I know there are all kinds of moral and ethical dilemmas, but since I work in a library, I get all my CD's from the library. Free is about as frugal as you can get and the selection is pretty decent. I don't think I have bought a full price book for at least 5 years in between the library's used book sales and paperbackswap.com. The DVD selection can be a little slim but that's what the "NEVER pay for a RedBox DVD rental again" posting is for.
I don't get how this entry is somehow being held up to some higher "truth" standards than others.
I think maybe it's because Paul always writes really insightful and useful entries and so we are almost taken aback when there is something we should maybe think for ourselves about. =P
What kind of idiot is going to follow a semi-truck at about 5 car lengths and not get antzy about it? It seems to me, at best, suicidal... let alone, illegal. Talk to a truck driver at a truck stop and see what information they have for you. How about the fact that some of the worst accidents involving trucks are the ones where cars are not following at a safe distance, or do not take into consideration the difficulties that truck drivers endure just having to share the road with these fools. I beg to disagree, the best way to save gas is not to drive.. If you must drive, do so intelligently using other fuel-saving measures, like slowing-down....
How would this person like a civil law-suit on their hands because they are recommending that prople follow at a unsafe distance? I, as well as my family, don't think this strategy is worth the price of a life. Especially if the life is someone elses and you have to live with that responsibility.
Choose your words and recommendations VERY carefully, my friend.... There WILL be people that will follow these instructions.... I just hope I never see them.
What kind of idiot is going to follow a semi-truck at about 5 car lengths and not get antzy about it? It seems to me, at best, suicidal... let alone, illegal. Talk to a truck driver at a truck stop and see what information they have for you. How about the fact that some of the worst accidents involving trucks are the ones where cars are not following at a safe distance, or do not take into consideration the difficulties that truck drivers endure just having to share the road with these fools. I beg to disagree, the best way to save gas is not to drive.. If you must drive, do so intelligently using other fuel-saving measures, like slowing-down....
How would this person like a civil law-suit on their hands because they are recommending that prople follow at a unsafe distance? I, as well as my family, don't think this strategy is worth the price of a life. Especially if the life is someone elses and you have to live with that responsibility.
Choose your words and recommendations VERY carefully, my friend.... There WILL be people that will follow these instructions.... I just hope I never see them.
What kind of idiot is going to follow a semi-truck at about 5 car lengths and not get antzy about it? It seems to me, at best, suicidal... let alone, illegal. Talk to a truck driver at a truck stop and see what information they have for you. How about the fact that some of the worst accidents involving trucks are the ones where cars are not following at a safe distance, or do not take into consideration the difficulties that truck drivers endure just having to share the road with these fools. I beg to disagree, the best way to save gas is not to drive.. If you must drive, do so intelligently using other fuel-saving measures, like slowing-down....
How would this person like a civil law-suit on their hands because they are recommending that prople follow at a unsafe distance? I, as well as my family, don't think this strategy is worth the price of a life. Especially if the life is someone elses and you have to live with that responsibility.
Choose your words and recommendations VERY carefully, my friend.... There WILL be people that will follow these instructions.... I just hope I never see them.
I’d like to know what an employee (or ex-employee) is to do in this type of market. My husband, after working for his company for eight years, was just laid off. It is very frustrating because I saw so many ways that I thought they could have afforded to keep him around longer and they didn’t because they are spineless and selfish (bitter much?). They were a very small company and I think you get the false impression that they care more about their employees, but I think the bottom line is still what was most important to them. And now we are living in THE WORST area we could live in for the job that he is qualified to do (read: where are the most foreclosures happening in CA? and he is a residential architect, no license, but he is everything but licensed). And I work for a developer as well, who laid off half of the company last year! Fortunately I work in the commercial department, but that is slowing down a lot, too, and my income is certainly not enough to live off of. I am very scared for us.
Well, I'm too young to have been let go, but it could happen someday. I think because I'm so young I'm not even worried about being laid off. I do work for a small private company where everyone is sort of important. My hubby on the other hand, used to work for Oracle and survived 3 rounds of layoffs because they bought so many companies. I think taking on an unique-ish job is good for job security, too. I am a release engineer, and there are a lot of of software engineers but only a few doing release.
I'm all for helping charities but rather than walk away from your timeshare with only a small tax dedection, people would be better off by learning how to use it correctly.
The number one reason quoted for buying a timeshare is to be able to exchange it. Ironically, the number one reason quoted for wanting to sell a timeshare is frustration with the exchange process.
I've done nearly 50 timeshare exchanges in 17 years, the last one to the Westin on Kaanapali Beach in Maui. If I had to pay for the 1 bedroom out of my pocket I would have been out $600/night. Because I've discovered how to work the exchange system, I only paid $129 for the entire week.
Yes, I had to pay my maintenance fee of $600/year but altogether this added up to about one night,s stay.
Timeshare like anything else, work well if you know how to use them properly.
So don't blame the timeshare for not working but the timeshare owner for not learning how to use it properly.
You bring up some very tough points, Philip. Having worked in a non-sales role in the Sales Department of a company for years, I always thought my role was expendable. I worked very hard for 3 years to bring a value to my position that would make it very hard for me to be replaced. I developed a system of documentation for all sales and operations procedures that touched sales in any way. I also took the initiative to "assume" certain functions that had been management's duties.
Some people could argue that I absorbed too much responsibility in my position. In fairness, I did ask for raises when they were due, and even worked out an alternative system of compensation that included bonuses for performance. I was paid very well for just being "support staff," and I LOVED my job.
Eventually, the chopping block was getting worn out, and we lost tons of staff. Our culture changed so drastically that it just wasn't what I had come to love. I was able to hold on to my job, keep my nice salary, and pretty much keep the higher-ups from breathing all over me by being "that person" that if I ever left, they would have to trash many of their processes and start all over.
When I left due to a relocation and new marriage, I was still getting calls at home asking where this was or how to do this. Obviously they got over me leaving, they always do. But the important thing was that while I was there, I was the ONLY person who could do my job -- profit-center or not. It's possible, and according to your insightful article, also very necessary.
I'm with you--but I think it's because of my age. Baby boomers think this way, because it's the way things had been done for a long time.
Gen X folks figured out early that "loyalty" is a personal relationship concept and not a business concept. Tell them that companies will expect them to work extra hard for no extra pay when things are good, only to dump them when money gets tight, and they'll say, "It took you till now to figure that out?"
Raise the subject with the Gen Y folks and they'll just look puzzled--you'll have to lend them some history books just to get them to understand the issue.
Come back in a day or two for Part 2, which will have a bit more on this topic.
I always read discussions like this, and they almost never take on the moral and ethical dimensions of this situation. During boom times I, as an employee, am expected to work overtime, produce more, take on extra work and sacrifice my personal time and needs to further the interests of the company. Frankly, that's usually without the benefit of extra pay (I'm salaried, so no time and a half).
During slack times, the company should be willing to repay that dedication by keeping me on, finding work, allowing me to earn my keep as best I can. Instead, their only real inclination is to "downsize" me to keep profits up.
I'm sorry, but profit is not the only, nor even the best, motivation to be in business.
But, the last two recessions were lead by company layoffs, which followed with a drop in consumer spending. This time is just the opposite as consumer spending is diving, leading companies to layoffs. Most companies are still holding on to their employees, believing the market is going to turn around in the second half of 2008. When that doesn't happen we may see a wave of layoffs.
Another way to protect your job is to work for a private owned company, which are not under the pressures that investors will put on non-private owned companies to product a profit. Private owned companies are more likely to hold on to key employees during a recession.
The weakness in the dollar is also reducing the advantage of outsourcing, which is increasing the need for knowledge workers and engineers in the US. Companies from around the world are competing for these high skilled workers. These jobs are likely to be good during the recession.
Paul I agree with you that water is good for you, based on lots of scientific data. Not so much the quantity but quality. Anyways to reply to the Guests comment on your next article baing about oxygen. Oxygen is good for you and will help remove toxins and prevent certain types of cancer. Purified air and steam rooms (saunas) can leech out toxins and clean your lungs from the filth outside. It would be an interesting article. Maybe well have another 20 negative posts about articles.
Well,in the for what it is worth column, I would like to mention Circuit City. Several years ago they let senior and skilled employees go to cut costs, and that move still haunts there business. I for one, and have heard from many others, that because of that bone-headed move that they will never shop at Circuit City again. So much for the expectation of employee loyalty.
I use www.sparkpeople.com as a tracking tool for both diet and exerscise. It is free and easy to use and I find the food database much more complete than other free nutrition sites.
I think your tip about scheduling workouts like it's an appointment is crucial. I have it on my calendar as "training" so that whenever a client / co-worker sees it, they don't try to get me to cancel in order to better accommodate them.
I recently started commuting home from work by bicycle (about a 5 mile ride). The hills are still kicking my butt, but I do pretty well overall. I need to make some improvements to my bike (slick tires and maybe some panniers to carry my work items - the pack is killing my back). It started as way to cut costs, but I'm finding it is also slimming my waistline. I also plan to incorporate some of the ideas you mention.
Thanks Grace, and glad you are back to exercising -- my regimen is not particularly strict or organized but I try to keep at it. There is a lot of informatiion out there about training but much is really technical and not so relevant to the non-elite, non-world-class athlete.
I should clarify that my husband and I have very similar musical taste and often find that we have three copies of the same CD but since his domain is in the garage and my cds are in the upstairs bedroom it's only on rare occasions that we realize wow--why do we have four copies of Jane's Addiction's Nothing Shocking?!
We are both big music and musician supporters and I've probably spent more money on music than the average citizen.
I know there are all kinds of moral and ethical dilemmas, but since I work in a library, I get all my CD's from the library. Free is about as frugal as you can get and the selection is pretty decent. I don't think I have bought a full price book for at least 5 years in between the library's used book sales and paperbackswap.com. The DVD selection can be a little slim but that's what the "NEVER pay for a RedBox DVD rental again" posting is for.
I don't get how this entry is somehow being held up to some higher "truth" standards than others.
I think maybe it's because Paul always writes really insightful and useful entries and so we are almost taken aback when there is something we should maybe think for ourselves about. =P
What kind of idiot is going to follow a semi-truck at about 5 car lengths and not get antzy about it? It seems to me, at best, suicidal... let alone, illegal. Talk to a truck driver at a truck stop and see what information they have for you. How about the fact that some of the worst accidents involving trucks are the ones where cars are not following at a safe distance, or do not take into consideration the difficulties that truck drivers endure just having to share the road with these fools. I beg to disagree, the best way to save gas is not to drive.. If you must drive, do so intelligently using other fuel-saving measures, like slowing-down....
How would this person like a civil law-suit on their hands because they are recommending that prople follow at a unsafe distance? I, as well as my family, don't think this strategy is worth the price of a life. Especially if the life is someone elses and you have to live with that responsibility.
Choose your words and recommendations VERY carefully, my friend.... There WILL be people that will follow these instructions.... I just hope I never see them.
What kind of idiot is going to follow a semi-truck at about 5 car lengths and not get antzy about it? It seems to me, at best, suicidal... let alone, illegal. Talk to a truck driver at a truck stop and see what information they have for you. How about the fact that some of the worst accidents involving trucks are the ones where cars are not following at a safe distance, or do not take into consideration the difficulties that truck drivers endure just having to share the road with these fools. I beg to disagree, the best way to save gas is not to drive.. If you must drive, do so intelligently using other fuel-saving measures, like slowing-down....
How would this person like a civil law-suit on their hands because they are recommending that prople follow at a unsafe distance? I, as well as my family, don't think this strategy is worth the price of a life. Especially if the life is someone elses and you have to live with that responsibility.
Choose your words and recommendations VERY carefully, my friend.... There WILL be people that will follow these instructions.... I just hope I never see them.
What kind of idiot is going to follow a semi-truck at about 5 car lengths and not get antzy about it? It seems to me, at best, suicidal... let alone, illegal. Talk to a truck driver at a truck stop and see what information they have for you. How about the fact that some of the worst accidents involving trucks are the ones where cars are not following at a safe distance, or do not take into consideration the difficulties that truck drivers endure just having to share the road with these fools. I beg to disagree, the best way to save gas is not to drive.. If you must drive, do so intelligently using other fuel-saving measures, like slowing-down....
How would this person like a civil law-suit on their hands because they are recommending that prople follow at a unsafe distance? I, as well as my family, don't think this strategy is worth the price of a life. Especially if the life is someone elses and you have to live with that responsibility.
Choose your words and recommendations VERY carefully, my friend.... There WILL be people that will follow these instructions.... I just hope I never see them.
I’d like to know what an employee (or ex-employee) is to do in this type of market. My husband, after working for his company for eight years, was just laid off. It is very frustrating because I saw so many ways that I thought they could have afforded to keep him around longer and they didn’t because they are spineless and selfish (bitter much?). They were a very small company and I think you get the false impression that they care more about their employees, but I think the bottom line is still what was most important to them. And now we are living in THE WORST area we could live in for the job that he is qualified to do (read: where are the most foreclosures happening in CA? and he is a residential architect, no license, but he is everything but licensed). And I work for a developer as well, who laid off half of the company last year! Fortunately I work in the commercial department, but that is slowing down a lot, too, and my income is certainly not enough to live off of. I am very scared for us.
Well, I'm too young to have been let go, but it could happen someday. I think because I'm so young I'm not even worried about being laid off. I do work for a small private company where everyone is sort of important. My hubby on the other hand, used to work for Oracle and survived 3 rounds of layoffs because they bought so many companies. I think taking on an unique-ish job is good for job security, too. I am a release engineer, and there are a lot of of software engineers but only a few doing release.
I'm all for helping charities but rather than walk away from your timeshare with only a small tax dedection, people would be better off by learning how to use it correctly.
The number one reason quoted for buying a timeshare is to be able to exchange it. Ironically, the number one reason quoted for wanting to sell a timeshare is frustration with the exchange process.
I've done nearly 50 timeshare exchanges in 17 years, the last one to the Westin on Kaanapali Beach in Maui. If I had to pay for the 1 bedroom out of my pocket I would have been out $600/night. Because I've discovered how to work the exchange system, I only paid $129 for the entire week.
Yes, I had to pay my maintenance fee of $600/year but altogether this added up to about one night,s stay.
Timeshare like anything else, work well if you know how to use them properly.
So don't blame the timeshare for not working but the timeshare owner for not learning how to use it properly.
You bring up some very tough points, Philip. Having worked in a non-sales role in the Sales Department of a company for years, I always thought my role was expendable. I worked very hard for 3 years to bring a value to my position that would make it very hard for me to be replaced. I developed a system of documentation for all sales and operations procedures that touched sales in any way. I also took the initiative to "assume" certain functions that had been management's duties.
Some people could argue that I absorbed too much responsibility in my position. In fairness, I did ask for raises when they were due, and even worked out an alternative system of compensation that included bonuses for performance. I was paid very well for just being "support staff," and I LOVED my job.
Eventually, the chopping block was getting worn out, and we lost tons of staff. Our culture changed so drastically that it just wasn't what I had come to love. I was able to hold on to my job, keep my nice salary, and pretty much keep the higher-ups from breathing all over me by being "that person" that if I ever left, they would have to trash many of their processes and start all over.
When I left due to a relocation and new marriage, I was still getting calls at home asking where this was or how to do this. Obviously they got over me leaving, they always do. But the important thing was that while I was there, I was the ONLY person who could do my job -- profit-center or not. It's possible, and according to your insightful article, also very necessary.
Keep up the good work!
Yes...you are evil. Now I just want lots and lots of ice cream.
Seriously...thanks for the heads-up! I will put this one in my list of links to follow up on so I don't forget!
@Brian:
I'm with you--but I think it's because of my age. Baby boomers think this way, because it's the way things had been done for a long time.
Gen X folks figured out early that "loyalty" is a personal relationship concept and not a business concept. Tell them that companies will expect them to work extra hard for no extra pay when things are good, only to dump them when money gets tight, and they'll say, "It took you till now to figure that out?"
Raise the subject with the Gen Y folks and they'll just look puzzled--you'll have to lend them some history books just to get them to understand the issue.
Come back in a day or two for Part 2, which will have a bit more on this topic.
I always read discussions like this, and they almost never take on the moral and ethical dimensions of this situation. During boom times I, as an employee, am expected to work overtime, produce more, take on extra work and sacrifice my personal time and needs to further the interests of the company. Frankly, that's usually without the benefit of extra pay (I'm salaried, so no time and a half).
During slack times, the company should be willing to repay that dedication by keeping me on, finding work, allowing me to earn my keep as best I can. Instead, their only real inclination is to "downsize" me to keep profits up.
I'm sorry, but profit is not the only, nor even the best, motivation to be in business.
I recently posted my impressions of Fitday here:
http://theartofzenliving.com/2008/04/fitdaycom-initial-impressions/
I'll be posting a follow up in the next day or so, but my experience so far has been positive.
Good subject...
But, the last two recessions were lead by company layoffs, which followed with a drop in consumer spending. This time is just the opposite as consumer spending is diving, leading companies to layoffs. Most companies are still holding on to their employees, believing the market is going to turn around in the second half of 2008. When that doesn't happen we may see a wave of layoffs.
Another way to protect your job is to work for a private owned company, which are not under the pressures that investors will put on non-private owned companies to product a profit. Private owned companies are more likely to hold on to key employees during a recession.
The weakness in the dollar is also reducing the advantage of outsourcing, which is increasing the need for knowledge workers and engineers in the US. Companies from around the world are competing for these high skilled workers. These jobs are likely to be good during the recession.
Paul I agree with you that water is good for you, based on lots of scientific data. Not so much the quantity but quality. Anyways to reply to the Guests comment on your next article baing about oxygen. Oxygen is good for you and will help remove toxins and prevent certain types of cancer. Purified air and steam rooms (saunas) can leech out toxins and clean your lungs from the filth outside. It would be an interesting article. Maybe well have another 20 negative posts about articles.
Jake
Well,in the for what it is worth column, I would like to mention Circuit City. Several years ago they let senior and skilled employees go to cut costs, and that move still haunts there business. I for one, and have heard from many others, that because of that bone-headed move that they will never shop at Circuit City again. So much for the expectation of employee loyalty.
I use www.sparkpeople.com as a tracking tool for both diet and exerscise. It is free and easy to use and I find the food database much more complete than other free nutrition sites.
I think your tip about scheduling workouts like it's an appointment is crucial. I have it on my calendar as "training" so that whenever a client / co-worker sees it, they don't try to get me to cancel in order to better accommodate them.
I recently started commuting home from work by bicycle (about a 5 mile ride). The hills are still kicking my butt, but I do pretty well overall. I need to make some improvements to my bike (slick tires and maybe some panniers to carry my work items - the pack is killing my back). It started as way to cut costs, but I'm finding it is also slimming my waistline. I also plan to incorporate some of the ideas you mention.
Literally. How cool is it that there's a time line / circuit of options throughout spring? Fun post.
Strange, how you can rip a plastic bag just by opening it, yet it holds a gallon of milk...sometimes two!!
LOL!
Thanks Grace, and glad you are back to exercising -- my regimen is not particularly strict or organized but I try to keep at it. There is a lot of informatiion out there about training but much is really technical and not so relevant to the non-elite, non-world-class athlete.
Selling Antiques and paintings could be a good way of laundering money, as you could easily manipulate the sales price and purchase in cash.
See you soon!
Margaret Garcia-Couoh
I should clarify that my husband and I have very similar musical taste and often find that we have three copies of the same CD but since his domain is in the garage and my cds are in the upstairs bedroom it's only on rare occasions that we realize wow--why do we have four copies of Jane's Addiction's Nothing Shocking?!
We are both big music and musician supporters and I've probably spent more money on music than the average citizen.
Margaret Garcia-Couoh