HYPERAXE

The MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority) implemented a new traffic violation ticketing system for quite some time now . This new system doesn’t allow MMDA traffic enforcers to confiscate your license when you are caught violating traffic rules, but rather your traffic violation would be recorded to a centralized record system in LTO (Land Transportation Office) and you have to pay the fine through a bank or the LTO office for the traffic violation record to be cleared up from your name.

Here’s a situation that looks like a flaw to the new ticketing system of the MMDA or as the author of the email suggests, a scheme of LTO to gain more money from traffic violators.

Well, IMHO, it is really important to keep a receipt of the things you pay for. Especially those that you know would be useful for referral for future transactions. Just like a traffic violation fine payment, it’s but natural for you to keep the receipt of the payment since it’s obvious that you may be needing it for license renewal.

Oh well.. some things are really learned the hard way and on the LTO side, I suggest they ensure the efficiency of their system since this would also make them look bad to the public.

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Subject: [central-d] Traffic violation tickets - for those who drive, please read this
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2005 17:09:57 -0700 (PDT)
From: George Yumul
To: central-d@yahoogroups.com

If ever you get caught for any traffic violation, please keep the receipts for the penalty you paid until such time that you renew your license again. With the 3-year renewal period of licenses and the LTO’s computerization system, their personnel may have developed a new racket.

This morning, I renewed my driver’s license. The LTO office in Binan refused to renew it because they said I still had an outstanding account for traffic violation. They told me that I got caught for reckless speeding in February 12, 2004 and I failed to settle it. They showed me a computer printout to this effect. I asked them that I already settled it, otherwise, I would not have taken back my license since it was confiscated.

They said I may have dealt with fixers in taking it back. I told them that I never deal with fixers. I also told them that if they acknowledged that I may have dealt with fixers, then someone inside the LTO must also be involved since I was able to get my license back. They said if I really settled it, then I should show them the receipt and they would delete the entry in the computer — they said maybe they just missed to delete it. Of course, I have no receipt to show them. That was almost two years ago. I never imagined this would happen so I never kept it.

In the end, I ended paying up P1,250.00 more — P500.00 for the penalty and P750.00 for the non-appearance to settle the violation.

This is such a simple scheme but it works. They accept your penalty when you claim your license but they don’t delete it from the computer. If you renew it they will claim you failed to settle it. If you have the receipt to prove you did settle, they’ll just claim there was an error. If you have no receipt, then you’ll just have to pay again.

Please pass on to your subordinates who are also drivers out there.

I’m not really sure if this would make sense, but i do sympathize with the author of this email regarding the continous increase in gas prices..

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This makes MUCH MORE SENSE than the boycott campaign and rallies against gas companies lately.

The oil companies just laughed at that because they knew we couldn’t continue to “hurt” ourselves by refusing to buy gas. It was more of an inconvenience to us than it was a problem for them.

BUT, whoever thought of this idea, has come up with a plan that can really work.

Please read on and join us!

Currently, unleaded gasoline is over P33.00 and it is still going up (sometimes unnoticed). Despite the fact that a barrel of oil has gone down to US$62 from US$70 (when Superstorm Katrina hit New Orleans ), gasoline prices are still going up instead of a downward trend.

Worst, the big oil players such as Caltex, Shell and Petron claim that they are still losing money. It is time we need to take aggressive action to teach them that BUYERS control the marketplace….not sellers. The only way we are going to see the price of gas go down is if we hit them back by not purchasing their gas!

And we can do that WITHOUT hurting ourselves. How?

Since we all rely on our cars, we can’t just stop buying gas. But we CAN have an impact on gas prices if we all act together to force a price war.

Here’s the idea:

For the rest of this year, DON”T purchase ANY gasoline from the two biggest foreign oil companies such as SHELL and CALTEX .

For now, let us buy gas only from Petron and/or small players such as SeaOil, Total, etc .

If CALTEX and SHELL are not selling any gas, they will be forced to reduce their prices and if they reduce their prices, other companies will have no choice but to follow suit. Thus, the start of a price war. In this way, the buying public wins.

But to have an impact, we need to reach literally millions of Shell and Caltex gas buyers. I am sending this note to about thirty people. If you send it to at least ten more, e.g., 30 x 10 = 300 and those 300 send it to at least ten ore, e.g., 300 x 10 = 3,000 and so on, by the time the message reaches the sixth generation of people (and granting all will cooperate), we will have reached over THREE MILLION car owners!

Again, all you have to do is just send this to 10 people and DON”T purchase ANY gasoline from Shell and Caltex. Remember, the main idea is TO FORCE A PRICE WAR and not hurt ourselves or the economy.

That’s all.

How long would all that take before we can feel the effect? If each of us
sends this email out to ten more people within one day of receipt, all 3
MILLION people could conceivably be contacted within the next 8 days!!!
Acting together can make a big difference.

Aphilo decided to sell her Nokia 6600 and just use my Sony Ericsson P800. She was supposed to buy a Nokia 7610 but she enjoyed my SEP800 that she decided not to buy a new mobile phone for now. I think the thing that she liked most with the SEP800 is the touch screen functionality and the fact that it’s a Phone and PDA in one. She even created some works of art using the said mobile phone and also taught our little Angel to do some drawings as well.

Here’s what our little Angel came up with which are obviously images of flowers. I was so surprised that she actually knows how to draw. At least I know my little Angel have some talent in her.

The last two drawings are from Aphilo. Ever since I met her, I already knew she was really into arts and crafts. On every occassion, she always comes up with creative ideas for making greeting cards, gift items or simple giveaways. I do support her with this kind of hobbies. I usually go with her to arts and crafts shops or gift shops to buy the things she needs. But I do admit, I don’t really have that much talent for things like this. I rather spend my time with music rather than this kind of art.

To Aphilo and Angel, just keep ‘em coming ..

One of our file server which is actually an MP3 file storage server failed due to a faulty disk. The operating system disk failed and it won’t even boot up. I tried reformatting the disk but it still won’t boot up to RedHat Linux. The good thing is that the MP3 files stored on the server resides on a separate disk.

Oh well, I guess I have no choice but to re-install another file server in our network and just move the MP3 disk onto it.

This one really touched me… so I’m sharing this in my blog..

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By Bo Sanchez
From his book: You Have the Power to Create

Adultery happens when you start looking for what you don’t have.

“Bro, this girl in my office is a Real Looker,” many a husband will say. “But it’s not her Wynona Rider features that got me. I’m head over heels with her because she’s also understanding, intelligent, tender– so many things that my wife has not.”

Sure.

Guys, trust me on this. Somewhere along the way, you’ll find a woman who will be more charming. More alluring. More thoughtful. Richer. Be a better cook. Have greater sex appeal. Be a more efficient housekeeper. And you will find a woman who will need you and pursue you and go loco over you more than your wife ever did.

Because no wife is perfect.

Because a wife will only have 90% of what you’re looking for.

So adultery takes place when a husband looks for the missing 10%.

Let’s say your wife is melancholic by nature. You may find yourself drawn to the pretty clerk who has a cherry laugh no matter what she says: “I broke my arm yesterday, LOL…” Or because your wife is a homebody in slippers and pajamas, smelling of garlic and fish oil, you may fall for a fresh-smelling young sales representative that visits your office in a sharp black blazer, high heels, and a red pencil-cut skirt. Or because your wife is the quiet type (a rare find), your heart may skip a beat when you meet an old college flame who has the makings of a talk show host like Oprah.

But wait! That’s only 10% of what you don’t have.

Don’t throw away the 90% that you already have!

That’s not all. Add to your wife’s 90% the 1000% that represents all the years that you have been with each other. The storms you have weathered together. The unforgettable moments of sadness and joy as a couple. The many adjustments you have made to love the other. The wealth of memories that you’ve accumulated as lovers.

Adultery happens when you start looking for what you don’t have. But faithfulness happens when you start thanking God for what you already have.

But I’m not just talking about marriage.

I’m talking about life! About your jobs. About your friends. About your children. About your prayer groups. About your lifestyles.

Are you like the economy airline passenger that perennially peeks through the door of the first class cabin, obsessed with what he’s missing? “They have got more leg room! Oh my, their food is served in porcelain! Wow, their seats recline at an 80% angle and they’ve got personal videos!” I guarantee you’ll be miserable for the entire trip!

Don’t live your life like that.

Forget about what the world says is first class. (Do you know that there are many first class passengers who are miserable in first class — because they’re not riding in a private Lear Jet?)

My main message: If you start to be thankful for what you have right now, wherever you are is first class!

You have wealth under your nose. Be Thankful.

A friend of mine emailed this to me… Sigh! I was really hoping for a long vacation this All Saint’s Day ..

‘No long holiday for All Saints’ Day’
By Aurea Calica
The Philippine Star 10/19/2005

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/News200510190404.htm

A week of holidays is too much to wish for, but how about two long weekends?

Malacañang declared yesterday Nov. 2 and 3 as working days and Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 and 4 as holidays.

National security officials also met yesterday to draw up measures to ensure that terrorists or other unscrupulous individuals would not be able to take advantage of the coming holidays.

Oct. 31, which falls on a Monday, was declared a special non-working day because it comes before a regular holiday, All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1.

Nov. 4 is the Muslim celebration of Eid-ul Fitr, marking the end of fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. It is a national non-working holiday.

“Nov. 5 and 6 will be Saturday and Sunday, so there will only be a long weekend,” Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said.

Under Proclamation 839, President Arroyo also declared Dec. 26 this year as a special non-working day and Nov. 28 a non-working holiday in lieu of Nov.
30, Bonifacio Day, which she said will be a working day.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye earlier said the President signed the proclamation to give Filipinos the chance to observe several important holidays and for businessmen to adjust their operations accordingly.

Dec. 26, also a Monday, comes after another regular holiday, Dec. 25 or Christmas Day.

Malacañang also declared Bonifacio Day, which is observed on Nov. 30 and is traditionally a national holiday, a working day and instead made Nov. 28 ?
a Monday ? a non-working holiday for Filipinos to enjoy an extended weekend in line with the President’s “holiday economics.”

All activities and celebrations in observance of Bonifacio Day will still be held on Nov. 30, a Wednesday.

“A longer weekend also promotes domestic tourism and enables employers to plan their work schedules effectively and efficiently, resulting in improved productivity,” the proclamation read.

Businessmen earlier asked Malacañang to announce holidays in advance so it would not sow confusion among the people and affect their operations.