Cloud Hosting

Jesse Orrico via Unsplash

I was contacted by an admired journalist who now also teaches at a respected university j-school. She reached out for some suggestions about how to weave narrative what I simply think of as effective storytelling into investigative, explanatory and issues-based projects. We got a bit sidetracked with shared tales from the realities of academic bureaucracy, distressed students and grading rubrics. But mostly we talked about how to teach the tools of a trade we have both devoted our lives to, but that newcomers often find as baffling as they do frustrating.

What this journalist/professor told me about her coursework was more than impressive. She created a class in info-gathering; students go to various places, from courthouses to cop shops to licensing offices to legislative websites to Google, where they discover a wondrous world of raw material that belongs to the public. Over the 17 years I taught at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, it became clear that a core challenge of teaching journalism was the need to teach basic civics: How our courts and other public systems work. It thrilled me to hear how much students loved this teachers course. I imagine them on joyous scavenge hunts that engage their curiosities but dont require them to then have to do that next confounding thing: Turn it into a relevant and readable story.

Which is why the journalist/professor called. Her students would get so far, then hit the brick wall of story structure. Unwelcome grades were not uncommon; nor were tears.

I have no magic answer. My students always reached the same hurdle. There is no one way to get them over it.

But my way was to back up, simplify and, most important,deconstruct.Thus, my thoughts about construction and the tools we need to master to build something sound.

My father had a wood-working shop; he built the small house I grew up in. My mother sewed, knitted, crocheted, could get all the dishes of Thanksgiving dinner on our crowded table at the same time, hand-sanded wood floors and, when needed, could fix the plumbing. I grew up in a world of patterns and menus and blueprints and schematics a world of construction. But it didnt occur to me until I was far into my own reporting/writing career that I had been surrounded by much of what I needed to know about writing a story. I was constructing.The only difference was that I worked with the less tangible materials of words and images, rather than the solids of wood, fabric, yarn and spice. But my stories werebuilt, as surely as a table or coat or even Sunday dinner werebuilt.

When that realization dawned, I changed my approach to my writing, then to editing and finally to teaching. I did what I suppose is a version of reverse engineering. You have a cool end product in front of you lets say a stand-out story. But to really learn from it, you have to take it apart and understand the various pieces, what their purposes are, where to find them, how they are put together and why they work.

The journalist/professor I spoke with this week was already doing that in her info-gathering class. Students werent asked to deliver a massive and cohesive investigative project. Instead, they were gathering and assessing the raw material that serves as the foundation of those projects.

So, too, with story structure. We start with a story vision and purpose in mind. Then we have to back up and think about the pieces-parts we need: X sources, Y observation, Z context. From there, we build forward, a story section at a time. Some sections are traditional journalism (information): some are more narrative, if you will (character, scene, description). But each is its own part of a bigger story, and each calls on using different tools.

I have many cherished and talented journalist friends who consider their work some sort of mysterious art and often produce artful work. If that works for them, grand. But I have found it more effective and far less stressful to step back, figure out the pieces-parts I need, reach for the tools I need to secure them, then assemble them in proper order. All without an Allen wrench.

See more here:

Reverse engineering and story construction - Nieman Storyboard

The U.S. Army faces a critical challenge in the immediate and near-future: the efficient modernization of existing systems to meet the demands of an ever-evolving threat landscape. Traditional methods to solve that challenge no longer suffice in a rapidly advancing technological era, which means the Army must embrace innovative approaches to ensure it remains agile, adaptable and ready for any potential engagement.

Presently, the U.S. Army employs a vast array of systems of which many have been in service for decades. While these systems are fully capable today, there are many challenges in updating them to keep pace with emerging technologies and evolving mission requirements. Traditional approaches to modernization often involve lengthy procurement cycles, inefficient interoperability of proprietary systems, and fragmented technology insertion processes. This results in inefficiencies, expense and limited interoperability between systems, hindering mission readiness. The industrial base must do better.

The Army is already shifting to digital engineering combined with technology-agnostic open integration, complementing the recent Department of Defense Digital Engineering Directive. Digital engineering involves the use of advanced modeling, simulation and data analytics to design, analyze and optimize complex systems throughout their lifecycle. By adopting digital engineering practices, we can streamline development processes, improve collaboration between stakeholders and accelerate the delivery of cutting-edge capabilities to the warfighter.

Furthermore, embracing technology-agnostic open integration allows users to break free from vendor lock-in and proprietary solutions. Instead of being tied to specific vendors or platforms, we can leverage open standards and interoperable architectures to seamlessly integrate components from multiple sources. This not only enhances flexibility and choice but also fosters innovation and competition across the defense ecosystem.

Implementing digital engineering and open integration is not without its challenges. One major obstacle is the prevalence of closed architectures and proprietary systems within the ecosystem. Many legacy systems were developed using vertically integrated proprietary technologies, making them difficult to integrate with other systems.

Vendor lock-in is another significant barrier to overcome. Original Equipment Manufacturers often design their systems with proprietary interfaces and protocols, making it challenging to swap out components or integrate third-party solutions. This limits the ability to leverage the best technologies available and hampers interoperability between systems.

Additionally, the lack of common terminology and frames of reference in the design and build of systems can impede collaboration and hinder progress. Without standardized language and processes, stakeholders may struggle to communicate effectively and align their efforts towards common objectives.

To overcome these obstacles, enabling technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and multi-cloud environments can enhance a digital engineering approach. AI can help automate and optimize various aspects of the digital engineering process, from design and analysis to testing and validation. By harnessing the power of AI, we can accelerate decision-making, identify potential issues early in the development cycle and optimize system performance.

Additionally, embracing multi-cloud environments allows solution providers to take advantage of the scalability, flexibility and resilience offered by cloud computing without concern over switching costs. Distributing workloads across multiple cloud providers helps avoid vendor lock-in and ensures redundancy and availability in systems. This also enables industry to leverage best-of-breed services from different cloud providers, maximizing innovation and cost-effectiveness.

The implementation of digital engineering combined with technology-agnostic open integration is essential for the efficient modernization of existing systems. By embracing these principles, industry partners can help the Army overcome the challenges of closed designs, vendor lock and lack of common terminology, while leveraging enabling technologies such as AI and multi-cloud environments to drive innovation, modernize legacy systems and maintain the militarys technological edge on the battlefield.

As stated by the Defense Acquisition University, digital engineering is an integrated digital approach that uses authoritative sources of system data and models as a continuum across disciplines to support lifecycle activities from concept through disposal. It is imperative that we embrace digital engineering as a cornerstone of our modernization efforts. Together, we can ensure that the U.S. Army remains the most advanced and lethal fighting force in the world.

Josh Jackson is Executive Vice President of the Army Business Group at SAIC.

See the original post here:

Leading the charge: Transforming US Army systems through digital engineering - DefenseScoop

The Tennessee House of Representatives has approved a bill aimed at prohibiting geo-engineering initiatives, banning deliberate attempts to modify Earths atmospheric conditions with the overarching goal of combating climate change effects.

The bill, also approved by the state senate, targets a spectrum of technologies. The potential interventions range from the speculative concept of solar radiation modificationwhich involves managing the amount of solar energy Earth receivesto established yet localized tactics like cloud seeding, which are employed to enhance precipitation levels.

The legislative debate was not without controversy. Dialogue among legislators occasionally blurred the lines between evidenced reality and speculation, with some legislators insinuating that solar geo-engineering efforts are already active.

Others seemingly brought forth concerns that resonate with the widely debunked chemtrails conspiracy theory.

This will be my wifes favorite bill of the year. She has worried about this, I bet, 10 years. Its been going on a long, long time, Republican Sen. Frank Niceley said at a hearing about the bill last month, NBC News reported. If you look up one day, itll be clear. The next day they will look like some angels have been playing tic-tac-toe. Theyre everywhere. Ive got pictures on my phone with Xs right over my house. For years they denied they were doing anything.

The subject of the bill, chemtrails, refers to a conspiracy theory without scientific backing. Proponents of this theory erroneously believe that aircraft are intentionally dispersing harmful chemicals under the guise of normal condensation trails, or contrails, possibly to manipulate human behavior or health.

A more recent twist on this theory has emerged, claiming these supposed chemical trails are actually tools for weather or climate control. Justin Mankin, a climatologist at Dartmouth University, dismissed these theories as baseless.

Its conspiratorial nonsense, he said, according to NBC News.

Staff can be reached at 202-636-3000.

Continued here:

Tennessee lawmakers vote to ban geo-engineering, with allusions to 'chemtrails' conspiracy - Washington Times

Bangor-based engineering firm Haley Ward Inc. has appointed five new vice presidents across its departments and service lines.

Courtesy / Haley Ward

Chip Haskel

Chip Haskel has been with the Bangor office of Haley Ward since 2008. He started as an engineering technician and was most recently promoted to senior project manager. He has worked as an engineer on various projects, including road and site design and layout, storm drain and sanitary sewer systems, permitting, and pre- and post-hydrology studies. Haskel also has managed a wide range of civil engineering projects. He received his bachelors degree in civil engineering from the University of Maine.

Courtesy / Haley Ward

Jacalyn Gorczynski

Jacalyn Gorczynski, based in Saco, started at Haley Ward in 2021 through the acquisition of S.W. Cole, where she served as a senior geologist. She has extensive experience in environmental consulting and coastal processes, including permitting and compliance, environmental assessments, remediation, and coastal zone management and study. Gorczynski has assisted a variety of residential, commercial, municipal and industrial clients with geoenvironmental projects. She received her masters degree in environmental science from Texas A&M University and her bachelors in geology from Mount Holyoke University.

Courtesy / Haley Ward

Johanna Szillery

Johanna Szillery, who is based in Bangor, has over 15 years of experience in natural resource and regulatory permitting. She has held diverse roles in academic research, the federal government, and as an environmental consultant. As a Maine-certified soil scientist and wetland scientist, she specializes in project strategy, planning, agency consultation, and negotiation, focusing on wetland delineation for clients in Maine and New Hampshire. Szillery holds a masters degree from the University of Maine and a bachelors degree from Drew University.

Courtesy / Haley Ward

Elizabeth Lindsay

Elizabeth "Betsy" Lindsay, who is based in Stuart, Fla., joined Haley Ward in 2022 when Haley Ward acquired her company, Betsy LindsayInc. She has 40 years of experience in land surveying and is a licensed professional land surveyor.

DarioDiMare started at Haley Ward in 2023 through the acquisition of his company, Dario DesignsInc., an architectural firm located in Northborough, Mass.

Courtesy / Haley Ward

Dario D. DiMare

We are thrilled to announce the election of five new vice presidents across multiple states and service lines at Haley Ward, said Denis St. Peter, Haley Ward president and CEO.

Their wealth of experience, dedication, and passion for our mission have been instrumental in our growth and success. As we proceed to expand and innovate, these leaders will continue to play a crucial role in shaping the future of our company and ensure the continued excellence of our services.

Haley Ward is an employee-owned professional engineering, environmental, and surveying consulting firm with over 100 employees in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Florida.

The company is ranked No. 5 among the largest engineering firms in the 2024 Mainebiz Book of Lists. The rankings are based on the number of Maine-based engineers.

See the original post:

Engineering firm Haley Ward makes 5 leadership promotions - Mainebiz

Despite announcing strong earnings, CTI Engineering Co., Ltd.'s (TSE:9621) stock was sluggish. We think that the market might be paying attention to some underlying factors that they find to be concerning.

See our latest analysis for CTI Engineering

Many investors haven't heard of the accrual ratio from cashflow, but it is actually a useful measure of how well a company's profit is backed up by free cash flow (FCF) during a given period. To get the accrual ratio we first subtract FCF from profit for a period, and then divide that number by the average operating assets for the period. This ratio tells us how much of a company's profit is not backed by free cashflow.

That means a negative accrual ratio is a good thing, because it shows that the company is bringing in more free cash flow than its profit would suggest. While it's not a problem to have a positive accrual ratio, indicating a certain level of non-cash profits, a high accrual ratio is arguably a bad thing, because it indicates paper profits are not matched by cash flow. That's because some academic studies have suggested that high accruals ratios tend to lead to lower profit or less profit growth.

Over the twelve months to December 2023, CTI Engineering recorded an accrual ratio of 0.24. Therefore, we know that it's free cashflow was significantly lower than its statutory profit, which is hardly a good thing. Over the last year it actually had negative free cash flow of JP96m, in contrast to the aforementioned profit of JP7.53b. We saw that FCF was JP3.1b a year ago though, so CTI Engineering has at least been able to generate positive FCF in the past.

That might leave you wondering what analysts are forecasting in terms of future profitability. Luckily, you can click here to see an interactive graph depicting future profitability, based on their estimates.

CTI Engineering didn't convert much of its profit to free cash flow in the last year, which some investors may consider rather suboptimal. Because of this, we think that it may be that CTI Engineering's statutory profits are better than its underlying earnings power. But on the bright side, its earnings per share have grown at an extremely impressive rate over the last three years. At the end of the day, it's essential to consider more than just the factors above, if you want to understand the company properly. If you want to do dive deeper into CTI Engineering, you'd also look into what risks it is currently facing. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for CTI Engineering (1 is a bit unpleasant) you should be familiar with.

Today we've zoomed in on a single data point to better understand the nature of CTI Engineering's profit. But there are plenty of other ways to inform your opinion of a company. Some people consider a high return on equity to be a good sign of a quality business. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks that insiders are buying.

Find out whether CTI Engineering is potentially over or undervalued by checking out our comprehensive analysis, which includes fair value estimates, risks and warnings, dividends, insider transactions and financial health.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Continued here:

CTI Engineering's (TSE:9621) Earnings Are Weaker Than They Seem - Simply Wall St