   |
|
|
|
|
| Watercooler Stories
'THANK YOU' NOTE GETS THEM OUT OF PRISON It took a thank you note for six Britons to get out of prison in Saudi Arabia. The London Telegraph says the six, allegedly tortured into confessing involvement in bombings in Saudi Arabia, were released after penning a letter to King Fahd apologizing and thanking him for his hospitality. BizVantage – Personalized business, investment or technology Intelligence: the ultimate advantage. The paper says the Saudis were anxious for an indication the six, in prison for two years, would not sue for torture and false imprisonment when they got home. The letter read: "May it please Your Majesty. I would like to express my heart-felt thanks, gratitude and appreciation to Your Majesty for giving favorable consideration to my application for clemency." ELVIS AUCTION WEEKENDAuctionworld TV Studios this weekend is putting on the block 50 items belonging to the King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis Presley. Auctionworld says some items have never been on the open market and the total proceeds are expected to be more than $500 million. The big seller is expected to be a signed property conveyance document from 1957 that formed part of the land agreement for the sale of Elvis's previous house at 1034 Audubon Drive and the purchase of the fabled Graceland estate in Memphis. Also up for sale is the verified original marriage certificate of Elvis to Priscilla from May 1, 1967, as well as his classic TCB -- Taking Care of Business -- glasses and his first guitar from his 1947 high school days. COLLEGE FRESHMEN OVERWHELMEDA University of California-Los Angeles study finds more than 30 percent of college freshmen report feeling overwhelmed a great deal of time during their first year at school. Johns Hopkins researchers say more than 40 percent of a recent freshmen class sought help from the student counseling center. Leaving home and beginning college can be a stressful transition and the National Mental Health Association says parents should pay close attention to their child's emotional well-being. The NMHA's free materials for college students, parents and campus counselors can be found on the association's Web site at nmha.org. LAY OFF RAISES, NOT THE EMPLOYEESLeadership consultant Ed Gubman writes instead of laying off people during economic hard times, companies should instead lay off the raises. Gubman writes in his new book, "The Engaging Leader: Winning with Today's Free Agent Workforce," that layoffs are self-defeating and not always a solution to a company's financial woes. "There's no evidence that layoffs boost profitability or productivity. They're good for short-term stock price increase some of the time, and that's about it," says Gubman. When employees perceive their bosses are indiscriminately firing coworkers they lose faith in the company, he says, and employees will not work hard for a company when they feel constantly at risk of losing their jobs.
|
