Mar
6
Many people like to take snapshots in order to capture moments that are special to them. These days, most people have digital cameras in order to do this. If you are just starting to learn how to use your digital camera, a crash course on the digital photography basics might be useful to you.
If you don’t already own a digital camera, it would definitely be helpful to know a bit about the digital photography basics so that you can be sure to choose the right one. One of the most important things to consider when choosing a camera is the megapixel ratings. The more megapixels that the camera uses when taking each picture, the better the quality of the photo, especially when you want to print large versions of your pictures. For snapshots that you don’t intend to print very large an inexpensive camera that uses 5 megapixels or more will be fine. However, people who want higher quality large photos will want to have a camera with a higher megapixel rating. There are also a lot of optional features on newer digital cameras, such as red eye reduction, smile recognition, and others, that should help make it easier to get good pictures.
Digital cameras are great in that you can see the image right after you take it, so you will know right away whether or not you got the shot. However, there can be a slight lag between when you push the button to take the picture and when it is actually taken, so you will need to get used to this and learn to prepare by pressing the button halfway down in order to focus ahead of time so the lag is a bit shorter. Using the flash can increase the lag time as well.
Another great thing about digital cameras is that you can easily download your pictures onto a computer and edit them before printing them. This means you can fix a lot of the things you don’t like about them once you are familiar with the digital photography basics. Photo editing software will let you get rid of red eyes, adjust the color balance, and crop out anything you do not want in the picture. It might take a little practice to get used to the software, but these basic things are pretty easy to do.
Mar
4
Replacing Income When Disabled
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Disability income protection is the term used for insurance which will be able to replace your income in the event where you might find yourself unable to work as a result of injury or possible illness. It has also further been estimated that approximately 25% of Americans could not keep up with payments only one week after being put off work. In some cases, these people would be living from one paycheck to the next with little to absolutely no savings. Whether or not this might apply to you, disability income protection can always be beneficial to you, as you will surely want to make sure that you will be able to protect your family from any negative consequences that might arise due to your recent disability. This payment protection insurance will be able to ensure that your family is taken care of until you can return to work.
As most people understand, mortgage, medical bills and everyday household expenses need to be paid for on a regular basis whether or not you might be working, as further reports have also estimated that 33% of working women are sometimes liable to find themselves out of work for a period of ninety days or longer due to illness or disability. For men, this ratio tends to decrease to a lower 25%, which still suggests 1 in 4, and not very good odds. This is why there are many different types of disability income insurance protection; and you will therefore also need to determine which type of offer will be best for your particular situation.
For example, the workman’s compensation is a form of disability insurance protection which will only be able to apply if you are injured on the job. However, most long-term disabilities are not always work-related. Therefore, if you get injured at work, in some cases, you might only receive 2/3 of your income. Bearing these points in mind, you will need to stop and consider whether or not the particular offer will be able to cover your normal bills. In some cases, social security can also provide a reliable form of this insurance, but in most cases it will not always be equivalent to your normal income. Also, many claims under this program are often denied, especially first time requests.
Nonetheless, many employers tend to offer this kind of protection through the use of payroll deductions and might even, in some cases, offer short term disability benefits, long term benefits or both. Short term benefits, in most cases, can last for approximately three months and cover a large portion of your income. Long term benefits, on the other hand, will only cover 40-60% of income yet last for a much longer period of time. This type of coverage is usually fairly easy to qualify for and some employers will choose to offer baseline coverage with the option of increasing that coverage according to your own everyday costs.
Individual income protection insurance is also sometimes available even if your employer might not offer it. This type of coverage is also able to cover approximately 40-65% of your income. Therefore, if you pay with after-tax dollars, your benefits will not be taxed and will also be very helpful to you as every dime coming in will surely be quite important when faced with a disability.
Mar
3
The use of video conferencing has become an important part of corporate America’s various methods of communication. Businesses large and small have started to use this cutting edge new software to accomplish many different goals such as different kinds of training, sales pitches, and company conferences. This fairly easy-to-use electronic form of communication appeals to most companies because of it’s ease of use, low cost and also because it can save them large amounts of money in travel costs.
Indeed, instead of paying for expensive plane tickets, high priced hotels, costly meals and rental cars, companies can now organize and attend conferences while sitting in front of their computers. Whether the company might be large or small, there will always be adequate software available to assist them with accomplishing their goals. For small person-to-person chats, many companies like to use free software such as Yahoo! Messenger and Skype. These only require an Internet connection, a webcam and a microphone. These free solutions have proven to be very popular for businesses that have offices in multiple locations and that might need to visually check in with one another throughout a business day.
For larger companies, different kinds video communication software are available for purchase. These are traditionally pay-per-use or can be purchased in packages for companies that might have a constant need for video conferencing. Some of the more popular packages available are Cisco, Polycom and Tandberg, which feature software that allows companies to easily run complicated presentations and organizes multi-person discussions. Even employees that work from home can join in on these online meetings which can improve productivity and practicality for all employees.
Companies are also getting creative with their this great new system, which is being used for daily chats, forums, sales training, conferences, brainstorming and even to produce pieces that will be recorded and re-used. Some companies are even hosting webinars on their websites and charging viewers a small fee for participation. Companies are now quite safely saying goodbye to high travel costs and unhappy employees who don’t like being taken away from their families to attend another conference. This newly developed software will continue to improve and is definitely one that will be long lasting as it is smart, cost-effective and economical.
Feb
16
A nice yard is always a great advantage for the people who live in the home, and, it also creates a good first impression for everyone who might stop or pass by. Keeping up with the lawn and garden maintenance can therefore be an important element contributing towards the appearance of your garden. This is why a good lawn mower will be necessary in order to get this job done correctly. There are many different types of mowers, in all kinds of price ranges, which is why plenty of options are available which will fit into the average household’s budget plan.
The type of lawn mower that will be right for your needs will depend on several factors. First will be your budget. If you are on an extremely tight budget, it will be possible for you to shop around for a used model. However, if you are convinced that new is the best way for you to go, then you can try try to find a shop that specializes in hardware and tools, such as Lowes or Sears.
Next, you will need to determine how much power will be required for your lawn mower. You will need to determine for example whether your yard is large enough to justify a riding mower or will a smaller reel model be sufficient? Finally, especially if you buy a used model, you might want to decide how many parts will be required for a particular model, in the event that you might need to request a repair.
Due to electric and electronic appliances being such a big part of our daily life, you might likely need to use the Internet for all or part of your shopping process. Even if you decide to buy locally, you might like to use certain online listings for the purposes of comparison. When shopping online, always be sure to check sites that will have clear pictures of lawn mowers. You should also try to read as many reviews as you can find, especially independent sources such as Consumer Reports. Finally, you should try to stick to well known brands for obtaining the best results, such as John Deer, Honda and Husqvarna. These are generally considered as more reliable equipment and will require less care for your machine over the log-term. It should also be a lot easier to obtain service from an established company.
Of course, the biggest concern with lawn mowers will be whether or not they can efficiently get the job done. Taking the time during the selection process to examine your needs will make it possible to ensure that you get an adequate mower for your budget range. If you are able to appreciate the tools that come with the mower, the job of having a nice yard will be much easier for you to accomplish.
Feb
6
How Important Are Clocks And Watches To Our Way Of Life?
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As they say, Time is the one thing that is constant in our lives, and it is the one thing that you can’t get more of, and it is the one thing that we cannot change. You can see how over the millennia, humans have been constantly looking to create newer and better ways to tell time accurately, and that being said, it is essential to understand the importance that time has played in events past, and how much it affects the world today. So, let us take a quick look at the history of clocks and watches.
When you look back in history, you can see that for millennia, the only decent way to tell time was to simply gauge how high the sun was in the sky. Then, came along sundials, and it wasn’t really until a few centuries ago, that more accurate ways of tracking the passing of time came into existence using physics and technology, rather than just the sun and shadows.
Of course, like with all technology, there is the constant desire to refine and improve what is already in use, and much like how today’s electronics continually get smaller, so too did the design and technology used to create and power the clocks and watches of old. Of course, the more refined the technology became, the more exquisite the designs and styles. All of this constant improving of our ability to tell time, eventually lead to the creation of clocks small enough to keep on a man’s person.
The development of smaller clocks and watches, are simply further proof in showing us how important a role time plays in our daily lives, as well as the functioning of the way the world works. Everything is run based on time; Take a factory for instance. Employees have to arrive on time to start working. Shipments have to be delivered on time, and materials and supplies have to be received on time so that the cycle of production can continue on schedule, etc. Any deviation causes chaos as everything has to be shifted to reschedule things.
Just with that simple example, you can see how much we depend on the ability to tell time with accurate clocks and watches, because without them, our way of life wouldn’t be possible.
Feb
2
Things to Remember When Buying an HP Color Laser Printer
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Because of your busy lifestyle, you may be tempted to run into the nearest office store and throw the first printer into your cart that you see. While this will certainly get you out the door quickly, you may regret your impulse purchase later. When shopping for an HP color laser printer, you really need to take the time to determine your particular needs before whipping out that credit card. In the end, the time you spent will be repaid and you will be glad that you were a bit more careful about your purchasing choice.
Of course, price is a concern. Everyone wants to save money. This is one reason that inkjet printers are so popular. They are extremely affordable….until it’s time to replace those ink cartridges. Then, users are often kicking themselves that they didn’t bother to price those before making their purchase. An HP color laser printer is actually cheaper to run over the life of the machine. The upfront cost may be more, though the bargain models are comparable in price. The machines are also more efficient and the toner less expensive per print. This makes a laser printer the perfect choice for those who print or copy regularly. They even print quicker, often as much as several times faster than an inkjet printer.
When purchasing your printer, you need to consider your work style and office area. If you are looking for a table top model, for example, that will change how you shop. Many of the HP color laser printer models are quite large, so know what you need. Smaller models are portable and fit tight spaces. However, they may have less features as well. Determine which features are the most important for your application. Also, be aware that it may be extremely simple to reorganize your office space to accommodate your favorite model. Most new printers are equipped with wireless technology, making it easy to make adjustments to the layout of your work space.
Whenever you shop for an HP color laser printer, you can automatically rest easy knowing that the brand is reliable and has a track record of great customer service. This company makes products that last and work like they are supposed to. That means that whatever you end up selecting in the product line, it’s really hard to go wrong with an HP.
Jan
29
SHRM Learning System
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SHRM stands for the society of human resources management. This is the accepted term for the society or union of human resources workers. The SHRM learning system is a program that allows ease with learning all there is to know about the position on human resources manager. It is a program that will consequently help develop mastery in the human resources management department. The SHRM learning system has been developed by leading experts that have deemed these things most important in becoming certified in human resources. The program includes discussions, application exercises, and module exercises so that you can develop specific training in an area that might be most important.
People that have used this system as a study guide, have, on average, exceeded the test’s expectations due to the guides and training being so specific that it would be difficult to claim incompetence in any given area. One of the key features to the SHRM learning system uses include, using real examples and exercises directly available from the certification board’s tests. This way, when you look at the practice information, you will know that you are obtaining the best information that you can receive and that you didn’t remain unclear about any of the questions.
Eight different scenarios are also featured throughout the system that allow you to answer questions and work through real life scenario modules that you might go through as a human resources employee. With all these additional options, you will be more able to pass the certification test easily and successfully! There is even a one hundred question test available at the end of the system so that you can test your skills and retry or practice the modules and questions where you think you might have done poorly.
By using the SHRM learning system, you will be surely more competent and better prepared for the test than those that might have just studied from a book. The tests and system will provide you with information and tools that you will be able to use throughout all your training, certification and later life as a human resources personnel employee.
Jan
28
Holiday Visitors and Air Mattresses
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With the holidays quickly approaching, it’s time to assess the sleeping arrangements in your home, as the holidays often mean family members coming home for Christmas. Maybe that means turning down the sofa couch and putting on fresh sheets, or maybe it means cleaning out your spare bedroom. While you are doing all of this, take a minute to stop and count how many people will be staying with you. If the amount of people coming is more than the amount of bed space you have, then consider getting an air mattress or two before sending your loved ones to a hotel.
Inflatable beds can prove handy not only during the holidays, but all the year round, as they are ideal for a number of uses. Because they are portable, they can be used to turn any room in your home into a guest room. They can be used for little ones to "camp out" in the living room during sleep overs, and the blow up types can be used for more comfortable sleeping arrangements when camping. They come in traditional bed sizes, from twin size to king size, and can be made up with sheets and blankets just as a traditional bed can.
Air mattresses are available at many different discount and sports stores such as Sports Authority, Target, Costco and K-Mart. The air mattress you choose will depend on what you will mainly be using it for. If you will be using it once or twice a year when you have overnight guests, a queen size Aerobed might be a good choice. If you plan on using it both for overnight guests, and for camping trips, a more rugged mattress such as those made by Intex and Coleman might be right.
The key to choosing a high quality mattress, no matter what you will be using it for, is finding product reviews written by actual owners. Amazon.com is good about providing customer reviews for all of the products it sells, which makes it an excellent source for research into any brand of air mattresses you are considering. Rest assured, no pun intended, that there is an inflatable bed out there to match every budget and need.
Jan
26
Looking for a Pellet Stove?
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Have you been looking for a low cost heating source? Perhaps an alternative to oil, natural gas or electricity that would be able to burn hot whilst remaining within your monthly budget would work best for you. Recently, many families have been discovering the warmth
of pellet stove heating, of which there are many varieties to choose. For example, you will find free standing and fireplace inserts available in a multitude of sizes, shapes and styles. One is sure to match your individual home decor. Before you purchase your new pellet stove, you will also first want to research which might be the best model for your personality and budget. Whether top fed, bottom fed, freestanding or as an insert, a pellet stove is always sure to bring warmth and heat to your home all year-round.
If you have an existing wood burning fireplace in your home, you might like to replace it with a low-cost and more efficient pellet stove. This alternative burns hot biomass, such as corn or wood shavings in the form of pellets. This form of fuel is much less expensive than oil, natural gas or electricity, and is also far less messy than dragging in wood to burn. You will also be able to enjoy the same warmth and comfort, but with far less mess and a much lower heating bill.
As many choices are available, you will certainly be able to find one in your particular style. One primary choice will be to decide between a top-fed or bottom-fed stove. Both styles will obviously have benefits and drawbacks. The top-fed might get a build up of ashes and clinkers, which might require more frequent cleaning. A bottom-fed variety will be easier to clean yet might still need to be serviced on a regular basis. It is highly recommended therefore to purchase a maintenance or service contract with your new stove, especially as these inserts might at times be quite difficult to repair.
Some of the most well-known brands for pellet stoves include Harman, Accentra, Napoleon and Traeger, each possessing highly sought-after qualities, and each designed to be the centerpiece of any family room. Although these might vary in price, you might generally obtain a better quality at a higher price. Discover for yourself how the use of a beautiful pellet stove can add warmth and character to your home.
Jan
24
Women and their Business Career.
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Introduction
In today’s business world we are familiar with seeing women in senior and managerial roles, but being a woman in business brings whole new elements into play in the terms of values and attitudes in the business world. If you were to ask men if they regard women in business as equal most of them would probably affirm that they do. If you ask women in business if they feel equal to the men, I think you will find they do not. A common reaction amongst men is that they do not feel comfortable working for a woman boss, although some men say they do not mind.
Although there have been a great many advances since the days of my mother who was not expected to work once she had children, women have still not reached the level of equality you would expect in this day and age. During the sixties, seventies and eighties there was a huge shift from the down trodden woman who was kept by their husband, to the independent woman of today who can fend for herself. But somewhere along the line I feel we have lost something that is of worth and that there is still some way to go to get the balance right. Studies have shown that women in business in many cases still receive less pay than men for the same work in spite of the legislation introducing equal pay.
Historical Attitudes
When I was young my mother stayed at home and looked after the children while my father was the bread winner. In those days young women who did work were expected to leave their jobs once they got married. It was seen as a slight on the man if he could not afford to support his wife. It did not matter how poor you were the woman still did not go out to work and she was expected to manage on the wages the husband brought home. In fact my parents got married and moved in with my grandmother because her husband had just died and she had lost her income. This way my [dad|father} took on the support of both women although my grandmother did some work, helping out two or three days a week for my uncle who was a butcher.
My paternal grandmother who was also widowed however was a natural business woman. She used to have a ‘pack’ of clothes, mostly underwear which she carried around the local area to sell and the customers paid the cost of their purchases off weekly. Her business was a cross between door to door selling and a clothing catalogue. She had an instinct for business but lived out of her time so she only ever made a pittance compared with the opportunities of today.
Responsibilities in the Home
During the early years of my childhood the roles of men and women were clearly defined. The woman had the responsibility of looking after the family, children, husband and any other relatives who lived with them and the man was responsible for providing the money to feed, clothe and house everyone. It did not matter how little money the man earned the wife had to manage on it. In other words cut their coat according to the cloth.
We were fortunate because although my father was a builder and therefore earned a great deal less than the miners in the mining village where we lived, my mother and grandmother were very clever. They made nearly all our clothes, baked and grew fruit and vegetables so although that did not earn us actual money it did however mean that they saved money and we had things we would not have had if we had to buy them.
It seems that for many women, things have come in a kind of full circle through the application of technology and the return of cottage industry styles of business, where a woman can work from home running her own online business whilst still being able to care for her family and home.
One of the easiest ways in which a woman can work more flexible hours is by doing freelance work. When you are freelance you can more or less pick and choose the work you do, and when you do it. Doing freelance work often involves linking with others who have complementary skills to complete a particular contract, and these days many stay at home mums have turned their home laptop or PC into a thriving business, by using websites such as www.peopleperhour.com .
Today’s computer oriented world is much more suited to the employment of women than years ago when work that required manual labour was too heavy for women. Even today in some industries, such as the building trade you will not find many women doing the actual manual work, although I bet there are some! Yes they do work in the trade but usually as administrators, organising the projects, managing the finances and arranging planning permission from the councils.
In other areas such as catering, nursing and teaching there is still a majority of women in these roles. However I have noticed, while spending quite a lot of time in hospitals lately, that there seem to be about an equal number of women doctors as men.
Having Children
During the sixties with Germaine Greer, burning bra’s and free love a change of attitude was generated. Then various recessions and higher expectations of standard of living saw more women going out to work to afford the luxuries of life. When my children were small, I stayed at home with them and did the things my mother did while my husband was the bread winner.
It worked well for us but at that time I would read magazines that made me feel I could not be whole as a woman unless I was holding down a full time job or career at the same time. We ‘read about’ the modern man who was able to look after children and do housework (Although I didn’t see much evidence of it!) so that there was more equality and the woman worked to share the burden of earning a living. In this new world the main problem to overcome was that men could not physically have the children so a woman would have to lose ground on the career ladder if she wanted to have a child. The dilemma of having children and working will continue to vex both men and women in a future dedicated to equality for both sexes.
At the end of the day women are still expected to reproduce as well as hold down a full time job. A woman can have maternity leave and take six weeks off after giving birth, but any mother knows that it is a enormous emotional wrench to leave your six week old baby in the care of someone else while you pick up your career again. Friends I know who have been the main breadwinners and still have had children, have ended up having sick leave for stress and depression after the birth taking as much as six months to a year off. I find this interesting because to me this is about the time you need to have with your baby before you can even thinking about doing anything else.
During the eighties and nineties women were challenging men in their top jobs and often giving up the idea of children to become like men. Margaret Thatcher was one but she was of no help to the cause of women at the time of her premiership, I guess because it was too hard won. I however started my own career about this time. My children were becoming teenagers and I spent some time deciding what I could and wanted to do and subsequently started my own business career offering training in Assertiveness and interpersonal skills to businesses people. During the eighties and nineties I worked freelance visiting many different companies when running training programmes. I did do part time jobs that fitted in with school hours once the children were at school but felt I wanted to be there when the children came home. In my view the most important thing to focus on was raising the children to become well balanced useful citizens and it was a full time job.
One local mother I know has recently had a lot of success by creating a business where she builds her own websites. These websites are unique however, in that she does not have to stock products to sell, she does not have to deal with any customers, she does not have to work at any specific times, or at all if she doesn’t want to, and the business earns money 24 hours a day!
The company she has setup creates websites around specific search terms such as ‘electrical apprenticeships courses‘ and promotes them in search engines.
Old Attitudes Die Hard
During my career as a freelance trainer, working in different companies, I encountered many different situations. Being a woman in business which is dominated by men it was a tough call. Sometimes when I entered the office of the person interviewing me, the senior manager would start ruffling his papers on his desk as though to say “Look how busy and important I am”. Occasionally when I met up with senior managers whose desks were free of papers they would be the ones who had a clear idea of what they wanted and whether or not I would be able to provide the service they required.
Having said that, sometimes the senior women in a firm were a lot tougher to deal with than the men were. Also when I was starting the business I had a lot of help from some enlightened men who believed in me and thought I could do a great job. I survived the eighties recession when many other similar firms were going out of business and eventually I became known and respected for my courses.
Inequality
As the work I did inevitably focused on the problems people suffered in dealing with colleagues I had a wonderful snapshot of the difficulties and challenges that existed within a firm. In a group of twelve middle managers there would generally be two or three women and they would be head and shoulders above the men in terms of abilities because they had to work a lot harder to reach the same level. At the same time they had to deal with sexist comments, sexual harassment and put downs as the men attempted to try and feel superior to them.
Recently I saw a programme about race discrimination and one of the points made during the programme was that the majority group, ie the white people, did not see there was a problem with race issues although the black people experienced discrimination in many subtle ways. The key matter was that the group with the power are usually oblivious to the problem, only those without the power experience the disadvantage. So if you are a black woman in business you may find you are doubly disadvantaged, even in today’s supposed advanced world.
During the nineties there was a new company started by a woman for women. The MD was so disillusioned about attitudes to women in business that she left and set up her own accountancy practise. She employed women who wanted the flexibility of having a career as well as bringing up a family and organised it so that they had flexible working hours, time off for maternity leave and part time work without losing out on the career path. It became very successful and could be seen as a model for other companies to follow.
Even the article we had purchased some time ago about ‘Five Things Women Should Know Before Starting A Business’ is condescending to say the least. And the tragic thing about it is that the person (a man) who wrote the article had no idea that it was so condescending. In fact the article is just general business advice that could apply to anyone both men and woman.
Interestingly in the web design company we are involved in, (click here for a quick look at our site) our female consultants often state that the men they meet with initially have resistance to them because they were expecting a male consultant as a result of our telesales staff all being male.
Women working in the computer industry may find it has the benefits of flexibility to fit in with child care and the possibility of working from home some of the time. In the more recent years it has been commented on that many career minded women have given up applying for the top jobs because they find the demands on their time will not allow them to have any home life with their children. Instead they are choosing jobs with less responsibility so that they can leave the work behind when they go home. In recent years the terms ‘battle’ ‘war’ ‘fighting’ have been used to describe the competitive situation between rival companies. The terminology is indicative of a male approach and seems to eliminate the possibility of co-operation, negotiation and support.
There is no doubt that women have different criteria in the work place. They do think differently and have a more social attitude to their colleagues. Men by and large think more strategically and have an overall concept of the big picture. But that does not mean to say that women are not able to think strategically and that men can’t be sociable to their colleagues. Mostly it is dependent on the expectations we place on our children as to how they develop for their roles in their adult life. But over riding all that is largely to do with hormones and the survival instincts that are built into all of us. The male hunter is seen as needing to be strong and aggressive to bring home the bacon. The female as a counterbalance has to be nurturing and caring, tending the home fires while the mate is away.
My own Experience
When I was trying to set up a new company with a male colleague of mine, during the meetings he would say he would go and visit an MD of a certain firm. I was amazed because I knew from experience that getting in to see an MD was not always easy, but he had no doubts that he would be able to get an appointment to talk about our work. Having said that he never did do any sales pitches and the company never got off the ground. What really struck me though, was that as a man his assumptions and expectations were very different from mine. The male sense of inclusion in a man’s world, that a female in business is not party to, means that he will take for granted his power to connect with senior men in an organisation.
Conclusion
I am sure you have heard the saying that ‘behind every great man there is a good woman’. And I believe that is still true in companies today. When visiting lots of different companies as I did, it becomes obvious that there was always the highly organised woman looking after the everyday running of the MD’s or senior manager’s life.
I did find occasionally some men doing that role but the majority were women. The men seemed to spend most of their time in meetings making strategic decisions while the women got on with making sure the cogs kept turning and things got done. It seemed to me the women were the unsung heroes so that the men could maintain their sense of importance and status. I think it is up to the women to challenge the status quo and make sure they are truly recognised and respected for their talents and abilities in all areas of their life, both at home and at work.