Don't Just "Swamp" Here, "Swamp" There!

Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (IRB) peak periods, which are the 4 or 5 days prior to the submission deadline 30th April 2005, we will see them working until 10pm even on Saturday. As this is concerned, peak periods for taxation firms as well as audit will see its employees staying in the office until the average time of 10pm-11pm everyday for 3 months, consecutively. In these dying days of the 3 months rushing up workpapers for the clients and the IRB, some of the accounting firms employees suffered various negative effects. Eyes blurred because of high concentration of working papers and computers, anxiety, occasional nausea, fever, migranes because of thinking too much, occasional moodswings, very demotivated, sleepless nights (those who worried too much), nightmares and something that I felt weird about - figure changes. Although the hazards may sound severe, but it's normal in accounting firms and great seniors should have already over it.

There are some of them who had no time for meals, therefore worsened their diets during peak periods, they lost weight - that's logical. However, some of them grew fatter! It was not that they have better time eating during work, or have had constant munchies during work, they did nothing extraordinary. Have you ever heard of people who is working hard brings prosper? How did they do that? ....Mesmerized.

Looking into current issue of submission of individual tax returns at IRB offices, news reported there were huge numbers of people "swamping the IRB offices" trying to submit their respective tax returns as early as 3 days before the due date.


Picture on Wednesday 28 Apr 2005 at an IRB office in Kelana Jaya, taken from The Star newspaper


IRB main submission centre/office at Pandan Indah, taken on Thursday 28 Apr 2005 by me

If you are submitting your tax returns, please "swamp" to IRB office at Pandan Indah 4th floor so that you can enjoy a peaceful environment there. Look at the picture - the woman with the IRB jacket and brown spotted baju kurung is supposed to guide people on directions, she was taking her time wandering around at the premise, I believed she was counting floor tiles. I spotted couple other staff counting floor tiles too but not captured in the picture. It seemed like it was a "supply over demand" there.

Funny but true, Malaysians are united. Anywhere's a hot place to be, it will be "swamped" by huge crowds all over the place. THAT'S THE SPIRIT! If you are the person that is scared to be alone, Malaysia is the right choice of country for you to live. Our culture is work hard to play hard - I think we are ...... swamps of intelligent bees!

Where is Saddam Hussein?

In his final word, the American government's own CIA top weapons inspector in Iraq said on 25 April 2005 that the hunt for weapons of mass destruction has "gone as far as feasible" and has found nothing, closing an 18 month investigation into the purported programs of Saddam Hussein that were used to justify the 2003 invasion. Bush administration's senior weapons inspector also said in a report that it was "unlikely" that Saddam Hussein's forces moved weapons to Syria - an important report that has proven the act of abuse of human rights towards Saddam Hussein by the Bush administration. However after these reports have been published widespread in the world, nothing has yet to be done. It is so obvious that someone has definately committed a war crime, that someone has to face its consequences. Everyone already knew this, and everyone is mouth-shut =o#

The now pitiful beggar-like Saddam Hussein is currently in custody with several of his top henchmen at a U.S.-guarded detention facility near Baghdad's international airport. He was in good health and high spirits , the chief of his legal team reported on 27th April 2005, after a defense lawyer met with the deposed Iraqi dictator for six hours.



Saddam Hussein - July 2004

Though the whole world would know you as a criminal, cruel dictator, environment polluting machine, or a satan's lover - It's still your birthday today! Happy 68th Birthday Saddam! Glad to hear that your birthday is one day after Santa Claus'.

The Best Selling Furniture Company

Have you visited Ikea lately? Nothing much significant changes since months ago, they have just added some new collection of furnitures in their store. New beds, new sofas, new lighting, new toys, you name it.

Taking camera into Ikea is not allowed, but not illegal - the heaviest punishment you might get is just to get lost from the Ikea premise that's all. I got my camera with me and so I took the opportunity to take some of the nice things they have added into their store recently. They should thank me for advertising their products here.

I did not get to take a lot of clear pictures, but these are the excellent ones that is eligible to be posted - Crystal balls on top of a little light bulb. When you have one or two in your bedroom, switch off the lights and you can imagine you're in the galaxy by looking at it.


Assorted colours

It sucked when you put it under the flourescent lights on. Like this:


4 in a row - i'd suggest choose one colour will do

Other lighting attractions:

The centre one is a cute ghost miniature

There were also F.A.Qs (Frequently Asked Questions) in the carpark that goes in advertising columns. Ever wondered:

1. Why Ikea is keeping their things (their designs) flat? - "Ikea furniture is flat-packed. This means it's cheaper for us (Ikea) to store and transport."

2. Why Ikea is giving the customers the hassle to assemble the furnitures on their own? - "Even though it's tricky sometimes, it means not paying someone in a factory to do it for you."

For 2005 Malaysian Ikea online catalogue, click here. Warning: it's very very interactive. Slow computers please don't bother viewing their catalogue. It may jam to your IE.

On This Day Celebrated By The Santa

Last year's Christmas, Santa and her beautiful PA stopped by at our annual dinner. We had a tete-e-tete in front of the toilet before they made a surprise appearance to the main entrance. I was a surprised and honoured that he would actually talked to me, and that time inadvertently I recognized his voice. From there, we made a great friendship.

For those who are concerned about Santa, he was recently admitted to hospital for a few days because of hearing problem. He's ok now but still overloaded with piles of work to do in his full time job. Delivering presents and gifts is only his occasional part time task.


The Santa having fun. Beside him is the Sultan of Horwath Yang Berbahagia Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Raja Zaimi bin Muhammad Iskandar Dzulkarnain (in short: The Honorable Sir Mohammad Zaimi )

So on his birthday, which falls today, I reveal his true identity to the world. For those who know this guy, also the Santa, wish him well and a happy happy birthday, as how he gave us the joyous moments every year, would it be on Christmas or ordinary days!


Santa having wine joy!

Happy Birthday to Lee Chuan Maw!

Nokia 6260 : Product Review

As a Malaysian, getting updated of the current mobile technologies always interests us, especially in shopping complexes. Whether it is a general knowledge, or it can be you are currently shopping for a mobile, getting to know some of the latest technologies in mobile phones won't stay you out of the current world's flow.

Similar to Nokia 7650, the Nokia 6260 is the latest in a long line of Symbian series 60 phones. Nokia 6260 has the lid not only flips, but with a quick twist, it swivels round and folds back on itself. This is nothing new in PDAs and Laptops, Sony have been doing it on high end Clie's for years, but it’s the first time I have seen it on a phone. You can also stop the swivel halfway, and with the camera lens being on the side, the 6260 can be used like one of those mini video cameras with a flip out screen.


6260 - not too long, not too short


Tilted 75% - good with a keyboard in front of it


Camcorder mode


Flipped back

Under the battery cover on the back we find another first for Nokia, the reduced size memory card is hot swap-able, no more removing the battery to change cards. The phone is supplied with a 32mb memory card, and although Nokia only specify up to 128mb cards can be used, it would swallow a 512mb card and worked perfectly. Everything can be installed to a card, Ring tones, MP3 files, Video files, Images and Applications, so the internal memory can really be left well alone. The SIM card slides neatly under the memory card, but you do have to remove the battery to change this.

Camera functions are still the same as before. Again there is no exposure compensation available, so users can't tune too bright or dark pictures. The 6260 model features 2x digital zoom only, a possibility to choose small pictures format to a directory and it allows you to take pictures in night mode. Photos can be saved either in the internal memory or on the memory card. It's possible to select three quality levels; the highest level has produces extremely big files (low compression).


Normal picture taken


With 2x digital zoom. Now you can differentiate what is optical zoom, what is digital zoom in cameras

Nokia 6260 is a standard Series 60 mobile phone, the same as the 7610 model, and with some small exceptions is identical to Nokia 6600. But phones often differ from each other by sound quality during telephony. Nokia 6260 is not going to get good marks in this subject, because it can be heard quite strong noise of higher frequencies in the earphone. It's worse than Nokia 7610 which can be compared it straight to. Call volume is sufficient but loud handsfree is also well heard.

Nokia can play polyphonic melodies with 48 voices, but it's more impressive to use an MP3 file as a ringtone.

One of the key innovations comparing to the previous models is the choice of music functions. Nokia 6260 features an integrated stereophonic radio and headphones are delivered straight in the package. The headphones must be connected also if you listen to the radio over a loudspeaker because they work also as an antenna. It seems that the Pop-port connector is not well designed because it's not holding the plug really steady and sometimes the sound comes from the one earphone only. You can tune stations in range from 87,5 to 108,0 MHz, and you can save your favorite frequencies; tuning can be set to manual or automatic and a function for saving all accessible stations is also available.

I am sure you want to know more about the MP3 playback. The first point is that both earphones play and the phone doesn't take those as an unsupported accessory. That wasn't possible with previous Nokia 7610 and 6670 models. Neither the integrated RealPlayer nor the Ultra MP3 program was able to play MP3 files in stereo - just mono. It's a pity, but the important thing is that in case of Ultra MP3 the sound quality is good enough. So, Nokia 6260 isn't still a full music phone, but the radio is useful and we can rate the MP3 Player as usable.

As common in today's mobile technology, users can write SMS, MMS, emails. Instant messaging and T9 dictionary are also available. It's interesting that the email client supports some of the office formats. Word documents and PowerPoint presentations can be open straight thanks to the new QuickWord and QuickPoint applications. Also you can read PDF files, but the PDF+ application is just a trial version in the phone - after the third run you have to buy and register it. Attachment in ZIP format can be done by installing a ProfiExplorer that handles ZIP files.


Also available in sleek black

In the mobile's memory, on the card and even on the delivered CD there is not an Opera Internet browser which Nokia added to its smartphones lately. The internal WAP browser can handle web pages but it can't reach the quality of Opera or NetFront, which would appear with next Nokia phones, such as the Nokia 6670.

It's a very good phone - maybe the best in the class. Against other models it misses only a megapixel camera, on the other hand it features an integrated radio and it can be used as an MP3 player, partially. Nokia 6260 is a very good mobile phone for users, who are interested in functions and design as well, but it comes at a price.

No Haagen Daaz, No Gelati, No Baskin, It's Nestle!

Self-invented ice cream delicacy. Muahss.. simply captivating.


From left: Nestle's La Cremeria, peanut bits and chocolate chips
Centre front: The main actor

It's not just acting in front of the camera, it has got the taste too. Very easy to make one. Everything can be purchased at any supermarkets near you.

Another Intelligent Quotient Test

Try out one of this good IQ Test at IQTest.com here. It's an average difficulty IQ tests and here's a catch - During the test, you must read and respond to a total of 38 statements in thirteen minutes or less. If you take longer, you will be penalized, or if you get through the test in less time than thirteen minutes, your score will be increased. After taking the test, it is recommended not to click on "Complete Personal Intelligence Profile" and "Consciousness Exercises" because if you click on those, they would bring your IQ down - they're stupid money making business ideas. Perhaps the developers who author the site has too much on IQs, but no EQs.

I've got 120 points on the test. If you have tried it, share with me your score!

Hall of fame
1. Katrina - 122
2. Wingk - 120


Yet, another I.Q test that would, at least, fun trying it. How smart are you? This test has been used for years and years!

1) Do they have a 4th of July in England?
I Don't Know Yes No


2) How many birthdays does the average man have?
I Don't Know 1 2 4++ 5++ 10++


3) Some months have 31 days; how many have 28?
I Don't Know 1 3 6 9 12


4) How many outs are there in an inning?
I Don't Know 2 3 6 8


5) Is it legal for a man in California to marry his widow's sister?
I Don't Know Yes No


6) Divide 30 by 1/2 and add 10. What is the answer?
I Don't Know 10 35 50 70 90


7) If there are 3 apples and you take away 2, how many do you have?
I Don't Know 1 2 3


8) A doctor gives you three pills telling you to take one every half hour. How many minutes would the pills last?
I Don't Know 20 40 60 90


9) A farmer has 17 sheep, and all but 9 die. How many are left?
I Don't Know 1 3 5 7 9


10) How many animals of each sex did Moses take on the ark?
I Don't Know 3 2 1 0


11) How many two cent stamps are there in a dozen?
I Don't Know 1 3 6 9 12

ANSWERS:

1) Is there a Fourth of July in England?

Ans: Yes, it comes after the third of July!

2) How many birthdays does the average man have?

Ans: 1, Just one!

3) Some months have 31 days; how many have 28?

Ans: 12, all of them!

4) How many outs are there in an inning?

Ans: 6, three per side!

5) Is it legal for a man in California to marry his widow's sister?

Ans: No - because he is dead!

6) Divide 30 by 1/2 and add 10. What is the answer?

Ans: 70, (30 divided by 1/2 equals 60! Takes some thinking.....

7) If there are 3 apples and you take away 2, how many do you have?

Ans: 2, you took them, remember?

8) A doctor gives you three pills telling you to take one every half hour. How many minutes would the pills last?

Ans: 60 - Start with the 1st pill, 30 minutes later take the 2nd, then 30 minutes for the 3rd.

9) A farmer has 17 sheep, and all but 9 die. How many are left?

Ans: 9

10) How many animals of each sex did Moses take on the ark?

Ans: 0. Moses didn't have an ark, Noah did!

11) How many two cent stamps are there ina dozen?

Ans: 12. There are 12 2 cent stamps in a dozen!


Apparently Einstein once took this test and only scored a 6.