Better World Movement

If you are one of a growing group of people looking to save money around the home, you should investigate your electricity usage. Reducing the amount of electricity you use has two advantages: it will help you to save money and it is a good thing for the environment. A great way to reduce the amount you spend on your electricity bill is to choose appliances that are energy efficient.

If you are looking to purchase any new appliances, look for the following things:

The energy guide: It is a requirement in the United States, according to the Federal Trade Commission, that appliance manufacturers place labels on their products which indicate how much energy a particular appliance uses. This label, known as an energy guide, is most often colored black and yellow and is able to tell you a lot about the appliance you are considering. For example, it will indicate the cost of running the appliance in an average household for a year. It will also indicate the efficiency rating of the appliance in comparison to similar appliances.

The energy Star: This is a special logo that companies are able to use for their products to indicate how energy efficient they are. They are only allowed to display this Star according to law if the appliance has been tested and shown to meet or exceed particular energy standards as set by the government. An appliance with an energy Star can be as little as 20% more efficient than comparable models or as high as 100% more efficient. As a result, it pays off to purchase an appliance that has an energy Star: the higher the efficiency rating, the better it is for you and the environment.

Bigger is not always better. Some people are of the opinion that they need to buy the biggest appliance available. These people do not understand that the different sized appliances are to cater for different sized rooms and the needs of the people purchasing them. So, if you have a small, galley style kitchen, it would be a ridiculous waste of money and electricity to purchase the biggest air conditioner you can find.

You should also examine the size and needs of your family. If you are a small family of two or three, you don’t need a huge refrigerator, or a giant washing machine, or a large capacity dishwasher.

It might seem confusing when you have to look at all of these terms and numbers when purchasing a new appliance. You shouldn’t let this stop you from making a wise choice; these numbers and symbols and the information they contain are a powerful way for you to reduce your electricity costs over the long term. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, such as parts and repair warranty, and make comparisons before you make your choice.

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Collaboration

‘More than 97 percent of senior leaders believed collaboration is essential to success. However, only 30 percent of respondents and 47 percent of senior leaders believed leaders in their organization are actually skilled in collaboration. Results indicate leaders must learn to work across boundaries to collaborate effectively in the coming years.’ (Centre for Creative Leadership, 2007)

Collaboration is a process of participation through which people, groups and organizations work together to achieve desired results. Common factors and characteristics have been identified by research as influencing the collaborative process, including the skills of leadership, communication, sustainability, unity, participation, and a history of successful accomplishments (Hogue, et al, 1995; Keith et.al, 1993). Borden (1997) has identified four factors: internal communication, external communication, membership, and goal setting.

Borden & Perkins (1999) identified and defined the following factors in the development of a simple self evaluation tool. This tool can be used by groups to stimulate discussion after self rating the collaborative effort for each key area. It can also provide an overview of the key factors necessary for success in a collaborative project.

• Communication - clear and open with an established process.

• Sustainability - there is a plan for sustaining participation and resources throughout the project including guidelines in regards to the replacement of members.

• Research and Evaluation - a needs assessment has been conducted, goals are clear and there are measurement processes in place to collect data and review those goals.

• Political Climate - there exists positive history and environment surrounding power and decision making. Political climate may be within the group as a whole, systems within the group or networks of people;

• Resources - there is access to the required resources. Resources refer to four types of capital: environmental, in-kind, financial, and human;

• Catalysts - the collaboration was commenced due to the existence of problem(s) or the reason(s) for collaboration to exist required a comprehensive approach;

• Policies/Laws/Regulations - the collaboration can function effectively under the existing policies, laws, and/or regulations or these can be altered or created

• History - the group has a history of working cooperatively and solving problems;

• Connectedness - members are connected and have established informal and formal communication networks at all levels;

• Leadership - there are leaders who promote, facilitates and support team building, and who can capitalise on diversity and individual, group and organizational strengths;

• Group Development - this collaboration was mobilized to address important issues. There is a communication system and formal information channels that permit the exploration of issues, goals and objectives; and,

• Understanding Stakeholders - the collaboration understands the stakeholders, including the people, cultures, values and habits.

Using the factors outlined above as a focus of discussion may reduce fragmentation within the group and move group conversation from generic discussion to focused dialogue leading to sound decision making, and action. Open and honest communication within the group can increase group effectiveness and commitment. It also assists with viewing issues and problems in a holistic manner. Open and honest communication within the collaboration and with stakeholders is critical to success.

Another key area to be addressed is the setting of direction and focus for the collaboration. Ensuring a clear and understood direction and focus between all parties for a collaboration defines the purpose of the collaboration as what its members seek to create. Setting the direction and focus begins with establishing the vision, mission, values, and principles. Defining the outcome(s) further establishes identity and fundamental purpose. Activities also need to be aggregated to provide value to the collaborative group and to stakeholders. Multiple activities with similar focuses can confuse. Task/role clarity can create greater involvement, dialogue and understanding. Applying the range of factors above to the processes and contexts of the collaboration results in a greater shared understanding of what the collaboration stands for, where it’s going, the internal and external environment, and how it intends to make its outcomes a reality.

Collaboration as a Continuum Collaboration often means different things to different people, it is useful to think about collaboration as a continuum. Parties may consider themselves in relationships that vary from lower-intensity exchanges, in which the groups are more independent, to higher-intensity relationships, in which they are more interdependent. In one model (Kaplan, 1991), these differences in intensity are reflected in four common terms: networking, cooperation, coordination, and collaboration.

Networking Cooperation Coordination Collaboration Lower-intensity’ Higher-intensity Independence’ Interdependence

1. Networking Organizations have a networking relationship when they exchange information in order to help each organization do a better job.
2. Coordination Organizations have a coordinating relationship when they modify their activities so that together, they provide better services to their constituents.
3. Cooperation When organizations cooperate, they not only share information and make adjustments in their services - they share resources to help each other do a better job.
4. Collaboration In a collaborative relationship, organizations help each other expand or enhance their capacities to do their jobs. (Axner, 2007)

Trust and Collaboration The development of trust in nurturing collaborative relationships is a vital skill for leaders (Tschannen-Moran, 2001). Trust is built on perception and history. How our motives and activities are perceived determines if others will trust us. If we trust, we share. If not, we don’t. How other’s perceive us is their reality -outside of our own motives. If we are perceived as promoting our own agenda or trying to create our own “empire”, others are reluctant to become involved and to share. This applies to organizations and individuals.

Affect- based trust are feelings of emotional involvement and sincere caring for each others welfare. Cognition-based trust is the belief that others are competent and responsible. Both of these forms of trust are the foundations for collaboration in organisations (McAllister, 1995). Interpersonal trust is also viewed as a key to facilitating and enabling coordinated social interactions (Coleman, 1988).

Learning to Lead Collaboration People can tend not to collaborate, this may be caused by issues of understanding, time, our work environments or politics. Collaboration is a relatively new concept and is unfamiliar to many people. We were taught in school to compete and that the world is survival of the fittest. Collaboration can seem to run contrary to what we were taught to do and be. If people are used to seeing knowledge as a scarce resource (and through ownership of knowledge it can create increased power for the individual or group) people may be less inclined to engage in open idea exchange and collaboration.

Innovation needs to occur in an environment of experimentation. However, if innovative ideas are to be effective, they need some structure to allow for consistency. The environment should foster both innovation and standardization.

Politics and bureaucracy also need to be addressed and understood within the organisational context and the context of the collaborative effort. Good ideas aren’t always the ones that are implemented. Ideas that are connected to the right people in the right positions can often gain acceptance quickly and easily. Who has power? Influence on key decisions sometimes rests outside of formal processes. Sometimes, people on the “outside” have a profound impact on key decision makers. Ignoring other stakeholders can sink new ideas and innovations.

Tools for Collaboration The IT industry has recognised that collaboration and social networking is the way of the future and there is a strong move to create products which seek to improve productivity by virtualizing communications and business processes. People and organisations are looking at ways to connect with each other virtually and Web 2.0 products are being designed to fill those needs. However we already have easy access to tools such as video and tele conferencing, chat, bulletin boards and email - simple tools which enable groups to communicate. Many tools are readily available as open source software or at low cost making them accessible to all sectors. There are also more advanced products such as secure instant messaging, screen sharing and other groupware tools. These types of tools enable geographically dispersed teams to come together for virtual meetings allowing for time and cost savings, less travel, and improved communications flow.

Conclusion Trust, collaboration, sharing, freedom of ideas, are expressions of belief systems and culture. When we debate the role of collaboration in an organization, we are debating our views of how the organisation as a whole should be organized, power distributed, diversity allowed, and decisions made. Collaboration reflects a point of view: that by working together partners, formal or informal, can bring different perspectives to bear to solve a problem and bring about change. In order for collaboration to occur successfully within an organisation there needs to be a supportive culture and work environment, encouragement from senior managers and a rewards system which reflects the importance of collaborative practices. For collaboration to be successful between organisations there must be clarity, direction and dialogue.

Resources For more information about collaborative software go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collaborative_software

References

Axner, M. 2007, Promoting Coordination, Cooperative Agreements, and Collaborative Agreements Among Agencies. The Community Toolbox accessed 17/12/07 at http://ctb.ku.edu/tools/en/sub_section_main_1229.htm

Borden, L. M. 1997, Community collaboration: When the whole is greater than the sum of parts. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois. (Quoted in Borden & Perkins, 1999)

Borden, L.M & Perkins, D.F. 1999, Assessing Your Collaboration: A Self Evaluation Tool. Journal of Extension, accessed 17/12/07 at http://www.joe.org/joe/1999april/tt1.html

Centre for Creative Leadership, 2007, What’s Next? The 2007 Changing Nature of Leadership Survey, accessed 17/12/07 at http://www.ccl.org/leadership/pdf/research/WhatsNext.pdf

Coleman, J.S. 1988, Social capital in the creation of human capital. American Journal of Sociology 94 (Supplement). 95-120.

Hogue, T. Perkins, D. Clark, R. Bergstrum, A. Slinski, M. & Associates, 1995, Collaboration framework: Addressing community capacity. Columbus, OH: National Network for Collaboration.

Kagan, S. L. 1991, United we stand: Collaboration for childcare and early education services. New York: Teachers College Press, Columbia University, 1-3.

Keith, J. G., Perkins, D. F., Zhou, Z., Clifford, M. C., Gilmore, B., & Townsend, M. Z. 1993, Building and maintaining community coalitions on behalf of children, youth and families. Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station Research Report (529). East Lansing, MI: Institute for Children, Youth, and Families.

McAllister, D.J. 1995, Affect and cognition - based trust as foundations for interpersonal cooperation in organisations. Journal of Occupational and Organisational Psychology Journal, 38: 24-59

Tschannen-Moran, M. 2001, Collaboration and the need for trust, Journal of Educational Administration, Vol. 39 Iss. 4.

Miriam Scurrah is a business coach and consultant based in Australia. I managed my first business at the age of 21 returning later to University to gain a degree in Adult Education and a Masters in Business and Technology. I have been providing advice and coaching to many business owners over the years, from new start ups through to advising on strategic direction for established companies. I have consulted in the area of health and safety management, particularly writing OHSMS and ensuring legal compliance. I have also provided advice and strategic plans in the areas of product development and promotion. My expertise also includes ensuring HR practices align with business strategy. Please contact me at miriamscurrah@email.com

http://www.miriamscurrah.com.au

Part of your effectiveness as a consultant comes from technical expertise applied to client needs. Another equally important part comes from your authenticity and credibility. These qualities affect the trust you inspire, and therefore the influence you can have in your client’s decisions.

How do you develop the authenticity that enhances effectiveness as a consultant? Aligning what matters to you with the work you do and the expertise you offer customers is a powerful method. Just as you experience better performance when your car is properly aligned, consulting performance improves when your technical skills and abilities are aligned with:

a) what you believe and what you value,
b) your role or mission in work and life, and
c) the larger vision you feel you are contributing to through work as a consultant.

Completing the following alignment exercise may surprise you with greater clarity, energy, or renewed commitment in your work, as well as an inside-out congruence that communicates to your customers.

Please note: This exercise is patterned after a more general alignment exercise created by Robert Dilts, who developed it based on his work with neurological levels in the field of Neuro-Linguistic Programming. For more information, visit nlpu.com.)

Consulting Alignment Exercise

First, find a quiet place where you will be undisturbed for 20 to 30 minutes. Make sure that you have enough space to ‘walk through’ the sequence of six locations described below. Mark each location with tape or paper, leaving a comfortable distance of one or more steps between points along the path you will walk. This will help anchor your experience at each point. Label the spots “Consulting Environment,” “Consulting Actions/Behaviors,” “Consulting Strategies,” “Beliefs and Values,” “Mission,” and “Vision” in that order, using pen or marker on 8.5 by 11 inch or A4 paper.

Take a notebook along to briefly record the answers that come to you as you stand on each spot. If someone you trust can assist, you may invite them to guide you, in relaxed fashion, by reading the instructions for each step below. It is important that they allow enough time for your thinking or reflection at each location. Your guide can also record your answers in the notebook, and remind you of what you noticed at earlier steps to foster fresh insights.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Where, When, And With Whom?

When you are ready, step onto the first space (marked “Consulting Environment”) and recall or imagine a specific meeting with one of your current or prospective customers. Check the details of the environment around you at this meeting: the furniture, the wall colors, photographs or pictures, etc. What do you observe, sense, or surmise about the situation and person you are consulting?
Take notes on your answers.

2. What Do You Do?

With this time, place, and customer in mind, step forward to the next space (marked “Consulting Actions/Behaviors”), and recall or imagine the individual consulting actions you typically take (for example, asking the client a question, listening, taking notes on what was said, etc.). List these behaviors in your notebook.

3. How Do You Do It?

When you are ready, walk forward to stand on the third space (marked “Consulting Strategies”), and consider how you choose and link individual actions together to forward the conversation with your consulting customer. What enables you to make this conversation more than small talk? What capabilities, strategies, and thinking skills do you draw upon to do this? Take notes on your answers.

4. Why Do You Do It?

Once more, step forward into your next location (marked “Beliefs and Values”). In this space, ask yourself why you want to use those particular strategies or capabilities as consultant. What is important to you about serving this customer well? What values and beliefs guide your consulting work with this person? Record your reflections.

5. Who Am I If or As I Do This?

When you are ready, step forward again on to your next marked space (marked “Mission”), and ask yourself the question: “What is my mission as a consultant?” “What role do I play in the larger scheme of things?” Is there a symbol which might represent this role (for example a lighthouse, gardener, tugboat, etc.)? Use a picture, diagram, or words to capture your thoughts.

6. Who Or What Else Do I Serve?

When you have answered these questions, step forward again on to the next location (”Vision”). Take a deep breath as you look up and ask yourself: “Who or what else may I be serving through this work as a consultant?” “What vision or calling inspires me?”

Take your time here. Be patient and let yourself relax further as you open up to the quieter thoughts and inspiration which arrives. Give those thoughts time to settle a bit, and take notes.

7. Integrating Vision and Mission

When ready, take your vision or sense of larger purpose back to the place where you examined your mission or role as a consultant. Standing in this space again, review or read aloud the Mission notes taken earlier. How is your first impression of mission enhanced or strengthened through the vision or larger purpose you just discovered?

You might want to breath in again, and raise your gaze to help connect these thoughts or impressions. Take note of new thinking.

8. Incorporating Consulting Values and Beliefs

Step back once more into the space where you examined your values or beliefs. As you review your initial notes on values and beliefs, consider: How are these enhanced by your experience of consulting vision and mission? What values or beliefs are stronger? What new values or beliefs have emerged?

Touching your chest may assist in your felt sense of integrating these ideas. Record your insights as they arise.

9. Enabling Purposeful Strategies

Continue, by physically stepping back to your “Consulting Strategies” space. As you or your guide reads your initial notes on “Consulting Strategies,” pause to notice how your understanding of, or relationship to, the “how to” capabilities you named earlier may now have changed.

How do these capabilities or strategies support your larger purpose and your role as a consultant? What would you like to enhance at this level so that you are even more effective? Take notes on your answers.

10. Realizing Informed Action

When you are ready, step further back into the space where you originally observed the actions you take, or behaviors you employ, as you serve a specific customer. Review your notes on “Consulting Actions/Behaviors.” Given what you have just observed and experienced, how do these specific actions reflect or support the capabilities, values, purpose, and vision that you bring to consulting? Record your thoughts.

11. Appreciating New Options and Flexibility

Finally, return to the space where you began to explore your consulting environment, reflecting on the customer and place you described. If you wish, review the notes taken when you first visited this location.

What new options, choices, or flexibility in your work as a consultant are available to you now? You may want to take a few moments to let your impressions settle and absorb what you have experienced, and be sure to capture what you have learned in your notebook.

Rewarding Results of Alignment

Completing this Alignment Exercise may hold surprising insights and results for you.

At the end of this walk, people commonly realize that they are no longer limited to a particular time, setting, circumstance, or method as they consult. As you recognize new opportunities that match your sense of professional mission, you may find that consulting becomes a natural channel for delivering the gifts that you uniquely offer. The freshness, energy, and authenticity that flows from this will be reflected to your customer, and in your work with them.

For more on keys to effective consulting please see our blog at http://www.consultingtipsandtools.com, and also check out our teaching site at http://www.aligned4results.com

From Randy Thomas and Susan Berry - The “Working Together” Team

Copyright 2008 Aligned for Results LLC by R. Thomas and S. Berry, All rights reserved.

You are free to reproduce this article as long as:
1) no changes are made,
2) the title, authors’ names, tag line, and the copyright notice are retained without changes, and 3) all links remain intact and active.

Benefits of Trees

There are a wide variety of benefits that trees provide. These benefits range from the environmental impact to neighborhood beautification. Here we highlight a number of the positive impacts that trees can have.

Trees Reduce Pollution

Trees are notorious as carbon dioxide absorbers. Trees take in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis and use it, along with sunlight, soil, and water, to produce the trees energy needed to grow and the byproduct of this process is oxygen.

Trees are so efficient at absorbing CO2, in fact, that just one acre of trees can offset the carbon dioxide produced by a human over the an entire year. But, trees don’t even have to be planted in large numbers to have a large impact. One study showed that a single tree planted to shade a house can make the house more energy efficient. This improvement in efficiency can have the same impact on CO2 emissions as 15 trees planted in a field.

Trees also prevent runoff and can dramatically slow erosion. Runoff is a major cause of water pollution in urban areas where trash, grass clippings, and other debris often finds its way into drainage systems and then into major water reservoirs. Trees prevent much of this from happening.

Trees Save Us Money

One tree, planted near a house, can reduce the daytime cooling costs associated with that house by nearly 60%. Over a calendar year, strategically placed trees can reduce all energy costs (heating and cooling) by 25% or more. In fact, trees are so efficient at cooling the areas they shade that entire towns have reduced their energy costs simply by planting trees around town.

Trees also make money for people by increasing the value of their homes. One national poll of realtors showed that as much as 98% of people looking to buy a home will look more favorably on a home with mature trees than on a house without them. Another study showed that houses with trees appraised for as much as $5,000 more for every single tree.

Trees Help Raise Funds

Some wise and environmentally minded people have taken note of the numerous positive benefits of trees and have added one more; they sell trees to help raise money for local groups. Tree Fundraisers are great for all kinds of reasons.

Green Fundraisers are one of the hottest things to hit fundraising in years. They are something new and different than anything seen before in that industry. Groups that need to raise money can sell trees that the buyer can plant wherever they want, as opposed to old-fashioned “adopt-a-tree” programs. The sell is easy because the buyer receives all of the positive effects mentioned earlier and the group is happy because they make a nice profit. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Jordan Gottlieb
http://www.go-green-fundraising.com
Learn more about Green Fundraising
Learn more about Tree Fundraising

On the different dimensions of criminal behavior and understanding the mind of the criminal

Criminals have distinct psychological features and are either exceptionally calm and composed or overtly aggressive and temperamental. Some criminals are extraordinarily intelligent whereas many criminals are of average and low intelligence. However criminal behavior is not caused by aggression alone as there are several other factors that add to criminal behavior. Biologists have tried to provide a genetic explanation of criminal tendencies suggesting that crime may run in the family or hardcore criminals have chromosomal/genetic aberrations. The change in the levels of neuro-chemicals in the body can lead to criminal behavior as some neuro-chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin are directly associated with aggression and psychopathic behavior.

However the main and direct cause of criminal behavior in individuals would be family/ immediate environment and schools / social groups, personality, and moral development.

This is explained with the help of social-personal-moral dimensions of criminal behavior.

Social (Family/Environment) - Aggressive and criminal behavior is largely shaped by society and social groups, by friends, family and other people. Children who are encouraged to behave aggressively towards other people and also towards their parents can grow up to become criminals in later life. If parents and friends encourage aggressive behaviour or if a child always gets his way by shouting and crying, he will in most cases grow up to become a criminal. Extreme control or too much freedom given to a child can cause severe harm to the proper social and moral development of the child. The immediate social environment and the culture in which children are brought up are responsible for the development of criminal behavior so if a child associates with other people who engage in criminal offenses or if he has a violent and aggressive family environment, criminal behavior is again likely. Sometimes children learn to take drugs or alcohol or carry weapons as they try to follow certain group behaviors and this is the foundation of crimes. Disorganized societies and environment as in case of broken homes, disruptive family environment, war zones, conflict torn areas are highly susceptible to crime and criminal activities. The social group or friends introduce the children to either the good things of life such as arts, knowledge and culture or to the negative side of life such as drugs, crime and alcohol and this is the process of social learning. Finally it is the individual who chooses which direction of life s/he will take and this decision largely depends on individual personality.

Personal (Personality/ Dispositions) - Personality disorders have been found to be closely associated with criminal behavior and the criminal is often a psychopath or an antisocial given to mental instability, irritability or extreme aggression and argumentativeness. Some psychopaths are soft spoken and apparently charming and non-aggressive yet are capable of performing the most heinous crimes. Some personality patterns are more vulnerable to criminal behavior than some others. All these people have one thing in common, through their criminal behavior they try to escape reality and vent their frustrations by performing antisocial acts. The escape route is through the crimes and all criminals suffer from an avoidant/escapist personality pattern as they kill or steal because for a few moments they escape reality and its consequences and live in a hazy unreal world comprising only of their unconscious desires and thoughts. Performing a criminal act is like performing a play on a stage and when engaging in a crime, criminals are in a different mental state altogether, which is not exactly normal. As excessive alcohol also induces this mental ‘haze’, crime rates are often high in alcoholic conditions. Suicide is also a sort of crime although suicide happens when this mental confusion in one’s life is prolonged and is often associated with mental illnesses and depression. Manic hyper aroused conditions lead to crimes towards others and depression often leads to crime towards self.

Moral (Conformity/ Rationality) - Moral development of individuals is closely related to conforming to certain norms and standards of society, and control of antisocial or negative behavior is absolutely necessary in preventing delinquent behavior. However the stages of moral development should be understood to delineate the positive or negative impact of non conformity. After compete moral development, individuals may choose to not conform to social standards and try to move beyond norms. This is not always negative and would be associated with novelty and creativity. However when moral development is hindered at an early stage of life when children ignore moral values and ethics of society for their own selfish pursuits and there is a complete lack of external control, the moral development is truncated and lead to criminal behavior in later life. A restraining factor in crime is rational thinking and if individuals can rationalize, reflect and understand the seriousness of crimes, they would be deterred from engaging in crimes and would thus in turn aid their own moral and personal development. According to psychoanalysis we all have criminal/aggressive tendencies but a criminal is the one who directs the basic urges of aggression towards other people and the external world. Moral development of children would be dependent on several factors and according to psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg the first stage of moral reasoning is of obedience and avoiding punishment, the second stage is keeping up to expectations of family members and the final stage is moving beyond social conventions. Criminals are people who have incomplete moral development as their behavior may by motivated by a desire to break the law and challenge obedience and punishment, and this is largely different from mature nonconformity that is at times constructive. A criminal is thus recognized by his destructive and negative personality.

From this we move to the discussion on what exactly goes on in the mind of a criminal and what are the motivations that drive people to criminal activity. Some of the reasons for which people engage in crime would be jealousy/envy, frustration, necessity (for example: extreme poverty), mental disorder (delusion), social disorganization, personal failures, social groups, family environment, influence of drugs/alcohol or neurochemical imbalance. Individual circumstances are as important as the other general factors along social, personal and moral dimensions and criminal behavior could be more impulse / act oriented or planning /mind oriented. The ‘impulse oriented’ crime acts are impulsive and happen spontaneously when for example, a man kills another in a fit of rage. The ‘planning oriented’ criminal could be a psychopath or a normal person although the common aspect would be their ability to plan the criminal act as a venture.

Unbelievable that it may sound, a moment of crime is a moment of indifference as the criminal does not concentrate on his own feelings but on the act itself. Thus a criminal can become detached in the moment of crime. In fact this is the strength and the weakness of the criminal, as detachment makes crime easy as the criminal divorces himself from the crime to prevent feelings of guilt and this same ability to get detached could be utilized positively, to develop detachment from the material aspects of life. Criminals if rehabilitated and properly trained can be great sources of strength for the society as all criminals are also capable of devotion, determination and detachment and could be successful religious leaders, social / humanitarian workers and counselors.

If you are using Windows XP and do not have a registry clean XP operating system, you may be in trouble. Windows XP is the most stable permutation of Windows that is available on the market. It is also the most popular form of Windows in the world and currently has the highest penetration rate among consumers.

Windows XP is extremely established and should be one of the most problem free operating systems available on the market. From my experience, I have noticed that Windows XP is every bit as trouble-free as an operating system of its age should be. Many problems I am consulted on are usually attributed to a poorly maintain registry and have nothing to do with the inadequacy of the operating system.

I have many clients who face all kinds of computer problems. Some of these problems require complex fixes, whereas some problems are easy to solve. But in order to maintain a responsive and error-free operating system, you should use a registry cleaner.

The registry is a critical component of the Windows operating system that many computer users take for granted. Whenever my clients complain about poorly performing computers, I immediately head to the registry for inspection. The registry is the engine that drives your operating system. A well maintained registry should act like a finely tuned engine that powers a race car.

Of course, there are other factors that inevitably come into play when determining an operating system’s speed; but the role the registry plays is arguably the largest. Windows XP is an established operating system and is stable and efficient. Therefore, if your computer is running Windows XP, and if you are experiencing unusual problems, you should look to a registry cleaner for solutions.

One of the very best registry cleaner programs your can use is RegCure. RegCure is one of the best maintenance programs for Windows. When it comes to solving registry errors, RegCure acts like an experienced bloodhound on a feeding frenzy. It will hunt down errors and mercilessly ejects them from your operating system.

Registry errors are usually created when applications or programs are installed or uninstalled poorly. Whenever you install or uninstall a program, you should take notice of any errors that may occur. A failure to completely install or uninstall a program will typically result in registry problems. Unfortunately, the problem can also occur if a program is installed or uninstalled ’successfully’.

This ‘lose-lose’ situation is particularly problematic for casual computer users. This is because registry problems may accumulate while they are hidden behind a curtain of bogus propriety.

Fortunately, RegCure can deal with these problems quickly and efficiently. RegCure acts like a stringent drill sergeant that brings order to the chaotic barracks of your registry. It provides quality maintenance and repair solutions to the registry with a simple command, thus making it powerful and easy to use.

Obtaining a registry clean XP operating system can be easy if you have a good registry cleaner installed. When selecting a registry cleaner, it is important to select one that offers quality solutions that can make a substantial impact on your computer’s performance. So the next time your operating system starts misbehaving, consider employing RegCure to whip it into shape.

Click Here to get your windows registry fixed for free. Logan Albright helps thousands of people optimize their computers through a proper computer check up. He is an authority on troubleshooting computer problems at http://www.pcaholic.com

The biggest problems facing people today are the state economy and the state of the environment. And often it seems impossible to save your money and be good for the planet, too. Well, we can’t solve all the problems of the world by ourselves but we CAN do our part. By preserving what we have instead of replacing with new, by improving the efficiency of our home climate control and by keeping it from escaping it into the wind, a good paint job may all you need.

Yes, painting. “Painting” is the name we use for the trade of “finishing”. But it takes a whole lot more than painting to produce a quality finish. In fact, the most important part of the entire painting process is the prep work: filling and caulking. In essence, sealing your home!

Once all the cracks and holes have been filled and somewhere between priming and painting, a good painter will seal the gaps around all your doors, windows and baseboards. This not only gives you clean straight lines between wall and trim surfaces, it also eliminates air transfer in these areas between inside and out. And that means better air efficiency, better climate control and best of all, energy and cost savings for you AND the planet!

Right now, the best thing you can do is reduce waste and save money wherever you can. Painting your house may seem like a decorating luxury but in fact, it’s the cheapest way to maintain the structure and increase the value your home while paying off in energy cost savings. And in these times of economic uncertainty, go with what you can be sure of: your home is your castle and castles can be draughty. Take care of your home with a simple and cost effective paint job and it will take care of you for years to come.

DEE POTTER is a Toronto, Ontario area painting contractor who’s helped hundreds of homeowners get the most out of their properties with creative and money saving solutions to their repair and decorative challenges with his company, ColourWorks Painting. To learn more about ColourWorks painting solutions and services visit http://www.PaintByColourWorks.com

More and more cars are on the road every day, and it is estimated that more than a billion cars will be on the roads by the year 2020. With more and more cars hitting the roads each year, many people are beginning to look for greener options for their vehicles; in fact, governments are even beginning to put pressure on car manufacturers to develop cars that are friendlier to the environment. While in the past green cars were something that most people only dreamed about, today there are a variety of options available for those who are looking for a car that is environmentally friendly.

Several Different Technology Choices

Today as more and more people become environmentally conscious, there are a variety of greener alternatives that are beginning to show up in show rooms in the United States and even in Europe. For those looking for a car that runs green, there are now several different technology choices to consider, including alternative fuels, battery cars, and of courses the ever popular hybrids.

- Alternate Fuels - Perhaps the most futuristic technology when it comes to vehicle propulsion is alternative fuels used in fuel cells, which actually happens to be the cleanest form of vehicle transportation. Several car manufacturers are investigating hydrogen powered vehicles as well as cars that are powered by ethanol instead of gasoline. Vehicles with fuel cells have great potential, although it has not been fully explored. In the past infrastructure for these fuels have been a barrier to their product, but Honda has recently opened a station in California that actually is a hydrogen fueling station. Their goal is to show how alternative fuels can perform, offering consumers a new way to look at transportation.

- Battery Cars - Another type of technology that is employed when it comes to green cars is the electric battery. Actually battery cars have a long and extensive history, and they have been researched for some time. However, it has only been recently that they have shown to be viable in the mass vehicle market. As battery technology continues to improve, more cars are being introduced into the market with battery technology. There are many green advantages to battery operated cars, including great energy efficiency and no pollution; however, until recently they have been very limited, both in speed and electric charging.

- Hybrids - When it comes to cars that are friendly to the environment, the most popular and promising technology is the hybrid technology. Hybrids are unique, in that they use electric motors and an internal combustion engine as well. Fuel efficiency is boosted, since the electric motor can take over and help to lower the usage of fuel. Since the electric motor offers support, the gasoline engine is a lot smaller and much more efficient as well. In fact, in parts of travel, the gasoline engine may shut down altogether. The energy from the gas engine also helps to charge the battery, so you don’t have to worry about recharging it, like you have to with electric battery cars, and the emissions are significantly lower than other gas powered vehicles. Probably the two most popular hybrid cars on the market today include the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight.

Greener Cars for 2007 and 2008

Today there are a variety of options available when it comes to green cars. There are far more options than there were a few years ago. So, let’s take a closer look at some of the cars that have the best green performance in 2007 and 2008.

One of the greenest cars out there on the market today is the Toyota Prius. This car has a pair of electric motors along with a four cylinder engine. The Prius has the best fuel economy of any mass market car in the United States. The Honda Insight is fairly close to the Prius as well, and also has a lot to offer. You’ll also find that another great car for the environment is the Smart For Two car. It is a small car that only needs a very small motor - a 3 cylinder engine, which gets about 33 mpg around town. The Nissan Altima Hybrid is also an excellent car which is friendly to the environment and is tuned to get great fuel economy in the city.

Of course these are just a few of the environmental cars that are now available on the market for purchase. It is easy to see that the technology around greener vehicles is ever expanding, and no doubt in the next few years, you will continue to see great strides made in this area of technology as well.

Search, post, and find green cars, smart cars, and hybrid cars at VehicleRide.com

Pen Drives, the high capacity movable storage device of the computer, is not just a boon for the IT and other business sectors, but it has been proved to be the most dangerous device to harm any organisation. While data security and confidentiality matter the most in any government and private organisation, a pen drive is the most useful device for the corporate spies or hackers to take data easily and misuse it.

Among the threats for an organisation associated with a pen drive, the most important is transmission of viruses. As most of the antivirus software fail to detect the viruses in a pen drive or safeguard the computer, a computer can be easily infected by a virus transmitted through pen drive. This portable device can be responsible for data loss and data theft. In corporate sectors, many employees have found with taking malicious software, video clips, computer games, MP3 files, pornography pictures and other inappropriate files violating corporate rules.

However, restricting a pen drive in a corporate environment is next to impossible. They are too small in size to be carried stealthily and also they are getting cheaper everyday. These days, the pen drives are available that can not be identified by a metal detectors as well. Hence, the security threats involved with a pen drive is hard to combat with. However, some measures can be chosen to deal with the serious issue.

Educating the user:

It is hard to stop the gadget junkies from using pen drives as it has become the `must-have` for them. And sometimes, pen drives becomes essential for any work progress. But it is possible for the office authorities to educate the users on the use of pen drive while taking data to their home out of the office or bringing any data to the office.

Lock desktop security:

Many companies are adopting the security policy of locking the computer automatically when not in use for a few minutes. Though it is a perfect alternative, using a pen drive or misuse of data are possible when the computer is unattended by someone. The interval of locking can be reduced in a high risk environment. In a workstation with access to sensitive data the lock desktop can prevent misuse of pen drive to a large extent.

Rigorous anti-virus policies:

The company or the corporate authorities should configure antivirus software to scan and detect every attached drive and removable media. The users of every interface should be trained to scan the files before opening them. This can reduce the effect of the virus in case it is transmitted through a pen drive.

Restriction of USB ports:

In the corporate environment or any other place the USB ports of the desktop computers can be made disabled to prevent the use of pen drive by the outsiders. In place of the USB port, the legacy port can be used for using the peripherals. Even software can be used to restrict the access of end user to the I/O devices and many other plugs and play devices.

Use of secure devices:

Companies should take care of issuing only secure devices to the employees and also these devices should be approved to purchase. The users having potential access to sensitive data should be allowed the devices with security features and they should be trained to use all the security features.

Educating the security personnel:

The security personnel of a company must know how a pen drive looks like and what dangers it can cause if it is with a miscreant. Any unauthorised person in the company premises with a pen drive should not be ignored. Rather, legal steps can be taken to seize the device.

It is barely possible to work in any corporate environment without the help of a pen drive. But looking at the scenario, where the large business sectors are facing potential threats due to pen drives everyday, some of the above security measures can be adapted to, at least, reduce the hazards of misusing pen drives.

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for Polomercantil

In recent times, more and more people are becoming aware of environmental issues. This is because environmental issues have become the topic of many debates, especially in government where laws are being made that aim to protect the environment. In addition to this, people are also becoming more aware of environmental issues when they see the effects of environmental degradation that includes extreme weather conditions as a result of global warming. As a result, people are beginning to modify the way they do things in order to preserve the environment. This includes how people are building their homes. There are alternative environment-friendly ways of building homes that involves using environment-friendly materials and methods.

The general term that is used to describe structures or buildings that use environment friendly materials and methods is “Green Building.” To be considered a “Green Building” a structure has to meet a number of criteria. The materials used in have to be environment-friendly such as recycled steel. The builder needs to know the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a building material or if it contains pollutants that could damage the environment.

Other criteria are that the building process cannot cause pollution or toxin release into the environment, and it should not be harmful to the health of the builders and future occupants of the home.

Nowadays, more people are becoming aware of environmental issues and how it affects their lives. As a result, people have modified how they do things including how they are building their homes. They are using alternative building materials that are environment-friendly. This not only protects the builders and the future occupants of the house but also the natural environment.

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