text:
Skip to comments.In this Wisconsin town, you get the smart meter or they shut you down
Posted on 07/11/2013 6:06:50 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
BARABOO Residents in this small southern Wisconsin city have two choices when it comes to the brave new world of the Smart Grid: Go along with new smart meters for public utilities or get along without water, gas or electricity.
Most residents dont make a fuss and let the utilities install the new smart meters, which are supposed to provide utility customers and taxpayers with savings from real-time data usage and less manpower needed to read traditional analog meters.
Some residents, however, including 81-year-old Audrey Parker, say the smart meters are an invasion of privacy, and they believe the technologys use of radio frequency poses health concerns.
Parker and the Sheriffs, a Baraboo family, fought city hall over installation of the new meters and have seemingly lost.
ALL IN: Baraboo is among several Wisconsin communities that requires utility customers to install smart meter technology. If customers refuse, they lose. The two households had their water shut off on Tuesday.
My husband is 74 years old and hes been hauling five gallon buckets of water into the house for us to flush the toilet, said Darcy Sheriff, 65. Its not even sanitary. Its just a disgusting situation.
The Sheriffs recently took in a family with a 2-year-old girl to stay with them until August, adding to the sticky situation.
Were not political crusader-type people. We just know its time to take a stand. This has gone too far. We dont want this thing in our home, Sheriff told Wisconsin Reporter on Wednesday. Its none of the citys business when Im using water or what Im using. Just that we dont know for sure (about health issues) is enough to bother us.
Mayor Mike Palm did not return requests for comment, but city officials told Wisconsin Reporter on Wednesday that the city tried to convince the holdouts to let them in to install the new meter.
With 4,612 customers, theres fewer than a handful left to do, said Tom Pinion, director of Public Works for the city. Every residence in Baraboo that has electric meters and gas meters has this exact same device in their home. Every home has two transceiver units. This is a third.
The smart meter uses radio-frequency waves to send usage data between a utility customers home and their utility company. The high-tech gauges are a key link in the transition to the Smart Grid, the shared initiative of the federal government and the energy industry to modernize the nations electricity transmission and distribution system. Theres a lot of taxpayer money involved in a myriad programs to bring the Smart Grid and smart meters online.
Small pockets of citizens in municipalities throughout the country have balked at the new technology. Some cite health concerns, others see the meters as an invasion of privacy and still others link the technology to United Nations Agenda 21, a conspiracy theory based on an actual UN policy initiative that purports the global elite want to control, among other things, how much energy people use.
Pinion said he hasnt seen any evidence that backs up the health and privacy concerns cited by Parker. Regardless, he said, she has to comply with city policies to receive city resources.
Its not an option, he said. The service shes had the last umpteen years has been water. She can certainly continue to have water, but we have an obligation to change up the meter.
The Public Service Commission has allowed municipalities and private utilities to decide whether they want to offer an opt-out provision. Some communities, like the city of Madison, allow an opt-out, although it doesnt come without a cost.
Madison Water Utility customers who decline the installation of a smart meter have to pay a monthly charge of $7.78 for a quarterly manual meter reading, according to the utility.
Baraboo, like other Wisconsin communities, doesnt offer an opt-out option.
SHUTDOWN: Jim Sheriff pours water into the toilet of his Baraboo home Wednesday. The city water utility temporarily shut off water to the property because Sheriff and his wife, Darcy, have refused the installation of a smart water meter. PSC spokesman Nathan Conrad said less than 1 percent of complaints filed with the commission since 2010 have dealt with smart meters.
Pinion said 17 other Wisconsin communities use the same transceiver model and dont allow an opt-out option.
Were not breaking any new ground here, he said.
State Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt, R-Fond du Lac, however, wants to give customers statewide the option to opt-out of smart meter installation.
Smart meters are seeking efficiencies, and thats a noble thing, but whats been happening with smart meters is utility providers by and large dont have competition, he said. So when these smart meters are installed, customers are not being given options. This would allow an opt-out for customers who, for whatever reason, dont want smart meters.
Thiesfeldt said hes fielded just a handful of formal complaints from constituents, but has heard concern from other people at public events.
Privacy concerns are the thrust of the bill that I have put forward, the lawmaker said. I think this is a Fourth Amendment issue. People should be able to control their personal data.
Thiesfeldt pointed to government snooping revelations from National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden as a reason why personal data collection should be protected.
The public utility is able to measure an unbelievable amount of data in your household, getting down to whether or not youre using a microwave or a stove, he said. I want the public to know what these devices are capable of doing. You ought to be able to control your personal data of whats going on inside your home.
The PSC intervened Wednesday, and by late in the day the Sheriffs water was turned back on, pending an investigation. Darcy Sheriff suffers from a medical condition that exempts the home from the shut-off. Darcy Sheriff told Wisconsin Reporter that the city is demanding a medical form proving her infirmity within 21 days or the utility will shut off the water again.
Audrey Parker was not so lucky. As of late Wednesday, the 81-year-old great-grandmother was still without city water.
Update on smart meter controversy in Baraboo
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off,this Wisconsin interest ping list.
Not everything new is bad.
I get the "option" of paying $10 per month to not have the smart meter.
--when the users started gaming it by turning the clock ahead, they first went to a clock that the customer couldn't reset--as the technology became available it went to a radio signal---
If I had the money, I'd send Mrs. Parker some solar panels and have someone install them for her!
Then I'd have a well driller dig her a well and a get someone to put a septic tank in.
Then she can tell the politicians to do something useful instead of harassing citizens.
I see a very clean broom sweeping in the next election.
I'm on a private well, so no meters. However, I love the smart meters on my gas and electric service. It saves me from clunky workers tramping through my garden, crushing my flowers under their boots. It also relieves me from liability, should they tumble down the rocky slope behind my house.
So, denial of service, the easy way out. Hell, the other meter was in for years, you can't sacrifice for a few years for the sake of the elderly. I wouldn't buy your water just based on that alone. There are ways around it. Might cost some money to haul water to a cistern and a pump to the house, then guess what, you are now out of their system till they decide yours is a health hazard.
Did they kill analog TV for this, to make room on the frequency bandwidth for their smart grid?
If it's like many municipalities it is illegal to have a septic system and a well and/or cistern. Citizens are required to use city pumped water and sewer. We have both a well and cistern on our property and we are prohibited from using them. We are also required to pay for refuse service. Also once water, sewer, or electric is shut off the resident will be referred to the health department, who will condemn the house until service is restored. They have it all tied up into a neat little package don't they?
How in the world does turning off your water service from midnight to 4AM help the utility in any way, unless everyones water is shut off? The feed lines continue to be pressurized. The equipment is running. There is very little usage in those hours to begin with.
-—— you get the smart meter or they shut you down———
Which is as it should be.
They sell, you buy. Don't like the product, do without.
water HEATER
The "Heater" was turned off....the electric flow that keeps it hot. Geez....
The real goal is to eventually be able to turn off your heat or air conditioning automatically. This allows the destruction of our power production capacity - wind generators (the wind) are unreliable and will be all we have. Ready to cook or freeze in your home? At least your TV will work - got to have your alphabet propaganda - er - news.
not the water service
the HOT WATER HEATER
it saves electricity, not water
"The first is a smart grid variation on a technique thats already used to protect private information collected for health care databases or by Internet services like Google and Amazon"
Such statements have bogus written large. Health care data bases are a huge problem as we speak. Government can get their hands on any data it desires by virtue of the large hammer it is able to wield, called blackmail, illegal in any circle other than government.
As to Google and Amazon, two of the worst offenders IMHO.
Heat or A/C? Gotta think bigger and badder than that. Even in the winter in a lot of places, you'll be far worse off when They turn off your refrigerator during a "national emergency" when they need people to get back in line.
A quote from a friend about the above paper reference:
"The really amazing thing is that similar technology can be used for gas and water use, but requires a low cost (less than $50) but high bandwidth (essentially acoustic) pressure/flow sensor be installed. Something you may get with smart gas and water meters. They can detect a single dripping faucet or leaking toilet (and tell you which one) or give you a monthly total water use from a shower from ONE sensor on the water meter. F****** magic.. actually just very good time and frequency domain analysis, but still almost unreal."
In short this paper discusses how any electric utility supplied services to a residence can be analyzed at a very atomic level of operation. The comments also show how this is applicable to gas and water utility services too.
In addition, the head of Belkin (the company who purchased and is commercializing the technology) is a green fascist. He SPECIFICALLY wants to use the information to change and enforce behavior.
The product, now released, is called Belkin Echo. The launch customer is the US government.
You can have a smart meter installed, but just remember that another piece of your privacy is gone - and probably your control of your residence (see previous FReeper posts on new EPA refrigerator green program).
Is it possible to shield the meter so they can't operate it remotely?
seems you could just wrap the meter in tin foil and ground it. Gets rid of the radio wave issues if that's what's bothering you.
Of course the invasion of privacy issue is something else. Best to install solar panels and get off the grid entirely
I will be moving further out to the country to do just that.
Although if they use RF connectivity and it doesn't work, a utility will probably send a person out to the meter to fix the problem. Depending on the laws of the community you are in, there could be a fine associated with "tampering" with a smart meter.
He should apply for a grant and put up a bird blender! And festoon his house with solar panels.
True that. If you can't find a way to block or jam a wifi signal, you just aren't trying.
I think the smart meter makes a lot of sense. My dogs don't much like the meter reader and I had to remodel part of my new deck after he whined about the position of the handrail.
I've recently received word that my 72 yo cousin (whom the entire family thinks is eccentric) has done just that (wrapped her meter in tin foil, as well as her phone). She thinks people (?) are spying on her.
Actually, her younger brother IS spying on her, but that is because he is her legal guardian. Most of the family has written her off as 'nuts', but I remember that her late father (who was considered 'wise' by the same family) used to listen to Art Bell all night.
The apple does not fall far...
The smart meter can also be used to control any of your modern smart appliances, heat and air. It can also be used to brown/black out individual users.
So they pay you, so that they can remotely turn off your hot water heater, OK.
I'm a little surprised that they find that cost effective, as that is such a low use time of day to begin with. Do they pay anything for going old school and just having a timer at your residence that you can override when needed, and turn off completely when you are gone for a few days?
First - these don't sound like smart meters, just AMR's (Automatic Meter Readers). Smart meters are bidirectional - that is, not only do they record and transmit electric usage but the can also send signals to the household to remotely control appliances. It's this remote control capability that people should be concerned with.
Second, I've noticed over the years that the meter is quick to react to increased electric usage - the little wheels spin up very quickly - but they are slow to spin back down. That means they record usage that doesn't really occur. They cheat you out of a few pennies every time you turn off an appliance!
What I would like to see is some enterprising person develop an isolating transformer or capacitor that would mask usage by filtering the spikes and smoothing out the signal that the meters "see".
Its none of the citys business when Im using water"
Guess what sweetie?
They will know if you're using water by reading the meter.
Another bunch of tinfoil hat crap IMO.
Most of those who gin up all of the myths and fearmonger these meters are the now displaced meter readers.
"Im on a private well, so no meters. However, I love the smart meters on my gas and electric service. It saves me from clunky workers tramping through my garden, crushing my flowers under their boots. It also relieves me from liability, should they tumble down the rocky slope behind my house."
They still have to access the meters, and as far as the gas meter it has to be inspected for leaks on a routine basis per state and federal guidlines even with the ERT installed.
And I always try and watch where I step to keep from damaging plants while going up to the meters.
He's talking about the water heater, not the entire service.
" I love the smart meters on my gas and electric service."
Just how much are you going to love them when you start getting the cost of your energy being priced out by the time of day that you use it. Want to do your laundry during the day will cost you more than it will if you stay up and do it after midnight. Then there's the new appliances you will buy to replace your old ones that will even take that option away from you because the utility will just "turn them off" so you can't use them except when "they say you can." Want to use your A/C during the day when it's really hot? Not if they say you can't. My advice to you is that if you have fairly old appliances, replace them now before the "new models" come out. At the end of the day, there will be so much RF energy around your house it will be like one big microwave as big brother utilities check your every move with respect to your use of water, electricity and gas. And if you put in solar panels to provide for your own needs, look for them to tax you for "being off their grid." Want to put down a well? Well most places won't let you do it because after all the water under your property doesn't belong to you anymore. Welcome to 1984, it just came later than Orwell predicted. Coming soon, they will want to have a means to know when you have sex!
That's strange. Why would they want to reduce load during NON-peak hours? I am being paid $40 per season so my A/C can be cut to 50% duty cycle between 2-6 PM on weekdays during very high peak loads on the grid in the summer. They did it by installing a pager controlled switch between my thermostat and compressor contactor--easily bypassable by the way.
They have been pricing my electricity by time of day for 27 years. At one time I had the option to opt in, or out, of this program. I just let stand what the homeowner before me did.
I do so little wash (just 2 of us) and do it at all kinds of crazy times of day, or night, that it doesn't really matter. I have an extra large machine, so it's generally 2 loads per week. 3 at the most.
But, I was in danger of a lawsuit from a meter reader slipping down a rocky hillside to read my meter, so I'm happy to have them read it from the street.
If I had an indoor garden (caugh caugh!) I could understand being opposed to a meter that can record a large and consistent electrical load change during the same 12 hour period each day. Otherwise, I don't really understand the opposition to these meters, other than not wanting big brother collecting any more information than he already is.
But then, the utilities already know how much electricity per quarter you use versus your neighbors, so the electrical load of your indoor garden would still stand out next to your neighbor's, even if they leaves all of their lights and televisions on 24/7.
That said, if the meters are to help the utility company cut costs, I think they should be offering a monthly opt-in credit, rather than an opt-out charge.
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subset: commoncrawl


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How to exert leadership on enterprise mobility
CIOs need to acknowledge that the IT capabilities of employees' own smartphones threaten the status quo.
By Bud Mathaisel
Enterprise mobility isn't happening the way we thought it might. We assumed the IT department would be in the driver's seat, executing a carefully mapped plan to take the enterprise where it wants to go. That scenario isn't entirely absent, but in many cases IT is slow to capitalize on the opportunity. When IT does not provide solutions, impatient business unit managers turn to the myriad opportunities outside, including services offered in the cloud by third parties.
Executives embrace powerful new mobile technology from third parties and ask employees to use it. Or employees themselves seize the opportunity and do what they want with handhelds and mobile applications available for download. Rather than following a carefully mapped plan, enterprise mobility is going viral.
CIOs can't just watch and wait this time. Mobile technology is unlike the earlier technologies adopted independent of IT. With the personal computer, the Internet, and others, the CIO had some level of confidence that the chickens would come home to roost—inevitably, the CIO did gain control at some later stage. Enterprise mobility is different because the applications in use are likely to be in the cloud, professionally written and run. As Figure 1 underscores, the next two years promise substantially more access to corporate information through the use of smart handhelds. There might be no independent trial within the enterprise, nothing for the CIO to eventually take over and make robust for everyone. To stay engaged, the CIO must influence mobility from the start.
Influence this time around begins with acknowledging the new power of personal IT. "The CIO has to come to terms with the fact that everyone's walking around with significant IT capabilities," says futurist and interactive media consultant Mark Pesce.
As noted in the PwC white paper
The situational CIO
,¹ it is a given that a CIO must balance the multiple and sometimes conflicting demands of providing information access and IT services to the organization. Now, because individuals are bringing their own IT assets and infrastructure with them, the CIO and the IT team need a strategy for managing this phenomenon, including how to choose and what to enable.
Through research, PwC has identified several best practices any enterprise mobility strategy should include:
Enable grassroots research and development (R&D) capabilities
Understand device choice options
Assess the payback potential
Establish new governance approaches
Formulate new business process models
Provide new infrastructure and skills
Enable grassroots R&D capabilities
Don't expect or insist that IT is the only wellspring of ideas. Although IT may have already identified some opportunities, it is likely that new applications will be developed from the ideas and initiatives of employees. Sponsor internal R&D activities for mobility across the whole organization, not just in IT.
This cross-functional approach has at least two benefits:
Because many employees are knowledge workers, they will have insights, experiences, and passions you can leverage.
When you give people an official enterprise channel for their ideas, word gets around and you help make your organization a place where more people, especially Millennials (those born after 1980), will want to work.
Some organizations have sponsored innovation prizes to encourage idea generation and sharing, but the setup and management of that process can be tricky and could work against those who are most inspired to share their ideas. It is likely that many mobility ideas will come from the younger workforce—the Millennials—but it is inappropriate to be exclusive.
Tom Conophy, CIO of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), encourages an enterprise-wide approach: "I sponsor R&D-type activities across my team. I have about 800 employees across the globe, most of them knowledge workers and computer scientists. I've always been a strong believer that you have to give people outlets. They have their day jobs, and then they have their passions. The idea is to try to turn on some of those passions. So we've established these labs, which we call gulags, and we let anybody with reasonable ideas come in."
Unlike any previous IT initiative sponsored by headquarters, mobile devices are ubiquitous and designed to provide independence. Some CIOs have invented a few things in their digital labs, but other CIOs are sourcing ideas from end users. For example, Standard Chartered is investing in a special applications development environment in San Francisco's media district, South of Market.
"We plan to have our San Francisco entity stay very small and nimble, and be able to bring in new ideas, deliver quickly, and then move on to the next thing," says Todd Schofield, head of a new mobile development unit at Standard Chartered. His strategy is influenced by the creative environment associated with the South of Market neighborhood in San Francisco. However, great inspirations can come from anywhere, and the best advice to CIOs is to give knowledge workers the tools and the resources to make mobility work well.
The CIO needs to ensure that the R&D teams adhere to development and hardware standards, especially for the interfaces among enterprise systems. As CIO, the other important contribution is to put the infrastructure in place to enable the R&D, including wireless access, security, help desks, and so forth, as discussed in the article, "Turning handheld power into enterprise clout," on page 06.
Understand device choice options
Providing IT devices to end users is nothing new, but mobile devices create a dilemma for organizations: to provide a standard device to every user, or to accept users choosing their own—known as "bring your own device" (BYOD). The first option gives IT the kind of control it is accustomed to having over enterprise technology assets, while BYOD embraces the personal empowerment that has helped make these devices so powerful in the first place.
PwC research suggests that limited BYOD will become the rule more than the exception, in part for reasons expounded in the article,"Turning handheld power into enterprise clout," on page 06. For some organizations, BYOD is perfectly appropriate right now; for example, when the organization is quite diverse or in a stage of experimenting. In other cases, the diffuse nature of BYOD might require the CIO to spread the applications and infrastructure teams too thinly.
It is true that the shift from an enterprise choice to an individual user choice adds a great deal of complexity, and the shift could result in a patchwork of devices with varying capabilities. For some organizations, this is no issue and actually supports the broader move to create a more employee-empowered culture. For others, it is a problem for two reasons: security and applications integration.
For security reasons, limited choice might be appropriate in areas where a high degree of rigor and consistency are required, such as in regulated environments, finance, protected data, and physical safety. At least for now, some organizations are limiting the choice of device, operating system, and applications in these circumstances. It is wise to apply this restriction sparingly and to let BYOD be the default. Providing the devices at no cost to selected end users is a helpful catalyst to reduce clutter and ensure focus on a mobility strategy. A variation on BYOD that might be best for many enterprises is to limit employee choice to a few of the more popular consumer devices that can be more easily integrated and supported, ensuring a first-class approach to that support.
Applications integration is another argument for providing every user with the same device, or at least limiting the choices. "We previously had message-centric devices and we are converting those to iPhones," Schofield says. "The intent is to be a more application-driven company rather than an e-mail-driven one. We want to move from an e-mail-centric device to an application-centric device that also does e-mail."
To enable this conversion, Standard Chartered is launching an enterprise applications store roughly equivalent to the Apple App Store, from which applications can be downloaded that fit the specific purpose and parameters of Standard Chartered.
Assess the payback potential
CIOs usually have an investment payback mind-set. Because enterprise mobility is relatively early in its adoption cycle, many organizations approach the investment as either a means for cost reduction or for improved personal productivity. Although the justification may be quantifiable, many organizations take as a matter of faith that their mobility investments and initiatives will produce a payback.
Cost reduction could come from two approaches, depending on the organization. One path reduces the number of devices to a manageable few and provides complete help desk, security, and support for those fewer devices. Another path exploits the fact that many mobile applications and data could reside in the cloud and leverages cost-effective economies of scale in the cloud.
Whether an organization achieves improved productivity depends on the organization and the nature of its business. For a consumer-oriented business, the opportunity to reach out to end customers through applications that they would want is considered an eventual benefit. For other organizations, enabling mobility is a way to attract and keep the best and brightest of younger workers.
Standard Chartered is counting on improved productivity through benefits to employees. "A lot of the return in the long run is going to be about employee efficiency and effectiveness," Schofield says. "We really want decision making to be able to happen faster. As everyone knows, e-mail is a horrible form of communication."
PwC research suggests that, for the foreseeable future, enterprise mobility devices will be used in addition to the PC. However, as more computing activity occurs on mobile devices and more applications are based in the cloud, PCs may be used less often, allowing enterprises to keep employees on older models longer. It is also likely that companies will eventually be able to invest in a set of wireless peripherals, including full-size keyboards and computer screens that would allow the mobile device to become the "hub" in a docking-as-you-need-to approach for desktop computing chores, giving employees even greater flexibility.
Establish new governance approaches
Even more than with previous technologies, mobility is about people and their use of the device, which can be a very personal matter. The IT organization often underestimates the cultural change needed to employ technology, and this challenge is especially true for a technology with roots in the personal domain. The wise CIO will seize this opportunity to establish a culture around mobility.
Current best practices suggest establishing a culture appropriate for this stage of evolution—a culture that aligns with the reality of the workforce today. Right now, excessive controls could stifle the creativity needed for enterprise mobility. Early adopters are—by nature—likely to be among the most creative users, and you don't want to squelch them. The "feel" of this culture is about experimentation and early adoption, but with important boundaries. Balancing the two will take persistent leadership and frequent, open communications.
The PwC white paper
The value creating CIO
makes the case for balanced controls in situations such as enterprise mobility. Establish basic rules of behavior, but not too restrictive, given this early stage. The rules of behavior for IT professionals may not need to change, but because the value-creating team now expands to include many non-IT professionals, the rules of behavior must accommodate the broader base. For this broader base, the rules of behavior could include:
Continue to strictly follow the enterprise security policy (updated for mobility)
Avoid any potential embarrassment, especially given the potential for social networks to be a source of embarrassment
Minimize the use of company time to do this work
Share what you learn
Perhaps most usage policies reflect the enterprise's awareness of data privacy and other legal matters. But the more that mobile devices are used for both personal and business applications, the more diligence CIOs, legal counsels, and human resource executives will need to exert over unresolved legal standards. The realm of data privacy, particularly regarding mobile devices, has not been fully resolved by the courts.
Rules that are too restrictive could be a problem for new employees, presumably hired because of their accomplishments in previous jobs. But what if those results were aided and abetted by a mobile device and a number of applications that—under your policy—the new hire can't use? You run the risk of "cutting off half of the value that you are hiring the person for," notes Srinivas Krishnamurti, senior director for mobile solutions at VMware.
Celebrate the creative ideas and breakthroughs of those who produce useful results. PwC's The situational CIO white paper emphasizes that communication is an essential skill and a crucial part of the CIO's job. This is especially important in mobility because of its very broad range of participants.
While specific approaches to fostering the right culture will depend on the organization, the digital labs referenced earlier can be a convenient and visible way to organize mobility initiatives. It is important also to reach outside the enterprise to customers and business partners.
Some organizations address the customer side through focus groups and structured marketing initiatives around mobility. Others approach this less formally through social networks, monitoring what customers say about the company and do on their own. Mobility is a great opportunity to connect with the customer base, especially if your customers are among early mobility adopters. Establish and publish the code of conduct for the enterprise and for those who connect to the enterprise, much as you already have done with privacy and security standards.
Mobility is also a great opportunity to leverage partner ideas and buy-in. In the same way some lean manufacturing organizations encourage partners to contribute to the design of products or improvements in distribution, collaboration could work well when creating mobility applications. This collaboration could be especially important in industries that have unique security requirements or regulations that affect everyone in the ecosystem.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) "forced us into data encryption for our remote sales force," says Larry Herrmann, manager of global IT customer support at DJO, a medical device manufacturer.
Most IT organizations have worked diligently to secure their wired networks and data to meet regulatory and compliance standards. Mobility will challenge the traditional approach to imposing security standards on end users. Because they consider these devices their property rather than a corporate asset, end users will likely balk at the centralized controls now available and appropriate for devices containing corporate and client information. CIOs should begin the education process early, since there is benefit to early cooperation and buy-in from users and business partners.
Formulate new business process models
Those who have adopted business process reengineering as a continuing endeavor will find mobility to be another opportunity to rethink workflow, touches, and information exchanges. The fundamentals of business process reengineering, postulated in the early 1990s by Tom Davenport, Michael Hammer, and others, are perhaps even more relevant with mobility because one of the fundamentals is to start with the customer experience and work backward to envision how the customer experience might be improved.
Tom Conophy of IHG observes that "a perfect storm" of new capabilities is converging. The example of D7 Consulting described in the article, "Turning handheld power into enterprise clout," on page 06 underscores how nagging process bottlenecks finally can be alleviated with the help of the current generation of smartphones and tablets.
In contrast with an R&D effort, which is more about sourcing product line innovation, business process improvement implies a strategic focus on any potential enablers of that improvement, as Figure 2 illustrates. Procurement of the devices, by contrast with the other two activities, would seem to be straightforward. The value a CIO adds will come from considering each of these elements in conjunction with the others. Much depends on a holistic approach to the resources that are available—not just what the enterprise owns or can procure, but a broad view of the capabilities employees bring with them, and how those capabilities can lead to IT as a "competitive differentiator," in the words of Srini Koushik, CTO of Nationwide.
The CIO's leadership of mobility entails simultaneous focus in co-dependent areas:
Redesigning business processes; customer-facing processes are a first priority
Establishing R&D centers for in-house development of leading applications
Reducing procurement barriers to device adoption; this is clear CIO leadership territory
Provide new infrastructure and skills
Mobility requires some new skills in the organization and changes to the basic infrastructure. Even when ideas and applications are developed in a grassroots lab, the CIO and IT organization will be responsible for integrating the innovations into the IT infrastructure. While the specifics will vary by organization and its legacy, some important new elements must be addressed.
There are two fundamental integration issues for enterprise mobility. The first is browser capability or enabling the mobile device for the same screens that appear on the laptop or desktop. The second is to use the capabilities native to the device to augment previous applications or new ones. Under the CIO's leadership, the technology plans for each must be inherent in IT strategy and budgets. Knowledge of the emergent technologies is essential to develop a coherent plan; developing or hiring those with that knowledge is the CIO's responsibility.
Specific skill sets, of course, are important. Because HTML5 is likely to be crucial to mobility, it would be wise to have at least a few people in your IT organization acquire or update those skills. This is also a time for CIOs to update their portfolio of vendors. The IT organization needs to lead in researching, identifying, and contracting with providers that will be the future suppliers of choice.
A related challenge is modification at the front end to integrate devices with enterprise applications and data in the current architecture. Many of the executives interviewed for this issue of the Technology Forecast suggested they would handle this integration through the cloud, provisioned internally or externally. Mobility could become the tipping point that encourages the use of cloud services.
Another critical issue is mobility security, which requires a rigorous approach to asset management. For example, to know which devices are being used by whom and to be able to update the information, IT must monitor device activity and manage the contents of the devices. As Figure 3 illustrates, the current generation of smartphones makes good use of the security model that evolved during the e-mail messaging generation.
Technology has followed a cyclical pattern three times with enterprise mobility. Each time, the technology arrives and enterprise adoption lags while the enterprise voices security concerns. Then vendors address the concerns. In the case of third generation application-centric phones, good security is becoming available and should be broadly adopted soon.
During interviews with PwC, many CIOs indicated that a major enabling factor to mobility is the ability to wipe devices of content if they are lost or stolen, which most smartphone platforms now support. The IT organization needs to choose the tools to do that and be able to respond immediately when it is required. (The article, "Mobile technology's journey from peril to promise," on page 20 explores the security issue in greater depth.)
IT leaders have two new security approaches to mobile devices:
The capability to restrict mobile device information and network access; devices configured with a unique IP address have a distinct ID.
The capability to remotely wipe and completely clear any device lost, stolen, or compromised.
So, while enterprises can allow some flexibility in the choice of devices, any device must comply with the security standards. As Todd Schofield of Standard Chartered states, "We use unique digital certificates for access to the VPN [virtual private network] as well as to the wireless itself. Based on the unique serial number of my iPhone, a certificate is generated for me that restricts access to data and applications."
The cost of wireless communications will be another challenge. Many cell phone users have experienced the nasty surprise of an unexpectedly large phone bill. That problem was eventually addressed through fixedprice plans and by negotiating attractive rates from carriers. PwC research indicates awareness of this issue and some early discussion with telecommunications carriers, which are offering no new programs yet.
"Telecom is going to be an issue for all of us. We see that the unlimited is going away," Herrmann says. The best approach may be to begin service contract discussions with carriers now and to ensure that users have access to their usage costs. In the meantime, to provide a direct incentive for cost control, many companies are reimbursing employees a fixed or capped rate for smartphone communications usage.
Besides working with carriers, some enterprises are preparing internal facilities to accommodate a broader use of wireless within the enterprise, which can help control costs. "We are building Wi-Fi networks in our major offices, so that if I got to Hong Kong or London or Shanghai, or wherever, my iPhone will see that [a wireless network is available] and it will transfer me from roaming on a 3G network. It will move me over and make my data connection go through wireless Internet, so now I'm not roaming anymore," Schofield says.
Another big challenge is to provision more robust input and output capabilities than are possible with the mobile device itself; for example, the ability to input or output large amounts of data, especially from spreadsheets and presentations. This challenge relates to the wireless telecommunications challenge, but is internal to the enterprise.
Apple enabled wireless printing capability for the iPhone and iPad in its iOS 4.2 update in November 2010. More such features are coming from mobile vendors themselves, although the internal IT organization can do a great deal to prepare and enable this capability by choosing display and printing facilities that work wirelessly. Once this input/output piece is addressed, the "mobile mainframe" is in the hands of the users.
Conclusion: The mobility imperative
Timing may differ by organization, but eventually mobility will play a significant part of any enterprise information services—both internally to the organization and externally to customers. Some people see the opportunity to create a specialty position: chief information mobility officer.
In some organizations, CIOs have decided to free themselves from their current responsibilities and focus on enterprise mobility and new IT strategies. To a CIO, mobility at this stage can be frustrating. It may seem a contradiction to lower costs and improve security and controls while simultaneously encouraging the innovation mobility can provide. In one organization, the CIO named himself the chief technology officer and appointed someone else to be the CIO. Patience and a balanced control approach would be the main attributes of the IT leader of mobility, because the rewards will come.
The CIO has an opportunity to lead; otherwise, someone else will. Enterprise mobility is either the next CIO leadership opportunity, or the next missed opportunity.
¹ See http://www.pwc.com/us/en/technology-innovation-center/cio-operations-strategysourcing- budget.jhtml.
² See the interview with Tom Conophy on page 16.
³ See the interview with Srini Koushik on page 44.
The closest the US Supreme Court has come is its unanimous decision in Ontario vs. Quon, in June 2010, involving the privacy of the personal use of an employer-issued digital pager. For many reasons, not least of which is the majority opinion stating the ruling was narrowly based on the particulars of the case, the issue of data privacy in mobile devices still appears to be wide open. For more on the case, see http://www. supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-1332.pdf and http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/18/us/18scotus.html, accessed November 2, 2010.
Technology Forecast home
Unleashing enterprise mobility (2011, Issue 1)
Message from the editor
Turning handheld power into enterprise clout
Mobile technology's journey from peril to promise
How to exert leadership on enterprise mobility
Getting to your best mobile strategy
Blending work and life on smartphones
Anticipating the next phase of enterprise mobility
The new power of the cybernetic employee
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NVS Corporate Services, Inc. was established in 2002 by Nick Soto and Oscar Loredo. A newly formed company targeting the industrial sector, it became very clear early on to Nick and Oscar that the industrial market in the Lower Rio Grande Valley was preparing for a major recession. This led to their decision to re-focus and strategize their business plan and enter into facilities services with the federal government. By 2005, over a period of establishing themselves as experts in the industry, the Texas-Mexico border in South Texas was a target market for the NVS team. They quickly built a positive reputation for quality service in property development, facilities/property management, maintenance, and construction on the Texas/Mexico border.
By 2006, NVS received its first federal contract with GSA to provide janitorial and maintenance services for a large office complex that housed various Department of Homeland Security agencies. In 2007, GSA recognized NVS for receiving... Read More


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Exactly.. that's what I mean.
- IF Madara needed an Uchiha body for carying out his Master Plan, then why wait all these time? It's not like Obito was a high-class shinobi like Itachi, Sasuke or even Shisui. All these time, he could've send Zetzu for kidnapping a 12-13 year old Uchiha and start his plan already.
All these together sums it all up; Tobi's reveal/reasons for EMP and Madara's future plan isn't all planned out very well, too be honest. In Tobi's case; creating such a world for a girl that probably didn't even loved him like he loved her.. too easy. And Madara finding an Uchiha body near his hide-out is a little bit lame IMO.
- WHAT IF, Obito ( some random uchiha ) didn't died there.. then what? Madara would've probably created Black Zetzu anyway, but still, Zetzu isn't S-class for convincing or taking on S-class shinobi like's the Akatsuki's members and especially not suited for winning the trust of Nagato, Konan and Yahiko. Madara needed an Uchiha body for executing his plan, an Uchiha capable of handling senju powers for gettin control over Mazou; ain't it little bit too easy for having an young Uchiha die above your hide-out.. JUST when you need it for your Master Plan??
So far, destiny is a big key word in Naruto Manga.. you could say that " Obito " was destined to die above " Madara's hideout ", but comparing this scenario with all the others, it's just to easy and un-satisfying if you ask me.
And Paul.. even if he caught an Uchiha who didn't wanted to give up life/ the world as it is, Madara would still be able to brainwash that person for accepting his vision of life. Madara has the right knowledge and lots of experience, if it comes to manipulation. This Obito - Madara connection could be left out.. I still prefer Obito simple dying by saving his friends.


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Kelly & Katie Vern Sandal
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Add the finishing touch to any evening look with the Kelly & Katie Vern. This sparkly sandal is right on trend, and is sure to make you stand out in the crowd.
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Meet the crew
PlayStation's brawler is out, allowing you to pit your favorite non-Nintendo characters against each other in a battle royale of epic proportions (you can read our full PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale review here). The cast list is fairly beefy, sporting nearly two-dozen characters from nearly as many franchises, both Sony-owned and beyond.
We've assembled the final list, and included a list of fighters we want added in as additional DLC, too. Take a look, and let us know who you think should be added to the game!
Updated with all of the DLC characters, including two announced for March!
Isaac Clarke (Dead Space) - DLC
We actually had Dead Space's Isaac Clarke on our list of characters we wanted to see added as downloadable content (you can see that list after this roster), and we're happy to hear that the character will be part of DLC coming out in March. The hero will be sporting his Dead Space 3 armor and strategically dismembering his enemies. Well, not really, but he'll shoot them a bunch. IGN went hands-on with the new hero and said that he played like Jak, relying on his multitude of weapons over brute force.
Zeus (God of War) - DLC
Also coming in March is Zeus, Kratos's mortal enemy in the God of War series (besides Ares, of course). We didn't think Sony would add any additional characters from the GoW pantheon, but if they were going to we suppose Zeus is as good of a pick as any. IGN went hands-on with Zeus as well, comparing him to the larger characters in PSASBR. With his powerful punches and focus on slow, strong hits, he's more similar to Big Daddy than he is the game's other lightning-wielder in Cole.
Kat (Gravity Rush) - DLC
The plucky heroine from the best PlayStation Vita game is probably the most exciting piece of free DLC weve ever anticipated. From the sounds of it, Kats fighting forte will be mastery of the airspace, using her gravity-shifting powers to set up big damage in the sky. Were willing to bet that her level 3 Super will suspend everyone in a bubble of anti-gravity, letting her dive-kick them out of existence with ease.
Emmett Graves (Starhawk) - DLC
This superpowered mercenary from the PS3-exclusive shooter was a shoe-in for Battle Royale, given that Sweet Tooths pre-order costume is also a product of Starhawk. With volatile Rift Energy coursing through his veins, we imagine his playstyle will incorporate long-range gunplay and up-close machete-stabbing. Designer Seth Killian has also explicitly stated that Emmett will have access to the same Build and Battle mechanic that lets him air-drop in entire structures to gain the positional advantage.
Cole MacGrath (inFamous)
inFamous's Cole MacGrath is the perfect fighting game character. He can punch, he can kick, he can hit things with a baton, and he can shoot lightning out of his freaking hands . He's sort of made for this sort of thing, which is why it wasn't all that surprising that he was announced to officially be joining the roster. He looks like he mostly uses attacks from his inFamous 2 move set, with supers including the ability to throw ice attacks and to unleash a vortex, which we're guessing is his level 3 Super.
Dante (DmC)
As expected, the new DmC's Dante is a playable fighter in Sony's brawler. The crude, rude combatant brings with him all of his moves from the games, including his sword, his scythe, his pistols, and his wit. Using his special meter, Dante can dash through opponents, or even activate his Devil Trigger, turning his hair white, his jacket red, and allowing him to execute one-hit kills on helpless enemies.
Fat Princess (Fat Princess)
As rumored, Fat Princess's titular Fat Princess is in the game. Well, to be fair, she's actually more portly than flat-out fat. Different directional attacks have her throwing different characters from Fat Princess into battle, tossing knights, mages, and archers around the battlefield. She can also ride a giant chicken, so you know, theres that.
Jak and Daxter (Jak and Daxter)
Jak and Daxter will fight as one, using their combined powers to take down their enemies on the 2D battlefield. Trailers show them bashing enemies to death for their level one and two Super attacks, and Jak transforming into "Light Jak" as his third-level ultimate ability.
Kratos (God of War)
This one was obvious. Kratos has a game coming out soon (check out a list of What we want to see from God of War: Ascension), making him an obvious choice for the game. And, unexpectedly, he plays exactly as youd expect Kratos to play. His basic attacks involve him lashing out with the Blades of Chaos, executing moves in the same manner as he does in the God of War games. He also has access to Helioss head, a bow, and the wings of Icarus.
Nariko (Heavenly Sword)
Heavenly Sword might not be getting a sequel anytime soon, but Nariko's appearance in Royale will surely appease fans of the franchise. The goddess of war has access to her dual blades and aerial attacks, and can call Kai for her level 1 super ability. Level 2 has her spawning a turret to blast enemies with, and 3 extends the length of her blades, allowing the femme fatale to take down foes from afar.
Nathan Drake (Uncharted)
There was very little surprising about how Nathan Drake played in Battle Royale. Most of his attacks are straight out of Uncharted, and include the protagonist shooting, punching, or diving around. He can also kick barrels, ride ziplines, and create his own cover at any time, making him a good mid-ranged character. His level 1 Super is actually fairly strong--he throws an explosive that arcs, hits the ground, and blows up, knocking anyone in the blast range out. It was easy to hit with, and we caught two enemies with it on several occasions. His level 2 is also powerful and hard to dodge: Drake pushes a column down, squishing anyone it lands on. His level 3 abilitiy turns all of his opponents into the creepy Descendants from the end of Uncharted 1 (which would technically make them stronger, but whatever), and gives Drake Eddy Raja's golden gun to shoot them with.
PaRappa (PaRappa the Rapper)
Parappa might be the coolest addition in the game, from his unorthodox fighting style to his 2D character model. The pint-sized rapper learned kung-fu from Master Onion--and he puts it to good use, chopping up foes in melee. He can also drop a boom box that spawns orbs that help buff his Power meter, which lets him ride a skateboard--which, surprisingly, might have been one of the strongest Power Attacks on display.
Ratchet & Clank (Ratchet & Clank)
Insomniac's Ratchet & Clank games are some of the most beloved releases on the PlayStation 3, and the titular lombax is synonymous with the PlayStation brand: of course he's included in the brawl. He has access to a number of his signature guns, as well as some of his most powerful weapons (including his ship) when his super bar is activated.
Sackboy(s) (Little Big Planet)
"But he's so small," you say, "how could he possible take on Kratos?" Easy: Superbot made him big. Sackboy, now as tall as Nathan Drake, looks to be a wonderful addition to the roster. Using his jetpack, grabber, and other tools from the game, the character appears to be an unorthodox--albeit flexible--fighter.
Sly Cooper (Sly Cooper)
Before Sucker Punch was giving Cole the power to shoot lightning, it was guiding a raccoon-burglar around the world on awesome capers. In All-Stars, Sly is one of the faster characters we played as, with skills that benefit from getting behind a character and unleashing a barrage of attacks. Luckily, he has a trick up his sleeve--instead of blocking, he simply disappears, making it easy to escape enemy attacks and sneak up on foes.
Sweet Tooth (Twisted Metal)
Twisted Metals signature scary clown was the heaviest hitter we played as, with dash moves that smacked enemies across the map. Beyond that, he had the ability to swing chainsaws, fire shotguns, drop mines, and even get into a giant mech suit as his ultimate Power Attack. He may not dish out the same gruesome death as he does in the Twisted Metal franchise, but Sweet Tooth still packs a mean punch.
Radec (Killzone)
Killzones Radec was all about ranged attacks, making him the best fighting from afar, using a sniper rifle as his main weapon. It was absolutely brutal when we were able to pick off our opponents from across the map, and changed the dynamic of every fight. His first Power Attack, however, was hard to hit, and felt like the weakest of the bunch.
Big Daddy (BioShock)
Big Daddy is a melee-focused character, with powerful smashes and a devastating dash attack that renders him nearly invulnerable when he charges forward. We saw all three levels of his special, which varied from "almost impossible to hit" to "possibly the strongest in the game." At level one, a Little Sister jumps out from behind him, stabbing (and KOing) anything she hits. Level 2 makes the juggernaut glow red, enraging him and causing him to kill anyone he makes contact with. His level 3 attack is his coolest, flooding the entire level and allowing him to float around and knock enemies out with ease as they're frozen in place. Wearing a diving suit has its advantages.
Toro Inoue (Sony Japan marketing)
This cute l'il cat will be unbeknownst to most American Sony fans--he originated as a marketing mascot for Sony Japan, though he recently made a guest apperance in Capcom's Street Fighter X Tekken. He looks to be something of a shapeshifting fighter, morphing into a ninja to chuck shuriken or donning a headband to call in his buddy Kuro. He also has a form that grants him a leopard-print loincloth and a bright red afro. Alrighty then.
Heihachi Mishima (Tekken)
The granddaddy of all things Tekken may not throw fireballs or wield swords (though he does look like Cervantes)--instead, he prefers to thump skulls using his regular ol' haymakers. As the founder of Tekken's King of Iron Fist Tournament, he's seen his fair share of fights; we imagine he'll be punching the PlayStation pugilists to pieces with his signature moves.
Evil Cole MacGrath (inFamous)
Evil Cole is essentially PlayStation All-Star Battle Royale's Dr. Mario. Yeah, he's just a palette swap, but he looks like a really fun palette swap. Evil Cole has always had his own set of moves, so it makes sense that he'd get his own character, with the ability to call down powerful lightning attacks for his super abilities.
Sir Daniel Fortesque (MediEvil)
Hero of the MediEvil series, the skeletal knight was a surprise addition to the roster. Sporting a slew of items, Daniel looks like this games' Link, with a 3rd level super that gives him an artifact capable of slaying any enemies that wander too close.
Raiden (Metal Gear Solid)
The cyborg ninja might have been laughed out of the room during Metal Gear Solid 2, but he's back with his own game, and his own character in Battle Royale. He has blades attached everywhere, making him a versatile slayer, with supers that--shocker--let him slice up opponents. His level 3 actually puts all of his enemies in MGS's signature cardboard boxes and lets him slide them apart, killing them and laying the cardboard to waste.
Spike (Ape Escape)
Yup! Spike has found his way onto the PlayStation 3 and Vita, though it's not worth his own game. Instead, the ape-catching protagonist will use his sword and net in Royale, with his level 3 super even allowing him to fire a laser into space that reflects off a satellite and calls down a beam of heavenly light that destroys everything in the level. Because Ape Escape.
Ryu Hayabusa (Ninja Gaiden/Dead or Alive)
Ryu Hayabusa's inclusion in PSASBR was mentioned in several leaks that turned out to be true, so we're fairly sure on this one. That said, we're surprised we didn't bring up the ninja before--his skill set, and experience in other fighting games, makes him a shoe-in for the series. Plus, there has to be another Ninja Gaiden in the works that needs to be promoted, right?
What do you think?
Those are the characters that we think would (possibly) work in PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale - what about you? Let us know who you want to see make the roster and we might add some of your suggestions. You know, if they're good and stuff.
And if you want to see more speculative speculation, check out Super Smash Bros Wii U - Characters that must join the next game's roster and God of War: Ascension - What we'd love to see from Kratos's return.


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One of my favorite groups in the trap music realm, Keys N Krates, have revitalized Zedd's once progressive house tune, "Follow You Down," in bass heavy Southern hip-hop fashion. By taking a few elements from the original track, dropping the BPM, and applying their own originative flare and sound, they've successfully crafted a stellar floor filler remix.
Keys N Krates have quite the schedule ahead of them as they will be embarking on a Winter tour starting November 1st running through December 31st. Also, they've been working diligently on a new EP that is set to drop in the new year. Listen/Download this remix, see if they're playing in a city near you, and be on the look out for announcements about their new EP!
♥ on the Hype Machine!
Tour dates after the jump!
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Joint USDA-Catholic Relief Services Project Feeds, Teaches Guatemalans To Ensure Food Security
The "dry corridor" in Guatemala suffers from annual drought and food shortages that affect the food security and incomes of people in the region. Last year was worse than most—drought followed by devastating floods caused by tropical storms and rain that destroyed crops, increasing food insecurity and child malnutrition. Read more »


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San Luis Obispo, California Dropzones
4 PRO Skydiving dropzones were found for San Luis Obispo, California
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Skydive Hollister, just 45 minutes south of San Jose, is California's fastest growing Dropzone. We love to skydive here in Hollister and sharing our passion for the sport is what we're all about. Offering the cheapest tandem skydiving in California, the fastest Solo Training AFF program, the… [read more]
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Urban Farming Symposium
DETROIT, Mich. – The University of Detroit Mercy School of Law is co-sponsoring with the Real Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan the Second Annual Urban Farming Symposium on Friday, May 18, 2012, from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the School's Riverfront Campus located at 651 East Jefferson Avenue in downtown Detroit. Professor Jacqueline Hand, a tenured professor at the School teaching Property Law and Environmental Law, is co-chairing the event with Gregory J. Gamalski (UDM Law, 1983), a partner in the Business Practice Group of Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, PC, in Troy, Michigan, and Paul Thursam, an associate at GMH.
The Symposium is a discussion and examination of key urban issues, which must include urban agriculture and the re-purposing of Detroit. Detroit is a laboratory where urban farming is fermenting, evolving, and growing. The event is open to the public but will be directed toward the legal community and planning organizations. The Symposium is intended to establish a reasoned framework for discussions about the legal and policy issues that should be considered by local units of government and citizens grappling with this dynamic concept.
Symposium speakers include Neil Hamilton of Drake University; Brad Deacon of the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development; Kathryn Colasanti of the Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at MSU; and Melanie Duda, an expert in urban agriculture.
Neil Hamilton is a Professor of Law and Director of The Agricultural Law Center at Drake University. As one of the nation's leading authorities on the role of law in shaping agriculture and the food system, Prof. Hamilton has lectured throughout the United States and in 20 other countries. He has taught agricultural law for 30 years and has written more than four dozen law review articles and several books on food and agricultural law issues. Each year he is a visiting professor in the agricultural law graduate program at the University of Arkansas.
Brad Deacon is the Emergency Management and Administrative Law Coordinator for the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development. Mr. Deacon has an undergraduate and a law degree from Michigan State University and studied business and economics at the University of the Saarland in Germany on a Fulbright grant. He is the co-chair of the Michigan Food & Agriculture Protection and Defense Working Group, and he represents the Department on the Homeland Security Advisory Council, the Homeland Security Preparedness Committee, the Michigan Citizen-Community Emergency Response Coordinating Council, and the State Animal Response Team Board.
Kathryn Colasanti is a visiting specialist with the Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at Michigan State University. She has a master's degree in community food and agriculture from MSU. Before joining the Mott Group in 2007, she worked on an urban farm and with a community garden non-profit in Denver. Ms. Colasanti is interested in local food systems, particularly in the urban context; food security and access; local food system planning; and urban agriculture. She coordinates the Michigan Good Food Charter Development project and conducts research and outreach related to urban agriculture and local food systems with the group.
Melanie Duda is a third-year student at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law and is graduating in May 2012. She is a member of the Law Review and serves as a Symposium Editor. Ms. Duda's article, "Growing in the D: Revising Current Laws to Promote a Model of Sustainable City Agriculture," will be published in Volume 89 of the Law Review, forthcoming later in 2012. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in Anthropology from Wayne State University, where much of the research she did as a graduate student fostered her interest in urban agriculture.
For additional information or to register for the May 18th Urban Farming Symposium, please see the link on the home page of the UDM Law web site at www.law.udmercy.edu. Space is limited and reservations are required ($40 general admission and $10 additional fee for a guided walking tour of Detroit's famed Eastern Market).
Contact: Denise P. Hickey, Assistant Dean of Alumni Relations
Phone: (313) 596-0202


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NUTRO® NATURAL CHOICE® Indoor Senior Cat Food
Nutro's Natural Choice Brown Rice Indoor Senior Chicken and Whole Brown Rice Formula Cat Food supports digestion and heart health. Real chicken is the first ingredient for muscle mass and mobility, and our natural fiber blend helps minimize hairball formation. Real chicken as the #1 ingredient. Whole brown rice aids in digestion. Includes natural fiber to minimize hairballs.
Food Type: Dry Food
Life Stage: Senior 10+ yrs
Health Consideration: Hairball Control & Weight Control
Flavor: Chicken & Brown Rice
Primary Ingredient: Chicken
Calories per Serving: 392 kcal/cup
Package Weight: 6.5Lb
For cats weighing 4 lbs, feed 1/2 cup of food
For cats weighing 8 lbs, feed 3/4 cup of food
For cats weighing 12 lbs, feed 1 cup of food
For cats weighing 16 lbs, feed 1 1/4 cups of food
For cats weighing 20 lbs, feed 1 1/3 cups of food
Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Pea Protein, Whole Brown Rice, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Brewers Rice, Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal, Potato Protein, Whole Grain Oatmeal, Flaxseed, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Natural Flavors, Potassium Chloride, Fish Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Soybean Oil (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Choline Chloride, Salt, DL-Methionine, Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Iron Proteinate, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Niacin Supplement, Selenium Yeast, Manganese Proteinate, Biotin, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2), Calcium Pantothenate, Potassium Iodide, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Vitamin A Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Rosemary Extract, Decaffeinated Green Tea Extract, Spearmint Extract
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein (min.) 36.00%
Taurine (min.) 0.18%
Crude Fat (min.) 19.00%
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) (min.)* 50 mg/kg
Crude Fiber (max.) 4.00%
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)(min.)* 0.06%
Moisture (max.) 10.00%
Omega-6 Fatty Acids (min.)* 4.00%
Calcium (min.) 1.20%
Omega-3 Fatty Acids (min.)* 0.30%
Vitamin E (min.) 250 IU/kg
*Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles.
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SOLD OUT, EVENT CLOSED. Please watch the live webcast
"Around the world, young people—students, workers, and the unemployed—are bringing their grievances to the public square. The specific grievances differ across the countries, yet the animating demands are the same: democracy and economic justice." —Jeffrey Sachs
Economist Jeffrey Sachs has captured the zeitgeist of a nation by jumping headlong into the current ethical debate about government and its relationship to market capitalism. With visits to Occupy Wall Street and a variety of public fora, he has cemented his view that government officials' dependence on business interests has eroded democratic and economic justice in the U.S. This conversation will place Sachs' most recent work, The Price of Civilization, into the context of a career spent arguing that those with financial means have both the capability and responsibility to address global challenges and inequalities.
Ethics Matter is a monthly series of town hall events with notable policy and academic experts. The events will be taped and distributed for broadcast on television stations across the country. A networking reception will follow the taping.
RSVP is required and seating is limited. The reservation deadline is Thursday, November 17, 2011. Due to the studio recording, latecomers may not be admitted. Suggested Donation: $10.
Speakers: Jeffrey D. Sachs, Julia Taylor Kennedy
Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs
Merrill House
170 East 64th Street
New York, NY 10065-7478
(212) 838-4120
(212) 752-2432 - Fax
Map: Click Here (opens a new window)
ContactStefanie Ambrosio
Click here for Live Webcast
Email a question before the event: email@example.com.


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Free Shipping!
Lowest Price Guarantee
view large360 View
The CCM U+ 04 Ice Hockey Skates are a nice jump in performance from the U+ 02 skates offering a bit more support and response. The CCM U+ 04 skates are a great choice for the recreational or newer players that are looking for an affordable skate that will hang around and offer some growing room in performance.
CCM is relabeling their skates "EE", instead of just "E". Although, the fit is NOT changing. "EE" is just a more accurate representation of the fit when compared to other brands. Therefore, your skates may come labeled "EE" or "E", but rest assured the fit is NOT changing.
- Model Year: 2011
- Model Number: SKU04
- Heritage: CCM Vector 05
- Level of Player: Ideal for the entry to intermediate level of player
- Fit Guidelines: General fit aspects of the CCM boot are medium-high volume, medium ankle area, wide across top of foot and forefoot and medium toe box.
- Sizing Guidelines: CCM skates generally fit 1 1/2 sizes down from your regular shoe size
- Quarter Package:
- Sublimated tech mesh
- Embossments are designed to enhance step-in comfort and foot wrap
- Liner:
- Microfiber
- Ankle Padding:
- Traditional foam
- Heel Support:
- A deep heel pocket secures and enhances foot stability
- Tongue:
- Comfort felt tongue with lice bite protection
- Footbed:
- Lightweight CCM
- Outsole:
- CCM U+ full graphic
- Blade Holder and Runner:
- E-blade Pro holder - Asymmetric front mounting plate design maximizes push-off force
- Proformance Lite™ stainless steel
- Made in:
- Thailand


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The Netherlands 1853 – France 1890
Portrait of the artist
[Portrait de l'artiste] 1887
oil on canvas
canvas 44.1 (h) x 35.1 (w) cm
Musée d'Orsay, Paris , Gift of Jacques Laroche 1947
© RMN (Musée d'Orsay) / Gérard Blot
Vincent van Gogh arrived in Paris in late February 1886, landing suddenly on his brother Theo by means of a hand-delivered message asking to meet at the Musée du Louvre. He knew almost nothing of contemporary art, having spent his earlier months in Paris in 1875–76 working as an art dealer and looking at Old Master paintings. He was suspicious of the brightly coloured Impressionist manner of painting which had taken over Paris in the 1880s. He enrolled at Cormon's studio, where he encountered Toulouse-Lautrec and the Australian John Russell, who both painted his portrait. Theo organised exhibitions of work by Monet and Pissarro, through which Vincent became familiar with the mature style of Impressionism. It was the explosion of Seurat's example, possibly the exhibition of his A Sunday afternoon on the island of La Grande Jatte 18861 (works 13 and 14) at the Société des Artistes Indépendants that summer, which convinced Vincent of the expressive possibilities of colour in art.
The artist interrogates himself, and us, in a conventional head-and-shoulders view of his reflection. Painting oneself in a mirror had a lengthy art-historical tradition, from the Renaissance to Rembrandt, as well as contemporary examples. But it was not mere external appearances that van Gogh wished to convey; as he wrote to his sister around 22 June 1888, 'one seeks after a deeper resemblance than the photographer's'.2 Although never a doctrinaire Neo-Impressionist, nor a follower of Seurat's theory of Luminism, van Gogh experimented with the idea that colour opposites—red/green, yellow/purple, blue/orange—produced brilliant effects when juxtaposed without the mediation of middle tones. He had earlier written to Theo: 'One finds the same thing in, say, portraits by Rembrandt. It is more than nature, something of a revelation.'3
Like a glowing sun in the dark blue heavens, van Gogh's golden head dominates the canvas. All life and energy emanates outwards from his face, stroked across his features and continuing into his leonine hair and darker orange beard. Blue circles for eyes and blue strokes through the flesh provide the necessary complementaries. A slashing band of white collar allows a separation from the planes of blue jacket and vest, modelled by contrasting bright and pale orange stripes and set off against a light blue cravat. The darker blue background is flatter, made by complex strokes of cross-hatching. Van Gogh painted and drew himself more than forty times in his short life as an artist. This self-portrait is one of the most considered views of the art student, painting himself as an example of the current aesthetic theory, yet adding that element of searching enquiry into self which he had absorbed from Rembrandt's example.
Christine Dixon
Text © National Gallery of Australia, Canberra 2009
From Masterpieces from Paris: Van Gogh, Cézanne, Gauguin and beyond Post-Impressionism from the Musée d'Orsay exhibition book, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra 2009
- The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago.
- Letter W4, viewed 18 August 2009, www.vggallery.com/letters/610_V-W_W4.pdf.
- Letter to Theo van Gogh, c. 11 July 1883, letter 299, viewed 18 August 2009, www.vggallery.com/letters/355_V-T_299.pdf.


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Giuseppe Zanotti Metallic Reptile Leather Bow Sandal
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Item # dsw12prod4450143
With an exemplary display of high quality, Giuseppe Zanotti footwear embodies creativity and style. The classic style of this leather t-strap sandal makes it the perfect addition to your shoe collection.
- Metallic reptile-embossed leather upper
- T-strap styling with an adjustable buckle
- Satin bow detail
- Fully lined in leather
- Leather sole
- Made in Italy
- View more Women's Giuseppe Zanotti Shoes
- Online Exclusive!
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Everyone has an opinion. Here's your chance to share yours! Be the first to write a review of this product and help your fellow shoppers pick the best of the best.


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Student Affairs & Enrollment Management
The goal of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management is to recruit and retain student leaders; meet the social, physical, financial and spiritual needs of those students; and assist them in developing unique talents, abilities, and personal goals for a life of world-changing impact.
Samford University is the premier private Christian university in the South and the top-ranked university in Alabama, and the Office of Admission is where prospective student contact with Samford begins. This office is responsible for admission processing, campus visits and preview events, merit scholarships, orientations, and recruitment.
Campus Life
Campus Life is committed to developing each individual student's emotional, intellectual, physical, social, and spiritual well-being by providing opportunities that maximize student potential and broaden understanding of one's place in a global society, while nurturing a sense of belonging for all students in a Christian campus community.
Parent Programs
Parents and family members are a very important aspect of the Samford family. The Office of Parent Programs coordinates Family Weekend and the Parents Association, and serves as a resource for parents.
Public Safety and Emergency Management
The Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management protects the life and property of the university community, providing a safe and secure campus where students, faculty and staff can conduct their daily business without threat of physical or psychological harm.
Residence Life
The Office of Residence Life has charge of housing, helping and nurturing more than 2,200 students living in 28 residence halls.
Spiritual Life
The Office of Spiritual Life helps students explore their faith and develop genuine relationships that shape their lives through spiritual formation groups, worship experiences, service opportunities and ministry projects.
Student Services and Values
The Office of Student Services and Values assists students in their transition to and completion of college through services related to their personal and social development and well-being.


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Latest update : 2012-08-08
Political and social events from the Middle East, with exclusive reports and interviews. Tuesday at 5.45 pm Paris time.
2017-02-14 Iraq
Kurdish dandies launch Iraqi gentlemen's fashion club
Erbil, in Iraqi Kurdistan, often makes headlines for being the backdrop to battles against Islamic State group militants. But this time, the city is in the spotlight for a group...
2017-02-07 Donald Trump
Is there new hope for gay rights activists in Lebanon?
This week, we focus on Lebanon, where homosexuality is illegal. But a judge recently ruled that a gay couple could not be prosecuted for having sexual relations. The case could...
2017-01-31 Donald Trump
Egypt: Alexandria's fading cosmopolitan image
This week, we take you to Alexandria, Egypt's second city and once considered the jewel of the Mediterranean. A large port city, it was home to a diverse blend of locals and...
2017-01-25 Syria
Lebanon: On the road with the 'Ladies of Harley'
This week, we take you to Lebanon, where a group of women are defying convention. They're leather-clad, they take to the open road and they call themselves the "Ladies of...
2017-01-17 Iraq
Iraq: On the ground with French troops in Mosul
This week, we follow French troops who are assisting Iraqi forces in Mosul. As the Iraqi and Kurdish forces consolidate areas retaken from the Islamic State group, French troops...


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Cricket Titanium Tourmaline 450 Styling Iron
- Overview
- Features
- Variable temperature control
- Heats up to 450F
- 30 Second quick heat up time
- State of the art titanium/tourmaline technology for faster, virtually damage free styling
- Rounded plate edges for straightening, curling, waving, volumizing, etc
- Floating 1" plates reduce snagging for quick and easy straightening
- LED indicator light
- 8 Foot tangle-free swivel cord for ease of use at styling station
- Stylish metallic 3D pattern
- About the brand
Cricket Titanium Tourmaline 450 Styling Iron features rounded plate edges and variable temperature control up to 450 degrees for a variety of hair types and multiple styling options. State of the art titanium and tourmaline technology results in faster and virtually damage-free professional quality styling. Rounded plate edges are ideal for more than just straightening, so you can curl or volumize while eliminating frizz. Floating 1" plates reduce snagging for quick and easy straightening.
Model#: 5517206 / SKU: 007534
The Cricket collection launched over 30 years ago with just one brush, and quickly expanded the line becoming a stylist favorite. Today, Cricket designs professional hair dryers, flat irons, combs, brushes and accessories for salon and everyday use that will blow you away. Hugely popular, Cricket products include wins for American Salon Professional's Choice awards as well as BehindtheChair.com's Stylist Choice awards.
Great Straightner But Notice It Shuts Off On Its Own.I bought this flat iron because my daughter had one and I loved it and I do love mine, however, I only had mine 7 months and it stopped heating up. I called them and they told me to send it back and they would fix or replace, which they did within a week and a half. The new one is not even a week old and I noticed it will turn off on its own after about 30 minutes so I am not sure if this is a safty timer or another defect. My daughter's does not turn off on its own but hers is 2 years old.Aug 20, 2014TheresaHAIR TYPEBlonde / Dry Hair / Chemically Treated Hair
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Super DryingThis flat iron is soooo not worth tehmoney. I have 4a natural hair and it left my hair dull and dry. My $30 titanium fahrenheit was much better! This flat iron is definatley over-priced and not at all worth the money. I didn't realize the heat setting started at 370. That's a little crazy for the price you pay. Do not buy if you rae natural. It does nothingfor our hair but dry it out!Oct 2, 2013Carmen L. / DelawareHAIR TYPEBlack
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Highly RecommendI highly recommend this flat iron! ..I was on the search for the best flat iron for under $100. I did lots of research ranging from asking friends, to watching tons of YouTube reviews. I came across the whole titanium concept and knew the flat iron I got had to have that feature. I saw this one on Folica and then I saw the price and it was a done deal. I had to give it a try! When i received it and tried it out I was thrilled with the results! A lot of flat irons tend to pull at my hair because of how fine it is, but this one glides down so smoothly and leaves my hair perfectly straight (I'm very happy with the way it curls, too). The cord is nice and long, the heat setting is nice and high, and the on/off switch is not in a place that you'll accidentally be shutting it off. Also, it heats up quickly and obtains the heat after each pass through the hair. Not to mention, it has automatic shut off! There is just one thing keeping me from giving it 5 stars: the smell. I know that flat irons don't really make your hair smell good, but I feel like my hair stinks after I straighten it with this iron. The good news is that the smell is easily covered. I always use a shine spray that has a nice scent to it and it gets rid of the flat iron smell completely.Aug 26, 2013Leah E.HAIR TYPEBlonde / Color Treated Hair / Fine or Thin Hair
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Love My Cricket!I have medium length hair that I straighten almost everyday. This flat iron is perfect! It heats up super quick, gets hair salon straight, doesn't tug or pull hair, and I love the colour! If you're looking for a professional flat iron that's affordable--get this! Thank you Folica and Cricket for this awesome flat iron that has become the best one I've owned so far!Aug 16, 2013Geena / CanadaHAIR TYPEMedium Brown / Normal Hair / Color Treated Hair
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By The Andis For Less Than Half The Price!I bought this after reading good reviews on it and it just doesn't work for me. I have thick, coarse hair with gray that is unruly. Previously I had a 1.5" and I should have never gone smaller. Even on the hottest setting this iron just doesn't straighten my hair very well at all. I recently bought the Andis 1.5 with ceramic plates for $23 and it works like a champ! It heats in 30 seconds, has temp selection dial up to 450 and even has "cool finger spots" on the ends where you can put fingers and thumb and it remains cool so you can use TWO hands! I just don't understand the rave reviews of this iron, especially at the price.Aug 2, 2013L B. / ColoradoHAIR TYPEColor Treated Hair / Thick or Coarse Hair
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Disappointed! Not For Thick, Coarse Or Wavy HairI had an Amika ceramic iron that worked very well on my hair, but you had to be very careful not to burn your hair with it by holding it on the hair too long. Then I dropped it and broke the plates on it. So after reading reviews on this one, I decided titanium wouldn't break which would be a plus. I went from a 1.5 inch to 1 which does not work as well for me. I have very thick, coarse hair with some gray. The gray is even more coarse and wavy. Even on 450 setting, this iron barely "smooths" my hair (and I live in Colorado where it is very dry with very little humidity). I would call it a hair smoother, not an "iron." If my hair has flipped up on the ends, I cannot straighten it with this iron. I have to wet it and blow dry it, THEN use the Cricket. It's not heavy enough to clamp down enough to iron my hair. I can tell the difference in the weight of the titanium and the ceramic. Ceramic is much heavier and clamps down harder. This one I have to squeeze as hard as I can when I use it. I also use a straightening comb and it does not help with this iron. You probably don't have to worry about burning your hair with this one and it would probably work for a woman with very fine and/or thin hair. It's not for me. I'm getting another 1.5 ceramic.Jul 29, 2013Lisa W. / ColoradoHAIR TYPELight Brown / Dry Hair / Color Treated Hair / Thick or Coarse Hair
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3.5/5 Not Bad, Just Getting Used To It.I've used the same flat iron for the past seven years, so needless to say that switching to something brand new would be an experience. My old Remington Wet 2 Straight worked just fine, but I figured it was about time to get some newer technology; plus it would snag my hair. When I received the Cricket and was able to try it out it took a while to get used to even the lowest heat setting (370º). The swivel cord also seemed a bit stiff and adding some WD-40 didn't help as much as I'd had liked. The one feature I like most about this flat iron compared to my old one is the fact the plates are rounded off and are floating. No more hair snagging! Overall I do like this Cricket and I might recommend it, though by the time I need a new flat iron I'll probably purchase something else.Jun 26, 2013Elsie S. / USAHAIR TYPEMedium Brown / Normal Hair / Dry Hair / Thick or Coarse Hair
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Fantastic Flat Iron, Very AffordableI bought this flat iron in August 2012, as I had wanted to upgrade my then-current one but didn't want to spend a lot of money to do so. My previous one had titanium plates, which I liked, so wanted to have that feature when I bought a new one. I came across this one when searching and decided I would give this a go.
I've been very happy with it ever since.
With other flat irons I've used, after maybe a few months of use, I would have to turn up the heat setting in order to get the results I wanted. With this one, I've kept it at the same heat setting (390 degrees) virtually the entire time I've owned it (ten months at the time this review has been posted). No need to adjust, and I get excellent results every time.Jun 20, 2013Shelly / MaineHAIR TYPEMedium Brown / Fine or Thin Hair
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Best Flatiron Ever To Date.I BROUGHT THIS FLATIRON A MONTH AGO AND IT'S THE BEST I'VE EVER USED. IT WORKS BETTER IF I USE IT ON MY HAIR RIGHT AFTER I BLOW-DRY WITH NO PRODUCT. MY HAIR IS THICK AND SHOULDER LENGTH AND IT TAKES ME ALL BUT 40 MINUTES TO STRAIGHTEN MY WHOLE HEAD. I'VE USED IT ON ALL OF MY SISTER'S HAIR AND WITH ONE PASS IT'S STRAIGHT AND SEEMS TO BE SHINER. ONE OF MY SISTERS HAS MID-BACK LENGTH HAIR AND I WAS ABLE TO STRAIGHTEN HER'S IN 40 MINUTES. I DON'T USE IT ON THE HIGHEST TEMPERATURE I LEAVE IT ON 430 DEGREES.May 29, 2013Tiffany / Washington, DCHAIR TYPEDark Brown / Dry Hair / Color Treated Hair / Thick or Coarse Hair / Relaxed Hair / Chemically Treated Hair
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The Bestest!!!!!!!!!I HIGHTLY recommend this item. I have a Cricket flat iron , I received as a gift about 13 years ago. My daughter and I both used and about a year ago the liner on the blade started to slowly peel off. I tried every other brand of flat iron, but took them right back the next day. I was on a mission to get another Cricket. I came across this wed site and had to order this one. I received on Saturday and my daughter who slept with a bun, woke up and tried the iron. One swipe and done, took her about 10 mins to flat iron her hair. THE BEST FLAT IRON OUT THERE!!!!!!!!!Mar 4, 2013DeviHAIR TYPEDark Brown / Normal Hair
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Known for producing fierce, post-apocalyptic jewelry for a new generation of taste-making women who love to make a serious statement, Pamela Love always seems to nail presentation, whether it's a showing during fashion week or a dreamy lookbook. The fall 2011 lookbook is no exception, employing one of our favorite models (Charlotte Free) and a backdrop of denim to set off the glistening metallics.
[nggallery id=897]
Images via We Are Selecters.
—Michelle Christina Larsen
Tags: acid wash denim, charlotte free, Fall 2011, jewelry, LookBook, pamela love