A Clever Spell

Assuming that you aren’t familiar with betting establishment card-playing, feel free to read on…

By general definition a betting hall is a structure that accomodates card playing. Here, customers will take a risk at the coin operated machines or some other gambling games. Gaming hall games most often have mathematically determined probabilities incorporated which safeguard the casino keeps possession of an versus the gaming enthusiasts.

Very many betting saloon games can get you addicted swiftly. E.g. there’s the stereotypical one-armed-bandit, a coin hungry box with three plus cogs which pivot once a handle latched onto it is tugged. The gadget commonly pays out referring to a series of glyphs displayed on the front of the appliance. Regrettably, gaming room games offer the false impression of influence, effectively tricking the patron — the victim is ceded choices, but these can never truly match the gamer’s longterm odds. This is induced by the gaming room never refunding the full wager as expected. This structured arrangement is often seen at work in famous casino games such as five-card stud, dice, roulette or blackjack. Seven-card stud is truly an immensely fashionable casino pastime. The players, holding either fully or partially covered hands, are betting in a principal pot that is then awarded to the prevailing punter carrying the leading hand. (Of course, the best bluffer may well prevail too…)

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Resembling seven-card stud, blackjack is likewise a highly trendy casino game. Plenty of its acceptance is a result of the mix of luck and competence & decision making, as well as a system termed card counting. The aforementioned is a particular playing tactics in which visitors can shift the winning odds of the game to give them an advantage by both wagering and strategic opetations based on the hands shown.

Craps is another well known casino game where people must place bets on the throw of two dice. Gamblers will place stakes on the result of 1 cycle, or on a sequence of rolls of 2 dice. Dissimilar to blackjack, there isn’t any possible sustainable winning system you can employ to ramp up the odds.

Roulette is another immensely popular casino based game of luck; a croupier twists a roulette wheel which accommodates a set of thirtyseven (classical roulette) or, respectively thirty-eight (applies to American roulette) separately tagged compartments in which a tossed ball will come to land, which establishes the winning number and the other connected combinations. Then if a gamer bets on a number which actually hits it big meaning she is really having a streak of luck, the promised benefit is going to be 35:1, the pledge being rebated. Thus in total it is multiplied by a factor of thirty six.

We strongly recommend you be vigilant as well because each of these betting house pastimes are certainly addiction forming. Copious lives are known to have been wasted due to inordinate gambling + despite the fact that it might seem like quite victimless fun, do your best to regulate oneself.

No matter what role you play in your company, becoming a more effective listener will help you get ahead in your position. It means fewer errors, improved accuracy, and enhanced working relationships. And, listening to your customers and referral sources will definitely help you in your marketing efforts. You will solicit better information from other people whether interviewing job candidates, solving work problems, or working to make a sale.

Contrary to what many people think, being an effective listener is not a passive activity. It takes concentration, effort, and active attention. Because our brains work much faster than our ability to speak, we often jump way ahead of the speaker in our minds and miss the opportunity to fully understand a person’s feelings, position, and perspective. Environmental distractions or personal biases can also interfere with our ability to understand what a person is saying.

When listening, you are giving a gift of your time and attention to the other person. Work to respond both verbally and non-verbally to the person who is speaking. This lets the speaker know that you are listening and that you understand what he or she is trying to communicate. Here are some ideas to help you hone your listening skills:

1. Don’t Talk. This may seem self-evident. However, many people listen with impatience. They are just waiting for their chance to speak, or worse yet they interrupt. Be courteous and give your listener your full attention. Avoid offering solutions if the speaker is expressing a problem. Just listen.

2. Listen Fully. A good listener looks interested in what the speaker is saying. Your body language speaks volumes. Maintain eye contact, sit still, lean slightly toward the speaker, and nod your head (but not too vigorously or you’ll look like a chicken!).

3. Ask Clarifying Questions. Wait for the speaker to pause, and ask clarifying questions. It’s a good idea to paraphrase what the speaker has said and to ask questions such as, “Did you mean…” or “If I understand correctly, you said…”

4. Provide Feedback. Remain engaged in what the speaker is saying and show this verbally. He or she will appreciate the occasional “I see…” or “Really?” or “I know!”

5. Keep Your Mind Open. The point of listening is to gain new information. Don’t just search for a point that supports your own opinions. Be willing to gain new insights and learn about someone else’s ideas.

6. Be on the Same Level. Make sure you are at eye level with the other person. Avoid having an employee or customer stand in front of your desk. Have comfortable chairs available so that a desk is not a barrier between you.

7. Respect Your Speaker. If the conversation involves criticism from either party or contains personal information, go to a private room for the discussion. Make sure other people can’t listen to your discussion. This will help the speaker feel more at ease and demonstrate your respect for what he or she has to say.

8. Pay Attention to Cues. What isn’t being said is often as important than what is being said. Body language speaks volumes. Watch the speaker’s facial expressions, posture, eyes, gestures, and other nonverbal cues.

9. Avoid Invalidating Language. While you may not agree with what the speaker is saying, avoid defensive statements or phrases that argue with his or her points. Later, you can take time to review what was said and formulate a response. As an active and effective listener, your role is to allow the person the time and space to fully express his or her feelings.

10. Express Appreciation. Thank the listener for sharing his or her thoughts and feelings. It takes courage to speak up. True sharing builds trust and encourages further dialogue.

It takes time and energy to become a better listener. Be patient. As you begin to improve your listening skills, you may be surprised to find people will seek you out to share their thoughts and feelings. You will also find yourself involved in fewer conflicts and be perceived as a more positive and trustworthy person. Attentive listening is a rare skill that people respect and welcome.

ACTION ITEM: This week, concentrate on your listening skills. Do you finish sentences for others? Do you interrupt? Do you sneak looks at your watch? Pay attention to your listening habits and begin to bring conscious attention to improving these skills. Work to show others that you hear and understand them.

Wendy Maynard, your friendly Marketing Maven, publishes REMARKABLE MARKETING, a free weekly ezine for entrepreneurs, business owners, and freelancers. If you’re ready to skyrocket your sales, easily attract customers, and make more money, sign up for her FREE ezine and marketing report now at http://www.gomarketingmaven.com

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”
-Nelson Mandela, Inaugural Speech, 1994

Intuition is divine guidance. Sometimes it is known as a “hunch.” Whatever you choose is call it, intuition is a mighty powerful lead that directs you to take immediate action. Do you follow your intuition or do you allow doubt and reason to step in?

A sudden lead or intuition comes to you in a quick moment. When it feels right and works, you must give in to it. And in order for it to benefit you, it must be nurtured, practiced, and demonstrated. This happens when you act on your inner voice, that unexplained thought, or when you make a decision that turns out to be exactly the answer you were looking for.

It is the same as when you get a spiritual revelation to help someone in need with either your time or money. This too, is a demonstration of your intuition in action. That good deed will be returned to you in multiple ways. It works in your business life as well as your personal life. How many successful people do you know who started out with just an idea or thought that came to them unexpectedly? How about McDonald’s? Wendy’s, the World Wide Web? Most ideas are based on intuition.

Sometimes your intuition or your “hunches” are unexplainable. When that happens, it is God’s way of guiding you to take a step in a different direction, or to trust His lead. It always turns out to be a perfect idea.

How many times have you ever gotten a strong urge to obey a certain thought? Did it come at an unexpected time? Did you act on it? Did you get an unexpected surprise? On many occasions my intuition has led me to an unexpected surprise.

While taking a walk on my lunch hour, I can walk in several different directions, either when leaving or returning to my office. In deciding which street to turn on I usually follow my intuition. And in doing so, I often run into someone I hadn’t seen for months; or someone I’d lost contact with, or someone I used to work with and the re-acquainting moments and emotions are always so precious.

Later, in thinking back, I might wonder at how I might have missed the opportunity if I hadn’t followed my intuition and hadn’t walked in the direction that I was guided to go. If I hadn’t followed my inner voice, those precious moments of a chance meeting would never have happened.

So, never question your intuition. It is unexplainable, mysterious, and many times it is divine law in action. Give thanks for your intuition. Whenever you follow your divine leads or your inner guidance, you are blessed with receiving an unexpected surprise. Though, to follow your inner voice, it often takes an act of faith .

However, when you are indecisive and not sure which way to go, try to be at peace with your choice - whether good or bad. Since all effort is an act of faith, nothing will be lost even if you make a wrong decision or miss a big opportunity. Learn to forgive yourself and remember: “if one door closes, another one soon opens.” This is God’s way of showing you that your life is a part of His perfect plan.

Trust your intuition. Trust your “hunches.” Trust your inner voices or urges They are all blessings for you to use to their fullest. Trust your small decisions as well as the major ones. Trust your business decisions as well as the ones that affect your personal life. Everything that happens to you, happens for a reason. And remember, intuition is a powerful force that must not be resisted to work. It gives God a chance to give your life His perfect pleasure.

Copyright, 2005

Gerri D Smith is publisher and host of multiple Gateways to inspiration, motivation, and support for individuals, women business owners, and entrepreneurs. Gerri’s internet resource offers ways to unlock the doors to your personal and business empowerment. Now is a perfect time to own your own business and discover some of the best ways to market a product. One is by letting your customers see it before they buy it. This concept is a sharing of information and is made available by the Internet. Best of all it’s delivered right to your email doorstep. Why not invest in your future, now. To help you reach more of your personal and business goals, subscribe to Gerri’s Free bi-monthly inspirational newsletter.

Visit: http://www.distinctivebusinesswomen.com Or, send a blank email and your correct email address and mailto: gerri@distinctivebusinesswomen.com?Subject=EZ-Scribe

There can be no doubt that the ancient author of the Tao Te Ching, Lao-Tzu, was a man of unique wisdom whose writings continue to influence people of different backgrounds and faiths.

Many leaders then and now get wrapped up in selfish ambition. They would do well to listen to what Lao-Tzu had to say on the subject of leadership.

There are several English translations of the Tao Te Ching available on-line. The following selections are from a translation by C. Ganson.

Leaders Work Humbly

Leaders should not seek power or status;
people will not then crave power or status.
If scarce goods are not valued highly,
people will have no need to steal them.
If there is nothing available to arouse passion,
people will remain content and satisfied.

The truly wise do lead
by instilling humility and open-mindedness,
by providing for fair livelihoods,
by discouraging personal ambition,
by strengthening the bone-structure of the people.

The wise avoid evil and radical reform;
thus the foolish do not obstruct them.
They work serenely, with inner quiet.

In my involvement in scouting, I have certainly observed humble leadership. Although some of us enjoy getting up in front of people and receiving occasional recognition for our efforts, there are many more people who prefer simply to stay in the background. Without such people, most scout units would not survive.

Unfortunately, humbleness is perhaps a little less common in the business world. Corporate managers should definitely take notice.

Also, I think it is good advice for leaders to avoid radical reform. This is especially true in an organization where the leadership tends to change fairly quickly. This is certainly true in Cub Scouts where the leadership tends to change whenever a new set of boys graduate into Boy Scouts and their parents move on too.

When new leaders take over, it is tempting to want to make radical changes to try to rectify past problems. However, this may create unexpected tension with other leaders who may not share the vision of the new people.

I have seen this situation in scouting and in my corporate experience as well. A new manager who immediately begins making changes before having established a raport with his/her employees will not garner a lot of respect.

The Best Leader

The best leaders, the people do not notice.
The next best, the people honor and praise.
The next, the people fear;
and the next, the people hate.

If you have no faith,
people will have no faith in you,
and you must resort to oaths.

When the best leader’s work is done
the people say: “We did it ourselves!”

Good leaders don’t try to do it all themselves. They delegate. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to get enough people who are willing to take on responsibilities of a leadership position, especially in volunteer organizations.

However, it is much easier to get people to agree to help with small things. There are many people who are willing to help, but just don’t want a long term committment. Official leaders should not overlook the contribution that such people can make.

Furthermore, good leaders don’t try to take all the credit. Imagine if a scout leader took all the credit for everything their boy scouts or girl scouts did. It would be unthinkable! Although we may guide and assist them along in their activities and achievements, we want them to always proudly proclaim “We did it ourselves!”

So, why do some managers seem to want to take all the credit in the business world? Employees who have a strong sense of accomplishment will certainly be happier and more productive. As a result, the organization will thrive and so will the manager.

The author, Greg Bonney, is the owner of Bonney Information and E-Commerce and founder of Scoutcamping.com (http://www.scoutcamping.com).

Copyright © 2005 Bonney Information and E-Commerce.

Leadership is motivational or it’s stumbling in the dark. The best leaders don’t order people to do a job, the best leaders motivate people to want to do the job.

The trouble is the vast majority of leaders don’t delve into the deep aspects of human motivation and so are unable to motivate people effectively.

Drill down through goals and aims and aspirations and ambitions and you hit the bedrock of motivation, the dream. Many leaders fail to take it into account.

Dreams are not goals and aims. Goals are the results toward which efforts are directed. The realization of a dream might contain goals, which can be stepping stones on the way to the attaining dreams. But the attainment of a goal does not necessarily result in the attainment of a dream.

For instance, Martin Luther King did not say, “I have a goal.” Or “I have an aim.” The power of that speech was in the “I have a dream”.

Dreams are not aspirations and ambitions. Aspirations and ambitions are strong desires to achieve something. King didn’t say he had an aspiration or ambition that ” ….one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’” He said he had a dream.

If you are a leader speaking to people’s aspirations and ambitions, you are speaking to something that motivates them, yes; but you are not necessarily tapping into the heartwood of their motivation.

After all, one might aspire or be ambitious to achieve a dream. But one’s aspiration and ambition may also be connected to things of lesser importance than a dream.

A dream embraces our most cherished longings. It embodies our very identity. We often won’t feel fulfilled as human beings until we realize our dreams.

If leaders are avoiding people’s dreams, if leaders are simply setting goals (as important as goals are), they miss the best of opportunities to help those people take ardent action to achieve great results.

When Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence that “Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed,” he was writing about a dream. Not one European government at that time was a democracy. There had been few true democracies in the West since the fall of the Athenian democracy more than 2,000 thousand years before. But Jefferson’s “dream” motivated people to take action. In fact, that dream motivates people to act around the world today.

Understand the dreams of the people you lead. People will not tell you what they dream until they trust you. They won’t trust you until they feel that you can help them attain their dreams. Acquiring that understanding can cement a deep, emotional bond between you.

Dreams are not fantasies. Going to the mountain may be a dream. Standing on the mountain may be a dream. On the other hand, having the mountain come to us is a fantasy. Dreams can be realized, fantasies can’t. Focus on dreams, on what is objectively achievable, not on fantasies.

Dreams are positive, uplifting. The Old English word “dream” means “joy, music, and noise-making.” But that positive, inspirational quality can have negative effects on an organization.

Negative dreams can damage an organization. For instance, union/management issues are often particularly inflammatory because of conflicting dreams, of both sides seeing the other as “the enemy.” Your audience wanting to go back to the “good old days” can be a negative dream. Only a trusted leader can help people reshape their dreams.

Most people have a dream for their life and work. Even people in abject circumstances, such as prisons and concentration camps, dream of a fulfilling existence beyond their present circumstances. If they lose their dreams, they lose an essential quality of their humanity.

People won’t be transformed by your leadership if you have a low opinion of and low expectations for their dream and/or if they are convinced that you can’t help them attain that dream.

Many people don’t consciously realize what they dream. But that doesn’t mean that they are not influenced by their subconscious dream. A subconscious dream can motivate people to act without their clearly understanding why they are acting. Have the people you lead be fully conscious of the content and meaning of their dream or risk having your organization’s activities be impeded by a dimly perceived yet none-the-less potent dream.

Each dream has a price. It’s one thing to think it. It’s another thing to do it. Know the price people will have to pay to attain their dream. Have them understand the price.

As a leader, dream with the people! Without hitching our wagons to stars, the wagons and the stars lose their true meaning in our lives.

Dreams give meaning to emotion and purpose to action. People who believe they’re living their dream see their jobs as part of a higher cause and will work accordingly. Conversely, people who see their jobs as antithetical to their dream, may see that work as oppressive; and they too will work accordingly.

Dreams are supreme reality. Dream graffiti on a Paris wall during the 1968 student rebellion said, “Be realistic: Do the impossible!”

2005 © The Filson Leadership Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in newsletters and on web sites provided attribution is provided to the author, and it appears with the included copyright, resource box and live web site link. Email notice of intent to publish is appreciated but not required: mail to: brent@actionleadership.com

The author of 23 books, Brent Filson’s recent books are, THE LEADERSHIP TALK: THE GREATEST LEADERSHIP TOOL and 101 WAYS TO GIVE GREAT LEADERSHIP TALKS. He is founder and president of The Filson Leadership Group, Inc. - and for more than 20 years has been helping leaders of top companies worldwide get audacious results. Sign up for his free leadership e-zine and get a free white paper: “49 Ways To Turn Action Into Results,” at http://www.actionleadership.com

Few things are more difficult than kicking bad habits or developing more positive ones. But it is definitely worth the effort. Bad habits like smoking, overeating or self-criticism shorten lives and lead to underachievement, and unsuccessful attempts to change them lower self- esteem.

In contrast, good habits create a kind of “success auto-pilot,” leading to greater accomplishment with less thought and less effort.

So how do you best eliminate bad habits and create good ones? Research from the new field of “positive psychology” - the scientific study of happy, successful people - points to at least four proven techniques for successful habit management.

1. Replace a bad habit with a good one. Completely eliminating a habit is much harder than replacing it with a more productive habit. Studies of people who compulsively bite their fingernails have shown that it is very difficult for them to completely give up their habit, and much easier for them to substitute biting with the more productive habit of grooming their nails.

Similarly, people who talk too much during meetings struggle to become silent, but find it much easier to replace their compulsive talking with highly attentive listening.

2. Exercise. A habit of regular exercise is obviously important for lasting weight loss. But you may not realize that exercise helps in accomplishing a variety of goals, and in eliminating a number of bad habits.

Frequent exercise helps break habits of overeating, and in kicking all kinds of addictions, particularly if exercise is substituted for an end-of-the-day cocktail or cigarette. Among smokers who become competitive runners, for example, over 80% give up smoking.

3. Reward success. The most fundamental law in all of psychology is the “law of effect.” It simply states that actions followed by rewards are strengthened and likely to recur. Unfortunately, studies show that people rarely use this technique when trying to change personal habits. Dieters, for example, routinely overlook weeks of exercise and restrained eating, only to let a single lapse “snowball” into a total relapse and complete collapse.

Setting up formal or informal rewards for success greatly increases your chances of transforming bad habits into good ones, and is far more effective than punishing yourself for bad habits or setbacks.

4. Schedule your bad habits. If you are really struggling to kick a bad habit, try limiting the habit to a specific time and place. If you are struggling to quit cigarettes, allow yourself to smoke from 9-9:30pm, and only in an uncomfortable “smoking stool.” When the urge to smoke strikes, tell yourself that you’ll have plenty of time to smoke during your pre-scheduled smoking period. Research and case studies confirm that this rather unconventional approach can be a useful first step in changing bad habits.

Copyright © 2004 Stephen Kraus, Ph.D.

REFERENCES

The findings and recommendations in this article are based on scientific research published in peer-reviewed journals. For complete references, see Psychological Foundations of Success: A Harvard-Trained Scientist Separates the Science of Success from Self-Help Snake Oil by Stephen Kraus, Ph.D.

About The Author

Success Scientist Dr. Stephen Kraus is author of Psychological Foundations of Success: A Harvard-Trained Scientist Separates the Science of Success from Self-Help Snake Oil. He was recently featured in Conversations on Success, along with Brian Tracy and Wally “Famous” Amos. Steve has a Ph.D. in psychology from Harvard University. To contact him or subscribe to his REAL Science of Success ezine, please visit http://www.RealScienceOfSuccess.com

articles@stevekraus.com

You need to know how to protect yourself, since your security department or
any consultant may not be truly aware of these threats and therefore not
dependable. Since September 11th, a number of businesses entered the security field with little to no knowledge of the trade itself; only of its profit potential. Even outfits that have been around for some time and well-established have not been able to stay current with the latest innovations.

Realistically, viewing your threat level has to be considered since everyone
should expect some sort of impending privacy issue no matter how small. Thanks
largely to the Internet you can arm yourself with much of the knowledge and
equipment that the so-called experts use. If a respected agent of computer crimes
for the Secret Service in NYC had his T-Mobile Sidekick hacked, who knows what else
happens out there to others in any business.

Realistically, viewing your threat level has to be considered since everyone
should expect some sort of impending privacy issue no matter how small. Thanks
largely to the Internet you can arm yourself with much of the knowledge and
equipment that the so-called experts use. If a respected agent of computer crimes
for the Secret Service in NYC had his T-Mobile Sidekick hacked, who knows what
else happens out there to others in any business.

We’ll start acoustic ducting evaluation is the inspection of air ducts, baseboard
heaters, coffee rooms, lounges, bathrooms or any way the architecture of a building
can transfer sound. A simple example is to put your ear to a wall and listen.

Basically anything that requires the use of the naked ear is called an acoustic
bug. Softer surfaces can help muffle sounds but there are more efficient means out
there. So be aware that the way an office site is designed can act as a conduit for
conversations. Also, be aware of any changes can have adverse affects. Simply
playing music can do wonders for masking conversations.

Inspection of telephone equipment and wiring is called line analysis. This is
trickier than it seems since sometimes a possible weakness has an actual purpose to
the telecommunication system. Especially if it requires constant maintenance and
software upgrades.

All instruments should be opened and inspected. Ideally they should be
compared with a known safe phone or device. If you’re not sure, just remove that
piece of loose components and wiring and see if the phone still works. The wiring
can be modified in a switch within the handset that essentially turns it into a
microphone. If you bypass this hook switch, you can listen in from anywhere on the
landline. Technical
equipment won’t be able to detect this. Time Domain Reflectometry is the sending
of a pulse down a telephone line. If there is some sort of disruption; a wall outlet or
wiretap; a portion of the pulse will be
sent back to the device called a Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR). Then the time
difference between the reflection and the continuous run is measured. This helps in
determining the distance to the anomaly.

These devices can perform all sorts of diagnostics including mapping a wire
network. That can be useful in locating a hidden phone. Hidden phones have several
obvious uses such as making long distance phone calls to being placed in an office
across the street to receive betting requests by bookies; a practice called back
strapping. If you open up the modular jacks where you connect your phone, you’ll
usually see four wires. In most cases only two wires are connected; commonly
known as ring and tip. If you see all four connected, be aware that is not usually
consistent for most wiring situations, especially in homes. The other two wires
could be used for a bugging device.

For instance, the microphone you use in a voice recorder can be cut in half.
Connect the mike head to one set of unused wires anywhere on the phone wire.
Then, so long as there are no breaks in the wire, connect the other end to the jack
that connects to your recorder. Now place your recorder to be VOX (voice) activated
and now you have an extremely reliable bug. By the way, this should be manually
inspected for since using a specialized bug detector may see nothing wrong or
inconsistent. A bug such as this that connects to a wire is called a direct tap.

The other general type is called an inductive tap. This is when an instrument is
outside a wire but can still distinguish what’s transacting over a wire. They are
harder to detect since they don’t draw power from the line such a standard
telephone would. These are referred to as snuffle bugs. A simple probe used in
hunting wire signals has a speaker, which can display sounds. By
accident one day I was working on an apartment intercom system while using a
probe. I could hear conversations throughout the building quite clearly just
through the intercom boxes mounted on walls from the master unit in the
basement.

If you’re using wireless headsets or cordless phones, the radio signals can be
intercepted. A cordless phone acts like a radio, but depending on the frequency and
a few other factors, can make interception extremely difficult. With some
manufacturers, you can buy the same model as your neighbors or the office and
have it join their phone system. Double check Caller ID boxes to see if they also
record numbers dialed besides obviously those being received. If you’re using VOIP
(Voice Over IP), remember that calls can be recorded in a fashion identical to
intercepting data between two computers.

These packets of data can reassemble an audio file. Obviously electronic
devices possess semiconductor components such as diodes, resistors and such. The
method to hunt for these components is called Non-Linear Junction Detection
(NLJD). The NLJD unit emits a radio signal while listening for the return signal from
an electronic device. This becomes very useful when a bug is embedded in a picture
frame or wall. The eavesdropping device doesn’t have to be active for it to be
discovered. If a device is active and transmitting wirelessly (or even on a wire), you
can detect it with a Radio Frequency Spectrum Analyzer. Depending on the detection
device used, you can determine whether voice, data or video is being sent, and
possibly listen to the data. Try to use different size antennas or buy one that
collapses. Different frequencies can be detected more efficiently by using various
sizes. The use of filters with antennas can also help pinpoint devices on specific
frequencies.

Electronics such as computers, FAX machines and especially CRT monitors can
radiate electromagnetic signals or pulses that can be received by other equipment.
This is known TEMPEST. One way to complicate the surveillance of this is to use
certain fonts and line walls or equipment with different gauges of copper mesh wire.
You can further enhance this posture by using special paints, which block radio
transmissions.

Radio waves will look for a leak or break, so be careful of defensive
applications. One-way window tints can help in blocking signals. Since an
electronic device could generate some heat they can be detected in another way.
The use of a thermal imagery device can detect and actually see minute amounts of
heat radiated for your viewing. You can hide the heat signatures by using creams or
neoprene. Technology exists to collect information from blinking LEDs of modems,
routers, print servers and similar devices. You can only see some general blinking
but with the use of properly tuned optics, filters, oscilloscopes and good timing you
can discern much more. One of the LEDs on your keyboard can be altered to blink
while you are typing in a fashion similar to Morse Code. You can also use a tap in
the keyboard that sends out radio waves again similar to Morse Code and no anti-
virus software will ever be able to find it. Even when a CRT computer monitor is
facing a wall the light can be in a sense read by its flickering emanations from some
distance. A good defensive measure is to buy new LCD flat panel types.

Another approach to attacking FAX machines is to simply record the noises it
makes and play it back to another machine. I used to do this for a client so they
could keep a record of all the faxes they made and received. There are creative and
potentially illegal defenses against wiretappers and Peeping Toms. One is to
transmit an extremely high pitch down the wire, thereby rupturing the listener’s
eardrums. I knew someone who once sent a powerful electrical spike down his
phone wire thereby destroying his divorced wife’s recorder.

By the way, this leads to another topic-expect the device to be discovered
someday. Don’t leave your fingerprints on it. He found it and had it dusted, thereby
producing some prints. My friend used this as leverage against the Private
Investigator that planted it. Advice to Private Investigators, a word to the wise: if you
do this part-time, hire someone who does this full-time. This P.I. lost his license
and almost went to jail. The lawyer who recommended him got into a lot of trouble
as well. He received some unwanted attention from the Feds because of his
telephone dealings went across state lines and also happened to involve the Post
Office.

There is another budding field related to this topic called Protective
Intelligence. Currently there are only a few experts who do this kind of work.

A laser or an infrared beam can be used at a considerable distance from a
target building. Conversational sounds can vibrate unto solid objects such as
windows. The beam’s reflection varies in relation to the movement to the window,
which is received and converted back into something audible. To mask the sounds,
you could attach a vibrating device (basically an altered electric razor) to the
window.

Of course if the window is open, then a laser can target another object instead
of the window. A beam of light or laser can be directed to go through a window
onto a solid object thereby nullifying such defensive measures again. Generally you
really can’t detect such attacks unless the laser, infrared or light beam is being used
that moment. Certain materials can be used to detect IR emissions, as well as the
use of passive night vision gear. Certain fabrics or even a curtain may actually show
the spot where a beam of light or laser is being focused. Unless the room is dusty or
you have an artificial can smoke, you can follow the beam up to a point and
guesstimate it’s location. One type of optical bug is an infrared transmitter. When
placed in the area of interest for transmission of the conversation to an infrared
receiver which will then translate the conversation into an audible format.

Many of these same procedures used can be applied to locating hidden
cameras. A relatively new device uses a series of lasers to seek out optics. This was
originally intended to locate snipers by bodyguards.

I have listed the techniques, counter-measures and then the counter to the
counter-measures to prevent any false sense of security. Usually constant vigilance
is your best weapon besides knowing what to look for. Even if you find a “bug
sweeper” with good credentials, certifications and experience, ask them detailed
questions. Not just to test them but also for your own peace-of-mind. This makes
our job easier and we appreciate greatly when dealing with knowledgeable
customers.

The Spanish owner of O2, Telefnica, has conducted tests at its Madrid facility this week, demonstrating real life capabilities of 4G LTE. The tests have yielded download speeds of up to 140 Mb, and included image and heavy data transfers, a video conference, a VoIP call and a video call over a prototype LTE network.

Through the tests, Telefnica has reaffirmed its market leadership and proved that it is at the leading edge of LTE development. The company also plans to work out the technological requirements of 4G LTE using the data attained from the tests.

LTE is seen by many telecom industry observers as having the potential to mark the end of the current technologies used in mobile broadband. It is widely believed that the technology will support speeds up to 10 times faster than those offered by the current networks.

Despite the bright possibilities, it is uncertain when practical use of 4G LTE will be seen. Telefnica insists that its tests show that such applications are in the offing, but no one is betting on how long it will take.

A recent GMSA report states that 26 service providers are considering commencement of LTE operations early next year, but this excludes any UK providers. It could mean that there is no immediate prospect of a UK LTE network, but as with most new technologies, it is not likely to take a long time for it to be available in the UK. For what is available in the UK right now, take a look at Mobile Broadband Genie, for laptop deals, news and bang on up to date info on everything that’s mobile broadband.

It is safe to say that algebra is the heart of mathematics. An in depth knowledge of algebra and its basics is required before you could work on more complex mathematical problems. If someone asks you to derive the product of 223 and 112, you can easily do it manually or with a computer. But when it comes to exponential (e) of 223 and logarithmic (log) of 112 then most definitely, you will need some kind of algebraic calculator or algebra problem solver. Graphing a circle will be easy for this given formula X² + Y² = 4 but when it comes for an inequality like (X-2)² + (Y-4)² > 20 then it will be quite harder to plot the graph. In this situation algebra software can help you immensely since you only need to enter the inequality and graph will be plotted within a fraction of second. These kinds of computer software can very easily resolve any kind of algebraic, arithmetic and radical expressions of any kind of complexity.

Finding Domain and Range of a Function

Although, deriving the domain and range of a function such as Y = X² can be easily found by considering the number range on the X-Y plane, defining the domain and range of a log(tan 2x + sin 3x) = cosine^(-4)(2x) will be excessively difficult. But now you can solve such critical and complex problems with an algebra calculator without breaking sweat and you will also be getting all the steps as well

Coordinate Geometry

Now you can easily find the focus and directrix and whether parabola opens up or down by just feeding the equation into algebra software. In addition, subtraction and multiplication of polynomials, you are more likely to become bored because they require a lot of terms to be manipulated . However, by leaving the job up to algebra calculators, you will be able to get results within a shorter period with 100% accuracy. Similarly, algebra calculators can save the trouble for you in calculating matrices of 33 or 44 order or its opposite matrices.

So now you don’t need to start worrying when you see indices, rational numbers or exponential equations. Parabolas, hyperbolas or ellipses can all be easily graphed within computer algebra systems.

Three hundred and twenty miles he traveled alone in the Artic wilderness. It made the front page in the small Montana town where I live, heralding the winner of the Yukon Artic Ultra Race as a member of our community. I found the article fascinating. Turns out Andrew Matulionis was so far ahead he never saw his competitors, enduring five days of below zero conditions to win. When asked how he managed to persevere, Andrew explained, “The checkpoints are your goals.” He continued, “it’s one bite at a time.”

Whether you’re in an Artic race or a business endeavor that same winning strategy applies. Yet what I found in twenty years in management was something different. While people desire career achievements or the trappings that go with them (the title, higher pay or more flexibility), they flounder trying to figure out where to start, how to get there or what to do. Often they fail to optimize opportunities that come their way.

It’s not that they aren’t working hard. They are. But like hamsters on a wheel, they put in effort that takes them nowhere. They confuse working hard with making progress. You see, making progress requires gradual betterment, a forward movement or enhanced personal development. And if you want to be winning at working, you need to make progress.

But that’s where it breaks down. The big project comes along, the large goal looms or the significant accomplishment hovers. Each can appear overwhelming when viewed in total. But the secret, as Mark Twain puts it, “is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.” I happen to call that “chunking.” That’s what I used to create a life dream to live and write from the mountains of Montana before I turned fifty. It took twenty-five years, but chunking the dream made all the difference in actualizing it.

People who are winning at working know the way to achieve results, tackle big projects or accomplish their life dreams is to create them one bite at a time. They break big projects into next action steps, goals into bite-size segments and dreams into small increments. They understand that winning is a process. And just like the Yukon Artic Ultra winner, they focus on the next checkpoint goal, and once they’re there, they then focus on the next and then the next.

That’s the secret people who are winning at working use to achieve results, build businesses and accomplish what others only talk about. They learn what they need to know in the current step in order to get to the next one. They develop their knowledge and skill-sets incrementally, building their pathways as they go and adding to their wisdom along the way. As long as they see progress in who they are becoming and what they can do, they know they’re getting there.

No matter where you are or what you want to accomplish in your life, it’s one bite at a time until the project is finished, the skill mastered, the dream realized or the aspirations met. It’s one bite at a time to finish your degree, find a fulfilling job, reach financial solvency or buy your first house. And it’s still one bite at a time to win the Yukon Artic Ultra, write a best-selling book, make your first million or offer the best of who you are to the world. Want to be winning at working? Take it one bite at a time.

(c) 2006 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved.

Sign up to receive Nan’s free biweekly eColumn at http://www.winningatworking.com Nan Russell has spent over twenty years in management, most recently with QVC as a Vice President. She has held leadership positions in Human Resource Development, Communication, Marketing and line Management. Nan has a B.A. from Stanford University and M.A. from the University of Michigan. Currently working on her first book, Winning at Working: 10 Lessons Shared, Nan is a columnist, writer and speaker. Visit http://www.nanrussell.com or contact Nan at info@nanrussell.com.