I think it’s about time, I wear this.

A Yellow Ribbon. Breaking out of the second Prison. Helping one unlock themselves from the stigma, the social and the emotional prison that is holding them back.

Having done something wrong, something silly and got punished for it, is tormenting by itself. Especially when you have to serve time. Yes. I did time. For something really really stupid. Some, had rented their flat to a foreigner,who brought a friend, who is an overstayer, and the owner get severely punished. Like an 80-year-old illiterate grandmother. Some, even an actor, had two years, cos someone misused his identity card,and got cellphones, and bills…which he refuses to pay, since he did not apply for it. Contempt of court, they cried. Me, happy swiped my credit cards, and went over the limit…and forgotten to pay it. Yeah. OK. I was broke then too.

Serving time , is never easy. Counting the days. Things talking to you while in solitary. Driving you nuts! Having to sleep on just a tatami / padi woven mat, with no pillow whatsoever, and a thin piece of grey recycled cloth sheet they called a blanket. Having to sleep on the cold concrete floor, drinking out of the toilet bowl flush. I understood why, some, even graduates, return back to crime, cos society itself can’t handle or accept them.

I basicly defaulted on my fine. Had 5 months to think about, was it worth to sit in there or to pay the $50,000! Either way, I had to serve time. That silly. Only then will you know, who your friends are.

I’m sad,cos at that point of time, the family can’t take me back. My own doing. Thus, I left. The loneliness inside, wondering how am I going to carry on with life. Should I just jump off this 10 storey high ledge instead? I had a criminal record. I am just 12970. Another number.

I had God with me while I was inside. The Quran was my friend. A guide. At anytime, I can just read him. Understand what can be learnt. Yet, when I was out, I was trapped into further. I had no job, no education, no where to go. I had no roof even over my head.At that point, you can know who your friend is. I wanted to settle down, cool down. But no. I can’t even get a job being a cleaner.

The Yellow Ribbon Project, a charity operated by ex-offenders, try to rehabilitate back into the society. Society who doesn’t want us. Some, are even Iron Chefs.But all they can afford is to be an illegal hawker selling Popiah or Char Kuey Teow on the sidewalks of the MRT Station, running away at the sight of the Enviroment Agency Enforcement Officers, Policemen or even the Land Transport Authority. They don’t even want to issue these talented people a licence to operate a food stall, even when they were given the official certification while in Prison.

I am sad. Yet I can’t do any. Anything to help a fellow friend who fallen down. In desperation, anything goes, and alot, resort back to the life of crime, to get things by. So who is to blame? The society? The Perception? The Ex-Offender?

While I run my own small time business, it is barely enough to survive. And to be treated badly by your loved ones, tear us further apart. Running away, is not a solution.

At times, I wished I was dead. So I don’t be a burden anymore, to Society, and to those who might loved me. At least they mourn for a few days, shed a few tears, and that’s it.

You can make a cash donation to the fund.If you wish.

Another Day, another breath of life for me.
Thank You Allah for the Grace You have Blessed upon Me.
For I am just an ignorant servant.
Hoping, today is far better than Yesterday.

Salam and Praise to Allah Al-Mighty for allowing us to live to this New Year.
Bless and Grace of Him to us, so that we can go further.
Thanks and Praises to Lord of the Universe, for whom we Return.
Bless us all, Dear Lord, for you bestow on us,
On this very New Year.

Zulhijjah is gone, and regrets that we have left.
What is done, and has gone…leaves us in memories.
But forget not what it has taught us.
Otherwise, Our Repentance, is just another Memory.

Bless Us Dear Allah, The Merciful, The Compassionate.
For I have committed much sins to what you told me against.
For I have forgotten, and now I have returned,
Don’t let me let lost again, for I fear that I can’t find your Light again.
For You have shown me the Way,
To Happiness and Freedom, On Earth and Eternity
And should I deny myself once again, It won’t come so much free,
For I fear your Wrath, as what You have shown me Today.
Floods,Tsunamis,Earthquakes,Blizzards and Nature’s Wrath
Just to remind me, of what I need to do today.

For in Time Man is always in a Loss
Unless he plan and does what he planned,
and praises to Allah, and working hard,
For hope of Grace in Eternity.

Thank You Allah, For You have given me today.
Thank You for not letting me be a stray.
Thank You for holding me back from the whispers of Iblis
And Thank You Allah, for letting me live for another day.

This is my life.
This is my way
This is my Grace
For Today,Is a New Year , Hurray!

Salam and Sejahtera for Everyone,
Muslims, and All who believe in the Good.
This is a good day, Dua for the New Year.
Repent for what we have done,
For the fear that tomorrow don’t come,
For we know not what is to become,
Our life, Today.

I was quite surprised that Motorola followed suit of that from Nokia,re: the Nokia 6280, where they are SLIDE Phones. They launched the Motorola Z3 which basicly looks like the Ultra Thin Razor , but with the slide out feature.

Compared to the Motorola KRZR K1 , it is almost similar to their precessor the Razor, Vx (loved the pink one), I would really buy them if they have 3G in it.

OK, since some people want to know what I really think, lets see what I liked…IN BOLD
The K3 FULL SPECS:

Data Features

Bluetooth® connectivity: Integrated Bluetooth® wireless technology connectivity for hands-free convenience
WAP 2.0 for internet access (network dependent feature)
GPRS: Class 12
Connectivity: Bluetooth® wireless technology
USB Connection Port: version 1.1 / full speed of 12 Mbps max
PC Synchronisation

Performance Features
Talk time: 400 mins
Bands: GSM 850/900/1800/1900
Standby time: 350 hrs

Lifestyle Features
Calculator
Alarm
Bluetooth® Technology: Integrated Bluetooth® wireless technology for hands-free connectivity with compatible Bluetooth®-enabled devices

Messaging Features
OTA Provisioning
EMS & MMS Messaging
SMS
E-Mail: POP3/IMAP embedded
Instant Messaging: Embedded - WVIM

Call Management Features
Phonebook: Multi-letter phone book search

Personalisation/Fun Features
Video Download and Streaming
Slim profile: Thin, narrow slider with a multi-modal design
2 mega-pixel camera
MOTOSYNCâ„¢
Audio Player: support AAC, AAC+, AAC+ Enhanced, AMR NB, MP3
Video capture and playback: capture / playback rate of 15-20 fps / supports MPEG4 and H.263
Integrated MP3 Player

Technical Specifications
Weight: approx. 115 g
Removable Memory: up to 2GB of removable storage with an optional MicroSD memory card
Internal Memory: 16MB
Dimensions (H x W x D): 45.50 x 105.47 x 15.99 mm
Internal Display: 176 x 220 mm, 1.9” 262K colors TFT
Battery: 780.00 mAh
Volume: 69cc

This is in comparison with the KRZR Full Technical Specs

Data Features
EDGE for high speed data exchange (EDGE is a service dependant feature): EDGE Class 12
Connectivity: Bluetooth wireless technology
Bluetooth® connectivity
GPRS: GPRS Class 12 (2U/4D)

Performance Features
Standard Battery: 780 mAh Li-Ion
Talk time: up to approximately 200 – 400 minutes
Bands: GSM 850/900/1800/1900
Standby time: up to approximately 200 – 350 hours

Lifestyle Features
Bluetooth® Technology: Integrated Stereo Bluetooth wireless technology connectivity for hands-free convenience
PIM functionality: with Picture Caller ID

Messaging Features
Enhanced phonebook: with new contact fields: URL, IM, Postal Address, Birthday, and other information
Voice memo: enhanced predictive text and enhanced voice recognition for easy, hands-free connectivity
OTA Provisioning

Call Management Features
Picture caller ID: or ringer caller ID (network depended feature)
Picture Phone Book: network depended feature
In-built Hands-free Speaker Phone

Personalisation/Fun Features
Video Download: progressive download
MOTOSYNCâ„¢
Push-To-View
Video Streaming: Audio/video streaming (3GPP)
Video: Premium video capabilities, video capture & playback MPEG4 (15 fps CIF). Record up to 25 minutes of video on embedded memory
Polyphonic Ringtones
Slim profile: ultra-slim form factor
MicroSD slot : for optional upgradeable memory up to 2G
Hi-quality imaging via 2MP digital camera : with 8x digital zoom, and image editing

Technical Specifications
Internal Display: 176 x 220 mm, 1.9” 262K colors TFT
Form Factor : Clamshell
Volume: 63cc
Weight: 103g
External Display: 96 x 80mm , 1.0” 65K colors CSTN CLI
FOTA: Firmware over the Air
Dimensions (H x W x D) - CP: 1.65 x 4.05 x 0.63 inches; 42 x 103 x 16 mm

I just feel, both are the same, except the form factor, one is a slide, and the other, a clamshell.

But looks great!

Post Edit:
While both are excellent, I will sure want a slide phone, cos I had enough of Motorola and their clamshell. They invented the clamshell, so I should know, with the MicroTAC as the first generation of cell phones ever came out, on PCS, PCN, GSM, PHS and Analog.

In view of the specs, the 3GP protocol is viewable by QuickTime and RealMedia. The clarity is superb and though they use MicroSD, which is cheap *(I just got a 1GB last nite for RM80!) and since SD card reader is integrated into alot of systems, its a plus point!

The color itself is a real plus point for the phones, but only , and only if, the put in the 3G video capacity. But then, I read somewhere you can do Video Streaming thru the GPRS or whichever.

Anyway, If I get it…I sure love it.

I am a man
I am a Soldier
I seek to save others,
To Preserve Human Life
and Of Mankind

To Be Kind To Others
Needless that of none.
To Shield My Family From Harm.
Even if it cost,
My Very Last Drop.

I am a soldier.
I am Man
Children Having Fun
We are carrying Gun
Everywhere We Go
People Will Now Know
Defending Our Land
Forever We are Born
To Be Free.

Shall I fall before my call
Need not cry for me.
For I fall not just for you and me
But For The Whole Family.

————————-
This was some words, I had from a fellow mate,
Who Fell Defending Our Beliefs.
Bless Him.

Oh Bugger! It’s the new year, and it all means a fight to the finish with my accountant/auditor/good pal. You know what I mean, end of the year, means end of the accounting period. For most of us anyway.

FY2006 Profit & Loss Statements, VAT Consolidated Returns, Statutory Sick Pay,Statutory Maternity Pay, Student Loan Contributions, PAYE National Insurance Contributions to settle, and my Quickbooks to renew. yeah. I still use that Quickbooks 2004 edition.Not Pirated this time round OK,since I get every penny of it back offset from the Customs and Revenue people.

I remember when I was running an operation from my Delaware based company (still working under that tradename, but in Europe now)… I always have a heart ache handling all the financial records, all the 2010s etc…So MANY FORMS to fill!! errgh. Finding a cheap and good accountant was never easy, and eventually, I defaulted in alot of them. Someone recommended me to these chaps specialising in US quickbooks accounting, and finally, it made it all clear to us that it’s NOT so feasable operating in Singapore with a trading company in the US,just because we trade in US dollars,use card and checks processing etc. Eventually, the UK was more user friendly and to the layman.

Enuff of me blabbing about the accounts, Ok Wan…where are those forms again??Still need to submit to HMCE the last 7 years of accounts and receipts to audit.?? I wish I did not open my big gob and require that Anti Money Laundering Act licence.!

Well, being in this new era of money minded government,especially of the Singapore Government and the dodgy NHS in the UK, we have to get some sort of health care plan.

I’m kinda abit of an expert for Health Insurance, since I sell Prudential Healthcare Plan in the UK , along with the PPP Bupa Cover *(for free..cos they give me a policy cover for free.).. it’s a requirement in the UK now, since you’ll have to wait 3yrs just to get a hip replacement and in the US, MedicAid or some sort is needed, cos it’s darn expensive to see a doctor.

Based on the Health Insurance Knowledgebase, you must know what kind of cover you will require, should anything happen to you. I’m covered in Singapore with the basic MediShield NTUC plan, where I co-pay 30% of the final bill (it’s 75% Subsidised anyway with B2/C class hopitalisation) and either that or an excess of $1000 whichever comes first for the WHOLE treatment course of injury or sickness.

Whereas in the UK, there are some aspects, like Maternity Cover,Child Illness, Psychiatric, Dentistry and Physiotherapy. Also like how your treatments are handled, by National and Mainline ‘Famous’ Hospitals , or Outskirts or outside or inside of London Hospitals. Mainly they are handled by BUPA or PPP Hospitals.

Anyway,Do get a cover,cos they pay you your ’salary’ or some costs towards your income. At least your family can visit you without having to worry about transportation costs or the cost of PARKING!! Durg!

Some plans pay you about 1000Quid for having that little one,just in case if you need to buy anything *(subject to you buying that policy before conception) ..like nappies or baby clothes etc.

And I do love PPP which I can combine Travel Insurance with your healthcare plan, so where ever you go..at least the basic necessities are covered and a health practioner is on the phone 24/7 (reverse charged too) should you have any medical concerns abroad.

I got it…do you? Prices start from 4quid a week, and some are giving 100 pounds gift vouchers.
PS:This is an UNPAID post, seems PPP messed the servers up again! So..eventually,this is a SELF SPONSORED COMMUNITY POST talking about Singapore and Prudential Healthcare Plans. I am NOT an FSA regulated person, thus I can only mention and promote these covers.I do get some *(SMALL) financial remuneration should you take on the cover *(and you should!)