Arlene Goldbard, “Making the World Safe for Hollywood” Essay Example for Free

Arlene Goldbard, â€Å"Making the World Safe for Hollywood† Essay The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has been in existence since 1945. Primarily founded to safeguard education even in poor countries, the organization now also looks after scientific and cultural areas as well. Recently, however, the United States refused to vote for the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. The Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, Dana Gioia, had a few words to say about this. Personally though, Arlene Goldbard’s reaction, aptly entitled â€Å"Making the World Safe for Hollywood† is more personally compelling. It is true that Gioia presented a number of facts and details, which manifests how much the country tries to respect its existing culture; yet it sounded quite snobbish to disregard the better benefits signing the convention would bring to the country. His statement somehow addresses only the elite, or those who are directly involved in culture and the arts. Arlene Goldbard’s reaction, however, was more directed to the masses, or in other words, more people who would benefit if the United States signed the convention in the first place. It is written in a manner that is both light yet accurate, precisely looking into the matter yet in a subtler, easier-to-understand manner. This style makes it easier to read through the entire article despite the less than lively topic it has. It also tackles the issue without being too condescending and patronizing. It also presented a few of the Convention’s statement of objectives, which would benefit a large number of people and the culture in general of only the United States signed the pact in the first place. Lastly, the analogies Arlene Goldbard used, specifically that of the oyster injected the right and appropriate amount of humor that would make readers think and laugh at the same time.

Kinetic Sculpture :: Creative Writing Sculpture Essays

Kinetic Sculpture A six foot circular cast iron table is perfect to gather around for conversations. If one drops a glass on it there’s no doubt it will shatter. Tonight me and three kinetic sculptors will gather around the table to eat and discuss matters of sculpture. Where it is moving and what the best parts of it there are. Wm Dubin is on a plane from Ireland right now. He is an excellent craftsman who’s been around for a long time, since the abstract expressionist movements of the early 1950’s. His work is quite elusive, it has never been collected by anyone. He is somewhat like William Blake. He’s an older man now, he’s got hairy ears. Keeps to himself. People I’ve talked to say he can be found wandering the streets of industrial zones, top hat and cane just staring at the steel ghosts of the Irish industrial era. This is where he pulls most of his inspiration. Its always hard to please old people, they must have things their way, they’re just used to it. My guess is that he probably eats like an old factory worker. Mashed potatoes, stew, beef stuff that a factory worker eats after a hard days work. His sculptures look like industrial parks fit for a world of people a quarter inch tall. There is gears, motors, engines, and polished pipes that lead to unknown places. The constant sound of electricity and firing of pistons all in uniform motion. He has such skill at precision tuning he could have been an excellent machinist. He believes in balancing technical skill and creative intuition. In the 1950’s this was looked down upon by the schools and artists, due to the abstract expressionist movement. Dubin was considered the enemy, his sculptures were polished, technical, and functional and in a school were free expression and uselessness of methodical approaches were embraced Dubin was an outsider. Maybe this is why he keeps to himself. The American

Boeing Australia E-Procurement

Boeing Australia Limited – E procurement Executive Summary As Russell Menere, I recommend the management of Boeing Australia Limited to follow the footsteps of Boeing US to adopt and implement cost effective e-Procurement system, which can be interfaced with the legacy information system as we have IT infrastructure in place that is our core strength. Through e-Procurement system we can improve redundancies in the business process and operations, gain in productivity by upgrading procurement processes. Cost savings by reducing processing time, rationalization of a large number of BAL suppliers and maintaining relationship with Key Suppliers.Investing in an e-procurement system BAL would seek short term improvement tool that would simplify the procurement process across different division and support complex interfaces with suppliers. We can broaden our scope to include reverse auctions tool as well. Key Assumptions I would assume that the management has approved a reasonable a mount for the cost of setup, implementation, training, interface and support of e-Procurement system with the BAL legacy system. Assuming that the BAL key suppliers have no problems with the changes to the procurement processes.Statement of issues The main issue is processes. There are redundancies in the business process low productivity and high processing time in procurement processes, a large number of BAL suppliers and relationship with Key Suppliers is not maintained. BAL is having budgetary constraints to invest in an expensive new system and set up complex interfaces within inter organization and with suppliers. Existing legacy system is having large information system across the organization. A list of possible barriers is as listed below Barriers to e-procurement Upper Management Support / Lack of Leadership †¢Other Competing Initiatives †¢Resistance to change †¢Lack of a widely accepted solution †¢Magnitude of Change †¢Complicated procedures and e xtended relationships †¢Lack of technical expertise †¢Security in the process – Data transmission to the wrong person †¢Confidentiality of information – unauthorized viewing †¢Prevention of tampering with documents -changes to documents †¢Different national approaches to e-procurement †¢Proof of intent – electronic signatures †¢Clarity of sender and tendered information †¢Enforceability of electronic contracts Information technology investment costs †¢Cost of assessment of systems to find correct system to fulfill tasks †¢Internal Compatibility †¢External Compatibility †¢Investment in compatible systems †¢Reluctance to ‘buy-into’ one off system The major impediment is the Size of Company as the separate categories of commodities should have a volume enough so that it looks attractive to the suppliers for going in to an e-auction and going in to long term contract. These vendors are to be given a visibility of the order size during the contract period so that they can weigh their options.Criteria The Boeing Company’s vision is interpreted according to the organization of the various divisions who are committed to the corporate vision by keeping customer as center and cost reduction with a good quality. Reverse Auction A reverse auction is an electronic auction where buyers enter requirements, and Suppliers bid to provide the required goods and services. It is conducted in real-time, And bidders see the offers of competitive bidders but no the names of the other Bidders. The bidding prices move downwards as the auction progresses.The consortium of vendors participating in the e-auction process should be prescreened and graded on an index point scale on various attributes like Quality, Delivery timelines, financial standing, Competitors, market standing and other Customer feedback. The steps in a reverse auction: †¢ Define the event. †¢ Prepare supp liers. †¢ Develop item specifications and auction parameters. †¢ Conduct an RFQ period. †¢ Run the auction. Potential Costs and Benefits The major costs involved are mainly under the following heads 1. Software cost. 2. E-procurement platform hiring fee. 3. Training Costs to all relevant employees and vendors. . Vendor classification and grading and appraisal cost. 5. RFQ and RFA clarification with vendors: Time cost. 6. Administrative costs. 7. Time involved in analysis and award of contract. 8. Quality check mechanism cost. Benefits †¢Process cost savings – (Tender / Purchase Process) †¢Service / Material / Product Cost Savings. †¢Reduced Waste †¢Transaction Administration Cost Savings †¢Reduced Administration †¢Increasing Profit Margins †¢Strategic Cost Savings †¢Enhanced Inventory Management †¢Decrease in Costs through reduced staffing levels †¢Shortened Overall Procurement Cycle Times †¢Shortened Commu nication Cycle Times Reduction in time through greater transparency(Less objections) †¢Reduction in Evaluation Time †¢Reduction in Time through improved internal workflow †¢Reduction in purchasing order fulfillment time †¢Reduction in time through increased visibility †¢Increased Quality through increased competition †¢Increased Quality through Benchmarking (Market Intelligence) †¢Increased Quality through increased visibility in the supply chain †¢Increased Quality through increased efficiency. †¢Increased Quality through Improved Communication †¢Gaining Competitive Advantage Recommendations In such competitive scenario E-procurement is apt solution for Boeing Australia.I would recommend making relevant lots of commodities focused under various categories and offered to relevant set of vendors to give them a good business perspective and gain competitive advantage to the company during the contract period. All the bigger $-value lot s to be awarded under e-auction and smaller lots can be awarded through open auctions for low risk items. An Online system should be aligned with vendor systems can be developed to process in time orders and payments. These steps will provide Boeing reduced cycle times, determine market price of goods and in turn reduce overall cost of goods.

WWII Ordnance QF 25-Pounder Field Gun

The Ordnance QF 25-pounder was the standard artillery piece used by British Commonwealth forces during World War II.  Designed to be an improvement over the World War I-era 18-pounder, the 25-pounder saw service in all theaters and was a favorite with gun crews. It remained in use through the 1960s and 1970s. Nation: Great Britain Commonwealth NationsDates of Use: 1938-1967 (British Army)Designed: 1930sVariants: Marks I, II, III, Short-Mark ICrew: 6 Specifications Weight: 1.98 tonsLength: 18 ft. 2 in.Width: 7 ft. wheelbaseBarrel Length: 31 calibersBreech: Vertical Sliding BlockFeed System: Separate LoadingShell: Normal, SuperCaliber: 3.45 in.Elevation: -5 to 45 degreesTraverse: 360 degrees on platform, 4 degrees on carriageRate of Fire: 6 to 8 rounds per minuteMuzzle Velocity: 1,700 ft./sec. Charge SuperRange: 13,400 Charge SuperSights: Direct Fire - Telescopic Indirect Fire - Calibrating and Reciprocating Development In the years after World War I, the British Army began seeking a replacement for its standard field guns, the 18-pdr, and the 4.5 howitzer. Rather than design two new guns, it was their desire to have a weapon that possessed the high-angle fire capability of the howitzer along with the direct fire ability of the 18-pdr. This combination was highly desirable as it reduced the types of equipment and ammunition needed on the battlefield. After assessing their options, the British Army decided that a gun of approximately 3.7 in caliber with a range of 15,000 yards was needed. In 1933, experiments began using 18-, 22-, and 25-pdr guns. After studying the results, the General Staff concluded that the 25-pdr should be the standard field gun for the British Army. After ordering a prototype in 1934, budget restrictions forced a change in the development program. Rather than design and build new guns, the Treasury dictated that existing Mark 4 18-pdrs be converted to 25-pdrs. This shift necessitated reducing the caliber to 3.45. Beginning testing in 1935, the Mark 1 25-pdr was also known as the 18/25-pdr. With the adaptation of the 18-pdr carriage came a reduction in range, as it proved incapable of taking a charge strong enough to fire a shell 15,000 yards. As a result, the initial 25-pdrs could only reach 11,800 yards. In 1938, experiments resumed with the goal of designing a purpose-built 25-pdr. When these were concluded, the Royal Artillery opted to place the new 25-pdr on a box trail carriage which was fitted with a firing platform (the 18-pdr carriage was a split trail). This combination was designated the 25-pdr Mark 2 on a Mark 1 carriage and became the standard British field gun during World War II. Crew Ammunition The 25-pdr Mark 2 (Mark 1 Carriage) was served by a crew of six. These were: the detachment commander (No. 1), breech operator/rammer (No. 2), layer (No. 3), loader (No. 4), ammunition handler (No. 5), and a second ammunition handler/coverer who prepared the ammunition and set the fuses. The No. 6 usually served as second-in-command on the gun crew. The official reduced detachment for the weapon was four. Though capable of firing a variety of ammunition, including armor piercing, the standard shell for the 25-pdr was high explosive. These rounds were propelled by four types of cartridge depending on range. Transport Deployment In British divisions, the 25-pdr was deployed in batteries of eight guns, which were composed of sections of two guns each. For transport, the gun was attached to its limber and towed by a Morris Commercial C8 FAT (Quad). Ammunition was carried in the limbers (32 rounds each) as well as in the Quad. In addition, each section possessed a third Quad which towed two ammunition limbers. Upon arriving at its destination, the 25-pdrs firing platform would be lowered and the gun towed onto it. This provided a steady base for the gun and allowed the crew to rapidly traverse it 360 °. Variants While the 25-pdr Mark 2 was the most common type of the weapon, three additional variants were built. The Mark 3 was an adapted Mark 2 that possessed a modified receiver to prevent rounds from slipping when firing at high angles. Mark 4s were new build versions of the Mark 3. For use in the jungles of the South Pacific, a short, pack version of the 25-pdr was developed. Serving with Australian forces, the Short Mark 1 25-pdr could be towed by light vehicles or broken down into 13 pieces for transport by animal. Various changes were made to the carriage as well, including a hinge to permit easier high angle fire. Operational History The 25-pdr saw service throughout World War II with British and Commonwealth forces. Generally thought to be one of the best field guns of the war, the 25-pdr Mark 1s were used in France and in North Africa during the conflicts early years. During the British Expeditionary Forces withdrawal from France in 1940, many Mark 1s were lost. These were replaced by the Mark 2, which entered service in May 1940. Though relatively light by World War II standards, the 25-pdr supported the British doctrine of suppressing fire and proved itself highly effective. After seeing American use of self-propelled artillery, the British adapted the 25-pdr in a similar fashion. Mounted in the Bishop and Sexton tracked vehicles, self-propelled 25-pdrs began to appear on the battlefield. After the war, the 25-pdr remained in service with British forces until 1967. It was largely replaced with the 105mm field gun following standardization initiatives implemented by NATO. The 25-pdr remained in service with Commonwealth nations into the 1970s. Heavily exported, versions of the 25-pdr saw service during the South African Border War (1966-1989), the Rhodesian Bush War (1964-1979), and the Turkish Invasion of Cyprus (1974). It was also employed by the Kurds in northern Iraq as late 2003. Ammunition for the gun is still produced by the Pakistan Ordnance Factories. Though largely retired from service, the 25-pdr is still frequently used in a ceremonial role.​​