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Book Review: 'The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast' by Kristen Feola
Nutrition expert Kristen Feola has penned The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast to help readers in their fasting quests.
The book provides facts, recipes, and reasons to do a Daniel Fast, all while encouraging the reader with real-life stories as well as quotes from Scripture.
Many people participate in fasts for health, diet, and spiritual reasons, but Feola's guide highlights the benefits of self-discipline in a plight to grow closer to God.
"You don't have to be a spiritual giant to do a Daniel Fast," Feola explained in the book. "It's for anyone who is hungry for a deeper connection with the Lord and who is also willing to make a three-week commitment to the spiritual discipline of fasting as a means for pursuing that connection."
A Daniel Fast includes abstaining from basic physical desires in order to gain spiritual desires. Self-denial becomes a form of worship, and instead of feasting on food, one feasts on the truth of God's Word.
The concept of the fast comes from Daniel 1:8-14, "But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way."
Usually lasting 21 days is based upon Daniel who did not eat any "choice food," meat, and had no wine while fasting for three weeks. "Choice food" is widely believed to have meant desirable foods, such as bread and sweets.
In a press release, Feola said, "The goal on the Daniel Fast is not to duplicate Daniel's menu, but to imitate the spirit in which he sought the Lord."
The author continued, "His passion for God caused him to long for spiritual food more than physical food, which should be the ultimate desire of anything choosing to participate in a fast."
The fast consists of only eating fruits and vegetables for a certain amount of time, and abstaining from meat products.
Released in 2010, The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast continues to be a leading source for individuals and groups who are participating in the Daniel Fast. When it was originally released, it became a top 50 best-seller on the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) list. Today, it remains in the top 50 best-selling books on Amazon under "Christian Living" and a top 15 best-seller in their "Cooking, Food, & Wine" section.
The book is broken down into three parts: The Facts, The Focus, and The Food. Feola relates her own life and the lives of those around her to the reasons behind doing a Daniel Fast, all while incorporating daily devotionals to further motivate the reader.
Foods that are allowed on the Daniel Fast are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, and oils. Feola's guide includes a list Daniel Fast-safe foods in addition to numerous recipes that come with mouth-watering images.
Also a personal trainer, Feola cites many health benefits to participating in a Daniel Fast.
"Fasting gives your body much-needed rest as it cleanses your body of chemicals and harmful ingredients," said the author in a statement. "It also gives your body a chance to repair itself. Studies have shown that fasting decreases the risk of a variety of conditions including cancer and autoimmune diseases."
"And lastly, fasting enables a person to break destructive eating habits and retrain the body to resist certain destructive cravings," said Feola.
The Ultimate Guide to the Daniel Fast is available in a Spanish version, and is sold at many Christian book stores as well as on Amazon.com. For more information, visit Feola's official website at UltimateDanielFast.com.
Feola lives in Springfield, Missouri with her husband and two daughters.


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Panton finds answer for town cupola
PANTON — Panton Town Hall's cupola will soon be removed to allow badly needed new roofing to be installed on the historic building, but a major donation has offered more hope that the cupola can be eventually put back in place.
Panton selectmen last Tuesday accepted not only a $35,000 bid from the McKernon Group to remove the cupola and repair the leaky roof on the 1857 structure, but also a $10,000 anonymous gift toward the cupola's restoration and hoped-for return to its town hall perch.
Selectboard chairman John Viskup described the donation from an unidentified local resident as "excellent" news. The $10,000 will not fund the entire cost of restoring the cupola and returning it to its historic home, but Viskup said it is a strong start that would create momentum for the project.
"That was very nice, very unexpected," Viskup said. "And it might be enough money to get people interested in placing the cupola back on."
Once the cupola is on the ground behind Panton Town Hall, Viskup also said the needed restoration work will be simpler. That easier access should also pave the way for not only more financial gifts, but also in-kind donations of labor and materials.
"It's not way up in the air, and not impossible to work on," he said. "It's a nice project."
Selectmen believe by preserving the option of replacing the cupola that Panton will remain eligible for grants that could support the town's long-term goal of renovating the building into a visitor and community center with fully functional rest rooms and a kitchen.
But on Sept. 7, only about a dozen Panton residents voted at a special meeting not to spend $70,000 to fix both the roof and cupola in place, rather than about $32,000 to remove the cupola and fix the roof.
Town officials and residents alike agree the roofing must be repaired soon to prevent structural damage to Panton Town Hall, which hosts town meetings upstairs and the town clerk's offices in the basement. But selectmen after the Sept. 7 meeting wrestled with the issue of what to do with the cupola considering the poor turnout.
Then, during Panton's Sept. 10 celebration of the town's 250th anniversary, resident Bill Luginbuhl suggested removing the cupola in one piece, shrink-wrapping it, and storing it on blocks behind town hall. Officials and residents alike backed the plan, which then got the surprising boost with the recent donation.
"It's so nice and so generous," Viskup said. "I never expected this."
Meanwhile, the other part of the project should begin soon. Viskup said on Thursday that McKernon should get all but cosmetic work done this fall on the roof.
Selectmen have $26,000 in a line item set aside for town hall repair, and Viskup said they will tap another $15,000 line item for the remaining $9,000.
Those funds were to be dedicated to a long-range study of Town Hall renovation, but Viskup said selectmen believe the short-term need trumps that longer-term goal.
They had planned to tap those funds for about $6,000 while working around the cupola, and now will dig $3,000 deeper to pay for its removal.
"We feel we can borrow it from there," Viskup said.
Andy Kirkaldy may be reached at [email protected].
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subset: commoncrawl


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by Shakta Khalsa
Our heads are logical and want "proof" about everything, which means they cannot understand anything that is outside of the limits of the mind. Our hearts can understand and intuit what the head does not know, yet our emotional heart can create a ball of confusion that clouds our judgement.
With head and heart able to go haywire at at moment, it can seem that we don't know anything clearly. But what if they can work together? What if there is a lovely line to walk where the head and heart complement and balance each other? That is the fun place, and this is where I love to be.
So how can we get there? One way is to practice Kundalini Yoga, which works with the meridians and pressure points of the body to affect positive change in the higher glands of the brain, the nervous system, the chakras, and ultimately your outlook on life, all for the better.
Toward that end, I've created a Kundalini Yoga video of the set to Balance the Head and Heart that you can use for real-time practice. This video was inspired by an online class I did at Yoga U called Happily Ever Now. You can download the archived 2 hour class and you'll find your head and heart beginning to collaborate. This yoga set will get you started on the path of balancing the head and heart.
This yoga set brings a balance between logic and feeling, between ideas and the "fire" to put them into action, between an overly intellectual mind and overly sensitive emotions. It aligns the head and heart so you can be great and graceful, aware and loving.
May the union of head and heart, soul and body, joy and action be alive and well in you this day and every day.
Shakta Khalsa is one of the world's leading experts on children and yoga, having worked with both since the mid-1970s. She is a trained yoga professional at the highest level (ERYT-500), and was named one of the top five Kundalini Yoga teachers in the world by Yoga Journal. She studied under the direct guidance of Yogi Bhajan, Master of Kundalini Yoga.
© The Teachings of Yogi Bhajan


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Ray J -- Whaddya Know ... I Found Missing Death Room Duds
Ray J Whaddya Know ... I Found Missing Death Room Duds
How convenient ... just hours before TMZ posted a story about a stylist suing Ray J over designer clothes that went missing from Whitney Houston's death room in February, the singer found them.
We posted it a few hours ago -- Ray J's being sued by an L.A. stylist named Marc Littlejohn, who claims he gave Ray J $2,880 in designer threads for a Grammy event ... and they were never returned. According to the lawsuit, they were left in the Beverly Hilton hotel room where Whitney died and haven't been seen since.
But now Ray J's rep tells TMZ the mystery was solved last night when one of Whitney's associates handed the clothes over to the singer. Sources tell us the items were taken from Whitney's room along with the rest of her belongings. We're told Whit's people couldn't get in touch with Ray J because he changed his phone number.
The pricey fabrics include two suits and one jacket.
We're told Ray will be reaching out to the stylist today to settle the pesky legal matter.


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The Future of NASA's Human Spaceflight: Shuttle-Derived Technology Takes the Lead
NASA has decided that its next launch vehicle for getting humans into space will be based on the space shuttle system, including its main engines, solid rocket boosters and external tank. There will be one big difference, though, instead of riding along the side of the new rocket, astronauts in the future will be riding on top on top of their next launcher -- above any debris that might fall off.
Speaking to reporters via telephone July 29, NASA Administrator Mike Griffin said the agency's plans are the result of an intensive Exploration Systems Architecture Study he ordered in late April to plot NASA's return to the moon by 2020. That study will be publicly unveiled in "a few weeks," Griffin said.
Sourceswith detailed knowledge of the study results said NASA will need to spend $5billion to develop the crew launcher, a price tag that includes the solidrocket booster-based vehicle itself, a new upper stage and all necessary launchinfrastructure.
TheCrew Exploration Vehicle, which NASA hopes to field around 2011, is expected tocost another $5 billion to develop and would be designed both to service thespace station and to carry astronauts to lunar orbit. A heavy-lift launchercapable of delivering 125 metric tons of cargo to low Earth orbit would befinished after the smaller crew launch vehicle, according to NASA's plan, andwould also cost in the neighborhood of $5 billion to develop.
TheCrew Exploration Vehicle, according to NASA's plan, will be a capsule capableof accommodating three people and a limited amount of cargo for space stationmissions, a crew of four for a lunar mission and up to six people to dock withan awaiting Mars-bound vehicle.
Unlikethe shuttle orbiter, which is mounted to the side of the external tank and inthe path of foam and other debris coming off the tank, the Crew ExplorationVehicle would launch at the top of the stack--out of the way of any debris thebooster and upper stage might shed. NASA would adopt the same type of in-linedesign for the heavy-lift launcher as well, putting the cargo canister up top.
"Aslong as we put the crew and valuable cargo up above the tank we don't care whatthey shed," Griffinsaid, explaining to reporters why he remains confident in the shuttle-derivedapproach even after Discovery's close call.
Discovery'sreturn to flight July 26 was marred by a close call with a falling chunk ofinsulating foam that broke free from its external tank about two minutes afterliftoff. NASA officials previously had said they made great strides in reducingtank debris in the two and a half years since a chunk of foam brought down the Columbia, agencyofficials said. After the July 26 launch incident, they admitted they werewrong and said they clearly have more work to do and will not fly the shuttleagain until the foam problem is solved.
Analysisof the spacecraft on orbit also revealed that two gap-fillers, ceramic fibercloth used to keep the orbiter's heat-resistant tiles from clattering againstone another during launch, had come loose and were jutting out of thespacecraft's underbelly. Discovery astronaut Stephen Robinson will attempt onWednesday a spacewalk in an effort pluck out the filler material.
Priorto Discovery's return to flight, NASA also was closing in on its options forcompleting the International Space Station. Sources familiar with the planningeffort said agency officials have been looking at two main scenarios.
Onescenario involves conducting 17 shuttle flights before retiring the shuttle inSeptember 2010, and includes launching Europe's and Japan's space stationmodules, but not outfitting them with additional science equipment. The otherscenario involves conducting 11 shuttle flights and postponing launching theinternational partners' modules until NASA completes its proposed heavy-liftlauncher. Knowledgeable sources said the 17-flight scenario will become moretentative with each month the shuttle is down and more or less untenable if theshuttle is not flying again come spring.
WhileGriffin saidNASA has not given up on flying in September, experts outside the agency saidit is unlikely the shuttle will be cleared for flight in time for that launchwindow.
"Septemberseems awfully close," said James Hallock, amember of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. "I think they've gota lot of things to do."
NASAwould have one last shot for the year in November, but that window is only acouple days long. NASA first attempted to launch Discovery July 13, but thatlaunch campaign was stood down nearly two weeks to give the agency time totroubleshoot a not yet fully resolved fuel sensor glitch.
Oneformer spaceflight official said NASA could be facing a longer delay than it isready to admit.
Griffin said he isnot ready to concede defeat and has appointed a "tiger team" totackle the foam problem and find a fix.
NASAwas widely praised for swiftly deciding to stand down the shuttle fleet untilit understands and fixes the foam problem. White House spokesman ScottMcClellan said President George W. Bush is confident in Griffin and his team at NASA and appreciatesthe agency's commitment to safety. House Science Committee Chairman SherwoodBoehlert (R-N.Y.) and space and aeronautics subcommittee chairman Rep. KenCalvert (R-Calif.) issued a joint statement saying"NASA is handling this situation exactly as it should." Former NASAAdministrator Sean O'Keefe told Space News that NASA's recent actions are proofpositive that a safety-oriented mindset has taken hold since the Columbia accident."If there was still any doubt that the culture has changed, this shouldend it," O'Keefe said.
Anumber of space policy observers looking beyond the immediate engineeringchallenge ahead to the bigger picture, saw the turn of events as a significantsetback for NASA.
"Wehave a series of commitments that require flying the shuttle, that's why thisis such a nasty problem with no clear escape route," said John Logsdon, aColumbia Accident Investigation Board member who directs the Space PolicyInstitute at George Washington Universityhere. "I don't envy the people who have to figure their way out of thiscorner."
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Brian Berger is the Editor-in-Chief of SpaceNews, a bi-weekly space industry news magazine, and SpaceNews.com. He joined SpaceNews covering NASA in 1998 and was named Senior Staff Writer in 2004 before becoming Deputy Editor in 2008. Brian's reporting on NASA's 2003 Columbia space shuttle accident and received the Communications Award from the National Space Club Huntsville Chapter in 2019. Brian received a bachelor's degree in magazine production and editing from Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.
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By Jeff Spry


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When you're fighting for your rights, you have a choice to use peaceful methods or violence. I'd like to say that peace works best. But as I watch this experiment in the laboratory of the Middle East conflict, I'm not so sure.
For years, Palestinians have tried both tactics. Some support Hamas, a militant group in control of Gaza that shoots rockets at Israeli civilians to further the Palestinian cause. Others support Fatah, a political party that controls much of the West Bank, which has renounced violence and vowed to use only peaceful means to achieve a Palestinian state.
The difference between the two has never been more stark: Last week, Hamas rockets terrorized Israeli towns. This week, Fatah's leader, Mahmoud Abbas, is expected to appear at the United Nations to seek recognition as a nonmember state.
I wish I could tell you that the reckless violence proved fruitless, while the peaceful bid at the United Nations is poised to be far more effective.
But sadly, it seems to be just the opposite. Hamas's rockets resulted in a ceasefire that eased the Israeli blockade on Gaza, giving Hamas a victory to claim. The crisis also produced a flurry of attention and high-level visitors to Gaza from the Muslim world. Fatah basically got ignored.
Meanwhile, Abbas has precious few victories to tout after years of stalemated peace talks. And his statehood bid already seems headed for disaster. Members of Congress have threatened to cut US aid if Abbas goes ahead. Voices in Israel are calling for punishment, including starving Abbas's government of import duties, annexing parts of the West Bank, or even finding a way to kick Abbas out of power. Israel's right-wing foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, has called Abbas's strategy at the UN "diplomatic terrorism."
Is it any wonder that Hamas is getting more popular? If Abbas is a "diplomatic terrorist," why not just vote for the real thing?
It's not the first time that violence has produced a public relations victory while peaceful methods have yielded the perception of defeat. After Israel unilaterally pulled out of Gaza in 2005, Hamas told its supporters that Israel withdrew because of the violent resistance to occupation. Meanwhile, Abbas, who has said there will be no intifada on his watch, has no good story to tell his constituents about why the Israeli settlements in the West Bank keep growing.
And Hamas kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, trading him years later for more than 1,000 Hamas prisoners in Israeli jails. Meanwhile, Fatah, which cooperates with Israeli forces to rein in militants, has only gotten a fraction of that number of its prisoners released.
"I said, 'We should release more prisoners to [Mahmoud Abbas] only because he did not kidnap anybody,' " Ami Ayalon, former head of Shin Bet, Israel's internal intelligence agency, told me.
But no one has ever paid a ransom to a guy who opted not to take a hostage. That's the heart of the issue: Hamas is like a stick-up man who gets your money by drawing a gun. Abbas is like that traveling salesman trying to sell you something you aren't sure you really want. It's easy to slam the door in his face.
And that's exactly what Israel wants this week when Abbas shows up at the United Nations. But is that wise? The statehood bid is one of the last weapons in his nonviolent arsenal. If it is rendered powerless, the rockets have won.
Ayalon, who left government service and co-founded Blue White Future, a new effort aimed at ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, argues that Israel should support Abbas's bid in the United Nations, with conditions: Abbas should come to peace talks immediately, and refrain from taking Israel to an international tribunal for six months, or the duration of the talks.
The UN bid is unpopular in Israel, Ayalon said, because most Israelis believe that Palestinians only understand force. "If we finally see a leader who is speaking diplomacy, he is [considered] a weak leader," Ayalon said. "But unless we send a message to the Palestinians that we can speak diplomacy at least as much as we can speak in military language, we shall not achieve success."
The truth is, violence is easy. Making peace — and selling it — is hard. But if we believe peaceful UN resolutions are better than rockets, now is the time to prove it. We might not get this chance again.
Farah Stockman can be reached at email@example.com. Follow her on twitter @fstockman.


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Real Estate Brokers
Operate real estate office, or work for commercial real estate firm, overseeing real estate transactions. Other duties usually include selling real estate or renting properties and arranging loans.
Sample of reported job titles: Broker, Broker Associate, Designated Broker, Managing Broker, Real Estate Associate, Real Estate Broker, Real Estate Sales Associate, Realtor
View report: Summary Details Custom Easy Read Veterans Español
Tasks | Technology Skills | Tools Used | Knowledge | Skills | Abilities | Work Activities | Detailed Work Activities | Work Context | Job Zone | Education | Credentials | Interests | Work Styles | Work Values | Related Occupations | Wages & Employment | Job Openings | Additional Information
- Sell, for a fee, real estate owned by others.
- Obtain agreements from property owners to place properties for sale with real estate firms.
- Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers over property prices and settlement details and during the closing of sales.
- Generate lists of properties for sale, their locations, descriptions, and available financing options, using computers.
- Manage or operate real estate offices, handling associated business details.
- Compare a property with similar properties that have recently sold to determine its competitive market price.
- Maintain knowledge of real estate law, local economies, fair housing laws, types of available mortgages, financing options, and government programs.
- Monitor fulfillment of purchase contract terms to ensure that they are handled in a timely manner.
- Check work completed by loan officers, attorneys, or other professionals to ensure that it is performed properly.
- Rent properties or manage rental properties.
- Maintain awareness of current income tax regulations, local zoning, building and tax laws, and growth possibilities of a property's area.
- Arrange for title searches of properties being sold.
- Appraise property values, assessing income potential when relevant.
- Supervise agents who handle real estate transactions.
- Arrange for financing of property purchases.
- Develop, sell, or lease property used for industry or manufacturing.
- Give buyers virtual tours of properties in which they are interested, using computers.
- Review property details to ensure that environmental regulations are met.
Find occupations related to multiple tasks
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Technology Skills
- Accounting software — Intuit QuickBooks
- Analytical or scientific software — RealData REIA
- Customer relationship management CRM software — Real Estate Assistant REA
- Data base user interface and query software — Microsoft Access ; Propertyware; Yardi software ; Yardi Systems Yardi Voyager Commercial (see all 18 examples)
- Electronic mail software — Microsoft Outlook
- Geographic information system — Google Earth Pro
- Graphics or photo imaging software — Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Internet browser software — Microsoft Internet Explorer; Web browser software
- Office suite software — Microsoft Office
- Presentation software — Microsoft PowerPoint
- Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel
- Web page creation and editing software — Facebook
- Web platform development software — Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
- Word processing software — Microsoft Word
Hot Technology — a technology requirement frequently included in employer job postings.
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- Sales and Marketing — Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
- Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Law and Government — Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
- Administration and Management — Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
- Economics and Accounting — Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
- Computers and Electronics — Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Communications and Media — Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
- Administrative — Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
- Building and Construction — Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
- Education and Training — Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- Psychology — Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
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- Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
- Negotiation — Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
- Persuasion — Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
- Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Social Perceptiveness — Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Service Orientation — Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.
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- Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
- Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Speech Clarity — The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Written Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
- Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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Work Activities
- Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Working with Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
- Selling or Influencing Others — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
- Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
- Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
- Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
- Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Providing Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
- Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
- Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
- Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
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Detailed Work Activities
- Contract real estate to clients.
- Prepare sales or other contracts.
- Negotiate prices or other sales terms.
- Supervise sales or support personnel.
- Appraise property values.
- Obtain property information.
- Oversee business processes.
- Review accuracy of sales or other transactions.
- Review laws or regulations to maintain professional knowledge.
- Monitor market conditions or trends.
- Help clients get needed services or resources.
- Create images or other visual displays.
- Enter information into databases or software programs.
- Assess compliance with environmental laws.
Find occupations related to multiple detailed work activities
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Work Context
- Electronic Mail — 100% responded "Every day."
- Telephone — 100% responded "Every day."
- Freedom to Make Decisions — 89% responded "A lot of freedom."
- Structured versus Unstructured Work — 92% responded "A lot of freedom."
- Face-to-Face Discussions — 82% responded "Every day."
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 84% responded "Every day."
- Contact With Others — 82% responded "Constant contact with others."
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment — 64% responded "Every day."
- Frequency of Decision Making — 64% responded "Every day."
- Level of Competition — 77% responded "Extremely competitive."
- Deal With External Customers — 55% responded "Extremely important."
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — 52% responded "Important results."
- Work With Work Group or Team — 49% responded "Extremely important."
- Letters and Memos — 33% responded "Once a week or more but not every day."
- Duration of Typical Work Week — 70% responded "More than 40 hours."
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 37% responded "Extremely important."
- Coordinate or Lead Others — 39% responded "Very important."
- Time Pressure — 38% responded "Once a week or more but not every day."
- Outdoors, Exposed to Weather — 70% responded "Once a week or more but not every day."
- Spend Time Sitting — 55% responded "More than half the time."
- Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People — 41% responded "Once a year or more but not every month."
- Consequence of Error — 29% responded "Serious."
- Frequency of Conflict Situations — 51% responded "Once a month or more but not every week."
- Physical Proximity — 49% responded "Slightly close (e.g., shared office)."
- Responsibility for Outcomes and Results — 38% responded "Limited responsibility."
- Importance of Repeating Same Tasks — 37% responded "Fairly important."
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Job Zone
Title | Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed |
Education | Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. |
Related Experience | A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. |
Job Training | Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. |
Job Zone Examples | Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, chemists, art directors, and cost estimators. |
SVP Range | (7.0 to < 8.0) |
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Percentage of Respondents |
Education Level Required |
37 | Bachelor's degree |
24 | Some college, no degree |
12 | High school diploma or equivalent |
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Interest code: EC Want to discover your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move.
- Enterprising — Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
- Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
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Work Styles
- Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
- Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
- Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
- Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
- Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
- Self-Control — Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
- Independence — Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
- Concern for Others — Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
- Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
- Leadership — Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
- Adaptability/Flexibility — Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
- Innovation — Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
- Social Orientation — Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
- Analytical Thinking — Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
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Work Values
- Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
- Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
- Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
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Related Occupations
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Wages & Employment Trends
Median wages (2020) | $29.02 hourly, $60,370 annual |
State wages | |
Local wages | |
Employment (2020) | 109,900 employees |
Projected growth (2020-2030) | Slower than average (1% to 5%) |
Projected job openings (2020-2030) | 10,100 |
State trends | |
Top industries (2020) |
Real Estate and Rental and Leasing
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2020 wage data and 2020-2030 employment projections . "Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2020-2030). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
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Job Openings on the Web
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Sources of Additional Information
Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.
- National Association of Realtors
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Real estate brokers and sales agents
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This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.


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The Council Sports Services Team works with regional sports organisations and clubs to promote and develop sport within the Christchurch region.
There are approximately 1200 sporting clubs and associations in the Christchurch region, who plan, organise and provide sporting opportunities for thousands of members and participants.
For more information on these organisations please visit the following pages:
For other sporting contacts in Christchurch:


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Nicki Minaj seemed to have anticipated the fervency that would follow the release of her verse on Lil' Wayne's rehash of "Mercy" off his new Dedication 4 mixtape.
Speaking with MTV News in August, Minaj told the site, "That's gon' be real funny." before adding, "I'm really excited for the kids to hear it." We've now heard it and what has unanimously stood out was the following line, "I'm a Republican voting for Mitt Romney, you lazy b*tches are fucking up the economy."
Already there's been a back and forth as to what if anything the quip means. On social media, I noticed that Captain Obvious and his merry band of snarky pedants went above and beyond to remind us that hip-hop is full of metaphor and hyperbole and not everything should be taken so literally. As in, Nicki Minaj isn't really a monster nor does she have a British gay man named Roman living inside her; therefore, she might not cast a vote for Mitt Romney. That is, if she even can.
Thank you, (mostly White) people. What ever would we do without your helpful 'duh' moments of the day?
Not to be outdone, there was also a wave of critiques that essentially boil down to, "I don't care what Nicki Minaj says." Do you get it? They don't care about it so you shouldn't either.
Thanks for that guidance as well. Can y'all tell me what I should eat tonight, too?
We are all entitled to our opinions, but it's worth remembering that it's not always about you, the individual, and that sometimes, what one might feel is a trivial matter still has some bearing on the collective. That said, as much of a fan I am of Nicki Minaj and her trademark stunt queen-like antics for attention, I find her now infamous line problematic all the same.
She essentially rhymed a long-held conservative viewpoint in a way that simplifies a complex issue that most of her fan base won't understand.
I don't share the view of Village Voice writer Andy Hutchins who argues that "assuming that Nicki's fanbase is, by and large, too stupid to realize that a) their hero is in a much different economic and social situation than they are and b) she's probably kidding is patronizing bullsh*t with sexist and racist (because 'Barbz' are fixed in the popular imagination as young, mostly Black girls) overtones."
Yeah, "we are the world, we are the children," but if you think I'm a "sexist" and "racist" to think teenagers are easily influenced, you're riding a PC train that needs to be derailed. Anecdotally, I can think of a few relatives of mine who work in juvenile law enforcement who can attest that that are quite a few teens who actually believe that Plies is a goon instead of a gimmicky rapper with a nursing degree and that Rick Ross is the Scarface of South Florida.
If they can be suckered in believing that, who's to say the same can't be said of them falling for a demonization of poor people? Have we not already proven how easy a feat it is to do with American adults?
And if anecdotes aren't enough to convince you, need I remind you that Black teenage girls (and everyone else listening to Nicki Minaj) aren't all that different from the White adults consistently fooled into voting against their own interests based on things more knowledgeable people would easily dismiss as completely idiotic. Kind of how Chuck Norris is currently invoking apocalyptic folklore into luring the 30 million Evangelical Christians who skipped voting in 2008 to rise up and vote out President Obama?
Speaking of,read Buzzfeed's "What's Obama's Last Name" and take a nice look at the youth of voting age who have to ask what President Barack Obama's last name is. Or the recent Pew poll that shows a depressingly high number of people still believe Obama isn't a Christian and probably would remain unconvinced even if Jesus Christ sat in Obama's lap and fed him grapes.
Couple this reality of national gullibility with the notion that more and more people educate themselves solely through the avenue of pop culture.
Do I believe Nicki Minaj is a Romney supporter? Not particularly, but this is another reminder that Black music, as Leonard Pitts recently wrote, is "now a song of conspicuous consumption and product placement" and that rappers who used to speak on class struggles now present classist talking points to a beat.
Fine, so what if Nicki Minaj is voting or Mitt Romney or not? Still, there's legit reason to at least wonder why she "jokingly" echoes sentiments from that joke of a candidate.
I understand her right to creative license – so much so that I'm using mine to call that line what it is: irresponsible.
Michael Arceneaux is a Houston-bred, Howard-educated writer and blogger. You can read more of his work on his site, The Cynical Ones. Follow him on Twitter: @youngsinick


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shameless records rocks Berlin, Germany
Shameless is a Berlin based independent record label founded by Boris Hauf.
All artwork is
designed by Julian Lars Gosper, Vancouver BC.
We produce at an ECO friendly factory with green, sustainable bio-mass driven technology and green power.
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Almost everyone recognizes the term ?geek.? It?s a generic?and not very flattering?name for just about anyone who loves and uses electronic gadgets and is fascinated?some might say obsessed?by new technologies.
At some point, this moniker began to be applied almost exclusively to those in the information technology field. These IT professionals soon began to wear this nickname as a badge of honor. Once derided as shy and retiring ?brainiacs,? geeks created an entire profession involved with all things related to computer chips.
But whatever happened to the geek pioneers, the men and women who created the computer and electronics industries? Where are those COBOL and PL/I programmers who worked with behemoth machines that filled the basement rooms of financial institutions and industrial complexes? Where are those number-crunching, disk-spinning console jockeys who spent years running the nation?s mainframe computer systems?
Though many are retired?or are close to retiring?most are still out there, managing their own companies or consulting. Many hold responsible senior positions in almost every industry. These older geeks possess the business and systems knowledge developed and integrated into computer systems for the past 50 years.
Today, we embrace a technology and development platform that fails so frequently that the term ?Control, Alt, Delete? is part of our everyday language. Sure, these systems are much easier to use, and they integrate with the World Wide Web. They are orders of magnitude more complex and contain multiples of what the old code base contains, but are they as stable? They are vulnerable to virus and hacker attacks because security is often not built into the basic design, but is considered an add-on?one that often fails.
Combine the old COBOL and PL/I and other older code sets with today?s Web-based and Java code?not to mention the firmware code that makes the computer processors function?and we may have two or three trillion lines of code in the world today.
This is where the old geeks are an essential resource. Their experience with systems?especially older systems?is critical to the worldwide infrastructure that they continue to maintain. As these old geeks retire, we must either train new geeks in the old code structures or replace trillions of lines of code.
Who will do this? Who will manage these massive combined hardware and software engineering projects? Who understands what these older systems do? The old geeks do, that?s who! These experienced technology professionals have the ability and understanding to help create new systems that are reliable and stable.
We must change our acceptance of the ?Control, Alt, Delete? world. We need reliable, bulletproof systems to run the nation?s computer infrastructures and its financial and communications networks. It?s obvious that this must be done, but at what cost?
This will make the Y2K software fix seem like a dime-store project. Plus, it will take time, and time is a luxury that many of our old geeks do not have in abundance.
These old pros clearly understand how computer technology systems were (and are) developed. They have the background and knowledge that?s needed to develop stable, reliable computer architecture. And they can train and lead others.
So, where does that leave us? Do we wait until these older systems fail due to the grow-ing demands of a business-process infrastructure that they were never designed to manage? Do we wait until they fail because of modifications that are not compatible with their basic design and structure? Do we wait until there is no one left to maintain them, and the cost of maintenance and infrastructure support forces a migration?
Or should we plan now to utilize the experienced resources that are still available and develop a road map to replace the older technology with a flexible, but stable and reliable technology that the old geeks understand and can deliver?
When it comes to technology, experience counts, so let it count for the old geeks who still have much to contribute. Business cannot afford to wait because more and more of these pros are looking toward retirement.
Skip Stein is president of Management Systems Consulting, a professional services firm based in Orlando, Fla.


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[EDITOR'S NOTE: Click here for trailers to all of NBC's new series.]
Fall and Mid-Season Lineups Feature New Dramas "Smash," "Prime Suspect," "The Playboy Club," "Awake," "Grimm" and "The Firm"
New Comedies Are "Up All Night," "Whitney," "Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea," "Free Agents," "Best Friends Forever" and "Bent"
NEW YORK CITY -- May 15, 2011 -- NBC has introduced its 2011-12 primetime schedule, showcasing six new dramas and six new comedies from a roster of renowned hit-makers that includes Steven Spielberg, Lorne Michaels, Brian Grazer, Tom Werner, John Grisham and Peter Berg, among many others.
The season's new dramas are "Smash," "Prime Suspect," "The Playboy Club," "Awake," "Grimm" and "The Firm"; and the new comedies are "Up All Night," "Whitney," "Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea," "Free Agents," "Best Friends Forever" and "Bent."
Returning shows include "Parenthood," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Harry's Law," "Chuck" (for its fifth and final season of 13 episodes), "Community," "Parks and Recreation," "The Office," "30 Rock" and "Dateline NBC." Among next season's returning alternative series are "The Voice," "The Sing-Off," "The Celebrity Apprentice" and "The Biggest Loser," each in two-hour formats.
The new lineup combines schedule stability with strategic changes that position the network for future growth. Key facets of the schedule include a new hour of comedy with the Wednesday debuts of "Up All Night" (8-8:30 p.m. ET) and "Free Agents" (8:30-9 p.m. ET) and an update to NBC's critically acclaimed Thursday lineup with the premieres this fall of the new comedy "Whitney" (9:30-10 p.m. ET) and the first-year drama "Prime Suspect" (10-11 p.m. ET). In addition, NBC has made a strong commitment to original scripted programming on Friday nights with the pairing of "Chuck" (8-9 p.m. ET) in its climactic season with the new drama "Grimm" (9-10 p.m. ET).
The #1 new series of the current season, "The Voice," returns at mid-season on Monday nights (8-10 p.m. ET) and will serve as the lead-in to the new musical drama "Smash" (10-11 p.m. ET). In the fall on Mondays from 8-10 p.m. ET will be another growing NBC reality success, "The Sing-Off," now in a weekly format following its strong December showings of the past two years.
Additional details unveiled in today's announcement include a run of uninterrupted originals for "30 Rock" starting at mid-season and a post-football Sunday lineup of "Dateline NBC" (7-8 p.m. ET), "The Celebrity Apprentice" (8-10 p.m. ET) and the new drama "The Firm" (10-11 p.m. ET). Additional new series ready for mid-season include the drama "Awake" and the comedies "Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea," "Best Friends Forever" and "Bent."
The announcements were made by Bob Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment.
"Next season begins the rebuilding of the NBC primetime schedule, and our goal is to reinvigorate our audience with a line-up of appointment television that includes our best returning shows and a variety of innovative and attention-getting new series. We'll be placing a great deal of emphasis on how we launch each one of our programs and on maximizing the network's strengths throughout the fall and well into mid-season," said Greenblatt. "Considering it's only been three months since new management took over, I'm very pleased with what has resulted from a very strong pilot season. And with a powerful new asset like 'The Voice' already in hand, we go into the 2011-12 season with cautious but incredible optimism."
*New programs in UPPER CASE; all times ET)
8-10 p.m. - "The Sing-Off"
10-11 p.m. - "THE PLAYBOY CLUB"
8-10 p.m. - "The Biggest Loser"
10-11 p.m. - "Parenthood"
8-8:30 p.m. - "UP ALL NIGHT"
8:30-9 p.m. - "FREE AGENTS"
9-10 p.m. -- "Harry's Law"
10-11 p.m. -- "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
8-8:30 p.m. - "Community"
8:30-9 p.m. -- "Parks and Recreation"
9-9:30 p.m. - "The Office"
9:30-10 p.m. - "WHITNEY"
10-11 p.m. - "PRIME SUSPECT"
8-9 p.m. - "Chuck"
9-10 p.m. - "GRIMM"
10-11 p.m. - "Dateline NBC"
Encore programming
7- 8:15 p.m. -- "Football Night in America"
8:15-11:30 p.m. -- "NBC Sunday Night Football"
7-8 p.m. - "Dateline NBC"
8-10 p.m. - "The Celebrity Apprentice"
10-11 p.m. - "THE FIRM"
8-10 p.m. - "The Voice"
10-11 p.m. - "SMASH"
New Dramas
'PRIME SUSPECT' -- Based on the critically acclaimed British television series of the same name, "Prime Suspect" has been redeveloped for American audiences by writer Alexandra Cunningham ("Desperate Housewives," "NYPD Blue"), director Peter Berg (NBC's "Friday Night Lights") -- and stars Maria Bello ("A History of Violence") as tough-as-nails Detective Jane Timoney. Timoney finds that being a homicide detective in New York City is tough enough and having to contend with a male-dominated police department to get respect makes it that much tougher. She's an outsider who has just transferred to a new precinct dominated by an impenetrable clique of a boys' club. Timoney has her own vices too -- with a questionable past -- and she tends to be forceful, rude and reckless. But she's also a brilliant cop who keeps her eye on one thing: the prime suspect. Also starring are Aidan Quinn ("Unknown"), Brian O'Byrne ("Flash Forward"), Tim Griffin ("Star Trek"), Kirk Acevedo ("Fringe"), Joe Nieves ("How I Met Your Mother"), Damon Gupton ("The Last Airbender") and Peter Gerety ("Blue Bloods"). "Prime Suspect" is produced by Universal Media Studios, ITV and Film 44. Cunningham is the executive producer/writer along with executive producer/director Berg and executive producers Sarah Aubrey, Julie Meldal-Johnson, Paul Buccieri and Lynda LaPlante.
'THE PLAYBOY CLUB' -- From Academy Award-winning executive producer Brian Grazer, "The Playboy Club" is a provocative new drama about a time and place that challenged the social mores, where a visionary entrepreneur created an empire and an icon changed American culture. It's the early '60s, and the legendary Playboy Club in Chicago is the door to all of your fantasies -- and the key is the most sought-after status symbol of its kind. Inside the seductive world of the bunny, the epitome of beauty and service, the clientele rubs shoulders with the decade's biggest mobsters, politicos and entertainers. Nick Dalton (Eddie Cibrian, "CSI: Miami") is one of the city's top attorneys and the ultimate playboy, rubbing elbows with everyone in the city's power structure. With mysterious ties to the mob, Nick comes to the aid of Maureen (Amber Heard, "Zombieland"), the stunning and innocent new bunny who accidentally kills the leader of the Bianchi crime family. Dating Nick is Carol-Lynne (Laura Benanti, "Take the Lead"), a bombshell and established star at the club who knows her days as a bunny are numbered and finds herself continually at odds with Billy (David Krumholtz, "Numb3rs"), the club's general manager. Adding to the charm of the Playboy club is Janie (Jenna Dewan Tatum, "American Virgin"), the carefree life of the party who is dating Max (Wes Ramsey, "CSI: Miami"), an overly protective bartender. Also starring are Naturi Naughton ("Fame") and Leah Renee ("True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet"). In addition to Grazer ("A Beautiful Mind," "American Gangster"), the executive producers on "The Playboy Club" include Chad Hodge ("Tru Calling"), Francie Calfo ("Scoundrels"), Jason Burns ("The House Bunny") and Dick Rosenzweig ("Kendra"). Hodge also wrote the pilot, which was directed by Alan Taylor ("Mad Men," "The Sopranos"). The series is produced by 20th Century Fox Television and Imagine Television.
'SMASH' -- "Smash" is a musical drama that celebrates the beauty and heartbreak of the Broadway theater as it follows a cross-section of dreamers and schemers who all have one common desire -- to be a "Smash." The series centers on a desire to create a Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe -- written by the successful songwriting duo of Tom (Tony Award nominee Christian Borle, "Legally Blonde: The Musical") and Julia (Emmy Award winner Debra Messing, "Will & Grace"). Julia recently began the process of adopting a child with her husband of many years, but her focus is torn when she has the opportunity to write another Broadway hit. A rivalry soon forms for the lead role between a youthful, inexperienced Midwestern beauty (Katharine McPhee, "American Idol") -- who is trying to find fame in the big city against all odds -- and stage veteran (Megan Hilty, "9 to 5: The Musical"), who's determined to leave the chorus line and finally get her big break. A tenacious producer Eileen (Oscar winner, Anjelica Huston, "Prizzi's Honor") discovers the "Marilyn" project and jumps on board with a brilliant director (Jack Davenport, "Pirates of the Caribbean" films) -- whose talent is matched by his cunning and egocentric amorality. The series stemmed from an idea of executive producer and multiple Emmy and Oscar winner Steven Spielberg ("ER," "Schindler's List"). The pilot was written by acclaimed playwright/screenwriter Theresa Rebeck ("Mauritius," "NYPD Blue"). Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Oscar-winning "Chicago," "Hairspray") and Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey ("United States of Tara," "The Borgias") will also serve as executive producers. Original songs are written by Tony and Grammy Award winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman ("Hairspray," "Catch Me If You Can"), who also serve as executive producers. "Smash" is a production of Universal Media Studios in association with DreamWorks. The pilot was directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer ("Spring Awakening," "American Idiot").
'GRIMM' -- "Grimm" is a new drama series inspired by the classic Grimm's Fairy Tales. Remember the fairy tales your parents used to tell you before bedtime? Those weren't stories -- they were warnings. Nick Burkhardt (David Guintoli "Turn The Beat Around") thought he prepared himself for the realities of working as a homicide detective until he started seeing things he couldn't quite explain. When his ailing Aunt Marie (guest star Kate Burton, "Grey's Anatomy") arrives, Nick's life turns upside down when she reveals they are descendants of an elite group of hunters, also known as "Grimms," who fight to keep the balance of humanity safe from the supernatural creatures of the world. As Nick digs deeper into her past, he realizes that he will have to shoulder the responsibility of his ancestors -- and contend with a larger-than-life mythology of the Brothers Grimm that is now all too real. Russell Hornsby ("Lincoln Heights"), Bitsie Tulloch ("Quarterlife"), Silas Weir Mitchell ("Prison Break"), Reggie Lee ("Persons Unknown") and Sasha Roiz ("Caprica") also star. "Grimm" is a production of Universal Media Studios and Hazy Mills Productions. Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner ("Hot in Cleveland") serve as executive producers, Jim Kouf ("National Treasure," "Angel") and David Greenwalt ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Angel") are the creators/executive producers and Marc Buckland ("My Name Is Earl") is the director.
'AWAKE' -- "Awake" is an intriguing drama about a detective (Jason Issacs, "Harry Potter," "Brotherhood") who finds he is leading an arduous double life that defies reality. When Detective Michael Britten (Issacs) regains consciousness following his family's car accident, he is told that his wife Hannah (Laura Allen, "Terriers") perished but that his teen son, Rex (Dylan Minnette, "Saving Grace"), has survived. As he tries to put the pieces of his life back together, he awakens again in a parallel reality in which his wife is very much alive -- but his son Rex died in the accident. In order to keep both of his loved ones alive at one time, he begins living two dueling realities in parallel worlds, which churns up confusion -- in one moment, Michael and his wife debate about having another child to replace their son, while in the other reality, he is attracted to his son's tennis coach, Tara (Michaela McManus, "The Vampire Diaries"), to fill the void from the loss of his wife. Trying to regain some normalcy, Michael returns to police work and solves crimes in both worlds with the help of two different partners -- Detective Isaiah "Bird" Freeman (Steve Harris, "The Practice") and Detective Efrem Vega (Wilmer Valderrama, "That '70s Show"). Also starring are Emmy Award winner Cherry Jones ("24") and BD Wong (NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit") as therapists in each respective world. The series is produced by 20th Century Fox Television. Kyle Killen ("Lone Star") and Howard Gordon ("24") are executive producers. David Slade ("Twilight: Eclipse," "30 Days of Night") also serves as executive producer and directed the pilot written by Killen.
'THE FIRM' -- Based on the blockbuster feature film and best-selling novel by world-renowned author John Grisham ("The Pelican Brief," "The Client"), "The Firm" continues the story of attorney Mitchell McDeere and his family 10 years after the events of the film and novel. As a young associate, McDeere brought down the prestigious Memphis law firm of Bendini, Lambert & Locke, which operated as a front for the Chicago mob -- and his life was never the same. After a difficult decade, which included a stay in the Federal Witness Protection program, Mitch and his family now emerge from isolation to reclaim their lives and their future -- only to find that past dangers are still lurking and new threats are everywhere. "The Firm" is produced by Entertainment One in association with Sony Pictures Television and Paramount Pictures. The executive producers are Grisham, Lukas Reiter ("Law & Order," "Boston Legal"), John Morayniss ("Haven," "Hung"), Michael Rosenberg ("Hung," "Skins") and Noreen Halpern ("Rookie Blue," "Hung").
New Comedies
'WHITNEY' -- A hilarious look at modern love, "Whitney" is a new multi-camera comedy series about Whitney (Whitney Cummings, "Chelsea Lately") and Alex (Chris D'Elia, "Glory Daze"), a happily unmarried couple. Together for five years, the duo is in no rush to get hitched. However, after attending yet another one of their friends' weddings, Whitney realizes that she and Alex are dangerously close to relationship boredom. Determined not to let that happen, Whitney consults her close circle of opinionated girlfriends -- including Lily (Zoe Lister-Jones, "The Other Guys") and Roxanne (Rhea Seehorn, "The Starter Wife") -- and then snaps into action. A few awkward sexy costumes and one botched seductive evening later, the couple ends up in the emergency room. Even so, Whitney and Alex realize that while their relationship might not be perfect on paper, they really do love each other -- and that works for them. Also starring are Maulik Pancholy (NBC's "30 Rock") as Lily's perfect boyfriend, and Dan O'Brien ("How I Met Your Mother") as an eternal bachelor. "Whitney" is produced by Universal Media Studios and Scott Stuber Productions. Stuber ("The Break Up"), Quan Phung, Betsy Thomas ("My Boys") and Barry Katz ("Last Comic Standing") are executive producers. Cummings also serves as executive producer/writer. Andy Ackerman ("Seinfeld," "The New Adventures of Old Christine") is an executive producer and directed the pilot.
'UP ALL NIGHT' -- From Emily Spivey (NBC's "Parks and Recreation," NBC's "Saturday Night Live") and legendary Emmy Award-winning producer Lorne Michaels, comes "Up All Night," a modern take on parenthood that shows the challenges of balancing a career, marriage and a new baby. Christina Applegate ("Samantha Who?") stars as Reagan, a successful public relations executive, and Will Arnett ("Arrested Development") plays Chris, Reagan's supportive, stay-at-home husband. The two have just become parents - a surprise that has set their lives on a new path as responsible adults -- for the most part. Maya Rudolph ("Saturday Night Live," "Bridesmaids") stars as Ava, Reagan's outlandish boss and best friend, whose whirlwind social escapades serve as constant reminders of Reagan's former carefree life. James Pumphrey ("High Road") portrays Brian, Reagan's socially awkward hipster assistant. "Up All Night" is a production of Universal Media Studios and Broadway Video. Spivey is the creator and serves as executive producer along with Michaels and Jon Pollack (NBC's "30 Rock").
'FREE AGENTS' - "Free Agents" is a crooked workplace/romantic new comedy from creator John Enbom ("Party Down") and Emmy Award-winning director Todd Holland ("Malcolm in the Middle") based on the cult U.K. series of the same name that explores the trials and tribulations of two public relations executives on the rebound. Alex (Hank Azaria, "The Simpsons," "Huff") is newly divorced and can barely keep himself together while his co-worker Helen (Kathryn Hahn, "Hung") thinks she has it together but is obsessed with her deceased fiancé and actually is falling apart. Then a drunken Alex and Helen end up in bed together, and in the resulting sober confusion, Helen decides that they should only be friends. Meanwhile Alex's co-workers, Dan (Mo Mandel, "Love Bites," "Modern Family") and Gregg (Al Madrigal, "Wizards of Waverly Place," "Gary, Unmarried"), and Stephen (Anthony Head, "Merlin," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") fail in their attempts to help him get back out on the dating scene. When Alex finally agrees to a date, Helen gets a little jealous, and he gets cold feet, so they end up back where they started -- in a casual, intimate and beautifully awkward relationship. Also starring is Joe Lo Truglio ("Backwash," "Mad Love") and Natasha Leggero ("Ugly Americans," "'Til Death"). "Free Agents" is a production of Universal Media Studios in association with Dark Toy and Big Talk Productions. Enbom is executive producer/creator along with executive producer/director Holland. Karey Burke ("Miss/Guided") executive-produces, along with Big Talk Productions' Kenton Allen ("Free Agents," BBC Network) and Nira Park, as well as Chris Niel.
'ARE YOU THERE VODKA? IT'S ME, CHELSEA' -- Inspired by the best-selling book from comedienne/talk show host Chelsea Handler ("Chelsea Lately"), the new comedy "Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea," follows the exploits of twentysomething bartender Chelsea (Laura Prepon, "That '70s Show") a strong-willed force of nature who is determined to live life to the fullest and make no apologies. Her friends are along for the ride but they all know it is Chelsea's way or the highway. Mark (Jo Koy, "Chelsea Lately") is a charming bartender whose wit makes him the perfect foil for Chelsea while Shoniqua (Angel Laketa Moore, "ER") is a smart and sassy fellow waitress who looks out for Chelsea's best interests. Close friend and fellow bartender Todd (Mark Povinelli, "Water for Elephants") has a wry sense of humor that keeps her in check. Also starring are Natalie Morales (NBC's "Parks and Recreation") as Ivory, Chelsea's feisty best friend; Lauren Lapkus ("The Middle") as Dee Dee, Chelsea's sheltered, shy roommate, and Lenny Clarke ("Rescue Me") as Chelsea's dad, Melvin. Handler has a recurring role as Chelsea's sister Sloan, a happily married new mom who has little in common with her carefree sister. "Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea" is a production of Warner Bros. Television in association with Werner Entertainment and Borderline Amazing Productions. Dottie Dartland Zicklin ("Dharma & Greg") and Julie Larson ("The Drew Carey Show") are creators and executive producers. Handler serves as executive producer along with Tom Werner ("That '70s Show"), Mike Clements ("The Life & Times of Tim") and Tom Brunelle ("Chelsea Lately").
'BEST FRIENDS FOREVER' -- "Best Friends Forever" is a single-camera comedy that takes a look at what happens when best friends promise to support each other -- no matter what the cost or circumstances. When Jessica's (Jessica St. Clair, "In the Motherhood") husband files for divorce, she immediately seeks comfort and flies across the country to move back in with her best friend, Lennon (Lennon Parham, "Accidentally on Purpose"). Unfortunately, Lennon's boyfriend, Joe (Adam Pally, "Happy Endings"), has just moved into the apartment and has turned Jessica's old room into his perfect home office. As Lennon and Jessica fall into their old routines -- beloved traditions, Steel Magnolia marathons and epic girl-talk sessions -- Joe begins to feel as if he's the odd man out. While Lennon struggles to find balance between her previous life with Jessica and her new life with Joe, Jessica's reentry to single life is complicated by the unresolved feelings that an old friend, Rav (Stephen Schneider, "The Funniest Movie Ever...Just Kidding"), has for her and the fact that pleated khakis aren't the most flattering single girl look. "Best Friends Forever" is produced by Universal Media Studios and American Work. St. Clair, Parham, Scot Armstrong ("Old School," "The Hangover Part II") and Ravi Nandan ("Off Duty") are the executive producers. Fred Savage ("Party Down") directed the pilot.
'BENT' -- "Bent" is a new romantic comedy about two people who suddenly find themselves attracted to the qualities that typically repel them. On the surface, Alex (Amanda Peet, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip") and Pete (David Walton, "Perfect Couples") could not be more different. The recently divorced Alex is a resilient and tough lawyer who now is raising her eight-year-old daughter, Charlie (Joey King, "Ramona and Beezus"), as a single mom. Unwilling to let anything get in her way, she downsizes into a smaller house, and she hires Pete, a recovering gambling addict and unapologetic womanizer, as the contractor to re-do her kitchen. The remodeling job is Pete's last chance to prove that he is no longer a screw-up -- but he doesn't know what's about to hit him when he encounters the force of nature that is Alex -- nor does she realize that she's met her match in Pete, a man unafraid to call out her flaws. Jeffrey Tambor ("Arrested Development") also stars as Pete's father, Walt, an out-of-work actor, while Margo Harshman ("Sorority Row") stars as Alex's wild younger sister Screwsie. This romantic comedy from writer and executive producer Tad Quill ("Scrubs," "Spin City") and director Craig Zisk ("Nurse Jackie," "Weeds") will prove that these resilient characters are "bent, not broken." The series is produced by Universal Media Studios.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: NBC's 2011/12 preview site also featured three other series as detailed below.]
'BETTY WHITE'S OFF THEIR ROCKERS' -- Ahhh senior citizens: blue-haired, discount card-holding pensioners slowly winding down through their golden years. So sweet, so kind, so... out of control and outrageous?! In the vein of Jackass and Punk'd, comedic sensation Betty White orchestrates a band of fearless senior citizens as they roam the streets pulling shockingly hilarious pranks on the naive younger generation. Delivering comedy in carefully crafted stunts, the results are jaw-droppingly funny candid moments and priceless reactions captured by cameras hidden in strategic locations. And with a fresh and edgy look, there's nothing old-fashioned about this series. The original Belgium version is the winner of the International Rose d'Or Best Program Award. Taking the world by storm, this ratings sensation finally arrives in America and proves that no matter how old you are, you should never act your age. Cast - Betty White: Host; Credits - Executive Producers: Betty White, Chris Coelen (Secret Millionaire, Don't Forget the Lyrics), Matilda Zoltowski (Dancing with the Stars), Tim van Aelst (Benidorm Bastards); Production Company: Kinetic Content
'BRIAN WILLIAMS NEWSMAGAZINE' -- Starting this fall Brian Williams, anchor and managing editor of America's leading evening newscast NBC Nightly News, whose outstanding journalism has earned the program the highly esteemed Peabody Award and who was named one of Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People in The World", will spearhead an eye-opening new primetime newsmagazine. Drawing on the unparalleled strength of America's premier news organization, the program will be an exciting showcase for journalistic excellence. Top correspondents and trusted anchors from NBC News, MSNBC and CNBC will all be tapped to contribute their formidable talents. The live broadcast will be built around the day's biggest and most interesting events, meaningful and in-depth stories, and timely newsmaker interviews. In addition to the innovative primetime television program, there will be a groundbreaking, constantly evolving on-line edition of the magazine. Provocative, illuminating and agenda-setting - the hour will not only focus on who and what America is talking about, but will also introduce them to the people and the topics that they will be talking about. Cast - Brian Williams: Host
'FASHION STAR' -- Elle Macpherson is bringing the glitz and glam of fashion to primetime television. All across America, students, soccer moms, accountants, and people from all walks of life are sewing in their basements, selling jewelry at small town conventions and creating incredible works of fashion. And even though they all may come from different walks of life, they all share the same burning desire... to be discovered and expose their designs and creations on a national level, and most importantly, to see their dreams become a reality. This show will inspire them to do just that. In this serialized competition, Elle Macpherson - model, successful businesswoman, and an icon in the fashion world - is searching for the next big fashion star. In every episode, designers will be faced with challenges specifically crafted to further develop their fashion lines. With the help and guidance of Elle, they will present their new creations to a team of buyers and expert designers who will ultimately decide who stays and who goes each week. In the final episode, only one designer will be crowned the winner and their collection will be showcased in several major department stores across the nation for all of America to buy. Cast - Elle Macpherson: Host; Credits - Executive Producers: Ben Silverman (The Biggest Loser, The Office), Dan Cutforth & Jane Lipsitz (Top Chef, America's Next Great Restaurant), Rick Ringback (Treasure Hunters); Studio: Realand Productions/Electus/The Magical Elves


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The look of love is definitely in your eyes, and, according to a new study, your eyes can even reveal the object of your desire.Researchers from Cornell University tested a group of subjects by making them watch porn and found that the subjects' pupils dilate more when they were sexually aroused. One hundred and sixty-five men and 160 women both watched a two-minute internet video of a man and a woman masturbating, while having their pupils monitored with an infrared gaze tracker.
The results showed that heterosexual men dilated much more when watching the female image, gay men responded to the male image and bisexual men reacted strongly to both.
But women were slightly different. The heterosexual group actually dilated quite a bit while viewing both images, while homosexual women were more reactive to the female image.
Let's not jump the gun and assume that just because someone is attracted to the opposite sex they want to have sex with them. After all, women can appreciate a beautiful woman and men can appreciate a handsome man. Even so, it's apparent that our pupils don't lie.
The next phase of the study will examine genital reaction and correlate them with pupil movement. That will give us more insight into who really wants a piece of whom.


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There are four components to effectively caring for patients with childhood asthma.
- Assessment and Monitoring: Assessing the severity of asthma to initiate therapy to assessing level of control for adjusting therapy
- Education: Teaching children and parents how to self-manage symptoms and prevent flare-ups. This encompasses developing a written Asthma Action Plan in partnership with the patient, parent or other caregiver
- Control Environmental Factors and Comorbid Conditions: Recommending measures to control exposures to allergens and pollutants or irritants that make asthma worse, and treat comorbid conditions
- Select Medications and Delivery Devices: Meeting patient's needs and circumstances


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As the U.S. Economy Slugs Along, Government Spending Still Runs Amok
News reports last week headlined that U.S. 2011 GDP growth over the fourth quarter of the year was "the fastest in 1 1/2 years." Real GDP growth in 2011 was 1.7%, down from 2010 growth of 3%. World markets tumbled, as most people on trading floors can read beyond headlines to real numbers.
At the same time, Investors.com headlined "Is Obama Creating a Nation of Dependents," which reported that 49% of American households now receive some form of government check. America's economy continues to grow at minimal levels, and if current spending levels continue, entitlement spending will overwhelm all revenues within a few short years. Government employees, law-makers, and separate bureaucracies at federal, state and local levels combine to make an unwieldy, unaffordable, potentially un-reformable system that consumes vast resources in an inefficient, unsustainable manner.
Many people lack familiarity with daily life, prices, wages, and benefit amounts in the countries that are frequently cited as "models" for a "responsible socialist society," and thus are little-able to compare factors such as the amounts that countries like Canada, Germany, and Scandinavia spend for medical care or public benefits. Americans think they spend little on the poor; in truth, they spend a lot. For example, an average skilled nursing facility in California is reimbursed for approximately $6,500 a month for long-term care, while Alberta, in the mid-range of Canadian provinces, will pay $1,800 a month to similar facilities for the same and potentially even higher-quality care. In Mississippi, America's poorest state, similar facilities receive approximately $2,100 a month per patient under extraordinarily complex regulations. Too often, the money doesn't reach the people it's intended to help. A lot of money goes astray as it wends its way through America's complex, multi-layered bureaucracy; the money may even be increasing income inequality – for example, enriching owners of skilled nursing facilities, low-income housing developers, and sub-standard inner-city grocers.
America's social and health programs are broken into a thousand, costly pieces, with separate fiefdoms and accounting at all levels of government and segment of spending. University of Arizona economist Price Fishback's study, "Social Expenditures in the United States and the Nordic Countries: 1900-2003" presented to the 2009 World Economic History Conference in Utrecht, Netherlands, covered extensive historical data indicatingthat when all government social spending, tax breaks, and other benefits are added together, America spends more per-capita on its government social and health programs than any of the Scandinavian countries. The U.S. government redistributes income and benefits in cash, subsidies, tax breaks and employer mandates, including Social Security, Medicare, housing subsidies, workers compensation, disability payments, and food stamps, a program unknown in the rest of the world.The "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program" (SNAP), as Food Stamps are now called, isn't even the only food assistance program. The U.S. also distributes commodities, subsidizes agriculture directly, and gives WIC (Women, Infants and Children) coupons to mothers with children under 5 years of age. Inner-city and rural stores advertise heavily that they accept WIC, while fast food restaurants post signs that they accept EBT cards (Food Stamps and welfare benefits). These programs are completely interwoven with our economy. Cutting them off would cost jobs, at least in the short term.
Half of America's politicians continue to advocate for higher taxes to support more spending with zero evaluation of the effectiveness or benefit of what is purchased for taxpayer dollars. If past performance is the best indicator of future behavior, the other half cannot be trusted to make any changes whatsoever. Democrats resemble enabling, co-dependent parents who'll drive to an addict's crack house with funds for a fix, and Republicans act like the blustering, angry parent who "forgetfully" leaves his wallet out for the money to be stolen. Neither is anywhere near staging an intervention focused on the reality of government spending.
We are spending out of control, and scarcely know what we spend or get for our government dollars. We are in extraordinary denial about the reality of out of control government spending that, crucially, isn't achieving what people want. Right now, we are co-dependent to the point where we cannot conceive of saying, "do better," or "enough."
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons


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Setting up TLS to encrypt connections to Blackboard Learn does not secure the Collaboration Tool. The Collaboration Tool uses Apache™ Tomcat, not Apache™ HTTP Server or IIS, to handle user connections and serve pages. The Collaboration Tool uses a different hostname than the rest of the application. To avoid security warnings because the hostname is different, the Collaboration Tool requires using a separate TLS certificate.
As part of the process, a keystore and a self-signed certificate are created. A keystore is a file that stores certificates. A self-signed certificate is a certificate created by you that is not submitted to a Certifying Authority. If you have a wildcard certificate for your domain, you can use it by importing it into the keystore for the collaboration server. The collaboration server is specified in apps/collab-server/http/tomcat/conf/server.xml.
Macintosh users running a Netscape or Internet Explorer browser will not be able to access the Collaboration Tool if a self-signed certificate is used to configure TLS. The Safari Web browser will work with a self-signed certificate.
If there are Macintosh users running Netscape or Internet Explorer browsers then use a signed certificate. If a signed certificate is preferred, see the Java documentation on keytools for information on obtaining a signed certificate and including it in the keystore.
In most cases, taking the extra step to go through a Certifying Authority is not necessary when securing the Collaboration Tool and a self-signed certificate may be used. Certifying Authorities are used to prove to users of a Web site that the connection is secure and verified by a trusted third party. Users accessing the Collaboration Tool from your Blackboard Learn most likely do not require the validation of a third party before using the tool.
Configure the Collaboration Tool with a self-signed certificate
- Create a keystore.
- Configure Tomcat properties to use TLS encryption.
Configure the Collaboration Tool with a signed certificate
Clients who would like to use their existing TLS certificate should follow these steps.
- Convert the server.key and server.crt into a PKCS12 keystore using OpenSSL.
openssl pkcs12 -export -out keystore.pkcs12 -in /path/to/server.crt
-inkey /path/to/server.key - This will prompt for a keystore password. The keystore will be created as keystore.pkcs12 in the current directory. Move this to an appropriate location.
- Use the keystore and certificate in the steps below that cover editing the bb-config.properties file so that Tomcat uses TLS.
Create the keystore
After creation, the keystore contains a self-signed TLS certificate specifically for Tomcat, <tomcat>.
To create the keystore and certificate, follow these steps:
- Log on to the Web/app server as the user that runs Blackboard Learn.
- Run the following from the command line:
%JAVA_HOME%\bin\keytool -genkey -storetype pkcs12 -alias tomcat -keyalg RSA -keystore path_to_keystore
The keystore will be created at the path_to_keystore.
- The first prompt asks for a password for the keystore. The default password that Tomcat expects is "changeit", but it is recommended that another password be used. Tomcat can be configured later to accept the new password.
- The next few prompts ask for information about the person creating the certificate. This information will appear to users when they first access the Collaboration Tool over TLS. Users are prompted to accept the certificate so it is important to provide accurate information so that users trust the certificate. The information recorded is:
- First and Last Name
- Organizational Unit
- Organization
- City or Locality
- State or Province
- Two-letter country code
- The last prompt asks for the password for the <tomcat> certificate. This password must be the same as the password entered in Step 2. Simply press ENTER to confirm that the same password will be used.
- The keystore will be created in the specified directory.
Configure Tomcat to work with the TLS certificate
After creating the keystore and certificate, the last step is to edit the /blackboard/config/bb-config.properties file. Follow these steps to edit the file to work with TLS:
- Make a backup of the /blackboard/config/bb-config.properties file.
- Keep it safe so that the original settings can be restored.
- Open the bb-config.properties file in an editor.
- Find the following lines in the file and add the appropriate values.
bbconfig.collabserver.keystore.type=PKCS12The keystore.type must be set to PKCS12
- Save the file.
- Run PushConfigUpdates to apply the changes.
- Test the system. When accessing the Collaboration Tool, a prompt should appear to accept the certificate. After accepting the certificate, the Collaboration Tool will open and communications will be secured using TLS encryption.


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Appeals FAQs
- Why should I appeal a determination issued by an unemployment insurance claim center or other office?
- Should I wait to file an appeal until I can gather my evidence?
- The appeals officer works for the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOL). Does it do any good to have the hearing?
- What if I can't afford an attorney or other legal representation?
- What evidence should I provide for the hearing?
- Can I provide statements from friends/coworkers?
- Will my former employer be at the hearing?
- What if I'm working and can't be at the hearing?
- How long does a hearing take?
- How long does it take for the appeals officer to issue a final decision?
- Should I continue to file my biweekly certifications while waiting for the appeal hearing/decision?
Why should I appeal a determination issued by an unemployment insurance call center or other office?
If you have been denied benefits, you may
not be able to have that determination reversed without going through the
appeal process. If you choose not to appeal, you have in effect accepted the
outcome of the determination.
^back to top
Should I wait to file an appeal until I can gather my evidence?
No. If you wait beyond the 30-day appeal period to file your appeal, the Tribunal may not have the authority to make a decision on your benefit entitlement. You should file an appeal, making every attempt to obtain the needed evidence before the hearing date. Postponements can be granted on the showing that, despite your diligent efforts to prepare yourself, you need additional time to prepare for the hearing.
The appeals officer works for the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOL). Does it do any good to have the hearing?
Although the appeals officers are employed by DOL, they are independent from the offices that issue the determinations and they are required by law to provide fair hearings. All hearings are recorded. The recordings ensure that an accurate record is kept for possible review at a higher level. Historically, the odds of the appellant prevailing in the hearing are significant. Approximately 30 percent of all appeals result in a decision favorable to the appellant.
What if I can't afford an attorney or other legal representation?
The appeals officer is charged with the task of ensuring that your rights are protected. The appeals officer will aid you throughout the hearing, provided you ask for help or you have otherwise shown you are confused and need assistance. You may also have a friend or family member help as your representative in the hearing.
What evidence should I provide for the hearing?
That will depend on the type of determination you have received. For example, if you have been denied because of a discharge, copies of warnings (or evidence showing the lack thereof), time sheets, payroll records, etc., might be useful. Also, witnesses to the final incident that led to the discharge can help support your claim. If the work separation was a quit, documentation such as medical reports, childcare statements, or witnesses to workplace problems are helpful.
The hearing office can issue subpoenas if a crucial witness refuses your request to voluntarily testify at the hearing or refuses to voluntarily provide documents that are necessary to make a complete hearing record. Contact the hearing office for additional information.
Can I provide statements from friends/coworkers?
Written statements can be accepted, provided they relate to the issue before the Tribunal. However, a written statement submitted to the hearing record without supporting testimony from the signer of the statement is generally considered hearsay. Hearsay evidence carries less weight than direct sworn testimony. In most cases, you should have the author of the statement at least stand by a telephone in case you need to call him or her as a telephonic witness.
Will my former employer be at the hearing?
The employer named in a separation from work determination is always an interested party and is given notice of the hearing. The Tribunal does not usually compel employers to appear for the hearing. It is not uncommon for an employer to choose not to attend a hearing.
What if I'm working and can't be at the hearing?
The fact you are working does not provide automatic cause to miss your hearing. As noted above, witnesses might be ordered by subpoena to testify for you at the hearing. A witness cannot ignore a subpoena just because the witness does not want to miss work and lose income. Standards for appearance must be at least as stringent for the claimant who stands a chance to gain from the hearing as those applied to subpoenaed witnesses who have no possibility for gain.
You may request a postponement. If your employer has refused to grant you time off for the hearing, the Tribunal may grant your request one time. The Tribunal may intervene or explore other options if your employer does not grant you time off.
How long does a hearing take?
The length of the hearing depends on the amount of evidence, the number of witnesses, and the complexity of the facts. A typical hearing will last 30 to 45 minutes and be completed in a single hearing session. Most hearings are allotted one and one-half hours for completion.
How long does it take for the appeals officer to issue a final decision?
Appeals officers will generally advise that decisions will be issued within two weeks after the hearing closes. Most decisions are issued sooner. Some decisions may take substantially longer. Appeals Officers write decisions when they are not conducting hearings. If your hearing is short and simple, your decision is likely to be issued quickly if the Appeals Officer's other hearings do not run long.
Should I continue filing biweekly certifications while awaiting the appeal hearing / decision?
Yes. If you are successful on appeal, you will not get paid for any weeks for which you did not file.


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Biddle, Quinn top Baseball America's Phillies prospect rankings
Baseball America unveiled it's annual Top 10 prospects for the Phillies organizations and the list reflects the conventional wisdom about the Phillies system: heavy on pitching, light on position players, but not completely barren.
Baseball America unveiled it's annual Top 10 prospects for the Phillies organizations.
This year's list:
1. Jesse Biddle, lhp
2. Roman Quinn, ss
3. Tommy Joseph, c
4. Jon Pettibone, rhp
5. Adam Morgan, lhp
6. Ethan Martin, rhp
7. Cody Asche, 3b
8. Maikel Franco, 3b
9. Darin Ruf, 1b/of
10. Carlos Tocci, of
The list reflects the conventional wisdom about the Phillies system: heavy on pitching, light on position players, but not completely barren. Ruf's inclusion shows just how much his stock has improved inside the scouting community, which once regarded him as little more than a career minor leaguer. Quinn, a soon-to-be 20-year-old short stop, probably has the most upside of anybody in the system. After hitting .281/.370/.408 with 30 steals at Williamsport in 2012, he could turn himself into one of the more talked-about prospects in the sport with a big 2013.
Joseph was the catcher acquired from the Giants in the Hunter Pence trade. The fact that Baseball America has him ranked third and does not have Sebastian Valle ranked at all is notable. That being said, Joseph still has some serious development to do at the plate before you can start penciling him in as a viable replacement for Carlos Ruiz.
Morgan and Pettibone are the two players on the list most likely to help the Phillies this season. Both are polished strike throwers who could get a look in the rotation once the inevitable line of injuries begins.
Martin was acquired in the Shane Victorino trade. The Phillies look at him as a starter, although there are some scouts who think he might end up in the bullpen. Franco and Tocci are both big on upside, although Franco did start to realize that upside last season with 14 home runs as a 19-year-old at Class A Lakewood.
Long story short, the Phillies do not have the kind of blue chippers that make scouts drool. Biddle could be a Top 100 guy once Baseball America releases that list of the best prospects in the game. Pettibone and Morgan are both viewed as mid-to-back-of-the-rotation guys. Asche has yet to convince scouts that he will develop the power or the defensive ability that would make him a blue-chipper at third base. Franco and Quinn both need another significant season before they are viewed as centerpiece prospects, while Tocci probably needs a couple.
Baseball America's article is here.