That's just wrong

From National Geographic: Smallest Whale Shark Discovered -- On a Leash:

Early on March 7 a project leader from the international conservation organization WWF and others in the town of Donsol heard that a live whale shark was being offered for sale at a nearby beach. Expecting a stranded giant, the rescuers found instead a 15-inch (38-centimeter) shark leashed to a stake in the mud like a neglected puppy.

By the end of the day, after photos and measurements had been taken, the young whale shark was free again, released into deeper waters.

That's so wrong, keeping a whale shark on a string.

Earth Hour

FYI, this year, Earth Hour will take place on 28 March 2009 from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm.

I missed it last year because I didn't even know it was on, so this year I'm taking it upon myself to find out when it is and informing those who want to stay informed.

I propose we have a party on 28 March 2009 with, I don't know, candles or something and a live performance (ahem, atuk) that doesn't need electricity. Let's celebrate Earth Hour instead of begrudge it.

Earth Hour KL Website: http://earthhour.org.my/

Customer Service Review: Red FM

Business: Radio Station
Location: 16th Floor, Bangunan AmAssurance, 1 Jalan Lumut, Kuala Lumpur
Website: http://www.red.fm

The Situation:

I'd won RM250 on the FourPlay contest on Red FM during Nisha's Late Night Love Songs. Since I wasn't told otherwise, I thought collection of the gift was as per usual practice, which is to go pick it up at the Red FM headquarters on Jalan Lumut during office hours (9am - 1pm, 2pm - 5pm).

I'd also previously won a sword letter opener worth (supposedly) RM120 or something on the Underworld 3 contest.

To collect my sword letter opener, I enlisted the help of my parents' driver because, obviously, I work full-time and my lunchtime coincides with theirs. I provided him with a photocopy of my IC and instructions as to where to go. What did he come back with? 2 tickets to go watch Underworld 3, with no sword letter opener in sight.

I actually gave up after that because I didn't really care that much about the letter opener (even though it could've been really cool).

Then I won RM250, and obviously I'm going to pick that up. I left for lunch slightly early, drove all the way to Jalan Lumut (which, incidently, is ridiculously hard to find due to a lot of one-way-ness and traffic), got to the Red FM marketing department and subsequently found out that apparently, somebody was supposed to have called me to inform me that the cash prize has not been delivered, and once delivered, I will be contacted to come and collect.

And obviously, I went:

So someone was supposed to call me?

Her: Yes, someone was supposed to call you to inform you that the prize will be delivered and then we will inform you to come collect.

But nobody called me. And you don't say anything on your website about it. It's really confusing.

Her: Oh, really?

(No, I just said that to confuse you and I came all the way here just for shits and giggles. Wtf do you think, really?) Yes. Really.

[Silence]

So, somebody will call to tell me when to pick up?

Her: Yes.

Somebody will call me, right? I don't have to call anyone?

Her: Yes.

At this point I put her out of her misery and told her I also wanted to collect a sword letter opener, and after she presented it to me, we had a nice conversation about how the Red FM website is absolute crap.

Plus points:

• They're giving me free stuff.
• They're giving me free cash.

Minus points:

• Their website is crap.
• Their website provided no useful information in regard to when I should collect my prize.

Verdict:

I'm inclined to say kudos to Red FM for giving away free stuff (to me), but minus points for their lack of organisation and a useful and user-friendly website which, I feel, is essential to any company that depends on exposure to do well.

Red FM, if you need a new website designed, let me know. I'll hook you up.

Red FM FourPlay

Attention: I've just won RM250 on Red.FM FourPlay from Nisha on Late Night Love Songs. So while I was getting emo with the lovers, I won some money! Sweet!

Also, I'm "you know what", girls. Hehe..

Brilliant!

This guy is my new hero. I'm both enthralled and worried by this article. From The Star: Telco service helps man find 'friend':

FRIEND Finder, a service provided by telecommunications companies to locate their users’ friends, helped a man find his stolen car in Johor Baru.

Sin Chew Daily reported that the man, identified only as Mr Ye, had used the service
as an anti-theft device for over a year.

He kept a phone activated with the service in his Toyota Camry car.

On Sunday, Ye found that his car parked in Permas Jaya was missing at about 9.30pm.

He traced his “friend” in the car and the response showed that the vehicle was in Taman Nusa Bistari 2. “After a three and a half hour search in the housing estate, I recovered my car by the roadside,” he said.

Ye encouraged the public to use this cheap and useful service, saying that his anti-car theft device was only a cellphone that cost less than RM100 and a pre-paid service card.

Firstly, that is a brilliant and cheap anti-theft device.

Secondly, how is it that this company has access to finding out where I am anytime of the day? I mean, sure they need my express permission to activate it, but that means someone in Maxis could probably still have access to my whereabouts. That's worrying.