What Matters to Metros: Foundational Indicators for Economic Competitiveness

Foundational Indicators for Economic Competitiveness helps community leaders identify factors that are associated with economic growth in mid-sized U.S. metropolitan areas in a post-recession economy. This work builds upon six previous iterations (called the dashboard of economic indicators) and assesses the relationship of 55 variables to economic growth across four measures: per capita income, gross metropolitan product (GmP), productivity and employment, between 1990 and 2011.Results of the study indicate that growth is not a one-size-fits-all proposition for America's mid-sized metros. education and innovation remain highly associated with GmP, productivity and per capita income growth over the past two decades, but strong performance in those areas has been insufficient to restore jobs to many of our communities. Alternatively, many metro areas that have been successful in adding jobs, struggle to translate that growth into rising incomes. This research provides data that civic leaders can use to ask more strategic questions about how "growth" can be pursued, and to identify their own distinct approaches to get there

TennCare Truths Need to Be Told

Neither TennCare nor private insurance is perfect. TennCare needs to be expanded to cover 300,000 poor working people and private insurance needs to stop denying coverage and benefits to a similar number of people.TennCare, Tony Garr, health care reform, healthcare reform, healthcare, health care, Senate Finance bill, TennCare survey, managed care, insurance, Tennessee, Medicaid

Cemetery Squatting and Anti-Chinese Tensions: Insights from Central Java

Over the centuries, the Chinese minority in Indonesia has lived in an environment characterized by social tensions. This paper will explore Chinese-Javanese relations in the microcosm of a Javanese squatter settlement that has invaded a Chinese cemetery. Four issues will be considered which will illustrate the nature of long-standing tensions between these two ethnic groups: 1) the manner in which informal sector housing is developed; 2) economic attitudes of the Javanese with respect to the Chinese; 3) the relationship of the Chinese to law and authority and how conflict resolution is approached ; and 4) the linguistic context of Chinese-Javanese relations. Although cemetery squatting has been an incremental process, it has been the result of a fundamental perception of the weak position of the Chinese in Javanese society. Similarly, the illegal occupation of land also results from perceptions that both the Chinese and public officials will ultimately acquiesce to the squatters\u27 aspirations

Responding to the New Geography of Poverty: Metropolitan Trends in the Earned Income Tax Credit

Highlights findings about the growth in low-income and earned income tax credit-filing populations in metropolitan suburbs and the correlated rise in the amount claimed through the EITC between 1999 and 2007. Considers policy implications

HvZ Website: The Re-Engineering

As part of our Software Design and Development class, we were given a customer and tasked with providing them a product that they specifically request. Our customer was the Humans vs Zombies (HvZ) student group here on campus. They are a group that periodically plays a campus-wide game of tag using their own online resources, and they requested that we provide them a new, updated website. Their problem was that they needed to both update their site and acquire a more maintable version. The current site that they own now is three years old with code that is difficult to decipher

The public image of the social worker.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston Universit

International Space Station Water Balance Operations

In November 2008, the Water Regenerative System racks were launched aboard Space Shuttle flight, STS-126 (ULF2) and installed and activated on the International Space Station (ISS). These racks, consisting of the Water Processor Assembly (WPA) and Urine Processor Assembly (UPA), completed the installation of the Regenerative (Regen) Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS), which includes the Oxygen Generation Assembly (OGA) that was launched 2 years prior. With the onset of active water management on the US segment of the ISS, a new operational concept was required, that of water balance . In November of 2010, the Sabatier system, which converts H2 and CO2 into water and methane, was brought on line. The Regen ECLSS systems accept condensation from the atmosphere, urine from crew, and processes that fluid via various means into potable water, which is used for crew drinking, building up skip-cycle water inventory, and water for electrolysis to produce oxygen. Specification (spec) rates of crew urine output, condensate output, O2 requirements, toilet flush water, and drinking needs are well documented and used as the best guess planning rates when Regen ECLSS came online. Spec rates are useful in long term planning, however, daily or weekly rates are dependent upon a number of variables. The constantly changing rates created a new challenge for the ECLSS flight controllers, who are responsible for operating the ECLSS systems onboard ISS from Mission Control in Houston. This paper reviews the various inputs to water planning, rate changes, and dynamic events, including but not limited to: crew personnel makeup, Regen ECLSS system operability, vehicle traffic, water storage availability, and Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA), Sabatier, and OGA capability. Along with the inputs that change the various rates, the paper will review the different systems, their constraints, and finally the operational challenges and means by which flight controllers manage this new concept of "water balance.

State of Metropolitan America: On the Front Lines of Demographic Transformation

Examines 2000-09 demographic and economic trends and highlights five new realities: growth and outward expansion, population diversification, aging, uneven higher educational attainment, and income polarization. Analyzes national and regional challenges

Presentationzen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery

In this book, the author shares his experience in a provocative mix of illumination, inspiration, education, guidance that will change the way you think about making presentations with PowerPoint or Keynote. This book challenges the conventional wisdom of making slide presentation in today’s world and encourages you to think differently and more creatively about the preparation, design, and delivery of your presentations. The author shares lessons and perspectives that draw upon practical advice from the fields of communication and business. Combining solid principles of design with the tenets of Zen simplicity, this book will help you along the path to simpler, more effective presentations