A small girl who sings beautifully

I am amazed by this little girl's voice and cuteness. Her name is Connie Talbot and she was only 6 year old. She could sing so beautifully and make some of us crying. She even wowed Simon Cowell. Let's enjoy!





When she turned 7-year-old, she was invited to sing in the Taiwan's Talented Show (超級星光大道). She also sung one of my favourite songs - 'I Will Always Love You'.

Shell responds to queries about fuel prices

Why are gasoline prices so high? If oil companies are making record profits, why can’t they give drivers a break and reduce prices at the pump?

Chances are you’ve been asked those questions by customers, friends or family members in recent months – and you may feel you have not been able to give them a good enough answer. That’s because gasoline pricing is both an emotional and poorly understood subject for consumers. It’s a reputation issue for Shell and the oil industry as a whole, made worse when high crude oil and gasoline prices coincide with record financial results.

Consumers find it difficult or impossible to accept that when crude prices are high, energy companies continue to reap large profits without reducing pump prices. In fact, despite record profits, the price at the pump continues to rise. Another criticism is that oil companies are seen to be quick to raise gasoline prices following crude increases, but slow to pass on price decreases, frequently leading to accusations of “profiteering.”

Shell recognises that customers across the globe are concerned and affected by the price of fuel. In every country where Shell operates, Shell strives to provide customers with a consistent supply of competitively priced fuel.

Here are Shell's answers to some frequently asked questions about fuel prices:

Why does the price of gasoline continue to rise?
Gasoline prices are determined by a set of unique conditions within different localities and vary widely around the world. In many countries, the largest single element is not the cost of crude oil, but rather government taxes. In some European countries, taxes can represent as much as 75% of the price the customer pays at the pump.

Nevertheless, the cost of crude is significant and, in countries where gasoline taxes are lower, it is the major factor in the cost of gasoline. Crude oil is trading well above $100 per barrel on the open market, and is being driven by the world’s growing demand for energy. Finally, the price of gasoline also needs to include refining, distribution and operating costs. So the margin left for oil companies is usually a small percentage of the pump price – much lower than most customers realize.

Worldwide demand for crude oil and refined products has increased rapidly in recent years, led by the explosive growth of the economies in China, India and other Pacific Rim nations, and the supply of crude has been hard put to keep pace with that demand. Some people suggest that crude prices also are being elevated by geopolitical tensions and, possibly, by financial speculators. To whatever extent these factors exist, they are beyond our control. We must deal with the market as it is, and in this regard, supply and demand prevail.

Don’t the major oil companies control the crude market?
There are more than 3,500 oil companies in the world. Shell produces only 3% of the world’s crude, and we refine more crude oil than we produce. Shell, therefore, must purchase oil on the spot market to meet refining and retail demands. As a result, Shell is subject to market fluctuations in price and supply, as are other oil companies. Crude prices in each country are set by supply and demand, and are influenced by such factors as OPEC supply restrictions, weather, stock levels and the sentiment of financial markets.

Oil companies continue to report record earnings. Aren’t they just profiteering from high crude oil and gasoline prices?
The energy industry is one of the world’s largest and most complex industries. Profits are large because the business is large, with very large investments. Strong earnings among all the major oil companies enable reinvestment in both the upstream and downstream parts of their businesses. The industry is spending at record levels to increase supply to meet the growing global demand for energy.

Why can’t oil companies use their upstream profits to subsidise pump prices?
Producing crude oil involves long-term and high-risk projects requiring billions of dollars in investment over 20-to-30 years. Higher profits in some periods help safeguard investments when oil prices -- and profits -- are lower at other times.

What is Shell doing to increase crude supplies?
In line with our strategy of “more upstream and profitable downstream,” we are directing about 80% of our $27 billion capital spending programme for 2008 into upstream projects. This is the largest capital spending programme in Shell history, and the largest in industry. In total, we have some 10 billion barrels of upstream resources under development, which will add around 1 million barrels per day of production.

Does Shell set the pump prices at its sites?
This varies according to country and the operating model of each site. In some countries, pump prices are set by the government, and Shell and other retailers must comply. In many countries, some sites are owned by Shell and some are owned by independent dealers. Shell works very hard to maintain competitive prices at the pump – it is not in our best interest to do otherwise. For dealer-operated sites, the dealers own the fuel on their sites and, by law, have the right to set prices as they see fit. Dealers also have to compete rigorously with competitors so it’s in their best interest to price competitively at the pump as well.

Throughout the world, the retail industry is extremely competitive. In most countries, companies have to display pump prices so customers can make a choice. Even where pump prices are set by governments, companies compete strongly in a range of other areas, including design, visibility, convenience/location, customer service, prices of other products and availability of other services.

Does Shell engage in price gouging at its retail sites?
Shell does not engage in or condone the practice of introducing excessive price increases, and will investigate any such allegations. If a customer feels that a gasoline station is charging a price that is excessive when contrasted to comparable sites, he or she should contact the relevant trading standards agency and provide them with the contact details.

So what can drivers do to save money on gasoline?
The way you drive and the way you maintain your vehicle can help reduce your fuel consumption and save you money. Here are some tips:
1. Drive smoothly, avoiding heavy acceleration or braking.
2. Manual cars -- change up to a higher gear as early as possible as you accelerate.
3. Automatic cars -- shift up gears more quickly if you ease back on the accelerator once the car gathers momentum.
4. Keep your engine well tuned, check your oil and fix any problems immediately.
5. Make sure your tires are at the correct pressure and not under- or over-inflated.
6. Keep your trunk/boot or back seat clear of unnecessary items that add weight.
7. If you are not using your roof rack or roof box, take it off.
8. Keep your windows closed, especially if you are driving at higher speeds.
9. Always use the recommended grade of oil in your engine.
10. Use cruise control on major roads and in free-flowing traffic.
11. Turn off your engine in heavy traffic to avoid excessive idling.

Where can I find out more about gasoline pricing?
You can find out more about gasoline pricing in your country or region by visiting your Shell country Internet site or by contacting your local Shell Communications advisor.

Misleading concept of Subsidy

I received an email about the "misleading concept of Subsidy" by Malaysia's BN-led government....

The word "subsidy" has been brandished by the BN government as if it has so generously helped the rakyat and in doing so incurred losses. This simple example will help to explain the fallacy:

Example:
Ahmad is a fisherman. He sells a fish to you at $10 which is below the market value of $15. Let's assume that he caught the fish from the abundance of the sea at little or no cost. Ahmad claims that since the market value of the fish is $15 and he sold you the fish for $10, he had subsidised you $5 and therefore made a loss of $5.

Question:
Did Ahmad actually make a profit of $10 or loss of $5 which he claimed is the subsidy?

Answer:
Ahmad makes a profit of $10 which is the difference of the selling price ($10) minus the cost price ($0 since the fish was caught from the abundance of the sea). There is no subsidy as claimed by Ahmad.

The government claims that it is a subsidy because the oil is kept and treated as somebody else's property (you know who). By right, the oil belongs to all citizens of the country and the government is a trustee for the citizens. So as in the above simple example, the BN government cannot claim that it has subsidised the citizen!

I've won 2 movie tickets for writing a blog article

Thank you Advertlets! I've won 2 movie tickets to watch Made of Honour at TGV One Utama on 17 June 2008, 2 days earlier before the movie actually opens! This is my first time winning free movie tickets.

My boy starts crawling

There is an old saying that if the parents never crawled then their babies most likely will not crawl too. So all these while, we did not really put efforts to let him crawl. I expect him to walk without crawling first, just like his father and mother. Today, I am so surprise to find out that my boy suddenly starts to show interest in crawling. My boy is turning 14 months soon.

Advertlets Presents: Made Of Honour, Massive Movie Screening in June!

Advertlets Malaysia is proud to present one of the most anticipated romantic comedies of this year, starring none other than Patrick Dempsey, best known as “Dr McDreamy” from Grey’s Anatomy. And, it’s happening this June 17th, at TGV One Utama!

After checking out the trailer above.....I told myself....Hey, I love comedy movies and my loved one loves romantic movies...so this movie suits our tastes and worth to watch. I have not been watching any movies since my son was born. My son is turning 14 months soon. I need something to spice up my married life and may want to go for second kid and.... bingo! this romantic + comedy movie comes at the right time and the right place. Why right time? Because it is just a month away from my birthday (17 July) and it will be an honour if I can win 2 free tickets as my birthday gift. Why right place then? It is just 5 minutes drive to reach One Utama from my home. As a Advertlets Blogger, I definately wish to get 2 free tickets for this movie date.

My son has Roseola

My boy has been developing a fever and has mild diarrhea for 2 days already. But, he does not appear to be sick and in fact, he is still very active. Because of his body temperature was still high, I decided to take him to see his doctor. The doctor said that my son most likely has Roseola (also known as "Baby Measles"). According to doctor, Roseola is generally a harmless viral infection and is quite common among children 6 months to 2 years of age. Roseola usually starts with a sudden high fever that lasts 3 days and followed by a rash over the body once the fever breaks. Bascially, there's no specific treatment for the illness and the fever and rash will go away by itself. After hearing all these.....now I can breathe a sigh of relief!

iPhone 3G for US$199

Apple's CEO, Steve Jobs has just offically announced the new iPhone 3G at World Wide Developers Conference in San Francisco. The good news is that the new iPhone 3G will be available in 22 countries on 11 July 2008, and eventually to 70 countries later this year, at the price of $US199 and $US299 for 8GB and 16GB model respectively. He has made the price so attractive to consumers and this may result in price war among handphone makers. Anyway, it is good for consumers. However, the bad news is that Malaysia is not among the listed 70 countries. I hope Maxis Mobile which is aiming to hit the target of two million 3G subscribers, will do something to get this iPhone 3G to be fully supported in Malaysia.

Tips on Filling fuel in your vehicles

This is a Message received from a friend:

I don't know what you guys are paying for petrol... but here in Durban, we are also paying higher, up to 47.35 per litre. But my line of work is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here are some tricks to get more of your money's worth for every litre.

Here at the Marian Hill Pipeline, where I work in Durban, we deliver about 4 million litres in a 24-hour period thru the pipeline.

One day is diesel; the next day is jet fuel, and petrol, LRP and Unleaded. We have 34-storage tanks here with a total capacity of 16,800,000 litres.

1. Only Buy Or Fill Up Your Car Or Bikkie In The Early Morning When The Ground Temperature Is Still Cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground, the denser the fuel, when it gets warmer petrol expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the evening.... your liter is not exactly a liter.

In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the petrol, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products play an important role. A 1degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.

2. When You're Filling Up, Do Not Squeeze The Trigger Of The Nozzle To A Fast Mode. If you look, you will see that the trigger has three (3) stages: low, middle, and high. In slow mode, you should be pumping on low speed, thereby minimizing the vapors that are created, while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapor return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapor. Those vapors are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money.

3. One Of The Most Important Tips Is To Fill Up When Your Tank Is Half Full. The reason for this is, the more fuel you have in your tank, the less air occupying its empty space. Petrol evaporates faster than you can imagine. Petroleum storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the petrol and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation.

Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated, so that every liter is actually the exact amount.

4. Another reminder, if there is a fuel truck pumping into the storage tanks, when you stop to buy, do not fill up – Most likely the petrol/diesel is being stirred up as the fuel is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom.

Hope, this will help you get the maximum value for your money.

Don't compare Malaysia with Singapore

I would like to refer to report by The Star dated February 18, 2008 on Pak Lah: Don't Compare Malaysia with Singapore where we were told not to compare “first-class grapes (Singapore) with first-class apples (Malaysia)”. But recently, we were told to compare petrol price with Singapore which we think is not logical. This is very unacceptable and is an insult to our intelligent! It is very frustrating that you said can to something that we think logically cannot and vice versa. Where are the common senses? As a net exporter of petroleum, Malaysia should compare the petrol prices with the following oil producing countries.



If we were to compare with the oil producing oil countries, our petrol price actually is the most expensive. In fact, I don't mind to be the most expensive among the oil producing countries but the price should not be >100% more expensive than United Arab Emirates.

Surprise with sudden and massive fuel petrol increase

Malaysia government sudden move to increase petrol price to RM2.70 yesterday from RM1.92 caught me by surprise as there were earlier reports that fuel prices would only go up in August. The government also stated that it can no longer continue to subsidise fuel and Malaysians could soon by playing market prices for their petrol. Well, I have expected this to happen and it is just the matter of time. And I also don't think the subsidy is going to work in the long run because the petrol is going to be run out one day.

What my concern here is that, Malaysia is still a net exporter of oil, and therefore, when the prices go up, we suppose to be better off. So now the question that the government must address is that now the subsidies has been reduced, where are the saving going to be spent on?? Bulding a transport system that is convenient to public? Subsidy essential food items like cooking oil, rice, flour, etc?

The youngest fastest man - Usain Bolt

The Beijing's Olympic Games 2008 are just round the corner, but the world has already produced a youngest fastest man. This man is Bolt from Jamaica, who is just 21 and also a student at Jamaica's University of Technology. He set a new 100m world record of 9.72s in an international race in New York, to better the world record of 9.74 which set last September by his fellow countryman Asafa Powell. In my life, I never seen such a tall man running so fast and powerful. He is 6ft 5in or 1.95m tall. With his long powerful legs and extraordinary stride length, I believe he will be the first man to run below 9.70 seconds. This year Olympic's 100m race will be very exciting to watch and Bolt is definately the man to beat, with Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay also taking part.