NYPL Blogs: Posts from Science, Industry and Business Library (SIBL)

"Private Empire" by Steve Coll

Kenneth Johnson, Science, Industry and Business Library — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 09:18:12 -0500

Crude. Oil that is. Black gold. Texas tea. Politics. Lobbying. Old boys. Influence.

Private Empire: ExxonMobil and American Power, by Steve Coll.

It may shock the gentle reader to learn that petroleum is power. Well, maybe not. Look around — at the street, at houses and businesses. Without oil we'd stop, and maybe freeze (but we'd have light, since oil is rarely used for electricity generation).

Author Steve Coll's book is more concerned with other types of power. Political power, though in Coll's portrayal it seems admirable that ExxonMobil rarely is seen trying to influence politics except where there is a direct tie to its business. Corporate power, including the dynamics of succession to an almost imperial CEO position, mind-bogglingly large corporate acquisitions (remember Mobil Oil as a separate company?) and the corporate mindset of managers and employees that balances groupthink with business innovation and success.

As befits a global corporation, the action here takes place not just in Texas and Washington D.C. (and Alaska, lest we forget the Exxon Valdez), but in Africa — Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Nigeria — and in Asia — Aceh in Indonesia. Plus some side trips to Salkalin Island in Russia and to Iraq. But no matter where or when, all of ExxonMobil's activities remain tightly structured and controlled.

Overall, Private Empire is a dynamic and forceful, magnificently well researched and written tale. A worthy contender indeed for NYPL's Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism for 2013.

Free Job Training in Hospitality

Magdalene Chan, Science, Industry and Business Library — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 07:59:00 -0500

Looking for a career in hospitality?

The Chinese-American Planning Council, Workforce Development Division, provides a free training program in hospitality careers.

The curriculum for this program is from the American Hotel and Lodging Association which is the sole national association representing all sectors and stakeholders in the lodging industry, including individual hotel property members, hotel companies, students and faculty members, and industry suppliers.

This is a 10-week training program, Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

This training program includes:

Introduction to hospitality industry
Organization and structure of hotel
Communication skills
Job readiness skills

Participants will learn the skills needed to obtain various types of entry-level jobs in a hotel such as:

Room Attendant
Houseman
Kitchen Stewards

Average salary is $13.66 per hour

There will be job placement assistance for graduates.

Minimum Eligibility

18 years old and up
8th grade reading level
U.S. work authorized
High School Diploma/ GED preferred

How to apply

In order to apply, you must attend an orientation which is held every Monday at 9:30 am at 165 Eldridge Street, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10002

Travel directions: Take B/D train to Grand Street or F train to Delancy Street.

No one will be admitted to enter after this time.

For more information, please call Chinese-American Planning Council, Workforce Development Division at 212-941-0041.

If you want to learn more about free job training programs, please visit Job Search Central, Science, Industry and Business Library at 188 Madison Avenue and 34th Street.

Free Job Training in Construction Trades

Magdalene Chan, Science, Industry and Business Library — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 07:19:24 -0500

Are you looking for a career in the construction trade?

The Chinese-American Planning Council, Workforce Development Division, Construction Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program can get you there!

Construction Pre-Apprenticeship is an intensive 17-week training program whose graduates go on to work in the construction trades, including carpentry, sheet metal, electrical, environmental assessment, and lead and asbestos abatement.

Certifications can include Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA 10), 40-hour Hazardous waste worker, CPR, scaffold and much more…
Training, transportation, and licensing fees are provided at no cost to you.
Average salary per hour $16.
Job Placement Assistance for graduates.

Eligibility Requirements:

Able to perform 8 hours of physical labor each day
Travel to job sites throughout the city every day
Between 18-25 years old
An American Citizen or Naturalized Immigrant
Have a valid State ID card or Drivers License
Able to pass a math and reading test at the 8th grade level
Possess a High School Diploma or GED at the time of application
Be unemployed and/or have a low income
Able to attend class Monday thru Friday 8:00 am to 3:30 pm for 17 weeks

How to apply:

In order to apply, you must attend an orientation which is held Every Monday at 9:30 am at 165 Eldridge Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10002.

Travel directions: Take B/D train to Grand Street or F train to Delancey Street.

No one will be admitted to enter after that time.

At Orientation you MUST have the following documents with you:

Birth Certificate/Citizenship Status
Social Security Card
Valid State Identitication
Proof of Address
Proof of Income
High School Diploma/GED

For more information, please call Chinese-American Planning Council at 212-941-0041.

If you want to learn more about free job training programs, please visit Job Search Central, Science Industry and Business Library online or in person at 188 Madison Avenue and 34th Street.

New Plant Patent Color Images at SIBL: Through December 25, 2012

Kenneth Johnson, Science, Industry and Business Library — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 04:16:00 -0500

Here are scans of the color plates of U.S. Plant Patents received at SIBL for the weeks of December 11, 18 and 25, 2012.

For additional Plant Patent plates for 2012, these have been listed, with links, in the table posted here.

As before, please be careful in using these — they're really not appropriate to use for prior art or other similar searches. Otherwise, please enjoy!

United States Plant Patents: Patents Published December 11, 2012; Nos. PP23246-PP23253

Date Patent Number Inventor Title Text Color Image December 11, 2012 PP23246 Stoppel Variety of strawberry plant named 'MALWINA' USPTO PP23246 December 11, 2012 PP23247 Donahue Lantana plant named 'ELEORAN' USPTO PP23247 December 11, 2012 PP23248 Snoeijer Clematis plant named 'Zoang' USPTO PP23248 December 11, 2012 PP23249 Uebelhart Physalis plant named 'Queen' USPTO PP23249 December 11, 2012 PP23250 Hornig Centaurea plant named 'Black Sprite' USPTO PP23250 December 11, 2012 PP23251 Egger Tradescantia plant named 'Regal Charm' USPTO PP23251 December 11, 2012 PP23252 Bergman Chrysanthemum plant named 'CIDZ0007' USPTO PP23252 December 11, 2012 PP23253 Danziger Impatiens plant named 'DANMU77' USPTO PP23253

United States Plant Patents: Patents Published December 18, 2012; Nos. PP23254-PP23268

Date Patent Number Inventor Title Text Color Image December 18, 2012 PP23254 Meilland Hybrid tea rose plant named 'Meimonkeur' USPTO PP23254 December 18, 2012 PP23255 Nelson et al. Strawberry plant named 'BG-4316' USPTO PP23255 December 18, 2012 PP23256 Nelson et al. Strawberry plant named 'BG-3.324' USPTO PP23256 December 18, 2012 PP23257 Nelson et al. Strawberry plant named 'BG-4315' USPTO PP23257 December 18, 2012 PP23258 Francis Leucadendron plant named 'Ebony' USPTO PP23258 December 18, 2012 PP23259 Burton Coprosma plant named 'Midnight Martini' USPTO PP23259 December 18, 2012 PP23260 Fraser Coprosma plant named 'Inferno' USPTO PP23260 December 18, 2012 PP23261 Klemm et al. New Guinea impatiens plant named 'KLENI10128' USPTO PP23261 December 18, 2012 PP23262 Bartels Phlox plant named 'Barseventyone' USPTO PP23262 December 18, 2012 PP23263 Bartels Phlox plant named 'Barseventy' USPTO PP23263 December 18, 2012 PP23264 Bartels Phlox plant named 'Barseventytwo' USPTO PP23264 December 18, 2012 PP23265 Lemberger Phlox paniculata plant named 'Shockwave' USPTO PP23265 December 18, 2012 PP23266 Yates Begonia plant named 'YASPRINK' USPTO PP23266 December 18, 2012 PP23267 de Wet et al. Aloe plant named 'X5' USPTO PP23267 December 18, 2012 PP23268 Korlipara Campanula plant named 'Summertime Jazz' USPTO PP23268

United States Plant Patents: Patents Published December 25, 2012; Nos. PP23269-PP23287

Date Patent Number Inventor Title Text Color Image December 25, 2012 PP23269 Bedard Floribunda rose plant named 'WEKbijou' USPTO PP23269 December 25, 2012 PP23270 Johnson, Jr., et al. Blackberry plant named 'HJ-6' USPTO PP23270 December 25, 2012 PP23271 van den Hoogen Veronica plant named 'Alllady' USPTO PP23271 December 25, 2012 PP23272 Nakano Bougainvillea plant named 'Koiro' USPTO PP23272 December 25, 2012 PP23273 Pieters Chrysanthemum plant named 'Bronze Pamplona Jogger' USPTO PP23273 December 25, 2012 PP23274 Pieters Chrysanthemum plant named 'Nerola Orange' USPTO PP23274 December 25, 2012 PP23275 Pieters Chrysanthemum plant named 'Mika Orange' USPTO PP23275 December 25, 2012 PP23276 Konst Alstroemeria plant named 'Koncamambo' USPTO PP23276 December 25, 2012 PP23277 Kientzler New Guinea impatiens plant named 'Vinfsalbis' USPTO PP23277 December 25, 2012 PP23278 Beekenkamp Dahlia plant named 'Bkdapr' USPTO PP23278 December 25, 2012 PP23279 Verwer Dahlia plant named 'HDPI117' USPTO PP23279 December 25, 2012 PP23280 Jepsen Kalanchoe plant named 'Justine' USPTO PP23280 December 25, 2012 PP23281 Yates Begonia plant named 'YASPWHIT' USPTO PP23281 December 25, 2012 PP23282 Michalik Petunia plant named 'Pactoyel' USPTO PP23282 December 25, 2012 PP23283 Miedema-Jorna Petunia plant named 'FIPETROBICO' USPTO PP23283 December 25, 2012 PP23284 Laviana Echinacea plant named 'B's Knees' USPTO PP23284 December 25, 2012 PP23285 Pavlich Heuchera plant named 'Berry Marmalade' USPTO PP23285 December 25, 2012 PP23286 Ault, et al. Monarda plant named 'Fire Marshall' USPTO PP23286 December 25, 2012 PP23287 MacKenzie Sedum plant named 'Nonogo' USPTO PP23287

NYPL's Gift to Online Learners... lynda.com for Free!

Kristin McDonough, Director, Science, Industry and Business Library — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 06:05:04 -0500

In this season of gift giving, the New York Public Library has just added a wonderful new resource — lynda.com — for New Yorkers who need the top of the line in online software training. NYPL's business library, SIBL, has entered into a year long pilot to provide free access to the continuously expanding library of 1,500 online training videos.

As soon as your holiday reveling has wound down, head to SIBL and plunk yourself down at one of the nine dedicated lynda.com workstations or at any of the other database workstations scattered throughout the library.

A leader in online learning, lynda.com is known across industry, government agencies, and college campuses as a provider of clear and accessible instructional videos that meet the needs of ambitious and enterprising New Yorkers who might want to:

Hone Office skills to get ahead at their workplace
Learn MS Word Power Shortcuts or Mail Merge to make their small business more efficient
Use Power Point to create presentations for a class or pitch to clients or funders
Ace Photoshop to make gifts for grandkids or take an ex's photo out of a family portrait
Plug holes in their resumes or learn salary negotiation tips during their job search

Here's just a sampling of lynda.com's software application offerings: MS Excel, Windows 8, Quickbooks, Twitter for Business, Web Graphics, Photoshop, Digital Photography, Creating Mobile Apps for iPad and Android, Video Editing, Audio Editing, iPad Music Production. Also Digital Publishing, Logo Design, WordPress, Drupal, 3-D, Dreamweaver and more! And remember, too, that lynda.com has courses on crucial job search and business skills from resume revision and salary negotiation to sales and project management.

And there's more!

lynda.com training requires no registration or personal data input.
lynda.com does require headphones. You can bring your own or buy a set at SIBL for $1.00.
You can take a tutorial or full course multiple times. There is no time limit to lynda.com use.
Options include completing a full course or just specific modules within a course.
Laptop owners — Mac users in particular — can bring their laptop to practice with exercise files while taking lynda.com courses on SIBL’s public workstations.

See you soon at SIBL! Get the training you need at your own pace.

"Behind the Beautiful Forevers" by Katherine Boo

Kenneth Johnson, Science, Industry and Business Library — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 09:39:15 -0500

July dawn. A passerby finds a scavenger lying in the mud by the Mumbai airport road. Crying for help — leg mashed and bloody — probably hit by a car. "Thousands of people passed this way every morning." ... "At 2:30 p.m., a Shiv Sena man made a call to a friend in the Sahar Police Station about a corpse that was disturbing small children."

Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity, by Katherine Boo. Besides print, also available as an audiobook, e-book and e-audio. Website for the Book.

Is this journalism? This is journalism.

Deceptively novel-like as it begins, we soon get into the pace and tone. Strands of events, captured and crystalized, told as they need to be told.

There are many descriptions, synopses and reviews of this book out there. Not surprising, given it won the 2012 National Book Award for nonfiction. It also has been selected by the New York Times Book Review as one of the 10 Best Books of 2012. And a contender for the Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism for 2013 — though we'll have to wait to find out those results.

But don't read the reviews. Read the book!

Red Flags for Email Scams

Magdalene Chan, Science, Industry and Business Library — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 07:50:37 -0500

Job search on the Internet is convenient; however, job seekers have to be extra careful with job offerings which arrive in email unsolicited.

The New York State Department of Labor has prepared the following information to alert job seekers to be cautious with their Email job search.

Red Flags for Email Scams

Many credible businesses now use online sites such as Facebook and Craigslist to recruit new employees. Conducting your job search on the Internet is convenient and popular in today's job market.

However, dishonest individuals may try to draw you into an email. Be wary of any unwanted emails you may receive claiming that a company is interested in your resume.

If you receive an email that fits any one of these criteria, chances are it is a scam. Beware if the email:

Does not greet you by name
Is from an individual or web site you do not recognize
Does not include information about a specific job opening
Offers a job that appears "too good to be true"
Mentions vague "we have thousands of jobs" or "we work with major companies"
Mentions seeing your resume on a site where you did not post it
Does not say where the sender saw your resume
Links to a web site that looks professional, but lacks any details as to
- Who is running the company
- Other companies they have worked with
- Where the company is located
- Company contact information
Offers to sell you a "starter kit" or something similar
Mentions paying you via bank account transfers

If you get involved in any of these schemes, your identity may be stolen or your bank account drained. You could be charged with a crime or series of crimes — even if you participate without knowing it is a crime.

Tips for Avoiding Email Scams

Limit the amount of personal information you provide to employers. No credible employer should ever ask you for bank account numbers, credit card numbers, mother's maiden name, or other identifying traits before hiring you.
Protect your Social Security Number. Some genuine employers do ask for your SSN on an online application, but as a general rule, never provide you SSN, especially in combination with credit card information. This can lead to identity theft.
Keep good records of sites where you post your resume. Delete it from those sites after your job search is complete.
Reply to jobs directly without using a third party. Post your resume directly on the web site of the company that posted the job.
Use resume privacy options. Many job sites allow customers to hide contact information and to control who contacts them.

Steps for Victims of Email Job Scams

Report the company name, job posting, and all contact names to he job site where the scam was posted.
Close all email addresses linked to the scam.
If you provided bank account information, close all accounts at the bank where the scam took place.

Victims of Internet fraud may also file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), a partnership of the FBI, National White Collar Crime Center, and the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

For more information on Email job scams, please visit Job Search Central online or in person at 188 Madison Street and 34th Street.

New Plant Patent Color Images at SIBL: Through December 4, 2012

Kenneth Johnson, Science, Industry and Business Library — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 07:21:42 -0500

Here are scans of the color plates of U.S. Plant Patents received at SIBL for the weeks of November 20, 27 and December 4, 2012.

For additional Plant Patent plates for 2012, these have been listed, with links, in the table posted here.

As before, please be careful in using these — they're really not appropriate to use for prior art or other similar searches. Otherwise, please enjoy!

United States Plant Patents: Patents Published November 20, 2012; Nos. PP23193-PP23210

Date Patent Number Inventor Title Text Color Image November 20, 2012 PP23193 Sekiya Pineapple plant named 'Franklynn' USPTO PP23193 November 20, 2012 PP23194 Maillard et al. Peach tree named 'FLATBELLA' USPTO PP23194 November 20, 2012 PP23195 Maillard et al. Peach tree named 'SWEETREINE' USPTO PP23195 November 20, 2012 PP23196 Maillard et al. Peach tree named 'SWEETREGAL' USPTO PP23196 November 20, 2012 PP23197 Maillard et al. Peach tree named 'Flatbeauti' USPTO PP23197 November 20, 2012 PP23198 Maillard et al. Peach tree named 'Crispbella' USPTO PP23198 November 20, 2012 PP23199 Perl et al. Grapevine named 'Green Onyx' USPTO PP23199 November 20, 2012 PP23200 Kobayashi Poinsettia plant named 'PER1230' USPTO PP23200 November 20, 2012 PP23201 Kobayashi Poinsettia plant named 'PER1188' USPTO PP23201 November 20, 2012 PP23202 Klemm et al. New Guinea impatiens plant named 'KLENI10117' USPTO PP23202 November 20, 2012 PP23203 van Haaster Dahlia plant named 'Fidahflo' USPTO PP23203 November 20, 2012 PP23204 van Haaster Dahlia plant named 'Fidahtex' USPTO PP23204 November 20, 2012 PP23205 Koppe Begonia plant named 'KRSSUWH01' USPTO PP23205 November 20, 2012 PP23206 Hurkman Petunia plant named 'Balspunlu' USPTO PP23206 November 20, 2012 PP23207 Nielsen Osteospermum plant named 'DAOSNITTEN' USPTO PP23207 November 20, 2012 PP23208 van Dijk Anthurium plant named 'Anthulyha' USPTO PP23208 November 20, 2012 PP23209 Trucks Panicum plant named 'Cheyenne Sky' USPTO PP23209 November 20, 2012 PP23210 Kurashima et al. Mushroom named 'PLE-3' USPTO PP23210

United States Plant Patents: Patents Published November 27, 2012; Nos. PP23211-PP23235

Date Patent Number Inventor Title Text Color Image November 27, 2012 PP23211 Zaiger et al. Interspecific tree named 'Sweet Pixie' USPTO PP23211 November 27, 2012 PP23212 Ranney Weigela shrub named 'Sunset' USPTO PP23212 November 27, 2012 PP23213 Misato Mandevilla plant named 'Sunpararosta' USPTO PP23213 November 27, 2012 PP23214 Moore Buddleja plant named 'Pink Pagoda' USPTO PP23214 November 27, 2012 PP23215 Brugliera Dianthus plant named 'Floriemerald' USPTO PP23215 November 27, 2012 PP23216 Brugliera Dianthus plant named 'Floriruby' USPTO PP23216 November 27, 2012 PP23217 Pieters Chrysanthemum plant named 'Margo White' USPTO PP23217 November 27, 2012 PP23218 Hofmann Verbena plant named 'Invebroich' USPTO PP23218 November 27, 2012 PP23219 Danziger Verbena plant named 'DVER70' USPTO PP23219 November 27, 2012 PP23220 Kientzler New Guinea impatiens plant named 'Vinfelecor' USPTO PP23220 November 27, 2012 PP23221 Kientzler New Guinea impatiens plant named 'Vinfeleche' USPTO PP23221 November 27, 2012 PP23222 Kientzler New Guinea Impatiens plant named 'Vinflavimp' USPTO PP23222 November 27, 2012 PP23223 Jepsen Kalanchoe plant named 'Keira' USPTO PP23223 November 27, 2012 PP23224 Lichacz Hosta plant named 'Autumn Frost' USPTO PP23224 November 27, 2012 PP23225 Hurkman Petunia plant named 'Balsunpade' USPTO PP23225 November 27, 2012 PP23226 Miedema-Jorna Calibrachoa plant named 'Ficallinred' USPTO PP23226 November 27, 2012 PP23227 Miedema-Jorna Calibrachoa plant named 'Ficallinwhi' USPTO PP23227 November 27, 2012 PP23228 Miedema-Jorna Calibrachoa plant named 'Ficallinpi' USPTO PP23228 November 27, 2012 PP23229 Sakazaki Calibrachoa plant named 'USCAL88203' USPTO PP23229 November 27, 2012 PP23230 Sakazaki Calibrachoa plant named 'USCAL87502' USPTO PP23230 November 27, 2012 PP23231 Sakazaki Calibrachoa plant named 'USCAL84704' USPTO PP23231 November 27, 2012 PP23232 Sakazaki Calibrachoa plant named 'USCAL91001' USPTO PP23232 November 27, 2012 PP23233 Miedema-Jorna Calibrachoa plant named 'Ficallinliblu' USPTO PP23233 November 27, 2012 PP23234 Miedema-Jorna Calibrachoa plant named 'Ficallinyel' USPTO PP23234

United States Plant Patents: Patents Published December 4, 2012; Nos. PP23236-PP23245

Date Patent Number Inventor Title Text Color Image December 4, 2012 PP23236 Kellerhals Apple tree named 'CH 101' USPTO PP23236 December 4, 2012 PP23237 Danziger Petunia plant named 'DLITT259' USPTO PP23237 December 4, 2012 PP23238 Danziger Petunia plant named 'DLITT258' USPTO PP23238 December 4, 2012 PP23239 Danziger Petunia plant named 'DLITT262' USPTO PP23239 December 4, 2012 PP23240 Danziger Petunia plant named 'DRAY263' USPTO PP23240 December 4, 2012 PP23241 Korlipara Echinacea plant named 'Quills and Thrills' USPTO PP23241 December 4, 2012 PP23242 Danziger Gaillardia plant named 'DGAL901' USPTO PP23242 December 4, 2012 PP23243 Danziger Portulaca plant named 'DPAZ15' USPTO PP23243 December 4, 2012 PP23244 Danziger Portulaca plant named 'DPAZ16' USPTO PP23244 December 4, 2012 PP23245 Danziger Portulaca plant named 'DPAZ17' USPTO PP23245

Jump Start the 2013 NY StartUP! Business Plan Competition

Kristin McDonough, Director, Science, Industry and Business Library — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 07:10:25 -0500

Do you need a BIG push towards realizing that elusive goal of business ownership? If so, the 2013 New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition offers you the option for multiple wins: a piece of the more than $30,000 "pie" of cash prizes, technical training, one-on-one business advisory, and participation in a vibrant small business network. But, hurry! There is just a week left to meet the first requirement -- attending an orientation.

With the generous sponsorship of the Citi Foundation, the New York Public Library's Business Library, SIBL, hosts StartUP! for residents of the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island who want to open a business in one of those boroughs. The Citi Foundation also funds similar contests for aspiring entrepreneurs in Brooklyn and Queens, too.

Entrants must develop a for-profit venture that has not yet earned revenue. Requirements are spelled out at the official StartUP! website which also provides detailed information about the technical training workshops and the mentors from business advisory partners along with a business plan template adapted from Rhonda Abrams' book The Successful Business Plan; Secrets and Strategies, If this wealth of resources fails to wow you, check out the short videos of past winners which are almost guaranteed to lure you at one of the two remaining orientations on Wednesday December 12 and Saturday December 14 in mid-town Manhattan at 34th and Madison.

StartUP! offers 5 cash prizes from $15,000 to $1500. The contest's tag line, though, is that every entrant who submits a business plan at the end of six months is a winner. How so?

First, let's note that a completed business plan is an entree to many free services for metro-area small business owners. Take the financing experts at the city's Business Solutions Centers who work only with clients who have developed a workable business plan. Many other funders from commercial banks and micro-lenders to angel investors also look for that b-plan. Second, the teams of judges review and comment on all completed plans so StartUP! offers a great source of expert feedback on your proposed venture. The judges' panel includes bankers, attorneys, investors, successful entrepreneurs, and, business support agencies at the city, state and federal level so this input represents a healthy diversity of perspectives.

Another bonus is that SIBL regularly alerts StartUP! entrants to training, networking events, incentive programs, and expos. Registration fees are sometimes waived for StartUP! participants as at the upcoming International Business Opportunities Conference run by the New York Enterprise Report, whose publisher, Rob Levin, is a StartUP! judge.

The StartUP! competition provides visibility for participants, too. A winner from the first (2010) StartUP!, Shagun Malhotra, went on to enter the competitive Startup Chile program, served as a StartUP! judge, keynoted at the 2012 Awards ceremony, and addressed sister entrepreneurs from 20 emerging markets at the Women and Entrepreneurshhip symposium that the U. S. State Department held at SIBL this summer. She convinced StartUP! winner, Jenny Chu, and finalist Amy Stevens, to compete -- successfully, of course -- for Startup Chile,too. A bit closer to home, StartUP's 2011 first place winner, Denise Adusei, was featured last spring along with Sharktank's Barbara Corcoran at a Business Success Forum hosted by Harlem Radio at the Harlem Library.

It's not just the winners whom StartUP! helps to launch. Precious Williams, a 2012 StartUP finalist won the People's Choice eound with her 3-minute pitch at the 46th Workshop in Business Opportunities Gala which garnered her a bit of media attention. A month later, Williams' startup, Curvy Girlz, which specializes in plus size lingerie, has just been named the winner of WIBO's 2012 Executive Summary and Pitch Competition.

Trust me, there are no losers in the New York StartUP! Business Plan Competition. Take your first step by taking in the two remaining orientations on December 12 and December 15.

Looking For Employment? FEMA is Hiring

Magdalene Chan, Science, Industry and Business Library — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 04:27:27 -0500

In the aftermath of the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is hiring local employees to help with the recovery of many communities impacted by the storm.

For more information or to apply for temporary positions, go to:

New York State Job Bank website:

newyork.us.jobs

Insert the word FEMA in the keyword search box to access FEMA’s job postings.

FEMA provides equal opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation and parental status.

There are hundreds of FEMA jobs in New York, NY (within 25 miles), below listed the first 30 of the job openings:

CIO Advisory PSI Disaster Recovery Manager (New York, NY)
CIO Advisory PSI Disaster Recovery Manager (Florham Park, NJ)
CIO Advisory PSI Disaster Recovery Manager (New York, NY)
CIO Advisory PSI Disaster Recovery Manager (Florham Park, NJ)
Crisis Counselor (White Plains, NY)
FEMA Disaster Assistance General Planner (Edison, NJ)
FEMA Disaster Assistance Scientist (Edison, NJ)
FEMA Disaster Assistance Cost Estimator (Edison NJ)
FEMA Disaster Assistance Technical Specialist (Edison, NJ)
FEMA Disaster Assistance Engineer (Edison, NJ)
FEMA Disaster Assistance Construction Specialist (Edison, NJ)
FEMA Disaster Assistance Architect (Edison, NJ)
Insurance Specialist (Forest Hills, NY)
Administrative Assistant to Equal Rights (Forest Hills, NY)
Logistics Specialist (Courier) (Forest Hills, NY)
Administrative Assistant to Mitigation (Forest Hills, NY)
External Affairs Program Liaison (Forest Hills, NY)
Media Relations Specialist (Korean) (forest Hills, NY)
Technical Specialist Engineer ll (Project Management) (Forest Hills, NY)
Architect (Forest Hills, NY)
Administrative / Resource (Forest Hills, NY)
Warehouse Clerk (Lake Success) (Forest Hills, NY)
Administrative Staff Assistant to IT (Forest Hills, NY)
Administrative Specialist (Forest Hills, NY)
Logistics Administrative Aid (Forest Hills, NY)
Logistics Specialist (Mail Room Specialist) (Forest Hills, NY)
External Affairs LEP/ACN Specialist-Strategic Messaging (Forest Hills, NY)
Media Relations Specialist (Russian) (Forest Hills, NY)
Project Specialist (Forest Hills, NY)
Photographer (Forest Hills, NY)

Please go to the above listed link, newyork.us.jobs, for more job listings.

For more information on FEMA Employment, please visit Job Search Central online, or visit the Science, Industry and Business Library at 188 Madison Avenue and 34th Street.

Breaking News: Morningstar Available to NYPL Cardholders at Home!

Kenneth Johnson, Science, Industry and Business Library — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:12:08 -0500

Extry! Extry! Extry! Read all about it! Newsflash! Morningstar Investment Research Center — in the New York Public Library's subscription — is now available to NYPL Library Card Holders offsite.

Don't have a library card yet? It's simple! Find out how to get one.

I reported on this database in a post last year. It's an excellent resource for those planning do research on Stocks, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Industries and more. Plus, there are lots of investor education materials available on this subscription site. If you have any questions, just ask a librarian or contact AskNYPL!

Check it out!

New Plant Patent Color Images at SIBL: Through November 13, 2012

Kenneth Johnson, Science, Industry and Business Library — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 02:57:09 -0500

Here are scans of the color plates of U.S. Plant Patents received at SIBL for the weeks of November 6 and 13, 2012.

For additional Plant Patent plates for 2012, these have been listed, with links, in the table posted here.

As before, please be careful in using these — they're really not appropriate to use for prior art or other similar searches. Otherwise, please enjoy!

United States Plant Patents: Patents Published November 6, 2012; Nos. PP23158-PP23173

Date Patent Number Inventor Title Text Color Image November 6, 2012 PP23158 Orard Climbing rose plant named 'ORAfantanov' USPTO PP23158 November 6, 2012 PP23159 Kordes Floribunda rose plant named 'KORmarkron' USPTO PP23159 November 6, 2012 PP23160 Slaughter et al. Peach tree, 'Burpeachtwentyseven' USPTO PP23160 November 6, 2012 PP23161 Slaughter et al. Peach tree, 'Burpeachtwentysix' USPTO PP23161 November 6, 2012 PP23162 Suiker Strawberry plant named 'Flair' USPTO PP23162 November 6, 2012 PP23163 Zylstra Myoporum plant named 'CLEAN n GREEN' USPTO PP23163 November 6, 2012 PP23164 Ramon Alvarez Britos Stevia plant named 'AKH L1' USPTO PP23164 November 6, 2012 PP23165 de Does Thunbergia plant named 'NEBTHU 007' USPTO PP23165 November 6, 2012 PP23166 Endisch Mandevilla plant named 'Gendipbic' USPTO PP23166 November 6, 2012 PP23167 Endisch Mandevilla plant named 'Gendipdark' USPTO PP23167 November 6, 2012 PP23168 Griffith Lagerstroemia plant named 'PIILAG-I' USPTO PP23168 November 6, 2012 PP23169 Bergman Chrysanthemum plant named 'CIDZ0011' USPTO PP23169 November 6, 2012 PP23170 van der Knaap Kalanchoe plant named 'Don Basco' USPTO PP23170 November 6, 2012 PP23171 Rogmans et al. Eichhornia crassipes plant named 'Johann Schoofs Sen' USPTO PP23171 November 6, 2012 PP23172 Korlipara Echinacea plant named 'Mama Mia' USPTO PP23172 November 6, 2012 PP23173 Egger Heuchera plant named 'Root Beer' USPTO PP23173

United States Plant Patents: Patents Published November 13, 2012; Nos. PP23174-PP23192

Date Patent Number Inventor Title Text Color Image November 13, 2012 PP23174 Carruth Floribunda rose plant named 'WEKplalajaro' USPTO PP23174 November 13, 2012 PP23175 Gray et al. Rose plant named 'GRAsuper' USPTO PP23175 November 13, 2012 PP23176 Suzuki Loropetalum named 'Kurobijin' USPTO PP23176 November 13, 2012 PP23177 Durand Physocarpus plant named 'Jefam' USPTO PP23177 November 13, 2012 PP23178 Dirr Lagerstroemia plant named 'PIILAG-III' USPTO PP23178 November 13, 2012 PP23179 Korlipara Geum plant named 'Fire Storm' USPTO PP23179 November 13, 2012 PP23180 Korlipara Nepeta plant named 'Purple Haze' USPTO PP23180 November 13, 2012 PP23181 Hurd Leucanthemum plant named 'Banana Cream' USPTO PP23181 November 13, 2012 PP23182 Bergman Chrysanthemum plant named 'CIDZ0016' USPTO PP23182 November 13, 2012 PP23183 van Haaster Dahlia plant named 'Fidahhyprobico' USPTO PP23183 November 13, 2012 PP23184 van Haaster Dahlia plant named 'Fidahhypcor' USPTO PP23184 November 13, 2012 PP23185 van Haaster Dahlia plant named 'Fidahhyplav' USPTO PP23185 November 13, 2012 PP23186 van Haaster Dahlia plant named 'Fidahlouis' USPTO PP23186 November 13, 2012 PP23187 van Haaster Dahlia plant named 'Fidahhyppurbico' USPTO PP23187 November 13, 2012 PP23188 Geibel Variety of Pelargonium plant named 'Pacneamex' USPTO PP23188 November 13, 2012 PP23189 Nielsen Osteospermum plant named 'DAOSTYVE' USPTO PP23189 November 13, 2012 PP23190 Chen Cordyline plant named 'Spricorfantasy' USPTO PP23190 November 13, 2012 PP23191 Klemm et al. Calibrachoa plant named 'KLECA09204' USPTO PP23191 November 13, 2012 PP23192 Danziger Diascia plant named 'DGENT29' USPTO PP23192

Education and Employment: Online Diploma Mills

Magdalene Chan, Science, Industry and Business Library — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 06:02:44 -0500

In an environment of globalization, economic volatility and rapid advancement of technologies, the American world of work is evolving with an upward spiral of academic requirements and qualifications. In preparing for the 21st century workplace, an increasing number of students are enrolling in both public and private higher education institutions. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, education pays.

The U.S. higher education industry is growing at a tremendous rate especially with distance learning and online professional studies for students of all ages. Some higher education institutions provide an education with a solid intellectual grounding to meet the needs of the nation's workforce. However, some educational institutions, especially online, are actually diploma mills that offer degrees of deception.

Claire Rosenzweig, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Serving Metropolitan New York, states that "Education is one of the keys to advancing in life and having a diploma or advanced degree can certainly make a difference when it comes to getting into college or landing a higher-paying job. While the Internet facilitates learning through online curriculum, it also makes it easier for scammers to shill their phony high school diplomas and college degrees."

The following information on online diploma mills is from the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Alert, USA.gov.

Diploma Mills: Degrees of Deception

Are you ever tempted by an ad claiming you can "earn a college degree based on life experience"? Don't be, say attorneys for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), America's consumer protection agency. Chances are good that the ad is for a "diploma mill," a company that offers "degrees" or certificates for a flat fee, requires little course work, if any, and awards degrees based solely on life experience.

Most employers and educational institutions consider it lying if you claim academic credentials that you didn't earn through actual course work, Federal officials say it's risky behavior. If you use a so-called "degree" from a diploma mill to apply for a job or promotion, you risk not getting hired, getting fired, and in some cases, prosecution.

Diploma mills may claim to be "accredited." Colleges and universities accredited by legitimate organizations undergo a rigorous review of the quality of their educational programs. Although many diploma mills claim to be "accredited," their accreditation is from a bogus, but official-sounding agency that they created. You can use the Internet to check if a school is accredited by a legitimate organization at the database of accredited academic institutions posted by the U.S. Department of education at www.ope.ed.gov/accrediation or at the council for Higher Education Accreditation database at www.chea.org/search. (There are a few legitimate institutions that have not pursued accreditation.)

Look out for sound-alikes. Some diploma mills take on names that are very similar to well-known colleges or universities; a "dot edu" Web address is no guarantees of legitimacy, either. Keep in mind that some diploma mills use credit-sounding foreign names. Researching the legitimacy of a foreign school can be a challenge, but is clearly worth the time. If you're having a tough time checking out a particular school, call the registrar of a local college or university and ask if it would accept transfer credits from the school you are considering.

So how can you tell the institution you're thinking about is legitimate? Here are some tell-tale signs of a diploma mill:

No studies, No Exams. Get a Degree for Your Experience. Diploma mills grant degrees for "work or life experience" alone . Accredited colleges may give a few credits for specific experience pertinent to a degree program, but not an entire degree.
No Attendance. Legitimate colleges or universities, including online schools, require substantial course work.
Flat Fee. Many diploma mills charge on a per-degree basis. Legitimate colleges charge by the credit course, or semester, not a flat fee for an entire degree.
No Waiting. Operations that guarantee a degree in a few days, weeks, or even months aren't legitimate. If an advertisement promises that you can earn a degree very quickly, it's probably a diploma mill.
Click Here To Order Now! Some diploma mills push themselves through aggressive sales tactics.
Accredited colleges don't use a spam or high-pressure telemarketing to market themselves. Some diploma mills also advertise in newspapers, magazines, and on the web.
Advertising Through Spam or Pop-Ups. If the school caught your attention through an unsolicited email or pop-up advertisement, it may be a diploma mill. Legitimate institutions, including distance learning programs, won't advertise through spam or pop-ups.

For more information on education and employment, please visit Job Search Central online or in person at 188 Madison Avenue and 34th Street.

New Plant Patent Color Images at SIBL: Through October 30, 2012

Kenneth Johnson, Science, Industry and Business Library — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 09:00:11 -0500

Here are scans of the color plates of U.S. Plant Patents received at SIBL for the weeks of October 23 and 30, 2012.

For additional Plant Patent plates for 2012, these have been listed, with links, in the table posted here.

As before, please be careful in using these — they're really not appropriate to use for prior art or other similar searches. Otherwise, please enjoy!

United States Plant Patents: Patents Published October 23, 2012; Nos. PP23121-PP23147

Date Patent Number Inventor Title Text Color Image October 23, 2012 PP23121 Kordes Floribunda rose plant named 'KORburox' USPTO PP23121 October 23, 2012 PP23122 Kordes Floribunda rose plant named 'KORschwill' USPTO PP23122 October 23, 2012 PP23123 Zaiger et al. Interspecific tree named 'Kylese' USPTO PP23123 October 23, 2012 PP23124 Zaiger et al. Interspecific rootstock tree named 'Newroot-2' USPTO PP23124 October 23, 2012 PP23125 Sheehan Grapevine 'Sheegene-20' USPTO PP23125 October 23, 2012 PP23126 Leis et al. Strawberry plant named 'JOLY' USPTO PP23126 October 23, 2012 PP23127 Leis et al. Strawberry plant named 'DELY' USPTO PP23127 October 23, 2012 PP23128 Dirr Distylium plant named 'Vintage Jade' USPTO PP23128 October 23, 2012 PP23129 Page Filipendula plant named 'Wbprest' USPTO PP23129 October 23, 2012 PP23130 Oostveen Hibiscus plant named 'Extrepink' USPTO PP23130 October 23, 2012 PP23131 Kanazawa Anemone plant named 'Pretty Lady Julia' USPTO PP23131 October 23, 2012 PP23132 MacGregor et al. Anemone plant named 'MACANE001' USPTO PP23132 October 23, 2012 PP23133 Klemm et al. Pot carnation plant named 'KLEDP10105' USPTO PP23133 October 23, 2012 PP23134 Pieters Chrysanthemum plant named 'Pavia Red' USPTO PP23134 October 23, 2012 PP23135 Pieters Chrysanthemum plant named 'Granata Red' USPTO PP23135 October 23, 2012 PP23136 Danziger Impatiens plant named 'DANMU82' USPTO PP23136 October 23, 2012 PP23137 Dummen New Guinea impatiens plant named 'Duepetauber' USPTO PP23137 October 23, 2012 PP23138 Beekenkamp Begonia plant named 'BKBEWPF' USPTO PP23138 October 23, 2012 PP23139 Klemm et al. Osteospermum plant named 'KLEOE10178' USPTO PP23139 October 23, 2012 PP23140 van Dijk Anthurium plant named 'Anthzupap' USPTO PP23140 October 23, 2012 PP23141 Bryson Lomandra plant named 'JB2LIME' USPTO PP23141 October 23, 2012 PP23142 Danziger Argyranthemum plant named 'DARGY31' USPTO PP23142 October 23, 2012 PP23143 Verschoor Astilbe plant named 'Versred' USPTO PP23143 October 23, 2012 PP23144 Danziger Diascia plant named 'DGENT31' USPTO PP23144 October 23, 2012 PP23145 Ren Echinacea plant named 'Balscoberr' USPTO PP23145 October 23, 2012 PP23146 Danziger Sutera plant named 'DANCOP41' USPTO PP23146 October 23, 2012 PP23147 Danziger Sutera plant named 'DANCOP40' USPTO PP23147

United States Plant Patents: Patents Published October 30, 2012; Nos. PP23148-PP23157

Date Patent Number Inventor Title Text Color Image October 30, 2012 PP23148 Gilford et al. Strawberry plant named 'DrisStrawNineteen' USPTO PP23148 October 30, 2012 PP23149 Endisch Mandevilla plant named 'Gendiprote' USPTO PP23149 October 30, 2012 PP23150 Klemm et al. Carnation plant named 'KLEDG11143' USPTO PP23150 October 30, 2012 PP23151 Brown Leucanthemum plant named 'LWMWH03-0' USPTO PP23151 October 30, 2012 PP23152 Pieters Chrysanthemum plant named 'Fire Sprinter' USPTO PP23152 October 30, 2012 PP23153 Pieters Chrysanthemum plant named 'Dark San Remo Runner' USPTO PP23153 October 30, 2012 PP23154 Brigham et al. Hemerocallis plant named 'Striped Fantastic' USPTO PP23154 October 30, 2012 PP23155 Pinkham et al. Hemerocallis plant named 'VT Spirit' USPTO PP23155 October 30, 2012 PP23156 Rogmans et al. Lemna minor plant named 'Henry Blanke' USPTO PP23156 October 30, 2012 PP23157 Klemm et al. Petunia plant named 'KLEPH10184' USPTO PP23157

New Plant Patent Color Images at SIBL: Through October 16, 2012

Kenneth Johnson, Science, Industry and Business Library — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 07:58:52 -0500

Here are scans of the color plates of U.S. Plant Patents received at SIBL for the weeks of October 2 and 16, 2012. Images for the week of October 9 will be added later.

For additional Plant Patent plates for 2012, these have been listed, with links, in the table posted here.

As before, please be careful in using these — they're really not appropriate to use for prior art or other similar searches. Otherwise, please enjoy!

United States Plant Patents: Patents Published October 2, 2012; Nos. PP23091-PP23098

Date Patent Number Inventor Title Text Color Image October 2, 2012 PP23091 Kordes Floribunda rose plant named 'KORcastrav' USPTO PP23091 October 2, 2012 PP23092 Sykes Mandarin tree named 'Merbeingold 2350' USPTO PP23092 October 2, 2012 PP23093 Harris et al. Azalea plant named 'MNIHAR011' USPTO PP23093 October 2, 2012 PP23094 Harris et al. Azalea plant named 'MNIHAR016' USPTO PP23094 October 2, 2012 PP23095 Petit Hemerocallis plant named 'SPd 06-11' USPTO PP23095 October 2, 2012 PP23096 Petit Hemerocallis plant named 'SPd 06-01' USPTO PP23096 October 2, 2012 PP23097 Ren Echinacea plant named 'Balsomcor' USPTO PP23097 October 2, 2012 PP23098 Lubbe Penstemon plant named 'Marble Riding Hood' USPTO PP23098

United States Plant Patents: Patents Published October 9, 2012; Nos. PP23099-PP23105 [Not received as of this posting - check back later.]

Date Patent Number Inventor Title Text Color Image October 9, 2012 PP23099 Austin Rosa hybrida shrub plant named 'AUSkitchen' USPTO PP23099 October 9, 2012 PP23100 Harris et al. Azalea plant named 'MNIHAR018' USPTO PP23100 October 9, 2012 PP23101 Tristram Erysimum plant named 'WALFRASTAR' USPTO PP23101 October 9, 2012 PP23102 Bergman Chrysanthemum plant named 'CIDZ0010' USPTO PP23102 October 9, 2012 PP23103 Ren Echinacea plant named 'Balscblum' USPTO PP23103 October 9, 2012 PP23104 Ren Echinacea plant named 'Balsomselo' USPTO PP23104 October 9, 2012 PP23105 Ren Echinacea plant named 'Balsomsed' USPTO PP23105

United States Plant Patents: Patents Published October 16, 2012; Nos. PP23106-PP23120

Date Patent Number Inventor Title Text Color Image October 16, 2012 PP23106 Zaiger et al. Interspecific tree named 'Bella Jewel' USPTO PP23106 October 16, 2012 PP23107 Furguson et al. Strawberry plant named 'DrisStrawEighteen' USPTO PP23107 October 16, 2012 PP23108 Harris et al. Azalea plant named 'MNIHAR014' USPTO PP23108 October 16, 2012 PP23109 Harris et al. Azalea plant named 'MNIHAR017' USPTO PP23109 October 16, 2012 PP23110 Blom Chrysanthemum plant named 'Zanmubrilli' USPTO PP23110 October 16, 2012 PP23111 Bergman Chrysanthemum plant named 'CIDZ0014' USPTO PP23111 October 16, 2012 PP23112 Petit Hemerocallis plant named 'SPd 06-13' USPTO PP23112 October 16, 2012 PP23113 Petit Hemerocallis plant named 'SPd 06-16' USPTO PP23113 October 16, 2012 PP23114 Nielsen Dahlia plant named 'DAATTEN' USPTO PP23114 October 16, 2012 PP23115 Klemm et al. Pelargonium plant named 'KLEPZ10234' USPTO PP23115 October 16, 2012 PP23116 Klemm et al. Pelargonium plant named 'KLEPZ10238' USPTO PP23116 October 16, 2012 PP23117 Ren Echinacea plant named 'Balsceras' USPTO PP23117 October 16, 2012 PP23118 Scheys Heuchera plant named 'Binoche' USPTO PP23118 October 16, 2012 PP23119 van den Bosch Hypericum plant named 'Bosafir' USPTO PP23119 October 16, 2012 PP23120 Klemm et al. Lobelia plant named 'KLELE10670' USPTO PP23120

"Run to Failure: BP and the Making of the Deepwater Horizon Disaster" by Abrahm Lustgarten

Kenneth Johnson, Science, Industry and Business Library — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 06:03:36 -0500

Run to failure: meaning operate your equipment (business) all out, don't bother to care for and maintain it (much less inspect it) properly — until everything has been pushed beyond its limits. To add insult to injury, ignore, and even penalize, your front-line people when they alert you to, or object to, the deliberate neglect.

Run to Failure: BP and the Making of the Deepwater Horizon Disaster, by Abrahm Lustgarten

It's been well over two years since the BP oil exploration rig Deepwater Horizon exploded and burned, an event that unleashed the most extensive oil spill ever in the Gulf of Mexico. That event has returned to the news recently with the criminal settlement and fining of BP as well as the indictment of two of the managers aboard the rig at the time of the explosion. (See references to some of these articles from the New York Times and Wall Street Journal at the end of this post).

Abrahm Lustgarten's recent book, Run to Failure, is the backstory on the Deepwater Horizon failure. It scathingly catalogs about two decades of oil drilling and refining disasters at BP facilities, focusing particularly on a continual string of operational calamaties in Alaska, and the devastating Texas City refinery explosion in 2005. It portrays the attempts of BP employees and contractors, and US Federal and Alaska regulators and inspectors, to alert the company to dangers; and BP management's pattern of ignoring or suppressing these warnings. In particular, it evidences a corporate culture more interested in appearances than in reality; eager to appear a good citizen while cramming problems and danger down to its operational managers and on its workers and contractors.

The human and environmental cost of BP's "run to failure" of so many of its operations is disturbing in the extreme. This is not a book to cheer anyone up after a trying day. But it is a valuable read for its many lessons, including alerting us to the dangers of an institutional culture of denial.

Disclosure: Run to Failure has been nominated for a Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism, which explains how I came to read it.

The following citations are to articles concerning recent developments in the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster. The links will work within any NYPL branch — you can also look for these on the New York Times and Wall Street Journal websites.

BP Will Plead Guilty and Pay Over $4 Billion: [Business/Financial Desk]
Krauss, Clifford; Schwartz, John. New York Times [New York, N.Y] 16 Nov 2012: A.1.

In BP Indictments, U.S. Shifts to Hold Individuals Accountable: [Business/Financial Desk]
Krauss, Clifford. New York Times [New York, N.Y] 16 Nov 2012: B.1.

Gulf Coast States at Odds On Penalties for Oil Spill: [Business/Financial Desk]
Robertson, Campbell. New York Times [New York, N.Y] 17 Nov 2012: B.1.

Despite U.S. Settlement, BP Faces Billions in Fines for Clean Water Act Violations: [Business/Financial Desk]
Reed, Stanley; Werdigier, Julia. New York Times [New York, N.Y] 17 Nov 2012: B.2.

BP Slapped With Record Fine --- Oil Giant to Pay $4.5 Billion, Plead Guilty to Criminal Charges in 2010 Gulf Spill
Fowler, Tom. Wall Street Journal [New York, N.Y] 16 Nov 2012: A.1.

Finally, some key articles about Deepwater Horizon by David Barstow, Investigative reporter for the New York Times and speaker here at SIBL for our Freedom of Information Day in March 2011.

Deepwater Horizon's Final Hours: [National Desk]
DAVID BARSTOW, DAVID ROHDE and STEPHANIE SAUL. New York Times [New York, N.Y] 26 Dec 2010: A.1.

Between Blast and Spill, One Last, Flawed Hope: [National Desk]
The New York Times. New York Times [New York, N.Y] 21 June 2010: A.1.

New Business Best-Sellers: November 2012

Kenneth Johnson, Science, Industry and Business Library — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 11:07:21 -0500

Here is a selection of books new to the New York Times list of Business Best Sellers published in the print edition Sunday, November 11th, and, to catch up, the August 28th edition. Plus, a quick look at the Nielsen BookScan listing in the November 10th edition of the Wall Street Journal shows some titles new to this column. Enjoy!

Each title is noted with its ranking. Click on any of the titles below and place a hold to request the item. Remember to update your contact information (phone number or e-mail address), so you are notified when the book arrives for you at your local library. Don't have a library card yet? It's simple! Find out how to get one.

New York Times - November 11, 2012

The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, by John C. Maxwell (NYT 1, WSJ 8)

Bull by the Horns, by Sheila Blair (NYT 2)

Renegades Write the Rules, by Amy Jo Martin (NYT 10)

The Weekly Coaching Conversation, by Brian Souza (NYT Paperback 2)(Coming to NYPL soon!)

New York Times - October 28, 2012

How Will You Measure Your Life?, by Clayton M. Christensen, James Allworth and Karen Dillon (Also available as a downloadable audiobook and ebook.)

The New New Deal, by Michael Grunwald

Admired: 21 Ways to Double Your Value, by Mark C. Thompson and Bonita S. Thompson (Paperback)(Coming to NYPL soon!)

Wall Street Journal - November 10, 2012

Risky is the New Safe, by Randy Gage (WSJ 1)(Coming to NYPL soon!)

Plutocrats, by Chrystia Freeland (WSJ 4) NB - Nominated for a 2013 Helen Bernstein Book Award.

Why I Left Goldman Sachs, by Greg Smith (WSJ 5)

The Advantage, by Patrick Lencioni (WSJ 9)

For a selections of additional business best-sellers at NYPL, visit the February, April, May and August postings.

Business Books from "The Economist," October 13, 2012

Kenneth Johnson, Science, Industry and Business Library — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 05:51:05 -0500

The October 13, 2012 Economist included its quarterly business book reviews. Here is a listing.

For those interested in the articles, you can find them through some of our electronic resources (I recommend our Custom Newspapers database, available from home with a library card — I have put a link to the articles from Custom Newspapers after each title) or on The Economist's website (if you're a subscriber). For those who are too impatient to read those, I've included for each book, based on the articles, a short squib.

Click on any of the titles below and place a hold to request the item. Remember to update your contact information (phone number or e-mail address), so you are notified when the book arrives for you at your local library. Don't have a library card yet? It's simple! Find out how to get one.

Makers: The New Industrial Revolution, by Chris Anderson (Economist Review) (Also available as an ebook.)

"[I]ndustrialising of the do-it-yourself spirit."

Heart, Smarts, Guts, and Luck: What It Takes to Be an Entrepreneur and Build a Great Business, By Anthony Tjan, Richard Harrington and Tsun-Yan Hsieh (Economist Review)

Ya gotta have heart! And luck, which "the authors believe is something that can be influenced".

A Slice of the Pie: How to Build a Big Little Business, by Nick Sarillo (Economist Review)

For the author, "even local pizza joints can be as good as a global leader."

Innovation Economics: The Race for Global Advantage, by Robert Atkinson and Stephen Ezell (Economist Review) (Currently, only available in a reference copy, circulating copies should be available soon.)

The authors warn that "America's leadership in several areas [of innovation] has eroded much more rapidly than most Americans think."

How Do We Fix This Mess?: The Economic Price of Having It All, and the Route to Lasting Prosperity, by Robert Peston (Economist Review) (Should be available from NYPL soon.)

"For a tale of how the British banks blew up, readers will find juicy details." However, if "looking for resolutions to current woes [they] will be disappointed by this book."

Positive Linking: How Networks Can Revolutionise the World, by Paul Ormerod (Economist Review) (Should be available from NYPL soon.)

According to the author, "policymakers should practise 'positive linking', understanding network effects and trying to use them and influence the design of networks to achieve better outcomes for society."

Plus, for those who may be interested, several other new (non-business) books are reviewed in the October 13th issue:

Contagion: How Commerce Has Spread Disease, by Mark Harrison (Economist Review) (Should be available from NYPL soon.)

Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic, by David Quammen (Economist Review)

The titles tell all! The second book has been nominated for the Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism, so stay tuned for a possible discussion in a future posting about that title.

Masters of the Universe: Hayek, Friedman, and the Birth of Neoliberal Politics, by Daniel Stedman Jones (Economist Review)

Only in the 20th Century could philosophical movements be blamed on economists!

Enjoy!

Putting America to Work: TAACCCT

Magdalene Chan, Science, Industry and Business Library — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 06:52:22 -0400

In 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act amended the Trade Act of 1974 to authorize the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) Grant Program. Then, on March 30, 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act, which included $2 billion over four years to fund the TAACCCT program.

TAACCCT provides community colleges and other eligible institutions of higher education with funds to expand and improve their ability to deliver education and career training programs that can be completed in two years or less, are suited for workers who are eligible for training under the TAA for Workers program, and prepare program participants for employment in high-wage, high-skill occupations. Through these multi-years, the Department of Labor is helping to ensure that our nation’s institutions of higher education are helping adults succeed in acquiring the skills, degrees, and credentials needed for high-wage, high-skill employment while also meeting the needs of employers for skilled workers. The Department of Labor is implementing the TAACCCT program in partnership with the Department of Education.

The above information is from the United States Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. www.doleta.gov/taaccct/

The City University of New York was awarded $19.86 million through the United States Department of Labor’s Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training grant program to offer CUNY Career PATH, a three-year program aimed at supporting adult students in career advancement and successful college transition, and building CUNY’s capacity to serve adult workers

CUNY Career PATH programs are being held at several CUNY campuses, depending on the industry sector. The colleges include:

Bronx Community College

Early Childhood Education

La Guardia Community College

Community Health Workers
Emergency Medical Technicians

Kingsborough Community College

Hostos Community College

Community Health Workers

Queensborough Community College

Medical Office Assistants

Borough of Manhattan Community College

New York City College of Technology

Green Advanced Manufacturing

College of Staten Island

Business and Entrepreneurship

Community colleges and other eligible job training institutions funded by the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant are playing an important role in reshaping America’s job training programs and strengthening the nation’s workforce.

For more information on free job training programs, please visit Job Search Central online or in person at 188 Madison Avenue and 34th Street.

Free Job Training for Emergency Medical Technicians

Magdalene Chan, Science, Industry and Business Library — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 06:30:00 -0400

CUNY CareerPATH is a low to no-cost program supporting adult workers without jobs and adult workers looking to advance their careers by providing opportunities to earn both industry-recognized credentials and college credits and to find jobs in one of five sectors: Business, Education, Food Service and Hospitality, Healthcare, and Manufacturing.

In order to ensure career advancement and successful college transition, CUNY CareerPATH participants are given career-focused academic and English language skills instruction, occupational training leading to industry-recognized credentials and college credits, academic advisement, career coaching and employment assistance.

The Borough of Manhattan Community College at the City University of New York is offering an Emergency Medical Technician program which is a short term training program that prepares students to take the New York State EMT certification examination.

The program is given during the day and/or evening and is 28 weeks in length (day class meets 2 days a week) or 16 weeks (evening class meets 4 times per week).

The training is both lecture and practical skills lab based. Students will receive lecture based instruction, and will also be given hands on skills instruction to be able to pass the practical section of the New York State EMT exam.

Some required skills training are:

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)
Taking Vitals
Hemorrhage Control
Neck/Spinal Immobilization
Patient Transport

Some of the topics covered are:

Anatomy and Physiology
Pharmacology
Shock and Resuscitation
Trauma
Emergency Child Birth
Geriatric Emergencies
Terrorism and Disaster Response
Patient Assessment
Psychiatric Emergencies
Respiratory Emergencies

There is a total of 39 chapters in the Textbook each covering a different topic/emergency.

Students will sit for 206 hours of instruction prior to being eligible to sit for the NYS EMT exam.

Students MUST maintain a minimum of a 75% average for all tests, quizzes and final exam before they are considered eligible to take the EMT exam.

All applicants must meet the requirements for grant funding and pass the state required physical tests.

New York State Physical Requirements

Stair climb — 3.5 minutes on a stair-climber at a predetermined rate of speed while wearing a 40 pound weight vest, you can’t hold onto the hand rails. You must pass this exam to be able to move on to the next exam.
Arm Pull — on a resistance bar a full force for 3 seconds, repeat 3 times.
Arm Endurance — peddle an arm ergometer (hand bike) with your arms for three minutes at your maximum speed.
Leg Lift — you will exert maximum force with your legs by squatting and pulling up on a resistance bar to measure leg strength, repeat test 3 times.

Eligibility

18 years old or older
GED/HS diploma
Legal to work in the US
Unemployed/Underemployed
Valid Driver License

Contact

Wayne Carey 212-346-8428 wcarey@bmcc.cuny.edu
Sandra Baez 212-346-8425 sbaez@bmcc.cuny.edu

For more information on free job training programs, please visit Job Search Central online or in person at 188 Madison Avenue and 34th Street.