How reputable was our automobile industry

[My Malaysiana]

How if I change my question to "How mature was... "

1. Kia Motor Corporation South Korea - (Since 1944)
2. Ssangyong South Korea - (Since 1954)
3. Hyundai Motor Company South Korea - (Since 1967)
4. Naza Motor Trading Malaysia - (Since 1975)
5. Jiang Ling Motors Co. Ltd. China - (Since 1984)
6. Proton Malaysia - (Since 1985)
7. Daewoo Motor Co. Ltd South Korea - (Since 1993)
8. Perodua Malaysia - (Since 1994)
9. Geely Automobile China - (Since 1997)
10. Dong Feng Motor Corporation China - (Since 2003)
11. Cheery Automobile China - (N/A)

[NO need to mention Japs car maker for this list]. Actually there's alot more car maker company out there... To be fair enough [to compare with], what I can say, our automobile industry still at their juvenile stage. Alot of thing thy need to learn and still have a long journey ahead to become matured and stronger player [at least in this region].

Even thought there's alot of advantage and privilege [like unfair so called "Patriotic tariff" to foreign car] given in the country, but its still not so impressive outside. Its slow learner [in transferring technology of course] make this car [or crap of steel] the last choice to money loaded citizen. Else who cant afford that AP status car... just risk their live and their luv one on this half-finish car. Cause need to be cheap enough, thn there's always double standard - between export and for the local market. What other choice thy hav right... so you can call this Patriotism.

Comparative read:

• China's car makers ready to go global?
  
• Foreign Car Makers Eager to Enter Chinese Market
  
• What is wrong with the argument and plan of the government and the creditor group
  
• The Negative Impact of the Foreign Take-Over of the Daewoo Motors
  
• A Case Study of Rescue of Other Troubled Car Makers
  
• A Case Study of TNC General Motors' Behaviour in Third World Countries
  
• Proton and IPTN: lessons not yet learned
  

How sweet it is; but thy can taste it

[Sci Medical & Health]

But my luvly cats still at risk of getting diabetes because of their eating disorder... So pls take care with what u eat, keep in sweet and healthy... Eat less sugar even thought u can taste how sweet it is.

WASHINGTON - Cats may like ice cream, but it is not the sugary taste that appeals to them because they are genetically unable to taste sweet flavors, researchers reported on Monday.

Domestic cats and big cats alike have a slightly different version of the sweet receptor gene than other mammals, the British and U.S. scientists found.

Any cat owner knows that cats have individual preferences, but cats will turn their noses up at sugary treats that do not contain some other ingredient such as butter or gelatin.

"One possible explanation for this behavior is that felines are unable to detect sweet-tasting compounds like sugars and high intensity sweeteners because their sweet taste receptor is defective," said Xia Li, a molecular geneticist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, a nonprofit research institute in Philadelphia, who helped lead the study.

"An obvious place to look, therefore, is at the genes coding for the sweet-taste receptor."

So they did. Mammals taste sweet flavors via a receptor, a kind of molecular doorway, called T1R on their taste bud cells. It has two subunits, known as T1R2 and T1R3. Each is coded for by a separate gene.

Writing in the online journal Public Library of Science Genetics, Li and colleagues said they found a change in the gene encoding the T1R2 protein in domestic cats, tigers and cheetahs.

"Other than this sweet blindness, the cat's sense of taste is normal," the researchers wrote in their report.

"The non-functional sweet receptor provides a molecular explanation for why cats have no avidity for sweets," said Joseph Brand, a biophysicist at Cornell who worked on the study.

"Looking beyond this elegant explanation, one can contemplate the importance that this molecular change had on the evolution of the cat's carnivorous behavior," Brand added in a statement.

"What we still don't know is -- which came first: carnivorous behavior or the loss of the T1R2 protein? With regard to the gene, is this a case of use it or lose it?"

Many animals in the carnivore family like sweet things, including bears, dogs, raccoons and others.

"I say jokingly, no wonder cats are cranky -- not only do they have to hunt for their food, but they also can't enjoy a sweet dessert," Brand said. - Reuters

Further Links:

Diary of a Diabetic Cat - Feline Diabetes - Diabetes in Cats

Managing the diabetic cat

Pets With Diabetes, Keeping Your Diabetic Cat or Dog Healthy

WHEN Federal police quiz Muslim over library books

[My Australasia]

A Monash University lecturer has warned students that studying terrorism could make them subject to federal police investigation.

Terrorism expert David Wright-Neville, who now works on Monash University's global terrorism research project, told a packed lecture theatre of second-year politics students that simply showing interest in terrorism could make them a target.

"You need to know that if you are taking this subject, you too are under scrutiny," he said.

The students were studying terrorism and violence in global politics offered by the arts faculty.

Dr Wright-Neville's comments come after a Monash University student told ABC radio he was questioned by federal police over books he had bought and borrowed from the university library.

[Read more...]

How much Mr Blair spent for his makeup

[My Australasia]

Yes, Mr. Blair himself... not icluding Mrs. Blair personal private packages OK. Maybe THAT not included in their govt. expenses.

LONDON - British Prime Minister Tony Blair has spent more than 1,800 pounds (US$3,130) of taxpayers' money on makeup and cosmetic artists over the past six years, according to the government.

In a written answer to Parliament, the government revealed Blair's Downing Street office had spent 1,050.22 pounds (US$1,826.66) on cosmetics for the prime minister's media appearances since 1999. In the past two years, a further 791.20 pounds (US$1,376.14) had been spent on makeup artists.

The details were released by government official Lord Bassam in a written response to a question tabled by Lord Hanningfield, a member of the main opposition Conservative Party. - AP

Ps: How much Mrs Blair [Cherie] spent for his makeup - Who care right. May tycoon from Malaysia can sponsor some...

Some Related News:

Cherie Blair pulls out of mall opening in Malaysia

Cherie Blair cancels mall opening

Cherie pulls out of charity event

WHAT the crushing win - Aussie Vs England

[My Australasia]

Image: baggygreen.com.au

The drizzle over Lord's cleared for just long enough for Australia to demoralise England by completing a crushing victory in the first Ashes Test early this morning, Melbourne time.

The Australians, inspired by the vintage performances of England's old tormenters Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, needed only 10.1 overs on the fourth day to take the five remaining England wickets and seize a 1-0 lead that is expected to be crucial in shaping the rest of the series.

[Read more...]

How Howard stands by imam criticism

[My Australasia]

Prime Minister John Howard says he has every right to condemn a Melbourne imam who has defended Osama bin Laden.

Sheikh Mohammed Omran says the Prime Minister's comments about him are inaccurate and inflammatory and will only create fear in the community.

On July 11, the fundamentalist Muslim cleric told the ABC's Lateline program he believed bin Laden had been unfairly blamed for terrorist activity.

"I dispute any evil action linked to bin Laden," he said.

"Again, I don't believe that even September 11 from the beginning, I don't believe that it has been done by any Muslim at all."

Mr Howard says he thinks the Sheikh's views would be unacceptable to the majority of Australians.

"He's reaffirmed that he thinks bin Laden is a good man," the Prime Minister said. "Heavens above ... let's just sit back and think for a moment.

"He says that bin Laden is a good man. Doesn't that really prove my point?"

Mr Howard says the imam has the right to express his view but adds: "I have a right to say it is a view that the overwhelming majority of Muslims in this country would find unacceptable."

Mr Howard says the cleric believes the US was responsible for the recent attacks on London.

But Sheikh Omran says he has never blamed the United States and he reserves his judgment on the identity of the attackers.

He says he is not satisfied the individuals behind the bombings have an Islamic agenda.

The Federal Opposition says Australia should have a "zero tolerance" approach to people who provide moral support for terrorists, or incite hatred.

Labor's foreign affairs spokesman, Kevin Rudd, has wholeheartedly supported Mr Howard's criticism of Sheikh Omran.

Mr Rudd has called on the Sheikh to reconsider his comments.

"For any Australian cleric to defend the actions of Osama bin Laden is unacceptable and un-Australian," he said.

"And I would call upon the Sheikh to repudiate his comments in support of Osama bin Laden."

Related News:

Backlash at Howard's Muslim call

Radical cleric hits out at PM

Sheik calls Prime Minister's comments inflammatory

When Howard in London - then cause another blast

[My Australasia]

Just a joke Mr PM... or is it true

Is it a bizarre coincidence or is Prime Minister John Howard just unlucky?

Mr Howard found himself in the thick of a terrorist bomb scare in London today while sitting down to lunch with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at Downing Street.

It was exactly two weeks since four bombs exploded on three London Underground trains and a double decker bus, killing 56 people including an Australian man.

It's not the first time Mr Howard has been in the midst of a terrorist attack.

On September 11, 2001, when two planes flew into New York City's World Trade Centre killing about 3,000 people, Mr Howard was in Washington where another plane hijacked by terrorists slammed into the Pentagon.

[Read more...]

Related Links:

Howard again at centre of attacks

Arrests follow latest London blasts

Two arrested after second attacks

WHAT, another blast at London tubes

[My Australasia]

Slideshow: London Blasts

Get alerted direct from BBC London:

Three Tube lines have been suspended across London as police investigate "incidents" at three stations.

Shepherd's Bush tube station

Oval tube station

Warren Street tube ststion

and a blast on the top deck of a Number 26 bus in Hackney Road.

Any Londoners wanna confirm this... hopefully there's just a small blast...

Quick Links:

Blasts Hit 3 London Subway Stations, Bus

Reporters' Log: London Tube alert

London blasts cause chaos on Tube

When the issue not really issue to her

[My Malaysiana]

Will upload another new "ads" tmrw... still not scanned yet. Clue: continue from previous post. Got it!!