The Refresh Orlando Heirs

People often equate load testing with performance testing. Load testing is seen as a way of answering the question “How fast does the system respond?” This view then tends to mean that load testing is seen as an end of project activity. Only at the end of development will we have the final implementation for performance testing and so we can confirm only then that it performs quickly enough in the real world and smoothly transition into live service.

Wrong approach! This is extremely risky and misses out on the many benefits of starting load testing early and applying it throughout the project. With this approach does the system sail through load testing and transition smoothly into service? Occasionally yes. But more frequently the system starts to fail as load starts to be applied, even with small increases in volume.. For the first time there are concurrent demands on the system and arbitration over resources is required. Paths through code that have never been executed are triggered, situations arise that nobody really thought through. Transactions fail. Systems crash. After these problems are fixed and more load is applied in a test, we then encounter problems like resource exhaustion, buffer overflows, timeouts and inconsistent behaviour. The real work needed to turn a functional pre-production system into a robust solution has only just begun.

Examples abound of products that failed when load testing started and, after lots of effort, stress and expenditure, have been shelved. Worse still are the ones that missed load testing altogether and failed dramatically during live operation. An internet portal developer recently stopped development of a new service, one that had completed functional development, when load testing revealed fundamental structural problems and inefficient coding which led to a poorly performing and unstable system.

So what should you do to avoid these risks? We all know it is better to find faults early when they cost far less to fix yet load testing is still left until as late as possible. The types of faults it finds frequently need architectural changes and major rewrites which are by then are hugely expensive to implement. The answer is that you should start early. Different forms of load testing should be repeatedly applied throughout the project to identify problems early and to check that the system is not going off track.

This is a natural extension of the practice of test led development. Test led development, where automated tests are written first and code must pass these tests as it is developed, offers major benefits. However, in its current form, the focus of this testing is on functionality. As it evolves the functional status of the software is always known and hence manageable, functional faults are nipped in the bud avoiding high cost fixes, the functional risk is greatly reduced. Not so other risks. If a project performs early and continuous load testing it gets much wider and comprehensive risk reduction. To make this effective:

1. Study the system and perform a risk analysis to help to order the threats to the system, this will help you to prioritise load testing activities.
2. Collect data to allow comparison of the efficiency of different builds. This permits monitoring of the long term trend, “Is the system using more and more processor time to do the same work?” This data can be used to predict resource requirements at different levels of demand and so support scalability predictions.
3. Execute tests that aim to assess the behaviour of the system and to trigger faults under load. Use workloads that simulate expected patterns of demand to observe the aggregate behaviour of the system. Use specially targeted extreme workloads to probe the vulnerabilities of the system.
4. Include the full spectrum of load tests into the test suite. This means performance testing with typical and busy period work loads; stress testing to check both atypical demand spikes and resource exhaustion impacts; endurance testing that uses both operational period and cumulative operation tests; reliability testing that runs lots of transactions and then checks whether occasional transactions fail; concurrency testing of two users working on the same account at the same time.
5. Design measurement activities as scientists would design an experiment, design them to provide data that can be analysed. Sample the system under different steady state workloads to provide multiple data sets to support interpolation. Chose the workloads to permit estimation of the resource costs for each transaction type.
6. Target the middleware first with generic activities and evolve the suite as functionality is developed. Start early and then test each incremental release of the system, firstly with the previous suite and then with a modified suite that addresses new functionality.
7. Invest the time and resources to work at a representative scale. Maybe the test bed can’t be full scale but it should not be two orders of magnitude smaller than the intended system. Be smart and innovative to use resources effectively to provide an appropriate scale test bed. The costs that will be incurred if this is not done will far exceed the cost of providing the test bed.
8. Don’t delay; test an increment as soon as possible. Don’t skip one or you’ll end up skipping them all. Compare the measurements and behaviour with the previous one, is it better or worse?
9. Provide a background load for functional testing. Features that work offload may fail when the system has other things to think about.
10. Consider occasional events such as server failures and reconfiguration of the system. Do these need to be tested under load?

In conclusion, you need to incorporate load testing throughout the development process. Leaving load testing until the final run in to live service is a recipe for disaster. If this became common practice then a lot more applications and systems that work would be delivered on time and to budget.

© Acutest Ltd 2005 – http://www.acutest.co.uk

M Trellis is an experienced consultant working in performance testing, scalability testing and load testing. He is a principal consultant with Acutest, an independent testing consultancy. For further information visit: www.acutest.co.uk or www.acutest.co.uk/performance-testing.html

Our self esteem has a lot to do with our body image. How much do we accept our own bodies? Are we good enough to be …?

Are we good enough to have …?

Are we good enough to do …?

The answers depend entirely on our own self esteem. Although our bodies have something to do with how others treat us, the most important factor is how we view ourselves.

If we hold an image of our bodies as being messed up then we have a negative impact on our bodies as well as our self esteem.

If we think we are our bodies, then we are building esteem for the wrong self.

We build esteem for our bodies by seeing their true perfection. The first step in doing that is accepting them the way they are. They are okay the way they are.

What effect does self acceptance have on our health?

Many people believe that we have energetic blueprints for our bodies. This energetic blueprint affects the condition of our bodies. The blueprint comes first. The actual body condition comes some time later.

If you were fortunate enough to see the movie What the Bleep, you saw microscopic pictures of water after it was exposed to prayer, positive thoughts, and various negative emotions.

The results were astonishing!

The microscopic pictures of the water exposed to negative emotions and thoughts looked like a real mess. However, the pictures of the positive emotion exposed water looked like nature’s works of art. They were harmonious and beautiful.

Imagine what effect emotions have on our body!

In a later scene, the main character looked into a mirror and dramatically exclaimed “I hate you”. This normally beautiful woman looked quite unattractive.

Fortunately, the leading character had a realization. She started loving herself and painted loving art work all over her body. Her whole appearance changed. She looked beautiful again. She was happy. She accepted and loved herself.

Have you ever tried to fight off negativity?

You probably noticed that it was a never ending battle. We might temporarily succeed by placing ourselves inside a protective egg shell where all the bad stuff is outside. Our world can get smaller and smaller as we do that. Pretty soon there’s nothing left but us in our shrinking eggshell watching Mary Poppins video.

Have you ever tried to get rid of something by resisting it?

What happened? Did it keep coming back? Could there be a better way?

Yes, fortunately there is a better way. We can observe something and accept it the way it is. This doesn’t mean we mentally push it away by telling ourselves that we accept it.

Can we really accept something? Can we allow it to continue forever? If we really can, then magic happens. That something can lift off. I can’t promise that you can change physical reality. But I’m not saying that you can’t.

I can tell you from experience that you can change your emotional and mental experience.

By accepting your body the way it is, you change the energetic blueprint of your body. And …

It feels good.

Copyright 2006 by Jim Kitzmiller

Jim Kitzmiller conducts self improvement workshops and retreats. He is the author of the Meditation Vacations website.

Now, let’s start at the very beginning, what’s the first thing you have to do before starting a conversation with a girl? Yeah, right, approach her! That’s the first step you have to take - how to approach woman. Succeed in this direction and you can move on to the conversation part or else, kiss your chances with this particular girl good bye.

So, how do you approach a girl? Is it easier if she is alone as compared to being with a group of friends? What about you? Prefer to have your friends around too (to sort of act as a booster to your bravado) when you approach her or you operate better solo? Or probably you would prefer to have a wing man.

If having a wing man is your choice then by all means please choose a wing man who has had some measure of success with girls. Don’t get an inexperience one as you are bound to mess things up big time or worse, he’ll probably mess it up for you!

Having a wing man is not without its advantage especially if you are new to this ball game. Your wing man can show you the ropes and help you out if you are stuck in the rut. On the hind sight, just make sure he is not interested in the same girl as you are. Both of you have to be very clear of your objectives from the start. You can’t be both hitting at the same girl!

Before we proceed, it is good to take note of your dressing. Do ensure that you are always neatly dressed. You need not be garbed in designer labels but rule of the thumb is to look neat and pleasant. Check out the scenarios below:

Scenario 1
A lady is sitting in a cozy eatery reading a book while waiting for her dinner to be served. There’s something about her that catches your eye and you walked up to her and said hello. When she looked up, she saw a smiling, neat and casually dressed gentleman.

Scenario 2
A lady is sitting in a cozy eatery reading a book while waiting for her dinner to be served. There’s something about her that catches your eye and you walked up to her and said hello. When she looked up, she saw a smiling, unkempt guy with five o’clock shadow stubble on your chin and shirt that looked like he had slept in it.

In scenario 1, lady would most probably return the guy’s greeting with a smile but she would definitely be on guard and feel defensive in scenario

2. These are simple scenarios that show the impact of your appearance in forming first impression of you.

Enough about appearance, what about the attitude that you should project when you approach a girl? Smile and look friendly, don’t look like your pet just got run over by the garbage truck or worse, look like a stalker!

Visit Online Dating Trainer for tips on building self confidence, dating tips on how to talk to women and online dating guide.

You’ve probably heard of the popular saying “It’s better to give
than to receive.” But do you actually know what hidden power
lies within this magnanimous act known as “giving?”

When you give something from your heart without expecting
anything in return, you release a powerful force that will
trigger your good deed to “bounce” back to you in amazing, and
sometimes unusual ways.

I firmly believe that whatever you impart to others will come
back to you a hundred fold. You are doing yourself a big favor
by helping someone in need. By doing even the smallest acts of
generosity, you are inviting good vibrations to come into your
life.

You would be earning the respect and love of your recipients.
You know that you will always have a loyal group of friends who
would help, protect, and do anything for you just because they
feel that they have to repay you in any way they can. Most
people would have the urge or drive to reciprocate any act of
kindness you’ve shown them.

However, this does not mean that you must expect them to repay
you. Give without any expectation of rewards. Don’t do it just
because you have an ulterior motive. Give unconditionally. Give
because you are happy doing it. The universe will get back to
you in its own special way.

Speaking of happiness, the act of giving can summon the spirit
of joy to come into your heart. How would you feel when you’ve
given something to your less fortunate neighbors? Let me tell
you that nothing could brighten up my day more than hearing them
express their most heartfelt gratitude and seeing their smiles
extend from ear to ear.

Giving is also a healthy habit. It could prolong your life by
instilling within you an inner sense of peace and accomplishment.

Just like all things in life, giving has its limitations. Being
too generous can have its toll. Your kindness might be taken
advantage of and people might abuse your good intentions. Beware
of individuals who are continuously seeking your aid. It’s
better to teach them how to solve their problems than to always
attend to their needs.

As one saying goes …

“Give them some fish and you’ll feed them for a day. Teach them
how to fish and you’ll feed them for a lifetime.”

Lastly, here’s what I consider the most important rule about
giving. Keep your good deeds to yourself. Don’t announce to the
whole world that you’ve donated $100,000 to your favorite
charity or that you’ve helped save a child from a
life-threatening disease.

If you really desire to give, do it secretly and in private.
Some people would write “anonymous” rather than their own names
when they’ve made a contribution. The universe smiles upon these
individuals, and they will get their just rewards in due time.

Now that you know how wonderful it is to give, would you go out
to the world and share your blessings?

The number of registered domains has reached an all-time high of more than 60 million domain names worldwide.

Figures show that country code Top Level Domains (ccTLDs) are the fastest growing market, while general demand for new domains remains strong. The most popular domains are still the com-domains. The growth of com-domains is tremendous.

Experts think, that the growing sale of com-domains reveal a revival of the “New Economy”. Some experts even argue, that this growth of domain names is an early indicator of persisting economic growth in the USA and the whole world.

The com-domains remain the most popular domain with about a 45 percent market share.

New generic Top Level Domains outside of .com, .net and .org, become increasingly popular, including aero-domains, biz-domains, coop-domains, info-domains, museum-domains, .name-domains and pro-domains.

          Oktober 2004

.de      7.981.014     (Increment compared to one month ago:  89.793)

.at        367.987     (Increment compared to one month ago:   4.766)

.com    31.017.772     (Increment compared to one month ago: 750.631)

.net     4.999.073     (Increment compared to one month ago:  88.952)

.org     3.138.385     (Increment compared to one month ago:  37.607)

.info    1.919.331     (Increment compared to one month ago: 683.846)

.biz     1.041.432     (Increment compared to one month ago:  13.118)

.us        881.411     (Increment compared to one month ago:   6.395)

Hans-Peter Oswald

http://www.com-domains.com

Hans-Peter Oswald

CEO

ICANN Registrar Secura

http://www.com-domain.com

secura@domainregistry.de

4 Reasons Why People Love These Portable Music Devices in the 21st Century

During the course of the past couple of years, there’s been a real demand, a real buyer’s craze for Ipods and MP3s. Music lovers from different parts of the world have been scrambling to find the latest when it comes to these types of portable music players.

There are a number reasons why there has been so much excitement about both the Ipod and the MP3. Indeed, there are four significant reasons why people around the world, why music lovers of all ages, have become so excited about Ipods and MP3s.

1. The most basic reason why so many music lovers are thrilled about Ipods and MP3s is based on the fact that these devices allow you the ability to carry with you your favorite music no matter where you are at any given point in time. With people being so mobile in this day and age, these devices provide a perfect way through which you can have music and entertainment no matter where you happen to be at any given point in time. For example, many people in many cities around the world are forced to make long commutes to and from work. Therefore, these devices allow such a person the ability to keep entertained and occupied as they travel back and forth from work.

2. The next reason why so many people have become so excited about the Ipod and the MP3 is the fact that the cost associated with these pieces of equipment has dropped significantly in recent times. Of course, when these music devices first entered the market place some time ago, they were actually rather pricey. However, as with so many high tech devices, over time the costs associated with these devices dropped. Indeed, by doing a bit of shopping around, you will be able to find these devices being sold for discounted prices. Therefore, by shopping around in the brick and mortar world and on the Internet and World Wide Web you will be able to find merchants that sell Ipods and MP3s at reduced prices.

3. Another reason that so many people have found themselves drawn to the Ipod and the MP3 is the fact that they are easy pieces of equipment to operate. While many people like to have high tech equipment, they shy away from these types of devices because, in some instances, they are difficult to operate. When it comes to Ipods and MP3s, there music players are really easy to operate and upkeep. It is very easy to upload music to these devices — even a technical novice can readily stock his or her Ipod or MP3 with music of his or her choosing with ease.

4. Finally, one of the primary reasons why so many music lovers are singing the praises of the Ipod and the MP3 is the fact that they are so durable. Because these units are designed to be used on the go, you naturally will want to make sure that any portable device that you use is durable. Both of these devices are well designed and completely durable. Even if you end up accidentally dropping your device, you will find that it is very resilient.

In the final analysis, if you are interested in having a device for portable music, you will want to take a close look at either an Ipod or a MP3. Either one of these players are perfect choices for a person who likes to take his or her music wherever he or she happens to travel throughout the course of a given day. These devices absolutely are perfect for people on the go.

By following the tips and suggestions outlined in this article, you will be well on your way to owning a portable music device that will serve you well. Additionally, as suggested in this article, by shopping around you will be able to find a device that is priced within your budget. Finally, by selecting an Ipod or a MP3 player, you will have a music device that will be around for a long time — or at least until you decide to upgrade.

Publisher & Author Raymond DeChampfleur - You can access detailed articles, news, & more relevant resources along with great information and downloads on the movies and music world at Music or http://muzic-and-moviez.com/wordpress/categories/articles/

What is CCTV?

CCTV stands for Closed Circuit Television and is designed for a
limited number of viewers (in a controlled manner) as opposed to
broadcast TV which is designed for mass viewing.

It differs from broadcast TV because all the components are
linked together (generally by cables) to create a `closed’ loop.

CCTV is often used in areas where there is an increased need for
security, such as banks, casinos, airports, motorways and
increasingly in public areas such as train stations and central
business districts in most cities.

Initially developed as a means of increasing security in banks
and other high risk businesses, CCTV is increasingly finding its
way into small business and homes due to its ease of
installation and operation and the continued reduction in
pricing thanks to many domestic style products introduced in
recent years.

It should be noted that CCTV is not exclusively the domain of
security surveillance, but is regularly used in manufacturing
process monitoring for QA purposes, for inspecting pipes,
chimneys or even the underside of a ships hull.

For our purposes we will be discussing CCTV in its most common
form, which is as a security surveillance system.

Video surveillance introduction

>From a single camera and monitor to complex video surveillance
systems with hundreds of cameras, multiple operators, and
digital recorders, closed circuit television (CCTV) systems can
provide security for a wide range of businesses.

A good CCTV system can make your business safer, more efficient,
and less prone to theft and accidents. Specifically, CCTV can
provide many benefits: - Reduce shrinkage by catching
shoplifters

- deter potential thieves

- monitor cash
registers

- record evidence to prevent bogus accident
claims

- identify visitors and employees

- monitor
hazardous work areas

- increase security in and around
business premises and parking lots

- meet insurance
requirements

The most basic CCTV setup would be a single camera connected
directly to a monitor and a recorder to store the video. While a
setup like this could help security in some cases, it is
unlikely to be enough for most businesses. Most situations call
for multiple cameras.

Evaluating Your CCTV Needs

Before starting to compare systems or choose potential vendors,
sit down and consider your CCTV needs carefully.

First, you should decide what the purpose of the CCTV system is.
Is it primarily to act as a deterrent of potential crimes or to
actually catch and prosecute perpetrators? Both can be
important, but your priority will influence your purchasing
decisions. If you are more interested in deterring certain
activities, large, visible cameras are your best bet. Trying to
catch criminals on video without them being aware of it requires
discrete or hidden cameras. Hidden cameras in many countries can
be illegal or may only be used by court order - so check with
your CCTV professional before installation.

Next, consider what you want to monitor. General comings and
goings? Vehicles? Do you want to see faces, merchandise, crowds?
Once you decide what you want to see, choosing components will
become easier.

Then, decide how the images will be used. Do you want to use
them for your own review or will your require that they are able
to be printed for facial identification or even for admission in
a court of law. This will have a big impact on the method you
use to record the images and the quality of the cameras, lenses
and recorder you will require.

Also consider how your system will be monitored. Will you simply
record at all times, and only review the video when a problem
occurs? Or will you have a dedicated employee watching for
events? Do you want a monitor showing images in public areas?

Three Things To Consider

1. Avoid dummy cameras. While they may deter some problems, they
also can create a legal liability by creating an expectation of
safety when none exists, plus staff soon learn which ones are
active and which ones aren’t.

2. Put up signs. Highly
visible signage that lets customers and employees know that they
are being filmed can greatly increase the deterrent effect. This
is actually a legal requirement in many countries.

3. Do not
record audio. Most CCTV systems do not include audio monitoring
for the simple reason that it is generally illegal. People in
public places can be videotaped without their consent, but their
voices cannot.

Choosing a CCTV Installer

Once you know the basic requirements of what you want to see and
how you want to use your CCTV system, it is time to call a CCTV
installer to get a professional view and price up the supply and
installation. A professional installer will be able to tell you
how to best achieve the results of the system you will be
installing. That will include the positioning of cameras, the
selection of equipment to meet your requirements and budget.

It is important that a potential installer for your job provides
references of customers, they have current correct licensing (if
applicable for your area) and I always recommend getting a
breakdown of the equipment component versus the labour component
of a quote.

Don’t just go for the cheapest option unless you are purely
using the system as a deterrent. You should evaluate the
capability of the installer, the warranty offered on the
equipment, the warranty offered on the installation (ie cables),
what level of training do they provide and what level of after
sales technical support do they offer.

If you have opted to go with a modern digital CCTV installation,
unless you are completely familiar with the system, you will
require technical support, especially when that first time comes
that you need to export video onto a CD or DVD to give to the
police. At that time, how sure are you that the person/company
that installed the system will be able to provide you with the
required assistance.

As a final note on potential installers - never ever choose an
installer that doesn’t do a full inspection of the site in which
the installation will take place. If they haven’t seen the site
they cannot know of any potential issues that may cause them to
need to adjust the price (always up) or take shortcuts that will
affect your systems performance.

Once your system has been installed, make sure you and any other
staff that may use the system make the time available to be
trained. Don’t skip this point as you have spent good money on a
system and you will need to use it at some point.

In future articles I will write about choosing cameras, DVRs,
monitors and other equipment that will go to make up your CCTV
system. For more information on CCTV and to find an installer in
your area, Global CCTV
Hub