Career Dilemmas

Dilemma 1: You find out a colleague makes more money than you do.

Worst case, you realize that person makes more than you, even though he/she has the same job like you.


What would you do?
1. Immediately march into your boss's office to demand an explanation and a raise, or

2. Examine your own pay and value in the employment market to get an idea of what others in your area and with your skills and experience are paid. With that information, approach your manager and back up your request with relevant information that's not sensitive in nature.





Dilemma 2: You are offered a new job by a friend, but you're happy with your current one.

Decision! Decision! Decision!



What would you do?
1. Continue to work in your present Company, or

2. To write in to apply for the job to find out more about the ins and outs of the position, the advancement opportunity, the remuneration package and the corporate culture. If the interview goes well, you may want to seriously consider this new opportunity.

To Remain Sane in an Insane Economy

Food for thought

"The strongest oak tree of the forest is not the one that is protected from the storm and hidden from the sun. It's the one that stands in the open where it is compelled to struggle for its existence against the winds and rains and the scorching sun." -Napolean Hill





Now is the time to enjoy simple pleasures - "I ain't rich, but Lord I'm free." -George Strait





Now is the time to be creative - "Children or parents don't need your presents. They need your presence." -Anonymous





Now is the time to strengthen your mind - "I have not and never did have any motive of poetry but to achieve clarity." -George Oppen





"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances - to choose one's own way." - Victor Frankl

An Accountant and A frog

An accountant was crossing a road one day when a frog called out to him and said, "If you kiss me, I'll turn into a beautiful princess". He bent over, picked up the frog and put it in his pocket.




The frog spoke up again and said, "If you kiss me and turn me back into a beautiful princess, I will stay with you for one week". The accountant took the frog out of his pocket, smiled at it and returned it to the pocket.




The frog then cried out, "If you kiss me and turn me back into a princess, I'll stay with you and do ANYTHING you want." Again the accountant took the frog out, smiled at it and put it back into his pocket.




Finally, the frog asked, "What is the matter? I've told you I'm a beautiful princess, that I'll stay with you and do anything you want. Why won't you kiss me?"






The accountant said, "Look I'm an accountant. I don't have time for a girlfriend, but a talking frog, now that's cool."

Chinaman vs Malay man

Two old friends - a Chinaman and a Malay were having a conversation recently


Apek: Lu potong zaka ada bagut ka?

Ali: Manyak bagus. Bila lu potong haa, lu punya barang manyak bersih loo...


Apek: ?!! Err ... saya kawan ala cakap, potong zaka aaahh....manyak ploblem..

Ali: Apa problem?


Apek: Manyak buang lui, lagi aahh ... dia punya performance tadak bagut... manyak cinang semputloh ...

Ali: Cehh... apek, lu apa cerita... saya suda lama potong, tada apa problem... bini saya manyak puas woo...


Apek: Lu mini puas sama itu potong zaka ka?

Ali: Ya laa. Bila lu potong aahh... lagi sedap main woo.. lu lagi lambat pancut..


Apek: ???!!! Err... lu punya 1.3 atau 1.5??

Ali: ??!! Woi apek cakap baik2 sikit ha .. saya punya 6 inci laa..



Apek: ??! Tiu nia ma... lu jangan main2 haa... mana ada potong zaka 6 inci..

Ali: Cilaka apek ni...nah tengok (opens his trousers)



Apek: Chee sin punya olang.....gua tanya baik2 .. lu tunjuk lu punya lanchiau..

Ali: Abis... lu tada percaya..saya tunjuk la..


Apek: Saya tadak tanya sam a lu punya lanchiau... Saya tanya lu pasal itu nasional car... potong zaka.. bolo punya olang..

Ali: Aiya... apek... lain kali lu sebut betul2 la.... kasi susa saja... Bukan potong zaka la.... PROTON SAGA!!

Raining Phobia - Can I get rid of it?

I have been haunted by this problem for the past one year. To say "haunted", I think it's a bit too much. Or, is it a phobia? I have no idea. It comes back again especially for the past 1 week as it rains regularly.





I have this bad experiences and worries while driving during a raining condition. I am afraid to drive too fast, tailing too close to the car in front of me and the worst one is to put on emergency brake while driving on a wet road especially when the rain is pouring. The reason is that my car's brake is just not working properly. If I put on the brake too excessively, the wheels tend get locked and my car will steer to the right side. It's still alright and manageable if braking on a straight road but not on a downhill stretch. There are couple of times I am about to hit the car coming from the opposite direction or on my right side. Thanks God that I managed to control my car (But for how long?).

Every time I send my car for servicing, I will ask the mechanic to check the brake. Yet, it still could not solving this problem. Today, I sent my car to a another tyre workshop at Taman Megah, PJ to check on the brake again.

After checking my car, the mechanic recommended a brake system servicing. The itemized bill is as follows:

1. Complete brake system service - RM88.00
2. Brake skimming - RM70.00
3. Roadhouse Front Brake - RM80.00
   
4. Drive shaft cover - RM55.00
5. Grease - RM10.00
6. Drive shaft oil seal - RM18.00
7. Steering bush - RM120.00
8. Labour charges - RM70.00

This service is to flush out the existing brake fluid (Dot 3) and to replace it with Dot 4 brake fluid. Reason? For better braking performance wor, according to the mechanic.

I tried to google for more info on the brake fluid. This is what I got:

The difference between Dot 3 and Dot 4 brake fluid is the boiling point. A typical DOT 4 brake fluid boils at about 446°F (230°C). Water boils at 212°F (100°C). Imagine your brakes are getting hot because of a long downhill stretch. Whilst the brake fluid is quite OK, the temperature of the brake components might get up over the boiling point of water. If that happens, the water boils out of the brake fluid and forms steam - a compressible gas. Next time you put your foot on the brake, rather than braking, all the pressure in the brake system is taken up with compressing the steam. Your brakes go out, you don't stop. [I still wondering why my car steer to the right.]

In short, Dot 4 brake fluid has slightly higher boiling point as compared to Dot 3 brake fluid.

Changing the drive shaft cover, drive shaft oil seal and steering bush are normal wear and tear replacement. Hint: Never jack up your car or else, the mechanic will start telling you all the problems... hah hah.

Then, the mechanic explained that one of my car tyres has uneven worn out thread. Out of sudden, I felt cheated because I bought the existing Goodyear GT3 tyres in Aug 2006 at Eneos Car Centre but the tyres (based on the DOT age indicator) were manufactured in 2005. According to the tyre manufacturers, tyres have 6 years shelf life. Tyres older than 6 years will pose a hazard.

Even though, the thread wear indicator on the existing tyres are still look okay and only 4 years old, I decided to switch to Michelin tyres. I asked the mechanic to check the front absorbers whether it has worn out. Luckily, it's still okay.

1. Michelin XM1 tyres - RM560.00 (4 pieces) [all are manufactured in 2008]
   
2. Alignment toe - RM30.00
   
3. Camber adjustment (front left) - RM20.00

After testing my car, the mechanic went to check out the spark plugs because my car does not goes smoothly when put on the gas pedal. Anyway, I am expected this because I did not change the spark plugs during the last service. But changing the spark plugs cable is the unexpected one.

1. Denso spark plugs - RM28.00
2. Plugs cable - RM125.00

The total for the bill came up to.... -.-llll




More bad news, there is a shiny and black appearance at the end of the firing end of one of the spark plugs. This might indicates:

• Excessive wear or damage to valves or valve guides and seals.
• Excessive wear or damage to piston and/or piston rings.
• Excessive wear or damage to cylinder walls.
  

I have asked around and all the mechanics are saying the same thing - my car might need overhaul. Depending on the condition, it might costs thousands. Shit!!!

The only consolation gift, they gave me this 4-in-1 digital tyre gauge.

• Digital tyre gauge
• LED flashlight - rechargeable manually
  
• Emergency hammer
• Emergency seat belt cutter
  

Got to save $$$ now..... =(

5 big mistakes new grads make

Ya-kah??? Where got such "helicopter parents" one?


1. Allowing "helicopter parents" to contact employers.

Even if you're one of those Millennials who routinely involve one or both parents in every aspect of your life, your job search is one time when you should ask your folks to back off. You'll stand out from the pack as exceptionally mature and professional if you keep your parents' advice entirely behind the scenes.





2. MySpace / Facebook / Blog misjudgments.

Don't post anything on any publicly accessible Web site that you wouldn't feel comfortable showing a recruiter or hiring manager - for example, racy photos or rants about a job or professor you hate. Employers will Google you, so make sure your online act is squeaky-clean.





3. Failure to network.

You may think you don't know anyone of consequence, but if you sit down and draw up a list of everyone you know, you may be impressed at how wide your network really is. Include your friends' parents and your parents' friends: Each one of them in turn has a network. Let everyone know you're job hunting, explain what kinds of roles or industries you're aiming for, and be sure to follow up on any leads. Your school's alumni association is an often-overlooked source of great job leads, too.





4. Forgetting to say a simple "thank you."

When someone goes out of his or her way to help you, send a short e-mail expressing your gratitude and promising to stay in touch. Most new college graduates show poor manners, so being polite is just one more way to stand out from the crowd.





5. Bad voice-mail greetings.

90% of the greetings by new grads sound immature and much too casual. Make sure to give recruiters your cellphone number so they can reach you easily, but remember to change your greeting. Instead of, "Whassup, it's Greg, leave a message," say something like, "Hello, you've reached Greg. Please leave a message". And if the phone rings at a time or in a place where it would be hard to hold an important conversation, let the call go to voicemail: "Don't talk to a recruiter during a basketball game".

Cyber Candlelight Vigil for ISA detainees

Wearing High Heels: Bad Effects On The Body

As the title said....




Click on the below picture to enlarge.

Source: www.washingtonpost.com




High heels

All art is a tell-tale,
The pearl is the oyster's story
Maybe my sad little poems
Paint my lonely life

I shall buy high heels
Transform into
The tall and slender
Tan girl from Ipenema

Oooh........ I can feel the change electrify the air!
Watch out, here I come
Gliding strait into unsuspecting hearts.

Monita Soni

Hurray!!! I won some $$$$!!!

Unexpected! Really unexpected! I have won money from UOB... woohoo...
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You guess how much?
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Jeng! Jeng!
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BLOODY HELL! ONLY RM20.00?



What can I buy with RM20.00?

Accident + 6D + Big Sweep

I saw this poor Proton Tiara being stranded at a junction in Puchong. The driver is not there. Probably, the accident has occurred a few hours (???) ago (???).




Looking at the car condition, I guess it was being hit by a car (???) when coming out from this junction (???) kua.




I could not see the car number as the car bumper had fell off. I need some lucky numbers for the 6D (**sigh**). wtf, it's RM20 mil now!!!

I hardly dream while asleep. So, I can forget getting my lucky numbers via dreaming.





But it's okay, I still can bet on Big Sweep. The jackpot money is RM13 mil.




I hope 12-Oct-2008 is my lucky day (Dreaming now ^_^). My dad use to tell me, please avoid gambling and smoking habit. But, he never mentioned about the 'yum-seng' habit... LOL




With the current world economic crisis (hope that it will not affect us), I'm really got to think carefully whether I should change my 6 years old Wira.

(A thought from Buffettology: "RM120k is just way too much money to throw away on a new car)




And the only change is to get $$$ from the above winning.... LOL (will try to start dreaming tonight).

By the way, I find this video clip is very funny: