Globalization & new trend Essay

Globalization is the hip and new trend when the discussion focuses on certain social aspects like technology, economy, business, commerce, media, entertainment, sports and communication. This is owed generally to the impact of globalization to the way individuals live in the modern day, 21st century world. Globalization is the idea that individuals can reach each other despite geographical and other boundaries that made globalization impossible before and kept life strictly local or regionalized. With the entry of the trend of globalization, the world has embraced a new concept of the world which is now closely interlinked, countries acting like small communities that houses citizens that can freely interact with citizens of another countries in real time despite the thousand miles of separation and the difference in time zones. Many believed that globalization is generally a good idea – viewers in China can watch the National Basketball Association Finals game real time, while students in Pakistan, Australia and Greenland can talk with each other simultaneously via the use of the Internet. Banking became flexible and ceased to be country-centric, and trade and commerce saw a bigger opened door that pitted international and local businessmen in a toe-to-toe battle since globalization in trade and commerce commenced. But not all of the effects of the globalization is viewed as a very positive spin on things. Everyone has caught the globalization bug, and to make sure that they do not get left behind, the street gangs of the United States of America has also stepped up and made important restructuring steps to ensure that the operation of their specific gangs transcends localized action. The street gangs of the US has gone global, and why not? As much as it is a peer group that grows because of the fulfilment of what street gangs promises to provide its members, affiliates and partners in a personal level (affinity, protection, a sense of belonging and brotherhood, etc), these same street gangs of US are also thriving because of their role in local (and now, global) albeit sometimes illegal economy. What does it mean to have a US street gang globalized? It does not directly mean that these gangs establish branches outside of US territory, say for example, Crips-China or Bloods-South Korea: this idea is at worst preposterous since the very core idea of the formation of street gangs is the creation of a self imposed fiefdom over a particular neighbourhood which they consider as their turf, the seat of their power. The creation of branches or extensions in other places or other countries will make these loosely structured gangs akin to the rigid structuring of legitimate fraternities, which they are from. While it is not far fetched that the idea of branching out happened to any of the street gangs in the US sooner or later, the globalization of these gangs is not merely defined or limited using this particular precept: they become globalized once their ‘operation’ ceases to be limited to localized action, distribution and supply pipeline construction; they become globalized when they maximize and utilize any and all available technology so that they connect with other gangs and similar entities across the globe; they become globalized when their existence becomes a part of pop culture or socially shared common knowledge even in places they haven’t even been before, due mainly to the role of mass media and how gangs are always included in entertainment materials beamed and telecast in different parts of the world, introducing them to this kind of social strata; they become globalized when their status improves to that of global prestige and renown. Klein (2001) supports the thinking of the natural course of pattern of growth of local US street gangs going outward, saying that â€Å"we have exported our American street gang culture abroad† and adding that â€Å"there are Crips in the Netherlands† and that â€Å"the particular forms of European gangs seem similar to those to be found in the United States† (pg 237). These copycat street gangs followed the same US street gang roles in their own countries, doing their part in their part of the world while US street gangs did theirs in America. Schaeffer (2002) said that â€Å"foreign mafias were based close to drug supplies but far from US government prosecutors. This meant they were better placed to obtain drugs and evade the law, particularly since government authority was weak in their host countries. There were also able to establish connections with young, aggressive street gangs based in US immigrant communities† (pg 356). The Triggers of Globalization – Like all of the other aspects of life affected by the entry of globalization, these street gangs did not just go global by itself; instead there were external triggers that acted as catalyst towards the change that these gangs experienced from being local entities to global participants. The triggers prompted the change; they allowed the gang members to see the potential and possibility of going global, in effect selling the idea of globalisation to these groups and enforcing the compulsory change at the same time. Some of these triggers include internet, telecommunications infrastructure, music, written media and movies. More and more people are becoming more cognizant of these gangs and how they work, and many impressionable kids who want to emulate the characteristics of the gang members utilize the internet for information. Even the amount of related literature available about US street gangs is voluminous, owing to the fact that street gangs and their lives and actions has been intensively chronicled by news as well as academic studies resulting to written works published both via the Internet and traditionally. Even in popular movies, music videos and television shows, US street gangs have already earned a niche as a particular group present in the modern day setting. These allowed the US street gangs to earn international notoriety and fame, and at the same time advertise themselves to the worldwide audience. At some point, these tools blew the US street gangs out of the proportion – they were overrated but criminal organizations put them inside their operations, and the resulting globalized popularity made law enforcement efforts versus street gangs in the country more stringent and strict. Conclusion – Globalization is a freight train that bumps off anyone that stands in the way, and street gangs in the US will not be exempted from the impact of globalization. Not that these gangs considers this as a bad thing to happen to them; its just that globalization imposed itself upon these gangs and not the other way around, globalization dictating the terms to which street gangs made itself amenable too, in exchange for effects that made US street gangs see more than one reason to thank globalization. Something happened to US street gangs, and that is globalization, and like any other social aspect affected by globalization, the US street gangs are changing and metamorphosing – for one, they are far from the ethos of old-school street gangs which exist solely to establish and maintain their fiefdom and establish a social status quo to their liking, particularly those under the blanket of underground and subculture worlds where sin and city merges. Now, street gangs are more business minded; they make themselves effective business entities not by power dressing nor by publicity campaign, but by the use of the only remnant of the old street gang type, a feature still found in the new and globalized street gang – violence, raw power and intimidation. The neighbourhood is now not merely a place they fight for group pride and bragging rights; it has become more important to them because it is an important section of the global pipeline to which their operation and existence depend, may it be drugs, counterfeit money, small arms, black market technology, intelligence, prostitutes, automobiles, gambling etc. Looking at the history of street gangs, it is quite predictable that such international networks would be developed sooner or later, and it is found in the very nature of the creation of street gangs. Going back to the time when the US is still starting to become a new place in the world where people can live, many different individuals with varying ethnicities and cultural background flocked the country. Naturally, there will be groups that will be dominant over the other, and there will be minority groups whose members will soon try to assimilate with those of their own ‘kind’. These are a fairly tribal instinct. Soon, the disharmony that exists between the ruling majority and the minority will become intolerable that a new group will try (and will either succeed or fail) in usurping the former majority group. This will be the cycle inside the society, and those who will grow up will find these affiliations necessary for self preservation. This is the formula that created all African-American street gangs, all Latino street gangs, all Chinese-American street gangs, all Japanese-American street gangs, etc. Soon, these groups with lineage in other countries beside America will be reconnected with their home country, and being American-Japanese, American-Chinese, and American-Mexican allows for the creation of a connection between these two countries. What the street gangs do in the US will be offered in the country where they have an affiliation to (i. e. the Latin Kings participating in drugs, guns and prostitution operations undertaken by Mexican or even Colombian crime lords, the street gangs acting as pawns and small, localized lords representing big, transnational criminal organizations). Even the transformation is natural; street gangs is as much a separate and independent type of social group as it is an integral part in the growth and regression phases of criminal groups that were once street gangs that become powerful criminal organizations and regressed back to becoming small, street gangs. Huff (1996) comments, â€Å"For decades, very few gangs have evolved from adolescent street gangs into adult criminal organizations† (pg 74), while for Repetto (2006), these groups have the tendency sooner or later to experience â€Å"regressing from sophisticated criminal cartels back to street gangs† (pg 9). References: Reppetto, Thomas. (2006). Bringing Down the Mob: The War Against the American Mafia. Henry Holt & Company, Incorporated. Ronald, Huff C. (1996). Gangs in America. University of Michigan. Sage Publications. Ronald , Huff C. (November 2001). Gangs in America III. SAGE Publications. Schaeffer, Robert K. (January 2002). Understanding Globalization: The Social Consequences of Political, Economic, and Environmental Change. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

Meal Plan Cost Analysis

Nancy StamperSeptember 6, 2012 HSS 303/05Meal Plan/Cost Analysis My meal plan is a bit unusual in that I am temporarily living with family after a experiencing a broken relationship and selling my condo. I am not required or expected to contribute to the food costs of the household. However, I do pick up items from the grocery store on occasion and I go out to dinner with friends. My school schedule is such that I usually eat my meals before and after classes and do not eat at the offerings on campus. I rarely eat fast food or get food from vending machines. During my 7 day food log time frame I spent 42. 93 eating out and around 48. 2 at the grocery. My guilty pleasure is Agave. It is rather expensive but I prefer to use it in my coffee or tea instead of sugar. It has a lower glycemic index and is sweeter than sugar. I prefer the taste. I do like to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. I prefer to buy what is in season as it tastes better and is usually priced better. In my past experie nce it is better to plan your meals around what is in season and on sale that to plan your meals and hope for the best in prices and availability. When eating out, I tend to choose what I want instead of what is healthiest. Eating out is a social event for me.I like to relax and enjoy myself which, for me, does not include analyzing food choices. Because I am frugal (or just plain cheap) I rarely order drinks when out. I cannot justify spending 2. 95 for a glass of iced tea or 7. 50 for a glass of wine when I can get the whole bottle for 6. 99. One thing that I could to do to improve my eating out habits that would be both healthier and more cost effective is to ask the server to box up half of the meal. Restaurant portions are much larger than we should be consuming. This would prevent me from overeating and provided me with another meal for the next day.Overall I am a good shopper. I purchase seasonal food to take advantage of better pricing and quality. I shop strictly from a lis t so I do not over buy. I prepare my list from planned menus and advertised sales. I use coupons to purchase only those items I would normally purchase rather than purchasing an item because I have a coupon. I could improve upon my eating out habits by making healthier choices and eating less. The real benefit of my current meal plan is that my sister is a very good cook and usually prepares dinner every night and she usually makes healthy meals. I ust help clean the kitchen! My food cost breakdown for the 7 days I recorded is as follows: Grocery Store: Grapes @. 99lb 2. 50 Skimmed [email  protected] 2. 99 gal 2. 99 Agave nectar @5. 99 23 oz11. 98 Strawberries @ 3. 99 32 oz 3. 99 Banana popsicles 1. 99 Fish sticks13. 00 Frozen peas 3 bags @1. 00 ea. 3. 00 Pluots 2 lb @1. 69lb 3. 37 Yogurt @ 10 for 6. 00 6. 00 Total48. 82 Fruits and vegetables 12. 86 26% Dairy 8. 98 18% Seafood13. 00 27% Misc13. 98 29% TOTALS48. 82100% Eating out: Mc Donald’s x 210. 34 Bob Evans18. 00 (with tip) Waffle House12. 00 (with tip) Dairy Queen 2. 59 Total42. 93

Current Strategy

CURRENT STRATEGY SUMMARY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE OPERATIONS SUPPORT SERVICES (IOSS) JOINT BASE POWELL, CA This document was compiled by the IOSS project office and summarizes how many of the Joint Base Powell Infrastructure, Operations, and Support Services (IOSS) requirements listed in the draft PWS were acquired in the past. Each service area is briefly covered by providing information about any current initiatives/contracts, current performance problems, and stakeholder comments about any changes in projected requirements.This document is intended to help the integrated acquisition project team 1) understand and consider the implications of how the various IOSS services requirements were procured in the past and/or are currently being procured; 2) identify potential risks involved in fulfilling the new requirements; and 3) contemplate the extent to which any existing policies and enterprise sourcing strategies might shape the acquisition strategy for this consolidated IOSS requirement. OVERVIEWThe requested IOSS requirement for Joint Base Powell includes 10 service areas. Some of the requirements in these service areas have been fulfilled through an expiring IOSS contract and a number of the services have been fulfilled through a multitude of individual services contracts. The following table summarizes the primary past sources for each of the 10 service areas in the IOSS requirement. Service Area| Previous Source| Contract Type| Housing | Previous IOSS Contract| CPIF/FFP|Transportation / Motor Pool Management | Previous IOSS Contract| CPIF/FFP| Engineering| Multiple Large and Small Businesses| Various| Janitorial/Custodial| AbilityOne & Small Businesses| FFP| Grounds Keeping / Landscaping | Multiple Small Businesses| FFP| Personnel Management and Support| Large Business| FFP| Security Protection | Large Business| Various| Financial Management| Large Business| FFP| Airfield Management| Previous IOSS Contract| CPIF/FFP| Port Support| Previous IOSS Contract| CPIF/F FP| CURRENT/EXPIRING IOSS CONTRACTFour of the service areas envisioned as part of the new IOSS contract are currently being fulfilled by the expiring IOSS contract with SIP, Inc. : transportation / motor pool management, housing, airfield operations, and port operations. The current contract is a 5-year (1 base year and 4 option years) CPIF/FFP contract, and the final option year is due to expire in a little over 12 months. Contract:| Infrastructure, Operations, Service and Support (IOSS)| Contractor:| SIP, Inc. (large business)| NAICS Code:| 561210  |Total Value:| $97. 5M| Type:| CPIF/FFP| Period of Performance:| 5 years (1-year base with 4 option years)| Below is a high-level breakdown of the cost of this contract by FY. Appropriation| FY 20X0| FY 20X1| FY 20X2| FY 20X3| FY 20X4| Total| O&M| 18. 5M| $18. 9M| $19. 3M| $19. 7M| $21. 1M| $97. 5M| Housing Services The existing IOSS contract covers the following types of Housing Management Services: * Housing programming and personne l placement * Housing application management * Housing design and renovation Cost estimation, budgeting, and reporting * Pre-occupancy, pre-departure, and post-departure inspections Transportation / Motor Pool Management Services The existing IOSS contract covers the following Transportation / Motor Pool Management Services: * Operate, maintain, and manage all other services for the installation’s motor vehicle pool * Basic passenger and cargo transportation, loading, and unloading services (as needed) Airfield Management Services The existing IOSS contract covers the following types of Airfield Management Services: Airfield operations staffing * Airfield management and oversight * Airfield inspections (daily, monthly, yearly) and reporting * Airfield use planning, scheduling, and management * Coordinating with all local flying units * Flight planning support Port Support The existing IOSS contract covers the following types of Port Support Services: * Support for biannual tr ansfers of authority * Port maintenance and service planning * Port signage maintenance * Fire support services * Troop support services (laundry, food, etc. * Port operational support services (fueling/defueling, vehicle maintenance and recovery, supply, etc. ) Supplier Information Strategic Infrastructure Professionals (SIP), Inc. is a large business known for their extensive work with the federal government, including working as service/capability integrators. They are one of the few companies large enough to pull together and manage the various teaming partners and subcontractors required to fulfill the various requirements for an IOSS contract. Current PerformanceHousing Among other performance requirements, the current contract specifies that the contractor will: * Place 98% of personnel in appropriate housing within the threshold time period * Process 95% of housing applications within the threshold time period * Complete all housing design and renovation projects no more tha n 8% over the established baseline cost or schedule * Respond to 100% of customer service requests within the threshold time period * Complete 95% of all required inspections on scheduleThough performing well overall under these requirements, SIP has had trouble meeting the application processing (threshold time) and customer service request (threshold response time) requirements during some performance review periods. SIP attributes these issues to subcontractor mismanagement (which it takes responsibility for) and unrealistic estimates of volume fluctuations. SIP has also raised some concerns about its ability to accurately estimate its costs given those same volume fluctuations. Transportation / Motor PoolThe transportation / motor pool management services requirements also specify that the contractor is required to maintain the motor pool at a threshold average availability of 97%, as well as respond to transportation requests for cargo within all routine and emergency service c alls within the specified time limits 100% of the time. SIP has had trouble meeting the transportation availability and response time requirements. SIP attributes these issues to unrealistic expectations of an aging motor pool.Airfield Management The airfield management services requirements specify that the contractor is required to maintain threshold staffing levels, complete 98% of all required inspections on schedule, submit 95% of all required reports on schedule, receive no more than five validated complaints from local flying units per reporting period, and resolve all scheduling conflicts within threshold SLAs. SIP has been exemplary in its performance of the Airfield Management services. Port SupportThe port support requirements specify that the contractor is required to support biannual transfers of authority with no validated complaints per transfer, complete 98% of all required service on schedule, complete 98% of all required inspections on schedule, submit 95% of all r equired reports on schedule, and receive no more than five validated complaints regarding troop support and port operational support services per reporting period. SIP has been exemplary in its performance of the Port Support services.Stakeholder Comments on Projected Requirements The recent BRAC decisions to move personnel and organizations to Joint Base Powell will present some residential facilities maintenance challenges, as personnel will be relocating to the installation from different locations on different timetables. Facilities requirements and lead times can vary as much as 30% from estimates during these planned relocations, which specify only a five-year window. Complying with the â€Å"Better Buying Power† memorandum and its myriad efficiency initiatives are a top priority.The Pentagon program element monitor communicated that a 5-10% reduction in O&M funding over the next 3-4 years is a realistic possibility. Stakeholders for this contract will be looking for si gnificant cost savings and more granular insight into program costs. There is also some concern about the organizational infrastructure and support for a contract of this size and scope. The program manager and the installation Commander are in separate chains of command from the contracting organization, which may create some challenges.In addition, the program office for this new IOSS contract will be different than the program office for the existing IOSS contract. Some institutional knowledge may be lost, and there will certainly be a learning curve when it comes to contract administration. ENGINEERING SERVICES Many base tenants and independently funded programs at Joint Base Powell pursue their own contracts for general engineering services. Most of these engineering services requirements are for recurring engineering advisory & assistance services (A&AS), but support is frequently needed for specific and discrete engineering projects as well.Current Initiatives/Contracts An en terprise contract for engineering A&AS is in place that individual program offices use to fulfill many of their needs for engineering services. Contract:| General Engineering Support Services (GESS)| Contractors:| ManTech (large business)| | TEDCO (large business)| | Littlefield & Chang (small business)| | MECC, Inc. (large business)| | AnCal Consulting (small business)| NAICS Code:| 541330  | Total Value:| $17. 3M| Type:| IDIQ| Period of Performance:| One year base with four option years|Below is a high-level breakdown of the past and projected funding for this contract by FY. Appropriation| FY 20X0| FY 20X1| FY 20X2| FY 20X3| FY 20X4| Total| O&M / R&D| $3. 0M| $3. 3M| $3. 6M| $3. 7M| 3. 7M| $17. 3M| Current Performance Now in the middle of the second option year (four months remaining), there have been few issues with the contractors’ services to date. Each task order released under the contract specifies its own performance requirements, but in general the tasks are eith er FFP or incentivize the contractor to meet cost and schedule targets.Most of the issues that have arisen in this service area stem from variability in volume and conditions—the impact of an influx of personnel from BRAC on requirements scope and scheduling, for example, or the impact of severe weather on development or construction management. Stakeholder Comments on Projected Requirements We’re looking for engineering services, including comprehensive planning, project programming, project management, design and construction management, technical assistance and evaluations, engineering support, and warranty service management.However, there has been a lot of discussion about this service area in particular. Not all functional stakeholders want these services to be combined. Most like developing their own engineering contracts. Some additional comments: * The requirements in this service area are likely to be impacted by local environmental regulations. * Given the a mount of change orders involved in typical engineering services tasks, the contractor will bear an increased management burden for this service area * We need to retain cost viability, but some of the engineering services might be best suited as task orders on an IDIQ vehicle. The evaluation standards and criteria will have to be written very clearly to allow for an accurate value judgment in this services area; the current lack of clarity around some of the future requirements in this area may be an issue, as we will want to give the team room to trade off past performance and skill level against cost. JANITORIAL/CUSTODIAL SERVICES Currently, a few local small businesses and personnel supplied under the AbilityOne program provide janitorial services for the installation.Although janitorial services aren’t very complex, they’re essential to maintain the installation’s exemplary appearance and comply with local, state, and federal laws. Janitorial services my see m like an insignificant commodity, but the personnel at the installation support a variety of critical missions and DoD functions, and the quality of the janitorial services provided affect their working environment and their ability to do their jobs. Current Contract InformationThe AbilityOne program is a Federal initiative to help people who are blind or have other significant disabilities find employment by working within a national network of over 600 Nonprofit Agencies that sell products and services to the U. S. government. The program is administered by the Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. AbilityOne offers numerous products for immediate purchase through a catalog, some items on the Federal Supply Schedule, and thousands of services nationwide.The National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and NISH-Creating Employment Opportunities for People with Significant Disabilities support AbilityOne, and contracting officers wishing to work with Abi lityOne can provide a Statement of Work (SOW) to NIB or NISH for a price proposal. In addition to the AbilityOne program, the Installation awarded a contract nearly five years ago for custodial services. Contract:| Installation Custodial Services (ICS)| Contractors:| Apex Maintenance, Inc. local veteran owned small business)| | Thompson Windows & Floors (local small business)| | A1C Professionals (local small business)| NAICS Code:| 561720  | Total Value:| $2,939,500| Type:| Firm Fixed Price (Multiple Award)| Period of Performance:| Five year base with five option years| Below is a high-level breakdown of the cost of this contract by FY. Appropriation| FY 20X8| FY 20X9| FY 20X0| FY 20X1| FY 20X2| Total| O&M| $565,000| $589,000| $592,000| $592,500| $601,000| $2. 939,500| Service RequirementsUnder this contract—which was competed as a small business set aside—Apex, Thompson, and A1C provide standard custodial services (interior building cleaning, restroom cleaning and deodorizing, window cleaning, carpet cleaning, etc. ) for the installation. They’re nearing the end of a five-year base period of performance (four months remaining), and there are five option years remaining on the contract. Current Performance The combination of suppliers on the ICS contract and support from the AbilityOne program has met the installation’s custodial services requirements satisfactorily during the base period of performance.In both cases, the SOW specifies a performance threshold for each individual service of no more than five validated customer complaints per month. The number of validated customer complaints per month has only exceeded the threshold 3 times in over 50 months on the ICS contract, and has never exceeded the threshold for the AbilityOne program. There are no significant performance issues outstanding with any of the service providers. There are two buildings being renovated and one under construction that will need to be factored int o the next contract.Currently, the Installation furnishes 1800-square feet of office space (three offices) to serve as administrative offices for the ICS contractors, as well as supply closets distributed throughout the installation’s facilities at the facility managers’ discretion. Stakeholder Comments on Projected Requirements We currently project no significant changes to the installations custodial requirements. Since these are commercial services, the risk of competing them seems low, with the biggest concern being avoiding gaps in service during the transition.It’s unknown whether Apex, Thompson, and A1C would be willing to team with a new prime contractor. There is some political pressure to support local small businesses in the current economic climate, and we do have to consider the possibility of protests from offerors who don’t win the award. We also have to consider the recent emphasis on unbundling contracts to promote small business growth a nd participation in local markets. We will need to conduct an analysis to determine the impact that bundling these services together will have on local small businesses.GROUNDS KEEPING/LANDSCAPING SERVICES Local small businesses also provide all the grounds keeping and landscaping services the installation requires. Much like janitorial services, grounds keeping and landscaping seem trivial or simple, but the quality and appearance of the landscaping and grounds can directly affect installation personnel and shape visitors’ lasting impressions of the installation. In other words, we take it for granted until it impacts us. The contractor will be expected to promote and maintain the appearance of all exterior areas of the installation.Current Contract Information Two contracts currently provide this service for the installation. The first, seven months into its first option year, was awarded to Ted’s Tree Service, a Service-disabled Veteran Owned Small Business. Contrac t:| Tree Trimming| Contractor:| Ted’s Tree Service, Inc. | Number of Employees:| 15| NAICS Codes| 561730  | Total Value:| $360,000| Type:| FFP| Period of Performance:| 3 years (1-year base with 2 option years)| Below is a high-level breakdown of the cost of this contract by FY. Appropriation| FY 20X1| FY 20X2| Total|O&M| $125,000| $117,000| $242,000| The second, five months into its first option year, is a multiple-award contract for all other lawn services. Contract:| Grounds Keeping and Landscaping| Contractors:| LocalGreen (small business)| | YLC, Inc. (small disadvantaged business)| NAICS Code:| 561730  | Total Value:| $1,256,000| Type:| Firm Fixed Price (Multiple Award)| Period of Performance:| 2 years (1-year base with 1 option year)| Below is a high-level breakdown of the cost of this contract by FY. Appropriation| FY 20X1| FY 20X2| Total| $623,000| $633,000| $1,256,000| Service Requirements Under these contracts, Ted’s provides year-round tree trimming, pru ning, removal, and maintenance and arborist consulting services, and LocalGreen and YLC provide all grounds keeping and landscaping services (lawn care, planting, walkways, patios, fertilizing, etc. ) except snow removal. Current Performance Both contracts are being executed satisfactorily, and all performance thresholds have been met so far in both cases. Both contracts are in the middle of their first option years.Ted’s performance thresholds for tree trimming specify response times and maximum number of customer complaints. YLC and LocalGreen are also beholden to response time and customer complaint thresholds. None of the three has had a customer complaint in the last twelve months. Stakeholder Comments on Projected Requirements As you know, we have many new residents moving onto the installation due to the BRAC initiative. This will generally impact any contract or service area on base, but especially those that pertain directly to facilities maintenance or maintenance t o the traffic areas.As with janitorial/custodial services, we currently project no significant changes to the installations grounds keeping requirements. With janitorial/custodial services, it’s unknown whether YLC, LocalGreen, and Ted’s would be willing to team with a new prime contractor. We will have to include this service area in our analysis on the impact to local small businesses of bundling these services in the next contract. PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT SERVICES A large business, Jankell Corporation, currently provide our personnel management and support.While our stakeholders are satisfied with Jankell’s performance in this service area, personnel management and support services fit within the IOSS construct and could easily be combined with the other services in an omnibus contract. Current Contract Information The Joint Base Powell’s existing contract with Jankell Corporation is due to expire in May 20X1, several months prior to the expec ted award date for the new IOSS omnibus contract. Service Requirements Jankell Corp. provides the following types of Personnel Management and Support Services: Human resources staff management * Personnel records maintenance and systems management * Establishing position descriptions and job qualifications * Customer service * Education and training * Counseling services * Awards programs While overall the stakeholder’s are satisfied, there have been some complaints. For example, complaints include the difficulty involved in getting approval to change, update, or add position descriptions. Stakeholder Comments on Projected RequirementsWhile the other services being discussed are critical for the Joint Base Powell and its operations, Personnel Management and Support services typically impact the morale and of the workforce more so than the other services and, as such, they need to be carefully considered in terms of who is selected to perform these critical duties. Efficiency and cost savings should not replace value when deciding on a contractor to provide these services. SECURITY PROTECTION SERVICES We have been meeting our security/protection services requirements through a large business, AlliedPro, Inc.While AlliedPro has been successfully performing typical commercial security protection services, we would like to streamline this approach, centralizing all Joint Base Powell security protection service requirements under the new IOSS contract. Current Contract Information Three years ago we awarded a contract for security/protection services to AlliedPro, Inc. , a large security and consulting services provider with offices in the area. Contract:| Security/Protection| Contractor:| AlliedPro, Inc. | Number of Employees:| 9250| NAICS Codes:| 561612  | Total Value:| $15. 2M| Type:| FFP|Period of Performance:| 5 years (1-year base with 4 option years)| Below is a high-level breakdown of the cost of this contract by FY. Appropriation| FY 20X9| FY 20X0| FY 20X1| FY 20X2| FY 20X3| Total| O&M| $2. 9M| $3. 0M| $3. 0M| $3. 1M| $3. 2M| $15. 2M| AlliedPro provides 45 full-time security personnel for the base; the Government provides an additional 20. There are two months remaining in the second option year. Service Requirements AlliedPro security personnel (45 full-time employees) provide the following types of security protection services under this contract: * Conduct routine patrols and manage dispatch Protect property and facilities * Control access to the base * Maintain/administer cyber security systems * Conduct background checks and process security clearance applications * Issue visitor and base personnel identification cards Government security personnel (20 full-time employees) provide the following types of security protection services: * Threat response * Protection for national security operations * Protection for vital equipment * Protection for sensitive and classified information The estimated cost of the work performed by the uniformed personnel is approximately $1. 0M annually. Current PerformanceAmong other performance requirements, AlliedPro is expected to: * Respond to 100% of incidents within the threshold time specified * Conduct 100% of routine patrols on schedule * Process 95% of background checks and security clearance applications within the threshold time specified * Maintain required training certifications and verify minimum qualifications for 100% of personnel on the contract * Ensure the rate of physical security incidents is below the threshold during at least 95% of the monitoring periods * Ensure the rate of cyber security incidents is below the threshold during at least 98% of the monitoring periodsCurrently, we are not satisfied with AlliedPro’s personnel management. In the last twelve months there have been some issues with personal appearance, physical fitness, timeliness, and some customer complaints. AlliedPro manages a large and diverse workforce and works with man y large clients and government agencies. Sometimes we feel these issues aren’t getting the attention they should be, and that AlliedPro’s internal hiring standards are not as rigorous as they appear on paper.Stakeholder Comments on Projected Requirements Our business case analysis shows that transferring the current military support of some base security services will be cost effective, but we want to ensure that consolidation does not impact service quality in this critical service area. We’re concerned with consolidating all our security/protection services under one prime, given our current situation with AlliedPro.We’re also concerned with the new contractor’s learning curve during the transition period, as they take over protection of vital assets and classified information from military personnel. Another thing to consider: we try to maintain a threshold number of security personnel per capita on base, the population of which increase measura bly due to BRAC over the next few years. FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES Currently financial management services are handled by Largo, Inc. , a large business.While there is no reason to indicate that Largo is not successfully performing and that the costs are unreasonable, our business case highlights that rolling these services into the future IOSS omnibus contract will inevitably yield cost savings and related process efficiencies. Current Contract Information The Joint Base Powell contract with Largo for financial management services is in its third of four possible option years, which fortunately align with the fiscal year (the same as the targeted award date for the future IOSS contract).Estimated Annual Cost/Savings While specific savings for this specific service area have not been forecasted, market research reveals that combining these requirements with the IOSS contract will yield manpower savings, OH reductions, and a more affordable profit rate, all of which have the pote ntial of saving the command significant money and personnel oversight in this tightly constrained budgetary environment. Service Requirements Financial management services currently include: Funds control * Resource allocation * Budget execution * Funds status reports * Cost performance analysis * Funds reconciliation * Labor/payroll support * Review and reconciliation of reimbursable customer accounts Current Performance Largo, Inc. currently offers the following services and performance targets/levels: * Process payroll on time 100% of the pay periods * Process payroll with 98% accuracy during all pay periods * Process all financial transactions with 98% accuracy Conduct 95% of all required audits on schedule * Submit 100% of budgets on time * Ensure compliance with generally accepted accounting principles Stakeholder Comments on Projected Requirements While never popular to displace a contractor that is performing well (unless Largo competes and wins the IOSS contract), the proje cted cost savings and process efficiencies that the pending IOSS contract offers justifies the transition costs and change management that will inevitably be required to implement this new approach.

America is Finished Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

America is Finished - Essay Example Spence, an economics professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business, a superior fellow in the Hoover Institution and former chairperson of Growth and Development Independent Commission, lives in Italy and California. The book is a nonfiction depiction of the future based on current trends and statistics in relation to previous happenings. The book talks about the Industrial Revolution third century, which is the era we are presently living in. As scholars that one can find can deduce it from limited resources, it is found that for numerous hundred decades until approximately 1750, the growth of the economy was insufficient anywhere in the Globe. By the world’s standards, majorities of people were pitiable and only a small group of the elite was rich. In some parts, there existed a small middle class, who were commercially oriented. This was the case visible almost the entire world. In 1750, England began a new and much improved course of the Industrial Revo lution raising the income per capita. The growth increased and was maintained for the pioneer time in the world’s history. This was the case for almost twenty decades until the Second World War began. By 1950, the standard earnings of persons living in the Industrial nations had increased by twenty times and in the case of more developed nations, this value rose more than this. This dramatic change of the growth pattern was limited to what we term industrialized or advanced nations. This changed the lives of about 15% of the globe's population. Apart from this group, the pattern of the previous hundred years merely presided thus little growth and people were still poor. This is to explain that, the global pattern was just one of the rapid divergences between the already developed and advanced verses others who are not. Commencing after the Second World War, the shift in pattern was tough at the initial stages to perceive it as a prominent trend started again. The nations in t he developing world began to develop. Initially, the growth was comparatively slow and only in distinct cases, there which it started to step up and spread. This signified the start of the international economy century extensive journey. The result is probably the world that 75% of its people reside in advanced nations with all that it comprises: escalating income growth with comparatively accelerating patterns of energy consumption and use. The next convergence is likely to bring debates how well to continue in the post crisis era and reset the equilibrium between national and global economic welfare and temporary fixes and continuing sustainability. Main Body With the Industrial revolution of the British, a fraction of the globe's population commenced to encounter peculiar economic growth that lead to gaps in living standards and wealth between the developed Europe and the rest of the globe. This trend of divergence was reverted after the World War II and presently we are halfway through 100 years of escalating and high development in the developing countries and a novel convergence with the developed nations are enormous but still comprehended. This book dates about further than 100 years that started in 1945 and will go into mid 21st century meaning that after two hundred years of high speed and accelerating divergence, a trend of convergence has engulfed the world. The author boldly and precisely outlines what is at stake globally as he portrays the future of the manner in which the global economy will rise over the subsequent fifty years. A number of our most renowned econopundits dwell in such basic, commotional public speaking, particularly in periods of market confusion and

AN OUTLINE AND CRITICAL ASSESSMENT FOR FINANCIAL ARTICLE 2 Essay

AN OUTLINE AND CRITICAL ASSESSMENT FOR FINANCIAL ARTICLE 2 - Essay Example Topic Statement and purpose: To develop the great depressions debt-deflation theory statistically and theoretically. B. Thesis Statement Reaction 1. Special conclusions new and important II. Description of the article A. Special conclusions 1. Cycle theory 2. Debt and deflation roles 3. The 1929-33 deflation 4. Debt starters B. Illustrations 1. Graphs III. Evaluation A. organization of the article B. style used in the article C. Effectiveness of the work D. Topic treatment E. assumptions of the author about the audience Critical Assessment The article entitled â€Å"The Debt-Deflation Theory of Great Depressions† authored by Irving Fisher seeks to present a theory of debt-deflation of the great depression in a statistical and theoretical manner. The paper draws conclusions deemed as being special, new, and important and aims at specifying what some of these conclusions are and also fitting them in the conclusions of the other students found in the field of economics. The purpo se of the author is to offer his work as embodying on the topic of cycle theory. Fisher (1933: p 337) captures a reaction to the thesis by mentioning the reaction comment of two of the best and most-read authorities in economics field. One of the best-read authorities described the special conclusions as being important and new. The author selects the point form structure in presenting the special conclusions. ... It is only in the mind or imagination where the variables can only remain stable and be kept in balance or equilibrium by forces of demand and supply. Economic theory comprises of a study of dis-equilibrium and imaginary equilibrium. Dis-equilibrium proceeds in either an actual historical case or any constituent tendency. The old persistent notion of business cycle being a simple and self generating cycle is a myth Innumerable tendencies for economic dis-equilibrium roughly classified under trend or growth tendencies, haphazard disturbances, and cyclical tendencies. Sorts of Cyclical tendencies include one being forced on economic mechanism and the other is the free cycle The price level disease and the debt disease are considered the most important causes in the booms and depressions than all the other causes. Over-speculation and over-investment are important but would have far less severe results if not conducted using borrowed money. 2. Debt and deflation roles Secondary variable s affected by deflation and debt are circulating media, debts, their circulation velocity, net worth, price levels, profits, trade, interest rates, and business confidence. Debt liquidation leads to distress selling and deposit currency contraction causing a fall in price levels. Apart from the interest on debts and debt, the other fluctuations come about as a result of decrease or fall in price Deflation occurring for another reason apart from debt results to a much less evil Deflation caused by debt reacts on the debt 3 The 1929-33 deflation An example of debt-deflation depression Unless a counteracting cause is brought in to prevent the decrease in the price level, depressions such as that

List the four polymers from which hydrogels can be made, and, for each Assignment

List the four polymers from which hydrogels can be made, and, for each one, list the advantages and disadvantages of each.at least one different possible application for each hydrogel - Assignment Example It has emulsifying and adhesive properties making it suitable for glue manufacturing. Its ability to form films makes it useful in making contact lenses and envelope seals (Gnanou & Fontanille 24). The surfactants in detergents, found in Sodium Polyacrylate are efficient in binding hard water elements such as, calcium and magnesium making them a choice Sequestering agent in detergents. Sodium polyacrylate is also used in making diapers and some brands of sanitary towels owing to their super absorbent ability (Gnanou & Fontanille 34). They have a thermoplastic ability that makes it possible for them to be processed as a melt at high temperatures. They have elastomeric ability. This enables it to regain its original shape even after stretching (Gnanou & Fontanille

Biology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Biology - Essay Example The idea of an island in the science of biology and evolution advances the idea of species evolutionary patterns. While the arguments have been made and supported for the use of fossils, and for the use of various short lived species of creatures there is still the variations of species in some areas versus others. Dawkins readily admits that he has no idea where the initial split occurred for species, however, he further clarifies by stating that given the common genetic heritage and the proliferation of biological islands separations and splits in various species is only a matter of time. Speciation is the term used by biologists to define the splitting of a species into daughter species. Creationists have adopted the idea of speciation to explain the variances that are obvious with the use of a small boat and the idea that two of every kind of animal was aboard. According to Carl Wieland of Creation.Com, â€Å"Virtually all creation theorists assume that Noah did not have with hi m pairs of dingoes, wolves and coyotes, for example, but a pair of creatures which were ancestral to all these species, and probably to a number of other present-day species representative of the ‘dog kind’.† (Wieland) Unfortunately, creationists still rely on a much shorter time period which cannot explain the lengths of time needed for each major shift and even for the minor shifts in various dog breeds and canine sub species.

Project Motorcycles Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Project Motorcycles - Assignment Example Before starting the production process of the new touring class motorcycle, the company should conduct proper market research, mainly primary research. For this purpose they need to study the market for indentifying the target segment of the available products of the competitors. This will help them to identify whether any existing category of motorcycles is available in the market that satisfy the same need of the customer what they are thinking to offer. Therefore, by conducting effective market the management of the company can easily understand the feasibility and possible demand of this touring motorcycle. Again they can identify a competency which they can use as effective promotional tool. Next step of the new development process is development and implementation of efficient project management strategy. The management of the company should employ an efficient and experienced project manager for this new product development process. The roles and responsibility of the project is very crucial for overall success of this kind of bid project.First of all the project manager needs to identify the suppliers of major raw material and accessories. They also need to engage efficient suppliers for the high power or higher CC engine if they decide not to manufacture the engine. There are many automobile companies that outsource the manufacturing of main part of car or motorcycle i.e. engine and use those in their own products by tagging their own brand name. Next important step of the process is getting skilled labor especially for the technical works in the manufacturing process. Employees with different technical skills are required for the whole process staring from manufacturing of each of the body part of the motorcycle to assembling the motorcycles. Though, now a day, the automated assembling processes have been used but to run that advanced system, skilled labor are required. According to the case the organization is a new quite new in this industry and it is a mid size company. Therefore, the management needs to develop cost effective budget for this project. According to the budget the project management team needs to focus on comparatively low cost manufacturing of these motorcycles. For this purpose they need to engage suppliers of raw materials with low barraging power. Again, as this segment is for touring purposes, so stability of engine as

Southwest Airlines Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Southwest Airlines Case Study - Essay Example This has necessitated a review of its mission and vision statements that will form the basis of this paper. Introduction This paper will look at the mission statement, vision statement and values of Southwest Airlines, a local airline operating within the USA but now branching out regionally starting with Mexico and the Caribbean. I will analyze each of the above elements from the point of view of good strategic management principles, evaluating their efficacy and worth as exemplary factors or otherwise. I will also try to determine whether they truly reflect the body and soul of the business, and if not, make recommendations and changes in the above three elements so that they are worthy of good strategic management principles. Company's Mission Statement and Analysis Southwest Airlines believes in continuing to be the USA’s leading low cost airline, with commitment to the highest quality of customer service, delivered in the company spirit of warmth, friendliness and custome r pride. Concentrating on the domestic sector, it flies to 92 destinations across 42 States of the USA. It is incorporated in Dallas Texas and operates more than 3300 flights a day. It is the USA’s largest domestic carrier. Looking at the mission statement for this airline, it is clear that they have defined their target market and reach in the USA. They are a domestic airline and want to keep it that way. What’s more, they want to lead the industry as a low cost competitor and are currently looking for ways to attract and solidify new groups of customers. A recent news release shows that they are tying up with hospitals, hotel chains and other businesses that have groups of customers or cargo that they can transport on a regular basis. This is an innovative approach that can bring them more business opportunities (Crosby, 1992). As far as the target market is concerned they have defined it as local customers. They do not want to enter the international sector, possibl y due to added costs of fuel, distance travelled and taxation and other financial costs. Moreover they are already leaders in the domestic market so it would pay to stick to their strengths rather than take unnecessary risks. As regards the products and services that this airline offers, its main emphasis is on being cost effective. In Michael Porter’s terms it is using Low Cost Leadership as its chief strategy (Porter, 1980). It operates a point to point service- with recently acquired Air Trans used as a hub and spoke service. It also has a tie up with Volaris, Mexico’s second largest airline for regional routes outside the USA. It operates a modern fleet with Boeing 737-800s and 737-MAXs being part of its inventory. It operates three kinds of flights principally- I Wanna Fly, Business Select and Anytime Fares. Only the first fare is non-refundable but all of them can be applied towards future flights. They have also started a Rapid Rewards Program and Early Bird Che ck In to further appeal to customers- and expanded operations to the Caribbean and Mexico after the acquisition of Air Tran. This airline company has also managed to achieve some degree of backward and forward integration with airline booking agencies and hotels all over the USA and in Mexico and the Caribbean. It even has linkups with resorts and rental car agencies if the passengers want to use these facilities. All of them are available on its website and there are also various gifts, rewards and discount packages that make it beneficial for the customer

State of the U.S. economy for the first half of 2008 Essay Example for Free

State of the U.S. economy for the first half of 2008 Essay In the first half of 2008, four things are pummeling the typical American: the housing bust, the credit crunch, higher fuel and food costs and, most recently, a weakening labor market. The unemployment rate rose to 5. 1% in March, while the private sector lost jobs for the fourth month in a row. Consumer confidence is in a 26-year low. Feeling poorer and with fewer people prepared to lend money, consumers are cutting back. Seeing that consumer spending accounts for 70% of American demand, makes it more difficult for the economy especially when it is coupled with a collapse in the once mighty construction industry. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) now officially predicts an American recession in 2008. (The Economist). For the first time, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke conceded that the U. S. economy may slip into recession but said growth should pick up later this year as the impact of interest rate cuts and other emergency steps take root. Bernanke told a congressional panel that the economy appeared to be growing, but warned it could shrink in the first half of 2008 as housing and financial markets remain distressed despite dramatic Fed interest rate cuts and emergency lending (Reuters). Volatility and crisis were the watchwords of the U. S. economy in 2007 buffeted by rising oil prices and the subprime mortgage crisis. Their combined impact stretched into 2008 especially in the first half, slowing economic growth. The impact of these factors was felt in the broader economy undermining both business investment and consumer confidence. The U. S. Chamber of Commerce appears to be more optimistic predicting modest growth averaging about 2% in the first half of the year, an improvement over a weak fourth quarter of 2007. Growth should increase to 2. 5% in the second half, as the housing sector bottoms out. Job growth will continue, albeit at a relatively slow pace-with the unemployment rate rising slightly above 5%. Corporate profits should improve as 2008 progresses and business investment will pick up modestly by the middle of the year. Export growth will continue to brighten the overall economic picture. Inflation will be in the moderate range, making further interest rate reductions less likely as the year progresses (US Chamber of Commerce). As 2008 progressed, many Americans experienced a growing despair as they watched their largest asset- the family home- decline in value. The United States is experiencing its worst housing recession in more than 15 years. Underscoring the breadth of the real estate recession, sales of existing homes fell in 45 states and Washington D. C. and prices dropped in more than half the metro areas it tracks according to the National Association of Realtors. In fact, homes are selling at a price 24% less than year ago as foreclosures continue to increase dramatically at 57% in Southern California. The slide in sales are predicted to persist and prices will likely fall throughout 2008, according to a majority of economists surveyed last month by USA TODAY (Knox). The housing downturn is spreading more broadly through the economy. Employers are shedding jobs, consumer confidence and spending have been shaken, and lenders have pulled back. If not for stronger demand for U. S. goods brought on by a weaker dollar, the economy would be in worse shape. To cushion the effect of the on-going crisis, the Federal Reserve has slashed interest rates, promised more cuts if the economy stays weak and perhaps most importantly sharply reduced the odds of financial-market catastrophe by extending its safety net to investment banks. The Federal Reserve has lowered benchmark interest rates by three percentage points to 2. 25 percent since mid-September to help put a floor under an economy hit hard by a housing slump and credit market turmoil. Bernanke said those rate cuts and other emergency measures to thaw frozen credit markets should promote growth over time. Also, Bernanke staunchly defended the Federal Reserves decision last month to broker JPMorgan Chases (JPM) takeover of investment bank Bear Stearns, (BSC) including approval of a loan backed by $30 billion of Bear Stearns assets. According to Bernanke, â€Å"A Bear Stearns default could have sparked a chaotic unwinding affecting the overall economy. Given exceptional pressures on the global economy and financial system, the damage caused by a potential Bear Stearns default could have been severe and extremely difficult to contain† (Kirchhoff). In retrospect, if the Federal Reserve did not intervene bankruptcy was inevitable which might have caused the U. S. and global markets to collapse. Even though the economy is slowing, inflation, boosted by skyrocketing energy and food prices remains a concern and constraint for the central bank. Another factor would be the declining value of the dollar; if the dollar buys less, inflation rises. The Federal Reserve data show that the U. S. dollar has declined about 10 percent over the past year against a trade-weighted basket of currencies from major U. S. trading partners. Moreover, the dollar sank to new lows against the euro in the days following March 4, 2008 after a series of dour reports on the U. S. economy and expectations that the Federal Reserve will continue slashing interest rates. Indeed, with the falling of the dollar, prices of all the things bought are rising. The Producer Price Index for one month was up 1. 1% in March with the price of wheat and rice up at least 100 percent than last year. The price of oil reached $114 a barrel and gasoline is also at a new high of $3. 38 per gallon. Purchases of crude oil jumped, reflecting increases in the number of barrels bought and a record price surpassing $100 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange early this year. The U. S. is the worlds biggest consumer of crude oil and higher fuel costs are making imports more expensive (Bloomberg). America is in fact the worst food and energy inflation in two decades and consumers take a direct hit. The pace of job losses in America has been relatively mild compared with previous downturns. However, data showed the economy during February shed the biggest amount of jobs in nearly five years. Because of the high fuel prices, budget airlines are bleeding and are filing bankruptcies resulting to further job losses. Frontier airline was the fourth airlines to do so in just two weeks. There is also slow spending in malls everywhere as increasing number of consumers struggling to make ends meet causing retailers such as Sharper image, Levitz Furniture and stores like Ann Taylor, Zales Jeweler and Footlocker to close. General Electric (GE), second largest company on Earth, reported a 6% loss in income for the first quarter. It was a surprise result that rattled Wall Street with the stocks of GE experiencing its worst one-day loss since the 1987 crash. GE had a lot of trouble selling commercial real state and people are not buying appliances. Economic figures indicate a weakening economy. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecast that U. S. real gross domestic product would contract from $11. 577 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2007 to $11. 563 trillion in the first quarter of 2008, then decline to $11. 542 trillion in the second quarter. U. S. Stock prices continue to slip, with the blue chip Dow Jones industrial average closing down at the 12,000-level. Prices for U. S. government bonds also fell, as did the value of the dollar. As waves of bad news began to wash in- foreclosures, tumbling dollar, falling retail sales and more recently investment bank rescues- exporters were the only thing keeping the national nose and lips above the recessionary waters. The decline in the value of the dollar relative to other currencies, notably the euro, has helped make U. S. goods less expensive for overseas buyers and therefore more attractive. This fuelled a healthy global demand for U. S. products and services resulting to earnings from exports rising to a new record (Chandra). So what can be done in order to address the crisis? The government should introduce a fiscal stimulus, which would help create new jobs in 2008, and induce consumer spending through tax rebates in order to keep the economy moving. To try and keep the subprime-mortgage crisis from escalating, the Federal Reserve should propose changes for loans including requirements that creditors should strictly verify a prospective borrower’s income and assets before providing actual loans. The government must offer mortgage advice to homebuyers who may not have understood the risks. Often borrowers did not even realize that their monthly payment would rise if interest rates went up. Subprime borrowers on adjustable interest rates, whose mortgages make up just 7% of the total, accounted for more than 40% of the foreclosures begun in the fourth quarter of last year (The Economist). And if the subprime mortgage crisis gets worse, the government should consider a possible bailout for the housing market. For a long-term solution, a new version of a deliberate program to build up the middle class must be instituted similar in nature with postwar programs like the G. I. Bill, interstate highway system and other measures with job-creating investments in biomedical research, alternative energy, roads, railroads and education (McIntyre). The G. I. Bill, created after World War II, was one of America’s most successful investments. According to the 1988 report for Congresss Subcommittee on Education and Health of the Joint Economic Committee by 1952, the US government had spent $14 billion (1952 dollars) on educational and job training benefits for 7. 8 million veterans. Of these funds, $7 billion was spent on college and graduate school for 2. 2 million G. I. ’s. ? The first benefit from this investment was increased growth in the economy. The report calculated that about 40 percent of those who took advantage of the G. I. Bill would not otherwise have been able to attend college. The extra output those people created in the economy amounted to $35. 6 billion (1952 dollars after factoring out inflation) over the next 35 years. America is in the bleak of a recession and a sound economic plan should be in place to cushion its effect. References Chandra, Shobhana. â€Å"U. S. January Trade Deficit Rises 0. 6%; Exports Gain (Update6)†. Bloomberg. 29 April 2008. 29 April 2008. http://www. bloomberg. com/apps/news? pid=20601087refer=homesid=aynvcWrnI 8w. Doggett, Tom. â€Å"UPDATE 2-U. S. economy to contract in 1st half of 2008 –EIA†. Reuters. 11 March 2008. 2 May 2008. http://www. reuters. com/article/oilRpt/idUSN1148909720080311. Kirchhoff, Sue. â€Å"Fed chief Bernanke defends Bear Stearns deal†. USA Today. 4 April 2008. 2 May 2008. http://www. usatoday. com/money/economy/2008-04-02-bernanke economy_N. htm . Knox, Noelle. â€Å"Falling home sales problem spreads to 45 States†. USA Today. 14 Feb 2008. 2 May 2008. http://www. usatoday. com/money/economy/housing/2008-02-14 housing-q4 nar_N. htm. McIntyre, Jamie â€Å"Tenth anniversary of the Gulf War: A look back† CNN. com In-depth specials Gulf War. 16 Jan. 2001. 24 April 2008. http://archives. cnn. com/2001/US/01/16/gulf. anniversary/index. html. MoneyNews. â€Å"Treasury: Economy May Improve in 2nd Half 2008†. MoneyNews . 24 April 2008. 2 May 2008. http://moneynews. newsmax. com/money/archives/articles/2008/4/24/085350. cfm. Subcommittee on Education and Health of the Joint Economic Committee (1988). A Cost Benefit Analysis of Government Investment in Post-Secondary Education Under the World War II GI Bill. The Economist. â€Å"Getting it right on the money†. The Economist. 3 April 2008. 8 April 2008. http://www. economist. com/displaystory. cfm? story_id=10958702. US Chamber of Commerce. â€Å"The Economy in 2008†. US Chamber of Commerce. 2 May 2008.

Sports Essays Handball Teams Championships

Sports Essays Handball Teams Championships Handball The team sport handball is in Europe one of the most popular sports. It is played by men and women, kids and elder people. This game has plenty of rules, but who understands them will have lots of fun. Actually everyone can play, but who wants to be professional needs to be in a good shape. Handball is a fast game, you have to know how your teammates acting, and how to overrun the opponent. Normally each team scores between twenty-five and thirty-five goals a game. The history of the world cups, which are hold by the International Handball Federation (IHF) every odd year, that everyone can win. It is very unmoral, that a team defeats the title. The leading teams are good because of their historical background to handball. Germany, where handball is mainly invented between the World Wars, brought this game to Poland, Hungary and France. The countries of Scandinavia (mainly Sweden, Denmark and Iceland) always loved handball more than soccer. During the Cold War handball was the sport for the communists, which showed team hood, ability to fight and that the best team wins. So this game was more established in Germany (East), Poland, Hungary, Croatia and Soviet Union/Russia. The Romania as well as Sweden won the most world cups, all in all four. Approximately twenty international competitions of this kind were hold after the Second World War. This shows that already many different countries won the most important cup. Spain/France brought handball to their colonies all over the world. Regularly participants of the world cup are Brazil, Argentina, Angola, Tunisia and Egypt. In Asia handball was many played in Korea and Japan. At the moment this sport is becoming a more important competition than soccer for the countries/kingdoms in middle-east. All underdogs can bring the big handball nations to struggle, which happens every time. This January/February the European and the Asian Championships were hold. The actual world champion Germany came only to a fourth place. Denmark, which team could not win anything in the past years, but they came back and won sovereign the title. In the Asian Conference Korea could win the cup against Kuwait in the final. Saudi-Arabia got third and Iran fourth. In the competition for the women, there is not as many different nations who champion the world cup. Russia is definitely number one with five titles. Germany won four times the cup, three times by the team of the German Democrat Republic. At the end of this year (2008), the next world cup for the ladies will be hold in France. The Olympic Games in Beijing this year will show made the best homework after the Continental Tournaments in both sexes. For the men Denmark is the top favorite for the gold medal and for the women it will be Russia. Handball History Similar games to handball were already played in the Antique. The Greece played the â€Å"Urania Game† and the in the Roman Empire the Harpastron was a popular game. But these sports can not defined as the game from today. Neither the frescos in the castle Runkelstein in Alto Adige (South Tyrol, Italy) nor the playbook â€Å"Handballspiel† (handball game) published by Guts Muth 1797 as well as the mini field game â€Å"Handbold† by the Danish sport teacher Holger Nielsen are the ancestors of handball. The 1891 founded Zenrtalausschuss fà ¼r Volks- und Jugendspiele (central committee for folk and youth games) in Germany didnt have any handball in it pages. Soccer took at the end of the 19th century leadership in Europe, so handball is a reaction on it. The sport teacher Hagelauer invented the Torballspiel (goal ball game) in 1891. This game was put into the category of gymnastic games. The beginning of the sport handball is to find in Sweden in 1906. This game was very similar to soccer. In 1911 another sport teacher invented handball, which was almost the same as the Swedish one. Out of these different forms of the new sport, Mr. Heiser published the main base of the modern handball. This game was at the beginning only for girls and women. October 29, 1917 is the date when the modern handball become reality. The basic rules were adopted from the game â€Å"Hazena†, which was played in Czechoslovakia. Karl Schelenz overwrote the some of the rules to make this new game also available for men. These newer version made handball to one of the most popular sports in Europe. After the First World War handball become a sport in schools. In the rivaled sport organizations in Germany were the first games hold. Each organization had his own rules. The end of the confusing ruling made the Nazi-Party in 1934 with the consolidation of the institutional powers of the different sport organizations. Earlier, in 1928, the International Amateur Handball Federation was founded in Amsterdam. This Federation adopted official rules which were made during a meeting of the International Amateur Athletic Federation in Den Haag in 1926. They have set the international rules. In 1934 handball became an Olympic sport. The first tournament was then during the Olympic Games 1936 in Berlin. Only six nations attempted the new sport. Surprising was, that the United States of America were one of these, even when they got the last place. The undefeated winner was Germany. Second place took Austria and third Switzerland. The other participants were Hungary and Romania. Whereas handball became a popular sport for males, the females decided instead to play netball. The field handball was only in 1936 an Olympic sport. In 1972 the indoor handball was first played during the Olympic Games in Munich. In 1938 the first IAHF World Cup was hold in Berlin. Only four teams played this tournament, Germany, Austria, Sweden and Denmark. But this was not the first international meeting of handball teams. Already in 1910 teams of ship companies from Sweden and Denmark fought against each other. These tournaments were hold in gyms. From middle of the 1930s till 1941 Germany dominated handball against the teams from Scandinavia. During the Second World War the new popular sport almost died. In August 1946 the International Handball Federation was founded in Copenhagen. After that first tournaments as field handball were hold in the English and American Zones in Germany. Together with the founding of the Deutscher Handball Bund (DHB German Handball Association) in 1949 in the Feral Republic of Germany, teams fought for the first German Championship in field and indoor handball. The Handball Association for the German Democratic Republic was found in 1958. The national team from western Germany won all four world titles till 1966, but one as all together (1959) with the players from the Russian Zone. Now worldwide handball became a popular sport. For instance there wOnly in northern Europe it took longer, even they were the ones who played handball before the World War. The reason was simple. The weather was to cold to play a season from Spring to Fall. They came to the idea to play handball in gymnasiums again. Unlucky there came another problem. The gyms were to small to play along the field handball rules. One of the main things were that they changed the numbers of players from eleven to seven. All in all the new indoor handball made the sport independent from the weather and increased the safety for the players. This had an effect on the scenes of the games. The teams played in new different formations, used different plays and tricks to overrun their opponent. More and more handball became a faster sport and today indoor handball is one of the fastest team sports in the world. Sweden and Denmark showed, that in handball was and is everything possible. At the beginning indoor and outdoor handball were treated equal. During the 1960s the cities and towns in Germany built gyms, which were sponsored by the federal government. More and more teams began to play the indoor version, which was way more spectacular and in1972 the Field Handball League was stopped. The final death hit for the field handball came, as indoor handball was recognized as an Olympic sport in 1972 and for women in 1976. In 1975 the last German field handball championship were hold. This was the end of the milestone for modern handball. Handball Rules An indoor handball field has to be forty meters long and twenty meters wide. For the safety of the players and public viewers, there should be a safety area around court, which is between one and two meters wide. The mid-field line divides the court into two halfs, which are exactly similar. The goals are the end of the court and in the middle. This is similar to soccer, but the goals are smaller. The International Handball Federation says, that the goals has to be two meters high and three meters wide. From each post is a six meter quarter circle. These are from the ground line (the line on which the goal stands) towards the middle of the field. Between these to quarter of a circle is a three meter line. All in all its is almost a half circle. In this area is only the goalkeeper of the defending team allowed. The Free-throw line has the same form as the six-meter line, but it is nine meters from the posts. All fouls, which the defending team commits on the striking team commits, have to be continued from the free-throw line. Seven meters away from the goal is the penalty line. The substitution area is for each team three meters from the middle towards its defending site. A handball game has two half times of each thirty minutes. The half time break has to be ten minutes long. If there is a draw after regular time and they need a winner (in tournaments) there is a overtime rule. The overtime is two times five minutes. If there is still a draw, there is the next overtime and after that it comes to a penalty shootout. During the game the clock will be stopped for harder fouls, penalties and time-outs as well as for injured players. The referees categories if there is a need to pause the game for a certain foul. Each team gets one time-out per half. These time-outs are sixty seconds long. The ball has to be round. The size for men handball has to be between fifty-eight and sixty centimeter and it should weight between 425 and 475 grams. The balls for women is smaller. It should be between fifty-four and fifty-six centimeter and 325 and 375 grams. In each game has to be at least two balls. One is in use, the other in reserve. Each teams is allowed to have fourteen players. At the same time can play only seven players, one of them should be the goalkeeper. In tactic situations they can use the goalie as a field player. The other player are substitutes. To begin of the game there has to be at least five players of the team to start the competition. Delayed players has to be always accepted. The team can lose players because of penalties or injuries, but there is no limit to stop the game, the referee can decide if there is need to do it. Each team gets only four officials. One of them has to be the head one. He is the only person who is allowed to talk to the referees and he has to make sure, that there are only the four same officials and team players during the game. Every player can be substituted as often as the team wants. Every substitution has to be in the substitution zone. If the team makes a mistake, a penalty will follow. If one player got an injury or is bleeding, he has to leave the court immed iately. The player of the team have to wear the same shirts, which has a different color from the opponent. The goalkeeper needs to wear a different color than his teammates and the opponent. The number on the back of the shirt has to be at least twenty centimeter and on the chest at least ten centimeter big. The wearing of the earrings, necklaces etc. is forbidden. The goalkeeper is allowed to block the shot with all parts of his body. He is the only one who is allowed in the goal area (six meter half circle). He can is also allowed to leave this area, but then he has to follow the rules, which are for every field player. All his actions have to be safe, he can not make any movements to mislead his opponent in a way could get injuries. For instance running out to stop the opponent player. He is not allowed to touch the ball outside of the goalie area, if he is still in it. He also can not bring the ball make from outside into the goalie area. The player can play, hit, catch, or stop the ball with your hands, arms, head, back, thigh, or knees, but not with his foot or lower leg. He only can keep the ball for three seconds without doing anything, also can he move only three steps with the ball in your hands. To move over the court the player can dribble the ball. When he catches the ball after the dribbling he can not start dribble again. The player has to pass or shoot the ball. To pass the ball the person can also sit, knee down, or lie down. If the ball touches the referee, the game will be continued like normal. If the player runs out of bound with the ball, there has to be throw-in for the other team, the same is, when the ball rolls or flies out of bounds. The team gets the ball, which did not touch the ball as last. In handball is no passive play allowed. If the referee recognize a passive playing, then he has to tell it. If the striking team is still playing passive, there will be a free-throw for the other team. The striking team gets a goal, if the ball has moved completely of the goal line and if there were no fouls. The referee has to signal the goal with to short whistles. If the referee stopped the game before the ball moved over the goal line, than it does not count. In the handball game is it possible to make own goals. These goals are counted normal for the other team. If the ball was stopped by something else then the players or the goalie, for instance the audience, the referee has to decide if the there could have been a goal or not. After a goal the other team has to bring the ball back into the game with throw from the middle line. The team with the most goals is the winning team. Each goal is like one point. The teams can only earn these with shooting goals. Every game has to be lead by two referees. They can start punish the player when they move onto the field (only if there is a discrimination or violent action against opponent players). The same rules after the game. The referees also have to check the court and the goals as well as they decide which ball is going to be used. They have to check the teams too, like the jerseys, participating players and officials. One of the referees leads the coin flip. The other one has to be present. The whole game has to be lead by the same referees. The have to guide the game after rules, which are made by the International Handball Federation and the local association for the sport of handball. If the referees punish a person different for the same foul, than they have to take always the heavier punishment. If both referees decide for the opposite team, than both have to come together and decide, how they are going to rule. The referees have also to write down the goals, warnings, and disqualifications. They referees can decide when to interrupt, stop or end earlier the game. The wearing of black clothes is mainly for referees. If they are going to wear another color, it has to be a bright one, which is totally different from any player of both teams. Works Cited Prof. Dr. Braun, Harald. Zur Geschichte des Handballspiels. Handball History. 1997/1998. University Bremen. 18 Feb 2008 http://www-user.uni-bremen.de/~hospo/Geschichte-Sportarten.html. Herden, Jan-Frederick. DHB Handball Regeln. handball rules. 01/08/2005. Deutscher Handball Bund. 18 Feb 2008 http://www.handballregeln.de/. Fleischer, Nicole. Geschichte des Handballs. Die Anfaenge. 2006. HaSpo Bayreuth. 18 Feb 2008 http://hi.haspo-bayreuth.de/beginn.htm. IHF International Handball Federation http://www.ihf.com Summers, David. The Sports Book. 1. New York, NY: DK Publishing, 2007.