Footballer Fight.

Football fight.Remember the days when you played school boy league football( soccer) to you lot from the USA. I remember on occasion fighting between the teams, but never have I seen an incident like this little gem on youtube.

Here is the link

or if you want to watch the video. click away!!!

Which search engine should I use??

There are many search engines available for us to use. For some time now Google has ruled the roost in terms of the site most used and therefore is the one that attracts the majority share of the online advertisement revenue.

The two main competitors to google's crowns are yahoo and msn. Recently as far as I know yahoo and msn have joined forces and have combined to form bing. So is it better then google?? Who knows??? I certainly dont know. But if this really matter to you a string of web address have appeared that combine the search results from the two search engine side by side.

So have a look, compare the two and let me know which one you like. www.bingandgoogle.com
www.bing-vs-google.com

http://bingle.pwnij.com/

Search engine update.

Ok I started this blog on the 11/8/09 and finally it has registers under google search. However I do have to type in bkisok.blogspot.com for it to show.

But hey its a start!! Still no sign of it on Yahoo or Bing. Ah well will keep you posted if there is any changes.

Bk

Silly me

Im so new to this blogging, just discovered how to insert web links, photos,videos, and a spell check. Yeah go me!!!

Bk

Discount Hunt on Amazon

Discount Hunt,

If ever you have bought or use the services of amazon, I found the above website that allows you find discounted item. It can be used for the USA, Canada or UK sites, enjoy.


Bk

Comparison Site

I have been shopping for car insurance in Ireland, In the uk the main comparison site is . in Ireland all the individual insurance companies have their own site. So filling out online forms are quite annoying.

This in one of the reasons why confused is so successful, one filled form and it compares multiple insurance companies.

The nearest comparison site to this in Ireland is , (www.insure.ie)Have a look at it, when comparing insurance quotes.


Bk

Flying with Ryanair.

May of us have probably flown with low cost airlines in the last few years. e.g. Ryanair. This is probably due to the fact that thank to their strong marketing of selling cheap flight it is often cheaper to get a short city hop flight then it is to get a taxi back home after a night out on the town.

Thanks to their policy using smaller regional/ former military airports, they have managed to introduce more routes and increased competition amoungest airports and have help develop local employment and local business. For example the establishment of the airport itself, services to go along with that airport, (up to an hour bus trip into the city centre). The increase in income generated by an increase in visitor numbers. They all have to sleep and eat some where.

Now while we all may enjoy the cheap flights, I'm sure a large many of you out there like myself have had a bad experience with ryanair. My main complaint a being charged for excess baggage, delayed flights, no being allowed to board my flight as the closed the gate 20mins before the depart time. But hey I still return to them. Possibly because they are often the only option.

But beside these bad experience, I still fly with Ryanair. If you obey their rule you should not get in trouble, especially with their baggage allowance.

So to cheap Ryanair flight, how do we know if we are really getting a bargain??

Compare and do comparison with other online airline, include baggage charge and credit charges also.

Check-in on-line, Ryanair charges extra if you check-in at the airport,
If you are checking online, remember you can only bring 1 item of hand lugguage and all the issues this raises. You have an allowance of 10kg for hand luggage, bring along a bag that will fit in airport shopping.


If you decide to check baggage, book online it is chaeper, but stay within the Limits!!!! 15 kg with Ryanair.

Finally Ryanair charges a credit card fee. per person per flight. the charge this even if you use there own Ryanair credit card.The only way at the moment to avoid this charge is use something called Visa Electron. As of yet I do not any bank in Ireland that issues this card.

But dont dispair, if you use Entropay, which is an online charge card, the ryanair website see this as a visa electron card and so you are not charge a credit card fee.

The cost of using entropay, (http://www.entropay.com)a lot less then the credit card fee.

If you flight a lot like me. this can amount to a large saving.

Good luck

Bk

Helping companies retain their younger workers

On my search of the web I found this little gem of a letter about how companines retain younger worker. I original found this on this http://blog.hddesigns.co.uk/, so thanks to the guys there.

I have however not been able to find the original article on line. However this is a very interesting read.

e are a different generation with different mindsets. Read the article - it is very “American” (original author was American!) but you will find it interesting!!!

---

To better understand who your employees are and what drives them to succeed, perhaps it’s easiest to understand who they are not. You. That’s right. They may even be your offspring but in the workplace they bear little resemblance to the “you” of yesteryear. Gen Xers (born 1965-1979) and Millenials (born after 1980) are operating in this world with a completely different perspective. Their definitions of loyalty, time and success are often quite different from yours. Rest assured they do recognize all of these concepts and value them in very important ways.The key to your organization’s future success is understanding how the Millenials view the world and using that knowledge to motivate them in a way that works.

Here’s a hint: meet them where they are and they will achieve your underlying goals; try to force them to fit your definitions and they will run for the door every time.So let’s take a look at some of the pervasive myths about our youngest generation in the workforce and discuss why these changes are happening and how you can tailor your workplace to meet the needs of you, your employees and the company

Myth: Younger generations have no work ethic.

Reality: Younger generations have a self-centered work ethic. This is not necessarily the negative that it may seem at first. Millenials are dedicated to completing their task well. They have not been raised in a way that demands them to look around and see what should be done next. Instead they ask “what is my job” and go about figuring the best, fastest way to complete that task. Then they consider themselves done. This is a key differentiator between your employees and yourself. The younger they are, the more your employees view their jobs as “something to do between the weekends.” For most, early employment has nothing to do with a career path; it is a way to earn money to have fun in their free time. And that is okay. When you understand what motivates your employees you are better able to set mutual expectations for success.

Instead of being frustrated that your youngest employees are not interested in climbing your corporate ladder, embrace their true motivation - reliable spending money - and use it to your advantage. When you tell an employee, “I understand this is not your lifelong career, but to earn the paycheck every week, here is what I expect …” they are much more likely to respond than if you try to motivate with promises of promotions and titles down the road.

Understanding that being at the job isn’t as important to Millenials as completing the assigned task also opens up new opportunities for motivation and reward. Younger employees are very likely to respond to offers of paid time off. A leading retail organization has recognized this new way of thinking with its Working Hard Card: When managers witness an employee rising to a challenge, exceeding expectations or otherwise giving 110% they can hand the employee a Working Hard Card on the spot. Each card is worth a set amount of paid time off to be used at the employee’s discretion. It is a simple strategy that rewards employees in the currency they value most - their time.

Myth: They don’t want to put in the hours to get ahead.

Reality: They are willing to put in the time to do the job, however they are uninterested in “face time.” Gen Xers and Millenials view time as a currency. While Baby Boomers tend to see time as something to invest, the younger generations view it as a valuable currency not to be wasted. These are the generations that demand work-life balance and paid time off. They want to get the job done, then put it behind them and enjoy life.

Boomer managers have a tendency to lose the interest of their Millenial employees by looking too far into the future. Millenials live in timeframe based on right now. Their world has proven that nothing is a guarantee - from nationwide layoffs to war to soaring divorce rates, they have decided that there’s not a lot you can count on. As a result they are not interested in promotion plans for five years from now. They don’t even want to know what will happen at the end of the summer. Life is uncertain. To reach the Millenial employee and reduce turnover, make it certain.

Tell your employee that you have a plan. Take pains to ensure it is in a timeframe short enough for them to envision. Be prepared to fulfill your promise - once fooled, forever jaded. This approach feeds into their reality, while simultaneously building trust and buying you more time. Reward small successes along the way, string these milestones together and you will soon realize longer tenures among your staff.

Myth: They have no respect for authority.

Reality: They have great respect for leaders and loyalty. But no, as a rule they don’t respect authority “just because.” For the younger generations, every ounce of loyalty and respect must be earned. But when it is earned, it is given fiercely.

In fact, loyalty to the individual is the number one reason Xers and Millennials stay in the job, especially during the first three, tenuous years. Dissatisfaction with the boss is the number one reason they quit. So in order to increase retention, managers must take a flipped view on leadership - it is no longer enough to hire the right people and show them the way, now you must BE the right person to win their affection. Sounds a little touchy-feely for the workforce, yet the faster leaders understand this new relationship, the sooner you will see the reward in the way of increased retention.

There is one big caveat to the “be the person they want you to be” approach to leadership, however. Millenials have a tendency to seek tight bonds - they want a boss who is close, caring and aware. And you can be all that. It is very easy to cross the line between “boss as advocate” to “boss as friend.” That is a slippery slope. It can be especially tempting in situations where managers and employees are close in age. When activities outside of the office become too regular, too casual or largely social in nature, it is time to examine how this will affect your role as a leader. What Millennial need most out of a boss is a guide, not a social life.

Myth: They don’t want to grow up.

Reality: They really don’t know how. The youngest generations in today’s workforce are facing a delayed adulthood. They are getting married later, having children later and just generally facing the “real world” later. This isn’t the result of a mutated maturity gene, it just is. And if we are being completely honest, Boomers had a lot to do with why it’s happening. First, as parents, Boomers had a tendency to coddle their children and use their own good fortune to make sure their children didn’t experience adversity. Second, as career models, Boomers demonstrated the toll of working long hours and “paying one’s dues” in a way that made their children less likely to follow in their footsteps. Millenials today look at the corporate ladder and think, “there must be another way.”

My advice to you - don’t waste time wishing they were different. Don’t spend your energy comparing today’s youth to the desires and drive you had at age 18. These employees are not a reflection of you, nor are they an earlier version of you. And again, that is okay. Your task is to take this new understanding and use it to reposition how you interact with, motivate and reward your staff.

Take attire for instance. Your 18-year-old self would have gladly donned whatever uniform was necessary to fit the company mold. Be it pressed khakis and a tie or a specific corporate uniform, fitting in was part of the package. Today’s youth wants to stand out. They want their individuality to shine through even when required to provide a consistent standard of service and performance. Balancing corporate needs with individual desires takes some creative thinking.

Not all change is bad.

As we’ve discussed, the myths surrounding today’s young employees are not always what they seem. Attitudes toward work, life, loyalty and respect have all changed, but each is still considered valuable. In fact, some of the demands made by today’s youth are creating positive benefits for employees in every generation. Flexibility and respect for the individual, as well as the organization, are good for everyone. Loyalty from younger employees, once earned, is long-lasting. The adjustments you make to accommodate the changing attitudes of today’s youth will be returned to you tenfold with decreased turnover, improved morale, and measurable business results.

And when the frustration mounts, just remember things aren’t always what they seem. Open your mind to the possibility that there is a benign, generational reason for the disconnect between what you want and what your employees are providing, and you may just find room to create a shared vision of success.

Good Mapping Site

Hey all,
I am sure many of you lot out there have all use many of the mapping site on the internet, such as google maps, yahoo maps, or msn map. The following website incorporates google maps, google street view and msn (bing) virtual earth.


You never need to go on holidays :P,


http://mapperz.googlepages.com/Marble_Arch_Streetview_Plus.html

Bk

About me Blogging

I dont really know how long or how much I will blog, or how much I will write. But hey I'm willing to give a go.

Just some information about me. I have returned back to University to do a medical degree and I hope to write about my experience. I have already been there a year and I have just passed my first year( Thankfully).

It has been hard but hey im enjoying being back in college.

Talk soon

Continous Ink System

I have recently returned back to University and on my drive to save money I decided to reduce the cost of printing and photocopying that I would require.The greatest cost of printing at home is not the cost of the hardware (Printer), but the ink (cartridge) that you use. A certain manufacturer which probably sells their cheap printer at a price less then they charge for their colour ink cartridge.

Looking around the web and chatting to some people I decided to use a CISS (Continuous Ink Supply Systems). There are plenty of example of it on the net and reviews. This is an account of my experience.

I also looked at the possibility of using third party cartridges but decided on the CISS. Firstly you will need to match the CISS system for the printer you have.( or in my case the one I was going to buy). Both of these items I bought online.

Setting up the CISS in the printer, did take somewhat longer then it said, about 3 hours for me. but this could just be me. I did have to remove the cartridge cover and remove a central flap. It then took several tries before the pages started printing correctly. ( ie no smears).

Once set up it works fine. I did have to leave the printer slightly open when printing but this does not effect performance and I dont mind this.

I have use this for a year now and in total I very happy with it. My course require me sometime to print notes with a lot of colour photo. So I believe this has saved me some money. I have some problems with it from time to time, such as when I went on holidays for 4 weeks, the ink dried up and I had to reprime the lines. (A messy job). but it worked fine again since then.

So if your going to be using it on a regular basis it pefect.

Bk