Adolescence and the executive function

In middle schools, many students are challenged because the focus of learning shifts from primarily technical functions (such as reading or mathematics) to a new requirement for assuming more executive functions. These executive functions are skills like prioritization, delegation, organization, collaboration, and work planning. We may all recall that age when long term assignments and projects suddenly became a lot more complex.
Businesses at this adolescent stage feel pressure from the same challenges. The strengths of the organization need to transform. The executive functions in any well-organized business become more essential every day. The company cannot rely solely on the success of its traditional product to solve all its problems. This is not to say that the company loses its identity, but it does go through an awkward period of change and adjustment to the new priorities at hand.
For example, the owner of a design firm may be a creative genius, but may also need help managing cash flow or setting up a quality assurance process. A brilliant engineering entrepreneur may have difficulty delegating work and is most likely unfamiliar with HR best practices. Some executives cannot navigate this change. Some may be emotionally tied to the earlier corporate culture or to their role as the singular heroic leader. As a result, their companies may either fail or eventually migrate to new ownership. Other leaders may fair better, but never be able to push the company into the growth mode which is necessary to attain business maturity in later years.

Google - Nexus S review

Google's Android operating system has unleashed a smartphone revolution. Yet the company rarely steps into the hardware side of things. The original Nexus One is now over a year old, and the company is only just dipping its toe into the water again with the Nexus S.

Android 2.3
The Nexus S runs Android version 2.3, code-named 'Gingerbread', which puts it ahead of the competition as we write. That advantage won't last long, though, as there are plenty of new launches coming along that will run this updated version of Android.

A great selling point of the Nexus S is that Android is unskinned. With hardware manufacturers keen to stamp their mark on Android, 'skinned' versions featuring the manufacturer's proprietary user interface are far more widespread. If you like the vanilla idea, the Nexus S could appeal.

Contactless payments
The handset could also appeal if you have an eye on near-field communications, as the Nexus S supports it. This new technology will start to come into its own during this year, as near-field data exchange - including for contactless payments for goods - begin to be supported by more handset manufacturers and high street shops. Orange is one operator to have already expressed its interest with a handset launch.

What it looks like
The Nexus S is manufactured by Samsung, whose branding appears alongside Google's on the back of the handset. The front, when the phone is switched off, is a sleek, stark unmarked black. The buttons below the screen of the Nexus S are touch-sensitive, and only light up when you are actually using the phone.

These, along with a ‘hump' at the bottom of the back that is very reminiscent of the Samsung Galaxy S, are the handset's only distinguishing marks. The front of the chassis is curved - but it's so slight that you'll barely notice it. It's a feature that was no doubt expensive to manufacture, but the value of it is not particularly discernable.

Packed with features
The Nexus S has a 4-inch screen, delivering what is now the most popular resolution for a smartphone - 480x800 pixels. The Super AMOLED technology makes the screen superbly sharp and bright. It's particularly great for video watching and web browsing.

One of the benefits of Android 2.3 is support for two cameras, and the Nexus S has one on the back and one on the front. There are also some tweaks included for app management, so you can shut down ones that are consuming a lot of power. There's also support for SIP-based Voice over IP (VoIP) internet telephony, which may appeal to third-party developers.

Add in Wi-Fi wireless networking, GPS, 1GHz processor, HSDPA and a generous 16GB of built-in storage, and the Google Nexus S is a state-of-the-art smartphone - though it does lack a microSD card slot for you to add extra storage.

 
 

Mixxx 1.9.0 Features(DJ software)

Mixxx 1.9.0 Features

• Shoutcast / Icecast support
• External Mixer Support
• ReplayGain normalization
• Waveform Gain
• Key lock buttons
• Revamped default skin
• Improved FLAC support
• Revamped metadata parsing
• Metadata writing
• Millisecond time display
• Improved Library
• New / Updated MIDI mappings
• Tons of bug fixes and performance improvements!

To install / update Mixxx 1.9.0 in Ubuntu 10.10 Maverick or 10.04 Lucid, open the Terminal and type:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mixxxdevelopers/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install mixxx libportaudio2

trends of web

There is a thin line between design and development, and as we move into a new decade, this line is becoming extremely blurry. Is it enough to draw beautiful mock ups in Photoshop? Maybe 5 years ago. These days, the average internet user requires more. All beauty, with no substance, gets boring after a while. If your only goal is to impress a community of fellow designers with your flashy designs, you’ll find yourself quickly beneath the tide. 2011 is not about beauty, it’s about function. The trends for this new year and emerging decade are responsive design, constant connection and virtual reality.

How will you stay relevant as a designer in 2011? The ultimate goal of a designer is not to dazzle but to entangle. Any designer can get ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ that are easily forgotten. The supreme designer is able to create an environment which charms and captivates the user to the point where he does not want to find the ‘Back’ button. Several elements come together to forge such a wonderland: harmonious color scheme, intuitive design, easily accessible information and fast response. Additionally, one can never under-estimate the power of simplicity. Of course, this has always been the case, but in 2011, you are no longer at the forgiving discretion of the desktop, or even laptop, computer. Now, your design must contend with smart phones, netbooks, tablets and the like

Amazing but true

• Molecularly speaking, water is actually much drier than sand.
• The term "bank teller" originated in the wake of the 1929 stock market crash, when banks began hiring low-paid workers to "tell" throngs of frantic depositors that their money was gone.
• The brand name "Jelly Belly" was created in 1982 after Nancy Reagan made a much-publicized quip about her husband's 20-pound weight gain.
• The Internal Revenue Service audits 87 percent of women who claim breast implants as tax deductions.
• Scandinavian berserkers used to cut out their eyes before battle to spare themselves the sight of the carnage they invariably wrought.
• Human tonsils can bounce higher than a rubber ball of similar weight and size, but only for the first 30 minutes after they've been removed. 

What to SAP contribute

Now you see the value in regular contributions, but where do you start? Get a sense for the community that best suits your professional needs. You can choose SDN, BPX, BOC and/or UAC. Check out the descriptions below, then get started!

 SAP DEVELOPER NETWORK (SDN)Whatever your development expertise, you'll find a home for it on SDN. We're interested in topics related to SAP NetWeaver and its components and general technology as it relates to SAP, including Java, Web services, open source platforms, and scripting languages. We focus on the most obvious to the most abstract aspects of technologies surrounding SAP. With the help of the community we continue to expand and explore every area. Learn more on Getting Started: SDN.

 BUSINESS PROCESS EXPERT COMMUNITY (BPX)We're interested in topics related to the tasks of a business process expert, such as modeling, process architecture and design, process-driven project management, BPM methodology, end-to-end process descriptions, and industry-specific process improvement scenarios. In addition, we welcome content describing sustainability, governance, analytics, and customer relationship management. Case studies outlining how you or your company tackled and solved a business challenge are also welcome. Learn more on Getting Started: BPX.

 SAP BUSINESS OBJECTS COMMUNITY (BOC)

The SAP BusinessObjects community (BOC) helps members gain accurate business insight quicker through exclusive expert content, peer-to-peer collaboration and best practice sharing. BOC members are looking for information on business intelligence (BI) client solutions, including Crystal Reports Design, Dashboard Design (formerly Xcelsius), SAP BusinessObjects Explorer, and Interactive Analysis tools. Share your blogs, sample reports and dashboards, best practices articles, and participate in forums and wikis. Learn more on Getting Started: BOC.

 UNIVERSITY ALLIANCES COMMUNITY (UAC)The University Alliances Community (UAC) is seeking to build a repository of faculty-developed classroom materials that will help educators from around the world incorporate SAP concepts and ERP technology successfully into their classes, as well as best practices and related research. Some examples include: student case studies, hands-on exercises, classroom presentation, a recorded demo or lecture and answers to curriculum-related questions. Faculty are invited to take an active role in contributing to our forums, wiki and blogs. Learn more on Getting Started: UAC.