renaissance2010
Turning to photography as a creative outlet during a valiant fight with breast cancer at age 34, renaissance10 survived and set up a photo contest to help raise funds for the Lavender Trust, a nonprofit that provides information and support to younger women with breast cancer. In the first two years, the competition brought in over £65,000 (that's $107,260.73 U.S.!), with entries from 130 countries last year. Renaissance10 recently joined LiveJournal to meet other passionate photographers and find supportive friends.

curiouscupcakes
Holy buttercream frosting! If you have a sweet tooth for sugary goodness or a wandering eye for whimsical confection, this is pure ecstasy iced in deliciousness. Hailing the beloved cupcake as the artisinal canvas of choice, you'll enjoy recipes, photos, and bountiful tips to bake up a batch, whether your taste leans toward French classics or funky and flavorful.

mission101
With New Years in the offing, it's an ideal time to reflect on past accomplishments, make peace with disappointments, and refocus the lens on future goals. This community welcomes you to create a bucket list of 101 things you plan to accomplish in the next 1,001 days. Offering support, guidance, and inspiration, this is a great way to jumpstart those pesky resolutions.

Anyone know where I can get a black corset and/or knee-high black boots? I can't order online because (a) no paypal account and no credit card and (b) I've never worn a corset before so I want to make sure it fits properly. I don't mind buying secondhand if anyone knows of someone willing to sell.

( ref pic under the cut )

Read here: EZ-Reload issue--


I emailed PTC to get an response on the following:
1. a) why was the change of EZ-Link card necessary?
-- b) why not phased out like cashcards, with free exchanges up till each card's expiration date?
-- c) how much did EZ-Link "earn" from the confiscation of deposit?
-- d) wasn't old EZ-Link card supposed to pay for itself over time? Why bother with change?

2. a) what their thoughts are on poor implementation of GIRO facility?
-- b) how could auto top-ups be chargeable?
-- c) why is EZ-Link profiting from this? and why is it approved? (repeated question)
-- d) is EZ-Link profiting further from similar credit card links?

3. crowd should be moved along (remember MRT bomb scares?), and outside of complaints of SMRT re: the efficiency of moving crowds along, shouldn't automatic top-ups be encouraged to reduce queuing? See: long queue with confused tourists at machines near Orchard Ion exit.


Their response:

Dear XXXXXX,

Thank you for your email to the Public Transport Council (PTC) on 18 Dec 09.

Allow us to briefly explain that the intention of introducing the new Contactless e-Purse Application (CEPAS) open standard by IDA is to give consumers the convenience of having a single card for making transit, motoring and retail payments instead of having multiple cards for different purposes. It will also encourage competition by facilitating the market entry of more card issuers and provide more choices for commuters. For further details on the adoption of this CEPAS standard in transit payment, you may wish to visit:

CEPAS e-Payments - http://www.ida.gov.sg/News%20and%20Events/20050714100041.aspx?getPagetype=21
New E-Payment System and Next Generation Card for Public Transit - http://app.lta.gov.sg/corp_press_content.asp?start=1990

As you have rightly mentioned, Transit Link used to provide automatic GIRO top-ups at no charge to commuters. This was not because the top-ups were free, but because the cost of top-ups was absorbed by Transit Link which is jointly owned by the two public transport operators – SMRT and SBS Transit. Such an arrangement was commercially viable for Transit Link because the old cards were mainly used on board buses and trains. Going forward, the new CEPAS-compliant cards by intent can also be used in private vehicles for ERP, retail shops, libraries and many other places which are not related to public transport. EZ-Reload by GIRO is an extra form of value-added service introduced by EZ-Link Pte Ltd for the convenience of adult ez-link cardholders who want to avoid the hassle of topping-up their cards.

Having said that, PTC's role is to ensure that basic "free" electronic top-up channels will continue to be available within transit areas. This is so that the majority of commuters can continue to access such "free" top-up channels to electronically top-up their cards. Records show that more than 90% of the daily top-up volume is done though such top-up points. This safeguarding of basic service provision applies to all transit cards. Therefore, commuters who do not wish to take up any extra value-added services offered by card issuers will still be assured of free top-up of their cards at conveniently located General Ticketing Machines and Passenger Service Counters at all MRT/LRT stations, Add-Value Machines and ticket offices at MRT stations, major bus interchanges, etc.

We hope the above clarifies.

Here's wishing you a Merry Christmas.

XXXXXXXXX
for Secretary
Public Transport Council

Quite a decent reply that actually makes sense! Which is making me super irritated. Also, there are still some unanswered questions.

In summary:
- there will be increased profits posted by SMRT and SBS Transit next year because they no longer have to suffer from burden of these 'administrative fees'
- EZ-Link was earning money from the start from these automatic top-ups
- PTC's role stops before premium services, which means this concerns them not (????)


I still think this entire thing very shady. First, the person quoted more than 90% topping up through normal channels, but did not clarify if this was before EZ-Reload came along. It would be more accurate if they provide two figures as comparison, and not in percents (we can safely assume the new cards are from relatively active users; while there should still be many old cards out there which would greatly decrease the percentage of active users who used auto top-up previously).

I also don't know how many people got the new EZ-Link card as a direct replacement for their cash cards (which is very much alive), but I wouldn't feel safe purchasing things off an automatic-topped up card when I already have a NETS card. There is a policy which protects the cardholder which is all good, but we have no idea how easy this would turn out to be. It might be very easy, but let's cast doubt since it's new.

--

I'm super slow but I googled Octopus Cards (Hong Kong) to see what other first-class transport services have to offer regarding automatic top-ups, and GUESS WHAT?? The facility is named 'Reload'. Talk about creativity. :\

The cards can also be used at retail outlets, but there is no fee. NONE (except when changing banks where top-ups occur).

And I'm super duper slow but Today has addressed whatever I just typed above with no recourse.


I really don't think it is a fair trade-off, mainly because I'm one of those who used automatic top-up previously. What do you think?

Hello all,

If you're free on the evening of the 29th, head down to Post-Museum and listen to five speakers provide a sectoral round-up of the developments within their community. They will be speaking about:

• historian Loh Kah Sengt: the changing manner young Singaporeans are reading history,
• research fellow/playwright Tan Tarn How: debate and its nature in the non-public sphere
• Arts NMP Audrey Wong: the recent activism within the arts community,
• Coordinator of MARUAH Braema Mathi: human rights development and priorities in Singapore and Asia,
• Vice President of Singapore Society of Finance Professionals Leong Sze Hian: finance and the economy

There will be a break-out discussion sessions with the individual speakers after the presentation, with a special session with members invited from the youth wings of political parties.

The event is jointly organized by The Online Citizen and Talk Politics All Night.



The Facebook event page is here If you wish to attend or have any further queries. For directions to Post-Museum, gothere.sg/directions#109%20Rowell%20Rd

i_hope_that
For many of us, the holidays can be kind of rough. If you're searching for a network of understanding friends, this ultra-nurturing community encourages you to express your heartfelt wishes and offer other members encouragement and acceptance. Not for the terminally snarky or emotionally-challenged, this is a good-spirited place to lend comfort and support.

diygifts
Feeling crafty? If you've got a few last folks on your holiday gift list, this is a great place to seed your creativity and generosity. You'll also discover wonderful DIY tips to decorate your home and entertain guests. Offering a no-frills-no-skills attitude that welcomes the cash-challenged and arts-phobic, you're sure to get ideas and make friends in the process.

cooking_club
A fun and friendly community dedicated to those who love to cook, whether you're a meat-and-potatoes type, an aspiring gourmand, and/or a vegan. In search of a brilliant dish to use up those weekly leftovers? Post your ingredients and you'll be whipping up a feast by dinner. You can also share favorite recipes. For Type A chefs, you can spice up your culinary repertoire with exciting cooking challenges.

stepstomarrow
When granddaughter, Jada, was born with leukemia, a donor-match was located and Jada made a miraculous recovery. In honor of her grandaughter's health, Jeanna has decided to walk across the country (in the dead of winter) to raise awareness and build support for the bone marrow registry (all that's required is a cheek swab). Follow Jeanna's remarkable journey as she travels the United States by foot.

A comment spotted on TOC:




LOL!

I posted this on my journal but some people think it best to publish this fuckery in a more public manner.

This is the reply email from EZ-Link dated 27 Nov. I sent them my rant feedback regarding the EZ-Link automatic top-up facility charge of $0.25 for each top-up on 6 October. LOL CUSTOMER SERVICE.


( tl;dr )

Yes, I always am agitated AND CAPITALISE WITH NO REGARDS FOR importance in my complaint letters.

Basically the point of my rant was:
- who is getting the $0.25 top-up fee?
- why go ahead with the mandatory switch when they seem so unprepared?
- why no response to letters in the press?
- what the $&#% have they been doing the past 9 months to be so unprepared for this switch?


Their reply:

Dear XXXX,

With regards to your query, with the urgency to roll out the EZ-Reload by Giro, manual forms were implemented. As EZ-Reload by GIRO is a new scheme, a new system has to be developed to support GIRO top-up transactions. As with any new system, time is required to develop, test and commission the new EZ-Reload by GIRO service prior to public launch.

The roll-out of the new top-up facility also took into consideration the implementation of reduced bus and train fares which was brought forward from October 2009 to 1 April 2009.

To accommodate system testing and fare verification so to ensure a smooth implementation of the reduced bus and train fares, the introduction of the top-up facility was thus rescheduled to 27 August 2009.

The nominal $0.25 fee covers the processing cost incurred in the provision of the EZ-Reload service. It is not imposed by the bank. It is to cover the entire end-to-end process of providing that service. This fee is incurred only when the automatic top-up facility is used. How often the card holder automatically tops-up his/her card depends on the extent of usage and how much customer tops-up his/her card each time.

Customers have the choice of the type of top-up they want for their card according to their lifestyle needs.

We would like to highlight that EZ-Reload is a premium service that is offered in addition to the numerous free top-up channels that are already available to commuters, such as General Ticketing Machines, Add-Value Machines, TransitLink Ticket Offices, Passenger Service Counters at MRT stations. In addition, top ups of ez-link cards at all DBS/POSB ATMs and AXS D-Pay stations are similarly.

Thank you.

Brgds,
POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE GUY AT EZ-LINK (name removed)

Customer Service Hotline: 6496 8300

Basically the gist of the reply:
- SHUT THE #$^^ UP YOU HAVE NO CHOICE
- reduced bus and train fares affect our systems because we suck at multi-tasking and/or our systems suck and can't handle both processes
- we use manual forms because we have committed to a date but it's not up yet due to above
- and then because we suck at implementing the new system at the new committed date, we are still stuck at manual forms
- $0.25 consists of printing that piece of paper so you can write on it and send it back to one of our poorly paid staff to key into system to send to the banks for approval
- we are now making even more money by discontinuing the previously free GIRO automatic top-up which one can apply for with immediate approval through one of those machines at MRT stations and without any fuss because the bank will just send a letter to your home in case of discrepancies.

Ergo, they lack preparedness. I don't even know who the #$^@ approved this mandatory switch when everything is so chaotic. Why can't the EZ-Link card readers read both the new and old cards?? The people who thought of this up through the chains of command are the least efficient bunch of people ever. BLOOD SUCKERS.

I pity the customer service guy all sorts of way because they must have serious backlog. My anger is directed at the company because they are just full of shit. ASDFGHJKL; I can't even calm myself down; the automatic GIRO top-up facility was the best thing ever because it was a necessity.



To be honest, despite my original email, still no idea who we can look for to have this weird/unethical practice by EZ-Link looked into.

Good evening to my fellow countrymen! (: &hearts

I came across this article which I found to be a really interesting read. Thought I might share it with you guys. Full credit goes to the writer off course. I have yet to formulate my own opinion on this article but still, I'll let you read and decide. Would love it if you guys could discuss about it. In a civil manner of course. (: Would love well thought out arguments from both sides of the coin. A-and I might add, the heated debates in the comments of both the Facebook and Wordpress link is an absolutely joy to read. :D And uh, you might like to join the debate yourself. LOL

Mods, please delete this if it's not allowed. But gah, I don't think I've broken rules. LOL :D

My vote counts: 10 reasons why I cannot vote for the PAP in the next election

That so many Singaporeans behave like sheep and recite the prescribed mantra all the time about our government (namely, that we owe it all to them) really only reveals the plight of our people. Not only are Singaporeans amongst the lowest earners in the developed world in monetary terms, they are also almost definitely the poorest in the faculty to think for themselves, as a result of the education system.

Now that I am of age to vote, I am unable to vote for the PAP in the coming election because there is such an urgent need to send across a strong signal through their very thick skulls that there is a problem in the way it’s running this country. I am not a member of the Opposition, and I do not want the Opposition to take over this country, but because there will always be too many sheep in Singapore anyway, we need every vote FOR the Opposition just to manage to produce a dent in the PAP’s smugly expected results. There will always be the apathetic, the boot-lickers, the cowardly, and the ignorant to ensure they win eventually anyway.

The difference we can make, however, is how much it wins by. Perhaps if it loses a GRC or two (and the GRC is a PAP invention), they will shake off their slumber and start ruling Singapore as a Republic, that is, for the public, for the People (rather than for personal interests).

Remember how LKY said he will send in the army if there ever is a “freak election” and the PAP is voted out of Parliament? In every other country, when the people vote out the ruling party, it is called a mandate. It is only in Singapore that such a vote is called a “freak election”. Also, whose Army is it anyway? Is it the Army of the people of Singapore – who have just voted out the PAP? Or is it the Army of the PAP?

I list here ten out of the many other reasons why I am unable to vote for the PAP:

(Read the author's 10 reasons here.)