Corporate Machines

They've just introduced a new 'coaching' system at work. Where we are given statistics on our previous weeks performance and then work out a couple of 'goals' to work on to improve our call handle times. I'm lucky enough to be apart of a pilot group, that'll be extended if it's a success. (Early signs are pretty positive) The aim of this is to obviously find ways to help us improve our call handling times. Stated benefits of this system include:

• Over the weeks being able to see improvements in our performance & therefore being better at our job.
  
• Better motivation to work as we can see that our improvements are helping.
• Better working conditions as improvements slowly mean that things will get less hectic & so everyone is less stressed and happier.

Non-stated benefits of this new system include:

• Better employee productivity/ more efficient labour.
  
• Lower wage expenses/ better use of wage expenses.
  
• Revenue growth due to better overall performance.
  

Apart from the aesthetic positives listed above, there are no benefits for the individual. I don't get paid any more for doing my job more efficiently. Yet the system works, after only just over 1 week on the new system, I've already shown strong improvements in some areas. Therefore, I'm doing quite a good job at helping an American multi-national corporation boost it's profits.

Yep. I'm a good little cog in the machine of capitalism. Doing my bit to maintain the socio-economic status quo. That is, the divide between rich and poor, and those in between like myself.

Appropriate Response?

Found this article on The Age website:
Late trains spark commuter riot in Buenos Aires



Imagine if Melbournians reacted like this every time a train was delayed.....

Two Prawns

Far away in the tropical waters of the Caribbean, two prawns were swimming around in the sea - one called Justin and the other called Christian. The prawns were constantly being harassed and threatened by sharks that inhabited the area. Finally one day Justin said to Christian, "I'm fed up with being a prawn, I wish I was a shark, then I wouldn't have any worries about being eaten."

A large mysterious cod appeared and said, "Your wish is granted" and lo and behold, Justin turned into a shark. Horrified, Christian immediately swam away, afraid of being eaten by his old mate. Time passed and Justin found life as a shark boring and lonely. All his old mates simply swam away whenever he came close to them. Justin didn't realise that his new menacing appearance was the cause of his sad plight.

While swimming alone one day he saw the mysterious cod again and he thought perhaps the mysterious fish could change him back into a prawn. He approached the cod and begged to be changed back, and, lo and behold, he found himself turned back into a prawn.

With tears of joy in his tiny little eyes Justin swam back to his friends and bought them all a cocktail. Looking around the gathering at the reef he realised he couldn't see his old pal. "Where's Christian?" he asked. "He's at home, still distraught that his best friend changed sides to the enemy & became a shark", came the reply.

Eager to put things right again and end the mutual pain and torture, he set off to Christian's abode. As he opened the coral gate memories came flooding back. He banged on the door and shouted, "It's me, Justin, your old friend, come out and see me again." Christian replied, "No way man, you'll eat me. You're now a shark, the enemy, and I'll not be tricked into being your dinner."

Justin cried back "No, I'm not. That was the old me. I've changed. "I've found Cod - I'm a Prawn again, Christian!"

Good Signs

While I don't think anyone is game enough to call the drought over yet, there is a lot of hope for this coming season and the rest of this year. The signs are definitely better than they where this time last year. I noticed this especially when I was at home over the weekend, the country-side is green again, (this didn't happen till June-July last year) and the tractors are out in-force seeding this years crop.

If statistics are anything to go by, Kaniva has already had more rain in 2007 than it had for the entire year of 2006.

Unpopular

It seems that Iraq isn't the only country that is getting sick of American Military presence.
Collateral Disasters

While Afghanistan hasn't been nearly the PR disaster for the West that Iraq has, there have been several interesting developments there.

For instance, it is estimated that Afghanistan produced 6,100 tonnes of Opium in 2006. That is apparently enough to make 610 tons of Heroin. That represents about 92% of the worlds Opium supply(According to a U.N. Report). What's perhaps more interesting is that the Taliban, with help from the UN, had almost eliminated Opium production in Afghanistan in 2000-2001, prior to the US-led invasion. In 2001 Afghani Opium production was an estimated to be 185 tons. Which means (if my maths serve me correctly) that Afghani Opium production has increased 3,297% in 5 years! When you read this article, it soon becomes apparent why they do it.

So, everyone who supported the war in Afghanistan have supported: untold thousands of civilian deaths, massive increases in Heroin production worldwide and the resulting deaths & illness caused from it.

500

Congrats to my 500th Visitor, who visited my blog on: May 8 2007 10:50:46 pm(AEST). They where probably from somewhere in Sydney. They have some brains as they where using Mozilla Firefox on a screen resolution of 1024 x 768. What's the best bit is they stayed for a while, having the page open for 6 minutes and 56 seconds.

But thank you to all my visitors. It's your readership that keeps me coming back. Special welcome goes out to all my International Traffic, especially my Swedish visitors.