text: Jordy Nelson - 36th Pick in the draft Greg Jennings - 52nd Pick in the draft Randall Cobb - 64th pick in the draft James Jones - 78th pick in the draft Donald Driver - Went to 3 Pro Bowls before Rodgers ever took his first snap from center for the Packers the NFL - 14th year -- All combined 34 years experience in the Grren Bay System Dez Bryant - 24th pick in the draft Miles Austin - Undrafted Free Agent Kevin Ogletree - Undrafted Free Agent Dwayne Harris - 176th pick in the draft Cole Beasley - Undrafted Free Agent -- All Combined 16 years experience in the Dallas system. Hmmm ... wonder why Rodgers is so much more efficient throwing those back shoulder fades and quick hot read slants? Must be because he's stronger. Wonder why he seems to be so much more on page with his WRs and they adjust so much better on the fly? Must be because he's just so much smarter and/or displays better leadership. Not saying almost every franchise wouldn't love to have Aaron Rodgers or even that Tony is better than him ...... just saying there might be a reason why Matt Flynn can step in and throw for 480 yards, 6 TDs, and 136 PR in a spot start. Green Bay is a pretty sweet place to play quarterback.


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Hailey Mandelko Named to All-Big Sky Tournament Team
By SUU Strategic Communication
Related Links
Mandelko was limited by fouls in the T-Birds' opening round matchup against Sacramento State, but still managed to score 20 points in the second half to help SUU earn its first conference tournament win since 1999. She then came back to score a career-high 34 against Montana. The Lexington, Neb. native shot 9-18 at the 3-point line between the two games and finished 15-30 from the field overall. Mandelko was recognized as a member of the all-conference team last week following an outstanding regular season.
North Dakota forward Mia Loyd was selected as the event's Most Valuable Player while her teammate Madi Buck, the Grizzlies Torry Hill and Kellie Cole and Lyndsey Reed of Idaho State were selected to the all-tournament team.
UND captured its first Big Sky Championship with a 72-55 decision over Montana, which means that Southern Utah is headed to the Women's National Invitational Tournament. The field will be announced Monday night following the release of the NCAA bracket. Further information will be available online at www.suutbirds.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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I know I shouldn't let it get to me, but what the heck...
Here are twelve comical but true resolutions that every liberal should make for 2013:
1.) Resolve to spend time with gun-owners. I have a liberal friend who says she would rather be in the same room as a cobra snake than a gun, even an unloaded gun. Guns really, really scare her. But guns don't kill. People kill. Whether the tool is a gun or a knife or a baseball bat, unconscionable people kill, not the inanimate objects in their hands.
Banning all tools and machinery will not turn bad people into good people. Doing so would make us more vulnerable to attack and throw us back into the Stone Age. We need guns for self-defense; we need knives for cutting; we need bats to play baseball.
[... more bullshit ...]
I think liberals will realize that guns are tools of self-defense and that banning guns will not eliminate murder when they get comfortable around guns and the people who legally possess them.
While you're holding your breath waiting, you should attend some funerals of those whose lives have been taken by Rambo psychotics running around with military grade hardware. Or read the endless amounts of data that disprove every fucking talking point you dutifully regurgitate, all of which I am too exasperated to collect and provide in this diary, again, for the 10,000th time
Oh look, some f*ckwit funny conservative has some New Years Resolutions for us
Current Status: Restored (10)
Seeded on Mon Dec 31, 2012 6:42 AM
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Thursday July 27, 2017
Library Hours: 7:30am to 10:00pm
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- Ask your question using the chat window to the right or start in a larger chat window.
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Does anyone know how to make a website editing tool? I am new to this, but I am certified by Train Simple's web technologies online training school, so I understand html, css, and I took their fundamental courses on javascript, but I am very weak in this area. I don't know any php. I want to start making websites for people, but my first client wants to be able to edit his own site. Do professional web developer companies generally have this service? Do they typically discourage clients from editing their own site because of the potential to hurt the optimization of the site?
Any help with a link to an article on how to develop such a site would be very appreciated.
Sounds like you need to encourage your client to use a CMS. This allows the client control over the content, but you can set up the site appropriately.
Okay, I appreciate your help. I am only familiar with WordPress. Do you recommend any particular cms?
Also, I am currently looking at ck editor. I am not sure how this works. Are you? Is this a viable solution? I don't understand how it works. Am I supposed to add the files into my own html page and create a new document which will be an html editor [I]website[I]? or am I supposed to add the links to each website that I want to edit?
There's a list of CMS packages here. It's a bit dated, but there are a number of choices there which are still viable and active.
As for CK Editor, it is usually used in a CMS type of package. It can be used for base HTML editing, but I wouldn't recommend it, because unless you know what you're doing, you can be causing yourself more harm than good.....
Can you or someone point me in the right direction if I just want to make a website editor that my clients can add content to? One that is similar to web.com's Matrix Online Builder? This is similar to Wix. Web.com makes you a site, but you can log in to their online builder and edit it yourself.
I just want to clarify. I want to make the website using html and css and perhaps some javascript, but my client wants to be able to edit it himself and change his photos or his content on his landing page, etc. Is there already in existence a way to make such an online editor, one that all my clients could access to edit their website content? Perhaps someone has made a universal website editor that I could use, or someone has shared how to write up such a program in an online blog somewhere? I appreciate any help.
I agree with Dave, I would -not- let site owners edit the markup or CSS or anything else other than content.
If you want to add a CMS to an existing website, AFAIK there are apps that claim to do this. But if you are starting a new site I would go with a CMS.
You would still need your knowledge of HTML and CSS to design the page templates The site owner could then use a WYSIWYG or text editor to format the content to a limited extent without breaking any pages.
How about seo with cms? Is the document going to suffer semantically? I imagine that the html doc is going to be full of a lot of unclean code that will not render well with user agents. What do you think?
I'm not sure they're all as bad as they used to be (eg. tables nested in tables nested in tables). I would hope they're much better at the markup now.
In any case, that's where your skill would come into play i.e. banging the page templates into shape.
I forgot to mention before, but AFAIK most CMSs should already come with a content editor or more, and will most likely have an option to "addon" others.
Thanks for that help. I know w/ html5 the instructor in the tutorials I watched said tables should only be used now for tabular data, not to be used for sectioning content. I guess I would have to fix stuff like that. It sounds like it would be easy in some ways and a challenge in other ways.
I was told two things by a fellow from Blue Host about cms. They tend to load slower than one made in an editor and the more popular they are, the less they are secure. I figure ideally as far as security, the best situation would be a site done in an editor and uploaded to a dedicated server.
There are, basically, two types of CMS.
Firstly, the 'full service' type like Wordpress, Joomla and a hundred others, which allow you or your client to create and modify an entire website 'automatically' (haha!), complete with complex menus and layouts, with all the code included, and all manner of ridiculous complication and confusion.
Secondly, the 'just edit a few pages' type, like CushyCMS and a hundred others, where you provide the website and just 'plug in' the CMS facility. This can work well if all your client wants to do is change the text and pictures on selected pages.
If it is appropriate, the second type, like CushyCMS, is infinitely less complicated for everyone concerned - both you and your client - and will avoid the steep learning curve required for all the 'full service' CMSs, and avoid the never-ending upgrade cycle of these CMSs and their various (often incompatible) plug-ins/themes/extensions and whatever.
You need to analyse very carefully EXACTLY what your client will ACTUALLY modify themselves, if given the chance, rather than what they instinctively THINK they will need to be able to change. Because very often with clients who choose the CMS route they seldom change anything at all in practice. Ever! Often not even a word of text, let alone new pages and menu items etc. In which case a complex CMS is complete overkill, and just a pain in the neck to maintain.
Thank you, Paul. I will definitely look at CushyCMS. That sounds like very good advice.


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Thread: redhead xps34 for sale
- Join Date
- Aug 2010
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- 3
redhead xps34 for sale
i have a redhead xps34 up for sale. draw weight 60/70 draw length 27/30 in half inch incraments. this bow is less than 2 years old and less than 200 shots through it. it comes with release,sights,rest,arrows,peep,broadheads,extra sight and rest also will come in a case. asking 450 for all of it and might be willing to come down a little.send a message if you are interested i can send you pics of it.it wont let me put pics of it up but i have some on archerytalk.com under the name peepless78
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With the addition of Fresno State and Nevada to the competition, the change in the overall format, and Reese's as the new title sponsor, and you get the 2013 Reese's Mountain West Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships - the most competitive college basketball championship in the nation. Sixteen games over five days will determine the men's and women's basketball champions from the Mountain West, who will move on to the 2013 NCAA Division I Basketball Championships.
For the most current information on the championships, including numerous promotions, social media feeds, hotel and ticket information, visit the Mountain West Conference website.


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Message Board
William S. Burroughs Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Burroughs has written!
Author Burroughs's Book Reviews
"Junky" by William S. Burroughs is a bleak take on heroin addicts during the 1940s-50s. The story tells how the main character, William Lee, goes from a middle-class existence in the Midwest to pushing/using drugs in New York City, from morphine to marijuana to cocaine to (mainly) heroin. The book discusses almost every aspect of a junkie's life, from obtaining their drugs, to using them, to avoiding the police, to "Junk Sickness" (withdrawal), to prison...
Naked Lunch
This novel is a loose collection of its author's drug-induced delusions. It takes place mostly in Tangiers, Morrocco, where the writer sometimes lived. He depicts the city as a depraved, sexually deviant, drug-addled, bizarre underworld, known as Interzone. Characters come and go, strange situations and themes play themselves out. A recurring character in Burroughs' work, Dr. Benway, a sadistic quack bent on mind control, also surfaces every once in a wh...
William S. Burroughs in his frequent fictional form William Lee journeys through Mexico and into the jungle in search of the drug Yage in a search for transcendence. William Lee is an unemployed writer obsessed with finding and taking the drug Yage, a powerful hallucinogen rumored to exist in the jungles of Mexico. Written in the 50's, the story was not published until the 80's and features an illuminating introduction by the author that cannot be taken ...
The Naked Lunch
The homosexual drug addict William Lee journeys through Tangier and the surrealist land of Interzone having sordid encounters with sadists, drug abusers and other secretive homosexuals. Naked Lunch is told from the first person point of view of the homosexual drug addict William Lee. Lee escapes the puritanical culture of America to come to terms with his homosexuality and feed his drug addiction in Tangier, Morocco. The narrative is non-linear and told ...


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I worked the entire 3 nights of the storm in the NICU at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore Maryland. We heard about the evacuation of the NICU in New York at NYU and our thoughts and prayers went immediately to the staff. What we were hearing was that the babies had to be hand carried down 9 flights of stairs in the dark into waiting ambulances, all while Sandy was flooding the streets! Wow! I can't imagine having to move our 45 babies under those circumstances! I know we are trained to do it but it seems so crazy. Here are some pictures that made me proud to be a NICU RN!
Nurse Margot Condon cradles a preterm baby during the evacuation. No incubators, no heat except from Margot.


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Industrial bronchitis
Primary tabs
Industrial bronchitis is swelling (inflammation) of the large airways of the lungs that occurs in some people who work around certain dusts, fumes, smoke, or other substances.
Alternative Names
Occupational bronchitis
Exposure to dusts, fumes, strong acids, and other chemicals in the air causes this type of bronchitis. Smoking may also contribute. Employers are required to have copies of material safety data sheets available in the workplace.
You may be at risk if you are exposed to dusts that contain:
- Asbestos
- Coal
- Cotton
- Flax
- Latex
- Metals
- Silica
- Talc
- Toluene diisocyanate
- Western red cedar
- Cough that brings up mucus (sputum)
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
Exams and Tests
The health care provider will listen to your lungs using a stethoscope. Wheezing sounds or crackles may be heard.
Tests include:
The purpose of treatment is to reduce the irritation.
Getting more air into the workplace or wearing masks to filter out the offending dust particles may help. Some people may need to be taken out of the workplace.
Some cases of industrial bronchitis go away without treatment. Other times, a person may need inhaled anti-inflammatory medications. If you are at risk or have experienced this problem and you smoke, stop smoking.
Helpful measures include:
- Breathing humidified air
- Increasing fluid intake
- Resting
Outlook (Prognosis)
The outcome may be good as long as you can stop being exposed to the irritant. Chronic disability from industrial bronchitis is rare.
Possible Complications
Continued exposure to irritating gases, fumes, or other substances can lead to permanent lung damage.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider if you are regularly exposed to dusts, fumes, strong acids, or other chemicals that can affect the lungs and you develop symptoms of bronchitis.
Control dust in industrial settings by wearing face masks and protective clothing, and by treating textiles. Stop smoking if you are at risk.
Get early screening by a doctor if you are exposed to chemicals that can cause this condition.
If you think a chemical you work with is affecting your breathing, ask your employer for a copy of the Material Safety Data Sheet. Bring it with you to your health care provider.
Chan-Yeung M, Malo JL. Asthma in the workplace and occupational asthma. In: Mason RJ, Broaddus VC, Martin TR, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2010:chap 64.
Tarlo SM. Occupational lung disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2012:chap 93.


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It's normal for children to have fears. They may be afraid of monsters, ghosts, or the dark. At times, they might be frightened by a book or movie. In most cases, these fears fade over time. But children with anxiety disorders are often afraid. Or they may have fears that go away for a while but return again and again. This may cause them great distress and it can prevent them from having a normal life. Children with anxiety disorders can have problems with sleep, appetite, and concentration. No child should have to suffer from constant fear. Talk to your health care provider or a mental health professional. He or she can help.
An anxiety disorder causes children to be intensely fearful in situations that would not normally cause fear. They may be afraid of certain objects, such as dogs or snakes. Or, they may fear a situation, such as being alone in the dark. Sometimes they may be too afraid to leave the house.
Some children may have separation anxiety disorder. This causes them to dread being away from a parent or other loved one. They may worry that they'll be harmed or never see their family again. In some cases, these children refuse to go to school. They also may have physical symptoms, such as nausea or stomachaches.
Fortunately, most anxious children can be helped with behavior therapy. This is done in steps. When your child feels safe with one step, he or she can go on to the next. This helps your child gradually face and cope with his or her fears. At first, your child may be asked to just think about the feared object. When he or she realizes that nothing bad happens as a result. The next step may be looking at a picture of the feared object. Later, he or she may face the feared object in person, with support and encouragement. Over time, your child will be less afraid. Sometimes, certain medications may also help lessen your child's fears.
A mental health professional can tell if your child has an anxiety disorder. If so, your love and support can help your child overcome his or her fears.
National Institute of Mental Health
Anxiety and Depression Association of America www.adaa.org


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Beaumont/Port Arthur
The Texas Supreme Court has agreed a lawsuit filed by a Kountze cheerleader and her family may be reinstated after being thrown out for being moot in a lower court.
Almost a year after a group of Kountze High School students sparked a national debate when they made high school run-through banners with Bible verses for Friday night football games, Judge Steven Thomas' 356th District Court in Hardin County officially ruled the girls can have their religious banners.
Smiling brightly and excited about their win in Judge Steven Thomas' 356th District Court in Kountze, cheerleaders from Kountze High School exited the courtroom Thursday, Oct. 18, ready to display their run-through banners containing Bible verses at Friday football games.
Waiting for the judge to begin proceedings that would decide the fate of their spirit banners, a group of Kountze cheerleaders and their parents gathered in the courtroom and prayed.
Huddled in their red shirts, the Christians spoke to God.
"Yes, God," they repeated. "Yes, God. Amen."
While we harbor no disrespect for the Wall Street Journal who called us "that scrappy little paper from Southeast Texas," we prefer to think of ourselves as simple seekers of the truth. We're of the opinion that headlines and sound bites never tell the whole story. Our readers demand all the facts, facets and flavors of every story or event. And, they expect to be informed, educated and stirred to action.
For this week's New York Times crossword puzzle, pick up a copy of this week's The Examiner on newsstands now.


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Agnes "Apple" Bailey (Vanessa Hudgens) is 16 years old and living on the streets of New Jersey, but it could be Anyplace, USA. She is now homeless, hungry and pregnant. Apple has been in the foster care system and was in the custody of her drug-addicted mom, June (Rosario Dawson), but, unable to take her mother's abuse, she has run away to search for her biological father. His name is Tom Fitzpatrick (Brenden Fraser), he's a Wall Street broker, and Apple has never met him.Tom, … [Read more...]
'Gimme Shelter': 30 years dealing with broken hearts
January 21, 2014 by Sister Rose Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Adolescent, Adult Faith Formation, Film Reviews, Social justice, Spirituality and Media, Themes of Catholic Social Teaching Tagged With: ann dowd, apple, brenden fraiser, Catholics in film, fr frank mccarthy, gimme shelter, homeless teens, Homelessness, james earl jones, kathy De Fiore, kathy difriore, life on the streets, pro life films, pro life movies, rosario dawson, several sources shelters, spirituality and film, vanesa hudgens, vanessa hudgens Leave a Comment


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Reviewed By harry s (Newport, NY) Reviewed for a 2015 Chevy Silverado —2/2/2016 2:05 PM
Overall, good rack. The black portion is powder coated steel. A few spots were chipped and immediately began to show surface rust. The company quickly provided touch-up paint, which was a plus. The rack is touted as easy on/off. However, you need to remove the tail lights in order to install/remove, and I don't consider that to be easy. I overcame this issue by using double faced tape on the lower bolt plate. Another option would be to use liquid steel on the plate.


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Stepping out for a swanky evening, Gwyneth Paltrow hosted the amfAR LA Inspiration Gala Honoring Tom Ford in Hollywood last night (October 29).
Pregnancy is hard enough without having to settle for lackluster bras and panties, and Dita Von Teese has the solution to this ages-old issue.
The burlesque queen joined forces with Destination Maternity for a brand new capsule collection to be sold under her Von Follies label.
Every year, amfAR caps off the Cannes International Film Festival with a celebrity-rich Cinema Against AIDS event, and on Thursday (May 22) it seemed like the A-list guests just kept filing in.
She's the cover girl for Flaunt Magazine's latest issue, and Elizabeth Olsen was front and center for the fancy release party at Buddakan in New York City last night (May 6).
The "Martha Marcy May Marlene" actress kept it simple in a little black dress as she plugged the publication as well as her forthcoming film "Godzilla."
It's one of the biggest events of the year for the fashion industry and earlier tonight (May 5) Michelle Williams strolled up to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City for the 2014 Met Gala.
Clad in a lovely Louis Vuitton dress, the "Oz: The Great and Powerful" star was hard to miss with her beautiful smile and picture perfect poses as she mingled with fellow attendees.
Stepping out to support the arts, some of Tinseltown's hottest stars headed to the MOCA 35th Anniversary Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday (March 29).
Pressing the flesh with many of the guests, Pharrell Williams wore a black version of THAT hat with a black jacket, blue T-shirt, and a few assorted necklaces.
Making the most of their Tuesday afternoon (March 25), a bevy of beautiful women showed up for the Christian Louboutin 'Passage' Handbag Luncheon in Los Angeles.
Alessandra Ambrosio tempted fate in a loose-fitting playsuit that came dangerously close to exposing her lady pillows as she posed for photos with the lovely Camilla Belle.
Keeping an eye on the hottest new trends, a smattering of famous females descended on the Carolina Herrera runway presentation at Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week Fall 2014 today (February 10).


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Quality, built-in ironing centers since 1956
Easy Installation
HOMETIME hosted by Dean Johnson highlights an easy installation process using one of our new improved ironing center.
Messages by day
|For a first impression for a job interview, expertly ironed clothes are an absolute must.
|Did you know that starch can help you keep cool when it's warm. Starched clothing allows more air to pass through it, keeping the person wearing it cooler.
|An ironing board at the wrong height can create tention according to ancient Chinese philosophy. To determine the accurate height, stand at the ironing board and extend your arms down, flat palms on the surface. If you can do this without bending your elbows, the board is at the correct height. The wrong height can cause tension in the back and neck muscles.
|Did you know the most frequently pressed garment was jeans?
|You should never, ever iron in circular strokes. This causes you to stretch the fabric. Iron lengthwise and level those ridges with a burst of steam.
|Always check specifications prior to ordering. You want to make sure you can lower the board completely and you're able to iron comfortably.
|Cuffs look sharp by ironing the inside first, then work the outside.
|The heat resistant iron rest provides more ironing space when making garment adjustments.
|Did you know that the useable space for ironing is greater on an IRON-A-WAY 42" or 46" ironing board than on a standard stand-up ironing board?
|The swivel board allows you to use both ends of the board. Using the narrow end for the collar, cuffs, and shoulder and then switching to the wide end to iron large pieces of a men's shirt really presents just as nice as the cleaners and much cheaper.
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Army's "Sustainable Army Communities" and GSA PBS's "Linking Budget to Performance" are top winners in 2001.
News and Views on Real Estate and Workplace Policy
Real Property Innovation
E-Gov And Real Estate
Performance Measurement
Alternative Workplaces
Welcome to the Government of the 21st Century!
Our mission drives us into the next century: "The Office of Real Property promotes collaborative and innovative Governmentwide policies, products, and services for real property, the 21st century workplace, and entrepreneurial Government activities." We reach out on a global level to share information on federal real estate and the workplace with our industry partners and the public through this newsletter and other avenues.
This is the eighteenth issue of REAL PROPERTY POLICYSITE, a quarterly publication of the Office of Real Property (MP), Office of Governmentwide Policy, U.S. General Services Administration, Washington, DC, which is led by Deputy Associate Administrator, David L. Bibb. Our newsletter shares the latest information on public and private sector real estate and workplace initiatives, trends, and best practices. We encourage your input. Contact us to let us know what you think, to contribute articles, or to be placed on our mailing list, by contacting Richard Ornburn, at email@example.com, or (202) 501-2873.
ARMY, GSA WIN REAL PROPERTY INNOVATIONS AWARDS!GSA honors winners in Innovation Awards Ceremony! The Army has a leadership and stewardship role in constructing and operating sustainable, environmentally-responsible, cost-efficient Army communities.
The Department of the Army's "Sustainable Army Communities" is one of the two winners in this year's Award Program, according to the independent panel of judges. The other winner in the fifth annual GSA Achievement Award for Real Property Innovation is GSA PBS's "Linking Budget to Performance."
The four-member jury of distinguished real property professionals, representing both the public and private sectors in the U.S. and Canada, selected the two winning entries from the Best Policy category from among stiff competition this year. Forty-seven entries from the real estate and workplace development arena were submitted by fifteen federal agencies and departments this year.
GSA is also acknowledging for the first time three honorable mention entries:
The Winning Entries. The teams responsible for the two winning initiatives, both in the Best Policy category, each receive cash awards (increased from $5000 to $10,000 this year for each team) and are being honored in an awards ceremony on October 10, in Washington, DC.
The winners are:
Department of the Army, Facilities Policy Division, Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management, for the entry, "Sustainable Army Communities." Team members include John J. Krajewski and John A. Scharl, from the Facilities Policy Division, Department of the Army, and Stephen N. Flanders, Harry Goradia, Richard L. Schneider, and Fredrik W. Wiant, from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
General Services Administration, Public Buildings Service, for the entry,
"Linking Budget to Performance." Team members include:
Rachel M. Avila
Dorothy Baratta
Kenneth R. Barbin
Pamela R. Bell
Richard H. Carlson
Howard M. Chideckel
Paul E. Chistolini
Donna D. Dix
Eric A. Dunham
Joseph S. Estryn
David E. Foley
Peter J. Ford
Frank V. Giblin
John F. Goins
Robin G. Graf
Stephen M. Hochman
Kevin Kampschroer
Chris M. Kerner
George F. Klueber
Karene Lagrone
Louis M. Lozito
Paul M. Lynch
Kathalie J. Marten
Michael A. McNew
Robert A. Nawrocki
Jeffery E. Neely
Marilyn C. O'Hara
Johnson N. Payne
Wayne N. Richardson
Dennis J. Ryan
Joseph F. Schu
Denise R. Seefeldt
Henry J. Singer
Beth A. Smith
Kenneth L. Smith
Lisa A. Stern
John M. Tate
David R. Taylor
Kenneth Tiranno
Thomas R. Tolley
Jan L. Ziegler
These winners are part of the best ideas being used by Federal workers around the country. Working together, we all stand to gain by sharing these ideas in our day-to-day business. Cross-fertilization of ideas and practices is a common thread that binds the work that we do in 2001.
Headquarters Department of the Army -- Sustainable Army Communities
The U.S. Department of the Army developed and implemented a landmark policy to create Sustainable Army Communities that will improve the mission capabilities and quality of life for a worldwide network of over 180 Army bases that serve a population of over one million soldiers, civilians and family members. This policy directs that the principles of Sustainable Design and Development be incorporated into all actions and decisions affecting Army bases, environmental planning, community operation and infrastructure projects.
The Sustainable Army Communities initiative will ensure that there is a systematic consideration of current and future impacts of an activity, product or life cycle decision on the environment, energy uses, natural resources, the economy and quality of life of Army bases.
The Army is committed to achieving sustainable communities for today and for future generations by incorporating sustainable design and development practices into all base community planning and facility construction and repair projects.
Results: Key results of this policy will be energy-efficient, durable, functionally-flexible, safe, healthy, and environmentally-livable communities.
Examples include:
Challenges: This innovative Army policy and commitment to create Sustainable Communities required a concerted effort to overcome barriers to traditional ways of doing business and to establish a new environment for creative thinking, demonstration and showcase projects, integrated design procedures and a broad buy-in from a diverse group of individuals and agencies. A unique Sustainable Project Rating System was developed to score and rate construction projects.
The goal of the policy is to accomplish a critical National Security mission while improving Quality of Life. The Army policy and lessons-learned adapting Sustainable Design and Development and conserving natural resources, reducing facility life cycle costs and evaluating the impact of today's actions on future generations are directly transferable to all in the facility and community management business.
The Army's commitment to lead and be the stewards responsible for constructing and operating environmentally sustainable, cost efficient Army communities, also compliments and supports the Asset Management Principles developed by GSA's OGP.
For more information, contact John J. Krajewski, Chief, Facilities Policy Division, Headquarters Department of the Army, at (703) 428-6170 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
General Services Administration, Public Buildings Service (PBS) -- Linking Budget to Performance
We are changing the culture of this organization. Our employees are thinking more creatively about their jobs, and trying innovative ideas to better their performance. Joe Moravec, Commissioner, GSA PBS
Linking Budget to Performance is a nationwide initiative that has significantly changed the culture and dramatically improved the performance of PBS. Under the program, PBS established key business measures referred to as the "Big Nine" (see chart) after the nine performance areas that employees strive to meet or exceed by the end of the fiscal year.
The "Big Nine"
Customer Satisfaction
Funds from Operations
Non-Revenue Producing Space
Leasing Costs Compared to Industry
Indirect Costs as a Percentage of Revenue
Operating Costs Compared to Industry
Data Accuracy
Construction - Deviation from Budget
Construction - on Schedule
In seeking to meet or exceed these performance goals, employees think more creatively and try innovative ideas to better their performance. PBS regions are rewarded with increased budgets both for program-related needs and to provide awards to staff for meeting or beating targets. A significant portion of PBS's budget ($75 million) is reserved for this purpose.
The emphasis on results and managing to the bottom line is making a major impact on the performance of PBS. Every region has demonstrated substantially improved results since the program began.
PBS is the largest commercial-style real estate organization in the United States, providing about 334 million square feet of workspace in some 8,300 owned and leased buildings. Over 1 million federal employees work in those locations. By wisely and efficiently managing its properties, PBS adds value to these public assets and conserves taxpayer dollars. This initiative has enabled PBS to simultaneously address several major challenges: tighter operating budgets; declining rent revenues; the charge to "reinvent" government; and the need to comply with the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA).
Although the program is only three years old, it has profoundly changed behavior within PBS. The focus has shifted from day-to-day to longer-term outcomes and accomplishments, as measured by consistent benchmarks.
The results of Linking Budget to Performance are 100% verifiable since they are directly tied to the Big Nine measures. For example, take the all-important benchmark of customer satisfaction, which has risen to PBS's goal of 85% for the very first time. As another example, one third of the space that stood vacant in PBS's portfolio two years ago is now occupied by federal agencies and is producing revenue.
Overall, Linking Budget to Performance has resulted in additional income and saving to PBS of about $650 million since its implementation in mid-1998.
The initiative can be replicated easily by any real estate organization committed to changing its culture. The first step is to form a representative working group charged with:
The initiative leverages the Federal Buildings Fund -- the funding mechanism for almost all PBS activities. The Fund receives rental income set at commercially equivalent rates from its federal tenants. PBS's use of performance measures is consistently raising revenues for the Fund. These additional revenues, in turn, are providing for greater investment in maintenance, repair, and renovation of existing Government buildings, as well as for new construction. The level of reinvestment would not have been possible without this genuinely groundbreaking PBS initiative. The initiative represents a whole new way of doing business for PBS and dramatically improved the organization's performance.
Honorable Mention. The honorable mention entries are:
Department of Transportation, United States Coast Guard -- Shore Facilities Capital Asset Management
In 1999, one of the objectives stated in the "United States Coast Guard Strategic Plan" was to provide the right facilities at the right time, right place and right cost to achieve the Coast Guard's mission, vision and strategic goals. In order to accomplish this objective, the USCG created the innovative Shore Facilities Capital Asset Management (SFCAM) system.
The new SFCAM system:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/
U.S. General Services Administration -- EPA's New Sustainable Campus Team
The EPA's new state-of-the-art research center, in Research Park, NC, provides the nation and the world a model for sustainable building. The 1.2 million square foot complex is one of the largest facilities in the country that has incorporated environmental considerations into design and construction.
United States Postal Service, Denver Facilities Service -- Office First Straw Bale Post Office
The United States Postal Service's Corrales, New Mexico's "First Straw Bale Post Office is the first modern Post Office constructed using straw bales. Straw is a sustainable, renewable resource and has an insulation factor two to three times better than standard wall construction. With its many conservation measures, the facility serves as a showcase for sustainable development, a test of alternative construction techniques, and a resource-efficient building that fits comfortably into a rural western environment.
The Jury: The winning entries were picked by a panel of distinguished public and private sector real estate experts that include:
Harvard Design School
Great Ideas: Through the five years of the Innovation Awards program, over 200 great ideas from throughout the Federal real property community have been generated and shared. Check out the Office of Real Property's website at --www.gsa.gov/realpropertypolicy -- to see if you can improve your real property functions by using some of these great ideas within your organization.
All of the 2001 entries, as well as best practices from other sources, are available in our "Special Edition" of GSA's POLICYSITE newsletter on our website. Find out more about this program, and start getting ready for next year's nominations, by contacting Pat Rubino at firstname.lastname@example.com!
(by Ron Whitley, Office of Real Property)
Property Act reform is right and the opportunity is now.
For three years the General Services Administration (GSA) has actively pursued reengineering the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended (Property Act), to provide Federal agencies with the necessary tools and incentives for efficient and effective asset management.
GSA. At the request of the Office of Management and Budget, GSA transmitted on August 1, 2001, its latest legislative bill, entitled the "Federal Property Asset Management Reform Act of 2001," to bring the policies and business practices by which Federal agencies manage their assets into the 21st century. GSA's first bill was introduced in the 106th Congress as S. 2805 in June 2000, but it was not enacted.
With efforts on various fronts to provide agencies with innovative, better asset management capabilities, the prospect for reform to the over 50-year old Property Act appear to be bright this session of Congress. Most significant and promising is the commitment by the Administrator of General Services, the Associate Administrator for the Office of Governmentwide Policy, and the Commissioner of the Public Buildings Service, to make the bill's passage by Congress a top priority.
The draft bill essentially enhances and builds on reforms to the Property Act by addressing the complete asset's life cycle, and provides incentives for managing Federal property by authorizing agencies to: a) exchange or transfer unneeded property with other Federal agencies; b) sublease unexpired portions of Government-leased property; and c) outlease assets that must remain in Federal ownership. The outleases would be applied to underutilized portions of non-excess government-owned property to ensure full use and optimum asset performance. This could be done by using private capital through partnerships, cooperative ventures, limited liability companies or other business arrangements The bill also allows agencies to retain the proceeds from real property transactions for use in addressing agency capital assets needs. This reform will encourage agencies to change the way they view their real property assets, and improve their asset management decision making.
Department of Defense. In addition, the Department of Defense has drafted and submitted to Congress its own proposal entitled the "Efficient Facilities Initiative." The bill will provide some of the same tools that GSA has advocated in its draft bill. This includes using the public or private sector to provide base support service to improve capital asset management.
General Accounting Office. Also, the General Accounting Office (GAO), in a July 2001 report entitled "Public-Private Partnerships: Pilot Program Needed to Demonstrate the Actual Benefits of Using Partnerships" (GAO-01-906), recommends the use of public-private partnerships as a beneficial property management tool to help maintain and repair older buildings in the government's inventory. GAO further recommends that the Administrator of General Services request authority from Congress to pilot public-private partnerships to assess their overall benefits.
Congress. Moreover, members of Congress remain committed to reforming the Property Act. Representative Pete Sessions has reintroduced his legislative proposal to reform the Property Act to the 107th Congress. H.R. 2710, entitled the "Federal Asset Management Improvement Act of 2001," was introduced on August 1, 2001, and authorizes the use of public-private partnerships to rehabilitate Federal real property. It also provides for performance measures to assess the effectiveness of real property performance. Representative Tom Davis is cosponsoring the Sessions bill. Davis' Congressional Subcommittee also plans to hold a similar hearing on the subject of public-private partnerships as occurred during the 106th Congress.
Property Act reform is right and the opportunity is now. If our bill is enacted, Federal agencies will have better use of property, see a reduction in property holdings governmentwide, and have accountability in their asset management process.
Give us your feedback in our e-RealEstate Survey
(by Dennis Goldstein, Office of Real Property)
The Office of Real Property is examining the use of the Internet and web-enabled software in the management of real estate assets in the Federal government. To this end, a survey of Federal agencies is underway. This e-RealEstate Survey will provide useful feedback to the Office of Real Property for determining the level of present and planned uses of Internet applications in Federal Government real estate organizations.
The survey takes approximately three minutes to complete and a roll-up of results is available instantaneously. Contact Dennis Goldstein on (202) 219-0608 for the URL location of the survey and a password necessary to access the survey.
(summarized with permission by Government Computer News (GCN), May 21, 2001)
Geographic information systems (GIS) are becoming more available and less expensive with the growing awareness of the value of geographic information. At the heart of a GIS is the ability to graphically depict relationships between such things as geographic features, animal populations, roads, water tables, telephone pole locations or toxic waste dumps.
GIS collects geographic and other data into a database and sorts it into separate map layers that can be superimposed on each other to provide a single visual image. Used correctly, it can be a critical aid to decision-making in everything from optimum wildlife habitats to national security. Check out the article in the May 21 issue of Government Computer News for more information.
(by Dennis Goldstein, Office of Real Property)
This article defines the concept of a "fully web-enabled, Federal real estate management organization." The concept is based on a discussion in the Gartner Group's Strategic Analysis Report of September 28, 2000, entitled The Net-Liberated Organization: A Philosophy for Post E-Business Survival.
The management of Federal real property assets is in a transitional state. The reliance on in-house, stand-alone software used to track real estate assets is slowly being replaced by software that, although modified for the Government's use, is based on web-enabled software packages. Stand-alone software packages have been used to track construction costs, lease assignments, owned facilities, building occupants, renovation costs, property management costs, etc. As the use of the Internet has become more ubiquitous throughout the Government, these web-enabled software packages have enabled remote users to obtain access to data through the web, and could ultimately be used to provide updates from remote locations to a centralized data tracking real estate system. The transition to a web-enabled environment has been slow and not without problems. Major issues include security, the conversion of legacy systems to the web-enabled systems, lack of management support, and lack of funding. In addition, as the transition to web-enabled software has proceeded, it has done so without a strategic goal that would lead to a full consolidation of the functions necessary to effectively manage a portfolio of real property assets.
The transition to a fully web-enabled real estate management environment requires a reexamination of functions, processes, and business goals that exist in any Federal real estate organization. As such, prior to the relatively simple task of choosing software, Federal real property managers must be willing to enter into the arduous task of examining the goals and structure of the organization.
The above-referenced Gartner Group report states that e-business is today's most hyped IT and business issue. The report notes that much discussion has taken place over the past 5 years about the impact of the Internet on the way business will be conducted in the future. However, it is clear that such examinations serve only to alert the business community that the Internet is engendering changes in the way business will operate. The discussion has not focused on the changes necessary in organizations in order for these organizations to maximize their e-usage with regard to business processes and business models.
The Federal real estate establishment has reacted in a similar manner. The majority of Government real estate organizations are responding to the e-challenge by:
These approaches are far too simplistic, although they may be an unavoidable first step toward the full integration of the Internet in Government real estate functions. The full use of the Internet and web-enabled applications to manage the Government real estate business requires a much broader approach than the approaches noted above. It requires an organizational review that examines the following issues:
Fully Functional e-RealEstate Organizations:
The Internet (and the full use of web-enabled software), as well as other forms of electronic communication, enables the Government real estate organization to manage it assets and to offer services directly to "clients" around the country. Further, the availability of the low-cost and ubiquitous Internet has enabled the establishment of electronic marketplaces that are beginning to be used for various real estate functions (e.g. property sales). Finally, mass communication using the Internet has resulted in quicker and more informed decision process to be implemented throughout the Government real estate community. The full integration of the Internet into the way the Government real estate community functions will result in a Government real estate organization that can be termed "fully functional."
The success of a fully functional Government real estate organization will depend on determining which business functions:
In order for Government real estate organizations to maintain and/or expand their leadership position these organizations must ensure:
The Government real estate organization cannot be a leader in one of this area; but must be a leader in all of these aspects. For more information, contact Dennis Goldstein on (202) 219-0608.
Does the Worldwide Inventory meet the needs of tracking Uncle Sam's real estate portfolio? Not really. The Worldwide Inventory (WWI) is an electronic real property management system of federal real estate that contains summary data (on installations, land, buildings, and other structures) from all federal agencies and is meant for strategic planning by the government. But it has several problems. It is not accurate and the process for collecting data is "broken" and burdensome to federal agencies.
So, GSA plans to conduct a comprehensive study of WWI to "fix" it. GSA wants to establish an effective plan to transition to a technologically enhanced platform for tracking the Federal Government's real property assets. The enhanced system is expected to provide current information to citizens regarding Federal holdings, in a real-time environment and to assist agencies in managing their stewardship responsibilities.
In an effort to resolve data integrity issues, GSA has hired a contractor to work with each agency to identify the fields for the Worldwide Inventory from the existing agency-specific real property information systems. We hope to identify the fields in agencies' existing databases and develop a methodology for accessing those elements for use in the Worldwide Inventory.
GSA plans to have the new system up and running in FY 2003. Here are a few of the planned system enhancements:
Contact Carol Anadale on (202) 208-2970, for more information.
Federal Real Property Association (FRPA) holding professional development training conference & annual meeting
The FRPA October 22-25 conference, being held in Arlington, Virginia, will examine the theme, "Real Property Issues for the 'Real' New Millennium 2001 and Beyond." The theme this year reflects the issues of real property that carry over from the "last century" and the increasing role of technology to aid and help real estate professionals.
The FRPA Professional Development Conference is designed to:
1) promote the highest professional standards and ethics;
2) provide analysis and evaluation of real property issues;
3) provide a forum for exchange of ideas and information; and,
4) share practical career guidance and educational opportunities.
The FRPA is designed to create, develop, and implement improvements to the management of Federal real property as a national asset. Moreover, this organization tries to achieve mutual education, encouragement, and cooperation for a better understanding between the public and private sectors regarding the management of Federal real property.
With added programs and issues tailored to your needs, the FRPA expects to expand attendance and networking, as well as address issues critical to today's climate in asset management.
For more information about the conference, contact Pamela A. Doyle-Penne, Phone: (703) 604-4727, e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com.
Find out in December, when the Office of Real Property expects to release the Year 2001 edition of Governmentwide Real Property Performance Results.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Office is coordinating a voluntary data call concentrating on cost per square foot owned, vacancy rate, and cost per square foot leased. The Office obtained data from the Federal real property community, as well as the private and international sectors.
This publication will include articles on real property information systems in addition to a wealth of original data and graphs. This information will be useful to Federal real property asset management decision-makers as well as our stakeholders. The publication will also benefit interested professionals in other governments, the private sector, and academia.
Also featured in this edition is the 2001 update for the GSA Cost per Person Model. This model helps estimate the total cost to house an employee including real estate, telecommunications, information technology, furniture, and alternative work environments. Contact Malcolm Saldanha on (202) 208-1366 for more information.
The Office of Real Property will be issuing the Productivity and the Workplace. The emerging concept of the workplace represents an integration of the disciplines of facilities management, information technology and human resources management. Today's workplace requires new measurement paradigms, new performance models and new ways of thinking about what we in Government do and how we can get it accomplished most effectively and efficiently. This study pulls together the work of some innovative thinkers in the private and academic sectors.
Also included is the GSA Productivity Payback Model, which will challenge the way you analyze your workplace investments and help you plan more effectively for the modern workplace transformations that have the greatest impact on your organizational effectiveness. This study focuses the attention of decision-makers squarely on any organization's most valuable assets – the people who work there. Contact Malcolm Saldanha on (202) 208-1366 for more information.
(summarized with permission from PCWorld.com, article by David Clarke)
While workers often consider telecommuting a welcome convenience, the National Environmental Policy Institute plans to extend that benefit to the environment by offering financial incentives.
A pilot program announced recently offers a financial incentive to companies that let employees work at home at least one day a week. The Environmental Protection Agency supports the effort and helps fund it.
"Reducing the amount of time workers spend in traffic is a tangible way that each and every one of us can help to improve our environment," says Christie Todd Whitman, EPA Administrator. "It's good for our communities and good for our quality of life."
Using software from Teletrips.com, companies can track the amount of car emissions avoided by employees staying at home. Based on this amount, the National Environmental Policy Institute will award companies a transferable credit. Companies can sell the credits to manufacturers or utilities in the same region, which can use the credits if their plants approach the maximum amount of emissions allowed by the EPA. The National Environmental Policy Institute set the emissions standards and helped create the program.
The program started in May in Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Washington, and Denver.
(summarized with permission by Tess Woods, Jossey-Bass/A Wiley Company)
"Now is the time to free employees to work where and when they are most effective," says Cynthia C. Froggatt, a consultant who has spent the last fifteen years advising Fortune 500 companies on new ways of working….
What's wrong with working at sunrise on the beach? What's wrong with e-mailing clients wearing pajamas--or nothing at all? According to a recent survey by the International Telework Association and Council, nearly 20 million workers across America would like to perform some of their work away from the office--and have jobs that would permit it. Only one-third of these workers, however, felt their companies would be supportive of remote or mobile work strategies.
"Now is the time to free employees to work where and when they are most effective," says Cynthia C. Froggatt, a consultant who has spent the last fifteen years advising Fortune 500 companies on new ways of working--often from the comfort of her bedroom. She knows from first-hand experience with AT&T, Compaq, Mercedes-Benz, Seagram, and many other leading enterprises: "When people have the freedom and support to work from wherever they work best--whether a client site or a backyard garden--individual and organizational performance improves."
In WORK NAKED: Eight Essential Principles for Peak Performance in the Virtual Workplace (Jossey-Bass; June 2001), Froggatt challenges entrenched beliefs about the appropriate time, place, and appearance of productivity. Grounded in simple yet vital principles of today's knowledge workplace, she shows managers how to peel away old norms to unleash employees' hidden potential--and get an edge on the competition. She also guides workers to understand their own workstyle--and explore a whole new world of possibilities for excelling at their jobs.
Quoted in The Wall Street Journal and on National Public Radio, Cynthia Froggatt is a passionate advocate for liberating workplace alternatives. Backed by case studies from diverse companies, hundreds of interviews with remote and mobile workers, and hard-hitting statistics, she can discuss:
• Obstacles to new ways of working--and how to spot them in a company's attitudes
• Ways to spark initiative and build trust between on-site management and off-site workers
• How to shed reliance on "face time" and use technology to develop a new sense of community
• Workspace options beyond cubicle-land and isolated, limiting home offices
Backed by case studies of nearly 50 companies--including American Express, Autodesk, Cisco Systems, Deloitte & Touche, Ernst & Young, Merrill Lynch, Nortel Networks, the federal government, and a wide range of regional businesses--Froggatt shows how to shed the layers of complacency, mistrust, high stress, drudgery, conformity, hierarchy, idea hoarding, and cubicle confinement.She knows the payoffs of embracing remote and mobile work strategies--for individuals and for organizations.
The Payoffs of Working Naked--for Workers
• More strategic use of work time. (For some this means more time with clients.)
• Less time spent commuting or fewer hours driving during high traffic times.
• Fewer disruptions and enhanced ability to concentrate.
• Flexibility to work at peak performance times.
• Improved self-management skills.
• Enhanced creativity from fewer constraints and more variety of activities.
• Lower stress levels and higher morale.
• Decreased absenteeism. (There's no work time lost when a child is sick.)
• Improved collaboration skills. (This means better use of colleagues' time.)
• Focus on results rather than office politics.
The Payoffs of Working Naked--for Business
• An edge on attracting, retaining, and motivating high-quality talent.
• More power to pursue new growth opportunities and expand into new locations.
• Ability to unleash employees' hidden potential and maximize creativity and innovation.
• Faster response to market changes and customer demands.
• More open communication and knowledge sharing.
• Improved employee morale and commitment.
• Increased customer satisfaction.
• An edge on optimizing the quality of products and services.
• More powerful use of technology.
• Reduced costs (from turnover to real estate).
"The federal government's flexiplace program sets an excellent example for the private sector because the outcomes of each initiative are carefully measured, documented, and shared with the public. This is the best way to lead cultural change!" Cynthia C. Froggatt
(summarized with permission by ITAC Telework News, August 20, 2001 Issue)
What's the latest in telework statistics? Check out the premier edition of the International Telework Association & Council's newsletter which reports that there has been lots of research/study information relevant to telework issued lately, such as:
(Summarized with permission from Journal of Property Management, July/August 2001 Issue, article by Nancy Pekala)
Real estate organizations are taking a fresh approach to environmental awareness in this era of a declining economy and availability of natural resources. The heightened awareness of environmental concerns, new eco-friendly building codes, and stricter oversight of property development have caused the real estate industry to build and operate more environmentally conscious facilities.
The Department of Energy reports that the 76 million residential and 5 million commercial buildings in the U.S. contribute 49 percent of the sulfur dioxide emissions and 35 percent of carbon dioxide emissions. In addition these buildings consume two-thirds of the electricity used in this country.
Green buildings, which are buildings that contain good indoor air quality, are energy and resource efficient, have building durability and recyclability of the structure and its components.
Environmental awareness and the development of green buildings can have a direct impact on the bottom line through increased productivity and reduced absenteeism. Dr. Malcolm Lewis, President of CTG Energetics states that the average cost for employees' salaries is $300 per square foot annually. Increasing the productivity by one percent through reduced absenteeism and improved health and safety will save the company each year $3 per square foot, which is more than the total energy costs in most buildings. The energy improvements will more than pay for themselves in increased productivity. The reduced energy consumption costs add another 50 cents to $1.25 per square foot in savings.
An example of a green building is the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Headquarters in Annapolis, MD. The building was constructed on concrete stilts to allow parking underneath, thus preserving more of the surrounding landscaping from being paved over. The building also has numerous recycled materials contained throughout the building.
There are also several companies that have incorporated energy conservation into their buildings. The NY CyberCenter in New York City is a telecommunications facility that has eliminated the need for its tenants to install and operate redundant energy systems. The building has eliminated the need for emergency generators, batteries, UPS, and power conditioning by installing an on-site, privately owned, co-generation system into the mechanical systems.
The article lists several web sites and organizations as resources on environmental issues and their impact on the real estate industry.
(By Johanna Roark, General Services Administration)
Remediation was recently added to the Environmental Services Schedule, and the Federal Supply Service now has contractors on schedule to provide the services. Entech Inc., Arthur Langhus Layne LLC, Tetra Tech Inc. and Environmental Management Inc., are the first to be awarded with many more currently under review. Customers can order remediation services such as excavation, removal, transportation, storage, treatment, and/or disposal of hazardous waste; preparation, characterization, field investigation, conservation and closure of site; containment, monitoring and/or reduction of hazardous waste sites; and ordinance removal and support. Visit www.fss.gsa.gov or contact Patricia Finch on (253) 931-7073.
GSA's National Furniture Center (NFC) has been awarding contracts under its new Schedule 71-II-K for Comprehensive Furniture Management Services. Special Item Number (SIN) 712-6 for Assets Maintenance includes a growing list of suppliers of services for restoring, repairing, renovating, reupholstering and cleaning of office furniture and furnishings that can help Government customers extend the life cycle of these products, thus keeping them out of the landfill. Visiting www.fss.gsa.gov for more info. or contact Sharon Booker on (703) 305-6341.
"GRPIS" UPDATE.GSA's innovative Governmentwide Real Property Information Sharing (GRPIS) program enters FY 2002 with 6 Federal communities (Puget Sound, South Florida, New England, Arizona, New Mexico and the greater Kansas City area) having established council/forums and 2 additional communities (Greater Cincinnati and the Denver areas) to be formalized. During FY 2002, the Office of Real Property's GRPIS team is planning on adding three new federal communities to the list of councils/forums already in place. In addition, the team is considering a national forum in the spring to include representatives from each of the active councils, as well as anybody else who might be interested in attending. The team will be soliciting topics of interest for presentation/discussion. For further information contact Sheldon Greenberg at (202) 501-0629.
BASE HOUSING PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS. Military Housing Privatization Gets Go Ahead. The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Installations and Facilities voted a $10.3 billion measure to improve and maintain military housing and bases. It went into the $329 billion defense authorization bill (H.R. 2586). The "MilCon" measure passed and features a $195 million loan guarantee program to encourage private developers to build, renovate and maintain family housing units for military members. The new funding should generate some 13,000 new or rehabbed units at bases across the country. The privatization initiative was not meant to compete with existing military housing agencies but rather to "supplement and accelerate the expansion and renewal of housing for our service members." The MilCon measure is just part of the much larger authorization bill (H.R. 2586) that is being marked up by the full Armed Services Committee. Find out more in the Government Executive July 31, 2001 issue article.
INTEGRATED WORKPLACE PILOT. GSA To Pilot "IW" Approach for Projects. GSA will be using the Integrated Workplace (IW) approach in pilot projects nationwide. Representatives from GSA's Office of Governmentwide Policy and Public Buildings Service (PBS) have formed a steering committee to promote the use of the IW approach. Each GSA region will select two workspace projects and develop them using the IW process. Information on each project is being gathered, and future plans call for an IW training program to support the GSA regions. These pilot projects will be studied to glean positive aspects of the approach that should be used in all workspace developed by the Federal government. Contact Rob Obenreder at (202) 208-1824 for more information.
GSA STREAMLINING REAL ESTATE REGULATIONS. Update to FMR Parts 102-71 to 82. GSA published Final Rule Federal Management Regulation (FMR) Parts 102-71 to -82 in the Federal Register on January 18, 2001, and it became effective on January 18, 2001. This is part of GSA's regulatory improvement initiative. FMR Parts 102-71 to 102-82 describe the current real property policies applicable to GSA and Federal agencies to whom GSA real property authority has been delegated. The publication of this regulation is an important step. Now the Office of Governmentwide Policy will start a new initiative to amend FMR Parts 102-71 to 102-82 to reflect updated policies, such as location policy, outleasing policy, historic preservation policy, and security policy. Also, amending FMR Parts 102-71 to 102-82 will enable GSA to complete the transfer of policy from the Federal Property Management Regulations (FPMR) to the FMR and remove non-regulatory guidance and procedures from regulations. Ultimately, amending these FMR Parts will enable GSA to eliminate a large amount of text from the Code of Federal Regulations. GSA anticipates publishing the interim rule amending the FMR in May 2002. Contact: John D. Thomas (202) 501-0365


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This Forum has been archivedVisit the new Forums
|Forums: Index → Narutopedia Discussion → Should we warn about spoilers?
Note: This topic has been unedited for 3142 days. It is considered archived - the discussion is over. Do not add to unless it really needs a response.
When writing an article where should we put the Spoiler alert in the middle of an article e.e. the Sasuke page has the warning at the top of the page but not all of the writing is spoilers, so should we have more than one spoiler alert for each article to show were the spoilers start and end and if theire ar more spoilers in the article have another spoiler alert start and end at the start and end of those spoilers. ShadowShukaku 19:07, 15 December 2008 (UTC)
- No. In coming to this site you do so knowing that there are spoilers spread throughout it's entirety. If people don't want to read spoilers, they shouldn't come to a site that focuses on including everything it possibly can about w/e the site is about. As for putting spoilers in the middle of the page, how would that work? Would we mark every instance of a spoiler? B/c if so, then there would be more warning tags than actual information. B/c again, everything here is a spoiler.(oops, forgot to sign)Memsochet 20:24, 15 December 2008 (UTC)


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Senate Confirms Ohio Business Executive as GSA Administrator
May 25, 2001
Contact: Viki Reath (202) 501-1231
Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Senate yesterday confirmed President George W. Bush's nomination of Stephen A. Perry, a former Ohio senior business executive, as Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA). Mr. Perry will take the oath of office on Thursday, with a formal ceremony to follow in June.
"One of the top objectives of my Administration is to have people with strong general management and leadership skills in senior management positions of federal agencies in order to significantly improve government services for all Americans," President Bush said. "My appointment of Mr. Perry represents a key part of meeting that objective, because he brings a proven record of success and extensive experience in the general management of large, complex organizations, with a variety of duties and responsibilities, and that background is right on the mark of what is required at GSA."
Mr. Perry 55, of Canton, said he is gratified by the Presidential appointment.
"It certainly is an honor for me to be appointed by President Bush to be a part of his Administration as Administrator of GSA," said Mr. Perry. "I recognize the critically important responsibilities of this agency in providing good government, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to be involved in public service at this level. I look forward to joining the team in pursuit of high performance and continuous improvement."
Mr. Perry retired March 31 as senior vice president- human resources, purchasing and communications, at The Timken Co. His retirement marked the conclusion of his 37-year career at the Canton company, a leading international manufacturer of highly engineered bearings and alloy steels, with annual sales of $2.6 billion and 20,500 workers.
Mr. Perry began his Timken career in 1963, progressing from an initial position as stockroom clerk to various accounting positions, and eventually became Director of Accounting, then Director of Purchasing and Senior Vice President. In 1991, then Ohio Governor, now U.S. Sen. George V. Voinovich, appointed Mr. Perry to his cabinet as Director of the Department of Administrative Services, which provides state services that are similar to those GSA provides to federal agencies. After his success in state government, Mr. Perry returned to Timken in 1993, when the Board of Directors elected him an officer of the company, naming him Vice President - human resources, purchasing and communications. In 1997, he was promoted to Senior Vice President.
Mr. Perry's recent involvement with professional organizations includes the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation, the National Association of Manufacturers and the Labor Policy Association. Additionally, he has been an active volunteer in community and civic activities, including serving on the Ohio Board of Regents, which oversees Ohio's institutions of higher education and the Board of Trustees of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
A 1963 graduate of Timken High School in Canton, Mr. Perry earned his Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from the University of Akron in Ohio, attended the University of Michigan Executive Development program, and earned a Master's Degree in Management from Stanford University in California.
Mr. Perry and his wife, Sondra, will be relocating to the Washington, D.C., area. They have five adult children and six grandchildren.
GSA is the executive management agency responsible for providing workspace for 1 million federal workers and procurement services to assist agencies in acquiring the products and services they need to accomplish their missions. When he assumes his post as GSA Administrator, Mr. Perry will oversee the agency's 14,000 workers and its $15.5 billion annual operating budget. Sales of GSA products and services generate 99 percent of its operating budget. Congress appropriates the remaining 1 percent. The Federal Property and Administrative Services Act created GSA in 1949 to improve efficiency in government.


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Product part number: CS2-SGN2
Product reference: 37623
Keep your Galaxy Note 2 in view and fully charged while driving with the Car Mount Cradle and included features a speaker and microphone system, volume control and a multi-function button to accept/make or end calls.
"fantastic product"
Sturdy plastic construction with suction cup mechanism securely holds your Note 2
Designed to let you use your Note 2 safely while driving, this car mount cradle features a solid plastic construction that offers minimal movement in transit. The suction cup mechanism ensures a rock solid attachment to your windscreen or smooth, flat dashboard, while still ensuring easy application and removal.
Built-in speaker and microphone for taking calls in the car
With a built-in speaker and microphone, volume control and a multi-function button to accept/make or end calls, calling is easy and safe whilst your drive.
Adjustable arm for varying viewing positions
This car mount cradle can be rotated a full 360°, allowing you to position your Note 2 in the most comfortable and convenient fashion for use while driving. Now you can use your Note 2 as a satellite navigation device with ease, making sure you never get lost again.
Included car charger keeps your Note 2 fully charged while you drive
Also included with the car mount cradle is a USB car charging adapter and USB cable. This ensures your Note 2 is fully charged when you arrive at your destination. The charger also activates the Note 2 car mode, so you get quick access to all the features you need most while driving.
Compatible with most slim smartphone cases
The car mount is compatible with most slim cases for the Note 2, this means you don't have to remove your device from its protective casing every time you get in the car.
Cell phone accessories


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Thursday, Feb. 28
Poetry Meeting
Suwannee River Poets will meet Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. at the First Christian Church, 6591 N. W. 140th St., Chiefland. Meetings are always the last Thursday night of each month. Visitors and new members are welcomed.
For more information, call Ruth Nott at 490-7650.
Life Line Screening
Life Line screening will be held at First Baptist of Chiefland Feb. 28 beginning at 10 a.m.
Appointments are necessary. For more information, call 1-877-237-1287.
Friday, Feb. 29
Food Fest
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Merry Xmas To all of the BT forum members and A happy New year.
Stop the TSA now! Boycott the airlines.
Happy holidays
Student Systems Administration and Network Engineering, second year.
Don't PM me with questions, unless very specific. Otherwise, use the forums so everyone can potentially benefit from it.
Same too you and to everyone else >D Become the best you can and more, and never give up, and always enjoy the journey not destination!
Merry Xmas to all too
There's no place like ~/
Merry Christmas, community!
Merry Christmas to all in the community!
I may have been born with a silver spoon in my mouth but it does not mean I like to be spoon fed.
I think i speak for all rastafarian buddhists when i say "THIS THREAD IS OFFENSIVE"
Good to see the forums back up again! Happy New Year Every one!!!
It's time to free yer Mind; It's time to cleanse yer Soul
Happy New Year to all
There's no place like ~/


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o fasho, you can see all the bees flyin around on dude's cam around 2:30
O yup today was a hella nice day, whatd we see 22 days of rain in march so far? Cali aint gonna be in a drought this year
o fasho, you can see all the bees flyin around on dude's cam around 2:30
O yup today was a hella nice day, whatd we see 22 days of rain in march so far? Cali aint gonna be in a drought this year
I got a little somethin somethin planned for an outdoor grow op out in the cuts, I don't think i have enough time and resources to take care of them though. Its somewhat depressing...
unlike these vids , its unfortunate this show didnt get a second season, last thing mtv produced that was actually funny
monster paint is gay! real bad coverage...kobra paint is where its at!
so i just found out im gonna be featured in from here to fame's new book: arabic graffiti
for those who donno from here to fame's publishing, its don karl, aka stone, aka the man behind on the run
this is the second graff book i get featured in, im extremely excited :>
thats pretty dope man good ups.... u should tell him to a flick a peice of urs with a FUCK MESIR6 tag next to it aha
ur a fag plankton....every dirty writer knows rustos where its at, and painters touch, american accents... brappp no paint better then freee paint
so you think
my buddy sent me this link and i lol'ed this is legit how i rack
^I lol'd when he dropped a can on the ground
don't you love getting up early after a long ass night just to find out your class is canceled?
Theyre not all chill during the day, but at night they are real chill besides i like being out at night its relaxing
you would be suprised how many times people stop to bitch me out and say their calling the cops when i paint places like those during the day....its all preference i just prefer not to be bothered especially if im spending an hour or longer on somethin
just got myself some prismas what whaaattt
I gave up fast food for a year, just because I can and I regularly do shit like that to stay healthy. It ends today, fucking Carls Jr and In N Out here I come.
I also got free Krylon, but man, so glad I got it for free because this fucking shit is so damn drippy, can hardly paint shit.
^yee in n out be the shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit, just someone sayin in n out makes me hungry. Now im boutta get me a 3by3 meal and a dimebag and be a couch potato


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IBM Earnings: What to Watch
International Business Machines is no longer the reliable earnings engine of the past. While Big Blue continues to churn out profit growth that often tops analysts' expectations, its revenue has fallen for six consecutive quarters due in part to sagging demand for its hardware.
The sales slump has pressured CEO Ginni Rometty to look for other ways to lift earnings, namely through more stock buybacks, lower tax rates, targeted investment and costs cuts.
Investors haven't been impressed: IBM was the lone loser in the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2013, falling 2.1% while the Dow rose more than 25%.
Many analysts believe IBM is stuck in that holding pattern for now, and expect fourth-quarter revenue to fall slightly less than the 4% in the previous quarter. Analysts had expected revenue last quarter to come in flat. Overall, 22 analysts on average project IBM's revenue to shrink 3.6% from the year-ago quarter to $28.3 billion. Earnings-per-share is expected to grow 11% to $5.99 a share.
IBM plans to report its fourth-quarter earnings after the market close today. Here are the key areas to watch:
China Challenges: Sales in international markets account for about a quarter of IBM's revenue and for years powered its profits. They have since become a drag. Last quarter, IBM blamed weakness in what it calls growth markets for most of its problems as sales fell 9%. In particular, IBM saw considerably less demand from public-sector customers in China, citing the country's economic reform plan. IBM doesn't think business in China will improve for another quarter or two, but it expects that a recent management shakeup in its growth markets unit will help the company to produce a better performance starting in the fourth quarter. The goal is to get the unit growing in the mid-single digits for 2014.
Hardware Stabilization: Revenue in IBM's hardware group fell 17% last quarter, including a stunning 40% drop in Chinese hardware sales. Through the first three quarters of 2013, IBM said its hardware group suffered a $1 billion decline in profitability. IBM hopes the group will begin to stabilize in the fourth quarter, thanks in part to a new server that it released in the third quarter and an expected strengthening in its growth markets unit. Given the China issues and expected weak server sales in the fourth quarter, IBM's results could be ugly again even if they improve.
One potential boost would be the sale of its low-end server business, a divestiture it's counting on to help meet its 2015 earnings projections. The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that IBM had revived efforts to sell the business and was in talks with Dell Inc. and Lenovo Group Ltd.
The Software Side: Software is IBM's only business that has improved on a consistent basis, but in the third quarter sales only rose 1% after growing 4% in the second quarter. On a conference call after third-quarter earnings, IBM said it expects improvements in the group's revenue and double-digit profit growth thanks to a "strong pipeline." Despite a raft of software acquisitions, much of IBM's software revenue flows from old technologies like Lotus and WebSphere that it acquired or developed at least a decade ago. Like other tech giants, IBM is making a big push into the cloud–last week it announced it would spend $1.2 billion to build data centers around the world.
Services Rebound: The largest unit at IBM by revenue, services continues to face a lot of headwinds, with companies reluctant to pay for large consulting and outsourcing projects as they lease more of their computing resources from the Internet. Although IBM services group shrunk 3% last quarter, its profits improved due to cost cuts and productivity gains. If services reverses trend and shows revenue growth, that would be a positive surprise.
Quality of Earnings: IBM has made a science of managing its portfolio of businesses and regularly meeting Wall Street's earnings expectations. But recently some analysts have dinged it for getting too aggressive at managing earnings. In the third quarter, Sanford Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi estimated that without a lower tax rate, IBM would have missed analysts' earnings estimates by a significant margin. Sacconaghi said in a January 13 research note that he expects "continued questions about earnings quality and free cash flow." Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty said any earnings upside "is more likely to come from tax benefits as our checks point to an aggressive pricing environment."
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Tech You Can Wear…Right Now
Google's fancy head-up display (HUD) glasses, dubbed "Project Glass," has nerds and non-nerds alike excited for the future of wearable technology. At its I/O developer conference in June, Google reported that the first developer versions of the new high-tech glasses will be available early next year, at a hefty price of $1500.
But you don't have to wait until next year (and probably much later, unless you happen to be a developer) to get your hands on wearable tech. Here are ten pieces of wearable technology that are available right now.
[Great tech for $25 or less: affordable-gadget roundup and Google Glass horror stories from your privacy-free future]


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Colorectal polypsIntestinal polyps; Polyps - colorectal; Adenomatous polyps; Hyperplastic polyps; Villous adenomas
A colorectal polyp is a growth on the lining of the colon or rectum.
Polyps of the colon and rectum are usually benign. This means they are not cancerous and do not spread. You may have one or many polyps.They become more common withage.
Common polyp types include:
- Adenomatous polyps - may develop into colon cancer over time
- Hyperplastic polyp - usually do not develop into colon cancer.
Polyps bigger than 1 centimeter have a greater cancer risk than polyps under 1 centimeter. Risk factors include:
- Age
- Family history of colon cancer or polyps
- A type of polyp called villous adenoma
Polyps may also be linked to some inherited disorders, including:
- Familial adenomatous polyposis
- Gardner syndrome
- Juvenile polyposis
- Lynch syndrome (HNPCC)
- Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
There are usually no symptoms.When present,symptoms may include:
- Blood in the stools
- Diarrhea (rare)
- Fatigue caused by losing blood over time
Exams and Tests
The health care provider will perform a physical exam. A large polyp may be felt duringduring a rectal exam.
Most polyps are found with the following tests:
- Barium enema
- Colonoscopy
- Sigmoidoscopy
- Stool test for hidden (occult) blood
- Virtual colonoscopy
Colorectal polyps should be removed because some can develop into cancer. In most cases, the polyps may be removed duringa colonoscopy.
People over age 50 should consider having a colonoscopy or other screening test. Regular colonoscopy helps prevent colon cancer because polyps can be removed before they become cancerous. People witha family history of colon cancer or colon polyps may need to be screened at an earlier age.
For people with adenomatous polyps, new polyps can appear in the future. Follow-up colonoscopy is usually recommended 1 to 10 years later, depending on the:
- Person's age and general health
- Number of polyps
- Size and characteristics of the polyps
Rarely,the health care provider may recommend a colectomy (removing part of the colon) if polyps are very likely to become cancerous.
Outlook (Prognosis)
The outlook for people with colorectal polyps is excellent if the polyps are removed. Polyps that are left behind can develop into cancer over time.
Possible Complications
Polyps can cause bleeding. Over time, some polypscan develop into cancers.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider if you have:
- Bloodin a bowel movement
- Change in bowel habits
To reduceyour risk of developing polyps:
- Eat a diet low in fat and high in fruits, vegetables, and fiber
- Avoid smoking andheavy alcohol intake
- Maintain a normal body weight
Colonoscopy prevents colon cancer by removing polyps before they can become cancer. People over age 50 should consider having a colonoscopy or other screening test. This may reduce the odds of developing colon cancer, or at least help catch it in its most treatable stage. Those with a family history of colon cancer or colon polyps may need to be screened at an earlier age.
Taking aspirin or similar medicines may help reduce your risk for new polpys. However, these medicines can have serious side effects if you take them for a long time. Side effects include bleeding from your stomach or colon and heart disease. Talk with your doctor before taking these medicines.
Burt RW, Barthel JS, Dunn KB, et al. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology. Colorectal cancer screening. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2010 Jan;8(1):8-61.
Cooper K, Squires H, Carroll C, et al. Chemoprevention of colorectal cancer: systematic review and economic evaluation. Health Technol Assess. 2010 Jun;14(32):1-206.
Review Date: 10/8/2012
Reviewed By: George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc., Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, David R. Eltz, and Stephanie Slon.


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Habtom W Ressom
Director of Genomics and Epigenomics Shared Resources, Professor of Oncology
Population Sciences
General profile
+1 202-687-2283
174 Building D
Dr. Ressom received a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Kaiserslautern, Germany in 1999. Prior to joining Georgetown University in 2004, he was an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Maine, where he applied computational intelligence-based methods such as artificial neural networks, fuzzy logic, and evolutionary computing for microarray gene expression data analysis, DNA base calling, ocean color remote sensing, and industrial process control. His research at Georgetown University focuses on cancer biomarker discovery and systems biology by analysis of omics data. Specifically, he uses label-free liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods to search for candidate peptide, glycan, and metabolic biomarkers in serum and plasma. His laboratory develops signal processing, statistical, and machine learning methods to analyze LC-MS data and to integrate omics data for biomarker discovery and systems biology research. Dr. Ressom's laboratory is funded by grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. He is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and a co-director of the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center's Genomics and Epigenomics Shared Resource, which provides services for various studies including DNA sequencing, fragment analysis, gene expression, microRNA, methylation, and SNP genotyping.
Web site
- PhD (1999) University of Kaiserslautern, Electrical Engineering
- MSc (1992) Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, Electrical Engineering
- BSc (1989) Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, Electrical Engineering


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I write, you read and respond. Isn't that sort of give and take the reason God and Al Gore invented the InterPipes? Here's a sampling of the more interesting emails that flooded my inbox over the last month, covering such varied topics as hacking, cyber crime, justice, Donglegate, sexism, homophobia, Windows 8, deceased prime ministers, Facebook Home, and mythical beasts.
Pretty impressive range, don't you think?
[ Cash in on your IT stories! Send your IT tales to email@example.com. If we publish it, we'll keep you anonymous and send you a $50 American Express gift cheque. | For a humorous take on the tech industry's shenanigans, subscribe to Robert X. Cringely's Notes from the Underground newsletter. | Get the latest insight on the tech news that matters from InfoWorld's Tech Watch blog. ]
Crimes and punishment
Let's start with some thoughts from reader T.M.B., who now sends me longish missives on a near-weekly basis. In posts like "Feds snag another 'hacker' while ignoring actual criminals" and "Think cyber crime laws are bad now? Wait till you see the latest proposals," T.M.B. feels I'm too soft on alleged hackers like Matthew Keys and Andrew "Weev" Auernheimer, as well as hacking groups like Lulzsec that sneer at authority and launch DDoS attacks on websites just for kicks:
I don't personally care about hacking the Pentagon. The Pentagon can take care of itself. But I do see two charges that I do care about: "constructing a botnet, making the botnet available for others." In other words, taking control of computers of people who haven't done anything to you and helping other criminals to do worse things. I think you'll see these as "minor" compared to the punishments they might face. But how do they see their crimes and the results of their crimes?...
If [LulzSec et al] don't think the penalties of justice are worth worrying about, who am I to disagree with their assessment? If they don't care, why do you? Trying to protect people from the consequences of their actions doesn't make sense, if they don't accept that the consequences are worth caring about.
I've never said hackers and their ilk shouldn't be punished, especially if they do actual damage; I've simply said the severity of the punishments often exceed the severity of the crimes, especially in the United States.
The LulzSec case in England is a good example. This group of four former Anons have entered guilty pleas for a wide range of offenses involving attacks on Sony Networks, HBGary Federal, Nintendo, and dozens of others, costing some of the companies millions of dollars to fix. The LulzSec clan are facing up to 10 years apiece and most likely will receive sentences of two to three years apiece. Another LulzSec hacker, Cody Krestinger, received a year in federal lockup followed by a year of home detention and a $600,000 fine.
Compare that to the 25 years Matt Keys is facing for giving the Anons the logins to the LA Times website. That is my point: Punishments for computer crimes are seriously out of whack. If hackers seem not to care (at least until they're in the docks before the judge), isn't that proof that these "tough on cyber crime" rules are not the deterrent lawmakers think them to be?
Civil disunion
In "Come back, civility, the Internet misses you," I wrote about the kerfuffle that erupted when a woman attending a technical conference tried to shame two guys sitting behind her who were making sexually tinged jokes by posting a photo of them on Twitter. The controversy went viral, and both the woman and one of the men ended up losing their jobs over it.


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Snooki Deciding NOT to Live in the 'Jersey Shore' House: Smartest Decision Ever?
News flash: Pregnant Snooki has decided not to live in the 'Jersey Shore' house while they shoot the sixth season. Is this the smartest decision she's ever made? Maybe!
-Lucia Peters
Well, this is somewhat unexpected: Snooki is displaying not only good, but moreover, excellent judgment about something! Sources have apparently revealed to everybody's favorite gossip site—TMZ, of course—that the pint-sized reality star will NOT be returning to the Jersey Shore cast's traditional digs this summer. Instead, she'll be getting her own place nearby while they shoot the sixth season of the show. Why? Her pregnancy, of course.
Wowzers. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that this is possibly the smartest decision that she's ever made. I've remarked before on the fact that birthing a child into the world of Jersey Shore is the worst idea ever (which, by the way, I still think is true); but—dare I say it?—Snooki seems to be doing her best to both bring in her paycheck and keep her unborn child safe. Indeed, TMZ's sources say that she's taking her pregnancy "very seriously," as well as that she believes it's "not worth it to be surrounded by boozy, loud roommates while pregnant." Sensible, no?
Read What Exactly Is Daniel Craig as James Bond Doing in the New 'Skyfall' Trailer?
I'll confess that I don't regularly watch Jersey Shore, largely because once you've seen on episode of it, you've pretty much seen them all—but it'll be interesting to see how this season plays out. Between Snooki's impending little one (she'll be in her last trimester, too) and Mike "The Situation" Sorentino's new, sober, post-rehab lifestyle, the partying will probably get scaled back. We'll also see the cast members dealing with real-life problems for once, rather than their standard shallow "Who should I bang tonight?"-type crises—which, I suspect, will be more interesting to watch. Or possibly more snooze-inducing. I'm not sure yet.
No word on whether Snooki's fiancé, Jionni LaValle, will be joining her, but I think it's pretty likely that we'll be seeing him around, especially if she's got her own pad.
Tell us: What do you think? Is Snooki surprising you as much as she's surprising us?
Lucia Peters is BettyConfidential's associate editor.