Infected with H1N1 and insurance claim

Last month I started with high fever, body temperature above 38.3 deg, sore throat and cough. The doctor suspect is H1N1 disease and do a throat swab. The sample was send to the laboratory to test and on the next day, it was confirmed infected with H1N1. Doctor advise to rest well and need to see her immediately if the condition get worse.

After 1 week of rest, I had recovered from H1N1 and luckily I had bough a personal accident insurance (PASTAR)  from tenet that allow me to claim for my medical bill.

New Social Media Marketing

Recently came across a new way of earning money by sharing articles, news or information through facebook, twitter or google+. Detail in this link - > http://bit.ly/1dAewrK
Is this a scam ? I dont know. Maybe I should tried it and posted the result after the cash out.

Master Card Cross Border Fee

I have used the mastercard to pay for my US professional membership fees of US$147. The currency conversion rate is 0.8007 so after the conversion, I need to pay in S$183.59. Beside the currency conversion, I also need to pay an additional of S$4.59 cross border fees which is equivalent to (4.59/183.59) 2.5%.

Are cats allow in HDB flat?

Recently come across a facebook post on the reply from HDB - are Cats allowed in HDB flat?



To confirm that it is true, I have double check in the HDB web site - http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10326p.nsf/w/PetTypesOfPetsAllowed - From the website it stated clearly

"Flat owners are not allowed to keep cats in HDB flats, as it is generally difficult to confine cats within the flat premises. Nuisance caused by cats such as shedding of their fur, defecating/urinating in public areas or even the caterwauling sounds that they make can cause a lot of disturbance, which affects the environment and disrupts neighbourliness in our housing estates."

And indeed it is true and alot of hdb owner are not aware of it.

NTUC Incomeshield Appeal Result

One week later, I received a letter from NTUC Income

Dear Policyholder

INCOMESHIELD - DECLARATION OF HEALTH CONDITION

Thank you for providing us the additional information on your health status/medical history.
The policy as issued earlier without above information.

We are pleased to inform that we are agreeable to remove the exclusion DISORDERS OF THE HEART imposed on the above mentioned policy. Please refer to enclosed endorsement for details.

I you have any queries, please call our Customer Service Officers at 63321133 or email us at healthcare@income.com.sg. We would be most happy to assist you.

Yours sincerely


Chue Chun Yi
Executive
Group & Health

After received this letter, I am happy that NTUC Income finally agree on the removal of the exclusion. However the exclusion had made me worry for years. Will it be better that the echocardiogram be done first to confirm the seriousness of the MVP before adding the exclusion in the policy? Is the insurance agent that sell the policy to me did not take the initiative do a good job? Is it no one wanted to bear the cost of medical check ($321/-)? Should the insurance agent pay for my bill as they are earning commission annually from my medical plan?
If I did not appeal then forever I will not be sufficient cover. Quite disappointed with the agent and the insurance company without taking the initiative and give their best services to the customer.

Echocardiogram Check

I went to Lifeline Heart Centre to do my Echocardiogram Check. The counter staff asked me to fill in the form, and do the preparation-  blood pressure check, weight and height check. After all the check, went into the room, take off clothes and lay on the bed. Doctor Jayaram Lingamanaicker came and do the check for me. He is very friendly and would explained the finding to me. I did not tell him what has happened to my heart and he already asked me is it related to mitral valve prolapse (MVP). As in the screen he able to see the valve and blood movement. He also say that the health insurance company will be relundance to insured if they know that the person has mitral valve prolapse.I told him that I am appealing to insurance company on my MVP case. He has done a thorough check on my heart and conclude that my MVP is trivial. To him, he will treat it as normal and no further treatment needed. All my other heart structure, valve , pressure are normal. He written a report on the finding and I send the necessary document to NTUC Income and waiting for their reply on my appeal.

NTUC Incomeshield Appeal - additional Information Required

After sending my appeal to NTUC Income,  few days later received below letter from NTUC Income

Dear Policyholder

INCOMESHIELD - INFORMATION GATHERING(APPEAL)
INSURED NAME: XXXXXXX
POLICY NUMBER: 90XXXXXX

Thank you for your appeal for Enhanced Preferred and Plus Rider

We would appreciate if you could provide the following information:

1) Supplementary Health Questionnaire on mitral valve prolapse
2) Please submit latest echocardiogram done within last 1 year.
Note: Decision depends on the findings of the report.

(Please do NOT submit original copy of medical report/test result. We only need a clear photocopy)

(For internal ref: XX/XX/XX)

Please not that should you undergo any of the above test(s), or obtain the above report(s) from the hospital(s) and/or clinic(s), the cost of the medical report(s) and the test(s) will be at your own expense.

We have enclosed a self-addressed envelop for your convenience. If we do not hear from you by xx xx xxxx, we will proceed to withdraw your appeal request.

If you have any queries, please call our Customer Service Officers at 63321133 or email healthcare@income.com.sg. We would be most happy to assist you.


Yours sincerely,


Christabel Chang
Manager
Group & Health 

After received this letter, I have only 10 days left to get my medical report. I neele to search a clinic that able to do the echocardiogram and can get the report fast. I search through internet and most of them are in hospital.

Suddenly I browse through TCC website and found

TCC Heart Check Up for Members by 

Lifeline Heart Centre located at Mt Elizabeth Medical Centre.

So I called and found that they able to do the check. The report  will be available after .the test. The appointment date is next day morning.

NTUC Enhance Incomeshield Plan

When I decided to upgrade my Incomeshield Plan B to NTUC Enhance Incomeshield Plan - Preferred in 1 April 2009, I received a letter as follow

It is hereby agreed and declared that with effect from 01-04-2009, the following provision shall apply to this policy

For plicy number : 90xxxxxx, the benefits under Incomeshield and Incomeshield Plus Rider shall not be operative in the event of a claim for costs of treatment, medical advice, hospitalisation, relating to and/or arising out of

DISORDER OF THE HEART

AND ALL ILLNESSES/CONDITIONS CAUSED THERBY AND/OR RELATED THERETO, INCLUDING THE CONSEQUENCES OF TREATMENT

THE ABOVE EXCLUSION, IF PREVIOUSLY COVERED, WILL CONTINUE TO BE COVERED UNDER PLAN BSG

All other terms and conditions remain unchanged.

Countersigned by : _______________    _______________
                             Authorised Officer       Tan Sue Chieh
                                                                Chief Executive

When received this letter, I was disappointed and also feeling unfair. Disappointed as the National heart centre that diagnose I have Mitral Valve prolapse trivial had discharged me with no follow-up check-up or appointment needed. No treatment required then why should NTUC income exclude the heart condition in my policy?
Unfair - I am paying the same premium as other policy insurer but cover less, then why should I pay same but get less?

This year I go for medical check-up and the result is very good. So I decide to appeal for my incomeshield with my medical report and wait for their reply.

Get rebate while using MRT and LRT

Insinc - Incentive for Singapore's Commuters let you win cash while traveling with MRT and LRT. For more details please click the link - https://insinc.sg/r/6H5qwXfv/

10 Things you did not know about Singapore

Quite interesting things to know more about Singapore.

Courtesy of: Infographics.SG

Jetstar Price in Desktop and Mobile Version

Intent to book a air ticket from Singapore to Malaysia Kuala Lumpur and found there is a price different in normal http://www.jetstar.com/sg/en/home

and http://mobile.jetstart.com/s. Wonder why there is different of $30? Actually there is no different. The mobile version already included all the tax eg airport tax and fuel tax etc while the desktop version only indicate the air ticket price. In the overall price, both of them will be the same.

Family Problems

Whenever students absent from lesson, one of the main reasons was they had family problem.



However who's in this world does not has family problem? No family is perfect. Every family is unique with its own combination of strengths and weaknesses. We quarrel, we argue, we fight. We even stop talking to each other at times, but in the end, family is family, the love will always be there and we still care for each other.

How to remove the scorch on the pot

Have read an article on removing the scorch on the pot.

1. 倒入約半碗的白醋(也可以用茶葉)。加水煮沸約三四分鐘>
1. Pour half bowl of white vinegar into the pour. Add water and boil for 3 to 4 minutes
2. 沸後靜置五分鐘，不急的話，也可以放更久。>
2. Let it cool for 5 mins after the boil
3. 神奇的事情發生了，焦掉的部分一整片從鍋子上輕鬆脫落.
3. Miracle happen. The burn mark easily removed from the pot.
4. 用清水沖一沖，再稍微刷一下就清潔溜溜了！
4. Use water to wash and rinse it. The pot will be as new.

How Technology has Affect your Life Poster

Colour Bar at the Bottom of the Toothpaste Tube

Recently have read a "useful tip" from social media stated the original meaning of the colour bar at the bottom of the toothpaste tube.


Green: natural
Blue : Natural + Medicine;
Red : Natural + Chemical composition;
Black : pure chemical.

However the above information is not truth. The rectangular marks or lines on tubes referred to in the message, are using in the packaging process. The marks are known in the packaging industry as "eye marks" (or sometimes "eye spots"). Details can be found in http://www.hoax-slayer.com/squares-on-tube-hoax.shtml

Largest Mural Art

Singapore Book of records for Largest Mural Made from Re-cycled Packaging Materials measuring 1.2m x 105.5m was created on 5 Aug 2013. Please view the video for the mural art telling singapore story / achievement from 1965 to 2013.

How to choose a sweet Water Melon

You may want to try the below method in choosing a sweet water melon.

Solopreneurs to Entrepreneur

As more and more people achieve high education level and changes in the business environment, most of young generation and graduate have become freelancer. As a freelancer, they are their own boss, they manage their own time, financial planning, marketing and promotion. A new term has been evolve as solopreneurs which can also refer to the freelancer. Can solopreneurs become entrepreneur? It depend on the service and product that being offer. If it is only the skill eg mobile programming, web development skill that provide to a company that need it, then they will not be able to become entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs are the creators and builders  of the new ventures. The keyword to entrepreneur are innovative and risk taker. If it is just to provide services to others then it is only consider as service provider. Entrepreneur can start from solopreneur so as to gain experience,to know the market momentum and needs and able to identify when and how to seize opportunities that come with change. As start from freelancer, they need not own a business and risk their personal capital. But when it evolve they need additional skill such as business planning, marketing, strategic management, Intellectual property to protect own right,finance management etc.

Alleged Singapore child abuse at NTUC First Campus

In the recent Singapore hot topic is the alleged child abuse at NTUC First Campus. A lot of news, comments, suggestion and argument were flying in the internet world.

The News -> http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/teacher-in-alleged-child/737986.html
The Suggestion -> http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/parents-play-a-key-role/740614.html
The Argument and comment - > http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/this_urban_jungle/1869234/toa_payoh_childcare_centre_abuse.html
The original video - >https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151557043991849
Youtube video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xspic-5O74
Another Witness statement - > https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200886158370280&set=a.1394874985950.56742.1054458725&type=1&theater

In my view will be more concern on the capability of the staff in teaching the special need students. Do the special need student need to have more resources to take care? Do the teaching staff know that the boy is a special need student and need to pay more attention and patient to it? Do the parent declare the child condition during the registration? Is the staff trained to teach the special need students?

In normal circumstances, most of the parents do not want their child to be "treated specially" and declare as normal in the health declaration. This will causes the delay in the treatment and affect the child learning progress.

SIngapore Hello Kitty make Singaporean crazy

Recently one fast food chain had launched a promotion for a series of six limited-edition Hello Kitty characters dressed in different outfits from popular fairy tales. It had caused some Singaporean crazy and went to queue in the early morning.In some outlets, chaos broke out amid rampant queue jumping as supplies of the toys ran out soon after the stores opened for business. Police was even called to maintain the order so as to prevent the situation out of control. I went to internet and found other hello kitty plush toy design. I wonder will the Singaporean love these design?


Jakks Pacific Hello Kitty Halloween Plush - 5.5" - Witch


Jakks Pacific Hello Kitty Holiday Plush - 5.5" - Green Bow


Hello Kitty 8" Black Plush: Tartan Bow


Jakks Pacific Hello Kitty Holiday Plush - 5.5" - Red Bow


Jakks Pacific Hello Kitty International Plush - 5.5" - USA Theme


Jakks Pacific Hello Kitty International Plush - 5.5" - Russia Theme

Spring Cleaning Recipe for the Grout

Wonder is the below mixture work ?

7 cups water, 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/3 cup lemon juice and 1/4 cup vinegar - throw in a spray bottle and spray your floor, let it sit for a minute or two... then scrub.

3R to 5R

In the past, the slogan for the recycle is 3R : Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Currently it has evolved into 5R which is Refuse,Reduce,Reuse,Repair and Recycle.

CCS Animation Contest

2 Project submitted for the CCS Animation Contest were shortlisted. Please see below for the project submitted

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_Llh5IZlVM

Design a New Skin for Recycle Bin

3 Trainees have won 1st, 3rd and Consolation prize for the Recycle Bin Skin Design Competition

First

Third

Consolation

CPIB Poster Competition

3 trainees have won 3rd and 2 merit Award in the CPIB Poster-Slogan Competition "Do Your Part to Stamp-Out Corruption". Details can be found on the following link :

http://app.cpib.gov.sg/cpib_new/user/default.aspx?pgID=1314


Below are their design :

3rd Prize

Merit Award

Funny Video

Talented student posted their video project in you tube.

Moving to New Home

Long time never blog. Been very busy in preparing to move to a new 4 room flat. In my whole life, I have been moving house for 3 times. First house that i stay is a 2 room flat - rented from HDB. Second one is a rented 3 room flat - Blk 11 Margaret Drive #07-305. The whole building has been demolished. Then was force to buy a 3 room flat in Blk 39A Commonwealth Ave. I stayed in the Commonwealth building since i am study in the Polytechnic. This house was also en-bloc by HDB and now i just moved to this new building Strathmore Ave at 26 Jan 08.

Jokes - Teacher vomit blood 1

Received this email from friend. Believe is belong to one of the primary school written assignment.

Illusion 8

Can you see dolphines ?

When ask the little kids they will say they see dolphins but when asked adult the answer is others ....

Illusion 7

Concentrate at the 4 dot in the center for 30 second. The look at else where. Blind your eye and you will see an image.

Illusion 6

My IQ

This is my IQ test in 10 mins. So i am not bad.


Free-IQTest.net - Free IQ Test

Illusion 5

Straight or Curve ?

Illusion 4

Illusion 3

Illusion 2

The human brain tricks us whenever it can Part 1

Have received a few illusion picture from friends. Quite interesting.

If see something‘s rotating – go home, you need a break!

Dream

These few night having nightmare. Dream about doing the wrong things and got management angry. Think there is alot of stress recently. Must learnt how to relax.

Why so playful?

Youth are very playful and mischievous. Sometime these behaviour will cause them to regret for the rest of their life. Today one female trainee look very worry and need someone to talk to. As i am the one that look very trustful and been helping alot of youth so she decided to approach me for some advises. During the last holiday, due to her mischievous, she was caught red handed together with her friend and being charged under penal code S381. On that day in the confinement cell, she was so frightened till cry for hours and after bail out she was not able to sleep well and dare not to stay out late.. She is so worry that she might get jail.

Down Town East Gathering

Yesterday received a call from Winnie, my ex trainee invited me for gathering and BBQ at Down Town East in next week. This is the third time in three years time she invited me since after she graduated. Is it a thank you of me being train her and never give up hope in her ? She may not be the best trainee in the class but she is a person that remember the staff.

Meeting

Yesterday met YY and found out reason why he quit.
From the conversation, there are 3 reasons :
1. Bad relationship with his immediate female boss. He felt she is incapable, only know how to arrow but not doing her own duty.
2. Wanted to have more freedom in doing his "quality" but not "quantity" education work. For those that in education sector will know what i mean. He already manage to gap an job in the private education sector to fulfill his dream.
3. Disappointed with the system.

Friend's update

Have recently call/meet up some old friends, got some bad and god news. Below is the summary list :

YY - A primary school Chinese teacher will be resigned on Dec. Quite surprising and will meeting him today to know the details.
SL - Will be father soon. Baby delivery in Dec
GH - Have resigned this month and started a new career with pay cut of more than 25%.
WC - His baby girl just born on 12 Oct
Alicia - His brother just passed away last week after a long hospitalise with high medical bill. Is a blessing or ??
Alex Cheong - Have change a new job from project officer into properly agent.

Friends need to be keep in contact if not you will lose them.

29 inches flat TV

I do not understand why whenever i am on holiday, my home electronic appliances will be spoilt. Last holiday is my electric kettle and this holiday is my 29" flat TV. Yesterday afternoon while my mum watching TV, suddenly there is a light splash appear on the TV screen and the very next moment, my whole house no electricity. Immediately i ask my mum to off the TV power . I go and check my in house circuit breaker but it did not pop. To play safe, i pull all the circuit breaker to off mode. Then i go outside and check the HDB main circuit breaker and it pop. So i reset it to on and slowly on my in hose circuit breaker one at a time to see any other power point causes the circuit breaker pop. All of them are working fine and i can confidently told my dad and mum that the TV is the one causes the power failure.

In order to make the main circuit breaker pop, the electric current must be very high and there is some where in the house causes it short circuit. To convince them, i show them the plug and there is a burn mark on it.

Next i dismantle the plug and it confirm there is high current passes through the copper and burn it. If i am not around and they continue turn on the TV set, i do not know what will happen to the house.

Internet Transaction Error

Today morning, 930am i have used the Internet to book the Genting - Theme Park Hotel using credit card. I have stayed in the Genting, Resort and First World hotel but have not tried the Theme Park Hotel. Booking in Internet is quite smooth initially, when it come to the last part - payment and confirmation of booking, the error occurred and indicate i need email to them. To my horror, immediately i called my credit card issuer (UOB) to check the status. The customer officer, an Indian guy answer my queries and confirm transaction of $$$ is success. I was not happy with this Indian guy service attitude. I request him to speak louder as his voice is too soft plus the voice tone not use to it. In the end his voice is loud but the tone is angry.
Next i call Genting worldcard Singapore branch, a Chinese guy with not so good English answer and confirm the booking of hotel is not successful. The $$ will be refund to me. To double confirm, i email to Malaysia eGenting Worldcard . The answer from them (Chris) is the same but in addition he advised me to use another credit card to try booking again. I have lost confident in their website. i just gone down to the tour agent and book the package.

Retirement Age.

What is my target retirement age ?? There is no real answer to it. 10+ years ago,i though of only when i have $300K that is strike the first prize Toto (that time Totofirst prize minimum is $300K) then i can no need to work for the rest of my life. But now $300K is nothing and i think i will need to have $2 million then i can shake leg and to enjoy a real retirement. Maybe after 10+ year, $2 million also not enough. So how can i retire ?

Discipline vs Counsel

What is discipline ?

1. Training to ensure proper behavior : the practice or methods of teaching and enforcing acceptable patterns of behavior
2. Order and control : a controlled orderly state, especially in a class of schoolchildren.

What is counsel ?
1. Advise somebody to do something : to advise somebody on a particular course of action
2. Advise somebody on personal problems: to give somebody advice and support on personal or psychological matters, usually in a professional context

If a school rule is break, do the student need to be counselled or discipline ? Base on the above explanation, a discipline action should be carried out but most of the school will use counseling method instead. It has mixed out the true meaning of counseling and discipline. Is this the cause of more and more youngster committed crime which related to they did not get any disciplinary punishment when they break the school rules and regulation.

Father Birthday Celebration at Central

Today is my father birthday celebration. My sister has booked two table set meal at the Tung Lok Signatures - Central. The atmosphere there is nice. It gave us a feeling that it is a high class restaurant. The foods and services were good. There are only 2 disappointment, first is the number 6th dishes - "Simmered Seasonal Vegetables with Needle Mushrooms and Conpoy Crisps". The serving portion is too much, all of us cannot finished because it is all vegetables (see the photo). The appearance of the vegetable gave us an impression that this is a "cheap" food. Second disappointment, there is no toilet in the restaurant. We need to walk a big round to outside wash room.

Hokkien Army Song during My NS time

Found the youtube the Hokkien Army Song. It arouse my past memory.
Enjoy the Song :).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYTGdi1w-Cs

Teacher Day Gift

Today has received a teacher day gift from PY as an appreciation of my "caring" on their academic work. Feel quite touch as this show that they are appreciate on my effort.

Letter written by Army officer

Been curious what has an Army officer written that needed to publish around and caused him been reprimand. Below is the blog that contain the content of the letter.

http://rockson.blogspot.com/2007/07/pm-son-shoot-email-complain-saf.html

Poster from Melbourne

Have taken a photo on this poster. All students should read it.

No Coffee and Tea for Me

Can feel my heart beat faster in the last 4 days. This morning wake up and decided to see the doctor before any serious sickness happen to me. The doctor very experience, after telling her the symptom, she quickly ask me do i take coffee or tea i the last few days. Indeed, when i was in Australia, everyday at least drink one latte, sometime 3 cups. and is a must for my breakfast. In Singapore i do not drink coffee for my breakfast and seldom drink coffee. In Australia because of the cold weather, need something to keep me warm.

Then the doctor examine my heart and measure my blood pressure. She advise me to stop any coffee and tea, the symptom should be away in Saturday if not i have to see her again. The heart beat fast may be the cause of accumulative of caffeine in my body.

Day 1 in Melbourne

On 17 Jun 07 night, my group consist of 4 young guys and 2 young gals plus 1 staffs took SQ airplane in Changi Terminal 2 and left to Melbourne for our 3 weeks global exchange programme training.

On 18 Jun 830am, we arrived at Melbourne Airport, Ms Melanie, the project coordinator was already there to welcome us. We were sent to our hostel to put our barang barang. The room for each of us is small. Inside the room there is one single bed, one table, one chair, one 24 inch TV and one cupboard.

Around 12pm, Ms Melanie brought us to lunch in one of the Vietnam Restaurant and after the meal we went to the Institute for an Orientation tour. In Australia,the night arrive early. At about 6pm the sky is almost dark - almost like 9pm in Singapore. Whole group of us went around to look for cheapest food and aha, the pizza near the 7-11 had promotion. One Regular pizza plus long garlic bread and 1.25l coke selling A$10.60. We all having the pizza then went to shopping for daily utilities.

Going Overseas for 3 weeks

I will be going Australia to study and doing project for 3 weeks started from 17 Jun to 7 July 07 which is my vacation time.

Details:
Country : Australia
State : Victoria
City : Melbourne
Weather : Winter 5 degree
Place of study - Boxhill Institute
Accomodation - http://www.carinyaaccommodation.com/index.html
Departure : 17 Jun 07 SQ0237
Arrival : 7 July 07 SQ 0228

New Business Ideas

During the morning tea session, while chit chatting with colleagues suddenly come out with this new business ideas : - baby care hotel. Nowsaday those family with pets when they need to go overseas, their pet will be temporary stay in the pet hotel where the pets are well taken care of. So after the overseas trip back to home, they are able to bring back their pets.

How about a couple with baby ? Currently there is no such services available. If the couples need to go overseas or the couples are sicks, who is going to take care of their baby? Why don't we set up a services and employed professional nurses to take care of the baby for them for short term. Think there will be a market for this baby caring services.

Technique to pass in Exam by Mr S

Below is an article read from the forum :

I had never been a hardworking student. Since I was a young student, I felt that memorising text from books was a complete waste of time - and I was never good at it.

Even though I knew I could obtain higher marks if I did it, I would rather settle for a pass. When I first entered Polytechnic in 1972, I was excited that I would be learning technical stuff, especially Electronics, which seemed high-tech enough that I would never need to memorise books again.

But, to my dismay, I found that the opposite was true. Despite being in the Electrical and Electronics Department, I found that we had to study subjects that were - to me - totally irrelevant. Worse, because nobody understood what the lecturers were talking about, everyone had to memorise the notes and regurgitate.

Sometimes the lecturers themselves did not know what they were teaching. 'OUTRIGHT BORING' Even Electronics, which was my biggest passion, was outright boring in the first two years. This was my second year in course, learning about radio and TV technology. As a result of those 'lectures', these straightforward and exciting technologies became a nightmare.

With the borrowed notes, I decided to skip the classes completely. By the time I reached my third year, there were about eight subjects. I was skipping classes for every subject except for Electronics. This was because the Electronics subject had moved on to cover Digital Electronics that, I knew, had a lot to do with computers.

It was also very logical, objective and interesting to me - no memorising required. It was about logicgates. You just needed logical thinking to understand it. On top of this, it was taught by an old but experienced lecturer. He liked to talk about his industrial experiences. He even joked about some of the absurd things he saw in school. I found it very refreshing and attended every one of his classes.

Finally, I devised a way that would significantly improve my efficiency. I reckoned that all these boring subjects would have no use in my life. Why waste my time copying them? The only reason was to pass the examinations.

Hence, I decided that I would only copy them just before the examinations. When I was copying, I was sort of 'studying' them for the examinations too. They went into my short-term memory. Immediately after the examinations, I would forget them completely. It was that efficient. In one instance, I was totally desperate. I needed to study one topic in a very boring subject whose classes I hardly attended.

This was a 'sure-to-come-out' question that I had zero clue about and I needed to answer it to get enough marks to pass. This was just an hour before the examination. Everyone was glued to his notes for last-minute studying. I could not borrow the notes to study fromanyone. I went to my best friend, KW. He was also studying hard and could not spare me his notebook. But I realised that he was not studying the topic I needed desperately.

(In) the nick of time, I came out with this crazy idea. With all the graciousness in the world, he consented. I took his book and tore it into twohalves - I returned him his half and borrowed the other half to study. The question did come out and I attempted it. I only spent half an hour studying it and passed the subject. It was a very close call.

In general, my method was that whatever I could remember from the note-copying exercise, I would write them down as the examination answers. The strategy was to err on the 'more' side. If you remember something, but are not sure if it is right, just write it down. I reckoned that you would not get penalised for providing wrong answers, but you would get marks for correct answers - it is worth the risk.

Moreover, it would make your answers longer. I guessed there would be some points associated with the length of the answers. BAD GRADES I managed to sail through most of the examinations in this way. But not with good marks. 'Cs' were common, sometimes a 'D', and occasionally an'A'. As the world has changed tremendously over the past 20 years, I am not recommending my techniques to any students today. You would need to formulate your own strategy to tailor it to the prevailing environment. I still think good old-fashioned hard work will pay off better.

Receive free sample of BRAND's health supplement

You can receive free BRAND'S Sample trial kit by simply register your particulars in their website.

www.brandsworld.com.sg

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More Flexible - With ETFs, it's much easier to get a diversified portfolio of stocks and commodities than to pick individual stocks and commodities. Also, you simply call your broker to trade ETFs, as flexible as trading shares!

ETFs generally aim to track indices like STI, Hang Seng Index and MSCI India. This means that when you invest in ETFs, you are effectively investing in the price movements of the component stocks in the underlying indices. With ETFs, you can also gain exposure to gold and other commodities.

To help investors get a sense of the index movements, SGX is organising a simple online guessing game.

Play the game at http://guessandwin.sgx.com and win up to $5,000 in cash! For more details on SGX ETFs, visit http://www.sgx.com/etf now Forward this to your friends, so that they have a chance to win too!

Now internet broadband speed 1 Mbps

Good news. Just received mail from singnet wanted to upgrade my 512Kbps broadband speed to 1 Mbps on 31 May 07 free.

Some blog that I read

Have found some interesting blog which written by Singaporean.
http://mrwangsaysso.blogspot.com/
The blogger is a ex NUS law graduate and currently work in financial sector. After reading this blog and found that he has a different view in Singapore issue. He look things at different angle and make people to think different by not just listening or reading blindly and agree without questioning.

http://apmoneycoaching.blogspot.com/
Money coaching. To teach people how to manage the money well and ways to create wealth. His other blog is on fengshui which give advice on fengshui that could bring wealth.

http://livinginvestment.spaces.live.com/
A local polytechnic lecturer that write blog on his daily life as well as his view and explaniation in financial term.

Online Learning - Daily Quiz

Recently i have participated in the cisco netwoking academy "netspace challenge" http://www.academynetspace.com. The online challenge has a daily QUIZ " Question of the day" which is one day one question and questions on demand which is 100 questions per day ranging from CCNA to CCNP level. Each correct answer will awaed certian points. Till now i have awarded 43000 points but compared with the top 475000 points, i still need to work a bit harder.

AKIRA Warehouse Sale

AKIRA Warehouse Sale

Date: 31 May - 3 June 2007
Time: 10am - 9pm daily
Venue: AKIRA Building (opposite IMM), 10 Toh Guan Road, Ground Floor, TT International Tradepark

Free shuttle service from Jurong East MRT station
From 31 May – 3 June 2007, catch the free shuttle service* (between 10am and 9pm) from Jurong East MRT station to the AKIRA Warehouse

* Shuttle Service interval:
- 31 May, 2 and 3 Jun 2007: 10 min intervals
- 1 Jun 2007: 20 min intervals

UNSW Asia (in Singapore) is closing down!

University of New South Wales just started its Singapore Campus this year.
Refer to: http://www.unswasia.edu.sg/homepage.html
The reason given is that enrollment is too little. So what is the current enrolment figure in Singapore UNSW ? It is truth enough if there is no student then there will be no school. Currently Singapore already have 4 University, NUS,NTU,SMU and SIM. Each of the university is try all their means to get enough students (including overseas students) to study in their University.

Escape Responsibility

A staff was nominated to perform a task but he try to avoid it by finding excuses of busy in doing other things. He hope that by delaying it and when the due date near, he may not be the one to do it. This is no use as his name was officially nominated by his superior and in the end he still need to do it. So why need to escape and avoid the duty ? If being nominated then just do it. Any unhappiness or remark can be made to the superior after completing the task.

How to Recruit The Right Person for The Job?

Put about 100 bricks in no particular order in a closed room with an open window.
Then send 2 or 3 candidates in the room and close the door.
Leave them alone and come back after 6 hours and then analyze the situation

If they are counting the bricks. Put them in the Accounts Department.
If they are recounting them.. Put them in Auditing.
If they have messed up the whole place with the bricks. Put them in Engineering.
If they are arranging the bricks in some strange order. Put them in Planning.
If they are throwing the bricks at each other. Put them in Operations.
If they are sleeping. Put them in Security.
If they have broken the bricks into pieces. Put them in Information Technology.
If they are sitting idle. Put them in Human Resources.
If they say they have tried different combinations, yet not a brick has been moved. Put them in Sales.
If they have already left for the day. Put them in Marketing.
If they are staring out of the window. Put them on Strategic Planning.

And then last but not least.
If they are standing around talking to each other and not a single brick has been moved..... Congratulate them and put them in Top Management!

Busy Week

Pay Tax

Today receive letter from Inland Revenue. It is paying Income Tax again. This month need to spend less for the tax payment.

Handphone

Oh no.... i have left my handphone on my office table. This is the second time i forgot to bring the handphone back.

Japan Water Melon

Have seem a shopping mart selling Japan Water Melon. Guess what is the price ? It costs $75 Singapore Dollar.

Computer cannot display blogger web properly

Dont know what happen ??? My computer cannot display the icon in the blogger properly and hence i cannot blog.

Hp charger faulty

My hp battery power only left 10% strength. So i decided to charge it but there is no indication in the hp it is being charged. Initially i though is the power failure so i go to another powerpoint to plug in the charger, the result is the same, no indication it is charge. I started to panic and ask around my colleague anyone of them having the same charger for me to confirm whether the charger faulty or the hp faulty. Luckily one colleague has the same charger and confirm that is the chager faulty. Another lucky thing is it is still under warranty and i am able to send it for warranty claim.

Hair important

Nowsaday see alot of teenage male students are having long hair. Is hair really important to them that they can go against the school rules? I wonder in future when they go NS can they bear to have their hair cut ???

Birthday Cake

On 2/5/07 our section head, Mr Seah had bought a birthday cake to celebrate his staff that birthday fall on Apr/May. So there are 4 staffs birthday in Apr/May. They are Mr Kwok, Ms Charmaine, Mr Seah and me... hahaha. It seem has become a custom that Mr Seah he himself will buy the cake every month to celebrate for his staffs.

Date Confusion

Youngest brother will be back from USA. There is some confusion on the date that he will fly back. Father heard the date is 1 May 1am. Brother in law wanted to fetch my youngest brother back and went to the airport at 12am. Both of them dont know which airline he is taking so i went to internet and search.
From the USA, Michigan State there is no direct flight to Singapore instead it need to stop at 2 transit point, 1 in Chicago another in Japan before reaching Singapore. The total flight take about 18 hours and when it cross the line it lost 1 day. So because of these confusion, the date was wrong. My brother will only arrive in Singapore at 2 May between 12 to 1am.