by Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer
"I'm not wanted in this state."
"How many young women work here?"
"I didn't steal it; I just borrowed it."
"You touch somebody and they call it sexual harassment!"
"I've never heard such a stupid question."
Believe it or not, the above statements weren't overhead in bars or random conversations -- they were said in job interviews.
Maybe you were nervous, you thought the employer would appreciate your honesty, or maybe you just have no boundaries. Whatever the reason, you can be certain that you shouldn't tell an interviewer that it's probably best if they don't do a background check on you. (And yes, the hiring manager remembered you said that.)
We asked hiring managers to share the craziest things they've heard from applicants in an interview. Some are laugh-out-loud hysterical, others are jaw dropping -- the majority are both. To be sure, they will relieve anyone who has ever said something unfortunate at a job interview -- and simply amuse the rest of you.
Hiring managers shared these 43 memorable interview responses:
Why did you leave your last job?
1. "I have a problem with authority." - Carrie Rocha, COO of HousingLink
Tell us about a problem you had with a co-worker and how you resolved it2. "The resolution was we were both fired."- Jason Shindler, CEO, Curvine Web Solutions
What kind of computer software have you used?3. "Computers? Are those the black boxes that sit on the floor next to the desks? My boss has one of those. He uses it. I don't have one. He just gives me my schedule and I follow it." - Greg Szymanski, director of human resources, Geonerco Management, Inc
What are your hobbies and interests?4. [He said] 'Well, as you can see, I'm a young, virile man and I'm single -- if you ladies know what I'm saying.' Then he looked at one of the fair-haired board members and said, 'I particularly like blondes.'" - Petri R.J. Darby, president, darbyDarnit Public Relations
Why should we hire you?5. "I would be a great asset to the events team because I party all the time." - Bill McGowan, founder, Clarity Media Group
Do you have any questions?6. "Cross dressing isn't a problem is it?" - Barry Maher, Barry Maher & Associates
7. "If you were a fruit, what fruit would you be?" - Megan Garnett, Articulate Leadership Team, Articulate Communications Inc.
8. "What do you want me to do if I cannot walk to work if it's raining? Can you pick me up?" - Christine Pechstein, career coach
9. "I was a Chamber of Commerce Executive once hiring a secretary. [The candidate asked] 'What does a Chamber of Commerce do?'" - Mary Kurek, Mary Kurek, Inc. Visibility Consulting
10. "Can we wrap this up fairly quickly? I have someplace I have to go." - Bruce Campbell, vice president of marketing, Clare Computer Solutions
11. "What is your company's policy on Monday absences?" - Campbell
12. "If this doesn't work out can I call you to go out sometime?" - Christine Bolzan, founder of Graduate Career Coaching
13. "How big do the bonuses really get once you make associate? I hear it's some serious cash." - Bolzan
14. "[The candidate asked,] 'Can my dad call you to talk about the job and the training program? He is really upset I'm not going to medical school and wants someone to explain the Wall Street path to him.' The dad did call. Then that dad's friends called and I ended up doing a conference call with a group of concerned parents ... long story." - Bolzan
15. "If I get an offer, how long do I have before I have to take the drug test?" - Bolzan
16. "When you do background checks on candidates, do things like public drunkenness arrests come up?" - Bolzan
17. "Can I get a tour of the breast pumping room? I heard you have a great one here and while I don't plan on having children for at least 10 or 12 years, I will definitely breast feed and would want to use that room."- Bolzan
18. "So, how much do they pay you for doing these interviews?" - Jodi R.R. Smith, Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting
Why are you leaving your current job?19. "Because I (expletive) my pants every time I enter the building." - Abbe Mortimore, Human Resources Manager, True Textiles, Inc.
20. "I was fired from my last job because they were forcing me to attend anger management classes." - Smith
Why are you looking for a job?21. "Cigarettes are getting more expensive, so I need another job." - Pechstein
22. "My parents told me I need to get a job so that is why I'm here." - McGowan
Why do you want to work for us?23. "Just for the benefits." - Jennifer Juergens, JJ Communications
24. "My old boss didn't like me, so one day, I just left and never came back. And here I am!" - Matt Cowall, communications manager, Appia Communications
25. "I saw the job posted on Twitter and thought, why not?" - Rebecca Gertsmark Oren, Communications Director at The Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity
What are your assets? (as in strengths)26. "Well, I do own a bike." - Pam Venné, principal, The Venné Group
What are your weaknesses?27. "I get angry easily and I went to jail for domestic violence. But I won't get mad at you." - Pechstein
28. "I had a job candidate tell me that she often oversleeps and has trouble getting out of bed in the morning." - Linda Yaffe, certified executive coach
29. "I am an alcoholic and do not deserve this job." - Deb Bailey, owner, Power Women Magazine & Radio Show
30. "I'm really not a big learner. You know ... some people love learning and are always picking up new things, but that's just not me. I'd much rather work at a place where the job is pretty stagnant and doesn't change a lot." - Michaele Charles, Voice Communications
When have you demonstrated leadership skills?31. "Well my best example would be in the world of online video gaming. I pretty much run the show; it takes a lot to do that." - Rachel Croce
Is there anything else I should know about you?32. "You should probably know I mud wrestle on the weekends." - Venne
When can you start?33. "I need to check with my mom on that one." - Bolzan
Use three adjectives to describe yourself34. "I hate questions like this." - Katrina Meistering, manager of outreach, National Fatherhood Initiative
Tell of a time you made a mistake and how you dealt with it35. "I stole some equipment from my old job, and I had to pay for its replacement." - Meistering
Have you submitted your two weeks' notice to your current employer?36. "What is two weeks' notice? I've never quit a job before, I've always been fired." - Meistering
Random responses37. "One guy [said] 'it would probably be best' if I didn't run a background check on him. Of course, I did, and learned all about his long, sordid past of law-breaking. Our client actually offered him a job as a staff accountant, but quickly retracted the offer when I had to tell them all about his recent arrest for a meth lab in his basement." - Charles
38. "[A] guy said he did not have a mailing address, as he was living in a gypsy camp at the airport." - Sandra L. Flippo, SPHR
39. "I went into the lobby to pick up a candidate. As he stood up, his trousers fell to the floor! [He said] 'Oh, my gosh -- they told me I needed a suit for the interview. I've got no money -- so I borrowed this thing. It's too big!'" - Beth Ross, executive and career coach
40. "Wow -- I'm not used to wearing dress shoes! My feet are killing me. Can I show you these bloody blisters?" - Bolzan
41. "May I have a cup of coffee? I think I may still be a little drunk from last night." - Smith
42. (During a telephone call to schedule the interview) "Can we meet next month? I am currently incarcerated." - Smith
43. "[A candidate] was asked whether he could advocate impartially on behalf of the various universities he would be representing since he had attended one of them. He responded, 'Well, I don't like to poop where I eat, but I thought my education sucked, so I certainly wouldn't put that school above the others.'" - Darby
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
employers beware
Employers beware!
The following item was posted under my age discrimination piece today: — There are couple of different ways to prove age discrimination: —
First, the employee may introduce evidence that the company reduced her salary to eliminate the cost of her comparatively high salary and benefits, but showing that this higher salary was primarily a function of age. However the Supreme Court has expressly held that an employer does not violate the ADEA by acting on the basis of a factor, such as an employee's pension status or seniority or salary, that is empirically correlated with age. Thus, when the employer's decision is wholly motivated by factors other than age, even if the motivating factor is correlated with age, that decision is not contrary to the ADEA. —
Second, the employee can try to prove her case under the burden-shifting scheme of McDonnell Douglas (a famous employment discrimination case). To establish a prima facie case under McDonnell Douglas, an ADEA plaintiff must show that: (1) she is in the protected age class; (2) she was discharged; (3) at the time of her discharge, she was performing her job at a level that met her employer's legitimate expectations; and (4) persons of her qualifications were retained in the same position. —In the context of a hiring decision, you would need to show: (1) you applied for the job, and the job was open; (2) you had the minimum qualifications for the job; (3) you were not hired; and (4) the job remained open, or a person younger than the protected age group was hired, who was less qualified. Posted by Linda Gebaroff If this last paragraph is true (I don't know whether Ms Gebaroff is an attorney with expertise in this area), employers should be scared to death of LinkedIn. Just think: All anybody has to do these days to check out somebody's credentials and qualifications (and frequently age) is see if he/she can access their LinkedIn profile. So, when a youngish candidate gets the job an older candidate wants (companies post these things on their websites), the allegedly aggrieved party can check him/her out in a matter of minutes and call a lawyer...
The following item was posted under my age discrimination piece today: — There are couple of different ways to prove age discrimination: —
First, the employee may introduce evidence that the company reduced her salary to eliminate the cost of her comparatively high salary and benefits, but showing that this higher salary was primarily a function of age. However the Supreme Court has expressly held that an employer does not violate the ADEA by acting on the basis of a factor, such as an employee's pension status or seniority or salary, that is empirically correlated with age. Thus, when the employer's decision is wholly motivated by factors other than age, even if the motivating factor is correlated with age, that decision is not contrary to the ADEA. —
Second, the employee can try to prove her case under the burden-shifting scheme of McDonnell Douglas (a famous employment discrimination case). To establish a prima facie case under McDonnell Douglas, an ADEA plaintiff must show that: (1) she is in the protected age class; (2) she was discharged; (3) at the time of her discharge, she was performing her job at a level that met her employer's legitimate expectations; and (4) persons of her qualifications were retained in the same position. —In the context of a hiring decision, you would need to show: (1) you applied for the job, and the job was open; (2) you had the minimum qualifications for the job; (3) you were not hired; and (4) the job remained open, or a person younger than the protected age group was hired, who was less qualified. Posted by Linda Gebaroff If this last paragraph is true (I don't know whether Ms Gebaroff is an attorney with expertise in this area), employers should be scared to death of LinkedIn. Just think: All anybody has to do these days to check out somebody's credentials and qualifications (and frequently age) is see if he/she can access their LinkedIn profile. So, when a youngish candidate gets the job an older candidate wants (companies post these things on their websites), the allegedly aggrieved party can check him/her out in a matter of minutes and call a lawyer...
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Tesla gets huge government funding
Let's face it. A $465 million for a few years of work is a heckuva payday.
In yesterday's announcement, the U.S. Department of Energy specifically gave Tesla a $465 million loan to finance a manufacturing facility for the Tesla Model S sedan, expected to be roughly $50,000 cheaper than the Roadster.
The all-electric sedan consumes no gasoline and runs entirely on electricity from any conventional 120V or 220V outlet, getting the equivalent of more than 250 miles per gallon, far exceeding the 32.7 mpg minimum efficiency required for large sedans.
Production of the Model S will begin in 2011 and ramp up to 20,000 vehicles per year by the end of 2013. This integrated facility expects to create 1,000 jobs in Southern California.
Tesla will also build a facility to manufacture battery packs and electric drive trains to be used in Teslas and in other automakers' vehicles, including Daimler's Smart For Two.
The new facility expects to employ 650 people in the Bay Area with early pilot battery pack production to begin in 2011, reaching about 10,000 by 2012 and 30,000 packs in 2013.
This announcement assures that large numbers of electric vehicles will be available to U.S. customers starting late next year and that tens of thousands of jobs will be created.
So congratulations Mr. Musk (and by proxy, Mr. Eberhard) for your success.
Now build it. And we will come.
In yesterday's announcement, the U.S. Department of Energy specifically gave Tesla a $465 million loan to finance a manufacturing facility for the Tesla Model S sedan, expected to be roughly $50,000 cheaper than the Roadster.
The all-electric sedan consumes no gasoline and runs entirely on electricity from any conventional 120V or 220V outlet, getting the equivalent of more than 250 miles per gallon, far exceeding the 32.7 mpg minimum efficiency required for large sedans.
Production of the Model S will begin in 2011 and ramp up to 20,000 vehicles per year by the end of 2013. This integrated facility expects to create 1,000 jobs in Southern California.
Tesla will also build a facility to manufacture battery packs and electric drive trains to be used in Teslas and in other automakers' vehicles, including Daimler's Smart For Two.
The new facility expects to employ 650 people in the Bay Area with early pilot battery pack production to begin in 2011, reaching about 10,000 by 2012 and 30,000 packs in 2013.
This announcement assures that large numbers of electric vehicles will be available to U.S. customers starting late next year and that tens of thousands of jobs will be created.
So congratulations Mr. Musk (and by proxy, Mr. Eberhard) for your success.
Now build it. And we will come.
Hmm , did I predict this one????
A decade ago, few people outside India were aware of the nation's megaconglomerate Tata Group -- or that India had an auto industry. Today Tata Motors (TTM) makes the cheapest car in the world, the Nano (at right), and has become the world's 19th largest automaker.With Detroit in critical condition, two Indian carmakers are preparing to drive into the U.S. market: Tata and rival Mahindra & Mahindra (MAHMF). Tata Motors's recent $2.3 billion acquisition of Jaguar and Land Rover suggests that the subcontinent has Bollywood-sized dreams -- and the resources to make those dreams come true. Tata's and Mahindra's future here looks very promising, provided they learn to solve an age-old conundrum: that the price of gas tends to rise -- and when it does, so does the popularity of cars that use gas efficiently; and that Americans don't like squeezing into tiny, tinny cars.
Over the decades, U.S. automakers have tended to emphasize legroom over gas-sipping. While more efficient models like Chrysler's 1981 K-car sometimes have given the industry a moment of salvation, Detroit has seemed to regard such victories as anomalies, not fundamental lessons.
The Hummer is the most visible symbol of America's thirst for gasoline, but our gas-guzzling trucks are a close second. While many manufacturers assume that bigger is better, Toyota has carved out a major niche with the Tacoma, the bestselling midsize in the U.S. Priced $2,000 less than the Chevy Colorado and the GMC Canyon, the Tacoma gets two more miles per gallon (on the highway).In many ways, Mahindra's decision to go into the truck business seems insane. Indian cars are renowned for their low price, not their strength or reliability. But Mahindra's truck -- expected to go on sale here this year -- runs on more efficient diesel, and the automaker predicts it will get 30 miles to the gallon. Admittedly, diesel-fueled cars tend to be pokey; then again, professional truckers with full rigs tend to avoid jackrabbit starts.Mahindra has also announced plans to release a diesel hybrid, the Appalachian, by 2010, apparently sidestepping import tariffs by assembling the trucks in Ohio.
Recognizing the prejudices of American consumers, Mahindra has hired Michigan-based supplier Lear Corp. (LEA) to create an interior design catering to our passion for large spaces and sumptuous textures. (Yes, leather seats will be available.) But ultimately, the biggest question is performance. Diesel could give Mahindra's trucks tremendous hauling power; the carmaker says its trucks can haul more than a standard V-6.Of course, among Americans less attached to huge vehicles, India's cars are already famous. Tata's budget-conscious Nano, hailed as the crowd-pleasing successor to the Volkswagen Beetle, runs just $2,000: far cheaper than anything on the market in the U.S. And at just 1,400 pounds, the super-mini runs off a 2-cylinder engine. You probably won't see it in the drag-race circuit, or in NASCAR, but as DailyFinance's Tom Barlow notes, those specs give Tata plenty of room to add the kinds of amenities American consumers consider standard -- and the kinds of safety measures that our laws demand.
Over the decades, U.S. automakers have tended to emphasize legroom over gas-sipping. While more efficient models like Chrysler's 1981 K-car sometimes have given the industry a moment of salvation, Detroit has seemed to regard such victories as anomalies, not fundamental lessons.
The Hummer is the most visible symbol of America's thirst for gasoline, but our gas-guzzling trucks are a close second. While many manufacturers assume that bigger is better, Toyota has carved out a major niche with the Tacoma, the bestselling midsize in the U.S. Priced $2,000 less than the Chevy Colorado and the GMC Canyon, the Tacoma gets two more miles per gallon (on the highway).In many ways, Mahindra's decision to go into the truck business seems insane. Indian cars are renowned for their low price, not their strength or reliability. But Mahindra's truck -- expected to go on sale here this year -- runs on more efficient diesel, and the automaker predicts it will get 30 miles to the gallon. Admittedly, diesel-fueled cars tend to be pokey; then again, professional truckers with full rigs tend to avoid jackrabbit starts.Mahindra has also announced plans to release a diesel hybrid, the Appalachian, by 2010, apparently sidestepping import tariffs by assembling the trucks in Ohio.
Recognizing the prejudices of American consumers, Mahindra has hired Michigan-based supplier Lear Corp. (LEA) to create an interior design catering to our passion for large spaces and sumptuous textures. (Yes, leather seats will be available.) But ultimately, the biggest question is performance. Diesel could give Mahindra's trucks tremendous hauling power; the carmaker says its trucks can haul more than a standard V-6.Of course, among Americans less attached to huge vehicles, India's cars are already famous. Tata's budget-conscious Nano, hailed as the crowd-pleasing successor to the Volkswagen Beetle, runs just $2,000: far cheaper than anything on the market in the U.S. And at just 1,400 pounds, the super-mini runs off a 2-cylinder engine. You probably won't see it in the drag-race circuit, or in NASCAR, but as DailyFinance's Tom Barlow notes, those specs give Tata plenty of room to add the kinds of amenities American consumers consider standard -- and the kinds of safety measures that our laws demand.
The future of Manufacturing In the USA
Green Energy Company Seeks to Bring Thousands of Jobs to Indiana
InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report
A Washington, D.C.-based renewable energy company says it has developed a green power energy supply system and is considering Indiana for the initiative's manufacturing headquarters. D'Arcinoff Group says it is talking with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation about seven locations throughout the state with the potential to create 20,000 jobs.
Source: Inside INdiana Business
Continued Below...
The D'Arcinoff Group, Inc. (“DG”) and its partners have developed an integrated, green energy supply system that delivers large-scale power generation, distribution and storage. By maximizing efficiencies through innovative manufacturing design of wind turbines and proprietary slurry technology to transport hydrogen in conventional oil tankers from wind farms to industrial end-user destinations.
The revolutionary DG Energy System introduces a cost effective solution to providing clean fuel for electric generation and the aviation industry. Once fully implemented, the DG Energy System is expected to directly employ over 100,000 people manufacturing, operating and servicing its wind turbines, electrolysis units and other related equipment at approximately 25 different major facilities in the U.S. and Europe.
As the first link in DG’s integrated energy system, Eco-Dawn, Inc. (“EDI”) will mass produce a unique wind turbine designed to generate 1.5MW of rated output (representation at right).Commercial production of the turbine’s unique blade configuration and gear can be done by EDI through adapting technologies commonly used in the automotive industry. The availabilityof idled automotive plants allows for major cost efficiencies in establishing manufacturing sites and retraining existing skilled labor. This combination of resources overcomes two currentproblems associated with the more common 3-blade turbine design, massive single piece blades and difficult to manufacture ground gear assemblies. Dr. Kenneth Visser of the Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering Clarkson University in New York says, “The EDI wind turbine is a unique approach to industrial scale wind turbine design utilizing a twin rotor, aerodynamically effective concept that enables mass production of all the components”.
EDI will also mass produce a solid oxide membrane electrolyzer developed by scientists at Boston University for magnesium production and hydrogen electrolysis units based on technology from GE or Statoilhydro.
Specializing in wind farm and fuel operations Transportable Power, Inc. (“TPI”) is responsible for the power generation and fuel system components of the energy system. TPI intends to locate wind farms in remote, sparsely populated areas with favorable high-wind conditions. TPI’s Power Generation System utilizes the more densely deployable EDI wind turbine and other equipment to be manufactured in the U.S. by GE, Textron and others. Energy from the wind farms is deposited (i.e., charged) into reusable slurry that works like a rechargeable battery for large-scale hydrogen storage and transportation. The system will use the proprietary, easily pumped, slurry to safely transport hydrogen for use as fuel inelectric power generation at facilities in or near urban areas or to store energy for use as fuel for large ships.
Additionally, TPI is in discussions with Rentech, Inc. to license their proprietary Fischer Tropsch process and catalyst system. TPI expects to integrate its energy infrastructure with Rentech’s technology to manufacture synthetic jet fuel that will contain approximately 60% lower carbon emissions than conventional jet fuel. The synthetic fuel derived from Rentech’s Fischer Tropsch process is ideal for aviation industry applications.Deployment of the remote equipment will be facilitated by specialized equipment designed and to be built by U.S. and European manufacturers. “The difficulties of deploying wind turbine components in remote locations becomes more practical using the integrated deployment and support equipment designed for TPI”, said David McMillan President of STX Canada, part of STX Europe.The final part of the system is an electric generation program that will utilize energy (hydrogen) stored in the slurry to provide clean fuel for gas turbine driven electric generators during peak-period commercial electric power production in urban areas.
“The synergistic low and stable cost fuel systems developedby TPI very effectively address some of the largest emitters of CO2 which are ships burning IFO380 and power plants burning coal while providing the U.S. aviation industry comparatively clean fuel in large quantities without requiring engine modification”, said Mr. Michael Horner, Managing Director of DG and a former technology professional at GE Aircraft Engines & GE Power Systems.
The entire five phase Energy Program will support TPI peak load power stations serving the EU in excess of 33,750 MW with clean, zero emissions fuel. This is the equivalent to the power output of 15Hoover Dams or the burning of approximately 72,270,000 tons of coal per year. The program will also support jet fuel production in excess of five billion gallons per year, equivalent to the approximate current jet fuel needs of the U.S. military.
The sale of electricity through power purchase agreements (“PPAs”), placed by Ernst & Young’s Energy & Environmental Infrastructure Advisory London Team, to major European power companies and the sale of TPI’s synthetic jet fuel in the U.S. will represent the source of TPI’s projected revenue. “By utilizing innovative but practical steps in an integrated energy system TPI is able to directly access reliable revenue”, said Mark Williamson, Assistant Director of Ernst & Young’s Energy & EnvironmentalInfrastructure Advisory Team”.
Equity for the Program is fully subscribed. Debt financing for TPI’s equipment to be manufactured by EDI and other U.S. suppliers is planned to be through loans or loan guarantees from the Export-Import Bank of the United States or other sources.In cooperation with State economic development agencies, EDI is considering the operation of manufacturing facilities at the following locations, subject to final suitability appraisal and leaseavailability. EDI anticipates that approximate employment distribution among the States by EDI will beas follows:
InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report
A Washington, D.C.-based renewable energy company says it has developed a green power energy supply system and is considering Indiana for the initiative's manufacturing headquarters. D'Arcinoff Group says it is talking with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation about seven locations throughout the state with the potential to create 20,000 jobs.
Source: Inside INdiana Business
Continued Below...
The D'Arcinoff Group, Inc. (“DG”) and its partners have developed an integrated, green energy supply system that delivers large-scale power generation, distribution and storage. By maximizing efficiencies through innovative manufacturing design of wind turbines and proprietary slurry technology to transport hydrogen in conventional oil tankers from wind farms to industrial end-user destinations.
The revolutionary DG Energy System introduces a cost effective solution to providing clean fuel for electric generation and the aviation industry. Once fully implemented, the DG Energy System is expected to directly employ over 100,000 people manufacturing, operating and servicing its wind turbines, electrolysis units and other related equipment at approximately 25 different major facilities in the U.S. and Europe.
As the first link in DG’s integrated energy system, Eco-Dawn, Inc. (“EDI”) will mass produce a unique wind turbine designed to generate 1.5MW of rated output (representation at right).Commercial production of the turbine’s unique blade configuration and gear can be done by EDI through adapting technologies commonly used in the automotive industry. The availabilityof idled automotive plants allows for major cost efficiencies in establishing manufacturing sites and retraining existing skilled labor. This combination of resources overcomes two currentproblems associated with the more common 3-blade turbine design, massive single piece blades and difficult to manufacture ground gear assemblies. Dr. Kenneth Visser of the Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering Clarkson University in New York says, “The EDI wind turbine is a unique approach to industrial scale wind turbine design utilizing a twin rotor, aerodynamically effective concept that enables mass production of all the components”.
EDI will also mass produce a solid oxide membrane electrolyzer developed by scientists at Boston University for magnesium production and hydrogen electrolysis units based on technology from GE or Statoilhydro.
Specializing in wind farm and fuel operations Transportable Power, Inc. (“TPI”) is responsible for the power generation and fuel system components of the energy system. TPI intends to locate wind farms in remote, sparsely populated areas with favorable high-wind conditions. TPI’s Power Generation System utilizes the more densely deployable EDI wind turbine and other equipment to be manufactured in the U.S. by GE, Textron and others. Energy from the wind farms is deposited (i.e., charged) into reusable slurry that works like a rechargeable battery for large-scale hydrogen storage and transportation. The system will use the proprietary, easily pumped, slurry to safely transport hydrogen for use as fuel inelectric power generation at facilities in or near urban areas or to store energy for use as fuel for large ships.
Additionally, TPI is in discussions with Rentech, Inc. to license their proprietary Fischer Tropsch process and catalyst system. TPI expects to integrate its energy infrastructure with Rentech’s technology to manufacture synthetic jet fuel that will contain approximately 60% lower carbon emissions than conventional jet fuel. The synthetic fuel derived from Rentech’s Fischer Tropsch process is ideal for aviation industry applications.Deployment of the remote equipment will be facilitated by specialized equipment designed and to be built by U.S. and European manufacturers. “The difficulties of deploying wind turbine components in remote locations becomes more practical using the integrated deployment and support equipment designed for TPI”, said David McMillan President of STX Canada, part of STX Europe.The final part of the system is an electric generation program that will utilize energy (hydrogen) stored in the slurry to provide clean fuel for gas turbine driven electric generators during peak-period commercial electric power production in urban areas.
“The synergistic low and stable cost fuel systems developedby TPI very effectively address some of the largest emitters of CO2 which are ships burning IFO380 and power plants burning coal while providing the U.S. aviation industry comparatively clean fuel in large quantities without requiring engine modification”, said Mr. Michael Horner, Managing Director of DG and a former technology professional at GE Aircraft Engines & GE Power Systems.
The entire five phase Energy Program will support TPI peak load power stations serving the EU in excess of 33,750 MW with clean, zero emissions fuel. This is the equivalent to the power output of 15Hoover Dams or the burning of approximately 72,270,000 tons of coal per year. The program will also support jet fuel production in excess of five billion gallons per year, equivalent to the approximate current jet fuel needs of the U.S. military.
The sale of electricity through power purchase agreements (“PPAs”), placed by Ernst & Young’s Energy & Environmental Infrastructure Advisory London Team, to major European power companies and the sale of TPI’s synthetic jet fuel in the U.S. will represent the source of TPI’s projected revenue. “By utilizing innovative but practical steps in an integrated energy system TPI is able to directly access reliable revenue”, said Mark Williamson, Assistant Director of Ernst & Young’s Energy & EnvironmentalInfrastructure Advisory Team”.
Equity for the Program is fully subscribed. Debt financing for TPI’s equipment to be manufactured by EDI and other U.S. suppliers is planned to be through loans or loan guarantees from the Export-Import Bank of the United States or other sources.In cooperation with State economic development agencies, EDI is considering the operation of manufacturing facilities at the following locations, subject to final suitability appraisal and leaseavailability. EDI anticipates that approximate employment distribution among the States by EDI will beas follows:
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
the power of the human will
Homeless Student Heads to Harvard
AOL News
posted: 2 HOURS 44 MINUTES AGO
comments: 216
filed under: Good News
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(June 23) -- Peers called Khadijah Williams the "Harvard girl," or "smart girl" who enrolled at their Los Angeles high school just 18 months ago, but she never told them of the struggles behind her success: She was homeless.
Williams, 18, graduated fourth in her high school class with a GPA just under 4.0. It's an amazing feat considering she spent the bulk of her life on the street. She, her mother Chantwuan Williams and younger sister Jeanine Williams have been moving in and out of homeless shelters throughout California for years, the Los Angeles Times reported.Skip over this content
Homeless 'Harvard Girl' Shines
Brian Vander Brug, Los Angeles Times4 photos
Khadijah Williams, center, sports her cap and gown while talking with her mother Chantwaun Williams, left, and her sister Jeanine Williams, 11, at her mother's storage room in Los Angeles. Khadijah, 18, graduated fourth in her class at Jefferson High School.
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Khadijah recognized her gift for learning as early as age 9, when she placed in the 99th percentile on state exams. She was soon designated a gifted student.
Her elementary educational path became rocky shortly thereafter because of constant uprooting stemming from her mother's money woes. She failed to complete the fourth, fifth and eighth grades; skipped the sixth and split seventh between Los Angeles and San Diego. In total, she attended 12 schools over 12 years.
Khadijah's intelligence extends beyond the classroom. Her years spent surviving pimps, prostitutes and drug dealers taught her how to avoid bad habits and seek mentors, counselors and programs to help her reach her goals.
James and Patricia London became involved with Khadijah through one of those initiatives, South Central Scholars. After her mother and sister vanished from the homeless shelter where they were staying, the Londons opened their hilltop home to a lonely Khadijah for the remainder of her 12th grade year.
James, an orthopedic surgeon, and Patricia, a nurse, helped Khadijah with the essays for her college applications, according to the Los Angeles Times. They also taught her valuable life skills like money management, table manners and grooming.
Her Harvard recruiter, Julie Hilden, said she was impressed with her scholastic performance and knew she was a top candidate. The challenge for the Ivy League school is to create a support network of faculty, counselors and a host family that will all help foster her growth.
"I strongly recommended her," Hilden told the newspaper. "I told them, 'If you don't take her, you might be missing out on the next Michelle Obama. Don't make this mistake.' "
After only seeing her mother sporadically during the last six months before her high school graduation, Khadijah found her and her sister at a storage facility in South Central L.A. where they last stored their belongings.
The "Harvard girl" modeled her hunter green graduation cap and gown and practiced switching the tassel for her fractured family.
"Look at you," her mother said. "You're really going to Harvard, huh?"
"Yeah," she said, pausing. "I'm going to Harvard."
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(June 23) -- Peers called Khadijah Williams the "Harvard girl," or "smart girl" who enrolled at their Los Angeles high school just 18 months ago, but she never told them of the struggles behind her success: She was homeless.
Williams, 18, graduated fourth in her high school class with a GPA just under 4.0. It's an amazing feat considering she spent the bulk of her life on the street. She, her mother Chantwuan Williams and younger sister Jeanine Williams have been moving in and out of homeless shelters throughout California for years, the Los Angeles Times reported.Skip over this content
Homeless 'Harvard Girl' Shines
Brian Vander Brug, Los Angeles Times4 photos
Khadijah Williams, center, sports her cap and gown while talking with her mother Chantwaun Williams, left, and her sister Jeanine Williams, 11, at her mother's storage room in Los Angeles. Khadijah, 18, graduated fourth in her class at Jefferson High School.
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Khadijah recognized her gift for learning as early as age 9, when she placed in the 99th percentile on state exams. She was soon designated a gifted student.
Her elementary educational path became rocky shortly thereafter because of constant uprooting stemming from her mother's money woes. She failed to complete the fourth, fifth and eighth grades; skipped the sixth and split seventh between Los Angeles and San Diego. In total, she attended 12 schools over 12 years.
Khadijah's intelligence extends beyond the classroom. Her years spent surviving pimps, prostitutes and drug dealers taught her how to avoid bad habits and seek mentors, counselors and programs to help her reach her goals.
James and Patricia London became involved with Khadijah through one of those initiatives, South Central Scholars. After her mother and sister vanished from the homeless shelter where they were staying, the Londons opened their hilltop home to a lonely Khadijah for the remainder of her 12th grade year.
James, an orthopedic surgeon, and Patricia, a nurse, helped Khadijah with the essays for her college applications, according to the Los Angeles Times. They also taught her valuable life skills like money management, table manners and grooming.
Her Harvard recruiter, Julie Hilden, said she was impressed with her scholastic performance and knew she was a top candidate. The challenge for the Ivy League school is to create a support network of faculty, counselors and a host family that will all help foster her growth.
"I strongly recommended her," Hilden told the newspaper. "I told them, 'If you don't take her, you might be missing out on the next Michelle Obama. Don't make this mistake.' "
After only seeing her mother sporadically during the last six months before her high school graduation, Khadijah found her and her sister at a storage facility in South Central L.A. where they last stored their belongings.
The "Harvard girl" modeled her hunter green graduation cap and gown and practiced switching the tassel for her fractured family.
"Look at you," her mother said. "You're really going to Harvard, huh?"
"Yeah," she said, pausing. "I'm going to Harvard."
Honda in Greensburg, IN- the latest news
Boomtown on hold
Recession delaying Honda’s full impact on GreensburgSat. June 20 - 2009
Kathleen McLaughlin
IBJ staff
This small town between Indianapolis and Cincinnati was hardly ailing when it landed the economic development prize of the decade—a new Honda plant. Back in June 2006, Decatur County’s unemployment rate was a healthy 4.2 percent, lower than the state’s as a whole. With Honda’s promise of 2,000 jobs by 2010, a boom seemed just around the corner. Instead, the recession wiped out hundreds of jobs at other factories. Despite Honda’s hiring 1,000 people in 2008, Decatur County’s numbers moved in the wrong direction. Unemployment hit 12.1 percent in April, up from 5 percent a year earlier and above the statewide average 9.9 percent. Yet people in Greensburg still feel fortunate—even optimistic—because Honda built its $550 million plant here. “It’s really kept us stable,” said Steve Freeman, president of Shirk’s International, a truck sales and service company. Freeman, who serves construction and agricultural clients, said he netted a lot of business as Honda’s gigantic factory was being built. Now that Honda produces 300 of its four-door Civic sedans a day, Shirk’s has regular work with the trucking company that hauls cars from factory to market. Honda began full production in October 2008 but is nowhere near capacity. The first shift could produce 400 cars, and Honda had hoped in 2006 to add a second full shift in 2009. That was before U.S. auto sales—even for the fuel-efficient Civic—plunged. Spokesman Bill Todd said Honda has no plans at this point to add a shift before the end of the fiscal year that ends in March 2010. The state and Decatur County put together $42.5 million in tax incentives and spent $44 million on infrastructure to draw Honda—investments government officials say they don’t regret making. ”We’re optimistic that Honda will expand when volume picks back up again,” Commerce Secretary Mitch Roob said. “But as long as Americans are buying 10 million vehicles a year, as opposed to a higher number—I don’t think you will see any of those [automakers] hire significantly new people when sales are down.” A large chunk of Honda’s $23 million in income tax breaks will hinge on the creation of jobs. The rest of the package includes an $18 million property tax abatement over 10 years and a $1.5 million grant for training employees. The company now plans to have 1,246 full-time Indiana employees by the end of 2009, according to the Indiana Economic Development Corp. At that level, it would qualify for a $1.4 million tax credit. Honda’s first-year tax credit was about $331,000, based on its 1,084 employees at the end of 2008. There is no deadline for Honda to reach 2,000 employees. But to avoid having to repay incentives, the company has to maintain its presence in Greensburg until December 2019. Honda’s impact Before Honda, State Road 421 was completely rural. The nearest landmark to the modern factory is a hilltop orchard. Now, Greensburg has a new $27 million interchange at I-74. New industries are not yet taking up the industrial plots around Honda. One Indianapolis developer, Street Corner Group, built a new Hampton Inn & Suites just south of the interchange. The 113-room hotel has suffered from a lack of corporate travel since opening last July, General Manager Sandi Robeson said. She said the hotel relies on Honda’s visiting engineers and vendors for much of its business. “They’re probably our biggest client,” she said. Honda attracted three suppliers to southeast Indiana, but one, auto glass maker Belletech, is having second thoughts. The Ohio-based company had agreed to build a plant employing 100 people in Versailles, near Cincinnati, but halted construction in January. “We’d love to start this fall. However, it all depends on how the economy is doing,” Vice President Mark McIntyre said. Belletech’s decision would not surprise any of the Indiana manufacturers that have been shedding workers by the hundreds. Greensburg’s losses since 2007 easily make a wash of the 1,000 jobs created by Honda. Delta Faucet, formerly one of the city’s largest employers, began whittling down its local work force in early 2007 as sales slowed along with the housing market. This past May, the company announced that it would consolidate operations in Jackson, Tenn. That will leave about 200 jobs in Greensburg, down from about 800 in 2007. Radiator maker Valeo, a major Chrysler supplier, has reduced its Greensburg work force from about 1,000 in the fall of 2007 to about 600. Some of those current employees are laid off temporarily. One relative bright spot is Greensburg-based Gecom, a door-latch maker that has a long-standing relationship with Honda and still employs about 1,100 people locally. The Greensburg operation has benefited as Gecom shut its research-and-development office in Detroit and closed a plant in Kentucky. Because of the consolidation, human resources manager Debora Ybarra said Gecom is recalling some of its 200 laid-off Greensburg personnel. Long-term outlook Though its impact may be muted now, Honda still could breathe life into the region over the long term. Retired Indiana University economist Morton Marcus said he believes sales of hybrid and electric vehicles will usher in a new era of auto manufacturing, and many of the suppliers hoping to capitalize will want to locate in southeastern Indiana to be near Honda. Honda can make multiple models on its Greensburg lines and already produces a small number of natural gas-powered Civics. “Everyone who’s thinking about expansion is thinking about the Greensburg area because of Honda,” Marcus said. But for now, market conditions in the auto industry remain dismal. Edmunds.com predicts U.S. auto sales will reach 10 million this year only if things go well. It probably will be another two years before sales reach a more comfortable 14 million, analyst Jessica Caldwell said. Honda initially benefited from the gas-price spike that began taking its toll on other auto makers last spring and summer. Civic sales last May totaled 53,299. This May, they reached only 20,723, a 60-percent decline. The auto industry’s woes have spurred civic leaders to contemplate diversifying the area’s economy. Officials are evaluating opportunities in such fields as renewable energy, food processing and logistics.
“Almost everything we have is auto-related,” said Vicki Kellerman, executive director of the Greensburg/Decatur County Economic Development Corp. “Even a lot of our small-job shops depend on the automotive industry.” But local businesspeople still have high hopes for Honda. Freeman, the truck dealer, said he knew the company’s arrival would not immediately transform the city of 11,000.
Three years ago, he was part of a contingent of local officials who took a bus trip to Marysville, Ohio, where Honda opened a car plant in 1982, to learn what they could expect. “Nothing happens quickly,” said Freeman, former president of the Greensburg/ Decatur County Chamber of Commerce. “They told us, there’s going to be development, but it’s not immediate.” In fact, Freeman observed that Marysville itself isn’t much changed, in part because many of Honda’s employees live near Columbus, Ohio, 30 miles away. The same story appears to be unfolding in Greensburg. Honda won’t say what portion of its employees live in Decatur County. Freeman said the company’s white-collar employees have settled in Shelbyville or Indianapolis. That’s a typical pattern for factory expansions, Marcus said. The reason is that potential home buyers usually are working couples. They’ll settle where both spouses can find a job. Marcus said Greensburg may be like Kokomo. When Delphi and Chrysler expanded, professionals settled in Hamilton County. “The housing market changes very slowly,” he said. •
Recession delaying Honda’s full impact on GreensburgSat. June 20 - 2009
Kathleen McLaughlin
IBJ staff
This small town between Indianapolis and Cincinnati was hardly ailing when it landed the economic development prize of the decade—a new Honda plant. Back in June 2006, Decatur County’s unemployment rate was a healthy 4.2 percent, lower than the state’s as a whole. With Honda’s promise of 2,000 jobs by 2010, a boom seemed just around the corner. Instead, the recession wiped out hundreds of jobs at other factories. Despite Honda’s hiring 1,000 people in 2008, Decatur County’s numbers moved in the wrong direction. Unemployment hit 12.1 percent in April, up from 5 percent a year earlier and above the statewide average 9.9 percent. Yet people in Greensburg still feel fortunate—even optimistic—because Honda built its $550 million plant here. “It’s really kept us stable,” said Steve Freeman, president of Shirk’s International, a truck sales and service company. Freeman, who serves construction and agricultural clients, said he netted a lot of business as Honda’s gigantic factory was being built. Now that Honda produces 300 of its four-door Civic sedans a day, Shirk’s has regular work with the trucking company that hauls cars from factory to market. Honda began full production in October 2008 but is nowhere near capacity. The first shift could produce 400 cars, and Honda had hoped in 2006 to add a second full shift in 2009. That was before U.S. auto sales—even for the fuel-efficient Civic—plunged. Spokesman Bill Todd said Honda has no plans at this point to add a shift before the end of the fiscal year that ends in March 2010. The state and Decatur County put together $42.5 million in tax incentives and spent $44 million on infrastructure to draw Honda—investments government officials say they don’t regret making. ”We’re optimistic that Honda will expand when volume picks back up again,” Commerce Secretary Mitch Roob said. “But as long as Americans are buying 10 million vehicles a year, as opposed to a higher number—I don’t think you will see any of those [automakers] hire significantly new people when sales are down.” A large chunk of Honda’s $23 million in income tax breaks will hinge on the creation of jobs. The rest of the package includes an $18 million property tax abatement over 10 years and a $1.5 million grant for training employees. The company now plans to have 1,246 full-time Indiana employees by the end of 2009, according to the Indiana Economic Development Corp. At that level, it would qualify for a $1.4 million tax credit. Honda’s first-year tax credit was about $331,000, based on its 1,084 employees at the end of 2008. There is no deadline for Honda to reach 2,000 employees. But to avoid having to repay incentives, the company has to maintain its presence in Greensburg until December 2019. Honda’s impact Before Honda, State Road 421 was completely rural. The nearest landmark to the modern factory is a hilltop orchard. Now, Greensburg has a new $27 million interchange at I-74. New industries are not yet taking up the industrial plots around Honda. One Indianapolis developer, Street Corner Group, built a new Hampton Inn & Suites just south of the interchange. The 113-room hotel has suffered from a lack of corporate travel since opening last July, General Manager Sandi Robeson said. She said the hotel relies on Honda’s visiting engineers and vendors for much of its business. “They’re probably our biggest client,” she said. Honda attracted three suppliers to southeast Indiana, but one, auto glass maker Belletech, is having second thoughts. The Ohio-based company had agreed to build a plant employing 100 people in Versailles, near Cincinnati, but halted construction in January. “We’d love to start this fall. However, it all depends on how the economy is doing,” Vice President Mark McIntyre said. Belletech’s decision would not surprise any of the Indiana manufacturers that have been shedding workers by the hundreds. Greensburg’s losses since 2007 easily make a wash of the 1,000 jobs created by Honda. Delta Faucet, formerly one of the city’s largest employers, began whittling down its local work force in early 2007 as sales slowed along with the housing market. This past May, the company announced that it would consolidate operations in Jackson, Tenn. That will leave about 200 jobs in Greensburg, down from about 800 in 2007. Radiator maker Valeo, a major Chrysler supplier, has reduced its Greensburg work force from about 1,000 in the fall of 2007 to about 600. Some of those current employees are laid off temporarily. One relative bright spot is Greensburg-based Gecom, a door-latch maker that has a long-standing relationship with Honda and still employs about 1,100 people locally. The Greensburg operation has benefited as Gecom shut its research-and-development office in Detroit and closed a plant in Kentucky. Because of the consolidation, human resources manager Debora Ybarra said Gecom is recalling some of its 200 laid-off Greensburg personnel. Long-term outlook Though its impact may be muted now, Honda still could breathe life into the region over the long term. Retired Indiana University economist Morton Marcus said he believes sales of hybrid and electric vehicles will usher in a new era of auto manufacturing, and many of the suppliers hoping to capitalize will want to locate in southeastern Indiana to be near Honda. Honda can make multiple models on its Greensburg lines and already produces a small number of natural gas-powered Civics. “Everyone who’s thinking about expansion is thinking about the Greensburg area because of Honda,” Marcus said. But for now, market conditions in the auto industry remain dismal. Edmunds.com predicts U.S. auto sales will reach 10 million this year only if things go well. It probably will be another two years before sales reach a more comfortable 14 million, analyst Jessica Caldwell said. Honda initially benefited from the gas-price spike that began taking its toll on other auto makers last spring and summer. Civic sales last May totaled 53,299. This May, they reached only 20,723, a 60-percent decline. The auto industry’s woes have spurred civic leaders to contemplate diversifying the area’s economy. Officials are evaluating opportunities in such fields as renewable energy, food processing and logistics.
“Almost everything we have is auto-related,” said Vicki Kellerman, executive director of the Greensburg/Decatur County Economic Development Corp. “Even a lot of our small-job shops depend on the automotive industry.” But local businesspeople still have high hopes for Honda. Freeman, the truck dealer, said he knew the company’s arrival would not immediately transform the city of 11,000.
Three years ago, he was part of a contingent of local officials who took a bus trip to Marysville, Ohio, where Honda opened a car plant in 1982, to learn what they could expect. “Nothing happens quickly,” said Freeman, former president of the Greensburg/ Decatur County Chamber of Commerce. “They told us, there’s going to be development, but it’s not immediate.” In fact, Freeman observed that Marysville itself isn’t much changed, in part because many of Honda’s employees live near Columbus, Ohio, 30 miles away. The same story appears to be unfolding in Greensburg. Honda won’t say what portion of its employees live in Decatur County. Freeman said the company’s white-collar employees have settled in Shelbyville or Indianapolis. That’s a typical pattern for factory expansions, Marcus said. The reason is that potential home buyers usually are working couples. They’ll settle where both spouses can find a job. Marcus said Greensburg may be like Kokomo. When Delphi and Chrysler expanded, professionals settled in Hamilton County. “The housing market changes very slowly,” he said. •
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