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any chemical solution or detergent that i can use to get rid of foul smell coming out from my sink drainage? tried pouring bleach and hot water...to no avail...the smell is still there....sianz thanks

With car prices the way they are in Singapore, purchasing a car here is a big decision that involves a significant amount of money for most people. This applies to sellers as well, and unfortunately, there will be some black sheep out there that would want to maximise their profit using unscrupulous methods. So, in order to prevent yourself from unnecessarily parting away with more than you have planned for, here are some things to look out for when buying a second hand car in Singapore, to avoid getting tricked. Tampering with the odometer An illegal practice in most countries, it is surprising that there are no specific laws guarding against this act of deceit in Singapore. As such, some sellers take advantage of the situation to modify their car's odometer, to make it look younger and less used than it is. While it might seem like a superficial practice to some, the truth is, winding back the clock (as the trick is known) is plain and simply cheating. For the fact that cars have regular servicing intervals, having an odometer that doesn't tally with the actual usage might actually be harmful or even dangerous, as owners end up not giving the car the appropriate care as befits the car's age. While it can be hard for the layman to spot odometer tampering at first glance, there are signs that one can look out for to indicate if such practices are being used. On average, cars in Singapore travel about 20,000km annually. Taking that into account, one can get a rough estimate as to the proper mileage of a car being sold, using the car's age as a multiplier. The condition of the car can also provide a clue. If a car with low mileage looks tatty and worn, then there is cause to raise red flags to question the validity of the claimed mileage. The safest bet is of course to look for a car with all the proper records and documentation such as the mileage and servicing intervals, so that everything about the car, from whether it has been properly maintained, is noted down in black and white. Extra hidden charges Like all major transactions, it is important to know what exactly one is paying for. Therefore, before you sign on the dotted line, make sure that the seller outlines every single charge that goes into the final transacted price. Dealers often add an "Admin Fee" into the transaction, which is often claimed to be for the handling of paperwork such as applying for loans and insurance. While it is a common practice, it is strictly unnecessary, as dealers already make a significant profit from the cars they sell, as well as receiving commissions from bank loans as well as insurance. However, if you feel that the dealer has genuinely assisted you in making the transaction painless and smooth-sailing, with no underhanded tricks, then the admin fee might serve as a sort of goodwill payment as thanks for their services. Gimmicks Only buy a car once you are completely comfortable with the whole experience. Sellers might pressure you into making a quick decision, but always stand firm, and resist from giving in to gimmicks that will compromise your purchase. Some tricks that dealers might foist upon buyers include advertising a car at low prices but only to claim that the advertisement was a mistake when the customer approaches the dealer. There are also dealers who advertise their cars for a low price, but then claim that said car has already been sold when customers approach them. These dealers will then offer a similar car but with a higher sticker price than the advertised vehicle. Always be wary of such tricks being pulled by dishonest dealers. Blank form A recent trend that has been exposed was the signing of blank forms. When applying for a loan through dealers, they might request that you to sign on a blank portion of the hire purchase form. Although this is meant to reduce the trouble for you to have to make several trips to sign papers, it is a potentially risky move. Leaving your signature on a blank piece of paper leaves the dealer to fill in whatever he wants. You might return to find that the loan amount that you had agreed with the dealer has increased due to some "administrative fees". To properly safeguard yourself, never sign any blank forms. It might mean a bit of inconvenience for you to make a couple more trips, but it's better than ending up paying a lot of extra and unneeded expenses. Black and White Finally, the most important and common advice of all. Always have everything declared and written down, in "black and white" as they say. Anything written down is contractually bound under the law, and is final. Be sure to read the fine print of any contract before putting the pen to paper, and clarify any clauses you are unsure about, or any doubts that you might have about the transaction. Make sure you agree to everything before signing off, to avoid incurring future headaches down the road. Cheer!!

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/04/c...-to-the-police/

A resident of Hougang living at Hougang Ave 7, has filed an affidavit with the High Court today (2 Mar), mandating Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to call for a by-election for Hougang SMC. The former Workers

Critical Illness as we all know can bankrupt families. Do you guys have any CI coverage? If yes, to what age and what kind of coverage? I'm currently reviewing my plan, does it makes sense to extend coverage to 99 or 100 years? Or just cover till 60 then after that rely on MediShield?

From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Online...ory_769134.html Raise the bar on scholarships to foreign students Published on Feb 22, 2012 SENIOR Parliamentary Secretary for Education Sim Ann told Parliament that 900 full scholarships are awarded each year to students from non-Asean countries to study for a degree here ('Foreign scholars closely tracked'; last Saturday). This is in addition to 170 similar scholarships for Asean students yearly. Although this pool of foreign talent will augment the local pool, the Government must show that Singaporeans come first by ensuring there are more scholarships for Singaporeans than foreigners. The foreign recipients must also deserve the awards. Ms Sim stated that 45 per cent of foreign scholarship holders complete their undergraduate studies with a second-upper class honours or better. However, as these recipients are selected from among the best from their home countries with bigger populations, the percentage ought to be higher. The millions of dollars that taxpayers underwrite for these scholarships will be well spent if more than half of the scholarship holders achieve at least second-upper class honours. Edwin Lim ****** And another: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_769211.html Scholarships Published on Feb 22, 2012

Size of glovebox for example... was checking out (for fun) citreon C6, and got a mild shock when i opened the glovebox!! ........ it's small, cant even put more than 3 apples inside!!! the Picasso also, same tiny glovebox, but at least the top of the dashboard can be flipped open and there is one shallow 'box' each on either side. my 6yr old jap car's glovebox is big enough for one loaf of roti (if i squeeze it a bit to fit in) do modern cars all come with such tiny glovebox (maybe because of passenger side airbag compartment?) ?? also, the C6 is selling around 130k (not the top model but comes with 1.6 turbo), hyundai's i45 is about the same price.... although i am not buying anything, but feel the C6 is better value for money

If yes, why? And what could you have gotten during that time?

What would happen if a couple has applied and paid deposit and cpf deducted for DBSS flat and now they wont be getting ROM. What will be the penalty for this couple? I heard it will be totally no refund?? Can the family members like bro buy the flat w the sis who applied the unit with the ex?

Hi Guys! Is there any services that can reliably recover data from a reformatted hard drive? The drive has been formatted by a fresh install of windows xp I have been searching around but not easy to choose. Do hope someone who has been through it can share their experience

Can't think of anything special....maybe just go for a nice dinner. or maybe pay for her eyebrow embroidery. lol.

A&E subsidies for foreigners are here to stay: Gan Kim Yong by Ng Jing Yng 04:45 AM Nov 22, 2011SINGAPORE - Subsidies for foreigners needing emergency care are here to stay, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong told Parliament yesterday. He also provided statistics to show that this contributed minimally to the Government's healthcare spending. He was responding to Member of Parliament Baey Yam Keng (Tampines Group Representation Constituency), who had asked if the Government would remove subsidies for foreigners receiving Accident and Emergency (A&E) care or impose means testing - where the patient's ability to pay determines the size of the bill. This is because foreigners here would probably be covered by workplace insurance or travel insurance, he said. Currently, a 50-per-cent subsidy is given to all A&E patients regardless of their nationality. Mr Gan said that, over the last five years, foreigners made up 18 per cent of the yearly patient load at A&E departments - amounting to government subsidies of S$14 million every year. This is less than 1 per cent of the Health Ministry's total spending on subsidised patient services at public hospitals, which amounted to S$2.2 billion. "For A&E services, because they affect life and death, we want to make sure administrative processes in the A&E departments are kept as simple as possible," he said. He pointed out that not all foreigners here have workplace insurance as they are on long-term visit passes. And as A&E departments provide critical attention for a short period of time, getting hospital staff to verify the patient's nationality or doing means testing will only add to their administrative burden, he said. "We still like to keep our A&E departments streamlined (and) focus on treating the patients, ensuring that everyone who comes to A&E receives the emergency treatment that they need," added Mr Gan. As for Singaporeans who need further help even after the 50-per-cent subsidy, Mr Gan cited the existing Medifund scheme and said the Government would continue to look at ways to help the needy.

Significant date. Anybody celebrating anything?

Fined liao still kena suan. "FW" indicated it was a bike. This biker damn suay. Could be that he park his bike in a annoying way which obstruct others? From STOMP: http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sg...on_summons.html Getting summons bad enough, motorist receives one with rude message As if receiving a summons ticket was not enough, STOMPer Hao Wei was angry to see a handwritten message written on it which read, 'Serve you right!'. It is not known who wrote the message, as the pen ink used is different from the signature of the parking warden who issued it. Said the STOMPer (Sep 21): "Parking summons remark. "I am so angry with this remark. "Being issued summons already makes me fed up. "But someone wrote 'Serve you right' on the ticket. "Seriously, do you have to write this remark on the paper when I've already been fined?"

My open HDB carpark got a Lambo Gallardo and this owner stay same block as me. A 4-room 30+ years old block. Power la this guy! The car is worth more than the HDB flat.

hi guys, need some info about getting a maid. My family never got a maid before and we're not sure about some of the rules. But here's the situation, My mom works and is taking care of my brother's baby at our place ( i'm not married, still staying with parents) Baby is taking a toll on my mom and my bro refuse to get a maid ( for dunno wat reason). Bro stays in the next block ( 2 mins walk) in the same condo as us. So, assuming we get a maid, assuming the maid is employed under my bro's name, the maid stays with them during the night, but at night, when they are both at work, the maid can come over to our place and look after the baby under the supervision of my parents. Is this against some regulation? Thanks in advance guys Cheers

Need some advice, friend interested in Colt Plus as per link. Thank You http://www.sgcarmart.com/used_cars/info.ph...9771&DL=500

Hi Guys, Anyone has gotten charged for DB for missing IPPT and RT here? seems like becoming a norm now for all NSMEN who misses for more than 3 times. charge range from 3 days tio 7 days. I got it back in April. one day before voting day... Dam... lost my chance to vote... i agree i am in the wrong, but then charge for 4 days to me seem pretty harsh. and my friend recently got charged for 4 days as well.

I've been in MCF for so long I cannot remember when I joined. I'v seen people come and go and got banned. normal joe becoming popular and disappear. many batches come and go, lurkers speaking up and of cos the regulars faithful to MCF since the day I joined. Those days were more "lively" and "cheerful". Sure we get occasional jokers and trolls here and there but these have entertainment value. Of course there are political threads here and there but it's mostly healthy discussions. Then suddenly this year, I see an influx of political driven thread in this forum. Everyone seemed to show resentment on the gahmen and so on. Of course there's nothing wrong with such threads and we need to open to the system and be politically aware. Our Gahmen ain't saint and people have the right to know. Then as election comes, more and more political threads of hate, influence and rants. Some becoming more and more hostile to the point that I get the feeling "If you're not with us you're against us!" kind of tension. Esp with that "thank you 60%" b-------t. When the can of worms got dig out, there are more and more hate threads around. every single thing goes back to the gahmen's fault, PAP's fault, the ministers sucks, get rid of FTs, stupid fares, double standards, etc....to the point that people mutilate their self-identity calling themselves "sinkies" and so on. It made me wonder the IP addresses they come from where local or foreign. Of course, there are thread of the oppositions on how noble and compassion they are and so on to glorify their "rebels" status to the point "It's so cool to vote against the gahmen!" These are the times I read until I blur, I stopped entering political thread altogether. Even facebook is crawled with such "negative" threads that IHMO, only cos more damage to the people itself than do much good. Yes many people "likes" but what is there to like? I'd rather "unlike" such news. When election past, many part-time nick disappear. But some continues to rant their mispleasure and hogging threads. Some topics that seemed harmless can suddenly swirl into a political argument. It's really sickens me. It comes to the point that, these rants are not going to stop and I feel we are getting too politically emotional that it's eating away our mood and life. Every single day we read negative reports on gahmen, and world happen, we get so depressed we suddenly become uncertain and fearful of what the future might hold. But is it really worth all the depression and resentment all becos of the gahmen? I wonder are those regular "haters" really have such a farkup life with the gahmen that they lifes depends on it? Let's ask ourselves......are our live so farking miserable to the point that we need to start rant whatever b-------t that comes along the way? Maybe our lives are indeed so farked up but I'm so farking tied up with work that I never give a hoot that I'm actually loosing frens, family time and a life that I dream of, that I'm working so hard to fulfill. okay, I'd let my steam loose.... fire away folks....let's turn this into another slugfest if you may wish...

Dear bros & sis, I've not been to Malaysia road trip for long time. Wonder if this is an easy trip? Any recommendation on getting a GPS, does such device helps? I got lost using one some years back, it's a GPS on my HTC phone, sigh. If anyone of you have been regular to Desaru, let me know your experiences. Thanks:)

HI pple, Considering to get a Audi A5..... May i know what are the pros and cons of getting the car from PI instead from AD??? Servicing? Warranty?? If Gearbox or Enginge kaput how?? etc etc...

Good day all MCF forumers, Would like to know if it is possible to get a receipt for those shopping centre carparks operated by ERP? I am having an event at Vivocity and as you know, that is a ERP (or EPS) to be precise carpark where I pay using cashcard in the IU. I need to get a receipt for the parking charges to claim the charges from my company. I didn't really notice if at the exit gantry, is there any machine where I can press for receipt and a receipt pops out? Anyone able to advice? Thanks and enjoy your weekend!

got this link from a mellow forumer on another thread.. and i was pretty impressed with what i read http://www.tanchengbock.org/ As I was pretty ignorant of politics in my younger days.. welcome any "lau jiao" forumers to share their views on him.. for us to make an informed vote this time

I think this place should be the right way to post my enquires. Interested in getting a commercial vehicle eg Opel combo, Renault Kangoo, Fiat Doblo, Citrogen Berlingo, Partner. Caddy. Anyone has any idea which is a better choice since i never owe one before. My criteria is having a auto transmission (does it mean it have to use petrol instead of diesel), Slighly smooth and gd pick-up though i not asking too much. What are the prices? and FC? How about having those seats behind and not those sofa (What are the above models that have this ?). Maintence issue? Hope to hear some favourable replies!

If George is so important, surely can arrange a by-election in any pap SMC for him to return?