text:
A weekly roundup of news & information from Terrie Lloyd.
General Edition Sunday, February 17, 2008 Issue No. 457
- What's new
- News
- Candidate roundup/Vacancies
- Upcoming events
- Corrections/Feedback
- News credits
SUBSCRIBE to, UNSUBSCRIBE from Terrie's Take at:
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On the last day of January this year, the Ministry of Labor
announced that the average monthly pay (overtime and
bonuses included) in Japan fell 0.7% over the same period
in 2007, to JPY330,212 (US$3,086). After adjustment for
inflation, this was the second decline in 3 years.
The drop was attributed to the travails of Japan's small-
to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which employ more than
80% of the working population. Many of these smaller
companies are cutting back, and overtime and bonuses in
particular are suffering. Actually, if you took the
overtime and bonuses out of an average worker's JPY330K
pay, you'd find that they're getting just JPY249,771
(US$2,334) -- which doesn't leave much room for rent, food,
utilities, transport, and the other basics of urban life.
The Ministry's figures also stated that there are now
32,722,000 full-time workers in the work force, and
11,541,000 part-timers. Thanks to the "dankai" (baby
boomer) retirements this year and next, the number of
full-timers will drop by another 4m-5m people. Some of
these retirees will be rehired at even cheaper rates
(usually 50% of their full-time salary) as advisers or
part-timers -- thus further contributing to a fall in
average salaries over the next two years.
We find it interesting that in this nation of traditionally
lifetime employment, that by 2010, less than half the
overall workforce will be in a full-time stable job.
[Continued below...]
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[...Article continues]
This move from full-time to something less stable seems to
be an inexorable process. Although the domestic media have
recently been hyping the fact that more companies are
hiring people full-time so as to not lose them in the
current tight job market, don't be fooled -- the statistics
tell a different story. Instead, over the last year, the
employment of full-timers only increased by 0.9%, while
that of part-timers increased by 4%.
In case you were wondering, the average hourly wage for
part-timers in December 2007 was JPY977 (US$9.13), down
around 0.5% over the same period a year earlier.
Since we know that salaries haven't moved much in Japan
over the last 10 years, only by a few percentage points,
while the rest of Asia (indeed, the world) has enjoyed
significant growth of their economies, we wondered: a) are
Japanese workers now getting a lot less than other nations,
and b) is the massive salary difference between Japan and
other nations in Asia still as compelling an argument for
off-shoring as it used to be?
It would be kind of interesting if Japan by virtue of its
inertia had become the new "low-cost" production center
for products and services.
Perhaps due to oversimplification by the media, most people
think of the average income in a given country as the GDP
(PPP) figure. This is calculated by such august entities as
the World Bank, the CIA, and others, and takes the total
output of all goods and services (PPP -- Purchasing Power
Parity) per capita and divides them by the population of
the country.
Using numbers from Wikipedia, we find that in 2005, Japan
had an average GDP (PPP) income of US$32,550 and was Number
20 on the list of 179 countries (World Bank figure). By
2007, CIA estimates had the number at US$33,800 and Japan
had slipped to Number 26 in the rankings. So it appears
that Japan is indeed gradually falling behind.
The problem with GDP-oriented income numbers is that they
don't take into account local costs of living, the labor
participation rate, nor do they break out those jobs that
are actually usable by those of us wanting to off-shore
part of our business. Vegetable vendors in Vietnam for
example, are not of as much immediate interest as
database developers in Delhi or Dalian.
There are a couple of really good web sites that now give
in-depth global salary information by using the same
methodology that made www.alexa.com such a popular service
for ranking websites -- aggregation of visitor-supplied
data. The two sites are: www.payscale.com and
www.worldsalaries.org. The Worldsalaries people have
obviously done their homework (maybe they did data entry in
India?) and quote many official sources for their numbers.
We also like the Payscale site, because it has data for
pretty much every country and across a wide variety of
jobs. However, for non-English speaking countries the
response rate is lower, and this is probably one of
the inherent weaknesses of such data aggregation sites.
None-the-less, the Japan data is based on a meaningful
700+ entries, and the India data on more than 21,000.
So it does provide a useful base line.
What we found is that globally, Japan still holds a
relatively good standing in terms of average income versus
countries that could be conceived as competitors.
Average wages income:
["Disp." means disposable income]
2005 Disp. Gross
CN (US$) 7,392 7,947 (2004, Urban)
IN (US$) n.a. 1,361 (2005, Delhi)
However, as we pointed out before, vegetable vendors are a
hard job category to move off-shore, so we decided to focus
on something that is already widely practiced in
off-shoring -- software development. In this case, our
salary comparison is for a junior software engineers with
1-3 years experience. When we get time in the future, we'll
cover manufacturing positions as well.
Average junior software engineer income:
["RM" means Romania]
2005 Net
This table is quite interesting, because it shows that
Japan is actually significantly cheaper than its
traditional competitors in the software space, and that for
conventional off-shoring locations, only India still really
offers a notable wage difference.
Since China is one of the few countries that has citizens
capable of handling the Japanese written language, it would
appear to be the ideal place to conduct software
off-shoring operations. But in reality China has never
really taken off as a software development center (data
entry is a different story). The reason appears to be that
China itself has a shortage of internationally capable
software engineers, and this has pushed up wage
expectations there -- to double that of Indian wages. The
US$8K difference between China and Japan means that for
most Japan-based firms, there is not enough incentive to
undertake the infrastructure and personnel investments
needed to get started there. India on the other hand is an
order of magnitude more attractive.
Of course, salary comparisons like this are extremely
generalized and the data sources are limited. The final
prices you will pay for software developers depend on
whether you employ them yourself or work through a vendor
who is taking a margin. Then there are the issues of
talent, speed, quality, logistics, etc. Like most things,
unless you are an adventurous manager, outsourcing is
usually only viable for larger firms who can take advantage
of the economies of scale.
There are exceptions, though, and here in Tokyo we're
seeing more smaller operators who have made the supply
chain investment and who can offer small-lot Indian and
Chinese off-shoring. Web site production companies and
specialists in CRM systems particularly come to mind.
In the meantime, though, if the current salary trends
persist for another 5 years, Japan looks as though it will
continue getting cheaper in comparison with other locations
and could thereby regain some of its labor competitiveness.
...The information janitors/
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- Wheat prices soar
- GDP surprise good or not?
- 20m one-seg handsets shipped
- IB's about to cut more jobs?
- Osaka solar energy plant slated
-> Wheat prices soar
One wonders if the Bush government really understands the
far-reaching consequences of its unilateral decision-making
-- such as the incentivization of agricultural growers to
switch out of other grains and into corn for ethanol. As a
result of that one decision, perhaps laudable at the time,
coupled with floods and droughts in other wheat growing
countries around the world, we now have a perfect storm and
grain prices are soaring. The Ministry of Agriculture has
decided it has to pass on the full weight of wheat prices
to flour millers, and thus flour wholesale prices will soar
30% from this month. ***Ed: This is the largest increase
since 1973, and is obviously going to affect everyone from
Tonkatsu, Soy, and Udon makers to bread and pastry
bakers.** (Source: TT commentary from bloomberg.com, Feb
15, 2008)
-> GDP surprise good or not?
There were lots of grins at the Bank of Japan and
government last week when it was announced that preliminary
data for for Oct-Dec 2007 shows that Japan's GDP increased
to a very respectable 3.6%, annualized. Taken into
perspective, this represents an overall annual GDP growth
of 2%. ***Ed: The question is, was the Q3 number just a
blip or a recovery, or a matter of overly optimistic early
data? The stock market certainly responded positively,
however, analysts fear that the credit problems in the USA
are only just now hitting China, and that these will
translate into weaker growth ahead for Japanese equipment
and plant manufacturers -- which is where most of the
growth last quarter came from. Also, let's not forget that
the Japanese government usually changes its preliminary
estimates in subsequent announcements -- so we wouldn't be
surprised if it gets adjusted downwards.** (Source: TT
commentary from ft.com, Feb 15, 2008)
-> 20m one-seg handsets shipped
While one-seg might have seemed a one-hit wonder, handset
makers have clearly decided that the capability is a
must-have feature in most of their new cell phones. The
Telecommunications Carriers Association has announced that
20m one-seg equipped cell phones have been shipped since
the service launched just under 2 years ago (April 1,
2006). ***Ed: For more on one-seg, see our past newsletter
TT447, http://www.japaninc.com/tt447.** (Source: TT
commentary from computerworld.com, Feb 14, 2008)
-> IB's about to cut more jobs?
The subprime problems that investment banks (IB's) are
going through in the USA are reaching Japan. Bloomberg says
that Morgan Stanley will cut up to 40 jobs at its real
estate securitization business. Morgan Stanley employs
1,600 people in Japan. Merrill Lynch closed its property
financing team a week ago, with a loss of 11 jobs, and
Nikko Citi is said to be looking at layoffs up up to 10%
of its 1,700 employees. ***Ed: We think there is more to
go. As the credit problems in the States spread to the auto
and credit card finance sectors, the belt tightening in the
States will have to be shared here as well.** (Source: TT
commentary from bloomberg.com, Feb 13, 2008)
-> Osaka solar energy plant slated
The Nikkei reports that the Kansai Electric Power Company
(KEPCO) is planning to build a 10MW electricity generation
plant powered by Sharp Corp. solar cells. The new plant is
likely to be built on reclaimed Osaka Prefectural
Government land, located strategically near a new Sharp
solar cell production plant which is also due to open in
2009. ***Ed: Not sure if this is a sign of commitment by
KEPCO to solar energy, or a hand-out for Sharp...?**
(Source: TT commentary from nikkei.co.jp, Feb 15, 2008)
NOTE: Broken links
Many online news sources remove their articles after just a
few days of posting them, thus breaking our links -- we
apologize for the inconvenience.
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Currently accepting applications from candidates who are
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- Country Manager of a leading software provider - JPY20+m
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Interested companies may e-mail resumes to:
============= Back Office Support for SMEs ================
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---------------- J Gospel Hits Japan! ---------------------
While the world still marvels at Japanese Technology,
Fashion and Food, a quiet revolution is taking place in
these small islands on the other side of the world. Known
as 'J-Gospel,' a new musical phenomenon is beginning to
exert influence similar to J-Pop and other forms of
Japanese music that have taken Asia by storm.
>From February 27 to March 2nd, in Shinjuku in central
Tokyo, J-Gospel fans are preparing for what is being billed
as the introduction of the genre to the world. The five-day
Charity event will be held in one of Japan`s premier venues
(Theater SunMall in Shinjuku) and will feature Kaori
Yamamoto, Hide-C, Kiki, Yoshi Blessed, Route of Soul and
------- Marcus Evans Events - Supported by J@pan Inc ------
- Customer Relationship Excellence
15th - 16th April 2008, Hilton Tokyo
This event features leading speakers from Daihatsu Motor,
Daimler Japan, General Motors, Honda Motor, Nissan Motor,
Mitsubishi Motors, Toyota Motor and Johnson Controls
Automotive Systems Corporation. Don't miss this out!
- Compensation and Benefits
27th - 28th May, Tokyo
This event provides Japanese firms the understanding and
'how-to' of investing in their employees for the purpose
of sustaining their businesses Corporations nowadays need
to formulate a business-driven compensation policy that
leverages human capital to drive corporate growth.
- 3rd Annual LNG World
15th - 16th July 2008, Tokyo
This event aims to focus on the key operational aspects of
LNG business which helps professionals to understand the
nuances of the current market dynamics and to succeed and
gain an edge in this highly competitive market.
'J@pan Inc readers are entitled to a 10% discount upon
registration with Ms. Esther Wong.'
For further details and brochures, please contact:
Ms. Esther Wong
Tel No: +603 2723 6736
Fax No: +603 2723 6699
Email add: email@example.com
---------------- Entrepreneur Seminar ---------------------
Entrepreneur's Handbook Seminar 1st of March, 2008
If you have been considering setting up your own company,
find out what it takes to make it successful.
Terrie Lloyd, founder of over 13 start-up companies in Japan,
will be giving an English-language seminar and Q and A on
starting up a company in Japan.
This is an ideal opportunity to find out what is involved,
and to ask specific questions that are not normally answered
in business books.
All materials are in English and are Japan-focused.
For more details: http://japaninc.com/terrie_lloyd/
----------------- ICA Event - Feb 21 ----------------------
Event: Round Table Discussion - Successful Growth
through Planned Execution
Speakers: D. Forncrook, J. Glasser and J. Gabriella
Details: Complete event details at http://www.icajapan.jp/
(RSVP Required)
Date: Thursday, Feb 21, 2008
Time: 6:30 Doors open includes open bar (sponsored by
Skillhouse) and light buffet
Cost: 3,500 yen (members), 5,500 yen (non-members)
Open to all - venue: Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan
Events announcements are priced at JPY50,000 per week.
For more information, contact sales at japaninc.com
In this section we run comments and corrections submitted
by readers. We encourage you to spot our mistakes and
amplify our points, by email, to firstname.lastname@example.com.
-> No corrections or feedback this week.
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------------------ Offshore Development -------------------
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Visit http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_subscriptions to subscribe.


text:
Will material handling and logistics markets see more such M&A activity? All industries will, according to Ron Insana, CNBC senior analyst and commentator. He was one of the keynote speakers at the Dematic Conference, and during the Q/A portion of his presentation, he put the HK/Dematic deal in a broader perspective.
"Companies have a record amount of cash on their balance sheets," he explained. "It's somewhere north of $2.3 trillion for non-financial U.S. corporations. They could do several things with this. We hope they hire people. They could buy back stock which they are doing rather aggressively. They could raise dividends, which means returning cash to shareholders. Or they can engage in M&A. We have excess capacity in a variety of industries around the world and there will be a lot of consolidation, especially at the small end. It will accelerate in the absence of other economic opportunities."
Not all potential acquisitions promise pretty outcomes, however. Insana speculated on the impact the General Motors initial public offering could have if China plays a part.
"If you think people are mad now wait until we complete a bailout of GM, take it public and have the Chinese take a 25% stake. That'd be one of the tipping points for the Tea Party movement. We'll go from talking about [Senate nominee] Christine O'Donnell's witchcraft to a series of other issues that are far more germane to a conversation about the economy."
In fact, Insana concluded that now is a good time for M&A activity.
"Typically you see M&A cresting at the top of an economic cycle but this time we're seeing the opposite, where there are bargains and done in such a way that from a financial perspective it's a better use of cash than they might have otherwise in a different economic environment."
Before Insana's speech, Dematic's president and CEO, John Baysore, told MH&L that this acquisition will mean a world of difference to both companies' respective customers.
"The decision to go after an acquisition like HK was predicated on the thought we could do more for the customers," he said. "It was about strengthening our span and solutions so we could do A to Z inside a DC, warehouse or manufacturing plant. The advantage of our being global [for HK's customer base] is that when they build systems in different parts of the world they can still have the same look and feel, whether from a mechanical standpoint, control standpoint or a software standpoint. Therefore when companies shift people around the world to work with a system in China or Europe it's easier to train the new people on it and the maintenance is the same."
This marriage is starting off on a strong financial footing, according to Baysore. He said that although the official end of the recession was just announced in all the news media, he believes it ended for Dematic at the end of 2009.
"At the beginning of 2010 we were booking orders, so we've seen a dramatic uptick," he explained. "Part of that is that the market has gotten stronger and part is we've taken market share."
Internally, this marriage means the U.S. based operations will have regular contact with its European counterparts to further leverage its global strengths. That means two conference calls a month where the managers will discuss various aspects of their businesses, from customers to technology and products. They will also share best practices on a global basis.
As for how things will be different for HK's president and CEO John Splude, Baysore says he will sit on Dematic's board of directors on a global basis, playing a consultative role.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
We develop and sell products which make physical exercise more entertaining. We
work together with experts in physical fitness in order to get products with good
training content. By also adding ideas and technology traditionally seen in computer
games, the users are stimulated to exercise more. We are currently working on several
products in this area.
Wemotion also provides software development consulting services.
Wemotion AB


text:
Winner: Product design of the year and Winner: Design Project of the Year 2020. Hans Ramzan has designed a low-cost, easy-to-use, self-testing device that detects HIV.
The device encourages people in developing countries, who have limited access to healthcare, to check themselves for HIV at home.
By allowing users to test for HIV early, before it develops into AIDS, Catch could save millions of lives each year.
Judges comments: "This is a low-cost, simple device that can save lives. It is refreshing to see such a simple and economical design offering the potential to save millions of people, particularly in regions with limited healthcare options."
Designer: Hans Ramzan
Project: Catch: The HIV Detector


text:
Choose From These 4 Great Exercises to Match Your Fitness Level
Jodi Davis
| 2 min read
You don't have to be in the Army to perform squats.
When it comes to types of daily physical activity, the list is endless. There are numerous forms of exercise that improve or maintain overall health and wellness. Certain exercises are performed specifically to strengthen muscles and the cardiovascular system, others sharpen athletic skills or create weight loss, and some exercise is for the purpose of pure enjoyment.
There really is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to exercising. That is because everyone has different fitness levels. I found four great exercises that come highly recommended from the leading fitness experts at the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University in Canada:
- The burpee. That's when you drop to a squat with your hands on the ground, kick your legs back so you're in pushup position and then jump back into a squat, stand up and jump as high as you can. It builds muscles and endurance. Don't expect to be able to do a lot when you first start… they're not as easy as they sound!
- Squats. They activate your body's biggest muscles, the ones in your thighs and rear-end. They also counteract the loss of muscle mass that comes with aging. Studies show that weight-training exercises like squats even lower your risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease!
- H-I-T. That stands for High-intensity Interval Training. That's when you hop on a stationary bike and ride like crazy for 30 seconds. Then hop off and rest for four minutes, then repeat for a full half hour. In one study, riders who did that once a day for two weeks — for a total of seven hours — increased their aerobic capacity more than people who pedaled slowly for over 10 hours.
- Walking. Woo hooo! A recent study found that walking for an hour a day increases physical fitness and thigh strength by 20 percent. It also decreases hypertension, obesity and depression dramatically. A regular regime of brisk walking has been shown to increase the size of the hippocampus, the part of the brain that deals with memory. That means walkers have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer's and dementia!
Of course, the exercise that fits me is walking — I do it every day because I enjoy it and walking literally changed my life, ending my 25 year-long battle with obesity.
I'd like to know which exercise fits you. Is there an exercise that changed your life? Please share in the comment area below.
Photo credit: The U.S. Army


text:
If you want to make a balance inquiry on a Cash App Card, then here is a detailed guide to help you out. The content of this guide will pivot around how to check Cash App balance on Card.
Cash App recognizes how essential knowing your account balance is. Hence it has provided various ways by which users can check their account balance even aside from the app's platform.
However, can I use my Cash Card to check my balance in these many ways?
Let's find out.
Table of Contents
Can I Know Cash App Balance On Cash Card
Yes, Cash App users can view their account balance using the Cash Card number. This provides an easy way to make a balance inquiry provided you are not with the Cash App mobile app.
Also, this card number provides you with up to 24 months of account history.
Requirements To View Cash App Balance On Card
Making a balance inquiry using the card number does not require much. You only need some airtime and account verification details.
It is crucial to note that the Cash App Team does not, under any circumstance, request your PIN, card number, or password before you know your account balance.
How To Check Cash App Balance On Card
Here is how to check the Cash App balance on your card:
- Dial 1-800-969-1940 on your mobile phone
- Kindly wait for your call to be connected.
- Once connected, follow the voice prompt to verify your Cash App account and proceed.
- Once you are done with the account verification, choose the number assigned for balance inquiry from the voice prompt.
- Kindly wait to be informed of your Cash App account balance.
What Is Cash Card Number To View Balance
The Cash App Card number to check the balance is 1-800-969-1940. This number refers users to automated voice prompts which provide various services, including making balance inquiries about your Cash App account.
This is all we have for you now on how to know Cash App balance on the card.


text:
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Serving Phoenix, AZ
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text:
A gracious thank you to Dave Winer, for his comments in today's Scripting News.
State of Mind: the online radio station that I spend a great deal of time listening to, Dreamland Radio, has the Peanuts theme song in their rotation. Every time that it comes on, I feel good. I like that.
I just got my new Hot Little Therm, and am still just as happy as when I got the first. It's just so durned cool. (For more info, see my blurb from yesterday.) And if you want to see the end-result of my Hot Little Therm project, check out QuesoTherm — it's the server room temperature monitor project I mentioned yesterday.
Andrew Woolridge's posting to Discuss.Userland.Com demonstrates the mindset that scares me about Netscape. He waxes poetic about the high standards that Netscape is shooting for on their 5.0 "offering", when there are serious problems in their current browser that they're unwilling to address. And his parting comment about being the only Linux browser feeds my perception of Netscape as a company that will answer your criticisms with comments of "at least we're good at something else!". I cannot wait for Opera to come out for Linux — then Dori will be right, Netscape will be irrelevant.
My beloved Spurs break their losing streak against Vancouver last night. Thank GOD, but it's a little depressing to me that it took a 42-point game from Tim Duncan to beat the 4-15 Grizzlies; methinks that Avery Johnson was right when he said that the Spurs have yet to come down off of the ego-high of winning the NBA Championship last year.
From the Not-So-Cool-Unless-I-Were-The-One-Getting-It department: today, Palm Computing will receive the six millionth U.S. patent in a ceremony in Washington D.C.. (It's for HotSync.)
I have always been convinced that there are certain classes of people who are destined to go straight to that hot place down below, sans the benefit of judgment — nun killers, church vandals, and now, women who steal stuffed animals and other momentos off of graves.
Something goes right in space (although it's not the U.S., and it's not a Mars program, so this isn't all that fair a comment).
I know that I can't be the only one who's a little despondent over the silent little electronic critters that are sitting on the face of Mars right now (or perhaps the burnt shards of them?), desperately searching for home. I sure wish that we all could have heard the sounds coming out of the Mars Microphone… that would have been as cool as seeing the video from the Pathfinder mission.
So, three or four days ago, going to www.wired.com brought you to, well, www.wired.com. Then, going to www.wired.com brought you to wired.lycos.com. Now today, we're back to www.wired.com. What gives?


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Well, of course not all terrorists are Arabs. It's just that so many terrorists are, and that they tend to be supported by the people and governments of most Arab states. Dubai may, for now, be on our side in the war on terror, but in the past they've been enemies. Helping terrorists with money laundering and direct funding, and supplying jihadis.
And, please, let's not hear any nonsense about how the 7/11 London terrorists were "British." They were British in name only; they were Muslim terrorists. Just as Mo Atta and his band of merry jihadis spent a goodly amount of time in Germany. They weren't German. They were Arabs, who happened to be living in Germany.
Getting back to Richard Cohen, it seems that he very much likes the worst of the Arabs, the Saudis, and goes so far as to claim that "America has many friends in the Arab world." His evidence? This:
You can go to Saudi Arabia, for instance, and talk "American" at a dinner party -- banter about the Washington Redskins or California real estate prices or, of course, politics. The region is home to many people who have gone to school in the United States and admire it greatly. They are not the majority by any means, but they are important and influential -- and they are being slowly alienated by knee-jerk insults and brainless policies that reflect panic and prejudice.Poor Arabs. "Being slowly alienated." Well, Richard, perhaps one may "talk American" to some rich Saudis. Can one attend church or synagogue services in Riyadh?
When this is even possible, then I'd consider Arabs to possibly be our friends. Right now, a goodly number of Muslim Arabs appear to be our implacable enemies. Actions always speak louder than friendly dinner party conversation.


text: The streak is over for the Kansas City Royals. After rattling off nine straight wins to open the season, the Royals lost for the first time in 2003, dropping a 6-1 decision to the Indians on Sunday. Cleveland starter Ricardo Rodriguez held K.C. to just one run in seven innings of work. That lone run came off the bat of Raul Ibanez, whose solo home run in the 5th cut the Indians lead to 3-1. But Milton Bradley powered Cleveland with 4 hits, including a long ball of his own. Royals starter Darell May took the loss. May lasted just four innings, and gave up three runs on seven hits. The Royals can get right back at the Indians, the two teams close out their four game series tonight in Cleveland.


text: Over 57,536 miles of freight and passenger railroads across the US have are now equipped with an automated crash-prevention system designed to prevent train-to-train collisions, derailments from excessive speed or misdirection. The deadline placed by the Federal Railroad Administration was placed after a 2008 commuter rail crash that killed 25 people in Los Angeles. "Achieving 100% PTC implementation is a tremendous accomplishment and reflects the Department's top priorities — safety, innovation, and infrastructure," U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said in a statement. The technology is now across 41 railroads including 7 railroads operating revenues over $250 million, Amtrak, 28 commuter railroads, and five other freight railways. | Read more


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Hear Patrick Thaipusam Story, as he fulfilled his vow in Penang during the last Thaipusam. Well how should I start? I'm sure most of you know about the Thaipusam celebration and the significance of it.
Here's a brief introduction to the celebration. Thaipusam celebrates the day, Goddess Parvathi gave her son Murugan the invincible vel (lance) to vanquish the evil asuras (demons) Soorpadman, Singamugam and Tarakasuran as well as their army of soldiers.Patrick Thaipusam Story
Although this is clearly stated in the Hindu scriptures, to the average Malaysian Hindu, the festival is either celebrated in conjunction with Lord Murugan's birthday or is a special day for Hindus to pay penance.
Thaipusam falls on a full moon day in the auspicious 10th Tamil month of Thai when the constellation of Pusam, the star of well-being, rises over the eastern horizon or for this year it falls on the 23rd of Jan 08.
Furthermore, it is a common practice for devotees here to pierce themselves with numerous hooks and long skewers as well as to pull heavy chariots hooked to their backs to fulfill their vow or to pay penance.
I've a vow to fulfill and here I am with 300 miniature milk pots, 25 mini bells, a 3feet long skewer across my cheek and a small skewer pierced on my forehead. Let's start with the preparation before the big celebration day.
To prepare for the celebration, firstly there abstinence/celibacy for 1 month. Imagine sleeping in a different room from my wife when I just got married and it's not even 1 month. Then, there's a strict vegetarian meal to adhere to.
For the last 10 days before Thaipusam what I have for my meal is vege, peas, vegetarian instant noodle and the artificial vege meal. Trust me, it's not cheap!
Since I travel a lot to work and vegetarian restaurant is not easy to find, most of the time I'll be in my car with a bunch of bananas munching away. It really makes me think of a good friend in the club with such craving for bananas.
Well there's still ten days to go, no worries. Scared? Well you can say I'm already feeling the heat of it. Thoughts of backing out starts coming to my mind maybe faking stomachache, headache or anything else that comes to mind then.
Hey, I'm not Rambo ok. By the way, all this is just a fleeting thought that comes in my mind on it's own.Patrick Thaipusam Story
Also with friends bombarding me with phone calls asking me about my feeling, whether I'm scared or any thoughts of backing out really starts the brain thinking negatively.
Preparing my skewer, miniature milk pots and some of the prayers item. Firstly, the miniature pot have to be cleaned and then filled with the holy ash. Then, the mouth of the pot is closed with a piece of cloth and tied with rubber band.
This is really no easy task and my fingers are all swollen and puffy after that. Then, there's the needle and skewer that needs to be sharpen and smoothen with more holy ash and sand paper.Patrick Thaipusam Story
All this keeps me busy and thus my brain with it's miniscule capacity is able to free itself of any negative thoughts.Patrick Thaipusam Story
Truthfully, the skewer on the forehead, the miniature milk pots and the bell I can handle but it's the one through the cheeks that's really making me jittery.
One more thing I left out on my list of item is 16 hooks behind my back. Due to my laziness, it can't be used because I didn't sharpen it and secondly the tip is spoiled due to me using the high powered tool of "Makita".
Well, tonight is when me and my buddies will start spending our time in a temple. It starts with and elaborate ceremonies whereby we invited a friend over to enter into trance to bless us all.Patrick Thaipusam Story
After prayers, the "God" put on the bead necklace for each of us, we're not allowed to wear shoes, no more comfortable chair or bed to sit on anymore. Most of the time we're sitting on the ground trying to finish some last minute item before the big day.
Nervous? Scared? very nervous actually but trust me there's an inner peace and calmness by then. The mind is clear and there's no negative thoughts at all. Not sure how to explain it as I can't really find the exact word to describe it.
Anyway, we'll be sleeping on hard cold cement tonight with lots and lots of mosquito as company. Sleep comes naturally after a hard day running errands and getting the necessary item ready for prayers.Patrick Thaipusam Story
Hehee, now for some advertisement. To deal with mosquito find our member Mr Lim Tok Peow because he have the best medicated oil to deal with all this little pest.
Today is the big day. As per advised, we're suppose to offer our prayers as the chariot made its way to the temple in Waterfall Road. Here we are rushing to get the freshest flower, coconut and fruits.
Hmm, the traffic it terrible. Maybe the politicians campaigning for the coming election should address more on this issue.Patrick Thaipusam Story
After getting the necessary item prepared, we made out way to the piles of coconut that we have ordered earlier. After smashing the coconut to symbolize cleansing the way to Lord Muruga, we made our way towards the chariot to offer our prayers.
Then, we made our way back to the temple again to get some rest and prepare ourselves for tomorrow morning journey.
Strangely, we don't feel any fear nor is there any negative thoughts that comes to our mind. The feeling is very relaxing and calm.
We were also advised not to go near any temple where devotees are having their piercing as not to scare ourselves, but being young and macho(ahem!), we join in the celebration by walking around and admiring the different types of kavadi.
The time now is about 2am but we're not feeling sleepy at all. So back to the temple, chit-chat and more chit-chat until sleep took over us.
Pesky alarm clock, we woke up at 6am and took a bath before checking through all our items. After that, all of us are kneeling in-front of the temple to offer our prayers and to seek blessing for a smooth and painless journey to fulfill our vow.
Reached Lorong Kulit car-park at 8am which is also the designated area where all the devotees prepare themselves to undertake the pilgrimage along a set route while engaging in various acts of devotion, notably carrying various types of kavadi (burdens).
The simplest kavadi is a semi circular decorated canopy supported by a wooden rod that is carried on the shoulders, to the temple. In addition, some have a little spear through their tongue, or a spear through the cheeks.
The spear pierced through his tongue or cheeks reminds him constantly of Lord Murugan. It also prevents him from speaking and gives great power of endurance.
Other types of kavadi involve hooks stuck into the back and either pulled by another walking behind or being hung from a decorated bullock cart or chariot carrying various deity of their choice.Patrick Thaipusam Story
At its simplest this may entail carrying a pot of milk as offering to Lord Muruga. The most spectacular practice is the vel kavadi, essentially a portable altar up to two meters tall, decorated with peacock feathers and attached to the devotee through 108 vels pierced into the skin on the chest, side and back.
Back to me now, after arranging all our items and getting ready to pray, we took a bath at the temple by adding saffron into the water to cleanse and purify us for the journey ahead.Patrick Thaipusam Story
I'm the first one to step up to offer my prayers and having the miniature milk pot hooked to my body. For sport enthusiast I'm sure you are familiar with the term adrenalin rush, it's about the same thing but with a little twist to it.
First, the small skewer on the forehead, then the bells followed by the miniature milk pots. How do I feel by now? No idea cause my body is already numb. It actually feels like ants bite, I thinks that's as close as I can try to describe it to you now.
With the chant of Vel Vel and the beat of background music I'm beginning to really feel peaceful whether it's mentally or physically (with cold sweats running down my forehead).
3 feet long skewer to pass through my cheek. I can feel the skewer as it penetrate my right cheek then out my left cheek.The end not really cause this is only the first part.
After this there's the long wait for the others to complete their Body Piercing and the long journey to offer our prayers at the hilltop temple.
Before I forget, there's also the compulsory prayers to offer to Lord Muruga as the chariot made it's way back on the final day of Thaipusam.
A few bits of blood, no scar, no side effect and not much pain (ahem!) but great satisfaction for completing the whole ordeal.
This has been really a spiritual journey and I would really like to thank my family, friends and last but not least clubs members who have been there to support me.
Taking all those lovely picture, traffic control, chanting(Vel Vel) their hearts out (it really help!) and also taking the journey along with me.
Thanks a lot and may god bless all you kind and wonderful souls out there for making this possible.Patrick Thaipusam Story
Ps: I would also like to apologize to our Indian reader if there's any mis-information in here as this is told from my own experience with regard to the Thaipusam celebration.
Regards Patrick C.W. Ong Penang
Pearly note: Patrick Thaipusam Story is real and amazing. Only when you have gone through, you know what you are talking about. Patrick wrote to me that he will be participating in Thaipusam Festivals for another 2 years.
Let us applaud this young man courage in participation as well as sharing his story. Thank you so much Patrick.
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Morning Coffee: The undersexed traders with a personal life coach. JPMorgan bankers could get bonuses for missing deals
Although it's one of the ubiquitous features of the industry, investment bankers are often reluctant to talk about the simple fact that people working together often sleep with one another. It's not hard to understand why; things are easy to take out of context and remarks which seemed like harmless banter in the moment have a habit of showing up years later in litigation to the considerable embarrassment of everyone who has them read back in a deposition. But while the level of action portrayed in TV shows like "Billions" and "Industry" is probably a bit unrealistic, it is a thing, and it does happen.
Except apparently, as in high school, the ones that talk the most about it often turn out to be doing it the least. According to George Lerner, the performance coach at FTX Markets, the "polycule" of young and eccentric traders surrounding Sam Bankman-Fried were actually "undersexed, if anything", and "mostly played chess and boardgames". Sometimes you feel like the benefits of a massive penthouse in the Bahamas are wasted on those lucky few to whom they are given.
Of course, this is presuming that everyone at FTX was completely frank about their sex life to the coach employed by their company, and that the coach was himself completely frank to the New York Times reporter who he apparently phoned up out of the blue. Neither is completely certain. Although Dr Lerner was employed to play a role similar to the legendary Ari Kiev of SAC Capital, he also maintained his medical licence and practiced as a psychiatrist, with several FTX staff as his patients. As he notes in the interview, some of his relationships would be covered by medical confidentiality and others wouldn't.
The disclosures get even more complicated when you take into account the fact that Dr Lerner wasn't just helping traders work through their guilt issues about getting rich, or keep control of the emotions they felt about losing trades. He also had a prescription pad and gave ADHD medication to some of his patients. This might be why he has agreed to speak to the press; over the last few days there's been an abundance of rumours on social media that he had acted as a sort of "Doctor Feelgood" for a firm where stimulants were routinely used, and he might have hoped to put the record straight.
High pressure situations make people behave irrationally – that's why hedge funds have always employed coaches and why a lot more successful bankers have therapists than like to admit it. But the foundation of mental equilibrium is often a stable relationship; as Lerner says "It would have been healthier if they did have more healthy dating relationships". Perhaps it would be a better industry for everyone if there was less of a taboo on discussing who got up to what last night.
Elsewhere, Jamie Dimon has been pointing out to analysts on a call that the deals you miss can be as important to your eventual P&L as the deals you get into. JPM hasn't got quite the same relationships with the private equity industry as bulge bracket competitors like Goldman Sachs and Bank of America, and it's been lucky enough to win advisory mandates on some of the biggest deals rather than having big market share in LBO lending.
As a result, JPM is hardly there in the worst league table of them all – the list of the biggest "hung" transactions where banks have been unable to syndicate the debt and are likely to be looking at big writedowns before the year end. We notice that Deutsche Bank is also notable by its absence, which might be considered surprising given the very public disagreements with its regulators over being aggressive in LBO business.
When some of the biggest banks on Wall Street set bonus pools at the end of this year, they're likely to look at the cost of these problem transactions, and mentally subtract it from all the fees that the financial sponsors teams have generated during the boom. The result is unlikely to be great news for the bankers. At JPM and a few other firms, some senior LBO people may be thanking their luck and judgement and getting paid for the deals they kept out of.
Meanwhile …
Some of the reviews about FTX's Dr. Lerner are a bit off...
It is confirmed that the in-house psychiatrist for FTX was Dr. George Lerner, MD. We found some of the public reviews online interesting given the situation.https://t.co/PMytuNIXMl pic.twitter.com/aIjYyltYeF
— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) November 15, 2022
There are also unconfirmed suggestions that Sam Bankman Fried was taking a drug that causes 'hypersexuality', so. (Twitter)
The most comprehensive account of how FTX managed to burn through $15bn of profits, maybe more. Plus, the suggestion that Sam Bankman Fried is incompetent, erratic and "not all there." (Milky Eggs)
Goldman Sachs is said to have spent $12m to resolve a sexual discrimination complaint, and David Solomon is said to have said something inappropriate. Goldman Sachs denies this. (Bloomberg)
In a number of Chinese banks, particularly state-owned lenders, the compensation committee agenda will contain the words "common prosperity". This is good news for juniors and bad news for seniors – in an overall environment of pay restraint, banks are being encouraged to reduce the gap between the top and bottom of their pay scales. (Bloomberg)
Chirantan Barua will be leaving the head of strategy job he's held at HSBC since 2020, to run the Scottish Widows insurance business within Lloyds Banking Group. (FT)
Most banks would regard it as a disciplinary offence to talk about business on social media at all, let alone to publicly disagree with the boss, but Twitter has historically had a more permissive approach. That is no longer the case; several employees who talked back to Elon Musk have now been fired. (Bloomberg)
Every major corporate scandal tends to trigger a slightly shamefaced round of website deletions and removals of effusive LinkedIn posts, and the Davos World Economic Forum is having to do quite a job to get rid of embarrassing photos of world figures cuddling up to Sam Bankman-Fried. (NY Post)
The UK's status as "divorce capital of the world" was partly a result of the policy of awarding bankers' spouses a percentage of all future bonuses. If the bonus cap rules are being removed, could this become a thing again? It certainly seems to be worth keeping in mind if you're married to a banker you don't like anymore. (Wealth Briefing)
TCI, the activist hedge fund which formerly employed UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, is warming up for a battle with Alphabet over headcount and executive pay. (FT)
A handwritten thank you note only needs to have three sentences, and is apparently a great way to differentiate yourself in today's less polite world. (NYT)
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SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Doctors warn this flu season will be a bit of a doozy.
"It's going to be bad," said UCSF Infectious Disease Dr. Peter Chin-Hong. "We predict there are going to be a lot more flu cases, people getting infected, but also people getting hospitalized."
RELATED: COVID long-hauler study shows 50% decline in kidney functions among veterans
Chin-Hong expects we will see far more flu cases this winter than COVID cases.
Two studies, not yet peer reviewed, but recently published in the medical preprint database MedRxiv predicted the same. One study that analyzed population immunity for the flu across several decades suggested there could be an additional 100,000 to 400,000 flu-related hospitalizations this season compared to an average year.
"I think the estimates are right on target," said Chin-Hong. "But it comes with some level of uncertainty about how bad it could be... but that it will be worse for sure."
How much worse? Chin-Hong says it's still unclear since we don't have population immunity from the flu last year.
VIDEO: How coronavirus compares with the flu
"The reason why we are not sure is because we don't have information from other parts of the world, because not everyone had bad flu last year," said Chin-Hong.
Usually scientists will look at flu cases in the Southern Hemisphere where the winter season just ended to help predict what may happen in the U.S.
"Empirical data from the Southern Hemisphere shows that flu rates have remained at historically low levels in Australia and most of the Southern Hemisphere," said UCSF Infectious Disease Dr. George Rutherford.
Rutherford is hopeful our current flu season won't be as bad as we think. He highlighted an example out of Australia where there's only been 483 cases, no deaths, and fewer than 10 percent of flu tests were positive throughout their entire winter season.
RELATED: Doctors suggest we should have waited longer between doses of Pfizer, Moderna vaccines
"That's very low activity," Rutherford said. "If we can get by with something like that, I'd be very happy that we've dodged a bullet."
But as the saying goes, he added 'anything can happen' - we can't be too careful.
"Everyone needs to get their flu shot and their COVID booster," he said. "Because if we do have a COVID surge and a flu surge on top of it. It creates all sorts of extra pressure on hospitals."


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Not all cloud services are created equal, which makes differentiating among them an essential task for companies. To save time, money and labor, Enterprises should spend more effort upfront evaluating services and providers to better understand their benefits and drawbacks.
Livtech's Transformational Process guides our clients through a discovery phase of their environment, weighted against a partner's technical and financial solutions, followed by a validated proof of concept, coupled with implementation and life cycle support of the service.
Let our experts guide you through the process.


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When Geoffrey Badger arrived in the Bega Valley from the Canberra School of Music, in 1996, there were no choirs or orchestras in the valley, and there hadn't been since World War II.
Undaunted, Geoffrey decided that if he really wanted to be involved in music in the region he'd have to make it happen himself. So he set about doing just that.
Geoffrey has become a well known supporter of music in the Bega Valley, and his popular South Coast Music Camps have been taking place every year since 2008 – until 2019, when the camp was cancelled due to a lack of strings.
Enter Anna Martin-Scrase, cellist, music teacher and regular tutor on the camps, who just couldn't let the lack of strings lie.
Anna had recently moved to Bega Valley and teamed up with another newcomer to the area, violinist Vanessa Vromans, to create and encourage music culture with the same drive and passion that Geoffrey had in 1996.
He's has even joined them on a number of projects to create a formidable team, with the aim of building up the number of strings of the Bega Valley.
Anna had been travelling to the South Coast Music Camps from Sydney since the early days, and in December 2020 she permanently moved to the region "just in time for the bushfires", she says. She immediately set about creating opportunities for herself and the musical youth of the valley.
Vanessa also arrived to live on the South Coast in December, and was wondering what she could do and where she was needed. She was introduced to Anna.
By February 2020, they found themselves managing the budding Bega Valley Youth Orchestra and Chamber Strings groups with Badger.
The dynamic duo were also visiting schools, playing music for kids, singing with them, letting them try instruments and generally inspiring them. Then, after only four orchestra rehearsals, COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdowns hit.
Most of their activity was put on hold, however at a recent rehearsal of the Bega Valley Youth Orchestra things were sounding very positive.
During lockdown, the Orchestra released an impressive video. In past few weeks, they've been visited by members of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, attended masterclasses at Four Winds and are currently rehearsing for performances and a digital recording with members of Sydney Youth Orchestra at the Four Winds Spring Youth Music Festival in mid-November.
Anna and Vanessa have also been successful in implementing a 'Strings Program' for 2021 at the Sapphire Coast Anglican College.
"Kids will be able to continue learning throughout their school life, and hopefully more will join each year," says Anna.
Originally from Vermont, US, she spent many years in Salzburg, Austria, studying classical cello.
Vanessa was also in Europe, her studies moving towards stirring Klezmer melodies from Eastern European Jewish culture.
"It's a pretty special moment in time that there are these two people who are great musicians and also great teachers here in the Bega Valley," says Geoffrey.
He also believes their working relationship is unique.
"All three of us work so well in collaboration," he says. "Often with orchestras it's a bit of a dictatorship with one person directing. But we all take turns, directing, conducting and encouraging."
Although it's all about nurturing strings at the moment, Vanessa says "we'd love to have a symphonic orchestra and would, of course, welcome any young musician."
Instruments are not that easy to come by so Anna and Vanessa have been busy creating a musical instrument library, obtaining cellos and violins for hire or loan at low rates, and setting about raising money for the necessary hard cases to protect them.
Anna definitely has a twinkle in her eye.
"I love teaching" she says.
Anna, Vanessa and Geoffrey are determined to create musical opportunities for kids, encouraging them to study, to sit for exams, join ensembles and groups and expand their horizons. Their aim is to change the world one string at a time.
If you would like to support the Bega Valley Youth Orchestra or donate towards hard music cases for Bega Valley kids, you can do so here.
If you have an instrument you no longer use and would like to pass it on to a young musician, or if your school is interested in developing a strings program, contact Anna Martin-Scrase: [email protected].
The Four Winds Youth Music Festival program will take place at Four Winds and at several schools around the Bega Valley region from 12-17 November.


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The interplay between cinema and literature is as old as the medium of celluloid.
For me, Clarke Gable is Rhett Butler. And Scarlett O' Hara, heroine of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind, is personified by Vivien Leigh, with her dazzling eyes, impish smile and, of course, that tiny waist. Maybe it's because I saw the movie first.
When I read the book, though, I experienced the richness of detail about the American civil war and life in that era and the additional layers to Mitchell's characters — all of which were lost in the cinematic version. However, I had to admit that just by sheer casting and characterization, the filmmaker had made a masterpiece, true to the original to the best of his ability.guide
That isn't always the case unfortunately. Even celebrated films like Guide, based on R.K. Narayan's novel, pale in comparison to the original work. The characterization of Rosie was a fine performance by Waheeda Rahman. But read the book and you find the cinematic version only a shadow of her literary genesis, devoid of the many textures and nuances that make her one of the most enthralling characters in literature.
Arundhati Roy has refused to let her Booker winning The God of Small Things to be filmed, despite offers galore, unwilling perhaps to see her finely etched characters distorted. Therein lies the rub. Will a writer ever be satisfied with the handling of his precious creation by another? One way is for the author to become involved himself with the adaptation of his work and impart his views and vision to the director.
But let's not forget that cinema, too, is an art form. A good film can be a study in eloquence and a director is an artist, nurturing and structuring his vision to bring it to the viewer. His right to exercise creativity cannot be overlooked.
Another important factor is the role of cinema in popularizing literature. In an age where books are losing their relevance to many, with it becoming increasingly difficult to get youngsters to pick up a book, cinema can play a crucial part in reviving interest in literature.
Perhaps a little creative license to update a literary classic and make it relevant to the modern age is not a bad thing. After all, if the film is made well, and does well, the original will get far more readers from the younger generation than it otherwise would have. Arthur Miller's The Crucible, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility are examples of literature that has been revived and repopularised, thanks to excellent adaptations and star casting.
The interplay between cinema and literature is as old as the medium of celluloid. And it will continue as long as there are good books to read and filmmakers with the vision to translate them into movies.
There will be controversy, and criticism. But however good, or bad, an adaptation, one must remember that the original will always remain; it cannot be obliterated or erased by the existence of its celluloid version. Writers can take heart from this. And realize that for their works to reach a wider audience, they must be open to interpretation.
This opinion was first published in Meghdutam between 1999 – 2003.
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We saw two movies and my son was treated like a VIP…
The Daily Dash: March 6, 2017 {Briton's @AllStarsLimos Party}
* TSA rolls out controversial new pat-down procedure
* Brawny has put a woman on its packaging #StrengthHasNoGender
* FBI Director Comey rejects allegations that Obama had Trump Tower bugged
* I-95 shut down due to brush fires
This Week's Verse: Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselveswith compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
To be surrendered to God is of more value than our personal holiness.~ Oswald Chambers
It was another busy weekend in the Cone Home! We saw two movies, had two sleepovers, enjoyed the weather outside and, most importantly, celebrated our son's 11th birthday with an All Stars Limousine VIP Kids Party package!
After having the hardest time getting even so much as a response from almost every other limo company in Nashville (other than Grand Ave, who couldn't accommodate the size of our party), Trey from All Stars Limos not only got back to me right away, but it turned out they specialize in kids VIP birthday party packages.
I'll be telling you more about the party in an upcoming segment of Talk of the Town (and I'm working on getting you a discount too!), but for now just know that my son and 7 of his friends LOVED driving all around Nashville in a white Navigator SUV limo while indulging on candy and singing karaoke (my apologies if they were shouting and waving at you while you tried to walk down Broadway yesterday ?
We also saw two movies in the theater this weekend: one was AMAZING and the other was HORRIBLE. More on that tomorrow…
Nail Polish of the Week:
Since this may be the last bout of winter we'll have this year, I went back to the darker LA Moss again. It never fails me. Check out all the Butter LONDON colors here: https://bit.ly/ButLon
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Hope you make it a great day!


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Illegal Immigrant As Security Guard Is A No-No
over 7 years ago kaylaWhy hire foreign workers?
Typically, foreign migrants from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal and Myanmar, among other countries, are brought in to Malaysia to work in low-skill jobs.
These foreign workers are scattered among several industries namely the manufacturing, construction, services, plantations and agriculture.
But why do Malaysia companies hire foreign workers instead of locals?
Early this year, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi said foreign workers are brought in because Malaysian youths refused to take up '3D' jobs - dirty, difficult and dangerous.
Zahid said Malaysian youths tend to be choosy, thus, forcing local employers to look for foreign workers.
Employing ILLEGAL Immigrants
This piece is not meant to discuss on the rights and wrongs of decisions taken by local companies to hire foreign workers to fill up vacancies in respective sectors.
The bigger issue here is the hiring of ILLEGAL immigrants as security guards in some residential and commercial building.
The Home Ministry's principal assistant secretary, Hanafee Yusof, urged security firms and owners of residential or commercial buildings to stop compromising on security of these buildings by hiring illegal immigrants as bodyguards.
Hanafee told Bernama today that such approach of hiring illegal immigrants as security guards without going through proper procedures would be to their own disadvantage.
The employers will not know the background of the guards they are hiring, like whether they (guards) have criminal records or are involved in unlawful activities such as gangsterism." - Hanafee Yusof (Bernama, July 15, 2016)
His "warning" is spot-on -- security guard is hired to protect something, particularly a building, against intruders, trespassers, theft or damage.
No background checks
How can these security firms ensure the reliability of these illegal immigrants without conducting a proper background check?
Hiring an individual, whether he/she is a local or foreign immigrant, without knowing their background, is jeopardizing the safety of residents in these buildings.
It is almost impossible for residents to ascertain if the security guards have undergone proper background check before being assigned to take on this role.
But why do these firms hire illegal immigrants as security guards? Is it because they are cheap and docile?
Government should take stern action such as blacklisting firms that hire illegal immigrants.
Drastic measures should be taken before any untoward incident happens.
Pic credit: FMT


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Addu City, Maldives – An individual who consulted Hithadhoo Flu Clinic has tested positive for Covid-19.
According to the information received by 'The Times of Addu', the 25 year old individual was not following quarantine regulations.
This case comes while Addu City has been placed under monitoring on May 1 following a 28 year old individual being found to be positive after consulting the Hithadhoo flu clinic in Addu Equatorial Hospital and had several contacts including high risk category people.
In addition to this, several individuals from Meedhoo island of the city had tested positive after a cluster from a boat traveling between Addu City and Malé City was identified on April 29, 2021.
As per the announcement, all travel to and from the city has been banned until further notice. Any essential travel, must also be authorized in writing by the Social Support Desk (SSD) of Addu.


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MIT economist Jonathan Gruber (yes, that Jonathan Gruber) is the co-author of a paper which finds there were long-term negative effects for some children after the introduction of a universal child care program in Quebec. The Christian Post reports:
In a paper recently published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, Gruber et al. studied increased childcare access in Quebec and found it to be detrimental to child development.
"We first confirm earlier findings showing reduced contemporaneous non-cognitive development following the program introduction in Quebec, with little impact on cognitive test scores," reads the abstract for the study.
"We then show these non-cognitive deficits persisted to school ages, and also that cohorts with increased child care access subsequently had worse health, lower life satisfaction, and higher crime rates later in life. The impacts on criminal activity are concentrated in boys."
The National Bureau of Economic Research described the results of a previous paper (by the same three authors covering the same general topic) this way [emphasis added]:
In Universal Childcare, Maternal Labor Supply, and Family Well-Being (NBER Working Paper No. 11832), authors Michael Baker, Jonathan Gruber, and Kevin Milligan measure the implications of universal childcare by studying the effects of the Quebec Family Policy. Beginning in 1997, the Canadian province of Quebec extended full-time kindergarten to all 5-year olds and included the provision of childcare at an out-of-pocket price of $5 per day to all 4-year olds. This $5 per day policy was extended to all 3-year olds in 1998, all 2-year olds in 1999, and finally to all children younger than 2 years old in 2000. Since welfare reform and other changes were occurring for single mothers over this time period, the authors focus on the effects of this policy on the married and cohabiting women and their children who received most of the new subsidies under this policy. They use data from the National Longitudinal Study of Canadian Youth (NLSCY), a large longitudinal survey of children inside and outside of Quebec, to develop the first comprehensive analysis of a universal subsidized childcare program, following its impact from childcare use through employment and finally to children's and parent's outcomes.
Disturbingly, the authors report that children's outcomes have worsened since the program was introduced along a variety of behavioral and health dimensions. The NLSCY contains a host of measures of child well being developed by social scientists, ranging from aggression and hyperactivity, to motor-social skills, to illness. Along virtually every one of these dimensions, children in Quebec see their outcomes deteriorate relative to children in the rest of the nation over this time period. Their results imply that this policy resulted in a rise of anxiety of children exposed to this new program of between 60 percent and 150 percent, and a decline in motor/social skills of between 8 percent and 20 percent. These findings represent a sharp break from previous trends in Quebec and the rest of the nation, and there are no such effects found for older children who were not subject to this policy change.
Obviously that's not much of a recommendation for similar programs in the United States, but that is road which Hillary Clinton's universal preschool proposal seems to be pointing toward. Clinton points to research suggesting "high-quality" preschool is beneficial for kids, but sociologist W. Bradford Wilcox of the University of Virginia says the truth of the matter is more mixed. Writing for National Review, he says that some kids do appear to benefit from early care while others are harmed by it:
Child care seems to be most beneficial for children from low-income, disadvantaged homes. These kids often benefit from the more structured and stimulating environments found in formal child care versus their homes. By contrast, children from middle- and upper-income homes headed by two parents were more likely to be harmed by spending extensive time in non-maternal care as infants. A Columbia University study, for instance, found that children's cognitive outcomes were worse when "mothers were working 30 hours or more per week and with effects more pronounced for certain subgroups (i.e., children whose mothers were not sensitive, boys, and children with married parents)." Child care, then, may be better for some kids and worse for others, a possibility often ignored in public debates about the subject, and in Clinton's push for more public spending on child care.
This doesn't make much of a selling point for Clinton or anyone promoting such policies. Saying 'my policy will have mixed results on children's long term development' sounds like a reason to think very carefully before spending lots of taxpayer money on such programs.


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Secure your property with a high-quality roller shutter
We supply and install a wide range of high-quality roller shutter garage doors that are made to measure. Whether you want manual or electric doors (operated via key switch or remote control), we have the expertise and know-how to cater to your privacy and security needs. We carry several styles that you can choose from, as well. However, our most popular design range is the Galvanised Steel roller. All our roller shutters can be powder coated with your chosen colour should you want.
Spatial Efficiency
Unlike other garage door designs, a roller shutter requires minimal space to operate. This door system is designed to suit spaces that are small- to medium-sized and carports in crowded areas.
- Its vertical opening mechanism allows you to station trucks and delivery vans as close to the door without obstructing it.
- The same opening mechanism allows you to park tall vehicles inside the loading and unloading bay without getting hit by the retracting door.
- Roller shutter doors are flexible enough to be installed in small and cramped spaces without hindering its functionality.
Improved Security
A basic roller shutter door is equipped with a manual lock system that uses sliding bars that lock the side channels internally. Although these are effective, we also have an electric option that offers better security.
A remote-controlled roller shutter door uses a locking device that holds the barrel that the curtain is attached to. This keeps it firmly in place once the door has closed.
Additional Insulation
Most industrial units house temperature sensitive items, such as perishables. Maintaining a stable climate for them can be costly, however. The additional insulation that roller shutter doors provide will go a long way in keeping the conditions for these items steady.
Acoustic Barrier
This type of door design makes less noise when in operation, minimising the sound disruption that distracts employees, customers, and even neighbours. Additionally, a roller shutter door acts as an effective barrier against external noise. Conversely, this feature will also muffle loud sounds that are common in factories and warehouses.
Style Versatility
A roller shutter door system may not be flexible in design, but it can still be customised to suit your preferences. All our door options can be powder coated with your preferred colour.
Roller Shutter Doors from GDS Scotland
GDS Scotland offers installations and repairs across Scotland. Together with our excellent customer services, we ensure you get the most out of your contract with us. Our specialists have been fully trained to fit your shop or industrial unit with the door system you select.
Whether you need a manual or automated roller shutter door, our team of engineers will install the right system for your shop or industrial unit. We also offer free quotations for our repair services.
To learn more, call us on 01383 860 982 or send your enquiries to [email protected].


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The Papermate Compulsion
One catch though: the pencils came with this horrible protrusion that lets you affix them to shirt pockets I guess? I ended up doing this rather insane/obsessive thing: I'd break the thing off. Then I'd take a pair of pliers and rip off as much as I could. Then I'd take a nail file, and file the area smooth.
This does not feel like a normal thing for a high school kid to do.


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Introduction to Fit for Law
1. Welcome to Fit for Law
This section includes:
- 1 video
- Introductory text
- An information box on "Which legal professionals does this course apply to?"
- 1 activity on "Is the legal profession really Fit for Law?"
You should allow yourself 20 minutes to complete this section.
Welcome to our online educational training designed to up-skill legal practitioners and employers by developing a better, evidenced-based understanding of emotional competence and professional resilience. The overall aim of this course is to help support emotionally and psychologically healthy ways of working within the legal profession.
The term "emotional competence" refers here to the importance of recognising and utilising emotion within legal practice to enhance working practices and improve mental wellbeing. Emotional competence involves a range of skills, including being able to:
- Identify, recognise and understand emotions
- Analyse and reflect on emotions
- Use emotions to enhance thinking
- Manage and regulate emotional responses in a way which assists reasoning and is appropriate in the context
- Learn to cooperatively combine emotional and intellectual thinking to improve decision-making.
(Mayer et al, 2004; Caruso and Salovey, 2004)
The range of skills this involves are not fixed or dispositional. In other words, they can be taught, meaning individuals can develop and improve their emotional competence (Boyatzis, Goleman & Rhee, 2000).
The term "professional resilience" refers to the ability of individuals to not only survive but also thrive in a potentially tough and challenging working environment. Being resilient involves being able to adjust and positively adapt to change and adversity (Luthar, Cicchetti & Becker, 2000). Resilience is a dynamic process, focusing on how individuals interact with their environment when dealing with challenges and setbacks.
For example, on a daily basis it might be a challenge for you to meet deadlines or billing requirements and it may be a setback for you if you are unable to meet these. In the face of difficulties and challenges, resilience allows individuals to manage, respond and "bounce back". As with emotional competence, resilience is not a personality trait or fixed, so it can be learnt (Bernard, 2004).
Fostering better emotional competence and professional resilience involves working on skills that can be learnt and developed. However, you may notice that you find it easier to develop some skills than others and that is perfectly normal. Thinking about which skills you have, or need to work on, can help you when you are assessing your professional strengths and weaknesses (for example, to decide whether a particular role or responsibility is right for you).
Is the legal profession really Fit for Law?
Consider the statement below and then click on the link (in red) to go to an opinion poll where you can give your view on this anonymously and also see the opinions expressed by other legal professionals who have used this course. Afterwards, return to this page and click on Reveal comment to get an overview on this statement.
"Most legal professionals are psychologically and emotionally healthy"
Click here to go to the poll. [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]
Of course, there is no "right" answer to this question, but it is worth taking a moment to reflect on the reasons for your answer. If you are a twitter user, you can also comment using #FitforLaw. It is also worth bearing in mind that it would be unusual for anyone to be emotionally and psychologically healthy all the time. Just like with physical health - everyone gets a cold or flu occasionally - your mental health is not fixed and static.
The concepts of emotional competence and professional resilience do not just relate to the competence and resilience of individual legal practitioners. Although individuals have personal characteristics that can help strengthen their professional resilience (such as belief in their own abilities), there are wider factors which also influence it (such as having supportive personal and professional relationships).
It is not only about individual responses and individual effort. Instead, it is vital that the wider legal working environment and culture of law also acknowledge their importance by recognising both the evidence-base for their inclusion and the practical changes that are necessary. Therefore, this course is divided into three parts:
- Managing and understanding yourself
- Working with others (under development)
- Employer and stakeholder toolkit (under development).
The parts of this course can be studied at your own pace. Each part can also be worked through as a stand-alone set of materials. We would recommend that you allow a total of between two to four hours for each part. In addition, the course contains an Additional resources section with further resources and guidance to access in relation to each part.
The course has been developed by a team of authors at The Open University for the charity LawCare. More information about the authors and LawCare can be found here. Throughout the course you will also find a range of quotations from legal professionals which are taken from the recordings of five focus groups held in the United Kingdom ("UK") and Republic of Ireland in February 2018 to demonstrate a range of experiences and perspectives.
As well as working through this course, you can join in the conversation on Twitter using #FitforLaw or by applying to join our closed Facebook group "Fit for Law". If you are concerned about confidentiality, you can create a new profile to join this group, providing you answer the three questions sent to you when you apply to join the group honestly.
Which legal professionals does this course apply to?
This course applies to all legal professionals within the UK and the Republic of Ireland, including (but, as in all legal documents, without limitation!)
- Advocates
- Apprentices
- Barristers
- Barrister's Clerks
- Case workers
- Chartered conveyancers
- Chartered legal executives
- Devils
- In-House Lawyers
- Judges
- Magistrates
- Paralegals
- Patent attorneys
- Pupils
- Sheriffs
- Sole practitioners
- Solicitors
- Support staff
- Trademark Attorneys
- Trainees.
Although the focus is on legal practice in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, much of what is included will also be relevant in other jurisdictions.


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Founded in 1010 by Yaroslav the Wise (future Grand Prince of Kiev ), is a large, pleasantly quiet old town, and yet much more metropolitan than the other cities on the Golden Ring. Yaroslavl developed rapidly because of its favorable location along the Volga trade route.
In 1218 it became the capital of the independent feudal Yaroslavl principality. In 1463 the Principality merged with the Moscow state. During the XVII century Yaroslavl became a port of entry into Russia , and the city advanced to the third place after Moscow and Kazan as a center of trade.
It is a town of trades and crafts, of numerous churches striking your imagination with its original beauty.
Of special interest are the Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Saviour, founded in 12th centuty, and the majestic Church of Elijah the Prophet.
In August, Yaroslavl holds an annual international festival of choral and bell chime music "Transfiguration" to celebrate the holiday of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
Russia >> Golden Ring >> Yaroslavl


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Understanding the Male Ego Syndrome
By Sindhu Nathan: Male ego is a term very commonly used for men. What is this male ego? It is used to refer to the attitude and behavior of a person who has an exaggerated opinion of his capabilities and importance. As this behavior is more often observed in men rather than women, so it is most commonly referred to as the male ego.
All human beings have ego, but then why male ego is so prominent. Actually, home is the first place where this belief is seeded, watered and nourished. From the beginning, man is given a superior place in the family. It is somewhat psychologically embedded in his mind that he is the responsible person of the family. The pressure of taking care of the female counterpart, managing the house and the burden of the family is his responsibility. This notion gets skin deep and is supported by various conscious and sub-conscious beliefs.
In the changing times, where women are becoming more independent and liberal, they find themselves no less than the opposite sex and are at par with them. They can share the responsibility as much as their male counterparts. It is true, but unfortunately, not taken so well by the man. Even though psychologically and economically women have changed, the deep-seated belief inside the male mind still remains the same. They find it difficult to shed off the role of guardian and protector. How competent the wife may be, he still wants to be in control. There is a lurking fear of being overtaken by his spouse in terms of intelligence and competency. So he retaliates if she behaves otherwise.
It is difficult to decipher male ego and is equally important to handle it in the right way, so that it does not bloat up out of proportion. Women should learn to understand this aspect of men in a proper manner and take care not to hurt this core point in man's psyche. It could be traumatic for a man if his ego is tampered.
Women want friendship and equality as men want guardianship and friendship. This is a contradiction of some sort. Unknowingly, women take the help of assertive tactics when they are abused or cornered. The two most important things that women need from men are respect and recognition and should demand only that. Equality is still a far-fetched dream.
In this male dominated society, women still have a long way to go to make the dream of equality come true. Major social and psychological structure reorganization is needed for it to be a reality. The core fact remains that we are not prepared for that change as of yet – neither men nor women.