Workplace anger -- who wins?

As I begin my professional career it is important to remember the difference in perception people have of you in the workplace. As a woman (who doesn't particularly likes to yield) it is difficult to maintain a positive and professional reputation while also not becoming a pushover.

An article on CNN.com "Workplace anger -- who wins?" discusses a study that addressed the problems that women (in comparison to men) face in the workplace when expressing anger.

If you're anything like me (and majority of my girlfriends) I recommend you read this article ... perhaps it'll help you find a balance or simply prove that you're not crazy when you think there is still a very real "double standard" in the workplace.

Non-beverage alcohol in Russia

According to BBC, 43% of men in Russia die from high alcohol consumption. Unfortunately this may not come as a surprise to some -- the Vodka stereotype comes to mind -- what may come as a surprise is the fact that men in Russia are drinking aftershave and cleaning agents!

According to the article aftershaves contain up to 97% alcohol and they're cheap... men who drank heavily or non-beverage alcohol (aka aftershave...) were six times more likely to die than men who did not drink at all or did not have a drinking problem. Life expectancy for men in Russia is 59, and 72 for women...

I am Russian and I constantly get the Vodka jokes -- but I guess it's not all laughs for some :(

Paris Hilton on BBC

I realize that Paris Hilton is famous for being famous but I still don't see why her (not at all surprising) release from jail needs to end up on BBC's homepage ... b/c when I think important news I think Paris Hilton! Just a little disappointed...
Meanwhile, I'm glad the folks at the G8 summit are finally making nice over climate issues.

Hope for sex-boost slimming pill

BBC is reporting that scientists are working on a new pill for women to not only boost's women's libido but decreases their appetite!!! Talk about killing two birds with one stone ... It'll take about 10 years to develop and get the pill to market but when it does maybe it'll create a new breed of women -- always ready and never hungry!

A bit of a downer but the article does mention that according to psychologists when women go off sex its mostly as a result of problems in the relationship rather than physiological issues ... just something to keep in mind...

Oh and the article has a really bad photo accompanying it.

My MC Commercial

Replacing cell phone: $50
New student ID: $18
Bottle of Advil: $4
Doing the senior fountain run: Priceless!

Forbes Homepage

I have a major issue with the Forbes homepage ... maybe it's just my computer but this is not really working for me ...

The strange existance of Ram Charan

I am a bit of a Consulting buff. I am planning to go into IT consulting when I graduate USC and for the time being am planning to make a career of it. So it was no surprise that I got sucked into an article in by David Whitford in Fortune today about the (apparently) most influential consultant alive, Ram Charan.

It's a long article (for CNN), five full pages, and it's worth every word! I mean this guy is truly fascinating. He started college (in India) a the age of 15, went to Harvard Business School (graduated top 3% of his class), was a professor at a number of Universities before abandoning academia to pursue his passion of solving problems, aka consulting.

He never married, never had kids, he never even learned how to drive or bought his own place (until recently, although he is planning to move in "maybe never"). He lives out of hotels and airplanes. Rents an office in Dallas, TX (where he's never really been) and has his assistants FedEx him boxes with clothes and supplies to where ever he is in the world (and he's all over, trust me!)

If you have some time, and you are interested in reading a profile on a truly extraordinary (if at times peculiar) individual, read the article on the strange existence of Ram Charan.

Interpersonal skills important in the business world

In case you're a business junkie like me but opted for a different major, say Communication, this should make you feel a little better about your choice.

According to an article in Fortune newly hired MBA's are said to be lacking interpersonal skills and more top-tier B-Schools are starting to offer communication, team-building, and leadership classes as part of the curriculum.

Home stretch

So I am pretty much 2 weeks away from graduating and I am one of the lucky few to get half of my finals out of the way before finals week even starts. This privilege comes at a price though, which is having to study for two tests this week. So I will try to post some fun and interesting stuff this week, but it might be lame so I apologize in advance.

Back to studying now ... and preparation for excessive-graduation-related drinking

BMW M5 vs. BMW M6

Picture Order (top to bottom): M6, 5 Series, M5, 6 Series

So I have a bone to pick w/ BMW about the new M5 and M6 bodies. I realize that the M5's body is modeled after the 5 Series, which was fine, for last year's body. But now that the new 5 Series came out, it's much smaller than the older body and looks just like the 3 Series ... Granted it's more powerful, but why pay $20,000 more for a car that looks just like it's $35,000 model?? (Side note: The 3 Series Coupe is excluded from this entire conversation.)

Okay so now you look at the M6, which I LOVE b/c it's just the absolutely sexiest car EVER. It doesn't exactly beat out the Lambo -- it's just a different kind of sexy. Anyway, I digress.

So moving onto the M6, which is modeled after the 6 Series, which is totally fine b/c the 6 Series doesn't look like the 3 or 5 Series.

So why couldn't BMW just put a little more work into differentiating the 3 from the 5?? My life would be much easier b/c (although I wouldn't actually be able to buy either) I used to love the M5 and now I just want the $105,000 M6 -- see what you made me do BMW?! Maybe I just don't like the new 3 and 5 Series bodies ...

Pictures are on the left.

Meredith Brooks by Room Eleven

If you're familiar with Meredith Brooks' "Bitch" song from back in the day, listen to the jazzy version by Room Eleven. Not sure yet how I feel about it ...

Wal-Mart back to #1

CNNMoney.com
Wal-Mart is back on top pushing Exxon Mobil back to #2 of America's largest corporations ... Americans are officially spending all of their money on stuff and gas.

*Side note: Oil companies are the only companies I know of that hire accountants to deflate reported profits ...

Men never grow up

I'm sorry but I had to share this as proof of men's infinite immaturity ...

Lame Blogging Week

I might not be looking very hard but it seems that this week has been a really lame news week. No really interesting news or huge mess-ups ... other than maybe BBC putting Anna Nicole news on their homepage...

At any rate, I am hoping I find some interesting tidbit to post this week, but if I not I am sure next week will be much more interesting. Oh and in case you were wondering ... Comedy Central has really lame jokes on their site, example:
Q: What do you call a dog with no legs?
A: It doesn't matter, he's not going to come anyway.

If you want real entertainment watch the "Make Love not Warcraft" episode of South Park

It made it to BBC after all ...

Anna Nicole's baby daddy decision made it to the front page of BBC News today ... I guess its somewhat newsworthy, but still, look at the other stories ...*sigh*
I have a question though, how come it takes months to do a paternity test for Anna's baby when Maury can figure out who the baby daddy is while the commercials are running?! Just wondering ...

Magic Flying Carpet or Mansion?

CNNMoney.com
This might look like a mansion, but it's really a private Jet. Only took about $150M to decorate ... no biggie.

Alanis Morissette "My Humps" video

I wish she'd put more energy into her own songs ... but this definitely has entertainment value. I have to say, with her voice, it actually sounds like a serious song. Watch it -- its pretty f***ing funny!!!

Donald gets to keep his hair

SI.com

This seriously looks like a torture scene a little ... Trump is enjoying the shave WAY too much:

CNNMoney Tech Page

I like it when major websites make mistakes...

Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 Roadster

CNNMoney.com
Stats almost as impressive as the Bugatti ... but the Bugatti body doesn't hold a candle to the Murciélago... *sigh* I love Lamborghini...

Engine: V-12

Power: 640 hp

0-62 mph: 3.4 seconds

Torque: 486 foot-pounds

Max Speed: 205.1 mph

Price: $400,000