text:
Postgame quotes after the Revs fell to the Colorado Rapids at Gillette Stadium on April 24, 2010
"Up until we scored the equalizer we were definitely second best. I think after that, there was really nothing between the teams. A couple of great chances first half that we might have scored with – maybe should have scored with. Second half, both teams kind of huffed and puffed. We had a wee bit of pressure without making any real chances, and then they scored.
I don't think we deserved to lose the game; I thought we deserved to get a point out of the game … we weren't great. We put the effort in. Again, I don't think we deserved to get beat, but we certainly need to get better."
"Up until we equalized, they definitely controlled the game. There's no question about that. But after that, there really wasn't much in it. We're the home team, so we've got to try to pressure them second half. I think we pressured them; we just didn't produce some real quality chances in the second half, which was the one thing that was missing."
"Conor Casey had a lot of time on the ball to pick out who he's picking out, and (Pablo) Mastroeni's had far too much time to pick his spot. It's a great finish, but at the same time, with the amount of time Casey was holding the ball up, we should have been better defensively."
"When he gets the ball, he's capable of doing stuff. He lacks match fitness to be honest, and I'm sure once he gets that he'll be a lot more consistent. But you can see from the free kick what he's capable of doing … we wanted to try to get him the ball, and we have to do a better job of that."
"We wanted to mix it up. For 60 minutes we had been banging the door and didn't really look as though we were going to open it, so we had to change it up. Same thing with taking Kheli – we had thrown at them what we'd thrown at them, so there comes a time when you change it up. So that's what we did and why we did it."
"A little bit of tough game. We're disappointed in the result, but on the plus side a lot of new guys got to run out there. Marko (Perovic) scored a great goal, so I think we're showing signs of being a pretty deep team once we get everything together."
"I think we've identified that as a problem, for sure – that we haven't started the game off very well. We've been starting the second half pretty well, but the first half – for whatever reason – we're getting off to a little bit of slow start. So I think, maybe in the next few games here, just keep that in mind as we're warming up – that that's kind of been plaguing us a little bit and as long as we have that in mind, hopefully we'll be able to improve on it."
"We started the first half off slowly, but a bunch of times we've been able to come back. So that's a good thing, for sure. I think, for the couple minutes leading up to the goal and after the goal, I thought we started to take it to them a little bit more. So it's a good thing, but at the same time, it's frustrating because you look back at those individual mistakes that could have changed the game."
"The ball was swerving to my right so I was way off of it, but between the ball him hitting it pretty well – the ball had kind of taken a curve on its own – I had trouble with it and so, 1-0. And then Pablo (Mastroeni)'s goal: he just gets it good and I was hoping it'd at least hit the post and pop out, but it hit the post and went in."
On the multiple shots that hit the post …
"(Mehdi) Ballouchy had one where he tried to almost half-bicycle it, but we got lucky there where it hit the post and came back, hit me. [The post] was my best friend with that play."
"I think if we came out here with a point, I think you could say we deserved it. We tested them a little bit in the back. But with that said, give Colorado credit. They played well tonight; they actually tried to play on the road which, to be honest, is quite a shock because they never do."
On playing his former team …
"I could care less, to be honest with you. It was just another game at home and we wanted to win and take the three points. At 2-1, you're hoping we can sneak one in at the end. (Kenny) Mansally got in behind but was just a bit offside. We took our chances and we'll just try to figure it out this week and get back at it again next Saturday."
On allowing Colorado time and space on the ball …
"That was the biggest problem in the first half. I think it was a lot better in the first 20-25 minutes in the second half. That what our biggest problem coming into halftime, but ultimately that's too late. There's a goal in the first half that's happened already and then falling asleep on the second goal when you have a midfielder that's open that scores."
"When you look at their formation – it was a 4-5-1 – so it wasn't really them trying to come at us and attack. But we gave them so much time on the ball that with those five in the midfield, that it affected us instead of us breaking it down and attacking. So I think that pressure came too late and ultimately we lost from it."
"I thought we were well on top. We hit the woodwork twice. I thought we had some fantastic pressure. I thought we got ourselves into some nice areas. I have to be perfectly honest: I thought New England only had fleeting opportunities that were counterattacks. Given that we're away from home, I think our plan to press was a good one, and it made a more positive picture for our group and gave us a little bit of an edge."
"Really, I didn't think they had many opportunities to maybe get themselves on level terms and, as you said, New England is a very genuine, organized, hardworking team. I'm sure they will look at this and feel as though some of those important bodies that are missing were the key for them. The deadlock was finally broken by a fabulous strike, and I though in the end it gave us a justified victory. I thought we performed well, we were positive, which is important when you're away from home. Fortune sometimes favors the brave, which I think we were today."
"It felt good, I wanted to win. You know, it's tough because I still care a lot about the guys and the coaches and the staff and everybody, but unfortunately I don't play for them anymore. I want to win because I want us to win."
"We played alright. I knew I had a lot of pent-up energy coming in and it might have waned a little bit in the second half because that's the way things go. You go up a goal and they're at home, they're going to start to press the game, so I think that probably- personally - I fell out of the groove a little bit. But as long as we win, I'm happy. I mean, we're 3-1-1 now, so that's good."
"I'd say that we probably had the better of the chances. I think that they did have a few chances, but I thought Matt (Pickens) came out well on a lot of their shots, and a lot of their breaks came on miscues and things like that. We were happy with the chances that we developed. I think being square at half time was good for them, because I thought we out-played them, but in the end it doesn't matter."
"Offensively as a team today we played pretty well, especially in the first half, moving the ball, getting chances. To be able to knock in that goal was obviously great for the team and the end of the day that's much more important. We're off to a good start and, like I said, anything to help out is great."


text:
A male who frequently enjoys have anal sex with a woman before he sticks it in her vag and then lies over and over about it to his friends.
Yo I was with this chick last night and she totally wanted me to pull a Kinney.
by Andre Buttlover February 28, 2008
A unit of measurement specific to nuclear physics, equal to 500 pcm of reactivity. Typically used when assessing margin or uncertainty to a parameter.
"Our administrative limit on reactivity is 1 Kinney, but we can approach 2 Kinney's before we exceed the tech spec."
by boomerooni February 08, 2012
person 1:got kinney?
person 2: ya lets blaze
person 2: ya lets blaze
by trixmaz0r June 18, 2009
A male who insists on breaking all rules regardless of consequences.
by Rob North August 11, 2005
A devilish animal that dwells in the dark, bushed areas of New England. Has no chance at salvation and often likes to start shit shows just for the fun of it. One can often find a kinney prancing about new markets with a spelunking light attached to his forhead practicing on a trombone for the big parade. A kinney is considered to be the most deadly of all omens, worse than a black cat, broken mirror, or a house guest puking on herself in the middle of dinner.
Beth: Did you see that kinney?
John: No heh
Beth: What a frightening beast indeed. I believe the apocalyse is upon us.
John: No heh
Beth: What a frightening beast indeed. I believe the apocalyse is upon us.
by theprizepiglet August 07, 2006
by Andrew gaylord February 24, 2008
"your a kinney"
by ahfukajshfk October 17, 2017

subset: commoncrawl


text:
About NIJ
What's New
All Topics A-Z
Contact Us
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Congratulations to Jon Melvin for winning Phase I of the Challenge. Thank you to all of those who submitted a response.
The deadline for Phase II of this challenge has passed.
On this page find:
Increased access to mobile broadband services is vital to law enforcement and other public safety responders. Broadband communications offers the potential for greater efficiencies and new capabilities in day-to-day operations, response to critical incidents, and management of major events. Broadband communications offers the ability to access and share large amounts of data, including video, in a timely fashion, while on the move. Broadband communications can enhance the performance of routine data applications currently available to and used by law enforcement agencies, such as checking vehicle registration in a department of motor vehicle's database, or using a mobile fingerprint scanner to run an identity check against an AFIS database. It can also provide access to new capabilities such as mobile, bi-directional, streaming video, and enhanced mobile office applications.
Recognizing the potential offered by broadband communications to enhance public safety, Congress directed the establishment of a nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. The FCC required that all networks deployed in the 700 MHz public safety broadband spectrum adopt LTE.
This Challenge seeks innovative solutions to providing mission-critical voice communications services for law enforcement and other public safety responders within the LTE Environment using commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technology, which are achievable within five years of the Challenge prize being awarded. For purposes of this Challenge, this capability is defined as instant communications with a defined set of mobile users either in a 'one-to-all,' 'one-to-some' or 'one-to-one' mode based on the supervisory responsibility of the user and/or the urgency of their need (e.g., threats to life, mission criticality) for access. The proposed solution should ensure mission-critical voice communications in all environments (e.g., urban, rural, wilderness) and in the face of communications infrastructure challenges, such as (1) where there is no terrestrial communications infrastructure; (2) where the existing infrastructure has been compromised or damaged; and (3) confined areas (e.g., subways, buildings, underground garages).
A Challenge prize of up to $50,000 is available (See Section VI). The Challenge will use a two-stage submission process described below.
Contestants must submit their entries via the "National Institute of Justice Delivering Mission-Critical Voice Communications for Law Enforcement and Public Safety Responders in the COTS LTE Environment" Challenge announcement during the Challenge Submission Period. Entries must be made through the Office of Justice Programs Grants Management System (GMS). Registration and entry are free.
Phase 1: Contestants shall submit a prospectus that describes: (1) the proposed solution; (2) how it will be implemented; (3) the expected cost of that implementation; and (4) the solution's technical feasibility.
Proposals in Phase 1 must include:
Once an entry is submitted, no changes may be made. Any entry exceeding the page limits or failing to address the four key elements noted above will be disqualified. All qualifying Phase 1 entries will be judged according to the Judging Criteria.
Phase 2: Based upon Phase 1 entries, up to five contestants may be invited to participate in Phase 2 and submit a full proposal to describe their proposed solutions in more detail. Those selected for Phase 2 will be the highest scoring, viable solutions submitted in Phase 1.
The Phase 2 proposal should elaborate on the key elements included in the Phase 1 prospectus. Proposals that deviate from the prospectus in terms of substance, methodology, or technical feasibility will be disqualified.
Phase 2 entries must include:
Once a proposal is submitted, no changes may be made. Any entry exceeding the page limits will be disqualified. All qualifying entries will be judged according to the "Judging Criteria" described in Section V.
The Challenge will be judged by a distinguished panel of judges with expertise in one or more of the following areas: law enforcement, communications, and information technology. Phase 1 and Phase 2 entries will be judged according to the criteria listed in Section V. Reviewer ratings and recommendations are advisory. The Director of NIJ or his designee will make the final award determination(s). If the Director of NIJ determines that no entry is deserving of the prize, no prize will be awarded. The award of any prize is subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
The following criteria will be used in reviewing the Challenge submissions.
A total Challenge prize of up to $50,000 is available. Of that total prize amount, $25,000 will be apportioned equally among the contestants invited to submit a Phase 2 proposal. The remaining $25,000 will be awarded to the contestant deemed to be the winner of Phase 2. Should there be a tie score, the Phase 2 prize will be apportioned among the winners equally. In the case of a team entry, the team will be considered a contestant and receive any prize money as a group.
Subject to the availability of appropriated funds and to any modifications or additional requirements that may be imposed by law, the contestant(s) submitting a winning solution at the end of Phase 2 may be afforded the opportunity to develop the proposed approach. Should the approach already be at an advanced level of technical readiness, winning contestants may be afforded the opportunity to have the solution evaluated by one or more law enforcement or other public safety agencies in collaboration with NIJ and other Federal agencies.
All prizes awarded will be at the discretion of the NIJ Director.
The Challenge Phase 1 Submission Period begins on September 20, 2013, and ends on February 14, 2014. The Challenge Phase 2 Submission Period begins on May 13, 2014, and ends on August 11, 2014. Entries submitted before or after the designated Submission Periods will not be reviewed.
The Challenge is open to: (1) individual residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa who are at least 13 years old at the time of entry; (2) teams of eligible individuals; and (3) corporations or other legal entities (e.g., partnerships or nonprofit organizations) that are domiciled in any jurisdiction specified in (1). Entries by contestants under the age of 18 must include the co-signature of the contestant's parent or legal guardian. Contestants may submit or participate in the submission of more than one entry. Employees of NIJ and individuals or entities listed on the Federal Excluded Parties list (available from
SAM.gov) are not eligible to participate. Employees of the Federal Government should consult with the Ethics Officer at their place of employment prior to submitting an entry for this Challenge. The Challenge is subject to all applicable federal laws and regulations. Submission of an entry constitutes a contestant's full and unconditional agreement to all applicable rules and conditions. Eligibility for the prize award(s) is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.
The Released Parties are not responsible for: (a) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by contestants, printing errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with, or utilized in, the Challenge; (b) technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software; (c) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Challenge; (d) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Challenge or the processing of entries; or (e) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from contestant's participation in the Challenge or receipt or use or misuse of any prize. If for any reason a contestant's entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost, or otherwise destroyed or corrupted, contestant's sole remedy is to submit another entry in the Challenge.
For substantive questions about the Challenge, e-mail NIJ at
National Institute of Justice, 810 Seventh Street, NW, Washington, DC 20531


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wild is the wind these past few weeks. and wild the amount of kids graduating this year. this skirt proved perfect for both, i bought it on ebay a few weeks ago, i have to say i've never laid eyes on such an amazing maxi skirt as this one. it's cotton, high waisted, comfortable, great go go style and the silhouette is to die for.
tank- thrifted / vintage
skirt- ebay / vintage
necklace - Vade Mecum
watch - Montine


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Contact Us
SKYCITY Darwin
Gilruth Avenue, Mindil Beach
Darwin, Northern Territory
GPO Box 3846
Darwin NT 0801
Phone: +61 8 8943 8888
General Enquiries: email@example.com
Restaurant Enquiries: email@example.com
Hotel Reservations: email@example.com
Conference and Event bookings: firstname.lastname@example.com
Casino fax: +61 8 8946 9777
Hotel fax: +61 8 8943 8999
SKYCITY Darwin offers excellent working conditions including car parking and free meals whilst on duty. If you are vibrant, outgoing, immaculately presented and have a passion for quality service, please view our job opportunities
At SKYCITY, we aim to offer the best experience that we can and value your opinion. Please contact us with any feedback at email@example.com
How to find us
SKYCITY Darwin is located next door to the Mindil Beach Markets and situated only moments from the CBD. Find out how to find us.


text:
Multiple arrests have been made in connection with an incident that left an 82-year-old man severely beaten during what appears to be a burglary at his residence near Swedeborg in Pulaski County late last week. The incident was reported on July 25. The victim remains in critical condition.
Multiple arrests have been made in connection with an incident that left an 82-year-old man severely beaten during what appears to be a burglary at his residence near Swedeborg in Pulaski County late last week.
The incident was reported on July 25. The victim remains in critical condition.
According to Pulaski County Sheriff Ron Long, deputies were dispatched to a residence on Highway T to check on the well being of a resident last Friday. When deputies arrived and approached the home, they heard a man screaming for help from inside. Deputies found Robert Willhite lying on the floor, with his hands and feet bound together by duct tape. He was partially naked.
Willhite's eyes were swollen shut, and several marks were visible on his face that was covered in blood. His hands had been bound by duct tape for a long enough period of time that caused blood to break his skin due to circulation being cut off.
Long reported several collectable coins valued at approximately $5,000 along with two AR-15 rifles valued at $3,000 had been stolen from the victim's home.
On July 28, deputies learned that a woman named Jessica Berry was possibly in possession of the stolen coins. When officers contacted Berry, she agreed to speak with them.
In a written statement, she told officers that she received a phone call from Roby Sapere saying "Dale went too far by tying the old man up with duct tape." She went on to tell law enforcement that every time Willhite moved or made a sound that Dale hit him.
Berry also said that Sapere drove her and another man by the residence, pointing out Willhite's home and telling them that was "the house."
Berry was arrested on charges of receiving stolen property. Sapere has been charged with burglary and first-degree assault causing serious physical injury.
A third suspect, Thomas York, has also been arrested and charged in this case. York is facing seven charges including first-degree assault, first-degree burglary, felonious restraint, two counts of theft/stealing of a firearm and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.
He was identified from video surveillance tape after deputies tracked down the bar code on a pry bar found at the scene.
Long said that along with the arrests, some of the stolen property has been recovered along with multiple firearms stemming from other offenses committed in Pulaski and Miller counties.
A press conference will be held on Wednesday, July 30, at 9 a.m. at the Pulaski County Courthouse. Additional information is expected to be released at that time.
Long said a total of five suspects believed to be involved have been taken into custody following what was described as an extensive manhunt.
Among them is fugitive Vernon Dale Parker. He was tracked down and apprehended in the Fulton area. Parker is allegedly the Dale referred to in charging documents.
Long said some of the stolen property was recovered along with firearms from other offenses committed in Pulaski and Miller counties.


text:
Ivec & Rossa Trunk Show
When: Saturday, February 27th 9am - 5pm and Sunday, February 28th 9am-5pm Where: 445 N. High Street, 2nd Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215
What: Featuring the Nomadic Love Collection from Rue de Seine, a New Zealand boho chic brand. Think dresses filled with string backs, crochet arm bands, glistening embellishments, folk appliqué, ethereal silhouettes, and eclectic textures.
Reserve your spot by email email@example.com


text:
The prices shown are Parmigiani Fleurier's recommended retail prices, including VAT where applicable.
Parmigiani Fleurier reserves the right to change the prices and model selection at any time.
Gold quartz movement
Ref: PFC186-0022001-XC2122
CHF 10'600.- Info
To mark the 20th anniversary of the brand, celebrated in 2016, Parmigiani Fleurier is revisiting the Kalpa Donna, the first women's watch in its collection, featuring the iconic "tonneau" form. The uniqueness of the Kalpa Donna Anniversaire lies in its solid gold quartz movement, hidden within a steel case. Just like a treasure chest that conceals its riches within. Each version of the Kalpa Donna Anniversaire is limited to 96 pieces, in reference to the year Parmigiani Fleurier was founded – 1996.
The Kalpa Donna Anniversaire features an engraved dial which reflects the segmentation of the hours. This subtle decoration is more reminiscent of a sheet of fabric than a dial – an invitation to slip away from the world of timekeeping and revel in elegant femininity. A diamond in a closed setting is applied by hand to the dial's surface, creating a sense of harmony. Serving as a focal point, it creates a play of light that radiates across the mother of pearl, accentuating the impression of depth.
The Kalpa Donna Anniversaire is available with a dial in four different colours of mother of pearl, and each of these has a leather strap selected to complement it. The harmonious marriage of these original, electric hues underlines the femininity of the watch. A mandarin orange colour dial paired with a red leather strap; a luminous white dial with an off-white leather strap; a lilac dial whose reflections are set off by an enamel white leather strap; and finally, a Tahitian mother of pearl dial accompanied by an étoupe leather strap. A steel bracelet is also available with all of these colourways, adding a dash of modernity to the Kalpa Piccola Anniversaire.
The shape of the Kalpa Donna Anniversaire case is the classic "tonneau", one of the first designs that Michel Parmigiani created for his brand. This form is based on the application of the golden ratio, a geometrical reference which provides a harmonious ratio of proportions. The case and its lugs, the angle of which has been carefully calculated to describe a perfect curve, sit ergonomically on the wrist. The sides of the steel case are set with Top Wesselton diamonds of a rare purity.
Gold quartz movement
Visible on the back of the piece, the quartz movement entirely in rose gold reveals its refinement, emphasising the beauty of the piece. The main plate, bridges and gears have been produced in the Parmigiani Fleurier watchmaking centre, and decorated to the very highest standards characteristic of luxury Haute Horlogerie. The central bridge mirrors the iconic shape of a Parmigiani Fleurier lug, and this motif is also engraved across the other surfaces of the movement, creating a myriad of symbols that dance around three jewels. Creating this decoration is a very delicate process, due to the difficulties inherent in working with gold, and owing to the extremely thin bridges, so designed to keep the piece as refined as possible.
Hours, minutes


text:
Now that the off season is almost here, I'm catching up the galleries with some night show pics that weren't posted along the way, and a few NPC shows. I'll leave the links here as I post.
If you have any corrections that need to be made, leave a message here or PM me. If you are listed twice in the gallery, I can fix that as well. If a placing is off, I will verify with score sheets and correct as needed.


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It can be done– kids can recover from autism. That was the central message of "Recent Advances in the Biology of Autism," a conference at the Omni Hotel Saturday, April 30.
The variety of treatments for the disorder– including nutritional supplements, dietary protocols, use of probiotics, and heavy metal detoxification– can be controversial. So can speakers.
Consider Andrew Wakefield. In 1998, his article in the British journal Lancet was accused of triggering a public panic over a vaccine, and he allegedly failed to disclose potential conflicts of interest. Reasonable people could disagree over the allegations, and Wakefield's supporters contend that his research withstood scrutiny.
Mainstream medicine maintains that autism is an irreversible genetic brain disorder. While Saturday's speakers agreed that the causes of autism are complex and that the biology of autism is not completely understood, they also emphasized that a great deal is known. What's indisputable is that diagnoses are skyrocketing– from fewer than one in 2,000 children 20 years ago to one in every 166 today.
While clinical studies can take years or even decades to catch up with such an upsurge, speakers at the conference cited more than two dozen peer-reviewed journal articles– many written in the last two years– that indicate there is more to autism than some doctors may realize.
Guest speaker Dr. Elizabeth Mumper, associate professor of pediatrics and family medicine at the University of Virginia and CEO of Advocates for Children in Lynchburg, made a determined plea to conference attendees.
"If you know any doctors at UVA," she said, "please encourage them to pay attention to this science." Her request prompted strong applause from the audience of over 200.
Some studies implicate genetic predispositions in conjunction with environmental triggers– especially mercury toxicity– as a cause of autism. Many pediatricians have branded the alleged mercury link as "junk science," and, indeed, absolute proof that mercury causes autism has yet to materialize.
And yet tantalyzing bits of evidence are piling up– including a just-released Texas study showing a direct positive correlation between the presence of environmental mercury and autism. Politicians have already rushed to shield the makers of thimerosal, a mercury compound recently banned from most vaccines. The Homeland Security bill President Bush signed in November 2002 absolved thimerosal's creator, Eli Lilly, from future liability claims without explaining the need to indemnify the makers of a purportedly safe material.
Dr. Susan Anderson, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Virginia and director of the autism program at the Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center, explains why many doctors remain unconvinced by some of the recent studies.
"It's the manner that the research was done," says Anderson. "If you look at the study that Wakefield did, for example, all of his co-researchers stepped back. They were important scientists who said, 'Wait a minute, maybe what we did was not okay.'"
Wakefield, now with the Thoughtful House Center for Children in Austin, Texas, was at the Charlottesville conference.
"None of the science was retracted," Wakefield responded. "All the scientific findings stand and have been borne out by further research. It's absolute nonsense to say it's been discredited."
In Charlottesville, Wakefield and Mumper were joined by Dr. Jill James of the University of Arkansas and Dr. Jeffrey Bradstreet, Director of the International Child Development Resource Center in Melbourne, Florida.
According to scientists at the conference, a growing number of studies have demonstrated that children are improving, some even to the point of losing their original diagnosis.
Kathy Young, mother of a child diagnosed with autism, is president of the Virginia chapter of the National Autism Association, which organized the event. "We're here today," Young told the crowd, "because our children are sick and they need help."
The April 7 edition of the Hook ignited controversy.
At the Omni: Dr. Andrew Wakefield, Dr. Elizabeth Mumper, Dr. Jeff Bradstreet, and Kathy Young, president of the Virginia chapter of the National Autism Association which hosted the conference.PHOTO BY COY BAREFOOT


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Reducing Human Latency in the Human Network
Part 2 of 2In my prior Collaboration blog entry, I reflected on the shift to rich media -how it enriches Unified Communications (UC) and heralds a shift back to more natural forms of interactions among people. Today I am thinking about undiscovered territory: cross-company, secure and flexible forms of communication, which, we believe, will unlock a new wave of productivity gains through reduction of"human latency."In looking at most UC productivity systems, traditionally the focus has been on intra-company communications. In the flat world, however, competitive advantage is created not only in how companies work inside, but how well they work outside -with customers, partners, suppliers, and, even competitors. In the world where command and control over one's business is giving way to various forms of collaboration -albeit some that are only sustained for a few transactions -it is essential to look at the workforce and the workspace differently. Indeed we are caught between two paradigms:– Traditional messaging and voice systems are not designed for inter-company ucommunications. There are a host of inhibitors in the way, including lack of adherence to standards or more significantly, security limitations- Emerging Web 2.0 Collaboration technologies such as Facebook or video technologies are compelling, but cannot provide the compliance, auditing and security requirements that business requires?This leaves innovative, fast-moving businesses caught between the Scylla and Charybdis of flexibility with security when trying to accelerate integration and collaboration outside of the enterprise. The next frontier for UC is providing for a context-aware approach to entitlement and security that allows companies to collaborate across various borders in real-time. New policy capabilities that are provided by our Securent acquisition provide scalable, distributed policy platform that allow enterprises to administer, enforce, and audit access to data, communications, and applications in heterogeneous IT application environments. Said simpler, policy capabilities now can make inter-company communications safe, granular and fluid. Traditional identity access management solutions have succeeded at the perimeter level (i.e., authenticating "who" is allowed inside) but once someone has been granted general access organizations do not have effective tools with which to manage access at the application level for fine-grained security controls ("œwhat" is allowed). These fine-grained security policies must then be dealt with on a per-application basis. Think about it as a series of doors, each of which must be opened one at time. If one key is lost, transit is blocked. Practical applications of this concept-situations in an investment bank, where stock analysts can instant message with each other but are prevented from doing so with stock brokers. And, an audit trail is created. Or, M&A teams from two companies, discretely working on a merger. Now we have the ability to further dissolve the barriers and delays of cross-company, even cross-border and communications and information flows. By being able to embed policy by user, application, and role -to name a few approaches -we can unlock even greater productivity for business and support the increasing regulation and compliance requirements of the information economy. It's now about asking the question, 'What new things could I do if I could do them securely?'The old adage goes,"time is money," thus delay builds cost – an ancient paradigm made new by security issues of the Web 2.0 world. Perhaps Hamlet would have survived, had not the most procrastinator in literature spent nearly the entire play crippled by delay:"œFor who would bear the whips and scorns of time,The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,The insolence of office and the spurnsThat patient merit of the unworthy takes."
In an effort to keep conversations fresh, Cisco Blogs closes comments after 60 days. Please visit the Cisco Blogs hub page for the latest content.


text:
Pile up the kindling, turn on the gas or flip the switch. It's the time of year when even the most occasional of users decides it might be nice to see some flame.
Perhaps more than any other home feature, a fireplace reflects the triumph of emotion over reason, romance over efficiency.
A central heating system is almost always a more efficient source of warmth. Fireplaces may warm the room they're in, but overall, they tend to draw more cold air into the house, resulting in a net loss of heat. Yet it's not uncommon for home buyers to rule out resale houses if they don't have a fireplace, preferably in the family room.
In the Springfield, Va., home of Nicole and Barrett Kime, it's all about rekindling a sense of romance. This winter's fires come, once again, with the snap, crackle and pop of burning wood.
They just had their family room fireplace converted from gas to wood -- the reverse of the usual conversion. A previous owner had converted the fireplace to gas, which is popular because it allows a roaring fire at the push of a button and hours of faithful flame without the need for tending.
But the Kimes' gas-log setup was at the end of its life span, and instead of replacing it with the same, Nicole wanted a wood fire.
"When my husband and I were first married, 20 years ago, we would talk on the phone at the end of the day about our plans for the evening," she said. "Often my husband would say, 'We'll build a fire tonight.' Since a gas fireplace has been in my life there's been no need to plan. Just turn the key or find the fireplace remote. How romantic is that?"
According to the National Association of Home Builders, 53 percent of homes built in 2006 had at least one fireplace. Indoor fireplaces will be a critical component of homes built over the next 10 years, according to the association's survey of architects, builders, developers and manufacturers of housing materials. The organization reported that 85 percent of those surveyed think indoor fireplaces will be "critical" for upscale new homes; 49 percent said they will be critical for average new homes.
Gas appears to be the dominant technology, at least if you look at spending. According to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, shipments to retailers of gas fireplaces and accessories in 2006 were more than triple the shipments of wood-based fireplaces and accessories.
In addition to the one-click ease of gas fires, they're easier and cheaper to install. They don't require the larger fire boxes and chimneys needed for traditional wood-burning hearths. Some people with allergies find them less irritating than a smoke-generating wood fire. And some units don't even require venting of the exhaust to the outdoors.
Rich Cartlidge, owner of Bromwell's, a fireplace store in the Washington area, said gas-log sets cost $550 to $900, depending on size and style. You can choose from sets that look more like a scavenged-wood campfire and those that show more of the hewn side of the logs vs. the bark side, more singe marks vs. a less-burned look.
Kime had shopped the cost of replacing the components of her gas fireplace.
A basic gas-log setup would have cost $300 to $500, but the most-authentic-looking logs would have cost more. "They are convincing, and, yes, they are a lot easier," she said.
Instead, she spent about $300 to have a plumber replace the gas-log setup with just a gas starter, which will allow them the convenience of an easy start but the ambiance of burning real wood. "It requires you to calm down and to go and sit and monitor it," she said. Installation generally adds less than $1,000 to the price of the log set, depending on how far a plumber has to run the gas line, Cartlidge said. Installing just a gas starter to an existing wood fireplace to yield a system like the one the Kimes' costs only about $60 for hardware, plus the plumber's fee to install it.
If you don't have a fireplace, you still can find ways to enjoy the ambiance of a roaring fire, if only in facsimile.
For as little as $368 at Wal-Mart, or $700 to $1,200 for an upscale version at a specialty store like Bromwell's, you can get an electric fireplace, complete with mantel and remote control. Plug it in to an ordinary electrical outlet, and voila: glowing embers and wavy "flames" dancing in the background.
Yes, the electric fires are a tad cheesy, but they're a pretty fine-quality cheese. And they could be just the right touch for an apartment or any room that can't accommodate the real thing.
Remember, it's all about ambiance, however you find it.


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Duquesne Establishes New Role with National Institute for Newman Studies
Duquesne University will be playing a national role in the study of the life and thought of Blessed John Henry Newman, in conjunction with the National Institute for Newman Studies.
The recent agreement between the University and the Institute, along with funding from that organization, has established the Chair for Newman Studies and the Director of the National Institute for Newman Studies in affiliation with Duquesne University (NINSDU), a five-year, renewable position. The holder of the chair will teach courses offered through the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts.
"John Henry Newman is one of the giants within Catholic intellectual tradition and one of the great teachers of the Church," said Dean Christopher Duncan of the McAnulty College. "Bringing his work and work about him in a more intentional way to Duquesne University and our students will enhance our ability to explore a rich tradition of which he is a part. The University and the College in particular are grateful to work with such a fine organization as the Institute."
After a national search, which is being headed by Dr. Gerard Magill, Vernon F. Gallagher Chair for the Integration of Science, Theology, Philosophy and Law at Duquesne, a chair is expected to be selected by July 1.
The Rev. Drew Morgan, C.O., Ph.D., the present director of the National Institute for Newman Studies, and Catharine M. Ryan, both graduates of Duquesne, co-founded the Institute. Since its inception in 2002, the Institute has developed the most extensive Newman library in North America. It has hosted over 40 Newman scholars from countries as diverse as Vietnam, Nigeria, France, Poland and Mexico. These researchers have used the Newman Research Library resources, including the extensive digital collection, The Newman Knowledge Kiosk. They have published work in the Institute's academic, peer-reviewed periodical, The Newman Studies Journal, contributing to the development of Newman Studies worldwide.
"While the Institute has strong relationships with Catholic institutions, such as The University of St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto, Saint Mary's of Moraga, California, and Boston College, it has reached a point in its growth where a concrete partnership with a Catholic university has become essential for it to solidify its stature among leading participants in the Academy," Morgan said. "Duquesne provides entrance into such a prestigious arena."
Newman (1801-1890), who converted to Catholicism, rose to the rank of cardinal and authored a body of profoundly influential theological and spiritual writings that have inspired Catholic reformers in areas such as ecumenism, engagement with the world and the role of education. He is also widely known as the composer of the hymn Lead, Kindly Light and for his autobiography Apologia Pro Vita Sua.
Newman Centers, which minster to Catholic students on the campuses of non-Catholic universities, are named in his honor. Pope Benedict beatified Newman in September 2010, an act that conferred the title of "Blessed" on him and is an official recognition of advancement to the third stage in a four-stage canonization process.
The National Institute for Newman Studies, which was founded by the Oratory of St. Philip Neri, the religious community to which Newman belonged, will maintain ownership of the National Institute for Newman Studies, and the institute's offices and resources will remain in their current location at the Gailliot Center in Oakland.
Duquesne University
Founded in 1878, Duquesne is consistently ranked among the nation's top Catholic universities for its award-winning faculty and tradition of academic excellence. Duquesne, a campus of nearly 9,500 graduate and undergraduate students, has been nationally recognized for its academic programs, community service and commitment to sustainability. Follow Duquesne University on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


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Calif. robbery spurs chase, long campus lockdown
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A state university where some 10,000 students were locked down for hours reopened Thursday as authorities tried to track two robbers who managed to escape a room-by-room manhunt.
"We're back to business as usual," said campus police Capt. John Brocke at California State University, Fullerton.
A week before final exams, the sprawling Orange County campus was swarmed by gun-toting officers after a car chase on Wednesday ended with two suspects in a robbery and shooting in neighboring Riverside County running onto the campus.
Those two suspects were still being sought Thursday, and three others remained in custody — including 24-year-old Traevon Cortez Vidaud of Compton, who is accused of carjacking a vehicle and leading officers on a chase before winding up at a recreation center where Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck was giving away toys to children.
Also in custody were Los Angeles residents Damine Lavonte Banks, 30, and Jerome Renard Allen, 23. It was unclear if any of the suspects have legal representation yet.
Fullerton was one stop on the wild, three-county pursuit that began after five people tried to rob a pawn and jewelry shop in Moreno Valley. An employee was shot in the holdup just after 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Riverside County authorities withheld the victim's name for his safety. He was listed in critical but stable condition Thursday afternoon.
The robbers fled in a gray Lexus and were stopped in Fullerton when it rear-ended another car near the school. Two suspects were held, but three others ran off.
"They ran right at me. I decided to get out of their way. I did not know if they were armed or not," said student Shaun Kintaudi, who was on his way to take a test. "I decided it was best to run away from them and let the cops do their job."
During a seven-hour lockdown, students stayed connected to family, friends and media outlets via text messages, phone calls and Twitter from classrooms and dorm rooms, some with doors barricaded.
"We've made a makeshift bathroom out of trash cans, and whatever happens here stays here. That's the rule," Robert Pachorek, a student holed up in a classroom in Langsdorf Hall, told KABC-TV in a call from his cellphone.
Police believe at least one of the suspects fled into Mihaylo Hall, where some occupants were evacuated. SWAT officers cleared the hall room by room.
"We saw all these cops coming through with — I think they were like AKs or something. They were pretty big guns," student Nate Chu told KABC. "And they eventually told us we had to leave the campus."
Students were alerted about the situation via text message at about 4 p.m. and told to stay where they were with doors locked. They were notified by cellphone, email and public address system as each building was cleared.
The lockdown ended about 11 p.m., Brocke said. No students were hurt but some were treated for anxiety and one, a diabetic, needed medication, he added.
One person being chased carjacked a silver sedan, possibly from a Fullerton student, and drove wildly through rush-hour traffic on state Route 91 until crashing the car nearly 30 miles away in the Watts area of Los Angeles County, authorities said.
The man then sprinted across a lawn and hopped a fence near a housing project. He surrendered to dozens of officers on a baseball diamond at a recreation center where Beck was giving away toys to hundreds of young children.
"He picked the wrong rec center to run into today," Los Angeles police Cmdr. Andy Smith said.
Associated Press writer Chris Weber in Los Angeles contributed to this report.


text:
Thursday, July 23, 2009
now we resume our regular programming
14 comments:
- rj said...
I like the new truss design much better. Almost like they teach in structural engineering for a Arch Truss Roof.
See interesting 3D View of a roof truss.
- July 23, 2009 at 10:58 PM
- TexasMan said...
Much Better! Very strong for good size arch.
- July 23, 2009 at 11:14 PM
- Bob O said...
I'm thinking...coffee table book?
You are just a storm of energy. I'm in awe over how much you get done in a day. I guess it helps to have no distractions beyond the occasional friendly longhorn and a beautiful blue sky.
- July 23, 2009 at 11:24 PM
Ahhh now I see what your doing with that big table. I could build a cabin just using the lumber from your table.
Your not gonna trow it away after your done by any chance are you? Just kiddin
- July 23, 2009 at 11:45 PM
- Allen Hare said...
Great looking truss, John. I spend a lot of time in warehouses and such, with exposed structural features, and I find myself looking at, and studying the design of the structural, and architectural features on display. Your current design is mostly what I have seen in industrial buildings. Good for you.
I'm glad that you said what you said about the Google Adsense. Ads on your blog would only cheepen it. Thanks from all of us, I'm sure.
rj, that link to the 3D View is great. That Google Sketchup/3D Warehouse thing is amazing. I can see me spending a lot of time in there. Thanks for the link.
- July 24, 2009 at 1:12 AM
- Baytown Bert said...
"The only reason we have 24 hour programming now is so advertisers can sell more crap that we just don't need".
My thoughts exactly. Thank you.
- July 24, 2009 at 6:35 AM
- Just Me said...
That's a lot of cutting!
70 pieces per truss half, times two halves per truss is 140 per truss. 140 pieces per truss times 11 trusses is 1540 pieces! Egads. I can't believe you even considered using a hacksaw.
- July 24, 2009 at 8:47 AM
- Lynette said...
glad to see you back
i remember the test pattern right after the star spangle banner played
what i liked most was
it is 10 o clock do you know where your children are?
- July 24, 2009 at 10:57 AM
- Teresa said...
I recently asked a group of friends if they remembered the old "It is 10 o'clock, do you know where your children are?"
BTW, glad you said no to the ads.
- July 24, 2009 at 2:05 PM
- Winterchill said...
Lynette and Teresa, I remember those days.
Unfortunatly if parents are asked in this day and age where their children are most dont know and dont care where they are.
- July 24, 2009 at 2:29 PM
- Andy Graves said...
Hey John,
Fairly new to your posts. Lovely project you got going there. I posted an idea for a template for your new trusses to aid in keeping things symmetrical. Got a little drawing there-didn't know how to post it here so it's in my blog-godbless.
Keep up the good work there,
- July 24, 2009 at 2:58 PM
- RikDeere said...
Honest dollars for honest products - what a concept! With all the work you have done, I'm sure they'll be products worth looking at.
Keep up the good work, things are really starting to look interesting.
- July 24, 2009 at 8:25 PM
- linda said...
I vote for Benita coffee mugs!
- July 25, 2009 at 1:36 PM
- Aaron said...
not sure if it'll work for what you're doing but, you can also use a bolt cutter to cut rebar
- August 4, 2009 at 12:10 PM


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Due to unforseen circumstances, this event has been cancelled. We apologise for any disappointment.
In these mellow yoga workshops experienced yoga teacher Ruth McNeil will lead the group through the practice of mindful movement, soothing restorative yoga and pranayama (the movement of energy with breath). The workshop will culminate in blissful guided savasana / relaxation. These workshops are suitable for all levels from complete beginners to the more experienced. Please bring your own mat and wear comfortable clothes you can move in. Yoga is practiced barefoot.
Advance booking is required and all bookings need to be made via the teacher Ruth McNeil, not via The Lightbox. To book please email Ruth at firstname.lastname@example.com
Sun 21 February, 2.00pm – 3.30pm£15 per sessionImage Credit: Restorative Yoga © Graham Woodman
The Lightbox is a Registered Charity and Limited Company. Registered Charity Number 1073543.


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Lady Bisons tennis struggles against Campbell
March 9, 2006
Emily and Olivia Ellis won the No.,1 doubles match 8-6, but Campbell won everything else in a 7-0 loss Wednesday afternoon on the Lipscomb campus.
The Lady Bisons are 4-9.
Doubles:E. Ellis, O. Ellis (L) beat Alfonzo, Surviladze (C) 8-6 Moakler, Aid (L) lose to Stojancev, Bensimon (C), 8-3 Muncher, Hall (L) lose to Dajc, Batkiewicz (C) 8-6
Singles:Erin Moakler (L) loses to Scarlet Alfonzo (C) 7-6, 4-1 Emily Ellis (L) loses to Iva Stojancev (C), 6-3, 6-4 Olivia Ellis (L) loses to Nina Surviladze (C), 6-1. 6-1 Caitlin Khouri (L) loses to Anita Dajc (C), 6-1, 6-4 Casey Hall (L) loses to Liza Bensimon (C) 6-1, 6-1 Mary Beth Muncher (L) loses to Stacey Batkiewwicz (C), 6-4, 6-1


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Please spend some time browsing around my Information Mall. There are more than 16,000 fantastic resources in over 200 categories! Select any category that interests you or use the convenient Search Box to find things of specific interest. If you would like to get your own Information Mall you can select the "Get Free Mall" Menu Item or just
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Apple's annual World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) was announced earlier this morning, at 5:30am PDT, with a ticket price of $1600... and it sold out in less than 2 hours.
It took Apple 10 hours to sell out last year, so this is five times faster. Though it's an apples-to-oranges comparison, it took only 28 minutes to sell out Google IO 2012.
For paid developers, a ticket gives entry to the keynote, the non-disclosure covered lectures, and most importantly, the labs where Apple engineers can help with problems and get and give feedback on issues.
However, there's so much going on at WWDC that many, many people go without a ticket just to meet up with other developers and members of the Apple community.
WWDC 2012 takes place from June 11 to 15. Jump into our Developer and Designer Forum and let us know if you'll be there, ticket or not!


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hugapitbull wrote:How is the arm today. It looks like it may be painful for a while. The bruising on the last bite I had was worse than the wound itself, and it wasn't inflicted by nearly as large a dog.
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text:
Floods subside quickly
Tornado sirens blaring in the town between nine and ten Saturday night had Tunicans scrambling for cover, but the funnel cloud that was indicated on radar stayed on the Arkansas side of the Mississippi.The warning proved to be Mother Nature's last shot in an eventful weather day, with heavy rains mid-morning Saturday causing flash floods throughout the town and surrounding areas.A total of about four and a half inches of rain fell in less than two hours, town operations manager Ellis Koonce III said Monday.
"The ditches did all they could," Koonce said. "When you have that much water in that short of time, there are going to be problems."
But Koonce had the town crew out during the day Friday checking culverts and cleaning out ditches in preparation for heavy rainfall that was forecast. The crew was back out Saturday with the sewer machine, breaking up jams around the culverts.
"A clean-up on the ditches leading away from town several years ago really helped the situation," Koonce said.
Flooding along Antioch Street was the most serious. Water backed up into the parking area at Golden Estates apartments and around a church and several homes in the vicinity.
Flooding on the north end of School Street, at the intersection of School and Academy and other locations threatened several homes, and Main Street near the First Baptist Church was partially covered, but the water receded fairly quickly.
"Within an hour or two, most had run off," Koonce said.
A second round of heavy rain dumped another inch or so Saturday afternoon.
Tunica County activated its emergency warning system shortly after 9 p.m., dialing telephones throughout the county to warn people to "seek shelter" from a possible tornado.
"We had the warning about a system near Dumas, AR from the Memphis weather service at about 9 p.m. for the west central part of the county," Randy Stewart, emergency management director, said. "We then activated the sirens and the reverse dialing system. All of that plus the news media is part of our overall warning system.
"The reverse calls reached up to 45 percent of Tunica County households before the tornado warning for Tunica County was cancelled about 10 p.m.," Stewart said.
Within the county, flooding threatened homes in a subdivision off Dulaney Road. County officials, with the assistance of the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee Board, put out 30-40 sandbags, Stewart added.
Two intersections along Josephine Road – at Old Highway 61 and at White Oak Road – were under water for a time, but floodwater receded quickly, Stewart said. Some minor wind damages were reported at Tunica Cut-off. Three and a half to four inches of rain were in the gauge at the county's Emergency Operations Center, recording rainfall from noon Friday through noon Saturday. Stewart said rainfall was heavier in North Tunica County.
For the most part, the Dumas storm never crossed the river but hugged the west banks, prompting an evacuation at the Beale Street Music festival in Memphis about 10 p.m.
The same system of storms brought 13 inches of rain to North Memphis and Tipton County, causing extensive flood damage in Millington and along the Highway 51 corridor.
North Mississippi counties Alcorn, Benton, Lafayette, Lee, Marshall and Union were also hard hit, with one death, damages to home and apartments and major flooding reported in Alcorn; two deaths, four injuries, 11 homes destroyed in Benton; one death, two homes destroyed and damages to 20 others in Lafayette; one death in Lee, 21 homes and over 20 roads damaged in Marshall and one death, 11 homes, three business, and two bridges damaged in Union.
Last weekend was the second straight to hit the state with devastating wind or water damage. Several counties in Mississippi have qualified for federal disaster aid from the tornados that hit central Mississippi on April 24.
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Saturday, February 28, 2004
SAP plugs hole in Business One
A couple of years ago, SAP decided that it needed a completely separate offering for small businesses. So it acquired an Israeli firm, Top Manage, and renamed its product SAP Business One. However, the package lacked much of the manufacturing systems functionality required to serve small manufacturers. Now, rather than develop this functionality from scratch, SAP is forming a strategic relationship with SoftBrands to integrate its Fourth Shift manufacturing modules with SAP Business One.
On the negative side, this move is an acknowledgement that SAP's Business One has not been a complete offering. Even if SAP resellers offer the combination of Business One and Fourth Shift as a single sale, it's not clear how well prospects will receive the news that they need two packages to meet their needs. Especially when there are so many other complete solutions out there for small and mid-size companies, such as Microsoft's Great Plains, Solomon, Navision, and Axapta.
On the other hand, maybe SAP's primary objective is not to sell Business One to the general population of small businesses. In reviewing SAP's web site, there are hints that SAP's first priority is to sell Business One to its large customers, as a solution for smaller divisions where its flagship product, SAP R/3 (mySAP), is simply too big. For example, one scenario on SAP's web site shows how a company could run Business One at a small sales subsidiary and interface it seamlessly with a central SAP R/3 system to check product availability and place orders. Another scenario shows divisional purchasing and sales performed in Business One, with centralized cash management and accounting performed in R/3.
So, if I am right, SAP's primary market for Business One is its own customer base. This allows SAP to claim a larger piece of the corporate IT spend and keep other vendors from establishing a foothold. To complete the strategy, SAP should develop a well-defined migration tool to move users from Business One to mySAP, when they outgrow Business One.
For more analysis on SAP's Business One, see my posts on Jan. 22 and Nov. 17.by Frank Scavo, 2/28/2004 03:51:00 PM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Friday, February 27, 2004
Cure for the U.S. tech economy
Bob Cringley thinks he's found the answer to putting IT professionals back to work, and it doesn't involve new laws, regulations, tax breaks, or migration to India.by Frank Scavo, 2/27/2004 07:49:00 AM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Thursday, February 26, 2004
U.S. to block Oracle's takeover of PeopleSoft
Not a big surprise, but DOJ has made it official. In his announcement, Hewitt Pate, head of DOJ antitrust division said, "We believe this transaction is anti-competitive -- pure and simple. " Oracle has not yet indicated whether it will sue the Justice Department over its decision.
For my take on the competitive aspects of this deal, see my post on Feb. 13.
Update, Feb. 27: Oracle says it will sue the Justice Department over its decision to oppose the merger. "The Department's claim that there are only three vendors that meet the needs of large enterprises does not fit with the reality of the highly competitive, dynamic and rapidly changing market," says Oracle in a press release. It is also extending its tender offer until June 25.
Update, Feb. 27: Just got this tidbit from the San Jose Mercury News. It looks like Oracle is going to have a hard time explaining this:In the court filing, the Justice Department included a 2002 quote by Oracle co-president Charles Phillips -- who then worked as an industry analyst for Morgan Stanley -- saying that the "back-office applications market for global companies is dominated by an oligopoly comprised of SAP, PeopleSoft and Oracle.''My point exactly.by Frank Scavo, 2/26/2004 02:10:00 PM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Tuesday, February 24, 2004
Risks of offshore outsourcing
I've been trying to take a balanced view of outsourcing. On the one hand, I want to acknowledge the market forces that are driving companies to outsource IT services offshore. On the other hand, I want to identify the risks, so that clients may understand what they are signing up for and make rational decisions. I am concerned that the benefits of outsourcing have been overhyped, while the risks generally have been minimized.
Meta Group has made an attempt to itemize the risks of outsourcing. Executives that are planning to outsource significant parts of the IT function or back office processes should pay attention. The following is my paraphrasing and further elaboration on some of the risks that Meta Group points out.
Meta Group has identified four additional risks. Read Meta's whole article on CIO Magazine's web site for more details.
- Risk of unmet cost savings. Too many executives think that if Indian programmers are paid 80% less than U.S. programmers, then they will save 80% of their IT personnel costs. They forget that outsourcing introduces an additional management layer and inefficiencies. Yes, you will save money. But not as much as you might think. Meta Group estimates typical savings of 15-25% in the first year, and 35-40% in year three. Nothing to sneeze at, but keep reading.
- Risk of insecurity and loss of intellectual property. If you are outsourcing software development, and software is important to your business, this is a huge risk. As my friend David Harding points out, some countries that are high on the list of outsourcing destinations are the same countries that have an extremely poor track record in respecting IP rights. Be sure you are not the next Ishoni Networks.
- Insufficient discipline to manage the vendor. Interestingly, many offshore service providers are more disciplined in their business processes than their US customers. They have to be: they depend on standardized, repeatable processes. But if you have been running your IT function in an ad-hoc fashion for years, how are you going to manage the outsourcer? Meta Group points out that in such cases, offshore service providers will need to compensate by putting some of their resources on site at your facilities, adding cost.
- Loss of business knowledge. Having worked in IT for over 25 years, I have observed that a tremendous amount of organizational and business knowledge resides in the application development groups of many companies. If you outsource application development, you are effectively transferring that knowledge to a third party. Is it worth the cost savings? Maybe, but recognize what you are doing.
- Risk of vendor failure. Smart companies do not put all their eggs in one basket, but rather choose to outsource to more than one service provider. If the vendor goes out of business, at least it won't be a complete disaster. Do your outsourcing plans address contingencies in the event that the outsourcer cannot deliver?
- Risk of non-compliance. Government regulations are placing increasing demands on the IT function. This has been true in military contracting and life science industries for years. Now, HIPAA, CA 1386, and other privacy regulations add new demands for compliance on IT systems. Can compliance be ensured if the IT function is largely outsourced to a third party, thousands of miles away? Massachusetts congressman Ed Markey has already sent letters to 16 U.S. regulatory agencies raising privacy concerns over offshore outsourcing. Markey's press release refers to one anecdotal example of such risks to privacy:According to press reports, last year a Pakistani woman who had been hired as a subcontractor to perform medical transcription work for a Texas company engaged as an outsourcing firm for a California hospital threatened to post sensitive patient medical records on the Internet unless she received certain payments she claimed were due to her. Press reports indicated that the Pakistani woman actually posted one confidential medical file onto the Internet, demonstrating her willingness to carry out her threat if her demands were not met.by Frank Scavo, 2/24/2004 07:40:00 PM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Sunday, February 22, 2004
Outsourcing: the next bubble?
Rebecca Fannin thinks that outsourcing is over-hyped, like tech mania of the 1990's:How do you know when another bubble is about to burst? The signs of an overinflated tech boom were evident back in the late 1990s but no one paid much attention until it was too late and millions of dollars were sunk in ill-fated ventures. Now another peak and valley are on the horizon—not in Silicon Valley but far away in India, and not among dot-com startups but among providers of outsourcing services, from call centers to software development houses.According to Fannin, signs of a coming shakeout in the outsourcing industry include venture capital flooding into the Indian tech sector, unsustainable growth rates, competitors luring away top talent from one another, rising hourly rates ($150/hour for some Indian software developers), and outsourcing firms going out of business or being acquired by stronger competitors. Already, many U.S. companies that have outsourced to India are now looking to other locations, such as China.
Why should U.S. executives care whether the outsourcing market is a bubble? The risk is that all the assumptions you've made in the business case for outsourcing may be invalid. The quality of service may become unacceptable. Or, cost savings won't be there. Or, worse, just as you've outsourced your software development, call center, or back office processing to an offshore provider, your partner goes out of business. Of course, bringing it back in-house won't be so simple if you've let go of your internal staff.
Fannin quotes M.R. Rangaswami, who heads the consulting firm Sand Hill Group:"We are seeing a hyper-market with a lot of consolidations and mergers." He also points to some "quiet failures" among outsourcing providers, which are related to quality service issues rather than excess supply. As one high-profile example of failure due to service issues, he points to a recent decision by Dell to stop routing corporate customers to a technical support call center in Bangalore after it received numerous complaints about thick accents and scripted responses."So, is the offshore outsourcing trend really a bubble about to burst? Usually, bubbles are only obvious in hindsight. Regardless, companies need consider all aspects of the outsourcing decision--such as loss of flexibility, and risk--not just cost savings.by Frank Scavo, 2/22/2004 03:31:00 PM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Thursday, February 19, 2004
RFID coming to the pharmaceutical supply chain
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just published a report that lays out its intention to require radio frequency identification (RFID) tracking in drug manufacturing and distribution within three years. With this move, the pharmaceutical industry will join the trend to RFID in other industries such as consumer products, led by Walmart's RFID mandate, and the defense contracting industry, led by the US DOD initiative.
FDA indicated that its intention is to implement "mass serialization" of prescription drugs, which it defines as "assigning a unique number (the electronic product code or EPC) to each pallet, case and package of drugs and then using that number to record information about all transactions involving the product." It appears that FDA intends to require implementation of RFID first at the pallet and case level, starting in 2005, and ultimately to the individual package level. The agency wants to see the ability to track pharmaceuticals at the manufacturer, distributor, retailer, and hospital.
From a information systems standpoint, FDA's direction would required drug manufacturers to implement serial unit control, in addition to traditional batch record or lot number control. Drugs are typically manufactured in batches, and finished pharmaceuticals are typically identified by their batch or lot number. The assumption is that all units within the batch are uniform. Tracking at the serial unit level is well beyond the capabilities of many enterprise systems implemented by pharma manufacturers. This may drive new investments in information technology by drug manufacturers who distribute in the U.S., especially in systems such as warehouse management.
In spite of the obvious costs that this direction will impose on the drug industry, supply chain participants are for the most part upbeat about FDA's intentions. Perhaps this is because drug manufacturers and distributors see something in it for them: ability to stop counterfeit drugs and unauthorized imports from Canada, which is costing the industry a fortune and can only get worse. It is no coincidence that FDA's report is entitled, "Combating Counterfeit Drugs." This would indicate that FDA's primary objective is not so much to improve efficiency but to provide the ability to authenticate pharmaceuticals. When fully implemented, the RFID scheme would stop both counterfeit drugs and drugs from Canada not authorized for distribution in the U.S., at least at the retail level.
Computerworld has a short summary of FDA's report along with reactions from industry.by Frank Scavo, 2/19/2004 03:17:00 PM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Wednesday, February 18, 2004
The new customer-friendly Oracle
Maryfran Johnson, in a Computerworld editorial, points out that there will be delicious irony if the US Department of Justice blocks Oracle's takeover of PeopleSoft:If you have a taste for irony, Ellison's predicament is a gourmet treat. After years of urging and supporting DOJ actions against Microsoft, he's likely to end up competitively hobbled by the same agency -- all while struggling to position his company for future battles with the convicted monopolist. If the PeopleSoft acquisition founders, Oracle's chances of taking on market leader SAP in the $20 billion enterprise application space will founder as well.Johnson goes on to point out that the takeover battle between Oracle and PeopleSoft has made both vendors more eager to gain and win customer approval. She writes,Oracle has suddenly seen the light about providing a more open application-integration strategy, with tools coming later this year to help IT managers tie eBusiness Suite 11i software into other systems. And at the Oracle AppsWorld Conference last month, Ellison was pitching the importance of software vendors providing customers with clear, predictable costs of ownership....Of course, it could be a coincidence that these user-friendly changes are popping up now. But I suspect not.I analyzed Oracle's application integration strategy on Jan. 28 and Jan. 29.by Frank Scavo, 2/18/2004 08:01:00 AM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Monday, February 16, 2004
Customers pushing back against enterprise software maintenance fees
Last week I wrote about customers pushing back against Microsoft's software maintenance program for system software and the Office suite.
Now it seems that the same sort of backlash is coming in the enterprise applications market. The problem is that as new license sales have slowed, vendors have been looking more and more to their existing customers for revenue, and have increased software maintenance fees to a point where they are out of line with the perceived value. According to a recent research note by AMR, customers "are furious about the cost to maintain those products and the policies that the vendors have established for enhancements and upgrades."
Vendors had better wake up. AMR's research shows that because of maintenance policies, 22% of customers are considering switching vendors, 21% intend to stop taking upgrades, and 12% will discontinue paying maintenance.
AMR has some advice for customers that are fed up with paying for maintenance that delivers little or no value:
For more insight, read AMR's whole article.
- Purchase applications in smaller increments. Don't license more than you can use in the next six months.
- Negotiate harder for maintenance terms than license discounts. The upfront discount has a much smaller effect on total cost of ownership.
- Every purchase is an opportunity to renegotiate terms and structure. It is much easier to get the vendor's attention when you are spending money.
- Flexibility is the most valuable concession you can get; you will never be able to forecast your license requirements accurately.
- If you can't use the enhancements, don't pay for them. Consider self-support or renegotiating with the vendor instead.by Frank Scavo, 2/16/2004 08:19:00 AM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Friday, February 13, 2004
What exactly is the market for enterprise systems?
By all accounts, it appears that the US Justice Department's decision on whether to block Oracle's takeover of PeopleSoft will hinge on an interesting question: how do you define the market in which Oracle and PeopleSoft compete? PeopleSoft wants to define the market narrowly: large companies, such as the Fortune 1000, that are looking for a single application suite to serve the entire enterprise. PeopleSoft argues that this market is essentially served by three vendors: SAP, Oracle, and PeopleSoft. Allowing the deal to go through will reduce that number to two, a duopoly.
In the opposite corner is Oracle. According to an article Wednesday in The Deal, Oracle is expected to argue that there aren't any antitrust issues, because in fact, many other vendors serve the Fortune 1000 market:Oracle is expected to argue the Justice Department's definition of the software market affected by the deal is too narrow and without legal merit. [Oracle] also will try to show that companies similar to those complaining about the deal have alternatives to Oracle, PeopleSoft and Germany's SAP AG for enterprise software solutions. This will include examples of companies that design their own systems and those that buy software from other vendors such as Microsoft Corp., IBM Corp. and Lawson Software Inc....Another line of attack for Oracle is likely to focus on whether the DOJ staff appropriately limited the market to software sold to large companies. It is expected to show it would be easy for other enterprise software companies to reposition their products to serve this market. Microsoft, for example, intends to market its enterprise solution to one-third of the Fortune 1,000.I find this argument unpersuasive for two reasons. First, Fortune 1000 companies shopping for a complete enterprise system across multiple business units and even multiple countries do not consider writing custom solutions. It just doesn't happen. Second, to consider Microsoft's enterprise solutions (e.g. Great Plains, Navision, Solomon, and Axapta) on the same scale as SAP, Oracle, and PeopleSoft, is ludicrous. Microsoft's products are targeted for the small to mid-size company market: good solutions, but they do not scale up for companies that require tens of thousands of users. Similarly, Lawson often goes up against PeopleSoft in some deals, especially in some key Lawson verticals such as healthcare, but usually only for HR systems or perhaps financials, not the complete suite of enterprise-wide functionality. And IBM doesn't develop enterprise application software, so I don't know how IBM got lumped in as an example. (IBM competes with Oracle in the database and application server markets, but not in application software.)
SAP, Oracle, and to a lesser extent, PeopleSoft, have become entrenched in large organizations. Other vendors such as Lawson, QAD, Microsoft, or SSA, often co-exist at the divisional or plant level. But it is the rare exception for one of them to rise up and displace SAP, Oracle, or PeopleSoft, at the enterprise level. If anything, other vendors tend to get displaced when the corporate office moves in to standardize on fewer applications. This is why, among large companies, the big three continue to gain market share, not lose it. When large companies merge, and one is running SAP and the other is running SSA's BPCS, guess which system gets replaced. I know I'll get feedback, pointing out the exceptions, but those are just that, exceptions.
I agree that in the future other vendors may join the ranks of SAP, Oracle, and PeopleSoft, but it won't be easy, and it won't be quick. The enterprise applications marketplace has gone through three major transitions in the last twenty years, each tied to a major shift in underlying technology: from host-based architecture (e.g. COPICS, AMAPS, MANMAN, MAPICS, J.D. Edwards, BPCS, PRMS) to client/server architecture (e.g. SAP, Oracle, Baan, PeopleSoft, J.D. Edwards), to Internet architecture (e.g. SAP, PeopleSoft, Oracle). In the transition from host-based to client/server based systems, there was a nearly complete turnover of leadership, with J.D. Edwards as the only major vendor that successfully made the transition--but only after learning from the mistakes of other vendors, and even then, nearly failing in the attempt. But notice that the transition from client/server to Internet architecture has been different. The three current leaders -- SAP, PeopleSoft, and Oracle -- all started as client/server offerings. And all three have now completed the transition to an Internet architecture. This will ensure their dominance in the large enterprise market for at least the next five to ten years, or until some other architectural shift takes place.
Therefore, it will be difficult to understand if the DOJ decides in favor of Oracle.
Update, Mar. 1: Read my follow up post regarding the argument that DOJ actually makes in its complaint against Oracle.by Frank Scavo, 2/13/2004 01:30:00 PM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Wednesday, February 11, 2004
Oracle: It ain't over till it's over
Oracle's attorney, James Rill, responded yesterday to PeopleSoft's statement that US DOJ staff have recommended filing suit to block Oracle's proposed takeover of PeopleSoft,Over the course of my 45 years of antitrust practice I have seen many instances in which the Assistant Attorney General's decision differed from that recommended by the investigating staff, including several instances during my three years as Assistant Attorney General. In my experience, the Assistant Attorney General will take ample time to review the facts of this situation with an open mind and meet with Oracle before coming to a decision on the matter. This process simply is not complete.Separately, it looks like a similar investigation by the European Commission is likely to drag on beyond PeopleSoft's annual meeting on March 25, further complicating Oracle's plan.
Update, Feb. 12: ComputerWorld has more reaction from Oracle and also from several PeopleSoft clients. Says one PeopleSoft user, "I won't be able to relax until they drive a stake through the heart of this deal."by Frank Scavo, 2/11/2004 08:43:00 AM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Tuesday, February 10, 2004
PeopleSoft: Justice Department staff recommending halt to Oracle's takeover bid
PeopleSoft issued a very brief statement today:PeopleSoft, Inc. (Nasdaq: PSFT) was informed late today by the U.S. Department of Justice that the staff of the Antitrust Division has recommended that the Department file suit to block Oracle's (Nasdaq: ORCL) proposed acquisition of PeopleSoft. The staff recommendation has been submitted to the office of the Assistant Attorney General. PeopleSoft was also informed that the Department will make its decision no later than March 2, 2004.I'm not clear if it's normal procedure for DOJ to give the target of an acquisition this sort of early indication of its intention. Either way, things don't look good for Oracle's plan.by Frank Scavo, 2/10/2004 08:38:00 PM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Monday, February 09, 2004
Customers pushing back against Microsoft licensing program
It seems that Microsoft is encountering quite a bit of resistance to its Software Assurance program, where customers pay an annual license fee in return for getting upgrades to Microsoft system software products, such as Windows and Office, at no charge. InternetWeek reports,"The thing they're having problems with is getting renewals on enterprise agreements," said one financial analyst, noting that customers are holding back on software-assurance licenses and playing the Linux card to get discounts. "June is the big test. Everyone is lined up [for renewals] in June." ....I predicted over 18 months ago that Microsoft's attempt to increase its revenue through maintenance agreements was going to have unintended consequences. As the cost of computing hardware continues to drop, Microsoft's products are making up an increasing percentage of the total cost of ownership of a desktop machine. There has to be a limit somewhere. I continue to believe that economics will drive more and more business customers toward Microsoft alternatives, such as Linux and other open source products. Microsoft is already cutting special deals to keep large customers from defecting. As customers just say no to Microsoft's money grab, watch for Microsoft to cut license fees in general.
"Software Assurance is fundamentally broken," said one East Coast partner who requested anonymity. "Microsoft claims that three years of Software Assurance non-perpetual upgrade rights is less pricey than negotiating a product upgrade in year four. Given what's happening with [its] deferred revenues, it's hard for me to believe Microsoft will stick it to me on the license upgrade if I choose to defer purchase."
Update: Paul DeGroot, analyst at Directions on Microsoft, points out the advantages of not being committed to stay with Microsoft for the duration of the maintenance period. In a ComputerWorld article, he says,"If you don't think Microsoft is going to come out with anything compelling enough that you will want it, you will wait. The industry is maturing. People are happy with older products," he said. "Without locking yourself in for an upgrade, it becomes easier to switch away from Microsoft. My guess is that the Linux desktop will look a lot better three years from now than it does today."I think this is a bigger deal than people generally recognize.by Frank Scavo, 2/09/2004 08:38:00 AM | permalink | e-mail this!
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Wednesday, February 04, 2004
ASPs making a quiet comeback
The Application Service Provider (ASP) model, which many had given up for dead during the dot-com bust, is making a comeback. This article from CIO Update reports,In the late 1990s, the birth of the ASP industry was marked by newcomers touting a radical, alternative software business model: selling the use of applications in a pay-as-you-go, a la carte model. Three-to-four years ago, at the peak of the dot-com boom, more than a thousand ASPs set out to change the IT world. Then, reality set in.Although all three types of ASPs are enjoying an uptick in business, I have long felt that greatest potential was in that second category--the "net-native service providers." To me, for the ASP economic model to really prosper, it needs web-based solutions that are built from the ground up for delivery by an ASP. In other words, a single instance of the application serving multiple clients. I never saw the economic benefit of taking an application that is normally delivered as a software license, and moving it to an ASP, with a separate instance of the application required for each client. There is too much overhead required from the ASP for the numbers to make sense.
Vendors, exposed as being more hype than substance, were focused on growth rather than profit. And the quick signing of dot-com customers, which drove the financials of many early ASPs, proved to be the undoing of many service providers as the Internet bubble burst. By 2002/2003, the ASP market seemed all but dead, with a whopping 90 percent failure rate, according to industry analysts.
Despite the doom, a handful of players survived, because the basic software-as-service concept was viable despite poor execution. Pioneering pure-play vendors such as USinternetworking (USI), Corio, BlueStar Solutions, and Surebridge retrenched quietly as a number of mergers and acquisitions helped reshape the market, according to Gartner.
The pure-plays, however, aren't alone in this market. There is a second-wave of ASPs represented by vendors who deliver software over the Internet, or net-native service providers, such as Salesforce.com, NetSuite and Salesnet to name a few.
Rounding out the ASP industry are independent software vendors (ISVs), such as Oracle, PeopleSoft and SAP which have had their fits and starts in this market. "In the past, ISV hosted applications was done more as an obligation of doing business. Today, it's a growing piece of their business," said Jeffrey Kaplan, managing director at ThinkStrategies.
But when a single instance of the application can support multiple clients, the entire implementation effort, not to mention infrastructure costs, are cut dramatically for the ASP, allowing a true pay-as-you-go model.by Frank Scavo, 2/04/2004 06:29:00 AM | permalink | e-mail this!
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