Use the BOSS System to Save Time and Reduce Frustration When Writing Your Next RFP - The Writers For Hire

USE THE BOSS SYSTEM TO SAVE TIME AND REDUCE FRUSTRATION WHEN WRITING YOUR NEXT RFP Writing a Request for Proposal (RFP) doesn’t have to be stressful. No really, stick with me. Some corporations and all governmental agencies issue RFPs when they are looking for a company to fill a need. For example, a city may issue an RFP when they need medical staffing companies to create and bid on emergency operation plans in case of a natural disaster. Or a corporation may issue an RFP when they need a software specialist to overhaul their current system. RFPs are an issuer’s method of relaying their problem or project to potential vendors and asking for a solution. They then use the process to identify the right vendor based on a number of factors, including their experience, ideas, and adherence to the RFP requirements. Why RFPs Make You Feel so Overwhelmed The process sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? But here’s where it gets complicated: RFP issuers have one goal in mind: to find the perfect vendor to fill their needs. And to come to that conclusion, they ask a lot — and I mean a lot — of questions. They want to know your background, your experience with similar projects, your plan for helping them reach their goal, along with every single detail related to it. No wonder the process stresses you out. Take the Stress Out of Writing with Organization Here’s the thing: with a little thoughtful organization, the RFP process doesn’t have to be all that complicated. It’s true that you’re facing a monumental task — some RFPs can run 100 pages — but instead of looking at it as a whole, let’s talk about how to break it down into bite-sized, organized pieces. Doing this will take away some of the stress, and allow you to concentrate on creating a masterpiece that will win the bid. The RFP BOSS System I remember the first time I wrote an RFP. I stared at the endless list of questions and multiple documents that held the answers and wondered how in the world I was supposed to extract all of that information and present a cohesive proposal. And I struggled for a while. First I would read the question and then search the documents until I found the right information to compose my answer. And sometimes I would have to read through several documents to get all the information I needed. Not a very effective method. So, I stopped working on the RFP and regrouped. What I really needed was a system. I could continue hunting and pecking my way through the RFP, but that seemed like a monumental waste of time. Something had to give. And so I created the RFP BOSS system. If you’re faced with an RFP, use this system to organize your information before you begin writing, and you may come to love RFPs as much as I do. I know, weird, huh? B: Before You Start The key to mastering RFPs starts the minute you receive the RFP document. If you completely understand what’s expected of you before you begin organizing your documents, it will make the process a lot easier. That’s why you should read the RFP from front to back. Read it slowly and take in all the information the issuer is trying to convey. Don’t be tempted to skip over the parts of the document you don’t think you need, because often, there are nuggets of valuable information tucked away in them. As you read the document, make notes of anything that’s unclear. Before you reach out to the issuer for clarification click on the link included in the first pages of most RFPs that takes you to the â€Å"answered questions.† There, you will find asked and answered questions from other people who read the RFP and probably had the same questions as you. O: Organize the Information Now that you understand the scope of the project, it’s time to organize the information in a way that makes it easy to use. Start by summarizing the RFP requirements into a list of its major sections. For example, you will probably have an executive summary, qualifications, technical plan, and more. To keep it simple, don’t make sections for subsections. In other words, if the executive summary includes subsections for history and experience, you should only include the executive summary in your list of sections. After you’ve made a list of every section you will address in the RFP, highlight each one with a different color. For instance, the executive summary could be blue; the qualifications could be yellow, and so on. Don’t use red for this step because you will use it for a different purpose later on. In the end, you will have a brightly color-coded RFP section list. Put that aside for now. Next, create a Word document (or whatever document system you use), and copy and paste all of the documents into it that you will pull from when putting together the RFP. For example, you might have an old RFP for reference, a company brochure, charts or graphs, and other documents that contain the notes you’ll need. Paste them all into this document. Don’t worry about putting them in order just yet. Here’s where understanding the RFP is crucial. You now have a large, unwieldy document full of the information you need for your RFP. At first glance, it looks like an unorganized mess. But you’re about to change that and turn it into the key for your RFP success. To do this, read the document and highlight each paragraph according to the correlating RFP section. You can only do this effectively if you’ve truly read and understood the RFP in its entirety. For example, if you realize that you will use some random notes for the executive summary, highlight those notes in the color assigned to that section. If you see anything you don’t think you will use, copy and paste it into a separate document because you never know if you will need it later on. But delete that section from your main document. Do this for the entire document. In the end, the entire thing should be color coded. If you want, you can now organize the document according to color. In other words, put all of the yellows together, the blues together, and so on. Now you’re ready to start writing. S: Start Writing Now that you have a complete understanding of the RFP and the information you will include in it, it’s time to start writing. And trust me, it will be a lot easier now that you’ve done this preliminary work. Start by choosing one color and focusing on that section of the RFP. You can start at the beginning of the RFP or the end — it doesn’t matter. Using your highlighted information, answer each of the questions in the RFP. If you come across a question that you don’t have an answer for, highlight it in yellow in the RFP document. This will make the last step in the process much easier. As you use each piece of information in the large document, change the color to red. By the time you complete the first section of the RFP, all of that section’s notes should be red. Now, go to the next section of the RFP and do the same thing. Continue writing the proposal this way. By the time you’ve answered each of the RFP questions, all the sections in your large document should be red. S: Supplement As you answered the questions in the RFP, you undoubtedly came across information you needed that wasn’t in the large document. Now is the time to find that information and fill it in. For example, maybe you needed to provide a phone number for a staff member but didn’t have that information. Because you highlighted each piece of information you needed in yellow as you went along, all you need to do now is make a list of the required information and get it. And then enter it into the proposal. Guess what? You’ve just completed the RFP like a BOSS.

What factors will affect the time of a falling paper cone Essays

What factors will affect the time of a falling paper cone Essays What factors will affect the time of a falling paper cone Essay What factors will affect the time of a falling paper cone Essay The issue raised is the gesture of paper made cones within air as they are released. The clip that the cone will take to make land degree from the minute of its release depends on several variables, which have to be investigated in order to reason whether altering them would be relevant in impacting the period of clip needed. Hypothesis There are several factors which theoretically could impact the clip, presuming that the air is homogeneous throughout the room and by utilizing the same paper. We have to understand that a higher or a lower top velocity will be the factor which changes the clip needed. Thus the factors impacting top velocity will hold to be investigated. These are form, top angle, tallness, type of paper and resistive forces. Some can be cancelled out earlier experimentation as we know from theory that a mass difference will non impact the free falling object ( it will really but to a negligible extent ) . Experiment To look into how different factors change the clip needed one would hold to put up a research lab experiment. Immediately one encounters the first issue: how far will the paper cone will hold to be put in order to make its terminal speed? As paper cones are rather light in footings of mass one can presume that a 3 metre chute is all right, as harmonizing to Newtonian natural philosophies the retarding force ( air opposition ) , i.e. the upwards force will shortly be equal to the weight of the paper. The aforesaid variables ( top angle, resistive forces ) will hold to be tested by utilizing different values. To accomplish this, the experimenter will hold to examine those relationships. Size: cones of different sizes but same paper will hold different multitudes but this will non impact the clip as weight is non a standard after terminal speed has been reached. Drag coefficient: the retarding force coefficient is a dimensionless measure which determines the aerodynamic belongingss of an object. The smaller it is, the lower the resistive values of fluid air. For case for a normal cone it is of 0.5 whilst a regular hexahedron has a drag coefficient ( Cd ) of approximately 1.05 [ 1 ] . The expression to happen this value is Cd= Fd / 0.5VIA? . The airs denseness is an unmanageable changeless whereas the mass shall be manipulated in order to see the consequence. The experimenter will make three cones of different mass, allow them drop off from a same tallness and observe. The clip shall be measured. Apparatus Merely simple tools such as a graduated table, a stop watch or swayers shall be used, no complicated machines such as optical masers or place detectors. Variables: Uncontrollable invariables: air s fluidness Controllable variables: mass, form, aeromechanicss Uncontrollable variables: clip Diagram of set up Cone Cone a is the sample cone Cone B is the same form and stuff as A but is an scaled up version. This is done so that the effects of mass difference can be investigated. Cone degree Celsius is the same size as A but is made of a different sort of paper, a rougher 1. This is done so that the effects of the cone s aeromechanicss can be investigated. Cone vitamin D is of different form than the B but has the same surface country ( therefore the same mass ) . This is done to look into how much the abruptness of the sides will impact the cone. The cone is dropped from 3 metres and at the same time the stop watch sets away. As it hits the Earth the chronometer will hold to be stopped. The figures are recorded. The procedure is repeated at least 5 times with all cones and therefore an norm is drawn. Thereafter the consequences are compared. The smaller the clip needed, the more aerodynamic the form is. [ 1 ] hypertext transfer protocol: //web.archive.org/web/20070715171817/http: //aerodyn.org/Drag/tables.html

Strategic Planning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6250 words

Strategic Planning - Essay Example Some others consider it to be future-oriented plans for interacting with the competitive environment. Overall, strategic planning is long-term plan to optimize the resources to sustain competitive advantage and achieve the corporate goals. Different words and phrases have been used by different thinkers but basically, it is a long-term planning with definite goals. Hence, a formal strategic plan should consist of written plans; it should cover more than a year of activity. This should be formulated taking into consideration the strategic alternatives and identity the resource requirements. Strategic planning has been defined as ‘the devising and formulation of organisational level plans which set the broad and flexible objectives, strategies and policies of a business, driving the organisation towards its vision of the future’ (cited by Aldehayyat & Anchor, 2008). When speaking of strategy as a plan, Mintzberg and Quinn specified two essential characteristics about strategy – it is made in advance of the actions to which it applies and it is developed consciously and purposefully (Dooris, Kelley & Trainer, 2002). Mintzberg had earlier recognized strategy as a broader concept than ‘planning’. It could also be seen as a ‘Ploy’, ‘Position’, ‘Perspective’ and ‘Pattern’ (Anderson & Atkins, 2001). Even Quinn’s definition of strategy included planning as a part of strategy formulation. Planning, according to Dooris, Kelley and Trainer (2002) is concerned with improving one’s condition and pertains to market share and improving profits. As a structured management discipline and practice, strategic planning is still in its nascent stage. Strategic planning has been considered as ‘the one best way’ to devise and implement strategies that would enhance the competitiveness of each business unit. The concept emerged during turbulent times of the 1970s, when the energy crisis and other unanticipated

E business exam questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

E business exam questions - Essay Example The social welfare of the businesses increase and they look to increase the welfare to the customers. There can be price discrimination with the use of the Internet as the customers are aware of the products. The business houses may look to decrease the price of the goods to attract the customers. The e business model of Amazon is based on offering products at lower costs. This helps in the increase of the social welfare. With the rise of the Internet, various other business opportunities are open for the entrepreneurs. Complementarities: The model has described the services as the complementarities. The services of the e business model should be quick and precise. The basic concept is to provide the customer’s with valuable information that helps in the development of the business. Lock in: The lock in period of the business houses is relatively low while using the e business model. The search for customers’ get quicker and the cost is less than that of the traditional process. Therefore, the lock in of the company is automatically reduced. The company may also adopt a model to produce what is demanded. Novelty: In the e business model, there has been a rise in the novelty process with the rise of innovation. The business houses look to attract the customers with the use of innovative techniques. Amazon and Ebay offer discounts and gift vouchers, which encourage the customers to shop online. (Kirikova & Grundspenkis, 2002; Pp 378-379) Porter’s value chain activities describes that a relation exists between the firm’s activities regarding the suppliers and the customers. The value chain activities of a firm can be described as follows: With the advancement of technology and the use of the Internet, the value chain of a company can be related easily. The effectiveness of a company has increased with the use of the Internet. All the components in the value chain have been benefited by the use of the Internet. The

Customer Retention in BizTech Company Coursework

Customer Retention in BizTech Company - Coursework Example Along with measuring your business traffic and conversion, success also relies on customer retention to complete the big picture. You may be getting attention and turning visitors into paying customers, but are you able to keep them around month after month? Or are they leaving after one experience or one transaction? If you want to build a sustainable and scalable business, you need to cut down on churn, the rate at which people are discarding your products and services. To do so, calculating your customer retention is the first step in this process. First, retention refers to a certain point in the customer lifecycle and it can be measured monthly, quarterly, or annually depending on the business. Know this time period because it is an important factor in your calculations. Second, there are two different ways to calculate retention: 1. Customer Retention Rate (CRR) 2. Dollar Retention Rate (DRR)

Post Cold War Era China and US: Strategic Balancing

Post Cold War Era China and US: Strategic Balancing CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION Modern international political arena is highly wired and dynamic in many dimensions. In the contemporary international system and power politics, a stable hierarchic order no longer exists as interdependence and globalisation increases their roles on decision making processes both in internal and external relations of political actors. The political theater China and United States play and the metamorphosis of China and United States relations in an ever changing world with its political instability and unpredictability is one of the most remarkable and consequential processes in post-Cold War era. Certain significant factors began to affect directly the power politics between China and United States as the cumulative effects of their long-lasting historical interactions. 9/11 attacks and United States’s invasion of Afghanistan its aftermath, United States’ another possible intervention over the region with its global war against terror doctrine as an instrument of its foreign policy, China’s distinctive and significant involvement in power politics and its increasing influence both in the region and global order, bilateral economic relations, domestic political processes and the consequential actions of the key individuals can unquestionably be mentioned within the leading factors that set up the current political structures and contributed to the momentum of the relations between China and United States. The ability to recognize a potential conflict or cooperation among China and United States and to be able to decide and develop an appropriate policy analyze requires an informed understanding of their international political behaviour. In conducting its international relations, modern China acknowledges its enormous potential to be the new, global rivalry for power and influence, to be the new economic competitor against United States and recognizes the importance of globalisation hence, started to play a more significant and distinctive role in the global organizations. China and United States must mutually and carefully consider the consequences of their judgments before taking action as the impact of a possible clash will be immense on international politics. If conflict arises, parts of Eurasia might be divided at the dawn of a possible Cold War, while a deepening China and United States cooperation will bring with it many beneficial outcomes. To name a few, increased chances fo r the peaceful resolution and the successful management of pressuring global and regional disputes as well as rising economic growth and global wealth. Before proceeding further to post-Cold War analysis, it is vital to explain the China and United States historical background during the Cold War to be able to understand the circumstances better that today’s interactions are built on. INSIGHT TO PAST Since 1949 to present, China and United States relations evolved on a line that included tense deadlocks, intensifying diplomacy, increasingly interconnected economies and noticable growing international rivalry. In October 1, 1949, Chinese Communist Party Leader Mao Zedong proclaimed the establishment of the People’s Republic of China after Communists defeated the Nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek, caused Nationalists to fled to Taiwan. United States did not recognize Mao’s regime. These incidents set the stage for several decades of limited China and United States relations due to Mao’s intention on leaning towards the side of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and United States’ support on Chiang Kai-shek’s newly formed Nationalist government in Taipei. Start of the 1950 Korean War brought China into the conflict and triggered the first military clash between the People’s Republic of China and United States, as China supported the Soviet-backed North Korea while United States and the United Nations counter supported South Korea. In August 1954, First Taiwan Strait Crisis occurred. Chiang Kai-shek forces deployed troops and unload military equipment in Quemoy and Matsu, islands in the strait between China and Taiwan. As a respond, China threatened the Nationalist forces off-shore and United States responded by actively intervening on behalf of the Chiang Kai-shek Nationalist Government and threatened China back via nuclear blackmail. In 1955, the United States Government confirmed its commitment to defend Taiwan by enacting the Formosa Resolution. During 1959 Tibetan uprisings, United States along with the United Nations condemned China for human right abuses in Tibet. During 1964 Vietnam War, the large and growing United States presence in Vietnam posed a potential threat to China in which resulted China to send more military and technical assistance to support North Vietnamese. Within same year, China also conducted its first test of an atomic bomb, increasing tensions over the escalating conflict in Vietnam. In 1969, a long-standing dispute contained differences over security, ideology and choice of development between China and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics broke into localized armed conflict. While Chinese – Soviet relations worsen, United States took advantage of the conflict and took initiative to improve its relations with China in order to pressure and isolate the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics further. In 1971, the term Ping-Pong Diplomacy was created after the Chinese ping-pong team invites members of the United States’ team, which signaled the initial signs of the warming relations between China and United States. Shortly after, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger made a secret trip to China in order to meet Chinese leaders and pave the way for an incoming visit by President Richard Nixon. Under the influence of these events, by a vote of the United Nations General Assembly, the Chinese seat in the United Nations was transferred from the Nationalist Government in Taiwan to the People’s Republic of China. On February 21, 1972, President Nixon was arrived in Beijing as the first United States President whom ever to set foot on China. Nixon, Kissinger and other United States officials met Chinese leaders and Shanghai Communiquà © was signed to improve relations deeper and further. In the document, Chinese and United States stated their positions on a number of issues including joint opposition to the Soviet Union and United States’ intention to withdraw its military from Taiwan. Process of normalization of formal diplomatic relations and reopening of communication channels began after more than twenty years of non-recognition. It is quite challenging to predict accurate statements regarding the future of China and United States relations in post-Cold War period due to the dynamic flow of interactions. At any given time in the future, the route of affairs may change in a spectrum that extends from a high level of cooperation to a high level of competition and conflict. The future can be marked by either convergence towards a strengthening alliance, stability and peace or deterioration, increased conflict, perhaps even war. To explain further some of the possible pathways that are being offered, I will limit my research of analyzing the longer-term future of China’s foreign policies on the theoretical basis of two main International Relations theories, Realism and Liberalism, in comparison with Confucianism and how their synergy might lead China’s involvement and influence in global order. Incoming chapters will separetely focus on distinctive factors that will help me to develop the structure of this study. I will start the following chapter by explaining the theoretical frameworks of Realism, Liberalism and Confucianism. In each theoretical background, its leading perspectives will be analyzed seperately. Following chapter will explain the post-Cold War social and political development process in China in order to get a better grasp of the current circumstances which China and United States relations are building on. As for my final chapter before my final critic, in accordance with China’s foreign policy decision-making, dependable examples within world politics and international relations will be given to explain each theoretical backgrounds’ influence on Chinese foreign policies in post-Cold War era.

Fidel Castro, the Cuban people’s Leader Essay -- History Castro Histor

Fidel Castro, the Cuban people’s Leader Fidel Castro and the United States of America have a very tense relationship. The current president of Cuba has helped the less fortunate people of Cuba in many ways, but in doing created conflict between the wealthier Cubans who in turn have chosen to seek homes on US soil in Florida. Castro is a very powerful leader who speaks for the people, in general, of Cuba. Since the 1960’s when Castro took power US relations with Cuba have decreased and instead of indifference to each other, hostility has arisen main from the US towards Cuba. Fidel Alexander I Castrate Ruz was born August 13, 1926 in Birà ¡n. He attended Catholic schools before attending the University of Havana graduating with a degree in law. He was a member of a social democratic party named the Ortodoxo Party, which strongly critized the government of Cuba under the control of Fulgenclo Batista. He then ran for election to the Cuban House of Representatives. The elections were never carried out; instead dictator Batista halted the elections thereby ending democracy in Cuba. As a result of Batista actions, Castro attacked on July 26th, 1953 against the Moncada army barracks with 120 men. The attack failed and Fidel was arrested and sentenced to fifteen years but was pardoned after two years. During his trial preceding the sentence he gave his famous speech, â€Å"History Will Absolve Me† (Team 1). After being released he fled to Mexico. During his exile in Mexico he trained and assembled the 26t of July Movement. He gained support fr om Che Guevara before leaving aboard the Granma to invade Cuba in 1956. The revolutionaries returned to Cuba and hid in the Sierra Maestra mountains gaining the support of the peasa... ...cept Fidel Castro’s regime and instead of blockading the country embrace the programs such a great leader has created. Works Cited - BBC News. â€Å"Lift Cuba embargo, Carter tells US.† BBC News 30 February 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1988192.stm>. - Caldara, Jon. â€Å"We Need Cigars; They Need Freedom.† Boulder Daily Camera. 1 June 2003. http://i2i.org/article.aspx?ID=682>. - Castro, Fidel. â€Å"History Will Absolve Me.† Personal Speech. 1953. - Goodman, Josh. â€Å"Help end the embargo; visit Cuba.† The Yale Herald. 17 January 2003. http://www.yaleherald.com/article-p.php?Article=1555>. - Leler, William. â€Å"End the Embargo of Cuba.† Global Exchange. 17 October 2004. http://leler.com/cuba/embargo.html>. - Team 18355. â€Å"Fidel Castro.† Biography. 2 March 2005. http://library.thinkquest.org/18355/fidel_castro.html>.

Madeleine L’Engle’s “A Wrinkle in Time”

Madeleine L’Engle’s â€Å"A Wrinkle in Time† ranks with the best known classic children’s stories. Perhaps a â€Å"Lewis Carroll Shelf Award† and a runner-up position in the â€Å"Hans Christian Andersen Award† would prove this claim.However, all the prestigious awards and the wide readership were not enough to put â€Å"A Wrinkle in Time† in the pedestal of being one of the best works classic children literature.L’Engle’s science fantasy had received a barrage of criticisms from literary critics. The aspect of the story that had received much damage is the story’s ending. Before we go on further with this exploration of â€Å"A Wrinkle in Time†, it is essential to reiterate that the story is categorized as a children’s story—it is intended audience were children.The critics of the novel had approached the narrative in an overly critical fashion that is opposed to the book’s nature of be ing a light and fun read. And because of much overly critical approach, many had failed to appreciate that â€Å"A Wrinkle in Time† is packed with valuable insights that are likely to have a positive effect on young readers.The composition of the story seems to aesthetically decent for its intended audience. The plot was rich in exciting adventures and entertaining elements like aliens and inter-space travels—elements that grab the attention of children.The protagonist of the story was a fourteen-year-old school girl by the name of Meg Murry. Having a child as a protagonist makes it easier for young readers to relate more to the book. Moreover, before all the science fantasy elements were introduced, predicaments that are normal to a child were discussed through the character of Meg.She is considered to be an underachiever and short-tempered by the people around her. These kinds of predicaments, more commonly called peer-pressures, are faced by average children worldwi de.In addition to that, Meg is set to have an adventure of a life with her brother and friend to rescue her father. This kind of adventure would sound very interesting and fun for children readers.The effectiveness of the narrative as a story for children owes much to its uncomplicated language. The language that L’Engle had incorporated in the text was uncomplicated enough for easy absorption for children of reading level.But more notably is that although there was science fantasy elements in the story, L’Engle did not presented those elements a scifi-geeky way. The uncomplicated language can be seen when Mrs. Whatsit was explaining the â€Å"tesseract† to a child like Meg (L’Engle 85).The fact that â€Å"A Wrinkle in Time† a wide readership is arguably already enough to prove its effectiveness. The critics of the novel had made an approach that is considerably unnecessary. They had stripped a children’s story off its very essence. This pap er would stand beside the argument that any overly critical approach to this particular text can be considered an over-reading.The novel was not written for critics, it was for the children’s enjoyment. And because of an overly critical approach, many had failed to appreciate the ending of the story. What makes the ending appreciable is it is rich with insights that are likely to have a positive effect on young minds.For us to have a better vantage point in reviewing the ending, let us divide the ending into three significant parts: Meg’s final battle with IT, the reunion of the family, and Mrs. Whatsit’s invitation for further adventures.In Meg’s final battle with IT, the children are given the suggestion that they are capable beings. Meg is just an average child defeating an alien disembodied brain. This aspect could boost a child’s confidence towards facing challenges in life.In Meg’s reunion with her family, children are taught how to ca re for others. Her father and other characters were anxiously waiting for Meg’s safe return. This had taught Meg that she is important as person. Just like the protagonist, children readers could also have the same positive realization.Mrs. Whatsit’s invitation for further adventures suggests that after some challenges in life, may it be being an underachiever or getting lost within the continuum of time, better things and more adventures are waiting for us.The optimism that this could instil in the minds of the children would be very useful to them for this will teach them a positive outlook in life. A positive outlook would help the children through challenges in life, especially when they grow and move to adulthood—where scepticism and pessimism are prevalent.The ending should not be tampered with by the readers as changing the ending would violate the concept of authorship. Revising the ending is plain plagiarism and with simple logic, this is L’Engle ’s story—not the reader’s.Although, it is understandable that the readers and critics to have opinions and interpretations. But they should not tamper with a classic of children’s literature that was enjoyed by generations of young readers. What they could do with their opinions and interpretations is to keep those as writing materials. Who knows? They may end up writing a masterpiece for children just like â€Å"A Wrinkle in Time.†Work CitedL'Engle, Madeleine. A Wrinkle in Time. NY: Dell. 1973

Digital Surveillance System

Digital Surveillance System The benefits of digital surveillance outweigh problems it posses Mass surveillance was intensified after the 2001 terrorist attack. Therefore, the main aim of this program is to contain or avert terrorism in the United States. Based on this, I believe the benefits of mass surveillance outweigh problems it posses. This paper will discuss the benefits in terms of whether or not terrorism has happened again since it was started. The paper will also consider other aspects such as right to privacy and the ease of establishment.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Digital Surveillance System specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Surveillance systems are an option that is effective option. That is, today it is not easy for anyone to get into airports, concerts, as well as public gatherings without being subjected to a number of checks (Gellman 5). Surveillance cameras when combined with other law enforcement measures are more effici ent, less intrusive, causes less and psychological disturbance. The other thing is that mass surveillance can make the lives of people more convenient, by eradicating the necessity for passwords. The mass surveillance program or system itself could be employed for identification as it uses algorithms that are adequately effective (Gellman 2). It could as well do away with long lines of travelers at airports. Mass surveillance expedites searches and it can be employed to detect items that have been outlawed than physical searches. With reduced crime as a result of mass surveillance, a significant decrease in police work would be observed. It would also reduce the number of security personnel. In fact, the only security people that will be needed are those who do rapid response in the case of a security issue. It is easier to do business in a mass surveillance society. Furthermore, enhanced security patrols would not be needed at events that take place outside. What would be done is s imply replacing them with clear signs that would easily identify people directly. One other sure thing is that, since the twin tower incident in 2001, there has not been any significant attack attributed to terrorism in the United States (Risen and Poitras 1). This success is attributed to the effectiveness of surveillance to prevent terrorism activities. The surveillance system is frequently reviewed and also subject to many safeguards. Although Snowden indicates that NSA authorizes general warrants for the whole country’s metadata, it must be understood that even though the United States can collect the metadata, the government or agencies responsible cannot sieve through it arbitrarily (Gellman 3). The government can only sift through having received an approval from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (Risen and Poitras 2). The only major demerits of this system are that of infringement of privacy rights (Gellman 4). However, it must be emphasized that constitutio nal rights are not absolute and can be limited anytime if there is a public interest that is compelling government to do so. Some of these public interests may include the deterrence of acts of terrorism.Advertising Looking for essay on homeland security? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In general, it must be acknowledged that the surveillance systems can make mistakes, although the computers or cameras are not installed to replace people but to help investigators by getting rid of information that is useless. Again, it is not about how many cases of terrorism it has prevented, but how it has helped investigators to access important information that helps them to enhance security. Whether Edward Snowden was justified or not to leak intelligent information Snowden an employee of NSA managed to access intelligence information and revealed to the general public. Since the time of release, this issue has been a subject o f heated debate in the United States (Risen and Poitras 1). This paper discusses reasons why Snowden was not justified to reveal the information. Some factors to be considered are his intentions, risks involved, and his place of work. To begin with, being a former employee of NSA he was bound to adhere and respect the oath of secrecy which he willing took (Gellman 1-2). This action represented a serious violation of the core values and code of conduct of NSA. Security matters are always sensitive and as such those who access them have a duty to the citizens and the government. The leaked information relates to operations of NSA such as the aspect of collecting data from United States phone call records in order to search for any possible connections to terrorists overseas. Also, it involved surveillance of online communications in order to detect suspicious behaviors from foreigners. Revealing these surveillance programs can easily damage to national security. Revealed information g ives terrorists who are actually trying by all means to avoid detection. Now more than ever, Americans are at risk, as the revelations shows their adversaries, what kind of capabilities they have. Even though most Americans do like their personal information taken by thirty parties, when it comes to security matters, a majority of them support the surveillance system (Risen and Poitras 2). As thing are, mass surveillance is one of the best security measures that can easily keep a trace on not only potential, but also existing threats. Other measures are highly limited in scope. The major concern by Americans was that their right to privacy as enshrined in the constitution was being violated. However, the government had already assured them that strict protocols were being followed regarding protection of their data.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Digital Surveillance System specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It was u njustified as it had the potential to strain the relationship between the United States and the rest of the world. For instance, after the revelation, some foreign governments as well as groups both in Europe and Asia are not very happy with the US. That is, the European Union has laws for data protection and as such does not support mass surveillance. As a consequence, they may easily re-examine and restrict the data they have been sharing with the United States (Risen and Poitras 4). Asian partners, on the other hand, registered their displeasure with the United States and that they were concerned the data and information collected in the surveillance systems could at one point be employed against them. Most Asia countries share a lot of sensitive data particularly on election using online programs with the US. In conclusion, surveillance program has a lot of benefits than disadvantages. As it has been seen in the discussion, they help investors and security officers to keep an ey e on people who can easily harm the United States. It is not meant to replace the existing security measures but support them. In terms of disclosing intelligence information, Snowden was not justified to do so. The information released was sensitive and could be used by terrorists to escape or advance their cause against Americans. Gellman, Barton. Edward Snowden, after months of NSA revelations,says he accomplished his mission. The Washington Post (2013): pp. 1-5. Print. Risen, James and Laura Poitras. N.S.A. Gathers Data on Social Connections of U.S. Citizens. The New York Times (2013): pp. 1-6. Print.

Astronaut Neil Armstrong Biography

Astronaut Neil Armstrong Biography On July 20, 1969, one of the most momentous actions of all time took place not on Earth but on another world. Astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped out of the lunar lander Eagle, descended a ladder, and set foot on the surface of the Moon. Then, he spoke the most famous words of the 20th Century: Its one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. His action  was the culmination of years of research and development, success and failure, all sustained by both the U.S. and then-Soviet Union in the race to the Moon. Fast Facts: Neil Alden Armstrong Birth: August 5, 1930Death: August 25, 2012Parents: Stephen Koenig Armstrong and Viola Louise EngleSpouse: Married twice, once to Janet Armstrong, then to Carol Held Knight, 1994Children: Karen Armstrong, Eric Armstrong, Mark ArmstrongEducation: Purdue University, Masters Degree from USC.Main Accomplishments: Navy test pilot, NASA astronaut for Gemini missions and Apollo 11, which he commanded. The first person to set foot on the Moon. Early Life Neil Armstrong was born August 5, 1930, on a farm in Wapakoneta, Ohio. His parents, Stephen K. Armstrong and Viola Engel, raised him in a series of towns in Ohio while his father worked as a state auditor. As a youth, Neil held many jobs, but none more exciting than one at the local airport. After starting flying lessons at the age of 15, he got his pilots license on his 16th birthday, before he had even earned a drivers license. After his high school years at Blume High School in Wapakonetica, Armstrong decided to pursue a degree in aeronautical engineering from Purdue University before committing to serving in the Navy.   In 1949, Armstrong was called to Pensacola Naval Air Station before he could complete his degree. There he earned his wings at the age of 20, the youngest pilot in his squadron. He flew 78 combat mission in Korea, earning three medals, including the Korean Service Medal. Armstrong was sent home before the conclusion of the war and finished his bachelors degree in 1955. Testing New Boundaries After college, Armstrong decided to try his hand as a test pilot. He applied to  National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) - the agency that preceded NASA - as a test pilot, but was turned down. So, he took a post at Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory in Cleveland, Ohio. However, it was less than a year before Armstrong transferred to Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) in California to work at NACAs High Speed Flight Station. During his tenure at Edwards Armstrong conducted test flights of more than 50 types of experimental aircraft, logging 2,450 hours of flight time. Among his accomplishments in these aircraft, Armstrong was able to achieve speeds of Mach 5.74 (4,000 mph or 6,615 km/h) and an altitude of 63,198 meters (207,500 feet), but in the X-15 aircraft. Armstrong had a technical efficiency in his flying that was the envy of most of his colleagues. However, he was criticized by some of the non-engineering pilots, including Chuck Yeager and Pete Knight, who observed that his technique was too mechanical. They argued that flying was, at least in part, feel, that it was something that didnt come naturally to the engineers. This sometimes got them into trouble. Neil Armstrong was a test pilot before coming to NASA. This shows him at the Dryden Research center in 1960 after he became a NASA research test pilot. He flew missions in the first X-15 rocket plane. NASA   While Armstrong was a comparatively successful test pilot, he was involved in several aerial incidents that didnt work out so well. One of the most famous occurred when he was sent in an F-104 to investigate Delamar Lake as a potential emergency landing site. After an unsuccessful landing damaged the radio and hydraulic system, Armstrong headed toward Nellis Air Force Base. When he tried to land, the tail hook of the plane lowered due to the damaged hydraulic system and caught the arresting wire on the airfield. The plane slid out of control down the runway, dragging the anchor chain along with it. The problems didnt end there. Pilot Milt Thompson was dispatched in an F-104B to retrieve Armstrong. However, Milt had never flown that aircraft and ended up blowing one of the tires during a hard landing. The runway was then closed for the second time that day to clear the landing path of debris. A third aircraft was sent to Nellis, piloted by Bill Dana. But Bill almost landed his T-33 Shooting Star long, prompting Nellis to send the pilots back to Edwards using ground transportation. Crossing Into Space In 1957, Armstrong was selected for the Man In Space Soonest (MISS) program. Then in September 1963, he was selected as the first American civilian to fly in space.   Three years later, Armstrong was the command pilot for the Gemini 8 mission, which launched March 16. Armstrong and his crew performed the first-ever docking with another spacecraft, an unmanned Agena target vehicle. After 6.5 hours in orbit they were able to dock with the craft, but due to complications, they were unable to complete what would have been the third-ever extra-vehicular activity, now referred to as a spacewalk. Armstrong also served as the CAPCOM, who is typically the only person who to communicate directly with the astronauts during missions to space. He did this for the Gemini 11 mission. However, it was not until the Apollo program began that Armstrong again ventured into space. The Apollo Program Armstrong  was  commander of the backup crew of the Apollo 8 mission, though he had been originally scheduled to back-up the Apollo 9 mission. (Had he remained as the  backup commander, he would have been slated to command Apollo 12, not  Apollo 11.) Initially, Buzz Aldrin, the  Lunar Module Pilot, was to be the first to  set foot on the Moon. However, because of the positions of the astronauts in the module, it would require Aldrin to physically crawl over Armstrong to reach the hatch. As such, it was decided that it would be easier for Armstrong to exit the module first upon landing. Apollo 11 touched down on the surface of the Moon on July 20, 1969, at which point Armstrong declared, Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed. Apparently, Armstrong had only seconds of fuel left before the thrusters would cut out. If that had happened, the lander would have plummeted to the surface. That didnt happen, much to everyones relief. Armstrong and Aldrin exchanged congratulations before quickly preparing the lander to launch off the surface in case of an emergency. Humanitys Greatest Achievement On July 20, 1969, Armstrong made his way down the ladder from the Lunar Lander and, upon reaching the bottom declared Im going to step off the LEM now. As his left boot made contact with the surface he then spoke the words that defined a generation, Thats one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. This grainy, black-and-white image taken on the Moon shows Neil Armstrong about to step off the Eagle lander and onto the surface of the Moon for the first time. NASA   About 15 minutes after exiting the module, Aldrin joined him on the surface and they began investigating the lunar surface. They planted the American flag, collected rock samples, took images and video, and transmitted their impressions back to Earth. The final task carried out by Armstrong was to leave behind a package of memorial items in remembrance of deceased Soviet cosmonauts  Yuri Gagarin  and Vladimir Komarov, and  Apollo 1  astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White and  Roger Chaffee. All told, Armstrong and Aldrin spent 2.5 hours on the lunar surface, paving the way for other Apollo missions. The astronauts then returned to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on July 24, 1969. Armstrong was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor bestowed upon civilians, as well as a host of other medals from NASA and other countries. Life After Space Astronaut Neil Armstrong at the Legends of Aerospace event at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum on March 14, 2010, in NYC. Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum.  Ã‚   After his Moon trip, Neil Armstrong completed a masters degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Southern California and worked  as an administrator with NASA and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). He next turned his attention to education and accepted a teaching position at the University of Cincinnati with the Department of Aerospace Engineering. He held this appointment until 1979. Armstrong also served on two investigation panels. The first was after the  Apollo 13  incident, while the second came after the  Challenger explosion. Armstrong lived much of his life after NASA life outside the public eye, and  worked in private industry and consulted for NASA until his retirement. He made occasional public appearances until shortly before his death on August 25, 2012. His ashes were buried at sea in the Atlantic Ocean the following month.  His words and deeds live on in the annals of space exploration, and he was widely admired by space explorers and space enthusiasts around the world. Sources Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. â€Å"Neil Armstrong.†Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, Inc., 1 Aug. 2018, www.britannica.com/biography/Neil-Armstrong.Chaikin, Andrew.A Man on the Moon. Time-Life, 1999.Dunbar, Brian. â€Å"Biography of Neil Armstrong.†NASA, NASA, 10 Mar. 2015, www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/bios/neilabio.html.Wilford, John Noble. â€Å"Neil Armstrong, First Man on the Moon, Dies at 82.†The New York Times, The New York Times, 25 Aug. 2012, www.nytimes.com/2012/08/26/science/space/neil-armstrong-dies-first-man-on-moon.html. Edited by Carolyn Collins Petersen.

Advanced Studies in Occupational Safety & Health Essay

Advanced Studies in Occupational Safety & Health - Essay Example s defined as ‘increased amount of oxygen in tissues and organs’.3 It is ‘conditions of the body exemplified by greater oxygen content of the tissues and organs than normally exists at sea level’.4 It can result from breathing oxygen at pressures greater than normal atmospheric pressure. Altitude sickness is a general term encompassing a spectrum of disorders that occur at higher altitudes.5 It results when one cannot get sufficient oxygen at the air in the high altitude. It is the body’s reaction to a lack of available oxygen in the atmosphere. Oxygen concentration reduces with increasing altitude. Naturally, altitude sickness occurs from around 8000 Feet’s although, in some instances, it does occur at a lower altitude. When ones go up too fast, the body is deprived off the oxygen it needs. The situation is characterised by several symptoms that include nausea, headache, shortness of breath and extreme fatigue. The best solution is to descending a few thousand feet until the person begins to feel better.6 To add, the odds of getting altitude sickness are significantly reduced by drinking water, eating well and gaining altitude gradually. Offices are predisposed to fire from a horde of sources. The impacts can be disastrous, for example, since a variety of things are kept in the office ranging from personal property to tremendously valuable work related material. Therefore, it is essential to develop ways to prevent office fire. It can be prevented through some strategies. First, electrical equipment should be well maintained. Most office fires result from faulty electrical appliances. Therefore, a well maintained electrical system provides the surest way to prevent fire from arising from electrical faults. This can be done by avoiding overloading electrical, outlets though, certifying that there are a satisfactory number of outlets to reduce the need for extension cords, therefore, reducing fire hazards. However, if it is necessary to use a fire

Consider bauman's idea that central features of modernity underpinned Essay

Consider bauman's idea that central features of modernity underpinned the possibility and actuality of the holocaust - Essay Example Out of job, Bauman had enough spare time in his hands and completed his masters in philosophy from Warsaw University where he remained as a lecturer till 1968. With the outbreak of public protests in Poland against the ruling communist government and subsequent fanning of anti-Semitic sentiments by the government to deflect public criticism, Bauman shifted to Leeds University after briefly teaching in Tel Aviv University. Bauman faced anti-Semitic sentiments twice in his life and both were from non-Nazi state machinery. This experience led him to form an opinion that modernity, bureaucracy and social exclusion creates a situation where an extreme phobia against those social groups that cannot be neatly categorised and slotted into predetermined and well established hierarchical superstructure prevalent in the society. This in essence is the beginning of a potential holocaust that will inevitably result if this xenophobic attitude towards those social sub-groups that cannot be effectively analysed according to existing social norms is not brought under control. Such social mores can be brought under control only if the authority is aware of the potential dangers and initiates strong measures to counter such a mass phobia against so-called outsiders. History, however, has witnessed several instances of cynical exploitation of the deep seated distrust among Europeans against so-called killers of Christ by governments of several European nations, Poland and Soviet Russia being the main culprits, to further their narrow and selfish class interests. Bauman has worked extensively on these issues where he has clearly laid bare the intrinsic interconnection between modern society where people wilfully forego several facets of personal freedom (both in the realm of actions and in thoughts) and the inherent distrust of the ‘outsider’ who does not conform to the established mores of the society. His contention is