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SimplyGo ERP 2.0 lai lai, keep it coming president scholars

SINGAPORE: The Land Transport Authority (LTA) issued a statement on Tuesday (14 May) defending the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP 2.0) on-board units (OBU), stating that they were tested and meet the relevant global benchmarks for electronic devices. In the statement, the LTA refuted allegations that the OBU failed to meet international standards. During a Parliamentary session on 8 May, Mr Louis Chua, Workers’ Party Member Parliament (MP) for Sengkang GRC sought clarification from the Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat regarding whether the new OBU design meets the Automotive Electronics Council’s (AEC) EC-Q100 requirements for reliable operations in Singapore’s climate. In response, Minister Chee did not directly address whether the new OBU design meets the standards. However, he assured that the LTA conducted a series of tests to ensure the OBU’s functionality in Singapore’s weather conditions. In the Tuesday statement, the LTA clarified that the AEC-Q100 is not the correct standard for assessing electronic devices like the OBU. “The AEC-Q100 standard is used to measure packaged integrated circuits used in vehicles, such as the chips used in the in-car entertainment system. ” “AEC-Q100 focuses on the quality of individual components and is not meant for devices that comprise many components that are put together, ” LTA clarified. The LTA finally revealed that the relevant standards the OBU was tested against are the International Electrotechnical Commission’s IEC-60068 and IEC-60529, which Minister Chee did not disclose to MP Louis Chua in Parliament last week. The LTA stated that these two standards are widely used to test the operational reliability of electronic or electrical devices. To achieve IEC-60068 and IEC-60529 qualification, the OBU passed a wide range of tests including temperature and humidity, added LTA. “When properly installed, it is safe and reliable to use in our operating environment.” The LTA reiterated concerns about temperature, noting that the processing unit of the OBU functions like a mini-computer and generates heat when operating, unlike passive devices or components like the existing IU, vehicle dashcam, or the antenna and touchscreen display component in the OBU. The LTA compared this to a smartphone left on the dashboard for a few hours under the hot sun, which could overheat and stop working temporarily. The phone would display an error message stating it can only be used after it has cooled down. “Apple issued a technical advisory that their devices should be stored between -20 to 45 degrees Celsius, and that users should not leave their iPhones in a parked car on a hot day. ” The LTA said this is the same reason why it does not recommend placing the processing unit on the dashboard, as the temperature at this location could reach 50-52 degrees Celsius on a hot day, compared to 38-39 degrees Celsius at the footwell. LTA recently faced significant backlash from motorists following the introduction of the new OBU for the ERP 2.0 system, with many expressing frustration over the inconvenience caused by the OBU for cars. The Singaporean community mocked LTA for what they perceived as a “poor excuse” for defending the bulky design, highlighting that the previous single-piece IU in ERP 1.0 encountered no heating issues and was considered notably more convenient. Last week, Minister Chee defended the design and responded by explaining the “physics” behind temperature variations in car interiors, emphasizing that footwells experience significantly lower temperatures compared to dashboards on sunny days. “With this kind of temperature, if you were to put a single-piece OBU, which means the antenna, the display, and the processing unit all on the dashboard, there is a risk that it could overheat, and then it will affect the functionality of this unit,” he said. While a cooling fan could potentially be integrated into the OBU’s design, this would inevitably lead to a significant increase in the system’s overall bulkiness, he said. “I don’t think motorists will want a very big and bulky one-piece unit on their dashboard. It would not be the right design,” he added. Addressing concerns regarding the placement of the OBU processing unit, Minister Chee highlighted that during the initial phase of installation, the LTA limited placement to the passenger side. However, in response to feedback from early adopters, LTA has now extended the option for vehicle owners to install the processing unit on the driver side, contingent upon technical feasibility. Minister Chee acknowledged that offering more choices could potentially increase complexity and installation time for workshops. “However, we think the trade-off is necessary, to allow vehicle owners to have the flexibility to customise their preferred options, and not have a “one-size fits all” approach.” https://gutzy.asia/2024/05/14/lta-defends-erp-2-0-on-board-unit-meets-international-standards/

SINGAPORE: As Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong set to take over the baton from Mr Lee Hsien Loong to lead the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) on 15 May, speculation regarding the timing of the next election is rife. Mr Wong is expected to lead PAP into the upcoming elections slated for November 2025. Sources suggest a strategic possibility of holding the election in September, potentially coinciding with cash handouts from Budget 2024 and preceding major elections in the United States and the United Kingdom in November. However, as of April, The Elections Department of Singapore (ELD) confirmed to state media that the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) has not yet been convened. The formation of the committee is a critical step preceding the announcement and conduct of a General Election The uncertainty surrounding the formation of the EBRC is a matter of concern for many, particularly the opposition. SDP’s constituency prospects amidst uncertainty For instance, in a recent interview, Dr Chee Soon Juan, Secretary General of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), expressed significant apprehension about the lack of clarity regarding electoral boundaries in Singapore. He told reporters that “everything’s up in the air,” and the SDP is waiting for the announcement from the EBRC, in which the timing and decisions of the EBRC are beyond the party’s control. “For now, all we can do is just “agak-agak” (estimate)… What blocks go into which constituencies is beyond our control,” said Dr Chee, suggesting the challenges the SDP faces in planning and strategizing effectively for the upcoming elections amidst the uncertainty. In GE2020, Dr Chee Soon Juan contested in Bukit Batok Single Member Constituency (SMC) against incumbent Murali Pillai from PAP. While Mr Pillai retained the seat, Dr Chee’s vote share increased to 45.2% from 38.77% in the 2016 by-election. The increase in Dr Chee’s vote share suggests an improved chance of winning the SMC. However, until the EBRC makes its final announcement, it remains uncertain whether the SMC will be retained in the upcoming GE or merged into an adjacent Group Representative Constituency (GRC). During his speech at the SDP General Election Campaign launch on 11 May, SDP Chairman Prof Dr Paul Tambyah also criticized the lack of clarity regarding the formation of the EBRC and the specific terms of reference for their work. He observed that constituencies, where the PAP has won less than 55% of the vote, tend to disappear or get redrawn, such as Joo Chiat SMC and Cheng San GRC. Joo Chiat SMC’s fate serves as an example of this trend. It was merged into Marine Parade GRC in 2015. During GE2011, Workers’ Party candidate Yee Jenn Jong contested in the SMC, challenging PAP’s Charles Chong, who narrowly defended the seat with a 51.02% vote share. During the General Election of 1997, a PAP team consisting of five candidates, led by Mr Yeo Guat Kwang, was challenged by a WP team in Cheng San GRC. They retained the seat with only a 54.8% vote share. Following this, Cheng San GRC was dissolved in the subsequent election and consequently redrawn into several neighbouring constituencies. Speculation arises over Bukit Batok SMC’s future in the upcoming GE Given that the incumbent MP of Bukit Batok, Mr Murali Pillai, only managed to retain the seat with 54.80% of the votes, speculation has arisen regarding the fate of the SMC in the upcoming GE. There are questions about whether it will be abolished and absorbed into a nearby GRC. Notably, Mr Murali Pillai was promoted to Minister of State for Law and Transport in a recent Cabinet Reshuffle announced by designate PM Lawrence Wong on Monday (13 May). Gutzy sought the views of Mr Ravi Philemon, Secretary General of alternative party Red Dot United (RDU), to gather his perspective on the boundary demarcation issue in the upcoming general election, particularly considering his party’s involvement in contesting Jurong GRC and the potential absorption of Bukit Batok SMC into the GRC. He said, “It’s highly probable that the EBRC will carve out a ward from the 5-member West Coast GRC and reduce it to a 4-member constituency. ” “The PAP wouldn’t want to risk losing 5 candidates in West Coast in one fell sweep.” During GE2020, RDU led by Mr Philemon contested in Jurong GRC. The PAP led by then-Senior Minister Mr Tharman retained Jurong GRC with 74.62% of the vote. New ‘Tengah GRC’? Mr Philemon recalled that In 2015, during his contest in Hong Kah North (HKN), parts of Jurong West (now part of Gek Poh ward closest to Jalan Bahar) were within the constituency. However, by GE2020, these areas were redrawn along with West Coast GRC. “I drive through the HKN constituency at least once a week and still meet friends there. There has been a significant increase in the number of flats in the HKN part of Bukit Batok and the Tengah area. ” Having observed significant residential growth in the HKN part of Bukit Batok and the Tengah area, Mr Philemon believes it’s unlikely for HKN to remain an SMC due to the increasing number of voters. Furthermore, he noted recent visits by National Development Minister Desmond Lee, who is also the MP of Boon Lay ward, to Plantation Plaza in Tengah, despite Senior Minister of state Amy Khor taking care of residents in Tengah. This observation led Mr Philemon to speculate that a new 4-member GRC named ‘Tengah’ will be created by the EBRC in the West. “It will likely consist of HKN, Boon Lay (and parts of) Gek Poh wards from West Coast GRC, alongside either Pioneer SMC or Bukit Batok SMC.” In July 2023, a motion to abolish GRC system dismissed by Supermajority PAP Parliament In July last year, Mr Leong Mun Wai and Ms Hazel Poa, the two Non-Constitency Members of Parliament (NCMPs) from the Progress Singapore Party (PSP), filed a motion to abolish the GRC system. The GRC system, a pivotal part of Singapore’s electoral system since its introduction in 1988, was initially introduced to ensure multiracial representation in Parliament. The PSP NCMPs and several opposition members argued that it could potentially serve as a tool for PAP to gain an electoral advantage and potentially undermine the democratic process. Ms Poa asserted that the political manipulation had overshadowed the GRC system’s initial intent of guaranteeing minority representation. She contended that the system poses barriers for opposition parties in assembling a team to contest a GRC, as this requires a significant amount of resources and manpower. Mr Leong Mun Wai highlighted that from a democratic standpoint, the GRC system should be regarded as one of the most undesirable electoral rules in the world. “It magnifies the seat share of the PAP beyond its voting strength and creates opportunities for the manipulation of electoral boundaries for partisan purposes. Over time, it breeds cynicism and disillusion in our political system as the views of the public are not properly reflected in the election results.” said Mr Leong. Mr Leong suggested that the GRC system was used to hamper the opposition’s chances, alluding to potential gerrymandering where boundaries are redrawn advantageously for the ruling party. He said, “Since 1988, SMCs that have been absorbed into GRCs have had a higher average vote share for the Opposition than the average SMC. In many of these SMCs, the Opposition polled above 40%, such as Braddell Heights, Bukit Batok, and Changi in 1991, Joo Chiat in 2011, and Fengshan in 2015.” “Only SMCs and GRCs that the Opposition have won are consistently spared from changes in their electoral boundaries. I therefore fully expect West Coast GRC and other constituencies where PSP contested in the last election to disappear or have their boundaries heavily redrawn in the next election. If that happens, I hope Singaporeans will open their eyes and decide for themselves if these changes are due to population shifts and housing developments, or other reasons.” Referring to the Workers’ Party’s 2020 manifesto, where his party is in favour of replacing the system with Single Member Constituencies, Leader of the Opposition, Mr Pritam Singh, expressed the belief that Singaporean society has matured beyond voting solely along racial lines and suggested that the continued existence of the GRC system could unintentionally reinforce the racial divisions it was intended to ameliorate. Mr Singh sharply questioned the inconsistencies surrounding the alteration of electoral boundaries, highlighting the phenomenon as an issue of gerrymandering. He cited the specific examples of Fengshan and Joo Chiat, previously tightly contested SMCs, becoming parts of a GRC, questioning the rationale behind such decisions. Nevertheless, the Parliament with PAP supermajority had dismissed the PSP motion and defended GRC’s role in maintaining racial and religious harmony in Singapore. https://gutzy.asia/2024/05/14/will-bukit-batok-smc-still-exist-in-the-upcoming-general-election/

Witchcraft and creepy packages: public spellcasting can have legal consequences SYRACUSE, New York – In a bizarre series of stories first reported by Syracuse.com, that also serve as a cautionary tale about public spellcasting, police charged a 51-year-old woman with two counts of fourth-degree witness tampering, misdemeanors, after she allegedly used witchcraft and “hot foot powder.” Around 3:30 p.m. on May 7, one of the Bakers’ neighbors observed a woman exiting a red Jeep Cherokee and sprinkling “a red powder” on the front step of the home of Mark Baker, the Baldwinsville village treasurer, according to the arrest report and supporting documents. Baldwinsville is north of Syracuse, New York on the Erie Canal. Police tracked the Jeep Cherokee the same evening, and Jennifer L. Johnson, 51, of Baldwinsville, was subsequently charged on May 8, 2024, after allegedly being the person who cast a spell and threw “hot foot powder” outside the Baker residence. Johnson told police that she practices witchcraft and stated that she used a mixture of cayenne pepper, cinnamon, black pepper, and eggshells on the Bakers’ property. The mixture is presumed to be hot foot powder. The Emita II passes through Lock 24 across from Paper Mill Island in downtown Baldwinsville [Photo Credit: Mccallusa – Public Domain Hot foot powder is a traditional component in Hoodoo and other magic practices. It is typically used to drive unwanted people away from one’s home or life. The powder is often sprinkled around the target’s home, workplace, or path, with the intention that the target will leave the area and not return. Hot foot powder’s usual ingredients are a mix of cayenne pepper and other hot spices, black pepper, sulfur, and salt. Graveyard dust and ash are other common components. Mark Baker collected some of the powder into a resealable bag. He handed the sample over to the police. According to police documents, she used “this form of witchcraft” with the intent of persuading Mark Baker and his wife, Sandra, to abstain from pursuing legal action in an unrelated criminal case involving a village trustee and her wife. But the incident with Johnson comes after another odd event. According to police reports, the Bakers received unsigned mail from various parts of the country. The packages contained strange items such as a potato, figurines, and a small bottle of liquor. Some of the mail suggested that the sender was aware of the Bakers’ travel schedule. Over a period of 5 months, Baker received over 30 anonymous pieces of mail from across the USA including Atlanta, Boston, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, and Wilmington. The anonymous mail included all sorts of items from a small penguin figurine to a Trader Joe’s gift ward. But in late January, the Bakers received another box with letters glued on it that read, “Say hello to my little friend. I call him Mark.” Inside was a small doll. The Bakers later told the police they were concerned, noting that Al Pacino says this phrase in the film “Scarface” before firing a machine gun. Map showing the location of Baldwinsville within Onondaga County, New York. [Credit: Rcsprinter123 CC BY 3.0] The mail packages continued and the case was cracked by a postal clerk. Village Trustee Donna Freyleue and her wife, Vickie, were charged in April with stalking and harassment for allegedly sending anonymous mail and packages to the Bakers over a five-month period. Freyleue had been elected to the Baldwinsville Village Board as a trustee in March 2024. The women said the objects and mail were a prank. On the night of her arrest, Donna Freyleue stated that she believed Mark Baker would be “amused and entertained” by the anonymous mail arriving from across the country and would “enjoy the mystery,” according to court papers. The Bakers were not amused. According to statements given to the village police, the increasing number of postcards and packages made the Bakers feel threatened and anxious. The Freyleues were each charged on April 9, 2024, with fourth-degree stalking and harassment. The offense is punishable by a maximum term of three months in jail and a fine of up to $500. Johnson was apparently protecting the Freyleues. “My reason for doing this was in the hopes of getting Mark and Sandra to stop any activity against Vickie and Donna,” she reportedly told police in a sworn statement. Johnson’s charge carries a penalty of up to one year in jail. “I apologize for my actions,” Johnson told police. “I will not do anything else to bother Mark and Sandra Baker in any way, shape or form.” Sandra Baker expressed her fear to the police, stating, “This entire incident has shaken me to the bones.” The Bakers have secured orders of protection against both the Freyleues and Johnson. https://wildhunt.org/2024/05/witchcraft-and-creepy-packages-public-spellcasting-can-have-legal-consequences.html

SAN FRANCISCO : A federal court said that Elon Musk must testify again in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's investigation into his $44 billion takeover of Twitter, according to a court filing on Tuesday. The SEC sued Musk in October to compel the Tesla and SpaceX CEO to testify after he refused to attend a September interview for the investigation, saying the SEC was trying to "harass" him with a number of subpoenas. The investigation concerns whether Musk broke federal securities laws in 2022 when he bought stock in Twitter, which he later renamed X. It is also reviewing statements and SEC filings he made in relation to the deal, the agency has previously said. Musk was not immediately available for comments. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/us-federal-court-enforces-secs-subpoena-depose-elon-musk-4336196 @socrates469bc I hope you were shorting his companies...

WTF straight out of a movie.. Very well organized, no hesitation to kill, have to be ex-military.

Two French prison officers have been killed in an ambush on a prison van near Rouen in Normandy. Prisoner Mohamed Amra - known as "The Fly" - was being taken from court to a prison when a car rammed the prison van at a toll booth. Gunmen then opened fire at prison officers, with two officers killed and two critically injured. Several hundred police officers and gendarmes have been deployed to carry out a manhunt. French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X that "everything is being done to find the perpetrators". Prosecutors identified the inmate who was freed as Mohamed Amra, born in 1994. Amra was convicted of burglary on 10 May and had been indicted by prosecutors in Marseille for a kidnapping that led to a death. Who is escaped French prisoner Mohamed Amra? AFP / Getty The 30-year-old inmate is said to have ties to a gang in the southern city of Marseille, which has been plagued by drug-related gang violence. At the time of the ambush which led to his escape he was being transported back to jail in the town of Évreux after attending a morning court hearing in Rouen. The ambush took place around 11:00 (09:00 GMT) near a toll booth on the A154 motorway. The officers were shot with "heavy weapons" by the prisoner's accomplices, according to French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti. The attackers escaped in a car which police believe they have now recovered, abandoned near the toll gate where the attack happened. Watch: Hooded gunmen seen in footage taken from passing bus Roadblocks have been set up across north-west France, with police following up on every tip-off. Speaking to the media following a crisis unit meeting, Mr Dupond-Moretti confirmed that two officers had died. "One leaves behind a wife and two children who were meant to celebrate their 21st birthday in two days. The other leaves a wife who is five months pregnant," he said. "Everything - and I mean everything - will be put in place to find the perpetrators of this vile crime," Mr Dupond-Moretti said, adding that the perpetrators were "people for whom life has no value". They would be found and punished "in a way that is proportionate to the crime", he said. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-69008577

City already missing chances, Spurs playing decent

My feed only plain jane kimchis But atleast this one can speak perfectly good England

Still got sachika

Will dig her anus for some treats

@ManOfTheHour @classyNfabulous @CannotTahanLiao @canot_lidat_lah @ExTreMisTxxx

Second pic look more like Bruno Fernandes

@ManOfTheHour @classyNfabulous @CannotTahanLiao @canot_lidat_lah @ExTreMisTxxx

This one look like my father in law 🤮

@ManOfTheHour @classyNfabulous @CannotTahanLiao @canot_lidat_lah @ExTreMisTxxx

@ManOfTheHour @classyNfabulous @CannotTahanLiao @canot_lidat_lah @ExTreMisTxxx

@ManOfTheHour @classyNfabulous @CannotTahanLiao @canot_lidat_lah @ExTreMisTxxx

Knn this maid is the best pic you posted. The rest seem to suggest your eyesight even more damaged after midnight 🥲

@coffeenut @ManOfTheHour @ExTreMisTxxx

@ManOfTheHour @classyNfabulous @CannotTahanLiao @canot_lidat_lah @ExTreMisTxxx

@ManOfTheHour @classyNfabulous @CannotTahanLiao @canot_lidat_lah @ExTreMisTxxx ignore the Lawrence Wong lookalike smile

@ManOfTheHour @classyNfabulous @CannotTahanLiao @canot_lidat_lah @ExTreMisTxxx