One, big, worldwide ant colony
Yep. There’s on big wordlwide ant colony that’s covering the entire planet. Well, sort of.
Scientists have found that when mixing ants from seperate Argentine Ant mega-colonies around the world, they are tolerant of eachother.
Unfortunately (or fortunately) they have not formed one, large, super, world-wide, continuous colony. Instead what we have is a set of colonies spread around the world (which are very large, extending hunreds or even thousands of miles) which are tolerant of eachother when mixed.
While hind-sight is 20/20, this is actually not as surprising as people think. I mean, for a colony of ants to stretch 560 miles, as argentine ants do in California, implies that there is something a bit more involved than smell keeping these ants together. Whatever mechanism is in place for these ants to recognize eachother on s scale as large as 560 miles must translate to the entire species.
Very cool, none-the-less.
Testing maps embedding
Get ready to be converted!
This is a hilarious video I found while browsing through some blogs tonight. I figured I’d share it with all of my readers! Enjoy your new digital signal.
Wuh, wuh, wuh, period…
Installing Free Antivirus Software (AVG free edition)
Take a picture of your screen - how to take “screen shots”
Has there ever been a time when you wanted to just take a picture of what it was you saw so you can share it with your tech consultant, geeky friend or anyone else?
For many people the phrase "Screen shot" is about as foreign as the phrase "Mi aerodeslizador está lleno de anguilas ." But it should become as common in your tech-repertoire as "Please" and "thank you."
If you’re using a windows based system you can take the following types of screen shots:
- Take a picture of the entire screen : Print screen.
- Take a picture of the currently active (or on-top) window : alt+shift+print screen.
When you’re done you can open Word, Wordpad, MS Paint or any other application that will allow you to insert an image. Press ctrl+v to paste the image. Save the file in a memorable location and email it as an attachment to your tech consultant or geek-friend and it might be that much easier for him or her to figure out what is going on.
Things are a little bit different if you’re using an apple system running Mac OS X. At the basic level:
- Take a picture of the entire screen : Command+Shift+3
- Take a picture of the area you select : Command+Shift+4
These commands will save the document to your desktop. From here you can attach the file using Mac Mail and email it to your tech consultant or geek-friend.
The Ritz-Carlton Credo
Everyone has heard of “The Ritz” (The Ritz-Carlton) and knows that it’s an expensive, fancy hotel. But it’s an experience, too. The company employs a “Gold Standard,” defining how it operates and how its employees should behave and view customer service. It’s a model on which many companies should diligently base their own values, credo and mission statements. For my own reference and preservation purposes I have copied the entire Ritz-Carlton Gold Standard below:
Gold Standards
Our Gold Standards are the foundation of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. They encompass the values and philosophy by which we operate and include:The Credo
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel is a place where the genuine care and comfort of our guests is our highest mission.We pledge to provide the finest personal service and facilities for our guests who will always enjoy a warm, relaxed, yet refined ambience.
The Ritz-Carlton experience enlivens the senses, instills well-being, and fulfills even the unexpressed wishes and needs of our guests.
Motto
At The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., “We are Ladies and Gentlemen serving Ladies and Gentlemen.” This motto exemplifies the anticipatory service provided by all staff members.Three Steps Of Service
1. A warm and sincere greeting. Use the guest’s name.
2. Anticipation and fulfillment of each guest’s needs.
3. Fond farewell. Give a warm good-bye and use the guest’s name.Service Values: I Am Proud To Be Ritz-Carlton
1. I build strong relationships and create Ritz-Carlton guests for life.
2. I am always responsive to the expressed and unexpressed wishes and needs of our guests.
3. I am empowered to create unique, memorable and personal experiences for our guests.
4. I understand my role in achieving the Key Success Factors, embracing Community Footprints and creating The Ritz-Carlton Mystique.
5. I continuously seek opportunities to innovate and improve The Ritz-Carlton experience.
6. I own and immediately resolve guest problems.
7. I create a work environment of teamwork and lateral service so that the needs of our guests and each other are met.
8. I have the opportunity to continuously learn and grow.
9. I am involved in the planning of the work that affects me.
10. I am proud of my professional appearance, language and behavior.
11. I protect the privacy and security of our guests, my fellow employees and the company’s confidential information and assets.
12. I am responsible for uncompromising levels of cleanliness and creating a safe and accident-free environment.The 6th Diamond
- Mystique
- Emotional Engagement
- Functional
The Employee Promise
At The Ritz-Carlton, our Ladies and Gentlemen are the most important resource in our service commitment to our guests.
By applying the principles of trust, honesty, respect, integrity and commitment, we nurture and maximize talent to the benefit of each individual and the company.
Aside from modifying it to specifically fit your purpose/business/industry there is one prominant point stressed by the Ritz-Carlton Gold Standard you must change. It’s the “Mystique.” Not all companies need to, nor should they, be stressing any sort of “mystique.” Mystique is defined as: an air or attitude of mystery and reverence developing around something or someone. You definitely don’t want to employ that attitude if your running a garbage collection company or renting dog kennels, would you? But dig further…
An alternate definition to Mystique: the special esoteric skill essential in a calling or activity.
Perhaps it’s not the definition of the word that needs to change, so much as the specific word used. Several synonyms for “Mystique” which match the second meaning:
… well, after looking through a few thesauruses I haven’t found anything that’ll quite do it. So, I guess you’re on your own. Pull out your scratchin’ pads…
(Oh yeah, I almost forgot to claim my Technorati Profile)
How to Wow
I’ve recently subscribed to Seth Godin’s mailing list and receive notices any time he puts up a blog… if you couldn’t already tell. Anyway, this one came in a few hours ago and I really wanted to share it:
There are very few endeavors where perfect is possible (bowling is one, of course). It turns out that when you take on a complex task like putting on a conference or shooting a video, you won’t deliver perfect. 300 is a random event, not something achievable.
In those situations (which means most of the time for most of us) the question is, “what do you do when things don’t go exactly the way you planned a month ago?” And it turns out that if your bias is to always make it right, to use grace and flair to overdeliver at every turn, you’ve just discovered the single most important secret of marketing. Because when you amaze and delight, people talk about you.
When you tell your customer you’re going to do certain things - do them. When you can not keep your promises for reasons out of your control do everything you can to “make it right” and greatly improve the customer’s perception of you and your ability see things through. If the customer is reasonable (meaning a customer whose expectations are in line with reality) you will be able to show them your honesty, integrity and sincerity. You’re going to sell yourself to your customer, and as a result, build a long-term business relationship.
More from Seth Godin
1. Delete 120 minutes a day of ’spare time’ from your life. This can include TV, reading the newspaper, commuting, wasting time in social networks and meetings. Up to you.
2. Spend the 120 minutes doing this instead:
- Exercise for thirty minutes.
- Read relevant non-fiction (trade magazines, journals, business books, blogs, etc.)
- Send three thank you notes.
- Learn new digital techniques (spreadsheet macros, Firefox shortcuts, productivity tools, graphic design, html coding)
- Volunteer.
- Blog for five minutes about something you learned.
- Give a speech once a month about something you don’t currently know a lot about.
3. Spend at least one weekend day doing absolutely nothing but being with people you love.
4. Only spend money, for one year, on things you absolutely need to get by. Save the rest, relentlessly.
Seth Godin wonders how much it costs…
… for nice. From a recent post on Seth Godin’s Blog:
How much extra for nice?
If I pay $1000 extra for a first-class seat, odds are the flight attendant will be nice to me.
If I pay $2000 extra for the presidential suite at the hotel, odds are the front desk clerk will be nice to me.
If I give the valet $50 to park my car, odds are he’ll be nice to me as well.
So, here’s the question: if all I want, the only extra, is for someone to be nice to me when I visit your business, how much extra does that cost? How much extra to talk to a nice person when I call tech support? How much extra to find a nice receptionist at the doctor’s office? Would you pay $9 extra for a smile when you dealt with the Social Security bureaucrats and were filing a form?
I know you’re rushed and stressed and stretched. I know your team deals with hundreds or thousands of customers, and a lot of them aren’t very friendly or warm. And I know that some of your customers (maybe a lot) would happily pay a little extra to get that one thing they want most of all…
I think there’s a huge gap between what people are willing to pay for nice (a lot) and what it would cost businesses to deliver it (almost nothing). Smells like an opportunity.
Installing Telnet on Windows Vista
By default Microsoft Windows Vista does not come with the telnet client available. Telnet is useful when troubleshooting various types of network issues and it’s helpful to have.
Follow these steps to install telnet on Windows Vista:
By default, Vista doesn’t install the Telnet client. The client is for text-based communication with remote systems. You can install it by following these steps:
1. Open your Start menu and choose the Control Panel.
2. Choose “Programs and Features.”
3. Choose “Turn Windows features on or off.”
4. Select the Telnet Client option and click “OK.”
5. You’ll be prompted confirm the installation of the Telnet feature. You should now be able to run Telnet from the command prompt or a run dialog (I.E. Windows Key + R -> Cmd -> telnet / Windows Key + R -> Telnet).
