With so many authors and books out there, it is no longer enough to merely write a great book to stand out and be successful. We must have a platform from which to build our success, but what does that really mean? Of course there’s blogging, Twitter, Facebook, and all the social networks in between. They’re important and I recommend doing whichever ones work best for you. However, there is a deeper, underlying thing that must be part of the pillars of an authors platform. It’s the easiest, and often hardest, thing for each of us to do.
Deep within an author’s being there is something that drives them to write. The hard part is, many don’t even know what it is, it simply is. Much like a muse, this deep inspiration is elusive and unseen. But there is an easy way to discover it. All one has to do is consider what they’re passionate about and the root of this muse will be revealed. For example; I’m passionate about leaving a better Earth for our children than the one that was left for us. It is reflected in most of my writing in some way, no matter how small.
I never thought to connect the two until I realized one could help the other. It was one of those a-ha moments that made me want to smack my forehead. Now, a portion of the proceeds from my debut novel go to my favorite organization that protects endangered species. Authors don’t have to apply their passion quite so literally as this but as long as they are aware of it and allow it to breathe into their work, chances are their novels will benefit from it.
“We find a purpose to which we are sworn, or answer the call of death’s dark horn.” ~The Book Of Counted Sorrows (a non-existent philosophical book made up by Dean Koontz ‘from’ which he adds quotes to the beginning of many of his older novels).
~Heather
Senin, 20 Februari 2012
Sabtu, 18 Februari 2012
WARNING: THE LANGUAGE IS AMBIGUOUS
We've written about the rules of contract interpretation for a reason. If the contractual language is patently ambiguous, you must seek clarification or be barred from recovery on a claim based on ambiguous contract language. Hence, we warn you to scour the solicitation for obvious clarity issues. Perhaps it is time to review the rules of contract interpretation in this light. And the best instructor is Judge Park-Conroy of the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals who writes in States Roofing Corporation, ASBCA No. 54854, (July 10, 2008), the following:
Further, extrinsic evidence (outside the four corners of the contract) can only be considered if a document is ambiguous (subject to two reasonable interpretations), says ASBCA Judge Grant.
If you see a sentence in the solicitation which appears to say one thing and another sentence appears to say something different, you must seek clarification from the contracting officer. If the contracting officer stonewalls you, protest to GAO prior to the submission of bids (it must be done then or you lose). Why take such drastic action? If you intend to bid and make money, you had better clear things up before you bid. Protesting to GAO will get the contracting officer's attention and force clarification.
If you have a claim based on contract interpretation, remember the rules. The contracting officer's interpretation must be within the "zone of reasonableness", but so must yours. The fact you differ means nothing. You both may be wrong. But if your interpretation is reasonable and the government's is not, you win. But you may win even if both interpretations are reasonable. In the end, the contract will be construed against its drafter.
bill@spriggslawgroup.com
The rules of contract interpretation are settled. We are to read the contract as a whole and give it meaning that makes sense. A contract is unambiguous if there is only one reasonable interpretation. It is not enough to demonstrate that there are two different interpretations; rather, both must be within the 'zone of reasonableness.' Ambiguities will be construed against the government as the drafter under the doctrine of contra proferentem, so long as the contractor relied upon its interpretation during bid preparation. An ambiguity is patent if it contains glaring errors or patently obvious conflicts. A party must seek clarification of a patent ambiguity or be barred from recovery. (Citations omitted.)
Further, extrinsic evidence (outside the four corners of the contract) can only be considered if a document is ambiguous (subject to two reasonable interpretations), says ASBCA Judge Grant.
If you see a sentence in the solicitation which appears to say one thing and another sentence appears to say something different, you must seek clarification from the contracting officer. If the contracting officer stonewalls you, protest to GAO prior to the submission of bids (it must be done then or you lose). Why take such drastic action? If you intend to bid and make money, you had better clear things up before you bid. Protesting to GAO will get the contracting officer's attention and force clarification.
If you have a claim based on contract interpretation, remember the rules. The contracting officer's interpretation must be within the "zone of reasonableness", but so must yours. The fact you differ means nothing. You both may be wrong. But if your interpretation is reasonable and the government's is not, you win. But you may win even if both interpretations are reasonable. In the end, the contract will be construed against its drafter.
bill@spriggslawgroup.com
RECENT GAO PROTESTS SUSTAINED
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has sustained some protests this month which reinforce the importance of the source selection rules the federal government workforce is obliged to follow scrupulously. First, a protest that the government engaged in discussions with the awardee but not with the protester was sustained in a case where the awardee was permitted to make material changes to its proposal. The changes allowed the awardee to make its unacceptable proposal acceptable. The agency, however, did not afford the protester the opportunity to revise its offer. The rule is that once the agency undertakes discussion with one offeror, it is obliged to offer all offerors in the competitive range the opportunity to revise their proposals.
Next, GAO sustained a protest where the agency used unstated evaluation factors in its evaluation of proposals. The agency gave the awardee, but not the protester, evaluation credit for proposing to achieve full operating capability on an accelerated basis. However, the solicitation neither defined the standard nor included a schedule for achieving it. Moreover, the agency used service desk quantity estimates for price evaluation purposes which differed from the maximum quantities stated in the solicitation. GAO said the agency must provide sufficient information in the solicitation for offerors to compete intelligently and on an equal basis.
Finally, GAO also sustained a protest challenging a cost realism evaluation where the evaluation was unreasonable. GAO also came down hard on the government for not explaining how the technical evaluation was conducted, how it evaluated the relevance of the offerors' past performance and whether proposed subcontractors merited consideration. Also, in that case, GAO determined that the award was not tainted by organizational conflicts of interest since the agency reasonably concluded the potential areas of concern were adequately mitigated.
The lessons from these cases is straightforward. Insist on a proper debriefing. If you don't get it, protest to find out what happened. If, after your lawyer sees the record he or she advises you to continue the protest, do it. FAR Part 15 rules on source selection are sacrosanct. GAO is there to enforce them. Protesting is a small price to pay for the maintenance of the integrity of the procurement system.
bill@spriggslawgroup.com
Next, GAO sustained a protest where the agency used unstated evaluation factors in its evaluation of proposals. The agency gave the awardee, but not the protester, evaluation credit for proposing to achieve full operating capability on an accelerated basis. However, the solicitation neither defined the standard nor included a schedule for achieving it. Moreover, the agency used service desk quantity estimates for price evaluation purposes which differed from the maximum quantities stated in the solicitation. GAO said the agency must provide sufficient information in the solicitation for offerors to compete intelligently and on an equal basis.
Finally, GAO also sustained a protest challenging a cost realism evaluation where the evaluation was unreasonable. GAO also came down hard on the government for not explaining how the technical evaluation was conducted, how it evaluated the relevance of the offerors' past performance and whether proposed subcontractors merited consideration. Also, in that case, GAO determined that the award was not tainted by organizational conflicts of interest since the agency reasonably concluded the potential areas of concern were adequately mitigated.
The lessons from these cases is straightforward. Insist on a proper debriefing. If you don't get it, protest to find out what happened. If, after your lawyer sees the record he or she advises you to continue the protest, do it. FAR Part 15 rules on source selection are sacrosanct. GAO is there to enforce them. Protesting is a small price to pay for the maintenance of the integrity of the procurement system.
bill@spriggslawgroup.com
Jumat, 17 Februari 2012
Another Friday Waiting For Godot
I remember when I was at school, I saw a play by Beckett: Waiting for Godot. It was a comedy of sorts, but a bit tedious. Although it must have had something to recommend it besides the title because I still remember it.
Well, it's another Friday where we are waiting for Monday's Greek resolution. People seem to be tiring of caring. This week-end is a long week-end in the U.S., so maybe people are a little more nervous. We'll see if Godot arrives or whether we will be waiting for him again another few weekends.
The Euro finally reacted during the mid London morning after a choppy start.
What is Success?
Success takes on many forms. And it means something different to each of us. For some authors, this may mean a five- or six-figure deal with a traditional publisher. It might mean landing an agent. It might be the moment the writer hits a milestone number of sales: 100, 1K, 5K, 50K.
Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to witness the success of my author friends as they reach the milestones they've set for themselves. When I see their joy, their excitement--it's an amazing thing to witness. And each of them takes joy in even the smallest of feats. This is critical for a writer. Every small success must be treated with respect and honor. Writing is an arduous business to be in, and it's marked by failure and rejection every part of the way. Rapid success and quick wealth is only enjoyed by less than one percent of the literary population. So you can see just what we're up against.
As an author, my definition of success might be unusual, because I've already hit my greatest milestone in my mind's eye. A milestone that I've dreamed of since I was seven years old: I finished my first novel, Artemis Rising. No, I'm not talking about publishing it--though Spirehouse Books did publish that book this past September. I mean I finished it: researched it, wrote it, edited it. For some, that process can take place in a matter of months, and then they're on to the next project. For me, that first novel...well, it took me ten long years to complete. And it was by far one of the most difficult things I've ever done.
Artemis Rising had the most complex storyline I could conceive of. The research resources were few and hard to come by. The story was based on two different myths and most of the time it felt like a giant puzzle I was piecing together while blindfolded. Somehow--perhaps by magic and lots of amazing writers groups--it all came together in the end.
But that journey, you see, and every failed attempt along the way, that was the true success. I learned everything I know writing that book, and I wouldn't trade that time and energy for anything. No matter what sales come today or in the future, I've already made my goal and wrote a book I'm proud to call my own. And now I'm armed with the knowledge to write another. Here's hoping it takes less than a decade this time. =)
A couple tips when talking with authors
When an author shares the news of a success, no matter how big or small, honor it with a kind word of encouragement or a congratulations. You never know how much work went into making it to that milestone. It always surprises me when strangers ask how many sales I've gotten. To me, it's a bit like someone asking how much you make for a living. Rather than asking such a question, ask how the writing is going. Ask whether the writer is working on a new project. In other words, ask about the journey, not the destination.
If you're a struggling author, be careful of comparing yourself with other authors. It will lead you to demean your own successes. Never do that! Your success is your own. Revel in it. Dance on tables and scream at the top of your lungs. Your journey is unlike any other. Be content with what you've achieved.
________________________
Cheri Lasota’s first novel, Artemis Rising, is a YA historical fantasy based on mythology and set in the exotic Azores Islands. Currently, Cheri is writing and researching her second novel, a YA set on the Oregon Coast. Over the course of her sixteen-year career, she has edited fiction, nonfiction, screenplays, and short stories for publication. Cheri also has twenty-four years of experience writing poetry and fiction. Learn more about Artemis Rising at http://www.cherilasota.com or buy it at http://bit.ly/ArtemisRisingNovel.
Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to witness the success of my author friends as they reach the milestones they've set for themselves. When I see their joy, their excitement--it's an amazing thing to witness. And each of them takes joy in even the smallest of feats. This is critical for a writer. Every small success must be treated with respect and honor. Writing is an arduous business to be in, and it's marked by failure and rejection every part of the way. Rapid success and quick wealth is only enjoyed by less than one percent of the literary population. So you can see just what we're up against.
As an author, my definition of success might be unusual, because I've already hit my greatest milestone in my mind's eye. A milestone that I've dreamed of since I was seven years old: I finished my first novel, Artemis Rising. No, I'm not talking about publishing it--though Spirehouse Books did publish that book this past September. I mean I finished it: researched it, wrote it, edited it. For some, that process can take place in a matter of months, and then they're on to the next project. For me, that first novel...well, it took me ten long years to complete. And it was by far one of the most difficult things I've ever done.
Artemis Rising had the most complex storyline I could conceive of. The research resources were few and hard to come by. The story was based on two different myths and most of the time it felt like a giant puzzle I was piecing together while blindfolded. Somehow--perhaps by magic and lots of amazing writers groups--it all came together in the end.
But that journey, you see, and every failed attempt along the way, that was the true success. I learned everything I know writing that book, and I wouldn't trade that time and energy for anything. No matter what sales come today or in the future, I've already made my goal and wrote a book I'm proud to call my own. And now I'm armed with the knowledge to write another. Here's hoping it takes less than a decade this time. =)
A couple tips when talking with authors
When an author shares the news of a success, no matter how big or small, honor it with a kind word of encouragement or a congratulations. You never know how much work went into making it to that milestone. It always surprises me when strangers ask how many sales I've gotten. To me, it's a bit like someone asking how much you make for a living. Rather than asking such a question, ask how the writing is going. Ask whether the writer is working on a new project. In other words, ask about the journey, not the destination.
If you're a struggling author, be careful of comparing yourself with other authors. It will lead you to demean your own successes. Never do that! Your success is your own. Revel in it. Dance on tables and scream at the top of your lungs. Your journey is unlike any other. Be content with what you've achieved.
________________________
Cheri Lasota’s first novel, Artemis Rising, is a YA historical fantasy based on mythology and set in the exotic Azores Islands. Currently, Cheri is writing and researching her second novel, a YA set on the Oregon Coast. Over the course of her sixteen-year career, she has edited fiction, nonfiction, screenplays, and short stories for publication. Cheri also has twenty-four years of experience writing poetry and fiction. Learn more about Artemis Rising at http://www.cherilasota.com or buy it at http://bit.ly/ArtemisRisingNovel.
Who are the sequencing superpowers?
As with many other things, the United States are the world leader when it comes to sequencing capacity. There are more sequencing machines in the US than in the next ten countries combined. However, this is not a great surprise, as the US expenditure on Research and Development (R&D) is also much higher than that of any other country.
The question I'm asking here is how the sequencing capacity of US and other countries compares to their R&D expenditure.
 |
| Number of DNA sequencing machines for each $1bn spent on R&D |
I interpret the resulting numbers as a proxy of how important sequencing is compared to other R&D activity.
Clearly, Australia is punching above its weight in terms of sequencing capacity and considering its research budget, followed by the UK.
In my opinion, the more interesting observation is the low number (34) of sequencers in Japan, compared to that country's vast research expenditure ($144bn). Seems like any Illumina salesmen reading this should book their next flight to Tokyo now.
Some notes on methodology
The number of sequencing machines per country comes from a website created by James Hadfield and Nick Loman. The data relies on self-reporting, and is unlikely to be entirely accurate.
Data on R&D expenditure by country comes from reports by Battelle and UNESCO. I included only countries with 10 sequencers or more, and for which R&D expenditure from 2010 or later is available. I made no distinction distinction between sequencers, treating a Pac Bio the same than an IonTorrent.
I'd also like to thank Saeed Al Turki for a discussion leading up to this post. His country, Saudi Arabia, would probably beat Australia by a wide margin on the chart above. I decided against including it, as no recent R&D expenditure data is available.
Kamis, 16 Februari 2012
Google+ page stories: North Bowl
Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of posts about small businesses on Google+ and their tips and tricks for managing a great page. Visit our YouTube channel to see all the videos in this series and join the discussion on the Google+ Your Business page.
Recently we introduced you to Best Made Company, a group of outdoor enthusiasts that specializes in designing and handcrafting wilderness supplies. Next up we have North Bowl, a 21,000-square-foot bowling center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Oron Daskal and his staff are passionate about creating a fun, social space at the lounge and alley for their local community. In fact, he says, he probably “sees the most high fives in the city.”
One of the great things about Google+ Pages is the ability to share relevant content with the right people using Google+ Circles. Take a tip from North Bowl and learn how you can use circles with your page:
Want to get started with circles? Here are some quick tips:
How does your business use circles? Join the discussion on the Google+ Your Business page and tag your posts #mybusinessstory.
Posted by Evelyn Lee, Google+ Pages Associate Product Marketing Manager
Recently we introduced you to Best Made Company, a group of outdoor enthusiasts that specializes in designing and handcrafting wilderness supplies. Next up we have North Bowl, a 21,000-square-foot bowling center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Oron Daskal and his staff are passionate about creating a fun, social space at the lounge and alley for their local community. In fact, he says, he probably “sees the most high fives in the city.”
One of the great things about Google+ Pages is the ability to share relevant content with the right people using Google+ Circles. Take a tip from North Bowl and learn how you can use circles with your page:
Want to get started with circles? Here are some quick tips:
- Create circles to target messages to particular groups. Say you have multiple locations, you may want to organize your followers by geographic areas, and thus, send deal updates to the most relevant people. Or say you want to share information with your employees. Just put them in a circle and make sure that only they get the message.
- Share your circles. Have you built a circle featuring all the experts in your field? Share it with the Google+ community! Click the Circles icon at the top of Google+, select the circle you’d like to share, and hit “Share this circle” at the top right of the page.
- Edit the order of your Circles. In your Circles dashboard, just click and hold on a circle in order to drag it to a new position on the page.
How does your business use circles? Join the discussion on the Google+ Your Business page and tag your posts #mybusinessstory.
Posted by Evelyn Lee, Google+ Pages Associate Product Marketing Manager
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