Below is a report out of the AP yesterday about China rolling out it's fastest train yet. And it got me to thinking. If all of these politicians in Washington would just wake up and get on the same page and forget their private agendas that maybe we too could be innovators as we once were. The US was the first to step on the Moon and yet our current President Obama has slashed NASA funding for space missions. And this week what was reported about the moon? Well it has PLENTY of water on it enough to support a future manned moonbase. But at this rate I wonder if it will be China or India who build it while we slip into non relevance.
All one has to do is look at our crumbling infrastructures here in the US as compared to countries in Europe and Asia and alarm bells should have gone off years ago yet politicians, unions, and the like have done nothing but take take take and give nothing back in return. We have the oldest subway system in NYC, an electrical grid that dates back to the 30's, and we've failed to lead the way in technologies such as clean fuels, solar and wind power. So I ask, China has a fast train so why don't we? Because like the Romans we've become just to comfy in our temples and palaces looking down on the rest of the world. Well, NEWSFLASH, the rest of the world is moving along just fine and will think nothing of us or our bark when we fall in place much like the Russia has.
Fast train, big dam show China's engineering might -
By ELAINE KURTENBACH, AP Business Writer
China rolled out its fastest train yet on Tuesday and announced that the Three Gorges Dam, the world's biggest hydroelectric project, is now generating electricity at maximum capacity — engineering triumphs that signal the nation's growing ambitions as its economy booms.
The successes demonstrate how, after decades of acquiring technology from the west, Beijing has begun to push the limits of its new capabilities, setting the bar higher on mega-projects as it seeks to promote the image of a powerful, modern China. But many of these initiatives have come at great human and environmental cost, and some have questioned whether the country fosters a sufficiently innovative spirit to compete on the next level.
Still in the works: more nuclear power plants, a gargantuan project to pump river water from the fertile south to the arid north, and a $32.5 billion, 820-mile (1,300-kilometer) Beijing-to-Shanghai high-speed railway that is scheduled to open in 2012.
"We are now much faster," Railway Ministry spokesman Wang Yongping said at Tuesday's inauguration of the super-fast line from Shanghai's western suburb of Hongqiao to the resort city of Hangzhou. "Now other countries are hoping to cooperate with us."
The train will cruise at a top speed of 220 mph (350 kph), making the 125-mile (200-kilometer) trip in 45 minutes.
China already has the world's longest high-speed rail network and aims to more than double its length to 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometers) by 2020.
Chinese companies are also vying for projects overseas, including in the U.S., which leads the world in freight railway technology but has almost no high-speed rail expertise. That's a mark of how well and quickly the technology has been adopted by Chinese companies, who have traditionally only been able to compete on price in bidding for railway and other basic infrastructure projects in the developing world.
The Three Gorges Dam has been more controversial, though the government has relentlessly touted the $23 billion project as the best way to end centuries of floods along the mighty Yangtze and provide energy to fuel the country's economic boom.
The water level in the vast reservoir behind it hit its peak height of 574 feet (175 meters) at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, according to project operator, the China Three Gorges Project Corp. The previous record was 567 feet (172.8 meters), set in 2008, the year the generators began operating.
In the future, the water level will be adjusted depending on flood-control needs but kept within 100 feet (30 meters) of the maximum.
While raising the water level increases the electricity production of the dam, some geologists have warned that damming up too much water in the reservoir carries a heightened risk of landslides, earthquakes and prolonged damage to the river's ecology. As officials attempted to raise water levels in the reservoir last fall, at least one town had to evacuate dozens of residents after a hairline crack appeared on the slopes above homes.
In addition, millions have been displaced and great swaths of productive farmland sacrificed for dam and projects like it.
Company chairman Cao Guangjing called Tuesday's feat a "historical milestone." He said annual power generation will reach 84.7 billion kilowatt hours, enabling "the project to fulfill its functions of flood control, power generation, navigation and water diversion to the full."
Average economic growth rates of more than 9 percent per year over the past two decades have laid the foundation for rapid progress in a growing number of fields, including launching three manned space flights since 2003 and building a railway across the Tibetan plateau from Beijing to Lhasa. The 2008 Beijing Olympics and this year's mammoth Shanghai World Expo have demonstrated a growing managerial sophistication as well as ability to build infrastructure on an enormous scale.
But while the tremendous growth has enabled China to build big, some wonder if it can build smart — and become a source of true innovation.
Science and technology research in the country tends to be heavily topdown, laden with a stifling government bureaucracy. Many of China's best scholars and scientists depart for greener pastures abroad, while other top minds are pushed into administrative roles, leaving them little time for research.
Although China holds the patents on the technology, design and equipment used by the CRH380 train, some in the industry question the degree to which China is justified in claiming the latest technology as its own.
"Everybody knows that a lot of the core technology is European," Michael Clausecker, director general of Unife, the Association of the European Rail Industry, said in a recent interview.
And despite the obvious benefits high-speed railways bring, the replacement of slower lines with more expensive high-speed trains has prompted complaints from passengers reluctant to pay higher fares, especially on shorter routes.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Crafting a good resume to get the job
A tough job market means piles of applications for open positions, so it is no surprise that hiring managers are looking for ways to screen candidates quickly.
"Recruiters typically devote only 10-15 seconds to read any resume," says Wil Lemire, director of career services at Western New England College in Springfield, Mass. To make that precious time count, job seekers need to create concise, attention-grabbing profiles that make employers want to know more.
Things to include
"Some people refer to the professional summary as the resume equivalent of a 30-second sales pitch or an elevator speech," says Carolyn Yencharis Corcoran, assistant director of the Insalaco Center for Career Development at Misericordia University in Dallas, Pa. "We recommend that our students take great care in writing this area, as it is yet another way for them to demonstrate their ability to communicate pointedly and efficiently and to exude professionalism by using industry-specific keywords in the proper context."
Experts generally favor the profile being placed right under contact information at the top of a resume. (This well-crafted skills summary also can prove useful as a networking intro or as part of an online profile.) Among the items candidates may wish to include are:
- Keywords that match those of the job description
- Hard skills (professional and technical experience)
- Soft skills (personal attributes)
- Advanced degrees
- Years of experience
- Interesting achievements
- Anything that sets one apart from other candidates
"Like any other section of your resume, the professional summary requires some self-reflection, time and attention," Corcoran says. To get the creative juices flowing, she suggests:
- Asking co-workers, family members, professors and friends what qualities they like most about you.
- Thinking about positive comments you've received from employers or teachers.
- Reflecting on awards received.
- Remembering instances where you handled an emergency, presented or taught something, made something more efficient
or contributed to a change.
Things to avoid
Cynthia Favre, director of career management at Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minn., offers this precaution when creating a summary: "Don't include things that most everyone can do (such as use the Internet or Word). It actually makes the candidate look like he doesn't have useful skills."
Favre also cautions against using vague adjectives, such as "excellent" and "great." "Such words encourage the reader to compare the candidate with others. Take the phrase 'an excellent communicator.' Compared to whom? Barack Obama? Your college roommate? It is better to state the skills as factually as possible and let the reader determine if they are excellent and of value to him."
Putting your best self forward
While seasoned workers can use their skills summary to describe past job accomplishments, novice job seekers often worry that they will appear lacking. While it is inevitable that different candidates will bring different attributes to the table, the main thing is to focus on what you can contribute.
"It's important that the job seeker know what the job requirements are in order to properly sort and rank his own knowledge, skills and abilities," Lemire says. "Recent graduates should use skills and knowledge gained from part-time jobs and summer jobs, internships, classroom projects and activities on and off campus."
Corcoran agrees that it is up to each individual to identify and present her own strengths. "While a seasoned worker will have more hands-on experience to include in a professional summary, new grads will want to highlight the things that set them apart -- such as possessing skills in the newest and latest technology, energy and drive, openness to multiple areas and an eagerness to learn."
Remember that whether this is your first job or your tenth, you only have a bit of space to get yourself noticed. Choose your words carefully, and chances are an employer will want to hear more.
"Recruiters typically devote only 10-15 seconds to read any resume," says Wil Lemire, director of career services at Western New England College in Springfield, Mass. To make that precious time count, job seekers need to create concise, attention-grabbing profiles that make employers want to know more.
Things to include
"Some people refer to the professional summary as the resume equivalent of a 30-second sales pitch or an elevator speech," says Carolyn Yencharis Corcoran, assistant director of the Insalaco Center for Career Development at Misericordia University in Dallas, Pa. "We recommend that our students take great care in writing this area, as it is yet another way for them to demonstrate their ability to communicate pointedly and efficiently and to exude professionalism by using industry-specific keywords in the proper context."
Experts generally favor the profile being placed right under contact information at the top of a resume. (This well-crafted skills summary also can prove useful as a networking intro or as part of an online profile.) Among the items candidates may wish to include are:
- Keywords that match those of the job description
- Hard skills (professional and technical experience)
- Soft skills (personal attributes)
- Advanced degrees
- Years of experience
- Interesting achievements
- Anything that sets one apart from other candidates
"Like any other section of your resume, the professional summary requires some self-reflection, time and attention," Corcoran says. To get the creative juices flowing, she suggests:
- Asking co-workers, family members, professors and friends what qualities they like most about you.
- Thinking about positive comments you've received from employers or teachers.
- Reflecting on awards received.
- Remembering instances where you handled an emergency, presented or taught something, made something more efficient
or contributed to a change.
Things to avoid
Cynthia Favre, director of career management at Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minn., offers this precaution when creating a summary: "Don't include things that most everyone can do (such as use the Internet or Word). It actually makes the candidate look like he doesn't have useful skills."
Favre also cautions against using vague adjectives, such as "excellent" and "great." "Such words encourage the reader to compare the candidate with others. Take the phrase 'an excellent communicator.' Compared to whom? Barack Obama? Your college roommate? It is better to state the skills as factually as possible and let the reader determine if they are excellent and of value to him."
Putting your best self forward
While seasoned workers can use their skills summary to describe past job accomplishments, novice job seekers often worry that they will appear lacking. While it is inevitable that different candidates will bring different attributes to the table, the main thing is to focus on what you can contribute.
"It's important that the job seeker know what the job requirements are in order to properly sort and rank his own knowledge, skills and abilities," Lemire says. "Recent graduates should use skills and knowledge gained from part-time jobs and summer jobs, internships, classroom projects and activities on and off campus."
Corcoran agrees that it is up to each individual to identify and present her own strengths. "While a seasoned worker will have more hands-on experience to include in a professional summary, new grads will want to highlight the things that set them apart -- such as possessing skills in the newest and latest technology, energy and drive, openness to multiple areas and an eagerness to learn."
Remember that whether this is your first job or your tenth, you only have a bit of space to get yourself noticed. Choose your words carefully, and chances are an employer will want to hear more.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Bert & Ernie Gay?
It was the tweet heard round "Sesame Street."
"Ever notice how similar my hair is to Mr. T's?" lovable sweater-clad Bert wrote on the official "Sesame Street" Twitter account in June. "The only difference is mine is a little more 'mo,' a little less 'hawk.'"
Taking the "mo" to mean "homosexual," the tweet had gay bloggers, activists, and parents buzzing that the show was letting them in on a big secret with an under-the-radar wink.
The Los Angeles Times took the post as the latest evidence in a history of clues the show has dropped over the years that Bert and Ernie are more than just friends, reviving the (nearly) age-old question: are Bert and Ernie gay?
The puppet duo have been best friends and roommates since the show began over 40 years ago, but curious fans have long wondered if there is more to their close relationship.
"Bert and Ernie conduct themselves in the same loving, discreet way that millions of gay men, women and hand puppets do," Kurt Anderson wrote in his 1980 book "The Real Thing." "They do their jobs well and live a splendidly settled life together in an impeccably decorated cabinet."
As proof, the Times cites "Sesame Street"'s history of inviting openly gay celebrity guests to the show, such as lesbian comedian Wanda Sykes who appeared this season and Neil Patrick Harris who once came on the show as "the shoe fairy."
If that's not enough to convince you, the Times adds "Sesame"'s spoof of HBO's racy series "True Blood," which stars gay characters and has a gay fan base, as evidence of another effort to appeal to gay viewers.
"Now some people are wondering: Is 'Sesame Street' brought to you by the letters G-A-Y?" the Times asks.
Of course, this isn't the first time people have wondered about what's really going on behind Bert and Ernie's closed doors.
In 2002, Sesame Workshop threatened to sue an LA filmmaker whose film "Ernest and Bertram" portrayed the puppets in a volatile gay relationship, ending in Ernie's suicide.
The are-they-or-aren't-they question has even made it to rumor-buster website Snopes.com, which has a page dedicated to the issue.
"Claim: 'Sesame Street' muppets Bert and Ernie are live-in lovers, and they're about to get married," the site states, with the answer: "Status: False."
Though the show intentionally appeals to a wide variety of audiences, the creators have steered clear of putting Bert and Ernie on top of any floats in the gay pride parade.
"Bert and Ernie, who've been on 'Sesame Street' for 25 years, do not portray a gay couple, and there are no plans for them to do so in the future. They are puppets, not humans. Like all the Muppets created for 'Sesame Street,' they were designed to help educate preschoolers. Bert and Ernie are characters who help demonstrate to children that despite their differences, they can be good friends," Sesame Workshop said in a statement in 1993.
Sesame Workshop President and CEO Gary Knell put it more simply.
"They are not gay, they are not straight, they are puppets," he said in 2007. "They don't exist below the waist."
Monday, October 25, 2010
Desperate Housewives a Halloween Episode
In the forthcoming Halloween episode of DH, we’ll see that Susan’s forced to reveal her big secret – that she has a naughty internet job – to Mike, who’s going to be very shocked.
However, Susan dressing up as Baby Jane may add a sinister edge to her confession…
Also, Lynette chooses to dress up as a 1920s flapper, but despite her joining in the Halloween mood, she’s really worried about Tom’s memory lapses.
Bree gets decked out as a cheerleader, and in this episode, she’ll learn a secret about Keith.
Paul’s grasping at romantic straws and hoping his taking Beth out will reignite the missing spark in their marriage, and Juanita gets suspicious about Gaby’s sudden interest in Grace…
Also, Rene isn’t too pleased when Lee turns up wearing the exact same Marilyn Munroe outfit.
Excited and Scared airs on Halloween night, October 31st, and here’s the sneak peek. Enjoy!
Vampire Diaries upcoming ‘Masquerade’ Episode
In the upcoming Vampire Diaries episode ‘Masquerade’, viewers will see Damon and Stefan devising a new plan to get rid of Katherine at Lockwood’s masquerade ball…
We’ll see Jeremy, Alaric and Bonnie all getting together to assist Stefan and Damon in taking Katherine out, but Katherine has a plans of her own and she invites her old buddy Lucy (Natashia Williams), to attend the ball…
She and Katherine apparently have “a surprise” that nobody could’ve foreseen.
And according to BSC Review, “Things go from bad to worse when Matt and Tyler start doing shots with their friends.”
The episode will air on Thursday October 28th on The CW.
Here’s the clip!
Desperate Housewives “Let Me Entertain You” - Blow By Blow Breakdown
Desperate Housewives took a break from the heavy laden “baby swap” story line by focusing on establishing Vanessa Williams’s Renee Perry and dropping a grenade on the Paul Young mystery. That guy needs to be tranquilized and locked in an asylum somewhere.
Wisteria Lane Divas Smackdown 2010: Second Match – Gaby vs. Renee
I died when Renee punched the hell out of Gaby in the nightclub. I couldn’t wait to see how the two ladies got there and when I found out, I was feeling kind of… blah. Yeah, we finally got to meet Renee’s husband Doug, but other than that introduction, the only funny/interesting thing about the whole incident was the actual fight itself. Although, we did learn how far Renee will go to get whatever she wants by sleeping with her husband’s lawyer. Low blow there, in my opinion. Plus, I wonder if this is the last we have seen of Doug Perry. I am glad that the ladies did bury the hatchet, and managed to let bygones be bygones. Maybe Bravo’s Real Housewives should take a lesson from the ladies of Wisteria Lane.
Paul Makes His Move And Corners Susan’s Next Move Back To Wisteria Lane
Now, this was where the action was and I apologize for every piece of whining I have done about Susan’s story line this year. We could’ve guessed the outcome when Paul received Mike’s rejection on buying Susan’s house via Lee. The red herring of Susan being fired kind of gave away the surprise ending, especially when Maxine rehired her for a job that paid top dollar. Even with all those heavy clues being dropped, the reveal was still satisfying and I jumped with Susan when Paul appeared on her laptop screen. Now, Paul has Susan right where he wants her, but what in God’s name could he want with Susan’s house? Did he leave something there? Or is he really just really going after Susan’s happiness?
B.A.G. Is A Sex Machine!
Seeing Bree walking after Keith got a hold of her was hilarious. Obviously, neither Orson nor Rex were doing their jobs in the bedroom. Karl, maybe, but I doubt it was all in one day. Are we going to see a more relaxed and refreshed Bree from now on?
Mrs. Scavo vs. Mrs. Scavo
I’m not going to lie. This storyline had me riding the fence all night until the end. While I don’t see a problem with a woman wanting to take care of her family, there is respect to be had. The Scavo men, especially Tom and the twins, were being complete jackasses. Point blank. With that being said, Lynette crossed the line by letting slip about Mrs. Scavo’s marriage. To me, that’s the only thing that I saw Lynette do wrong. Anything else is entirely not her fault in my opinion. Tom could be trying to save money by hiring his mother, but he has to learn to respect her as well. When his parents come around he acts like a big kid, which is why I got where Lynette was coming from tonight. I wouldn’t want my sons treating my mother like that either. It’s that simple.
Now with Mrs. Scavo having Alzheimer’s Disease, I wonder how this will affect the dynamic in the household? I wonder if it is just kicking in or if it’s been something she’s been hiding from Tom? Time will tell…
What were your thoughts on tonight’s episode?
Wisteria Lane Divas Smackdown 2010: Second Match – Gaby vs. Renee
I died when Renee punched the hell out of Gaby in the nightclub. I couldn’t wait to see how the two ladies got there and when I found out, I was feeling kind of… blah. Yeah, we finally got to meet Renee’s husband Doug, but other than that introduction, the only funny/interesting thing about the whole incident was the actual fight itself. Although, we did learn how far Renee will go to get whatever she wants by sleeping with her husband’s lawyer. Low blow there, in my opinion. Plus, I wonder if this is the last we have seen of Doug Perry. I am glad that the ladies did bury the hatchet, and managed to let bygones be bygones. Maybe Bravo’s Real Housewives should take a lesson from the ladies of Wisteria Lane.
Paul Makes His Move And Corners Susan’s Next Move Back To Wisteria Lane
Now, this was where the action was and I apologize for every piece of whining I have done about Susan’s story line this year. We could’ve guessed the outcome when Paul received Mike’s rejection on buying Susan’s house via Lee. The red herring of Susan being fired kind of gave away the surprise ending, especially when Maxine rehired her for a job that paid top dollar. Even with all those heavy clues being dropped, the reveal was still satisfying and I jumped with Susan when Paul appeared on her laptop screen. Now, Paul has Susan right where he wants her, but what in God’s name could he want with Susan’s house? Did he leave something there? Or is he really just really going after Susan’s happiness?
B.A.G. Is A Sex Machine!
Seeing Bree walking after Keith got a hold of her was hilarious. Obviously, neither Orson nor Rex were doing their jobs in the bedroom. Karl, maybe, but I doubt it was all in one day. Are we going to see a more relaxed and refreshed Bree from now on?
Mrs. Scavo vs. Mrs. Scavo
I’m not going to lie. This storyline had me riding the fence all night until the end. While I don’t see a problem with a woman wanting to take care of her family, there is respect to be had. The Scavo men, especially Tom and the twins, were being complete jackasses. Point blank. With that being said, Lynette crossed the line by letting slip about Mrs. Scavo’s marriage. To me, that’s the only thing that I saw Lynette do wrong. Anything else is entirely not her fault in my opinion. Tom could be trying to save money by hiring his mother, but he has to learn to respect her as well. When his parents come around he acts like a big kid, which is why I got where Lynette was coming from tonight. I wouldn’t want my sons treating my mother like that either. It’s that simple.
Now with Mrs. Scavo having Alzheimer’s Disease, I wonder how this will affect the dynamic in the household? I wonder if it is just kicking in or if it’s been something she’s been hiding from Tom? Time will tell…
What were your thoughts on tonight’s episode?
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