Conflicting Services by Telcos

December 29, 2005 2 Comments

I confessed I am one of those people who will never pick up a "Private" or "Confidential" line. Why? Cos’ I dun give much respect to those phone users who like to be in the shadows or darkness – hiding their identities when they are making a call. Afterall, why the sneaking concealed identity – unless the caller has something to hide.
 
True and fair enough, many of these "private" or "confidential" lines belong to people in such categories:
 
1) Insurance Tele-salesman (trying to up-sell a new policy)
2) Credit Card Company Tele-salesman (trying to ask you to take more "Ready Cash")
3) Membership Tele-salesman (trying to sell you stupid membership for hotels etc)
4) Stock Broker from God-knows-where (talk with an accent, often trying to sell you the idea of good units)
5) Overdue Creditors (hunting you down, asking you to pay up for your overdue bills)
6) General strangers (who are still using coin-phone to disturb you)
7) Flings (people who cannot afford to reveal identity)
8) Overseas Call (but now, even some overseas calls also offer ID)
 
What disturb me most is that our local telcos offer 2 conflicting services – Caller ID and Confidential Line. Imagine I paid extra $5 every month for Caller ID and there are also people out there paying money to keep their lines private and confidential. (I still dun know why the intentions to go private). Just imagine the whole mobile user population out there pay both Caller ID and Confidential. It just make no sense for consumers.
 
I questioned a staff at M1 before about this stupid conflicting services. In fact, I tot it is not right to charge consumers for Caller ID and on the other hand, offer Confidential Line to other consumers. Then, what is the point of subscribing Caller ID? What the local telcos should do is to offer Caller ID for FREE. And make money by selling Confidential Line. How could they offer 2 conflicting services???
 
I had once a client who complained to me that he couldn’t get me and I didn’t even bother to call back. (cos’ there is no ID, so how the hell I know who called). I told him my reasons for missing his call. He then asked sacastically back "why you carry a handphone and dun reply?" I replied, "I pay for my handphone, I can choose when to reply and when not to answer. My phone is for my convenience, not yours."
 
Honestly, I am still figuring out why there are people (I mean, normal ones) subscribing to private lines. If you are interested and sincerely in making a contact, dun behave like a spy or a sneaking asshole. Be open. And for those who answer private lines, please dun be a slave to your handphone. Didn’t you mama tell you not to talk to strangers.
 
For telcos. Please employ people who think. You can employ me. Cos I am going to suggest that you can introduce another package call the "SUPER CALLER ID" – for those who loves to see those private lines. Make cents and sense.
 
 

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Wahbiang Christmas 2005

December 25, 2005 2 Comments

Not Classic 2004, But Still Endless Laughters, Games and Fun!

 
Just came back from the party – it ended less than 1 hour ago.. Just finished downloaded some of the best shots of the night onto my blog. It is certainly a wild and fun night; despite the low turn-out of our clan members.
 
This year, Yifu and Lilian played host for Wahbiang Xmas 2005 at their new condo home at Bishan. There were only 14 of us (Yifu, Lilian, Meijie, Jimmy, Kendrick, Stephen, Wendy, Joe, Felicia, Kalinda, Tracy, Juliana, Duuk, Guofeng). Many fell ill this year – Ivy and Serene. Kendrick’s gal had to work, so she couldn’t make it too.
 
Still, it was a good night of fun and laughters. Not as classic as 2004 Xmas (that was still the best Xmas in my opinion). Miss these missing people: Joanne, Serene, Yixi, Lusia, MC, Francis, Echo and Ivy. Somehow, felt that Tracy, Kalinda and Kendrick were a little tamed tonight. (maybe this year got no "worm party"). 
 

Okay, here are some of the key notes of tonight party!
 
1) The top 3 prizes were won by Jimmy ($50 Taka Voucher), Kalinda (Fortune Sticks) and Duuk (Volka Mini). All 3 "gold prize" winners had to go thru forfeits in order to redeem their prize.
2) Wendy (stool), Lilian (memo pad) and Yifu (salt and pepper holders) got the consolation prizes.
3) Many people actually dun know what "MSN" stands for. Guofeng and Lilian didn’t got that right.
4) Wendy "mouthed" Juliana! Wendy has to feed Juli 10 m&m – using nothing but her mouth!
5) Gareth then picked Felicia to repeat the "Juliana-Wendy" erotic challenge.
6) Jimmy got molested and licked by 5 poor souls. And worse – Felicia tried a "Jimmy-Orh-Pi-Sai" stunt.
7) Yixi was voted as the most stingy person in our clan. And Guofeng won the "Most Flirt Award".
8) Only Tracy, Juliana and Kendrick walked free without any forfeits.
9) Kalinda and Jimmy had to dance thru a "Cyndi MTV" in order to redeem their top prizes. For Duuk, he was foaming with whip-cream after his forfiets.
10) The games and prizes added up to $380. The internet tutorial given by Gareth is FREE. :)
 
Felicia will be releasing the "Dance Video" soon. Come back to view these footages later this week!


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Candid Shots! The Funny, The Bold and The Ugly!

December 23, 2005 Leave a comment

Wahbiang Moments of the Year!
I was clearing my digital photo library over the past 2 sundays. My gosh, since 2002 (when I got my Nikon Digital 950), I have snapped more than 20,000 shots! And in my "friends" library alone, there are exactly 4,564 digital photos of my clan.
 
So, I spent the past few days going thru these digital shots – selecting the best and the worst. Since it is always my custom to give out "photo-xmas-card" every Christmas, I decided to give out a "Top 20 Selection" this year.
 
 
 

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O-Biang Dress-Up Party at Katong

December 16, 2005 Leave a comment

Once again, the people at Katong has done something extraordinary. I guess it is the first of its kind at Ean Kiam Place – a street Christmas party like no other. Like it or not, this street at Katong is becoming Singapore’s first underground design street – (perhaps, I should push this idea hard to the Government to commission this street as a design street – like Science Park, Biopolis etc)
 
Anyway, Randy and gang thought of creating an "O-BIANG" party. What is "O-Biang"? In short, it means outdated, retro and 1960s. Anyway, everyone must come dressing in really "O-Biang" outlook.
 
The turnout tonight was HUGE! We kinda blocked off half of Ean Kiam Place! 5 companies took part in this first-ever joint-Christmas party. Everyone came dressed-up – with the "O-Biang" theme in mind.
 
Here are some funny shots of the "O-Biang" Party. I came dressing as a MP of the 60s.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
 
THANK YOU: To the wonderful people at SPELL. Thanks for your Christmas Tree Gift to Caffeine. You can see it in the pix.

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Did I sign for a Package?

December 9, 2005 2 Comments


It all happened last week. Joe’s 15-year old 29 inch Sony TV broke down and died.
With Joe’s new Samsung 42" Plasma TV, it is not that hard to imagine. (at Hotel 25)

 
This is dedicated to: Meijie (for everything!) + Tracy (Shooting & Flash) + Stephen, Duuk, Juliana, Joanne, Wendy (for all the weekend party) Note: We just finished our little "Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony" by Meijie.  And See the Real TVC below :)


 

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Singaporean’s Stupid Queuing Habits

December 9, 2005 2 Comments

There are times when I cannot understand why my fellow Singaporeans are so stupid and rude. Worst, they dun compute logic and aren’t resourceful at all. One of the most disturbing behaviours I couldn’t stand is Singaporean’s Strange but Stupid Queuing Habits. Here are a few cases:
 
CASE NO 1:    At AXS Machines
I was paying my dad’s phone bill at Parkway AXS Machines yesterday afternoon. There are 2 machines (side by side) and each is occupied with one user. Being the 3rd user there, I decided to stand in between the 2 machines.
The logic is simple: The machines are so close apart and I get 2 access to either one of the machine. If one of the 2 users jammed the machine, I won’t be wasting my time waiting behind him/her. A single-line queue to multiple service counters is certainly fair and fast.  However, not many places offer such system. You only get to see such queuing-system in bank, cinema, 4D counter and Challenger IT Store etc.
 
Anyway, there was a teenage-girl queuing behind me with her mother. Sensing the man on the left AXS Machine was going to complete his payment, the teenage-girl’s mother walked out of my queue and stood behind the man – creating a "1-queue-1-system".
 
Fearing the people behind me will start following her cue, I decided to tell her to get back to my queue. Of cos’, like typical Singaporean, she replied: "There are 2 machines here, you queue yours, I queue mine. What’s the problem?" 

I remarked loud and clear: "Auntie, you queue one line, you get 2 machines. It is faster this way. And I am here before you guys. If this man is leaving that machine, I have my rights to use it first. Please dun cut queue."

 
Speechless and embarressed, she went back behind me, grumbling in her hokkien tongue – still complaining that why I started a queue like that.
 
This is so typical Singaporean. When they see 2 machines, they "automatically" form 2 queue-lines. No wonder, they need real barricades or painted floor markings to guide them. We are the only train stations that have "yellow boxes" to guide our people not to block traffic in front of opening MRT Doors.
 
 
CASE NO 2:    Getting a Cab along the Road
The street rule goes – "The one nearer to the coming cab gets the cab"
 
We can’t really fault the cab driver if he decided to pick up someone who "hijacked" your cab. This is one of the most common self-made tension between strangers. Especially when 2 of you are within 50m of the road. It really doesn’t matter who comes first. It is more like "who is ahead of you".
 
I met enough jackass "hijacking" my cab. These people often tried to "outwalk" you by another 10m ahead of you. So, what happened if you meet a "taxi hijacker" on the road? Here are some Singaporean’s common reactions:
 
1) Start Walking ahead of these "hijacker" – Stare hard at them when overtaking them.
2) Resign to fate and stood them frowning. Let the "hijackers" snatch the cab right under their nose. Afterall, there are enough empty cab in Singapore. Wait for next one lor. Only react when more people over-take him.
3) Call for cab lor. Afterall, money can solve anything. And if a cab appears before the booked cab comes, board first…and cancel the booked cab.
 
For me, I rather make my intention & presence clear. If I saw someone waiting for cab along the same road before me, I will walk close to him – ask him if he is waiting for a cab – and if he says yes, I will tell him that I will stand there and wait for the next one.
 
And for those jackass who think they can hide by overtaking me, they are very wrong. Cos’ I will yell out loud to them and make clear that I am there first. They have to wait. Most times, this approach worked. Cos’ Singaporean scare "lose-face" and will act "righteously" when told. Unless these "hijackers" are like 100m away from you – it may not be their fault. They may not see you at all.
 
Nevertheless, I did  give way to "hijackers" who are pregnant, old, with baby in hands or handicap.
 
There are more of such mindless people I meet everyday. Where is the "grace element" in our people? Or have we become so competitive that we forget our basic manner and upbringing?
 
 

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Working for “Sweat and Blood” Money

December 2, 2005 3 Comments

Every day, I am surrounded by job hazards. Now, I can truly understand why my dad said he worked sweat and blood for our lives.
 

Since the day I decided to go into business, my mama warned me not to partner any friends or family members in business. Money matters turns friendship ugly. It brings out the worst in people…. Just like the golden band in Lord of the Rings – we will lose control of ourselves. If we partner "not-so-close" people in our business, we can always plot their deaths later. But it is very wrong to murder your own friends and family members over business matters. I guess this is what she meant…

 
So, every day, I must remind myself to watch my back… preparing myself from any terrorist’s attack. Cos’ we have no friend in business… just benefit buddies and pay masters. My NS training has taught me well, I must be offensive – be pro-active – go out and take down my targets first – before they can be a real threat to me later. (I didn’t act fast in my last venture – that is why I was conned so badly by that son-of-the-bitch asshole, bastard, dickless donkey!)
 
Since that day, I have 100% no tolerance for office politics, back-stabbers, stingy colleagues, cranky designers, cheating partners and grumpy old office janitor.
 
So, yesterday, after plotting for an intense and most detailed attack strategy, I decided to go into action (with an ally) after 10 minutes of serious planning. (Attached images are unsuitable for the typical, safe boring office workers)
 
At least now I can go home and tell my wife and son that daddy did fight (sweat and blood) his life off for their daily bread. :P

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My Adventures with Taxi Drivers

December 1, 2005 Leave a comment


On an average, I took about 1,200 cab trips per year. That worked out to be about 3.2 cab-trip per day. Quite a conservative number, I guess. So, if I convert that to an estimated cost (based on $5/trip), the final figure can be quite alarming. We are talking about $6,000 – $8,000 per annual. Imagine the kind of money I can save by walking. And if I am a 4D fan, I would have more than a thousand 4D to play with.
 
Of course, as much as 45% of the $8,000 are "covered" by my company. So, it is still cheaper than owning a car. I have no petrol hike to worry…or extra insurance to bear. On the minimum, I will need to spend about $8/day for my transport to work and back to home. So, it cost me about $2,500/annual for my transport to work and back.
 
Friends who have taken cab with me would know that how much I enjoyed chatting with these drivers. For the past 5 years, I may have came into contact with about 6,000 cab drivers (on the assumption that I didn’t take the same cab twice). I have met all kind of cab drivers – from the wise ones to ah beng ones, from the really rude ones to the very enterprising one.
 
But every journey, I absorbed a little tale about the drivers and their own "philosophy" about their job, their families and their perception of our country. Most of the time, I learnt to see a different perspective from these humble people. (Confirmed: there isn’t a young pretty female driver in the cohort of taxi drivers).
 
You will be surprised with the kind of drivers I have encountered. Here are some of my "more interesting" encounters:
 
1) The Extra Service One
One driver threw me a black book of female names. He personally recommended to me a lady called "QiQi". He told me that these are the "hookers" who booked his services on a regular basis. He denied taking commission or "pimp’s fee" but he said he can recommend one that will suit my taste.
 
2) The Secret Society One
One driver fetched me and mistaken for a "client" whom he needs to ferry for a "black business deal". He claimed he was working for an established secret society and ferried "special guests" from airports, hotels and secret gambling dens. He never knew who his "special guests" are, except he will pick them up at specific locations. These guests were mainly new hookers from China, pimps and loan-sharks.
 
3) The Asset-Rich but Cash-Poor One
This Cabbie was eating sushi and offering me some. He told me that he was a Japanese chef and own a condo. Due to bad investment, he has to find $4K every month to pay for his 1.6L car, his condo and other instalments. So, how much he earns as a chef – close to $3K! And driving cab will give him an extra $1K a month.
 
4) The Ex-Millionaire
He was a hotel owner in Vietnam in the early 1990s. He spoke superb fluent English and dressed differently. He had all the magazines that I dun even read – Fortune, Economic Review, Singapore Tatler etc. Sound like a real enterpriser, he went bust in the late 1990s and had to drive cab to make a living now. He is also the one who gave me this 3 golden health rules – "Healthy in the Mind, the Body and the Spirit"
 
 
5) The Salesman
Driving a cab is his part-time job. He is a salesman. He is into all kinds of business – from selling handphone accessories to property agent, he was running around – meeting his clients. During break, he would use his cab as another money-making tool, fetching clients around. Why dun you just own a car, I asked. He replied, "cab is cheaper, only no image. But client won’t know". Driving a cab is cheaper, more flexible than owning a car or renting it. What’s more, he only need the cab in the day. At nights and weekends, he rent it out.
 
 
6) Unbelievable: The One that Fetched me 5 Times
He is a perfect stranger. We dun live near one another. I didn’t make a transport deal with him. Strange but true – and possibly 1 in a million - on 5 different occassions, he picked me off the road and we recognised one another. He has a little doll that he clipped on his mirror and a Siemens ads behind. The first 4 trips are:
 
a) From Eunos to Changi Hospital
b) From Katong to Tampines
c) From Bugis to Eunos
d) From Simei to Eunos
 
I just bumped into him again last Tuesday (from Eunos to Katong). Guess what? His cab is running my Konica Minolta ad now. His name is Mr Rashid and he drives a blue comfort: SHA 6754T.
 

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