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Samba4 aims to be a drop-in Active Directory server replacement. It’s still in alpha, so the easy way to try it out is with Resara Server, which supplies a polished administration console and decent documentation. so grab your Windows peecees and come take Resara for a spin.

Samba4 aims to be a drop-in Active Directory server replacement. It’s still in alpha, so the easy way to try it out is with Resara Server, which supplies a polished administration console and decent documentation. so grab your Windows peecees and come take Resara for a spin.

Resara is Easy Samba4

Active Directory is the keystone in Windows networks, so an open source replacement for it is very big deal. Samba4 is designed to be an AD replacement, and it is the only open source project with this goal. Samba4, like Samba3, is a LAN manager that supports Windows, Mac, and Linux clients. Samba4 is in alpha, so you don’t want to put it on production machines yet. but you can start getting familiar with it, and this is a good time because the Samba team expects their first 4.0 release to come out this year. It’s been a long journey, as Samba4 has been in development since 2003.

there are multiple ways to get Samba4. you can download alpha sources, nightly builds for those who find that alpha releases are not adventurous enough, and your distro might have packages.

the easy way is try a nice prefab setup like Resara Server. Resara integrates all the pieces, supplies a good graphical administration console, and has decent documentation. you can download full ISO images, a VirtualBox OVA image, or just install the Resara packages on your Ubuntu system. the latest release of Samba4 is 4.0.0alpha20, and Resara Server uses 4.0.0alpha17.

there is a good detailed howto on installing, configuring, and testing a Samba4 domain controller, which includes some helpful videos. This is also a great help with Resara server.

Keeping Windows Happy. Ha.

the idea of creating a drop-in replacement for Windows Active Directory is a noble one. AD is expensive in multiple ways: overpriced over-complicated licensing, high hardware requirements, inefficient cumbersome administration, and gratuitous lockin “features”.

on the client side, Windows PCs are very particular about how they connect to a network, and they require some kind of AD support for almost everything. Adding to the fun, AD relies on Kerberos, DNS, and LDAP. but not nice ordinary Unix Kerberos, DNS, and LDAP; it wants special “enhanced” features just for Windows. (You didn’t expect real interop, did you?) Microsoft networking protocols rely on remote procedure calls (RPCs) in amazingly creative – or bizarre, take your pick – ways that are difficult for a third party to implement. Samba3 will never advance beyond being a Windows NT-style domain controller and Active Directory member. Replacing Active Directory server is Samba4′s special job.

Resara for Small Shops and Simple Networks

I tested Resara Server 1.1.2, released April 18, 2012. This is a minor bugfix to the major January 1.1 release. I tried the standard commercial version, which offers a 30-day free trial. there is also a free-of-cost community edition and an enterprise version. the free version includes:

• Active Directory-style domain controller
• User management
• Network host management
• File shares
• Automatic drive mapping for Windows clients

the commercial and enterprise additions include WebDav for Web-enabled file sharing, technical support, server configuration backup, and multi-server replication with failover. Standard costs $749.99 for up to two servers, and the enterprise price tag of $1199 is for unlimited servers. the price tag includes a year of unlimited support. That’s all you pay – there are no user or client licenses, and no additional software licenses for the myriad services and applications that make up Resara Server.

Resara also offers a number of hardware bundles. the Mini costs $1299.99; it’s small, quiet, includes two hard disks in a RAID 1 configuration, and supports USB-attached storage. the Pro starts at $1799 and the Rack at $1899. these are the same except for the form factor, supporting a maximum of 6TB storage, hot-swap RAID 5, dual NICs, and an Atom D525 processor. all three have a three-year hardware warranty and one year of unlimited support.

Installation and Getting Acquainted

Installing Resara was a bit mind-bending because it’s stock Ubuntu 10.04 LTS with the GNOME desktop, so the installer messages are all about desktop apps like F-Stop, chat, and OpenOffice. other than that little bit of dissonance for a LAN server it was uneventful, a typical easy fast Ubuntu installation. the partitioner was a bit annoying; I chose to let the installer automatically partition the whole disk, expecting that I would have a chance to review this and make changes. but no. It divided the disk into a root and swap partitions, and did not report their sizes or offer an option to make changes. the advanced button only gave bootloader and network proxy options.

Resara uses the generic Ubuntu kernel, rather than the server kernel. the Resara Admin Console requires a graphical desktop environment. This can be on the server, or you can run administer it remotely because the Admin Console can be installed on any Linux, Mac, or Windows PC.

the Admin Console has a clean appearance and logical organization. It supports the usual configurations: users, groups, networks, network hosts, shares, name services, and storage management. a nice feature is being able to manage LDAP organizational units (OUs) from a graphical interface. you can control all the usual Windows folderol such as roaming profiles, user file storage, and login scripts. a rather large missing piece is a group policies manager; you have to edit group policies on a Windows machine using the Windows remote server administration tools.

Active Directory protocols are extremely picky about time and DNS, so Resara sets these up during installation. when you’re joining a new Windows clients to a Resara domain, make sure that the Resara server is the only DNS server configured on the client.

Resara server can be joined to an existing AD domain, but this is not supported in the Admin Console. If you want to try this, follow this Samba4 howto.

Migration

the Samba team plan to include a tool for migrating from Samba3 in the Samba 4.0 release. Migrating from Active Directory is a lot trickier. One way to do it manually is to join Resara/Samba4 to an existing AD domain, replicate it, and then promote the Resara/Samba4 server to primary domain controller. I think that providing a good utility to automate this process will be the #1 driver of Samba4 adoption.

the current release of Resara is good for smaller shops with fairly simple networks. It’s fast and easy, and doesn’t require an über Linux or Windows guru. but, the Admin Console is not complete, and you’ll still want to be acquainted with the command line for complete functionality, remote administration, and troubleshooting. there isn’t any documentation for the Resara commands, which are in the rdsutils package. the Resara people are active in the forums and IRC, so you can usually get fast answers. there is a secure VPN option to let a Resara support engineer log into your server and examine it remotely.

should you buy Resara server for your business? If you’re already a Samba and Linux guru, you probably don’t need it. If you want a nice prefab system that’s ready to go to work, Resara has a lot going for it. Check out the free trials and then decide.

1771: Robert Owen is born in Newtown, Montgomeryshire, in North Wales. the capitalist and social reformer will gain influence as a proponent of the humane treatment of industrial workers, a critic of unrestricted child labor, a co-founder of labor’s cooperative movement and the founder of several utopian communities.

The son of a saddler and ironmonger, Owen was apprenticed to drapers in Lincolnshire and London, starting at age 9. he later moved to Manchester, the epicenter of the Industrial Revolution in England. there, he formed a partnership with a mechanic to open a factory that made cotton-spinning machinery.

Rather than just making something, Owen was making the machines that made something. and he was making money.

At age 19, Owen was the employer of 500 people. he imported the first bales of Sea Island cotton from the United States to England and improved the quality of the spun cotton.

He and his partners set up the Charlton Twist co. in 1794. They purchased the New Lanark mills in Scotland from David Dale in 1799. Owen married Dale’s daughter the same year.

Dale had been, for his time, a considerate employer who was concerned about the welfare of his child employees. he wanted Owen to continue this brand of benevolent industrialism, and Owen agreed with his principles.

Dismayed by the living conditions of the company’s employees, Owen quickly established a model village for them, with up-to-date sanitation. he also instituted sickness and old-age insurance funds.

Although Owen continued the common practice of employing child laborers, he created schools for them — about a century ahead of his time. New Lanark became famous throughout industrialized Europe.

But Owen’s business partners didn’t like having their profits siphoned off for the good of their workers, and they broke off with him. Owen found new partners in Quaker William Allen and utilitarian philosopher Jeremy Bentham.

Owen propounded his theories of utopian socialism in an 1813 book, a New View of Society, or Essays on the Principle of the Formation of the Human Character. Owen desired to bring people the benefits of the Industrial Revolution while avoiding the worst of its evils.

Humanity’s shortcomings on both the personal and societal level, Owen believed, could be overcome by subjecting people to the proper influences and environment, starting at birth. only then would competitive society make way for cooperative society.

Owen drafted a bill for “industrial emancipation” in 1815. it would have prohibited employing children less than 10 years old, and set a maximum 10½-hour day for those 10 to 18, he was greatly discouraged when Parliament finally enacted a watered-down reform with a 9-year-old limit and 12-hour day in 1819.

Owen testified before the House of Commons Committee on the Poor Law that the increasing automation of industrial production robbed working people of their jobs. he believed that villages of 1,200 people should be set up on 1,200-acre (2 square-mile) plots devoted to a mix of agricultural and industrial production. This, he reasoned, would reduce poverty, and he urged individuals, churches, counties and the national government to form such settlements.

Owen set up some of his own. In 1825, he bought the town of New Harmony, Indiana, from the German immigrant Rappite religious sect and established a utopian community there. Or tried to.

Although New Harmony prospered at first, the farmers, laborers and professionals soon fell to quarreling about politics and religion. the utopian colony failed in 1828. Owen lost 80 percent of his investment of 50,000 pounds sterling (the equivalent of a $5.3-million loss today).

Owen returned to Britain and quit the New Lanark enterprise over disagreements with fellow shareholders. he financed Owenite communities in Orbiston, Scotland; Ralahine, Ireland; and Queenwood in Hampshire, England. the first two lasted only a few years, but the third had a six-year run from 1839 to 1845, gaining considerable fame.

Owen set to work establishing — and aiding the establishment of — cooperative societies for mutual trading: essentially stores owned by their customer-members. he also set up co-op factories and markets for their products. following the creation of the London Equitable Labor Exchange in 1832, similar organizations sprang up in other cities.

The system bogged down when benefits for the worker-members exceeded profits. Prices at the co-ops rose, and people bought from the competition. but worker- and consumer-owned co-ops still exist on a smaller scale in great Britain, throughout Europe and indeed around the world.

When Owen retired from active leadership of the cooperative movement in 1834, the Owenite Trade Union had a million members.

Owen lectured and wrote on his social, educational and philosophical theories, penning Book of the New Moral World, Revolution in the Mind and Practice of the Human race and the Life of Robert Owen Written by Himself.

Despite the anti-religious tone of much of his earlier written work, Owen became involved in the Spiritualist movement in 1853. he died Nov. 17, 1858, age 87.

Image: Robert Owen’s plan for New Harmony, Indiana, exemplifies his concept of the ideal community.Wikipedia

See also:

Takashi Hagiwara / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

the small number of ibises released into the wild is a key reason why so few of the birds have hatched eggs under natural conditions, experts say, despite successes in artificial incubation or having birds incubate eggs in captivity.

according to Su Yunshan, chief researcher at the Tokyo-based Institute for Environmental Culture and an expert on conservation of the birds in China, dozens of crested ibises usually form a flock to breed collectively.

“Taking examples in China into account, there should be at least 10 pairs for them to hatch eggs in the wild,” said Su, who also serves on a ministry subcommittee on adapting the birds to nature.

As more and more crested ibises have been released into the wild on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture, the number of mating pairs has increased to 15 this year–doubling from last year to bring the number to more than 10 for the first time.

This is believed to have contributed to the first wild birth of a crested ibis chick in 36 years.

however, there are still many concerns over the birds’ hatching in the wild. Experts are concerned, for example, that released birds have laid many unfertilized eggs.

Out of 30 eggs produced last year, only three, or 10 percent, were fertilized, according to the ministry–an extremely low figure considering that 60 percent of eggs would normally be fertilized.

although experts have yet to determine why, they believe it is probably because the birds have been subject to stress in the wild.

some of the released birds gave up incubating eggs after being attacked by crows or martens, according to Su.

Prof. Shinichi Hayama at Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University said it is more difficult for crested ibises to hatch chicks in the wild compared to storks, which were released into the wild earlier than the former.

“Compared to storks, crested ibises are not good at surviving against natural enemies or building nests,” Hayama said. “I suspect it’s difficult for mating pairs to focus on hatching eggs because they’re too busy finding food and protecting themselves. I believe the hurdle is much higher for crested ibises than storks.”

the ibis chick just born is expected to face many difficulties on its road to adulthood, not only in surviving threats from its enemies, but also in finding feeding grounds and avoiding infection.

Hayama is also concerned that all the 78 crested ibises released so far are descendants of three birds from China.

“As the number of released crested ibises is limited right now, inbreeding among them will likely become excessive,” Hayama pointed out. “I think humans should do more to decrease their stress for the time being, such as eliminating their enemies.”

(Apr. 24, 2012)

The lord and lady of the rings!

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel were one of the most jaw-dropping couples on the red carpet at Monday’s Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. (Biel wore a plunging white Prada dress with cascading jade green stones; Timberlake looked handsome in a black Tom Ford tuxedo with a satin shawl lapel, evening shirt, satin bowtie, cufflinks and leather “Chelsea” boots.)

PHOTOS: what all the stars wore at the Met Gala

Over the weekend, however, the recently engaged couple were their more typical low-key selves in the Big Apple at jewelry boutique Eli Halili in Soho — where Biel, 30, and Timberlake, 31, tried on wedding bands.

Jessica BielCredit: CWNY/FameFlynet Pictures

Set to wed this August, the couple of five years spent over a half an hour Saturday in the shop with jewelry designer Eli Halili trying on wedding bands and perusing other pieces in the shop, including one-of-a-kind ancient rings and precious stone necklaces.

PHOTOS: Jessica’s hot body evolution

Although they didn’t select their wedding bands during Saturday’s jaunt, the twosome did drop $6,500 — buying a $2,200 ring (a 24 carat gold ring with a labradorite semi-precious stone) and two necklaces ($2,500 and $1,800, respectively).

No confirmation yet on what designer new Year’s Eve actress Biel will select for her wedding gown.

PHOTOS: JT’s wackiest looks

“Monique Lhuillier has sent over some sketches,” says a Biel pal. “She’s Jessica’s first choice.”

 as for the venue? The couple have reportedly been mulling locations from California to Italy. “It will be a big wedding,” a source told us. “They have lots of people they want to invite.”

Spring fashion trends are not only for women. There are new designer boys clothing and accessories available for the fashionable boy this season. Spring garment designs for boys will include practical colors and easy-to-care-for fabrics in trousers and tops that any mother can appreciate.

Cotton Blazers and Practical Mac Jackets

One of the most important items in any young man’s spring wardrobe is a lightweight blazer that can be worn on special occasions. Cotton blazers for boys this spring will include notched collars, back vent detailing, comfortable pocket placement and two-button front closures. the cotton blazer style makes any young boy look neat, presentable and fashionable at the same time.

The Mac jacket is a must-have item for any boy’s spring wardrobe. Unpredictable weather makes having one of these jackets a necessity. Hoods are detachable which makes a Mac jacket versatile as well. This spring, the Mac jacket comes with easy-to-use Velcro fasteners for fuss-free dressing.

Designer Boys Clothing in Cashmere and Cotton

The fashion trend for boys this season includes jumpers in cashmere and cotton. Cotton jumpers in vivid stripes pair up well with solid trousers or shorts. Cashmere jumpers in sophisticated shades of gray make any boy look and feel well-dressed. Shades of gray pair well with other colors making it a great neutral shade that goes with anything.

Spring Trousers and Jeans

Trousers for boys this spring will see many designs in the comfortable fabric of cotton. This lightweight fabric is the perfect choice for trousers as the weather grows warmer. Basic denim jeans are the one garment that every boy needs in his wardrobe. Jeans for spring will include a classic fit with plenty of room for easy motion.

Velcro Pumps and Wellington Boots

With spring comes the rainy season. the newest trend in Wellington Boots for boys offers comfort, style and practicality combined in one boot. Stripe detailing on the Wellington boot this season makes them classy and yet functional at the same time. Boy’s can splash around and look great while doing it.

Designer boys clothing this spring include shades of gray, Ivy green, rich, bright blue, charcoal and soft muted tones. Muted colors blend well with other colors and make it easier to choose an outfit that pairs well together. bright stripes will also be popular this spring. Nothing says fresh and new like colorful stripes on a spring jumper. This season will be a fashionable one for boys everywhere.

The past two years have witnessed the growth and rapid expansion of the tablet computer market. A record 19.7 Million of these devices were shipped globally in 2010 and the projections for 2011 are even higher. The future certainly seems bright for the makers of these devices. Critics on the other hand are quick to dismiss this trend as hype and are quick to point out that these devices offer nothing new to the consumer. So what is the future of tablet computers in the market?

A tablet device is neither a Smartphone nor a Personal Computer. Most of these gadgets do not have video cameras like Smartphone’s and cannot make phone calls. They also lack the peripheral devices that have come to be associated with PC’s, namely, the mouse and keyboard. Nonetheless, you may plug-in these peripherals as accessories if you wish to. The screen may be bigger than a Smartphone’s but it is smaller than that of a PC. Basically, the main selling points for slate devices are the ultra thin stylish design, touch screen, wireless internet access and ingenious applications.

Other features of slate computers such as email, games, music and videos can easily be accessed using other gadgets. it is difficult to pinpoint unique aspects of tablet computers that are not present in other tech implements. nevertheless, these devices have become all the rage among consumers. What is it that fuels the demand for tablet devices?

According to analysts, the ease of retrieving content is the main factor that boosts the sale of slate PC’s. Majority of slate users are content consumers. People who are interested in watching movies, reading online magazines, books, newspapers, listening to music and sharing stuff on social media. The tablet makers targets this specific niche that consists of a large number of teenagers, young adults and working class people. Most of these people find it easier to access their favorite content using tablets than through PC’s.

On the flip side of the divide are content creators. These are individuals who require software such as word processors, spreadsheets, slides and databases to work with. Such individuals may not see the need for tablet computers that do not perform these functions effectively.

There has been tremendous growth in the slate PC’s market for the last couple of years. Albeit media hype has contributed to their popularity, design and applications are the major selling points of tablet computers. however, there are many functions which you cannot perform using tablet computers. in such instances, your good old laptop or PC will come in handy to complete the job.

Keep it Simple; a Guide to Assistive Technologies, by Ravonne a. Green and Vera Blair, Z711.92.H3 G74 2011. 

“Among computer users, about 25 percent have been reported as having difficulty with vision, 24 percent have mobility impairments, and 29 percent of computer users have problems with hearing. “ from keep it Simple, p. 4. Most of them are unaware of the free assistive technologies built right into the Microsoft software in the library computer that they are using. keep it Simple  will show you how to find and use that and other free software assistive technology (AT) to help patrons use computers, maybe even your catalogues.

First the authors convince you, and give you facts and figures useful for making a case for turning over computers to AT or writing  a grant for extra computers. they also bring you up to date about the technology available for libraries. But what impressed me most, was that there was so much freeware already built into Microsoft that could be used right now. here are some examples of other freeware:  Emacspeak which speaks aloud specific printed information, such as a date. FATBITS is a screen magnifier for Windows XP free for downloading which enlarges the screen area abound the pointer. There’s WordTalk, which is a free text-to-speech software for use with Word 97 and later. Free Cursor enlarges the cursor.  SUITEKeys 1.0 for Microsoft Windows 95, 98, NT 4.0, and 2000/XP is a speech recognition system to operate a Windows environment computer, for hands free operation. and then there’s hardware. Scanners can be turned into reading machines with the right software (p.24.)

It might be easy to let the amount of information overwhelm, but there is enough at the basic, free level, to make access to everyday computers for seeing and hearing challenged patrons more accessable.

Please email me, Cathy, with any topics you’d like to see in a blog.

Please contact the Information Services Team if you’d like to check out this  title. Thanks.

Dreams take wing and go where they will in Silicon Valley, where driveways are permanent parking spots for cars with fading finishes, and garages are buzzing and bursting with creative enterprises. A peek inside the Santa Clara garage of Steve and Anita Travis reveals their enthusiasm for building scale-model hotrods, airplanes, and Universal Pictures monsters such as Frankenstein from the classic horror movies.

Their twin workbenches are covered with neatly organized model parts, tiny tools, glue, paint, dry brushes, and plastic models in various stages of completion. one garage wall is lined with metal shelves holding unopened model kits.

"I could build a model a month until I die and have leftovers," says Steve, who is retired.

And that’s just the garage. inside their house, completed models are displayed in glass cases and on shelves across walls. There isn’t room enough to display all the more than 200 show awards Steve—and occasionally Anita—has won.

"I love building models. I love to go to hobby shops and handle them!" says Steve.

"It’s really special to have a hobby you can do and enjoy together with your spouse," says Anita, who works for the city of Santa Clara. Steve introduced her to model making when they were married 25 years ago.

"We’re a good team," agrees Steve, who got his first $1.59 scale model, a Grumman F9F Cougar Navy jet fighter (his dad was in the Navy), for his tenth birthday. Nowadays, a similar kit sells for around $20 online.

Since, as everyone knows, "love isn’t love until you give it away," the couple has found a way to share their love of scale modeling with wounded warriors in the Bay Area’s veterans hospitals in San Francisco, Martinez, and Menlo Park. for the last twelve years, they have run the year-round Veteran’s Model Drive program of the Silicon Valley Scale Modelers (SVSM).

On behalf of SVSM, Steve and Anita deliver 25 model kits to each veterans hospital twice a year, donating 150 kits annually. since they took over the project, they have purchased, stored in their home and garage, and delivered more than 4,300 kits to the three hospitals.

Because of hospital regulations, they must donate model kits with pieces that snap together rather than are glued. To raise money to buy the snap kits, they sell donated regular kits at model shows held throughout the year, raising $2,900 in 2011.

"it makes us feel good to know that we’re doing something for somebody who needs our help," says Steve, who keeps a notebook of thank you letters from the hospital staffs.

"when we first pulled up to the VA hospitals twelve years ago [to drop off kits], we saw older vets in wheel chairs sunning themselves. Now we see young vets just off deployment, trying to get an arm or a leg to work," he says.

Putting a scale model together takes patience, hand-eye coordination, a knowledge of tools and painting techniques, and artistic vision. it is a solitary pleasure and challenge, but once finished, the hobby becomes social for Anita and Steve, who meet up with other enthusiastic scale modelers at monthly SVSM meetings and at periodic shows with other clubs.

The mission of Silicon Valley Scale Modelers (SVSM), with about 40 active members, is to promote the hobby. Club programs cover all genres of scale modeling—automobiles, science-fiction and fantasy creatures, military vehicles, aircraft, and dioramas of battles.

Visit the SVSM website at svsm.org. To contribute to the SVSM Veteran’s Model Drive, contact Steve Travis at stevenanita50@yahoo.com.

Clubhouse Crook Called Out

Ex-Mets Attendant Took Team Collectibles

The former long-time clubhouse manager of the new York Mets was sentenced on Monday, Apr. 16, for stealing nearly $2.3 million in team memorabilia and collectables and evading taxes.

Charlie Samuels, 55, of Arverne, was ordered by Queens Supreme Court Justice Fernando Camacho to serve five years’ probation after the former Mets employee pled guilty in February to second-degree criminal possession of stolen property and third- and fourth-degree criminal tax fraud.

As part of his sentence, Samuels agreed to pay restitution of over $20,000 to the state Department of Taxation and Finance, over $14,000 to the city Department of Finance, nearly $25,000 to Sterling Mets L.P., the owners of the ballclub, and $15,000 in forfeiture to the Queens District Attorney’s office.

Samuels is also banned from all Mets facilities, including Citi Field in Flushing, their spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla. and MCU Park in Coney Island, the home of the Mets’ minor league affiliate, the Brooklyn Cyclones.

“[Samuels] betrayed the trust of his longtime employers,” said Queens District Attorney Richard a. Brown in a statement. “he had a baseball fan’s dream job, but allowed greed to get in his way. He’s now lost his job and his reputation.”

According to the guilty plea, Samuels knowingly possessed hundreds of autographed and unsigned Mets jerseys, baseballs, bats, helmets and other equipment between Sept. 1 and Nov. 13, 2007, that had been stolen from Sterling Mets, L.P., and which had an appraised value of $2,282,265.

The items were recovered in November 2010 from the basement of a Madison, Conn., house belonging to a friend of Samuels. In pleading guilty, Samuels stated under oath that he did not possess any other property belonging to Sterling Mets, L.P.

Samuels also pleaded guilty to under reporting the true amount of his income on his 2009 new York State tax returns in order to avoid a tax liability for the year. The indictment specifically charged that Samuels under reported the true amount of the dues and gratuities that he had received from ball players and others.

Brown expressed his appreciation to Sterling Mets, L.P., Major League Baseball’s Department of Investigations, Det. Andrew Bolonka of the Office of Port St. Lucie (Florida) Sheriff Ken J. Mascara, city Department of Finance Commissioner David M. Frankel and his staff, and state Department of Taxation and Finance Thomas H. Mattox and his staff for their assistance and cooperation during the investigation.

The investigation was conducted by Det. Gerard McNally and Sgt. James Baratta of the NYPD Organized Crime Investigation Division, under the supervision of Lt. Christopher Fasano, Capt. John a. Dusanenko and Inspector Brian O’Neill, and under the overall supervision of Chief Anthony Izzo, of the Organized Crime Control Bureau; and by Forensic Accountant James J. Dever, who is assigned to the District Attorney’s Economic Crimes Bureau, and Financial Analysts Andrew W. Risi and Mathew D. Scavetta, of the District Attorney’s Special Proceedings Bureau.

Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Maloney, of the District Attorney’s Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau, prosecuted the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Gerard a. brave, bureau chief, and Mark L. Katz, deputy bureau chief, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Peter a. Crusco and Deputy Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Linda M. Cantoni.

Pink, sparkly and…synthetic.  the nasty ingredient filled cosmetics being marketed to young girls may be cute but are they worth it?

My daughter, like most 9 year olds, loves to shop at store like Claire’s Boutique. It is a little girl’s dream: jewelry, accessories, makeup.  That last one is where I have the problem…you know I have to go there.

When we are in that store and my little girl is busy looking at the fingerless gloves and best friend necklaces I can’t help but dive into the cosmetics section.  little lip glosses and glitters packaged in cute containers few girls could resist, smelling like a synthetic version of fruits and flowers and candy, all pink and purple and sparkly.  So tempting I kind of want to buy them myself and surely can’t blame girls for wanting them.

It’s when I turn these products over and read the ingredient listings that I feel sick.  Then sad.  Then mad. How dare stores and cosmetic manufacturers market their toxic junk to young girls? Sure, many woman do not realize that their department store cosmetics are full of toxic ingredients either, but there is just something really wrong with selling them to little girls, especially when they come in such sweet packaging.

Finding Non-Toxic Beauty Supplies for Girls

There are some cute nontoxic lip gloss/balms out there in fun flavors and colors, like Crazy Rumors.  They may not come in an ice cream cone or lip shaped package, but they also don’t come with hazardous ingredients.

I know that there are a few organic skin care lines for teens.  Now we need a fun product line for our younger beauties – the ones who like sparkle and shine in super fruity flavor.  If anyone knows of a brand already doing this please let me know and I will promote the heck out of them.

The last time we were at Claire’s Boutique, my daughter came over to where I was scouring ingredient labels and picked up a particularly intriguing lip gloss, opened the cap, gave it a sniff and said “this one smells like…polish remover”.  Probably not that far off.

[Image via Liz Thompson]