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--Informing the GSA acquisition workforce on the latest acquisition news and events!
CAO Corner
CAO Corner
June 22, 2004, GSA Administrator Stephen A.Perry announced the establishment
of the Office of the Chief Acquisition Officer (OCAO), a division reporting directly to the Administrator.To quickly bring the new
office into operation, Administrator Perry announced Chief of Staff Karl H. Reichelt would be the new GSA Chief Acquisition
Officer (CAO) on an interim basis.
The OCAO is responsible for managing a broad range of acquisition activities including: ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations and policies; fostering full and open competition for contract awards; developing the acquisition workforce, and accountability for acquisition decision making. The OCAO consists of functions formerly under GSA's Office of Governmentwide Policy. The CAO will participate in the Chief Acquisition Officer Council, and has responsibility for overseeing all of GSA's contract vehicles including the Multiple Award Schedules, Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts, City- Pairs, and the federal credit card programs. The OCAO will also be responsible for policy, training and management of GSA's acquisition workforce, numbering 2,400 associates nationally.
Administrator Perry said Reichelt's "leadership, management skills and commitment
to improving our acquisition activities is just what is needed to get this
new office off to a successful start."
One of the first challenges the new CAO faces is the implementation of GSA's new "Get It Right" program. On August 5, 2004, Mr. Reichelt stated: "From the smallest of regional offices to our national headquarters, GSA takes seriously the trust placed in us to properly execute and manage government acquisition activities. GSA remains a premier source of acquisition solutions, and our challenge is to assure that best value is delivered while balancing an emphasis on compliance, ethics and integrity in everything we do."
Karl Reichelt has been GSA's Chief of Staff since January 21, 2004. Previously,
he served as GSA's Regional Administrator for the Northeast and Caribbean
Region from April 2002 until April 2004, a position held by appointment from
President Bush. After being designated as GSA's Chief of Staff, Reichelt concurrently
held the position of regional administrator through a transition period. Before
coming to GSA, he held senior management positions with Governor Pataki's
administration in New York State. Following the events of September 11, 2001,
Reichelt was selected to serve as Chairman of New York State's Human Services
Disaster Task Force to coordinate overall relief efforts provided to disaster
victims. Reichelt is a 1989 graduate of the Nelson A. Rockefeller College
of Public Affairs & Policy at the University of Albany with a bachelor's
degree in political science
Inside This Issue
What is the "Get It Right" Plan?
FSS Acquisition Mangement Center Works To "Get It Right"
Pacfic Rim FTS Promotes "Get It Right"
Major Annoucements on Share-In-Savings!
GSA Launches Applied Learning Center
Changes in CON Courses on FAI Online
Acquisition Center of Execellence (ACE) for Services
Fall Usability University Schedule
Green Cleaning in Portland, Oregon
Section 508's "Buy Accessible Wizard"
Special points of interest:
· What is the "Get It Right" Plan
· GSA Launches Applied Learning Center
· Section 508's "Buy Accessible Wizard"
by Judy Steele
With the beginning of a new fiscal year comes a renewed dedication to "Getting It Right" at GSA. This edition of the forum offers several articles on the "Get It Right" Plan discussing what GSA and DoD are doing to make sure mistakes of the past are not repeated.This includes two articles on training efforts at FSS and FTS. The Applied Learning Center will make it easier to keep track of training for 1102's and FAI Online's expansion of CON courses will make it easier for 1102's to get the training they need. The Usability University offers new courses to improve the usability of government websites and other electronic services. Wizards are very popular at GSA and are a great help in quickly getting work done. The Acquisition Planning Wizard can help develop acquisition plans quickly. The Buy Accessible Wizard makes it easier to buy Section 508 compliant items. ORCA, a new IAE internet application, will provide an online capability for filing and maintaining most Section K representations and certifications. This edition of the Forum also includes articles on developments to established programs like FPDS-NG, the Share-in- Savings Program, what's new with Performance Based Services Acquisition, and Green Cleaning. And don't forget to celebrate JWOD during National Disability Employment Awareness Month!
We welcome any comments, suggestions and articles for the newsletter. The "Forum" is here to meet the needs of the GSA acquisition community and we can't do that without your input! We also welcome any individually authored articles on acquisition issues that would be of interest to the GSA acquisition audience. Please contact the Editor, Judy Steele, at email@example.com or (202) 501-4994 with comments or suggestions.
What is the "Get It Right" Plan?
In recent months, GSA has been working with other federal agencies, particularly the Department of Defense (DoD), to identify actions necessary to ensure proper use of GSA contracting vehicles by GSA and other agencies. On July 13, 2004, GSA and DoD conducted a joint meeting of acquisition officials to release a comprehensive plan to ensure improved contracting operations and proper use of GSA's contracting vehicles. At this meeting, Deidre Lee, Director of DoD Procurement and Acquisition Policy, reported on their policies and procedures for proper use of non-Defense contract vehicles. DoD is GSA's largest customer and Deidre Lee has pledged her support for the "Get It Right" Plan.
At this meeting GSA Administrator Stephen A. Perry stated, "Excellence in acquisition is a top priority at GSA. There is nothing more important than providing acquisition services to our federal agency customers in a way that delivers best value to support the achievement of their missions of service to the American people, while adhering strictly to federal acquisition policies, regulations and best practices."
Following this meeting, Deidre Lee's office began drafting a new policy that requires Military Departments and Defense Agencies to establish internal procedures for reviewing and approving the use of non-DoD contract vehicles when procuring supplies and services valued above the simplified acquisition threshold—currently $100,000. These procedures will evaluate factors such as satisfying customer requirements, schedule, cost effectiveness (including discounts and fees), unavailability of a contract within DoD, scope of the non-DoD contract, and funding appropriation limitations. A recent comment from Ms. Lee's office is: "Recent media headlines undermine the good credit acquisition professionals deserve, but we can change that. Whether DoD is your customer, or you are a member of DoD's acquisition community, let's work together to "Get It Right!"
The major objectives of the "Get It Right"
plan include:
Ensuring compliance with federal contracting regulations,
Making contracting policies and procedures clear and explicit,
Ensuring the integrity of GSA's contract vehicles and services,
Improving competition in the marketplace when GSA's contract vehicles and services are used,
Improving transparency relating to how GSA's contract vehicles and services are used,
The "Get It Right" plan is available on Insite, under "Featured Offerings." This document lists a number of actions currently underway but it is by no means final. The Office of the Chief Acquisition Officer has established a special mailbox called email@example.com which seeks questions and comments on the new plan.
FSS Acquisition Mangement Center Works To "Get It Right""
The FSS Acquisition Management Center does much to promote accountability through training on the proper use of GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) vehicles. Most of the time, the emphasis is placed on the FSS Center for Acquisition Excellence Virtual Campus. The Virtual Campus offers online training courses such as "Basic Contracting for the GSA Schedules Program
- FSS Personnel," designed to teach FSS associates how to effectively award MAS contracts. Another online course, "Using GSA Schedules – Customers," is available to teach federal customers and other authorized MAS users how to properly place orders against the MAS program. Additionally, an online course entitled "Cooperative Purchasing Program" is available to assist state and local government customers in understanding the rules and regulations governing the MAS program. The FSS Virtual Campus targets three specific audiences: MAS customers, businesses seeking to participate in and market their services and products through the MAS program, and FSS associates. To access the online training, just log on to fsstraining.gsa.gov or e-mail Patricia Miller at email@example.com to request onsite training.
In addition to the online training, the Acquisition Management Center supports all forms of education through expositions, meetings, and other venues where representatives make presentations to various audiences to "get the word out." Recently Brenda Pollock, Program Analyst at the Center, traveled to Biloxi, Mississippi to speak at the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) Annual Forum and Products Exposition, held August 7-11, 2004. NIGP is a nonprofit educational organization devoted to helping state/local governments manage tax dollars wisely. This year's Forum hosted a record breaking 1,177 attendees.
Ms. Pollock began her session at the NIGP conference by asking what integrity meant to members of the audience and explained to them that integrity is doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do. "Why do I bring up integrity," she asked, "because all too often we get so focused on our own agenda, our own goals that we forget to take time to verify if we are doing 'what is right' along the way.That's why GSA has embarked on a 'Get It Right' campaign." In addition to updating the audience on the Cooperative Purchasing program and the proper use of the IT services/products, much emphasis was placed on working as a partnership to share responsibility for following the rules, regulations, laws, and initiatives in order to "Get It Right."
|Check out our courses at fsstraining.gsa.gov!
The Cooperative Purchasing program represents GSA's implementation of Section 211 of the e-Government Act of 2002. On May 18, 2004, GSA issued a final rule amending GSA Regulations to implement this Act. Section 211 authorizes the Administrator of GSA to provide for the use of its Federal Supply Schedule for automated data processing equipment (including firmware) software, supplies, support equipment, and services by states and local governments. The rule applies to Federal Supply Schedule 70, Information Technology. The interim rule, in effect since May 2003, was converted to a final rule with minor changes. Sales to state and local governments have steadily increased since the program's inception. For more information, contact Brenda Pollock at email@example.com or 703-305-7474.
Pacfic Rim FTS Promotes "Get It Right"!
The Pacific Rim's FTS office kicked off the Region's "Get it Right" campaign by conducting two All-Hands teleconferences September 2, 2004. The
conferences were held to formally introduce the "Get it Right" initiative and provide associates the information they need when meeting with customers
and industry partners. Copies of GSA's "Get it Right, A Comprehensive Governmentwide Approach" and the Defense Department's "Policies
and Procedures for Proper Use of Non-DoD Contract Vehicles" were distributed to associates prior to the meeting.
For more information, contact Casey Kelley at 951-677-4896, or Tony Stevens at 520-290-1416.
Gerald Zaffos, Procurement Analyst, Office of the Chief
Acquisition Officer, demonstrated GSA's Acquisition Planning Wizard (APW)
on August 3, 2004, to 25 members of the Coalition for Government Procurement,
a nonprofit association of FSS contractors. Zaffos demonstrated how the wizard
can streamline the creation, maintenance and approval of acquisition plans
required by GSA Order OGP 2800.1. The GSA acquisition workforce is encouraged
to use the wizard which is available at http://apw.gsa.gov/
For more information or to schedule a demonstration of the APW, contact Gerald Zaffos at email@example.com or 202-208-6091.
Some people use the FPDS-NG system frequently and have few problems with entering data. Others seldom use the system and end up spending more time than they would like trying to figure out how to do basic data entry. To help users with data entry, the Office of the Chief Acquisition Officer has developed several tips for using the system. To see these tips, go to tips and click on the tip you want to see. After October 19, 2004, "Tips" may be accessed through a "Quicklink" at http://www.gsa.gov/ FPDSTips.
The topics covered in the tips include:
Reporting dollar amounts to FPDS- NG:
$0.00 contract modifications.
How to fill out all three dollar amount fields.
How to enter $ amounts for options in a new award.
How to enter $ amounts for options when options are exercised.
How to enter $ for delivery orders together with a contract mod.
How to handle incremental funding at initial award and later funding mods.
How to correct a migrated document.
Information to give to vendors who are having trouble entering information into CCR on Product or Service Codes.
Definitions about dollar fields and how they work.
Action Obligation.
Base and exercised options value.
Base and all options value.
Definitions about key date fields.
Date signed
Effective date
Completion date
Estimated ultimate completion date.
How to find migrated documents and associated reference PIID's (4 steps).
Even if you have been using the system for a while, you might gain some benefit returning to the computer based training on the system for a refresher. You can take free computer based training by clicking "Award CBT" or "IDV CBT" when you go to the FPDS-NG home page at https://www.fpds.gov"For more information, contact Rodney Lantier, Director, Federal Procurement Data Center,at email@example.com or 202-501-2647.
GSA's Share-in-Savings (SiS) Program Office recently made major announcements regarding the SiS Program.The first announcement was the award of Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) to six companies with successful past performance records implementing the SiS concept.The second announcement was the issuance of the proposed FAR Rule on SiS.The third announcement was the establishment of a two-day training course on SiS.
The BPAs, valued at $500 million each, were awarded to: Accenture, American Management Systems (AMS), Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), International Business Machines (IBM), Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), and Systems Research and Applications (SRA). "We established these vehicles based on customer demand," said Karl Reichelt, GSA's Chief Acquisition Officer, "and the fact that they are multiple awards will ensure that our agency customers get the best deal possible." The scope of each BPA includes: Systems Consolidation, e-Government initiatives, Business Process Re-engineering and Infrastructure Change.The documents establish unique terms, conditions and streamlined processes for agencies to follow as they implement programs suitable for the SiS concept.Specific information on each BPA can be found at www.gsa.gov/shareinsavings.
The FAR Rule on SiS was published in the Federal Register on July 2, 2004 and the public comment period ended on August 31, 2004. The rule outlines clear processes and procedures for the conduct of SiS projects. Included in the regulation are a Seven Step process similar to those established for Performance Based Contracts, reference to the e-tools for business case development and proposal evaluation, and a focus on the cultural aspects that need to be present for SiS procurements to be successful.
"The FAR Rule and the new acquisition vehicles are very valuable to agencies that have struggled with how to conduct SiS procurements," said Karen Evans , Administrator for Electronic Government and Information Technology, Office of Management and Budget. Having the ability to access pre-qualified industry partners with strong track records with SiS implementations will help launch many under-funded programs, including some e- gov initiatives. Possible applications include OPM's e-payroll, EPA's e-manifest, and systems consolidation requirements at the Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security. Agencies have a choice as to whether to conduct the procurements in-house or to receive support from GSA contracting officers.
SiS contracting is authorized under the e- Government Act of 2002 and incentivizes industry to develop creative technology solutions to meet agency needs. At the same time, SiS helps administration efforts to advance the President's Management Agenda to make the federal government a modern, citizen-centric, electronic enterprise. Like other performance-based contracts that focus on results, SiS contracts arrange for the contractor to finance the work, then share in the savings and generate revenue with the agency partner. Payments to SiS contractors are based on the amount of savings or revenue generated through improved efficiency and effectiveness.
Information on the new two-day SiS training course can be found on the SiS website (www.gsa.gov/shareinsavings ). The purpose of this course is to familiarize each student with the concept of Share-in-Savings and its relationship to performance based contracting. This course is designed from the government perspective. It reviews the structure of the SiS program, describes how to structure a SIS solicitation and how to compare and analyze proposals. At the completion of this course, students will understand the latest statutory and regulatory guidelines, as well as the e-tools that are available to develop a SiS business case and to evaluate offers from industry. By using case studies students will gain a working knowledge of the nuances of SiS and its impact on budget, finance, procurement and program management within their agency.
For more information on the Share-in- Savings Program, contact Ken Buck, Director of GSA's SiS Program Office at firstname.lastname@example.com or 202-219-0311.
GSA launched the first phase of an online competency assessment tool called the Applied Learning Center (ALC) on September 1, 2004. The ALC, which is currently designed for Series 1102 associates, seeks to accomplish two major goals-to measure skill gaps and to provide an objective vehicle for our 1102s to earn a permanent waiver to the OPM 1102 Qualification Standard created as a result of the Clinger-Cohen Act, and/or to earn college or training credit.
In accordance with those two major goals, the ALC has two major components: the Skills Assessment (mandatory) and the Full Assessment (optional). Data from the Skills Assessment will help the 1102 and his/her supervisor to prioritize the individual's training goals. The aggregate data will help GSA prioritize training needs organizationally.
The ALC was piloted in 2003 at which time a randomly selected group of 1102's provided valuable feedback on many aspects of the original design. As a result of that feedback, the ALC has had considerable revisions with many improved features. Subject Matter Experts throughout GSA continue to help in the development of the ALC to ensure it is relevant and current in its approach. The Federal Acquisition Institute has identified 38 competencies that the 1102 series should possess. The Skills Assessment covers 10 competencies that have been identified as most critical for the day-to-day work of the 1102 and the Full Assessment covers 15 competencies.
The first phase involves the launch of the self-assessment and supervisor assessment (on a randomly selected basis) which comprise part of the Skills Assessment. The objective portion of the Skills Assessment will be launched very early in 2005. All portions of the Skills Assessment can be taken only once since the purpose is to give GSA a snapshot of the organization's skill gaps. This snapshot will provide a baseline upon which to measure improvement and will also provide valuable information for planning training needs and resources. The timeframe for future retesting has not yet been determined.
The Full Assessment will also be launched in April 2005 and is more robust than the Skills Assessment. This component of the ALC is optional but allows the 1102 to earn credit for what he/she knows. If the individual passes the Full Assessment, he/she will be granted a permanent waiver to the Clinger- Cohen requirements. The Full Assessment also provides the opportunity to earn college credit or credit for a portion of the 11 mandatory training classes and is set up in a challenge test format.
One important aspect of the Full Assessment is a series of practice tests that will provide feedback when the individual is ready to take the Full Assessment. When skill gaps are identified in this process, the 1102 will have the opportunity to review study aids and close the skill gaps before moving on. Due to accreditation standards, the actual Full Assessment can only be taken once a year so these practice tests are critical for ensuring success.
|All 1102's must registar at http://www.alc.gov/
Another feature of the ALC is to provide study aids that are mapped to the particular assessment item. This allows the 1102 to get immediate feedback on items they missed and allows the opportunity to review specifically identified material that will help them.
All GSA Series 1102 associates should have received a message inviting them to register at the ALC website www.alc.gov. If you are an 1102 series associate and have not received this message, please call the ALC Support Center at 703-322-9565 extension 151, or send a message to email@example.com For more information on the ALC, contact Al Matera, Director, Acquisition Workforce Division, at firstname.lastname@example.com or 202-501-0843.
Changes in CON Courses on FAI Online
Important changes are now in effect to the way students can register for CON 100 level courses at the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI) Online University (www.faionline.com). The CON101 and CON104 courses are being replaced with CON110 Mission Support Planning, 111 Mission Strategy Execution, 112 Mission Performance Assessment and 120 Mission Focused Contracting. The new track of contracting courses develops a foundation of contracting basics while focusing on the business advisor's role in shaping successful mission outcomes.
Effective September 1, 2004 new enrollments in CON101 have been halted. However, if you are already enrolled in CON101 you will be able to complete the course and also complete CON104. Between September 1, 2004 and October 1, 2004, CON110 will be opened for limited enrollment to ensure that all technical issues have been resolved.
The three new online courses, CON110, CON111 and CON112 are approximately 30 seat hours per course. This provides for better time management. The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) will allow 60 days to complete each course for civilian students. For DoD students the three online courses will be followed by a two-week in- resident course – CON120. This course will provide students with the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained from the online courses.
For students just starting the level one certification track, DAU and FAI recommend that you start the new track beginning with CON110. DoD students seeking level one certification once in the CON101 track also are required to complete CON104. To develop the same contracting knowledge and skills in both the DoD and civilian agency workforce, the new contract series will be fully open for enrollment starting October 1,2004. For more information or for questions regarding FAI Online University, please e- mail firstname.lastname@example.com
On September 7, 2004, the Office
of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) issued a memorandum to increase the use
of Performance-Based Service Acquisition
(PBSA). This memorandum implements several suggestions from OFPP's July 2003 report, "Performance-Based Service Acquisition: Contracting for the Future." This memorandum changes the target performance goal for fiscal year 2005 to 40%; revises the PBSA reporting requirements; encourages award recognition for successful use of PBSA and use of the Seven Steps to PBSA online guide available at www.acqnet.gov; requires each agency to identify a PBSA point of contact; and may require agencies to submit a management plan demonstrating the agency's approach to increasing the use of PBSA techniques and developing core PBSA skills and experience within the acquisition workforce.
For a copy of the OFPP memorandum, go to www.acqnet.gov. For more information, contact Julia Wise at email@example.com or 202-208-1168.
Acquisition Center of Execellence (ACE) for Services
OFPP is establishing an Acquisition
Center of Excellence (ACE) for Services as required by the Service Acquisition
Reform Act (SARA), Section 1431(b). The ACE will be an online central clearinghouse
for service contracting, government and industry best practices, policy and
guidance, e-tools, as well as education and training opportunities.
The ACE for Services will provide value to the acquisition community in the following ways:
Provide a one stop resource information center for new/more junior employees and senior/more experienced practitioners;
Facilitate the building of services knowledge;
Facilitate the rapid identification of individuals with specific knowledge or skills;
Foster a collaborative knowledge sharing across organizational boundaries ("boundary spanning"); and
Promote and facilitate the capture and re-use of existing knowledge assets within the acquisition community.
The target audience for the center is the private and public sector acquisition community including program managers and technical representatives. The online center will be available at the end of November 2004, and will be located at http://acc.dau.mil and http://www.acqnet.gov/. For more information, contact Julia Wise at email@example.com or 202-395-7561.
Fall Usability University Schedule!
OGP's Office of Electronic Government and Technology and HHS have released the fall schedule for Usability University, an extensive training program to improve the usability of government websites and other electronic services.Information and registration for these courses is available at http://usability.gov/usabilityuniversity/training.html.
The first free seminar, "Searching vs. Linking on the Web: A Summary of the Research" will be held on Friday, October 1, 2004.To register for this seminar or the other free seminars on usability topics see http://usability.gov/usabilityuniversity/seminar.html . Space is limted, and registration is required.
Check us out at http://www.usability.gov/usabilityuniversity/training.html
For more information, contact Janice Nall at 202-219-1544 or Jerry Varner at 202-219-2370 or e-mail email@example.com
ORCA (Online Representations and Certifications Applications) was developed as part of the Business Partner Network (BPN), which is a component of the Integrated Acquisition Environment (IAE) e- Gov initiative. It was designed to replace most of the paper based Representations and Certifications process, known as Section K, in proposals. Under current FA R regulations, vendors are required to complete certain provisions that require representations and certifications each time they submit a solicitation valued at over $25,000 to the government.The same information is required on all the proposals they submit to various government contracting offices. ORCA is an internet application that allows users to enter their representation and certification information once for use on all federal contracts.The site enables vendors to maintain an accurate and complete record and also provides Contracting Officers both current and archived views of the data with the click of a mouse.
A vendor is required to have two items prior to registration in ORCA; an active record in the Centralized Contractor Registration (CCR) database and a Marketing Personal Identification Number (MPIN).In order to comply with this, vendors can go to www.ccr.gov to complete their registration and create a distinctive MPIN that will be used in conjunction with the Dun & Bradstreet (DUNS) number as the ID and password for entering ORCA. CCR and ORCA are linked, and it is important for vendors to update their records as necessary so the data is accurate and current. A record is active for 365 days from the date of submission or update. ORCA is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
At this time, registration in ORCA is voluntary; however, an amendment to the FAR is expected to be issued in October 2004 that will mandate the use of ORCA. The new rule clearly requires vendors to provide representations and certifications electronically via ORCA and keep them updated at least annually. The benefit to government contracting personnel will be the ability to access the information quickly and easily. They can search for a current record using a vendor's DUNS number (the Dun & Bradstreet unique nine-digit identification sequence which provides unique identifiers of single business entities) or obtain historical data by date.
ORCA will reduce the administrative burden on vendors who have been submitting the same Section K information repeatedly for various proposals.It will promote efficiency in the federal government since it utilizes an electronic tool instead of paper to conduct business.ORCA can be found at www.bpn.gov/orca.
For more information, contact: Lisa Cliff, IAE Communications Office, 703-872-8593 or email email@example.com
Green Cleaning in Portland, Oregon!
The GSA Southern Service Center in Portland, Oregon, embraced the difficult challenge of converting all their buildings to the "Green Cleaning" approach. Green cleaning is an organized approach to cleaning buildings that protects the occupants and worker health while at the same time reducing the impact on the natural environment. This approach focused on the Equity of promoting health and safety, Environmental awareness for the health of our planet, and Economy designed to save the taxpayer money. A partnership between the GSA Southern Service Center and Portland Habilitation Services (a nonprofit corporation designed to provide education and training to individuals with disabilities)converted 561,628,564 square feet of space annually to the green cleaning approach. This square footage is roughly equivalent to 11,143 football fields or 12,893 acres of land.
The partners selected environmentally preferable products, recycled content supplies, and equipment that would improve indoor air quality and limit exposure to toxic chemicals.All products were required to meet the benchmark guidelines for environmental compliance established by the Environmental Protection Agency's Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines and the Green Seal Standards.Product compliance certification was conducted by Zero Waste Alliance through the Chemical Assessment and Ranking System.This system will reject any product with negative attributes that are listed on the state and federal regulatory lists.Approved products used to clean this space will be tracked through periodic reports to gauge the efficacy of the program.
The success of this program can be duplicated in any building with no increased cost. Everyone wins with the "Green Cleaning" approach and it's a giant step towards saving the earth for future generations. For more information, contact Steve David, PBS Southern Service Center at email@example.com or 503-326-3984.
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and a perfect time to celebrate the Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Program.
Created in 1938, this unique federal procurement program employs over 42,000 individuals who are blind or have other severe disabilities, enabling them to lead more productive and independent lives. The JWOD Program uses the purchasing power of the federal government to buy quality products and services at a fair market price from participating, community-based nonprofit agencies dedicated to training and employing individuals with disabilities.
According to President Bush, "All of our citizens should have the opportunity to live and work with dignity and freedom. Every October, we observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month, to recognize the talents, skills, and dedication of disabled Americans who are a vital part of our workforce." Not only are people who are blind or have other severe disabilities a vital part of the country's workforce, under the JWOD Program they are also essential suppliers of SKILCRAFT® and other JWOD products and services to the federal government and U.S.Armed Forces. Everything from office supplies, such as pens and notepads; military unique items, such as chemical protective suits and first aid kits; food items that support government international relief feeding programs; and services, such as janitorial/custodial, food services, call center operations and digital imaging.The JWOD Program also works closely with GSA's Federal Supply Service and Public Buildings Service to supply quality products and services to GSA customers nationwide.
National Disability Employment Awareness month provides federal employees with the opportunity to recognize those individuals within their agencies who support the JWOD Program, and to learn more about JWOD capabilities that meet their procurement needs.There are a number of different activities federal employees may consider in order to recognize the JWOD Program, both in October or any time throughout the year.
Please contact the JWOD Program if you require any assistance in planning a JWOD celebration during National Disability Employment Awareness Month at www.jwod.gov.For more information on this article, contact Stephanie Lesko at firstname.lastname@example.com or 703-603-0036.
Section 508's "Buy Accessible Wizard"
GSA has developed an automated tool called the "Buy Accessible Wizard." The Wizard guides users through a process of gathering data and providing information about Electronic and Information Technology (E&IT) and Section 508 compliance.It is a web-based application, and will be available from GSA October 1, 2004, for use by any federal employee.
Under Section 508, government requiring officials must identify which Access Board's Accessibility Standards apply to any E&IT procurement. With the Wizard, government officials can quickly and easily determine if Section 508 applies to an acquisition and which specific standards apply for any particular product or service being acquired. The Wizard also compiles a running summary to document the decision process and the results of those decisions as a record of due diligence performed to ensure compliance. It's "a very valuable and very timely tool which brings the needed consistency and ease of use to the complicated 508 requirements process" says Hayward R. Kennedy of the GSA IAE team.
Section 508 requires that when federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology, federal employees with disabilities have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access and use by federal employees who are not individuals with disabilities.Section 508 also requires that individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from a federal agency, have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals with disabilities.These actions are required unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency in either instance.
Beginning this past March, several agencies began testing the Wizard as part of a trail deployment.The results have been overwhelmingly positive.The Wizard was much more accurate in identifying the applicable provisions of the Access Board Standard than standard practices in these agencies, and the time to do so was dramatically shortened.One participant from the IRS commented, "The Buy Accessible Wizard is easy to use.All I have to do is provide my system requirements, and the Buy Accessible Wizard will provide a report of the 508 requirements that need to be considered when purchasing new E&IT."
Outputs from the Buy Accessible Wizard include:
Market Research Template to help requiring officials determine the availability of accessible E&IT products and services.
Evaluation Report providing possible tests for determining the accessibility of these products.
Design Guide for E&IT system developers.
The Wizard can be accessed at www.buyaccessible.gov.For more information, contact Terry Weaver at 202-501-1136 or send email to firstname.lastname@example.com
"Check It Out!" highlights upcoming conferences and events of interest to the GSA acquisition community. If you'd like to have your conference or event listed in this column, please send an email to the Editor, firstname.lastname@example.com with the pertinent information and a point of contact.
Federal Government Procurement
Conference of the Americas
Vancouver, Canada
November 15-17, 2004
If you are interested, contact firstname.lastname@example.com
Federal Buildings Expo 2004
Washington Convention Center
801 Mt. Vernon Place, NW Washington, DC 20001
October 6-7, 2004
Federal Buildings Expo is a GSA-supported training seminar and exposition that targets the largest building services products buyers in the world.
To register go to www.federalbuildings.com
The e-Gov Institute e-Learning Conference & Exhibition
Sheraton Premiere at Tyson's Corner
Vienna, VA October 20, 2004
NCMA 23rd Annual Government Contract Management Conference:
"Riding the Wave-The Future of Government Contracting in a Fluid Environment"
(formerly known as NCMA Annual East Coast Educational Conference)
Sheraton Premiere at Tyson's Corner
Vienna, VA December 6-7, 2004
To register: email@example.com or call 571-382-1135 <br/>
I don't
know why it happened, but somehow, in implementing and encouraging Acquisition
Reform, folks developed the idea that no rules applied and we could essentially
do anything in the name of innovation, creativity and customer service. This,
in fact, was never the message of Acquisition Reform. It was then Secretary
Cheney, as Secretary of Defense, who forwarded to the Congress the report
of the Section 800 Panel, which included an outline for reforming the government's
acquisition process to reduce the cost of our transactions, improve the quality
of our contractor base, and streamline the process by which the government
acquired goods, services and construction. The Section 800 Panel report that
Secretary Cheney submitted to Congress, as one of his last acts as Secretary,
became the foundational piece on the bi-partisan legislative agenda of the
Congress and the President to reform our acquisition processes so that we
could have access to commercial markets.
The ills the resulting legislation, FASA and Clinger-Cohen, were designed to address principally were focused in three main areas:
Simplify rules for low-dollar value purchases so that the rules were commensurate with the risk;
Provide greater access for the government to the commercial marketplace and greater access for commercial merchants to the government marketplace; and,
Focus our efforts on those purchases where there was greater risk.
Nothing in the acquisition reform agenda talked about throwing the rules out or ignoring them. The agenda was focused on "right-sizing" rules so that we focused on the markets where there were greater risks and we made it easier to purchase requirements in those markets where the risk was minimal. A mantra evolved across government to do things faster, better and cheaper. That is still our mantra today and it does not need to be changed to effect a small course correction. That course correction is to make sure that, as we buy things faster, better and cheaper, we need to focus on getting the best value and complying with the simpler rules we have available to us.
For example, faster does not, nor did it ever mean, to force purchases to such short schedules that competition cannot be obtained. Faster does mean that, instead of the 9 to 18 months it used to take us to purchase requirements, they can now be done in 2 to 4 months or less, depending on the nature of the requirement. In this regard, we must manage our customer's expectations and tell them that we will give industry a reasonable amount of time to respond to our requirements and that may mean the process will take some time. It is unreasonable to get a complicated requirement for services on Monday afternoon, under non-emergency situations, and expect a contractor to begin performing those service the following Monday.By contrast, it may be possible to turn a requirement for computer monitors around in a matter of hours.The difference is that we can compete the monitors using catalogues and negotiate with the vendor on quantity discounts in a much shorter timeframe than purchasing the services.
Better, in our mantra, does not just refer to the quality of the stuff (a term of art meaning goods, services, construction and real estate) we buy, it also means the process we use to buy it.The process we have today is designed to provide the maximum practicable competition, the maximum practicable transparency, and to end up with the best value solution.Better isn't an excuse not to follow the rules.
Cheaper does not mean that the only factor is the purchase price.In the context of our mantra it means the overall best value to the government. What constitutes the overall best value to the government is circumstantial in nature and varies, as it should, from buy to buy.It includes the notion of dissimilar competition where varying solutions may be competed to achieve the same outcome.It is also not easy; it is something a mere "shopper" will find difficult to master.
In the final analysis, acquisition reform is not an excuse to cut corners, it is a program focused on using the processes and markets we have available to us to "wow" our customers with best value solutions that support them in overseeing the delivery of goods and services to the taxpayer. Each member of the acquisition workforce, regardless of one's respective position, is responsible to make sure that the system works, the customer gets what they need when they need it, and that the taxpayer receives a return on the investment of their tax dollar. The ultimate responsibility of our system is in the hands of our Contracting Officers. Each day you make the final decision about best value, and about compliance with the rules, we proudly rely upon you to "Get it Right." [Mr. Drabkin is the Senior Procurement Executive and Deputy Chief Acquisition Officer, Office of the Chief Acquisition Officer.]
We thank our guest authors for their contributions to this newsletter. Guest authors express their own views, which are provided for the information of our newsletter readers.
Office of the Chief Acquisition Officer
1800 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20405
Judy Steele
Graphics Editor
Michael McClellan
We welcome any comments, suggestions, and articles.We also welcome any individually authored articles on acquisition issues that would be of interest to the GSA acquisition audience.Please contact the Editor, Judy Steele, at firstname.lastname@example.com or (202) 501-4994 with comments or suggestions. Questions for the "FAR-cited" column can also be submitted to the Editor.


text:
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The Beachcombers played at Lion's Paw and Charlie Shore had the low gross, 84, and the low net, 67. Team (one low net on par-5s, two low nets on par-4s and three low nets on par-3s): Reggie Auten, Ed Kinney, Stu Cleveland and Bob Smith at 18-under. Golfer of the week was Charlie Shore.
Golf is a game of both honor and intrigue. The golfer does not actually play against other golfers. The player plays against the course.
Yes, there are group and team competitions, but the essential game of golf is played by one person and the competition is not the other golfers but the course.
Golf is simple. The lowest score played against the course wins.
Inshore fishing has remained strong, although the fish are moving around a lot now with the water temperatures rising toward summer, so some spots will be vacant on one tide and provide good fishing on the next.
The biggest news is strong inshore redfish and flounder fishing along with good catches of Spanish mackerel and occasional king mackerel for folks plugging the piers.
Kayla Padgett completed perhaps one of the most remarkable individual athletic seasons in recent West Brunswick sports by finishing second in the discus throw.
Padgett, a junior, threw the discus a personal best 129-6. The winning distance was a Class 3A record 137 feet. South Brunswick sophomore Lexus Hankins was third at 117-8.
On May 19, Dr. June Atkinson, state superintendent of schools for North Carolina, visited The First Tee of Brunswick County. She came to observe School Day Programming in action and to meet with representatives of TFTBC.
In School Day Programming, fourth-grade students from six elementary schools are bused to Cinghiale Creek, home of The First Tee of Brunswick County, every other week for a 90-minute lesson in golf skills and life skills and core values.
Despite a record-setting night by West Brunswick senior Carly White, the Trojans fell 8-6 in a nail-biting 10 innings to Wilson Hunt Friday night in the second round of the state 3A softball playoffs.
White, West's ace on the mound all season, pitched almost a game and a half Friday night, but it was her bat that put her name in the record books.
It takes a certain combination of flair and flamboyance to bill yourself as Captain Smiley, but fishing guide Patrick Kelly wears the label with a buoyancy that seems perfectly suited to the name.
Captain Smiley Fishing Charters runs recreational fishing trips out of North Myrtle Beach, S.C., and up into Brunswick County waters. Kelly does his best to give his customers the happy times the handle promises.
For anyone looking for a role model of a student-athlete, Keri Nolan is an example.
The West Brunswick High School senior had accepted an academic scholarship to Salem College, where she also intends to continue her volleyball career.
"She values academics as much as she values athletics," West volleyball coach Leslie Reeves said. "And she works hard at both."
The West Brunswick varsity baseball team was able to find some late-inning magic as it scored a run in the sixth and seventh inning to beat Rocky Mount in the second round of the playoffs May 18. The Trojans were unable to muster any kind of rally Friday night in a 2-0 loss to Eastern Wayne in the third round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3A playoffs.
Eastern Wayne pitcher Josh Frederick scattered six hits over seven innings, walked two batters and struck out 11 Trojan hitters. West managed to get just one runner to second base.
GREENSBORO—When Ryan Minor stepped up for his final attempt in the shot put Friday in the Class 3A state track meet, his competitors knew he had already won the championship.
But Minor had one more goal to fulfill: qualify for the New Balance Outdoor Nationals next month at N.C. A&T, the site of this state meet.
He did that with a personal-best throw of 58 feet, 10.5 inches.
"I'm really excited about that," Minor said.
Copyright © 2017
The Brunswick Beacon is your source for local news, sports, events and information in Brunswick County, North Carolina and surrounding areas.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Olympus PEN Lite / E-PL3 Review
|16 Previous
17 Movie Mode
|18 Next
The E-PL3 offers a dramatically upgraded video recording specification compared to previous PENs. Most notably, it adds Full HD recording in AVCHD format, compared to the 720p Motion-JPEG format of previous cameras. AVCHD is less friendly for sharing, or displaying and editing on a PC, but it does allow longer recording times as it's not subject to the same 2GB file size limit as the Motion-JPEG format. The 16:9 format of the PEN Lite's LCD screen means that the video image fills the screen completely, without the black borders you would see on a 4:3 ratio display.
Video specification
The E-PL3 offers a pretty impressive specification for movie recording. It's not quite in the same league as the much more expensive Panasonic GH2, but offers a feature set that is generally as extensive as any other camera in this sector of the market. You can record video in PASM mode or with any of the six Art filters active. One notable omission, however, is the lack of control over sound recording (other than disabling it). There's neither a volume control nor any kind of wind-cut filter. There is the option to use an external microphone, but for this you'll need to add the optional EMA-1 adapter that plugs into the accessory port (and so can't be used at the same time as the EVF).
|AVCHD Format:
• FullHD Fine : 1920x1080, 60i Recording*, 17Mbps
• FullHD Normal : 1920x1080, 60i Recording*, 13Mbps
• HD Fine : 1280x720, 60p Recording*, 17Mbps
• HD Normal : 1280x720, 60p Recording*, 13Mbps
* Frame rate of image sensor output is 30fps
Motion-JPEG Format:
• HD: 1280x720, 30fps**, Aspect 16:9
• SD: 640x480, 30fps**, Aspect 4:3 (VGA)
** Some Art Filters are at reduced frame rates
|Audio Recording
| • Internal Stereo Microphone
• External Stereo Microphone via optional EMA-1 adapter
• Dolby Digital (AVCHD)
• Stereo PCM/16bit, 48kHz, Wave Format Base (Motion-JPEG)
|File Format
• AVI Motion-JPEG
|Max recording time
|AVCHD Format:
• 29 min
Motion-JPEG Format:
• 7 min @ HD
• 14 min @ SD
|Max file size
• 2 GB (AVI Motion-JPEG)
|Image stabilization
|• Electronic image stabilization
Using Movie Mode
Using movie mode on the E-PL3 is pretty straightforward. You can initiate recording from any exposure mode using the red record button on the back of the camera; the camera will honour any exposure compensation you have set before shooting, but will otherwise choose its own exposure parameters (it won't necessarily employ the set aperture or shutter speed in A and T modes, for example). By default the camera will automatically adjust for any brightness changes in the scene while recording, for example when panning from dark to light areas, but you can lock the exposure before recording if you prefer (as long as you have the Fn button set to AEL).
The E-PL3 also retains a dedicated movie record position on its mode dial. This offers a greater degree of manual control over exposure: the camera can be set to record in one of the PASM modes allowing you to specify the shutter speed and/or aperture it will use for recording (and hence control motion blur and depth of field). Because the camera's video output is 30fps, the slowest shutter speed you can select is 1/30. You can also apply Art Filters to movie recording, but with some limitations with regard to framerate and sound recording.
Movie mode also allows previewing and composition in the correct aspect ratio for your movie (normally 16:9). Curiously though, when you press the record button, the camera crops-in slightly from the preview image, which makes precise composition literally a matter of guesswork: it's impossible to know exactly what will be in the frame once recording starts. You can enable image stabilization (IS) for video recording. Activating IS will actually enlarge the recorded image slightly. While this enlargement is visible in the preview on the LCD, pressing the record button still crops-in from the now-enlarged preview. Also note that regardless of which IS mode you choose, the camera will use the Auto setting, which compensates for both horizontal and vertical camera movement.
Once you've started recording a movie, you can't change any exposure parameters such as shutter speed, aperture or exposure compensation, but you can refocus by half-pressing the shutter button. A full press of the shutter will stop movie recording and capture a still image.
Movie mode displays
Almost all of the same display options are available with the dial set to video mode as when shooting stills - live histogram, electronic levels and the like. However, display magnification (for checking fine focus) is unavailable. Once you start recording, most of the onscreen information simply disappears (you have no choice in the matter), which is a pity: when shooting handheld it would sometimes be nice to have the gridlines available while recording.
|The preview screen fills the 16:9 LCD completely and can be set to a gridline, histogram or image-only view. The exposure control options shown are defined by the current shooting mode...
|..which you can set either in the Custom I menu or via the 'live control' panel.
|Shooting parameters are displayed on the screen before you start recording. Be aware that this preview is not compositionally identical to what will be recorded.
|When you press the record button, not only is much of the display information removed, but the camera also crops in slightly compared to the preview image, as can be seen here.
Video quality comments
The E-PL3's HD videos are generally pretty good. Just as when shooting stills, exposure, while balance and color rendition are all excellent. There are some visible artefacts, most notably sharpening halos and 'jaggies' on diagonals, but moiré is well-suppressed and hardly ever visible, even on finely-detailed repetitive structures such as brickwork.
The PEN Lite offers a 'Full HD' recording mode with 1920x1080 resolution alongside the 1280x720 mode shared with its predecessor, but this doesn't in practice deliver significantly higher levels of detail when comparing movies shot side-by-side in each. Presumably this mainly reflects the fact that both modes top out at the same bitrate of 17 Mbps, and to be fair this also means that there's no real disadvantage to shooting Full HD either (file sizes aren't any larger).
When using the 'designed for video' MSC lenses (including the 14-42mm kit zoom), autofocus during recording movie recording is not only relatively fast and positive, but also essentially silent; this is a huge advantage over any video-enabled SLR. Brightness changes during recording are also handled smoothly and elegantly, with no visible 'stepping' of the aperture. The E-PL3 uses electronic image stabilization while shooting movies, and while this can help reduce shakiness when shooting hand-held, it's no panacea. As usual, the only sure way to eliminate shake is to use a tripod, especially when working with longer lenses.
The small top-mounted stereo microphone delivers sound quality that's acceptable, but not wonderful. As is common with built-in units it's also rather susceptible to wind noise, and sadly there's nothing you can do about this as the camera has no wind-cut filter. For any serious work you'll therefore want to use an external mic, but you'll need to buy the EMA-1 adapter to use one.
Sample videos
We are pleased to announce that dpreview.com is now partnering with Vimeo to bring you high-quality embedded video in our test pages, but as always, the original files are available for download from the links beneath the thumbnails. We've turned HD playback on by default for our embedded videos, but depending on the speed of your internet connection, you may get better performance by turning it off.
Sample video 1This video was shot on a tripod with the camera set to shutter-priority mode. The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm lens was used at a 34mm (68mm equivalent) focal length. A fast shutter speed of 1/500 was selected which 'freezes' the moving water.
|1280 x 720 Motion JPEG, .AVI file, 21 sec. 84.32 MB Click here to download original .AVI file
Sample video 2This video was shot on a tripod with the camera set to shutter-priority mode. The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm lens was used at a 34mm (68mm equivalent) focal length. A shutter speed of 1/30 (the slowest speed allowed when in video mode) was selected which gives the moving water a more natural, silky appearance when compared against the previous video sample.
|1280 x 720 Motion JPEG, .AVI file, 21 sec. 77.98 MB Click here to download original .AVI file
Sample video 3This video was shot handheld and highlights the audio recording capabilities of the PEN Lite's built-in stereo microphone. There is noticeable wind noise (due to the camera's lack of a wind-cut filter) and the microphone picks up a lot of conversation emanating from behind the camera. The EPL3 was set to continuous AF and you can see instances of AF hunt as the musicians move within the scene. Image stabilization was enabled as the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm lens was used at the telephoto end of its range. We looked at digital IS shortcomings in more detail on the image stabilization page of this review.
|1920 x 1080 60i, AVCHD .MTS file, 36 sec. 101.44 MB Click here to download original .MTS file
For additional video samples, with the same sensor and processing please see the movie page of our recent Olympus PEN E-P3 review.
- 12 Resolution
- 13 Dynamic Range
- 14 Photographic Tests
- 15 Art Filters
- 16 Other Features
- 17 Movie Mode
- 18 Compared to (JPEG)
- 19 Compared to (JPEG Higher ISO)
- 20 Compared to (RAW)
- 21 Conclusion
- 22 Samples
Sep 20, 2011
Jan 19, 2012
Aug 29, 2011
Sep 18, 2014
I own it
I want it
I had it
Discuss in the forums
I bought the E-PL3 as an upgrade from my E-PL1 and took the Panasonic 20mm f1.7 lens off the old camera and put it on the E-PL3, relegating the kit lens to the E-PL1. With the f1.7 lens I seldom need a flash, but I find it easy to carry the flash in it's little pouch in my pocket in case I need it. I don't understand the flack about the external flash????
As I know olympus rates the battery at approximately 300 shots. The E-PL3 can also capture 5.5 frames per second in continuous mode with image stabilisation turned off. We also found that the E-PL3 slowed down to process images after about six frames shot in quick succession in continuous mode.
Are you know obout this???
Where and what is the "thumb dial" on the E-P3, that is missing on the E-PL3? I have seen this mentioned in a few other Olympus reviews, but I have not seen any dials on the PEN cameras except the single mode dial on the top.
And while on that subject, I see the PM1 is totally dial-less - has no mode dial at all, anywhere. I presume that function is covered in a menu on the LCD? I would have been satisfied with a PM1 except the mode dial seems much too handy to omit.
The "thumb dial" on the E-P3 is the dial you see.
The other dial (like on other Olympus PEN-s) is the ring over the 4-way rear controller. See the Operations and controls section: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympusepl3/4
|Nectar Dancing by Lensmate
from A Big Year - birds
|Foggy morning by LassiM
from Fog
|Sad clown by PEB
from Clowns
|Mtl Gen X 2015 DP by MarioSS
from - Gen X - (In Full Colours+ Border)
The UK released a preview of their upcoming drone safety regulations, and it looks like drone pilots will have to both register their device and pass safety awareness tests.
National Geographic photographer Bob Holmes talks about light, and why you need to learn how to 'see' and not just 'look' at your subject.
Photographer Alessandro Barteletti shares the story behind his National Geographic Italia cover, shot with a 10-year-old DSLR and an iPhone flashlight.
Fashion catalog photographers in China have some next-level models to work with. In this video, you see one model hitting 30 poses in 15 seconds as the photographer snaps away.
Photographer Paul Adshead breaks down 11 photography-related smartphone apps he couldn't live without—from a pocket light meter to a lighting diagram app.
Fast-growing Chinese flash brand Godox is teasing a brand new flash trigger... for smartphones. The Godox A1 is a 'phone flash system' that can act as both flash and 2.4GHz trigger.
On July 12, Canon opened its newest Technology and Support Center, designed to serve the motion picture industry, in Burbank, CA. DPReview got a sneak peak and takes you behind the scenes.
The Sigma 14mm F1.8 Art is truly one-of-a-kind. It offers the fastest aperture of any lens that shares its focal length, produces beautiful sunstars and is incredibly sharp to boot. If you're in the market for a fast ultrawide prime, this looks to be the one to get.
In this article, expert macro photographer Thomas Shahan shares advice for successful closeup photography of bugs, insects and small animals.
DJI's new firmware makes it difficult to fly in restricted airspace, even when you have proper clearance. Is DJI placing themselves between professionals and the FAA?
Go behind the scenes with National Geographic photographer Renan Ozturk and see what it takes to capture a dangerous, harrowing, stunning Nat Geo photo essay.
Erez Marom tells the story behind this ominous photo of the sand 'reaching up' towards the mountains at Skagsanden beach in Norway. He calls this photo 'Torment.'
DPReview staffer Carey Rose has taken the Panasonic Leica DG 15mm F1.7 along for everything from a city-side boat ride to a bachelor party across the mountains. Find out how the little Leica fared.
Canon just unveiled the largest 12-ink printer on the market. The new imagePROGRAF PRO-6000 printer can make prints from 17 all the way up to 60 inches wide.
"Standing in one of the holiest places on earth, I felt uneasy," writes Wired's Jason Parham. "Most of my fellow visitors, I realized with a brief bloom of nausea, were taking selfies."
Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk has been receiving great reviews, but it's a challenge to see it in its full glory. This handy infographic reveals the aspect ratio chaos that is wrought as the industry retreats from film.
Anti-bullying organization Ditch the Label's Annual Bullying Survey 2017 reveals yet again that Instagram, more so than any other social network, has a the worst effect on youth mental health.
It's been a crazy day for innovative patent news. Apparently Sony is thinking of developing a medium format curved sensor camera.
An update to the Silkypix Raw converter fixes some bugs and adds support for several popular new cameras.
This crazy custom-built underwater camera shoots 8x10 large format film. It's supposedly "the first successful underwater 8x10 ever made," and it can be yours for $5,800... plus shipping.
Blackmagic just reveled a new accessory for their Cintel Film Scanner. The Cintel Audio and KeyKode Reader can capture KeyKode data and high-quality audio from film in real-time as it is being scanned.
A new Nikon patent shows a lens designed for a curved full-frame sensor. Could this be the high-end Nikon mirrorless camera people are hoping for?
The ability to shoot images at 1,000 fps first appeared in a Sony smartphone sensor. Now the Japanese manufacturer is using the same feature for industrial applications.
Astronomy expert and photographer Dr. Tyler Nordgren thinks you should "see your first eclipse, photograph your second." But if you do plan on taking photos this August, here are a few tips from someone who's been there.
How confident are you that you can spot a manipulated photo? A recent study at the University of Warwick shows that many people are pretty bad at it.
If you purchased a Leica TL2, do NOT attach Leica's Visoflex electronic viewfinder. Leica is working on a fix, but for now, it's possible the viewfinder will break your camera.
Google just released Motion Stills for Android. Unlike the iOS version, the Android app uses a redesigned video processing pipeline that processes each frame of a video as it is being recorded, creating instant results.
A huge copyright lawsuit between photography firm VHT and Zillow Group is heating up again, as both sides appeal a court ruling that granted VHT $4 million in damages.
European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet spent 6 months on board the International Space Station where he worked with Google capturing spheric panorama images that are now available in Street View.
It's official. PDN has confirmed with parent company Aurelius that 94-year-old lighting company Bowens is indeed going out of business.


text:
Album Drop: This Week's New Releases, From Soulja Boy To The Black Eyed Peas
This week is mostly about hip-hop and R&B. Yep, a lot of the new releases want to sex you up. Thanks to the new Black Eyed Peas dance floor jams, you'll want to dry hump strangers; Slim Thug wants to do you right; Flo Rida is a one-note lovah; Soulja Boy is shakin' it up in suburbia; Jazmin Sullivan sings it like it is; and Miguel is as pretty as his tunes. Chrisette Michele — who just gave Annika her style tips — is going through the sweetest-sounding breakup. And, randomly, girlie Fefe Dobson is back … must be the seven-year itch. And then there's Steve Wynn and the Russian Futurists holdin' up the indie rock front—represent! So get those headphones on, and let's get into the groove, after the jump!
The Black Eyed Peas, The Beginning
Revamped Dirty Dancing trax for the single. F-yeah! The peas are still killin' it on the dance floor.
Chrisette Michele,Let Freedom Reign
Sweet heartbreakin' tracks and team-ups with Wale and Ne-Yo.
Jazmine Sullivan, Love Me Back
Rad lady laments via R&B.
Flo Rida, Only One Flo
Not as hot as his namesake state, but I did enjoy the 2 Live Crew reference in his NSFW music video.
Soulja Boy, The DeAndre Way
Pop rap you wouldn't worry about playing in front of your kids.
FeFe Dobson, Joy
After a celebrated (in Canada) debut record, here's her sophomore attempt at chick rock that took seven years to make.
Miguel, All I Want Is You
Sweet R&B by a beautiful man.
Slim Thug , Tha Thug Show
Hip hop about sexy times.
Steve Wynn, Northern Agression
The dude from '80s band The Dream Syndicate is still making beat-rock with the Miracle 3.
Russian Futurists, The Weight's On The Wheels
Indie dance music that zaps, claps and pings.


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HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – A brace by striker Mads Stokkelien and a second-half goal by Alessandro Noselli lifted the New York Cosmos to a thorough 3-0 win over the 10-man New York Red Bulls in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup at Shuart Stadium Saturday night.
The Cosmos will face either the Harrisburg City Islanders or the Philadelphia Union in the fifth round of the competition on either June 24 or 25.
It was the first-ever meeting between the New York squads and the match had a derby-like feel from the opening kickoff.
Not long after kickoff, Stokkelien struck for his first goal. The Norwegian ran onto a long ball by Carlos Mendes and fired a first-time volley off the bounce into the upper right corner of the net.
Stokkelien made it 2-0 in the 73rd minute, latching onto a Danny Szetela cross and placing his first-time attempt inside the far post. It came one minute after Red Bulls goalkeeper Ryan Meara was forced to make a diving save on a shot by Sebastian Guenzatti at the top of the box.
Five minutes later, Noselli put the game away with a low shot that eluded Meara from 12 yards out.
Three minutes from full time, the Red Bulls were reduced to 10 men when defender Chris Duvall was sent off for a two-footed challenge on Guenzatti at midfield.
The Cosmos dominated from the outset, outshooting the visitors 21-3, including 9-0 in the second half.
Mendes nearly scored against his former club in the 25th minute, but the Cosmos captain hammered a close-range shot off the crossbar after a sliding attempt by defender Jimmy Ockford off a free kick.
The Red Bulls' lone chance of the first half came just after the half hour mark when Jonny Steele found space inside the 18-yard box and fired a low shot toward the far post, but Cosmos goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer parried it away for the visitor's first corner of the match.


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(c) 2009 Associated Cleaning Services


text:
Real Estate News: Housing Shortage Slows Sales
Here is a look at real-estate news in Friday's WSJ:
Housing Shortage Slows Sales: Housing markets that just two years ago struggled with a glut of homes are now facing a new problem: There are fewer properties to lure buyers.
Wall Street's Latest Housing Play: Packaging Rent Payments For Sale: Four years after mortgage-linked deals played a starring role in the worst financial crisis in decades, banks and real-estate investors are at work on a new type of security tied to the housing market.
Fore Sale: After years of aggressive golf course expansion, interest in golf declined just as the market for luxury homes plunged. Now, once-pricey real estate is available at below-par prices.
The Home Front: Simpler and Sleeker in Sweden: A couple of empty nesters move from a sprawling farm to a white concrete villa.


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'Dynamic' duo of Kagan, Sotomayor add vigor to court
WASHINGTON After each Supreme Court appointment in recent years, the arguments before the justices have gotten more energetic and forceful. Now, the two newest justices, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, are changing that dynamic even further — and offering a glimpse of how they could reshape the court's liberal wing.
Sotomayor is far more talkative than was David Souter, the justice she succeeded. Yet she also is asking more pointed questions that reveal her thoughts on the law and her fact-based approach. "Slow down from the rhetoric and give me concrete details," she urged one lawyer.
Kagan jumps in more regularly, too, than the man who preceded her, John Paul Stevens. She immediately has developed a pattern of piercing questions. Stevens would sometimes gently suggest a point of view, but Kagan more directly lets her colleagues know her line of reasoning and often lays out the liberal viewpoint.
MORE: USA TODAY's Supreme Court Coverage
CASE LOG: Follow details on the court's major cases this term
The new justices have brought a stronger voice on the left than the four liberals had before Sotomayor joined in 2009 and Kagan in 2010. Kagan particularly is putting forward broader legal arguments that could guide her colleagues' thinking, often in contrast to those set up by the court's five conservatives.
That ultimately could mean that the vacuum created by the departure of senior liberal justice Stevens — who worked behind the scenes to build coalitions and moderate the court's conservative trend — could be filled in a new fashion.
It is not yet clear whether the forcefulness of Kagan and Sotomayor during oral arguments eventually will produce more liberal decisions, but their activities are at least bringing more attention to their perspectives early on, before the justices meet to discuss and vote on a case.
"The two newest justices have really changed the dynamic," says Kansas University social psychology professor Lawrence Wrightsman, who has written about Supreme Court oral arguments. "Kagan and Sotomayor seem to have a more detailed and thought-through strategic position in what they say" to lawyers who come before the high court.
"The biggest difference is they are much more direct" than their predecessors, says University of Minnesota political science professor Timothy Johnson, who has compiled a database of arguments dating to the 1990s. "I think they are pinpointing the issues more."
All told, Supreme Court arguments — which resumed last week after a four-week recess — have become livelier affairs and may offer a glimpse into how the justices operate in the private confines of their conference room.
Kagan, who was the U.S. solicitor general before she donned the black robe, has revealed herself as a deft player who can work her way easily into question-and-answer sessions and cut to the heart of an issue. And in an era of sound bites and limited attention spans, she — more than others on the left — can serve up pithy, memorable quotes.
At one argument in January, she told a lawyer his position appeared to be: "Tails you win, heads you win."
A more vibrant bench
During earlier eras, oral arguments could be dry affairs.
A lawyer would stand at the lectern and talk for long periods before getting a single question. Over time, as more lawyers who had regularly argued before the court or had been law professors joined the bench, the tone livened up. In recent years, it has become what some lawyers and justices, including Kagan, call "a hot bench."
Members of today's court, including Antonin Scalia on the right and Stephen Breyer on the left, have acknowledged they often try to convey their own arguments to fellow justices as they question lawyers at the lectern. Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts, a former appellate lawyer who had argued 39 cases at the high court before becoming an appeals court judge in 2003 and a Supreme Court justice in 2005, is especially adept at telegraphing his reasoning.
David Frederick, a Washington lawyer who argues often before the justices and has written a book on Supreme Court arguments, observes that the increased activity "feeds on itself."
"As a justice from one perspective makes inroads on an advocate's position," he wrote in his book, Supreme Court and Appellate Advocacy, "the tendency increasingly has been for a different justice to come to that advocate's 'rescue' with a friendly question or to attack an advocate's case from another perspective."
Sotomayor and Kagan have caused a spike in that one-upmanship — although with distinctly different emphases and personal styles.
Sotomayor, President Obama's first appointee to the court, has a hard-charging style and exudes an urgency for answers — particularly on the facts of a case, not the wide legal framework that Kagan typically tests.
Sotomayor asks more questions than any new justice in recent years and more than many veterans. University of Minnesota professor Johnson says justices over the past decade have asked an average of about 14 questions per oral-argument session, and that during her first term last year Sotomayor asked an average of 16 questions. Johnson has been compiling and analyzing data on oral arguments back to 1998.
She is persistent, demanding — "But wait a minute," she said as she interrupted one lawyer in January — and often breaks in on colleagues' questions, turning Chief Justice Roberts into a traffic cop of sorts.
In one case, liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was in the middle of asking a question when Sotomayor interrupted with her own query. That prompted Roberts to tell the lawyer at the lectern, "I'm sorry. Could you answer Justice Ginsburg's question first?"
In another dispute, as Justice Anthony Kennedy, a centrist-conservative was midquestion, Sotomayor interrupted and Roberts intervened to tell Kennedy to continue. After Kennedy had gotten an answer from the lawyer, Roberts turned to her and said, "Now, Justice Sotomayor."
Her questions go deep into the details of a case, and the former prosecutor sometimes sounds as if she is cross-examining a witness: "Are you talking about current figures or past? Tell us the date of the figures,"she said to one lawyer, in an exchange regarding statistics of prisoner suicides.
She told another who was asserting that government officials had failed to turn over crucial information for development of a stealth aircraft, "Well, there's a factual dispute about that. … (T)here is a claim they told you your weight estimates weren't right."
Sotomayor and Scalia, a 1986 Reagan appointee who was long the most aggressive questioner, have become rivals in their tough approaches. Yet Scalia remains the champion of the cutting remark, as an exchange in late November showed.
The case centered on crowding in California prisons and the impact on inmates' mental health care. Sotomayor asked the attorney for the state how officials were addressing the situation. She wanted details, insisting, "Slow down from the rhetoric."
As the Q and A escalated, Sotomayor asked, "When are you going to avoid the needless deaths that were reported in this record? When are you going to avoid or get around people sitting in their feces for days in a dazed state? When are you going to get to a point where you're going to deliver care that is going to be adequate?"
Breaking in on the colloquy, Scalia, who did not appear as concerned about prisoner conditions, played off her earlier command to "slow down from the rhetoric" and quipped to the attorney, "But don't be rhetorical!"
Sotomayor's concern for prisoners' rights extends to her written opinions. Last fall, for example, she forcefully dissented when the majority refused to hear the appeal of a Louisiana inmate who said he had been punished, including with hard labor in 100-degree heat, for not taking his HIV medication.
"To be sure, (the prisoner's) decision to refuse medication may have been foolish and likely caused a significant part of his pain. But that decision does not give prison officials license to exacerbate (his) condition further as a means of punishing or coercing him," she wrote. No other justice joined her.
Kagan's aggressiveness
Kagan, appointed by Obama last summer, moves deliberately and keeps a closer eye on the other justices and their patterns in questions.
She typically waits some time before entering the give-and-take. When she does, her questions reveal a more sweeping context, one often at odds with the prevailing view of the ideological right.
In a January case from Kentucky testing when police may barge into a home without a warrant and seize drugs or other evidence, several justices expressed sympathy for police. Kagan said sharply, "One of the points of the Fourth Amendment is to ensure that when people search your home they have a warrant, and, of course, there are exceptions to that. But if there is one place where the warrant requirement has real force, it is in the home."
In November, she homed in on the crux of a dispute over Arizona tax credits for donations that help students attend religious schools. She challenged a government lawyer who supported the tax credits and sought to make it harder for taxpayers to sue when programs funnel taxpayer dollars toward religious education. His line of reasoning ran counter to a pattern of Supreme Court decisions that allowed challenges to such programs that might violate the required separation of church and state.
"If you are right," Kagan told the lawyer, "the (Supreme) Court was without authority to decide" several similar cases going back decades by taxpayers with church-state claim.
Kagan's line of questioning drew the immediate attention of swing-vote Justice Kennedy. "I just want to make sure I heard your answer," Kennedy told the attorney. "You agree with Justice Kagan's criticism. … You said, yes, she's right. Those cases were wrongly decided."
Kennedy seemed struck by the government's concession that its stance would significantly break from the past. The court has not issued its decision in the case.
How Kennedy or any of the veterans will react over time to the newest members of the bench is not easy to predict. Their reaction could determine future trends in the law.
Kagan, in the only on-the-record interview she has done since being sworn in, suggested to C-SPAN in December that she views oral arguments as a forum for justice-to-justice persuasion.
"We don't talk about the cases together beforehand," she noted. "Oral arguments provide the first chance for you to see what your colleagues think about a case … and for you to suggest to them what you think. … I listen hard to what happens in an argument."
Posted | Updated


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The Committed Podcast on Apple, Document Collaboration, Dropbox, and Quitting iPhone Apps
We cover a lot of topics in this week's episode.
We cover a lot of topics in this week's episode.
The second edition of Joe Kissell's book about Dropbox tells you how to get the most out of this cloud storage service.
An update to the iOS Dropbox app lets you save PDFs of Safari web pages.
Great way to get large files from people who don't have Dropbox accounts, or without using shared folders.
My Dropbox account was using a lot of space. The Dropbox website doesn't tell you file sizes, but the iOS app does.


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No one is enjoying Obama's attempt to demonize Boehner more than Boehner. Even this is a replay. The White House seems to relish playing target practice with an enemy du jour and, in the process, elevating its prey. When the administration singled out Rush Limbaugh as the leader of the Republican Party, no one was more delighted than Limbaugh.
Americans are sad and mad, and the Disappointer in Chief is banging pots at a bogeyman that doesn't exist
Current Status: Blessed (1)
Seeded on Wed Sep 8, 2010 12:31 PM
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Volunteer had place in her heart for elderly
Faith was a cornerstone of Louise Criss' busy life.
Mrs. Criss had over the years served as deacon and elder of the East Liberty Presbyterian Church.
"My mother was also committed to caring for elderly women," said her daughter, Sally Allan of the North Hills.
Louise Caldwell Criss, of Longwood at Oakmont, died on Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, in her home. She was 93.
"For years, my mother served on the board of the former Jane Holmes Residence in Wilkinsburg, a home for elderly women and eventually elderly men who had no place to go, but could afford to contribute to their keep," Allan said.
"She was also an active volunteer. She would clean, operate their small general store and help in the kitchen with the cooking and sit and listen when they needed someone they felt they could talk to."
Louise Caldwell, born in Youngstown, Ohio, and raised in Edgewood, was one of three daughters of John Russell Caldwell, an executive with General Fireproofing Co. and his wife, Ruth Osborne Caldwell, a noted painter.
After graduating from Pennsylvania College for Women (now Chatham University), she worked as an executive secretary at the local FBI office during World War II. In 1943, she married Nicholas Rittenhouse Criss Jr., an attorney for Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co., and continued her commitment to her church and numerous charitable organizations. In 2006, she became a member of Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church.
As busy as she was with her humanitarian causes, Mrs. Criss enjoyed gardening and was a member and officer of the Rockledge Garden Club for more than 60 years, her daughter said. She was a founding member of POETS social club of Briarcliff Road.
In addition to her daughter, Sally, Mrs. Criss is survived by her sister Marjorie Caldwell Berlin of Naples, Fla.; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Criss was preceded in death by her husband in 1984; her sister, Barbara Caldwell Blackburn; and her sons, Nicholas Rittenhouse Criss III of San Diego and Russell Caldwell Criss of O'Hara.
Friends and relatives will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, in Burket-Truby Funeral Home Cremation and Alternative Services Inc., 421 Allegheny Ave., Oakmont.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013, in the Old Chapel of Homewood Cemetery, 1599 S. Dallas Ave., Squirrel Hill.
Jerry Vondas is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7823 or email@example.com.


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by Staff Writers
Port Moresby (AFP) Dec 14, 2011
A violent 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Papua New Guinea Wednesday, shaking buildings and prompting residents to run into the streets and causing panic in the highlands.
The quake, initially rated at 7.3, hit at a depth of 115 kilometres (71 miles) southwest of the coastal city of Lae and 223 kilometres from the capital Port Moresby, the US Geological Survey said.
Macklyn Timbun, who works as a receptionist at the Lae International Hotel, said she was sitting on a bus when the quake hit and it was so large the driver ran away and the vehicle almost rolled in the upheaval.
"I was like 'Oh my god what's happening?' Everybody started running, people were trying to jump out of the windows, it was the biggest earthquake," she told AFP.
"Outside the hotel everyone was running out of the building because most of the time we never experience such earthquakes in Lae."
Geoscience Australia put the quake at a magnitude 7.2 at 0504 GMT, but said it was not expected to create a tsunami because it was not an undersea rupture.
"That's the assessment on the basis that it's about 20 kilometres inshore and also it's about 120 kilometres deep and that's too deep really to cause any tsunami problems," said seismologist Clive Collins.
Papua New Guinea's earthquake observatory said there were no reports yet of damage but Collins said the tremor could have caused problems for the nearest large town Wau, about 20 kilometres from the epicentre, as well as Lae.
"It's in a mountainous area so there may be issues of landslides and things like that, that's what's the main problem in that particular part of Papua New Guinea," Collins said.
In Wau, a gold mining centre located between Port Moresby and Lae, US missionary Jim Bloom described the quake as "quite a good one".
"The floor started sort of bouncing around a little bit like when a big truck passes nearby, and then the whole building really started shaking and rattling," he said, adding he was not aware of any damage in his area.
"Just a lot of shaking and a lot of noise from the buildings, but we very seldom have damage because most of our buildings are made from timber and steel and so they're very flexible. But the water tanks were sloshing around for about five minutes or six minutes or so afterwards."
Another Lae witness, reached by telephone, said there was no major destruction evident.
"I was standing outside and the buildings shook, the ground shook," he said, adding the quake likely lasted more than a minute.
"We have quakes here regularly but not like this."
Papua New Guinea is regularly rocked by quakes due to its proximity to the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire", a hotspot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates.
Collins said the impoverished but sparsely populated nation of 6.6 million would likely face aftershocks in the coming hours.
"I'm sure there will be aftershocks with something that big, whether they will be significant or not... it's unknown really," he said.
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
When the Earth Quakes
A world of storm and tempest
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Major 6.5 quake hits southern Mexico, 2 dead
Mexico City (AFP) Dec 10, 2011
A major 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck Mexico on Saturday with officials reporting two deaths, as the quake was strongly felt in the capital Mexico City and southern Guerrero state. The temblor occurred at 7:47 pm (0147 GMT Sunday) about 166 kilometers (103 miles) southwest of Mexico City, at a depth of about 65 kilometers, according to US Geological Survey. The epicenter was located 13 ... read more
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Trainer Paul Nicholls claimed a double as Andreas went on to win the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase.
There was also a double for Andreas' jockey Robert Thornton who had earlier partnered the Alan King-trained Katchit to victory in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.
Tony McCoy finally got off the mark when the hot favourite Wichita Lineman was a comfortable winner in the Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle.
JT McNamara continued his superb Cheltenham record with victory on Drombeag in the Christie's Foxhunter Chase.
Meanwhile, Philip Carberry, who triumphed on Sublimity in Tuesday's Champion Hurdle, made it two Festival wins when Pedrobob took the final race, the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle.
1720 Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle (2m 1f)
1. Pedrobob (P A Carberry) 12-1
2. Ouninpohja (R Walsh) 11-2
3. Premier Dane (B Harding) 100-1
4. Kawagino (W P Kavanagh) 20-1
28 ran
1640 Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase (2m ½f)
1. Andreas (Robert Thornton) 12-1
2. Hasty Prince (AP McCoy) 8-1
3. Ground Ball (David Casey) 33-1
4. Ursis (Barry Geraghty) 14-1
23 ran
Trainer Paul Nicholls followed up his Gold Cup victory with Kauto Star when Andreas lifted the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase.
Partnered by Robert Thornton, who was also completing a double after his
Triumph Hurdle success, the 12-1 shot got past Hasty Prince and Tony McCoy on the run-in and went on to claim a three-length win.
Last year's winner Greenhope and Pablo Du Charmil set the early pace but Hasty Prince and Andreas looked most dangerous from three out.
1600 Christie's Foxhunter Chase (3m 2½f)
1. Drombeag (Mr JT McNamara) 20-1
2. Whyso Mayo (Mr D Murphy) 2-1f
3. Ned Kelly (Mr KE Power) 20-1
24 ran. Dist: ½, 15
Drombeag and John Thomas McNamara denied Whyso Mayo back-to-back wins in the Christie's Foxhunter Chase with a storming run to the line.
Whyso Mayo overcame a big mistake early on to get back into contention and the pair were among the leaders from three out along with Bika and Ned Kelly.
The latter two dropped back allowing Drombeag and Whyso Mayo fight on with the latter taking over the lead on the turn for home.
But Drombeag went back into the lead at the last fence and stayed clear of his rival to give owner JP McManus another Cheltenham win.
1515 Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup (3m 2f)
1. Kauto Star (Ruby Walsh) 5-4
2. Exotic Dancer (AP McCoy) 9-2
3. Turpin Green (Tony Dobbin) 40-1
18 ran. Dist: 2½, 2½
Ruby Walsh and Kauto Star combined beautifully for a famous Gold Cup success.
Walsh had kept his charge at the back of the field and out of trouble on the first circuit as Beef Or Salmon and Neptune Collonges set the pace.
The favourite took the lead at the second-last fence after being forced out wide because of heavy traffic and once he went ahead, there only looked like being one winner.
He got over the last safely, much to the relief of many, and second-placed Exotic Dancer, who had been hampered by a loose horse, was unable to catch up while outsider Turpin Green ran an excellent race to finish third.
The victory gives Kauto Star a £1m bonus after his wins earlier this season in the Betfair Chase at Haydock and the King George Chase at Kempton.
"We've never had any doubt about this horse. He was brilliant and the right man was on board."Winning trainer Paul Nicholls
1515:The tension is rising as the horses make their way to the start. Can Kauto Star do it?
1500: BBC Sport's Honest Frank at Cheltenham
"There was a big cheer from the crowd when Black Harry, who suffered a horrible fall in the last race, got to his feet. Jockey Ruby Walsh also walked back to the weighing room, seemingly unscathed.
1435 Brit Insurance Novices Hurdle (3m)
1. Wichita Lineman (AP McCoy) 11-8f
2. Air Force One (Noel Fehily) 25-1
3. Itsa Legend (Robert Thornton) 100-1
20 ran
Champion jockey Tony McCoy finally got a winner at the 2007 Festival when the well-backed favourite Wichita Lineman triumphed in the Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle.
McCoy got to work on the winner from about three from home to challenge along with Black Harry and Hairy Molly.
Hairy Molly dropped out of contention and it was left to Wichita Lineman and Black Harry, ridden by Ruby Walsh, to fight it out to the finish.
Wichita Lineman had just edged clear of his rival approaching the last but disaster struck for Black Harry at the final hurdle when he suffered a crashing fall.
That left Wichita Lineman comfortably ahead of the rest of the field and he went on to claim a 15-length win.
"There's not even a glimmer of a smile on the face of Tony McCoy, despite the fact he has ridden a winner. He's been disappointed with the week so far." Luke Harvey on BBC Radio Five Live.
1425: Katchit's jockey Robert Thornton on BBC Radio Five Live after his third victory of the 2007 Festival.
"It's fantastic and the week has just got better and better as it has gone on. I'm making sure I enjoy every minute."
1400 JCB Triumph Hurdle (2m 1f)
1. Katchit (Robert Thornton)11-2
2. Liberate (Richard Johnson)12-1
3. Mobaasher (Noel Fehily) 33-1
4. Punjabi (Mick FitzGerald) 9-1
23 ran. Dist: 9, 1¾
Katchit claimed a decisive win in the gave the in-form team of trainer Alan King and jockey Robert Thornton another Festival success.
Thornton and his mount came through to challenge leader Degas Art on the long run-in to the second-last fence.
He took the lead easily and nobody else could cope with his pace as he jumped the last safely and ran strongly up the hill for the win.
Liberate, in second, ran bravely but was unable to get close to the winner.
"This horse is like the boxer Ricky Hatton - he's so tough" BBC Five Live summariser Luke Harvey
1350: The jockeys for the opening race are given the signal to get on board their mounts.
1345: State Of Play's trainer Evan Williams on BBC Radio Five Live.
"The horse's preparation has gone really well. It depends how good he is on the day. He's an improving horse and goes well fresh."
1332: There is still plenty of money coming in for Gold Cup favourite Kauto Star but The Listener is drifting in the betting market. He was a doubt earlier because of the fast-drying ground at Cheltenham and punters are not confident of his chances.
1305: It's another glorious day at Cheltenham and the sun is out again. A perfect spring day for what we hope will be a perfect day's racing.
1240: BBC Sport's Honest Frank at Cheltenham:
Ireland's famous punting priest Father Sean Breen has been marking our card for the day. Fr Breen, known as the Breener, is well known for giving tips from the pulpit at his church in Kildare.
He likes the look of Lounaos in the Triumph Hurdle, which is his main bet of the day, while the 70-year-old will be backing Black Harry and Hairy Molly in the Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle at 1435 and he believes Forget The Past has an each-way chance in the Gold Cup.
"I hope when I get to the pearly gates they'll say 'Forget the Past'" he joked.
Fr Breen, who has not yet backed a winner at this year's Festival, but boasts plenty of seconds, also likes Whyso Mayo in the Foxhunters.


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The Anti-Social Network
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Kinesis Peer Academic Advisors
The Kinesis Peer Academic Advisors are a group of upper-class students who are the student leaders of the Momentum program. These students serve as mentors for Momentum students throughout the first year experience. Various social activities are planned to create a sense of community. Kinesis students offer support and resources for Momentum students helping them make the transition from high school to college. Kinesis students often live in the same residence halls with Momentum students offering assistance in the academic and campus life experience.
Kinesis members for 2016-2017 are:
Kinesis Captains:
Ramon Rios (Senior): Social Studies Education, Political Science, Psychology
Carly Foster (Junior): Social Work, Women and Gender Studies
Kinesis Team:
Emily Brunell (Super Senior): Early Childhood Education
Garrett Clark (Senior): Political Science, Religious Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies
Samantha Fellner (Super Senior): Early Childhood Education, Music
Jaime Ramos (Junior): Communications, Spanish
Kira Kuhar (Sophomore): Business Administration, Psychology
Ariel Davis-Robinson (Senior): Psychology
Madison McCall (Senior): International Business, International Studies, Spanish, Honors
Mikenna Lehane (Sophomore): Communications
Joseph Kobus (Sophomore): Political Science, Japanese
Olivia Lee (Sophomore): Occupational Therapy, Honors


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Star Couplings: Jesse James Leaves Rehab While Sandra Bullock Moves Out
- Jesse James has allegedly left rehab, and his departure coincided with Sandra Bullock moving out of their home. [Starpulse]
- Tori Spelling is dispelling rumors that she and Dean McDermott are headed for divorce after a segment of their reality show, which premieres tonight, was leaked. [People]
- Elin Nordegren was nowhere to be seen as Tiger Woods hit Augusta for the Masters. [E! Online]
- Brian McKnight was in court last week for a child support hearing regarding a 1-year-old boy who has the singer's name, and the mother has hired Kevin Federline's attorney to get the money. [TMZ]
- Was Heidi Montag tricked into saying she's divorcing Spencer Pratt in a new trailer for "The Hills"? [Us Weekly]
- Tia Carrere has filed for divorce from her photojournalist husband of seven years, Simon Wakelin, citing irreconcilable differences. [Just Jared]