diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 176357d2..561e8b8f 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -2,4 +2,6 @@ build
 .DS_Store
 *.aux
 *.log
-artifacts
\ No newline at end of file
+artifacts
+*.pdf
+*.tex
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Rakefile b/Rakefile
index 6b18f329..9cfdee3b 100644
--- a/Rakefile
+++ b/Rakefile
@@ -148,4 +148,33 @@ task :documents => ["artifacts/db.json", :cv, :cnp]
 directory "build/artifacts"
 task :deploy => [:documents,:odin_lab,"build/artifacts"] do
   system("cp -r artifacts/*.{pdf,json} build/artifacts/")
-end
\ No newline at end of file
+end
+
+###################### Specialized Stuff for Individual Use ######################
+
+file "okennedy_short.tex" => (["db/cv/okennedy.json", "lib/cv.rb", "Rakefile"]+Dir["db/cv/okennedy/**"]) do
+  File.open("okennedy_short.tex", "w+") do |fh|
+    CV.make("okennedy", fh, 
+      title: "Recent Activities",
+      since: { 
+        education: 2008,
+        reviewer: 2015,
+        general_service: 2015,
+        volunteering: 2015,
+        talks: 2015,
+        courses: 2015,
+        publications: 2014
+      },
+      skip: [
+        :employment,
+        :memberships,
+        :dept_service,
+        :tech_reports
+      ]
+    )
+  end
+end
+file "okennedy_short.pdf" => "okennedy_short.tex" do
+  system("pdflatex okennedy_short.tex")
+end
+
diff --git a/db/cv/okennedy.json b/db/cv/okennedy.json
index c818a0f0..b9682321 100644
--- a/db/cv/okennedy.json
+++ b/db/cv/okennedy.json
@@ -101,7 +101,10 @@
     }
   ],
   "honors" : [
-    "The pVLDB 2012 paper titled \"DBToaster: Higher-order Delta Processing for Dynamic, Frequently Fresh Views\" was accepted to the \"Best of VLDB 2012\" issue of the VLDB Journal"
+    { "description" : 
+        "The pVLDB 2012 paper titled \"DBToaster: Higher-order Delta Processing for Dynamic, Frequently Fresh Views\" was accepted to the \"Best of VLDB 2012\" issue of the VLDB Journal",
+      "year" : 2012
+    }
   ],
   "reviewer" : [
     { "venue" : "VLDBJ", "years" : [ 2013 ] },
@@ -165,8 +168,14 @@
         { "code" : "CSE 562", 
           "title" : "Graduate Database Systems (planned)", 
           "semester" : "Spring 2017" },
+        { "code" : "CSE 199", 
+          "title" : "Undergraduate CS Seminar (Recitation)", 
+          "semester" : "Fall 2016" },
+        { "code" : "CSE 705", 
+          "title" : "Database Research Seminar", 
+          "semester" : "Fall 2016" },
         { "code" : "CSE 662", 
-          "title" : "Languages and Runtimes for Big Data (planned)", 
+          "title" : "Languages and Runtimes for Big Data", 
           "semester" : "Fall 2016" },
         { "code" : "CSE 462", 
           "title" : "Undergraduate Database Systems", 
diff --git a/db/cv/okennedy/talks.json b/db/cv/okennedy/talks.json
index 35e82f11..90f3dd9e 100644
--- a/db/cv/okennedy/talks.json
+++ b/db/cv/okennedy/talks.json
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 [
+  { "talk" : "TBD", "date" : "Oct. 2016", 
+    "venue" : "Airbus" },
+  { "talk" : "TBD", "date" : "Oct. 2016", 
+    "venue" : "RIT" },
   { "talk" : "Just-In-Time Data Structures", "date" : "Jun. 2016", 
     "venue" : "LogicBlox" },
-  { "talk" : "Embracing Uncertainty with Mimir", "date" : "May 2016",
+  { "talk" : "Embracing Uncertainty with Mimir", "date" : "May. 2016",
     "venue" : "NYU" },
   { "talk" : "Embracing Uncertainty with Mimir", "date" : "Mar. 2016",
     "venue" : "HPE/Vertica" },
diff --git a/db/lab.json b/db/lab.json
index a198f139..ea291f0f 100644
--- a/db/lab.json
+++ b/db/lab.json
@@ -34,11 +34,6 @@
 			"projects" : ["mimir"], 
 			"ubit" : "poonamku"
 		},
-		"Patrick Coonan" : {
-			"status" : "BS/MS",
-			"projects" : ["insider-threats"], 
-			"ubit" : "pcoonan"
-		},
 		"William Spoth" : {
 			"status" : "PhD",
 			"projects" : ["mimir"],
@@ -73,10 +68,6 @@
 			"advisor" : ["Luke Ziarek", "Geoff Challen"],
 			"joint_advisor": true
 		},
-		"Michael Kulbacki" : {
-			"status" : "BS",
-			"projects" : ["mimir"]
-		},
 		"Jacob Varghese" : {
 			"status" : "BS",
 			"projects" : ["mimir"]
@@ -86,6 +77,17 @@
 		    "projects" : ["mimir"]
 		}
 	},
+	"temp-leave" : {
+		"Michael Kulbacki" : {
+			"status" : "BS",
+			"projects" : ["mimir"]
+		},
+		"Patrick Coonan" : {
+			"status" : "BS/MS",
+			"projects" : ["insider-threats"], 
+			"ubit" : "pcoonan"
+		}
+	},
 	"collaborators" : [
 		"Lukasz Ziarek",
 		"Geoff Challen",
diff --git a/lib/cv.rb b/lib/cv.rb
index 5c2b1db8..ac310658 100644
--- a/lib/cv.rb
+++ b/lib/cv.rb
@@ -36,14 +36,19 @@ class CV < Latex::Builder
     @who = who
     @include_rejected_grants = options.fetch(:include_rejected_grants, false)
     @include_pending_papers = options.fetch(:include_pending_papers, false)
+    @title = options.fetch(:title, "Curriculum Vitae")
+    @since = Hash.new { |h,k| if h.has_key? :rest then h[:rest] else 0 end }
+      options[:since].each { |k, v| @since[k] = v } if options.has_key?(:since)
+    @skip = options.fetch(:skip, [])
+
     gen
   end
 
-  def CV.make(who, out)
-    CV.new(who, out)
+  def CV.make(who, out, options = {})
+    CV.new(who, out, options)
   end
 
-  def my_section(title)
+  def make_section(title)
     section!(title)
     print_direct "~"
     endl("-0.4in")
@@ -60,6 +65,7 @@ class CV < Latex::Builder
     documentclass("11pt", "article")
     usepackage "fullpage"
     usepackage "bibentry"
+    usepackage "enumitem"
 
     document do
       pagestyle "empty"
@@ -70,23 +76,38 @@ class CV < Latex::Builder
       render_contact_details
       vspace! "-0.1in"
 
-      render_education
-      render_employment_history
-      render_honors
-      render_professional_activities
-      render_invited_talks
-      render_courses_taught
-      render_grant_support
-      render_pubs_and_artifacts
+      render_education               unless skip?(:education)
+      render_employment_history      unless skip?(:employment)
+      render_honors                  unless skip?(:honors)
+      render_professional_activities unless skip?(:service)
+      render_invited_talks           unless skip?(:invited_talks)
+      render_courses_taught          unless skip?(:courses)
+      render_grant_support           unless skip?(:grants)
+      render_pubs_and_artifacts      unless skip?(:pubs)
     end
   end
 
+  def filter_records(category, records)
+    records.select { |record|
+      duration_is_since?(record, @since[category])
+    }
+  end
+
+  def build_filtered_itemize(category, records, *args)
+    args.unshift(filter_records(category, records))
+    build_itemize(*args) { |record| yield record }
+  end
+
+  def skip?(category)
+    @skip.include? category
+  end
+
 
   ############### HEADER ################
 
   def render_header
     noindent
-    textbf { huge; puts "Curriculum Vitae" }
+    textbf { huge; puts @title }
     hfill
     textbf { huge; puts @data["name"] }
     vspace "0.05in"
@@ -128,8 +149,8 @@ class CV < Latex::Builder
   ############### EDUCATION ################
 
   def render_education
-    my_section("Education")
-    build_itemize(@data["education"]) do |r|
+    make_section("Education")
+    build_filtered_itemize(:education, @data["education"], "label=,leftmargin=0mm") do |r|
       textit { puts "#{r["degree"]}," }
       puts "#{r["university"]}, #{r["city"]}"
       hfill 
@@ -150,17 +171,9 @@ class CV < Latex::Builder
 
   ############### EMPLOYMENT HISTORY ################
 
-  def render_employment_history(args = {})
-    employment = @data["employment"];
-
-    if args.has_key?(:since) then
-      since = args[:since]
-      employment = 
-        employment.select { |r| duration_is_since?(r, since) }
-    end
-
-    my_section("Employment History")
-    build_itemize(employment) do |r|
+  def render_employment_history
+    make_section("Employment History")
+    build_filtered_itemize(:employment, @data["employment"]) do |r|
       puts "#{r["title"]}, #{r["employer"]}"
       hfill 
       puts duration(r)
@@ -170,15 +183,15 @@ class CV < Latex::Builder
   ############### HONORS ################
 
   def render_honors
-    my_section("Honors")
-    build_itemize(@data["honors"]) do |r|
-      puts r
+    make_section("Honors")
+    build_filtered_itemize(:honors, @data["honors"], "label=,leftmargin=0mm") do |r|
+      puts r["description"]
     end
   end
 
   ############### PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES ################
 
-  def render_one_activity_class(data, role_title)
+  def render_one_activity_class(activity_class, data, role_title)
     role_title = 
       case role_title
         when Proc then role_title
@@ -186,12 +199,12 @@ class CV < Latex::Builder
           orig_role_title = role_title
           lambda { |r| r[orig_role_title] }
       end
-    build_itemize(data) do |r|
+    build_filtered_itemize(activity_class, data, "noitemsep,leftmargin=5mm,label=--") do |r|
       puts(role_title.call(r))
       hfill
       puts duration(r)
       unless r["roles"].nil?
-        build_itemize(r["roles"]) do |role|
+        build_itemize(r["roles"], "noitemsep") do |role|
           puts role["title"]
           hfill
           puts duration(role)
@@ -201,44 +214,47 @@ class CV < Latex::Builder
   end
   
   def render_professional_activities(args = {})    
-    my_section("Professional Activities")
+    make_section("Professional Activities")
 
-    subsection!("Reviewer / Program Comittee Member")
-    render_one_activity_class(@data["reviewer"],
-      lambda { |r| 
-        venue = LabMetadata.complete_venue(r)["type"]
-        raise "Unknown Venue: #{r}" unless venue;
-        "#{venue.capitalize}: #{LabMetadata.venue_name(r)}"
-      })
+    unless skip? :reviewer
+      subsection!("Reviewer / Program Comittee Member")
+      render_one_activity_class(:reviewer, @data["reviewer"],
+        lambda { |r| 
+          venue = LabMetadata.complete_venue(r)["type"]
+          raise "Unknown Venue: #{r}" unless venue;
+          "#{venue.capitalize}: #{LabMetadata.venue_name(r)}"
+        })
+    end
     
-    subsection!("Service")
-    render_one_activity_class(@data["service"]["general"], "description")
+    unless skip? :general_service
+      subsection!("Service")
+      render_one_activity_class(:general_service, @data["service"]["general"], "description")
+    end
     
-    subsection!("Professional Memberships")
-    render_one_activity_class(@data["memberships"], "org")
+    unless skip? :memberships
+      subsection!("Professional Memberships")
+      render_one_activity_class(:memberships, @data["memberships"], "org")
+    end
 
-    subsection!("Volunteer Work")
-    render_one_activity_class(@data["volunteering"], "org")
+    unless skip? :volunteering
+      subsection!("Volunteer Work")
+      render_one_activity_class(:volunteering, @data["volunteering"], "org")
+    end
 
-    subsection!("Departmental Service")
-    build_itemize(@data["service"]["dept"]) do |dept|
-      puts dept["org"]
-      render_one_activity_class(dept["service"], "org")
+    unless skip? :dept_service
+      subsection!("Departmental Service")
+      build_itemize(@data["service"]["dept"]) do |dept|
+        puts dept["org"]
+        render_one_activity_class(:dept_service, dept["service"], "org")
+      end
     end
   end
 
   ############### INVITED TALKS ################
 
-  def render_invited_talks(args = {})
-    talks = @data["talks"]
-
-    if args.has_key? :since
-      since = args[:since]
-      talks = talks.select { |r| date_to_time(r["date"]).year >= since }
-    end
-
-    my_section("Invited Talks")
-    build_itemize(talks) do |r|
+  def render_invited_talks
+    make_section("Invited Talks")
+    build_filtered_itemize(:talks, @data["talks"], "noitemsep,leftmargin=5mm,label=--") do |r|
       textit { puts r["venue"] }
       wrap { 
         small
@@ -253,28 +269,26 @@ class CV < Latex::Builder
 
   ############### COURSES ################
 
-  def render_courses_taught(args = {})
-    my_section("Courses")
+  def render_courses_taught
+    make_section("Courses")
 
     courses = @data["courses"]
 
-    if args.has_key? :since
-      since = args[:since]
-      courses = courses.map do |dept|
-        dept = dept.clone
-        dept["courses"] = dept["courses"].select do |c|
-          unless /([0-9]{4})/ =~ c["semester"] 
-            raise "Invalid Semester: '#{c["semester"]}'"
-          end
-          $1.to_i >= since
+    since = @since[:courses]
+    courses = courses.map do |dept|
+      dept = dept.clone
+      dept["courses"] = dept["courses"].select do |c|
+        unless /([0-9]{4})/ =~ c["semester"] 
+          raise "Invalid Semester: '#{c["semester"]}'"
         end
-        dept unless dept["courses"].empty?
-      end.compact
-    end
+        $1.to_i >= since
+      end
+      dept unless dept["courses"].empty?
+    end.compact
 
-    build_itemize(courses) do |dept|
+    build_itemize(courses, "leftmargin=1mm,label=") do |dept|
       puts dept["venue"]
-      build_itemize(dept["courses"]) do |r|
+      build_itemize(dept["courses"], "noitemsep,leftmargin=7mm") do |r|
         texttt { puts r["code"] }
         puts ":"
         wrap {
@@ -292,21 +306,18 @@ class CV < Latex::Builder
   ############### GRANT SUPPORT ################
 
   def render_grant_support(args = {})
-    my_section("Grant Support")
+    make_section("Grant Support")
 
-    test_for_since = 
-      if args.has_key? :since then
-        proc { |r| duration_is_since?(r, args[:since]) }
-      else
-        proc { true }
-      end
+    test_for_since = proc { |r| duration_is_since?(r, @since[:grants]) }
 
     grant_categories = [
       ["Pending Applications", "submitted",  ["grant", "gift"]],
       ["Awarded Grants",       "accepted",   ["grant"]],
       ["Gifts",                "accepted",   ["gift"]],
-      ["Completed",            "completed",  ["grant", "gift"]]
     ]
+    grant_categories += [
+      ["Completed",            "completed",  ["grant", "gift"]]
+    ] unless skip?(:completed_grants)
     grant_categories += [
       ["Declined",             "rejected",   ["grant", "gift"]]
     ] if args.fetch(:include_rejected, @include_rejected_grants)
@@ -333,99 +344,103 @@ class CV < Latex::Builder
         test_for_since.call(r)
       }.sort { |a,b| to_date(b["start"]) <=> to_date(a["start"])} 
           
-      ## Header for the category
-      subsection!("#{sec} (#{grants_in_category.length})")
 
-      ## For each grant in the category
-      grants_in_category.each do |r|
-        collaborative_total = 0;
-        supplements_total = 0
-        our_total = 0;
-        total_awarded = 0;
-        award_value_is_string = true
+      unless grants_in_category.empty?
 
-        # Derive grant totals for collaborative grants and 
-        # grants with supplements, as well as fractional
-        # amounts for us.
-        if r["amount"].is_a? Numeric then
-          collaborative_total = 
-            if r["collaborative"].nil? then 0 else
-              r["collaborative"].map { |x| x["amount"].to_f }.sum
-            end
-          supplements_total = 
-            if r["supplements"].nil? then 0 else
-              r["supplements"].map { |x| x["amount"].to_f }.sum
-            end
-          our_total = r["amount"].to_f + supplements_total
-          total_awarded = our_total + collaborative_total;
-          award_value_is_string = false
-        end
+        ## Header for the category
+        subsection!("#{sec} (#{grants_in_category.length})")
 
-        noindent
+        ## For each grant in the category
+        grants_in_category.each do |r|
+          collaborative_total = 0;
+          supplements_total = 0
+          our_total = 0;
+          total_awarded = 0;
+          award_value_is_string = true
 
-        tabular("rl") do
+          # Derive grant totals for collaborative grants and 
+          # grants with supplements, as well as fractional
+          # amounts for us.
+          if r["amount"].is_a? Numeric then
+            collaborative_total = 
+              if r["collaborative"].nil? then 0 else
+                r["collaborative"].map { |x| x["amount"].to_f }.sum
+              end
+            supplements_total = 
+              if r["supplements"].nil? then 0 else
+                r["supplements"].map { |x| x["amount"].to_f }.sum
+              end
+            our_total = r["amount"].to_f + supplements_total
+            total_awarded = our_total + collaborative_total;
+            award_value_is_string = false
+          end
 
-          # For each field being displayed
-          fields_to_display.each do |k|
+          noindent
 
-            # Only display fields if they're available
-            unless r[k].nil?
-              # Field title
-              textit { puts(
+          tabular("rl") do
+
+            # For each field being displayed
+            fields_to_display.each do |k|
+
+              # Only display fields if they're available
+              unless r[k].nil?
+                # Field title
+                textit { puts(
+                  case k
+                    when "copis" then "Co-PI".pluralize(r["copis"].length)
+                    when "collaborative" then 
+                      "Peer Org.".pluralize(r["collaborative"].length)
+                    else k.capitalize
+                  end
+                )}
+                # Break
+                print_direct ":&"
+                    
+                # Post-processing on field value
                 case k
-                  when "copis" then "Co-PI".pluralize(r["copis"].length)
-                  when "collaborative" then 
-                    "Peer Org.".pluralize(r["collaborative"].length)
-                  else k.capitalize
-                end
-              )}
-              # Break
-              print_direct ":&"
-                  
-              # Post-processing on field value
-              case k
-                when "title", "agency"
-                  parbox("5in") do
-                    if k == "title" then textsf { puts r[k] } else puts r[k] end
-                  end
-                when "effective dates"
-                  puts duration(r)
-                when "copis"
-                  puts r["copis"].join(", ")
-                when "amount"
-                  unless award_value_is_string
-                    puts format_money our_total
-                    unless r["collaborative"].nil?
-                      puts " (Total Across Collaboration: #{format_money total_awarded})"
+                  when "title", "agency"
+                    parbox("5in") do
+                      if k == "title" then textsf { puts r[k] } else puts r[k] end
                     end
-                  else
-                    puts r["amount"]
-                  end
-                when "collaborative"
-                  r["collaborative"].each do |i|
-                    puts i["institution"]
-                    puts "(#{format_money i["amount"]})"
-                  end
-                when "supplements"
-                  unless award_value_is_string then
-                    puts(r["supplements"].map do |supp|
-                      "#{supp["type"]}"
-                    end.join(", "))
-                    puts "(#{"amount".pluralize(r["supplements"].length)} included in total above)"
-                  else
-                    puts(r["supplements"].map do |supp|
-                      "#{supp["type"]} (#{format_money supp["amount"].to_f})"
-                    end.join(", "))
-                  end
-                else # case k
-                  puts r[k]
-              end # case k
-              endl
-            end # unless r[k].nil?
-          end # fields_to_display.each
-        end # block("tabular") (field table)
-        endl("0.2in")
-      end # grants_in_category.each
+                  when "effective dates"
+                    puts duration(r)
+                  when "copis"
+                    puts r["copis"].join(", ")
+                  when "amount"
+                    unless award_value_is_string
+                      puts format_money our_total
+                      unless r["collaborative"].nil?
+                        puts " (Total Across Collaboration: #{format_money total_awarded})"
+                      end
+                    else
+                      puts r["amount"]
+                    end
+                  when "collaborative"
+                    r["collaborative"].each do |i|
+                      puts i["institution"]
+                      puts "(#{format_money i["amount"]})"
+                    end
+                  when "supplements"
+                    unless award_value_is_string then
+                      puts(r["supplements"].map do |supp|
+                        "#{supp["type"]}"
+                      end.join(", "))
+                      puts "(#{"amount".pluralize(r["supplements"].length)} included in total above)"
+                    else
+                      puts(r["supplements"].map do |supp|
+                        "#{supp["type"]} (#{format_money supp["amount"].to_f})"
+                      end.join(", "))
+                    end
+                  else # case k
+                    puts r[k]
+                end # case k
+                endl
+              end # unless r[k].nil?
+            end # fields_to_display.each
+          end # block("tabular") (field table)
+          endl("0.2in")
+        end # grants_in_category.each
+      end # unless grants_in_category.empty?
     end # grant_categories.each
   end
 
@@ -523,123 +538,126 @@ class CV < Latex::Builder
   end
 
   def render_paper_title(title)
-    print_direct "``#{title}''"
+    print_direct "\\textsc{#{title}}"
   end
 
   def render_one_pub_or_artifact(title,list,fmt,filter = proc { true })
     list = list.select { |r| filter.call(r) }
     unless list.empty? 
       subsection!("#{title} (#{list.length})")
-      build_itemize(list) { |r| fmt.call(r) }
+      build_itemize(list, "leftmargin=0mm,label=,noitemsep") { |r| fmt.call(r) }
     end
   end
   def render_pubs_and_artifacts(args = {})
 
     global_filter = 
-      if args.has_key? :since then
-        since = args[:since]
-        proc { |r| r["year"].to_i >= since }
-      else
-        proc { true }
-      end
+      proc { |r| duration_is_since?(r, @since[:publications])}
 
     all_my_pubs = LabMetadata.publications_for(@who)
 
-    my_section("Publications and Artifacts")
+    make_section("Publications and Artifacts")
 
 #        block("center") do 
 #          puts "(Author lists marked with a * are not correlated with level of contribution)"
 #        end
-    render_one_pub_or_artifact(
-      "Journal Publications",
-      all_my_pubs.where do |r| 
-        case get_venue_type(r)
-          when "journal" then true
-          else false
-        end
-      end,
-      proc do |r|
-        render_paper_title(r["title"])
-        render_author_list(r)
-        puts "---"
-        extra_fields = 
-          if r["volume"].nil? then []
-          else ["Volume #{r["volume"]}, Number #{r["number"]}"] end +
-          if r["issuetitle"].nil? then []
-          else [r["issuetitle"]] end
-        textit { 
-          puts "#{LabMetadata.venue_name(r)} #{r["year"]}#{if extra_fields.length > 0 then " (#{extra_fields.join("; ")}), " else ", " end}"
-        }
-        puts "#{get_pub_length_string(r)}, "
-        puts render_selectivity(r)
-      end,
-      global_filter
-    )
+    unless skip?(:journal_pubs)
+      render_one_pub_or_artifact(
+        "Journal Publications",
+        all_my_pubs.where do |r| 
+          case get_venue_type(r)
+            when "journal" then true
+            else false
+          end
+        end,
+        proc do |r|
+          render_paper_title(r["title"])
+          render_author_list(r)
+          puts "---"
+          extra_fields = 
+            if r["volume"].nil? then []
+            else ["Volume #{r["volume"]}, Number #{r["number"]}"] end +
+            if r["issuetitle"].nil? then []
+            else [r["issuetitle"]] end
+          textit { 
+            puts "#{LabMetadata.venue_name(r)} #{r["year"]}#{if extra_fields.length > 0 then " (#{extra_fields.join("; ")}), " else ", " end}"
+          }
+          puts "#{get_pub_length_string(r)}, "
+          puts render_selectivity(r)
+        end,
+        global_filter
+      )
+    end
     
-    render_one_pub_or_artifact(
-      "Conference Publications",
-      all_my_pubs.where do |r| 
-        case get_venue_type(r)
-          when "conference" then true
-          else false
-        end
-      end,
-      proc do |r|
-        render_paper_title(r["title"])
-        render_author_list(r)
-        puts "---"
-        textit{ puts LabMetadata.venue_name(r) }
-        puts "#{r["year"]}, "
-        puts "#{get_pub_length_string(r)}, "
-        puts render_selectivity(r)
-      end,
-      global_filter
-    )
+    unless skip?(:conference_pubs)
+      render_one_pub_or_artifact(
+        "Conference Publications",
+        all_my_pubs.where do |r| 
+          case get_venue_type(r)
+            when "conference" then true
+            else false
+          end
+        end,
+        proc do |r|
+          render_paper_title(r["title"])
+          render_author_list(r)
+          puts "---"
+          textit{ puts LabMetadata.venue_name(r) }
+          puts "#{r["year"]}, "
+          puts "#{get_pub_length_string(r)}, "
+          puts render_selectivity(r)
+        end,
+        global_filter
+      )
+    end
 
-    render_one_pub_or_artifact(
-      "Workshop Publications",
-      all_my_pubs.where do |r| 
-        case get_venue_type(r)
-          when "workshop" then true
-          else false
-        end
-      end,
-      proc do |r|
-        render_paper_title(r["title"])
-        render_author_list(r)
-        puts "---"
-        textit { puts LabMetadata.venue_name(r) }
-        puts "#{r["year"]}, "
-        puts "#{get_pub_length_string(r)}, "
-        puts render_selectivity(r)
-      end,
-      global_filter
-    )
+    unless skip?(:workshop_pubs)
+      render_one_pub_or_artifact(
+        "Workshop Publications",
+        all_my_pubs.where do |r| 
+          case get_venue_type(r)
+            when "workshop" then true
+            else false
+          end
+        end,
+        proc do |r|
+          render_paper_title(r["title"])
+          render_author_list(r)
+          puts "---"
+          textit { puts LabMetadata.venue_name(r) }
+          puts "#{r["year"]}, "
+          puts "#{get_pub_length_string(r)}, "
+          puts render_selectivity(r)
+        end,
+        global_filter
+      )
+    end
     
-    render_one_pub_or_artifact(
-      "Book Chapters",
-      all_my_pubs.where do |r| 
-        case get_venue_type(r)
-          when "chapter" then true
-          else false
-        end
-      end,
-      proc do |r|
-        render_paper_title(r["title"])
-        render_author_list(r)
-        puts "---"
-        textit { puts LabMetadata.venue_name(r) }
-        render_editor_list(r)
-        publisher = get_publisher(r)
-        series = r["series"] || $venues[r["venue"]]["series"]
-        puts "---"     if publisher || series
-        puts "#{publisher}#{if series then ";" else "" end}" if publisher
-        puts series    if series
-        textit { puts r["year"] }
-        puts "(#{get_pub_length_string(r)}, #{render_selectivity(r)})"
-      end,
-      global_filter
-    )
+    unless skip?(:book_chapters)
+      render_one_pub_or_artifact(
+        "Book Chapters",
+        all_my_pubs.where do |r| 
+          case get_venue_type(r)
+            when "chapter" then true
+            else false
+          end
+        end,
+        proc do |r|
+          render_paper_title(r["title"])
+          render_author_list(r)
+          puts "---"
+          textit { puts LabMetadata.venue_name(r) }
+          render_editor_list(r)
+          publisher = get_publisher(r)
+          series = r["series"] || $venues[r["venue"]]["series"]
+          puts "---"     if publisher || series
+          puts "#{publisher}#{if series then ";" else "" end}" if publisher
+          puts series    if series
+          textit { puts r["year"] }
+          puts "(#{get_pub_length_string(r)}, #{render_selectivity(r)})"
+        end,
+        global_filter
+      )
+    end
     
     render_one_pub_or_artifact(
       "Submitted Publications",
@@ -655,85 +673,91 @@ class CV < Latex::Builder
       global_filter
     ) if @include_pending_papers
 
-    render_one_pub_or_artifact(
-      "Technical Reports",
-      all_my_pubs.where do |r| 
-        case get_venue_type(r)
-          when "techreport" then true
-          else false
-        end
-      end,
-      proc do |r|
-        render_paper_title(r["title"])
-        render_author_list(r)
-        puts "---"
-        textit {
-          puts "#{LabMetadata.venue_name(r)}#{if r["id"].nil? then "" else " ##{r["id"]}" end}, "
-        }
-        puts get_pub_length_string(r)
-      end,
-      global_filter
-    ) if args.fetch(:show_tech_reports, true)
+    unless skip?(:tech_reports)
+      render_one_pub_or_artifact(
+        "Technical Reports",
+        all_my_pubs.where do |r| 
+          case get_venue_type(r)
+            when "techreport" then true
+            else false
+          end
+        end,
+        proc do |r|
+          render_paper_title(r["title"])
+          render_author_list(r)
+          puts "---"
+          textit {
+            puts "#{LabMetadata.venue_name(r)}#{if r["id"].nil? then "" else " ##{r["id"]}" end}, "
+          }
+          puts get_pub_length_string(r)
+        end,
+        global_filter
+      )
+    end
 
-    render_one_pub_or_artifact(
-      "Patents",
-      all_my_pubs.where do |r| 
-        case get_venue_type(r)
-          when "patent" then true
-          else false
-        end
-      end,
-      proc do |r|
-        render_paper_title(r["title"])
-        render_author_list(r)
-        puts "--- #{r["country"]} Patent#{if r["status"] == "granted" then "" else " Application" end} ##{r["id"]}"
-      end,
-      global_filter
-    )
+    unless skip?(:patents)
+      render_one_pub_or_artifact(
+        "Patents",
+        all_my_pubs.where do |r| 
+          case get_venue_type(r)
+            when "patent" then true
+            else false
+          end
+        end,
+        proc do |r|
+          render_paper_title(r["title"])
+          render_author_list(r)
+          puts "--- #{r["country"]} Patent#{if r["status"] == "granted" then "" else " Application" end} ##{r["id"]}"
+        end,
+        global_filter
+      )
+    end
     
-    render_one_pub_or_artifact(
-      "Artifacts",
-      @data["artifacts"],
-      proc do |r|
-        print_direct "\\textbf{#{safe_text r["name"]}} (#{safe_text r["class"]})"
-        endl
-        print_direct "\\textit{#{safe_text r["description"]}}"
-        unless r["url"].nil?
+    unless skip?(:artifacts)
+      render_one_pub_or_artifact(
+        "Artifacts",
+        @data["artifacts"],
+        proc do |r|
+          print_direct "\\textsc{#{safe_text r["name"]}} (#{safe_text r["class"]})"
+          unless r["released"].nil?
+            d = to_date(r["released"])
+            hfill
+            puts "First released #{d.strftime("%B %Y")}"
+          end
           endl
-          url(r["url"])
-        end
-        unless r["released"].nil?
-          d = to_date(r["released"])
-          endl
-          puts "First released #{d.strftime("%B %Y")}"
-        end
-        unless r["metrics"].nil?
-          unless r["metricsasof"].nil?
+          print_direct "\\textit{#{safe_text r["description"]}}"
+          unless r["url"].nil?
             endl
-            puts "As of #{r["metricsasof"]}, #{r["name"]} had "
-          else
-            puts "#{r["name"]} has "
+            url(r["url"])
           end
-          
-          metrics = r["metrics"].to_a.map do |m,v|
-              case m
-                when "sitevisits" then "#{safe_text v} unique website visitors"
-                when "downloads" then "#{safe_text v} unique downloads"
-                else puts "#{safe_text v} #{safe_text m}"
-              end
-            end
-          
-          case metrics.length
-            when 0 then raise "Empty Metrics Field for #{r["name"]}"
-            when 1 then puts metrics[0]
-            when 2 then puts metrics.join(" and ")
+          unless r["metrics"].nil?
+            unless r["metricsasof"].nil?
+              endl
+              puts "As of #{r["metricsasof"]}, #{r["name"]} had "
             else
-              metrics.push("and #{metrics.pop}")
-              puts metrics.join(", ")
+              puts "#{r["name"]} has "
+            end
+            
+            metrics = r["metrics"].to_a.map do |m,v|
+                case m
+                  when "sitevisits" then "#{safe_text v} unique website visitors"
+                  when "downloads" then "#{safe_text v} unique downloads"
+                  else puts "#{safe_text v} #{safe_text m}"
+                end
+              end
+            
+            case metrics.length
+              when 0 then raise "Empty Metrics Field for #{r["name"]}"
+              when 1 then puts metrics[0]
+              when 2 then puts metrics.join(" and ")
+              else
+                metrics.push("and #{metrics.pop}")
+                puts metrics.join(", ")
+            end
           end
         end
-      end
-    ) if args.fetch(:show_artifacts, true)
+      ) if args.fetch(:show_artifacts, true)
+    end
   end
 
 end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/latex.rb b/lib/latex.rb
index 036a59a9..34335420 100644
--- a/lib/latex.rb
+++ b/lib/latex.rb
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ module Latex
       latex_command(:smallskip)
       latex_command(:medskip)
       latex_command(:bigskip)
-      latex_command(:itemize , environment: true)
+      latex_command(:itemize , arg_optional:[true], environment: true)
       latex_command(:enumeate, environment: true)
       latex_command(:item)
       latex_command(:tabular, environment: true)
@@ -125,9 +125,10 @@ module Latex
       end
     end
 
-    def build_itemize(array)
+    def build_itemize(array, *args)
+
       if(array.length > 0)
-        itemize do 
+        itemize(*args) do 
           array.each do |r|
             item
             yield r
diff --git a/lib/text.rb b/lib/text.rb
index db3d3e74..71344a30 100644
--- a/lib/text.rb
+++ b/lib/text.rb
@@ -94,6 +94,15 @@ module Text
       return date_to_time(r["end"]).year >= year
     elsif not r["years"].nil?
       return r["years"].map {|y|y.to_i}.max >= year
+    elsif not r["year"].nil? 
+      return r["year"].to_i >= year
+    elsif not r["date"].nil?
+      extracted_year = 
+        case r["date"]
+        when /[a-z]+\. (\d\d\d\d)/ then $1
+        else raise "Invalid date format: #{r["date"]}"
+        end
+      return extracted_year.to_i >= year      
     else 
       raise "Invalid time range : #{r}"
     end
diff --git a/src/papers/2017/VLDB-BetaPDBs-submitted.pdf b/src/papers/2017/VLDB-BetaPDBs-submitted.pdf
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1151129c
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/papers/2017/VLDB-BetaPDBs-submitted.pdf differ