video conferencing

Conducting a conference between two or more participants at different sites by using computer networks to transmit audio and video data. For example, apoint-to-point (two-person) video conferencing system works much like a video telephone. Each participant has a video camera, microphone, and speakers mounted on his or her computer. As the two participants speak to one another, their voices are carried over the network and delivered to the other's speakers, and whatever images appear in front of the video camera appear in a window on the other participant's monitor.

Multipoint videoconferencing allows three or more participants to sit in a virtualconference room and communicate as if they were sitting right next to each other. Until the mid 90s, the hardware costs made videoconferencing prohibitively expensive for most organizations, but that situation is changing rapidly. Many analysts believe that videoconferencing will be one of the fastest-growing segments of the computer industry in the latter half of the decade.

I like ITE class ;)

How to be a good leader

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• Remember: leadership skills and techniques can be learned. You don't have to be a natural leader. Very few people are.
• Care for your team. That means knowing what matters to each member: their health, their partner, their children, their relatives, their interests, their hopes, their fears.
• Stay close to your team. At some point, every day, walk around the office and say "Hi" to everyone who works for you. If you're not in the office that day, call and see how people are. This gives you a chance to enquire or encourage and gives them an opportunity to raise issues or make suggestions.
• Meet your team. Regularly - daily, weekly or monthly, depending on your place and type of work - have meetings of all the members of the team. Keep these meetings short, focused and action-orientated. Make sure every member of the team contributes in some way and acknowledge that.
• Train your team. Every team member should have at least two days training a year. Newer and more senior colleagues should have more. If they don't ask to go on training sessions, suggest some suitable courses.
• Grow your team. Through varied experience and regular training, you should be developing each team member to be more and more confident and more skilled.
• Inspire your team. Consider making available a motivational quote or story every week or month.
• Celebrate with your team. This might be a personal event, such as a member's birthday or anniversary, or a professional occasion, such as completing a project or winning oa contract.
• Socialise with your team. Have lunch or an after-work drink with them, especially when a member has a birthday or there's another reason to celebrate.
• Set objectives for each team member. As far as possible, these objective such be SMART - Specific Measurable Achievable Resourced Timed.
• Review the performance of each team member. At least once a year - at least quarterly for the first year of a new team member - have a review session where you assess performance, give feed-back and agree future objectives and training.
• Thank constantly. The words "Thank you" take seconds to say, but mean so much.
• Praise constantly. The words "Well done" take seconds to say, but will be long remembered and appreciated.
• Communicate constantly. Don't assume that people know what you're doing, still less what you are planning or thinking. Tell them, using all the communication tools to hand: team briefings, electronic newsletters, organisational newspapers.
• Eliminate. Too often we do things because they've always been done. Life changes. Consider whether you could stop doing certain things altogether.
• Delegate. You don't have to do everything. Develop your team members by training them to do more and trusting them to take over some of the things you've been doing.
• Empower. A really effective leader sets clear objectives for his team members, but leaves detailed implementation of these objectives to the discretion and judgement of individual members of the team. As Second World War U.S. General George S. Patton put it: "Don't tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results”.
• Facilitate. A confident leader does not try to micro-manage his team, but makes it clear that, if team members need advice or assistance, he is always there to facilitate and support.
• Be on time. Always start meetings on time and finish them on time. Natural breaks keep people fresh. Short meetings concentrate the mind.
• Be seen. Don't just talk the talk, but walk the walk. So visit each unit or department for which you are responsible on a regular basis. Don't do this unannounced - you are not out to undermine other leaders or catch out staff. So arrange with the unit leader or departmental head when you'll visit and ask him or her to walk round with you.
• Make time. Managers are often very busy and this can deter people from approaching you, so make time for people and be approachable. People will appreciate you taking five minutes out of your busy schedule, especially if you act on/listen to what they say.
• Really listen. Many of us - especially those who think they are important - don't really listen, but instead think about what they're going to say next. Give the person speaking to you your full attention and really take on board what they are saying.
• Accept honest criticism. Criticism is hard to take, particularly from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance or a stranger - but it's a powerful tool of learning. Above all, assess criticism on merit, without regard to its originator.
• Think strategically. The doers cut a path through the jungle; the managers are behind them sharpening the machetes; the leaders find time to think, climb the nearest tree, and shout "Wrong jungle!" Find time to climb the trees.
• Have a mentor or buddy, someone doing similar work in the same or a similar organisation with whom you can regularly and frankly discuss your progress and your problems as a leader.
• Have a role model, someone who can inspire you to be a truly great leader. If you can't find one, study Jed Bartlet as the American President in any episode of the television series "The West Wing".
• Constantly revisit and review these tips. In his seminal work, "The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People", Stephen Covey puts it this way: "Sharpen the saw".
• Plan your succession. You won't be there forever and you may not be in control of the timing and circumstances of your departure. So start now to mentor and train at least one colleague who could take over from you.

how to be a gentleman

1. Always open the door for a lady. Always! If you're in a crowd, hold the door open until another gentleman reaches for the door.

2. If a lady cannot find a seat in a crowded lecture hall, bus or coffee shop, for example, offer her your chair. Show the same courtesy to an older adult, to women with babies or small children, or to anyone carrying several bags.

3. Stay closer to the street when you're walking with a lady to protect her from mud-splashing vehicles and would-be attackers hiding between cars.

4. When you're eating with a lady, wait until she lifts her fork before you begin your meal. Do not inhale your food as soon as you sit down — and of course do not begin to eat before you are seated.

5. Offer to share your umbrella with a lady when she's caught off guard in the rain.

6. Always be polite! Showing common courtesy will almost immediately make you a gentleman. Treat people's feelings, situations and ideas with respect and consideration.

7. Do not make fun of a professor or a teaching assistant behind his or her back.

8. Do not curse, especially in the presence of a lady. Please use a word more descriptive and advanced than the F-word.

9. Do not stare. If a lady catches you staring longingly, she will instantly feel uncomfortable and awkward, which could hurt your chances with her, anyway. Furthermore, disgusted stares are rude, unkind and hurtful.

10. Never interrupt.

11. Help a lady put on her coat or cardigan.

12. When you are entertaining a lady, even if you are simply studying together, ask if she needs something to drink or eat, etc.

13. Do not spit in public.

14. If a lady is leaving on foot late at night, walk her home.

15. Never belittle a lady. Ladies, like gentlemen, deserve respect, but respect does not equal condescension. Do not talk down to a lady.

16. Do not send text messages while you are trying to impress a lady. Give her your undivided attention.

17. After a date, walk a lady from her door. Do not honk your horn or call or text a lady to let her know you've arrived.

18. Shake hands when you meet someone for the first time — and since your handshake is a reflection of your personality and character, shake hands firmly but not harshly.

Five Ways to Say No to Alcohol

1. I'm Driving

This is the ultimate excuse. Some people who are quitting alcohol volunteer to be the designated driver for precisely this reason -- they want to spend time with friends, but don't want to drink. This response is also great role modelling for others, and adds to the climate of acceptability of staying sober behind the wheel. Anyone who pressurizes you to drink after you giving this response isn't worth listening to.

2. No Thanks, I've Just Finished One

What I like about this response is that is so lacking in value judgements about drinking that no-one can accuse you of being uptight or preachy. How you feel after a drink is an individual matter, and if you don't want another drink instantly, all it implies is good personal boundaries around your own comfort. It also shows you are not a compulsive drinker, and sets the tone for others to pace their drinking too. Yet the implication is that you might have had a drink if you felt like one, so this works well for the type of people who tease and berate those in recovery -- the kind of companions you may not want as friends, but are sometimes unavoidable in a social situation.

3. I've Had My Limit For Tonight

This is the best response if you regularly drink with the same people, want to control your drinking, and have set a limit based on your blood alcohol concentration. Others will learn over time that you will drink only a certain number of drinks within a certain amount of time, so they can enjoy sharing a drink with you within those limits. Controlled drinking is a goal for many people with alcohol problems.

4. I Want to Keep a Clear Head

Variations on this response are, "No thanks, I've got work tomorrow," "No thanks, I've got an early start in the morning," or "No thanks, I don't want a hangover." This is a great way of letting people know that alcohol does not rule your life, nor will you let it interfere with your day to day functioning. Keeping a clear head may not be important to all drinkers, but it should be to you.

5. I Don't Drink

This response take the most courage, and is the most subject to demands for an explanation. You may have to put up with being asked if you have a drink problem, you may have your masculinity or sense of fun challenged, or you may be informed that, "You can have one drink." But it is the all-round best response for anyone who is serious about recovery from alcoholism, or who wants to put an end to the nonsense of peer pressure to drink alcohol.

How can you be optimistic and keep holding this attitude?

Don't get angry with yourself if you find yourself feeling pessimistic. Acknowledge that it is only natural to feel pessimistic at times, when life is boring or when you encounter difficulties or hardships.

Acknowledge that changing your mental attitude takes time, so be patient.

Keep a list of motivational and inspiring quotes handy, and read them several times a day.

At least once a day listen to music, your favorite songs or some inspiring or relaxing music.

Exercise your body often and regularly.

At least once a day do something that makes you happy and satisfied. This can be anything, even some minor activity or action like eating something you love, watching a favorite T.V. program, reading or talking to a friend.

Try to smile more often.

Take more care of your appearance and how you dress. When you look good you will feel more confident and positive.

Endeavor to see the good in every situation.

Have enough sleep at night. When don't sleep enough or don't sleep well you can get moody, unhappy and impatient. Good sleep will make you more energetic, alive, optimistic and feeling good.

If you can, avoid the company of negative

Learn to accept the past, leave it behind and continue to better things. Wallowing in the past creates unhappiness and lack of optimism.

i like to sleep and most importantly i hate you, friend.