Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Zimmerman's Plan B for Ballston - More National Security and Homeland Security Contractors

Hi, Yupette,

Now that NSF is leaving run-down Ballston what's Zimmy's back up plan for filling the aging buildings with surtax-paying corporations? Zimmy and Arlington Economic Development have devised a scheme called the Ballston Innovation Initiative, or BI2, to fill vacant older buildings with national security and homeland security contractors (now the warfighting is winding down in the Middle East and national security and homeland security budgets are being cut). So, Zimmy's 'vision' for Ballston is 'to imagine a place where in a 5-block radius, 8000 of the world's leading scientists, educators, and innovators work alongside each other. This is Ballston. A place where the impossible National Security problems become products that revolutionize the way humanity lives'.

So, think of the Ballston Innovation Initiative as a National Security Artisphere, with all sorts of fun events planned over the next few months, like National Security Deal Day on June 12th where national security entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to pitch businesses. On June 22nd, students from Virginia Tech and elsewhere will have the opportunity to compete for cash prizes for helping solve intractable National Security and Homeland Security problems during the BI2 Tech Throwdown. More fun events will be scheduled over the Summer. What the heck, Economic Development has $10 million a year to spend and only Zimmy is telling them how to spend it.

Terri - 22201


33 comments:

Dick said...

Look Jane. Look.
I see a man.
He looks bad.
Maybe a gun ship will shoot him.
Where is the gun ship?
Oh, I see it.
It sees the bad man.
Bang. Bang.
The bad man is dead.
His children are dead.
Their mother is dead too.
No more bad people.

Anonymous said...

How about this for R & D: "An Algorithm for Diversion of Essential Public Infrastructure Funds to Parks, Recreation, and Entertainment" by Barbara Donnellan and Jay Fisette?

Anonymous said...

I visited Economic Development's Website and noticed that the Arlington School System is a co-sponsor of the "Tech Throwdown" event.

Anonymous said...

I disagree with the person who wants to audit Arlington's streetscape funds first. Audit Economic Development first.

Anonymous said...

The elitist s*** who make the decisions in county government don't get to trip over brick sidewalks and crosswalks, they get to drive one-per-vehicle to 2100 from their enclaves in Fairfax County.

Anonymous said...

I wonder if the Homeland Security contractor Audrey Clement works for is participating?

Anonymous said...

Why recruit companies that are cutting their budgets with more cuts on the way? I agree that Economic Development throws tax dollars into rat holes like Ballston, but where's the oversight?

Biritney - Marymount '15 said...

Hey, Professor, I have a DVD movie about some extraterrestrials who implant humans with tiny video cameras. Maybe we can ask some of the people who hang out at Ballston Commons to participate in a Homeland Security research project.

Jeff said...

The f-ing cyber security experts love the Internet like 16 year olds love Facebook.

Anonymous said...

"For only $30,000 we'll secure your laptop against attacks by foreign hackers".

Anonymous said...

Who is Zimmerman attracting to Ballston? Bunch of cyber geek companies who are competing for shrinking federal dollars with cyber security products that are mostly similar, with a few exceptions.

Anonymous said...

Next financial bubble - bad loans to start up tech firms.

Anonymous said...

What is Ballston going to be, a corporate cyberwarfare zone?

Anonymous said...

National Security Artisphere...what next?

LOL said...

Verizon is their ISP.

Anonymous said...

Correction - Verizon partnered with NSA.

22201 said...

Obviously Ballston is going to be a cyberwarfare zone, corporations partnered with universities. Nearby formerly single-family neighborhoods are being in-filled with expensive townhouses. People doing the 'planning' are non-residents and residents who will be retired in five years. Leaving us with ...what?

Anonymous said...

When does Wilson Boulevard in front of NSF get repaved?

Anonymous said...

Conclusion? There's a big cyberwar in our future?

Anonymous said...

So, rather than truly diversify Arlington's economy Zimmy gets us more firmly wedded to the federal government's roller coaster spending? What a jerk.

Anonymous said...

On-the-job-retirees, resident and non-resident, are responsible for Arlington County's "planning".

Anonymous said...

God forbid that a corporation that is involved in solar panel R & D for urban buildings calls Economic Development asking for information about establishing an R & D site in Arlington.

LOL said...

They would be referred to the County's energy research partner - Dominion Resources.

Anonymous said...

Conclusions from yesterday's Ballston cyber expo - for only $13,000 per month cyber security corporations, partnered with NSA, will protect your laptop from attack by foreign intelligence agencies.

Anonymous said...

Reality Check - Zimmy is so greedy for $$$$ to fund his stupid Pike streetcar that he would invite the Chinese Ministry of National Defense to build a cybersecurity R & D center in Ballston. Love those commercial real eatate surtax $$$$.

Anonymous said...

Speaking of BI2, there's another opportunity this Saturday, June 15th, to connect with first tier NSA cybersecurity corporate partners.

Chang Wangquan said...

Yesterday's cybersecurity exposition at the Westin Hotel was an invaluable opportunity for foreign intelligence services to see and hear about first-tier NSA corporate contractors' products and services and their capabilities.

Sergei Shoigu said...

Da !

Anonymous said...

Best means of becoming a part of the next wave of cyber security R & D is to contact the Politburo directly:

Christopher Zimmerman
General Secretary
Office of the Central Committee
2100 Boulevard of the Commissars
Peoples Republic of Arlington 22201

Or call +1-703-228-3130

Anonymous said...

Or, you can write Commissar Fisette:

Gourmet J. Fi$ette
Hedocrat-in-Chief
Arlington Board of Sports, Entertainment, and Recreation
2100 LGBT Empowerment Boulevard
Neverland-on-the-Potomac, Virginia 22201

Anonymous said...

Isn't it obvious? The cyber security corporations are more suckers being lured into Arlington to provide tax revenue for Zimmy's streetcar and other County Board pet projects. Just as Economic Development lures restaurants into Arlington with all sorts of promises, only to see the restaurants close after 18 months because of all the competition.

Welcome, Cybersuckers said...

Agreed. Arlington has one of the worst local climates in the USA, and the weather is getting worse. Also has increasing traffic, outrageously expensive housing, crowded schools, a personal property tax, a meals tax, a commercial real estate surtax, a surtax to fund do-nothing business improvement districts, fiscally irresponsible government, crumbling public infrastructure (except for sports, recreation, and entertainment infrastructure), the list goes on and on.

Anonymous said...

Or you can contact:

Mary Hynes
Co-Chair for Party Zone Planning
Arlington County Board of Hospitality
Six Blocks From Whitlows
Arlington, VA 22201