It was taken from somewhere up in the hills overlooking Paphos, a coastal city in the southwest of Cyprus, during the storms in winter 2006
Friday, October 19, 2007
9 Bolts Caught at a Time
It was taken from somewhere up in the hills overlooking Paphos, a coastal city in the southwest of Cyprus, during the storms in winter 2006
Thursday, October 18, 2007
How to Charge any Battery Survival-Style
My camera shut down from low battery just when I needed to take some pictures.
The light was perfect. I suddenly remembered where I'd left the charger - 3000 miles away.
Everyone's had this experience, or the similar experience of spending one's vacation searching for a cellphone charger for someone.
Here's how to charge any battery enough to keep doing the important stuff.
This is the battery to my Canon S30. It's got three terminals, labeled "+", "-", and "T".
I've clipped alligator-clips onto the two obvious ones.
You don't need clips, you can just hold wires on it for as long as it takes to charge, that's probably better anyway, so you can tell if anything is going wrong.
Warning! Wear eye protection and if anything weird happens don't breathe the fumes!
step 1Hands on Charging
What was that other terminal marked "T" for? TIMMY of course, just like in the nursery rhyme!
It's for Timmy to check how hot the battery gets when you charge it.
Actually it's "Thermistor" or similar names. Temperature sensor. To see how hot the battery gets when you charge it.
Instead of a computer to keep track of temp, weve got a Timmy handy to hold his finger on the battery. If it gets hot you're doing something wrong.
"Digital sensor, huh?" would be a running joke back when Americans knew Greek and knew that digits are fingers. But then numbers got so much use we forgot about counting on fingers, and now people barely know how to do anything with their hands.
Anyway, here's a finger used as a digital thermometer. Which reminds me of the joke about the doctor...
step 2Current and Voltage
Want to be totally mystified? Look up "battery charge control".
Add keywords like "li-ion" for further obfuscation.
That stuff is important if you want to fully charge your battery, make it survive many charge cycles, or avoid lawsuits.
We just want to take pictures or talk on the phone. So here's what we do:
Go find a dc powersupply. Nice ones usually live next to people with names like "electronics guy". If you can find one like this that displays current and voltage, it's really easy.
If you can't, there's still hope, hang in there til later.
Turn the current and voltage knobs all the way to the left. Turn on the powersupply and
hook it up to your battery, bearing in mind that red and black wires can possibly be plugged into the wrong sockets. Read the labels and unplug anything that seems to be arcwelding on your battery.
Turn up the voltage and current limit knobs until 500 milliamps (0.5 amps) is flowing into your battery. If you feel like being careful look up how much current the experts use.
But half an amp for a few minutes won't damage any battery that's big enough for a modern camera or phone.
step 3Time Limit
We're not going to fully charge the battery because we don't know how, and we're in a hurry.
We're just going to charge it enough to go back to our regular jobs. The phone or camera will tell us roughly how charged the battery is after we start using it.
So we're only going to charge it for ten minutes or so.
This battery has 1200 milliamp/hours of capacity. So if it's fully discharged and we charge it at 500 milliamps per hour, it would take more than two hours to fully charge it.
Some types of batteries can be badly damaged by overcharging. Some are just damaged a little.
Here's how my golf cart avoids overcharging. There's a built in appliance timer that turns off the charger automatically. It won't let you charge for more than 24 hours without re-setting.
step 4Christmas Tree Lightbulbs as Improvised Current Regulators
If you can't find a nice variable powersupply like our electronics guy has, you can still charge
a battery.
Hopefully you own an electrical meter.
Find a source of DC electricity. Look at the voltage of your source, the voltage of your battery, and use Ohm's law to figure out what kind of resistor you need to put between the two to get the right current to flow. Then go find that resistor. A piece of a heating element from a toaster or hair dryer can work. That clothes iron in the photo worked for a certain battery and a certain dc source.
The best improvised current regulator is usually a small lightbulb. The bulb is great because the resistance goes way up when the filament gets hot and limits the current. And you can only put an amp or so through one of these without burning it out, so it acts as its own fuse. And they're free gifts from garbage Santa.
Here I'm using two bulbs in series to limit the current going into a gelcell. Use your multimeter to measure what current goes through your bulb at different voltages. Or you can just cowboy it and use one tiny bulb for a few minutes, while feeling to see if the battery gets hot or not.
Wear eye protection and don't breathe the fumes!
The light was perfect. I suddenly remembered where I'd left the charger - 3000 miles away.
Everyone's had this experience, or the similar experience of spending one's vacation searching for a cellphone charger for someone.
Here's how to charge any battery enough to keep doing the important stuff.
This is the battery to my Canon S30. It's got three terminals, labeled "+", "-", and "T".
I've clipped alligator-clips onto the two obvious ones.
You don't need clips, you can just hold wires on it for as long as it takes to charge, that's probably better anyway, so you can tell if anything is going wrong.
Warning! Wear eye protection and if anything weird happens don't breathe the fumes!
step 1Hands on Charging
What was that other terminal marked "T" for? TIMMY of course, just like in the nursery rhyme!
It's for Timmy to check how hot the battery gets when you charge it.
Actually it's "Thermistor" or similar names. Temperature sensor. To see how hot the battery gets when you charge it.
Instead of a computer to keep track of temp, weve got a Timmy handy to hold his finger on the battery. If it gets hot you're doing something wrong.
"Digital sensor, huh?" would be a running joke back when Americans knew Greek and knew that digits are fingers. But then numbers got so much use we forgot about counting on fingers, and now people barely know how to do anything with their hands.
Anyway, here's a finger used as a digital thermometer. Which reminds me of the joke about the doctor...
step 2Current and Voltage
Want to be totally mystified? Look up "battery charge control".
Add keywords like "li-ion" for further obfuscation.
That stuff is important if you want to fully charge your battery, make it survive many charge cycles, or avoid lawsuits.
We just want to take pictures or talk on the phone. So here's what we do:
Go find a dc powersupply. Nice ones usually live next to people with names like "electronics guy". If you can find one like this that displays current and voltage, it's really easy.
If you can't, there's still hope, hang in there til later.
Turn the current and voltage knobs all the way to the left. Turn on the powersupply and
hook it up to your battery, bearing in mind that red and black wires can possibly be plugged into the wrong sockets. Read the labels and unplug anything that seems to be arcwelding on your battery.
Turn up the voltage and current limit knobs until 500 milliamps (0.5 amps) is flowing into your battery. If you feel like being careful look up how much current the experts use.
But half an amp for a few minutes won't damage any battery that's big enough for a modern camera or phone.
step 3Time Limit
We're not going to fully charge the battery because we don't know how, and we're in a hurry.
We're just going to charge it enough to go back to our regular jobs. The phone or camera will tell us roughly how charged the battery is after we start using it.
So we're only going to charge it for ten minutes or so.
This battery has 1200 milliamp/hours of capacity. So if it's fully discharged and we charge it at 500 milliamps per hour, it would take more than two hours to fully charge it.
Some types of batteries can be badly damaged by overcharging. Some are just damaged a little.
Here's how my golf cart avoids overcharging. There's a built in appliance timer that turns off the charger automatically. It won't let you charge for more than 24 hours without re-setting.
step 4Christmas Tree Lightbulbs as Improvised Current Regulators
If you can't find a nice variable powersupply like our electronics guy has, you can still charge
a battery.
Hopefully you own an electrical meter.
Find a source of DC electricity. Look at the voltage of your source, the voltage of your battery, and use Ohm's law to figure out what kind of resistor you need to put between the two to get the right current to flow. Then go find that resistor. A piece of a heating element from a toaster or hair dryer can work. That clothes iron in the photo worked for a certain battery and a certain dc source.
The best improvised current regulator is usually a small lightbulb. The bulb is great because the resistance goes way up when the filament gets hot and limits the current. And you can only put an amp or so through one of these without burning it out, so it acts as its own fuse. And they're free gifts from garbage Santa.
Here I'm using two bulbs in series to limit the current going into a gelcell. Use your multimeter to measure what current goes through your bulb at different voltages. Or you can just cowboy it and use one tiny bulb for a few minutes, while feeling to see if the battery gets hot or not.
Wear eye protection and don't breathe the fumes!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Mr Wang caught a Sea Bass with Two Mouths
Mr Wang caught a Sea Bass while fishing with his friends near the Liaoning costal area in China. The fish appears to have two mouths. He checked with veteran fishermen in his area but nobody has ever come across such an unusual find. He has kept the fish in the freezer hoping that someone will be able to give him an explanation in future.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
10 Simple Ways You Can Save the Planet and Money
The growing global warming crisis is turning most of us into cost-effective, energy-saving crusaders.
Most of the power plants in the world use fossil fuels that create an enormous amount of pollution, endanger the environment, and since they are of a limited supply they threaten energy security.
In reaction, a number of firms offer their consumers “green power,” which is a cleaner-burning energy source that provides power similar to that of fossil fuels. These clean-power generators specialize in producing electricity using renewable resources. Additionally, in some countries consumers are allowed to select their power provider the way one might pick a long-distance provider.
Unfortunately, these greener energy sources will not appeal to a wider audience until they become a cheaper alternative, and currently they are not. Until those prices come down and availability goes up, you can still save a considerable amount of money every year, as well as spare the environment any added grief. The fact is that if we all made a few simple, small changes to the way we live, we could make a huge difference for ourselves and future generations.
1. Fight the light!
Don’t leave lights on when no one is in the room. If you are going to be out of the room for more than ten minutes, turn off the light. If you know of a light that everyone forgets to turn off, make a sticker or a sign to hang next to the switch that says “Lights Out!” or “Don’t Forget!”
Where possible, use compact fluorescent light bulbs. Those funny-looking bulbs produce the same amount of light by using 3/4 less electricity. Plus, they last for years and years without burning out.
2. Pull the plug.
It’s not enough to turn your tube off with your remote — to make sure that your devices aren’t draining trickles of electricity, you should unplug them. In fact, if you have any doubt about this “trickle” try listening to your cell phone charger when it’s plugged in — it makes a very quiet buzzing sound. If that sounds like a lot of faff, invest in a Bye Bye Standby (or something similar) — it’s a unit that allows you to switch all your equipment off with one easy switch, which can be placed next to the light switch on the wall.
3. Take note.
Check the seals on your refrigerator and freezer by sticking a dollar bill in the door — if it doesn’t stay exactly where it is, you need to get your seals replaced. Dodgy seals waste energy by allowing warm air into the fridge and cool air out. And check your fridge-freezer location too — if it’s near heat-emitting appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines or cookers, it can use up to 15 percent more energy each year.
4. Wasting water wastes electricity.
Why? Because the biggest use of electricity in most cities is supplying water and cleaning it up after it’s been used.
About 75 percent of the water we use in our homes is used in the bathroom. Unless you have a low flush toilet, for example, you use about 5 to 7 gallons of water with every flush. A leaky toilet can waste more than 10,000 gallons of water a year. Drippy faucets are bad, too. A faucet that leaks enough water to fill a soda bottle every 30 minutes will waste 2,192 gallons of water a year.
Another simple way to save water and energy is to take shorter showers. You’ll use less hot water — and water heaters account for nearly 25 percent of your home’s energy use.
5. Get filtered.
If you find yourself overfilling your kettle in order to avoid pouring the crunchy limescale swimming around the bottom into your lovely cuppa, get a filter kettle. There are lots of different brands to choose from.
6. Turn it down.
Ninety percent of the energy used by washing machines is in water heating, so the best way to save energy is to use cold water and cold water detergents. Turn the setting to 40 degrees on your washing machine for heavily soiled clothes, and wash lightly soiled clothes at 30 degrees. The wash cycle will also usually take less time as there’s less need to heat water.
7. Get cozy.
Make your house a home by installing insulation to make sure you keep the heat where it belongs — inside your house. Even though it’ll cost you to get it done, it could save you several hundred dollars a year. And, in winter, your house will be the only one on the street with snow still on its roof — a sure sign of excellent insulation. I can’t think of a valid reason as to why having snow on your roof is something to be glad about… but it’ll certainly look awesome in your family Christmas photos!
8. Wait for the heat.
It’s tempting to constantly raise and lower your thermostat throughout the day, but it’s a huge waste. Because homes and apartments take time to heat and cool down, pick a good temperature and let the thermostat do the work. If you’re always adjusting your room temperature, your heating system is constantly at work which, in the end, requires more electricity.
9. Shocking news about batteries.
Did you know that Americans use an average of about eight batteries a year per person? Batteries that are thrown away produce most of the heavy metals — dangerous substances like lead, arsenic, zinc, cadmium, copper, and mercury — that are found in household trash. These metals are toxic. They can be harmful to humans and wildlife.
When discarded batteries from our trash wind up in landfills, these dangerous metals can seep into the ground water and eventually into the food chain. So, instead of throwing batteries in the trash, we should all take them to a toxic waste disposal area, if at all possible.
Turn off the toys and games (like GameBoys) that use batteries when you are not playing with them. That makes the batteries last longer, and you won’t need as many of them.
10. Save outside the house.
Remember how saving water saves energy? Use a broom instead of a hose to clean off the driveway, patio or deck — this will save hundreds of gallons of water each year. If you only have a small lawn, consider getting a manual push mower. It doesn’t use any energy except your own. Pushing the mower spins the rotating wheels, which spins the cutter. Consider it good exercise!
Don’t use an electric or gasoline leaf blower. Instead, use a rake. If you need to leave a security light on over night, change the incandescent bulb to a compact fluorescent. It will last months and maybe years and save you energy and money. Some compact fluorescent bulbs even come in yellow so they won’t attract bugs.
Saving energy isn’t hard and, while there’s always room for improvement, it doesn’t have to be a task that consumes you. Try some of these tips and check next month’s bill; you’ll find that you can save money on energy almost without thinking about it. And remember: Conservation not only holds down utility bills, but also prevents increases in the greenhouse gases that cause global warming.
“Don’t blow it - good planets are hard to find.
Most of the power plants in the world use fossil fuels that create an enormous amount of pollution, endanger the environment, and since they are of a limited supply they threaten energy security.
In reaction, a number of firms offer their consumers “green power,” which is a cleaner-burning energy source that provides power similar to that of fossil fuels. These clean-power generators specialize in producing electricity using renewable resources. Additionally, in some countries consumers are allowed to select their power provider the way one might pick a long-distance provider.
Unfortunately, these greener energy sources will not appeal to a wider audience until they become a cheaper alternative, and currently they are not. Until those prices come down and availability goes up, you can still save a considerable amount of money every year, as well as spare the environment any added grief. The fact is that if we all made a few simple, small changes to the way we live, we could make a huge difference for ourselves and future generations.
1. Fight the light!
Don’t leave lights on when no one is in the room. If you are going to be out of the room for more than ten minutes, turn off the light. If you know of a light that everyone forgets to turn off, make a sticker or a sign to hang next to the switch that says “Lights Out!” or “Don’t Forget!”
Where possible, use compact fluorescent light bulbs. Those funny-looking bulbs produce the same amount of light by using 3/4 less electricity. Plus, they last for years and years without burning out.
2. Pull the plug.
It’s not enough to turn your tube off with your remote — to make sure that your devices aren’t draining trickles of electricity, you should unplug them. In fact, if you have any doubt about this “trickle” try listening to your cell phone charger when it’s plugged in — it makes a very quiet buzzing sound. If that sounds like a lot of faff, invest in a Bye Bye Standby (or something similar) — it’s a unit that allows you to switch all your equipment off with one easy switch, which can be placed next to the light switch on the wall.
3. Take note.
Check the seals on your refrigerator and freezer by sticking a dollar bill in the door — if it doesn’t stay exactly where it is, you need to get your seals replaced. Dodgy seals waste energy by allowing warm air into the fridge and cool air out. And check your fridge-freezer location too — if it’s near heat-emitting appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines or cookers, it can use up to 15 percent more energy each year.
4. Wasting water wastes electricity.
Why? Because the biggest use of electricity in most cities is supplying water and cleaning it up after it’s been used.
About 75 percent of the water we use in our homes is used in the bathroom. Unless you have a low flush toilet, for example, you use about 5 to 7 gallons of water with every flush. A leaky toilet can waste more than 10,000 gallons of water a year. Drippy faucets are bad, too. A faucet that leaks enough water to fill a soda bottle every 30 minutes will waste 2,192 gallons of water a year.
Another simple way to save water and energy is to take shorter showers. You’ll use less hot water — and water heaters account for nearly 25 percent of your home’s energy use.
5. Get filtered.
If you find yourself overfilling your kettle in order to avoid pouring the crunchy limescale swimming around the bottom into your lovely cuppa, get a filter kettle. There are lots of different brands to choose from.
6. Turn it down.
Ninety percent of the energy used by washing machines is in water heating, so the best way to save energy is to use cold water and cold water detergents. Turn the setting to 40 degrees on your washing machine for heavily soiled clothes, and wash lightly soiled clothes at 30 degrees. The wash cycle will also usually take less time as there’s less need to heat water.
7. Get cozy.
Make your house a home by installing insulation to make sure you keep the heat where it belongs — inside your house. Even though it’ll cost you to get it done, it could save you several hundred dollars a year. And, in winter, your house will be the only one on the street with snow still on its roof — a sure sign of excellent insulation. I can’t think of a valid reason as to why having snow on your roof is something to be glad about… but it’ll certainly look awesome in your family Christmas photos!
8. Wait for the heat.
It’s tempting to constantly raise and lower your thermostat throughout the day, but it’s a huge waste. Because homes and apartments take time to heat and cool down, pick a good temperature and let the thermostat do the work. If you’re always adjusting your room temperature, your heating system is constantly at work which, in the end, requires more electricity.
9. Shocking news about batteries.
Did you know that Americans use an average of about eight batteries a year per person? Batteries that are thrown away produce most of the heavy metals — dangerous substances like lead, arsenic, zinc, cadmium, copper, and mercury — that are found in household trash. These metals are toxic. They can be harmful to humans and wildlife.
When discarded batteries from our trash wind up in landfills, these dangerous metals can seep into the ground water and eventually into the food chain. So, instead of throwing batteries in the trash, we should all take them to a toxic waste disposal area, if at all possible.
Turn off the toys and games (like GameBoys) that use batteries when you are not playing with them. That makes the batteries last longer, and you won’t need as many of them.
10. Save outside the house.
Remember how saving water saves energy? Use a broom instead of a hose to clean off the driveway, patio or deck — this will save hundreds of gallons of water each year. If you only have a small lawn, consider getting a manual push mower. It doesn’t use any energy except your own. Pushing the mower spins the rotating wheels, which spins the cutter. Consider it good exercise!
Don’t use an electric or gasoline leaf blower. Instead, use a rake. If you need to leave a security light on over night, change the incandescent bulb to a compact fluorescent. It will last months and maybe years and save you energy and money. Some compact fluorescent bulbs even come in yellow so they won’t attract bugs.
Saving energy isn’t hard and, while there’s always room for improvement, it doesn’t have to be a task that consumes you. Try some of these tips and check next month’s bill; you’ll find that you can save money on energy almost without thinking about it. And remember: Conservation not only holds down utility bills, but also prevents increases in the greenhouse gases that cause global warming.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
It's A Good Crack Or Is It Art?
Britain's Tate Modern gallery revealed the latest addition to its collection Monday -- a 500-foot (150 meter) crack running the length of the building's ground-floor hall. The work by Colombian artist Doris Salcedo begins as a hairline fissure and gradually widens and deepens as it zigzags across the concrete floor.
Bogota-based Salcedo said the work's "negative space" symbolized the experience of illegal immigrants.
Asked how deep the crack went, she said: "It's bottomless. It's as deep as humanity."
Tate director Nicholas Serota said the work had not damaged the building, but would leave a permanent mark. "There is a crack, there is a line, and eventually there will be a scar and that scar will remain," he said. "It will remain as a memory of the work and also as a memorial to the issues Doris touches on."
Salcedo's piece is titled "Shibboleth," after a Biblical massacre in which members of a defeated tribe were identified for slaughter based on the way they spoke.
This asian girl has fantastic talent with her tongue
The tongue is a wonderful thing. It allows you to taste, talk, and … touch.
Some people are just naturally more skilled with their tongue than most and we are going to showcase some of that talent.especially the last bit
Do You Recognize These 8 Body Language Killers?
“A significant amount of communication occurs through body language. Though we can’t see our own, everyone else does. If you’re saying one thing and thinking another, your body language may well give you away"
Did you know that 55% of communication is visual (body language, eye contact) and 38% is vocal (pitch, speed, volume, tone of voice)? That means only 7% involves your actual words. And when the spotlight is on you — whether one-on-one in a job interview or when making a presentation to a large group — you need to communicate effectively on all levels.
But how do you develop better language skills?
When it comes to body language, simply avoiding the most common mistakes and replacing them with more confident movements will make a big difference. Here you will find eight body language killers that will leave your audience underwhelmed and unimpressed. Train yourself to avoid them, and you’ll see that simple changes can make all the difference.
Mistake #1. Avoiding eye contact.
Do you read directly from a PowerPoint presentation instead of addressing the audience? In a one-on-one conversation, do you glance to the side, down at your feet, or at the desk? Ever catch yourself looking over the shoulder of the person you’re talking to? What it says about you is that you lack confidence, you are nervous and unprepared.
The winning technique: Keeping your eyes on your audience. Spend 80% to 90% of the time looking into the eyes of your listeners. The vast majority of people spend far too much time looking down at notes, PowerPoint slides or at the table in front of them. Not surprisingly, most speakers can change this behavior instantly simply by watching video of themselves. Powerful business leaders look at their listeners directly in the eye when delivering their message.
Mistake #2. Blocking: putting something between you and your listeners.
Another common mistake is putting something between you and your listeners. Crossing your arms, standing behind a podium or chair, or talking to someone from behind a computer monitor are all examples of blocking, which prevents a real connection from taking place. Even a folder on a desk can break the connection and create distance.
The winning technique: Staying “open.” Keep your hands apart and your palms up, pointed toward the ceiling. Remove physical barriers between you and your listeners.
Mistake #3. Fidgeting, rocking or swaying.
What it says about you is that you’re nervous, unsure or unprepared. So, stop fidgeting. Fidgeting, rocking and swaying don’t serve any purpose. Let’s imagine for a second a top executive of a computer company who has to deliver the news of a product delay to a major investor. He and his team actually have the event under control, and they have learned valuable lessons from their failure. But his body language suggests otherwise.
His biggest problem is rocking back and forth as he delivers the presentation. It reflects a lack of competence and control. By eventually learning to move with purpose, he can avoid career suicide. The investor will leave the next presentation confident that the project is well under control.
Mistake #4. Keeping your hands in your pockets or clasped together.
Keeping your hands stiffly by your side or stuck in your pockets can give the impression that you’re uninterested, uncommitted or nervous — whether you are or not.
The solution here is too simple: Take your hands out of your pocket and use them for purposeful, assertive hand gestures. Engaging both hands above the waist is an example of a complex hand gesture that reflects complex thinking and gives the listener confidence in the speaker.
Mistake #5. Standing or sitting perfectly still.
Ineffective speakers barely move, staying in one spot during a presentation. What it says about them: They are rigid, nervous, boring — not engaging or dynamic.
The winning technique: Animate your body, not your slides. Walk. Move. Most speakers think they need to stand ridged in one place. What they don’t realize is that movement is not only acceptable, it’s welcome. Some of the greatest business speakers walk into the audience, and are constantly moving… but with purpose!
For example, a dynamic speaker will walk from one side of the room to another to deliver their message. He points to a slide instead of reading from it, places his hand on someone’s shoulders instead of keeping the distance.
Mistake #6. Slouching, leaning back, or being hunched over.
Poor posture is often associated with a lack of confidence and can reflect — or be presumed to reflect — a lack of engagement or interest. What it says about you: You are unauthoritative; you lack confidence.
The winning technique: Keeping your head up and back straight. When standing stationary, place feet at shoulder width and lean slightly forward — you will look far more interested, engaged, and enthusiastic. Pull your shoulders slightly forward as well — you’ll appear more masculine. Head and spine should be straight. Don’t use a tabletop or podium as an excuse to lean on it.
Mistake #7. Using phony gestures.
What it says about you is that you’re overcoached, unnatural or artificial. Use gestures; just don’t overdo it. Researchers have shown that gestures reflect complex thought. Gestures leave listeners with the perception of confidence, competence and control. But the minute you try to copy a hand gesture, you risk looking contrived — like a bad politician.
President George Bush Sr. used gestures that were often incongruous with his words, as if he had been overcoached. It was like watching mismatched audio in a bad B-movie. You may not command quite as wide an audience as President Bush did, but, nonetheless, the last thing you want is for your own colleagues and friends to make fun of you after a meeting.
Mistake #8. Jingling coins, tapping toes & other annoying movements.
What it says about you is that you’re nervous, unpolished or insufficiently concerned with details. Use a video camera to tape yourself. Play it back with a critical eye. Do you find annoying gestures that you weren’t aware of? I once watched an author who had written a book on leadership discuss his project. He couldn’t help but jingle all the coins in his pocket throughout the entire talk. He didn’t sell very many books that day, and he certainly didn’t score points on the leadership scale.
Nervous energy will reflect itself in toe-tapping, touching your face or moving your leg up and down. It’s an easy fix once you catch yourself in the act!
Dynamic and powerful body language will help you kick up the power of your presentations, whether you’re interviewing for a job, climbing the career ladder or occupying the corner office. So work on your body language. Pay as much attention to it as the words you use, and watch your influence soar!
Did you know that 55% of communication is visual (body language, eye contact) and 38% is vocal (pitch, speed, volume, tone of voice)? That means only 7% involves your actual words. And when the spotlight is on you — whether one-on-one in a job interview or when making a presentation to a large group — you need to communicate effectively on all levels.
But how do you develop better language skills?
When it comes to body language, simply avoiding the most common mistakes and replacing them with more confident movements will make a big difference. Here you will find eight body language killers that will leave your audience underwhelmed and unimpressed. Train yourself to avoid them, and you’ll see that simple changes can make all the difference.
Mistake #1. Avoiding eye contact.
Do you read directly from a PowerPoint presentation instead of addressing the audience? In a one-on-one conversation, do you glance to the side, down at your feet, or at the desk? Ever catch yourself looking over the shoulder of the person you’re talking to? What it says about you is that you lack confidence, you are nervous and unprepared.
The winning technique: Keeping your eyes on your audience. Spend 80% to 90% of the time looking into the eyes of your listeners. The vast majority of people spend far too much time looking down at notes, PowerPoint slides or at the table in front of them. Not surprisingly, most speakers can change this behavior instantly simply by watching video of themselves. Powerful business leaders look at their listeners directly in the eye when delivering their message.
Mistake #2. Blocking: putting something between you and your listeners.
Another common mistake is putting something between you and your listeners. Crossing your arms, standing behind a podium or chair, or talking to someone from behind a computer monitor are all examples of blocking, which prevents a real connection from taking place. Even a folder on a desk can break the connection and create distance.
The winning technique: Staying “open.” Keep your hands apart and your palms up, pointed toward the ceiling. Remove physical barriers between you and your listeners.
Mistake #3. Fidgeting, rocking or swaying.
What it says about you is that you’re nervous, unsure or unprepared. So, stop fidgeting. Fidgeting, rocking and swaying don’t serve any purpose. Let’s imagine for a second a top executive of a computer company who has to deliver the news of a product delay to a major investor. He and his team actually have the event under control, and they have learned valuable lessons from their failure. But his body language suggests otherwise.
His biggest problem is rocking back and forth as he delivers the presentation. It reflects a lack of competence and control. By eventually learning to move with purpose, he can avoid career suicide. The investor will leave the next presentation confident that the project is well under control.
Mistake #4. Keeping your hands in your pockets or clasped together.
Keeping your hands stiffly by your side or stuck in your pockets can give the impression that you’re uninterested, uncommitted or nervous — whether you are or not.
The solution here is too simple: Take your hands out of your pocket and use them for purposeful, assertive hand gestures. Engaging both hands above the waist is an example of a complex hand gesture that reflects complex thinking and gives the listener confidence in the speaker.
Mistake #5. Standing or sitting perfectly still.
Ineffective speakers barely move, staying in one spot during a presentation. What it says about them: They are rigid, nervous, boring — not engaging or dynamic.
The winning technique: Animate your body, not your slides. Walk. Move. Most speakers think they need to stand ridged in one place. What they don’t realize is that movement is not only acceptable, it’s welcome. Some of the greatest business speakers walk into the audience, and are constantly moving… but with purpose!
For example, a dynamic speaker will walk from one side of the room to another to deliver their message. He points to a slide instead of reading from it, places his hand on someone’s shoulders instead of keeping the distance.
Mistake #6. Slouching, leaning back, or being hunched over.
Poor posture is often associated with a lack of confidence and can reflect — or be presumed to reflect — a lack of engagement or interest. What it says about you: You are unauthoritative; you lack confidence.
The winning technique: Keeping your head up and back straight. When standing stationary, place feet at shoulder width and lean slightly forward — you will look far more interested, engaged, and enthusiastic. Pull your shoulders slightly forward as well — you’ll appear more masculine. Head and spine should be straight. Don’t use a tabletop or podium as an excuse to lean on it.
Mistake #7. Using phony gestures.
What it says about you is that you’re overcoached, unnatural or artificial. Use gestures; just don’t overdo it. Researchers have shown that gestures reflect complex thought. Gestures leave listeners with the perception of confidence, competence and control. But the minute you try to copy a hand gesture, you risk looking contrived — like a bad politician.
President George Bush Sr. used gestures that were often incongruous with his words, as if he had been overcoached. It was like watching mismatched audio in a bad B-movie. You may not command quite as wide an audience as President Bush did, but, nonetheless, the last thing you want is for your own colleagues and friends to make fun of you after a meeting.
Mistake #8. Jingling coins, tapping toes & other annoying movements.
What it says about you is that you’re nervous, unpolished or insufficiently concerned with details. Use a video camera to tape yourself. Play it back with a critical eye. Do you find annoying gestures that you weren’t aware of? I once watched an author who had written a book on leadership discuss his project. He couldn’t help but jingle all the coins in his pocket throughout the entire talk. He didn’t sell very many books that day, and he certainly didn’t score points on the leadership scale.
Nervous energy will reflect itself in toe-tapping, touching your face or moving your leg up and down. It’s an easy fix once you catch yourself in the act!
Dynamic and powerful body language will help you kick up the power of your presentations, whether you’re interviewing for a job, climbing the career ladder or occupying the corner office. So work on your body language. Pay as much attention to it as the words you use, and watch your influence soar!
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