Sometimes things occur which are so typical and so representative of a problem that one has to comment on it. I am referring to the Paul Flowers case in the UK. For my international readers not familiar with this, the basic facts of the case are that a man called Paul Flowers was appointed to become chairman of the Co-operative Bank in the UK. Mr Flowers attracted attention in two ways last year. The Co-operative Bank is a well-known ‘ethical’ bank in the UK and was led (by Mr Flowers and the Board) to require a £1.5B bailout (and so become a minority stakeholder in itself, only owning 30%) when it dramatically and financially over-extended itself. Further, Mr Flowers was then caught in a newspaper ‘sting’ and found to be extensively using illegal drugs.

If this weren’t enough, two more things: when Parliament came to investigate what happened via its Treasury committee, it found that Mr Flowers had no qualifications or experience to be a banker and when asked directly what he estimated the size of the Bank’s assets to be, Flowers replied £3B when in fact it turned out to be £47B – a pretty incredible discrepancy for somebody at the top. But worse, we learn from Rodney Baker-Bates, the bank’s former deputy chairman, who voted against and then resigned over the bank’s disastrous efforts to overreach itself (the acquisition of 630 Lloyd’s Banking Group branches), that the appointment of Mr Flowers was on the basis of he “did well in psychometric tests”! As the Treasury committee chairman Andrew Tyrie observed: Flowers proved to be “psychologically unbalanced but psychometrically brilliant”.

Think about that: be “psychologically unbalanced but psychometrically brilliant” and consider how corporates rely on this tool, and indeed how HR rabbits on about its – or their (since there are many flavours) validity. Next time you hear an HR or other director go on about the validity of psychometric, do remember to point out: so if I understand what you are saying about validity, then who we are looking to appoint may be somebody who is be “psychologically unbalanced but psychometrically brilliant”? Look out for the withering scorn with which that is greeted. But why not?

The thing is: this is not likely to be an isolated case. The banks are famous for using psychometrics and spending a fortune on them, and to what end? We know from the financial crisis all about ‘Fred the Shred’ and the other less, or lesser known psychopaths and ego maniacs who captained their ships – dreadfully – over that turbulent period. And doubtless, they were appointed on the same basis. Indeed Sir David Walker, now chairman of Barclays, recommends that institutions use just such ‘objective’ methods of analysing candidates. Frankly, if that’s what objectivity achieves, might not subjectivity be better?

Of course the psychometric industry has already gone into overdrive to limit the damage of this most damaging revelation. Dr Mark Parkinson, a business psychologist who works on senior level recruitment in the City, told the Financial Times that “responsible employers would never use the psychometric tests in isolation… one would expect due diligence”. Well, I guess he would say that, wouldn’t he? Common sense perhaps might precede even due diligence! What we have with these psychometrics is fundamentally a lazy form of stereotyping. We pigeon-hole people and then imagine we know all there is to know about them. The tests produce a static sort of result. As long as we realise that the result is a model, is a map (and not the territory, not the ‘thing’ or the ‘person’) then all is well. But that, is almost beyond human capability; the capability of busy people with jobs to do, reputations to establish, and easy knowledge – like psychometric knowledge – to demonstrate.

It is for this reason too I have an axe to grind. Namely, it would be far more difficult to appoint Mr Flowers following his completion of a self-perception inventory, than a psychometric. Built into the self-perception type tests is the notion of change and of subjectivity, as they are after all what is called ipsative: they are comparing yourself with yourself! What could be more subjective? But the brilliance of this is that there is not a stereotypical profile, and even if there were it can change! Thus self-perception inventory have a short currency and this is good when considering appointments – think, they only allow Presidents of the USA to be in post for two terms. Why might that be? We need to think of the now and the context if we are going to make sense of a profile and its relevance to a post.

The good news is that ‘Psychometric Flowers’ points to the need for a new dawn in tools we need to evaluate candidates, and there are many self-perception inventories waiting in the wings, their time rapidly about to dawn.

Jodhpurs and Breeches are two fantastic yet fashionable clothing items, which is highly demanded among horse riders. But do you know what the difference between the both? Often these are interchangeably pronounced at the place of one another, which may confuse the buyer. If you are not sure what the actual difference between them, so, you are at the right place. Here we are uncovering all the layers bit-by-bit that clear your doubts and let you understand the difference. Have a look to know more.

What Are Jodhpurs?

Basically, these are some sort of tight-fitting trousers that reach to the ankle, where they end in rolled up. These were perfect to wear at the time of horse riding because it helps you to comfortably stretch your legs and maintain a grip on the saddle. These are also used to wear outside the riding ground as casual wear because of its tight-fitting, fashionable look and a high-level of comfort. These are available in different sizes, colors, and designs from any of the reputable Jodhpurs Manufacturers. You can wear them with only Jodhpur shoes because long boots may roll up the ankle, which makes you feel discomfort.

What Are Breeches?

Now when it comes to Breeches, so, these are also tight fit trouser but end halfway down the rider’s calf. It simply means you can only wear them with a pair of long boots and not with Jodhpur boots. It allows the rider to grip harder or stay in position when taking jumps. Breeches Manufacturers offer its different sizes, colors, and designs in the market.

What Are The Similarities?

From the ancient times, these both are high in demand. These both Jodhpurs and Breeches are designed to stretch and thus made of stretchy and skin-friendly fabric, which give comfort to the horse rider. These both are tight-fitted trousers that fit your body closely. They both allow you to move your leg as much as you want because of its stretchy fabric. These were tight around the legs and baggy around the hips. Both are perfect to add comfort in your ride without compromising with the fashion. You are allowed to add your own style in your horse riding apparel by picking your perfect color, design, and size.

Now you know the difference between the both, so, you can make a wise decision. All in all, if you really want to comfortably enjoy your horse riding, so, these pairs of Jodhpurs and Breeches are perfect to invest in.

Even when the sex is great, guys are always in search of ways to have even better sex. As long as they’re appropriately appreciative of the good sex they are already having, there’s nothing wrong with keeping an eye out for better sex tips as well. Some tips are easy, such as practicing prime penis care so that his equipment is always in the best possible shape for sex workout. Other times a guy may explore outrageous new sex positions, and that can often be a profitable road to take. But sometimes there are some closer-to-home options to take – such as upping his game on the good old everyday missionary position.

The reliable missionary

For most people, the missionary position, generally defined as a woman lying down and a man lying on top of her or raising his torso above her as he inserts his penis, is the old stand-by position – and very likely the one they employed when they first lost their virginity.

And there are a lot of things for guys to like about the missionary position. For example, it’s simple and doesn’t usually involve a lot of moves that force him to twist around. It keeps him face to face with his partner. If he pushes himself up, it allows him to show off how his work on his biceps is paying off.

But because it is so often used and so familiar, it can be easy to fall into a rut where this particular position is concerned. So for better sex, it pays to think of ways to liven up the old stand-by.

Getting better sex from the position

And what are some ways to enliven the old missionary? These tips can help.

– Move up a bit. After successfully entering the vagina, a guy can move his torso forward a bit, placing his hips slightly higher than the woman’s. This places the pubic bone in a position to grind pleasingly against a portion of the female anatomy that is particularly prone to pleasure. It may take a little experimenting to get the positioning just right – but many women think it’s definitely worth it.

– Employ a press. After penetration, the male should move his legs outside the female’s, and the female should clamp her legs tight together. This vise-like action can provide strong new sensations to the penis and the vagina during thrusting.

– Go the pillow route. If a partner would like deeper penetration, this can be achieved with just a little assistance from a pillow. Place it under her posterior, thereby raising her hips higher and creating a new angle for penetration which generally allows the penis to thrust deeper into the vagina.

– Try a new location. Plain old missionary can lead to even better sex when it’s employed in a new setting. If a couple always has sex in their bed, try it on the floor (with sufficient carpeting or padding for comfort). Or take it to a new room altogether and see what sex on the sofa, in the kitchen, or in the laundry room is like. Those with a high enough privacy fence might even want to take things into the backyard. But enjoying sex in a different location can make it a new experience.

There are many other ways to change up the missionary position n for better sex, but whatever option a guy pursues will work out better if his penis is in its best possible shape. One way to help maintain good penis health is by daily using a superior penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). A really superb crème will feature an ingredient known as L-carnitine. This has neuroprotective benefits and can be helpful in maintaining appropriate penis sensitivity, which can be diminished from rough sex. The crème should also include vitamin C, which is a key component in collagen, giving penis skin its tone and elasticity.

Dear readers,

Welcome to another report from me!

This time I will show you the service on two European sectors with Swiss.

The route is a simple FRA-ZRH-DME.

To get to Frankfurt I used the combination of trains again and in a breeze I was in Frankfurt.

As Swiss is using Terminal 1 in Frankfurt along the *A partners, it is only a short walk to the Check-In from the trainstation.

Security this morning at the A pier was a bit crowded, because it was one of the days when LH striked. So there was a bit of chaos everywhere.

But after 10mins I was airside and took a leasurly stroll to my gate.

The flight was completely full, because the agents in Frankfurt used every available seat on non-LH flights to get the passengers out of FRA.

Soon enough our airplane taxied in – and luckily it was one in a special livery, the StarAlliance logo jet A320.

Boarding was soon after announced and finished in about 15 mins.

Even if it was a completely full cabin, everything was quick and smooth.

After a short taxi we were airborne for the short hop to Zurich.

Service on this flight was only a packed orange juice.

Soon enough we started the approach into Zurich and landed after less than 45mins in a sunny Switzerland.

I had around 2hours in Zurich, so I just made my way to the non-schengen gates and relaxed there until boarding was announced.

Instead of the old cabin like on the previous FRA-ZRH flight, this flight to Moscow was operated by one of the refitted 320s, featuring also the so called NEK cabin, which was first introduced by their parent airline Lufthansa.

Although in my opinion the seats are a bit harder than the old ones, the legroom is usually great, thanks to the very slim seats.

Flight time was announced as a bit over 3 hours by the captain and after a small queue, it was our turn for take-off. This flight was around 80% full.

After that I simply relaxed a bit with good music, and soon enough the descent into Moscow Domodedovo airport began. After around 3h15 we landed on time.

On the way to gate, you could see the famous Domodedovo graveyeard with many interesting airplanes.

Conclusion:

All in all, the experience with Swiss was fine. The flights were on time and the service was OK for the length of the sectors. The only improvement I think would be to offer a bigger main meal and smaller sides, not the other way round.

Thanks a lot for reading! If you have some questions or comments, please feel free to contact me.

OK, I’ll admit it. I’m cheap, really cheap. I love to decorate, but I don’t love to spend money. A professional decorator once told me that I know all the cheap ways to decorate. So sue me. I decorate more with found objects than with money. It does seem a bit backward, but the results make me really happy and they appeal to buyers, too.

I still want things to look good, but I don’t want things to cost much money. A professional decorator could never promise you that your big outlay of cash will pay off at resale. Appraisers hate to hear the dreaded phrase “custom paint” because it usually means the whole house will have to be repainted to sell.

Lots of times I will go to DIY stores, like Lowe’s and Home Depot and check out the rejected or returned things or things that are just a bit imperfect. Paint is one that really appeals to me. I can work with nearly any color. One can of basic white paint is likely to change a color that’s a reject into one that will work just fine in your space. There is a big difference between muddy brown and a light tan, fire plug yellow and lighter, paler yellows or charcoal gray and dove gray. Light paint is the only kind people like at resale.

Other rejects can work, too. I once found a lovely piece of 12″ X 3′ oak that was just a bit warped. I added some trim, some decorative brackets and some hooks and turned it into a functional pot rack. It’s mounted on the wall at one end of my galley kitchen and has made what was once dead space useful.

Another place I look for useful bits and pieces is in junk and antique stores. Many things in these places are damaged or have missing pieces and can add character and interest to any home. The broken stuff is always the cheapest, too.

We are not big fans of the living room suite or any other room package. It’s both too uniform and too expensive. We have collected up and re-purposed a BIG houseful of furniture, either on sale or second-hand.

The creativity of it is half the attraction, plus it’s much better value. Our personal style tends to be pared down and contemporary but we have been able to find plenty of things we like and enjoy in our space. We want comfort but not much clutter.

Old tables are great and can be reused in a number of ways. We have both a phone station and a shelf for a surround sound speaker made from one. They can also be cantilevered to a wall as an eating table, desk or cut in half to make 2 side tables.

Much of our furniture has come into our lives through garage sales. Nearly every occasional chair we own cost $35 or less and just needed re-upholstery, which I do myself. It’s surprisingly easy. Look for fabrics at thrift stores.

Another option anyone can exercise is to choose new things that are cheaper or a better value than other things. Do you really need a sink that costs hundreds of dollars or will a classic white porcelain sink be just as good for much less money. The fact is that classic ANYTHING always works better at resale but don’t let it cramp your style if you plan to stay in your place and enjoy the things you put into it.

Second hand stores and salvage stores often have expensive upgrades like marble, ceramic and stone tiles, bathroom fixtures and windows that can be customized into your place for a fraction of what you would pay decorators and contractors to do the work. A cabinet seems like it would be hard to make, but it really isn’t. We have built some. We had the courage to try because our current house is rustic in character.

Most cabinets are simply a wood box with some type of door and maybe (or not) a face frame. It’s not rocket science. If you don’t feel capable of constructing a door, use a window or have someone make doors and drawers for you.

Any home can benefit from these types of upgrades that happen just because we find something that’s interesting and think of a way to use it.

The big benefit is that your remodeling and décor will be both unique and cheaper. The ultimate test is how you do at resale. If your house sells quickly and for the asking price it is a pragmatic measure of how well you have done.

The best thing is to keep the house that didn’t cost too much money to remodel and enjoy it your self.

If you are thinking about getting involved in archery, but you are not sure what you need, then you are in luck. One thing that I like about this sport is that there are only a few things that you need to get off and running. Obviously, the first thing that you would need to buy is one of the many archery bows that are on the market today. Next, you will need to get arrows to shoot. To make your life a bit easier, there are also some accessories that I would recommend.

When you first start you will need to make the decision on which of the many archery bows you would like to shoot. There are compounds, recurves, takedown bows, longbows, etc. out there so it is best that you do a bit of research on them before you commit buying your bow of choice. They all have their own unique set of attributes that are made to fit archers of all varieties. Once you figure out what type of shooting you want to do, then you need to figure out how much you are willing to spend. This will help you narrow down your focus and hone in on a decision.

You now need to get yourself something to shoot. The most popular arrows that you will find out there are wood, aluminum and carbon. I have personally transitioned from using the wood arrows in my childhood, to aluminum in my teens, and now the only thing that I use is carbon. Everything matters when you are shooting your archery bow, so you need to make sure that the arrows are consistent. Carbon are extremely consistent, but they will be the most expensive. Aluminum is a good starter arrow because they are relatively inexpensive, and are more consistent than wood. I would suggest staying away from wood arrows until you have developed an eye for purchasing arrows because it is much harder to find a quality wood version.

I would also suggest that you get an archery arm glove or an archery bow release–depending on the type of bow that you purchased. When I began shooting, I mainly liked to use recurve bows. When you start to move up in weight, your fingers get sore after 40-50 shots due to finger pinch — unless you are using a glove. Once I moved up to a compound bow, I knew that there would be no way that I would be able to draw a 55-70 pound compound bow with my fingers so I opted to use an archery bow release.

If you are anything like me, then you will probably also want to get an archery target so that you do not have to drive to your local archery range every time that you want to shoot. I purchased a Bulldog archery target as they offer a lifetime guarantee. This means that I can shoot off a couple of dozen arrows when I feel that I need a little bit extra practice. Again, the archery target is not a necessity like the arrows, and the archery bows are, but having one never hurts so that you can get as much practice as possible out of it.

An IP (Internet Protocol) address helps you to tackle the computers present in a network. Your system’s logical existence is verified with the location of node on IP networks and this is tenaciously done with the use of an IP address.

Other than addressing your computer in a network, IP address also has many roles.

• It does not help the generated traffic to reach actual user though the latter gets coursed in connection with the IP address.

• Any type of communication between nodes is best done by IP addresses. They appear in the form of notations that are easily decipherable but usually an IP address is amassed as binary numbers.

• Every computer is fetched with a matchless address which can function as a private address of your LAN (Local Area Network) convention.

• It can be openly exploited for the Internet and also for WAN (Wide Area Network). Streamlining a number of computers performing simultaneous applications at a time is best tracked by IP address.

• It is only meant for the use within local networks without allowing outsiders to access the address you are already using for your home computer.

• 192.168.1.2 is a regular IP address which acts as a default address of the router and is mostly employed in private home networks.

Role of Versions. Designers have contributed two types of technical bits that influence an IP address.

IPv4:

• It is a 32- bit Internet Protocol version 4 that is still being employed worldwide. This 32 bit number makes 4 bytes and each bit can store one dual number choosing between 0 and 1.

• Your system is cable of processing the notations in the form of 1s and 0s but to offer better readability characteristics they are written in the dotted decimal data figures.

• Total decimal numbers are four in the address that take any figure ranged 0 to 255 and separated by a dot.

So roughly an IPv4 resembles to 192.168.2.1 whereas the computer reads it in a sequence form containing 32 1s and 0s.

IPv6:

• As the Internet experienced more intensification, designers came up with a new addressing system called 128 bit Internet Protocol version 6.

• Though it looks similar to IPv4 but it is actually stretched containing 16 numbers between 0 and 255.

Miscellaneous information. There are some other info which can be of prime importance to you if your interest is linked with customization of your IP and other usability ways.

• As long as you are operating in a secluded network, your IP can manage random allocations of distinctive numbers. But once you have decided to connect to a private network, a registered IP address is a must so that you do not get troubles with replicas.

• An online address varies with the number of time you connect to the Internet. Till the time you are online and connected to the Internet, the IP address supplied by your Internet provider remains yours but it gets allotted to another user once you have disconnected the Internet.

• The network part of your IP address is basically looked at during the pinging action by administrators.

If you are a cougar woman you may want to dress in a certain way to attract younger men. There is a common misconception that all cougar women should go for the mutton dressed as lamb look, flashing all of their flesh, squeezing their breasts together and plastering make up all over their face, to create a look that could rival even the most outrageous make up counter girls.

The fact is that young guys will prefer it if you dress your age – sexy, but sophisticated. After all they would be with a younger girl if they wanted to. Sure you can show off your best assets, but not all at once and only if you have the figure for it. So here are some tips to help you dress seductively, whilst remaining one classy cougar.

1. Wear natural make up – It is a good thing to use make up to enhance what you already have, but keep it natural. Piling on tons of brightly colored make up will only make you look like a transvestite.

2. Show ONE sexy area – The kind of cougar women that guys are more likely to laugh at than hook up with are the ones flashing the most skin. I know you are probably fit and gorgeous, but this is a rule even young women should stick to. Flash either your legs, cleavage, back or midriff and to be honest ladies, unless you’re on the beach try to avoid the midriff. Do not show all these bits off at once, or you will look like a tramp. Show off a bit of flesh to get the cub’s attention, but leave the rest to the imagination.

3. Draw attention to that sexy area – Once you have decided which bit to show off (the best bit obviously) subtly draw attention to it. A pretty necklace will draw the eyes to your chest, a good fake tan (not orange!) can show off long legs and a sexy back.

4. Choose colors that work with your skin tone – Stand in front of the mirror and try on a few different colored clothes. You will soon see which colors make you look healthy and glowing and which make you look a bit ill.

5. Wear sexy underwear – Sure your chosen cub won’t see it (unless you want him to), but sexy undies, ideally with a bit of support or a boost, will make you feel more confident and just as gorgeous as all those young things at the bar.

6. Wear high heels – A fantastic pair of shoes will make you stand tall and feel more confident and sexy, plus they will make your bum look great and so much tighter. What a great excuse to go shopping!

7. Smile! – Wearing a smile is the most important accessory for any classy cougar. Not only will you feel better when you smile, but guys will see you as more approachable. A smile shows a woman who likes to have fun and doesn’t take herself too seriously.

Everyone loves to hear a moving speech but when it comes to giving one, many tend to get cold feet. However, there is nothing to be ashamed of since none of us are born with the gift of speaking extempore. One of the places you cannot escape your duty of making a speech is at your own, your son’s, or daughter’s wedding. For a father groom speech is not the only one that needs to be personal, humorous, and moving. Your speech has to be equally well interspersed with a bit of emotion and with. A bit of advice for your son and a toast to the newly married couple are essential elements of a father groom speech. Putting in a few lines about ‘lessons learned’ when expressed properly can be very poignant.

Now, the important thing is to note a few points you wish to add to your speech. Do a bit of research and take a trip down memory lane. This will help to highlight some of the best moments in your son’s childhood and teenage years. Call up a few close friends and have them put in their bit as well. A few touching moments and a few humorous ones will make the perfect blend for your speech. As a father groom speech is the one you can take some last minute cues from. However, for that you will need to keep a pen handy on the big day and make a note of what your son says before you grace the stage.

Once you have an outline the next step is to prepare a draft. Your wedding speech must begin with a brief introduction about yourself. Undoubtedly, there will be a few guests that don’t know you. Keep it short and then concentrate on the body of your speech. The body must contain a few remarkable stories about the newlyweds and of them as individuals. You can do with a bit of creativity and express yourself well. Use metaphors, a few flashy words, and paint a clear picture. That’s what a good wedding speech is all about. It shouldn’t seem like you are simply saying it just because you have to. As a father groom speech is the one to give a befitting reply to. The body of your speech must contain a few friendly pointers. Don’t make is a marital discourse though. The couple will have plenty of time to experience marital life as the months and years roll by.

The conclusion of your speech is what can have a lasting impact on the audience including the newlyweds. You can end with a love quote, or a humorous yet meaningful story. A word of thanks for the guests who graced the occasion, the bride’s family, and family and friends that helped organize the wedding is appropriate in the closing lines of your speech. To end, extend your wishes to the couple, as you ask the guests to raise their glasses in a toast to a lifetime of love and happiness for the newlyweds. A word of advice, don’t compare as a father groom speech with what you have to say. Obviously, your son may have a different perspective on a few issues.

Don’t forget to practice your speech so that you are brimming with confidence on the big day. No sweaty hands, no dry pharynx, no loud heart beats…… all you need is a bit of preparation.

When you are the kind of person that is in deep into the tattoo and piercing world, you don’t sweat being able to find a parlor that gets you some really satisfying body art. It’s kind of nice to have that kind of “in” when inspiration hits. For others, though, especially if it is their first foray into body art, knowing where to get a great tattoo or expert piercing can be incredibly difficult.

Now, there are probably some of you out there who might find the notion of having a hard time getting a tattoo or a piercing kind of silly. After all, there once was a time when you could get a pretty snazzy bit of ink at a carnival all while your kids ate cotton candy & played games. Times have changed, and with these changes comes new standards in health & safety.

There is also a much greater fascination and acceptance of body art than there used to be. Now, it’s not uncommon to see soccer moms sporting a little bit of ink or a cute little nose ring. You might even spot a little bit of ink just poking out of the rolled-up sleeve of your geography teacher. There was a time when body art was for the outliers of society, but that just isn’t the case. This, of course, creates a golden opportunity for artists looking to make some serious financial gains by providing a welcome service.

We go back, again, to the possible first-timer looking to get a tattoo or a piercing. If he or she is to find a reputable parlor or artist, where should they start?

Here are a few secrets to finding the best tattoo and piercing destination:

Check Online – As is the case for anything you are curious about these days, the first place you want to check for reputable parlors is online. Check parlor websites, online business reviews, and even check public health records to see how a place stacks up.

Ask People About Their Body Art – If you rock a “tat” or a piercing, nothing is cooler than when someone asks you where you got your sick ink from. Ask friends, family, and co-workers where they’d recommend you go.

Have A Design or Piercing In Mind – By knowing what you want ahead of time, you can determine whether a parlor/artist can deliver what you want. If you’re not happy with the process by which they go by, then they may not be the place to go.

Visit Parlors/Shops and Check Them Out – Just because you go in doesn’t mean you have to “buy” something. Check out the shop, look at any photos they have of past clients, ask questions, and get a feel for the place.

“Interview” Artists – If you have the chance, talk to some artists & see if you click with them. Find out about their background, the process of their work, and even the supplies they use. If an artist isn’t willing to “talk shop” with you, go someplace else.

Finding the best tattoo and piercing destination for your first, or hundredth, bit of body art shouldn’t be a stressful time. You should relish in the idea that you’re doing something that’s got a little edge, a lot of coolness, and definitely makes you unique.