Author: Serkadis

  • Confirmed: Apple Tablet runs iPhone OS says McGraw-Hill CEO

    Okay, we all know by now that is going to be announcing their tablet at tomorrow’s January 27th Apple event, but the CEO of McGraw-Hill, Terry McGraw, just kinda spilled the beans on CNBC:

    “Yeah, Very exciting. Yes, they’ll make their announcement tomorrow on this one. We have worked with Apple for quite a while. And the Tablet is going to be based on the iPhone operating system and so it will be transferable. So what you are going to be able to do now is we have a consortium of e-books. And we have 95% of all our materials that are in e-book format on that one. So now with the tablet you’re going to open up the higher education market, the professional market. The tablet is going to be just really terrific.”

    Is true, that means no tablet, to those who were hoping for that. Thoughts?


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    Confirmed: Apple Tablet runs iPhone OS says McGraw-Hill CEO originally appeared on Gear Live on Tue, January 26, 2010 – 2:32:09


  • ‘Bling ring’ lawyer indicted for allegedly bribing witness in another case

    A Sherman Oaks attorney who represents a key suspect in the "bling ring" celebrity burglary case has been indicted in a separate case for dissuading and bribing a witness, officials said today.

    Sean G. Erenstoft, 42, pleaded not guilty this morning after the indictment was unsealed. Prosecutors allege the attorney, while representing a defendant in a stalking case, filed a civil case against the victim to dissuade her from testifying against the defendant at his preliminary hearing.

    Prosecutors in the grand jury indictment also allege that Erenstoft later offered to drop the civil case in exchange for favorable testimony at his client’s sentencing.

    Deputy L.A. County Dist. Atty. Paul Nunez of the justice system integrity division said the indictment charges Erenstoft with one count each of dissuading a witness, bribery of a witness and offering to bribe a witness.

    Erenstoft was released on $100,000 bail. He is due back in court March 16 for a pretrial hearing.

    Erenstoft represents Nicholas Prugo, 18, of Calabasas, who is charged with eight burglaries of celebrities’ homes, including Paris HIlton’s and Rachel Bilson’s.

    — Richard Winton

  • Cheryl Burke & Boyfriend Maxwell Zagorski Call It Quits

    Dancing with the Stars pro Cheryl Burke has split with her model boyfriend, Maxwell Zagorski. Insiders tell PEOPLE the couple decided to call it quits because they could no longer handle being in a long distance relationship.

    “This distance was so hard on the relationship. She lives in L.A. and he lives in New York. After a while it was just really hard for them to get together.”

    Burke, 25, and Zagorski, 22, began dating last winter after being introduced by singer Lance Bass, who was partnered with Cheryl’s castmate Lacey on Season 6 7 of ABC’s reality ballroom competition. Cheryl is expected to return to the small screen when Dancing with the Stars begins its 10th season in March.


  • DOD Contracts Over $5 Million—January 20, 2010 Through January 26, 2010

    dodNo. 043-10  January 20, 2010

    AIR FORCE

    Lockheed Martin Corp., of Orlando, Fla., was awarded a $245,000,000 contract, which will provide for lot 8 production contract for approximately 160 missiles comprised of both baseline and extended range missiles to support the Air Force and Foreign Military Sales customers.  308 ARSG/PK is the contracting activity (FA8682-10-C-0016).

    The Boeing Co., was awarded a $6, 449,135 contract which will incorporate AN/AAR-47AV(2) (Missile Warning System) changes to the C-130 Avionic Modernization Program. At this time the entire amount has been obligated. 656 AESS, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio is the contracting activity (F33657-01-C-0047, P00173).

    NAVY

    Milkor USA, Inc., Tucson, Ariz., is being awarded a $42,200,000 indefinite-delivery-indefinite-quantity contract for the production, delivery, and associated support of the Marine Corps’ Multi-Shot Grenade Launcher (MSGL).  The MSGL is a lightweight, shoulder fired grenade launcher capable of being carried and employed by one operator over rough terrain or in urban environments. It was specifically designed to meet the requirement for an area fire weapon with a high rate of fire and a maximum range of 400m. It can also be employed with greater accuracy at ranges up to 150m. All elements of the system are suitable for transportation by land, sea, and air. The weapons system is not a replacement for the 1960s era M203 grenade launcher. Rather, the MSGL will be an additive capability to the receiving units. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz., and work is expected to be completed Jan. 19, 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured, with three offers received. The Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-10-D-1038).

    Optics 1 Inc., Manchester, N.H., is being awarded a $37,836,616 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite/quantity contract for a minimum of 10 each, maximum of 6600 each, Clip on Thermal Imager (COTI) systems, non-warranty repairs, spares and associated data. The COTI clips onto the AN/PVS-15A (night vision goggle) to give our special operation forces an optically fused device providing a thermal image into either the right or left side of the PVS-15A goggle. Work will be performed in Manchester, N.H., and is expected to be completed by January 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via federal business opportunities, with two offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Ind., is the contracting activity (N00164-10-D-JQ48).

    Forward Slope Inc., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded an $18,018,847 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for command and control (C2) technologies, capabilities, and C2-related capabilities in the areas of research, systems engineering, architecture, design, development, integration, test, experimentation, and implementation. Work will support C2 Net-Centric Operations, information management and decision support operations dealing with Joint, Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force efforts and their interfacing with civil and non-Government components and capabilities. This contract is one of three contracts awarded: all awardees will compete for task orders during the ordering period. This five-year contract does not include any options. Work will be performed at government and contractor sites in the San Diego area, and work is expected to be Jan. 19, 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website and posting to the SPAWAR e-Commerce Central website, with three offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SSC Pacific) is the contracting activity (N66001-10-D-0014).

    G2 Software Systems Inc., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $16,551,496 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for command and control (C2) technologies, capabilities, and C2-related capabilities in the areas of research, systems engineering, architecture, design, development, integration, test, experimentation, and implementation. Work will support C2 Net-Centric Operations, information management and decision support operations dealing with Joint, Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force efforts and their interfacing with civil and non-Government components and capabilities. This contract is one of three contracts awarded: all awardees will compete for task orders during the ordering period.  This five-year contract does not include any options.  Work will be performed at government and contractor sites in the San Diego area.  The period of performance of the contract is from Jan. 20, 2010 through Jan. 19, 2015.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was competitively procured via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website and posting to the SPAWAR e-Commerce Central website, with three offers received.  The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SSC Pacific) is the contracting activity (N66001-10-D-0015).

    Techflow Inc., San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a $16,366,410 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for command and control (C2) technologies, capabilities, and C2-related capabilities in the areas of research, systems engineering, architecture, design, development, integration, test, experimentation, and implementation.  Work will support C2 Net-Centric Operations, information management and decision support operations dealing with Joint, Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force efforts and their interfacing with civil and non-Government components and capabilities.  This contract is one of three contracts awarded: all awardees will compete for task orders during the ordering period.  This five-year contract does not include any options.  Work will be performed at government and contractor sites in the San Diego area.  The period of performance of the contract is from Jan. 20, 2010 through Jan. 19, 2015.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was competitively procured via publication on the Federal Business Opportunities website and posting to the SPAWAR e-Commerce Central website, with three offers received.  The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific (SSC Pacific) is the contracting activity (N66001-10-D-0016).

    Db Control*, Fremont, Calif., is being awarded a $13,184,508 firm-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery-indefinite-quantity contract for the procurement of up to 300 500 watt and 2 watt amplifiers, including one lot of engineering, technical and repair support services. The amplifiers are integrated with other countermeasures modules to complete required system configurations for airborne threats. The amplifiers are installed in systems that are used to evaluate U.S. weapons systems and train fleet operators. These systems are used throughout a weapons systems life cycle, from rack units to use in laboratories and hardware in the loop facilities during development, to airborne pods for use on manned aircraft, or ground based applications, and for testing and fleet training. Work will be performed in Fremont, Calif., and is expected to be completed in January 2015. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via an electronic request for proposals as a 100 percent small business set aside; two offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, Calif., is the contracting activity (N68936-10-D-0010).

    Juno Technologies,* Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., is being awarded a $10,048,864 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (N65236-09-D-5822) for Integrated Shipboard Network Systems and Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System support services. The contract includes four one-year options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the contract to $30,245,402. Work will be performed in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., and is expected to be completed by March 2010. If all options are exercised, work could continue until March 2014. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively awarded. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic, Charleston, S.C., is the contracting activity.

    Merkel & Associates, Inc.*, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded a maximum $10,000,000 firm-fixed price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity services contract for marine habitat services in the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest area of responsibility (AOR). The work to be performed provides for eelgrass surveying, mapping, transplanting, and monitoring; aerial photography; general in-water survey and mapping; and exotic marine vegetation and alga surveys for NAVFAC Southwest and its customer commands. Work will be performed at various Navy and Marine Corps facilities and other government facilities within the NAVFAC Southwest AOR including, but not limited to, Calif. (85 percent), Hawaii (5 percent), Wash. (5 percent), Alaska (2 percent), Guam, (2 percent), and Ore. (1 percent). The contract is expected to be completed by January 2015. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website, with two proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southwest, San Diego, Calif., is the contracting activity (N62473-10-D-0805).

    DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

    Union Distributing Co., of Tucson, Phoenix, Ariz.*, is being awarded a minimum $11,145,763 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract regular unleaded gasohol. Other locations of performance are throughout Arizona.   Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Federal Civilian Agencies. The original proposal was Web solicited with 48 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is September 30, 2012. The contracting activity is the Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va., (SP0600-10-D-4521).

    Patten Energy, Phoenix, Ariz.**, is being awarded a minimum $5,463,128 fixed price with economic price adjustment, total set aside contract for regular unleaded gasoline and ultra low sulfur diesel fuel. Other locations of performance are throughout California. Using services are Federal civilian agencies. The original proposal was Web solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Aug. 31, 2012. The contracting activity is the Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va., (SP0600-10-D-4518).

    *Small Business

    **Small Disadvantaged Business

    No. 052-10  January 21, 2010

    MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY

    The Missile Defense Agency is pleased to announce the award of advisory and assistance services contracts to three small business concerns: a.i. solutions, Inc., Launch Services Division, Lanham, Md. (HQ0147-10-D-0027); A-P-T Research, Inc., Huntsville, Ala. (HQ0147-10-D-0028); and Bastion Technologies, Houston, Texas (HQ0147-10-D-0029), are each being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to provide advisory and assistance services to the Quality, Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate, Missile Defense Agency. The contractors will assist the Quality, Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate in assessing the engineering, technology, production and programmatic practices/processes used to develop and operate the Ballistic Missile Defense System. These contracts are being competitively awarded under the small business set aside request for proposal HQ0147-09-R-0001. This procurement is managed by the Missile Defense Agency engineering and support services program office. This program office is responsible for centrally managing the acquisition of advisory and assistance services for the agency. Each contract has a not to exceed ordering ceiling of $209,600,000. The companies will have the opportunity to bid on each individual task order. Work under these contracts will be performed in Huntsville, Ala., and other Missile Defense Agency locations. The performance period is through December 2014. Obligations will be made by task orders using research, development, test and evaluation funds.

    NAVY

    General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp., Groton, Conn., is being awarded an $118,161,229 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-09-C-2100) to exercise options for continued engineering, technical services, concept studies and design of a common missile compartment for the United Kingdom Successor SSBN and the Ohio Replacement SSBN. This contract action exercises an existing option that provides for continuation of common missile compartment design, common missile compartment concept studies, ship concept studies, engineering, and technical services, and whole ship integration engineering and concept studies to determine key ship attributes that impact common missile compartment design. Additionally, this contract action will support completion of studies and design work including completion of a preliminary design review, a missile tube critical design review, and a missile module critical design review. Work will be performed in Groton, Conn. (89 percent); Newport News, Va. (7 percent); Quonset, R.I. (3 percent); and Newport, R.I. (1 percent), and is expected to be completed by December 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

    Sikorsky Support Services, Inc., Pensacola, Fla., is being awarded a $7,035,212 modification to a previously awarded indefinite-delivery requirements contract (N00019-06-D-0017) to provide aircraft maintenance and logistics support for the T-34C, as well as manage the aircraft’s service life extension and service life maintenance management programs.  Additionally, the contractor will provide all required support to enter T-6 aircraft flight data into the Training Information Management System and Organizational Optimized Maintenance Activity software systems. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Corpus Christi, Texas (50 percent), and NAS Whiting Field, Fla. (50 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

    Intelagard, Inc., Broomfield, Colo., is being awarded a $7,000,600 firm-fixed-priced contract to procure man-portable backpacks which will be used for fire suppression and extraction from wheeled vehicles. Work will be performed in Broomfield, Colo., and is expected to be completed April 8, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract award was a sole-source procurement. Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va., is the contracting activity (M67854-10-C-5047).

    AIR FORCE

    CymSTAR LLC, Broken Arrow, Okla., was awarded a $6,101,030 contract which will provide boom operator weapons system trainers for Air Mobility Command, KC-135 aircrew training systems. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 558 ACSG/PK, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8223-10-C-0002).

    DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

    Sopakco, Inc., Mullins, S.C.*, is being awarded a maximum $14,333,760 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-quantity contract for first strike ration. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. There were originally 38 proposals solicited with three responses. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Aug. 31, 2010. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM3S1-08-D-Z101).

    Carter Enterprises, LLC, Brooklyn, N.Y.*, is being awarded a maximum $9,180,000 firm-fixed-price, total set-aside contract for mechanic’s coveralls. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy and Air Force. There were originally four proposals solicited with four responses. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Oct. 5, 2010. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM1C1-10-C-0009).

    *Small business

    No. 057-10  January 22, 2010

    AIR FORCE

    Boeing Co., Seattle, Wash., was awarded a $323,945,933 contract which will provide the French airborne warning and control system mid-life upgrade. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 551 IA/PKA, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the contracting activity (F19628-01-D-0016/DO 0067).

    Vinnell Brown and Root, LLC, Herndon, Va., was awarded a $37,535,776 contract which will provide consolidated base operations and maintenance contract for base facilities located in Turkey and Spain. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 700 CONS, APO, AE, is the contracting activity (FA5613-10-C-5400).

    Raytheon Co., McKinney, Texas, was awarded a $27,537,127 contract which will provide 17 Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems Model B production units. At this time, $4,444,490 has been obligated. 703’d ASG, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-06-G-4041).

    Lockheed Martin Corp., Marietta, Ga., was awarded a $16,712,105 contract which will provide full complete funding of the non-recurring effort for delivery of an engineering change proposal for the replacement of the C-130J Star VII mission computer. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 657 AESS, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8625-06-C-6456).

    NAVY

    Wright’s Engineering and Design, Portsmouth, Va.* (N50054-10-D-1007); LPI Technical Services, Chesapeake, Va.* (N50054-10-D-1008); and Virtual Technology Services, LLC, Midwest City, Okla.* (N50054-10-D-1009), are each being awarded a combined maximum value $24,330,000 time-and-material, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity multiple award contract to furnish the necessary firewatch in support of work performed by Norfolk Naval Shipyard on-board various Navy vessels. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Va., and is expected to be completed by January 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $153,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online Web site with six offers received. These three contractors may compete for task orders under the terms and conditions of the awarded contract. The Norfolk Ship Support Activity, formerly the Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center, Portsmouth, Va., is the contracting activity.

    DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

    Lockheed Martin Systems Integration, Owego, N.Y., is being awarded a maximum $15,899,702 firm-fixed-price, sole-source, undefinitized contract for audio management computer and inertial navigation units. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Navy. There was originally one proposal solicited with one response. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is March 2013. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPRPA1-09-G-002Y-5003).

    Agland, Inc., Lucerne, Colo.*, is being awarded a minimum $14,726,369 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for fuels. Other locations of performance are New Mexico, Oklahoma and Colorado. Using services are Army, Air Force and federal civilian agencies. There were originally 48 proposals solicited with 25 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is June 30, 2012. The Defense Energy Support Center, Fort Belvoir, Va., is the contracting activity (SP0600-09-D-4526).

    Grove U.S., LLC, Shady Grove, Pa., is being awarded a maximum $6,355,346 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for material handling cranes. There are no other locations of performance. Using service is Army. There were originally seven proposals solicited with one response. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is Sept. 30, 2010. The Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., is the contracting activity (SPM500-01-D-0101-0052).

    *Small business

    No. 065-10 January 25, 2010

    AIR FORCE

    Aerospace Testing Alliance, Tullahoma, Tenn., was awarded an $86,697,018 contract which will provide for the operation, maintenance, information management and support of the Arnold Engineering Development Center for fiscal year 2010. At this time, no money has been obligated. AEDC/PK, Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn., is the contracting activity (F40600-03-C-0001,P00192).

    NAVY

    Patriot Contract Services, LLC, Walnut Creek, Calif., is being awarded a $13,665,935 firm-fixed-price contract for the operation and maintenance of four government-owned large, medium-speed roll-on/roll-off ships, also called LMSRs. Two of the ships are Gordon-class, $6,823,958 for one year, and two of the ships are Shughart-class, $6,841,977 for one year. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $111,130,732; $55,519,108 for the Gordon-class and $55,611,624 for the Shughart-class. The contract includes four one-year option periods and five six-month award term periods. Work will be performed at East Coast, Gulf Coast and West Coast ports where the ships will be primarily maintained in reduced operating status. The contract is expected to be completed in February 2011. If all option periods are exercised, the contract is expected to be completed by September 2017. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was a small business set-aside, with more than 50 companies solicited and six offers received. The solicitation was posted to the Military Sealift Command, Navy Electronic Commerce Online and Federal Business Opportunities Web sites. The Military Sealift Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00033-10-C-5301).

    Raytheon Co., Integrated Defense Systems, Tewksbury, Mass., is being awarded an $11,200,000 not-to-exceed modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-05-C-5346) for changes to software development efforts due to revised missile interface control documents and related power density implementation for the DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyer program. The purpose of this modification is to incorporate the combat system and dual band radar related software changes associated with the MICDs Rev B+ and related power density implementation changes to the current requirements of total ship computing environment software development. Work will be performed in Tewksbury, Mass., and is expected to be completed by March 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

    No. 067-10  January 26, 2010

    ARMY

    Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh, Wisc., was awarded on Jan. 20, 2010 a $258,201,196 firm-fixed-price contract to exercise the option for 90 lots authorized stockage list kits, 90 lots of prescribed load list kits, 23 each deprocessing spare kits, and 132 lots battle damage repair kits for the mine resistant ambush protected all terrain vehicle. Work is to be performed in Oshkosh, Wisc., (50 percent) and McConnellsburg, Pa., with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2012.  Five bids were solicited with five bids received.  TACOM, CCTA-ADC-A, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-09-D-0111).

    Oshkosh Corp., Oshkosh, Wisc., was awarded on Jan. 20, 2010 a $67,448,554 firm-fixed-price contract for the partial exercise the option for 2 lots authorized stockage list kits, 2 lots of prescribed load list kits, and 65 lots battle damage repair kits for the mine resistant ambush protected all terrain vehicle.  Work is to be performed in Oshkosh, Wisc., (50 percent) and McConnellsburg, Pa., with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2012.  Five bids were solicited with five bids received.  TACOM, CCTA-ADC-A, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-09-D-0111).

    BAE Systems Inc., Anniston, Ala., was awarded on Jan. 20, 2010 a $29,247,535 firm-fixed-price contract for the Centralized and National Level RESET of a total of 417 M113 Family of Vehicles.  Work is to be performed in Anniston, Ala., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2010.  One bid was solicited with one bid received.  TACOM, CCTA-AHLA, Warren, Mich., is the contracting activity (W56HZV-05-G-0005).

    Lockheed Martin Corp, Missiles and fire control, grand prairie, Texas, was awarded on  Jan.  22, 2010 a $44,875,596 firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee for PATRIOT advanced capability – 3 (PAC-3) United Arab Emirates requirement quantities are 16 launcher mod kits and 16 motor control units.  Work is to be performed in Dallas, Texas, (82.8 percent), Camden, Ark., (0.2 percent),  Lufkin, Texas,  (10.9 percent), Ocala, Fla., (6.1 percent).  One bid was solicited with one bid received.  U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-09-C-0002).

    Vetco Contracting Service, LLC., Watertown, N.Y., was awarded on Jan. 20, 2010 a $15,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract to design and construct a child development center. Work is to be performed at in Fort Belvoir, Va., with an estimated completion date of Aug. 30, 2011.  Four bids were solicited with three bids received.  U.S. Army Corps of Engineer District-Baltimore District, Baltimore, Md., is the contracting activity (W912DS-09-D-0007-DA01).

    Watterson/Davis JV., Anchorage, Ark., was awarded on Jan. 22, 2010 a $11,231,012 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of an F22A weapons loading crew training facility, Elmendorf AFB, Ark.  Work is to be performed at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Ark., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 13, 2011.  Seven bids were solicited with three bids received. U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Alaska District, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Ark., is the contracting activity (W911KB-07-D-0013).

    Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., Stratford, Conn., was awarded on Dec. 31, 2009 a $8,219,728 firm-fixed-price contract for the UH-60 (BLACKHAWK) for 22 each, transmission, mechanical, NSN:  1615-01-542-7514, part number:  70400-06641-201.  Work is to be performed in Stratford, Conn., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2011.  One bid was solicited with one bid received.  U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aviation & Missile Command Contracting Center, CCAM-AL-A,  Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (N00383-06-G-006F)

    Northstar Huffman JV, North Olmsted, Ohio, was awarded on Jan. 22, 2010 a $6,258,000 firm-fixed-price contract to remove 400,000 cubic yards of dredged material from consolidated disposal facility 10B.  Work is to be performed in Cleveland, Ohio, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 14, 2010.  Bids were solicited on the World Wide Web with 10 bids received.  U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Buffalo District, Buffalo, N.Y., is the contracting activity (W912P4-10-C-0001).

    Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co., LLC., Oak Brook, Ill., was awarded on  Jan. 22, 2010 a $6,233,200  firm-fixed-price contract for Jacksonville Harbor maintenance dredging, 40-foot project, Bar Cut 3 through Bar Cut 45,  Duval County, Fla.  Work is to be performed in Duval County, Fla., with an estimated completion date of Sept. 1, 2010.  Six bids were solicited with three bids received.  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville, Fla., is the contracting activity (W912EP-10-C-0016).

    Raytheon Co., Marlborough, Mass., was awarded on Jan. 19, 2010 a $5,912,675 firm-fixed-price contract for air traffic navigation integration and coordination system hardware, sustainment support, II spares and engineering services.  Work is to be performed in Marlborough, Mass., with an estimated completion date of Dec. 11, 2011.  One bid was solicited with one bid received.  U.S. Army Contracting Aviation and Missile Contracting Center, Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-06-C-0323).

    DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

    Metals USA, (DBA) 1-Solutions Group, Fort Washington, Pa., is being awarded a maximum $124,500,000 fixed price with economic price adjustment, prime vendor contract for customer direct meals deliveries.  Other locations of performance are throughout Pennsylvania.  Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies in the Western United States.  There were originally five proposals solicited with two responses.  This contract consists of a two year base with three one-year option periods.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The date of performance completion is January 26, 2012.  The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM8EG-09-D-0013)

    United Technologies, East Hartford, Conn., is being awarded a maximum $110,138,427 firm fixed price, indefinite quantity, sole source, corporate contract for engine lines.  There are no other locations of performance.  Using services are Navy and Air Force.  There was originally one proposal solicited with one response.  This modified contract is exercising the seventh option period.  Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The date of performance completion is Feb. 14, 2011.  The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Richmond, Richmond, Va., (SPM400-01-D-9405).

    Propper International Inc., Mayaguez, Puerto Rico is being awarded a maximum $19,461,168 firm fixed price contract for men’s and women’s airman battle uniform, coats and trousers.  Other locations of performance are throughout Puerto Rico.  Using service is Air Force.  The original proposal was Web solicited with six responses.  This contract includes a base and four one-year options and represents the third option year period.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The date of performance completion is Jan. 31, 2011.  The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM1C1-07-D-0008).

    American Apparel, Inc., Selma, Ala., is being awarded a maximum $14,046,480 firm fixed price contract for men’s and women’s airman battle uniform, coats and trousers.  Other locations of performance are in Texas and Mississippi.  Using service is Air Force.  The original proposal was Web solicited with six responses.  This contract includes a base and four one-year options and represents the third option year period.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The date of performance completion is Jan. 31, 2011.  The contracting activity is the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pa., (SPM1C1-07-D-0009).

    AIR FORCE

    CSC Applied Technologies LLC of Fort Worth, Texas was awarded a $29,513,871 contract which will provide for base operating support service at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.  At this time, $25,427,428 has been obligated.  81 CONS, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., is the contracting activity (FA3002-08-C-0001, A0024)

    NAVY

    Argon ST, Inc., Fairfax, Va., is being awarded a $23,838,548 firm-fixed-price contract for 28 Cerberus units and associated spares for deployment in support of operational forces abroad.  Cerberus is a portable, self sustaining, integrated tower developed to provide persistent ground surveillance system for perimeter defense for the Forward Operating Bases.  Work will be performed in Newington, Va., (90 percent) and Orlando, Fla., (10 percent) and is expected to be completed in December 2011.  Contract funds in the amount of $20,371,498 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.3.  The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-10-C-0110).

    Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Integrated Systems Sector, San Diego, Calif., is being awarded an $11,000,000 not-to-exceed modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N00019-07-C-0055) for autonomous aerial refueling technology maturation and demonstration activities in support of the Navy Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration.  Work will be performed in El Segundo, Calif., (60 percent) and Rancho Bernardo, Calif., (40 percent), and is expected to be completed in November 2010.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Air Systems Command Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

    Lockheed Martin, MS2 Division, Syracuse, N.Y., is being awarded an $8,817,539 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-07-C-5201) to exercise Fiscal Year 2010 options for upgrade kits for the Navy’s AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 Undersea Warfare System.  The AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 is a surface ship combat system with the capabilities to search, detect, classify, localize and track undersea contacts; and to engage and evade submarines, mine-like small objects, and torpedo threats.  Work will be performed in Lemont Furnace, Pa., (50 precent); Syracuse, N.Y., (25 percent); and Eagan, Minn., (25 percent) and is expected to be completed by September 2011.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C. is the contracting activity.

    DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY

    Intelsat General Corp., 6550 Rock Spring Drive, Suite 450, Bethesda, MD 20817-1112, was awarded a contract for the guaranteed minimum of $10 million, firm-fixed-price, Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract for the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command’s Commercial Broadband Satellite Program on Jan. 25, 2010.  The contract, with a not-to-exceed ceiling of $542.7 million, provides worldwide commercial telecommunications services to include: C, Ku, and X-band satellite resources, land earth stations, terrestrial backhauls, and bandwidth management services.  The period of performance is Jan. 26, 2010 through Jan. 25, 2015 (a one-year base with four one-year options).  Performance will be at various locations around the world.  The solicitation was issued as a full and open competitive action.  Solicitation was posted to FEDBIZOPPS.  Five offers were received.  The Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization, Scott AFB Ill., is the contracting activity.  Contracting point of contact is Karen E. Kincaid at 618-229-9451 (HC1013-10-D-2000).

  • California Adopts Mandatory Green Building Codes


    Last week, California adopted the U.S.’s first mandatory green building codes called Calgreen, which are expected to help the state reach its goal of cutting CO2 emissions by a third by 2020. According to The New York Times’ Green Inc. blog, every new building will have to “reduce water usage by 20 percent and recycle 50 percent of its construction waste instead of sending it to landfills. Commercial buildings will be required to have separate water meters for indoor and outdoor water use. Mandatory inspections of air conditioner, heat and mechanical equipment will be also be instituted for all commercial buildings over 10,000 square feet.”

    Tom Sheehy, acting secretary of the state Consumer Services Agency and chair of the California Building Standards Commission, the group that passed the rules, told The San Francisco Chronicle: “This is (something) no other state in the country has done – integrating green construction practices into the very fabric of the construction code. These are simple, cost-effective green practices. California should be proud.”

    The California Building Standards Commission unanimously approved the new rules, which also allow cities with stricter codes to keep their independent standards.

    Importantly, to offset the cost of meeting the new code, developers will not be required to get green building certification from the U.S. Green Building Council or other organizations. Still, the new codes are expected to increase the cost of building homes. As a result, new home prices are expected to rise by $1,500. 

    The U.S. Green Building Council’s Northern California chapter told The San Francisco Chronicle its group was ”concerned that parts of the new code lack the rigor of existing local regulations, possibly making it difficult for cities and counties to adopt more stringent standards.” However, state officials said it was necessary to create a “single comprehensive code, clearing up confusion over varying regulations, and it allows builders to receive green certification without paying a third party.”

    California’s Building Standards commission passsed similar rules in 2008, but now that they are mandatory, it’s expected they will remove three million metric tons of emissions from the air by 2020.

    Read the article

    Image credit: California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA. SWA Group, Sausalito, CA

  • Autoblog Podcast #163 – Paukert Re-Redux

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    Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

    Episode #163 of the Autoblog Podcast is here and Chris Paukert once again adds his insight as he’s fast becoming the fourth regular member of the crew. First up we peek into the Autoblog Garage, occupied this week by a Nissan Versa, Audi S4, and a Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid. Topics follow, with our first drive of the 2011 BMW 5 Series starting us off before we move on to Ed Whitacre’s new status as official General Motors CEO and get all misty about the uncertain fortunes of Saab (glad that’s been cleared up.) Toyota’s most recent recall for its throttle issue, the 2011 BMW 335is, and rumors of a 50th anniversary edition Ford Mustang with independent rear suspension finish us off before we take some questions and call it a night.

    Until next week, hit up Joystiq and Engadget – there’s going to be big Apple Tablet news soon! Let us know what you think of our podcast by dropping us an email at Podcast at Autoblog dot com, reviewing the show in iTunes, filling out our survey, or even leaving us a voicemail on our Google Voice line 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763). Thanks for listening!

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  • Chelsea Handler Splits From Boss Boyfriend Ted Harbert

    Chelsea Handler is discovering why business doesn’t mix with pleasure.

    E! First Lady of Late Night has called it quits with her boyfriend of nearly four years, Ted Harbert, Gawker.com reported Tuesday. Here’s where things gets dicey: As president and CEO of Comcast Entertainment, which owns E! — the parent network behind Handler’s hit show Chelsea Lately – Harbert is also Chelsea’s boss.

    How’s that for awkward?

    “The couple is no longer residing together,” an E! rep said in a statement. “Ted has nothing but the highest regard for Chelsea both personally and professionally.”

    Handler, 34, and Harbert, 55, reportedly began dating in 2006 — just after the comedienne’s E! reality-sketch series, The Chelsea Handler Show, left the air.


  • State Capital Gets $8 Million Energy Grant

    go-greenBy Susan Allen

    (Times Argus, January 22, 2010) Montpelier — Sen. Bernard Sanders announced Thursday that Montpelier will receive an $8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to bring wood-fueled heat and power from the state plant into the city’s downtown, serving City Hall and more than 150 other downtown buildings. The funds are part of $20.5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support community-based renewable energy projects, such as wood, wind and solar installations, the DOE said. There were a total of five projects selected for funds.

    In addition to Montpelier, funds were earmarked for projects in Wisconsin, Colorado and two in California.

    “Smaller, more localized renewable energy systems need to play a role in our comprehensive energy portfolio,” said Energy Secretary Steven Chu in a release issued Thursday. “These projects will help create jobs, expand our clean energy economy, and help us cut carbon pollution at the local level.”

    Work on the Montpelier project has been under way for more than a decade, with the city talking to the state about extending piping from the state’s wood-and-oil fired boiler system into the downtown to serve City Hall and downtown buildings.

    The state’s heating plant is aging, said Gwendolyn Hallsmith, director of Planning and Community Development for Montpelier. She said the initial plan – which stalled, but is now back on track – was for the city and state to work together to not only refurbish the state structure, but add the piping needed to bring the power downtown.

    In recent years, that option appeared unlikely and the city had been working independently to possibly build an energy plant – a wood-burning facility – to meet its needs.

    However, after learning of the grant option, the city, state and private firm, Veolia Energy North America, began working together to jumpstart talk of a shared energy project and create a public-private project.

    “We went back to the state and said let’s talk about us cooperating again rather than the city being on its own path,” said Hallsmith.

    She said she was thrilled to receive news of the grant on Thursday, first from City Manager William Fraser and then from Sanders.

    “Bill called and said, ‘Are you sitting down?’ He told me. Then I had a personal call from Sen. Sanders,” Hallsmith said. “I think I screamed. I was so thrilled. There were only five awarded in the country, and we got almost half. It takes your breath away.”

    Among the buildings that would be heated by the new system would be the state complex, city-owned schools, the City Hall building and up to 156 buildings in the community’s designated downtown district, for a total of 176 buildings and 1.8 million square feet served. Click here to read more…

  • Did This Robert Prechter Interview Tank The Market?

    Robert Prechter appeared on CNBC this afternoon and – gasp – he called for a market crash and a big rally in cash.

    He’s always interesting (and in particular we liked his comment about looking for buying opportunities in a few years from now), but we really doubt this interview tanked the market, as some on CNBC suggested since, well, there’s really nothing surprising here. At all.

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  • Secretary Chu Announces More Than $20.5 Million For Community Renewable Energy Deployment Projects: Will Help Promote Widespread Renewable Energy Installations And Create Jobs

    renewable-energy(DOE, January 21, 2010) Washington, DC— U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today the selection of five projects to receive more than $20.5 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support deployment of community-based renewable energy projects, such as biomass, wind and solar installations. These projects will promote investment in clean energy infrastructure that will create jobs, help communities provide long-term renewable energy and save consumers money. They will also serve as models for other local governments, campuses or small utilities to replicate, allowing other communities to design projects that fit their individual size and energy demands.

    “Smaller, more localized renewable energy systems need to play a role in our comprehensive energy portfolio,” said Secretary Chu. “These projects will help create jobs, expand our clean energy economy, and help us cut carbon pollution at the local level.”

    The selected projects will be leveraged with approximately $167 million in local government and private industry funding.  DOE estimates that these projects will provide enough clean, renewable energy to displace the emissions of approximately 10,700 homes.

    Click here for a list of projects selected for awards…

  • NE Colorado Wind Project Gets Federal Stimulus Funds

    wind(Yahoo News, January 22, 2010) Denver – A community wind-power project on Colorado’s northeastern plains will receive $2.5 million in federal stimulus funds. Phillips County wants to build a community-owned 30-megawatt project with the ultimate goal of building a 650-megawatt wind farm within Sedgwick, Phillips and Logan counties.

    The wind farm will provide power for local communities and area landowners and other participants will share the revenue. Click here to read more…

  • Department Of Energy To Invest Up To $12 Million To Support Early Stage Solar Technologies: National Renewable Energy Laboratory Launches Four Partnership Projects To Move Solar Products To Commercial Scale

    solar-energy-demand(DOE, January 20, 2010) Washington, DC – U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced that the Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will invest up to $12 million in total funding – $10 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – in four companies to support the development of early stage solar energy technologies and help them advance to full commercial scale. The goal of this effort is to help further expand a clean energy economy and make solar energy more cost-competitive with conventional forms of electricity.

    “Expanding the solar power industry in the U.S. can create new jobs, reduce carbon pollution and save consumers money,” said Secretary Chu. “By partnering with NREL, these companies will be able to gain from their expertise, accelerate the pace of innovation and help get technologies to market faster.”

    Companies awarded under DOE’s Photovoltaic Incubator Program will work with NREL to transition prototype and pre-commercial PV technologies into pilot and full-scale manufacturing. The anticipated subcontracts, up to $3 million each, will be awarded as 18-month phased subcontracts with payment made upon completion of project milestones.

    Through the Recovery Act, the DOE is investing more than $117 million in developing and deploying solar energy technologies.  While supporting cutting edge research and development on photovoltaic and concentrated solar power at the National Laboratories, the Department is also making significant investments in training solar systems installers, supporting the growth of grid-tied solar photovoltaic systems, and the use of solar energy in U.S. cities.  Click here to read more…

  • IPCC models did not predict the current global warming pause by Girma Oressengo, MASc, PhD

    Article Tags: Girma Orssengo, [email protected]

    article image

    According to IPCC 2007 WG1-AR4, until about 2025, the global warming rate is projected to be 0.2 deg C per decade as shown in the above chart.

    The actual observation for the mean global temperature trend since 1998 from the Hadley Center (hadcrut3) is a constant value of 0.4 deg C as shown in the above chart.

    As the result, the IPCC models have failed to predict the current decade-long global warming pause.

    References:
    [1] IPCC 2007 WG1-AR4
    http://climaterealists.com/index.php?id=4393
    [2] Hadley Center Global Temperature Trend Since 1998
    http://www.woodfortrees.org/plot/hadcrut3vgl/from:1998/plot/hadcrut3vgl/from:1998/trend

    Read in full with comments »   


  • You Got Gears of War in My Lost Planet 2

    Last night’s Capcom event didn’t carry a lot of surprises, but one reveal definitely caught us off-guard. The new trailer (above) shows off the familiar Gears of War characters Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago making a cameo in the Xbox 360 version of Lost Planet 2. This means you can swap your insect-fighting space marines for grub-fighting space marines, making this the most lateral cross-promotional move since The Flintstones Meet the Jetsons.

    As revealed last night, the game is due out on May 18. In the meantime, we’ll see what Capcom and Epic have to say about this unlikely partnership, and if any similar cross-game cameos are coming for the PlayStation 3 version. Enjoy the trailer.

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  • 360 Darksiders Screen Tearing Getting Patched Tomorrow

    Darksiders

    The Xbox 360 version of Darksiders will receive its awaited screen-tearing patch tomorrow, according to a post on the site’s community page. The patch will start circulating to the servers at around 2 a.m. PST Wednesday. So if you’re willing to stay up well past the witching hour to get it tonight, grab some Red Bull and prepare yourself.

    Vigil Games has been looking into the issue and promised a fix about two weeks ago. “It’s something that’s really not a difficult fix for us and so we’re going to implement a patch to resolve the problem,” said company head Joe Madureira. The PlayStation 3 version apparently hasn’t been plagued with the same issues, so this patch should give the two versions parity.

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  • Artega sold to Mexican beer baroness

    Artega GT – Click above for high-res image gallery

    Considering everything that’s gone down with the world economy in the last two years, you couldn’t pick a worse time to launch a new exotic car brand. But that’s exactly what the Paragon Parts Group did when it trotted out the Artega GT a few years back.

    Powered by a Volkswagen-sourced V6 mounted amidships and sending over 300 horsepower to the rear wheels through dual-clutch gearbox, the Henrik Fisker-designed $90,000 (estimated) coupe went on sale last year in Europe, but failed to set the world – or the motoring press – on fire.

    So when a little birdie told us last month that Klaus Frers, owner of both Paragon and Artega, was looking to sell all his interests in Artega, we weren’t entirely surprised. Fast-forward to today, and it’s official: Mexican private investor Tresalia Capital (which has held a stake in Artega since October of 2008), has taken completed control of the automaker.

    Interestingly, Tesalia Capital is one of Mexico’s leading investment firms and is headed-up by Linda Alvarado, considered the country’s most powerful woman. How powerful? She’s the granddaughter of Grupo Modelo co-founder Felix Aramburuzabala, the company responsible for your favorite Mexican brews (Corona, Modelo and Pacifica).

    According to the release after the jump, production of the Artega GT will continue, with 500 units being built each year in Delbrück, Germany, and Dieter Frers giving up control of the company to Wolfgang Ziebart, a former chairman of Infineon and ex-BMW engineer. And no, there’s no word yet on U.S. sales.

    [Source: Artega via Autoblog Espanol]

    Continue reading Artega sold to Mexican beer baroness

    Artega sold to Mexican beer baroness originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • U.S. gov’t announces texting ban for commercial truck and bus drivers

    Filed under:

    It’s official: the U.S. Department of Transportation has made it a crime for inter-state truck drivers and drivers of coaches carrying more than eight passengers to text or use handheld cell phones while driving. The penalty for being caught doing so is a fine of up to $2,750.

    The move has been planned for a while, with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood holding a summit last October to discuss the issue, and foreshadowing the texting ban for truck, coach and school bus drivers. And this won’t be the end of it, either. The message accompanying the news said, “In the months ahead, we’ll propose additional legal remedies and develop new tools that will help us… bring an end to the terrible dangers posed by distracted driving.” Here’s a +1 for safer roads. Hopefully.

    [Source: Department of Transportation | Image: Meredithwz – CC 2.0]

    U.S. gov’t announces texting ban for commercial truck and bus drivers originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • American Architecture Awards Feature Landscape, Planning Projects


    The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, together with the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies and Metropolitan Arts Press recently announced the 64 winners of the 2009 American Architecture Awards recognize. The awards seek to highlight ”distinguished projects designed and built in the United States by leading American and international architecture firms.”

    One project, “Wandering Ecologies,” Weiss/Manfredi’s design proposal for Toronto’s Lower Don Lands, was among the select group of winners. According to Bustler, “the design renaturalizes the Lower Don River and establishes a new identity for Toronto, where recreational, cultural, and residential activities are free to wander and overlap, creating a new model for sustainable waterfront expansion on the eastern edge of the city. Urban life and nature are conceived as reciprocal conditions that together will reclaim infrastructure and transform Toronto’s Lower Don Lands into a new cultural and ecological paradigm. The essence and potential of Toronto’s Lower Don Lands will celebrate multiple ecologies: city and water, infrastructure and landscape, destination and retreat.”

    Read the article and see more images.

    Also, check out the other 64 winners, including two ASLA professional award-winning projects: Porchscapes: An affordable LEED neighborhood development, and Museo del Acero Horno.

    Image credit: Bustler / Weiss/Manfredi

  • Lessig Calls Google Book Settlement A “Path To Insanity”

    The last person you’d expect t speak out against the Google Book settlement with the Authors Guild which will make available the contents of millions of orphan books in digital form is Harvard law professor and free-culture advocate Lawrence Lessig. In a lengthy essay in The New Republic he calls the settlement a “path to insanity” that will be “culturally asphyxiating,” but not for the reasons you might think.

    Lessig believes the problem lies not so much with the settlement itself or Google, as it does with copyright law. But after pouring over the complex language of the 165-page settlement, he believes more than ever before in the need to overhaul copyright law for the Internet era (a theme he’s hit on before). Here is the gist of the problem as he explains it:

    The deal constructs a world in which control can be exercised at the level of a page, and maybe even a quote. It is a world in which every bit, every published word, could be licensed. It is the opposite of the old slogan about nuclear power: every bit gets metered, because metering is so cheap. We begin to sell access to knowledge the way we sell access to a movie theater, or a candy store, or a baseball stadium. We create not digital libraries, but digital bookstores: a Barnes & Noble without the Starbucks.

    By breaking up books into different licensable parts, Lessig fears that we are going to encounter the same problem with books that we do today with film. He gives the example of documentary films which are sometimes nearly impossible to restore or preserve in digital form because the rights to every song and clip of archive footage need to be cleared again. This is an artifact of the types of licensing contracts that became the norm for film, where each constituent part of a work carries its own copyrights into perpetuity, making it more difficult down the road to update into digital form or pass along as a piece of shared culture. Up until now, books for the most part are treated as one single work.

    Yet the language of the Google Books settlement threatens to break books up into different constituent parts. The result is that you might be reading from a medical book on your iPhone in a hospital waiting room trying to figure out what’s wrong with your child, as Lessig did, only to find that a crucial illustration or table is missing because it is under a different license. As Lessig notes:

    In real libraries, in real space, access is not metered at the level of the page (or the image on the page). Access is metered at the level of books (or magazines, or CDs, or DVDs).

    It’s not so much that Lessig thinks the Google settlement is bad as far as it goes. He actually gives Google some props on the settlement, which makes up to 20 percent of even protected works accessible for free. (Google has argued vehemently that the settlement is good deal for authors and the public alike, and wants to change it as little as possible). Lessig writes:

    There is much to praise in this settlement. Lawsuits are expensive and uncertain. They take years to resolve. The deal Google struck guaranteed the public more free access to free content than “fair use” would have done. Twenty percent is better than snippets, and a system that channels money to authors is going to be liked much more than a system that does not.

    But it sets a bad precedent for how we treat digital copyrights. We must balance those rights, as we always have, with the right to access and pass on our culture. Lessig calls the settlement a path to insanity because he fears it puts us on the road to making the consumption of culture “a legally regulated event”:

    When you send your children to a library to write a research paper, you do not want them to have access to just 20 percent of each book they need to read. You want them to be able to read all of the book. And you do not want them to read just the books they think they would be willing to pay to access. You want them to browse: to explore, to wonder, to ask questions–the way, for example, people explore and wonder and ask questions using Google or Wikipedia. We had a culture where an enormous chunk of cultural life was proliferated and shared without most of us ever calling a copyright lawyer.

    We are about to change that past, radically. And the premise for that change is an accidental feature of the architecture of copyright law: that it regulates copies. In the physical world, this architecture means that the law regulates a small set of the possible uses of a copyrighted work. In the digital world, this architecture means that the law regulates everything. For every single use of creative work in digital space makes a copy. Thus–the lawyer insists–every single use must in some sense be licensed. Even the scanning of a book for the purpose of generating an index–the action at the core of the Google book case–triggers the law of copyright, because that scanning, again, produces a copy.

    And what this means, or so I fear, is that we are about to transform books into documentary films. The legal structure that we now contemplate for the accessing of books is even more complex than the legal structure that we have in place for the accessing of films. Or more simply still: we are about to make every access to our culture a legally regulated event, rich in its demand for lawyers and licenses, certain to burden even relatively popular work. Or again: we are about to make a catastrophic cultural mistake.

    Regulating copies simply makes no sense in a digital world where every piece of content is made up of bits, which must be copied before they can be consumed or shared. There is no digital equivalent of the library or used book store where culture can be preserved and found by anyone. The Google Book settlement has special provisions for libraries and academics, but Lessig warns against relying “upon special favors granted by private companies (and quasi-monopoly collecting societies).” Rather, he proposes something more radical and far-reaching. A complete overhaul of copyright law which would include a mandatory registry of who owns what (to make it easier to track down copyright holders to ask for permission to use a work) and protection of a work as whole rather than protection to its constituent parts.

    “Once a work is made,” he writes, “we need to recognize that it has its own claim within our culture.” If permission is granted once to use a song for a film or an illustration in a book, then after a period of time (he suggests 14 years), the rights holder for any one part should not be able to “control the whole.” And as for the registry, he suggests that it be operated by private companies much Internet domain registries, with the rules for registering being mandated by law. And it would be up to copyright holders to register otherwise their works pass into the public domain.

    These are extremely reasonable suggestions to which I am sure the copyright lobby will strenuously object. But this debate needs to happen and this is a good place to start.


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