Understanding the Off-Peak Car scheme

The OPC (Off-Peak Car) scheme was introduced by the Singapore government to curb the amount of vehicles on the road during peak hours. For newly registered cars, there is an attractive upfront rebate of S$17,000 off the COE (Certificate of Entitlement) and ARF (Additional Registration Fee) in exchange for the reduced usage. There is also a S$800 discount per year from the normal car road tax, subject to a minimum road tax payment of S$50 a year. An OPC is marked by a red car plate to separate them from normal cars.

In the event that you wish to convert the OPC to a normal car, you would have to pay the government a pro-rated refund on the OPC rebate based on the number of years of COE left for the car.

Usage of OPC during restricted hours

A supplementary license has to be purchased for usage of OPC during restricted hours. The supplementary license can be bought during office hours from the following places:

- Automobile Association Of Singapore (Tel: 6333 8811)
• 336 River Valley Road
• 2 Kung Chong Road
- Any Singapore Post offices
• List of Singpost branches
- Land Transport Authority office (Tel: 1800 2255582)
• 10 Sin Ming Drive

Failure to display or usage of invalid supplementary license during restricted hours is a serious offence. Offenders can be fined up to S$20,000 and/or imprisoned up to 12 months.

New car collection checklist

Collecting your new car soon? A car has thousands of components, and it will be impossible to check that all are in order. However, checking the important parts is essential for safety and ensures that you are not being short-changed.

The below guide serves as a checklist for you to examine your new vehicle.

* Download it here and bring it for your new car collection.


Do make sure that all the keys and remote controls are working. A key could cost up to $400 to replace. Locks

Keyless Entry (Lock and unlock using remote)
Manual Entry (Lock and unlock using key)
Master Lock
Individual Lock
Alarm
Alarm reset switch

Windows

Power Windows(Check that the driver side auto window is working)
Windows control Lock

Electric Mirrors

Electric Mirrors Control ( Up, Down, Left & Right )
Folding Mirrors(Check that the Mirrors can be retractable by either manual or electrical folding.)

Console

Engine Start Button (if any)
Air-Conditioning
Fan Speeds
Rear Demister
Radio/CD/DVD Player
Reverse Camera (if any)
Steering controls (if any)

Switches

Headlights
Directional Signals
High Beam
Hazard Lights
Parking Lights
Tail Lights
Brake Lights
Fog Lamps
Interior light
Wiper (Make sure each speed is correct)
Wiper Spray
Horn

Dashboard

Dashboard lights come on when headlights are on
Information lights (eg. Parking brake ) are lit at relevant time
Check that odometer does not display excessive mileage

Transmission & Brakes

Smooth Gearshift
Automatic transmission
Over Drive button
Shift Lock button
Footbrake
Handbrake

Things to look out for:
Test auto-transmission for shock while engaging gear.
Make sure that the brake has to be depressed to shift out of Park mode.
Make sure that the car can only start in Neutral or Park mode.

Other Interiors

Steering wheel properly aligned
Steering wheel adjusting lever
Bonnet release lever
Boot release lever
Fuel tank release lever
Check for stains and holes on seats
Seat adjuster (Forward, backward, recline)
Seat belts (Check that the Seat belts lock when pulled hard)
Seat belts height adjuster
Check for scratches and dents on the trims
Rear Mirror
Glove box
Check for stains on carpets
Air-con vents (Check that they are able to move freely)
Speakers
Moonroof (Opens and closes fully)

Exterior

Check that car plate is correct
Check that body surface is free from dents and scratches.
Check that windows and windscreens are free from stains and scratches
Check that lights are clear and undamaged
Check that door handles are working
Check that tyres are free from holes and punctures
Check that rims are free from scratches
Check that the radio antenna is working
Check that fuel cap is secured

Under The Bonnet

Engine Oil level
Brake Fluid level
Battery Water level
Transmission Fluid level
Coolant level
Air-Conditioning gas level
Check engine compartment with any obvious defects and damage

Inside the Boot

Base board
Boot light
Tool kit
Spare tyre

Documentation

Road Tax Disc
Vehicle log card
Certificate of insurance
Car owner manual

Miscellaneous

Check tyres pressure
Cruise control (if any)
All goodies promised are given

12 ways to save petrol and money

The price of petrol has always been climbing upwards. Instead of complaining about the increase in cost of petrol, let's see how can you cut down on petrol costs. Choosing the right type of petrol is a good start! As a general rule of thumb, you should always flip through your vehicle owner's manual and choose the lowest recommended grade of petrol required. Contrary to popular belif, higher grades of petrol actually does nothing to improve the performance of your car.

In addition, below are 12 good driving tips for saving fuel. Read them carefully, and you will probably save a pile on your next petrol bill.

1. Pump up your tyres
Keeping your tyres inflated is one of the easiest and essential way to reduce petrol usage. Saving petrol = saving money. Thus, your should try to improve your fuel economy.

If a range is recommended by the manufacturer, the higher pressure should be used to maximize fuel efficiency. Deflated tyres run hot and jeopardize safety. It will cause the tyres to wear out prematurely, affect the vehicles adversely. It also decrease the fuel economy by increasing the rolling resistance.

Tyres lose about one psi pressure per month due to air loss caused by the tyre hitting holes, bumps and kerbs. There is thus a need to check tyres at least once a month. A tyre deflated by two psi will result in a one per cent increase in fuel consumption.

2. Drive at a moderate speed
Avoid speeding on open roads. Driving at the acceptable speed limit is safer and increases the fuel economy. As for highway driving, over 50% of the power produced by the engine is used to overcome aerodynamic drag. For this reason, fuel consumption increases rapidly at speeds above 90km/h. On an average, a car uses about 15% more fuel at 100km/h, and 25% more fuel at 110km/h as compared to when it is cruising at 90km/h.

However, this should not lead one to conclude that the lower the speed, the better the fuel economy. The fuel consumption of an average car increases sharply at any speed below 50km/h.

3. Clean the air filter regularly
Clogged air filters increase fuel consumption by restricting airflow to the engine. It should be cleaned/replaced when necessary. Clogged air filters can increase fuel consumption by up to 10 per cent.

4. Use thinner tyres
Tyres with thick width will improve the handling of your car. On the flip side, it will also increase your car’s fuel consumption. Thicker tyres mean more rolling resistance, and naturally higher fuel consumption.

5. Start up the car properly
Cars these days do not require you to prime the engine by pumping the accelerator pedal repeatedly before starting. Such an action wastes fuel, so avoid doing it. When starting the engine, idle it for no more than 30 seconds to warm it up. An engine will warm up faster on the road. However, avoid sudden acceleration before the engine has warmed up sufficiently.

6. Drive in high gear (Overdrive)
The engine runs most efficiently between around 1,500 and 2,500 rpm. To maintain low engine revolutions, you should increase through the gears as soon as possible and before the revolution reach 2500 rpm.

For automatic transmission cars, you should always switch on your overdrive to help save fuel. Overdrive will allow your engine to change gears at lower revolutions. It also puts your transmission into an "economy" mode. It engages the final "overdrive" gear when cruising to keep the rpms extra low, thereby increasing fuel economy.

7. Travel light
Avoid carrying any unnecessary weight in your car. On the average, every 50kg added load in your car will increase fuel consumption by two per cent.

8. Anticipate traffic ahead
A driver can reduce fuel consumption by up to 10 per cent if he does not brake or accelerate unnecessarily. Anticipate traffic conditions ahead, adjust your speed accordingly and avoid tailgating. Accelerations and decelerations waste fuel. Braking and abrupt stops can be minimized by not following too closely and slowing down gradually when approaching a red light.

It takes up to six times as much fuel to move a car from a dead stop than it does for one moving at just a few km/h.

9. Avoid strong acceleration
The fuel consumption remains at a minimum when driving steadily at a moderate speed of about 90km/h. Bear in mind that every time the accelerator is depressed, the engine goes into a “fuel-enrichment” mode which wastes fuel.

The vehicle should always be gradually and smoothly accelerated. Using cruise control on highways can help maintain a constant speed and reduce fuel consumption.

10. Minimise aerodynamic drag
Additional parts on the exterior of a vehicle such as roof racks and spoilers, or having the window open, increases aerodynamic drag.

11. Don't let your engine idle
Minimize fuel wastage when idling by stopping the engine whenever your car is stationary or held up for an extended period of time.

Idling for more than a minute consumes much more fuel than restarting an engine. By having the engine switched off, you will save more fuel than that you lose from the burst of fuel involved in restarting the engine. The net increased wear and tear from this practice is negligible.

12. Use the air-con sparingly
Air conditioners can use about 10 per cent more fuel when operating. However, if you are driving at more than 80 km/h, using the air condition is better for fuel economy than an open window.

15 ways to pimp your ride

Considering the amount you are paying to own a car in Singapore, you may be thinking of spending a little more to make it stand out from the rest. Here are 15 ways to improve your ride:

1. Exhaust


The bigger the better" theory does not work for exhaust pipes. Oversizing of exhaust may result in power loss. The installation of a high performance exhaust system will boost the power of your car. Aftermarket high performance exhaust systems provides a quicker and more efficient path for the exhaust gases to escape.

This means that the burnt fuel and air leave the combustion chambers at a faster rate. New fuel and air can then enter and burn in the chamber to create more power.

Apart from improving your performance, many aftermarket systems enhance the appearance of your car. The larger exhaust tips and polished mufflers makes the car look more aggressive. However, you may attract unwanted attention from the Traffic Police as many of the aftermarket high performance exhaust systems generate aggressive and loud noises. Please do make sure your installations are LTA-compliant.

2. Brakes

Say, you want to modify your car to improve the power output? You should know that the factory-fitted brakes (stock brakes) might not be able to handle the additional speed if it has exceeded the original design specifications. This can pose a threat to you and other road users.

Aftermarket brakes have better stopping power, thus decreasing the brake distance. In this way, you can improve the timing of your car through the corners as you can brake later into the corners. Besides, aftermarket brakes are more resistant to fade. Fade takes place when the brake fluid boils because the brakes are too hot. This results in a soft brake pedal and less responsive brakes, which can be dangerous.

Aftermarket brakes improves the image of your car as it looks better and fill the space behind the spokes of your sport rims.

It is not recommended to replace individual components of the brake system individually. For example, you replace your stock pads with racing pads, but not the rotors. Components function together. The stock rotors may not be able to take the additional heat generated by the racing pads. It is not worth endangering your life because you want to save on the cost of racing pads for your rotors.

3. Tyres

Performance tyres enhance the handling, grip and cornering capability of your car. They are able to sustain a higher maximum speed. If you have extra cash and do not mind a short tread life, you can consider the ultra-high performance tyres. They offer the best braking and handling for both wet and dry condition. They are made of soft rubber and provide unparalleled grip. The rule of thumb is - the softer your tyres, the better the grip, but the shorter the life-span.

Do a wheel alignment after the tyres are mounted on the vehicle. This is because the tyres may not be perfectly aligned to the direction of travel, which can affect the handling characteristics and the fuel consumption.

4. Suspension

A firmer suspension system enhances the car stability, reduces bodyroll and allows for a quicker turn. The handling performance of the car is boosted. Lowering a car gives the car a dynamic and sporty persona too.

Invest in a good set of performance lowering springs to improve the handling performance of the car. Aftermarket springs lower the centre of gravity, hence reducing bodyroll during cornering. Bodyroll is when the centre of gravity shifts away from the direction of the corner during cornering. Performance springs are much stiffer. They also tighten up the suspension.
Stock shock adsorber are designed for comfort. Aftermarket performance shock adsorber tightens up the suspension and improves the handling of the car.

The suspension upgrade causes additional stress to the car chassis, resulting in chassis flex. Strut bars can be installed to help reduce chassis flex and mitigate steering response in performance cars. It also enhances the appearance of your engine bay.


Alloy sports rims are typically made out of aluminium, which is much lighter than steel 5. Sports rims

Sports rims do not just perk up the superficial outlook of a car, it actually does multiply its performance. At a high speed, a car is more stable if it uses slightly wider rims. Wider rims stretches soft compound tyres, making it lower, wider and firmer.

Most sports rims are manufactured by casting; pouring of the molten metal into the mould. Casted rims are much cheaper than forged rims due to the manufacturing process. Forged rims are lighter. The lighter rims magnify the handling performance of the car as it works better with the suspension. Lighter rims work well during acceleration too.

6. Headlights

It is illegal to install aftermarket HID (High Intensity Discharge) lamp if your vehicle is not factory fitted with HID lamps. HID lamps are marked by brighter and whiter light. However, you may replace the existing headlight with white headlight bulb which emits a white light.

You should make sure that the bulb is of the same wattage as the original, because a higher wattage may increase the risk of fire. Always check whether the bulb is approved by LTA before installation.

7. Bodykits

Bodykits amplify the exterior appearance of your car, separating your car from others of the same model. Bodykits typically comprise of the front bumper, side skirts, diffuser and spoilers. Most bodykits are made using Poly-Urethane which is a rubber-like material. Poly-Urethane is chosen because it is more resistant to damage and relatively cheaper.

The Vortex diffuser is getting more popular among cars on the road. Apart from beautifying your car, it channels airs more smoothly over the car during high speed.

8. Spray Painting

Can’t seem to rid of unsightly dents and scratches no matter how hard you polish? Perhaps it is time to send your car to a spray painting workshop. Most spray painting workshops do dent removal. The new coat of gloss from the re-spraying will give your car a shiny finish. Do note that professional spray painting can be quite costly, with price starting from around S$1,000. You should check with the workshop on the paint used for spray painting. It is recommended that you choose quality paints like 2K Dupont paint.

9. Solar film

Solar film eases the load on the air conditioner by reducing heat from the sun and controlling light transmission. It aids in reducing the exposure of the harmful ultraviolet rays and infrared rays from the sun. Ultraviolet rays also causes fading of fabrics and furnishing. Darker tinted films are available to tackle this problem. They also add a sporty touch to your car.

10. DVD player

Are your children sick of playing chess during long road trips? Maybe it is time to fit a DVD player in your car. Most of the DVD players come with a LCD screen and have features like Dolby Digital or DTS surround sound capabilities which work well with the multi-speaker set-up in most car. If you prefer local television, Digital TV tuner allows you to tune-in to channels like Channel News Asia. It is recommended to install the LCD screen at the back of the car, so that the driver will not be distracted.


Using GPS to navigate is free. You only have to pay for the GPS set and software. 11. GPS navigation system

Need help getting around Singapore? With GPS navigation system, you will never get lost again. The GPS navigation system displays the map of the area and guides the driver to his destination with real-time routing and positioning. Apart from LCD display, most navigation system have a voice guidance feature. The driver no longer have to steal glimpses at the display screen for instructions and can fully concentrate on driving.

12. In-car entertainment system

Have you ever increase the volume of your sound system then immediately tune it lower because it was rather unpleasant to your ears? That is a sign to upgrade your sound system to a better one. A factory car sound system typically consists of a stereo unit and speakers.

You may choose to install a higher quality tweeters which offer brighter sound and overall clarity. Thereafter, you can search for better aftermarket speakers. It is recommended that you choose speakers with a higher efficiency rating. Otherwise, they can sound distorted when underpowered. If you are looking at better performance, you can install an amplifier which brings out the best in higher quality aftermarket speakers.

There are many aftermarket car stereo units available, from the simple traditional unit to flashy units with bright displays. The latter are more for aesthetic purposes.

13. Upholstery

Switching to leather upholstery gives the interior of your car luxurious touch. In addition, leather seats do not smell and is permeable. On the other hand, PVC seats are not “breathable”. That is why you feel warm and sweaty when you sit on them for a long period of time.

Cubic and walnut trimming for the car interior improves the look of your car. Carbon fibre lamination gives it a racy feel. High quality trimming are generally resistant to scratch and smell.

Higher quality car mats trap dirt well. It makes cleaning easy and provides extra comfort.

14. Car accessories

There are a wide variety of aftermarket accessories from gauges to steering wheel.

Aftermarket steering wheels, gear levers, handbrakes and pedals provide better grip and enhance the interior appearance of your car. The short shifter allows for shorter shift to engage gear, thereby achieving faster, easier and more precise shifting.

Bucket seat supports and holds your body securely under any driving condition. Despite its light weight, it works very well to protect the driver.

Reverse sensor alerts the driver should he get too near objects when reversing.

Gauges makes your car look sportier and allows you to keep track of the oil pressure, temperature, battery voltage and vacuum.

15. Car grooming

Does your car still look dirty no matter how hard you scrub and polish it? Please allow the car grooming professionals to work their magic if DIY is not working for you. It is important to entrust your car to a reliable and professional car grooming company.

A basic grooming package typically consists of cleaning of the interior (dashboard, console & windscreen) and exterior (tyres, rims, body & windscreen) of the car. Cleaning of leather and fabric seats often require additional surcharges. A basic grooming package starts from around S$80.

Choosing the right petrol grade for your car

There is a common misconception that the higher the grade of the gasoline you pump, the faster your car speeds off.

Many drivers tend to make costly mistakes when it comes to the grade of petroleum they pump. The truth is, a higher petrol grade is not necessarily better for your car.

In fact, the recommended gasoline for most cars is regular octane. The owner’s manual is your best indicator on which grade to use. Using a higher octane gasoline than that will not make your car achieve better mileage, move faster, run cleaner or improve its operations in any way.

Premium gas costs roughly 30 cents more per litre as compared to the regular gas. This can accumulate to as much as S$702 in savings annually, based on a normal 1.6 litre car clocking an average mileage of 20,000km/year. Studies have shown that drivers are wasting hundreds of millions of dollars each year on higher grade gas than required.

It is only when your car engine knocks that you should switch to a higher octane gasoline. However, this happens only in rare instances. Some cars, such as sports cars and particular luxury cars do have higher compression engines. These cars might require premium gasoline to prevent knocking. Your best bet is to listen to your car’s engine. As long as it does not knock, you are using the correct gasoline grade.

What is Octane Rating?

By definition, octane is any isomeric saturated hydrocarbon found in petroleum and used as a fuel and solvent. The higher the rating, the slower the burn when ignited during the compression burn cycle of the piston. The higher octane allows for more control of burning for higher compression engines. Thus, you will want to ensure that the octane rating of the gasoline correlates to the engine design, for complete burning of the gasoline by the engine in order to maximum fuel economy and clean emission.

Majority of cars are made to burn regular unleaded fuel with an octane rating of 95. Should the car need a higher octane rating, there will be an indication in the owner’s manual and perhaps under the fuel gauge and by the fuel fill hole. As mentioned above, only high performance engines require higher octane gas.

Does higher octane gasoline contain more cleaning additive which will be better for my engine?

Unfortunately, this is not the case. Government regulations call for almost the same amount of additives in all gasoline to clean the injectors and valves. Regular octane gasoline does not compromise in preventing engine deposits from forming, in getting rid of them, or in cleaning your car’s engine, as compared to higher octane gasoline.

When should you switch to a higher octane gasoline?

In rare cases, car engines may knock even when you use the recommended octane. Should this happen, you should switch to the next highest octane grade. Usually, switching to the mid-grade or premium-grade gasoline will remove the knock. If the knocking persists after one or two fill-ups, your car may need a tune-up or some other repair. Thereafter, you should revert back to the lowest octane grade which was recommended in the user’s manual, or at which your engine runs without the knock.


What if I choose to use gasoline with higher octane ratings?

For starters, you will be making the gasoline manufacturers a lot richer than they already are. That aside, using a higher octane fuel than necessary will send unburned fuel into the emission system. This will also be collected in the catalytic converter. Should you overwork any system, it can breakdown or under perform. An early sign of such a predicament is a rotten egg smell from the tailpipe. Do not get a panic attack. Simply switch back to using a lower octane gasoline and viola! The strange odor usually vanishes after several tanks of gasoline.

Finally, is knocking harmful?

Occasional light knocking will not harm your engine. Neither does it harm your engine. However, do not turn a blind eye to severe knocking. A heavy or persistent knock can lead to engine damage.

Who says knowledge is power? Knowledge is power…and saving money!

Conversion of foreign driving licence

Should you convert?

As a foreigner with a foreign driving licence, you are not required to convert your foreign driving licence to a local one if you are to be in Singapore for less than twelve months. You are allowed to drive in Singapore with a valid foreign driving licence. However, if your licence is not in English, it is compulsory for you to possess a valid foreign driving licence and get an International Driving Permit. If an International Driving Permit is unavailable, it is mandatory for you to get an official translation of your driving licence in English.

You should convert your foreign driving licence to a local version within twelve months if you possess an Employment Pass / Student Pass / Dependent Pass / Work Permit and intend to remain and drive in Singapore for more than twelve months.

How to convert?

You will need to pass the Basic Theory Test (BTT) to convert from a foreign driving licence to a Singapore driving licence. The BTT will inform you of Singapore’s Highway Code, relevant to traffic related issues unique to Singapore and other local traffic rules.

More information on Conversion

To convert to a Singapore driving licence, you are required to pass the Basic Theory Test (BTT) which will familarise you with traffic rules and Singapore's Highway Code pertaining to traffic related issues peculiar to Singapore. A Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) who wishes to drive in Singapore is required to convert his foreign driving licence after becoming a PR.

Am i allowed to do the conversion?

Application for conversion of foreign driving licence for Singaporeans and PR are not normally granted unless:
• They have stayed in the foreign country continuously for at least six months after the date of first issue of their foreign driving licence
• The foreign driving licence at the time of application for conversion must have been issued for a period of six months or more

Where to go for conversion of licence?

Your application for conversion of driving licence must be made in person at any of the following driving test centre:
• Singapore Driving Test Centre 3, Ang Mio Kio, St 62
• Bukit Batok Driving Centre 815, Bukit Batok West Ave 5
• Comfort Driving Centre 215, Ubi Ave 4

What documents to bring along?

Please bring along the following documents:
• Result slip to prove that you have passed the Basic Theory Test
• Passport and NRIC/Entry Permit/Employment Pass/Dependent Pass/Social Visit Pass/Work Permit, etc (whichever is applicable)
• A passport-size colour photograph with white background
• A matt/semi-matt finish and a fee of $50
• For overseas students, please produce proof of six months' stay in the country e.g. educational transcripts or Letter of Acceptance into the Educational Institution (120) and the relevant visa in the passport
• For those employed overseas, please produce Letter of Employment or Income Tax Returns or supportive documents from employers and the relevant Employment Pass in the passport
• A valid Qualified Foreign Driving Licence
• An official translation of the driving licence if it is not in English
• Extract of Driving Licence from the Licensing Authority that indicates the date of first issue of Driving Licence if this date of issue is not indicated on your driving licence
• For Malaysian licence holders, an extract from Jabatan Pengangutan Jalan (JPJ) is compulsory

Off Peak Car - Know the rules, know the benefits.

Challenged with rising fuel costs, higher taxes and levies on automobiles, local motorists are given a choice to register their spanking new vehicles under the off-peak car (OPC) scheme. Many have avoided the OPC scheme, even reviled it. But the OPC scheme may be a blessing in disguise…

Many people aspire to own a car. Most covert their next door neighbor’s new Honda Stream RS-Z while frowning at the Vios in their own carpark lot. But there is always the alternative scheme to owning a car: The Off-Peak Car scheme.

To say the least, a lot of Singaporeans do not have a comprehensive understanding of the OPC scheme. The general consensus is that people who sign for an off peak are lowly paid or struggling financially. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The OPC scheme replaced the weekend car scheme in 1994. The main aims of this scheme was to offer new and existing car owners the option to save on car registration and road taxes in return for reduced usage of the car. When one signs for a vehicle under the OPC scheme, one receives a $17,000 rebate offset against the quota premium and the Additional Registration Fee (ARF). One also receives a flat discount of $800 on annual road tax, subject to a minimum road tax payment of $50 per year.

Not only that, the owner is forced to plan his schedules carefully, as he does not always have the car available. So he might commute to work on the train or bus, but take the car out at night and on the weekends to ferry his partner on shopping trips.

As a result, he spends less on public parking and petrol as well. There is also a growing trend of higher end vehicles being registered under the OPC scheme not because their owners cannot afford it, but because it is so much cheaper to maintain one if the owner does not need the car on a daily basis.

That may sound well and good, but what are its usage limitations?

Well, for one, a driver can only drive his OPC registered vehicle at the following time slots: Monday to Friday, 7pm-7am, and from 3pm onwards on Saturdays & Eve of the major public holidays such as: The New Year, Lunar New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali and Christmas. The OPC registered vehicle is permitted by the authorities to be driven on the whole of Sunday.

So, does it mean that an OPC registered vehicle is not permitted to drive on the roads on regular days even in case of an emergency?

Of course not. If an emergency should crop up (e.g. the wife goes into labor), all one simply has to do is purchase a $20 day license from any Singapore Post Office, the Automobile Association of Singapore (336 River Valley Road or 2 Kung Chong Road) or the Land Transport Authority( 10 Sin Ming Drive). Peel accordingly, and slap it on the left hand side of your windscreen.

So can I convert my current car to an OPC, or vice versa?

Let’s start with converting a normal car to an OPC. One has to go straight to the Land Transport Authority (LTA). The owner forks out $100 as the conversion fee. Unfortunately, in this case, there is no entitlement to any PARF or COE rebate.

The owner, however, gets $800 discount on annual road tax, subject to a minimum road tax payment of $50 per year (as mentioned earlier). There is an additional PARF rebate on top of the existing PARF value should the owner de-register the vehicle before 10 years is up.

Additional PARF rebate is calculated as follows:

Remaining life of vehicle (in months) x ($2,200 x12)

Let’s use an example: Wendy converts her car (purchased under the normal scheme) into an OPC on 1st December 2006. She plans to de-register it on 23 Jan 2009. She is entitled to an additional PARF rebate as calculated below:

1st Dec 2006 to 31st Dec 2008 = 25 months

1st Jan 2009 to 23 Jan 2009 = 23 days or 0.76 months (23 days divided by 30 days)

Therefore, the total number of months during which the car is converted into an OPC is 25.76. The additional PARF rebate (on top of her existing PARF value) will be:

25.76 x ($2,200/12 months) = $4,722.66

Basically, Wendy does not receive the $17K COE rebate if she converts her normal car into an OPC. The additional PARF rebate is not manifested into cash during the conversion, but only when Wendy de-registers her car 10 years later. Moreover, the existing monthly installments Wendy forks out for her car remains the same since this conversion to OPC is between her and LTA and does not involve her financial institution.

Now, let’s look at John who tries to convert his OPC into a normal car. One has to go straight to the Land Transport Authority (LTA). John forks out $100 as the conversion fee, and he also has to cough up the $17K rebate he received when he purchased his OPC. The formula for the top up rate is as follows:

$17,000 x (120 months – no. of months that has passed at the point of conversion)/120 months

The top up amount is apportioned to the COE and ARF value which is calculated as follows:

Car registered on 1st June 2005 as an OPC.

COE= $14,000

ARF = $22,000

Because the car is registered as an OPC, the $17K rebate will be used to offset the COE first, then the ARF.

So:

COE=$0

ARF= $22,000 – ($17,000-$14,000) = $19,000

John’s OPC is now converted to a normal car on 20 Jan 2007. The period which the car was registered as an OPC is as follows:

1st June 2005 – 31 Dec 2006 = 19 Months

1st January 2007 – 20th January 2007 = 20 days or 0.67 months (20 divided by 30 says)

Therefore the total no. of months which the car was registered as an OPC is 19.67 months. John has to top up the following amount to convert the OPC to a normal car:

$17,000 x (120 months -19.67 months)/120 months = $14,213

This top up amount is apportioned to the COE and ARF according to the following:

COE = $14,000/$17,000 x $14,213 = $11,704.82

ARF = $ 3,000/$17,000 X $14,213 = $2,508.18

Hence, when John de-registers his car, the COE amount will be $11,704.82. The ARF amount will be $21,508.18($19,000+$2,508.18).

The problem with the 2nd option is John has to pay LTA the top-up amount by hook or by crook.

So at the end of the day, is an OPC really worth it?

We’ve calculated the sums, ultimately, the decision is still up to the individual. An OPC may seem like a godsend to those who need a car on the weekends or to impress a date, but its limitations will not find favor with everyone.

A piece of advice is, if you want to avoid the hassle of conversions, simply stick with one scheme (OPR or normal) and leave it as it is.

Road Test - Nissan Teana 250XV

Choosing between the common Japanese range of executive-class sedans may not be easy. But now, there's a newcomer. And it is pretty impressive.

Just the other day in the middle of the afternoon, I was seated comfortably and watching the world go by. As I sipped my coffee, I noticed for the third time this middle-aged, bespectacled man squinting curiously in my direction and every time I turned, he’d pretend to look away. For some reason, he didn’t look very pleased either and I was wondering what on earth he was looking at.

And then it struck me. You see, here I was looking relaxed and absolutely nonchalant, considering the fact that I was driving the new Nissan Teana 250XV and not a Nissan GT-R. He was in a Cefiro. And apart from the fact that a newer model would draw attention, it’s also supposed to be an “uncle’s car” and most other males around my age wouldn’t want to be caught dead in any car that’s associated with “uncles”. So it was only natural for him to look slightly befuddled; maybe he was wondering why the new Teana wasn’t being driven by a guy like him. But I really couldn’t be arsed.

Speaking of which, that lower bit of my body had cool air blowing at it. And, further up along my seat, my back was being chilled as well. There was plenty of legroom in the foot well and visibility from the driving position was good. The layout on the centre console was neat and pretty intuitive, and on the whole, I couldn’t really think of anything to complain about.

A 2.5-litre VQ25DE V6 resides under its bonnet, producing up to 182 hp at 6,000 rpm and a decent 228 Nm of torque. Despite those figures, it isn’t what we would call “quick” and a zero-to-hundred sprint is finished in a slightly disappointing 9.6 seconds. Well, at least it revs smoothly.

But who cares about the acceleration? It’s not Golf GTI fast, but 9.6 seconds is still better than most normal cars on the road, and it isn’t as if it’s crucial for anyone to always get from standstill to 100 km/h in a short time, the Teana really doesn’t give a crap about that sort of thing.

Comfort first

What it is concerned about is whether the passengers are comfortable and always happy to coast around in it. And we’re pleased to say, it has definitely nailed it, spot on. Nissan combined their newly-developed “D” platform (also found in the Renault Laguna) and suspension system with the aim of providing a higher class of comfort. The front shock absorbers have built-in rebound springs while its rear gets a newly-developed multi-link suspension and with its dampers placed closer to the tyres, all with the aim of improving driving stability.

On a highway, the Teana rides with a planted feel and with barely a hint of floating sensation. It’s one of those cars you could drive up to Kuala Lumpur in, with your kids fast asleep in the back instead of driving you nuts with “are we there yet?”

Its handling, however, won’t meet the expectations of any Fairlady driver. The steering is rather numb and, while it functions perfectly well to turn the car, it won’t evoke thoughts of pin-sharp precision handling and charging into corners with super-late braking. But again, you see, that really isn’t what the Teana is for.

Nick Vujicic

BMW F650GS part 8

Servicing

Did my first servicing on last sat.
According to the manual, engine oil change 10000km (mineral oil), sparkplug every 20000km, fork oil 20000km, airfilter 10000km, oil filter 20000km, brake fuild once a year.

My service plans:
5000km oil change: Mineral oil + fuel additive
10000km : 2 platinium plugs, oil filter
Yearly: brake fluid, coolant

Tried mineral oil but dun really like the feeling of it... maybe gonna try semi synthetic oil the next round.
Just found out that the previous owner let the bike go without coolant, glad that i've finally got it filled up and the problem is gone. Bike still very underpower.. gonna find ways to improve the bike. =]

BMW F650GS part 7

Penang trip

My first long trip to Penang on the BMW F650GS, crusing at 130~140km/h without the side panniers is a breeze but kinda stressful on me as i'm still using the stock windshield. Fuel consumption 20km/l on 160km/h speed... went slight off road on the penang mountain, very relax as a pillion an more fun as a rider. =]

BMW F650GS part 6

F650 first ride to Melaka
Was very surprise with the fuel consumption, was getting closed to 22km/litre on an average speed of 120~140km/h way better than my previous ride, Super 4 at that kind of speed. Cons with the side boxes, pickup kinda slow due to the wind resistence. Guess i wont be bring my boxes along if i'm going for fast rides. Handling is a lot better and more relax. Can easily hit 160km/h, and my friend managed to hit 180km/h and the bike can go somemore.

4/5 stars for this bike for trips
I'm a happy beemer. =]

BMW F650GS Part 5

You wont believe it.. I've just clocked 30km/litre on my 650.
Probably riding along KPE fearing the speed cameras help a lot on these.. 20% of the mileage at 70km/h gave an extra 3km/l despite the pickups and hard throttles. Getting more and more excited on getting even better fuel consumption.

Finally brought my bike to the malaysia land. Met jane and Bill before the singapore custom, pillioned 100kg Bill and he contributed by pushing the bike with me, thats the good thing of being tall. Got my rear suspension seasoned a little... guess what Augustine said makes sense... should get the Ohlins rear suspension... Tried 130km/h with pillion, stable and can go further but on corners, i still cannot make it.. My phobia overcome my confidence, eyepoint totally off.. was at 60km/h on the corner from GP to tuas. I used to do 90km/h on my s4 and r6.. I need tons of practise. =P

BMW F650GS part 4

Pillioned my mum over the weekend, very comfortable seat but feedback is getting up on the bike might be a little stressful for her.

Still on my 2nd tank and i'm surprised that with a less conservative riding habit returned an even better fuel consumption.
have clocked ard 350km and reserve light is still off. Possible to get 29km/litre?? Was told that the bike shop is able to custom make lowering link for bikes.. Interested.. $50 including installation but will need a week or 2 to get the link done thou... worth the try. =]

Was on the net surfing and set my eyes on the K1200R.. with carbon fibre parts.. Cool. But the cost is about my year's salary.. not really suit my pocket. Maybe gonna wait for another 2 ~ 3 years for the 2nd hand one.

BMW F650GS part 3

Finally hit reserved on my first tank. clocked 340km with 12.6litres of petrol which is ard 27km/litre on average 90~100km/h speed.. WOW!! will try out the fuel consumption with a less conservative riding.. =P
A hell lot accessories to buy for my 650.. frame crash bar, Koubalink, scottoiler... pocket gonna have a big big hole..

putting on mainstand is not always successful for me.. uturn still not good.. my eyepoint is killing me... need more training on that. =P

Yoga Mat for Sale

Bought last month at Royal Sporting house, used twice only
Comes with yoga mat bag
Condition: Used (9.5/10)
Selling at $18

sms me at 9367 8986 or email me at razlee@bx3creative.com to arrange time to view

Stuffs for sale

IKEA LERBERG CD/ DVD wall shelf
Bought quite some time back but seriously too lazy to drill holes on my wall to fix it up.
condition: Brand New
selling at $10


IKEA White Magnetic board
selling at $15
condition: Used


LG KU990
5MP Impaging Capacity with Auto Focus/Xenon Flash
3.0" Touch Screen Dynamic Flash UI
Hand Writing Recognition
HSPDA 3.6 High Speed Network Connectivity

Weight 112g
Size 103.5mm x 54.4mm x 14.8mm
(H x L x W)
Java Enabled
3.5G
Video
MMS
Bluetooth
Camera
EMS
MP3
GPRS
WAP

Retail Price:SGD638
Selling: SGD450
condition: Used (8/10)
ard 8 months old

sms me at 9367 8986 or email me at razlee@bx3creative.com to arrange time to view

MacBook for Sale (Singapore only)

White
2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 3MB shared L2 cache
Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard
2GB (1GBx2) memory (Upgraded from original 2x512MB)
120GB Serial ATA, 5400 rpm Hard Drive
13.3-inch (viewable) glossy widescreen
1280 x 800 pixels
24x Combo drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor with 144MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory

Install/restore DVDs included
size: 1.08 x 12.78 x 8.92 inches / 2.75 x 32.5 x 22.7 cm
weight: 2.27 kg
Warranty till March 2009. can get applecare to extend 2-year apple warranty


http://store.apple.com/sg/browse/hom...ok?mco=MTE3MjE

Very well taken care of.. very underutilised as i'm using my iMac most of the time. The MacBook is used for meeting presentation only.

Brand new cost 1848.50 including ram upgrade.
Will throw in the keyboard protector worth $35.

Selling at $1300
Viewing location: woodlands
sms me at 9367 8986 or email me at razlee@bx3creative.com to arrange time to view

Finally!!!! after days or workout..

Its not for the slim figure that motivated me to workout my muscles.. its my GS, finally managed to put my bike on mainstand!!! YESH!!!!

BMW F650GS part 2

My first european bike and i'm really spoilt by it... Have more or less gotten used to the bike other than the uTurn part. Seat is cutted and i really feel like i'm wearing pampers when i'm sitting on my bike. Managed to get my left foot flat on the ground at traffic junctions, just gonna tilt a bit to the left but my right will be dangling in mid air.

Managed to make negotiate bends more confidently now as i can roughly know where my front tires are when i'm turning the handlebars.. need more rides to conquer the bike. Also glad that i can dismount the bike without putting my side stand down first.. pushing the bike is getting easier, and i seriously need more practise putting the bike on main stand.. I failed again yesterday but i'm getting there... more dumbell sessions.. =P

Bike overheat when i'm less than 90km/h.. not good.. maybe the coolant is not changed yet.. gonna send for servicing this sat.

Bad me starting to look at the K1200R urban bike... maybe another 3years.. YEAH!!!

Riding my phantom to work today.. miss my GS.. awwwww....

BMW F650GS

Finally, after a 2year long wait. I've got my hands on the '04 BMW F650GS. One of the best all rounder and best tourer.
Why, F650GS

1) It has a lowest seat height among the BMWs... I'm only 1.57m...
2) maintenence is cheaper (almost half) than my old super 4, mineral oil and 2 spark plugs.. compared to fully syn oil and 4 plugs.
3) Rugged Styling... at least its rugged enuff for me. I loved the scrambler feel.
4) Fuel consumption.. I got a big grin when i topped up the bike. The same amount of money paid compare to my little phantom. This bike doesnt need a super high grade petrol so i get to save on petrol topups.


My First Ride:
The bike roars after starting the engine, wow!! maybe its been 2 years since i last own a class 2 bike.. its kinda loud for me.. You dont have to warm up the bike that long cos of the mineral engine oil. The engine warms faster. Moving off is a little "tocky" which is common for the F650. After 4000rpm is super smooth and less vibration. Pickup is good.. but if you are comparing to the sportsbike.. it does feel a little under power.

The bike is easy to operate and easy to manuver. my smile goes from left to right while riding.. i felt secured and stable on the new ride.

Low CG bike but it doesnt really help if the suspension is set to soft. Its quite dangerous when you are doing a big bend. I've initially set suspension to almost softest due to my height but set it back to original after the scary bends along AYE.
The most scary part for me will be the uturns especially those 2 lane turns.. As i'm tiptoeing to my max and some phobias on uturns.. will try my best not to do uturns until i get my lowering kit. Have cutted my seat by 2cm.. so i assume my seat height is ard 770mm.. need another inch off to settle my phobia.. well at least i know i wont drop my bike.

Heat: All big bike sure heat up easily, same for the F650GS. But I would say its a lot better than my previous ride Yamaha R6 '05 model. As long as i'm not on heavy traffic jam i wont feel the heat even if i'm at low speed for long distance.

Cons of the bike: zero under seat space. not even for a raincoat. but who cares.. I got 3 boxes. good enuff for short trips but i need a bigger top box if i remove the sides for daily riding... Squeezing between cars is doable but i have to proceed with extra cautions.. not very used to such wide bike between cars and i cant afford a fall, repair will be hell for me.

Pros of the bike: Fuel consumption of cos. The first thing i will check on when i've interest in any bike. Still monitoring but reviews shows 100km/3.5liter which is ard 28km/litre at 90km/h constant but as long as i can get 24km/l on highways i'm happy. The lowest grade petrol for the bike is 87. Cant find this grade in singapore thou but 92 at $1.817/litre is cheap enuff.. I pumped at least a 95 at $1.849/litre and occassionally a 98 on my Super 4 which is ard $1.919/litre. Can you imagine how much i save on trips? =]

THE CHEMICAL MATERIAL OF THE PLASTIC

Did you ever drink from a plastic bottle and see a triangle symbol on the bottom with a number inside?

Do you know what the number stands for ??
Did you guess that it's just for recycling ?
Then you are WRONG!!!!!

THE 'NUMBER' TELLS YOU THE CHEMICAL MATERIAL OF THE PLASTIC ....

No. 1 Polyethylene terephalate (PET)
- Normally 'Mineral water bottle' widely using this.
- Temparature can last up to 70 centigrade, cannot longer use...
- In 2003, Italy researched & discovered that after using about 9 months
later, will release (DEHP) which may cause level of cancer.
- When higher (DEHP) in male body, it will reduce the spermatozoon & damage spermatozoon.


2 *** High Density polyethylene (HDPE)
- 'Milk bottle', Thick Platic bag
- Temparature can last up to 120 centigrade. ** Is a stable material.**


3 Unplasticised polyvinyl chloride (UPVC) or Plasticised polyvinyl chloride (PPVC)
- Normally PVC pipe, rain coat, Platic cup, others.


4 Low density polyethylene (LDPE)
- Normally Thin Plastic bag
- Temparature can last up to 80 centigrade.


5 *** Polypropylene (PP)
- Norrmally Micro Wave container , Water bottle.
- Temparature can last up to 135 centigrade. ** Is a stable material.**


6 Polystyrene (PS) or Expandable polystyrene (EPS)
- Type of light plastic material - Polyfoam
- Temparature can last up to 90 centigrade.


7 (PC) is widely use material or (Other) material including nylon and acrylic, other unknown materials
- Is a common Water bottle material, normally free gift of water bottle from company.
- Will release (bisphenol A). Stop by Japan.
- Temparature can last up to 135 centigrade.


What you aren't told is that many of the plastics used are toxic and the chemicals used to create a plastic can leach out of the plastic and into the ' food / drink '. Think about it, how many times have you or a friend said 'I don't like this, it taste like the plastic bottle .... ' THAT'S BECAUSE YOU ARE TASTING THE PLASTIC '

Besides No. 1, should reject to use No. : 3, 6, and 7.

The WORST ONES are No. : 3, 6, and 7.

Check out this chart that breaks down the plastic, its uses and chemical makeup
(I find No.7 a little scary)

http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/waste/guide_ref/guide_plascod3.html


Reusing plastic bottles by refilling them is NOT a good idea. WATCH THE VIDEO:
http://video.wnbc.com/player/?id=238518


Microwaving plastic containers affects the chemical make up of the plastic, allowing the chemical substances to destabilize and leach out more quickly into the food you are reheating. You can check out this article that ran in the Wall Street Journal:
http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Microwave-Health-Problems.htm

EVEN one of my favorite 'RUMOR DEBUNKING' websites, lists the information as: overblown with a grain of TRUTH
READ the FULL 3 pages of the article!
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl-microwave-dioxin.htm

Movies!!!! I WANNA WATCH

Red Cliff
In 208 A.D., in the final days of the Han Dynasty, shrewd Prime Minster Cao Cao convinced the fickle Emperor Han the only way to unite all of China was to declare war on the kingdoms of Xu in the west and East Wu in the south. Thus began a military campaign of unprecedented scale, led by the Prime Minister, himself. Left with no other hope for survival, the kingdoms of Xu and East Wu formed an unlikely alliance. Numerous battles of strength and wit ensued, both on land and on water, eventually culminating in the battle of Red Cliff. During the battle, two thousand ships were burned, and the course of Chinese history was changed forever.



10 Promises to My Dog
The "Ten Commandments" for Dog Owners - a short poetry that has moved hearts around the world, now becomes a major motion picture about a girl, her dog, and their life together.



Kungfu Panda
A CG-animated comedy about a lazy, irreverent slacker panda, Po (Voiced by Jack Black), who must somehow become a Kung Fu Master in order to save the Valley of Peace from a villainous snow leopard, Tai Lung. Set in the legendary world of ancient China, this is the story of Po, our unlikely hero, who enters the rigid world of Kung Fu and turns it upside down. Po ultimately becomes a Kung Fu hero by learning that if he believes in himself, he can do anything.



The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
The blockbuster global Mummy franchise takes a spellbinding turn as the action shifts to Asia for the next chapter in the adventure series, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Brendan Fraser returns as explorer Rick OConnell to combat the resurrected Han Emperor (Jet Li) in an epic that races from the catacombs of ancient China high into the frigid Himalayas. Rick is joined in this all-new adventure by son Alex (newcomer Luke Ford), wife Evelyn (Maria Bello) and her brother, Jonathan (John Hannah). And this time, the OConnells must stop a mummy awoken from a 2,000-year-old curse who threatens to plunge the world into his merciless, unending service.

Doomed by a double-crossing sorceress (Michelle Yeoh) to spend eternity in suspended animation, Chinas ruthless Dragon Emperor and his 10,000 warriors have laid forgotten for eons, entombed in clay as a vast, silent terra cotta army. But when dashing adventurer Alex OConnell is tricked into awakening the ruler from eternal slumber, the reckless young archaeologist must seek the help of the only people who know more than he does about taking down the undead: his parents.

As the monarch roars back to life, our heroes find his quest for world domination has only intensified over the millennia. Striding the Far East with unimaginable supernatural powers, the Emperor Mummy will rouse his legion as an unstoppable, otherworldly force...unless the OConnells can stop him first. Now, in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, the trademark thrills and visually spectacular action of the Mummy series will be redefined for a new generation.



Money No Enough 2
Following the success of Money No Enough, Jack Neo is coming back with another season of Money No Enough 2. In this movie, Mark Lee, Marcus Chin and Henry Thia will act as siblings.



The Love Guru
Pitka (Mike Myers in his first orginal character since Austin Powers) is an American who is left at the gates of an Ashram in India as a child and raised by gurus. He moves back to the U.S to seek fame and fortune in the world of self-help and spirituality. His unorthodox methods are put to the test when he must settle a rift between Toronto Maple Leafs star hockey player Darren Roanoke (Romany Malco) and his estranged wife. After the split, Roanokes wife starts dating L.A Kings star Jacques Grande (Justin Timberlake) out of revenge, sending her husband into a major professional skid to the horror of the teams owner Jane Bullard (Jessica Alba) and coach Cherkov (Verne Troyler). Pitka must return the couple to marital nirvana and get Roanoke back on his game so the team can break the 40-year-old Bullard Curse and win the Stanley Cup.



Fate
Woo-min, Cheol-jung, Do-wan and Young-hwan: they are the perfect team to rule the underworld. When they were united, nothing could stop them. Their plan to attack a casino and steal the money to get a fresh start seemed destined to be a success. That is, until Cheol-jungs unexpected betrayal turned their world upside down!

Woo-min is enraged at Cheol-jungs betrayal and for making everything go wrong. Cheol-jung betrayed his friends to get what he wants and to succeed in the cold, dark world. Do-wan dreams of making a comeback while Young-hwan try to quietly help his friends in the background. Woo-mins girlfriend, Eun-young, is also caught up in the whirlwind of the four mens destiny.

Meeting at the crossroads of fate, endless deception and betrayal grow rampant. The four friends are confronted once again with an unavoidable battle.. They collide on a harbor front illegal trading site, all with different motives... Now, their unavoidable fight with fate begins!


Wall-E
What if mankind had to leave Earth, and somebody forgot to turn the last robot off?

Academy Award-winning writer-director Andrew Stanton ("Finding Nemo") and the inventive storytellers and technical geniuses at Pixar Animation Studios ("The Incredibles," "Cars," "Ratatouille") transport moviegoers to a galaxy not so very far away for a new computer-animated cosmic comedy about a determined robot named WALL-E.

After hundreds of lonely years of doing what he was built for, WALL-E (short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) discovers a new purpose in life (besides collecting knick-knacks) when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL-E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet's future, and races back to space to report her findings to the humans (who have been eagerly awaiting word that it is safe to return home). Meanwhile, WALL-E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most exciting and imaginative comedy adventures ever brought to the big screen.



THE GO MASTER
Based on the true-to-life story of the world's most renowned master of the ancient game of Go, Wu Qingyuan. Wu, a native of China, emerged as a prodigy who, at a young age, moved to Japan and rose to prominence as the top Go player in the world. In Japan, Wu overturned the established traditions and strategies of this ancient game, earning multitudes of fans and enemies along the way. Set against the backdrop of the tumultuous Sino-Japanese history of the 20th century, he remained in Japan in spite of the politics and continued his passion for the game.

MEN - annoy the men brightens ladies day

Believe it or not:

WoMAN has Man in it;
MRs. has Mr. in it;
FeMALE has Male in it;
SHE has He in it;
MADAM has Adam in it;
No wonder men always want to be inside women!

Men were born between the legs of a woman, yet men spend all their life and time trying to go back between the legs of a woman....
Why?
BECAUSE THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Okay, Okay, it all makes sense now...
I never looked at it this way before:

Ever notice how all of women's problems start with MEN?

MENtal illness
MENstrual cramps
MENtal breakdown
MENopause
GUYnecologist
AND ..

When we have REAL trouble, it's a
HISterectomy.

Send this to all the women you know to brighten their day.
Send this to all the men just to annoy them
Have a good day, guys!!! :-)hehehe... ..

Heart attacks in females - i got this in my mailbox.. send to your loved ones

She said she didn't feel well and had a back ache and was going to lie on the bed with the heating pad.

A while later her husband went to check on her and she was not breathing.
They were not able to revive her.

This is something we women should definitely take seriously. Please pass this on to those you love.

I was aware that female heart attacks are different, but this is the best description I've ever read .........

Women and heart attacks (Myocardial Infarction)

Did you know that women rarely have the same dramatic symptoms that men have when experiencing heart attack...you know, the sudden stabbing pain in the chest, the cold sweat, grabbing the chest and dropping to the floor that we see in the movies. Here is the story of one woman's experience with a heart attack.

------------------------------

'I had a completely unexpected heart attack at about 10:30 PM with NO prior exertion, NO prior emotional trauma that one would suspect might've brought it on. I was sitting all snugly and warm on a cold evening, with my purring cat in my lap, reading an interesting story my friend had sent me, and actually thinking, 'A-h, this is the life, all cozy and warm in my soft, cushy Lazy Boy with my feet propped up.'

A moment later, I felt that awful sensation of indigestion, when yo! u've been in a hurry and grabbed a bite of sandwich and washed it down with a dash of water, and that hurried bite seems to feel like you've swallowed a golf ball going down the esophagus in slow motion and it is most uncomfortable.

You realize you shouldn't have gulped it down so fast and needed to chew it more thoroughly and this time drink a glass of water to hasten its progress down to the stomach.

This was my initial sensation---the only trouble was that I hadn't taken a bite of anything since about 5:00 PM.

'After that had seemed to subside, the next sensation was like little squeezing motions that seemed to be racing up my SPINE (hind-sight, it was probably my aorta in spasm), gaining speed as they continued racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one presses rhythmically when admin! istering CPR). This fascinating process continued on into my throat and branched out into both jaws.

'AHA!! NOW I stopped puzzling about what was happening--we all have read and/or heard about pain in the jaws being one of the signals of an MI happening, haven't we? I said aloud to myself and the cat, 'Dear God, I think I'm having a heart attack! 'I lowered the foot rest, dumping the cat from my lap, started to take a step and fell on the floor instead.

I thought to myself 'If this is a heart attack, I shouldn't be walking into the next room where the phone is or anywhere else......but, on the other hand, if I don't, nobody will know that I need help, and if I wait any longer I may not be able to get up in moment'

I pulled myself up with the arms of the chair, walked slowly into the next room and dia! led the Paramedics... I told her I thought I was having a heart attack due to the pressure building under the sternum and radiating into my jaws. I didn't feel hysterical or afraid, just stating the facts. She said she was sending the Paramedics over immediately, asked if the front door was near to me, and if so, to unbolt the door and then lie down on the floor where they could see me when they came in.

'I then laid down on the floor as instructed and lost consciousness, as I don't remember the medics coming in, their examination, lifting me onto a gurney or getting me into their ambulance, or hearing the call they made to St. Jude ER on the way, but I did briefly awaken when we arrived and saw that the Cardiologist was already there in his surgical blues and cap, helping the medics pull my stretcher out of the ambulance. He was bending over me asking questions (probably something like 'Have you taken any medications?') but I couldn't make my mind interpret what he wa! s saying, or form an answer, and nodded off again, not waking up until the Cardiologist and partner had already threaded the teeny angiogram balloon up my femoral artery into the aorta and into my heart where they installed two side by side stints to hold open my right coronary artery.

' I know it sounds like all my thinking and actions at home must have taken at least 20-30 minutes before calling the Paramedics, but actually it took perhaps 4-5 minutes before the call, and both the fire station and St. Jude are only minutes away from my home, and my Cardiologist was already to go to the OR in his scrubs and get going on restarting my heart (which had stopped somewhere between my arrival and the procedure) and installing the stints.

'Why have I written all of this to you with so much detail? Because I want all of you who are so important in my life to know what I learned first hand.'

1. Be aware that something very different is happening in your own bod! y not the usual men's symptoms, but inexplicable things happening (until my sternum and jaws got into the act). It is said that many more women than men die of their first (and last) MI because they didn't know they were having one, and commonly mistake it as indigestion, take some Maalox or other anti-heartburn preparation, and go to bed, hoping they'll feel better in the morning when they wake up....which doesn't happen. My female friends, your symptoms might not be exactly like mine, so I advise you to call the Paramedics if ANYTHING is unpleasantly happening that you've not felt before. It is better to have a 'false alarm' visitation than to risk your life guessing what it might be!

2. Note that I said 'Call the Paramedics'. Ladies, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! Do NOT try to drive yourself to the ER--you're a hazard to others on the road, and so is your panicked husband who will be speeding and looking anxiously at wha! t's happening with you instead of the road. Do NOT call your doctor--he doesn't know where you live and if it's at night you won't reach him anyway, and if it's daytime, his assistants (or answering service) will tell you to call the Paramedics. He doesn't carry the equipment in his car that you need to be saved! The Paramedics do,
principally OXYGEN that you need ASAP. Your Dr. will be notified later.

3. Don't assume it couldn't be a heart attack because you have a normal cholesterol count. Research has discovered that a cholesterol elevated reading is rarely the cause of an MI (unless it's unbelievably high, and/or accompanied by high blood pressure.) MI's are usually caused by long-term stress and inflammation in the body, which dumps all sorts of deadly hormones into your system to sludge things up in there. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep.. L! et's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive...

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life.

Wonder of the Animal Kingdom...

The earthquake was right in the area where giant pandas live. Most pandas are protected well, especially those babies, even if they were scared a lot. Right after earthquake. They rushed out and some stayed together.

How to reduce petrol and gas price... The Egg logic

A man eats two eggs each morning for breakfast. When he goes to the grocery store he pays 60 cents a dozen. Since a dozen eggs won't last a week he normally buys two dozens at a time. One day while buying eggs he notices that the price has risen to 72 cents. The next time he buys groceries, eggs are 76 cents a dozen.

When asked to explain the price of eggs the store owner says, 'The price has gone up and I have to raise my price accordingly'. This store buys 100 dozen eggs a day. He checked around for a better price and all the distributors have raised their prices. The distributors have begun to buy from the huge egg farms. The small egg farms have been driven out of business. The huge egg farms sell 100,000 dozen eggs a day to distributors. With no competition, they can set the price as they see fit. The distributors then have to raise their prices to the grocery stores. And on and on and on.

As the man kept buying eggs the price kept going up. He saw the big egg trucks delivering 100 dozen eggs each day. Nothing changed there. He checked out the huge egg farms and found they were selling 100,000 dozen eggs to the distributors daily. Nothing had changed but the price of eggs.

Then week before Thanksgiving the price of eggs shot up to $1.00 a dozen. Again he asked the grocery owner why and was told, 'Cakes and baking for the holiday'. The huge egg farmers know there will be a lot of baking going on and more eggs will be used. Hence, the price of eggs goes up. Expect the same thing at Christmas and other times when family cooking, baking happen.

This pattern continues until the price of eggs is 2.00 a dozen. The man says, ' There must be something we can do about the price of eggs'. He starts talking to all the people in his town and they decide to stop buying eggs. This didn't work because everyone needed eggs.

Finally, the man suggested only buying what you need. He ate 2 eggs a day. On the way home from work he would stop at the grocery and buy two eggs. Everyone in town started buying 2 or 3 eggs a day.

The grocery store owner began complaining that he had too many eggs in his cooler. He told the distributor that he didn't need any eggs. Maybe wouldn't need any all week. The distributor had eggs piling up at his warehouse. He told the huge egg farms that he didn't have any room for eggs would not need any for at least two weeks.

At the egg farm, the chickens just kept on laying eggs. To relieve the pressure, the huge egg farm told the distributor that they could buy the eggs at a lower price. The distributor said, ' I don't have the room for the eggs even if they were free'.

The distributor told the grocery store owner that he would lower the price of the eggs if the store would start buying again. The grocery store owner said, 'I don't have room for more eggs. The customers are only buying 2 or 3 eggs at a time. Now if you were to drop the price of eggs back down to the original price, the customers would start buying by the dozen again'.

The distributors sent that proposal to the huge egg farmers but the egg farmers liked the price they were getting for their eggs but, those chickens just kept on laying. Finally, the egg farmers lowered the price of their eggs. But only a few cents. The customers still bought 2 or 3 eggs at a time. They said, 'when the price of eggs gets down to where it was before, we will start buying by the dozen.'

Slowly the price of eggs started dropping. The distributors had to slash their prices to make room for the eggs coming from the egg farmers. The egg farmers cut their prices because the distributors wouldn't buy at a higher price than they were selling eggs for. Anyway, they had full warehouses and wouldn't need eggs for quite a while. And those chickens kept on laying.
Eventually, the egg farmers cut their prices because they were throwing away eggs they couldn't sell.

The distributors started buying again because the eggs were priced to where the stores could afford to sell them at the lower price. And the customers starting buying by the dozen again.

Now, transpose this analogy to the gasoline industry. What if everyone only bought $10.00 worth of gas each time they pulled to the pump? The dealer's tanks would stay semi full all the time. The dealers wouldn't have room for the gas coming from the huge tank farms. The tank farms wouldn't have room for the gas coming from the refining plants. And the refining plants wouldn't have room for the oil being off loaded from the huge tankers coming from the oil fiends.

Just $10.00 each time you buy gas. Don't fill it up. You may have to stop for gas twice a week but, the price should come down. Think about it.

As an added note...When I buy $10.00 worth of gas that leaves my tank a little under quarter full. The way prices are jumping around, you can buy gas for $2.65 a gallon and then the next morning it can be $2.15. If you have your tank full of $2.65 gas you don't have room for the $2.15 gas.

You might not understand the economics of only buying two eggs at a time but, you can't buy cheaper gas if your tank is full of the high priced stuff. Also, don't buy anything else at the gas station; don't give them any more of your hard earned money than what you spend on gas, until the prices comedown.' Just think of this concept for a while.

Horoscope July 8, 2008

Helping those who cannot help themselves, and getting such help if you need it, is an essential lesson now. Someone may be taking advantage of your generous nature. Perhaps you have put your trust in the wrong people. Do not lend your money to people who don't have the collateral.

You'll suddenly be seized by a great desire for change; you may want to change your customary environment by undertaking a long travel, to change your job, or even to change your love partner! In any case, think thoroughly before making a decision. In your work, you can this time bring your most ambitious project to a successful conclusion and by the same occasion outdistance your hardest competitors. The affairs of the heart will receive the benediction of the stars; any tension will be eased off; and if you're single you'll meet your soul mate in the most unusual circumstances.

At your work you'll be well supported by your self-assurance and superb capacities; you'll be in a position to hatch out ambitious projects; however, numerous obstacles will have to be overcome. Don't idealize your love partner too much, otherwise you'll be overly disappointed. Despite your innumerable obligations, you'll try to spend more time with your family; your children will show you exquisite affection.

this is composed for my colleague...

君子須有君子所為
眾人方服其言行舉

一視同人方可服眾
捧高踩下全人唾棄

言而有理眾人心服
出言不遜郃快軍敗

RIDING TIPS - Stunts

A. Wheelies

1. Pick a good place to practice. You want to be safe and you also don’t need to get in trouble.
a. Privately-owned parking lots are often good. Try not to practice on public roads, where cops and traffic can interfere.
b. The surface must be big enough to get up to speed and move around.
c. The surface must be flat. A cambered road can throw off your balance, and that’s the last thing you need.

2. In general
a. As soon as the front wheel comes up, your natural reaction will be to chop the throttle. Don’t panic.
i The most common fear is that you will fall backwards or loop the bike.
• Have faith in the bike. This tends to happen only to experienced folks who are trying to go too far.
• You have to really make an effort to go back past vertical.
• When you think you’re vertical, the bike is really only at about 45 degrees. That front wheel has a good couple of yards left to go before it is going to fall backwards.
ii If you feel that the wheel has come up too far, simply lean forward and ease off the throttle.
• If you panic, you’ll chop the throttle and pull the clutch in. Try not to.
• Be warned! If you panic and whack the throttle shut, the bike will drop HARD. If you’re a guy, this can be painful — it’s like getting kicked in the nuts really hard. And you can warp the rim of your front wheel.
• Advanced riders can use the rear brake to stop a wheelie, but don’t try that until you’re competent and comfortable with the basic maneuver first.
b. Build up your confidence gradually. Don’t try to be Evel Knievel right away.

3. Power wheelies — throttle only
a. In first gear, get up to 15 - 20 mph (or 3000 rpm, if you prefer)
b. Lean back
c. Slam the throttle all the way open
d. The front wheel will come up
e. Add gas to raise the wheel higher, ease off the gas to lower the wheel.

4. Power wheelies — with front-loading
a. In first gear, get up to 15 - 20 mph
b. Chop the throttle to front-load the suspension
c. Slam the throttle open and lean back
d. The front wheel will come up
e. Add gas to raise the wheel, ease off the gas to lower it.

5. Clutch wheelies — use both clutch and throttle
a. In first gear, get up to 15 - 20 mph (or 3000 rpm if you prefer)
b. Pull in the clutch (disengage)
c. Lean back
d. Yank the throttle open
e. When the revs peak, dump the clutch (engage)
f. Add gas to raise the wheel, ease off the gas to lower it.

6. Going for distance
a. Lift the wheel up to the balance point.
i This is where your center of gravity is directly over the rear tire’s footprint.
ii It will feel right. The bike will stay put with minimal effort.

b. Change gears to keep going.
i Use the clutch.
• The bike will dip momentarily when you pull in the clutch, but use the throttle to lift yourself back up.
ii You don’t really need to go beyond second gear, but you can show off by going through the whole gearbox.

c. Smoothness is the key. The more you’re chopping and waggling, the more difficult it’s going to be.


B. Stoppies

1. Stopped stoppies

a. A basic stoppie is done at a slow speed with all the braking force applied quickly. It usually lasts only a few seconds with the rear of the bike coming up quickly, all forward movement stopping, and then the rear crashing/ falling back down. As the basic stoppie is done at a very slow speed, most people feel more comfortable trying it. However because there is very little forward momentum or speed, if the front tire skids, it will usually fall out from under you to one side and result in a crash.

b. First bring the bike up to about 25mph and practice stopping quickly and smoothly while keeping the rear on the ground. Gradually try stopping as fast as you can while still keep the rear on the ground

c. Make sure not to transfer your weight from one side to the other or front to back quickly. Start off against the tank with your thighs gripping it tightly. Your arms should not be locked, but should nevertheless be stiff.

d. Now start braking quickly from about 25mph. At this point the front forks should be heavily compressed. Once you’re almost stopped (about 10mph or less) apply even more brake, quickly. The rear end should pop up fast, the bike should almost stop. Then let off the brake and the rear will fall as the bike stops completely.

e. If the rear is coming up too fast, let off the brake quickly and drop the rear. If the rear comes up so high and your STOPPED for a few seconds vertical at the balance point (straight up and down) it is better to swing the rear to the side to drop the rear than let off the brake, because the bike may fall forwards.

2. Rolling stoppies
a. A rolling stoppie is done at speed with the rear end getting up smoothly. It is then rode for a distance with the rear height being controlled by the amount of brake pressure. The rear can then be brought back down smoothly at about 10mph.

b. First bring the bike up to about 45mph and practice stopping quickly and smoothly while keeping the rear on the ground. Gradually try stopping as fast as you can while still keeping the rear on the ground.

c. Make sure not to transfer your weight from one side to the other or front to back quickly. Start off against the tank with your thighs gripping it tightly. Your arms should not be locked but stiff. This is extremely important at the beginning of a rolling stoppie while the rear end is coming up. Be smooth and keep the bike stable.

d. Start braking quickly from about 40mph minimum. For the first two or three seconds apply the front brakes hard enough to heavily compress the front forks.

e. Now increase the front brake pressure significantly and the rear end should come up. Once it's up, you have to slightly decrease the amount of brake pressure to keep the rear from continuing to rise. Then as the bike is coming to a stop slowly release the brake at about 10 mph lowering the rear, or ride it to the end and let it crash down, your choice.

f. The height of the rear end is controlled by the amount of front brake pressure you apply. You will definitely be able to feel when the rear comes off the ground. The first few times it will feel like the rear is way up in the air, but it’s probably only a foot high.

g. If the rear is coming up too fast let off the brake quickly and drop the rear.

h. If the rear is coming up and to the side, let off the brake slowly and the bike will straighten out by itself. This is due to the gyroscopic force. You can even keep the rear up and do this. Never let off the brake quickly if the rear is coming up and to the side. This will result in a tank slapper and most likely a crash. The bike's rear will most likely swing to the right because you are putting pressure and some weight on the front brake.

C. Burnouts
1. Why anyone would want to do this to a perfectly good tire is beyond me. But they sure are cool to watch.

2. Static Burnout — staying in the same spot
a. Stand on ground, no weight on saddle
b. Full front brake
c. Gas it
d. Lots of noise and smoke.

3. Rolling Burnout — while moving, feet-up

a. Check the surface first
i Too grippy, you’ll stress the clutch, rip the tire, and have trouble rolling.
ii Too slippy, you’ll push the front tire and you might flip it.

b. Get started (2 ways).
i Version (A)
• Start a static burnout, full front brake & throttle, no weight on saddle.
• Let the clutch out abruptly
• Ease off the brake while hopping onto the pegs
• Lift one foot onto a peg (don’t put any weight on it yet) then hop straight into a standing position OR
• Lean on the tank first, and swing both legs pegward together.

ii Version (B)
• Already riding feet up, very slowly.
• Pitch all the weight forward, as in a stoppie, and at the same time let the clutch out with a lot of throttle
• As soon as the rear wheel spins, ease off the brake
• Keep your weight as far forward as possible and ride away

c. Stance
i Keep your weight as far forward as possible.
• This makes it much easier on you, and on the bike.
ii Keep your feet on the pegs. No shifting or rear-braking, please.

d. Hands
i Left hand should cover the clutch. If anything starts to go wrong, pull the clutch in.
ii Right hand controls the brake with 2 fingers and the throttle with the rest.

e. Speed control
i More front brake = slower
ii More revs = faster rear spin = less traction = slower
iii Less revs = less rear spin = more traction = faster (maybe time to pull in the clutch)
iv The most critical thing to remember is to keep the wheel spinning and use the brake smoothly. Any harsh movement will bounce the forks and it’s over.

f. Steering
i More revs = faster rear spin = faster sliding & pivoting. (Can result in a low-side drop if you don’t pull in the clutch and put a boot down.)
ii Steer by turning the bars in the direction you want to go. Countersteer to control how fast the rear end comes around.