Public Humiliation by Bloggers? True or False?

Ah...this is the most interesting post I found in our Brunei Times, BlogSpeak written by Rano Iskander. It was a nice post (you guys should read it) and the site he has mention, like Parking Idiot. Tons of photos snap by these people showing how bad or lack parking skills we Bruneian are. I, myself do agree the facts they are showing. But I don't really care about the parking problem. What I am worried are the driving habits we Bruneian these days. :smile:

He said:

"The recent Brunei Marathon, for instance, rings a bell for the wrong reasons. There were a dozen of bloggers, including yours truly, who posted negative feedbacks on the chaotic event that put our country to shame in the eyes of many.

At some point, even the media joined the bandwagon. Though the complaints were aimed at the organizers, it also indirectly affects the country's credibility"

I say: I did some check on this (Sorry, didn't follow up the story :lol: last year). Ok now, it was true that Brunei Marathon was said to be failure disappointed to a lot of people especially the runners who joined. The Director, Sheikh Jamaluddin Sheikh Mohamed even also very unhappy about the event turn out. The organizers also suffers greatly on this chaotic event which everyone are blaming them not doing a very good and planned last year.

To me, there should be only one things definitely needed to blame the organizers are lack of teamworks. You see, according Brudirect and Ranoadidas (more, of course) articles. Many people were very unhappy with the informations and no direct guide on the routes for the runners. I wonder, are they supposed to be a bikers/cars or teams to guide them while making sure they don't get lost? Are they members just too anxious unable to see who's the winners or enjoy their fun in the event? Possible to me. :roll: I was not there, so I have no rights to say much anything about them but I hope they will do better this year.

He said:

"As for the cons, it basically goes right down to the core _ reputation. Being a small nation, with gossips spreading like there's no tomorrow, the respective individuals may not take the criticisms lightly. Instead, they become victims of public humiliation regardless of whether it's true or not. One popular web-based forum "Have Your Say" doesn't practice censorship on personal attacks. Does this tell us that we readers enjoy bad publicity of one another?

In conclusion, whether you like it or not, bloggers and forum owners have the upper hand due to the lack of Internet laws. Hence, public shame issue will continue as it is. Unless you are willing to take the risk, remaining anonymous as a blogger may just save you from trouble or being questioned or even being sued."

It was true that local bloggers are always known to be a treat as sometimes we all does post offensive things that probably will affect our country reputations. On my own point of view, nothing can be stop on flaming even there is no bloggers exist in this world. Anyone (especially Tourist) coming to Brunei whom they encounter something unhappy about the system and the experience here. They still can flown back to tell their stories to friends, family or relatives about Brunei negatives feedback. Which is much worst than bloggers, because they were chat about a real life experience and rumors still can spread out like ants.

I will not remain anonymous. Why? Because there are nothing interesting to talk about Brunei when they are no negatives politics happening like other countries do. We only have one ruler in these country, no presidential or any parties involved crushing on another members. The only problem here we facing are the locals who are taking too much advantages on Brunei. No matter how peaceful our country is, we people intend to go and spoils it. Like vandalism, dumping rubbish everywhere, using its local power to bullies or insults some foreigners even on its own people and more. It just some bloggers might have over react and post something insulting that eventually happen as most of them really wished the Governments to take actions and help investigate throughly this matter or let the others know what happen to them. Although, we bloggers might gave out false information or accusations. Still they are many bloggers out there to correct them if they disagree something that don't proved anything.

Public humiliation doesn't just happen only in Bloggers. Medias are the worst and treat of all. Even if locals don't tell the stories. But other countries bloggers will do it later, no matter who are they. Everyone still knows what happening.

New Pyramid Conqueror - Part II

**Read the previous post on New Pyramid Conqueror - Part I (Just in case you didn't read it).

Your Choice of Membership:

First of all, there are two choices are requires to be part of the game, become a Franchises or Baron. If you are rich, you can go for a Count and I'm not sure about the membership fee. I have taken the DCHL picture sample of Marketing Plan brochure from Anti-Lambeger website. You are freely to download or study it for your understanding and information on your earning.

Please note that you are not doing any direct selling on their products. You are doing "Air" Market, which it means more like doing nothing on sales.

In Brunei, the starting rate for Franchises is B$1200.00+/- (first five earning rate is 20%)including the membership fee. For Baron, you will need at least B$5000.00+/- (first five earning rate is 29%) to join. I was told to choose the Baron membership, because its better and a bit easier to target the rest extra 9% earning from any successfully newly Franchises or Baron joins under your first five recruit members. Of course, that is continuous earning profits. :smile: If you become a Franchises, your goal will need to get five direct Franchises to promote to Baron. More like a starting point for you and more challenging. That is why many people prefer joining Baron so that they can challenge for Count.

How Do You Earn Money

Wonder why the DCHL guys say you are going to do the 'Air' market? Simple! If you are selling their products, chance to become rich is very slim. You see, there are so much MLM company in Brunei, example like Cosway or Elken. They have been around for quite long and you think you can convince them to tried the DCHL products? Nope! But hardly. What's more? Are they really a safe products to used? That is a actual problems, and nobody care about the fake damn company history. If something goes wrong on the products tested by Brunei research teams. DCHL will need to packed up their stuff home. Which is why they have came up with Pyramid Scheme network marketing plan idea. The only job here you need to do are recruiting new members and assist them as a team.

Take as Baron membership as an example, your job here as an upline must recruit any five people from your friends, family and relatives to joined as Baron or Franchises. So, if you can get one of them to joined under you as Baron ($5000). You will earn $1450.00 ($5000x29%) from them. Now from here onward, you can start relaxing and wait for your downlines to do the recruitments. If any one of them had also recruits a new Baron. They will also earned a $1450.0 ($5000x29%) income too. But you will get a 9% income at the same time, which is $450 ($5000x9%) or $108 (Franchises = $1200+x9%). Imagine if you are on top of the Pyramid chart and this infinite 9% income will definitely fullfill your dream car or house in no time.

Note: This cycle earning process applied to all members (no matter whose upline or downline) and above earning strategy may not be 100% correct :smile:. I am just listening to what the DCHL guys claims.

Conclusion

DCHL claims to me that this is a network marketing. To me, if you studies carefully on how their marketing plans work, you will know that this is definately not a network marketing all. This is called a Pyramid Scheme and this is known as illegal network marketing! Comon! We are simply just getting money from the people who joined and not from sales! Is this what they call marketing without selling any products?

I don't know about how the other people felt about this. My own views about this network marketing is totally not worth a penny to put my cash on thier table. Pyramid Schemes always bring problems and disaster in your future. Yes, I always dream to becoming rich, driving a nice cars and even staying in a big house. But I will not choose to dirty my life simply getting money from people without selling anything on what they get. And I don't even believed that get rich doing pyramid, of course maybe in the begining. I'm sure they would be 2 out of ten among them might succeed and others who don't will left in the dark. The worst cases is the person who borrow money from parents and friends including schools fee to investing pyramid.

To all of you students out there. DCHL are currently targeting mostly college or university students to join their program. If you are clever, don't joined! If you are clever and got brainwashed joining the pyramids that you think getting rich very early. Go for it! If you didn't suceed and left in the dark. I will laugh very hard on you. :lol: Believe me I will.

Of course, I do not have any proof or rights to accused DCHL is a scam right now. They got a very strong support from Governments and they have operate in many countries legally. But still they are doing a pyramid scheme, not simple pyramid only or network marketing. DCHL did not have a HQ in Brunei (yet). But they will asked you to fly over to KL HQ to attend their seminar to learned more about their products and sign up for memberships over there.

I would like to thanks to these owners at Anti-Lampe Berger and Lampeberger help for their informations. Read more over there!

New Pyramid Conqueror - Part 1

Everyone should be understand by now that Pyramid Scheme is not a safe program to joined nowadays. That's why our Brunei Governments are trying to banned these kind of business practice and tried not allowed them to operates in our country illegally. This is their main objectives to prevent the local citizens hard earn money falling into their pockets so easily. But, it doesn't seem to be easy to convince people not to joined these days.

Currently only few legitimate Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) company (Cosway, Elken etc) were seen much in Brunei. It was something like a direct sales on company products and services to earn commissions. Of course, that depends on which stage you going to paid for, a Franchises or Baron or Count. These stages offer different commissions earning and most importantly on how good you are able to convinced people to buy it or joined.

The Intro

I have done much investigations and research recently on the so called themselves a pyramid MLM company from Malaysia known as DCHL company. If you haven't heard of them, they are the largest legitimate growing popular company in Malaysia with strong support background by SYN (rumors that actually its was the same person running DCHL) and even granted the trust from many Governments. That is why their company has been expanding so large and so success in Asia. However, they still need to get our Government approver first before starting their MLM here. If you wonder what products they were actually selling, just visit the Lampe Berger and Estebel for more informations.

The thing that amazed me is the company are actually trying to recruits mostly young people to joined and investing into their company. In return, they will educate you to succeed your goal (getting rich faster) if you worked hard and becoming part of the team players. That is indeed very surprising :). The amount of people joining these company were large as you can't imagine even our fellow Bruneian were part of the groups becoming Baron.

However, every company will always get a bad credits on the reputations. According to Anti-Lampe Berger and Lampe Berger Help blogs informations. It seem like DCHL are called as scandals, cheating and lied to the young people hard earn fortune. Some people even claimed that they didn't even earned a single commissions after successful in selling their products and services or getting back their refund successfully. Based on my studies so far, there are currently NO proves or enough evidences to accused them. But it doesn't means they are clean. Just watch this Anti-Lampe Berger and Lampe Berger Help bloggers for latest post, if you want to learned more about the dark side.

I am really totally curious on how did these young people (those who are on top today) able to earn so much money and becoming so rich at very young age? Believe me, they are around 20 to 30+ and now driving expensive sports car like BMW, Mercedes, even Ferrari :lol:. Hey, I'm not BS/joking, they actually owned it! Not to mention about their large income earning every months would make you want to become part of the members. That's why I decided to continue listening their program and offer if I joined them. Don't worry, I am not an easy person to get brainwash so easily.

Anyway, it sure took quite a while listening their proposal as I sit there watching their promo/history videos and even picture of their HQ, of course that includes the expensive cars owners :smile:. The funny things I come across is the picture of Prime Minister ABDULLAH Bin Ahmad Badawi giving them an award? Wow! Can't believe it was official! Hmmm...that is another reason why they were able to expand their marketing so easily in Malaysia. Other interesting pictures (no girls), as I surpirsed to see few of my friends (old classmate) was already part of the members. Not sure how they are doing today, driving Ferrari? 8)

Next on part II (soon)

Full Review on QQeStore

Update February 03, 2007: Finally, I decided to post a full review on good or bad experience and some difficulty on processing my ordering items in our local shop at QQeStore. These also includes the customer services phone call and email response I received from them as well. :evil:

If you want to know what camera I'm getting at QQestore. Here's the link.

First time at QQestore

Since this is my first time buying stuffs from local online shop. I would start off talking about the website, services, and especially their products. The website are very nicely done and clean I had to say. Searching for latest gadgets products are relatively easy too. Not to mention their open pricing they update weekly including their latest offer. Surprisingly, they really quite able get a lots of latest gadgets stuffs put up in their online store, mostly everything you might able to find like mobile phone, MP3 players, PC hardware, game console etc. The most attractive things that many customers always looking at are the price they were selling right now. It was very competitive price and comparable with other online store (not including the shipping charges), even our local shops as well.

Before purchasing any items, remember to sign up for free online registrations first. On top of that, you will also be rewarded a 300 point (B$3.00) for free after you register. For those of you who are new to QQ. It is very important to read every FAQ informations located in the "Member Help Desk" categories on the left. After you decide which products you wish purchased, you will be also need to pay for $10.00 [lets face it $10.00-$3.00 (free) = $7.00] fee for one yearly membership (one time only). :?: Most of you may wonder why you need to paid for it. Well, here's what the sales representatives reply to me below.

"Dear Tony,

Thank you for your enquiry.

The membership is a yearly fee and as a member, you will receive some
of the unbelievable benefits like low product cost (like the camera
you are purchasing), free gifts, weekly special for members only,
members points in which you can use it for instant rebate in your
next purchase, receive special deals by email or SMS from time to
time and so on.

Hope this helps. If you have any other enquiries or need further
assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us."

It does sound very a good deals and benefit of becoming a members. However, for my personal view and comments on these. This is not really necessary at all, and I never expect this might happen for my first online paying for membership experience. It would be nice considering as an optional services for the customers. As I just don't seem to like it how they charge us through the checkout process. Most like a forced to join program in order us to get this price. Don't you think its rude for a first time buyer? It maybe got to do with other reasons. But it will be very bad for short-term buyer like me.

Customer Services & QQeStore Order Update

Speaking about the customer service. After processing my checkout online on Friday night. They rang me on the next day afternoon just telling my card cannot be recognized from their system issue. That were solved later, however. My complain here is that why didn't they first inform me if there is stock available for my camera or inform me the time to process might take, before swiping my card? Why? This really hit my head, so I decided to asked them for more information and time takes to process. Sadly, they never give me any proper answer for that no matter how I asked even a call back and check with QQ if my card is successfully verified or not because I waited for too long without any callback. :roll: Ah...damn...more like I have to do the process myself as a customer manually.

It gives a very bad impressions for a first time buyer without providing clear informations and time to process on my camera. Not to mention I have to do the calling back jobs myself and email them to check on that days. If they had done it correctly in the first place, I wouldn't giving myself so much trouble doing all these stupid stuffs and even nagging them. :lol:

Other problem also I found their system making mistake or error sending QQeStore email order update to me. I'm not really sure if that was done by the system, but I don't think so. Anyway, I did choose them to deliver my stuff locally after check out paying another $12.00 fee. But after reading the second email in my box, it starting becomes annoy me. Here's why.

1st: "Thank you for your payment. Once the item had arrived, our sales representative will contact you for collection."

2nd: "Please be informed that the product you ordered is ready for collection. Please visit our QQeStore Customer Service Center located at..."

Not only that, the staff even phone me and asked me when will I going to collect my camera at their store again. That goes for the third! :mad: Do you believed that? I thought it was a joke, but it wasn't. I can't believe that it happen. Another things also happen, my own mistake too by not checking my free gifts stuff properly after receiving it. Its my camera leather bag , they gave me the wrong size of it.

I already email (with the picture attach) them about the problem. Surprisingly, the manager phone me and chats with me regarding the issues including my complains (above). Happily, they give me an apologizes about the process and exchange for my camera leather bag will be made once the stock arrived next weeks. I'm not too sure how long and not really in the hurry to get it, as long they promise me to change it. That's fine.

I already email (with the picture attach) them about the problem. Surprisingly, the manager phone me and chats with me regarding the issues including my complains (above). Happily, they give me an apologizes about the process and exchange for my camera leather bag will be made once the stock arrived next weeks. I'm not too sure how long and not really in the hurry to get it, as long they promise me to change it. That's fine.

Overall Conclusion

There are still many room improvement for QQeStore online shopping. But when comes with their handling customer orders and update are too weak even I find it very disappointment's as a first time buyers. You have to know that I am an addict online buyer and I never paid for a single fee of becoming full member instead receiving discount coupon from them. In QQeStore case, that was different stories. You got to pay for one yearly membership using their online service and keeping your points alive from what I see. I really felt bad for a short-term buyers and I'm not too sure with the points too. It would be great if they provide an optional membership registration services.

However, since I had pay for what I got. I will continue to monitor what the real benefit I am going to get from them within my one yearly membership.

Note: Another issue, QQeStore also let me know that there are some problem sending mails to the customers Hotmail and companies domain email (Shell, LNG etc). However, mine is ok! as long I add QQeStore in the safe list and that same that goes to the companies needed to check their server (if they have one) block the incoming mail. That's all! Only newsletter were not received so far. Hope they going to solved it sooner.

Conclusion - Pros:

• Very competitive online price and comparable with other local merchants.
• Lots of latest Gadgets, Mobile Phones & even Computer parts.
• Very good products bundle pricing and free gifts (limited time or weekly offer only).

Conclusion - Cons:

• Full memberships should be optional.
• Your point will be wasted if you are a short-term buyers
• Some warranty are not satisfactory especially in some PC hardware line.
• Customer Service need to be improved.
• Error email order update, even from phone call regarding the delivery.

Sea Dragon King Causes Flood?

This is a very old news I have to say. Like I mention before, the only things I am after are latest PC and IT gadgets stuffs. Nothing else, except movies and funny videos I'm interested to throw into my hard drive. BTW, It does caught into my attentions from my relatives last week discussing about the Sea Dragon King causes flood in Sabah, because the fisherman caught its son (picture from Malaysian Atheist blog). Do you believe it? If you asked me, my answer should be no. Of course you can't argue with the God believer and even to the Chinese elderly. :smile:

I only believed what they caught must have to be a very rare fish species type from the deep sea. Just like the Frilled Shark caught in Japan, it sure does look creepy if you ever see one. :shock: Sad thing was the Frilled Shark did not survived after that. :sad: Also, The Stars Online reported that someone actually willing to paid RM$50,000 to obtain the fish "dragon". WHAT!?! Damn these rich people do loves these things, aren't they? :lol: Unlucky for them, the fisherman threw back into the sea because they were too afraid about the sea dragon god will get mad and punished them.

Oh?...damn waste. It will be a good sample researched to identify the species type. I do wished they take more picture or recorded to video.

New Year Coming! But Bloody Week!

Hey Hoo! End of 2006 is coming very fast next week! I just can't imagine time flow so fast and I was blind by it, totally! :shock: It was quite hard and challenging this year. Bad things happen quite a lot for me and I can't imagine how terrible it was back then. Anyway, I was able to overcome from it and kept walking forward. Thanks to my anime and games removed my heavy stress. :roll: hehehe...can't believe it? Of course, I used also other healthy methods too. Simple! Chinese tea. :lol:

Actually it does really help me lot when I was in a bad situations and facing some stupid fucking days I encounter previously. I know Brunei wasn't a hard place to live in! But the people here, I starting to find that they are getting badass and become irresponsibles nowadays.

The most worst was just yesterday, I encounter one Malay lady hit my car when she open the door from the vehicle. She know I was in the vehicle and acted nothing happen! :mad: My car paint were totally badly off as got down and check it out. I was totally pissed when she start the car and drove away just like that! No apologies! Nothing! She might thought I might going to look for trouble. But hey! If you ever hit or scratch somebody car while they are inside. You better off don't run from it because you know you can't escape. You might even get into more deeper troubles if that person gets fired up and report into the Police. Apologies is always the best at first never be second!

After that incident, not long I got into my car and hit signal light to reverse and at that time, another fucking Indian cycle appear and trying to get himself killed by riding in the middle! He did not stop or just ride to the safe corner. He just went straight towards on me! He knew I was reversing and ignore my signal light. Still riding forward and I was forced to hit the brake, before I might hit him! That Indian smile and left. :mad: Argggg Curse that piece of shit!

After that again. Another suicide Chinese driver rush out from the left and waving his hand sorry. :roll: Ok, that would be nice! And fuck that!, I said to myself again that I almost killed another guy within 1-3 meters in front of him only a few second if I don't hit another hard brake! I wonder what the fuck with these people at the end of the year? Looking for death or something? Damn, three on the straight and happen at the same events. Not my day, totally not mine and I just don't like it.

If you are trying to rush home or looking for friends and your love one! Or might be other problems you encounter. Just spice up your safety first and be patience or cool. Every human and animals only have one life! Don't let your guard down, watch yourself and people around you! Fuck!

Working in Capital

Its been a while for not going to the capital since I last quit my first job. Nothing much changes over there, but apparently I did drive a wrong way to my HQ instead taking a shortcut :lol:. After looking at the locations for few time, I was able to remember which shortcut directions I once used it often especially escaping those traffics. :!: But I was amazed when I riding back at around 4PM. It was full of vehicles in the high way and even in Lumut :shock:. Hehehe...Huh? What am I doing in the capital. Well, just received an order from my manager to fixed the server problem in my HQ.

Found this big Dinosaur in the HQ and its quite big!

Before leaving the HQ, my friend tell me about the new bakery shop in Gadong near the Mall. She says the bread over there are quite good and especially if I can get there between 2 to 3.30PM. I could get a fresh and hot delicious breads. Sadly, I was so tired and its nearly 4.15PM (arrived in KB at 6.00PM). Maybe next time I will visit that place and try the breads including a special visit to the Mall checking out the Kiosk! Anyway, today I did missed out meeting my new colleagues over there too! :smile: