Free trade, infidelity, hiring, pecha kucha

[wsj.com] Pain From Free Trade Spurs Second Thoughts
By DAVID WESSEL and BOB DAVIS
March 28, 2007
See also: a related six-minute video clip
... This line captures my worries and mix feelings over offshoring/outsourcing:

Civil engineers, who have to be on site, could be in great demand in the U.S.; computer engineers might not be.

* * *

[wsj.com] Is This Man Cheating on His Wife?
By ALEXANDRA ALTER
August 10, 2007

Sitting alone in the living room in front of the television, Mrs. Hoogestraat says she worries it will be years before her husband realizes that he's traded his real life for a pixilated fantasy existence, one that doesn't include her.
"Basically, the other person is widowed," she says. "This other life is so wonderful; it's better than real life. Nobody gets fat, nobody gets gray. The person that's left can't compete with that."

... Same thing for all kinds of addictions. So beware.

* * *

[blog.pmarca.com] How to hire the best people you've ever worked with
Jun 6, 2007
... I'll have to agree with all the points from the arthor. Logic tests, academic achievements - did Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Lee Ka Shing do well in any of those?

* * *

Just learned what Pecha Kucha is. Looking forward to the first event ever in HK.

NEO

I had my NEO six years late on this Wednesday. NEO, for those who are unfamiliar with the acronym, stands for new employee orientation. Interestingly, it took place after I have been transferred here for almost two months. I was the only transfer among those attended. It was both surprising and delightful that the head person of this region showed up. He shared with us his highlights in the last twelve years in the company and gave us words of encouragement. Wasn't that great? And he was curious about our positions so he asked for a self-introduction from each attendant. When it was my turn, he seemed surprised about my department. "Why are you here?" he asked. "It was my personal preference," said I. I suppose that was not the best response one could have made. I guess I was just as startled by his to-the-point question. That was an embarassing moment but things went on as if the exchange didn't happen.

Aside from that, I was previously informed over email that I wouldn't be getting a seat anytime before Feburary. During NEO that day, I met the HR person who is in charge of office space. I introduced myself to her in the hallway. Now that we have personally met, I hope she would keep her word.

The same day, I ran into the person who had helped explain to me the company phone plan over email. She turned out to be a really really nice person. Not only that she re-assured that she would process my application should I get manager approval, she also took me in to take a picture for my new badge, something that I haven't got for the last few months. By the end of the day, she handed to me my new badge so now I can enter and leave freely.

陪一陪

女子不適暈倒 墮月台輕傷
(明報) 08月 26日 星期日 05:10AM

因頭暈不適失平衡墮下路軌

Wealthy women, deprived children - what's human rights?

Wealthy women

6周不梳洗 皮膚健康變靚 英紀錄片製作人親身測試
(明報) 08月 25日 星期六 05:10AM
港女月花2000元護膚
(明報) 08月 25日 星期六 05:10AM


Deprived children

[worldvision.org] Cambodia: A Poster Child for Modern-Day Slavery

Children sold for small change.

More info:

• [ecpatusa.org] The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children: An Overview
• [worldvision.org] Bcome a Child Crisis Partner

Human rights?

[engadget.com] Know Your Rights: Is it illegal to unlock my iPhone?

活在恐懼中

對曾受害的我而言，等待長久以來是一種極大的痛苦，一種能令我精神崩潰的折磨，惟如潘朶拉的盒子隨時打開，那控訴之上的自我控訴再之上的控訴、被遺棄的徬徨，和連綿不絶的懷可能性，叫我每秒活在恐懼之中。

一點五十分點至五點二十分，是我最常經歷那份恐懼的時刻。

盼望主的旌旗和安慰話能克服它。

能手

小事變大之能
誰能與我匹敵

盼去掉此樑木

老婦與母親

話說多了
心中的聲音
卻傳不到
變成了老婦與母親
一樣婆媽得
叫人煩厭

千依百順的失落

千依百順
而一次被告知
不被需要的時候
多少會有點
失落

放縱與接納

放緃是一種容易取得人接納的方法，就例如由得對方多吃零食、替對方付錢買昂貴的東西、甚至以此鼓吹對方對自己倚賴。
接納是否就是從放緃對方所得的呢？
的而且確，放緃對方容易因而被接納。然而，這種接納是單面的，而且是危險的。人的需要有數個不同的層面，被遷就只是眾多方面其中的一環。一旦對方習慣了被遷就，便覺得一切也得照他的意思行。不只如此，對方也會期望從被遷就中得到更大的滿足，久而久之便形成了無底深潭，成為了彼此交往的陷阱。有朝對方已經改不了這期望，卻發覺不能被滿足的時候，自找的麻煩就在那一天開始永無休止地發生了。

今日心水網上新聞

病病地，番屋企睇吓網上新聞。又有心水同你分享。

報道指阻公安開槍民工判
(明報) 08月 19日 星期日 04:25PM

因拖欠工錢等問題，有兩百多名民工示威抗議，公安人員趕到現場與民工發生衝突，混亂中一名公安拔出手槍準備開槍，結果手槍被兩名民工搶走。

...我倒想知道警方有沒有為拔槍事件進行檢討和調查，以及在甚麼情況之下公安可以在人群中拔槍。究竟政府為民工為欠資等問題可以做甚麼而不傷人命？


日下年度回收即棄筷子
(星島) 08月 19日 星期日 04:13PM
...對環境的保護如此著緊，是好事。住過日本的朋友說那裡生活皮費重，看來此言非虛。其實很多日本食品用上大量精美包裝。包裝上大都有廢物回收的指示，可是日本食品出國後，沒有多人看得懂，更徨論有同等的回收設施。


溫室氣體排放 航運17年增83%
(明報) 08月 19日 星期日 05:10AM

英國統計處的民調顯示，44%人支持飛機乘客承擔破壞環境的損失。

...單靠同理心，必沒有如此多的人支持乘客支付對環境的破壞。這次是他理心勝出了。下次訂機票去旅行那刻，希望也記得班機的廢氣。（如此類推）


反暖化示威 今衝擊希斯魯
(明報) 08月 19日 星期日 05:10AM

9名示威者周五假扮職員混入交通部，用超能膠把自己的手黐上大門、側門，阻止員工上班。

...有沒有交通部的職員受阻卻心裡支持他們這番舉動呢？與金錢對立的first movers的命運總是坎坷。


華人尼日利亞遭劫殺
(明報) 08月 19日 星期日 05:10AM

一行4人在乘車返回拉各斯阿帕帕港附近的住處途中，遭武裝劫匪搶劫，其中一名女士遭槍擊身亡。
...
中國駐尼日利亞大使...希望在尼國中國人提高防範意識，注意安全。

...我想，能用於武裝劫匪對乘車回住處者的安全意識，可能包括：

1. 不夜歸，不夜間外出
2. 請保鏢或帶槍和武裝劫匪駁火
3. 不進入該地
4. 入私加家鎖車門
5. 日間入油
6. 你還想到甚麼？

牛肉飯藏玻璃 食客口割傷
(星島) 08月 19日 星期日 06:30AM

不排除會對牛肉飯食品進行系統測試，相信該食品在製作過程中藏有玻璃碎的可能性極低。
...
此外，她指自本月十六日起，部分食品如飯類和套餐將加價一元

...下次食吉野家小心點，還有記得加了價。


項懷誠：次按風暴不能低估
(星島) 08月 19日 星期日 06:30AM

在次按風暴下，曾被視為「避風港」的中國股市，在周四、周五連續兩天大幅度調整，高潮生說，美國次按對中國股市沒有影響，最近中國股市調整，源於本身的運作規律，當市場漲到一定高位，自然會找個藉口調整。
　　中國人民大學信託與基金研究所理事長王連洲說，中國金融體系與國際金融市場互相分隔

...小弟不明金融體系之間的關係，大大們可否賜教？


傭工貧困交迫 僱主情何以堪
(明報) 08月 19日 星期日 05:10AM

香港印傭的現況：現時本港的印傭人數約11萬，亞洲移民中心在06年底訪問了逾2000人的調查顯示，她們每天平均工作16小時；逾五成每月休息日少於4天（14%完全無休息日）；22%印傭被剋扣工資，絕大部分印傭被超收中介費，其中59%印傭支付2.1萬元中介費，來港初期，每月的工資的大部分都被迫償還中介費。上訴庭審理的案件中，印傭每月的收入只有250元。微薄的薪水，加上還款的壓力，成為印傭被欺壓的結構性底因。
...
現時香港的法例，不容許中介費用超過僱員月薪的一成，但由於印傭中介公司往往不在香港的管轄權內，港府只能向駐港領事館反映情況。雖然如此，香港的僱主仍可發揮市場的力量，包括向超收中介費的僱傭公司說不，甚至透過港府，向印尼和菲律賓等輸出傭工的國家說明，香港的僱主不希望聘用經這些無良中介公司轉介的傭工。更根本的是，僱主停止向傭工的剝削，包括不再剋扣工資和假期，並安排合理的居住環境，以及正常的工作條件等等。

...我知道香港有如上述的好僱主存在，但大部份我接觸過的都不是如此。若有天在香港的大家自覺地改善外地女傭的苦況，太陽也怕會從西邊升起。



CLP profit up 8.9pc on HK, Australia growth
(SCMP) 08月 17日 星期五 00:03AM
...還未詳細看報導。只是近日對澳洲經濟的興趣較大了。



Noodle makers face price-fixing probe
(SCMP) 08月 17日 星期五 00:03AM

The commission conceded it was understandable for companies to adjust prices to address higher costs but said the decision should be made by operators instead of industry associations.
...
The central government has launched a nationwide effort to punish collusion to raise food prices.

...開宗明義，中央對付問題直截了當，就是要罰。強！

which foot to put forward?

Important are those spoken
But the most crucial are those
kept from the mouth

Just realize
the phrase "put your best foot forward"
still applies

It's my wish that one day
those who care about me
find that the true me
is the same me they see

無知

清早起來
落街到樓下的郵政局的販賣機
買郵票
怎知
只收硬弊

問經過的女仕
有沒有散銀「暢」
那晨運客連銀包也沒帶
提議我到前面的報攤買份報紙
找不到一份想買的報紙
反正網上費用全免
又想喝鐏裝奶
便走去seven
點知
細鋪沒有鐏裝奶
見到有cappucino味malteasers
盛惠$7.5
找回$2.5
走回郵票販賣機那兒
用$1.4
買了平郵用郵票
寄信了

之後發現
原來seven有得賣郵票

魔天論

人心中響起了兩把聲音。他們有以下的對話。

魔：「我要去忠告他：『有些美好的東西應該小心保管，不要隨便。』」
天：「有好東西不是應該與別人分享嗎？」
魔：「你這話也說得有理，不過...」
天：「不過甚麼？」
魔：「就是不過...我這些都只是對人評頭品足的話。」
天：「沒錯。在忠告他人之先，一定要攪清楚自己說話的動機啊。評頭品足的話，和其他沒有愛心的話，一句也不要出口。否則，你與披著羊皮的狼沒有大分別。」

那人自知愛心不足，便沒有開聲忠告甚麼。

Employee Gift Matching

無法再以總部的gift matching將捐項的效果加倍了　=(

對不起呢

ImageStation is temporarily down

Tried but there are more

I tried to concentrate on my work from home during the day. Sometimes I succeeded. Most of the time I knew I could try harder still.
I tried to absorb as much new knowledge as I can. I attained new knowledge but I could have focused more on knowledge that is worth my time most.
I tried to remind myself the purpose of my return and spend more quality time with my parents. I did see them more often now than before. And we seemed to be happier around each other than before. But sometimes I lost myself in the other priorities. I want to remind myself more about caring for them.
I tried to be my best to those dear to me. I looked for new toys, paid attention to what they liked, worried about their safety, prayed for their needs. I would even do daring things to show my courage. But I should always have a contingency plan for the rainy days. My company and all I have done was unworthy of the torn clothes, wet shoes, blistered feet and a troubled heart. At this moment, my best seems far from enough.
I tried to do all these but the most important I must not forget is to think about the encaged, the oppressed, the hungry, the disadvantaged, and how Jesus loved all of them. Maybe our ultimate love does not lie solely on the happiness of those around us. I should remind myself that good and bad, near and far, whatever body color, whatever language they speak, however frquent or infrequent we hear about them, we must remember they were created in God's image just like we were. I should remind myself life is more than just about living. It is about love.

新的一年 新的一天

新的一天象徵著新一年的開始。走在路上，和妹妹閒談之間，發現這將是我頭一次在港慶祝。盼在驟雨狂風之間有風平浪靜的一刻。我為有這一天向天父感恩。在父的眼中，我們都是寶貴的兒女。

近日 Yahoo! 新聞發放

Ads trick tots on tastes of McDonald's
(STANDARD) Aug 08 Wed 05:30AM

Levin said it was "the first study I know of that has shown so simply and clearly what's going on with [marketing to] young children."
Study author Tom Robinson said the kids' perception of taste was "physically altered by the branding."

... Interestingly, my newphew cried over McDonald's icecream cone, not because he longed for it. He just had Häagen-Dazs ice-cream the day before and cried over the cheaper alternative.


Here's an older one:
港人長途大巴遭「洗劫」
(星島) 08月 02日 星期四 06:30AM

香港乘客陳小姐表示，巴士駛入廈門海滄時，被車輛輕微顛簸震醒，發現行李包原地不動，但隱蔽收藏的六千多元港幣，一粒一卡重鑽戒及一粒兩卡重紅寶石戒指不翼而飛。同行的港女邱小姐也發現藏在腋下錢包還在，但裏面四千多元港幣和六千多元人民幣憑空消失。

...還有甚麼話說？


造紙廠為救人7工人墮池亡
(明報) 08月 02日 星期四 05:10AM
...好心無好報之慘絶人寰



此時此感：　掛心

今天Yahoo!生活資訊

台三師收入縮水 律師最慘
(明報) 08月 01日 星期三 05:05AM

律師最慘，月薪足足少了2.5萬元（6000港元）。

研究：印表機傷害肺部
(明報) 07月 31日 星期二 07:35PM

結果證實，印表機是傳統辦公環境中排放濃縮細微物質的最大烏賊。