Just out of college? Want to make a difference? Want a job? Apply Here

One-Year Green Position for Young People Rock Creek Conservancy has the opportunity to serve as a host organization for a Chesapeake Conservation Corps participant. The Chesapeake Bay Trust Conservation Corps program provides service learning opportunities and green job training for young adults (age 18-25) through environmental and energy conservation projects. The initiative pairs participants with organizations for hands-on environmental, leadership, and technical training opportunities for a one-year term of service to begin in late August 2012. There are a variety of options for on-the-ground environmental restoration and conservation projects in communities throughout Maryland. But we think one of the best opportunities is right here. Rock Creek Conservancy currently has a terrific Corps volunteer whose term ends in August, and we would love to have another one begin a one-year term of service in August 2012. The volunteer would receive a stipend from the Chesapeake Bay Trust to spend the year with us helping to build our neighborhood-based stewardship program to protect Rock Creek. Click here for more information. Interested applicants should apply directly through the Chesapeake Bay Trust by following instructions at www.cbtrust.org/chesapeakeconservationcorps. The application deadline is May 14, 2012. Applicants interested in a position with Rock Creek Conservancy should send also send a resume and cover letter to info@rockcreekconservancy.org. Thank you for help getting the word out about this wonderful program! Warmest regards, Beth Mullin Executive Director

The US federal government Cloud Computing Initiative

The Federal Cloud Computing Initiative (FCCI) will deliver improvements in federal IT, but before it does so agencies must first overcome a number of key challenges. Chief among them is security. To address this issue, the FedRAMP program is providing a framework for agencies to test and certify cloud computing vendors – but what will remain the responsibility of the agency? With shrinking budgets and growing IT needs, the federal government has identified data center consolidation as a top priority. Launched in February 2010, the Federal Data Center Consolidation Initiative (FDCCI) seeks to deliver on the promise of a more integrated IT infrastructure. With inventory complete and initial consolidation plans submitted, agencies are now preparing for the next steps. Some critical concerns facing agency compliance include the challenges of governance, culture, and funding.

http://ctovision.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Federal-Cloud-Computing-Strategy1.pdf

- TT/Bd

Discovery flies over Washington DC on decommissioning

Another milestone in air-space history -- the Discovery comes to the museum annex at Dulles (IAD). Get outside and watch the overflight.

"Space Shuttle Discovery to Fly Over Goddard En Route to Virginia 
On Tuesday, April 17, bring your lawn chairs and picnic blankets to the Goddard Mall (grass area in front of Building 8) at 10:00 a.m. for a celebration of human spaceflight as we watch Space Shuttle Discovery fly over Goddard’s Greenbelt campus. The flight is contingent upon weather, so check the Center-wide e-mail that will be disseminated the morning of Tuesday, April 17 for confirmation of the event and additional event details. The flyover is expected to occur by 11:00 a.m. " 

E-book Pricing Subject of US Dept of Justice investigation

The US DoJ is pursuing Apple and book publishers regarding collusion in setting eBook prices. Details at BBC.

Using A.I. To confirm an evolutionary trait, and bring us closer to Robot Overlords

Students from Trinity College (Dublin) have crafted a neural network model to demonstrate one intelligence theory — that human intelligence evolved based on the need for social teamwork and indexing a variety of social relationships and states. The experiment involved programming a base group of 50 simulated 'brains' which were required to participate one of two classical game theory dilemmas — the Prisoner's Dilemma or the Snowdrift game.

Upon completion of either game, each 'brain' produced 'offspring' asexually, with 'brains' that made more advantageous choices during the games programmed to have a better chance to reproduce. After 50,000 generations, the model showed that as cooperation increased, so did the intelligence of the programmed brainstorm.

Read about it here...