Happy 49th Birthday

Happy 49th Birthday, Malaysia!

This beloved country is almost half a century old, already as old as a grandma. My wish this year is for her to grow up and start acting her age!

SELAMAT HARI MERDEKA!

Fresh Fish Tale

A fresh fish lesson which we can all relate to. I received this story in my inbox this morning.

The Japanese have always loved fresh fish. But the waters close to Japan have not held many fish for decades. So to feed the Japanese population, fishing boats got bigger and went farther than ever. The farther the fishermen went, the longer it took to bring in the fish. If the return trip took more than a few days, the fish were not fresh. The Japanese did not like the taste.

To solve this problem, fishing companies installed freezers on their boats. They would catch the fish and freeze them at sea. Freezers allowed the boats to go farther and stay longer. However, the Japanese could taste the difference between fresh and frozen and they did not like frozen fish. The frozen fish brought a lower price.

So fishing companies installed fish tanks. They would catch the fish and stuff them in the tanks, fin to fin. After a little thrashing around, the fish stopped moving. They were tired and dull, but alive. Unfortunately, the Japanese could still taste the difference. Because the fish did not move for days, they lost their fresh-fish taste. The Japanese preferred the lively taste of fresh fish, not sluggish fish.

So how did Japanese fishing companies solve this problem? How do they get fresh-tasting fish to Japan? If you were consulting the fish industry, what would you recommend?

How Japanese Fish Stay Fresh: To keep the fish tasting fresh, the Japanese fishing companies still put the fish in the tanks. But now they add a small shark to each tank. The shark eats a few fish, but most of the fish arrive in a very lively state. The fish are challenged.

IMPORTANT LESSON:

Have you realized that some of us are also living in a pond but most of the time tired & dull, so we need a Shark in our life to keep us awake and moving? Basically in our lives Sharks are new challenges to keep us active and taste better.....

The more intelligent, persistent and competent you are, the more you enjoy a challenge. If your challenges are the correct size, and if you are steadily conquering those challenges, you are Conqueror. You think of your challenges and get energized. You are excited to try new solutions.

You have fun.

You are alive!

Joe "Lone Ranger" Singh

Meet Joe "Lone Ranger" Singh, controversial hero and resident of SS14 in Subang Jaya. Excerpted from The Star, 26 August 2006 ...

"It’s all in a day’s work for businessman Joe Mahinder Singh, 49, who claims he has conducted 19 citizen’s arrests on would-be snatch thieves and house burglars and recovered seven stolen motorbikes and one car.

For me, the tagline “Crime is a disease. Meet the cure” from that Sylvester Stallone movie, Cobra, comes to mind. Some residents of Subang Jaya have called him a hero. Others think he is a Rambo vigilante."

Meet also another hero, an unsung one, from USJ, known by his moniker of Orchipalar aka OrChiPD, in usjdotcomdotmy. Orchipalar, a prime-mover of SJ Alert, goes around with his 4-wheel drive and has contributed his fair share in assisting the police in preventing crime. Read about his initiatives here, here and here.

While Joe has so far received two letters of commendation from the police and is expecting a national award or a datukship, I hope my good friend will get his recognition without having to ask or arm twist for it.

Motivational Thought

It isn't a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream. It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for. Not failure, but low aim is the sin.

Benjamin Elijah Mays

May we all continue to reach for our stars, whomever you be - star man or star woman.

Firms to sell deep-sea water as drinking water

From Bangkok Post, 16 August 2006
Firms to sell deep-sea water as drinking water

(dpa) Several Taiwan companies, eyeing the health benefits of deep-ocean water, plan to sell deep-sea water as drinking water, the Water Resources Agency (WRA) said on Wednesday.

"Several companies plan to sell the deep-sea water retrieved from Pacific Ocean as drinking water, and use it for aquaculture, the pharmaceutical industry and spas,'' Chen Shen-hsien said.

"Bottled deep-sea water will appear on the market in November. It will become a popular drink because deep-sea water is bacteria-free and is rich in minerals and nutrition,'' he said.

Deep-sea water refers to water 200 metres under the sea surface. Taiwan commands a unique geographical location for utilizing deep-sea water because just 50 kilometres off Taiwan's east coast the seabed drops to a depth of 4 kilometres.

At least three companies have laid pipes to retrieve deep-sea water to sell it as bottled water after desalination.

One firm, the Pacific Marine Biotech Corp, has laid two pipe which can retrieve 2,000 tons and 13,00 tons of water from a depth of 710 metres off Taiwan's east coast.

"We plan to start selling deep-sea water in 20-litre and 500-cc bottles in November. The price will be higher than bottled water or mineral water because deep-sea water has more health benefits,'' the company's marketing manager Hung Yin-yin told the Deutsche
Presse-Agentur dpa.

Hung said deep-sea water can help boost the immune system, relieve stress and prevent cardio-vascular diseases.

"Those who have tasted deep-sea water said that there is a sweet taste in their throat after having drunk the water. You don't get that from drinking mineral water,'' she said.

The Taiwan Fertilizer Co plans to sell deep-sea water as bottled water and also to make cosmetics.

"Several foreign cosmetic companies, including Japan's Shu Uimura which has been purchased by L'Oreal of France, have asked to buy deep-sea water from us,'' Chung Chi-tung from the Taiwan Fertilizer Co told dpa.

A short break

Cari makan calls so have to be away to Penang for a while. Until I can get to a better connection - I just cannot live on dial-ups anymore, there will only be occasional postings every now and then.

In the meantime, I will be enjoying my favourite ham-chim-peng and yam cakes by the roadsides of good ole Penang.

It's still cheapy, cheapy, cheap, cheap here.

Take Charge of Your Health

The Star reports that in conjunction with International Youth Day today, R.AGE conducted a survey with young people aged 17 to 25 to find out the current state of Malaysian youths.

Among the questions asked, the top five responses to “What do you worry about?” were studies (26.27%), the future (21.96%), family (8.24%), myself (7.45%) and health (7.06%).

With only 7.06% concerning about their health, does it surprise you then that more young people as young as 15 are getting heart disease compared to 30 years ago?

According to Universiti Malaya Medical Centre's (UMMC) cardiology division head Prof Dr Wan Azman Wan Ahmad;

“Thirty years ago, heart patients were aged between 50 and 55 for males and 60 and 65 for females. But today, we get patients as young as 15. There are various factors that cause heart disease. One of them is eating unhealthy food, which young people are doing because they eat a lot of fast food and deep fried Western food.”

Heed the warnings that young Malaysians are very sick. The NST, 11 October 2005, projected that 5 million young Malaysian will have chronic diseases by this year. That's approximately 20% our population size. If nothing is done about it now, the number doubles to 10 million by 2020!

Take charge of your health now.

Crime prevention is a joint responsibility

Crime prevention is a joint responsibility and no amount of patrolling by policemen or closed-circuit television cameras could reduce crime if the public did not play a role. Reported in the NST today, Rakan Cop tip-off led to arrests.

Selangor police chief Datuk Yahya Udin said: "The public is everywhere. People are the best source of information when something happens in their area. As for us, we are only a call away.

"Without the help of the public, many cases could end up unsolved," said Yahya.

He was happy that residents in some areas were playing an active role in curbing crime."In Subang Jaya, some of the residents’ associations have established their own mobile patrols and we are providing the guidance."

Sharing Yahya’s sentiment is city police deputy chief Datuk Ahmad Baharin Idrus who said CCTVs could help in areas such as the Golden Triangle but not in the suburbs.

"In places such as Wangsa Maju or Sentul, we need the public to inform us using Rakan Cop facilities for us to act. If not it would be useless."

Full report here.

Am I so suckerable?

Please read the following email exchanges and tell me I have not been suckered by the banks!

After 3 visits to RHB Bank in Taipan USJ, I sent this email to Ibanksupport.

From: kappa@streamyx.com
Sent: Thursday, 03 August, 2006 11:23 AM
To: ibanksupport@rhbbank.com.my
Subject: Internet Banking Inquiries

Hi RHB,

My name is Mr Tan Teong Chee. My home phone number is 012-xxxxxxx. My office phone number is - 603 xxxxxxx. My email address is kappa@streamyx.com. I can be contacted by phone. I would like to make a complaint. I hold a saving accounts x-xxxxx-000xx0x-x with RHB USJ Taipan.

On 9/7/2006, I tried to withdraw RM300 from AmBank's ATM at IOI Mall, Puchong. The withdrawal was unsuccessful and my ATM card was retained. I immediately reported to RHB at IOI Mall and was advised to report to RHB Taipan USJ, which I did on 10/7/2006.

I find it most unacceptable that it is now taking almost 4 weeks for RHB to investigate this straight forward electronic transaction - this is according to your RHB Taipan USJ manager when I checked with her this morning.

A reply from Ibanksupport asking for my patience and understanding. Just wondering whether a similar letter if I default on my payment will be entertained by the bank?

From: "ibanksupport" <ibanksupport@rhbbank.com.my
To: <kappa@streamyx.com>
Sent: Friday, August 04, 2006 11:35 AM
Subject: RE: Internet Banking Inquiries

Thank you for your email and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused. Kindly be informed that we have forwarded your concern to our relevant department for further action under reference number 1743035. Meanwhile, we appreciate your patience and understanding.

Should you require further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact ourCustomer Care Centre at 03-92068118 (Kuala Lumpur) or 082-276118 (Kuching) and our Customer Service Agents will be able to assist you accordingly.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Jxxx Cxxx (full name deleted)
Ibanksupport Customer Care Centre

I replied. My only interest is when they will return me my money! You guys should try calling the hotline - can vomit blood!

From: Kappa Streamyx [mailto:kappa@streamyx.com]
Sent: Friday, 04 August, 2006 12:57 PM
To: ibanksupport
Subject: Re: Internet Banking Inquiries

Dear Jxxx,

I am wondering whether you have tried calling your hotline number 03-92068118. For your information, it took me 4 calls yesterday to get through to a human voice who couldn't give me any answer. That call itself took me almost 20 minutes to get through. It took almost every call about 4 minutes of commercials before the automated voice informed me that the operators were busy. Your hotline just isn't user friendly!

What I want to know is when this issue can be resolved before I resort to my other course of action. Would it be reasonable to expect a resolution by Monday, 7 August 2005?

Regards,
Tan Teong Chee

Ha ... Customer Support has the audacity to make this insane suggestion to call long distance to Kuching! Meow .... no f#$*ing way that I am spending more money to get back what is rightfully mine!

From: ibanksupport
Sent: Friday, 04 August, 2006 8:11 PM
To: 'kappa@streamyx.com'
Subject: RE: Internet Banking Inquiries

Thank you for your email and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused with regards to our phonebanking service recently.

Kindly be informed that our Kuala Lumpur Customer Care Centre is handling high volume of calls daily. As a result, there will be instances whereby some of the calls made by our valued customers may not be able to get through. We would suggest that you may contact us during non-peak hours where the lines may be less busy or alternatively, you may contact our Kuching Customer Care Centre at 082-276118 which is operating from 7AM until 7PM daily. We appreciate your patience and understanding on this matter.

Further to your concern, we regret to advise that we are unable to confirm the outcome with your goodself at this juncture and we shall update you indue course. Kindly be informed that based on our records, the matter iscurrently under investigation and our relevant department have todayarranged to forward a notification to your goodself pertaining to thematter. Your patience and understanding on the matter is very much appreciated.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,
Jxxx Cxxx
Ibanksupport Customer Care Centre

The latest email from Ibanksupport with the insult of all insults. They take my money away electronically. Why can't they do it the same way it was taken away? Just unbelievable. Or are we just so suckerable?

From: ibanksupport
Sent: Wednesday, 09 August, 2006 9:59 AM
To: 'kappa@streamyx.com'
Subject: FW: Internet Banking Inquiries

Dear Mr Tan,

Further to our ealier email, kindly be informed that based on confirmation from our relevant department, the matter is currently pending cheque payment from AmBank Berhad ATM Centre. We appreciate your patience and understanding on the matter.

Meanwhile, should you require further assistance on other banking matters, please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Care Centre at 03-92068118(Kuala Lumpur) or 082-276118 (Kuching) and our Customer Service Agents will be able to assist you accordingly.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,
Jxxx Cxxx
IbanksupportCustomer Care Centre

Wheels for Cops

Representatives from the communities of Subang Jaya & USJ are coming together in a fund raising campaign to raise RM90,000 for the purchase of 2 Kembaras and 4 motorbikes to be donated to the police stations of SS17 and USJ8. This was announced in a press conference called by the Wheels for Cops organising committee today.

From left: Wivien San (Summit), Raymond Tan (Organising Chairman), Dato' Lee Hwa Beng (ADUN SJ), Yvonne Tan (GSC), Yap Yun Fatt (MPSJ Councillor)

Currently, Balai Polis Subang Jaya operates with one Kancil and one Pajero while Balai Polis USJ8 has one Kancil and one Land Rover. Both stations cover a population size of approximately 200,000 and 140,000 respectively.

Wheels for Cops campaign is supported by the office of ADUN Subang Jaya and sponsored by the Summit Group and Golden Screen Cinemas.

GSC is sponsoring one charity screening of "Snakes on a Plane" on 28 August 2006 at GSC Summit. All proceeds from the sale of the 322 tickets will go to the fund.

"Snakes on a Plane" stars Samuel L. Jackson as an FBI agent Neville Flynn who has to fight a time released crate load of lethal snakes unleashed by an ruthless assassin aboard Flight 121. The target is a boy who is to testify in a highly publicised murder case. Flynn must now band together with the rookie pilot and frightened passengers to survive. This movie has grown from something of a comedy into a phenomenon slithering untamed throughout the Internet. Don't miss it!

View the trailers here

The charity screening of "Snakes on a Plane" will be held on:

28 August 2006 (Monday)
Venue: GSC Summit, USJ
Cocktail at 8pm
Screening at 9pm sharp

Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow will grace this screening together with the top brasses from the police force.

Tickets are now available at RM100 each. We shall also be issuing receipts for all tickets sold.

Please contact the members of the organising committee below to get your tickets:

1. Raymond Tan raymond@nwatch.net.my 012-2997992
2. Teoh TH ss14nwatch@gmail.com 012-3288557
3. Allan Hubbert 1allan@my.ibm.com 019-2103623
4. Eileen Cheah thewriteexposure@gmail.com 013-3427808
5. Melvin Lee melvinlee29@yahoo.com 012-3303328
6. Robert Chan robertec@tm.net.my 012-2093093
7. Chris Ng orchipalar@gmail.com 012-2056885
8. Patrick Tan patan@usj.com.my 012-9132433
9. PC Yeoh pcyeoh@usj.com.my 012-2995330

We thank you for your support in contributing towards a safer Subang Jaya and USJ.

EPF Member's Investment Scheme - The Reactions

Following Mingguan Malaysia's report that approximately 80% of EPF contributors who invest their EPF savings in unit trusts loses money ...

Via The Star, 8 August 2006; Tighten rules, Government tells EPF - The Government, alarmed over the more than half billion ringgit losses reported from investments in unit trusts involving Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributors, has directed the EPF to impose stricter conditions on such investments.

Via TheSun, 8 August 2006; Govt wants EPF to tighten withdrawals for unit trust investments - Meanwhile, some EPF-appointed fund management institutions have sought clarification on a news report that 80% of EPF contributors who invested their savings in unit trusts posted losses totalling RM600 million. A few of the fund managers said they doubted the accuracy of the reported loss figure, which was attributed to their inability to invest in profitable ventures. A local fund manager said while investors had to understand the risks involved, a matter that could be an issue was the high cost of investing in unit trusts. "If you invest RM100, RM6.50 is deducted as upfront fees; that itself is expensive. It (the report) does provide a wake-up call to the whole architecture as all the while, the EPF uses agency and the agency tend to sell products with good upfront commissions," she said.

I hope the Government will see this tightening of rules through.

Poverty needs no plan

When riches take the place of poverty, the change is usually brought about through well conceived and carefully executed PLANS. Poverty needs no plan. It needs no one to aid it, because it is bold and ruthless. Riches are shy and timid. They have to be "attracted."

ANYBODY can WISH for riches, and most people do, but only a few know that a definite plan, plus a BURNING DESIRE for wealth, are the only dependable means of accumulating wealth.

The above is excerpted from Napoleon Hill's classic motivational book THINK & GROW RICH. It is said that this book is not to be read but to be studied.

EPF Member's Investment Scheme

Mingguan Malaysia reports that approximately 80% of EPF contributors who invest their EPF savings in unit trusts loses money.

KUALA LUMPUR 5 Ogos – Kira-kira RM600 juta wang milik pencarum Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) yang dilaburkan ke dalam unit amanah (unit trust) mengalami kerugian.

Mingguan Malaysia difahamkan menerusi satu sumber kesatuan sekerja, kerugian itu melibatkan kira-kira 80 peratus pencarum yang membuat pelaburan. Full report here.

Now, the unions and consumer associations want the government to intervene and abolish this EPF Member's Investment Scheme.

KUALA LUMPUR 6 Ogos – Kesatuan-kesatuan sekerja dan persatuan pengguna hari ini menggesa kerajaan dan Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP)menghentikan segera skim pengeluaran caruman untuk dilaburkan ke dalam unit amanah bagi kerugian yang lebih besar kepada pencarum.

I am no expert in unit trust but I do know enough to know that I should stay away from this market. So to argue on whether or not the government should abolish it, I will leave it to the experts but yes, the government should relook the mechanism of this scheme. Because right now, the only sure group who benefits are the agencies.

A couple of years back, a similar headline also hit the Singapore press. I cannot seem to be able find the news in my archives but I do recall that a majprity of the pensioners ended up with less money than what they started off with in a similar scheme.

Hungry Ghost Festival

In the Chinese tradition, the 7th month in the Chinese calendar is called the Ghost Month (鬼月), in which ghosts and spirits come out from the lower world to visit earth.

Activities at the festival include preparing ritualistic offering food, and burning hell money to please the visiting ghosts and spirits as well as deities and ancestors. Other activities include burying and releasing miniature paper boats and lanterns on water, which signifies "giving directions to the lost ghosts". The spirits are kept entertained with opera shows during this period.

I get to see alot of such activities during my younger days in Taiping, but not anymore in where I now stay. So when wifey wanted to go back to home town in Bukit Mertajam for the weekend, we made a visit to the Tua Pek Kong temple in Jalan Pasar to expose the children to this traditional festival. Lest they forget their roots.

The place was a hive of activities with devotees everywhere.

The paper effigy of Da Shi Ye, the God of Hades.

Offerings on the common altar. Notice the 'bun towers'.

Giant dragon joss sticks.

The Hungry Ghost Festival enters its last day tomorrow.

I pray that the God of Hades will also lock up those ghosts who have been terrorising our neighbourhoods. They are more scarier than the real ghosts. Lock them up for good, please.

The Camry Robbers

I have learned long ago to accept all news report with a pinch of salt. And sometimes many pinchesby the lumpful, depending on the source. Because most times, only half truths are reported. The unfortunate part is we often get the wrong halves!

A case in point happened yesterday in USJ. One incident, three newspapers and three different stories! All appear to contradict my first hand account.

Via NST, 04 Aug 06; Police open fire at robbers’ car during chase
Via Star, 04 Aug 06; Robbers flee police pursuit
Via MM, 04 Aug 06; Fleeing robbers sideswipe cars

This was what actually happened.

I received an sms at about 4pm from SJ Alert reporting a robbery in USJ11 by 2 Malay men in a silver Camry WMN 8036.

At about 5.30pm, I saw this car outside my house, parked just across the road. It was facing the opposite direction as my car. I was on the way out to fetch my son from USJ20. The driver's side window was covered with a sunshade and I could make out some movements within. I got into my car and observed. At the same time, I also called Inspector Shan and our OrChiPD to notify them the car is now in USJ18.

Then I turned my car around to follow a little while after it moved off. The Camry made a U turn at the other end of the road. We then passed each other and I looked their direction to see what the two b*stard look like. Both wore baseball caps. The lean fella was driving while the chubby fella was at the passenger side. They made some gestures at me. I ignored them and drove on.

I drove on slowly to continue to observe. They took a parallel road and ended up following me for a while, even when I took a detour into USJ 18/1.

With Shan on the line, I told him that I will be leading the Camry out to Jalan Kewajipan towards the Police Station. He assured me that his men will be waiting near the mosque.

The Camry somehow decided not to follow me near the USJ18 surau. From this point, it sped off towards USJ17. I made a U turn and followed a distance behind it through USJ17/1 and Jalan Usaha. It then turned into USJ 16.

Shan was informed of this diversion and his men arrived in less than 5 minutes and waited at the only exit. OrChiPD also arrived at about the same time. After a short wait of about 5-10 minutes, the Camry reappeared. I heard a shot fired as it sped past the police.

The police gave chase. OrChiPD also followed while I headed off to USJ20 to fetch my son.

From what I gathered of the incident, the robbers abandoned the Camry in USJ5. They then entered a nearby house, accosted the occupants and escaped with their gold coloured Naza Ria (Reg No. NAZA 84). The driver is believed to have been injured by the gun shot.

Despite the bad publicities the police has been attracting, I witnessed some bravery and commitment from the men in blue. To this, I say BRAVO to Inspector Shan and his team from USJ 8 Balai Polis.

Some photos of the abandoned Camry here.

Please subscribe to SJ Alert. It probably saved me and someone else some grief yesterday had I not be on alert mode.

SJ Alert SMS System

Dear Residents of SJ & USJ,

A group of concerned SJ/USJ residents has come together to start a SJ Alert SMS System. This FREE service will alert you on your Mobile Phone and also at your email address of Crime and other Emergencies, Utility Disruptions, Community Events and will include Weekly Crime reports direct from the Police in and around SJ/USJ.

As this service is presently provided FREE, we are to inform you that you will be also be receiving limited but moderated SMS Promotional Messages from the SJ Alert Committee from time to time.

This service can be deactivated at anytime by sending an SMS with the following text – "SJ Alert DEACTIVATE" to +6012-2093093 or by you sending an email to the undersigned at raymond@nwatch.net.my or robertec@nwatch.net.my

By your agreeing to subscribe to this FREE service, we are to REMIND you that you are STRONGLY advised against forwarding any of our messages to anyone at anytime. If you feel that your loved ones and friends should be in the loop, please encourage them to subscribe. This is to prevent the circulation of out-dated alerts which may create unnecessary anxiety to others. In this respect, we feel it pertinent to forewarn that you may ultimately be held responsible for any problems your action causes should you decide to ignore our advise.

If you agree to the above, please send a private email to raymond@nwatch.net.my or robertec@nwatch.net.my with the following details.

1. Name
2. Handphone No.
3. Email Address
4. Area : example USJ 18

If you have already registered earlier, please ignore this message.

Rumour mongers, beware!

Just a thought - Please have the political will to start where it has to start, whether or not the originator is a Tun or a Tan.

Via The Star, 2 Aug 2006 - PM: Those who spread untruths on the Net will be detained

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Prime Minister has issued a warning – those who spread untruths and slander on the Internet will face the law.

If information in blogs, websites and online portals were incorrect, bordered on slander, caused disturbance or compelled the public to lose faith in the nation’s economic policies, their authors would be detained for investigation, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Abdullah also said that those who sent out such information via short message system (SMS) would also be held accountable.

Via The NST, 2 Aug 2006 - Warning on using Net, SMS to spread rumours

KUALA TERENGGANU: Beware! Those spreading malicious comments and rumours can be detained and their websites or blogs investigated.

"We cannot allow the Internet or Short Messaging Service (SMS) to become a platform for people to spread rumours or threaten others," he told reporters after visiting the Islamic Civilisation theme park site here yesterday.

Aisehman has taken leave. Does he know something that we don't?

Chemical in Many Air Fresheners May Reduce Lung Function

Human population studies at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), a part of the National Institutes of Health, found that exposure to a volatile organic compound (VOC), called 1,4 dichlorobenzene (1,4 DCB) may cause modest reductions in lung function.

The chemical compound can be found in many air fresheners, toilet bowl cleaners, mothballs and other deodorizing products. It may be harmful to the lungs and the best way to protect yourself, especially children who may have asthma or other respiratory illnesses, is to reduce the use of products and materials that contain these compounds.

Now, go check the labels of those cans you have in your cars, kitchens, toilets and wardrobes.

NIH News: Chemical in Many Air Fresheners May Reduce Lung Function

24 hours working day

My streamyx phone line is down. Kaput and no dial tone since yesterday evening.

By 11pm I was having withdrawal symptoms. So I called Telekoms at 100 to report the faulty line. A SYT took my report and contact details.

"So how long can I expect the line to be repaired?", I asked before I hung up.

"Within 24 hours working day, Mr. Tan."

Huh? Blur .... I am now keeping my fingers crossed that I don't have to wait for 3 working days for wahtever fault to be rectified. I just do not think I can survive on dial up for 24 hours working day!