Ever heard the saying:

 In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.

Well the problem may be a lack of practice.  Things need to be trialed in real life rather than hypothetically to pick up on all the little things you didn't consider in the perfect world inside your head.

From Mother Teresa breath spray to a screaming rubber chicken, manufacturers come up with stockings full of stupid gifts in time for the holidays with one Web site dedicated to finding the most idiotic.

Web site Stupid.com, which claims finding a truly stupid gift is an art form, on Monday unveiled its list of the top 10 "stupidest" holiday gifts for 2007.

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The Times and Times Online are the UK media partners for the Harvard Business Review's (HBR) new Fuel Your Performance intiative. This looks at the latest thinking on personal and corporate high performance.

....click the link to read more

Failures happen all the time.  Projects don't go according to plan,  machinery breaks down,  people accidentally do things they shouldn't.  All this is actually good when you learn to view it from the right perspective.

Communication occurs in a variety of forms and methods. It can be verbal, written, body language, sign language, electronically formatted, paper formatted, and even custom to groups or organizations. Effective communication leads to information exchange. Miscommunication at work may lead to disagreements, arguments, or potential legal action. Yet in any communication, it is assumed that the words, phrases, sentences, or expressions used will be interpreted as intended. But is that usually the case?

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 It's over a year since Alan Johnson vowed to spend big on training more women to work in the construction and engineering industry. But judging by the lack of queues for the ladies' loos at this year's exhibitions and trade fairs, the industry is still waiting for the cash injection to take effect. Elizabeth Donevan reports.

 SOMETIMES EVEN THE MOST satisfied engineers and industrial researchers can yearn for a change of pace. Despite the excitement that comes from translating a raw idea into a novel product or life-saving drug, some long to do fundamental research that isn't tied to customer needs or profitability.

 Sometimes it just happens and other times it needs to be made to happen

 Business, Engineering and Design programs are shaping a new generation of creative managers

 The struggle for talent is worldwide and technology skills are subject to vigorous competition. Only eight per cent of engineering and technical workers are female, so companies who want a skilled, experienced and diverse workforce should re-examine their policies and concentrate on recruiting more women.

 Testing parts to see if they’ll work on the space shuttle sounds interesting to Austin High School student Sean Goodman who wants to know what being an engineer is really like

 An unusual concept for engineers - who are more accustomed to working with certainty -

 This had me worried !! but despite the rhetoric I still believe there are fairies at the bottom of my garden....

 How do you think engineers would vote on this subject - we all see things differently - however .......

 Stop . I mean, don't stop reading this, but stop thinking what you're about to think. Or, O.K., I'll think it for you:

 Being able to engineer a situation to advantage is a definate plus,  but is it a win - win for all parties --- an interesting view ---

In many organisations, you'll find a type of personality that thrives on conflict , the sort of person who goes in, resolves crises and comes out looking like a hero.

 The question is "what has this got to do with engineering" and the answer is "an open mind to innovation" a demonstration of what can be done with some lateral thinking ++++

 Engineers can also take the time  to reflect on non material issues - (but not for too long)

 I wasn't around to witness the action - and being a born skeptic .... but draw your own conclusions after reading the article --