 and electronic equipment do not mix well. As a result, data centers normally employ water sensors in strategic locations such as near water sources or under raised floors. Water sensors detect the presence of water and are designed to alert data personnel prior to a major problem.
When performing a data center audit, the auditor should identify potential water sources such as drains, air-conditioning units, exterior doors, and water pipes to verify that water sensors are placed in locations where they will mitigate the most risk. The facility manager should be able to point out both water sources and sensors during a tour of the facility. The auditor also should review maintenance records to ensure that the alarm system is maintained periodically.
17 Ensure that a humidity alarm is configured to notify data center personnel of either high or low-humidity conditions.
Humidity levels above 60 percent or below 40 percent can cause computer equipment damage. High humidity can cause corrosion of computer components, and low humidity can cause static electricity discharges that can short-circuit system boards. As a result, data centers should be equipped with humidity alarm systems.
In a proper humidity alarm installation, humidity sensors are placed in all areas of the data center where electronic equipment is present. When reviewing the humidity alarm system, the auditor should ensure that sensors are placed in appropriate locations either by reviewing architecture diagrams or by touring the facility. The auditor also should review maintenance and testing documentation to verify that the system is in good working order.
18 Review the alarm monitoring console(s) and alarm reports to verify that alarms are monitored continually by data center personnel.
Alarm systems most often feed into a monitoring console that gives data center personnel the opportunity to respond to an alarm condition before calling authorities, evacuating the building, or shutting down equipment. The absence of a monitoring console would introduce the risk of an alarm condition going unnoticed.
The data center should have an alarm-monitoring console, where alarm systems are monitored by data center personnel. The auditor should review alarm reports and observe the data center alarm-monitoring console to verify that burglar, fire, water, humidity, and other alarm systems are monitored continually by data center personnel. Occasionally, the burglar alarm is monitored by data center security staff. The main objective here is to verify that alarms are being monitored.
There also should also be procedures that data center personnel adhere to for handling each alarm condition. See "Data Center Operations" section below for more information on auditing procedures.The end of semester workload is always a hot topic at school. When the last two weeks of the grading period come by, many teachers scramble to make final assignments. Students find themselves bombarded with projects, papers, tests, and portfolios. Worst of all, they all need to be finished in the same week. Students from other schools often laugh at Park kids for the conspicuous lack of exams in our curriculum; that is simply ignorant. In fact, the work we do in lieu of finals is undoubtedly more rigorous and time consuming than any week of exams.
Indeed, the end of the semester can be a lot of work, but the severity of the issue gets blown way out of proportion. The fact of the matter is that a week, or often just a few nights of hard work will leave students satisfied with their achievements. Sure, revising six pieces for an English portfolio isn’t exactly my idea of a good time, but it’s just something that needs to be done. Out of the folder in my computer labeled English, which previously constituted a pretty meaningless collection of word documents, I’ve come up with a final product that I’m proud of. No matter how tedious and tiresome a portfolio may seem, the truth is that it makes a lot more sense than any two hour exam one might take full of multiple choice and short answers.
The point I’m making is that at Park, we are most certainly pushed to work hard as the semester comes to an end, but that’s a good thing. Rather than being tested on all of the knowledge we’ve acquired over the preceding months, instead, we are asked to put that knowledge to use. We are challenged to prove that what we’re learning actually means something. So instead of sitting around complaining about how much work you have this week, feel lucky that you have such an amazing opportunity to showcase the skills that you’ve worked so hard to come by. Don’t fear the end of the semester. Embrace it. The end of the semester at Park is about as good as it gets.
So it’s about a week before Christmas, I’m getting antsy. I’m seeing all of these presents underneath the tree and I’m wondering WHAT COULD BE IN THOSE PRESENTS? I figure since it’s not that large it had to either be a book, something wrapped in a small case, or a video game. I knew that in that 3 page list I had made of potential Christmas presents there were only a few games on that list and I was pretty confident which one it was. (I can’t remember exactly how many or if i knew how to properly spell liaise fair because it was quite some time ago.) So anyway, my parents say I can open one gift early and I know fo-sho that I’m going for the one that looks like a video game. So I open it, and unsurprisingly, it’s a video game, Fight Night, the first one I believe but I’m not certain enough to bet my Nerf Gun collection on it. So anyway, I open the game about a week before Christmas. I start playing it in the game mode where you do your own career as a boxer. I named myself purple flash; because if you battled me it was just a flash of purple.  So I’m playing this game and I’m pretty much only stopping to eat, occasionally stopping to fold up some clothes or something like that as well, but I’m not really getting any sleep. As I’m playing I notice there have been more and more gifts piling up under the tree and I really can’t wait for the big day to come. I’m so excited I really can’t sleep, I’m just staying up playing Fight Night, punching guys and taking names (Todd very well could be one of those names).
So anyway, I don’t feel like taking you down a long and winding road because that wouldn’t be kosher, I’m just going to stop telling you what I was doing over those days and let you know; I was up all night every night playing fight night. So it’s the day of Christmas, about 5:00 A.M. and I’m getting excited, I decide that I want to have the thrill of waking up on Christmas morning so I decide to get up and go to sleep.  Due to not having slept in almost a week, I pass out almost immediately after standing up. So I miss Christmas morning, and don’t get to open my presents first, but now that I think of it there’s a serious problem. I was up pretty much all night right next to the Christmas tree, WHEN DID SANTA COME?
This Thursday night, at 6 PM, Park takes on Beth Tfiloh in basketball in an away game just down the street on Old Court Road. In the first matchup, on Park’s home court, Beth Tfiloh escaped with a narrow 49-45 victory after a thrilling game.
As I moved on to Park for high school, my rivalry with Beth Tfiloh did not dwindle; much to my surprise, it intensified. Now, playing in the same conference, we faced the Warriors twice every season. Park and BT seem to match up in the playoffs year in and year out.
A true rivalry consists not only of competitive aggression, but more importantly a mutual respect. Last year, after splitting their two regular season games, the Warriors sent Park home in the first round of the playoffs in front of a booming crowd. This year, the expectations for both teams were high, and in the first conference game Beth Tfiloh drew a large crowd at Park’s court. The fans, donning full suits of yellow and blue, screamed for their team to play “DEFENSE,” hollered during free throws, and chanted, “Ham’s not Kosher” in honor of Park’s center Ham Sonnenfeld. When the final buzzer sounded, the Warriors fans and players erupted in joy after their comeback victory as the Park boys trudged off the court.
Following the game there were vicious comments from both parties. Tweets and wallposts recounted the game in great detail. The Warriors got their chance to gloat, and with good reason; they deserved some bragging rights after a win away from home.
Thursday night the teams meet up again. Look for fans from both sides to come out in full force. No matter what the final score is, it’s sure to be a show. This is what rivalries are all about. For Beth Tfiloh, it is a chance to complete a series sweep. For Park, it is a chance to get some revenge. Get pumped: it’s BT Week.
Despite my family’s inconsistent dedication to religious observation, we manage to muster the energy for a single day of faith each and every year. That day, of course, is Christmas.  I never really concerned myself with the details, importance, or logistics of the whole affair. All I knew was that when I walked into the living room there was going to be a kaleidoscopic mass of gifts scattered about for me to rummage through. Once I turned ten, however, reality caught up to me. Sure, sure, I thought, the plausibility of a gluttonous old man with infinite funding and accessibility sailing around the cosmos sp