Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Americans work more, seem to accomplish less
Thu Feb 23, 2006 9:10 AM ET
By Ellen Wulfhorst
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Most U.S. workers say they feel rushed on the job, but they are getting less accomplished than a decade ago, according to newly released research.
Workers completed two-thirds of their work in an average day last year, down from about three-quarters in a 1994 study, according to research conducted for Day-Timers Inc., an East Texas, Pennsylvania-based maker of organizational products.
The biggest culprit is the technology that was supposed to make work quicker and easier, experts say.
"Technology has sped everything up and, by speeding everything up, it's slowed everything down, paradoxically," said John Challenger, chief executive of Chicago-based outplacement consultants Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.
"We never concentrate on one task anymore. You take a little chip out of it, and then you're on to the next thing," Challenger said on Wednesday. "It's harder to feel like you're accomplishing something."
Unlike a decade ago, U.S. workers are bombarded with e-mail, computer messages, cell phone calls, voice mails and the like, research showed.
The average time spent on a computer at work was almost 16 hours a week last year, compared with 9.5 hours a decade ago, according to the Day-Timer research released this week.
Workers typically get 46 e-mails a day, nearly half of which are unsolicited, it said.
Sixty percent of workers say they always or frequently feel rushed, but those who feel extremely or very productive dropped to 51 percent from 83 percent in 1994, the research showed.
Put another way, in 1994, 82 percent said they accomplished at least half their daily planned work but that number fell to 50 percent last year. A decade ago, 40 percent of workers called themselves very or extremely successful, but that number fell to just 28 percent.
"We think we're faster, smarter, better with all this technology at our side and in the end, we still feel rushed and our feeling of productivity is down," said Maria Woytek, marketing communications manager for Day-Timers, a unit of ACCO Brands Corp.
The latest study was conducted among a random sample of about 1,000 people who work at least part time. The earlier study surveyed some 1,300 workers.
Expectations that technology would save time and money largely haven't been borne out in the workplace, said Ronald Downey, professor of psychology who specializes in industrial organization at Kansas State University.
"It just increases the expectations that people have for your production," Downey said.
Even if productivity increases, it's constantly outpaced by those expectations, said Don Grimme of GHR Training Solutions, a workplace training company based in Coral Springs, Florida.
"The irony is the very expectation of getting more done is getting in the way of getting more done," he said. "People are stressed out."
Companies that are flexible with workers' time and give workers the most control over their tasks tend to fare better against the sea of rising expectations, experts said.
Businesses that have moved to 24-hour operations, bosses who micro-manage and longer commutes all add to the problem, they said, while downsizing leaves fewer workers doing the work of those who left.
Finally, there's a trend among companies to measure job performance like never before, said Challenger.
"There's a sense that no matter how much I do, it's never enough," he said.
By Ellen Wulfhorst
Workers completed two-thirds of their work in an average day last year, down from about three-quarters in a 1994 study, according to research conducted for Day-Timers Inc., an East Texas, Pennsylvania-based maker of organizational products.
The biggest culprit is the technology that was supposed to make work quicker and easier, experts say.
"Technology has sped everything up and, by speeding everything up, it's slowed everything down, paradoxically," said John Challenger, chief executive of Chicago-based outplacement consultants Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.
"We never concentrate on one task anymore. You take a little chip out of it, and then you're on to the next thing," Challenger said on Wednesday. "It's harder to feel like you're accomplishing something."
Unlike a decade ago, U.S. workers are bombarded with e-mail, computer messages, cell phone calls, voice mails and the like, research showed.
The average time spent on a computer at work was almost 16 hours a week last year, compared with 9.5 hours a decade ago, according to the Day-Timer research released this week.
Workers typically get 46 e-mails a day, nearly half of which are unsolicited, it said.
Sixty percent of workers say they always or frequently feel rushed, but those who feel extremely or very productive dropped to 51 percent from 83 percent in 1994, the research showed.
Put another way, in 1994, 82 percent said they accomplished at least half their daily planned work but that number fell to 50 percent last year. A decade ago, 40 percent of workers called themselves very or extremely successful, but that number fell to just 28 percent.
"We think we're faster, smarter, better with all this technology at our side and in the end, we still feel rushed and our feeling of productivity is down," said Maria Woytek, marketing communications manager for Day-Timers, a unit of ACCO Brands Corp.
The latest study was conducted among a random sample of about 1,000 people who work at least part time. The earlier study surveyed some 1,300 workers.
Expectations that technology would save time and money largely haven't been borne out in the workplace, said Ronald Downey, professor of psychology who specializes in industrial organization at Kansas State University.
"It just increases the expectations that people have for your production," Downey said.
Even if productivity increases, it's constantly outpaced by those expectations, said Don Grimme of GHR Training Solutions, a workplace training company based in Coral Springs, Florida.
"The irony is the very expectation of getting more done is getting in the way of getting more done," he said. "People are stressed out."
Companies that are flexible with workers' time and give workers the most control over their tasks tend to fare better against the sea of rising expectations, experts said.
Businesses that have moved to 24-hour operations, bosses who micro-manage and longer commutes all add to the problem, they said, while downsizing leaves fewer workers doing the work of those who left.
Finally, there's a trend among companies to measure job performance like never before, said Challenger.
"There's a sense that no matter how much I do, it's never enough," he said.
OneCare users hopping mad at Microsoft over deleted e-mail
OneCare users hopping mad at Microsoft over deleted e-mail: "Users, still angry about Windows Live OneCare's habit of making e-mail disappear, are slamming Microsoft Corp.'s support and claiming that its suggested fix doesn't recover their messages."
Where do YOU want to go for lunch?
Seeing is Believing and it's Hard to Believe What Inspectors See!
HealthInspections.com videos show it all...putting you 'on the beat' with America's kitchen cops. From photos of actual violations to interviews with health inspectors, you'll be amazed by what you see happening in your favorite restaurants. So, view the videos - seeing is believing!
- A mouse swimming in the marinade.
- Flies in the slaw.
- French fries stored in the garbage.
HealthInspections.com videos show it all...putting you 'on the beat' with America's kitchen cops. From photos of actual violations to interviews with health inspectors, you'll be amazed by what you see happening in your favorite restaurants. So, view the videos - seeing is believing!
Trans Fat: The Major Culprits
Dr. Cherry
In my last newsletter, I talked about the importance of jumping on the trans fat-free bandwagon. So exactly which foods should you avoid?
About 40 percent of supermarket products contain trans fat, according to Carlos Camargo, M.D., Dr.Ph.D., associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a member of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHSS). Below is a list of the top 10 trans fat-containing foods listed in the DHSS Dietary Guidelines for Americans:
While choosing to avoid trans fat in your diet is a good step toward healthier nutrition, don't fall into thinking that all trans fat-free food is good for you. There are other fats in food that can be harmful. In fact, some food manufacturers are taking out trans fats but substituting other fats, such as tropical oils (coconut, palm kernel and palm oils). These oils contain saturated fat, which also raises your "bad" LDL cholesterol.
According to the Mayo Clinic, in a heart-healthy diet no more than 30 percent of your total daily calories should come from fat and of that amount, less than seven percent of your total daily calories should be saturated fats. Healthier alternatives to trans fat and saturated fat are monounsaturated fats, which are found in olive, peanut and canola oil. Also, foods that contain unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, such as nuts and fish, are another good choice.
For more information on Dr. Cherry's ministry, visit his Web site: www.AbundantNutrition.com.
In my last newsletter, I talked about the importance of jumping on the trans fat-free bandwagon. So exactly which foods should you avoid?
About 40 percent of supermarket products contain trans fat, according to Carlos Camargo, M.D., Dr.Ph.D., associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a member of the 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHSS). Below is a list of the top 10 trans fat-containing foods listed in the DHSS Dietary Guidelines for Americans:
- Spreads, especially margarine.
- Packaged foods, including quick mixes (especially cake and brownie mixes) and pasta side dishes.
- Soups, both canned and instant.
- Fast food. Many fast-food chains and other restaurants are the primary users of partially hydrogenated oils.
- Frozen foods, such as pre-packaged meals and especially frozen pizza.
- Baked goods, such as cookies, cakes, icings and doughnuts.
- Chips and crackers. While many manufacturers are cutting trans fats in these items, it's still best to read the labels.
- Breakfast foods, both cereals and breakfast bars.
- Cookies and candy. Over the years, many manufacturers have reformulated their products. But just because they are free of trans fats, it doesn't mean they are free of other fats and unhealthy sugar.
- Toppings and dips, including nondairy creamers, flavored coffees, whipped toppings, bean dips, gravy mixes and salad dressings.
While choosing to avoid trans fat in your diet is a good step toward healthier nutrition, don't fall into thinking that all trans fat-free food is good for you. There are other fats in food that can be harmful. In fact, some food manufacturers are taking out trans fats but substituting other fats, such as tropical oils (coconut, palm kernel and palm oils). These oils contain saturated fat, which also raises your "bad" LDL cholesterol.
According to the Mayo Clinic, in a heart-healthy diet no more than 30 percent of your total daily calories should come from fat and of that amount, less than seven percent of your total daily calories should be saturated fats. Healthier alternatives to trans fat and saturated fat are monounsaturated fats, which are found in olive, peanut and canola oil. Also, foods that contain unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, such as nuts and fish, are another good choice.
For more information on Dr. Cherry's ministry, visit his Web site: www.AbundantNutrition.com.
Sparks fly as plane lands on nose
Sparks fly as plane lands on nose - CNN.com: "No one was injured when the Bombardier DHC-8 turboprop landed on its rear wheels and then carefully touched its nose to the runway. Sparks shot from the bottom of the white and blue fuselage as the plane skidded to a halt, but the pilot kept it on the tarmac."
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Pearls of Wisdom
Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.
Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker.
If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
Never buy a car you can't push.
Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.
The second mouse gets the cheese.
When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once
We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.
A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker.
If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
Never buy a car you can't push.
Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.
The second mouse gets the cheese.
When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once
We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.
A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Friday, March 9, 2007
Gonna have a new GRANDBABY!!!!
FW: SURPRISE!
Originally uploaded by JetMan777.
Just announced today. Liz & James are pregnant again. Logan is in the picture above enjoying his last 8 months of being an "only child."
Kids on Angels
I only know the names of two angels. Hark and Harold.
Gregory, 5
Everybody's got it all wrong. Angels don't wear halos anymore. I forget why, but scientists are working on it.
Olive, 9
It's not easy to become an angel! First, you die. Then you go to heaven, then there's still the flight training to go through. And then you got to agree to wear those angel clothes.
Matthew, 9
Angels work for God and watch over kids when God has to go do something else.
Mitchell, 7
My guardian angel helps me with math, but he's not much good for science.
Henry, 8
Angels don't eat, but they drink milk from holy cows.
Jack, 6
Angels talk all the way while they're flying you up to heaven. The basic message is where you went wrong before you got dead.
Daniel, 9
When an angel gets mad, he takes a deep breath and counts to ten. And when he lets out his breath, somewhere there's a tornado.
Reagan, 10
Angels have a lot to do and they keep very busy. If you lose a tooth, an angel comes in through your window and leaves money under your pillow. Then when it gets cold, angels go north for the winter.
Sara, 6
Angels live in cloud houses made by God and his son, who's a very good carpenter.
Jared , 8
All angels are girls because they gotta wear dresses and boys didn't go for it.
Antonio, 9
My angel is my grandma who died last year. She got a big head start on helping me while she was still down here on earth.
Katelynn, 9
Some of the angels are in charge of helping heal sick animals and pets. And if they don't make the animals get better, they help the kid get over it.
Vicki, 8
What I don't get about angels is why, when someone is in love, they shoot arrows at them.
Sarah, 7
Gregory, 5
Everybody's got it all wrong. Angels don't wear halos anymore. I forget why, but scientists are working on it.
Olive, 9
It's not easy to become an angel! First, you die. Then you go to heaven, then there's still the flight training to go through. And then you got to agree to wear those angel clothes.
Matthew, 9
Angels work for God and watch over kids when God has to go do something else.
Mitchell, 7
My guardian angel helps me with math, but he's not much good for science.
Henry, 8
Angels don't eat, but they drink milk from holy cows.
Jack, 6
Angels talk all the way while they're flying you up to heaven. The basic message is where you went wrong before you got dead.
Daniel, 9
When an angel gets mad, he takes a deep breath and counts to ten. And when he lets out his breath, somewhere there's a tornado.
Reagan, 10
Angels have a lot to do and they keep very busy. If you lose a tooth, an angel comes in through your window and leaves money under your pillow. Then when it gets cold, angels go north for the winter.
Sara, 6
Angels live in cloud houses made by God and his son, who's a very good carpenter.
Jared , 8
All angels are girls because they gotta wear dresses and boys didn't go for it.
Antonio, 9
My angel is my grandma who died last year. She got a big head start on helping me while she was still down here on earth.
Katelynn, 9
Some of the angels are in charge of helping heal sick animals and pets. And if they don't make the animals get better, they help the kid get over it.
Vicki, 8
What I don't get about angels is why, when someone is in love, they shoot arrows at them.
Sarah, 7
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Man arrested after trying to cash $50,000 check from God
abc13.com: Man arrested after trying to cash $50,000 check from God: "Kevin Russell found out it's not easy trying to cash a check from God. The 21-year-old man was arrested Monday after he tried to cash a check for $50,000 at the Chase Bank in Hobart that was signed 'King Savior, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Servant,' Hobart police Detective Jeff White said."
Tranquilized moose knocks helicopter out of the sky
abc13.com: Tranquilized moose knocks helicopter out of the sky: "A helicopter is not necessarily a match for an angry moose. Instead of lying down after being shot with a tranquilizer dart, a moose charged a hovering helicopter used by a wildlife biologist, damaging the aircraft's tail rotor and forcing it to the ground."
Enjoyment of Food
Old Abraham was a poor tailor whose shop was next door to a very upscale French restaurant. Every day at lunch time, Abraham would go out the back of his shop and eat his black bread and herring while smelling the wonderful odors coming from the restaurant's kitchen.
But one day, Abraham was surprised to receive an invoice from the restaurant for 'enjoyment of food'. So he went to the restaurant to point out that he had not bought anything from them.
The manager said, "You're enjoying our food, so you should pay us for it."
Abraham refused to pay and the restaurant sued him. At the hearing, the judge asked the restaurant to present their side of the case.
The manager said, "Every day, this man comes and sits outside our kitchen and smells our food while eating his. It is clear that we are providing added value to his poor food and we deserve to be compensated for it."
The judge turns to Abraham and said, "What do you have to say to that?"
Abraham didn't say anything but stuck his hand in his pocket and rattled the few coins he had inside.
The judge asked him, "What is the meaning of that?"
Abraham replied, "I'm paying for the smell of his food with the sound of my money."
World's Most Dangerous Road
The North Yungas Road is a 38 to 43 mile road (depending on source) leading from La Paz to Coroico, in the Yungas region of Bolivia and is undoubtedly the most dangerous road in the world for motorists.
It is legendary for its extreme danger and in 1995 the Inter-American Development Bank christened it as the "world's most dangerous road". One estimate is that a fatal accident happens there every couple of weeks and 200-300 travellers are killed yearly along the road
The road moreover includes Christian crosses marking many of the spots where such vehicles have fallen. Upon leaving La Paz, the road first ascends up to around 5km, before descending to 1079 ft (330 m), transitioning quickly from cool altiplano terrain to rain forest as it winds through very steep hillsides and atop cliffs.
The road was built in the 1930s during the Chaco War by Paraguayan prisoners. Because of the extreme dropoffs, single-lane width, and lack of guardrails, the road is extremely dangerous. Further still, rain and fog can make visibility precarious, the road surface muddy, and loosen rocks from the hillsides above.
It is legendary for its extreme danger and in 1995 the Inter-American Development Bank christened it as the "world's most dangerous road". One estimate is that a fatal accident happens there every couple of weeks and 200-300 travellers are killed yearly along the road
The road moreover includes Christian crosses marking many of the spots where such vehicles have fallen. Upon leaving La Paz, the road first ascends up to around 5km, before descending to 1079 ft (330 m), transitioning quickly from cool altiplano terrain to rain forest as it winds through very steep hillsides and atop cliffs.
The road was built in the 1930s during the Chaco War by Paraguayan prisoners. Because of the extreme dropoffs, single-lane width, and lack of guardrails, the road is extremely dangerous. Further still, rain and fog can make visibility precarious, the road surface muddy, and loosen rocks from the hillsides above.
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Jump on the Trans Fat-Free Bandwagon for a Healthier Ride
Dr. Cherry
Last December it was announced that New York City is banning trans fats from all its restaurants. Since then, other cities and major fast food chains have followed. Even Starbucks, the huge coffee conglomerate, announced at the beginning of the year that it, too, was jumping on the trans fat-free bandwagon.
Long used to extend the shelf life and enhance the texture of foods (making some foods crunchier and creamier and others less greasy), trans fats now have the bad rap they deserve. That's because trans fats raise "bad" LDL cholesterol and lower "good" HDL cholesterol, as well as have other harmful effects on our health. In addition to raising a person's risk of developing diabetes, trans fats may increase inflammation in the body, according to the Mayo Clinic. Among being linked to a number of serious medical conditions and diseases, it's believed that inflammation plays a key role in the formation of fatty blockages in heart blood vessels and that trans fat appears to damage the cells lining blood vessels, leading to inflammation.
So how much trans fat is considered bad for you? It's not known yet exactly how much or at what amount of trans fat will have a negative impact on your cholesterol levels. However, the American Heart Association recommends that no more than one percent of your total daily calories be trans fat. So if you consume 2,000 calories a day, that amounts to only two grams or less of trans fat. Not much, considering a large serving of french fries at some restaurants can contain five grams or more of trans fat and half a doughnut can contain two grams.
Since January 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has required that manufacturers list the amount of trans fat on food labels. However, if a food contains less than 0.5 grams of trans fat, it can be listed as "0 grams" on the label. So if you're not careful, you can exceed the recommended daily amount of trans fat if you eat multiple servings of these products. It's best to look on the nutrition label for words like "partially hydrogenated oils" and "shortening" - both clues that the item contains trans fats.
In my next e-newsletter, I'll reveal the major culprits among supermarket products that contain trans fat along with good fat alternatives.
For more information on Dr. Cherry's ministry, visit his Web site: www.AbundantNutrition.com.
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