Silk City
The city of Paterson in New Jersey was important in the growth of the industrial revolution in the late 19th century. Its major manufacturing concern at this time was the production of silk and this is reflected in the city's nickname of Silk City. Other industries included firearms manufacture started by Samuel Colt, railway locomotive manufacture and there were numerous mills involved in the textile industry. This burst of activity was largely caused by the presence of the Great Falls of the Passaic River, which supplied the necessary power. These 77 foot high falls are the second largest in volume throughout the Eastern seaboard and are a big tourist attraction.
This pioneering city of the modern age was also involved in the testing of early submarines. The Paterson Museum displays two models that took part in local trials. Industrial relations did not always run smoothly in Silk City. In 1913, silk workers went on strike in protest against their long hours and poor working conditions. The city was an important production center during World War II for aircraft engines.
The economic boom times came to an end in the 1970s and the area underwent a depression. In common with many other cities with traditional industries, manufacture went into decline and unemployment rose dramatically. Silk City managed to re-invent itself however and has a thriving economy today, based on successful small businesses, many of which are owned by immigrants. Migrants to the city have always had an economic impact, from the Irish, Dutch, Germans and Jews who arrived first to the Latin Americans and Mexicans coming today. The diverse mix in the population has resulted in a cosmopolitan variety of shops and restaurants.
There are many buildings from the Victorian and Georgian era and several of Italian or Dutch design. Some of this architecture is of historical importance. One of the more unusual buildings was commissioned by a wealthy silk mill owner in 1893 and the style was based on a British castle. After the building was sold to the city, it was converted to a museum and is known as Lambert Castle Museum. It contains artwork, artifacts and a public access research library.
The city is immortalized in the work of celebrated poet, William Carlos Williams. He wrote a tribute to Silk City, his hometown, in his poem, Paterson, which came out in parts and then was published as a whole in 1963.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Screen printing equipment
I'd been thinking about starting my own business for several years, but never really knew what I wanted to do until just recently. After a lot of careful consideration, I decided to sell t-shirts on eBay and from my own website. I've always had a knack for coming up with funny slogans and cool graphics, and just figured that this kind of thing would be right up my alley. Handling the online portion of the business was easy, but finding affordable screen printing equipment turned out to be more of a challenge.
Most of the screen printing equipment I looked at was simply too big and too expensive for my purposes. I wanted something that I could set up in my garage and that would be able to handle a reasonable number of shirts, sweatshirts, and jackets per month. If my business did well, I would definitely think about upgrading my screen printing equipment. But I didn't want to spend too much on a machine in case sales turned out to be much slower than anticipated.
The first decision I had to make was whether I wanted to go with new screen printing equipment or if used stuff would suit my purposes. Then, I had to decide which accessories I wanted and how I was going to get my screen printing equipment delivered and set up. Once I determined the answers to these questions, I started calling industrial suppliers in my area to see if anyone had the kind of screen printing equipment I wanted. Since I live in a rather remote place and wanted a small, used machine, I didn't have any luck with suppliers in my area. I was forced to try calling some suppliers in neighboring states and finally got a promising lead.
Before closing on the deal, I checked online to see what the average price of similar screen printing equipment was at different stores around the country. I didn't plan on spending more than I wanted to just because there was only one dealer to buy from. When I was online, I found many screen printing equipment catalogs and resources that helped me determine how much the machine was worth. Once I was satisfied that I was getting a fair deal, I went ahead with the purchase.
I'm happy to say that my screen printing equipment is already set up and cranking out great t-shirts and other apparel. My sales figures are just about where I hoped they'd be at this point, and it looks like I'll be able to make a real go of my business thanks in large part to starting off with the right screen printing equipment.
Most of the screen printing equipment I looked at was simply too big and too expensive for my purposes. I wanted something that I could set up in my garage and that would be able to handle a reasonable number of shirts, sweatshirts, and jackets per month. If my business did well, I would definitely think about upgrading my screen printing equipment. But I didn't want to spend too much on a machine in case sales turned out to be much slower than anticipated.
The first decision I had to make was whether I wanted to go with new screen printing equipment or if used stuff would suit my purposes. Then, I had to decide which accessories I wanted and how I was going to get my screen printing equipment delivered and set up. Once I determined the answers to these questions, I started calling industrial suppliers in my area to see if anyone had the kind of screen printing equipment I wanted. Since I live in a rather remote place and wanted a small, used machine, I didn't have any luck with suppliers in my area. I was forced to try calling some suppliers in neighboring states and finally got a promising lead.
Before closing on the deal, I checked online to see what the average price of similar screen printing equipment was at different stores around the country. I didn't plan on spending more than I wanted to just because there was only one dealer to buy from. When I was online, I found many screen printing equipment catalogs and resources that helped me determine how much the machine was worth. Once I was satisfied that I was getting a fair deal, I went ahead with the purchase.
I'm happy to say that my screen printing equipment is already set up and cranking out great t-shirts and other apparel. My sales figures are just about where I hoped they'd be at this point, and it looks like I'll be able to make a real go of my business thanks in large part to starting off with the right screen printing equipment.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Revolutionary Growth Of Textile Industries
Technology has completely revolutionized the textile industry. Not so long ago it was considered a cottage industry which had very little returns; but now textile industry is the backbone of many countries across the world especially the south-east Asian countries. The textile industry serves as much as 32% of the GDP in many cases and these numbers are constantly increasing.
Clothing is the one of the most basic requirements of a human being and it is so readily available that it can be taken for granted but you will be advised against doing that. The clothes that we eventually wear, reach us after going through different phases of the textile industry.
Textile industry has certainly come a very long way from its modest cottage beginnings. Before the industrial revolution began, the textiles were made in home in through interweaving different fibers such as wool, cotton and linen. Cotton was known as the imported fiber in Northern Europe in the late medieval period and it was preposterously believed that the cotton was obtained through tiny lambs that grew on special trees that allowed the lambs to eat the food by lowering themselves to the ground. With its modest beginnings, it has now reached a point where it is considered the most contributing factor to the GDP of certain countries. The textile sector is the largest employer of people in many countries. This sector is fuelling the economy of various developing countries. There was a time when the textile sector was the main contributing sector to even the United Kingdom's economy. Do not be surprised, because that was back in the beginning of the 18th century. Textile was formed by using the wool that was obtained by the large areas where cotton was cultivated especially in the Midlands.
Textile industry eventually grew from an exceptional industrial revolution in the 18th century into its large industrial base, which it boasts now. There was a time when a single worker could only work on one loom but with the industrial automation trends setting in and an increase in the sophisticated machinery a single worker can operate up to 50 looms at a time, thus decreasing the cost of doing business and in the process increasing the profitability of the textile industry.
The process of making a cloth requires three steps; the preparation of fibers, spinning and weaving. The preparation of fibers is not a homogeneous and uniform task, it involves different task for different fibers, and for example, wool's preparation of fibers involves the processes of carding and washing. Spinning initially comprised of spinning fibers into a single thread at home and then it transformed into a much-mechanized activity that was done through a spinning wheel. The weaving involves the inter twining of different fibers into a cloth.
Whatever the fate of human beings is, one thing is for sure, wherever they go and whatever they do, they will have to eat food and dress up in some sort of textiles so the textile industry will continues to grow unabatedly.
Clothing is the one of the most basic requirements of a human being and it is so readily available that it can be taken for granted but you will be advised against doing that. The clothes that we eventually wear, reach us after going through different phases of the textile industry.
Textile industry has certainly come a very long way from its modest cottage beginnings. Before the industrial revolution began, the textiles were made in home in through interweaving different fibers such as wool, cotton and linen. Cotton was known as the imported fiber in Northern Europe in the late medieval period and it was preposterously believed that the cotton was obtained through tiny lambs that grew on special trees that allowed the lambs to eat the food by lowering themselves to the ground. With its modest beginnings, it has now reached a point where it is considered the most contributing factor to the GDP of certain countries. The textile sector is the largest employer of people in many countries. This sector is fuelling the economy of various developing countries. There was a time when the textile sector was the main contributing sector to even the United Kingdom's economy. Do not be surprised, because that was back in the beginning of the 18th century. Textile was formed by using the wool that was obtained by the large areas where cotton was cultivated especially in the Midlands.
Textile industry eventually grew from an exceptional industrial revolution in the 18th century into its large industrial base, which it boasts now. There was a time when a single worker could only work on one loom but with the industrial automation trends setting in and an increase in the sophisticated machinery a single worker can operate up to 50 looms at a time, thus decreasing the cost of doing business and in the process increasing the profitability of the textile industry.
The process of making a cloth requires three steps; the preparation of fibers, spinning and weaving. The preparation of fibers is not a homogeneous and uniform task, it involves different task for different fibers, and for example, wool's preparation of fibers involves the processes of carding and washing. Spinning initially comprised of spinning fibers into a single thread at home and then it transformed into a much-mechanized activity that was done through a spinning wheel. The weaving involves the inter twining of different fibers into a cloth.
Whatever the fate of human beings is, one thing is for sure, wherever they go and whatever they do, they will have to eat food and dress up in some sort of textiles so the textile industry will continues to grow unabatedly.
Being Competitive In The Industrial Security Arena
So, you want to take the next step to being competitive in the security arena. You know others who have successfully earned their ISP and you want to join the ranks of the very few professionals with ISP after their name. Great, I hope this article motivates you. So keep reading and enjoy some background information and keep posted on a proven method of studying for and passing the exam.
The Society of Industrial Security Professionals identified with the acronym NCMS is the primary professional organization for Department of Defense contractor security professionals. This organization is unique and has a different clientele than other security professional organizations such as ASIS International. The NCMS is dedicated to equipping, training and providing this unique group of professionals and their support of the National Industrial Security Program.
The NCMS currently has 2,000 members which are made up of those working with Department of Defense, Department of Energy, contractors, members in NATO countries and many others. The business challenges are unique and this organization helps to meet them by providing training in Operation Security, Information Security, document classification, personnel and facility security clearances and much more.
Much of the training is conducted through the network of professionals as well as in annual training events and seminars. These annual events provide opportunities for hands on demonstrations, latest in industry news and award ceremonies. The newest addition to the annual seminar is the Industrial Security Professional Certification test.
Out of the 2,000 members only 6% who hold the ISP certification. In July 2005 there were only 75 ISPs and as of October 2006 the number has increased to 117. The test is challenging and the pass rate is 80%. However, this pass rate is expected to improve as a result of the mentor programs developing within the organization as well as time saving techniques offered with the on-line testing.
As with most professional organizations, the ISP is recognized as a prestigious title. As mentioned earlier, there are only 117 people carrying their business cards to job interviews and hanging certificates on the wall. The ISP does indeed distinguish the bearer from others and as a result there is currently a drive to have all leaders in the organization certified.
The ISP demonstrates a high level of knowledge for the holder. It is based strictly on the NISPOM that the government governs compliance with. It also covers electives dealing with communications security, Operations Security, and others specific to the industry. Because of the intense study involved it demonstrates willingness for self-improvement and dedication to the profession. This tells upper management that you are committed to the business, the industry and the protection of national interests. It puts the company in a stronger negotiation position while bidding on contracts and lends credibility to relationships with the oversight agency the Defense Security Services (DSS). Most of all, it gives the recipient confidence in knowledge base and the ability to apply the knowledge to make vital decisions.
As this certification program evolves, more and more employers will recognize the bearer during job interviews. According to the book, "Now, Discover Your Strengths", the difference between mediocrity and excellence is a small margin. For example, a horse wins a race by fractions of a second and employees excel faster by completing only one more small action a day. The ISP is the difference between which applicant gets the Facility Security Officer job offer or which security administrator gets the extra one percent raise.
This isn't to say that this is an easy certification. This just demonstrates that a little discipline; 20 to 30 minutes a day, can make a huge difference. In my case, I studied for approximately 20 minutes per day during the work week for five months. Since I don't like to cram, I take it slow. Some people have different philosophies and take a more intense approach. Through out this book, I will give you hints and techniques that other people have used to give you the skills necessary to couple with your knowledge to help you pass the certification.
More and more chapters of the national program are electing officers with the ISP after their name. The national board of the chapter is challenging all present officers to get the certification to set the example for all the other professionals and pretty soon it may be difficult to serve as a chair without the certification.
The Society of Industrial Security Professionals identified with the acronym NCMS is the primary professional organization for Department of Defense contractor security professionals. This organization is unique and has a different clientele than other security professional organizations such as ASIS International. The NCMS is dedicated to equipping, training and providing this unique group of professionals and their support of the National Industrial Security Program.
The NCMS currently has 2,000 members which are made up of those working with Department of Defense, Department of Energy, contractors, members in NATO countries and many others. The business challenges are unique and this organization helps to meet them by providing training in Operation Security, Information Security, document classification, personnel and facility security clearances and much more.
Much of the training is conducted through the network of professionals as well as in annual training events and seminars. These annual events provide opportunities for hands on demonstrations, latest in industry news and award ceremonies. The newest addition to the annual seminar is the Industrial Security Professional Certification test.
Out of the 2,000 members only 6% who hold the ISP certification. In July 2005 there were only 75 ISPs and as of October 2006 the number has increased to 117. The test is challenging and the pass rate is 80%. However, this pass rate is expected to improve as a result of the mentor programs developing within the organization as well as time saving techniques offered with the on-line testing.
As with most professional organizations, the ISP is recognized as a prestigious title. As mentioned earlier, there are only 117 people carrying their business cards to job interviews and hanging certificates on the wall. The ISP does indeed distinguish the bearer from others and as a result there is currently a drive to have all leaders in the organization certified.
The ISP demonstrates a high level of knowledge for the holder. It is based strictly on the NISPOM that the government governs compliance with. It also covers electives dealing with communications security, Operations Security, and others specific to the industry. Because of the intense study involved it demonstrates willingness for self-improvement and dedication to the profession. This tells upper management that you are committed to the business, the industry and the protection of national interests. It puts the company in a stronger negotiation position while bidding on contracts and lends credibility to relationships with the oversight agency the Defense Security Services (DSS). Most of all, it gives the recipient confidence in knowledge base and the ability to apply the knowledge to make vital decisions.
As this certification program evolves, more and more employers will recognize the bearer during job interviews. According to the book, "Now, Discover Your Strengths", the difference between mediocrity and excellence is a small margin. For example, a horse wins a race by fractions of a second and employees excel faster by completing only one more small action a day. The ISP is the difference between which applicant gets the Facility Security Officer job offer or which security administrator gets the extra one percent raise.
This isn't to say that this is an easy certification. This just demonstrates that a little discipline; 20 to 30 minutes a day, can make a huge difference. In my case, I studied for approximately 20 minutes per day during the work week for five months. Since I don't like to cram, I take it slow. Some people have different philosophies and take a more intense approach. Through out this book, I will give you hints and techniques that other people have used to give you the skills necessary to couple with your knowledge to help you pass the certification.
More and more chapters of the national program are electing officers with the ISP after their name. The national board of the chapter is challenging all present officers to get the certification to set the example for all the other professionals and pretty soon it may be difficult to serve as a chair without the certification.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)