April 2008

The Archives

• What’s In The Box?

  04.28.08 | Permalink |Toys| 5 Comments

  Guess what is inside this box? Finally it arrived. I am so happy! No prize for guessing it right. I got it working within 10 minutes too.

  
  
  

• Fastest Way To Fix Your Car

  04.25.08 | Permalink |Service| Comments Off on Fastest Way To Fix Your Car

  I am no good at fixing things, let alone fixing a car. However I have a buddy who can and I can count on this buddy where ever I am. It is just a ring away. Just say you were driving in a highway and your battery or tire went flat. What do you do? Panic? Scream? Yeah you can do that but it is not going to help.

  Being a woman, I know nothing about cars. You never know when your car will give up on you. Actually I was faced with the same scenario this morning but I was fortunate that I am in the house. Hubby cannot start the car. Yeap, he cannot fix it either. By the way, this is the second time this happens. I called AAM to help.

  We called AAM and they came very fast. Fix it in 10 minutes. I was glad. It only cost RM75 per year for membership. Too bad, I will have to cancel it as I have the same service from my Lonpac Insurance.

• Expensive Toys for Boys

  04.23.08 | Permalink |Toys| 3 Comments

  
  
  

  Guess how much this baby cost? Yeap, it is the hard to find Bumblebee Transformer. It costs RM350. Even got scolded for touching it. One of them, when press it speaks. There was one smaller version that bundled with another transformer that cost RM129.

  I asked the owner who was an old guy whether he can sell it separately. He was arrogant to tell me that even if he sold separately, it will cost me RM120. He told me Bumblebee is the most expensive transformer around. Someone disputed that in the shop. Hey I can get it for USD9.90 from Hasbro.com which is only RM30.

  
  
  

  Wow, if I export a few in, I can profit 300%. Good business eh? By the way, the whole shop was filled with figurines of super heroes like fantastic 4, superman, transformers, iron man, gundam and others. There are really expensive. *roll eyes*

• Hunt The Mouse Down

  04.22.08 | Permalink |Technology| 2 Comments

  Last weekend, PC fair in PISA and boy there was lots of people. Not only that, people was buying a whole lot of things. I saw many people coming out with bags and trolleys to wheel their electronic gadgets home. It was jam pack in the stadium.

  I was a last minute shopper. I wormed my way in and was given at most 20 minutes because my family was waiting outside. I went for a mouse hunt. I wanted a wireless mouse. The ball mouse were dirt cheap, wonder anyone still uses that. I couldn’t decide whether I should pick an optical mouse or a laser mouse. Well it all depends on price.

  I found that a lot of wireless mouse were very small in size and had ergo problem. I finally found one that I can live with. Let’s hope it doesn’t break down fast. It is a wireless laser mouse. What I like about it was it is bigger and has a USB charger. Yeap, I have to play my part to save the environment. You too!

  
  
  

  One thing I like to say about the packaging for the mouse. It is not very customer friendly. I don’t understand why companies want to use so much plastic to wrap a mouse. It is also tough for me to open, nearly cut my fingers.

  
  
  

  The verdict on the mouse, so far I was able to plug and use it without much configuration. However the receiver is huge compare to the last one I had. Let’s hope it will stick with me for at least 2 years.

• 13 Days To Pay Up

  04.18.08 | Permalink |Malaysia, Tax| 2 Comments

  April is the month of tax for most employed folks in Malaysia. How many of you are still submitting paper form? Shame on you! Try to submit through online, it is easy, fast and paperless. Opps, it is not exactly paperless because you still have to print a copy for record. You do not have to use liquid paper or worry is the entry right justify or left justify.

  It is a simple 4 steps process:

  
  
  

  Info on some of the Rebates:

  Individual – RM8000
  Medical for parents – RM5000
  Education Fees for listed courses – RM5000 (IT courses applied)
  Books/Magazine/Journals – RM1000
  Computer – RM3000
  Children below 18 – RM1000 per child
  Life Insurance and KWSP – RM6000
  Medical and Education Insurance – RM3000

  By the way, do NOT cheat tax by putting RM1000 for books if you do not have any purchased receipts. It is a matter of time before the IRB audit you. If you cannot produce the receipts you will be fined.

  
  
  

  Another tip is that if you cannot afford to pay the full amount of tax, you can always visit the tax office to request to pay by installment. You can also request them to issue a letter to your company to have deduction from your future salary.

  Remember you have to submit the form and pay the tax before 30th April to avoid fine. Have a good tax month. Next month I think I can just eat roti and drink water only.

  More Info on Malaysia Tax on http://www.hasil.org.my/english/eng_index.asp

• Price Hikes

  04.17.08 | Permalink |Economy| Comments Off on Price Hikes

  I just received an email on the new parking rate for Penang Queensbay Mall. I always like to go there because parking was RM1 flat rate.

  Effective 21 April 2008 and 28 April 2008 for Basement and Multi Level Car Park respectively.

  Basement – LG & LM (effective April 21, 2008 onwards)
  1st Three (3) Hours is RM1.00; Subsequent Hour is RM1.00

  Multi Level – Level 3 to Level 8 Car Parks (effective April 28, onwards) 1st Five (5) Hours is RM1.00; Subsequent Hour is RM1.00

  Open Car Parks remains at RM1.00 per entry

  Oh well, now it just makes me think twice about going there unless it is less than 5 hours. No watching long movie for me in Queensbay Mall. Good for me too. Less visits mean less I will spend.

  I heard Tesco eGate will implement parking fee too. Now I am wondering does all these have anything to do with hike in petrol and rice price. Talk about food hike, now penang hawker food as gone up 20-25%. My favorite bowl of asam laksa went up from RM2 to RM2.50. Next management performance review, I must talk to my manager about matching my increment with all these hikes. 🙂

• Annoying Letter

  04.16.08 | Permalink |Insurance, Service| Comments Off on Annoying Letter

  Yesterday, I got back from work, wanted to relax and I got this annoying letter. It is a house protection from HSBC Takaful. I am really frustrated with them and their unprofessionalism. Yes I have a home loan with HSBC but please respect your customer choice of house protection insurance plan. If you want customers, go somewhere else.

  Last year Sept I have written to them stating I would like to continue with my current insurance company S&A that they recommended on day 1 I sign the loan. At least last year I was given the option to change or stay.

  This year no option, they just shove the insurance certificate to me with payment listed. I was really furious because it was just 6 months ago I wrote to them, rejecting the offer. I call in to enquire. Guess what? The agent asked me to write in to cancel. Why should I when I already written in Sept. Wah every time you shove an insurance cert to me, I have to write in to cancel. You think I EFNTD!!!

  Darn, you have given me more paperwork which I don’t need and waste my time too. You know what, if I am in US, I can sue them for causing me stress and poor health.

  Anyway I settle it with the bank and fax in my current house protection plan. The bank can worked it out among them. Next month, I will not have such problem as my loan will end. Hooray!

• “An Idiotic Assurance” Call Center

  04.15.08 | Permalink |Service| 2 Comments

  I really wonder whether some companies here know what “Customer Service” is all about or are they trying to frustrate customers? Hoping they will go away.

  I was really frustrated calling the customer service line for this company. If you want to know which company I am talking about, refer to the title.

  I called the Customer Service Call Center, here is what I got.

  Press 1 for Life Insurance
  Press 2 for …
  Press 3 for …
  Press 4 for …

  I am not sure which category my MLTA policy falls under and there was no “Other” category or “speak with an agent” option. They expect their customers to know their system in and out.

  So I press 1. Wah lah…more options came up until they have to use 01, 02, 03…bla bla bla.

  Oh and there is no option to go back to previous menu. If you make a mistake, redial the number again.

  After a few try of calling the number again, I got to a point where I can key in the policy number. I enter the number, it wasn’t correct. It allowed me to key in my IC number and I did but failed.

  I gave up after 5-6 calls. I went to their website to check to see whether there is an email or web form I can write to.

  Guess what? Here is what I got: “Currently AIA Corporate Web does not support web browsers other than Microsoft Internet Explorer.”

  It doesn’t work for Safari on my Mac and other browsers. I guess they are only servicing customers with IE. The least they can do is put a support email on that page which they didn’t. Tell how not to get frustrated?!! I am in a dead end with this.

• 12 Beautiful Girls and 6 Left

  04.14.08 | Permalink |Malaysia, RealityShow| Comments Off on 12 Beautiful Girls and 6 Left

  What am I talking about? Haven’t you heard about Malaysian Dreamgirl? Malaysia Dreamgirl is the first online Malaysia production of a reality series. It started with many Malaysian girls who wannabe famous in one way or another. Some has the beauty, some has the look, some has the attitude, some has the heights and some has the X factor.

  
  
  

  Pictures From Malaysia DreamGirl

  It ended with the chosen 12 beautiful girls, a choice of 3 judges. I must say that one of the judge has lost it because he couldn’t get pass his second brain to really make a good judgment. In simple terms, he is just attracted to every sexy and pretty girl that walks in for audition and said yes to them. Go watch the first few episodes and you know who I am talking about.

  First few series was alright, lots of talks and all. There wasn’t any excitement cooking. I quite like the “White Summer” shots. It was pleasant, cheerful and looks great. Shots below:

  
  
  

  Come Episode 10, part 5, drama and tension begun. Hey girls are girls, they need to be a drama queen at times. Guess what was involved in the fight? Shoes and tomatoes, how cute? Like there is nothing better to fight about. I guess it is very real because these gals are staying together for days or maybe months. Competition is tough and I suppose they have their differences.

  My pick for the Malaysian Dreamgirl would be Jay. She has the model feature, good attitude and she presents herself very well. Actually I like Eyna but she is out. Her picture does have excellent model quality.

  
  
  

  There were some girls with unappealing attitudes like talking too much, boasting too much, childish fights and unfriendly. Go watch it online @ http://www.malaysiandreamgirl.tv/ and match who is who.

• Keyboard Cleaning

  04.11.08 | Permalink |Design, Tips| 4 Comments

  After reading “‘Laki’ Cleansing” from Loctor Mayat’s blog, I decided to clean my keyboard too. I am using an Apple brand keyboard too. Somehow I think that the design is not very practical because it has a plastic cover at the bottom of the keyboard. Dirt seems to accumulate at the bottom and it is difficult for me to get it out. Worst is little ants like to carry food stuff into by keyboard even after my son drew the no ant-ry sign.

  Now that I know I can pop those keys out using a plastic ruler, I can clean the dirt out with a small paint brush. It is all clean now and the keyboard still works, thanks to Loctor Mayat.