Free Gifts At Petrol Stations

I guess the blogpost title would have gotten your attention to click and read this blogpost.

Yes, there are free gifts indeed but it doesn't come that free after all. You should know by now that nothing comes free nowadays.

A local petroleum company has issued a circular to all of its petrol station operators / dealers in Malaysia warning all petrol station operators to be aware of such syndicates that are offering free gifts to motor vehicle owners while they are busy filling up their motor vehicles at the petrol pump areas.

The syndicates will have their ways / methods and the followings have been identified after some investigations:-

1. Free gifts such as key chains, small sized dolls, flipflops, etc. will be offered to motor vehicle owners.

2. It was found that such gifts are fitted with a tiny tracking / monitoring device that will emit a signal to the syndicates of your whereabouts just like what we have always seen in the movies. The syndicates will be able to track your house and office easily and monitor your movements before they act devilish i.e. to rob your house (if not what else).

3. Syndicates will move in to offer such free gifts by choosing their targets randomly.

The circular didn't mention the particular time of "attack by syndicates" but I suspect that in order to escape the eyes of the petrol station operators, they may move in during peak period when the petrol station is full of customers / motor vehicles. But who knows, maybe it's also a good time when the petrol station is empty especially from midnight to 6.00 am.

The petrol station operators of this particular petroleum company have been adviced to monitor such activities and to report such activities to the relevant authorities upon confirmed sighting.

Therefore, all Malaysians - please take heed of the warning! This is not a hoax and I wonder why (to my current knowledge) this was not highlighted to the general public by the mainstream media.

Whatever warnings are given, there are still some gullible fellas out there that will fall for these syndicates. Beware!
Tags: Local Petroleum Company, Petrol Station Dealers, Petrol Station Operators, Tracking Device, Monitoring Device, Free Gifts

Unnecessary Payment to Astro?

It was reported in the Star newspapers that a company related to Astro i.e. Measat Broadcast Network Systems Sdn Bhd and another company, Tele System Electronic (M) Sdn Bhd have been sued by AV Asia Sdn Bhd.

Reason for the legal suit brought up by AV Asia - that AV Asia's technology in reducing the existing problem of rain fade (a situation where the satellite transmission suffers interruptions during rain) was somehow used for the benefit of another company i.e. Tele System. Tele System has subsequently produced the satellite dishes purportedly catering for the Astro B.yond's HD channels.

In reading the news article, I saw the following para:-

"AV Asia also alleged that Measat withheld information from its Astro B.yond customers - who bought a new decoder and a new satellite dish for a monthly payment of RM20 to receive HD programmes - that they did not need to install the new dish to receive the programmes."

What did Measat hide from us (the customers)? That we do not require a new dish actually and therefore, the extra RM20 supposedly for the dish and decoder need not be paid?

This is what I want to know being a Astro B.yond customer!
Tags: Astro, Measat Broadcast Network Systems Sdn Bhd, Tele System Electronic (M) Sdn Bhd, AV Asia Sdn Bhd, Rain Fade, Satellite Transmission, Astro B.yond, HD Channels

Office To Monitor Toilet Usage

I have heard of offices monitoring internet usage or the websites that you frequent, the number of coffee or cigarette breaks that you are taking, time spent on reading newspapers in a corner or even the time taken for your lunch hour.

What if your office starts to monitor your toilet usage?

Monitoring is one aspect but if the office was to impose a maximum number of minutes that you are allowed to be in the toilet, what would your reaction be?

It seems that two companies in China are reported to be doing just that. They imposed a maximum 400 minutes of toilet usage per employee per month.

Say, you work 22 days a month and that would be 18 minutes are allowed for each day of work. Would that be sufficient? Pray that you don't get stomach upset during office hours otherwise you could run out of time allocated for that month.

I don't think it's sufficient for me as at times I may take up to 15 minutes for emergency stomach ache. That leaves me 5 minutes for the rest of the day haha.

And if you exceed the allocated 400 minutes per month, you'll be fined as follows:-
1) Between 400 and 449 minutes - formally warned & penalised 1 yuan per minute.
2) Between 450 and 499 minutes - formally warned & penalised 1 yuan per minute and fined 50 yuan.
3) Above 500 minutes - given one major demerit, fined 100 yuan and warned.

I guess most of the ladies may exceed the allocated 400 minutes. Am I correct to say that?

Now, how do they monitor it? They have installed video cameras along the walkway to the toilets and there will be a human behind those monitor screens recording each and everyone's timing for the whole month.

To ensure that the minutes are accounted for, each worker was given a 3G mobile phone to track their whereabouts too. Waaaah, this is too much. No doubt you get a free mobile but I guess your calls are monitored as well. Cheap mobiles in China I supposed.

Do you think it's a good measure to implement this method of ensuring top production by employees?

(Picture sourced from bbs.163.com)
Tags: Toilet Usage, 3G Mobile Phone

Do You Know Where Are You Going To?

Billy Graham is now 91 years old with Parkinson's disease.

In January 2000, leaders in Charlotte, North Carolina, invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a luncheon in his honor.

Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with Parkinson's disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, 'We don't expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you.' So he agreed..

After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, 'I'm reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century.

Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn't find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn't there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn't find it.

Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn't find it. The conductor said, 'Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I'm sure you bought a ticket. Don't worry about it.'

Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket.

The conductor rushed back and said, 'Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don't worry, I know who you are no problem. You don't need a ticket. I'm sure you bought one.'

Einstein looked at him and said, 'Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don't know is where I'm going.'

Having said that Billy Graham continued, 'See the suit I'm wearing? It's a brand new suit. My children, and my grandchildren are telling me I've gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious.

So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion.

You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I'll be buried. But when you hear I'm dead, I don't want you to immediately remember the suit I'm wearing.
I want you to remember this: I not only know who I am ... I also know where I'm going.'

"Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil - it has no point."
Tags: Billy Graham, Parkinson's Disease, Albert Einstein, Life Without God

The 99 Club

A very apt article depicting the rat race that all of us are involved in our day to day life. Please read and if you happen to be a member of this 'elite club, then quit this club today itself and give an opportunity for happiness and pPeace of mind to enter your life. It is really worth a try.

Once upon a time, there lived a King who, despite his luxurious lifestyle, was neither happy nor content.

One day, the King came upon a servant who was singing happily while he worked. This fascinated the King; why was he, the Supreme Ruler of the Land, unhappy and gloomy, while a lowly servant had so much joy. The King asked the servant, 'Why are you so happy?'

The man replied, 'Your Majesty, I am nothing but a servant, but my family and I don't need too much - just a roof over our heads and warm food to fill our tummies.'

The king was not satisfied with that reply. Later in the day, he sought the advice of his most trusted advisor.

After hearing the King's woes and the servant's' story, the advisor said, 'Your Majesty, I believe that the servant has not been made part of The 99 Club.'

'The 99 Club? And what exactly is that?' the King inquired.

The advisor replied, 'Your Majesty, to truly know what The 99 Club is, place 99 Gold coins in a bag and leave it at this servant's doorstep.'

When the servant saw the bag, he took it into his house. When he opened the bag, he let out a great shout of joy... So many gold coins!

He began to count them. After several counts, he was at last convinced that there were 99 coins. He wondered, 'What could've happened to that last gold coin? Surely, no one would leave 99 coins!' He looked everywhere he could, but that final coin was elusive. Finally, exhausted he decided that he was going to have to work harder than ever to earn that gold coin and complete his collection.

From that day, the servant's life was changed. He was overworked, horribly grumpy, and castigated his family for not helping him make that 100th gold coin. He stopped singing while he worked.

Witnessing this drastic transformation, the King was puzzled. When he sought his advisor's help, the advisor said, 'Your Majesty, the servant has now officially joined The 99 Club.'

He continued, 'The 99 Club is a name given to those people who have enough to be happy but are never contented, because they're always yearning and striving for that extra 1 saying to themselves: 'Let me get that one final thing and then I will be happy for life.'

We can be happy, even with very little in our lives, but the minute we're given something bigger and better, we want even more! We lose our sleep, our happiness, we hurt the people around us; all these as a price for our growing needs and desires.

That's The 99 Club.
Tags: The 99 Club, Never Contented

Keep Cleaning For How Long?

While walking through the Happy Garden pasar malam, nature's call came knocking. Slipped into a nearby coffee shop's loo for a quick relief.

Noticed the sign requesting me to keep cleaning the toilet hahaha. Spent some time cleaning the toilet thereafter.

Excuse me Sir (referring to owner of coffee shop), when I can stop cleaning? (after cleaning it for 30 minutes)

Tags: Nature's Call, Loo, Coffee Shop, Happy Garden, Pasar Malam

Broga Hill Climb I

Broga Hill, here I come to conquer. Went with my youth group (I think it was 24 of us). This hill is located somewhere in Semenyih. Don't ask me where but we drove on the Cheras - Kajang highway and reached this destination.

We reached the foothill by 5.15am and I thought we were early. There were a number of motor vehicles before our three vans. The place is total darkness if you off your torchlight. We started our ascend immediately to catch the sunrise. The bad thing was a drizzle happened earlier and the climb was made harder with all the slippery ground.

My friend said those were the panther's eyes ..... phew, I thought it was a tiger.















The early morning scene where many people are still dreaming at their best.










That's it, I'm almost up there until one of the youth told me that's only Level 1.

How many levels are there? Four!

Almost fainted. Moral of the story - ask for details before you join the climb next time.

As I was accompanying two other youth who were not fit way behind, I could see light by the time I arrived at Level 1.






The scenery at Level 1.












We continued our climb up to Level 2.











At Level 3, you are supposed to climb this rock up to Level 4. There was a rope for you to pull yourself up.

Hmmmmmmm pulling my whole body up? Hopefully I don't fall back.











This is Level 4, the peak of Broga Hill or Bukit Broga. There was so little space and people are everywhere. No space to walk.

At this point of time, one of the youth asked me this question - "Uncle, are you involved in sports?"

I answered "Yeah, why?"

Youth continued "No wonder and I can see that you are quite fit in reaching the peak. Those in the middle age and above may find it hard to climb at all"

So, was that a compliment?
Tags: Broga Hill, Bukit Broga, Semenyih