Descartes Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Descartes Philosophy - Essay Example The cause of the 'magnetism' is the magnet. This form of circular causal reasoning would have had been insufficient for Descartes and it is in this context of a world that is founded on such archaic Aristotelian principles that he meditates the cogito. Descartes wanted knowledge derived from natural science to have the clear and distinct properties of mathematical and geometrical concepts. Descartes presents his method in The Meditations. In order to evaluate its significance to his own philosophy it is imperative to demonstrate how he reaches the conclusion of the cogito. In order to build a proper epistemic approach to knowledge Descartes asks us to suspend our beliefs in propositions whose truth it is possible to doubt even in the slightest. As Descartes advances through the first meditation, our principles for acknowledging reality are elevated ever higher as he demolishes the capacities of recollection and the senses and even rationale in this respect. He presents three skeptica l arguments to fortify doubt, the dream argument, the interventionist creator-God and the imperfect creator/imperfect creation arguments. Discussion and Analysis The first argument, the dream argument says that there is no definite way to discern between when I am awake and when I am dreaming therefore, it is possible that I am dreaming right now and hence that all of my perceptions and sensations are false. It can be said against this that dreams are often hazy and are surreal with an unusual and we can always tell if we are able to dream. But for every notion we have of defining a boundary between dreams and being in a state of awakeness. One other problem with the dream argument as an argument for universal doubt is that it does not cause problems for self-evident 'truths' such as mathematical and geometrical concepts. To introduce the hyperbolic doubt Descartes needs to arrive at the cogito he must conceive of an argument that would make mathematics and logical validity dubitabl e. In order to do this he conceives of God as an all-powerful creator. Because of the omnipotence of God it is possible for Him to disrupt the truth of ideas we perceive as distinctly and clearly such as tautologies and analytic mathematical propositions. The first objection against this argument is that some people would not believe in a God that had sufficient power as to remove the certainty from clear and distinct ideas. Descartes reasons out of this problem by arguing that if our creator-God is less than perfect then we have even more reason to doubt because of our origins from an imperfect being. The other problem from this rebuttal is that assuming that there is a perfect God then it would be contradictory to his perfect being to deceive us. Another point, a God who deceives could have created our minds so that they could we can always have frequently or indeed always, have false thoughts. Accordingly, when we are calculating 2+2=4 and believing it to be self-evident we could be suffering an intervention from an omnipotent God to trick us to believing. It would seem that Descartes has now called even reason itself into doubt. By showing all knowledge is dubitable in the first meditation the significance of the Cogito for Descartes becomes clear. What if Descartes would be able to offer a cognitive principle that would

The impact on China foreign exchange reserve if china aids European Dissertation

The impact on China foreign exchange reserve if china aids European union debt crisis - Dissertation Example As economies of the world have become highly integrated because of globalization and therefore poor economic condition of one country or one region of the world could influence the other economy. In other words, China is looking to help the European nations out of this problem so that their poor economic situation does not influence the growing economy of China. Countries like United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, France and several other European countries have good trading relationships with China and sizeable amount of goods are exported from China to European countries and therefore it helps the economy of China to prosper. But if these countries will default then China would not be able to export its goods and therefore demand of their products would be reduced and it could hurt the economic condition of China as well. 1.2. Background to the Research Study: China is planning to give aid to European countries and China is looking this aid as an investment to keep its economic growth. The foreign exchange reserves of the country at the end of December, 2011 were $3.18. This foreign exchange reserve reflects the strong economic condition of China. This foreign exchange reserve would allow China to help and bail out European countries suffering from debt crisis. Although, China has made investment in several parts of Europe and even China has increased its investment almost thrice between 2009 and 2010 however Europe requires a lot more aid and investment to get out of trouble. Not only Chinese investors have made investments, but bonds of different European banks have also been purchased by China to boost the economic condition of European Union.... There are different benefits to China if they help the European region. The aid would help China to improve its image plus it would help them to have better return on their investment. Also with this aid, China would be able to have a greater say in European and financial talk. According to Chinese government, the investment would be safe because European countries are facing temporary issues however they are rich nations. Not only this would be a safe investment, but it would be helpful for China to enter into certain parts where their products have not been dominating and several other European countries could be entered by China in which they were not been able to export sufficient number of product. In addition to this, European countries like United Kingdom, Germany and France are important trading partners of China and helping them would give them advantage in the long run. Therefore, the investment would be highly beneficial for the country in the long run. 1.3. Rationale of t he Research Study: The researcher has started conducting research to identify and analyse the impact on Chinese foreign exchange reserves if China aids European nations to help them out of debt crisis. European nations are important trading partners of China and helping them out from this crisis could not only be an investment but this would be helpful for China to maintain their economic growth rate (REUTERS, 2011). If European countries default then the exports of China would be hurt and this could hurt the economic growth rate of China and as a result this would hurt the demand of Chinese products. So, with lower demand the industries in China would suffer and it

Constructability And The Safe Design Principles Construction Essay

Constructability And The Safe Design Principles Construction Essay Constructability Safe Design Principles serves as a preliminary process to provide Parsons Engineers, and the Construction Management Engineers an easy methodology to identify constructability issues hazards that are likely to arise in the erection process and provide reasonable design features to preclude potential peril in the design phase of the Arabian Canal Project Infrastructure. The process provides practical information to Parsons Design Engineers to assist them in identifying constructability issues hazards of equipment and systems used in the construction of the Arabian Canal Project Infrastructure. It offers practical principles that can be applied to control additional constructability issues hazards found on the building site, in structural components, and from materials, processes, and procedures employed during construction and maintenance. This process is for developing the skills of Parsons Engineers to control many kinds of constructability issues hazards at th e time of design or before work begins on site to achieve optimal constructability and safety throughout the construction process and the life cycle of the Arabian Canal Project Infrastructure. International studies have concluded that approximately sixty (60%) percent of all fatal accidents in construction arise from faulty design or insufficient planning. While the exact percentage remains the subject of debate and discussion, a number of this magnitude challenges those who manage the process of design to save lives and money simply by application of improved engineering practices. Such perspective should be a revelation to Parsons Engineers who are accustomed to view the majority of accidents in the construction industry as attributable to the routine chaos of the construction site. To do so would focus more on prevention than ever before. The objective of this process is to develop and/or expand engineering principles of constructability safer design for construction and the life cycle of the Arabian Canal Project Infrastructure. To accomplish this task we shall draw from four pioneering approaches to constructability safer design. These approaches which form the corn erstone of modern system safety engineering principles are the following: Eliminate the hazard if possible, or; Provide guarding to prevent contact with the hazard, and; Provide safety factors to minimize the hazard, and; Provide redundancy to confine the hazard. All four applications necessarily involve highly focused Parsons Engineers. Though these principles have been extended, there is still no methodology to simplify these principles and incorporate them into a simple methodology. Start of the process develops methodology for identifying constructability issues hazards then matching the issue or hazard with design features and/or safety appliances for the prevention of the hazard. This will highlight the role of the Parsons Engineer as a designer. When the Parsons Engineer places emphasis on constructability hazard prevention by designing out the hazards inherent to construction processes, products, or facilities, the circumstances that produce construction interferences injuries will be drastically reduced. The second section provides the Parsons Engineer with a system for identifying hazards with an insight into the nature of hazards and guidance that categorizes the hazards into manageable groups. Specific identification of the different types of hazards in the design stage streamlines the hazard elimination process by providing guidelines to determine general control measures. This process will provide Parsons Engineers with easy principles of system safety adaptable to design and constructability that ensure for the elimination and control of hazards. Then it will provide a method to quantify the ability of design improvements to prevent injury, death, and damage in terms of reliability. For instance, before a construction project even begins, the construction manager faces the potential constructability issues and hazards of faulty design by the architect, defective design of the equipment that must be used, and hazards within the construction site or property. To successfully control constructability issues and hazards during the project, these obstacles and hazards must be identified and addressed during design and planning stages. This process distills system safety methodology into five principles that focus on hazard identification, isolation, and control through constructability, innovative technology and applied science. A design matrix provides a check sheet to ensure potential loss exposures have been identified and controlled before the design has left the drafting room. Practical application of this method eliminates or controls potential constructability issues and hazards. In a world of exponential increases in technology, Parsons Engineers have new and exciting options available to them. Parsons Engineers who can think outside the box will find many opportunities to re-engineer products using new materials and informational devices in a way that produces a constructible and safer product or process. Constructability Safety In-Design Compliance Procedure Engineering Department Procedure Constructability Safety In-Design Compliance Program Parsons Constructability Safety-in-Design (CSID) program is an ongoing implementation and confirmation effort relating to a projects safety requirements. Parsons CSID approach evaluates and resolves hazard analysis relating to the mitigation of personnel and public hazards in a facilitys construction and operation, adherence to code requirements, and beneficial safe design practices. The Parsons CSID process begins with implementing the Constructability Safety-In-Design Compliance Procedure and supported by the Parsons Constructability Safety In Design Process Guide. The Parsons comprehensive Constructability Design for Safety Training Process ensures the project staff fully understands the CSID processes and continually works to ensure complete implementation. The CSID review committee will be tasked with completing the Constructability reviews. The Parsons Constructability review is a review of the plans and specifications to check for build ability and bid ability. When reviewing for build ability, Parsons checks for the completeness of the drawings. This includes a cross-check between the various disciplines (electrical, mechanical, architectural, structural, plumbing, civil, and landscaping, etc.) to coordinate pipeline sizes locations, power capacities, road and bridge layout and sizing, and other major components that are essential to build the infrastructure. Additionally, there may be dimensional errors in calculating radius building plots that impact structural steel, site concrete, light bollards, and landscape. Critical dimensions are reviewed to prevent building delays, bidding errors and to ensure the complete project is capable of being under written for insurability. When checking for bid ability, Parsons Constructability R eview Team performs an extensive review of details, notes, sections, elevations, site plans and specifications. As in any contract, the best contract is without ambiguity, error, conflict, and leaves little to interpretation. This review crosschecks the use of detail references and confirms consistent use of building finishes to specifications and other plan details. The work product of the review is a list of comments and a marked-up set of the plans and specifications to be reviewed by the project stake holders. The list of comments is created using the Parsons Constructability Assessment Register so the list can be modified and prioritized by other team members. (It also serves as a checklist to confirm the incorporation of the comments to the documents before going to bid.) A standard procedure to mark-up the drawings with changes is established. For example, green pen will be used to highlight question areas, orange pen will be used if the question is answered as the review continues, blue pen will be used to make corrections, and yellow pen to verify the information was input into the Constructability Assessment Register. Using this standard mark-up policy, the constructability team can clearly show all stake holders the process of how each comment was generated. Additionally, the incorporation of a change is easier to compare the marked-up sheet to the existing design. After the plans and specifications have been marked-up, each comment will be input into the Parsons Initial Hazard Evaluation Register. The process of inputting the information is not just a clerical process, but also a final pass of the plans and specifications. Often additional comments are generated or questions are answered. Once the comments are inputted, the Parsons Constructability Review Team will prepare a narrative explaining the format of the comments and the general outcome of the review. The constructability report (the narratives and comments) will be forwarded to the stakeholders and a meeting scheduled to review the comments. The opportunities to create safer workplaces are most cost effective when captured in the earliest phases of the lifecycle of designed products or processes. The most effective risk control measure eliminating the hazard is often cheaper and more practical to achieve at the design or planning stage, rather than making changes later in the lifecycle when the hazards become real risks to clients, users, employees and businesses. The constructability review will ensure the completed project is insurable, reduce bidders questions, increase the likelihood of competitive bids, reduce RFIs, and change orders and delays during the bid and construction process. It is much easier and less costly to make the changes to the plans and specifications prior to bid, rather than during construction. A constructible safe design approach results in many benefits, including: Prevention of injury and disease, Improved use ability of products, systems and facilities, Improved productivity reduced costs, Better prediction and management of production and operational costs over the lifecycle of a product, Compliance with legislation, Innovation, in that constructible safe design demands new thinking Reducing over all project Increase construction practicality, Eliminates errors and ensures project schedule completion in a timely manner Provides the owner and all stakeholders to have the opportunity to ensure the design is fully acceptable to their standards and expectations Address the life cycle environmental impacts and improves the over all preservation of resources Reduces the life cycle expenses associated with operations and maintenance The lifecycle of a product is a key concept of sustainable and constructible safe design that provides a framework for eliminating the hazards and improving the constructability at the design stage and/or controlling the risk as the infrastructure is: constructed, installed, commissioned, used or operated, maintained, repaired, modified, de-commissioned, demolished and/or dismantled, and disposed of or recycled. The Parsons CSID is a tool to assist designers, engineers, constructors, clients and other key stakeholders to come together to reduce construction, maintenance, repair and demolition safety risks associated with design. Parsons CSID recognizes that a design involves key considerations such as operability, aesthetics and economics with the elements of safety. It also acknowledges that a design process may be determined by many different stakeholders and/or influences. The CSID methodology aims to involve these elements and influences. By proactively considering construction, maintenance, repair and demolition issues, the CSID framework should not only help reduce the number of construction industry incidents, but also assist in improving constructability and reducing the life cycle costs associated with building the infrastructure design project. There is a balance of responsibilities between a designer, a constructor and other relevant stakeholders, such as clients or specialist consultants. It is important that all participants highlight unusual safety risks associated with a design and required construction. As outlined in the Parsons CSID process all those involved should: identify the hazards presented by potential design solutions and consider the risks these hazards will generate for construction workers and others who may be affected by the construction work (e.g. members of the public); include health and safety considerations amongst the design options so that they can avoid the hazards, reduce their impact or introduce control measures to protect those at risk where it is re a s o n a b l y practicable; forewarn the contractor of the residual hazards that have been identified within the design and will need to be managed during the construction work. Eliminating the hazard is the first risk control that should obviously be considered. If the hazard cannot be eliminated (for example eliminating risks associated with maintenance by using aluminum/stainless steel, which requires no regular painting), risk can be minimized by using a series of steps known as the hierarchy of risk control. Including: substituting the system of work or plant with something safer (e.g. pre-assembled equipment at ground level rather than height); modifying the system of work or plant to make it safer (e.g. ensure attachment points for lifting, window cleaning, safety lines, etc.); isolating the hazard (e.g. introduce restricted areas); introducing engineering controls (e.g. prevent falls from buildings during construction/maintenance by increasing wall/edge height). Only when the above constructible and risk control options have been exhausted should consideration (and more importantly reliance) be given to personal protective equipment (e.g. safety harnesses) or adopting administrative controls such as hazard warning signs. Design is the process of considering options. In developing and understanding these options, there is also the ability to improve safety and reduce costs. For example, the costs associated with assembling large scale scaffolding may far exceed the costs associated with alternate design and/or construction materials. Similarly, an emphasis placed on achieving a design that would be safe and efficient to erect, rather than the traditional approach of minimizing steel tonnage, did result in lower project costs. Essentially, given the opportunity to consider the design in a formal and systematic way, a smarter design results and a smarter design invariably leads to a safer design. The following subjects are included in this program: Personnel life safety Safe facility startup Safe facility shutdown Intrinsically safe designs Structural integrity (e.g., seismic, wind, safe loading, equipment support, etc.) Considerations for operating a facility safely Parsons defines project safety requirements as internal or external (Employer) specification, government code, manual, policy, standard, and safe practice that pertains to providing safe and healthful facilities for personnel. The Standard Industry Codes and Standards (or publishers of basic codes and standards), which pertain to safe design practices, will be utilized by the Parsons Design team. The project design team will also include requirements of the Development project objectives and goals, the requirements of Dubai Municipality and its agencies, and other specific Employer requirements or best practices. The Project Manager and Design Manager will be responsible for coordinating and confirming the special constructability and safety requirements for the design elements for the project work. The Project Manager and Design Manager together with the QA/QC manager will verify the appropriate reviews have been performed related to Constructability Safety In Design. The Design Manager will be responsible for establishing the Employer requirements checklists, which include safety-related industry codes/and standards and local/city code requirements. The Design Manager will also direct and coordinate the work of engineers and designers assigned to the project accomplish the Constructability Safety In Design objectives and requirements. Purpose This procedure describes Engineering Department policy for application of the Constructability Safety-In-Design (CSID) Compliance Program. Engineering/design practices and principles contained in this document are intended generally to be applied to all types of facilities during each projects planning and design phase. Constructible Safe design practices rely on the correct use of current basic code requirements, existing design standards, client requirements, and any other known safety considerations that assist in safeguarding against unsafe conditions and help manage unsafe materials and hazardous acts causing illness or bodily harm to workers. Enhances building information modeling and enables design success related to sustainability, security, design-build, risk management, hazard mitigation, insurability and performance-based design. Promotes team building among client, designer and contractor, emphasizing the success of the project instead of the success of the individual, thereby minimizing the commoditization of engineering. Provides ongoing feedback from clients, users, and contractors to the design team, eliminating scope surprises. Reduces total project costs and engineering scope creep, improving profitability. Involves construction expertise in the design phase, identifying field issues and avoiding obstacles, unnecessary construction costs, and lawsuits. Improves the quality of construction documents, minimizing change orders and subsequent post-construction claims. Improves the quality of the next design, incorporating feedback from the field. Figure : Constructability Logic Diagram Definitions Safety As a noun safety shall be understood to mean the condition of being safe from (or causing) harm, injury, or loss. As a verb safety shall be understood to mean protection against failure, breakage, or accident. Constructability Safety In-Design Program Parsons CSID compliance program is an ongoing implementation and confirmation effort relating to a projects constructability safety requirements. Also included are hazard analysis resolutions relating to the mitigation of personnel hazards in a facilitys operation, adherence to code requirements, and safe design practices beneficial to personnel. The following subjects are included in this program. Personnel life safety Safe facility startup Safe facility shutdown Intrinsically safe designs Structural integrity (e.g., seismic, wind, safe loading, equipment support, etc.) Considerations for operating a facility safely Owner/operation procedure supplement Operating sufficiency/redundancy Economic design Ease of maintenance Environmental compliance Construction safety Failure analysis (except for life safety systems) Supplier product/safety responsibilities Safety and Personnel Hazards Typical safety and personnel hazards in operating facilities include, but are not limited to: Fires Explosions Falls Tripping and clearance deficiencies Structural degradation and improperly supported elements Electrical shock Chemical burns and fumes Suffocation Excessive sound levels Use of, and/or exposure to, toxic construction materials (e.g., urethane and asbestos) Toxic materials handling Potable water contamination (e.g., sanitary sewer/process sewer) Radiation nuclear Magnetic fields Use of microwaves Inadequate lighting (eyestrain and darkness) Ergonomic deficiencies (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome and muscular strain) Materials handling (e.g., overheads, conveyors) Moving machinery parts (e.g. guards, over speed, vibration, emergency stop/lockout) Hazardous spills Moving objects (obstructed vision) Inadequacy of alarms/communication systems Unanticipated structural loading (e.g. large number of people on platforms) Hazard Analysis A hazard analysis is generally intended to identify and examine hazards during all phases of design, construction, and operations, as applicable to the requirements of each project. This analysis includes hazards and operability (HAZOP) studies, what-if evaluations, failure mode and effects analyses (FMEA), and event-tree and fault-tree analyses. Hazard analysis is not a function of the Engineering Department but is handled by others. On some projects, hazard analysis is performed by the client. Constructability Safety Systems Typical Constructability safety systems include, but are not limited to, the following three categories. Monitoring Systems Fire and smoke detection alarms Toxic material sensors and alarms Critical sampling systems Constructability Safety Device Systems (permanent and in-place) Safe electrical voltages near personnel Explosive protection Protective material coverings Adequate exiting and door hardware Shielding Fall protection Ladder clearances and cages Stair handrails, platform handrails, and toe plates Operability of valves Machinery guards Safety color coding Signage Emergency stop switches Equipment-keyed lockout switches Emergency Protection Systems (activated by an incident) Eyewash and safety-shower stations Emergency/exit lighting Emergency communications Emergency alarms Fire sprinklers Emergency exit facilitation devices (e.g., slides) Electrical circuit protection (e.g., circuit breakers and fuses) Constructability Safety In-Design Process Guide Constructability and Safe Design Concepts Specific aims and goals in the beginning of this process address the theories and methodology of constructability, hazard identification and the development of design features to eliminate the obstacles and hazard and/or minimize the probability of constructability and injury or damage failure mode. Constructability and safety engineering should include the process of systematically controlling constructability issues and hazards through design considerations or with the use of safety appliances. Principle One: Definition of a Hazard and Constructability To begin to address constructability safer design principles in construction and the life of the Arabian Canal Project Infrastructure, one must first understand the actual nature of constructability and hazards. A specific definition of constructability and hazards provides the Parsons Engineer with a basis to develop a methodology for planning and evaluating the construction and the life cycle of the Arabian Canal Project Infrastructure process for constructability and safety ensuring for design of constructible, safe systems and equipment. The undertaking of such construction design principles leads to safe operation of a completed facility. What a hazard is in practical terms: Definition: A hazard is an unsafe physical condition that is always in one of three modes- Dormant/Latent (unable to cause harm), Armed (can cause harm), Active (causing injury, death, and/or damage by releasing unwanted energy, substances, biological agents, and or defective computations from computer software. In greater detail, a dormant/latent hazard is a design defect that is susceptible to a failure mode. Foreseeable misuse should also be considered (a kitchen chair may be used to stand on to reach upper cabinets and needs to be sturdy enough to prevent collapse.) The armed hazard is created by a change of circumstances and is ready to cause harm (the chair may have a big knot on one leg). The active hazard is an armed hazard triggered into action (when the chair is stepped on the knot cannot support the additional load and the chair leg collapses, causing a fall.) Definition: Constructability is the optimum use of construction knowledge and experience in planning, design, and procurement and field operations to achieve the overall project objectives. The basis of constructability concept is that experienced construction personnel need to be involved with the project from the earliest stages to ensure that the construction focus and their experience can properly influence the owners, planners, and designers, as well as material suppliers. This does not necessarily mean that the design or project objectives should be changed to meet constructability only from a cost standpoint. Constructability should be used as a design consideration, so that optimum results provide the best of both worlds. Parsons approach to the Arabian Canal Project Infrastructure Design will emphasize constructability with various characteristics and be implemented as design progresses. Parsons Design and construction managers are committed to the cost effectiveness of the whole project. They recognize the high cost influence of early project decisions. Parsons managers use constructability as a major tool in meeting project objectives concerning quality, cost and schedules. Parsons managers bring construction aboard early. This means using experienced personnel who have a full understanding of how a project is planned and built. Parsons Designers are receptive to improving constructability. They think constructability, request construction input freely, and evaluate that input objectively. Early constructability efforts result in a significant payback to the project. Industry research has cited cost reductions of between 6 and 23 percent, benefit/cost ratios of up to 10:1, and large schedule reductions. The intangible benefits are as important as the quantitative benefits and must be recognized accordingly. These include; more accurate schedules, increased productivity, improved sequence of construction, enhanced quality, decreased maintenance, and a safer job. Parsons will provide input to the planning and design from the standpoint of project intent, constructability, safety, operation and maintenance. This will be accomplished through field reconnaissance with designers and reviews of design documents at various stages of development. Obtaining feedback from maintenance personnel at this point is very important, since they ultimately live with the finished product and are aware of previous construction deficiencies. The reviews will be scheduled during both the Conceptual Development and the Design phases. Principle Two: Establish a Standard of Constructability and Safe Design Constructability and Safety must be converted into a powerful design priority and overriding planning concern to be effective. It must rely primarily on the physical elimination of each construction obstacle and hazard, rather than upon human performance, which is variable and cannot be programmed, to avoid the obstacle or hazard. Through the evaluation and close scrutiny of each activity, task or phase of the construction process we are able to identify possible failure modes to identify hazardous conditions. A well-known tenet of safety engineering states Any hazard that has the potential for serious injury or death is always unreasonable and always unacceptable if reasonable design features and/or the use of safety appliances are available to prevent the hazard. The key to successful safety engineering is to identify and design out as many hazards as possible. When this tenet is applied as a design standard, it becomes a routine expectation to design out hazards, thus changing a dangerous facility, product or service into a safer one. The identification of construction obstacles and hazards is the basic building block to ensure for a safe construction and operation during the life cycle of the Arabian Canal Project Infrastructure. Often the same construction obstacle or hazard that has been causing injury, damage, or down time surfaces uncontrolled on multiple occasions. Falling loads due to two blocking were recurring hazards on construction sites for many years. This trend stopped when anti-two blocking devices were installed by manufacturers on all new cranes and retrofitted onto most cranes in the field. By relying on our past experiences, remembering backwards is not all that difficult to begin to control construction obstacles and hazards. Principle Three: Categorizing the Hazard Hazard Source The third step in hazard identification is to determine which of the following seven categories contains the source of the hazard: Hazard Source Natural Environment Structural/Mechanical Electrical Chemical Radiant Energy Biological Automated Systems Artificial Intelligence Now the hazard can be binned into a convenient box or boxes. Each of these boxes contains just a few examples that serve as a starting point for the Parsons Engineer to begin to focus on the nature of the hazard. These topics are meant to be a starting point to develop additional listings for failure modes. It is important to note that hazard categories may overlap or fall into one or more groups. It is common to encounter a hazard that contains simultaneous natural, mechanical, and chemical properties. In these cases, specific hazards should be broken down into as many individual properties as possible. Natural Environment The first box is our natural environment. The laws of gravity cannot be repealed, nor can the weather be programmed or the ocean drained. The following are a few hazard source possibilities that the Parsons Engineer must contend with in the natural environment. Natural Environment Gravity Falls same level Fall from elevation Falling objects Impact Acceleration Slopes Upset Rollover Sliding Unstable surfaces Water Floating Sinking Drowning Atmosphere Change in Altitude Humidity Wind Visibility (fog, etc.) Dust Temperature Limitations on Human Performance Structural/Mechanical Hazards The second box delineates mechanical hazards. As engineers we must consider their mechanical advantage, but also their possible danger. Structural/Mechanical Hazards Surfaces Lack of Traction Unstable Surfaces Tripping Incline Steps Ladders Lever Rotation Wheels Gears Pulley Screw Auger Cams

Building a Portfolio for Retirement Essay -- Economics

Building a Portfolio for Retirement â€Å"According to a survey conducted by the Savings Education Council last year, 24% of all workers were not confident that they were prepared to retire comfortably.† Upon retirement we would like to maintain a certain level of income and lifestyle such as that established in the prime of our earning career. Through proper planning this goal can be achieved. I am going to establish the need for investments/ savings through the life-cycle model of consumption. I will then walk through standard retirement plans showing that additional funding will likely be needed for the upper-middle class, leading to stock and bond investments, risk tolerance of an individual investor, how that affects diversity and rates of return. On average Americans save approximately 5% of their earnings. This is the lowest among industrialized countries; Japan saves on average 24%, they are the highest savers. The US saves so little in part because of the availability and ease of credit, the financial system; as well as an effective Social Security system. However, the US is changing, to depend on today’s Social Security for tomorrow alone is a risky venture to say the least. Throughout one’s career their earning levels will fluctuate; the highest level of earnings is most likely achieved around middle age or mid-career. It is at this time most Americans begin to think about retirement and savings. The life-cycle model of consumption indicates that we desire a constant level of consumption throughout our lifetime. We, therefore, will go into debt when we are young, repaying the debt and begin saving in middle age, and dissave in retirement. While I personally believe that savin... ...o fund banks in the big picture of money. My 95-year-old Grandfather has successfully funded his retirement through CDs, a pension, and Social Security. To this day he still invest in CDs and his net worth is six figures. In large, most investors do not want to do the research in selecting stocks, bonds, and money market accounts for their portfolio themselves; at the prime of their career they may not have the time either. A managed fund is an appealing option. A managed fund may cost slightly more, there are management fees involved, typically not more than 2%. Picking a fund lessens the workload, pick a well know fund such as Janis, Fidelity, USAA, Templeton, Putnam, etc. If you have the money, pay someone; an investment fund manager who will take into account who you are. The name on the fund you choose is not so important as they type of fund you choose.

Political Culture Essay

How to face difficulty appealing to voters across gender or racial lines in the 2008 Presidential elections candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. For the first time in the U.S. history, the presidential nominees is an African-American man (Barack Obama) and a woman (Hillary Clinton) has been recognized by political expert as a ground-breaking.     The defining issues of the United States presidential campaign are gender and racial identity. 1) Do gender or race issues pose challenges to Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama? Why or why not? Whether they like it or not gender and race issues will pose challenges to Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama.   Since Obama is an African-American black guy and Clinton is a woman, they can ¢t help voters divide according to gender and race as much as they prevent that to happen. In terms of my personal preference this is a no contest.   But of course they have different tactics to win for the Democratic vote.   For one moment let ¢s forget about race and gender that Obama and Clinton lie outside  ¡the norms of United States politics.   Every day in business the clash between them is being played out.   Barack as new and Young Pretender.   They are both energetic and full of ideas.   We always know they are destined to do very well but we never know when, or if, they will reach that level.   They are thoroughly likeable but sometimes selfish.   Clinton the executive who has risen over the years by undramatic effort and symbolize experience.   They ¢re both ready to compromise because they know no one ever gets all they want, but they are both steady and intelligent. I think that the emphasis of this election should be on the things that Clinton and Barack represent in terms of National choices rather than on the individuals.   2) Are American voters capable of voting across gender or racial lines? Why or why not? No.   The current generation of American voters according to political experts, argue that casting votes for candidates are capable regardless of race or gender. I think the most important thing in voting is that people simply have to follow the content of their hearts.   What they think and what’s on their mind that is going to be in the best interest of the country.   Even for those who are non-partisan, the important thing is that the issue that comes across most is the need for a change in the United States.

Traveling by Plane and by Train

Traveling by plane and by train When traveling over states or over countries there are three main ways of doing so, a flight, a train ride, or driving yourself. I guess you could walk or run but, I'm talking about cross country travel. There are expensive and inexpensive ways of travel, some fast, some slow, most fun, others boring. In the developed countries, traveling by trains and traveling by planes are more popular than other transportations because they are convenient. However, traveling by train also has some differences from traveling by planes in some aspects: speed, cost and comfort.The fastest way of travel would be by plane, if time is a major issue. A flight can also be easier to schedule, there are hundreds of flights leaving every half-hour, in every direction to and from almost every airport in the world. For example if you choose a plane to go to San Francisco from Sea-Tac, it takes two hours to get there. In contrast, it would take a couple of days to go a cross cou ntry by train. If you choose a train from Seattle to San Francisco it takes almost twenty-two hours to arrive there.Also trains are slow, sometimes even slower than a car. So trains are not a good choice when timing is an issue. Moreover, it is harder to schedule for riding a train, because trains are not available any hour you want them, for instance if you choose a train to go to Vancouver the train are available on specific times, early in the morning (about 8. 30 AM), in the afternoon (about 3. 25 PM) and at night (about 7. 40 PM). The down fall is that a flight is also the most expensive way to travel.A flight from California to New York (round trip) could cost anywhere from $500. 00 to $2,500. 00+, depending on which class (or section) you purchase your ticket for. On most commercial planes there are three sections of seating, and where you sit depends on what you are willing to pay. The best section is first class; which is very luxurious. This is the most expensive section t o sit in. It has more leg room, larger and softer chairs, better service, and hand prepared meals instead of the processed food the rest of the plane gets.Next is coach or business class; which is the middle section, it is somewhat luxurious. You get some leg room, descent service but, you still get processed food. For anyone who wants real food better spend a little extra money and fly first class. At the back of the plane you will find the economy class; which is one of the cheaper ways to fly. The service is not great, the leg room is non-existent, and you are one of the last people to get off of the plane when it lands.So, you are one of the last ones to get to the baggage claim, by the time you get there either your bags have passed by, or you are stuck behind thirty people who have no clue about what they are supposed to do, so it takes you that much longer to retrieve your bags. On the other hand, when you travel by train on a cross country trip you would have sleeping quarte rs; which would have a bed and bathrooms for yourself. During the ride you could stay in your room or roam around to the different cars; which have various uses.Traveling by train can be very relaxing because you can sit by a window while having a meal or snack and enjoy the view of the countryside, or engage in conversation with another passenger at the bar while having a drink. You can enjoy your trip with a very cheaper deal. Traveling by trains and by planes both have advantage and disadvantages. If we just want to save money, we will travel by train; but if we want to save time, we will turn to the plane. It is up to yourself to choose the right one by keeping comfort, cost and timing all in your mind.

Elizabeth The Virgin Queen Essays - British Films, Free Essays

Elizabeth The Virgin Queen Essays - British Films, Free Essays Elizabeth The Virgin Queen Elizabeth the Virgin Queen The movie Elizabeth, the tale of Britains Virgin Queen, is an enthralling movie with intriguing effects, magnificent scenery and spectacular acting. With astonishing assets such as the deep storyline of a heroine, splendid cinematography, talented actors , and masterful director techniques aid the movie to become an outstanding peace of work that can not be missed. Elizabeth transports the viewer into the realm of the Monarchy and has them holding their breath. This epic drama is portrayed as a powerful and meaningful story. The film shows the rigorous rise of Queen Elizabeth from her rotten beginnings as Queen Marys hated half-sister to her reign as one of Englands most successful Monarchs. Elizabeth details a specific political process as much as anything else, a process that enables the determined young queen to assert herself over male domination and to consolidate her rule. This throws the viewer into the compelling world of Englands Monarchy during the middle ages. And simultaneously portrays Elizabeth as A role model to striving young women everywhere. This wonderful and powerful production is aided immeasurably by the photogenic quality of the twelve gothic churches and castles in North England that were used for filming locations. These locations perfectly complemented the chiaroscuro lighting effects. The engulfing soundtrack and the fluid cinematography allows the film to encompass the viewer into the depths of the middle ages. Darkly and effectively lit by cinematographer Remi Aderfarasin and lushly illustrated by production designer John Myhre and costume designer Alexandra Byrne, Elizabeth is a magnificent artwork. Cate Blanchet gives a riveting performance in the film. Blanched not only looks like Elizabeth, but she interprets the part of a determined young lady riddled by the uncertainty of a precarious position, with great precision. Her time on the screen is a performance of worth, from the energetic, naive young girl, to the hellcat virgin queen, she literally melts white steel in the hysterical, complex spectacle. She breathes life into the revered historical figure, transforming her from an old picture on an encyclopedia page to a flesh-and-blood individual whom an audience can root for and care about. The film's flowing simplicity and powerfully engaging momentum makes Elizabeth a majestic ode to a unique woman who shaped an era. The supporting cast in this feature is also extremely talented. With Geoffrey Rush as the crucial role of Walsingham he brings sinisterly to the plot and is down right evil. The hellasious Mendel played by Christopher Eccleston brings out antagonism and mutiny. Also Sir Richard Attenboroughs ,a methodical conniver who helps Elizabeth consolidate her power, performance complements Blanchetts tremendous performance with equally impressive acting. Other actors such as John Gielgud as the Pope and Fanny Ardent as Mary of Guise also give a wonderful performance in this feature. Directed by Shekhar Kapur, Elizabeth is a master piece of film that often combines the poetic rolling hills of England with demented and dark pictures of battle and imprisonment. Kapurs accent on visceral and textured lighting is wonderful. His camera is always imaginative as well, for example until she shines forth at the glorious end of the film in all her frontal iconicity, Elizabeth is continuously seen through distorting glass and flowing veils. The best visual effects of all are the dynamic close-ups and always moving camera that are continuous throughout the running time. Overall this film making con not be put aside. It is a top-notch movie highly recommended not just for the beautiful scenes and impressionable costuming but for the powerful story it represents and portrays. Anyone from teenagers on can learn and appreciate this film. It is a must see that will keep you on your toes and educate you at the same time.