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:
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.
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?
I visited Economic Development's Website and noticed that the Arlington School System is a co-sponsor of the "Tech Throwdown" event.
I disagree with the person who wants to audit Arlington's streetscape funds first. Audit Economic Development first.
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.
I wonder if the Homeland Security contractor Audrey Clement works for is participating?
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?
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.
The f-ing cyber security experts love the Internet like 16 year olds love Facebook.
"For only $30,000 we'll secure your laptop against attacks by foreign hackers".
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.
Next financial bubble - bad loans to start up tech firms.
What is Ballston going to be, a corporate cyberwarfare zone?
National Security Artisphere...what next?
Verizon is their ISP.
Correction - Verizon partnered with NSA.
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?
When does Wilson Boulevard in front of NSF get repaved?
Conclusion? There's a big cyberwar in our future?
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.
On-the-job-retirees, resident and non-resident, are responsible for Arlington County's "planning".
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.
They would be referred to the County's energy research partner - Dominion Resources.
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.
Reality Check - Zimmy is so greedy for $$$$ to fund his stupid Pike streetcar that he would invite the Chinese Ministry of National Defense to build a cybersecurity R & D center in Ballston. Love those commercial real eatate surtax $$$$.
Speaking of BI2, there's another opportunity this Saturday, June 15th, to connect with first tier NSA cybersecurity corporate partners.
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.
Da !
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
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
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.
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.
Or you can contact:
Mary Hynes
Co-Chair for Party Zone Planning
Arlington County Board of Hospitality
Six Blocks From Whitlows
Arlington, VA 22201
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