Working Woes ......

After examining the economic and social background of the 2,200 passengers and crew onboard the Titanic, the fated ocean liner disaster in 1912, University of Zurich economist Bruno Frey and colleagues from Queensland University of Technology found that the Britons on board were 10% less likely to have survived than all other nationalities. The researchers suggested that good manners, or "noblesse oblige" might have had something to do with the rush for lifeboats.

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Doctors methodically delivered a mother's seven babies, five boys and two girls, just as they had rehearsed. Then, came the eight. The surprising sixth boy and eight child made the mass birth not just remarkable but historic.

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A former crewman of a vessel which was held hostage by the pirates in the Gulf of Aden in Somalia wants to sue his Compay, which owns the cargo ship for failing to pay him as promised the RM 15,000 as compensation and had affected his wedding preparation.

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Of late, the growing movement against plastic bags has prompted many countries to manufacture non-polyerthylene plastics or impose outright bans on the bags. Many retail giants here had also taken part in campaigns to recycle and give out fewer plastic bags. But, there are still many people who still ask for plastic bags when they purchase their groceries and so forth to reuse them as waste wrappers later. In other words, many people still see the need for plastic bags in their daily lifestyles. However, the good news is that more and more shoppers are also beginning to bring their own shopping bags.

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The 26th of January marks the start of a Lunar New Year for the Chinese but it is also a day a partial solar eclpse will occur. This astronomical phenomenon, also known as annular solar eclipse, is visible from the Indian Ocean to western Indonesia from 4.30pm to 7pm. An annular eclipse occurs when the sun and moon are in line,but the apparent size of the moon is smaller than that of the sun, hence the sun appears as a very bright ring surrounding the moon. Observers will not be able to visually detect the eclipse because the sun is too bright. The eclipse beginning at about 4.30pm (local time) can only be seen when the moon slowly covers the sun to form a crescent shape until maximum obscuration, which is 82.6%, occurs at approximately 5.50pm (local time). 

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First and foremost, the good news is that the Year of the Earth Ox is predicted that it may not be all doom and gloom if we armed ourselves adequately. The logic behind this is rather simple - if there are no problems, then there will be no opportunities. It is always during time of difficulties and chaos that opportunities emerge.

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The Chinese are all set for an 'ox-picious' start to the Chinese New Year which will fall on the 26th instant. One good news is that instead of the traditional lion and dragon dances for the Chinese New Year, this time around we will be seeing two bulls ushering in the Year of the Ox here. The bull dance which tends to be slower, is said to be more humourous than the traditional lion dance. The bull dance is a very meaningful and creative innovation especially for this Lunar New Year.

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Do a man's looks matter to a woman? Beauty had always been typically associated with women, but according to a survey of some 10,000 respondents from 12 countries, male beauty is important. The findings of the "What do women really really want" survey showed that about 30% of the women rate their partner's looks as being very important. 

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A claim by a 38-year-old tourist that he was too busy travelling than to go to court and face a drink driving charge did not wash with a judge in New Zealand. Judge Geoff Rea issued a warrant of arrest when the tourist failed to appear in the Napier District Court, sending a letter pleading guilty and promising not to re-offend.

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An old Chinese saying, 'Of the thirty six stratagems, when all else fails, running away is the best of the stratagems.' Running away does not necessarily mean running away for good.

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A top court in Peru has ruled that workers cannot be fired for being drunk on the job very recently. The decision was very strongly criticised by the government there for setting such a dangerous precedent.

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Taiwan started handing out shopping vouchers to each of the island's resident yesterday, as part of a US 2.5 billion scheme aimed at  boosting the island's flagging economy. Every one of the island's 22.7 million citizen is entitled to the coupons worth NT3,600 per person, regardless of age and they can spend on goods ranging from food and clothing to electrical appliances.

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I remember watching a news report on the Mexico financial crisis somewhere in 1994. Due to the unfavourable circumstances then, there were doctors and lawyers who had to close down their practises and went to pick fruits in California. I wondered what it would be like if that ever happen to us here? Hopefully, it won't be that bad for us here this time around. As we have been told very often that our economy is insulated.

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A man in California has been arrested for arranging to sell his 14-year-old daughter for US 16,000, 100 crates of beer and several cases of meat.

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"I'm having a large mixed wedding of about 150 people. My partner has loads of family members around to invite to the wedding. Unfortunately for me, my family are all in Ukraine so they can't make it, only my mum and dad will be there. I need thirty 'decent' guests to attend the ceremony in their place and fill my side in the church. I even need a bridesmaid." reads an online advertisement posted by an Ukranian bride whose family and friends cannot make it to her wedding in London recenty. 

Do you look as though you mean business?

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Are you sure the job you are doing is the job your boss and those above you want done?

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We are living in hard times. There is a tone of desperation among the working people if you care to listen around today. Many fear of being fired, laid off or demoted in the not too distant future. Every working person seems to feel some uncertainty at work.

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Researchers said that spending a couple of hours each day could help children avoid becoming short-sighted. Exposure to bright light for two to three hours daily help regulate the eye's growth, dramatically reducing the risk of myopia.

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TKB, the initials of a 65 year old jeweler cheated death when a robber's pistol jammed during a robbery. He was relieved that nothing happened except that he heard only a click when the robber aimed the pistol at his forehead and pulled the trigger.

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1.   The later you are, the more excited your dogs are to see you.

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One evening after leaving a pub, two men saw a well dressed and attractive lady ahead of them. One of the men turned to the other and said, "I would give $100 to spend a night with her." To their surprise, the lady overheard their remark and turning around said, "I'll take you up on that." So bidding his friend good night the man accompanied the lady to her apartment and immediately went to bed.

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Being creative in your approach to opening a negotiation can very often make the whole negotiation situation easier to control and allows you to draw certain assumptions before getting to the finer points.  Although starting at the beginning may seem the most logical, it may not be the best place to start. In situations where you compete against other suppliers, appearing different may prove advantageous and allow you to stand out from the crowd.

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Before going into any sort of negotiation, one have to establish clearly in mind the various thresholds and cut-off point with regard to your pricing.

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The word 'yes' is perhaps a very powerful word in a negotiation. You have to be careful when the opposition starts working this tactic on you. Be vary, when the opponent who is too nice, who is too friendly and gets you agreeing to seemingly unimportant items in too comfortable a fashion. The conditional 'yes' is the cornerstone of an effective negotiation. Thus, get into the habit of asking yourself, "if I say 'yes' to this issue for the opposition, what do I want them to do for me?".

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During negotiations, there comes a point when offers are made as a way to close the deal. The person making the offer does so in terms that are favourable to them but in a way that sounds attractive to you too.

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By definition, nice people don't indulge in dirty negotiating tactics. But, the risk you run when faced with a nice person is that you tend to relax your guard. They may have studied you and your needs. They will have to work hard the most persuasive arguements. They will have decided which tactics are most likely to achieve the desired effect and will use them.

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A computer glitch at a bank in China gave gold traders a 23-minute bonazza that cost the bank dearly very recently. The bank was left red-faced after its trading system went awry in the early hours quoting a bid price for gold of 848 yuan per gram, nearly six times the going rate it had offered moments earlier.

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It is now believed that making self-improvement New Year resolutions often leaves people feeling worse.

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Fears of a prolonged recession in China have triggered a sharp increase in divorce inquiries addressed to lawyers and financial consultants, with timing the key issue.

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They say a picture says more than a thousand words. So, I am enclosing herewith pictures on how the "Kanamara Matsuri," an annual Shinto fertility festival is being celebrated in Spring at kawasaki, Japan. The exact dates of the event varies. But, the fertility festival is usually held on Sundays. Today, the modern "Kanamara Matsuri" festival is held to raise funds for AIDS and is still a very popular tradition among the newly weds and childless couples in Japan.

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