Why Do Freeways Come To A Stop?

It happens to most drivers a few times a year. You’re sailing along on the freeway when you’re forced to come to a stop, or at least a crawl. You can’t see why things are slowing around the bend – and when you get there, traffic is moving better.

Traffic planners call this a “shockwave.”

Here’s how it happens:

1. Traffic is rolling along at 60 mph when someone slows to 50 mph. In this example, the driver in Car B does so to avoid hitting Car A, whose driver swerves at the last second to exit. 
2. The next driver slows to 45 mph to maintain a safe distance from cars A and B.
3. Drivers farther back see the brake lights and begin slowing down.
4. The pattern continues, and more drivers apply their brakes until traffic comes to a crawl. By the time the rear of the jam catches up to where the shockwave began, the offending parties are long gone and there is no sign of what caused the problem.

These are the culprits who cause early morning traffic congestions at all the major roads. Traffic cams should look out for these inconsiderate drivers and take down their vehicle numbers. If they do it too often, they should fine them, charge them for it and deduct the fine at the next toll booth or ERP gantry!

Top 5 TV Series To Watch For in 2012

If you are still lamenting that 2011 has just whizzed by and all your favourite TV shows have ended, get over it and look forward to these exciting brand new television series -- or at least their second seasons -- to be shown in the U.S. this year.

Alcatraz (FOX)

Sarah Jones as detective Rebecca Madsen (YouTube Screenshot)

With TV veteran J.J. Abrams as executive producer, this series revolving around the infamous  Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay area already has some cachet. American actress Sarah Jones plays the main protagonist, San Francisco Police Department homicide detective Rebecca Madsen. She needs to find a former prisoner, Jack Sylvane (played by Jeffrey Pierce) whose fingerprints were found at a crime scene despite the fact that he was supposed to be dead. What is more intriguing: he hasn't aged one bit after all these years. Alcatraz might remind viewers of the hugely popular Prison Break and Fringe. With seemingly similar plot and characters, Alcatraz has the potential to become the next television breakout series. In June 2011, it was honoured as "Most Exciting New Series" at the 1^st Critics' Choice Television Awards.

American Horror Story Season 2 (FX)

FX network president with the cast and producers of American Horror Story (Getty Images)

Do not write this off thinking it is another cheesy American horror series just because it is from the creators of Glee. The initial plot for the first season was lazy and predictable.  It started off with the Harmon family moving into the haunted mansion because it was selling way cheaper than other properties in Los Angeles, where season 1 is based. Fortunately, the yawn factor ends there. The plot thickens with each new episode introducing previous owners whose spirits are still lingering in the mansion, haunting the current owners. With solid acting from the good-looking cast, riveting storyline and the sensual sex scenes, this series has redefined horror genre as sexy and provocative.  American Horror Story is also in contention for two Golden Globes Awards for Best Television Series and Best Supporting Actress in a television series.

Game of Thrones Season 2 (HBO)

A scene taken off Game of Thrones Season 2 Screenshot

 

The king of current HBO series with an impressive 13 Emmy Awards nominations, Game of Thrones has fans eagerly anticipating the second season debuting in April. The epic battle which broke out in season one has left viewers on edge over what will happen with the dragons, white walkers and civil war. It has been a while since television viewers have been treated with such clever storylines and well-executed fighting scenes. The plot for the second season may remain a mystery if you haven't read the second book in the series by George R. R. Martin, but it promises to be worth the wait.

Spartacus: Vengeance (Starz)

Spartacus played by Australian actor Liam Mcintyre

The death of Andy Whitfield (who played the role of Spartacus in the first season) has not led to the series' downfall. It is still going strong with the third season premiering at the end of this month. The sequel to Spartacus: Blood and Sand will kick off with the gladiator rebellion that is causing fear in the Roman Republic. Spartacus (now played by Australian actor Liam McIntyre) will have to make a crucial decision to either save his army or take vengeance against the man who forced his wife to slavery, indirectly causing her death. The new season appears to follow the successful formula of its prequel with more sex, villains, heroes and heart-throbbing action.

Touch (FOX)

Kiefer Sutherland as Martin Bohm in Touch

 

Alerting all Fans of Kiefer Sutherland and the critically acclaimed series 24. The Emmy award winner ditches his character as Jack Bauer and now plays Martin Bohm in this new series. Bohm, a single father, has an 11-year-old mute and autistic son, Jake, who is born with a special gift. He is able see the past, present and future. Unable to utter a word, Jake can only attempt to communicate to his father by writing random numbers hoping he can decipher what he has written in order to save people. Take note of the timing 0318 hrs as it is when strange occcurences happen. With a strong plot and starring the charismatic Sutherland, it is not surprising that Touch has garnered hype long before its premiere.

Top 10 Reasons Why Good Employees Quit

According to the US Department of Labor and Statistics, turnover can cost an organization 33% of an employee’s total compensation including both salary and benefits. But the impact is not only financial it also affects employee morale. Therefore, it would be prudent for hiring managers to focus on reducing turnover rates but in order to do that they must first understand the reasons why employees quit.

There have been many studies and articles written on why good employees leave their current positions. As a veteran search consultant, I have heard an infinite number of reasons first hand. Over the years, I have identified and compiled a list of what I feel are the “Top Ten” reasons why good employees quit:

1) The job was not as expected. All too often the job changes from the original description and what was promised during the interviewing stages. It becomes painfully clear to the new hire that their new company played the bait and switch game which ultimately leads to mistrust. The new hire is now thinking, “What else are they lying about?”

2) Work/Life imbalance. There are times when management demands that one person do the jobs of two or more people. This is especially true when a company downsizes or restructures resulting in longer hours and possible weekend work. Employees are often forced to choose between a personal life and a career.

3) Mismatch between job and new hire. No matter how much you love the candidate, don’t hire them unless they are truly qualified for the job and they mesh with your company culture. Too many times, I’ve seen hiring managers try to fit a square peg into a round hole especially when it comes to a sales position.

4) Management freezes raises and promotions. Money isn’t usually the first reason why people leave an organization but it does rank especially when an employee can find a job earning 20-25% more somewhere else. Make sure your wages are competitive and your benefits package is attractive. Resources like www.salary.com can provide accurate and appropriate information.

5) Feeling undervalued. It’s human nature to want to be recognized and praised for a job well done. And in business, recognizing employees is not simply a nice thing to do but an effective way to communicate your appreciation for their efforts and successes while also reinforcing those actions and behaviors that make a difference in your organization.

6) Lack of decision-making power. Too many managers micromanage down to the finest detail. Empower your employees and allow them the freedom make suggestions and decisions. I realize that Empowerment is a ‘catch-all’ term for many ideas on employee authority and responsibility; but as a broad definition it means giving employees latitude to do their jobs and placing trust in them.

7) Too little coaching & feedback. Many managers have no clue on how to help employees improve their performance. In addition, many managers put off giving feedback to employees even though they instinctively know that giving and getting honest feedback is essential for growth and in building successful teams and organizations. Your role as a manager is to help your people find the right behavior, not just tell them what to do.

8) Management lacks people skills. Remember that many managers were promoted because they did their first job well, but that doesn’t mean they know how to lead others. People skills can be learned and developed but it really helps if a manager has the natural ability to get along with people and motivate them.

9) Too few growth opportunities. One of the most common reasons employees express for leaving their jobs is lack of challenge and potential for career growth. The most successful employers find ways to help employees develop new skills and responsibilities in their current positions.

10) Loss of faith and confidence in corporate leaders. With employees being asked to do more and more, they see less evidence that they will share in the fruits of their successes. More often than not, when revenues and profits are up, employers are still thinking competitive wages but employees are thinking bonuses, stock options and creative development opportunities.

Original article courtesy of Shel Myeroff

Three Ways To Spot A Liar

Look out for these three signs that you're being lied to:

1. Discomfort. People who lie often demonstrate visible anxiety. This may be because they're afraid of getting caught or they feel guilty. Be on the look-out for a fake smile, frozen body language, or lack of eye contact.

2. Evasiveness. Someone who withholds information or keeps the conversation vague, or wants to discuss matters offline, may not be telling the truth.

3. Manipulation. When you ask a question, people lying may answer with more detail than necessary. They may also use overly explicit language for emphasis. Watch out for this kind of manipulation.

Worse-Case Scenarios

I had completely forgotten what it was like to be in the military. These 3 weeks, I'm back in-camp doing reservist training and I missed that good feel and friendship with some friends and former army buddies I haven't seen in a really, really long time!

There are so many things I had to catch up on, but the most important thing I enjoyed was the ideas behind ops planning. In the real world, whenever we plan for something at work, nobody seems to know the meaning of a worse-case scenario. Nobody knows, or nobody cares.

A worse-case scenario is planned such that if anything goes wrong, there are redundancies set in place to ensure that things will still run smoothly and accounted for. Nobody at work believes in a worse-case scenario, they think it will never happen, but stupidity dictates that we plan for it, because at the end of the day, when the situation goes south, blame will be placed on everyone. This is the precise reason why a worse-case scenario is planned, for something that will never happen, but used as a safety net in the event that it does. The low probability of it happening doesn't it it will not happen at all.

It's so strange that anyone will say it's enjoyable going back to camp and doing reservist. There are some truths to that, but most importantly, it is a good break away from all the stupidity and office politics, to get away from all those waste-of-time meetings that seem to go nowhere and of course, the pesky answering of all those useless emails.

Then again, we know Murphy's Second Corollary:

It is impossible to make anything foolproof because fools are so ingenious!

God, I miss the cold war...

10 Ways To Keep IT Emergencies From Derailing Your Vacation

Takeaway: Vacations are sacred. They’re for decompressing, relaxing, and having fun — not for putting out fires back at the office. Don’t let your work interfere with your downtime.

One of my biggest passions in life has always been exotic travel. But traveling to faraway places for weeks at a time does not always mesh well with working in IT. Over the years, I have learned some tips that can help prevent an IT emergency (or even a non-work related non-emergency) from interrupting a vacation.

As you read these tips, keep in mind that everyone does things differently, so not every tip will be a viable option in every organization or for every IT position. Even so, these are all techniques that have worked for me at one time or another.

1: Pick the right time

When you plan a vacation, try to match your vacation schedule to the organization’s project calendar. If your goal is to vacation in peace, try to avoid scheduling your vacation in the middle of a big project. In a lot of organizations, things really slow down around the holidays, so that might be a good time to get away.

2: Make sure your documentation is in order

An important IT task that is often neglected is documentation. Ideally, your network, procedures, and support contacts should be so well documented that if you were to be hit by a bus, your replacement would have no trouble picking up where you left off.

While good documentation is widely regarded as an IT best practice, it is also helpful when it comes time for a vacation. There is no reason for someone to call you with a question if the answer is clearly documented.

3: Don’t check your email while on vacation

Don’t make the mistake of checking your email while you are on vacation. If you respond to a message, it gives everyone the impression that you are available. One message leads to another and before you know it, you will have spent half your vacation tied to a computer.

4: Find a competent stand-in

You will need someone who can fill in for you while you are gone. Make sure that the person you pick is up to the job. Technical competency alone isn’t enough. Your stand-in needs to be aware of what is currently going on in the organization so that they can answer any questions that come up while you are away.

Once you have chosen a stand-in, make sure everyone knows that all questions should be directed to that person — not to you — while you’re away. Your stand-in should be the only person who can contact you, but only in the event of an emergency. Assuming that your stand-in has good technical skills, access to well written network documentation, and an awareness of everything that is going on in the company, there should be no reason for him or her to bother you while you are away.

5: Address any major issues before you leave

About a month before you go on vacation, talk to the powers that be and ask them what issues should ideally be addressed before your vacation. By taking care of any major outstanding issues early, there will be fewer reasons for anyone to call you while you are gone.

6: Get assignments done early — and leave time for review

Whenever you are going to be away for a while, it’s prudent to complete any projects or assignments before you go. However, if you wrap up a project or an assignment the night before you are supposed to be leaving, there’s a good chance someone will have questions about it while you are gone.

Although it’s not always possible, try to wrap up any projects at least a week before you leave. That way, there will be enough time for you to answer any questions before you go on vacation.

7: Be careful about giving out your contact information

If your goal is to avoid being disturbed while you are on vacation, be careful about what you put in your Out of Office message. If it says that you can be reached on your cell phone in the event of an emergency,n you can be sure that someone will call you. It is better to say that all inquiries should be directed toward whoever is filling in for you while you are gone.

8: Consider destinations that are conducive to privacy

Some destinations are more conducive to privacy than others. For example, I spent my last vacation in Antarctica. During that time, it was physically impossible to contact me. Antarctica is beyond the range of most of the communications satellites, and once I got past a certain point, there simply was no phone or Internet access.

On another occasion I spent my vacation in a non-English speaking country. Someone tried to call the hotel where I was staying, but the desk clerk who answered the phone didn’t speak English. Oh darn.

9: Lay down the law with your friends

Sometimes, it isn’t your co-workers you have to worry about, but rather, your friends. A few years ago, I was on a Panama Canal cruise with my wife and a few friends. One of my friends had brought his laptop. On the first afternoon of the cruise, he came up to me and said he wanted me to take a look at it because it just wasn’t performing as well as it did when it was new.

I don’t have a problem with helping a friend, but I go on vacation to relax, not to do more work. I had to tell my friend that I would look at his laptop when we got back home, but that I didn’t want to have to so much as touch a computer while I was on vacation.

10: Don’t tell others what you do for a living

Once you get to wherever you are going, try to avoid telling others what you do for a living. Last year, for example, I made the mistake of wearing a Microsoft shirt during a day of sightseeing in Rome. Someone else on the tour saw it and asked me what I do. I made the mistake of telling him — and he spent the rest of the tour picking my brain about an IT project he had coming up.

Article courtesy of Brien Posey, July 21, 2011, 11:37 AM PDT

I think the article doesn't just apply to IT, but to all other departments also!

Fun Updates

Guinness Only Tastes Better In Ireland!

The Irish Times - Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Serious Issue Settled As Scientists Reveal That Guinness In Ireland Tastes Best By Far

FRANK McNALLY

A SERIOUS science journal has dared to go where no science journal has gone before by tackling a question that has long vexed mankind (especially when sitting in a pub): does Guinness travel well outside Ireland?

The answer, tentatively, is no. But despite sampling 103 pints in 71 pubs and 14 countries, the researchers admitted further study is needed to back up their preliminary findings that, when ambience and other variables are discounted, Guinness really does taste better here.

The survey was conducted under the umbrella of the Institute of Food Technologists, an international not-for-profit organisation based in Chicago, and published in the latest issue of its monthly Journal of Food Science .

It comprised four researchers from countries with a long brewing tradition – Ireland, England, the Netherlands, and Germany – carrying out the fieldwork over an 11-month period in conjunction with their existing assignments and travel arrangements.

All used identical equipment: including a thermometer, a ruler (to measure head depth), a stopwatch (to measure pouring and drinking time) and a standardised checklist for rating various quality indicators.

But central to each test was a visual analogue scale, scoring the pint’s taste on a scale of 0 to 100. On the overall score, the average Irish pint rated 74. The average for all other countries was 57.

The researchers also considered a range of explanations for the discrepancy, including what they called the “conspiracy theory”, a popular suspicion that the brewery produces three different qualities of Guinness.

The study summed up the belief thus: “The finest quality is given to its own employees, the second best is sold to the people of Ireland, and the worst is exported”.

But the theory was undermined, the researchers said, by their experience that the stout served in the brewery was not the best they had in Dublin.

The four-man team did admit the possibility that the “craic” or “ambience” of the Irish drinking environment could influence quality judgments. They also found evidence for the “line” theory: that Guinness is best enjoyed in pubs where demand for it is high, so that it is never sitting in the pipelines for too long.

That the Journal of Food Science is a serious publication can be inferred from some of the other material in the March issue. One feature is headed: “Technological Optimization of Manufacture of Probiotic Whey Cheese Matrices”. A second reports: “Improved Sauerkraut Production with Probiotic Strain Lactobacillus plantarum L4 and Leuconostoc mesenteroides LMG 7954”.

And then there is the catchily titled “Discrimination of Alicyclobacillus Strains Using Nitrocellulose Membrane Filter and Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy”.

The journal also features a study on the development of food for Nasa space missions. Astronauts now enjoy a tastier and healthier diet than ever before, it concludes, but there are challenges still to be faced before they travel “to Mars and beyond”. There is no mention of the use of Guinness in the project.