This year there are 4 dates with lots of 1.
1/1/11 1st January
11/1/11 11th January
1/11/11 1st November
11/11/11 11th November
Take the last 2 digit of your year of birth (if you're born in 1976 take "76") then add the value of your age "35 years" = 76 + 35 = 111
Try again: it will all add up to 111. Except for those born in this century.
Also the month of October has 5 Saturdays, 5 Sundays, 5 Mondays.
According to the calendars, this only occurs every 823 years.
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Friday, April 8, 2011
Simon James Bangkok Stocks Boiler Room Scam Busted
Twenty foreigners were arrested at their Bangkok office for running a 'boiler room' scam in a joint operation involving the Thai police and international law enforcement agencies -- Australian and Canadian police in conjunction with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Thailand's Tourist Police Division Commander Pol Maj Gen Adis Ngamjitsuksri led the international law enforcement agencies to search an office on the 18th floor of the Amarin Tower on Ploenchit Road after receiving complaints from a large number of investors, especially Australians, who had been solicited by telephone salespersons based at a so-called "call centre" in Thailand to buy shares in overseas markets, particularly in Thailand and Hong Kong. They were also persuaded to invest in the gold futures market in Asian markets.
Thai police investigated and tracked down the telephone lines used by the suspects and located their office.
After the raid, 20 foreigners including Americans, Australians, Britons, Canadians, and Filipinos now working in the scam were arrested. The police found scripts for telephone conversations to use to persuade the victims, along with more than 20 mobile phones and fixed-line office telephones.
Moreover, lists of victims and their telephone numbers were found, mostly New Zealanders and Australians.
Initial investigation found that the office was rented on January 20 without obtaining permission to establish a company in Thailand.
It is believed that the operation had defrauded victims of more than Bt100 million.
The top executive in the operation was identified as Simon James, a Briton. He will initially be charged with working in Thailand without a work permit. The Thai authorities will coordinate with Interpol to check the background of all suspects and also the names on the list found to determine whether they were victims of the syndicate or not.
Thailand's Tourist Police Division Commander Pol Maj Gen Adis Ngamjitsuksri led the international law enforcement agencies to search an office on the 18th floor of the Amarin Tower on Ploenchit Road after receiving complaints from a large number of investors, especially Australians, who had been solicited by telephone salespersons based at a so-called "call centre" in Thailand to buy shares in overseas markets, particularly in Thailand and Hong Kong. They were also persuaded to invest in the gold futures market in Asian markets.
Thai police investigated and tracked down the telephone lines used by the suspects and located their office.
After the raid, 20 foreigners including Americans, Australians, Britons, Canadians, and Filipinos now working in the scam were arrested. The police found scripts for telephone conversations to use to persuade the victims, along with more than 20 mobile phones and fixed-line office telephones.
Moreover, lists of victims and their telephone numbers were found, mostly New Zealanders and Australians.
Initial investigation found that the office was rented on January 20 without obtaining permission to establish a company in Thailand.
It is believed that the operation had defrauded victims of more than Bt100 million.
The top executive in the operation was identified as Simon James, a Briton. He will initially be charged with working in Thailand without a work permit. The Thai authorities will coordinate with Interpol to check the background of all suspects and also the names on the list found to determine whether they were victims of the syndicate or not.
How to spot one and be out of it by these tell-tale signs:
1. It’s a cold call. If you haven’t done business with the company before be very, very wary. Why are they calling you? How did they get your number? (Remember that you could also be contacted by email or post.)
2. The firm has an impressive sounding name. If you have never heard of the company before, regardless of how legitimate they sound, stay on your guard. Most fraudsters will use a professional sounding name and convincing website to look trustworthy - some even steal reputable names and masquerade as existing companies. They will also try to impress you with technical jargon and fancy sounding job titles.
3. The firm is based overseas. It is illegal for a UK-based company to cold-call someone and try to sell them shares so companies are usually based abroad. Many however will have a UK listed telephone number to look as though they are based in Britain.
4. You are promised astronomical returns. But the salesperson doesn’t explain how these great returns will be produced or why they can offer such high returns in comparison to other similar schemes. They may also try to tempt you with a ‘free gift’ or ‘discount’.
5. They claim to have ‘inside knowledge’. But they won’t tell you what it is or how they got it. What’s more, if they have found out inside secrets ask yourself why are they sharing them with you?
6. You’re told you can’t lose. Any investment involves an element of risk, so not only is this categorically untrue, but a legitimate company would never make this type of promise and most will point out all the risks to you clearly before you invest.
7. You have to buy there and then. The last thing a fraudster wants is for you to ‘go away and think about’ their offer. They therefore use high-pressure sale tactics to make you agree on the spot. If you feel under pressure to make a quick decision alarm bells should start ringing.
8. You’re asked to keep the call confidential. If it is a scam the fraudster certainly won’t want you to broadcast it to all and sundry as they could get caught out. Legitimate companies on the other hand would likely be happy for you to discuss the details with others and ask for advice.
9. You’re asked to pay upfront. Watch out for people who request an ‘advanced fee’ as a form of ‘security’ when you speak to them. Until you are sure the deal is legitimate and have given it some thought you should not be handing over any money.
10. They ask for your bank details. A reputable company would never ask for your bank details, or indeed any personal details, over the phone.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Asian Rare Earth Incident Haunts Lynas Expansion Plans
My mother was reading some news and it jolted her she put the news and some memories together. One of her colleague and classmate had a sudden case on leukaemia just barely 2 years out of the teaching college. From a strong, upbeat, intelligent, sporty person, her friend turned into a frail skeletal shelf - as noted by another friend who visited - in Perak just days before she passed away.
And what rings to bell to most people there, is the incident of radioactive contamination by a firm called Asian Rare Earth.
And further news report of a new processing plant of similar sorts by Lynas Corp in Gebeng, Pahang has started a huge awareness campaign. The word "radioactive" has its profile risen incredibly by the nuclear reactor situation in Fukushima. Perhaps not since those atomic bombs, and Chernobyl, Ukraine.
Here is the full story done by New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/business/energy-environment/09rareside.html?_r=1
Excerpts:
"To dispose of the radioactive material, engineers have cut the top off a hill three miles away in a forest reserve, buried the material inside the hill’s core and then entombed it under more than 20 feet of clay and granite."
And what rings to bell to most people there, is the incident of radioactive contamination by a firm called Asian Rare Earth.
And further news report of a new processing plant of similar sorts by Lynas Corp in Gebeng, Pahang has started a huge awareness campaign. The word "radioactive" has its profile risen incredibly by the nuclear reactor situation in Fukushima. Perhaps not since those atomic bombs, and Chernobyl, Ukraine.
Here is the full story done by New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/business/energy-environment/09rareside.html?_r=1
Excerpts:
"To dispose of the radioactive material, engineers have cut the top off a hill three miles away in a forest reserve, buried the material inside the hill’s core and then entombed it under more than 20 feet of clay and granite."
Gamuda rated Buy RM4.96 Target Price by OSK Research
OSK Research has maintained its "buy" call on Gamuda Bhd with a higher target price at RM4.96 from RM4.78 previously, as it expects the firm's construction margins to expand, going forward.
In a note today, OSK said it viewed the Gamuda-MMC Bhd's joint venture as the lead contender in the race for the mass rail transit's (MRT) underground portion where tenders would be called in the fourth quarter.
"Given the high risk and technically challenging nature of this package, we expect margins to be high at 15 per cent (pre-tax level).
"We are raising our financial year 2011 earnings by two per cent to reflect this," it said.
ECM Libra has maintained its 'hold' call on Gamuda with unchanged target price at RM3.99.
It said the cost of MRT tunnelling contracts was expected to be higher-than- expected.
ECM Libra said it viewed the risk of rising building material prices largely due to volatile crude oil price movements.
Meanwhile, Kenanga Research has downgraded Gamuda's financial year 2011 earnings by two per cent to RM402 million.
It, however, expected a stronger second half performance, which would be driven by higher construction revenue recognition and increased property income.
It has maintained its "hold" call on Gamuda, with unchanged target price of RM4.12.
In a note today, OSK said it viewed the Gamuda-MMC Bhd's joint venture as the lead contender in the race for the mass rail transit's (MRT) underground portion where tenders would be called in the fourth quarter.
"Given the high risk and technically challenging nature of this package, we expect margins to be high at 15 per cent (pre-tax level).
"We are raising our financial year 2011 earnings by two per cent to reflect this," it said.
ECM Libra has maintained its 'hold' call on Gamuda with unchanged target price at RM3.99.
It said the cost of MRT tunnelling contracts was expected to be higher-than- expected.
ECM Libra said it viewed the risk of rising building material prices largely due to volatile crude oil price movements.
Meanwhile, Kenanga Research has downgraded Gamuda's financial year 2011 earnings by two per cent to RM402 million.
It, however, expected a stronger second half performance, which would be driven by higher construction revenue recognition and increased property income.
It has maintained its "hold" call on Gamuda, with unchanged target price of RM4.12.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Reduce health cost by increasing price of sugar
The soybean drink sold in the supermarkets average 10% sugar content. Soft drinks, milk, health drinks, non fat, no cholesterol, fruit juices all contribute 10% to 20% sugar content. Checked your instant coffee mix content? It is sometimes a whopping 50% sugar content!
To reduce health care cost, why not increase the price of sugar? So that manufacturers will not lace this addictive legal drug into our food and drinks system without a care.
And very strange, the low-sugar drinks are sold at a much higher price! Isn't it less cost when there is less on an ingredient?
To reduce health care cost, why not increase the price of sugar? So that manufacturers will not lace this addictive legal drug into our food and drinks system without a care.
And very strange, the low-sugar drinks are sold at a much higher price! Isn't it less cost when there is less on an ingredient?
Lynas Gebeng getting the heat
The RM700mil plant being built by Lynas Corporation of Australia has caused anxiety among nearby residents following news reports about the dangers of radioactive waste discharged from rare earth processing.
“Proponents of the project are using the term low-level radiation to allay fear.
“But the fact remains that it is still a form of radiation and it is carcinogenic,” he said.
Dr Jayabalan called on authorities to learn from the lessons in Bukit Merah, Perak, where deaths associated with leukaemia and unexplained miscarriages involving young healthy women had been reported among people living in the vicinity of the rare earth metal processing plant.
The plant belonging to Mitsubishi Chemical was closed in 1992 following health and environmental issues.
“In Bukit Merah, there were eight documented leukaemia cases.
“I had personally handled five of the cases, which included four children.
“Four of them, who were living about 500m from the plant, had since died,” he said.
Dr Jayabalan called on health authorities to check the number of tumour cases among those living in the vicinity, adding that tumours could occur even 20 years after exposure to radiation.
Lynas is mining rare earth in Australia, but plans to process it 2,500km away in Pahang.
“The end product that is sold to the global market belongs to Lynas, and the radioactive wastes would be dumped in Malaysia,” he said, noting that the Malaysian Government was even giving a 12-year tax exemption to Lynas.
“This is a typical case of a first world country dumping hazardous waste in a third world country.
“At the end of the day, the health cost would overwhelm all else,” he said.
“Proponents of the project are using the term low-level radiation to allay fear.
“But the fact remains that it is still a form of radiation and it is carcinogenic,” he said.
Dr Jayabalan called on authorities to learn from the lessons in Bukit Merah, Perak, where deaths associated with leukaemia and unexplained miscarriages involving young healthy women had been reported among people living in the vicinity of the rare earth metal processing plant.
The plant belonging to Mitsubishi Chemical was closed in 1992 following health and environmental issues.
“In Bukit Merah, there were eight documented leukaemia cases.
“I had personally handled five of the cases, which included four children.
“Four of them, who were living about 500m from the plant, had since died,” he said.
Dr Jayabalan called on health authorities to check the number of tumour cases among those living in the vicinity, adding that tumours could occur even 20 years after exposure to radiation.
Lynas is mining rare earth in Australia, but plans to process it 2,500km away in Pahang.
“The end product that is sold to the global market belongs to Lynas, and the radioactive wastes would be dumped in Malaysia,” he said, noting that the Malaysian Government was even giving a 12-year tax exemption to Lynas.
“This is a typical case of a first world country dumping hazardous waste in a third world country.
“At the end of the day, the health cost would overwhelm all else,” he said.
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