Dec 28, 2009
Dec 20, 2009
Chinese Proverb
Dec 18, 2009
Some very Good and Very bad things
The greatest Joy.................................................Giving
The greatest loss............................Loss of self-respect
The most satisfying work......................Helping others
The ugliest personality trait........................Selfishness
The most endangered species..........Dedicated leaders
Our greatest natural resource....................Our youth
The greatest 'shot in the arm'.............Encouragement
The greatest problem to overcome….....................Fear
The most effective sleeping pill............Peace of mind
The most crippling failure disease...............Excuses
The most powerful force in life.........................Love
The most dangerous pariah.....................A gossiper
The world's most incredible computer......The brain
The worst thing to be without....................Hope
The deadliest weapon........................The tongue
The two most power-filled words............'I Can'
The greatest asset......................................Faith
The most worthless emotion..................Self-pity
The most beautiful attire.......................SMILE!
The most prized possession..................Integrity
The most powerful channel of communication......Prayer
The most contagious spirit..................Enthusiasm
The most important thing in life..................GOD.
Dec 17, 2009
BA staff to strike over Christmas
Cabin crew announced the strike dates at a highly charged meeting of Unite union members at Sandown racecourse this afternoon
The holiday plans of nearly 1 million British Airways passengers have been thrown into chaos after cabin crew voted for a 12-day strike over Christmas and the new year.
The walkout by 12,500 cabin crew between 22 December and 2 January will ground Heathrow airport's largest carrier and will spark a scramble for tickets on rival airlines as passengers are forced to find alternative means of completing their journeys.
Cabin crew announced the strike dates at a highly charged meeting of Unite union members at Sandown racecourse this afternoon following a ballot of staff over changes to staff numbers and budgets.
If BA management and Unite representatives fail to reach a compromise agreement over the next week, the walkout will deal a crippling financial and reputational blow to the airline. BA is already on course to lose £600m in the current year after posting a record loss of £401m in the 12 months to March 2009.
However, the biggest blow will be to about 910,000 passengers who were booked to travel with BA on the strike dates, including the days before and after the scheduled strikes when services are also expected to be disrupted. BA expects to carry about 65,000 passengers a day over the festive period. The last serious industrial dispute involving cabin crew, in early 2007, saw BA refund passengers or switch them to services with other airlines if space was available and is estimated to have cost the carrier £80m.
The announcement of strike action came just a few hours after BA released details of a near-doubling of its pension deficit to £3.7bn, up from £1.9bn. Analysts said the pensions black hole – one of the largest pension fund deficits in the private sector – was bigger than expected, although not so high that it would derail the group's planned merger with the Spanish carrier Iberia.
A BA spokeswoman denied that the pension funds announcement was deliberately timed to coincide with the Sandown meeting. 'The pension scheme is not an issue that is part of the ballot. Once we had reached an agreement with the pension trustees, we had to release it to the market.' However, the widened funding gap underlines the loss-making airline's need to return to profitability as soon as possible.
'The airline and trustees will now work together to develop a recovery plan, a process which will involve the company consulting with employees and their trade unions,' BA said.
Douglas McNeill, analyst at Astaire Securities, said the main issue for the airline was whether trustees put further strain on the carrier's balance sheet by demanding an increase in the annual £330m payment that BA pours into the funds. 'This is a precursor to the main event with the trustees about whether cash contributions will have to rise. The company has a fairly strong case because it is on course to lose a lot of money this year. It can argue with a lot of conviction that it is in no position to increase payments in cash terms.'
According to one analyst, a two-day strike would cost the airline £50m, with a 12-day walkout costing the airline about £300m. BA recently raised the amount of accessible cash on its balance sheet to about £2bn but had anticipated using that money to weather the effects of the recession, not a severe bout of industrial action.
Cheques to be bounced into history
UK banks set to vote tomorrow to phase out 300-year-old tradition of paying by cheque
Do you pay the milkman by cheque? Slip a surprise cheque in a Christmas card to a grandson or granddaughter? Or maybe you simply don't trust direct debits when dealing with gas and electricity companies?
In the future you'll have no choice but to pay electronically, by plastic, or go online if, as expected, Britain's banks vote tomorrow to phase out the tradition dating back more than 300 years of payment by cheque.
Cheques cost up to £1 each to process – and the number written has been falling steadily. As recently as 2002 a typical consumer in Britain was writing 31 cheques a year, but the number fell to 14 by 2008. Big stores such as Marks & Spencer have already stopped taking cheques, and the Payments Council, which sets strategy for UK payments in Britain, says they are now used for fewer than one in 25 purchases.
Scandinavian countries and Ireland have already voted to phase out cheques, and a board meeting of the Payments Council tomorrow afternoon expected to set an 'end date' of 2018 for cheque clearing in Britain.
It wants consumers to switch to cheaper and faster electronic payment processing and says it will use the eight-year transitional period to ensure alternative arrangements are put in place.
'Mapping out how the UK might move to a society where, by 2018, there is no need to use a cheque for any type of payment is no small task,' said council spokeswoman Sandra Quinn. 'Even if the board decides to set a target date, we are clear that we would need to continue to engage with as many other bodies as possible to understand their concerns and requirements. The demise of the cheque in 2018 is only feasible if interim targets are set and met and it can be demonstrated that no one will lose out.'
But the phasing out of cheques has led to intense concern among groups representing senior citizens. Many elderly bank customers are unhappy about online banking, or have sight difficulties and prefer the comfort of using cheques.
Neil Duncan-Jordan, of the National Pensioners Convention, said: 'Using a cheque to settle your financial affairs is extremely important to older pensioners who might struggle in later life with the use of chip and pin. This option is effectively removing choice from a whole section of the population. The representatives of the Payments Council are completely out of touch with the needs of older consumers and need to think again.'
Age Concern and Help the Aged say that 6.4 million over-65s have never used the internet, and the loss of cheques will force older people to keep large amounts of cash at home, leaving them vulnerable to theft and fraud.
Andrew Harrop, head of public policy at the charities, said: 'Many older people rely on cheques as their main form of payment and will be very worried about how they will manage if they are withdrawn.
'Our fear is that setting a date will give the green light to banks and retailers to withdraw cheques even earlier than 2018, as some already have. It is vital that before cheques are phased out, the Payments Council ensures there is a practical, safe, paper-based alternative in place which serves the needs of this group.'
Small businesses point out that, despite the decline, there are still 1.4bn cheques written every year by individuals and businesses to pay bills, traders or family members.
Stephen Alambritis, of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: 'This sends completely the wrong message to the self-employed, small businesses and people who run small clubs and charities.
'We are opposed to the Payments Council dictating this, at the behest of the big banks, when cheques are still hugely popular as a method of payment. We know that students and young adults are using the chequebook less and less, and the banks talk about things such as cheque fraud. But it is terribly wrong to set any date as to when they can no longer be used. They are also an important record of transactions for small businesses.'
But Quinn said that most under-30s now barely use cheques, while the under-20s have barely heard of them.
She added: 'So far, no group consulted has said 2018 is not feasible although all parties recognise that it would be a major challenge to get right and that currently sufficient and accessible alternatives to cheques do not exist for a number of individuals and users.'
The Payments Council board is made up of 16 directors, 12 from the banks and four independents. The independent directors enjoy a power of veto, but are not expected to impose it tomorrow.
Dec 16, 2009
Balance Sheet Of Life
Our Death is our Closing Balance!
Our Prejudiced Views are our Liabilities.
Our Creative Ideas are our Assets.
Heart is our Current Asset.
Soul is our Fixed Asset.
Brain is our Fixed Deposit.
Thinking is our Current Account.
Achievements are our Capital.
Character & Morals, our Stock-in-Trade.
Friends are our General Reserves.
Values & Behaviour are our Goodwill.
Love is our Dividend.
Children are our Bonus Issues..
Education is Brands / Patents.
Knowledge is our Investment.
Experience is our Premium Account.
The Aim is to Tally the Balance Sheet Accurately.
The Goal is to get the Best Presented Accounts Award.
Dec 14, 2009
365 days
Dec 13, 2009
No more cheese
The result, is unhealthy food, which I remembered no more cheese for me, as I get nosiated.
Attempt
Attempting, means not failing.
Dec 12, 2009
Life of an Employee
Dec 10, 2009
Dec 8, 2009
Lessons in Logic
Dec 7, 2009
Happy birthday Petite
Dec 6, 2009
Honorary Blogs
- www.kishorcariappa.com
- bloggers4oman.blogspot.com
- dubaiguy78.blogspot.com
- www.muscati.com
- www.osama.ae
- amjad248.blogspot.com / www.amjad248.com
- www.beinoman.com
- beyondnormal.blogspot.com
- blue-chi.blogspot.com / www.blue-chi.com
- devilishing.blogspot.com
- www.saudijeans.org
- omancommunityblog.blogspot.com
- oba2005.blogspot.com
- www.monaeltahawy.com/blog
- www.serdal.com
- otheroman.blogspot.com
- ti3gibsjunkbox.blogspot.com
- devilishwicked.blogspot.com now known as http://omaniidiot.blogspot.com/
- muscatconfidential.blogspot.com
- dailydoseofme.wordpress.com
- secretaboo.blogspot.com
- art4nabs.blogspot.com
- m-pac.blogspot.com
- paradoxicpages.blogspot.com (aka Paradoxic Dymunds)
Dec 5, 2009
In Memory of Our Beloved
Dec 3, 2009
In a holiday mood
Is it because the country is trying to utilize the 'One day' to gain revenue to pay off their debts in time, and not to suffer like Dubai, which has dragged the rest of UAE's states (a.k.a Emirates) mainly Abu Dhabi, in a big hole in the name of 'My Vision'.
The Dubai Ruller didn't marry his off-spring to Abu Dhabi's royal family without stratigic plan, it is to bell him out for time like this, will they?
Don't break the elastic!
I love the thoughts she lives by!!!
I didn't break the elastic...
Don't break the elastic!
Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday. Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older.
Regarding body changes, she said there were many, occurring every day.....like her breasts. They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist, first.
The audience laughed so hard they cried. She is such a simple and honest woman, with so much wisdom in her words!
Maya Angelou said this:
'I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.'
'I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.'
'I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.'
'I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life.'
'I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.'
'I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back....'
'I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.'
'I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one..'
'I' ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.'
'I've learned that I still have a lot to learn..'
'I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.'
Dec 1, 2009
How Dubai's dream sank in a sea of debt
Last 3 Wishes
Alexander, after conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the way, he fell ill and it took him to his death bed. With death staring him in his face, Alexander realized how his conquests, his great army, his sharp sword and all his wealth were of no consequence.
He now longed to reach home to see his mother's face and bid her his last adieu. But, he had to accept the fact that his sinking health would not permit Him to reach his distant homeland.
The mighty conqueror lay prostrate and pale, helplessly waiting to breathe his last. He called his generals and said, "I will depart from this world soon, I have three wishes, please carry them out without fail."
With tears flowing down their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their king's last wishes.
"My first desire is that," said Alexander, "My physicians alone must carry my coffin."
After a pause, he continued,
"Secondly, I desire that when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones which I have collected in my treasury."
The king felt exhausted after saying this. He took a minute's rest and continued.
"My third and last wish is that both my hands be kept dangling out of my coffin."
The people who had gathered there wondered at the king's strange wishes. But no one dare bring the question to their lips.
Alexander's favorite general kissed his hand and pressed them to his heart. "O king, we assure you that your wishes will all be fulfilled. But tell us why do you make such strange wishes?"
At this Alexander took a deep breath and said:
"I would like the world to know of the three lessons I have just learnt.
Lessons to learn from last 3 wishes of King Alexander...
"I want my physicians to carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor can really cure any body. They are powerless and cannot save a person from the clutches of death. So let not people take life for granted..
The second wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the way to the graveyard is to tell People that not even a fraction of gold will come with me. I spent all my life earning riches but cannot take anything with me. Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth.
And about my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I wish people to know that I came empty handed into this world and empty handed I go out of this world."
With these words, the king closed his eyes. Soon he let death conquer him and breathed his last..