Catch me if you can

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Work Room chat:
Random browsing through the internet today and found some interesting tutorial on wirewrapped rings. Lots of them, actually, and not just on rings, although some link doesn't seem to work. Go have a look see and give 'em a try. Pretty simple and straightforward projrcts. One to try each day. That should keep you busy for the week! :P
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One of the thing that I'm very amused here in the UK is this.


It was a huge-ass sign by the way. Took me a lot of effort to capture it! :P


That's a speed camera warning.

Well, why am I amused? Simply because things like this is unheard of in Malaysia.

In Malaysia, speed cameras are as far as possible hidden from the sight of the public because, well, they try as far as possible to get you caught for speeding. What is more amusing is how you sometimes have the authorites hide under trees or bushes and stopped you along the way to give you a ticket or trying their luck on some 'coffee money'. The second one happens a lot especially when festive seasons are approaching.

Well, the latter scenario of course does not happen along the highway but mostly along the coastal road or quiter roads.

'Coffee money' if you do not know, is quite a norm here in Malaysia. It's a direct translation from the malay phrase 'duit kopi'. 'Duit' means money and 'kopi' means 'coffee'. Erm, it's sort of like you buying the official in question a cup of coffee. In other words, it means bribe money for not issuing you a ticket. A speed ticket will cost you around RM300 (I think. Haven't got one myself before :P) and coffee money will only cost you anywhere between RM10 to RM100, maybe? So, most of the time, people would opt for paying coffee money.

And also, this seems like a good side income for the officer in question. (The reason why you see these officers the most during festive season. Officer here are not very highly paid and people do need to spend more during festive season.)

Anyway, I think they made some changes a couple of years back and increased their pay a little. And there's even incentive to these officials to report on citizens who attempted to offer bribe.

But then and again.... I don't know neither am I sure how the changes will change the outlook of the police force in Malaysia as the 'coffee money' presumption is still very much prevalent in the minds of the citizens.

Unlike here in the UK, you are openly warned of any speed cameras ahead. So, it is quite a amusing scenario where on one stretch, you'll see cars around you driving fast and suddenly slow down on another stretch and then pick up their speed again!



Well, not to say that nobody speeds nor got a speed ticket before. They do but not many I think because apart from the compound, offenders got points taken off from their license and after certain amount of points taken off, you get your license suspended.

They have even got this electronic boards on some roads that can sense the speed of oncoming cars and will flash your driving speed on the board should you drive over the limit. Haven't got the opportunity to capture a picture of the board though.

Either way, it sure was something refreshing to see.......