Image Optimizer Plugin Review How to Speed Up Your WordPress Site by Optimizing Images

Everybody wants a faster website that would be logical. And to make it so, there are many methods that you can apply to various elements of your website, such as hosting, media files, homepage structure, images yes, images. Lets stay with that one.Optimizing your images is one of the main and most effective things that you can do to speed up your site. Images can affect your sites loading times by much if you upload them in high resolution unless you use a tool to compress them.And this is where the Image Optimizer plugin by 10web comes into play.Lets see how it works and how you can use it to decrease your sites loading times significantly. Note. This review was sponsored by Image Optimizer. All opinions are our own.Image Optimizer plugin review: What is Image Optimizer? Image Optimizer by 10web Image Optimizer and Compression plugin Author(s): 10WebCurrent Version: 1.0.23Last Updated: April 30, 2019image-optimizer-wd.1.0.23.zip 90%Ratings 224,549Downloads WP 3.9+Requires Image Optimizer is a free plugin, built to resize, compress, and optimize your high-resolution images while keeping their quality intact. In a few words, it makes them more lightweight.A nice thing about this tool is that it lets you optimize your images in bulk and not only individually. Moreover, it keeps evidence and informs you about how many images you managed to compress so far and how many are yet to compress (in case you upload new ones to your media library and forget about them).  Image Optimizer supports three image formats in the free version PNG, JPG, and GIF and an extra one in the premium version PDF.Before optimizing images, the plugin provides two methods: Lossless and Lossy. With the Lossless method, you can resize your images without losing anything in quality, while the Lossy compression resizes them with a minimal quality loss: the plugin will be able to compress the image up to 80% but its quality will be at stake not to a high extent, though.Another int eresting thing about this plugin is that it also comes with three compression modes,  which is different from compression methods. The modes include conservative, balanced, and extreme ways to compress a file (the latter being available in the premium version).Last but not least, you can keep track of your optimizations and files by accessing the statistics section. Here, you can find out how many files were optimized, how much space you saved, and other interesting numbers.Key features of Image OptimizerBefore we move to the testing part, in which Ill show you how the plugin works and how you can maneuver it to strip your images of some unneeded weight, lets have a quick look at its most important features (no premium features included here):Automatic optimization. You can set the plugin to auto-optimize every new image you add to your media library so you wont waste time to do it manually.Two compression modes: conservative and balanced. Choose the one that you find more efficie nt for your website.Media type conversion. Not only that you can compress and resize the images, but you can also convert them from a format to another JPG to PNG, GIF to PNG, and so on. The vice-versa also works.Bulk optimization. Save time by optimizing multiple images at once. It comes without saying that you can take them one at a time as well if you prefer so.Optimization quality. You have the option to choose the maximum level you want to go to when it comes to compression. You can pick either of the four modes available: Lossless, Lossy, Maximum Lossy, and No Compression.Reports. The plugin provides a report page that displays the compression results and overview analytics with interesting numbers related to the optimization processes. This way, you can keep track of the effectiveness of optimizing images.How to use the Image Optimizer pluginNow, lets get to the practical part in which I install the plugin and show you how it works, step by step, so you can make an idea of h ow all the features from above look like when applied to actual images.Okay, so after you install and activate the plugin, go to its dedicated page in the dashboard. I first had to upload some images to my testing site, images that I took from our own free stock photos (taken and edited by our team members).Once you enter the page, the plugin counts your images and invites you to bulk optimization. You can either go bulk or go to the media library and optimize each photo separately. When you click on a single picture in your media library, you can find the Optimize button right below its default options.Wait a few seconds until the optimization is over, which is when Stats (+) link appears. Click on it to see the reductions made for each picture size (full, medium, thumbnail, large etc.):And this is how an individual image can be compressed. But now lets get back to the plugins dashboard page and bulk optimization.Before doing the bulk optimization, you can choose from conservative and balanced compression. After the optimization is done, the homepage status will change into All images are optimized and up to date. With every new image you upload to the media library, the plugin will let you know that theres one (or more) image un-optimized. I optimized three images and left two of them just like they were before, so the plugin now tells me that there are still two images ready to be optimized.Also, if you dont want to compress your images manually, you can simply check the Auto-optimize box and the plugin will optimize all the pictures from your media library automatically, so you dont have to do anything in this regard anymore.But this is just the easy (default) mode. To tune up the plugin preferences to your liking, go to Advanced and make your changes. Heres whats available:The images from the media library are not the only ones that can get optimized by default. The plugin provides the option to compress the images uploaded in other directories too. And y ou can change that in two steps. First, you have to check YES in the settings where it says Resize other directory images (as it is shown in the image above). The next step is to choose the directory that you want the plugin to take over. The option is also available on the dashboard homepage right below the Bulk Optimizing button.In the Reports sub-section of the plugin, you can find the whole optimization history and all the files that you ever converted. All of them can be filtered by name, size, date, and image format. Besides that, you have a summary widget on the dashboard homepage of the plugin where you can see the last optimization, the total amount of reduction in the media library, and the total amount of space that you reduced since you started optimizing images.Pricing plansLike I said at the beginning of the review, the basic version of Image Optimizer is totally free.But of course, like most of the free WordPress plugins out there, it has a premium version too, which can be found here. You can notice the differences and the extra features. The premium version of the plugin comes bundled with 10webs maintenance plans that also include backup, SEO, and security services, together with multiple premium themes and plugins. The pricing starts at $12 per month, continues with $30 per month, and ends at $80. Plus, theres a free 14 day trial.So, if you want to buy the Image Optimizer plugin, keep in mind that it only comes in bundles with the other services I just mentioned and not independently, which is a nice perk.Whats different in the premium version of Image Optimizer?40,000 images to compress per month (instead of 1,000 in the free version).PDF files optimization and conversion.Extreme Compression mode.Scheduled optimization (you can schedule the plugin to optimize the images on  an hourly or daily basis).Priority support and updates.Who should use Image Optimizer?First of all, the plugins user interface makes it a reliable solution for everybo dy who wants a lightweight website. WordPress beginners can handle it without needing extra help from professionals. Image Optimizer is that kind of plugin that people should keep installed on their site because it cannot harm you in any way; on the contrary, it will save you time and megabytes. It works just as promised and it takes you only a few minutes to understand what it does and how. Plus, being a free, modern resource turns it into the right solution for a WordPress novice to deal with image optimization without any hassle.Where can you get Image Optimizer?The plugin can be quickly and freely downloaded from its WordPress.org dedicated page.If you think its premium features bring extra value to your site, then you can purchase one of 10webs plans, with the Basic one starting at $12 per month. Again, just pay attention to the fact that the plans provide a lot more things than the plugin itself.Thats it for my Image Optimizer plugin review. What do you think of this plugin? O verall, for me, Image Optimizer is a modern and easy-to-manage solution that can be grasped even by complete novices. Its the kind of tool thats good to have around the house site when you need to get stuff optimized.How do you go about optimizing your blog images right now? Feel free to share in the comments. Image Optimizer #review: Speed up your #WordPress site by optimizing images

Medieval Half-Timbered Construction

Medieval Half-Timbered Construction Half-timbering is a way of constructing wood frame structures with the structural timbers exposed. This medieval method of construction is called timber framing. A half-timbered building wears its wood frame on its sleeve, so to speak. The wooden wall framing - studs, cross beams, and braces - are exposed to the outside, and the spaces between the wooden timbers are filled with plaster, brick, or stone. Originally a common type of building method in the 16th century, half-timbering has become decorative and non-structural in designs for todays homes. A good example of a true half-timbered structure from the 16th century is the Tudor-era manor house known as Little Moreton Hall (c. 1550) in Cheshire, United Kingdom.  In the United States, a Tudor-style home is really a Tudor Revival, which simply takes the look of half-timbering instead of exposing the structural wooden beams on the exterior facade or the interior walls. A well-known example of this effect is the  Nathan G. Moore house in Oak Park, Illinois. It is the house Frank Lloyd Wright hated, although the young architect himself designed this traditional Tudor-influenced American manor home in 1895. Why did Wright hate it? Although Tudor Revival was popular, the house that Wright really wanted to work on was his own original design, an experimental modern home that became known as the Prairie Style. His client, however, wanted a traditionally dignified design of the elite. Tudor Revival styles were extremely popular to a certain upper-middle-class sector of the American population from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Definition The familiar half-timbered was used informally to mean timber-framed construction in the Middle Ages. For economy, cylindrical logs were cut in half, so one log could be used for two (or more) posts. The shaved side was traditionally on the exterior and everyone knew it to be half the timber. The Dictionary of Architecture and Construction defines half-timbered this way: Descriptive of buildings of the 16th and 17th cent. which were built with strong timber foundations, supports, knees, and studs, and whose walls were filled in with plaster or masonry materials such as brick. Construction Method After 1400 A.D., many European houses were masonry on the first floor and half-timbered on the upper floors. This design was originally pragmatic - not only was the first floor seemingly more protected from bands of marauders but like todays foundations a masonry base could well support tall wooden structures. Its a design model that continues with todays revival styles. In the United States, colonists brought these European building methods with them, but the harsh winters made half-timbered construction impractical. The wood expanded and contracted dramatically, and the plaster and masonry filling between the timbers could not keep out cold drafts. Colonial builders began to cover exterior walls with wood clapboards or masonry. The Look Half-timbering was a popular European construction method toward the end of the Middle Ages and into the reign of the Tudors. What we think of as Tudor architecture often has the half-timbered look. Some authors have chosen the word Elizabethan to describe half-timbered structures. Nevertheless, during the late 1800s, it became fashionable to imitate Medieval building techniques. A Tudor Revival house expressed American success, wealth, and dignity. Timbers were applied to exterior wall surfaces as decoration. False half-timbering became a popular type of ornamentation in many nineteenth and twentieth-century house styles, including Queen Anne, Victorian Stick, Swiss Chalet, Medieval Revival (Tudor Revival), and, occasionally, on modern-day Neotraditional houses and commercial buildings. Examples Until the fairly recent invention of rapid transportation, such as the freight train, buildings were constructed with local materials. In areas of the world that are naturally forested, homes made of wood dominated the landscape. Our word timber comes from Germanic words meaning wood and wood structure. Think of yourself in the middle of a land filled with trees - todays Germany, Scandinavia, Great Britain, Switzerland, the mountainous region of Eastern France - and then think about how you can use those trees to build a house for your family. When you cut down each tree, you may yell Timber! to warn people of its impending fall. When you put them together to make a house, you can stack them up horizontally like a log cabin or you can stack them vertically, like a stockade fence. The third way of using wood to construct a house is to build a primitive hut - use the wood to build a frame and then put insulating materials in between the frame. How much and what kinds of material you use will depend on how harsh the weather is where you are building. Throughout Europe, tourists flock to cities and towns that prospered during the Middle Ages. Within the Old Town areas, original half-timbered architecture has been restored and maintained. In France, for example, towns like Strasbourg near the German border and Troyes, about 100 miles southeast of Paris, have wonderful examples of this medieval design. In Germany, Old Town Quedlinburg and the historic town of Goslar are both UNESCO Heritage Site. Remarkably, Goslar is cited not for its medieval architecture but for its mining and water management practices that date back to the Middle Ages. Perhaps most notable to the American tourist are the English towns of Chester and York, two cities in northern England. Despite their Roman origins, York and Chester have a reputation for being  quintessentially British because of the many half-timbered dwellings. Likewise, Shakespeares birthplace and Anne Hathaways Cottage in Stratford-upon-Avon are well-known half-timbered houses in the United Kingdom. The writer William Shakespeare lived from 1564 until 1616, so many of the buildings associated with the famous playwright are half-timbered styles from the Tudor era. Sources Dictionary of Architecture and Construction, Cyril M. Harris, ed., McGraw-Hill, 1975, p. 241Architecture through the Ages by Professor Talbot Hamlin, FAIA, Putnam, Revised 1953American House Styles: A Concise Guide by John Milnes Baker, AIA, Norton, 1994, p. 100

New York in the 18th Century Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

New York in the 18th Century - Essay Example The 1741 New York conspiracy was largely believed to have occurred in the 18th Century. But by 19th century most historians started to doubt about its existence and the justifications of the slave killings that took place. Even Daniel Horsmanden had to try and counteract the criticism by writing a detailed account of the trials so as to justify the court’s actions and wipe the doubts of peoples mind. But his was a one-sided story and did not convince many people. Historians have gone ahead to give an account of what they believe must have been the process of events for the same. First of all, the situation in New York at the time facilitated a lot to the growth of suspicions about a conspiracy. This is because the alleged conspiracy arose at a time of economic decline with increased competition between the colored slaves and the poor whites. There was a severe winter at the time and the British government had just declared war on Spain leading to increased anti-Spanish and anti-Catholic feelings. All this amidst increased fires and destruction of property was enough to elicit feelings of insecurity from the slaves. The 1712 New York Slave Revolt where about 20 slaves came together to destroy property to avenge the injustices they had been put through and in the process killing nine whites and six others being injured, was also very fresh in the minds of the white population. The political factions would also instill fear about slavery to the white community to achieve other objectives.

Bugs, Inc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Bugs, Inc - Essay Example World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which administers the rights of inventors, has given further safeguards. â€Å"The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It is dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international intellectual property (IP) system, which rewards creativity, stimulates innovation and contributes to economic development while safeguarding the public interest.† (wipo.int, n.d). In the case of BUG, Inc, the new copyright treaty signed in 1996, provides the needed copyright protection for its software. With this safe protection, BUG will be able to expand its reach and sales internationally. That is, the intellectual property rights will minimize the risk of other companies pirating the BUG’s software and using it. So, protection of its software is one of the important legal protections, BUG should have for its intellectual property. Steve is the ‘proxy’ employee or spy of WIRETAP who worked in BUG to steal BUG’s important secrets and files. Steve did that by forwarding the BUG e-mails; he received or hacked, to WIRETAP, including the e-mail correspondence between BUG’s officers. For this crime, Steve can be charged under the Economic Espionage Act of 1996. As this act covers and bars stealing and trading of company’s secrets and details through computer and internet, Steve can be accused of violating it. Likewise, WIRETAP, Inc. could also be charged under the same Economic Espionage Act, for their role in the stealing of a company’s classified documents using computers and internet. So, both the parties in the crime, Steve and WIRETAP can be charged under the civil liability of Economic Espionage Act of 1996 â€Å"The Espionage Act is a very important weapon to address and penalize computer and Internet espionage† (Cheeseman, 2004). RICO Act, short for Racketeerin g and Influenced Corrupt

Essay2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Essay2 - Essay Example It is saddening for me to watch an additional species disappear completely from the face of the earth because of factors that can be controlled (Bocedi et al 84). However, many of the suggestions that have been placed forth require human beings to be more cautious in the way they interact with the environment. This may mean that human beings need to maintain the natural state of the environment that can support the lives of other species. The greatest challenge of doing this is that human beings need to survive as well. Over the years, the human population has increased at alarming rates. This has served to confirm that human beings are reproductive. In order to sustain reproduction, human beings have to manipulate the environment so that it can favor them in different ways. The rapid climate changes occurring recently are attributable to such manipulations of the environment by human beings (Bocedi et al 85). This situation explains why it has proved difficult for me to define a specific solution that will ensure that different species survive and that human beings have the right amount of resources. After interacting with several sources that discuss the potential solutions to the ongoing climate changes that have threatened the survival of different species, I am compelled by the conviction that human beings can initiate a change. This is possible if they can limit the level of resource, they use on a daily basis. Innovation can serve to save some of the natural resources, preventing them from depletion. Human beings are well aware that natural resources are subject to depletion if not used in a sustainable manner. If only human beings were committed to saving natural resources, and maintaining balance in the natural cycle that ensures regular climatic patterns, then the ensuing problem would be solved effectively. There are potential benefits of this potential solution

Organizations Workforce Diversity And Its Competitive Advantage Commerce Essay

Organizations Workforce Diversity And Its Competitive Advantage Commerce Essay The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of leadership style over the relationship between organizations workforce diversity and its competitive advantage with mission and vision statements as intervening variable. Most organizations are adopting diversity into their policies and procedures to embrace its benefits and there is a growing recognition that it makes business sense to take diversity seriously. The demographics of working population has changed in last two decades with more mature workforce remaining in the workplace, now more female employees are seen in higher positions and there is also a variation in cultural backgrounds. Therefore, it seems beneficial for organizations to hire diverse workforce to meet the demands of customer expectations. Organizations that are flexible and responsive to a demanding marketplace require the service of multi-skilled, adaptable workforce. One clear competitive advantage for organizations having diverse workforce is that it pro vides an environment that values differences among employees and encourages them for different ways of thinking and behaving during work to fully contribute to organizational aims and objectives. Employers providing such an environment get the support of their employees and develop a positive public image. It must be understood that each member of diverse workforce holds his differences and similarities; hence, valuing and managing diversity is about recognizing the unique contribution each employee can make to the organization. It is about creating an environment in which everyone feels valued, welcomed, and able to make an important contribution toward the attainment of corporate objectives. Additionally, companies facing challenges in competing global marketplace for market share can use diversity as competitive advantage in a multicultural environment with a diverse pool of talented and experienced individuals who can bring innovation and creativity to the organization. Literature Review Diversity is not only associated to limited attributes that can be observed but also to those invisible characteristics such as differences in educational background, creativity, understanding, learning style, and problem-solving ability (Nafukho et al., 2011). So, organizational performances and processes can be influenced by an individual or a group representing different categories of diversity within a workplace. (van Knippenberg and Schippers, 2007). Diversity is defined as any dimension that can be used to differentiate groups and people from one another (Giovannini, 2004, p. 22). Hence, diversity affects the organizations effectiveness and performance in terms of competitive advantage. (Joshi and Roh, 2009; Klein et al., 2011). This presumes that performance has a relation with organizations ability to achieve goals with respect to its mission or vision (Devine and Philips, 2001). In other words, performance is deemed as an outcome which is a result of some purposeful activity to achieve competitive advantage as mentioned in mission or vision statements of an organization. (Swanson and Holton, 2009). As the organization strives to achieve its goals or objectives, conflict may arise within the diverse groups to cope up the challenges of differences among them which keep them from achieving organizational performance. (Østergaard et al., 2011). Since, Human Resource Department (HRD) deals primarily with performance of individuals, groups and organization at large to achieve competitive advantage, so diverse workforce demands the attention of HRD scholars and practitioners on the issues that arise in organization. It can be observed in modern trends for companies to use diverse workforce for completing special tasks which help achieve competitive advantage (Garrison et al., 2010) and there is always potential for the occurrence of conflict among such diverse groups which can derail the organization from achieving effectiveness. Hence, it becomes the resp onsibility of HRD to address such conflicts in advance and use the knowledge of how to build the high performing and productive teams of diverse workforce who can to the overall competitive advantage of organization (Klein et al., 2011). Evidently, most companies find diversity as a way to increase business competency, to improve net income, to gain competitive advantage, to build the effectiveness to compete in global markets, to improve business performance, to achieve higher employee satisfaction, to enhance corporate governance, to attract diverse talents and skills and to retain the workforce that maintains the customer base (McCuiston et al., 2004). Moreover, culturally diverse workforce brings benefits to business economy (Ferley et al., 2003) and leads to better performance of the business (Richard, 2000). According to Adler (1997), a company with a diverse workforce has greater chances for building an innovative working environment. This statement is beautifully expressed in the words of White (1999), who states that creativity thrives on diversity. These benefits can be derived from the proper implementation of diversity-promoting policies (Jamrog, 2002). Many firms today seem to be increasingly embracing r acial, ethnic and gender workforce balance, not for legal or ethical obligations, but as a matter of taking a progressive perspective on economic self-interest (Coil and Rice, 1993). It has been recognized recently that increasing diverse workforce has presented both opportunities and challenges for organizations which are striving for efficiency, innovativeness and global competitive advantage (Barak, 1999). As the global markets are getting more complex, utilization of organizations knowledge, skills and abilities is getting even more crucial in this rapidly increasing competition where organizations want to be more creative and innovative (Ng and Tung, 1998). In order to manage the growing diversity of the work force, organizations need to implement such systems and practices so that the potential advantages of diversity are maximized and the potential disadvantages are minimized (Cox, 1994). In the past two decades several academic researches have been conducted on various issues relating diversity. Richard (2000) examined the impact of diversity on organization and its productivity while Jackson (1993) found the positive relationship between diversity and cr eativity. Diversity research has also addressed the factors involved in assimilating new employees into an organizations culture (Berry and Sam, 1997). However, some argue that by its fundamental nature, assimilating new employees to obtain greater fit between the person and organization is achieved at the expense of diversity (Powell, 1998). In other research, Tsui et al. (1992) showed that race and gender has negative relationship with diversity as compared to age. Other studies have also consistently found that observable attributes have negative effects on outcomes such as identification with the group and job satisfaction at both the individual and group level of analysis (Milliken and Martins, 1996). Further, Milliken and Martins (1996) supported the argument of Tsui et al. (1992) that racial and gender diversity can have negative influence on individual and team outcomes in some cases regardless of age. As an example, they referred to those groups members who differ from the larger group tend to show less commitment, more turnover and absenteeism while at the same time this results in additional costs, such as, group coordination cost, communication cost and training and development cost. So, according to them, diversity results in increase in coordination and control costs. Dadfar and Gustavsson (1992) found that the majority of site managers believed that managers/supervisors are less effective when managing a work group composed of several nationalities. This is because language was regarded as a major obstacle to effective communication among workers of different nationalities. However, Watson et al. (1993) argue that these negative effects may diminish with time and may be offset by better quality and more creative decisions. Having said that, it is important to understand that even for those who decide to embrace diversity as a concept, the road to diversity is not without challenges. Many businesses fail to the see the full picture of diversity or understand all of its impacts on their operations (Farrer, 2004), as leading a diverse workforce requires considerable time, energy and skill. A diverse workforce represents many challenges to management in areas such as workplace authority, trust and commitment, different work ethics, firm structure and work-life balance (McCuiston et al., 2004). Diversity challenges also include training costs, discrimination and conflicts. The increase in training cost results from the needed diversity-promoting programs which need to be administered to all employees (White, 1999). The problem of perceived discrimination arises when a certain group feels that they have been unfairly discriminated against, which leads to a sense of rejection towards the group that was perceived as having unjustifiable benefits, which could lead to an increase in conflicts. According to Jehn (1995), the increase in conflicts possibly leading to tension and animosity occurs when employees do not have similar views on a particular issue and in turn such conflicts could have detrimental effects on performance. These effects include directing the attention of employees to each other instead of the job, increasing stress and anxiety, and it can result in hostile interaction among members (Chuang et al., 2004). Leadership Leadership remained the single most important issue in annual surveys for identifying top management issues during all times (HRI, 2002a). To manage a diverse workforce, organizations need visionary leaders but availability of them is scarce. According to the study by Diversity Inc. (2002), it is forecasted that many top management of many leading companies will lose one in five top managers due to retirement. Let alone, US companies will lose 40 percent or more of their top executives till 2015 (Wellins and Byham, 2001). One solution offered to this scarcity is to develop leaders at every level and in every function in an organization (Hesselbein, 2002). For this solution, Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society (2002) advised the most effective leadership components to manage diversity, which are: Sensitivity and awareness about diverse workforce. Resources to strengthen and improve the quality of diverse individuals Inter-communication skills to solve mutual differences Strategies to maximize the effectiveness of diverse workforce. The goal should be to develop cross-cultural leaders and generate a new crop of multicultural professionals (Yukl, 2002). These leaders are provided with the required resources and authorities to manage workforce. The focus should be to enhance their listening, learning, networking, communication, and experimenting skills to manage a diverse workforce (Melymuka, 2001). Finally an effective strategy must be developed to include diversity at all levels of management, and there must be commitment to diversity at senior levels where it is strategically more important (Conklin, 2001). This strategy must be evident in organizations mission and vision statement and should involve a systemic, results-oriented, business-based approach (Fitzpatrick, 1997). Yet companies do not seek diversity unless this business competency results in increased profit and metrics that substantiate the necessity to expand the emphasis on diversity (Diversity Inc., 2002). Irrefutable measurable benefits can be de rived from properly implemented policies to promote diversity (Jamrog, 2002). The most evident measurable benefits are improved bottom line, competitive advantage, superior business performance, employee satisfaction and loyalty, strengthened relationship with multicultural communities, and attracting the best and the brightest candidates. Competitive advantage defined in diversity as, Recruiting and retaining people of diverse backgrounds who can share a common set of values. . .and approach to business is a priority for todays competitive organization (McCormack, 2002, p. 1). Jamrog (2002) suggested three-point approach to enhance effectiveness of leadership to manage diverse workforce: premise, guidelines and actions. There are three premises that leaders need to value diversity: (1) One size doesnt fit all leaders need to use different approaches for solving problems and developing workers as all situations and individuals are not the same, (2) Not everyone can be a leader organizational should focus only on individuals who have the ingredients of becoming a good leader, and (3) Leaders can be at any level or function anyone who can inspire, influence and guide others in the organization is a leader regardless of position. The five guidelines that leaders need to value diversity are: (1) Communicate, communicate, and communicate share freely your ideas, suggestions, opinions; listen to ideas of others with interest, (2) Build contact into your daily actions and duties Plan your actions, meetings, and duties so as to maximize contact with multiple p eople in the organization. (3) Manage and lead by walking around Be outside the office frequently and interact informally with others of different levels, functions, backgrounds and experience, (4) Champion diversity Bring in the contribution of everyone to increase commitment, innovation and creativity, and (5) Sponsor diversity Defend the decisions, actions and interactions while supporting everyone in the organization. Lastly, the five actions that leaders need to value diversity are: (1) Assessment of leadership potential within the organizations, (2) Provision of training and tools, (3) Inclusion of diversity at all levels, (4) measuring and rewarding efforts, and (5) encouraging the organization to be patient. Conceptual Framework: Research Methodology:

The Economic, Medical and Industrial Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana E

The Economic, Medical and Industrial Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana Marijuana is the dried flower clusters and leaves of the hemp plant when taken to induce euphoria. Marijuana has been in existence for centuries even Magellan spoke of it during his trip to India. In his log he spoke of a plant that you smoked that made a man drunk without drinking. Marijuana would be beneficial if legalized because it would bring in extra money, it has medical uses, hemp is one of the best materials in the world and on average it is healthier for you then beer or liquor. The old cash crop of the Americas was tobacco in today's world it is marijuana. More marijuana is transported into and out of this country at a higher rate then tobacco. As of last year there were 1,147,591 of seized marijuana by the United States Coast Guard. If the average price of a pound of marijuana were only fifteen hundred dollars that would put the price at 1,721,386,500 when the GNP (Gross National Product) for year two thousand is projected at 17 billion. If marijuana were actually a taxed good at the normal rate of five percent that would put the price up to 1,807,455,825 it would take the price up a total of one hundred million dollars. Not only would the legalization bring in more then nine percent of the GNP. It would take the amount of drug dealing and money laundering due to dealing down. With this decrease in crime the money spent on police could be put to better use. The police could spend more time in trying to solve crimes such as murders or theft. Though in another area there would have to be a specific police unit to deal with these new stores. The insurance rate would also be astronomically high due to break-ins and the cost of the merchandise ... ...ad is just the sale of smoked marijuana. The sale of hemp wasn't calculated into it that it would just bring up the tax money and possibly take its percentage of GDP up to fifteen or at the most eighteen percent. Medicinal uses of it outweigh by far the supposed cancers it produces. If given the chance marijuana could be the next penicillin a miracle drug curing sicknesses never thought to be curable. Marijuana the so-called gateway drug the highly addictive drug, this was all a lie. Its been shown that marijuana is not even as addictive as caffeine or chocolate. Cigarettes cause twice as many cancers as marijuana and marijuana's non-smoked form causes no cancers while chew cigarettes non-smoking form causes several oral cancers. If these reasons are enough for you to reconsider your view on marijuana laws please visit http://www.norml.com and see what the truth is.

Biblical Worldview Essay Essay

Introduction The foundation to Christian faith is the belief that mankind is created in the image of God. My major/program of study is psychology. I am wanting to counsel victims of domestic violence. Which can be a very rewarding job because it gives me many opportunities to be able to reach out and help others as well as honor God. The way this belief will affect the way I interact with people in the field of psychology is by showing kindness, trust, patience, and understanding. In this paper I will be giving examples of how I will use my Christian faith with those I will be working with. Example 1 The field of psychology is a very enduring one. It is about helping nurture others in need. From the very beginning of time, we were all created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-28). By being created in the image of God, who is the healer of all things gives me the ability to help others in their process of healing in the name of Jesus Christ. But it begins with being morally upright and honest. Being a psychologist you must remember that confidentiality and honesty stands above all things when doing your job. The Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the APA, states that it is every psychologist’s job to promote accuracy, honesty, and truthfulness in the science, teaching, and practice of psychology. By being morally upright and honest with those that I work with it will show that I honor God and that I am created in the image of God. The scripture Psalm 37:3 states â€Å"Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper†. For me this means to be the Christian that I am and to keep my trust and honesty in the Lord when doing all things which includes my duties at work as well as at home. Example 2 In the field of psychology you will interact with lots of different people.  Some of them may have different up-bringing, cultures, beliefs, and etc. One of the most important things for us to remember and practice when working with different people is respect. God tells us that we are to respect everyone, as Christians we must be conscious that God has created all mankind in his image. Apostle Peter states in his first Epistle: â€Å"Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood. Fear God, Honor the King† (1 Peter 2:17). None of us are perfect. So we should not look for the bad but respect the good in each person. As a Christian I always treat others as I would want to be treated and that is with respect. It doesn’t matter if it is at home, school, work, or etc. I believe that by showing my respect to each and every person I come in contact with shows that I honor God. And, not only that but for me it is rewarding to know that I am respectful to others. So as a counselor in domestic violence I plan on staying steed fast at being respectful and being the hands and feet that God wants me to be in this profession. And, that would be to be kind, caring, understanding, honest, trustworthy, respectful, and faithful to God, myself, my co-workers, and clients. Conclusion In the profession of psychology you need to be honest, trustworthy, and respectful to everyone you come in contact with. It is God’s Law and the laws of APA. As a psychologist I am going to conduct myself in a way that honors God and shows others that I am created in the image of God. Psychology is a very rewarding and life changing profession. By being the person God wants me to be I will be successful in helping other to heal and meet their needs. God commands us to be morally upright with all things and we are to obey his word.

Can Fancy Trucks Attract New Drivers

Can Fancy Trucks Attract New Drivers CareersInGear has rounded up several of the latest innovations luxury truck manufacturers are turbo-loading into new rigs:Â  In-truck bathing and toilet facilities! The most popular features? KitchenettesTables and boothsEntertainment centers set up with surround sound, DVD players, video game consoles, and flat screen TVsLarger, non-folding bedsHow are the entertainment centers not a terrible idea? But anyway, the thing to remember with all these action-packed palaces on wheels is the weight. Balance your need for amenities with the number of loads you want to make, the mileage you’ll be accumulating (and the fuel costs that go with it), and the frequency of the runs you’ll be making. Companies like TryHours are piloting 20 big rigs in their fleet with more extravagant features, but in order for these upgrades to be reasonable across the industry they’ll need to be scaled down appropriately. More comfortable beds, absolutely! Xbox? Maybe not so much!Have you se en any of these luxury rigs on the road yet? Â  Would the increased convenience of stopping less and enjoying more privacy be worth the compromises on load-bearing? Weigh in in the comments!

Viking History - Guide to the Ancient Norse

Viking History - Guide to the Ancient Norse Viking history traditionally begins in northern Europe with the first Scandinavian raid on England, in AD 793, and ends with the death of Harald Hardrada in 1066, in a failed attempt to attain the English throne. During those 250 years, the political and religious structure of northern Europe was changed irrevocably. Some of that change can be directly attributed to the actions of the Vikings, and/or the response to Viking imperialism, and some of it cannot. Viking Age Beginnings Beginning in the 8th century AD, the Vikings began expanding out of Scandinavia, first as raids and then as imperialistic settlements into a wide swath of places from Russia to the North American continent. The reasons for the Viking expansion outside of Scandinavia are debated among scholars. Reasons suggested include population pressure, political pressure, and personal enrichment. The Vikings could never have begun raiding or indeed settling beyond Scandinavia if they had not developed highly effective boat building and navigation skills; skills that were in evidence by the 4th century AD. At the time of the expansion, the Scandinavian countries were each experiencing a centralization of power, with fierce competition. Settling Down Fifty years after the first raids on the monastery at Lindisfarne, England, the Scandinavians ominously shifted their tactics: they began to spend the winters at various locations. In Ireland, the ships themselves became part of the over-wintering, when the Norse built an earthen bank on the landward side of their docked ships. These types of sites, called longphorts, are found prominently on the Irish coasts and inland rivers. Viking Economics The Viking economic pattern was a combination of pastoralism, long-distance trade, and piracy. The type of pastoralism used by the Vikings was called landnm, and although it was a successful strategy in the Faroe Islands, it failed miserably in Greenland and Ireland, where the thin soils and climate change led to desperate circumstances. The Viking trade system, supplemented by piracy, on the other hand, was extremely successful. While conducting raids on various peoples throughout Europe and western Asia, the Vikings obtained untold amounts of silver ingots, personal items, and ​other booty, and buried them in hoards. Legitimate trade in items such as cod, coins, ceramics, glass, walrus ivory, polar bear skins and, of course, slaves were conducted by the Vikings as early as the mid 9th century, in what must have been uneasy relationships between the Abbasid dynasty in Persia, and Charlemagnes empire in Europe. Westward with the Viking Age The Vikings arrived in Iceland in 873, and in Greenland in 985. In both cases, the importation of the landnam style of pastoralism led to dismal failure. In addition to a sharp decline in sea temperature, which led to deeper winters, the Norse found themselves in direct competition with the people they called the Skraelings, who we now understand are the ancestors of the Inuits of North America. Forays westward from Greenland were undertaken in the very last years of the tenth century AD, and Leif Erickson finally made landfall on the Canadian shores in 1000 AD, at a site called Lanse Aux Meadows. The settlement there was doomed to failure, however.

E-Movements Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

E-Movements - Research Paper Example Computers have to be protected when the consumers carry out commercial activities, engage in cross-border e-commerce, and make online business transactions and email communications with online traders. 1. One priority that I would like to add in the regard of information technology security is the physical security of information networks. In a network, those computers must be physically secured that hold sensitive information and network passwords on them (Anderson & Moore, 2009). All sensitive servers and networks should be secured from the enemy, by means of firewalls, code encryption and decryption (cryptography) and intrusion detection system. 2. Another priority is the physical security of hardware. Ethics require that the officials use the ‘lock everything’ approach (Benson & Rahman, 2011, p.80). One must look for devices that lock the computer cases to desks and lock the disk drives and the CPU as well. The system must be password protected. The BIOS of the system must be configured so that it does not boot from a floppy drive being used by the

The Effects of Patriarchy on the Lives of the Women Essay

The Effects of Patriarchy on the Lives of the Women - Essay Example Maxine Hong’s tale, ‘No Name Woman’, has an even more glaring depiction of the Chinese patriarchal culture’s expectations of women. Hong, at one point, states that her pregnant aunt, whom nobody ever mentioned by name, could not possibly have been the sole woman to choose to give up everything for some sexual intimacy. Hong states that it is more likely that some strange man simply commanded her to do so; and she had no right to refuse him because she was brought up to have no will of her own (Hong, 3). This is a startling revelation that shows how women were socialized to be virtual slaves to the whims of men. China’s patriarchal system did not allow its women to develop any sense of individuality. In Isabel Allende’s ‘An Act of Vengeance’, it is Senator Anselmo Orellano himself, who, through his thoughts, when being attacked, reveal the dark strain of misogyny that can only be supported by a patriarchal society that views women as the property of men. When he first sees the rabblerousers coming, Senator Orellano locks his daughter Dulce Rosa in the furthest room on the patio. This effectively stops her from hiding in secret places where she may have suspected the men would not know to check. When near death, Senator Orellano then begins to imagine that, once they are finished with him, the attackers will proceed to the room where his child is hidden and â€Å"carry out their duties† (Zapata, 18).