General Stuff

[thumbsdown]

STEALING

Not really new information but a reminder could help.


SCENE 1.
A friend went to the local gym and placed his belongings in the locker.
After the workout and a shower, he came out, saw the locker open, and
thought to himself, 'Funny, I thought I locked the locker...

Hmm, 'He dressed and just flipped the wallet to make sure all was in
order. Everything looked okay - all cards were in place...

A few weeks later his credit card bill came - a whooping bill of
$14,000!

He called the credit card company and started yelling at them,
saying that he did not make the transactions.

Customer care personnel verified that there was no mistake in the
system and asked if his card had been stolen...
'No,' he said, but then took out his wallet, pulled out the credit
card, and yep - you guessed it - a switch had been made. An expired
similar credit card from the same bank was in the wallet.

The thief broke into his locker at the gym and switched cards.

Verdict: The credit card issuer said since he did not report the card
missing earlier, he would have to pay the amount owed to them.

How much did he have to pay for items he did not buy? $9,000!
Why were there no calls made to verify the amount swiped?
Small amounts rarely trigger a 'warning bell' with some credit card
companies. It just so happens that all the small amounts added up to a
big one!
============================
SCENE 2.
A man at a local restaurant paid for his meal with his credit card.

The bill for the meal came, he signed it and the waitress folded
thereceipt and passed the credit card along.

Usually, he would just take it and place it in his wallet or pocket.
Funny enough,though, he actually took a look at the card and, lo and
behold, it
was the expired card of another person.

He called the waitress and she looked perplexed.

She took it back, apologized, and hurried back to the counter under the
watchful eye of the man.

All the waitress did while walking to the counter was wave the wrong
expired card to the counter cashier, and the counter cashier who then
immediately looked down and took out the real card.

No exchange of words --- nothing! She took it and came back to the man
with an apology..
(This scenario actually happened to me at a
local restaurant- Falls Terrace-between the waitress and the front desk
cashier.)

Verdict: Make sure the credit cards in your wallet are yours.

Check the name on the card every time you sign for something and/or the
card is taken away for even a short period of time.

Many people just take back the credit card without even looking at
it, 'assuming' that it has to be theirs.

FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, DEVELOP THE HABIT OF CHECKING YOUR CREDIT CARD EACH
TIME IT IS RETURNED TO YOU AFTER A TRANSACTION!
==========================
SCENE 3:
Yesterday I went into a pizza restaurant to pick up an order that I had
called in.

I paid by using my Visa Check Card which, of course, is linked directly
to my checking Account.

The young man behind the counter took my card, swiped it, then laid it
on the counter as he waited for the approval, which is pretty
standard procedure.

While he waited, he picked up his cell phone and started dialling.

I noticed the phone because it is the same model I have, but nothing
seemed out of the ordinary. Then I heard a click that sounded like my
phone sounds when I take a picture.

He then gave me back my card but kept the phone in his hand as if he
was still pressing buttons.

Meanwhile, I'm thinking: I wonder what he is taking a picture of,
oblivious to what was really going on.

It then dawned on me: the only thing there was my credit card, so now
I'm paying close attention to what he is doing..

He set his phone on the counter, leaving it open.

About five seconds later, I heard the chime that tells you that the
picture has been saved.

Now I'm standing there struggling with the fact that this boy just took
a picture of my credit card.

Yes, he played it off well, because had we not had the same kind of
phone, I probably would never have known what happened.

Needless to say, I immediately cancelled that card as I was walking out
of the pizza parlour.

All I am saying is, be aware of your surroundings at all times.

Whenever you are using your credit card take caution and don't be
careless.

Notice who is standing near you and what they are doing when you use
your card.

Be aware of phones, because many have a camera phone these days.

FORWARD THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN THINK OF. LET'S GET THE WORD
OUT! JUST BE AWARE.
Never let your card out of your sight.....check and check again!

[thumbsdown]

Cancer causing chemicals found in soy sauce
Below is a newspaper article from the U.K.

Please throw away all Lee Kum Kee, Kimlan, Pearl River, Golden Mountain, Sin-sin, Golden Swan, Jammy Chai, Golden Mark, Tung Chun products from your pantry.

Cancer-causing chemicals found in soy sauce
by SEANPOULTER, Daily Mail

Cancer-causing chemicals have been found in nearly one in four samples of soy sauce and other Chinese flavourings tested by food watchdogs, it was announced yesterday.

In some, the levels massively exceeded international safety limits while others contained traces of a banned toxic substance.

Yesterday officials issued a 'hazard alert' and demanded that supermarket shelves be cleared of the products and that consumers and caterers throw out the offending brands.

The list also includes varieties of oyster sauce, mushroom sauceand a chicken marinade. All are likely to be used in Chinese,Vietnamese or Thai restaurants.

Virtually all the brands involved were imported from Thailand, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, and sold through specialist Chinese supermarkets. None of those sold by major retailers contained the chemicals.

The Food Standards Agency, which carried out the tests, believes the most likely buyers will be Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai restaurants and families from Eastern and South East Asian backgrounds.

It stressed that occasional users were unlikely to be harmed but there was concern for people consuming high levels of the products.

The samples involved in the survey of 100 products were collected more than five months ago.

Explaining the delay in publishing the findings, the FSA said it had to run a detailed analysis, contact importers and trace the history of consignments. The chemical 3-MCPD is considered so dangerousthat the EU will not allow any more than the tiniest amount in food - just 0.02 mg per kg.

Yet one of the products, sold under the brand name Golden Mountain, contained close to 5,000 times that figure. Just two teaspoons would be equivalent to 20 times the acceptable daily intake recommended for a woman.

The survey also revealed traces of an even more harmful chemical,1,3-DCP, which is banned from all food because it is toxic to genes, as well as carcinogenic.

Some 24 of the 100 samples were positive for 3-MCPD and two thirds of these had traces of 1,3-DCP. The two are thought to create a higher risk of liver cancer.

FSA deputy chairman Suzi Leather said: 'Soy sauce can be produced without these chemicals and we expect swift action from the industry to ensure that the planned EU legal limits are met.' The shops the FSA tested were concentrated in Leeds, Manchester, London and Cambridge. However the brands are likely to be available nationwide and worldwide where the Asian communities are located.

The products carried the brand names: Golden Mountain, King Imperial, Pearl River Bridge, Jammy Chai, Golden Mark, Kimlan, Lee Kum Kee, Tung Chun, Sinsin and Golden Swan.

Some of the makers and importers have claimed that they were the victims of counterfeiters.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...html%26lang=en

[thumbsdown]

Beware of Burundanga Namecards..


What is Malaysia becoming? Yes, this actually happened to my friend last year. A salesman just cooly walked into her office at the Boulevard ( mid valley ) and proceeded to show her what he was selling. Without thinking twice, my friend very naturally stretched out her hand to take whatever he was holding.. Immediately she felt like something zapped her and her speech became slurred. Thankfully, she still had the presence of mind to fling whatever she had taken from the man ( she can't even remember what it was ) at the door, and the man quickly ran off.



Please be careful. Yesterday, I was at the Carrefour carpark after shopping and about to start the car engine. Suddenly, one man appeared holding a name card and asking me to wind down the window to give me the name card. I refused using the sign language but he kept on pestering. I was terrified and quickly started the engine and sped off. Fortunately, I locked the car doors immediately I got in..

Thank you for the warning email I received earlier.
Rgds,
May

Subject: NAME CARDS

Must Read and Please be careful out there !!

A man came over and offered his service as a painter to a female putting gas in her car and left his card. She said no, but accepted his card out of kindness and got in the car. The man then got into a car driven by another gentleman.

As the lady left the service station, she saw the men following her out of the station at the same time.

Almost immediately, she started to feel dizzy and could not catch her breath. She tried to open the window and realized that the odor was on her hand; the same hand which accepted the card from the gentleman at the gas station.

She then noticed the men were immediately behind her and she felt she needed to do something at that moment. She drove into the first driveway and began to honk her horn repeatedly to ask for help.The men drove away but the lady still felt pretty bad for several minutes after she could finally catch her breath.

Apparently, there was a substance on the card that could have seriously injured her.

This drug is called 'BURUNDANGA'and it is used by people who wish to incapacitate a victim in order to steal from or take advantage of them.

This drug is four times more dangerous than the date rape drug and is transferable on simple cards.

So take heed and make sure you don't accept cards at any given time alone or from someone on the streets. This applies to those making house calls and slipping you a card when they offer their services.

[aquilonian]

There was a one hour interview on CNBC with Warren Buffet, the second
richest man who has donated $31 billion to charity. Here are some very
interesting aspects of his life:

1. He bought his first share at age 11 and he now regrets that he started
too late!
2. He bought a small farm at age 14 with savings from delivering newspapers.

3. He still lives in the same small 3-bedroom house in mid-town Omaha,
which he bought after he got married 50 years ago. He says that he has
everything he needs in that house. His house does not have a wall or a
fence.
4. He drives his own car everywhere and does not have a driver or security
people around him.
5. He never travels by private jet, although he owns the world's largest
private jet company.
6. His company, Berkshire Hathaway, owns 63 companies.
He writes only one letter each year to the CEOs of these companies, giving
them goals for the year. He never holds meetings or calls them on a regular basis.
He has given his CEO's only two rules. Rule number 1: do not lose any
of your share holder's money. Rule number 2: Do not forget rule number 1.
7. He does not socialize with the high society crowd. His past time
after he gets home is to make himself some pop corn and watch Television.

8. Bill Gates, the world's richest man met him for the first time only
years ago. Bill Gates did not think he had anything in common with
Warren Buffet. So he had scheduled his meeting only for half hour. But
when Gates met him, the meeting lasted for ten hours and Bill Gates
became a devotee of Warren Buffet.

9. Warren Buffet does not carry a cell phone, nor has a computer on his
desk.

His advice to young people: "Stay away from credit cards and invest
in yourself and
Remember:
A. Money doesn't create man but it is the man who created money.
B. Live your life as simple as you are.
C. Don't do what others say, just listen them, but do what you feel good.
D. Don't go on brand name; just wear those things in which u feel comfortable.
E. Don't waste your money on unnecessary things; just spend on them who
really in need rather.
F. After all it's your life then why gives chance to others to rule our
life."

[thumbsdown]

image.jpeg

Sinkies use tissues to chope tables. Thais use slippers to chope places.

[thumbsdown]

STROKE: Remember The 1st Three Letters... S.T.R.



My friend sent this to me and encouraged me to post it and spread the
word. I agree. If everyone can remember something this simple, we
could save some folks.

STROKE IDENTIFICATION:
During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured
everyone that she was fine and just tripped over a brick because of
her new shoes. (they offered to call ambulance)



They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food - while she
appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest
of the evening. Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that
his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00pm , Ingrid passed
away.)

She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify
the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today.



Some don't die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.
It only takes a minute to read this...
STROKE IDENTIFICATION:



A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3
hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He
said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then
getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is
tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Remember the "3" steps, STR . Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify.
Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster.

The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby
fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three
simple questions:

S * Ask the individual to SMILE .

T * = TALK. Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently)
(eg "It is sunny out today").

R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS .

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 000
immediately!! and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

NOTE : Another 'sign' of a stroke is

1. Ask the person to 'stick' out their tongue.

2. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other
that is also an indication of a stroke.

A prominent cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends
it to 10 people; you can bet that at least one life will be saved.



..and it could be your own..

[thumbsdown]

* Why is it that people say they "slept like a baby" when babies wake
up every two hours?
* If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?
* Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries
are flat?
* Why do banks charge a fee on "insufficient funds" when they know
there is not enough?
* Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion
stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?
* Why do they use sterilized needles for death by lethal injection?
* Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard?
* Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you
throw a revolver at him?
* Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?
* Whose idea was it to put an "S" in the word "lisp"?
* What is the speed of darkness?
* Are there specially reserved parking spaces for "normal" people at
the Special Olympics?
* If the temperature is zero outside today and it's going to be twice
as cold tomorrow, how cold will it be?
* If it's true that we are here to help others, what are the others
doing here?
* Do married people live longer than single ones or does it only seem
longer?
* Do you cry under water?
* How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would
be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?
* Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in
binoculars to look at things on the ground?
* Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll
squeeze these pink dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?"
* Who was the first person to say, "See that chicken there... I'm gonna
eat the next thing that comes outta its butt."
* Why do toasters always have a setting so high that could burn the
toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?
* Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer?
* Why do people point to their wrist when asking for the time, but
don't point to their butt when they ask where the bathroom is?
* Why does your Obstetrician, Gynaecologist leave the room when you get
undressed if they are going to look up there anyway?
* Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They're
both dogs!
* Can blind people see their dreams? Do they dream??
* If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests?
* If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from
vegetables, then what is baby oil made from?
* If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?
* Why do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the
same tune?
Stop singing and read on . . . . . .. . . . .

* Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup?
* Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad
at you but when you take him on a car ride, he sticks his head out the
window?
* Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive faster?

[sadshishamo]

Fatties pay more

Samoa Air has become the world's first airline to implement "pay as you weigh" flights, meaning overweight passengers pay more for their seats.
"This is the fairest way of travelling," chief executive of Samoa Air, Chris Langton, told ABC Radio. "There are no extra fees in terms of excess baggage or anything – it is just a kilo is a kilo is a kilo."

Like many Pacific island nations, Samoa has a serious obesity problem and is often included in the top 10 countries for obesity levels. As such, Mr Langton believes his airline's new payment policy will also help promote health and obesity awareness.
"When you get into the Pacific, standard weight is substantially higher [than south-east Asia]," he said. "That's a health issue in some areas. [This payment system] has raised the awareness of weight."

Under the new system, Samoa Air passengers must type in their weight and the weight of their baggage into the online booking section of the airline's website. The rates vary depending on the distance flown: from $1 per kilogram on the airline's shortest domestic route to about $4.16 per kilogram for travel between Samoa and American Samoa. Passengers are then weighed again on scales at the airport, to check that they weren't fibbing online.
Samoa Air operates BN2A Islander and Cessna 172 aircraft.


Mr Langton said he believed it to be a system of the future, and added that "the standard width and pitch of seats are changing as people are getting a bit bigger, wider and taller than they were 40 to 50 years ago".

He also pointed out that families travelling with small children could end up paying far less with the pay-by-weight scheme.
"A family of maybe two adults and a couple of mid-sized kids ... can travel at considerably less than what they were being charged before," he said.
Public relations and marketing representative for Samoa Tourism, Peter Sereno, said he believed that the policy would also help with safety standards.
"When you're only fitting eight to 12 people in these aircraft and you've got some bigger Samoans getting on, you do need to weigh them and distribute that weight evenly throughout the aircraft, to make sure everyone's safe," he said. "At the end of the day, I don't care who they're weighing or how they're weighing them as long as it's safe."

Norwegian economist Bharat P. Bhatta proposed in a recent journal article that by implementing pay-per-kilo policies, carriers could also recoup the cost of the extra fuel required to carry larger people.

Some airlines in the United States already force obese passengers who cannot fit in a single seat to pay for two seats, but this is the first time a per-kilo rate has been used by an airline.

[sadshishamo]

Love the french


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[sadshishamo]

more french

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