Engineering the Viking Longboat

Engineering the Viking Longboat Engineering the Viking Longboat The Vikings are coming. Again. After a 900-year hiatus, Viking culture and all things Nordic are suddenly landing on shorelines around the world. From the History Channels ratings juggernaut Vikings, to 2011s blockbuster Thor, to the upcoming summer epics Hammer of the Gods and Thor 2, it is suddenly very cool to be a Northman. Even HBOs fictional Game of Thrones is set in the distinctly Viking-esque kingdom of Westeros. And yet, surprisingly little is known about this ancient culture that so thoroughly changed the world, and that has so thoroughly captured the imagination of scriptwriters, viewersand engineers alike. Theres much more thats unknown of the Viking Age, or even unknowable, than there is that is known, says Dr. William Short, who holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but who is now an author and independent scholar specializing in Viking-age topics, as well a s being a research Fellow of the Higgins Armory Museum in Worcester, MA. He teaches Viking martial arts on his site, Hurstwic.org. One thing we do know for certain, however, is that they could sail. And how. The Viking longboat remains an engineering marvel today. The Boat The Viking longboat, along with a related entwurf called the knarr for shipping cargo, is a true engineering marvel of the ancient world, and in light of the fact that modern replicas have been apocryphally clocked at 25 knots, these boats are a marvel to this very day, over a millennium later. First of all, they longboats had very shallow drafts, so they could sail in very shallow water, which meant they could go anywhere, says Short. They were strong enough to cross the open ocean, but they were shallow enough that they could go way up river and truly surprise people in places where no one expected an ocean-going ship to appear. And surprise people they did, with Viking culture fundamentally reshaping the people and culture of the British Isles, while simultaneously spreading as far east as modern Russia and as far southeast as modern-day Turkey, where the Varangian Guard served Byzantine emperors for centuries. At the heart of it all, of course, welches the longboat, their unparalleled means of transportation. Another thing they longboats could do welches sail very close to the wind atypical for European ships of that time, Short continues. So they could sail in many directions, and unexpected directions given the wind. One of the advances that enabled this virtually unique ability, related to tacking in todays terminology, was the beitass, which was a spar that helped brace the sail against strong winds. The ships could sail in very shallow water. However, one curiously modern advance in the engineering of the longboat seems to be the flexibility of the vessel. Anyone who has seen an airplane wing bounce up and down in a high wind knows how critical flexibility can be to the structural integrity of any vessel, particularly one trying to navigate huge ocean swells far out to sea. The Vikings seem to have grasped this concept much earlier than many other cultures. They could cross the open ocean and the swells and the waves of the open ocean and they were able to do that because of their flexibility, says Short. They the longboats werent firmly nailed together, they actually bent with the waves rather than taking the full force of the waves and possibly breaking. The People Combine all of these engineering elements shallow draft, the ability to sail in any direction, and an incredibly durable, flexible design and you had a boat that could create a distinct advantage for an early middle ages people, whether in warfare, trade, or exploration. But this particular people had one additional advantage, at least as far as discovery and exploration went. This advantage had nothing to with engineering and everything to do with psychology and the type of thinking that would enable a group of sailors to head for the horizon on the open ocean, not having any idea what would greet them when they got there. In effect, to go on what many would have considered an early middle ages suicide mission. The other aspect is the mindset of the Vikings, says Short. These people believed that at the moment of your birth, the time of your death was chosen for you. So if it was your day to die, nothing could save you. But if it wasnt your day to die, nothing could harm you. So why not go out and be bold? Why not, indeed. With a mentality that truly lent itself to bold exploration and discovery, it is little wonder the Vikings accomplished all that they did. However, the next time an episode of Vikings comes on television, or youre in the middle of a crowded theater at one of this summers blockbusters, keep in mind that things like draft, tacking, and stress analysis were just as responsible for the adventures we still enjoy watching today.They were strong enough to cro ss the open ocean, but they were shallow enough that they could go way up river and truly surprise people in places where no one expected an ocean-going ship to appear.William Short, author and Viking scholar

The One Thing That Will Make Resume-Writing 88 Percent Easier

The One Thing That Will Make Resume-Writing 88 Percent Easier The One Thing That Will Make Resume-Writing 88 Percent Easier Turns out, youre leid alone.Resume-writing is difficult for a number of reasons, but one common complaint is that its tough to write about yourself. Most of us are uncomfortable bragging, and most of us arent sure how to view ourselves objectively.That One ThingHeres the one tip that will make resume-writing easier. Its not a secret, but it is often overlooked Learn what your natural abilities are, and then lead with them in your resume.Natural Abilities Defined thingsyou do well with little time, effort, or energy. They are often referred to as talents.A few things to know about natural abilities- People are happiest and perform best when using their natural abilities to the fullest.- Intelligent and motivated people can work against their natural abilities, but they are rarely happy or satisfied doing so.- Abilities stabilize early in life.- Learning the lan guage of abilities allows you to capitalize on your strengths and make better career choices. If you ignore your abilities, you can land in mismatched roles or jobs.Examples of Natural Abilities, and How to Incorporate Them Into Your ResumeAbilities dont have to be extravagant to be awesome, and just because you have an ability, that doesnt mean you have to pursue a career in that area. For example, if you have athletic abilities, you do not need to become a professional baseball player but playing on a co-ed rec team on the weekends might fuel your soul.What follows is a list of possible natural abilities and some corresponding language you could use in a resume the describe these abilities- GeneralistThrives in roles with shared responsibilities, task variety, and multiple types of contributions also thrives in roles where apremium is placed on taking a broad-brush perspective and achieving results through or with others.- SpecialistThrives in roles with ultimate responsibility, targeted tasks, expert contributions, and roles that place a premium on taking an authoritative perspective and achieving results using ones own knowledge or skills.- Short-Timeframe ThinkingA natural orientation toward roles/tasks with outcomes expected in one year or less, a demand for closure or completion, or roles requiring immediate action and a focus on the here-and-now.- Long-Timeframe ThinkingA natural orientation toward roles/tasks with outcomes expected in five years or more, a focus on distant targets, or roles that require working toward goals that may take years tocome to fruition.- Observant Able to notice and remember small visual details, make visual comparisons quickly or automatically, and recall details.- Great Visual DexterityAble to scan tables of numbers or symbols accurately and quickly highly applicable in proofreading and/or numerically-oriented fields.Why Only 88 Percent Easier?Knowing your abilities does make it easier to describe yourself in a resume, bu t its not magic. You still need to create aresume that follows your industrys best practices and remember all those mundane details about your previous positions. Theres no way around that last 12 percent of resume-writing. For that, I suggest a strong cup of coffee and the help of a good friend.Master the species of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career. Like this article? We also offer tons of free eBooks on career and recruiting topics - check out Get a Better Job the Right Way and Why It Matters Who Does Your Recruiting. document.write(Read more ) in Resume Writing

How HR Should Handle Pay When an Employee Resigns

How HR Should Handle Pay When an Employee ResignsHow HR Should Handle Pay When an Employee ResignsIf youre wonderingHow to Handle an Employee Resignationwhen you dont want to offertwo weeks noticethere are several important things to consider. Lets consider the following scenario. The employees resignation was welcome and you didnt believe keeping him or her around for two more weeks would benefit your companyor the other employees. In fact, it may hurt employee morale. So, youve determined that their services should end that same day. You walkthe employee out the door and wished them well in all their future endeavors. Yourbig questionis does that mean the company should pay for the additional two weeks time that was given as notice? Should I (the employer) pay the employee as if he or she had been allowed to continue when the company accepted the resignation? You Need to Consider Setting a Precedent Generally speaking, mostemployers would want to pay for the employees two weeks just as if he or she had worked for the next two weeks. Thats because you dont want to set aprecedent or find yourself in a situation in which you treat employees differently. Assuming that you might want a good, valued employee to work the two weeks after their resignation, or to recognize their past contributions by paying for their time, you want to leave your options open. Paying some, and not other employees, following a resignation, no matter why they resigned, could very easily be interpreted as discrimination, which is an HR professionalsworst nightmare. Consider the Workplace Environment and All Employees If other employees know that you may not allow them to work out their two weeks notice or receive pay for the notice time, you encourage employees to not give two weeks notice at resignation. You will end up creating an environmental norm in which people just quit if they need to be paid for their last two weeks on the job. You simply have to operate on the premise th at most (if not all) employees want their final paycheck at resignation. Most likely youll be grateful that a non-productive employee whom you wanted to fire anyway, is leaving. The best course of action is to take the high road with a thank you gift of two weeks pay for the time, energy, paperwork, and so forth, that you were saved with their resignation. Two weeks pay is a nominal figure in comparison to what your organization may have experienced if you had gone the traditional routes of a performance improvement plan (PIP) or progressive disciplinary action. Take the Legal High Road There is very little likelihood that this employee would be in any position to sue you for any reason for his or her resignation. If they did, if you fork up the two weeks following their resignation, you look like the good guy who did the right thing- always a good position to be in should you end up standing in a court of law. And, while your objective in wanting to remove the employee from you r company is accomplished and all should be well, do check with your employment law attorney before you take action to understand all the parameters of what happensWhen Employees Resign.

Could Cultural Diversity Drive Your Business Forward

Could Cultural Diversity Drive Your Business ForwardCould Cultural Diversity Drive Your Business ForwardCultural diversity are the buzzwords of the moment, and their impact can be seen in corporate offices across the nation. Cultural diversity is often confused with race. The difference between culture and race in this context is cultural diversity is people of different backgrounds, behaviors and experiences. Racial diversity is based solely on the color of ones skin. Thus, different races can share the same cultural background, while the same race can have different cultural upbringings. If you watch the news or look at your Twitter feed, hiring people from culturally diverse backgrounds is always in the headlines. Why is everyone talking about cultural diversity, and how does a diverse workforce affect a company? Increases innovation and creativityAccording to Forbes Fostering Innovation Through a Diverse Workforce, a diverse set of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds is cr ucial to innovation and the development of new ideas. An example from the Forbes study is Mattel and its line of dolls targeted towards African-American girls. Senior management seeked the help of Mattels African-American Employee Resource Group to make sure that the dolls were culturally sensitive. Today, the So in Style line of dolls is one of Mattels best-selling brands.Expand and retain customer baseBesides creating new products, diversity in the workplace can innovate new ways to reach new and existing customers. An example of this in action from the case study is cosmetics company LOreal USA. LOreal USA tapped into its diverse workforce when it was brainstorming ways to attract and engage new customers. The result of the brainstorm was a partnership with Telemundo and an ansprechbar community on telemundo.com where members can access telenovela behind-the-scenes content, as well as a beauty blog. The new program helped expand and retain LOreal USAs customer base in the Hispani c market and credits its success to its diverse company talent. Attract top talentA lot of companies, especially in the tech industry, have perks like free laundry and catered lunches to attract the cream of the crop. With diversity becoming something that job seekers are looking for in a company, in addition to other benefits, many companies are creating policies and programs to promote diversity. Another example from Forbes Fostering Innovation Through a Diverse Workforce Intel implemented a program that not only promotes diversity but attracts top talent to its office. The Rotations Engineer Program was designed to develop and foster new, diverse talent at the tech giant. Participants in the Rotations Engineer Program spend three six-month rotations in multiple areas and teams within the company. The program is is a unique opportunity for us not only to attract diverse talent, but to bring diversity of experience to those that participate and experience the program. Having a cult urally diverse workforce sparks new ideas on how to solve business problems and is attractive to job seekers. Promoting a workforce with different backgrounds and experiences can really help your company, especially if its stuck in a rut. Its worth the time to develop a diversity policy when recruiting and hiring for your company.

USMC Raider - Critical Skills Operator (CSO)

USMC Raider - Critical Skills Operator (CSO)USMC Raider - Critical Skills Operator (CSO)In 2011, the MarSOC Marine Occupational Specialty (MOS) for the Critical Skills Operator (CSO) was created as an option for those Marines who choose to stay within the Marine Special Operations Command for the remainder of their career. The Critical Skills Operator is a Marine who has screened positively for the Marine Corps Special Operations Command.Once parte of the MarSOC command, the Marine also assumes the title of Raider. The CSO is a Special Operator skilled in the following special combat operations Foreign Internal Defense (FID), Direct Action (DA), Special Reconnaissance (SR) and Counter-Terrorism (CT), the Secondary Core Task of Information Operations (IO) and tasks in Support of Unconventional Warfare (UW) as part of the Marine Corps component to SOCOM. MarSOC Marines (Raiders) are capable of rapid deployment and integration into a joint special operations or conventional forces. CSOs are intensively trained as a Subject Matter Expert in advanced communications, engineering, special weapons, intelligence, advanced special operations, and language skills, depending on their billet in the Marine Special Operations Team. Requirements for Critical Skills Operator within MarSOC All Marines, regardless of MOS, must successfully complete MarSOC Assessment Selection (AS), Individual Training Course (ITC) and must request and be granted a lateral move to the 0372 MOS. COMMARFORSOC is the awarding authority for the primary MOS 0372. Prerequisites for CSO Must be a U.S Citizen.Must possess a GT score of 105 or higher.Must have a minimum current USMC PFT score of 225 (regardless of age).Must be a volunteer in the grade of Corporal through Staff Sergeant in any MOS.Must have a minimum of 2 years in service and no more than 17 years in service.No derogatory Page 11 entries within the last 12 months.No NJPs within the last 12 months and with no more than two NJPs during t he current contract.No NJPs as an SNCO.No courts martial convictions.No incidents with drug use or possession while in service. No adverse fitness reports within the last 12 months.Must have minimum interim secret security clearance based on National Agency check, Law Enforcement and Credit Check (NACLC). MarSOC is a component of the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) that is a joint group consisting of the Naval Special Warfare Command (SEAL / SWCC), Army Special Operations Command (Special Forces, 75th Rangers, Special Operations Aviation), Air Force Special Operations Command and the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). What Is the Difference Between Marine RECON and MarSOC? There are two Special Operations Capable groups of Marine RECON in the USMC Battalion and Force. For generations, RECON has been the Special Operations Capable units in the Marine Corps.However, shortly after September 11, 2001, the Department of Defense / SOCOM requested of the Marines to create a special operations command to become a component of the Joint Special Operations Command with skilled operators who were highly trained to conduct special operations all over the world. There is a difference between the two RECON units as well. The difference, mainly, is who works for who. The Battalion RECON answer to the Marine teilenCommander (typically a Colonel in the USMC). The Force RECON Marines answer to the Air-Ground Marine Task Force Commander who is typically a Major General.They both do battlefield operations but Force can be tasked with beyond the battlefield operations behind enemy lines taking the fight to the enemy. In essence, the Marine RECON units work for the Marine Corps though they may do joint operations with other military branches in larger scale conflicts. MarSOC works for the Special Operations Command which also has component commands such as the Naval Special Warfare Command, Army Special Operations Command, Air Force Special Operations Command, and the Joint Special Operations Command.All tend to work together or independently as needed and as the warfighting climate demands to conduct a variety of missions that include direct action, foreign internal defense, counter-insurgency, intelligence gathering, special reconnaissance, and more depending on SOCOM deployment orders. The Official MarSOC Mission The MARSOC mission is to recruit, train, sustain, and deploy scalable, expeditionary forces worldwide to accomplish special operations missions assigned by U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). To accomplish that, MARSOC equips and trains Marines to succeed in austere conditions against a wide range of adversaries.

Life, Death, and Best Resume Templates

Life, Death, and Best Resume Templates Second, it shows the employer youve made an additional effort to point out your specific accomplishments since they relate to that particular application. You know it is possible to easily qualify for the greater position and bigger salary packet. Youre not a marketer, youre a leader, a champion and nobody knows it as you hide When you are just about to apply to another job opportunity, the very best tip for you is to alter your resume in line with the prerequisites of the employer. These days, its rare to run into a geschftliches miteinander that does not have a totally free installation of Adobe Reader on their computers. Creative While its important to get a professional resume, sometimes just a little creativity and innovation is suitable. If you are able to, learn which ATS your possible employer uses. The further skills can be in accord with the job or completely different. How to Choose Best Resume Templates Resumizer free resum e creator allows you to preview your resume at any location in the creation approach. As shown by a recent review by Big List of Resume Writers, their services are extremely standard, but the majority of their clients appear to be satisfied. The best resume templates 2016 should have the ability to create the info that the recruiter is searching for to stand out. Frequently the simplest of templates can be the best. For that reason, its strongly encouraged to select a template for your resume which is easy, short and to-the-point. You may also download absolutely free templates from our Resume Library to get going on your best resume. Employing a resume template is getting an acceptable and smart practice for numerous reasons. Our resume builder is the quickest approach to create a resume that can help you get your fantasy job. The functional resume is utilised to concentrate on skills that are particular to the sort of position being sought. Theres no doubt that a resume wh ich is both cohesive and professional will have a much better prospect of standing from the crowd even supposing its made utilizing a template. However much or what kind of work experience youve got, theres a resume format that is likely to make your qualifications shine. Heres What I Know About Best Resume Templates The formatting part of the resume must be considered. Theres a few distinct techniques to alter the formatting. Whatever schriftart of resume you require, from simple to professional, all sorts of best layouts are assembled here. Its content-packed layout is ideal for engaging employers with different facts, from experience to education. Ok, I Think I Understand Best Resume Templates, Now Tell Me About Best Resume Templates A functional resume format focuses more on what you could do than what youve done. So make certain to read instructions carefully to make sure your resume is the right format. You ought to understand, that resume format is critical, since it can boost your odds to get invited for an interview. Each resume format was produced to boost your odds to find the job in 2018. In different words read the work description well enough in order to highlight your very best skills and experiences that are sought by your prospective employer. Each position will often have a brief blurb about the business and the position available. Your experience should address every essential qualification in the job announcement. Whether you prefer to submit an application for a designers job in a creative agency, or want to submit an application for a hot job in a major bank, professional resumes are going to have you covered. Your aim ought to be to keep the resume centered on the work target and downplay irrelevant info, states Isaacs. Theres no demand for you to go over all your qualifications. Likewise the candidate belonging to Resume 2 will need to face fewer rejections. If you get a particular skillset youre potential candidate to fit desired position. Trying to find a new job might be exhaustive at times, but with some little methods and tactics, you increase your odds to locate your dream job. Tons of job seekers even dont understand where to get started. Promoting yourself as the perfect match to the work description is the best aim of a good resume. To begin with, even when youre not searching for work, your resume should remain up-to-date and prepared to send, as you wont ever understand when a terrific opportunity will appear.

6 Steps to Create a Professional Development Plan

6 Steps to Create a Professional Development Plan Who reading this has a five-year plan? (Halfway raises my own hand.) You see, I am certainly a planner and like to have things in my life mapped out, yet Id never considered really sitting down and dedicating the time to plan out my life for the next five years. But as the topic of five-year and ten-year plans kept surfacing, I decided to give it a try. What hopes and dreams made my to-have-accomplished-by-now list? Well To visit another countryTo be engaged to be marriedTo be a best-selling novelistTo have at least three published booksBlah, blah, blah, and the list went on. With the exception of finally visiting somewhere other than the 50 states, my this-is-where-I-want-to-be list is looking like Ill need a years extension to complete it.Needless to say, Im not quite sure how I feel about these X amount of years plans to map the course of your l ife (if thats even possible), yet when I learned about a different kind of planningone directed toward your professionI was intrigued. Ladies and gentleman, allow me to introduce to all of you a technique many of you should already have, and if you dont, one I would recommend you adoptthe professional development plan.A professional development plan is a specific (individualized or generalized) approach to enhance professional growth in a career or business. In laymans terms, its simply a plan setup to help you (or a company) take the necessary steps to develop your professional life. And below are six easy steps to creating a plan specifically for youEvaluateWhat is your current professional standing? Employed, unemployed, working for a company, business owner? Now think about where you want to be professionally. What steps will it take to get there? The first step to creating an efficient professional development plan is to assess your current profession, whether or not youre happ y or where you desire to be. If you desire to elevate your career, you must take the time to really think about all the necessary steps youll have to take to do that.PlanOnce youve assessed your current standing, its time to plan. Setting goals is a great way to ensure you reach your final professional destination. Start with the biggest, most-outlandish career aspiration (your main goal) and then work backward plotting every smaller goal you will need to accomplish to work up to the main one.For example, say you desire to open your own business. The grand opening day could be your main goal. Working backward you will have to have the means to promote the opening. Before that you will have to know and supply the products your store will offer (what youre promoting). This means you will need to get suppliers, and suppliers cost money. Having money to fund the suppliers may mean securing a loan, and securing a loan requires paperwork. Do the same process for the building layout and st aff additions. Though this task may be meticulous, it is extremely necessary for a successful plan.Also, remember to set realistic deadlines for each goal. It is very difficult to successfully start a business in one month rather than one year.ResearchNow that youve set goals, research, research, research. Look up professional development courses, events, certifications and trainings that will help you achieve your goals. Make a list of where theyre offered, how much they cost and how long each will take. Then, go back to your goals and work each activity into a schedule, taking into account your deadlines and the fact that you have other commitments, e.g. work, family, etc.ExecuteThis step is simple. Follow along with the plan being as punctual as possible. You dont want to throw off your entire plan because you didnt keep up with your planned professional development activities.MonitorTrack and monitor your progress as you go. This will not only help you stay on schedule, but will keep you updated on how close or far you are from reaching your target goal(s). You can reevaluate your plan at the end of every six months or one year, depending on your goals, to see if youll need more or less time and/or if you need or dont need to accomplish certain goals and professional development activities. As you go along with your plan, things may surface you were previously unaware of that could affect the steps you do/do not need to take to reach your target.RememberThis final step is very important. Remember that nothing goes according to plan. As you follow along with your professional development plan be prepared for curve balls and delays, but do not throw in the towel. Just because you made a plan does not mean its set in stone. Life happens and your plan(s) can and will change as circumstances do.