Thursday, January 22, 2009

TSA

"I am sure you know by now that the government has forbade certain objects and substances on passenger airlines. The government agency in charge of enforcing this is the Transportation Security Administration, a branch of Homeland Security. Some say the acronym TSA stands for 'thousands standing around,' but it is the government's attempt to protect you, the travelling public. These uniformed government employees attend extensive training, and some of them are very good at what they do and are very polite as well. However, none of them are immune to bad behavior on the part of those they are hired to inspect. Take seriously the admonition to refrain from jokes or snide remarks, no matter how frustrated you become with the process. TSA employees do have the power to make your day miserable...

.Sometimes luck eludes you and you are selected for a random search of your possessions and person. Now is the time to remain calm. Any fuss you make will only prolong the ordeal and could feed any power trip the TSA person might be on. Answer the questions honestly and carefully, as these inspections also include judgments about your character and demeanor. The TSA is slowly coming to the realization that profiling the traveling public is a formidable weapon against the folks who would do us harm, and these security efforts have been used successfully in other countries."

This is what the pilot of a major airlines in the United States said.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Equity

"Equity theory is a general model of how people decide whether an exchange is fair and what they do if they determine it is not....A well-run company, for example, should have an equitable balance; the employer gives the employee a living wage in exchange for the employee's time and effort. If, however, management tries to increase productivity without a corresponding increase in payment, then the employees may feel that they are being treated inequitably and start compensating themselves informally by staging work slowdowns or stealing company property....
Restoring equity can be tricky, but the rewards are well-worth it. Money, of course, is the ultimate equalizer. If you want your employees to work harder, then you pay them more. Sometimes, though, money is not the answer. The budget may not allow it, or the situation may be such that no amount of money would be sufficient (e.g., the boss is abusive). Believe it or not, outstanding results have been achieved simply by treating employees like human beings."
Research done in 1990 on aerospace and automotive manufacturing workers shows how a little compassion can make a big difference."

This is what Charles said.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Choice

"In modern America, the best choice for fugitive travel is a private vehicle. The second best choice is a commercial vehicle such as a long-haul truck under the control of an underground railroad volunteer.

It's easy for anyone who knows how to drive and has a vehicle available to travel to any location; any destination in American is no more than five or six days away. As long as there's no national police bulletins out on the car, the car is in good mechanical condition, the lights all work, and the driver obeys all traffic laws, the chances of making it all the way without ever being challenged by a law enforcement officer are astronomically good. That's true even if the driver is a fugitive with his picture hanging in every post office and his face shining from every television set broadcasting a news report. "

This is what Jefferson said.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Guard

"During a police investigation in the United States, you do not haveto answer questions, because you're under the protection of the U.S.Constitution. However, police investigators have methods of inducingsuspects to talk despite Cosntitutional protection. You need to know these techniques...

During employment interviews, you don't have to answer questions, but the employer doesn't have to hire you. in practical terms, that'scoercion.Your goal is to present a good picture of yourself, and conceal anyderogatory information. If, for example, you once commited a crime and paid for your mistake in prison, there's no real need to reveal this to a prospective employer. Your honesty won't earn you any points, and you don't need to keep paying for your error for the rest of your life.There are many reasons why the average person needs to defend himself. Perhaps the most important one is that the interrogator or interviewis likely to be a pro, with much experience in his craft. He interviews people eight hours a day, forty hours a week, while most people face interviewers only occasionally. That gives the pro the edge.Techniques can be subtle, designed to catch subjects off guard. At times, you may not even know that you're being interrogated or interviewed....Letting your guard down during such moments can lead to serious problems..."

This is what Jack said.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Residential

"Cooking is the leading cause for residential fires in the United States. Most fires in the kitchen usually start from cooking that is left unattended. Lunch and dinner times are when the highest percentage of fires occurs. Fats, oils, and grease are usually what are ignited. Never overheat any kind of grease or oil. Dish towels or paper towels and napkins that are too close to a stove can also ignite a fire. A class ABC fire extinguisher is recommended to keep near the stove. This type of fire extinguisher can be used on most materials found in the kitchen. This includes grease, paper products, and electrical appliances.Heating fires are another leading cause of residential fires in the U.S.

Heating elements such as space heaters and baseboard heating can be dangerous because of the closeness to household combustibles and people. There are many different kinds of space heaters from small and portable to permanently installed. Whatever kind of design you buy, make sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions or applicable codes. Heaters can also be installed by a professional. To prevent fires, make sure all heaters are turned off when you’re not in the room. Heaters shouldn’t be placed on top of any surfaces such as tables, cabinets, or furniture. Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn or is combustible. Gasoline should never be used in a liquid fueled space heater. Refuel only when the heater is cool, and use the proper grade of fuel. If a baseboard heater is used, then cords shouldn’t be draped across it. It’s important to put 18 inches of clearance around baseboard heaters for fire safety. Drapes and curtains need to have clearance, as well.

Electrical fires in homes are extremely dangerous. Wiring, plugs, switches, and appliances carry electric currents that make heat. Extreme heat can get out of control and cause a fire to start. Overloading circuits and running cords under rugs, or where they’re constantly stepped on, can cause an electrical fire. All old or damaged appliance cords or wiring should be replaced immediately. Dryers, televisions, and radios are some of the home appliances that can cause a fire to start. Washers and dryers can put a lot of stress on electrical connections because of their movement. They need to be checked on a regular basis. Don’t put any electrical appliances in a cabinet, especially where there is paper. Improper wiring when adding lights, ceiling fans, switches and outlets can be unsafe. Not only can it cause fires, but also injury and shock. When using extension cords, you should only plug one home appliance into an outlet at a time. Do not go above more then 1,500 watts for each outlet. Lights that dim, slow-heating appliances, and fuses blowing often are signs of overloaded electrical systems. Using the wrong size fuse and loose connections at switches or receptacles can lead to fires. Any electrical device used near water should be the ground fault interrupting type. This includes outdoor receptacles. When an electrical device is installed outdoors, it should be made for outdoor use. A licensed electrician can inspect a home to ensure all wiring systems are safe.Fires can also start in the chimney. Most chimney fires are caused by accumulation of creosote. Creosote is an extremely flammable natural byproduct of burning wood that can build up inside the chimney. There are many different forms of combustible creosote such as tar glaze, slag, flakes, and soot. Too much creosote causes a loud and severe fire that can cause walls and rafters to burn. It can spread very quickly through a home. A continuous fire in the fireplace is slower in starting new fires because the creosote accumulates more when a fire is first lit. Creosote will also accumulate more slowly if the chimney is properly installed. All chimneys should have clear air space of about 2 inches to the nearest combustible material. Wooden framing members and sheeting should be kept back from the outer surface of the chimney in case there should be a serious fire. It is recommended to have a chimney cleaned and inspected once a year if fires are lit in the fireplace three or more times a week. If a chimney isn’t designed correctly, then deposits can build up faster and need to be taken care of more often. Regularly check your chimney until you know how your installation affects creosote. Flammable items should be kept away from the fireplace. The fireplace and fireplace inserts should be equipped with screens. This will keep sparks from flying. Ashes can start fires, so they need to be kept away from anything burnable.

Fire action plans should be made for the whole family, particularly for children, the elderly, and the disabled. There should be two ways out of each room. Windows or screens should open easily. The escape plan should be displayed where everyone can see it. The plan should be practiced two times a year."

Groucho

"Some people considered Groucho Marx and his brothers thieves. Many comedians who had their start on the vaudeville stage participated in the age-old habit of appropriation and joke stealing. Everybody did it, but the Marx Brothers got caught a few times....Because of their audacity, or perhaps their carelessness, Groucho Marx, his brothers, their writers, and their studios were forced to defend at least three major copyright infringement suits in their careers. It's clear that the Marx Brothers, despite their creative comic genius, relied heavily on he works of others for their success.

By the 1980s, the Marx Brothers' legacy, reputation, and body of work had solidifed to such a degree that they became the plaintiffs behind lawsuits, instead of the targets for them....A Federal court of appeals heard a complaint by Groucho Marx Productions Inc. against a dramatic production company that used likeliness of the Marx Brothers in a Broadway play called A Day In Hollywood/A Night in Ukraine....Groucho Marx Productions tried to enforce a perpetual monoply on the characteristics of its namesake: the painted mustache slick hair, cigar, and glasses. The court ruled against Groucho Marx Productions, but the case remains an example of how valuable the Marx Brothers are as commodites long after they ceased being creators-or borrowers."

This is what Siva said.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Pack

"If your pack can be traced to the store you're shopping in, don't claim you bought it at the gas station around the corner. Say you bought it in this store, sometime yesterday.The pack of smokes can simply be dropped into the pocke t or purse. Again, keep Anderson's First Law in mind: Never move the cigarettes from the display directly into your purse or pocket. Wait until you're in another aisle.

A person could claim that he stuck them in his pocket or purse out of habit, and meant to pay for it. The explanation is sufficiently plausible to get a person off, even if the person has to go to trial.

But don't get greedy...Anything beyond two packs is likely to get a person in trouble.

Any store that permits shoppers more or less free access to the restrooms is an easy mark. A person can carry a small basket of merchandise into the restroom, lock themself in a stall, and then transfer some of the items into pockets or purses.Some items can be consumed on the spot.

I frequently find candy wrappers and empty beer cans in the restrooms. Furthermore, access to the bathrooms also may mean easy access to the back stockrooms, where no one is likely to be watching. It never hurts to ask a store employee if a person may use the restroom. If the answer is yes, make frequent use of it."

This is what Andrew said.