Americans - Wiser in Shopping?

There was a recent report which states that consumers in the United States have finally come into their senses that they will put priority onto the price of the goods rather than the quality of the goods which they are going to purchase. This is a bold move away from the beginning where by they would rather stick to the quality of the goods itself. This will eventually give more hope to supermarkets like Tesco and Wal-Mart of the United States in gaining market share of their business domestically.

As we all know, the domestic market in the United States is really huge. They could actually survive on its own without much imports from overseas. They are self sustainable. However, there are external circumstances which made their macro economy to come be in the state which they are now. It was stated that the US economy is facing a recession. Leaders should come up with a plan where by they can pull America out of recession and into the recovery stage without going much into depression. Otherwise, they are going to be in trouble.

I have read a few reports mentioned that for countries who are in depression stage, it will mean that the governemnt would have to pull more resources or work harder to pull the country out of depression. In another word, it will be a tough fight for a country who is in recession and then depression to pull itself out of depression.

One good example will be the economy of Zimbabwe. Latest figure shows that the country is heading for inflation of over 2000 percent (official figure) right now. It went up to 4,500 percent before back in July 2007. Such hyperinflation will only do bad for the people in Zimbabwe. However, we still see leaders having luxuries while their people suffering? How could this be? You tell me then.

Anyway, I am really pleased that the Americans are now finally come to their senses that they need to be a little bit wiser when it comes to spending their money. A good move indeed!

Some Colleagues

Well, I am quite sad for the fact that there are selfish people around. I mean, there are many type of people in this world. There are those who are genuinely kind and helpful; some of them are kind and helpful but with an agenda (for their self interest). There are also those people who is afraid of you being better than them so they just don't want you to know more about them. I am more concerned with the last category of people.

I do have a colleague whom I will meet once a week. I have tried to help him in doing his work. Being very sincere and kind, he does not want me to help him. I have asked him why and he said that he has things to do. I Don't understand. When I asked him further, he said that the type of work which I am doing for him is not the same work which I have been doing so it is different. I then asked him what about my performance then. He said that there is nothing wrong with the way how I am doing. Well, I don't get it.

Well, I think I can come up to a few conclusions after a brief encounter with him. Initially, I was thinking that since I am quite good in doing other jobs, I would like to give him a hand which is nothing new to what am I doing. He said nothing because I was doing my job well. I told him that please let me know if I am doing something wrong so that he can correct me. He said alright but with some hesitation. I don't know why but body language would tell me that he does not like me to help him.

He has lots of work to do and I would like to lighten his load. Why is he not wanting my help? I just don't understand. Anyway, I was pretty good in doing his job! Hahahahaha. He was quite amazed in how I did his work. I was just trying to lighten his workload, that is all. I do not want to prove to him anything. I don't really know what is going on in his mind at that time.

In the end, he got rid of me. I just don't get it. What I don't understand is that will it be good if someone is here to help you? I just don't understand why he does not want me to help him. Perhaps he thinks that I am not as good as he is OR he thinks that I might take over his job!!! Hahahahaha.

I got quite upset because he is just a forgetful brad and a slap on my face! I did help him to lighten his load but he did not even say a simple 'thank you' to me! I will definitely not going to help him anymore. Well, we will see how far he can go in life. There must be a reason why he is behaving in that way. No one likes to work with him anyway and I want to know why. It will be his loss for not accepting me to help him because he is struggling with his department!

This is a Cause for Concern

I do not know what is going with a friend of mine in Malaysia. He is not responding to my calls and I am quite worried about him. I really hope that he is alright and nothing has gone wrong with him. I really hope that he is. I would really appreciate if he would just send me a text message or something.

I am Troubled

As you have known, I have meet up with someone who does not want to become my friend anymore two weeks ago, right? This time, I met one of my former church members. I hink she is one of the elders in the church. Guess what he told me? he told me that he was rather concerned about me and therefore he has decided to stay away from me. I don't understand that. I told him that I can find other chapters in the Bible which counter the same chapter which he has shown me before (Thanks to someone who is far far away - I do cherish our friendship).

I was really mad. Besides that, that individual is just like a person who likes to gossip around. I don't like that. IT is bad. I don't like people to gossip around. I am trying to stay away from them but I don't think I can because they are everywhere. I need some peace people!!!

I am Feeling Rubbish Today

For God knows reason, I am feeling very down today. It is not just today but for the past few days. I don't know what is going on with me but I think it was due to events or things that have accumulated for the past few weeks or so which made me so down.

I could not tell you what it was but I can safely say that I am down because I have not found the right job. I am feeling down because I could not be working temporarily in a place where it does not offer good prospect to me. I am finding a little bit difficult in securing a job which I like. I think it is just tough and I woud have to move on and keep on seaching. It does not help when you are helpless, right?

Oh well, we will see about it then. Studying is no fun but it is satisfying when you get the qualification. On the other hand, one needs a good job offer, don't you think so?

Don't use the Bible to control other people

I don't understand why some people would like to use scriptures of the Bible to control other people. I just do not know why. Someone please tell me... I don't think we should do that to other people. What is more important is to share!!!

Some people just don't get it. They are trying to brainwash other people by using the Bible! That is not good at all. Why not they make use of the Bible to spread the goodness of Jesus Christ? Someone just tell me why. That is really pathetic. Oh...Do you know what? Someone just came to me and say: 'I am not going to be your friend because the scriptures in the Bible asked me to.'

Oh my God... What a person!!!

What do you call a person who turned his back on you?

What do you call a person who said that he is not going to be your friend because he is following what the Bible has said even though you always try to be his friend after all the troubles that he has caused you?

What do you call a person who has totally ignore all the past good things which you have done for him all these while (for almost five years) and set aside the differences between the two of you but later drop a bomb on you saying that he cannot be friends with you because the Bible said so?

Oh my God...

I am not here to criticise him. I just want to free my mind a bit. Let me talk a little bit more about him. He was a reformed Cristian and I knew him since five years ago. Since then, he has been involved himself in numerous church meetings and a devoted Christian as I can say about him. One thing which he seemed to have forgotten is that he needs to spend more time in his studies. Obviously he does not. Otherwise he would be studying for his PhD by now.

What is more interesting about this person is that I think he spent too much time in doing God's work and forgot about his own work. I am not saying that putting Go at first place is not a good idea. I told him before that he has to think carefully about balancing his priorities. He is here to study and he is best in finishing his studies. What is the point of repeating his studies over and over again?

I wonder why won't he put the amount of effort which he has in reading the Bible to do his studies? I have been very patient with him. I still do. In the end, it is not the friendship that counts. I still consider him as my friend as what God has said. Love you enemy as your friend. If he wants to disassociate himself from me, so be it. It will be his misfortune. I have been there to help him always and not asked for any help in return because I would like to help him purely for the love of it. He thinks that it does not matter at all.

The question is whether I should just give up on him? All he did to me was to cause me a lot of trouble. I think I should do so. Besides, someone has told me ages ago to just disassociate myself from him because he is not really that Holly anyway...

Human relationship

Sometimes I am quite annoyed with people especially your colleagues who are not a helping hand when you are in need of help. That is an issue which is beyond my control sometimes. I don't know what I can do to improve the situation but I guess it is little that I can do. That is because I am not the individual. Obviously I could not change a persons' attitude, right?

What can I do then? I think what I can do is to defend myself in this situation. I don't like to create a senario but I think I will make one in the near future because sometimes you need to really make things across their mind and make sure that they understand what you meant before letting go. Sad but true.

Unsupportive Colleague

I am so disgusted about the behaviour of one of my colleagues. His name is Larry and I am definitely not going to give in to him. The summary of the case is simple. He was given a task by the manager to complete within a specific time. He knows that what he is about to do is really tough and he said nothing. After all, we need to obey what our managers are asking us to do, right? In that case we work as a team and not an individual player.

Well, just as I was about to embark on my work, I got a call from the manager and he asked me to exchange job with Larry because Larry is not feeling well at the moment. Besides that, I do have more experience in doing Larry's work. Until they (the managers) can train someone to do Larry's work, I am the best person to do it.

I don't get it man. I am so used to do my own work. What is the problem with Larry? I've got to know that he was really unhappy because he was assigned to do a piece of work which requires a lot of dedication and focus. He does not like to do such a work so he tried to swap with me. Now he could not do it because he would know that I will not abide to his story. He is clearly fit and able to do the job but instead he gave silly excuses. Oh... the manager gave in and who is the sucker? Me!!!

Never mind, I thought, because I am still new and I should be learning every little thing that I can find. That is fine but I am not too sure of why Larry had to ask the manager's permission to exchange his job role with me and not with other person? Moreover, he asked to be moved from his present position only after half way through his work? That was really strange.

I was thinking that since I need to learn more about my new job, I will do what as the manager has asked me to do. Fine. When it was time for us to go home, he came around and said that I still have plenty of things to do and I should speed up. furthermore he was laughing that I could not finish my work on time! Cheeky devil!

I took his expression with a pinch of salt. I did not say anything but just smiled. He said that since he has finished his work, he will be heading home. I said fine.

Later on, I asked the manager and guess what he told me? Larry did not finish his work but since he is unwell, he would have to go home. Ha! I rest my case! I don't think he is unwell because if not, he could have first, offer his help, second, console me due to the work that was piling up for me. He offered no help at all but took the mick out of me! That is not a good way to show team spirit, isn't it?

How typical!

I am really frustrated at my boss. One reason for certain is that I think he does not take me into serious consideration. What happened was that I have told him four weeks prior to me wanting to take two days off work. I told him four weeks before hand and for every single week that I see him I will just remind him. He will always say that it is alright and so on.

I would take the answer to be a 'yes' for me to take leave. Well, it is just for two days and nothing more. I was not asking for more days. What happened was that on the actual week that I was about to take leave, I asked him one more time and this time he hesistated. I think he did that due to the fact that he has forgotten about me wanting for a holiday for some time now and he was not fully prepared for it.

Well, I can just go ahead with the holiday which was planned and to think that everything is being sorted out. I did not do that. I called up the office and he was not there to take my call. I just call up to confirm that I will be taking the two days holiday.

Do you know what happened? When I got back from my holiday, I was being told that I was absent from work without planned!!! Could you imagine your most trusted boss telling you that? I was really disappointed with that sort of answer. I don't understand why is he so hard to approve my holiday? Besides, I have given him ample time to sort out staff availability!

In the end, I was told that I would have to work for the two days which was deemed a plan holiday for me. Otherwise I will not be paid. This is just disappointing. :(

People want 'face' - So how to help them?

Tell you what. Sometimes it is really hard to describe a problem which you are facing. The best thing to do is to write it all down as what I am going to do. There are people who thinks that they are:

(1) Smarter than anyone;

(2) Never done anything wrong before;

(3) Always blame other people and not on themselves;

(4) Always want 'face' and will never put off with it;

(5) Always thinks that you would always have to attend to their needs no matter how they treat you; and

(6) Never want to lose 'face'.

How would you like to have good relationship with the person above? They will always think that they are always on the right and never ready to admit that they have done wrong. Instead they will blame it on you which you should have do this and that first. Sometimes I don't understand. It is really hard to figure out such people. What I can say is that just tag along. Just don't think about it and leave it alone. It should be alright in the end.

A-P-P-R-E-C-I-A-T-I-O-N 2

Remember last time I wrote about people who does not appreciate the things that I have done back in May/June 2007? Well, this is the second part to it. This time, it does not concern me but my dear friend who is in Malaysia.

I know since a while ago that he is a good classical singer. Nobody at his age can sing like him. He is just like one of the more popular classical tenors. I do think that he has the capabilities to market himself and earn lots of money.

Well, he told me that he was invited to sing for a wedding ceremony but in the end, His Aunty who initially invited him to sing turned him down at the 11th hour! How can this happened? This is so sad! I just could not imagine the pain and suffering which he has gone through.

Well, you might say that it is nothing but to him is something special. He has spend time practising the song to sing because he is a good classical tenor. He gave his best and will do his best. I think, common, for pity sake, could anyone just turn down an offer which they have given? I think it is just too much for him. If it were me, I think I will go balistic. I know that he has given his best and he asked nothing for it. He did not ask for the job! He was asked by the person to do it! It was an offer and he took it with good faith. How could an educated person do such thing to him? That is just too bad!

Where is the appreciation over here man? Common people... Speak to me!!!

An Ungrateful Person

I have always help one woman in her late fourties. I do understand why she needs help because she does not get help from anyone! I don't think other people will help her since she is always complaining all the time! Well, I helped her a lot. The problem is that she did something which is really unforgiving (in my view point). Before I start, I need to tell you that she would just pop into my house without even giving me any calls before doing that. She is just way out of the line.

She would just come into my house and keeps on moaning about her job. Oh well, she can moan at someone else, not me. I thought that I could have a conversation with her but all she cared was to complain to me. She is lonely. She is lonely and needs help but do you know what she did? She told my girl that I am lonely (Hello! Something wrong over here). Is she nuts?

I want to be far far away from her from now on. She is not a friend to me at all. No way man... I am getting far away from her from now on. I was trying to help her but instead...

She is not a friend to me at all...

Happy!

I am so so happy that my dearest bro has changed for the better! This is what it should be! I am so proud of him and will always be there to give him the support that he needs! Well, I have been giving him the support for all these while and it will not stop me from doing so.

I am really happy that he is changing for the better! Way to go bro!

Cyber bullying must be stop

Names like Youtube and Facebook is just one of the many websites which would allow users to express their feelings over the internet and publish their feelings across the globe. One of the many advantages is that there will be people who would post their vidoe shoots and many other people will be able to see it. That was the purpose of these websites. I think the creator of these websites would only promote good things but oh no. What can you say? People are starting to post some negative things on the internet.

The government is quite worried that cyber bullying is on the rise. What they normally do is that they will take snap shots of some negative things on their mobile phones or on their camcorder and then they post it on places like youtube. Eventually people will be able to see it by accessing through youtube, right? It is just a co-incidence. Oh well, what can I say about it? Nothing. It is just normal because many people have started to so it like this. It should be stop. It is good tha the government is stepping up to curb this problem.

Human Relationship

I don't get it. Sometime people would just get offended with just a slight issue being raised. I will give you an example: A and B were talking. A was telling B that he does not like the way how B talks because he thinks differently from B. B got upset and decided to state her mind and they then both argued. It lead from one thing to another which heated up very much. Well, in the end? They quarreled. Why can't two people think logically and work out their differences in a proper manner?

Betrayal

Sometimes it is really hard to identify whom can you trust. It is just something which is really subjective and it would be all your instinct on who can you trust. What can you people say? Can you possibly trust anyone? Do you know that people will betray you even though you are so good to them? How could you identify anyone who is trustworthy?

I am deeply disturbed. I never know that even though I have lay my trust in a particular person, that person betrayed me. I know that even though it was just a small matter, nevertheless, I would have serious doubts about me going back to the individual and whether I would be able to tell her about everything.

How would you feel that you have been shattered by the same person whom you have put a lot of faith in?

Funny People

Sometimes I wonder why people are reacting like the way they are. Well, there are two types of people when it comes to buying anything. One of them is price. They will go for the cheapest product that they can find. The other category of people is that they will go for quality stuffs. Hum... What can I do about the first category of people?

Obviously there would be a third kind of people whether by they will just have patience and wait for the expensive items to go on sale before making the momve to buy. That would be a good idea. That is the sort of people who would be able to make the best out of their money. Well, sometimes we just could not wait so we would have to pay a little bit more. Well, that is not a problem, right? Just take it easy...

Paranoid

I am quite concern about people overeacting. I am saying this after looking into the online news today. I shake my head in dispair because many people nowdays are very afraid of travelling because it reminds them of what happened a few years ago and it brings back bad memories.

I do have something to say. Get it out of the system! What we need to do is to be vigilant as what PM Gordan Brown has said. The head of security in UK also gave assurance that everything is under control. We are quite lucky because we are a tolerant society. I am sure that the police is doing their best now. I do have faith in them. I trust the police and I like them very much.

Anyway, look at today's news which I have taken from Yahoo News online:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An American Airlines flight was diverted to New York early on Thursday after the crew reported a suspicious passenger in what the U.S. homeland security chief said later may have been a misunderstanding.

The Transportation Security Administration said American Flight 136 from Los Angeles to London made an emergency landing at JFK Airport around 4 a.m. (9 a.m. British time).

CNN said security agents boarded the plane and took a man off. The network said the pilot initially told passengers the plane did not have enough gas.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told CNN he had received a report the man in question was an employee who was travelling in a private capacity.

"It may very well turn out that this is nothing more than a misunderstanding with an employee who used an employee bus to get on a plane for a private flight," Chertoff said.

I could not believe it!!!

Do you know what? I think my manager is quite disappointed with me for the fact that I am not pouring out my heart's content to her but to one of my colleagues who is actually in her fifties! I could not believe what have I heard from her!

I was in a meeting with her for my appraisal last week and it seems that she is unhappy for the fact that I do not always go to her for help. That was really untrue. I do go to her when I needed help. The problem is that she is not always free for me to ask her for help! Can you see the problem? I wonder why is she asking me to go to her more often.

I think there is a communication break down between the both of us. I do not always want to disturb her because she is really busy so I would like to solve the problem myself. Until and unless I cannot solve the problem myself, then I will go to her. She is saying that solving problem is one thing. The most important thing is that I am not opening my thoughts to her! Oh well... What can you say about that?

Would she means that I would have to inform her of what have I been doing for the day and also for the week? That is my personal life! I do have the right not to say such things to a manager. I had had enough because if I were to get close to someone who is rank higher up than me, they will surely bring me down.

Maybe she is rather curious why am I calling my colleague who is aged 53 years old and not a manager who is around two times younger than my colleague? The reason is because I feel comfortable in doing so. That is why. Don't tell me that my manager is jealous that I am in good communication with my colleague rather than her...