Friday, November 29, 2019

Samuel Matthews Vauclain

Samuel Matthews Vauclain Samuel Matthews Vauclain Samuel Matthews VauclainSamuel M. Vauclain (1856 1940) invented the compound steam locomotive, an achievement said to have changed the face of the railroad industry, for the very same company for which his father helped Mathias Baldwin build his first steam locomotive.Born in Philadelphia in 1856, Samuel Vauclain shared his fathers interest in locomotives. At the age of 16, he decided against attending college and took a job in the repair shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad, where he served out a four year indenture contract. His indenture period ended in 1877 and he welches promoted to Assistant Foreman shortly thereafter.Vauclains prolific career took shape when he accepted a position as engine inspector for 60 locomotives being constructed at the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia. He would stay at Baldwin for the rest of his career, eventually serving as the companys president and board chairman.Samuel M. Vauclain invented t he compound steam locomotive.Vauclain was the general superintendent of Baldwin when he designed and patented his version of the compound locomotive in 1889. Compound locomotives were developed to make better use of the steam generated by the boiler and provide more fuel and water efficiency. Previous compound designs had the high-pressure cylinder on one side and the low-pressure cylinder on the other. This created an unbalanced locomotive with significant differences in mass in motion from one side to the other. Vauclains design overcame this obstacle by placing high-pressure and low-pressure cylinders one above the other on each side of the engine. Although the engine suffered maintenance issues, by 1907, two thousand of his compounds had been built.In addition to his engineering skills, Vauclain was a successful businessman and was able to secure lucrative production contracts with the United States and its World War I allies. During the war, Baldwin built locomotives for the wa r effort and oversaw the Remington Rifle company, which produced munitions in Eddystone, PA. With his executive leadership skills and his companys support of post-war rehabilitation in Europe, Vauclain expanded Baldwin into 12 countries, enabling it to become one of the largest locomotive producers in the world. He was also awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for arming the U.S. Army during World War I.In addition to the compound engine, Vauclain also engineered many other engine prototypes. A lifetime employee at Baldwin, he served as general superintendent, vice president, president, and finally as chairman of the board, until his death in 1940.Tom Ricci is the owner of Ricci Communications.Vauclains prolific career took shape when he accepted a position as engine inspector for 60 locomotives being constructed at the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

What to budget monthly if you become a dog owner

What to budget monthly if you become a dog ownerWhat to budget monthly if you become a dog ownerIf you want a friend, get a dog, people who love dogs like to say. Their tail-wagging companionship can brighten a hard day at work and make the gloomiest evenings easier to bear. But this new friend comes with a hefty price tag. As a new Rover.com survey of 1,500 Americans found, we underestimate how much this furry addition to our lives is going to cost us.Dogs cost a monthly average of $153While most people thought owning a dog would simply cost them $25-76 dollars, the survey calculated that the average monthly expense was $153. To prevent yourself from getting sticker shock, its good to research how much maintaining a dog is going to actually cost you. Citing the North American Pet Health Insurance Association, Cozy.co, Chicago Tribune, among others, heres what the survey calculated what average monthly expenses for your dog will beFood - $40-$60Toys - $10/toyFlea and tickworm prevent ion - $40-200Heartworm prevention - $24-120Treats - $6Poop bags - $6-20Tooth care/dental chews - $10And those are just monthly expenses. One-time costs like adoption fees, which can cost up to $600, or spay and neuter surgery, which averages about $200-800, according to the report, can put a hole in your wallet before you even meet your new pet. But for people who want a dog, this is all worth it. The survey participants said they would be most willing to give up alcohol, takeout and coffee to have their dog.And once they have their pets, these committed owners are willing to make more financial sacrifices to keep them happy. Dog lovers enjoy showering their pets with expensive gifts. One in three dog owners saying they would spend more than $250 on a special gift for their dog, and one in four admitted they had bought a massage, not for themselves, but for their dog, suggesting that for some of us, self-care comes from what we can give our beloved pets.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Jumpstart Your Job Search During Spring Break

Jumpstart Your Job Search During Spring BreakJumpstart Your Job Search During Spring BreakSpring break can be the perfect time to get leg up on the competition and start the process of having a job lined up after graduation. Use that extra time usually devoted to class and studying to amp up your job search. Youll be happy you spent this week putting some effort in finding a full-time job before finals, when your classmates are scrambling to figure out whats next in life after graduation. Plus, the following tips will mucksmuschenstill give you a chance to enjoy this week off..Reach out to your networkThink back on the past few years youve spent in college and make a list of all the professors, old managers from internships and even older alumni with whom youve established a good rapport. Reach out to them in a concise e-mail that says youre graduating in a few months and looking for a job after graduation. At first your network might come back with little or no job opportunities, bu t dont be discouraged. You can also tell them if they dont know of any opportunities, any career guidance will help. Politely ask them to keep you in mind the next few months. Even if you dont receive any job leads in your first outreach to your network, someone might still offer to review your resume, have a contact that will lead to a job, or invite you to grab coffee with them for an informational interview. Find jobs on career sitesIn addition to reaching out to your network, you can find job listings online. Websites like Simply Hired offer a filter tool so you can search for Full-Time jobs in proximity to the drehort of your choice. Plus, youll see other roles that are similar to what youre searching for and can expand your search. If you see a job listing from a company where you know someone in your network is an employee, you can ask them to personally send your resume to HR.Utilize your college career centerIf youre unsure where to start in your job search, your career cen ter at school is a good place. Besides resume and interview prep, some career centers even offer personality tests to tell you what job you would most likely be successful at. Book some time with a career counselor to hash out a plan of action that will result in your goal of being employed by graduation. If your career center is closed during spring break, check out your local public library for career help. A lot of public libraries offer free resume help and other guidance.Polish your online presenceThis piece advice has probably been drilled into your head by your parents and teachers, but its important that you watch what you post on your social media accounts. Unless youre using social media strictly professionally, its best that you keep your social media private and, even then, watch what you post. You dont want to ruin your chance with a kompetenz employer because they found an inappropriate comment or photo when they did a Google search on you. For an extra bonus, create a personal website that features your resume and interesting projects youve worked on that will impress a hiring manager. Having a professional, online presence will be the cherry on top when youre interviewing for a full-time job.