“[The CNI is] those assets, services or systems that support the economic, political and social life of the United Kingdom, whose importance is such that any loss or compromise would have life-threatening, serious economic or other grave social consequences for the community, or would otherwise be of immediate concern to the government.”

So how does the government and private enterprise protect our vital services and systems? How are the ‘critical elements’ of the CNI protected? Which policies protect the nine key areas of our national infrastructure – communications, emergency services, energy, finance, food, government, health, transport and water?

National Security Strategy

The UK Government’s National Security Strategy sets out the key strategic choices that have to be addressed to ensure the UK’s security and resilience against acts of terrorism and hostile acts in UK cyberspace. The Government published ‘The National Security Strategy’ and ‘The Strategic Defence and Security Review’ in 2010 in which it set out the Government’s priorities in responding to threats against our national security, and increasingly threats to our CNI. The reports sets out the 15 priority risk types that the government has identified: four of these critical areas were identified as the most important threats to national security over the next five years and classified as Tier One risks: international terrorism, attacks on UK cyberspace, international military crises and a major accident or natural hazard, such as an influenza pandemic or severe flooding.

Strategic Defence and Security Review

The Strategic Defence and Security Review sets out how the objectives of the National Security Strategy are to be pursued. These include:

• ensuring that our key counter-terrorist capabilities are maintained and in some areas enhanced, whilst remaining cost-effective in a period of economic decline
• developing a transformative programme for cyber security, which addresses threats from states, criminals and terrorists, whilst seizing the opportunities provided by cyber space for the nation’s future prosperity and for advancing our security interests?

Counter terrorism strategy

The UK Government’s counter terrorism strategy (known as CONTEST) aims to reduce the risk from international terrorism so that people can go about their business freely and with confidence. Developing and delivering CONTEST involves stakeholders from across government departments, the emergency services, voluntary organisations, the business sector and partners from across the world. The overall strategy is divided into four principal strands: Prevent, Pursue, Protect and Prepare, and is aimed at reducing the country’s vulnerability to threat.

Cyber Security Strategy

The UK’s new Cyber Security Strategy was published in November 2011. It sets out how the UK will support economic prosperity, protect national security and safeguard the public’s way of life through building a more trusted and resilient digital environment, in which the partnership between the public and private sector is crucial.

National Risk Register

The most significant emergencies that the United Kingdom and its citizens could face over the next five years are monitored by Government through the National Risk Assessment (NRA). The private and confidential assessment is conducted annually, and draws on expertise from a wide range of departments and agencies of government. The National Risk Register (NRR) is the version that the public sees. The NRA and NRR capture events which could result in significant harm to human welfare: casualties, damage to property, essential services and disruption to everyday life. The risks cover three broad categories: natural events, major accidents and malicious attacks.

Resilience of infrastructure from natural hazards

The Civil Contingencies Secretariat within the Cabinet Office has developed a cross-sector Critical Infrastructure Resilience Programme (CIRP), with the aim of improving the resilience of critical infrastructure and essential services to severe disruption from natural hazards. The process, timetable and expectations for the programme are detailed in its Strategic Framework and Policy statement.

This article about critical national infrastructure was submitted by Whitehall Media.

Anyone new to bike racing and logging technology would be forgiven for being confused by the vast choice of data logging machines available in today’s market. The questions that most novices want answered is, are all these machines essentially the same, or are some more suited to bike race analysis than others? Grey’s answers are succinct and to-the-point:

“Yes -in a sense, all data loggers are the same. You pay your money and your take your choice. What you end up with is a metal box that’s got some complex electronics and software inside it. They’re all the same in the sense that they all record information into them, but it’s how that information is displayed that makes all the difference.”

“In terms of bikes the difference is essentially one of size. Most of the other data logging systems were originally designed for cars and carts, so they tend to larger and more bulky. When you’re working on a bike that can be a problem as the space is limited. The smaller something is the better for bikes. The 2D data logging system was specifically designed for bikes, and the software you get with this equipment is geared specifically to delivering the type of information that bike riders require. When you’ve gone out and driven as fast as you can, you want to get back and have a look at the information you’ve collected as soon as possible.”

“Most other data logging systems are perfectly capable of providing this information, but they make gathering this information much harder work. The 2D system is by far the most efficient. In 30 seconds I can download the data, read through it and then check the things I want to check. In a sense I’m in charge of how I look at and interpret this information. With other data logging systems you’re forced to follow a certain routine and procedure which means gathering the information you need can take a lot longer. In terms of hardware: the number of channels you can record is fairly fixed across the range, as are the specifications. It’s only when you start to use the logger in the garage that you’ll start to notice the differences.”

“I suppose it’s all a matter of perception at the end of the day. Take this example: you can buy a Kia Ceed for £15,000 which is a great car and perfectly capable, but for the same sort of money you can buy a Volkswagen with the same sort of specification. They both appear identical, but you can spot the difference immediately when you start to drive each one. Purpose-built motor cycle data logging systems are just the same: in my experience it’s only when you start to use them that you start to appreciate just how good they are. Now, I come from a background where I’ve had to put my hand in my own pocket and buy my own data logging equipment. I’ve used all sorts of different systems, but was shocked when I used this system for the first time.”

“The beauty of a purpose-built motorcycle data logging system is that it lets you gather information in 4 or 5 different ways, rather than having to follow a rigid set procedure like you do with some other generic data logging systems. It’s like trying to copy text on Microsoft Word: you can click copy, or you can click Control C, or you can right click. Each method produces the same result. People who like to click buttons are happy, as are those who like shortcuts. They get to where they want to be in the end, but by different methods. Motorcycle logging software is the same.”

“There are so many different ways to achieve the same result and get the information you want. When you first look at the list of options on the menu it can seem a bit daunting, but you soon get used to it. I guess it’s like learning to drive: when you first start you don’t know how to work the gears, but soon you start to drive without having the need to think consciously about it. After a week or two of using the software you begin to appreciate the fact that you’re not hemmed in by it, or forced to work to somebody else’s rules.”

This article was submitted by Datron Technology

Driver Input Sensors

• An entry level data logger will provide the basic data required to analyse a driver’s performance and compare this with another reference lap from a faster driver or professional driving coach. The type of information plotted would typically include speed (derived from GPS), and cornering (lateral) and acceleration/braking (longitudinal) forces plus lap times. However, it should be noted that none of these metrics give a direct measure of how the driver is actually interacting with the car. The only way to get an accurate picture of the driver’s performance is by gathering the following information, in order of priority:
• Throttle position sensors – the total speed of the lap, or lap time, is proportional to the amount of time that a driver spends at full throttle and to the average percentage of throttle applied throughout a lap. More time on full throttle will give quicker lap times, and a delay in applying the throttle on exiting a corner is the key difference between slower and faster drivers.
• Brake pressure sensors – this is the only way to accurately measure a driver’s braking performance. Trying to determine how late and how hard a driver is braking based only on the change in speed isn’t really accurate enough. A combination of brake pressure and throttle position is better used to analyse and improve heel-and-toe technique.
• Steering angle sensors – this can be used to compare driving styles, turn-in points, and with even more sophisticated data analysis, over steer and under steer.

Engine Sensors

• Oil pressure sensors – this is probably the most critical sensor of all. Production based engines are very sensitive to cornering and braking forces when on track and even a baffled sump may not be sufficient to prevent oil surge which can ultimately cause engine failure. Oil surge might only happen for a fraction of a second during a corner, but there’s a high probability that the driver won’t notice the warning light or low gauge reading. A data logging oil pressure sensor gives the ability to monitor the car when it returns to the garage. If the sensor is connected to the data logger and dashboard, then the oil surge sensor will stay displayed after the surge condition has disappeared and alert the driver about what has happened. It will stay lit until the driver cancels the alarm.
• Oil temperature sensors – standard road cars that are used on track are susceptible to high oil temperatures as they have limited or no oil cooling. Effective oil cooling on a high- performance track or race car can be hard to achieve as it requires a way of dissipating large amounts of heat. Oil temperature logging sensor is ideal for the close monitoring of oil temperatures and the testing and comparison of different cooling setups.
• Water temperature sensors – are ideal for the continuous monitoring of engine temperatures.
• RPM sensors –can capture information and data about over-revving and the calculation of optimum gear changes at a given point on a lap.

Chassis Sensors:

• Damper sensors – these measure suspension travel. This information can be used to aid suspension setup, and can also be used to measure down-force generated by different aero-configurations.
• Upright temperature sensors – these measure the temperature at the centre of the upright/hub on each corner of the car. This data can then be used to check the effectiveness of brake cooling, and to monitor wheel bearing and CV joint temperatures.
• Laser ride height sensors – these directly measure the height of the car (chassis/floor) above the road surface using lasers. This gives a very accurate picture of the chassis’ orientation and movement (ride height, pitch and roll) independently of the suspension movement.
• Pressure sensors – these measure air pressure at certain points on the car, typically under the floor, to allow the optimisation of aero configuration.
• TPMS (tyre pressure monitoring system) – this uses sensors inside each wheel which wirelessly transmit a signal containing tyre pressure and tyre temperature.

This article was submitted by Datron Technology

So which celebrity started the ball rolling and was the first to come out and openly use a smokeless cigarette in public? Well, that’s the $64,000 question. The time-frame is unclear. Some claim it was Katherine Heigl, or Izzy from Gray’s Anatomy as she’s better known: she swore her allegiance to the product when she smoked one publicly on the Letterman Show on live U.S.TV. Others argue that it was Charlie Sheen who publicly endorsed smokeless cigarettes. Sheen can rightly take credit for lots of things, but was he really the first to do it? The truth is we just don’t know. Celebrities on both sides of the Atlantic have been keen to switch to the safer smoking alternative, and frankly who can blame them?

Joining the growing list of celebrity vapers have been Leonardo Di Caprio, Kevin Federline, ex-husband of Britney Spears and celebrity by default, Dennis Quaid, Lindsay Lohan, Eric Roberts, John Cusack and Johnny Depp. On this side of the pond we’ve seen our own celebrity vapers too: Kate Moss is partial to the occasional one, as are, Jimmy White, Matt Cardle, Catherine Zeta Jones and June Alexander. Rock and roll hasn’t escaped the draw of the product either. Ronnie Wood, Eddie Van Halen, Tom Petty and even Pete Docherty have been spotted taking a hit on smokeless cigarettes recently.

Why is this important? Well, it’s important because to the best of our knowledge every one of these celebrities made the decision to switch to electronic cigarettes voluntarily because they acknowledged the fact that the product was safer and healthier for them. None of these celebrities was sponsored to promote a particular product. These celebrities have made positive choices, and have stopped using tobacco-based cigarettes because they are dangerous and can be lethal. If their behaviour persuades other tobacco smokers to make the switch, then that can only be a good thing.

This article about electronic cigarettes was submitted by Freshcig

The study was conducted on laboratory mice. Each of these creatures were injected with 3 mg of nicotine per kilogramme of body weight over a 5 day period. One of the mice died of nicotine toxicity before the study was concluded and three quarters of the remaining mice developed cancerous tumours. The evidence against nicotine is therefore damning, on the surface at least. If the experiment was converted into human terms, then an average 190 pound human being would be receiving the equivalent of 255 mg of nicotine on a daily basis. According to the FDA the average tobacco-based cigarette has somewhere between 1 and 1.2 mg of nicotine. For any human to ingest the amount of nicotine found in these mice, they would have to smoke roughly 255 cigarettes, 5 times a day for 2 years to amass the same sort of residual nicotine levels.

It’s hardly surprising therefore that the researchers were able to come to their conclusions. Any substance taken in such high concentrations is probably capable of causing cancer. It wasn’t just the nicotine in cigarettes that was called into question either. The researchers were also highly critical of the nicotine in both electronic cigarettes and nicotine gums, citing complaints from nicotine gum users who claim their hair began falling out after they started using the product. Hair loss is a common symptom of nicotine toxicity. They claim that the nicotine gum could be poisoning users with too much of the drug they crave. This is probably correct: however, the argument is less convincing in relation to smoke-free cigarettes.

Electronic cigarettes are the safest alternative to tobacco on the market at the current time because they allow the user to control nicotine intake in the same way he or she would do with tobacco. The problem with the gum is that the user has little control once he begins chewing. Similarly, users of the nicotine patch have no choice but to accept a constant stream of nicotine throughout the day once the product is attached to the body. Electronic cigarettes, however, are used in exactly the same way as tobacco cigarettes (except without combustion). The user self-regulates nicotine by simply practicing his traditional smoking habits with an electronic alternative. Few people, even the most ardent and committed smokers, are ever likely to smoke the equivalent of 255 electronic cigarettes a day.

This article about electronic cigarettes was submitted by Freshcig

The research conducted by USurv.com questioned 1,000 members of the public about their attitudes to smoking and tobacco in general. To make the survey truly representative, the survey randomly sampled a broad mixture of both smokers and non-smokers. A quarter of the respondents were current smokers, 12 percent were occasional smokers and 63 percent non-smokers. The results of the survey make very interesting reading.

36 percent of the respondents believed that electronic cigarettes should be made more accessible to smokers, whilst 43 percent agreed in principle that the introduction of the alternative smoke-free device represented good news for smokers. However, it should also be pointed out that almost half of those questioned (47percent) said they didn’t know enough about the product and therefore felt unqualified to express a definitive opinion. They did, however, call for more educational materials about the product to be made available for the benefit of smokers.

When asked to state what hey most disliked about smoking, the majority of the respondents (58 percent) agreed that the foul smell left by tobacco was the most off-putting aspect, closely followed by bad breath (46percent). Interestingly, only 37 percent objected to the damage that tobacco was likely to cause to the body, whilst 38 percent objected to the impact on the health of non-smokers through passive smoking. The UK’s health authorities might learn a thing or two from the results of the survey, as the respondents clearly put image-related issues ahead of health implications, in spite of several expensive and high-profile health campaigns that were targeted at highlighting the dangers of smoking.

Although nearly half of the respondents felt unqualified to offer an opinion on the effectiveness of smoke-free cigarettes, 83 percent had heard of the product and were aware that electronic cigarettes were marketed as an alternative to tobacco. I in 3 respondents appreciated that these products were healthier than conventional cigarettes. Unfortunately the majority mistakenly believed the products were sold as devices to help smokers quit, and did not appreciate that smokeless cigarettes were only sold as a safer alternative to tobacco. Electronic cigarettes are not regulated by the government or the health authorities and cannot therefore be marketed as ‘stop smoking’ devices. The safety of the product is monitored under trading standards legislation.

This article about electronic cigarettes was submitted by Freshcig

Obviously Mr Gray was upset and bewildered by the decision to ask him to leave. The 71 year old committed smoker had been hooked on tobacco for years and was a regular 30 a day user. He gave up just over 4 months ago, and turned instead to the electronic cigarette to help with his nicotine addiction. What surprised him the most is that he regularly uses the same smokeless cigarette in other pubs and restaurants around Leicester: he had even used it in the pub he was ejected from, and happily smokes it on the bus en route to the pub each time he goes out. He was never once challenged about his habit previously. Speaking to the local paper, Mr Gray commented:

“I was just having a quiet pint and using the cigarette when a member of staff told me I would have to go outside. I was a bit bemused because the thing doesn’t produce any smoke. I thought she was joking at first and then I realised she was deadly serious. I asked her why I couldn’t use it and she told me it was because it encouraged other people to smoke. I think that’s a ridiculous policy.”

Mr Gray then argued his case with a manager, but to no avail. He subsequently left the pub and has vowed never to return. Wetherspoon’s said that electronic cigarettes had been banned from its chain since the ban on smoking in public places was introduced in 2007. The justification for the blanket ban is that staff were simply too busy to determine whether or not customers were smoking real cigarettes. Company spokesman Eddy Gershon said:

“When the ban came in, lots of people were using these devices in our pubs. Many of them looked a lot like real cigarettes and it was causing problems for our staff determining whether they were real or not. I’m sorry if this was upsetting for the customer but it is the rule we are using, and it’s the rule we’re sticking to.”

A Leicester City Council spokesperson said anyone using the electronic cigarette would not be fined as the products could be legally smoked anywhere. However, he also said it was up to the premises owner whether or not they allowed the use of the devices.

This article about electronic cigarettes was submitted by Freshcig

Motivation

This is the principal reason that makes working out with a trainer so successful. Trainers motivate and inspire their clients. They can encourage you to do that extra rep, or push that little bit harder, even when you’re not feeling on top of your game.  If you are a gym member, it’s all too easy to talk yourself out of going to the gym. We are capable of making all sorts of excuses. However, when you have a session planned with a personal trainer either at a gym or at home, the chances are that you’ll stick to it. You may be able to run, but you can’t hide.

Privacy

Nobody looks their best whilst exercising, probably not even David Beckham. We get hot and sweaty, and frankly would prefer it if no one else saw us in that state.  When you exercise with a personal trainer, you can work out in privacy, whether that’s in your home, garden or their fitness studio.

Safer training

Your personal trainer will know exactly what degree of intensity you should exercise at. Unfortunately training on your own at a gym can be counter-productive: some people don’t push themselves enough, whilst others go in too hard and lift weights that are too heavy, or do unstructured cardiovascular work, which can lead to injury. A trainer will monitor your fitness levels, determine what exercise intensity is correct for you, and only increase this level of intensity when you are ready for it.

Proper technique

This is probably the most important reason why you should work out with a qualified personal trainer.  Far too many people get technique wrong, even regular gym-goers. Poor form and technique doesn’t just make exercise ineffective, it can also lead to injuries and postural problems. A personal trainer’s job is to make sure that each and every rep, stride and pull is performed effectively.

Variety

Good personal trainers know that variety is essential for fitness. We need variety and new challenges to keep our interest alive and to be able to exercise different parts of the body. A personal training plan will evolve as your fitness evolves.

Home training

Many of us would prefer to workout at home for all sorts of reasons, whether that’s lifestyle, a family or just a basic desire for privacy. Many personal trainers are peripatetic and will come to visit you in your home so you can do just that. They’ll bring all the equipment necessary so that you can exercise in the environment where you feel most comfortable.

This article was submitted by Cheshire Fitness

What does a communications strategists look at?

Objectives

Understanding business objectives is the key to the success of any communications strategy. Businesses need to ensure that the communications strategy is organisationally, rather than communications driven: in other words the communications activity isn’t an end in itself but should serve and enhance the organisation’s objectives.

Audiences

Businesses should seek to identify those audiences with whom they need to communicate to achieve these organisational objectives. The best audiences to target aren’t always the obvious ones. Targeting audiences that do not fit the business model will only waste valuable resources that should ideally be put into communicating with key stakeholders.

Messages

The messages sent out by businesses need to be strategically targeted and consistent. A well rounded communication strategy will look comprehensively at all the essential elements and key messages that are sent out, and be able to emphasise different elements for different audiences.

Tools

Businesses need to be able to identify the tools which are most appropriate for communicating these key messages to their target audiences. Communication platforms need to be tailored to individual businesses, as one size does certainly not fit all.

Resources

The key rules for every business to observe are always to deliver what is promised, and never over- promise. Adequate resources need to be targeted so this can be achieved.

This Article was submitted by Think7

Look for an entrepreneur who runs a successful small business

By far the best step for a budding entrepreneur is to get help from someone who is successfully running a small business. They will have already trodden the path you aspire to and will understand what difficulties lie ahead. It isn’t necessarily imperative that the mentor works in the same industry or sector that you’re looking to target. It’s more about general life experience. All small businesses face similar problems when starting from scratch. Successful small business mentors will have faced the challenges and successfully overcome them. They can help you to do the same.

Look for a mutual rapport

Understanding and mutual appreciation lies at the heart of every mentoring relationship. For a relationship to work successfully there needs to be a good rapport: it may well be that your small business mentor has a wonderful CV and years of experience, but if the rapport isn’t there the relationship is unlikely to be beneficial to either party. Mentees need to be able to communicate with mentors: similarly mentors should be able to talk candidly and not be afraid to ask serious questions about the business ambition and how it might be improved. If the relationship isn’t working, or feels like it is unlikely to succeed in the long term, then it’s worth looking for a new mentor. Real progress is rarely made without a good rapport and understanding.

Use as many mentors as you see fit

Choosing a business mentor is one of the most important things you can do when starting out, but the challenges you will face will change over time. Your original mentor may have been ideal for helping you to get the business up and running, but they may not be best placed when specific challenges crop up. There’s absolutely no reason why a mentee can’t have a number of mentors. In fact, it’s probably in your interest to seek out a number of additional mentors preferably with different experience and backgrounds to help you gain a rounded view of your business and where it is heading.

This article about small business mentoring was submitted by Mentor Match Me