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I was going to post a review yesterday for Bookanista Thursday, but I've had so little sleep the last few days that I couldn't keep my eyes open. Also, I'm a bit flu-ish. Eh, it happens. So today I bring you a picture post, because that's easier to put together than a real post. So it goes like this:
October 25 I get to the hotel, which is like something out of a 1962 Doris Day movie, loaded with roses and separate bungalow-type weirdness (and a main hotel called the Towers...ohhhhh faaaancy) and stink weed (or was it skunk weed? I dunno, something stinky). And I settle into a hotel room with wallpaper straight out of my grandma's house circa 1982 and blue carpet and everything. It was awesome.
Anyway. Changed my stinky airplane clothes, registered for the con, and joined the gang for drinks at Charley's (the gang being a relative term).
On our left: Happy guy Griffin Barber ignoring my camera and the lovely Amber Van Dyk, who for our purposes we will now refer to as Marble.
On our right: Me, who looks airplane stinky, and sweet-pea Nancy Lambert, who does not. We are a happy pair, despite my stink. There were more people there, but I did not get pictures because I'm lame.
After that, several of us went downtown for breakfast. PS, this was the next morning. We took the "trolley" which is quite the misnomer, by.the.way. More like a crowded metro that does not even always stop at the normal stops but in the middle of nowhere. Ok, that was awesome too, frankly. We found this really crooked street that Awesome Blossom Sara McClung pointed to like whoaaaa.
And then Nancy was like, "Did you see that guy? He was all falling down that crooked street and stuff. Like this."
And then we went to this restaurant that served me possibly the worst boiled egg EVER. It was stinky and tasted like chicken poop. But the company was unforgettable and worth the egg.
And then we took a cab back because the trolley was not that awesome. I sat by the charming Jane Kindred and the cabby took the picture just before he almost killed us.
Just kidding. Enchanting LK Gardner-Griffie took the picture. But the cabby did almost kill us. True story. Then Sara and I changed rooms to THE TOWER. We wanted faaaaancy and also not to be in the boondocks.
Met up for soup (I'm the only one who had soup, technically) and took more pictures because that's what you do at conferences. See?
With Lovely Sara and Sweetie Shannon Messenger. Yay! And below: with my precious Holly McDowell, adorable Jessica Corra, and fabulous Brad Beaulieu. Yay us!
And even more Yay! With ever-pleasant Matt Rush.
I will not bore you with the details of our wasted trip to yet another location (convenience store) that was closed, and move on to the evening activities.
So Matt goes: "Who are those beautiful people? Obviously not writers."
Because of course we writers are all ugly. It's the LAW.
Turns out, Jared was a paramedic (go on, tell me a good CPR joke). I didn't, um, ask about the girlfriend. So. Yeah.
(P.S. Anyone know who this is? Phone number, anyone? Anyone?)
From left clockwise: Matt, Jessica, superest Simon Larter, Sara, me, Jane, and LK.
Some stuff happened before that. Mostly meeting up with super cool Andrew Smith who I adore and dude, I met the adorable Victoria Schwab who I want to be. Alas, no pictures on my camera. I have a crap-ton of pictures with a lot of really fab people, though,which you will have to see on Facebook if you must. This post is getting looooong. Sadly, I also somehow neglected to get a picture with uber nice others I spent some time with and adored: Alexia Chamberlynn, Elena Solodow, Stephanie Loree, Elizabeth Briggs and Neil Gaiman. :( Actually, I didn't spend time with Neil--not sure why.
If it's not obvious, cons (especially WFC) are really just an excuse to tax deduct your vacation. See you next year in Toronto.


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Build a Responsive Website Online Course
Build a Responsive Website Online Courses in Kenya
The days of PHP to HTML5 are dead. No longer do you need to cut up an entire design in Photoshop to use great looking templates for web design.
What You Will Learn
In this course, you will learn how to use a website template to create a responsive website using CSS and HTML5 without endless Photoshop slicing. New CSS functionality allows you to cut your design time in half, and this course shows you how. with a Modern Flat Design. 2KO is an IT consulting and training company, offering both business services and multi-platform training. 2KO Africa's wide range of computer courses are available as full time classes, or as online learning.
Course Overview
This course gives you a great overview of Bootstrap so you will understand what you can use it for. It goes into detail on how to build a site using great looking templates, and offers lots of helpful tips and tricks along the way. By the time you're done with this course, you will know enough to begin developing websites by choosing a template and customizing it for your needs or the needs of your clients.
How You Will Learn
You will learn by using a real responsive design template with a great looking flat design. You will be walked through every step of using this template, and by the end of the course you will be able to transfer these skills to any template on the market.
* Everything you need to work with the template is included in the course.
Class Curriculum
Introduction and What You Will Learn
Introduction and What You Will Learn
Working with the Design Elements
Looking at the Design
Foundation Front-End Framework
Custom Stylsheets
Logo and Navigation
Completing Our Website
Top Feature Section
Features Section
Recent Works Section
Fancy Lists
Secondary Buttons and Finishing Up

subset: commoncrawl


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Lack of support sends Lester to another tough loss
Red Sox ace allows two earned runs, but offense blanked by Brewers
BOSTON -- Most games, what Jon Lester did Sunday is good enough to get the win -- 7 1/3 innings, four runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk to go with six strikeouts against the Brewers. Most games, though, Yovani Gallardo isn't the opposing pitcher.
The Milwaukee ace shut out the Red Sox lineup for 6 2/3 innings en route to a 4-0 win at Fenway Park. He scattered seven hits and walked none to outduel Lester and lift the visitors to the three-game weekend sweep.
The sweep of Boston was Milwaukee's first since October of 1993, also at Fenway. It was also the first time the Red Sox were swept in a three-game series at home since September 2012.
"We've had a difficult time bunching hits together," manager John Farrell said. "Seemingly in a number of hitters counts we got into, Gallardo made a good pitch with a sinker, put the ball on the ground.
"We're doing our damnedest, I know that, to try to build an inning, to try to hit to the situation. At some point, you credit the quality of pitches made in key spots by the opposing pitcher."
The game could be best remembered from the Sox's perspective as the first time they challenged a call. When Jackie Bradley Jr. was called out at first after a sharp grounder initially bobbled by Milwaukee second baseman Rickie Weeks in the second inning, Farrell requested the umpires look at the replay.
The umpires ruled that the call would stand after a review of one minute, 38 seconds.
By then, the Brewers already led, 2-0, after a series of Boston defensive miscues in the top half of the inning. With Jonathan Lucroy on second and nobody out, Khris Davis laid down a bunt that neither Lester nor Jonathan Herrera fielded. Lester initially charged but backed off, and Herrera -- playing third base in the absence of Will Middlebrooks -- never made much of an effort.
Both runners scored the next at-bat when Mark Reynolds' sinking liner skipped by Daniel Nava in right field for a single and an error.
"I knew that if I could catch this ball, I had a chance with momentum coming forward to hopefully throw this guy out," Nava said. "But as I was coming in, I realized I didn't have a play on the ball, so I tried to slow up and as I did that, it skipped on by me."
After that, however, Lester settled down. He retired 16 straight into the seventh. Jeff Bianchi singled to plate Davis three batters after Davis doubled to snap Milwaukee's offensive skid.
Lester's fourth run came after Edward Mujica came on in relief in the eighth and allowed Ryan Braun (single) to score.
"He was just cruising. He knew how well he was pitching," David Ross said. "I don't know if he tired out at the end, but his balls weren't as sharp as they could be. One ball found a hole, a little cutter to give up that third run. That was a big one."
Added Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke: "[Lester's] cutter is outstanding, his curveball, you saw how many guys swung at it in the dirt. You don't pick it up."
Through two starts, Lester has allowed four earned runs in 14 1/3 innings (2.51 ERA) while striking out 14 and walking two. He has received one run of support.
Herrera, who played third base for the 45th time in the Majors, made every play aside from the second-inning bunt. The biggest test came in the seventh when he barehanded a Carlos Gomez bunt and threw to first to beat the speedy center fielder and help Lester avoid further trouble.
Nava's 1-for-4 effort makes him 3-for-26 (.115) a week into the season. His first two at-bats Sunday, which resulted in him being robbed by Reynolds at third and Gallardo on the mound, respectively, are representative of the malady inflicting the team as a whole.
The Sox are hitting .254 with a .315 on-base percentage through six games but seemingly can't, in Farrell's words, "bunch some hits together." Boston was 3-for-19 with runners in scoring position and left 17 runners on base this weekend.
"We hit the ball hard all of these games since Opening Day. It's just not falling," Xander Bogaerts said. "It'll fall soon."


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Washington, DC: Sixty-five percent of charities surveyed report increased demand for their services in 2011, but just 41 percent saw increased fundraising results in the first nine months of 2011 compared to the same period a year ago, according to the Late Fall 2011Nonprofit Fundraising Study, conducted by the Nonprofit Research Collaborative (NRC).
Smaller charities, those with less than $3 million in total expenditures and which make up 90 percent of the nation's nonprofit organizations, saw disproportionate declines in funds raised and were more likely to report they are planning budget and services cuts in 2012.
"Every day, almost every American is touched by a nonprofit organization, whether it's the health facility that provides medical care or the school that educates our children, and they are being asked to take on an even more critical role in this tough economy," said Bob Ottenhoff, president and CEO of GuideStar, a member of the NRC. "We know nonprofits are already struggling, and more than half say their fundraising results have not improved to date in 2011. In this study, we found that 79 percent of smaller charities report experiencing four or more of the nine signs of fiscal stress described in the study. Many smaller organizations are stressed, which will affect the availability and quality of their services."
The Late Fall 2011 Nonprofit Fundraising Study, available at http://philanthropy.iupui.edu/Research/docs/2011NonprofitFundraisingSurvey_December.pdf, found that in addition to increases in demand, organizations of all sizes anticipate starting 2012 with reduced revenue from numerous sources, including:
- Philanthropic support, which was flat or lower at 59 percent of responding nonprofits through the first three quarters of 2011, compared to the same period in 2010;
- Government funding, with more than half (54 percent) of those with government funding reporting a decline compared to 2010; and
- Funding from sources other than contributions reported down by 46 percent of respondents.
"With demand up and resources constrained, responding charitable organizations face difficult choices for 2012," according to Tom Pollak, director of the National Center for Charitable Statistics. "About 49 percent in this survey plan increased spending on program activities, yet about 60 percent plan no new hires and no layoffs, indicating some intend to increase activities with the same staffing levels."
Smaller organizations worse off by nearly every measure
While many nonprofit organizations saw fundraising results flat or down in the first nine months of 2011, and many are planning conservatively for 2012 budgets, smaller organizations (total expenditures of less than $3 million) are more challenged. In comparison to larger organizations, smaller survey respondents reported:
- Greater likelihood of decreased in contributions to date in 2011, with 31 percent of smaller organizations reporting a decline compared with 17 percent of larger charities;
- Greater likelihood of plans to reduce staff in 2012, at 29 percent of smaller organizations compared with 20 percent for larger organizations.
About the Survey
The Nonprofit Research Collaborative (NRC) conducts surveys three times a year.
The current report and prior reports from the Nonprofit Research Collaborative are available at http://www2.guidestar.org/rxg/news/publications/index.aspx.
This survey was conducted online in October 2011 about fundraising results from January through September 2011 compared with the same period in 2010, and about plans for 2012. The 875 respondents form a convenience sample. There is no margin of error, as it is not a random sample of the population studied. Reported results are statistically significant using chi-square analysis by organizational size. There were no statistically significant differences when comparing organizational responses grouped by organizational mission (subsector) or region of the United States.
About the Nonprofit Research Collaborative (NRC)
Six organizations form the NRC. Each has, at a minimum, a decade of direct experience studying nonprofits' charitable receipts or fundraising practices. Partners are: Association of Fundraising Professionals; Blackbaud, Inc.; The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University; Giving USA Foundation; GuideStar USA, Inc.; and the National Center for Charitable Statistics at the Urban Institute.


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Restore 24 Emergency Services in Clearwater
Commercial, Industrial & Residential
Emergency Restoration and Cleaning Services
in Clearwater, MN and Surrounding Area
Our service speaks for itself. Starting with the responsive, informative call with our technicians and staff to the final handshake, you will be impressed by Restore 24's dedication, integrity, and honesty. We take pride in our people, we take pride in our work, we take pride in the accomplishment of your home in Clearwater, we take pride in the numerous customer testimonials that are our proof that we are meeting our goals.
Residential Services
Our professional technicians in Clearwater, Minnesota have the equipment and training that is needed to clean and restore your home to pre-loss condition or better. Learn more about our residential services: Carpet cleaning, Tile and grout cleaning, Odors/Pet Deodorization, Upholstery cleaning, Blinds, Area Rugs, Furnace air duct cleaning, Move Outs, Dryer vent, Foreclosed homes.
Fire Damage Repair
Fire or smoke damage to your home or business is devastating and can completely disrupt your life. Restore 24 can quickly, safely, and effectively clean and restore your home or business. Your home and possessions are important to you. Your business is your livelihood. We take care of your property with attentiveness and precision – the way we would treat our property.
Water Damage Repair
We know how shocking it is to discover your kitchen floor covered in water or your basement flooded. Water damage requires immediate attention to minimize your loss and prevent secondary water damage, potentially saving you thousands of dollars.
Sewer Backup
When a sewer backup has flooded your home, there can be unpleasant odor problems, property damage, and unhealthy living conditions. A sewer backup can be very stressful and frustrating and needs to be dealt with in a careful manner. Restore 24 professionals have the experience and proper equipment to restore your property.
Mold Damage Repair
Mold develops where there has been flooding, water damage or excessive moisture. Mold may appear in many different colors and can produce a musty odor even if hidden behind walls or carpet. Mold abatement must be handled carefully to avoid cross-contamination and to minimize future health risks. Also, the source of water damage must be assessed and repaired if needed.
Storm Damage Repair
Storm damage can wreak havoc on your property and your life. We care. We can help. Our experienced professionals will help you minimize your losses, work with insurance agents, and quickly get you back to normal. Restore 24 team members are trained technicians, equipped to handle catastrophic storm damage – whether from wind, hail, lightning or tornado.
Contents Restoration
When a disaster has disrupted your life, it can be reassuring to know there may be contents within your home or business that can be saved and restored. If you have experienced water or fire damage and you want expert contents restoration, call Restore 24. Calling as soon as possible will help to minimize further damage and loss.
Document Drying
Water and mold can destroy your important documents, books, and photos. If you have recently experienced a disaster, your quick action can minimize loss and prevent further damage. Call Restore 24 for fast, professional guidance on document drying. When you call, Restore 24 will assess your situation and recommend the best document drying approach based on our experience. The approach may include air-drying, dehumidification, freeze drying, or vacuum thermal drying.
Commercial Services
Our professional technicians in Clearwater, Minnesota have the equipment and training that is needed to clean and restore your place of business and get you back running again. Learn more about our commercial services: Carpet cleaning, Tile and grout cleaning, Odors/Pet Deodorization, Construction cleaning, Furnace air duct cleaning, Janitorial cleaning, Rental property turnover, Strip and wax floors.
You'll be glad we're here.
Clearwater, MN
Commercial – Industrial – Residential
References Available
We Work Directly
With Your Insurance
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Including Cities: Albany, Albertville, Alexandria, Anoka, Annandale, Avon, Becker, Big Lake, Bock, Bowlus, Brainerd, Buffalo, Burtrum, Clear Lake, Clearwater, Cloquet, Cokato, Cold Spring, Dassel, Delano, Duluth, Eden Valley, Elk River, Enfield/Silver Creek, Foley, Foreston, Fort Ripley, Freedhem, Freeport, Gilman, Greenwood, Grey Eagle, Hanover, Howard Lake, Holdingford, Kimball, Kingston, Little Falls, Luxemburg, Maple Lake, Miere Grove, Mankato, Melrose, Milaca, Monticello, Montrose, New Munich, Nisswa, Opole, Otsego, Paynesville, Pease, Pierz, Princeton, Ramey, Rice, Richmond, Rockford, Rockville, Rogers, Royalton, St Cloud, St Joseph, St Martin, St Nicholas, St Stephen, Santiago, Sartell, Sauk Centre, Sauk Rapids, South Haven, Staples, Swanville, Upsala, Waite Park, Wadena, Watkins, Waverly, Willmar, Zimmerman


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Through six seasons at the helm, Jason Kilby has proven a successful track record as men's soccer coach at the Universty of Mary Washington.
After leading UMW to a 7-7-3 mark in his first season on campus, Kilby led the Eagles to a 12-8-1 mark in 2012, advancing all the way to the CAC Championship. With a freshman-laden roster in 2013, the Eagles finished with a 12-7 mark, and advanced to the CAC semifinals in both 2014 and 2015. Last fall, the Eagles reached the CAC Championship after a 14-4 campaign.
In nine years at NC Wesleyan, Kilby led the Battling Bishops to a 120-43-13 overall record with a 43-7-6 mark in USA South Conference play. Kilby's impressive tenure at NCWC included back-to-back undefeated USA South Conference Championships in '04 and '05, as well as back-to-back undefeated regular seasons in '06 and '07.
In 2008, Kilby led NCWC to a 16-3-2 overall record, the USA South Tournament Championship, and the program's third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. His best season at the helm of the program, however, came in 2007 when he turned in a program-best 18-2-0 record, an undefeated regular season, an appearance in the NCAA Sweet 16, and a #2 national ranking for most of the fall.
Kilby spent four years as an assistant coach at Frostburg State University and was credited with much of his alma mater's success. FSU won the AMCC Regular Season Championship each of those years and won the AMCC Tournament three times. FSU posted an overall record of 56-25-1 during his tenure on the coaching staff.
Professional soccer is also an accomplishment for Kilby as he has played in the USL and the USISL, as well as the Moseley Football Club in London, England. He currently holds a NSCAA Advanced National License, as well as a USSF "A" License.


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The information age has created a host of digitized products — in the realms of software, databases, music, videos and electronic books — that can be produced and distributed with low variable costs, resulting in high gross margins. The key to profitability for creators of these products is to generate enough unit sales to offset their high development costs. But the ability to produce and distribute these products quickly and cheaply is not limited to the original content creator, and the potential for piracy, defined as duplication and distribution of a product without the permission of or payment to the content owner, is extremely high. One of the greatest challenges to digital business is figuring out how to maintain a profitable model in the face of widespread unauthorized competition.
Up to now, efforts to control piracy have relied on the assumption that creators of digital products have absolute ownership rights to the digital content they create. For example, on the basis of that assumption, recording companies and their artists have pursued an aggressive, allegedly successful legal challenge against the file-sharing sites MP3.com and Napster. Under the same assumption, several software firms have sought to limit piracy with contractual as well as technological safeguards such as click-wrap contracts, encryption, password-limited access to distribution sites and copy proofing.
However, because the belief in absolute ownership of digital content is incorrect from a legal standpoint, antipiracy tactics that rely upon it will ultimately prove ineffective. What's more, these tactics can risk the profitability of the business model by actually reducing authorized usage by paying customers. A far better solution is to recognize the dynamics of the marketplace, segment that market into innovators (potential pirates) and the mainstream (potential paying customers), and address each segment differently to gather information and establish market leadership.
The Case Against Absolute Ownership
A single-minded emphasis on enforcing absolute ownership rights not only raises serious practical impediments to effective enforcement, but also the very assertion of those rights rests on a misunderstanding of the objectives of copyright law.
Even in 1789 the nation's founders recognized intellectual products such as writings or inventions as "public goods," products that take considerable time and resources to create, but can subsequently be cheaply and quickly appropriated in an unfettered free market. Consequently, the framers added the "intellectual property clause" to the U.S. Constitution, expressly authorizing the U.S.


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Wilsonart® Decorative Metals collection is the high-tech hybrid of industrial flair and sophisticated design, surprisingly adaptable and virtually unbreakable.
Sometimes you have to see it to believe it. The New Wilsonart® Visualizer lets you do just that. Whether it's Wilsonart Quartz or Wilsonart Laminate, our visualizer gives you the latest tool in design technology to see your inspirations in real time.
Don't forget to download the Visualizer iPad app on the App store as well as any tablet running Android on Google Play.
Dream it. Build it. See it
Reference Materials
Technical Information
Training Videos
Continuing Education
Care & Maintenance
Question and Answers
New Arrivals. New Textures. New Product. Our designs provide designers versatility in commercial and residential applications.
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Sometimes the project just calls for a little more. Durability. Strength. Toughness. Turn to Wilsonart® Compact Laminate.
More durable, more long-lasting. Discover Wilsonart® Quartz for your kitchen or bath.
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The rich textures, surfaces and sparkle of the urban landscape inspire Wilsonart® Solid Surface designs.
Wilsonart introduces 14 Bold New Additions to Decorative Metals Collection
Coordinated Surfaces
Introducing CERTIFIED TFL PANELS from Wilsonart.
Virtual Design Library
Looking for something unique, abstract or fun and don't know where to start? Our online designer-inspired Virtual Design Library is full of growing exclusive patterns.


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New Leak Shows NSA Shares Raw Domestic Communications Data With Israeli Intelligence
from the who's-'oversharing'-now? dept
The Guardian has posted another leaked document that exposes more of the NSA's cozy relationship with foreign intelligence agencies. In this case, it's Israel benefitting from the NSA's data hauls. As we've seen before, many European countries have a quid pro quo arrangement with the NSA, often exchanging access points for data.
The main difference here is that Israel is receiving raw (unminimized) intelligence data from the NSA. Anything the agency has swept up -- including data on American citizens -- is being handed over to Israel's intelligence, restriction-free.
Details of the intelligence-sharing agreement are laid out in a memorandum of understanding between the NSA and its Israeli counterpart that shows the US government handed over intercepted communications likely to contain phone calls and emails of American citizens. The agreement places no legally binding limits on the use of the data by the Israelis.This deal with the NSA's Israeli counterpart commenced in 2009. The memorandum continually stresses the privacy protections afforded to American data caught in the dragnet, but the program itself undermines these warnings by providing Israel's intelligence officers with raw data. Nothing in the document implies any sort of legal repercussions for any abuse of American data, which gives the program the appearance of a gentlemen's agreement. Considering intelligence work isn't really the best fit for honorable "gentlemen," the lack of any enforcement measures implicitly allows Israeli intelligence free rein to handle data on American citizens however it pleases.
The disclosure that the NSA agreed to provide raw intelligence data to a foreign country contrasts with assurances from the Obama administration that there are rigorous safeguards to protect the privacy of US citizens caught in the dragnet. The intelligence community calls this process "minimization", but the memorandum makes clear that the information shared with the Israelis would be in its pre-minimized state.
The NSA doesn't deny it hands over raw data to Israel (how could it at this point?) but the unnamed spokesperson again makes the (unsupported) claim that the data is handled responsibly and protected from abuse.
"Any US person information that is acquired as a result of NSA's surveillance activities is handled under procedures that are designed to protect privacy rights," the spokesperson said.Right, because the NSA has done such a bang-up job up to this point handling US citizens' information in a way that protects privacy rights. And that's just the data it still has complete control over. Expecting us to believe that foreign intelligence agencies haven't treated this data with the same level of casual abuse the NSA has would require a leap of credulity even the agency's staunchest supporters would be hesitant to make.
Not only that, but the spokesperson refused to answer further questions about the legality of this program.
The NSA declined to answer specific questions about the agreement, including whether permission had been sought from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance (Fisa) court for handing over such material.This agreement also allows Israel to hold onto any US person's data for up to a year, provided it makes a courtesy call to the NSA liaison once the data is discovered. The pointlessness of this provision can't be emphasized enough. The NSA isn't auditing Israel's use of the data (other than a minimal pre-screen of random samples -- nothing post-delivery) so it's relying on its counterpart to give it a ring if it comes across anything it shouldn't necessarily have. If it doesn't, no one would know and the NSA would presumably be secure in the knowledge that no contact = no US person data.
But not all Americans are created equal. There are much more stringent policies in place to protect any US government data swept up and delivered to Israeli intelligence.
The Israelis were required to "destroy upon recognition" any communication "that is either to or from an official of the US government". Such communications included those of "officials of the executive branch (including the White House, cabinet departments, and independent agencies), the US House of Representatives and Senate (member and staff) and the US federal court system (including, but not limited to, the supreme court)".One would expect US government communications to be a bit more sensitive, but this seems less about protecting the government from prying eyes and more about keeping a legally-dubious NSA program from drawing unwanted attention from its "oversight." Less government data exposure means fewer chances someone in the US government might be apprised of the situation.
Not only is plenty of raw communications data being given to Israel, but the NSA itself expresses concern in one of the Black Budget docs that the mutually beneficial data-sharing program is trending towards something more one-sided.
"Balancing the Sigint exchange equally between US and Israeli needs has been a constant challenge," states the report, titled 'History of the US – Israel Sigint Relationship, Post-1992'. "In the last decade, it arguably tilted heavily in favor of Israeli security concerns. 9/11 came, and went, with NSA's only true Third Party [counter-terrorism] relationship being driven almost totally by the needs of the partner…The NSA is "oversharing" in order to maintain a relationship with one of the only "friendlies" in the Middle East. It suspects it's being taken advantage of, but can't seem to extricate itself from the questionable data exchange it initiated. The Guardian also points to a worrying statement from a previous Snowden leak that refers to "trust issues" resulting from previous Israeli operations.
Later in the document, the official is quoted as saying: "One of NSA's biggest threats is actually from friendly intelligence services, like Israel. There are parameters on what NSA shares with them, but the exchange is so robust, we sometimes share more than we intended."
The NSA grabs more than it needs and shares this largesse with Israeli intelligence (and other nations), offering only minimal restrictions which are largely unenforceable. And it continues to do this despite "trust issues" and a declining return-on-investment. Furthermore, it allows Israeli intelligence to share this data with "outside parties" (with written permission from the NSA), provided it strips out personally-identifiable information. Again, this agreement to strip out identifiable info relies on trust rather than enforcement procedures, which doesn't exactly inspire confidence considering the NSA's on-record complaint about "trust issues."
This is more evidence the NSA just simply doesn't care about the American citizens whose data it sweeps up. It's more than happy to "ship" it around the world with only the most minute amount of oversight or limitations. To the NSA, data exists solely to be collected and examined, and if legal safeguards need to be undermined, so be it.
Filed Under: israel, minimization, nsa, nsa surveillance, raw data


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If you've ever bought a bad hardcover book, then didn't know what to do with it after you finished reading (heaven forbid it be seen on your shelf), Heather from The Lovely Cupboard has the perfect upcycling idea for you. Heather's friend Hannah whipped up this hanging hardcover book shelf, and now you can too!
Head over to The Lovely Cupboard to see the full how-to.
[Via Decor Hacks]


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Texas A&M is (deservedly) taking a lot of shit for deciding over the summer to add two very questionable national titles to their history. But they're far from the only school to count championships awarded by obscure polls or retroactively applied formulas. Why, their new conference-mate Alabama is one of the worst offenders. How many titles do the Crimson Tide have? Fourteen, but only if you don't ask anyone who isn't Alabama.
After we wrote about the Aggies this morning, a reader pointed us to this Birmingham News piece from 2010, detailing how a former SID spontaneously added five debatable crowns to Bama's media guide in 1986, and therefore into the school's own history. These titles were awarded by such luminaries as the the Dunkel System, the Houlgate System, and the Sagarin Ratings.
"I tried to make Alabama football look the best it could look and just make it as great as it could possibly be," [Wayne] Atcheson said. "I was a competitor myself with the other schools, and what they bragged about and boasted about, I wanted people to know the best about my school."
Asked why 12 [at the time] is the right number, [Taylor Watson, curator at the Bryant Museum] replied: "I don't know that it is the right number. But that's the great thing about college football. I hope we never have a playoff. I'll be going to my grave arguing that we should have won a national championship in 1966."
Don't get all high and mighty over Texas A&M. Every school does this. You're all terrible.


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Mediation is appropriate when the parties need a decision and are willing to
Example criteria
Voluntary recourse, ability to take decisions (autonomy)
-Participation of a party in mediation is not forced (by threats or in any other way) by the other party or any third party;
General rule: Where parties are not ready to search for a solution, where they do not see the necessity to search for a solution or where at least one of the parties insist to resolve their conflict by asserting the position solely. The cases listed below could be seen as unsuitable only upon certain conditions and it has to be taken into account that in many of these cases the alleged obstacle may be surmounted in the course of mediation.
Example criteria
Information for mediators or mediation providers is available online, and often can be found in the chambers of commerce, embassies, or associations of mediators in the respective country. Usually this type of information is available on the Internet.
Useful criteria for choosing a mediator would be:
Read more...


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|Germination Temperature
|Planting Depth
|Days to Germination
|Plant Spacing
|Row Spacing
Planting Instructions:
Plant the seeds 1-2 inches deep and 8-12 inches apart in loose soil and full sun. For the best results, plant sunflower seeds only when the spring is warm and all danger of frost is past, and stagger plantings over several weeks to allow plants to mature at different times to ensure an ongoing supply of ready-to-eat birdseed.
Additional Tips:
Sunflowers can be planted in all types of soil, and supplemental fertilization is not necessary – in fact, too much fertilization can decrease the seed yield by increasing the height of the stalks and the leaf growth.
Water the seeds daily (twice daily in very hot or dry climates) until the young plants are well established, then water thoroughly every other day.
Weeds should be controlled near sunflowers when the plants are very young, but once sunflowers grow several inches tall they will rapidly become established and weeds are no longer a concern.
When stalks grow taller than three feet, stakes can be used to ensure they do not topple over during high winds, storms or when the seed heads become heavy.
Sunflower seeds will ripen in the fall as the seed heads turn downward and the inner flowers shrivel. Cover the heads with mesh to prevent birds from feasting on them prematurely, or they can be left on the stalks for birds to enjoy directly. To store the seeds, cut the flower heads off each stalk to dry. When the heads are completely dry, the seeds can be rubbed off to be added to feeders, or dry heads can be put in tray or platform feeders without removing the seeds. Store seeds you won't use right away in a cool, dry place so they will stay fresh and appetizing.


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Doctor insights on:
Lustra Allergy In Children
What is the definition or description of: Hydroquinone allergy?
Hydroquinone allergy: Hydroquinone is Depigmenting / bleaching agent. See: https://www.drugs.com/cdi/hydroquinone-cream.html ...Read more
Allergies (Definition)
Allergies occur when your immune system is triggered by envirionmental factors it should ignore--for example, pollen in the air, or dander on a cat or dog--and creates cells to fight against them. An allergic reaction typically causes itching, congestion, or drainage, and ...Read more
May i know about lustra (hydroquinone) ?
Lustra (hydroquinone): Lustra contains 4% hydroquinone, glycolic acid and an antioxidant complex. Used to treat hyperpigmentation of the skin. ...Read moreSee 1 more doctor answer
If anyone has used lustra (hydroquinone)?
Yes: For pigmented spots, usually for face. It's a bleaching cream. ...Read more
What do I need to know about starting lustra (hydroquinone)?
Hydroquinone: Lustra is a type of topical skin bleaching agent that contains hydroquinone. Hydroquinone has been used for years to bleach out darks spots on the skin (usually the face). Some people are voicing concern that hydroquinone may have long-term safety issues. Therefore, the use of hydroquinone for skin bleaching has been used less and less over the past couple years. ...Read more
Why do some children have allergies?
Exposure + Genes: One needs both a genetic component and "exposure" to a said allergen to develop an allergy. There is a growing support over the past 20 years, that growing up in an environment which is "too clean" can also lead to development of allergies down the road. Either way, allergies are on the rise. ...Read moreSee 2 more doctor answers
How are children tested for allergies?
See below: They are tested the same as everyone else. They can have skin testing performed by an allergist, or blood work ordered by their primary care provider. ...Read moreSee 1 more doctor answer
I have an allergy to nuts and I was wondering if my children would also be allergic?
Nut allergy: Maybe. Your children may have inherited genes from you that make them more likely to develop an allergy, but they do not inherit a specific allergy to a food e.g. Nuts. The children have to be exposed to food proteins in the diet, before an allergy can develop. Once one develops an allergy then they are always allergic and need proper medical attention to prevent severe problems. ...Read moreSee 1 more doctor answer
How do docs test children for indoor & outdoor allergies?
Allergy tests: There are several types of testing. Some involve certain types of blood tests. Another method is to do a series of skin tests done by pricking the skin and applying different allergens. Other tests are provocative tests that can involve challanging the patient with allergic materials. Testing should be done by doctors specializing in allergy to obtain the best results. ...Read moreSee 1 more doctor answer
What testing is there for?Children and food allergies?
Skin & blood tests: Prick testing with allergenic extracts or fresh foods can help confirm allergy, as can blood tests for specific ige antibodies (rast-type tests). However, both types of testing can produce false positive results, and confirmation with food challenges may be needed. ...Read moreSee 2 more doctor answers
Can a parents allergies be passed on to their children?
Not exactly: The ability to react to certain proteins in an allergic way is passed on from parents to their children, but a specific allergy is not. So if a mom is allergic to pollen and the dad is allergic to fire ants, their child may develop allergies but it may be to a food instead. If 1 parent has allergies, the child is 50% likely to develop allergies, but it's a 75% chance if both parents are allergic. ...Read moreSee 2 more doctor answers
What kind of allergy medicine is best for children under 3 years old, with bad allergy probelms?
Antihistamine: Zyrtec and Claritin (loratadine) are approved for age 6m and older. But speak with your doctor before giving this medication to your child. ...Read more
Can I as a 46 year old, take children's Benadryl. It's all I have in the house and my allergies are terrible.
Okay to use: Okay to use children's Benadryl. Dosage will be 20 ml ( 4 teaspoons) per dose. ...Read more
Where can I find a statistic for the number of children who died from allergies causing anaphylaxis in the u.S.?
Only overall numbers: The incidence of anaphylaxis in children is unknown. Estimates of anaphylactic deaths (from drugs, foods, insect stings, and latex) in the us are 0.002 percent annually (2 per 100, 000): 500 fatalities from penicillin anaphylaxis; 40 fatalities from bee stings; 125-150 from food anaphylaxis. ...Read more
My husband has nut and fish allergies. I have 4 children, 2 without allergies should I get rest of kids tested before giving them these foods?
Food testing: Food allergies can be frightening but there is no reason to test the children if they have not had reactions. Always be cautious when introducing a new food to an allergic child. ...Read moreSee 2 more doctor answers
I give my 17mnth old 1/2 teaspoon of children's zyrtec (cetirizine) for allergies but some days it's not enough. Can i increase the dose or try something differ t?
Do not increase : A 17 month old should not have allergies to inhaled items like dust or pollen. Zyrtec (cetirizine) could cause drowsiness and i would avoid long term use of zyrtec (cetirizine) in your child. If your child has a runny or stuffy nose that is unresponsive to zyrtec (cetirizine) then see your doctor to make sure there isn't an infection brewing. ...Read more
How are children tested for allergies these days?
Allergy testing: Usually encompasses skin and/or serum (blood) test which are consistent with the child's clinical history. ...Read moreSee 1 more doctor answer
How often should children be tested for allergies?
It depends: It really depends on the age of the child, and whether you're talking about food or environmental allergies. I generally will skin test children over age 2 for environmental allergies, while many younger kids need food testing. In terms of frequency, children with environmental allergies may benefit from repeat testing after 2 years, as their allergies can change as they get older. ...Read moreSee 1 more doctor answer
Why is it that so many children have allergies nowadays?
Hygiene hypothesis: The immune system has two opposing arms, one makes protective antibodies against bacteria and viruses, the other makes allergic antibody. One theory is that early antibiotic use disrupts the gut flora which tips the scale away from fighting infection and more toward making allergic antibodies. Clean environments might be at fault as well, farm kids don't get allergies as much as city kids. ...Read more
How do you confirm children's allergies from ?Different foods?
Skin testing: The easiest way to determine whether or not a child is allergic to certain foods is skin testing. Blood testing might also be considered. The gold standard (best) test for food allergy is an oral food challenge (should be done under supervision of a qualified allergist). ...Read more
Does a cough come with allergies in children?
Sometimes: But not all the time. Nasal allergies are not a frequent cause of a really bad persistent cough. In a child with allergies and a really bad cough (assuming no fever) I would be concerned about a reactive airway/asthma type condition. If the child also had eczema I would be even more concerned. ...Read more
Hydroquinone (Definition)
Hydroquinone ...Read more
Lustra (Definition)
Lustra ...Read more


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CNC productivity innovations, handheld unit
Fanuc FA America's CNC innovations include new enhancements to Series 30i-Model B CNCs for 5-axis and high-speed, high accuracy machining, introduction of the new Power Motion i-Model A CNC for general industrial machines, and introduction of the new iPendant for CNC for improved operability.
For advanced smooth and accurate simultaneous 5-axis high-speed machining, Fanuc's 30i-B/31i-B5 CNCs feature high-speed smooth TCP with new fairing technology. This drastically reduces cycle times while improving part accuracy and quality, the company said. For complex machining processes, this is the ideal combination of Fanuc's legendary reliability and modern high speed 5-axis features. In addition, Fanuc's Series 30i-Model B controls offer enhanced high-speed and large capacity, multi-path PMC offering large scale sequence control with a maximum of 5 concurrent independent ladders.
Fanuc's Power Motion i-Model A CNC is designed for a wide range of general industrial machine applications with multi-axis and multi-path functions. Up to 16 axes by PMC axis control function can be executed independently for each axis. The Power Motion i-Model A reduces cycle time with a high-speed response function for quick axis start/stop and high-speed execution cycle of PMC. Additionally, the Power Motion i-Model A has a pressure and position control function as well as a function for presses.
Fanuc's new iPendant for CNC is a hand held operator's unit that offers mobile operability for large machine tools. The iPendant keyboard provides for both MDI data operations as well as well as manual machine control operation as integrated by the machine builder. A 6.4-in. color LCD displays the identical screens used by the 8.4-in. or 10.4-in. control display, including machine builder's custom screens for operator familiarity. Touch screen display is also available. Three position enabling switch on back can be integrated as required per safety requirements. Built-in USB port supports I/O of data to standard USB flash drives.
Fanuc FA America
Fanuc FA America will exhibit at IMTS 2012 in Booth #S-8919. www.imts.org
– Edited by Chris Vavra, Control Engineering, www.controleng.com


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Lidl have launched a limited edition organic prosecco giving wine lovers everything they need.
Just when we thought the prosecco bubble was about to burst, along come Lidl with an organic offering that promises less of a hangover - and who wouldn't drink to that?
What could be better than quaffing glass after glass of delicious bubbly without having to worry about a fuzzy head the next day! So how have Lidl managed to make prosecco even more mouth watering?
Well, there's nothing new about organic wines and growers abstaining from chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers in favour of organic viticulture. The resulting wines contain lower levels of sulphites; the preservative used to maintain the wine's freshness for longer.
But do sulphites give you a headache? According to research it's a myth - if you're sensitive to sulphites, headaches are not one of the symptoms. How about organic wines being more expensive? Well that's also a myth.
Lidl's new Organic Prosecco Spumante, keenly priced at £7.99 (in-store only) and made with organically grown glera grapes from the Veneto region in the north east of Italy, is a delicious excuse to stock up on a few bottles ahead of party season.
A lovely pale, lemony gold, it's fresh, light (11% abv) and lively, with white fruit aromas and hints of peach and pear. Dry and a little bit earthy, with a clean, fresh palate and floral undertones, it's stylish and extremely drinkable.
Labelled 'extra dry' - which translates to the quantity of residual sugar (12 to 17g/L) - in a supermarket sweep, this is less sweet than some of its contemporaries.
So, when put to the test, how did our sparkle specialist feel the next day?
The good news is, she was pleasantly surprised by the Lidl bubbly: "I'm not a huge prosecco fan," says taste-tester Prue, "so I liked that it was quite dry and not overly sweet. As to whether it won't give you a hangover? I suspect that might be rubbish, or at least some very savvy marketing from the supermarket.
"I didn't have a hangover the next day, but admittedly, I didn't down the entire bottle to really put the theory to the test.
"I also drank beer during the same night, so does that mean beer will no longer give you a hangover either? Probably not! Either way, prosecco lovers on a budget will probably still enjoy Lidl's offering."


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By Julie van der Poel Aug 13, 2012 57
Eyes Wide Open
This is one of the most difficult things I've ever had to write. There is raw emotion involved, and I'm not sure what else might erupt within me as I begin to tell this story.
Cameron, my 17-year-old son with Autism Spectrum Disorder, whose independence I've had to deliberately formulate and even force myself to allow, was assaulted at his workplace by a co-worker. It has been a horrible "facts of life" lesson for both us.
As I chronicled in my column, "Working for a Living," Cameron was a participant in the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) sponsored by the District of Columbia's Department of Employment Services. When Cameron enrolled, I saw this as a fantastic opportunity for him to gain real employability skills, all while being in a "mainstream" setting, as this was not a disability-based program. I wasn't sure if Cameron had the skill set that would be required of him, so I sent an email to the SYEP director, asking for guidance and recommendations for employers that would be compassionate about Cameron's challenges. My email went unanswered, but Cameron was assigned to work in the mailroom at the Department of Disability Services (DDS). His supervisor was a transition specialist at the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). I felt at ease, knowing that even though I had not gotten a response to my email, someone, somewhere had taken the information to heart, and made sure Cameron had an appropriate placement.
When Cameron started work this summer, I couldn't contain my excitement. I would anxiously await his arrival home each day, and fire questions at him: "How was your day?" "What did you do?" "Who did you work with?" "Did you learn your supervisor's name?" Cameron was diligent about calling me each day when he arrived at his office, and at the end of the day when he was on his way home. He was, after all, taking public transportation on his own at rush hour. This was when I feared the most for his safety, as I felt he was the most vulnerable during his commute. I coached him about not pulling out his phone to call me until he was inside his office building. We went through hypothetical situations of being approached by panhandlers for money. Or even what to do if he was threatened by a thief.
So imagine my reaction when I learned Cameron had been assaulted at his workplace. I received an incoming call from Cameron's phone at the same time that he called every day to say he was on the way home. But instead of hearing Cameron's voice, I heard the voice of a stranger saying, "Mrs. van der Poel?" This was not a good sign. It was Cameron's supervisor, whom I misunderstood to say, "Cameron has been kicked by another employee." She said the police were on the way, and she put Cameron on the phone. My immediate thought was that this was the equivalent of a school lunchroom incident, where students with low frustration tolerance act out, and behavior interventions are put in place. The idea that the police were involved didn't even strike me as odd, as I thought this would be normal protocol since the incident happened at a government agency.
When Cameron came on the line, I immediately went into "Calm Cameron Down" mode. He was quite upset, told me his face was swollen a bit, but he didn't think anything was broken. It was then that I realized that Cameron had in fact been hit, and not kicked. He told me that another teen—with whom he had been working all along—just came at him out of nowhere. Cameron said the youth hit him and then ran out of the building. Cameron said that another coworker was coming out of the restroom and went and got the "grown-ups." As we talked, Cameron did calm down. In an effort to get him to think beyond the event, I asked if he wanted to come home, or if he still wanted to go the gym after work as he had planned. Cameron seemed intent on sticking with his gym plan, and this satisfied me that he was sufficiently calm. The supervisor came back on the phone, and said she would complete her report and would walk Cameron to the Metro station just to make sure he was okay.
When I still hadn't heard from Cameron 45 minutes later, I called him to see if he was on his way yet. He said he was talking to the police, and was almost finished. Another 45 minutes went by before he called to say he was on the way to the gym. I picked him up from the gym 3 hours after I received the initial call. I was shocked when I saw him, and Cameron was clearly in a stunned state as well. His face was swelling, and he looked like someone who had just had their wisdom teeth removed. It wasn't until I got home and started photographing him that I realized he was swollen on both sides of his face. When I heard Cameron was "hit" I assumed the singular form of the word. This was clearly not the case. Cameron had sustained several blows to his face and neck, but could remember very few details of the actual beating.
The evening of the attack, I experienced a wide variety of emotions. Surprisingly enough, guilt was one of the primary emotions I struggled with. I was angry with myself for not responding to the initial phone call differently. Why didn't I ask better questions of the supervisor? Why didn't I immediately rush to the scene so that I could support Cameron during the interview process? And then I became angry. How could this have happened? Did the assailant have a record of violent behavior, and was the agency negligent in leaving my son alone with him unsupervised? Why didn't the supervisor herself suggest I come down to the office? Was she intentionally trying to downplay the incident? I came to my own conclusions that the assailant had his own disabilities, as I assumed all of SYEP participants working at the DDS had disabilities.
I didn't know where to begin, but I knew I needed an action plan in place. Since the incident occurred on a Friday afternoon, there was very little I could do over the weekend, aside from ask friends for advice regarding where to get advice. I am not the type of person that believes lawsuits are the solution to every injustice. That said, I did feel I had some questions that needed to be answered, and realized I would need help getting those answers. I decided I should look for legal support, but wasn't even sure what type of legal support I needed. I spoke to the responding officer the evening of the attack. She assured me that charges were pressed against the attacker, and that the case would be turned over to a detective. It took eight days for the police report to be released, meaning it took eight days for a detective to be assigned to the case.
On the Monday following the incident, I received a call from Cameron's supervisor at DDS. She was calling to check on how Cameron was doing. I took this as an opportunity to get some answers to a few of my many questions about the event. As it turns out, the alleged assailant is 17 years old and has no documented disability. The supervisor didn't know that Cameron had any disabilities until he started working there. So my assumption that Cameron had been placed at DDS because of his disability was totally wrong. It was essentially the luck of the draw that he came to work there.
I thought it was such a great idea to enroll Cameron in an employment program that wasn't disability-based. I so wanted to expand Cameron's community beyond his relatively small school population of students with similar disabilities, and get him out of that special needs cloister. Any opportunity to learn job skills AND earn money is a clear bonus. Or so I thought. I've found myself second-guessing the rationale behind enrolling Cameron in SYEP. I'm not going to give up on the desire to increase Cameron's opportunities for inclusion, but maybe I need to be more selective about the placements I pursue on his behalf. But then again, who could blame me for assuming the DDS would be a good start?
Many people suffer senseless beatings every day—often in places they should be safe. But with the rise of mass shootings, and the outcry to pay more attention to the trail of red flags the shooters inevitably have, I don't understand how this random act of violence doesn't trigger a stronger response from the authorities. A full 10 days after the attack, and it would seem that the "suspect" hasn't so much as had a finger wagged in his face. The motive behind my son's attack seems to be of no consequence to anyone in authority. For all we know, this may have been a hate crime. Cameron may well have been victimized for no reason other than his disability.
I honestly think that if this assault had occurred at a Metro station, I would chalk it up to what an attorney friend referred to as "life in the big city." But this happened in the workplace. By someone with whom Cameron had been working for 6 weeks. The alleged assailant's identity is known to both the police and to the employer. Isn't this evidence of an all-around systemic failure? Are the anti-bullying campaigns and the "see something, say something" nothing more than lip service? Why are there no consequences?
Actually, there are consequences. But so far they only seem to be for the victim and his family. Cameron and I are forever changed by this event. I think I speak for both of us when I say that a massive chunk of our faith in humanity has been blasted away. I am heartbroken. It's a cruel world out there, and we should be thankful this incident was relatively minor. I've also lost my faith in the agencies that provide adult services. I've had very little hands-on experience to date, but this incident has greatly increased my skepticism. I feel as though I did what I should've done on my end, by disclosing Cameron's disability and asking for guidance in an appropriate placement. The one good thing that has come out of this is that I have lost my naiveté. My eyes are now wide open.


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Men could be fined for putting T-shirt on deer
April 14, 2013 at 07:52 PM
The Associated Press
OAK CREEK, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says five men could be fined for dressing a deer — only this has nothing to do with hunting.
A YouTube video shows the men setting up an elaborate trap, then wrestling with a struggling deer as they put a yellow T-shirt on the animal. The men are laughing as the deer eventually runs away in Oak Creek.
DNR warden Kaitlin Kernosky tells WTMJ-TV (http://bit.ly/10YoNll ) "it's tough to see someone act like that toward a wild animal." The DNR says the men in the video have been identified and could face a fine of at least $300 each.
Local residents have reported seeing the deer. Only part of the shirt remains around its neck. The video has been taken off YouTube.
Information from: WTMJ-TV, http://www.todaystmj4.com
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.


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Jackson Hts., New York, August 3, 2014 - Not too long ago my wife dug up a Report Card of mine from 1954. While I've had quite a few since - some better some worse - on this eve of the .nyc Landrush I thought it might be fun to issue another that assesses my work on the .nyc TLD.
But what to assess? I could base it on the 2001 Internet Empowerment Resolution, which set my original course on .nyc, and claim an A grade. After all, the city has acquired .nyc and will run it as a public interest resource. "Great work Tom."
But it's 2014, and 13 years have elapsed. Over the last decade, as the ICANN's new TLD award processes were evolving, my research uncovered broad areas where a city-TLD could facilitate a city's operation: portals, markets, identity, security, privacy, economic development, civic and neighborhood betterment, and more. A fair assessment should consider how well those findings were reflected in .nyc's structure.
Had this assessment taken place in 2009 high marks might have been in order, for when the city issued its Request For Proposals it included many of our findings in the requirements.
But the ICANN's planning dragged on, and our research continued. And I recall speaking with a city official in 2012 about recent findings. Frustrated, he chided me for continuously raising the bar: "We've done everything you asked for. We can't keep changing things. Be realistic."
[Let me pause here for a moment to point out the transition from "I" to "we" in the previous paragraph. For this was a collaborative endeavor with my work enabled by a plethora of others. First there were my fellow community board members who listened and trusted that a city-TLD was important. There was the gentleman from Germany who goaded me in 2005 to reengage after a two year hiatus; a top TLD lawyer from Florida who guided me for several years; a board of directors who steered and encouraged me; a family that put up with this massive time eater; good friends who encouraged and criticized me; individuals and organizations that backed our effort with digital and financial resources; software engineers and other experts who advised; smart people in the DNS industry who taught me the ins and outs; city officials who strove to make the effort a success; and more. So I'm changing the nature of this assessment to one that looks at the overall city-TLD development process and its outcome. As to my personal Report Card, my work was far from perfect. Had it been better, our city-TLD would likely have provided more nuanced and beneficial features and benefits. But I'd like to think that I improved somewhat from my 1954 B in Effort.]
Before getting into the assessment, one final note on the city-TLD development environment. As the details of .nyc's roll-out become clear, it's increasingly apparent that we've been operating in what the economists call an "asymmetric knowledge" situation. This occurs where there's inadequate expertise for one side to call upon in a negotiation. With this the first time cities have had the opportunity to develop their TLDs, the metric presented for comparison by the knowledge holder, the contractor, was name sales, not an improved quality of life. As a consequence, New York and the other cities applying for their TLDs were unprepared to evaluate the spectrum of opportunities presented. For a parallel situation see The Simpsons episode Marge Vs. The Monorail.
So, how did WE do?
I've rated 12 policy and operational criteria below. While the policies guiding these were selected during the Bloomberg years, the grades test against the current administration's "progressive" standards. This results in rather poor grades: 2 Bs, 2 Cs, 3 Ds, 2 Fs, and 2 Incompletes. Summarized on a 4 point system, the effort receives a disappointing 1.3 GPA. But the two Incompletes and some flexibility the city built into the system offer some hope.
That said, here's the good and the bad. Note: Some digging into the Links might be required to uncover the basis of our suggested remedies.
|Inadequate pre-registration review. Post registration enforcement. Public pays for challenges.
| Expand P.O. Box description to include virtual office. Pre-registration review. More spot checks. City led challenges.
|Market Creation
|No sign of development of local markets.
|Many generic names reserved, so the potential exists for new local markets.
|Landrush Auctions
|No prior use preference. A regressive high-bid blind auction policy to resolve name contention. 60% of revenue flows to contractor in Virginia.
|Give priority to existing name users. Run public auctions - put name contestants in touch with one another.
|Name Distribution Equity
|City rejected NYS Trademarks and d/b/a names of current business and organization owners.
|Institute London's Local Priority Preference process enabling existing businesses and organizations to get the names they now use.
|No expressed sustainability policy or programs. Third level name use in dotNeighborhoods effort is saving grace.
|Few reserved names for future use. Establish programs enabling sharing and recycling of names.
|Local Jobs
| No new registrar jobs created in city. Saving grace: you can request info on becoming registrar
|Train and ease entry for local registrars.
|Consumer Friendly
|Complex and circuitous complaint process - city, ICANN, contractor, and At-Large have roles.
|Centralize complaints. Assure refund for Landrush auction losers.
| Closed city advisory board.
|Create channels for public engagement.
|Government Names
| The de Blasio Administration has acquired hundreds of names to foster city operations.
| More transparency and public engagement in name selection would have earned an A.
|Neighborhood Names
|Traditional neighborhood names have been reserved for licensing to local residents.
|Dedicate funding for endeavor.
|Premium Names
|Regressive high-bid auctions for 2,000 names such as news.nyc, sports.nyc, pizza.nyc, doctors.nyc, etc.
|Premium names should have public interest clause. Hold public forums to create awareness and opportunity for local collaborations.
Looking toward our next Report Card, we expect it to evaluate the work we're doing outside the city. We've start working on an ICANN project setting the criteria for future applicants for city-TLDs: How do they prove their readiness. We've begun advocating that city-TLD applicants preparedness be improved by increasing the current level of awareness from "Non-objection" to "Informed Consent." As well, we hope to require engagement of the user community, through the formation of an At-Large Structure, in creating these applications. And finally, we hope to reorganize the mass of materials we've assembled over the years into an accessible resource library.
Learn about Connecting.nyc Inc.'s thoughts for the future of city-TLDs.
Jackson Hts., New York, July 29, 2014 - With the .london Landrush ending on Thursday, "30 applications for the properties.london address and over 40 for nightlife.london" have been received (see V3.co.uk/) with an auction to decide the recipient. What? Let me try to unbundle that statement.
Over the past 50+ days anyone with $75 to invest (see GoDaddy's rates) has been able to buy a lottery ticket of sorts for a domain name within the .london TLD. With the July 31 deadline to apply for a .london domain name nearing, 30 people have purchased tickets for the "properties.london" lottery, and 40 for the "nightlife.london" lottery. By midnight on July 31 more than 50,000 different domain names are expected to have been applied for overall, with several thousand names having multiple bidders.
In London
The operator of the .london TLD has established priority rules to sort out those instances of "multiple-applicants for same name?" Here's how it works.
- Getting first priority are those with a registered international trademark. If more than one entity has a trademark, for example, Cadillac cars and Cadillac foods, then a high bid auction is held to determine the winner.
- Second priority goes to ticket holders with a valid London address and an established right to a name. For example, a business can upload "evidence" to demonstrate its current use of a name, and thus right, to a parallel .london domain name. Within this Second Priority several sub-categories have been established: In descending order of priority those are: entities with local trademarks, businesses without trademarks, charities, and those with unregistered trademarks. Again, if more than one entity presents evidence of prior use in a sub-category, for example, cadillac.com and cadillac.net, a high bid auction sorts things out.
- Third priority goes to those applicants with a valid London address, but no prior use of the name.
Final priority (if that's the right word) goes to applicants without a valid London address, a New Yorker for example who wants to own a piece of digital London. In these last two instances it's an auction that breaks a tie.
In New York
Here in New York we're doing things differently. There's no value to having used a name for years or decades. And it doesn't matter if you've registered it with the state - neither a New York State trademark nor d/b/a counts.
Excepting those with international trademarks, local businesses and non-profits have no more right to a name than anyone else. The Bloomberg Administration, which established the rules, made the decision to start the naming process all over again on a level(ish) playing field.
So between August 4 and October 3, if you like a name, buy a ticket (it will cost you about $80). Then out bid the current owner (and possibly other ticket holders) at auction, and its yours. But you may get lucky. There's no process to notify current business owners about .nyc's introduction, so the current owner might not even know the .nyc TLD is being introduced, and not buy a ticket. In that case, no auction, it's yours. (Sorry mom. Sorry pop.)
So what happens when 30 tickets are sold for a domain name such as properties.nyc? "The auction will be held in accordance with the auction rules… Any auction fees, charges and the final bid price for the domain name will be the responsibility of the Applicant." A regressive process that promotes the status quo.
This Bloomberg legacy process is slated to move ahead. For the administration it's the easy, fast, and cheap allocation process. But if you believe as I do that it's unfair, call 311 and tell Mayor de Blasio - è ingiusto.
Learn more about the opportunities provided by the .nyc TLD on our wiki pages.
Jackson Hts., New York, June 8, 2014 - Beginning on June 21 and for 5 days thereafter, Connecting.nyc Inc.'s (CnI) director Thomas Lowenhaupt will be participating in the At-Large Summit II in London. Held in conjunction with the ICANN's 50th meeting, the Summit brings together representatives from 160 At-Large Structures from around the globe. Like CnI, these ALSes seek to engage and represent individual Internet users in the ICANN's governance process. The Summit's theme is "Global Internet: The User Perspective." (The first Summit was held in Mexico City in 2009.)
The Summit has three goals:
- Strengthening the At-Large Community
- Increasing Knowledge and Understanding of ICANN
- Showcasing the Multistakeholder Model
In furtherance of these goals participants will seek consensus on 5 issues:
- The Future of Multistakeholderism
- The Globalization of ICANN
- Global Internet: The User Perspective
- ICANN Transparency and Accountability
- At-Large Community Engagement in ICANN
With the conclusion of .nyc's roll-out later this year, CnI will refocus its efforts. While continuing to facilitate the education of New Yorkers about the role of a TLD, we will work to enhance the capacity of New York and other cities to participate within the ICANN and the broader Internet governance ecology. Much of this will be undertaken through our position as an At-Large Structure. So at the summit, in addition to working toward the Summit's general goals, CnI will look for ways to expand the channels for participation by cities (and their residents) in Internet governance processes. Our long term goals in this regard include:
- seeing that a "city-TLD path" is established for the 300+ cities with a million or more population that will soon be considering the acquisition of their TLDs;
- that this path presents the sum of experiences of the initial batch of city-TLD recipients;
- that review processes are established to assure that applicant cities have received a comprehensive understanding of the ways a TLD can influence the breadth of their social and economic life;
- and that cities have an effective means of communicating their common and disparate needs to one another and the Internet governance ecology.
You will be able to follow those efforts here.
Learn more about the opportunities provided by the .nyc TLD on our wiki pages.
Jackson Hts., New York, May 10, 2014 - Since the idea of a public interest city-Top Level Domain emerged from a local Community Board in 2001, we've been exploring the meaning of the "public interest" as it relates to cities and TLDs. A key component of our work has been to detail ways a TLD can best serve the social and economic needs of our city's residents and organizations.
When we published the Towards City TLDs In The Public Interest white paper in 2007, we set out some general principles about the meaning of the public interest. And last Fall, when Bill de Blasio was selected mayor in what's been called a "progressive" landslide, we began to think about how a city-TLD might be developed by a "progressive" city hall.
As a reference point, our research first looked at the Progressive Caucus' Statement of Principles which begins:
"The Progressive Caucus of the New York City Council is dedicated to creating a more just and equal New York City, combating all forms of discrimination, and advancing public policies that offer genuine opportunity to all New Yorkers, especially those who have been left out of our society's prosperity."
and we began to think about ways the Caucus' principles might be reflected in .nyc's development.
But it was only this past Monday, with the start of the Sunrise registrations - an early opportunity for trademark owners to pick their desired .nyc domain names - that our thinking coalesced around several development policies that could provide more fairness and include the "left outs" in our TLD's development.
The spark for our progressive enlightenment was the regressive nature of the Sunrise registrations. For example, the city will charge Google $15 to register Google.nyc but our local coffee shop, Ricky's Cafe, will need to pay $30 for RickysCafe.nyc (if it can get the name at all - see the Landrush discussion below). While of minor financial significance, this realization spun the propeller on our thinking caps, and today we're proposing several ideas that add a "progressive flavor" to four areas of our TLD's roll-out: the Founders Program, Premium Name sales, the Landrush, and Name Retailing.
- Founders Programs - The Founders Program is a marketing effort that looks to attract prominent or innovative entities to say, in essence, "We've joined the .nyc bandwagon, why don't you." The Founders Program began recruiting participants this past Monday and will last 40 days. (Founders Program details are available here.)
Progressive Founders Program - A progressive program would provide the opportunity for existing institutions - schools, hospitals, museums… - to participate. This will require education efforts that show these sectors how our new digital infrastructure supports their existing plans and how it will facilitate their future development. The traditional targets for a Founders Program, a Macy's or a New York Post, are part of giant corporations with digital staffs and advertising budgets accustomed to flowing with the newest technology developments. In developing their Founders Program, the developers of .paris dedicated 120 days for education of specialized groups, 3 times what is planned here. Following the .paris example will provide more opportunities for those typically left out. More time and focused meetings are required, and perhaps forums and a hackathon to facilitate collaboration. (Download more on the Paris program here.)
- Premium Names - These are valuable names such as news.nyc, sports.nyc, and tours.nyc. The plan calls for high-bid auctions, beginning in August to decide who gets what name. Deep pockets will be required. When we think, for example, about the news.nyc domain name, it's clear there are a dozens of media moguls capable of bidding a million dollars for it with nary a second thought. It's hard to see opportunity for the "left out" in the current plan. There's nothing progressive about this policy.
Progressive Premium Names Policy - Imagine providing an on-ramp to those typically "left out" to organize their thoughts about innovative uses for a name such as news.nyc. And imagine the city sponsoring some hackathons to enable innovators to exchange ideas, form teams, and gain access to capital - as it does with BigApps. Here too additional time is needed to imagine new enterprises constructed of innovation and social capital. (More here.)
- Landrush - On August 8 all the names not selected during Sunrise or set aside for Founders, for Premium auctions, or for government use will become available through 30 or so resellers (registrars) that have been selected by the city's contractor. During this 60 day period New Yorkers can bid on any of the available domain names - without regard to whether it might currently be the name of an existing business. At the conclusion of Landrush those names with a single bidder become active. Those names with more than one bidder go into a high-bid, winner-take-all auction.
Progressive Landrush - We have two concerns with Landrush. The first involves the ability of existing firms to claim their .nyc domain name. Under the current plan, Ricky's Cafe has no right to claim the name it's been using for 20 years. In contrast, London established Priority Period Rules that enable existing entities to upload papers that establish their priority for a .london name. Why mom and pop here should be treated with disregard while those with an International Trademark get a priority selection period seems like an affront to the "left outs" and regressive. Fairness says we must learn from the London approach. (Download London Priority Rules.) The second Landrush concern involves a high-bider auction that comes into play when more than one application is received for a domain name. Let's imagine that there are two bidders for a domain name, say TonysPizza.nyc, with neither having a priority. The winner & loser outcome of a high-bidder auction seems less than progressive. ICANN encouraged collaboration amongst competing TLD bidders in the hope of avoiding auctions. I suspect we can do something progressively similar here. How about facilitating bidders' ability to connect with one another in the hope or reaching an accommodation, with an auction only if needed.
- Domain Name Retail Sales - As currently envisioned, domain names will be sold by 30 or so accredited resellers, all with their headquarters outside the city. So every domain name sold will have money flowing out of our city, creating jobs and wealth elsewhere.
Progressive Domain Name Retail Sales - This is a new and growing business area that should be providing local jobs. The city should encourage and facilitate the licensing and training of local resellers. Local resellers will make domain name registration accessible to end users: think specialized resellers focused on Brooklyn, on sports, civics, or mom & pops. Competition and choice of this sort is good for end users. Lots of small businesses should be popping that sell names or package them with hosting and other services creating jobs for those "left out."
There are positive signs from city hall that more thoughtful policies might be forthcoming. Monthly meetings are now held by a .NYC Community Advisory Board. And more civic names, such as the neighborhood names, are being considered for distribution using thoughtful processes.
But the administration's progress toward a more reasoned approach (let's say progressive) must confront a 5 year contract the Bloomberg Administration signed with Neustar, a Virginia firm, to market and operate the .nyc TLD. Entitled to 60% of the Premium Name auction and other name sales revenue, Neustar has an opportunity to fill it's pockets this Summer.
Real progress depends on persuading Neustar that the long term view is where its interest lies. Perhaps an extension of the contract term to 10 years will enable them to look toward a long term relationship (we're already 2+ years into that 5 year contract). Or perhaps Neustar can be convinced that with a successful .nyc under its belt - demonstrated by metrics showing how the TLD contributed to a more livable and prosperous environment - it will be positioned to sell its services to the 300+ cities with 1 million+ population that have yet to apply for their TLDs.
Looking at the Progressive Caucus' Statement of Principles presents other possibilities for imaging the operation of a TLD under a progressive city administration, particularly in the areas of transparency, accountability, and enhancing democratic participation. These will be the focus of a future post.
Learn more about the opportunities provided by the .nyc TLD on our wiki pages.
Jackson Hts., New York, May 4, 2014 - Starting at noon tomorrow those owning an international trademark will be eligible to select its equivalent .nyc domain name. This "Sunrise Phase" will last for 45 days.
So if you have a globally recognized trademark - one issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office counts, but one issued by NYS doesn't - you'll be eligible to register it.
But you'll need to prove ownership by registering it with the Trademark Clearing House. (You'll have to pay a $150 fee and receive a SMD File as proof of ownership). For the official details on process and whether you qualify, see http://www.nic.nyc/sunrise-policies.html. To register a name, start here.
While we're delighted to see the .nyc issuance process move ahead, we have two concerns:
- Our main concern is that trademarks issued by New York State don't count. And it's too late for those with a NYS trademark to get a U.S. Trademark within Sunrise. Those with NYS trademarks and desiring a .nyc domain name will need to submit their applications in August, during the Landrush Phase. And at that point their NYS trademark will provide no special right to use their existing business name. When existing businesses experience the loss of their traditional names we expect an outcry or two.
- We're also concerned about the quality of the nexus policy - which seeks to limit .nyc names to city entities. The current policy allows an entity from anywhere to use a mailing service as proof of city nexus. But it only takes 5 minutes to acquire a 5th Avenue address using one of hundreds of re-mailing businesses that operate in the city. Nexus needs strengthening.
But after all these years, things are finally moving ahead. And we're pleased to see city hall (and its contractor) focused on making the most of this opportunity.
Those planning on registering a trademark within .nyc can access a list of 30 or so registrars at http://nic.nyc/registrars. For those not in the Sunrise category, details on the City Government, Landrush, and General Availability phases are available here, with the latest timeline as follows:
Registration Periods For the .nyc TLD
|Start Date
|Start Time UTC
|End Date
|End Time UTC
|45 days
|May 5, 2014
| 15:00:01
| June 20, 2014
|City Government
|36 days
|June 25, 2014
|July 31, 2014
|Landrush Period
|60 days
|August 4, 2014
|October 3, 2014
|General Availability
|October 8, 2014
(Creative Commons image courtesy of Bob Jagendorf.)
Learn more about the opportunities provided by the .nyc TLD on our wiki pages.
Jackson Hts., New York, May 1, 2014 - As currently envisioned, the name distribution plan for the .nyc TLD does not provide any rights to current business owners to select a domain name that matches their existing business - with the exception of those holding a trademark listing in the Trademark Clearing House. As it stands, small business owners will have to hope their desired name is available during the Landrush period which begins on August 8.
By contrast the .london TLD provides existing businesses with a priority in selecting domain names. Here we explain elements of .london's Landrush pricing policy and how priority is determined when more than one entity selects a domain name.
1. Pricing - As of today there are 5 registrars signed up to sell .london domain names. We tested the availability of the "ThisIs.london" domain name on the GoDaddy site via a pre-registration request and received the following purchase options:
- $59.99
Line up ahead of everyone waiting for general availability.
Vastly improve your odds of landing this domain. GoDaddy submits your pre-registration when registration opens on Tuesday, September 09, 2014.
- $74.99
Take your place in front of standard pre-registrations.
Give yourself the best chance for grabbing this domain. GoDaddy submits your pre-registration early, before Thursday, July 31, 2014.
2. Who gets first pick? Fasthosts (another of the 5 registrars) provides insight into London's effort to give existing entities a first priority during Landrush.
There are four categories of priority for applications:
- Trademark holders that are verified with ICANN's TMCH database
- Londoners (those with a physical address in the City of London or its 32 boroughs) with rights to a name such as proof of business or trading name
- Londoners (those with a physical address in the City of London or its 32 boroughs)
- Non-Londoners
The following situations are determined by an applicant's position within these four categories.
- "If you are the sole applicant for a specific .London domain, this will be registered to you during late August/early September when registrations are confirmed by the Registry."
- "If two or more applications are received for the same .London domain name, you will be asked to provide proof of business/trading name and address. Once this has been submitted, the rules above in relation to priority will apply."
- "In the event that a domain is applied for by two or more applicants with the same level of priority, these will go to auction after the close of priority applications on the 31st July. The auction process will be managed by the Registry."
- "By applying for a .London domain you agree to the terms and conditions regarding categories of priority as set out above."
Perhaps New York could institute a similar policy. And when two or more entities apply for a .nyc name, priority is given to the one actively using the name. (Image courtesy of Wiki Commons.)
Learn more about the opportunities provided by the .nyc TLD on our wiki pages.
Jackson Hts., New York, April 30 2014 - The below excerpt from a commentary in today's Huffington Post identifies "enabling innovation" as the key component of a successful Net Neutrality policy. While important, we see facilitating public engagement in governance (that process the First Amendment seeks to foster) as the key element of successful Net Neutrality policy. And we see a parallel with city-TLDs: their key benefit arises through facilitating improved governance and a concomitant enhancement to quality of life. Here's part of the Post's post:
THE PERFECT AND THE GOOD ON NETWORK NEUTRALITY [SOURCE: Huffington Post, AUTHORS: Kevin Werbach, Phil Weiser]
Network neutrality is in jeopardy — just not in the way you might have heard. In implementing network neutrality, some differentiation of traffic must be allowed on the Internet, even encouraged. The real question is whether Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler's proposed rule is so much worse than what came before. Under what we understand the FCC proposal to be, access providers can't block, can't degrade, can't arbitrarily favor certain applications, and can't favor their own traffic. The major change in the new proposal concerns so-called paid prioritization agreements. In other words, the new rules appear to allow a broadband provider to offer content providers the option of faster or more reliable delivery for a supplemental fee. Under the old rules, the FCC didn't prohibit such deals, but said it was skeptical they would meet its discrimination test. In the new proposal, the FCC appears to mandate that paid prioritization offerings be "commercially reasonable." Calling paid prioritization "discrimination" is a matter of semantics. Indeed, the traditional "Title II common carrier" model (which some network neutrality advocates favor) has allowed different levels of service — paid prioritization in other words — as long as the prioritized service level was available to all comers. As for the FCC's apparent proposal, it does not encourage or require paid prioritization. At most, the proposal would allow some commercial offerings — subject to negotiation between the two firms — to allow for a higher level of service. How to defend and implement network neutrality is not as simple as banning all forms of paid prioritization. What really matters is ensuring that the broadband environment continues to provide space for tomorrow's innovators to develop new, disruptive offerings. When the FCC releases the proposed rules for comment, we should all focus on that criterion to evaluate whether they are sufficient and effective. [Werbach is Wharton Professor and founder of Supernova Group; Weiser is Dean and Thomson Professor at the University of Colorado Law School]
Learn more about the opportunities provided by the .nyc TLD on our wiki pages.
Jackson Heights, New York, April 12, 2014 - Vital to the operation of a livable city are its public spaces: parks, plazas, streets, schools, libraries, etc. Over the centuries we've established standards for such spaces, including where they are best located and how they are used and governed.
Today we're faced with identifying public spaces within the .nyc TLD. According to .nyc's Launch Program, we've only until 11 AM on August 4th to identify and set aside our digital public spaces. At that moment the Landrush period begins and within a few minutes all names of public spaces that have not been set aside will be purchased for private purposes. Thereafter their public use will be through condemnation and eviction procedures.
Why is this important? Some background will help.
38 cities applied for their TLDs in 2012, including 4 from the U.S. - New York, Boston, Miami and Vegas. In 2018, when the next window of opportunity to acquire a city-TLD will arise, we expect several hundred to apply for the capacity to develop this digital infrastructure.
New York City has been a leader is development this resource. And just last month, after a 13 year gestation, it was delegated the .nyc TLD by ICANN a global licensing entity. The city is now in the process of deciding who gets what name for what purpose and when. (See http://nic.nyc for highlights on .nyc's rollout or Launch Policies for a detailed look.)
One of the challenges the city faces is looking over the horizon and discerning digital spaces (domain names) that should be reserved for public use. There's little guidance on this as traditional TLDs (think .com and .org) don't have public spaces.
The last time the city faced such a challenge was in the early 1800's when it set about carving up Manhattan into real estate parcels. What became known as "The Commissioners' Plan of 1811″ created our street grid that has served our city well. But one of the "over the horizon" needs we missed back then was parks. And in the 1840s, when the need for public recreation spaces became apparent, the city was forced to evict several thousand people who were living in what is now Central Park. (According to Wikipedia "The earliest purpose built public park, although financed privately, was Princes Park in the Liverpool suburb of Toxteth" in 1842. So prior to that humanity lived in a world without public parks!)
Today's challenge is identifying public spaces within the .nyc TLD, be they for public assembly, discourse, recreation, or some new "digital" purpose. Hopefully we'll avoid the need to resort to eviction to create a more livable city.
In addition to acquiring the digital property, one of the advantages that will arise from this exercise is the development of a descriptive vocabulary. So today, if I visit any U.S. city and feel the need for a moment of restful meditation, I can ask anyone "Where's the nearest park?" with my need being easily understood.
So my question dear reader is, What needs and opportunities are there within a city, be it the digital or traditional, that a city-TLD can address? What are these public spaces called? And how are they funded, governed, and operated? This last question need not be answered immediately - we only figured out how to properly fund Central Park in the 1980, 140 years after setting it aside.
So… what are our digital public spaces?
Learn more about the opportunities provided by the .nyc TLD on our wiki pages.
Jackson Hts., New York, March 25, 2014 - In the past couple of days a number of people have contacted me to offer their congratulations or thanks for my role in making the .nyc TLD a reality. With our city's TLD having been entered into the root - see it here http://nic.nyc - they presumed that my goals for .nyc had been achieved.
But the Internet Empowerment Resolution that I've been shepherding for 12+ years had two key components.The first was acquiring the .nyc TLD. Done. But the Resolution sought the TLDs development as a public interest resource. That is not yet assured. So hold the good thoughts and join us in making sure that .nyc achieves a significant role in making a more livable and prosperous city.
When all New York's businesses, civic organizations, institutions, artists, and residents have good .nyc domain names; when the city's digital resources are a cinch to navigate online and off; when we can readily identify problems and opportunities and organize ourselves to address them; then it will be time to break out the bubbly. (Commons graphic courtesy of Mr. Groovysweet.)


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Jamestown, Virginia Maritime Lawyers
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Arrest Bus - 1970 BMCC Student Strike
This photograph features Maria Ramos, the Student Government President in front of the the arrest bus. The students were demanding an end to increases in tuition fees, and a day care center for children of students. Maria Ramos also confronted Dean [...]
Item Type: Still Image (Photograph)
Subjects: 1970s Fiscal Crisis, Activism, Board of Higher Education, Community Colleges, Diversity, Open Admissions