Grab & Uber Passengers/Drivers

Okay. Before I start blabbering about everything. Let's get this straight. I am not siding any companies or shading them. I am a part time driver myself and these are the things that irks me during this 3 months of driving.

Firstly. PASSENGERS.

Please, passengers. For the love of god, please. I think this has been an issue to many drivers, be it Uber or Grab. Please be punctual! If you make a booking, please make sure you are able to be at the pick up point in 5 mins or less. You can take your own sweet time of course, but there will be additional charges and you will sulk throughout the whole ride. We are driving for long hours and every single minute matters to us. Even better, be at your pick up point when you are booking. Yes, the app might says driver is 5 minutes away. But most of the time, the App routing system is inaccurate. I understand drivers are often late but maybe because there are crazy amount of cars on the road and traffic lights. We need time to get there. If we are late and you are not even there. Pfft. So please, be punctual. Make our life easier because the companies are making it hard for us.

Secondly, PICK UP POINT.

Again, please. For the love of Jesus this time. Please do not ask us to pick you up at TAXI STAND, BUS STOP or EXPRESSWAY.

Why? Simple. We are not Taxi. We are not Bus. Many passengers think that Private drivers are able to pick up or drop off at taxi stands. Matter of fact, we are not able to do that. When you make a booking, please find a suitable place for us to pick you up without obstructing the traffic. Head to the nearest block if you can, set there as a pick up point and wait there. Not bus stop or taxi stand. Because it's easy for you to just wait there and enter the car but if we were to be fined, are you willing to pay the tab for us? No. You might argue that some drivers pick me up at taxi stand too, why can't you? Simply because I am not them. If other drivers want to take the risk, by all means. Not me. Let's be a law abiding citizens in this FINE country.

Thirdly, for the love of Buddha. Please do not book a car with more than 4 person. THIS IS COMMON SENSE. Again, who's gonna pay the fine? Your extra friend? NO. Get another car, or make the other person take a bus or something. Kidding. But really, 4 pax means 4 pax. Don't even TRY to indicate on the notes saying "5 person" because when a booking is sent out, DRIVERS HAVE TO ACCEPT IT if they treasure the acceptance rating. But chances are when they accept it, they will call you and request you to cancel. So please, don't make our life any harder. We are trying to earn money here, not to pay for the fines you made us commit. Again, some drivers can pick 5 person why can't you? Take a guess.

I understand some passengers have anger issues. Girlfriend never satisfy you yesterday night or whatever but please do not vent it on drivers. Vice versa. If drivers take a different route, ask politely where they are going. Some of us are just following the GPS routing because we are not taxi drivers who have 30 years experience driving on the road and know every single destination in the back of our brain. I've met passengers that goes like "WHY THE F**K you take this exit? Why are you following the GPS like a fool?!" But I took that exit to pick up another passenger because it was a shared ride. Be polite. If you are angry, hit yourself when you are back home or something. We don't owe you anything. Our job is to pick you up, drop you off. Not to pamper you or to be your punching bag. If you are rushing for time, get a un-shared ride. Don't get a shared ride and then cry when your driver pick up another rider. Heard way too many "Tsk" "tsk" "tsk". Just shut up.

Lastly, if you have a child below 1.35cm, get a family car with a booster. Some drivers do not have boosters with them and they will not pick you up. Don't even try your luck and waste our time. "Some drivers can pick me up, why can't you?" Again, take a guess.

DRIVERS!

I understand that the incentives for one of the company, who shall not be named, has been really shitty. And I strongly urge people who have other alternatives to find another career or side job, go ahead. Few years down the road, becoming a Private Driver will not benefit us. Except the company. Ask yourself, how many times have you encountered problems and the companies simply doesn't give a shit. Honestly, we are just pawns in their game of chess. They favour the riders more than drivers. Accept it. We are constantly hitting targets, getting low fares but long distance and competing with taxi drivers just to put food on the table. I am not saying it's a bad way to earn income, I am just saying there is always another way to earn money.

There is an article about a lady who earns 6k per month? We know it doesn't work that way. With the current competition and fares. You drive 12 hours per day, 7 days per week, 30 days per month. 6k? HA. Cute. My contract ends next month and I am looking forward to the day I return the car. For those who are still driving for these companies, know your worth. It is a good experience to know how it feels like to be a driver. But never a good idea to take this as a career unless it is the only choice you have left, then so be it. Who knows it will be good driving for them in the future? Well, time will tell but as of now, nah. But that's my two cents worth.

Happy grabbing and ubering and drive safely!

OH, lastly. PASSENGERS, for the love of Guanyin Ma. PLEASE DO NOT SLAM OUR DOOR! Close the god damn door gently! We pick up 15 to 20 passengers in average, if every single one of you slam our door like a hulk, the windows will shatter in no time. Treat us with respect and we will treat you with the due respect as well. Happy riding!

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Amos Yee Arrested

SINGAPORE – Teenage blogger Amos Yee, whose online comments on religion prompted police reports to be lodged against him, has been arrested, his former lawyer Alfred Dodwell confirmed.

Yee was arrested on Wednesday (May 11), said Mr Dodwell, who was contacted by Yee’s mother seeking help.

In response to media queries, the police said that a 17-year-old male Singaporean had been arrested for offences under Sections 174 and 298 of the Penal Code.

Section 174 pertains to failure to attend a session as ordered by public servant, whereas Section 298 involves uttering words with an intent to wound religious and racial feelings. “The offence under section 298 of the Penal Code relates to online remarks made in November 2015 that contained offensive and disparaging remarks against various religious communities,” said a police spokesman.

Yee was ordered to report to a police station for investigations after the police reports were lodged, but he did not do so. “The subject disregarded the notice and left the country shortly thereafter, and remained overseas for a prolonged period until his return in April 2016,” said the spokesman.

Upon his return, he was served a Warrant of Attendance issued by the State Courts to report again, but failed to do so. The police added that investigations are ongoing.

Mr Dodwell said he has yet to decide if he will represent Yee again. “I will need to know what he’s been arrested for and whether he will be charged,” he said.

In a blog post last November, Yee, 17, had responded to remarks supposedly made by former Nominated Member of Parliament Calvin Cheng and made references to Islam.

He was supposed to have gone down to Jurong Police Division on Dec 14 and Dec 22 last year to assist with investigations. But on Dec 15, he claimed to have ran away from home, and only resurfaced in public at a Singapore Democratic Party by-election rally last month.

Last week, Yee uploaded a video of the police at his doorstep, presenting him with a warrant for him to appear before the police for investigations on Tuesday.

Yee was convicted last year of hurting the religious feelings of Christians and for posting an obscene image online. He was sentenced to four week’s jail on July 6, but released immediately, as he had spent 50 days in remand by then. A subsequent appeal was dismissed by the High Court.

Article from: TODAYonline

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28 injured in accident on MCE

The driver of a private bus was trapped in his vehicle after it collided with a tipper truck on the Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE) tunnel yesterday evening. 

The Singapore Civil Defence Force, which said it received a call for assistance at 6.17pm, had to free the man using hydraulic rescue tools. There were 28 casualties but no fatalities, it added.

The victims, who were all conscious, were taken to three different hospitals - 13 to the Singapore General Hospital (SGH), nine to Tan Tock Seng Hospital and six to Changi General Hospital. The incident happened on the fifth lane of the MCE in the direction of East Coast Parkway, after Marina Coastal Drive.

The Straits Times understands that the wreckage was cleared only after 9pm. The police are investigating.

Analyst Lim Boon Kai, 26, who was on his way home from work and passed the crash site at about 6.30pm, said the accident looked serious. "The windscreen of the bus was smashed and there was glass everywhere on the ground. The passengers were standing in a line by the side of the expressway and some of them looked hurt," he said.

When The Straits Times visited the scene at about 8.30pm, two lanes were closed and traffic was heavy but not at a standstill.

At SGH last night, some of the bus passengers, believed to be tourists from China, appeared injured. One was in a wheelchair while another had an arm in a sling.

When approached, one of the women in the group said in Mandarin: "I'm not sure what happened... whether the vehicle in front suddenly slowed down."

She was interrupted by a representative from the bus company. He said he had given information to the police and declined to comment on the accident.

Article from: http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/28-injured-accident-between-bus-and-tipper-truck-mce#sthash.0ilDGZrP.dpuf

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Amos Yee's Mother Asks For Help To Find Her Missing Son

I have been too sad to speak up ever since Amos left for the past 3 months but I'm feeling more and more helpless now. I need help, but I think Amos definitely needs more help than me.

So many people have been asking me where Amos is, expecting me to know. Same as all of you, I would like to know where he is. I wonder who would be the lucky one. Is he on the run? Is he safe?

Does he have enough money for food and lodging? How can he survive on his own without any help? Why has he been quiet online for so long? 

These are the questions that follow after 12th Dec 2015 which was the last day I saw him. He disappeared after receiving the police letter handed to him personally at our doorstep. Afterwards, he just kept quiet, and paced furiously around the house. I went to sleep at night and the next morning, he was gone.

A few days after Amos ran away, the police came over to my house and I thought that they were going to say that they had found Amos. However, they didn't. Instead, they just asked me if I knew where he was, which I did not, and said that Amos needed to go for a rescheduled investigation on 22nd Dec 2015. Adding on to my anxiety, an inspector called me when Amos didn't turn up for the health check-up he had to attend for National Service.

Obviously he did not attend, otherwise he would have been arrested on the spot for his previous offence.

We all know that Amos was arrested not because he offended religious groups, but for political reasons, making fun of Lee Kuan Yew when he had just died. After Amos was released from jail, he continued to make videos which became very popular, condemning the PAP government, and saying that Amos had offended Islam was just another excuse to arrest and silence him. Although he wasn't charged and was only asked to show up for an investigation, he knew that if the investigation continued, he would definitely be charged and sentenced, and this time since it was a repeated offence, probably sent to 3 years of RTC, which is why he chose to run away from home.

I remember he wrote in his blog that he only has enough money to survive for another 3 months from the crowdfunding of his court case. That was in January, it has almost been 3 months since. The bank and PayPal accounts that Amos set up by himself for the transfer of funds from people (POSB savings: 124-91889-8 (Swift Code: DBSSSGSG), PayPal: amosyee@gmail.com), I never have access to.

Knowing Amos has never been good at handling money because seeing how fast he spends money from his bank account, I think he has no money anymore and I'm very fearful he hasn't been able to eat. Maybe he ran out of money and needed to sell his laptop which is why he hasn't posted anything for the past 2 months. I really don't know and I am very confused and sad.

I think that Amos' words are disrespectful and rude, but I don't ever think that Amos should have been sentenced or put to jail because of it. Amos is a boy with very strong views and will pursue them, so I understand why he went on the run, but because of that I worry about him every day. People keep on telling me stories like why Amos has kept quiet for so long was because the government has secretly captured him, or that he has been drugged or killed. Thinking about the things that could be happening to Amos, I am unable to sleep well at night and I'm very worried about him.

If anyone knows where Amos is, please tell me, and if he insists on keeping it confidential, please help him to the best that you can. As a mother who has taken care of him for the past 17 years, I am really very worried. He doesn't have any life skills, doesn't know how to clean or sweep or cook. Either the grandparents’ maid or I have been doing things for him most of the time, and now that he suddenly has to live without my help, I'm really feeling very frightened.

Please, if anyone knows where Amos is or can offer him help or help me get in touch with him, please private message me here on Facebook. I don't know what is happening to Amos, I hope Amos is alright, I hope my dear son is safe ...

Mary Toh

Source: Mary Toh's Facebook

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Recruit from SCDF committed suicide

21 year old Edwin Ong, a newly enlisted recruit from SCDF, Charlie Company, has committed suicide earlier this morning at 0402 hours.

He was noticed lying motionless on the ground by his instructors. A group of NSF and Regulars from the Special Rescue Unit assisted in setting up a tent for the deceased while awaiting for further instructions.

On his Facebook wall, he wrote a goodbye letter indicating his intention to commit suicide together with his feelings towards his parents.

He wrote:

"Sorry guys . be leaving this world first . because I think due to my slight depression I'm having massive confusion when in pressure in addition w my natural blurness.. Its just my poor mother . who raised me up 21 years and yet I'm such a fucker who didn't even repaid her debt and I wanna leave this world . such an unfilial son aint I . but can I plead the world for help ? That is to help out my mother . as she dont even have savings and she has a 23 year old mentally intellectual disableselfishch is my brother and another son who owe debts to private loansharks which of course had a license which he also is my brother . I'm very sorry to my father also as he worked hard to raise up everyone . I'm wondering why am I so weak. I wasn't actually till recently my brain start to reject stress. I wonder is that possible anyway . anyway to continue . I wanna thank my sister as she dote on me as I'm the youngest. Also ... My friends ! Weiguang Ginchie and so on . the others too . for being my friend when I'm so lacking . idk who else to thank . oh and my di and officer. Bunk mates tho I were so blur and ended up burdening them .just overall I suck and I deserve to die. But can everyone care for people in need. The world isn't that bad is it ? Or it might be.  Yea . I actually think everyone is selfish as fuck and no one cares about me except my family.  Plus the situation I am in now is worsening this alot. Ya I'm curious where I'm going to end up after death. Hell maybe ?but anyway . if the public can help my mother . please help . as she has a useless son like me. BTW I'm real blur . the kind of real exaggerated kind but its real but that's when I'm under pressure or sleepy or uncomfortable. Again I'm really sorry tho mummy. Really . u cared for me.  Fed me.  Like I'm really sorry . I almost cried when I call you but I didn't want you to worry. I'm sorry you have to go through this . I'll burn in hell I guess. Probably.  Just don't wanna live in this weird world anymore . thanks sis friends and others who might have been in my life before. Yea I'm weak guys . to have chosen suicide route. I wish everyone all the best. If I get to post this.  Means I'm really dead."

We offer our deepest condolences to their family.

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Truth About MLM

I recently went to an job interview which wasn't so pleasant and I'm here to share about these companies dealing with MLM.

As you all know, Multi Level Marketing aka MLM aka Pyramid Marketing, is a structure that when the lowest level earns any income, the top levels receive commission from it. I have found MLM executives trying their best to sell something to a point that they are being annoying and irritating. I have many MLM friends and I heard so much about it. The reason I went for the interview is to experience it myself rather than just judging these companies based on word of mouth.

Some of the MLM companies include Long Fa, Ascentia Group, Sunshine Empire and many more if you search it up.

Firstly, whatever I say here is solely based on my personal opinion. If you think I'm bias against these companies or find fault in the things I'm about to say, I apologize beforehand.

So, these companies offer admin/sales related jobs with attractive pay and short working hours about 8-10 hours per week and 2.5k salary but in fact, you might not even earn a single cent. At their interview, they will brainwash you about how good their companies are and how many of them are so successful and that I am able to drive a BMW by the age of 25. They asked what is my goal in life and that my Diploma and Degree cert is useless because their company promised to make me rich. They even promise me if I manage to hit a certain quota, I will be entitled with impressive job titles such as Marketing Manager, Director or Sales Manager. There are people in the company that are 23 years old they are a Director. REALLY?

After agreeing to undergo a second interview, I am asked to make a payment of more than $2,000 SGD to "invest" in their stocks and turns out, there is no basic pay or hourly rates and such. It is purely commission based. I think it is unfair as there are people out there that are more comfortable drawing out a monthly salary than commission based. AND I think it is only right to indicate on their job postings as not to waste our precious time going for speeches or interviews to only be disappointed.

The products they are selling are not commonly used as well. Example, Venture Era sells water purifier that cost around $3000-$4000? This is exactly why there are people who are not earning any single cent for a few months because there is no basic pay. There are health products and beauty products too. They claimed that their products can cure diseases, diabetes or high blood pressure. These youngsters that got poached in, will try to sell these products to starting from their family and relatives then to friends. They will keep pushing and pushing because they are so hungry for the commission.

Being in MLM, one will be bound to run out of contacts. Most of their friends will shun because of their pressuring tactics. So when they run out of contacts, they will start hiring new people in, and generate income from the sales they manage to clinch. The cycle will repeat and repeat itself.

To sum it up, I have no hate against these companies as there are really people who are really successful in this line, but personally I do not like the way they recruit people. They lie by promising you this and that and making the job sound so easy but it requires really really hard effort. Getting 2.5k from 10 hours per week sounds too goof for me. Getting your own office or own car if you hit sales quota, but how many can actually hit the unreasonably high quota? I know many of my friends dropping out from school just to work full time in MLM companies. End of the day, they can't even support themselves. I know there will be successful MLM people hating on this post but this is MY opinion. Feel free to share your own opinion if you think otherwise. Cheers. Lastly, Thanks DayumNews for accepting this submission.

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Thailand Best Kept Secrets

Planning a trip to Thailand? Sick of going Bangkok again and again? Forget about Bangkok, we've gathered some of the best kept secrets in Thailand, places you'll never want to miss.


1) Koh Samui



Koh Samui is known for its gorgeous beaches and pristine waters. But over the years, Koh Samui has became so popular that everyone wants to visit. 

Thailand has many beaches, and most tourists visit the beaches that have been developed with delightful resorts and no short of people and action. But there are other beaches, beaches that are off the beaten path. Koh Nang Yuan, for example, has a gorgeous Y-shaped beach between island, with a zip line stretching across (the world’s only zip line between islands, actually). Or Railay which, even though still part of the mainland, is only accessible by boat and leaves you certain that you’ve found a deserted island. And, of course, Koh Tarutao, a pristine island made famous by the TV show Survivor, or Koh Mak, an island that limits the number of tourists in order to keep the experience pristine.

2) Thi Lo Su

Thi Lo Su is one of the larger waterfalls in Thailand, and almost impossible to photograph in one shot due to its vast width. It is unique, with the water cascading and breaking into smaller waterfalls, appearing to seep and pour out of the jungle trees. This waterfall is popular among the Thai people.

It’s not the only waterfall, however, and not the only type. Perhaps you’re more interested in waterfalls that splash down colorful rock, such as Erawan Waterfall, or the staircase Mae Ya Waterfall. Trang province has the largest waterfall in Thailand, Namtok Ton Te. Water pours from 300-meters above into a pool at the base. And yes, you can go for a swim in that pool.

3) Tham Khao Luang, Cave

The cave complex is filled with Buddha statues of different sizes and in different positions. Some were laid by King Rama IV, the ruler of Siam (now Thailand) between 1851 and 1868. As you walk in, the first statue that catches your eye is the large gold Buddha.

The highlight of the cave, though, the feature which takes it from beautiful to spectacular, is the large hole in the roof which allows the sun to stream through. The rays light up a circle on the ground and create a glow across the whole space. The smoke of the incense, floating in the still air, looks caught in the light like moths in a lantern. It’s as though some supernatural force is forming a futuristic teleporter up into the heavens along this luminous beam. Perhaps that force is the large gold Buddha which sits just behind the glow and looks on with a knowing and comfortable smile.

4) New World Mall, KhaoSan

One more amazing place in Bangkok, not far from Khaosan Road. Now it is closed, but it is more interesting. New World Mall was built in the 1980s as an 11-story building. But the top seven levels were not approved in the original construction permit, forcing it to shutter in 1997.

The waterbody which arose after the mall was abandoned became a breeding ground for mosquitoes and locals added koi, a large species of colourful carp, and they quickly reproduced, creating the bizarre aquarium filled with fish. But, this place is closed to the public. Then again, who can stop you? 

5) Banphasawan Resort

Baanphasawan is a large upscale resort that has fashioned each of nearly 100 dwellings into the shape of fruits, vegetables, and other plants, and in its fruity obsession has managed to assemble Thailand's only seed bank for the foul-smelling/sweet-tasting durian.

In addition to the quirky fruit buildings, nearby attractions include a small waterfall, a natural hot spring, some beautiful misty mountains. Given all of the natural beauty in the area the question isn't really why someone would build this place here, but who manages to find it.

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