Buy and Sell Safely

ALWAYS:
  • Arrange to meet so the buyer can examine the item before payment.
  • Be suspicious of too-good-to-be-true offers; there's probably a catch. 
NEVER EVER:
  • Send money before you have seen the item.
  • Send an item before you have been paid.

Well Known Classifieds Scams

  • Cheap overseas mobile phone - iPhones, etc
  • Cheap loans- overseas
  • Get rich programs
  • Advance Funds Fraud
  • Puppy Scams
Be Smart and Don't Be Fooled

Animals In The News

We know its a real jungle out there, so we've brought you quick snippets of animals in the news.
  • Its all in the genes We all know that moles are short-sighted. But what we didn't know is that the short-sightedness is caused by a genetic defect. It was previously believed that a mole's 'blindness' is a degenerative condition that starts in adulthood. This recent study released by the University of Aberdeen proves that the blindness is caused by a disruption to the gene development during the embryonic stage. (21 Oct 08)

  • [PACHYDERM PROBLEM] Chinese elephant kicks heroin habit but still unsuitable for wildlife Four-year-old Xiguang, a Chinese elephant spent the last three years in rehab to kick the heroin habit. And because of that, this poor creature can never be assimilated back into the wild. The years of domestication and the amount of medication has affected the elephant's ability to survive in its natural environment. Xiguang became addicted to the drug since he was lured by animal smugglers with heroin-laced bananas. (20 Oct 08)

  • [REPTILIAN RHAPSODY] Giant man-eating croc to be used for breeding What is Australia to do with the giant crocodile suspected of having made a meal of a holidaymaker? Make it a stud to breed more crocodiles, apparently. The 4.5 metre crocodile, captured earlier this month was found with human remains in its stomach. Authorities are in the process of determining if the remains belong to Arthur Booker, who had disappeared in September. The crocodile's size makes it a candidate for conservation, but its track record makes is unsuitable for the zoo or any wildlife facility. Hence the decision to have this giant croc spend the rest of its life on a farm.(16 Oct 08)

  • [RABBIT INFESTATION] Mandela's former prison overrun by rabbits There really is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Thousands of rabbits are apparently causing mayhem on, Nelson Mandela's former prsion grounds, Robben Island, . These rabbits will have to be culled to ensure the preservation of the delicate ecological balance of the island. To faciliate this exercise, the Rodden Island Museum will have closed for two weeks in November.(16 Oct 08)

  • [FELINE MATTERS] Illegal trade of tiger parts still growing in parts of Asia From skins to claws to bones. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recently reported that these parts of the tiger and other protected big cats are still being traded openly in Myanmar. At least half of these parts come from species that are banned from international trade, with many of these species on the endangered list. The WWF puts this down to a serious lack of law enforcement and will continue monitoring the situation. (15 Oct 08)

  • [CONSERVATION NEWS] Gray wolves back on US endangered list Great news for the twelve environmental groups who claimed this victory over the US government. The courts ruled that the gray wolves from the northern Rocky Mountains were to be returned to the endangered species list. This ruling will serve to preserve this species which came close to extinction in the early 70s. Efforts at the reintroduction of this species into Idaho, Montana and Wyoming has successfully brought the numbers to 1,200. (15 Oct 08)

  • [SCIENCE OF LIFE] Shark in captivity reproduced asexually Will the male species be obsolete? Well, one never knows. Scientists at the State University of New York has confirmed that a female blacktip shark, bred in captivity, has conceived a baby without ever having mated with a male shark. This is the second such instance, with the first occuring in 2007 at an aquarium in Omaha, Nebraska. These two instances have shown that asexual reproduction is not merely confined to certain insects, spiders, centipedes and crustaceans. (15 Oct 08)

  • [MOVIE NEWS] "Chihuahua" a runaway success at the US box office
    Dogs still make for excellent movie material. Disney's "Beverly Hills Chihuahua", released in North America, stood #1 at the box office for the second week running, garnering USD17.5 million. A canine comedy featuring the voices of Drew Barrymore and Andy Garcia, this movie will open in Singapore in early December.(14 Oct 08)

  • [FELINE MATTERS] Witchcraft in Namibian Court? A cat which disrupted court proceedings in Namibia raised questions of witchcraft against presiding magistrate. The cat was last seen scrambling out of the courtroom, but not before leaving some scratches on Magistrate Thomas Kanime. Even as the public expressed concerns of his well-being, Kanime says it was a normal cat which was at the wrong place at the wrong time.(14 Oct 08)

  • [REPTILIAN RHAPSODY] Human remains found in Australian crocodile Human remains have been found in a giant crocodile captured in a remote area of Queensland, say Australian police. This, only 4.5 metres from where 62-year-old fisherman, Arthur Booker, disappeared at the end of September. While the evidence might suggest that the remains belong to Burke, only a DNA test will confirm this.(14 Oct 08)

Be a Responsible Pet Owner

Sure they're all cute and adorable, but have you asked yourself these questions?

  • Should I get a pet?
  • Do I have the resources (time & money) to maintain a pet?
  • Are my family members agreeable to a pet?

Here's a  Pet Starter Kit to help you decide.

What's new on MOCCA Community

Need a place for your CNY Reunion Dinner. Why not check out these places..