时下最火红的信用卡

今年年初，Maybank推出了新的信用卡，叫做Maybankard 2 (中文叫做“双卡”)。
顾名思义，“双卡”就是有两张卡，即一张American Express + 一张Visa或mastercard卡。

用户们需要知道的是，这两张卡的feature有所不同。
Maybankard 2 American Express
~ 在weekdays (Mondays to Fridays) 可赚取 5倍 treats points. (RM1 = 5 points)
~ 在weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) 可赚取5倍 treats points + 5% cashback (* subject to maximum RM50 per month)

Maybankard 2 Visa or Mastercard
~ 一年365天 都只是 1倍treats points罢了 (RM1 = 1 point)

现在，你应该很清楚哪一张卡才是主角了吧？当然是Maybankard 2 American Express 咯！
如果你住在城市，这张American Express卡就好用了。霸级市场（Giant/Tesco/Carrefour）、添油（Shell/Esso/Mobil/Caltex）、购物商场（1Utama/Pavillion/KLCC/Empire/etc）、大医院（Tropicana/KPJ/SJMC/Pantai）都接受Amex付款。

Lowyat论坛有一个很有用的帖子，里面列出所有能够使用Amex的地方。

为善忘付出昂贵的代价

最近常用支票簿。
买东西、缴付2张卡的卡帐，用了三张支票，就“来野”了2次。
幸好我的支票户头有auto sweep便利，才不至于被银行tendang cek。
这个autosweep是在支票过账(clearing)的时候，如果户头结存不足，银行会自动把差额（short balance）算在信用卡户头上。代价是cash advance fee 5%。

Cek tendang也叫做“bok cheque”，是来往户头最忌的事情，也是银行非常关注的事情。一个来往户头如果时常bok cheque的话，银行是有权利随时终止account activity的噢。每一张cek tendang将被银行罚款RM100。


我现在有点怕开支票了...还是直接转账比较容易control/monitor。

HLB Smartlink Account, your preferred salary account

Benefits of Hong Leong SmartLink Account:

	Checking facility.
	Attractive interest rates calculated daily and credited quarterly.
	Free-for-life Hong Leong Gold Credit Card** with minimum RM500 balance.
	Bi-monthly Statements.
	Lowest Interbank GIRO (IBG) fees at only RM0.50 per transaction.
	Convenient access to your account via ATM, Internet and Phone banking.

     FREE Debit Card (No RM50 GST charged)
     FREE Touch'n Go Zing Card (Offers valid from 15 Oct 2010 - 15 Apr 2011)


Eligibility: 

• 18 years old
• Minimum RM20 to open new account

From my point of view, this account is very competitive in term of its RM0.50 IBG fee (unlimited transactions). At the moment, only basic type current/savings account (from all local banks) charge RM0.50 IBG fee for the first two transactions, subsequent transactions will be charged RM2.00.

Besides, HLB Smartlink Account does not require the accountholder to maintain at least RM1,000 like other banks do. Anyway, you may think RM1,000 is very easy to maintain, but some may not think so.

Free Touch n Go Zing Card is also a plus point of this account. Whenever TnG balance falls below RM50, it will be reloaded RM100 automatically with minor RM0.50 fee. Better still, the reload earns reward points too. It is very useful for heavy TnG users.

Overall, those who are looking for an account which has checking facility and low IBG fee, this is it!

For more details, please visit:
Hong Leong Bank SmartLink Account
Brochure
Terms and conditions for 10%p.a. Bonus Interest
Interest rate

Reload your Touch N' Go using CIMB ATM card without service charge

古代官吏颈上的朝珠

朝珠由108颗珠子贯穿而成，挂于颈上，垂在胸前。朝珠的质料有东珠、翡翠、玛瑙、蓝晶石、珊瑚等。每盘朝珠有四个大珠，垂在胸前的叫“佛头”，在背后还有一个下垂的“背云”，在朝珠两侧，有三串小珠，左二右一，各10粒，名为“记捻”。按清《会典》规定，自皇帝、后妃到文官五品、武官四品以上，皆可配挂朝珠，朝珠虽然是装饰品,但一般官员和百姓不能随意佩带。对于佩带何种质地的朝珠，也有严格的区分和等级规定，从官员胸前所佩带朝珠质地的好坏，可以看出官员的品级高低来。官员觐见皇帝时必须伏地跪拜，只要朝珠碰地，即可代替额头触地。朝珠的直径越大，珠串就越长，佩挂者俯首叩头的幅度就可减小，这可以说是皇上对不同官职的不同恩赐。


在清代，上至皇帝，下至一定品级的官员都带朝珠。朝珠，尤其是皇帝的朝珠它有特定的含义，比如说东周朝珠，它是皇帝上朝戴的，像红珊瑚朝珠呢，它是皇帝祭日戴的，绿松石朝珠是皇帝祭月戴的。另外，朝珠它是一个人身份和等级的象征，比如说东珠朝珠，当年清代开国元勋多尔衮，还有大贪官和珅，当时在追究他们罪状之一就有一条，私匿东周朝珠。这串朝珠无论从工艺、从它的特征，从它的装饰方法都符合官制朝珠的特征。