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Bethesda Lutheran Home & Services FGP Bethesda Lutheran Home & Services FGP
Here's a sample of our volunteer opportunities:VIEW AS
Mission Statement
Make a Difference in the Life of a Child
The Foster Grandparent Program offers seniors age 60 and older opportunities to serve as mentors, tutors, and loving caregivers for children and youth with special needs. If you are interested in serving as a Foster Grandparent, you must meet income eligibility guidelines, and you will receive a modest, tax-free stipend to offset the cost of volunteering. Foster Grandparents serve 20 hours a week, usually 4 hours a day Monday through Friday, serving children with one-on-one, direct service. Other benefits include reimbursement for transportation, some meals during service, an annual physical, and accident and liability insurance while on duty. Pre-Service and monthly training sessions provided.
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Chocolate Covered Cherry Fudge from Wisconsin Dairyland Fudge is a twist on the traditional chocolate covered cherry. Sweet maraschino cherries are immersed in creamy dark chocolate fudge. Each batch of fudge is hand paddled on a marble table and packaged fresh per order. This Chocolate Covered Cherry Fudge is a delicious way to treat your special someone on Valentine's Day! One pound of fudge comes in a gift box.
Gift Box
1 lb.

subset: commoncrawl


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From Airports to Annecy :
-From Geneva Cointrin, there are buses reaching Annecy quite often during the day. The schedule are visible there : http://www.gva.ch/fr/Portaldata/1/Resources/fichiers/voyageurs/Frossard_...
-From Lyon Saint Exupery, please have a look at http://www.voyages-crolard.com/fr/reservation/page.aspx?rp=13&cp=fr
From Annecy to Talloires :
A special bus service will be organized for the pilots on May 10th and 11th. Departure from "Annecy - Gare Routière SNCF" to Talloires at 15:00 and 18:30
The nearest airport are :
- Geneva Cointrin (Switzerland) - Airport Code : GVA
- Lyon Saint Exupery (France) - Airport code : LYS
From those airports, there are regular buses departures to reach Annecy (See above)


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In addition to the Music in the Movies panel, NSC will also feature an advanced screening of the film "I Love You Phillip Morris" starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor, based on the non-fiction book by Steve McVicker, written and directed by John Requa and Glenn Ficarra ("Bad Santa"). Buzz surrounding the film has been building since this year's Sundance Film Festival. In addition to Sundance, the movie will be shown at Cannes, making this only the third screening of the film.
The screening will take place on Friday, May 29, at 5:30 p.m. at the Belcourt Theatre. McVicker, Requa, and Ficarra will be joined by producer Far Shariat for the panel "Adapting a Non-fiction Book" during the conference. (Note: this film is rated "R")


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Selectmen Considering Warrant Article
By By Patrick Cronin
Hampton Union, Friday, October 26, 2007
[The following article is courtesy of the Hampton Union and Seacoast Online.]
HAMPTON -- Selectmen are considering putting forth a $7.4 million warrant article to expand the town's fire station and construct a new substation at Hampton Beach.
Fire Chief Hank Lipe presented the proposed warrant article to selectmen for their consideration during Monday night's meeting. The board will decide whether to put it before voters in March at its next meeting.
Lipe said the new substation at the beach would cost $2.5 million while an expansion of Station 2 to include the town's building and planning departments will cost $4.8 million.
Finance Director Michael Schwotzer said both projects can be done without increasing the current tax rate if the town decides to refinance the current police station bond that is scheduled to be paid off in 2012.
The town would pay off the new police station early by getting another bond spread out over 30 years that would include both fire station projects. The expansion to Station 2 on Winnacunnet Road includes demolishing the current office building and the old Town Hall.
Lipe said the only thing that would remain from the current town fire station would be the two apparatus bays. Two additional bays would be constructed as well has a new building where the old town hall is now located.
The new building would not only serve as the fire department's headquarters but also house the planning and building Departments, which was recommended by Plan NH.
"It would be a one-stop shot for permits fire-based or building," Lipe said. "There would also be space for a community room to handle the high crowds demand that attend the (Planning Board and Zoning Board) meetings."
Lipe said the new substation at the beach would be located next to the police station. Selectmen noted the only problem with the location is that it would eat up a number of parking spaces at the Ashworth parking lot.
Lipe said all other possible locations for the substation have been exhausted.
The present site is owned by the Hampton Beach Village Precinct while the Church Street location would be costly because the town would have upgrade the roads and add signalization.
The town also looked at using state-owned land and the possibility of purchasing commercial property to no avail.


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Don't you just love that warm feeling you get with a hot plate of hearty food? We certainly do. We'd like to welcome you into the warmth with £5 off when you spend £20 when you sign up to receive our news and offers.
Wondering what to order? We've just added some melt-in-the-mouth meals to our menus. From duck & waffle to steak & Ember Inns pale ale pie, to boneless beef rib and surf & turf - steak and garlic king prawns -you'll be spoilt for choice. So settle down by the fire and tuck in - we'll save you a cosy spot.


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We've accepted "the company said" as shorthand for "an official-looking press release said." And some people skip the spokesperson.
But today, CNN.com had this:
"Thus, when considering even the most distant Facebook user in the Siberian tundra or the Peruvian rainforest, a friend of your friend probably knows a friend of their friend," Facebook wrote in a blog post about its findings.
by Facebook Data Team


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hey there folks.. today I'm gonna submit a tutorial on how to draw a ninja skull. it was done a long time ago, but due to a whole bunch of assignments I wasn't able to submit it.. anyways here it is.. enjoy. have fun. keep drawing.. and keep smiling :)
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


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Concluding his series of sermons on the Divine attribute of Al-Razzaq (The Provider) Hazoor today elucidated the subject with reference to the remainder Quranic verses illustrating Allah the Exalted's boundless munificence, presenting the sermon with associated ahadith and excerpts of the Promised Messiah's (on whom be peace) writings. Hazoor explained that man can save himself from sin if he inculcates the belief in himself that besides Allah none can provide sustenance - it is Allah alone who provides all creation the same, even to those who associate partners with Him and that man should in turn, for the love of Allah, feed and care for his fellow human beings, specially the orphans and the needy. Referring to the Quranic description of Paradise, Hazoor stressed that this was indeed a metaphoric narrative and that the Paradise is Allah's ultimate provision that will never be exhausted. Hazoor said that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) told us that Allah the Exalted will bestow the inhabitants of Paradise His ultimate grace in that He will be pleased with them and that He will never be unhappy with them again, adding Hazoor said that Allah the Exalted has arranged blessings for His righteous people of the sort that no eye has seen before, no ear has heard and the like that no one has ever even imagined. This hadith is a testimony indeed that the paradisiacal description of the Holy Quran is but metaphorical. Hazoor explained that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) writes that a sincere person does not belong to this world and that is why the world holds rancour with him and the exclusive blessings that he is granted are concealed from this world. In Islam, the concept of Paradise is that it comes forth from within man, completely dependent on his deeds. Hazoor expounded that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him) enjoined to be apprehensive of disobedience to Allah and to seek livelihood with restraint, to take what is permissible (Halal) and to leave what is not (Haram). Hazoor added that Allah the Exalted provides for man from where man cannot even imagine. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wrote that God facilitates all manner of pleasant arrangements for the righteous and that the fundamental of prosperity is taqwa. Those who adopt taqwa are granted what they seek. Hazoor commented that in this instance one should take heed from the Sikh community. They are firm on their belief in the Unity of God and indeed put their full trust in Him. Consequently, Hazoor said, one does not come across any beggars from their community.
Next Hazoor related several inspirational incidences from the life of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) whereby he received revelations from Allah the Exalted in times of dire monetary need. The nature and the fulfilment of these revelations conveyed absolute precision.
The Jumu'ah (Friday) prayer is one form of congregational worship in Islam. It takes place every Friday. Regular attendance at the Jumu'ah prayer is enjoined on the believer. According to a Saying of Muhammad(sa) this congregational prayer is twenty-five times more blessed than worship performed alone. (Bukhari)
"O ye who believe! When the call is made for Prayer on Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off all business. That is best for you, if you only knew." more
"… (He who) offers the Prayers and listens quitely when the Imam stands up for sermon, will have his sins forgiven between that Friday and the next" (Bukhari)


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Are you tired of looking at the cord spaghetti that grows out of your computer or entertainment center? Now you can hide that mess of cords and cables under your computer desk. With Command Cord Clips, there is a solution to this unsightly and ungainly tangled clutter.
These clips hold cables and cords firmly in place, allowing you to not only neatly organize your cords, but also hide them, too. Just stick them on the underside of your computer desk, for example, and your cords are neatly out of sight. Cord Clips stick to a wide variety of surfaces, and most importantly, they are easy to remove and leave no marks or stains if you ever need to take them down or move them.
Command Cord Clips are perfect for organizing your holiday lights, especially behind the Christmas tree. Whether you need to organize your cords along the ground, going up the wall to an outlet, or wherever, you can rest easy knowing that when the season is over you can safely remove the clips and there will be no sign of their use anywhere.
Use Cord Clips all over your home and office, wherever your cord spaghetti may grow.


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ThinkProgress has been documenting conservative efforts to shift the burden of record budget shortfalls onto middle-class Americans, while simultaneously doling out tax cuts to corporations. While progressive governors have proposed raising revenue from those who can afford it, alongside painful cuts to programs, Republican governors have unveiled budgets that cut taxes for corporations and raise them on the middle-class and working poor. In this report, ThinkProgress evaluates the priorities conservatives have set in twelve states:
NEW JERSEY: Last year, Gov. Chris Christie's (R) budget raised taxes on the working poor and middle-class by cutting the state's Earned Income Tax Credit and homestead rebates — yet still found money for lucrative corporate tax cuts. This year, Christie's budget calls for $200 million in business tax cuts, while cutting mental health services, $540 million from Medicaid, and witholding property tax rebates for seniors until public workers give up many of their health and pension benefits. Many New Jerseyans have said they prefer a tax on millionaires to Christie's draconian cuts.
MICHIGAN: Gov. Rick Snyder's (R) budget would make Michigan's already regressive tax system even more unfair for the state's poorest residents. The plan cuts taxes on business by more than 86 percent while slashing$1.2 billion in funding for "schools, universities, local governments and other areas." Snyder also wants to raise personal taxes by 30 percent — an increase that will fall disproportionately on Michigan's lowest income residents.
GEORGIA: Last week, the Georgia House passed an austerity budget that will increase health insurance costs by more than 20 percent for state workers, teachers and retirees and cut funding for state universities by $75 million. The House has already gutted the state's HOPE scholarship program, and is now considering implementing a regressive new tax system that would lower income taxes for the rich while raising the sales tax on basic necessities. House Majority Leader Larry O'Neal (R), meanwhile, has introduced a bill that would implement a flat income tax rate and cut corporate taxes by 33 percent.
FLORIDA: At a Tea Party rally last month, Gov. Rick Scott (R) unveiled his budget, telling supporters he would make the state the most "fiscally conservative" in the nation. The budget would slash corporate income and property taxes, lay off 6,700 state employees, cut education funding by $4.8 billion, and cut Medicaid by almost $4 billion.
OHIO: Gov. John Kasich (R) has proposed cutting 25 percent of schools' budgets, $1 million from food banks, $12 million from children's hospitals, and $15.9 million from an adoption program for children with special needs. A Kasich staffer revealed yesterday that these cuts are more about politics then budget-balancing, telling the Cincinnati Dispatch that "even if there weren't an $8 billion deficit, we'd probably be proposingmany of the same things." The plan includes tax cuts for oil companies, a repeal of the estate tax and an income tax cut for the rich that former Gov. Ted Strickland (D) halted last year because of the state's fiscal crisis.
IOWA: Gov. Tom Branstad (R) began this year proposing a budget that included a $200 million tax cut on commercial property taxes and corporate income but would freeze spending on schools, cut $42 million to state universities and lay off "hundreds" of state workers. Since then, the Governor has already begun laying off state nursing home workers andfrozen funding for mental health services. The budget is now moving through the politically divided legislature, where Republican-controlled House committees have gone even further, approving tax refunds for upper-income Iowans while cancelling infrastructure investments, eliminating preschool for 4-year-olds, closing Iowa workforce development offices, and making even deeper cuts to public universities.
PENNSYLVANIA: Gov. Tom Corbett (R) presented a budget last week that would cut taxes for corporations, while freezing teacher salaries, cutting dental care for Medicaid recipients, and eliminating more than half of the state's universities. Yet the state has lots of revenue potential in northern Pennsylvania, where out-of-state energy companies' "fracking" of natural gas has reaped them hundreds of millions of dollars in profits. Corbett has refused to tax these companies, many of which helped fund his gubernatorial campaign, and has instead opted to lay of more than 1,500 state workers.
MAINE: Despite calling for "shared sacrifice" Tea Party Gov. Paul LePage's (R) budget would cut income taxes for Maine's wealthiest one percent, while actually raising property taxes for the state's middle class. This so-called "jobs budget" freezes healthcare funding for working parents, cuts money for schools and infrastructure and raises the retirement age for public workers. Yet LePage was still able to find more than $200 million in tax cuts for large estates, business and the rich.
WISCONSIN: The tax cuts Gov. Scott Walker (R) signed earlier this year worsened his state's fiscal condition, so now Walker is planning to raise taxes on the poor, eliminate $26 million in tax credits for seniors and single mothers and cancel property tax rebates for low-income Wisconsinites making less than $24,000 a year.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Gov. Nikki Haley (R) has proposed ending the state'scorporate income tax, even while she calls for cutting physical education, K-12 schools, and Medicaid. Haley has received pushback from Republican colleagues: last week the legislature rejected her plan to force state employees to pay more for health insurance.
KANSAS: Facing a $493 million budget shortfall, Gov. Sam Brownback (R) has called for eliminating the corporate income tax while proposing a $50 million cut to education. With majorities in both Houses, Republicans have proposed a cut to the federal Earned Income Tax Credit that would push 6,500 families below the poverty line.
ARIZONA: Last October, as she ignored 26 other possible funding solutions, Gov. Jan Brewer (R) implemented painful cuts to the state's Medicaid program, which resulted in 2 deaths and left 98 Arizonianswaiting for transplant funding. After months of protests, Brewer finally agreed to set aside $151 million in an "uncompensated-care pool to pay health-care providers for 'life-saving' procedures, including transplants." However, House Republicans refused to restore funding for organ transplants because, as House Appropriations Committee chair Jon Kavanagh (R) said, "not enough lives would be saved to warrant restoring millions in budget cuts." Then, while peoples' lives were in danger, Brewer eagerly signed tax cuts for businesses that will cost the state $538 million.
Despite calling for "shared sacrifice" in their plans, Republican governors have yet to ask corporations to share the burden of record budget shortfalls. Ultimately, choosing big business over Main Street could undermine the already slow economic recovery. However, a Main Street Movement in many of these states has emerged to protestplacing the burden of deficit reduction solely onto the backs of the middle-class and public employees.


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Grains finished mixed after trading sharply lower early in the session. December corn settled 4 ¼ cents lower at $6.10 ¼, January soybeans finished unchanged at $11.68 ¼, and December wheat finished up 5 ¾ cents at $5.98 ¼.
Despite the early weakness we did find strength going into the end of the day taking us higher in beans/wheat. This morning the USDA announced a bean sale to China for 124,500 MTs. Other than that there was not a whole lot of new fundamental news out in today's trading session. After the close however we did get the Cattle on Feed numbers as well as the Commitment of Traders data. The Commitment of Traders report shows the Managed Money increasing their net short on Chicago wheat by 10,695 contracts, reducing their net long in corn by 21,370 contracts, and reducing their net long in soybeans by 18,140 contracts (all numbers discussed are using combined futures and options). For soybeans Managed Money is only holding a net long position of 10,133 contracts, which is a significant reduction!
Cattle on Feed:
Estimated Actual
On Feed November 1st 104% 104%
Placements During Oct 99% 99%
Marketings in Oct 101% 103%
The feed wheat story is still a very important key to this weakness in feed grains. With the price of wheat still undercutting the price of corn around the world we have to imagine that the price of corn is going to have a hard time being supported by much export demand. I have talked about all of the examples of feed wheat being purchased in these past few weeks especially in the Asian countries. As long as this is the case I find it hard for corn to stay at these price levels.
Fundamentally we still stand bearish especially in the wheat and corn markets. Technically we are starting to point lower as well in many of these products. The 50 day moving average for corn has crossed below the 200 suggesting the longer term trend is heading lower. Please call EHedger if you would like to discuss developing a marketing strategy for 2012. Our grain marketing software can help you discover your risk based on your current strategy and help you make marketing decisions going forward. Have a great weekend!
To receive a two week trial of our services please contact an EHedger broker today or sign up using the link below.
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Trading commodity futures and options involves substantial risk of loss and may not be suitable for all investors. You should carefully consider whether trading is suitable for you in light of your circumstances, knowledge and financial resources. The market information contained in this message has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed as to its accuracy or completeness. Market information may not be consistent with current or future market positions of EHedger LLC, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees or agents.


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Maldives Will Become World's Largest Marine Reserve
The ever-increasing threats to the survival of oceans are putting all life on this planet at risk. As Leonardo DiCaprio recently asked in his call to save the seas, "What else is more vital to our health and well-being than our Oceans?" While commercial fishing and pollution continue to take their toll, positive steps are happening.
One of those steps was just announced at the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development. The conference was recently the focus of some controversy over its meat-filled menu, despite the production of meat being a significant contributor to climate change, but there was some good news. The Maldives has unveiled plans to turn its islands into the world's largest marine reserve.
According to the Global Post, all 1,192 islands will be a reserve by the year 2017. "I would like to announce today Maldives will become the first country to become a marine reserve. It will become the single largest marine reserve in the world. This policy will allow only sustainable and eco-friendly fishing. It will exclude deep-sea, purse-seining and other destructive techniques," announced President Mohamed Waheed.
In purse-seining, a circular net is placed around large schools of fish, then the net is drawn closed in the shape of a bag to prevent the fish from escaping. It is often used to catch fish like tuna, including the increasingly threatened bluefin tuna. Other species of ocean life often fall victim to this and other forms of large commercial fishing as "unintended bycatch."
The Baa Atoll, consisting of 75 Maldives islands is already a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, but Waheed believes the whole country can become a protected area for ocean life. According to PR Newswire, he adds "This commitment reflects our respect for our unique natural environment. We have taken these measures to protect our coral reefs, lagoons, coral islands and coral sand beaches. The Maldives will take any action necessary to ensure our future."
Photo credit: totophotos / http://www.shutterstock.com


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–I am doing my best to avoid seeing political stuff and limiting my exposure to news in general. It is all so awful I almost instantly become overwhelmed. I'm going to vote, and be as active as I can locally, but I'm limiting myself for my own well-being. This election is so filled with horror, America is so filled with horror, this world is so filled with horror… I'm finding myself overwhelmed and filled with anxiety. I'm taking active steps to know my limits, practice self-care, and be selective about how I spend my time. I'm focusing on the things I can change, things that make me happy, and things I can improve. I long for the days when I can go online without immediately wanting to anger-barf, but in the mean time I'm taking control of my mental state as best I can.
–In other '2016 Is A Dumpster Fire' news, murder clowns have been spotted in the area. (Apparently they aren't Juggalos. Which is something we have. The Central Valley is a rich source of our nation's Juggalos.) I have saved a voicemail officially warning my family about Evil Clowns. An automated message actually says, "Hello, this is a message from Turlock Unified School District to inform you about: CLOWNING." I now have to modify my stranger danger talk to include evil clowns. Though I won't be able to mention evil clowns, specifically, because if I did there is no way Isobel would ever leave the house again, ever. And can you blame her? My only comfort is knowing that if I saw an Evil Clown I'd probably be driving and I could hit them with my car. At this point the Zombie Apocalypse would be less surprising than the current events of 2016.
–At least once a day Elias screams, "Help! I'm stuck!" from the backseat. You aren't stuck, sweetie. You are in a car seat.
–Like many who have a disease or condition, I frequently get asked about it. The problem is I'm so exhausted or feeling so badly because of said disease I don't always have it in my to get into it. Plus, it's complicated. I've been joking about making up a pamphlet about Crohn's disease to hand out to people when I tell them I have it. It would save so much time.
–Elias is full-on terrible twos. His tantrums are epic, daily events. I have to fight his surprisingly strong, squirming little body to do things like: get in the car seat, get in the stroller, leave the house, not hit his sister. It's not only exhausting, but when you have a body that is painful to the touch, can be excruciating. I'm pretty immune to being embarrassed about tantrums in public, but a few times it has tested even that limit. His ability to climb is scary and exceeds his judgement. He can scale any play structure at the park and is great at judging distances and jumping. He loves to wrestle and pretend to do kung fu moves, and especially loves to pretend getting hit. So far it looks like he's going to have a stellar career as a stunt man.
–This weekend I watched Isobel make a scrambled egg all by herself. She got out the eggs and a bowl, cracked the egg, and stirred it up. Anthony was making pancakes so the pan was hot and ready to go. She poured in the eggs, stirred it with a spatula, and transferred it to plate. She got her own ketchup, squeezed it on her plate, and chowed down. I was so impressed I clapped.
–Anthony has been reading Matilda to us at the end of the day. It's the perfect before bed relaxation activity. I say this because I inevitably fall asleep, but that's because I get up earlier and generally need more sleep than everyone else. It is one of Anthony's favorite books and he's been waiting to share this with Isobel. She absolutely loves it, and watching her face light up as Anthony reads to her is the best possible sight for me to fall asleep to.
–Isobel, instructing Anthony on Google: "Daddy, can you search for 'cool kid comics'?"
–Also Isobel: "Halloween is about giving candy away to children who don't have a lot of candy, getting toys, and celebrating cavities. Halloween says 'Here, have some cavities. It's a tradition!'"
–Even though Elias is firmly expressing his toddler independence, he still loves riding around in the Ergo baby carrier, and whenever his mood and my body allow it, I strap him to me for instant cuddles. I pretend his is Mr Wonderful again, instead of Danger Boy.
–Anthony found a great deal on a used 3DS for Isobel and she has been having many Pokemon X adventures. Craigslist may have killed the yard sale, but we have definitely benefited from the CL era.
–We bought Isobel a new spirit shirt this year, even though the old one is as good as new since she wore it a grand total of three times last year. Now when she wears her new spirit shirt on Fridays, Elias happily dons the old one, even though it's pretty enormous on him. He insists on carrying his backpack to school, and one day we let him line up with Isobel and all her classmates giggled to see if her teacher would notice her extra student.
Snapshot 09.27.16. When you're a socialite on the farm.
[RECORD SCRATCH] [FREEZE FRAME] AMERICA: Yep, that's me. You're probably wondering how I got myself into this.
I'm at petco and THEY FOUND A KITTEN IN THE STORM AND PUT HER IN A LITTLE SWEATER. That sweater is a sock and I am totally in love.
Need a break from the news? Here are two corgis playing tetherball.
Just seen these in Homebase and can't help feeling it's a horrible omen.
Does anybody know what kind of hummingbird this is?
Can't sleep. 2016 will eat me.
She took the midnight train going anywhere.
Me: "sorry, I can't, I'm busy" "what are you up to?"
Bro, I barely touched you. I have watched this video game glitch three times and got tears each time.
California English. Hella true, dude! I say all these.
National Poetry Day, care of Bootleg Engrish.
What kids think being an adult is like vs what being an adult is actually like.
This is Riley. His owner put a donut pillow around him and he loves it so much he won't let anyone take it off. 13/10
Here we see a baby wigglefloof cleaning its tiny squishbeans.
This has got to be on purpose. When your fortune cookie is fucking with you.
Doing chores but still being spooky.
This french bulldog is the face of all third wheelers everywhere.
We are all Nutmeg. Nutmeg is a 31 year old cat and I luff heem.
Fun with a new image data set: Mars Orbiter Mission's Mars Colour Camera. Thank you for downloading these, Emily!
Well I broke the apple slicer but at least I invented the Danger Apple.
When ur son is about to run into a hedge.
It's campaign season and Dan is doing it right.
October is Dysautonomia Awareness Month! What is Dysautonomia? Why, I'm glad you asked, because that is exactly the purpose of this month and of the Twibbon you can attach to your facebook and twitter profiles, as I eventually managed to do. (It's not hard, I'm just challenged.) Dysautonomia is a rarely diagnosed condition, or collection of conditions, affecting the autonomous nervous system. It's bollocks, you guys, absolute bollocks, and it affects up to 70 million globally, including one of my closest friends on the planet.
Do you like Christmas?! Do you like curing Crohn's Disease?! Would you like to do both all at once while perhaps wearing a festive hat of some description? Well here's your chance! Raise a bit of cash and help what is an invaluable charity for us Crohnsie type stomach clutchers. My friend nicpiper is a cartoonist with Crohn's and this is a wonderful opportunity to own some of his art and support a worthy cause.
DIY NASA JPL Costumes. These were super duper fun.
DIY The Wasp Costume. This was before the Antman movie and hardly anyone knew who she was. Everyone thought she was a bee.


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October 15, 2007, 1:10 am
Denver bond issue: 2 letters
Re: "Mayor's ABCs treat voters like children," Oct. 10 David Harsanyi column.
David Harsanyi outdoes himself with his latest anti-tax, anti-community screed. It is classic Libertarian. If it were up to him, government would provide no services and perform no functions other than maintenance of a national defense, if that. There's a reason why Libertarianism has not prospered in our society – most Americans accept that when one lives in a community, there are certain functions performed by government that we cannot as individuals perform for ourselves. Read more…


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Racing Team Manager (PC) review
"Racing Team Manager is probably the most counter-intuitive and frustratingly illogical game I've ever played. There are no tutorials or help buttons, which is a bad idea anyway, but when all of the option screens seem to rely on bizarre icons or abbreviations for everything, it's simply absurd. It took me about fifteen minutes to work out why it wouldn't enter my car for the first race. It turned out it didn't have an engine in it. I only worked this out by clicking, then double-clicking, then clicking and pressing 'automatic' (which seems to sometimes set up a bit of your car by itself) in a desperate attempt for something to happen. Management games should involve careful, strategic planning and fine-tuning. This felt like playing Myst."
Freelance review by Lewis Denby (August 02, 2008)
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No longer will readers be able to chuck a third free book onto their pile of purchases as they head to the till at Waterstone's: the UK's biggest bookseller is bringing its long-running three-for-two offer to an end.
The Bookseller reports that staff were told of the move yesterday, with the current three-for-two promotion across all paperback fiction to come to an end today. The demise of the famous offer, which has been running for more than a decade, follows the sale of the chain by HMV to Russian billionaire Alexander Mamut, and the appointment of independent bookseller James Daunt as managing director in June.


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April 21, 2005
Complete Men's WCC Bracket in PDF Format
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Complete Women's WCC Bracket in PDF Format
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The Santa Clara University men's and women's tennis teams will participate in the West Coast Conference Championships held in Malibu and San Diego this Friday through Sunday. Pepperdine University will host the men's tournament while the University of San Diego will host on the women's side. The Bronco men enter the Championship as a fourth seed, with an overall record of 12-10. The women also enter the Championship as a fourth seed, with an overall record of 14-6.
Leading Santa Clara are seniors Taylor Bedilion and Francisco Zepponi. Playing in the top two spots, Bedilion has recorded 11 dual wins. Zepponi set the program mark for career singles wins last Saturday and enters the championships with 73 under his belt. Both players have been key to the team's overall record of 12-10, fourth best in the WCC. Freshman AJ Kerin has also been a significant contributor for the Broncos with an overall record of 19-10 at the No. 5 and No. 6 singles positions. The Broncos are peaking at the right time of the season, as they finished the regular season slate by winning eight of their final 10 matches. Santa Clara has finished in the top four in seven of the past eight WCC Championships.
The women's tournament also features a nationally-ranked program. Pepperdine is currently listed 39th in the nation and has captured 15 of the 18 WCC women's tennis titles. Loyola Marymount captured the crown in 2002 to become the only current WCC school other than Pepperdine to have won the championship. Three of the tournament's players are ranked in singles. Emma Murphy of San Diego is listed 30th while Bianca Dulgheru and Caroline Raba of Pepperdine are listed 39th and 68th, respectively.
With an overall record of 14-6, tops in the league, the Broncos are led by senior Janalle Kaloi. Her 14 dual singles victories at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions have been crucial to the Broncos' success. Kaloi has also made significant contributions in doubles. Teamed with sophomore Kelly Leathers, the pair has an overall record of 12-6. Santa Clara enters the tournament having won 10 of its last 13 matches. The Broncos posted back-to-back third-place finishes in 2002 and '03 for the best finishes in program history.
Play is set to begin on Friday, with the Bronco men taking on fifth-seeded San Francisco at 11 a.m. in Malibu. The women's team takes on fifth-seeded St. Mary's in San Diego with at match set to begin at 10:30 a.m.


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Austin Booth didn't feel great, but well enough to play in a high school varsity basketball game and even made it to school the next day. When he started coughing up blood, his mother knew to take him to the emergency room.
It was too late. Six days later, Austin, who had been perfectly healthy, had died from something as mundane as the flu.
"He went from being a healthy, vibrant 17-year-old boy to being gone in less than a week," his mother, Regina Booth, said in a telephone interview.
Austin's case is not unusual, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study released Thursday. In fact, 43 percent American children who died from flu were perfectly healthy beforehand, CDC researchers found. While conditions such as cerebral palsy and asthma can make flu especially dangerous for a child, there's no way to tell which children will become seriously ill or even die from seasonal flu, the researchers warn.
Worse, the healthier kids died faster – an average of four days, versus seven days for kids who had high-risk conditions.
Austin died in January 2011, at the height of influenza season in the United States. Like most American kids his age, he had not been vaccinated against the flu. Given how unpredictable flu can be and how fast it can kill, says the CDC's Dr. Karen Wong, vaccination is the best protection for kids and adults alike.
"Because the study did find a lot of otherwise healthy kids who did have influenza-associated deaths and because we know deaths can happen fast, prevention is best, and the best prevention is the vaccine," said Wong, who led the study.
The study's findings, presented at a meeting of infectious disease specialists in San Diego, seem counterintuitive, and Wong says there is no clear explanation. "It is a very dangerous disease," she said.
There are two theories about why healthier kids might succumb more quickly. One is that the parents of kids with asthma, Down syndrome or other health problems are already very vigilant and highly familiar with the health care system, and they seek treatment the moment their children start to sniffle. There's an antiviral drug called Tamiflu that can help prevent the worst effects of influenza if patients get it within a day or two of being infected.
The other theory is that for some reason the immune system goes into overdrive in some healthy children. "The doctors called it a perfect storm," said Regina Booth, Austin's mother.
She and the doctors did everything by the book. "He was one of those kids that everybody liked instantly," Booth said. The family had moved to the Colorado mountain town of Rifle less than a year before from the Dallas area, and they let Austin choose which school district they would settle in.
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He was an honors student who played every sport he could. "He played varsity football and varsity baseball and basketball," Booth, 42, said. The oldest of five children, he tried never to miss school.
"It was very, very rare that he would be sick or stay home for anything," she said.
"When he got sick still the first day, he didn't feel good. We knew it was flu season. A couple of other kids on the basketball team had come down with flu so we knew that was going on."
But Austin didn't want to miss school, which would have meant missing that night's game. "He played in the varsity basketball game that night and did really good," Booth said.
"He was strong, healthy. We assumed he had an awesome immune system, so we didn't worry." He even felt well enough to go to school the next day, although the basketball coach sent Austin home from practice when he didn't seem up to it.
Booth kept him home the next day. "By about 10 a.m. that Thursday he had coughed up some blood," she said. She rushed him to the emergency room, and they airlifted him to the nearest big hospital in Grand Junction, Colo. But even then it didn't seem dire.
"When my husband and I got there, the doctor there was saying, 'maybe it's not as bad as I thought,' and that gave us hope," Booth said.
Doctors used sedatives to put Austin into a medical coma and dosed him with "I don't know how many antibiotics," Booth said. A ventilator was helping him breathe. It turned out he had both influenza B and an infection with a "superbug" called methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.
"But it was more than he could do. His organs started to shut down." Austin died on Monday, Jan. 17, 2011.
A doctor who reviewed Austin's record said there was nothing the medical team didn't try.
"If I would have taken him to the doctor sooner they would have said he has the flu and sent him home," Booth says. "Nothing would have changed. The only thing I look back at now — I wish we would have gotten the flu shot that year."
Booth has joined Families Fighting Flu and helps distribute posters that feature Austin's picture and encourage people to be vaccinated.
Although the CDC says everyone over the age of six months should get a flu shot, most still don't. Flu kills anywhere between 3,000 people a year to 49,000 people a year, but only 51.5 percent of children aged 6 months to 17 years were vaccinated last year. Just under 75 percent of babies aged up to 2 were vaccinated. A third of kids in Austin's age group, 13 to 17, got vaccinated.
"I was one of those people who didn't think they needed it," Booth says. "I was one of those people who thought if you get the shot, you are going to get sick."
These common beliefs, as well as a lack of motivation, keep people from getting vaccinated, even though flu kills anywhere between 3,000 and 49,000 Americans every year.
Wong's team looked at all the children who died of flu between 2004 and 2012. "Of the 781 with a known medical history, 333 (43 percent) had no high-risk conditions; of children with high-risk conditions, 57 percent had neurologic disorders, 45 percent had asthma or other pulmonary disease, and 22 percent had genetic or chromosomal disorders," they reported.
As for Booth, she's expecting a baby in December. "The kids are excited," she said. Her four other children, aged 16, 12, 7 and 3, all get vaccinated against the flu every year now.


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NHS farce leads to lost data
Patient data may have been saved
Exclusive Primitive backup procedures at Bexley Care Trust have led to the loss of email, contact, calendar, and schedule data across two NHS trusts.
Bexley provided the Exchange email systems for itself and Greenwich Primary Care Trust (PCT) until the system went kaput last week.
This would not have been a problem if Bexley had adequate backup procedures, according to sources.
A spokeswoman for Greenwich PCT confirmed that data had been lost with the email system collapse, but said the system was "up and running now".
She thought patient data had not been affected because the trust headquarters were run on a different email system to the one used by clinics and community centres, which handled the majority of patient data.
One source told The Reg that Bexley knew its email was being run on an old system, and said he was not surprised to hear of the snafu.
The battery in its uninterruptable power supply (UPS), which should protect the computers in the event of an unexpected loss of power, had run out of juice.
"The exchange server was a vintage six year old computer, the heads on the tape backup were worn out and they were notified six months ago to change the battery in the UPS," he said.
Warnings had been given, he said, and Greenwich PCT had been trying to get out of the contract that bound it to buy its email services from Bexley.
"For many this is a complete disaster as quite a few use email to store documents, etcetera. Apparently, it will hit finance the hardest, although one wonders about patient records, appointments..." the source said.
Bexley PCT confirmed there was a problem with their email but were unable to say by press time if any patient data has been lost. ®
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Raphael Girard made 31 stops in his first collegiate shutout (Gil Talbot).
Postgame Quotes
Highlights: Harvard vs. Bentley
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – In the first start of his junior season, goalie Raphael Girard recorded his first collegiate shutout as the Harvard men's hockey team downed Bentley, 5-0, Saturday in its season opener at Bright Hockey Center. The result drops Bentley to 2-2-0 on the year while Harvard earned a win in its season opener for the first time since 2009 and its home opener since 2008. It is also the first time since 2000 that the Crimson recorded a shutout victory in its first game of the season.
After looking poised in a 5-1 victory over McGill in an exhibition last week, the Harvard offense picked up right where it left off as senior Luke Greiner gave Harvard a 1-0 lead just 4:09 into the game. Greiner camped out at the top of the left faceoff circle, and after corralling a pass from rookie Jimmy Vesey, fired to the opposite post to beat Bentley goalie Branden Komm for the early edge. Nearing the end of the period, linemate Alex Fallstrom netted the second Crimson goal on a near carbon copy of Greiner's strike. Brothers Max and Marshall Everson assisted on the play, marking the second time in their careers the two have recorded assists on the same goal.
The Falcons kept the pressure on Girard through the frame, and nearly found the scoresheet when a puck was lodged under Girard's left pad and the Harvard net came loose. The play was reviewed but the referees agreed that it was not a goal. Harvard ended the frame with a 16-7 advantage in shots.
The Crimson had a scare in the second period as well, when the puck was lifted in the air on a Bentley charge and bounced off the upper post before the net was dislodged. The play was reviewed, but it was once again determined to be no goal. Late in the second, the heralded Harvard power play came to life, generating the home team's third score of the game. Patrick McNally slid a pass to Danny Biega along the blue line and Biega found the rookie Vesey on an aggressive line into the Bentley zone. The freshman took over from there, making a few weaves before tucking the puck past Komm for his first collegiate score at 17:42.
Vesey struck again, collecting his third point and second goal of the evening, 9:13 into the final frame. Biega was once again in on the play, feeding the puck down low where Colin Blackwell nudged the puck over to Vesey who stuffed it home for a 4-0 edge.
Frustration was mounting on the Bentley bench, but it was Harvard that started to amass penalties in the final frame. In the final 20 minutes, the Crimson was booked for six penalties, resulting in five power-play chances for the guests. Despite all the time with a man down, the penalty kill was on point, as it held Bentley to six shots and no goals on the five chances. Marshall Everson put the icing on the cake for Harvard when Fallstrom picked off a Bentley pass and fed Everson for Harvard's fifth goal of the evening with just 35 seconds to play.
The Crimson ended with a 44-31 edge in shots, with Girard stopping all 31 shots he faced on the night. Vesey (2g, 1a) and Fallstrom (1g, 2a) led all players with three points on the game, while Biega (2a) and Marshall Everson (1g, 1a) collected two apiece. Harvard was 1 for 2 on the power play and 5 for 5 on the penalty kill.
The Crimson continues its season-opening home stretch with its ECAC and Ivy League opener Friday against Brown. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.


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Saturday, December 3, 2011
'Conscience vote'
To use what might be considered an unfortunate expression, I have no dog in this fight. I'm a straight woman in her late 50s with no interest in marriage. (Been there, done that, threw up on the t-shirt.)
I think the people who say the ALP's national conference is being hijacked by the 'unimportant' issue of gay marriage aren't thinking hard enough about what importance is, or indeed about what politics is. To my mind this goes to two absolutely fundamental issues in politics: the quality of ordinary people's daily lives, and the question of who has power over whom, and to what end.
So the idea that it has anything whatever to do with Person A's 'conscience' when Person B and Person C decide that they would like to formally and legally celebrate their commitment to each other in the manner in which such commitment is most usually celebrated in our society is really just a case of a power struggle being dressed up to look like something nicer.
For whatever sense does it make, really, that Person A should wrestle with his or her own better angels about something that Persons B and C might want to do? No sense, that's what. Person A, if she or he genuinely believes this to be a matter of his or her own conscience, needs a bit of a lesson in how to recognise his or her own beeswax. And everyone knows that the Prime Minister's taking of the 'conscience vote' road is a totally cynical move in any case. And I can't be alone in finding something particularly rank and icky about dressing up a bit of pragmatic and strategic political gamesmanship as an issue of individual conscience.
19 comments:
Well, the thing got up at conference, which is right.
The fundy right of course is grizzling like it's the end of the world; "We'll all be rooned...".
But I agree with Kerryn's more "gospel", if you like, interpretation, rather than the authoritarian Old Testament response: the incident where a roaring lynch mob are pulled up with the invitation that, after inward reference involving their own hearts and consciences, any of those present could honestly say they'd able to do better in their own lives to, "cast the first stone.."
No takers, apparently.
We all know that greed, anger, malice, intolerance and self righteousness are as self indulgent as eating chocolate or embarking on a session of good sex, likely as distracting, heck everyone has at least one weakness, don't they?
Which is not to say all social conservatism is bad, the ideas usually were thrown up in a different historical era and often motivated by a sense of concern for women, kids, social survival etc, as well to fit the needs of people running things.
But there does come a time when a person has to make up their own mind as to how they behave in the privacy of their own home and for the supervising morals committees and inspectorates, no matter how reluctantly, to eventually retire from the sanctity of people's boudoirs.
It's good that the guard dogs have finally been pulled back on the issue of gay rights.
- December 4, 2011 at 2:54 PM
"I have no dog in this fight."
That's a rather narrow way of conceiving the question. Unless you mysteriously aren't a part of your society somehow, you do indeed have a dog in the fight: you are a free individual, and you have a say in shaping what sort of world you wish to live in, and pass on to your future fellow citizens. (And what sort of world will it turn out to be, d'ye reckon?)
I have no desire to argue the specific issue. Just wanted to give you a little civics booster shot, eh?
The Lovecraftian Outer God formerly known as j_p_z
wv: "countc"
Count Chocula! We meet again! Mano a mano, as it were.
- December 4, 2011 at 5:56 PM
- Kerryn Goldsworthy said...
Not in any need of one, thanks, JPZ. I meant it strictly literally, as I sort of thought I'd explained.
- December 4, 2011 at 7:48 PM
- R.H. said...
Special Delivery!
To that Anais Nin of blogging: Miz Kerryn Goldsworthy.
You will have an opinion, everyone has an opinion. I'm against gay marriage. I wouldn't attend one, I might be expected to kiss the bride.
- December 5, 2011 at 12:48 AM
Yeah, yeah, I know, I know.
There's some good material here for an interesting stoush about politics and language (and not the one you'd expect, either!), but I'm not in a very contentious mood, and I suspect you aren't either.
So instead, it's off to the racetrack!
Only kidding, it's the dead of winter here. But maybe _you'll_ enjoy a fine day at the racetrack! How's that for a fortune cookie?
- December 5, 2011 at 9:35 AM
- Kerryn Goldsworthy said...
I was once told by an astrologer that I had the best stars for gambling she'd ever seen. 'I have no interest in gambling,' I said. 'Well there you go then,' she replied.
- December 5, 2011 at 9:48 AM
- Armagny said...
It makes no sense. I think this issue is such a litums test of bigotry, because, even compared to an issue such as asylum seekers - on which you know I have strong views - no argument ever mounted sounds even remotely rational. More importantly, none of those against ever seem to be able to show a real interest that is affected.
By that I mean- I might disagree factually with anti boat people claims about numbers and so on, but it has at least the makings of a semblence of a rational argument about something that affects those opposing. Being against gay marriage is purely about imposing a bigotry on others. So to the extent that it is symbolic, it's a pretty ripe symbol. A bit like accepting the earth is flat.
- December 5, 2011 at 10:28 AM
- Armagny said...
Contrast a law forcing churches to hold gay marriages. I don't understand religion much any more, but I wouldn't go that far. I just think it's an issue where a bit of live and let live is called for...
- December 5, 2011 at 10:29 AM
- Mindy said...
I'm just waiting for the inevitable "gay divorce" statistics and claims that the sanctity of marriage is being damaged by people getting married and divorced easily. They seem to miss the point that it is the choice and protections afforded to married couples that should be open to everyone whether they choose to use them or not. If gay couples don't flock to the altar or divorce much the same as het couples it doesn't matter, what matters is that they get the choice to do so if they want to.
- December 5, 2011 at 1:45 PM
- Kerryn Goldsworthy said...
Unfortunately logical argument has very little to do with all of this. A good psychoanalyst could explain it in terms of how much most people have personally invested in the traditional idea of an ideal marriage. The threat they're worried about is not to anything real, but to something in which they nonetheless have a massive investment in terms of their own identity. As a (publicly) single woman I find this a lot with couples. A single woman makes a certain sort of het couple uneasy; we're a threat. Not always a direct sexual threat, especially after 45 or so, but our very existence proves that the world is not exclusively arranged like a Parisian haute bourgeoisie dinner party circa 1961. I imagine the existence of gay couples (or, worse, gay independents) makes a certain kind of het couple existentially uneasy for the same sort of reason.
- December 5, 2011 at 1:59 PM
"the best stars for gambling"
Hmm, are you saying that... "the stars were right" for you?
Maybe you're an Outer God, too.
Have you checked for any stray tentacles lately? Do you sometimes become invisible at the most inoppportune moments? Own any real estate in the Dead City of R'lyeh? Do you drop stuff on the floor and leave it there and mutter, "eh, so what, the shoggoths will pick it up"?
If so, we may have some GREAT opportunities for you to rid the earth's surface of tiresome human vermin!
Call 1-800-NYARLATHOTEP. Call today!
The Crawling Chaos
- December 5, 2011 at 2:03 PM
- Kerryn Goldsworthy said...
The mind, it boggles.
- December 5, 2011 at 2:39 PM
"The mind, it boggles."
Which raises sort of an interesting question: is it more fun in life to boggle easily, or with difficulty?
wv: "apyralit"
is that some sort of sub-category of the Brahmins?
- December 5, 2011 at 10:07 PM
Kerryn's response to Armagny's points re belief is at the bottom of it all.
Armagny comes up with an interesting contrast with asylum seekers, understands one better than the other but the clincher in response is the point about belief and what that is.
Abortion is murder to some and salvation for others, how can both be right, for example?
"Others", be they gay, ethnic, ideological, whatever, are not humble, grateful, trustworthy people like "us", but self indulgent ingrates.
They challenge nationalism, marital and cultural norms, decency, common sense itself- don't tell me the world is round, I walked up to the chip shop this arvo and all was flat, as usual!
If my beliefs are established, then I act- if you are a reffo, or gay, or even a bit tricky looking I already know you are evil, like a cockroach. For me and my nearest and dearest's salvation and self respect I iron you out; I'll shoot first and ask questions later.
How will you, reader, deal with my irrationality, when my irrationality is perfectly reasonable to me, as yours is to you?
Herodotus, where are you?
- December 5, 2011 at 10:39 PM
- Kerryn Goldsworthy said...
It was actually mainly a response to Mindy, but having re-read the comments I can see that it applies to both.
- December 5, 2011 at 11:16 PM
Mindy notes a historical trait now very ancient, as to suppression of gays and other allegedly "different" people being transhistoric.
If you can't entirely subscribe to the culture-only explanations of the formation and realisation of a person's psyche or "make up" from childhood onwards;
if "gayness" is genetic rather than cultural; that is with every generation for a hundred thousand years give or take, a fixed spill of genes favouring a percent of a community being actively or latently gay has occurred, you'd have to say that further attacks on gays are even more pointless now than before.
- December 6, 2011 at 2:20 PM
It seems a lot of fuss over nothing really. Marriage is an invented ceremony (not something in place from the beginnings of humanity as one opponent stated at the ALP Conference). If my friends would like to go through such a public ceremony, then so be it.
In my view religion, and its innumerable ceremonies, was invented by churches as a weapon of power over the masses.
I've now been married for 55 years and even though we are good companions, if I'd realised back then how ridiculous it is to be formally "married" and receive a piece of paper I wouldn't have bothered. We would still be very comfortable after all those years because it is not a piece of paper that has held us together.
- December 6, 2011 at 3:19 PM
Any way, isn't the concept of any "conscience" vote involving politicians purely oxymoronic?
Surely if some thing is deemed a "conscience" vote, politicians are likely disbarred, since a vote on the basis of conscience implies the necessity and presence of one as preconditional for that specific event?
And what's a conscience, anyway?
Some thing that tells me I'm right when I'm miserable and suffering and wrong when I'm having fun???
- December 7, 2011 at 2:42 PM
- persiflage said...
Michael Sexton's article on the laws relating to marriage and the civil unions throws a large dash of common sense on this issue.
- December 21, 2011 at 9:37 PM


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Tag Archives: Media Activism
CUT//ACT: Video (and) Activism
Have you ever wondered how media has changed over time, and how "video" has been used as a political tool? In this course, you will learn both, not least by producing an activist video yourself! You may improve your knowledge/skills … Continue reading


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Obituary: Ron Rose
Ron Rose ~ A Tahoe Legend
Rupert Ronald Rose (Ron Rose) was a gift to this world. He led a life that embraced a passion for music, involved a compelling love of family, and encompassed a light-hearted sense of humor. He and his wife of 63 years, Dorothy Rose (a.k.a. "Toots") took this world by storm, followed their dreams, and built a prolific, bountiful life that demands nothing short of admiration.
Ron Rose (a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, musician, poet, intellect and reflective soul) was born June 18, 1930 in Warren, Ohio. Ron lived a thrilling journey to the age of 83. Surrounded by family, he passed peacefully in his home on October 22, 2013.
Ronald began playing piano at the young age of four. He was often described as a scholar of his craft. Honing his skill, he mastered song and his instrument throughout his teen years. He began performing live at a young age. As an adult, Ron touched many with his music, and, with Toots by his side, he traveled throughout the United States sharing his jazz standards music coast-to-coast in places such as Biloxi, Virginia Beach, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Reno, Lake Tahoe, Eugene, and Central City.
He and Toots settled and built a life in pristine Lake Tahoe. It was there that Ron would have a fulfilling 43 year career with his band playing the "Top of The Wheel" of Harvey's Casino Resort and later in his career as a piano soloist at Genoa Lakes Golf Course. He became a staple of Lake Tahoe's entertainment scene from the late 1950's through the 2000's and was often termed "Tahoe's Piano Man." He produced multiple records, shared the stage with well-known performers, and most importantly was able to live his life sharing his passion for song and melody with his dedicated listeners, his community – all of whom he considered friends.
His true love…
While Ron lived a life filled with composition and song, his true masterpiece was his large, loving family. Ron is survived by his lovely wife, Toots, and five children (Sandra Bacus, Rhonda Rose Tremoureux, Jeffrey Rose, Lynda Rose Salmon, and David Rose). His family extends to 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Ron and his family always made a point to hold regular family gatherings. It was through these times when Ron would sit with great pride, and reflect upon his true orchestra which is that of his family. He often spoke of such inspiration and it was common to hear Ron express, "This is what it's all about – family." Just as he had a love for each melody composed, he cared for each family member individually; another one of his innate gifts.
His true love was for his dearest, devoted, sweetheart, partner Toots Rose. They met in Warren, Ohio where Ron played for the local roller rink and later at Toots' high school dance. For 63 years the danced, they toured, they loved, and they laughed together. They are sincere partners in crime, a match made in heaven, soul mates, and they share a type of undying love that many would be honored to witness. In short, they are each other's greatest fans.
The music plays on…
An inspiration for many and an entertainer at heart; Ron lived a lifetime of song, passion, integrity, and genuine authenticity. HIs love for music, family, a good laugh, and his excitment for life was fundamentally infectious. He will be greatly missed.
The life of Rupert Ronald Rose will be celebrated on October 30, 2013 from 1:00-3:00pm at Montana Health & Fitness Community Center (Resort Course Genoa Lakes). 468 Mountain Meadows Dr. Genoa, NV, 89411. We would like to extend our gratitude to Autumn Hill Mortuary and Gentira Hospice for their kindness and compassion. Memorial donations can be sent to Dorothy "Toots" Rose at 901 Jeanell Dr., Carson City, Nv 89701.
To view more details of Ron's life, listen to one of his tunes, or if you wish share a memory of Ron Rose an online Memorial Website has been created:


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Neck pain can be acute, meaning that it began suddenly, lasting up to a few weeks; or chronic, meaning that it is a constant, nagging pain. Neck pain can be caused from muscle strain, disc problems, or trauma. Sometimes, it can mean something more serious is going on.
The vast majority of neck problems are successfully treated without surgery. In some cases, refraining from certain activities while your body heals is all that is needed.
The goal of any treatment is to reduce pain, limit further degeneration, and get you back to your activities as soon as possible. Some nonsurgical treatments include physical therapy, steroid injections, and joint injections.
Neck pain that causes numbness or weakness in the arm or forearm, or tingling in the fingers or hand, is commonly caused by herniated or ruptured cervical discs, located in the spinal column near the neck.
The spine is composed of several bones, called vertebrae, that are cushioned by small discs. These discs are made up of a tough outer layer that surrounds a jelly-like substance. They act as shock absorbers for the spine.
A disc is herniated when a fragment of the jelly-like substance, called the nucleus, is pushed out of the tough outer layer (called the annulus) through a tear or rupture into the spinal column. When this occurs, the displaced disc fragment presses on the spinal nerves, causing pain that can be severe.
The location of the herniated disc determines where pain occurs. Ruptured discs in the cervical area of the spine, located at the top of the spine near the neck, cause neck and arm pain.
To help determine if you are a candidate for neck surgery, a surgeon will perform a physical examination and review your medical history. Diagnostic tests that may be used include:
In general, surgery to relief pain from any of these issues, will involve one or more of the following procedures.
removal or partial removal of a disc to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerve.
removal of most of the bony arch, or lamina of a vertebra to relieve pressure on a nerve.
grafting bone onto the spine to create a solid union between two or more vertebrae. Screws, plates, and rods may be used to provide additional spinal support.
In certain cases, surgeons may use minimally invasive techniques for these procedures. One of these procedures is called a microdiscectomy. It involves using a microscope to remove a disc fragment that is putting pressure on a nerve. This procedure requires only a very small incision.
Recovery time will vary depending on your particular situation and the type of surgery you had. Due to advancements in technology, your stay in the hospital will only be one to three days.
Your doctor will usually prescribe pain medication and help determine when you can resume normal activities, including work, driving and exercising. It is common to feel some discomfort as you slowly increase activity, but increased pain may be a warning that you are doing too much too soon.
If you would like to be treated at Baptist for neck pain, the first step is being seen by one of our surgeons. Your physician can make arrangements for this appointment.
All surgeons on staff at Baptist are board certified, and many have sub-specialty training within their field.
See Neurosurgeons at Baptist.
Source: American Association of Neurological Surgeons
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I have lived in upstate NY for a little over a year now. I haven't travelled within the US all that much, so clearly there is a lot I still don't know about this country. One observation I have made, though, is that this is truly the country of many faces, odd parallels and contradictions.
1. You can quite easily get lost and confused in a supermarket, but the people at the farmers' market will tell you exactly what type of potato you are buying, where it was farmed and how you can get the best taste out of it. The same country that has allowed salmonella-infested egg farms to break the rules time after time, has also produced farmers that truly care.
4. One neighbour might leave his truck running in his driveway for an hour at a time, but another will feed you cherry tomatoes while you are wearing rubber gloves and cleaning your windows.
8. The same country that made James Patterson and his co-written factory of literature possible also inspires Jonathan Franzen.
9. Some spouses of American citizens are required to take part in a detailed interview about the validity of their marriage before receiving their permanent residence status, while others are not. The land of freedom is also a land of suspicion and fear, and the same rules do not apply on everyone.
Oh, and before I forget, I received my Green Card in the mail yesterday.


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Life in the two-year Medicare wait period
Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas) chats with Alzheimer advocate Teresa Lambert (center) and North Central Texas Chapter regional director Libby Connally at a Capitol Hill news conference on ending the two-year wait for Medicare for those under 65 with disabling conditions.
Alzheimer advocate Teresa Lambert shared her story about "life in the two-year wait period" for Medicare at a Capitol Hill news conference Nov. 12 announcing the Coalition to End the Two-Year Wait for Medicare.
Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas), who has authored House legislation ending the two-year wait for Medicare, was also a featured speaker at the press conference.
The Alzheimer's Association and more than 65 other health advocacy organizations have joined forces in a campaign to urge the next Congress to end the two-year wait for Medicare coverage faced by people with disabilities under age 65.
The two-year wait issue particularly impacts the younger-onset Alzheimer population — individuals who are under age 65 who have lost their jobs and their employer-based health insurance and who qualify for Medicare benefits under Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) but must wait 24 months after the date their SSDI begins before receiving Medicare health benefits.
Lambert is one of the nearly 500,000 people under age 65 who have Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. The 54-year-old Abilene, Texas, resident is unfortunately no stranger to Alzheimer's; her father, Donald Smith, is living in the later stages, and the disease has already claimed the lives of her grandmother and great-grandmother.
Diagnosed last year, Teresa is now living in the waiting period with one year and one month left before her Medicare health coverage begins. An estimated 1.5 million Americans with disabilities are caught up in this waiting period for Medicare. Nearly 39 percent of these individuals do not have health insurance coverage for some point during the waiting period, and 26 percent have no health insurance during this entire period.
Proud to be affiliated with the Alzheimer's Association's North Central Texas Chapter, Teresa also served as the honorary chair of the North Central Texas Chapter's Memory Walk.
Ending the two-year wait for Medicare is an important legislative priority for the Alzheimer's Association, and we are committed to moving this legislation forward.
Alzheimer's Association
Media line: 312.335.4078
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Traditional with a Twist in Houston
Gem-like ruby reds, amethyst purples, and emerald greens dazzle in this classic-meets-modern Houston home
Fate, it seems, had Katie Scott's style—and that of her home—written in the stars. "I'm a true Gemini. I'm split right down the middle," Katie says with a laugh. "I love French antiques, and at the same time I'm the total modern queen."
Twin affinities, however, pose no problem for this double-threat designer, who creates both jewelry and interiors. She successfully merged her two aesthetic sides in the Houston home she shares with husband Stanton and their four kids.
Traditional architecture characterizes the Houston home's exterior.
Photography: Nathan Schroder
Produced by Tori Mellott
Interior designer: Katie Scott, Katie Scott Design, 5773 Woodway Drive, Suite 270, Houston, TX 77057; 713/973-7384, katiescottdesign.com.
Alluring Entry
"The house had a lot of traditional French influence, with all this beautiful, detailed millwork," Katie says. "I embraced that, and then went bold and modern with furnishings. I like to mix old and new. The tension creates excitement."
Katie's unique fusion isn't shy about introducing itself. "The outside of the house is so traditional," she says. "But when you open the door, you see this clean, modern acrylic console and a contemporary painting that draws you in like a maze. It dives deep. It sparks curiosity. I like to get people wondering, What else is inside this house? "
An antique bust juxtaposed against a modern work by Austin artist Sarah C. Ferguson.
Console table ("Stealth Console Table"); vase ("Limited Edition Acrylic Vortex Vase"): Alexandra Von Furstenberg, alexandravonfurstenberg.com.
Art behind console (by Sarah Ferguson): Dimmitt Contemporary Art, dimmittcontemporaryart.com.
Candle ("Rose Poivrée"): Cire Trudon, trudon.com.
Bust (antique): Bremmerman Designs, bremmermandesigns.com.
Area rug ("Vintage Over-Dye"/Deep Purple): Madison Lily Rugs, madisonlily.com.
Traditional Meets Contemporary
Stepping into the living room, the answer is evident. The home's ornate original millwork and a jaw-dropping trumeau above the fireplace—all coated in white—are juxtaposed against what Katie calls her "shocker" furniture, a clean-lined sofa covered in purple velvet and two modern chairs upholstered in fiery red. An antique bench and French side chairs are classic in form but dressed for today in kid-proof black faux leather and bold citron fabric.
Commode against wall (Louis Philippe); mirror above commode (18th-century Italian): Tara Shaw, tarashawmaison.com.
Buffet lamps ("Hargett Buffet Lamp" #SP3011, by J. Randall Powers for Visual Comfort): Circa Lighting, circalighting.com.
Black and white art by commode: by Matt Shlian, mattshlian.com.
Chairs flanking commode; bench: antique.
Bench fabric ("Love," in color 003): Dedar, dedar.com.
Area rug ("Umbra," by Paul Smith): The Rug Company, therugcompany.com.
Red chairs ("Sophia Chairs"): by Kate Scott Design, katiescottdesign.com.
Fabric ("Carlton" #2697-12, by Sahco): Donghia, donghia.com.
Acrylic side table: Bremmerman Designs, bremmermandesigns.com.
Coffee table: owner's collection.
Sofa ("Nola"): Katie Scott Design, katiescottdesign.com.
Sofa fabric ("Glenville"/Violet #F1872/23, by Designers Guild): Osborne & Little, designersguild.com.
Pop of Purple
"It looks beautiful, but it's user-friendly—this is our family hangout," Katie says. "There's no yellow tape saying 'Do not enter.' If a room is untouchable, what's the point?"
Sleek furniture pieces by homeowner and designer Katie Scott are covered in eye-popping color.
Sitting Area
Chairs from B&B Italia bask in the light of a bay window.
Pair of black chairs ("Lazy '05," by Patricia Urquiola); table between chairs ("Frank Side Table," by Antonio Citterio): B&B Italia, bebitalia.com.
Floor lamp ("Studio Adjustable Floor Lamp" #91025 AN): Circa Lighting, circalighting.com.
French antiques, including this graceful settee and striking crucifix, are an important part of Katie's aesthetic. They also speak to the soulful side of this New Orleans native. "I'm hugely into meditation and prayer," she says. "I'm grounded in peace."
Settee (French antique): Thompson + Hanson, thompsonhanson.com.
Settee fabric ("Tiber"/Noir #F1736/14, by Designers Guild): Osborne & Little, designersguild.com.
Table ("Saarinen Side Table" #2264): Design Within Reach, dwr.com.
Crucifix: Kay O'Toole Antiques and Eccentricities, 713/523-1921.
The pebbled patio—a relaxing spot for Katie and Stanton—is outfitted with a table and chairs from JANUS et Cie.
Dining table ("Barcelona Dining Table"); dining chairs ("Laszlo Lounge Chairs"): Janus et Cie, janusetcie.com.
Dining Area
Open to the living room, the dining area serves up a casual vibe with slipcovered dining chairs, a vivacious purple rug, and a cheeky montage by photographer Heidi Lender. The photos, from the series "She Can Leap Tall Buildings," play to Katie's personality and goals. "I want to be that woman who can do it all—be the world traveler, the sexy wife, the yogi, the DIY genius who can fix her own kitchen faucet," she says. "I also just love how fun it is. I want my kids to appreciate a sense of humor."
A Philippe Starck dining table and a spider sconce from France & Son infuse the dining room with modern character that's all the more striking when set against classic millwork.
Wall light ("Three Arm Spider Sconce" #MSC-SP3): France & Son, franceandson.com.
Area rug ("Overleaf," by Marni): The Rug Company, therugcompany.com.
Dining table ("Top Top Table," by Philippe Starck): Hive, hivemodern.com.
Dining chairs ("Peplo," by Antonio Citterio); chair fabric ("Epiro" #2046153): B&B Italia, bebitalia.com.
Photographs (She Can Leap Tall Buildings, by Heidi Lender): Guthrie Contemporary Gallery, guthriecontemporary.com.
Petite Bar
Folding doors partition off the clever bar area.
Sunny Space
Kid-friendly accoutrements continue in the kitchen, where casual seats—white metal stools plumped with cheery yellow cushions—perch alongside the kitchen island. Limestone-tile floors lend an earthiness to the unfussy space.
Cheerful Kitchen
White lacquered cabinets capped in Carrara marble mesh with a white subway-tile backsplash to create a clean, bright atmosphere. Here and throughout the house, fresh flowers and greenery brim with life. "I love to bring the outdoors in," Katie says. "I'm drawn to nature and to light. It feeds me energy."
An Oushak rug and yellow cushions work with fresh flowers and plants to bring a hint of Katie's color crushes to the streamlined kitchen.
Area rug (Oushak): Carol Piper Rugs, carolpiperrugs.com.
Bar stools (Knoll Bertoia Barstools" #207782): Design Within Reach, dwr.com.
Bowl by range holding fruit ("Joker," by Nicole Aebischer): B&B Italia, bebitalia.com.
Coffee maker: Nespresso, nespresso.com.
Flamingo: owner's collection.
Homeowner Katie Scott designed the custom sofa in her kids' playroom. A colorful rug from The Rug Company adds a kaleidoscopic pattern underfoot.
Sofa (custom): katie Scott Design, katiescottdesign.com.
Sofa fabric ("Adamo & Eva"/Opera): Dedar, dedar.com.
Area rug ("Zap," by Fiona Curran): The Rug Company, therugcompany.com.
Table in front of sofa ("Martini Side Table"); floor lamp (product line varies): West Elm, westelm.com.
Drapery ("Cabana Stripes"/Black and White): The Curtain Exchange, thecurtainexchange.com.
Chair-and-ottoman (product line varies): Ikea, ikea.com.
Pillow on chair ("Westwood," by Vivienne Westwood); pillow on sofa ("Mouth," by Vivienne Westwood): The Rug Company, therugcompany.com.
Art to left of doorway (by Gary John): Bruce Lurie Gallery, 310/876-1780.
Master Bedroom
Similarly, expanses of light, bright white—combined with selective splashes of sophisticated black on the lacquered canopy bed and modern art—form a clean canvas, the perfect envelope for the master bedroom.
Then Katie's bold side roars back. At the foot of the bed, a fearless red sofa matches the intensity of an emerald green rug featuring a Diane von Furstenberg climbing-leopard design. "It's seductive," Katie says. "It feels like the leopard is exploring. And that's where I am in my life. I used to be this all-white-interiors person. But as I've grown and evolved, I've come to love rich color. I've become adventurous."
Swaths of black and white from the canopy bed, table lamp, and Cecil Touchon art temper the heady jewel tones of the rug and upholstered pieces. Mirrored and crystal pieces add a touch of glamour.
Area rug ("Climbing Leopard," by Diane von Fursenberg); pillow on sofa ("Hummingbird Cushion," by Alexander McQueen): The Rug Company, therugcompany.com.
Coffee table: vintage.
Acrylic box on coffee table ("AVF Acrylic Limited Edition Ascher Box"): Alexandra von Furstenberg, alexandravonfurstenberg.com.
Candle: Cire Trudon, trudon.com.
Flowers: David Brown Flowers, davidbrown.flowers.
Gilded chair (Gilded Italian Antique Chair): Nate Berkus Interiors, nateberkus.com.
Sofa (by Crashpad): ABC Carpet & Home, abchome.com.
Art (by Cecil Touchon): Laura Rathe Fine Art, laurarathe.com. Through Dimmitt Contemporary Art, dimmittcontemporaryart.com.
Canopy bed (discontinued): Williams-Sonoma Home, williams-sonoma.com.
Bed linens: Pratesi, pratesi.com.
Red hide accent pillow: Kyle Bunting, kylebunting.com.
Master Bath
Colorful art by Nicola Rix and a gilded antique Italian chair pop like jewels against the white setting of the master bath.
Gilded chair (antique Italian): Nate Berkus Interiors, nateberkus.com.
Art (by Nicola Rix): Dimmitt Contemporary Art, dimmittcontemporaryart.com.
Kids' Room
The adventurous spirit marches on in the room shared by Katie and Stanton's youngest kids, Stella and Shepherd. Bunk beds piled with fun graphic pillows snuggle up to a tiger rug, while stuffed ape mascot "Mr. Fuzzy" swings from the ceiling. A citron stool acts like a ray of sunshine. And a wall light spells out the Scott family mantra: dream. "I tell my kids to dream big," Katie says. "Be bold. Don't decide against doing something or trying something because you're afraid you might fail. That's the best advice I've ever heard: It's OK to fail."
A "Wiggle" side chair by Frank Gehry suits the playful mood of Shepherd and Stella's room.
Area rug ("Tiger," by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby); pillow on top bunk ("Zig Zag Cushion," by Paul Smith): The Rug Company, therugcompany.com.
Lips pillow: Oeuf, oeufnyc.com.
Chair ("Wiggle Chair," designed by Frank Gehry): Hive, hivemodern.com.
Cube table ("Hex Ottoman"/Thurmond Citron"): Blu Dot, bludot.com.
Bedding and black mask pillowcase ("Quirky Cats," by Beau Loves): Minou Kids, minoukids.com.
Swinging ape ("Fuzzy"): Blue Leaf Houston, blueleafhouston.com.
Daughter's Room
Daughter Susan, 16, can always keep an eye on her dream, thanks to a Christmas gift of artwork from Mom and Dad. It's a small part of this chic teen haven, where hits of green and yellow on pillows, in the large artwork over the bed, and on the scalloped-edge linens put pop in a calm sea of white. The little painting commissioned from artist Ken Tate hangs over a sleek sofa, keeping Susan's hero, Ellen Pompeo—Dr. Meredith Grey on Grey's Anatomy—always in sight. "Susan loves it," Katie says. "She calls it her motivation for medical school."
Bed linens: Leontine Linens, leontinelinens.com.
Art behind bed (Eva, by Gavin Rain): Laura Rathe Fine Art, laurarathe.com. Through Dimmitt Contemporary Art, dimmittcontemporaryart.com.
Desk (product line varies): West Elm, westelm.com.
Chair ("Louis Ghost"/Glossy White, by Philippe Starck): Kartell, shopkartell.com.
Sofa ("Dr. Pitt Sectional" in White Canvas): Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, mgbwhome.com.
Skull pillow ("Skull Sapphire"): Kyle Bunting, kylebunting.com.
Art behind sofa (Ellen Pompeo art, by Ken Tate): Dimmitt Contemporary Art, dimmittcontemporaryart.com.
Daughter's Bedroom
A Neo-Pointillist-style painting by Gavin Rain tops the bed in Susan's bedroom. The sweet Leontine Linens bedding offers a wisp of sunny yellow, while a skull pillow is all about modern attitude.
Katie and husband Stanton like to unwind on the patio with kids Susan, 16; Sophia, 13; Stella, 5; and Shepherd, 4.
Hammock ("Headdemock"): Fatboy USA, fatboyusa.com.
Dining table ("Barcelona Dining Table"/White); dining chairs ("Laszlo Lounge Chair"/White): Janus et Cie, janusetcie.com.


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Delivery date weirdness...
Delivery date weirdness...
Yes, both 60kWh and the standard suspension aren't started yet, and they probably don't know the exact date they will start building them.
jat. My delivery ETA for a 60kWh w/ active air suspension is 1/19-2/2/13. I think they are manufacturing 60s now. Or I should say, I hope the bots are working on my car.
Standard suspensions won't start till Mar., and their number is probably still in flux.
FYI I have P4168
60Kw 21's PWhite B leather Sound active suspension
was advised on Jan 2 that my window is 20Jan~3 Feb.
As of today 9 Jan they have not provided a VIN (not started making the car)
and I am getting the rope-a-dope from the CS folks. I have
a window as well for locking in my lender rate and we are
rapidly approaching the cliff.
You really should add the suspension, From what I see you will need it unless you are a total flat lander, no hills, curbs, snow
or country roads. Bob
@petero and @bbryant, when did you guys submit your MVPA? We submitted ours a few days after Christmas with a tentative time frame of late Feb/early Mar.
~ Prash.


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Information Security
- FeatureRecent Releases: Security product briefs, March 2005
- FeatureInvasion Force
- FeatureGuardians of the Crown Jewels
- FeatureBARRIER1 Model 50 product review
- FeatureSecure Reads: Outsourcing Information Security
- FeatureHot Pick: Enterasys's Dynamic Intrusion Response
- FeatureCrypto Hazard
- FeatureVulnerability management: Visionael Enterprise Security Protector 3.0
- FeatureDouble-Check with Routers
- FeatureConfiguration Management: St. Bernard Software's SecurityEXPERT 1.0
- FeatureWireless Firewall
- FeaturePerspectives: Tearing down Firewalls
- FeatureLayer 8: Finding a template for good information security
- FeatureLogoff: Why Microsoft keeps infosec in business
- FeatureEditor's Desk: 'Motivation by embarrassment'
iSTOCK/GETTY IMAGES
Invasion Force
Botnets are sweeping across the digital frontier. Prepare to repel the horde.
|Evolution: Rise of the Bots
Botnets, vast armies of compromised, robot-like machines, are massing on the digital frontier, waiting for their masters' command to attack.
These hacker-controlled networks--some numbering in the hundreds of thousands of machines--are the fastest-growing menaces on the Internet. They have powerful weapons--overwhelming DDoS attacks, untraceable spam relays and ubiquitous malware distribution. When unleashed, they deliver punishing blows that devastate their targets.
Hackers, malware writers and organized crime groups love bots--the foot-soldier programs infecting PC networks--for their power and cloaking abilities. Some bots, such as Agobot and Phatbot, have characteristics similar to Trojans and rootkits, opening backdoors to systems and giving attackers control over compromised machines. Attackers only require rudimentary programming knowledge to create and control a botnet army.
Botnet commanders can start with just a handful of compromised computers that are mustered manually by sending targeted, virus-laden e-mails to broadband/ DSL users, vulnerable enterprise desktops and mobile machines. Some bot-carrying worms will even patch the vulnerability they exploited. Infected hosts automatically show up in a preprogrammed IRC channel, where they sit in a virtual holding pattern until dispatched. Attackers can "herd" their bots from channel to channel, sifting out the low-bandwidth connections to maximize the machines with the best throughput.
Their ubiquity, power and ease of use make them looming threats on both sides of the enterprise firewall. Understanding botnets will help enterprises defend against in-filtration and, perhaps, survive an invasion.
Multipronged Attack
Enterprises face botnet threats on two fronts: Attackers are trying to compromise their machines and use them for malicious purposes (a breach of integrity) or coordinated attacks such as DDoS (risk of downstream liability).
Once the computer is compromised, bots need to "phone home" to their controller. Generally, this is done through a private channel on a public IRC server or network, with communications running in the clear over the default TCP port 6667. (A prudent botnet defense is blocking and monitoring outbound TCP 6667 traffic.) Also, attackers can use IRC protocols to communicate instructions to their bots.
Attackers can use the bots and their hosts for a variety of purposes, some seemingly innocuous to the compromised enterprise. For in-stance, botnets have become the distribution method of choice for spam and phishing attacks. According to e-mail security service provider MessageLabs, nearly 70 percent of all spam and phishing e-mails now originate from botnets. Tracing these attacks is difficult due to the many layers between the source machines and the attacker.
Botnets are the ideal mechanism for unleashing malware. Conven-tional worms are released from a single point and can take hours to circle the globe. Worms released from botnets can appear from multiple points simultaneously without warning, giving enterprises and AV vendors little time to react. Last spring's lightning-quick Witty worm was launched from a relatively small botnet of 4,200 nodes.
The more visible and devastating attack type is the DDoS attack. More than just simple SYN floods, botnet-controlled DDoS attacks can flood a network with seemingly legitimate requests, clogging the pipes, overloading services and denying all legitimate traffic. A moderate-sized botnet could completely disable Web, mail and VoIP communications; a DDoS attack directed at your DNS server could make your enterprise disappear from the Internet.
Your enterprise will most likely become aware of a botnet infiltration through user reports of performance issues; third-party reports of attacks originating in your IP address space; victims' reports of DDoS floods; and the detection of high inbound and outbound scanning, outbound flooding or traffic passing through hosts that should be acting like desktop clients.
To stay ahead of botnets, you need stay current with prevention tools and techniques (e.g., proactive vulnerability scanning, patch management, appropriate use of firewalls and VPNs, user education, and policy enforcement). You also need to have sufficient computer forensics and incident response capabilities to adequately deal with compromises when they occur, and to return compromised machines to a trusted state as quickly as possible.
|Lifecycle: Preventing, Detecting & Removing Bots
But, there's no effective defense for a botnet attack--your only hope is survival. (See "Preventing, Detecting and Removing Bots".)
Anticipating Bot Attacks
Before you connect to the Internet, there are some things you can do to mitigate the effects of botnet attacks. The following are some prudent steps all enterprises should consider:
Define service requirements with ISPs. You should define for your ISP what your expectations and response requirements are in the event of a DDoS attack. This includes network address agility (or switching your address block), which makes it harder to target your network and can reveal attacker reconnaissance; topological changes to compartmentalize your network, protect high-value assets and preserve connectivity to specific network segments; and traffic capture and analysis for tracing attacks and--perhaps--prosecuting attackers. Traffic filtering by your ISP or upstream traffic sources (sometimes called traffic blocking or null routing) can also help.
Manage out-of-band network. When your primary (or secondary) network interfaces are flooded, you may lose all ability to communicate with your network devices. If your provider can establish an out-of-band control mechanism--be it a network connection through a peering point or a DSL line to a terminal server within your network perimeter--you can regain remote access and reroute critical traffic, such as e-mail, even if your main network paths are unavailable.
Coordinate with peers. Cases of DDoS attacks that involve source-address forgery and traffic reflection off widely distributed servers (e.g., DNS reflection, SYN-ACK reflection off routers and firewalls) may require manual traceback to determine the source. Getting the cooperation of peers using the same upstream provider to block traffic and perform traceback may be very difficult; persuading your upstream provider to commit to working with you, even if the problem is difficult, is the first step.
While not fully effective against botnet DDoS attacks, several open-source and commercial products can provide some measure of response capabilities. Each has some value, but is only one soldier in the information assurance/availability army.
Most defenses are directed at either the host or network level, but rarely both. Host-level defenses, including personal firewalls, antivirus and host-based IDSes, are designed to protect computers, OSes and applications, and to detect and possibly contain intrusions.
Commercial applications from Arbor Networks, Captus Networks, Cisco Systems, Lancope, Mazu Networks and Top Layer identify anomaly traffic and irregular volume flows to detect DDoS attacks. These same applications have had some success in filtering floods by dropping traffic based on source IP address and protocol. But, their success is limited by the size and scope of a botnet flood. DDoS attacks, especially those launched via massive botnets, have a numerical advantage that may overwhelm these tools.
Security solutions that maintain the trusted state of machines, such as those from Tripwire, can monitor deviations in configurations. When a machine falls out of compliance, it can be rapidly detected and restored to a trusted state.
Network-level defenses focus on large sets of computers on a network or routing infrastructure. They may monitor individual or aggregate traffic flows between computers looking for anomalous activity, filter suspicious traffic, manage device configurations or patch systems to prevent exploitation.
Being a Good 'Netizen
Botnets are marauders waiting at the edge of every network for the one vulnerable machine that will become their key through enterprise fortifications. And, eradicating botnets after an invasion is nearly impossible because their numbers and growth are too great to effectively eradicate.
So, what can be done to shield your network from botnets? Formulate a good defensive strategy by safeguarding and protecting your network and mobile computers, and preventing attacks before they happen. For those enterprises already under attack, systematically rooting out compromised servers and PCs is essential.
Only through vigilance and best practices will enterprises stay ahead of, or at least keep pace with, the botnet threat.


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Cheese cakes, our cheese cakes are made with real cream cheese, graham cracker crust. And your choice of plain, strawberry, Oreo or TWIX.
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