Taken from THE STAR

September 18, 2007

Petronas not able to sustain subsidies and wants to raise prices

GEMAS: Having paid out subsidies close to RM50bil in the last 10 years for gas and with global oil prices hitting US$80 (RM280) per barrel last week, Petronas is now pushing for an increase in gas charges.

If the Government gives Petronas the green light to raise rates, consumers would have to brace themselves for higher costs since gas is required for generating electricity, industrial/household use and for NGV-powered automobiles.

The minister said Petronas had provided gas subsidies close to RM50bil since 1997, and last year alone, it paid out RM14bil in subsidy.

“Petronas is screaming for an increase.”

He said that for example, Petronas sold subsidised gas at RM6.40 per mmBtu (Million British Thermal Units) to local industries, whereas unsubsidised gas cost about RM40 per mmBtu.
He explained that if the gas was sourced locally, Petronas would be able to absorb the costs.

However, its gas fields in Terengganu could not meet the demand in the peninsula. As such, Petronas was forced to pay three times more to import the gas from Indonesia and Thailand.
Lim said when the Cabinet committee would decide on Monday the next gas policy as well as gas prices for TNB and IPPs.

“This is necessary as 60% of the country’s electricity is generated by gas,” he told pressmen after opening Heaveaboard Bhd’s second particleboard line here yesterday. The minister was asked to comment on the escalating global oil prices.

Lim said the people should understand Petronas’ position and not criticise it for asking an increase.


September 19, 2007

Najib: Petrol prices to stay

PUTRAJAYA: The Government will honour its promise not to increase petrol prices this year, assures Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“Whatever we have promised (about not rising the petrol price), we will honour our commitment.

“But that is for the price of petrol. (Prices of) gas, it is another issue,” he told reporters after chairing the 21st National Forestry Council meeting yesterday. He was asked to comment whether consumers would be affected by the recent hike in oil prices.

On Petronas' request for an increase in gas charges, Najib said the Government’s willingness to look into the matter did not mean the national oil company would be given the green light to charge more.

Najib said the Government had taken steps to protect consumers from escalating prices of commodities and daily necessities by providing subsidies and fixing prices of certain goods.

He said the bulk of the subsidy went to petroleum and gas, amounting to a whopping RM27bil this year, of which RM14bil was borne by the Government and RM13bil by Petronas as gas subsidy.

“This is how much the Government and Petronas are spending on subsidy. If there are parties accusing the Government of not protecting consumers’ interests, they are sorely wrong.”

He said the increase in prices of goods, food and daily necessities, did not only affect the country but was also of global concern.

In Kuala Lumpur, Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik urged people not to speculate on a price increase for gas.

He said that at a Cabinet committee meeting on Monday on the next gas policy, his ministry, Petronas and the Economic Planning Unit would present a proposal on the issue.

Rudum

Kalau disuruh memilih nombor, tentu nombor paling popular di Malaysia sekarang adalah 5. Masakan tidak, dengan semangat Malaysia boleh, kita mampu melakukannya. Setiap bibir2 yang menghirup teh di pagi dan petang tentu sekali akan meletakkan topik ini di front page.

Aku yang kaki bangku ini mudah mendapat kawan dan taulan pabila singgah mengeteh. Lontarkan topik ini, aku berani jamin, korang akan mendapat kawan. Kaki bangku paling handal pun bisa melakukan komentar terhadap anak didik Cikgu Jan.

Kini, satu2 nya jalan paling realistik untuk Malaysia pergi ke peringkat antarabangsa adalah menjadi tuan rumah atau paling mesra-kos adalah membuat filem2 tentang bola bersulamkan cinta 3 segi arahan Prof Razak. Ini sedikit sebanyak dapat memeriahkan lambakan filem Melayu Cinta di Malaysia di samping dapat mencungkil bakat2 seni para pemain Malaysia yang rata2 nya sungguh stylo sekali penampilannya.

Aku berharap jika cadangan2 ini direalisasikan , maka terubatlah sedikit 'luka dalaman' para pemain yang sekarang ini terguris akibat serangan media arus perdana dan subversif. Kita patut memberikan peluang kepada stylo2 ini menceburi bidang2 lain selain karier primary mereka.

Sekarang kita patut fikirkan tajuk filem Cinta itu ?

Oh tidak2, gol dan gincu terasa mual sedikit mendengarnya.....

LAUGHING OUT LOUD !!!!!!!!!

Japanese use robotic Lassie to pull victims from fires

Ok, so that big hulking autonomous vehicle pictured above looks nothing like little Timmy's bestest bud (except maybe in the later years, when he let the fame get to his head), but Lassie and this yellow Japanese firefighting bot do have one thing in common: no fear of charging into a burning building and pulling out the victims with their jaws or claws, respectively. From the looks of things, these humanitarian-tank-cum-playground-slides are controlled by a remote operator looking through that camera above the headlights -- which is definitely a good thing, because we don't really want robots pinching at us with their hydraulic fingers until machine vision has significantly improved. And of course, team this up with a hosebot, snakebot, or fire-snuffing flower, and you've just obviated the need for millions of firefighters worldwide, as well as crushed the hopes and dreams of countless small, career-minded children.

[Via Uber-Review]

Bling Stationery,oh yeah!

Bling up all the stationary at your desk, look different from your colleague’s one. Get one set of this Neiman Marcus Jeweled Desk Set. Pricing here, optical mouse for 80 bucks, tape dispenser for 89 bucks and staples for another 80 bucks. Ready to get a set?

[via Redferret]

BLiNG Player

Check out this MP3 player called the Bling Player. Yeah, it’s a Bling Bling MP3 player. It comes along with chain and dogtag. This digital audio player support MP3 and MPEG-4 formats and it’s compatible with Vista, Windows 2000, XP or ME. It has 1.5″ screen with 65K color display and a 2GB memory that can store up to 30+ hours of music or 16+ hours of video. Other features include a built-in mic, USB 2.0 connectivity, 7 user chosen Equalizer settings, built-in voice recorder and Telbook portable address book function. The Bling Player will be available next month for 200 bucks.

[via New Launches]

$53 million in cash : The Most Beautiful Sight

Confiscated from a house in Mexico City. Presumably a drug lord's. What kind of sickos would want to keep $53 millions in cash?

Link to more pictures

That thing Fergie's holding

Whenever i saw Fergie's video, Fergalicious I always wondered what she was holding. Is it a cellphone, mp3 player or some kinda prop they made out for the video. After searching high and low, here it is:
It's the super cool Samsung K5. A 4GB mp3 player that plays MP3 and WMA with build in stereo speakers. It also have DNSe,

With DNSe, Samsung’s proprietary Digital Natural Sound engine technology, the K5 offers virtual surround sound. This guarantees great volume, no distortion, and a more natural and accurate higher quality sound, even with just two small speakers. In addition, 5 modes of Preset EQ allow you to customize the sound experience to suit the style of music. These advanced music functions allow you to enjoy the same acoustic wow that you would hear from your home stereo.

Samsung K5
Oh yeah, you can download the video here.

Yahoo Time Capsule

Still have a few days left to submit your contribution for future generations.
Yahoo Time Capsule

Note: Did you found mine?

Dont cheat your cellphone repairman

This sticker turns red when exposed to water.
More on Architectures of Control Blog

Students produce movies with cell phones

...The exercise is part of a new Boston University class created through a unique partnership with cellular company Amp'd Mobile and taught by director Jan Egleson. During the semester, the students will produce a series of short episodes that eventually will be distributed by the company for its cellular customers. The students have challenged each other to shoot it using only the phones, despite obstacles surrounding sound and video quality.
From Yahoo News

Kumprinx Note: Dang! The havent watched my Seram short movie.

Firefox® 2 Released!

Mozilla hasreleased Firefox® 2, a major update to its popular and acclaimed free, open source Web browser. Firefox is developed by an international community of contributors working together under the umbrella of the Mozilla Foundation, a non-profit, public-benefit organization dedicated to improving the Internet experience for people everywhere.

Official Press Release
Download Link

Kumprinx Note: It's just keep getting better and better! I like it!

Breaking News, This Just In !!!!!

For those who don't know yet, Google buys YouTube for an amount of US$1.6 bil.
Source 'Star'
date 11-10-2006
page B13.

San Francisco: Web search leader Google Inc has agreed to buy top video entertainment site YouTube Inc for US$1.6bil in stock, the highest price yet paid for a consumer-generated media site

Actroid DER2 - Female Robot

Kokoro, a Sanrio Group company specializing in the design and manufacture of robots, unveiled its new Actroid DER2 feminine guide robot at Sanrio headquarters in Tokyo on October 4
Link to YouTube Video

What Einstein Got To Say About DIGES?

Need for Speed Carbon Demo Now Available

EA today released a demo of their upcoming game Need for Speed Carbon on the Xbox Live Market Place. The demo is free and 1.06 GB in size.

It includes the following cars and race modes for you to enjoy:

Cars:

• Mitsubishi Lancer EVOLUTION IX
• Lamborghini Gallardo
• Camaro Concept

Race modes:

• Circuit Race
• Canyon Duel
• Drift Race

I wonder when the PC demo will be released

Check out : http://www.ea.com/nfs/carbon/us/news.jsp?id=16

Wibree - Nokia's Own Bluetooth Technoligy

Cell phone market leader Nokia unveiled a new short-range wireless connection on Tuesday that is smaller and more energy-efficient than current Bluetooth technology and can be used in devices such as watches.

According to Nokia, the new radio technology needs a fraction of the power that other radio technologies do, and is therefore ideal for integration in small devices. It’s also compatible with Bluetooth solutions.

Read More on Yahoo News

Miss Czech is the new Miss World

Eighteen-year-old Czech high school student Tatana Kucharova has won the Miss World title in the glitzy finale of the beauty pageant in Warsaw.

Here's some related news:

Czech beauty wins Miss World contest
Times of India, India
WARSAW: Tatana Kucharova, an 18-year-old student from the Czech Republic, won the Miss World 2006 beauty contest on Saturday. Kucharova ...

18-Year-Old Czech Wins Miss World 2006
Forbes, NY
By MONIKA SCISLOWSKA , 09.30.2006, 05:21 PM. Tatana Kucharova, an 18-year-old student from the Czech Republic, won the Miss World ...

Czech Republic's Tatana Kucharova Wins Miss World 2006 Beauty ...
FOX News
AP. Kucharova defeated 103 other women in voting by a panel of judges and television viewers around the world during a two-hour finals ...

Miss Czech Republic crowned Miss World 2006
Reuters
WARSAW (Reuters) - Miss Czech Republic took the Miss World crown on Saturday in Poland's capital Warsaw, the ...

Czech Republic's Tatana Kucharova wins Miss World 2006 pageant
Monsters and Critics.com, UK
Warsaw - The Czech Republic's Tatana Kucharova, 18, won the crown of Miss World 2006 Saturday at the 56th annual beauty pageant grande finale held in Warsaw ...

Nokia Music Phone

Nokia this week introduced three further music models due to come available very soon - the Nokia 5300 XpressMusic, the Nokia 5200 and the Nokia 3250 XpressMusic.
They look good and i want them all.!
Read More

Steve Irwin (44) Died, this time for real

TV 'Croc Hunter' is killed
New York Daily News, NY
SYDNEY - "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, the quirky
Australian naturalist who won worldwide acclaim, died today in a marine
accident, apparently killed by a ...

Croc Hunter Steve Irwin 'died instantly'
The Age, Australia
Steve Irwin probably died instantly when his chest was pierced
by a stingray's barb, the producer of the documentary he was making said. ...

Crocodile hunter Irwin was passionate showman in wild
Daily News & Analysis, India
SYDNEY: Iconic Aussie wildlife daredevil Steve Irwin died as he
loved living: seeking out the world's most dangerous and exotic creatures in
their domain. ...

Cultural cringe irked Irwin
Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand
By GREG TOURELLE. Steve Irwin, the famed Australian crocodile
hunter killed today by a stingray barb, loved his country but was puzzled ...

PM pays tribute to Croc Hunter
The Age, Australia
Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin was a typical Australian larrikin
who brought joy to millions of people around the world, Prime Minister John
Howard said on Monday ...

This is How They Made Pepsi

An old photoset i found on the net.
More