Xiang Ji’s Bookshelf

Have something in common. According to Timesbusiness, they tied in being the worst paid occupation in the U.K.
another warning sign for you inspiring writers…

Highest paid

1. Directors and chief executives of major organisations.
Average annual salary: £115,576
Job titles include: Chief executive, company director, general manager, managing director (of major organisations).
2. Medical practitioners
Average annual salary: £78,366
Job titles include: Anaesthetist, doctor, hospital consultant, GP, physician, psychiatrist, psycho-analyst, registrar, surgeon.
3. Senior officials in national government
Average annual salary: £68,283
Job titles include: Assistant secretary, diplomat, MEP, MP, permanent secretary.
4. Brokers
Average annual salary: £61,117
Job titles include: Commodity trader, financial broker, foreign exchange dealer, insurance broker, shipbroker, stockbroker.
5. Air traffic controllers
Average annual salary: £60,548
Job titles include: Air traffic controller, controller of aircraft, flight planner, ground movement controller.
6. Financial managers and chartered secretaries
Average annual salary: £58,295
Job titles include: Company registrar, company treasurer, credit manager, finance manager, financial director, merchant banker.
7. Senior officials in local government
Average annual salary: £55,921
Job titles include: Chief executive of local government, town clerk.
8. Police officers (inspectors and above)
Average annual salary: £53,937
Job titles include: Assistant chief constable, chief constable, chief inspector, chief superintendent, deputy chief constable.
9. IT strategy and planning professionals
Average annual salary: £50,143
Job titles include: Computer consultant, software consultant.
10. Solicitors and lawyers, judges and coroners
Average annual salary: £48,908
Job titles include: Articled clerk, barrister, coroner, judge, solicitor.
Lowest paid
1. Waiters and waitresses
Average annual salary: £11,930
2. Bar staff
Average annual salary: £11,930
3. Kitchen and catering assistants
Average annual salary: £12,410
Job titles include: Canteen assistant, catering assistant, counterhand, dining room assistant, kitchen assistant, kitchen porter, washer-up.
4. Travel and tour guides
Average annual salary: £12,561
Job titles include: Coach guide, courier for tour operator, escort, guide
5. Launderers, dry cleaners, pressers
Average annual salary: £12,657
Job titles include: Carpet cleaner, dry cleaner, garment presser, laundry worker.
6. Retail cashiers and check-out operators
Average annual salary: £12,736
Job titles include: Cashier, check-out operator, forecourt attendant, petrol pump attendant, restaurant cashier.
7. Leisure and theme park attendants
Average annual salary: £12,767
Job titles include: Arcade attendant, fairground worker, funfair attendant, usher/usherette.
8. Hairdressers and related occupations
Average annual salary: £13,194
Job titles include: Barber, beautician, hairdresser, make-up artist, manicurist, slimming consultant, barber.
9. Cleaners, domestics
Average annual salary: £13,807
Job titles include: Car valeter, chambermaid, cleaner, domestic cleaner.
10. Nursery Nurses
Average annual salary: £13,872
Job titles include: Creche assistant, nursery assistant, nursery nurse

is an annoyance. It slows the download of the page, its music is headache-inducing and the format is not worth appreciating.

If you watch the video of the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission’s Q&A with the nation’s top four banks’ CEOs, a sense of hopelessness comes onto you. It was almost financial market 101.

You wouldn’t know if you read both Bloomberg and WSJ.

Alcoa Profit Trails Estimates Amid Currency Costs is Bloomberg’s headline, and it seems like Alcoa missed analyst estimates terribly.

Hey, but if you read the Journal story, Alcoa “narrowed losses” and “strengthened revenues.” Things are getting much better.

Both are accurate facts, but the different focus makes one story positive and the other very negative. Who says facts do not lie?

It’s all about partners, duos, trios and so on. The new duos – you can’t ignore it when Meredith Whitney is the top headline of CNBN every month, are unquestionably the famed analyst and her loyal interviewer, Maria Bartiromo. How long will their friendship, and Whitney’s rock star treatment by the network, last? It’s getting boring…

Yu Ying ">talks to the Economist over - yes, tea.

When this is THE headline, you know it’s a slow news day. But after the last two years, everyday might feel like a slow news day.

The WSJ made a giant leap forward today with some professionals shooting/editing its video clips. It’s got a hot hostess too: Kelly Evans. Now let’s see how readers respond.

From Josephe Stiglitz:

And the biggest story of the century, from Bernie’s shoes, boat to his finger nails…