Biography of José Hernández, Former NASA Astronaut

Biography of Josà © Hernndez, Former NASA Astronaut Josà © Hernndez (born August 7, 1962) overcame enormous barriers to become one of the few  Latinos to serve as an astronaut for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Raised in a family of field workers, he nevertheless found support for his dreams and achieved his goal of space flight. Hernndez occasionally found himself in the midst of controversy because of his outspoken positions regarding Latin culture and immigration to the United States. Fast Facts: Josà © M. Hernndez Known For: Former NASA astronautBorn: August 7, 1962, in French Camp, CaliforniaParents: Julia Hernndez,  Salvador HernndezEducation:  University of the Pacific, University of California, Santa BarbaraAwards and Honors:  Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Award (1995), Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists Medalla de Oro (1999), U.S. Department of Energy  Outstanding Performance Commendation (2000), NASA Service Awards (2002, 2003), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Outstanding Engineer Award (2001)Spouse: Adelita HernandezChildren: Antonio, Vanessa, Karina, JulioPublished Works: Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farmworker Turned AstronautNotable Quote: Now its my turn! Early Life Josà © Hernndez was born  on August 7, 1962, in French Camp, California. His parents Salvador and Julia were Mexican immigrant migrant workers. Each March, Hernndez, the youngest of four children, journeyed with his family from Michoacn, Mexico, to Southern California. Picking crops as they traveled, the family would then proceed north to Stockton, California. When Christmas approached, the family would head back to Mexico before returning to the U.S. in the spring.  He remarked in an interview for the NASA website, â€Å"Some kids might think it would be fun to travel like that, but we had to work. It wasn’t a vacation.†Ã¢â‚¬â€¹ At the urging of a second-grade teacher, Hernndez’s parents eventually settled in the Stockton area of California to provide their children with more structure. Despite being born in California, the Mexican-American Hernndez did not learn English until he was 12 years old. Aspiring Engineer In school, Hernndez enjoyed math and science. He decided he wanted to be an astronaut after watching the Apollo spacewalks on television. Hernndez was also drawn to the profession in 1980, when he found out that NASA had picked Costa Rican native Franklin Chang-Diaz, one of the first Hispanics to journey into space, as an astronaut. Hernndez said in a NASA interview that he, then a high school senior, still remembers the moment he heard the news. â€Å"I was hoeing a row of sugar beets in a field near Stockton, California, and I heard on my transistor radio that Franklin Chang-Diaz had been selected for the Astronaut Corps. I was already interested in science and engineering, but that was the moment I said, ‘I want to fly in space.’† After he finished high school, Hernndez studied electrical engineering at the University of the Pacific in Stockton. From there, he pursued graduate studies in engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Although his parents were migrant workers, Hernndez said they prioritized his education by making sure he completed his homework and studied consistently. â€Å"What I always say to Mexican parents, Latino parents is that we shouldn’t spend so much time going out with friends drinking beer and watching telenovelas, and should spend more time with our families and kids...challenging our kids to pursue dreams that may seem unreachable,† Hernndez said in a controversial interview with the Los Angles Times. Breaking Ground, Joining NASA Once he completed his studies, Hernndez landed a job with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in 1987. There, he engaged in work with a commercial partner that resulted in the creation of the first full-field digital mammography imaging system, used to spot breast cancer in its first stages. Hernndez followed his groundbreaking work at Lawrence Laboratory by closing in on his dream of becoming an astronaut. In 2001, he signed on as a NASA materials research engineer at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, helping with Space Shuttle and International Space Station missions. He went on to serve as the Materials and Processes Branch chief in 2002, a role he filled until NASA selected him for its space program in 2004. After applying for 12 straight years to enter the program, Hernndez was at long last headed to space. After undergoing physiological, flight, and water and wilderness survival training as well as training on Shuttle and International Space Station systems, Hernndez completed Astronaut Candidate Training in February 2006. Three-and-a-half years later, Hernndez journeyed on the STS-128 shuttle mission, during which he oversaw the transfer of more than 18,000 pounds of equipment between the shuttle and the International Space Station and helped with robotics operations, according to NASA. The STS-128 mission traveled more than 5.7 million miles in just under two weeks. Immigration Controversy After Hernndez returned from space, he found himself at the center of controversy. That’s because he commented on Mexican television that from space he enjoyed seeing the Earth without borders and called for comprehensive immigration reform, arguing that undocumented workers play an important role in the U.S. economy. His remarks reportedly displeased his NASA superiors, who were quick to point out that Hernndez’s views did not represent the organization as a whole. â€Å"I work for the U.S. government, but as an individual, I have a right to my personal opinions,† Hernndez said in a follow-up interview with the Los Angeles Times. â€Å"Having 12 million undocumented people here means there’s something wrong with the system, and the system needs to be fixed.† Beyond NASA After a 10-year run at NASA, Hernndez left the government agency in January 2011 to serve as executive director for Strategic Operations at aerospace company MEI Technologies Inc. in Houston. â€Å"Josà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s talent and dedication have contributed greatly to the agency, and he is an inspiration to many,† said Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. â€Å"We wish him all the best with this new phase of his career.† Sources Connelly, Richard. â€Å"Jose Hernandez, Astronaut Who Sparked Immigration Controversy, Retires from NASA.†Ã‚  Houston Press, 18 Jan. 2019.Dunbar, Brian. â€Å"Meet NASAs Future Explorer - Jose Hernandez.†Ã‚  NASA.NASA. â€Å"Astronaut Jose Hernandez Leaves NASA.†Ã‚  PR Newswire, 30 June 2018.Wall, Mike. â€Å"Migrant Farmer-Turned-Astronaut Jose Hernandez Leaves NASA.†Ã‚  Space.com, 17 Jan. 2011.Wilkinson, Tracy. â€Å"Mexican American Astronaut Isnt Changing Course on Immigration Stand.†Ã‚  Los Angeles Times, 17 Sept. 2009.

Salud! and Cuban healthcare system

Salud! and Cuban healthcare system According to the film ‘Salud’, physicians reside within the neighborhoods that they are supposed to serve (Gorry, 2009). The Cuban healthcare system focuses mainly on preventive services and execution of rapid treatment whenever patients are admitted to hospitals. Effective emergency responders to cater for unexpected events such as earthquakes have also been trained in Cuba.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on â€Å"Salud!† and Cuban healthcare system specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There are several Cuban doctors who have been dispatched to over 100 countries across the world. Some of the countries being served by Cuban doctors include Venezuela, Central America, South Africa and Gambia. These are fulltime medical experts. However, the US doctors can only be dispatched to destinations that demand specialized emergency care on short term basis (Gorry, 2009). Free medial training is offered to s tudents from the United States, Latin America, Africa and other parts of the world. Although Cuba is a poor nation compared to the US, it trains medical personnel at no cost. This is not the case with the US. There are no private healthcare systems in Cuba since all the healthcare establishments are run by the government (Carrol, 2007). A robust private sector orientation is one of the strengths of the US healthcare system. A private system ensures that product manufacturers can continually undertake medical innovation with the aim of improving both quality and access to healthcare for individuals who are well covered by medical insurance. For example, there is a great level of flexibility for employer-based insurance because it is easy to adjust the system at any time according to the changing healthcare dynamics (Institute of Medicine, 2003). On the other hand, coverage controlled by the employer cannot be possessed by an employee due to lack of portability. Therefore, employees a ttached to short term employment contracts may suffer as a result of this weakness. Moreover, incentives for prevention are minimal because several workers often shift from one job to another on a regular basis. Rapid escalation of healthcare cost is yet another weakness of the US healthcare system. This has been worsened by expansive coverage due to the federal tax exemption advanced to employers (Institute of Medicine, 2001). The best way the US system can be transformed is by adopting a market-based system through a well planned incremental approach. This will improve healthcare efficiency. The federal tax law can be reformed in such a way that open-hand arrangements are avoided. The latter can be replaced by the use of vouchers. Regulatory regimes can also be created by individual states so that coverage rules and regulations are controlled at the local level.Advertising Looking for term paper on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There are quite a number of aspects in the Cuban healthcare system that the US healthcare ought to adopt. For instance, it is vital to note that the Cuban healthcare system is significantly affordable to patients compared to that of the United States. Cuba spends about US$5.49 for in-patient hospital stay per day (Carrol, 2007). On the other hand, the United States healthcare system demands approximately US$ 1,994 to sustain an in-patient for a single day in hospital (Institute of Medicine, 2003). These are remarkable differences in terms of healthcare costs between the two countries. The US healthcare system should embrace ways of reducing the cost of accessing medical care and also improving quality. Even though the US healthcare system is costly to healthcare recipients, quality in some healthcare institutions is till below the expected standards. As much as importation of some medical merchandise takes place in Cuba, a significant amount of medica l goods are still manufactured locally. However, the cost of labor is lower in Cuba than the US. If the United States can lower the cost of labor and improve local production of vital medicinal products, then access and quality towards healthcare will equally be boosted (Institute of Medicine, 2001). In addition, personal effects such as water, food, hypodermic needles and bed sheets can be brought by patients into hospitals as it is the case in Cuba. When patients are allowed to take care of basic personal expenses, the government healthcare systems will lower the cost of operations by a remarkable margin. References Carrol, R. (2007). Economic crisis boost to health of Cubans. London: The Guardian. Gorry, C. (2009). Salud! Cuba’s Medical Diplomacy. Retrieved from lahabana.com/content/salud-cubas-medical-diplomacy/ Institute of Medicine (2001). Aligning payment policies with quality improvement. In crossing the quality chasm. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences.Adve rtising We will write a custom term paper sample on â€Å"Salud!† and Cuban healthcare system specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Institute of Medicine (2003). The healthcare environment and its relations to disparities. In Unequal treatment: Confronting racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences.

Assessment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Assessment - Assignment Example Industrial Chemicals, lastly, provide scientifically enrich and tested chemical products. All in all, the company makes use of the best talent in the sector to keep up with the innovative and unique features it provides. Synthomer also works in the chemical industry and deals mainly in production of polymers. Synthomer was established in 1952 with headquarters in Harlow, UK. Both companies keep innovation and technology at the heart of their operations and compete greatly in the global business market. Both the companies have followed International Accounting Standards (IAS) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) to prepare the financial reports. They use different accounting policies for the accounts, for instance, Synthomer calculates depreciation on straight line basis over the estimated useful life of an asset and Croda values tangible fixed assets at cost or valuation less depreciation. The accounting policies differ for each account but they remain compliant with the UK accounting standards and companies law 2006. For the purpose of this assignment, the financial statements of both the companies are extracted from their official website. The information important for the analysis is extracted and summarized in the excel sheet for clarity and ease of use. The analysis covers information from three recent years i.e. 2011, 2012 and 2013. Both the companies belong to the same industry and work in more or less the same product lines. For financial analysis, ratio analysis was used. Ratio analysis is done under 5 main heads namely Liquidity, Leverage, Coverage, Activity and Profitability. The analysis involves comprehensive assessment of the results measured. An analysis is made using personal knowledge and understanding about the issues. The report ends by concluding on the results of comparative analysis. Current

Article Review on Technology in Education Assignment

Article Review on Technology in Education - Assignment Example Videoconferencing at present is a medium for learning partnerships both in the local scene and in the international setup. Reynard (2012) cited â€Å"the inclusion of video increases the sense of presence,† and considers this as a means of collaboration. This educational tool has evolved in the recent years to include media tools, such as chat, as well as interactive whiteboards, which increase the exchange of ideas and resources alike, taking learning and the accumulation of knowledge to new heights (Reynard, 2012). This promotes access to what is otherwise accessible – locations which are commonly not that open to the public and expert educators who are too geographically distant; in reference to inaccessible locations, virtual tours are utilized (Reynard, 2012). Another advantage of this modern day educational tool is that it can make available the unavailable, such as classes not normally offered in the school, or those beyond the normal hours of school, which would be highly advantageous for those who are not able to avail of normal class hours (Reynard, 2012). Another important benefit of videoconferencing is that it helps students go the extra mile – tutoring and enrichment activities online, in real time, and without geographical constraints (Reynard, 2012). ... Furthermore, technology like videoconferencing may bridge the gap between different cultures as it provides worldwide reach to all students; this would yield better-informed students and well versed in aspects in which traditional students are not due to limited access to resources. There would be constant updates of any advancement or modification in education across the globe, as this education tool goes beyond geographical boundaries. In the future, students would be more interested and involved to learn as videoconferencing offers them interactive learning. It would give new meaning to the term – experience – since this teaching strategy would make the learners feel as if they are in that particular scenario, hence, making them believe like it was their own personal experience. There would probably be an increase in the number of students, as those who do not have the luxury of time could avail of such dynamic and effective education made very convenient to them sin ce it is not bound by normal school hours. Personal Opinion: How Technology will Shape Education in the Future Technology is evolving, as it is used in the field of education, so will the latter evolve, as well. Education will be better, as technology will constantly upgrade, so will the skills of the students. Thus, to keep up with complex learning needs brought about by modernized educational tools utilized by students, educators will adapt to such modernity. They will be well equipped with modern strategies to address learning needs. In the process, education will reach new heights. The standard of education would be further uplifted, producing more competitive

Globalisation and environmental sustainability Essay Example for Free

Globalisation and environmental sustainability Essay A global society is marked by new technologically integrated local and international relations which encourage the study of the effects of globalisation and as well as internationalisation of various disciplines in a society which are involved in social interactions. This interactions may be locally based or may involve international relations some of which have a close relationship to political philosophy, international economies, conflict analysis, international laws and policies as well as sociology. Globalisation makes the world more productive and stable. In the past few decades, the global economy has become increasingly interconnected and integrated. This integration is quite evident in the international markets and it has been on a steady increase since the seventeenth century although in the last few years, globalisation has undergone revolution which has given rise to many controversial issues regarding its effects and impacts on the larger global society (Lindert, Williamson 2001). Some researches have indicated that in the last two decades or so, the increased integration in the global markets has resulted in greater inequality in the way income is distributed among nations around the world. In connection to this, Bourguignon and Morrisson (2000) have also observed that combining inequality within and across countries has brought a significant rise in the global inequality since 1960 thus making the already poor countries poorer while the rich countries get richer through globalisation. Globalisation refers to the way in which nations increasingly become interconnected with one another in terms of economic, political, technological, social and cultural aspects. More often than not, the word globalisation is used to refer to the economic aspect of a nation. Economic globalisation describes the integration of national economies into the international economies via trade, migrations, international market capital flows, foreign investments and increased use of technology. The increasing rate of globalisation as has been experienced in the past two decades or so has led to rapid growth of global trade, financial capital flows, direct foreign investments and cross border trade transactions (Johnston, Taylor, Watts 2002). The major facilitators of this growth include improved transport and communication infrastructure, improved technological know-how, quicker methods of telecommunication and internet services. In addition to this, globalisation has been favoured by removal of trade barriers and policies across nations which previously inhibited international trade among nations. This has now liberalised trade and encouraged more export and import transactions which promote globalisation. The establishment of international trade organisations such as world bank, IMF and WTO have also played a significant role in facilitating globalisation as they are devoted to promoting trade and investment across nations worldwide. The result of this kind of globalised trade is presence of multinational companies (MNCs) whose budgets exceed those of the economies of many nations in which they are situated (Atkison 1999). Globalisation and sustainability. In the recent years, many controversies have emanated from the issue of globalisation. It is now seen an unnecessary evil which is threatening the social and environmental sustainability of the global societies. Globalisation is viewed by some people as an opportunity for national and international economic growth while others feel that it is a threat to economic prosperity, political sovereignty and cultural integrity (Jussilla, Cullen 2002). People in developed countries are particularly concerned with the fact that globalisation poses a threat to unskilled workers who are bound to be left jobless with the increased technological methods of production in the contracting industries. On the other hand, the developing nations are mostly concerned about the loss of political powers and sovereignty as well as loss of economic prosperity which is bound to be brought about by globalisation. According to Bhalla (2002) the whole concept of globalisation is surrounded by ideological issues both positive and negative which in the long run affect the people or societies in the globalised world. , the controversial aspect of globalisation can not be easily resolved. Globalisation and environmental sustainability. Environmental sustainability refers to the aspect of addressing the needs of the current global societies fully while being cautious not to compromise the needs of the societies which are to come,that is, future generations. According Heinberg (2005), globalisation has directly or indirectly led to several environmental issues such as global warming, increased deforestation, depletion of the ozone layer, destruction of water catchment areas, biodiversity, most natural resources have reached or are nearing depletion levels, pollution of water, air and the entire environment among others. For instance, globalisation has enabled MNCs to invest in countries which have few or no environmental conservation by-laws and this results in high environmental degradation as well as depletion of natural resources. However, the WTO in response to this effect has argued that the large amounts of income or capital flows earned from globalisation are capable of catering for the environmental degradation and this is bound to improve the quality of the environment to even higher standards that it were in before. In addition, globalisation has led to increased industrialisation all over the globe and this has resulted in the much dreaded effects of depletion of the ozone layer and global warming. Global warming comes as a result of release of industrial pollutants from the manufacturing industries into the environment. Such pollutants include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxides of sulphur and so forth. The effects of global warming are quite evident all over the globe as they have led to diverse changes in weather and climate resulting in drought and famines in some parts of the world among other effects. The depletion of the ozone layer occurs as a result of release of chemicals such as freons and fluorocarbons in to the air which react with ozone layer hence thinning it (Bellow 2001). However,there are several positive effects of globalisation in relation to environmental sustainability. Precisely, globalisation has led to improved methods of energy utilisation, substitution of resources especially those occurring naturally, innovation of metal recovery and material recycling methods, dematerialisation of resources among other positive practices (Eiezen, Maxine 2006). Globalisation has particularly been putting great emphases on dematerialisation and this has helped industries to improve their efficiency in production, minimise and manage their waste production and reduced the production costs through use of cheap systematic procedures. In addition, the use of improved technological methods has made companies to adopt newer and more efficient methods of energy utilisation and as a result, the energy requirements in industrialized countries have substantially reduced in the recent years. Moreover, many non-renewable energy resources have been substituted with renewable sources of energy and this has greatly reduced the risk of depletion of such resources in the near future. Although the improved technology has great positive effects on the environmental sustainability, globalisation is negatively associated with the exportation and use of technologies and activities that can have detrimental effects on the environment. All these environmental effects of globalisation have either a direct or an indirect impact on the global societies. Lack of clean water for instance is a negative effect which is likely to cause diseases and suffering to the larger population. On the other hand, improved energy efficiency, advanced technology and industrialisation translates a greater advantage to the people living in the globalised world in terms of better quality consumer products, free exchange of goods, capital and services between nations among others. Globalisation and social sustainability. On the aspect of social sustainability, globalisation plays a very important role in terms of improving or lowering the social status of the people living in globalised world. Experts have argued that globalisation tends to impose a greater disadvantage to the poor countries while at the same time it favours the already developed nations (Bellow 2001). They add that although globalisation is believed to favour free trade among nations, it lead to much inequality between the developed and the under developed countries since the developing countries are unable to compete favourably with the developed countries in the international markets (Agyeman, Bullar, Evans 2003). In addition, the increased use of technology is bound to render many people jobless especially the unskilled workers, since most of the work which was previously done manually by the people is now easily done by machines. This reflects negatively on the society especially in the poorer countries since when people do not get jobs to do, they are likely to suffer from starvation, poor health, illiteracy among other social problems (Walker 2005). On the positive side, globalisation allows free movement of people across nations as they trade and this has promoted cultural diversity, intermarriages, tourism and so forth. This has further promoted peace,understanding and unity between individuals as well as nations. It is thus clear that globalisation has some critical impacts on the social lives of individuals an groups living in the industrialised countries. Identities and powers based on globalisation and sustainability. The last one decade or so has presented a turbulent phase for the global societies marked by globalisation and resurgence in the identity politics or religion based politics. Globalisation being a process of ongoing capitalism-industrialisation has had some adverse effects on the poor strata of the society. According to Heiberg (2005), the nature of globalisation is contradictory in that it divides the world as much as it unites it. Movements fundamental to globalisation are based on empathy, ideology and identities. The lives of people living in global societies are largely shaped by conflicting trends of globalisation and identity and current events in the world indicate that community identities are threatened by the forces of globalisation. One effect of globalisation on the societal political structure is the emergence of socialist states which came into being in the mid-20th century ushering in the beginning of an industrial society. The intensified rate of globalisation has led to a rise of America as a lone super-power in the world, decline of the power and authority exercised by the United Nations, decline in the amount of Non-Aligned movement, a rise in Fascist-fundamentalist politics among countries and worsening of the problems experienced by the poor in the society. While globalisation is believed to result in a democratic world economy, the political democracy system in the world is stifled in form of emasculation of the potential world government. As the national economies become more and more globalised, the world political powers become more and more centralised into one or a few nations of the world. This power monopoly is a negative effect of globalisation as it leads to a decline in democratic norms and projection of identity politics. Identity politics involve competition over scarce resources which could in principle be taken to mean struggle for political power or economic wealth resources. This kind of competition seems to favour only the rich and mighty residing in the wealthy and powerful countries leading to a form of discrimination. As a result, globalisation makes the people in rich countries continue becoming richer as those in poor countries become more poor by the day. In this case it is clear that although globalisation is capable of empowering a nation both economically and politically, the power distribution is unequal and this puts some nations at a higher political power advantage than others. Conclusion. Beyond doubt, globalisation has led to significant increase in per capita income of different nations which have fully accepted this process and applied effectively the technological advancements which come with it. It can however be seen that, globalisation has pushed most developing or Third world countries along the path of diminishing sustainability and this has not in any way been improved by the recent regulations made in the globalisation processes. For instance, the deregulation of global trade in the recent past has led to a decrease in the environmental and social-cultural constraints associated with globalisation but this kind of deregulation has failed to address the issues of sustainability. In conclusion, it is clear that the current globalisation process is quite unsustainable but with a few policies to govern it properly, the process is capable of bringing much success in the long run to all nations world wide as well as to people as individuals in the globalised world. Reference. Atkinson, G., Dubourg, R. , Hamilton, K. , Munasinghe, M. , Pearce D. , 1999. Measuring sustainable development. UK: Edward Elgar Publishers. Agyeman, J. , Bullard, R. D. , Evans, B. , (eds. ). 2003. Sustainability: Development in an Unequal World, London: Earthscan. Bello, W. F. 2001. The Future in the Balance: Essays on Globalization and Resistance. Oakland, Calif: Food First Books. Bhalla, A. S. 2002. Globalisation and Sustainable Development: A Southern African Perspective, International Journal of Technology Management Sustainable Development, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 40-57.

Echelon: Considerations with International Communications Monitoring :: Technology

Echelon: Considerations with International Communications Monitoring Introduction Since the invention of radio, intelligence-gathering organizations have been developing and using eavesdropping techniques to intercept and review wireless communications. Initially, these capabilities were solely used to spy on hostile nations, and particularly for military purposes. Human operators had to manually review each transmission, and cryptanalysts pored over military ciphers in an attempt to decode important messages. As wireless communication has become an integral part of commercial and individual existence, and potential threats to security are increasingly found in peacetime and on home ground, the scope of this intelligence gathering has likewise broadened. One of the most controversial eavesdropping systems in existence is a classified project known as ‘Echelon.’ Its use of computer hardware and software to filter communications from all over the world brings up many ethical issues related to the impact of computers on privacy. Overview of Echelon Most of the evidence for Echelon is circumstantial, though a few facts have been established. The participating organizations (notably the US Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency) have neither confirmed nor denied its existence. In lieu of a discussion of the ethical issues, a brief summary of the current knowledge follows. How it Works Echelon is the product of Cold War efforts to monitor wireless communications in the USSR. It traces its roots back to the clandestine UKUSA alliance, a communications intelligence agreement that dates back from around 1947. Member nations include the US, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is now known that the system has been in existence for at least 20 years.[1] In the past, high frequency radio listening posts were also used to listen to radio communications. Currently, the system is composed of a series of eavesdropping satellites, ground listening stations, and supercomputers that intercept and sift through telecommunications satellite broadcasts. These broadcasts include faxes, phone calls, and web traffic- especially those dispatched over long distances.[2] The term Echelon has never actually been mentioned by officials, but is believed to represent the computer system that manages the data gathered by the network.[3] The computers are used to store and ana lyze text data for key words, and to review telephone conversations for unique ‘voiceprints’ or the phone numbers of persons under surveillance.[4] This makes it possible to filter an enormous amount of traffic, since human analysts review only relevant messages. The US National Security Agency (NSA) is widely considered to be both the originator and head of the project, and likely owns and operates the major computer facilities for Echelon. Echelon: Considerations with International Communications Monitoring :: Technology Echelon: Considerations with International Communications Monitoring Introduction Since the invention of radio, intelligence-gathering organizations have been developing and using eavesdropping techniques to intercept and review wireless communications. Initially, these capabilities were solely used to spy on hostile nations, and particularly for military purposes. Human operators had to manually review each transmission, and cryptanalysts pored over military ciphers in an attempt to decode important messages. As wireless communication has become an integral part of commercial and individual existence, and potential threats to security are increasingly found in peacetime and on home ground, the scope of this intelligence gathering has likewise broadened. One of the most controversial eavesdropping systems in existence is a classified project known as ‘Echelon.’ Its use of computer hardware and software to filter communications from all over the world brings up many ethical issues related to the impact of computers on privacy. Overview of Echelon Most of the evidence for Echelon is circumstantial, though a few facts have been established. The participating organizations (notably the US Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency) have neither confirmed nor denied its existence. In lieu of a discussion of the ethical issues, a brief summary of the current knowledge follows. How it Works Echelon is the product of Cold War efforts to monitor wireless communications in the USSR. It traces its roots back to the clandestine UKUSA alliance, a communications intelligence agreement that dates back from around 1947. Member nations include the US, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is now known that the system has been in existence for at least 20 years.[1] In the past, high frequency radio listening posts were also used to listen to radio communications. Currently, the system is composed of a series of eavesdropping satellites, ground listening stations, and supercomputers that intercept and sift through telecommunications satellite broadcasts. These broadcasts include faxes, phone calls, and web traffic- especially those dispatched over long distances.[2] The term Echelon has never actually been mentioned by officials, but is believed to represent the computer system that manages the data gathered by the network.[3] The computers are used to store and ana lyze text data for key words, and to review telephone conversations for unique ‘voiceprints’ or the phone numbers of persons under surveillance.[4] This makes it possible to filter an enormous amount of traffic, since human analysts review only relevant messages. The US National Security Agency (NSA) is widely considered to be both the originator and head of the project, and likely owns and operates the major computer facilities for Echelon.

Future of Fashion

Fashion. A word that defines a world in itself. Fashion encloses everything surrounding our environment. There is fashion everywhere. From the pen that a person uses to write to the paper that is used to write on. But more than anything, fashion is about how we dress up and cover our bodies. Fashion is an art, a passion and a science. The art of transforming mere fabrics into clothing and fabulous creations. A passion that drives people to think out of the box and design garments that make our daily if not special occasions more beautiful.A science about how the body works, reacts with and looks in it. But today in 2013, more than ever, Fashion has power. Enough power to make a whole population think and consider. And the future seems brighter for Fashion and it gets stronger and stronger. By 2020 Fashion will†¦ According to sic-if movies, spandex suits will be the norm. Uniformity will be the new trend. Same suit every day. Basically gloomy and no fashion anywhere. But uniformi ty is also boring if repeatedly everyone wears the same outfit and that too everyday. And generally speaking not everyone will look nice in spandex.Fortunately designers such as Guiltier for the Fifth Element painted a different futuristic fashion. This is according to the movies. According to me, it will be the opposite. People will thrive to be different and non-conformity will be respected, if not individuality. Designers will have more respect as consumers will be more conscious about who designed the garment, where it is manufactured and how. People will have more awareness about what they wear and also the impact it implies. Consumers will start having their own vision and will even start creating.Designing will be a highly regarded profession and this will be the only point that will differentiate professionalism. Cut, fabrics and techniques. With this will eventually come a more dignified consumer behavior. The need for something exclusive will grow even more. Things are not going to be made for the masses much longer. They will be made for you, individuals. There is a new obsession with the in-between. The latest ‘squelched' of fashion. If future fashion was to be summed up in a word, that would be androgynous.Anyone, or anything, who pushed the boundaries of sexual identity seemed to click the right notes. What was once seen as freakish, and even taboo, has gone mainstream. The fashion world is obsessed with androgyny. An ability to exude both masculine and feminine traits is like gold to designers and editors. And they do create a buzz and consumers are sure to remember. The vogue for unisex fashion – Oxford shirts, man-style brogues and boat shoes, chinos, military Jackets and skinny shares – has also been touted as one of the reasons for the rise in popularity of transgender style.Ambiguity is something that attracts†¦ As fresh materials become harder to come by and/or less sustainable, the need to recycle existing fabrics becomes more important. Already recycling is gaining a lot of ground and some impasses are making special collections bearing recycling in mind. Some independent designers are already making a big name by converting simple things of daily life into marvelous creations which are actually wearable. This trend will continue on till the forthcoming years and will become bigger as designers really think now that there is a niche for recycling.People will be very much concerned about the environment. This generation will also be more close to the environment. Ethical behavior and moral in terms of production and consumption will be valuable assets. True value and mere cost will be two different things. People will want better quality and the question will be more quality-wise more than ever. The go green concept will be stronger than ever. With the changes in the climate and temperatures reaching phenomenal points, this generation will be most concerned about the environment and fashion will undoubtedly play a big role for the people.This will show their support towards sustainability. Researches about environment friendly materials are also being made and notable breakthrough already is the discovery of bacterial-celluloses fibers to replace fibers from plants or animals. A statement. Already big companies like Inedited have signed the convention for chemical free production starting from 2020. Is that a sign of the rising responsiveness of both consumers and producers? Since a long time ago there were lots of predictions for the year 2000.Spandex suit, end of the world, flying cars, end of the world but ultimately, nothing that drastic has happened. The black little dress will still be the black little dress. Only the shell will change. The environment around us is changing, and our fashion can respond to that in artful or informative ways. Definitely Science and Fashion will be a winning team or 2020. There will be a strong collaboration with technological advan ces and researches. The current dominance of cotton and polyester fibers in the market is unsustainable; together they account for over 80% of the world's clothing output.This lack of diversity has led to growing problems such as excessive water consumption, pollution, loss of soil fertility and biodiversity and an over dependency on oil. Fabrics that offer innovative alternatives are part of a better future – one in which we are able to manage our resources wisely and cost effectively. Changes will occur in the trials used to make the garments. Already the introduction of artificial fibers and improvement in the production of existing fibers such as cotton and wool has already made it easier.Nanotechnology advances will also play a major role for fashioning the future. Already the heat sensitive fabrics, sweat absorbing micrometers have changed a lot in the mindset of people and now we know that there does exist a way where fashion and science can bond. Where a surface meets the sun, solar energy can be captured. Already, brands such as Unique have been dabbling in tech-enhanced looting, such as the retailer's Hatched tops and leggings made from material that turns moisture evaporating from the body into heat.Almost any amount of electronic functionality can be associated with something without necessarily affecting its form. The human body is no different, and plenty of fashion designers have hopped on board this growing technology. More researches are being conducted to make clothing fabrics to become more technologically innovative, responsive and effective. Later on our clothing will become like ‘second-skin' mostly protecting us and making us more comfortable. From room temperature to sounds and even tastes. Not Just this, researches being made are already making it clear that fashion can help to create energy.Scientists are making big steps towards developing a shirt that can help convert our daily energy used to move into electricity to po wer electronic devices. We are the energy. Technological advances in textile research are starting to redefine the boundaries of fashion. There is also the other side of science-fashion mix. The more drastic ones. The ones that will drastically change our habits and even the clothing industry. The ‘Fabric' s as the name suggests, nearly as fabric in a can. How to use it? Simply Just spray it on the body. Manuel Tortes did trials and it worked perfectly.Non woven fabrics will be later used to cover our bodies. The thousands of fibers that are sprayed from the can Just bind together taking the shape of the body to create a nearly tailor made outfit but of a disposable nature. Such researches will surely revolutionize the world of fashion. After the term fast-food', fast-fashion' seems to be on the way. This is the craziest and perhaps most expensive side of Fashion's ongoing progress. Ever heard of the Twitter dress, LED dress or the AD printed dress worn by Data Von These? The Twitter dress and LED was developed by Francesca Rosella.Basically everyone got the message or rather the tweet'. Fashion and Technology are the new couple. But unmistakably, the biggest breakthrough is the AD printed dress, showing that wearable technology is Just around the corner. AD printing technology is still in its infancy, but it has already made its way to the world of fashion. Everything from shoes to bikinis have gone under the lathe off AD printer. AD printers are actually renters that print using resin instead of ink on paper. Obviously this is a work of art and it is so visible to the eye.The process already looks very confusing and the huge amount of work put in it can be felt. Going the different parts, ‘powdered nylon'. Architecturally mind-blowing. The cost is certainly unimaginable but some designers have tried it out and nylon being not so expensive, the design is certainly not cheap but is worth it and for the individuality perk. Research for the near futu re will be to have this kind of a printer that will Just pop out the design as a complete piece. Designers of the mainstream typical futuristic fashion scene such as Iris Van Herpes inspire.She always give a glimpse of her world, the unknown and the unpredictable. These designers are helping to shape the future of fashion by experimenting and helping the industry to take the big leap. Hopefully the AD printing technique will see significant breakthroughs that will help to make it a more accessible and viable way to create clothing. Fashion in the 2020 will be more likely functional as well as creative and environment friendly. Some future designs won't be as functional as they will be visually impacting, but such has always been true about the clothes we wear.And only fashion can make anything beautiful and valuable. Examples are LED dresses with encrusted lights. This is a notable inspiration for other designers and it is very refreshing to get inspiration from other eras of the ti me except from the past. Fashion sometimes needs to change its face, Just to be more inspiring. It is testament to the power of fashion that Google chose the US designer Diane von Frequenter's New York show last year to premiere its Google Glass augmented-technology specs hat feature cameras and use voice recognition and share their videos on Google+.Social media is very anchored in the fashion world now. Using social media in the fashion world comes down to more than Just what designers share on Mainstream and coverage of Fashion Week. It is becoming more and more about consumer directly connecting with the brands as well as with each other. Sites like Power allow its users to check out the latest trends and create style boards for their own inspiration as well as to share with the rest of the fashion community. Change is certainly in the air and there are some concrete evidences.The changing mentality of consumers, producers and designers, the amazing advances in technology and th e continuous enriching history of our world, all are contributing towards a ‘different future'. But I soon realized that the future fashions are only a perception of the future. When I look back fifty years at what the previous generation thought the future (now the present) would be like, it is vastly different from our time. Everything seems a filtered down versions from fantasy, to designer, to high street. Because that does happen and it is a mere shadow of the former design, something hat hardly resembles this aesthetic at all.As I say, the little black dress will remain the little black dress. I'm talking about a drastic change in fashion's aesthetic, something that will inevitably happen, Just as it has over the centuries. Only time will be witness to the changes if any will occur, and drastic as well. Predictions are Just as trends some might Just hit the bull's eyes others are Just brushed aside with a scorn. The most ironic thing is that none of us will ever know wha t the distant future holds and what the progression, even evolution of fashion will bring.

Goodnight Mr. Tom

Goodnight Mr. Tom Mr. Tom: He is a bit gruff, but caring in the end. He is mostly a loner but opens his heart, when Willie arrives. William Beech: Scared, abused child who comes to stay with Mr. Tom during the war and later finds out the true feeling of family. Afraid of the belt. George: A friend of Will's at Little Weirwold. Carrie: A friend of Willie, who is fiercely independent and later goes on to attend high school. Zack: An outgoing, funloving boy who is also an evacuee from London staying with a Little Wierwold family. A loyal friend who helps William come out of his shell.Ginnie: Carrie's sister. Annie Hartridge: The beautiful and kind schoolteacher with violet blue eyes and a single long blonde braid. Has a baby, just after Willie starts in her class. Mrs. Fletcher: Caretaker for Mr Tom's house. Geoffrey: An artist living in Spooky Cott after his time at Dunkirk. Recognizes Willie's drawing talent and becomes his art mentor. Emilia Thorne: William's second teacher. Later de velops a relationship with Geoffrey. Mrs. Clarence: A middle-aged woman living in Salmouth, who takes Mr Tom, Willie and Zach in for their holidays. Dobbs: Mr.Tom's horse. Rachel: Mr. Tom's wife who died shortly after childbirth. After her death, Mr. Tom shut himself away from anyone who reminded him about her. Mrs. Black Mr. Bush Nance Mrs. Miller Mr. Peters Christine Trudy: Mrs. Beech's surprise baby. Later dies of mistreatment and malnutrition. Charlie Rudd: A local warden of Deptford. Shows Mr Tom Willie's house and assists in the rescue. Setting England Little Weirwold: The village Willie is evacuated to. Deptford: Willie's home town. Mr. Oakley later travels there. Expressions Wizzo: Expression akin to â€Å"Neato! † or â€Å"Great! Calloo Callay: Originally from Lewis Carroll's â€Å"Jabberwockey,† Calloo Callay is an expression of joy and excitement. Theme Power of Love Summary Abused boy goes to live with grumpy old man in the county because of war. Boy becom es happy, man becomes nice Willie Beech   is evacuated to stay with Mr Tom, where they bond after time. After time Mr Tom willingly adopts him. Quotes â€Å"He called me Dad, he whispered croakily into the darkness. â€Å"He called me Dad. † And, although he felt overwhelmed with happiness, the tears ran silently down his face. – Mr Tom (or Mr. Oakley)

Polo vs Galileo essays

Polo vs Galileo essays Since the art of making fire and creating handcrafted tools, our civilization has come a long way. Science and technology are making advances at an amazing rate. From telephones to the internet, calculators to computers, cars to airplanes, and rockets to satellites, we are submerged in a sea of discoveries and inventions made possible only by the desire to explore. Exploration is one of the oldest and most widespread of human activities. People in all times and places have engaged in some form of exploration. Many think exploration is limited to travels to unknown lands such as the expeditions of Lewis and Clark or those of Christopher Columbus, but exploration is more. Exploration includes the desire to do new things, to formulate new ideas, and to go against the status quo. Marco Polo and Galileo Galilei are two prime examples of the quintessential explorer. Although each explored different realms of the world, they both share common characteristics found in all explorers. Th rough their travels and experimentation one can see the many similar and contrasting styles each took to accomplish his goals. Marco Polo was born in 1254 in Venice, Italy (Hubbard 2001). He was a Venetian explorer and merchant whose account of his travels in Asia was the primary source for the European image of the Far East until the late 19th century. Despite his enduring fame, very little is known about the personal life of Marco Polo. He lived during a propitious time in world history, when the height of Venices influence as a city-state coincided with the greatest extent of Mongol conquest. Ruled by Kublai Khan, the Mongol Empire stretched all the way from China to Russia and the Levant. The Mongols brought a measure of stability to the lands they controlled, opening up trade routes such as the famous Silk Road (Marco n.d.). The Polo's had long-established ties in the Levant and around the Black Sea. From Sudak, around 12...

From Jazz to Jambalaya 11 Fun Things to Do in New Orleans

From Jazz to Jambalaya Fun Things to Do in New Orleans SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Lively jazz, extravagant costumes, 19th-century steamboats, spicy Creole food, and cold cocktails are a few key ingredients that go into the unique mix of New Orleans, Louisiana. This eclectic southern city goes by many names- NOLA, Crescent City, the Big Easy- and its culture has many faces, including French, Creole, Caribbean, African-American, Irish, German, and Vietnamese. No wonder the specialty food of this melting pot is gumbo stew, and the music it invented is an improvisational jumble of mixed musical heritage. Read on for the top things to do in New Orleans, the vibrant, multicultural city on the banks of the Mississippi. Top Things to Do in New Orleans: Table of Contents There’s a lot to see and do in New Orleans, so this list of New Orleans attractions gets pretty long. Use this table of contents to go directly to a point of interest, or simply scroll down to read my full list of the best things to do in New Orleans! Stroll through Historic Neighborhoods Listen to Live Jazz Celebrate Mardis Gras and other Festivals Enjoy Creole Food Sip on Crescent City Cocktails Explore the Museum District Dance the Night Away Let a Guide Teach You About Voodoo, Creole Food, or Plantations Ride a Steamboat Down the Mississippi See Elephants, Komodo Dragons, and Tigers at the Audubon Zoo Glide Past Alligators in the Louisiana Swamps Let’s start this New Orleans travel guide with an exploration of the city’s historic neighborhoods. Get ready to step back in time to NOLA’s beginnings as a colony of France. #1: Stroll Through Historic Neighborhoods New Orleans is one of the oldest cities in the United States, making it also one of the prettiest and most atmospheric. It was first settled by the French in 1718, later came under Spanish rule, and was finally bought by the U.S. as part of Thomas Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase in 1803. You can still see French and Spanish influences in the architecture today. New Orleans’ French Quarter, in particular, retains its historic charm and dates back to the city’s colonial beginnings. We’ll start in the French Quarter, and then look at some of the other districts that you should visit on your trip to New Orleans. French Quarter The French Quarter is the oldest and most visited section of New Orleans. Its colorful buildings boast French and Spanish-style balconies, pretty long windows, and tumbling flowers. The French Quarter is about six blocks wide and 13 blocks long. It’s filled with shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, music venues, clubs, and antique stores, so there’s plenty to do, see, buy, and eat. As the French Quarter is a heavily visited area, it has a lot of places to visit. Below are some of the French Quarter’s most important streets and historic sights. Where to Go in the French Quarter The French Quarter is a great place to start your visit in New Orleans and get a sense of its colonial beginnings. You can walk the oak-shaded streets, admire the colorful architecture, look at historical statues and churches, shop, eat at exciting new restaurants, and see live jazz at night. Here are some of the top places to walk during the day and go out at night. Bourbon Street: If you couldn’t tell from the name, Bourbon Street is bar central. It’s relatively quiet during the day, but turns into a raucous party at night. Bourbon Street is one of the more touristy areas, but there are a few nice restaurants and authentic music venues mixed in. This street can get pretty sleazy at night, but it can also be a lot of fun, depending on what kind of experience you’re looking for. Royal Street: This street is more upscale than Bourbon Street, with specialty shops, art galleries, and restaurants. It’s a pretty place to walk and window shop, even if you’re not planning to buy anything. Jackson Square: This old town square gets filled with performers, live music, food vendors, portrait artists, and tarot card readers. You can see St. Louis Cathedral here, the oldest Roman Catholic church in the U.S. Lower Decatur Street: This street has a lot of restaurants, bars, and music. It’s a more authentic spot for live music than Bourbon Street. Chartres Street: Here you can find the best preserved colonial architecture in the French Quarter, along with a bunch of shops, cafes, and restaurants. Old French Market: This 250-year-old market sells foods, crafts, and souvenirs. St. Louis Cemetery: Come here to see a spooky Southern Gothic cemetery with marble tombs and moss-covered statues. Visit the burial site of legendary "voodoo queen" Marie Laveau, and you might see pilgrims making offerings at her grave. St. Louis Cemetery is a popular stop on New Orleans ghost tours. Uptown The Uptown area of New Orleans is largely residential, but visitors enjoy it for its beautiful 19th century architecture. It’s also a good spot to walk around for a break from the tourist crowds that can fill the French Quarter. The most visited street is Magazine Street, six miles of antique stores, clothing stores, specialty shops, art galleries, restaurants, and cafes. You can also come here for the expansive Audubon Park and Audubon Zoo and see the campuses of Tulane University and Loyola University. A unique way to get around Uptown is to take the St. Charles Avenue streetcar, one of the oldest trollies in New Orleans that runs through this neighborhood. Downriver If you head down the Mississippi from the French Quarter, you’ll get to this bohemian, relaxed area of New Orleans. Its main attraction is Frenchmen Street, which is probably the best place to come for nightlife and live music. On any given night, you’ll find live jazz, rockabilly, Latin American, and other types of music. The Downriver district also contains the 7th, 8th, and 9th wards of New Orleans, the areas most affected by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Many of these areas are still working on rebuilding after the devastation. Central City Come to the Central City district on your New Orleans vacation if you want to see a game at the Superdome or visit art museums. This area contains the business district of New Orleans, with its skyscrapers and high-rises. On one edge sprawls the Superdome, one of the world’s largest sports venues. The Superdome hosted the 2013 Superbowl. It also provided shelter for people who hadn’t evacuated the city during Katrina. The other main attraction of Central City is its revitalized Warehouse District. It contains the experimental Contemporary Arts Center, as well as the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the National WWII Museum, and the Louisiana Children’s Museum. Come here to see interactive modern art exhibits, learn about NOLA’s role in WWII technology, or let kids play and learn at the children’s museum. Mid-City and Treme Mid-City area and Treme neighborhood are best known for three New Orleans attractions: historical architecture, City Park, and the annual Jazz Fest. Jazz Fest, a celebration of music that attracts thousands of visitors each year, is held at the New Orleans Fairgrounds. Other attractions in this area are the Botanical Garden and the New Orleans Museum of Art, a traditional art museum with a respectable collection of 18th and 19th century European and American paintings and sculptures. Fans of the HBO show Treme may be excited to visit the historic Creole neighborhood in real life. You’ll find Louis Armstrong Park (fun fact: Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans in 1901), as well as great restaurants and venues with live jazz. How to Get Around New Orleans MisterDavidC/Flickr There are several options for navigating your way from place to place as you experience all the fun things to do in New Orleans. You can drive, although you’ll find that parking can be tough along the narrow streets of the historic quarter. Plus, a lot of the streets here are one-way or pedestrian-only. There are some parking lots, but the prices can get outrageous during festivals like Mardis Gras. New Orleans also has lots of taxis, as well as Uber and Lyft. If you're making your New Orleans visit during Mardis Gras or Jazz Fest, then you might have to deal with long waits and those annoying Uber surge prices. You could also give the New Orleans bus system a try. The buses run regularly, usually every ten minutes at central stops. It’s $1.25 for a single ride, or you could buy a one day, three day, or 31 day â€Å"Jazzy Pass† for unlimited rides. A fun way to get around to see New Orleans attractions is to hop on the historic, above-ground trolleys. These picturesque trolleys date back to 1835 and are as much of a tourist attraction as they are a convenient way to get around. The trolleys cost $1.25 to ride and 25 cents to transfer. Finally, you can take river cruise boats and ferries to make your way down or across the Mississippi River. You might take a ferry to visit the Algiers neighborhood, or join a river boat tour for an afternoon of live jazz. Speaking of jazz, let’s take a look at some of the top spots for live jazz as you plan out what to do in New Orleans, the birthplace of this uniquely American music form. #2: Listen to Live Jazz New Orleans was the birthplace of jazz in the early 20th century. New Orleans-born musician Wynton Marsalis describes the elements that came together to form this uniquely American music form: "New Orleans had a great tradition of celebration. Opera, military marching bands, folk music, the blues, different types of church music, ragtime, echoes of traditional African drumming, and all of the dance styles that went with this music could be heard and seen throughout the city. When all of these kinds of music blended into one, jazz was born." Fans of jazz can find some of the world’s best live music on a nightly basis in New Orleans. You might also come across a â€Å"jazz funeral,† a procession held following a funeral during which the music gradually shifts from somber to more upbeat. Below are some of the best venues for live jazz on a regular basis, but you might also just walk down Frenchmen Street after dark and listen for music that you like! Where to Find the Best Live Music in New Orleans Here are some of the top spots for live music within New Orleans’ vibrant nightlife scene. The Spotted Cat: This is a popular spot on Frenchmen Street. Besides traditional jazz, they also host bands that play gypsy swing, blues, and Latin music. Whatever the genre, the music is usually upbeat and great for dancing. Another nice perk: The Spotted Cat doesn’t charge a cover. Address: 623 Frenchmen St. Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro: Close to the Spotted Cat is this small, intimate jazz club attached to a larger restaurant. You have to pay a cover charge of $10 or more to get into the jazz club, depending on the performer. Alternatively, you could eat at the restaurant and watch the performance live on TV screens. Address: 626 Frenchmen St. Preservation Hall: This well-known music hall hosts a lot of local talent. Because the music is so good, the lines can get long and there’s often only standing room. Address: 726 St. Peter St. Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse: This place belongs to Irvin Mayfield, a Grammy-winning trumpeter. It's an upscale but comfortable playhouse that features local jazz musicians every night of the week. Address: 300 Bourbon St. Fritzel’s: This spot is a German beer hall on Bourbon St with nightly music. It often has a big international crowd. Address: 133 Bourbon St. Candlelight Lounge: Come here to see Treme Brass Band perform every Wednesday or The Treme Tet Funk Band on Sundays. Address: 925 N Robertson St. The Davenport Lounge: This elegant, upscale lounge hosts four performances a week by the well-known jazz trumpeter and singer, Jeremy Davenport. Dress up a bit. Address: 921 Canal St. It almost feels sacrilegious to narrow down the list of excellent music venues in New Orleans, because there might actually be no limit to them. So as not to anger the jazz gods, here are a few more great options: Palm Court Jazz Cafe, The Maison, Sweet Lorraine’s, Bacchanal, Monteleone Hotel Carousel Bar, Vaughan’s Lounge, Maple Leaf, Blue Nile, and Polo Club Lounge. #3: Celebrate Mardi Gras and Other Festivals Where can you find the ultimate expression of New Orleans' lively music, bright colors, and general celebration of excess? That would be in its yearly celebration of Mardis Gras in late February and early March! Beyond this famous party, New Orleans also hosts several other annual festivals celebrating music, fun, and life in general. Since some of these festivals attracts hundreds of thousands of people, you’ll need to make reservations well in advance if you plan to attend. Here are some of the top festivals and things to see in New Orleans! Madris Gras: Fat Tuesday! No one celebrates the weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday like New Orleans. The streets fill with celebrations and parades for weeks. People don elaborate costumes and ride on top of extravagant floats, throwing out treats and bead necklaces to the crowds. You can actually see some of the sculptures, floats, props, and costumes year-round in an exhibit at Mardis Gras World. Many of the parades follow the same route every year. Some of the most popular ones are Endymion, Bacchus, Zulu, and Rex. Jazz Fest: This huge music heritage festival attracts hundreds of thousands of people to New Orleans on the last weekend of April and first weekend of May every year. Held at the New Orleans Fairgrounds, Jazz Fest hosts jazz, Cajun, blues, RB, gospel, folk, Latin, rock, rap, country, and bluegrass music. You’ll also find lots of delicious Creole food and crafts for sale at this top attraction in New Orleans. San Fermin en Nueva Orleans: Running of the Bulls in New Orleans? Why not! This July festival was started by a group of friends to mimic the Pamplona tradition. One small difference- the â€Å"bulls† are women on roller skates with plastic baseball bats. Southern Decadence: This LGBTQ pride festival is held every year on Labor Day weekend. It involves big parades and dance parties that follow a new theme every year. The 2016 theme is Decadence Takes the World, and the official colors are ruby, pearl, sapphire, and amethyst. Halloween and the Voodoo Experience: New Orleans residents take Halloween seriously, wearing elaborate costumes and marching in parades on the days leading up to Halloween. The Voodoo Experience festival takes place in late October too, and it brings in lots of pop, alternative, and contemporary musicians. #4: Enjoy Creole Food Nowhere is New Orleans’ multicultural heritage clearer than in its native Creole cuisine. Creole food combines elements from French, Spanish, West African, Native American, and European cooking. A lot of it incorporates the so-called Creole trinity: celery, bell peppers, and onions. You can also find some good Cajun food in New Orleans, but it’s not actually from here. Cajun food developed in other areas in Louisiana. Foods You Should Try Gumbo: gumbo is a thick, flavorful stew. It usually contains meat or shellfish, has the â€Å"trinity† of celery, bell peppers, and onions, and is sometimes served over rice. Jambalaya: This tasty rice dish has meat or seafood, spices, the trinity, tomatoes, and chili. It can be made with chicken, pork, crayfish, seafood, and/or Andouille sausage. Crawfish: aka, crayfish. They’re usually boiled in spicy water and served with corn and potatoes. Oysters: usually served raw or battered and fried. Dirty rice: rice fried with chicken liver, celery, pepper, and onion and spiced with cayenne and black pepper. Po’ Boys: sandwiches on French bread. The exact fillings differ by restaurant, but are most commonly roast beef with a gravy, oysters, and fried shrimp. If you ask for the sandwich to be â€Å"dressed,† then it will have lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mayo. Beignets: delicious square donuts with powdered sugar. Bananas foster: warm bananas with cinnamon, sugar, and butter, usually served over vanilla ice cream. Snowballs: shaved ice flavored with condensed milk or syrup. Some places just have one or two syrups, while others give you over 20 options, including various kinds of fruit, coffee, chocolate, vanilla, ginger, and more. Restaurant and Cafe Recommendations Here are a few suggestions for where to find great Creole food and desserts. I also included one of the more gourmet snowball stands, though if you’re visiting New Orleans in the summer, the best snowballs are usually located at whichever stand is the closest! Dryade’s Public Market: This big market has lots of affordable options for brunch, lunch, or dinner. The space includes sandwich, oyster, pasta, and salad bars and other prepared foods. Address: 1307 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. Cavan: This modern restaurant has rave reviews for its seafood and raw bar. Make a reservation or sit at the bar or upstairs cocktail lounge. Address: 3607 Magazine St. Killer Po’ Boys: This sandwich shop in the French Quarter serves up a variety of po’ boys, including vegetarian ones. Address: 219 Dauphine St. Copper Monkey: I can’t speak to most of the food on the menu, but I had jambalaya so good here I went back the second day to get it again. They also apparently have homemade beignets stuffed with bananas, cinnamon, and sugar. I’m hoping that this dessert is a new addition to the menu; otherwise, I’m kicking myself for missing out on it while I was there! Address: 725 Conti St. Bennachin: This restaurant serves up New Orleans-influenced West African cuisine, including lots of vegetarian dishes. Address: 1212 Royal St. Brigtsen’s: You can find modern Creole food in this quaint Victorian cottage. Entrees range between $20 and $30. Address: 723 Dante St. Cafe du Monde: This is the most famous spot in New Orleans for beignets. It opened by the Mississippi River in 1862. Today, the lines can get very long. I actually felt let down by Cafe du Monde. It was a big, super touristy cafe, and I prefer cafes to have a smaller, more intimate atmosphere. The beignets and cafe au lait are really good, though. Address: 800 Decatur St. Cafe Beignet: I prefer Cafe Beignet for tasty Southern donuts. It’s a cozy indoor cafe with amazing beignets and coffee. Address: 334 Royal St. Hansen’s Sno-Bliz: This place has been serving the shaved ice treats since 1939! It has lots of homemade syrups in a variety of flavors, including various fruits, cream of chocolate, cream of coconut, anise, cardamom, ginger-cayenne, and honey lavender. Address: 4801 Tchoupitoulas St. #5: Sip on Crescent City Cocktails New Orleans only has one law about public drinking: keep your cocktail in a plastic cup. You can easily find these plastic cups at most bars, where bartenders let you take your drink to go if you’re not finished with it before you’re ready to move on to the next stop. Coming from regulation-happy Boston, New Orleans’ attitude toward closing times (basically a quarter to never) and public drinking felt totally foreign and free-spirited. I remember especially being struck by the upscale art galleries that had â€Å"drink tables† by the entrance for you to place your cocktail while you browsed. While you can find any kind of cocktail in New Orleans, which ones are native to the city? Cocktails and Other Drinks From New Orleans New Orleans is known for bourbon, sazeracs, Ramos gin fizzes, grasshoppers, and Abita beer. Sazerac is a cocktail containing rye whiskey, bitters, a sugar cube, and sometimes absinthe. The Ramos gin fizz is a bit more complicated, with a mix of gin, simple syrup, lemon juice, lime juice, egg white, heavy cream, orange blossom water, and club soda, all shaken together vigorously. New Orleans is also home to the grasshopper, a mint-flavored after dinner drink containing creme de menthe, creme de cacao, and cream. It’s usually shaken with ice, strained, and served chilled. Another popular drink, mostly among partying tourists, is the hurricane, a fruit punch and rum concoction. You can also try the local beer, Abita, or the brews of NOLA Brewery (NOLA stands for New Orleans Lager and Ale). As a city that loves to celebrate, New Orleans holds an annual festival around its drinks. Every July is the Tales of the Cocktails celebration for people to sample cocktails and bartenders and mixologists to attend seminars. So where can you find some of the best sazeracs and Ramos gin fizzes in the country? Below are some recommendations for the best bars in New Orleans. Best Bars in New Orleans Narrowing down a list of bars in New Orleans is as hard as narrowing down its music venues. I made the attempt, though, with this list of places ranging from dive bars to fancy hotel bars. You might also find a favorite walking along Frenchmen, Lower Decatur, or Bourbon Street after dark. Read on for the best places to imbibe on your New Orleans visit. Tujague’s: Birthplace of the grasshopper. This atmospheric bar has great cocktails, and the structure of the bar itself dates back to 1856. Address: 823 Decatur St. Jean Lafitte’s Old Absinthe House: This 200-year-old bar is famous for its absinthe drinks, plus it serves lots of other traditional New Orleans cocktails. Because of its history and location in the French Quarter, it’s a popular spot with tourists. Address: 240 Bourbon St. Arnaud’s French 75 Bar: This upscale bar serves up classy cocktails inside its warm wooden interior. Address: 813 Bienville St. Pat O’Brien’s: This rum bar invented the hurricane. You’ll find big, inexpensive drinks, a touristy crowd, and dueling pianos. Address: 718 St Peter St. Carousel Bar and Lounge: Sit around a charming old merry-go-round in this upscale bar and enjoy one of the best Ramos gin fizzes in New Orleans. The seats, you might be relieved or disappointed to hear, aren’t moving. Address: Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal St. Sazerac Bar: As the name suggests, this fancy bar serves great sazeracs, as well as other cocktails in the Roosevelt Hotel. Address: The Roosevelt New Orleans, 130 Roosevelt Way. Napoleon House Bar and Cafe: This atmospheric, 200-year-old bar was once home to a New Orleans mayor who offered it as refuge to Napoleon. For one reason or another, Napoleon never managed to get himself to Louisiana. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself shouting, â€Å"Vive l'empereur!† over high-quality cocktails and food. Address: 500 Chartres St. Twelve Mile Limit: This large indoor and outdoor place has inexpensive drinks and a young crowd. You can get cheap beer or carefully crafted cocktails. Address: 500 S Telemachus St. Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop: This bar dates back to the early 1700s, when it was used as a base for smuggling operations. In addition to the well-priced drinks, you might spot the apparitions of long-dead pirates floating in the eaves. Address: 941 Bourbon St. #6: Explore the Museum District Silver Wiesel1/Flickr While it’s easy to lose yourself in the non-stop parties and concerts of New Orleans, you should also check out its thriving traditional and contemporary art scene. Below are some of the best art and history museums in the city. New Orleans Museum of Art: This huge museum has 46 galleries housing 16th to 20th century European paintings and sculptures and 18th to 19th century American paintings and sculptures. It also has collections of Asian, African, and Native American art, photography, and decorative arts and treasures. Contemporary Arts Center: New Orleans’ modern art museum was established in a 30,000-foot warehouse. In addition to the exhibits of bold contemporary art, the center hosts performing arts, events, and educational programs. Ogden Museum of Southern Art: This museum has the largest collection of American Southern art in the world. It also holds a music series on Thursdays in the atrium. National WWII Museum: This history museum, affiliated with the Smithsonian, focuses on the US role in the war. It also features the New Orleans-based Higgins Industries, which developed Higgins boats, amphibious crafts that played an important role during the war. Louisiana Children's Museum: This museum’s great for kids with its playful, educational, and interactive exhibits on art, music, science, math, health, and New Orleans. One exhibit has a model for kids to â€Å"pilot a towboat down the Mississippi.† 1850 House: This house is furnished in its original 1850 style. You can see domestic goods and decorate arts of the 1850s, which was a prosperous time in New Orleans. #7: Dance the Night Away Now that we've taken a look at museums in New Orleans, let’s get back to the party! Along with all the festivals and live music, NOLA also has a big nightlife and dancing scene. You’ll find everything from big nightclubs to casual dancing on outdoor patios. Here are a few suggestions for where to dance the night away in New Orleans. Beach on Bourbon: You can find this big club on Bourbon St. It has an outdoor and indoor area, nightly DJs, a big dance floor, and last but certainly not least, a mechanical whale. Address: 227 Bourbon St. Cafe Negril: Come to this Frenchmen Street club for funky live music and a busy dance floor. Address: 606 Frenchmen St. Mojitos: This bar has live music and salsa dancing every Sunday night on its outdoor patio. Address: 37 Esplanade Ave. One Eyed Jack’s: If you were hoping for a place to break out your shoulder pads and hairspray, this is it. One Eyed Jack’s holds an 80s themed dance party every Thursday night, and a lot of people dress up in their 80s finest. Address: 615 Toulouse St. Metropolitan Nightclub: This two-story warehouse club has bar stations, a light show, smoke machines, and top DJs. Address: 310 Andrew Higgins Dr. #8: Let a Guide Teach You About Voodoo, Creole Food, or Plantations Guided tours may sound like one of those boring activities you’re forced to do with your parents or on a school field trip, but New Orleans actually makes them lots of fun. You can see all sorts of strange corners of the city on these themed tours, whether you’re hunting for ghosts on a voodoo tour or driving out to the massive, oak-shaded plantations that sit just outside the city. Here are some of the top tours that you can enjoy on your vacation to New Orleans. Ghost tour: New Orleans ghost tours bring you around the old cemeteries and haunted houses of the city, filling your ear with eerie legends about the dark and mysterious events in the city’s past. The original group to give these nighttime walks is Haunted History Tour. The two-hour jaunt is $25 for adults ($18 reduced). Horse and carriage tour: If you’d rather opt for romantic over macabre, then hop in one of the horse-drawn carriages waiting around Jackson Square. The driver will tell you anecdotes and history as you travel around the French Quarter the way people did a hundred years ago. The carriages cost about $12 for half an hour. Culinary tour: These walking tours stop at restaurants and bars throughout the city for yummy samples. Check out Bon Moment Culinary Tours (about $45) or Doctor Gumbo Tours (about $55). Plantation tour: Visit extravagant homes from the antebellum south and the surrounding slaves quarters. Some good tours are Gray Line New Orleans, Cajun Pride Plantation Tours, and Plantation Tours by Isabelle. They cost about $80 for a full day tour with transportation. If you have a car, you could also visit the plantations yourself. Some of the best ones to see are Laura, Whitney, Oak Alley, San Fransisco, and Destrehan. #9: Ride a Steamboat Down the Mississippi A hundred years ago, the main way to get to New Orleans was by boat along the Mississippi. Today, you can travel on a 19th century riverboat down the wide river while enjoying Creole food and live jazz. The most popular boats to show you all the things to see in New Orleans along its shore are the Steamboat Natchez and the Creole Queen. You can go in the daytime or later on for dinner and a night-time cruise. The cost is about $30 to $40 a person. #10: See Elephants, Komodo Dragons, and Tigers at the Audubon Zoo Elephants, komodo dragons, and tigers, oh my! Another fun thing to do in New Orleans is to visit the 58-acre Audubon Zoo, home to over 2,000 animals. You can visit gorillas, orangutans, anacondas, giraffes, flamingos, jaguars, and rare white tigers, to name a few animals who call the zoo home, and make your way over to see fish and insects at the aquarium and insectarium. One of the zoo's most unique exhibits is the Swamp Exhibit, an area designed to look like a Louisiana swamp. The area contains a floating Cajun houseboat, as well as taxidermied animals native to Louisiana, including black bears, raccoons, otters, and alligators. Zoo tickets are $19.95 for adults and $14.95 for children. It's open everyday from 10 AM to 5 PM. #: Glide Past Alligators in the Louisiana Swamps The Louisiana swamps evoke a sense of timelessness. You float through the still waters beneath curtains of Spanish moss hanging from gnarled cyprus trees. You’ll see sunbathing turtles, sneaky raccoons, delicate white herons, and the watchful eyes of alligators lurking beneath the surface. Along the shore squat old, single-room cabins where people used to live in the swamp. The closest swamp to New Orleans is now protected as part of the Jean Lafitte Nature Preserve. I went on a New Orleans swamp tour and loved the beautiful surroundings and unique chance for nature photography. Prices range depending on whether or not you need transportation. A boat ride is just about $20 without transportation from and to the city, but it goes up to $50 or so with a ride. You can also go on two or three hour kayaking and canoeing tours, which cost somewhere between $50 and $60. The top rated New Orleans swamp tours outside New Orleans are Cajun Encounters Tour Company, Ultimate Swamp Adventures, and Honey Swamp Tours. Some of the best kayaking groups are Wild Louisiana Tours and New Orleans Kayak Swamp Tours. While New Orleans is a highly popular tourist destination and bursting with festivals and celebrations, it’s also still dealing with the aftershock of Hurricane Katrina. Many areas, particularly those of lower-income that aren’t prime tourist spots, are still struggling to rebuild years later. New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina Over 80% of New Orleans flooded when the levees broke during Hurricane Katrina, one of the deadliest and most destructive hurricanes to ever hit the U.S. Over 1,400 people died, many of them still unaccounted for, and thousands lost their homes during the flooding. The 7th, 8th, and 9th ward of New Orleans suffered the most damage, with the lower 9th ward being the worst hit. There are New Orleans tourism groups that take visitors on â€Å"disaster tours,† showing them the restored and still struggling areas. These tours are controversial, with some people considering them to be voyeuristic and exploitative. In 2006, the tours were so intrusive that the New Orleans City Council banned them in the lower 9th ward. These areas are still in need of resources and rebuilding, and there are opportunities to volunteer for those interested. Two volunteer groups are New Orleans Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together New Orleans. Visiting New Orleans: Final Tips Sorting through my impressions from my trip to New Orleans, a few images rise to the surface. I think about listening to live jazz in a dark, hundred-year-old bar. I remember jambalaya beside a cold gin cocktail with fresh mint. There were purple flowers tumbling off of Spanish balconies, old riverboats on the Mississippi, and silent, spooky swamplands full of alligators. As one of the oldest cities in the U.S., New Orleans bursts with historic charm and a lively atmosphere. Over the last few hundred years, New Orleans became home to people from all over the world. From its blend of global cultures grew distinct new forms of music and food. Each and every night, you’ll find great live music of all genres, from traditional or contemporary jazz to blues to rockabilly. New Orleans is a city that wakes up all of your senses. Go see the Big Easy for yourself and learn what New Orleans writer Chris Rose means when he says, â€Å"We dance even if there’s no radio. We drink at funerals. We talk too much and laugh too loud and live too large and, frankly, we’re suspicious of others who don’t.†

Business plan for a startup business Assignment

Business plan for a startup business - Assignment Example tomized computers and repair service in the next three years of operation by offering customers the latitude to customize the specification and performance of their computers at a low cost with an after sales support of highly competent technicians. Computer Savers is a computer assembly and repair business intended to cater to small business owners as well as home PC users. It is engage in the selling of computer parts and software and is also engaged in the customization, upgrade, repair, virus removal and hard disk data recovery of computers. The company intends to create a niche in the computer retail and service industry by providing customized computers as well as providing repair service at a significantly lower cost than competition. Computer Savers offers customized computers and repair service to its customers. To enable Computer Savers to offer customized computers to its customers, it will sell computer parts for ease, convenience and easy availability of the necessary hardware to assemble a computer. It will also sell licensed softwares to make the assembled computers usable after leaving the outlet. The repair service component of Computer Savers will complement the computer customization business by offering repair service after the computer’s warranty coverage has elapsed. It will work in synergy with the computer customization business as the skills needed in the repair component of the business can also be used in the assembly of computers. Computer Savers will make a niche in the computer retail and service industry by offering computer products and services that is significantly lower than the competition. It will cater to the specific segment of a market where end users prefer to customize the specification of their computers. Computer Savers will also offer an after sales support through its repair business component. Combining these elements of offering customized computers at a lower price with an after sales support will make

Organizational Behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 13

Organizational Behavior - Essay Example Globalization to organizations has many constructive and dynamic features related to improved market access, increased capital as well as better access to technology and information that leads to greater income and employment opportunities. Globalization to organizations presents an opportunity for free trade and the resulting effects of global economy, with free trade leading to increased financial flows. Globalization creates transnational regulatory frameworks, which ensures that organization have the opportunity of tapping into the full potential of global networks because the networks are responsible for the welfare of both nations and the global community. Sharing resources between organizations in a global stage both formally and informally through cooperation and collaboration result in benefits that go beyond what an individual organization can accomplish on its own. Recent advances in technology facilitate intra and inter-organizational communications that are coupled with increased recognition of such organizations in the global society. Through globalization, organizations are faced with the opportunity of increasingly accessing diverse products, services and even technology. Through pooling of knowledge and exchanging more goods as well as services increases domestic economies and offers organizations an opportunity to benefit from technological developments. A combination of these opportunities to organizations means that organization have the opportunity of increasing their volume sales since there is increased growth rate of GDP as well as the empowerment of people through acquisition of additional resources and capital (Monsod, 2000). Globalization offers a complex and interwoven puzzle for organizations since product development needs to go hand-in-hand with supply chain management in individual nations. Moreover, global environment is not always