Sunday, November 2, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Canal in Scotland
When in my country have good canal at like this?
At the beginning there were two canals:
Canal Forth and Clyde was built in 1777 between harbors Grangemouth and Falkirk connecting Glasgow with west cost of Scotland.
Canal Union between Falkirk and Edinburgh was finished in 1822.
Because of geographical difficulties, which created a difference of 79ft.in elevation, the two canals were connected by 11 locks.
In 1963, after 150 yrs of existence of this water way with 11 locks the construction of a huge water carousel started. This extraordinary idea was finished in 2002 and became a symbol of Scotland. This invention saves not only time but also energy.
This is the only rotational boat transporter in the world. It has two arms and each arm forms a kind of huge tub filled with water. Boats enter the tub, then the tub locks up and the huge arm starts rotating
Closing the gate , regulation of level of water and “tubs” rotation
Takes 15 min. only.
The “tubs” are filled according the Archimedes’ Law.
So the weight of “tubs” are balanced.
To open the upper and lower lock and turn the whole system
by 180◦ they need an engine of 22.5 kW which only use 1.5 kWh
At the beginning there were two canals:
Canal Forth and Clyde was built in 1777 between harbors Grangemouth and Falkirk connecting Glasgow with west cost of Scotland.
Canal Union between Falkirk and Edinburgh was finished in 1822.
Because of geographical difficulties, which created a difference of 79ft.in elevation, the two canals were connected by 11 locks.
In 1963, after 150 yrs of existence of this water way with 11 locks the construction of a huge water carousel started. This extraordinary idea was finished in 2002 and became a symbol of Scotland. This invention saves not only time but also energy.
This is the only rotational boat transporter in the world. It has two arms and each arm forms a kind of huge tub filled with water. Boats enter the tub, then the tub locks up and the huge arm starts rotating
Closing the gate , regulation of level of water and “tubs” rotation
Takes 15 min. only.
The “tubs” are filled according the Archimedes’ Law.
So the weight of “tubs” are balanced.
To open the upper and lower lock and turn the whole system
by 180◦ they need an engine of 22.5 kW which only use 1.5 kWh
Adidas Batik
The folks at Overkill Shop sent over some information regarding the latest release for adidas' Materials of the World project.The nation in focus this time is the archipelago nation of Indonesia .
The inspiration comes from Batik-Made, beautiful fabrics with intricate details found on the island of Java . The ancient artof dying the fabric through a series of procedures makes Batik-Made a fabric of Javanese royalty and one of six higharts of Indonesia . Now, you can enjoy it too in the forms of adidas Originals Metro Attitude Hi, track jacket, and cap. Thesneaker also comes in women's version. However, like Batik-Made, only a few can own since there are only 1000 pairs available globally.
The inspiration comes from Batik-Made, beautiful fabrics with intricate details found on the island of Java . The ancient artof dying the fabric through a series of procedures makes Batik-Made a fabric of Javanese royalty and one of six higharts of Indonesia . Now, you can enjoy it too in the forms of adidas Originals Metro Attitude Hi, track jacket, and cap. Thesneaker also comes in women's version. However, like Batik-Made, only a few can own since there are only 1000 pairs available globally.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Have and Show Trust in Your Staff
Rule 23
“It is happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust”
Samuel Jhonson
You have a computer I take it? Ok, it crashes from time to time-that’s a given. You have a car. It breaks a car. It breaks down for time to time, even if it’s only puncture-that, too, is a given. Now you don’t eye either of these warily, expecting them let you down, watching them like a hawk in case they show any sign of breaking down, do you? No, of course not. So stop watching your staff like that. They are a tool to getting a job done. They will break down, crash, whatever, from time to time but we accept their limitations-Rule 11 and we allow them to make mistakes-Rule 10 and we accept that we aren’t managing them but their processes instead.
And if you can make that move to trusting your staff you must show them that you are doing exactly that. Trust not only has to be done but it also has to be seen to be done. Sometimes you’ll have to make a big show of really leaving them alone to get on with it.
You show them that you trust them by backing off, leaving them alone to get on with the job. Stop peering over their shoulders, checking every few moments, looking up nervously every time they move or cough or get up. Relax and let them get on with it. You can still ask them to report back at the end of the day/week and encourage them to come to you to discuss any problems. Just make it clear you trust them to do it, and you are always there if they need support or guidance.
But, I hear you say, what if I really don’t trust them? What if I know they’re a lazy, good-for-nothing, shiftless bunch of liberty takers? What if, indeed? Whose team is it? Who employed, trained, kept such a bunch of monkeys?
Sorry, bit harsh, but sometimes we need to face the reality. If you can’t trust your team you need to look to your own management skills-or keep reading. A good team leader (that’s you) has a good team following them. If the team is faulty, then the leadership has to be challenged-that’s not going to be you. If the team is right, you can trust them. If the team really can’t be trusted (and are you sure about that?) then it needs to be changed.
The Rules of Management by Richard Templar.
“It is happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust”
Samuel Jhonson
You have a computer I take it? Ok, it crashes from time to time-that’s a given. You have a car. It breaks a car. It breaks down for time to time, even if it’s only puncture-that, too, is a given. Now you don’t eye either of these warily, expecting them let you down, watching them like a hawk in case they show any sign of breaking down, do you? No, of course not. So stop watching your staff like that. They are a tool to getting a job done. They will break down, crash, whatever, from time to time but we accept their limitations-Rule 11 and we allow them to make mistakes-Rule 10 and we accept that we aren’t managing them but their processes instead.
And if you can make that move to trusting your staff you must show them that you are doing exactly that. Trust not only has to be done but it also has to be seen to be done. Sometimes you’ll have to make a big show of really leaving them alone to get on with it.
You show them that you trust them by backing off, leaving them alone to get on with the job. Stop peering over their shoulders, checking every few moments, looking up nervously every time they move or cough or get up. Relax and let them get on with it. You can still ask them to report back at the end of the day/week and encourage them to come to you to discuss any problems. Just make it clear you trust them to do it, and you are always there if they need support or guidance.
But, I hear you say, what if I really don’t trust them? What if I know they’re a lazy, good-for-nothing, shiftless bunch of liberty takers? What if, indeed? Whose team is it? Who employed, trained, kept such a bunch of monkeys?
Sorry, bit harsh, but sometimes we need to face the reality. If you can’t trust your team you need to look to your own management skills-or keep reading. A good team leader (that’s you) has a good team following them. If the team is faulty, then the leadership has to be challenged-that’s not going to be you. If the team is right, you can trust them. If the team really can’t be trusted (and are you sure about that?) then it needs to be changed.
The Rules of Management by Richard Templar.
Photo by Microsoft
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Maintain Good Relationships and Friendships.
Rule 93
“Don’t flatter yourself that friendship authorizes you to say disagreeable things to your intimates. The nearer you come into relation with a person, the more necessary do tact and courtesy become.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes, American poet
I have a friend who has a catchphrase – don’t we all? – and his is, ‘I don’t see how that can possibly be good be good manners’. He uses it if anyone talks across him at meetings or steal his ideas. I love it because it says everything about poor working relationships. Good manners – what a simple concept but how big a subject.
It is easy to maintain good relationships and friendships at work if you maintain good manners. This doesn’t have to mean opening doors for people or carrying their suitcases. Good manners is being polite, warm, human, compassionate, helpful, welcoming – all the things you’d be for your customers, or should be (I’m sure you are).
This becomes tricky when it comes to somebody you don’t like, have clashed with in the past or who has been rude or unpleasant to you. But that’s when it’s most important to use this skill.
Even the rudest and most unpleasant person will find it very hard to keep being rude if you are pleasant, smiling and open with them (especially if you can hear to throw in a little flattery about their expertise on a subject – if its justified, of course).
Try to see your colleagues as if they went equally warm on yourself. If you always approach everyone with cheerful optimism you’ll find that they simply have no choice but to respond in kind. Offer help when you can. Speak to everyone as if they were your equal – as indeed they are. Look for the positive points in people – find something to like or respect about them and focus on that. Take as much time with the most modest of employees as you would with the highest. Treat everyone the same – with respect and decency.
The Rules of Management by Richard Templar
“Don’t flatter yourself that friendship authorizes you to say disagreeable things to your intimates. The nearer you come into relation with a person, the more necessary do tact and courtesy become.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes, American poet
I have a friend who has a catchphrase – don’t we all? – and his is, ‘I don’t see how that can possibly be good be good manners’. He uses it if anyone talks across him at meetings or steal his ideas. I love it because it says everything about poor working relationships. Good manners – what a simple concept but how big a subject.
It is easy to maintain good relationships and friendships at work if you maintain good manners. This doesn’t have to mean opening doors for people or carrying their suitcases. Good manners is being polite, warm, human, compassionate, helpful, welcoming – all the things you’d be for your customers, or should be (I’m sure you are).
This becomes tricky when it comes to somebody you don’t like, have clashed with in the past or who has been rude or unpleasant to you. But that’s when it’s most important to use this skill.
Even the rudest and most unpleasant person will find it very hard to keep being rude if you are pleasant, smiling and open with them (especially if you can hear to throw in a little flattery about their expertise on a subject – if its justified, of course).
Try to see your colleagues as if they went equally warm on yourself. If you always approach everyone with cheerful optimism you’ll find that they simply have no choice but to respond in kind. Offer help when you can. Speak to everyone as if they were your equal – as indeed they are. Look for the positive points in people – find something to like or respect about them and focus on that. Take as much time with the most modest of employees as you would with the highest. Treat everyone the same – with respect and decency.
The Rules of Management by Richard Templar
Photo by Microsoft Office
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Be in Command and Take Charge
Rule 99
It is acknowledged that many leaders do not have empathy, but it observed that those who lack empathy lack the ability to move people. Leaders who can instill an atmosphere of working together gain respect, taking charge without taking control.
Warren Bennis, On Becoming a Leader
Warren Bennis, On Becoming a Leader
You are a manager, so manage. Managing means just that, managing. Managing to work effectively. Managing to be in charge. Managing to be in command.
There seems to be a new movement in which managers are frightened to take command. They seem reluctant to assume control in case their team might resent this or accuse them of being a dictator. Nothing could be further from the truth. Teams with good, strong, commanding, managers go a lot further because they know there is a captain at the helm. Without a captain we are all at sea – lost, scared, about to crash on the rocks. In a way it almost doesn’t matter what captain we’ve got, just so long as we’ve got someone with their hand on the rudder. We all know the first mate does all the real sailing anyway, so the captain can be whatever, but the first mate can’t function unless they know there is someone there, at the helm.
You’ve got to be a hero to your team and a good second-in-command to your boss. You have to be all these old-fashioned things:
- dependable
- reliable
- strong
- trustworthy
- faithful
- loyal
- staunch
- dedicated
- accountable
Boy, it’s all order, a tough call. But the rewards are immense. Being a manager is a fabulous job if you handle it right, abide by the rules and play it straight.
“Managing Yourself
The Rules of Management by Richard Templar”
Photo by Microsoft
There seems to be a new movement in which managers are frightened to take command. They seem reluctant to assume control in case their team might resent this or accuse them of being a dictator. Nothing could be further from the truth. Teams with good, strong, commanding, managers go a lot further because they know there is a captain at the helm. Without a captain we are all at sea – lost, scared, about to crash on the rocks. In a way it almost doesn’t matter what captain we’ve got, just so long as we’ve got someone with their hand on the rudder. We all know the first mate does all the real sailing anyway, so the captain can be whatever, but the first mate can’t function unless they know there is someone there, at the helm.
You’ve got to be a hero to your team and a good second-in-command to your boss. You have to be all these old-fashioned things:
- dependable
- reliable
- strong
- trustworthy
- faithful
- loyal
- staunch
- dedicated
- accountable
Boy, it’s all order, a tough call. But the rewards are immense. Being a manager is a fabulous job if you handle it right, abide by the rules and play it straight.
“Managing Yourself
The Rules of Management by Richard Templar”
Photo by Microsoft
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Lake Toba is Beautiful Culture
This is one of the highest lakes in South East Asia 853m (2,800ft) above sea-level, created by enormous volcanic eruption. Glittering aquamarine when the sun shines, green and menacing under a stormy sky, it is the largest lake in Indonesia. Even so, it serves in effect as a mere moat for huge Samosir Island, which with an area of 630 sq km (243 sq miles) is bigger than Singapore. Parapat is the lake shore resort town where you can embark for the island, half an hour away by boat.
Most visitors stop first at Tomok to see the royal cemetery, with stone tombs 400 years old. Huge banyan trees shelter the ancient graves.
Ambarita
On the eastern side of Samosir, the village has some fine old Batak Houses, extraordinary structures set high on poles and built without a single nail, using a notch method, wooden pegs and ropes. The front and back walls slope outward and are ornamented with woodcarvings. Only the Batak colours white, red and black are used. The huge sway-backed roofs are made of palm fibre or neat sheets of corrugated iron, and a carved buffalo head is set at each of the gable ends. The sopo or rice storehouse is designed in the same way.
Inside these communal houses there are no rooms, but mats are hung to give privacy. About eight related families live in each house, but when a boy reaches puberty, he moves to a special bachelors’ house with others of his age.
Ambarita also has an ancient judgment place with stone table and seats where chiefs used to meet to settle the fate of tribe members accused of a crime. If things went badly, it was off with their heads on the spot.
Simanindo
At the northern tip of Samosir, an outstanding Batak house, once a palace, is now a museum and the place, is now a museum and place to see Batak dancing. The musicians sit up in a gallery while men and women dance in the courtyard below. They may demonstrate is gale gale puppets, almost like-size marionettes which are made to peform with uncannily like-like movements.
There are a number of Batak tribes, but Samosir Island in Lake Toba is the cradle of their culture. According to tradition, all Bataks are descended from Si Raja Batak, a god hero born on a holy mountain near Lake Toba.
By Indonesia Tourism Promotion Boards. (Indonesia a World all its Own)
By This Way Indonesia (James Hardy)
Photo by Gery Bell (Oceanwide Images)
Most visitors stop first at Tomok to see the royal cemetery, with stone tombs 400 years old. Huge banyan trees shelter the ancient graves.
Ambarita
On the eastern side of Samosir, the village has some fine old Batak Houses, extraordinary structures set high on poles and built without a single nail, using a notch method, wooden pegs and ropes. The front and back walls slope outward and are ornamented with woodcarvings. Only the Batak colours white, red and black are used. The huge sway-backed roofs are made of palm fibre or neat sheets of corrugated iron, and a carved buffalo head is set at each of the gable ends. The sopo or rice storehouse is designed in the same way.
Inside these communal houses there are no rooms, but mats are hung to give privacy. About eight related families live in each house, but when a boy reaches puberty, he moves to a special bachelors’ house with others of his age.
Ambarita also has an ancient judgment place with stone table and seats where chiefs used to meet to settle the fate of tribe members accused of a crime. If things went badly, it was off with their heads on the spot.
Simanindo
At the northern tip of Samosir, an outstanding Batak house, once a palace, is now a museum and the place, is now a museum and place to see Batak dancing. The musicians sit up in a gallery while men and women dance in the courtyard below. They may demonstrate is gale gale puppets, almost like-size marionettes which are made to peform with uncannily like-like movements.
There are a number of Batak tribes, but Samosir Island in Lake Toba is the cradle of their culture. According to tradition, all Bataks are descended from Si Raja Batak, a god hero born on a holy mountain near Lake Toba.
By Indonesia Tourism Promotion Boards. (Indonesia a World all its Own)
By This Way Indonesia (James Hardy)
Photo by Gery Bell (Oceanwide Images)
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Beautiful City in the World
Jakarta (Visit Indonesia Year 2008)
by aya
by aya
Toronto
Brazil
London
Niagara Falls
Paris
Singapore
Saturday, June 7, 2008
The Little Island of “Komodo Dragon”
Meet a modern day dinosaur.
The Nusa Tenggara islands are rich in history and culture. One island, however, is particularly famous for being the home of the world’s largest reptile, the Komodo Dragon. These huge monitor lizards are nephews and nieces of dinosaur, so it will come as no surprise to discover they are capable of swallowing a small water buffalo in one sitting.
Ferries that navigate the treacherous waters between Sumbawa and Flores call at the small island if Komodo, national park and the haunt of “dragons”. A survivor of another age, the Komodo Dragon is in reality an oversized monitor lizard, a species which has been in existence for 200 million years.
Guides take visitors, “dragon spotting” and there’s also a gruesome twice weekly feeding time, when up to 15 reptiles tear apart the body of a goat with such avidity that within minutes not a trace is left. More of giant lizard, live on the neighbouring island of Rinca, also reached from Flores and Sumbawa.
Futher off the beaten track, Labuhanbajo and Komodo are umpressive enough for elite of international underwater photographers to return year after year. At Lembata you can wangle a dive with pearl shell divers. Kupang promises plenty of wall diving with caves and big fish. Roti is rocky, with plenty of slopes and drop-offs profuse with soft coral.
Dive Season, possible all year round. Best weather is in April and October.
Highlights
A visit to Pura Lingsar (Lombok) the only Hindu shrine where both Hindus and Moslem worship.
Searching and underwater gardens of Flores for the rare and exclusive Blue Fire-Goby.
Cooling your heels on magnificent Senggigi Beach, Lombok.
Taro scent the air while the trio of volcanic lakes on Mount Kelimutu (which appear chameleon-like in different colors from burgundy red to turquoise green).
Photographing the magnificent Sindeniggile water fall (Lombok).
By Indonesia Tourism Promotion Boards. (Indonesia a World all its Own)
By This Way Indonesia (James Hardy)
Photo by Gery Bell (Oceanwide Images)
The Nusa Tenggara islands are rich in history and culture. One island, however, is particularly famous for being the home of the world’s largest reptile, the Komodo Dragon. These huge monitor lizards are nephews and nieces of dinosaur, so it will come as no surprise to discover they are capable of swallowing a small water buffalo in one sitting.
Ferries that navigate the treacherous waters between Sumbawa and Flores call at the small island if Komodo, national park and the haunt of “dragons”. A survivor of another age, the Komodo Dragon is in reality an oversized monitor lizard, a species which has been in existence for 200 million years.
Guides take visitors, “dragon spotting” and there’s also a gruesome twice weekly feeding time, when up to 15 reptiles tear apart the body of a goat with such avidity that within minutes not a trace is left. More of giant lizard, live on the neighbouring island of Rinca, also reached from Flores and Sumbawa.
Futher off the beaten track, Labuhanbajo and Komodo are umpressive enough for elite of international underwater photographers to return year after year. At Lembata you can wangle a dive with pearl shell divers. Kupang promises plenty of wall diving with caves and big fish. Roti is rocky, with plenty of slopes and drop-offs profuse with soft coral.
Dive Season, possible all year round. Best weather is in April and October.
Highlights
A visit to Pura Lingsar (Lombok) the only Hindu shrine where both Hindus and Moslem worship.
Searching and underwater gardens of Flores for the rare and exclusive Blue Fire-Goby.
Cooling your heels on magnificent Senggigi Beach, Lombok.
Taro scent the air while the trio of volcanic lakes on Mount Kelimutu (which appear chameleon-like in different colors from burgundy red to turquoise green).
Photographing the magnificent Sindeniggile water fall (Lombok).
By Indonesia Tourism Promotion Boards. (Indonesia a World all its Own)
By This Way Indonesia (James Hardy)
Photo by Gery Bell (Oceanwide Images)
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