All Slick, No Shine

In case you find this surprising, dude, my life don't just revolve around parties, soirees & more parties. I can't help it if i get invited to so many of 'em! Ah-huh wot? I may be a drama queen but i ain't no blonde IPG*.

Here's one drama i've stuck my finger into and is currently fueling the global headlines. I ain't about to sit still and fume. Not-uh! Sept 22 was "Dun fill 'er up but stick it up their arse" day. Now that's past, let's shift gears & move on...

The li'l tweety just confirmed another hike in oil prices in the coming months. So here r some tips on how to minimize fuel consumption so that we don't feel the pinch so much. (courtesy of a credible friend*muah*)

1) Pump up ur tyres
Keep ur tyres inflated. If a range is recommended by the manufacturer, use the higher pressure to maximize fuel efficiency. Deflated tyres run hot, jeopardize safety & cause tyres to wear out prematurely, thereby affecting the vehicle adversely & hurt the fuel economy by increasing the rolling resistance.
Tyres lose about 1 psi pressure per month due to air loss caused by hitting holes, bumps & kerbs. So check ur tyres at least once a month. Just 1 tyre deflated by 2 psi will result in a 1% increase in fuel consumption.

2) Drive at moderate speed
NO high speeds = safe driving + better fuel economy. In highway driving, over 50% of the engine produced power is used to overcome aerodynamic drag. Fuel consumption increases rapidly at speeds above 90km/h. On average, a car uses about 15% more fuel at 100km/h, & 25% more fuel at 110km/h vs 90km/h.
But it doesn't mean the lower the speed, the better the fuel economy either. Fuel consumption of an average car increases sharply at speeds below 50km/h.

3) Clean the air-filter regularly
Clogged air filters can increase fuel consumption up to 10%, by restricting airflow to the engine. So go clean/replace it when necessary eh!

4) Use thinner tyres
Tyres with thick width may improve ur car's handling but it'll also increase ur car's fuel consumption. Thicker tyres means more rolling resistance means it'll consume more fuel.

5) Start up the car properly
U don't have to prime your car's engine by pumping the accelerator pedal repeatedly. Do not crank the engine excessively. This only wastes fuel. It needs only 30 seconds to warm up when u start the engine. It'll warm up faster on the road. Just avoid sudden acceleration b4 the engine has warmed up sufficiently.

6) Travel light
Dump the excess baggage eh! On average, every additional 50kg load in your car will increase fuel consumption by 2%.

7) Oy, stop tailgaiting!
U can reduce fuel consumption up to 10% by anticipating traffic conditions ahead & adjusting the speed accordingly. Tailgating cause unnecessary braking/ acceleration/deceleration which wastes fuel. Minimize braking & abrupt stops by not following too closely. Slow down gradually when approaching a red light. It takes up to 6 times as much fuel to move a car from a dead stop vs moving it at just a few km/h.

8) Don't step on it
Fuel consumption remains at a minimum during steady driving at moderate speed of about 90km/h. Each time u accelerate, the engine goes into a "fuel-enrichment" mode of operation that wastes fuel. Keep the acceleration gradual & smooth. If u've got cruise control, use it on highways to help maintain a constant speed & reduce fuel consumption.

9) Don't let your engine idle
U save more fuel by stopping the engine vs keeping it idle. Idling more than a minute consumes much more fuel than restarting the engine. U save more fuel from switching off the engine than from the burst of fuel involved in restarting it. The net increased wear + tear from this practice is negligible.

10) Use the a/c sparingly
Air conditioners can use about 10% extra fuel when operating. However at speeds of over 80 km/h, use of a/c is better for fuel economy than an open window.

Last words - if u still feel the pinch after this - start walking...especially if those boots are made for walking ;P

*IPG- International Party Girl

Let's nail 'em!

It's no simple life and we ain't Paris & Nicole, but when ur a fashionista, dolling up for the club without bling'ing up ur nails is a mondo major faux pas. Oui mon ami. The nail bar by Maia Gallery more than sweeten it up for 'Far from plain' Jayne & moi @ Sugar's new retro nite launch party, Goola-Goola. It's every Thurs. I can't believe u missed da party. Shame on you. tsk tsk!

Stop The Hike!

Me thinks its time we stop griping and start doing something about the escalating oil prices.

It has been calculated that if everyone in the world did not purchase a drop of petrol for one day and all at the same time, the oil companies could choke on their stockpiles. At the same time it would hit the entire industry with a nett loss of over $4.6 billion, which would affect the bottom lines of the oil companies.

So that's why Thursday, Sept 22 has been officially declared "Stick it up their behind" day and all of us should not buy a single drop of petrol on this day. C'mon and let's get the word out eh -tell all your friends/ people around you about Sept 22! Waiting for the government to step in and control the prices ain't about to happen...so what happened to the reduction in control & prices that the Arab nation promised 2 weeks ago?

If anything, know this - not only is the price of petrol going up but at the same time airlines are forced to raise their prices, so are trucking companies -which affects everything that is shipped like food, clothing, building supplies, medical supplies etc. and who pays in the end? WE DO!!

Ah-huh we can make a difference here and now. If they don't get the message after one day, we will just have to do it again and again until they get it. We've got Einstein to thank there.
So do your bit and spread the word. It's gotta stem from you to make the difference.
Mark your calendars and make Thursday Sept 22, a day that the citizens of the world said "Enough is enough!"

Coming?

It's the 2nd anniversary of my 29th year and we're reveling with a pajama soiree. Who dare sez i'm going thru a mid-life crisis? Life only just got started and i'm still enjoying my roller coaster ride. Ah-huh and don't say i haven't given you enuf advanced noticed now to start gyming so u'd look good in those jammies/ chemise for the bash on Oct 1 eh!

The Dunhill Affair

The recent Dunhill affair at the KLCC con centre was a ra rA RA Err?! It had an emptiness amidst all that 'posh-chi-chi' feel it contrived to exude. The decor felt recycled. As Peta so aptly puts it - 'twas a bit like a PC Fair. The acts were a bit over the top. Too bad the crowd was too busy indulging in the free flow of alcohol to appreciate the OZ dance troop with snippets of Chicago & Moulin Rouge. Then again, there's nothing like a glass of champagne or 3 to set you in the right party mood. It was fab to see the guys all decked out in their suits for a change while the girls preened like robins in spring. Was it worth all that trouble just to witness the launch of the new 'button' packs? Afterall it is a very exclusive affair and admittance is by invitation only. Stay out all ye riff-raffs! So yeah, i guess it wasn't all bad even if i wasn't bowled over either. Gimme the "force of nature" to reckon with any day. And yea, this red hot pix is courtesy of Patrick's new 750i *meep meep*

Welcome to the Sugar-coated Jungle!

It's dat polling time of the year again for da' dance industry. C'mon & show some support for ur local DJs and put in ur votes for 'em at www.djmag.com. Hey its 'em local boys who toll on decks every week to fire up the dancefloors u know so let's give 'em a pat eh. Me thinks Tiesto's been up there long enuf. Boh-reeng la!