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What a new triathlete needs to get started: The Run
Third in a series of three articles about the basics, the niceties and the luxuries
By Alice Hohl
Finally we arrive at the sport that requires the least equipment: the run.
As usual, there is a broad spectrum of opinions, ranging from those who think shoes themselves are one piece of gear too many, to those who won't leave the house without a GPS tracker, music and a backpack full of water.
It's hard to say that anything is required for running. Some of the fastest marathoners in the world train without shoes. But for most of us, a good pair of running shoes and comfortable clothes are a sound investment. Much has been written about different types of running shoes and the differences between them can be overwhelming. The best place to begin is a a running shoe store that offers a "gait analysis " or some form of analysis of your footfall. At such a store, employees can recommend a shoe that suits your footfall. Various shoes may correct for a flaw in your gait, or be less structured, less padded, or perhaps be more like running barefoot.
If you plan to keep running for the foreseeable future, you might consider buying two pair of shoes at the start and rotating which pair you wear. This makes the shoes last longer, according to some, because they have time to recover from a beating before being used again.
If you pursue this strategy as a beginner, try buying two different brands of shoes. By switching between them, you may get a better idea of what you like in a shoe.
If you choose to pick up shoes somewhere other than a running store, a good rule of thumb is that they should be snug in the heel and arch, but you should not feel your foot touching the top or sides of the shoes in the toebox.
Also, beware of shoes designed to correct a problem you don't have. If you choose something off the rack at a department or discount store without any professional guidance, you may end up in trouble. I once purchased a pair of Asics at a Kohl's departments store because they were on sale. They felt fine on my feet, but when I ran in them, I kept twisting my ankle severely on the smallest flaws in the sidewalk. Finally I compared them to another pair of shoes and noticed the curving plastic stripes at the back of the heel (which I thought were decorative) were actually designed to pull the back of the shoe outward. No wonder my heel was twisting, causing my foot to roll all of the time!
There is such a thing as a triathlon-specific shoe. A few manufacturers (Zoot and K-Swiss come to mind) have created a special line of shoes for triathletes, featuring quick entry (usually built-in elastic laces and a decent place to grab behind the ankle to pull them on quickly in transition), soft insides for those who run sockless, and holes in the bottom to drain water if you are pouring a lot of water on your head to cool yourself. Most of these shoes are great, but if you already have running shoes, there is no need to purchase these. You can put elastic laces (Yankz and Speed Laces are two popular brands) in any running shoe. And the holes in the soles of the shoes are great unless you are wearing those shoes on a chilly training run and step in a puddle. (Hint: The water flow goes both ways.)
As you investigate more about triathlon, you're bound to hear about the barefoot running movement, or about Vibram shoes, which mimic barefoot running. There are strong opinions on both sides of the debate, but everyone agrees that if you try barefoot running or running Vibrams or other minimally supportive shoes, you must start slowly with very short runs and build up gradually.
The Asics Gel-1160 is a structured shoe meant to keep your foot from leaning one way or the other, and it has a lot of cushioning, which you can see under the heel. | The Saucony Kinvara is an example of a traditional shoe, but without much cushioning or stability. It is lightweight. | Zoot Ultra Tempo 4.0 is an example of a triathlon specific shoe. Note the loop at the back to help you pull it on quickly, and the built-in elastic laces. | Vibram's Bikila is an example of a minimalist or "barefoot" shoe. |
Here is a link to reviews of running shoes by BeginnerTriathlete members.
Socks are a must for all but the most hard-core. (And lots of hard-core people wear socks, too.) Anything that is not cotton will work well, although a big old pair of cotton crew socks is not going to kill you. They will just be sweaty and possibly cause blisters.
Here is a link to reviews of running socks by BeginnerTriathlete members. Socks for men; and socks for women.
Running shorts are an interesting topic in the triathlon community. Many triathletes, after racing and/or training in trishorts or other compression shorts, come to prefer them. Or they just don't want to buy another item. And so the flimsy nylon shorts that brush the top of the thigh -- worn by decades of marathoners and sprinters alike -- are not seen frequently in the triathlon community. However, you should wear whatever makes you comfortable, or whatever you already own. All types of running shorts (traditional split shorts, trishorts, compression shorts, etc.) are designed to be worn without underwear. Violating this suggestion can cause chafing and discomfort when fabric bunches together and gets sweaty.
These Brooks split shorts are traditional shorts worn by runners in track and distance events. | Some athletes find they enjoy wearing triathlon short for training runs, too. These are DeSoto tri shorts. | These 2XU compression shorts mimic tri shorts, but without the padding. |
Here are links to reviews of running shorts. Shorts for men; and shorts for women .
Sports bra
For women, a sports bra is an obvious requirement. If you are heading out to purchase something new, you may want to think about selecting a sports bra that can double as your top on the swim. I have now accumulated three or four synthetic, quick-dry tops I can wear under a shirt on a training run, or for a swim workout or race.
This Zoot top is an example of a sports bra that can also be your racing top. It is designed to swim in. (Note the high neck, to prevent drag in the water.) | This Under Armour sports bra is a more traditional solution. Be sure to look for wide shoulder straps. | This Pearl Izumi tri top is meant for swimming, biking and running. Sometimes on a hot training run, a triathlon top can be just the ticket. |
Here is a link to reviews of sports bras by BeginnerTriathlete members.
Nice to have
Hat and/or Sunglasses
Some athletes can head out for a run in the blazing sun with nothing shading or protecting their eyes. Most prefer a hat or sunglasses or both. Some nice, sun-repelling, cool hats have come on the scene in recent years, including one with a pocket made by DeSoto, shown below.
You can spend $8 or $300 on sunglasses. It's entirely up to you. Features to look for include:
rubber along the arms, to keep them from sliding and bouncing around on your ears when you run
A design that doesn't hurt your head when you put your helmet on to cycle with them
And, if you want to splurge, interchangeable lenses, so you can put in clear lenses to keep bugs out of your eyes during dawn or dusk bike rides.
Here is a link to sunglasses reviews on BeginnerTriathlete.
Fabric that breathes
While it's not necessary to replace all the cotton shirts you own with Coolmax shirts, after you receive your first technical shirt (technical usually means synthetic performance fabric) for a race, you will realize how much lighter, less sticky and more comfortable it is than cotton. That should inspire you to ensure that any new purchases are made of lightweight fabric blends that dry quickly and pull sweat away from your skin, instead of absorbing it and sticking to you. Alternately, you could save the money you might spend on 2 or three coolmax shirts from your local running store and enter some triathlons instead. Most races are including technical shirts in their goodie bags.
(Some of us are a bit too addicted to this sport, and would be happy to give you 10 or 12 technical race shirts to free up some space around the house.)
If you have a money tree
If you have a little extra to spend, or you really hate running and want to make it more fun, there are some cool items to add to your collection.
A wrist-mounted GPS with heartrate monitor is a great toy. Rather than running the same old route you measured in the car, or sitting online for 20 minutes finding the streets and paths that generate the needed mileage, you can leave from your front door and go anywhere you want, and you'll always know how far you've run. Most models will even get you home if you get lost. If you think you may become addicted to this sport, please note that some models don't have the battery life to last for a full Ironman. Unless you finish with the pros.
Here is the Garmin 310XT, a watch specifically designed with triathletes in mind. It can track your swim from inside your swim cap, and the battery lasts well beyond the 17-hour Ironman cutoff time. |
There are other brands and models available. Click to read reviews of wrist-mounted GPS units.
Hydration Packs
Camelbak is the brand name of a hydration pack you can carry on your back, and drink from (through a straw) without breaking stride. There are a variety of models and sizes, as well as some other brands that make similar products.
A Camelbak can solve the problem of how to carry enough water for a two-hour run on a hot day. They can also be used when cycling, but are considered uncool because "real" cyclists can pull a bottle from their bike frame, drink it, add crushed ice, adjust the concentration of sports drink and return the bottle to its cage without looking down or interrupting their pedal cadence. It's a point of pride. Others of us just want to have enough fluids.
Hydration packs are also useful for stowing a cell phone, music player, energy gels and more.
For reviews of different styles of Camelbaks and other hydration packs, read our gear reviews.
MP3 Players
Some people swear they cannot train without their playlist of favorite tunes to keep them going. Others feel this is a crutch or even an unfair advantage, in addition to being a safety hazard. It's one of triathlon's ironies that people who go running with earbuds in, are sometimes the same people who, when cycling, complain that runners on the path won't move over because they can't hear over their music.
However, if you come down on the side of having better runs with music, there are scores of MP3 players and related accessories to mount the player on your arm, waist, back or hat, not to mention earbuds designed specifically not to fall out while running. Just make sure the volume is not so loud that you can't hear someone calling out, "Passing on your left!" Also, you are not allowed to take music with you during a triathlon race.
This is the last article in the series highlighting gear for those getting started in the sport. If you haven't seen our articles on beginner gear for swimming and biking, you can find them here: Beginner Swim Gear and Beginner Bike Gear.
And, as always, remember the triathlon mantra: Nothing new on race day. That means don't wear anything or try anything that you haven't used in training.


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'Epidemic level' of laser attacks directed at planes
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- An increase in the number of brazen laser attacks on planes in the United States has reached an "epidemic level."
According to an FBI blog post, the number of incidents is projected to reach 3,700 by the end of the year, compared to just 283 in 2005, a rise of more than 1,100%. Last year, there were 3,592 reported laser incidents, the FAA said.
The FBI cited the Internet as a source for cheap, easy to purchase hand-held gadgets about the size of fountain pens which have become more powerful in recent years. Lasers costing as little as a dollar can have ranges of 2 miles, the FBI said.
The number of attacks is reaching an "epidemic level," said George Johnson, a supervisory federal air marshal who is a liaison officer with the FBI.
Lasers directed at aircraft can cause temporary blindness to pilots for a few seconds, posing risks during takeoffs and landings.
"Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is dangerous and reckless. Just don't do it," Johnson said.
Those who intentionally aim a laser at an aircraft can be prosecuted under two federal statutes, including a law put into effect this year that makes it punishable by up to five years in prison and $11,000 per violation without the benefit of a warning notice or counseling. An existing law allows punishment up to 20 years in prison and fines of $250,000.
Michael Huerta, acting FAA administrator, is on record as saying his department will "aggressively" prosecute violators.
Laser incident reports have increased steadily since the FAA created a formal reporting system in 2005 to collect information from pilots.
In 2011, the FBI said those responsible for "lasering" aircraft fall into two general profiles, either minors with no criminal history or older men with criminal records. Human traffickers or drug runners have also sought "to thwart airborne surveillance," according to the FBI.

subset: commoncrawl


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Paul Adolph Volcker Jr. (September 5, 1927 – December 8, 2019) was an American economist who served as the 12th chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1979 to 1987. During his tenure as chairman, Volcker was widely credited with having ended the high levels of inflation seen in the United States throughout the 1970s and early 1980s,[3] with measures known as the Volcker shock.[4][5][6] He previously served as the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York from 1975 to 1979.
Paul Volcker | |
Chair of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board | |
In office February 6, 2009 – February 6, 2011 | |
President | Barack Obama |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Jeffrey R. Immelt (Council on Jobs and Competitiveness) |
12th Chairman of the Federal Reserve | |
In office August 6, 1979 – August 11, 1987 | |
President | Jimmy Carter Ronald Reagan |
Deputy | Frederick H. Schultz Preston Martin Manuel H. Johnson |
Preceded by | G. William Miller |
Succeeded by | Alan Greenspan |
Member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors | |
In office August 6, 1979 – August 11, 1987 | |
President | Jimmy Carter Ronald Reagan |
Preceded by | William Miller |
Succeeded by | Alan Greenspan |
President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York | |
In office May 2, 1975 – August 5, 1979 | |
Preceded by | Alfred Hayes |
Succeeded by | Anthony M. Solomon |
Personal details | |
Born | Paul Adolph Volcker Jr. September 5, 1927 Cape May, New Jersey, U.S. |
Died | December 8, 2019 New York City, U.S. | (aged 92)
Political party | Democratic[1][2] |
Spouses | Barbara Bahnson
(m. 1954; died 1998)Anke Dening (m. 2010) |
Children | 2 |
Education | Princeton University (AB) Harvard University (AM) London School of Economics |
President Jimmy Carter nominated him to succeed G. William Miller as Fed chairman and President Ronald Reagan renominated him once. Volcker did not seek a third term at the Fed and was succeeded by Alan Greenspan. After his retirement from the Board, he chaired the Economic Recovery Advisory Board under President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2011 during the subprime mortgage crisis.[7]
Early life and education edit
Volcker was born in Cape May, New Jersey, the son of Alma Louise (née Klippel, 1892–1990) and Paul Adolph Volcker (1889–1960).[8] All his grandparents were of German origin. Volcker grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey, where his father was the township's first municipal manager. Paul Sr. thrived in the role for 20 years as he improved the burgeoning town's economic stability and the local government's effectiveness.[9] Paul Jr. had four older sisters: Ruth (1916–1991), Louise (1918–1966), Elinor (1922–1923) and Virginia Streitfeld (1924–2011). As a child, he attended his mother's Lutheran church, while his father went to an Episcopal church. Volcker graduated from Teaneck High School in 1945,[8] where he participated in several student groups and impressed his peers and teachers with his knowledge of politics.[10]
Volcker attended Princeton University as an undergraduate student and graduated with highest honors from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs (now the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs) in 1949. In his senior thesis, titled "The Problems of Federal Reserve Policy since World War II", Volcker criticized the Federal Reserve's post-WWII policies for failing to curb inflationary pressures, writing, "a swollen money supply presented a grave inflationary threat to the economy. There was a need to bring this money supply under control if the disastrous effects of a sharp price rise were to be avoided."[11][12][13] Following a summer as a research assistant at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, he moved to Harvard University to earn an M.A. in political economy from its Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and Graduate School of Public Administration. He worked a second summer as a New York Fed research assistant before graduating in 1951. After Harvard, Volcker attended the London School of Economics from 1951 to 1952 as a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Fellow under Rotary's Ambassadorial Scholarships program.[14]
Career edit
In 1952, Volcker joined the staff of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as a full-time economist. He left that position in 1957 to become a financial economist with the Chase Manhattan Bank. In 1962, Robert Roosa, who had been his mentor at the Federal Reserve, hired him at the Treasury Department as director of financial analysis.[15] In 1963, he became deputy under secretary for monetary affairs. He returned to Chase Manhattan Bank as vice president and director of planning in 1965.[16]
Appointed by the Nixon Administration, Volcker served under secretary of the Treasury for international monetary affairs from 1969 to 1974. He played an important role in President Richard Nixon's decision to suspend gold convertibility of the dollar on August 15, 1971, which resulted in the collapse of the Bretton Woods system. Volcker considered the suspension of gold convertibility "the single most important event of his career."[17] Because of his position as under secretary, Volcker served as a board member for OPIC and Fannie Mae.[18] Across the policies he worked on, he acted as a moderating influence on policy, advocating the pursuit of an international solution to monetary problems and acting as a negotiator with other nations' policymakers.[19] After leaving the U.S. Treasury, he spent a year as a senior fellow at Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School (his alma mater). In 1975, he became President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and he retained that role until he became Federal Reserve Chairman in August 1979.[16]
Chairman of the Federal Reserve edit
After G. William Miller's confirmation as Secretary of the Treasury, President Jimmy Carter's confirmation of Vice Chairman of the Federal Reserve Frederick H. Schultz's role as Acting Chairman sent markets panicking. Carter resultingly sought a reassuring, qualified nominee who would confront inflation head-on, and nominated Paul Volcker to serve as chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System on July 25, 1979.[20][21] He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 2, 1979, and took office on August 6, 1979.[22] President Ronald Reagan renominated Volcker to a second term in 1983.[23][24]
Inflation emerged as an economic and political challenge in the United States during the 1970s. The monetary policies of the Federal Reserve board, led by Volcker, were widely credited with curbing the rate of inflation and expectations that inflation would continue. US inflation, which peaked at 14.8 percent in March 1980, fell below 3 percent by 1983.[25][3] The Federal Reserve board led by Volcker raised the federal funds rate, which had averaged 11.2% in 1979, to a peak of 20% in June 1981. The prime rate rose to 21.5% in 1981 as well, which helped lead to the 1980–1982 recession,[26] in which the national unemployment rate rose to over 10%. In addition to the rises in key interest rates, the so-called 'Volcker shock' included monetarist-inspired policies, such as monetary targeting. Despite the fact that monetarist economists did not recognize Volcker policies to be totally monetarist, some members of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) claimed to follow monetarist principles.[27]
Volcker's Federal Reserve board elicited the strongest political attacks and most widespread protests in the history of the Federal Reserve (unlike any protests experienced since 1922), due to the effects of high interest rates on the construction, farming, and industrial sectors, culminating in indebted farmers driving their tractors onto C Street NW in Washington, D.C. and blockading the Eccles Building.[28] US monetary policy eased in 1982, helping lead to a resumption of economic growth.
The US current account was in permanent deficit by the 1990s. Volcker himself tried to remedy the situation by the Plaza Accord in 1986, which called for Germany and Japan to revalue relative to the US dollar.[29]
The combination of the Fed's tight money policies and the expansive fiscal policy of the Reagan Administration (large tax cuts and a major increase in military spending) produced large federal budget deficits and significant macroeconomic imbalances in the U.S. economy. The combination of growing federal debt and high interest rates led to a substantial rise in federal net interest costs. The sharp rise of interest costs and large deficits led Congress to take some steps towards fiscal constraint.[30]
Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz said about him in an interview:
Paul Volcker, the previous Fed Chairman known for keeping inflation under control, was fired because the Reagan administration didn't believe he was an adequate de-regulator.[31]
Congressman Ron Paul, well known as a harsh critic of the Federal Reserve, offered qualified praise of Volcker:
Being in Congress in the late 1970s and early 1980s and serving on the House Banking Committee, I met and got to question several Federal Reserve chairmen: Arthur Burns, G. William Miller, and Paul Volcker. Of the three, I had the most interaction with Volcker. He was more personable and smarter than the others, including the more recent board chairmen Alan Greenspan and Ben Bernanke.[32]
In 1983, Volcker received the U.S. Senator John Heinz Award for Greatest Public Service by an Elected or Appointed Official, an award given out annually by Jefferson Awards.[33]
Post-Federal Reserve edit
After leaving the Federal Reserve in 1987, he became chairman of the prominent New York investment banking firm, Wolfensohn & Co., a corporate advisory and investment firm run by James D. Wolfensohn (who later became President of the World Bank).[34][35]
In 1992, Volcker was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.[36]
In 1993 he chaired the Group of 30 Report on the Derivatives market entitled "Derivatives: Practices and Principles"[37] with several appendices and a survey on how practices may have changed since the original 1993 report.[38] The Group of 30 is a "consultative group on international economic and monetary affairs." Volcker was their Chairman emeritus.[39]
In 1996, he took up the chair of the Independent Committee of Eminent Persons (Volcker Commission) to look into the dormant accounts of Jewish victims of the Holocaust lying in Swiss banks. This included a "massive accounting of Swiss bank records." In the midst of a contentious process (the committee was formed by three Jewish representatives and three representatives of Swiss banks), he was able to bring about an agreement among the parties for a settlement of $1.25 billion.[40]
Volcker was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1992.[36]
In 2000 he accepted the Chairmanship of the IFRS Trustees, the not-for-profit funding arm of the International Accounting Standards Board (later the IFRS Foundation). The IFRS Foundation is a private sector enterprise based in London which seeks to develop a single global accounting model, subject to adoption country by country under their rules of law.[41]
In April 2004, the United Nations assigned Volcker to research possible corruption in the Iraqi Oil for Food program. In the report summarizing its research, Volcker criticized Kojo Annan, son of then-UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and the Swiss company Cotecna Inspection SA, Kojo's employer, for trying to conceal their relationship. He concluded in his March 2005, report that "there is no evidence that the selection of Cotecna, in 1998, was subject to improper influence of the Secretary General in the bidding or selection process."[42] While Volcker did not implicate the Secretary General in the selection process, however, he did cast serious doubt on Kofi Annan, whose "management performance ... fell short of the standards that the United Nations Organization should strive to maintain."[43] Volcker was a director of the United Nations Association of the United States of America between 2000 and 2004,[44][45] prior to his being appointed to the Independent Inquiry by Kofi Annan.[46]
As of October 2006, he was the chairman of the board of trustees of the influential Washington-based financial advisory body, the Group of Thirty, and a member of the Trilateral Commission. He had a long association with the Rockefeller family, not only with his positions at Chase Bank and the Trilateral Commission, but also through membership of the trust committee of Rockefeller Group, Inc., which he joined in 1987. That entity managed, at one time, the Rockefeller Center on behalf of the numerous members of the Rockefeller family. He was a chairman and an honorary trustee of International House, the cultural exchange residence and program center in New York City. He was a founding member of the Trilateral Commission and a long-time member of the Bilderberg Group.[citation needed]
In January 2008, he endorsed Democratic Party presidential candidate Barack Obama in the upcoming presidential election.[47]
On April 8, 2008, he was the featured speaker at The Economic Club of New York. Volcker discussed "what appears to be in substance a direct transfer of mortgage and mortgage-backed securities of questionable pedigree from an investment bank to the Federal Reserve," and offered his detailed analysis and evaluation of interrelationships among the U.S. capital markets, Federal Reserve policies, and the economy as whole.[48]
Paul Volcker appeared in the Charles Ferguson's movie Inside Job. He was interviewed about current Wall Street CEO pay, claiming it is "excessive."[49]
Volcker was an economic advisor to President Barack Obama, heading the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board.[50][51][52] Volcker had also been Obama's first pick as United States Secretary of the Treasury, but he was considered too old.[53] During the financial crisis, Volcker was extremely critical of banks, saying that their response to the financial crisis was inadequate, and that more regulation of banks is called for.[54][55][56] Specifically, Volcker called for a break-up of the nation's largest banks, prohibiting deposit-taking institutions from engaging in riskier activities such as proprietary trading, private equity, and hedge fund investments (see Volcker Rule).[57][58] Volcker left the board when its charter expired on February 6, 2011, without being included in discussions on how the board would be reconstituted.[59]
On January 21, 2010, President Barack Obama proposed bank regulations which he dubbed "The Volcker Rule," in reference to Volcker's aggressive pursuit of these regulations.[60] Volcker appeared with the president at the announcement. The proposed rules would prevent commercial banks from owning and investing in hedge funds and private equity, and limit the trading they do for their own accounts.[61] According to SEC Commissioner Luis A. Aguilar, "[t]he success or failure of the Volcker Rule will depend on the manner in which banking entities comply with the letter and spirit of the rule, and on the willingness of regulators to enforce it."[62]
Volcker was known to defy the stereotype of a Wall Street insider. A profile in The Week for February 5, 2010, stated that Volcker does not agree with the conventional wisdom that "financial innovation" is necessary for a healthy economy. In fact, he likes to say, "the only useful banking innovation was the invention of the ATM."[63]
On April 6, 2010, at the New-York Historical Society's Global Economic Panel, Volcker commented that the United States should consider adding a national sales tax similar to the Value Added Tax (VAT) imposed in European countries, stating "If, at the end of the day, we need to raise taxes, we should raise taxes."[64]
In 2011, Volcker and former Secretary of State George Shultz authored an article in The Wall Street Journal voicing their opinion that the War on Drugs had failed. They did not advocate for the legalization of drugs, but rather for a reexamination of the costs of drug prohibition in the United States.[65]
In 2015, Volcker donated his public service papers to Princeton University's Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library.[66]
World Justice Project edit
Volcker served as an honorary co-chairman for the World Justice Project. The World Justice Project works to lead a global, multi-disciplinary effort to strengthen the rule of law for the development of communities of opportunity and equity.[citation needed]
Volcker Alliance edit
In 2013, Volcker founded the nonprofit organization the Volcker Alliance to address the challenge of effective execution of public policies and to rebuild public trust in government.[67][68] The nonpartisan Alliance works toward that objective by partnering with other organizations—academic, business, governmental, and public interest—to strengthen professional education for public service, conduct needed research on government performance, and improve the efficiency and accountability of governmental organization at the federal, state, and local levels.[69]
Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget edit
Volcker served on the board of directors of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.[70] The nonpartisan organization is "committed to educating the public on issues with significant fiscal policy impact."[71]
Personal life edit
Volcker married Barbara Bahnson, the daughter of a physician, on September 11, 1954. They had two children, Janice, a nurse and a Georgetown University graduate,[72] and James, a research assistant and a New York University graduate[73] who was born with cerebral palsy. They also had four grandchildren.[74][75][76] His younger sister died young, and two of his three older sisters, Louise and Ruth, never married. His other older sister, Virginia, was married to and divorced from Harold Streitfeld; they have five children.[77]
Volcker was an avid fly-fisherman,[78] who recounted in 1987, "The greatest strategic error of my adult life was to take my wife to Maine on our honeymoon on a fly-fishing trip."[79][80] Volcker was known as "Tall Paul" for his height of 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m),[81][82] standing exactly a foot (30 cm) taller than his first wife, Barbara, when they first met.[74] She died on June 14, 1998, having suffered from lifelong diabetes, as well as rheumatoid arthritis. Over Thanksgiving, 2009, he became engaged to Anke Dening, a long-time assistant.[83] They married in February 2010.[84]
Death edit
Volcker died in New York City on December 8, 2019, at age 92. He had reportedly been treated for prostate cancer since being diagnosed the year prior.[85]
Honorary degrees edit
Volcker received honorary degrees from several educational institutions, including: Baytown Christian Academy, Hamilton College (1980), University of Notre Dame, Princeton University, Dartmouth College, New York University, University of Delaware,[86] Fairleigh Dickinson University, Bryant College, Adelphi University, Lamar University, Bates College (1989), Fairfield University (1994), York University (2001), Williams College (2003),[87] Northwestern University (2004), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2005), Brown University (2006), Georgetown University (2007), Syracuse University (2008),[88] Queen's University (2009), Amherst College (2011), and at the University of Toronto (2015).[89]
Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, where Volker served on the advisory board from 2001 until his death, established the "Paul Volcker Chair" in Behavioral economics in 2011.[90][91]
Works edit
- Changing Fortunes, Paul Volcker and Toyoo Gyohten, Crown, May 26, 1992, ISBN 978-1-58648-752-2
- Forbes Great Minds Of Business, Fred Smith, Peter Lynch, Andrew Grove, Paul Volcker (Author), Pleasant Rowland, John Wiley and Paul A. Volcker, Simon and Schuster Audio, October 1, 1997, ISBN 978-0-671-57722-3
- Good Intentions Corrupted: The Oil for Food Scandal And the Threat to the U.N., Paul Volcker, Jeffrey A. Meyer and Mark G. Califano, Public Affairs Gorgias Press, August 28, 2006, ISBN 978-1-58648-472-9
- Keeping at it: The Quest for Sound Money and Good Government (Memoir); Public Affairs 2018, ISBN 978-1541788312[92]
In popular culture edit
The political rock band Volcker from Portland, Oregon, formed in early 2015, was named after him.[93] It released an eponymous album on January 27, 2016.[94] The band was featured on BBC Radio 4's Economics with Subtitles on August 28, 2016.[95]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Hoffman, Nicholas von (December 2, 1979). "Can Volcker Stand up to Inflation?". The New York Times. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ Silk, Leonard (November 8, 1987). "Volcker on the CRASH". The New York Times. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ a b "To Treat the Fed as Volcker Did". The New York Times. November 4, 2008. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ "Volcker Shock: key economic indicators 1979-1987". Statista. October 10, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ Matthews, Dylan (July 13, 2022). "How the Fed ended the last great American inflation — and how much it hurt". Vox. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ Wolf, Zachary B. (July 27, 2022). "This kind of shock to the economy will have consequences". CNN. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Obama Announces Economic Advisory Board" (Press release). White House Press Office. February 6, 2009.
- ^ a b Treaster (2004), pp. 87–92.
- ^ Griffin, Robert. "Looking Back on the History of Teaneck". Teaneck Public Library. Archived from the original on September 17, 2018. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
- ^ "Teaneck High School Yearbook". Ancestry.com.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|url=
(help) - ^ Volcker, Paul (1949). The Problems of Federal Reserve Policy since World War II (Thesis).
- ^ "'The integrity and will of ten men': the life of Paul Volcker '49". The Princetonian.
- ^ Volcker, Jr., Paul Adolf. "The Problems of Federal Reserve Policy since World War II" – via catalog.princeton.edu.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Paul A. Volcker". Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
- ^ Treaster (2004), p. 38.
- ^ a b Santow, Leonard Jay (2009). Do They Walk on Water?: Federal Reserve Chairmen and the Fed. ABC-CLIO. p. 95-105. ISBN 9780313360336.
- ^ Silber (2012) p. 2.
- ^ Nomination of Paul A. Volcker Hearing before the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, United States Senate, Ninety-Sixth Congress, First Session, on the Nomination of Paul A. Volcker, to Be Chairman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System (Report). July 30, 1979. p. 52.
- ^ Conderacci, Greg; Janssen, Richard F. (July 26, 1979). "Balm for Business: Volcker's Nomination As Chairman of the Fed Is Being Widely Hailed". Wall Street Journal.
- ^ Greider, William (1989). Secrets of the Temple: How the Federal Reserve Runs the Country. Simon & Schuster.
- ^ President Jimmy Carter (July 25, 1979). "Federal Reserve System Nomination of Paul A. Volcker To Be Chairman of the Board of Governors". Archived from the original on December 7, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ "Senate Confirms Miller and Volcker". The New York Times. August 3, 1979. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ Robert D. Hershey Jr. (June 3, 1987). "Volcker Out after 8 Years as Federal Reserve Chief; Reagan Chooses Greenspan". The New York Times. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ "Paul A. Volcker – Council on Foreign Relations". Cfr.org. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
- ^ "Bureau of Labor Statistics Data". Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ NBER, US Business Cycle Expansions and Contractions Archived October 12, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Reichart Alexandre & Slifi Abdelkader [2016], 'The Influence of Monetarism on Federal Reserve policy during the 1980s', Papers in Political Economy/Cahiers d'Économie Politique, 70 (1), pp. 106-150
- ^ Shull, Bernard. 2005. The Fourth Branch: The Federal Reserve's Unlikely Rise To Power And Influence. Praeger/Greenwood. ISBN 1-56720-624-7. p. 142.
- ^ Paul Volcker and Toyoo Gyohten (1992). Changing Fortunes.
- ^ "Volcker: The Triumph of Persistence (Bloomsbury Press; 2012) 454 pages, p. 8."
- ^ Gardels, Nathan. Stiglitz: The Fall of Wall Street Is to Market Fundamentalism What the Fall of the Berlin Wall Was to..., HuffPost, September 16, 2008. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ Chan, Sewell (December 11, 2010). "The Fed? Ron Paul's Not a Fan". The New York Times. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ "Jefferson Awards Foundation". Archived from the original on November 24, 2010. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ Appelbaum, Binyamin; Hershey, Robert D. Jr. (December 9, 2019). "Paul A. Volcker, Fed Chairman Who Waged War on Inflation, Is Dead at 92". The New York Times. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
- ^ Montet, Virginie (December 9, 2019). "Paul Volcker, US Fed Chief Who Led War On Inflation, Dead At 92". IBTimes.com. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
- ^ a b "Paul A. Volcker". American Academy of Arts & Sciences. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
- ^ "Derivatives Practices and Principles" (PDF). Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ "Derivatives: Practices and Principles: Follow-up Surveys of Industry Practice". Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.
- ^ "Group of 30 Current Members". Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ Treaster (2004), p. x.
- ^ "Annual Report of the IFRS Trustees Foundation" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 11, 2015.
- ^ Independent Inquiry Committee into the United Nations Oil-for-Food Programme – Second Interim Report (29 March 2005) Archived August 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine p.77.
- ^ Traub, James. 2006. The Best Intentions: Kofi Annan and the UN in the Era of American Power. New York: Picardor, n.d., p. 420.
- ^ Miller, Judith; Preston, Julia (January 31, 2005). "2 Inquiries on Iraq Aid Are at Odds". The New York Times. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
In a report last week, the conservative Heritage Foundation contended that Mr. Volcker had a conflict of interest that 'threatens his credibility' as head of the commission because he had not disclosed that he was a director of the United Nations Association of the United States of America, which the report called 'a pro-U.N. advocacy group.'
- ^ "The Volcker Investigation into the U.N. Oil-for-Food Scandal: WhyIt Lacks Credibility". The Heritage Foundation. February 1, 2005. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
When Volcker was appointed to head the Oil-for-Food investigation in April 2004, it was not widely known by the public, the world's media, and the U.S. Congress that he was a director of the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) and the Business Council for the United Nations (BCUN). Volcker is listed as a director in the 2003-2004 UNA-USA annual report,[12] as well as in the annual reports for 2001-2002 and 2000-2001.[13]
- ^ "The Volcker Interim Report on the United Nations Oil-for-Food Program: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on International Relations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Ninth Congress, First Session, February 9, 2005" (PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. 2005. p. 11. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
It is inconceivable that Kofi Annan was unaware of Mr. Volcker's close ties to the United Nations Association when he appointed him to head the Oil-for-Food investigation, and it could well have been an important factor influencing his decision.
- ^ Calmes, Jackie (January 31, 2008). "Volcker Joins List of Obama Backers". Washington Wire. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ The Economic Club of New York: April 8, 2008 Transcript 101st Year, 395th Meeting, (8 April 2008) p. 2, and pp. 5–8.
- ^ 101st Year, 395th Meeting, (8 April 2008) Archived October 31, 2008, at the Wayback Machine pp. 2, 5–8.
- ^ Kudlow, Lawrence (June 27, 2008). "Where's Bernanke's Inner Volcker?". Townhall.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Transcript of Third Presidential Debate". October 15, 2008. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ ""President-elect Barack Obama establishes President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board" change.gov". Change.gov. November 26, 2008. Archived from the original on February 24, 2011. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
- ^ Tooze, Adam (2018). Crashed: How a Decade of Financial Crises Changed the World. New York, New York: Viking. p. 200. ISBN 978-0-670-02493-3. OCLC 1039188461.
- ^ Werdigier, Julia (December 8, 2009). "Volcker Criticizes Calls to Limit Bank Regulation". The New York Times. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ Murray, Alan (December 14, 2009). "Paul Volcker: Think More Boldly". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ Rose, Charlie (December 30, 2009). "Paul Volcker: The Lion Lets Loose". Business Week. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ Johnson, Simon (December 17, 2009). "Paul Volcker Finds a Hammer". The New York Times. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ McGrane, Victoria (January 4, 2010). "'Big is bad' catches on in Congress". The Politico. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ Onaran, Yalman (January 6, 2010). "Volcker Sidelined as Obama Reshapes Economic Advisory Panel". Bloomberg. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ David Cho, and Binyamin Appelbaum (January 22, 2010). "Obama's 'Volcker Rule' shifts power away from Geithner". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ Conway, Brendan (January 26, 2010). "'Volcker Plan' Bank Units Worth Tens Of Billions". Dow Jones & Company. Archived from the original on January 30, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
- ^ Aguilar, Luis (December 10, 2013). "Statement on the Volcker Rule: Reducing Systemic Risk By Banning Excessive Proprietary Trading with Depositors' Money". Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ "Spotlight" in The Week, 2010 February 5 (Volume 10 Issue 449), p. 38.
- ^ Geoff Earle; Tony Davenport (April 7, 2010). "Bam man pitching national sales tax". New York Post. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ Volcker, George P. Shultz And Paul A. (June 11, 2011). "A Real Debate About Drug Policy". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
- ^ "Former Federal Reserve chairman Volcker donates public service papers to Princeton". Princeton University. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ "Paul Volcker Launches Volcker Alliance". Forbes. May 12, 2015.
- ^ Schwartz, Nelson D. (May 29, 2013). "Volcker Plans to Restore Faith in Government". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
- ^ "Our Mission". The Volcker Alliance. November 4, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
- ^ "Board Members". Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. April 25, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
- ^ "About Us". Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. August 4, 2009. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
- ^ "Janice Volcker Is Married". The New York Times. September 20, 1981. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ "WEDDINGS; Martha DeJong and James Volcker". The New York Times. August 1, 1993. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ a b Treaster (2004), pp. 83, 86, 110.
- ^ "Paid Notice: Deaths: VOLCKER, BARBARA". The New York Times. June 16, 1998. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ "Speakers Platform Speakers Bureau: Paul Volcker, Keynote Speaker On: Economics, Global Affairs, Finance / Tax". Speakers Platform. Archived from the original on February 23, 2008. Retrieved March 25, 2008.
- ^ Treaster, Joseph B. (August 24, 2011). Paul Volcker: The Making of a Financial Legend. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9781118160855.
- ^ Faber, Eberhard (September 29, 1986). "Fishing with Volcker". Fortune Magazine. CNN. p. 4. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
- ^ Lyons, Nick (May 3, 1987). "Gone off fly-fishing". The New York Times. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ Russell, George (June 15, 1987). "The New Mr. Dollar". Time Magazine. Time Inc. p. 4. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ Freeland, Chrystia (April 11, 2008). Man in the News: Paul Volcker. Financial Times. Retrieved on November 27, 2008 from "FT.com - Man in the News: Paul Volcker". Archived from the original on May 13, 2008. Retrieved November 27, 2008..
- ^ Cuff, Daniel F. (September 3, 1987). "BUSINESS PEOPLE; Of Volcker's Laundry and Fiscal Restraint". The New York Times. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ Loomis, Carol (December 24, 2009). "Paul Volcker is Engaged!". CNN. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ Caren Bohan, Kristina Cooke: "Cheap cigars, politics and the Volcker Rule". Reuters. March 12, 2010. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ Appelbaum, Binyin; Hershey, Robert D. Jr. (December 9, 2019). "Paul A. Volcker, Fed Chairman Who Waged War on Inflation, Is Dead at 92". The New York Times. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ "Honorary Degrees / UD Alumni Relations". Udconnection.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
- ^ "Honorary Degrees". Office of the President.
- ^ Syracuse University honorary degrees 2008
- ^ "Former Fed Chairman Paul Volcker to Be Honored at Amherst College Commencement May 22". Amherst College. May 3, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ Leonhardt, Jill (September 20, 2011). "Maxwell School to Establish Paul Volcker Chair in Behavioral Economics". Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University (Press release). Retrieved September 6, 2021.
- ^ Rodgers, Jeffrey Pepper (July 11, 2017). "Shared Priorities. Former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker maintains a long-standing association with Maxwell because he thinks Maxwell does public service right". Maxwell Perspective. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
- ^ https://nytimes.com: Paul Volcker, at 91, Sees 'a Hell of a Mess in Every Direction'
- ^ "สล็อต ฟรีเครดิต ไม่ต้องฝาก ต้อง แชร์ ถอนได้ 2020".
- ^ "Gorge on Fire, by Volcker". Volcker. Archived from the original on December 18, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
- ^ "Coffins Full of Car Keys, Series 1". Economics with Subtitles. BBC Radio 4. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
Sources edit
- Morris, Charles R. (2009). The Sages: Warren Buffett, George Soros, Paul Volcker, and the Maelstrom of Markets. PublicAffairs. ISBN 978-1-58648-752-2.
- Silber, William L. (2013). Volcker: The Triumph of Persistence. Bloomsbury Press. ISBN 978-1-620-40292-4.
- Treaster, Joseph (2004). Paul Volcker: The Making of a Financial Legend. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley Sons. ISBN 978-0-471-42812-1.
- Meltzer, Allan H. (2009). A History of the Federal Reserve – Volume 2, Book 2: 1970–1986. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 707–1243. ISBN 978-0226213514.
External links edit
- Paul Volcker Interview
- Official biography from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
- The Independent Inquiry Committee into The United Nations' Oil-for-Food Program official website
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Paul Volcker on Charlie Rose
- Paul Volcker at IMDb
- Paul Volcker collected news and commentary at The New York Times
- Interview transcript from PBS Commanding Heights, September 26, 2000
- Time for Paul Volcker To Resign, Nile Gardiner, PhD, The Heritage Foundation, April 21, 2005
- Current Economic Recovery Fragile, Corporations Undergo "Healthy Changes," Former Fed Chair Paul Volcker Says in Ubben Lecture, Paul Volcker, DePauw University, October 8, 2003
- Rethinking the Bright New World of Global Finance, Paul Volcker, International Finance, Spring 2008
- How to Reform Our Financial System, Paul Volcker, The New York Times, January 30, 2010
- Statements and Speeches of Paul A. Volcker in FRASER
- Paul A. Volcker Papers at the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library, Princeton University
- Former Fed Chairman Blasts McKinsey and Hedge-Fund Billionaires
- "Other People's Blood", Tim Barker, n+1, Spring 2019


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The Behance Blog
"The Ostrich Problem" and The Danger of Not Tracking Your Progress
Whether you're in graphic design, teaching, studying, or choreography, tracking your professional progress in a structured way is paramount to success. If you're not, then you're likely suffering from "The Ostrich Problem", a phenomenon described by psychologists in England as the widespread tendency for people to avoid information about progress towards their goals. After all, it feels good to keep moving, and who wants the frustration of discovering that they've actually been driving in the wrong direction?
Social psychologist Thomas Webb and his colleagues at the University of Sheffield point out that, unfortunately, it is often those of us who most need to keep checks on our progress who are the least likely to do so. For example, the writer who senses that she is slipping behind with her schedule, but avoids checking to see if this is really the case; the gym-goer who feels they aren't really losing weight, but chooses to not find out for sure.
That's because the avoidance of progress feedback is often motivated by fear – fear that we will be confirming what we suspect: things aren't going well. If you're comfortable with your current modus operandi, it can be very tempting to delude yourself that there's no need to change, and avoiding progress monitoring is one way to do that.
If you've been going to the gym twice a week, it's rewarding to see yourself as a fit and active person. Regularly checking your weight or cardiovascular fitness might burst this bubble. Yet doing so could alert you to the ineffectiveness of your exercise regime; you could make some modifications and really start getting fit.
The Ostrich Problem is problematic because there's so much research showing that realistic progress monitoring is beneficial to achieving our goals. Evidence comes from diverse sources including students who keep progress diaries succeeding better at math homework, and patients who monitor their progress being more likely to adopt beneficial exercise routines.
Disappointing feedback can be painful at first - research shows that failure and losses can hurt twice as much as the pleasure of equivalent gains. But if you discover you're off course, reliable feedback shows you by how much, and you then have the opportunity to take remedial action and to plot a new training regime or writing schedule. The temporary pain of negative feedback is nothing compared with the crushing experience of project failure. Better to discover that you're behind and need to start writing an hour earlier each day, than to have your book contract rescinded further down the line because you've failed to deliver.
Fortunately, Thomas Webb and company's analysis of the Ostrich Problem presents us with some clues as to how to overcome this harmful habit. For example, if you're afraid of undermining your self-belief, remind yourself not to be a perfectionist. It's okay to screw up. Struggles and set backs aren't an abnormality, they are part of the process. Another tactic is to ask a colleague to provide you with feedback on your progress, or set up some kind of automatic feedback system – both approaches will stop you from needing the willpower to check how you're doing. Webb's group also highlighted research suggesting that people are more likely to monitor progress when they're in a good mood. Also, aim to attend to progress information about yourself in a non-judgmental, non-evaluative way.
Learn to forgive yourself for not checking your progress. The longer you stick your head in the sand, the harder it can be to pull it out. Sometimes it takes self-forgiveness to break free from past bad habits.
How about you?
How do you make sure to keep track of your goals?
More about Christian Jarrett
Dr. Christian Jarrett seeks out exciting new research and showcases its relevance for life. A psychologist turned writer, he's a senior editor at Aeon. His next book will be about personality change. He is @Psych_Writer on Twitter.


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» Special Report | Video archive | E-mail us: Your stories | How to help civilians Israel halts airstrikes for 48 hoursAttack killing dozens of civilians in Lebanon called a 'mistake' Emergency workers carry a body from rubble Sunday in Qana, Lebanon, after Israeli airstrikes. RELATEDQUICKVOTEYOUR E-MAIL ALERTSQANA, Lebanon (CNN) -- Israel agreed to halt airstrikes on southern Lebanon for 48 hours to investigate a Sunday raid that killed more than 60 civilians in Qana, Lebanon, an Israeli official said. The airstrike on Qana threatened to derail work toward a resolution in the 19-day conflict between Israel and Lebanon-based Hezbollah guerrillas. Israeli officials called the attack a tragic mistake, but Lebanon deemed it a war crime and canceled talks with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Israel reserved the right to take action against targets preparing attacks against it during the 48-hour period, the official said. Israel will also arrange with U.N. officials to allow safe passage for 24 hours so residents of southern Lebanon can flee the region, the Israeli official said. The official confirmed an earlier announcement by U.S. State Department spokesman Adam Ereli, who said the bombing halt should "significantly speed and improve the flow of humanitarian aid." The move comes amid increasing calls for a cease-fire in the conflict between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah guerrillas, which began July 12, when Hezbollah killed three Israeli soldiers and kidnapped two others. In Israel, police officials said 134 Hezbollah rockets slammed into the Jewish state on Sunday. Officials reported 48 injuries, one of them serious. The attack on Qana demolished a four-story residential building used as a shelter by Lebanese refugees. The dead included 37 children, according to Lebanese internal security officials. (Watch why Qana residents said they couldn't get out of harm's way [viewer discretion advised] -- 1:52) At the United Nations, Secretary-General Kofi Annan again called for an "immediate cessation of hostilities" -- a call that has been resisted by the United States. (Full story) The Security Council stopped short of that, calling for an end to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah and warning that continued fighting could have "grave consequences for the humanitarian situation." A Security Council statement expressed the world body's "extreme shock and distress" at the Qana bombing and offered its condolences for the deaths. In Beirut, outrage about the attack sparked violent protests at the U.N. compound. (Watch angry protesters use rocks, boards and poles to break into U.N. compound -- 2:30) And in Gaza City, Palestinian security forces on Sunday ejected about 2,000 demonstrators who had stormed the U.N. compound protesting the Qana attack. 'We can't do anything for them'The Israel Defense Forces said that residents of Qana had been warned to leave by radio announcements and by air-leaflets because it was a combat area. Israeli officials said the airstrike was an accident and that its forces intended to target a nearby Hezbollah position. Military officials said an investigation was under way. Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Dan Gillerman, called it a "horrible, tragic incident." But Gillerman said the dead were "victims of Hezbollah," which he said was using civilian buildings as cover to launch rockets into Israel. "We are dealing with a ruthless, cynical, cruel enemy, one of the most monstrous terror organizations this world has known," he said. "They have no regard for Israeli life, and they have no regard for Lebanese life." (Watch Israeli video of prior Hezbollah rocket firings in south Lebanon -- 2:38) "Clearly, we did not know the civilians were in the way," said IDF spokesman Jacob Dalal, who added that Israel was exercising its right to defend itself with its campaign of airstrikes. Residents dug through the rubble with their hands, searching for survivors as bodies were removed. A Lebanese emergency official -- speaking live on Al-Arabiya TV -- said rescuers lacked the heavy equipment to remove people trapped under the collapsed building. "We can't do anything for them under the rubble because we do not have the right equipment," the unidentified official said. Red Cross worker Sami Yazbak, who was helping to pull bodies from the building, said many of the children who were sleeping inside were handicapped. (Watch grieving Lebanese wail over loss of life -- 2:23) Video broadcast by Arab TV showed the bloodied bodies of women and children who appeared to be wearing nightclothes. Many of the bodies were under rubble in the basement of the building. Qana, 10 miles east of the southern Lebanese coastal city of Tyre, was the location of an attack by Israeli forces 10 years ago in which more than 100 Lebanese refugees were killed. Lebanese PM condemns attackThe attack prompted an impassioned television address by Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. "We scream out to our fellow Lebanese and to other Arab brothers and to the whole world to stand united in the face of the Israeli war criminals," he said. Siniora called for an immediate, unconditional cease-fire and an international investigation, and rejected planned talks with Rice. After the announcement, Rice canceled her planned visit to Beirut. (Full story) President Bush said Sunday the United States "mourns the loss of innocent life" and that all parties with a stake in the Mideast conflict "must work together to achieve a sustainable peace." The Bush administration has refused to call for an immediate cease-fire, with officials saying they want a "sustainable" end to hostilities -- one that includes efforts to prevent future Hezbollah attacks against Israel. Senior U.S. State Department officials said Rice will leave Jerusalem for Washington on Monday to negotiate a draft resolution to present to the Security Council this week aimed at bringing a halt to the crisis. Bush said the United States is resolved to work with members of the Security Council to draw up "a resolution that will enable the region to have a sustainable peace," he said. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office told Rice on Sunday that Israel needed 10 to 14 more days to complete its mission against Hezbollah militia. Western reaction showed a split, with many calling for an immediate cease-fire, but the United States and Britain stopping short of supporting such calls. (Full story) Rockets hit IsraelTwenty-four rockets landed Sunday in Akko, Nahariya, Kiryat Shimona, Metulla and in the upper part of the Galilee, police said. Also Sunday, the Israeli military confirmed that its troops had moved into areas of southeast Lebanon -- Kfar Kela and Odayse -- as part of an operation to control the area between the Israeli border town of Metulla, in Israel's northeast, and Tyre. Also, Israeli Defense Forces said Sunday its ground troops were operating in the border village of Taiyba in southeastern Lebanon, an area Israel said Hezbollah uses to launch rockets. Troops have killed at least three Hezbollah militants and found stockpiles of rocket-propelled grenades, anti-tank missiles, a cannon with shells and a machine gun, the IDF said. Four Israeli soldiers were injured on Sunday when an anti-tank rocket hit their tank in southern Lebanon, an Israeli military spokesman said. CNN's Nada Husseini, John King, Elise Labott, Richard Roth and Ben Wedeman contributed to this report.
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The Australian government plans to spend about $86 million (£47m) to provide all the country's families with free Internet pornography-blocking software.
Helen Coonan, the minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, announced the initiative Wednesday. A representative of Coonan told ZDNet Australia that the first free filters should be available for download from a government portal within six months.
"It puts a safer Internet experience within the grasp of every Australian family, and it is a solution to the problem posed by Internet pornography that is simple, safe, effective and free," Coonan said in a statement.
"Every parent will be able to receive a free filter for their home computer, (and) there will be child-safe terminals in libraries across Australia."
It's likely that the Australian government will covet political mileage from the initiative, with the minister's release tipping a "comprehensive national community education campaign" designed to "ensure that all Australian families are aware of the benefits of regulating their children's Internet experience by using a safe and effective computer filter."
At this stage, no specific filtering software has been selected for the initiative. The minister's representative said an accreditation process will be put in place. Internet service provider-level filtering will also be an option for customers of providers that offer it.
"Under this scheme, families will be offered a filtered service or a free filter for their home computer, either for download from a dedicated Web site or delivered to them on CD-ROM," Coonan stated. "All ISPs will also be required to offer filters to new and existing customers at no additional cost."
ISPs will be rebated if they choose to offer filtering at a service provider level.
The government's Internet safety agency, NetAlert Limited, will receive a $3.68 million funding boost and become co-located with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
Of the total spending, $68.69 million will be spent on filtering software over three year. Coonan's representative says the program will be reviewed in its third year.According to the representative, almost no ISPs currently offer any kind of content filtering, so the government will study the feasibility of ISP-level filtering for a fourth time.


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Lynn at Satsuma Press is selling this beautiful print she made from a drawing her father-in-law did of his young son (now grown and her husband). Glen Russell passed away earlier this year, so the print is in his honor, and the proceeds benefit a fund set up for Lynn's son Liam, who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy. I love the tenderness of the drawing (seen after the jump) and the classic look of the letterpressed print.
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I'm reading an essay on the creating of the Mammalia zoological classification (Londa Schiebinger, The American Historical Review, Vol. 98, No. 2 (Apr., 1993), pp. 382-411).
It contains the statement (page 386)
All mammals (including the whale) have hair, and it is still today considered a distinguishing characteristic of mammals.
Is that statement correct? Do all known species of whale and dolphin have hair? If so, where is it? You can't see it on the surface of the animal, is it internal like we have nostril hair?


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Georgia Suspends Three Running Backs Due to Alleged Drug Use
The Georgia Bulldogs will be down to just two available running backs this week as three top rushers have been suspended for this week's game against New Mexico State.
Starter Isaiah Crowell (who leads the team and is fifth in the SEC with 689 rushing yards) and backups Carlton Thomas and Ken Malcome were suspended Tuesday afternoon by head coach Mark Richt for violations of team rules. Although Richt refused to comment on the specific violations, sources told ESPN the three failed a drug test administered last week.
In addition to the three suspensions, second-leading rusher Richard Samuel had surgery Tuesday after injuring his ankle in the game against Florida. As such, two former walk-ons — redshirt sophomore Brandon Harton (11 carries for 33 yards this season) and junior Wes Van Dyk (one carry for one yard) — are the only remaining running backs with any game experience available for Saturday's game.
Cornerbacks Brandon Boykin and Branden Smith have been used on a handful of offensive running plays (combined eight carries for 116 yards), but Richt said that defending New Mexico State's pass-heavy offense could limit their availability for the Bulldogs offense.


text: Good morning. I'm Steve Inskeep. A suspect in Iowa will not have to go far to find a jury of his peers. Jury selection was underway in a court in Waterloo when a potential juror left her wallet on a bench. She returned from a break and found cash missing. Witnesses and security cameras in the court led authorities to a suspect. The man was another potential jury member. Police arranged a court date for him in the same legal system he had been serving a short time before. It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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« Prev | While still very Young, he taught diligently the… | Next » |
Chapter III.—While still very Young, he taught diligently the Word of Christ.
1. But while he was lecturing in the school, as he tells us himself, and there was no one at Alexandria to give instruction in the faith, as all were driven away by the threat of persecution, some of the heathen came to him to hear the word of God.
2. The first of them, he says, was Plutarch,17821782 Of this Plutarch we know only what Eusebius tells us here, and in chap. 4, where he says that he was the first of Origen's pupils to suffer martyrdom. (On the date of the persecution in which he suffered, see note 4). who after living well, was honored with divine martyrdom. The second was Heraclas,17831783 Heraclas, brother of Plutarch, proved himself so good a pupil that, when Origen later found the work of teaching too great for him to manage alone, he made him his assistant, and committed the elementary instruction to him (chap. 15). From chap. 19 we learn that he was for years a diligent student of Greek philosophy (chap. 15 implies his proficiency in it), and that he even went so far as to wear the philosopher's cloak all the time, although he was a presbyter in the Alexandrian church. His reputation for learning became so great, as we learn from chap. 31, that Julius Africanus went to Alexandria to see him. In 231, when Origen took his departure from Alexandria, he left the catechetical school in the charge of Heraclas (chap. 26), and in 231 or 232, upon the death of Demetrius (see Bk. V. chap. 22, note 4), Heraclas became the latter's successor as bishop of Alexandria (chaps. 26 and 29), and was succeeded in the presidency of the catechetical school by Dionysius (chap. 29). According to chap. 35 he was bishop for sixteen years and with this both versions of the Chron. agree, though Jerome puts his accession two years too early—into the ninth year of Alexander Severus instead of the eleventh—while giving at the same time, quite inconsistently, the proper date for his death. Heraclas' later relations to Origen are not quite clear. He was evidently, in earlier years, one of his best friends, and there is no adequate ground for the assumption, which is quite common, that he was one of those who united with Bishop Demetrius in condemning him. It is true, no attempt seems to have been made after he became bishop to reverse the sentence against Origen, and to invite him back to Alexandria; but this does not prove that Heraclas did not remain friendly to him; for even when Dionysius (who kept up his relations with Origen, as we know from chap. 46) became bishop (a.d. 248), no such attempt seems to have been made, although Origen was still alive and at the height of his power. The fact that the greater part of the clergy of Alexandria and Egypt were unfavorable to Origen, as shown by their condemnation of him, does not imply that Heraclas could not have been elected unless he too showed hostility to Origen; for Dionysius, who we know was not hostile, was appointed at that time head of the catechetical school, and sixteen years later bishop. It is true that Heraclas may not have sympathized with all of Origen's views, and may have thought some of them heretical (his strict judgment of heretics is seen from Bk. VII. chap. 7), but many even of the best of Origen's friends and followers did likewise, so that among his most devoted adherents were some of the most orthodox Fathers of the Church (e.g. the two Gregories and Basil). That Heraclas did not agree with Origen in all his opinions (if he did not, he may not have cared to press his return to Alexandria) does not prove therefore that he took part in the condemnatory action of the synod, and that he was himself in later life hostile to Origen. a brother of Plutarch; who after he too had given with him abundant evidence of a philosophic and ascetic life, was esteemed worthy to succeed Demetrius in the bishopric of Alexandria.
3. He was in his eighteenth year when he took charge of the catechetical school.17841784 See below, p. 392. He was prominent also at this time, during the persecution under Aquila,17851785 It is not clear from Eusebius' language whether Aquila was successor of Lætus as viceroy of Egypt (as Redepenning assumes apparently quite without misgiving), or simply governor of Alexandria. He calls Lætus (in chap. 2) governor of Alexandria and of all Egypt, while Aquila is called simply governor of Alexandria. If this difference were insisted on as marking a real distinction, then Aquila would have to be regarded as the chief officer of Alexandria only, and hence subordinate in dignity to the viceroy of Egypt. The term used to describe his position (ἡγούμενον) is not, however the technical one for the chief officer of Alexandria (see Mommsen, Provinces of the Roman Empire; Scribner's ed., II. p. 267 ff.), and hence his position cannot be decided with certainty. In any case, whether he succeeded Lætus, or was his subordinate, the dates of his accession to and retirement from office are unknown, and hence the time at which the persecutions mentioned took place cannot be determined with exactness. We simply know that they occurred after 203 (for Origen had already taken charge of the catechetical school, and some of his pupils perished in the persecutions) and before 211, the date of Severus' death. the governor of Alexandria, when his name became celebrated among the leaders in the faith, through the kindness and goodwill which he manifested toward all the holy martyrs, whether known to him or strangers.
4. For not only was he with them while in bonds, and until their final condemnation, but when the holy martyrs were led to death, he was very bold and went with them into danger. So that as he acted bravely, and with great boldness saluted the martyrs with a kiss, oftentimes the heathen multitude round about them became infuriated, and were on the point of rushing upon him.
5. But through the helping hand of God, he escaped absolutely and marvelously. And this same divine and heavenly power, again and again, it is impossible to say how often, on account of his great zeal and boldness for the words of Christ, guarded him when thus endangered.17861786 How it happened that Origen escaped the persecution, when, according to Eusebius, he exposed himself so continually, and was so hated by the heathen populace, we cannot tell. Eusebius ascribes it solely to the grace of God here, and in chap. 4. So great was the enmity of the unbelievers toward him, on account of the multitude that were instructed by him in the sacred faith, that they placed bands of soldiers around the house where he abode.
6. Thus day by day the persecution burned against him, so that the whole city could no longer contain him; but he removed from house to house and was driven in every direction because of the multitude who attended upon the divine instruction which he gave. For his life also exhibited right and admirable conduct according to the practice of genuine philosophy.
7. For they say that his manner of life was as his doctrine, and his doctrine as his life.17871787 οἷος ὁ λόγος τοῖος ὁ βίος was a Greek proverb. Compare the words of Seneca, in Ep. 114 ad Lucilium, "Apud Græcos in proverbium cessit talis hominibus fuit oratio, qualis vita" (quoted by Redepenning, p. 196). Therefore, by the divine Power working with him he aroused a great many to his own zeal.
8. But when he saw yet more coming to him for instruction, and the catechetical school 252had been entrusted to him alone by Demetrius, who presided over the church, he considered the teaching of grammatical science inconsistent with training in divine subjects,17881788 This does not mean that he considered the study of grammar and literature injurious to the Christian, or detrimental to his theological studies. His opinion on that subject is clear enough from all his writings and from his conduct as pictured in chaps. 18 and 19. Nor does it on the other hand imply, as Crusè supposes, that up to this time he had been teaching secular branches exclusively; but it means simply that the demands upon him for instruction in the faith were so great, now that the catechetical school had been officially entrusted to him by Demetrius, that he felt that he could no longer continue to teach secular literature as he had been doing, but must give up that part of his work, and devote himself exclusively to instruction in sacred things. and forthwith he gave up his grammatical school as unprofitable and a hindrance to sacred learning.
9. Then, with becoming consideration, that he might not need aid from others, he disposed of whatever valuable books of ancient literature he possessed, being satisfied with receiving from the purchaser four oboli a day.17891789 The obolus was a small Greek coin, equivalent to about three and a half cents of our money. Four oboli a day could have been sufficient, even in that age, only for the barest necessities of life. But with his ascetic tendencies, these were all that Origen wished. For many years he lived philosophically17901790 It was very common from the fourth century on (the writer knows of no instances earlier than Eusebius) to call an ascetic mode of life "philosophical," or "the life of a philosopher" (see §2 of this chapter, and compare Chrysostom's works, where the word occurs very frequently in this sense). Origen, in his ascetic practices, was quite in accord with the prevailing Christian sentiment of his own and subsequent centuries, which looked upon bodily discipline of an ascetic kind, not indeed as required, but as commended by Christ. The growing sentiment had its roots partly in the prevailing ideas of contemporary philosophy, which instinctively emphasized strongly the dualism of spirit and matter, and the necessity of subduing the latter to the former, and partly in the increasing moral corruptness of society, which caused those who wished to lead holy lives to feel that only by eschewing the things of sense could the soul attain purity. Under pressure from without and within, it became very easy to misinterpret various sayings of Christ, and thus to find in the Gospels ringing exhortations to a life of the most rigid asceticism. Clement of Alexandria was almost the only one of the great Christian writers after the middle of the second century who distinguished between the true and the false in this matter. Compare his admirable tract, Quis dives salvetur, and contrast the position taken there with the foolish extreme pursued by Origen, as recorded in this chapter. in this manner, putting away all the incentives of youthful desires. Through the entire day he endured no small amount of discipline; and for the greater part of the night he gave himself to the study of the Divine Scriptures. He restrained himself as much as possible by a most philosophic life; sometimes by the discipline of fasting, again by limited time for sleep. And in his zeal he never lay upon a bed, but upon the ground.
10. Most of all, he thought that the words of the Saviour in the Gospel should be observed, in which he exhorts not to have two coats nor to use shoes17911791 See Matt. x. 10 nor to occupy oneself with cares for the future.17921792 See Matt. vi. 34
11. With a zeal beyond his age he continued in cold and nakedness; and, going to the very extreme of poverty, he greatly astonished those about him. And indeed he grieved many of his friends who desired to share their possessions with him, on account of the wearisome toil which they saw him enduring in the teaching of divine things.
12. But he did not relax his perseverance. He is said to have walked for a number of years never wearing a shoe, and, for a great many years, to have abstained from the use of wine, and of all other things beyond his necessary food; so that he was in danger of breaking down and destroying his constitution.17931793 Greek: θώραξ, properly "chest." Rufinus and Christophorsonus translate stomachum, and Valesius approves; but there is no authority for such a use of the term θώραξ, so far as I can ascertain. The proper Greek term for stomach is στόμαχος, which is uniformly employed by Galen and other medical writers.
13. By giving such evidences of a philosophic life to those who saw him, he aroused many of his pupils to similar zeal; so that prominent men even of the unbelieving heathen and men that followed learning and philosophy were led to his instruction. Some of them having received from him into the depth of their souls faith in the Divine Word, became prominent in the persecution then prevailing; and some of them were seized and suffered martyrdom.
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Acxiom database hacker jailed for 8 years
Florida spammer off to slammer
A Florida man has been jailed for eight years after being convicted of stealing vast amounts of personal information from Acxiom, one of the world's largest database companies, in order to inflate the value of his spamming firm.
Scott Levine, 46, of Boca Raton, Florida, was found guilty by an Arkansas jury in August of 120 counts of unauthorised access of a protected computer, two counts of access device fraud, and one count of obstruction of justice, the Justice Department announced. The former head of defunct bulk mail outfit Snipermail.com was cleared of 14 conspiracy charges and money laundering at the end of a trial that lasted almost a month.
Prosecutors described the case as the "largest ever invasion and theft of personal data" ever tried. In court, Levine and Snipermail.com were accused of stealing 1.6bn customer records containing details of the names, addresses and emails of millions of Americans from Acxiom databases during a total of 137 hack attacks between January and July 2003. He was not accused of involvement in identity theft but some of the data was resold to a broker for use in a spamming campaign.
Weak access controls allowed Snipermail.com to illegally access reams of data thanks to a business relationship between Acxiom and one of Snipermail's clients. Snipermail.com should have only been given strictly limited access to Acxiom's databases, but instead was allowed the run of the lan(d). In a DoJ statement, prosecutors said Levine used "sophisticated decryption software to illegally obtain passwords and exceed his authorised access to Acxiom databases". The purloined data was used to inflate Snipermail's contact list and make it a more attractive target for acquisition.
Evidence of Snipermail's alleged assault was discovered by investigators probing a separate security breach at Acxiom. Daniel Baas, 25, of ZCincinnati, Ohio, pleaded guilty to that attack in December 2003. He was jailed for 45 months in March 2005.
"The investigation of cybercrime, particularly as it relates to computer intrusion, is one of the FBI's top priorities," FBI special agent William C Temple said. "Working with our counterparts from the US Secret Service, we were able to quickly recover the stolen data and prevent its use in a wide range of fraud schemes. The success of this investigation should send a strong message to those who might consider becoming involved in similar criminal activity."
Acxiom clients include 14 of the 15 biggest credit card companies, seven of the top ten auto manufacturers and five of the top six retail banks. The company also analyses consumer databases for multinationals such as Microsoft, IBM, AT&T and General Electric.
Arkansas-based Acxiom has overhauled security since the attacks were uncovered. ®


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Even for organizations with a stellar full-time IT staff, situations often arise where temporary outside help is needed. A big Web project might demand a few extra programmers to meet a tough deadline, for example, or a rollout of tools to support a sales force bent on capturing a broader market may require expertise not available in-house.
That's when contractors come in. With job losses and uncertain economic times the new norm, independent contractors are on the rise in the U.S. In 2009, the number of U.S. freelancers in all fields stood at 12 million, according to market research firm IDC. That number is expected to reach 14 million by 2015.
At the same time, companies, including those in IT, are facing new challenges employing independent workers due to federal and state initiatives enacted over the past few years that aggressively pursue "worker misclassification." In the government's eyes, organizations that employ contract workers on a long-term and full-time basis without paying benefits or taxes should, in fact, be classifying those workers as employees -- with all the privileges that status entails.
The result? "Companies are really shying away from the independents," says Cynthia Moore, co-founder of VMS Professionals, an association that discusses best practices for hiring and managing contract workers. Businesses, especially large, conservative enterprises, are now erring on the side of caution and avoiding independent contract hires even for short-term work -- "which is a shame because there are a lot more independents out there who are qualified," she says.
These factors are opening up a highly skilled and work-hungry IT talent pool for small and midsize businesses that need outside contractors on a short-term basis or seek to test talent before they hire full-time.
One obvious way to get short-term help is to contract with a large IT staffing agency, as some companies, particularly larger organizations, do. But it's entirely possible to hire talented contractors on your own. A host of websites help these pros advertise their services, secure paying work and develop ongoing relationships with clients. For employers and business owners, these sites can be excellent sources of high-quality IT talent if you know how and where to look -- and if you're willing to pay fairly for the talent you seek.
While some employers use freelance sites to get rock-bottom hourly rates from contractors, that practice can burn you, says Mike Cline, CEO of Tech Guys Who Get Marketing, an IT firm that regularly employs freelance tech contractors through online resources. "You always get what you pay for. That is so often overlooked when employers are looking to hire," he says.
If you have a clear definition of the skills and knowledge you need and a willingness to pay for top talent, sites that pool freelance talent can help you complete key projects on deadline and on budget. The following are the best resources on the market for finding and recruiting high-quality IT contractors, according to Cline and other managers who use them regularly.
When you're looking for a large pool of talent with a varied skill set, few sites feature more breadth than oDesk. While the site's workforce-for-hire comprises everything from market researchers to accountants, many of its contractors specialize in technical skills including software and Web development, network and systems administration and tech support.
Employers post a job on oDesk's boards, detailing the scope of work and the level of pay. Freelancers who have signed up with oDesk then apply for the job, much as they would on any other job site. The employer sifts through the applications, chooses one and hires the worker through the oDesk interface, allowing the contractor to get started immediately, if need be. The employer pays oDesk, which pays the worker, taking a 10% cut of the contractor's wages.
oDesk's scope and work verification system make it an attractive destination for employers and contractors alike.
Both employers and contractors receive ratings that help all parties determine how much experience they have and how well they work, making it much easier to weed out subpar workers and ornery clients. Contractors must complete skill tests to prove their competency in key subject matter -- anything from PHP5 to Photoshop, HTML or MySQL -- if an employer requires it.
While employers can pay contractors per project or hourly, hourly work is where oDesk really shines. The site uses a Work Diary to track and record exactly what a contractor is working on. The contractor must log in before he or she works on the project, and the record is automatically sent to the employer when the contractor logs out -- ensuring that contractors aren't billing you for time spent Web surfing or chatting with friends.
Joining oDesk, posting jobs and conducting interviews is free for employers; it's also free for contractors to sign up with the service, post profiles and apply for jobs. For projects that meet certain conditions including using the Work Diary software, oDesk offers a work guarantee for employers as well as a payment guarantee for workers.
Formerly Rent-a-Coder, vWorker features a host of freelancers specializing in everything from data entry to Web design, with a concentration of programmers and other technology workers. As at other freelancing sites, employers post a job and contractors submit bids for the work. The site is free to use for both workers and employers. Like oDesk, vWorker takes a percentage of the worker's wages, ranging from 6.5% to 15%, depending on the type of project.
At vWorker you can search for contractors according to a number of parameters including location and ranking.
Offering both money-back guarantees for employers and payment guarantees for workers, the site wins major points for trust and transparency. Contractors are encouraged to install AccuTimeCard software, which tracks worker hours and gives employers the option to examine screenshots from the worker's desktop during billed hours. There's even the ability to take in the view from the worker's webcam while he's logged into the application. An arbitration system allows workers and employers to settle any disputes over project payment, with vWorker as moderator.
Perhaps even more important, the site addresses a major problem with freelancing websites: misrepresentation of skills, knowledge and commitment to a project. No site can guarantee that workers will accurately represent themselves all of the time, and most employers using these sites will have some hits and misses. But when a hard project deadline is looming and you need to make sure you get it right the first time, vWorker's Expert Guarantee can help. Serious applicants for projects with tight deadlines can put down a percentage of the bid amount as a security deposit. If the project is not completed to the employer's exact specifications 100% on time, the worker loses her deposit and the job.
Easy to use with a sleek interface, Guru is an aesthetically pleasing option. But it provides substance as well as style, offering developers for an array of languages and environments, from .NET to Drupal.
Posting a project is quick and easy at Guru.
Guru operates the same way as the other sites in the roundup. The site offers great collaboration tools for employers, workers and other team members to stay on task once projects begin, including the ability to share files up to 100 megabytes in size.
Featuring many of the same verification strategies as other sites on the market, Guru profiles give employers a decent idea of how skilled potential applicants are. Worker descriptions, key skills and reviews from past jobs aid the vetting process. Also a welcome feature, Guru provides project suggestions to freelancers based on their reported skill set -- helping the best candidates for the job find your project easily.
Guru also offers a Premium Proposal feature that allows freelancers to appear first in the list of applicants for your project. This placement doesn't mean the contractor has more skills or is better suited to your project than other bidders, but submitting a Premium Proposal does require the freelancer to use multiple available bids, which demonstrates his eagerness to commit to your particular project. (story continues on next page)
3 golden rules for hiring IT contractors online
Tech Guys Who Get Marketing CEO Mike Cline regularly hires tech contractors online. He shares these three tips for choosing the right candidate for the job:
1. Pay close attention to your hire's background. Sometimes, professional outsourcing companies based in foreign countries attempt to masquerade as a single individual on a freelance site, bidding at an absurdly low price. Check the pedigree and personal description of a potential hire carefully to make sure you're getting an independent person with a solid work background.
2. Your results are only as good as your ad. You're hiring IT professionals, not mind readers. Unclear or unspecific job advertisements on any of these sites may attract the wrong type of talent or individuals without enough expertise. That can dramatically draw out the hiring process and reduce the effectiveness of using these sites.
Go over your job advertisement with a fine-toothed comb before your post it. Be sure to include specific areas of expertise that you want from contractors, years of experience that you want contractors to have and exactly what you expect them to do for you if they get hired.
3. You get what you pay for. This rule can't be emphasized enough -- but it is easy to forget when visiting online freelance marketplaces. While very basic tasks may be suitable for outsourcing to low-cost workers, you'll generally find that IT pros who submit bids to work for two dollars an hour are going to give you just that: work worth two dollars an hour.
When it comes to application testing, uTest puts a nice spin on this essential part of the software lifecycle: The firm crowdsources it. Employing vetted testers, uTest offers a variety of testing, from functional testing to usability, security and load testing, for any Web, desktop or mobile application you can dream up.
uTest offers testing services for everything from load testing to localization testing.
Once you hire uTest, the company hands the task to its pool of testers, who then provide feedback, ratings, bug reports and two-way communication with you throughout the testing cycles.
While uTest provides highly skilled IT testers, that's all it provides. You won't find any of the batch offerings of others on this list, but you do get a critical service on the cheap. And because testing has a choppy demand curve, requiring zero testers one month and 20 the next, it's an ideal function to outsource.
The service is especially attractive for small businesses that can't afford to hire in-house testers: uTest says it offers functional, unlimited testing for a year, on-demand and at about half the cost of employing a full-time QA analyst (at a median entry-level salary of $47,000 a year, according to Salary.com). However, prices do vary depending on the complexity of the application, as well as the type and frequency of the testing required. Other pricing packages exist for non-functional testing, some of which are offered on a per-project basis.
IT staffing firms
Freelancer sites can help you find workers with the skills you need, but they don't always come through if you're looking for someone with experience in your particular industry. "Let's say you want a Java programmer who is experienced in the banking industry," says Mark Roberts, CEO of TechServe Alliance, a consortium of IT firms, vendors and consultants. "To go try to find that person if you are not an expert in that subject area can be quite challenging."
That's why Roberts recommends going to a traditional IT staffing firm, even for short-term contract work. While staffing firms don't bring the same speed and ease-of-use to the table as websites that pool freelancers, they can be more reliable and add more value to the process, he says. "[IT staffing firms] have a database of folks who have been successful before. They can actually tailor the particular search to a client's needs."
That doesn't mean every IT staffing firm is golden, says Roberts. Look for firms that have been in business for a while and always be sure they have the expertise to find the particular skill set you need, along with the track record to back it up. As in many cases, numbers tell the real story: Ask how many times the firm has placed someone with the specific skill set and industry experience you're looking for.
Research firm Inavero runs the nation's only award competition that honors staffing firms with exceptional customer reviews. This year's awards are a good place to start if you're looking for staffing expertise. Notable IT staffing firms on the list include Apex Systems Inc., TEKsystems Inc. and Analysts International Corp..
Projects that require contract work give you an opportunity to leverage the large amounts of for-hire contract IT talent out there. If you follow the tips above, not only will you get a worker who does your company proud, but you might even find someone you want to bring on board permanently.
Logan Kugler is a frequent Computerworld contributor. His most recent article was " 6 tools to tame digital distractions."
Read more about outsourcing in Computerworld's Outsourcing Topic Center.