AND NOW, ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE MULTI-POST BOOK REVIEWS...

On March 26, 2001, a young Houston native with an MBA from the University of Texas, Brian Cruver, started working at the biggest and best corporation in his hometown. The opening price of Enron's stock that day was $61 even, its closing price was $61.48, and its trading volume was 4,112,900 shares. And Enron's future was looking brighter all the time. For an ambitious business grad like Cruver, this was a dream come true. His job description was "product development manager," his product was credit risk, and he and his team members worked to develop ways of selling credit risk derivatives to people looking for -- get this -- protection against third-party bankruptcies.

On March 26, 2002, Enron was a standing ruin, its stock opened and closed at twenty cents, its trading volume was a few million shares, Cruver hadn't sold a single credit risk derivative in several months (Enron was clinically dead, but irony was alive and kicking), and he figured he should shave soon. He was also mulling over whether to write a book about the most recent -- and the most physically, emotionally, and psychologically taxing -- year of his life.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's start with Cruver's first day on the dream job:

...Like anyone from Houston and anyone who went to business school in Texas, I had always known that Enron was the ultimate launching pad for a business career. Highly respected, bitterly admired -- if you were craving the fast track, you dreamed of working at Enron. Everyone knew it, and everybody talked about it: the people of Enron were simply "the best and the brightest"... and now, I was finally one of them...

The excitemnet was mixed with a wave of relief. Finally, I would get instant respect from family, friends, business associates, and complete strangers. Finally I could just say "Enron" and not have to explain where I worked. Everyone would be impressed.

I had taken a couple of risks after B-school.

First I joined a small, babyish trading firm on the other side of downtown Houston. Even though the firm was owned by Shell, it simply couldn't compete (with Enron, that is) and quickly fell apart.

Then I wasted a year of my life creating www.startup-without-money.com. No explanation needed on that one.

(Unless you wonder why irony seems to follow this man around like a shadow...)

With Enron, I finally felt like my days of high risk were over. It was time to get back on track and reap steady rewards from the dues I had paid -- the time and money I put toward getting an M.B.A., the years of grinding away at Excel spreadsheets. Finally, I was ready to sprint down the path to my success. I had just hit the jackpot in the form of a safe, secure job at the seventh biggest company in America...

Back then, Enron was hiring people at an astonishingly fast rate. So fast, in fact, that it had its own New Employee Waiting Area. Cruver and some forty other people were hired on the same day. He would later learn that mass hirings were typical at Enron -- as well as mass firings. (This is not to be confused with the very mass layoffs that would come in November. These firings were peer-reviewed, and all Enron employees were required to participate in the process. Not kidding. More on that later in this series...) He would learn lots of strange things about his new company during his brief stay. In the meantime, Cruver was simply, and happily, overwhelmed.
The group's orientation would last eight long hours. During their lunch break, Cruver's new boss, Greg McLainey, came down from the trading room to talk with him. McLainey was also the man who'd hired him for the credit risk management position. For that reason, he had something to say... 

McLAINEY: "There's something I need to tell you about. I'm telling you because I don't want you to be caught off guard."

ME: "All right."

McLAINEY: "There was a slight mix-up in the hiring process."

ME (frozen stare): "This is a joke, right?"

McLAINEY: "No."

ME: "Uhhh..."

McLAINEY: "It's no big deal. We're going to keep you. I just wanted you to know because some people aren't really happy that you're here. I want you prepared because they'll probably say something to you."

ME: "Are you telling me you didn't want to hire me?"

McLAINEY: "No, I wanted to hire you. It's just that the group really hadn't agreed to hire you.

ME: "Interesting."

McLAINEY: "Just think of it like you're adopted."

At that moment I heard a "pop" -- the sound of my bubble bursting. I was thinking that April Fool's Day was not for another week...

...

The rest of the afternoon was a blur; I could think about nothing but my conversation with McLainey. When the time came to head upstairs to my new desk and my new career at Enron, I had a whole new type of energy. It wasn't the "I made it" energy from before, but more of an "I'm pissed" energy. All I could do was bite my tongue and act professional.

One of the best business skills I have is the ability to hide my emotions and what I am really thinking. So when I finally met with the people in my group, I was able to smile and say "Hello," "Hi," and "Nice to meet you" -- while in my head I was greeting them with "Bite me"...

At least Cruver wasn't the only one at Enron with those "skills."

He's a trooper, though. His first rule for conquering corporate America is, "You can't go home until everyone else above you in the organization has gone home." On day one, he stayed until everyone except the head of his group, one Doug Waterston, had left. No cigar, but close -- and a sure-fire way for a new kid to win many a brownie point.

Still, while his first day had been disappointing, as he headed off to his car, Cruver decided that it didn't really matter. Enron was, plain and simple, a way cool place to be a part of. In addition to Enron being the seventh largest corporation in America, lavishing its employees with fat salaries and year-end bonuses, and matching fifty percent of every dollaran employee put into his 401(k) (which I interpret as a red flag -- where in the hell would that much free money possibly come from?), there were... the Star Wars motifs...

Enron was the Dark Side of the Empire, the dominant force in the energy universe, taking control of everything in its path, relentlessly gobbling up other companies and assets. The Dark Side could manipulate anything -- from politicians, to suppliers, to regulators, to entire commodity markets. Other companies were simply helpless against the sheer size and strength of Enron's wicked force.

Chief Executive Officer Jeff Skilling was known as Darth Vader, a master of the energy universe who had the ability to control people's minds. He was at the peak of his strength, and he intimidated everyone. He had been lured over to the Dark Side from McKinsey & Company in 1990.

Chairman Ken Lay, a bit past his prime, was the Emperor. He had trained Skilling, and was now unleashing him on the rest of the energy industry as part of a master plan. Lay had built the Empire to its current strength. Now Skilling was running the place, but the Emperor was still the boss.

Enron headquarters in Houston was the Death Star. All of Enron's competitors were lined up and down Smith Street, watching helplessly as the Death Star grew, and grew, and grew. Their only hope was to destroy it while it was still under construction.

The Star Wars theme was actually well received by people inside Enron. They didn't really mind being the bad guy, as long as it meant they were all-powerful and dominant. I didn't mind joining the Dark Side either -- after all, the Emprie offered great pay and excellent benefits...

For a while.

* * *

Tomorrow: Cruver's second rule for conquering corporate America, and how Enron became the Dark Side...

OFFLINE GAMBLING...For richer or poorer

                                           

Gambling is very popular, from way back when, and more so today.  It is a scam itself.  In fact the oldest form known.  Not only a scam, but very deceptive.  Statistics show that about six percent of adults that are involved in gambling are severely addicted to such a "past time" as they call it. People who are hooked on gambling have the urge to bet on almost anything.  From horses, cards, and the casino. The number doesn't end there.  It continues to expand.  

Casino scams are everywhere.  High payouts and promising winnings are put up in huge slogans thereby attracting people who want to earn money the fast, easy and enjoyable way.  A fact is gamblers waste a lot of their time, in the hope of winning.  So they don't give up easily.

Studies show that gambling problems can easily occur in individuals with no self control.  It is necessary for one to identify if he has problems, so it can be identified and acted upon promptly.

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Here are some questions one should ask to detect if there is a problem:

* After gambling, when you lose money, be it a small or a large amount, do regret it, or feel resentment?

* When you win, do you have a strong desire to win more, therefore you want to go back?

* When you lose, do you feel a need to go back very soon?

* Do you spend a lot of time gambling, usually longer than what you planned?

*If you have problems, do you gamble to forget them?

* Are you spending more time gambling than with work?

*Do you not stop until your very last dollar is taken up?

*Do arguments take place between you and your family as a result of your need to gamble?

*To finance your gambling, do you borrow money from friends or associates?

Gambling addiction can be destructive.  Family, friends and your reputation are at risk.  It is a condition often times ignored.  There are escape gamblers that affect seventy five percent of women from their thirties and up.  Usually the reasons for gambling is to escape from the emotional pain that they are in, being bored, lonely, depressed or that they make gambling their hobby or past time.  These types of addiction can be cured in three to six months.

The action gambler is much more difficult to deal.  Most are men, where gambling for them creates ecstasy like a drug addition.  This is much harder to cure, since the individual will deny the fact, when confronted.  They will typically not stop until left with nothing, financially.

As gambling creates a lot of scams, it is a fact that still more and more are drawn to it.  The primary reason is to win a huge amount of money.  But then comes in the most lethal of reasons -- that of feeling a certain euphoria.  Scams or no scams, an individual still continues to gamble and is a reason why offline gambling still thrives today.

The Untapped Benefits of Gambling

Some people cringe at the thought of being labeled as a gambler since the stigma would forever hound them. People have different reasons as to why they gamble. Some gamble to forget their problems, others for fun, or to while away the time, those who play seriously and those who are addicted to it.

But all is not negative when it comes to gambling as there are untapped benefits of gambling which cannot be seen within the walls of the casino, or the race track, or in the bingo social hall.

Employment

In Las Vegas, a whopping 60 percent of the employment ratio is attributed to the presence of casinos. Imagine what would happen to Las Vegas if all the casinos suddenly stopped operating.

Entertainment

Self-discipline is the key. Gambling is for entertainment, as it was intended to be. Others just couldn't handle a loss and always kept right on thinking that the next card would be the one to salvage all that has been lost. But it never does. And these types of gamblers only comprise one-fourth of the gambling population who cannot gamble responsibly.

Imagine the other 75 percent who responsibly gamble. These are the people who find the entertainment value of gambling and they are never blinded by the illusion that hitting it big time just once is the key to financial freedom.

It is sad that only a small percentage of the gambling population gets the bad rap of how gambling can be so destructive. Families, friends, properties, jobs, crimes and deception permeate the destruction brought about by gambling but it is still a small portion of the gambling population.

Charity Work

Winnings from gambling activities have contributed in providing the needed financial support of worthy causes. They use gambling activities such as bingos or lotteries with a percentage of the jackpot winnings tied with charity institutions.

Some celebrities even show their prowess in card games like poker to provide entertainment for the viewers and winnings for the charity institution they represent.

Health benefit

Studies have been found that retirees 65 years old and above who gamble have less health issues such as depression, alcoholism and bankruptcy as they find gambling to be therapeutic as it exercises their mind and keep them alert.

The study was not conclusive, however, because retiree gamblers are the recreational gamblers who find the entertainment value of gambling. They are healthier because they are healthy to begin with and not because they gamble.

In the end, it is not the gambling act itself that makes it beneficial or harmful to the individual. It is the decision of the individual if gambling would rule him or he would rule his gambling habit.
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10 Tips For Better Fuel Efficiency for your Car

With Singapore petrol prices having dropped to a low since 2009 (Straits Times, Jan 13th 2015), motorists have something positive to cheer about. If you still have a mini heart attack every time you see your petrol bill, here are 10 tips to manage your car’s fuel! 

1. Put The ‘RIGHT’ Foot Down

It’s all about keeping a light right foot, aka the acceleration pedal. Control your acceleration, refrain from spending energy on resisting drag or making sudden/rapid brakes. Whether it’s accelerating slowly (therefore not jumpstarting) or starting fast to rise to a comfortable cruising speed (and making it constant); by maintaining a smooth ride, your car consumes lesser petrol.

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2. Need For Speed

With acceleration, comes speedily aggressive driving which makes your car’s fuel consumption go into overdrive. The drag increases, tyre friction happens and your engine needs more fuel to compensate. It’s boring to drive slowly­ – the drivers behind may not appreciate it as well­ but you save on petrol and avoid a ticket. Just don’t crawl to a stop at morning peak hour lah!

3. Just Get The Usual Fuel

High level octane or ‘premium’ fuel is often touted as giving a boost to your car’s regular engine. In actual fact, most engines of cars on the road are not built to extract the full potential of high octane fuel. Unless your car has a turbo charge that can process the premium fuel, stick to the regular cheap stuff. 92 or ’95 octane fuel is enough to keep your car’s engine running well and safe from pinging/knockback.

4. The Space Between

Leave some space between you and the car in front and you create a little breathing space to plan your driving, anticipate traffic change and be more aware of the road.This could be hard to do in traffic congested rush hour, but remember no one likes a tailgater!

5. What’s The Plan?

We use our cars almost everyday for work, leisure or making supermarket runs. Use one trip to clear errands instead of driving constant short term distances! By planning in advance, you can save loads of fuel such as driving to NTUC after dropping off your kids at tuition, take a detour route when there’s a traffic jam etc. With everyone having a smartphone, its easy to dive into route planning and checking roads with a driving app!

6. Maintain… Must Maintain

Your car’s fuel consumption is dependent on a well maintained engine. Make friends with the service workshop and bring your car for regular visits! Change the oil, unclog filters and fix all faulty parts. According to drivingfast.net, clean parts help burn fuel efficiently and allow more power to be extracted!

7. An Idle Engine Is A Hungry Engine

The rule of thumb most drivers should stand by: shut down the engine if you’re waiting in the car for a minute or less. Leaving it on burns unnecessary fuel. Not recommended if you’re in the middle of crawling traffic, unless your car has a fast start up!

8. Spring Clean

If the car boot starts to resemble your storeroom, it’s time to do some spring cleaning. A weight reduction easily leads to less energy needed to run the car.

9. No Air­Con, Just The Natural Breeze

There are tips ranging from only winding down the backseat windows to diagonally alternate windows for good air flow. Keep the windows minimally 3/4 up to prevent air drag. If the weather’s good and you’re not sandwiched between exhaust belching lorries and honking cars , this tip can hold some weight. But the tradeoff of having your interior getting exposed to grime may not be worth it.

10. Hypermiling: Going The Extra Mile

All the above tips come down to Hypermiling­ the art of modifying driving habits and techniques to drive economically and efficiently. Some drivers have taken to applying strict hypermiling in their everyday driving to cut back on costs. Other suggestions include managing tire pressure and fuel additives – hypermiling.co.uk and ecomodder.com are just two of many sites that offer tips!

Ultimately, hardware and fuel calculators can only do so much. As boring as it is, one of the quickest ways to lower FC is to change driving habits. The ideas may be hard to put to practice but rewarding in the long run safety and cost wise. The next time you get behind the wheel, why not try out some of the tips? Happy Safe driving!

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The Stress of Moving House

Many research found that moving to a new house is one of the most stressful experiences in life, but what exactly makes moving home so stressful? It suppose to be a happy things in life when you can get out from your old house and move to your new one. Just to remind you, moving to a new house will also moving some of your belongings. Even I said with "some" I bet it won't be small pieces of items. A lot things to do and thats why it will increase your stressfulness of this job.

According to the data, about 534.000 people move house every year, maybe on some busy sunny day you can see one of your neighbour with a professional movers to help them package their stuff.

That was so many studies discussed about stressful of moving house and some of the factors are:

• Nearly one in four people, they are having a high rate of stressful mind when they are preparing to move house.
• Almost 40% of second-time buyers thought the second move was more stressful than the first.
• People looking older than they should be and suffer age-related sympthoms.

Quite creepy isn't it? The best way to decrease your stressful level is hire a professional movers. There are plenty of moving companies spread all over the states. Like one in Chicago. The company provide a Chicago moving services with a lot of exprtise to help people you bare with it.

A professional movers in Chicago should be have lots of knowledge, ask them what to do and don't to save your energy to make it more productive.

At least, there are 5 causes of house moving stress:

1. Finding a suitable house. This situation should be done before all of it start. You should now first where you will live for a long time.
2. Waiting to hear about an offer. Finding a new house is need patient, getting offers too.
3. Waiting for an offer. After you get your new one, better you sell the old one to gain more money but it will takes time even you are using a property agency to sell your house. Just be patient until you get an offer, it helps to killing your stressful mind.
4. Saving for a deposit. Moving to a new house will cause losing a lot of money so you have to deposit and seperade your spending budget.
5. Unpacking a new house. Definitely! Unpacking and rearrange the new settings will extremely tiring.

Thats no doubt moving is stressful but with the plenty of moving company, sure it will help. Just pick the best one of moving service company.

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artificial reef park indonesia

Teguh Ostenrik, the Indonesian artist vagabond, has finally brought to life his underwater fascination to realize his environmental concern, with artworks planted deep in the waters around Senggigi, Lombok.

But instead of the delicate shapes and colors that often form his canvases, a maze-like structure seems to push its tentacles underneath the water mass. Soon corals will be covering the iron bars of scrap metal through whose pipes a light electric stream flows.

The project was launched on May 24, an uses the biorock artificial reef park indonesia system, which turns dissolved minerals in seawater into biorock or “seament,” to accelerate coral growth six times faster than natural growth.

The initiative is a collaborative effort by the Lombok Hotel Association (LHA) and the Indonesian Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, with support from the Gili Eco Trust.

Starting off in the middle of Senggigi Beach, it is planned to extend to the entire length of the beach.

Teguh’s installation, which he calls Domus Sepiae, or Squid House, appears like artists’ floating palettes dancing five meters below the surface of the water. The lightweight appearance is deceptive, as each of the 16 modules of six-millimeter-thick iron plates, measuring 130 by 140 centimeters, weights 200 kilograms. Each is set on a two-meter-high iron pole.

“I have made holes in the thick plates as a way of fortification against strong currents and to allow fish to play around or hide from predators,” Teguh says.

“The poles are linked to each other to ensure that they stand firm even against strong currents.”

Asked how working with scrap metal this time differed from the process for his scrap metal works in the Defacement series in 2008, the artist says that this time he had to heed the guidelines from Delphine Robbe to protect the budding corals from being crushed when the structure trembles.

How did he come to be so passionate about the coral reefs?

“I was shocked when I found that the underwater landscape near Senggigi was barren like the Sahara desert,” Teguh says, explaining his resolve to use his art to reclaim the coral reefs.

He had been diving there nearly 30 years ago, admiring the underwater paradise. His fascination led him to present his amazing installation “Alam Dibawah Air” in 1988 at the building that now is the National Gallery. The public was invited into a darkened room, and entering it as if coming into the realm of the underwater world, one was provided a mask to make the illusion more real when looking at his paintings featuring his artistic representations of this wondrous world.

But when he returned to Lombok in 2011 he was taken aback: instead of the coral reefs and the pristine paradise with schools of fish, lobster and squid that he vividly remembered, he found a lifeless underwater desert.

Apalled, the artist whose sublime series “Homo Sapiens,” with his ancient images morphing the past with the present,  then decided to do what he considers his mission as an artist living amid such grave environmental degradation.

Indonesia, which has the highest coral reef biodiversity in the world, has only 6 percent left in a pristine state. Overfishing, dynamite fishing, pollution and other factors have left the rest destroyed or damaged.

When invited for a residency at Qunci Villas in Lombok, Teguh proposed to research the possibility of revitalizing the coral reefs through his art works.

“Rather than only making works to decorate walls with, I wanted my art to help recover the reefs that are the habitats of fish and so many other  species and the livelihood of the people dependent on them,” he says.

He learned of biorock, the artificial reef system that has been applied in other places, and was fortunate to get to know Robbe, the passionate and inspiring director of Gili Eco Trust, a local nongovernmental organization with an active involvement in protecting coral reefs.

After a lot of effort collecting enough scrap metal from around Lombok, Teguh then created his underwater installation that he called Domus Sepiae.

While other foreign artists have previously been involved in such efforts, Teguh is the first to provide his own materials, according to Robbe. For the others, the Gili Eco Trust provided for their needs.

And on May 24, the ARTificial Reef Park that Teguh denoted as an underwater museum was launched, off the beach from de Quake restaurant, located approximately midway along Senggigi. It is planned to extend along the entire beach eventually.

“I hope other artists will be interested in collaborating,” the 64-year-old says

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