Category Christopher Kusek

These two articles came across my desk this morning:

In the News: DOD loses minority contractor rule

Court strikes down DOD’s minority contractor rule

Basically put, this was a law put in place calling for minority-owned companies to receive 5% of Defense contracting dollars.

What did Congress have to say on this issue?

The court ruled that since Congress did not have strong enough evidence of discrimination against minority contractors by the Defense Department, the law violates the Constitution’s equal rights protection.

Or to quote:

“Because Congress did not have a ‘strong basis in evidence’ upon which to conclude that DOD was a passive participant in pervasive, nationwide racial discrimination … the statute fails strict scrutiny,” Chief Judge Paul R. Michel wrote in Tuesday’s decision.

So, what does this mean for the future?

Technically on paper this means that all qualified defense contractors will be able to put up for bid to compete on projects – and then the “Lowest Price” effectively will win every time.

This will certainly raise the chances that not only will smaller defense contractors find it harder to compete with “WalMart” sized defense contractors, but we’ll see the already shrinking budgets being delivered to an even smaller minority of majority contractors.

Only time will tell whether the court ruling on its ‘lack of evidence’ will continue to be so apparent.

Firstly, thanks Beta Exam Blog, and GerryO!

Registration Begins 11/5/2008

You are invited to take beta exam 71-564: Pro: Designing and Developing ASP.NET Applications Using the Microsoft® .NET Framework 3.5. If you pass the beta exam, the exam credit will be added to your transcript and you will not need to take the exam in its released form. The results will not appear on your transcript until several weeks after the final form of the exam is released. The 71-xxx identifier is used for registering for beta versions of MCP exams, when the exam is released in its final form the 70-xxx identifier is used for registration.

71-564: Pro: Designing and Developing ASP.NET Applications Using the Microsoft® .NET Framework 3.5 counts as credit towards the following certification(s).

· Microsoft Certified Professional Developer: ASP.NET Developer 3.5. In order to earn this certification you must also hold the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: .NET Framework 3.5, ASP.NET Applications.

Availability

Registration begins: November 5, 2008

Beta exam period runs: November 6, 2008– December 1, 2008

Receiving this invitation does not guarantee you a seat in the beta; we recommend that you register immediately. Beta exams have limited availability and are operated under a first-come-first-served basis. Once all beta slots are filled, no additional seats will be offered.

Testing is held at Prometric testing centers worldwide, although this exam may not be available in all countries (see Regional Restrictions). All testing centers will have the capability to offer this exam in its live version.

Regional Restrictions: India, Pakistan, China

Registration Information

Please use the following promotional code when registering for the exam: RSC43
You must register at least 24 hours prior to taking the exam.

To register in North America, please call:

· Prometric: (800) 755-EXAM (800-755-3926)

Outside the U.S./Canada, please contact:

· Prometric: http://www.register.prometric.com/ClientInformation.asp

Test Information and Support

You are invited to take this beta exam at no charge.
You will be given four hours to complete the beta exam. Please plan accordingly.
Find exam preparation information: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-564.mspx

Do you have a ticket for what is the biggest political event in a century, or even more?

If you do, you’d receive something looking like this from the Democratic Party.

If you saw my previous post on what the “You got it” or “You’ve been wait-listed” emails look like, you are likely in this very position of either having this ticket, or planning on going ticket-less down for the festivities! (Unless you plan on partying with Biz Markie!)

So, here we are, a day away – Ticket or no ticket in hand.  How do you plan to prepare for this?

By now, if you haven’t read the FAQ on how to handle yourself on the grounds, it’s a good time to get that FAQ all read up!

The raw logistics:

• They will start letting people into the Ticketed event at 8:30PM
• The only entrance (ticket or non) is on Congress Parkway at Michigan Avenue
• Take Public Transit – No Street Parking, and Parking lots will be considerably full
• Don’t bring bags, chairs, strollers, alcohol, – Try to keep it to a small purse
• Nothing has been said about Cameras, Camcorders, Phones – So that sounds safe
• This will be a standing room event only – wear sensible shoes!
• If violence breaks out, remain calm and let the many Security folks do their jobs
• ~1400 Police will be on duty for this event
• Get out there and VOTE! before coming. I voted last week. :)
• Bring valid Identification – No need to get a hassle there. (I got my new ID today)

So, hopefully this little Tutorial/FAQ helps to provide you the right information for this once in a lifetime event in our worlds history.

Feel free to say Hello if you see me out there in the crowd. :) I have a number of friends who will also be there, and if I can do as planned – I should be wearing a suit of sorts. :)

Take care, and don’t hesitate to yell out “Christopher!” in the crowd if you’re looking for me. :)

-Christopher

What does it take to attend an Election Night Party? I think it involves visiting a Website!

Jesse Jackson Jr will be hosting this event here for Election Night ’08

Where will you find yourself?

I received this little letter in the email today.

I know that there were severely limited quantities of these tickets available.  And by the looks of it, I strongly have the potential to be one of those there at the event itself!

Oh, the wonders of being a Technological Independent!

christopher —
Thank you for signing up to receive a ticket for the Election Night event at Hutchinson Field in Grant Park, Chicago.
Your ticket will be emailed to you on Monday, November 3rd, between 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Each ticket is personalized for the ticket holder and is non-transferable.
You must print your ticket and bring it with you to the event. Each ticket is valid for you and one guest.
Thanks,
The Democratic Party
P.S. — Ticket holders should walk towards Grant Park on Congress Parkway, then walk south on Columbus Drive to the site.
For security reasons, do not bring bags. Photo ID is required. Please limit personal items. No signs, banners, chairs, or strollers allowed.

Now all I need to do, is get myself a non-expired ID (State Police took mine for “speeding”) and I’ll be gangbusters for the event on Tuesday!  As it is, I’ll already be downtown that day!

On a separate note, I feel it’s a bit insane that Police will take your ID for activities as “bond”, leaving you effectively with no ability to get into government buildings, or even if you’re beaten/left for dead, a piece of paper is hardly any form of “Identification“

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