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Issue 5
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Jill E. Vaile
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Mar 20, 2001 18:48 PST
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This View From The Bay
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March 19, 2001
Issue #5
Jill E. Vaile
Publisher/Editor
Send mail to: <ji-@jilleliz.com>
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By subscription only! Welcome to your next issue of
"This View From The Bay"
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IN THIS ISSUE
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=> Feature Article: by Jill E. Vaile
Your Web & E-Commerce Sites:
Ready For Section 508 of the Federal Rehabilitation Law?
=> Industry News:
W3C This Week: Releases Canonical XML 1.0
=> Tax Tips:
A Few Simple Things That Might Avoid An Audit by Jill E. Vaile
=> SMILE! License Plates We NEVER Thought We'd See =:D
=> News From The North:
Open Elections Coming For Canada's Domain Name Authority
=> The Importance of Taking A Soul Day by Jill E. Vaile
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information
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FEATURE ARTICLE: BY JILL E. VAILE
YOUR WEB & E-COMMERCE SITES: HAVE YOU MADE THEM SECTION 508 COMPLIANT?
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Does your site discriminate against the over 500 million internet users
categorized
with a disability? Are you missing, knowingly or unknowingly, this
segment of the
on-line population?
The President's Committee on Employment of People With Disabilities, in
its 1998
report, stated that disabled consumers controlled over "$ 175 billion in
discretionary
income." This number has certainly increased over the past three
years!
Section 508
On December 21, 2000, Section 508 of the Federal Rehabilitation Law
passed into law.
This requires all IT used by federal employees to be accessible to
disabled individuals.
Specifically, this mean that all disabled persons must be able to access
both text and
non-text elements of government and contractor Web sites. Office
equipment is even
included in this! (i.e.) fax machines and photocopiers. Non-compliance
by June 21st
of this year could mean a loss of that company's slice of the
government's $ 42 billion
IT budget for the 2001 fiscal year.
While technically this law applies to all federal departments and
agencies, it also applies
in practical terms to IT services and products provided by contractors
that conduct
business with these bodies.
There is a lot of work to be done to ensure completion of the mandates
by the June
deadline. Bell Helicopter, for example, has to revamp over 50% of its
80,000+ Web pages....
hmm...do I smell a big job for some Web contractors?
Design Sites With
Accessibility Now!
How does this affect the disabled community? On the larger scale, this
is sending
a loud and clear message to the Web world: build disabled
accessibility into your
sites now to avoid big disruptions and expenses later.
On another level Section 508 now forces government agencies and
contractors
alike to make major investments in Web site redesign. Estimates are
that it will
cost upwards of $ 100 million in order to make the deadline. Some sites
require redesigning from the ground up. Understandably, not everyone
is very happy about this.
Those in the know in the disabled community are pleased by the passage
of
Section 508. The dawning of the awareness of disabled persons, whose
existence has been largely ignored is cause for celebration.
Can you spell L-O-B-B-Y???
I am among that growing number of individuals who is, as defined by the
Americans
With Disabilities Act, disabled. I wholeheartedly support any
e-commerce that aids
me in simplifying the day-to-day tasks in my life. I also applaud the
steps taken to
ensure I have just as much ability to surf, shop and cruise the Web as
any other
able-bodied person can.
Simplify By Empowering
My option to shop online, and more, empowers me. It also allows me the
discretion
to make my purchase from a location that I deem worthy of my dollars,
one that I
feel actually appreciates and wants my business.
One must acknowledge that not everyone covered by the AWDA is visibly
handicapped.
The language covers a wide range of definitions. And the only downside
to online
shopping is the fact that one must use a credit card....
Compliance with Section 508 puts all merchants on an equal footing to
compete
for my dollar. And my wallet is just one of a half a billion others.
The figure of
a half a billion is extrapolated from the USA and countries who have
participated in this type of statistical gathering, also reporting a
disabled
community with numbers that are proportionately similar .
The bottom line of e-commerce is to simplify the shopping process and
expand one's
market to global proportions. With Section 508 soon to be in place, the
voices of the
disabled how can now be heard.
For more information on Section 508, please go to:
http://www.section508.gov/
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INDUSTRY NEWS:
W3C THIS WEEK: THE RELEASE OF CANONICAL XML 1.0
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The W3C today announced the release of Canonical XML 1.00 as a W3C
Recommendation. This is a very important development in the serializing
of XML
documents because it eliminates any syntax variances, such as those
allowed in XML 1.0.
Basically this clears the way for digital signature processing, where
they are not invalidated
by any variances.
Since the W3C has made this a "recommendation", or given it's blessing,
it has given
the go ahead for it's adoption by academic, industry and research
communities.
This is a big step for the integrity of digital signatures in electronic
commerce.
The addition of this XML Recommendation adds another essential item to
the
XML family of of essential components. The necessary technology is
further cemented
for the successful completion of XML signatures, along with many other
XML supporting
implementations.
For more information on the W3C, please go to: http://www.w3.org
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TAX TIPS: A FEW SIMPLE THINGS THAT COULD SAVE YOU AN AUDIT
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While there is no 100% Audit Proof method for doing your taxes, here's a
few things you
can do that can avoid calling attention to your return.
1. Computer prepared returns are definitely the way to go. Since most
professionally
prepared returns are done by computer, it is preferred by the eye of
the IRS staff.
Using a program such as Intuit MacInTax or Turbo Tax will also allow
you to file
electronically,
If you are unable to access a computer, print your return in your
neatest handwriting.
Messy scribbles and incomplete erasures draw attention to your
return.....
2. Round numbers- (i.e.) $12,000.00 or $ 3,000.00 send up a flag to an
auditor.
Round numbers create the suspicion that you are estimating, not
keeping
and referring to, your good records. Use numbers that appear to be
true totals.
3 .If you claim deductions for large or unusual items (i.e.) earthquake,
flood damage, etc. be sure to attach your receipts as documentary
proof to the
back of your return. This way, if you do get flagged, the auditor will
take a
look at your (hopefully) reasonable receipts and pass on you for the
audit.
4. Obtaining an official address in a "low audit" area is a last resort
if you are
really in fear of an audit. If you travel for a living, this is
really not as extreme as
it may sound. You can get more information on the low and high audit
demographics at an IRS Reading Room. Here's a little food for thought-
if you
live in Nevada, you are 4 times more likely to get audited than if you
resided in Iowa.....
For more information on the IRS, please go to: http://www.irs.gov
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THESE ARE REAL LICENSE PLATES-FROM- (That Chad State) :) Florida~
I guess I Should be Ready For Anything From There But Still....
BADAZZ BADMOFO BIGANUS BVRPLZR ETPUZI
FOOYU FAG FAHRT FAQU FHART
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NEWS FROM THE NORTH:
Open Elections Coming For Canada's Domain Name Authority
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Canada's domain-name authority, the Canadian Internet Registration
Authority,
will soon be allowing it's 75,000 holders of ".ca" internet addresses to
vote online
for their own representatives for the Board of Directors. Between June
222nd
and 26th, members will vote to appoint nine of twelve new directors.
An interim board has been managing the country-code top level domain
since last Fall.
The elected board will make policy decisions for the ongoing management
of it's directory.
Membership is free when registering ".ca" names.
For further information on " .ca" please go to: http://www.cira.ca/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
----------------------------=:D--------------------------------
Need an outlet for a little road rage?
Frustrated with your continually plummeting stock prices?
This should help!
Check out URBAN 75 http://www.urban75.com
Roll up your cyber-shirtsleeves, and get in on the punching!
Take your pick of celebs from Bill Gates, George Dubya, Barney and
more....
----------------------------=:D-------------------------------
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by JILL E. VAILE
THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING A "SOUL" DAY
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It's important for us to take a "soul" day.
I did that today.
I am listening to a myriad symphony of a thousand singing
birds on a warm Spring day.
I watched my pond residents, the Mrs. Blue Heron, the two incestuous
duck couples,
watched my Newfy puppy romping past them, then swimming alongside them.
I felt the warm sun kiss my cheeks, welcome so after winter's too-long
bite.
I walked though soft pine needles, beneath a column of giant pines, it's
bed dry and
cushioning beneath my feet.
I am fortunate, indeed.
I'm trying to feel "abled" rather than "disabled". I'm glad to be
walking, though my gait
is not perfect. I can walk.
I am a lot more "abled" than I used to be. And today, being able to sit
by my pond,
and being able to ponder this view from the Bay, by just looking down
upon it, it's not
at all about ability or disability.
It's about being in such a beautiful place, on such a beautiful day.
It's about absorbing
up the vibe into the soul- storing it up for the coming days. It's
about counting your
blessings, and just being grateful to BE.
The Mourning Doves coo on long after the others have ceased.....
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Copyright 2001 Jill E. Vaile jilleliz.com
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Jill E. Vaile
Print & Online Journalist
Web Development
Publisher/Editor: This View From The Bay
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