Redesign, reinvent, redo

Creating fancy weblog and maintaining it isn't easy. Web design is tedious when a webmaster has to frequently change the outlook of its webpage.

Just as when the CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) seems to be the answer that provides the convenience to layout, colours and font-style; the hosting of scripts, applets, pictures, icons and widgets is yet another problem that crops up occasionally. The web is never permanent.

Geocities will be closed at the end of this year. With that, XurfNet will have to be revamped too. This time, it will be even more simple; hopefully not dull.

Redesigning is one thing. Keeping the blog alive is another. As such, the site will focus on even more smaller things that relates even more closely to people who visits and support it. It is also due to the shrinking time that I have left for all the things I love to do.

That would entail reinventing XurfNet.

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Tesco Tebrau City

The new Tesco was opened in Tebrau City, just next to Jusco, the second-largest Jusco mall in Southeast Asia. That area has effectively become the biggest shopping area in JB.

What's new and attractive about the shopping mall? I went to find out on Sunday.

There's a snack kiosk called the YS' Station, opened by a friend named Bryan. It sells multi-flavoured fries, hotdogs and drinks. The idea of setting up a stall to sell takeaway fries was conceived many years ago when I was drafiting business plans with a friend just back from Japan. That idea did not take off and years later, many such businesses sprung around JB.

Another outlet which attracted me was the new food chain from the UK, the London Fish Tales. Those who get tired of chicken and beef fast-foods may like to try fish.

What I'm more interested to find out is how would Tesco stand out and appeal to the public or how it would differentiate itself from the more lavish and more established Jusco right next to it?

The two-storey mall has colourful shops and some unusual brands not readily found elsewhere in the city. Apart from the London Fish Tales, they also have the Vietnamese Restaurant, King's Confectionery which entered the Malaysia Book of Records as the largest confectionery retail chain in Malaysia, and kiosks that sells exotic tarts and snacks.

Above all what's important, Tesco maintains its distinct identity as grocery provider which sets it apart from its opposite neighbour, Jusco which targets high-end consumers and indoor leisure. Clearly, the two are not rivals. It can be complementary instead of rivalry to give shoppers greater options and reasons to visit Tebrau City.

I also saw a lot of people crossing the road from Jusco to Tesco. It would be heartening to have an overhead pedestrian bridge, directly linking the two malls.

It remains interesting to see how a fusion of UK-based and Japan-based businesses can create in Tebrau City.

p/s: pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/xurfnet/tags/tebraucity/

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21 Wanted

21 'wanted' criminals - rapists and robbers - are still at large, warned a Chinese daily.

The public are urged to keep a lookout on these people in the areas where they live and to cooperate with the police to apprehend these crooks.

Majority of those named, with photos and details of their addresses given, are JB-rians.

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JB Attractions

Pauline asked what to do, where to go and what to eat in JB?

JBrians would usually go to Singapore, Kota Tinggi or Pontian for fun so it's not surprising that many are trouled by the question whenever they're asked and tasked to play host to their friends, relatives and colleagues coming here and bring them around the city.

It's rather difficult to find the answers on the net. Some recommend this, others recommend that. In short, you won't get a comprehensive guide to all the places of interest in JB.

So, XurfNet will be the first to list out Johor Bahru's main/major attractions and places of interest.

1. Danga Bay
- leisure, dining & kids theme parks

2. Jusco Tebrau City
- Southeast Asia's second-largest Jusco mall

3. Ah Koong Fishball
- one of a very few local brands that we can proudly call our own

4. The Zon
- south Malaysia's duty-free zone

5. Nasi Lemak Senibong
- Permas seaside seafood village

6. Holiday Plaza
- World's most notorious 'pirated heaven' (clothes, handbags, shoes, DVDs)

7. Taman Tasek 'kuey teow kia'
- only in JB and the one under-the-tree food stalls is the most popular

8. City Square
- it has a section popular for its street fashion

If you know of any other significant or popular places and things about JB, share it with us.

Help us and many others discover 'Xinshan'.

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HD5

MediaCorp's high-definition (HD) television signal, HD5, is also available in Johor Bahru. The HDTV channel is a HD version of Channel 5. RSangel has just finished setting up and testing the media configurations at his home in Taman Gaya yesterday and he's sharing his knowledge with XurfNet.

"When connected (receiving) to HD5, the programmes are actually upscaled contents, the same as Channel 5. The only difference is the sound quality which is digital. But when movie time... it will show TRUE HD with 5.1 Dolby Surround sound."

"The digital channels (8, 5, Channel NewsAsia and HD5) comes with digital time schedule."

The requirements are simple:
- TV card / DVB-tuner box
- personal computer (PC)
- connectors - HDMI,Component (5 connectors),S-Sub,Composite/AV (yellow, red, white)
- LCD TV

RSangel uses Hauppauge HVR 1300 MCE (S$159) TV tuner card on his PC which then connects to the LCD via HDMI cable:

TV card -> PC -> HDMI -> LCD

A TV card is capable of connecting to both the antenna and Astro decoder (which uses AV connectors). It can then schedule recording of television programmes from the antenna or Astro.

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Air Asia On Affected Johor Passengers

Macau-bound passengers from Senai Airport in October will be notified of their flight cancellation, the latest, one week before their scheduled flights, said an Air Asia service operator.

Tony Fernandes, the CEO of the carrier company replied via e-mail that "We are working on improving our communications."

There will be no direct flights from Macau to Senai starting Oct 5. The last flight between the two points is on Oct 4.

Air Asia's Guest Support operators suggest that affected commuters in Johor may change their return flights to transit from KL to Senai. An alternative would be cancelling Air Asia's return flight and make a new reservation with other airlines in Singapore.

One operator explained that measures have been taken to inform the passengers and many are still in the 'waiting list' which explains the slow response or action.

Concerned passengers who wish to make changes or cancel their flight schedules are required to make phone calls to Air Asia's call centres in Kuala Lumpur. Johor Bahru's sales office only handles sales related matters.

XurfNet would advise the abovementioned customers to make non-stop phonecall attempts - may take several days - to Air Asia's call centres.

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AirAsia Ceased Senai-Macau Service

Air Asia has discontinued its Senai-Macau flight service. The last flight is on Oct 4. This was the second change of flight arrangement by Air Asia without notice in less than two months.

In late July, the budget airline changed its daily flights schedule between Senai and Macau to three-days week - Tue, Thu, Sat.

Anguish

Commuters are anguished and outraged of not being notified - twice.

No action was taken to inform the customers and the public of the decision and change. There was no announcement on the website and newspapers. No phone call, sms or e-mail.

Those who are fortunate enough learn about it from chat forums on the internet.

Worst still, there is no special service to help troubled customers either. Air Asia offices, especially Kuala Lumpur's call centres, are difficult to reach by phone. It could take days to finally get someone to answer the calls.

The misery is compounded for those who had made bookings for accommodations for their holidays in Macau and places around it (Zhuhai, Hong Kong, Shenzhen..etc.). Each changes incurs more losses in cancellations and new reservations of rooms and flights with other airlines. No compensations whatsoever.

Air Asia is a complete failure.

Speculations

Rumours have been spreading that the airline is facing serious financial problem. Taxes, surcharges and fees collected from customers were not paid to airports and instead were used for further expansions. Now, the airports are asking for its pay. Thus, causing it a severe cash flow crisis.

But the streamlining of Senai's flight schedules to Macau to three-days week might suggest that there is not enough passengers to cover the costs of daily operations. So, it tries to optimise the number of passengers per flight.

Sorry, you can't fly

What ever the reasons are, Air Asia has decided to stop operating its Senai flight to Macau. It has given up Johor's market demand to Macau; boosting its rivals' reputation and business in Singapore: Tiger Airways and Jetstar.

Most likely, it'll be gone for good as confidence towards it is lost.

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Roti Hotdog Kosong

The hotdog was sliced half. Only the front and back end of the roti (bread) have it; none in the middle.

This is not 'roti hotdog'. This is essentially 'roti kosong'. We pay the price of roti hotdog but get roti kosong.

This is what 'inflation' can do to affect our lives.

We need to raise the economy and the income of the people faster than inflation. Otherwise, the people at the bottom of the chain will forever be 'shortchanged'.

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