August 2023 - GUJRAT INDIA

Astrology in Action – Pluto

Every newspaper and magazine worth its salt has an Astrology section for they know their readers will look at their STARS even if they don’t believe them…

Making Astrology work for you can bring love, money, happiness, satisfaction and pleasure, how can we make it work in our everyday life to bring us the things we desire? It’s a lot easier than you think for once you understand the basics the rest takes care of itself. The Sun moves into each sign once a month – changing the energy, focus and offering hope. The Moon zaps through all the signs in a month – changing your mood every 2ndor 3rdday, the rest of the planets move through the signs and houses at different speeds, some staying longer than others, with the planet Pluto taking the longest, currently in the sign of Capricorn. Pluto has always been associated with death and re-birth, transformation and conversion. I don’t know about you but going through any kind of ‘transformation’ is not as easy as it sounds – neither is any kind of ‘death and re-birth’ it’s all too painful…

Personally, I look upon Pluto as the God of Wealth, of hidden treasures and inner resources and the easiest way to use this ‘power’ is to understand the houses he visits for when he enter a sign or ‘touches’ one of your natal planets contained in that sign or house he brings change, he transforms, he converts. To give you an example I have Mercury at 5 degrees Capricorn (Transiting Pluto is ‘playing’ with my Mercury – too long a conversation to say what this means suffice to say ‘something’ is happening). The house Pluto visits has this to say to you:

Transiting Pluto into your 1st: when you look back at this time in your life, you’ll recognise it as a period of major transformation, perhaps the most important one in your life. It won’t happen all at once, slowly but surely your life is being altered, you may not realise the extent and importance of this time until you are much older and wiser but and here is the big but -this is a time of major transformation to your life. Try to recognise the need for change, and be willing to let it happen. You’ll feel drained of confidence and energy, and may become disillusioned, learn to relax and deal with things as they come; most of all, accept change. Your life is being redirected; read the signposts. The First House is about identity. It describes your personality, how you see yourself and how others see you! It can also describe your physical appearance, the self, your inner motivation, your physical appearance and soul purpose, along with your initial approach to life.

Transiting Pluto into your 2nd: Another long-term transit transforming many levels of your life – where you find yourself involved with something you said you would never do! You may even discover a secret admirer for there are changes in your love life and love of life – you’ve never dreamed of, all without too much effort on your part!Keep in mind during this transit your emotions and values are in the process of change and when this period is over you’ll be a new personality – wearing new clothes – possessing new values. The way you feel about love and relationships, for instance, will be completely different! Your taste is undergoing a change, from the way you dress, to the music you listen to; from your taste in interior decorating to your ideas about love, where your values, emotions and your love life are being tested to the full now. The Second House is about your talents, it describes what you value ranging from physical possessions and money, to personal self esteem and talents. Other keywords include: resources, both personal and financial, values and attitudes, possessions, self-esteem, acquisitions.

Transiting Pluto into the 3rd: Keep a note pad or diary with you because you’ll be doing everything ‘backwards’ where your memory lets you down, where mental tension and confusion reign supreme!Learn to relax, study meditation, and get involved with yoga and its principles – particularly those exercises involving deep breathing. Mental power struggles and coercion by those who want to control your thinking are all likely. Financial problems can arise – travelling is less safe and you should keep away from dangerous neighbourhoods! Positively: Your mental attitude alters constructively as a result of this period, don’t try to force your ideas onto others, and resist the attempts of others to control you mentally. This is the perfect time to write a book, or to do something creative with your hands, like sculpture, playing piano, guitar, anything for as soon as you have an outlet which is constructive and free-flowing, you’ll be rid of any tension and stress. Think positive thoughts, because those thoughts will become real. This is a good time for self-improvement at all levels. The Third House is about communication. It also refers to early learning, siblings, immediate environment and short journeys. Keywords include: mental processes and communication, active search for knowledge, early learning, siblings, short journeys, telepathy and mental energy.

Transiting Pluto into the 4th: This period is where your emotional nature and relationships are transformed – the decks are being cleared for a new stage of growth in your life. During this process, some deep, powerful and probably long repressed emotions rise to the surface! You’ll wonder where they came from and surprised at their intensity but it’s important to allow these feelings to’ just happen’ know it or not, their effect will be prove therapeutic in the long run. No matter whether you’re male or female your relationships with women will be intense and offer a ‘renewal’. Your mother or parent of the opposite sex will become particularly important at this time (remember this transit lasts a long time). Your home, lifestyle and long-term future are undergoing a major renovation/ renewal – you may relocate! This is a time when deep changes of a positive nature transform your life where large-scale forces beyond your personal control may cause family, financial and domestic affairs to change. Your home, perhaps your whole environment, will be altered in some way and on a positive note financially and emotionally, this can be an extremely important time for you. The Fourth House is about home and family. It describes your roots, your heritage and your private life. Other keywords include: home life, roots, family and relations, psychological foundations, biological inheritance, place of abode and opposite sex parent.

Transiting Pluto into the 5th: Becoming intensely /obsessively involved in whatever you’re doing, attempting to fix ‘anything’ that is or, isn’t broken whether it’s a machine, a situation or relationship! Power is the keyword to this transit, where you’ll come into contact with someone using his or her POWER, or more probably, abusing the power they have! You could, of course, merely come into contact with persons or situations that embody plutonian energies – now there’s a whole area of research alone! Your creative life will come in ‘violent’ outbursts of emotional fervour formulating ideas in art – be it painting, music or literature – seeming to come from the back of beyond or the recesses of your childhood! This can be an enormously inspirational or even disturbing transit, with all those ideas swirling around in your INNER MIND creating all kinds of weird and wonderful repercussions – this is a good time to make changes for the good of all! As this transit unfolds you’ll find new friends along the way or, on the other hand find you couldn’t care less, preferring to go your own way – either way, this transit certainly changes the love of life, your love life and your persona in general. The Fifth House is about creativity. This can include artistic pursuits, hobbies; recreation, children and lovers.

Other keywords include: Creative self-expression, love affairs, procreation and children, leisure, hobbies, games and sports, self-fulfillment, joy and bliss.

Transiting Pluto into 6th: Some people say you’re obsessive, others say you’re ‘Phobic’ whatever it is, one thing’s for sure – when it comes to health and diet, you just can’t be too careful! It’s like you have x-ray eyes and can see all the antibodies and disease-harbouring bacteria floating around the body! Thoughts will come quickly, be ready for them with pen and paper, for they are fleeting and if you don’t write them down there’ll be no lasting success. Keep a note pad or diary with you at all times and you may forget things. If facing exams your memory will tend to let you down thereby creating mental tension, creating stress, creating illness, creating. You’ll be subject to mental power struggles and coercion by those who want to control your thinking! Financial problems can arise and travelling is less safe than usual so drive your car in a safe manner at all times! When you have a constructive outlet and it is free flowing, you’ll be rid yourself of the tension and stress that usually ‘bugs’ this transit (lasting a long time in some cases). Even if you’re not professionally involved in some artistic field, find some outlet for your creativity – “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. ” The Sixth House is about day-to-day life. It is about work, health, the service you give and your habits. It also relates to small animals. Keywords include: health, daily routine, working environment, skills, pets, animals and service…

Transiting Pluto into the 7th: At this time, your emotions and values are in the process of change and when this period is over you’ll be a completely new person with the way you feel about love and relationships to be completely different, for there’ll certainly be changes in your love life (love of life) that you’d never dreamt of. While it’s all in the process of happening, you’re not quite sure what you want so relax and let it unfold. You want to be in control, and can be quite obsessed with a relationship, or just love, the problem is, you can’t control other people’s feelings! Don’t waste your energy on someone who treats you badly, because real love is someone caring for you as much as you care for them and doing it openly. If you’re ‘on your own’ (even within a relationship) and it’s just all too hard, with all the heartache and effort involved, hang in there! You’ll recognise it when it happens, although you may have trouble believing it at the moment, don’t try to force emotional relationships at this time and keep away from people who are heavily coercive or manipulative and if you find yourself obsessively attracted to someone be warned the person you’re attracted to might be a ‘criminal’ type (and there are many types of criminals). Scream loudly if you sense situations where real sexual harassment might occur. Guard your property against thieves, and be ready to resist financial extortion. The Seventh House is about partnerships. This can be partnership in business, marriage or a committed relationship. Including business partnerships, marriage, long-term associations, open enemies, the anima and animus, the relationship between you and your ‘other’ you. Simply put: this is the house of attraction – and we all ‘attract’ whatever we dwell upon – think and act positive and you’ll attract the same – think and act negatively – what you can you expect?

Transiting Pluto into the 8th: This will prove a time of inner and outer change – your life is in a constant state of slow evolution that is entirely natural. This is a radical transition period; where the changes you go through become obvious to everyone and you have to gracefully (remember this word and where it comes from) allow certain parts of your life to fade into the past – to let go – to let die.

If you have an active, ongoing lifestyle, this should be no problem – if you are rigid and emotionally set in your ways you’re in for a shock or two (liking this transit to the mid-life crisis) a landmark stage in your life – you should be able to adjust for it doesn’t happen overnight! You’ll feel a sense of upheaval to your innermost feelings that you’re being forced into new directions against your will – this is just part of a life cycle, whatever your feelings of loss, be positive for you’ll soon discover that there’s a whole new world out there to conquer. The past is not lost, only a memorable part and foundation for the rest of your life to come -allow yourself and other people the opportunity to grow and change in the normal way – don’t cling to the psychological props of the past, but face each new day as the adventure in living that it is! The Eighth House is about the support you receive from other people. It is the house of regeneration, and covers death, sex, legal matters, and metaphysics. Other keywords include: Transformation and regeneration, resources of others, sexuality, death, transmutation and the battles of life we all face. No matter what sign rules the 8ththere’s always a Scorpio feel to this sector and a Pluto expression. “Where there’s death there’s life – look for it…

Transiting Pluto into 9th: The occult, and things to do with magic and mystery, learning something new, even a “peak experience” or ‘spiritual conversion’! If planning any kind of travelling, you could come into unexpected difficulties with strangers or strange (foreign) places so check all travel plans carefully. You’ll have big expectations now and if you don’t put yourself out on a limb, you’ll miss out on making considerable headway! Don’t push your ideas onto others who may not be ready for them, or care for them for you can see the ‘big picture’ others may not! Use strictly honest methods; avoid dealings with corrupt people and situations that could bring you into conflict with the authorities! Travelling either in reality, or in spirit, you’ll have insights into the future, seeing things to come not only for yourself but for loved ones, tell them; even if they laugh – for you’ll have the last laugh if you present your thoughts or insights in a logical, down to earth, practical manner remember good things are coming your way along with many opportunities for spiritual growth – don’t blow it in being arrogant, egotistical or big headed and actually achieve your goals, ideals and objectives. The Ninth House is about higher learning. It covers academic subjects, law, religion, publishing, foreign culture, sport, overseas travel and philosophy. Keywords include: Philosophy, religion, higher education, distant travel, cultural learning, publishing, your life’s ‘journey’ and ageless Wisdom.

Transiting Pluto into the 10th: You’ll find yourself experiencing unforeseen restrictions with elder members of the family, or the law! This is not a good period to express your points of view over to others, especially those who are superior to yourself! At the same time however, you may have to struggle against dishonesty and authority figures against those who are on some kind of power trip! Keep away from corrupt characters, or if dealing with them is unavoidable, remain strictly honest yourself. Eventually (and this transit can last a long time) you’re going to rid yourself of old fears and restrictions, as well as things that were programmed into you when you were very young! It might be difficult to let go – don’t be afraid – a new, freer lifestyle awaits you yet you may have difficulty in reconciling yourself in giving up certain things because they’ve represented security- even if they don’t make you happy! If you’re trying and trying and not getting anywhere, it’s because you can’t go any further in the direction you were headed! Your life is in a state of transition; something that was predicted for you many years ago will begin to happen now, giving you a new lease of life and new confidence in yourself. You’ll discover the patience and ability to organise and be more organised and make a lot of progress professionally. The Tenth House is about your public life. It shows you’re standing in the community, career, and social status and can reflect your attitude to parenting.

Other keywords include: Honour, authority, career and profession, life direction, achievement. Same sex parent!

Transiting Pluto into the 11th:This is a time when you’ll experience or make many changes to your life where everything and everyone becomes fresh and new (different). You’ll become more independent, original and creative. If all goes well, friends and people in general will admire and respect you for your independence and originality – a dream might be realised or dashed! Negatively: there might be some ‘evil’ around you in this period so do not force any kind of issues regarding career or love, otherwise you may have an emotional experience you may not recover from! If life is too unpredictable don’t make radical or drastic changes during Pluto’s entry or exit from this house. This’ll prove a time when upheavals are occurring in the outside world and you’ll want to make personal changes as well. If change is forced upon you, accept it with good grace, and expect future benefits to emerge in the long run. Group relationships and friendships will be altered with new friendships and associates appearing out of nowhere! Basically, you have to adapt to changes now and to make these appropriate to your own personal and long-term development. The Eleventh House is about your friendships and relationships with groups of people. It’s about your hopes and dreams, friends and social acquaintances, groups and organisations and their activities…

Transiting Pluto into the 12th: During this transit, strange forces surface in your emotional life, completely dominating your mood for days, weeks and even months on end! During these times, even you won’t know what’s at the root of it all, all you know is that you’re wrapped in a powerful darkness, for which the best remedy seems to be sleep – of all things! Hang in there for sooner or later you’ll come to realise that life is more exciting than you ever thought possible or even believe! At times you’ll feel low and depressed, moody and irritable for no reason at all, doubting yourself too much. Be careful when near or travelling by water or, listening to others emotional problems, otherwise you may find yourself being involved in something you cannot escape from! Your dreams and fantasies are undergoing a change/ transformation – don’t turn to drugs, alcohol or dangerous psychic practices. This could be a time when you are led to new inspiration, or allow yourself to sink into spiritual confusion! If you have a feeling of loss, be patient and allow new dreams to come into birth. Your dreams will come true, if you go with your feelings and not worry too much about what others think! The Twelfth House is about endings. It is about your hidden strengths and weaknesses. It’s about institutions such as hospitals, jails, libraries and the armed services. Keywords include: fears, hidden enemies, the collective, spirituality, selfless service towards humanity.

When any planet enters your 12th and stays there for any length of time you will discover your guardian angel, your spirit guide, your hidden strength, your inner resources, believe me, this is the house that reveals all there is to reveal – don’t be afraid of it…

Stay tuned for more interesting, inspiring and entertaining snippets from Astrology, Numerology and Tarot.

How Long Will It Be Before Major Universities Prevent Their Professors From Posting Lectures Online?

Steve Jobs was quite upset with the cost of textbooks, and he thought our education system was flawed. He’d accomplished quite a few disruptions in several industries, and much of what he did and others are doing now is leading to the slow demise of academia as we know it. The information available is now available everywhere, it will begin to flow like water being disseminated by the very top academics in the country for next to nothing. In other words information wants to be free, including all the information in their heads, so much for intellectual property in that regard.

But why do so many people want things to change? Is it because the 8% year-over-year cost increases of tuition are more than people can stomach? Is it because when people graduate with their degrees they are unable to find work, but must still payoff the high cost of student loans, much of which is going to professors with tenure, and their benefits after they retire. It appears that the bubble is building and ready to burst on the student loan programs as well as the modern-day college academic model.

There was an interesting article, it was an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal by Mr. David Gelernter, a professor of computer science at Yale published on August 9, 2012 titled; “The Friendly, Neighborhood Internet School,” which stated; “we have the technology, the people and the institutions we need to usher in online education revolution.”

Indeed they do, but wouldn’t that also negate the value of our current professors? Or do the elite professors from places such as Harvard, Yale, and Stanford want to seize control of the message, and because of their stature, notoriety, tenure, and Ivy League position pull rank on all the other professors and colleges out there? In many regards I believe that in the future many of the colleges and especially the major universities will prevent their professors from posting online lectures, as a protectionist act.

They will have to do this otherwise people will not pay the tuition to sit and lecture halls with 400 other people when they could be watching them in high definition on the Internet at the local Starbucks using the Wi-Fi for the mere cost of a Venti Frappachino. You see my point yet? In fact, the technology and the ability to get these free lectures online is so profound and so revolutionary, it’s so disruptive that it may render the need for our current style of teaching and education unneeded.

Certainly it will have a profound effect on the number of students who apply, the cost of tuition, and the inherent value once considered of an Ivy League degree or education. It probably will hit the smaller institutions first. Are these Ivy League professors willing to literally shut down all the other colleges so they can get their personalized lectures and message out to the masses, and hopefully make money on the high volume even if they are only getting perhaps a couple of dollars for everyone that views one of their lectures?

You see, it appears to me that many people in academia are already operating in a very monopolistic business model. So it wouldn’t surprise me that these academics feel entitled to taking a one-ups-man-ship approach on the rest of their peers throughout academia. Still, in the end it will matter, the entire higher into education will slowly dissolve just as the mainstream media is today, starting with the newspapers, trade journals, and magazines. Surely you can see that future, the writing is on the wall. Whereas I agree with the op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, I also have a tough time with the motivations and future course of action that these schools might take.

Some might say that they have completely noble intentions, and they certainly intend to stand on their pedestal of self-proclaimed integrity and ethics, almost an intellectual socialism approach to giving knowledge to the world, but we know that’s not usually the case when push comes to shove and it is their paycheck which is being affected. That’s when people change their mind, and they maneuver for a better position for themselves. I also predict that, and I almost am assured that that prediction will come to pass. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

The Benefits of an Online Business: Beyond Your Wildest Dreams

The benefits of an online business are beyond our wildest dreams! Just two decades have past since the Internet was made available to the general public. To give you an idea of what that means, consider this: There are students in colleges and universities right now whose parents had no Web. Today, most of us can’t imagine what it would be like if we couldn’t go online when we wanted to. There would be no surfing, no chat, and no texting.

Of course, that’s all changed. Now there are nearly 400 million websites, and the web is growing so fast that a new system has been introduced so that the ‘Net will have enough new addresses to meet the demand.

All this is to say that if you haven’t started an online business yet, now is the time.

There are three primary benefits if you do.

1. You don’t have to worry about shipping physical products.

You can do this if you want, and there are plenty who do; but if you would rather avoid the hassle of managing dozens or even hundreds of products, then you can.

There are a lot of people, just like you, who would like to learn more about how to improve their lives. The fact that you’re reading this article is proof that you have the ability to do that.

2. The market is bigger than your city, state, province, or country.

Your market is as big as you want it to be. It’s not limited to the geography that an offline business has. That’s because there are people all over the world who want the kind of help that only you can give them.

If there is a restriction, then it has more to do with your mother tongue than anything else. However, if you’re comfortable with English, then the sky is literally as far as you can go. That’s because it’s the language of business, and as a result more and more people are learning it.

3. It costs next to nothing to get new customers.

When of the most under-appreciated aspects of the Web is just how cheap it is to market your products. There’s no need to advertise in newspapers or magazines.

If you can write articles, make posts on a blog, or chat on Facebook, then you have all the skill you need to tell others how you can help them.

Biometrics

ABSTRACT

Biometric identification refers to identifying an individual based on his/her distinguishing physiological and/or behavioural characteristics. As these characteristics are distinctive to each and every person, biometric identification is more reliable and capable than the traditional token based and knowledge based technologies differentiating between an authorized and a fraudulent person. This paper discusses the mainstream biometric technologies and the advantages and disadvantages of biometric technologies, their security issues and finally their applications in day today life.

INTRODUCTION:

“Biometrics” are automated methods of recognizing an individual based on their physical or behavioral characteristics. Some common commercial examples are fingerprint, face, iris, hand geometry, voice and dynamic signature. These, as well as many others, are in various stages of development and/or deployment. The type of biometric that is “best ” will vary significantly from one application to another. These methods of identification are preferred over traditional methods involving passwords and PIN numbers for various reasons: (i) the person to be identified is required to be physically present at the point-of-identification; (ii) identification based on biometric techniques obviates the need to remember a password or carry a token. Biometric recognition can be used in identification mode, where the biometric system identifies a person from the entire enrolled population by searching a database for a match.

A BIOMETRIC SYSTEM:

All biometric systems consist of three basic elements:

Enrollment, or the process of collecting biometric samples from an individual, known as the enrollee, and the subsequent generation of his template.
Templates, or the data representing the enrollee’s biometric.
Matching, or the process of comparing a live biometric sample against one or many templates in the system’s database.

Enrollment

Enrollment is the crucial first stage for biometric authentication because enrollment generates a template that will be used for all subsequent matching. Typically, the device takes three samples of the same biometric and averages them to produce an enrollment template. Enrollment is complicated by the dependence of the performance of many biometric systems on the users’ familiarity with the biometric device because enrollment is usually the first time the user is exposed to the device. Environmental conditions also affect enrollment. Enrollment should take place under conditions similar to those expected during the routine matching process. For example, if voice verification is used in an environment where there is background noise, the system’s ability to match voices to enrolled templates depends on capturing these templates in the same environment. In addition to user and environmental issues, biometrics themselves change over time. Many biometric systems account for these changes by continuously averaging. Templates are averaged and updated each time the user attempts authentication.

Templates

As the data representing the enrollee’s biometric, the biometric device creates templates. The device uses a proprietary algorithm to extract “features” appropriate to that biometric from the enrollee’s samples. Templates are only a record of distinguishing features, sometimes called minutiae points, of a person’s biometric characteristic or trait. For example, templates are not an image or record of the actual fingerprint or voice. In basic terms, templates are numerical representations of key points taken from a person’s body. The template is usually small in terms of computer memory use, and this allows for quick processing, which is a hallmark of biometric authentication. The template must be stored somewhere so that subsequent templates, created when a user tries to access the system using a sensor, can be compared. Some biometric experts claim it is impossible to reverse-engineer, or recreate, a person’s print or image from the biometric template.

Matching

Matching is the comparison of two templates, the template produced at the time of enrollment (or at previous sessions, if there is continuous updating) with the one produced “on the spot” as a user tries to gain access by providing a biometric via a sensor. There are three ways a match can fail:

Failure to enroll.
False match.
False nonmatch.

Failure to enroll (or acquire) is the failure of the technology to extract distinguishing features appropriate to that technology. For example, a small percentage of the population fails to enroll in fingerprint-based biometric authentication systems. Two reasons account for this failure: the individual’s fingerprints are not distinctive enough to be picked up by the system, or the distinguishing characteristics of the individual’s fingerprints have been altered because of the individual’s age or occupation, e.g., an elderly bricklayer.

In addition, the possibility of a false match (FM) or a false nonmatch (FNM) exists. These two terms are frequently misnomered “false acceptance” and “false rejection,” respectively, but these terms are application-dependent in meaning. FM and FNM are application-neutral terms to describe the matching process between a live sample and a biometric template. A false match occurs when a sample is incorrectly matched to a template in the database (i.e., an imposter is accepted). A false non-match occurs when a sample is incorrectly not matched to a truly matching template in the database (i.e., a legitimate match is denied). Rates for FM and FNM are calculated and used to make tradeoffs between security and convenience. For example, a heavy security emphasis errs on the side of denying legitimate matches and does not tolerate acceptance of imposters. A heavy emphasis on user convenience results in little tolerance for denying legitimate matches but will tolerate some acceptance of imposters.

BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGIES:

The function of a biometric technologies authentication system is to facilitate controlled access to applications, networks, personal computers (PCs), and physical facilities. A biometric authentication system is essentially a method of establishing a person’s identity by comparing the binary code of a uniquely specific biological or physical characteristic to the binary code of an electronically stored characteristic called a biometric. The defining factor for implementing a biometric authentication system is that it cannot fall prey to hackers; it can’t be shared, lost, or guessed. Simply put, a biometric authentication system is an efficient way to replace the traditional password based authentication system. While there are many possible biometrics, at least eight mainstream biometric authentication technologies have been deployed or pilot-tested in applications in the public and private sectors and are grouped into two as given,

Contact Biometric Technologies

fingerprint,
hand/finger geometry,
dynamic signature verification, and
keystroke dynamics

Contactless Biometric Technologies

facial recognition,
voice recognition
iris scan,
retinal scan,

CONTACT BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGIES:

For the purpose of this study, a biometric technology that requires an individual to make direct contact with an electronic device (scanner) will be referred to as a contact biometric. Given that the very nature of a contact biometric is that a person desiring access is required to make direct contact with an electronic device in order to attain logical or physical access. Because of the inherent need of a person to make direct contact, many people have come to consider a contact biometric to be a technology that encroaches on personal space and to be intrusive to personal privacy.

Fingerprint

The fingerprint biometric is an automated digital version of the old ink-and-paper method used for more than a century for identification, primarily by law enforcement agencies. The biometric device involves users placing their finger on a platen for the print to be read. The minutiae are then extracted by the vendor’s algorithm, which also makes a fingerprint pattern analysis. Fingerprint template sizes are typically 50 to 1,000 bytes. Fingerprint biometrics currently have three main application arenas: large-scale Automated Finger Imaging Systems (AFIS) generally used for law enforcement purposes, fraud prevention in entitlement pro-grams, and physical and computer access.

Hand/Finger Geometry

Hand or finger geometry is an automated measurement of many dimensions of the hand and fingers. Neither of these methods takes actual prints of the palm or fingers. Only the spatial geometry is examined as the user puts his hand on the sensor’s surface and uses guiding poles between the fingers to properly place the hand and initiate the reading. Hand geometry templates are typically 9 bytes, and finger geometry templates are 20 to 25 bytes. Finger geometry usually measures two or three fingers. Hand geometry is a well-developed technology that has been thoroughly field-tested and is easily accepted by users.

Dynamic Signature Verification

Dynamic signature verification is an automated method of examining an individual’s signature. This technology examines such dynamics as speed, direction, and pressure of writing; the time that the stylus is in and out of contact with the “paper”; the total time taken to make the signature; and where the stylus is raised from and lowered onto the “paper.” Dynamic signature verification templates are typically 50 to 300 bytes.

Keystroke Dynamics

Keystroke dynamics is an automated method of examining an individual’s keystrokes on a keyboard. This technology examines such dynamics as speed and pressure, the total time of typing a particular password, and the time a user takes between hitting certain keys. This technology’s algorithms are still being developed to improve robustness and distinctiveness. One potentially useful application that may emerge is computer access, where this biometric could be used to verify the computer user’s identity continuously.

CONTACTLESS BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGIES:

A contactless biometric can either come in the form of a passive (biometric device continuously monitors for the correct activation frequency) or active (user initiates activation at will) biometric. In either event, authentication of the user biometric should not take place until the user voluntarily agrees to present the biometric for sampling. A contactless biometric can be used to verify a persons identity and offers at least two dimension that contact biometric technologies cannot match. A contactless biometric is one that does not require undesirable contact in order to extract the required data sample of the biological characteristic and in that respect a contactless biometric is most adaptable to people of variable ability levels.

Facial Recognition

Facial recognition records the spatial geometry of distinguishing features of the face. Different vendors use different methods of facial recognition, however, all focus on measures of key features. Facial recognition templates are typically 83 to 1,000 bytes. Facial recognition technologies can encounter performance problems stemming from such factors as no cooperative behavior of the user, lighting, and other environmental variables. Facial recognition has been used in projects to identify card counters in casinos, shoplifters in stores, criminals in targeted urban areas, and terrorists overseas.

Voice Recognition

Voice or speaker recognition uses vocal characteristics to identify individuals using a pass-phrase. Voice recognition can be affected by such environmental factors as background noise. Additionally it is unclear whether the technologies actually recognize the voice or just the pronunciation of the pass-phrase (password) used. This technology has been the focus of considerable efforts on the part of the telecommunications industry and NSA, which continue to work on

improving reliability. A telephone or microphone can serve as a sensor, which makes it a relatively cheap and easily deployable technology.

Iris Scan

Iris scanning measures the iris pattern in the colored part of the eye, although the iris color has nothing to do with the biometric. Iris patterns are formed randomly. As a result, the iris patterns in your left and right eyes are different, and so are the iris patterns of identical-cal twins. Iris scan templates are typically around 256 bytes. Iris scanning can be used quickly for both identification and verification

Applications because of its large number of degrees of freedom. Current pilot programs and applications include ATMs (“Eye-TMs”), grocery stores (for checking out), and the few International Airports (physical access).

Retinal Scan

Retinal scans measure the blood vessel patterns in the back of the eye. Retinal scan templates are typically 40 to 96 bytes. Because users perceive the technology to be somewhat intrusive, retinal scanning has not gained popularity with end-users. The device involves a light source shined into the eye of a user who must be standing very still within inches of the device. Because the retina can change with certain medical conditions, such as pregnancy, high blood pressure, and AIDS, this biometric might have the potential to reveal more information than just an individual’s identity.

Emerging biometric technologies:

Many inventors, companies, and universities continue to search the frontier for the next biometric that shows potential of becoming the best. Emerging biometric is a biometric that is in the infancy stages of proven technological maturation. Once proven, an emerging biometric will evolve in to that of an established biometric. Such types of emerging technologies are the following:

Brainwave Biometric
DNA Identification
Vascular Pattern Recognition
Body Odor Recognition
Fingernail Bed Recognition
Gait Recognition
Handgrip Recognition
Ear Pattern Recognition
Body Salinity Identification
Infrared Fingertip Imaging & Pattern Recognition

SECURITY ISSUES:

The most common standardized encryption method used to secure a company’s infrastructure is the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) approach. This approach consists of two keys with a binary string ranging in size from 1024-bits to 2048-bits, the first key is a public key (widely known) and the second key is a private key (only known by the owner). However, the PKI must also be stored and inherently it too can fall prey to the same authentication limitation of a password, PIN, or token. It too can be guessed, lost, stolen, shared, hacked, or circumvented; this is even further justification for a biometric authentication system. Because of the structure of the technology industry, making biometric security a feature of embedded systems, such as cellular phones, may be simpler than adding similar features to PCs. Unlike the personal computer, the cell phone is a fixed-purpose device. To successfully incorporate Biometrics, cell-phone developers need not gather support from nearly as many groups as PC-application developers must.

Security has always been a major concern for company executives and information technology professionals of all entities. A biometric authentication system that is correctly implemented can provide unparalleled security, enhanced convenience, heightened accountability, superior fraud detection, and is extremely effective in discouraging fraud. Controlling access to logical and physical assets of a company is not the only concern that must be addressed. Companies, executives, and security managers must also take into account security of the biometric data (template). There are many urban biometric legends about cutting off someone finger or removing a body part for the purpose of gain access. This is not true for once the blood supply of a body part is taken away, the unique details of that body part starts to deteriorate within minutes. Hence the unique details of the severed body part(s) is no longer in any condition to function as an acceptable input for scanners.

The best overall way to secure an enterprise infrastructure, whether it be small or large is to use a smart card. A smart card is a portable device with an embedded central processing unit (CPU). The smart card can either be fashioned to resemble a credit card, identification card, radio frequency identification (RFID), or a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) card. The smart card can be used to store data of all types, but it is commonly used to store encrypted data, human resources data, medical data, financial data, and biometric data (template). The smart card can be access via a card reader, PCMCIA slot, or proximity reader. In most biometric-security applications, the system itself determines the identity of the person who presents himself to the system. Usually, the identity is supplied to the system, often by presenting a machine-readable ID card, and then the system asked to confirm. This problem is “one-to- one matching.” Today’s PCs can conduct a one-to-one match in, at most, a few seconds. One-to-one matching differs significantly from one-to-many matching. In a system that stores a million sets of prints, a one-to-many match requires comparing the presented fingerprint with 10 million prints (1 million sets times 10 prints/set). A smart card is a must when implementing a biometric authentication system; only by the using a smart card can an organization satisfy all security and legal requirements. Smart cards possess the basic elements of a computer (interface, processor, and storage), and are therefore very capable of performing authentication functions right on the card.

The function of performing authentication within the confines of the card is known as ‘Matching on the Card (MOC)’. From a security prospective MOC is ideal as the biometric template, biometric sampling and associated algorithms never leave the card and as such cannot be intercepted or spoofed by others (Smart Card Alliance). The problem with smart cards is the public-key infrastructure certificates built into card does not solve the problem of someone stealing the card or creating one. A TTP (Trusted Third Party) can be used to verify the authenticity of a card via an encrypted MAC (Media Access Control).

CULTURAL BARRIERS/PERCEPTIONS:

People as diverse as those of variable abilities are subject to many barriers, theories, concepts, and practices that stem from the relative culture (i.e. stigma, dignity or heritage) and perceptions (i.e. religion or philosophical) of the international community. These factors are so great that they could encompass a study of their own. To that end, it is also theorized that to a certain degree that the application of diversity factors from current theories, concepts, and practices may be capable of providing a sturdy framework to the management of employees with disabilities. Moreover, it has been implied that the term diversity is a synonymous reflection of the initiatives and objectives of affirmative action policies. The concept of diversity in the workplace actually refers to the differences embodied by the workforce members at large. The differences between all employees in the workforce can be equated to those employees of different or diverse ethnic origin, racial descent, gender, sexual orientation, chronological maturity, and ability; in effect minorities.

ADVANTAGES OF BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGIES:

Biometric technologies can be applied to areas requiring logical access solutions, and it can be used to access applications, personal computers, networks, financial accounts, human resource records, the telephone system, and invoke customized profiles to enhance the mobility of the disabled. In a business-to-business scenario, the biometric authentication system can be linked to the business processes of a company to increase accountability of financial systems, vendors, and supplier transactions; the results can be extremely beneficial.

The global reach of the Internet has made the services and products of a company available 24/7, provided the consumer has a user name and password to login. In many cases the consumer may have forgotten his/her user name, password, or both. The consumer must then take steps to retrieve or reset his/her lost or forgotten login information. By implementing a biometric authentication system consumers can opt to register their biometric trait or smart card with a company’s business-to-consumer e-commerce environment, which will allow a consumer to access their account and pay for goods and services (e-commerce). The benefit is that a consumer will never lose or forget his/her user name or password, and will be able to conduct business at their convenience. A biometric authentications system can be applied to areas requiring physical access solutions, such as entry into a building, a room, a safe or it may be used to start a motorized vehicle. Additionally, a biometric authentication system can easily be linked to a computer-based application used to monitor time and attendance of employees as they enter and leave company facilities. In short, contactless biometrics can and do lend themselves to people of all ability levels.

DISADVANTAGES OF BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGIES:

Some people, especially those with disabilities may have problems with contact biometrics. Not because they do not want to use it, but because they endure a disability that either prevents them from maneuvering into a position that will allow them to make use the biometric or because the biometric authentication system (solution) is not adaptable to the user. For example, if the user is blind a voice biometric may be more appropriate.

BIOMETRIC APPLICATIONS:

Most biometric applications fall into one of nine general categories:

Financial services (e.g., ATMs and kiosks).
Immigration and border control (e.g., points of entry, precleared frequent travelers, passport and visa issuance, asylum cases).
Social services (e.g., fraud prevention in entitlement programs).
Health care (e.g., security measure for privacy of medical records).
Physical access control (e.g., institutional, government, and residential).
Time and attendance (e.g., replacement of time punch card).
Computer security (e.g., personal computer access, network access, Internet use, e-commerce, e-mail, encryption).
Telecommunications (e.g., mobile phones, call center technology, phone cards, televised shopping).
Law enforcement (e.g., criminal investigation, national ID, driver’s license, correctional institutions/prisons, home confinement, smart gun).

CONCLUSION:

Currently, there exist a gap between the number of feasible biometric projects and knowledgeable experts in the field of biometric technologies. The post September 11 th, 2002 attack (a.k.a. 9-11) on the World Trade Center has given rise to the knowledge gap. Post 9-11 many nations have recognized the need for increased security and identification protocols of both domestic and international fronts. This is however, changing as studies and curriculum associated to biometric technologies are starting to be offered at more colleges and universities. A method of closing the biometric knowledge gap is for knowledge seekers of biometric technologies to participate in biometric discussion groups and biometric standards committees.

The solutions only needs the user to possess a minimum of require user knowledge and effort. A biometric solution with minimum user knowledge and effort would be very welcomed to both the purchase and the end user. But, keep in mind that at the end of the day all that the end users care about is that their computer is functioning correctly and that the interface is friendly, for users of all ability levels. Alternative methods of authenticating a person’s identity are not only a good practice for making biometric systems accessible to people of variable ability level. But it will also serve as a viable alternative method of dealing with authentication and enrollment errors.

Auditing processes and procedures on a regular basis during and after installation is an excellent method of ensuring that the solution is functioning within normal parameters. A well-orchestrated biometric authentication solution should not only prevent and detect an impostor in instantaneous, but it should also keep a secure log of the transaction activities for prosecution of impostors. This is especially important, because a great deal of ID theft and fraud involves employees and a secure log of the transaction activities will provide the means for prosecution or quick resolution of altercations.

REFERENCES:

Pankanti S, Bolle R & Jain A, Biometrics:The Future of Identification
Nalwa V, Automatic on-line signature verification
Biometric Consortium homepage, http://WWW.biometrics.org

Abhishek Verma

Abhishek Verma was born on 23rd February 1968 into a family that has served Indian politics for more that 50 years. Abhishek’s father Late Sh. Shrikant Verma was inducted as a member of India’s Parliament from Indian National Congress by Smt Indira Gandhi in year 1976 and he was among the leading journalists of the country prior to his association in Indian politics. Later in early 80’s when Smt Indira Gandhi returned as prime minister of India she recognized Sarikant Verma’s impressive communication ability and he was appointed as the official spokesman of Indian National Congress soon after which he became the General Secretary of the congress party.

His job was tough but immensely challenging as it entailed holding daily briefings for journalists, brainstorming party policies and generally helping the party evolve. Besides, he found time to write several books novels, many of which have been translated into foreign languages. The elder Verma died at the Sloane Kettering Hospital in New York in May 1986, battling cancer. Shrikant Verma’s foster mother, Minimata, was a Member of Parliament for an impressive 24 years, beginning 1950, until an aircrash cut short her life. Abhishek Verma’s mother and Shrikant Verma’s wife, Veena Verma, served 14 years in the Parliament as a member of the Congress Party.

Abhishek, pursued his education from Hindu College at University of Delhi and Georgetown University in Washington D.C. After his education he became Editor-Publisher of India Worldwide, a US-based monthly magazine co-published by the Indian National Congress’ overseas in 1989. Chairman Kamal Dandona, permitted him to forge close ties with Mr. Rajiv Gandhi who was ending his five-year term as Prime Minister.

After assassination of Rajiv Gandhi when P.V. Narasimha Rao was appointed as the Prime Minister of India, Abhishek fetched the business opportunities that arose largely from Indian Government’s vast liberalization measures, which helped his fledgling, company ESAM India Limited to heave ahead. ESAM launched a cargo airline, and lately succeeded by acquiring several cargo aircraft from the erstwhile Soviet Union which was operated on the Indo-Russian and Indo-Gulf sectors.

With the success of the airline business, ESAM expanded their wings in financial engineering, trade and counter-trade with Russia with vast portfolio products and services, all of which got contributed to a US$400 million annual turnover, between 1994 and 1999. In the year 1997, Abhishek was featured on India Today’s cover page.

During the last few years, the world political scene got tectonically shifted which resulted in exponential growth in Indian and Asian fixed and mobile telephony, and the accelerating worldwide convergence between telephony, internet and television as well as increased defense spending budgets of the Indian Armed Forces in excess of US$ 40 billion.

Abhishek’s strategic focus on the defense and telecom business gave birth to Atlas Group of Companies, which is into contracting of global defense and telecom powerhouse. The group delivers services in more than 70 countries with a turnover exceeding US $1.5 billion. Abhishek is the Chairman of Atlas Defense Systems Ltd and Atlas Interactive India Private Limited and Group Director Atlas Group of Companies

Being born in a political family with a legacy spanning 6 decades, politics runs in Abhishek’s blood. He grew up in a family with surroundings where Presidents, Prime Ministers and other important leaders not just from India but other countries were always around him. At the age of 18, in 1986 Abhishek was appointed the General Secretary of Indian Youth Congress incharge of Chattisgarh State of India. Abhishek was also nominated to contest the Lok Sabha (Parliamentary) elections in 1996 however he withdrew from the contest due to personal reasons since he was going through a messy divorce. Abhishek campaigned for several parliamentary elections and candidates of the Congress Party and offered helicopters and aircraft from his fleet to national leaders to extensively crisscross the country on campaign trails. He has advised several Congress party leaders on business issues and matters of foreign policy as well as defense and strategic affairs.

Abhishek is the Chairman of the board of trustees of Verma Foundation which supports visionary leaders and organizations working on the frontlines of social change worldwide. The foundation was created with gifts and bequests by Late Shrikant Verma & his philanthropist son Abhishek Verma, the foundation is an independent, nonprofit, nongovernmental organization, with its own board, and is entirely separate from the other commercial organizations of the Verma family. The trustees of the foundation set policy and delegate authority senior staff for the foundation’s grant making and operations. Program officers in the India, Asia, and Eastern Europe explore opportunities to pursue the foundation’s goals, formulate strategies and recommend proposals for funding.

The Verma Foundation was established on 1986, with an initial gift of $10 million from Abhishek Verma. During its early years, the foundation operated in New Delhi under the leadership of Verma family members. Since the founding charter stated that resources should be used “for scientific, educational and charitable purposes, all for the public welfare,” the foundation made grants to many kinds of organizations. Entrepreneurial success allowed Abhishek to undertake civic initiatives in Bilaspur, a city in Central India from where his family hails.

He installed over 150 electric wells to supply the under-privileged community with abundant potable water, established medical clinics, started mid day meal schemes for school going children and through celebrity charity events raised funds for cancer treatment equipment for the local hospitals and donated funds to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund and to victims of Earthquakes and for burn victims in India through the Verma Foundation. The Verma Foundation in partnership with Nehru Bal Samiti a charitable organization for uplift of under privileged children runs 6 schools in Delhi with 4,000 students. Sonia Gandhi, President of Congress Party in India has been the Patron of this organization for several years. The Verma Foundation, led by Abhishek Verma, remains committed to advancing human welfare, and is headquartered in New York.

In 2006, former Deputy Prime Minister of India L.K. Advani accused Abhishek of acting as an agent for Thales Defense France and receiving $175 million in kickbacks from the sale of 6 Scorpene Submarines purchased by the Indian Navy for $5 billion. After lengthy investigations spanning 2 years, by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) he was proved innocent on the allegations by the High Court of Delhi in 2008.

The Personal Costs of Obesity

People who are overweight and obese face many difficulties their normal weight peers do not. Frequent doctor visits are a fact of life for overweight and obese people, due to the development of weight-related disorders such as diabetes and osteoarthritis. Along with the daily difficulties associated with these diseases, the overweight or obese person may be personally affected financially as a result of weight-related expenses and reduced income.

The personal consequences and costs of obesity are serious, and the personal financial cost great. Multiple studies have shown that obesity significantly negatively affects personal and working relations, wages, and advancement, particularly for females.

While the health problems as the overweight/obese age may ravage savings, an overweight/obese person may have difficulty accumulating those savings in the first place. One of the earliest sociological studies of the overweight, in 1966, found that the heaviest students had a harder time getting into top colleges. The obese, particularly white women, are paid less. A study by Cornell University found that a weight increase of 64 pounds above the average for white women was associated with 9 percent lower wages.

I can personally attest to the ceiling placed on the obese; the jobs that are available to you based on your talents and abilities are often not received; there can be pattern of coming in second in interviews. This is particularly so when the job involves social context or a large amount of meet and greet.

Overweight people may or may not spend more than normal-size people on food, but their life insurance premiums are two to four times as large. They can expect higher medical expenses, and they tend to make less money and accumulate less wealth in their lifetimes. They can have a harder time being hired, and then a harder time earning promotions. People carrying as little as 30 to 40 pounds extra can be seriously affected.

In 2004, The Obesity Society created a Task Force on weight which found accumulating evidence of clear and consistent bias, stigmatization, and in some cases discrimination, against obese individuals in three areas of living: employment, education, and health care. They also reported that recent studies have documented automatic negative associations with obese people among health professionals and among obese individuals themselves.

In addition to the negative financial impact that excess weight carries, there is also impact on quality of life. People who are severely overweight may have difficulty performing simple daily tasks, such as tying shoes or walking up a flight of stairs. Many obese people have trouble sitting in, or can not trust the weight limit of, standard furniture. It becomes difficult to go to restaurants or theaters, or to utilize public transportation. Many bathroom facilities would be inaccessible to the obese were it not for the availability of the much larger handicap stall. While I was able to use the regular stalls when I weighted a little over 300 pounds, which is certainly obese but not gargantuan, there were many that were on the small size, and getting in and turning around to shut the door was awkward, if not difficult.

Think about all the places you might not go if you had to be worried about fitting in, or not breaking, the chairs; think of all the places that have booths, which have fixed distances from the table. Consider the size of the average subway turnstile. Go window shopping and mentally buy several stylish items; then go to one of the plus size departments or stores and try to replicate the satisfaction you had mock shopping in your size range. Tie a few gallon water jugs to yourself and see what it is like to sit in your own furniture.

If you are really looking to get an inkling of the reality, fill the jugs with water and carry in your groceries. Water weights about eight pounds a gallon, so you can see what it is like at 50 pounds overweight, 100, 150. I doubt many of us could handle carrying around enough jugs to bring our weight up to the 500, 600 or higher that some people live with; the obese put the weight on over time so tend not to realize just how much weight they are asking their backs and knees to support. There is no way to truly feel what it is like physically to be obese: things like raw inner thighs from chaffing and permanent raw indentations from bra straps can not be duplicated.

These problems may seem trivial to some, but they represent serious, multi-layered difficulties that can have both a cumulative and a rippling effect. If you are afraid you might not be able to use facilities, long shopping trips become less inviting. If your size affects your lung capacity, you may have trouble sleeping, which can affect your performance at work, which in turn may worsen the experience of day-to-day financial strains. So might the ability to keep up, literally.

Duke University Medical Center researchers reported in 2004 that obesity significantly impairs the sexual quality of life. Obese people report sexual problems such as lack of desire, lack of enjoyment, avoiding sex, and performance difficulty at a much higher rate than people of normal weight.

Overweight and obese people are frequently stereotyped as emotionally impaired, socially handicapped, and as possessing negative personality traits. Evidence of discrimination is found at virtually every stage of the employment cycle, including selection, placement, compensation, promotion, discipline and discharge, according to research presented by Western Michigan University. In addition, this bias extends to job assessments of overweight individuals in their various work related roles, both as subordinates and co-workers.

According to recent studies, wages of mildly obese white women were 5.9 lower than standard weight counterparts; morbidly obese white women were 24.1 percent lower. In contrast to females, the wages of mildly obese white and black men were higher than their standard weight counterparts. Men only experienced wage penalties at the very highest weight levels.

The potential effect of applicant weight, age, sex and race on ratings of job candidate acceptability in a laboratory setting was examined in 1988. Overweight candidates were rated significantly lower, but none of the other criteria manipulations had a significant effect. Michigan is the only state that prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of weight.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal statute that protects qualified individuals with disabilities from discrimination on the basis of disability in the workplace. Since the enactment of the ADA, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has taken the position that people who are morbidly obese (body weight more than 100 percent over the norm) are disabled and protected under the ADA. This leaves a huge number of obese, but not morbidly obese, unprotected in forty-nine of fifty states. It also puts those who do qualify under obligation to bring an ADA law suit to rectify a qualifying situation. And you still have to prove it was discrimination due to obesity.

Compared to normal weight people, morbidly obese and massively obese people are more likely to incur instances of institutional and day-to-day interpersonal discrimination. Morbidly obese and massively obese persons report lower levels of self-acceptance than normal weight persons, yet this relationship is fully mitigated by the perception that one has been discriminated against due to body weight or physical appearance: a more palatable reason psychologically than character or personality defect, or a job not well done.

Unflattering portrayals of obese people pervade popular culture, while multiple studies document that children, adults, and even health care professionals who work with obese patients hold negative attitudes toward overweight and obese persons. Twenty-eight percent of teachers in one study said that becoming obese is the worst thing that can happen to a person; twenty-four percent of nurses said that they are repulsed by obese people.

Obese people who believe that their health care providers look down upon them may avoid seeking care; this reaction is potentially dangerous given that obese individuals are at an elevated risk for many health conditions.

Research conducted over the past 40 years shows that obese people are viewed as physically unattractive and undesirable. Obese individuals also are viewed as responsible for their weight due to some character flaw such as laziness, gluttony, or a lack of self-control and self respect. Obese persons may form negative self-evaluations as a reaction to the pervasiveness of negative attitudes toward obese persons and real or perceived discriminatory treatment.

Interpersonal consequences of severe obesity are most acute for members of higher socioeconomic strata. A number of studies suggest that upper-middle class Americans are less likely to be obese, more likely to adopt negative views toward the obese, and more likely to view thinness as an ideal body type; the belief that obesity is a consequence of laziness may be particularly common among those with richer resources and opportunities. Physical appearance and putting forth a positive image of your employer also may be a more critical aspect of job success in professional occupations than in blue-collar or service occupations. In all of our surveys, the only striking difference in obesity statistics was a drop in the obesity percentages in the shopping playgrounds of the wealthy.

The Employment Law Alliance (ELA) released findings from its America at Work Opinion Poll portending a rise in lawsuits alleging employment related obesity discrimination. The survey found 47 percent of obese Americans believe they have suffered discrimination in the workplace, while 32 percent think obese employees less likely to be respected and taken seriously in the workplace. Nearly 40 percent of those who identified themselves either as obese or overweight contend they deserve special government protection against weight-based discrimination in the workplace, though only 26 percent of individuals of normal weight echoed that contention.

Studies show that overweight and obese students, especially girls, are less likely than the non-obese to be accepted by the more competitive colleges. This is true even if their grades, standardized test scores, and other variables are the same as for other boys and girls.

Overweight people are less likely to attend college even though they score high on standardized tests and are academically motivated. Also, overweight women are more likely than other men or women to pay their way through college.

Overweight students are more likely to be refused letters of recommendation from faculty members.

There has been some change in the practices regarding hiring of the obese, as so much more of the employment force has become obese there is not often an option. Look at the number of employees you see in stores and businesses in a day, and you will notice that there are more obese employees than there were when you were a child. But it does not remove the ceiling or reduce the promotion restrictions that shadow the obese.

A study of 1200 doctors revealed that, although physicians recognized the health risks of obesity and perceived many patients as overweight or obese, they did not intervene as much as they thought they should, were ambivalent about how to manage obese clients, and were unlikely to refer them to weight loss programs. Only 18 percent of physicians reported that they would discuss weight management with overweight patients, and only 42 percent of physicians would have this discussion with mildly obese patients. I have lived and worked in five states in my lifetime, and have had jobs in six different counties in California, so I have had many different primary physicians in my adult lifetime, and I can tell you that most never broached the subject of my weight, and the few who did merely remarked that I should lose some.

In a 1969 survey of physicians, obese patients were described as weak-willed, ugly, awkward, and self–indulgent. In a more recent physician survey, one of three doctors said they respond negatively to obesity, behind three other diagnostic/social categories: drug addiction, alcoholism, and mental illness. A survey of severely obese patients found that nearly 80 percent reported being treated disrespectfully by the medical profession.

Physicians are not immune to obesity. Ironically, physicians report fifty percent of their physician colleagues are obese. The Physicians’ Health Study reported that 44 percent of male physicians are overweight, and 6 percent are obese. Although there are no published data on obesity in female physicians, the Nurses’ Health Study demonstrated that 28 percent of female nurses in the United States are overweight, and 11 percent are obese.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic recently released the results of a survey of more than 2,500 obese patients who went to their doctor for a regular checkup over the course of a year. They found that only one in five of those people were listed on their charts as obese.

Discussing weight becomes even more complicated with children. According to a 2005 study in the Journal of Pediatrics, doctors diagnosed obesity less than 1 percent of the time among 2 to 18 year olds, a figure far below the one-third of young Americans struggling with overweight and obesity.

Among physicians, 17 percent reported reluctance to provide pelvic exams to very obese women, and 83 percent indicated reluctance to provide a pelvic exam if the patient herself was hesitant. Given that overweight women may hesitate to obtain exams and that physicians are reluctant to perform exams on obese or reluctant women, many overweight women may not receive necessary medical attention or preventive care.

Overweight and obese people get waited on more slowly than normal weight customers. They often encounter more difficulty making returns or exchanges than their thinner counterparts. When I was obese, sales people rarely asked to assist, and I often felt I had to track someone down; I assumed this was a general condition of the loss of the ethics of service of the old days. One thing I noticed when I became a size 4 was that sales people began to come up to me and ask if they could be of help much more frequently.

Results of a study by the North American Association for the Study of Obesity revealed that obese children were liked less and rejected more often by peers. Obese boys encounter more overt victimization (verbalteasing or physical aggression) and obese girls reported more relational victimization (cruelty by friends and cliques) compared with their average-weight peers.

Obese girls were also less likely to date than their peers. Both obese boys and girls reported being more dissatisfied with their dating status compared with average-weight peers. The results suggest that obese adolescents are at greater risk for mistreatment by peers and may have fewer opportunities to develop intimate romantic relationships; this may contribute to the psychological and health difficulties frequently associated with obesity; during adolescence, a time of rapid change in body shape and size as well as dynamic interactions with peers and parents, weight control is a particularly sensitive issue.

Recently school nurses reported being more likely to label obese children as sad and lazy. They overwhelmingly agreed with the statement Childhood obesity is a significant cause of peer rejection. Another recent study found that children who are obese are absent from school more than other children, missing an average of two more days than their non-obese peers. Interestingly, obesity seems to predict absenteeism more than any other factor, including school performance and socioeconomic status, two of the top reasons cited in the past for poor attendance. As a former public school teacher (at both elementary and high school levels, and as an principal and superintendent of schools pre-K-12), I can tell you that the number of days of school missed severely effects a child’s learning, and can carry forward in terms of lesser jobs and less pay for the rest of the life of a child. That is a steep personal cost.

Social attitudes towards obesity are negative and usually result in the adolescent becoming withdrawn and isolated. Obese adolescents have feelings of low self-esteem, social isolation, feelings of rejection and depression and a strong sense of failure. Obese children are more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors such as smoking,or consuming alcohol. Obese adolescent girls are more likely to become sexually active at a younger age in an effort to achieve acceptance and attention.

The prejudice associated with obesity is intense. Fat teenagers are often disregarded and subjected to ridicule. Most comments about fatness have negative consequences. Young people are often humiliated and frequently suffer permanent emotional scars. Fat people become tired of being judged by weight first and personality second. Adolescent girls who are dissatisfied with their bodies frequently try to lose weight in unhealthy ways, including skipping meals, fasting, and smoking to ward off hunger. A smaller number of girls are even resorting to more extreme methods such as self-induced vomiting, diet pills, and laxative use. Strict food denial in an effort to lose weight often leads to late afternoon or evening binging episodes. More than one-third of obese individuals in weight-loss treatment programs report difficulties with binge eating. This type of eating behavior contributes to feelings of shame, loneliness, poor self-esteem, and depression, and these feelings in return can spur additional eating as a means of solace.

In a study by the University of California, San Diego, researchers were surprised to find that the scores of obese children on a quality of life survey were as bad as cancer patients in every domain of life.

One obesity study asked severely obese persons to take a forced-choice questionnaire; for each question, they had to make a choice between being at their present weight or having some other given illness. The results were astounding. Although there were some variations on some of the questions, every obese person said that they would rather be blind or have one leg amputated than be at their present heavy weight. Most interestingly, every person who participated in the study would rather be a poor thin person than a morbidly obese millionaire.

Little wonder that depression is commonly linked with obesity, and, having been overweight and obese from age 5 to 50, I can personally attest that this chapter understates the multitude and magnitude of the true personal costs of obesity.

Top Team Understanding and Commitment

If you examine all the companies who have successfully implemented any initiative of any kind into an organisation you discover one simple truth; they all have a common understanding and commitment to the initiative which has been chosen at the very top of the organisation. Think of Jack Welsh at GE or Bill Smith at Motorola, they and their board agreed that they would use Six Sigma as their improvement initiative and everyone agreed; the rest is history.

This is why you always hear the phrase ‘Top Down commitment is essential for successful deployment’. The problem is that you don’t always have all your managers with common understanding and therefore commitment to an initiative. Top managers also constantly change their ideas and launch a new initiative which gives the organisation all kinds of problems.

The fact is that most senior managers don’t understand the methodology they have selected to implement, don’t understand their own business and its culture and certainly don’t understand the work required to make it a success. They then get frustrated as they don’t get the results they expect, so they pick another idea and run with that. The result is that when we go into organisations to help them you hear things like – we tried that before and it didn’t work; don’t mention xxx around hear as it was a disaster; we are different, that kind of thing never works for us.

Why do senior managers not understand the initiatives they are trying to implement?

When we start to spend time with an organisation which is looking to change, they ask us what we can do to solve their problems. They want a quick fix and rapid changes to the organisation as they are in trouble, which is why they have asked us to come and see them in the first place. As a result they don’t have in their view point the time to spend understanding where they are, then working out how to turn things around and lastly understanding themselves how to change things.

If you ask a senior manager what they do with their time you get some interesting answers. Ask them to split their time in the last few weeks as an average into the following categories:

o Strategy, Leadership and Motivation for the workforce

o Tactical day to day chasing of orders, checking things have been done and answering issues

o Financial elements of the business

The answer is normally staggering. Most senior managers spend 80% of there time doing tactical day to day issues and virtually no time doing strategy and motivation. Guess what successful senior managers spend more time on strategy and motivation than anything else. This explains why when we say lets get the senior managers together even for 1 day so few can make the time to start to understand what Lean Six Sigma is and how to deploy it. How then do you think that they can get enough of an understanding to motivate and drive the methodology through the organisation? The answer is they can’t?

Toyota took 30 – 40 years to change the culture of their organisation with Ohno and Sengo providing the thoughts and drive for lean to be implemented. It took GE and Motorola decades to implement Six Sigma fully into their organisations. Yet today’s senior managers expect instant results. I think a good analogy would be football teams in the UK who switch and change managers looking for instant success where as successful team – Manchester United and Arsenal have giving there managers time to get it right.

To ensure success, it is vital that the senior management team take some time to understand the following essential elements of any Lean Six Sigma deployment.

o What is Lean Six Sigma

o How can Lean Six Sigma help your business

o How to deploy a successful program

o How to structure your organisation to ensure success

o What is the role of Lean Six Sigma Champion and sponsor

o How to select projects

o How to support and motivate your people

If a top team can spend the time understanding and planning the above then they can start to implement Lean Six Sigma and there might be success.

o It means that when they stand up to talk about the subject they know what it is about enabling them to talk with credibility.

o They understand how much time each Green or Black Belt needs in order to be successful and can be given the right kind of support.

o When they run gate reviews they ask the right questions and ask for the right behaviours from Green and Black Belts. Meaning a greater chance of projects being a success.

o They know how to structure the organisation and to choose the right people and projects.

o They know how to link the strategy of the company to the Lean Six Sigma deployment.

How to obtain top management buy in?

If you are in the situation where you know that Lean Six Sigma is the best thing for your organisation and you need to convince your management, you must consider a few things to convince them. You must also have the skills to influence people throughout the organisation that Lean Six Sigma is the best thing for the benefit of the organisation. Influencing skills are being recognised as essential in business if you wish to be successful.

The items below will help you influence and convince senior managers.

Show benefits

If you can demonstrate how the approach will help the organisation and the kind of benefits you can obtain, then you will catch the attention of your Senior Managers. To do this, Deployment Champions run a few improvement projects under no name in particular. They can then calculate the benefits using the finance community to validate them. Some benchmarking can also be done, showing what has been achieved in other similar organisations. Lastly you can highlight where your current problems are and then explain how Lean Six Sigma will help to address these issues.

Explain the concept and how to ensure success

If you understand the concepts, then you have the knowledge to explain how Lean Six Sigma can benefit a company and how to set up for success. If you don’t, then you could ask an expert to come and talk to your Senior Management group. 100% Effective Training have enjoyed the challenge of talking to management groups in many different industries and answering the questions of the Senior Management group.

Understand where it can help

Identifying where to run your projects is vital in any deployment and even more so in the early stages. You must pick projects which are not so easy that any attention would have solved them, or projects which are so big it would be like solving world hunger. If you pick a meaningful project which brings great results both monitory and other wise then you can usually gain the attention of Senior Management and then move to a full deployment in your organisation. Another problem we have been encountering is that businesses don’t really know where there real problems are. They work on solving symptoms and putting out fires, they don’t actually know where the root causes are. In this instance then, we would suggest obtaining a diagnostic of your business which would then tell you where to start in your program deployment.

Understand what motivates your Managers

If you understand the motivations of your management team then you will know what buttons to press to get the concepts accepted. This might require some work and research and would include things like how they are measured, how their bonuses are made up, where they wish to take the company, what they believe the current issues are, what they know about the concepts and what they have tried in the past. If you work on these areas, your pitch to your Managers will be considered, have the right detail and will have a chance of working.

Can you deploy without top management buy in?

The simple answer is yes you can. It is however a lot harder; you must ensure that you get quick wins to demonstrate the benefits of the approach. You must also start to use the skills of influencing with Senior Management to convince them that Lean Six Sigma is the way forward.

Must Visit Places in Accra

National Museum runs under the supervision of Ghana Museums and Monuments Board. The oldest and biggest museum was opened in 1957 by Her Royal Highness. It houses the objects of ethnography, archeology and some unique art pieces, which compel visitors to visit the museum repeatedly. It has divided in two different sections and each section houses unique objects such as gold weights, textiles, musical instruments, poetry, stools etc.

National Theatre:

It was constructed in 1990s and funded by Chinese Government to increase the trend of performing art in Ghana. It is located in the heart of Accra and it houses three resident companies, these are The National Dance Company, The National Theater Players and The National Symphony Orchestra.

Accra International Conference Centre:

One of the most popular centers of Ghana for big events is located in Christiansburg area where you can also find several world-class hotels and Kotoka International Airport. Due to this ease and comfort, mostly business meetings are held in this international Conference Centre.

Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Memorial Park:

This museum holds almost all remains of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana. It was built to give tribute to the president and his efforts to drive Ghana towards independence.

Jamestown:

Jamestown was established in 17th century around the British James Fort but later on it merged with Accra and it became the separate district of the city. It is the oldest part of the city and is still an important fishing harbor. Those who are interested in the colonial part of the city then James town is the perfect place for them. With the passage, the total number of residents has been increased because of its commercial and residential usage.

Makola Market:

It is the busiest place in Accra from where you can do shopping on cheap prices. The whole market is dominated by women sellers who sell fresh foods, shoes, medicines and pots. Makola Market is currently under the observation of Transaid, which has developed a project of Transport and Trade for Market Women. The main purpose of this project is to support the female traders and provide security to them.

Labadi Beach:

Labadi Beach is the best beach of the city, which is more like a heaven for beach lovers. It charges an entrance fee but if your accommodation is in any of the hotels, which are housed within the premises of beach, then you can easily enjoy the beach several times without any entrance fees.

The capital city Accra has one international airport. It is the major airport of the country and offers several flights to Accra, from all major airports of the UK and USA. This airport deals with world famous airlines such as Alitalia, KLM, American Airlines, British Airways, Emirates, South African Airways, Egypt Air, Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways etc. These airlines enable you to visit some most popular tourists’ attractions of Accra, which are given below.

Finding Your Wealthy Place – Part 3

God has given us principles to follow in order to reach our wealthy place. He has made those principles known through His Word. For us to build wealth according to God’s plan, there has to be a proper foundation. A proper foundation for a tall building needs proper digging to ensure sustainability. The Lord has given us some commands in His Word for us to obey. One of those commands is to tithe according to Malachi.

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Mal. 3:10). And verse 9 of Malachi speaks of curses that come upon him who does not obey this command.

But there is a question and here it is, “Why do some believers who tithe remain broke?” They still have not entered into their wealthy place. This deserves an honest answer. This means the tithe does not bring the answer. But it is still very important. There are some adjustments to be made for us to enter our wealthy place. Once those adjustments have been made, you will enter the land of the rich.

“The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee” (Deuteronomy 28:8).

The Lord shall command the blessing. This must be serious with God. A storehouse refers to your bank account or your investments. The Lord commands a blessing and He does not stop there. He further commands a blessing on whatever you SET your hand on. That may be your business or your job. Do something that is of value to people. Do what benefits people and they will buy from you.

Understand child of God that there is an enemy, the devil. As you move towards your wealthy place the enemy will not just roll over and play dead. He will try hard to stop you without giving up. The reason is that he knows what that means to him. Now let us look at how to lay the proper found for your wealth:

1) Use proven weapons- the Word of God to fight your battles

When Goliath was mocking the Israelites, David came. He knew the covenant he had with God and that Goliath did not have it. He decided to face him. King Saul tried to give him his armor but David had not proven it so he did not use it.

“And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.

And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.

And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:38-40).

There is a battle going on in the financial world. You therefore need proven weapons as there is no time for unproven ones now. The Word of God has been proven to be working now and again. Jesus proved it when He was tempted by the devil. But the question is, “have you proven it yourself?” David had proven his weapon. That is why he talked about killing a lion and a bear. Now, it is time for you to put the Word of God into a test. Prove it yourself in your own life. Is the Word of God real to you? Is it stored within you? Child of God, it is time. Rise up and start believing in the Word. Use it. Prove it.

2) Do not be high-minded

What is that? It is a charge to the rich. This will help you put the proper foundation on your way to your wealthy place. Do not think of yourself more highly than you should.

“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high- minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves A GOOD FOUNDATION against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” (1Timothy 6:17-19).

The Lord has given richly all things to be enjoyed. REMEMBER to enjoy every MOMENT of your life? Be willing to distribute, support towards good works. Remember to support the Kingdom of God. By so doing, you are laying a good foundation for yourself.

If you follow God, He will make you rich. Never make earthly riches your number one priority. How can you see if money is priority number one in your life? If it is difficult for you to part with money and support the work of God, you have made money a god. God is ready to give you the kind of house you want, the kind of car you want, and the kind of clothes you want. But you need to prove to Him you are not going to get taken with pride and arrogance and conceit.

“All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers.

And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, TO HUMBLE THEE, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.” (Deuteronomy 8:1-3).

Note that the word “Humble” is the opposite of high-minded. Do not wait for God to humble you. Humble yourself. God wants to take you into your wealthy place. The Apostle Peter also talks about this issue of being humble before God.

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6).

3) Don’t Put Your Trust in Uncertain Riches

Why are riches of this world referred to as “uncertain riches?” It is because they are temporal. They can be lost anytime. Finances are an earthly institution. No one can go with it to heaven. When you die you go naked. It does not matter how much wealth you had accumulated. So we are encouraged to trust in the living God.

“Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high- minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.”(1 Timothy 6:17). After Paul admonished the rich on the issue of avoiding being high-minded, he cautioned us about trusting on uncertain riches.

The Old Testament has something to say about trusting in uncertain riches.

Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. (Proverbs 23:5). Our eyes need to be set on God. Then we will receive an anointing to prosper. That will catch money because money has a tendency of developing wings to fly away.

May I conclude that knowing that there is a wealthy place for you is the first step. As we have highlighted, there are necessary foundations to be put in place. Those foundations will enable you to enjoy your wealth in a sustainable way. Follow the principles of success that God has put in place. That will help protect you from the enemy who always seeks way of hindering and destroying you.

Blessings in Jesus Name!

What a Mess – Property Valuations (Cyprus)

This, new for us economic situation, has had numerous side effects, which even us, who are the largest and perhaps the oldest valuation firm in Cyprus, are wondering what next.

In recessionary situations, there is a reduction in demand and a consequential reduction in property values. In countries such as the U.S., the housing market has shown a drop of 40% in terms of real estate values, the U.K. up to 30%, Greece 40% and Spain for the touristic areas 40%. What is interesting however, is that these price reductions meet offers by interested buyers. In Cyprus the situation is quite different however, adding to the whole confusion. Property prices in Cyprus have now reached as a maximum reduction of ±30% and that refers to property in the touristic areas, whereas the residential ones (i.e. where demand is forthcoming primarily from locals) around 20%. This is a relatively low reduction bearing in mind that foreign demand has reduced by 70% and local by 50%, since one would expect price reductions around these percentages.

Having said that and if for example a Cypriot seller reduces the price by 30%, will he find a buyer? The answer is most likely not, at least for the vast majority. So we have the paradox, that property prices are reduced at a lower percentage than demand, whereas at the same time, there are no/very little buyers. This is, perhaps, due to the fact that local Banks (so far at least) have not been as aggressive in debt collection as Banks in other countries, property owners (so far at least) have been able to “stick it out” and forced sales of mortgages take years to materialize. So in this situation what is the value of a property, since there is now demand? Should we expect prices to be reduced to levels of 50% plus? Is this perhaps the today’s correct property prices? What a scary situation, we must say, since whereas the year 2010 has shown signs of a slight recovery, for the first 6 months, the last 3 months have shown a reduction of interest by comparison to the year 2009. If this demand trend continues, perhaps we may see larger discounts/property price reductions. Yet we still see new projects under development, especially in the local demand areas and we attribute this (not certain) to prior commitment of developers, who are under contractual obligations to carry out part exchange projects and another reason, is perhaps the stubbornness of locals to appreciate the situation which has not been experienced over the last 50 years in the real estate market.

There is a school of thought that the only way to recovery is to leave prices to go down as much as possible and wait for the market correction afterward. There is an economist logic in this, but, then, what misery will this approach cause? People will stand to lose their homes and have a shortfall in addition, security value for business people who usually place real estate for mortgage in order to get loans, will worth next to nothing etc etc. For the non performing loans, at the end, the shortfall of the banks will cause them to have huge provisions for recoveries affecting their profitability and security value, increasing their financial future risk. If this happens will foreign investors and depositors (€50 bil. from Russia) trust the local banks (?) and if this happens, will the Government step in to help and with what cash during a crisis? Will Cyprus become another Ireland, Portugal or God forbid Greece? For these reasons we do not share this “cruel” thought (notwithstanding that the Governor of the Central Bank goes the other way), but on the contrary we suggest an exercise of patience by the Banks, in order to give some breathing space to the market to correct itself without relating huge losses and human misery to all. The theory is one thing and practice with its consequential affects is another.

What we are very much worried about, is that delays in loan repayments are charged by local Banks with a 12% interest (thus helping the needy to go under at a faster rate) whereas a recent Cyprus High Court decision (and a decision by the Court of Appeal in the U.K.) justifies the Banks to do so, being part of the contract to grand a loan (the U.K. case referred to interest charge of 22%!!).

In order to add salt on the wound, we have the problem of no title deeds, which even if one offers the property at a discount of say 35%, with the bad publicity that the non titles owning people have, the buyers will not touch them (in some respects quite unjustifiably we must say). So at the end of the day, what is your property worth – nothing or next to nothing?

Not necessarily, since we have noted that locals are quite happy to step into the shoes of the foreign demand in some cases. See recent (2009/2010) sales for holiday home/apartment acquisitions in the Pafos area and that of the Paralimni region.

So and in ending this, otherwise most depressing article, dear readers, there is hope in the near (1½-2½ years) future? (see our previous article on Cyprus attracting Millionaires etc). This is a “God protected” country, we think, since during difficult times, something else happens in the world (mostly misfortunes) which helps us. See the Lebanon civil war, the ex-Yugoslavia war, the Russian era of Metamorphosis etc.

The recent visit by the President of Russia is one positive sign with Cyprus getting off the Russians black list, the Qatar deal is another, as is the Kuwait interest on the gas terminal. At the end and we hope it comes soon, if we find gas/oil in the Cyprus sea economic zone, it will help us most (see what happened in Scotland and Norway). Shall we then seek God’s help to help us in a most difficult situation? Going to church, we say, more often, might help!!!