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A Holistic View of Six Sigma
- The Impact of Six Sigma Beyond the Factory Floor
- Integration of Process Design, Process Improvement, and Process Control
- The Essence of Six Sigma
- Roles of Six Sigma Leaders
- The Rest of the Story
- Summary
- References
"Only the over-all review of the entire business as an economic system can give real knowledge."
Peter F. Drucker
You may have heard of Six Sigma, a process-focused strategy and methodology for business improvement. Companies such as General Electric, Honeywell, Motorola, DuPont, American Express, Ford, and many others, large and small, have been using it to improve business performance and realize millions of dollars in bottom-line savings (Honeywell 2002, Welch 2001, Young 2001). Six Sigma is a strategic approach that works across all processes, all products, and all industries. Six Sigma focuses on improving process performance to enhance customer satisfaction and bottom-line results. Motorola created the methodology in 1987, and the use of Six Sigma by others increased rapidly during the 1990s. Six Sigma remains in widespread use as of this writing.
You also may have heard how Six Sigma has been used to improve the performance of manufacturing organizations, but thought it doesn't apply to your situation. Perhaps you don't work in manufacturing. Perhaps you want to improve results in a financial services organization. If so, you must ask whether Six Sigma can be used to improve the performance of your organization, and if so, how. The answer to the first part is a resounding yes! In our experience, and that of many others, Six Sigma works in all processes, in all parts of the organization, and in all organizations, services and health care as well as manufacturing. The second part of the question (how) is answered throughout the remainder of this book.
Six Sigma "beyond the factory floor" refers to improving processes in the non-manufacturing parts of the economy (the rest of the economy beyond manufacturing, such as financial services, e-commerce, health care, and so on). For reasons discussed shortly, we refer to this as the real economy. This real economy includes businesses that do not manufacture, such as banks and law offices, non-profits (including non-profit hospitals), and all the other (non-manufacturing) parts of organizations that do manufacture products. For example, Figure 1.1 shows a systems map for a manufacturing company. You can see from this graph that manufacturing is only one of many processessuch as delivery, finance, and human resourcesneeded to operate the company. Figure 1.2 shows a systems map of a typical manufacturing facility. Here again you see that many non-manufacturing processes are needed to run the facility, such as purchasing, shipping, and maintenance.
Figure 1.1 A corporation's core processes.
Figure 1.2 A manufacturing facility.
The real economy therefore consists of all businesses that do not manufacture physical products as well as all the other functions and processes involved in manufacturing. All processes in an organization present opportunities for improvement. This is what we mean by a holistic view of Six Sigmaseeing the big picture and not allowing our deployment or results to be limited by preconceived notions about Six Sigma and where it applies.
This book is organized according to the three major levels at which organizations must consider how to adapt Six Sigma to receive its full benefits beyond the factory floor:
The deployment (strategic) levelHow to think through overall deployment of the initiative across the entire organization.
The project (tactical) levelHow to select, conduct, and close out projects in these environments.
The methods and tools (operational) levelHow to properly apply the analytic techniques of Six Sigma when faced with difficulties common beyond the factory floor, such as skewed (non-normal) cycle time distributions, or the prevalence of discrete data.
This book is intended as a guide for those just starting their Six Sigma deployment and as a reference for experienced Six Sigma practitioners such as Six Sigma leaders, Champions, Master Black Belts (MBBs), Black Belts (BBs), Green Belts (GBs), and for others who are involved in the deployment of Six Sigma and want to assess the effectiveness of such. Of course, different sections of this book are likely to be of greater value to some than to others (depending on their role with Six Sigma).
In Statistical ThinkingImproving Business Performance (Hoerl and Snee 2002), we explained the concept of statistical thinking and its key elementsprocess, variation, and data. We focused on how to use statistical thinking to improve business processesthose beyond the factory floorby reducing variation. All processes vary, and reducing variation, both between the process average and process target, and also around the process average, is a key to improving process performance. In fact, Jack Welch (Welch 2001) states that process consistency is, in many ways, more important to customers than the average level of process performance. Statistical ThinkingImproving Business Performance also contains detailed descriptions of the statistical thinking and Six Sigma tools, including how they apply in a business setting. These tools include basic problem-solving tools (scatter plot, histogram, run chart, Pareto chart, and so on), regression, experimental design, statistical inference, and so on. Since writing this book, Six Sigma is the best way we have found to actually deploy statistical thinking broadly.
In Leading Six Sigma: A Step-by-Step Guide Based on Experience with GE and Other Six Sigma Companies (Snee and Hoerl 2003), we showed how to deploy Six Sigma in an organization and how to integrate it with other improvement initiatives. We presented detailed case studies, both successful and unsuccessful, identified the key factors required for success, and presented a detailed deployment strategy. The last chapter included a set of commonly asked deployment questions; our answers to them are based on our experience deploying Six Sigma. The majority of this material was intended for those working in a manufacturing or engineering environment, although the issue of deployment in the real economy was discussed.
This book takes the methodology one step further, focusing on perhaps the most challenging use of Six Sigma: improving processes beyond the factory floor. This requires special attention because formal improvement methods have been applied less frequently here, resulting in less being known about how to improve these processes. For example, less data are typically available on real economy processes than manufacturing. Chapter 2 addresses the differences between manufacturing and real economy applications of Six Sigma more fully. Understanding these differences will help you better understand what is required to improve processes beyond the factory floor.
Those with a holistic view of Six Sigma will see the potential "big picture" impact it can offer, instead of seeing it as a narrow technical methodology used in manufacturing. They will realize that Six Sigma can and should be applied to all types of organizations, in all functions, and by all employees (or volunteers). The holistic approach also utilizes Six Sigma as a key organizational development strategy. For example, GE, 3M, DuPont, Honeywell, and several others have consciously used Six Sigma to develop their future leaders.
This first chapter discusses why Six Sigma is needed beyond the factory floor and how it can, and has, made significant impact here. The chapter then explains how Six Sigma should be viewed as part of an overall process management system. Chapter 1 concludes with a brief overview of the Six Sigma methodology and a discussion of the key roles involved.
The Impact of Six Sigma Beyond the Factory Floor
It is generally agreed that more than half the opportunity for improvement in a manufacturing company lies beyond the manufacturing function. This opportunity can be as much as 30% to 40% of sales. Improvement beyond manufacturing has been limited in the past for at least three key reasons: lack of well-defined processes, lack of process metrics and data, and lack of an appreciation for the importance of reducing variation (both internally and to the customer). The advent of Six Sigma methodology and information technology systems has changed this situation, enabling organizations of all types to focus on improvement as never before.
The need for broadening the use of Six Sigma beyond the factory floor becomes clearer when you reflect on the trends within the business world. Three key trends, closely connected to one another, are driving the world economy: migration away from manufacturing-based economies, the rapid expansion of information technology (IT), and increasing global competition. The economies of the United States, most of Western Europe, and many other developed countries transitioned from an agricultural base in the 1800s and early 1900s to a manufacturing base in the 1900s. This movement is known as the industrial revolution, and it brought profound economic and social changes.
With the rapid expansion of IT in the late twentieth and now early twenty-first century, the world economy has continued to evolve. For example, the occupation of computer scientist did not exist during the industrial revolution. International finance, statistics and operations research, music and entertainment, e-commerce, and consumer credit are just a few examples of professional fields whose rapid expansion has been enabled by advances in IT. The overall result of this evolution is that fewer and fewer people make their living by manufacturing something. So-called white-collar jobs, such as accounting, health care, and computer science, are replacing the traditional blue-collar jobs on the assembly line. Figure 1.3 (Bisgaard 2002) shows data on the growth of such jobs in the United States relative to drops in agriculture and manufacturing over the past century. Similar results apply to most developed countries in the world today. For the purposes of this graph, white collar refers to jobs involving primarily mental work (computer scientist, accountant, and so on), blue collar refers to primarily physical labor (construction, assembly line, and so on), and service refers to jobs that interact directly with customers, such as fast-food counter service, hotel receptionist, and postal delivery.
Figure 1.3 Occupational distribution of the U.S. labor force.
Agricultural jobs have been decreasing steadily for more than 100 years, and blue-collar jobs began a steady decline around 1950. Clearly, the United States no longer has a manufacturing-based economy. The real economy in the United States today, as well as in most of the developed world, involves such fields as financial services, health care, e-commerce, and logistics, but less and less manufacturing, which has tended to move offshore to low-cost locations. In fact, it has been reported that manufacturing now represents less than 20% of the U.S. gross domestic product (George 2003, 3). Productivity improvements and increased use of automation continue to reduce the number of blue-collar jobs. Some of the key players in the real economy that need to benefit from Six Sigma include the following:
Health care
Financial services
Educational institutions
Retail sales
Food service
Logistics and transportation
Of course, the list could go on and on.
Even within manufacturing businesses, less and less of the income and profit derive from manufacturing and selling "widgets." GE Transportation Services (GETS), for example, is a division of GE that manufactures locomotives. In the year 2000 GE Annual Report (p. 25), GETS noted that their earnings increased that year despite lower revenues, which resulted from a softening market for locomotive sales. How did GETS increase earnings in a softening market? It was "the result of a fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth in our global services business."
By taking advantage of the latest communication and information technologies, GETS has developed value-added services, such as predicting and optimizing maintenance requirements, satellite tracking of locomotives, logistics planning, and so on. Even a "smokestack industry" such as locomotives is transitioning from selling "widgets" to selling information and value-added services. The 2001 GE Annual Report (p.5) noted that the total of contractual services agreements within GE reached the $60 billion mark (yes, $60 billion!) in 2001. These service agreements continue to grow at the time of this writing. Similarly, General Motors now makes more money from financing than they do from selling cars. The public generally thinks of GM as an automaker, but it would be more accurate to think of GM as a bank that also sells cars on the side.
These examples, the data in Figure 1.3 and system maps such as Figure 1.1, highlight the fact that even within companies that manufacture and sell things, a major portion of the people and processes critical to the organization's success lie beyond manufacturing. Part of the holistic application of Six Sigma involves taking Six Sigma to each of these areas in turn, instead of restricting Six Sigma to manufacturing. Also productivity and automation gains are reducing the cost of goods and services sold. These gains further indicate that you should look beyond manufacturing and operations for improvement opportunities.
Of course, the growth of IT has also intensified global competition, and thereby provided further impetus for real economy organizations to improve. Developing countries such as India and China are expanding the technical skills of their labor force, including in such areas as computer science and software development. With the rapid expansion of the Internet and other IT tools, developing countries have created a competitive, low-cost alternative for organizations that need skilled labor. It is now feasible for a software developer in India to work remotely for an organization located in Germany, Australia, or the United States.
In fact, Time magazine (Time 2003) anticipated that U.S. financial services firms would move more than 500,000 jobs to India in the next 5 years. This job-migration figure does not include migration of jobs from other developed countries, the impact of the rapidly growing Chinese economy, or the migration from industries other than financial services. This trend is reminiscent of the tremendous impact that global competition had on manufacturing industries, such as automotives and electronics, beginning in the 1970s. Clearly, improvement is just as critical to survival in the real economy today as it was to manufacturing in the latter part of the twentieth century.
This need to improve has added an additional organizational responsibility. It used to be that we had one primary task: Come to work and perform our job to serve our customers. Global competition requires of us a second task: Improve how we do our work to better serve our customers to stay ahead of the competition. Therefore, we now have two jobs: doing our work and improving how we do our work. Six Sigma provides many of the needed road maps and tools for doing this improvement work, thereby enabling us to serve our customers more effectively and efficiently.
Fortunately, many real economy organizations are "stepping up to the plate" relative to Six Sigma and reaping impressive benefits. GE has been applying Six Sigma to financial services almost since the beginning of its Six Sigma launch. A single project in credit card collections produced almost $3 million in annual benefits (Hahn et al. 2000). Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC), a health-care provider based in Bowling Green, Kentucky, generated more than $800,000 in savings in the first 18 months of deployment. Chapter 3 presents CHC's case study in detail. The gains realized by American Express from Six Sigma are discussed in Young (2001). Bank of America is also deploying Six Sigma and reaping significant financial benefits ($2 billion in the first two to three years; Jones 2004).
The early implementers of Six Sigma such as Motorola and AlliedSignal began their initiative in manufacturing and moved, sometimes slowly, to applying Six Sigma across the organization. Former Motorola CEO Bob Galvin stated, "The lack of initial Six Sigma emphasis in the non-manufacturing areas was a mistake that cost Motorola at least $5 billion over a four-year period" (George 2003, 3). Note that beginning Six Sigma in manufacturing, or operations of service companies, is a good strategy because process metrics are usually well developed and significant opportunities for improvement exist there. The goal should be to move the deployment of Six Sigma as quickly as possible to the rest of the organization to maximize its benefits.
Intangible Impact
Six Sigma is increasingly recognized as an effective method for changing culture (how an organization does its work and rewards its people) as well as improving the bottom line. This is particularly important for those real economy organizations that do not have the legacy of a continual-improvement culture. As discussed in Chapter 2, our experience, and that of many others, is that few organizations outside of manufacturing have such a legacy. In the process of deploying Six Sigma, leaders enhance many systems that define the organization's culture, including developing a greater focus on improvement, changing recognition and reward systems, improving communication systems, and improving performance management systems.
Many companies are seeing Six Sigma as a way to develop leaders, build teamwork, and empower employees. Companies such as GE, DuPont, 3M, Honeywell, and American Standard have required BB and GB certification for promotion up the ranks of management. Jack Welch, then CEO of GE, stated in the 2000 Annual Report, "The generic nature of a Black Belt assignment, in addition to its rigorous process discipline and relentless customer focus, makes Six Sigma the perfect training for growing twenty-first century GE leadership." Banks, hospitals, dot.coms, and other organizations operating beyond the factory floor are beginning to see and reap these types of organizational benefits of Six Sigma.
The use of Six Sigma as a leadership development tool becomes clear when you think about what a leader does. A leader enables an organization to change the way it works, to move from one paradigm to another paradigm. Changing the way people work requires changing the process they use to do their work. Six Sigma provides the strategy, methods, and tools to improve processes. A leader skilled in the use of Six Sigma is a more effective leader, thereby making Six Sigma an effective leadership development tool. This is just as true in the real economy as it is on the factory floor.


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subset: commoncrawl


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The pioneer of master-planned communities in Dubai
Emaar Properties is one of the world's most valuable and admired real estate development companies. With proven competencies in property, shopping malls & retail and hospitality & leisure, Emaar shapes new lifestyles with a focus on design excellence, build quality and timely delivery.
Established in 1997, Emaar Properties is a Public Joint Stock Company listed on the Dubai Financial Market. A pioneering developer of integrated master-planned communities, Emaar Group has transformed the real estate sector in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Emaar Group is extending its expertise in developing master-planned communities internationally, and today, has a significant presence in several key global markets. Simultaneously, the company has developed competencies in hospitality & leisure, and shopping malls & retail.
Emaar's world-class project development competencies are underlined by its iconic assets in Dubai and other international markets.
Downtown Dubai is Emaar's flagship development. Today, the world's most visited lifestyle destination, the 500-acre neighbourhood is home to the iconic Burj Khalifa, The Dubai Mall and The Dubai Fountain.
Emaar's established communities include Arabian Ranches, Emirates Living, and Dubai Marina.
Several mega-developments that define the city of the future are being developed by Emaar in its core markets including Dubai. Through strategic partnerships, Emaar has expanded its land bank in Dubai to build cities of the future.
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Easy-to-read, insightful, and practical book on the Hook Model, a 4-step process to build customer habits. Habit-forming products have competitive advantage since the first-to-mind solution typically wins.
Nir's Hook Model consists of 4 stages:
Triggers activate behaviors. They can be external, such as email, or internal that emerge inside users' minds. Triggers reduce the thinking required to take the next step.
Actions are behaviors done in anticipation of the reward. Nir provides the following formula: B=MAT
Variable Reward rewards users by solving their problem. It creates desire. Nir idenitifies 3 types of rewards:
Investment increases chances that users will keep using the product and start another Hook cycle. The more users invest their time and effort into a product, the more they value it.
I highly recommend Nir's book to anyone involved with product design and development. The book provides a structured framework for how to build successful products and includes many useful tips and insightful examples. Happy reading!


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Saturday, April 16, 2011
NWO Preparing you for "Aliens"
What is Coming to Earth? Part 1
What is Coming to Earth? Part 2
UFO Mass Sightings Taking Place
The NWO predictive programming propaganda machine is hard at work preparing the public for "first contact." If you haven't already, please research Project Bluebeam, the work of the late Rik Clay, and peruse my UFO/Aliens section to see the info I've collected suggesting that TPTB are planning a mass staged UFO event to garner support for their "end-times" deception spectacular.
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There could be a twist to this planned event--
WHAT IF, the "aliens" or "extra terrestrials" are BENEVOLENT, and coming to help mankind.
The NWO / Illuminati know this, BUT, they want to make these ET's out to be the bad guys that must be destroyed (False Flag).
This way, they turn the majoritty of the populace against the very Beings coming to help humandkind AGAINST the NWO!!!
So far, we have NEVER had any alien attack in our century, nor has there been any documentation as to these ETs destroying Earth and Humnankind.
IF ANYTHING, IT IS THE NWO who is destroying Earth...and Humankind.
The NWO are powerless agains the ETs, so the NWO must try to garner a force against the ETs.
Think about it, most all the Hollywood movies portray aliens / ETs as bad that MUST BE DESTROYED, so now, the ETs have a bad rap.
To err on the safe side, just do / think opposite what the NWO want you to believe. - April 17, 2011 at 1:35 AM
- Eric Dubay said...
Yes, this twist is possible if benevolent beings really do exist out there that want to help us. But either way, whatever propaganda the mainstream media promotes is surely part of "the agenda."
- April 17, 2011 at 4:02 AM
- muzuzuzus said...
He is so freekin sure of himself isn't he. A real cler-arse. I hate it when his criteria for an intelligent civilization is CONTROL! That show exactly who HE with, feel me??
Recently I have been looking into the so-called 'Galactic Federation of Light'---some people are putting all their faith in these 'beings' to come and help us 'ascend'....? This is of course a New Age UFO cult, isn't it. You can see it a mile off. You got the emphasis on light, and denigration of dark, and the real 'super heros' are blond with blue eyes. That is its implicit racist element. They you got their 'channelers' (typical of new agers) and mechanical voice reading them, and we here them supposedly claim we have to 'control emotion'. Hmmmm, now when you look at the history of the patriarchy you find that like light versus dark, you get 'reason' versus emotion, and what group are categorized as emotional...? WOMEN! So their you have the implicit misogyny.
A really good book I always recommend and will continue doing so that reallyexposes this New Age propaganda and agenda is this book:
Return of the Dark/Light Mother or New Age Armageddon? Towards a Feminist Vision of the Future, by Monica Sjoo
I am not though against the possibility that beings are VERY VERY concerned with what a mindset, and the bling minnions are coing to others, other species, and planet earth. Robert Hastings for example has shown that these craft are seemingly very concerned about the use of Nuclear war technology.
I can really gell with that, because I feel alien-ated from this world too, and what is going on. So I could dig how other beings are are far more intelligent than the psychopaths and apathetics here could feel about the genocide, ecocide and general apalling exploitation going on here. - April 17, 2011 at 4:19 AM
- Eric Dubay said...
Yeah, that NWO physicist guy is so sure of himself, uses unequivocal terms, and has that constant shit-eating grin as he talks about the Type 0, 1, 2, 3 BS that his nerd buddies cooked up. Definitely trying to herd our thoughts with their "science."
- April 17, 2011 at 6:13 AM
Ah, those good old alien chaps of ours...the conditioning of the masses to make them believe there is extraterrestial life out there is a bunch of bogus bs.
After all, are not aliens just flashes of light? If you are going to believe in aliens, you might as well start taking the grim reaper seriously as well. After all, it is all part and parcel of the, "believe space and time are real" propaganda.
Besides, those Hollywood movies serve more than simply programming us...it is for, "future-similar-events...in-disguise."
Got to look at the SUBLIMINALS people. - April 17, 2011 at 7:13 PM
And you have proof that there are NO other living entities outside of Earth?
- April 17, 2011 at 9:28 PM
There are no aliens! There is not even outer space...it's just a piece of cardboard with pin pricks to look like stars.(just kidding...sorta )
It is all the original illusion of light, and we are hard wired, hypnotized to believe it to be real. This 3D world is an illusion and that includes all the other supposed higher dimensions, but that doesn't mean we are immune to its rules. The Grim reaper is seen as real, and when you've been diagnosed with a terminal disease, this 3D form will shudder in the fear of "not being" - April 18, 2011 at 5:26 PM
I think if people are going to talk about the legitimacy of aliens in retrospect to space and time being an "illusion", they should at least provide some back up for that statement. You aren't going to eliminate bias that way.
- April 26, 2011 at 3:45 AM
From what I understand, that theory comes from quantum physics and relativity. Suggesting that all things are percieved only relative to the observer; that in a sense, the only "real" or at least "observer-regardless" thing we know of is energy, which cannot be created or destroyed. Our perspective; "space and time" is being constructed via the energies our senses have been designed to affiliate with. Hearing with sound and seeing by using light.
Time is a construct of our mind that involves memory as well as awareness of beginning and ending. That is the catch to the physical form.
Scripture and science will tell you that all things that begin will eventually end. This draws the line between energy and matter. Matter is created and is destroyed; Energy is niether; only transfered.
This is why if you could travel at the speed of light, time would stop, and open up new possibilities as well. Time is irrelivant to energy.
A good example describing space would be a video game. The characters within the game are limited to the designed specifications; they do not know they are in a video game. You watch the screen and see tangible like objects but you know they aren't real. We see colors and texture and even see distance to differentiate between here and there but we know it is just programming and essentially just code.
Now consider the "code" of our reality as what we call energy.
The common belief that matter is the substance of the universe is now coming into question. Many are starting to consider "consciousness" in it's place.
Many of these theories, being much beyond speculation, strongly reinforce sprituality and belief.
It leaves you wondering if you truly are just matter, or energy in a vehicle.
If space and time are only constructs of the mind, and our bodies occupy this space, then our bodies can't necessarily be real either. Just a representation of what I would assume is a conscious energy. Or as the bible describes it, the "breath of life"; the "soul".
But like a previous poster said, even if our essense is beyond this reality we see, the "temples" we reside in; our bodies, being apart of this "illusion." must play by it's rules. Just like how your character must play by your video game's rules. Unless you have the power to change those rules. i.e hacking the very code itself.
We have hacked reality have we not? Using tools to percieve energies that our bodies cannot and thus manipulating energies to manipulate reality.
I believe reality itself is conscious. And that there is life all over the universe. However in the physical form, I have no reason to believe there are any other civilizations out there as of yet in this form of reality. Most likely in other yes, but not this one yet. I personally believe that life in the physical form is what I can only describe as "new" in retrospect to what reality may actually be.
With the exeption of the bastard child luci' and his minions cast down from "heaven" to the physical plain. They, in my opinion, are the very origin of all this alien business as well as our "hacks." They know the guy who made the game after all >/
Regardless. They are preparing us for something definitely. I see SOO much stuff on discovery and the history channel on aliens now like "ancient aliens" constantly playing reruns and the "chubakabra" speculations that by the end of the program have really proven nothing, but definitely got you thinking about the possiblities.
Shit storm is coming. But have no fear, for only matter ends, not energy.
when you play your video game and your guy dies and you get a game over, you may be flustered and mad at first, but when you walk away and take a whiff of the air, you suddenly remember it was just a game.
You never died. The guy you were controlling did. And I'll bet he has no idea that you can just come back and do it again. - April 26, 2011 at 3:49 AM
- muzuzuzus said...
I feel you are creating a duality between 'matter' and 'energy'.
I know that science does not know what consciousness is, nor what matter is, and of course this will mean energy also.
I am very wary of the mindsets which either choose 'matter-ialism' or 'consciousness' as the primary reality. I see this game going far back, and from this comes imbalance.
This is why I am so attracted to the Goddess mythos, because mattyer is seen to be sacred. The very term having MA as the roots shows us its feminine archeytype (for want of a better term). So you find that isms which deny the spirit dengrate matter/nature as do those who DENY matter, and call it 'illusion' which we find in Eastern belief systems---and where such brutal systems as the caste system have arisen. I dont have to tell you about the brutal system of materialism of course, do I? - April 26, 2011 at 4:10 AM
"Matter is created and is destroyed; Energy is niether; only transfered."
My recollection of modern physics my be a little flawed, but I don't think this statement is correct. Both matter and energy are conserved; the famous e=mc^2 equation merely demonstrated that matter can be converted to energy, and energy to matter.
In this fashion, both matter and energy can be "destroyed" by conversion to the other, but the net total of matter and energy must be conserved in the same way classical physics stipulates that potential energy may be converted into kinetic energy, but the net total energy must remain constant.
Is this not correct?
-Ben - April 26, 2011 at 6:53 AM
muzuzuzus, either you're a shill or extremely misguided. Yes he is a globalist propaganda mouthpiece pushing the alien deception but promotion of feminism, disintegration of the family structure and the subjugation of men is a primary globalist agenda to control the population. Feminsim ties in with their eco-fascist, new age, environmental, state-based relgion. The mother Earth, Gaia Goddess if you will. They creating a fake alien menace to unite everyone under the umbrella of their Orwellian feudal world government. No doubt they'll create war and achieve their aim of mass depopulation, all the while blaming it on the aliens, just as they killed 3000 of their own people in the scientifically proven inside job 911. Wake up people.
- July 9, 2012 at 6:49 AM
- muzuzuzus said...
Oh you bewail the subjugation of maen, but put-down women who speak out against their subjugation. That is typical patriarchal hypocrisy. Have you even GOT one woman author in your library of books? The so-called 'family structure' you long for was obviously modeled on the patriarchal hierarchical myth where the woman is supposed to be under the superiority of the man. If you want to see that very in action have a look at Middle Eastern culture. They have your 'family structure'.
You think deeply caring for the natural world is being "eco-fascist"? Hmmm wonder what the other species think about that who are losing their habitats, being made extinct, their waters, and food, and air being polluted. Are all indigenous peoples who want to live their lives sustainably and not be persecuted by the corporation--are THEY eco fascist in your book? Do I care to wait for an answer? No I don't because I am very used to that kind of attitude, and it usually comes from the fascists themselves who want the sorry ecocide to carry on unhindered in the name of "progress"!.
In a pervious post I have already linked here to a book by Monica Sjoo who not only exposes the 'New Age' but shows the ancient roots of that mindset. I am betting you haven't read it yourself, so maybe you do before you assume things you don't know about.The metaphor of a Great Cosmic Mother is far more ancient than the sky gods and God myths which followed, and again, I would recommend you educate about that and then you won't give such a muddled critique--hopefully. - July 10, 2012 at 12:55 AM
- muzuzuzus said...
Amazing Vandana Shiva Slams Monsanto at Rio+20 Conference 2012
- July 10, 2012 at 1:19 AM


text:
created 2006 · complexity basic · author Markus Trenkwalder · version 6.0
Vim remembers the locations where changes occurred. Each position (column number, line number) is recorded in a change list, and each buffer has a separate change list that records the last 100 positions where an undo-able change occurred.
To avoid cluttering the change list, if you make a change at a certain position, then make another change nearby, only the location of the later change is recorded ("nearby" means on the same line, within a certain number of bytes).
The change list for each file is saved between edits (provided the 'viminfo'
option has the '
parameter), so you can see where changes occurred from previous editing sessions. :help 'viminfo'
Using a change list[]
You can go back, then forward, to visit the locations where changes occurred:
- Type
to jump back to the position of the previous (older) change. - Type
to jump to the position of the next (newer) change.
Display the change list for the current buffer with:
Your current location in the change list is indicated with '>
', and the first number in each row is a count that can be used to jump to that position. For example, after pressing g;
three times, the :changes
command may show something like this:
change line col text 4 42 10 the current line 42 is shown here 3 93 0 -invalid- 2 23 0 the current line 23 is shown here 1 89 34 the current line 89 is shown here > 0 22 40 the current line 22 is shown here 1 39 0 the current line 39 is shown here 2 15 46 the current line 15 is shown here
Given the above, you could press:
to jump to line 39.g;
to jump to line 89.4
to jump to line 42.
In the example, line 93 no longer exists (the change location is invalid).
Capturing list of change locations[]
You may want a record of the recent locations where changes occurred in the current buffer. As an example, the following commands redirect the output of the :changes
command to file c.txt
, then edit that file. The 'more
' option is temporarily switched off to avoid the "-- More --
" prompt.
:set nomore :redir > c.txt :changes :redir END :set more :e c.txt
See also[]
- Using marks to manually record marks that you can return to
- Jumping to previously visited locations the jump list records where jumps occurred
Vim 7 also has undo branching: you can make changes, undo some of them, make different changes, and then have both trees of changes maintained, allowing you to go back and forth between different branches of changes. :help undo-branches, Undo tree


text:
Have you ever experienced that heart-stopping moment when you realise that you've left your precious belongings behind in a hotel room? Well, join the club of forgetfulness because you're not the only one. While everyone's got a tale of "Oops, I forgot my toothbrush" or "Where is my phone charger?" as they dash out the door to check out, there have been more interesting items left behind.
With 33 hotels across the UK and many guests who visit from all around the world, you can believe we've seen some interesting items left behind in our hotel rooms! Some hilarious, some cheeky, and some utterly baffling. These lost items tell stories of adventure, passion, and sometimes plain old forgetfulness (like a set of teeth).
Imagine when our hotel staff found a Madonna costume left behind. The team that came to turn the room over thought they'd missed their chance to get a selfie and autograph from the Material Girl, herself! Or the time a glass eye was discovered by the hotel staff in our Aberdeen Hotel who knows what the last guest was keeping an eye out for!
Let's take a fun journey through some of the most bizarre, peculiar, and surprising things that guests have left behind in our hotel rooms:
What's in our Lost and Found?
Do you recognise any of what has been left behind?
Not to worry, we are not in the business of hoarding lost goodies. Some people might snatch a piece of mistletoe, but the team at our Swindon Hotel didn't appreciate that the Grinch had come for a festive weekend away! There's not much use for a single Jimmy Choo shoe unless Cinderella will be joining us anytime soon, and there's no need for a parachute in the Village Aberdeen Hotel when the elevator is perfectly functional. As for the furry little friends, as much as we would love a hotel pet, both were quickly reunited with their relieved owners!
Has this treasure trove of lost and found made you want to dive into an escape? Well, start your adventure at Village hotels, where we can promise you a clean room without false teeth under the pillow. But please, before you hand back the keys, just give your room a once-over. You never know what you may have left behind! Discover more with the booking revolution today!
Kelli Turner, General Counsel and Director of ESG at Village Hotels explores the challenges facing the UK's hospitality and leisure industry and the steps that need to be taken for a greener future.
We are delighted to announce that today, Blackstone Real Estate ("Blackstone") has taken full ownership of Village Hotel Club from KSL Capital Partner.
The school summer holidays are on the horizon – once the British weather gets the reminder to get moving with the sunshine, of course. But when the clouds lift and the sun shines out, there's so much to see and do for the whole family.
Read how to pack your suitcase to ensure your break away is stress free!
Discover the best UK summer events that are right on your doorstep. From Bristol Harbour Festival to Wales Airshow, get ready for an unforgettable summer.
We've all heard of FOMO (fear of missing out), right? …But who's heard of FOSO - the fear of switching off?
For generations, families have flocked to the seaside for their summer holidays. The coast is full of nostalgic memories: ice cream cones, arcades, and, sometimes, even sunshine!
Village Hotels is excited to unveil the new Village Green ESG & Sustainability strategy which sits at the heart of our brand.
It's not what you know, it's who you know! Every month, we introduce you to one of our VWorks Coworking Space members. This month, we caught up with VWorks member Tom Stott to find out more about his eCommerce business, Shelf Conscious, his motivations and goals for the future.
Relaxing is so much more important than people think. It's not lazy- it's actually good for your health!
The results are in: Glasgow has been named as the best destination for a UK weekend break.
As part of its Village Green sustainability programme, Village Hotels is excited to announce its charity partners for 2024: Sense, Sue Ryder, and Carefree.
March 17th marks St Patrick's Day. Although it's a date marking his death, St Patrick's Day is now a global celebration of everything to do with Ireland.
With St Patrick's Day just around the corner, you might be wondering how you can best celebrate. Here are some ideas to help make your festivities as fun as possible.
At Village, we believe a career in hospitality is one of the best there is – especially with us. But we also recognise that getting into the hospitality industry isn't always that simple.
Village partners with high-power European charging network IONITY to open hundreds of ultra-rapid charge points in Great Britain.
The UK is full of amazing cities you need to visit. Don't know where to start? Here are 7 for your to do list!
If you're looking for an activity for the whole family to enjoy, consider visiting one of the many
amazing light shows available across the UK this winter.
Have you ever experienced that heart-stopping moment when you realise that you've left your precious belongings behind in a hotel room? Well, join the club of forgetfulness because you're not the only one. While everyone's got a tale of "Oops, I forgot my toothbrush" or "Where is my phone charger?" as they dash out the door to check out, there have been more interesting items left behind.
Autumn is upon us, which means it's the perfect time for a cosy staycation! Read on to find where you can escape to with Village.
While working from home has its advantages, and workplace technology has helped teams stay connected online, face-to-face meetings are still important and can have a positive impact on the productivity of a team.
This summer was a blast at Village, and we hope you had an awesome one too! Check out what went down at Village over the summer in our recap!
Hotels have a long and fascinating history filled with intriguing stories and luxurious experiences. Here are a few interesting facts about hotels that might amaze you:
Discover the ultimate family getaway with Village. From iconic attractions to seaside charm, here are five must-dos for your family in Blackpool.
Discover the best of Bristol without breaking the bank this summer. From water sports to hot air balloons, here is our guide to free things to do in Bristol.
We are delighted to share news of our latest charitable partnership with Sense, a national organisation dedicated to supporting people who have complex disabilities or who are deafblind.
In this month's spotlight is football fanatic and fundraising hero, Kevin Morris. We sat down with Kevin to get to know him better and find out about his charity work and how you can support a worthy cause.
Village Hotel Club Blackpool has long been a seaside favourite for guests. With indoor and outdoor pools plus an 18-hole golf course and extensive Health & Leisure Club, it's clear why families, conference guests and golfers come back year after year. And for 2024 it gets even better!
Bracknell is an ideal destination for a break during the summer period!
Some places stay under the radar, despite their scenic charms. They might not be the most obvious destinations to add to your travel itinerary, but these hidden gems are well worth a visit.
In celebration of this year's International Biodiversity day, we launched our very own 'Be Green Day 2023'. Read more to see what our teams got up to...
You don't have to jet abroad for a memorable summer holiday – you can make unforgettable memories in your own backyard.
Conferences are back! Technology allows for more people to join than ever before. Here are some tips for running your hybrid conference at Village Hotels.
With three bank holidays around the corner, it's time to get planning. But, what is there to do? Here are some must-see May bank holiday events.
As part of Village Green - our community initiative, our National Sales Team headed to Oulton First School in Stone, helping to create their nature garden.
Sustainability is at the top of every business agenda right now – including our own.
At Village, you can enjoy short breaks for two or fun-filled family getaways without breaking the bank. You'll find great value hotel rooms with a fantastic range of facilities... and some unmissable deals too.
We're raising funds for St Rocco's Hospice as part of Village Green - our community initative. Find out what we'll be getting up to!
Village Hotels are a hub of the local community and we like to get involved in local events and activities - take a look at what we've been up to in May.
Meet our Village Green Champions who are leading the way in sustainability!
We are delighted to announce that we have been named as Winner of 2 awards in the British HR Awards 2023.
We are very proud to have hosted sponsored spinathons across our clubs in aid of Ukraine!
With the May bank holidays on the horizon, it's time to start thinking about your long weekend getaway! Whether it's taking hikes in beautiful Scotland or finding the most exquisite bars and restaurants. There's something for everyone!
First we brunch, then we boogie! Brunch Club has arrived at Village!
Join us at Village Hotel Portsmouth or Village Hotel Manchester Ashton on Sunday 15th May for an afternoon of fun, fizz and fantastic food.
With the Easter bank holiday just around the corner, it's time to start planning your weekend. It's the first break since Christmas, and you deserve a well-earned holiday.
We are delighted to kick-start our Village Green community initiative at the new Village Hotel Club Bracknell with a full-day charity event in support of Bracknell homeless charity, the Pilgrim Hearts Trust, on 25th January. Through our 'Sock It To Winter' campaign, we have been collecting new pairs of socks for homeless and vulnerable people in the local area.
Daffodils, new born lambs, the Easter bunny and of course Easter eggs! Whatever you associate Easter with the Easter holidays are a great opportunity to get away with the family and spend some quality time together. Planning a spring break away? Take advantage of our great offers available in the Booking Revolution
We've taken a look at some great Easter attractions for kids near some of our hotels. Here are our picks of the top 5:
Joe Root today joined local school children to launch Village Hotel Club's new community volunteering project. The England cricket captain was joined by 30 primary school children from Morley New Lands Academy at the Village Hotel Club, Leeds South to encourage boys and girls to take up the sport.
Planning a Spring staycation? We've spotted a few things you'll want to add to your to-do list! There are so many fun things to experience this Spring…From family friendly days out during half term to date night as a couple.
In March 2019, our brand new hotel Village Hotel Bristol pledged 1,000 hours to support Young Bristol, a youth-driven charity that has been providing a city-wide programme of activities and education to support disadvantaged young people aged 8-19 years since 1928. Young Bristol works with young people to help them discover what they are capable of through outdoor activities, creative sessions and educational programmes.
It's not what you know, it's who you know! Every month, we introduce you to one of our VWorks Coworking Space members. This month, we caught up with We caught up with Angela Court-Johnson, Corporate Fundraising Manager at Sense (a charity that supports those who are deafblind and living with complex disabilities) to find out what makes Sense different, how you can get involved and more.
Mother's Day is on Sunday 19th March 2023, and this year Mum deserves a real treat! Make her day with the perfect gift, a tasty meal or a fun day out. Read on to find out our top things to do this Mother's Day!
Planning a half term family getaway? Check out our top destinations and things to do!
From meeting room hire to interview rooms, hot and fixed desks, VWorks has it all. Find out how VWorks coworking space can benefit your business.
Sudden urge to get away? Looking for a last minute weekend deal? We've got you covered! Check out our last minute breaks offer - new hotels added every week.
Sticking to a routine is key for a healthy lifestyle. At Village, we understand the importance of keeping fit and how important your routine is to you. Here are four ways to keep fit and healthy during your stay at Village Hotels.
It's often said that New Year's Eve is about new beginnings, wearing a fresh outfit, rocking a new hairdo, and getting ready to party like you've never partied before. However, some things never change, including the types of people who show up to party. Which one are you?
There's something about the festive season! Family time, tasty food, cosy knits... but it's also the best time of year to get out and explore! We've put together a list of our top pick attractions. Wherever you choose, you'll be feeling all festive and relaxed after a break away at Village.
Check out our ultimate Christmas gift guide - perfect for even the trickiest people on your list.
Twixmas, Crimbo-limbo… Whatever you call it, those days in between Christmas and New Year can be a strange time and boring time for many. We've put together our top tips to help you make the most of your time.
The new year has probably got you reflecting on your life, your goals for the year, and what you want to achieve in the future. Here's our top tips to make 2023 your year!
We're excited to share that our brand new meeting space is now open at Village Hotel Bracknell! Here's what you can expect!
Find out how to get the best Black Friday deals! We've put together our top tips.
The UK Christmas markets are back this month, and a must-visit to get into the festive spirit. We've put together a whistle stop tour of some of the best Christmas markets in the UK.
It's not what you know, it's who you know! Every month, we introduce you to one of our VWorks Coworking Space members. This month, we caught up with VWorks member & Leadership Coach, Maria Bryceland to find out how businesses can build extraordinary cultures to improve retention and drive business growth.
Winter is a great time for a break away! Cosy knits, delicious food & drink, awesome attractions and lots of quality time together. What could be better? If you need some inspiration to fuel your winter wanderlust, you've come to the right place!
We've taken a look at some of the very best museums up and down the country - perfect for rainy days indoors.
We've put together some of the UK's most spooktacular halloween events and things to do. Check them out… If you dare!
Are you planning an Autumn weekend away? Here's why you should consider a trip to Chester!
With Halloween just around the corner, pumpkin picking is the perfect way to get into the spooky spirit. Take a look at our top places to visit
There's just something about an autumn walk; the crunchy leaves, stunning red and orange hues and the crisp fresh air. Take a look at our top picks.
If you're local to Village Hotel Wirral, then you surely recognise Noel! He's been part of our Village family for 17 years, offering a friendly welcome at Starbucks. We'd like to take the opportunity to congratulate Noel, as his dedication to his role and customers has been recognised in Starbucks "Best Moments" programme! Take a look!
At Village Hotel Portsmouth, we love supporting our local community through Village Green - our community initiative. Read about how we're supporting Minds Matter.
Our Central Finance team love a challenge, especially in the name of Village Green - our community initiative! This month, they took on the 25Km Peak District Trek to raise vital funds and awareness for St Rocco's Hospice.
What a night at the O2 on Saturday! Shields v Marshall - the most anticipated women's fight of all-time is officially the most watched women's sport event of all-time on Sky Sports with a record breaking 2 million UK viewers. We were excited to sponsor such a highly anticipated event, as part of our knock-out partnership with Boxxer.
Today is World Mental Health Day; an international day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma.
This week, Village Hotels announced a new relationship with Carbon Intelligence, the first step in the brand's plans to develop a Net Zero strategy.
It is critical now more than ever for leaders and employees to practise daily habits that positively impact their happiness, health and performance. Take a look at our guest blog from VWorks member, Kat Thorne.
Blackpool is a great destination for the whole family. Find out what you can discover on your next trip with our top 5 things to do!
Planning a last minute summer staycation? Whether you're looking for a quick night away or a UK mini-break, you've come to the right place. We have a fantastic range of packages available this Summer, all including breakfast and £50 to spend on food in the Pub and Grill.
Needing ideas for the perfect autumn wedding? Here are five picturesque UK locations for inspiration!
Many of us are looking to make savings at the moment, but that doesn't mean exciting trips away are out of the question. At Village Hotels, you can have it all without breaking the bank. You'll find great value hotels with a fantastic range of facilities...and some great deals too.
The Pub & Grill Fanzone is the best place for live football. Let's take a look at what it's all about!
The pandemic saw a huge shift in the way that we work, with many of us ditching the 9-5 office based model for more flexible hybrid models. We've taken a look at the benefits of hybrid working.
A moment of history for the Lionesses! Football came home this weekend. What an amazing result! To celebrate, we've taken a look at the top destinations to explore and things to do in England. With epic summer deals available and so much to see and you, you're guaranteed to feel like a winner!
Wellness in the workplace is a hot topic for employers and employees alike - read on to find out how businesses can support wellness in the workplace.
Before the holiday season got in full swing, we took the opportunity to show our appreciation for all of our incredible VWorks members. Our members enjoyed 5 days of treats; from free Starbucks and cake, to Fizz and Chips, as a thanks for their continued support. Take a look at what we got up to!
What a great weekend at Ascot Racecourse. Find out what we got up to as proud sponsors of the Village Hotels Fillies' Handicap Stakes.
Summer has officially arrived at the Pub & Grill! It's going to be a grand-slam this summer, with unmissable offers and epic sports action. Take a look at what's on this summer.
We're delighted to share that Village Hotels is the first UK domestic brand to join the Expedia Optimised Distribution program.
Considering a Leeds cycling holiday but don't know where to start? Check out this handy cyclist's guide to inspire you!
Ready to explore Basingstoke? Check out Love Basingstoke's ultimate guide to a weekend away in Basingstoke.
Village Hotels are delighted to announce their sponsorship of the Village Hotels Fillies' Race at the Ascot Summer Mile Racing Weekend, 9th July 2022.
Looking for hen weekend ideas? Find inspiration with Village Hotels. We have plenty to suit every bride-to-be...
After a celebration fit for a Queen, Village has raised over £7,500 for FareShare charity network as part of their Village Green Jubilee Price Drop event, in celebration of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee!
Meet Tony - BBC Gardeners' World feature, shop owner, and self-proclaimed plant obsessive. We spoke to Tony about the benefits of having plants around.
There are so many great things to do and see in the UK, stunning coastlines, historical cities, areas of outstanding beauty, world class attractions...We've got it all! Plus, many locations will give you the feeling of being abroad, right here in the UK.
You'll have a royally good time at the Pub & Grill on 4th June, as we're heading back to 1952 with a 70p buffet, including 2 drinks! Yes, really! Get your friends and family together, and join us between 12-4pm where you can expect lots of Great British family fun!
Let's get ready to rumble! We're taking our knockout partnership with Boxxer to the next level! Coming soon! Our brand NEW BOXXER-endorsed fitness class at Village Gym! Don the gloves and hit the bags with our fun, high intensity functional training session!
In partnership with 5Star Sports Agency we are delighted to announce that Village Hotel Aberdeen is the Official Hotel of the 2022 Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A.
Pack your bags - Summer is calling! Whether you're looking for a quick night away or a UK mini-break, you've come to the right place. We have a fantastic range of packages available this Summer, all including breakfast and £50 to spend on food in the Pub and Grill. Explore the top things to do near our hotels.
Forget the airport queues and chaos... Explore the beautiful British countryside and fantastic family friendly attractions.
There's no need to horse around getting home after a fantastic day at Ascot Races - there are great Village Hotels located nearby! Our Bracknell hotel is located just 10 minutes away... So close, we're almost neigh-bours (sorry!).
With everything under one roof to keep the kids (and the adults) entertained, you can't beat Village Hotels for a family getaway! Our family friendly hotels at locations across the UK, have an indoor pool with dedicated family swim times, a cool Pub & Grill serving delicious food for all the family ...and more. Make Village your base to discover some of the UK's best family attractions.
You might notice something has changed. Yes, it's us! We're still the same 'Village Hotels' that you know and love, now with a brand new website that shows off all our best facilities, local things to do, what's on and more. Take a look and see what it's all about.
Spring is the perfect opportunity to plan a staycation and discover all that the UK has to offer, with longer days and hopefully lots of sunshine just around the corner, not to mention you'll be able to explore some of the best attractions and locations without the summer crowds. Plus, with 33 great Village Hotels across the UK you're never far from a comfy bed for the night.
As part of our Village Green community initiative, we are delighted to share an update on our latest partnership with Carefree. As part of their 'break-maker' programme, Village Hotels is committing to provide 1,000 free hotel stays to carers, offering much needed respite and a break away from their daily struggles. Take a look at our carer feedback.
Planning your wedding? We've put together a list of things people often forget to consider ahead of their big day? Was there some kind of snag that could have been avoided with a bit of foresight? Or did they perhaps have a post-wedding light bulb moment and think 'I wish I had done that'?
We're excited to announce the extension of our partnership with Boxxer ahead of 2 highly-anticipated events Amir Khan vs. Kell Brook on February 19th in Manchester, and Josh Taylor vs. Jack Catterall on February 26th in Glasgow.
Planning a 2022 getaway? Why not consider one of our brand new hotels - Village Hotel Basingstoke, Village Hotel Bracknell, Village Hotel Bristol, Village Hotel Portsmouth or Village Hotel Southampton Eastleigh. Whether you're planning a family friendly getaway or a solo adventure, fun with friends or an extended date night, you can discover historical landmarks, relaxing countryside, theme parks and more. Add to your break the incredible leisure facilities Village has to offer, and you're guaranteed a fun filled getaway...whatever the weather!
Ready to get your business moving again? With restrictions lifting across the UK, there has never been a better time to get the team together to work on your business goals… And that's where team building activities come in! Team building exercises are usually held outside of the working environment, offering colleagues a chance to interact and work together. Not only do team building exercises make your employees feel valued, they offer tonnes of benefits for your business, including increased productivity, team collaboration, motivational benefits, as well as building trust amongst the team.
More than just a hotel, Village is a place to workout, stay, meet and play. Village Hotel Club Bracknell is our 33rd hotel in the UK and our largest, flagship property. The 212-bedroom hotel has undergone a complete and radical transformation. Following a period of extensive renovation work and reconfiguration of the former Hilton site, the hotel will be unrecognisable as you walk through the doors. Visitors will enjoy a completely new and upgraded experience, in keeping with the unique Village Hotel Club offering.
As part of our Village Green community initiative, we are delighted to announce our latest partnership with Carefree. As part of their 'break-maker' programme, Village Hotels is committing to provide 1,000 free hotel stays to carers, offering much needed respite and a break away from their daily struggles. Guests will be able to take advantage of the full Village Hotel Club experience with access to our extensive leisure facilities, Pub and Grill and on site Starbucks.
Village is more than a hotel, and working for us is more than just another job in hospitality - this is Village! We asked our teams to sum up what Village means to them… What makes Village, their Village? The friends they've made; the career aspirations they've achieved; the people they've met; the fun they have - or simply being part of an incredible team? Take a look at some of our favourite submissions!
Our lives are becoming increasingly demanding; long working hours, the pressure of performing at work, family life, busy social lives… The list goes on! It's more important than ever to focus on our wellbeing and work life balance, as according to Glassdoor, mentions of key words such as ''mental health'' in reviews has increased by 500% over the past 3 years, with mentions of ''wellbeing'' increasing 58% and ''burnout'' increasing 158% since April 2021.
Packing for a trip away is never easy! Deciding whether to ditch your trainers or your favourite jacket, sitting on your suitcase to force it closed, and let's not talk about forgotten items...The struggle is real! Make sure your next business trip is stress free, and ensure you're prepared with the right outfits, shoes and personal items. Check out our guide to packing like a pro!
There is nothing worse than being squashed into a pokey hotel room, trying to relax after a hard day's work when all you want is your home comforts. Not forgetting the thought of dining out on another petrol station sandwich… It's hardly inspiring! But that's where a stay at Village is different... Your wellness matters to us!
Whether you're joining us for a delicious lunch, staying on business or refuelling after a workout, there's lots of tasty options to sink your teeth into at the Pub & Grill. Our delicious healthy bowls, developed with help f1rom an expert nutritionist are bursting with flavour and goodness that will fill you up all day. Plus our power shakes are filled with vitamins and minerals and pack a great punch. Plus, we still have those tasty Village classics like our juicy burger stacks and hot wings, for when you fancy a treat! Take a look at some of our favourites!
World Wellbeing Week is an annual event, running this year from 21st - 30th June. It's designed to promote awareness of all types of wellbeing, social, physical, emotional, financial, career, community and environmental. Take a look and see what it's all about and how we're getting involved!
The UK is a great place to live because many different cities hold their own individual character and look. This year, we are truly spoiled for choice for city breaks, and Village are here to help you find the place that is right for you. There is no better place to shout about your trip away than Instagram. Let's run through some of the best places you can add to your city break bucket list that will look fantastic with any Insta filter!
Village Hotels offer more than a bed for the night - with a place to work out, stay, meet and play, all under one roof. Across our entire portfolio a comfy bed, great shower, and nifty gadgets come as standard and we pride ourselves on providing the very best customer experience with the latest in-room technology; from self check-in and keyless room entry to contactless payments. In our latest additions to guest services, we're delighted to announce our partnerships with Sky and Google, along with introducing the Village Hotels App.
2020 will surely go down as a year to forget thanks to cancelled plans and revised holidays. The lockdown has been a tough time for all of us, not least for the essential key workers who have kept our hospitals running, our supermarkets filled with food, and our streets safe. Village Hotels would like to take this opportunity to offer a huge thank you to all the people across the country working in key industries. We're here to help you through these difficult times.
Berlin, 6 March 2019 – Village Hotel Club today outlines the next steps in its £480 million programme for the unique lifestyle brand that will take the number of Village Hotel Clubs from 30 to 50 by 2026, creating 2,400 new jobs in the process.
Find out how to make your favourite Pub & Grill cocktail at home!
Recreate our famous Beef Tacos at home. Get ready to spice up your weekend - Village style!
Learn how to recreate our famous Buffalo chicken wings at home. Get ready to spice up your weekend - Village style!
Taking part in #DryJanuary? Re-create our delicious mocktails.
At Village, our sales aren't just accessible for one day of the year on Black Friday! Sign up to the Booking Revolution and you'll get access to the best deals on rooms all year round, plus £25 worth of extras with every stay* - that's free wifi, parking, access to our extensive gym and pool, and a VWorks Hot Desk. Let's take a look at what's available to book right now!
Introducing Cluk & GoBurger, the tastiest chicken and juiciest burger stacks! Cluk and GoBurger is our brand new click & collect and delivery service. It's your go to when you're looking for chicken on the fly, and buns on the run! If you're looking for a quick bite to take home from your local Pub & Grill, dinner delivered to your doorstep, or a late night takeaway then you've come to the right place! The delicious Cluk & GoBurger menu is available everyday between 5-9pm. We're here to introduce you to a couple of our favourites (Warning! May cause intense hunger!).
You've got to be careful who you take business advice from. But when that person is a self-made billionaire and one of the most trusted, respected and liked people in the world, well, maybe it's worth taking.
On 8th March people all around the world celebrate International Women's Day - a day dedicated to celebrating the social, economical and political achievements of women all over the World.
Want to know what it feels like to be an A-list celeb? Now you can. At Village we've always been hot on customer service. But now we're going one step further. It's called 'celebrity service' and you'll love it.
Let us introduce Nalin Daud. The new General Manager at the soon to be open Village Hotel Basingstoke. Taking charge of a brand new hotel is always an exciting and challenging role. But to say Nalin was born for this role is a serious understatement.
Hands up if you've said this. I know there are plenty of us in Village HQ who've uttered that statement more than a few times.
Reducing our carbon footprint is something we've been working hard at for a couple of years. And it's really paying off in more ways than one.
Our very own food and drink ambassador, Great British Bake Off winner Candice Brown, has shared one of her favourite recipes with us, so you can be your own GBBO champ!
We're always looking for ways to help our VWorks Business Club members work smarter and be more productive. So we've been doing a little research.
CALM – the Campaign Against Living Miserably – is taking a stand against male suicide, sadly the single biggest killer of men under the age of 45. Our amazing team at Bournemouth were only too happy to do their bit to raise money for this great cause.
Some see travelling for work a perk. Others a chore. Either way, at Village Hotels we work hard to make sure that we tick all the right boxes.
Formidable businesswoman Baroness Karren Brady CBE is one of our Village Hotel Ambassadors. She's joined forces with us to add her considerable business knowledge to help nurture and grow local businesses in our community.
Co-working, off-site working, collaborative workspaces. Whatever you call it, businesses are embracing the out-of-office working culture. The Co-working London 2019 Conference gave us a great insight into where this is heading in the future.
This week our Village Hotel Portsmouth team headed out to Farlington Marshes with Final Straw Solent to clean up hundreds of tiny plastic pellets, known as nurdles that had washed up on the shores.
Last week our team from Village Glasgow hosted their annual golf day at The Carrick Golf Club, Loch Lomond to raise funds for Calums Cabin. Calums Cabin was created by the family of Calum Speirs, a brave boy from Rothesay who sadly lost his battle with a brain tumour in 2007. The Speirs family formed Calums Cabin in Calums memory, to support children suffering from Cancer or Cancer related diseases. The holiday Cabins on the Isle of Bute offer a place for families to spend 'quality family time together, make special irreplaceable memories and recharge their batteries for what may lie ahead'. We have been supporting Calums Cabin over the last few years as part of our Village Our Community campaign. The campaign is our commitment to being a hub for the local area, where people come together to work, play and rest.
Village Hotel Club group consists of 30 hotels across the UK. We promise guests and locals more than just a bed for the night. Our comfy rooms come with big beds, huge TVs, great showers, in-room technology, Sky Movies and more. Our hotels are also home to a state-of-the-art gym and pool, a Village Pub and Grill which serves tasty food and drink all day every day in a buzzing atmosphere, not forgetting a Starbucks coffee shop for that morning pick-me-up. You can meet at the VWorks Business Club which offers an office away from home, with flexible working space and membership options. After dark, the party starts in the events suite where you'll find tribute acts, weddings and banqueting functions.
You might have heard about our Village Our Community initiative, which launched in September 2018. Recognising that the local community is key to every business, Village as a brand have committed more than 30,000 hours per year to volunteer in the local community. We've taken a look at what Village Hotel Bury have been up to as part of our initiative.
Last month, Village Hotel London Watford pledged their hours to help those with learning disabilities as we partnered with Borehamwood FC to provide football sessions for adults from Mencap and Borehamwood Day Centre, and run after-school classes for children to learn football basics.
In this month's Member Spotlight, we introduce you to Kat Thorne, the founder and director of The Morning Gamechanger, an organisation that teaches teams how to live happier, healthier, and high performing lives. Kat helps employers and employees shift them from running their lives on auto-pilot to being intention with their habits. Most importantly, she helps people create morning routines that suit them.
Meet Matt—owner of Mr Charger (Berkshire)—an electric vehicle charging solution provider. Matt is also our first member at our brand-new VWorks at Village Hotel Bracknell!
Meet Steve, of Sporting Difference—a unique company that provides seminars and training programmes in conjunction with successful sports clubs
Lewis Ellis is founder of Hussel Marketing, and made it to the final five on BBC's 'The Apprentice' in 2019.
Ross Mitchell helps business owners and professionals with their financial futures by offering a friendly, personal service, and providing a strategy to help his clients meet their goals.
Meet Annie—Tutor, examiner, freelance journalist, and presenter of the Schoolosophy podcast
Meet Mostafa, a disabled (blind) activist and researcher who advocates for the main streaming of disability rights.
Thomas is an experienced Integrative Addiction Specialist and Psychotherapist who works with children, adolescents, adults, couples, families, and groups.
G2 Speech offer complete document management solutions for healthcare, legal and business enterprises, and have worked in the UK healthcare market for over 20 years.
It's not what you know, it's who you know! Every month, we introduce you to one of our VWorks Coworking Space members. This month, we caught up with VWorks member & Leadership Coach, Maria Bryceland to find out how businesses can build extraordinary cultures to improve retention and drive business growth.
Meet national blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia. We spoke to Chief Executive, James, about their commitment to this cause, and the incredible fundraising efforts that support them.


text:
public interface ServerScript
These scriptlets can be written in any language supported by the Java "JSR 223" standard, including Java itself, as well as languages such as Groovy, JavaScript, Velocity, Python, Ruby, Scala and Clojure.
Scriptlets are automatically recompiled when you change the .ds.xml file - just reload the page and the Smart GWT Server Framework automatically notices the modified DataSource file and uses the new scriptlets.
Declaring Scriptlet Language
You can set the default system-wide language in server.properties
by setting
script.defaultLangauge: "groovy"Alternatively, anywhere a scriptlet is allowed, you can use the "language" attribute to declare the language. For example:
<operationBindings> <operationBinding operationType="add"> <script language="groovy"> ... Groovy code ... </script> </operationBinding> </operationBindings>
If your scriptlet crashes, this is reported in the server-side log along with the line number of the crash.
<!-- crash will be reported at line 1 --> <script>crash()</script> <!-- crash will be reported at line 2 --> <script> crash() </script>It's common practice to use a CDATA tag so that XML-special characters such as < do not have to be quoted as <. When doing this, be aware that the line numbering will still start from the <script> tag, not the CDATA tag. For example:
<!-- crash will be reported at line 3 --> <script> <![CDATA[ 5 < crash() ]]> </script> <!-- crash will be reported at line 2 --> <script><![CDATA[ 5 < crash() ]]></script>
You can import Java libraries by placing a <scriptImport> tag immediately before a <script> or <serverCondition> tag, like so:
<scriptImport>javax.servlet.http.*</scriptImport> <script language="groovy"> String sessionId = session.getId(); ...There is also a system-wide set of default imports:
java.util.* javax.servlet.http.* com.isomorphic.base.Config com.isomorphic.util.* com.isomorphic.datasource.* com.isomorphic.rpc.RPCManagerYou can override these in
via the property
, which takes a comma- or space-separated list of packages or
classes (like the above).
Dynamic languages such as Groovy or JavaScript allow you to place an import inside the script itself as well.
The Oracle JDK and JRE include support for JavaScript scripting via the Nashorn engine.
For convenience, Smart GWT also bundles a .jar providing Groovy support from
http://www.groovy-lang.org/, which
uses the Apache license. We also include
a .jar file providing Java language support (however see below for limitations). This
implementation is based on the BSD-licensed Java.net implementation, but enhanced by
Isomorphic to work around container-specific classloader issues that arise when running Java
language scripting inside a servlet container and trying to reference common objects of the
servlet API itself. See SunNotice
for licensing information.
There are many other languages available, sometimes with multiple implementations, and they are best found via web search.
NOTE: There is a known problem using Smart GWT's built-in Java language scripting
with Tomcat version 7.0.53 and newer (including Tomcat 8.x versions). The problem is a
classloader issue for which there is no obvious workaround. For this reason, we recommend
that you use Groovy if you wish to use Java as a scripting language: to a very large extent,
Groovy is a superset of Java, so the great majority of scripted Java source will work
unchanged if you just change the language definition from "java" to "groovy". There is no
need to learn or use any of the Groovy language features - you are simply using Groovy as
an evaluation engine for plain Java language script. Of course, if you want to use "real"
Java, that is always available to you through the normal channels of
custom datasources
A full description of the differences between Groovy and Java is here
You can define system-wide headers and footers for each language - code that is added before
and after scriptlets wherever it is defined, and can set up variables or functions you use
often. To define the location of header and footer files, set
in server.properties. For example, these settings:
script.groovy.header: $webRoot/shared/header.groovy script.groovy.footer: $webRoot/shared/footer.groovywould add the Groovy fragments found in header.groovy and footer.groovy to beginning and end of every scriptlet that declares language="groovy" (or declares no language if the default engine is "groovy").
NOTE: most scripting engines are available under several language names. For example, the Rhino JavaScript engine registers both "javascript" and "ecmascript" as well as a few variations on letter case. When using the "language" attribute on script tags, the exact value supplied is used to look up header and footer files via server.properties. This means a language setting of "javascript" will find different header and footer files from a language of "JavaScript" even though both will execute via Rhino.
Although it's not usually considered a "scripting language", using the Java language for scriplets has the advantage that developers do not need to understand two languages in order to modify server-side code. However, using Java for scripting presents special challenges, because unlike true scripting languages, in Java a piece of code cannot be compiled unless it forms a valid class definition.
For this reason, by default every Java scriplet has an implicit wrapper added around it which makes it into a class definition of a trivial class with one method, and your scriptlet code forms the body of that method, after a series of local variables have been set up to allow convenient access to context variables. The header and footer files you've defined, if any, appear before and after your scriptlet, still within the method body.
This makes Java viable as a scripting language despite its verbosity - if the actual business logic to be executed consists of just a few lines of Java, your overall scriptlet will be only that long instead of being forced to contain a complete class definition.
The automatic wrapping of Java code can be disabled by setting
to false in server.properties. In this case
any scriptlet must contain a valid class definition like the below - context variables need to
be manually retrieved from the ScriptContext object instead of being automatically
available as local variables, and the attribute "evalResult" is used to return data in lieu of
using a return
class Temp { private static ScriptContext ctx; public static void setScriptContext(ScriptContext context) { ctx = context; } public static void main(String[] args) { String result = "Hello World!"; ctx.setAttribute("evalResult", result, ScriptContext.ENGINE_SCOPE); } }All scriptlets must also import javax.script.ScriptContext. For obvious reasons setting
to false is not recommended.
Scriptlets written in Java must use a return
statement to return a
result from the scriptlet. Scriptlets written in JavaScript must not
use a
as Rhino will report this as an error - the JavaScript code is not
executed in the scope of a function, and only functions can return
Instead, JavaScript scriptlets should simply end with a statement indicating the value they would like to return. For example:
// if used as the last line, the scriptlet // returns the result of dsRequest.execute(); dsRequest.execute(); // if you already have the value as a variable, // just end with the variable name plus semicolon var dsResponse = dsRequest.execute(); dsResponse; // add a line like this to force returning null // instead of the result of the previous line of code null;Groovy makes the
statement optional, and like JavaScript, will take the
value of the last statement as the returned value if there is no explicit
Other languages supported by JSR223 may have other special semantics for returning data - see their documentation for details.
Context variables that are available to a scriptlet are explained in the documentation for the
particular property where a scriptlet may be declared, for example,
In most JSR223 languages, context variables are available as ordinary local variables and you can simply refer to them directly in your scriptlet. This includes Java, so long as useDefaultScriptWrapper is left in its default setting (see above).


text:
You can't use a diffuser, you can't redirect it, you can't adjust intensity, you can only pop that little sucker up and blast away.
Is there ever a situation where having this built-in pop-up flash is beneficial?
You don't own any other flashes/lights so using it to trigger something else is not a valid response. :-)


text:
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why should I trust this Trade Up program?
A: HTC has selected Clover Wireless to fully administer the HTC Trade Up program. Clover has more than 20 years' experience evaluating and trading in used electronics. Clover will provide the maximum Trade Up value for your used phone. If necessary, Clover will instead determine the most environmentally friendly and fully compliant way to recycle it.
Q. How do I get paid?
A: Simply start the process by selecting your qualifying used smartphone and answering a couple of questions about it. We'll then give you an estimate for your phone. Next you buy a new HTC phone and send in the required information. You will receive an email with instructions for packaging and mailing in your old device. Once Clover Wireless verifies the phone you're trading in meets the requirements, you will be mailed a check within 10 days of receiving your device. Please note the check is issued mailed from Clover Wireless, not HTC.
Q. What happens with my smartphone once I mail it in?
A: Clover Wireless reconditions the phone for resale or recycles it. Clover employs a zero tolerance landfill policy.
Q. Could my phone be resold overseas?
A: Yes, frequently overseas markets have a greater demand for previously owned consumer electronics. Clover remarkets only fully functional products to legitimate businesses overseas.
Q. Do you ever donate items?
A: Yes. Sometimes Clover Wireless donates phones to shelters, senior citizen homes and schools.
Q. Are you a certified recycler?
A: Yes. Clover Wireless is a certified, audited and registered ISO 14001 reseller and recycler. We work with a dedicated end-of-life service partner who is both BAN and RIOS certified and exceeds all government regulations.
About Trade Up Values
Q. How is my Trade Up value determined?
A: Your Trade Up value is based on the current resale market of your specific device, make, model and condition. We constantly analyze markets to ensure you get a fair Trade Up value. What's your phone worth? Find out!
Q. Do Trade Up values ever change?
A: Yes. Clover Wireless reviews current Trade Up value tables and updates phone estimates based on current market conditions. Once you have you have received your estimate, it is only valid for 30 days.
Q. Will my Trade Up estimate ever change?
A: Yes. The estimated value is only valid for 30 days. As long as we receive your used phone within 30 days of the initial estimate, and the phone is in the condition you reported then your quoted value remains the same. After 30 days the quoted estimate is subject to change upon final verification.
About Acceptable Products
Q. What if my phone's condition differs from what I represented?
A: Clover Wireless reserves the right to recalculate the value of any phone using the same original parameters. You are under no obligation to accept the recalculated estimate and no trade is final until you have mailed us the device.
Q. Does a damaged product qualify for a Trade Up?
A: Maybe. Some products may contain physical or functional defects and still qualify. However, to receive the maximum Trade Up value your phone should be in working order.
Q. Should I send in my phone's accessories?
A: You can, but it's not necessary. Unless specifically asked for during the product evaluation accessories (including power cords, chargers, batteries, holders) are not required.
Q. Can I Trade Up more than one item?
A: Yes. You are eligible to submit mulitple trades, however you must complete one trade submission at a time and have individual proof of a new phone purchased for each Trade Up item you submit.
Q. What about my personal data on the phone?
A: It is best to clear any personal data before mailing it in. Once a phone is mailed, it cannot be returned. For phones with built-in memory, all numbers, contacts, data files and other information are completely erased and the device is restored to its original settings. Any SIM cards received with phones are removed and destroyed.