more their investments through the increased in property values.
Septic tanks are also major breeding grounds. They should be banned in urban areas anyway; houses and buildings there should be connected to a central sewer system instead. Nevertheless, an engineer from East Malaysia successfully invented a system (light Styrofoam balls placed in the venting pipes of these tanks) that would allow gases to escape but not mosquitoes. This device should be mandated in all septic tanks.
Then there are civil engineering innovations as having V-bottom storm drains with a U-shaped channel in the center so as to maintain fast flow during low volumes. The usual flat-bottom channels would have puddles of stagnant pools during the dry season.
Personal Actions
Mosquitoes have a range of about half a mile. Even if you were to keep your drains flowing and your yards trimmed, but if your neighbors were slothful, you still would have to endure the nuisance of mosquitoes. Hence a neighborhood approach is needed.
Those factors notwithstanding, there are still many things that individuals can do to minimize the threat of dengue. Installing screens on doors and windows is one; another would be using insecticide-impregnated or even plain mosquito nets, though that is more effective against malaria rather than dengue, which is spread by daytime mosquitoes.
Covering your body as much as possible is also protective. You do not need to be in a burka if that is not your sartorial style; light-colored long-sleeved shirt or blouse, with a sarong, long skirt or pants would achieve the same result.
Even an umbrella is useful. Not only does it protect you against the blistering sun, the constant movement of the umbrella causes micro turbulence underneath it, enough to discourage mosquitoes.
Our officials need not venture far to learn these things. If they have paid attention to their colonial predecessors, our officials would know the importance of cleaning up drains during the dry season so that they would not be clogged with the inevitable rains. I learned that during my childhood days watching those coolies employed by the Public Works Department scraping the drains. And this was long before I even heard of Florida and Disneyworld.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Round Two
Today was a dangerous day as the snow from yesterday has condensed into sheets of ice.
You are basically walking into an ice-skating ring and that is really dangerous.
I have already fallen down twice.
There has been an increased in fractures among the elderly over the past 24 hours.
Forecasters warned more heavy snow could fall later in the week.
The entire country is likely to witness heavy frosts on Tuesday night, and there is a possibility of more significant, heavy snow showers in England and Wales at the end of the week.
More than 6,000 UK schools were shut on Tuesday.
Two military rescue helicopters are assisting ambulance services in parts of Devon and Cornwall as roads became impassable following 10cm of snow in some areas.
Trains on the East Coast Main Line were disrupted, with at least nine rail services between London and Leeds cancelled.
Services are badly affected on Southeastern and South West Trains into and out of the capital, with suspensions or reduced timetables on most routes.
Eurostar services from St Pancras International are still suffering disruptions.
The Highways Agency is continuing to warn drivers in worst-affected areas not to travel unless their journey is essential.
An agency spokeswoman said 500 gritting lorries were being used to keep main routes open.
And from the picture above taken this evening, there is an incoming tornado reaching cornwall.
Be responsible or the next victim may be a loved one- The Star, Malaysia 3rd February 2009
The reason I wrote this article is because dengue fever has reached a really worrying level in Malaysia.
If we don't help tackle the problem, more death will be coming our way.
I came down with Dengue fever a few years ago and the experience was horrifying esp watching the platlets dropping day by day.
And not forgetting the three times a day blood taking. (Luckily it was done by my wife!)
The title and content of the article was more blunt. It was something more sarcastic. The Star modified the title a little and omitted some harsh sentences which made the article more pleasing to read. I think they don't want to stir up any panic.
(I had one sentence which mentioned that I have seen several family members dying from dengue over a span of a few days. One dropping dead after another)
My greatest regret is my failure to call on the bloggers to play a part in the war against dengue at the end of the article.
I just forgot.
I wrote the article at 10pm on the Sunday night (during heavy snowing). I was so preoccupied with taking the pictures for you that I forgot to write about the role of the bloggers.
Perhaps you all could write another article.
And Dr CL Loh was right. Luckily I mentioned myself as a physician rather than a nephrologist. If not, sure 'kena one' and the MSN president would have to clarify why a nephrologist is able to make remarks on dengue.
And perhaps he would then denounce me and say that this Dr is not from Malaysia.
Be responsible or the next victim may be a loved one
IN 2008, 49,335 cases of dengue fever were reported with 112 deaths. In the first 28 days of this year alone, 14 people have died and 5,062 cases have been recorded.
Looking at the current trend, dengue has worked its way to the top of the health priority list.
Vectors of the dengue virus (female Aedes aegypti mosquito) breed in and around the house and in principle can be controlled through individual and community action.
It may be assumed that the vector feeds during the day, rests indoors and lays its eggs in mostly man-made artificial clean stagnant water in a wide variety of sites.
The most effective and sensibile way to control the population of Aedes aegypti is larval source reduction, which is eliminating or cleaning water-holding containers (even a plastic spoon discarded into the environment is sufficient for the breeding of the mosquito) that serve as the larval habitats for the mosquito in the domestic environment.
Unfortunately, community participation is not forthcoming as pointed out by the Health Ministry. The never-ending embarrassing action of our citizens in not cooperating with the authorities has crossed the limits and I am for one fed-up.
They do not seem to understand that it is their ignorance and carelessness that have contributed to this threat in the first place.
As a practising physician for 10 years I have seen lives lost due to this disease.
Many deaths could have been prevented if all Malaysians shed their irresponsible couldn’t-care-less attitude and participate in individual and community action to prevent vector breeding.
I appeal to all Malaysians to treat the war against dengue seriously. I admit that there are no easy solutions to the dengue problem.
However, with community based strategies coupled with a system of proactive surveillance and commitment by the Government on integrated and sustainable long-term vector control measures can dengue infection in this country be reduced in the long term.
Until Malaysians understand the importance of their role in tackling this dreaded infection, more lives would be lost. And the next victim could well be your loved ones.
DR Y.W. CHOW,
United Kingdom.
If we don't help tackle the problem, more death will be coming our way.
I came down with Dengue fever a few years ago and the experience was horrifying esp watching the platlets dropping day by day.
And not forgetting the three times a day blood taking. (Luckily it was done by my wife!)
The title and content of the article was more blunt. It was something more sarcastic. The Star modified the title a little and omitted some harsh sentences which made the article more pleasing to read. I think they don't want to stir up any panic.
(I had one sentence which mentioned that I have seen several family members dying from dengue over a span of a few days. One dropping dead after another)
My greatest regret is my failure to call on the bloggers to play a part in the war against dengue at the end of the article.
I just forgot.
I wrote the article at 10pm on the Sunday night (during heavy snowing). I was so preoccupied with taking the pictures for you that I forgot to write about the role of the bloggers.
Perhaps you all could write another article.
And Dr CL Loh was right. Luckily I mentioned myself as a physician rather than a nephrologist. If not, sure 'kena one' and the MSN president would have to clarify why a nephrologist is able to make remarks on dengue.
And perhaps he would then denounce me and say that this Dr is not from Malaysia.
Be responsible or the next victim may be a loved one
IN 2008, 49,335 cases of dengue fever were reported with 112 deaths. In the first 28 days of this year alone, 14 people have died and 5,062 cases have been recorded.
Looking at the current trend, dengue has worked its way to the top of the health priority list.
Vectors of the dengue virus (female Aedes aegypti mosquito) breed in and around the house and in principle can be controlled through individual and community action.
It may be assumed that the vector feeds during the day, rests indoors and lays its eggs in mostly man-made artificial clean stagnant water in a wide variety of sites.
The most effective and sensibile way to control the population of Aedes aegypti is larval source reduction, which is eliminating or cleaning water-holding containers (even a plastic spoon discarded into the environment is sufficient for the breeding of the mosquito) that serve as the larval habitats for the mosquito in the domestic environment.
Unfortunately, community participation is not forthcoming as pointed out by the Health Ministry. The never-ending embarrassing action of our citizens in not cooperating with the authorities has crossed the limits and I am for one fed-up.
They do not seem to understand that it is their ignorance and carelessness that have contributed to this threat in the first place.
As a practising physician for 10 years I have seen lives lost due to this disease.
Many deaths could have been prevented if all Malaysians shed their irresponsible couldn’t-care-less attitude and participate in individual and community action to prevent vector breeding.
I appeal to all Malaysians to treat the war against dengue seriously. I admit that there are no easy solutions to the dengue problem.
However, with community based strategies coupled with a system of proactive surveillance and commitment by the Government on integrated and sustainable long-term vector control measures can dengue infection in this country be reduced in the long term.
Until Malaysians understand the importance of their role in tackling this dreaded infection, more lives would be lost. And the next victim could well be your loved ones.
DR Y.W. CHOW,
United Kingdom.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Serving the Queen and Britain
Despite the treacherous weather, I still managed to go to work.
20% of Britain's workers had to stay home due to the severe weather.
Even managed to catch a few shots of Cambridge
http://edwinchow.photobook.org.uk/
Snow Chaos cost Britain 1.2 billion pounds a day
MUCH of Britain woke up to its heaviest snowfalls for 18 years today – and the country's travel network was left paralysed.
Experts predicted ten inches in some areas by tonight, with more than a foot in the NORTH by tomorrow.
And forecasters warned thermometers could drop to as low as -5°C (19°F) later in the week.
Motoring groups warned drivers to avoid unnecessary trips with the winds tipped to hit 35mph.
London Transport suspended its bus services because of dangerous conditions on the roads.
And on the Underground, ten of the 11 lines were either completely or partly suspended as the “quantity of snowfall” disrupted services.
Both runways at HEATHROW AIRPORT are currently closed.
A fifth of the country's workforce failed to make it into their workplace, according to the Federation of Small Businesses.
Its estimate of £1.2 billion of lost business could rise if the chaos continues for more than a day.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Holy Shit- Its Snowing Again!
This time, it is the artic wind which is causing the problem.
It has just started to snow.
Heavy and widespread snow will fall throughout Sunday night into Monday morning.
We are expecting about 15cm of snow and the Met Office has already issued warnings of severe weather.
With this amount of snow falling in major towns and cities, including London, there is likely to be serious disruption to travel.
More snow will fall throughout the UK during Monday, causing further travel disruption for the evening rush hour.
The picture was taken 5 minutes ago (UK time- 945pm).
Still undecided how I will be going to work tomorrow morning.
I don't know how to ski! That's the problem....
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