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What Goes Inside the Black Box

The world is consumed by one of Aviation’s greatest mystery – so far. After many days of arduous searching, authorities finally identified the possible spot where flight MH 370 might have crashed. Malaysia Prime Minister announced in a press conference that the plane is somewhere in the vastness of Indian Ocean.

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The exact spot is not yet identified but Malaysian authorities are certain that it is somewhere in Indian Ocean. Many countries help Malaysia including Singapore but there are still many things to do and many portions to cover. The families of the passengers and cabin crew are still looking for answers.

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The good news is that the data saved inside the box will not be lost even if the battery runs out. If the battery runs out, the pinging or the sonar will stop sending signal. It will not function. This will make the task of searching the wreckage even harder. United States of America Navy deployed Towed Pinger Locator (a listening device) to assist the search.The answer lies in the black box. The black box is known as flight data recorder. It contains a lot of answers that is why authorities manically search for it. You should know that all planes have black boxes in case things happen. However, people are starting to get worried again because the life span of the black box is 30 days and it will soon run out of battery.

US Navy uses this technology for many years now. They successfully identified some black boxes and wreckage for twenty years now. Let us just hope that the black box will be uncovered soon. Singaporeans need answers. Families need closer.

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For the Tech Savvy Senior Citizens

Who said that the technology is only for the young? Old people can also enjoy technology because, after all, it is for everybody. For senior citizens with particular interests in computers, they will be happy to know that the Government has started an IT helpline, which seeks to help seniors with computer related problems. Furthermore, the IT helpline can assist seniors when it comes to solving technical problems specifically in the hardware and software.

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The Silver IT Care

This IT helpline is called The Silver IT Care. This program is carried out by RSVP (Organization for Silver Volunteers), C3A (Council for the Third Age) and Singapore’s Infocomm Development Authority. The IT helpline will commence next month. What makes this unique is the call agents; call agents are trained senior volunteers.

Prioritizing the Elderly

Only the elderly can know and understand the difficulties of other elderly. We should give importance to our seniors because without them, Singapore will not be like this. Aside from the soon to be IT helpline, there are many benefits of senior citizens here in Singapore. The helpline will be open from 10am-4pm, Mondays to Fridays.

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Qualifications

When we talk about senior citizens, it refers to Singaporeans and PRs (Permanent Residents) aged 60 years and above. For example, when you go to establishments, you are entitled to some discounts. There are others that will let you in for free. In the case of the ACM (Asian Civilisations Museum), seniors can enter for free. If seniors wan to catch a movie, they are discounted too. Not only that, seniors will also get discounts when they ride public transports.

Tax Refund in Singapore

Have you heard about Tax Refund? It is important that you know something about it while you are in Singapore because it can help you at the end of the day. As a visitor in Singapore, you are entitled to claim a refund on GST (Goods and Services Tax) when you leave the country. You will be refunded 7% of your total purchases. To qualify for the tax refund, you have to spend at least S$100 or more. You might ask how to claim your tax refund. Here’s how:

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eTRS Self Help Kiosk

eTRS (Electronic Tourist Refund Scheme) is the easiest and the most convenient way to claim your tax refund. You should select one debit/credit card as a token for marking your purchases that are entitled for refund. The purpose of this token is to easily identify or recover all details of your purchases at once when you consider GST at eTRS kiosks.

Shops

Make sure to shop at eTRS participating stores. When shopping, you should use one debit/credit card as a token. You should not forget to ask for receipt and eTRS ticket after paying.

Prior to Departure

If you want to check in your purchases, you should first apply a GST refund at the nearest eTRS kiosks (check in hall of the airport or level one of the cruise terminal) by means of your eTRS tickets or tokens. Keep in mind that you are not allowed a tax refund if you checked in your purchases before your application.

If you want to hand carry your purchases, you can go to eTRS kiosks (Departure Transit Lounge of the airport or level two of the cruise terminal) and apply for GST refunds.

Collecting Refunds

If you leave via the Changi Airport, tax refund will be given to you through cash or credit card. If you prefer to credit the refund directly to your card, you should wait for ten days. If you prefer cash refunds, you should head to Central Refund Counter with the slip so you can collect your cash.

If you leave via the International Passenger Terminal, Marina Bay Cruise Centre and Seletar Airport, tax refund will be given to you through bank cheque or credit card. If you prefer bank cheque refunds, you should first fill out important details like the mailing address and the payee name on the slip. After that, you can drop the accomplished slip to designated refund box. The cheque will be mailed to you after 14 days.

How much will it Cost You to Live in SG?

If you are moving to Singapore, it is important that you determine first the cost of living so you will know what to expect when you get there. You should know that the cost of living in Singapore is quite high than other countries in Asia.

If your compensation package comprises of benefits like transportation, housing and other allowances, living in Singapore is comfortable. However if your compensation does not include transportation, housing and other allowances, you can still find something that will surely fit your budget.

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Here are some factors that you need to consider:

Accommodation and Utilities

You can choose to buy or rent serviced apartments, condominiums, HBD flats and private apartments. For serviced apartments, the monthly rental range from S$7000 to S$14000. Condominiums range from S$4500 to S$15000. HBD flats range from S$2200 to S$3000. Private apartments range from S$5000 to S$7000.

Aside from the monthly rental, you need to pay utilities to include bills (light, water, phone, internet, phone subscription and cable), gas and many more. You should set at least S$200 to S$600 a month for your utilities expenses.

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Food

Food prices in Singapore are relatively inexpensive. At the end of the day, the cost of food depends on how extravagant are. If you want to eat out, there are various restaurants and hawkers in Singapore. You can expect foods that cost S$5 to S$200. If you want to cook at home, you can set your budget from S$1000 to S$1500 per month.

Transportation

In Singapore, you can choose to ride the public transport, taxi and your private car. Public transport is the least expensive. MRT and bus fare will cost you about S$150 to S$300 per month. Taxi fare depends on the mile and the taxi company. There are surcharges that you need to remember. For private cars, you need a fuel or petrol to keep it running. A litre of petrol costs S$2.15 to S$3. It depends upon you how many litres you want.

What You Need To Know About Hearing Loss

Oh how wonderful life is when we can hear clearly. Hearing loss is defined as the weakening of our sensitivity to sound. If we are suffering from loss of hearing, our ears are unable to pick up sounds therefore impairing the brain’s interpretation of that specific sound. It can be very serious or a mild one but regardless, it is important that we seek doctors to help us with this problem.

There are many causes of hearing loss but the common causes are old age, noise, disease and heredity. There are two categories of hearing loss:

Sensorineural hearing loss

This type of hearing loss is serious because it can be permanent. This usually happens when there is damage to the auditory nerve and hair cells. Common causes include traumas (head, pressure and acoustic), too much ototoxic drugs (antibiotics, aspirin, ibuprofen and many others), infections (mumps, measles, influenza, meningitis, herpes and syphilis) and vascular diseases.

Conductive hearing loss

Conductive hearing loss takes place when sound waves are unable to reach the inner ear. A simple case which can be fixed right away is the build-up of ear wax in the ear canal. Other causes include middle ear infections, blast injuries, dislocated ossicle or tiny bones and ear canal infection.

Preventions

The first thing that you should do is avoid loud noises. If possible, manage the noise. If it is too loud, lower its volume. If you feel that it is only a blockage of ear wax, you can always remedy that at home. You should first ask the doctor for safe but effective treatments.

If you feel that it is more serious, it is time to consult your doctor.

 

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