Going Digital

Consumer Affairs VIC

Friday, 29 April 2011

Consumer Affairs Victoria has received calls from tenants and landlords asking who is responsible for the costs associated with switching from analog to digital television. The switch is due for completion by 2013.

In cases where an external antenna is part of the property and cannot receive digital signals, the landlord must upgrade or replace it if the:

• original antenna could receive analog signals when the tenant moved in, and
• lease is covered by the Residential Tenancies Act 1997 (RTA).

If a television set does not have capacity for digital input and the TV is part of the lease, the landlord must arrange the upgrade (e.g. by providing a set top box) or replacement. If the tenant owns the TV, then any upgrade or replacement is the tenant’s responsibility.

If a lease is not covered under the RTA, a tenant may still argue that having a working TV signal is an implied condition of their agreement – and therefore the landlord’s responsibility – but tenants in this situation should seek legal advice.

If a tenant is not sure if their lease is covered by the RTA, they should contact Consumer Affairs Victoria.

For more information about digital television, visit the Digital Ready website.

Credit Card Scam

DEBORAH TURNER
TID - TEAM LEADER - TEAM 2
HIGH TECH CRIME OPERATIONS

Tel +61(0) 2 62233555 +61(0) 2 62233555 Ext 163555 Mob +61(0) 438286895 +61(0) 438286895

www.afp.gov.au



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New Credit Card Scam

This one is pretty slick since they provide YOU with all the information, except the one piece they want.

Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it... This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & Master Card Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.

One of our employees was called on Wednesday from 'VISA', and I was called on Thursday from 'Master Card'.. The scam works like this: Caller: 'This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. You r card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a Marketing company based in ?'

When you say 'No', the caller continues with, 'Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?'

You say 'yes'. The caller continues - 'I will be starting a Fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800 -VISA) and ask for Security.'

You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. 'Do you need me to read it again?'

Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works.


The caller then says, 'I need to verify you are in possession of your card'. He'll ask you to 'turn your card over and look for some numbers'. There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security Numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card. The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, 'That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?' After you say No, the caller then thanks you and states, 'Don't hesitate to call back if you do, and hangs up.

You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number.. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question.. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497..99 was charged to our card.

Long story - short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number.What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card, don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost too late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.

What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a 'Jason Richardson of Master Card' with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this Scam is happening.

Please pass this on to all your family, friends and neighbours.

Badminton in Western Suburb, Victoria

On hold until further notice - 8/2/11

This is due to technical issues in getting the courts.

I've booked in regular session for badminton on Thursday nights starting 3rd 10th Feb 2011.
The session will be 8-10pm.

The skills level I don't really know yet, but expecting D grade and maybe some low C. It's mainly for social, so come have a hit & some laughter along the way! Don't mind competitive players as we're always looking to improve!

Please post a reply if you can come so I know how many people to expect. Ideally we have 16 24 people so we can keep it at $7pp. We'll try to keep it under 18 28 people for everyone to have a fair chance to play. There're 4 courts there!

We'll keep it at $7per person for now and adjust in the future if necessary!

Thursdays @ 8-10pm

$7pp

Address: Federation Boulevard, Truganina (Truganina South Primary School)

MiCasa Pricing as of 9/9/10

Available units:

206 available on 21/11/10 @ $265pw – North Facing – Rent will be $280pw from 21/2/11

503 available on 12/1/11 @ $300pw – North Facing

702 available on 17/1/11 @ $310pw – North Facing

703 available on 17/1/11 @ $310pw – North Facing

711 available on 13/11/10 @ $305pw – South Facing

908 available 22/11/10 @ $315pw – South Facing - Corner Unit – Rent will be $325pw from 7/2/11

915 available on 14/2/11 @ $325pw – South Facing - Corner Unit

1118 available on 7/2/11 @ $335pw – North Facing - Corner Unit

1202 available NOW @ $330pw – North Facing – Lease ends on 24/1/11 with options to renew

1208 available on 31/1/11 @ $335pw – South Facing – Corner Unit

1209 available on 23/12/10 @ $335pw – South Facing

1211 available on 3/12/10 @ $335pw – South Facing 

1218 available on 30/9/10 @ $340pw – North Facing – Corner Unit – Rent will be $345pw from 24/1/11

As you can see, very limited!!

MiCasa 2011 & International Students

Now that election's uncertainty is over, we're clear of one thing: the international students market will be downsized whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Over the past few months, we have read news such as

AUSTRALIA has the highest proportion of international students enrolled in its tertiary institutions in the world, according to an international study.

It was also more reliant on students to pick up the bill for tertiary education than most other developed countries.

most other countries had been investing heavily in tertiary education while in Australia investment dropped from 1.6 per cent of gross domestic product in 1995 to 1.5 per cent in 2007.

He said Victoria - where international education is the biggest export industry, worth about $4.5 billion a year - had the most to lose.

For the first time, we're noticing significant downturns

The sector warned that the migration debate was further hurting Australia's attractiveness to students. "The received message in other countries -- among students, parents and others -- is that Australia doesn't value international students," the Go8 said.

Let's not forget the impact of Global Financial Crisis (GFC) last year or so. Normally we'll feel the impact 2-3 years later like how we did during 1997. The impact was obvious during 1999 and 2000 where the international students intake was low.

So, what's it gotta do with MiCasa8 (131 Pelham Street, Carlton VIC)? Lots of things! The whole building is probably 97% international students!!

This year (2010) we managed to achieve better than expected as we started earlier and before GFC is even famous! However, along the way, sadly, I have few tenants who had to leave the place as GFC has taken a toll of their financial situations.

For 2011, we have started accepting and processing applications. The responses are still coming in very quick and most apartments under $320pw are snatched up right after they have become available!

The quota for June 2011 leases has been filled all by renewals of existing tenants. So things are still "OK" for the moment.

An advice for all international students who are coming to Melbourne and wanting to stay in MiCasa8 is to start applying early!

Now, some of you might be wondering why the bad news earlier then asking us to apply earlier? Doesn't make sense! 

Well, my message is, the cheaper apartment ($320pw) and below will be gone very quickly! So if budget is your concern, start earlier otherwise, don't be too worry!! :)

Hung Parliament

The good Oz witnessed or going to witness a hung parliament for the first time in 70 years! How good is that! The people have spoken...The leaders have learnt from their mistakes.

On 29/8/10, will we speak? I'm sure there'll not be a hung parliament.

I'm just hoping we are not hung by the end of the day. :)

Mr Keris-Man - Employee of the year?

KPI, KPI, KPI...it has become such a normal term in Malaysia these days after the introduction of KPIs to Goverment departments.

Who is the hardest working man in Govt now? Well, most people might say Najib as he's not the sleeping PM but just saw this in the paper today.

PUTRAJAYA: The Home Minis­try has completed the mammoth task of clearing the backlog of over 140,000 applications for citizenship, entry permits and birth certificates — two months ahead of schedule.

It has processed 143,099 files — 32,927 citizenship, 16,812 entry permit (permanent residence) and 93,360 birth certificate applications — filed between 1997 and December 2006. More on The Star

 It seems the employee of the year award might just go to Mr Keris! He He!!

Nonetheless, hats off for this guy for clearing the backlog created over the years.

We also hope to see more improvements in his Ministry as well as speeding up or relax the requirement a bit for the process of foreign spouse PR applications, etc.

We're not expecting a jump in performance, but at least move faster than what BN has been moving for 50+ years!

Filter First

AGAIN, another blooper from BN's man. This time, Datuk Wira Ahmad Hamzah (Jasin-BN) who said the following:

Before the Auditor-General’s (AG) annual report is made public, the Government should filter it so that the country is not embarrassed by it.

“I support the AG’s report but what has happened now is that it gives a very bad impression and it is meloyakan (nauseating).

“If possible, the Government should filter the report before making it a public document,” he said on Tuesday during the Budget 2010 debate in Parliament

I guess he really doesn't understand what it means to be auditted or the audit process.

Instead of looking on how to improve and be honest about themselves, he wants the report to be "filtered". Alamak~!

Who would want to see a filtered audited report, especially being filtered by the person being audited? Doesn't make sense!

Be bold enough to accept your shortcomings and improve on it! Don't be a sissy! If you know what your Govt is doing is bringing shame to the country, GOOD!

ACT ON IT!

MACC, you can spend the next few years studying the report and investigate! Don't just try to cover up on Teoh's case and bully PR members.

Najib's Powerful Words

“I want to tell you that a lot of things don’t require monetary allocations. For example, changing from being lazy to become more hardworking,” said Najib.

Very brave in admitting their party are full of lazy bums, especially those benefited from the Govt's financial aids and special priviledges.

Not only the top level leadership needs to be more hardworking but the grassroot members!Can UMNO do it after their reform? It's still too early to tell but at least it's a sign forward.

Let's see how much followup works wil be done regarding this, not followup words.

Win - Win & Lose - Lose

Most successful businessmen would always want to achieve a win-win situation.

Most ordinary businessmen would always want to achieve a win-lose situation.

Most immature businessmen would always want try to achieve a win-lose situation but in actual fact, it's a lose-lose situation.

The same principle apply to politics and if we apply it to the news report below:

KUALA LUMPUR: Federal aid to the governments of opposition-ruled states should be reduced and be channelled directly to the people there, Selangor delegate Abdul Shukur Idrus said.


He said this was because opposition parties were getting mileage out of the socio-economic programmes in these states.


Abdul Shukur said the Pakatan Rakyat-ruled Selangor government gave RM1,000 to finance funeral arrangements to the people in the state while Umno provided RM300.

“The state government also provided RM1,500 to the elderly. The people in the state are talking about the opposition government giving aid to the people.

“Little do the people know that what the opposition government is giving comes from the Barisan Nasional Federal government,” he claimed when debating the president’s policy speech at the Umno General Assembly here on Friday.

Abdul Shukur said the Federal Government should reduce payments to the opposition state governments so that the people there could see which party provided greater assistance.More on The Star

Let's see what can we get:

Federal Govt gives to State Govt who then gives to the Rakyat (people). All good so it's definitely a win-win situation where everyone is happy. At least it shows the Federal Govt is fair, the State Govt is doing its' job in helping the needy and the Rakyat is taken care of.

Federal Govt stop giving to State Govt who then has to reduce aids for the Rakyat. The biggest loser is the Rakyat, State Govt cries foul & unfairness by Federal Govt. So the winner is actually State Govt while Federal Govt thinks they won but they've actually lost!

Federal Govt bypassing State Govt and go to the Rakyat directly. With all the incompetency & corruption practices by the previous BN State Govt, it's a lost cause anyway. So, it'll be a definite lose-lose situation to all parties.

That guy in UMNO is short sighted and a poor strategist. All he cares about is the credit and praises for the "good" works he has or trying to do. Exposing his immaturity to the public. Shame on him.

Instead of encouraging other BN states to do the same or better than the PR states, he wants to see those luckier Rakyat to suffer drawbacks in their lives. All for the sake of "credits".

I'm sure there're more funds allocated to the BN States, so the question is, what happened to the funds allocated to help the Rakyat? How are they using the funds?

Dear voters, please open your eyes and to see who you're voting for. Don't vote blindly!!

It's your future at stake!!

Las Vegas - Victorian version

In another act out of desperations, the Victorian Govt has again breached the trusts of fellow Victorians.

Premier John Brumby has opened the door for a second casino in Victoria - just five months after the Government ruled out such a move.

In May Gaming Minister Tony Robinson told ABC Radio that the Government had no intention of allowing a second casino. ''It is not the Government's policy to have a second casino in Victoria,'' he said. ''We have a set policy on that.''

But yesterday Mr Brumby signalled a big shift in Government policy on a second casino following a proposal for a new casino complex in Mildura. More on The Age

Definitely, a new casino would create heaps of jobs and investments, which in turn will also boost tourism to Mildura and stimulate the local business.

Similarly, Las Vegas was just a piece of deserted land where birds won't even lay eggs before the building boom. We cannot deny the facts that Casino can bring in "prosperity" and developments but the question is, at what price?

Sin City is one of the famous nicknames for Las Vegas due to the acceptance of "adult entertainment". Whom but those sinners themselves would want their city to be labeled as Sin City? A place where people defiled themselves, breaking the moral standard to the lowest ever, and have no respect for the Greater Authority.

Will Victoria has its' own Sin City in the future soon? Are we going to sacrifice an innocent City for the sake of money? It's game of Money vs Moral and it's very obvious that Mr Moral doesn't stand a chance in hell against Ms Money.

Do they REALLY care about our next generation well being? They might have jobs but they'll be morally corrupted. What good will it be then? We're just encouraging a future full of individualistic and selfish greed minded people to emerge on a path of no return.

Ethically, the casino should not be built or any casino for that fact. The moral price is just too high to be beared by future Victorians.

A city that neglect God will be doomed. We need to do our part in preventing this from happening!!

There're a lot more better ways to earn money! Stop defiling ourselves!

God have mercy upon us!

Who Cares About Debts When We Have International Students?

Source: Herald Sun
Dated: 7/10/09

INTERNATIONAL students are the key to paying off Australia's debt and caring for its ageing population, a leading demographer says.


Bernard Salt says the country should be embracing international students and encouraging them to stay on after they finish their degrees.

Only 20,000 of the 400,000 international students who are educated in Australia every year migrate here, he said. But that number needs to increase in order to counteract the growing number of baby boomers leaving the workforce and paying less tax.


"We are not likely to raise the tax rate substantially," Mr Salt said.


"So this means we need more people who can pay taxes, and they can only come from overseas."


A student migration program would not only help Australia pay off its massive debt incurred as a result of the global economic downturn but would also ensure a steady stream of skilled migrants.


"International students represent an outstanding source of skilled migrants - they're young, educated and keen to become Australians," Mr Salt said.


The reputation of Australia's $15.5 billion international education industry was damaged earlier this year following a series of attacks on Indian students in Melbourne.


An independent review of the sector is being carried out by former federal Liberal MP Bruce Baird.


Mr Salt, who will deliver his message to the Australian International Education Conference in Sydney next week, said the nation needed to lift its game if it was to compete in the highly competitive international student market.

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At least they're smart in getting the money in elsewhere rather than keep getting out of their own people!

We should learn!

Myki Rip Off - Beware

Stephen Drill
From: InfoChoice
September 20, 2009 12:00AM

UP to 60 per cent of the new myki transport ticket machines have been subjected
to vandalism or graffiti months before the system begins operation.

A Sunday Herald Sun survey of the new ticket machines found smashed, broken and
fire-bombed units across the network.

That comes as a flaw in the troubled myki ticketing system means passengers will be charged more than $2 extra per trip if the machines malfunction.

The myki system, $350 million over budget and three years late, will charge passengers the maximum price for a ticket if they do not scan off at the end of their trip.

But passengers cannot scan off if card readers are damaged.

The State Government admitted the problem and will set up a call centre to take complaints from overcharged passengers.

Passengers' accounts will then be changed to show the correct fares.

An inspection of the Pakenham, Werribee and Upfield train lines on Friday showed six in every 10 card readers has been vandalised, though the system is yet to start working.

The system is expected to begin on December 1, but the Government is yet to release a date.

Opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder has slammed the fault, saying it is another example of the bungling that has dogged the myki system.

"If you are going to have an electronic ticketing system it needs to be foolproof and damage proof - this is neither. Thousands of commuters are going to be ripped off," he said.

Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen said it
was unreasonable to expect passengers to have to make a call in order to be
charged the correct fare.

Stephen Moynihan, a spokesman for Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky confirmed myki would charge a higher fare if a passenger did not scan off, even if they couldn't due to damaged machines.

"So if that happens to someone they can call the call centre and get the extra charge taken off and credited to their account," he said.

A spokesman for myki, Jake Hatton, said vandalism was a problem across the public transport network.

"Unlike the old Metcard system, myki software will be able to tell when myki machines are down and this will allow the operator to get them fixed quickly," he said.

Myki is probably the worst ever project introduced by the Government. Failure to start on time, over budget, etc.


Now, it'll even charge a passanger more even if the passenger is not at fault! To get a bloody refund, you need to ring their call centre and will be lucky to be on hold for 30 minutes, if not more.

This is NOT acceptable and really shows how much the Govt cares about its' people.


They should NOT be charging passengers should any of the readers are faulty and they CAN tell which reader is faulty right away according to the Myki spokesperson.

Oh wait, they don't care about the passengers, they just want your money! GRRRrrrrr~~!~!~!~

KK Tragedy

KOTA KINABALU: A climber slipped and fell to his death when
trekking up Mount Kinabalu. Tan Tzu Hau, 31, from Inanam here, was found dead
5.5km from the Mesilau trail at about 2pm on Monday by a Sabah Parks porter.

Ranau district police chief Deputy Supt Suhaimy Hashim said that Tan was part of
a mixed group locals and peninsular Malaysians trekking up the mountain through
the Mesilau trail when the incident occurred. ''Tan was trailing behind the
group when he apparently slipped and fell.

No one knows exactly how he fell but a porter who was behind spotted his sprawled body beside the trail," Suhaimy said. He said the incident occurred near the Panar Laban rest house at the height of 3,270m of the 4,101m mountain.

''His body has been brought down to Ranau and we are waiting for the post mortem to be conducted, he said, adding that police did not suspect foul play as they believe it was a case of misadventure.

Masilau trail is second but tougher route to the mountain as
compared to the more popularly used Summit Trail or South Ride Trail.

Accidental deaths among climbers on Mount Kinabalu is relatively rare though they have been a few incidents with the last reported incident occurring in Aug 2001 when a British teenager Ellie James lost her way and was found dead on the mountain
nearly a week after she went missing.

We were just on this mountain a few weeks ago! Thank goodness we were OK.
God be with the victim's families and comfort them!

MiCasa8 - 2010

Google, google and still googling.

Due to popular demands from google search results looking for MiCasa8 for 2010, I'll let you guys into a few small inside news!

For those that have been looking for accomodation this year, you'd definetely learned a big lesson to start looking for places to stay before you go back for summer holiday. Hundreds of students were left without an apartment in MiCasa8 in 2009 hence took a less desirable accommodation.

Anyway, for those first year students coming to Melbourne, do heed my advice. Start your house hunting around Oct/Nov 09.

Rental price for MiCasa8 hasn't been confirmed yet as it's still too early. Having said that, we're expecting the pricing to be finalised in the next few weeks!

Vacancy rate is hard to predict at the moment but I'm guessing there'll probably be just about half the building vacating at the end of their tenancy. So the number is around 100 apartments. Most second year building only has renewal rate about 20% or so but MiCasa8 could be a different story.

There're currently about 40 renewal requests already and we still have a long way to go before the students finally decide on their plan for 2010.

Total apartments in MiCasa8 for rent is about 205.

Roads To Recovery

With all the doom and gloom behind us, perhaps it's time to start paving the roads to recovery. Or is it really behind us yet? Hearing still quite lots of negative sentiments floating in the air. Confidence, satisfaction and efficiency level still at its' lowest ever since the beginning.

We have heard of talks of the first month, first 100 days or now nearing first 6 months and how things are progressing or should I say downgrading? It's fine and totally acceptable for the first 6 months on how things are doing. It's totally within expectations. No problem with that.

However, post 6 months period, no excuses are going to be accepted if we're still standing at where we were 6 months ago or worse off. Everyone must be accountable to God, be accountable to each others and be accountable to the community.

The privilege God has given us to be in the City of Melbourne is not to be taken for granted for. We were in the heart of the City during our golden days, now we're at a small corner of the City struggling to make our presence felt.

It's the time of the year to group our people ranging from the rich to the poor, from the smart to the not so smart, from the older groups to the younger groups. However, we don't need dogs and cats. We people who are willing to surrender themselves to God, who are willing to make sacrifices and who are teachable and obedient to God's Words.

It'll costs a lot of your personal private times, your hard earned money, your stomach and your mental state.

Roads of recovery needs to start with the people.

People need to adjust their current lifestyle.

It doesn't matter whether we only have 3 people who are willing to step up and offer themselves as living sacrifice because 10 people, we can change the world. 3 people we can change the church!

Other things we need to look into at this stage are Small group ministry, Mission & evangelism, and social concerns. Those should be the core ministries after rebuilding.

$11,000 deficit? I don't see it last very long if we're able to get on the road quick enough!

Filter Filth

Again, another controversy from the Malaysian Govt by proposing an Internet filter system to filter "undesirable websites.

Apparently, either they're ignorant or too optimistic, the filter system will NEVER work. Try look at Australia? Google the news.

First, the Internet is just too big. It's not like a piece of ball where you can easily cover it by a piece of cloth! Unless they're going to be blocking websites by countries in general? Having said that, it'll be blocking ANY websites, good or bad, which is of course stupid in its own.

Second, it's not viable. IF they are really the world smartest programmers and manage to block their undesired websites, imagine the costs of building the filter? Building a filter for the water is cheap and easy because you can see the source and filter from it. However, Internet has multiple sources like the number of sands on the beach! Try filtering that! The whole world will go broke before we can even filter 10%!

Third, it'll slow down the Internet. Filters means layers. The more layers the connection has to go through means an extra millisecond or tenths of a second gone per layer. It's not going to make a hell of a difference to Malaysia as its' broadband is like a tortoise anyway! Perhaps that's what the Govt wants to do? Get people away from the Internet so people can't get any news of the opposition parties?

Fourth, Communism in a democratic country. Censorship, Govt approved websites only, cover ups, etc are acts of a communist country or a dictator! It'll drive people to be a lot angrier with the Govt, drive investors away and create more harm than good.

However, BN's concern is to dumb the people, not just numb the people. They only want a nation of slaves submitting to themselves, feeding us with candies whenever opposition arises!

Enough is enough! It's time for a change!

Mouse in Pepsi!

Source: here
Date: 31/7/09


ORMOND BEACH - Federal officials are investigating what an Ormond Beach couple found in a can of Diet Pepsi last week: the remains of a possible rodent.

The Food and Drug Administration is testing the can, which Fred Denegri popped open on July 23 and drank, only later to discover what was inside.

"It was unreal," said his wife Amy Denegri, who became suspicious of the can when she couldn't shake out the thing inside.

"It's big enough that it wouldn't come out."

The Diet Pepsi can was one of the last to be consumed from three dozen cans that the Denegris bought at the Sam's Club in Daytona Beach.

Pepsi officials said Wednesday that they traced the can back to the manufacturing plant in Orlando and didn't find anything amiss with the company's quality controls and soda sampling.

"It is virtually impossible for this type of thing to happen in a production environment," said Pepsi spokesman Jeff Dahncke, "We run about 1,250 cans per minute on these production lines. Their speed, along with the rigorous quality control systems we have in place throughout our manufacturing process, give us great confidence in the quality and safety of our products."

Fred Denegri has long been a Pepsi fan and is something of a "addict" to Diet Pepsi, said his wife Amy.

The 55-year-old man had pulled out the can of soda to enjoy with his dinner at the couple's outdoor tiki bar.

He took the first sip and had an awful reaction to it, she said.

"I can't describe his face but if you think about what he just drank, you can imagine," she said. "He said, 'This doesn't taste right. I don't know. It's disgusting.' "

They poured out the soda and a "pink slimy thing" was the first piece to come out of the can. They peered inside and saw what they believe was a mouse, or what was left of it.

They called poison control, but Fred Denegri didn't become sick. An FDA official retrieved the can for further testing.

"We take all complaints seriously and are moving quickly to investigate it," said FDA spokeswoman Susan M. Cruzan.

In the meantime, the Denegris are surprised by their sudden notoriety. "We felt it needed to be out there, that the public should know," she said.

And Fred Denegri is still drinking Diet Pepsi. "We buy the bottles now, though. And he pours it into a glass," she said.

How Early Is Early?

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today said that the Government is planning to include pre-school as part of the national education system. Also, English will be an important part of it. He claimed to be impressed with some students who can grasp basic English after one year in preschool. <--Duhh~~ Those with Philipino maids at home also can speak basic English lah!

Now, preschool is normally for 5 years old or younger. If this has become compulsory in the future, all kids will add another extra few years of studying! It depends on which defintion of preschool they're referring to? Child care education or kindergarden.

Most of my friends only ever started to learn English around Primary 3 or so in my days. I was lucky to start around Primary 1 because I went to a national school, not those Chinese or private school. However, I was unlucky to never learn Mandarin! Even so, we already find the schooling years are too long! I nearly gave up around Form 4. Luckily, I managed to finish a year of Foundation studies and 4 years of Uni. No thanks to Master or PhD, I'll give it a pass!

Personally, I'd prefer the preschool system not to be compulsory but rather a voluntary system. Going to preschool also means more expenses for the parents, though some would argue it as an investment of the future. However, with young parents struggling to make ends meet, making something compulsory without further study of the implication can be a disaster.

Financial problem will affect relationships problem, which will affect socio problems, etc etc.

After all, they're still young! Let them enjoy life! Give them a break! Don't turn them into "stupid" kids! <-- Or maybe that's their plan after all? Turn all kids into future BN slaves? *Grin*

Maybe another flip flop in the future? Wouldn't be surprised!

Metcards Discount

Source: Metlink Melbourne
Date Published: Monday 20 July 2009

Want to get even more bang for your travelling buck?

From Sunday 26 July until midnight Saturday 8 August 2009, you'll receive a 5 per cent discount when you buy Value Metcards online.

Value Metcards are tickets which contain multiple rides at a bulk-purchase price. They include 10 x City Saver, 10 x 2 hour, 5 x Daily, 5 x Seniors Daily, Weekly, 5 x Weekend Daily and Monthly Metcards.

You can buy your Value Metcards at Metlink's online store.