26 June 2006

Celcom scam

Some unique messages on my handphone recently:
TAHNIAH-Anda telah t'pilih utk menerima bonus p'gilan percuma sbnyk RM50 drpd CELCOM. Utk m'aktifkan RM50 ke akaun anda, silataip 08 & hantar ke 10133934236.TQ

TAHNIAH...Anda telah menerima kredit panggilan percuma RM50, sempena ulang tahun CELCOM ke 29. Untuk mengaktifkannya sila taip 7 dan hantarkan ke 10199927191.TQ

Roughly translated into English, both messages mean:
You have won RM50 from CELCOM blah blah, please type (amount) and send to (phone number).

CELCOM's Airtime Share service (ASS) is quite useful especially in times of emergency when the prepaid airtime credit has run out. The person could then send a request to a friend or family member (celcome prepaid user) for airtime credit.

However, scammers are abusing this system, asking credit from strangers using tricks like those given above.

The Sedania Media Group (SMG), which is the provider of the Airtime Transfer Solution, is offering a reward of up to RM2,000 for any information leading to the successful arrest and conviction of these perpetrators.

Prepaid mobile phone users who receive such suspicious messages can report them through SMS (33009) or e-mail (info@idot.tv).

Related news link: Mobile Phone Airtime Share Abusers Can Be Penalised

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Just received this e-mail:

Bsmillahir Rahmaanir Raheem,

Assalam Alaikum,

Wasalaam to you,and how are you doing?. My intention of contacting you is to solicit your assistance for a project, which will be mutually beneficial. Though I know my decision to contact you is to a large extent unconventional, the prevailing circumstances necessitated my action. I am Muayed Abdul Faisal. I am son to Late Mallam Mustafa Abdul Faisal of blessed memory was an oil explorer in Libya and Kuwait for twelveyears before hedied in the year 2000. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days. Before his death we were both devoted Muslims. Since his death I too have been battling with both Cancer and fibroid problems.When my late Father was alive he made a huge deposit in millions of US dollars with a Deposit Company in oversea. (I will tell you the amount as we proceed).

Recently, my doctor told me that I have only few months to live due to cancer problem. Though what disturbs me most is my stroke sickness.

Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to either a Muslim organization or devoted Muslim individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein. My parents died at a tender age and i was brought up in the orphanage through the help of a devouted muslim. I want this Muslim organization or individual to use this money in all sincerity to fund mosques, orphanages, widows, and also propagating the word of ALLAH and to ensure that the society upholds the views and belief of the Holy Quran.

The Holy Quran emphasizes so much on ALLAH'S benevolence and this has encouraged me to take the bold step. I took this decision because I don't have any child that will inherit this money and my relatives are into some radical Organizations and I don't want a situation where this money will be used in an Unholy manner. Hence the reasons for this bold decision, I know that after death I will be with ALLAH the most beneficent and the most merciful. I don't need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health, because of the presence of my relatives around me always. I don't want them to know about this development. With ALLAH all things are possible.

As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact information of the Deposit Company in oversea where the money was deposited. I will also issue a letter of authority to the Deposit Company authorizing them that the said fund have being willed to you and a copy of such authorization will be forwarded to you. I want you and the Muslim community where you reside to always pray for me. My happiness is that I lived a true devoted Muslims worthy of emulation, Whoever that wants to serve ALLAH must serve him in truth and in fairness. I will not stipulate any precise amount to reward you, as it will have to be on pre-negotiated terms, based on your level of involvement.

Please always be prayerful all through your life. Any delay in your reply will give room in sourcing for a Muslim organization or a devoted Muslim for this same purpose. Until I hear from you by email, my dreams will rest squarely on your Shoulders. May the Almighty ALLAH continue to guide and protect you.

Wasalaam

Muayed Abdul Faisal

muayedabdulfaisal05@adinet.com.uy

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They are getting better all the time.

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25 June 2006

Editors pick

Some quick updates:

1. Reached my house at around 4 am in the morning today after a long six hours trip on the bus from Kuala Lumpur to Kedah.

2. Attended a very boring seminar today. Drank a lot of coffee during the break.

3. One of my entries (here) on my moblog - Ah ok lah pics on Text America was selected as an editors pick last week.

Yay! My second EP. Joined TA in May 2004 and still going strong.

4. Farhan ( Akademi Fantasia 4) sings Route 66. Vote for her.



Related post: Farhan singing the blues on AF4

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21 June 2006

Rise of company blogs

About five years back, I wrote an article titled Why do you need a web presence? in one of my sites, whereby I pointed out the advantages of having a web presence.

It might seem outdated but I find that what I wrote then is still valid today. Even though most businesses have realized the importance of having a web presence, several Malaysian small and medium sized companies still don’t have a web site.

Anyway, in the west the latest trend is to have an official company blog. So far, I haven't come across any Malaysian company with an official blog. However, there are a lot of blogs written by pissed-off employees bad mouthing their place of work.

Recently I came across two interesting online articles by Karen E. Klein in the Businessweek site. In the first article titled Does Your Small Business Need a Blog?, she looks at the pro and cons of having a company blog.
A business blogger could also review industry-specific books, conferences, and organizations and point out relevant articles and Web sites - a service that engenders gratitude and loyalty.

In the second part, she gives some tips on how to get started. I also learnt a new term: splogs, which refers to spam blogs. Read the article here.
A blog can be a great part of your marketing effort, but it should be planned appropriately with strategy in place

I hope more companies start their own blogs which might translate into potential job prospects for all the just-for-fun bloggers.

BTW, read about the Websites-as-Graphs Java applet-based visualizer in an article by Jeff Ooi. Here is my own Social Network Analysis (SNA) site graph.
ahoklah

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20 June 2006

Indian Superhero in Singapore.

Of course we all know that the heros in all Bollywood movies have superpowers.
For example:
- Beating up an army of thugs with bare hands.
- Guns that never run out of bullets.
- Receiving about 100 bullets in the body ... and surviving.
- Sitting down in his office and being teleported to Switzerland. Then breaking into a song and dancing vigorously around trees with the heroine with a bevy of backup dancers appearing mysteriously and changing around 10 different clothes in the blink of an eye, etc.

Krrish, the new Bollywood movie features heart throb Hrithik Roshan as a “superhero with human powers”.

I am not sure what that's supposed to mean?

It is considered unique because it a sequel (a rarity in Bollywood) of the 2003 blockbuster "Koi... Mil Gaya" (I've found someone"), which is considered India's first major Hindi science fiction film.

But what has this movie got to do with Singapore?

Several of the scenes of the movie were shot there with the Singapore authorities arranging for road clearances and parking spaces.

The movie is directed by Rakesh Roshan, Hrithik's father and the synopsis of the movie reads:

Krishna (Hrithik Roshan) is born with magical powers – a legacy from his father Rohit Mehra (also Hrithik Roshan).
Priya (Priyanka Chopra) comes into his life and becomes his world. When she beckons him to Singapore, he follows.
In Singapore, Dr Siddhart Arya (Naseeruddin Shah), the megalomaniac scientist is on the verge of changing the future forever.
Only one man stands between Dr Siddhart Arya and his destructive dreams.
To block his ruthless ambitions…
Krishna must become KRRISH.

Krrish_poster2 Daredevil_poster
Notice any similarities between the two posters?

Related Links:

- Official Krrish website.
- Krrish is not really a superhero film
- Bollywood superhero

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Ten Top Trivia Tips about Adam ok lah!

Got this via 5xmom:

Ten Top Trivia Tips about Adam ok lah!

  1. US gold coins used to say 'In adam ok lah we trust'!
  2. Adam ok lah was originally green, and actually contained cocaine!
  3. Cats use their adam ok lah to test whether a space is large enough for them to fit through!
  4. Adam ok lah can jump up to sixteen times his own height.
  5. Wearing headphones for an hour will increase the amount of adam ok lah in your ear 700 times.
  6. Adam ok lah will become gaseous if his temperature rises above -42°C.
  7. Four-fifths of the surface of adam ok lah is covered in water.
  8. Adam ok lah was originally called Cheerioats.
  9. Three seagulls flying overhead are a warning that adam ok lah is near.
  10. Adam ok lah can drink over 25 gallons of water at a time.
I am interested in - do tell me about
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19 June 2006

Farhan singing the blues on AF4

Yesterday, some relatives came over to the house. There were a lot of people and we had a buffet nasi lemak lunch. It was delicious. Anyway, this post is not about the food.

Someone put on the TV and the Akademi Fantasia show was on.

I am so out of touch. This was the first show of this season that I watched. For those who didn't know, Akademi Fantasia is a Malaysian reality song competition, somewhat similar to the American Idol format.

Most of the performers were unimpressive. However, one lady made me stop eating and listen. Maybe I am biased because she was singing Gary Moore's Still Got The Blues. Gary was a hard rock/heavy metal musician in the 70's and 80's and later on crossed over to blues-rock. One of my all time fav. singers.


Still got the blues (1990)

Farhan (Nur Farhan bt Azizan) really did a good job and her vocals were really impressive.

However, I am not going to waste my money voting for her or anyone else. One thing I realise is that no lady is ever going to win in Akademi Fantasia. The reason: Majority of the voters are predominantly girls. And they are voting for "who looks the cutest" instead of "she has got talent".

* Added this video of Farhan singing the song on 22 Aug, 2006 due to requests from some of my guests. Enjoy.



Anyway, here are the lyrics for Still Got The Blues

Used to be so easy to give my heart away
But I found out the hard way
There's a price you have to pay
I found out that love was no friend of mine
I should have known time after time

So long, it was so long ago
But I've still got the blues for you

Used to be so easy to fall in love again
But I found out the hard way
It's a road that leads to pain
I found that love was more than just a game
You're playin' to win
But you lose just the same

So long, it was so long ago
But I've still got the blues for you

So many years since I've seen your face
Here in my heart, there's an empty space
Where you used to be

So long, it was so long ago
But I've still got the blues for you

Though the days come and go
There is one thing I know
I've still got the blues for you.

Watch this video and you will understand why I think Gary is one of the World's greatest guitarists.

So long, it was so long....



Related Links:
- Guitar chords
- Wikipedia

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15 June 2006

Ending up in a different sector

Some people are skeptical when they see that I have undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in forestry but am doing something totally unrelated to forests right now.

Yes! I received my forestry training somewhere in the Indian foothills of the Himalayas. Those were wonderful adventurous times and will always remain in my heart. So what happened, you ask?

Well! After spending nearly 7 years in and around the forest, I suddenly realized that it was not what I wanted to do all my life.

Anyway, this post is not about me. I was wondering whether the educational background of a person really matters. I ask this question because I see a lot of people doing things quite different from what they had been trained for and they are good at it.

For example, one of my friends trained as an accountant and ended up in the IT business. Another friend who’s a qualified medical doctor is now teaching tourism in a local university. My father’s colleague (and neighbour in Kelantan) was trained in atomic engineering but later on decided to become a medical doctor.

Of course we can’t forget Tony Fernandes, a former Warner Music executive and now Group Chief Executive Officer of AirAsia.

I don't think the basic educational degree really matter. What really matters in the end is whether you love what you do. If you love it, you will find ways to improve that knowledge. I am not boasting but I honestly feel that I know a lot more stuff relating to information comunications technology (ICT) than some of my friends with degrees in ICT, especially related to web techonology. No offense guys.

So what do you think?

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