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Bogart Shwadchuck - RMT Remix Kit

Devilboy — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:59:29 +0000

Bogart Shwadchuck - RMT Remix Kit

Download Link:

External Links

Official Website

Costumes or Credentials? Dress the part.

Michele — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:58:59 +0000

This photo was run in today's paper to offer congratulations for someone's recent accomplishments.

College graduate? Looks like it. Graduate degree? Could be ... I see extra ribbon on the gown.

Which university?

None. She's a graduate of the Professional Institute of Massage Therapy. That's right ... RMT.

I'm sure her family is very proud of her and it's a good trade to be certified in for long-term employability. HOWEVER, let's get serious. A gown, mortarboard, and diploma in front of a library background implies university education. Really. Reminds me of the weight loss consultant who had mail-order "diplomas" but posed in her publicity photo with a stethoscope around her neck to imply a medical education. Or the speaker at an education seminar who posed in front of law books and listed her place of employment as a law institute. She implied that she was a lawyer when, at most, she was a legal secretary.

Be proud of what you've done. Don't pretend to be something different. It just belittles your true credentials/accomplishments and can make others lose respect for you.

RMT eats world economy

nons420 — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 12:17:33 +0000

I must admit that I have learned much about economics from FINAL FANTASY XI. I explained some of this in my RMT history post but then i started to consider what I have learned from this game and its economy in contrast with the 'economic disaster' taking place in current news events. See what happened on FFXI was that originally you had players that were playing the game for fun and to progress their characters. Then came the RMT, real money transfer, who were corporate interests who were not there for fun but instead to make money off of those who were. This would be the equivalent of white collar crime in the real world sense but it existed because of the democracy implied in the capitalist values of supply and demand. The white collar crime of RMTism existed to fill the demand of some players that wished to cheat. Eventually inflation went out of control because RMT were filling the economy with money that wasn't going anywhere, just switching hands. FFXI gil is no different that real money in that it is also fiat, that is valued only by the amount of it in circulation. Square-enix has gotten RMT and the market under better regulation but the lesson that this has taught remains.

Now to extrapolate and expand my analogy I must first define a few things. Note that this is entirely my own interpretation and opinion of these concepts, if you wish to argue any of this please feel free to comment as I greatly welcome any correction or criticism as I am trying to understand these concepts myself. Economics never was one of my better subjects in college, but i think maybe FFXI and the inflation generated by the RMTs has taught me more about it.

First you have to take at face value how corporations work. Corporations are opponents to social programs such as labor unions because this cuts into their bottom line. Corporations are ultimately interested in expanding their bottom line and they will do what is required to get there. If this means conforming to social programs to appease their workers they will do it. If they can move jobs out of the country so that they don't have to deal with social programs they will do it. A corporation is ultimately about keeping itself afloat, more for me and less for you. In my interpretation, if defined politically a great number of corporations could be described as being facist entities.

Now to detail the collapse:

exhibit A- central banking

There exists no lack of conspiracy theories surrounding the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States, in this essay I am not supporting any of that chatter. In this instance I shall 'tow the party line' and propose that 'the Fed' is not a conspiracy but a necessity and will describe in detail later how this is so. There are many advocates on the internet that wish for a return to the gold and silver standards of exchange for currency and there is no way at this point for that to happen. It is a stupid and futile suggestion if you just examine the extent of the global economy at this point. How 'the Fed' works is creating the money supply and setting interest rates to counteract the money supply. For the purposes of this essay lets assume that new money is created when there is a spike in demand or a speculation thereof.

exhibit B - the 1980's

Those sinful Reagan years! Wall Street glorified in film with the stories of mega successful stokebrokers taking on the world and making a 'killing' from it. Cool 80's guys, power stoke brokers doing mountains of cocaine while calling themselves sharks for their lack of business ethics. Communism is defeated by spending the communists into the ground. There is apparently nothing that can crush the prosperity of capitalism and we all believed it then. The 1980's were the golden age for the emerging world economy and big business. At least I think so from how it portrayed itself in film and literature ( i like Brett Easton Ellis alot). There was a recession at the start of the 1990's that grinded most of this prosperity to a halt.

exhibit C - how the government works vs how people think that it works

There are many types of law, and I am no lawyer but I can teach you a little of what I know. First you must understand that the United States was originally intended to be a constitutional republic. That is to say, not a democracy but instead a republic with rights gaurunteed by the constitution. OF course most of this was done away with a while back because of democracy, don't go blaming Bush this is old stuff. Democracy is what the people want and people want civil liberties and workers rights ect. People want affordable health care and debt consolidation. People want security, infastructure and education. These things all come with a price and that price is socialism. All sorts of laws come from administrative law which is there to enforce social programs. There is also procedural law which comes from the verdicts of precedent court cases, that is to say jury decisions (sometimes judges/justices) but ultimately democratic. The socialism is there because of a demand that was created democratically.

As I noted earlier, corporations are ultimately facist in their intent to supress social practices in favor of greater investment and a larger bottom line. The facism is there because of a demand that was created democratically.

So ultimately this country has not been a literal constitutional republic for sometime since most of its necessary social programs are not constitutional but were nontheless created to fill a democratic demand. The current order is something more of a boxing match between Socialsm and Facism with democracy as the referee. However the average Joe probably doesn't understand this or even give a shit. That is to say the consumer is also more caring of their own bottom line than anything else. The system is really a huge spin cycle, whoever has the best argument typically wins.

Left wing favors bigger government to cater to more social programs.

Right wing favors a return to a humbler constitutional republic, however this point of view is now noted as being 'paleoconservatism'.

Most of the current political right caters to a deeper investment in foreign policy and thus maintaining the current United States directed world order. This is basically 'neoconservatism'.

Ok enough of definitions and to break down the economic meltdown to the ground level. Assuming from earlier, 'The Fed' caters to a democratic need for more money to be created, let's examine how money is made and what happens to it. Well nowadays you have direct deposit, e-commerce and other venues that basically turn electronic funds into real money (Real Money Transfer In Real Life). If this didn't work the way that it did and we were on the gold standard still, people would have been pissed a long time ago over this issue. Say you get paid in direct deposit and you get to the bank and they tell you that you can't cash your check because they are past the gold exchange limit. You would be pissed. Say you buy something on ebay from some guy in Pakistan and you pay in US dollars, he then has to withdraw those US dollars. With electronic funds becoming real funds all the time , the framework of globalization and the Fed responding to these democratic demands in mind, it is not too hard to imagine how a crisis of inflation would begin.

Then enter in corporations and the less legitimate white collar criminals. Nevermind that the world is ran by lawyers and businessmen then staffed by poorly educated peons who are kept in line by the media. See it is not hard to understand that by knowing how the system works there would be people out to exploit it. What people don't seem to acknowledge is that this exploitation occurs on every level of the system and that the meltdown is actually democracy imploding and not some conspiracy to destroy democracy.

So in the end you have the honest players that are there to play. Then you have the corporate interests that are there to make money. But then you also have the cheaters who cheated the system and supported the RMT. You have people that are just plain dumb with their money. You have 20 year olds with an 8th grade education and their job at Wendy's to support their 45 year long finance plan on their new Hummer. You have people that will milk the social programs at the expense of the rest of society. You have corporations fattening their bottom lines off of this. You have people willing well above their means thanks to mortgages and other loans where they exchanged equity for short term needs. You have large scale inflation on top of all of this as a response to the globalised economy and the democractic need for more and more money. You have CEOs setting their own wages at whatever they say so per hour. You have celebrities that make a ton for doing very little. All of this plays its part at creating more of a demand for money. What is one of them wants to fill a swimming pool full of $100 bills? That is just creating more inflation in the end.

The mortgage meltdown and the skyrocketing national debt, this could be a breaking point or a lesson learned. My conclusion here is to show that this was not a conspiracy but the result of democracy guiding capitalism. Most of everyone involved in the process had their part in the collapse of the system. I don't know for sure if this is totally how it works, this is just how I have came to understand it.

RMT alternative to Heathrow expansion - download the report

cacctu — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:37:37 +0000

With this report Rail Maritime and Transport Union becomes the first union to look for an environmentally acceptable alternative to expansion at Heathrow. The report finds that a good rail service can provide a viable alternative that is not just more environmentally-friendly but also contributes much more to the UK economy and job creation.

Click on the link below to download the report.

Who says there is no alternative?

RMT MAINTENANCE WORKERS ON STRIKE

andyinswindon — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:30:08 +0000

RMT Network Rail maintenance workers are on strike on Saturday 26th July, over lack of progress on long-running talks on harmonisation of terms and conditions.

There will be picket lines from 12 noon at the following depots in the Bristol area:

Bristol Parkway, Westbury, Weston Super Mare, Queen Anne Road.

Your support on the picket line would be very welcome.

Please email the branch secretary, Glen Burrrows, if you need further details: at Bristolrail@rmt.org.uk

Wieder im Trend: Streiks in Britannien

entdinglichung — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:15:34 +0000

Streiks in Britannien: Leider noch nicht so häufig wie vor 30-40 Jahren aber im Aufschwung begriffen (so gerade in den letzten Tagen bei der Müllabfuhr in Peterborough, dem Reinigungspersonal bei der Londoner U-Bahn, den Postboten in York und den Mülldeponien in Cardiff), der folgende Artikel fand sich auf der Webseite von Workers' Liberty:

New strike figures show increase

Author: Martin Thomas

According to the latest official figures, just released, in the 12 months up to and including April 2008 there were 189 strikes, involving 959,000 workers, and totalling 1,121,000 striker-days.

The figures are still low compared to the late 1980s or 1996, let alone the 1970s, but better than those for the corresponding periods in recent years.

In the 12 months up to and including April 2007, there were 198 strikes, involving 253,000 workers, and a total of 324,000 striker-days. To April 2006: 184 strikes, 716,000 workers, 715,000 striker-days. To April 2005: 156 strikes, 217,000 strikers, 341,000 striker-days. To April 2004: 215 strikes, 354,000 strikers, 955,000 striker-days.

The new figure for the total number of workers involved in strikes is the highest for a comparable 12-month period since the stretch from May 2002 to April 2003, which included the firefighters' dispute.

Ansonsten werden am 16. und 17. Juli einige hunderttausend Beschäftigte im öffentlichen Dienst streiken.

RMT statement to European conference of rail trades unionists

solidaritymagazine — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:03:21 +0000

We congratulate participants attending this conference and contributing to this vital discussion. We welcome the support this initiative has received from the European Transport Workers Federation.

We send solidarity to all trade unionists fighting privatisation and liberalisation.

We hope that all participants at today's conference and those who could not attend will continue this dialogue and cooperation in appropriate forums in the near future so that we maximise the exchange of information and coordinate our future activities.

We believe the consequences of rail privatisation, liberalisation and fragmentation are:

Attacks on rail safety, pay, conditions, pensions, trade union organisation and collective bargaining
The abandonment of the social railway in favour of a railway run solely in the interests of big business and where the profit motive becomes the only criteria for delivering rail services.
A more expensive, less efficient railway, where profit comes before the needs of the community.

We therefore condemn:

Those EU directives, including the various railway packages which are increasingly leading to the privatisation of Europe's railways and a so-called liberalisation process that is leading to less democratic accountability and the growth of private rail monopolies.
Those Governments, EU Institutions, the World Bank and other financial institutions which are increasingly making privatisation, liberalisation and fragmentation of the railways a condition of funding.

We believe that, unless effectively challenged, the employers' attacks on workers through liberalisation and privatisation will be assisted by the recent Viking, Laval and Ruffert judgments in the European Court of Justice which represent a fundamental attack on collective bargaining and the right to strike.

We therefore support and urge the ETF to call a European wide demonstration by trade unions representing rail workers before the end of 2008 and during the French Presidency of the European Union. The purpose of the demonstration will be to:

Protest against the privatisation and liberalisation of our railways
Argue for publicly owned railways that put people before profit
Protest against social dumping and call for the defence of trade union rights and national collective bargaining.

To achieve this end we agree to:

Coordinate our activities and work together to maximise participation by rail workers' trade unions in an ongoing discussion about the effects of EU rail liberalisation policies.
Work with other progressive organisations and social movements that share our aims.

London, 17 June 2008

RMT and EVE Online

Kyle Maxwell — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:01:51 +0000

Is "real-money trading" actually immoral? Or is it just "gold farming" that's the problem?

(Basic definitions: RMT involves spending real-world currency on items in an online game, or possibly in trade for "game currency", sort of like buying Monopoly money. Gold farming is doing some action in a game over and over and over just to earn items or game currency with the plan to sell it later.)

In MMORPGs, that distinction used to be largely academic. The vast majority of Western games (with few exceptions) simply didn't allow either one in their user agreements, so the only way to engage in RMT was to deal with gold farmers. For various reasons having to do with fairness as well as user security, both of them acquired a good bit of social stigma.

But some games are introducing legitimate RMT, albeit in a controlled and regulated fashion. My current preferred game, EVE Online, allows users to buy game-time cards (GTCs) for real-world money, then sell them to other players for in-game money (ISK). So players low on cash but thriving in the game can basically play for free. Players who don't have as much time to play as they'd like but with disposable RL income can focus on the game activities they enjoy most rather than trying to earn ISK to support those activities. In fact, you can even buy and sell your characters for ISK if you don't want to spend the time to build up a character that can compete at the high end of the game.

This is becoming a real concern for me. I don't have nearly as much time to play as I wish I did. Work, family, and congregation all take large sections of my time, as they should. So when I do find a few hours to sit down and relax, running missions or mining to earn ISK isn't what I want to do. I'd rather go out in player-versus-player combat (PVP). But PVP costs money, because when you lose, you lose your ship and some or all of your equipment.

So here's my choice: I can spend hours trying to earn ISK (because I'm fairly new to the game) to fund what would then be a relatively small proportion of time doing what I enjoy most. Or I can spend a fraction of that time working a little bit extra at the office to earn dollars that, through a series of exchanges, will end up with the same ISK. All the while, I'm not breaking any user agreements or endangering my (or anyone else's) security, and I'm contributing to both the company that runs the game and the players who enjoy it but don't necessarily have the $15/month required to play.

I'm not sure there's much of a dilemma here after all, actually.

Tube cleaners strike for living wage

solidaritymagazine — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:13:20 +0000

AROUND 700 RMT Tube cleaners working for four private contractors are to stage a series of strikes after voting by a landslide 125-to-one margin for action to win the London living wage and decent working conditions.

Cleaners working for ISS, ITS, ICS and GBM will not book on for shifts that commence during the 24 hours between 18:50 next Thursday, June 26 and 18:49 on Friday June 27. A second, 48-hour, strike is also scheduled for all shifts commencing between 18:50 on Tuesday July 1 and Thursday July 3.

The union is also demanding 28 days’ holiday, sick pay, decent pensions and travel facilities, and an end to the barbaric practice of ‘third-party sackings’ in which cleaners can be dismissed, with no disciplinary hearing or right of appeal, at the behest parties other than the employer – a device used to get rid of union activists.

“This was a massive vote for action by a group of workers who are among the most exploited and abused in London, and their anger is clear for all to see,” RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

“Their bosses are making huge profits at our members’ expense and wouldn’t bat an eyelid at spending more on a single meal than many of our members earn in a week.

“A London living wage is reckoned to be at least £7.20 an hour, yet there are Tube cleaners who are paid at rock-bottom minimum-wage rates little more than £5.50 an hour.

“Sick pay, adequate holidays and a decent pension scheme are not optional luxuries, they are basic decent employment standards, and it is outrageous that the people who keep one of the world’s most prestigious metro systems clean do not already get them.

“The previous mayor promised that cleaners on Metronet contracts would receive the London living wage as soon as they passed into TfL control, and if Boris Johnson wants to be seen as a mayor for all Londoners he will honour that pledge.

“Tubelines bosses know that paying cleaners the London living wage would barely dent their £1 million-a-week profits, and it is time they stopped hiding behind their contractors and lived up to their professed aim of ‘treating others as we would like to be treated,” Bob Crow said.

WAAAGH!: The Official Stance On Everything

Syp — Mon, 19 May 2008 12:27:05 +0000

Wondering where WAAAGH! stands on the issues vital to WAR and MMOs? Read on, but be prepared to have your mind cleansed by the awesome power of logic, sense and sensibility!

WAAAGH!'s stance on Real Money Trading (RMT), Gold Selling and Power Leveling: It kills me people actually debate this like there are points to the "pro-RMT" side, similar to how someone might try to defend the KKK or the Ebola virus. Our stance is that the people and companies who do this are parasitic vermin who help to corrupt the in-game economy and balance, offering unfair advantages to people willing to pay more. As for the purchasers of those services? You people are playing a GAME. If you don't want to play it, don't pay people to do it for you, because that's just sad. Really. Sadder than sad. Clown sad. RMT, Gold Selling and Power Leveling should be pursued and stamped out -- with a vengeance -- by MMO teams (preferably with dogs with bees in their mouth, and when they bark they shoot bees at them).

WAAAGH!'s stance on Role-Playing Servers: If this sort of thing is your bag, fine, but we know that 90% of most RP servers merely tolerate the serious RPers (yet don't join in themselves). We also know that trying to police these servers is nigh-impossible and people who get their panties in a bunch because someone else doesn't have the appropriate level of apostrophes in their name is due cause for pity.

WAAAGH!'s stance on the Hardcore/Raiders vs. Casual catfight: Hardcore fellas? Knock it off. Casuals are the VAST majority in these games, and without them no company would have the resources to make the very game you want to dominate and excel. Realize it's okay for others to have a different playstyle and don't look down on them for it (or their gear). Casuals? There's something to be said for having to earn all of the rewards in a game, and even though some of the upper upper crust stuff will be untouchable to you, its existence gives players a place to progress to, instead of a stone wall. If others want to play to be the best, then be content with where you are and don't whine about it.

WAAAGH!'s stance on Ganking and Corpse Camping: Facts of life in the PvP world, but it doesn't mean we have to meekly accept them as okay. People who play PvP vindictively, cowardly and immaturely have small genitalia and an even smaller sense of honor and worth. Yup, I just delivered a blanket judgment, and it felt good.

WAAAGH!'s stance on No Official WAR Forums: We 100% support Mythic's call on this one. Official forums degenerate quickly into a frenzy of loud-mouthed imbeciles who congregate there like a school of hungry fish looking for someone -- anyone -- to pay attention to their diatribes. Let fansites take care of the forums, which frees up the WAR team to have more time to work on the game and get involved with the community in more structured formats.

WAAAGH!'s stance on Being Told How To Play My Class: If I'm making gross errors or overlooking a skill combo that could vastly improve my own gaming experience, then I really don't mind if a more experienced player gently sends me a /tell to ask me if I don't mind a little advice. That's the proper and only way I ever want to hear anyone try to tell me how to play the game. The rest of you backseat armchair quarterbacks? STEP OFF. I don't care if you have a thousand level 70 anythings, or if you're the developer personally responsible for the creation and evolution of that particular class. I loathe being chided for not playing "right", and people who try to do this are often mercilessly mocked and subsequently ignored on my part.

WAAAGH!'s stance on Being Overly Impressed With Yourself: Listen, we all are very much into whatever character we're playing. We have a good reason to be excited when we get new gear or accomplish something cool or figure out how to be a more effective fighter/healer/tanker. It's a natural extension of that excitement to want to share your happiness with others -- and that is well and fine, as long as it's done in moderation and in the right spirit (i.e. not bragging, just wanting others to share in your joy). Yet when I'm grouped with someone who starts boasting about all their class abilities -- as if they, personally, designed them from scratch -- and how their gear is the uber-elite-ultra-awesome, then my eyes descend into deep pain as they roll uncontrollably in their sockets. I don't care, Mr. Fancy Pants, about how your gear is so much better than mine. I'm not listening, Ms. Suck It Down, because I'm actually trying to help my team instead of boosting my epeen or whatever the kiddies are calling it these days.

Kami Adalah Kanak-Kanak 80an Yang Seksi

topanmoon — Sat, 17 May 2008 21:26:31 +0000

Many many thanks to Amat Budak Sakai. Took dis post from him. But a lil bit alteration is made. It was funny u know to read urs *yeah u la amat* teringat zaman kecik kecik. Kami adalah kanak kanak 80an yang seksi =p

Budak2 yg lahir pd thn 80an mesti ingat mase skolah rendah dulu2:

- Salesman : Tiap-tiap bulan ada je salesman datang x kesah ah jual buku ke jual minuman susu ke. Diorang kasi list barang, then bayar esoknya. Ada la yg beli tamak-tamak sampai x muat beg diorg. Haha aku ada gak beli buku tajuk ‘kisah naga dan cincin emas’. Layan dow buku tu kalau baca =p

- Projek Nilam : Haha ni projek mengasah bakat meniru dan menipu. Memang dasat lah. Aku ingat lagi satu hari aku boleh tiru 5 buku. Padahal amek sipnopsis kat belakang then tulis balik tp tukar ayat la. Cikgu plak x penah nk check. Pastu suka sangat bukak buku World Records and tgk benda pelik pelik =p

- Rancangan Makanan Tambahan (RMT) – Yang nk aku allergic sket. Sebab aku dapat susu basi. Cilanat betol la apek tu. Memang ah bersyukur dapat benda free, tp memudaratkan perut buncit aku ni. Pastu patut untuk setengah2 orang je (yang kurang berada) aku tengok budak kaya miskin bantai je =p

- Alat Tulis – Haha yang ni aku punya mmg tradisional la. Bukak tutup macam bekas megi. Nak beli yang ada zip mahal plak. Pastu pensel nk yg warna warni. Baru semangat konon nya (kat mydin berlambak) kalau pembaris mesti nk ada kanta kecik. Sharpener plak mesti ada cermin belakang so boleh tgk ada tahi hidung meleleh tak time belajar. Pemadam? Haha baca bawah ni =p

- Yoyo – Ingat tak PROYO atau OMEGA? Haha time ni sume poyo tunjuk yoyo masing2 (walaupun x power mana) Aku ingat aku pernah ter’pecah’kan member aku punya Bumble Bee so kena bayar rm39.00 Haha aku beli yg murah2 dalam rm2 je. Skill terbaik aku (yang mampu buat) motor ngan ngan pyramid =p

- Pemadam – Yang ni cam cibai. Orang guna pemadam, tapi kitorg guna main lawan lawan. Tau lawan pemadam x? Ala kalau ko dapat berada kat atas pemadam lawan, kira ko menang la. Aku suka beli Dragon Ball punya. Nampak cool! Member member plak suka logo logo negara. =p

- Feather Duster – Cam biasa la nama je bulu pengelap habuk. Tapi cikgu guna untuk rotan student x siap keje skolah. Tak pon pakai pembaris kuning yang panjang tu. Buat matematik kat papan hitam malas plak nk guna. Haish =p

- Aiskrim Pop – Yang ni mmg favourite la lepas balik skolah. Ada je makcik jual jual kat depan skolah. Konon konon takut taun. Tapi bedal je la. Kata sedap! Especially yang boleh kerat dua =p

- Digimon – Owh yang ni aku x boleh lupa sbb aku ada 3 digimon time tu. 1^st gen, 2^nd gen ngan yg shaker punya. Cheat jgn ckp la. Hari hari keje nk cucuk pakai kad nipis gunting dari folio. Konon konon nk dapat TeddyMon atau MamiMon. Aku benci gila bdk2 yang guna virus. Cibai =p

- BCG – Selalu sgt abg2 kakak2 aku ckp BCG sakit la cam kena gergaji la panas mendidih la. Padahal x sakit pon. Ada gak yg takut gle b4 amek, tp poyo gle lepas dah kena. Haha kata budak skolah rendah =p

- Makanan Ringan Berkotak – Favourite aku JOJO. Aku ingat lg nk beli pakai rm2 aku cilok dr meja makan kat umah. Padahal bukan nk sgt coklat tu. Janji dapat toys sudah. Owh aku suka HIROS coklat kek. Dulu murah je 30sen. Skg cam dah xde je =p

- Siri Kartun – cakap la Power Rangers ke Maskman ke Cybercops ke mesti sume org suka. Tapi aku punya favourite Dash Yankuro cerita kereta tamiya. Satu lagi Tomato Man. Aku ingat lagi lagu dia ‘tomato dimana tomatak, toma toma tomato’ haha sakai gle =p

- Bom & Kapal Terbang – Ingat nk ada jual kapal terbang yang kita kena pasang sendiri, pastu letak kipas kat muncung depan. Kalau baling, sure terbang jauh. Satu lagi ada satu pek ni, kalau kita tepuk, dia menggelembung. Pastu dalam 10saat, meletup. Haha suka abiskan duit beli benda2 ni =p

Haha banyak lagi actually. Tapi sekadar mana yang ingat la. Kita ni semakin membesar. Dulu lap hingus pon x pandai. Sekarang nk sebar virus hingus anytime je. Papepon, kenangan lama jangan dilupakan. Cheers =p

17,000 Network Rail workers balloting for industrial action

solidaritymagazine — Tue, 13 May 2008 12:24:43 +0000

Two separate disputes involve maintenance and signalling staff

MORE THAN 17,000 RMT members at Network Rail are being balloted for industrial action in two separate disputes involving maintenance and signalling and other operational staff.

Ballot papers are being sent to more than 12,000 infrastructure workers after they rejected an "unacceptable" offer from the company on the harmonisation of terms and conditions by a landslide margin of more than 100 to one.

And some 5,000 signallers and other key operational staff are being balloted over pay and conditions after rejecting a "cynical" offer of an additional 0.1 per cent on the first year of a two-year deal. Both ballots conclude on May 22.

The harmonisation dispute follows months of fruitless talks aimed at achieving a single set of terms and conditions for maintenance staff, many of whom transferred into Network Rail from the private sector

"The company has been using the talks to try to drive down our members' conditions, and they can hardly be surprised that their pathetic offer was thrown out by a margin of more than 100 to one," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said today.

"The company is now saying that our members can stay on their existing terms, but they are already moving to sneak inferior conditions in through the back door with a list of issues it now wants to 'discuss' separately.

"We know that means an attack on everyone's terms and conditions, not least because the company is looking to cut its maintenance budget by up to 12 per cent year on year."

The ballot of signalling and other operational staff follows the rejection of a pay-and-conditions offer that holds the prospect of a real-terms cut in living standards.

"We told the company quite clearly that the second-year element of their pay offer to operational staff, of RPI plus 0.5 per cent, would not protect our members against costs that are rising way ahead of the official inflation rate," Bob Crow said.

"Their cynical response was to offer another tenth of one per cent on the first year element on condition that we do not ballot, when they knew perfectly well that it would not address our concerns.

"We have also told the company that we want a return to a common anniversary date for all operational and maintenance and infrastructure workers," Bob Crow said.

ends

Notes to editors:

The 5,000 signallers and operational staff are in dispute over pay. Network Rail's original offer, of 4.8 per cent this year and RPI plus 0.5 per cent in 2009, was rejected by RMT members by a margin of two to one. The company had been informed that they year one element was acceptable but that the year 2 element was not.

The company's offer of an extra 0.1 per cent in year one, bringing it to 4.9 per cent but conditional on the union not balloting for industrial action, would leave the second-year element unchanged.

The maintenance dispute follows the failure of months of talks to produce a serious offer on the harmonisation of terms and conditions for 12,000 infrastructure workers, many of whom have transferred into NR from former contractors.

Some 6,641 RMT members voted to reject the proposals with just 56 voting to accept, and the union had already signalled that rejection would lead to a ballot for industrial action if acceptable proposals are not forthcoming at last-ditch talks which took place last month.

RMT's aspirations for Network Rail harmonisation include:

Working week

35 hour week without loss of pay
Move towards a 34 hour week and where possible a maximum four-day rostered week over a 13 week cycle

Annual Leave

28 days on entry plus Bank Holidays
30 days after ten years' service plus bank holidays
No compulsory working on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day
Agreed enhancements for all the above working

Sick Pay

39 weeks' full pay

Pay

One grading system
One set of job descriptions
Highest possible basic rates with allowances but recognising allowances can be reduced to increase the basic pay
100 per cent pensionable pay

No Beer for the Plebs, Pimms in First Class

johnny void — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:39:23 +0000

Boris Johnson's plan to ban drinking alcohol on the tube is 'unworkable' the RMT has warned. In what's likely to be the first of many wars of words Union leader Bob Crow said:

"We are being told that it is our members who will have to approach people drinking and ask them to stop - but the mayor hasn't asked us what we think.

"Violence against our members is already a major problem, particularly from people who have been drinking."

Given that even ticket inspectors are rarely allowed out without half the Met backing them up it seems likely that this new legislation will be entirely ignored.

Meanwhile it's emerged that these new rules will not apply to the yuppie stuffed commuter trains where first class travellers can legally order a Pimms anytime they want.

One rule for them and another for us?

Yup, that's about the size of it.

Crime on the Tube - Some Perspective

There are around 18,000 recorded crimes on the Tube Network each year with the vast majority being low level criminal damage such as graffiti.

Crimes which actually affect an individual run at around 13,000 a year with the bulk of these being pick-pocketing. Around 1 billion journeys are made on the tube every year.

Someone who makes 400 tube journeys a year would stand a 1 in 200 chance of being a victim of crime. To put that in perspective you would have to make 400 journeys a year for 200 years to statistically be likely to experience crime.

And that crime would be unlikely to be anymore serious than having your mobile pinched when you aren't looking. Carrying out the same number of annual journeys you could expect to wait 6,250 years before you were robbed.

Aside from the 7/7 bombings, serious crimes such as murder, rape or serious violent assault are virtually unheard of on the tube.

In fact, statistically a tube carriage is probably safer than your own front room, but don't worry it'll only be a matter of time before they stop you having a drink there too.

For your own good you understand.

China Surpasses US in Internet Users

Kendricke — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:22:13 +0000

By Calum MacLeod at USA TODAY:

"China, already the world leader in cellphone use, has surpassed the USA as the No. 1 nation in Internet users."

The Current tally?

China: 220 million users as of February 2008 (17% of population).
US: 216 million users as of December 2007 (71% of population).

Another fun quote from the article?

"My friends all agree — no Internet, no life," Sun says. "We use it every day for MSN, and I love playing games like World of Warcraft." The game is so popular that players can pay companies in China to play in their place so they can continue gaining points."

Antics from Crow and the RMT

tommarley — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 12:49:48 +0000

Crow must have a screw loose somewhere if he thinks calling a strike a few days before the London mayoral election was a good idea.

Especially as Boris Johnson is promising that as mayor he would ensure a no-strike deal with the RMT.

Stop Boris covered this sometime ago.

Ken is one of the most progressive leaders in public life today. The RMT would do better to back him rather then chip away at his campaign for their own ends.

Hey, Everybody, It's Time For Reader Mail!

Scott Jennings — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:33:24 +0000

From: Thomas Cheng [thomas.cheng@...]
To: Scott Jennings [my work email address, NOT the one posted here]
Subject: brokentoys.org's blog
Sent: 4/17/08 6:17 PM

Hello,

I noticed on your website that you have blog posts that relate to the MMO gaming industry. We are in the virtual currency industry where MMO gamers buy and sell virtual items such as weapons and gold for popular online games such as World of Warcraft. We are wondering if you would be interested in posting a blog about the virtual currency industry, which is also known as RMT (Real Money Trading) which includes topics such as gold farming. We would be happy to supply you with any information from within the industry provided that you mention our company so that we can get some publicity.

Please let me know if you are interested. We have press releases ready and can provide you with additional information.

Regards,

Alex Chang
[company name, US postal address, phone number, fax number and email removed]

To: Clueless In RMT-Land

Hello,

I am your enemy, not your friend.

Regards,

Raving Ass With A Blog You Clearly Don't Read That You Emailed At Work

The most elusive neccessity in the world: MONEY

bucketofstuffs — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:34:41 +0000

You can have anything you want in the world, a sports car, a house, food, entertainment, travel, anything you can imagine even sex... as long as you have money. Current poverty rates in first world countries alone as well as the declining American economy are outlining just how elusive the almighty dollar is. Let alone looking into third world countries where people struggle to afford food and shelter daily, for no other reason other than the area they had the unfortunate luck to be born does not have anything the rest of the world might want. So while i may be possible that they can build their own things, farm their own food, the state of the world and the exchange of goods and services on a money only basis has left them at a crippling disadvantage. So while we complain about the price of gas so that we can drive ourselves in comfort to get food from the store we really don't need; chips, pop, lots of cheese and meat, and snacking foods, somewhere in a third world country a person is walking 50miles with a bucket to fetch some water for their family to be able to have water for the following week. Just something to think about and put our personal money woes in perspective when i carry on with my own dollar bill discrepancies.

Lately I've seen business for me moving laterally. No real increase, and no decrease in business that has really made a dent. Mississauga is busy on weekends. My clinic in Burlington (3455 Harvester Road, 9056339409- if you would like to book an appointment) has been maintaining its activity level while not increasing or bringing in new clients. And Oakville for its great location, wonderful layout and generous staff is terribly under-performing.
So i have been re-motivated after assessing my position. Talking to WeiHsin tonight about business and what I've been doing to help it grow helped re-assert my feelings. I need to do more! When i first started i thought of as many ways of getting my name out as possible. Since then i have gotten lazy. My business model has become a fat greasy slob. Its time to get back to pimping myself and whoring out my business cards and info to anyone willing to give me the time to get my number and address out to them. Next month i want to have wH design me some nice pamphlets then send them out to various people. No individual blanketing of my area...that's too loose. I want to focus specifically on reaching out to professionals whose word carries some weight. Put the proper information in their hands and some business cards too. So then they can refer the right people to me.

I also need to get more contacts built with on-site work. This month hopefully i can get some form of a website up with the help of mr. Hyuen. I've decided that the bulk of RMTCanada's purpose will be distributing information about massage therapy to perspective and current clients as well as securing on-site contracts. I would like the on-site work to get to a point where I can get into some larger companies and bring some other RMT's with me. Oh how sweet it would be. Because within 5 years i would like my debts to be paid off, have money working for me in the stock market, and have a thriving massage practice where i work part time hours :D and an on-site focused massage company that i can go to with my massage friends to make some good return.

I'm not greedy. I don't need a lot of money, just enough so i can live comfortably and not worry about debt. No living pay check to pay check, just security and the knowledge that i have built something sustainable for myself and the people around me. Plus being in a position to help the people discussed in the opening paragraph would feel great for my self esteem and conscience. I became an RMT because i like helping people and making people feel good, not for money. So if being a successful RMT can let me do that on a larger scale I'm all for it.
When you make lots of money put it in perspective and look at all the people suffering around the world. Your deep pocket book can help.
Kind of a deep way to end such a ranting blog.

Offshore Industry: employers appeal - the fight goes on!

solidaritymagazine — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 12:15:27 +0000

This is a statement from the OILC (Offshore Industry Liaison Committee) which formally unites with the RMT on May 1st. The employers are appealing against a Tribunal decision which gives offshore workers 2 weeks paid leave "during a time when you would otherwise be working offshore".

As you all know, we gained a victory of sorts at the Employment Tribunal in the fight for holidays. We secured a decision which provided for 2-weeks paid leave during a time you would otherwise be working offshore. Other organisations claim it was their arguments at Tribunal which secured this decision as opposed to those of OILC/RMT, but this is slightly misleading.

The Tribunal in fact accepted the arguments put equally by the workforce representatives and this led to the granting of 14 days holidays. However, the Tribunal went on to reject the further and additional argument put only by OILC/RMT that sought to justify 28 days holidays paid at rig rates. Nothing ventured, nothing gained; OILC/RMT was entitled, indeed obliged to have a go, as we are fighting to secure the best possible outcome for our members and offshore workers in general.

The news, however, is that no matter who did what – it counts for nothing. THE EMPLOYERS HAVE DECIDED TO APPEAL!

The original Tribunal decision was released on February 21st 2008 and the employers had 42 days from that date to decide whether to appeal against the decision or not. Without making any announcement, and ironically on April 1st, [April fools!] the employers lodged an appeal. OILC/RMT had of course anticipated this and had prepared our own grounds of appeal to counter that lodged by the employers. An OILC/RMT appeal has today been lodged.

All of this means we face a lengthy delay in implementing any kind of paid holidays for those unfortunates that have no entitlement. It could take a year or more to get to the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) and there are several other stages of appeal thereafter. We’ve had almost 5-years of legal wrangling so far, with the only winners being the lawyers working for the employers. It cannot be in the interests of the workforce or the employers to continue down this route.

Our union merger will become official as of May 1st and immediately after that date RMT General Secretary Bob Crow along with the OILC branch Official, Jake Molloy, will be seeking early talks with the Chief Executive of ‘Oil & Gas UK’. We are confident that through constructive dialogue a solution to the holiday issue can be found.

In the event talks fail to deliver on holiday entitlement, the fight must go on and we must be ready to take it to those employers that continue to resist. The mobile drilling fleet and the catering contractors are the main barriers to change, so that is where we will focus our efforts. It has cost the industry many £millions so far, but if they are not going to move then we will raise that liability by potentially several million more! To this end, we are preparing to re-start the Tribunal application process. In the coming weeks we will prepare your ready to use holiday request letters; draft letters for use in response to holiday requests being rejected; and draft letters for invoking grievance procedures.

OILC/RMT is sitting on a war chest of £80million plus and our Norwegian brothers and sisters who will support us in our struggle have double that to spend. The industry can no longer hope to beat us in a financial war of attrition. If we have to go all the way then so be it! That said, we will of course make every effort to find a solution that will bring holiday entitlement to our members sooner rather than later. As the saying goes - ‘it’s good to talk’ - but if the talking fails then we will consider every option.

So the fight goes on and if you want to be part it you can do so right now by joining OILC – the offshore energy branch of RMT. Log on to www.rmt.org.uk and join online. Become part of the fastest growing union in the UK today. Be part of the solution rather than the problem.

For offshore energy workers everywhere the message is plain and simple - we are STRONGER TOGETHER!

OILC/RMT – fighting for your rights.

For more information contact Jake Molloy on 01224 210118 or email; WTD@oilc.org

All's Well That Ends

Scott Jennings — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:45:41 +0000

Debonneville v. Pierce to, unsurprisingly, settle out of court. Not much to add beyond Duranske's note:

From a virtual law perspective, I’d been hoping against hope that these two charming gentlemen would continue knocking their heads together for another couple of months, and that the judge would accidentally say something meaningful about virtual property while trying to sort out their nonsense, but that doesn’t appear likely now.

writers block

bucketofstuffs — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 03:13:59 +0000

I started this blog with the intentions to write on a consistent basis. To increase my creativeness, flex my brain muscles, and generally have some sort of outlet. But here I am, less than a week after initially starting the blog and i've already reached abit of writers block. I want to write, but there is nothing circling around my brain to write about. Maybe its due to a long day, or maybe because nothing has sparked my imagination today. I could write about something trivial like what i did today. But that hardly seems like a worth while use of my time and whoever is reading this. Likely because if you're reading this you know me and could just ask me, "how was your day?". Plus it isn't too creative.

I've atleast had one positive effect come out of this blogging business in its short time. Its stimulated Sophie to start her own blog, you can check it out at http://cornerstories.wordpress.com or just click the link to the right that says Sophie (obviously)
Maybe she is having a little more luck with the creativity. You should read her blog about the battle with the religious retard on youtube. Seriously some people are rediculously brain washed by the most inane beliefs. Then do not have the ability to back their beliefs up, or NOT contradict them with the things they say. If you are going to believe in something and base your life around it, then make sure you can live it without contradicting yourself. Because then you just look like an idiot or hypocrit.
Also i would urge anyone following a faith based religion to take a realisitc logical look at religion. Some serious soul searching is in order for millions of people if we are to have any chance of surviving in to the next century. Read the book: the End of Faith; i promise it is a worth while read and could definately be a life changer. If you read it please share your thoughts with me, or if you want to defend the opposing view, share that too...just make sure you have some sound reasoning to back it up.

Tomorrow i have to deal with the stress of an interview between employees, and a boss who has re-hired an unwanted addition. It could very well displace everyone within the spa depending on what stances are taken. Somehow i have been elected to be the person representing the RMT's. My job is to basically stay out of the hate arguments that are bound to break out, because really I don't care and it doesn't do anything to insure the integrity of Massage Therapy. I only have to lay the ground rules for the new owners as to the contents of our business agreement, and inform them of the guidelines that we and they will follow if Massage Therapy is to be offered. So I'm hoping that there is already some respect for RMT's and Massage Therapy as a medical practice for me to build off of. Foundation would be a great thing, even if its shakey i have no problem trying to add to it so that Registered Massage Therapy can have a sturdy existence within a sometimes shakey business.

Also say hiii to me. Bring me more traffic, more readers, more people to spread the word of Bungs!
Ok I'm done, nothing to write about but it turned out pretty long anyways, not like chris' chincey blog.

Greg Tucker (1953-2008)

entdinglichung — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 08:35:12 +0000

Vorgestern starb - viel zu früh - Greg Tucker, klassenkämpferischer Gewerkschafter (RMT) und revolutionärer Marxist (ISG, Redaktion des International Viewpoint). Nachrufe auf ihn können u.a. auf der Seite der RMT Bristol, auf Shiraz Socialist, auf Stroppyblog und auf Dave's Part gefunden werden. Eine deutsche Übersetzung eines Artikels von Greg Tucker (Die Socialist Workers Party wacht auf) kann in der Inprekorr Nr. 356 vom Juni 2001 gefunden werden (S. 8-11, leider nicht mehr online).

¡Greg Presente!

Greg Tucker - a brief appreciation

solidaritymagazine — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:45:05 +0000

This is from the Bristol Rail branch of the RMT, written by Alex Gordon.

RMT members learned with great sadness of the untimely death on Sunday 6 April 2008 of Greg Tucker, secretary of RMT’s Waterloo branch since 1993 and of the union’s National Conference of Train Crews & Shunting Grades since 1992.

Greg had suffered a malignant throat cancer diagnosed over a year ago and was admitted to St Thomas’ Hospital on Saturday afternoon where he died some hours later.

As well as being a leading socialist activist for over 30 years, including a period in the 1980s when he served as a local government councillor as part of the ruling Labour group in Lambeth, south London and subsequently when he became a founding member and parliamentary candidate in Streatham for the Socialist Alliance in 2001, Greg Tucker played a crucial role in the emergence of RMT as a democratic, fighting, industrial trade union following the NUR-NUS merger in 1990.

Greg joined British Rail as a member of Platform staff at Vauxhall station in 1980 later becoming a Guard first at Clapham Yard and then at Waterloo depot. Following the 1988 Train crew Agreement between BR and the trade unions Greg became part of the first tranche of Guards to become Train Drivers. Along with several of his generation who cut their trade union teeth as Guards in the 1980s, Greg maintained a fierce loyalty and commitment to industrial trade unionism through the NUR and from 1990 the RMT.

In 1992 Greg was elected Secretary of RMT’s newly formed National Conference of Train Crews & Shunting Grades, which merged the former Locomotive Grades with the Guards & Shunters Grades Conference. He told the Conference delegates recently: “I am proud of the role that I have played in building one of the best parts of one of the most progressive, fighting democratic unions in this country.”

Greg Tucker believed strongly in the common interests of all workers, but specifically in the need for Train Drivers to defend Guards’ safety and operational responsibilities against the encroachment of Driver Only Operation train services as BR sought to slash jobs and wage costs in preparation for privatisation.

Already a leading figure within RMT as a delegate at numerous AGMs during the 1990s Greg campaigned against rail privatisation. In 1999 Greg Tucker stood as candidate for General Secretary of RMT. Although unsuccessful this was an indication of the prominent position he occupied within our union. Greg was elected onto RMT’s Council of Executives for the period of office 1997-1998 where he distinguished himself by winning a successful strike ballot by RMT Guards and Driver members against plans by South West Trains to introduce Driver Only Operation trains on their suburban services.

Following SWT’s climb down and promise to withdraw DOO equipment, which they had recently purchased and begun installing, RMT’s General Grades Committee at Greg’s insistence forced SWT’s Managing Director to sign an affidavit to the effect that the DOO plan was withdrawn, a humiliation which SWT always remembered. It is Greg’s great legacy that SWT train services remain DOO-free with a Guard on every train in passenger service today.

On 10 June 2001, following his return to work after standing for the Socialist Alliance in a parliamentary General Election campaign in Streatham against sitting Labour MP, Keith Hill, Greg became the latest victim of SWT management who sought to sack him as a Train Driver and permanently exclude him from any safety-critical position. Greg fought the victimisation and triumphed at his Employment Tribunal, which found: “the dismissal was part of a concerted manoeuvre involving several influential members of the Respondents' management”. Commenting on the veracity of the SWT managers the Tribunal noted: “Like that of Mr Cook, and in striking contrast with the frank and straightforward testimony of the Applicant, we found much of Mr Marsden's evidence incredible, and some of it risible.”

At the recent 19th National Conference of Train Crews & Shunting Grades held in York, delegates unanimously and with acclaim carried the following resolution:

Recognition of Brother Greg Tucker
“This Conference thanks Brother Greg Tucker for his long-standing service as Secretary of the Train crew & Shunting Grades Conference.
“Greg is a tireless advocate for the members we represent, a proven fighter for our class and a good friend to us all. This Conference pays its deepest and most sincere thanks for his contribution and commitment to our movement and we send our best wishes to him and his family.
“We agree to hold a minute’s applause in appreciation of the role Greg has played in our trade union. Furthermore we agree to send flowers to Greg and Joan.
“Viva Greg Tucker!”

RMT members can view the web cast of Thursday morning’s Conference on RMT’s website at http://www.rmt.public-i.tv/site/?rmt=67655069360

The Funeral: will take place from 12.30-13.30 on Wednesday, 16 April 2008 at West Norwood Crematorium and Cemetery, Norwood Road, West Norwood, London SE27 9JU. Tel: 020 7926 7900. Just 5 minutes walk from West Norwood train station. Buses 2, 68, 196, 315, 322 and 468 stop outside. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=SE27+9JU+&ie=UTF8&ll=51.445663,-0.10849&spn=0.046433,0.116215&z=13&msa=0&msid=110599981159510383190.0004498867b6450fb5732

A Wake to Celebrate the Life of Greg Tucker: Greg’s many friends, workmates and comrades are welcome to join his family at the funeral and are also invited to attend a celebration of Greg’s life following the funeral from 13.30 hrs at The Bread & Roses Pub http://www.breadandrosespub.com / 68 Clapham Manor St, London SW4 6DZ. http://maps.google.com/maps?q&hl=en&geocode=&q=SW4+6DZ&ie=UTF8&ll=51.468927,-0.1369&spn=0.023205,0.058107&z=14&msa=0&msid=110599981159510383190.0004498867b6450fb5732

Alex Gordon
Monday, 7 April 2008