JC SiLent:You cant be that far away from me ; if we're looking on the same side of the moon
Saturday, June 21, 2008
US moving towards 4-day workweek
WASHINGTON - SKYROCKETING energy costs have fuelled fresh interest in the 4-day workweek across the USA as a means to help workers as well as employers cope with the surge.>
In Birmingham, Alabama, city officials decided to implement a 4-day wk starting Jul 1for some 2,400 municipal employees and later in the yr for ard 1,000 police and firefighters.
It allow employees to work 4 10-hr days, may save US$500,000(S$683,000) to US$1 million annually in fuel costs alone for the employees, according to Apr Odom, director of communications for the mayor's office in the city of 242,000 pple.
'Our employees are very excited and ready to start today,' Ms Odom told AFP.
'Our biggest motivation was to give our employees a cost savings due to gasoline prices here. But it will also give parents an extra day with their children and save on day care costs.'
Abr 1,600km north in Maynard, Minnesota, the MACCRAY School District will start a 4-day week for the upcoming school year, saving around 1% of its budget, mainly from tpt costs.
'We were going out for tpt quotes and the difference bet the 4-day and 5-day sch wk was US$55,000,' Superintendent Greg Schmidt said.
149 sch days reduces to 172, but each day will include an extra 65 min for instruction, according to Mr Schmidt.
Gasoline costs have surged to ard US$4 a gallon in much of the USA, up some 30% fr a yr ago, according to the American Automobile Association.
The compressed 4-day week is among many options being used by employees and employers in the USA, including telecommuting and carpooling, to keep tpt costs down.
A 2007 survey by the Society of HRM found 38% of co offering a compressed workweek for some employees as part of flexible work benefits.
USA govt for yrs has allowed some employees to work a compressed schedule. Many local govts, fr Suffolk County, New York, to El Paso, Texas, are studying these options.
Survey released last mth fr consulting firm Robert Half Intl, said 44% of professionals interviewed said higher gasoline prices have affected their commutes, with many changing their work plans.
The changes include carpooling, using more fuel-efficient cars or telecommuting. 26%said they were working fewer days of the wk to trim commuting costs.
A survey by consultancy Challenger Gray & Christmas found the most popular program, utilised by 23% of co, is a condensed workweek, which typically consists of 4 10-hr days.
Mr John Challenger, CEO of the co, said the silver lining in high energy costs is that co and employees are becoming more flexible to adapt to difficult circumstances.
Employers are now focusing more on perf instead of the no of hrs worked, and employees are developing ways to cut costs and become more efficient.
'With our BlackBerrys and our technology we are always working,' he said.
With 4-day weeks, he said, 'not only do people miss the heavy commutes by being at the office earlier and later, but also we're moving to a workplace culture where ppl want long wkends,' he added.
'I don't think we're at the tipping point yet but we are seeing a breaking apart of the traditional work wk.' -- AFP
& 11:34 pm
SCORPIO - The Intense One (Oct 23 - Nov 21)
- Very energetic
- Intelligent
- Can be jealous and/or possessive
- Hardworking
- Great kisser
- Can become obsessive or secretive
- Holds grudges
- Attractive
- Determined.
- Loves being in long r/s
- Talkative
- Romantic
- Can be self-centered at times
- Passionate and Emotional
Conclusion: Getting more short and hot temper or impatient for unknown reasons.. Got white hair. Guess must adapt to new envt, mgt styles,.. learn, familiarise, gain experience,.. asap.
Sorry tt my decision has disappointed some ppl esp my grandma. I'll overcome and work thing out. Need some time.. As per SM, my mkt position is niche mkt. Few and specialised buyers. Simply mean I've small mkt cos i weird.
[Edited] Found a nice companion fr overseas. Hope to see him soon. Exercise more self ctrl if not very high bills. Time to be cruel, harsh,..
"All the best.. Thanks for ur company, attention, time,.. **Hugs and Kiss [as frend]"
& 10:55 pm
Thursday, June 19, 2008
A girl [G] calls her bf [B] on their 7th mth anniversary..
G: I love you
B: Yeah every frends who are girls tell me tt everyday
G: Oh.. am I only your frend?
B: No..you're my gf..why?
G: when I say I love you I really mean it
B: Yeah noe u mean it..its jus tt u dun need to tell me tt u love me anymore cuz I noe u love me since e day we been tog and i love you more each and everyday
G: ..........
B: So wanna go out for our 7th mth anniversary?
G: Yeah...where?
B: I dunno..movie and dinner? Pick u at 730pm?
G: Ok
B: I love you.
G: I love you too!
Aft movie and dinner, they returned to the car . But before she got into the car..
B: Wait! Can I blindfold u?
G: Why??!?
B: Its a surprise. A big one.
G: Ok promise to hold my hand while u drive
B: Promise.
G: Ok blindfold me
B: We're here!! Wait let me walk u to the place!
G: What place??
B: Somewhere!(and gives a kiss to her on the lips..)
The boy walks her to the place....
B: Let me take the blindfold off.
G: Where are we??
He takes the blindfold off. She opens her eyes and sees the city view at tt same spot where he 1st asked her to be his gf..
G: Omg...!(tears come down)
B: Why are you crying?
G: This is where you 1st asked me out.
B: Wat are u doing the rest of ur life? (he asked on his knees. In the air it says 'Will you marry me?' in fireworks)
G:(tears come down faster)
B: wasnt at work when you called..Was planning this!
G: Get up! (Kisses him aft he got up)
Boy: Is that a yes or a no?
G: [She nod with a smile]
& 7:20 pm
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Next big caze in Spore, iPHONE 3G news release
iPHONE 3G reservation
APPLE iPHONE TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
& 10:01 pm
To Diana, Shannon and whoever tt feel the agony
Waiting is a painful process regardless wat is it..
When I have a job
Worried, stressed, scared:
Din perform well and affect appraisal
Dun meet various expectation/std
Can't meet deadlines
Can't get along, , incooperative ppl
Unreasonable, unfair treatment, system
Plan when to take leave for exam, holi to avoid crashes
Tactful/fake, caution when playing the unavoidable game "Office Politics"
Bear/accept current situation
Think of exit strategy such as when is the best to move on when it is so unbearable
When hunting/unemployed
Worried, scared, stressed
Can't and dun meet society and self expectation of success, achievement
Being compared wif everyone whom seems so happy, glamorous, successful, bright,..
Want to cry at times
Esp when no one seems to understd, not appreciate
Admire, envy those freelancer who have high earning power
More self ctrl over life, time
Aspire to have high earning value, value added person
Study for money [Increase earning and value adding power]
Work to travel [Earn to travel which is my motivation]
Worries, stress, fear is endless
& 9:28 pm
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Shannon & my joint complaint letter
Poor Service Quality at K-Box Orchard Celeleisure on 8 June 2008, Sun
My friend and I went for the K-Lunch on the above mentioned date ard 11.30am. The counter staff told us that our session will end at 2.30pm as I made a booking.
We ordered our drink shortly after we were brought to the room. But the staff totally forgot about our lunch until I asked him. Till then he realised that he had forgotten our orders
An hour later, my friend checked with the staff why the lunch had not come and was told that the staff will get back to her soon.
Half an hour later, the staff did not get back to her. Therefore I chked with the manager what happened to my order. The lunch then finally came at 1.45pm
When the staffs went around collecting the empty dishes, we had only just started eating.
At 2pm, one of your staff knocked on our door again and said " last song", which apparently was not was said earlier on. Upon realising her mistake she quickly corrected that it was 2.30pm before she left.
Our mood was totally dampened by these incidents and may I ask what kind of cust service KBox is providing when I still see KBox staff and hanging ard chitchatting and laughing and not even checking if their service is being fulfilled?
& 9:02 pm
Sunday, June 15, 2008
To SM
Thanks for looking out for me!! Too bad I wasn't ard. Let's go there on Sat before 8pm and leave in time for the last train. Then hor will they be 'attracted' to me and befrend me huh? Prefer charming, witty, humourous, mature, tall.. guy leh. Too gd to be true if I noe such guys.
To Diana
Let's go Holl V when free.. Nice hang out to drop by more often. To see guys.. oso?
To GH
Follow ur heart for love!!!
For Angeline. If interested to go overseas like HK, pls approach her
** More Egypt pic coming **
& 5:28 pm