text:
Base Technologies, Inc.
B-293061.2,B-293061.3: Jan 28, 2004
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Kenneth E. Patton
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Base Technologies, Inc. (BTI) protests the award of a contract to Lifecare-Advanta Joint Venture (LAJV) under request for proposals (RFP) No. BPD-03-R-0010, issued by the Bureau of Public Debt, Department of Treasury, for financial crimes investigative services. BTI contends the agency conducted a flawed evaluation of both offerors' proposals, and held inadequate discussions with BTI.
We deny the protests.
B-293061.2; B-293061.3, Base Technologies, Inc., January 28, 2004
The decision issued on the date below was subject to a GAO Protective Order. This redacted version has been approved for public release.
Matter of: Base Technologies, Inc.
File: B-293061.2; B-293061.3
Date: January 28, 2004
L. James DAgostino, Esq., Richard L. Moorhouse, Esq., Leigh T. Hansson, Esq., and Natalia W. Geren, Esq., Reed Smith, for the protester.
Michael D. Harbart, Esq., Department of Treasury, for the agency.
Sharon L. Larkin, Esq., and James A. Spangenberg, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision.
1. Agencys consideration of key personnels lack of law enforcement, and limited years of, experience was proper, where these matters were reasonably encompassed within the solicitations evaluation criteria and related to the solicitations requirements.
2. During discussions, an offeror need not be told of all weaknesses that would enable it to achieve maximum evaluation score.
3. Agency may consider the references of one joint venture partner in evaluating a joint venture offerors past performance where they are reasonably predictive of performance of the joint venture entity.
4. Agencys scoring of past performance was reasonable and consistent with the solicitations evaluation criteria; protesters argument that agency failed to follow scoring scheme set forth in agencys internal evaluation plan does not provide a valid basis for protest.
Base Technologies, Inc. (BTI) protests the award of a contract to Lifecare-Advanta Joint Venture (LAJV) under request for proposals (RFP) No. BPD-03-R-0010, issued by the Bureau of Public Debt, Department of Treasury, for financial crimes investigative services. BTI contends the agency conducted a flawed evaluation of both offerors proposals, and held inadequate discussions with BTI.
We deny the protests.
The Financial Crimes Investigative Network (FinCEN) provides intelligence and analytical support to the international, federal, state, and local law enforcement and regulatory communities. It provides analytical case reports to investigators using state-of-the-art technology, in-house analysts, and various data sources to uncover potential criminal relationships. The FinCEN has a continuing requirement for on'site support related to these investigative services, which BTI currently provides under a contract set to expire shortly.
The RFP, issued as a small business set-aside, sought a contractor to provide on-site support for the FinCEN in five program areas: case management, the USA Patriot Act, the commercial database program, the gateway program, and the pro-active targeting program. As stated in the RFP, case management support involves researching three classes of information--commercially available data (e.g., ChoicePoint, Lexis-Nexis, and Dun & Bradstreet databases), financial information (e.g., Bank Secrecy Act reports and Department of Treasury databases), and law enforcement information (e.g., FinCEN past cases, and databases from the Departments of Treasury, Justice, and Defense)--and involves such tasks as mail processing and telephone coverage, management of case information, and target information processing. USA Patriot Act support requires services related to an information-sharing service between law enforcement and financial and regulatory communities with respect to the investigation of financial crimes, money laundering, and terrorist activities, and includes such tasks as research (which was noted in the RFP as the highest priority to the FinCEN and the agencies supported by the FinCEN), case opening and closing, maintenance of financial institutions points of contact and e-mail address logs, returning results to the requestor, and archiving cases. Commercial database system and gateway system support requires answering requests for user identifications and passwords, maintaining logs and files of user access accounts, conducting database searches, and responding to requests concerning the gateway process. Pro-active targeting program support involves using artificial intelligence technology to locate unusual or questionable financial activity in various reports and financial records, and requires the contractor to conduct research, organize data, and process the results in the reports. RFP C.2.
The RFP contemplated the award of a labor-hour, performance-based contract for a base year with four 1-year options, with a minimum value of $1,000 and a maximum value of $20 million. RFP B.3, B.4, F.2.
The RFP provided that award would be made to the offeror whose proposal presented the best overall value to the government, considering past performance, technical merit, and price. Technical merit was said to be more important than past performance, and technical merit and past performance combined were said to be approximately equal to price. The technical merit factor included five subfactors, listed in descending order of importance: infrastructure, key personnel, hiring and retention plan, transition and succession plan, and sample reports. RFP M.2, M.5.
For the infrastructure subfactor, the RFP provided that the agency would evaluate [t]he Offerors ability and infrastructure to manage the requirements of this contract and deliver the services described in the performance work statement (Case Management, USA PATRIOT Act, Gateway, Commercial Database, and Pro-Active Targeting) . . . within sixty days of award. This subfactor also addressed requirements for security clearances, stating that
[t]he Government expects that the key personnel will start working on the contract as soon as their clearances are granted or on the effective date of award, whichever occurs later. The Contractor shall be able to provide at least 25% [of] the staff (excluding key personnel), with the appropriate adjudicated backgrounds within 15 business days after the effective date of the contract, 50% within 30 days, 75% within 45 days, and 90-100% within 60 days.
RFP amend. 0003, M.5.b(1).
For the key personnel subfactor, the RFP provided that the agency would consider [t]he qualifications of the Offerors key employees (defined at [section] H.3), which also includes their current security level clearance.[2] RFP amend. 0002, M.5.b(2).
The RFP specified that past performance would be evaluated for performance on similar products or services . . . focus[ing] on information that demonstrates quality of performance relative to the size and complexity of the procurement under consideration. The RFP further stated that [a]n offeror with no past performance information will receive a neutral rating (i.e., the rating will not add to or detract from its rating). RFP M.5.a.
The RFP provided offerors with the expected staffing levels and the estimated annual hours per labor category, which offerors were to use in developing their evaluated prices. The RFP stated that price would be evaluated, for the base and option years, by multiplying the estimated number of hours per labor category (provided in the RFP) by the proposed hourly rates (provided by the offerors), and totaling these products to calculate the offerors annual evaluated prices.
Six proposals were submitted in response to the solicitation. Three proposals, including BTIs and LAJVs, were found to be in the competitive range and discussions were conducted with these offerors.
According to BTI, during discussions, BTI was informed of weaknesses in the qualifications of four of its key personnel: that one lacked law enforcement experience, one was not management material, and two others lacked the capability to perform their positions.[3] Hearing Transcript (Tr.) at 33-38. The record shows that BTI was also informed of weaknesses with its transition and succession plan, and was encouraged to reduce its price. BTI was also advised of adverse past performance concerning three of its contracts, including its incumbent contract.
In its final proposal revision (FPR), BTI replaced one of its key personnel, but retained the other three, asserting that their qualifications were compliant with the RFP requirements. BTI also affirmed its belief that its transition and succession plan satisfied the RFP requirements, although it did not provide the additional detail requested by the agency, and stated that it would not be lowering its price. BTI explained its performance under the three prior contracts and objected to the inclusion of two of the negative references, including a recent incumbent contract reference.
During discussions, LAJV was informed of weaknesses in its transition and succession plan, asked to explain how it would achieve the necessary security clearances for its employees, and encouraged to reduce its price. LAJV specifically addressed these concerns in its FPR and also reduced its price.
The final evaluation scores for both offerors were as follows:[4]
Technical Merit
Infrastructure (35 pts.)
Key Personnel (30 pts.)[5]
Hiring & Retention Plan (25 pts.)
Transition & Succession Plan (20 pts.)
Report Samples (15 pts.)
Past Performance
References (75 pts.)[6]
Relevance (25 pts.)[7]
Total Score (technical + past performance)
AR, Tab 10, Recommendation for Award, at 6-7.
The agency found that BTIs proposal warranted only 20 points under the key personnel subfactor, because [o]ne supervisor has little management experience or training and [m]any of the proposed key personnel have a small amount of law enforcement, regulatory, or financial knowledge and experience. Id. at 2. The agency noted three specific examples of key personnel that lacked experience--a case management night supervisor (who assertedly lacked law enforcement experience) and two senior data retrieval specialists (who each had less than 1 year of experience performing this function)--only one of which was mentioned during discussions. Id. at 3. The agency also noted that the four individuals mentioned during discussions were unacceptable for the proposed key personnel positions due to performance problems under the incumbent contract, but that this was not a factor in the evaluation. Id. at 2.
Under the transition and succession plan subfactor, BTIs proposal received less than full points because its plan was considered weak and sketchy and BTI did not provide additional detail in its FPR, even though these concerns were raised during discussions. Id. at 3.
With regard to past performance, the agency gave BTIs proposal full points under the relevance subfactor based solely on its incumbent contract. Id. at 1; Tr. at 211. BTIs 72 out of 75-point score under the references subfactor did not include consideration of its incumbent contract, since the report on BTIs performance under this contract had not been finalized and BTI objected to the inclusion of a negative assessment of its performance given by the most recent contracting officers technical representative (COTR). Instead, BTIs reference scores were based on two other references provided by BTI, and two references obtained from the Contractor Performance System.[8] AR, Tab 10, Recommendation for Award, at 1'2.
LAJVs proposal received maximum scores under the infrastructure, hiring and retention plan, transition and succession plan,[9] and report sample subfactors, but received only 20 points under the key personnel subfactor because, as the agency noted, not all of LAJVs key personnel had the required security clearances or experience. The agency noted that although LAJV made improvements [in its FPR in response to discussions] related to the number of personnel with security clearances and indicated it anticipates hiring some personnel from the current contract with existing security clearances, some of its key personnel still lacked extensive experience. Id. at 5-6.
With regard to past performance, the agency noted LAJV had no past performance as a newly formed joint venture, but evaluated the contracts determined relevant of one of the partners. AR, Tab 15, LAJV Technical Evaluation Summary Score Sheet, at 3. The agency gave LAJV less than the maximum points (15 of 25 points) under the relevance subfactor because not all of the referenced contracts had work similar to [this] requirement. However, the agency gave LAJV the maximum 75-point score under the references subfactor because the references rated LAJVs performance as superior in each of the five elements assessed. AR, Tab 10, Recommendation for Award, at 5.
Based upon LAJVs higher overall score (205 points as compared to BTIs 202 points) and lower evaluated price, the agency determined that LAJVs proposal provided the best overall value and selected LAJV for award. These protests followed.
BTI challenges the evaluation of both its and LAJVs proposals under the technical merit evaluation factor, arguing that LAJVs score should have been lower, and its score should have been higher under certain technical merit subfactors. In reviewing protests against allegedly improper evaluations and source selection decisions, it is not our role to reevaluate proposals. Rather, our Office examines the record to determine whether the agencys judgment was reasonable and in accord with the RFP criteria and applicable procurement statutes and regulations. Abt Assocs., Inc., B-237060.2, Feb. 26, 1990, 90-1 CPD 223 at 4. A protesters mere disagreement with the agencys judgment does not establish that an evaluation was unreasonable. UNICCO Govt Servs., Inc., B- 277658, Nov. 7, 1997, 97-2 CPD 134 at 7.
BTI first argues that LAJVs proposal should have received a lower technical score because LAJV is a new joint venture, with no Dun & Bradstreet rating or corporate experience. Although the protester does not point to which subfactor LAJVs proposal should have been downgraded under in this regard, the corporate infrastructure subfactor appears to be the only relevant subfactor under which this information could have been assessed. However, the record shows that, under this subfactor, the agency recognized that LAJV proposed a corporate infrastructure and staffing plan sufficient to begin delivering services within 60 days of contract award, as contemplated by this evaluation subfactor (quoted above). AR, Tab 15, LAJV Technical Evaluation Summary Score Sheet, at 4. Based on our review, we find the agencys judgment was reasonable.
BTI also contends that LAJVs proposal should have received a lower technical score under the infrastructure and key personnel subfactors because not all of its key personnel would have security clearances at the start of the contract.[10] However, the RFP did not require that all of the key personnel have security clearances at the start of the contract; rather, the RFP not only contemplated that key personnel might not have clearances until after contract award, but actually provided, under the infrastructure subfactor, for performance by the key personnel to begin either the effective date of award or when security clearances were obtained, whichever is later. As the agency was satisfied with LAJVs proposed plan to obtain security clearances in a timely fashion, it did not downgrade LAJVs proposal under this subfactor. However, under the key personnel subfactor, where the agency evaluated the current status of the security clearances of key personnel, LAJVs proposal was assessed a weakness and received a lower score because not all of LAJVs key personnel currently possessed these clearances. Based on our review, we find this evaluation unobjectionable, as it was reasonable and consistent with the RFPs evaluation criteria.
BTI next contends that its proposal was improperly downgraded under the key personnel subfactor because not all of its key personnel had law enforcement or years of experience. BTI asserts that these experience requirements constituted impermissible unstated evaluation criteria. We disagree.
In evaluating a proposal, an agency properly may take into account specific, albeit not expressly identified, matters that are logically encompassed by or related to the stated evaluation criteria. North Am. Military Housing, LLC, B-289604, Mar. 20, 2002, 2002 CPD 69 at 5. Here, the key personnel subfactor stated that the qualifications of key personnel would be qualitatively evaluated. Given that an individuals experience is part of his or her qualifications, we believe that under this subfactor the agency could reasonably consider whether key personnel have relevant experience (in this case law enforcement experience) as well as the years of experience of these individuals. In this regard, we note that this experience is logically related to the requirements of the RFP, which recognizes that the FinCENs mission is to provide analytical and intelligence support to law enforcement and regulatory communities, and requires the contractor to provide support for this mission, including investigative research in various law enforcement, financial, and regulatory databases to uncover potential criminal relationships. Thus, we find that the agency could properly consider the contractors proposed key personnels law enforcement and years of experience in its evaluation under this subfactor.[11]
BTI nevertheless complains that the agency failed to hold meaningful discussions with it concerning the lack of law enforcement and years of experience of its key personnel. Although BTI acknowledges that law enforcement and years of experience were discussed in the context of four of its key personnel, it complains that the agency failed to raise these concerns with regard to any of its other personnel, and that it was misled as to the agencys concerns and requirements. Protesters Hearing exh. 5; Tr. at 34, 38, 54-56.
While discussions must address at least deficiencies and significant weaknesses identified in proposals, the scope and extent of discussions are largely a matter of the contracting officers judgment. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 15.306(d)(3); Northrop Grumman Info. Tech., Inc., B-290080 et al., June 10, 2002, 2002 CPD 136 at 6. In this regard, we review the adequacy of discussions to ensure that agencies point out weaknesses that, unless corrected, would prevent an offeror from having a reasonable chance for award. Northrop Grumman Info. Tech., Inc., supra. An agency is not required to afford offerors all-encompassing discussions, or to discuss every aspect of a proposal that receives less than the maximum score, and it is not required to advise an offeror of a weakness that is not considered significant, even if the weakness subsequently becomes a determinative factor in choosing between two closely ranked proposals. Hines Chicago Investments, LLC, B-292984, Dec. 17, 2003, 2003 CPD __ at 3-4.
Here, even assuming that the agency did not reasonably apprise BTI during discussions that its proposal would be downgraded if the proposed personnel did not have law enforcement or extensive years of experience, [12] this weakness related only to BTIs ability to achieve a maximum score under this subfactor, and did not prevent BTI from having a reasonable chance for award. Thus, discussions were not required to be conducted with BTI on this point.[13]
Additionally, we find no evidence in the record that BTI was misled by the discussions as to the agencys concerns or requirements. To the contrary, according to BTI, it specifically informed the agency during discussions that it disagreed with the agency that law enforcement experience was required by the RFP and discussed with the agency the years of experience of some its personnel. Tr. at 38, 55; Protesters Hearing exh. 5; BTIs Post-Hearing Comments at 14-15.
BTI also complains that it was not adequately advise[d] during discussions about weaknesses in its transition and succession plan arising out of a lack of detail. Protest at 9. However, BTI does not deny that it was advised during discussions that its succession plan was weak or that it was requested to provide more detail. Indeed, BTI claims in its FPR that it reviewed its submitted succession plan (which consists of less than one page of text) and determined it to be compliant with the requirement of the RFP. Thus, the record shows that the agencys discussions on this point were meaningful.
BTI next contends that LAJV should have received a lower past performance score because it is a new joint venture without any prior history of past performance. BTI also complains that LAJVs past performance score was based solely on the performance history of only one of the joint venture partners.
Where an RFP requires the evaluation of offerors past performance, an agency has the discretion to determine the scope of the offerors performance histories to be considered, provided all proposals are evaluated on the same basis and consistent with the RFPs requirements. Honolulu Shipyard, Inc., B-291760, Feb. 11, 2003, 2003 CPD 47 at 4. The performance history of one or more of the individual joint venture partners may be considered in evaluating the past performance of the entire joint venture, so long as doing so is not expressly prohibited by the RFP. Northrop Grumman Tech. Servs., Inc.; Raytheon Tech. Servs. Co., B-291506 et al., Jan. 14, 2003, 2003 CPD 25 at 30.
Here, the RFP did not preclude consideration of a joint venture partners past performance in lieu of performance by the joint venture entity, or require consideration of all of the partners past performance, but instead contemplated that the agency would evaluate relevant contracts and subcontracts that are similar in nature to the requirements of the RFP.
In its proposal, LAJV identified several prior contracts from only one of its partners, LifeCare, who was proposed to provide investigation experts and analysts, to include all of the senior project management and supervisory team and senior data retrieval specialists, and corporate resources for specialized investigation research training and Microsoft product training. The proposal explained that LifeCares core competencies include legal counsel, forensic accounting, auditing, assessments and reviews, investigations, data analysis, data mining, case management, and centralized operations center management. AR, Tab 8, LAJV Proposal, 1.3. Given that the description of LifeCares efforts encompassed most of the services required under the RFP, we find that the agency could properly consider LifeCares performance history to be reasonably predictive of the performance of the joint venture as a whole. See Northrop Grumman Tech. Servs., Inc., supra, at 30-31.
We also find unobjectionable that the agency did not consider the past performance of LAJVs other partner, Advanta, who, according to LAJVs proposal, would be support[ing] the LifeCare efforts by providing staffing of data retrieval specialist and administrative support personnel. AR, Tab 8, LAJV Proposal, 1.3. As noted above, the RFP did not require consideration of the past performance of all of the joint venture partners, and LAJV did not provide (nor was it required to provide) performance history of this partner, given the apparent lesser role that Advanta would play in performing the contract.
BTI complains, however, that, in considering the prior contracts of LifeCare, the agency inflated LAJVs scores under the relevance subfactor. BTI argues that, under the evaluation plans scoring scheme, LAJVs proposal should have received a score of no more than 10 points (rather than the 15 points received) for relevance because the identified contracts were considerably less in dollar value than that which will be required under the RFP. As BTI notes, in order to receive a score of 15 points under the evaluation plan, an offerors contracts had to be close but do not match the estimated size of the requirement, and contracts that were considerably less than the estimated size, such as LAJVs here, could receive a score of no more than 10 points.
However, where, as here, an agencys source selection evaluation plan is an internal agency guideline, not incorporated into the RFP, the failure to adhere to such a plan does not provide a valid basis for protest. Global Readiness Enters., B-284714, May 30, 2000, 2000 CPD 97 at 6. It is the evaluation scheme in the RFP, not internal agency documents, to which an agency is required to adhere in evaluating proposals and in making the source selection. Basic Contracting Servs., Inc., B-284649, May 18, 2000, 2000 CPD 120 at 11 n.2.
Here, the record demonstrates that the agency evaluated relevance in accordance with the RFP criteria--namely it considered whether the identified contracts provided the same or similar services to the RFPs requirements, focusing on the quality of performance relative to the size and complexity of the procurement under consideration--and recognized the relative distinctions among offerors as required by the FAR, see FAR 15.305(a)(2)(i), and these distinctions were reasonably reflected in the respective past performance scores.
Specifically, the agency noted that BTIs incumbent contract provided the same type of services as required here, and gave it the maximum 25 points under the relevance subfactor.[14] In comparison, the agency recognized that LAJVs contracts were less relevant than BTIs, which translated into a lower score of 15 points. While the agency found several strengths regarding the relevance of LAJVs past performance, such as LAJVs good general knowledge, government contracting experience, and the fact that at least one of the contracts appeared to involve similar type investigative work, AR, Tab 15, LAJV Technical Evaluation Summary Score Sheet, at 2-3; Tr. at 183-85, 189, the agency also noted that not all of LAJVs referenced contracts had work similar to the RFPs requirements, specifically noting as weaknesses that a [m]ajority of contracts provided had to do with medical services or Workers Compensation management, that LAJV lacked law enforcement experience, and that LAJVs specific knowledge of the FinCENs processes and techniques was sketchy. AR, Tab 15, LAJV Technical Evaluation Summary Score Sheet, at 3; Tr. at 222. The agency also noted in its evaluation that the joint venture was newly formed and had no record of past performance outside of its individual partners, and that the dollar values of LAJVs referenced contracts were smaller than that of the effort which will be required here.[15] All of these evaluated factors resulted in a score of only 15 of 25 points under the relevance subfactor.
Thus, the record evidences that the agency fully recognized the relative strengths and weaknesses of these offerors in terms of whether the prior contracts provided similar services, including consideration of the size of the contracts, in a manner consistent with the RFP, and thus awarded LAJVs proposal a significantly lower score than BTIs for the relevance subfactor. Tr. at 183-91. BTIs argument that LAJV should have received an even lower score reflects either its attempt to impose the internal agency evaluation plan on the evaluation, which does not constitute a valid basis for protest, or its disagreement with the agencys judgment, which does not render this judgment unreasonable. UNICCO Govt Servs., Inc., supra, at 7.
BTI also complains that the agency misevaluated its past performance under the references subfactor, where it only received 72 of a possible 75 points. As noted above, the agency received unfavorable comments from the COTR on BTIs incumbent contract for the period of June 2002 through March 2003, and brought this to BTIs attention during discussions. In response, BTI asserted that the negative reference should be ignored because BTI had not had an opportunity to formally respond (although BTI provided a written response to the negative comments in its FPR), and informed the agency of three earlier assessments of its incumbent contract performance that were more favorable. Given BTIs objection to the consideration of the most recent past performance, which the agency reasonably believed to be the most relevant with regard to the incumbent contract, the agency did not consider any of the earlier incumbent contract performance references, either. BTI contends that the failure to consider the earlier, more favorable references was unreasonable, arguing that this positive performance was simply too close at hand to ignore. Supplemental Protest at 3.
The record shows that BTIs past performance evaluation was downgraded only 3 points; thus, even assuming BTIs past performance warranted a perfect score, its total score would then be 205 points, the same score received by LAJVs proposal, and LAJVs proposal would still be in line for award based on its lower evaluated price. Thus, BTIs was not prejudiced by the agencys past performance evaluation, even assuming BTIs protest arguments here have merit.[16]
Finally, BTI argues that the agency improperly evaluated LAJVs price. As BTI notes, LAJV proposed five part-time management personnel at no cost to the government to support contract performance. BTI asserts that the agency was required to, but did not, assess the impact on price or risk associated with these free individuals.[17]
However, as the agency explains, the five free individuals were not required under the RFP, nor obligated to perform under the contract, and thus pricing information was not required. Moreover, the individuals were considered superfluous to the contract, because the services to be performed were covered by other stated personnel, who were priced as required under the RFP using the estimated number of hours stated in the RFP. Tr. at 262-66, 281. The record also reflects that these free individuals were irrelevant to the evaluation and were not a factor in recommending award. Tr. at 263; AR, Tab 10, Recommendation for Award, at 6. Thus, we fail to see how there was any risk to the government, or that the price of these individuals was required to be evaluated.
The protests are denied.
Anthony H. Gamboa
General Counsel
The joint venture partners are LifeCare Management Partners and Advanta Medical Solutions, LLC.
[2] Section H.3, titled Reassignment and Replacement of Key Contractor Personnel, permits the agency to require a contractor to replace key personnel who are objectionable to the government. This clause does not define qualifications for the key personnel, but does identify the key personnel positions to be evaluated (project managers, supervisors, and senior data retrieval specialists); the position descriptions for these positions are listed elsewhere in the RFP.
[3] Although the parties dispute what was said during discussions, for purposes of this decision, we accept the protesters recitation of events.
[4] The evaluation plan, which was not disclosed to the offerors, provided that each proposal could receive a maximum of 225 points: 125 points for technical merit and 100 points for past performance.
[5] To receive the maximum 30-point score for key personnel, the evaluation plan stated that all designated key personnel had to have extensive experience, and demonstrated knowledge in law enforcement, regulatory, financial or relevant programs. Fewer points were awarded if only some of the key personnel had such experience (e.g., 20 points if only the project managers and at least three key personnel had the requisite experience, 10 points if only the project managers had the experience, and 0 points if none of the key personnel had the experience). AR, Tab 16, Evaluation Plan, at 6.
[6] References were asked to evaluate quality, timeliness, cost control, problem resolution, and customer service, which were worth 15 points each.
[7] Under the evaluation plan, to receive the maximum score (25 points) under the relevance subfactor, an offerors prior contracts had to be close to or exceed the estimated size of the requirement in terms of contractor personnel furnished, have a sufficient number of government clients to indicate an understanding of governmental contracts, and have a mix of labor categories and work . . . comparable to what is described in the solicitation. Fifteen points were to be awarded if the prior contracts were close but do not match the estimated size of the requirement in terms of contractor personnel furnished, there are some governmental clients, and the mix of labor categories and work matches some of the solicitation requirements. Ten points were to be awarded if the prior contracts were considerably less than the estimated size of the requirement in terms of contractor personnel furnished, there are few governmental clients, and the mix of labor categories and work matches a few of the solicitation requirements. AR, Tab 16, Evaluation Plan, at 4.
[8] The evaluation record does not explain how, or even if, these two contracts are relevant to the requirements here.
[9] Under the transition and succession subfactor, LAJVs initial proposal did not receive maximum points because its plan, like BTIs, lacked detail. However, unlike BTI, it provided a more detailed plan in its FPR in response to discussions, which caused the agency to raise LAJVs score in the final evaluation.
[10] BTI also complains that none of LAJVs key personnel (who BTI asserts do not have a history of employment with either LAJV or the joint venture partners) provided commitment letters to demonstrate that LAJV could adequately staff the contract. However, the RFP did not require offerors to submit commitment letters from its proposed personnel, and BTI similarly did not provide commitment letters. To the extent that BTI complains that LAJV does not currently employ sufficient people to staff the contract, we note that BTIs proposal states that it also does not have a full complement of employees hired and ready to begin work at the commencement of the contract. See AR, Tab 6, BTIs Initial Proposal, 2.3.2, at 15.
[11] BTIs proposal contained numerous references to law enforcement and financial crimes as it relates to the contractors support of the FinCENs mission. This evidences that BTI was aware that law enforcement experience could well be credited under the RFP.
[12] Although disputed by the protester, the agency asserts that it specifically advised the protester during discussions that lack of law enforcement experience and work experience would be considered in the evaluation. Tr. at 98, 100. As indicated above, for purposes of this decision, we do not resolve this dispute, but will accept the protesters version.
[13] We note that LAJV was not afforded discussions on this issue either, even though it was assessed a similar weakness for lack of key personnel experience.
[14] BTIs other contracts were smaller in dollar value than the required effort here and were for straight information technology services, which did not include performing the investigative support work required under the RFP. Thus, it appears that BTI was given the benefit of the doubt in receiving a perfect score under the relevance subfactor.
[15] The dollar values of LAJVs contracts are also smaller than those identified by BTI.
[16] Competitive prejudice is necessary before we will sustain a protest; where the record does not demonstrate that the protester would have a reasonable chance of receiving award but for the agencys actions, we will not sustain a protest, even if deficiencies, such as an unequal evaluation of proposals or lack of meaningful discussions, are found. Statistica v. Christopher, 102 F.3d 1577, 1581 (Fed. Cir. 1996).
[17] BTI also asserted that the five positions were transferred from key personnel positions to free positions, thus allowing LAJV to improperly reclassify[] employees from direct to indirect charges and unfairly reduce its price. BTIs Comments at 28. However, the record shows this to be untrue, since LAJVs proposal makes clear that the five positions were, at all times, proposed at no cost to the government (that is, a transfer of positions did not occur), and the reductions in LAJVs FPR price were unrelated to these positions. See Tr. at 269, 272.
May 28, 2020
May 27, 2020
May 26, 2020
Mancon, LLC
We deny the protest.
May 22, 2020
AECOM Management Services, Inc.
We deny the protest.
May 21, 2020
Bastion Technologies, Inc.
We deny the protest.
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A call recently went out from the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) that we thought was worth passing along. Specifically, Alert Notice 430 is calling for well-equipped and skilled observers to monitor to two exotic objects: Blazar-type quasars 3C 273 and 3C 279. If 3C 273 is sounding familiar, thats because it was one of our astronomy challenges last year; at around magnitude +12.7, 3C 273 was the first quasar identified as such and is one of the brightest quasars in the sky.
22.01.11: A Quasar Campaign.
Astro-Challenge of the Week: Can you Spot the Brightest Quasar?
This week, we here at Astroguyz are going to show you how to go after that most elusive of beasts; a quasar. Even seasoned amateurs do not always realize that some of the brighter denizens of this elusive class of beasts are bag-able with a telescope of moderate-sized aperture. Of course, dont expect to see much; part of the fun of this challenge is the fact you can see it at all, and the wonder of what the object actually is. Our visual prey is 3C 273 is the constellation Virgo. This object was the 273th listed in the 3rd Cambridge Catalog of radio sources, and at a 16% red-shift, stands at only about 2 billion light years distant! This also gives it an apparent recessional velocity of 30,000 miles per second. Visually, 3C 273 hovers at about magnitude +12.2, although it has been known to vary by about magnitude 0.5 in either direction. Its coordinates are;
Right Ascension: 12 Hours 29 minutes 6 seconds.
Declination: +02° 03 06 N
A good series of finder charts courtesy of the AAVSO may be had here; 3C 273 is about 4.7° NW of the star Gamma Virginis and very near the galaxy NGC 4536.
Now for the mind-blowing part; the absolute magnitude of 3C 273 is about -26; if this object was 10 parsecs distant, it would visually rival our own Sun! Its output also tops our own Milky Way galaxy by a factor of x100! As you can see, writing a post on the topic of quasars demands the extreme over-usage of exclamation points. 3C 273 is a worthy target for aperture 6 or greater, and stands as the farthest object youll probably ever lay eyes on. It also serves as a good reply to that common neophyte question heard at star parties; So, how far can you see with that thing? And just think, the light left 3C 273 when the Proterozoic era was the newest, greatest thing here on Earth imaging may even help you grab this beast. Amateurs have even successfully recorded a spectrum of 3C 273 and measured its red-shift, a good reply next time someone asks you; Yeah, but how do YOU know the universe is expanding? As the waning Moon slides out of the evening sky, I invite you add a quasar to your visual athlete-life list!
This weeks astro-word of the week is Quasar. Short for Quasi-Stellar object, this class of amazing objects was not even heard of until the early 1960s. Much controversy raged for decades as to exactly what astronomers were seeing; theories ranged from white holes to anti-matter fueled stars in the early universe. With the advent of accretion disc theory as a massive energy source outlined in the 1970s a model of quasars slowly emerged; the consensus now is that we are seeing highly energetic galactic nuclei early in their youth. Perhaps the supermassive black hole at the core of our own Milky Way Galaxy was once a quasar itself, gobbling up interstellar matter and emitting massive amounts of x-rays and radio waves before settling down to the relatively placid state we see today. Other classes of objects such as blazars and radio galaxies have further filled in the classification gaps, and the massive amounts of energy we see in some quasars are thought to simply be the result of our viewing angle here on Earth. The brightest quasars devour perhaps 1000 solar masses of material a year, and the most distant recorded is CFHQS J2329-0301 discovered in 2007, with a red-shift of 6.43 and about 13 billion light years distant. This puts it in the realm of the very early universe, which is only 13.7 billion years old!

subset: commoncrawl


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SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal appeals court on Friday put the brakes on a first-of-its-kind California law that bans therapy aimed at turning gay minors straight.
A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an emergency order putting the law on hold until it can hear full arguments on the issue. The law was set to take effect Jan. 1.
Licensed counselors who practice so-called "reparative therapy" and two families who say their teenage sons have benefited from it sought the injunction after a lower court judge refused the request.
The law, which was passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown this fall, states that therapists and counselors who use "sexual orientation change efforts" on clients under 18 would be engaging in unprofessional conduct and subject to discipline by state licensing boards.
The appeals court's order prevents the state from enforcing the law, SB1172, while a different three-judge panel considers if the measure violates the First Amendment rights of therapists and parents.
National Center for Lesbian Rights legal director Shannon Minter, whose organization helped fight for the law's passage, said the measure's supporters shouldn't read too much into Friday's order.
"It's disappointing because there shouldn't even be a temporary delay of this law, but this is completely irrelevant to the final outcome," Minter said.
Earlier this month, two federal judges in California arrived at opposite conclusions on whether the law violates the Constitution.
On Dec. 4, U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller refused to block the law after concluding that opponents who have sued in her Sacramento court to overturn it were unlikely to prove the ban on "conversion" therapy unfairly tramples on their civil rights.
The opponents argued the law would make them liable for discipline if they merely recommended the therapy to patients or discuss it with them. Mueller said they didn't demonstrate that they were likely to win, so she wouldn't block the law.
Mathew Staver, chairman of the Christian legal group Liberty Counsel, appealed Mueller's decision to the 9th Circuit and said he would seek an emergency injunction to keep the law on hold until its constitutionality is determined.
Mueller's decision came half a day after U.S. District Judge William Shubb handed down a somewhat competing ruling in a separate lawsuit.
Shubb said he found the First Amendment issues presented by the ban to be compelling. He ordered the state to temporarily exempt three people named in the case before him — two mental health providers and a former patient who is studying to practice sexual orientation change therapy.
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CARSON, Calif. – While nobody tried to claim the LA Galaxy was closing in on 2011 form quite yet, the club certainly brought back some of what made last season such a magical year on Sunday night.
Solid defensive play, the ability to overcome absences and a scrappy goal helped propel the Galaxy to a 1-0 victory over the Portland Timbers at The Home Depot Center.
It wasn't groundbreaking, but it was certainly a solid step forward.
"I'm not going to make the statement that it looked like last year yet," head coach Bruce Arena said. "If it looked like last year, we'd have a few more wins under our belt. It's progress and hopefully we can move forward."
WATCH: Full match highlights
The Galaxy tasted victory for the first time since April 21 and climbed out of last place in the Western Conference. And although any victory likely would have given LA a jolt of confidence, that they went about this match in a manner reminiscent of last season was perhaps significant.
"We got back to doing things that make a difference," Galaxy captain Landon Donovan said. "It wasn't pretty but we made a lot of real good plays on both sides of the ball that make a difference.
"I can't look at any one guy and say 'He didn't perform well and he didn't give it everything he had.' It's a good building block. Let's not get carried away, it's one win, but a good win and everyone feels good about it."
Josh Saunders picked up shutout – the club's first of the season – as he made his return to action. Saunders last played on April 21, when he made a last-minute, penalty-kick save to help the club defeat Colorado. His presence seemed to give teammates a lift, but it was his standout saves that mattered the most.
Twice he turned Kris Boyd away. First, Saunders made a save with his face in the ninth minute, then he made a diving save from a long-distance shot in the 26th minute.
"Two big saves like that is what you need in games like this," Galaxy defender Todd Dunivant said. "We didn't give them a lot of chances, but when we did, he bailed us out and that's what you need out of your goalkeeper."
Saunders wound up with four saves but said it was the team's effort that not only helped keep the Timbers off the scoreboard but helped the club take all three points from the match.
OPTA Chalkboard: LA defense resolute
"We battled through the game. We just kept believing that we're going to start winning some games," Saunders said. "We battled, we had some struggles early on, we were able to pull through it and I can't say enough about what the guys did on the field."
The Galaxy had a few opportunities to break open the scoring in the first hour – Donovan hit the post in the 15th minute and pushed a 20-yard shot over the crossbar in the 56th minute – but the Galaxy finally broke through in the 61st minute when David Beckham found Dunivant alone on the far post on a corner kick.
"David obviously serves in an incredible set piece," Dunivant said. "He put the ball in the back post. We kind of had talked about it halftime. We'd had a few to the front post and I said to try the back post. I found a little space back there and was able to nod it home."
Portland were unable to make much noise over the remainder of the match as the Galaxy clamped down and nabbed the result, three points that should give the club hope that more wins will soon follow.
"Last season we played a lot of games like this where we won 1-nil and we kept the other teams in shutouts," Beckham said. "We need more performances like this and were capable of it, so hopefully this will be our springboard."


text: Yesterday we joined the country in celebrating the 40th Earth Day…but we do our best to care for and protect the Earth every day by incorporating simple actions into daily life at the Aquarium. Here are just some of the simple actions we take: In the Aquarium cafes, our utensils, cups, straws and lids are made from potatoes and corn, which are compostable and biodegradable. We also offer three bins for waste: compost, recycling and trash. The Aquarium Animal Programs staff repurposes toilet paper tubes, used towels, plastic bottles, old phone books, and other materials for education programs and animal enrichment. Staff members have the option to join a community-supported agriculture program that delivers organic, locally grown produce right to the Baltimore venue. We turned 53 wetsuits into 575 bottle cozies, available in our gift shop, which kept 92 pounds of neoprene out of landfills. When you walk across the newly reopened exterior harbor footbridge, do you feel a little spring in your step? We used 98,342 plastic milk jugs to renovate it! Last year, we recycled 50 tons of plastic, glass, aluminum, cardboard and paper; 388 pounds of "technotrash"; and 489 pounds of batteries. We also send in corks and energy bar wrappers to companies that "upcycle" them into new products! Every month, the Aquarium recognizes and rewards three staff members who conserve natural resources by walking, biking, carpooling or taking mass transit to work. Power-generating water valves are installed in Aquarium restrooms, which create and store power. Each year, every full-time Aquarium employee gets a paid day off to participate in a conservation event, such as a wetland cleanup or a tree-planting event. You can read about more actions the Aquarium takes here and get some more tips for what you can do here. And come join us at the National Aquarium this Saturday for our continued Earth Day celebration! What simple actions do you, your family, or your workplace take every day? Tags: earth-day, green-tips, simple-actions Categories: Conservation, News Previous Post Next Post


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*A faded image indicates this service is unavailable at this location
Window Gang of Kernersville, NC offers a wide variety of residential and commercial services to ensure your home or office looks as beautiful as new. Backed by an established household brand, our trained professionals provide "Service Beyond Your Expectations" ensuring complete satisfaction to all home and business owners throughout Kernersville, NC and surrounding areas.
We are your local, professional experts for window cleaning, gutter cleaning, pressure washing, low pressure chemical washing, deck/fence restoration, roof washing, house washing, dryer vent cleaning, chimney sweeping, oil remediation, no slips floor, blind cleaning and much more.
Your local Window Gang is fully insured and bonded with general liability insurance and carries workers compensation on all employees. Our uniformed technicians are extensively trained in all exterior cleaning processes and procedures. We use environmentally friendly cleaning solutions and follow all OSHA and EPA guidelines to keep our environment and community clean and safe.
We realize your time is important and making time for friends, family and activities you love just got easier. Sit back, relax and trust Window Gang of Kernersville, NC to handle all of your residential and commercial exterior cleaning projects.
We have been customers of yours for quite some time, and I want to thank you for years of great service. You always arrive when you say, and when you leave my house looks wonderful. Since starting the quarterly maintenance plan for my windows and gutters, I never have to worry. Thanks again!Tom and Patty R


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Update details
Update your contact detailsIf you have changed your mobile phone number' email address or postal address' or you need to update any of your contact details including your password' Online Services let you notify us online' quickly and easily.
Simply have your new details at hand and' when you're ready' click on Change My Details.
The key benefits of updating your contact detailsUpdate your profile
Amend your new contact details quickly and easily online.
Change what you want to
Whether it's your address' mobile phone or work number' or email address that has changed' you can update your details whenever you want to.
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For your added peace of mind' you can change your own personal password' as often as you wish.


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Library Life: April 2013
This episode of Library Life includes:
- MPPL's 70th Anniversary and An Irish Concert With Pat Gaughan
- An interview with Sharon Kissane, PhD and handwriting expert. Kissane is the presenter of Discover Handwriting Analysis on Tuesday, June 18 at 7:30 p.m.
- A Very Grimm Visit With Author Adam Gidwitz
- Youth Services Book Recommendation: Mr. and Mrs. Bunny Detectives Extraordinaire! by Polly Horvath.
- Adult Services Recommendation: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz.
- Super Saturday: The Roz Puppets' Variety Show
- What is your favorite fairy tale? Visitors share their enchanting picks.


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When Playboy reviewed Wii title Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad, it asked publisher D3 for this: Exclusive naked pics. And exclusive naked pics it got.
Above and below are images directly from D3 of the game's heroine Aya wearing her cowboy and boots, but not much else. At least she's got her swords. Very important! You can't kill zombies with boobs.
Bikini Samurai Squad [Playboy]


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THE IMPOSING KOURTALIOTIKO GORGE, is narrow and has wild beauty. Its slopes are full of caves and springs. When the wind blows you can hear clapping sounds – in the local dialect they are called kourtala. This is from where originates the name. In its depths flows Kourtaliotis river which falls in Preveli monastery. Aghios Nikolas church is located in Kourtaliotiko gorge. Tradition says that when the saint touched the rock, water sprang out of the places which he touched with his fingers. These are the five springs of Kourtaliotis gorge and are located close to the church. It is worth to go down the stairs and see them. Close to Aghios Georgios church is Aghia Triada fresco which depicts the Holy Spirit as a dove coming out the mouth of God - a fresco unique for all the territory of Greece.
Visitgreece.gr is the official tourism web site for Greece, run by the Greek National Tourism Organisation, where you'll find information on the main tourist destinations, such as cities, beaches, as well as activities, events and much more!
All content included on this site consists intellectual property of GNTO and you are not allowed to reproduce the whole or part of this work in any way.
For information please contact: firstname.lastname@example.com. All Rights Reserved. GNTO © 2020.


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Transocean Inc. Provides Update on Fleet Contract Status
HOUSTON, March 2, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Transocean Inc. (NYSE:RIG) today announced that its report of drilling rig status and contract information covering the company's offshore drilling fleet has been updated as of March 1, 2006.
Drilling rig status and contract information on Transocean Inc.'s offshore drilling fleet has been condensed into a report titled \"Transocean Fleet Update,\" which is available through the company's Worldwide Web address at www.deepwater.com. The report can be accessed from the home page of the Web address by clicking on the Fleet Update Report link found in the tool bar.
Statements regarding the estimated duration of client contracts, contract dayrate amounts, future contract commencement dates and locations, planned shipyard projects, other out of service time, as well as any other statements that are not historical facts in the report, are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These include but are not limited to operating hazards and delays, risks associated with international operations, actions by customers and other third parties, the future prices of oil and gas and other factors detailed in the company's most recent Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated.
Transocean Inc. is the world's largest offshore drilling contractor with a fleet of 90 mobile offshore drilling units. The company's mobile offshore drilling fleet, consisting of a large number of high-specification deepwater and harsh environment drilling units, is considered one of the most modern and versatile in the world due to its emphasis on technically demanding segments of the offshore drilling business. The company's fleet consists of 32 High-Specification Floaters (semisubmersibles and drillships), 23 Other Floaters, 25 Jackup Rigs and other assets utilized in the support of offshore drilling activities worldwide. With a current equity market capitalization in excess of $25 billion, Transocean Inc.'s ordinary shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol \"RIG.\"
The Transocean Inc. logo is available at: http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2252
CONTACT: Transocean Inc. Analyst Contact: Jeffrey L. Chastain 713-232-7551 Media Contact: Guy A. Cantwell 713-232-7647


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Environmental Studies
Natural Assortments: Botanicals
Use for simple observation, sensory exploration, sorting & patterning, creative play, arts & crafts, and much more. Botanicals. Leaves, pine cones, acorns, grass, seeds, lotus, loofah sponges, and more.
Natural Assortments: Stones & Minerals
Natural Exploration Starter Pack
Natural materials, or loose parts, provide countless open-ended learning opportunities. The Starter Pack features a selection of botanicals, wood, shells, minerals, stones, and gems including willow balls, rattan slices, bark squares, river pebbles, pine cones, seagrass bundles, and more.
Handmade seagrass basket with a strong metal frame for easy exploration and sorting. 16" x 12" x 3".
What can we find today? Collect trinkets, natural materials and sensory objects to place in the beautiful Treasure Blocks. Smooth hardwood frames with inset, transparent acrylic windows have a removable panel to place small objects to observe or display. Ideal for color exploration and light table activities. Holds marbles, beads, twigs, leaves, small toys and more. Two screws on the removable panel keep objects securely in place until ready to be replaced. Set of 8. Largest Block measures 5.5″ L x 5.5″ W x 2″ H. Ages 2+.
- Treasure Blocks- Clear features transparent windows that are perfect for observing or displaying small objects
- Holds marbles, beads, twigs, leaves, small toys and more
- Use for color exploration and light table activities
- Removable panel has screws to keep objects secure until ready to be replaced
- Largest block measures: 5.5″ L x 5.5″ W x 2″ H
- Ages 2+


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Due to our dynamic growth, we are expanding our team in Barcelona and are currently looking for a Project Manager (m/f) PV rooftop installations.
Project Manager (m/f) PV rooftop installations
Tus tareas
- Design, project management and supervision of medium & large-scale photovoltaic rooftop installations for commercial and industrial customers, from the acquisition stage to the implementation
- Communication with all stake holders including authorities and distribution companies, supervision of the project team (internal and external contacts)
- Safeguarding of the on-time and on-budget implementation of the installation setup
- Technical sales support incl. calculation of profits and profitability, creation and sending of studies and offers
- Realisation incl. coordination of the construction planning, procurement, awarding of construction contracts and the constructional implementation
- Technical and economic development of projects, especially Project legalization
- Search new ways to optimize and improve products and solutions
- Identify potential customers, update the CRM database and promotion of our products and services
- Report and supervision of metrics and objectives
- Monitoring of market, competitors, quality standards and innovations
Tu perfil
- University degree in construction engineering, electrical engineering, industrial engineering or similar
- Minimum 3 years' work experience developing and designing Solar PV projects, with strong preference for experience on self-consumption installations (ideally with knowledge of the corresponding Spanish legal framework)
- Experience in planning using AutoCAD and PV-Sol (or a similar software for photovoltaic design)
- Good specialist know-how and extensive understanding of correlations in project business with ability and willingness to manage teams and subcontractors
- Qualified professional experience in project management (preferably in the area of photovoltaic rooftop installations)
- Entrepreneurial and strategic thinking, a high level of commitment as well as a pronounced customer orientation
- Analytic, reliability and organizational skills to support the Sales Management and the department organization
- Spanish native speaker or C2 level, strong written and spoken communication skills in English and ideally in German
- Flexibility, interdisciplinary teamwork skills and Willingness to travel
- Interested in grow professionally in a multinational company
We look forward to your application!
If you have any questions about the job offer, please get in contact with us.


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Similar to the once wildly popular anime, Dragon Ball Z, science too has its own sagas.
Webster defines 'dogma' as, "a belief or set of beliefs that is accepted by the members of a group without being questioned or doubted." Science is no different than any other field in terms of having its own dogmas. Anyone who has taken a biology course is probably familiar with the central dogma of molecular biology. In 1958 it was thought that information transfer occurs in the following order:
As with most 'rules' in biology, viruses tend to break them [and they do so in some of the coolest ways]. Like Apple's slogan, "There's an app for that," there's often a virus that breaks a biological rule you think you know (Author's note: if biology textbooks pick up the phrase, "There's a virus for that" you can say you saw it here first). The discovery of RNA-based tumor viruses demonstrated that viruses with an RNA-based genome can actually insert their information into the nucleus in a fashion reverse that of the central dogma (RNA --> DNA). This discovery led to a major change in the way we think about the flow of biological information within the cell. Questioning some of the most basic assumptions about life have led to amazing, and important discoveries.
In neuroscience, a traditionally held dogma basically states that no new neurons are produced in the adult brain. This dogma is part of a constantly evolving saga in neuroscience: the neurogenesis saga. Some may have heard of the Neuromyth that whenever you drink alcohol, you lose brain cells. Aside from being dispelled as a neuroscience myth, logically this doesn't seem to make sense. If this were true, this would mean the brains of a lot of college freshman everywhere might rapidly shrivel to nothing during their first semester in college. Thankfully neither of these pieces of information are true. Our brains are capable of producing new neurons, a processed called adult neurogenesis and alcohol–for the most part–does not kill them. There are two brain regions that are now associated with producing newborn neurons in the adult brain: the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus and the subventricular zone.
As it often happens in science, the story evolves and gets more complicated in light of new data. Ernst and colleagues published a paper in Cell that provides strong evidence that neurogenesis also takes place in the adult striatum–a structure well-known for its involvement in motor control. This begs the question, why would there be a need for newborn cells in the adult striatum? Huntington's disease is typically associated with damage to the striatum and abnormal movements called chorea. Many more studies will need to be conducted to infer the role of striatal neurogenesis, but it is interesting to note that the authors of this paper also analyzed post-mortem brain tissue of patients who had Huntington's disease. They found a dramatic reduction in the number of newborn cells produced in the striatum of these patients present in the disease. Why is this happening? It is unclear but the discovery could play an important role in understanding Huntington's disease and assist in treatment development.
In the hippocampus, a structure extremely well-known for its role in learning and memory, the answer for why there would be a need for newborn neurons in the adult might seem a little more straightforward. And, as it turns out, it appears that newborn neurons in the adult hippocampus are required for the formation of new memories. But, interestingly, the production of too many newborn neurons in the hippocampus may paradoxically induce forgetting. In a paper recently published in Science, Aker and colleagues suggest an explanation for the phenomenon of infantile amnesia. Don't vividly remember the first few years of your life? Based on the interesting evidence presented in the paper, the authors suggest that the production of new cells within the hippocampus actually regulates forgetting. When we are newborns, the process of neurogenesis is occurring at an alarming rate and because of this, we are not able to retain any of our first memories during early life. I found this particular study to be fascinating because I think the kinds of scientific questions like, "Why can't I remember being 2 years old?" are unique to neuroscience. Moreover, the fact that we're able to answer these questions now with modern lab techniques make this such an exciting field. I'm anxious to see where the neurogenesis saga goes next.
Akers, K.G., Martinez-Canabal, A., Restivo, L., Yiu, A.P., De Cristofaro, A., Hsiang, H.L., Wheeler, A.L., Guskjolen, A., Niibori, Y., Shoji, H., et al. (2014). Hippocampal neurogenesis regulates forgetting during adulthood and infancy. Science 344, 598-602.


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On the morning of Nov. 7, just hours after polling places closed and as votes continued to be counted, the national attention seemed to simultaneously switch from projected winners to the issues that deserved immediate attention. Instead of speculation surrounding which candidates may emerge victorious, many expressed the need for swift action on climate change, job creation, and education reform. The meticulous analysis of exit polls was abruptly replaced with calls for change surrounding immigration, taxes, and sustainable peace in the Middle East. Wwithin moments of receiving the news of Election Day winners, the general public swiftly switched its collective attention to matters of the immediate future.
In light of the various challenges facing our national and global community, there are indeed numerous issues that require the immediate attention of our elected officials. And our newly re-elected president, as well as others placed into public service, should be called upon for genuine cooperation, fair action, and immediate impact.
But while urgency is required in light of pressing concerns, an overindulgence of immediacy also contains a long list of shortcomings. Discipline and patience are required to bring forth intellectual depth, balanced consideration, and lasting compassion. As humans are more inclined to favor short-term over long-term rewards, the virtue of patience should be appreciated for its many worthwhile benefits.
And so we recognize that urgency and patience should not be viewed as opposing forces, but rather, they exist as connected companions — or as the famed basketball coach John Wooden once remarked, "Be quick, but don't hurry."
In other words, there are moments when immediate action is essential to prevent lasting harm, yet urgency without patience leads to short-sightedness, impulsiveness, rashness, and even disaster. On the other hand, patience without urgency can lead to complacency, procrastination, lack of action, and of course, disaster. And so, whether it is national policy decisions or the complexities of daily life choices, we live within the dual tensions of urgency and patience, and we strive for a faithful fusion of both characteristics. If we tip the scales too far in either direction we risk the dangers of disaster, yet a steady mixture leads to a healthy cycle of spiritual reflection and sustained social action.
As people of faith we recognize – and commemorate – the relationship of urgency and patience through the liturgical season of Advent, which begins in many Christian denominations this Sunday. The word "advent," which comes from the Latin adventus, means "coming," — thus the season of Advent is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of Jesus' birth on Christmas Day. As we dwell within a North American culture that too often prizes instantaneous communication, information, and gratification (and premature Christmas celebrations), such an emphasis upon patience, waiting, and expectation is indeed necessary, as we hear in Psalm 46:10, "… be still and know that I am God."
And so, during the season of Advent we embrace the blessings associated with divine anticipation, and in doing so, we accept – and rejoice in – the wisdom, faith, and maturity that accompanies a persistent practice of patience.
While patience is indeed a key feature of Advent, the season also emphasizes the crucial role of urgency within our journey of faith. In other words, while urgency without patience can result in a disastrous nightmare, patience without urgency can lead to a disastrous daydream. And so, the season of Advent reveals that patience requires a counterbalance of urgency, and we receive such an offset most profoundly from the Gospel of Mark, which repeatedly uses the Greek term euthos, translated as "straight away, immediately." Euthos is used 40 times in Marks' Gospel, which shows a need to embrace the blessed immediateness offered as a response to God's love. While patience is a key feature of Advent, we also recognize the counterpoint of urgency, thus we are given a vibrant Advent of solitude and service that leads to a deeper personal faith and wider public response.
Whether it is personal decisions or political directives, we dwell within the tensions of patience and urgency, for both are incomplete on their own, and each leads to disaster when taken to the irresponsible extreme.
During the upcoming season of Advent we ask God to provide us with a full portion of urgent patience. While immediate action is sometimes required, especially during moments of crisis, such urgency should not take place at the risk of wisdom, thoughtfulness, and sustainable livelihoods. And while contemplation and meditation are indeed vital, we recognize that certain moments in time call us to push forward even when all the information has yet to be gathered, and during such moments we proceed with the blessed assurance that God is with us.
In response to our appetite for short-term gain at the expense of long-term benefit, and in light of all the important matters deserving of our immediate attention, may we live within the blessed tensions of urgency and patience during this season of Advent, and in doing so, may God give us a full portion of urgent patience for the journey ahead.
Brian E. Konkol is an ordained pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), serves as Co-Pastor of Lake Edge Lutheran Church (Madison, Wis.), and is a PhD candidate in Theology & Development with the University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa).
Photo: Christmas countdown illustration, © Jiri Hera | View Portfolio, Shutterstock.com
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Recently, people have begun to emphasize the role of oxygen in potential disease fighting treatments. Though it is true that oxygen is an important element, one that can help your body function more efficiently, it is imperative for you to know the truth behind these claims. Oxygen therapy can have a positive effect on your health, but only if used correctly and to treat certain ailments.
What Is It?
Oxygen therapy is a medical treatment that provides your body with extra oxygen. There are several different ways in which this treatment is prescribed. Commonly, the element is breathed in from a metal cylinder through a tube. Depending upon the medical condition of the individual being treated, the oxygen will be inhaled through a mask, a nasal cannula (plastic tubes inserted into the nostrils), or a tracheostomy (a breathing tube placed within a surgically inserted hole in the neck).
Sometimes individuals are treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. During this process, they are placed in a pressurized chamber and breathe pure oxygen. The pressure allows the oxygen to infiltrate all of the tissues of the body. This encourages healing after serious wounds or severe infections. Other applications of oxygen therapy include treatment with ozone and hydrogen peroxide.
Oxygen, as it is sold for such treatments, is considered to be a medication. For this reason, you must have a prescription to obtain it.
What Diseases May Oxygen Treat?
The presence of high levels of oxygen often leads to the inability of bacteria, viruses, germs, and other harmful substances to survive. For this reason, oxygen therapy has been incorporated into treatment plans for a variety of ailments. Some of these include:
- Cancer: Nobel Prize winner Dr. Otto Warburg discovered that cancerous cells cannot grow in oxygen-rich environments.
- Respiratory diseases: Ailments of the lungs are often treated by oxygen therapy.
- Heart problems: Increased oxygen can prevent spasms of the heart muscles.
- Bacterial issues: E. coli and other dangerous bacterial issues can be treated with oxygen therapy.
- Viral diseases: The potential of oxygen therapy in this regard is large, as AIDS, the flu, hepatitis, and other serious illnesses are caused by viruses.
- Fungal infections: Candida albicans, a common parasitic fungus, has been successfully treated with ozone and hydrogen peroxide.
- Parasites: Malaria, among other diseases, can be treated with oxygen therapy.
It is a healthcare treatment that holds a great deal of potential. With further study, it may prove to be an important component in the treatment of more of the world's most dangerous diseases.
With these fundamental principles behind this kind of therapy have come many liquid supplements that can chemically create oxygen within the body. The above methods described are powerful but what can be more powerful than getting this element right into the cells?
These type of supplements have been created to do just that. Unlike just breathing oxygen or even hydrogen peroxide therapy, these are designed to create this life sustaining mineral directly in the cells, tissues, and blood. There are many like AFA Blue Green Algae, NutriO2, OxyDHQ, Life Support and a few others.


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For a vegetarian version of this soup, substitute Homemade Vegetable Stock for the chicken stock.
Place beans in a large bowl, and cover with water. Let soak overnight, and drain.
Cut a 7-inch square of cheesecloth. Place 1 rosemary sprig at one end, and roll, enclosing sprig; secure with kitchen twine. Place beans, wrapped rosemary, onion, and 6 cups water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to a simmer, and cook until beans are just tender, about 25 minutes. Drain beans in a colander. Discard onion and rosemary; set beans aside.
Heat oven to 425 degrees. Wrap garlic in aluminum foil. Cook until soft, about 40 minutes. Remove garlic from oven, and allow to cool. Slice garlic in half crosswise, and squeeze, removing cloves; set cloves aside.
Bring a large stockpot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add tubetti, and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a colander, drain, and set aside.
Place a 6-quart low-sided saucepan over medium heat. Add olive oil; heat until oil is hot but not smoking. Add leeks, remaining sprig rosemary, and roasted garlic cloves. Cook until leeks become translucent. Add sweet potato; cook, stirring until the potato pieces just begin to soften, about 8 minutes.
Add kale; cook until kale begins to wilt, about 4 minutes. Add stock; cook until potato pieces are tender, about 10 minutes. Add reserved beans, pasta, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper. Cook until heated through, about 5 minutes. Divide among six plates; serve.


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Scholars of constitutional law and civil rights will be interested in a new release from Oxford University Press. It is Civil Rights in the Shadow of Slavery: The Constitution, Common Law, and the Civil Rights Act of 1866 by George Rutherglen (UVA Law). This short book (it comes in at only 224 pages) packs a powerful punch. It is an incredibly useful primer on the relationship between the 1866 Act and the Reconstruction Amendments; the book's arguments turn on both historical and legal analysis. OUP's description of Civil Rights in the Shadow of Slavery and its table of contents follow.
The 1866 Civil Rights Act is one of the most monumental pieces of legislation in American history, figuring into almost every subsequent piece of legislation dealing with civil rights for the next century. While numerous scholars have looked at it in the larger social and political context of Reconstruction and its relationship with the Fourteenth Amendment, this will be the first book that focuses on its central role in the long history of civil rights. As George Rutherglen argues, the Act has structured debates and controversies about civil rights up to the present. The history of the Act itself speaks to the fundamental issues that continue to surround civil rights law: the contested meaning of racial equality; the distinction between public and private action; the division of power between the states and the federal government; and the role of the Supreme Court and Congress in implementing constitutional principles. Slavery, Freedom, and Civil Rights shows that the Act was not just an archetypal piece of Radical Republican legislation or merely a precursor to the Fourteenth Amendment. While its enactment led directly to passage of the amendment, their simultaneous existence going forward initiated a longstanding debate over the relationship between the two, and by proxy the Courts and Congress. How extensive was the Act's reach in relation to the Amendment? Could it regulate private discrimination? Supersede state law? What power did it endow to Congress, as opposed to the Courts? The debate spawned an important body of judicial doctrine dealing with almost all of the major issues in civil rights, and this book positions both the Act and its legacy in a broad historical canvas.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: The Birth of Civil Rights: The Circumstances, Acts, and Legacy of the 39th Congress
Chapter 2: Citizenship, Slavery, and the Constitutional Origins of the Act
Chapter 3: Reconceiving Civil Rights: The Passage and Structure of the Act
Chapter 4: The High Tide of Reconstruction: The Fourteenth Amendment and Later Legislation
Chapter 5: Restrictive Interpretations and the End of Reconstruction
Chapter 6: The Verdict of Quiescent Years: Aliens, Property, and State Action
Chapter 7: Resurrecting Civil Rights: Reading an Old Act for a New Era
Chapter 8: Reaffirming the Revived Act: Extension, Reconsideration, and Recodification
Chapter 9: Discerning the Future from the Past: The Contemporary Significance of the Act


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This week's award for the Most Astutely Selected Software Bundle goes to BT after the teleco tried to hook potential purchasers of Asus' Linux-running Eee PC 900 by offering to ship it with a copy of Microsoft Office.
BT is offering the 20GB 900 for £335.99, but if anyone out there is willing to buy it for £422.34, the telco will include a copy of Office Home and Student in the box.
This despite the fact that, just a little way further down the page, BT's list of Eee specifications admits that the elfin laptop is not "Office ready".
And BT's generosity is as extensive as its ability to select software suitable for the miniature machine. Buying the bundle saves each punter a whopping £1.76 on the cost of purchasing the two products separately - which of course Linux Eee buyers are queueing up to do.
BT hasn't got any Eee PC 900s to sell at the moment - they're due in 1-2 weeks, the site says - so there's time for the telco to replace the bundle offer with one more relevant - not to say more compatible - with the operating system the little laptop actually comes with.
iWork, perhaps?
Asus Eee PC and friend: back by popular demand
To be fair, Asus is planning to offer a version of the 900 that will be Office ready - it'll come with Windows XP pre-installed - but it's a separate model with only 12GB of storage capacity and a very different product code.
Thanks to reader Martin for the tip
Related Review
Asus Eee PC 900 Linux Edition
Sponsored: Ransomware has gone nuclear


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Window coverings are divided into two major categories: internal and external. Internal window coverings include drapes, shutters, and blinds. They are installed on the inside of the house, and are thus protected from all external weather and atmospheric elements. On the other hand, external coverings, such as awnings and outdoor shutters and blinds, are made from stronger materials and are designed to withstand the harsh effects of the weather. Previously, external window coverings were mainly used in shops and cafes. However, due to the variety of different styles and designs that are presently available, they have also been adapted to the homeowners' market.
Currently, outdoor blinds and awnings are available in several different shades and fabric designs. However, if you go to any local shop without information, you might be confused by all the things that the salesperson might say. The following guide will help you decide the best type of awning or blind for your house.
Outdoor awnings and blinds can be fitted in a number of different fabrics. As well as the conventional canvas, you can also choose from PVC, acrylic, or other materials. Different fabrics offer a variety of different benefits. For instance, PVC is long-lasting and doesn't get damaged due to the harsh rays of the sun.
You need to be careful when deciding on the material. Once you have chosen the fabric, you can decide whether you want a semi-coloured or a semi-transparent design on top. There is really no shortage of options available when it comes to selecting the right fabric. Choose a colour that contrasts with the external wall paint so that it looks good when you draw down the shade. The harsh Australian sun can destroy many cheaper fabrics, so it's important that you choose an awning made from high-quality materials.
Types of Awnings
There are several different kinds of outdoor awnings and blinds that you can choose from. For instance, folding arm awnings are best suited to smaller spaces. If you live in a small house or in a crowded neighbourhood, folding arm awnings are a great choice. However, many people also prefer drop arm awnings since they are much easier to maintain and look a bit more stylish.
Pricing is a major concern for homeowners when it comes to choosing an outdoor awning or blind. Cheaper awnings are made from low-quality fabric and won't last under the harsh rays of the Australian sun. If you want a custom-fitted awning, you will need to contact the company beforehand. They will send over an employee to take measurements of the window and create a custom awning. Obviously, custom fittings cost a bit more. The company will also charge a small fee for the installation. Awnings and blinds are very easy to maintain. You can just take down the fabric at least once a year and wash it thoroughly. A little bit of lubricant might be required on the winder to keep it running smoothly.Tags: Awnings Installed


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Is your client looking to reduce taxable income while potentially creating a substantial nest egg to pay for health care costs during retirement? In today's uncertain tax environment, health savings accounts (HSAs) can be as important as an actual retirement account to your client's financial security and even more beneficial from a tax perspective. Unlike a retirement account, HSAs allow your clients to set aside tax-deductible dollars today to provide funds for health-related expenses, and even simple cash flow, during retirement without increasing their future taxable income.
The Basics: How HSAs Work
HSAs are tax-deferred investment accounts earmarked specifically for health-related costs. Anyone with a qualified high-deductible health insurance plan is eligible to establish an account, and anyone can pay into the account once established (including employers and other family members).
Funds from HSAs must be used to pay for qualified medical expenses not covered by the holder's health insurance plan, but the range of qualified expenses is very broad and includes commonly excluded dental and vision expenses and alternative treatments, such as chiropractic care and acupuncture. Your clients can use HSAs to pay for everything from household medical supplies, such as aspirin and bandages, to the costs of long-term care insurance.
Importantly, unlike other flexible spending accounts, the funds deposited into HSAs do not expire at the end of each year, generating a tremendous potential for growth.
Double Tax Benefits
After the account is established, the client (or the client's employer) can deposit pre-tax dollars into it, reducing taxable income. Any employer contributions to an HSA are tax deductible.
Once the funds are in the account, they grow tax-deferred in the same way as a traditional retirement account, such as a 401(k) or IRA. Unlike the traditional retirement plan, however, funds are not taxed when they are withdrawn to pay for qualified medical expenses.
As noted, HSA funds are rolled over from year to year, allowing your clients to accumulate a substantial amount. Because the principal and interest in the account grow tax-free, this presents an opportunity for younger taxpayers to create a significant nest egg for future health expenses.
It is important to remember that distributions from HSAs must be used to fund qualified medical expenses to take advantage of the double tax benefit. If your client uses the money for nonqualified expenses, a 20% penalty tax applies. Despite this, the penalty is eliminated if your client has reached age 65.
IRS Limitations
The IRS has established limits on the use of HSAs and allows HSAs to be used only with certain health plans. HSAs are geared toward plans with higher deductibles; to qualify, the plan must have a deductible of between $1,200 and $6,050 for an individual plan ($2,400 and $12,100 for family plans). These higher deductible plans cost less to begin with, because they cover less, which is where HSAs become important.
Further, contributions are limited. The contribution limits are adjusted annually: in 2012, an individual is entitled to contribute up to $3,100 ($6,250 for a family) under a high-deductible health plan.
An HSA is a powerful savings tool for clients looking to build reserves against potential future health expenses, while reducing taxable income in the process. Aside from this, HSAs allow your younger clients, who choose high-deductible plans because of the lower costs, to pay for the inevitable health expenses not covered by their plans with funds that are never taxed.
For more tax tips, see AdvisorOne's Special Report, 22 Days of Tax Planning Advice for 2012.
For additional coverage of this issue and similar ones, we invite you to sign up with AdvisorOne's Summit Business Media partner, AdvisorFX, for a free trial.
You may also be interested in signing up for a free trial with another Summit Business Media partner, Tax Facts Online.


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/ Thursday, March 15, 2012 / 9 Comments / Appetizers and Snacks , Dessert
Blueberry Crumble
This Blueberry Crumble is definitely one of my favorite winter desserts. I've used frozen blueberries here, but, opt for fresh berries if available. The topping is crumbly with a nice crunchy texture from the oats. Do try this rustic dessert and enjoy with your favorite cuppa, ice cream, or custard.
Blueberry Crumble
1 ½ Cups Frozen Blueberries
½ Cup Dried Blueberries
½ tsp Ground Cinnamon
3 Tbsp Sugar
2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
¼ tsp Sea Salt
1 ½ Tbsp Corn Starch
1 Tbsp Filtered Water
½ Cup All-Purpose Flour
½ Cup Rolled Oats
1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
¼ Cup Light Brown Sugar
2 Tbsp Granulated Sugar
A pinch of Sea Salt
1 Stick or ½ Cup Chilled Unsalted Butter, diced
Preheat the oven to 375˚F. In a mixing bowl, combine blueberries, cinnamon, sugar, and lemon juice, sea salt, cornstarch, water, and mix well. Transfer the blueberry mixtures shallow baking dish or divided into a few smaller baking dish.
In a clean mixing bowl, combine the flour, oats, cinnamon, sugars, and sea salt and mix well. Add the chilled butter and rub into the flour mixtures until resembles coarse breadcrumbs or process the mixture in a food processor. Sprinkle the flour mixtures on top of the blueberries. Bake in the oven for about 25 to 30 minutes or until the topping is golden brown in color.
9 comments:
Oh yum! I have a bunch of blueberries in the freezer from last summer and I am going to use them to bake this up this weekend!ReplyDelete
This looks divine! Bring on the summer berries!!ReplyDelete
that is so yummy!ReplyDelete
delizioso... complimenti!ReplyDelete
crumble never fails to perk me up (or maybe its the ice cream that goes along with it) - love the fact that you used frozen because that's all that is available here now!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousMarch 15, 2012 at 7:45 PM
I will definitely go with custard. Warm custard. I literally "aww"ed when i saw your picture!ReplyDelete
I'm a big fan of rustic, fruit-based desserts like this! Looks great.ReplyDelete
Blueberries are my favourite... just looking at this image is making my mouth water. WONDERFUL dish of comfort... and did someone say custard... faint!ReplyDelete
This looks soo good! I'll try it with greek yogurt on top!ReplyDelete


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Our tipster Steven works for a ticket company out of Chicago, and wrote in to tell us that he'd had beloved Cubs fan Ronnie "Woo Woo" Wickers in the office today. He even attached a photo: "Woo_Woo_Office_Visit.jpg." Ronnie was wearing his Cubs uniform, which is no surprise; what is is that one of the most dedicated Cubs fans in the Windy City, and certainly the most spirited, was there to inquire about tickets for the Paul McCartney show at Wrigley Field.
"I guess Ronnie has given up on the Cubs this year too," Steven wrote. "He has moved on to the rumored Paul McCartney at Wrigley show."
Woo Woo is saving some of his woos for an aging British rockstar. Sound that trusty distress signal.
Thank you for your continued support of Deadspin. Dickey will join you for the hoops.


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Originally published 11 March 2010
A large property management company with properties around the world, maintains investor and financial relationships to facilitate complex and challenging development projects. Their portfolio includes over 1,000 properties including skyscrapers, corporate headquarters, mixed-use centers, industrial parks, medical facilities, and master-planned resort and residential communities. As the organization prepared to move into the highly regulated Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) market, the need for accurate, reliable data for tracking, compliance and reporting purposes was a priority. Much of its REIT-related operation relies on third-party applications and data, including transfer agent transactions and reporting. Pervasive Data Integrator manages this task for the company, providing robust, bi-directional data movement between the organizations transfer agent, on-premises accounting application, and hosted Salesforce CRM system. Besides helping meet tracking and reporting needs, Pervasive Data Integrator serves the company in other areas too.
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As I put each round sheet onto the griddle to cook, I wonder if my grandmothers were fascinated by the characteristic brown splotches created in such a haphazard pattern. My guess is, if I were able to ask them, they'd look at me like I was crazy. Making lefse, to them, was probably in the same category as doing laundry or sweeping the floor.
I wonder how they served their lefse – if it was a part of their evening meals, as we use bread; or if they enjoyed it for breakfast, as I often do, or how they prepared it. Plain? Brown sugar? Butter and cinnamon-sugar?
Whether I'm making lefse or eating it, it's the one time that I feel very close to the Norwegian women who have come before me. No amount of genealogical research compares to doing what they did, and having made it a part of my family's lives. It's as if my grandmothers, Agnes, Lise, Anne Johanne, Marie, and Alfhilde, are somehow there with me as I do the work and savor the product. A little part of them lives on.
Lori, of Genealogy and Me, wrote a great post this week about interviewing the old folks – I'd like to take it a step further, and suggest you learn the customs and family traditions as well. If not for my grandmother, Lisa, who took the initiative to talk about these things, even when I was too young to really appreciate it, and my Aunt Mary, who taught me to make some of the treats she enjoyed as a child, these traditions would be nothing more than a vague memory for me, and non-existent to my children. This Mother's Day, let's be the women who pass down our traditions.


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According to Jessica Rusnak and TSN 690 in Montreal, the Canadiens have signed Daniel Briere to a 2 year, $8 million contract.
Renaud Lavoie @RenLavoieRDS 2m
Source just told me, Canadiens will announce that Daniel Brière has made his choice and its Montreal. #RDS
I firmly believe Alfredsson is leaving Ottawa. I believe Sens are aware of this. I also believe Detroit is the frontrunner. #TSN
Multiple sources suggesting Daniel Alfredsson not likely to return OTT. DET appears to be frontrunner. Stay tuned to see where this one goes
brwi wrote:Certainly does appear that Alfie is done in OTT:
http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2013/7/5/44 ... -red-wings
wonder how much overpayment he'll get on the UFA market? Boston unloaded a bunch of cap hit this week(and centers) so I'm thinking they definitely go after him aggressively.
Lt. Dish wrote:It's noon....release the hounds!
canaan wrote:A lot of minor transactions updated.
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Dear Kirsten Dunst,
I loved your work in the film 'Melancholia,' which I just got around to seeing last week. While your acting was quite amazing, the thing that struck me most about the film was its opening sequence. The first eight minutes of the film are so beautiful and enthralling they could stand alone as a short film.
The imagery in these opening scenes will probably seem familiar to anyone who has seen the work of Gregory Crewdson, a photographer who specializes in dramatically lit, color-rich, surreal images. I didn't really make the connection until a friend of mine (who has an incredible memory for artists' names, which I totally don't) mentioned how evocative the cinematography was of the photographer's work. To my knowledge, Crewdson was not actually involved in the making of this film. However, his influence is quite evident in the work of cinematographer Manuel Alberto Claro. You can see the aesthetic connection below in this collection of some of my favorite Crewdson photographs.
I've always loved Crewdson's images so it was exciting when the film (and my artist dictionary friend) reminded me of their existence. A fun fact about myself is that I spent four years of my life studying photography in college. Whenever I see things like 'Melancholia,' I'm inspired to make photographs again. Someday…