Sure, you’re not drawing isosceles triangles or measuring the length of its hypotenuse at a pool hall (doing that might bring about a few stares down your way), but billiards is all about angles, positioning the cue ball to ricochet off other balls, ultimately causing them to go into oneor allof the six pockets that line the table’s perimeter.
The different kinds of games you can play at a pool table far out number the 15 balls used in your typical game (not counting the 8-ball or cue ball, of course). One of those games is snooker.
Snooker is a game that originated in Britain and came to be called “snooker,” it’s believed, after Neville Chamberlain referred to an army cadet as a snooker when his play wasn’t exactly up to snuff. “Snooker” by definition is a first year cadet; Chamberlain then referred to the rest of the men playing with him that they were all snookers. The name stuck to the game since then.
The object of the game is similar to your regular game of 8-ball: Put all the balls in the pockets that line the table. But the way in which the balls are set up at the beginning of the gamenot to mention the balls’ colors, the multiple “fouls” that can be committed, the number of balls used, the referee, and the fact that each game is made up of multiple framesmakes this game truly unique when compared to its counterparts.
Snooker has never really caught fire in the United States but that doesn’t hold true for the United Kingdom. In fact, it is the most watched sporting event outside soccer, or football, as it’s known throughout most of the world. In 1985, one-third (18.5 million people) of the United Kingdom population plunked themselves in front of their television sets to watch Dennis Taylor win on the final shota performance that is remembered as one of the sport’s best moments.
Since 1927, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association organize the professional tour and championship; the champion ship is held in Sheffield, England.
Give yourself a gold star
Remember how rewarding it was in grade school to get back an assignment with a gold star sticker or some other tangible acknowledgement of a job well done? Well you can apply the same psychological boost to your goal-based activities today!
Sure, you could go about this in the literal sense, adding a sticker or some other item that makes you smile, such as a rubber stamp, to your daybook, calendar or goal-tracking sheet as a way to reinforce your successes. But why not get creative and offer yourself a more fitting reward? After all, you’re a grown up now and your rewards should reflect this.
Ideas include:
Treat yourself to your favorite pastry or specialty coffee that you resist indulging in regularly.
Get a shirt or hat custom embroidered or screen printed (it’s actually fairly inexpensive to do this) that reflects your successes. For example, your hat may sport a self-created logo for your goal, to be worn while actively engaged in goal-achievement activities. Or a shirt may have a message like “Ask me about my success!” to encourage others to help you pat yourself on the back.
Give yourself a motivational award. Businesses do this all the time with “Employee of the Month” mugs and recognition pins, certificates, gift pen sets, etc. These items are available fairly inexpensively at motivation gift stores and websites. Even better, present it to yourself at a fancy dinner (in or out) complete with a short acceptance speech thanking all the “little people” (your friends and family who are dining with you) that made it all possible. Want more fun? Do this for every major milestone on the way to your success!
Purchase some brightly colored window paint markers (available at any auto-parts store or department) and paint inspiring or congratulatory slogans, such as “Oh yeah, who’s your daddy!” or “I’m number 1!” on the windows of your home and or vehicle, where you will see them often. Bonus points for painting it big enough to read from across the street - on the big picture window out front!
Buy a face painting or temporary tattoo kit (henna works also) and tattoo yourself with congratulatory or inspirational messages. Better yet, become your biggest fan and paint your whole face up, sports-fan style, in your favorite colors - and root for the home team (that’s you) all day long.
Decorate a special dessert (cake, dessert pizza, big cookie, etc) in a congratulatory or inspirational theme with icing, sprinkles, etc. Set your creation in front of your plate to admire all through dinner.
Create a boosting, “rah-rah” set of email messages (or just one that repeats) and load them into an auto-responder mailing program. There are many available on the web, and some are free (their ads appear in your email). “Opt in” to this self-created newsletter of support and at pre-determined intervals, you’ll find these little “fun-sized candy bars for the soul” in your inbox.
(c) Soni Pitts
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Soni Pitts is the Chief Visionary Butt-Kicker of SoniPitts.Com. She specializes in helping others reclaim “soul proprietorship” in their lives and to begin living the life their Creator always intended for them.
She is the author of the free e-book “50 Ways To Reach Your Goals” and over 100 self-help and inspirational articles, as well as other products and resources designed to facilitate this process of personal growth and spiritual development.
Conflict in organizations is not a problem. Poorly managed conflict is. Conflict managed well is a proactive investment in the future of the organization and in the employees involved. Conflict managed ineffectively is a reactive drain of human and financial capital.
7 Ways Your Company Is Wasting Money on Conflict
Unresolved, avoided, ineffectively managed, or destructive workplace conflict is expensive, both in financial and human terms:
- Lost Work Time. Several studies over the last decade suggest that a typical manager spends between 25% and 40% of her time dealing with employee conflict. In a study I conducted in 2000, college and university managers’ time on conflict ranged from 40% to 50% of work hours. Lost work time accrues for the employees involved in the dispute, their supervisors, sometimes their peers, and human resource staff.
- Attrition and Related Costs. Research reported in the late 1990s showed that workplace conflict left unresolved for too long leads to employee attrition or the use of valuable work time searching for alternative employment. Employee turnover that had its genesis in unresolved conflict is leads to expenditures for severance, recruitment, training and development for replacement staff, and the loss of productivity during that period.
- Absenteeism and Increased Health Care Costs. The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine has reported that health care costs are nearly 50% greater for workers who report high levels of stress. Stress as a reason for absenteeism increased 316% between 1995 and 1999. Stress is a known byproduct of unhealthy workplace conflict.
- More Grievances and Complaints. Between 1992 and 1998, annual monetary benefits for EEOC sexual harassment cases increased from $12.7 to $34.5 million. Annual monetary benefits for EEOC-handled ADA cases increased from $200,000 to $49.1 million during the same period.
- Increased Legal Fees. A 2005 Fulbright & Jaworski survey on litigation trends in the U.S. concluded that almost 9 out of 10 American companies are involved in some type of litigation and that one of the most prevalent messages to corporate counsel is “control costs.”
- Theft and Sabotage. Unhappy employees can and do damage company equipment and steal from inventory. More insidiously, covert sabotage results from the daily little acts of omission from an employee that doesn’t feel heard or valued.
- Damage to Company Reputation. When conflict goes public, the loss can be measurable in terms of lower earnings, diminished market share, or decreased traffic.
5 Ways Your Company Can Transform Conflict into Opportunity
Well-managed conflict contributes to creativity, strategic initiative, more effective systems and communication, stronger workplace relationships and a greater commitment to the organization. Good employees stay on board and better decisions lead to greater corporate health. What can you do to create such transformation? Address the root causes of unhealthy workplace conflict:
- Help Employees Learn How to Access Good Interpersonal Skill. All the skill training in the world won’t help your employees during conflict if they don’t know how to access those skills when they’re in the heat of the moment. The new trend in conflict resolution training is a blend of interactive, classroom-style training with follow-up coaching to help employees really use what they learned.
- Prepare Managers to Offer More Effective Help. Many managers address conflict by imposing a solution, chastising, lecturing, re-organizing the department in question, or trying to help parties work it out without really having good insider mediation skills. Make an investment in your managers’ education as in-house mediators with substantive skills to address the kinds of complex conflicts that create long-term problems.
- Clean Up Problematic Organizational Systems. System problems can masquerade as interpersonal conflicts. As I work with parties to peel back the layers of a conflict, it’s not uncommon to uncover ways the organization’s systems are pressing upon one or more of the individuals involved and directly influencing their behavior negatively. Such system problems may be invisible until the overt conflict begins, so wise workplaces consider conflict a possible symptom of something bigger; conflict consultants can help.
- Create Effective Conflict Management Systems. The informal system of organizational culture and formal intervention systems can have a profound influence on whether or not conflict unfolds in a healthy or destructive way. While the increasing commitment to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in the workplace is a positive step, it’s often used too late in a conflict, confuses mediation and arbitration, or imposes a process on an unwitting or ill-informed employee. Effective conflict resolution systems, even in very small organizations, create opportunities for conflict to be identified and addressed early and constructively. Such effective processes emphasize joint problem-solving early in the dispute and the use of mediation before grievances or litigation harden the conflict.
- Make an Organizational Commitment to Taking the Time. A downside of the fast pace of today’s workplace is that such ways of working get in the way of effective conflict management. Engaging conflict constructively requires focused time and attention. It’s time well-spent—an investment on the front end saves time and emotional energy on unresolved conflict later.
Imagine what your organization could do with extra employee time and extra funds found through better-managed conflict, the ability to transform conflict from a vexxing problem to creative opportunity, and a workplace environment that retains great employees.
Dr. Tammy Lenski guides strategic dialogue, trains and coaches individuals and organizations to create terrific work environments by transforming conflict into opportunity. Her New Hampshire-based firm, Lenski Strategic LLC has a track record of successful service to business executives, entrepreneurs, organizations, colleges and universities, court programs, families and community groups nationwide. Women around the world subscribe to Tammy’s blog, Strategic Conversations, to learn how to do conflict better at work and home.
Although secured loans are generally easily available to homeowners it is always important to bear in mind that you should never borrow so much cash that your repayments in themselves are beyond your personal income. If you’re unsure at how your finances will cope with the loan you need then talk to a loans specialist to get some advice.
You should think about taking out some kind of payment protection insurance policy for your secured loan as events can happen that could stop you from making your loan repayments.
When you take out a secured loan you give a guarantee to the lender that you are willing to repay the debt. This isn’t just a question of signing an agreement and hoping for the best as your personal property is at risk if you fail to keep up repayments. The lender can simply take its money from your secured property.
The upside is that the lenders are able to offer better interest rates on a secured loan because they face less of a risk than they would otherwise do on an unsecured loan.
A secured loan will give you better options such as lower interest plus you can benefit from very favourable terms. Secured loans can be tailored to suit your individual needs by extending the repayment period terms of repaying the loan.
In order to find the best secured loans, you will still need to shop around as the interest rates and terms vary from each company. Compare interest rates and the terms that each one offers before deciding which company to use. You can get quotes from a number of them and compare different deals before you make a final decision.
There are numerous companies that offer secured loans for homeowners from local banks and finance companies. Nowadays, there are also online companies that offer financial services. They are generally fast and easy, although the same amount of information will be required. From the comfort of your own home you can easily explore online lenders as they are just a few clicks of the mouse away.
It is vital to check out all your options when you are looking for a loan. The objective is not only to get a loan, but to also find one with the best rates possible to save you as much money as possible during the term of the loan.
However, secured loans have got more to offer than just attractive interest rates. Secured loans offer a variety of flexible repayment terms that will make it easier for you to repay.
There are two main things you should look out for when taking out any loan. First of all you should always deal with a reputable lender as this will make the whole loans process as smooth as possible for you. Then you need to take a long and hard look at costs.
You may freely reprint this article provided the following author’s biography (including the live URL link) remains intact:
About The Author
John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.
Connect two of man’s predominating pursuits and you have got is a trend that’s termed a sportsbook betting Web property. Well: what could be more inventive. Picture a bunch of fanatics rooting for any favorite team, and often stakes are proclaimed matching the tumult. So keen to get their share of the exhilaration, bystanders will customarily strive to augur who is the likeliest to prevail the approaching fight. In the end, this all eventually turns into a nice and friendly fight termed sportsbook betting Web property.
So it may seem addiction prone nevertheless sports betting is really solely an entertainment and of forging bonds with fellow sports maniacs. Here, you’ll be able to risk a a smallish amount of loot and yet enjoy an incredible time. Read on a few select suggestions to help everyone get started sports betting.
To place a bet, you will surf to a sportsbook betting Web property, i.e. a place which takes sportsbook betting Web property. In the U.S.A., there’s a total of four states where to do sports betting in a lawful manner, but beyond legality you can do it just about anywhere provided you can discover a bookie AND happen to be legally an adult. Included in the sporting contests you can bet your money on are professional + college league basketball + football, professional hockey and baseball, + dog and horse racing. Visitors may wager on the comprehensive results of a game, on what round the opponent will go under, and even whether a given tossed coin in a game comes down either heads or tails.
The odds maker establishment will depend on the science of statistics make it easier for you arrive at a conclusion which team you are confident is the likeliest to prevail. First, you’ll see spread, which is a points advantage tallied to a trailing club that is anticipated to lose by a set number points. Self-Evidently, this constitutes the bookie’s official form of offering level antes for a Sportsbook. As an example you could choose to wager on a contestor that is anticipated to lose and and yet win the wager provided the club takes a licking by a set number of points.
We can select sundry categories of bets, the straight bets being the dominating one in sports betting.
So, why not experiment with it and entertain yourself at one go. But take pains to ensure that you won’t get overwhelmed and kill your entire pension plan on a bee. For otherwise you will probably be caught distressed for the rest of your life.
Learn the strategies of the bet casino sports pros at this site.
There are few industries or service type businesses, which are more labor intensive then that of the Landscaping Profession. Whether it is the installation of new landscape designs or the maintenance or mowing of the existing properties; it is done by people power working with the proper tools. Efficiency is king and teamwork is the key to staying on schedule and wasting little time or effort getting the work done.
One Expert Landscape Manager, Mr. Jon Bitzer, explains his secrets of maintaining his team of 20 employees. He breaks his employees into specialty crew teams. One of his teams is a group, which consists of four members, which mows 52 properties per week. Since the schedule is stacked there is little room for error or missed appointments. Especially since Jon is in charge of all the parks, downtown areas and many of the shopping center areas in and around Atlantic City. As a matter of fact much of the turn-around of Atlantic City is in fact due to its new image and nowhere is it more evident than the ambiance created by the landscaping out front.
How does John keep his crews motivated and the teamwork atmosphere strong? Each Friday he meets with his employees for breakfast and buys them pancakes, sausage, bacon and egg deluxe hardy style meal. On the clock of course; the team discusses family, hobbies and gets to know one another. They discuss suggestions of schedule changes and efficiency improvements. He gets total buy in from the team; using their ideas to propel the mission of staying on schedule and making Atlantic City, the city for lovers that it is. Jon and his crews and specialty teams are in-charge of your first impression when you come to the city. His strategy is working; the crews work as a perfectly well oiled machine and have the motivation of a Navy Seal Team. They flat get the job done each and every day and you know what? It shows, think about it.
“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/
Do you realize that you might be prevented from renting your investment home? Prohibiting property owners from leasing their properties is a trend that is growing increasingly popular with some developers and many Homeowners’ Associations (HOA).
It’s rare that you can buy a new home in a development that does have a HOA. As a homeowner you are bound by the HOA restrictions found in the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs).
The CC&Rs regulate your use of your property, restricting everything from the color of the house, window coverings, holiday decorations, sports courts, pets, to landscaping and etc.
One of the most recent restrictions that builders are including in their CC&Rs is a restriction that prohibits the homeowner from leasing their property. Builders have a provision in their sales contracts stating that the home will be a primary or secondary residence and that the purchaser will occupy the home. The owner is strictly prohibited from renting the home.
Why this trend? The idea is to limit the number of rentals in a subdivision because lenders believe that a high number of rentals in a community affects the value of the property and can erode the security of their loans.
Existing HOAs like the idea of no rentals and there seems to be a growing movement to amend their CC&Rs to add the “no leasing” provision.
Investors Beware!
The new homebuyer should be made aware of the no leasing restriction when they buy. But what about the investor who buys a home a few years later? If the investor fails to read and understand the CC&Rs he or she may end up owning a property that they cannot rent.
You can’t count on the home seller alerting you to the restriction. They may be the third or fourth owner of the home and not even be aware of the restriction.
Oh sure, you could buy the home, rent it and hope you are not discovered violating the CC&Rs.
However, anyone who has ever dealt with a HOA soon discovers that there are always a few other homeowners with an eagle eye out for the slightest infraction of the CC&Rs. They delight in notifying the HOA management company,,, and the management company is bound to investigate and enforce the rules. For you the investor is no appeal… and there is no recourse.
This is a strong reminder that every investor should have a clause in every purchase contract that says the purchase agreement is contingent upon you receiving, reading and approving a copy of the CC&Rs.
This is a potential ulcer-creating situation that no investor can afford to ignore.
Mark Walters is a third generation real estate investor and he shares his experience from his Web site at: http://www.cashflowinstitute.com
With the inherent stresses that come with running a business, there is often little time to digest the complex intricacies of security software. According to recent studies many business owners eschew the notion that their digital assets may be vulnerable to attack. Although an attack or infection can be potentially catastrophic, many believe damage caused by viruses, hackers and worms only happen to others. They consider their data to be of little use or value outside of their organization. Even executives that acknowledge the existence of these hazards seldom have the time or the budget for security audits and/or an overhaul of their workflow procedures to comply with best security practices.
Below are a few simple tools, tips and guidelines that can help your business take a proactive approach to data security. By implementing the following, your business data will be less susceptible to financial damage caused by accidents and malicious attacks.
Regularly Update Your Software
Although valiant efforts are often made to write safe software, the fact is that no software is ever bug-free. Hackers exploit these bugs for a variety of reasons including fun and money. It is critically important that your software is updated on a regular basis. Most operating systems, firewall and antivirus can and should be configured to receive regular updates.
Install Firewalls
Firewalls separate one network from another and are frequently used to separate a company’s internal network from the Internet. Firewalls not only mask the identity of the individual computers behind them, they also examine and filter potentially damaging data entering or leaving the network. It is good practice to install both perimeter and client-side firewalls.
Install Anti-Virus Protection
Hundreds if not thousands new malware programs are released each month. These include viruses, worms, Trojan horses and host of other programs. Symptoms of infection range from the annoying to catastrophic. Because viruses can slip through firewalls posing as a legitimate email or program, installation of client-side anti-virus software is important. Install only the latest version of your chose antivirus program and make sure to regularly update and scan your system.
Protect the content of your sensitive files and email.
Email doesn’t have to be a public announcement, yet private messages often turn out to be. Email and files containing sensitive business information such as strategic plans, contracts, financial information, designs and more all too often spread beyond the individuals they were intended for. According to a recent report by the Computer Security Institute loss of proprietary data was the third leading cause of financial damage to organizations last year.
To mitigate this problem consider using rights management software to protect your sensitive business data. Content rights management software not only encrypts files, but also serves to enforce access and limit usage privileges such as forwarding, editing and printing. These protections are persistent and remain with your files no matter where they travel. Any business that frequently exchange medical, financial, legal or design data should make regular use of encryption and digital rights management technologies
Establish a periodic data backup strategy
Periodic backups are required to ensure business continuity in case of an accident such as a hard-drive failure or attack. In a networked environment full and incremental data back-ups can be programmed to take place at regular intervals. Small offices environments should backup their sensitive data external hard-drive or DVD-R at least once a week. It is good policy for companies to back-up email as well. Back-up data should be stored off-site in a secure location. Be sure to test your backup processes to ensure that indeed your data can be restored lieu of an operational failure.
Use strong passwords
Passwords are used to authenticate the identity of an individual user. Unless otherwise protected, once a password is broken your sensitive data is exposed. With free software that is readily available on the web, most passwords can be broken in a number of minutes. These programs often use known words and phrases to break passwords frequently beginning with “password” and “admin”. For good password security use a combination of upper-case and lower-case letters, numbers and symbols (i.e. eR8>!tJd ). Make sure that your employees memorize their passwords and that these are not written down anywhere on premises.
Hire a security consultant
While tips in this article will help your company to be more secure; every business is different and requires its own security strategy. Consider hiring an independent security consultant to asses your individual security situation. They will be able to help you create a comprehensive security policy that will meet your business needs.
Educate your employees
No security plan is effective unless followed by your employees. Measures can be taken to severely limit their privileges such as browsing the internet, reading email, or preventing the reading of files from USB drive or cd. However, draconian security measures can interrupt workflow and damage productivity. A better policy is to limit some user privileges while educating your employees about your company’s security policies.
Zachary Price is a co-founder of Essential Security Software, a leading provider of document and email security solutions. For more information visit http://www.essentialsecurity.com
As a dog owner, you may find yourself needing to give your dog first aid. Whether a car accident has occurred or your dog has collapsed from health related problems, there are some things you could prepare yourself for. Dogs are curious creatures and sometimes get into dangerous situations. When they get into trouble, it will be your job to help.
Nobody expects you to know everything a veterinarian knows. But, don’t sell yourself short. Many of the problems a dog faces are similar to those of our own. Until you can get your dog to a vet, he or she will depend on you. And, sometimes the care you provide along the way will make the difference when you get to your vet. Having the supplies you need on hand will really help you to be effective.
Having the supplies you need on hand will really help you to be effective. Rolls of gauze and tape are handy to slow or stop bleeding. You can also find some great blood-clotting topical products too. Hydrogen peroxide is an effective disinfectant. An old clean blanket is essential for wrapping a dog in shock. We frequently give a product called Nutrical to dogs when they appear to have a low blood sugar.
A first aid kit should also include: ammonia water, antibiotic treatment, hydro cortisone ointment, eyewash, and antihistamine. Also, absorbent cotton, gauze rolls or pads, scissors (preferably with rounded tips), tweezers, a rectal thermometer; syringes (without the needle) for giving oral medications, elastic bandages, an enema bag, soap, and a plastic bowl for preparing dilutions.
Take some time to read those books you have in your doggie library. They will help you get familiar with first aid procedures for your dog. But, don’t delay taking your dog to the vet when needed. Keep your vet’s phone number handy in case you need him. If you think your dog may need professional care in the middle of the night or on a weekend, consider calling your vet and advising him. He may have some good advice or instructions to help you reach him.
Alton Hargrave offers advice and resources for those interested in dogs. His website, http://Dog-Daze.net contains honest information regarding all breeds of dogs, diseases of dogs, and how to maintain your dog.
A radio controlled car is made up of a remote control and the model car. By turning or pushing the joystick up or down & left or right, the operator has all the resources to make it go in several directions.
There are various different types of makes out there at great discounts in the marketplace. The simple models can only just move a small distance. Individuals that desire to have the real deal must acquire the model that has to be built and adapted from scratch.
Remote controlled toy cars are labelled either as electric or as nitro motorised. The remarkable attribute about radio controlled toys that adopt an electric motor is that the battery is completely renewable. Whereas, radio control toys that utilise fuel will want to be refuelled as well as greased after a particular period of time, which is extremely comparable to today’s cars. Visit the Toy-Shopper.co.uk website today and compare prices on the latest remote control toy cars.
These model vehicles are driven by kids & adults of various ages. Particular specialist outlets have remote controlled cars comparable to those used in American NASCAR racing & monster trucks that are time & time seen in the destruction derby. This simply demonstrates that individuals can get pleasure from remote operated cars either on or off the road.
Do these fabulous toys entail masses of maintenance? Yes they can. The owner would be advised to check the battery unit, the shock absorbers & the tires regularly. This will make sure that the remote control vehicle is competent to retain it is speed and efficiency each and every instance it’s sent to the race course.
The fan would be recommended to be conscious that not all of the mechanisms can be mended. This is due to toy producers designing their toys to operate only until the parts basically stop working. Consumers that want to enjoy the remote control vehicle will somehow have to swap the components, nonetheless this occasionally can complicated to locate.
Radio controlled toys don’t just relate to cars. There are also oodles of planes, ships and helicopters to purchase in the toy store.
Parents & teenagers alike who are curious & for some reason have never done this before perhaps should stick to the basic model(s) then upgrade at a later stage if the kid is in fact serious with it and wishes to contribute in model racing contests.
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