Business
1. Do not dress casually. Dressing appropriately is required when meeting for any sort of business.
2. If you are invited out for dinner, you host will pay, but make an attempt even if it’s insincere to try and pay. Your host will refuse, it just seems proper to try and ask anyways.
3. If you are in a work/business meeting, taking notes in very appreciated and use only blue or black pen, NEVER red, because it is bad luck.
4. A “meishi” or business card is proper to give when at a meeting. It should be given with two hands, bowing.
5. Wait for the boss to sit down and then sit; it’s the same when leaving. A higher status person sits closer to the boss.
6. Usually drinks are handed out at the start of the meeting. They will we handed out in order of rank. Wait for the top guy to drink his first.
7. Meetings can be held in offices or sometimes restaurants. They are almost never held at the host/hostesses house.
8. You should probably exchange business cards as the first matter, even before the bow.
9. The Japanese are more concerned with setting peace between each other first. So at the beginning of meetings there might me a few minutes of ‘chit chat’ and catching up on each other.
10. After the end of a contract signing, make sure to thank everyone and give a polite handshake to the dealer.
http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/00723/index_files/Page357.htm
Showing posts with label business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label business. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Friday, February 24, 2012
Dress for Work Success: A Business Casual Dress Code
Dress for Work Success: A Business Casual Dress Code
http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelationships/a/dress_code.htm
By Susan M. Heathfield,
Your Company's objective in establishing a business casual dress code, is to allow our employees to work comfortably in the workplace. Yet, we still need our employees to project a professional image for our customers, potential employees, and community visitors. Business casual dress is the standard for this dress code.
Because all casual clothing is not suitable for the office, these guidelines will help you determine what is appropriate to wear to work. Clothing that works well for the beach, yard work, dance clubs, exercise sessions, and sports contests may not be appropriate for a professional appearance at work.
Clothing that reveals too much cleavage, your back, your chest, your feet, your stomach or your underwear is not appropriate for a place of business, even in a business casual setting.
Even in a business casual work environment, clothing should be pressed and never wrinkled. Torn, dirty, or frayed clothing is unacceptable. All seams must be finished. Any clothing that has words, terms, or pictures that may be offensive to other employees is unacceptable. Clothing that has the company logo is encouraged. Sports team, university, and fashion brand names on clothing are generally acceptable.
Certain days can be declared dress down days, generally Fridays. On these days, jeans and other more casual clothing, although never clothing potentially offensive to others, are allowed.
Guide to Business Casual Dressing for Work
This is a general overview of appropriate business casual attire. Items that are not appropriate for the office are listed, too. Neither list is all-inclusive and both are open to change. The lists tell you what is generally acceptable as business casual attire and what is generally not acceptable as business casual attire.
No dress code can cover all contingencies so employees must exert a certain amount of judgment in their choice of clothing to wear to work. If you experience uncertainty about acceptable, professional business causal attire for work, please ask your supervisor or your Human Resources staff.
Slacks, Pants, and Suit Pants
Slacks that are similar to Dockers and other makers of cotton or synthetic material pants, wool pants, flannel pants,dressy capris, and nice looking dress synthetic pants are acceptable. Inappropriate slacks or pants include jeans, sweatpants, exercise pants, Bermuda shorts, short shorts, shorts, bib overalls, leggings, and any spandex or other form-fitting pants such as people wear for biking.
Skirts, Dresses, and Skirted Suits
Casual dresses and skirts, and skirts that are split at or below the knee are acceptable. Dress and skirt length should be at a length at which you can sit comfortably in public. Short, tight skirts that ride halfway up the thigh are inappropriate for work. Mini-skirts, skorts, sun dresses, beach dresses, and spaghetti-strap dresses are inappropriate for the office.
Shirts, Tops, Blouses, and Jackets
Casual shirts, dress shirts, sweaters, tops, golf-type shirts, and turtlenecks are acceptable attire for work. Most suit jackets or sport jackets are also acceptable attire for the office, if they violate none of the listed guidelines. Inappropriate attire for work includes tank tops; midriff tops; shirts with potentially offensive words, terms, logos, pictures, cartoons, or slogans; halter-tops; tops with bare shoulders; sweatshirts, and t-shirts unless worn under another blouse, shirt, jacket, or dress.
Shoes and Footwear
Conservative athletic or walking shoes, loafers, clogs, sneakers, boots, flats, dress heels, and leather deck-type shoes are acceptable for work. Wearing no stockings is acceptable in warm weather. Flashy athletic shoes, thongs, flip-flops, slippers, and any shoe with an open toe are not acceptable in the office. Closed toe and closed heel shoes are required in the manufacturing operation area.
Jewelry, Makeup, Perfume, and Cologne
Should be in good taste, with limited visible body piercing. Remember, that some employees are allergic to the chemicals in perfumes and make-up, so wear these substances with restraint.
Hats and Head Covering
Hats are not appropriate in the office. Head Covers that are required for religious purposes or to honor cultural tradition are allowed.
Conclusion
If clothing fails to meet these standards, as determined by the employee’s supervisor and Human Resources staff, the employee will be asked not to wear the inappropriate item to work again. If the problem persists, the employee may be sent home to change clothes and will receive a verbal warning for the first offense. All other policies about personal time use will apply. Progressive disciplinary action will be applied if dress code violations continue.
http://humanresources.about.com/od/workrelationships/a/dress_code.htm
By Susan M. Heathfield,
Your Company's objective in establishing a business casual dress code, is to allow our employees to work comfortably in the workplace. Yet, we still need our employees to project a professional image for our customers, potential employees, and community visitors. Business casual dress is the standard for this dress code.
Because all casual clothing is not suitable for the office, these guidelines will help you determine what is appropriate to wear to work. Clothing that works well for the beach, yard work, dance clubs, exercise sessions, and sports contests may not be appropriate for a professional appearance at work.
Clothing that reveals too much cleavage, your back, your chest, your feet, your stomach or your underwear is not appropriate for a place of business, even in a business casual setting.
Even in a business casual work environment, clothing should be pressed and never wrinkled. Torn, dirty, or frayed clothing is unacceptable. All seams must be finished. Any clothing that has words, terms, or pictures that may be offensive to other employees is unacceptable. Clothing that has the company logo is encouraged. Sports team, university, and fashion brand names on clothing are generally acceptable.
Certain days can be declared dress down days, generally Fridays. On these days, jeans and other more casual clothing, although never clothing potentially offensive to others, are allowed.
Guide to Business Casual Dressing for Work
This is a general overview of appropriate business casual attire. Items that are not appropriate for the office are listed, too. Neither list is all-inclusive and both are open to change. The lists tell you what is generally acceptable as business casual attire and what is generally not acceptable as business casual attire.
No dress code can cover all contingencies so employees must exert a certain amount of judgment in their choice of clothing to wear to work. If you experience uncertainty about acceptable, professional business causal attire for work, please ask your supervisor or your Human Resources staff.
Slacks, Pants, and Suit Pants
Slacks that are similar to Dockers and other makers of cotton or synthetic material pants, wool pants, flannel pants,dressy capris, and nice looking dress synthetic pants are acceptable. Inappropriate slacks or pants include jeans, sweatpants, exercise pants, Bermuda shorts, short shorts, shorts, bib overalls, leggings, and any spandex or other form-fitting pants such as people wear for biking.
Skirts, Dresses, and Skirted Suits
Casual dresses and skirts, and skirts that are split at or below the knee are acceptable. Dress and skirt length should be at a length at which you can sit comfortably in public. Short, tight skirts that ride halfway up the thigh are inappropriate for work. Mini-skirts, skorts, sun dresses, beach dresses, and spaghetti-strap dresses are inappropriate for the office.
Shirts, Tops, Blouses, and Jackets
Casual shirts, dress shirts, sweaters, tops, golf-type shirts, and turtlenecks are acceptable attire for work. Most suit jackets or sport jackets are also acceptable attire for the office, if they violate none of the listed guidelines. Inappropriate attire for work includes tank tops; midriff tops; shirts with potentially offensive words, terms, logos, pictures, cartoons, or slogans; halter-tops; tops with bare shoulders; sweatshirts, and t-shirts unless worn under another blouse, shirt, jacket, or dress.
Shoes and Footwear
Conservative athletic or walking shoes, loafers, clogs, sneakers, boots, flats, dress heels, and leather deck-type shoes are acceptable for work. Wearing no stockings is acceptable in warm weather. Flashy athletic shoes, thongs, flip-flops, slippers, and any shoe with an open toe are not acceptable in the office. Closed toe and closed heel shoes are required in the manufacturing operation area.
Jewelry, Makeup, Perfume, and Cologne
Should be in good taste, with limited visible body piercing. Remember, that some employees are allergic to the chemicals in perfumes and make-up, so wear these substances with restraint.
Hats and Head Covering
Hats are not appropriate in the office. Head Covers that are required for religious purposes or to honor cultural tradition are allowed.
Conclusion
If clothing fails to meet these standards, as determined by the employee’s supervisor and Human Resources staff, the employee will be asked not to wear the inappropriate item to work again. If the problem persists, the employee may be sent home to change clothes and will receive a verbal warning for the first offense. All other policies about personal time use will apply. Progressive disciplinary action will be applied if dress code violations continue.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Insurance Coverage & Bad Faith
Many insurance claims require a prompt and objective review of coverage issues. The critical factor in any coverage claim is the interpretation of the applicable policy. The insurance defense attorneys at Lewis Wagner can assist you in interpreting that policy and analyzing the validity of first and third party insurance coverage issues.
Our insurance defense attorneys provide practical solutions to complex insurance disputes involving self-insured parties, businesses and insurance companies. Our team of insurance defense attorneys has advised individuals and businesses about insurance coverage issues including insurance policy coverage opinions, declaratory judgments on policy coverage and defense of insurers against breach of contract and bad faith claims.
We handle insurance coverage disputes and defend declaratory judgment and bad faith actions with respect to:
Commercial and construction liability insurance
Personal and commercial auto insurance
Homeowner insurance
Life, health, and disability insurance
Environmental insurance
“Claims made” and professional liability insurance
Duties to additional insureds and certificate holders
Property insurance
Workers' compensation insurance
Product liability insurance
Business interruption insurance
Our insurance defense attorneys provide practical solutions to complex insurance disputes involving self-insured parties, businesses and insurance companies. Our team of insurance defense attorneys has advised individuals and businesses about insurance coverage issues including insurance policy coverage opinions, declaratory judgments on policy coverage and defense of insurers against breach of contract and bad faith claims.
We handle insurance coverage disputes and defend declaratory judgment and bad faith actions with respect to:
Commercial and construction liability insurance
Personal and commercial auto insurance
Homeowner insurance
Life, health, and disability insurance
Environmental insurance
“Claims made” and professional liability insurance
Duties to additional insureds and certificate holders
Property insurance
Workers' compensation insurance
Product liability insurance
Business interruption insurance
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Why You Should Carry Other People’s Business Cards With You
Why You Should Carry Other People’s Business Cards With You
Surely, if you are in business, you are in the habit of carrying your business cards with you wherever you go. After all, you never know who you will meet, and when you meet people, you never know who that person is or who that person might know. With a healthy stack of business cards in your pocket or pocketbook, you are always ready to pass the card along to someone who might become a future client or customer. But while most people in business know the benefits of carrying business cards with them, and practice this sound business practice without any problems, far fewer businessmen and businesswomen ever think to carry around business cards that belong to someone else. The practice of carrying around business cards that belong to others can be extremely beneficial; here are a couple reasons why.
As a businessperson, you understand that any conversations with strangers are golden. Every opportunity to talk to someone you do not know just might be the exact opportunity you have been looking for. But if a stranger thinks that you are starting a conversation with them strictly to sell them something, they are likely to be turned off. Naturally, people are protective of their money; they don’t want to talk to you if they think you’re trying to get some of their money in your pocket! But you have a pocket full of safe conversation starters at the ready when you have others’ business cards. Perhaps you will overhear someone in a shop in the mall, talking about how they need a plumber. With your favorite plumber’s business card stashed away in your wallet, you are ready to jump into the conversation. “Excuse me, but I heard you say you need a plumber; here, take this business card – it’s for the guy we use on our house; we have always been really happy with his work!” In this way, you have opened conversation without trying to sell them something of your own. The conversation is sure to cycle back around to you, and to what you do for a living.
Also, people are inclined to remember someone who helped them out without any promise of something in return. You are sure to unload one of your own business cards once the conversation comes back around to you. And you will have yourself a new customer the next time something arises in this person’s life that you might be able to help with.
This might seem like a small step in improving your business, but you never know what “small step” might turn into your next big thing.
http://www.makingmoneymaverick.com/?p=8
Surely, if you are in business, you are in the habit of carrying your business cards with you wherever you go. After all, you never know who you will meet, and when you meet people, you never know who that person is or who that person might know. With a healthy stack of business cards in your pocket or pocketbook, you are always ready to pass the card along to someone who might become a future client or customer. But while most people in business know the benefits of carrying business cards with them, and practice this sound business practice without any problems, far fewer businessmen and businesswomen ever think to carry around business cards that belong to someone else. The practice of carrying around business cards that belong to others can be extremely beneficial; here are a couple reasons why.
As a businessperson, you understand that any conversations with strangers are golden. Every opportunity to talk to someone you do not know just might be the exact opportunity you have been looking for. But if a stranger thinks that you are starting a conversation with them strictly to sell them something, they are likely to be turned off. Naturally, people are protective of their money; they don’t want to talk to you if they think you’re trying to get some of their money in your pocket! But you have a pocket full of safe conversation starters at the ready when you have others’ business cards. Perhaps you will overhear someone in a shop in the mall, talking about how they need a plumber. With your favorite plumber’s business card stashed away in your wallet, you are ready to jump into the conversation. “Excuse me, but I heard you say you need a plumber; here, take this business card – it’s for the guy we use on our house; we have always been really happy with his work!” In this way, you have opened conversation without trying to sell them something of your own. The conversation is sure to cycle back around to you, and to what you do for a living.
Also, people are inclined to remember someone who helped them out without any promise of something in return. You are sure to unload one of your own business cards once the conversation comes back around to you. And you will have yourself a new customer the next time something arises in this person’s life that you might be able to help with.
This might seem like a small step in improving your business, but you never know what “small step” might turn into your next big thing.
http://www.makingmoneymaverick.com/?p=8
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Alitalia and their $39 ticket mistake to Cyprus
Alitalia Airlines is a carrier out of Italy that made a slight mistake on its website in 2006 regarding a fare from Toronto to Cyprus. The fare advertised was $39 – in business class! It was supposed to be $3,900. The rate was posted on a travel website and the rush was on. As many as 2,000 tickets were sold for this price. While Alitalia initially tried to cancel all the tickets purchased for the wrong price, they eventually decided to honor the mistaken fares. If all 2,000 people actually used their tickets, it adds up to a $7.72 million loss to the airline.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
How to Tell Someone They Are Wrong
How to Tell Someone They Are Wrong
Learning how to give feedback takes a lot of discipline, control and gumption. Giving feedback is not just about going to a person and telling them what we think of them, we should go through a systematic thinking process prior to giving them feedback.
Let’s learn the 9 steps to giving feedback based on the following scenario. Joe, a new colleague of ours has just completed his first corporate sales presentation to a client. Things went smoothly in the presentation but there where a few areas that we felt Joe could improve in. So let’s apply the 9 steps of giving feedback.
1. Timing: Feedback should always be given as soon as possible after the incident has happened. A good time to give Joe feedback would be on the ride back to the office.
2. Be clear and be specific: Be clear what we want to say and be able to give specific examples to establish our point. Example: Joe mumbled 3 times during the presentation- whenever he came to slides related to the company history.
3. Purpose of giving the feedback. If the purpose for us giving the feedback is vindictive in nature and its about making us feel better then the feedback should never be given. However if the feedback is about improving Joe or enhancing the relationship between us and Joe or Joe and another party then the feedback serves a good purpose. In this scenario it is to improve Joe’s presentation skill.
4. Prepare the person for feedback: Never launch into feedback immediately. Always set an expectation that allows the listener to know what to expect. A good suggestion here would actually be asking the person whether they would like to discuss the incident:
Example: “Joe, can we discuss on how the presentation went just now”
5. Emphasize on the positive: When giving feedback if possible it should always begin by emphasizing on the positive. This will ensure that they listen carefully.
Example: “You did a good job at the presentation just now, the clients were impressed. However I felt you could have been even better.”
6. Own the feedback that you give: Notice the word “I felt” above; or other words such as “I notice” or “I saw”. Show that the feedback is coming from you and it is based on your own observation and judgment. Remember you are not to evaluate or criticize what they did rather bring it up as how you perceived the situation.
7. The Behavior not the Person: Focus on the behavior of the person rather than the attitude or personality of the person, be specific and clear when stating this.
Example: “Joe, during the presentation there were several occasions when I could not hear you clearly. All I heard were a series of mumbles, especially when you were explaining the parts related to the company history. On several occasions the clients were even looking at one another and giving each other looks. Did you know you were mumbling?”
8. Focus on things that can be controlled: Whenever we give feedback make sure that it is on things that can be controlled. Likewise whatever Joe’s reason is for mumbling, make sure it is focused on things that he can control, not things that cannot be controlled. The above feedback on the mumbling can be rectified by Joe but the constant disruption during the presentation by the client’s telephone cannot be controlled by the two of you.
9. Be solution focus: Whenever a feedback is brought up, we must make sure that we are willing to seek a solution with the person. In overcoming the problem or resolving the issue.
Example: Joe: “You know what, I have been in this organization for only 6 days and I have not had the time to go through the history of the company thoroughly. Well I suppose the mumbling was just a way of hiding my nervousness.”
You: “Its good that you brought this up, is there any way I can help you in learning the company’s history”
Feedback is a way to let people know how effective they are in what they are doing, how they affect us or others. Giving feedback to someone helps them become more effective and in turn it supports us and others to become more effective and build better relationship. So let’s start giving feedback. Help them help themselves and help us help ourselves.
Learning how to give feedback takes a lot of discipline, control and gumption. Giving feedback is not just about going to a person and telling them what we think of them, we should go through a systematic thinking process prior to giving them feedback.
Let’s learn the 9 steps to giving feedback based on the following scenario. Joe, a new colleague of ours has just completed his first corporate sales presentation to a client. Things went smoothly in the presentation but there where a few areas that we felt Joe could improve in. So let’s apply the 9 steps of giving feedback.
1. Timing: Feedback should always be given as soon as possible after the incident has happened. A good time to give Joe feedback would be on the ride back to the office.
2. Be clear and be specific: Be clear what we want to say and be able to give specific examples to establish our point. Example: Joe mumbled 3 times during the presentation- whenever he came to slides related to the company history.
3. Purpose of giving the feedback. If the purpose for us giving the feedback is vindictive in nature and its about making us feel better then the feedback should never be given. However if the feedback is about improving Joe or enhancing the relationship between us and Joe or Joe and another party then the feedback serves a good purpose. In this scenario it is to improve Joe’s presentation skill.
4. Prepare the person for feedback: Never launch into feedback immediately. Always set an expectation that allows the listener to know what to expect. A good suggestion here would actually be asking the person whether they would like to discuss the incident:
Example: “Joe, can we discuss on how the presentation went just now”
5. Emphasize on the positive: When giving feedback if possible it should always begin by emphasizing on the positive. This will ensure that they listen carefully.
Example: “You did a good job at the presentation just now, the clients were impressed. However I felt you could have been even better.”
6. Own the feedback that you give: Notice the word “I felt” above; or other words such as “I notice” or “I saw”. Show that the feedback is coming from you and it is based on your own observation and judgment. Remember you are not to evaluate or criticize what they did rather bring it up as how you perceived the situation.
7. The Behavior not the Person: Focus on the behavior of the person rather than the attitude or personality of the person, be specific and clear when stating this.
Example: “Joe, during the presentation there were several occasions when I could not hear you clearly. All I heard were a series of mumbles, especially when you were explaining the parts related to the company history. On several occasions the clients were even looking at one another and giving each other looks. Did you know you were mumbling?”
8. Focus on things that can be controlled: Whenever we give feedback make sure that it is on things that can be controlled. Likewise whatever Joe’s reason is for mumbling, make sure it is focused on things that he can control, not things that cannot be controlled. The above feedback on the mumbling can be rectified by Joe but the constant disruption during the presentation by the client’s telephone cannot be controlled by the two of you.
9. Be solution focus: Whenever a feedback is brought up, we must make sure that we are willing to seek a solution with the person. In overcoming the problem or resolving the issue.
Example: Joe: “You know what, I have been in this organization for only 6 days and I have not had the time to go through the history of the company thoroughly. Well I suppose the mumbling was just a way of hiding my nervousness.”
You: “Its good that you brought this up, is there any way I can help you in learning the company’s history”
Feedback is a way to let people know how effective they are in what they are doing, how they affect us or others. Giving feedback to someone helps them become more effective and in turn it supports us and others to become more effective and build better relationship. So let’s start giving feedback. Help them help themselves and help us help ourselves.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
Car owners - Don't pump full tank of petrol
Car owners - Don't pump full tank of petrol
Many of us are not aware that the petrol kiosk pump has a return pipe-line (in
Pink ). When the petrol tank (in the car) reaches full level, there is a
mechanism to trigger off the pump latch and at the same time a return-valve is
opened (at the top of the pump station) to allow excess petrol to flow back
into the sump. But the return petrol has already pass through the meter,
meaning you are donating the petrol back to SHELL/CALTEX/MOBIL/PETRONAS and others.
Many of us are not aware that the petrol kiosk pump has a return pipe-line (in
Pink ). When the petrol tank (in the car) reaches full level, there is a
mechanism to trigger off the pump latch and at the same time a return-valve is
opened (at the top of the pump station) to allow excess petrol to flow back
into the sump. But the return petrol has already pass through the meter,
meaning you are donating the petrol back to SHELL/CALTEX/MOBIL/PETRONAS and others.
Friday, October 15, 2010
4 Reason to Start a Business Blog Now
4 Reason to Start a Business Blog Now
Increase the reputation of your company:
Blogging helps you to create your company’s reputation online, as well as other companies can trust you and can do business with you. Posting your companies mission, values etc will help you in telling people what exactly your business is about and what your company’s goals are. Telling your company history will help you in getting connected with your clients or prospective customers. You can also tell them with which all companies you have links or contacts. Answer to all their queries, problems which will help you in building your online image and brand reputation.
Increase sales:
The online business faces only one big disadvantage that is considered to be is one to one interaction with the clients. However, blogging helps you to know what are your strengths and weakness. Blog readers can become your best customers as you will get to share all the important information with them as well as it will help you in selling your products and services by simply telling them the advantages of your products or services through your blog.
Increase traffic from search engines:
Web searchers always search for fresh content and every time updating your business blog means it will increase the websites ranking very fast as Blogs are very search engines friendly and they ranks high on the search engines like Google. So, with regular updates on blog and rich content will further increase the traffic on your blog.
Create authority:
Website and blog have a major difference as websites only tell about the company’s profile, whereas blogs helps us telling the current status of the company and the events taking place in it. In a Blog you can allow your customers to leave the comments, queries as well as feedback regarding your blog, whereas these facilities are not available on the website. To grow your business than this is the way to let your customers leave a voice in action.
http://www.techiemania.com/4-reason-to-start-a-business-blog-now.html
Increase the reputation of your company:
Blogging helps you to create your company’s reputation online, as well as other companies can trust you and can do business with you. Posting your companies mission, values etc will help you in telling people what exactly your business is about and what your company’s goals are. Telling your company history will help you in getting connected with your clients or prospective customers. You can also tell them with which all companies you have links or contacts. Answer to all their queries, problems which will help you in building your online image and brand reputation.
Increase sales:
The online business faces only one big disadvantage that is considered to be is one to one interaction with the clients. However, blogging helps you to know what are your strengths and weakness. Blog readers can become your best customers as you will get to share all the important information with them as well as it will help you in selling your products and services by simply telling them the advantages of your products or services through your blog.
Increase traffic from search engines:
Web searchers always search for fresh content and every time updating your business blog means it will increase the websites ranking very fast as Blogs are very search engines friendly and they ranks high on the search engines like Google. So, with regular updates on blog and rich content will further increase the traffic on your blog.
Create authority:
Website and blog have a major difference as websites only tell about the company’s profile, whereas blogs helps us telling the current status of the company and the events taking place in it. In a Blog you can allow your customers to leave the comments, queries as well as feedback regarding your blog, whereas these facilities are not available on the website. To grow your business than this is the way to let your customers leave a voice in action.
http://www.techiemania.com/4-reason-to-start-a-business-blog-now.html
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Cyber Bullying
Cyber Bullying
In Our Connected Digital Age Bullies Have a New Weapon With Which to Torment Their Targets
Home sweet home is no longer a sanctuary into which victims of bullying can escape their tormentors. Bullies can now stalk their prey after school hours long after their targets have gone home.
Social isolation, public humiliation and malicious gossip have long been the stock in trade of bullies. With the the advent of modern communications such as email, chat, text messaging and cell phones as well as the ability to publish online on websites, blogs and social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace making their message instantly available to millions, the bully's reach and powers of social manipulation have been increased exponentially.
Parents are well advised to pay close attention to how this new threat can impact their children. We have already seen too many cases of children subjected to a cyber bullying attack who have been so traumatized that they have committed suicide as a direct result.
"Bullycide" is the term that has been used to describe suicides caused by relentless bullying. "Cyberbullycide", to coin a phrase, would describe someone driven to suicide following a cyberbullying attack.
In the book Bullycide In America: Moms speak out about the bullying/suicide connection, compiled by Brenda High, the story of Jeffery Johnston serves as a warning to other parents about cyber bullying.
Jeffrey's mother Debbie Johnston writes,
"A bully doesn’t have to be eye to eye to bully someone. Sometimes he or she gets into cyberspace, and then there’s no place to hide from their torment.
With the keyboard as his weapon, the bully violated the sanctity of my home and murdered my child just as surely as if he had crawled through a broken window and choked the life from Jeff with his bare hands. It was not a death that was quick and merciful. It was carried out with lies, rumors and calculated cruelty portioned out day by day.”
Cyber bullies, like any bully, want to feel power and control over their victim. They want to get under their victim's skin. Many kids live and breathe the internet. It is essential to how they see themselves and how they socialize with their peers. The computer is as essential a social tool today as the telephone was decades ago.
This is part of why a cyber bullying attack can be so devastating. Cyber bullies cut to the core of their victim's social life and self image. Targets are faced with threats and intimidation in emails and instant messages, but it is not only fear that the cyber bully can instill over the web.
The potential for public humiliation has been expanded from a target's classmates or school to effectively the entire world, or at least the wired world. Cyberbullies have created websites dedicated to insulting, mocking and humiliating their prey in the most vicious way possible. To be humiliated in front of a classroom of students is bad enough but to be humiliated for the amusement of thousands is more than most kids can bear.
The target becomes the laughing stock for the entire school as word is spread at the speed of light over broadband connections about the latest humiliating website update, blog post or video upload.
It's not good enough anymore for bullies to simply beat up their victims. With digital video becoming ubiquitous beatings are now digitally recorded and uploaded so everyone can have a front row seat and the bloodlust can be enjoyed again and again.
How can cyber bullies be so heartless? Perhaps the internet lends itself to this indifference. Bullies don't have to see their victims or answer for their actions. Like the cowards they are they hide behind their computers - behind a veil of anonymity.
Even though the effects of cyberbullying can be every bit as dangerous as offline bullying, if not more so, you as a parent are even less likely to hear about it happening to your child.
To understand why you have to understand how important access to the internet is for many kids. They will remain silent about cyberbullying because they are afraid if their parents find out they will go off the deep end and cut off access to their computer, internet and/or mobile phone.
Years ago this would be the equivalent of a child who complained of bullying being grounded and losing their telephone privileges! Loss of internet access would be deemed by many kids now to be the cruelest of punishments. Try not to over-react, it is the bully not the victim who should be punished.
http://www.overcomebullying.org/cyber-bullying.html
In Our Connected Digital Age Bullies Have a New Weapon With Which to Torment Their Targets
Home sweet home is no longer a sanctuary into which victims of bullying can escape their tormentors. Bullies can now stalk their prey after school hours long after their targets have gone home.
Social isolation, public humiliation and malicious gossip have long been the stock in trade of bullies. With the the advent of modern communications such as email, chat, text messaging and cell phones as well as the ability to publish online on websites, blogs and social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace making their message instantly available to millions, the bully's reach and powers of social manipulation have been increased exponentially.
Parents are well advised to pay close attention to how this new threat can impact their children. We have already seen too many cases of children subjected to a cyber bullying attack who have been so traumatized that they have committed suicide as a direct result.
"Bullycide" is the term that has been used to describe suicides caused by relentless bullying. "Cyberbullycide", to coin a phrase, would describe someone driven to suicide following a cyberbullying attack.
In the book Bullycide In America: Moms speak out about the bullying/suicide connection, compiled by Brenda High, the story of Jeffery Johnston serves as a warning to other parents about cyber bullying.
Jeffrey's mother Debbie Johnston writes,
"A bully doesn’t have to be eye to eye to bully someone. Sometimes he or she gets into cyberspace, and then there’s no place to hide from their torment.
With the keyboard as his weapon, the bully violated the sanctity of my home and murdered my child just as surely as if he had crawled through a broken window and choked the life from Jeff with his bare hands. It was not a death that was quick and merciful. It was carried out with lies, rumors and calculated cruelty portioned out day by day.”
Cyber bullies, like any bully, want to feel power and control over their victim. They want to get under their victim's skin. Many kids live and breathe the internet. It is essential to how they see themselves and how they socialize with their peers. The computer is as essential a social tool today as the telephone was decades ago.
This is part of why a cyber bullying attack can be so devastating. Cyber bullies cut to the core of their victim's social life and self image. Targets are faced with threats and intimidation in emails and instant messages, but it is not only fear that the cyber bully can instill over the web.
The potential for public humiliation has been expanded from a target's classmates or school to effectively the entire world, or at least the wired world. Cyberbullies have created websites dedicated to insulting, mocking and humiliating their prey in the most vicious way possible. To be humiliated in front of a classroom of students is bad enough but to be humiliated for the amusement of thousands is more than most kids can bear.
The target becomes the laughing stock for the entire school as word is spread at the speed of light over broadband connections about the latest humiliating website update, blog post or video upload.
It's not good enough anymore for bullies to simply beat up their victims. With digital video becoming ubiquitous beatings are now digitally recorded and uploaded so everyone can have a front row seat and the bloodlust can be enjoyed again and again.
How can cyber bullies be so heartless? Perhaps the internet lends itself to this indifference. Bullies don't have to see their victims or answer for their actions. Like the cowards they are they hide behind their computers - behind a veil of anonymity.
Even though the effects of cyberbullying can be every bit as dangerous as offline bullying, if not more so, you as a parent are even less likely to hear about it happening to your child.
To understand why you have to understand how important access to the internet is for many kids. They will remain silent about cyberbullying because they are afraid if their parents find out they will go off the deep end and cut off access to their computer, internet and/or mobile phone.
Years ago this would be the equivalent of a child who complained of bullying being grounded and losing their telephone privileges! Loss of internet access would be deemed by many kids now to be the cruelest of punishments. Try not to over-react, it is the bully not the victim who should be punished.
http://www.overcomebullying.org/cyber-bullying.html
Monday, March 1, 2010
A bug's life
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/473521?ln=en
A bug's life
by Kate Concannon
This creepy quartet of bugs are out to give the approach to artificial intelligence embraced in rival robo darlings such as AIBO a run for its money. And with a retail price equivalent to only one thirty-seventh of those pricier electro-pets, it’s a run to be reckoned with.
While the traditional approach to AI relies on processors and complex programming to function as a brain and thus respond to the environment, B.I.O Bugs, on the other hand, rely on much simpler — and cheaper — computing technology.
Whilst they do contain several basic chips, they are modelled upon the breed of robots that use relatively uncomplicated elctronics circuitry to create “nervous networks”.
It is then left to these networks to develop and produce emergent, life-like behaviours. Rather like an ultra-simplified version of Steve Grand’s orang-utan baby, Lucy.
Mark Tilden, bug designer and roboticist/physicist at federal labs in New Mexico, explained his ‘brainless’ approach: “Ninety-nine percent of creatures on this planet do very well without any brain at all. I’ve tapped into how they do that.”
For robots that come cheap as chips, the bugs get up to some impressive mischief. “They’re wired to learn,” explained toy expert Chris Byrne. “You can put them in a box, and it can be stymied, then learn to climb out and it will remember the next time.”
Each of the four bug species, Predator, Acceleraider, Destroyer and Stomper, has its own special talent, and they have a penchant for fighting.
A hand controller is included so the master can impose his or her authority, but the bugs will just as happily crawl about on their own, exploring and learning. But be warned! If you ignore the bug it will give out a death scream, and if you play too rough, it plays back rougher.
A bug's life
by Kate Concannon
This creepy quartet of bugs are out to give the approach to artificial intelligence embraced in rival robo darlings such as AIBO a run for its money. And with a retail price equivalent to only one thirty-seventh of those pricier electro-pets, it’s a run to be reckoned with.
While the traditional approach to AI relies on processors and complex programming to function as a brain and thus respond to the environment, B.I.O Bugs, on the other hand, rely on much simpler — and cheaper — computing technology.
Whilst they do contain several basic chips, they are modelled upon the breed of robots that use relatively uncomplicated elctronics circuitry to create “nervous networks”.
It is then left to these networks to develop and produce emergent, life-like behaviours. Rather like an ultra-simplified version of Steve Grand’s orang-utan baby, Lucy.
Mark Tilden, bug designer and roboticist/physicist at federal labs in New Mexico, explained his ‘brainless’ approach: “Ninety-nine percent of creatures on this planet do very well without any brain at all. I’ve tapped into how they do that.”
For robots that come cheap as chips, the bugs get up to some impressive mischief. “They’re wired to learn,” explained toy expert Chris Byrne. “You can put them in a box, and it can be stymied, then learn to climb out and it will remember the next time.”
Each of the four bug species, Predator, Acceleraider, Destroyer and Stomper, has its own special talent, and they have a penchant for fighting.
A hand controller is included so the master can impose his or her authority, but the bugs will just as happily crawl about on their own, exploring and learning. But be warned! If you ignore the bug it will give out a death scream, and if you play too rough, it plays back rougher.
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