3 new lens and 1 new DSLR from Nikon

Alright! So now it's Nikon's turn to make headlines....

First up, a new announced DSLR body - the D60, which looks like a replacement for the D40 / D40X. It's still the same as the D40X at 10.2Megapixels, but seems to have added a built-in dust reduction system. Unfortunately, it also has inherited the weakness of the D40X, namely, the inability to use autofocus with non-AF-S lens. :(

For Nikon's new's flash, follow the link [ HERE ]

Also announced, 3 new lens:-
  • PC-E NIKKOR 24mm f/3.5D ED ( click [ HERE ] )
  • AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR ( click [ HERE ] )
  • AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED ( click [ HERE ] )
The PC-E Nikkor 24mm f/3.5D ED is a tilt-and-shift wideangle manual focus lens which will be of interest to photographers of buildings and other architecture, as the the mechanism will enable the photographer to align the plane of the film (or, nowadays, the imaging chip) parallel to the face of the object. The result is, a tall building will not appear as though the top end is "leaning away" from the photographer. For a clearer picture on this, refer to the link : http://photo.net/equipment/canon/tilt-shift (sorry, example is for Canon lens)

The tilt and shift lens can also be used to maximize or minimize the depth of field, for some creative options (portraiture, and making a landscape look like a miniature model.

Next up, the AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR appears to be an entry level kit lens kind of lens for the new range of entry level DSLR's. Wider by 2mm compared to the 18-200mm lens, this will be lighter and more balanced on the small bodied Dxx bodies. The market price had better be low, as right now I feel that nothing beats the Tamron 17-50mm F2.8!

Lastly, the
AF-S Micro NIKKOR 60mm f/2.8G ED is a welcomed replacement for the AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D which was release 15 years ago. With the addition of the silent wave motor, hopefully the focusing is faster and more accurate. In the end though, it's the optics that will define the success of this lens.

Well, given that Nikon has not yet announced when these will be available in the market, it's anyone's guess when the will physically materialize. Nikon's weak point is that they will announce something well in advance, and we have to wait like half a year before the parts start shipping. Add to their low production volumes and supply, you have to be quite lucky to get anything within 9 months of the initial launch date. Come on, Nikon! Don't let your loyal supporters down...!

Coming soon - Canon EOS 450D

Coming soon to the market, not to my collection (I'm a Nikon guy, remember...?).

Anyway, this is Canon's newest entry to the "entry-level" DSLR segment. These days, entry level DSLR's can run circles around the professional film SLR's of the heydays. The 450D is most likely the replacement of the 400D, and ups the megapixel market by offering a 12.2 megapixel resolution. Now, this may look good as a Marketing Flash, but as I have mentioned before in the past on the Nikon D300, more megapixels doesn't necessarily mean a good thing....

So, what's new and great about the Canon EOS 450D (known in some parts of the world as the Digial Rebel XSi)? Here's a short list:-

Marketing flash : New Canon 12.2-megapixel CMOS sensor
Why it's Hot : Ability to crop out unwanted elements and still end up with a useful picture that can be developed. If you want to make posters, more megapixels is what you're aiming for....
Why Not : More megapixels = more storage space. Now your huge 1GB memory card doesn't seem so huge anymore, does it? Sure you can downsize, but if you want to shoot in RAW, you'll have to shoot at the native resolution of the sensor. More megapixels with same chip size will mostly result in higher image noise, unless sensor technology increases in this field as well....

Marketing flash : 14 bit A/D Converter
Why it's Hot : You'll potentially have smoother gradation between colors. More bits = more colors in between. Imagine the difference between a set with 12 color pencils vs 36 color pencils - you have more shades of color with more color pencils.
Why Not : Nothing wrong here, except maybe this would be more helpful if the dynamic range of the camera were wider.

Marketing flash : Auto Optimization
Why it's Hot : The features of the prosumer digital camera are now finding their way into DSLR's. More and more Automation is being introduced, which takes away most of the hassle from the end user, who can stop worrying about exposure settings and focus on taking pictures.
Why Not : Takes away control from the photographer. Not such a bad idea, since not many these days know (or have the time) to fine tune the settings on the camera for each particular shot. In my case, I find it bad for skill to just point and shoot, leaving everything to the camera. Thankfully, you can turn this off if you want.

Marketing flash : DIGIC III Image Processor
Why it's Hot : Just goes to show that once you pick a name, stick with it. 20 years from now, who know's if we'll end up with DIGIC XVI or so. The heart of the camera, responsible for processing all that 14 bit data from that 12.2 Megapixel imaging chip and performing Auto optimization (ties in to all those above....). Assume it does things better than DIGIC II, so the idea is, if you like the old camera, you'll love the new one!
Why Not : None. Just hope that it lives up to all the hype!

Marketing flash :
3.5 frames per second, in bursts of 53 JPEGs or 6 RAW files
Why it's Hot : Never miss a shot. Useful for sports and models on a catwalk. Note you'll need a correspondingly fast lens, otherwise the slower exposure necessary to get a bright enough image will prevent the camera from firing away at maximum speed.
Why Not : Unless you have something moving reasonable fast, most of your shots will be almost the same (so you can play spot the difference). Also, memory card space goes down fast when you're firing away on all cylinders. Be sure you have reloads handy....

Marketing flash : Large 3.0-inch LCD monitor, with 170° wide viewing angle, superior viewing in daylight, and Live View Function.
Why it's Hot : Huge screen, plenty of detail. Good for making out if anyone blinked in that last group photo. The wide viewing angle will allow you to hold the camera overhead and shoot above the crowd (when coupled with the Live View function).
Why Not : If you use the screen often, you'll be draining the batteries, but then again, who keeps this on all the time? Just get a good screen protector so you don't crack this big screen.

Marketing flash : Fast 9 point AF system, can focus during live view.
Why it's Hot : Assume that it's faster than the old system. 9 points allow for flexibility if you're shooting off centered subjects or those that are moving about erratically. Ability to focus in live view mode makes it somewhat like those high end prosumer cameras.
Why Not : I'll trade you 8 AF points for 1 super sensitive and accurate, lightning fast, central AF point. I only use this 1 like 99.5% of the time....

Marketing flash : Compatible with compact SD and SDHC memory cards
Why it's Hot : Hurray! Can use High capacity SDHC's!
Why Not : Huh? Not so good if you're fully stocked with Compact Flash cards.

Marketing flash : Spot metering, external flash settings on the camera’s menu, and a new higher-magnification viewfinder
Why it's Hot : Spot metering allows for accurate metering from a small area, which is good provided you know what you are doing. Setting the flash from the camera will save you the trouble of juggling between the camera and flash. A high magnification viewfinder is good so you don't feel like looking through a long tunnel.
Why Not : No cons. Just need to know how to use them.

Marketing flash : EOS Integrated Cleaning System, Self Cleaning Sensor Unit, Dust Delete Data Detection
Why it's Hot : Added protection against dust, for those who change lens in the field
Why Not : No cons. Useless if you have only 1 kit lens....

Marketing flash : Picture Style Settings
Why it's Hot : Allows you to alter the look of you photos without processing on the PC.
Why Not : Better to post process photos on a PC, if you have the time, so you won't affect the original. Who has time to process photos on a camera, anyway...?

Marketing flash : Highlight Tone Priority
Why it's Hot : More detailed highlights (promised)
Why Not : Let's see how this squares up against the rest. Dynamic range has always been a weak spot of DSLR's, but to be frank, Canon's have always been quite good compared to the rest.

Marketing flash : EF / EF-S lens compatibility
Why it's Hot : Being compatible with EF-S lens opens up more options as opposed to the other Canon DSLR bodies which can only use the EF lens.
Why Not : 1.6X crop factor. Wide angle options are limited (not so bad if you're a wildlife /sports / bird photographer).

Marketing flash :
E-TTL II flash metering system
Why it's Hot : Nowadays, TTL flash systems are capable of balancing their output power against the ambient lighting so as not to blow out the subject, and to provide a very balanced fill flash when shooting against the backlight.
Why Not : Auto focus assist using the built in flash (series of flashes), which may be more annoying than the continuous illumination for Nikon DSLRs.

Check out the official link over at : http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=139&modelid=16303

The Canon EOS 450D is scheduled to make its debut on April 2008, meaning you will not likely to see the camera before Q3 2008 unless you are very, very lucky. For those who are making an entry to the DSLR scene (and those who have not heavily invested in other camera systems), this appears to be an attractive choice indeed. It will be available body only or with a
EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens for USD$799.99 and USD$899.99 respectively (note the Marketing 1 cent trick in full use!).

Article on Fuel Efficiency - Part II

In Part I, I talked about some of the key factors that you can consider when purchasing a new vehicle, from a fuel-concious point of view. Now, assuming you already made your choice, or, likely, already are driving, we'll need to make the best of what we have. Even before we hit the road, there are a couple of things that can be done to maximize on fuel efficiency.

Here are 6 pointers to keep your fuel costs as low as possible:-

1. Keep your tires properly inflated
Even before you start worrying about how to drive, you'll need to pay attention to your tires. A poorly inflated tire produces more drag, hence, more force is required to overcome the rolling resistance. In the long run, your tires will also wera out faster, so it's a double whammy on the maintenance costs.

2. Remove any unnecessary weight
It takes more energy to move more mass the same distance. So, try to keep your car clean and clear of unnecessary weight (stuff in the trunk, etc.). Note that you should remove "unnecessary" weight only. Do leave the essentials in your car, for example, your spare tire and tool kit!

3. Aerodynamic efficiency
Your car will have a much easier time slicing through the air if it had a sleek profile of a dolphin, as opposed to perhaps the shape of a tractor. So, consider removing roof racks (which you'd probably never ever use) and fancy body kits (especially those oversized rear spoilers). Spoilers and body kits, besides adding weight, ironically serve to provide downforce to firmly plant the car onto the road at high speeds. A lot can be said about this, however, adhering to the topic of fuel efficiency, bottom line is, lose the extra appendages.

4. Smaller and / or lighter rims
As far as tires are concerned, the overall outer diameter of the tire must not change (otherwise your speedometer will be showing the wrong speed). So, as the rim gets larger, the tire gets smaller. Generally, rims are more attractive than black rubber tires, so for aesthetic reasons, people tend to go for larger rims (just watch Pimp My Ride). Unfortunately, the effect of having a larger metal rim is increased weight, which is harder to spin and also to stop spinning (affects not only your acceleration, but your braking as well). Tire size is carefully determined by the car manufacturer (usually) and is matched with the other elements of the car. Sometimes, it varies within different trims of the same model. For example, the Honda Civic FD1 comes with 16" rims, and the FD2 now comes with 17" rims (formerly came with 16" rims, like mine). The Type R, owing to a more powerful engine, comes with 18" rims, while the frugal Civic Hybrid comes with only 15" rims.

5. Air conditioner
OK, this one's tough. Driving around with the air conditioner off is not a great way to save fuel (you'll earn a notorious reputation for being a miser from your sweaty passengers instead). Note that your car acts like a greenhouse, in the sense that the glass traps heat inside. On hot days, the air is actually hotter on the INSIDE of your car. When you first open the door and start the car, it's important to vent the hot air from the car, so that the air conditioner can start to work on air at ambient temperature, which is generally a few degrees cooler. So, leave the windows open and turn on the blower to push all the hot air out (at this point, it's pointless to actually turn on the air conditioner, just running the fan at high speed will do). What happens next? Well, while driving around, one has the tendency to turn the temperature control down and turn up the fan. However, consider the fact that sometimes, the air conditioner is cold enough, just that the cool air doesn't get the chance to circulate throught the entire car. What I do is I try to keep the temperature setting as high as possible, and turn up the fan speed. The fan speed has less impact on the engine than the air conditioner compressor setting. To keep the car cool while driving around, invest in a good windshield tint (that blocks infrared radiation, the source of heat). You'll also want a tint that blocks harmful ultraviolet radiation, and should also allow at least 70% visible light to penetrate (that's the legal requirement here in Malaysia). It's inconsiderate (not to mention illegal) to install really dark tints which block other drivers' view, and it's down right rude to block the windows and rear windshield with screens, towels, etc..

6. Plan your trips
If you refer to Tip #5 above, this doesn't only mean that you plan trips at night for minimal use of the air conditioner ( though it would help if you could do that in practice). In planning trips, one should opt to consolidate several short trips together, so no redundant trips are made. The route that is taken should ideally pass through low density traffic, so to avoid unnessary braking, stopping and accelerating. Avoid areas that contain many speedbumps, traffic lights, pedestrian crossings (such as schools, especially during starting / ending of school hours). Sometimes, using a longer but straighter route that allows for a more constant, uninterrupted drive would be more fuel efficient that going through the shorted possible distance. Where possible consider alternative means of transportation, car pooling or even walking.

Bonus Tip - Use fuel with lowest possible octane rating
This does nothing for fuel consumption - if you make 14km per liter with RON 97, you'd probably have made 14km per liter if you used RON 92 fuel. The thing is, RON 92 is cheaper than RON 97, so the cost per distance will be lower. Assuming your engine is designed for RON 91 and above, it doesn't make any difference if you were using RON 92, RON 97 or Racing Fuel. You may lose some power if your engine can actually advance timing to take advantage of higher RON fuel, but then again, we are focused on maximum fuel efficiency, right? Some people may be skeptical on this, so, to each his / her own....

Well, that's 6+1 ways to prepare your car for maximum fuel efficiency. In my next, I'll share some pointers on what I mean by planning trips and also fuel efficient driving habits.

Previous posts:

Jason and Iris Wedding - 6 Jan 2008

Finally, my old friend has gotten married.

Finally, I manage to find the time to blog it down.

Actually, I was held up with the sudden inability to use the Multiply Java Uploader, which I just found out worked completely well at home (no thanks to my corporate firewall, no doubt). Enough about my woes, this post is dedicated to my old time buddy, Jason and his wife, Iris.


As usually, I was contracted as the unofficial cameraman for the day, working in tandem with two of Jason's friends, Wendy and Jessica. With all 3 of us covering the event with DSLR's and a video camera even, there was excellent media coverage between us, so to speak....


I arrived at ~8.30am. Thought I was late. Turns out, I WAS late. However, that wasn't so bad, considering everyone else was MORE late that me! Since the original plan was for us to leave at 9.00am, it was around 8.50am that we decided it was time to start panicking.

Ah, it was not so bad, actually. Iris' house was just 10 minutes away (depending on traffic conditions). We arrived, and after sitting down for awhile, we then proceeded with the customary ritual of "get into the room where the bride is waiting". I don't know what it's actually called, but the basic idea is that the bride and her "sisters" are locked away in a room somewhere. In order to gain access, the Groom, backed by his "brothers" will be issued challenges ranging from mildly amusing to feats that required a deus ex machina.


Today must have been a good day for Jason, as I believe he managed to get in easy, after a passable rendition of "twinkle, twinkle, little star". Next up, the tea ceremony. This is where the bride and groom serve tea to the elders / VIP's of the bride's family. Appears to be some form of introduction / orientation, IMHO.

Well, we left at around 10.45am or so. The paparazzi crew (me, Jessica and Wendy) all rushed back to Jason's house (we had to be in place to catch the couple as they alighted from the wedding car). Luckily, the wedding car "give me chance" and drove along really, really slowly. We managed to get a few passing shots out the window as we overtook them (don't try this yourself, kids. We're professional....)


Back at Jason's house, upon the arrival of the couple, there was a tea ceremony there as well, followed by some excellent catered buffet lunch. There is a part where the Groom will remove the pins from the Bride's veil - which symbolizes something that I need to research soon and possibly write a blog entry about (coming soon - Chinese Wedding Photography Tips 101).


After that, I went back home to recharge my batteries (me and my camera, to be exact), and to clear my memory cards for the next photoshooting session during the dinner. Slept awhile, but was soon up again. Wanted to get there early, to secure a good parking spot. In spite of the majority of guests coming early, ultimately, the dinner began at, um, 8 something (which is perfectly normal for a Chinese Wedding). Typical sequence of events:-
  1. Bride and Groom march in and are seated at the main table
  2. Food presentation by restaurant
  3. Halfway through dinner, go onto stage and cut wedding cake
  4. Pop bottle of champaign
  5. Drink newly opened champaign
  6. Toast (99.5% of the time, it's Yaaaam Seeennng X 3 )
  7. Come down again and go around table to table (usually, more Yaaaam Seeeennng.)
  8. Bride and Groom standby at exit to thank departing guests
The sequence above more or less describes what happened that night. Of course, we had a surprise solo performance from Jason's mother, who could sing quite well up on the stage. There was a minor letdown in the form of the oversensitive microphone (frequently squealing due to positive feedback loop), Jason's speech.

For me, it was a good opportunity to see a couple of old friends, namely, Kevin, Mae and Ivan, who I have not see for nearly half a lifetime. Kevin has posted some photos here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/kwong2/JasonSWedding06Jan2008
So, at least there are some photos with me inside!

Meanwhile, my own Multiply Galleries: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV

Well, I guess that's all there is to it.

Here's wishing all the best to my good friend, Jason and wife. May they live happily ever after!

3rd Service - Toyota Vios

Been busy as usual, for the past week or so. Got lots of things to update, but very little time to do so. Best start with the short ones first.

Today, sent my wife's Vios for 3rd service. By right, need to send close to 10,000 km mileage, but it's been 6 months already, with only 8,800 km on the clock. Better send in before the Chinese New Year.

Made appointment last week for 8.30am this morning. Toyota has only 1 service center in Melaka, which is not open on weekends, so settled for an appointment early this morning. After dropping my wife off at her office, I proceeded to the Toyota Service Center at Krubong....

Arrived at ~8.20am. Already, the parking bays were full. It took them awhile to attend to me. I was directed to counter #2. I don't understand why counter #1 and #4 were empty, though there were staff there, but not attending to anyone....

While waiting, a nice Indian lady served me a sandwich and a cup of hot Nescafe. The SA attended to me at 8.35am. Lucky she didn't say I was late, as I was visibly sitting in front of her counter for quite some time. Anyway, I was told to come and collect my car at 11.30am, or worse case, at 1.00pm.

Fast forward to now. I just collected my car. Went there at 12.00pm, got car only at 1.30pm. My car was visibly ready at 12.20pm or so, but still I waited for my SA to return from lunch around 1.10pm. I believe that they can improve on this to get the cars rolling out as soon as they finish - right now there is a lot of time between stages.

Well, the next service will be at 20,000km, which at the current rate of use, would be some time next year. I think that I'd better send in at 15,000km, which is still an awfully long way off (given that most of the time we take my car instead of this one)!

Old Taste - Ipoh White Coffee (Malim Business Park, Melaka)

One thing I like about going out with the 8GCC / TVCM guys - almost every time I will discover a new place to have a drink! Last night, had our monthly 8GCC TT session. Venue was at Old Taste - Ipoh White Coffee. It's a relatively new cafe that just opened sometime at the end of last year. While sitting there last night, saw one of the TVCM members - he was wearing the signature black TVCM official shirt. However, don't think that he saw me.... Besides, us, there were also members of Team City (Honda City Car Club) and also some from the Nissan Sentra Car Club.
Parking is plentiful, and the area is quiet. It's off the main road, so not many cars pass by here, except maybe for the occasional "loud exhaust ricer". Last night, sat on the outside, so I can't comment on the internal decor. However, I ordered a cup of Hazelnut coffee, and got it in the old-style cup:
For those of you in the area, you should try check out the place, as not only do you have drinks, but you can get something to eat too (food is quite filling, so don't worry about starving). It would be a bit difficult to describe what's on the menu, so here's a scan of the two page "order form" ( front and back):-




For those of you who are interested, here's a map to the place:-

Details and Layout of the Sepang F1 Circuit track

Ever since the HPC event by the 8GCC last year, I've yet to put in more details on the F1 circuit itself (too focused on the cars and other distractions!)....

Well, the Sepang F1 Circuit is located somewhere in the outskirts, away from high densities of population. It's actually quite close to the KL International Airport. Folks who do live in the vicinity are quite used to the sound of jumbo jet engines screaming at full power during takeoff and landings, so the F1 track is the perfect place to test your car, and that barely legal 3" exhaust pipe!

The main track itself is 5,542 meters long, and is made up of 15 turns. For the purpose of track day events, the track is actually split up into two smaller tracks - North track and South track.


The North track was where the recent HPC took place. It's fairly long with the longest straight going past the grand stand (which allows for you to test your acceleration). Don't get carried away, as the end of the straight comes up quite fast, so you'll have to brake well in advance in order to take the tight S-curve to the right. It stretches a total of 2,706 meters, and is made up of 9 turns.


The South track is appears to have a slightly longer stretch for speeding along, with turn 1 more of a slight right bend. Turn 2 is a killer hairpin, though, which is not to be underestimated! The South track is 2,609 meters long and has 1 turn less than North track.

The next HPC event is coming up in April. At present, I don't have any plans to sign up (at least, not until I feel that my Civic is up to the challenge). Still, the lure of my 8GCC bros is strong, so I may or may not change my mind. Well, either case, I'll surely be there in Sepang with the guys in April, whether behind the wheel of my car on the track, or behind my camera lens...!

Article on Fuel Efficiency - Part I

With fuel prices going up, one of the major concerns in life is, how to maximize on fuel efficiency. To be honest, most of us do not have the luxury of choosing exactly what we drive. Even if it were possible to do so, there is no one perfect vehicle that exceeds all our requirements on fuel efficiency, performance, handling, comfort, storage / carrying capacity, etc.. So, if you're considering to purchase a new vehicle, here are 5 pointers to consider:-

1. Manual vs Automatic transmission
As far as current consumer technology is concerned, manual transmission is still more efficient that automatic transmission. The convenience of not having to play with the clutch in an automatic is due to the device known as the torque converter, which, unfortunately, acts like some form of viscous coupling between the engine and the wheels. Although some newer models have lock-up converters, these only lock up under steady state conditions. In real life, you don't only drive at a fixed speed. The converter never locks up while accelerating and decelerating. Though the automatic is more convenient, in the long run, the slightly poorer fuel consumption may add up to a significant figure.

2. Larger vs smaller engine
Usually, cars are available with several engine sizes. Now, unless the technology is different, the smaller engine will nearly always be the most fuel efficient. Car manufacturers know this, so sometimes to even up the market, they beef up the package for the larger engined versions, so that some of the options are not available for the smaller engine version. Example, the HID headlamps and paddle shifters are only available on the 2.0 liter version of the Honda Civic, but not on the 1.8 (this applies specifically to those sold in Malaysia, though).

3. Larger (Heavier) vs Smaller (Lighter) body
It takes more energy to move a heavier mass. Hence a lighter car will usually be more fuel efficient. However, sometimes lighter cars compromise on certain areas of comfort, noise insulation and, ahem, safety, so you need to be well aware of what you are getting and what you are NOT getting. Consider that if you are going to be sitting alone most of the time, a large MPV / Minivan won't be of much use to you. However, for large families, the objectives and emphasis might just skew towards a larger vehicle with a more generous seating capacity.

4. Technology
Nowadays, major car manufacturers and their cars are associated with 3 ~ 5 letter acronyms (VVTI, I-VTEC, MIVEC) and so forth. These just go to show how much engine technology has advanced since the birth of the first internal combustion engines. Not all of these are optimized for fuel efficiency, so you've got to do some homework. For example, the I-VTEC for the 1.8 FD1 Civic emphasizes on fuel economy, but the I-VTEC for the 2.0 FD2 Civic is more power oriented. In this case, Honda collectively lumped both engines under the I-VTEC badge, even though they are using different mechanisms to achieve different design goals!
Another emerging trend is the advent of the hybrid vehicle, which so far, includes the Honda Civic Hybrid and Toyota Prius (just to name a few). Hybrid vehicles are have dual power sources, commonly a normal internal combustion engine with an electric motor. Currently, all that technology comes at a higher price (but then, with not many hybrid models available here, those that are imported may be higher priced as a result of the tax structure rather than actual cost).

5. Do your homework (research)
Information is readily available if you are willing to put in some effort. Reviews are aplenty on the world wide web, as are first hand accounts from owners on forums such. If you are lucky, you may just find someone who owns the exact car model in your office, your local downtown bar or your church. When researching, you should take reviews with a pinch of salt, and do not base your conclusion on a single source. Usually, if several independent sources cite a common fact, you can be sure that it's almost certainly true. Note that first hand reviews are only noteworthy if they come from the owner or driver of the vehicle, and not from accounts based on theories and hearing what others have to say. For instance, anyone can quote what the fuel consumption is for a given vehicle (which is usually based on tests conducted in controlled or simulated environments), but only one who drives it daily can feedback on the actual true figure.

I hope that the information here will be useful to those of you who consider fuel efficiency as one of the major deciding factors in purchasing a motor vehicle. My next article will be on some things that can be done to improve on fuel efficiency, before you get out on the open road.

Jusco Sale - 12 Jan 2008 to 10 Feb 2008

The Jusco sale is on again, at least at the Melaka Jusco shopping center. That's what it said on the signs posted all over the place. Don't know if this is only for the Melaka branch, or all over Malaysia. Didn't know myself - went there today after breakfast to do some quick shopping.

Well, it must be in preparation for the Chinese New Year coming up next month...!

The power of dreams

No, this isn't a post about my Honda Civic...!

Rather, following up on my recent post about the health benefits of sleep, I've just stumbled upon another article on the benefits of dreaming:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto-20071029-000003&print=1

It turn's out that dreaming enhances our ability to solve problems, by providing a threat-rehearsal environment where we can run through possible solutions safely (sort of like a holodeck).

Well, happy sleeping and good dreaming...!

Health Tip - Sleep on it

OK, here's something that will appeal to many, especially all you sleepy heads out there:-
From this, I gather that I need to sleep at 10.00pm and get up at 6.00am (8 hours sleep), sleep with light off (It's not that I don't want to, but sometimes I fall asleep before I manage to turn the lights off), don't watch TV before going to bed (this is a hard one, as I sometimes watch TV and doze off to sleep). Sigh, never new sleep was THIS important....

Happy New Year 2008

Well, it seemed like a very short year, but 2007 is now officially history. This year, it seemed a little "anti-climax"-like, as I spent my new year's eve sitting home alone with my two dogs while the rest of the world was out counting down the final seconds of the year.

To tell you the truth, I was sitting at home watching some shows on ASTRO - they're not new. Just that I haven't actually gone to the Cinema to see them. First show - "Take the Lead" starring Antonio Banderas. This wasn't an action flick, as in this show, he plays a dance instructor. Yep, it's one of those dancing shows (like the other one with Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez). I'm quite interested in ballroom dancing, having undergone some weeks of basic training organized by my company (before they finally decided to pull the plug due to insufficient response....).

Well, after that was Mission Impossible III (starring Tom Cruise). It was somewhere towards the end of this show, that my cuckoo clock started going "cuckoo" at midnight. Heh, heh - actually, by the time I realised it it was 12.15am, 1 Jan 2007 already!

Right after that was X-Men III : The Last Stand, which I also did not manage to catch while it was showing in the local cinema. A bit shocking that some of the key characters got killed off (I won't spoil the plot for you if you are worse than me and haven't watched it yet). I guess its very unlikely there'll be an X-Men IV....

It's also during these times that my friends fire off a barrage of SMS's, which is meant to bring joy and happiness (especially to the local telecos, no doubt).

I've so far received 13 SMS's. Among those that stand out:-

"Happy New Year! I need 2 SMS to many beautiful friends, relatives, so I thought I'd better start with the good-looking, smart and nice ones first. Wishing you and family good health, properity, harmony, peace and joy throughout the New Year 2008."

"My wishes for you, great start for Jan, love for Feb, peace for March, no worries for April, fun for May, low for Jun to Nov, happiness for Dec, have a luck and wonderful 2008"

"Before the year ends, before the battery goes dead, before the operators get busy, before the SMS jam up, wish you all the best 2007 and happy new year 2008!"

Well, with all encouragement, my new year resolutions:-
  1. Focus more on Family, instead of tunnel-vision on Career
  2. Exercise regularly and maintain healthy eating habits
  3. Drive sensibly and responsibly for safety and ultimate fuel economy
  4. More support for 8GCC and TVCM!!!
Of course, not all SMS's were useful. Every year, almost certainly get the "petrol price going up by XX sen, do fill up your petrol tanks tonight!". The way I see it:-

A. You won't save much. Assuming you just happen to have a car with an empty tank, which you can fill 50 liters of petrol. A price hike of, say, RM0.40 would cost an additional 50 x 0.40 = RM20.00. That's a one time saving, of course. Now, consider the hassle of queuing up at the petrol station with all the thrifty folks, out in the cold in the middle of the night, when you can be sitting at home watching TV in the comfort of your living room. To think about it for awhile, fuel prices are set based on government subsidy.

B. If the Government ever decides to annouce the price hike early, most likely the petrol station operators, whose underground reserves are filled with pre-price hike petrol, will just close shop temporarily and go on a holiday, only to open up again after the *NEW* price has been imposed, and rack up a healthy profit by doing so. Hence, the only ones who stand to lose are really the people.

C. Petrol prices are low and stable here because they are subsidized by the taxpayers money. Since everyone gets the benefit of the subsidy, it looks like the ones who pay more tax are actually getting short-changed. If you ask me, I think we should just abolish all fuel subsidy, but reduce the tax rate as well, so that you pay as you use, but get to keep more of your earnings....

Well, not to put a damper on the festive mood, here's wishing everyone a Happy and Prosperous New Year - may realize your dreams and aspirations (or at least inch one step closer to accomplishment)!

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