50th Reunion Dinner

Calling all 61/63 ACSians, come and join in the celebration of our Golden Anniversary (50th) reunion.

Date: 18th Nov 2011

Place: Tanglin Club

Time: 6.00PM (Buffet Dinner)

Cost: A nominal fee of $20/pax - any balance amount will be covered by sponsors (Those who wish to contribute more than $20 are welcome).

Nearest MRT Station: Orchard

Contact: John Lee (acs6163reunion@gmail.com)

Kindly go to http://acs6163.com/ web site to register your confirmation.
The email address submitted will not be published in this blog.
Please visit the ACS6163 web site http://acs6163.com/ regularly for any updates or further notice.

Digital Photo Frame



The old generation of digital photo frame requires the pictures to be uploaded, either with a thumb drive or through a computer. Now available in the market, there is one model, with touch screen, that works independently with Wi-Fi. No thumb drive or computer is required. Your friends or love ones just only need to send the pictures to you through email attachments, from anywhere around the world. This is how it works ...

After you have purchased the digital photo frame, just introduce the set purchased to the supplier's server. An email account (free) is created with the supplier's server. Send all pictures through this newly created email account and ensure your Wi-Fi in the house is enabled.

You can choose to delete or save any pictures received through the supplier's server.

enjoy ...

Victimized - Almost

An elderly, retired senior went to a (overseas) shopping mall one day. After purchasing some goods and went for his lucky draw, he was told he has won the 1st prize of a car. Excited, he made arrangement to process his prize item. He was told that in order to claim for his prize, he has to pay "GST" first. He can arrange to transfer his "GST" amount to xxxx. A phone number was given to him for any clarification. Since the elderly senior did not have the means to pay for the GST at that point of time, he went home and told his children about it. His children told him it may be a scam as that country does not have GST! and besides there is no proper documentation or letter-head document to state the obvious and conditions to accept the prize.

The moral of this incident is ...if you have to part with your real money first before you can receive your prize item or money, then something is, most likely, wrong with the transaction.

What are Email Scams

Email scams are messages (when you receive them) that attempt to impersonate legitimate senders.  These messages often ask you to click on a link and provide personal data.  In some cases, the sender may also attempt to install malware on your computer. (malware - software program that includes viruses, worms, Trojan horses and spyware).

How to avoid getting into trouble ...
(1) Have a up-to-date anti-virus program installed in your computer.
(2) Delete all emails from senders you do not know.
(3) Download any picture and/or clicking on any link with caution.

enjoy surfing ...

Video Conferencing

In the olden days, when we talked about video conferencing, it is usually an important business meeting where parties around the world can discuss and see each other in a private room in a teleco company.

Now the above is things of the past. You can video conference with your love ones, anywhere in the world without leaving your home. All both parties need are two sets of suitable Wi-Fi enable mobile equipment installed with a suitable program. No computer is required. Just dial the other party like any mobile phone and both picture and voice will be connected.

enjoy ...

When Population Growth Outpaced Infrastructure

On the topic of mode of transportation, e.g. the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), situation can be like the one shown on this video clip.

Uniquely Singapore - Distance Fare System

Recently, our country transport system converted to charging by how far you travel. I believe this system uses the location indicators (installed island-wide) or GPS to locate where you board the transport (bus) and where you alight by transferring the information (1) from the "entry" device to your card and (2) from your card to the "exit" device and (3) your card stored valued will be deducted for the trip you have taken. All these are done by computer system.

As Murphy Law says, "If something can go wrong, it will." ...computer system included!

I discovered one instance of overcharging by the system when I did a check on one of the trips travelled.
What I believe is that during the (1) stage, the "entry" device went crazy and informed the (2) stage that I board the bus from "Jurong East" which is much further then the right place/location I boarded. This of course had a wrong deduction on my card stored valued.

Now come to the topic of a "graceful society" - we still have some more distance to go.
With the discovery of the above, I done the following:
a) Went to a ticket office to provide the feedback. The officer just recorded my feedback and issued me a chit.
b) A few days later at the transport headoffice, they did the review and confirm the particulars with me through the phone. The officer still have not decided whether my feedback is valid or not. No word of confirmation or say sorry that they have overcharged - really so difficult to check or they are afraid to commit at that moment.
c) Next, a few days later again, I receive an sms to say they have overcharged and I can get my refund for the overcharged amount from any ticket office. Still the word "sorry" is not in the sms text message.

I wonder whether TransLink Public Relation Office is aware of all these ground level happenings?