girl beach

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Ez-link Card - Part 12 (40% of old ez-link cards not replaced)

MY PAPER MONDAY OCTOBER 12, 2009, A6, MY NEWS, HOME
http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ebook/web_php/fvbrowserjs.php?urljs=http://myepaper.mypaper.sg/ecreator/sphopf/ep121009cnd_opf_files/ep121009cnd.js&ver=Gen
By CHERYL LIM, cheryll@sph.com.sg

40% of old ez-link cards not replaced

What happened to the unaccountable cards?
Photo: http://www.todayonline.com/Gallery/Today

MORE than 40 per cent of the original ez-link cards issued have not been exchanged for new cards, meant for more purposes than just paying public-transport fees.

The live and evergreen flowing stream originates from the highest peak. The EZ-Link cards number after reaching the ultimate peak has its intention and worth discovered, but whatever that reaches the highest will comes down naturally.
Photo: http://www.ewallpapers.eu/view_wallpaper/alpine-lake-1024-768-3991.html

Of the eight million ez-link cards slated to be replaced by the Contactless e-Purse Application Standard (Cepas)-compliant cards, more than 3.3 million had not been exchanged even after the deadline, extended by a week, passed last Wednesday.

The continuous effort to make payment more convenient for ERP, Parking, Fines and Consumptions carries on steadily and quietly in the dark background.
Photo: http://www.ewallpapers.eu/view_wallpaper/forest-watermill-1024-768-2779.html

In future, the new cards can be used to pay Electronic Road Pricing fees, parking charges and fines for overdue loans from the National Library Board.

Not all red coloured are shunned. Christmas is not mandatory but the commercial world has long decided that it should be. The real mandatory time that requires our attention are sadly ignored or forgotten. The helpless remains doom while the able celebrates.
Photo: http://www.ewallpapers.eu/view_wallpaper/christmas-girls-1024-768-2919.html

It can also be used to make purchases, at retail shops such as 7-Eleven outlets.

This amazing world contains many things treasured, whether used or not. They derived its value upon discovery otherwise it remains unknown and maybe wrongly unwanted.
Photo: http://www.ewallpapers.eu/view_wallpaper/golf-course-1024-768-1976.html

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) declined to comment on the possible reasons for such a large number of cards remaining unreplaced.

Cold response from the world may means something is being forced too extremely on to nature. People may have purposely delayed to express their displeasure.
Photo: http://www.ewallpapers.eu/view_wallpaper/winter-wonderland-1024-768-4046.html

But the bulk of these cards are likely to have been cards that were not in active use.

There is nothing new that is totally unknown. Long before its discoveries many others has already threaded the uneven vast plain of space. Those that started on the journey earlier, have paved the way for us to continue our journey, in a more comfortable manner. Again, those pioneers will be conveniently forgotten. The real heroes dies alone without any glamorous acknowledgment of their contributions. Their may be mistaken as the enemies who should be rightly shot to death.
Photo: http://www.ewallpapers.eu/view_wallpaper/gull-1024-768-3682.html

By mid-September, 92 per cent of public-transport rides were already being made using the new Cepas-compliant card, the LTA said.

92% is very high result, almost full point. This means 4,232,000 new cards are used. Together with another 200,000 old cards, all together 4,432,000 cards, old and new, are being used. Its time for the project to enjoy their creation.
Photo: http://www.ewallpapers.eu/view_wallpaper/tiger-swallowtail-butterfly-1024-768-1740.html

At that time, there were some 200,000 old cards still being used actively on public transport.

This pair of old couple with their pairs of old wing can still be used to transport them around for a long time to come. Is there really a need to REPLACED them with new ones?
Photo: http://www.ewallpapers.eu/view_wallpaper/macaws-in-flight-1024-768-707.html

More than 4.6 million original cards had been replaced, at no charge, in an exercise that lasted from Jan 9 to Oct 7 this year, said an LTA spokesman.

The exercise was meant to have ended on Sept 30, but was extended for a week. During this last week, 153,000 cards were replaced.

Anything that is precious and sentimental will be hard to be separated. All living things knows that much but human beings choose to ignore them especially when the $ is at stake. Even the plant cannot withstand the heartlessness of humans although the plant themsleves do not have any heart.
Photo: http://www.ewallpapers.eu/view_wallpaper/in-the-green-1024-768-3718.html

$15 may be considered as a small sum to some monopoly but this "Sunny and Green" services could be too high to be reached by many others.
Photo: http://www.ewallpapers.eu/view_wallpaper/sunny-tree-branches-1024-768-2781.html

From now, those who wish to get a Cepas-compliant card will have to pay $15.

Honey, so sweet that many long for it. Or anything that is related to it. Honeymoon, Bread and Honey, Honey Coughdrops and Honey wife.
Photo: http://www.ewallpapers.eu/view_wallpaper/bees-in-the-cherry-tree-1024-768-3044.html

My paper found several commuters who had reasons not to replace their cards. Some have hung on to their old cards because they are collectors’ items and hold sentimental value.

Valentine’s Day, Wedding day, Honeymoon, .. brings people in love together. Items associated will be kept for remembrance of the paradises which once upon a time was with them.

Photo: http://www.ewallpapers.eu/view_wallpaper/paradise-island-1024-768-3739.html

Precious Moments. In Love. Those who experienced it will want to keep this moment in their memories.

Many wishes for such moments but waited in vain.

Photo: http://www.ewallpapers.eu/view_wallpaper/parrots-in-love-1024-768-2785.html

Singles may not have intimate moments but their time is spent on searching for a better future. Can they find it? Some are fated to be unsucessful.
Photo: http://www.ewallpapers.eu/view_wallpaper/red-and-green-macaw-1024-768-711.html

Freelance writer Annie Tan, 28, bought a Cepas-compliant card instead of trading in her old one, which was a Valentine’s Day collectible that she got as a gift. She said: “It was a Precious Moments ez-link card from my good friend, and I’m retaining it as a keepsake.”

Keeping the wonderful moments alive. Precious Moments are not always available.
Photo: http://www.ewallpapers.eu/view_wallpaper/petals-and-water-1024-768-1120.html

There is only one source of unlimited water supply. But when the day comes with another alternative mode of transport, who would want to go through all this troubles?
Photo: http://www.ewallpapers.eu/view_wallpaper/punch-bowl-falls-1024-768-396.html

Others do not see the need to get new cards, as they drive and do not use public transport often. One of them, Mr Xu Youfeng, 26, a civil servant, said: “I bought an ez-link card when my car was undergoing routine servicing. Since I drive, I hardly use the card, so I did not bother to change it.”

For some, the cool and quiet world of their own is enough. Why travel differently to look for trouble? Travelling by car is costly but some need it for reasons due to work, friends, colleagues or family.
Photo: http://www.ewallpapers.eu/view_wallpaper/rainforest-canopy-1024-768-3915.html

Ms Sally Koh, 28, a researcher, who stopped taking public transport after she bought a car two months ago, said: “I think a lot of these unchanged cards belong to commuters-turned-drivers. Why would I bother changing mine now that I drive?"

By CHERYL LIM,
cheryll@sph.com.sg

Let hope this proccess is a dream that comes truth to many. Many most properly will be experiencing nightmares trying to make the Auto Top-Up function working.
Photo: http://www.ewallpapers.eu/view_wallpaper/the-taj-mahal-1024-768-4086.html

Reference

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Oktoberfest

From: http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Lifestyle/Story/STIStory_440893.html

PAULANER BRAUHAUS' 10TH ORIGINAL OKTOBERFEST

These two German bier girls will handle many glasses of beer during 10th Original Oktoberfest celebrations.
PHOTO: SIXTH SENSE COMMUNICATIONS

German band Scharivari Sextet from Munich will entertain you with rousing performances of traditional Bavarian tunes at Paulaner Brauhaus's 10th Original Oktoberfest celebrations. Also, admire the prowess of two German bier girls as they handle many glasses of beer.

PHOTO: http://www.naccnt.ca/media/images/oktoberfest2.jpg

Where: Paulaner Brauhaus, Beer Garden, Level 1, Time2@Millenia Walk, 01-01, 9 Raffles Boulevard MRT: City Hall
When: Till Tue, noon - 2.30pm, 6.30 - 10.30pm
Prices: Starters start from $14, soups frm $10, main courses from $36 and Oktoberfest sausage platters from $33 and desserts from $11
Tel: 6883-2572

PHOTO (Cause a drunk girl doesn't care if you stick it in her pooper): http://www.ebaumsworld.com/pictures/view/222268/ - Octoberfest

PHOTO: http://sattlers.org/mickey/site/archive/2004/09/index.html
A waitress carries one liter beer mugs during the opening day of Oktoberfest, in Munich.

The 176th Oktoberfest lasts from 19 September until 4 October. Some six million beer drinkers from around the globe are expected to visit the Bavarian capital for the world's biggest and most famous beer festival. ( http://sattlers.org/mickey/site/archive/2004/09/index.html )

PHOTO: http://famouswonders.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/oktoberfest.jpg

Enormous tents, each capable of holding up to 10,000 people at a time, some 5.5 million liters (1.453 million U.S. gallons) of beer will be consumed during the event. (REUTERS/Alexandra Winkler)

PHOTO: http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/photos/2009/09/millions-visit-oktoberfest.html

Visitors crowd a beer tent at the "Theresienwiese" during the Oktoberfest beer festival on September 19, in Munich, southern Germany. AFP / Getty Images / Sascha Schuermann

PHOTO: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/00996/oktoberfest-10_996395i.jpg

PHOTO (Oktoberfest at the mountain): http://www.ridehunter.com/jessica/oktoberfest_photo.jpg

PHOTO (lake-schliersee (Schliersee on Apr 2007): http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g187293-w2-Bavaria.html#18328689

The History of Oktoberfest
From http://www.ofest.com/history.html

Picture: http://www.ofest.com/history.html

Oktoberfest - In September?

Oktoberfest traditionally starts in the third weekend in September and ends the first sunday of October.

PHOTO (Neushwanstein Sept 2007): http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g187293-w2-Bavaria.html#18328689

What is Oktoberfest?
It began with the Royal Wedding on 12 October 1810.

Crown Prince Ludwig, later to become King Ludwig I, was married to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on 12 October 1810. The citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields in front of the city gates to celebrate the happy royal event.

PHOTO (Bamberg): http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g187293-w2-Bavaria.html#18328689

The fields were renamed Theresienwiese ("Theres'a Fields") to honor the Crown Princess, although the locals have since abbreviated the name simply to "Wiesn". Horse races in the presence of the royal family marked the close of the event that was celebrated as a festival for the whole of Bavaria.

PHOTO (view-from-cable-car (Wonderful hotel! on Aug 2008): http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g187293-w2-Bavaria.html#18328689

The decision to repeat the horse races in subsequent years gave rise to the tradition of Oktoberfest.

PHOTO (Bavaria - Neuschwanstein): http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g187293-w2-Bavaria.html#18328689

The Oktoberfest continues in 1811

PHOTO (The GN's Oktoberfest Buddies!): http://nostrapybus.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/oktoberfest.jpg

PHOTO (Oktoberfest-Girls): http://www.wordsaboutthings.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/oktoberfest-girls-1a1.jpg

In 1811, an added feature to the horse races was the first Agricultural Show, designed to boost Bavarian agriculture. The horse races, which were the oldest - and at one time - the most popular event of the festival are no longer held today. But the Agricultural Show is still held every three years during the Oktoberfest on the southern part of the festival grounds.

PHOTO; Walk-in-oberstaufen (Beautiful Spot on Mar 2007): http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g187293-w2-Bavaria.html#18328689

More and more things to see and do

PHOTO (Oktoberfest Costume of Beer Lady Waitress): http://cracklecdn.zoovy.lg1.simplecdn.net/img/bamtar/W979-H1305-Bffffff/products/oktoberfest/dirndl_oktoberfest_costume_fraulein_beer_wench.jpg

In the first few decades, the choices of amusements were sparse. In 1818, the first carousel and two swings were set up.

PHOTO: http://travelopen.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/oktoberfest.jpg

Vistitors were able to quench their thirst at small beer stands, which grew rapidly in number. In 1896 the beer stands were replaced by the first beer tents and halls set up by the enterprising landlords with the backing of the breweries.

PHOTO (oktoberfest-at-old-world-village): http://travel.latimes.com/daily-deal-blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/oktoberfest-at-old-world-village.jpg

The remainder of the festival site was taken up by a fun-fair. The range of carousels offered was already increasing rapidly in the 1870's as the fairground trade continued to grow and developed in Germany.

PHOTO (Oktoberfest in Germany): http://www.oktoberfestpubcrawl.com/images/Oktoberfest-Germany-large.jpg

176th Oktoberfest in 2009 (19 September - 4 October 2009)

PHOTO (springtime-in-schwangau - Schwangau on May 2008): http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g187293-w2-Bavaria.html#18328689

Today, the Oktoberfest in Munich is the largest festival in the world, with an international flavor characteristic of the 20th century.

PHOTO (Muenchen): http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g187293-w2-Bavaria.html#18328689

PHOTO (up-the-hill): http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g187293-w2-Bavaria.html#18328689

At the foot of the Bavaria Statue, adjacent to the Huge Oktoberfest grounds there are also carousels, roller coasters and all the spectacular fun for the enjoyment and excitement of visitors of all ages.

PHOTO (Krystin Lakebrink, Miss Oktoberfest Picture 2008): http://www.soulardoktoberfest.com/dev/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=35

The festivities are accompanied by a program of events, including the Grand Entry of the Oktoberfest Landlords and Breweries, the Costume and Riflemen's Procession, and a concert involving all the brass bands represented at the "Wiesn".