BIZFACE® - Blogs http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/ BizFace business forum - social networking for business professionals, managers and entrepreneurs of businesses and startups in the UK en Fri, 10 Oct 2008 23:03:45 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/styles/redcarbon/misc/rss.jpg BIZFACE® - Blogs http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/ One Way to Overcome Stress http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/emwortt/220-one-way-overcome-stress.html Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:51:47 GMT "If you're going through hell, keep going." Winston Churchill.

You have a problem. In order to solve it you’re going to need to make some changes. The thought of that is making you stressed, but the thought of leaving things as they are is even more stressful.

You want to make changes but you know that there are risks involved in doing so. And those risks are making you anxious, holding you back.

The first step in overcoming your challenge is to work out exactly what outcome you want.


Ask yourself:
  • In an ideal world how specifically do I want this situation to operate in the future?
The word ‘specifically’ is important here. Write down now in detail and with clarity what will happen and what you will see, hear and feel when you have resolved this challenge.

The next step is to see this challenge in terms of who you are as a person.


Ask yourself:
  • Taking into consideration my personal and professional values; my work ethics; my peace of mind; my goals; - am I willing to continue to tolerate this situation as it is now?
Now ask:
  • What are the risks involved? What specifically am I anxious about? Make a list.
Now one last question:
  • Is the outcome I want worth the risks involved in attaining it?
If your answer is a resounding ‘Yes!’ then you can now start to work out your action plan to reach the goal.

Anxiety itself is not the problem. If you want growth and you want change then decide to tolerate the anxiety that will be inherent in it. As long as you continue to balance the risks involved against your desired outcome and who you are as a person your anxiety will begin to dissipate. Then instead of holding yourself back you will empower yourself to move forward.

To receive similar concise helpful articles direct to your inbox you can subscribe to our FREE monthly newsletter at http://www.em-poweringexecutives.co.uk ]]> EmWortt http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/emwortt/220-one-way-overcome-stress.html The Bardsey Crown to Return to the land of Merlin http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/royston/215-bardsey-crown-return-land-merlin.html Sun, 05 Oct 2008 17:53:21 GMT The Bardsey Crown to Return to the land of Merlin

No doubt everyone is watching with great interest the attempts by the Bardsey inhabitants (all ten of them) to have the Bardsey island Crown returned to its rightful place in Wales.
The Island is a god forsaken lump of rock off the Llyn Penninsula in the North of Wales once inhabited by Monks in a colony established there in the 6th Century by one Saint Cadfan. - and as an interesting side note is the imputed last resting place of Merlin - further emphasizing that the whole Arthurian legend is based on the Welsh Princes fighting off those pesky Anglo Saxons.

For many years, the Island had formed part of the estates of the Newborough Family of Glynllifon near Caernarfon who cheered up the locals by crowning the oldest male on the island as King - to called Brenin Enlli (King of Bardsey). The coronation celebrations being the only known official example in the UK where the Queen of Bardsey was also heir presumptive to the Crown and the entire congregation were either cousins, brothers and sisters. The actual Crown is kept at the Maritime Museum in Liverpool who acquired it when the maritime collection of the Newboroughies was flogged off around the 1980's for four pence halfpenny and a route map out of Wales - and there in lies the conundrum - those nasty English Liverpudlians are hanging on to it and not inclined to repatriate this artefact of past Welsh glory to its homeland.

The symbolism of the crown goes well beyond the tatty tin and brass it is made of and now assumes the role of an icon and memorial to those former Welsh Princes who went down gloriously in defeat at the hands of the invading Angles; from those at the dawn of time, to Lywelyn ap Iorwerth, Dafydd ap Lywelyn, Lywelyn ap Gruffudd (the Last) to Owain Glyndwr - this latter prince was the last real Welsh prince when the principality was lost by conquest at or around 1415.

Since the time of the Welsh Princes we have been fobbed off with a motley collection of loser princes and elder sons of Kings of England from Edward Blackadder of Caernarfon to the latest incarnation Prince Charles ap Windsor the Halfwit. This Prince whose only known attempts at Welsh are 'ble ydy 'r doiled', and 'ca 'm oddi hon dduw adawedig chyflea' - which roughly translated means 'where are the toilets' and 'get me out of this god forsaken place' which shows his commitment to the job.

I support any initiative that repatriates ethnic aboriginal art and artefacts to their rightful place - and the Bardsey Crown is right up there with the Elgin Marbles and the African Art pillaged from their rightful owners over the centuries. A suitable place for its final resting place must surely on the mantle piece in the gallery shop at the Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw at Llanbedrog near Pwllheli where for a suitable fee visitors will be able to eat their welsh rarebit whilst reliving the days of yore by wearing the crown.

As a point of interest for our American cousins it may not be well known that Prince Madog ab Owain heir of Owain discovered America around the year 1200 and founded a colony near to Alabama. For more information about the welsh in Alabama visit : http://www.alabamawelsh.com/
and if your interested in signing the petition to restore a monument to the great prince go here:
http://www.petitiononline.com/AWA0987/petition.html

Nice Picture of one of the 'Brenin Enlli' His Royal Highness John Williams taken around 1920.

Cheers

Royston
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]]> Royston http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/royston/215-bardsey-crown-return-land-merlin.html Change to happy life http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/kangsiau/214-change-happy-life.html Sun, 05 Oct 2008 03:47:28 GMT TRAVEL CHANGE THE LIFE TO HAPPY

Travel for recreation is very important to widen eye views and got a chance to meet someone or meet your lover.So,you can travel to new place and travel trend become popular.A new trend in island holidays is eco-tourism. This is traveling in such a way that neither the earth nor the local people you are visiting is harmed in any way. People who are drawn to eco-tourism may enjoy bird-watching, hiking, and other island activities that do not leave an impact on the area.Everybody dreams of taking island holidays. There are islands all over the world, each offering it's own cultural experience and natural wonders. Many spots for island holidays are still unspoiled and secluded, while others are lively and exciting. Island holidays offer a real diversion from your everyday life.
Some Information About Island Holidays:
There is just something about the ocean breeze and salt spray that makes a holiday on an island something you won't soon forget. Because islands can be found in every ocean and near every continent, island holidays can vary widely. You can lay on a beach or watch whales, study botany or shop native craft stalls. It's all up to you when you plan your island holidays.

North American islands include the Canadian east coast islands of Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. Island holidays to these areas will be filled with unspoiled natural beauty, cool, comfortable temperatures, and whale watching expeditions.

South of these regions is the little island of Bermuda off the eastern U.S. coast. Bermuda is surrounded with hundreds of square miles of reef formations, making snorkeling an interesting activity there. For the less adventurous, you can ride around in a glass bottom boat and view the beautiful undersea world.

Heading on south, we find the Carribean islands. These have long been popular spots for tourists. Here the beaches are white and sandy and the weather is very warm. Up in the interior of these islands, you can find a wide variety of birds and other wildlife. Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Barbados, the Virgin Islands, and many other spots make lovely island holidays. Each island has it's own unique flavor and feel.

Europe has islands of all types nearby which make great spots for island holidays. Visit the isles of Greece and you will see clear seas, quiet beaches, olive groves, and the simple life. Corfu is the choice of those who like up-to-date restaurants and shopping, while Lefkas is popular with wind-surfers and sailors. The Portuguese island of Madeira boasts beautiful weather and one of the lowest crime rates in the world. The Canary Islands, off the coast of Spain, are a popular tourist spot for Europeans.
See more picture at exicting destination. ]]> kangsiau http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/kangsiau/214-change-happy-life.html Choosing war power leveling http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/jeep1688/213-choosing-war-power-leveling.html Sat, 04 Oct 2008 03:49:35 GMT Philippines, Thailand, [SIZE=3]Vietnam. But the Korea is [/SIZE] always be in ahead attributed in cheaper labor and development game research.[/FONT] [FONT=SimSun]Online power leveling not only have a long way to go ,but also have a stronger competitive to continue. So the labor of cheapest and game research both the point of competitive. We hope there has a health [B][I][URL="http://www.item4u.com/Warhammer-Online/Power-Leveling"][COLOR=#003399]War Power Leveling[/COLOR][/URL][/I][/B] market to offer for players and let the players enjoy theirselevs happily in game.[/FONT][/LEFT] [/LEFT]]]>
Once there have someone impersonate the person in charge of network of game leveling agent company,require the employee in this company remit money to the appointed account .when the employee remittance 23000 RMB ,find it a cheater. This problem must be lead to notice by game players.
Now there has many Warhammer online power leveling company .you choose it with noticing. The war power leveling is a new and huge game .So a lot of people want to win in the game beginning.When you choose war power leveling company, I advise you to see this article first .This can help you to choose correct and authority company.
Many players know that the cheapest warhammer power leveling company divided into the Asian, especially in Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam. But the Korea is always be in ahead attributed in cheaper labor and development game research.
Online power leveling not only have a long way to go ,but also have a stronger competitive to continue. So the labor of cheapest and game research both the point of competitive. We hope there has a health War Power Leveling market to offer for players and let the players enjoy theirselevs happily in game.
]]> jeep1688 http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/jeep1688/213-choosing-war-power-leveling.html Recent Archaeological research shows football invented in Wales http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/royston/209-recent-archaeological-research-shows-football-invented-wales.html Sun, 28 Sep 2008 13:53:57 GMT Recent Archaeological research shows football invented in Wales

The first reference to football being played in this country was actually in Wales over a thousand years ago. The beautiful game was watched and played by hooligans as it is nowadays was probably introduced to Great Britain by the Romans in Wales and was played in the great Amphitheatre in Silurum Venta (aka Caerleon) by soldiers of the Second Augustan Legion during breaks from sacking, pillaging and general mayhem. Watched by the local natives one can imagine how it quickly spread to the other main tribes in South Wales the Dementae (the Llanethii) and Ordovices (Pontypoolae) and in a few years a healthy football league was established only broken when the pre-eminent Welsh Saint Cadfael banned football on the Streets of Shrewsbury in the middle of the 12th century allowing cnapan to ascend into prominence.

As a form of replacement the game of cnapan became very popular especially in the Southern counties of Wales where two teams of around 750 per side from competing parishes passed a tallow soaked wooden ball (the cnapan) between team members until the ball was too far from the start point to be returned before dusk or everyone went home for tea or got fed up. Clearly archery, bowls and Quoits also played a major role in Welsh sports as well as the more obvious games of coracle racing or Bando. This latter game, which is a form of Hockey played without a ball, is where the team players (the obligatory 750 per side from competing parishes) beat the crap out of each other until the last man standing is declared the winner then taken to hospital. An honourable mention must also go to Welsh Baseball played for hundreds of year since the reign of Llywelyn ap Cruffydd the Last, which was as we all know taken up by the Americans, and where the modern form of the Welsh game was codified in Llantrisant in 1892 only to die out promptly in 1893.

I mention the illustrious past of Welsh honour on the field of sport as suitable backdrop to our recent successes in the Olympic games where four medals were won by Welsh athletes (one more than the Scots I note) and our aspirations to field our own team at the 2012 Olympics in London. There has been heated discussions across the country (well in Jack Trehern's bar in Newport) that we could have quite a success as the tradition of sports runs deep in the country as can be seen from the above. The only thing holding us back is that with the exception of the above we are quite hopeless at most sports, and despite representations to the IOC cnapan will not be a demonstration sport at the next Olympics. Which as a South Wales Argus editorial recently noted is yet another sign of cultural imperialism by the English and a shameful indictment of the Gordon Browns mishandling of the economy and comes as a direct consequence of the credit crunch (Eh what! ed.). ]]> Royston http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/royston/209-recent-archaeological-research-shows-football-invented-wales.html <![CDATA[The Railway Chronicles - starlet's bags under eyes forces new photo shoot]]> http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/royston/208-railway-chronicles-starlets-bags-under-eyes-forces-new-photo-shoot.html Sun, 28 Sep 2008 12:13:54 GMT The Railway Chronicles - starlet's bags under eyes forces new photo shoot

I was on the way up to see one of our northern NHS clients this time on what is now the national express line (what happened to the GNER?) - this was to be a difficult discussion about why they could not have a piece of software which is valued at well over a hundred grand installed for four pence halfpenny - but that’s not the subject for today as I must protect our beloved clients. I was reading through some rather incoherent essays on change management on the train up when I overheard (well strictly everyone in the cabin overhead) a Hoorah Henrietta stick insect shouting loudly into her mobile about some interview with one of her starlet clients that had been called 'orf' because said starlet had blobbed her out as it was her mothers birthday that she simply must attend. 'Daarling it is very difficult to write a gushing article about someone who is so awkward - we had arranged the interview in London as we simply had to redo the photo-shoot from last week because the pictures showed up the bags under her eye's and she had no time to do that up north so we arranged it in London to suit her then she calls it orf! … so daarling (other uses of daarling have been omitted for reasons of brevity ed.) ... we had to drag the whole team back down to London to do the re-shoot for nothing … she really is a prize **** and quite unlike her public persona but hey it pays the bills. Yes and I am orf to New York next week - I've been invited to an embassy re-launch party for Gordon Brown by the military attaché - I told him I know nothing about foreign policy or economics and we had a political editor for that ... he said no problem Gordon Brown knows nothing about politics or the global economy either that’s why we invited you - wouldn't want any intelligent discussion getting in the way of a lark and the champagne. What we want you to do it play Footsie 100 under the table and try and thaw the old bugger out. I laughed like a drain and said I would love to come, got to do my bit to help ol Gordie, so I'll park up Alice with the nanny and fly over next Monday.'

On and on she went on the mobile while I was trying to get to grips with what a 'quasi substantive critical perspective' was (I still have no clue what this student was getting at) sometimes almost getting a glimmer of what misunderstood theory he was talking about when I was constantly being dragged back by this airhead on the phone whose apparent job was to write in a glossy mag about people I could not care less about (or at least what these people are wearing). I have waxed on (on and on as we know ed.) about people who over the phone in the first class cabin tell us about their miserable lives and the last thing I want to hear are the miserable lives of celebrities from a clearly air headed magazine reporter shouting into her mobile whilst I am trying to get a grip with clearly air headed students. Why is it that these types think it is OK without any regard for the privacy of their clients to spread personal and private information right across the cabin for nosey people like myself to overhear!! ]]> Royston http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/royston/208-railway-chronicles-starlets-bags-under-eyes-forces-new-photo-shoot.html Do not outsource a problem http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/stephanie/202-do-not-outsource-problem.html Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:40:07 GMT Just reading an article where one of the key messages was 'A bad process automated is still a bad process' - something everyone in the IT industry would surely agree with.

I argue that the same rule applies to outsourcing. If something is causing you a problem you need to fix the issues before you outsource - or you will still have issues!

You cannot rely on an outsourcing organisation to fix bad processes, miraculously ensure poor performance turns into high performance, or turn-round a situation where conflict and poor communications is the norm.

This is again a good reason for allowing an internal bid if you are thinking of transferring an existing department out. Often the process enables the department to get its act together (although sometimes this requires a lot more inter-departmental help too - so may need help from the top).

With very few exceptions, if an outsourcing supplier tells you they can 'fix' your problems - make sure you get full details of exactly how they hope to achieve this. Look carefully at the response, as there will often be holes in it.

Are there any good suppliers out there who would like to give us advice on this? ]]> Stephanie http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/stephanie/202-do-not-outsource-problem.html <![CDATA[City Spivs and Speculators get paid (off) for 'risk' taking]]> http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/johnblack/201-city-spivs-speculators-get-paid-off-risk-taking.html Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:19:04 GMT Some years ago I was sitting in the accountancy module B212 'window dressing and off balance sheet techniques' during my Masters course when the lecturer at the time piped up that one of the biggest fears in finance was the fact that mortgages were lent long whilst money was saved or acquired from the market short. In principle short money can be called for very quickly whilst paying back a mortgage on demand is impossible. A interesting discussion took place as we considered the possibilities of savers suddenly loosing confidence and withdrawing funds to stuff under the mattress or inter-bank lending suddenly drying up and the fact that as mortgagees we would be unable to pay our loans on demand loans so all chaos could result.

Obviously I am drawn to this reminiscing from a course more than 20 years ago by this weeks events and the thought that we have actually looked into the abyss. If this loss of confidence had gone much further there is actually no way that any government could cover all of the required finance without long term fiscal consequences when looking at the proposed bailout of 700billion in the US this is clear - the figures are simply too huge - and there was (perhaps still is) a chance or a real depression. So how did we get here when the risk was well known. We have and governments are too blame here began to assume that the ongoing growth period from the mid nineties would go on forever - we believed for a short while the Brown and Bush nonsense that the boom and bust and the cyclic nature of economies was a thing of the past. Actually not many economists bought this line but there seemed to be over the last ten years a creeping complacency in the market and in the economy at large that growth would continue house prices would rise and all would continue as before - a complacency that ended a few short weeks ago.

One of the problems faced by HBOS for example was the breaking of the linkage between grannies saving, and loans being made to the newly forming families to buy their homes. Grannies tend to keep their money safe in a Bank for a rainy day - so save relatively long. More of the money that was being lent was being acquired on the wholesale market thus very short and when money becoming in short supply and loans were called in the whole circus came to an end. Coupled with this trend the window dressing of junk debt and reselling as triple A in other areas meant in some cases these inter-bank loans were unpinned by toxic and rubbish debt that could not in any case be collected. So a prediction of an accounting professor twenty years ago came all to true in a few turbulent weeks.

What is a little depressing about the saga of some of those who have fallen is they carried out these feats of financial engineering to the plaudits of their peers only a short while ago. The CEO of HBOS for example was hailed as a 'genius' only last year - to some extend it was rather pleasing to see a rueful former CEO contemplating the handover of his company in a garage sale to one of his former rivals. A 300 year old company sunk during his short three years at the helm - a nice achievement not unique unfortunately if you look across the water.

There is an old saying that goes 'when the going gets tough the politicians run for cover' and politicians on both sides of the Atlantic squarely place the blame on the city or processes such as short trading and not themselves. Not minded to the fact that their policies and management of the economic context and their abject complacency has led us to where we are now. In he UK eye watering public sector borrowing to finance the client state, virtually no monetary policy, the encouragement of a reckless financial environment the surreal belief that would go on forever and the belief in the infallibility of their stewardship and lack of responsibilities are where some the explanation lies. It was even more unedifying to see Brown and Captain Darling claiming credit for facilitating the solution to HBOS which they themselves had practically caused - now for more weeks of historical reconstruction.

JB ]]> JohnBlack http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/johnblack/201-city-spivs-speculators-get-paid-off-risk-taking.html Brown relaunch at labour conference fails http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/royston/200-brown-relaunch-labour-conference-fails.html Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:08:11 GMT Brown solves world hunger and financial markets in a day.

I am becoming used to seeing Gordon Brown in his many guises or relaunches (currently around number seven) giving out the impression that he is more or less single handedly running every ministry in this country. From facilitating mergers between banks, solving Clostridium difficile in hospitals, greeting our hero Para Olympians back home to lagging. It is the latter theme I would like to dwell on as I was astonished to see the other day the Prime Minister of the country on national TV launching a very minor initiative that in more normal times would have been handled by a much more junior member of staff. Here we saw the great man extolling (well droning on about) the virtues of his new 'lagging credit' where if you are destitute or living in a croft somewhere in the god forsaking north of Scotland you can get a grant towards cavity foam insulation or lagging the turf on the roof. It was a careful exercise in avoiding any concession to the middle class and ensuring that only his clients in the north (well it is cold up there) would benefit from his largesse whereas the rest of us have to fork out - the proposal being completely riddled with caveats and exclusions designed to exclude anyone not minded to vote labour.

What was more annoying was that he was in fact not giving us anything. Dressed up as a government initiative and as a vehicle for relaunch it seems that the energy companies on threat of swingeing 'windfall' taxes have to do this. If you are living in a turf roofed and lined croft in Brown's constituency you have to apply to the companies for the work to be done gratis or at the discount rate if you have some spare cash. This whole thing was yet another example of a politician making an announcement, claiming the credit whilst taking no responsibility for the implementation or the consequences. What is certain is the energy companies, quite rightly in my view, will have to cover these costs by adding 'it' to the bills of Joe Public you and me - of course turf living Brown voters will be able to claim relief. Now for me it is a good thing to concentrate on energy saving we cannot go on as we are but to dress all this cock and bull nonsense as some sort of give away by Brown is absurd. This was only designed to make him look good and defuse the Left of his party who regard any aspect of profit making by energy companies or otherwise as an anathema so wanted the so-called windfall tax and this boil had to be lanced before his next relaunch (the eight) at the conference this week.

I don't think this (the seventh or is it eighth I forget) relaunch will work either - the labour party have to come to terms that Gordon Brown is not and never will be a leader - so stop trying to make him out something he is not. What we need is some management by ministers including Brown to at least steer the ship of state roughly in the right direction until the next election when thank god we have the chance of getting rid of these incompetent bunch of morons - although what job any of these could do when they bombed out is beyond me.

Cheers from a Croft in Wales

Royston ]]> Royston http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/royston/200-brown-relaunch-labour-conference-fails.html Car Parking Charges Abolished in Welsh Hospitals - Chaos Ensues http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/royston/199-car-parking-charges-abolished-welsh-hospitals-chaos-ensues.html Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:11:09 GMT Car park Charges abolished and then chaos ensues

At the beginning of the financial year in gods country (Wales) the first minister announced that car parking fees, the subject of much controversy in the principality and elsewhere, were to be abolished. This 'lead' was not followed by the Department of Health in the UK at large who said England would not be following the Welsh example -"We have no plans of forcing hospitals in England to subsidise their car parks with resources that could be used to improve and speed up patient care," a spokesman said. Who went on "It would also be contrary to the Government's climate change objectives." Conservative health spokesman Stephen O'Brien said: "For the Department of Health to say that free parking in hospitals is contrary to their climate change objectives is quite desperate and I doubt sick patients want to harm the planet. Now this is where the conservatives have it wrong.

A nice populist move in Wales it is very easy for ministers to make announcement for which they bear no consequences. We are going to abolish car-parking means you (the Trusts) have to do it and by the way you will have to find the money out of one of your budgets we are not paying. So an announcement is made and politicians take the 'pat on the back' and they have actually done nothing but create a problem elsewhere. The actual amount we are talking about are not very large about £1M earned for the average trust but never-the-less has to be found out of the budget - so where do we cut? A million pounds per trust equates to being able to treat 10,000 kidney cancer patients nationally with the very expensive treatment required - there are only 3000 patients diagnosed per year roughly but it gives an idea of what sort of balances have to be made by Trusts. By politicians inventing yet another 'right' in the NHS without any acknowledgement of responsibility has forced another difficult balancing act.

The more practical bad consequences of the above move became apparent when I had to drive over to Wales to visit my father who was poorly following an operation at the Royal Gwent in Newport. I approached the vicinity of the Hospital and saw that it was Completely Gridlocked. There were cars everywhere trying to get into the car-park, ambulances could hardly get in and the scheduled bus service that stops inside the grounds by the main entrance was blocked. Furthermore, there were five yellow vested car-parking guys trying to control things and at least allow the ambulances in - it was complete bedlam and this scene is repeated every day. I was talking to one man who could not get into the site to pick up a patient being released for good behaviour he thought the car park should be used only for those dropping off or picking up actual patients and not just for visiting. So a political gesture at the alter of the NHS being free at point of use has caused a marked deterioration in parking service, the patients who really need to use the facility are blocked, has removed the contribution from those who insist on using their cars, and added to the costs of the Trust to manage the mayhem caused to boot.

Royston ]]> Royston http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/royston/199-car-parking-charges-abolished-welsh-hospitals-chaos-ensues.html Why Is There Such A Demand For Blizzcon 2008 Tickets? http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/jeep1688/195-why-there-such-demand-blizzcon-2008-tickets.html Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:11:59 GMT In the gaming world, not many franchises come even close to being compared to World of Warcraft. The popular game boasts the largest online gaming community, estimated in the millions, in the world. For gaming fans and experts, conventions like Blizzcon 2008 are a way to mingle with other gamers, cosplayers, and game creators. Conventions are also where game companies try out their developing wares, show off their best products, and often announce and/or debut their next big thing.
Blizzcon is no different. This year's convention, Macworld.com tells us, will have costume contests (for those into dressing like their favorite characters from World of Warcraft and other Blizzard games), a songwriting competition, a dance contest, a motivational poster contest, a diorama contest, and gaming competitions for Warcraft III and World of Warcraft players. Top prize in the latter will be $25,000 per player.Participation Awards may be a wow cd key.
Everyone who attends Blizzcon 2008 will also receive a goodie bag, which usually contains some pretty valuable merchandise. At last year's Blizzcon, the goodie bag held a plastic key that Blizzard Entertainment revealed (ten months later, in July 2008) was a World of Warcraft CD Key to the forthcoming Wrath of the Lich King, the latest installment of the World of Warcraft saga.
So, for those who are into gaming, Blizzcon 2008 tickets can turn out to be quite valuable indeed. ]]> jeep1688 http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/jeep1688/195-why-there-such-demand-blizzcon-2008-tickets.html <![CDATA[Oxbridge and High level of Independent pupils - the real reason why they do 'better']]> http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/alice-at-equisport/194-oxbridge-high-level-independent-pupils-real-reason-why-they-do-better.html Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:20:42 GMT Reading in the Observer today a very interesting article by Barbara Ellen (Opinion page 11) about the continuing excessive number of independent school pupils who attend OxBridge. With only 7% of youngsters educated in the private sector, 40% of OxBridge students are from these exclusive schools. The view seems to be that these pupils are brighter, get better grades etc., therefore poor OxBridge tutors have little choice but to give the places to them.

I have personal experience in both sectors and I can tell you why they seem to produce 'better' pupils, getting straight A's. It is not only because they give tests to decide which pupils to accept and the class sizes are smaller therefore pupils get more individual attention. High grades also occur because:

Pupils not performing well or with special needs normally get kicked out early on. A friend of mine experienced this. It is better for the school to lose the money from one pupil than to appear to be failing at all.

Pupils are not allowed to take subjects they will not do well in. Another friend of mine gave up and moved her daughter so that she could study the subjects she was really interested in not only the ones she would get an A* in.

Pupils are only allowed to take 9 or 10 GCSE’s in many of these schools – again to ensure that they get high scores. In State schools the really good pupils are allowed to stretch themselves and take up to 12, really seeing which ones they like and want to take further. I was warned by an Independent school parent that this would be a mistake as it was better to have just 9 A*’s than to have 9 A*’s and a couple of B’s. OxBridge won’t take anyone with a B no matter how many they have, I was told.

Furthermore, these pupils are pushed and monitored by teachers and parents to ensure they get the top grades. For many their life is not their own. Unfortunately this means that when they finally get to University where no one is forcing them to do anything they reduce effort. State school kids tend to go the other way, there is research indicating that Independent school pupils tend to do slightly less well at University because of this.

Of course one should not over-generalise, but these are the things I have seen and I do therefore agree with the view that pupils getting good A levels in the State sector should perhaps be given more of a chance at Oxbridge than those getting slightly better grades from an Independent. Evidence suggests that if a pupil has done well in large classes with all the other things often working against them, even at good State schools, they will do very well at University. As Barbara suggests, letting them into Oxbridge will not reduce the success of the Universities, but will reduce the educational apartheid. A sliding scale of grades is a good idea.

I know there will be the usual complaints from the Independent school parents – and I also know that many of them do make sacrifices so that their children can attend these schools – they are not only for the rich and famous. But I am not convinced that this should automatically mean they stand a better chance of getting in to the top Universities in our country. Surely more could be done at OxBridge and the Russell Group to encourage more state educated youngsters?

But then, I am pretty sure most OxBridge tutors do know how much extra help Independent school pupils get. Whether many of them really understand the issues some State school pupils have to cope with I am not so sure about.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...&feed=politics ]]> Alice at Equisport http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/alice-at-equisport/194-oxbridge-high-level-independent-pupils-real-reason-why-they-do-better.html The human side of outsourcing - managing people change http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/stephanie/193-human-side-outsourcing-managing-people-change.html Sat, 13 Sep 2008 08:47:08 GMT In an earlier article I discussed my research into managing the transition of people in an outsourcing situation. I highlighted the problems people experience, anxiety, lack of control, resistance and reduced performance. Many also found it very difficult to treat their previous employer as a client, and were not able to feel a part of the new company to which they had been transferred. An outsourcing transfer can be viewed as a form of transition. This change process involves involuntary movement from one company to another, with possible similarities, from the staff point of view, to mergers and acquisitions. The transfer may also include staff reductions or ‘downsizing’, and the new organization will make some effort to develop a relationship with their new staff in the form of organizational socialization. All of these transition processes are likely to impact upon perceptions of justice - in other words, whether people feel they have been treated fairly or not. These perceptions are important as there is substantial evidence that if people feel they have been treated unfairly they are far less likely to perform well. However, of specific interest here is the repeated finding that good attention to procedural justice concerns can increase perceptions of fairness even if the outcomes are unfavourable. If we assume that, at least initially, staff will view the likely outcome of being forcibly transferred to another organization as unfair, it may be possible that procedural justice will reduce their perceptions of unfairness. What do we mean by Justice? Distributive justice considers perceptions of fairness of outcomes (equity, equality, and needs). Procedural justice emphasises the importance of fairness of the methods or procedures used (decision criteria, voice, control of the process), and Interactional justice is based on the perceived fairness of the interpersonal treatment received, whether those involved are treated wish sensitivity, dignity and respect, and also the nature of the explanations given. I have had some people ask me why they should bother about how people feel if they are no longer working in their organisation. For most companies who outsource, the staff will still be required to carry out work for them, albeit under the management of the outsourcing company. It is also possible that at some stage the organization will wish to back-source (bring people back in house). My ongoing research indicates that organizations will experience problems if they do not attend to the needs of their staff during the transfer process. To manage justice perceptions it is important to ensure you do communicate and that the process is viewed as fair. Some of the practical considerations for the transfer itself therefore include; effective and ongoing communication of the business rationale, a focus on procedural and distributive justice, training of managers to ensure open two-way communication and interactional justice is enabled, and accepting and working with the emotional aspects of the transfer rather than pretending it does not exist. An aspect not often considered at all by organizations is after the transfer. It will be important to ensure remaining staff receive clear communications regarding the changing roles (their own and their ex-colleagues). A balance will need to be made between letting go, so that transferred staff do not feel they cannot move on, and creating barriers to communication. Most importantly, consider how the contract influences your relationship with them. In the UK for example if the tupe agreement includes a mapping-on of salary increases or other awards it is vital that a process is put in place to ensure this happens, rather than forcing the transferred staff to continually monitor the situation. So do think about the people side of the transfer if you are outsourcing, and remember that you need them to be motivated and to continue to perform. Achieving this will be difficult and should not just be left to the company you have chosen to outsource to. In an earlier article I discussed my research into managing the transition of people in an outsourcing situation. I highlighted the problems people experience, anxiety, lack of control, resistance and reduced performance. Many also found it very difficult to treat their previous employer as a client, and were not able to feel a part of the new company to which they had been transferred.

An outsourcing transfer can be viewed as a form of transition. This change process involves involuntary movement from one company to another, with possible similarities, from the staff point of view, to mergers and acquisitions. The transfer may also include staff reductions or ‘downsizing’, and the new organization will make some effort to develop a relationship with their new staff in the form of organizational socialization. All of these transition processes are likely to impact upon perceptions of justice - in other words, whether people feel they have been treated fairly or not. These perceptions are important as there is substantial evidence that if people feel they have been treated unfairly they are far less likely to perform well. However, of specific interest here is the repeated finding that good attention to procedural justice concerns can increase perceptions of fairness even if the outcomes are unfavourable. If we assume that, at least initially, staff will view the likely outcome of being forcibly transferred to another organization as unfair, it may be possible that procedural justice will reduce their perceptions of unfairness.

What do we mean by Justice? Distributive justice considers perceptions of fairness of outcomes (equity, equality, and needs). Procedural justice emphasises the importance of fairness of the methods or procedures used (decision criteria, voice, control of the process), and Interactional justice is based on the perceived fairness of the interpersonal treatment received, whether those involved are treated wish sensitivity, dignity and respect, and also the nature of the explanations given.

I have had some people ask me why they should bother about how people feel if they are no longer working in their organisation.

For most companies who outsource, the staff will still be required to carry out work for them, albeit under the management of the outsourcing company. It is also possible that at some stage the organization will wish to back-source (bring people back in house). My ongoing research indicates that organizations will experience problems if they do not attend to the needs of their staff during the transfer process. To manage justice perceptions it is important to ensure you do communicate and that the process is viewed as fair.

Some of the practical considerations for the transfer itself therefore include; effective and ongoing communication of the business rationale, a focus on procedural and distributive justice, training of managers to ensure open two-way communication and interactional justice is enabled, and accepting and working with the emotional aspects of the transfer rather than pretending it does not exist.


An aspect not often considered at all by organizations is after the transfer. It will be important to ensure remaining staff receive clear communications regarding the changing roles (their own and their ex-colleagues). A balance will need to be made between letting go, so that transferred staff do not feel they cannot move on, and creating barriers to communication. Most importantly, consider how the contract influences your relationship with them. In the UK for example if the tupe agreement includes a mapping-on of salary increases or other awards it is vital that a process is put in place to ensure this happens, rather than forcing the transferred staff to continually monitor the situation.

So do think about the people side of the transfer if you are outsourcing, and remember that you need them to be motivated and to continue to perform. Achieving this will be difficult and should not just be left to the company you have chosen to outsource to. ]]> Stephanie http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/stephanie/193-human-side-outsourcing-managing-people-change.html Warhammer weekend event http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/jeep1688/186-warhammer-weekend-event.html Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:34:20 GMT The Mythic Entertainment is going to have a weekend event about the warhammer online. The following is the main content:
Over 100,000 people are preparing to descend into the Age of Reckoning, we have invited the vanguard host to join us this weekend (August 22-25) to an exclusive Preview Weekend event!
Attendance is by invitation only and is guaranteed to all Closed Beta participants, Collectors Edition Pre-Order customers, and the first lucky 50,000 Standard Edition Pre-Order customers to register their accounts in the new Mythic Account Center.
Invites have already started to go out, check your Account Center for either Closed Beta or Preview Weekend, all guests will also be notified via email.
This weekend will be an exciting chance for many to see Warhammer Online. and here I want to give you some more good news for if you need warhammer online gold, warhammer cd key, We are a professional online store of warhammer cd key, wow cd key or wow gold,We just provide the lowest price and the best service. We are 24/7 online.We can't wait to welcome you!See you onthe battlefield, hope you enjoy the game with our service. ]]> jeep1688 http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/jeep1688/186-warhammer-weekend-event.html Stress From Outsourcing can Kill http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/johnblack/184-stress-outsourcing-can-kill.html Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:09:10 GMT Stress From Outsourcing can Kill

I was struck by the similarity in the situation when people are laid off during redundancies and the stress caused by the move from one company to another during outsourcing - it strikes me that this is an under researched area and something we as managers should pay more attention to.

Pioneering studies in Scandinavia that took place some years ago, where centralized health care allows researchers access to vast databases of medical conditions and treatment, showed a strong link between downsizing, layoffs and illness. A study by Finnish researchers published in February (2004) in the British Medical Journal, found the risk of dying from a heart attack doubled among permanent employees after a major round of downsizing, with the risk growing to five times normal after four years. What was surprising about this study was that 'surviving' employees - those left behind - suffered as much stress as those who left. Those hit hardest by layoffs in this study - losing more than 18 per cent of their colleagues during the worst years of recession - suffered the highest risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

Two other studies in the same vein suggested that other forms of strain in the workplace can also affect health. An analysis of medical records for 24,036 Swedish workers from 1991 to 1996 found that in workplaces that underwent large-scale expansions, the workers were 7 percent more likely to take sick leave of 90 days or more and 9 percent more likely to enter a hospital for some reason.

What these studies showed was there is a relationship between work related stress and real physical outcomes - for those remaining as well as the obvious strains to those leaving. Outsourcing shares many of the factors that were shown to lead to this heightened risk and we should be aware that an over cavalier approach to managing people in this major change process could possibly lead to people dying before their time. It is not enough that we have to act carefully and ethically as other Blog writers on this forum have said we have to act with responsibility and care for people - in the final analysis if it could be shown we acted in an unfair and reckless manner in dealing with people during an outsource we also might find ourselves liable in law. More research is clearly called for in this area.

JB ]]> JohnBlack http://www.bizface.co.uk/bizfaceforum/blogs/johnblack/184-stress-outsourcing-can-kill.html