Net A Fish Game At Tampines Mart Fishing-Game-Machine2, originally uploaded by stomponli.When you or your child are playing this Net A Fish game at Tampines Mart, ask the rules of redeeming the winnings before playing. There are about 3 shops having this game but some have tickets as winning tokens but some just use the fish you caught as winning tokens.Saw a young girl (probably Primary Sch girl) who accumulated her winnings and wanted to redeem her winnings. The store owner said she trying to lie to her and the young girl was wondering what happened? She told the young girl that she cannot accumulate her winnings but can only redeem what is won within the same day. Fact is, such rules are not written or stipulated on the game console itself! The other issue is why said the young girl trying to lie to her? I'm sure the young girl has no intention of lying. I asked her and she told me that the other shop (with tickets as winning tokens) allowed accumulation of winnings to redeem the prizes.So be careful when playing such game at Tampines Mart - ask about the rules before playing. Flyers Flyers Everywhere Almost every towns have this problems with flyers and yet our Town Councils are not taking stern action against them. I'm talking about those who paste their flyers on the walls, pillars, traffic light post, etc...All these are at Tampines Blk.384;Even I have complained to Tampines Town Council, all they tell me is they can't do anything as I've to give them hard evidence like video taping the one who paste it. What can I say? If the authority can change the law on cycling on footpath, why not on these act. Their contact numbers are on the flyers, what evidence do the authority still need? All the Town Council did was to get the cleaner to clear up the mess and then next time our conservancy fees will increase...Video Taken On : 24 Jun 2008 Tampines Zone Signboard Frankly I wonder what purpose does it serves? If I'm a resident, I'm not bother about what zone I'm staying - The Block Number and Street Name is all I need. Same goes to the visitors to my house. Really when you are driving, you only need to search for first the Road or Street Name, then the Block Number. Who bothers about the Zone? Why waste money on such signboard???Moreover, the way the signboard is made - personally I feel is awful. The design looks like a Chinese tombstone in a way, don't you think so? Even my friends to my house said so too. Do Not Waste Food If you are one of those that never finish up whatever you are eating, think twice again after watching the following video. 25,000 people around the World died of hunger Each Day, why are you wasting food then?A Must Watch Video;View this movie at cultureunplugged.com Littering In Lift This is becoming a common sight in my HDB Block lift. I wonder why some people choose to litter in the lift where the common dustbin is just outside the lift? Are these litterbugs intentionally or challenging the law? I hope that HDB will install CCTV and start to fine and issue CWO to all these litterbugs. Use the fines to offset our conservancy fees would be better!Photo taken on : 11 Apr 2008, 9.09pmLocation : Block 384 Tampines St.32 lift Vandalised With Flyers All Over Above photos taken on 16 and 30 May 2008I hope that the Tampines Town Council and our MPs will take a serious view on those who vandalised common property area of HDB with flyers. These ppl stick their flyers with glue to the wall at the lift lobby, void deck, etc. and it's difficult to remove such flyers without leaving any stain behind.On most occasions after a complaint to the TTC, their contractors will removed the flyers but no action has been taken against the one who is responsible for the flyers even the phone number or name is on the flyers for the TC to contact. The Tampines Town Council told me that I need to provide them with positive evidence so that the TC can take action against them. I wonder why the TC themselves cannot think of ways to solve this problem since their names and phone numbers are on the flyers and the number of flyers are over the town speak volume that it's not a prank by a third party. Is there still a need for other positive evidence???Who would like to go home to see his/her block vandalised with all such flyers? Pls start to fine them and use the money collected from the fine to subsidise our conservancy fees. Lighted Cigarette In Lift I have caught this old man carrying a lighted cigarette in the lift umpteen times and have warned him not to do so the third time now. I do not understand why he refused to co-operate by not bringing his lighted cigarette or smoke in the lift. Can't he finished smoking his cigarette at home before going into the lift? If it's one or twice, I could have just tell him not to do so. But after so many times, he refused to listen...this will be the last chance for him. For those that know this man, pls kindly warn him not to bring his lighted cigarette (or smoke) into the lift or lift lobby. The next time I catch him doing so again, I'll definitely make a report to the relevant authority.Above shows he just came out of the lift at Blk.384 Tampines St.32 with a lighted cigarette. When he saw me, he quickly hid his cigarette behind but that cannot escape from my eyes and nose.Date and Time of Video Taken : 23 Feb 2009 (Mon), 5.42pm Chair On Parapet This plastic chair was used to hold the rug for drying on the second floor of this Blk.357 Tampines St.33 (just opp. East Spring Pri Sch). Though it's on low floor, objects like this is not safe to be put on the parapet. If it drops, it may hit someone especially if there is any toddlers or infacts out of the clinic below. We won't know the impact until injury is done. This was taken on 23 Apr 2008, 12.52pmThe chair was still there even the rug was removed the next day on 24 Apr 2008, 12.10pm. Hope the owner can be more considerate in future. Auto Toilet Flush I hate such auto toilet flush if they are adjusted too sensitive. Some slight movements away from the sensor, it starts to flush even though I'm not done with my 'business'. Vandalism At Pasir Ris Mangrove Forest I wonder why people like to vandalise public property like this one at Pasir Ris Mangrove Forest shed;I hope the punishment for vandalism can be increased and enforcement increased. People who vandalise are really a public nuisance. Go Smoke Free Campaign Our Go Smoke Free Campaign started on 1 Jan 2009, and this is a much awaited campaign for many non-smokers like me. This campaign was widely publicised on TV and papers;Credit : Singapore Press HoldingCan the campaign really succeed or it's just another campaign down the road? Just like we already have No Smoking in lift for many many years and yet many people still smoke in the lift or carry their lighted cigarettes into the lift. What can we do then?On the 1st of Jan 2009, I saw the No Smoking In This Lift Lobby pasted on my lift level in Tampines Blk.384;The problem is why throw the backing paper for the sticker on the floor instead into the rubbish chute which is just a few steps away?4 days (on 5 Jan 2009) after the sticker was pasted, take a look at the condition;It started peeling off in less than a week! Why? Why? Poor sticker quality? The sticker was not pasted properly? Someone vandalised? I'm not sure...all I know it's not a good job done and follow up.It's a waste of money, time and effort if such a campaign is just simply executed and no proper follow up is done and no enforcement is executed. I still see some delivery people still smoke in the lift lobby. What can the residents do if someone still smoke or carry a lighted cigarette in the lift lobby? What can you do if they ignore your request to stop it? Bird Feeding At Block 53 Marine Terrace You can see this man throwing down food for the birds from his HDB unit at Block 53 Marine Terrace.He was later joined in by the taxi driver. This seems to be a daily affair as the taxi driver seems to known the exact time and spot to feed the birds. The NPP (Marine Parade Neighbourhood Police Post or Centre) is just a few blocks away and I hope they can be on the look out for such littering offence and by the way, is feeding of stray birds legal in Singapore?The birds shit are all over the cars top at this carpark and I pity those people who hang their clothes out to dry at this block. Their clothing may have bird shtis too!Date and Time of Video : 24 Dec 2008, 1.49pm Bus Stop That Faces Inside This one is located at Simei Road. Understand that there is another one at Pasir Ris that is also faces inside, or maybe there are more...why some of the bus stops are built in this way? Why no authority notices it and is it meant to be like that? I'm not sure, what about you? More & More Assault Cases Don't you think there are more and more assault cases in Singapore nowadays? What's going on? Are we like going back to the olden times when there were secret societies?Credit : Weekend TodayThe above reported on 23 Feb 2008 of Weekend Today.Credit : TodayThe above reported on 26 Feb 2008 of Today paper.Maybe the police should restore foot patrol to deter such cases from happening. Tray Returning Saga This is part of the transcript of our PM Lee Hsien Loong's National Day Rally 2008 Speech;"Clear tables and return food trays – we need to improve. We are trying to inculcate this habit. I don’t understand. Every national service man knows exactly what to do in his cookhouse. Maybe we need more reservists training. But at Suntec City, no reservists, no NSmen, it’s going to take time to change the mindset because the mindset is I go to the food courts to eat and not to clean tables. So I got a letter recently from somebody, a lady, an email, talking exactly about this, about how we should make Singapore a more happy place to live. And she mentioned this. She said “Actually we should feel quite embarrassed to leave our dirty plates and dirty tables for the next diner. In my Mum’s house, after eating we will clear our plates and clean the table. This is a good habit we should adopt outside the home”. Then she went on to add, “Oh yes, most importantly, no fines, no fines. Dishing out fines hurts relationships and no good image for PAP Government.” So I thank her for her good wishes. We shall try and find some ways before thinking about fines."This is probably what spark off the Tray Returning Saga! First let me tell you - I don't return the tray, crockery and cutlery at the food court or hawker centre. Before I tell you why I don't bother to return the tray and crockery or cutlery, let's see what happen to all these trays, crockery and cutlery after the customers used them.The following are what I observed and aware of in one of the largest food court chain outlets;1. The auntie or uncle cleaners will take the trays and wipe it with their only cloth they are holding, and return the trays to the stalls. The trays are not wash (not so sure if they are wash at all on a monthly or weekly basis).2. The crockery and cutlery are put in the rectangular collection bin with leftover food and bones and rubbish cleared. Crockery and cutlery are separated. The cutlery are washed by the employed washers from the food court management. The crockery are washed by the stall holders themselves. This was told by me by this food court management when I wanted to rent a stall.3. The food court management will engage a cleaning company to provide them with all these cleaning aunties and uncles to clear the tables, trays, crockery and cutlery. The food court management charge each individual stall holders about S$200 or S$300 or more per month depending on the size of the stall, for this clearing service even the stall is a take-away stall with no trays, crockery and cutlery provided.4. Those cleaning aunties and uncles are paid only about S$600 per month. What other fringe benefits do they have??? Now they even have to compete with those 'foreign talents' from China to keep this job. These cleaning aunties and uncles are employed to do just this job and not the dish washing in the washing bay.5. In most food court and hawker centres, there are no tray, crockery and cutlery returning point. Even if there is, it's meant for the cleaner use and not for the customers to use. You don't even notice it if you are not the cleaner!OK, now I tell you why I don't bother to return the tray, etc...This is only a S$600 (about) per month job and the cleaning aunties and uncles are happy to have this job. Even if we clear our trays and crockery and cutlery, do you think the food court management will not charge the stall holders this clearing fees? Only the aunties and uncles will loose their jobs! Don't bother about the so called 'guarantee' that they will not loose their jobs - there is no iron rice bowl!1. There is no trays and crockery and cutlery returning points for customers in most food courts and hawker centres. The management itself does not encourage such act too, else why no returning points for such items? The returning points mainly are for the cleaners use and not customers use, so it's difficult to identify them. Moreover, how many such returning points are there in one food court or hawker centre? One may have to walk from one end to the other end.2. If the trays are not wash at all, then by returning them all to the same point - it will make the trays even much more dirtier. Are the cleaners going to wipe them again with the same old cloth and then just return it to the stall for us to use again? Imagine some of diners even put their cutlery on these trays after buying their food...3. Are there washing points besides the returning points for the customers to wash their hands?4. I usually leave the tray at the next empty table after I carried my food to the table. I've seen one diner trying to find where is the tray returning point to return the tray, and when he was back at his table, he found his food had been cleared by the cleaners.5. More aunties and uncles will loose their jobs if all of us start to return our trays, crockery and cutlery.I really couldn't find any good reasons to return the trays, crockery and cutlery at least at this moment. Tray returning has nothing to do with gracious or not. But the following is definitely NOT Gracious;1. Students hogging the tables and studying at food courts (see Terminal 3,2 or 1 now) and fast food outlets.2. Parents allowing their kids to cycle and kick scooter, or round about in the neighbourhood food court.3. Hogging of seats at crowded food court after finishing their meals.The above are some of the DEFINITELY NOT GRACIOUS acts by our locals. Why are these issues not address? Maybe PM Lee can include these in the next National Day Rally.Sometimes I wonder if it is right to spend so much money, time and effort on such a campaign "Goodness Gracious Me". The number of posters, stickers and hanging mobiles printed...See this poster below requesting the diners to return their dirty tray.For me, I will not eat with my plate or bowl on the tray as I've mentioned, the trays are not washed. So how to return the 'dirty' tray? If they are 'dirty', then these 'dirty' trays are from the stall holders! Most likely this campaign is targeted at those lone diners (office workers) who usually leave their plates and bowls on the tray while eating.This campaign is organised by Straits Times and Kopitiam Foodcourt. For a start, they are carrying out this campaign at 5 of their outlets;The media also mentioned that the campaign will be extended to other hawker centres or fast food centres under the Singapore Kindness Movement. I really wonder what has returning tray got to do with Graciousness and Kindness. My family and I have our meals at the food courts and hawker centres at least 6 to 7 times a week and frankly we don't find this tray returning a big issue at all. In fact, we hate to see those students hogging the seats at fast food outlets, and some food courts especially those at Changi Airport. Are these students revising and doing their homework at the food court and fast food outlets gracious?People who do not return their trays are not ungracious but because the current eating outlets do not have the 'mechanism' for the diners to return their trays, crockery and cutlery. Don't blame the diners for everything like making a mess on the table;Credit : Above all - The Straits TimesCome on, not all diners intentionally mess up the table for fun. There may be occasional spill on the table due to carelessness. There may be bones, prawn shells, etc on the table due to our type of local food. Of course there may be some used tissue papers too. Are there different bins for the diners to clear all these so called 'mess'?Below is the video of the Kopitiam Food Court at the Terminal 3 where the campaign is carried out. Frankly it's difficult to identify where is the tray returning point unless you bother to walk round the food court to find it or you are a regular there. Are you able to spot it at first glance? How many tray returning points are there? Are there signs to tell you so? Are there wash point besides it for you to wash your hands after returning the dirty trays, crockery and cutlery?Let's be gracious, don't blame the diners! Our National Pride One day I surfed upon a share forum - not for share infos and tips but something on nostalgia. I am surprised to find this article probably in one of our local media from its reader on 'National Pride'.Like what was mentioned, what is left from our 3 National Pride - National Library, National Theatre and National Museum? Probably on the National Museum is left....and to me, all the 3 above are more of a National Pride than winning the Silver Medal in the Beijing Olympic 2008.Now here is the article by Mr. Michael Loh;Credit : Mccool at forum.shareinvestor.com Cut Down On Our Town Newsletters I do not understand why I received 3 different newsletters - SPRING, Tampines Tempo and Tampines Changkat in July 2008! One is already too many (started off with Tampines Tempo), then followed by SPRING and now Tampines Changkat.Frankly I do not bother to read any of these and I wonder how many households really bother to read it? They are of much better quality than our newspaper (of course) and in full color too. All 3 newsletters paper are quite thick and especially the Tampines Changkat quality is very good. Personally I find these very wasteful and much cost have been spent on printing these newsletters. Maybe the respective organisations can consider using online media instead of print media. Although some like the SPRING by the North East Community Development Council is a bi-monthly issue, it will be much better to consider cutting down on the use of paper. The Tampines Changkat has a portal but use it to archive the print media instead of replacing it - I find it weird...If we have BYOBD on every Wednesday to cut down the use of plastic bags, we should also cut down on the use of paper too. I am not suggesting to use recycled paper for the newsletter as the recycled paper price now may still be higher than new paper. Moreover, a recycling mill may consume more fossil fuels than a paper mill.To give you an idea how much energy is used to produce new paper, below shows how much energy is conserved by using recycled paper instead of new paper;CONSERVING through recycling:A ton of paper made from recycled fibers instead of virgin fibers conserves:- 7,000 gallons of water- 17-31 trees- 4,000 KWh of electricity- 60 pounds of air pollutantsSource : Energy Kid's PageCome on, let's GO GREEN! Cut down on Global Warming. Smallest U-Turn I wonder if the one who designed the carpark or the one who painted the U-Turn sign on the floor, meant it? Which driver can really manage such a small U-Turn? This is the carpark in Katong Shopping Centre. Price Of Chicken Feet Those that do not shop for food may not realise how prices have gone up recently. Blame it on high inflation cost and the increased in petrol prices. Before the school holidays in June, one packet of chicken feet cost only $1 to $1.10 (about 10 or 11 pcs). Now one packet of chicken feet costs $.160 (9 pcs only)! Chicken Feet is not even a delicacy. The prices have gone up by 45% to 60% in just less than 2 months. Not forgetting other prices like pork, vegetables, rice, etc... all have also gone up. Not A Good Place For Tour Bus Business This is a common scene along the Beach Road from the Golden Mile Complex to Golden Mile Tower where all those Tour Buses or Coaches operate. As you can see, the tour bus operator get men to stop traffic at all lanes and let their buses reverse in. I can't blame them for doing so but the relevant authority should allocate a better place for them to do their business instead of this place.If the Turf City is not a good place for the reason given then, is Beach Road a better place than that? For drivers along Beach Road there, how many more years must we wait before this problem can be resolved? Must we again wait for a fatal accident to occur as those ppl for stop the traffic are not trained to do so or neither are they authorisd to do so.Video and Photo Taken On : 19 Oct 2007, 5.00pm Vandalised Wall In Tampines I spotted this wall was vandalised with some pinky substance (I really don't know what's that) on Sunday morning. On the floor from Blk 383 to Blk.382, I could also find same pinky substance all over the floor. At Blk.382, the partitioned wall bottom was also vandalised.Below is the wall that was badly vandalised (between Blk.384 and Blk.383). This was repainted by the cleaner on Tuesday (20 May 2008).Below shows the bottom wall of Blk.382 was also vandalised;Photo taken on : 18 May 2008 (Sunday), 7.56am More Sticky Ads In Tampines I refer to my previous post here.The situation has not improved as Tampines Town Council wanted to take a soft approach by "We are currently monitoring and advising the accused to refrain from such practices. If they fail to comply to our advice, appropriate action will be taken against them." Below is another new ad pasted on the Blk.384 Lift wall (Photo taken on 21 Apr 2008, 12.29pm);Here is another one pasted on the same Blk.384 LIft Wall (Photo taken on 2 May 2008, 11.50am);See how unsightly after these ads are removed;Now even the Traffic Light Post at Tampines Mart T-Junction is vandalised;Since the Tampines Town Council is not seeking my suggestion to take a stern action against the offenders by calling them up to remove their ads personally immediately and imposing a heavy fine on them, I have no choice but to seek the opinion and help of Mr.Mah B.T. (MP for Tampines). The town council should also publicise it on media when they catch the first few offenders so that will deter the rest from following.I hope town council will not increase our conservancy fees saying that our estate and block are dirty and more funds are needed to clean them up. In fact, most residents do not dirty or vandalise our own area and most are committed by others who do not reside in our estate.I've already sent an email to Mr.Mah and TTC on 7 May 2008 regarding this issue. 3 To 4 Months To Build A Short Linkway In Tampines I'm wondering why it takes 3 to 4 months to build such a short linkway from Tampines Blk.384 Street 32 to the Bus-Stop outside Ngee Ann Secondary School. It started last month in March 2008 and the expected completion date is Jun 2008. Though the project title didn't specify that it's a sheltered linkway to be built, but I suspect so. Even if it's a sheltered linkway, it's also rather too long a period (1/4 to 1/3 of a year). I remember the erection of ERP gantry at Fort Rd seems to be faster!If the project drag for too long, there may be a danger of mosquitoes breeding. Also it cause inconvenience to the residents there. Imagine just not too long, the re-roofing job, the painting of MSCP, then then barrier free linkway, and now... In fact there was a linkway already from Blk.384 to bus-stop but without shelter. So why does it take so long to build a short linkway? Even if including the power cable for lights installation...Video and Photo taken on : 19 Apr 2008 Recording A 13hrs TV Series Program As I like to watch HK TV drama series "Hong Kong Criminal Files" on Channel 8, but the show starts rather late - 11pm. So I wanted to program it on my recorder and asked my wife what time does the show end. So check the Today newspaper and told me NOON! I looked at her in dismayed and said "12pm, Noon?" - 13hrs??? She showed me her copy of the Today paper;Luckily it's just a printing error on 15 Apr 2008(Tues) copy... Burning On Table At Void Deck Someone must have set something burning on this table at the void deck. When I reached there, no one was around and I guessed they must have just left after setting the fire. This is a very irresponsible act to public property. I suggest the Tampines NPC can step up more frequent patrol here at Blk.381/382 Void Deck Tampines St.32. There are usually groups of neighbourhood secondary school students and motorbike 'gangs' gathering around this table. Very often the table will be littered and sometimes the riders even parked their bikes at the void deck.Video Taken On : 15 Apr 2008 (Tues) 6.16pm Sticky Ad In Lift Like what I've posted previously;Stick No BillNow they are even pasting it in the lift and I think it's really over the board;The above is inside the lift of Tampines St.32.My suggestion to Tampines Town Council is to get their estate officer to take photos of such notices and call the numbers on these ad. Get the person responsible for the ads to remove all these ads themselves and issue them with a fine as this is consider as Vandalising Public Property. Probably the TTC and RC should work closely on this issue as in Pasir Ris. Once an ad has been spotted on the wall, the RC member will take photo of it and start contacting the number on the ad to locate the person responsible.I will send an email to the Tampines Town Council and see how they can resolve this problem. Getting the cleaner to remove it is not solving the problem.Photo taken on : 14 Apr 2008, 6.44pmNote : Tampines Town Council replied on 21 Apr 2008 - "We are currently monitoring and advising the accused to refrain from such practices. If they fail to comply to our advice, appropriate action will be taken against them."My opinion is that will this deter other people from sticking ads on the wall of HDB? Let's see.