text:
Does Alcohol Make Food Reactions Worse?
Q: I'm a university student with food allergies. I've heard that if you accidentally eat a food with your allergen while also drinking alcohol, your allergic reaction will be worse. Why would that happen?
How to Read a Label When You Have Food Allergies
Ask the Allergist: Idiopathic Anaphylaxis
Ask the Allergist: Latex and Bananas
Q. We've just learned that my daughter is allergic to latex. My doctor listed things she has to avoid now – like most balloons, BandAids, apples and bananas. I get balloons and bandages, but bananas? Can you clarify?
Virginia Kids Show High Level of Meat Allergy
What Causes Your Reaction to Alcohol?
Asthma. For some, even a sip or two of wine can make their airways tighten and inflamed – and a common trigger is sulfites, added to wines as a preservative. (Contrary to popular belief, white wines usually have more sulfites than reds.) Even the wines labeled "sulfite-free" usually contain small amounts of the substance because […]
Scientist Discovers Big Clue in Wine Reactions
Glycoproteins, which have similarities to big allergens like latex, ragweed and kiwi, may be the key culprit behind wine allergies.
Spice Allergy: On the Rise and Difficult to Spot
Profile: Author John Grisham's Allergy Mystery
He's known for his bestselling novels and the hit films they inspired: The Firm, A Time to Kill, The Pelican Brief, The Client, to name a few. His dashing protagonists unlock secrets, ferret out corruption, and bring culprits to justice. But 13 years ago author John Grisham found himself caught in his own personal thriller, […]
Hidden Other
Allergen Where It Hides Alternate Names Other Foods Corn: alcohol artificial flavorings and sweeteners (like aspartame and xylitol) baking powder confectioner's sugar (corn starch) margarine Olestra/Olean cooking oil May contain corn (not always): acetic acid citric acid alpha tocopherol ascorbates ascorbic acid dextrose (also found in IV solutions in hospitals) fumaric acid gluconate glucose glycerol […]


text:
Courtesy: Ilya Pinchuk (Moscow, Idaho)
|Vandals top Spartans
MOSCOW, Idaho – University of Idaho men's basketball jumped out to an early lead and held San Jose State to just 31.9 percent shooting, but second chances let the Spartans hang around in a 66-63 Vandal win on Saturday.
Idaho improved to 9-12 overall and 5-6 in Western Athletic Conference play, while SJSU slipped to 9-13 overall and 3-8 in the WAC.
The Vandal men limited the Spartans to just 22-of-69 (.319) shooting overall and SJSU did itself no favors with an 8-of-24 (.333) free throw performance, but 16 second-half offensive rebounds and 21 overall gave SJSU 19 more shot attempts than Idaho in the game.
"We found a way to win and that's a positive," Idaho head coach Don Verlin said. "We've lost a lot of those games like that this year. They just beasted us on the boards today."
Idaho's offense wasn't its usual efficient self, as the team hit a season-low 36 percent of its attempts and went just 6-of-21 (.286) in the second half for its lowest field goal percentage in a half this season. The team did connect on 21 of its 25 free throws in the game and tallied nine 3-point field goals while limiting itself to just 10 turnovers.
Verlin switched up his starting lineup for the first time since the start of WAC play and started the team's four seniors, along with sophomore guard Connor Hill. Verlin said he was trying to find a spark and that he felt like it succeeded.
"I didn't think our team has been playing with enough urgency," Verlin said. "So I adjusted the starting lineup and who's going to play with more urgency than four seniors?"
They responded as he had hoped. Senior guard Mansa Habeeb had eight points, all in the first half, and connected on a pair of 3-pointers. Senior forward Wendell Faines set career highs with nine points and five blocked shots and did a solid job defending SJSU's Chris Cunningham, who had just five points on 2-of-14 shooting and 18 rebounds before fouling out late in the game.
"I thought Wendell did a great job of standing in between him and the basket and making himself hard to shoot over," Verlin said.
Hill led all players with 19 points on 4-of-10 overall shooting, including 4-of-8 from long range, and a perfect 7-of-7 performance at the free throw line. Senior center Kyle Barone tallied his eighth double-double in WAC play and his 11th overall this season with 15 points and 12 rebounds, along with three assists.
"They were doubling down on him (Barone) all night long and I thought he did a great job of passing out of the post," Verlin said. "I really liked the way he played because he was very unselfish. He found Connor for a couple wide-open threes and Connor really shot the ball well tonight."
Idaho went 18-of-50 (.360) overall from the field and 9-of-23 (.391) from long range. The Spartans went 22-of-69 (.319) overall, 11-of-27 (.407) from 3-point range and just 8-of-24 (.333) from the free throw line. SJSU held a 47-42 rebounding edge and earned a 22-4 advantage in second chance points.
"It's hard to think that it's a three-point game when you hold someone to 32 percent (shooting) and they only shoot 33 (percent) from the foul line," Verlin said. "They did it by putting on their hard hats and whooping our tail on the boards in the second half."
Neither team did much in the paint as SJSU held a 16-14 margin. Fast-break points were tied, 2-2, and Idaho led points off turnovers by a 7-5 margin. Idaho never trailed and the game was never tied past 0-0, but, but the Vandals also didn't lead by more than two possessions for the game's final 11 minutes.
The Vandals didn't make a field goal in the game's final 5:23, but went 10-of-12 from the free throw line during that span and did just enough to hold off a late SJSU charge. SJSU's Aalim Moor banked in a 30-foot 3-pointer with less than a second left to pull the Spartans with in three and the final margin of 66-63.
Next up for Idaho is a road trip at New Mexico State on Thursday, Feb. 7, at 6 p.m. (PT), followed by a Saturday game against Denver at 3 p.m. (PT). Saturday's game will be broadcast on ROOT Sports.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Kelsi, we all know you have a wide range of associates that are acid users, but that really doesn't help your argument against acid being harmful. Peer reviewed studies do show that acid effects the human body in ways MOST people would consider harmful. Hey maybe some people don't think having a smaller penis size is a harmful effect of steroids, but I think MOST people would. You may think that having ones vision permanently altered is not a negative but MOST do. And that's but one example. I'm assuming though that you feel that the majority of the effects that HAVE been proven to happen when using acid aren't harmful, that being the case, you are in the minority.


text:
Do What You Can to Ease Side Effects of Treatment for Multiple Myeloma
It's likely that you will have physical concerns since your cancer may cause symptoms and your treatment may cause side effects. In this section, you'll learn more about how to respond to some of the most common side effects and symptoms from treating multiple myeloma.
Here are some common side effects from treatment for multiple myeloma and how to ease them. You may not have all of these. We've listed them in alphabetical order so that you can find help when you need it.
Anemia (low red blood cell levels) and fatigue
Your doctor will take blood samples from you for blood tests throughout your treatment. One thing he or she is checking for is your red blood cell count. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. If there are fewer red blood cells, then less oxygen is carried throughout your body and you may feel tired. Decreased red blood cell counts can be caused by small amounts of blood loss; by chemotherapy, radiation, or stem cell transplants; or by the cancer itself.
If your doctor tells you that you have anemia, take these actions to feel better.
Take short rests when you're tired. Avoid long naps during the day so that you can sleep well at night.
Add mild exercise, such as walking, to your daily routine. It may help you sleep better.
Balance activity with rest. Save your energy for important tasks.
Drink plenty of water. Dehydration adds to fatigue.
Talk with your doctor about medications or treatments that may help manage your anemia.
Take action to treat a poor appetite because eating improperly can make you tired.
If your fatigue is severe or chronic, ask for help with routine tasks that can drain your energy, such as grocery shopping or housework. Some people reduce their hours at work.
Anxiety and depression
Many people may feel blue, anxious, or distressed after being told they have cancer. These feelings may continue or come back throughout treatment.
Taking these actions may ease your mental stress:
Talk with your family or friends.
Consider joining a cancer support group or finding a cancer "buddy" who can help you cope.
Ask your doctor about medications for depression and anxiety.
Bleeding and bruising
Certain kinds of chemotherapy may reduce your blood platelet count. Without enough platelets (thrombocytopenia), your blood may have trouble clotting. Even a minor injury may cause you to bleed or bruise.
If your doctor tells you that your platelet count is low, take these actions to avoid causing injuries that could lead to uncontrolled bleeding:
Call your doctor if you develop a rash, bleeding, or bruising.
Protect your skin from cuts, scrapes, and sharp objects.
Take steps to prevent constipation, which can lead to hemorrhoids and bleeding.
Use a soft toothbrush to prevent bleeding gums.
This may be a side effect of chemotherapy or some pain medicines. Constipation may include difficult or infrequent bowel movements. It can range from mildly uncomfortable to painful. Taking pain medications can lead to constipation, so it's wise to take these preventive actions. These same steps may give you relief if you are already constipated:
Drink plenty of fluids, especially water and prune juice.
Eat foods high in fiber, such as cereals, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
Take stool softeners or a laxative only as prescribed by your doctor.
This may be a side effect of chemotherapy. Many drugs used in cancer treatments can also cause bowel changes. Diarrhea includes loose or frequent bowel movements, or both. To avoid dehydration, take these precautions:
Avoid milk and milk products if you already have diarrhea or if you are lactose-intolerant.
Avoid gas-producing vegetables, dried fruit, fiber cereals, seeds, popcorn, nuts, corn, and dried beans.
Eat low-residue, low-fiber foods, such as those included in the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast).
Drink more fluids, such as water and broth, to prevent dehydration.
Ask your doctor about medications that may help.
Severe drowsiness may be a side effect of immunotherapy. It may get better after several weeks of treatment. If you are noticing this, talk with your doctor about these options for relief:
Adjusting the dose you take
Changing the time you take the drug. Some people find that it's helpful to take their medicine before bedtime or to take it twice a day. Don't change your schedule without your doctor's instructions.
Dry or irritated skin
This may be a side effect of radiation therapy used by itself or as preparation for a bone marrow transplant:
Check with your doctor or nurse about protecting your skin from sun exposure by wearing sunscreen of at least 15 SPF (sun protection factor). Don't apply sunscreen or other lotions to your skin without first checking.
Ask your doctor or nurse what kind of lotion you can use to moisturize and soothe your skin. Don't use any lotion, soap, deodorant, sunblock, cologne, cosmetics, or powder on your skin within two hours after treatment because they may cause irritation.
Wear loose, soft clothing over the treated area. Cotton underwear can help prevent further irritation.
Don't scratch, rub, or scrub treated skin. After washing, gently blot dry.
Don't bandage skin with tape. If you must bandage it, use paper tape, and ask your nurse to help you place the dressings so that you can avoid irritation.
Don't apply heat or cold to the treated area. Bathe only with lukewarm water.
If you must shave the treated area, use only an electric shaver because it causes less irritation to the skin. Don't use lotion before shaving. And don't use hair-removal products. Both can cause irritation to the skin.
Keep your nails well-trimmed and clean to avoid scratching your skin.
Hair loss
Losing your hair (called alopecia) can be upsetting because baldness is a visible reminder that you are being treated for cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation to the head can cause scalp hair loss. Keep in mind that your hair should grow back after treatment.
Try these coping tips:
Consider cutting your hair before treatment starts.
Think about getting a wig, hat, or scarf before your hair loss starts. That way, you can get a wig that matches your hair and you'll be ready with head coverings, if you choose to use them.
Because your scalp may be more sensitive to temperature and sun, protect it with sunscreen and hats or scarves.
Menopausal symptoms
Some types of chemotherapy can damage a woman's ovaries. Or it may cause menopausal symptoms in women who've not yet reached menopause. These symptoms include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings, and weight changes. Periods may become irregular or may stop, and you may not be able to get pregnant. For some women, the loss of a menstrual period is permanent:
If needed, talk with your doctor about birth control before treatment begins.
Talk with your doctor about ways to manage menopausal symptoms, such as using lubricants for vaginal dryness, doing mild exercise, and talking with a therapist about mood swings or signs of depression.
Report any unusual bleeding to your doctor.
Continue to get regular pelvic exams.
Mouth sores (mucositis)
Some types of chemotherapy may cause mouth sores. These may hurt and make eating an unpleasant experience.
Take these actions to prevent sores in your mouth:
Brush your teeth after meals and before bedtime. Check with your doctor about flossing.
Keep your mouth and lips clean and moist.
Use sugar-free candies or gums to increase moisture in your mouth.
Taking these actions can ease the pain if you get sores in your mouth:
Avoid alcohol and mouthwashes containing alcohol because they may irritate the sores.
Avoid hot, rough, or spicy foods because they may irritate the sores.
Avoid tobacco because it may irritate the sores. Smoking can also make you more susceptible to sores.
Ask your doctor about topical mouth medications.
Ask your doctor or nurse about taking over-the-counter pain medication, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen), if necessary.
Call your doctor or nurse if your temperature reaches 100.5° F (38° C) or higher.
Nausea or vomiting
Nausea or vomiting as a result of chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer may range from barely noticeable to severe. It may help you to understand the different types of nausea:
Acute-onset nausea and vomiting occurs within a few minutes to several hours after chemotherapy. The worst episodes tend to be five to six hours after treatment, and the symptoms end within the first 24 hours.
Delayed-onset vomiting develops more than 24 hours after treatment.
Anticipatory nausea and vomiting are learned from previous experiences with vomiting. As you prepare for the next dose of chemotherapy, you may anticipate that nausea and vomiting will occur as it did previously, which triggers the actual reflex.
Breakthrough vomiting occurs despite treatment to prevent it. It requires additional treatment.
Refractory vomiting occurs after one or more chemotherapy treatments--essentially, you're no longer responding to antinausea treatments.
Most nausea can be prevented. To prevent nausea, take these actions:
Ask your doctor about getting a prescription medicine to control nausea and vomiting. Then make sure you take it as directed. If you are vomiting and cannot take the medicine, call your doctor or nurse.
If you have bothersome nausea and vomiting even though you are taking your medicine, call your doctor or nurse. Your medicine can be changed.
To help ease nausea or vomiting if you have it, try these tips:
Try eating foods and drinking beverages that were easy to take or made you feel better when you had the flu or were nauseated from stress. These may be bland foods, sour candy, pickles, dry crackers, ginger ale, flat soda, or others.
Do not eat fatty or fried foods, very spicy foods, or very sweet foods.
Eat room-temperature or cold foods. The smells from hot foods may make your nausea worse.
Ask your doctor or nurse if he or she can help you learn a relaxation exercise. This may make you feel less anxious and more in control, and decrease your nausea.
Ask your doctor or nurse about using acupressure bands on your wrists, which may help decrease your nausea.
Neutropenia (low white blood cell levels)
Your doctor will take blood samples from you for blood tests throughout your treatment. One thing he or she is checking for is your white blood cell count. Many types of chemotherapy can cause low white blood cell counts, as can the cancer itself. Lowered white blood cell counts are called neutropenia. Without enough white blood cells, your body may not be able to fight infection.
If your doctor tells you that your white blood cell count is low, take these actions to stay healthy:
Avoid crowds or people with colds.
Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer throughout the day to kill germs.
Call your doctor right away if you have any of these signs of infection: a temperature of 100.5° F (38° C) or higher, severe chills, a cough, pain, a burning sensation during urination, or any sores or redness.
Numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness in your hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy)
If you have numbness, tingling, or weakness in your hands and feet, you may have nerve damage called peripheral neuropathy. This can be a side effect of chemotherapy or immunotherapy or from the cancer itself. Other signs of this problem are ringing in your ears or trouble feeling hot or cold. If you have symptoms such as these, your doctor may adjust your dose. Or your doctor may prescribe medicine or some vitamins. You should also take these precautions to protect yourself:
Take extra care walking and moving so that you don't fall. Wear only well-fitting shoes.
Use warm, not hot, water for bathing to prevent burns. Consider using a shower chair or railing to improve your stability.
If your daily activities become too difficult, ask your doctor for a referral to an occupational therapist or a physical therapist. He or she can help teach you new ways of doing things so that you can stay as active as possible.
Take extra care when driving (you may have trouble feeling the gas and brake pedals). Ask friends and family to drive you places.
Thinking and remembering problems
You may have mild problems with concentration and memory during and after chemotherapy. Being tired can make this worse.
Taking these actions may help:
Make lists and write down important information.
Use other tools to help organize your life, such as calendars, pill dispensers, or alarm clocks.
Vision problems
You may experience blurry vision or have trouble focusing on small or light print. This may be a result of treatment with steroids, such as dexamethasone and prednisone. Taking these actions may help you cope:
Wear corrective lenses (such as glasses or contacts) when you're out and about.
Rest your eyes if they become tired.
Use a magnifying glass for reading or buy large-print books to prevent eyestrain.
Use the appropriate amount of light when you are at home.
Remove throw rugs and other low-lying objects in your home to prevent falls.
Weight gain
Weight gain may be a sign of damage to your thyroid, which can be a side effect of immunotherapy or from the high-dose chemotherapy or radiation you get before a stem cell or bone marrow transplant. Take these actions to help manage your weight:
Increase the amount of your daily exercise. Strive to be active every day.
Eat a balanced, low-calorie diet.
Increase the amount of fruits and vegetables you eat. And drink more water. These can help fill you up — and are good for you — without adding a lot of calories.


text:
Rated 1 out of 5 by 1 reviewer.
Rated 1 out of 5 by riverwalk If I could give zero stars, I would... I am 70 and can put together all items. This was awful to put together. It looks like it will be strong but leans over to fall when clothes put on it. I got it for warm jackets and dress jackets. The plastic items that are to snap around the poles to hold the racks up from the bars snap apart and fall to the floor. They are useless. Katrina took my two racks I had for years that snapped together and apart and never needed screwing together. This was a terrible item. And I moved and had no room except to take out of the box outside. The box is gone. I must go to another parish and see if they can box it for me. Otherwise, since it was an online order I can't get a refund and it isn't cheap. Cheaply constructed, however. December 26, 2011
1-1 of 1


text:
Heated unfinished gun parts in oven at 200 temp for 30 min.
Degrease then blasted with aluminum oxide then degrease again, heated to aprox. 100 degrees and sprayed light coat with Aluma Hyde II Park Gray, dried with hair dryer for about 30-40 seconds between 3 coats.
Hung to dry for about two hours, then cured in oven on 250 for 3 hours, let cool in oven.
Removed parts wiped with 3in 1 oil and assembled.


text:
Hirschsprung's (HIRSH-sproongz) disease is a condition that affects the large intestine (colon) and causes problems with passing stool. Hirschsprung's disease is present when a baby is born (congenital) and results from missing nerve cells in the muscles of part or all of the baby's colon.
A newborn who has Hirschsprung's disease is usually unable to have a bowel movement in the first days after birth. In mild cases, the condition might not be detected until later in childhood.
Hirschsprung's disease is treated with surgery to bypass or remove the diseased part of the colon.
Signs and symptoms of Hirschsprung's disease vary with the severity of the condition. Usually signs and symptoms appear shortly after birth, but sometimes they're not apparent until later in life.
Typically, the most obvious sign of Hirschsprung's disease is a newborn's failure to have a bowel movement within 48 hours after birth.
Other signs and symptoms in newborns may include:
In older children, signs and symptoms can include:
It's not clear what causes Hirschsprung's disease. It sometimes occurs in families and may in some cases be associated with a genetic mutation.
Hirschsprung's disease occurs when nerve cells in the colon don't form completely. Nerve cells are critical to the functioning of the colon. They control the regular muscle contractions that keep food moving through the bowels.
As a baby develops before birth, bundles of nerve cells (ganglia) normally begin to form between the muscle layers along the length of the colon. This process begins at the top of the colon and ends at the bottom (rectum). In children who have Hirschsprung's disease, the nerve-growing process fails to finish. Most commonly, ganglia fail to form (aganglia) in the last segment of the colon — the rectum and the sigmoid colon. Sometimes aganglia affects the entire colon and even part of the small intestine.
Children who have Hirschsprung's disease are prone to a serious infection of the intestines called enterocolitis.
Enterocolitis is caused by stool backing up behind the immobile section of colon. The stagnant mass of stool provides a fertile environment for bacteria to grow. As the stool mass expands, it presses on the blood vessels in the walls of the colon. Decreased blood flow can lead to a breakdown of the lining of the colon (mucosa), making it susceptible to infection.
Enterocolitis can be a life-threatening complication. It's treated in the hospital with colon cleaning and antibiotics.
Factors that may increase the risk of Hirschsprung's disease include:
Hirschsprung's disease is often diagnosed in the hospital shortly after birth. Signs of the disease can also show up later. If your child has signs or symptoms that worry you, particularly constipation and a swollen abdomen, consult the doctor. You may be referred to a digestive disorders specialist (gastroenterologist) or to the emergency department if your child's symptoms are severe.
Here's some information to help you get ready, and what to expect from the doctor.
Don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.
Be ready to answer questions the doctor may ask:
Your child's doctor may recommend one or more of the following tests to diagnose or rule out Hirschsprung's disease:
Hirschsprung's disease is treated with surgery to bypass the part of the colon that has no nerve (ganglia) cells. The lining of the diseased part of the colon is stripped away, and normal colon is pulled through the colon from the inside and attached to the anus. This is usually done using minimally invasive (laparoscopic) methods, operating through the anus.
In children who are very ill, surgery may be done in two steps.
First, the abnormal portion of the colon is removed and the top, healthy portion of the colon is connected to a small hole (ostomy) the surgeon creates in the child's abdomen. Stool then leaves the body through the ostomy into a bag that attaches to the end of the intestine that protrudes through the hole in the abdomen. This allows time for the lower part of the colon to heal.
Ostomy procedures include:
Later, the doctor closes the ostomy and connects the healthy portion of the intestine to the rectum or anus.
In a small percentage of children, the entire colon and sometimes a part of the small intestine lacks nerves. The usual treatment in this case is to remove the colon and connect remaining healthy bowel to the anus.
Toilet training may take longer because children have to learn how to coordinate the muscles used to pass stool. Long term, it's possible to have continued constipation, swollen belly and leaking of stool (soiling).
Children continue to be at risk of developing bowel infection (enterocolitis) after surgery, especially in the first year. Be aware of signs and symptoms of enterocolitis, and call the doctor immediately if any of these occur:
Children may experience constipation after surgery to correct Hirschsprung's disease. To help manage constipation:
Original article: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hirschsprungs-disease/basics/causes/CON-20027602
Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below.
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission. Mayo Clinic does not endorse any of the third party products and services advertised.
A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.


text:
Rated 4.8 out of 5 by 5 reviewers.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Val84 Multi-purpose mugs These mugs are beautiful, with the pop colors and the patterns. And of course, great for drinking tea too. Also, can be used as regular mugs without the infuser attachments. February 22, 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by sylviaflores Beautiful Set! I love these teacups with infuser - you DO you have to use a towel to remove the infuser so as not to burn off your fingerprints, unless of course you are a secret agent and wish to have that occur. I am not, so, towel... The color of yellow and red really POP. The artwork is beautiful and without the infuser, they are beautiful for coffee as well. January 27, 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by PennyAllyn Love Them! I love these tea mugs and wish I'd ordered more. The colors are so pretty and my husband is enjoying drinking his tea in them. January 10, 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by ofl53 Beautiful cups Beautiful cups-more than what I expected for the low price I paid- One cup insert was broken on arrival and I contacted customer service and they took care of the problem the same day-Very happy with out come and how I was treated. September 28, 2013
Rated 4 out of 5 by LaJoie Fun tea cups I like brewing loose tea in these cute mugs, but the smaller pieces of the tea leaves do slip through the holes into the bottom of the cup. I enjoy the ritual of making tea in these cups, and I especially appreciate that when it's brewed, you can take off the tops, flip them upside down, and they balance perfectly with the part with the tea in it on top. It's really quite clever. Fun! March 28, 2014
1-5 of 5


text:
Enter your voucher code here. The value will be automatically deducted from the total price. Only one voucher can be redeemed per booking.
Do you have any questions regarding your Austrian Airlines flight? You have come to the right place. Our booking and information specialists are looking forward to helping you.
If one or more items of baggage cannot be found on arrival or are damaged, please contact the Austrian Airlines Arrival Services/Lost&Found or the local representative at your Arrival Airport immediately.
+43 5 1766 1061
Mon-Sun: 07:00-19:00 (lct Austria)
+45 70 11 30 00
Mon-Fri: 08:00-18:30
Aviator Ticket Counter
for information about delayed baggage call +45 3247 4725 (Mon-Sun: 8:00-16:00)
+43 5 1766 51002
Mon-Thu: 9:00-16.30
Fri: 08:00-15:00
Please check your input.
Behind the scenes


text:
North Texans Want Their Drinks
North Texans went to the polls with drinking on their minds. Read more »
Obama Photo Most Retweeted Ever
President Barack Obama's Election Night photo was just one of many memorable reactions on the social networks. Read more »
Voters Question "I Voted" Sticker Shortage
One Frisco man is asking questions, after he says his Collin County polling location denied him an "I... Watch »
Local Polling Place Problems
Some voters reported problems at North Texas polling locations from Dallas to Fort Worth on Election Day. Watch »
Decision 2012: Local Voting Under Way
It's Decision 2012 here in North Texas. The polls opened at 7 a.m. Workers arrived Tuesday morning an hour before... Watch »
Where To Vote On Election Day
It's Election Day, and if you did not participate in early voting, you will now need to go to an assigned precinct... Read more »
Election to Determine Direction of Education Board
Who fills the spots on the Texas Board of Education could play a major role in what science textbooks the panel... Read more »
Appeals Judge Fights to Keep Job
A judge nicknamed "Killer Keller" by death penalty opponents is fighting to remain the Texas Court of... Read more »
New Poll Shows "Sandy Effect" on Election
Final NBC poll shows the effect Hurricane Sandy has had on the election. Watch »
Crunch Time for Candidates in State Senate Race
Both candidates had a busy Sunday campaigning and making public appearances at area events. Watch »
Early Voting Comes to An End
Early voting concluded Friday in Texas. In Tarrant County, early voter numbers are down about 12 percent from four... Watch »
Last Day for Early Voting Across Texas
Texans have one last day to vote early for next Tuesday's general election. Read more »
Final Brown-Warren Debate Scrapped in Massachusetts
Plans to reschedule a fourth and final debate between Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown and Democratic challenger... Read more »
Gingrich Raising Cash, Profile for Akin Senate Bid
Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin got the backing of former presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich Tuesday to help... Read more »
Bill Clinton, Joe Biden Fire Up Ohio Crowd
They are old friends and sometime political rivals, each a gregarious, backslapping politician and legendary — some... Read more »
Five Things to Watch When the Presidential Campaigns Restart
Superstorm Sandy brought the race for the White House to a brief halt, as President Barack Obama and Republican... Read more »
Obama: Take Sandy Seriously
President warns country to be cautious during huge storm. Read more »
Des Moines Register Endorses Romney
For the first time in four decades, Iowa's influential newspaper endorsed a Republican candidate for president as... Read more »
Sen. Rubio's Daughter Home Recuperating After Accident
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio's 12-year-old daughter Amanda was released from the hospital Sunday night, a day after she... Read more »
GOP Pounces on Biden Flub in Virginia
Vice President Joe Biden drew criticism from GOP opposition on Saturday when he referred to Democratic Virginia... Read more »


text:
An analysis of a rock sample collected by NASA's Curiosity rover shows ancient Mars could have supported living microbes.
Scientists identified sulfur, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and carbon -- some of the key chemical ingredients for life -- in the powder Curiosity drilled out of a sedimentary rock near an ancient stream bed in Gale Crater on the Red Planet last month.
"A fundamental question for this mission is whether Mars could have supported a habitable environment," said Michael Meyer, lead scientist for NASA's Mars Exploration Program at the agency's headquarters in Washington. "From what we know now, the answer is yes."
View the archived NASA news conference here:
Check out the latest in the Mars in a Minute series, "Why is Curiosity Searching for Organics?"


text:
Police: Investigators interviewed missing boater, seek tips from public
Published: Friday, March 8, 2013 at 10:52 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, March 8, 2013 at 10:57 p.m.
The boater whose disappearance sparked a multiday search in the waters near New Smyrna Beach called the city's Police Department earlier this week, then showed up for an interview by investigators, officials said.
On Monday, Enrique Hernandez called police and then agreed to be questioned by New Smyrna Beach and U.S. Coast Guard investigators about where he had been, according to a statement released Friday morning by detective Sgt. Eugene Griffith, of the Police Department.
"Based on the statements provided by Mr. Hernandez and his family, new investigational leads were developed and our multi-jurisdictional investigation continues. Mr. Hernandez's boat has not been recovered," Griffith's statement said.
Hernandez had no comment for members of the media who waited outside the police station Friday. While walking south on U.S. 1, Hernandez said he had no comment even if someone could speak with him in Spanish. He was last seen walking west on Canal Street.
Police are also asking for help from the public in the case. Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator Mike Covey, 386-424-2223 or email@example.com; or contact Crime Stoppers at 888-277-8477 (TIPS). Tipsters can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.
Hernandez, 49, of Apopka, was last seen leaving his home on Feb. 6. He planned to go to New Smyrna Beach to try out a boat he had recently purchased, police have said.
His sport utility vehicle and the boat's trailer were found late that evening at the city's North Causeway boat ramps and sparked a six-day search of the ocean and Intracoastal Waterway that covered an area the size of Maryland, officials said.
All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


text:
Want to discuss religion/beliefs? You have come to the right forum!
This forum is set up for the use of the believer and non-believer alike, as well as doubters and searchers. The main topic is God and religion (Christianity, Jesus and the Bible, plus any other Gods Prophets, or Myths), but is not limited to that. You may also discuss philosophy, morality, mythology, pagan religions, science (Theory of Evolution and the Big Bang Theory), astrology, cults, and the supernatural.
This forum is for discussion and/or debate, as well as posting information. Debates can/may/should be aggressive and confrontational, but personal attacks (bickering, in fighting, taunting and/or name-calling) will not be allowed. You may challenge philosophies and beliefs, but aggressiveness should be subject related not personality related. Within these limits there will be NO CENSORSHIP, you may say what you please.
The moderator has a liberal attitude towards the posters. He will try to stay out of personal disputes, confrontations and off color language. If it becomes necessary, the moderator will give one or two warnings, then a one-day ban, followed by a one-week ban and finally a permanent ban. This is not a per poster set of actions but a per incident set of actions.
Foul language and nude photos will be deleted.
Go to page:


text:
VoxPop Wants to Know:
Did Your Lender "Let it Slide?"
Mortgage rates rose a lot in the summer, before peaking in early September. Since then, rates have slipped back about a half of a percentage point.
Were you one of the unfortunate people who locked in your interest rate at, or near, that high point? Maybe you were nervous that rates would trend higher, or at least not get any better, so you locked your rate. Now, of course, you might be wondering if you did the right thing...
If you have locked in a rate -- but not yet closed your loan -- VoxPop wants to know whether you have asked your lender to provide you with a lower rate, or whether your lender took the initiative and volunteered to give you a better deal. (Yes, it happens.) As always, our privacy policy applies.
Thanks for your input. Watch for tallies in the coming weeks. If you'd like to add some additional comments on this issue, please use our feedback form.
See a list of previous VoxPop questions.


text:
Joined IHG® Rewards Club at a Hotel?
Joining is easy and free
Earn points at over 4,700 hotels
Redeem points for free rooms and more
Contact your local IHG® Rewards Club Customer Care to source your PIN and to update your profile with your email address. When you receive your PIN you can also update your email address via www.ihg.com/updateemail.
Reward Nights
When redeeming points for a Reward Night, you may only book one room at a time.
Once you complete your Reward Night reservation you will be given the option to duplicate this reservation.
* Requires affiliation in the respective organization.
** Best Available Rate Search does not include affiliation rates.
To book more than 9 rooms for one stay or request a quote, please use our Easy Meetings tool, call 1-800-MEETING (in United States, Mexico and Canada) or contact a Global Sales Office.
Near the junction of Interstate 95, Wilbur Cross Parkway and Rtes 8/25, the Holiday Inn® Bridgeport - Trumbull - Fairfield hotel is a classy high-rise with a comfortable atmosphere. With easy access to Fairfield, Trumbull, Shelton and Stratford, our Fairfield County's Gold Coast location means you're near everything.
Aquarion, General Electric, Sikorsky Aircraft, Connecticut Post, Unilever, Siemens, PS and G and RC Bigelow are within minutes of our hotel's address in Bridgeport
View More
Aquarion, General Electric, Sikorsky Aircraft, Connecticut Post, Unilever, Siemens, PS and G and RC Bigelow are within minutes of our hotel's address in Bridgeport CT. Location isn't the only perk we offer; there's Free Wired and Wi-Fi Internet access. An elegant Harbor Ballroom and seven meeting rooms are perfect for weddings, seminars, receptions or banquets. The full-service Park City Grill and Martini Lounge are ideal for enticing clients with a delicious dinner or tasty snacks.
Guests staying in Bridgeport appreciate a hotel that's minutes from great activities and attractions. You can see a concert at the Arena at Harbor Yard, a Bridgeport Bluefish Baseball game or visit Beardsley Zoo and the Barnum Museum. Take time to tour University of Bridgeport, Fairfield University, Sacred Heart University and Housatonic College. Don't miss Bass Pro Shops or the 325-acre Seaside Park!
Our hotel's the best in Bridgeport, CT because of our first-class service and amenities. There's a Fitness Center and Indoor Pool too. Our Bridgeport hotel is ready to welcome you today.


text:
Student Home
Employee Home
Star Alert
College Closings
Emergency Phones
Environmental Safety
Environmental News
Escort Service
Pandemic Planning
Pandemic Faqs Emergency Declaration
Pandemic Faqs General
Pandemic Faqs Insurance
Pandemic Faqs Prevention
Safety Alerts
Safety Tips
Transportation Services
ARCC submitted our MS4 Annual Report for 2009 to the MPCA. The report is required by the MS4 permit on an annual basis to provide a summary status of part VI of the permit indicating control of run offs, wash outs and other requirements as indicated in the 6/16/08 update below. ARCC did not experience any major discrepancies with permit requirements in 2009.
Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan Public Meeting
Continuing monthly inspections of the Coon Rapids campus and our requirements to comply with the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan and the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit recently indicated that we needed to perform some preventative repair on two of our outlets into the Mississippi River. The culverts and rip rap have deteriorated, bushes and trees have started to become over grown in the drain area and the shore line was showing indications of wash out. As a result a local environmental contractor has rebuilt one area south west of the Riverview Plaza and plans are underway to address another outlet just to the NW of this location. If the efforts of the new Fine Arts area progress rapidly, this outlet will be repaired at that time. If the progress appears to be slow, then repairs will be made before the Fine Arts area construction commences. Anoka-Ramsey Community College will continue to be environmentally friendly and keep the discharges to Waters of the State within the parameters of our permit.
Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan Public Meeting
A public meeting was held on 5/12/08 in room SC123 on the Coon Rapids campus and was open to anyone who desired information or an explanation of the SWPPP and also to participate in an informal discussion regarding ARCC's Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan. This plan applies only to the Coon Rapids campus.
Responsible Lawn Fertilization Tip Sheet
A purchase agreement has been processed with Minnesota Native Landscapes, Inc., to repair a spillway on the south side of the Coon Rapids Campus. MNL will be installing geo-textile fabric to widen the spillway and repair textile damage to the outlet. MNL will add rip rap to the area that has been washed away. The work will be complete by the end of February, 2008. This effort is in accordance with our Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan and our National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit from the MPCA.
In accordance with Minn. R. 7001.0140, the Commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has made a final determination to issue coverage under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System/State Disposal System (NPDES/SDS) Permit MNR040000 for Municipal Separate Storm Water Sewer Systems (MS4 General Permit) to Anoka Ramsey Community College, effective November 8, 2007 with an expiration date of May 31, 2011. The MPCA's final decision to issue permit coverage is based on the following:
The MPCA has finished its technical review of our Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit (MS4) and the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP). This provides the ARCC Coon Rapids campus coverage under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit # MNR040000. Based on the technical review, it has been determined that the SWPPP meets or exceeds the minimum permit requirements and it is ready for public notice. The public comment period commenced September 27th and will end October 29th. The Commissioner's final determination on permit coverage will occur subsequent to review of any comments, requests or petitions, received before the end date of the comment period. ARCC expects full approval of the permit application no later than November, 2007.
As requested by the MPCA, a revised Best Management Practice was prepared and submitted by the college's environmental consultant on August 15, 2007. ARCC anticipates approval of this document along with the NPDES permit and Storm Water Pollution Plan by the end of September, 2007.
SWPPP Inspections
Anoka-Ramsey Community College initiated their Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan inspections in November of 2006. These inspections were performed monthly by Wenck Associates. Beginning April of 2007, inspections will be performed bi-monthly and will include a campus wide check of illicit discharges, exposed storage areas, pond storage capacity, outlet structures clear of debris, erosion concerns, stormwater runoff, vegetation, outfalls and wetland conditions, etc. Records including, satisfactory/ unsatisfactory conditions are noted and comments/repairs needed documented. ARCC has had satisfactory results since program inception. The annual SWPPP meeting was held April 17, 2007 with no comments or inquiries received. The NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permit is due to be approved by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency in June of 2007. ARCC continues to work with the City of Coon rapids and the Six Cities Watershed Management Organization to minimize the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent possible.
Open to anyone who would like an informal explanation of the program and participate in an informal discussion regarding Anoka-Ramsey Community College's Storm Water Pollution Plan.


text:
Station 21419 - KURIL ISLANDS - 209NM SE of Kuril Is.
Owned and maintained by National Data Buoy Center
Available historical data for station 21419 include:
Other Available Historical DataLong-term archive of recovered DART data are available at the NOAA's National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazard/DARTData.shtml
Some data files have been compressed with the GNU gzip routine. If you do not have gzip, you may retrieve gzip sources and executables from this server.


text:
"I'll go," said Chagataev. "But what will I do there? Build socialism?"
"What else?" said the secretary.
Sorry about that God.
I'm so sorry. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is worse than burned nachos. You think you're going to get the delicious melted cheese and nacho chips in your mouth... and then it all flops.
That's nothing, my oatmeal blew up. And I was forced to clean the whole kitchen for it. ;-;
Pairs: MPT, Panda Rocker, MEX, SuikunMyuu, Zapdos, CL, Link, Revan, DSX, Kelsh, and Goku!
I made tomato soup today and some of it spilled over onto the stove, but my mom cleaned it up for me
pretty sure it dosnt
hey why are you home
do you have a snow day too?
i spent all morning playing LEGEND OF ZELDA TWILIGHT PRINCESS on my gamecube
The Pikatwo Diaries ...
Ultimate Destiny: Ninetales 009 Adventures - an original and exciting Pokemon fan fiction, updated whenever-
sasuke72uchiha im not even going to begin to describe how little sense that post makes both grammatically and theoretically. thats just not possible.


text:
While waiting for Sheffield to finish and release On the Historicity of Jesus (the book everyone is waiting for, presently projected for late March or early April), I decided to produce my own anthology of all my published papers on history. That volume, Hitler Homer Bible Christ: The Historical Papers of Richard Carrier 1995-2013, is now available, in print and kindle.
The publication description reads as follows (emphasis added):
Richard Carrier, Ph.D., philosopher, historian, blogger, has published a number of papers in the field of ancient history and biblical studies. He has also written several books and chapters on diverse subjects, and has been blogging and speaking since 2006. He is known the world over for all the above. But here, together for the first time, are all of Dr. Carrier's peer reviewed academic journal articles in history through the year 2013, collected with his best magazine articles, research papers and blog posts on the same subjects. Many have been uniquely revised for this publication. Others are inaccessible except through libraries or paywalls. Twenty chapters include his seminal papers on the scandal of Hitler's Table Talk, the Jerry Vardaman microletter farce, and the testimonies to Christ in Josephus, Tacitus, and Thallus, as well as Carrier's journalistic foray into ancient pyramid quackery, his work on the historical & textual errancy of the bible, and more.
The biggest attraction will be the fact that my peer reviewed paper showing that the reference to Christ in Tacitus is an interpolation, which is slated to appear in the academic journal Vigiliae Christianae later this year, is included in this volume, as well as my two other peer reviewed, academically published papers on the historicity question, the one on Thallus not having mentioned Jesus, and the other on the two references to Jesus in Josephus being interpolations (the one deliberate, the other accidental), published in the Journal of Greco-Roman Christianity and Judaism and the Journal of Early Christian Studies, respectively.
Also included is my brief but now hard-to-find article for The History Teacher published years ago, and all the articles I published in The Skeptical Inquirer (on the FOX special promoting pyramidiocy, and the two articles on the Jerry Vardaman microletters debacle), and most interestingly for some, my game-changing, peer-reviewed article in the academic journal German Studies Review, exposing the dubious nature of the still-only English translation of Hitler's Table Talk, largely bogus quotes from which make Hitler look more atheistic than he was. Of particular value to anyone who keeps seeing those quotes repeated and wants ready access to the definitive take-down. I have also included a new afterword on the impact that paper had on Hitler studies, and expanding the analysis to include all the passages you'll find cited from the Table Talk (and even some quotations elsewhere) to argue Hitler was godless.
All of the above are hard to find or get. I only have the rights to publish them in an anthology of my own works. So I did.
I have also included several online articles, from my blog and elsewhere, many revised for this volume, to produce a handy collection of my best and most useful work in the field of history. The table of contents reads as follows:
— Doing History —
1 :: The Function of the Historian in Society
2 :: History Before 1950
3 :: Experimental History
— History Done —
5 :: Heroic Values in Classical Literary Depictions of the Soul: Heroes and Ghosts in Virgil, Homer, and Tso Ch'iu-ming
6 :: Herod the Procurator and Christian Apologetics
7 :: Herod the Procurator: Was Herod the Great a Roman Governor of Syria?
8 :: On the Dual Office of Procurator and Prefect
— Debunking the Bogus —
9 :: Flash! Fox News Reports that Aliens May Have Built the Pyramids of Egypt!
10 :: Pseudohistory in Jerry Vardaman's Magic Coins: The Nonsense of Micrographic Letters
11 :: More on Vardaman's Microletters
12 :: Hitler's Table Talk: Troubling Finds
— The Vexed Bible —
13 :: Ignatian Vexation
14 :: Pauline Interpolations
15 :: Luke vs. Matthew on the Year of Christ's Birth
16 :: Mark 16:9-20 as Forgery or Fabrication
— The Troublesome Evidence for Jesus —
17 :: The Nazareth Inscription
18 :: Thallus and the Darkness at Christ's Death
19 :: Origen, Eusebius, and the Accidental Interpolation in Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 20.200
20 :: The Prospect of a Christian Interpolation in Tacitus, Annals 15.44
In all, Hitler Homer clocks in at 395 pages.
I already have a contract to produce an audio version of Hitler Homer. Recording will likely begin in a month or so. The audiobook will thus be available probably mid-year. (Meanwhile, I spent most of last week in the studio finishing the recording of Proving History, which you can expect to be released on audio in just a few months. Sheffield wants to do an audio edition of On the Historicity of Jesus but so far hasn't discussed arrangements with me, so alas, I have no idea when that will be available.)


text:
Track and Field Set to Compete at Carthage Invite and ONU Quad
Jan. 30, 2014
CHICAGO, Ill. – The men's and women's track and field teams will travel to Kenosha, Wis., Friday, Jan. 31, to take part in the Carthage Invite which is set to start at 3:30 p.m. CT. The teams will then head to Bourbonnais, Ill., to participate in the Olivet Nazarene University Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 1.
The last time the Flames participated at the Carthage Invite, the women's team took home third-place and the men snagged second-place overall.
Rebecca Zaiter broke a school record in the 1,000-meter run finishing with a time of 3:02.37. Fellow teammate Tess Ehrhardt secured first-place in the one-mile run with a time of 5:16.71.
Senior Mariya Denisenko also had an outstanding performance as she set a school record in the long jump leaping a distance of 56.69 meters.
On the men's side, Sophomore Michael Stukpa contributed to the men's second-place finish when he took home top honors in the 400-meter dash crossing the finish line in 50.85 seconds.
Saturday will be the first time the Flames compete in the Olivet Nazarene University Invitational.
With more time to practice during the extra week off from competition, the Flames faced some adversity this week when the temperatures fell below zero in Chicago.
"It's been especially tough on the distance runners because they've been outside when it's above 10 degrees but there haven't been many of those days," said head coach Jim Knoedel. "So they've been forced to do a lot of their mileage on the treadmill."
Although the freezing temperatures may be a negative to some, coach Knoedel and his teams have stayed optimistic as they look forward to back-to-back competitions this weekend.
"Most of the athletes didn't have access to do the technique work over break so this extra week has given us a chance to put in the additional work needed," said Knoedel. "I think we'll see improvements in all the field events as a result."
Be sure to check back to UICFlames.com for results and recap of the UIC's track & field team's performances at the Carthage Invite and ONU Quad.


text:
No one should be left out in the cold. Despite recent reductions in some energy prices, many people still need help to get through the cold season.
The City of Boston is here to help you find out where you can turn for fuel assistance. Please see this list of Frequently Asked Questions for information about discounted utility rates, city and state programs, home improvement services, and other forms of assistance.
Residents can always call 311, 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week.


text:
Pictured in Winter White/ Light Brown*.
Click here to return to lifestyle photo.
A newer version of the Flash Player is required to enable the zoom feature.
Click here to get the current version.
Port Authority® Silk Touch Polo with Stripe Trim. K501
The stripe trim on the collar and cuff adds a distinctive touch to our soft, supple pique that's easy to care for, wrinkle-resistant and shrink-resistant.
Adult Sizes: XS-4XL
Price starts at: $21.98
For detailed PRICING, please select "Add to
" to view the ordering/pricing grid.


text:
Every Zoo, Park, or Sanctuary curator faces the same problem, "What animals should we exhibit?"
The Canberra Reptile Sanctuary has the same issue, however, we have thought long and hard to answer the question and maximise the experience for every visitor.
Instead of being a 'Post Stamp' collection of reptiles and amphibians, every exhibit and every animal on display has its own Research, Conservation, or Education story to tell. The stories aren't just about Australian Reptiles and Amphibians, Exotic species and invasive species also form a part of the Sanctuary exhibits.


text:
Loading ...
Know your model number? Use our Parts Lookup »
Customer Support:
Mon - Fri: 9am - 6pm ET
Sat: 9am - 5pm ET
Sun: 11am - 5pm ET
If you need a replacement commercial Hustler Idler, such as a flat idler, Jack's has them! We can help get your commercial Hustler outdoor power equipment repair project started. We've been selling lawn mower parts and small engine parts online since 1997, so when you need quality replacement commercial Gravely idlers, just come to Jack's!
Subscribe to our email newsletter to receive promotions, helpful DIY articles, and special offers.
Copyright © 1994 - 2016
Jacks Small Engines
& Generator Service, LLC


text:
Raymond Vincent Buivid
Position: B
Height: 6-1 Weight: 195 lbs.
Throws: Right
Born: August 15, 1915 in Sheboygan, WI
Died: July 5, 1972 in Cherry Hill, NJ
High School: Port Washington
College: Marquette (school history) (Buivid college stats)
Drafted by the Chicago Cardinals in the 1st round (3rd overall) of the 1937 NFL Draft.
Weighted Career AV (100-95-...): 0 (15060th overall since 1950)


text:
|Five women earn USTFCCCA All-Academic
NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association honored five University of Idaho women's track and field athletes as Division I All-Academic selections on Tuesday.
Seniors K.C. Dahlgren, Christie Gordon, Ulrike Hartz, Allix Lee-Painter and sophomore Gabby Midles were among the record total of 551 women honored with the award in 2010, which goes to student-athletes who have a 3.25 cumulative grade point average and meet either the NCAA indoor provisional or automatic qualifying standard or qualify for the NCAA Preliminary Round outdoors.
Dahlgren and Gordon have the impressive distinction of being four-time honorees, while Lee-Painter and Midles earned the honor for a second time and Hartz earned the award in her first season as a Vandal.
Dahlgren is a three-time Western Athletic Conference champion, a 2009 USTFCCCA Indoor All-American, a seven-time all-WAC honoree and a three-time NCAA Regional qualifier and a 2010 NCAA Provisional Round qualifier. She did so while earning her degree in Sport Science with a 3.64 GPA.
Gordon is a five-time first-team all-WAC honoree, a 2010 NCAA Preliminary Round qualifier and a three-time NCAA Regional qualifier. She finished her career ranked second all-time at Idaho in the 60m hurdles and 100m hurdles. She graduated in May with a degree in Sport Science and a 3.49 GPA.
Hartz won three WAC titles in 2010, broke the school record in the javelin, qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the heptathlon with the nation's sixth-best score and earned WAC Outdoor Field Performer of the Year honors. She earned a 3.75 GPA while pursuing a graduate degree in Recreation.
Lee-Painter had one the of the all-time great seasons for an Idaho student-athlete. She won the 3000m steeplechase, 5000m and 10,000m at the WAC Outdoor Championships to bring her career total to five conference crowns, and in doing so, became the first in WAC history and third in NCAA history to achieve the feat. She was a three-time WAC Athlete of the Year - once each in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. In July, she was honored as the WAC's Stan Bates Award winner, which is given annually the conference's top male and female scholar-athlete. She graduated in May with a 3.86 GPA in English and Secondary Education.
Midles made history for Idaho in 2010 as the first Vandal woman to qualify for the NCAA Championships in the hammer throw, where she finished 16th. She was the WAC champion in the hammer throw outdoors and the runner-up in the weight throw indoors. She broke the school record in the hammer at the WAC Championships with a toss of 193-4. She is an Art major with a 3.26 cumulative GPA.
Idaho accounted for five of the 10 student-athletes representing the WAC on the list. Idaho women's track and field athletes have been honored with 17 USTFCCCA individual All-Academic honors since 2007. The men's USTFCCCA All-Academic honorees will be announced Thursday.


text:
In his first season at the collegiate level, Eddie Vanderdoes made seven starts. His 11 tackles in the game at Stanford were the most by a Bruin defensive lineman since 1992 and his season total of 39 tackles were the third-most ever by a Bruin freshman lineman. The Placer High School product was named to two premier Freshman All-America teams and was an honorable mention All-Pac-12 selection by the coaches.
In his first year out of Los Alamitos High School, Alex Redmond came on to start all 13 games at offensive guard for the Bruins, matching the school record for most starts in a season by a true freshman position player. He received first-team Freshman All-America accolades from four publications and honorable mention all-conference honors from the Pac-12 coaches.
Just a year removed from Washington's Bellevue High School, Myles Jack burst onto the collegiate scene in 2013, earning consensus Freshman All-America honors. He was also named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year on both offense and defense, emerging as one of the most dynamic players in the nation.
UCLA Football Signing Day Celebration
The UCLA Athletic Department and Wooden Athletic Fund invite you to join UCLA Head Football Coach Jim Mora, his coaching staff and the UCLA Football team to celebrate the 2014 Signing Class on Wednesday, February 5th at Pauley Pavilion. An exclusive giveaway will be provided to the first 1,000 in attendance.
Last season, UCLA had six Freshman All-Americans with three in particular topping nearly every media outlet's list: Myles Jack (the first-ever Pac-12 Offensive & Defensive Freshman of the Year), Alex Redmond and Eddie Vanderdoes. With doors opening at 6:45 pm for a reception and player autograph session on the Pauley Pavilion concourse, find out ... Who's Next live and in person!
Beginning at 7:30 pm, you will hear first-hand about this year's recruiting class from each of the UCLA Football coaches and watch exclusive highlights of the 2014 class on the Pauley Pavilion scoreboard. Join the UCLA Band and Spirit Squad, meet the team, enjoy the festivities and be among the first to find out ... Who's Next!
Save The Date
Wed., Feb. 5, 6:45 pm, Pauley Pavilion
This event is free, kid friendly and open to the public.* No RSVP required.
* Due to NCAA restrictions, high school aged students will not be allowed entry to this event.
Call 310-206-3302 for more information.


text:
I have just researched and attempted to install ClamAV as an antivirus program on my Ubuntu install using these two articles:
These pages seem to indicate that Clam AV ships with Ubuntu 12.04. I was sent to the Ubuntu button by ALT-F2 and then searched and found software sources. I was told that changing these settings installed Clam AV.
All that was done but I can't find an Icon or some other way of working with the program and doing scans, updating or doing scans as I do in Norton. How do I know it has loaded and is working?


text:
It's almost Leap Day, and the list of Feb. 29 travel deals keep growing.
In Orlando, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel offers a "Leap Into Summer" sale Feb. 29. Book a two-night stay in a deluxe alcove room for $366 for stays between Aug.1 and Sept. 30. That's more than 50 percent off standard rates. Each deluxe alcove has scenic views and is larger than a standard guest room. It features a distinct alcove that can be used for dining and work.
To book on Feb. 29 starting 12:01 a.m., visit www.swandolphin.com/offers or call 1-800-227-1500 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Mention Leap Year. The offer is subject to availability. Taxes, resort services fee and tips not included.
In New York City, the Z New York Hotel is offering a deal for people born on Feb. 29. Leap Year babies stay free Feb. 29 and receive a second night's stay for $229, with a bottle of pink champagne. They also can buy dinner for two at Diner 247 for $29. For information, visit zhotelny.com or call 877-256-5556 and mention LEAP. The deal requires a minimum two-night stay, and guests must show proof upon check-in that they are born Feb. 29.
Meanwhile, the hotel chain Red Roof is showing its support for the American Heart Association during American Heart Month by donating $1 for every stay booked on Feb. 29. For more information, visit www.redroof.com/red-hot-deals/leap-day-donation-for-american-heart-health-month.
For our recent article on Leap Year deals, click here.
For a recent blog posts on Leap Year deals, click here.


text:
- Color: FUSCHIA PINK FUSCHIA PINK FLAMENCO BLUE TNF BLACK
- Find Your Size
- Size: XS S M L XL
When the skies open up and the downpour starts, zip into this waterproof GORE-TEX® jacket to remain bone dry. GORE-TEX® Paclite® fabrication provides extreme breathability, waterproofing, and wind-resistance at a minimal weight. Fully seam sealed construction and a waterproof zipper make this rugged rain shell watertight. Designed to be highly compressible and packable, carry this ultralight jacket as an emergency layer in wet alpine environments. The adjustable hood has a hidden drawcord system to create a close fit around your head while remaining low profile. Tighten the hem cinch-cord to seal out the draft in chilly weather.
Features Include
- Waterproof, breathable, seam sealed
- Attached, fully adjustable hood with low-profile drawcord
- Polyurethane (PU) center front zip
- Two polyurethane (PU) venting secure-zip hand pockets
- Molded non-abrasive cuff tabs
- Hem cinch-cord
Product Specifications
- Style:
- Fabric:
- 40D 90 g/m² (3.17 oz/yd²) 100% polyester GORE-TEX® 2L Paclite
- Avg Weight:
- 300 g (11 oz)
- Length from Center Back:
- 27"
- Source:
- Imported
- Guarantee:
- Lifetime Warranty
GORE-TEX® Active Shell: Provides extreme breathability along with durable waterproof and windproof protection for all-weather, high-aerobic activities. It combines a lighter, thinner GORE-TEX® membrane, with fine denier performance textiles to deliver a streamlined three-layer construction. New for Spring '12, this brings a never-before-seen level of comfort performance to waterproof apparel.
GORE-TEX® Paclite®: Combining extreme breathability and durable wind and waterproof protection with minimum weight and pack volume, GORE-TEX® Paclite® shells use a specific membrane with a protective internal layer made of an oil-hating/carbon hybrid – eliminating the need for a separate lining, making this lighter, smaller, and easier to pack away.
GORE-TEX® Performance Shell: Specifically engineered to form an impenetrable barrier against wind and water while maintaining breathability, this waterproof material uses a two-layer construction for a lighter, softer feel – and in a three-layer construction for a more heavy-duty alternative.


text:
Someone with library fines may pay up with some food.
The Park City Library is offering its food-for-fines program through Nov. 30, allowing people to help the hungry if they have racked up overdue fines.
The library will forgive $1 or part of $1 for each nonperishable food item someone donates. The program does not include lost or damaged books, though.
Pam Evans, who works at the library's circulation desk, said approximately two boxes of food had been collected through the middle of the week as part of the program.
The items will be donated to the food pantry at the Christian Center of Park City. Approximately nine boxes of food were donated in 2011.
The library wants the food items to be undamaged and not expired. According to the library, the foods most needed are:
For more information, call the front desk at the library at 615-5600.


text:
Tons of kids hit the streets on Bike to School Day in Boulder
Submitted by Kris Thompson on
From the Daily Camera
Today was Bike to School Day at Boulder Valley schools -- in celebration of Earth Week -- and organizers expected as many as 5,000 kids to jump out of cars and onto their bikes for their morning commutes.
"I think it's really great we're doing this," said fourth-grader Sophia Ottinger, who was still wearing her bike helmet while waiting in line for some treats after arriving at school. "When we were biking from home, there was a big truck and it was really stinky from gas."


text:
Things to see and do - Sozopol
Leaving for Bulgaria
Sozopol :
Unmissable tourist sites
Where to sleep?
Sozopol Hotel tips
Hotel Holiday Rodopi fromBook
Family Hotel Vadjo fromBook
Hotel Hera fromBook
Sozopol Travel guide
Sozopol : Michelin's recommendations
A rocky peninsula linked to the mainland by a narrow isthmus: this is the delightful setting of Sozopol, occupied by man for the past 27 centuries. The town, which is the main Bulgarian fishing port on the Black Sea, is one of the most visited cities in the area. And, indeed, there are excellent reasons for this: Sozopol has many assets. In addition to its sand beaches, the city boasts charming cobbled streets lined with wooden houses and tiny churches...and then there is the sea, whichever way you turn, it is there, sometimes friendly, sometimes rough, its rollers breaking on the rocks. There is no doubt about it, it is fascinating...
Tourist attractions Sozopol : Things to see and do
Church of Our Lady, Sozopol
Apoloniya BG - 8130 Sozopol
It is a pleasant experience to lose oneself in the old town and admire the dense muddle of corbelled houses covered with wood. Most of them have been converted into taverns. Do not miss the unassuming church of Our Lady (Sv. Bogorodica). Built in the..
Old Town of Sozopol
BG - Sozopol
There are two Sozopols: old and new. The old town is not much visited, but it's worth taking the time to stroll through its network of little streets linking three main thoroughfares: Cyril and Methodus Street on the right; Fishermen's Street on the ..
The South Coast, from Sozopol to the Turkish Border
BG - Sozopol
This part of the Black Sea shore is served by a coast road as far as Carevo. The delayed development of seaside tourism has miraculously preserved the fragile ecology at the mouth of the River Ropotamo, renowned for its dunes, fauna (200 species of r..
Hotels Sozopol
Hotel More
29 Stara Planina Str. BG - 8130 Sozopol
Prix Prices from : 20 €
Only 300 metres from the seaside and 400 metres from the old Sozopol, Hotel More offers comfortable rooms, free Wi-Fi, a swimming pool and a hot tub. 10 km south of Sozopol you can find the Strandja National Park with unspoilt nature and authentic B..
Kristian Family Hotel
19 Rodopi Str. BG - 8130 Sozopol
Prix Prices from : 18 €
Offering an outdoor pool with shades, and a restaurant, Kristian Family Hotel is located 600 metres from the Harmani Beach and 900 metres from the historic part of Sozopol. Free Wi-Fi access is available. Rooms feature air conditioning, a balcony an..
Hotel Ray
Misarya Area BG - 8130 Sozopol
Prix Prices from : 25 €
Quietly located, Hotel Ray offers air-conditioned accommodation, set 800 metres from the beach. A free outdoor pool is available. Free WiFi is provided in all areas. Free public parking is possible on site. Each room at the Ray Hotel comes with a fl..


text:
says 50-something-percent of the U.S. population
Old PD is glitched too...
Not 50% of us are Liberals Walrus. That's just Liberal propoganda. Silly Liberals with their gay Liberal Liberalness.
for a moment I thought you might have a chance, but then I remembered how you can't argue for shit
Oh God, not this again.
dogar theres nothing wrong with belittling liberals
"I'll go," said Chagataev. "But what will I do there? Build socialism?"
"What else?" said the secretary.
I knowww thattt


text:
NATO's capabilities
NATO has been engaged in continuous transformation for many years to ensure that it has the policies, capabilities and structures required to deal with current and future challenges, including the collective defence of its members. With Allied forces militarily engaged across several continents, the Alliance needs to ensure that its armed forces remain modern, deployable and sustainable.
The 2010 Strategic Concept sets out NATO's strategic priorities and defines the Organization's vision of Euro-Atlantic security for the next decade. It provides an analysis of the strategic environment and a framework for all Alliance capability development planning disciplines and intelligence, identifying the kinds of operations the Alliance must be able to perform and setting the context in which capability development takes place.
At the May 2012 Summit in Chicago, Allied leaders reaffirmed their determination to ensure that NATO retains and develops the capabilities necessary to perform its essential core tasks: collective defence, crisis management and cooperative security – and thereby to play an essential role promoting security in the world. At the September 2014 Summit in Wales, Allies further enhanced their ability to meet the demands of the three essential core tasks, while dealing with an acute financial crisis and responding to evolving geo-strategic challenges.
By working together in NATO, Alliance members are better able to ensure the security of their citizens than would be possible by acting alone. Over the past six decades, they have cooperated closely together, have made firm commitments and taken a range of initiatives to strengthen capabilities in key areas.
Meeting immediate and long-term challenges
The objectives of the 2010 Strategic Concept are further refined by the 2011 Political Guidance. This Political Guidance establishes in broad terms what the Alliance should be able to do, how much it should be able to do, and sets priorities, thereby guiding procurement and other key activities in the context of the NATO Defence Planning Process (NDPP). This guidance is due to be updated in June 2015.
The NATO Defence Planning Process
The NATO Defence Planning Process (NDPP) provides a framework within which national and Alliance processes can be harmonised to meet Alliance objectives. It establishes in detail how to meet the mandates of the Political Guidance and sets targets for Allies and the Alliance collectively, thereby guiding national and collective capability development.
Very short-term and critical capability shortfalls that arise during operations are tackled by a separate mechanism. Urgent operational requirements are raised by the operational commands, scrutinised by the Military Committee and the relevant budget committees and put to the North Atlantic Council, NATO's principal political decision-making body, for consideration.
Current objectives
With the adoption of the 2010 Strategic Concept, Alliance leaders committed to ensure that NATO has the full range of capabilities necessary to deter and defend against any threat to the safety and security of Allies' populations. Therefore the Alliance will:
- maintain an appropriate mix of nuclear and conventional forces;
- maintain the ability to sustain concurrent major joint operations and several smaller operations for collective defence and crisis response, including at strategic distance;
- develop and maintain robust, mobile and deployable conventional forces to carry out both its Article 5 responsibilities and expeditionary operations, including with the NATO Response Force;
- carry out the necessary training, exercises, contingency planning and information exchange for assuring its defence against the full range of conventional and emerging security challenges, and provide appropriate visible assurance and reinforcement for all Allies;
- ensure the broadest possible participation of Allies in collective defence planning on nuclear roles, in peacetime basing of nuclear forces, and in command, control and consultation arrangements;
- develop the capability to defend NATO European populations , territories and forces against ballistic missile attack as a core element of its collective defence, which contributes to the indivisible security of the Alliance;
- further develop its capacity to defend against the threat of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons;
- develop further its ability to prevent, detect, defend against and recover from cyber attacks, including by using the NATO planning process to enhance and coordinate national cyber defence capabilities, bringing all NATO bodies under centralised cyber protection, and better integrating NATO cyber awareness, warning and response with member countries;
- enhance the capacity to detect and defend against international terrorism, including through enhanced analysis of the threat, more consultations with partners, and the development of appropriate military capabilities, including to help train local forces to fight terrorism themselves;
- develop the capacity to contribute to energy security, including protection of critical energy infrastructure and transit areas and lines, cooperation with partners, and consultations among Allies on the basis of strategic assessments and contingency planning;
- ensure that the Alliance is at the front edge in assessing the security impact of emerging technologies, and that military planning takes the potential threats into account;
- continue to review its overall posture in deterring and defending against the full range of threats to the Alliance, taking into account changes to the evolving international security environment.
Prioritising capabilities
Given the evolving geo-strategic environment, NATO leaders are regularly assessing and reviewing the capabilities needed to conduct the full range of the Alliance's missions.
At the Chicago Summit in May 2012, NATO leaders made a pledge to improve the Alliance's planning processes and specific capabilities in pursuit of the "NATO Forces 2020" goal. The vision for NATO forces in 2020 and beyond is one of modern, tightly connected forces equipped, trained, exercised and commanded so that they can operate together and with partners in any environment.
This constitutes the Chicago Defence Package, which aims to ensure the Alliance has all the requisite capabilities to implement the 2010 Strategic Concept and the 2011 Political Guidance. The package is based largely on existing plans and programmes and a realistic projection of resources. It therefore provides a renewed focus and mandate to ensure that in the competition for resources the most urgent capabilities are delivered.
The Chicago Defence Package consists of a mix of new and existing initiatives. The new initiatives include Smart Defence and the Connected Forces Initiative; the existing initiatives include the Lisbon Summit package focused on the Alliance's most pressing capability needs; the ongoing reform of Alliance structures and processes; and the NATO Defence Planning Process, mentioned previously.
Smart Defence
In light of growing military requirements, developing capabilities becomes more complex and therefore in many cases more expensive. As a result, multinational cooperation offers a viable solution to deliver critical capabilities in a cost-effective manner. For certain high-end key capabilities Allies may in fact only be able to obtain them if they work together to develop and acquire them. Smart Defence is NATO's approach for bringing multinational cooperation to the forefront of Allies' capability delivery efforts.
Since its formal inception at the 2012 Chicago Summit Smart Defence has started to promote and reinvigorate a culture of multinational cooperation, which has and will continue to enable NATO to meet the challenges it will face in 2020 and beyond. Since Chicago, Allies have already successfully concluded a series of concrete Smart Defence projects, which delivered needed capabilities more effectively and efficiently through the formula of doing things together instead of doing them alone.
Developing greater European military capabilities through multinational cooperation will continue to strengthen the transatlantic link, enhance the security of all Allies and foster an equitable sharing of the burdens, benefits and responsibilities of Alliance membership. In this context, NATO works closely with the European Union (EU), utilising agreed mechanisms, to ensure that Smart Defence and the EU's Pooling and Sharing initiative are complementary and mutually reinforcing. Concurrently, Smart Defence also contributes toward maintaining a strong defence industry in Europe by making the fullest possible use of defence industrial cooperation across the Alliance. Moving forward NATO will continue to support Allies in their endeavour to exploit the full potential multinational capability delivery offers.
Connected Forces Initiative
At the 2012 Chicago Summit, Allied leaders set the goal of 'NATO Forces 2020'. This is designed to be a coherent set of deployable, interoperable and sustainable forces equipped, trained, exercised and commanded so as to be able to meet NATO's level of ambition and able to operate together and with partners in any environment. The Connected Forces Initiative (CFI) is essential to ensure that the Alliance remains well prepared to undertake the full range of its missions, as well as to address future challenges wherever they may arise. It also reinforces the message that NATO is displaying its capability and resolve in the light of a changing and unpredictable security environment. The implementation of CFI is one of the key means to deliver NATO Forces 2020 and to enable the training and exercise elements of NATO's Readiness Action Plan (RAP).
At the 2014 Wales Summit, Allied leaders endorsed six key CFI measures: an updated NATO Education, Training, Exercise and Evaluation Policy; a broader NATO Training Concept from 2015 to 2020; a high-visibility exercise ("Trident Juncture 2015"); a major NATO exercise programme from 2016 onwards and a Special Operations Component Command headquarters under the operational command of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR).
Framework Nations Initiative
In June 2014, NATO Defence Ministers agreed a Framework Nations Concept, which sees groups of countries coming together for two purposes. First, to maintain current capabilities and to act as a foundation for the coherent development of new capabilities in the medium to long term. This builds on the notions of multinational development of capabilities that are at the heart of Smart Defence and the ideas associated with groups of countries coming together to produce them. Second, as a mechanism for collective training and exercises in order to prepare groupings of forces. For example, those Allies that maintain a broad spectrum of capabilities provide a framework for other Allies to "plug" into.
Countering improvised explosive devices
The improvised explosive device (IED) has proven to be the weapon of choice for non-conventional adversarial forces. Although the ISAF operation is coming to a close, NATO must remain prepared to counter IEDs in any land or maritime operation involving asymmetrical threats, in which force protection will remain a paramount priority. Institutionalising counter-IED lessons learned across the last two decades of operations, NATO's ambitious Counter-IED Action Plan has increased its focus on capabilities for attacking threat networks behind these destructive devices. Although developed in the C-IED context, such capabilities can also contribute to counter-piracy, counter-proliferation and counter-terrorism operations.
Improving air- and sealift capabilities
Air- and sealift capabilities are a key enabler for operations which allow forces and equipment to be deployed quickly to wherever they are needed. While there is significant procurement nationally, many Allies have pooled resources, including with partner countries, to acquire new capacities through commercial arrangements or through purchase, to give them access to additional transport to swiftly move troops, equipment and supplies across the globe.
Collective logistics contracts
To improve effectiveness, NATO is examining procedures for the development and administration of rapidly usable contracts, including for medical support, for repayment by countries when used. More broadly, collective logistics is being implemented by NATO in Kosovo and Afghanistan during redeployment to optimise the use of multinational capabilities. In June 2013, Exercise Capable Logistician brought together a large number of logisticians from member and partner countries to work on improving interoperability.
Missile defence
In the context of a broader response to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, NATO has already been pursuing an Active Layered Theatre Ballistic Missile Defence Programme since 2005. This Programme is aimed at protecting deployed Allied forces against ballistic missile threats with ranges up to 3,000 kilometres. In 2010, it delivered an interim capability to protect troops in a specific area against short-range and some medium-range ballistic missiles.
At the 2010 Lisbon Summit, NATO leaders decided to expand this Programme to include protection of NATO European populations and territories, and at the same time invited Russia to cooperate on missile defence and to share in its benefits. The dialogue with Russia on missile defence cooperation is currently suspended.
At the 2012 Chicago Summit, Allies declared an Interim NATO ballistic missile defence (BMD) capability as an initial step to establish NATO's missile defence system, which will protect all NATO European populations, territory and forces against the increasing threats posed by the proliferation of ballistic missiles.
Cyber defence
NATO's cyber defence capability for the protection of its own networks is the NATO Computer Incident Response Capability (NCIRC), which provides centralised cyber defence support to the NATO sites. NATO continues to invest in follow-on requirements to the NCIRC following the NATO capability development and procurement procedures.
NATO defines also, through the NATO Defence Planning Process (NDPP), cyber defence capability targets for the member countries' implementation of national cyber defence capabilities to facilitate an Alliance-wide and common approach to cyber defence capability developments. Relevant parts of the new cyber defence policy will be taken into account in subsequent NDPP cycles.
Cyber defence has also been integrated into NATO's Smart Defence initiative, endorsed at the 2012 Chicago Summit. As such, Smart Defence is meant to enable countries to work together to develop and maintain capabilities they could not afford to develop or procure alone, and to free resources for developing other capabilities. Such Smart Defence projects in cyber defence, so far, are the Malware Information Sharing Platform (MISP), the Smart Defence Multinational Cyber Defence Capability Development (MN CD2) project and the Multinational Cyber Defence Education and Training (MN CD E&T) project.
Stabilisation and reconstruction
The Alliance's experience with crisis-response operations has shown the importance of stabilisation and reconstruction which are activities undertaken in fragile states or in conflict or post-conflict situations to promote security, development and good governance in key sectors. The primary responsibilities for such activities normally lie with other actors, but the Alliance has established political guidelines that will help to improve its involvement in stabilisation and reconstruction. It will be important in this context for the Alliance to seek, in accordance with the Comprehensive Approach Action Plan, unity of effort with the other members of the international community, in particular its strategic partners, the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU).
To this end, NATO must have the ability to plan for, employ, and coordinate civilian as well as military crisis-management capabilities that countries provide for agreed Allied missions. NATO's defence planning therefore also includes non-military capabilities and expertise to complement the military support to stabilisation operations and reconstruction efforts. These non-military capabilities are sought from existing and planned means in national inventories of those countries that are willing to make them available.
Critical long-term enabling capabilities
Information superiority is a key enabling element in the battlespace and helps commanders at every level make the best decisions, creating the circumstances for success at less risk and greater speed. NATO will therefore continue to develop and acquire a range of networked information systems (Automated Information Systems) that support the two Strategic Commands. They cover a number of domains, including, land, air, maritime, intelligence, logistics and the common operating picture, with a view to enabling more informed and effective, holistic oversight, decision making and command and control.
Federated Mission Networking
The Afghanistan Mission Network is a single federated network which improves information-sharing by easing the information flow and creating better situational awareness among countries participating in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). This is seen as the model for future multinational networking.
Taking into consideration best practices and lessons learned from its implementation, a Federated Mission Networking framework is now being developed, which will underpin the Alliance's ability to connect its information systems and operate effectively together, including with partners, on training, exercises and operations.
Air Command and Control
NATO is implementing a fully interoperable Air Command and Control System (ACCS), which will provide for the first time a fully integrated set of tools to support the conduct of all air operations in both real-time and non-real-time environments. ACCS will make available the capability to plan, direct, task, coordinate, supervise, assess and report on the operation of all allocated air assets in peace, crisis and conflict.
The system is composed of both static and deployable elements with equipment that will be used both within the NATO Command Structure and in individual Allies. With the further inclusion of command and control functionality for ballistic missile defence (BMD), a fully integrated system for air and missile defence at the tactical level will be fielded.
Joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
NATO needs a Joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (JISR) capability that will provide for the coordinated collection, processing, dissemination and sharing within NATO of ISR material gathered by the future Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) system, the current NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force (NAEW&C Force) and nationally supplied ISR assets. While NATO is delivering a critical JISR capability in ISAF, an enduring JISR capability is being developed in a phased approach, starting with the implementation of an initial operational capability on time for the NATO Response Force 2016.
Alliance Ground Surveillance
The Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) system is a key element of transformation and an essential enabling capability for forces across the full spectrum of NATO's current and future operations and missions. The AGS will be an airborne, stand-off ground surveillance system that can detect and track vehicles, such as tanks, trucks or helicopters, moving on or near the ground, in all weather conditions. The AGS airborne vehicle acquisition contract was signed during the 2012 Chicago Summit, and production of the first AGS aircraft began in December 2013.
NATO Airborne Warning & Control System
As one of the most visible and tangible examples of what cooperation between Allies can achieve, the NATO Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) provides NATO-owned and operated airborne command and control, air and maritime surveillance, and battlespace management capability. AWACS has continuously proven itself a critical asset over Libya and Afghanistan, and most recently safeguarding the Alliance's eastern perimeter.
Other initiatives
The NATO Response Force
The NATO Response Force (NRF) is a technologically advanced, multinational force made up of land, air, maritime and Special Operations Forces (SOF) components that the Alliance can deploy quickly to wherever it is needed. It has the overarching purpose of being able to provide a rapid military response to an emerging crisis, whether for collective defence purposes or for other crisis-response operations. In light of the changing security environment to the east and south of the Alliance's borders – and following up on initiatives taken at the NATO Summit in Wales in September 2014 – defence ministers decided on 5 February 2015 to enhance the NRF by creating a spearhead force within it. Known as a Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), it will be able to deploy at very short notice, particularly on the periphery of NATO's territory.
Aviation modernisation programmes
The Alliance will continue to develop its capabilities in the field of air traffic management (ATM) and engage in civil aviation modernisation plans in Europe (Single European Sky ATM Research) and North America (NextGen). The aim is threefold: to ensure safe access to airspace; effective delivery of services; and civil-military interoperability in order to safeguard military mission effectiveness at global level and the ability to conduct the full range of NATO operations, including the airspace integration of unmanned aircraft systems.
Energy security
Allies recognise that a stable and reliable energy supply, diversification of routes, suppliers and energy resources, and the interconnectivity of energy networks remain of critical importance. While these issues are primarily the responsibility of national governments and other international organisations concerned, NATO contributes to energy security in various ways NATO raises strategic awareness through political discussions and intelligence-sharing, further develops its competence to contribute to the protection of critical energy infrastructure, improves the energy efficiency of military forces, enhances its training and education efforts, and engages with partner countries and other international organisations.
Reforming NATO's structures
The Alliance's military command structure is being transformed into a leaner, more effective and affordable structure. Agencies reform aims to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of capabilities and services, to achieve greater synergies between similar functions and to increase transparency and accountability. In line with the 2010 Strategic Concept, over the last few years the Alliance has been engaged in a process of continual reform by streamlining structures, improving working methods and maximising efficiency.
The new structure reached initial operational capability in December 2013, opening the way to an entity that is more agile, flexible and better able to deploy on operations, including Article 5 contingencies..
A major reform of NATO's agencies was conducted with a view to consolidating and rationalising various services and programmes and ensuring more effective and efficient service and capability delivery.
NATO Headquarters has also been reformed, including with regard to a smaller but more efficient International Staff, intelligence-sharing and production, and a significant reduction in the number of committees. Furthermore, the transition to the new NATO headquarters will enable further improvements to efficiency and effectiveness of the Alliance.
Resource reform in the area of programming, transparency, accountability and information management has also helped making NATO resource and financial management more efficient.
At the Wales Summit, further work was tasked in the areas of delivery of common-funded capabilities, reform governance and financial transparency and accountability.
Maritime security
In January 2011, NATO adopted the Alliance Maritime Strategy. Consistent with the 2010 Strategic Concept, the Strategy sets out ways in which NATO's unique maritime power can be used to address critical security challenges.
There are four areas in which NATO's maritime forces can contribute to Alliance security. The first three are the "core tasks" of NATO, as defined by the Alliance's Strategic Concept: deterrence and collective defence; crisis management; and cooperative security. In addition, the Maritime Strategy sets out a fourth area: maritime security. This includes surveillance, information sharing, maritime interdiction, and contributions to energy security, including the protection of critical infrastructure.
As a major deliverable for its Wales Summit in September 2014, the Alliance will now implement its Maritime Strategy. This ambitious endeavour encompasses a complete revamping of NATO's maritime assets, an extensive programme of maritime exercises and training, and the enhancement of cooperation between NATO and its partners, as well as other international actors, in particular the European Union.