How should we judge a government?

In Malaysia, if you don't watch television or read newspapers, you are uninformed; but if you do, you are misinformed!

"If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing." - Malcolm X

Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience - Mark Twain

Why we should be against censorship in a court of law: Publicity is the very soul of justice … it keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial. - Jeremy Bentham

"Our government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no
responsibility at the other. " - Ronald Reagan

Government fed by the people

Government fed by the people

Career options

Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?

When there's too much dirt...

When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.

Prevent bullying now!

Prevent bullying now!
If you're not going to speak up, how is the world supposed to know you exist? “Orang boleh pandai setinggi langit, tapi selama ia tidak menulis, ia akan hilang di dalam masyarakat dan dari sejarah.” - Ananta Prameodya Toer (Your intellect may soar to the sky but if you do not write, you will be lost from society and to history.)

Monday, July 05, 2010

Preventive car maintenance... with a bit of luck

On Saturday, I took my daughter's car to the local mechanic to have an oil change. While waiting, his foreman asked him about whether to note down the mileage after changing timing belt of another car. All this time, I was under the mistaken impression (having heard from another mechanic in KL) that this car uses timing chain! I did not bother to check the car manual and what I shock it was to find that the recommended mileage is 60,000 km and the odomenter reads 82,400 km! It was 'ignorance is bliss' but could have turn out to be pretty expensive. I still can't get over how I got to know this by chance!

The spray-painter told me of his friend with a Kia Spectra which timing belt broke somewhere in Bidor and was quoted over Rm6,000 to repair all the damages to the engine. He managed to pay off the local mechanic for work done (Rm300) and had it repaired for over Rm3,000 which was still a big sum for not carrying out preventive maintenance.

This morning I was there at 9.00 am and left for lunch at 1.00 pm and the work done was timing and other belts dismantled, waiting for re-assembly. One of the three other belts was well worn (again lucky to have known) and all three were changed. The car was ready by 3.00 pm and the total costs was just over Rm300 (excluding oil and filter change the day before). Actually, much time was wasted when the mechanics did other more straight forward jobs while waiting for the parts. Then it was lunch time and the job was completed by the same person rather than someone else.

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