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Show Th Internet by Col. Michael F. b ong m detriment? or forward obscene or offensive materials are in violation of the Joint Ethics Regula- Turner Inspector General, McClellan AFB, Calif. Most of us have found something beneficial about the Internet It provides us with access to information which used to take hours or weeks to obtain and even some things which. we would never have been able to access before. There are both benefits and liabilities associated with this newtechnology. Although the web helps mostyoung people who use it for their studies, others may waste time or seek out harmful sites or contacts. If the Internet shut down today, most of us would be hampered in our job performance or personal lives at home. How do the benefits of the worldwide web stack up against the problems we may experience? The benefits Nearly every base and organization in the Department of Defense has a Web site and depends on the Internet for distribution of information and performance of processes. When we need to find out something, we can usually get it within a short time, especially by using bookmarks for key sites. Publications and forms are kept current and accessible on the Internet. New uses for the web are discovered every day. The Air Force can link its field operations into a unified network from a centralized command post located in virtually any geographic location. Linked to e the GPS, the net gives us information flow such as we saw in the GulfWar and subsequent operations. If planning a trip, you can make reservations for lodging or transportation on line 24 hours a day. You can buy d items you need without leaving home and schedule appointments for car repairs. College students can register for classes without leaving their apartments, avoiding long lines and getting instant feedback on what courses are open or filled. Individuals can retrieve the latest information on any topic imaginable. Businesses are beginning to use the Internet as an interactive meeting place, where any number of individuals can view a presentation and participate on line. martialed or disciplined for refusing the anthrax shots did so because of what they read on the Internet Yet, the fact is of about real-tim- tion. Security lapses are another downside of the Internet. For example, during the Kosovo conflict, Serb nationalists attacked NATO computer systems by transmitting 320,000 military members who have received a million shots, only 14 had any serious side effects with no fatalities and 95 expe- rienced some minor side effects. This is a better track record than experienced with the other commonly accepted vaccines such as tetanus or polio. Another example of misinformation involves the Y2K problem. The Internet is rife with misinformation on Y2K, such as exaggerated warnings of cash shortages, power outages, lack of food supplies and disruption of utilities and services. These warnings could create enough panic to cause the very shortages or problems they claim to help alleviate Many of them are motivated in making a profit selling supplies to those who overreact to Y2K Not mat mere is anything wrong with being prepared for unexpected contingencies, we should do that all year round. Having the Internet in the office may lead to some employees spending too much time surfing the net rather than doing productive work. Others may use it for personal business in the workplace or even hard-to-fin- ! sur-vivali- Harmful aspects The Internet can also be harmful or cause problems for organizations or individuals. How we use it makes a difference in whether it is a blessing or detriment to us. Like other media, the Internet may be a source of misinformation. Yet, people may information more than it accept e deserves. For example, nearly all of the military members who have been court-on-lin- st prohibited activities. Employees who access disruptive programs and defacing web sites. Recently, a hacker group claimed worldwide secuthey performed a rity scan of more than 36 million computers connected to the Internet and found 700,000 vulnerabilities to information war- fare attacks. Catastrophe or hope for the future? Government and business have invested so much in this technology that sufficient resources will be expended to preserve it However, if the Internet does shut down completely, we are all in big trouble since we have come to depend on it so much. If the Y2K problem hit us as hard as some originally predicted, we would have a major crisis. But billions have been spent to prepare systems for the changeover, and thanks to New Zealand, the U.S. does not have to worry too much. You see, the clocks in New Zealand are 20 hours ahead of us, so we get 20 hours notice to fix any glitches they experience during the first hours of January 1,2000. iiefiDisin) Odd Gas station hours dition. OPM must also establish an Interagency Family Friendly Workplace Working Group to promote, evaluate and exchange information on Fed(? likeI the new gas station by the West Gate, eral y workplace initiatives. don't understand why it isn't open A change to AFI36-80"Weekly and any more than it is. I think it should be open Dailyproposed of Work and Holiday Observance," Scheduling from at least 5:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. authorizes alternative workplace arrangements or for civilian employStarting Oct. 2, the West Gate ShoppetteGas eesflexiplacetelecommuting Air Force activities. The authority grantat irmfacility hours will change to 6 a.m.-- 9 p.m., alternative workplace arrangements now rests aturday, and 10 a.m.-- 5 p.m. Sunday. This is ing at the major command level. Approval is granted to accommodate customers when the east side ser--j for quality of work life improvement, performance vice station is torn down to make way .for the newf and productivity, customer service, accommor v facility. , with health problems that may dating Normally, the new West Gate facility is open 6 result inemployees disability retirement, employment oppora.m.-- 6 p.m. weekdays, and 9 a.m.-- 5 p.m. Saturto and tunities promote diversity in employment day. Those hours are based on work schedules that recruitment, just to name a few. capture the majority of the market, including the Flexiplacetelecommuting or alternate workearly workers coming to Hill. The Saturday hours place are different names for the were adjusted after business indicated that open- same arrangements program. It is not to be confused with the ing at 8 a.m. was too early and closing at 4 p.m. was care programs that provide for care of loved family too early as well. The hours will continue to be ones of the immediate family. monitored for any future changes that need to be If you have any questions regarding this matter, made. As a reminder, the new facility is for call the Employee Entitlements and Benefits sec--; authorized military ID card holders only. tion at Ext. vlbut family-friendl- 7, r Monday-S- . 2.. Home work is the base policy on working from vhome? understand President Clinton has mandated that federal workers can now possibly work from home especially when their children are sick. My supervisor says it's not an option. fWhat I Currently there is no base program allowing tor alternative workplace arrangements. It is anticipated in the near future, once bargaining obligations are completed, and program approval is established. On May 24, President Clinton directed the Office of Personnel Management to develop Government-wid- e regulations that allow employees to use up to 12 weeks of sick leave each year to care for a spouse, child or parent with a serious health con Kudo ACTION ONE is yow opportunity to make Hill AFB a better place to live, work a&d play. When you cull Ext. or fn send on Outlook to 'ACTION1."" your comments will ' ?l;!iMfi fpiiil be recorded and staffed through :iif life, 1:111 me agency responsive tor action, ymmm iit 00 ail Please give your supervisor and chain ot command the opportunity to v. ork w ith you in answ g questions and .solving problems er-in- before culling ACTION LINE. This will hofpmc better serve your interests. Items of bascw ide interest to the Hill workforce will he published in the Hilltop limes. would like to thank A1 C Cory Brooks and Amn. Sheldon Jay, from the 75th Security Forces Squadron, for the excellent job they Security Forces. r. Crisis Information, Services Base Restaurants, , itetlrementCompeftsaliort (civilian). Social Act Sons. . Employee Relations .., r Military Pay Thanks for the support and understanding for Lthe difficult task that the folks in Security y Forces do on a basis. We appreciate will and your support pass the thanks and appreciation on. day-to-da- "Air Force people building the world's most respected Air and Space Force Hilltop Time s Published by MorMedia, Inc., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Hill AFB. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of the Hilltop Times are Col. Ken Pago 75th ABW Commander Phone numbers do while working the Roy gate during the morning hours. They are always outside of the guard shack, regardless of weather, ready with a friendly wave and a smile. They help the day get off to a great start. 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