Saturday, April 28, 2007

Virgin Megastore Kuwait Shutdown:(



KUWAIT: The Virgin Megastore at Marina Mall was shut down late Thursday by inspectors from the Ministry of Information. Fistfights also broke out between teenagers gathered around the store to witness its closure. Officials charged that “it is not only the small stores that do not respect the ministry’s rules and regulations, but even big, renowned stores are resorting to breaking and openly flouting the laws”. The inspectors pasted red stickers of the ministry stating that it cannot be reopened unless approved by the Ministry of Information on all entrances and exits of the store.
Along with the stickers, a copy of the resolution detailing the reasons for closing down the store was also pasted on one of the showroom’s windows. People surrounded the place from 9:30 pm till about 11:00 pm, until after the inspectors left. Curious onlookers were heard asking the inspectors the reasons for the closure of the store and for how long would it be closed. Unsavoury rumours were also beginning to circulate over why the store was shuttered.
Hussein, one of the inspectors, explained that the reason for the closure was due to the store breaching the regulations of the Ministry of Information and not cooperating with them. “They keep selling banned items like magazines and CDs here,” he said. He added that they were given several warnings and reminders in the past, but they went unheeded. “We are here to enforce the law, as it must be applied on all,” he told the Kuwait Times.
The period of the closure is still not known yet. “We are not sure till when the store would be closed. They will definitely have to pay fines and all illegal items they were selling will be confiscated. They have to communicate with us, even though they are an internationally renowned store. Everybody must respect the rules,” Hussein asserted.
On why did they chose Thursday night for the closure, although it is a government holiday, and whether they did it on purpose to attract the attention of the large number of people who were present, the inspector smiled broadly but was noncommittal.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

The Cream: 25 Best Employers in India


The Hewitt Best Employers in India 2007 study — partnered by The Economic Times — is the largest employee research project and market practice audit in India. The eligibility criteria is that the organisations should have been in business in India for more than two years and employ at least 100 full-time equivalent employees.


The study uses three survey tools:
  • An Employee Opinion Survey (EOS) based on Hewitt’s model of Employee Engagement. Statistically valid (90% confidence level, with a confidence interval of +/-5%) samples of employees were surveyed in each participating organisations to identify the percentage of engaged employees.
  • The People Practices Inventory (PPI), used to capture data about philosophies, policies, programmes and practices influencing people management; and a CEO questionnaire. Each participating firm’s CEO provided information about the importance of people in the organisation and approach to managing people.
  • Post the data collection, Hewitt conducted a detailed onsite audit of a randomly selected 40% of the participating companies to validate the data and ensure credibility. The data, collected and collated by Hewitt Associates, was passed to an independent judging panel.
The selected firms clearly excelled in the criteria identified by the judges as key differentiators: Employee engagement and alignment; opportunities provided to employees, performance differentiation, quality of HR initiatives and diversity.

  1. AV Birla group


  2. Satyam Computer Services


  3. JW Marriott


  4. Eureka Forbes


  5. Cisco India


  6. Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL)


  7. Agilent Tech


  8. Standard Chartered Bank's wholly-owned BPO arm — Scope


  9. TCS


  10. Kotak Mahindra Bank


  11. Wipro BPO


  12. Covansys India Chennai


  13. Ajuba International, Bangalore


  14. Pantaloon Retail India Ltd Mumbai


  15. Text 100 India, Delhi


  16. Domino’s Pizza Delhi


  17. Ford India Chennai


  18. Becton Dickinson Delhi


  19. Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt Ltd Mumbai


  20. HCL Technologies, BPO services Delhi


  21. Dr Reddy's Laboratories Hyderabad


  22. J&J Mumbai


  23. GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Delhi


  24. HSBC Mumbai


  25. Monsanto
Kinda wonder why Infy and didnt make the cut.



Monday, April 23, 2007

Five Most Glam Jobs


By Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor


You've had it. Enough with the boring drudgery. You want glamour. We're talking globe-trotting, footlights, camera-snapping glamour -- the jobs that everyone envies. While every job has its good and bad points, let's face it, some are just more glamorous than others. Outplacement firm Challenger, Grey and Christmas suggests these glamorous jobs:


Airline pilot:Salary: $53,000 - $144,140Becoming a commercial airline pilot, for some, is a life-long dream. But before you head for the cockpit, you'll need a commercial pilot's license issued by the FAA. This requires at least 250 hours of flight experience. Commercial and multi-engine pilot training and flight instructor courses can cost from $50,000 to $70,000. Brian, who has flown for two major commercial airlines, started saving to go to commercial flight school when he was 13. He loves his job and says his hours are flexible, allowing plenty of time for family. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), FAA regulations restrict airline pilots from flying more than 100 hours a month or more than 1,000 hours a year. Most fly an average of 75 hours a month and work additional hours performing non-flying duties.


Executive chef: Salary: $10.75 per hour - $26.75 an hourFood is a staple of life. But to some, it is both art and passion. To join the ranks of executive chefs, most candidates will have trained at a culinary school, worked as an apprentice under another chef, and put in their time in the restaurant industry. Many of the great chefs first started out working in fast-food restaurants, sharpening their skills as they moved up in the trade. Their greatest accomplishment is creating memorable meals for their patrons to savor.This glamorous occupation does come with its pitfalls. Chefs work very long hours (sometimes morning until night and most weekends), are always on their feet in a hot kitchen, and must deal with the pressure of delivering top-notch meals that will make their patrons want to come back. If you can handle the heat... hop in the kitchen.


Movie producer:Salary: $35,500 - $88,000Producers are entrepreneurs who are full of business savvy and have creative flair. As a producer, you'll be the boss, so selecting the right script, cast and crew will make your job easier. While there is no specific training required, it is helpful to have some knowledge of film, broadcasting and the movie making industry. Your biggest task will be to oversee every aspect of movie production, making sure it stays on schedule and within budget. You can expect long, stressful days while on set. Not ready for the movies? Consider working for a news station or in broadcast advertising.


News anchor:Salary: $37,000 - $122,800 (varies by market size and experienceIf you are ready for your close-up, can think quickly on your feet and work well under pressure, you may be suited to be a news anchor. A strong voice, excellent grammar and good looks help, too! Many anchors start out working in smaller markets on community stations or even public access. They groom their talents by working long hours, researching topics, interviewing people and asking the hard-hitting questions. A degree in broadcast journalism is preferred, but some make it into the industry with other professional backgrounds like health or business. Internships are often the first step into this exciting career.


Fashion model: Salary: Ranges from $500 to $5000 per assignment. Top level models range up to $10,000 per assignment.According to the BLS, employment for models is expected to grow 10 to 20 percent between now and 2014. If you can strut the catwalk, are expressive and hard-working, modeling may be the glam job for you. As a model, your job is to express an "image" and persuade people to buy the products they are selling. Not a 6-foot cover girl? There are other modeling opportunities out there. Plus-size models, petite models, hand, feet or hair models are in demand also. First, you'll need to build a portfolio showcasing your talent. Next, hook up with a reputable agency that will help get you work in the industry. Assignments can vary from working in a photo studio to going out on location. Some may require travel. You'll need a positive attitude and must be flexible when working on set.

Sunday, April 22, 2007

I hate Sunday's!


For starters, all my friends are on their weekend break, so no mails from any of em!:o(

I have to rush home aftr work and rush to church soon after.

And i have a kiddies bday that i have to go for(why do we "have to" do stuff!!)..which means..no studyin for another day...sigh...why am i answerin this exam again?!

Happy Birthday Lisa Marie and Shania:o)

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Bye bye Love :,(











I'm sad!sniff

Billed as the wedding of the year, Bollywood's hottest stars Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai exchanged nuptial vows at a colourful but extremely private ceremony this evening.

Abhishek and Aishwarya entered into wedlock in a north Indian style ceremony with the couple exchanging garlands at Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan's family home "Prateeksha".

Priests from Varanasi conducted the rituals.

The ceremony held on the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya climaxed three days of festivities starting from a sangeet function and the traditional mehndi ceremony.

Who's who

The who's who of India's rich and famous including movie stars, top industrialists and politicians graced the occasion.

The guest list included Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, Bollywood actors Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan, Kajol and close friends of the Bachchans, Anil and Tina Ambani, Amar Singh and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.

The function was held at a huge air-conditioned pandal in a garden adjoining the Bachchan's family home. Red and pink flowers, encircled by gold and green curtains covered the tent.

Before the start of the wedding rituals, Abhishek came in a baraat from his residence Jalsa, close to the marriage venue.

Dressed in a gold-embroidered white sherwani and face covered with a frill of flowers, Bollywood's Bunty rode a colourfully decorated white horse with his nephew Agastya.

Aishwarya was believed to be wearing a lehenga designed by Nita Lulla.

Tight security was put in place for the function, and the police had a tough time keeping away hundreds of curious onlookers and had to resort to a mild lathicharge near "Prateeksha."

Friday, April 20, 2007

Five Friends Every Woman Should Have

By Michelle Burford


"Friends are the family we choose for ourselves," writer Edna Buchanan once said. I consider the "family" I've gathered—with five kinds of pals I count on for completely different things—among the wisest choices I've made. If you can find even one who embodies any of the characteristics that follow, you can consider yourself fortunate.

1. The Uplifter
This woman's favorite word: yes. You could tell her you're trading your six-figure income for a career in offtrack betting, and she'd barely pause before yelping "Go for it!" Don't you need someone who looks past the love handles to notice the extraordinarily gorgeous you?

2. The Travel Buddy
When the hotel in St. Lucia is a bust, one characteristic becomes all-important: flexibility. This agreeable companion need not be the girl you traded pinkie swears with on the playground; it's enough that she's comfortable with quiet (between gabfests) and is a teensy bit mischievous (as in tequila after midnight).

3. The Truth Teller
Intent is what separates the constructive from the abusive. Once you've established that the hard news is spoken in love (not in jealousy or malice), you'd be smart to seek out this woman's perspective.

4. The Girl Who Just Wants to Have Fun
One Saturday a pal and I—and yes, we're both over age 12—pored over every glitter lip gloss in a drugstore aisle for an entire 45 minutes. Forget the crisis download (for that, see the Uplifter); this partnership is about spontaneous good times.

5. The Unlikely Friend
"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive," Anaïs Nin wrote. My friends—some twice my age, others half, some rich, others homeless, some black like me, others Korean, Mexican, Caucasian—have added richness to my life that only variety can bring.