Re-opening of INTi Aikido class in 2012

Good day members. I am happy to announce that the first class of the new year 2012 to start on Jan 9. After that the Dojo will operate the regular Mon and Thur class until Jan 19.

After Jan 19 the dojo to close for the CNY holidays for one week. After CNY regular class to restart on Feb 6.

Today is New Year Eve and the countdown to the start of the new year has begun. May all of you start 2012 on a positive note, with happiness, joy, good health, success in your education, and fully energised and ever ready to go for your Aikido practice.

New Year Special Event LRT Return Tokens

Rapid KL LRT has announced that it will be selling special event return tokens from 5pm on New Year Eve Dec 31 to facilitate smoother travel flows at the stations. This is in anticipation of the expected surge of commuters using the LRT lines to celebrate New Year countdowns.

Actually you don't have to wait for a event like New Year to use the special single tokens for return journeys.

You can do the return trips everyday by buying two separate tokens at the vending machine of the departure station, one for use on your first trip from your departure station to your destination station and the other for the return trip from your previous destination station to your new arrival station, which is your previous departure station.

A bridge of friendship

AIndian colleague "S" asked me for advice on the construction of a bridge crossing at the site of a Hindu temple. He had earlier volunteered to help his temple committee to produce working drawings for the construction. It seems that a philanthropist had donated money and purchase material including steel H-section beams for the construction project.

After examining the preliminary sketches that he was working on I felt that the steel beams that were procured seem adequate for the job, and I rightly told him so. After awhile he returned to my desk with more sketches to show. I then realised that he wanted more specific details than just a general opinion from me though he was too reluctant to say it in so many words. Probably he was under some sort of peer pressure from the temple committee to produce some details and he wasn't confident enough to do it on his own.

I then decided that since I had agree to help out I should take responsible for my action by doing it properly, and not just offer some general opinions. So with his preliminary sketches I sat down for about one hour to do the necessary stress calculations and also work out the construction details of the beams, foundation, deck, connection arrangements by hand-sketching on A4-size papers. After completing the calculations and sketches I asked him to xerox one set for my record and he take the other set to start work right away to produce the construction drawings.

Towards the end of the day he came around to my desk to invite me to have tea with him. I guess it was his way of thanking me for helping out, although I am not expecting anything in return. It is something that I could do and I did it unconditionally as a service to a friend who asked.

Printing out blank pages

Iwas in the midst of printing some application forms when I noticed the HP deskjet churned out pages with faded texts and, after the printer had dispensed three sheets of paper started to churn out completely blank pages.

It is obvious that the black ink cartridge has run out of ink. As I have forgotten how to change ink cartridges it took me a while of searching the how-to articles in HP Solution Center to figure out how to replace empty ink cartridges with new refills. 

Even then I had to pay careful attention to my actions so that I do not damage the holder and other sensitive printer parts that hold the cartridges in position with my clumsy fingers.

Free Tesco RM10.00 cash voucher

After receiving a sms alert from Tesco downloaded a free RM10.00 cash voucher from tesco.com.my.

However the catch is that the voucher is valid for purchases made during the period from Dec 28 to Dec 30 and that you have to spend at least RM100.00 at the store.

There is no such thing as a free lunch. In the end there is always a trade-off when retailers give you something free. My family decided that it is not worthwhile to spend RM100.00 just to get a discount of RM10.00 from the cash voucher.

TCM Acupunture Treatment At Tung Shin Hospital

On Saturday my wife returned to the hospital for another 30-minute session of acupuncture treatment for her sore back.

After the first treatment last week the persistent back pain appeared to have intensified on the second day and then eased gradually until it almost stopped completely. For the past three days prior to her second visit she had not experienced any pain.

After looking at the x-ray of her slightly curved spine the TCM physician explained that her spine has degenerated due to bad posture and onset of osteoporosis. As a result her back bone pressing against the nerves cause her to experience pain and that the post-treatment intensified pain was due to her body reacting to the needle treatment naturally. After the treatment was completed the TCM physician then advised her to come back for a third session next week and then after that on a as-need basis.

For a 30-minute session and a week's supply of herbal medicine the hospital charged her only RM29.00 (RM8.00 for the needle treatment and RM21.00 for the medicine). I remembered about two years ago a chiropractor charged her more than RM100.00 and no medicine for a 30-minute session of spinal manipulation and electric electrode therapy, yet brought her only temporary relief.  The herbal concoction which is to be taken two times a day is supposed to tone up her sluggish blood circulation system and also to relax her tensed nerves.

How to make a 16 page mini note book by cutting and folding a A4-size sheet of paper

Ialways carry a 16-page note book which I make from an A4 sheet of paper in my shirt for taking down instant notes. I learned how to make the small note book after watching an YouTube origami video clip.

Someone who is interested asked me to post a picture of the note book online. I am pleased to add an instructional video clip here for your reference. 

The video clip teaches you how to fold the booklet in landscape format in a few easy steps. After experimenting a few times I have learned how to make the mini note book in portrait format as well.

Some truth in old folklore

In the old days I used to hear old people said the wind blowing fast and furious is a sure sign that CNY is approaching. 

This morning the weather, with the sun subdued, was particular windy and chilly and knowing that CNY is just weeks away in January 2012 there must be some truth in these old folk beliefs.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everybody. May there be peace on earth.

Time to change eyeglasses

On Christmas eve mother and son were looking for replacement spectacles at a optical shop.

As you pile up the years your eye sight is bound to degrade over time. It has been years since both of them have tested and checked their eyesight and changed their glasses.

There were so many types of spectacles and lenses available at the shop that it took them awhile with the help of a very patient, friendly and persuasive sales assistant to select the ones that they like and that suited their price perceptions and eye conditions.

While the haggling over the prices of the frames and lenses was being negotiated I watched by the sidelines in fascination and marvel at how the friendly sales assistant made use of his excellent public relations skills to close the sale of the eyeglasses to too very fussy customers.

Sushi King Card 2012 Promotion

In Kajang Metro Point Plaza Sushi King restaurant with the missus. While looking out for something to order for dinner I noticed some colourful Sushi King 2012 card application forms attached to the menu book.

Sushi King Card 2012 costs RM20.00 to apply if you want to become a member. For being a member Sushi King rewards you with a cash voucher worth RM20.00.

On top of that members are entitled to the following privileges:

(a) 10% discount all year round for Sushi King meals
(b) free Sushi King electronic newsletter
(c) RM2.00 bonanza meals

Looks like a pretty good deal. It is. No gimmicks. Upon payment of the RM20.00 application fee immediately received a new Sushi King card, RM20.00 cash voucher for use in 2012 and a 10% discount on my bill after the sushi dinner.

Chance Encounter with a PB ATM Machine

While out shopping at The Mines with my wife and son stumbled upon a red and white colour Public Bank ATM machine tucked obscurely in a small space behind a big pillar underneath an escalator on Level 1 of the busy shopping mall. The choice of the site is so inconspicuous that you get the feeling it doesn't want to be discovered by the public.

Unlike other similar big banks like Maybank and CIMB Bank, it is very rare to find a Public bank ATM machine outside a Public Bank premises. 

I and my family are regular visitors to this place during weekends as it is quite near to my house, and I have never seen a Public Bank ATM machine before until today.  Maybe it was installed recently. In fact on this occasion it was the first time that I found a PB ATM machine inside so many  shopping malls that I have visited.

As I and my family members have Public Bank accounts, I thought the presence of a PB ATM machine in a shopping mall is a welcomed convenience. However, my jubilation at the discovery was short-lived as I found out that the machine dispensed only RM100.00 denomination notes, similar to my banking experience with cash machines in Public Bank branches  elsewhere.

6,500 Applicants Turned Away By Chinese Independent Schools

According to a report in Sin Chew Daily on 22/12/2011 out of about 20,000 UPSR graduate applicants only 13,500 were lucky enough to get admission to Chinese independent high schools for the coming year due to the shortage of places. For the 6,500 potential students who were unsuccessful it means that one in three applicants for entry to Jinuor Middle One were turned away.

Despite the increase in intake by many such schools, it is not enough to accommodate the ever growing number of applicants who want to join. The only solution is for the government to allow the Chinese community to set up more such private institutions of learning. However given the present political realities it is unlikely to happen any time soon.

There Is No Dignity In Being Poor

There is no dignity in being poor. Poverty has no grace and absolutely doesn't do any thing to make people better. It is just a gaping hole in the soul…
 
May all beings be liberated from the indignity, humiliation and suffering of Poverty

Happy Dongzhi

Tomorrow 12/22/2011 is Dongzhi Festival or the Winter Solstice Festival, an important festival celebrated by the Chinese community. 

Traditionally Dongzhi is also a time when family members get together for a reunion. The making and eating of tangyuan or glutinous rice balls symbolise family reunion. 

Happy Dongzhi.

Relocation of A/C Compressor

Toong King sent three workers over to the house in the late afternoon to relocate the first floor air-cond outdoor unit. The outdoor unit is now mounted on the wall directly below the louvered window in David's room

The workers managed to finish the job just before the rain came. The cost for the service was RM80.00. Paid the money gladly. However due to the drilling work a big chunk of plaster has fallen off the wall, leaving an unsightly patch in the exposed brickwork. Anna to summon them back tomorrow to patch up the depression.

Even Selfish people are Basically Kind

Although I have encountered many more selfish people than kind ones, (I'm no saint either) and experiencing my share of sufferings I feel that holding the view that even selfish people are basically kind provides me a practical way of viewing humanity with gratitude, hope, kindness and optimism.

Mystery of the Water Leakage in Wall of the Kitchen Solved

Our next-door Indian neighbour complained loudly that the outdoor air-condition compressor unit installed on the wall outside David's room was responsible for causing water to leak out of the wall in his kitchen.

A few pieces of wall tiles in his kitchen had cracked and according to him clear water has been sipping out through the cracks. The water would collect in a pool on the floor in the morning. However in the day time there is no leaking. The condition that he described is exactly the same as the recurring water leakage problem in our kitchen last month.

He insisted that the mounting of our air-cond compressor unit was responsible for the water leakage. Not possible as the leak is on the ground floor and our air-cond compressor unit is mounted at ceiling level of the first floor.

Just to avoid turning the matter into an ugly issue I told the neighbour that I would relocate the unit away from the common party wall to another place. I asked Anna to give the air-cond contractor a call tomorrow to fix an appointment for the relocation work.

Actually I believe that it is his concealed water plumbing that has sprung a leak. After some time the pressure from the leaking water caused the tiles to crack. That explains why the water that used to seep into our kitchen has stopped. The leakage water is now entering his unit through the cracks in the wall tiles.

Chicken Rice is Chicken Rice

Iam not a fastidious eater because I think of food simply as something that you eat to nourish your body. So chicken rice being chicken rice I consider that the food that you buy from one stall doesn't taste a world of difference from the same stuff that you buy from another. However for a fussy and discerning eater it's a big deal whether you buy the stuff from your favourite stall or another. This delusional way of grasping can lead to unnecessary tension and conflict when you can't get things done to your exact specification.

May All Beings Be Happy

TCM Acupuncture & Cupping Treatment

Accompanied the missus to Tung Shin Hospital for TCM treatment of her aching back and tinnitus problem. After feeling her pulse the TCM physician said sluggish blood circulation is causing her back and tinnitus problem. The lady physician prescribed acupuncture and cupping treatment. The treatment took about 30 minutes to complete.

The medicals fees charged are affordable:
   
    registration           RM 3.00
   acupuncture          RM 8.00
   cupping                 RM 2.00
   herbal medicine    RM21.00

Even at the early hour of 8.30am we were surprised to see so many sick people there waiting for their turns to be treated at the various TCM clinics there. Beside the elderly we noticed there were also a few middle age and young people seeking treatment there. Some came in wheel chairs and there were also non-Chinese patients.

After the treatment we went down to the basement floor cafeteria for something to eat. We ordered mixed rice for our lunch. The cafeteria is air-conditioned and is very clean and tidy.

Kafe Kampung Kopitiam

This cosy little cafe tucked in a corner on Lower Ground Floor, Sogo charged me RM2.50 only for a hot tea and nasi lemak combo meal.Best of all no need to pay government tax and service charge.

Dour Faced Waiter

This afternoon I encountered a most dour faced object; the wooden-face-looking waiter who came over to my table to take my order. He must be having a bad day on his job.

Bentong trip on 11/12/2011

Together with Anna, Richard and Angie spent the whole day with relatives in Bentong. The main purpose of the visit was to take a look at a new housing estate under construction at the outskirt of the town with the view of buying a unit for retirement.

Phase 1 of Taman Anggerik which is currently under construction consists of single storey terrace, double storey terrace and single storey semi-dee houses. Anna likes to spend her retirement years in Bentong. I was told that all the phase 1 units have been sold out. So now have to wait for the developer to start phase 2 before booking a unit. I am looking at the 4-room single storey type.

While in the town the wives visited a beauty centre for eye brow embroidery beauty treatment. It is more like tatooing. I was not impressed with the outcome of the beauty treatment. The dark eye brows superimposed on aging and wrinkled faces loos ridiculous. However the beautician assured us that in a few days time the black colouring will fade a bit.

Mickey Mouse and The Rat Race

I wonder how a mouse crosses a busy road. Does it know like a human how to look right, left, front, rear and listen to the sound of traffic before sprinting across the carriageway or it just dashes off in a death wish hara kiri?

This morning as I was driving my car in slow cruise I suddenly became aware of a blurry shadow zooming past my vision across the road carriageway in front of the car.

When I slowed down my car I watched in deep fascination how a young Mickey Mouse hurriedly scurried across the road; in fast motion its tiny feet giving the appearance of the many legs of a caterpillar bearing a long slender body above. Naturally I had enough compassion not to run Mickey down and and instead wished him the best of luck the next time he try the same stunt again on a busy road.

How to create a strong password (and remember it)

There are at least three ways to create a strong password, and yet able to remember it with ease. The three ways are:
 
a. Use a sentence
b. Use a pass phrase
c. Grow a haystack

Source: Consumer Reports news

How to create a strong password (and remember it)

EPF explains new witness rule

In the past EPF employees are allowed to sign on as witness in a member's nomination form. However recently this this service has been revoked by EPF. Now EPF staff are not allowed to sign on as witness to a members's nomination of his beneficiaries.

This does not mean that the nominee is obliged to drag his witness to the EPF office for signing in front of a EPF officer. 

The witness can sign the document in the comforts of his home
and then pass the form to the nominee for submission to the 
 EPF department. 

Click the link below for details.

EPF explains new witness rule

Using MyRapid Card for LRT journeys

Bought a new MyRapid Card at the Mihajah LRT Station in the morning.

During this promotion period the basic card costs RM10.00 with a stored cash value of RM8.00. You can top up the amount any time when your credit balance runs low. Topping up can be done via the counter or the vending machine. The card can be use for both the Ampang and the Kelana Jaya lines. As long as you have enough credit in your account you can travel freely to any destination of your choice.

When you scan the card upon entering the station platform the the electronic reader in the turnpike machine will show the stored cash value available in your account. And when you rescan upon exiting at the following station the machine reader will show the credit balance available in your account after deducting the train fare.

On my return trip at Mihajah Station after work I reloaded the card for an additional RM50.00 just for the experience of using the vending machine. The process of reloading the cash value is relatively simple, much like paying your car parking ticket using the vending machine.

For a daily LRT commuter like me it makes sense to use the card as it saves the hassle of carrying lots of loose change and also waiting in a long line at the vending machine to buy tokens. However, for the infrequent traveler, buying single journey tokens will also get you a ride to your destination.

Down memory lane

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. This old black and white picture published by Low Sensei in his H & E Aikido FB page evokes many happy memories of yesteryear.

In the picture I am standing, back row number 5, counting from right to left. I can't remember when this picture was taken or the exact date it was snapped. Looking at the backdrop it was probably taken during one of the annual Aikido seminars in the 1990s when I was practicing the art at KL YMCA dojo.

Apart from myself, Dr Leong (standing, back row 3rd from the right side) and Tony (standing, back row 5th from the left side ) who are now fellow senior senseis in MAA are also in the picture. However, I can't recognise anyone resembling Low Sensei in this group photograph.

The sensei in the centre sitting in the front row appears to be the younger Shoji Seiki Sensei ( now Shihan). Those seated holding what look like certificates are probably seminar participants from Japan who came with Seiki Sensei. I remember in the 1990s  there was one occasion when the Japanese sensei brought along a large contingent of his followers to KL for a seminar.

Determining the socket lengths of bored piles in limestone bedrock

Frustrated at punching the keypad of the scientific calculator and faced with the daunting prospect of doing endless repetitive manual calculations I decided to use MS Excel to make the task of determining the socket lengths vs maximum allowable loads of various types of bored piles in limestone bedrock easier.

However, as this type of work is quite specialised in character there are not enough standard built-in functions in MS Excel to handle some aspects of the design computations.

What should I do other than reverting to manual calculations? Well, I decided that if I the mountain can't come to me I will have to go climb it by all means.

So after spending almost a day tweaking the spreadsheet programming with lots of trial and error efforts I succeeded in writing a few engineering functions to perform some of the specialised computing tasks that I needed.

I was pleased that the huge effort also paid off in other ways too. Using similar logical problem analysis and solving procedures I also succeeded in creating some specialised engineering functions to help compute the geotechnical compression capacity of various types of bored piles socketed in limestone bedrock.

Looking back I succeeded because I wrote the engineering function procedures using the same logical thinking process exactly the way I would have done it by manual calculations. Thus although the finished product doesn't have the "polished" look with the bells and whistles of commercial programs, it gets the work done for its intended purpose; faster and more efficient than if I were to do it by traditional manual calculations using pencil, eraser, paper, calculator and raw brain power.

New Aeon-jaya Jusco Shopping Mall in Rawang

Rawang Aeon-Jusco Shopping Mall.

This is the newly completed Rawang Aeon-Jusco Shopping Mall situated in Anggun and beside the narrow Sungai Bakau-Batang Berjuntai road. 

I foresee that the opening of this store for business in the middle of Dec will create serious traffic congestion for the locals. 

Even without the mall this narrow road is already experiencing traffic gridlock everyday. The fact that the store is situated only about 2 km from the Plus Toll Plaza is going to further add on to the congestion.

EPF Norminations & Beneficiaries News

Latest announcement by EPF on nominations and beneficiaries on EPF's FB status update on Tue 12/6/2011

1. Nominations Can Be Checked via i-Akaun from 1 January 2012 to reduce cases of failure to update due to oversight

2. Members Can Elect to Have Beneficiaries’ Particulars Printed on Annual Statement from 1 January 2012

• To have their beneficiaries’ particulars stated in the 2011 annual statement, members with existing nomination would need to fill up Borang KWSP 4C which will be available from 1 January 2012.
• As for new nominations, members would need to indicate the same in Borang KWSP 4. However, both forms would need to be returned to the nearest EPF branch before 31 January 2012.

Increase the font size

Finally, after some trial and error succeeded in figuring out how to insert the correct HTML tags to increase the font size of all the text in my post

Tutu Train

Kiddy Tutu Train Ride

I guess I'm automatically disqualified from speeding in this kiddy Tutu Train ride round and round a Xmas tree.

MAA EXCO Meeting

 
Today's EXCO meeting which was scheduled to be held after the grading was cancelled due to Low Sensei's absence. Low Sensei was stricken ill with diarrhea and had to get medical treatment for his condition.

Low Sensei called me up at 9.15am in the morning just as I was leaving for the dojo to inform me of his condition.

4/12/2011 National Kyu Grading

Snapshots of grading in progress

About 25 candidates took part in the grading. Except for one 1st kyu candidate all the other candidates passed their tests.

Seeing that the 1st kyu candidates fumbled his technique and could not remember the movement Dr Leong Sensei requested the grading to be halted before its conclusion for that particular candidate.

As Low Sensei was ill only I, Tony and Dr Leong came to help supervise the grading.

The morning after the flash floods hit Kajang town

The aftermath of the 2/12/2011 flash flood

The scene in Kajang town in the morning after the flash floods that hit the town last evening was ugly.

The three hour torrential rain that caused the swollen Sg Jelok to overflow its banks last evening at 4.00pm almost brought the town centre to a standstill. Fortunately the flood water receded by 6pm leaving a trail of mud and rubbish behind.

The streets were strewn with mud, rubbish and other debris brought by the water from the overflowing Sg Jelok. In normal time Sg Jelok is just a small stream that branches off from Sg Langat. However the water that flows into Sg Jelok from Sg Langat last evening turned the small stream into a swollen river that dumped its contents into the town area.

The ground floor of many shops included banks and F & B outlets, were also inundated with water. The shop owners and workers were seen busy cleaning up the mess. Even the town's main shopping mall, Plaza Metro Kajang was not spared. Its basement car park was submerged with water trapping many cars parked inside the basement. The ground floor was also swashed with muddy water.

As usual this morning I and the missus went to the wet market to do the week's grocery shopping.  The wet market was the worst hit as the swollen Sg Jelok passes by the area. As the road surface was still muddy we had to watch our steps carefully to avoid the pools of water and other obstacles as we made our way to the market. The vendors in the market told us water had swept into the ground floor of the building. Despite the flooding the vendors were still operating their businesses as usual.

Kajang Flash Flood

The  scene of the 2/12/2011 flash flood in the town after a 3-hour torrential downpour

This afternoon flash floods hit Kajang town. After hours of torrential rain the swollen Sungai Semenyih overflowed its banks inundating streets, vehicles and shop-houses.

Worst hit was the wet market area with flood waters entering the ground floor of the three-storey shop-houses including banks and many cars were submerged up to the window level.

The wet market is the place where I go every Saturday with my wife to buy the week's groceries and also to eat breakfast. I wonder if we go there tomorrow morning the market and the surrounding stalls will open for business.

In the commercial area Metro Plaza, the largest shopping mall in the town was not spared. The basement car park was flooded. Flood water even entered the ground floor of the mall, thus affecting shoppers as well as the businesses.Kajang has always been prone to flash floods, but this time the flooding was the most severe. With so much new housing and commercial developments coming up in recent years the frequency of flooding appears to have increased in tandem with development.

Luckily the taman where I am residing is located on high ground, thus spared the consequence of flooding. However I notice that the roads in the vicinity are increasing flood proned, but still not as bad as those in the town centre.

I first learned about the flooding from a Semenyih friend who called me on my hand phone at 4.00pm. However, by the time I got back to Kajang after work at 6.30pm the floor water had receded.

Last Aikido class of the year in INTi

Tnight's class is the last class of the year. Except for two members all the students showed up for the training. Taught all the 5th kyu examination techniques to the junior students.

I expect all the new students to take their kyu tests next year.