text:
(Pocket-lint) - Does a lamp in the shape of a ghost qualify for a Pocket-lint review? Probably not, normally, but what if that ghost were a Pac-Man ghost, and what if the moment we took it out of the box we fell in love with it?
Well then, of course it's worth a review, and a score and all the other bits and bobs you get with one of our informative and entertaining reviews. On we go.
The Pac-Man Ghost Lamp is designed to look like the ghosts from Pac-Man. In this endeavour, it succeeds entirely. There are plenty of other sorts of ghost it could look like, Casper, for example, but instead it sticks to the Pac-Man format. We respect that.
It's made of plastic, and it's quite light. This means you can run around the house with it making "woooohhh" noises. If you fall over, it won't break and get bits of glass embedded in you, thus turning you into a real live ghost.
There's a plug too, this is what powers the Pac-Man Ghost Lamp. Plug it in, and you're away. Don't expect it to light up instantly, though, because first there's something else that you need to make that happen.
Remote control
Also included in the box is a remote control to operate your Ghost Light. It's a simple, card-style affair. There's a decent number of buttons festooned across its surface, and this is tantalizing.
First, there are on and off controls. This is handy, especially if you get scared by this relentlessly pursuing ghost and need to turn it off in a hurry. The majority of the keys are for selecting the various colours your new ghost can adopt. There are the basics - red, green, blue and yellow - but there are more shades too. It's awesome.
But even more excellent are the colour-changing modes. Your ghost light can flash quickly, or fade gracefully between the various colours. You can speed this up or slow it down, all from the remote. There are brightness settings, too.
Press the right buttons, and your ghost lights up. Have it in your bedroom to add some spooky ambience - expect significant other to roll eyes, this is natural, they'll come around when they see all the colours - or put it in the lounge to make TV watching more vibrant.
It's LED-based, so it doesn't cost a fortune to run, and doesn't get especially warm if left on for ages. It's tough, and our two-year-old daughter utterly loved playing with the remote control. Seriously, kids these days have so much awesome stuff it pains us, we had to make to with a bit of string attached to a stick for our kicks when we were young.
- Roborock is giving away two fantastic H6 cordless vacuums and offering $50 off on any purchases (promo)
The light is bright, and this might be one possible criticism. Although you can chose the brightness, it's never possible to get it especially dim for those times when you don't need eye-scorching light levels.
It's also worth pointing out that even the worst of British TV, like EastEnders and Coronation Street, can be immeasurably improved through the skillful deployment of ol' ghosty. Expect spousal disharmony, but soap operas will take on a new level of entertainment.
Seriously, you're still here? Why aren't you already buying this thing. It goes in the "I don't need it, it serves no purpose at all, but I simply must have it" category. And it's reasonably priced too - well, it might not be, but we're so totally in love with it we think £35 is entirely reasonable.
Whoever you are, whatever your hobbies, either you or someone you know wants this light. And that is what we, in the trade, call a fact.
The Pac-Man ghost light was lent to us, and can be purchased from, Firebox.


text:
Taylor Swift vs. Demi Lovato – PopCrush Prom Queen of 2014 [FINALS]
It was a tight race in the semi-final round, but both Taylor Swift and Demi Lovato emerged victorious, with Taylor just managing to squeeze past her bestie Selena Gomez with 50.6% of votes and with Demi beating out Lucy Hale with just over 52% of votes. Now, both Taylor and Demi are battling it out for the crown in the final round. Which leading lady of pop should be crowned Prom Queen of 2014?
Taylor Swift is one tough contender for the title of Prom Queen. With her love of sparkly dresses, elegant poise, and endless generosity, T. Swift is the total package -- almost like a real-life princess! But besides all of the elegance that makes her so fitting for the title, it is the fact that she is so down-to-earth and her music is so relatable that really makes her worthy of Prom Queen. Whether it's through songs like 'Fifteen' or the way she talks about a magical evening like in 'Enchanted,' Taylor just gets what it's like to be in high school, and packages it in such a way that everyone can relate.
Demi Lovato is PopCrush's reigning champ, winning the title of Prom Queen last year. But can she claim the crown for the second year in a row? With her devoted Lovatics behind her, it's certainly possible! But it's not just the fans who give their all to Demi -- she gives everything right back to them, crediting her Lovatics with helping in her recovery and sending them messages of inspiration, hope, and love. What more could you ask for in a Prom Queen? And we all know the 'Neon Lights' singer would look killer at prom -- can you imagine what kind of amazing dress and hairstyle (and color!) she would come up with? Whatever it is, we know she'd look unbelievable!
Which pop star should win the title? You can vote for Demi Lovato or Taylor Swift once every hour until the poll closes at 12 PM ET on Tuesday, June 10. The winner of this round will be crowned PopCrush Prom Queen of 2014!

subset: commoncrawl


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Creating a Feedback and Learning Culture, Thursday 16th September, Glasgow
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If music be..., 7 October 2009, Glasgow
If music be..., 7th October, RSAMD
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The Brain that Changes Itself, 15 September 2009, Glasgow
An evening lecture by Dr Norman Doidge
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Confidence and Well-being in Motion, 2 September 2009, Glasgow
Confidence and Well-being in Motion
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Masterclass with Prof Barry Schwartz, 16 June 2009, Glasgow
Masterclass with Professor Barry Schwartz
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Masterclass with Professor John Seddon, 12th May, 2009, Glasgow
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Nations, culture and well-being, 26 March 2009, Edinburgh
Nations, culture and well-being
Thriving in Turbulent Times, 9 December 2008, Glasgow
Thriving in Turbulent Times
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Wise Words for Turbulent Times: Pack of 6 cards
Creating Confident Individuals - with Prof Carol Dweck, 18 September 2008, Glasgow
Creating Confident Individuals: a masterclass on the Curriculum for Excellence
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Growing Success - with Prof Carol Dweck, 18 September 2008, Glasgow
Growing Success: a powerful masterclass on strengths, motivation and potential
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Bounce Back, 16 August 2008, Stirling
Bounce Back Resilience Training Workshop
Detoxing childhood, 17 June 2008, Glasgow
Detoxing childhood
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Foundations for Flourishing, 10 and 11 March 2008, Edinburgh
Foundations for Flourishing
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Two evenings of inspiration and ideas from Dr Tal Ben-Shahar, January 2008, Dundee and Glasgow
Two evenings of ideas and inspiration
Speaker biographies: Tal Ben-Shahar
The Scientific Pursuit of Happiness, 8 August 2007, Glasgow
The Scientific Pursuit of Happiness, 8 August 2007
The Psychology of Success: A Masterclass on Mindset and Motivation, 14 June 2007, Glasgow
The Psychology of Success: A Masterclass on Mindset and Motivation, 14 June 2007
Bounce Back Resilience Training, 21 and 22 February 2007, Glasgow
Bounce Back Resilience Training
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Scotland's Tipping Point
Carol Craig on Scotland's Tipping Point
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External Events Calendar
Women's Development & Confidence Building Workshop - Feb 2014
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Resilience introductory Powerpoint for parents and teachers
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Attachment and early engagement
Attachment and early engagement
Foundations for flourishing - childhood
Foundations for flourishing: childhood
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Tim Gill: Giving children the freedom to grow and learn
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The type of work the Centre recommends
Duke of Edinburgh impact reports
Why young people's resilience is becoming an issue
What parents can do to help foster children's resilience
What parents can do to help foster children's resilience
10 things parents can do to nurture their child's confidence
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Mindset tips for parents of under 5's
What makes for good parenting? An interesting study with unexpected results
Positive ageing
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Psychological Therapies with Older People
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Step 2 explained
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Background to the MBTI and its potential benefits
Background to the MBTI and its potential benefits
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Sensing types and intuitives
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Judging and perceiving
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Type, age and midlife
Type, age and midlife
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Type and gender
Type dynamics
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Using the MBTI for personal development
Using the MBTI to improve relationships
Communication and building rapport
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Type, compatibility, marriage
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Different preferences for appreciation and recognition and what to do about it
MBTI and managing change
MBTI and managing change
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Using the MBTI for management and leadership development
Management and leadership development
The four temperaments and management/leadership style
How to manage the different temperaments
The MBTI and teaching and learning styles - a cautionary note
A cautionary note
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Section 4: The MBTI, strengths, confidence, well-being and critiques
A qualified use of strengths
The MBTI and strengths
The MBTI and its impact on confidence and well-being
Confidence and the 16 types
Confidence and the 16 types
Why knowledge of the MBTI can improve individual confidence
Why knowledge of the MBTI can improve individual well-being
Criticism of the MBTI
Criticism of the MBTI
Section 5: Next steps, further reading, resources, developments
Next steps, further reading, resources
Next steps
Reading list
Useful contacts and information
Carol Craig's MBTI background
Important points to understand about type
Developments in type
Type Table
Type Table
Enspired Profiles information and purchase
Enspired Profiles information and purchase
Equality & Human Rights Commission/Centre project
The Project
Action Enquiry
Appreciative Inquiry
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Towards a fairer Britain: seminars to share learning - June 2010
Leadership is a people business: Towards a fairer Britain, 28th September 2010
Power Point presentations and shared learning discussion points, 28th September 2010
Report on 'Developing knowledge and skills of leaders in the equality sector in Scotland'
DVD and guidance notes
Scottish Integral
Ken Wilber's quadrants and what this perspective has to offer
The four quadrants
The four quadrants
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About Ken Wilber
Flourishing Lives
Positive Psychology Resources
The Centre's Top Tips
Inspiring gift cards
Emily's News
Too much sitting is making us ill
Alcohol taxes address the most serious problems
'The Secret', 'The Power': why are they so alluring?
Early life stress can alter genes
The value of sadness
Brain boosters
A case of fixed mindsets?
Trying to be happy doesn't work
The heart of psychology
Choosing to be happy
Encouraging students to aim high
Stressed mum = stressed baby
Raising moral and compassionate children
Nature connects the brain
The liberal use of special needs
Mental well-being study
Acquiantances are good for us
Brain development linked to physical fitness
Creativity is not an individual act
Problem solving and bullying
5 minutes in nature improves self-esteem
Better health through social networks
Happiness classes for parents
How to succeed under pressure
Rewiring the brain
The first nine months
Components of happiness
Sisters bring happiness and optimism
Babies learn best from everyday activities - not from educational DVDs
Meditation improves resilience and health
Parents influence is more important than school, for attainment
Certain types of trees reduce dubious behaviour
Parents, play, and mental health
A wandering mind makes people less happy
The Glasgow Effect
The difficulties of measuring happiness
Wholehearted love
Dim light at night and depression
Curiosity at work
Leisurely acivity and depression
Young teenagers who play sport are happier
A little adversity is good for mental health
The media influences how woman see themselves
Mothers, work and child well-being
Mothers who attend baby signing classes are more stressed
Viewing natural scenes reduce pain
Improving pre-school by mentoring teachers
Healthy futures through positive traits
Better learning by changing the font
Psychological well-being and health
Friendly conversations improve cognitive function
10 aspects of good parenting
Social support gets people moving
Motivating the workforce
Changing behaviour
Scotland's health
Positive Psychology critique
Treating depression with Omega-3
Failure and sporting success
The role of the father
Benefits of gardening in schools
Mental well-being impacts physical health in young people
What happened to creativity?
Varied practice improves performance
Outdoor learning publication
Downside of multitasking
Negative feedback helps creativity
Writing about values reduces narcissistic aggression
Growing from threatening relationships
Effort, hardwork and goals which involve others
I will?
The future is bright
Social comparison and unhappiness
Sad? It's nothing to do with the weather
What's best for baby?
Building sibling relationships
The benefits of music
Laughing our way to good health
What does parenting bring?
Germs and playing outdoors
Germs and playing outdoors
Parents and play
Close ties change behaviour
Mindfulness meditation and teenage boys
Leadership and evolution
Money takes away happiness
Recession and child well-being
When bad things bring out the best
Designing their own work space can make staff happy and productive
Why things get better with age
Role models for boys
What happens when staff are rude?
Negative stereotypes undermine learning
Choice: some suprising findings
Friends keep you alive
Maternal affection predicts later coping skills
Happiest when busy
Meditation creates focus
Screen time and psychological health in young people
Growing the brain in old age
Short intervention reduces negative effects of media exposure
Fearing a fall may cause one
The myth of learning styles
Promising to tell the truth increases honesty in young people
Too much too young?
The gut and anxiety
Nature: nothing beats the real thing
'Could Michael Jackson have created twitter?'
Measuring national well-being
'First, do no harm'
'You are what you watch'
Freedom, personal autonomy and well-being
What is it about Denmark?
Positive Psychology for therapists
Raising motivated learners
Laughing at oneself increases positive emotion
Teenagers and sleep
Neuroscience of laughter
Feeling angry? try praying
The positive power of the media
The improving brain
'Disordered environments promote stereoptypes and discrimintaion'
Happiness and suicide
Yoga and meditation benefit primary school pupils
Sleep and cognitive function in adults
Building for well-being
Depression's silver lining
'The untapped power of the smile'
Happiness and it's dark side
Simple games improve self-regulation in pre-schoolers
Marriage and child development
Pets improve the well-being of 'everyday people'
Materialism and childhood unhappiness
Laughing the pain away
Nurturing mothers reduce the impact of poverty
Self-compassion key to child well-being
Nature benefits us more than we think
A little more optimism, but not too much
Social connection and happiness
Mindset and the brain's response to failure
Don't think about a polar bear
Mindfulness and meditation resources
Airbrushing exposed
Managing others changes the brain
Evidence-based management
'Therapy can drive you mad'
Positive Psychology for people with depression
Cross cultural differences in the risk for depression
'5 a day' tips for positive parenting
Measuring national well-being
Parenting, consumer culture and rioting
Children's anxiety and depression reduced when parenting style adapted to personality
Decision fatigue
'Why Parents Should Stop Overprotecting Kids and Let them Play'
Risky play and mental health
Creativity at work
The adaptive-adolescent story
City life takes its toll on the brain
What's in a smile?
More economic growth does not lead to happiness
Having friends protects kids from sadness and depression
Woman over 50 have highest levels of work-related fatigue
How not to interview people
Job loss and happiness
Feeling blue? chances are others are too
The Neuroscience of lonliness
Interesting advice for happiness in 2011
Curbing violence in young people
Snacking while watching TV makes us eat more later on
Positive emotion and creativity
Social activities beneficial for mental health in old age
Walking 6-9 miles a week helps our memory as we age
Life expectancy of Scots falling behind Eastern Europe
Your happiness influences how happy your spouse is
Certain mental health problems in children linked to parenting, not genes
Helping parents support each other improves well-being for all the family
The pressures of attachment parenting
Writing about values improves performance
More trees please
Being grateful is better than a magic pill
Keeping happy through winter
A good nights sleep improves skills
Young people have an unhealthy craving for praise
Thinking about our ancestors can boost success in job interviews and exams
Mental health needs of men and boys
Physical activity and political participation
Teenagers influenced by what their friends watch on TV
Chocolate, crisps and intelligence
Some pitfalls of Positive Psychology
Spending time together builds family bonds
The sun may be shining, but are they happy?
Children benefit from doing chores
'Smile or die'
Brain Awareness Week
Feeling loved reduces materialism
Aging, happiness and longevity
Walking changes the brain
The benefits of marriage
Female mental health issues
Nourishing well-being duing winter
Encouraging a culture of giving
Accepting fears can loosen their grip
The Chinese mother approach
UK Early years report
Top 10 neuroscience TED talks
Mindfulness meditation changes the brain and reduces stress, in novices
Creating a work-life balance
Singing and child well-being
Self-compassion and motivation
Day time naps help us attend to the positive
Sleep is important for learning
Optimism and the brain
Disguising unsustainable actions eases our mind
Giving gifts or our time to others is good for us
Attending to the positive reduces worrying
Creative work is good for your health
Cultivating happiness
Brain turns to the positive when faced with death
Happiness can help cut blood pressure and obesity
A new way to think about social relations
Public policy and effects of media violence
Tal's tips for happiness
Mental Health in Education
Babies prefer helpers
The growth mindset and success
Bringing parenting classes to the football field
Thought control and chocolate consumption
Living arrangements: happiness, health and old age
Oxytocin reveals why we are generous
Can a lack of sleep cause Psychiatric disorders?
Teamwork improves learning and career success
Violent video games are great aggression teachers
Storytelling for business
Giving is better than receiving
Child well-being and income inequality
Searching for happiness at work
Exercising judgement: the psychology of fitness
Slowing the hedonic treadmill
Restricting TV time reduces obestiy
Is happiness fixed from birth?
A resource for young people
The commercialisation of young people
Training in the arts improves thinking
Healthier diets foster success and well-being
Neuroscience for young people
Update on The Dark Side
Raising anxious girls
Song lyrics are more hostile and narcissistic than ever before
Reflecting on values transcends the self and increases love and acceptance
Interview with Nurture Shock author
Revolution of values
Shifting the focus to staff well-being
Caveman blues
Happiness event
Antidepressant studies unpublished
Work stress and heart disease: the mediators
Why life is good
Who's fooling whom?
From the tennis court to the work place
What makes children happy?
Can people be too happy?
Older people are happy
Debate on teaching happiness
Happiness is the measure of true wealth
The drugs don't work - but therapy will?
Learning from Malawi
Country walks can help reduce depression
Motivation and positive relationships
The (other) Secret
The Older-and-Wiser Hypothesis
How children use their local environment
The biology of charitable donations
The science of team success
There's much more to a walk in the park
Children are not mad or bad, they are just scared
Educational site which shares good practice
Handicapping with optimism
Coaching interventions in educational settings
Jennifer Aniston to play Harvard Professor.
Positive ageing
Mental health, blood pressure & happiness
How to beat the genetic set point for happiness
How not to talk to your kids
Is it wrong to teach children about feelings?
Why societies should pursue happiness
Job vacancy for lecturer in Positive Psychology
Mellowing with age may help you live longer
Learning about positive psychology
Want to achieve something - like voting tomorrow?
The Effort Effect
Leave No Child Inside
Virtual 'Vital Friends'
Simple Interventions can reduce achievement gaps
The impact of loneliness on health and well-being
The brain's response to a growth mindset
Raising Grateful Children
Predicting Health vs. Predicting Disease
Resilient parenting
Learning beyond the classroom
Body-mind techniques increase performance
Some things get better with age
Health and economic impact of reducing class sizes
Good lives don't need to cost the earth
Is depression overdiagnosed? yes.
Brain's response means that we learn from mistake
Young people can change the world
The myth of the teen brain
Moving from good to great
Mindset website
Resilience: build skills to endure hardship
Talking about problems is not always a good thing
Self regulation is important for academic success
Gratitude is good medicine for organ recipients
High hope and problem gambling
The impact of well-being on health outcomes
Happiness and recovery from negative events
Rewarding children for being helpful undermines future altruism
Victims of overprotection and worrying?
TV and depressive symptoms in young people
Employee well-being and organisational success
Changing colours to enhance performance
Building responsibility through hard work
Positive Psychology classes have no effect
Small changes can reduce overindulgence
Household plants can increase well-being in old folks homes
Alcohol on TV makes people drink more
Conditional parenting
Fame, fortune and looks undermine well-being
Happiness inequality in the US
Measuring progress
Learning from mistakes; it's all in the process
Synchronous activities like singing or dancing increase cooperation
Misconceptions about the brain
Winter walk in the park
Selflessness, spirituality and the brain
Pizza face turned out to be a winner
Litter and graffiti lead to more serious crime
Is the happiness boom making us happy?
Acknowledging non academic success
Smiling can change your mood
Is personality carved in stone?
Positive Psychology in Easterhouse
Positive stereotyping
Happiness is love
Optimism is good for your health
Self-regulation in preschool education
Obesity is in the genes
Do brain training games really work?
'Cinderella ate my daughter'
Self-control in young children predicts later success
Doing good deeds builds self-control
Physical activity boosts learning in Scottish schools
Genius is in the environment, not the genes
The power of social networks
Negative emotions broaden thinking
Optimism is good for your health
Marriage is good for mental health
Television watching and child development
Having children does make us happy
The case for pessimism
7 steps to happiness
Some things get better with age
Positive Psychology progress
Positive parenting has a long term effect
Time pressure can lead to confidence at work
Parents can reduce materialism in Teenagers
Family routines reduce obesity
Being politically active is good for well-being
Joining the International Positive Psychology Association
School ethos can influence smoking behaviour in pupils
Exam success is determined by 'mental toughness' and not intelligence
Growing Success
Less power may equal less success at work
What happens when I think you can change
The Unintended Consequences of Childline
You may not see it, but TV is affecting children
Allegations against Martin Seligman
Nature has a calming effect, watching it on TV doesn't
Happiness and longevity
Don't climb that tree, it's too risky
Therapeutic education is undermining young people and adults
Grandparents are good for young people's well-being and resilience
If at first you don't succeed, you're in excellent company
The long tem effect of antidepressants. Who am I?
Values are the key to happiness
Nature can help unruly teenagers
More is not always better
Children of active parents are more likely to succeed
Embracing the blues
Giving up cigarettes is socially contagious
It's okay to keep those feelings inside
Artificially boosting happiness in young people impairs learning
Scoring goals comes from having the right stereotype
Are the Scots happy?
The Dark Side: The Centre's view
Leading the way to employee health and well-being
Violent video games and aggression
Increasing well-being through small and frequent activities
What do happy people do?
Thinking through Positive Psychology
Could individualism create problem drinking?
Even personality can change
Which way the buggy faces influences child development
The effect of a green environment on health inequalities
Mindfulness therapy for depression
Teaching emotional literacy in schools doesn't work
Happiness is socially contagious
Positive emotions build resources through meditation
Self-belief increases mathematical problem solving
'Five a Day' to keep the blues at bay
Sacrificing our safety and our sanity to sanitisation
Can love and forgiveness change the brain?
Growing from the mistakes we make
Great expectations in the work place
The Brain that Changes Itself
Mothers expectations predict daughters self-confidence
Optimism and the credit crunch
Using humor to remember things
A dose of nature
Nurturing depressive symptoms in young people
Flourishing and positive emotions
This is your life (and how you tell it)
Speakers, trainers etc
Speakers, trainers and workshop leaders
Carol Craig
Derek Goldman
Isobel MacNaughtan
Zoe Van Zwanenberg
Sylvia Brown
Further information and fees
Confidence handbook
Action research projects
Centre based Mindset research: Glasgow University and Stanford University
Stanford University Scottish Schools Research Project on the Growth Mindset
The project
Glasgow University Mindset Research
Glasgow University Mindset Research
Positive writing
Outdoor education
Outdoor education report
Featured external projects
El Sistema - Venezuela and Scotland
Room 13
Suzanne Zeedyk and the 'science of human connection'
The Relaxation Company
OYAplus Buddy Scheme
Sporting memories network
Outward Bound Trust - a case study on MIndset
Outward Bound Trust - a case study on MIndset
Two interesting workshops in Scotland Autumn 2013
Artistic Activism: Changin Scotland,1st- 3rd November, Newbattle Abbey
The Art of Participatory Leadership 27th-29th November, Crianlarich
News snippets
Karyn McLuskey and the Violence Reduction Unit feature in Radio 4s Book of the Week
Carol Craig's commentary on happiness in The Scotsman 26 July 2011
Unreasonable learners - 3rd newsletter
Dylan Wiliam on the key to 'world class schools'
Ted Talks Come to Glasgow
The Sunday Politics on Dr Agnes Nairn's UNICEF report on materialism
Gender inequality in Scotland
Mental Health Consultation for Scotland - Emerging Thoughts
Commenting on blogs
Celebrity Vs. Creativity Taster Workshop with Libby McArthur
The Centre's favourite audio/visual material
Have you seen our extensive resources on well-being?
Centre in the news for its work on Mindset with Outward Bound
Carol Craig's position on the Scottish Referendum
Two great new Scottish pieces on the internet on the hacking crisis
Centre's review of Martin Seligman's new book - Flourish
Phil Hanlon looking for your stories of 'transformational change'
The language of violence
Alan Sinclair's fact finding visits to Finland and Holland
Changes to the front page
'Centre exchanges' - your help needed
Contrasting Scotland and Burma!
The Battle Hymn of the Chinese Mother - some interesting material
Update on the Centre's views on the University of Edinburgh's Scottish Affairs
Most inspiring TED talk?
Action for Happiness - the Centre's view
The importance of Mindset
Listen to Charlie Miller, a Centre Director, talk about spirituality, integral and the Centre
Unreasonable learners - inspirational new website
Centre Statement on its Postcard series and the 'new Scotland'
Changes at the Centre
Carol Craig's talks to parents
Centre's review of 'Flourish'
Postcards from Scotland
Postcards from Scotland
Rationale for the series
Phil Hanlon and Sandra Carlisle
Carol Craig
Alf Young and Ewan Young
The Scots' Crisis of Confidence
List of contents for second edition (2011)
Key messages
Comments on the book
Some positive reviews and comments
Some critical comments and reviews
Kirsty Wark's foreword to the book
Go Dundee
Go Dundee
Go Angus
Centre's critique of SEAL
The Centre
Who we are and what we do
Who we are and what we do
The Centre's working principles
Background information
Charitable object
Environmental Policy
Associates and advisers
Board of Directors
Contact us
Glasgow+ Inequality ...
The Tears that Made the Clyde: Well-being in Glasgow - Carol Craig's book on Glasgow
Buy The Tears that Made the Clyde
References etc associated with The Tears that Made the Clyde
What's available
Alphabetical list of references
References by subject
Weblinks for references in the book
Book reviews and press coverage
Reviews etc of The Tears that Made the Clyde
Tom Devine and Phil Hanlon's views on The Tears that Made the Clyde
Tom Devine and Phil Hanlon's views on the book
Professor Tom Devine's Foreword
Professor Phil Hanlon's Afterword
New findings, additional material, helpful projects ...
New and updated data and research findings
New and updated data and research findings
Glasgow pupils acceptance of domestic violence
Glasgow's health worse than Manchester and Liverpool's
Scotland is 'worst in UK for fighting crime'
Glasgow has the lowest life expectancy in the UK
Glasgow area 'benefits capital' of Britain
Why Scot's Die young?
Suicide rates higher in Scotland
Readers' comments
Readers' comments
Rev. Anthony Craig's views
Cathy McCormack's views
Comments from someone who grew up in Scotland and now lives in Europe
Blogs and Forum
Carol's Blog
Alan Sinclair's Blog
Emily's News
Contact Us
Flourishing Lives
Getting to grips with the language
The terminology explained
Connected Communities
Healthy, Resilient Communities
What makes us healthy
Understanding Community Resilience
Community organising
Growing Community Organising
Resilient Scotland
Later Years
Positive ageing
Ageing well
Wisdom and Flamboyance: Flourishing in older age
PPTs from Wisdom and Flamboyance event
The detrimental influence of negative stereotypes
The Resilient Brain: an optimistic approach to ageing
Longevity Increased by Positive Self-Perceptions of Ageing
Decision Making improves with age
Ageing and Retirement
Fostering Positive Ageing
Practical steps organisations can take to foster positive ageing
Psychological Therapies with Older People
Introduction to confidence
Crisis of Confidence
The type of work the Centre recommends
Further Reading
External Links
Self-efficacy matters
What encourages self-efficacy
What is optimism?
The advantages of optimism
Why optimism matters
Learning to be optimistic
The power of pessimism
Flexible optimism
Defensive pessimism
Optimism and culture
Is the glass half empty or half full?
Further Reading
External Links
A short history of self-esteem
The evidence on self-esteem
Differences in self-esteem
Definitional difficulties
Can self-esteem be overdone?
Impracticality of the concept
Seligman's critique of self-esteem
Twenge's critique of self-esteem
Crocker's critique of self-esteem
Positive Psychology & self-esteem
Confidence Building Tips and Techniques
Enhancing ecosystem goals
Circle of Influence and Concern
Feedback Hieroglyph
Giving | Receiving Compliments
Evaluative Vs Appreciative Praise
Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale
Optimism Building techniques
Guidelines for using optimism
ABCDE model (Learning to be Optimistic)
Various methods to build optimism and challenge pessimistic thoughts
The Life Orientation Test Revised (lot-r)
Mindset Overview
Overview of Dweck's research into mindsets
Two mindsets
How the mindsets interact with success and failure
The brain and mindset
Mindset and achievement
Changing mindsets
The Effort Effect
Suspending judgement
Mindset video and website
Research and Resources
Fail Your Way to Success by Changing your Mindset
Mindset At Home
Glasgow University Mindset Research
Further and higher education
Happiness and Economics
A short history of happiness and economics
GDP and happiness
Alternatives to GDP
Prosperity paradox
Professor Richard Layard on happiness
Brief summary
Flow: The Engaged Life
The eight ingredients of flow
The importance of flow
The problem with leisure
Flow and meaning
Co-operatve Learning
What is Co-operative Learning?
How does Co-operative Learning work?
The five 'elements' of co-operative groups
Putting these ideas into practice
Criticism of Co-operative Learning
The evidence behind Co-operative Learning
Co-operative Learning in Scotland
What is motivation?
The function of motivation
Theories of motivation
From theory to practice
Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation
Our emotions and motivation
Personality and motivation
Motivating others
Creating a motivating climate
Motivation and self-esteem
Further Reading
External Links
Work and Well-being
Work and Well-being
Having a job contributes to well-being
Only good work is healthy work
Well-being and work at the societal and structural level
Marriage and well-being
The problem with rising expectations
Improving communication
Making the most of parenthood
Why the 'so-called' delusions about parenthood?
Reasons to have children
Making parenthood a positive experience
Further information and resources
Friendship and socialising
How do we develop friendships?
What does it mean to be in friendship networks?
The benefits of having friends
Putting the benefits of well-being in perspective
Animal companionship
Animal companionship
Health outcomes arising from pet ownership
The case for animal-assisted therapy
Understanding resilience
Introduction to resilience
A short history of resilience
The main ingredients of resilience
Resilience at work
Protective factors within the community
Further Reading
External Links
Resilience tips and techniques
Learning the Connection between Thoughts and Feelings
Understanding the Impact of Positive and Negative Thoughts
10 ways to build resilience
Physical activity and sleep
Physical activity and flourishing
The importance of physical activity
Physical activity and the brain - John Ratey and 'Spark'
Well-being and exercise
The potential downside of physical activity interventions
Guidelines for 'good practice'
Well-being and exercise
Physical activity tips
More evidence on physical activity
Physical activity data
Obesity statistics
Physical activity Projects
Sleeping well
A good night's sleep
Why eight hours sleep is vital
Tips for better sleep
Sleep Scotland
Contact with nature
Contact with nature
Research on the importance of nature to well-being and functioning
Scottish thinkers - nature and ecology
Green therapies
Mind's green agenda for mental health
Tips and suggestions
Resources - books, websites etc
Emotional Well-being
Positive Psychology
Positive Psychology
Criticisms of 'traditional' psychology
The story of Positive Psychology
Differences between Positive Thinking and Positive Psychology
The negative brain
The role of positive emotion
The Positive Psychology paradox
Further Reading
External Links
Signature strengths
Building on strengths
Alex Linley's views on strengths
Why is happiness on the agenda?
A short history of happiness
Why bother to improve happiness?
The hierarchy of happinesses
What makes us happy... and what doesn't
Measuring happiness
Can we increase happiness?
Daniel Gilbert - Stumbling on Happiness
Dr Emmon's views on the science of gratitude
Sonja Lyubomirsky's views on increasing happiness
Active and Constructive Responding
Jonathan Haidt's views on happiness
Further Reading
External Links
What is mindfulness?
Research into the benefits of mindfulness
Mindfulness Scotland
Research and Insights into the Science of Meaningful Life
Mindfulness therapy for depression
Mindfulness tools and practices
Waking up to the problems with materialism
The problem with materialistic values
Supporting research
Why materialism erodes personal well-being
What we can do to put materialist values in their place
Useful resources (ppts, videos, reports, books and more)
What is spirituality?
'Divinity with or without God'
The benefits of spirituality to happiness and well-being
The benefits of spirituality to health
Ways to enhance spiritual feelings
Income equality and well-being
Income inequality and society
The psychology of inequality
The evidence on the importance of equality
The solution? - Political action, not psychology
Freedom from negative stereotyping
The problem with negative stereotypes
Reducing stereotype threats
The effect of stereotypes on older people's well-being
Useful links
The optimal amount of choice
The problem with choice
Positive Organisations
Introduction to positive organisations
Positive Organisational Scholarship
Building on strengths
Confidence in teams and organisations
4 Tips for building a positive organisation
Workplace empowerment and 'systems thinking'
Workplace empowerment and 'systems thinking'
Tips and techniques
6 Ways to Create a More Positive Atmosphere at Work
Encouraging Positive Emotion in the Workplace
Personal Management Interview Program
Steps Employers Can Take to Counteract the Sleep Deficit
Tips and techniques
Positive Psychology
Using a solution focus approach
Postpone Worrying
You at Your Best
Create a Positive Psychology Study group
Finding your signature strengths
How to Improve Well-Being through Better Sleep
Sleep Code for Children
Take Flowers/Plants to Someone Who is Ill
Buy Your Granny a Plant
Reducing Anxiety by Restricting Choices
Happiness Tips
3 Blessings Exercise
Gratitude Visit
BBC Happiness Manifesto
Climbing the Pyramid of Forgiveness - REACH model
Active and Constructive Responding
Eight Steps Towards a More Satisfying Life
Have a Beautiful Day
Subjective Happiness scale (shs)
The Satisfaction with Life Scale
Motivation Tips to Achieve Your Goal
10 Key Principles of Motivation
Building Confidence and Motivation
Increasing Feelings of Self-Efficacy and Healthy Outcomes
Change the Way You View Failure
Fail Your Way to Success by Changing your Mindset
Mindset tools for parents and teachers
Mindset in the Classroom
Positive Psychology
Introduction to positive emotions
View short videos of Carol Craig, Centre's Chief Executive, talking about our research and views
Assertive Comminication
Understanding assertive communication
Understanding assertive communication continued
Measuring assertive behaviour
Future training of trainer courses
Heart Coherence
Paradox of Choice PowerPoint
Further Reading
Learned Optimism
Powerpoint slides
Introductory resilience presentation for teachers and parents
The Centre's 10 key messages
Better support for vulnerable children
Building Confidence and Motivation
Increasing Feelings of Self-Efficacy and Healthy Outcomes
Chose a health habit that you would like to improve.
Research Library
Positive Psychology
Positive emotions broaden the scope of attention and thought-action repertoires
Positive emotions trigger upward spirals toward emotional well-being
The undoing effect of positive emotions
'Expressions of Positive Emotion in Women's College Yearbook Pictures and Their Relationship to
Research on the Effects of Positive Writing for S2 Pupils
Positive emotions in early life and longevity: Findings from the Nun study
Longevity Increased by Positive Self-Perceptions of Aging
Hopes Dashed and Dreams Fulfilled: Contingencies of Self-Worth and Graduate School Admissions.
From Vulnerability to Resilience. Learning Orientations Buffer Contingent Self-Esteem From Failure
Motivation and Self-esteem: association between goal type and well-being.
Well-being and politics
Long-term effects of a control-relevant Intervention with the Institutionalized Aged
The association between emotional well-being and the incidence of stroke in older adults
Positive Affect Predicts Lower Risk of AIDS Mortality
Emotional Style and Susceptibility to the Common Cold
Leaving high school: The influence and consequences for psychological well-being and career-related
Evidence for the independence of positive and negative well-being: Implications for quality of life
Psychological well-being associated with a physical activity programme for persons over 60 years old
Health habits and psychological well-being among young, middle-aged and older Australian women
Positive emotions trigger upward spirals toward emotional well-being
A warm heart and a clear head: The contingent effects of weather on mood and cognition
Cardiovascular reactivity and the presence of pets, friends, and spouses:
What scientists are discovering by measuring the beating of the heart
AIDS diagnosis and depression in the Multicenter AIDS cohort study: The ameliorating impact of pet o
Physical exercise and psychological well-being: A population study in Finland
Exercise treatment for major depression: Maintenance of therapeutic benefit at 10 months
Physical activity reduces the risk of subsequent depression for older adults
A view through a window may influence recovery from surgery
Optimism and pessimism as predictors of change in health
Self-esteem in early and late adolescence predicts dispositional optimism-pessimism in adulthood::
Relations between coping responses and optimism-pessimism
Optimism-Pessimism assessed in the 1960's and self-reported health status 30 years later
The role of optimism in social network development,
Exploring optimism & pessimism in parents of children with cancer
A new measure of children's optimism and pessimism: The Youth Life Orientation Test
Optimism as a mediator of the relation between perceived parental authoritativeness
Dispositional optimism and health behaviour in community-dwelling older people:
Further Reading
External Links
The Benefits of Frequent Positive Affect: Does Happiness Lead to Success?
Mindfulness meditation and teenage boys
Happiness in Everyday Life: The Uses of Experience Sampling
Health and happiness in young Swiss adults
Positive psychology progress: Empirical validation of interventions
Hedonic consequences of social comparison: A contrast of happy and unhappy people
'Very Happy People'
For better or worse, your happiness is hitched to your spouse
Maximizing versus satisficing: Happiness is a matter of choice
Orientations to happiness and life satisfaction: The Full Life versus the Empty Life
What good are positive emotions?
Resilient individuals use positive emotions to bounce back from negative emotional experiences
An evaluation of the FRIENDS programme:
Relationship of resilience to personality, coping, and psychiatric symptoms in young adults
What parents can do to help foster children's resilience
Depression prevention for early adolescent girls: A pilot study of all girls versus co-ed groups
The Family 2020 Project
Undermining children's intrinsic interest with extrinsic reward:
Long-term effects of a control-relevant Intervention with the Institutionalized Aged
Positive Psychology
Msc in Applied Positive Psychology
The Centre's empirical research
Further information on the current measures
National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being
The Walking Tall programme
Have a Heart Paisley
Exploring optimism & pessimism in parents of children with cancer
Making Mums Happy
How happy are our schools
The Freagarroch Project
The International Resilience Project
Resilience and Rough Sleepers
Resilient Therapy: A box of ordinary magic tricks
The Family 2020 Project
Motivated College
Flourishing Lives - Young People
Research and Findings on Young People's Well-being and Confidence
The problem to be addressed
The Centre's empirical research
Further information on the current measures
View short videos of Carol Craig, Centre's Chief Executive, talking about our research and views
Well-being in schools (SEAL)
Toxic Childhood
The Centre's views on young people's well-being/confidence
The Centre's recommended alternatives to artificial self-esteem boosting
Twenge's critique of self-esteem in young people
The impact of parents on the development of efficacy
The importance of schools
Three barriers to builiding self-efficacy in Scotland
Optimism in children
Carol Craig talking about optimism - video
Assertive communication
Assertive communication
The Centre's interest in the topic
Understanding assertive communication
Understanding assertive communication continued
The Centre's course for young people
DVD of scenarios
Potential misuse of assertiveness courses in school
Measuring assertive behaviour
Future training of trainer courses
Early Years
Attachment and early engagement
Early Years and Transformational Change
10 things parents can do to nurture their child's confidence
Encouraging responsibility
Why parents should stop overprotecting their children
What parents can do to foster children's resilience
10 Aspects of great parenting
They Are What You Feed Them
Tips for Parents: Girls and Reality TV programmes
Too much too young?
Parents, play and mental health
Other useful information on the website
The challenge of adolescence
The Case Against Adolescence
Adolescents and Depression
Mindfulness meditation and teenage boys
Teaching Mindfulness in Schools
The Myth of the Teenage Brain
The Downside of Multi-tasking
Two mindsets
Suspending judgement
Changing mindsets
Praise and Encouragement
The brain and mindset
Mindset At Home
How not to talk to your kids
Mindset tips for parents of under 5's
In the Classroom
Reading list
Mindset: Projects and Resources
Research and findings School projects
Understanding reslience
Introduction to resilience
A short history of resilience
The main ingredients of resilience
Resilience in young people
Building resilience in young people
When is the most important time to foster resilience?
Why young people's resilience is becoming an issue
No Fear: Growing up in a risk adverse society
Resilience and vulnerable children
The Centre's 10 key messages on resilience
The root of the resilience problem in schools
Relationship of resilience to personality, coping, and psychiatric symptoms in young adults
Depression prevention for early adolescent girls: A pilot study of all girls versus co-ed groups
The 'resilience factor'
Three powerful resiliency building tools
External Links
Bounce Back
Bounce Back Programme
Find out about Perth and Kinross Council's research on the use of Bounce Back
Listen to Carol Craig talk about the erosion of resilience in today's world
Theoretical background to resilience
Bounce Back courses in Scotland
Comments from previous course participants
Should resilience be taught in schools?
Resilience introductory Powerpoint for parents and teacher
Further reading on the Centre's views on resilienc
'Creating Confidence' Handbook
References for handbook chapters 1-10
Defining confidence
Foreword by George Morris
Waking up to the problems with materialism
What we can do to put materialist values in their place
The Effect of Materialism on Families and Kids
Useful resources (ppts, videos, reports, books and more)
What is motivation?
Theories of motivation
Motivating others
Creating a motivating climate
Alan McLean: Letting go of the reins
Co-operative Learning
What is Co-operative Learning?
How does Co-operative Learning work?
The five 'elements' of co-operative groups
Putting these ideas into practice
Criticism of Co-operative Learning
The evidence behind Co-operative Learning
Co-operative Learning in Scotland
Flow: The Engaged Life
The eight ingredients of flow
Using the concept of Flow in the classroom
How do we develop friendships?
What does it mean to be in friendship networks?
The benefits of having friends
What are friends for?
The Power of Friendship
Overview and research
Children and young people-Learning and playing outdoors
Giving children the freedom to grow and learn
Different ways schools can increase children and young people's experience outdoors
Helpful tips for parents, carers and teachers
Watch interview with Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods
A dose of nature
UK Children suffering from from a lack of Nature
Outdoor education report
Resources - books, websites etc
Interesting Scottish projects
The Young Person's Guide to Inequality
Why eight hours sleep is vital
Sleep Scotland - project to help young people sleep well
Adolescent Sleep
Tips for improving sleep
Sleep Code for Children
Physical Activity
Physical activity and the brain
Decline in play and the rise of psycopatholoy in children and adolescents
Physical activity boosts learning in Scottish schools
Physical activity Projects
Guidelines for 'good practice'
Centre for Confidence and Well-being is a registered charity based in Scotland Registered No. SCO37080
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text:
Welcome to the Samson Oil & Gas Ltd's Investor Centre. This section is designed to provide investors and other interested parties with access to our important public information.
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text:
Pols seek alternative to Foley closure
Concern is growing among Suffolk lawmakers as County Executive Steve Bellone's plan to close the John J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility advances further by the day.
Several legislators wrote letters to Bellone late last week after his $205,000 closure consultants oversaw the first three patient transfers and began meeting with the 180 employees who had just received new layoff notices. As another patient was moved Monday, lawmakers are urging Bellone, a Democrat, to consider any alternative to shuttering the nursing home because of the continued roadblocks to his $23 million sale to private operators.
"The fact that the county has moved forward and filed a closure plan is very disheartening," wrote Legis. William Spencer (D-Centerport), who had supported Foley's stalled sale.
"Clearly the status quo is unacceptable to all involved, and looking at all available options could resolve this issue for good," wrote Legis. Al Krupski (D-Cutchogue), who was elected after the legislature approved the sale to Israel and Samuel Sherman last fall.
Krupski's "status quo" reference was an acknowledgment of Bellone's argument that Suffolk, with an estimated $250 million deficit, cannot continue to operate the Yaphank nursing home at an additional cost of $1 million a month. Bellone has largely blamed the pending closure on the union for Foley workers and the two lawmakers who filed suit to block the sale.
But those opponents have argued that the administration never tried to run the facility efficiently by filling vacant beds and didn't aggressively pursue nonprofit partnerships to ease the financial burden of operations. Last week, Dan Farrell, president of the Association of Municipal Employees, said he wouldn't immediately drop the suit and accused Bellone's office of not entertaining any other alternatives to closure.
Reacting to the lawmaker letters, Deputy County Executive Jon Schneider said Monday that it still was up to opponents of a sale to embrace privatization. Besides the sale, Bellone has previously pitched a lease to the Shermans that would allow the county to bypass the Brookhaven Zoning Board of Appeals, which has denied the county's application for a special permit needed for a sale.
"Everyone knows that we don't want to close the place either," Schneider said. "Everyone knows that the best way to stop a closure is to remove the obstacles to a deal that would keep the patients in their beds and employees in their jobs."
Negotiations continue with the union, but sale opponent Legis. Kate Browning (WF-Shirley) is stepping up her criticism of Bellone. In a letter last week, she reminded him that when he campaigned for office in late 2011, he told Foley residents that he would end the days of their home being used as a "political football."
"He's doing that now," Browning said, saying Bellone promised to study nursing home management to make it profitable in county hands.
But Legis. Tom Barraga (R-West Islip) said it was sale opponents who, by refusing to drop their lawsuit, have needlessly made the Foley saga drag on. "They're obstructionists at this point," said Barraga, who voted for the sale. "They need to take a long second look at their position, because to continue down this road, it really means the worst-case scenario for everybody."


text:
"Revealing. . . . full of forbearance and forgiveness. . . . Each re-created interview…captures a particular individual at a crucial time in Chinese history."
—The New York Times Book Review
"Stunning. . . . Revealing in its incidental details. . . . Liao brings us fascinating insights into the lives of all manner of workers….an addictive book."
"Reading The Corpse Walker is like walking with Liao: Even though our feet are not blistered and our bodies are not starved, in the end we are shaken and moved."
—San Francisco Chronicle
Foreword by Philip Gourevitch
Introduction: The Voice of China's Social Outcasts by Wen Huang
The Professional Mourner
The Human Trafficker
The Public Restroom Manager
The Corpse Walkers
The Leper
The Peasant Emperor
The Feng Shui Master
The Abbot
The Composer
The Rightist
The Retired Official
The Former Landowner
The Yi District Chief's Wife
The Village Teacher
The Mortician
The Neighborhood Committee Director
The Former Red Guard
The Counterrevolutionary
The Tiananmen Father
The Falun Gong Practitioner
The Illegal Border Crosser
The Grave Robber
The Safecracker
The Blind Erhu Player
The Street Singer
The Sleepwalker
The Migrant Worker
Translator's Acknowledgments


text:
B-287608.3, National City Bank of Indiana, August 7, 2002
The decision issued on the date below was subject to a GAO Protective Order. This redacted version has been approved for public release.
Matter of: National City Bank of Indiana
File: B-287608.3
Date: August 7, 2002
Rand Allen, Esq., Philip J. Davis, Esq., Timothy W. Staley, Esq., and Derek A. Yeo, Esq., Wiley Rein & Fielding, for the protester.
Eugene D. Gulland, Esq., Alan A. Pemberton, Esq., Jennifer L. Plitsch, Esq., and Timothy J. Keefer, Esq., Covington & Burling, for Bank of America, an intervenor.
John F. Ruoff, Esq., Defense Finance and Accounting Service, for the agency.
Glenn G. Wolcott, Esq., and Michael R. Golden, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision.
1. In implementing prior GAO recommendation to amend solicitation and request revised proposals, agency properly permitted awardee to change various portions of its cost and technical proposal where solicitation amendment specifically advised all offerors that they were permitted to "change any or all portions of their proposal."
2. In performing past performance evaluation, agency reasonably declined to attribute the past performance of an offeror's affiliate to that offeror where, based on the agency's independent research, it determined that the affiliate was a separate legal entity, that the two entities had substantially differing workforces, management, and facilities, and that the offeror's affiliate was not likely to be involved in performing the contract being competed.
3. Agency's cost realism analysis of awardee's proposed staffing costs is not supported where the record is devoid of any meaningful explanation from the agency evaluators of their basis for accepting as realistic the awardee's proposed [deleted] reduced staffing levels.
National City Bank of Indiana (NCB) protests the award of a contract by the Department of Defense (DOD), Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), to Bank of America (BOA) under request for proposals (RFP) No. MDA210-00-R-CPB3 to provide banking services for United States personnel stationed overseas. NCB protests that DFAS improperly permitted BOA to revise its proposal, improperly evaluated BOA's past performance, improperly evaluated BOA's proposed costs, and failed to perform an appropriate cost/technical trade‑off.
We sustain the protest because the cost realism evaluation is unsupported.
On January 13, 2000, DFAS published the solicitation at issue, seeking proposals to provide commercial banking services to U.S. personnel stationed overseas under the authority of DOD's Overseas Military Banking Program (OMBP).[1] The solicitation contemplated award of a multi-year, cost-reimbursement contract for a 5-year base period with five 1-year option periods.[2] The RFP provided that award would be based on the proposal offering the best value to the government considering cost, past performance, and technical factors, and stated that technical factors were more important then either cost or past performance, which were of equal importance.
In April 2001, the agency selected NCB for contract award. Following that selection, BOA filed a protest with our Office challenging the source selection decision on several bases. In July 2001, we sustained BOA's protest based on the agency's failure to conduct meaningful discussions. Bank of Am., B-287608, B-287608.2, July 26, 2001, 2001 CPD ¶ 137. [3] Our decision also noted that the agency had apparently applied certain, undisclosed technical evaluation "standards," and had made various errors in evaluating cost proposals. Id. at 12 n.23. We recommended that the agency amend the solicitation to disclose all evaluation criteria, conduct meaningful discussions with the offerors, request final proposal revisions (FPR), evaluate those proposals consistent with the terms of the amended solicitation, and make a source selection decision based on that evaluation. Id. at 14.
By letters dated September 21, the agency advised the offerors that it was implementing our recommendations. With those letters, the agency provided the offerors with RFP amendment No. 10,[4] and asked various questions regarding each offeror's proposal.
On October 3, the agency issued RFP amendment No. 11, formally notifying both offerors that they would be permitted to change "any or all" portions of their prior proposals.[5] Specifically, this amendment published various questions and the agency's response to those questions, including the following:
Question: Is it the Government's plan to re-evaluate the entire technical proposal or to evaluate only the changes made?
Answer: The Government will evaluate the response to the questions and any impact they may have to the technical proposal. The Government may re-evaluate other areas of the proposal as deemed necessary.
[Question:] Will DFAS allow the contractor to change any or all portions of their existing proposals as deemed appropriate prior to award?
Answer: Yes, the offeror will be afforded the opportunity to submit a final proposal upon the government[']s call for final proposal revision.
At this time the contractor can change any or all portions of their proposal.
Agency Report (AR), Tab H, RFP amend. 11 (emphasis added).
The agency engaged in ongoing discussions with both offerors regarding various aspects of their cost and technical proposals, and both offerors responded by submitting various proposal revisions. Among other things, NCB's submissions indicated that it intended to perform the contract using staffing levels roughly equivalent to the current levels. In contrast, BOA's submissions indicated that it intended to [deleted] decrease current [deleted] staffing levels [deleted]. BOA explained that it had successfully decreased staffing levels during recent years, and that its proposed staffing reduction "[deleted]." AR, Tab T-2, BOA Updated Cost Proposal, Nov. 20, 2002, at 9.
The offerors' cost submissions were reviewed and evaluated by the agency's cost review board (CRB); technical submissions were reviewed and evaluated by the agency's technical evaluation board (TEB). By letter dated November 30, the agency asked BOA to provide additional information regarding its reduced staffing approach. Among other things, the agency asked:
1. What is the basis for the assigned salaries and wages reduction from [deleted] to [deleted] in CY01 and please provide rationale?
2. Please specify the efficiencies planned that would offset increases due to inflation and provide calculations by expense account? (Reference Page 11 of the Narrative Discussion)
3. What are the proposed FTEs [full time equivalents] for CY04 thru CY11 for the overseas staff by location?
4. Actual overseas FTEs at September is 1,037, the proposed FTEs for Y01 is [deleted], but the proposed salaries increase from Actual 2001 to proposal CY01. What is the basis for this difference?
5. Year 3 Appendix C [staffing table] does not reconcile to the summary on Cost proposal YR-03 for salaries and wages [deleted].
6. In Appendix C [staffing table] what does the FTE CHNG mean? The year to year FTE changes do not appear to have a relationship with the FTE CHNG column.
. . . . .
8. Provide the staffing reductions/change [deleted] by location by year. In addition please explain how [deleted] to decrease staffing?
AR, Tab P, Letter form DFAS to BOA, Nov. 30, 2001, at encl. 1.
On December 7, BOA provided responses and some supporting information. Regarding the agency's request that BOA identify proposed staffing reductions "[deleted] by location by year," BOA listed only [deleted] positions, by location, that would be eliminated; further, BOA acknowledged that only [deleted] of these position reductions could be [deleted]. AR, Tab T-1, Cost Proposal Questions & Answers, at 23.
On December 12, the CRB conducted a telephone conference with members of the TEB, seeking input from the TEB regarding various matters, including the feasibility of BOA's proposal to reduce staffing. The TEB responded that, although it had been able to account for a portion of the reductions from the face of BOA's proposal, BOA should be required to explain its approach in greater detail. AR, Tab O, Memo to File, at O.3.a.1.
By letters dated December 21, the agency sought FPRs from both offerors. In the letter to BOA, the agency stated "you propose to eliminate over [deleted] FTEs [deleted]. We have identified the following reductions: [deleted] FTEs in [deleted], [deleted] FTEs [deleted] and [deleted] FTEs for the [deleted]." The agency again directed BOA, among other things, to "provide a summary of the planned reductions detailed as follows: (i) identify the position/functions [deleted] by bank location by country that are eliminated plus the [deleted]." AR, Tab P, Letter from DFAS to BOA, Dec. 21, 2001, attach. 1.
Both offerors submitted FPRs by the January 11, 2002 due date. Consistent with the solicitation requirements, both offerors discussed various technologies and/or innovations they were proposing to implement.[6] In its FPR, BOA also provided a staffing table [deleted]. AR, Tab T‑3, BOA FPR, app. C, at C-9 through C-176. BOA summarized its proposed staffing approach as resulting from "[deleted]," and
maintained that its staffing plans "are credible (realistic) in light of [deleted]." AR, Tab T-6, Updated Technical Proposal, Jan. 11, 2002, at 2-72; AR, T-3, BOA FPR Response to Cost Questions, at 2. Although BOA tied some of the proposed reductions to [deleted], it also indicated that the majority of the proposed reductions would be based on "[deleted]." AR, Tab T‑6, BOA FPR, Response to Final Cost Questions, at 14.
In evaluating BOA's FPR, the CRB again consulted with the TEB regarding the realism of BOA's proposed staffing.[7] The record contains no documentation created by the TEB or its designated representative regarding the realism of BOA's proposed staffing approach. Rather, the record contains an undated, unsigned "Memo to File," that states: "The CRB asked [the designated TEB member] if [BOA's proposed] cuts were realistic. He answered that given the [deleted] the proposed FTE reductions were realistic and reasonable." AR, Tab O, Memo to File, at O.1.a.a. Based on this TEB input, along with BOA's history of successful staff reductions in performing the incumbent contract,[8] the agency concluded that BOA's proposed staffing costs were reasonable and realistic. AR, Tab N, Final Cost Evaluation Report, at A-3, A-4.
Overall, the agency evaluated both offerors' proposals as resulting in positive income for the government, as reflected in the following summary of proposed income, expenses, fees, and CRB adjustments[9]:
Total [Gross] Income
Total Expenses
Total Operating Income
Proposed Fixed Fee
Total [Net] Income
CRB Adjustments
Evaluated [Net] Income
AR, Tab K, Comparative Summary, at 17-18.
In sum, the final evaluated costs reflected a [deleted] cost advantage for BOA's proposal.[10]
In evaluating the technical proposals, the TEB used an adjectival rating scheme applying the terms "outstanding," "better," "acceptable," "marginal," and "unacceptable," along with the risk assessment ratings of "high," "moderate," and "low." The FPR ratings were as follows:
1. Banking Operations and Delivery of Products
and Services
Low Risk
Low Risk
A. Timely and accurate updates to accounts
B. Timelines of rendering statements
C. Method used to process checks and financial papers
D. Float management
E. Management of staffing
F. Risk management
G. Quality control
H. Expertise in managing foreign currencies
I. Quality of key personnel
J. Customer service
K. Employee development programs
L. Loan processing
2. Proposal of New and Relevant Products,
Technologies and Processes
Low Risk
Low Risk
A. Web banking
B. Imaging
C. Credit card
D. Full range of investment products
E. OMBP telecommunication upgrade proposal
3. Plan to Standardize Worldwide Infrastructure
Med. Risk
Med. Risk
A. Teller system
B. General ledger
C. Customer service
D. Property book
4. Transition Approach
Low Risk
Med. Risk
A. Level of management
B. Detailed transition plan
C. Retention of personnel
D. Alternative plan for all major processes
E. Programming and data conversion
5. Permanent Operations Center
Low Risk
Low Risk
A. Permanent operations center
6. Investment Strategy
Low Risk
Low Risk
A. Alternative investment diversification strategy
AR, Tab K, Comparative Summary of Technical Evaluation, at 14.
Under the past performance factor, both proposals were rated "better."[11] Based on the overall ratings, the agency concluded that the two proposals were "essentially equal" under the non-cost evaluation factors. AR, Tab J, Source Selection Decision, Apr. 15, 2002. Accordingly, BOA's proposal was selected for award on the basis of its evaluated cost advantage. This protest followed.
NCB first protests that, in implementing GAO's recommendations under the prior protest, the agency improperly permitted BOA to change any and/or all portions of its cost and technical proposals. NCB maintains that, contrary to such unlimited revisions, the agency had instructed offerors that only a "narrow" re-evaluation would occur, and that offerors were limited to "only provide answers to the narrow and offeror-specific questions [the agency] posed." Protest at 2, 35. The record does not support NCB's position.
As discussed above, in implementing the recommended corrective action, the agency rejected NCB's suggestion that responses be limited in the manner NCB now asserts was required. Specifically, in response to the question, "Will DFAS allow the contractor to change any or all portions of their existing proposal as deemed appropriate prior to award?" the agency unambiguously stated: "Yes . . . the contractor can change any or all portions of their proposal." [12] RFP amend. 11. In light of this explicit language, formally incorporated by amendment to the RFP, we fail to see any basis for NCB to assert that offerors were required to limit their proposal revisions in any way.
NCB also protests that the agency improperly evaluated BOA's proposal under the past performance evaluation factor because the agency "ignored BOA's poor past performance on the highly relevant Government Travel Card contract." Protest at 46.
The record shows that, in evaluating BOA's proposal under the past performance factor, the agency specifically considered whether performance of the travel card contract was relevant to the evaluation of BOA's past performance. On January 19, the agency advised BOA that "[t]he government is aware of what may be considered adverse past performance information concerning Bank of America . . . . That information pertains to the General Services Administration Travel Card Contract." AR, Tab Y, Evaluation Summary, Tab Y-2.
BOA responded by advising the agency that the contract in question had been awarded to NationsBank of Delaware in 1998 and, subsequently, that bank had merged with another wholly-owned subsidiary of BOA's parent corporation to become Bank of America, N.A. (USA). BOA stated that Bank of America, N.A. (USA) was a separate legal entity from BOA, and provided information indicating that the two entities did not share workforce, management, facilities or other resources.
In determining whether one company's performance should be attributed to another, the agency must consider not simply whether the two companies are affiliated, but the nature and extent of the relationship between the two--in particular, whether the workforce, management, facilities, or other resources of one may affect contract performance by the other. ST Aerospace Engines Pet. Ltd., B-275725, Mar. 19, 1997, 97-1 CPD ¶ 161 at 3. In this regard, while it is appropriate to consider an affiliate's performance record where the affiliate will be involved in the contract effort or where it shares management with the offeror, Fluor Daniel, Inc., B-262051, B‑262051.2, Nov. 21, 1995, 95-2 CPD ¶ 241 at 12, it is inappropriate to consider an affiliate's record where that record does not bear on the likelihood of successful performance by the offeror. ST Aerospace Engines Pet. Ltd., supra.
Here, the record establishes that DFAS performed its own research regarding the status of BOA and Bank of America, N.A. (USA), concluding that, although both companies were wholly-owned subsidiaries of Bank of America Corporation, they are, in fact, separate legal entities. AR, Tab Y, Evaluation Summary, Tab Y-4. The agency further determined that the two entities have substantially different workforces, management, and facilities. Id. Finally, based on these considerations, along with the fact that DFAS has been responsible for administering both the travel card contract and the OMBP contract and has interfaced with different legal and managerial entities for the two contracts in the past, the agency concluded that Bank of America, N.A. (USA) would not be involved in performing the OMBP contract and that it would be inappropriate to consider performance of the travel card contract in connection with the evaluation of BOA's past performance for the OMBP contract. On this record, we have no basis to question the reasonableness of the agency's determination.
NCB next protests that the agency failed to perform a reasonable cost realism analysis of BOA's proposal. NCB points out that the CRB made only a few adjustments to each offeror's cost, and asserts that the agency's analysis was "cursory" and "inadequate." Protest at 22. Focusing specifically on BOA's proposal to reduce staffing, NCB asserts that "[t]he fundamental flaw in the CRB's cost realism analysis is that it failed to undertake any hard look at BOA's proposed numbers." NCB Comments, June 10, 2002, at 6. We agree that the record lacks any meaningful documentation supporting the agency's cost realism analysis.
A procuring agency is generally required to perform a cost realism analysis in connection with award of a cost-reimbursement contract, such as the one at issue here. In performing such analysis, an offeror's proposed costs are not controlling since, regardless of the costs proposed, the government is bound to pay the actual and allowable costs incurred. Although an agency need not verify each and every cost item, it must take reasonable, documented, steps to assess what costs are likely to be incurred under each offeror's technical approach, assuming reasonable economy and efficiency. See Federal Acquisition Regulation § 15.404-1(d)(2). Our Office will review an agency's cost realism analysis, when it has been protested, to determine whether it is reasonably based and not arbitrary. The Warner/Osborn/ G&T Joint Venture, B‑256641.2, Aug. 23, 1994, 94-2 CPD ¶ 76 at 5.
Here, the agency had before it two technical proposals that received virtually identical technical evaluations. [Deleted.] In view of these evaluations, where BOA's claimed cost savings could be expected to be, and were, in fact, dispositive in the award determination, and BOA's proposed savings were justified, in part, by [deleted], it was particularly important that the agency perform and document a meaningful realism assessment regarding the proposed savings. The record before our Office does not establish that the agency had a reasonable basis to accept BOA's proposed staffing costs as realistic.
The agency clearly recognized that BOA needed to provide more support for its proposed staff reductions than it initially did; as discussed above, the agency repeatedly asked BOA to provide additional, detailed explanation regarding the bases for its proposed reductions. The agency did not, however, satisfy the requirement for a meaningful cost realism analysis simply by asking, repeatedly, for such support.
The fact is that, despite the agency's repeated requests, BOA failed to provide the information requested. While BOA did provide a [deleted] of its proposed staffing reductions, it failed to provide any link between the majority of these reductions and any particular aspect of its technical approach. Rather, as the protester accurately points out, BOA's proposal revisions, including its FPR, contain, primarily, vague and cursory explanations for its proposal to dramatically eliminate staff. For example, BOA's proposal states the following:
[For Year 1], we will implement [deleted] and continually assess the staffing levels of all banking locations in view of [deleted]. We estimate current staffing levels can be reduced by [deleted] FTEs.
[For Year 2], continued evaluation of [deleted], combined with [deleted] will allow for further staffing reductions. In addition, [deleted]. This action will contribute to the ability to reduce staff [deleted]. In all, [deleted] FTEs will be eliminated from [deleted].
[For Year 3], realization of the full benefits of [deleted] will contribute to the ongoing staff reductions in the [deleted]. Other reductions will be made possible by [deleted]. A total of [deleted] FTEs will be eliminated from [deleted].
[For Year 4], we will reduce staffing at [deleted] by [deleted] FTEs. This is related to the [deleted].
[For Year 5], we will reduce staffing at [deleted] by [deleted] FTEs, and reduce [deleted] in [deleted] by [deleted] FTEs. This is related to [deleted].
[For Years 6-10], an additional [deleted] FTEs will be eliminated in the [deleted] meeting management's goal of reducing staff by [deleted].
AR, Tab T-6, BOA FPR, Response to Final Cost Questions, at 13-18.
The BOA proposal also contains the following summarizing statement regarding its proposed staffing:
In summary, [deleted] will eliminate [deleted] FTEs from the [deleted] and [deleted] FTEs in [deleted]. This reduction is less than [deleted]. These reductions are based upon [deleted].
. . . . .
[E]xperience [deleted] provides management with confidence it can attain targeted reductions presented in this proposal.
Regarding the agency's evaluation of BOA's FPR, the record contains no evidence of any meaningful analysis regarding the likelihood that BOA would actually achieve the significant staff reductions that were proposed.[13] As noted above, neither the TEB as a whole, nor the TEB member designated to address this matter, created a single document discussing any aspect of BOA's proposed staffing reduction. Rather, as noted above, the evaluation record contains only an unsigned, undated "Memo to File" indicating that the CRB asked the TEB whether the proposed cuts were realistic, and stating that the designated TEB member answered that, "given [deleted], [BOA's] proposed FTE reductions were realistic and reasonable." AR, Tab O, Memo to File, at O.1.a.a. The CRB's final cost evaluation report does little more than repeat this representation, stating:
The CRB thoroughly reviewed and analyzed the proposed costs and revenues of each offeror and found the majority of proposed costs and revenues to be reasonable, realistic and complete. The CRB realized that because this will be a Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract that actual costs and revenues are likely to vary during contract performance. The CRB consulted with a member of the [TEB] designated by the Source Selection Authority regarding the feasibility of the proposed FTE reductions by BOA. The TEB representative indicated that the reductions are realistic considering the [deleted].
AR, Tab N, Executive Summary of CRB Final Evaluation Report, at 2.
While it is true that BOA's FPR discussed BOA's achievement of significant cost cutting [deleted], and the CRB relied on this past performance, the record also suggests that BOA's cost cutting was the result of a number of other factors outside of BOA's control, including a decrease in customer accounts. Protester Comments, June 10, 2002, at 18. Moreover, it is not clear that BOA would actually reduce materially more staff than NCB.[14] As the CRB noted, "NCB stated that they could not identify any FTE reductions at this time, however, they indicated that . . . some reductions could be realized and they would work with the Government to achieve them." [15] AR, Tab N, CRB Executive Summary, at 2.
In sum, the record does not contain adequate support for the agency's acceptance of BOA's claim that it would [deleted] reduce staffing [deleted]. That defect is critical here, because the selection decision was entirely premised on BOA's evaluated cost advantage. Accordingly, we sustain NCB's protest and recommend that the agency perform and document a proper cost realism analysis, including a documented assessment regarding the feasibility of BOA's proposed reductions. If the agency believes that it has an adequate record on hand to perform and document a proper cost realism analysis, it need not reopen the competition to permit further discussions.
After a documented cost realism analysis has been performed, the SSA should make a new source selection decision. If NCB is selected for award, DFAS should terminate the award to BOA. We also recommend that NCB be reimbursed the reasonable costs of filing and pursuing the protest, including attorneys' fees. Bid Protest Regulations, 4 C.F.R. § 21.8(d)(1) (2002). The protester should submit its
certified claim for costs, detailing the time expended and the costs incurred, directly to the contracting agency within 60 days after receipt of this decision.
The protest is sustained.
Anthony H. Gamboa
General Counsel
Under the OMBP, DOD provides banking services overseas for military members, civilian employees of DOD and other government agencies, and authorized dependent family members. The
OMBP includes approximately 110 military banking facilities and 240 automated teller machines, with operations in nine countries. The OMBP contractor is expected to maintain approximately
170,000 customer accounts, valued at over $650 million and to annually process approximately $30 billion in monetary transactions.
[2] The solicitation also contemplated two 6-month extension options for transition and contract administration closeout.
[3] As discussed in that decision, we found that the solicitation contained conflicting provisions regarding the permissible length of technical proposals, that BOA apparently interpreted the solicitation as limiting the length of its proposal to half the proposal length permitted for NCB, that the agency was clearly aware of BOA's apparent misinterpretation, and that the agency's evaluation repeatedly criticized BOA's proposal for containing informational deficiencies--yet the agency advised BOA during discussions that its proposal contained "no identifiable technical weaknesses." Bank of Am., supra.
[4] Among other things, RFP amendment No. 10 replaced the prior technical evaluation criteria, identifying 28 standards/subfactors that would be applied under 6 primary technical evaluation factors, and eliminated the prior page limitation on technical proposals.
[5] This RFP amendment appears to respond to--and reject–-an NCB suggestion that responses be limited. The record contains correspondence from NCB's outside counsel to the agency, dated July 23, 2001 (3 days before GAO's decision sustaining BOA's protest), in which counsel suggested: "If the [BOA] protest is sustained," the agency "can limit the information that BOA can provide in its second [FPR]," adding that "BOA should not be free to make substantive modifications to its proposal," and "should not be permitted to revise its cost proposal." Letter from NCB Counsel to DFAS, July 23, 2001, encl. 1 at 1-2.
[6] Under the heading "Proposal of New and Relevant Products, Technologies, and Process (Innovation)," the solicitation stated: "At a minimum, the following technologies or products to support the OMBP are required to be addressed in the offeror's proposal: a. Web banking[;] b. Imaging[;] c. Credit card[;] d. Full range of investment products [;] e. Worldwide OMBP telecommunications upgrade proposal." RFP § L-2(5).
[7] The TEB designated one of the TEB members to respond to the CRB on this matter. Agency Response to Protester Comments, June 20, 2002, at 5 n.4. That individual had extensive experience with the OMBP and with BOA's performance as the OMBP contractor.
[8] BOA's past performance evaluation states, in part, that "[BOA] did an outstanding job in reducing Program full-time employees (FTE) and implementing other significant cost reducing measures through consolidation of workload and streamlining of operations." AR, Tab K, Contractor Performance Evaluation, at 4. However, under the heading, "Areas for Improvement," that same evaluation also states: "[BOA] has been reluctant to implement new product offerings. . . . [I]n meetings with the government . . . [BOA] strongly supports (verbally) the introduction of new products or services with zeal. The reality is once a . . . modification is issued . . . [BOA] loses the 'can do' attitude and builds roadblocks preventing timely implementation." Id. at 11-12.
[9] In evaluating cost proposals, the CRB made some, relatively minor, adjustments to each offeror's proposed costs and/or projected income. These adjustments resulted in a slight decrease in BOA's proposed total income and a small increase in NCB's proposed total income. The protest does not challenge the validity of any of these adjustments.
[10] Under the terms of the RFP, the net income realized by the contractor is paid over to the government. Thus, the higher net income constitutes a cost advantage to the government.
[11] As discussed below, in evaluating BOA under the past performance factor, the agency considered whether to include potentially adverse past performance information related to a BOA affiliate's performance of a contract with the General Services Administration to provide travel card services, but ultimately did not rely on this information.
[12] This provision in RFP amendment 11 is clearly consistent with GAO's recommendation. As discussed above, GAO specifically recommended that the agency amend the solicitation to disclose all evaluation criteria, conduct meaningful discussions, and seek revised proposals.
[13] We note that the record contains various "sensitivity analysis worksheets" regarding aspects of the offerors' proposed costs. These documents reflect the CRB's attempts to project the impact on proposed costs if certain cost reductions are not actually achieved. However, in response to various criticisms regarding the accuracy of this CRB analysis, the DFAS adamantly maintains that its "sensitivity analysis" was "immaterial" to the ultimate acceptance of BOA's proposed staffing cuts. Specifically, DFAS states: "[T]he Agency stresses that it accepted BOA's proposed overseas staffing costs as complete, realistic, and reasonable. Because of that fact, it is immaterial whether NCB, DFAS, and GAO come to a meeting of the minds as to the optimal approach to accomplishing a staffing sensitivity analysis." Agency Response to Protester Comments, June 20, 2002, at 19. Similarly, DFAS states, "GAO should not look to NCB's [criticisms of the agency's 'sensitivity analysis'] to gauge where a break even point might be if BOA, for whatever reason, does not implement proposed FTE reductions." Id. at 21. Accordingly, our decision does not consider the agency's "sensitivity analysis."
[14] [Deleted], the evaluation record regarding BOA's performance under the predecessor contract reinforces our concern with the agency's undocumented, conclusory acceptance of BOA's proposed staff reductions. As noted above, in evaluating BOA's past performance, the agency stated: "[BOA] has been reluctant to implement new product offerings. . . . [I]n meetings with the government . . . [BOA] strongly supports (verbally) the introduction of new products or services with zeal. The reality is once a . . . modification is issued . . . [BOA] loses the 'can do' attitude and builds roadblocks preventing timely implementation." AR, Tab K, Contractor Performance Evaluation, at 11-12.
[15] While it may not have been legally obligated to do so, the agency could have addressed this matter with NCB during discussions, since the record does not identify any unique technology or innovation in BOA's proposal that justified its dramatic staff reductions. This is particularly true in light of the award-determinative nature of BOA's proposed staff reductions and the extensive discussions the agency conducted with BOA regarding this matter.


text:
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