Dame Flora Duffy – speaking to award-winning Bermudian journalist Glenn Jones – has talked about her goals heading into her fifth Olympic Games in Paris, her emotional return to action after a career-threatening injury, and her dreams for her sports-funding programme. Duffy will defend the gold medal she won at the rescheduled Tokyo Games in […]

In today’s edition of the Capitals, find out more about Borissov beginning coalition talks with a pro-Russian party and populists, the S&D threatening to defy its 'gentleman's agreement' with the EPP, and so much more.

Europe short-term mission coordinators gather in Sibiu, Romania, to increase vision, gain training and share resources for greater impact in Europe.

Rahul's exit from LSG is a turning point in his career as he moves on to explore new avenues in IPL cricket

Developing goals for the new year is always something good to do.  However, there are plenty of people out there who believe it is not a productive use of time. It is probably because they do not develop smart goals that they can actually accomplish. Below are a few helpful tips for you to consider for picking, and more importantly, achieving your 2015 small business goals!

complete article

As we settle into 2015, it is the perfect time for small-business owners to reevalute old processes and implement new ideas for a happier and more productive year ahead. Here are four goals that every small business owner should set this year:

complete article

Step 1: Set meaningful goals.
People do nott achieve goals unless the goals are meaningful to them. Sure, every seller has a quota for this year, but so what? If you want to maximize your motivation to achieve the goals, you must know why achieving it is important to you. To do that, go beyond your one-year quota-focused goal.

complete article

One of the main conclusions Brian Tracy has come to from his years of study is that self-confidence is key to what you can accomplish.

If you have a good amount of self-confidence you will be more likely to try more things. If you are constantly trying more things, that means you're likelier to accomplish more things, since success is often just a measurement of odds.

complete article

Programmers solve problems. How they solve each problem is a function of their skill, talent, knowledge & time. The resultant solution will resolve the problem with greater or lesser complexity in the design. Thus, I find thinking about how (and more importantly where) complexity is handled, a useful way to evaluate a design. For this I use the time-honored technique of having three levels:

Level Zero

(Below this level, the problem is not solved)

The programmer has provided a solution. However, the interface is a mine-field; click things in the wrong order, the program crashes. Or it works great, but you need to reread the documentation Every. Single. Time. Or the resultant surrounding workflow is a Rube Goldberg device. However it surfaces, the programmer has placed the complexity on the user.

Level One

The interface is well thought out and reasonably intuitive. Controls work as expected and the solution is robust - even bulletproof. The solution not only fits the larger context, it improves it. The code itself however, is hard to change (or even understand). It is not well-organized; Or is, but full of tricky, interleaved logic. Or over-engineered, over-patterned etc. Here, the programmer has placed the complexity on the maintainer.[1]

Level Two

The burden of managing complexity is on the current programmer. The person writing the code takes the time and employs the talent and skill necessary to find an elegant solution that reduces the code to the minimum complexity needed to solve the problem and does so in such a way that is understandable (and changeable) later: The user gains the benefits of a level 1 design, while maintainers are left with clean code to change.[2]

Implications

Level zero code is common; it's the default for new programmers and an uncomfortable amount of commercial software. The thing of it is: Too often this sort of code is derided (including by me) when there is both a de facto and a cost-benefit rationale for managing complexity this way. Short-term projects are one example; software written for one's own use is another.

Level 1 software can be very valuable and enduring. I tend to equate this type of code with the Hacker ethic in all senses of that term. And I don't mean that pejoratively - we all use hacked together solutions every day and much of the world's technology infrastructure is built on it. It is a practical and stable design level.

Having the skill (and the time) to write level 2 code is a rare and wonderful thing. Amidst the hyperbole, aspiring to be such a programmer is at the heart of the "Software as Craft" movement and is a worthwhile goal for anyone who aspires to be a professional programmer.

I don't believe level 2 is inherently better than a level 1 (or level zero!) - it's about context - however, I think that for regularly edited and changed code (i.e. much IT software), this level of skill is what's implicitly expected (if not gotten) by the customer. Ironically, the time needed is often the first thing that goes as a non-technical customer can only assess code quality based on level 1 considerations and so pushes for faster results because everything "looks" OK. Only later - when their investment can't be changed without major overhaul - do they realize there is something wrong. And so the cycle continues...

Summary

This model is handy in several situations including: Judging the quality of an actual solution; choosing among different solutions to a given problem; estimating - and even when to stop refactoring. And while I don't believe that all code should be worked until it exhibits level 2 quality, it is what I want others to think of the code I leave behind. And it is what I hope to encounter in theirs. That said, being a successful professional programmer requires (among many other things) the ability to write all three levels of code, and the judgment to know when each is appropriate to use.

---

[1] This may well be the same person who wrote the code. The essential characteristic of a level 1 design is that complexity is put off to future efforts, not the current one. Thus level 1 designs tend to be high in technical debt.

[2]How the programmer achieves this is a matter of personal preference and technique. I do not subscribe to the notion that any particular set of programming practices provides this - or inhibit it by their absence. It has always been the people, not their practices that is the essential determinant of quality. Anyone who says different, is selling something.

How to select the right treadmill for your fitness goals.

Best fitness goals for beginners to help you get started exercising.

Attain your fitness objectives for long-term success: set specific and realistic goals, create a plan, find a workout routine that works for you, incorporate strength training, focus on nutrition, stay consistent, get support and rest and recover.

An injury doesn’t have to completely derail all the progress you’ve made toward your fitness goals. Learn how to stay on track with your wellness plan here.

In order to accomplish your goals you need: (1) a clear goal; (2) a winning action plan; and (3) consistency. Take away or invert any of those things, and you’ve eliminated the possibility of succeeding at your desired outcome. Here’s what they look like when inverted: (1) unclear direction; (2) random acts of productivity / […]

Tags: blackboard

Tags: blackboard

Building materials manufacturer LX Hausys has released its 2024 ESG Report, highlighting significant environmental progress at its Georgia facilities. 

Food waste is a big part of the conversation with consumers in 2023. Consumer research conducted by Do Good Foods in September 2022 reveals that “Americans want to be more climate-friendly, and nearly half are more concerned about food waste than they were a year ago.”

While scientists have made remarkable advancements in astronomy and astrophysics since the beginning of this decade – notably the first detection of gravitational waves and the discovery of distant Earth-like planets – unforeseen constraints have slowed progress toward reaching some of the priorities and goals outlined in the Academies’ 2010 decadal survey of these disciplines, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

To ensure the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) is responsive to changing environmental conditions like climate change and sea-level rise, as well as to changes in water management, a new report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine calls for a re-examination of the program’s original restoration goals and recommends a forward-looking, systemwide analysis of Everglades restoration outcomes across a range of scenarios.

While a variety of services and programs exist to support the needs of children with disabilities and their families, a focus on achieving specific near- and long-term goals that help prepare for adulthood and coordination of care within and across service sectors are integral to encouraging healthy growth and development, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Scientific research that involves nonscientists contributing to research processes – also known as ‘citizen science’ – supports participants’ learning, engages the public in science, contributes to community scientific literacy, and can serve as a valuable tool to facilitate larger scale research, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

A new report identifies research and possible action steps that governments, nongovernmental and philanthropic organizations, universities, and the private sector can take to operationalize the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Recently, India's Hon’ble Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, inaugurated the 5G service, affirming that "India will lead the Industry 4.0 revolution with 5G at the helm." Commenting on this technology, certain experts predicted that by 2035, 5G will have a cumulative economic impact of US$ 1 trillion, and between 2025 and 2040, it could deliver an additional GDP of US$ 150 billion for the country. This aligns with India's vision of becoming a US$ 5 trillion economy by 2025.

The facility at the Danmark Protein site will be able to convert 2.8MW of electricity into 8MW of heat.

The IBIE organizers name SF&WB sponsors of BEST in Baking for another show cycle.

In a radiant heating and cooling system, water circulates through PEX pipes in the concrete slab to control the slab's temperature for heating or cooling.

 The organization has set targets for its Environmental, Sustainability, and Governance (ESG) framework, and measures progress on a comprehensive, cross-category internal scorecard. 

Given the high interest in sustainability from consumers, today’s plastic bottle manufacturers are taking the steps to ensure their business aligns with what consumers are looking for.

As beverage-makers look to align taste profiles with the growing demands on health-and-wellness products, suppliers are crafting solutions that support those goals.

Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, announced on January 16th its achievements from 2022 and pledged to expand its influence for good along with internal growth in 2023 as well.

With a strategic vision and a penchant for innovative tactics, Casey Bloys has adeptly navigated the dynamic entertainment industry landscape, solidifying HBO and HBO Max as formidable contenders in the fiercely competitive world of streaming.

On Monday, September 18th, Footage Foundation begins a campaign calling for prioritization of compassion and connection to accelerate achieving gender equality.

After the summer of 2020 in the United States, many organizations made a big push to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in their ranks and operations. But now, many fear that that momentum is slipping, especially in the face of economic headwinds. Laura Morgan Roberts, organizational psychologist and professor at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, says it is time to recommit to these efforts by creating the conditions for all workers to flourish. She explains four freedoms that organizations can foster to allow employees to become their best selves — and even be able to fade into the background when they choose. Roberts wrote the HBR Big Idea article “Where Does DEI Go From Here?”

EDANA’s Sustainability Forum, themed 'Building a Sustainable Future Together,' convened leaders in Brussels to discuss clean energy, corporate sustainability, circular economy, and EU policies. Highlights included sessions on renewable investments, sustainable practices, and regulatory impacts, emphasising industry-wide collaboration for environmental progress.

I made some poor decisions in my 20s. Or rather, a series of poor decisions that seemed to stack and compound. I took on tens of thousands of dollars of credit card, student loan, and tax debt. I gained 70 pounds since graduating high school, because I ate way too much fast food and pretty …

The post How to tackle big goals by narrowing your focus with two simple questions appeared first on Nathan Rice.

How did Top Life Project exceed revenue goals by 59%? The story behind their WooCommerce-powered health brand & booming product launches.

Today was my third New Year’s Day in my new home. Well, it’s hardly a “new” home at this point. Or, maybe it is. Technically, I’ve been here for just over two years, but I have yet to finish unpacking. How about we compromise and call it newish? So, today…

A new year is here. And it’s time for new adventures and new experiences. But, first, I need to lay out my plans. As always, my goals are never entirely set in stone. Circumstances and events—basically, just life itself—will always change how the year unfolds. Because I cannot see into…

Company to reduce carbon footprint 25% by 2025, launch STEM scholarship program.

Advocating for and ensuring his agency is investing in artificial intelligence capabilities is the “strong hand” that Mark Munsell will wield as the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s (NGA) first AI chief […]

The major drivers of future-proofed HVAC systems are efficiency, resiliency, electrification, and grid-interactivity.

ESG funds are experiencing a record year, as more investors, such as pensions fund managers, are making it a top priority when deciding where to put their money.

Companies are seeking more sustainable solutions for their facilities. In some cases, this change is driven by both philosophical and financial reasons.

Hydronic zone systems have proven themselves to be a sustainable heating and cooling option with a longer lifespan, and potential for cost savings.