St0rY oF uNpReDiCtAbLe LiFe II

Well, being a smoker myself, one of the “must look” items from a new budget plan been announce every year is none other than the increase of cigarette’s price. The annual increase had been a trend for many years (as far as I can remembered) and to be honest, most smokers that I know (including me) will not stop this bad habit just because of price increase; they will simply find alternatives to satisfy their needs (buying cheaper/smuggled brand, shift to the traditional “rokok daun¹“, etc). I noticed today that British American Tobacco Malaysia had made an announcement that the company will increase all their tobacco base product which will be effective starting today. No need to make a guess; it’s because the new budget plan for 2009 announced by the prime minister.

Petaling Jaya, 1 September 2008 – As a result of the significant 20% excise increase, and taking into consideration the consequent impact of sales tax, trade margins and the higher than normal inflationary impacts on our own cost base, as global tobacco, paper and fuel costs have all increased by double digit amounts, British American Tobacco Malaysia has revised its cigarette prices.

The new cigarette prices, which will be effective Monday, 1st September 2008, are as follows:-
 • Dunhill Fine Cut 20s range RM 10.00
 • Dunhill D360 20s range RM 9.40
 • Dunhill King Size 20s range RM 9.00
 • Dunhill King Size 14s range RM 6.50
 • Kent King Size 20s range RM 9.00
 • Pall Mall Plain 20s RM 9.40
 • Pall Mall King Size 20s range RM 7.50
 • Pall Mall King Size 14s range RM 5.50
 • Pall Mall King Size 25s RM 8.20
 • Benson & Hedges King Size 20s RM 9.00
 • Benson & Hedges King Size 14s RM 6.50
 • Perilly’s 100s 20s RM 7.70
 • Perilly’s King Size 20s range RM 7.50
 • Perilly’s King Size 25s range RM 8.20

Source: British American Tobacco Malaysia

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Well, I got the news from The Star online today saying that Microsoft will take a step further to combat piracy on its products by implementing some sort of dark/black/blank (or they prefer to use the word “Blackouts”) screen for users of pirated Windows XP Pro.

PETALING JAYA: Starting Wednesday, users with pirated copies of Microsoft Corp’s Windows XP Professional operating system (OS) on machines that are Internet-capable could find their computer displays going black and with no screen icons visible.

There are 8.6 million users of Win XP Pro in Malaysia and about three million are expected to suffer the “blackouts,” according to Microsoft Malaysia.

To continue working, the user would need to reset the machine’s desktop background. Everything will return to normal. But when 60 minutes are up, the black screen will reappear and the user must go through the whole process again.

Source: TheStar Online

My Take

Well, I don’t know if this step only apply to Malaysian user but I have little doubt Microsoft will even stop there. Expect another fuss coming from either Microsoft or the *ehem* *ehem* community. You can read the full article by following the given url and evaluate everything yourself. I suddenly remembered a quote from Jurassic Park movie which sound something like “Nature will find it’s way” and seeing how Windows XP is still very popular, I kinda can see Microsoft latest move will end in vain (remember WGA¹ anyone?). I’m not praying it to happen though; just predicting

Owh….don’t make that gloomy face ; isn’t this the best time to jump to Linux?

Normally, I don’t post any politic related stuff. For me, politics is for real people with real knowledge to discuss. I admit I’m not “real” enough in those field. But, I’m getting sick when I encountered this picture from Mafrel site. Urghh…they manage to make themselves look stupid brilliantly. By doing that sick provocation act can they claim the other party rude? I’m not going to argue who’s right and who’s not because personally I don’t know. But action like this can initiate an uglier reaction from anyone and when things goes bad, who’s to blame? Owh…the picture is taken during the Permatang Pauh nomination day on August 18, 2008.

Well, depends on what time you read my post here, due to midnight of 4th June (that’s only a couple of hours from the time of my writing), the oil price in Malaysia will rise up to RM2.70 per liter from RM1.92. The Rm0.78 rise or about 40% increase for the ULG 97¹ petrol. Diesel will go up by RM1 from RM1.58 to RM2.58. From what I read, this is all part of the new subsidy plan (announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi). Below are the quote from The Star Online;

Abdullah also announced a RM625 annual cash rebate per vehicle, for owners of private vehicles with engine capacities of up to 2,000cc, as well as pickup trucks and jeeps with engine capacities of up to 2,500cc. Owners of private motorcycles with engine capacities of up to 250cc will receive RM150. Payment will be made via Money Order upon renewal of road tax, from July 1. For owners of private vehicles with engine capacities exceeding 2000cc, road tax will be reduced by RM200. Owners of private motorcycles with engine capacities above 250 cc will get RM50 reduction in road tax.

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Today I had the chance to attend Job Carnival 2008 that been held at Plaza Angsana, Johor Bahru. Well, for those who don’t know, it’s kinda a carnival that provide information related to job seeking, seminar, law awareness in working, walk-in interview, and many more. The event been held by the Ministry of Human Resources (Malaysia) in conjunctions with many private sector’s companies. As a job seeker myself, I attend the carnival to drop my CV in every booth that I went; even to the booth that only want to hire an engineer . Among the notable organization that participate (as I can remember) were Iskandar Regional Development Authority, Pelabuhan Tanjung Pelepas Sdn. Bhd., Sime Darby Bhd, and Jusco. Well, also attend some walk in interview after I had run out of resume to drop, but I don’t think they’ll pick me because I attend the interview of a Regional Manager position (lol). But, what’s done is done and just praying it will go well in the end. If you’re interested in knowing when the carnival will be held at your place, do check the official Ministry of Human Resources (Malaysia) site. Owh…at some point, I’m glad I attend the carnival, because I had the chance to see/stalk/flirt with many hot and beautiful chicks that also looking for a job (or offering one)