eMail

At one time there was only Canada Post.  Then, we discovered the Internet.  As a result, we joined the eMail revolution.  Firstly, for a short while, I had an AOL account, then, I organized myself with a Hotmail account for general use, a Yahoo! account for personal use, and Google for backup (although Google gains more importance as this Blog and our future Website are published).  I believe that there are other addresses in my files somewhere, e.g., Bell.net.  Other addresses lurk in the background files of Apple and, I am sure, many others.

Recently (I mean during the past year or so), as a result of registering for various media sites, I am plagued, daily (Yes, daily), by unsolicited eMail from organizations such as LinkedIn and Facebook (I'm so sorry.  I promise never to mention those two names again), and when I receive messages saying, “You have 4 new friends waiting to hear from you.”  or, for example, “Do you know John Intram?” I look for the Delete button, actually, I don’t look ... I know where it is ... blindfolded.

By the way, I am sure that both of the organizations named above have my eMail address set within many associated files because I have forgotten how many times I’ve attempted to ’Unsubscribe’.

Dear people, I think that I know who my friends are, and I suspect that they do not really want me to be their 3,333rd friend (Please agree with me).  Therefore, I want you to know that I am not, intentionally, sending anything other than this wonderful Blog.

The Bicycle Ride

Two or three times each week, I try to go out on my bicycle for a recreational ride around my favourite part of London, Ontario (Actually, to be truthful, it rarely amounts to three times).

Firstly, we look eastwards and ride along Oxford Street ....

Passing my prospective car dealer ....

The London Muslim Mosque .... 

At the Bradford Bridge over the Thames River (No, not the River Thames -  Originally built in 1882 in wood, and rebuilt in 1954), we turn turn southwards ....

Continuing south, alongside the river ....

... until reaching Harris Park and the Queens Avenue and Riverside Drive bridges ....

Thus, arriving at 'The Forks' of the Thames River ....

... where we cross over the river, again, near Ivey Park....

... past the 'Battle of the Atlantic' Memorial to those who gave their lives at sea in World War II .... 

... and turn westwards on the beautiful bike trail .... 

... under the railway ....

... joining the trail dedicated to Terry Fox, and passing the Greenway Park Naturalization Project (Designed to replace rare species of hardwood trees, etc., that disappeared with human occupation hundreds of years ago).

Past the memorial of the 'SS Victoria' boat disaster of 1881.  One of Canada's worst marine disasters;  the small, double-decked, stern-wheeler was on an excursion trip, dangerously overcrowded with more than 600 passengers, and keeled over due to passengers shifting from one side to the other, and sank immediately.  182 people lost their lives.

Continuing slowly to capture memorable pictures.

Under the busy Wonderland Road ....

... towards the Woodland Garden.

Catching glimpses of the river through heavy tree growth.

Passing the Springbank Pumphouse that supplied water to the city between 1878 and 1967
 (When water from the Great Lakes was brought on line).

Continuing westwards towards the children's Storybook Gardens at Springbank Park .... 

Carefully, discuss with the resident Canada Geese how they should protect their young.

... where we wait for the local train on the 'Circle Line'.

Then, finally, the end of the trail appears ahead ....

... inviting us in for a Tim's French Vanilla Latte and Boston Cream donut in Byron Village (Well, don't you just feel like that right now?).

Management 1 - Entitlement?

I hope that I may use the example in Nancy's previous post, her comment that the enlightened Henry Ford paid his employees above the cost of living to ensure a dedicated workforce.

But, today, the emphasis seems to focus on a worker's entitlement.  It raises many questions, for example, should bonuses be an entitlement?  Are incentives necessary?

This may be my shortest post, as I hope to become part of useful discussion.

Politics 9 - Percentage Formula

I had cause to read the Cyprus Mail this morning, and was driven to write a comment to an article about the trade union of bank employees reorganizing the downsizing of the Bank of Cyprus.  I know, I should improve my prioritizing, i.e., Blog first, then, the media.

The EU has applied draconian measures to the Cypriot economy where some banks have ‘gone under’.  Unfortunately, Cyprus politics has been tied to Greece, and still is.  Hence, the application of strict rules for a much-needed ‘bailout’ by the EU.

The financial story is quite complicated, and would require more space than this Blog allows.  But, with regard to the Bank of Cyprus, the EU Troika forced the bank to freeze 47% of the accounts, and depositors having more than € 100,000 had the excess turned into long term bonds, not to mention a maximum daily withdrawal amount of € 300.

Naturally, many employees were ‘invited’ to accept retirement, and the remainder will experience severe pay cuts.

“The union proposed the percentage of pay-cuts that should be imposed by the banks, as if this were its responsibility. It decreed that cuts for salaries between €2,000 and €4,000 would be 10 per cent, between €6,000 and €8,000 at 20 per cent and over €10,000 at 30 per cent.  The unions dictated that the higher the salary, the higher the percentage cut, which on the surface seemed fair but it is not, because it reduces wage differentials”.

“Why should a senior bank executive, who works long hours, has many more responsibilities and much more pressure suffer a bigger pay cut than someone in middle management with a much easier job? Only unions, the great levellers and enemies of excellence, would think this is good arrangement. In effect, the unions are imposing an income tax policy, which they have no legal or moral authority to do, in the name of workers’ rights and nobody is prepared to challenge them.”

Thus, I felt that a comment should be made, because this has always been one of my favourite subjects.

What is the purpose of a salary increase (All things being equal)?  There are two simple reasons, 1. To reward excellent work, and 2. To adjust for inflation.

Of course, we all know that annual salary increases are regarded as an automatic event, regardless of employee excellence or the cost of living, and that is the first incorrect model.  Furthermore, management tries to use a formula of percentages for salary adjustments which is also unfortunate for employees at the bottom of the scale.

If there is an increase in inflation of 1%, and a related increase to the cost of living, does the CEO’s family annual grocery bill increase by € 2,000 and that of the cleaner only increases by € 200 (Assumes salaries of € 200,000 for the CEO and € 20,000 for the cleaner).  Of course not.  The cost of grocery essentials increases equally for both families.

Therefore, the unions, in this example, are right to apply a varying scale, and those at senior levels should stop complaining.  There are good times and bad times ... this is not a good time.

It is time for using the 3-star hotel.

Please comment via the Blog page (See below).

Politics 8 - Refugees

When one feels like discussing something interesting, it often becomes a debate. Then, we are told never to introduce those two dangerous subjects, Politics and Religion. But, try to discuss immigration and avoid an insulting argument, because immigration combines both politics and religion.

I wrote the following, as a comment, in a newspaper this morning.  Then, realized that I had a Blog, a worthy stage for my act.

Enter, stage right (or left).  No one political party in the world can design an equitable immigration policy, and those religions that preach 'Peace on Earth to all men', seem to forget those words when they leave the church or mosque.

Personally, I like to teach many people the difference between an 'immigrant' and a 'refugee'. In the 'ideal' world, immigrants should not cause major problems, but that assumes that immigration departments adhere to the regulations, i.e., no person (s) should be coming into a country without sufficient funds to support themselves for a defined period of time, or be sponsored by a business (or another individual) for a specific period of time, e.g., three years. After three years, they should qualify for resident or even citizen status.

But a refugee usually has no choice. They come, for various reasons, for fear of their lives. Once their case is proven, I am sure that most of us would be sympathetic to their situation. We may say, 'There, but for the grace of God, go I.' Nevertheless, I need to mention a rarely spoken, controversial point; If, and when, the fearful reason for their acceptance as refugees has passed, they must be encouraged to return to their safe country of origin ... and, from there, apply for immigration. A precedent exists, e.g., a tourist arrives in a country, loves it so much, decides to stay, but must return to their country of origin to apply at the embassy ... and prove educational skills, financial sufficiency, and criminal record, etc.

That is not discrimination.