TOO HARSH PENALTY
From July next year, seatbelt offenders will be fined RM 2,000 and a year jail term served. Then the jail will be a tin of sardine in the end. Don't just talk about rear seatbelt ruling. The law enforcers did not even check or fined on driver and co-driver without buckle up. Until now, only in news reminded rear passengers to buckle up while no frequent reminder from the ministry of transport during normal tv slots, radio, local newspaper or even campaign in the rural areas.

DILEMMA FOR THE TEACHERS

PIC: www.cartoonstock.com/directory/s/seat_belt.asp

I don't think drivers should be blamed for kids or students not wearing seatbelt when told. Parents should take up the fine and not the driver especially teachers unless the parents give their trust, support and authority to manage their child. It's a state of shame to put the blame on the driver where the responsibilities lie on the parents to educate their child about the safety and also showing a good model role.

Source: www.malaysianbar.org.my

Drivers to bear fine for offenders below 17

KUALA LUMPUR: If rear-seat passengers under the age of 17 are not buckled up, the car driver will be fined for the offence.Offenders above age 17, on the other hand, will be individually fined when the new law requiring rear-seat passengers to belt up comes into effect on Jan 1.

The new rules, contained in the amendments to the Motor Vehicles (Safety Seat Belt) Rules 1977, under the Road Transport Act 1987, requires rear-seat passengers to fasten up or face a maximum fine of RM300.
Government sources told the New Straits Times that those above the age of 17 are of legal age to possess a car driving licence and should be aware of the law.
Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal signed the papers to enforce the ruling yesterday. Shafie, who is Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister, is standing in for Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat who is overseas.
It is also learnt that no action would be taken against the fourth rear passenger.
"Studies have shown that in most car accidents, only three or fewer number of rear passengers were involved.
"Also the government does not want to burden the poor who normally have only one car to travel and would pack their family into the back seat," said the source.
The amendments took into consideration most of the proposals submitted by the Road Safety Department as well as views from the police and Road Transport Department (RTD).
The transport minister is empowered to make any amendments to the rules at any time without referring to Parliament.
The maximum fine of RM300 is aimed at making it a deterrent to offenders.
Road Safety Department director-general Datuk Suret Singh yesterday confirmed the new rules, saying he would be announcing the details at a press conference on Tuesday.
"A study by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research shows that about 40 to 50 per cent of deaths, serious injuries and minor injuries involving rear passengers can be avoided through this initiative," he said.
Federal Traffic Police chief Datuk Abdul Aziz Yusof said they were ready to enforce the new law once it took effect.
He said while the police would issue the summonses in accordance with the rules, the public should not fret over the amount.

The traffic police's current "early-bird payment scheme" will also come into play.

"If you pay the fine within one month, there will be a 50 per cent discount. If it is within two months, there will be a 30 per cent discount.
"If it is still not paid in the third month, a notice will be issued to the offender to appear in the Traffic Court. Failure to do so will later result in a warrant of arrest being issued."
The compulsory wearing of rear seat safety belts, starting from Jan 1, is expected to reduce death and injuries of rear passengers by up to 50 per cent.
Transport Ministry secretary-general Datuk Zakaria Bahari gave the optimistic figure based on a study by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research.
He said 350 deaths involving rear passengers were reported last year.
"In the same year, 700 unbuckled rear passengers suffered serious injuries and 2,100 minor injuries.
"The study shows that up to 50 per cent of fatalities and injuries can be avoided by buckling up," he said yesterday.
In this respect, Zakaria said the RTD would make it compulsory for all new vehicles to be equipped with rear seat belts.
However, private vehicles registered before Jan 1, 1995 were exempted from the ruling.
He said owners of vehicles registered after Jan 1, 1995, which did not have rear seat belts, were given three years to install them.
Zakaria also advised car owners to make early appointments, especially since Proton, Perodua and Honda were conducting free installation of rear seat belts.

Smartboard

SUPPORT SMARTBOARDS FOR ALL SCHOOLS

PIC: www2.smarttech.com/st/en-us/products

SMARTBOARDS is a way to go for educations. To name a few products produce by Smartboards are SMART document camera and interactive whiteboards. Click here for more information on the products offered.

Source: star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2008/12/24/technology/20081224125332&sec=technology

Smartboard to make inroads

KUALA LUMPUR: PENCILS and books in some classrooms have been replaced with lightweight individual computers and thanks to a Canadian company, students and teachers can say goodbye to the dusty blackboards and chalks too.

Smartboard, developed by Smart Technologies is set to replace the old ­blackboard and chalk teaching method.

The Smartboard looks like an ordinary whiteboard but is equipped with a projector hook and allows direct interaction with a computer.

According to Christopher Chong, regional director and general manager of Smart Technologies Asia Pacific, the Smartboard is used in many education institutions around the world and is a hit with pre-schoolers and secondary students alike.

“Based on our latest statistics, the Smartboard is now used in 700,000 ­classrooms and about 18 million students enjoy its benefits,” he told In.Tech recently.

Teaching tool

The Smartboard can be a great teaching tools for teachers to present any subject from science to history, Chong said.

“With the right software and presentation skills teachers can make these subjects more fun and engaging,” he said.

Chong added that as digital technology becomes part of our modern lives, students nowadays also expect to see more digital interactivity during lessons.

“They are used to getting information instantly off the Internet, which also allows them to be interactive in learning and sharing of opinions, so they expect the same kind of interactivity in classrooms as well,” Chong explained.

He added that teachers can do more things on the Smartboard than they could with a conventional blackboard and chalk method.

Ep-Tec Solutions Sdn Bhd general manager Loh Kwai Nam said teachers teaching ­geography can easily use Internet tools to pull up a map. Ep-Tec is the local distributor for the Smartboard.

“Teachers will not be able to get the exact map using the chalk and board method,” he said.

Loh added that biology need not be a messy subject with the board, especially when it comes to dissecting frogs.

Using the board’s built-in software, teachers can demonstrate how to dissect a frog without having the whole class cramped up in front of the teacher’s desk.

Education market Chong claimed that Smart Technologies owns 53% of the global interactive whiteboard market share and expects an increased sale in the tool with the growing number of schools opting for e-learning.

“More and more schools are equipped with projectors and computers these days and we see that as a driver for the sale of the Smartboard,” he said.

Loh added that the step to transform local national schools to smart schools will also augur well for the Smartboard take-up.

“It is seen as the next step in teaching tools,” he said.

However, the Smartboard is only at the proof-of-concept level in the country with about 300 schools in the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia using the tool.

“We see an adoption of the tool but not at a massive scale yet,” he said adding that it would take about five years before the Smartboard can make its way into every Malaysian school.

Other targets

Although it had gained a strong foothold in the education sector, Smart Technologies plans to expand into other sectors as well. Its Smartboard has already made its way into news studio set-ups in the United States and even at meeting rooms in businesses locally. It also plans to make a versatile table top version of the Smartboard, which is due to be available in January.

“This table top version can be used for group activities for pre-schoolers and lower primary school students and even at ­military academies where it can be used to teach combat strategies and languages,” Chong said.

There have also been requests for the Smartboard from home users but Loh said Smart Technologies has not made any plans to enter the home user market yet.

“We see a market opportunity in parents who prefer their children to be home-schooled but we would like to focus on the larger education market first,” he said.

Semakan Dalam Talian ini disediakan untuk para pelajar lepasan UPSR bagi mengetahui status tawaran ke Sekolah Berasrama Penuh

Click here or the image above.

SHUFFLE DANCE LEAD TO SOCIAL ILLS AMONG YOUNGSTERS AND SCHOOL CHILDREN

PIC: www.onebrick.org/blog/uploaded_images/Cupid_Shuffle_photo_by_Mark-717480.jpg

Check out what is shuffle dance from YouTube . Shuffle dance is a popular dance among youngsters and school children nowadays. It's a worldwide phenomenon. But the shuffle dance spread to schools and being practiced by most of the students in the classes with or without the teacher's present. Students begin dancing in classes and not shy about their movement even though the teacher is in the class. They express themselves through dancing more than doing school work and pursuing education for better future. So I support the protest not only for Muslims but also to youngsters and school children.

Source: thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/20/nation/2858736&sec=nation
No Muslims for I-Dance contest
GEORGE TOWN: The I-Dance street dancing competition starting today can go on, but without Muslim participants.
State PAS Youth chief Mohamed Hafiz Mohamed Nordin said the movement remained firm in its stand that the competition should be cancelled.
“We do not raise objections blindly. We had surfed I-Dance related websites and found elements like shuffle dancing that can lead to social ills among youngsters,” he said.
Mohamed Hafiz said this after leading more than 500 PAS members and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) representatives in a peaceful protest in front of Masjid Jamek Kampung Rawa in Sungai Pinang here yesterday.
Saying ‘no’ to dance: PAS members and NGO representatives holding up placards during a peaceful protest over the I-Dance street dancing competition in front of Masjid Jamek Kampung Rawa in Sungai Pinang Friday.
The event, supported by the state youth and sports committee, will be held at the New World Park today and Queensbay Mall on Dec 27.
Mohamed Hafiz assured that there will be no protest while the competition is being held, adding that they would “wait and see” before deciding on the next course of action.
He said they had sent two letters, dated Dec 4, to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and state Youth and Sports Committee chairman Lydia Ong Kok Fooi but there had been no response.
Ong, when contacted, said the matter was a non-issue since she had already given her explanation to the state PAS top leaders in a recent meeting.
“We have agreed to the condition that Muslim male and female participants are not allowed to mingle with each other during the competition,” she said.

NOISY NEIGHBOUR

Any laws available to discourage neighbours who make loud noises in the middle of the night? What should you do if your neighbours’ disturb your sleep at night? In America, children are pushed to bed at 9 o'clock at night. In Malaysia only selected parenting encourages their child to go to bed early. If your neighbours’ make some loud noises at midnight you can call the police if they are making it outside the house. If not, well endure.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE TAUKE MEANT?

Pelanggan: Tauke ah... kasi taruh kuah rojak banyak banyak ah...

Tauke:Haiya.... ini macam taruh banyak banyak lu gila......

Malaysia's Proton sued by former Chinese partner

PIC: paultan.org/topics/proton-mpv-2009

Malaysia's Proton is being sued for 146 million dollars by China's Goldstar Heavy Industrial over the collapse of their joint venture plan to build vehicles in China, a report said Wednesday.
The Star daily said Goldstar had started legal action in Guangdong province, seeking about 1.0 billion yuan in compensation over the failed venture.
The two companies were to have produced vehicles in a plant in Dongguan province, but Proton reportedly said Goldstar failed to obtain a licence for the joint venture.
Goldstar's legal action contravenes "the agreed arbitration process", the Malaysian firm told the daily, adding that arbitration had been due to be held in Singapore in March.
The Star said Proton had instead signed an agreement to partner with another Chinese firm, Jinhua Youngman Automobile Manufacturing, with a goal of selling 30,000 units of its GEN-2 model in China.
Proton has been trying to develop export markets as it suffers a steep decline in market share in Malaysia, where it has been outgunned by imports in a newly deregulated environment.
The automaker was formed 25 years ago as part of an ambitious national industrialisation plan, but it has suffered from a reputation for poor quality and unimaginative models.

Source: news.my.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1841464

SAY NO TO INTERNET EXPLORER?

PIC: www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/default.mspx

Internet Explorer 7 widely used than others explorer or vice-versa? Does Internet explorer vulnerable to viruses? Do you think Internet explorer 7 are user friendly? Any comment? What web browser do you use? Which browser would you recommend everyone to use?

Source: mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/16089/84

Stop using Internet Explorer

In what is potentially the most widespread and serious threat in recent years to Internet security, users of all current versions of Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) browser are vulnerable to having their computers hijacked because of a major flaw in the software.
Until the flaw is fixed, security experts are advising IE users to switch to another browser.As many as 10,000 sites have been compromised since last week to exploit the flaw, according to anti-virus software-maker Trend Micro.While Microsoft has detected attacks only against version 7 of IE, which is the most widely used edition, the company warned that other versions were also vulnerable.The flaw lets criminals commandeer victims' computers by tricking them into visiting websites tainted with malicious programming code. These sites serve up programmes that steal passwords for computer games, which can be sold for money on the black market.However, the security flaw is such that it could be "adopted by more financially-motivated criminals for more serious mayhem — that's a big fear right now," said Trend Micro security researcher Paul Ferguson yesterday.These so-called "zero-day" vulnerabilities are security holes that haven't been repaired by the software-makers.They are a gold mine for criminals because users have few ways to fight off attacks.Microsoft said that it was investigating the flaw and would consider fixing it through an emergency software patch outside of its normal monthly updates. - AP

I DON'T AGREE WITH YOU!

If Mathematics and Science are to teach in mother tongue in primary schools, continue the effort also in secondary schools. Do not switch from mother tongue then later to English! The students are going to suffer later on. MCA you will regret later. If you see the analysis and results from the national schools, a lot of students unable to cope up with lessons since the weak students were the only thrown from primary schools being taught in mother tongue and continue their secondary education in English. Do not destroy their future MCA!

Source: thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/12/14/nation/2805914&sec=nation

MCA wants Science, Maths to be taught in mother tongue in primary schools

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA is agreeable to English being used to teach Science and Mathematics — but only at secondary level. It wants the two subjects taught in the pupils’ mother tongues at primary level.
MCA vice-president Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said the party would, however, wait for the coming round-table discussion on the issue with the Education Ministry before commenting further.
“I hope all parties can come to an amicable solution and clear all doubts over the whole episode,” he told a press conference after witnessing Sony EMCS (M) Sdn Bhd handing over 38 LCD television sets to 19 government hospitals at Serdang Hospital near here yesterday.
He was asked to comment on MCA’s stand on the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English.
Liow declined to comment on the threat by Chinese educationist groups to protest against the use of English as a medium of instruction for the two subjects.
Recently, it was reported that Chinese educationist group Dong Jiao Zong was going to protest over the issue.
Of the 38 televisions donated by Sony, 17 were sent to 10 hospitals in Selangor, 11 to six hospitals in Penang, seven to two hospitals in the Federal Territory and three to a hospital in Kedah.
He commended Sony for sponsoring the television sets.

TAIPING PANORAMIC VIEW @ PANORAMA HOTEL

PIC: www.panoramataiping.com

The receipt above shows that I went to Panorama Hotel yesterday. The last time I went there was a few years ago when I am still studying. Good food especially the desert. Remember to try the ice-cream offered. If possible order only one for two persons to enjoy. You will definitly feeling full after the main course. Get hold of panorama view in Taiping Town. Panorama Hotel is situated at the town. Situated next to Panorama Hotel is TheStore. Enjoy shopping and staying. To get info about taiping there is an information centre just across the street (Taiping clock tower). If you hope to be a hotspot area, drive to Kamunting (about 2 km) where currently Taiping Sentral is a place where a lot of people hang out with friends and families. Taiping Lake Garden is not far away from Panorama Hotel. Before Tesco and Giant were built, TheStore along Cinema Road (Jalan Panggung Wayang) is where everyone shops. Don't be confused. There are 4 TheStore in Taiping. The oldest is next to Panorama Hotel (formerly known as Berkat and Fajar) before TheStore took over. Two are situated at Cinema Road while the newest is in Kamunting.

GREAT PROMOTIONS

PIC: www.eog.com.my/home.swf

The commercial from England Optical Group shows 90% discount on selected items. It is very worthy if buyers only fork out 10% of the original price. From my own assumption, buyers only have to pay RM 100 out of RM 1000 item. That is really great bargain!

MALAYSIA MEGA SALE CARNIVAL

PIC: www.malaysiamegasale.com.my/Malaysia%20Savings%20Sale%202008/Home.html

I wonder when is the Malaysia Year-End Sale? I expect an advertisement from the Tourism Board. For your information, Malaysia Savings Sale 2008 (previously known as Malaysia Year-End Sale) starts from 29 November 2008 to 4 January 2009. Malaysia Savings Sale? You can't save if you want to shop! The interest rates made low to encourage Malaysians to shop without knowing when Malaysia Savings Sale 2008. On the other hand, the low interest rates will not push me to spend, instead more work and less spending.

SKILLS OF WORD GAME

DORMITORY:When you rearrange the letters:DIRTY ROOM

PRESBYTERIAN:When you rearrange the letters:BEST IN PRAYER

ASTRONOMER:When you rearrange the letters:MOON STARER

DESPERATION: When you rearrange the letters:A ROPE ENDS IT

THE EYES:When you rearrange the letters:THEY SEE

GEORGE BUSH:When you rearrange the letters:HE BUGS GORE

THE MORSE CODE :When you rearrange the letters:HERE COME DOTS

SLOT MACHINES:When you rearrange the letters:CASH LOST IN ME

ELECTION RESULTS:When you rearrange the letters:LIES - LET'S RECOUNT

A DECIMAL POINT:When you rearrange the letters:IM A DOT IN PLACE

THE EARTHQUAKES:When you rearrange the letters:THAT QUEER SHAKE

ELEVEN PLUS TWO:When you rearrange the letters:TWELVE PLUS ONE

AND FOR THE GRAND FINALE:

MOTHER-IN-LAW:When you rearrange the letters:WOMAN HITLER

Source: Cikgu Zulkarnain
SMK Sacred Heart Sibu

EXTREME PRINCIPAL

A secondary school in Teluk Intan lay a principal who is tough. He starts the staff meeting on 1st December (usually other school will starts at the end of December) where some of the teachers were back at their hometown while others were invigilating and the rest meeting for marking SPM and STPM papers. All the ‘so called’ excuses of invigilating and marking papers are not accepted. If the principal receive any letter with 'mohon jasa baik ketua jabatan' from the Lembaga Peperiksaan Malaysia that means everything must get a final nod from the principal. In the end, all are no-no except going for staff meeting on 1st December. Those who did not turn up have to show their 'show cause letter'. This is not the way a leader should show. Only a great leader can create good teacher and student.

LOW WAGES

PIC: Guard House

Do you know how much a 'pengawal keselamatan' earns a month minus the uniform bought? How long do they work in a day? How many days off they will get? Most of them are retired soldiers. It is inadequate to feed themselves and their family if without the support of their pension. Who will take the blame if any break in happens? They sacrifice their time (at night without sleeping) and money (fuel to stroll the school which has a big compound and telephone bill to contact certain teacher or school administrator). Will you become a security guard in a school? I salute the work they are doing and I hope they will get better wages than now and their welfare well taken care of.

PROMOTING ROAD SAFETY THROUGH-OUT THE YEAR

Media should continue to play their role in promoting and educating motorist to practice safety via on the road not only during festive season where many road users will be on the road 'Balik Kampung' or buying festive goodies. Click here to view seatbelt rule.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

PIC: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cow_dung

I don't mean to spoil your appetite. All I wanted to highlight here is any animal dung especially animal farmers produced quite a number should obtained to make renewable energy. I am looking forward the help from government to subsidise converter to animal farmers so that they could convert the produced gas from animal dung to generate the electricity.

Source: www.iscowp.org/Nuggets/101%20Uses%20for%20Cow%20Dung.htm

and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofuel.

2008 SPM candidates answer mostly in BM in some states

I heard news of some states, mostly all of the students answered Additional Mathematics and Mathematics in Malay language this year. Does this means the teachers were teaching from day 1 to SPM in Malay and not English languages while enjoying the benefit of BISP. To the weaker students were unavoidable to teach in Malay language for certain subjects and classes but not all students in a state, I perhaps.

LANDSLIDE PRONE AREA

PIC: www.mytaiping.info

Watch out for another landslide prone area in Taiping. Columbia Hospital is built near to Tesco, Taiping. It is built to saves lives and I do not hope landslide tragedy happen where it needed to be saved too.

TVB LINDA CHUNG IS COMING TO TAIPING

PIC: www.tvbsquare.com

I heard she will be in Taiping Sentral to promote Bio-Essence on 6 December 2008 (Saturday).

CRIME RATES INCREASING IN MALAYSIA

Do you know why the crime rates in statistics are lower compare to other developing country? No one bother to report unless big $$ is involved. Malaysian's are tired to report due to inefficient in preventing crime in the future and reporting a crime can do no better. Waste of precious time and money. To the authority, do something to it, will ya?

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOUR CAR TIRE IS MISSING?

1. Report to the nearest Police Station.

-Pay RM 2.00 for the copy of it.

-Don't expect the police officer to say: We will beef up our 'Rondaan' because only a police car is provided for a big area in Aulong. (A police car is used up to catch Mat Rempits).

-You are the only one who will make a police report on this as others remain silence and just fork out pocket $$ to replace the tire.

-Police officer on duty will ask you any information about your parents, relatives, siblings and friends to investigate on this matter.

2. Put on your spare tire before going to a tire shop to replace the stolen tire.

-First you need to buy 4 nuts to replace the stolen nuts before replacing the spare tire.

3. Buy anti-theft prevention device such as locks on every tire.

Before any tire theft happens, just buy locks for every car tire(available in tire shop houses) to prevent any tire theft anytime and anywhere. Do you have any idea on how to prevent tire theft and what other alternative ways to report stolen tire?

HAVE YOU TRIED?

PIC: www.ajhackett.com

It's extreme and fun. Get a shot with G-Force X.

All About Photo Stuff

All about digital camera and photography, click here , here , here , here and here. Do you have any website link to photography and digital camera?

YOU ARE WANTED !

Don't jump to the wrong conclusion. You are hired to contribute on this website. Please email me, here.

DEDICATED TO ALL TEACHERS

PIC: www.eduwebtv.com/index7.php

Please surf here to gain more information from the Ministry of Education. It will be very slow unless surf at midnight onward to beat the traffic.

Source: thestar.com.my

IGP tells politicians not to interfere

GEORGE TOWN: Politicians should not interfere when police personnel are carrying out their duties, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan.
“One politician recently sent 100 traffic summonses and told me to cancel them. He claimed the offenders were his constituents and did not have money to settle the summonses.
“There are also politicians who tell my OCPDs not to summon those riding their motorcycles in the kampung areas without helmets. How can we do that?” he asked.
Musa, who was speaking at a national forum on crime and policing, said the police would not be able to carry out their duties effectively if these politicians continued to interfere.
Earlier, he admitted that the country’s crime rate was on the rise but was not as bad as reported in the media and blogs.
“Last year’s crime rate per 100,000 population was only 772 cases compared to Hong Kong (1,166), Japan (1,569) and Australia (4,270). The rising crime rate is actually a global problem but it is still at a manageable level.
“I have already taken steps to counter the rise in crime rate like improving the response time to a crime scene, building police stations in new housing estates and installing CCTV cameras in crime-prone areas.”
On the small number of Chinese joining the police force, Musa said most wanted to be officers and not constables.
“There is still a shortage of policemen despite over 7,000 recruits a few months ago.
The force now has over 97,000 personnel and needs at least 40,000 more.
“I have asked for another 60,000 to be recruited over the next five years but this still will not be enough as there are hundreds of retirements annually,” he added.
Musa said he also wanted the national crime solving rate to be at least 40%.
“From today, the public can lodge reports at the various marine police bases nationwide. I have also directed the marine police personnel to be involved in crime prevention on land instead of just the high seas.
“The General Operations Force, whose duties used to be only in the jungles, now have a wider scope of work. They are responsible for the security in airports and certain islands in the country,” he said.
On the police force being biased against the participants of illegal gatherings in Kuala Lumpur, he said the police only acted because it was getting a bit out of hand.
“We are never biased. We are only following the law as the organisers did not apply for a permit. The permit will only be given if the gatherings do not cause public chaos.”
Also at the opening were Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (Penang) chairman Datuk Seri Kamal Hashim and state police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Wira Ayub Yaakob.

PLEASE LISTEN TO THIS LOVELY VOICE!

The address: 220A, Lorong 6, Taman Kami A, 34000 Taiping, Perak.

This is real annoying neighbour. Why? Let me explain:
1. Early in the morning before 8 o'clock, I am awake by car beeping.
2. The shoulder of the road outside their house planted with trees to prevent my car from parking.
3. The voice like an evil singing the same song repeatedly through out the day. The volume was so loud till my ear almost becoming deaf and don’t expect to take an afternoon nap after an early morning disturbance.
What would you do with this kind of neighbour? Will you report to the authority?

ALERT TO WEB USERS

PIC: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virus

The picture above is not the computer virus. Guardian.co.uk mentions that computer viruses are going to attack all computers around the world next Monday. To avoid being one of the victims, I will not surf the net on 24 November 2008 (Monday). What other precaution should I take to avoid my computer from being attack by viruses?

Source: berita harian

LONDON: Pengguna internet di seluruh dunia diingatkan berwaspada berikutan ancaman serangan ‘kemuncak’ virus secara besar-besaran pada Isnin depan yang turut disifatkan hari paling buruk bagi serangan virus seumpamanya.Akhbar The Guardian melaporkan semalam, amaran oleh pakar keselamatan komputer itu dibuat berdasarkan analisis maklumat mengenai virus dan cecacing internet merangkumi lebih 500,000 komputer di seluruh dunia.Selain amaran peningkatan ancaman dan serangan virus pada November dan Disember, pakar keselamatan komputer juga mengingatkan ancaman lain.Ini disebabkan pengiklan dan penyangak sudah cuba menggunakan populariti bakal Presiden Amerika, Barack Obama sebagai muslihat memperdaya pengguna memuat turun virus.Berikutan itu, pakar keselamatan daripada syarikat PC Tools menyifatkan tarikh 24 November sebagai berkemungkinan menjadi hari kemuncak serangan dan kemuncak kegiatan virus bagi 2008.Data 2007 menunjukkan kemuncak serangan virus, cecacing dan ancaman lain berlaku tiga hari sebelum cuti umum ‘Thanksgiving’ Amerika Syarikat, yang meramalkan keadaan sama mungkin berulang tahun ini.Syarikat itu mendakwa peningkatan kegiatan virus itu juga berkemungkinan disebabkan meledaknya kegiatan beli-belah menerusi internet menjelang Krismas. – Agensi

source: guardian.co.uk

Computer virus attacks 'to peak next Monday'

Internet users are being warned to stay vigilant by researchers who believe that next Monday could be the worst day the year for computer attacks.
After analysing information on viruses and internet worms taken from more than 500,000 machines around the world, security experts at PC Tools have pinpointed November 24 as the potential peak of malicious software activity for 2008.
Data from 2007 showed that the high point of action from viruses, worms and other internet-based attacks came three days before America's Thanksgiving holiday, leading them to suggest that the same day could prove the bleakest 24 hours of this year.
The company says the increase in virus activity could be the result of internet shopping in the run-up to Christmas, as millions of users begin going online to purchase gifts for their friends and family.
With the chance for criminals to access financial details, online shoppers make an attractive target for the writers of malware.
The number of people shopping online this Christmas is expected to grow again this year, with internet sales in the UK alone predicted to hit £13.16bn – an increase of 15% over 2007.
More people are expected to use the web for their shopping as a way of finding lower prices to help them beat the credit crunch.
But while security experts are expecting the traditional increase of malware over November and December, they have also warned of another source of potential attacks. Spammers and criminals have attempted to use the popularity of American president-elect Barack Obama as a way to trick users into downloading malware.
A flood of emails purporting to link to a video of Obama's acceptance speech were actually connected to a trojan horse program which would compromise the target's PC. Meanwhile, a separate burst of spam messages contained a file called BarackObama.exe, which, when activated, places a rootkit on the victim's machine and opens it up to hackers around the world.

CHEAPER TOLL

PIC: http://www.plus.com.my/

Next year, highway road users will enjoy the benefit of lower toll rates. The website is simply amazing coz anybody able to calculate their toll fares before starting their journey. It means plan ahead and prepare the adequate amount of fares to avoid searching for ringgits and sens when driving. Additional to the PLUS website, the map of the entire journey from north to south are provided. Overall for the sake of the love ones, safety tips are available for reminding motorist before using the highway.

COWSTIK?

PIC: www.pempropjambi.go.id/content.php?page=potensi-detail.php&view=potensi-peternakan
PIC: www.pahang-delights.com/ikan-patin-masak-tempoyak.html

PIC: www.flickr.com/photos

PIC: akubye.fotopages.com/?entry=1661241

PIC: blog.irwan.name/?p=259

A few years ago, a friend of mine went for makan-makan at a Malay stall. He came across the word cow chop display at the stall. I do not know where the stall is situated but it is in Temerloh. If you come across it send the picture via email to me. Don't miss out the Patin fish (silver catfish) where is popular in Temerloh. Some cooked using tempoyak method while others prefer steam patin fish.

THE LIFE OF OLIVER TWIST IN MALAYSIA

PIC: www.clipartof.com/details/clipart/5815.html

Times are tough and difficult. Some will be stealing iron bars (including ladders) from house to house. So remember to lock your house gates all the time even for a while. The latest tactic will be begging from every house in a motorcycle. The same face will be seen more than once. To beg one must have a thick skin and 'Please spare me a few bucks' printed on their forehead (not shown) before they open their mouth. Excuses such as 'My dad just passed away and I need some bucks to place him in a coffin' and 'I don't have money to eat' will be heard. Well, find a job. You are in good condition physically and don't expect me to spare any $$ on you!

TOPGEAR IN HIGH GEAR

PIC: www.topgear.com/uk

Good news topgear is aired at 3pm every Sunday on NTV7. Previously I have been hoping NTV7 not to rerun the Topgear episode. If lucky, Topgear will be aired at 3pm or else Topgear will be sitting on a bench.

TEACH THE OWNER FIRST

PIC: thestar.com.my

Pets are lovely and adorable. Pets looked awkward when the owner took them for a stroll and end up doing its business outside their neighbours’ garden or lawn.

ALL ABOUT TESCO

PIC: www.tesco.com.my/index.cfm

II like the concept introduced by Tesco management. The concept includes short queue by introducing Q Buster and a point for each recycle bag. Bravo Tesco.

Source: Tesco
One (1) Green Clubcard Point bears the same value as one (1) Clubcard Point.
Each bag re-used is entitled to 1 Green Clubcard Point. Redemption value of points is the same as the Clubcard Points which is currently 1 point equals to RM 1 sen.
Green Clubcard Points collected will not be shown on the receipt on the day of purchase. Only numbers of bag re-used will be shown e.g 3 bags re-used = 3 Green Clubcard.
Green Clubcard points collected previously will only be updated 1 week later in the receipt as shown in the total accumulated Clubcard Points.
The actual total Green Clubcard Points collected will only be shown in your quarterly Clubcard statement.
Clubcard Members can bring any kind of shopping bags/ carrier bags, including our Bag for Life and even competitors bags to re-use.
To collect Green Clubcard Points for a transaction in store, your Clubcard must be presented at the checkout.

THE PURPOSE OF NUMBERS STATED BOTTOM OF PLASTIC CONTAINERS

PIC: www.terrapass.com/blog/posts/how-to-decipher-the-recycling-numbers-on-plastic-stuff

To read the Resin Identification Codes (Plastic Recycling Codes) here.

NEW PROTON MPV

SOURCE: ENGKABANG.NET

Is this the new Proton MPV? Looks fine to me.

WILL SEAT BELT, ILLEGAL HID HEADLAMPS AND HEAVILY TINTED GLASS RULLING SUCCESSFUL?

PIC: www.jkjr.gov.my

More and more Malaysians driving without safety belt including the driver. Policemen are also included. Their head lamps are also fitted with illegal HID which irritates the eyes of the drivers and passengers from the opposite directions. It exposes danger towards other road users where certain area cannot be seen when heavily tinted windows are not transparent. Can the Ministry of Transportation be able to eradicate the situations? What do you think? Time will tell.

NOT THE RIGHT DECISION

PIC: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employees_Provident_Fund

If the employee's EPF contributions to be reduced from 11% to 8%, the amount after retirement will be lesser. In the long run, it will not help to ease the burden because after the employee's retirement, these folks need to allocate the money for children further education and regular medical aid. Let’s say each employee’s wages roughly about RM1000 monthly, the contributions made by the employees annually will be around:

RM1320 for 11% (then)
RM960 for 8% (now)
Difference between 11% and 8% = RM360 per year

This means employees contribute RM360 lesser per year

If the total working years are 36 years and without increment = RM360 x 36 years
= RM12 960

This means the sum of RM12 960 will not be added on their EPF after retirement. This amount means a lot for low wages earners. Please look at the bigger picture and not the short term solutions. Hope other ways will be used to support and help them.

In another case, I heard the government workers or servants are to be given second chance to either select EPF or retirement scheme for those who regretted in selecting EPF's scheme where does not provide half of the month's pay and health assist after retirement. It's unfair for those have select retirement scheme the very first place. Most would select EPF's scheme due to get larger amount after retirement (also as savings purposes) where later felt it was a wrong decision. What really went wrong is when their spouse seeks for divorce where each selected different scheme. To overcome this problem from existing again, time and time should there be seminar and forum to be discussed or provided for government workers or servants before the forms of selections of the schemes are given to them.

The website to EPF sucks. What do I mean by that? Try to surf www.kwsp.gov.my/index.php?tpl_id=994&act=signin and all you will get is this message Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage

Refer to: thestar.com.my

Workers and employers rail against EPF directive

PETALING JAYA: EPF’s move requiring contributors who wish to maintain their existing contribution at 11% to fill up a form has drawn protests from employee and employer associations.
Cuepacs and Fomca regard EPF’s arrangement as tantamount to forcing workers to comply, while the MTUC and Malaysian Employers’ Federation (MEF) feel it implies that the move was mandatory instead of voluntary.
“This seems like force. Those who are interested to reduce their contribution should fill up the form; not the other way round,” said Cuepacs president Omar Osman.
Omar said he believed the majority of contributors from the private sector were not in favour of the move and called on the EPF to come up with the best arrangement that benefited workers for their long-term investments.
According to an EPF statement on Thurs­day, contributors who wished to maintain their 11% contribution rate were required to fill up Form KWSP 17A (AHL) and hand it to their employers for submission to the EPF.
EPF will automatically adjust employees’ contribution to 8% from January if they failed to fill the form.
On Nov 4, Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced a voluntary reduction of employees’ contribution from 11% to 8% as part of the Government’s stimulus package for the economy.
Fomca secretary-general Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah said: “Automatic reduction cannot be regarded as voluntary. The principles of justice should be applied as promised because the change is voluntary.
“Those who want to maintain it at 11% should not be required to apply.”
MTUC deputy president Mohd Khalid Atan said EPF’s directive was not practical.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Refer to: thestar.com.my

Teacher by day, bar dancer by night

It occurred last Sunday, when a train commuter refused to give up his seat to a pregnant woman even when he was asked. Instead, he blamed it on the tough life, reported The Straits Times’ news portal.
The episode was photographed by an eyewitness, who quoted him as saying, ‘Life is already full of suffering, why should I reward her (the pregnant woman) for bringing one more life into this world?’

Then the seat should be rewarded to the senior citizens especially old folks. I bet you know why. It's so funny.

GREAT ESCAPE

PIC: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook

Everyone's been eager to sign up Facebook even in hand phones except me. Why didn't I sign up? To me it is just another Friendster type. From the article below where I read from the net, pops up in Facebook linking to worm. How bad is that? Read the definition for worms below:

Definition for Worms:
A computer worm is a self-contained (can run by itself) program (or set of programs) that is able to spread functional copies of itself or its segments to other computer systems (usually via network connections). Worms are different from virus because they do not need to attach themselves to a host program in order to work. Examples of famous worms are the Internet worm, Christmas Tree worm and nowadays, Brontok.

Is it a threat to you? It is to me. And also beware when surfing billboard.com. There is also a threat.

Source: www.lowyat.net/v2/latest/dodgy-facebook-messages-link-to-worms.html

Dodgy Facebook Messages Link To Worms

If a dodgy message from a friend pops up in Facebook, chances are that it's a link to a nasty worm. Discovered by the FortiGuard Global Security Research Team, the worm itself doesn't reside in Facebook or any of it's applications. Using the old "click here" hoax, users who click through the links in the said dodgy message will be directed to a Google Reader page. Once there, Google Reader will ask you to download a "codec" in order to view the contents of the page - but surprise, surprise - the "codec" that you're downloading is in actual fact, a worm!

MALAYSIA, 30 October 2008 – Fortinet - the pioneer and leading provider of unified threat management (UTM) solutions - today announced that its FortiGuard Global Security Research Team discovered a Facebook worm that is trying to leverage Google Reader to gain trust in visitors with an intention to download a malicious codec onto their machines.

Since end of July 2008, worms targeting Facebook users have been spotted here and there. The strategy has been simple, yet effective: A malicious message is sent to friends of the infected user, prompting them to visit a page carrying an online video - something utterly common in today's Web 2.0 era. However, should the targeted users follow the link, they would soon find out the video does not start.... unless they install a special codec, as prompted for by the page! As a matter of course, the said codec is nothing else than a Trojan, loading various malware pieces, possibly including a copy of the worm.

Fortinet customers who subscribe to Fortinet’s antivirus and Web content filtering services should be protected against this threat. Fortinet’s IPS service is one component of FortiGuard Subscription Services, which also offer comprehensive solutions such as antivirus, Web content filtering and antispam capabilities. These services enable protection against threats on both application and network layers. FortiGuard Services are continuously updated by the FortiGuard Global Security Research Team, which enables Fortinet to deliver a combination of multi-layered security intelligence and true zero-day protection from new and emerging threats. These updates are delivered to all FortiGate, FortiMail and FortiClient products. Fortinet strictly follows responsible disclosure guidelines to ensure optimum protection during a threat's lifecycle.

GET YOUR OWN GRAZING SITE

PIC: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle

Imagine every herders in the nation been asking for a grazing site, how many hectors of lands needed to accommodate all of the stray live stocks? If grazing sites are provided, will some of the profit shared? Will herders pick all the dunks left on the road? If not, the herders should clean up all the vehicles which accidently run over the pile of dunks. Let's say a ripped fruit dropped on your neighbour’s grass, is the fruit belongs to you? The answer is no. So, if your cattle went over to other people land it should be confiscated. If to be claimed back for the trouble and the plants destroyed, the owner of the cattle should give a decent sum. Why all the trouble? Better get your own grazing site and do not trouble motorist on the road.

Refer to TheStar.com.my

Grazing site for strays needed

WHERE to find a grazing ground for stray livestock comprising over 700 buffaloes, cattle and goats in Taiping?
This is the poser which an elected representative and the Taiping Municipal Council are grappling with in light of the danger posed by such strays especially to innocent motorcyclists and motorists who were known to have been seriously injured after knocking into such strays.
Aulong assemblyman Yew Tian Hoe said he had discussed the matter with council secretary Shahrom Datuk Abd Malek and the council enforcement officers.
“We need a grazing ground for the animals and I will see the district veterinary officer with the hope of locating a suitable site,” said Yew while accompanying Shahrom and council officers on their weekly site inspections around Taiping on Wednesday.
Although the council could round up such strays, it is learnt that it had decided not to go down hard on the owners of such strays.
Recently a group of cow herders in Kamunting lodged a report with the Anti-Corruption Agency alleging that they were fined by staff members from the Kamunting detention centre in return for the release of their animals which strayed into its compound.
The herders’ spokesman Ranjeet Singh said prison warders had no right to fine the herders or confine the animals as the council was the right enforcement authority to reprimand them.

ACTION PREVENTING TEENAGERS FROM SMOKING

PIC: tobacco.health.usyd.edu.au/site/supersite/resources/docs/gallery_packwarnings.htm

Mostly, cigarettes smokers come from teenagers. First action must be taken is to stop teenagers from buying cigarettes easily. Some shops are still selling in a smaller pack so to be easily available for teenagers where they cannot afford to buy big packs.

Refer to TheStar.com.my

Pictorial health warnings on cigarette packs by Jan 1

PUTRAJAYA: Cigarette packs must carry pictorial health warnings by Jan 1 in the Government’s latest blitz against smokers.
Besides these warnings, the Health Ministry has also embarked on a series of moves targeting smokers including setting a minimum RM6 for a 20-cigarette pack by year-end, extending the list of non-smoking premises, and banning manufacturers from using words such as “low tar”, “light”, “ultra-light” and “mild” in their brand packaging with immediate effect.
Its minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said 21 cigarette manufacturers and importers in the country had agreed to this latest ruling.
“By Jan 1, each cigarette brand must have at least two of its products carry these warnings. However, there may still be old stock in the country with the old packaging.
“By next June, all cigarette packs must carry the warnings. Besides these warnings, the packs must print on the side an advisory against selling cigarettes to those aged 18 years and below, and the warning that cigarette smoke contains 4,000 types of chemicals,” he told reporters Wednesday at his office here.
There are six sets of pictorial warnings, advising people against smoking by featuring graphic images of mouth cancer, throat cancer and deformed foetuses. There is also an infoline number for smokers who wish to give up smoking.
The pictures on the front of the cigarette packs must cover 40% of the surface, while the ones shown on the back must be 60% in size.
In a survey by the ministry, 21.5% of the adult population or three million adults smoke and among teenagers, some 15% have indicated they have tried smoking and another 8% confessed to being regular smokers.
Liow said with this latest ruling, Malaysia joins another 15 countries which have complied with the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
“In Canada, these warnings have caused half of the smokers to want to quit and in Thailand, 80% of the smokers think these pictures are effective.
“Over the past 10 years, we have managed to reduce the number of smokers in Malaysia by 2% through our various campaigns. We are definitely not happy with that,” he said.
Liow said national service camps would be made non-smoking premises immediately while smokers would no longer be allowed to indulge their habit along the corridors surrounding shopping malls and complexes.
On setting the minimum price for a 20-cigarette pack, the minister said the price would be adjusted each time the Government announced additional taxes and charges in the Budget. “The Attorney-General’s office is now in the process of gazetting the minimum price,” he said, adding that anyone who failed to comply with the latest rulings could be fined up to RM10,000 or jailed two years or both.
Liow also said for this year alone, the ministry had compounded 2,622 smokers with fines totalling RM564,000 and charged another 1,946 smokers in court for various offences.

SAME OPINION

PIC: www.kennysia.com

Advertorial: 5% Tax, 10% Service Charge, 100% Stupidity

http://www.kennysia.com/archives/2008/10/advertorial_5_t.php#comments

Refer to my previous post, malaysiarealitybites.blogspot.com/2008/08/service-and-government-tax-imposed-on.html