\newenvironment{smallitem}{
   \setlength{\topsep}{0pt}
   \setlength{\partopsep}{0pt}
   \setlength{\parskip}{0pt}
   \begin{itemize}
   \setlength{\leftmargin}{.2in}
   \setlength{\parsep}{0pt}
   \setlength{\parskip}{0pt}
   \setlength{\itemsep}{0pt}}{\end{itemize}}

\newenvironment{smallnums}{
   \setlength{\topsep}{0pt}
   \setlength{\partopsep}{0pt}
   \setlength{\parskip}{0pt}
   \begin{enumerate}
   \setlength{\leftmargin}{.2in}
   \setlength{\parsep}{0pt}
   \setlength{\parskip}{0pt} \setlength{\itemsep}{0pt}}{\end{enumerate}}

\newcommand{\bd}{\begin{description}}
\newcommand{\ed}{\end{description}}
\newcommand{\bi}{\begin{smallitem}}
\newcommand{\ei}{\end{smallitem}}
\newcommand{\be}{\begin{enumerate}}
\newcommand{\ee}{\end{enumerate}}
\newcommand{\fig}[1]{Figure~\ref{fig:#1}}
\newcommand{\eq}[1]{Equation~\ref{eq:#1}}
\newcommand{\tion}[1]{\S\ref{sec:#1}}
