As a stakeholder in the nuclear energy industry, I have a vested interest in helping solve the problem of nuclear waste management. This is the single most important issue that my industry faces today, and I believe that reprocessing spent fuel is the most logical solution. For example, Prairie Island may be forced to discontinue operation if the state does not approve the addition of a new storage cask because the U.S. Department of Energy is still years away from hauling what is already present to Yucca Mountain. What I bring to the table is not revolutionary, but I believe the connection between these two pressing issues (Yucca Mountain and reprocessing) has not been discussed thoroughly. Sometimes if you can convince the public that solving one problem will help solve another, they are generally more interested.
My passion is in nuclear power operations. The words, “The reactor is critical,” followed by the deafening sound of steam marching down the propulsion plant echo in my head as I write this today. The amazing power of nuclear energy has to be harnessed to its maximum extent to free this country of our self-induced dependence on the oil industry. Each time I bring a reactor critical I am single-handedly adding to a problem which currently does not have a solution. For me, there could be no more subjects more important to my future, and there is no better fit for a research proposal essay.
Yucca Mountain depository is a money sponge that has created many problems for the DOE, so much that most of the energy companies in the U.S. have sued their own government for breach of contract. With each passing deadline, the DOE must pay for their broken promises. The problem is that our energy companies have already paid for a product they have not received – Yucca Mountain. The alarming part of this issue is that under our current regulations the empty depository is already full. The heat from the unprocessed nuclear fuel is predicted to be great enough to fill Yucca Mountain to its capacity as soon as the transfer is complete. My proposed connection to these problems, reprocess so Yucca Mountain can serve us for many decades to come, solves two problems at once and may be the leverage Washington needs to reverse the 30 year old law banning this process. Most importantly, I am passionate about this idea, and I believe the product I produce will not only be an excellent paper, but will maybe even help my industry.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Common Sense
The proposal rejecting the English monarch in Common Sense is one of the most motivating historical documents ever written. The call for action and explanations listed in it helped educate and unite the American people. Thomas Paine touched on issues relevant to that time such as comparing and justifying his case in a biblical context. Despite the old English voice, Common Sense illustrates the importance of proposal rhetoric and sets the standard for future comparison.
It is interesting to note that Paine is an advocate for government, but not in monarchy form. He states that it is essential for man's security. This piece is written so well that I wish we still spoke in a similar fashion. To illustrate both points, "Wherefore, security being the true design and end of government, it unanswerably follows that whatever form thereof appears most likely to ensure it to us, with the least expense and greatest benefit, is preferable to all others" (Paine). Security is the design and the people desire this result at the least cost. This still holds true today in our government because the American public demands every liberty given by the smallest amount of political intervention. Our security is the cornerstone of these wants and needs.
In big bold letters, Paine states that the ELECTED should never separate themselves from the wishes of the ELECTOR. Have we forgotten this issue today? That answer can be saved for a future essay, but his point is that leaving this responsibility to a single person, a monarch, is a travesty. One person, one human person can very easily be subject to their own selfish wishes easily losing sight of those of the ELECTOR (especially if he or she was never elected). Divine right may be an absurd notion today, but people in that day really believed that the monarch’s rule was God’s will. Paine attacks this belief on the same religious context, rebutting it.
It is my belief that the people of colonial days respected the value of religion much more than the general public today. The resulting feelings on the subject are irrelevant, but Paine understood this and attacked the reader where he or she would be most attentive. Religious issues in those days usually resulted in someone dying, not just in political groaning. “In the early ages of the world, according to the scripture chronology there were no kings; the consequence of which was, there were no wars; it is the pride of kings which throws mankind into confusion” (Paine). This statement rung through my ears because I did not know that monarchy is a new practice. Also, kings were considered divine but only divinity is without pride. Paine uses religious evidence to persuade the reader to consider a new way of thinking, which is an extremely difficult accomplishment.
In his final two paragraphs, Paine uses relevant and current information to motivate the reader. He brings the issue to their front door forcing them to generate a feeling and a connection on the subject. For example, he states that he has not met a man that does not think that a separation will occur someday; American colonies have governed themselves for years without British rule. In a last example, though there are many more, Paine states that British intervention is motivated by money and not by good intentions, and unfortunately, I don’t know if our democracy has totally cleared up this issue. In his call to action he makes the reader care, most specifically by bringing these issues to their front door step. Common Sense is an excellent proposal and its format is still relevant today.
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
It is interesting to note that Paine is an advocate for government, but not in monarchy form. He states that it is essential for man's security. This piece is written so well that I wish we still spoke in a similar fashion. To illustrate both points, "Wherefore, security being the true design and end of government, it unanswerably follows that whatever form thereof appears most likely to ensure it to us, with the least expense and greatest benefit, is preferable to all others" (Paine). Security is the design and the people desire this result at the least cost. This still holds true today in our government because the American public demands every liberty given by the smallest amount of political intervention. Our security is the cornerstone of these wants and needs.
In big bold letters, Paine states that the ELECTED should never separate themselves from the wishes of the ELECTOR. Have we forgotten this issue today? That answer can be saved for a future essay, but his point is that leaving this responsibility to a single person, a monarch, is a travesty. One person, one human person can very easily be subject to their own selfish wishes easily losing sight of those of the ELECTOR (especially if he or she was never elected). Divine right may be an absurd notion today, but people in that day really believed that the monarch’s rule was God’s will. Paine attacks this belief on the same religious context, rebutting it.
It is my belief that the people of colonial days respected the value of religion much more than the general public today. The resulting feelings on the subject are irrelevant, but Paine understood this and attacked the reader where he or she would be most attentive. Religious issues in those days usually resulted in someone dying, not just in political groaning. “In the early ages of the world, according to the scripture chronology there were no kings; the consequence of which was, there were no wars; it is the pride of kings which throws mankind into confusion” (Paine). This statement rung through my ears because I did not know that monarchy is a new practice. Also, kings were considered divine but only divinity is without pride. Paine uses religious evidence to persuade the reader to consider a new way of thinking, which is an extremely difficult accomplishment.
In his final two paragraphs, Paine uses relevant and current information to motivate the reader. He brings the issue to their front door forcing them to generate a feeling and a connection on the subject. For example, he states that he has not met a man that does not think that a separation will occur someday; American colonies have governed themselves for years without British rule. In a last example, though there are many more, Paine states that British intervention is motivated by money and not by good intentions, and unfortunately, I don’t know if our democracy has totally cleared up this issue. In his call to action he makes the reader care, most specifically by bringing these issues to their front door step. Common Sense is an excellent proposal and its format is still relevant today.
Common Sense by Thomas Paine
Friday, March 21, 2008
Tech Friday
Frank Fortunato
YouTube Homepage
Purdue vs. Loyola (Ice hockey is sport's gift to the world)
Man Battlestations!
YouTube Homepage
Purdue vs. Loyola (Ice hockey is sport's gift to the world)
Man Battlestations!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Spring Break
Spring break began with a very long, but relaxing drive to Florida. Well, everything after the blizzard in southern Indiana was relaxing at least. I took my dog because I'm not to sure if I can go a week without her. I'm totally screwed when I go to sea; she and I are absolutely best friends. She has lots of spunk but minds most of the time. My wife and I looked like ghosts compared to my parents. This sunshine striken state has not been kind to the skin color over the winter. I spent 5 days fishing, swimming, eating and drinking - sometimes all at the same time. Florida was fun, the fish were delicious and I can't wait to go back. How long until the semester ends?
Picture of the dog and I
Picture of dinner
Picture of the dog and I
Picture of dinner
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Essay 3: Making the Boss Some Money
Who is the one person that you may absolutely hate, but still have to smile at everyday? The relationship between a person and his or her supervisor can be volatile in private, yet appear perfectly normal in public. The workforce spends a great deal of energy trying to impress their boss on a daily basis. The web article, 4 Things You Should Never Say to the CEO, by Bill Lane and published on “Yahoo! News” displays why it is lonely on the top to include some of the pitfalls of GE CEO Jack Welch (Lane). Although the article pinpoints the importance of respecting the relationship between yourself and the boss, it promotes a relationship that is not conducive to fostering a positive, profitable business environment.
“I’ll have to get back to you on that” (Lane). This very common statement is uttered in the workforce everyday when the recipient of a question does not know the correct answer. Information is readily available, so as long as the person finds the correct answer and delivers it in a timely manner, there should be no problem. The fact that this statement is the opening paragraph of the web article in question is a serious problem. The notion that a CEO would rather have uncertain or incorrect information immediately, rather than concrete information at a later time is completely unfounded. “In other words, you don't know and didn't do your homework. Welch fired one vice president who gave that answer several times during a presentation” (Lane). We must be careful not to create an environment such that our subordinates fear us; the difference between fear and respect is divided by a fine line, but the two need not be confused.
Imagine your best employee, Bobby Doe, giving another perfect presentation, and at the end of the presentation he opens the floor for questions. The COO asks Bobby a technical question requiring thought and a little research. Bobby remembers his former boss who was fired for not knowing a similar answer. Placing oneself in Bobby’s shoes, one might consider making something up or lying in fear of reprisal. This may seem like an insignificant fact, but if the CEO’s decision making process was in jeopardy, the company may decide to pursue something unprofitable. It is absolutely imperative that information be accurate for a company to maximize revenues, because the stock-holder’s payday is what keeps the CEO off the unemployment list.
Strangely enough, “Yahoo! HotJobs” published another article titled Earn a Promotion in a Year by Margaret Steen containing successful methods to earn more money; it tells you how to get your bosses job (Steen). “Start doing the job,” and “Help your boss succeed,” are the keys to earning a higher paycheck (Steen). Both of these statements directly contradict the idea of firing someone for telling you that they’ll have to get back to you on some uncertain information. Start doing the job is just another way of saying take on some of your boss’s responsibility. As his workload lightens he will notice that your performance is the cause, and you should be paid more because of this. Not seeing the connection? Well, if you are acting like your boss, doing the job of your boss, and your boss happens to be the CEO, then it is inconceivable that you, as the CEO would create an environment that questions the integrity of your workforce. Why should he be any different? Also, telling the CEO that you require additional information is helping him succeed, and helping your boss succeed will pay everyone more money. An employee’s integrity and ability to deliver timely, accurate information is the key component to maximizing profits – the ultimate goal of every corporation.
Moreover, punishing someone for not being prepared for a question is absurd. When in this position, it is important to swiftly write down the question, apologize, and tactfully request a means to return the answer as soon as possible. If this sequence is professionally executed, no CEO should question the ability of that employee to do their job; accurate information is far more important to the company’s well-being. Managers must require the respect of their employees and also need to know the difference between demanding respect and fostering an environment where reprisal is feared. People can make poor decisions when they feel that their well-being is in jeopardy, and in the business world a liar is far worse than an idiot.
Lane, Bill. "Yahoo! News." U.S. News & World Report. 4 Things You Should Never Say to the CEO. 2008. 02 Mar 2008..
Steen, Margaret. "Yahoo! HotJobs." Earn a Promotion in a Year. 2008. 02 Mar 2008..
An experiment for next essay....why did I refer to the CEO as a man all the time?
“I’ll have to get back to you on that” (Lane). This very common statement is uttered in the workforce everyday when the recipient of a question does not know the correct answer. Information is readily available, so as long as the person finds the correct answer and delivers it in a timely manner, there should be no problem. The fact that this statement is the opening paragraph of the web article in question is a serious problem. The notion that a CEO would rather have uncertain or incorrect information immediately, rather than concrete information at a later time is completely unfounded. “In other words, you don't know and didn't do your homework. Welch fired one vice president who gave that answer several times during a presentation” (Lane). We must be careful not to create an environment such that our subordinates fear us; the difference between fear and respect is divided by a fine line, but the two need not be confused.
Imagine your best employee, Bobby Doe, giving another perfect presentation, and at the end of the presentation he opens the floor for questions. The COO asks Bobby a technical question requiring thought and a little research. Bobby remembers his former boss who was fired for not knowing a similar answer. Placing oneself in Bobby’s shoes, one might consider making something up or lying in fear of reprisal. This may seem like an insignificant fact, but if the CEO’s decision making process was in jeopardy, the company may decide to pursue something unprofitable. It is absolutely imperative that information be accurate for a company to maximize revenues, because the stock-holder’s payday is what keeps the CEO off the unemployment list.
Strangely enough, “Yahoo! HotJobs” published another article titled Earn a Promotion in a Year by Margaret Steen containing successful methods to earn more money; it tells you how to get your bosses job (Steen). “Start doing the job,” and “Help your boss succeed,” are the keys to earning a higher paycheck (Steen). Both of these statements directly contradict the idea of firing someone for telling you that they’ll have to get back to you on some uncertain information. Start doing the job is just another way of saying take on some of your boss’s responsibility. As his workload lightens he will notice that your performance is the cause, and you should be paid more because of this. Not seeing the connection? Well, if you are acting like your boss, doing the job of your boss, and your boss happens to be the CEO, then it is inconceivable that you, as the CEO would create an environment that questions the integrity of your workforce. Why should he be any different? Also, telling the CEO that you require additional information is helping him succeed, and helping your boss succeed will pay everyone more money. An employee’s integrity and ability to deliver timely, accurate information is the key component to maximizing profits – the ultimate goal of every corporation.
Moreover, punishing someone for not being prepared for a question is absurd. When in this position, it is important to swiftly write down the question, apologize, and tactfully request a means to return the answer as soon as possible. If this sequence is professionally executed, no CEO should question the ability of that employee to do their job; accurate information is far more important to the company’s well-being. Managers must require the respect of their employees and also need to know the difference between demanding respect and fostering an environment where reprisal is feared. People can make poor decisions when they feel that their well-being is in jeopardy, and in the business world a liar is far worse than an idiot.
Works Cited
Lane, Bill. "Yahoo! News." U.S. News & World Report. 4 Things You Should Never Say to the CEO. 2008. 02 Mar 2008.
Steen, Margaret. "Yahoo! HotJobs." Earn a Promotion in a Year. 2008. 02 Mar 2008.
An experiment for next essay....why did I refer to the CEO as a man all the time?
Monday, March 3, 2008
Cable Proposal
To remedy the problem of dragging anchor chains, we propose the following: Add a chapter to the Navigation Rules International-Inland book. The chapter will include how to pay out an anchor chain safely to less than 10 degrees. At greater than 10 degrees the anchor is reduced to %60 of its maximum holding power. The ship will also be instructed to triangulate its bearing every hour. A change in bearing, even a slight change, can indicate a dragging anchor.
We feel this to be the most cost-effective method to remedy this problem. Adding a chapter to a book is inexpensive. The burden will fall on the U.S. government as it is the governing body for international maritime law. Commercial companies will carry the cost of ensuring their cables do not lie in frequent shipping channels which will prevent cable damage on initial anchor impact. Failure to follow what is known as the navigation "rules of the road" can result in loss of a captain's license, thus removing unsafe mariners from the sea.
Why anchors drag
Checking for a dragging anchor
Navigation Rules
Group: Robert Jackson and Dawn Tatum
We feel this to be the most cost-effective method to remedy this problem. Adding a chapter to a book is inexpensive. The burden will fall on the U.S. government as it is the governing body for international maritime law. Commercial companies will carry the cost of ensuring their cables do not lie in frequent shipping channels which will prevent cable damage on initial anchor impact. Failure to follow what is known as the navigation "rules of the road" can result in loss of a captain's license, thus removing unsafe mariners from the sea.
Why anchors drag
Checking for a dragging anchor
Navigation Rules
Group: Robert Jackson and Dawn Tatum
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