Beauty and The Beads

TAMPA, Fla. —
The National Humane Society in Tampa has taken in more than two dozen cats after helping the television show Confessions: Animal Hoarding shoot an episode in Florida.

Now the agency is looking for help from animal lovers. Officials are looking for homes for the cats and kittens, and for food.

Carol Childs of the Humane Society says the emergency response team went to Punta Gorda on Monday to help Animal Planet videotape a show that will air in the next two months. She says there are still about 15 adult cats left in the house that they hope to bring to Tampa later this week.

Childs says her contract with the network prevents her from talking about the hoarder, but says the person had about 45 cats in the house.

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HONOLULU –
Hawaii lawmakers are looking for creative ways to tax online shopping, either by requiring Internet sellers to hand over customer information to the government, or by enrolling in a multistate program in which websites voluntarily collect taxes.

Online retailer Amazon.com Inc.
(
AMZN –

news
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people
) said Monday it would stop doing business with affiliate advertisers in Hawaii if the reporting requirement becomes law, but the company would comply with the voluntary tax collection scheme.

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After seeing a demo of Imanami’s GroupID, I was keen to get my hands on the product to discover if it could really solve common identity management problems that most Windows shops face, without adding huge amounts of complexity. GroupID supports Windows Server 2003 and later and Exchange Server 2003 and later. GroupID consists of four modules: Synchronize, Automate, Self-Service, and Reports–which I’ll deal with separately for the purposes of this review.

SynchronizeThe GroupID Synchronize module lets you keep Active Directory (AD) up-to-date by synchronizing information from other data sources, such as Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server databases, LDAP-compatible directories, and text files. You can use the simple wizard to map fields from your data source to AD. In addition, you can use built-in rules or create your own VBScript solutions to perform simple data transforms. GroupID Synchronize includes the ability to preview synchronization and transform results before running a job. You can also configure email alerts.

Unlike one of its main competitors, Microsoft Forefront Identity Manager, GroupID doesn’t use a metaverse, a repository where data is stored, merged, and transformed before being distributed to connected directories. GroupID Synchronize performs transforms on the fly–but the lack of a metaverse makes GroupID less flexible in terms of merging data from multiple directories. However, GroupID’s simple approach will likely be a benefit for many organizations, and its functionality is more than adequate except for the most complex systems.

Automate

The Automate module provides semi to fully automatic AD group management functionality. Based on user information held in AD, GroupID Automate can use LDAP queries to create and update AD security groups (ie, Smart Groups) or distribution lists (DLs), as Figure 1 shows. A service runs on the machine on which GroupID is installed and periodically updates group membership. GroupID comes with a set of PowerShell commandlets for command-line automation.

Figure 1: Creating an LDAP query for a new Smart Group

GroupID Automate introduces several new group security concepts to AD. Private Groups are assigned to an owner, and group membership can be managed only by that person. Semi-Private Groups are similar to Private Groups, with the exception that users can send membership requests to the owner. No permission is required to leave or join Public Groups. Finally, Semi-Public Groups are similar to Public Groups, but email notifications are sent to the group owners as membership changes.

DLs and security groups can be expired, either manually or automatically after a set period of time. All groups created in GroupID are assigned the default expiration policy, but policies can be modified on a per-group basis. When a group is expired, initially it’s only marked as such, then deleted after a period of time that’s set in GroupID’s system configuration. SQL Server is required to expire security groups.

Dynasties in GroupID can be thought of as Smart Groups on steroids that are used to create and manage one or more child groups based on given criteria. Child groups are automatically populated under a parent Dynasty group and inherit the parent’s properties, such as group type and security settings. A query is created to determine who should be members of the child groups, but Dynasties differ from standard Smart Groups with an additional parameter, the group-by field, by which Dynasties determine how to split up the results of the query into separate child groups. For instance, you can create multiple groups in a Dynasty based on an LDAP query to list all HR managers and have the results split into multiple child groups based on a group-by field, such as Office (or physicalDeliveryOfficeName, as it appears in the AD schema). This would result in x number of groups because there are different user accounts in different offices in the returned LDAP query.

Dynasties are extremely useful for creating and managing DLs, but the logic can also be applied to security groups. Dynasty templates are included for some common scenarios, and multi-level Dynasties are also supported.

Self-Service

GroupID Self-Service provides one or more web portals for users to manage directory data and group memberships in AD. Considering that it can be costly to service calls to the Help desk, giving users the ability to manage groups without intervention from IT can be cost effective. Self-Service works in conjunction with the additional security descriptors that Automate adds to AD: Public, Semi-Public, Private, and Semi-Private.

Users can request membership to groups, and owners can manage those requests via the web portal. Self-Service supports workflows so that changes to AD information can be approved before being committed. Self-Service also supports anonymous or authenticated read-only access to the directory for the purposes of retrieving information to share via a spreadsheet or distribute to portable devices.

Reports

GroupID Reports is a free module that lets administrators generate reports on user, group, and computer objects in AD. Reports can be output in HTML, XLS, and XML formats. A wide variety of built-in reports can be tailored according to your needs.

Accurate Data Is the Key

AD rarely serves as an authoritative source of employee information, which limits its worth in terms of effectively managing security and communication via distribution lists. In organizations with 250 employees or more, GroupID can help fully realize the potential of AD and Exchange.

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Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie and her partner Brad Pitt have taken some time away from their six kids and gone on a romantic getaway.

Actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt arrive on the red carpet for the world premiere of Angelinas new film The Tourist, held at The Ziegfeld Theatre in NYC. – Johns PkI / Splash News

The A-list couple spent some quality time together at the luxurious Amangiri resort in Utah.

According to US Weekly, Pitt said he was enjoying a little mummy and daddy time.

The actor had jetted in from New Orleans, where he is currently filming new movie Cogan#39;s Trade.

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Cleveland, Ohio, is becoming quite a popular place for movies to be filmed. Not only will The Avengers be shot in Cleveland, but two other movies will be filmed here as well now. The Cleveland Film Commission announced on Thursday that Paramount Pictures is in Cleveland scouting locations for a the new movie Fun Size.

Fun Size stars Victoria Justice, who has her own show on Nickelodeon called Victorious and has made appearances on iCarly and Zoey 101.

Greater Cleveland Film Commission Executive Director Ivan Schwarz said in a statement:

“This is the third film that will be shooting in Cleveland in the next several months, and we could not have achieved this without the quick actions of our public partners at the Ohio Department of Development, the State of Ohio, Cuyahoga County and the City of Cleveland. Each of these projects is coming to Cleveland because of the city’s incredible resources, locations and people.”

The Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit is a major draw for filmmakers looking for locations to shoot.

Fun Size is the work of director Josh Schwartz (The OC, Gossip Girl), and is about a girl who loses her little brother while trick-or-treating on Halloween.

In addition to The Avengers, and now Fun Size, another movie, Boot Tracks, will also begin shooting in Cleveland this spring. Boot Tracks stars Matt Dillon and Michelle Monaghan.

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Ever wonder what a human hair looks like? Not just any human hair, but a human hair under 600x magnifcation. Well, with the Magic School Bus Microscope Lab Kit, kids dont have to wonder any more.

Dad Does, the product review dad blog, did a full hands-on, real world review on the Magic School Bus Microscope Lab and was impressed. The microscope has 100x, 300x and 600x magnification. Kids will also love the box it comes in it is shaped in the form of the Magic School Bus!

Inside the bus, kids will find a microscope, experiment cards, a science journal, slides and more. The experiment cards are a great way to introduce children to microscopes and how they work.

We really enjoyed the Magic School Bus Microscope Lab. Kids will have a whole new view on the world when they start looking at slides at 600x magnification states Dan Nessel, founder of DadDoes.Com.

DadDoes.Com also reviewed a new game from Thinkfun called Bug Trails! Thinkfun Bug Trails is really a 6 legged version of dominoes. Bug trails makes a great family game because up to 6 players can play at a time and it is fun for kids of all ages.

Nessel states, Bug Trails is a great family game. No batteries required, fits into a bag for easy portability and up to 6 players can play at once. In this age of high tech toys, it is nice to see that Thinkfun is still making great strategy games that are fun.

Dad Does is the place where Dads Do Things and Review Things. Founded in September, 2010, by Dan Nessel, DadDoes.Com has already become a destination site for Dads and Moms looking for brutally honest, informative and fun reviews. DadDoes.Com believes that parents care about more than just bottles and diapers they dont stop eating, drinking and playing just because they become parents. Dads and Moms do see things through a different lens and DadDoes.Com looks to provide information on everything, through that parent lens.

DadDoes.Com attending Toy Fair 2011 and has been testing out the toys and science kits they discovered at Toy Fair. Dad Does believes you can only offer an honest product review once you have had a chance to test the toys in a real world setting. Dad Does has been busy testing products out and has many more reviews planned for the next few weeks.

Nessel concludes, We have been very impressed with a number of toys from Toy Fair 2011. As we move into May and June we look forward to doing more reviews and articles to help parents make informed buying decisions

Keep on reading: Dad Blog Reviews Microscope Lab and Bug Trails Game

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A recent product review by Global Security magazine highlights two new features in Diskeeper 2011: Efficiency Mode and Instant Defrag. They are designed to streamline data center efficiency by minimizing waste and maximizing usefulness. It ensures up-time and consistent performance throughout, said Diskeeper.

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MINNEAPOLIS, April 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The Minnesota chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) celebrated the best public relations campaigns of 2010 during the 33rd annual Minnesota PRSA Classics Awards, held at Windows on Minnesota on Thursday, March 31. The awards banquet, emceed by FOX 9 entertainment reporter Jason Matheson and past president of Minnesota PRSA Kelly Groehler, senior manager, public relations, Best Buy Co., Inc, was attended by more than 250 communications professionals from area agencies, corporations and nonprofit organizations, as well as independent practitioners.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110401/AQ75760)

The Minnesota PRSA Classics Awards recognize excellence in the field of public relations, said Brooke Worden, APR, president of Minnesota PRSA. We have such a talented community of local professionals, and the quality of the profession here is extraordinary. This years winners really stand out for their exemplary professional skills and creativity.

The Classics Awards are divided into two categories: Elements and Programs. Classics Elements Awards honor the best program tactics, while Classics Programs Awards honor the best overall public relations campaigns.

The highest-scoring entries in the Programs Awards category were eligible for the top honor of the evening Best of Show. The award for Best of Show was presented to the American College of Surgeons and Weber Shandwick for Florida Surgical Care Initiative: Setting a National Example for Quality Healthcare.

Each year, thousands of patients are impacted and lives are lost by hospital errors and complications equivalent to a jumbo jet crashing every day and billions of dollars in costs are added to care for these patients. The American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the Florida Hospital Association partnered with Weber Shandwick to create the Florida Surgical Care Initiative, a program based on ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, to prevent surgical complications, save lives, improve care and reduce costs. Program elements included development of a logo and all marketing materials, targeted media outreach, branded website, webinar and an anthem video.

Donald G. Padilla Distinguished Practitioner Award

At the awards ceremony, the organization also honored Doug Spong, president of Carmichael Lynch, with the Donald G. Padilla Distinguished Practitioner Award.

Carmichael Lynch is one of Americas most-admired creative agencies offering inventive ideas in advertising, public relations and digital. Spong also is the founder and president of Carmichael Lynch Spong, a four-time winner of PR Agency of the Year by industry trade publications PRWeek, PR News and Holmes Report.

Spong became a member of PRSA in 1984. He joined PRSAs Counselors Academy in 1986 and earned his accreditation from the society in 1989. Spong serves both national PRSA and the Minnesota chapter in countless ways. Currently, he is co-chair of the 2011 PRSA International Conference in Orlando, Fla. Previously, he has served national PRSA as two-year chair and member of the honors and awards committee; member of the presidents task force on certification; and member of the presidents task force on defining the profession. In addition to national PRSA, Spong has served the Minnesota chapter as its president; immediate past president; president-elect; board member; and chair of several committees including Classics Awards and Public Relations.

Spong currently serves on the advisory board for the Masters in Strategic Communication program at the University of Minnesota School of Journalism; the deans advisory council for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at his alma mater, Iowa State University; and chairman of the board of directors for Koronis Ministries, a nonprofit camp, conference and retreat facility located in central Minnesota.

Over the years, Spong has received numerous awards for his achievements. He was named to the Ones to Watch list by Corporate Report magazine; named to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal Forty Under 40 inaugural class; and received six presidential citations for meritorious service to the profession from national presidents of PRSA.

About Minnesota PRSA

Minnesota PRSA is the 10th-largest chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the worlds largest organization for public relations professionals with nearly 32,000 professional and student members. PRSA is organized into more than 110 chapters nationwide, including 19 professional interest sections and affinity groups. Minnesota PRSA is comprised of nearly 400 members who represent business and industry, agencies, independent practitioners, military, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations.

EDITORS NOTE: If you have questions or wish to schedule an interview with a Minnesota PRSA member, please contact Laudan Sakizadeh at 612-455-1746 or lsakizadeh@psbpr.com.

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Restaurant review

Munch a bunch of fun in Bellevue

Munchbar in Bellevue Square offers a handful of conventional entrees, steak frites, pan-roasted chicken, seafood fettuccine and lots of munchies.

By Providence Cicero

Special to The Seattle Times

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This is a story about product placement in a documentary film deriding product placement, paid for entirely by product placement.

Though the film takes an all-out jab at this advertising trend, advertisers are on board. Morgan Spurlocks POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, opens Friday, and its the real deal.

Among the companies that participated, Chicago-based Hyatt Hotels Corp. paid $700,000 to sponsor the film, knowing it was buying into a documentary devoted to how stupid and awkward product placement can be. (Nearly every interview in the movie takes place at a Sheetz gas station where every beverage other than POM Wonderful is blurred.)

There will be a lot of questions from people like yourself about why we participated, said John Wallis, Hyatts global head of marketing and brand strategy.

It may be a risky move by Hyatt, but worth it for the buzz, Wallis said. Its harder for advertisers to catch the publics attention, and not every online video goes viral. And consumers arent watching TV the way they used to.

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