Search the Community

This function have be there since day 1, just that most of us overlook it (I'm one of them). This is nothing new, but good info for those who want to hide the avatar of other users. [inline "How to hide Avatar.jpg"] The reason why I used Spiderman avatar because he was the one that was asking whether can this be done. [inline B4After.jpg] Please take note that once you activate this function, you CANNOT see your own avatar too. So don't come and ask what's wrong..

Just imagine if gov were to deploy these technology in Singapore. More $$$ for the gov! 1)Auto tyre thread deep camera 2)Helicopted speed camera. 3)Exhaust Emission/smoke summon machine. 4)Never stop completely at stop lines. 5)Auto face recognisation vs licence picture 6) Tailgating summon camera - Best if gov does use it here! http://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/related.asp?S=15

Just sold my other Starlet. Here goes the story leading to the closing of the sale. "2pm I drove my own Starlet to the buyer's house at Aljunied and fetch him. First, I sent him to Turf City to collect his deposit that he paid for the initial car he wanted to buy (I have no idea you can take back deposit). After which I sent him to Ubi to do his insurance and ended up me getting chased by the security guard twice for waiting. After 30min he came down and I have to drive him to LTA to transfer ownership and he told me he has no money with him now but he want to transfer it today. Giving him the benefit of a doubt I reluctantly transfer ownership to him without receiving my money at all. Then I have to drive him to Tai Seng Ave to collect the cash cheque then he told me to go Geylang POSB as it open late as by then it is already 6pm and all other branch have closed. By the time traffic jammed to the POSB it was already closed also. No choice drive to Suntec branch and settled the cash cheque. During dinner at Suntec I was still expecting he will treat me cos I used up half tank of petrol ferrying him around Singapore and guess what? He ordered his food same stall as me and when I pass money to the aunty he say charge together. I told the aunty no la separate he abit buay song. After dinner finally drove him to WCP to collect the car he bought and it was 8pm by then. I checked on my watch and meter. I took a total of 6 hrs and drove a total of 120km for the closing of this deal...." The end

SINGAPORE: Singaporeans should support a new political party if the ruling People

http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_262028.html July 28, 2008 S'pore parking not as costly as in other cities By Jermyn Chow SINGAPORE cars may be among the world's most expensive, but parking in prime areas here is far less taxing on the wallet. Drivers here pay far less than their counterparts in cities such as London, Sydney or Tokyo, according to the first major survey of parking charges worldwide. Property consultant Colliers International, which did the study, ranked Singapore 52 out of 138 cities for how much drivers paid to score a lot in the city centre for a day. Drivers pay an average of $27.16 for eight hours, far less than the top price of $92.63 in London. In the Asia-Pacific, it ranked seventh. Also scoring well is Singapore's monthly season parking rate - at $247.60 a month. This falls far short of charges in many cities including Sydney ($1,054.02) and Hong Kong ($1,009.94). Analysts spoken to said that prices here remain comparatively cheap - in tandem with a relatively cheaper cost of living. This despite parking rates increasing by 10 to 20 per cent over the past two years. Workers in the central business district (CBD) here also enjoy the luxury of more parking spaces: about 165 per 1,000 jobs, compared to space-short Hong Kong, which has only 23. Carpark operators say they have no immediate plans to raise charges, much to the relief of motorists. Said marketing executive Alvin Lam, 31, who drives to his workplace in Shenton Way every day: 'I have already paid so much to buy a car and on ERP charges, I cannot imagine having to spend even more on parking.' The respite could be brief, warned Mr Nicholas Mak, property consultant Knight Frank's director of research and consultancy - a looming carpark crunch in the CBD could drive up parking charges. Upcoming office buildings and shopping malls - especially those in Marina Bay - have to restrict the number of parking spaces they can have, under tightened regulations. The Market Street Carpark, which has 704 parking lots in the CBD area, could soon come under the wrecking ball. It may be redeveloped into an office building, cutting the number of spaces available in the city. Said Mr Mak: 'It will be a matter of time before carpark charges spiral upwards.' http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_262028.html ----------- after reading so many car break-ins, vandalism, arsons... i sense a robbery abt to take place soon... somewhere... cud b everywhere.

July 5, 2008 The other view, with a nuisance cat to boot... I REFER to Mr Laurie K. Gilbert's letter, 'Building noise driving this foreign talent away' (June 25). My family owns the house physically attached to Mr Gilbert's tenanted house. We have lived in this neighbourhood since October 1981. Over the years, many neighbours have renovated. As long as the legal noise limits are observed, urban renewal must be accepted as a matter of give and take. Today, I rebuild my home. Tomorrow, it may be your neighbour. Mr Gilbert alleges that my noisy renovations forced his business associate, Mr Malcolm Cromie, out of Singapore. Mr Gilbert has not told the whole story. One Sunday morning about two months ago, Mr Cromie caused a commotion when he marched up to the front gate of my home at 3am. His actions probably woke the neighbourhood as well. As a result, we initiated civil proceedings. But, Mr Gilbert now says Mr Cromie has left Singapore. I also wish to make the following points: Singapore is a country where the law is applied fairly. 'Great contributions' by a foreigner, as Mr Gilbert implies in describing his contributions, do not entitle him to preferential treatment. Mr Gilbert has a pet black cat. It uses my garden as a toilet, scratches and dirties our cars, hides in corners then dashes out to startle people. We put up with this nuisance for more than two years in a spirit of good neighbourliness. When asked to rein in his cat, Mr Gilbert's reply was, 'It's just a kitten', and we were expected to put up with it. Now, we only ask the same forbearance from him. In conclusion, my reply to Mr Gilbert is: 'Be fair to your neighbours.' Chua Chee Pin http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Sto...ory_254805.html

where is the better place to invest in properties? any expert views?

Hi all, seeking advice. 1)Mdm Tan brings $20K cash savings from home during Dec 07 period ard 2-3pm for flexi-time investment scheme(6mths maturity scheme) in U@B Serangoon (Chomp Chomp area)Branch.Accompanied by husband. 2)No queue,quickly attended by lady staff at Counter 1.Husband sits a distance away,dozing off due to long day at work (lorry driver) 3)Staff counts $$ and taps something into keyboard,then says transfers will be done accordingly. 4)Mdm Tan asks for receipt,lady says not necessary. 5)Mdm Tan trusts bank enough that she takes it for granted and left.Husband wakes up in time to leave. 6)Months past,another account matures.Mdm Tan remembers her $20K investment,procedes to ask bank about maturity date. 7)Bank checks and cant find anything.Mdm Tan goes to AMK Hub branch to find out,same result. 8)Mdm Tan and son approach Serangoon Branch Manager Mr J@ckson,her son notices around 5-6 CCTV in bank.Manager replies 'Its just not possible that the staff don't issue you receipt' continuously.Branch Manager have schedule of staff during Dec 07 period after being questioned by Mdm Tan's son.Any case to have CCTV footage have to go thru HQ. 9)Called U@B direct to request for advice or help,simply got transfered all over at their call center.Staff calls next day but still get bounced around with no apparent end. 10)Police case made few days later,hoping to get CCTV footage.Both Mdm Tan and husband gave statement to police at AMK main branch(SSDC area).Police verifies that Mdm Tan has more than enough money to substantiate she has $20K savings and she is not delusional. 11)Bank now unable to help since police report made and have to go through proper channels. 12)Got news from police a few days back that CCTV 'NOT AVAILABLE' from bank after nearly a month of wait(from time of police report).Advice from police is make a civil case since its not a criminal offence yet. 13)Hopes to see if MP can help in any way.(Mdm Tan stays AMK) Hence,need advice from anyone with experience.Does anyone knows of any lawyers with such experience?Since Mdm Tan is ready to make it a civil case if MP cant help. cheers!!

I realised that there are a few watch collectors here... so a question... Would you consider getting the Tag Grand Carrera (the brown dial one is really nice) if you already own a Kirium and a Monza? Or would you look at other brands?

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/0....sex/index.html CNN) -- A man and a woman have been charged by police in Italy after they were found having sex in a confession box, it was reported Wednesday. The Italian ANSA news agency said the young man and woman were taken into custody by police in the northern city of Cesena following a telephone complaint from a man attending morning Mass in the city's cathedral. Authorities were alerted after a parishoner heard "rustling and groaning" coming from inside the confession box and pulled back the curtains to reveal a goth-rock couple engaged in oral sex, ANSA said. The agency said the pair -- a 31-year-old laborer and a 32-year-old teacher -- defended their conduct saying: "We are atheists and for us, having sex in church is like doing it any other place." However, Bishop Antonio Lanfranchi of Cesena-Sarsina took said the couple's behavior was "an outrage of notable proportions which bespeaks unutterable squalor." He added that a special ceremony would be held to purify the confession box. ---------------

May 12, 2008 Man accused of molesting daughter, 12 By Elena Chong A MAN was charged on Monday with molesting his daughter and two other offences. The 34-year-old is said to have squeezed the left breast of his 12-year-old daughter at home in mid-July last year. About a month later, he allegedly molested her again. The accused is not named to protect the identity of the victim. He is also said to have stolen a mobile phone worth $610 from his employer between September and October last year, and misappropriated another phone at Suntec City on Aug 7 last year. The court set bail at $30,000. The case will be mentioned on next Tuesday. http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/...ory_236540.html if this is a molest case, how come bring pix of him accused of stealing fones? machiam must die die fix the bugger. So did he paid up his inkcum tek boh? did he litter boh? all one shot fix him for guud. how is misappropriating a handphone work like? beri novel... dunno the handfone got molested during the misappropriation anot.

Dear all, Just curious what kind of situation are you in? How ok your gf/wife is when you go hanging out / dinner with other gals 1 on 1.

April 9, 2008 Dementia patients to get ID cards Special card with contact details could help lost patients return to their families By Theresa Tan DEMENTIA patients will soon be issued with special identity cards so members of the public will be able to contact their families if these individuals are found lost or wandering. The card, to be issued through the Alzheimer's Disease Association here, will debut in the second half of the year. It will carry the patient's name, language spoken and his or her family's contact numbers. Other critical information, such as drug allergies, will also be included. Dementia is a degenerative brain condition marked by memory lapses. As the disease worsens, patients lose the ability to care for themselves. They may require help even in daily routines such as eating and going to the toilet. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. About 20,000 people are afflicted with dementia here; by 2020, the number is expected to rise to 50,000. National Council of Social Service chief executive Ang Bee Lian said it is common for dementia patients to wander from their homes and become lost. Asked how useful the card will be if dementia patients left home without it, she said idea is not foolproof but can be useful if patients are made to pin or hang the card on a lanyard around their neck before outings. Sales executive Eleen Ng, 40, is familiar with the anxiety of having a loved one go missing. Her 70-year-old mother, who has dementia, has lost her way 'numerous times' and even ended up at a police station after she was found wandering the streets. 'I used to tear my hair out and panic each time mum went missing. She doesn't even know how to answer her mobile phone when it rings,' said MadamNg, adding that her mother is no longer allowed to go out on her own. The identity card is not the only such document here. More than 7,000 similar ones have been issued to the disabled, such as the intellectually disabled, by various charities here, MsAng noted. http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_225262.html We do not tag criminals like rapists or even pervert stealing undies for the safety of the public some1 obviously felt it is good we tag dementia patient. IMO this is a violation of human rights, because it will not end there once it started. How would you feel if some1 you know is tagged a HIV patient like a dog tag? Are we gg but back to medieval days?

http://www.sgcarmart.com/main/info-2IQuA0dW-1013.html 3.3L, Power 233 bhp, Torque 328 Nm this freak car cost S$375k even in pre-owned? omg..brand new ones cost S$420k.. other cars u can get at a similiar price: audi RS4: S$345k(4.2L, Power 420 bhp Torque 430 Nm) audi R8: S$497k(4.2L, Power 420 bhp Torque 430 Nm) GTR: S$299k(3.8L, Power 480 bhp, Torque 588 Nm) lol..wonder who would throw their moola into such a freak? given a choice of the above, wat would u choose?

Dear all, Thru some chatting I have realised that quite a handful of the pple here have other halfs that's not local Singaporean. For this poll, if he/she is Singapore PR, pls opt under option 2. PS : This is just for polling purposes with newspaper reporting that there's a growing trend that Singaporeans man marrying wife from overseas. So pls don't take it with a -ve impression.

Other Military Acronyms That Can Be Applied to Our Politicians Posted on Sunday, November 18, 2007 Topic: Politics by Pak Cham Kai Hey, our Dear Leeder recently described the opposition Workers Party team that contested Aljunied GRC as having gone

Other Military Acronyms That Can Be Applied to Our Politicians Posted on Sunday, November 18, 2007 Topic: Politics by Pak Cham Kai Hey, our Dear Leeder recently described the opposition Workers Party team that contested Aljunied GRC as having gone

I am thinking that the oil major has been too quick and eager to raise pump price. Since we cannot stop buying petrol, maybe a good way to protest is to not buy anything at petrol kiosks, other any petrol. No more buying of food & drinks, bread, magazine and even parking coupon at petrol kiosks if possible. Reduce car wash at petrol kiosk. Stop buying engine oil that is branded from Esso, Shell and SPC. Anything that is related to these oil major, other than petrol which we have no choice, we stop/ reduce buying. A collective action by all drivers will send a strong msg. Better than rely on CASE. What do u think? Doable?

Found a cat taking a nice nap under the hot afternoon sun sometime ago. Thatz a WRX spoiler.

anyone have checked with their workshop if they can do CNG installation? Melchers seems to have a monopoly here and their prices have gone up by quite a fair bit. If so many m'sian workshops can do it, i believe technically it should be feasible for our wokshops to do the conversion. i doubt the kit cost as much as $4k... any suggestion?

somebody kill me please..... How the F did this bugger pass Road hogging - the other side of the coin I REFER to the letter, 'Road hogging a bigger problem than tailgating'. I agree that road hogging is irritating and inconsiderate. However, I beg to differ on one important point. Are the people whom we perceive as road hogging really road hogging? Any driver can tell you that the speed limit for most roads in Singapore is 50kmh and for expressways, 80kmh or 90kmh. For the KJE, it is 70kmh. (SINCE WHEN) If you try driving at these speed limits, give or take 5kmh either way, you will be honked at, stared at and generally made to feel embarrassed about your speed. Anybody in doubt of this need only look at L plate learners on the road and you will understand what I mean. L plate learners are the only ones who truly adhere to the speed limit and they get overtaken easily. So, are road hoggers really posing a danger or are they law-abiding citizens adhering to the traffic rule? On the other hand, I have often been tailgated by vans and small lorries in particular. Will the commercial vehicles, heavily laden, be able to stop in time if I have to stop suddenly? Given a choice between driving behind a road hogger or driving in front of a tailgater, I will take the former any time. At least the road-hogger can teach me a thing or two about respecting traffic rules. Jeffery Phoon Peng Yeow KNN....these kind of drivers on the road.,....no bloody wonder our premiums going up Does he not understand 'KEEP LEFT UNLESS OVERTAKING'

anyone saw the accident involving the fd civic after it tries to "race" with a ferrari along bukit timah road near hill view road yesterday at ard 650pm. the civic were in hot pursuit of the ferrari when it past me and 5 sec later it rear ended a vehicle waiting at the traffic light. was amused tho. ferrari then travel at speed limit.

This poll is for the ladies. Lets say you are a high achiever and female. Would you accept a boyfriend or husband earning less than you? And, how much lower do you think your other half should make? There have been many cases of more qualified women settling for less qualified guys. I am also curious about how open people really are about the disparity in earnings, especially in a relationship. PS: Constructive comments pls. Percentage difference calculated based on salary difference between guy and gal divided by the gal's salary.

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia will continue to help ethnic Malays increase their share in the nation's corporate equity, but will not deprive other races, the deputy prime minister said, according to a local media report. Malaysian affirmative action, also known as the Bumiputera ('sons of the soil') policy, aims at improving the economic well-being of the majority Malays by giving them preference in education, jobs and business. 'We will not do anything that is seen as depriving other races of their rights,' Najib Razak was quoted as saying by the Star newspaper on Thursday. 'We will only demand whatever rights the Bumiputera has. That is all.' Mr Najib's comments came after Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) stunned the government last month by bringing more than 10,000 ethnic Indians onto the streets of the capital to complain of racial discrimination. Malaysia has taken a hardline stance in recent weeks to maintain peace and order in the country ahead of elections many expect to be called within the next few months. An election is not due until May 2009 but Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is widely expected to dissolve parliament and call for fresh polls by early next year. In 1969, Malays made up half the Malaysian population but owned barely 2 per cent of the nation's corporate equity. Malay ownership has since climbed to about a fifth - and one unofficial estimate puts it as high as 45 per cent. But the wealth gap between Malays, who now make up about 60 per cent of the population, and ethnic Chinese (a quarter), remains big. Chinese corporate equity is double Malay equity and Chinese household income outstrips Malay income by 64 per cent. -- REUTERS

GM Reports $39 Billion Loss on Deferred Tax Charge (Update3) By Jeff Green and Greg Bensinger Nov. 7 (Bloomberg) -- General Motors Corp., the world's largest automaker, reported a record $39 billion quarterly loss after three money-losing years forced the company to write down the value of future tax benefits. GM fell as much as 5.6 percent in New York trading after the size of the loss surprised analysts. Excluding the tax writedown, the deficit was $2.80 a share, more than 10 times the 22 cents estimated by 15 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Mortgage-related losses at GM's finance unit overwhelmed improved automotive results. "This has been a challenging year, for sure,'' Chief Financial Officer Fritz Henderson told reporters in Detroit. GM is writing down the tax assets because it may not be able to generate enough earnings to use the benefits. The move reflects a darkening outlook for the U.S. economy, as GM cited defaults on subprime mortgage loans at its partly owned GMAC LLC finance unit and "more challenging'' auto-market conditions in the U.S. and Germany. GM's third-quarter loss of $68.85 per share widened from a deficit of $147 million, or 26 cents, a year earlier. The non- cash charge is related to deferred tax assets in the U.S., Canada and Germany, the Detroit-based company said in a statement today. Its results also reflected an after-tax gain of $3.5 billion from the sale of its Allison Transmission unit, $1.6 billion in pension-service costs related to prior labor agreements, and $350 million in charges connected to its former Delphi Corp. subsidiary. Record Auto Revenue Automotive revenue rose 8.9 percent to $43.1 billion, a third quarter record, and automotive operations excluding the tax cost had a net income of $122 million. The automotive loss a year earlier was $455 million. About $700 million of GM's adjusted loss of $1.6 billion was related to the tax changes, Henderson said on a conference call. "Most of the decision for the write-off is driven by history, the fact that we've had a three-year cumulative loss,'' said Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner in an interview. GM fell $1.48, or 4.1 percent, to $34.68 at 9:59 a.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading after dropping to $34.14 earlier. Henderson said the losses at GMAC's mortgage unit and a strengthening Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar were significant factors in the wider-than-expected loss. The Canadian currency has risen 28.3 percent against the U.S. dollar this year. The automaker attributed the charge to a "three-year historical cumulative loss'' in the U.S., Canada and Germany. GM had a net loss of $757 million related to its 49 percent stake in GMAC, which posted a $1.6 billion third-quarter loss on Nov. 1. GM sold 51 percent of GMAC last year to a group led by Cerberus Capital Management LP. Accounting Matter Under U.S. accounting rules, GM assesses the need each quarter for a so-called valuation allowance against the deferred tax assets. In 2005, GM took a valuation against tax assets in South Korea that it reversed last year when the outlook for profits improved. The automaker also took a similar charge in Brazil in 2005 that it reversed in 2006. Henderson said he couldn't estimate when GM might be able to use the deferred tax assets again and declined to forecast when the automaker might return to profit. "Certainly having ResCap turn into the red, then bringing GMAC into the red, has an impact on us,'' he said. Outlook Changed GM said it previously had determined it wouldn't need the allowance for the U.S., Canada and Germany because losses over the three-year period were caused by one-time expenses and because of the continued expectation of strong profits at GMAC and improved earnings in North America. "The establishment of a valuation allowance does not have any impact on cash, nor does such an allowance preclude us from using our loss carryforwards or other deferred tax assets in the future,'' Henderson said in the statement. The allowance also doesn't "reflect a change in the company's view of its long-term automotive financial outlook,'' Henderson said. GM reported deferred tax assets of $34.8 billion in the U.S., $3.1 billion in Canada and $2.5 billion in Germany as of the end of last year, in an annual regulatory filing in March. The three countries accounted for $40.4 billion of GM's $40.8 billion in such assets, according to that filing. Today's results including the tax-related charge may overshadow GM retaking the No. 1 spot in worldwide sales from Toyota Motor Corp. Chief Executive Officer Rick Wagoner also moved to reduce future costs by approving a labor accord that eliminates retiree health-care obligations and cuts new workers' pay by 50 percent. Labor Accord GM completed an agreement with the United Auto Workers last month after a two-day strike to transfer $47 billion in future union retiree costs to the union in exchange for a one-time contribution of about $32 billion. Wagoner had already reached labor agreements to close plants and trim health-care expenses, which the company has said would reduce its costs by $9 billion this year. GM has said the union retiree health fund will drain cash next year by $3.3 billion before adding $2.8 billion to cash flow in 2010 and $3.3 billion in 2011. GM's 8.375 percent note due July 2033 rose 0.5 cent to 89.75 cents on the dollar yesterday, according to Trace, the NASD's bond-price reporting service. The yield fell to 9.44 percent. Credit-default swaps tied to General Motors Corp. climbed 4 basis points to 598 basis points, the highest in seven weeks according to CMA Datavision in London. An increase signals declining investor confidence in the company's ability to pay back its debt. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=206...qFKg&refer=home