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Caprice Model 1980

Sun, 10 May 2009 08:29:03 +0100

Finally this morning today 10th May 2009, I have sold to the junk yard my Caprice Model 1980, after 10 years in possession; and it serve me well. Provided me with safety and security in all my road journey. It pains me to say goodbye to my Caprice Model 1980, and during those 10 years of service, it just cost me little amount of money for routine maintenance and periodic check-up.

Typhoon weakens after killing 10 in Philippines

Fri, 08 May 2009 11:23:03 +0100

Typhoon weakens after killing 10 in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – A powerful typhoon dumped heavy rains, triggered landslides and left at least 10 people dead and four missing in the northern Philippines, officials said Friday.

Typhoon Cha-hom was packing maximum winds of 75 miles (120 kilometers) per hour when it made landfall overnight in Pangasinan province, north of Manila. It rapidly weakened into a tropical storm after crossing the mountains of Cordillera and Sierra Madre, and continued to lose strength as it moved away from the country, forecasters said.

Nine people were killed in landslides in two villages in Ifugao province's Kiangan town, popular for its mountainside rice terraces, the National Disaster Coordinating Council reported. The dead include children ages 10-15 years.

Another person died of a heart attack in northwestern Zambales province, and 10 people were injured during the storm, while another four were reported missing, NDCC said.

Several areas in Pangasinan were isolated by flooded roads. Authorities moved hundreds of residents to safety, radio reports said.

Electricity in the area was cut but later restored.

In central Iloilo province, a passenger vessel ran aground amid strong winds and big waves, but the coast guard rescued all 80 people aboard, Radio DZBB reported.

Another 1,000 passengers and 71 vessels were stranded in ports because of the storm, which forecasters said was moving east of the Philippines toward southern Japan.

Cha-hom, a word for a tree in Laos, is the second cyclone to hit the Philippines in a week. At least 27 people died and 55,000 were forced from their homes during last week's storm that lashed the northeastern Philippines.

About 20 typhoons and storms hit the country each year, but forecasters said they usually do not appear this early and that the extreme weather may have been caused by global warming.

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Caprice Model 1980

Thu, 07 May 2009 09:08:40 +0100

I have been trying to dispose my Caprice Model 1980, but not able to do so. Buyers always want the latest car model. I have been using the car for the last ten (10) years and was giving me a good ride and serve me well. And frankly speaking, I trust my life with this car for safety.

Anyway if nobody wants to buy an old Model 1980 Caprice car, then I will just repair it and use it as a back-up to my 1993 Ford Crown Victoria; and when the time comes to retire, then the option will to junk. KISS (Keep it simple stu---).

MY CHEVROLET CAPRICE MODEL 1980

Mon, 04 May 2009 09:43:24 +0100

About last quarter of FY1999, I have bought a Caprice Model 1980 from a Filipino colleague who was Saudizised, a very old model 1980 caprice but still giving me a good ride and reliable. Every time the Istimara will expire, I used to go Dammam for MVPI (Motor Vehicle Periodic Inspection), check the roadworthiness of the vehicle and as a pre-requisite requirement by the Saudi Police authorities to renew a vehicle istimara (registration).

Last Wednesday, I went to Dammam for MVPI, and I was told in the line by the technician who checked vehicles, that my car looks Model 1988; and because of this modification they would not check and they will not issue sticker to me; either. I have strong verbal arguments with this technician, that for the last 10 years I was using this car and every time, MVPI is due I religiously comply for check-up, but the guy don’t listen and as if a deaf ear.

So yesterday May 2 2009, I went to their supervisor to inquir, and explained to me the situation that I have modified my old car; of course I told him, I was just using this car and only repairs were done without modifications' means "buy and use".

To cut the story short their customer assistant, assist me and filled-up a form that the car was modified from FY1990 to FY1988 and referred me to a morror (police vehicle engineer). The vehicle engineer forwarded me to a Chief of Police in other side of the building; for the form signature.

So I went to the Police Chief bring the file history of Caprice 1980 Model records which I kept and explained to him that I just bought this car and use only, and did not make any modifications except the normal periodic maintenance. The chief of police advised me to rectify and replace the parts to make it appear as Model 1980; and forwarded me to the Sticker Manager. It was a long process & time consuming exercise; and to my regret the spare part may be hard to find. The Sticker Manager inspected my lonely Caprice and showed me the front and back side to be rectified or replaced. I told him, why it takes 10 years to find out this situation requirement; and explained to me that authorities are now strict on MVPI implementation.

I am writing this memoirs just to record and share my actual experience on old cars, that some people make change today for the sake of convenience but don’t realize the impact of tomorrow. And before buying anything, it is necessary to investigate and I realized that it is a good lesson "to learn caution from the misfortune of others”.

Note: Actually last November 2008, I bought a later model Ford Crown Victoria as replacement for the Caprice; as Caprice was already phase-out by the manufacturer.

10 (More) Reasons You're Not Rich

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:30:04 +0100

Many people assume they aren't rich because they don't earn enough money. If I only earned a little more, I could save and invest better, they say.

The problem with that theory is they were probably making exactly the same argument before their last several raises. Becoming a millionaire has less to do with how much you make, it's how you treat money in your daily life.

The list of reasons you may not be rich doesn't end at 10. Caring what your neighbors think, not being patient, having bad habits, not having goals, not being prepared, trying to make a quick buck, relying on others to handle your money, investing in things you don't understand, being financially afraid and ignoring your finances.

Here are 10 more possible reasons you aren't rich:

You care what your car looks like: A car is a means of transportation to get from one place to another, but many people don't view it that way. Instead, they consider it a reflection of themselves and spend money every two years or so to impress others instead of driving the car for its entire useful life and investing the money saved.

You feel entitlement: If you believe you deserve to live a certain lifestyle, have certain things and spend a certain amount before you have earned to live that way, you will have to borrow money. That large chunk of debt will keep you from building wealth.

You lack diversification: There is a reason one of the oldest pieces of financial advice is to not keep all your eggs in a single basket. Having a diversified investment portfolio makes it much less likely that wealth will suddenly disappear.

You started too late: The magic of compound interest works best over long periods of time. If you find you're always saying there will be time to save and invest in a couple more years, you'll wake up one day to find retirement is just around the corner and there is still nothing in your retirement account.

You don't do what you enjoy: While your job doesn't necessarily need to be your dream job, you need to enjoy it. If you choose a job you don't like just for the money, you'll likely spend all that extra cash trying to relieve the stress of doing work you hate.

You don't like to learn: You may have assumed that once you graduated from college, there was no need to study or learn. That attitude might be enough to get you your first job or keep you employed, but it will never make you rich. A willingness to learn to improve your career and finances are essential if you want to eventually become wealthy.

You buy things you don't use: Take a look around your house, in the closets, basement, attic and garage and see if there are a lot of things you haven't used in the past year. If there are, chances are that all those things you purchased were wasted money that could have been used to increase your net worth.

You don't understand value: You buy things for any number of reasons besides the value that the purchase brings to you. This is not limited to those who feel the need to buy the most expensive items, but can also apply to those who always purchase the cheapest goods. Rarely are either the best value, and it's only when you learn to purchase good value that you have money left over to invest for your future.

Your house is too big: When you buy a house that is bigger than you can afford or need, you end up spending extra money on longer debt payments, increased taxes, higher upkeep and more things to fill it. Some people will try to argue that the increased value of the house makes it a good investment, but the truth is that unless you are willing to downgrade your living standards, which most people are not, it will never be a liquid asset or money that you can ever use and enjoy.

You fail to take advantage of opportunities: There has probably been more than one occasion where you heard about someone who has made it big and thought to yourself, "I could have thought of that." There are plenty of opportunities if you have the will and determination to keep your eyes open.

Article from unknown author

Swine Flu as of today

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:53:04 +0100

MEXICO CITY – Mexico's' health department says the number of suspected swine flu deaths has risen to 159, with the virus confirmed as the cause of death in 26 of those cases.

Health Secretary Jose Cordova says 2,498 suspected cases of swine flu have been reported, with 1,311 of the patients still in the hospital.

Cordova said Tuesday the "the numbers of deaths has remained more or less stable."

The previous figures were 152 suspected deaths and about 2,000 suspected cases.

Cordova said authorities have instituted rapid testing to generally rule out other types of flu and start anti-viral treatment more quickly in swine-flu cases. The tests to definitively determine swine flu are time consuming.

Marifold "Mac" Caranto untimely death

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:09:23 +0100

At about 1230 PM Philippine time on April 10 2009, I received bad news back home, untimely death of Marifold "Mac" Caranto, at the Pangasinan hospital; as we are here in Saudi Arabia.

On hearing the news we felt saddened, me and my wife express our deep symphaty to his immediate family and the Caranto family.

I said to myself, it was a sense of great loss not only to his family and caranto family but the community including his Esting "Mac" Caranto Orchestra & his group of musicians; as he was a good man, a good friend and a musical composer.

How could his orchestra stands without him?