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Multiple Sclerosis
National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
It is possible that the main title of the report Multiple Sclerosis is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
- demyelinating disease
- disseminated sclerosis
- primary progressive multiple sclerosis
- relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis
General Discussion
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neuroimmunologic (both the nervous system and the immunological system are involved) disorder of the central nervous system involving the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. By means of a mechanism not clearly understood, the protective fatty, insulating substance called myelin sheath that covers the nerve is destroyed. The inflammatory attacks that produce the characteristic scarring (plaques or patches) of the myelin sheath occurs randomly, vary in intensity, and at multiple sites. The course of the disease may advance, relapse, remit, or stabilize. The randomness of the location of plaques or patches affects the nerve's ability to transmit information (neurotransmission) and causes a wide range of neurological symptoms, which may vary from person to person.
Recently it has been learned that the nerve fibers themselves, (axons), in addition to the myelin sheaths, are affected by the neuroimmunologic attacks. Damage to the nerve cells may be irreversible. As a result, clinicians recommend early intervention with one of the disease-modifying agents (see below).
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
1100 New York Avenue NW
Suite 660
Washington, DC 20005-3934
Tel: (202)408-1500
Fax: (202)408-0696
Tel: (800)344-4867
Email: email@example.com
Internet: http://www.nationalmssociety.org
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc.
22100 Gratiot Ave.
Eastpointe, MI 48021
Tel: (586)776-3900
Fax: (586)776-3903
Tel: (800)598-4668
Email: email@example.com
Internet: http://www.aarda.org/
NIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
P.O. Box 5801
Bethesda, MD 20824
Tel: (301)496-5751
Fax: (301)402-2186
Tel: (800)352-9424
Internet: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers
359 Main Street
Suite A
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Tel: (201)487-1050
Fax: (201)678-2290
Email: email@example.com
Internet: http://www.mscare.org
Multiple Sclerosis Association of America
706 Haddonfield Road
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
Tel: (856)488-4500
Fax: (856)661-9797
Tel: (800)532-7667
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: http://www.msassociation.org/
Multiple Sclerosis International Federation
3rd Floor Skyline House
200 Union Street
London, SE1 0LX
United Kingdom
Tel: 4402076201911
Fax: 4402076201922
Email: email@example.com
Internet: http://www.msif.org/en/
Spastic Paraplegia Foundation
5305 Miramar Ln
Colleyville, TX 76034
Tel: (877)773-4483
Email: email@example.com
Internet: http://sp-foundation.org
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
636 Morris Turnpike, Suite 3A
Short Hills, NJ 07078
Tel: (973)379-2690
Fax: (973)912-9433
Tel: (800)225-0292
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: http://www.christopherreeve.org
New Horizons Un-Limited, Inc.
811 East Wisconsin Ave
P.O. Box 510034
Milwaukee, WI 53203
Tel: (414)299-0124
Fax: (414)347-1977
Email: email@example.com
Internet: http://www.new-horizons.org
Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8126
Tel: (301)251-4925
Fax: (301)251-4911
Tel: (888)205-2311
Internet: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/
Madisons Foundation
PO Box 241956
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Tel: (310)264-0826
Fax: (310)264-4766
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org
Autoimmune Information Network, Inc.
PO Box 4121
Brick, NJ 08723
Fax: (732)543-7285
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
European Society for Immunodeficiencies
1-3 rue de Chantepoulet
Geneva, CH 1211
Tel: 410229080484
Fax: 41229069140
Email: email@example.com
Internet: http://www.esid.org
Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
6520 North Andrews Avenue
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309-2130
Tel: (954)776-6805
Fax: (954)938-8708
Tel: (800)225-6495
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: http://www.msfocus.org
AutoImmunity Community
Email: email@example.com
Internet: http://www.autoimmunitycommunity.org
PLAN Institute for Caring Citizenship
Suite 260 – 3665 Kingsway
British Columbia, V5R 5W2
Tel: 6044399566
Fax: 6044397001
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Internet: http://www.planinstitute.ca/?q=learnfromus/library
Child Neurology Foundation
201 Chicago Ave, #200
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Tel: (952)641-6100
Fax: (952)881-6276
Tel: (877)263-5430
Email: email@example.com
Internet: http://www.childneurologyfoundation.org
For a Complete Report
This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be downloaded free from the NORD website for registered users. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational therapies (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, go to www.rarediseases.org and click on Rare Disease Database under "Rare Disease Information".
The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.
It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email email@example.com
Last Updated: 3/29/2012
Copyright 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.


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To Superintendents
Let's Move
Child Nutrition
English Learners
Funding Opportunities
Odds and Ends
Quote to Note
Upcoming Events
To Superintendents
In a wide-ranging speech to superintendents at the American Association of School Administrators' National Conference on Education, Secretary Duncan addressed reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the Administration's recent budget proposal, and rethinking policies that are not serving the best interests of students and teachers in the classroom. "An opportunity like thisthe chance to make far-reaching changes to boost student achievement and truly get students college- and career-readymay not come along again in our lifetime," he noted. "What [we] do... over the next several years could have an impact on education for decades to come." Below are some key excerpts:
"I am optimistic that the three principles I have outlined for ESEA reauthorizationhigher standards, rewarding excellence, and a smarter, less prescriptive federal rolehave widespread support among both Democrats and Republicans. We very much look forward to working on ESEA reauthorization in a bipartisan manner. Education must be [an] issue when we put politics and ideology to the side and simply do what is best for children."
"Now, most [federal] money will stay in formula programs under the budget. Title I and IDEA are untouched.... But it is also true we are shifting toward more competitive grants in some areas. However, we are going to administer competitions in ways that ensure a level playing field for rural districts.... In some programs, we will be looking at set-asides for rural areas and providing technical assistance to ensure small districts can successfully compete. Geographic location should not dictate results."
"It takes courage to do the right thing for children, even in the face of attacks from stakeholders and the media. I'm not talking about foolhardy courage, about getting carried out on your shield. But, I don't agree that superintendents are trapped today, without good options or the ability to exercise independence. A superintendent who leads also finds ways to successfully consult and collaborate to bring out the best in others in support of students. That includes working with teachers and unions to revisit provisions of code and collective bargaining agreements in ways that are fair to teachers and better serve the interests of children."
"Let us always remember our True North," the Secretary concluded, "the answer to why we signed up for the superintendent's job: to change our students' lives for the better."
Also, yesterday (February 18), Democratic and Republican leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Education and Labor announced plans for a bipartisan reform of ESEA. "It will start with a series of hearings in the coming weeks to explore the challenges and opportunities ahead as we work to ensure an excellent education is available to every student in America," the leadership declared, adding that "With a real commitment to innovation, we invite all stakeholders who share our serious interest in building a world-class education system to email us their suggestions." The committee's first hearing, focused on charter schools, will be held February 24. Stakeholders can send their input and suggestions on reauthorization to the committee at email@example.com. The deadline for comments is March 26.
Let's Move
On February 10, First Lady Michelle Obama announced a national goal of solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation so that children born today will reach adulthood at a healthy weight and unveiled a nationwide campaignLet's Moveto help achieve it. "The physical and emotional health of an entire generation and the economic health and security of our nation is at stake," she said. "This isn't the kind of problem that can be solved overnight, but, with everyone working together, it can be solved. So, let's move." Let's Move will combat the epidemic through a comprehensive approach that builds on effective strategies and mobilizes public and private sector resources, providing schools, families, and communities with simple tools to help children be more active, eat better, and get healthy. Moreover, to support the campaign and coordinate partnerships with states, communities, and both the for- and non-profit sectors, the nation's leading children's health foundations have created an independent foundationthe Partnership for a Healthier Americawhich will accelerate existing efforts and facilitate new commitments targeting childhood obesity.
The challenge is great. Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in the U.S. have tripled, and, today, one in three children in America are overweight or obese. One-third of all children born in 2000 or later will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lives. Many others will face chronic obesity-related health problems, like heart disease, high blood pressure, and cancer. A recent study put the health care costs of obesity-related diseases at $147 billion per year. This epidemic also impacts the nation's security, as obesity is now one of the most common disqualifiers for military service.
President Obama kicked off the Lets Move campaign by signing a Presidential Memorandum creating the first-ever Task Force on Childhood Obesity, including the Department of Education. Within 90 days, the task force will conduct a review of every federal policy and program relating to child nutrition and physical activity and develop an action plan that maximizes federal resources and sets benchmarks toward the First Lady's national goal.
Child Nutrition
In a related issue, Secretary Duncan joined Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on a conference call to discuss reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act. This law sets nutrition standards for what children eat at school. Outlining the Administration's plans, Secretary Vilsack stated the goals are two-fold: to improve access to free or reduced-price meals and to boost their nutritional value.
English Learners
Earlier this month, following a video message from the Secretary, Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Thelma Melendez spoke to some 2,300 members of the National Association for Bilingual Education. In her remarks, speaking as a former English learner, she explained why the success of this diverse and fast-growing student group is vital to this nation's prosperity. She also noted that roughly one in 10 students in the U.S. are English learners, that 78% of English learners are born in the U.S., and that these English learners speak more than 400 languages. The Administration's FY 2011 budget requests $800 million for English Language Learner programs. These funds aim to increase students' English language proficiency, as well as encourage student bi-literacy.
Funding Opportunities
The deadlines for several grant competitions are fast approaching:
- Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination Program (closes 3/16). This program supports the enhancement, expansion, documentation, evaluation, and dissemination of innovative, cohesive models. These models must demonstrate effectiveness in: integrating into and strengthening arts in the core elementary and middle school curricula; strengthening arts instruction in those grades; and improving students' academic performance, including their skills in creating, performing, and responding to the arts. Estimated awards: 28.
- Teaching American History Grant Program (closes 3/22). This program supports projects that aim to raise student achievement by improving teachers' knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of traditional American history. Awards assist districts, in partnership with entities that have extensive content expertise (colleges and universities, history and humanities organizations, and libraries and museums) to develop, implement, document, evaluate, and disseminate innovative, cohesive models of professional development. Estimated awards: 120-125.
- School Leadership Grant Program (closes 4/6). This program supports the development, enhancement, or expansion of innovative programs to recruit, train, and mentor principals (including assistant principals) for high-need districts. A high-need district is one that (1) either serves at least 10,000 children from low-income families or serves a community in which at least 20% of children are from low-income families and (2) has a high percentage of teachers teaching either outside of their certification or with emergency, provisional, or temporary certification. Estimated awards: 15-20.
Also, be sure to review the Department's Fiscal Year 2010 Grants Forecast (as of January 29), which lists virtually all programs and competitions under which the agency has invited or expects to invite applications for awards and provides actual or estimated dates for the transmittal of applications under these programs. (Note: This document is advisory only and not an official application notice of the Department of Education.)
Odds and Ends
On February 17, marking the one-year anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), Secretary Duncan highlighted the ARRA's positive impact at Riverside Elementary School in Alexandria, Virginia. (Note: The full ARRA report is available online.)
According to the College Board's sixth annual "Advanced Placement Report to the Nation," 15.9% of the Class of 2009 achieved mastery (at least a 3 on a 5-point scale) on one or more AP examsup from 12.7% in 2004 and 15.2% in 2008. Yet, while eight states have more than 20% of their students graduate from high school having earned an AP exam grade of 3 or higher, 15 states have less than 10%. Also, though 15 states have successfully closed the equity and excellence gap for Hispanic students, only two states have closed the gap for African-American students, and no state with significant numbers of American Indian students have closed the gap.
As part of developing the Fiscal Year 2011 budget, the Department has identified a limited number of high-priority performance goals that will be a particular focus over the next two years. These goals, which will help measure the success of the Department's cradle-to-career education strategy, reflect the importance of teaching and learning, at all levels of the system. These goals are consistent with the agency's five-year strategic plan that is under development and will be used to monitor and report progress.
Quote to Note
"For all the uniqueness of rural and small town districts, they share a lot of the challenges of urban districts. Surveys suggest that rural high school students are more likely to use cocaine and meth and abuse alcohol than their urban peers. Teen birthrates are higher in rural areas than urban ones. More than one-fifth of the nation's poorest-performing high schools, the so-called dropout factories, are located within rural regions. In short, today's rural schools are not the pastoral institutions of a simpler yesteryear that many Americans imagine. We're going to be making new resources available to superintendents to turn those troubling youth indicators around and support your role in improving teaching and learning within every district."
|Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (2/12/10), addressing school superintendents
Upcoming Events
Now through April 8, the Department's Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) is hosting a series of Regional Direct Loan Training Conferences. The free, one-day workshops will provide financial aid professionals at domestic schools with the essential skills necessary to administer the Direct Loan program at their institutions. Due to capacity limits at each location, attendees must pre-register online.
On March 3, the What Works Clearinghouse will host a webinar concerning the recommendations of its "Reducing Behavior Problems in the Elementary School Classroom" practice guide. During the webinar, authors of the guide will discuss how educators can develop and implement effective strategies that promote positive student behavior. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions of the authors.
Teachers have until March 14 to sign-up for the National Financial Capability Challenge, an effort to help high school students develop the knowledge and skills needed to take real control of their financial futures.
Nominations are being accepted for the 2010 Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education. This year's award will recognize individuals who have mastered the art of "scaling up" successful education strategies, resulting in a growth and expansion of student achievement, at three levels: elementary, secondary, and postsecondary. The deadline for nominations (which can be completed online) is March 19. Winners are honored at a dinner in New York City and receive $25,000.
March 6-8, the Department will exhibit at the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development's Annual Conference in San Antonio. If you are attending this event, please stop by the agency's booth.
Credits, Subscribe & Unsubscribe
Please feel free to contact the Office of Communications and Outreach with any questions:
Director, Intergovernmental AffairsStacey Jordan, (202) 401-0026, firstname.lastname@example.com
Program AnalystAdam Honeysett, (202) 401-3003, firstname.lastname@example.com
To be added or removed from distribution, or submit comments (we welcome your feedback!), please contact Adam Honeysett. Or, visit http://www2.ed.gov/news/newsletters/edreview/index.html.
This newsletter contains hypertext links to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user's convenience. The U.S. Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Furthermore, the inclusion of links is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.

subset: commoncrawl


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Random thoughts on the passing scene:
When I was growing up, an older member of the family used to say, �What you don�t know would make a big book.� Now that I am an older member of the family, I would say to anyone, �What you don�t know would fill more books than the Encyclopedia Britannica.� At least half of our society�s troubles come from know-it-alls, in a world where nobody knows even 10 percent of all.
Some people seem to think that, if life is not fair, then the answer is to turn more of the nation�s resources over to politicians � who will, of course, then spend these resources in ways that increase the politicians� chances of getting reelected.
The annual outbursts of intolerance toward any display of traditional Christmas scenes, or even daring to call a Christmas tree by its name, show that today�s liberals are by no means liberal. Behind the mist of their lofty words, the totalitarian mindset shows through.
If you don�t want to have a gun in your home or in your school, that�s your choice. But don�t be such a damn fool as to advertise to the whole world that you are in �a gun-free environment� where you are a helpless target for any homicidal fiend who is armed. Is it worth a human life to be a politically correct moral exhibitionist?
The more I study the history of intellectuals, the more they seem like a wrecking crew, dismantling civilization bit by bit � replacing what works with what sounds good.
Some people are wondering what takes so long for the negotiations about the �fiscal cliff.� Maybe both sides are waiting for supplies. Democrats may be waiting for more cans to kick down the road. Republicans may be waiting for more white flags to hold up in surrender.
If I were rich, I would have a plaque made up, and sent to every judge in America, bearing a statement made by Adam Smith more than two and a half centuries ago: �Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent.�
If someone wrote a novel about a man who was raised from childhood to resent the successful and despise the basic values of America � and who then went on to become President of the United States � that novel would be considered too unbelievable, even for a work of fiction. Yet that is what has happened in real life.
Many people say, �War should be a last resort.� Of course it should be a last resort. So should heart surgery, divorce and many other things. But that does not mean that we should just continue to hope against hope indefinitely that things will work out, somehow, until catastrophe suddenly overtakes us.
Everybody is talking about how we are going to pay for the huge national debt, but nobody seems to be talking about the runaway spending which created that record-breaking debt. In other words, the big spenders get political benefits from handing out goodies, while those who resist giving them more money to spend will be blamed for sending the country off the �fiscal cliff.�
When Barack Obama refused to agree to a requested meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu � the leader of a country publicly and repeatedly threatened with annihilation by Iran�s leaders, as the Iranians move toward creating nuclear bombs � I thought of a line from the old movie classic �Citizen Kane�: �Charlie wasn�t cruel. He just did cruel things.�
There must be something liberating about ignorance. Back when most members of Congress had served in the military, there was a reluctance of politicians to try to tell military leaders how to run the military services. But, now that few members of Congress have ever served in the military, they are ready to impose all sorts of fashionable notions on the military.
After watching a documentary about the tragic story of Jonestown, I was struck by the utterly unthinking way that so many people put themselves completely at the mercy of a glib and warped man, who led them to degradation and destruction. And I could not help thinking of the parallel with the way we put a glib and warped man in the White House.
There are people calling for the banning of assault weapons who could not define an �assault weapon� if their life depended on it. Yet the ignorant expect others to take them seriously.
Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.


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Mark Ballas To Do Same Sex Ballroom on Melissa and Joey
Well, I think the title kind of says it all. Tomorrow night on ABC Family, Mark Ballas will be making an appearance on the TV show Melissa and Joey. In the preview, it has Mark Ballas dancing with Joey. You can see the preview video here. Melissa has so much more personality in that clip. Too bad she doesn't do that on the dance floor. Anyway, the preview looks pretty good, although it was a bit disturbing to have 2 shaved head guys dancing together. Also, isn't this at the same time as the DWTS results show? It's close if it's not. I was too lazy to calculate the time changes:-)


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I didn't even really understand the significance of an undetectable viral load, because when those topics were being broached to me, I'd been diagnosed maybe six months earlier, I had suffered a stroke, and recovering as much as I could from being partially paralyzed as a result of that stroke was foremost in my head; I had no idea what the numbers meant. I had also been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B, and I had never gone on treatment for that, and I wasn't on therapy for my HIV yet.
Eight months after I was diagnosed with HIV, my gastroenterologist that was taking care of my liver issues did some blood work, and my HIV viral load was undetectable without any medication. I didn't realize that that was anything significant or insignificant at the time, until maybe eight or 10 years later when my GI doctor mentioned it to me. I went on a regimen of Epivir (lamivudine -- also used to treat HIV, in different combinations with a higher dose) and Hepsera (adefovir) for my hepatitis B, which since I've been on it has been undetectable as well. Except for one blip, my HIV viral load has been undetectable.
Recently, my GI doctor, who's the same one who saw me initially, brought up that I was undetectable before I went on any regimen. My infectious disease doctor had always thought that my HIV was responding to the low dose given for my hepatitis -- which may be true that it's remained suppressed because of that, but I don't know if she was aware that my HIV had been suppressed before I ever went on the hepatitis medication.
Joe Ohmer is a treatment adherence peer counselor and advocate in New York City.


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Nation & World
Mexico drug lord accused in 1985 DEA murder says U.S. targets his family
Rafael Caro Quintero, a fugitive drug lord whom U.S. authorities hold responsible for the 1985 kidnapping and murder of DEA agent Enrique Camarena, has appealed in a personal letter to Mexico's president for help getting U.S. drug agents off his back because they are causing an "infernal nightmare" for his loved ones.
Caro Quintero said U.S. authorities even revoked a visa given his granddaughter to undergo cancer treatment at a U.S. hospital.
A founder of the Guadalajara Cartel, Caro Quintero was sentenced to 40 years in prison for orchestrating the kidnapping, torture and murder of Camerena, a Drug Enforcement Administration agent. But a regional court in Jalisco state overturned the sentence on procedural grounds Aug. 8, allowing Caro Quintero to walk out of prison before dawn a day later. He'd served 28 years.
Mexico's Supreme Court voted 4-1 on Nov. 6 to reinstate the conviction and an arrest warrant was issued, but Caro Quintero remains a fugitive.
Last month, the U.S. State Department offered a $5 million bounty for the re-arrest and conviction of Caro Quintero, who is now 60. The Obama administration also has formally asked Mexico for his extradition to stand trial on a pending indictment in California.
Caro Quintero argued in a letter that was sent to President Enrique Pena Nieto and several other officials that he's been punished enough. Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam confirmed Tuesday that he and the president had received the letter.
Murillo Karam said, however, that Caro Quintero should take the matter up with Mexico's courts, not the executive branch.
In the four-page letter, which was first partially published on Sunday in the newsweekly Proceso, Caro Quintero sounded alternately aggrieved and angry that the U.S. government is pressuring Mexico to recapture him and extradite him to stand trial in the United States.
"If I still had any debt to the state and to society, I have already paid it," Caro Quintero said in the letter, which was dated Nov. 11.
In his letter, Caro Quintero alleged that U.S. agents are carrying out "an absurd persecution" of him and his extended family, and that Mexicans should stand up for him on patriotic grounds against a nation that "always feels superior."
"By any means possible, the United States is trying to carry out an extradition that is all about vengeance," Caro Quintero wrote, according to the Proceso extract.
Efforts by the U.S. government to pressure him include measures targeting his mother, his wife, his offspring and even against "one of my granddaughters who had a visa" to travel to the United States for cancer treatment, only to see it revoked, he wrote. The allegation could not be immediately confirmed.
"This infernal nightmare against my loved ones and against me does not arise from legal verdicts or from matters of law but rather . . . from resentment and a desire for vengeance of those who from outside our borders insist on accusing me of crimes I did not commit," Caro Quintero wrote.
In the belief that Caro Quintero and his clan remain involved in drug trafficking, the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control has piled new sanctions on individuals linked to him.
In June, before he went free, the office went after six of his family members – his wife, four children and a daughter-in-law – and also his longtime personal secretary, banning financial transactions with them and a series of businesses in Guadalajara, including gas stations, a shoe company and a resort spa.
In new action Oct. 31, the office named 20 new enterprises and a Guadalajara businessman, Juan Carlos Soto Ruiz, who it said managed many businesses on Caro Quintero's behalf.
In announcing the latest sanctions, the Treasury Department said Caro Quintero stayed active in crime even behind bars.
"While in prison, Caro Quintero continued his alliance with Mexican drug trafficking organizations and used a network of family members and front persons to invest his illicit fortune into ostensibly legitimate companies and real estate projects in the Mexican city of Guadalajara," the statement said.
The kidnapping and murder of an American drug enforcement agent in Mexico was unprecedented in 1985 and enraged U.S. law enforcement officials and the Reagan White House.
Assailants kidnapped Camarena outside the DEA office in Guadalajara, later gagging and torturing him under the supervision of a physician. When Mexican authorities did little to solve the murder, the Reagan administration practically shut the border with Mexico, paralyzing the Mexican economy.
Caro Quintero was arrested soon afterward.
In honor of Camarena, the U.S. government dedicated the multi-agency El Paso Intelligence Center in the slain agent's memory in 1989.


text: « Return to Search Mass. Eye and Ear Ranked a Top Hospital by U.S. News & World Report July 16, 2013 Contact: Mary Leach 617-573-4170 BOSTON (July 16, 2013) – Massachusetts Eye and Ear ranks as one of the top hospitals in the nation for both of its specialties in the 2013 U.S. News & World Report magazine's "America's Best Hospitals" survey. Mass. Eye and Ear ranked number four in Ophthalmology (Eyes) and number seven in ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat). U.S. News & World Report has ranked the hospital in the top 10 in one or both of its specialties since the magazine began publishing its annual survey of hospitals in 1990. This year's top hospitals were chosen from hospitals across the country. "Mass. Eye and Ear physicians, nurses, clinicians and staff offer world-leading, high-quality, compassionate, specialized care to patients every day – and our clinician-scientists and researchers are making tremendous advances toward finding cures," said John Fernandez, Mass. Eye and Ear President & CEO. "These rankings are gratifying because they help spread the word about the high of quality of care that we provide." About Massachusetts Eye and Ear Mass. Eye and Ear clinicians and scientists are driven by a mission to find cures for blindness, deafness and diseases of the head and neck. After uniting with Schepens Eye Research Institute, Mass. Eye and Ear in Boston became the world's largest vision and hearing research center, offering hope and healing to patients everywhere through discovery and innovation. Mass. Eye and Ear is a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and trains future medical leaders in ophthalmology and otolaryngology, through residency as well as clinical and research fellowships. Internationally acclaimed since its founding in 1824, Mass. Eye and Ear employs full-time, board-certified physicians who offer high-quality and affordable specialty care that ranges from the routine to the very complex.


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Quick links to ESC and DESIGN West classes
You know what they say about the eye being quicker... here are quick links to the conference tracks and classes at DESIGN West 2013, the event that now includes the Embedded Systems Conference. Scan through these and click the link to read the descriptions and time. Links go directly to the track or the class in the Schedule Builder on DESIGN West's site.
Click here to register for DESIGN WEST and ESC. The conference and expo will be held April 22 through 25, 2013 at McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, Calif.
Some tracks and classes are free to expo attendees and will be held on the expo floor.
DESIGN West 2013 conference tracks
- Black Hat Summit
- Connected Devices, free to expo attendees. Part of "From Napkin Sketch to Shenzhen" program.
- Connectivity and Networking
- Debug and Test
- Embedded Android
- Hardware: Design, I/O, and Interfacing
- Hello World, free to expo attendees. Part of "From Napkin Sketch to Shenzhen" program.
- Internet of Things
- Lessons and Lessons Learned, free to expo attendees. Part of "From Napkin Sketch to Shenzhen" program.
- Linux Kernel and Operating Systems
- Low-Power Design
- Processors and Programmable Devices
- Programming
- Prototyping
- Real-Time Operating Systems
- Safety, Security and Hacking Embedded Systems
- Software Architecture/Design
- Software Development
- Systems Engineering
- Tech Fundamentals, free to expo attendees.
DESIGN West 2013 classes by track
Black Hat Summit
- "Low Level Chip Reverse Engineering"
- "Power Analysis Attacks for Cheapskates"
- "Vehicle Networks"
- "JTAGulator: Assisted Discovery of On-Chip Debug Interfaces"
- "The M2M Risk Assessment Guide, a Cyber Fast Track Project"
- "Hacking Phones with Near Field Communication"
- "Embedded Device Firmware Vulnerability Hunting Using FRAK"
Connected Devices
- "Future of Mobile: A Lifestyle of Mobility"
- "M2M Garbage or Dr. Who's TARDIS trash can"
- "Internet of things--Commercial Solution Development and Case Study"
- "Connected Hacks: Internet-Connected Ping Pong Ball"
Connectivity and Networking
- "Essentials of USB Device Development"
- "vandervecken: An OpenFlow-controlled WAN router and MPLS LSR for research"
- "Cool Beanies! A Mesh Networked Cranial Cooling System"
- "Antenna & RF System Design Considerations for LTE Devices"
Debug and Test
- "Practical and Fun Lessons on Testing during Software Development"
- "Troubleshooting Real World Embedded Software"
- "Troubleshooting Real-Time Software Issues Using a Logic Analyzer"
- "Test Driven Embedded Development"
- "Holy $#*! Our Design Is Complex--How Am I Going to Debug It?"
- "Tips and Tricks for Debugging"
- "Magic, Superstition and Side Effects in Embedded Software"
Embedded Android
- "Up and Running Quickly with Embedded Vision Using OpenCV on Android"
- "Dramatically Shorten your Entire Android Product Development Lifecycle"
- "Creating an Embedded Device--Linux or Android?"
- "Embedded Android? Not so fast!"
- "The Opportunity for Advanced USB Interface Technology in Android Platforms"
Hardware: Design, I/O, and Interfacing
- "Principles and Practices of Hardware/Firmware Interface Design"
- "Implementing Vision Capabilities in Embedded Systems"
- "Fully Reconfigurable Motion Control for Embedded Machine Design"
- "Leveraging Existing Sensor Drivers in Embedded Linux"
- "Challenges and Strategies for Synchronizing IO In Embedded Systems"
- "Activity-metric Driven Personal Health Assistive Technology"
Hello World
- "Designing is Easy, Production is a Nightmare"
- "Start Tinkering"
- "Dive! Dive! Dive! OpenROV for Ocean Exploration with Off-the-Shelf Hardware and Open Designs"
- "Robot Kit Hacking--A Better Hello World"
- "Quickstart to Qt GUIs on Embedded Systems"
- "MCU Hacks: Russian Nixie Tube Clock Design & Mustache Camera"
Internet of Things
- "Embedded IPv6--What's the beef?"
- "Web of Things: HTML5 for Resource-constrained Embedded Systems"
- "Migration Strategies from IPv4 to IPv6"
- "Building Mobile Apps Using Existing Web Skills (JavaScript, HTML, CSS)"
- "How to Identify Patterns for Machine-to-Machine Solutions with Cloud"
Lessons and Lessons Learned
- "Why I Failed at Kickstarter and My Friends Didn't"
- "From Prototype to Production with Minimal Risk"
- "PCB Design in 45 Minutes"
- "An Engineer's Guide to Braving the Hardware Startup World"
- "FPGAs: I know nothing ... yet."
- "Mars Ate My Spacecraft"
Linux Kernel and Operating Systems
- "So You Want to use Linux?"
- "Real-Time Linux: Not So Fast!"
- "Device Drivers Demystified"
- "Reducing Embedded Linux Boot Time"
- "Device Trees: A Database Approach to Describing Hardware"
- "Lessons from the Trenches--The Care and Feeding of Open Source in Embedded Systems"
Low-Power Design
- "Low-Power Analog Techniques for Maximizing Battery Life in Embedded-Control Systems"
- "Wireless Power Management for Battery Power"
- "Low-power Benchmarking and What Datasheets Don't Show You"
- "Power Analysis for Embedded Audio Processing"
- "Analog Interfaces for Low-Power Design"
- "Energy Harvesting for Microcontrollers"
Processors and Programmable Devices
- "FPGA Design for Embedded Systems"
- "Programmable Devices 101 (Everything you wanted to know about FPGAs but were too scared to ask)"
- "Designing a Tele-Presence Robot--What Was I Thinking?"
- "Yes, We CAN Hear You Now! The Rise of Embedded Speech"
- "Live Or Let Die: The Game Of Life--MCU/MPU vs. FPGA Implementation?"
- "The Design of a Chess Playing FPGA"
- "Don't Waste Those MCU Cycles! Unlock the Processing Power of Wireless Modules in Embedded Systems"
- "Designing an Open Source Arduino/FPGA Development Board"
- "Space: The Final Frontier--FPGAs for Space & Harsh Environments"
- "Why you should be using Python/MyHDL as your HDL"
- "We See You! The Rise Of Embedded Vision"
- "Danger Will Robinson! How Radiation Can Affect Your Embedded Systems"
- "The Many Ways of Programming an ARM Cortex-M MCU"
- "Using OpenCL to Maximize Complex Floating Point Processing Engines in 20nm FPGAs"
- "The Most Misunderstood Features of C"
- "Hands-on Test Driven Development in C"
- "C++ for Embedded C Programmers"
- "Systems Programming in the Distributed, Multicore World with Go, Rust, and ParaSail"
- "Writing Efficient, Self-Maintaining Code with C++ Templates"
- "Memory Access Ordering in Complex Embedded Systems"
- "Multicore Thread to CPU Mapping on Linux and other RTOSes"
- "Designing Your System for High Reliability"
- "Undercover C++: What's Efficient and What Isn't"
- "New Features in C++ for Low-Level Programming"
- "Object-Oriented Programming for High-Integrity Systems: Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them"
- "Using the C++ STL Without Dynamic Memory"
- "Rapid Prototyping is as Easy as Uno, Due, Tre"
- "Printed Circuit Board Supply Chain Structure and Techniques for Reducing Prototype Turns and Turnaround"
- "Rapid Prototyping with Sensor/Actuator Breakout Boards using Bonescript"
- "Rapid Embedded UI Prototyping with Qt Quick"
Real-Time Operating Systems
- "Fundamentals of Real-Time Kernels"
- "Really Real Time Systems"
- "How to do Real Time without an RTOS"
- "How to Measure RTOS Performance"
- "Separate and Not Equal: Safety and Security Design in Real-Time Operating Systems"
Safety, Security and Hacking Embedded Systems
- "Security Fundamentals for Embedded Software"
- "Practical Design of Safety-Critical Architectures"
- "Retrofitting Security Into Existing Embedded Devices"
- "Electromagnetic Side-Channel Analysis of a Mobile/Embedded Development Board"
- "Hack or be Hacked!"
- "'Android Security'" = Oxymoron. Learn to Improve the Security of your Embedded Systems"
- "Can Your System Meet Safety Critical Applications? A Case Study of an IEC 61508 Class Design"
Software Architecture/Design
- "Take Full Advantage of Multicore with Multi-OS Architectures"
- "User Interface Design and Human Factors for Embedded Systems"
- "Designing for Change"
- "Multicore Software Development Practices for Embedded Systems"
- "Agility in the Embedded World"
- "A Rigorous but Practical Specification Technique for Embedded Systems"
- "Software Design for Multicore Systems--2013 Edition"
Software Development
- "Adaptive Embedded Development"
- "Agile Embedded Software Development"
- "Costly Mistakes of Real-Time Software Development"
- "Software Performance Engineering"
- "Agile Requirements, Estimation and Planning--Iteration Zero"
Systems Engineering
- "Better Firmware Faster"
- "Designing Embedded Systems that do not Damage Humans"
- "Using Standards and Inspections to Slash Schedules and Improve Quality"
- "Maximizing Battery Life on Embedded Devices"
- "Context Awareness using Sensors in a Smartphone"
- "Using Hardware/Software Co-design Methods for Implementing Efficient Small Cell Femto Solutions"
- "System Engineering in Automotive Design"
- "System Integration and Test Techniques"
Tech Fundamentals
- "Embedded Basics"
- "Analog for Digital Engineers"
- "Embedded Project Management and Planning Tools"
- "LEDs 101"
- "How to Benefit from the First to File System Under The America Invents Act"
- "Build, Borrow and Buy strategies for IoT"
- "10 Computer Languages in 45 Minutes"
- "Selecting an MCU Board"
- "Introduction to Embedded Vision"
- "Cloud 101 for Embedded Designers"
- "Why C Matters for Embedded Systems"
- "Android Sensors: A Top to Bottom Approach"
- "How to Work with Open Source More Effectively"
- "VHDL Basics for Beginners"
- "Programmable Devices 101 (Introduction to FPGAs and Verilog/VHDL)"
Register here for DESIGN West 2013.


text:
Buy your Rough Guide in print
Rough Guides are available in print from all leading bookshops and retailers
The Rough Guides Snapshot USA: The Pacific Northwest is the ultimate travel guide to the scenic states of Washington and Oregon. It leads you through the region with reliable information and comprehensive coverage of all the sights and attractions, from Portland's food-truck scene and Seattle's lively Pike Place Market to the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland and the peaks of Mount Rainier. Detailed maps and up-to-date listings pinpoint the best cafés, restaurants, hotels, shops, bars and nightlife, ensuring you make the most of your trip, whether passing through, or staying for the weekend or longer. The Rough Guides Snapshot USA: The Pacific Northwest covers the states of Washington and Oregon. Also included is the Basics section from the Rough Guide to The USA, with all the practical information you need for travelling in and around the Pacific Northwest, including transport, accommodation, food and drink, festivals, sports and other essentials.
Also published as part of the Rough Guide to The USA.
The Rough Guides Snapshot USA: The Pacific Northwest is equivalent to 78 printed pages.
Rough Guides are available in print from all leading bookshops and retailers
This ebook includes the following formats, accessible from your account page after purchase:
The open industry format known for its reflowable content and usability on supported mobile devices.
The format compatible with the Amazon Kindle and Amazon Kindle
This ebook requires no passwords or activation to read. We customise your ebook by discreetly watermarking it with your name, making it uniquely yours.


text:
Will the people living in the remotest places on earth like the rainforests or the south pole, go to hell or heaven, the case being that they never encountered anyone or prophet, who has told them about Allah and Islam?
Praise be to Allaah.
The best scholarly opinion concerning this type of people is that they will be put to the test on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever obeys will enter Paradise and whoever disobeys will enter Hell, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning)" [al-Israa' 17:15]


text:
Jacquelyn Martin / AP
Gan Golan, of Los Angeles, dressed as the "Master of Degrees," holds a ball and chain representing his college loan debt.
As college students start the fall semester, millions of graduates (and drop-outs) struggle to pay off a mountain of student loan debt – more than $1 trillion dollars, according to the Student Loan Debt Clock. That's more than all the credit card debt Americans owe.
College seniors who graduated with student loans in 2010 owed an average of $25,250, according to the latest data from The Project on Student Debt. That's up five percent from 2009.
And these days, a college degree doesn't guarantee employment, let alone a good-paying job.
"You don't realize the seriousness of paying back that loan until you finish school," said Langdon Bueschel of Seattle, who needed financial aid to attend the University of Washington.
When he graduated in 2008, Bueschel had a degree in English and $12,000 in student loan debt. He has a job designing online advertising, but most of his money goes to living expenses. Because he missed so many payments, his balance now stands at $18,000 and counting.
"I could have been more responsible and paid more quickly," he admitted, "but sometimes things come up."
The most recent report from the U.S. Department of Education found that more than 320,000 borrowers had defaulted on their student loans as of September 2010. That is, they were 360 days or more late in making their payments.
Can't handle your student loan payments?
You may have options and there's an easy way to find them. The Student Debt Repayment Assistant on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) website can help students – and their families – figure out the best repayment options and what to do if they're behind in their payments.
"You just answer a few questions and we'll be able to point you to the best repayment program or action you should take in order to best manage your debt," said CFPB student loan ombudsman Rohit Chopra.
First, you need to know what type of loans you have – government, private or both – because the remedies are different. Not sure? The Student Debt Repayment Assistant has a link to the National Student Loan database where you can find out.
"We can lead you in the right direction for the income-based repayment program on federal loans and we can tell you how you might negotiate with your private student lender," Chopra explained. "Let's say you've fallen behind like so many people have, we can even tell you about ways to negotiate with debt collectors and maybe even get your credit report fixed so you can get back on track."
Of course, nothing's guaranteed. But your chances of modifying the repayment terms are fairly good with a student loan from the federal government. Private lenders are generally not as willing to help. Still, it's worth a try.
"Options vary by lender, but many private student loan programs offer borrowers a partial forbearance during which the borrower makes interest-only payments for a short period of time until the borrower can get back up on his or her feet," said Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FinAid.org and Fastweb.com. "This keeps the loan balance from growing bigger and digging the borrower into a deeper hole."
Kantrowitz points out that some private lenders may make reductions in the loan balance or interest rate when the hardship is of a more permanent nature and they know they are unlikely to recover the full amount owed.
Think Ahead
Headed to college and in need of financial assistance? Then consider this advice from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: take advantage of all federal loans before you apply for private loans, especially those with variable rates.
Remember: it is virtually impossible to discharge any type of student loans in bankruptcy. This obligation stays with you forever.
More information:
- ConsumerMan: Financial aid shopping sheet clarifies college costs
- ConsumerMan: Mounting student loans a 'debt bomb' waiting to explode
More money and business news:
- Think you're poor? Here's why you're really not
- Recovery sign: Employers contributing to 401(k)s again
- And ... action! Video screening of job applicants on rise
- Video: Testing out the latest As-Seen-On-TV gadgets
- Sign up for our Business newsletter
Follow NBCNews.com business on Twitter and Facebook


text:
HICKORY, N.C. – Using a nine-run third inning and three home runs from righfielder Shawn Ward (Evans, Ga.), the No. 5 Georgia College baseball team (21-7) won at Lenoir-Rhyne University (7-25) 17-5 Wednesday afternoon. The victory stops a two-game non-conference slide for the Bobcats.
GC sent 12 hitters to the plate in the nine-run third, blowing open an already 3-0 lead for the Bobcats. Ward finished with a monster 4-for-6 day, driving in seven with three home runs and a single. He also scored four times.
In the third alone, GC got a two-run blast from Ward, a two-run double from first baseman Cody Maas (Alpharetta, Ga.) and a bases-loaded triple from centerfielder Patrick Daugherty (Kennesaw, Ga.).
The Bobcats split the game among four pitchers, with reliever Walker McKinven (Lake Bluff, Ill.) picking up the win while tossing the most innings. McKinven (1-1) went four frames, scattering five hits and a pair of runs while fanning four.
Lenoir-Rhyne starter Ryan Wiese (0-4) took the loss in two innings of work, allowing six runs. The Bear hitters were held in check for nearly the entire contest, as just two had multi-hit performances.
Maas finished 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs, with designated hitter Ikaika Anderson (Austell, Ga.) hitting 3-for-5 with three runs and an RBI from the leadoff spot. Leftfielder Josh Young (Lake Havasu City, Ariz.) got in on the hit parade, going 2-for-3 and scoring twice, and shortstop Tanner Funk (Kearney, Mo.) was 2-for-5 with a pair of runs and one driven in. GC had 17 runs on 17 hits.
The victory puts head coach Tom Carty into third place in all-time coaching wins in the GC dugout. He passed Chris Calciano to take the third slot with today's victory, Carty's 133rd.
The Bobcats are back in action Saturday, March 26 at 2 p.m., hosting USC Aiken for a doubleheader at John Kurtz Field.
The Georgia College Department of Athletics, back-to-back winners of the PBC Commissioner's Cup, sponsors 10 varsity athletic programs at the NCAA Division II level. As a Division II program, Bobcat Athletics prides itself on balancing the life of the student-athlete, evidenced by the teams' multiple appearances in post-season competition as well as documented academic success and community-service involvement. Sign up at www.twitter.com/BobcatSports and www.facebook.com/gcbobcats for up-to-the-minute reports, and visit www.GCBobcats.com for more information, and to nominate your favorite former Bobcats and Colonials to the GC Athletics Hall of Fame.


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Check out which companies are making headlines after the bell Thursday:
Microsoft - The multinational software company posted earnings of 76 cents a share, edging past expectations by a penny. But the company posted revenue of $21.46 billion, falling short of estimates for $21.53 billion. Shares declined in extended-hours trading.
(Read More: S&P Logs 7-Day Win Streak; Apple Skids 12% )
AT&T - The telecommunications company posted earnings of 44 cents a share on revenue of $32.58 billion. Analysts expected the company to post earnings of 45 cents a share on revenue of $32.22 billion. Shares were largely unchanged in extended-hours trading.
Starbucks - The coffee giant posted earnings of 57 cents a share, matching Wall Street expectations, on revenue of $3.8 billion, slightly missing expectations for $3.84 billion. Meanwhile, the company handed in full-year 2013 earnings guidance that missed projections, sending shares lower in extended-hours trading.


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For generations, pasta has been a part of family traditions from weeknight meals to holiday feasts. From hearty lasagna to delicate pasta salad, the recipe possibilities are endless. Make pasta and create a family tradition that will last for years to come.
Busy families continue to search for foods that are healthy, satisfying and economical - and they do not need to look further than the pasta aisle. Pasta is very low in sodium and non-egg varieties are cholesterol-free. Per cup, enriched pastas provide an excellent source of folic acid and a good source of other essential nutrients, including iron and several B-vitamins. Also, as a food that is low on the Glycemic Index (GI) - low GI foods are digested more slowly - pasta provides a slow release of energy without spiking blood sugar levels.
In response to dietary guidance urging Americans to include more whole grains in their diets, manufacturers have introduced nutritionally enhanced pasta varieties such as whole wheat, whole grain and pasta fortified with omega-3 fatty acids and additional fiber. Some varieties of whole grain pasta can provide up to 25% of daily fiber requirements in every one cup portion. There are now more options than ever for consumers to enjoy healthy and economical meals the whole family will love.


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Event Information
On the third Sunday in August, we celebrate the anniversary of the completion of the replica of the Old Log Church.
Everyone is invited to the Log Church of Norway Lake.
Come experience a service just as your ancestors may have 150 years ago.
Annual Celebration
10:30 Church service at Old Log Church
12:00pm Catered meal
1:30pm Afternoon program at Old Log Church
3:30pm Coffee and Lefse
Vesper services are held in the Old Log Church on Saturday evenings in June, July and August.
Find Nearby
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Also at this Location
Willmar Lakes Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
2104 Highway 12 East
Willmar, MN 56201
Call: (320) 235-3552
Toll Free: (800) 845-8747
The Willmar Lakes Area, in beautiful Kandiyohi County, is Where the Lakes Begin in West Central Minnesota. The Willmar Lakes Area has over 360 lakes, which provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities. We have fun festivals all year round, museums and many sights to see. We have all your lodging options available including hotels/motels, campgrounds and beautiful resorts on the lake. Call today for your free vacation planner. Our Lakes: There is no better place to relax than on our sandy beaches, gentle waves cool, pure water rolling ashore. Nestled amidst the gently rolling countryside of Kandiyohi County are more than 360 lakes for you to explore. Sink your toes in the sand, take a dip in our refreshing waters, or troll for a trophy catch.Our Lodging: The Willmar Lakes Area has a long tradition of hospitality. Whether you are looking for a resort on the lake, a comfortable hotel/motel or a place to pitch a tent, the Willmar Lakes Area has it!Our Activities: Enjoy the lush countryside of the Willmar Lakes Area from high atop Mount Tom at Sibley State Park, or bike through the scenery along our 22 mile Glacial Lakes Trail. However you enjoy the outdoors, Kandiyohi County has a park or trail for you. Take your pick from among dozens of city and county parks, many of which are equipped with picnic shelters, swimming beaches and fishing piers. Explore Sibley State Park, one of Minnesota's most popular parks. Whether you are looking for a challenge or a relaxing round of golf, the Willmar Lakes Area has it all for you. Looking for a winter getaway? The Willmar Lakes Area is a four season playground, with nearly 200 miles of groomed snowmobile trails connecting with Minnesota's state-wide trail network. Cross-country skiing is also popular, with trails for skiers of all skill levels to choose. Our Location: The Willmar Lakes Area is located 90 miles west of the Twin Cities on Hwy. 12. Or from the Metro area, take I-94 to Hwy. 23 S. Continue south on Hwy 23 to the Lakes Area.


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Personal Trainers in Costa Mesa, CA
Costa Mesa Sport - View club info
555 West 19th Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Browse the profiles below to learn more about our Personal Trainers in Costa Mesa, CA. Once you've found your trainer, you can purchase personal training sessions online. We'll do our best to match you up with the personal trainer that you choose but availability may vary.*
Not ready to choose a trainer? Purchase a Personal Training package and choose a trainer in club.


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This was really great! I give it 4 stars just because I would have like more of it! Really great story line and interesting characters involved.
So right now I am starting a book called Gone.. looked good so I grabbed it at the library :)
I Cannot wait until this comes out in like 18 days!!!! I am so Excited because
I <3 me some Mercy Thompson!!


text:
Online Shopping: A Classic Case of Convenience vs Security
It is certainly a new day and age for many aspects of today's society. One prominent sector that continues to lead by example in this area is the Internet, more specifically the online shopping environment. Note that online shopping is not a simple matter of go to a website, click "buy," and checkout. That would be too simple. Ironically the purchase aspect itself tends to be the simplest matter here. The crux of the experience begins with the search and research phase. What exactly does one need/want? Is there a particular brand in mind? Is there a popular alternative? The convenience of asking and gathering answers to these questions and many more begin the journey, and thanks to the power and slew of resources the Internet provides, shoppers are able to search common products, brands, uses, verify details such as durability, ease of use and more based on the numerous rating systems, applications, web 2.0 solutions, social networking, and the ongoing phenomena that continue to evolve. So what does this mean? What does this have to do with security? Quite simply, all of this equates to more TIME on the Internet. Furthermore, the continued rise in scam and theft activities during the holidays is an additional means for concern. As mentioned in a recent Cyber Risk Report Law enforcement and government agencies continue to search and seize counterfeit and fraudulent websites. This includes counterfeit merchandise in addition to fraudulent website domains. More time spent on the Internet means there is more potential for exposure to threats and vulnerabilities. Simple math right? That said, let's look at some numbers to provide valued context…….
Thirty-two percent of the employees surveyed recently by global IT organization ISACA say they will spend more time shopping online this year [2011]—using both their employer-provided equipment as well as their own devices accessing corporate networks—during working hours. As a security practitioner this last aspect raises the proverbial red flag and is a baited hook for a BYOD (Bring your own Device) security initiative. Check out MDM Not the Only Avenue for BYOD Security for more regarding BYOD security. Moreover, these shopping employees are vaguely aware of an IT policy at their workplace, yet believe strongly in an IT department that can protect all those who traverse the network in search of seasonal bargains. Ironic? You bet!
Revenue lost through loss of employee productivity is one thing, but a single click on a maliciously-coded coupon on a social networking site has the potential to allow holiday hackers to create data leakage, steal sensitive information, or cause a catastrophic loss of service that may result in untold damage to corporate brand and reputation.
ISACA reports these results from their survey of employees:
- One-third of consumers (34%) have clicked on a link in a social media site (up from 19% in 2010)
- More than one in 10 (13%) click on e-mail links from someone they do not know
Statistics and numbers abound, yes, but take a minute to think about how much time you spend online shopping and browsing throughout the holiday? How about throughout the year? Remember, while there is certainly a rise in vulnerability exposure this time of year, the methods discussed here (in particular the solutions and analysis) apply year round.
Now imagine one-third of the workforce clicking on Groupon-type coupons with no worries over compromising the corporate network. These employees report they will spend an average of 32 hours browsing for daily deals and scanning quick response (QR) codes in the three weeks that follow the American Thanksgiving holiday. What steps should IT departments take to protect the network from employees in search of online treasures? While we will provide ideas and solutions below, it is clearly the ultimate responsibility of the employee (shopper) to integrate and exercise caution and scrutiny in their shopping endeavors. Again remember, these ideas/solutions are applicable all through the year.
IT Department Solutions
1) Host an annual holiday training to educate your user/employee community on the threats and vulnerabilities at play, in addition to reiterating the organization's applicable policies.
2) Communication is the mother of understanding, thus constant communication regarding scams, vulnerabilities, things for concern, etc… throughout the organization is key.
3) Remember those logs you capture day in and day out? Now is as good a time as any to leverage them!
4) Validate and update web and email security filters. Every year there are new trends, make sure you are updating your policies PRIOR to the holiday season being in full swing!
5) Review and update filtering practices and access control. Most often the end of the year organizations encounter a "freeze period" or a period of time where no changes (other than critical changes) are permitted through the change management/review board. That does not mean ideas and solutions cannot be proposed or tested (in test/development environments).
Employee (shopper) Solutions
1) Make sure your anti-virus software is up to date. You may want to schedule scans to run more often.
2) Look for the s: not just for sales but in https:// Try to shop on secure websites.
3) If a website looks even the least bit suspicious, or has multiple pop-up windows, or in any way sets off a feeling that you might get more than you bargained for in terms of identity theft, point your browser elsewhere.
4) PayPal, eBay, and other often-spoofed websites will never ask you to click a link in an e-mail or reply with personal information. Delete those e-mails, even the ones that claim to be URGENT!
5) 'Tis the season for amazing offers, often found in coupons on social media websites. Don't be a coupon-clicker unless you are 100% sure it won't deliver malware to your system.
In summary, there are many counterfeit websites (especially during the holidays): obviously, employees (consumers) need to know that if a deal seems too good to be true, it very likely is. Employees and users are, as always, cautioned to avoid clicking on amazing offers, ignore urgent e-mails from strangers, and engage in responsible surfing. Employers who are lacking security policies and measures will need to hope for holiday miracles as their employees begin clicking for gifts and holiday cheer!
ISACA survey Key Findings: http://www.isaca.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/2011-US-Online-Holiday-Shopping-Key-Findings.pdf
In an effort to keep conversations fresh, Cisco Blogs closes comments after 60 days. Please visit the Cisco Blogs hub page for the latest content.
1 Comments
The Internet allows you to easily compare products and prices, so you can be sure that the item you purchase is the exact item you want. Its not only time saving its help you economycally too.


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Final rules issued on government's new strategy to attract students and recent grads of every generation.
The Office of Personnel Management on Wednesday unveiled the final details of the government's new program to attract students and recent graduates to public service.
During a briefing with reporters, Director John Berry outlined the final regulations regarding the Pathways Programs, an initiative that grew out of a 2010 executive order calling on agencies to make it easier for students and recent graduates to pursue careers in the federal government. The rules were published in the Federal Register on Thursday and take effect July 10. OPM will help agencies transition to the new programs this year and into 2013, said Berry.
"These new pathways will place a welcome sign on federal service for students and recent graduates," he said. "The aim is to enable students and recent graduates to more effectively compete for federal service. Over the summer, we will continue to work with federal agencies to implement these regulations and to identify specific opportunities for students and recent graduates."
The Pathways Programs includes three tracks -- for current students, recent graduates and Presidential Management Fellows. Participants will be classified under a new Schedule D within the excepted service, and each program will honor veterans' preference. Excepted service positions are designed to streamline the hiring process and have different evaluation criteria from the competitive service, in which applicants compete for jobs under the merit system.
Berry emphasized that the tracks are designed to reach not only the current college-age generation but also anyone who has returned to school. "They might be recent vets using the new GI bill, moms going back to school after raising kids, workers who've gone to night school, or even long-term unemployed folks who sought out a new trade or degree," he said.
The internship track for current students replaces the Student Career Experience Program and the Student Temporary Program. The new initiative is for students in high school, vocational and technical schools, and enrolled in a university at the undergraduate or graduate level. For successful interns to be converted into the federal civil service they have to complete 640 hours on the job. Interns demonstrating exceptional performance or academic excellence can receive up to 320 credit hours under the program toward the 640-hour requirement.
The recent graduates track -- open to applicants who have completed a post-high school educational program within the past two years -- places candidates in a one-year career development program with additional time for mandatory training that must be completed before the job start date. Veterans who were precluded from applying during the two-year period because of military service obligations will have six years after completing their degree to apply. Those who graduated after the date of the executive order -- Dec. 27, 2010 -- will have a full two years from July 10, 2012, to apply.
The Presidential Management Fellows track is the former Presidential Management Intern program, which offers a prestigious two-year stint in the federal government working on various assignments at different agencies. During Wednesday's briefing, Berry said the goal with the PMF track was to "repolish" the program's credentials. He said OPM has beefed up its candidate assessment tools to ensure it picks top fellows and has increased training and orientation for the group. According to Berry, the government receives about 10,000 applications annually for the PMF program and accepts 600 to 1,000 candidates. In January, OPM sent acceptance letters to hundreds of PMF applicants by mistake in an embarrassing snafu.
The revamped intern and recent graduate pipeline, particularly the track for recent graduates, is designed to streamline the programs and make them more transparent. Many unions and other observers criticized the controversial and now-defunct Federal Career Intern Program, which some agencies used to circumvent the traditional federal hiring process. Under FCIP, agencies could appoint individuals to two-year internships, after which they were eligible for permanent positions. In November 2010, the Merit Systems Protection Board ruled that FCIP violated federal veterans' preference laws.
Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, praised OPM for incorporating some of NTEU's recommendations into the final rules, but she also expressed concerns over implementation. "As in the FCIP, the final Pathways regulations fail to limit either the number of employees who may be hired under the programs or the types of positions that can be filled," Kelley said. "These glaring omissions endanger the competitive hiring system that has served the nation so well for so long." Kelley said the union is still evaluating the regulations, released on Thursday.
During Wednesday's briefing, Berry said OPM is making sure vets get priority in the Pathways programs. Agencies will be required to report to OPM on the implementation of their student and recent graduate programs.
For the initial effort, Berry expects that agencies will interview candidates in the fall for the Pathways programs and bring successful applicants on board within a few months through spring 2013.


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ALAMEDA — The Board of Education has cleared the way to add seventh- and eighth-grades at Bay Farm Elementary School, a move that follows trustees approving a sixth grade on the campus last year.
The decision Tuesday means that portables will be installed to accommodate the additional students at the school on Aughinbaugh Way, where enrollment now stands about 484 and could eventually total about 640.
Supporters of adding the higher grades say the anticipated increase in students is still far fewer than what would be found at a traditional middle school, where the population could be up to 960 students.
Other benefits of creating a K-8 school include the stability of having students on the same campus for up to nine years, and teachers and administrators knowing an academic history of a student, which can allow for more focused instruction.
Barbara Kahn, who was elected trustee last month, cast the lone no vote.
The decision to add grades at Bay Farm was initially made by the board in February, although the approval hinged on certain conditions that were reviewed in the run up to Tuesday's vote. The board's decision was also part of package of changes aimed at middle school students and their parents, including creating magnet programs at Encinal High School and at the Maya Lin School.
Seventh grade at Bay Farm will begin next year. Eighth grade will begin in 2014.
Adding the new grades falls under the school's "21st Century Learning" plan, which features integrating technology in the classroom, as well as an online curriculum and wireless access on the campus.
In other business Tuesday, Kahn was sworn in as a trustee, Niel Tam was elected board president and Trish Spencer was elected vice president, while Mike McMahon was selected as the board clerk.
The board also approved a meeting schedule for the coming year and heard reports on the Measure C facilities bond and the Measure A parcel tax.
Trustees also held a public hearing on the district's first interim budget for the 2012-13 school year.
Reach Peter Hegarty at 510-748-1654 or follow him on Twitter.com/Peter_Hegarty/.


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Wester Boswell Romany Selections
Idioma: Angloromani
Información de Versión
Romany has been spoken by Romanichal Gypsies in Britain for over 500 years. The pure Romani language mixed with spoken English, formed the modern Romany speech sometimes known as the Pogadi Chib (mixed up language), or to scholars as Anglo-Romani. It is spoken by Gypsies in Britain and where they have settled in Canada, the USA, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Many Romany words have come into British English slang such as kushti, mush, chav and wonga. Romany is not fully intelligible with other Romani languages found in Europe and the Americas, although it has some shared vocabulary.
Wester Boswell Compositions
Sylvester "Wester" Boswell (1812-1890) was an English Gypsy who spoke Romanes. In the 1870s he translated some Scripture selections into English. These were published as "Genuine Romany Compositions" on pages 226-235 of a book called the "Dialect of the English Gypsies" by Bath C. Smart and Henry Thomas Crofton. The book was compiled in 1874 and published in London in 1875. In the Romany compositions, the words were written down using an orthography developed by A.J, Ellis which was used by the English Dialect Society. and they adopted the Greek letter χ to represent "the sound being nearly that of ch in German". The parts of Romanes which were English borrowings were italicised.
These selections, were digitised from the BFBS archives in 2015, as part of the Romani digitisation project.
© British and Foreign Bible Society 2015
Información de Derechos de Autor
© British and Foreign Bible Society 2015


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Missouri senator Claire McCaskill (Democrat) hit the nail on the head when she wrote to the FAA about easing rules on the use of portable electronic devices (PEDs) in aircraft. Her letter seeks to have the FAA reconsider restrictions on PEDs, citing as one example the fact that many airline pilots are now using switched-on iPads during taxi, takeoff and landing without any problems.
But it's McCaskill's philosophical summary of the regulatory environment that adds clout to her request and also makes me hope that there are senators who understand regulatory issues: "Importantly, such anachronistic policies undermine the public's confidence in the FAA, thereby increasing the likelihood that rules of real consequence will be given too little respect. While safety and security must be the top priority in air travel, the FAA and other federal agencies should also work to ensure air travel is as hassle-free as possible by revising or removing regulations that have become unnecessary or outdated."
This is excellent advice and should be part of the mission statement of any regulatory agency. The FAA has a fairly robust and extremely time-consuming process for creating regulations and policies, and the process for eliminating policies and rules that should no longer apply is equally robust and time-consuming. The result is a mish-mash of old and new material that often never gets sorted out.
Here's an example, 91.817, the rule covering civil aircraft sonic booms. Basically, you can't exceed Mach 1 unless approved to do so in a designated test area or unless you can prove that your sonic boom won't reach the surface of the U.S. A lot of research is under way to find ways to mitigate the effects of a sonic boom. Does this mean that the boom doesn't reach the ground? If a boom booms quietly, is it still a sonic boom?
Unfortunately, the regulations don't help here, and any company that plans to build a supersonic business jet is going to face a multiple-year regulatory hurdle because the rules will need to be rewritten to accommodate new technology. Certainly any applicant can ask for an exemption, but it's hard to build a solid business around an exemption that needs constant renewal.
Technology changes, and a roadblock that might once have been thought impassable might have a solution. The regulations and the processes that create them must be flexible enough to accommodate change. If a supersonic business jet were to be coming down the pike in the not-too-distant future, then these would-be manufacturers would have had to begin working on regulatory changes already, if not years before now. But that isn't a good investment of scarce research and development dollars.
We need to figure out a way to eliminate useless rules and policies more quickly and prepare the regulatory environment for technological advances, which are coming rapidly. Countries that do this are going to be able to move into new markets much more quickly. Let's hope McCaskill isn't the only smart senator who understands this.


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LEHI, Utah — The "away-goals rule" is a common fixture in major soccer tournaments around the world, and CONCACAF Champions League is no exception.
CONCACAF applies this tiebreaker in all its Champions League elimination rounds when "two teams are tied on aggregate goals scored at the end of regulation time in the second leg." The series is then awarded to the team with the "greater aggregate number of away goals scored in regulation time in the two matches."
RSL are in a position where this rule could work against them in the upcoming quarterfinal against Columbus Crew on Tuesday. The two sides finished scoreless in Ohio last week in the first leg, meaning the Crew just need a draw, with goals, in the second leg on Tuesday at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Should the series finish 0-0 after 90 minutes on Tuesday, the match will be decided in extratime (in which the away-goals rule no longer counts) or, if necessary, a penalty shootout.
Despite the disadvantage, team members said they understand the value of the tiebreaker.
[inline_node:329272]"I think it's there for the right reason – that is to encourage a team to come out and attack when they play away, and not just sit back in a shell and try to defend for the 90 minutes," head coach Jason Kreis said.
Kreis' plan heading into Columbus was to take advantage of the rule and come away with at least a goal, but the field conditions, multiple ejections and a spirited Crew performance didn't allow for that.
Therefore if Real Salt Lake were to give up the first goal, it would be as if they are two goals down as they would need to score at least twice to have a chance to advance in the tournament. If they fail to catch up, they'll be knocked out of the tournament that the team has admitted is their primary focus in 2011.
"We will be looking at this in a more positive fashion," Kreis explained. "We won't be looking at this with sort of one foot behind us. We're going to win the game period. We've won matches here in every tactical situation, and so the emphasis is, 'Let's just win the game.'"
Defender Robbie Russell added that the his team must remain patient and keep its composure, no matter how the series unravels.
"I don't think you can go into it fearing what could happen," Russell said. "You have to go into thinking we want this to happen or we want that to happen."
"We will prevail if we just play the way that we're supposed to play," he added.

RSL OK with potential CCL obstacle
LEHI, Utah — The "away-goals rule" is a common fixture in major soccer tournaments around the world, and CONCACAF Champions League is no exception.


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More attempts at nature exploration with The Conscious Shopper
Two month ago, I reviewed the book The Green Hour and resolved to increase and improve the time I spend with my children enjoying nature.
As I expected, it has been much easier to have a green hour now that school's out. In the past month, we have...
gone to the beach
watched our garden grow out of control
(It is now much much worse than this...Borers wiped out my squash, and the tomatoes have taken over every inch of the garden and some of the yard. Yeah, for rookie gardening!)
picked raspberries
climbed trees
(My sister and I had a contest to see who could climb the highest. My six-year-old won...I about had a heart attack.)
No school means we have two extra hours a day to play outside, but it's still a challenge to get the kids out there playing on a regular day (as opposed to on vacation, when most of the above pictures were taken).
Because my son goes to a magnet school, we don't know the other kids in the neighborhood...not that we ever see any of them outside anyway. Earlier this week, I spotted the boys across the street playing basketball in their driveway, so I urged my own kids to go over and make friends. A few minutes later, my oldest came back to say, "They want to know if we can go inside and play Playstation."
I find myself constantly nostalgic for my own childhood of riding bikes and exploring the woods, but perhaps I've idealized it - I don't remember summer being so hot that I didn't want to go outside, but I feel that way now as an adult. I need to use these "tricks to get kids outdoors" on myself.
How do you beat the summer heat?
UPDATE: Just wanted to add here that I recently found out that this past June has been the hottest June on record in North Carolina, and that 22 days in June were in the 90s (which with the humidity factor, means in the 100s). Plus, I grew up in northern Indiana. So I'm not crazy - it really is much hotter now than when I was a kid!


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City: St. George
Rate Band: D1
Primary Exchange Service: Basic Service: Individual Line $32.31, Two-Party Line $13.42, Four-Party Line $11.80 (1, 2, 3)
Touch-Tone Service: Not applicable.
Primary Directory Listing: No Charge (4)
Service Connection Charge: $49.95 (5)
Interest on Deposits: The rate of interest on deposits is the Bank of Canada Target for the Overnight Rate plus 1.25%.
Note 1: Four-party line service is no longer available for new customers.
Note 2: Push button dialing provides for the origination of telephone calls by the use of a telephone equipped with special buttons, instead of a dial. It is provided through the use of Touch-Tone or Digipulse. Effective 8 March 1993, individual line services must be equipped for Touch-Tone dialing (Basic Service). As an exception, Rotary Dial Services (i.e., residence individual line services installed before 8 March 1993, not equipped for Touch-Tone dialing) can remain in service until they are moved to a different premises. Effective 24 May 2015, a discount of $2.80 is applied to Rotary Dial Service.
Note 3: For persons with a disability who require additional equipment to facilitate their use of a telephone service, and who have obtained certification from either a physician or a home care professional acceptable to the Company, a discount of $0.90 is applied to Basic Service.
Note 4: A primary listing contains the following: (a) The name of the residence service customer including the surname, given name or initials or a combination of given name and initials of two individuals having the same or different surnames and who reside in the same premises. The name may also be that of a person for whose use telephone service is applied for by another person. When a customer has business and residence service in the same name, the name may be omitted from the residence primary listing if the latter is indented under the business listing, except in a split residence/business directory when both listings must appear in their appropriate section. When different surnames are used in residence listings, the given name or initials must immediately follow the associated surname. Should the customer request the reverse order of surnames to that used in the primary listing, extra listing charges apply. (b) The address of the premises at which service is furnished, except that the address may be that of other premises or may be omitted when warranted, in the Company?s opinion, by the circumstances. (c) The telephone number of the service.
Note 5: The charge for this function applies for work done in receiving, recording and processing information to comply with a customer's request for the installation of each primary exchange service at a given premises or for the restoration of each line suspended for violation of regulations without termination of service. It also includes work in the Company's wire-centre building and elsewhere to connect or to restore the service. For two and four party primary exchange services it also includes work on the first telephone for each line.


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Most manufacturers try to make tools that do all things for all people. Not so with these — designed for specific purposes, each is an excellent tool for its intended use.
A. The transplant trowel is a workhorse. With well-sharpened edges and tip, it takes most of the work out of cutting through roots while penetrating soil. The blade is 6" long and 3-3/4" at its widest, with a relatively shallow bowl compared to most trowels, so it cuts into the soil easily. The blade is also quite broad, so you can move a good volume of soil quickly. 12" overall, it is a quality staple for any gardener. Beech handle.
B. The potting trowel has a curved blade for scooping and depositing soil from the side instead of from the end, making it easy on the wrist. The unique shape also reduces spilling. A sharply angled tip easily carves out a spot in the soil, and the 2-1/4" wide blade with sloped sides works neatly around the walls of even the smallest pots. Measuring 10-1/2" overall, it is available in right- and left-handed versions. Beech handle.
C. The traditional Dutch weeding fork has sharp tips and wide, flat tines that support the base of the weed, preventing it from breaking the root before it has been fully removed. Beech handle. 10-1/2" overall.
D. The dibber (also referred to as the dibble or dibbler) does one thing very well: piercing holes in the soil. Designed to quickly plunge to the desired depth and width, it is useful when planting multiple seeds and bulbs. The finely sharpened tip makes this an extremely effective dibber, and the steam-bent ash handle offers a comfortable grip when working from a kneeling or seated position. It has a 5" head and an overall curved length of 16".
E. Cultivator tines with blunt ends make it difficult to penetrate the soil. The tines on this cultivator are extremely sharp, so the tool does the work instead of your arm and wrist. Set to the proper angle for work from a kneeling or seated position, it is an effective tool that doesn't leave the hand fatigued. Beech handle. 11" overall.
Some products are no longer available.


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Review: Nikon Coolpix 7700 Compact
Nikon Coolpix 7700 Compact
Price: $650
Verdict: Brilliant
The low-down: This 12-megapixel camera with a 28mm-200mm zoom lens is at the top of Nikon's compact range. In fact, ''compact'' could be a misnomer for this bulky and weighty camera - you won't fit it in your pocket. But the bulk has a point. Construction is rugged, and all the controls found on an entry DSLR are incorporated. There are three dials on the top for easy access to mode, exposure compensation and settings for white balance, ISO, bracketing and size-resolution. There are also front and rear wheels for setting selection. The 7.5cm 940-dot swivelling LCD is excellent. Features such as five-exposure bracketing put the 7700 into the serious class but, for those who insist, it can be used fully automatic with the usual set of scene modes. There is a good printed user manual.
Like: The image quality is outstanding, with one caveat - restricted dynamic range. The camera feels just right in the hand and is responsive, with fast, accurate focusing at all focal lengths. The range and placement of the external controls are exemplary. Colour fidelity is superb.
Dislike: Dynamic range is limited, as we have come to expect from small sensors. Highlights can easily burn out. Generally slight under exposure and shooting RAW seems to be the best corrective.
Verdict: This is an excellent camera, as long as you don't mind a little extra bulk and mass. Its size raises a question about comparison with compact system cameras that are the same size but have the advantage of a larger sensor and interchangeable lenses. But, if you prefer the convenience of an all-in-one camera, the Nikon is a brilliant example of the type.


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[contact-form 8 "User Story Submission"]


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