Yok Mampir Cafe’s Blog

Remember my posting last year regarding home made cakes? Since Ramadhan is just next week, you better make an order before they get too busy.

Here is more info on this wonderful couple who are making their mark in the local culinary scene :

http://yokmampircafe.blogspot.com/

Budget 2009 Live Telecast

Catch the live telecast at 3pm today on TV or radio. Hope there will good news to come.

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The Star Online, 13 AUG 2008

The 2009 federal budget, which will be presented in Parliament on Aug 29, is the most challenging one in recent years, being formulated under tough macroeconomic conditions. CIMB Economics Research looks at some of the possible highlights of the budget strategy for next year

ALTHOUGH the Malaysian economy held up pretty well in the first half of 2008, higher energy costs and soaring food prices will sap the purchasing power of households and restrain consumption over the coming quarters.

<read more here>

Alliance Bank Scam

I received an email to link to this address :

http://www.ustaska.pl/translations/checker/alliance.net.my/nwelcome.htm

The page that it links to looks just like the actual Alliance Bank Login :

https://www.allianceonline.net.my/nwelcome.htm

I can bet you that once they get all your ID details, you will lose all you money. Why do I say that this is a scam? I DO NOT have ANY account with Alliance Bank !!!

So, please forward this info to all your friends and relatives.

New Hope for ‘Frequent Railers’

Reading the followup article on our PM’s initiative to beef up the rail transport in the KL city center is really touching. Its not easy for a man of his age & responsibility to get the hands on experience and see what can be done to improve the current public rail transportation system.

My hope, along with millions of others who are users of this system is that there will be more coaches, higher frequency of trains, ample space just to breathe & shorter waiting periods. While the parties involved are at it, there would also be some good if the air conditioning temperature could be maintained at at least 20 degrees celsius.

Thank you Mr PM & good luck to everyone who will be involved in the immediate upgrade process !
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From The Star Online 21st Aug 2008 :

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took rides on the commuter and Kelana Jaya rail line from Serdang to the city centre Thursday to get a feel of the transportation problems faced by the people and came away less than satisfied.

<please read the full article>

Update on the Komuter Issue

The Star Online, Thursday August 21, 2008 MYT 12:30:04 PM

PM unhappy with Komuter, LRT services

KUALA LUMPUR: The Prime Minister took a ride on the Komuter and LRT trains and was not impressed.

In the journey from Serdang to Masjid Jamek using the two train systems, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi got a first-hand look at the congestion problem, especially during peak hours.

He also talked to passengers to get their feedback on the services provided.

He said later that the operations of the two train services were not systematic and there were also insufficient coaches.

The Weekend Car Flee Market

I have yet to witness this local weekly event that heavily attracts motor enthusiasts.

I hope that 1 fine day, I’ll be able to find the time to check it out as I am a true fan of ICE (in car entertainment) which sometimes is better & a lot cheaper to buy 2nd hand, especially the high end components, some of which are of higher quality than the ones produced presently today.

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The Star Online, Saturday August 16, 2008

Cheap, cheap cars!

By REVATHI MURUGAPPAN
Pictures by LOW LAY PHON / The Star and JOLEEN LUNJEW

Flea markets are a good place to look for all kinds of things. But did you know there’s also a one-stop “car market” for those hunting for used cars, spare parts, audio equipment and accessories?

With the hike in fuel prices, petrol rebate notwithstanding, many Malaysians are opting for smaller cars.

Certainly, the motor vehicle sector is bracing for tougher times ahead as demand for new cars and commercial vehicles dampen. Consumers will likely hold back big-ticket purchases, including new cars, amidst concerns over inflation and a weakening economy.

<Full story>

Working in Brunei

I received an SMS this morning from a prominent academician. It read “got the offer to work in Brunei…”

So, the question for him was, is it worth to go all the way there and quit all that he has going here in the local academic arena. Well, there are so many factors to consider. Salary (way better over there), lifestyle, infrastructure, recognition, future plans, relocating the entire family, long distance travel, unfinished financial commitments (outstanding loans).. etc.

So its a major decision to make. There will always be pros and cons in any major decision AND along with it comes a financial impact, not only on the trasferee but also on the others (family) involved in the transfer. Sometimes a change of atmostphere and environment is good but (most of the time) only with the assurance of the ability to return back to the current state.

However, in an irriversible situation, more consequences might be at stake…

Here is a simple writeup on Brunei from Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunei

Cool Meanings

This is from an email that my neighbor sent me. The one I like is highlighted in red…

My uncle might disagree but then again, its still open to public opinion. What is yours?

Cigarette:

A pinch of tobacco rolled in paper with fire at one end & a fool at the other.

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Love affairs:

Something like cricket where one-day internationals are more popular than a five-day test.

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Marriage:

It’s an agreement in which a man loses his bachelor degree and a woman gains her master

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Divorce:

Future tense of marriage

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Lecture:

An art of transferring information from the notes of the lecturer to the notes of the students without passing through the minds of either.

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Conference:

The confusion of one man multiplied by the number present.

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Compromise:

The art of dividing a cake in such a way that everybody believes he got the biggest piece.

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Tears:

The hydraulic force by which masculine will power is defeated by feminine waterpower.. .

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Dictionary:

A place where divorce comes before marriage.

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Conference Room:

A place where everybody talks, nobody listens & everybody disagrees later on.

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Ecstasy:

A feeling when you feel you are going to feel a feeling you have never felt before.

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Classic:

A book which people praise, but do not read.

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Smile:

A curve that can set a lot of things straight.

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Office:

A place where you can relax after your strenuous home life.

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Yawn:

The only time some married men ever get to open their mouth.

***********
Etc:

A sign to make others believe that you know more than you actually do.

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Committee:

Individuals who can do nothing individually and sit to decide that nothing can be done together.

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Experience:

The name men give to their mistakes.

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Atom Bomb:

An invention to end all inventions.

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Philosopher:

A fool who torments himself during life, to be spoken of when dead.

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Diplomat:

A person who tells you to go to hell in such a way that you actually look forward to the trip.

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Opportunist:

A person who starts taking bath if he accidentally falls into a river.

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Optimist:

A person who while falling from Eiffel Tower says in midway See I am not injured yet.

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Pessimist:

A person who says that O is the last letter in ZERO, Instead of the first letter in word OPPORTUNITY

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Miser:

A person who lives poor so that he can die rich.

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Father:

A banker provided by nature.

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Criminal:

A guy no different from the rest… except that he got caught.

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Boss:

Someone who is early when you are late and late when you are early.

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Politician:

One who shakes your hand before elections and your Confidence after.

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Doctor:

A person who kills your ills by pills, and kills you with his bills.

Have You Been on the KTM Komuter Lately?

Some friends and relatives told me that the situation is really really really BAD.

Lets assume this, how do you fit 200 match sticks into a match box that can only hold 100 sticks? The answer is you actually CAN’T !!!

Why? Simply because there is not enough SPACE. The result? 100 sticks just get left behind.

Since the rise in petrol prices, more and more people have no choice but to use public transportation. The sad part is that the current infrastructure is just inadequate to cater the rising demand.

What is your opinion?