Papa's Coleslaw recipe

Recipe from "The Electric Kitchen", "Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc."

 

 

Oven Kalua Pork

Demonstrated by: Dolly Bright, Pu'uloa Hawaiian Civic Club

Ingredients

4 lb pork butt
1 tablespoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons Hawaiian salt
1 bottle (3.5 oz) liquid smoke
1 lb pork skin
5 1/2 cups water
8 ti leaves

Instructions

Make several deep slashes around pork butt. Rub garlic powder and 1 tablespoon of the Hawaiian salt on pork. Pour liquid smoke over pork. Remove and discard most fat from pork skin. Add 1 1/2 cups of the water to a roasting pan, then line with foil. Lay 4 of the ti leaves on the foil. Place pork and skin on leaves. Cover with the remaining 4 ti leaves. Cover tightly with foil. Roast at 400 F in electric oven for 1 hour. Lower temperature to 375 F; cook for 4 1/2 more hours or until pork is easy to shred. In a large saucepot, bring the remaining 4 cups water to a boil. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon Hawaiian salt. Shred pork and cut skin; add to boiling water. Cover and cook for 15 minutes. Makes 8 servings.

Show Info

Hawaiian Recipes 8/1/1996

SCA Computer Professional Exemption Criteria

Consideration of Computer Professional vs Non-Exempt

NOTE - this information and these values were accurate in 2010 and may no longer be valid or applicable in any way.  Obviously, this is a process only as the comparison to job duties / job descriptions is not provided in the below explanation.

 

I compared the job duties outlined in the job descriptions to the duties listed in the FLSA's computer professional exemption test.  I believe that under Federal law all positions would be exempt based on the job duties and the overall nature of the jobs.  As far as California regs, I found that the computer professional exemption would apply as well.  However, the minimum hourly rate for a California Computer professional is much higher than the minimum hourly rate established under the FLSA.  For 2010, Computer professionals must earn a minimum fixed salary of $79,587.50 per year or $37.94 per hour for all hours worked in addition to meeting the duties requirements outlined below.

Update: Additional information can be found at this link http://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/dlseWagesAndHours.html under the heading "Exemption for computer software employee (Labor Code Section 515.5)"



vlookup on multiple criteria

This site explains how to perform vlookup on multiple criteria using an array

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/59482

I modified the forumla slightly to provide a "0" response if one of the lookup values is blank, thus preventing a N/A# error

{=IF(R5="",0,(INDEX('Rate Table'!$F$5:$F$63,MATCH(A5&D5&R5,'Rate Table'!$B$5:$B$63&'Rate Table'!$E$5:$E$63&'Rate Table'!$A$5:$A$63,0)))}

The absolute key here is that you cannot just hit ENTER, you must hit ENTER+SHIFT+CTRL in order for excel to recognize this as an array formula.  You do not enter the "squiggly" brakets, excel will do that automatically if the formula is entered correctly.

Recipe for Black Bean Goat Cheese Dip

This is delicious.  Black Bean Goat Cheese Dip

Dash's First Nosework 1 Trial

 

 

I am super proud of Dash.  He handled the atmosphere of the trial beautifully which is a big accomplishment for him.  I also think he had a really good time and he did just great!  I wrote this throughout the day so I wouldn't forget how each element went.

 

Element 1: Interior
Dash was great!  He went right in the room and straight to odor. I almost called it but wasn't sure *exactly* where source was and wanted to take my time to be sure.  So he did one quick circuit of the room and I could tell he was working and not exploring and came right back to it and I called it and we were right.  I feel like he found it in about 40 seconds. Will be interesting to find out our actual time. Not that I care about time at this point, I just want him to have fun and do well.

 

Element 2: Vehicles
I was apprehensive about this element because we haven't practiced much.  But told myself to relax and trust my dog. There were three vehicles and as Dash went over the start line he was walking a little timidly and not his normal forward walk.  He was completely bypassing the first vehicle and was headed past the second vehicle.  I was a little worried that he wasn't focused on the vehicles but I could hear Ron's guidance that he gave in the morning briefing: "Don't think for your dog!  He knows what he's doing.  Trust your dog!".  As Dash got closer to the second vehicle he turned hard to the left and stuck his head right into the wheel well and was spot on source!  He had basically bee-lined right to it!  I think we were under 30 seconds.

 

Now a couple hours until the next two elements. I will try not to psych myself out in the meantime!

 

Element 3: Containers
Dash started this one a little distracted and was not very focused on the boxes. He wasn't being methodical. But I kept subtly redirecting him to different areas. I think he was somewhat working the whole time but not 100% focused.  I could see his body movement change just a little and he hit a box and I called it immediately. I was right but maybe should have waited another second to be positive.  The judge complimented me on my handling for staying calm and directing him without interfering with him (big grin - I have a great instructor!).  Our time felt very very long. I think they said we were at 1:30.

 

Element 4: Exterior
Dash rocked this one!  He came off the start line and worked his way down the wall of the planters and turned the corner and stuck his nose right on source. This one and vehicles were definitely the best. This one felt like 15 or so seconds.

 

So now we hang out a few hours until they do awards.

 

Dash and I are settled in at home now  He slept like a log the whole way.  And the results are....

• Container 1:31.98
• Interior 0:35.41
• Vehicle 0:12.89 we got First place out of about 48 dogs (and he received a Pronounced mark from the Judge)
• Exterior 0:10.02 we got First place out of about 48 dogs (and he received a Pronounced mark from the Judge)
• Total time 2:30.30

In hindsight I would change one thing about the way I worked containers.  The setup was such that the start line was at about a 45 degree angle to the boxes.  So if you "squared up" on the start line so that you were directly facing the line, that meant your dog was only looking at the top left corner of the search area with the majority of the boxes off to the right.  Dash went straight to where I had him pointed...the top left area with just a few boxes.  If I were to work it again, I would "square up" on the boxes prior to my search instead of on the start line since the dogs don't realize there is tape or a start line.  We still would have crossed the start line, it would have just put his focus on the whole area.  But truly, I couldn't be happier!

ITAR stuff

Current as of 16 May 2012

For ITAR Violations, in addition to the penalties to the company, the individual employee may be faced with: 

Willful Violations:  "Individual - A fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment for up to ten years, or both, for each violation."
Knowing Violations:  "Individual - A fine of up to the greater of $50,000 or five times the value of the exports or imprisonment for up to five years, or both, for each violation."

Note that a single case may involve multiple violations and these penalties are for each violation.

source:  http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode50a/usc_sec_50a_00002410----000-.html
TITLE 50, APPENDIX App. > EXPORT > § 2410 Violations

Kudos Received

8/30/11 Tom McCabe

Amy, sorry my flight was late and could not review. But I would not jhave changed a thing. Perfect presentation and more importantly, perfect facilitation today. Thank you for the professional competence you showed today in leading the team through your very complex and challenging ares. I think youmade a huge difference I'm making the workshop a resounding success. Got nothing but positive feedback from some newly opened eyes!

VR,

Tommy

12/10/10 Wayne Gibbons

Amy….my sincere thanks for your level of support to this office over these past five weeks.  Your daily coordination with our govt. counterparts and this office in coming to successful closure on a multitude of contract mods for both MTSS and SCETC/ATG has been no small task.     Compounding the timely execution of the contract mods was  my short tenure here and the absence of our operations officer.  In spite of these personnel handicaps, I believe we were successful in meeting govt. requirements…….due in large measure to your support.  Again, thanks!

Wayne

11/21/10 Jim Hawn

Just wanted to tell you that Amy has been doing heroic work on the ATG contract, dealing with all the changes and many frustrations as we've gone through this process.  Well deserving of some kudos from above.

Jim

Headers in Excel

Notes on how to set up "dynamic" headers in Excel so you can update the variable data within a worksheet and through running a Macro will then update in each page header.  This allows you to avoid having to update the header data individually on each worksheet.

-------

DO NOT RENAME THIS WORKSHEET TAB - IT MUST BE "Sheet4"

 

Information to include in cell A3:  "Proposal Dated: 21 November 2011"  Note, this RightHeader information MUST remain in cell A3

 

To insert this information into your header:

1) SAVE your file

2) SAVE AS a new revision (note, you must select "Save as type" as "Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook")

*These two steps are important because this "header process" is done by MACRO

There is no way to UNDO a MACRO once it has been run             

You can overright the information by changing the text in cell A3 and then rerunning the MACRO            

But, if something goes amiss and messes up all the other page formatting you will be very upset that you skipped these two steps, I promise.

3) Click on the "Developer" tab

4) Click on the "Macros" button

5) Select:

"ThisWorkbook.PrintReport"

6) Click "Run"

Note, if your Developer tab isn't showing:

Right click on any other tab (ie Page Layout)

Select "Customize the Ribbon"

On the right side of the window, make sure the check box beside "Developer" is checked           

 

The macro code should be added to "ThisWorkbook" under the "Genaral" tab as a "Print Report" and is written as follows:

 

Sub PrintReport()

    Dim wks As Worksheet

    Dim ftr

    ftr = Sheet4.Range("A3").Value

    For Each wks In Worksheets

        With wks.PageSetup

            .RightHeader = "&""Times New Roman,Italic""" & ftr

        End With

    Next wks

End Sub

JTR info which I routinely cite

In accordance with Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) Volume 2, C4553 paragraph C2, laundry expenses are separately allowable and not included as part of the M&IE allowance.  An excerpt from this section reads as follows:

NOTE: The cost for clothing laundry, dry-cleaning and pressing is a separately reimbursable expense in addition to per diem/AEA when travel is within CONUS and requires at least 4 consecutive nights TDY/PCS lodging in CONUS. The cost for laundry/dry-cleaning/ pressing clothing is not a separate reimbursable travel expense for travel OCONUS and is included as a reimbursable expense within the AEA authorized/approved for OCONUS travel.

In accordance with JTR Volume 2, C2000 paragraph B, receipts are not required for expenses under $75.  An excerpt from this section reads as follows:

A. General. A traveler must exercise the same care and regard for incurring GOV'T paid expenses as would a prudent person traveling at personal expense.

 B. Receipts. IAW DoDFMR 7000.14-R, Volume 9, a traveler must maintain records/receipts for:

1. Individual expenses of $75 or more, and

2. All lodging costs.

----------------------------------------------------------
Note: these allowances and paragraph references valid as of 11 May 2012.  Source: http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/Docs/perdiem/JTR%28Ch1-7%29.pdf

FAR info, etc.

These are things that I find myself repeatedly looking up and language that I've drafted in the past that I'm always digging back up to reuse.

 

Profit versus Fee

 

*Profit vs. Fee  - They are different

*Chapter 12 located at http://fast.faa.gov/PricingHandbook.cfm?p_title=Functions

 

"When used as general terms, profit and fee are often interchangeable.  The purpose of both is to compensate the contractor for risks assumed during contract performance and to stimulate efficient contract performance."

 

"Profit represents revenue in excess of applicable costs of contract performance.  Simply stated, profit equals the negotiated contract price less applicable contract costs."

 

"Fee, which is associated with cost reimbursable contracts, represents a flat charge paid as compensation for services or supplies provided.  It may be fixed fee or it may vary based on incentive structures."

 

FAR Clause reference WD escalation

 

http://www.arnet.gov/far/current/html/52_222.html

 

52.222-43 excerpt:

(b) The Contractor warrants that the prices in this contract do not include any allowance for any contingency to cover increased costs for which adjustment is provided under this clause.

 

Discussion on this topic can be found at:

http://www.wifcon.com/arc/forum422.htm

 

Excerpt from a discussion on a federal contracting message board seems to confirm our though:

 

No escalation following FAR 52.222-43 means Direct Labor (DL) and the stipulated Health & Welfare (H&W) cannot be escalated at all. BUT, DL & H&W do not exist alone in the pricing structure. Overhead still escalates. Fringe not covered by the H&W allowance escalates. G&A escalates. So, I don't touch DL or H&W, but all else--especially in a multi-year risky T&M bid-- must be escalated.

 

The reason is simple. As a contractor, the only adjustments I can expect to see when a new DoL Wage Determination is issued is a penny-for-penny increase in the DL and a penny-for-penny increase for H&W. Therefore, I MUST be allowed to escalate other expenses not covered by DL and H&W. As an evaluator, you may very well see what appears to be escalation because the burdened labor goes up from year-to-year, but it may be due to the non-DL and non-H&W factors.

 

 

WD adjustment proposal language

 

Your proposal should be in accordance with FAR Clause 52.222-43.  Please remember that you can only apply changes "in social security and unemployment taxes and workers' compensation insurance, but shall not otherwise include any amount for general and administrative costs, overhead, or profit".  In other words, only FICA (medcare & OASDI) which is a government mandated 7.65% and Workers Compensation (whatever your company's premium percentage is) and FUI/SUI (Federal Unemployment Insurance and State Unemployment Insurance).  So, not full OH, G&A, or other indirects nor any Profit.  Also, if you elected to pay employees higher than the original or new WD you can only claim the increase from the higher rate the employees were being paid and the rate on the new WD (see FAR 52.222-43(d)(1) for full explanation).  Please reflect the amount of change separately from the originally proposed amount for each position and then reflect a new total.  Let me know if this doesn't make sense and we can talk about layout.

 

Odd versus Even WDs

 

>>>From June 2008<<<<<

My understanding is rudimentary, but based on guidance from our Human Resource department, with an odd # the H&W payment is based on "hours paid to a maximum of 40 hours per week based on the benefit cost resulting from the individual employee's benefit elections" while with an even # the is payment is based on "hours worked based on the on an average of the total benefit cost for SCA employees by site by contract".

 

There are two key factors:  1) is the differentiation of "hours paid" versus "hours worked"  and 2) that the amount of differential the employee is elegible for is base on "the company's cost of employee's individual elections" versus "the company's cost based on the average of the elections of the entire site".  When considering factor 1, this means vacation and holiday hours are exempt from the H&W differential when using an even # WD.  When considering factor 2, this means the amount of the differential paid is based on the average of the total benefit cost of the entire site vice the benefit cost by employee.

 

Typically, although not always, in a situation where employees are not working considerable over time (along with other factors based on typical benefit elections across the site) an odd # WD will most likely result in H&W payments which are more favorable to the employee.

-----

 

The DOL website http://www.wdol.gov/usrguide/sectionb.html#B5a1 lists the clarification as:

 

"Compliance with the H&W rate on all "odd numbered" Standard WDs (i.e., WD No. 2005-2103 or WD No. 2005-2113) requires payment of the minimum H&W rate for each hour paid for each employee, up to a maximum of 40 hours per week. [See 29 CFR 4.175(a)] Compliance with the H&W rate on all "even numbered" Standard WDs (i.e., WD No. 2005-2104 or WD No. 2005-2114) requires the contractor to contribute an average of the stated H&W rate per hour, computed on the basis of all hours worked by service employees on the contract."

 

It goes on to say:

 

"When selecting a Standard WD, the contracting officer must select the Standard WD with the appropriate health and welfare method. The guidelines for selection are as follows:

 

First Guideline: Were the services previously performed under a contract that incorporated an even numbered Standard WD? If so, for all following contract periods and follow-on contracts for substantially the same services that will be performed in the same locality, select the even numbered Standard WD for that same locality. [Reference -- 29 CFR 4.52(d)] When following the current WD selection menu, this is the reason for the question regarding whether the services were "performed under an SCA wage determination that ends in an even number".

 

Second Guideline: If the services were not previously performed under contract using an even numbered Standard WD, or if the services were not previously performed under an SCA-covered contract, then select the odd numbered Standard WD for that locality. When following the current WD selection menu, answering the menu questions correct should obtain the odd numbered WD response."

Nosework Seminar - 22 April 2012

I attended a K9 Nosework seminar in Oregon yesterday.  I audited the NW2 session and learned so much!  The instruction was given by Ron Gaunt, the NACSW founder, and Shelly Smith.

 

I learned more about dog handling than I could ever begin to write about.

 

The non-dog stuff I learned....

 

- always take sunscreen, a wide brimmed hat, and sunglasses

- take a hair tie for windy days

- take a chair

- wear comfortable shoes

- wear pants with lots of pockets; cargo pants would be great

- bring snacks and a water bottle

- it would be easier to pack a lunch than going to get something

- wear a watch

Nosework Seminar

I lucked out and was able to get into a Nosework seminar on Sunday. I didn't even know it was taking place until my instructor emailed that one of her other students had registered but now can't make it and was giving up her spot.  It's in Portland so kind of far away, but I don't have anything else going on so figured why not drive two hours.  I'm super excited (and apparently super dorky).

This is what it's all about:

In Skill Building for Trialing Levels,each participant will have the rare chance to learn about many critical aspects of the sport of K9 Nose Work from the man who started it all,and who deploys detection dogs to real world settings on a daily basis. Topics covered will be skills applicable to each trialing level for each element including,dog’s performance,behaviors, shaping,handler techniques,hide difficulties/placement,team communication,trialing strategies & understanding how your dog sees a search. Ron will address individual challenges for dog/handler teams.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless Droid

Setting Jump Distances

This is a good compilation of standard jump distances

 

Distances For Jumps And Trotting Poles

How To "Export" File Structure into Excel

1. Open Windows Explorer and select the source folder in the left pane.
2. Press Ctrl + A to select all items in the right pane.
3. Press and hold the Shift key, then right click on the selection.
4. From the context menu, choose "Copy as Path".
5. Paste the list into Excel.

more lessons learned

I just found this information on the Dell website, with the most interesing item at the end which I have highlighted in yellow.

 

----------------------

 Computer Tracking Software

 

Computer tracking software may enable you to locate your computer if it is lost or stolen. The software is optional and may be purchased when you order your Dell computer, or you can contact your Dell sales representative for information about this security feature.

  

NOTE: Computer tracking software may not be available in certain countries.

 

NOTE: If you have computer tracking software and your computer is lost or stolen, you must contact the company that provides the tracking service to report the missing computer.

 

If Your Computer Is Lost or Stolen

 

Call a law enforcement agency to report the lost or stolen computer. Include the Service Tag in your description of the computer. Ask that a case number be assigned and write down the number, along with the name, address, and phone number of the law enforcement agency. If possible, obtain the name of the investigating officer.

 

NOTE: If you know where the computer was lost or stolen, call a law enforcement agency in that area. If you do not know, call a law enforcement agency where you live.

 

If the computer belongs to a company, notify the security office of the company.

 

Contact Dell Customer Support to report the missing computer. Provide the computer Service Tag, the case number, and the name, address, and phone number of the law enforcement agency to which you reported the missing computer. If possible, give the name of the investigating officer.

 

The Dell Customer Support representative will log your report under the computer Service Tag and record the computer as missing or stolen. If someone calls Dell for technical assistance and gives your Service Tag, the computer is identified automatically as missing or stolen. The representative will attempt to get the phone number and address of the caller.  Dell will then contact the law enforcement agency to which you reported the missing computer.

---------------------------------------

At the time of this post, the link to register a stolen system with Dell is http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/stolen_system?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

 

Lessons learned from being robbed

-Sentry fireproof safes can be popped open with a screw driver with what appears to have been relatively little effort

-Write down the serial number of your laptop - apparently that's the best way to catch the thief

-If you have your passwords written down Hide Them WELL!!!!  It's true, they really do dig through your sock drawer.  Luckily they did not find mine (which were not in my sock drawer) which were in another locked area, but I was panicked until I found it safe.

-Go buy dowel rods, or some other item to put in any of your slider windows.  That's how they got in my house.  Not sure if the dowel rod would have helped, but definitely wouldn't have hurt

-Take pictures of the jewelry you love.  I have pictures of the valuable items (monetarily speaking) but nothing of the items that are the most important to me and truly the only pieces that I want back.

-Password protect your computer so it requires a password at start up to even get to your desktop.  Sadly, I did not do this.  Hopefully they are just looking to pawn it and are not criminal masterminds.

-Get an external hard drive so you can back up your data.  Luckily, I did do this and they didn't steal it.
-Password protect your thumbdrives

-Take pictures of the receipts of your purchases.  It's a pain to save paper receipts, but a picture is quick and easy.

-Get an alarm system, seriously, just get one.