Book Review: Kill Alex Cross by James Patterson

Time flies, and before you know it, another month has passed. On a random note, I've finished my first book of the month! :D

The president's children has been abducted!... and the kidnappers do not want ransom. CIA, FBI, MPD and the White House are struggling to find the children. As time passes, with no leads, they are desperate. The longer the children are kidnapped, the lower their chances of survival. 

James Patterson can really write well, just after reading a few pages of the book and I got hooked. I mean, who wouldn't want to know some "behind the scenes" stuff about CIA and FBI on how they tackled the case?

As soon the children are kidnapped, another couple is introduced, a Saudi couple, arriving at the airport; Tariq and his wife, Hala. They witnessed a suicide death right in front of their eyes. The weird thing is, they clutched on to a pill in each of their pockets... and that's when I felt that this couple isn't going to be like any ordinary couple that they portray to be.

Things lead from one thing another, such as Alex Cross's grandmother wanting to add a homeless girl, Ava into their family. The introduction of the terrorist group, called "The Family", and key players of the group; "Uncle", "Grandfather", and how they were at war with America.

Rating: 8.5/10

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year to all those celebrating on this auspicious day! :)

Things Do Not Change, People Change.

 I'm sure you know this phrase is quoted from Henry David Thoreau, an author and others. That got me thinking, basic needs of a man a century ago and today still remain more or less the same. Man still requires food, water, shelter and human interaction between one another for sustenance. The only difference between today's world and the past is the technological advances which has improved our lives. And if you look at the bigger picture, you'll realize that things have not changed much, but people do.

Over the years, I've come to a realization that man is constantly improving himself for the better. Unforeseen events that occur around me affect me in my decision making, but ultimately, it's my decision that makes the difference. For example, when I was younger, I skipped classes which I felt were boring. I would sometimes sleep or skip off to the library where the time came for the subjects I disliked. The school disciplinary board came down hard on me and gave a an ultimatum, change my ways or be expelled from school. Although one mighty say that with friends, teacher and parents around encouraging and scolding me for the change, I believe that the most important push and motivate would be myself. When one is at the crossroad, who makes the decision in taking which path? You, and no one else. Once the decision is made, there is no turning back, as Robert Frost would have put it,

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
......"

And I did. And that made all the difference to me. :)

Reminiscing Old PLKN Memories.

There was I, clearing my room, throwing STPM papers and some other stuff, stumbled upon my old National Service (PLKN) CB books. Just the other day, my friend told me he was gonna leave for NS, and wanted to know the activities that are carried out there. So, I decided to blog about this book before these books hit the recycle box. And oh, this book is used in classes you'd attend in the morning @ your respective PLKN centres from 9.00 a.m. to 12 noon. :)

When I was first given this book, I was SHOCKED by the content inside. I'm sure you'd do the same if you ever have the chance to get hold of this book. The book covered character building stuff, mostly motivational lessons, like "Impossible to Possible", "Attitude", etc. activities, but with pre-school/primary level style of questions. The classes were kinda boring, and childish, though some were quite fun. Usually, after having a long day the day before, this would be the time where my friends and I would try to get some shut eye, though we were often caught by the teacher, which jolt us up.

That's all for this module, I can't seem to remember anything more. :)

P.S. In this module, there is this activity called "Aktiviti Kapalterbang". You'll be given some newspaper and stuff to make an airplane. Remember to think OUT of the box to get your airplane the furthest! Hint: Which flying object is round and can go furthest when thrown like a ball? :D

2012

The year is almost up.

A new chapter begins. :) 

Time to hit the books.

STPM Countdown to Pengajian Am 2

HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

One of the scariest virus around is the RNA virus called HIV! Once thought to have originated from Africa is now found worldwide.

What are the symptoms you would have to look out for?
Well, the progress of this disease can be categorized into 4 stages:

1. First Phase: Most individuals will have no symptoms, but some might develop a rash, flu, and swollen lymph glands.
2. Second Phase: Production of anti-HIV rises in blood stream. Although the level of HIV in blood falls, HIV replication continues in lymph nodes. This phase can last anywhere from weeks till more than 13 years.
3. Third Phase: AIDS related complex refers to many opportunistic infections which affect the patient, like fungal and viral infections such as oral and genital herpes.
4. Fourth Phase: Development of secondary cancers. Kaposi's sarcoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are common. By this time, there is total loss of cellular immunity.

Mechanism of HIV Infection:

1. HIV enters the body through body fluid or blood transfusion.
2. HIV binds with CD4 receptors on the surface of T helper cell.
3. Both membranes then fuse while the capsid is enzymatically removed to release viral RNA and reverse transcriptase into the cytoplasm of the helper T cell.
4. Viral RNA undergoes reverse transcription followed by replication to produce a double-stranded viral DNA with the help of enzyme reverse transcriptase.
5. Reverse transcriptase catalyses the synthesis of second DNA, which is complementary to the first.
6. Viral DNA enters the nucleus and is incorporated into host DNA, as a provirus.
7. Provirus may remain dormant but is replicated each time host cell divides.
8. Activated provirus causes host cell to synthesize huge amounts of viral protein and viral mRNA which are then assembled into new retroviruses.
9. New retroviruses bud off from host cell membrane, infecting other helper T cells.
10. Number of helper T cells will gradually decrease and cause risk of individual contacting other diseases and finally leading to death.

Immune Response of Humans.

There are two types of immune response, or rather, what my Bio book tells me so. I was kinda tired of stuffing the facts into my head, so I thought I would type it out here on my iPod Blogger app. :)

Cell-Mediated Immunity:

Cell-Mediated Immune Response

1. T cells formed in the blood marrow circulate in the blood circulatory system until it reaches the thymus glands.
2. In thymus glands, T cells differentiate to form T helper cells and T cytotoxic cells, each with a unique type of T cell receptor on its surface.
3. Mature T helper cell circulates in the blood circulatory system until it reaches an antigen representing cell (APC).
4. If antigen-MHC complex on APC is complementary with the T cell receptor on the T helper cell, the T cell binds to the APC.
5. T helper cell that binds with APC secretes interleukin 1.
6. Interleukin 1 stimulates production of interleukin 2.
7. Interleukin 2 stimulates the division of T helper cells and T cytotoxic cells to produce clones of effector T helper & effector T cytotoxic cells respectively and memory cells.
8. Circulating T cytotoxic cells bind with complementary antigen-MHC complex on infected cells.
9. Effector T cytotoxic cells release perforin that perforated the infected cells to stimulate autolysis.
10. Effector cytotoxic T cells attacks other infected cells, as infected cell perform autolysis.
11. Memory T cells respond for a second invasion of the same pathogen by actively dividing to form effector T cells.

Humoral Immune Response:

1. B cells are formed and mature in bone marrow.
2. Mature B cells synthesize antibodies, which attach to the 2 tips acting as receptors.
3. B cells with complimentary antibody phagocytosise the free complimentary antigens encountered.
4. Antigen is cut into smaller pieces and presented as the antigen-MHC complex on it's plasma membrane.
5. T helper cell with complimentary T cell receptor binds to antigen-MHC complex.
6. T helper cell secretes interleukin 2.
7. Interleukin 2 stimulates B cell to divide and, form clones of effector B cells and memory cells.
8. Effector B cells produce large quantity of free antibodies with same specific configuration.
9. Antibodies destroys antigen by precipitation, antitoxins and agglutination.

Interesting how our immune system works, right?
The only problem is, it's only interesting when you need not memorize it for finals!