Well, not in the perverty sort kind of way. Have you ever looked at clouds at the sky and thought ' Gee, that cloud just looks funny looking!' Well, you're not the only one who ever had that thought. Check out some other weird looking clouds. Have a good day!
27 October 2009
26 October 2009
Social Networking 2.0 and the Economy
I'm still here at work, just feeling lazy to get back home. I was browsing through Digg and I found this link to the Telegraph UK website. Apparently according to the survey made, Twitter and Facebooks users have cost UK 1.38 million pounds worth of wasted time. Sounds impossibly true? I don't think so, coz I actually know my colleagues spend quite some time over Facebook. However, I'm not quite sure how these amounts of so-called 'wasted time' are translated into monetary value. You be the judge...
Twitter 'costs British economy £1.38bn'
Social networking websites such as Twitter are costing British businesses £1.38 billion a year in wasted time, a survey claims.
By Nick CollinsPublished: 12:01AM GMT 26 Oct 2009
More than half of office workers use sites like Twitter and Facebook for personal use during the working day, and admit wasting an average of 40 minutes a week each.
One in three of the 1,460 office workers surveyed also said they had seen sensitive company information posted on social networking sites, leading to fears about how workers use the internet.
Philip Wicks, consultant at Morse, the IT services and technology company who commissioned the survey, said the true cost to the economy could be substantially higher than the £1.38bn estimate.
“When someone is asked for their own use they say around 40 minutes a week, but when asked about their colleagues they say they say up to an hour a day. We have used the lower of those figures rather than the high point," he said.
“It is the sort of thing people constantly use which means that its not quite the same as doing a crossword, where you spend half an hour on it and it is finished.
“When it comes to an office environment the use of these sites is clearly becoming a productivity black hole.
“Social networking can be a cause for good when it is used professionally but I think organisations need to wake up – that is not the way it is always being used.”
David Clubb, managing director of Office Angels, the recruitment firm, added: “As younger generations join the workplace, I believe UK businesses will, inevitably, have to embrace social networks, recognising the benefits of providing staff with well deserved downtime, but also their potential for business networking.”
Three quarters of the office workers surveyed said their employer had not given them any specific guidelines on how to use Twitter, but 84 per cent believed it should be up to them what they post online.
Last month staff at PC World and Currys were found to have posted offensive comments about customers on Facebook groups.
Some posters who said they were employed by the shops’ parent company, DSG, said some customers deserved to be punched, and asked if they should be allowed to “cattle prod” them.
British Airways staff used Facebook to complain about customers’ “stupid American accents” last year, while Virgin Atlantic employees referred to some passengers as “chavs”.
Twitter 'costs British economy £1.38bn'
Social networking websites such as Twitter are costing British businesses £1.38 billion a year in wasted time, a survey claims.
By Nick CollinsPublished: 12:01AM GMT 26 Oct 2009
More than half of office workers use sites like Twitter and Facebook for personal use during the working day, and admit wasting an average of 40 minutes a week each.
One in three of the 1,460 office workers surveyed also said they had seen sensitive company information posted on social networking sites, leading to fears about how workers use the internet.
Philip Wicks, consultant at Morse, the IT services and technology company who commissioned the survey, said the true cost to the economy could be substantially higher than the £1.38bn estimate.
“When someone is asked for their own use they say around 40 minutes a week, but when asked about their colleagues they say they say up to an hour a day. We have used the lower of those figures rather than the high point," he said.
“It is the sort of thing people constantly use which means that its not quite the same as doing a crossword, where you spend half an hour on it and it is finished.
“When it comes to an office environment the use of these sites is clearly becoming a productivity black hole.
“Social networking can be a cause for good when it is used professionally but I think organisations need to wake up – that is not the way it is always being used.”
David Clubb, managing director of Office Angels, the recruitment firm, added: “As younger generations join the workplace, I believe UK businesses will, inevitably, have to embrace social networks, recognising the benefits of providing staff with well deserved downtime, but also their potential for business networking.”
Three quarters of the office workers surveyed said their employer had not given them any specific guidelines on how to use Twitter, but 84 per cent believed it should be up to them what they post online.
Last month staff at PC World and Currys were found to have posted offensive comments about customers on Facebook groups.
Some posters who said they were employed by the shops’ parent company, DSG, said some customers deserved to be punched, and asked if they should be allowed to “cattle prod” them.
British Airways staff used Facebook to complain about customers’ “stupid American accents” last year, while Virgin Atlantic employees referred to some passengers as “chavs”.
23 October 2009
You Got Busted!
Have you checked out today's news? A report released by the Auditor General reveals a lot of discrepencies, curious expenditures, and many more questions that need answering. Check this out:
RM42,320 for a laptop
By YENG AI CHUN
KUALA LUMPUR: Who in their right mind would pay RM42,320 for a laptop?
Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara Balik Pulau in Penang not only paid the price but bought two units of the same brand – Acer Aspire-5052ANWXMI, at a whopping price of RM84,640, said the Auditor-General’s Report.
In addition, the college purchased 450 units of computer CAD with network card at RM3.45mil for 12 labs. Each 19-inch monitor costs RM8,500 while a 17-inch monitor costs RM7,500.
“A check with local companies showed that the market price for the latest model is between RM5,350 to RM6,500 each. Worse still the computers, Precision 390 Dell, that were supplied are no longer in the market,” it said.
Also purchased were 15 laser printers, Hewlet Packard P3005X, at the price of RM7,722 each when the market price was about RM5,000 per unit.
In reply, Mara said the equipment were purchased in a lump sump and there was no price breakdown for the laptops.
The price breakdown was only done after the equipment was supplied for the purpose assets record and it could not be used as a basis for reference.
“Nevertheless, Mara has created a task force and is conducting a price adjustment for all the equipment,” it said.
The report also stated that the college had paid between RM1,398 and RM2,945 for 204 teaching manuals.
“Checks found that the teaching manuals supplied were bound using comb binding. The teaching manuals obtained at a cost of RM358,476 is a waste because they were never used,” it said, adding that the supplier has been notified to provide the original version of the teaching manual in hard cover.
Mara also spent RM2.08mil buying computer software it didn’t need.
Audits also found many discrepancies in prices paid for the same equipment, including the same LCD projectors that costs RM3,500 and RM8,000 for two different laboratories.
“Swivel stools were also purchased at three different prices – RM340, RM350 and RM450 per unit and they did not even meet the agreed specifications in the agreement.
“Other swivel chairs were bought for between RM810 to RM1,050 per unit when the college had bought the same chair previously at RM336 per unit,” it said.
The report also stated that the German-Malaysian Institute which was picked as the consultant, had proposed a ceiling price of RM84.5mil for the purchase of equipment for the college while the Economic Planing Unit (EPU) fixed the price at RM127.65mil.
“The reason for the higher price was to speed up the process of obtaining the supplies. In the end the agreed contract was fixed at RM112.42mil. Mara had submitted a letter to the Finance Ministry to say that the figure was reasonable.
“Audit found that the agreed price for the purchase of equipment is not reasonable. This is because the approach taken by Mara did not fufill the criteria set by the Finance Ministry, which is to negotiate for the lowest price possible.
RM42,320 for a laptop
By YENG AI CHUN
KUALA LUMPUR: Who in their right mind would pay RM42,320 for a laptop?
Kolej Kemahiran Tinggi Mara Balik Pulau in Penang not only paid the price but bought two units of the same brand – Acer Aspire-5052ANWXMI, at a whopping price of RM84,640, said the Auditor-General’s Report.
In addition, the college purchased 450 units of computer CAD with network card at RM3.45mil for 12 labs. Each 19-inch monitor costs RM8,500 while a 17-inch monitor costs RM7,500.
“A check with local companies showed that the market price for the latest model is between RM5,350 to RM6,500 each. Worse still the computers, Precision 390 Dell, that were supplied are no longer in the market,” it said.
Also purchased were 15 laser printers, Hewlet Packard P3005X, at the price of RM7,722 each when the market price was about RM5,000 per unit.
In reply, Mara said the equipment were purchased in a lump sump and there was no price breakdown for the laptops.
The price breakdown was only done after the equipment was supplied for the purpose assets record and it could not be used as a basis for reference.
“Nevertheless, Mara has created a task force and is conducting a price adjustment for all the equipment,” it said.
The report also stated that the college had paid between RM1,398 and RM2,945 for 204 teaching manuals.
“Checks found that the teaching manuals supplied were bound using comb binding. The teaching manuals obtained at a cost of RM358,476 is a waste because they were never used,” it said, adding that the supplier has been notified to provide the original version of the teaching manual in hard cover.
Mara also spent RM2.08mil buying computer software it didn’t need.
Audits also found many discrepancies in prices paid for the same equipment, including the same LCD projectors that costs RM3,500 and RM8,000 for two different laboratories.
“Swivel stools were also purchased at three different prices – RM340, RM350 and RM450 per unit and they did not even meet the agreed specifications in the agreement.
“Other swivel chairs were bought for between RM810 to RM1,050 per unit when the college had bought the same chair previously at RM336 per unit,” it said.
The report also stated that the German-Malaysian Institute which was picked as the consultant, had proposed a ceiling price of RM84.5mil for the purchase of equipment for the college while the Economic Planing Unit (EPU) fixed the price at RM127.65mil.
“The reason for the higher price was to speed up the process of obtaining the supplies. In the end the agreed contract was fixed at RM112.42mil. Mara had submitted a letter to the Finance Ministry to say that the figure was reasonable.
“Audit found that the agreed price for the purchase of equipment is not reasonable. This is because the approach taken by Mara did not fufill the criteria set by the Finance Ministry, which is to negotiate for the lowest price possible.
17 October 2009
Man That Was Freakin' Close...
I was watching the news when a footage towards the end of the news shocked me. This lady was talking to someone at the train station, when her stroller (presumbaly with a baby in it) just slides down to the platform. To make things more horrifying, a train was approaching the platform. The CCTV recording was unimaginably scary. Thank God, the baby is remarkably unharmed. I'm speechless...
The news can be read here
VIDEO: Miracle escape
Shared via AddThis
The news can be read here
VIDEO: Miracle escape
Shared via AddThis
16 October 2009
History Lesson With A 'Wow' Factor...
Honest to God, I never really liked history lessons back in school. Although there actually might be some interesting stories which shaped the world today, learning through text books is definitely not the way to make students appreciate what had happened. I just can't stand those long texts and dull pictures, it's just....yuckk, I'll pass. If it wasn't for the secret notes prepared during the exam, I would have miserably flunked. My perception of history have then changed, right this moment.
I have just finished watching a 6-part documentary called Apocalypse: The Second World War. As you've guessed it, it's about the happenings surround WWII, from up rise of the great Nazi under the command of the Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler, the clash of titans between Germany and USSR (Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, basically all the famous names you've heard but could not care less), how the Allied troops get tangled in the war, as well as the conquest of the Pacific by the Japanese. The documentary was made using actual footage gathered during the war, colourised to add the extra ummph effect (which I think is just brilliant), add up an awesome score and top notch commentary and you got yourselves one hell of a story, way better than any depicted Hollywood flicks. It's just raw, uncensored, original, just the way history should be presented.
A few things left me thinking after watching it. One, how massive the scale of the war is. To think that a typical Hollywood war movie would cost easily 200-300 millions of dollars, which last for like 2 hours tops, compared to the actual war which lasted tenths of years, with ten times the scale, the cost is just unimaginable to the human brain. Two, the human cost of this great war. At least 50 million people have died, many of which are civillians, cities got annihilated just like some toy model construction project, tonnes of firepower used (which I have to admit, is so damn cool, I so like one those they called Stalin's Organ, basically a rocket launcher). Third, the brutality of the Nazis in realising its disposition of the Jews. I mean, you've heard about how brutal the Holocaust is but you can't just really digest on how bad it is? Watch this documentary and you'll truly understand the savage, the mindlessness, the brutality they have caused under the name of ideology. Fourth, to see how great leaders influence their followers until their fanaticism of the ideology is established. Lastly, how basic necessities can turn people into desperation. Just look at Japan's struggle for survival, which led to the bombing of Pearl Harbour and the conquest of the Pacific. Desperation is written all over the face of the Japanese back then.
How I wished my history lessons were taught just like this. You can't help but to appreciate your life better, and how it's important to put peace as the top priority. In the end in this kind of warfare, no party actually wins, and that I think is the most important lesson of all. Brilliant documentary, I even have recommended my colleagues to watch it.
Apocalypse: The Second World War airs on the National Geographic Channel (Astro channel 553), if I'm not mistaken at 2200hrs, Monday.
15 October 2009
You Want Your Money? Come and Fight for It!
It's that time of the year again. As the company I'm working in just passed the 2nd quarter of our financial year, we are to prepare our maintenance budget for the next financial year. Basically we'll have our internal sits between supervisors of that particular section, discuss what our requirements are, undergo a series of review, scrutinizing, and challenge by the top management before the budget got sanctioned. All sections have finished consolidating our prepared budget, and we had an away day (2 days technically) at one of the hotels in Malacca, basically to go through everything all of us have prepared, and starts the bashing and questioning session. If you've never been through one of these reviews, trust me; it's brutal. You need to get your facts right, supporting information, and hell lots of moral support. To make things worse, other sections were represented by their managers, planners and supervisors, while I was all alone (my boss was away for a conference). It was ugly. The session was attended by all head of departments and head planners of each discipline, but the main cast of the bashers consist of the GM of Engineering, the principal engineer for Mechanical - Rotating, and last but not least, the Head of the Reliability unit. They'll look at this year's budget, year to date expenditure (to see how well you're doing), your expectations for next year, and hell lots of reasons as to why you're asking for more. We were there from 8am till 9pm for two straight days, and heck, it is not over yet! Another session has to be set. I'm mentally exhausted in the end of the day, and my section's department got slashed by about 40%. I just could not present my case better. It's just like a court battle. Who says being an engineer does not require you to act like a lawyer? Till the next post...
Oh yeah, btw we're also stressed out as we have to prepare our mid year review on our performance appraisal. I need to take a step back, review my KPIs have basically, try to 'sell' myself of my performance.....
Oh yeah, btw we're also stressed out as we have to prepare our mid year review on our performance appraisal. I need to take a step back, review my KPIs have basically, try to 'sell' myself of my performance.....
10 October 2009
What The Opposite Sex Searches in Google...
So check this out, I found out a picture on Digg which I thought was fake, so I've decided to try it on my own. It's funny how sometimes people just Google for almost anything. I mean anything! Check out these pictures. If you happen to have found any other interesting findings, let me know:)
See how men and women expect different things in life? Have a good weekend...
p/s: I just realised, this post is posted at 10/10, at 1111hrs...cool...
See how men and women expect different things in life? Have a good weekend...
p/s: I just realised, this post is posted at 10/10, at 1111hrs...cool...
09 October 2009
The Passing of O.C...May The Other Side Of The World Shines Bright For You
I'm still thinking of my words for this post. For those who don't know, O.C has recently passed away yesterday (according to my mum, at 1745) after suffering what is diagnosed as kidney failure. It is a sad news and a great lost to the family who have loved him so very much. I'm dedicating this post as a tribute to the adorable feline who coloured the lives of the family all this time.
It was 5 years ago when O.C was brought back home by Yaya. My mum was never a pet lover, and initially didn't really agree for him to enter our lives. It will be such a hassle taking after a pet, she initiially thought. Little by little, that negativity turned for the better, and was well accepted by all of us.
It is hard not to recognize O.C when you enter the house. He is perhaps the reincarnation of Garfield in real life (minus the colour and the attitude of course). I think he was last weighed at 6.5 kilos. Yeah, that surpises many, I'm sure. His way of sleeping is also funny, sleeping pretty much like human (tido terkangkang)..He's quite the kampong type of cat; he can smell fish in the kitchen prepared for lunch right from the front entrance. Once left unguarded, he will make his move and ruined everything. Eventually, he got scolded, haha. That's all he cares about, eat and sleep (which explains his roundness). He may sometimes act all psycho and run here and there for no reason at all. He's very pantang when he sees the front door opened, he try his best to get outside to fight other outside cats. He's quite a bully towards his 'sister', Cendol.
But what we loved about him is his 'manja'ness. He will come near you and purr on your tummy, he will walk along the top part of the couch and starts licking your head, he'll regularly come next to you and gesel gesel at your feet. He even sleeps with my dad and my sister when they want him too. He enjoys sightseeing when our maid was doing her chores outside the yard.
I'm not sure if this is the right length of what I'm planning to write, but I'll stop here. Despite everything that has happened, good or bad, one thing is for sure; he is family. We are truly sad of this lost, and he will be missed. The house sure feels different now without you. We love you, O.C...
04 October 2009
Seen And Heard: Uncle Kracker - Smile
Another tune worthy of your ears by Uncle Kracker (the group who was famous for the 'Follow Me, Everything Is Alright' song). Enjoy:)
Download
Download
You're better then the best
I'm lucky just to linger in your light
Cooler then the flip side of my pillow, that's right
Completely unaware
Nothing can compare to where you send me,
Lets me know that it's ok, yeah it's ok
And the moments where my good times start to fade
You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed, sing like bird
Dizzy in my head, spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh, you make me smile
Even when you're gone
Somehow you come along
Just like a flower poking the sidewalk crack and just like that
You steal away the rain and just like that
You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed, sing like bird
Dizzy in my head, spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh, you make me smile
Don't know how I lived without you
Cuz everytime that I get around you
I see the best of me inside your eyes
You make me smile
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed, sing like bird
Dizzy in my head, spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh, you make me smile
I'm lucky just to linger in your light
Cooler then the flip side of my pillow, that's right
Completely unaware
Nothing can compare to where you send me,
Lets me know that it's ok, yeah it's ok
And the moments where my good times start to fade
You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed, sing like bird
Dizzy in my head, spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh, you make me smile
Even when you're gone
Somehow you come along
Just like a flower poking the sidewalk crack and just like that
You steal away the rain and just like that
You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed, sing like bird
Dizzy in my head, spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh, you make me smile
Don't know how I lived without you
Cuz everytime that I get around you
I see the best of me inside your eyes
You make me smile
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
You make me smile like the sun
Fall out of bed, sing like bird
Dizzy in my head, spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold, buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Ohh, you make me smile
Size Does Matter...And Apparently Too Big Isn't Good Either...
So check this out, a Taiwanese newspaper reported that a woman has asked for divorce from her husband (btw, this is her 2nd attempt) because his 'little general' is not so little. She claimed to have beared excruciating pain during intercourse with her husband. I never thought that I would actually hear this. Everytime it has always been 'bigger is better, longer is better, bla3'...The woman's petition got rejected though, so let's hope that nothing nasty will happen to that guy's 'little guy'
More can be read here
More can be read here
03 October 2009
Let's Stuff Ourselves With Food, Food And More Food This Festive Season!
Woww, it's getting more and more difficult for me to keep updating my blog. Look at my September posts; not even 10 posts I have put! I am currently short in material to put in, so just bear with me ok..Anyway, it might have been almost 2 weeks of Hari Raya, but the raya mood has never been dull! Back in my office last week, the first few days were spent stuffing ourselves with hampers from the contractors, kueh raya's from colleagues, you name it. And then the weekends came and there you go; tonnes of open house invitations which I'm afraid I could not attend some of them. I'm terribly sorry if could not attend to your humble homes, timing has just been very very challenging. Today I attended like 4 open houses in Malacca up to Bangi, and I missed like two houses for the day. And to make it worse, it rains in Malacca, which made it even harder for you to plan your day. Then there's more open houses, wedding invitations, more and more callouts for free food! I suppose the scenario will be somewhat the same next week...looking forward to it!
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