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Today, got off from my car and got a fright of my life, It's assive i went to a offroad rally. I suspect i went thru some cement water, when i touch the side skirt, all harden but washable cement like stuff.I think the whole under carriage is covered with those sludge now. Ah..where can wash the undercarriage ah? Those normal hand wash at petrol station have ?

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article749215.ece

Today ST reported that American owners are in hot soup for 350 million pound dept after taking over Liverpool Football Club and building a new stadium. A takeover bit by a Dubai group is seem possible. Further to that RB is also in the hot soup of getting the sack after poor showing in the weekend match with Boro which further the distance them away from winning the EPL title including the draw with Wigan & Luton Town (FA Cup). Its either the Americans or the Dubai group that could give RB the sack and JM could get the job as reported in some British press. quote: "Reports over the past few weeks have suggested Mourinho is interested in taking over from under-fire Rafael Benitez at Liverpool should the Spaniard get the sack." Down with the Rafalution policies.....

Here is some good news for those hardworking teachers... Teachers' salaries to go up under new package that costs S$380m By Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 28 December 2007 1854 hrs Photos 1 of 1 Related Videos Teachers' salaries to go up under new package that costs S$380m SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Education (MOE) announced at the Principals' Appointment Ceremony Friday that principals and teachers will get higher pay packages starting April 2008. Under a new initiative called Grow 2.0, the annual package of good performing teachers will be increased by up to 12%, while that for better performers will be increased by up to 18%. Costing the government S$380 million per year, this new pay and career package is aimed at making the teaching profession more attractive. Under the new scheme, teachers will receive a one-off salary increment of up to four per cent. They will also be placed on a salary range system with merit increments that are based on one's performance, potential and market wage movements. This will replace the current salary scale system with fixed annual increments. Under the new initiative, there will be higher performance bonuses and sharper differentiation in payouts based on performance. Teachers will receive performance bonuses ranging from one month to 2.25 months. And prior to the roll-out of the new scheme, a performance bonus top-up ranging from 0.5 month to 1.25 months will be given in March. With the above changes, a classroom teacher with three years experience can see his or her annual pay package rise from S$52,000 to S$58,000. And for an outstanding performer, the new package can mean a jump from S$55,000 to S$65,000. Minister for Education Tharman Shanmugaratnam said at the annual ceremony, "(Offering) competitive salaries (is) a necessary but not a sufficient condition... We have to ensure pay remains competitive at every level of the education service." Besides better pay and bigger bonus, the new package will provide teachers with a more attractive remuneration package, more career and development opportunities and greater flexibility to balance the demands of work and family. Currently, only female teachers can apply for no-pay childcare leave up to the child's third birthday. But under the new scheme, both male and female teachers can apply for no-pay childcare leave up to the child's fourth birthday. Yew Tee Primary School teacher Sharul Hisham said, "With regards to work-life balance initiatives that have been announced by the minister, the teaching profession will be more attractive." The new package will also enhance the financial support and leave schemes to enable more teachers to upgrade themselves. Principal of Raffles Junior College Lim Lai Cheng welcomed the new initiative. "At the moment, we're facing challenges of students who are more exposed, who have a stronger hunger for knowledge within a subject area. If teachers can be experts in their areas, definitely (it) will help engage the students better." In addition, more teachers can opt to teach part-time under the new scheme. And up to five more teacher posts will be given to each school cluster to support schools with teachers who are pursuing full-time postgraduate studies. The ministry will also enhance its long-term incentive plan known as CONNECT Plan. Under the current plan, teachers receive annual deposits throughout their career and can draw out a proportion of the money every three to five years. The new package will bring up the total career deposits for CONNECT by about six per cent. Education officers can also draw out their full deposits after 30 years, instead of the current 40 years. The ministry said it is targeting to have 30,000 teachers employed by 2010. Currently it has about 29,000. This year, the resignation rate for teachers was three per cent, half a percentage point more than the previous year. - CNA/ac Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin.../319634/1/.html

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.asp...opart=passenger

my window lifter was really squeeky and needed replacing, which Czech Auto or Cars and Cars did under warranty at the last servicing........then the problem of water in the car started. initially, the problem was thought to be my boostgauge....it wasn't. It has been traced by careful trial and error and experimenting pouring water all over the car like some CSI agent finding clues. not only was the rubber seal in the window lifter unit missing and water getting on the speakers, the window lifter unit was not properly fitted to the door. Leaving a gap for water to spill out of the inner door to the space between the plastic interior door trim and the door. water was found to drip when it rains between the plastic interior door trim and the metal door frame and drip into the footwell, besides dripping from the drain holes which is supposed to do on heavy rain like last week...... the water will leak until a soggy puddle is found under the pedals and the bad stale smell is emitted. pls see pics...

now tat the ah du saga has quietened down, what next??? ANOTHER charity has come under probe. Ren Ci Hospital & Medicare Centre is being investigated by the Health Ministry for possible financial discrepancies, believed to have arisen from a few million dollars in interest-free loans to several companies in the past decade. The largest charity under the Health Ministry after the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), Ren Ci will lose its Institution of Public Character (IPC) status on Nov 27, when it is due to be renewed. This means that it can accept donations, but donors will not get tax exemptions. Ren Ci will continue tending to its 120 nursing-home patients and 300 chronically sick patients at its facilities in Jalan Tan Tock Seng and Buangkok through the probe. Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan told The Straits Times last night that he believed in a 'firm, fair and transparent' approach to the probe. While an inquiry was called for because the transactions had not been 'well explained' by Ren Ci's management, he said 'we should not jump to any conclusion until the inquiry is completed. That will not be fair to the parties involved'. His ministry said yesterday that a review of the charity had turned up 'possible irregularities in certain financial transactions' involving Ren Ci and some external parties, and that an inquiry would clarify them. The Straits Times understands that several companies had been given loans, some amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars. But Ren Ci's books recorded loans that, in some cases, were several hundred thousand dollars more than what was reflected in the borrowers' books. These irregularities surfaced in the wake of the ministry tightening corporate governance among the charities under its wing last year, following the NKF scandal of 2005. In July last year, the ministry appointed accounting firm Ernst & Young to carry out a general review of the operations at its 12 largest IPCs, including Ren Ci. At the end of the review in February, Ren Ci was asked to split the role of board chairman and chief executive officer. Both positions were then held by Venerable Ming Yi, a colourful character who has performed death-defying stunts in the charity's popular annual televised fund-raisers. He has since become Ren Ci's honorary CEO. Mr Chua Thian Poh, chief executive of property developer Ho Bee Group, became the charity's chairman in September. The ministry next got Ernst & Young to delve deeper into Ren Ci's operations, which was when the loan discrepancies were uncovered. Yesterday, the ministry informed the Ren Ci board that a probe under the Charities Act would be convened. This is expected to take three months, after which the findings will be disclosed and 'appropriate measures' taken. Auditors were seen moving files into a room on the ground floor of the hospital's Buangkok premises just before 7pm yesterday. Venerable Ming Yi was seen on the premises, but declined to take calls to his cellphone. Mr Chua, contacted in China, where he is on a business trip, declined comment and referred The Straits Times to a statement put out by Ren Ci, which said: 'Ren Ci Hospital & Medicare Centre has a culture of strong corporate governance and transparency. When complaints are made, they will be fully investigated. 'We would like to reassure the public that the professional standards and services of Ren Ci will remain intact and the day-to-day operations and patient care will carry on undisrupted.' The charity employs more than 300 people and earned about $30 million last year - $9.5 million from donations, $10 million from grants and sponsorships, and $9.8 million from fund-raisers and other activities.

http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/viewPost5954.aspx hate to say it but .... some of these driver really deserve it by the way they ride their bike when doing deliveries ... anyway ... my condolences to the family

Some questions for those who have this card thru U Drive. Do we need to be a Citibank account/credit card holder in order to apply for it? How do we make payment on the fuels if we dont have to be a Citibank account holder? Can we charge to other credit cards together with the Easipay Card or we can only use the Easipay card with the bill being send to us every month? How do we pay payment on the monthly bill in that case? Thanks.

Dear all, Any recommendations ?

Hi all, I need some help in deciding what to buy for our 3rd vehicle. We currently have a nice cabriolet and a Toyoata Liteace. Currently, I use my cabriolet to drive to PJ quite a lot these days, and thought about the risks I'm taking in doing so. I don't want the hassle of registering my Liteace in Malaysia, nor do I want to drive over 300km in it! Therefore, I have decided to buy a 3rd car for my trips into Malaysia. The car will need to be: 1. Less susceptible to be stolen 2. Reliable (?) for the long trips 3. Economical 4. Spacious (for transporting cartons, etc.) Does anyone have any suggestions on what I can consider? I don't mind buying 2nd hand as long as the vehicle has relatively low mileage and is not too old. Currently, I have been swaying to something from Suzuki called the APV. What do you think?

Hi guys, Been hunting around for another reasonably priced rotary, found out that Tonita is selling the HITACHI SAT180 @ $235. More info @ http://www.tonita.com.sg/index.cfm?GPID=130 In order to fit polishing pads, an additional M14 adapter is required at $14. Only con is, this unit does not have variable speed control.

vigourous lab(rador) testing for buses more lab test one for trains mobile CAT-scan for buses Redundant CAT-Scan at MRT Station! http://spug.sg/forums/showpost.php?p=1187138&postcount=993

Whenever I'm stuck on the road with an empty bus lane beside me, this question came to my mind: is the bus lane under-utilised and how to make better use of it? I know the bus lane is open to all buses, although they cannot stop. I got this information from that nice little booklet that LTA sent me when they changed the bus lane timing. The bus lane should be open to taxis, motorbikes and lorries (not pickups and vans). Any other ideas?

My friend's Altis was involved in a frontal collission similar to the picture below. The driver airbag did not activate. Shouldn't an airbag activate under such circumstances? Could his 1 yr old Altis' airbag be faulty?

Hi guys, If i use a jet hose to spray the wheel arch covering the tyres, will it damage the suspension or wash away the lubrication or anything? I was also told not to spray directly onto my rims... Why is tht so? THanks :)

well, it was this hot sunday afternoon and i saw a TP in uniform standing in the middle of the road divider trying to hide under the shade of the traffic light at the junction. He was looking around and keep on writing in his notepad... anyone know what's he doing there?... just seems very strange to have him standing there...

I have already stopped at the traffic junction, when a taxi making a turn hit my side bumper. The taxi driver ask me to claim against his company. However, I was now told that I only stand a 50% chance of claiming against him as this kind of accident difficult to prove cos hit on the side. I am now thinking of taking the easy way out and pay for the repair myself. I don't want to send to the agent for repair cos will have to pay more. However, if I were to send to the normal workshop, will it affect my car's warranty? Also, the taxi also got some damages. If I don't claim against him, can he claim against me.

just wondering... is the warranty given for Skodas bought under Czech Auto still valid under new company, Cars & Cars ?

- from ASIAONE If no injury is involved, cases will not go directly to court but be handled by resolution centre FROM next year, non-injury motor accident claims below $1,000 will not go straight to the courts, but instead be handled by the Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre (Fidrec). The resolution centre was set up in 2005 as an independent avenue for consumers to settle disputes with financial institutions such as insurers, banks and brokers in an affordable manner. The change is among a series of reforms announced in the Subordinate Courts Workplan by Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong yesterday. Procedures at the Small Claims Tribunal will also be simplified. The tribunal will be able to enforce its orders on claims under $20,000. At present, enforcement can be ordered only by a separate court. The tribunal will also closely track complex claims above $200,000 to allow speedier resolution. For example, a justice officer will be assigned to a case early on, so he is familiar with the issues in the dispute. If the need arises, a specialist judge with a professional background in fields such as engineering or construction could be appointed to preside over the hearing. The changes to the civil courts announced yesterday are aimed at reducing costs and time for litigants. The decision to divert non-injury accident claims to Fidrec will alone shave an estimated 1,000 cases off the courts' workload. One in about four minor claims in the Subordinate Courts is a non-injury accident claim. Last year, there were 1,176 such cases, about 98 a month. The decision to move these claims to Fidrec was made after consultation with various organisations, including the General Insurance Association of Singapore (GIA) and the Law Society. Details of the new scheme are still being worked out, but it is certain that motorists involved in such claims will appear in person before Fidrec's panel of adjudicators, made up of former judges, senior lawyers and bankers. No lawyers will be present. However, if the motorist is unhappy with a decision, he is still allowed to pursue other legal avenues. The CJ said he does not expect people to attempt to bypass Fidrec by exaggerating their claim beyond $1,000, because taking cases directly to court will prove a lot more costly for them. But he said the $1,000 ceiling could be changed in the future. 'We will adjust the limit if necessary, as we acquire experience in operating this scheme,' he said. When contacted, Fidrec and the GIA welcomed the change. Fidrec's chairman, retired High Court judge Goh Joon Seng, said: 'We will do our best to live up to this trust...We will assess the additional resources required in connection with the expected increase in our caseload.' GIA executive director Mark Lim said the association and the courts will work closely to 'refine this scheme'. 'We believe as the financial industry's dispute resolution body, Fidrec can play a significant role in helping to resolve these motor accident disputes expeditiously and at an affordable cost to the consumer,' he said.

Wondering why Taxi falls under Cat A. As we all know, taxi's capacity is definately above 1600cc. Dun it make more sense to put them under commerical cat? humm..........

See attached taken from a tyre tools site

I am getting my car next week. Cann someone advise me whether I need to do the under carriage rust proofing.

Anyone realised that almost all PIs in the market now uses the same company/workshop MTB (or is it MBT?) as their workshop for repair under warranty?? I went to a few PIs, they all showed me the same brochure/warranty booklet for the different cars...anyone has experience with this workshop? How good in terms of facilities/stocking of parts are they?? What's their background??