text:
The Enterprise-Wide Implementation of Active Directory® Needs Increased Oversight
May 2006
Reference Number: 2006-20-080
This report has cleared the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration disclosure review process and information determined to be restricted from public release has been redacted from this document.
Phone Number | 202-927-7037
Email Address | firstname.lastname@example.com
Web Site | http://www.tigta.gov
May 9, 2006
FROM: Michael R. Philips /s/ Michael R. Phillips
Deputy Inspector General for Audit
SUBJECT: Final Audit Report – The Enterprise-Wide Implementation of Active Directory® Needs Increased Oversight (Audit # 200520010)
This report presents the results of our review to determine whether the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) had effectively and securely implemented the Active Directory®-based network and the Windows 2003® Server Operating System.
The IRS is in the process of implementing an Active Directory®-based network and upgrading its computers to the Windows 2003® Server Operating System. Active Directory® is the Microsoft Corporation's (Microsoft) latest technology for administering and securing computer networks and is a central component of the Windows 2003® Server Operating System. Active Directory® manages the identities and relationships of computing resources that comprise a network, simplifies system administration, and provides easier methods to strengthen and consistently secure computer systems. Because the IRS' previous network operating system was divided into obsolete and inefficient boundaries, expensive to manage, and difficult to consistently secure, the migration to Active Directory® should result in an upgraded network that can better meet the IRS' future needs.
The IRS has made significant progress in its Active Directory® implementation; however, increased oversight is needed to ensure the IRS achieves all expected benefits, including more efficient network management and increased security.
The IRS has made significant progress in implementing Active Directory®. Planning began in Fiscal Year 2000, and the IRS expects to complete the migration by December 31, 2006. However, significant risks remain that must be addressed for the IRS to achieve the benefits of Active Directory®. For example, design standards must be enforced. Ideally, all IRS functions could be included within one boundary (called a forest[1] in Active Directory®). However, managers and system administrators, who play a large role in managing current domains[2] and applications, may be reluctant to participate in the IRS Active Directory® forest since they will likely lose autonomous control over the network components. Five Active Directory® forests have already been established, and two IRS organizations have stated a need for additional separate forests. Adding unnecessary separate forests will increase the cost of implementing and maintaining Active Directory® and will make maintaining consistent security controls more difficult. Funding must also be provided to replace outdated computers that cannot support Active Directory®. In addition to the costs of the computers, the IRS is paying Microsoft custom support fees to support its outdated operating systems until the computers are replaced.
The Active Directory® Team did not have sufficient authority to finalize Active Directory® guidance documents, enforce adherence to design and security standards and industry best practices, and ensure the timely and successful migration of Active Directory® IRS-wide. During our review, the IRS formed a new project team with executive leadership that can provide the level of oversight needed to ensure the successful implementation of Active Directory®. Because the new team and leadership are already aware of these implementation issues, we made no recommendations to address these issues.
We also found some of the computers that had been migrated into the new Active Directory®-based network did not meet the IRS' approved security standards. We reviewed a sample of 53 servers[3] from the 399 that had been migrated to the Active Directory®-based network at the time we initiated our review in July 2005. Over 22 percent did not adequately comply with the IRS' approved security settings, resulting in vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers and disgruntled employees. In some instances, Active Directory® security settings were changed to what the IRS considered stronger settings or to enable the servers to perform a particular role on the network. In both instances, changes were made without obtaining concurrence from the Chief, Mission Assurance and Security Services, and approval from the system owner, as required.
In addition, sufficient oversight was not provided over system administrator accounts. These accounts need to be carefully controlled because they are the most powerful accounts that exist on the network and can perform critical tasks that have major effects on the security, operation, and performance of the network. We found:
We recommended the Chief Information Officer develop a formal process for approving deviations from the IRS' approved security settings for Active Directory®. When deviations are preferred or needed, concurrence from the Chief, Mission Assurance and Security Services, and approval of the system owner should be requested. We also recommended the Chief Information Officer improve oversight of system administrator accounts during the implementation of Active Directory®. Computers should be periodically reviewed for compliance with requirements. Procedures should be enforced and system administrators held accountable for adhering to these procedures.
IRS management agreed with our recommendations. Requests for deviations will include the recommendation from the Chief, Mission Assurance and Security Services, and approval from the system owner. The IRS will increase oversight of system administrator accounts and enforce procedures for protecting them. Computers will be periodically monitored and system administrators will be held accountable for complying with procedures. Management's complete response to the draft report is included as Appendix IV.
Copies of this report are also being sent the IRS managers affected by the report recommendations. Please contact me at (202) 622-6510 if you have questions or Margaret E. Begg, Assistant Inspector General for Audit (Information Systems Programs), at (202) 622-8510.
Actions Are Needed to Allow Active Directory® to Simplify System Administration
Actions Are Needed to Enable Active Directory® to Strengthen Network Security
Appendix I – Detailed Objective, Scope, and Methodology
Appendix II – Major Contributors to This Report
Appendix III – Report Distribution List
Appendix IV – Management's Response to the Draft Report
In today's information technology environment, networked computing is essential for organizations to remain effective and efficient. As a result, modern operating systems require a directory service for managing the identities and relationships of the resources that reside on networks. A directory service:
· Stores information about a network's applications, files, and printers and the people who have access to the network.
· Provides a consistent way to name, describe, access, manage, and secure information about these resources.
· Acts as the main switchboard of the network operating system.
Because a directory service supplies these fundamental network operating system functions, it must be tightly coupled with the operating system controls to ensure the integrity and privacy of the network.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) operates a large computer network that includes about 3,000 servers[4] and 110,000 workstations using Windows® operating systems provided by the Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft). Until recently, the IRS network was divided into over 100 domains[5] that were based on obsolete and inefficient organizational boundaries, resulting in high operating costs and inconsistent security controls. The IRS' domain structure lacked the flexibility, scalability,[6] and power needed to support changes in organizational needs.
In 2000, the IRS began addressing these concerns by planning the deployment of Active Directory®, Microsoft's latest technology for administering and securing computer networks. In addition to strengthening security, Active Directory® can simplify system administration by providing a single, consistent point to manage users, applications, and devices. It provides users with a single sign-on to network resources and provides system administrators with powerful tools to ensure consistent security controls among desktop users, remote dial-up users, and external e-commerce customers.
Active Directory® is a pervasive technology that affects virtually the entire IRS network. Its implementation is a major undertaking due to the size of the IRS network and the diversity of IRS functions it supports. The IRS is currently in the process of upgrading its computers from the Windows NT® operating system to the Windows 2003® Server Operating System and moving them into the Active Directory®-based network. When we initiated this review in July 2005, the migration was still in process and the IRS had moved 399 servers to the new network. The IRS expects to move all 110,000 workstations in early 2006 and all 3,000 servers by December 31, 2006.
This review was performed at the Active
Directory® Team offices within the Modernization and
Information Technology Services organization's[7]
End User Equipment and Services organization[8]
The IRS has made significant progress in implementing Active Directory® and is on schedule for migrating user accounts, workstations, and servers into the new network. However, significant risks remain that must be addressed for the IRS to achieve the benefits of Active Directory®, specifically to simplify system administration and strengthen overall security.
Actions Are Needed to Allow Active Directory® to Simplify System Administration
For the past several years, a team of about 20 members from the End User Equipment and Services organization has driven the design and deployment of the Active Directory®-based network for most of the IRS. The Active Directory Team developed design documents and implementation plans for the new Active Directory®-based network in accordance with Microsoft recommendations and industry best practices. While the Team has made significant progress, its members advised, and we confirmed, it did not have the cross-functional authority to ensure all IRS entities were working together, including the Modernization and Information Technology Services organization, the Office of Mission Assurance and Security Services,[9] and the IRS business units. The Team did not have the authority to finalize guidance documents, enforce adherence to design and security standards, or ensure timely and successful implementation of Active Directory® IRS-wide.
After we discussed these concerns with lead members of the Active Directory® Team, the IRS formed a new project team with the authority to address Active Directory® design and security issues from an enterprise perspective. The new team is led by the Enterprise Services organization[10] and reports to the Infrastructure Executive Steering Committee.[11] We concur with this approach and believe the Steering Committee can provide the executive-level oversight needed to implement Active Directory®. To achieve the full system administration benefits of Active Directory®, the Steering Committee will need to enforce design standards and provide adequate funding and oversight to keep implementation on schedule. Because the Steering Committee is already aware of these implementation issues, we are making no recommendations to address these issues.
Active Directory® design standards must be enforced
The large and dispersed network used by the IRS often requires time-consuming and redundant system administration. Active Directory® allows the IRS to significantly lower system administration costs by providing a single place to manage users, groups, and network resources, as well as to distribute software and manage desktop configurations. It automatically distributes software to users based on the users' roles, thus reducing or eliminating multiple contacts the system administrators need to make to employees' workstations to install and configure software.
Active Directory® uses a hierarchical approach to allow organizations to more easily administer the entire network and to customize administration based on the needs of users. Active Directory® refers to its outermost logical boundary as a forest. A forest is a collection of subsets that share the same Active Directory® configuration and design elements. These subsets are called domains. Domains are used to manage the various populations of users, computers, and other network resources.
A best practice is to create a large "production domain" to hold almost all of an organization's users and computers. A smaller "root domain" is created to contain a minimal number of powerful administrative accounts and computers. Within domains, smaller subsets called "organizational units" are used to create administrative groupings of users, computers, and printers that can be uniformly managed. Figure 1 depicts the various levels in the Active Directory® hierarchy.
Figure 1: Illustration of a Common Active Directory® Structure
Figure 1 was removed due to its size. To see Figure 1, please go to the Adobe PDF version of the report on the TIGTA Public Web Page.
Ideally, the IRS could maintain one forest, then use domains and organizational units to group objects that have common system settings based on specific needs of the various IRS functions. Separate forests add overhead and are less efficient because they require the creation and maintenance of additional design elements and security components, whereas adding an entity to an existing forest takes advantage of existing design elements and security components.
The Active Directory® Team established the main IRS production forest and provided criteria in accordance with industry best practices for justifying additional forests. IRS entities requesting a separate forest must have stringent security requirements, such as the maintenance of law enforcement data, that require elevated security clearance for system administrators.
To date, the IRS has been successful at limiting the number of forests. Most network resources are included in a single forest with a root domain and one large production domain.
Additional forests have been created for two IRS functions (the Offices of Chief Counsel and Criminal Investigation) and one system (the Integrated Submission and Remittance Processing System[12]) that need greater security and can justify the need for separate forests. A forest was also created for the Integrated Financial System[13] because it was implemented before the IRS was ready to deploy Active Directory® on an enterprise-wide basis. However, this system does not meet the IRS' criteria for establishing a separate forest; therefore, consideration should be given to bringing it into the IRS' main production forest to achieve maximum efficiencies and security of IRS operations.
As the implementation of Active Directory® continues, we expect other entities will request separate forests. Managers and system administrators who play a large role in managing current domains and applications may be reluctant to participate in the IRS Active Directory® forest since they will likely lose autonomous control over the network components. For example, two IRS organizations have stated a need for separate Active Directory® forests in addition to the five forests already established. Adding unnecessary separate forests will increase the cost of implementing and maintaining Active Directory® and will make maintaining consistent security controls more difficult.
Funding must be provided to ensure Active Directory® implementation remains on schedule
The IRS must also allocate sufficient funds to achieve the benefits of Active Directory®. Most of the advanced security features offered by Active Directory® cannot be implemented until outdated computer workstations and servers that cannot support Active Directory® are updated or replaced. Salary costs for upgrading or replacing servers and workstations were approximately $5.2 million in Fiscal Year 2005, and an additional $2.4 million is estimated to be spent in Fiscal Year 2006. In addition, the IRS must continue to pay Microsoft to support its outdated operating system. After Microsoft support for the IRS' current network operating system ended in December 2004, the IRS paid for custom support so it could continue to receive security patches costing about $318,000 through December 2005. Because computers with the old operating system are not expected to be upgraded and migrated into Active Directory® until December 31, 2006, the IRS plans to continue custom support agreements costing $100,000 for each 6-month period those computers are operating. Delays in updating or replacing the outdated workstations and servers will not only postpone the benefits of Active Directory® but also force the IRS to pay additional support costs for its outdated operating system.
We also noted resources and funding for a separate forest to be used as a testing environment had not been sufficient. IRS security standards require testing to be done separately from the production environment. Because the IRS did not fund a separate testing forest, testing was performed in the production forest and in unauthorized test domains that were not compliant with IRS security policies, expensive to maintain, and likely do not represent the production forest. As a result, testing could disrupt the production environment and produce unreliable results.
Strong and consistent security controls are essential to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive taxpayer data maintained on the IRS network. Active Directory® centralizes system administration and enforces role-based access controls that can be applied to both desktop and remote users. To take advantage of Active Directory® capabilities to strengthen the security of the IRS network, the IRS should ensure security settings on servers are enhanced, system administrator access rights are controlled, system administrator accounts are securely managed, and built-in system administrator accounts are safeguarded.
Server security settings did not always comply with IRS standards
The IRS has standard security settings for many types of computers. Active Directory® provides new techniques for consistently applying these settings. Computers that need to be similarly secured are placed in a group, called an organizational unit. Customized security settings needed for computers in a particular organizational unit are placed into one or more subsets, called group policy objects. Security settings are consistently applied to all the computers by linking the organizational unit to the corresponding group policy objects. Any computer subsequently added to the organizational unit should automatically receive the appropriate security settings. Deviations from the standard settings must be concurred with by the Chief, Mission Assurance and Security Services, and approved by the system owner.
Because IRS servers have various roles, the Active Directory® Team created an organizational unit for each role. The IRS also created a group policy object containing universal security settings, which are applied to all of its server organizational units, and several specialized group policy objects containing additional settings, which are applied to only specific server organizational units.
In our sample of 53 servers moved to the Active Directory®-based network, 12 (22.6 percent) did not adequately comply with the IRS' approved settings. Six servers did not adequately comply because the organizational unit in which they were located was not linked to a group policy object. The Active Directory® Team deleted this organizational unit from the Active Directory® before our audit had been completed. Five servers were in organizational units linked to two group policy objects that did not adequately comply with the IRS' approved set of security settings. For example, on the 5 servers, we tested the configurations for 12 user rights[14] that we considered sensitive and found an average of 10 unapproved user rights. Lastly, one server failed to meet standards because it had a high-risk vulnerability, the lack of antivirus protection.
Some noncompliant settings in group policy objects can be attributed to human error by those implementing the settings. Other noncompliant settings were made because the Active Directory® Team purposely created settings it considered stronger than the IRS' approved settings or to enable the server to perform a specific function. In both cases, changes to the settings were made without obtaining concurrence from the Chief, Mission Assurance and Security Services, and approval from the system owner, as required. We also noted written instructions for building and configuring Windows 2003® servers had not been prepared by the End User Equipment and Services organization before the servers were put into operation. These instructions may have improved the compliance rate of the settings used for the servers.
The use of unapproved security settings may create vulnerabilities for hackers or disgruntled employees to exploit. At a minimum, system administrators using unapproved settings diminish the capability of Active Directory® to ensure approved security controls are consistently implemented throughout the IRS network.
Sufficient oversight was not provided over system administrator accounts and access rights
The IRS requires employees to be provided only the access rights they need to carry out their responsibilities. System administrator accounts are especially powerful. Employees assigned to these accounts can make changes to the directory service, control directory-wide security settings, and install software. We found that, during the transition to Active Directory®, system administrator access was not adequately controlled, unnecessary system administrator accounts were established on servers, and built-in system administrator accounts were not being adequately safeguarded.
System administrator access was not adequately controlled. Industry best practices recommend keeping the membership of system administrator groups to the absolute minimum necessary to support the organization and limiting system administrator rights to only those needed by the individuals in the groups. Prior to implementation of Active Directory®, employees who may have needed only limited system administrator rights to carry out their responsibilities were assigned to system administrator groups with full system administrator capabilities because the previous operating system could not customize system administrator groups. For example, during a recent audit we found that employees were given full system administrator rights on 34 percent of the computers we tested just to obtain certain needed system administrator rights.[15] Active Directory® offers improved controls by creating system administrator groups whose rights can be customized to the needs of the employees in the groups.
During this review, the IRS began to create system administrator groups whose rights were customized. For example, a group was created with full system administrator rights, but the employees in the group could access only computers they were assigned to manage. Another group was created with limited system administrator rights to manage user accounts throughout the domain. The IRS is still developing criteria for granting system administrator access into Active Directory® based on the employees' job roles and determining approval paths for the various levels of access.
The process of reviewing and revising old rights and the establishment of centrally managed system administrator groups are expected to be a multiyear project and require buy-in from the various IRS business units. To expedite the implementation of Active Directory®, the IRS decided to use the same access rights (including system administrator rights) from the previous operating system regardless of whether the employees still needed all the rights in their groups. However, the risk of an employee accidentally or inappropriately accessing data or disrupting computer operations will be elevated until customized system administrator groups are established that limit users to only the rights they need.
Unnecessary system administrator accounts were established on servers. The IRS requires system administrator accounts to be created in centrally managed groups rather than on individual servers. Creating system administrator accounts on servers poses two problems. First, controls over accounts created on servers may be weaker than controls on accounts created centrally. Accounts on servers are governed by control settings on the servers, whereas accounts created in centrally controlled groups are governed by group policy objects. Because it is much more difficult to maintain consistent settings on individual servers than in group policy objects, the risk of security weaknesses increases. Second, finding and deleting accounts on servers for employees who change positions or leave the IRS can be a nearly impossible task in a large network because each server has to be checked. As a result, accounts that should be deleted may be overlooked and can be targeted for misuse by persons attempting to gain unauthorized access to the system. When accounts are created in a centrally controlled group, the group account is placed on the servers the group needs to access. When an employee no longer needs access to the servers, the employee just has to be removed from the central group.
We found system administrators had established system administrator accounts on 26 (49 percent) of the 53 servers we sampled. Sixty-eight system administrator accounts belonging to 27 system administrators had been directly created on these servers. Some of the accounts had been needed temporarily, while the servers were being prepared to be migrated into the Active Directory®-based network, but were not subsequently removed. Five (18.5 percent) of the 27 system administrators also had duplicate system administrator accounts that had been centrally created. As a result, the risk that system administrator accounts could be misused was increased.
Built-in system administrator accounts are not being adequately safeguarded. Every server is provided a built-in system administrator account named Administrator that was created as part of Microsoft's design of the operating system. Its purpose is to have an account that can be used if problems prevent system administrators from using their centrally created accounts. To prevent unauthorized persons from recognizing and using these accounts, the IRS requires system administrators to rename the accounts.
On 30 (57 percent) of the 53 servers we reviewed, system administrators had not sufficiently disguised the built-in accounts. The new names on the 30 servers still allowed these accounts to be identified as regular system administrator accounts. Even if the new names had fully disguised the accounts, the built-in system administrator accounts were readily apparent on all 53 sampled servers because, directly next to the account names, there were descriptions labeling them as built-in system administrator accounts. To fully disguise these powerful accounts, the descriptions should also be changed. Because these powerful accounts, unlike regular system administrator accounts, do not lock up after several unsuccessful attempts are made to guess the password, they could be the target of persons who are attempting to gain unauthorized access to the system or disrupt computer operations.
For the latter two issues, the Chief Information Officer has not provided sufficient oversight over system administrators to ensure they comply with procedures and best practices during the transition to Active Directory®. We are confident the Infrastructure Executive Steering Committee will provide the oversight and direction necessary to ensure consistent standards for administrative access are applied as soon as possible.
The Chief Information Officer should:
Recommendation 1: Formalize the approval process for distributing security settings in Active Directory® and ensure IRS standards are met. If deviations are suggested, concurrence from the Chief, Mission Assurance and Security Services, and approval from the system owner should be obtained.
Management's Response: IRS management agreed with this recommendation. The Associate Chief Information Officer, End User Equipment and Services, will formalize the approval process for distributing security settings to Active Directory® using the policies and procedures currently in place for current systems and applications. Requests for deviations will include the recommendation from the Chief, Mission Assurance and Security Services, and approval from the system owner.
Recommendation 2: Increase oversight of system administrator accounts and access rights during the transition to Active Directory®, enforce the IRS procedures that prohibit the creation of system administrator accounts on individual servers and require built-in system administrator accounts to be properly disguised, and periodically monitor computers for compliance and hold system administrators accountable for complying with these procedures.
Management's Response: IRS management agreed with this recommendation. The Associate Chief Information Officer, End User Equipment and Services, will increase and improve oversight of system administrator accounts during the transition to Active Directory® and review employees with Active Directory® system administrator rights. The Associate Chief Information Officer, End User Equipment and Services, will also enforce prohibitions on the system administrator accounts on individual servers, require built-in system administrator accounts to be properly disguised, monitor computers monthly for compliance, and hold system administrators accountable for complying with requirements.
Appendix I
Detailed Objective, Scope, and Methodology
The overall objective of this review was to determine whether the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) had effectively and securely implemented the Active Directory®-based network and the Windows 2003® Server Operating System. To accomplish this objective, we:
I. Determined whether the IRS had effectively and securely created and implemented the structural components of Windows 2003® and Active Directory®.
A. Evaluated whether the forest,[16] domain,[17] and other structural components of Active Directory® were created and implemented soundly and securely following industry best practices.
B. Reviewed the adequacy of general security controls used to connect to and access Active Directory®.
C. Determined whether Active Directory® system administrators had received adequate training.
D. Reviewed the progress and status of Active Directory® features the IRS had not yet implemented.
E. Reviewed the progress and status of computing resources the IRS had not yet brought into the Active Directory®-based network.
II. Determined whether computers residing in the Active Directory®-based network were configured with strong security settings.
A. Reviewed the IRS' security standards to determine whether all computer security controls had been addressed.
B. Evaluated the procedures and methods the IRS uses to install security settings onto computers and test computers for compliance with security standards.
C. Selected a judgmental sample of 53 servers from the universe of 399 servers the IRS had moved into the Active Directory®-based network when we initiated this review in July 2005. We tested the 53 servers to determine whether strong computer security controls had been implemented through Active Directory®. Since servers with different server roles (for example, file servers, print servers, and domain controller servers) have different security configurations, we judgmentally selected about 5 servers from each of the 12 server roles. Some server roles had a population of fewer than five servers. Judgmental samples were used because we were not planning to project the results against the entire universe.
D. Used the IRS' configuration-checking computer program to assess the adequacy of computer-based controls on the 53 sampled servers.
E. Reviewed the purpose, necessity, and security of groups and accounts that had been created directly on the 53 sampled servers.
III. Determined whether the IRS had effectively used organizational units and group policy objects[18] to ensure its computers met computer security standards.
A. Reviewed documentation on the IRS' organizational units and group policy objects.
B. Analyzed security weakness identified in the 53 sampled servers and determined whether group policy objects had been correctly configured.
C. Assessed the IRS' plans for continued progress in implementing organizational units and group policy objects.
Appendix II
Major Contributors to This Report
Margaret E. Begg, Assistant Inspector General for Audit (Information Systems Programs)
Steve Mullins, Director
Gerald Horn, Audit Manager
Myron Gulley, Acting Audit Manager
Richard Borst, Senior Auditor
Mary Jankowski, Senior Auditor
Jody Kitazono, Senior Auditor
Stasha Smith, Senior Auditor
Appendix III
Commissioner C
Office of the Commissioner – Attn: Chief of Staff C
Deputy Commissioner for Operations Support OS
Chief Counsel CC
National Taxpayer Advocate TA
Director, Office of Legislative Affairs CL:LA
Director, Office of Program Evaluation and Risk Analysis RAS:O
Office of Management Controls OS:CFO:AR:M
Audit Liaisons:
Chief Information Officer OS:CIO
Appendix IV
Management's Response to the Draft Report
The response was removed due to its size. To see the response, please go to the Adobe PDF version of the report on the TIGTA Public Web Page.
[1] The forest is the outermost boundary of Active Directory®.
[2] Domains are groups of computers on a network that are administered as a unit with common rules and procedures.
[3] Servers are computers that carry out specific functions. For example, file servers store files, print servers manage printers, and network servers manage network traffic.
[4] Servers are computers that carry out specific functions. For example, file servers store files, print servers manage printers, and network servers manage network traffic.
[5] Domains are groups of computers on a network that are administered as a unit with common rules and procedures.
[6] Scalability is a term that refers to how well a system can adapt to increased demands. A scalable network can start with a few computers and network devices and can easily expand to thousands. Scalability means an organization will not outgrow its system.
[7] The Modernization and Information Technology Services organization leads the delivery of IRS information technology solutions to meet enterprise-wide customer needs by providing information technology systems, products, services, and support.
[8] The End User Equipment and Services organization is a part of the IRS Modernization and Information Technology Services organization and provides end user computer products, services, and support to IRS functions.
[9] The Office of Mission Assurance and Security Services is a service and support organization that assists the IRS operating divisions in maintaining secure facilities, technology, and data.
[10] The Enterprise Services organization is a part of the Modernization and Information Technology Services organization and manages common information technology functions and services performed across the IRS.
[11] The Infrastructure Executive Steering Committee oversees the technological infrastructure for building modernized systems.
[12] The Integrated Submission and Remittance Processing System processes paper returns and payments submitted by taxpayers.
[13] The Integrated Financial System gives the IRS timely and easier access to accurate and consistent financial data, resulting in improved decision making and management.
[14] User rights are tasks a user is permitted to perform on a computer or network. User rights determine who can log on to a system and the tasks they are permitted to perform. For example, a user can be given the right to change a system's time or access a system's security logs.
[15] Secure Configurations Are Initially Established on Employee Computers, but Enhancements Could Ensure Security Is Strengthened After Implementation (Reference Number 2006-20-031, dated February 2006).
[16] The forest is the outermost logical boundary of Active Directory®.
[17] A domain is a group of computers on a network that are administered as a unit with common rules and procedures.
[18] Group policy objects contain security settings which are applied to corresponding groups of computers.


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Today I realized that a quest I set out on long ago was achieved, and I don't know how happy I am about it. As I look around my house, I see but one laptop running. The wife has a little Netbook, and you might count the Wii or evne the AT&T U-Verse cable boxes as computers, but when it comes down to it, the only thing I need is my 15″ laptop.
Back when I got into computers, I was cobbling together every little piece of funky hardware I could to build a pseudo-production network inside my house. I had an old AMD 5×86-133 based box that served as my firewall and router. I had a little AMD 900 with redundant cheap IDE disks that was my server. I ran Debian GNU/Linux on them because thats what all the smartest people I knew recommended, and it was incredible because it let me do everything I wanted to do my way, without making me do anything to get it working. Even though I had just a 56kbit modem connection, I used squid and heavy tuning to make it the best web browsing experience possible.. for.. me.
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Of 200 names suggested in a Globe-News contest to name Amarillo's new West Texas-New Mexico League baseball team, an "avalanche" of 89 arrived in the sports department on March 16, 1939.
"The heavy voting surpasses the dreams of the club's officials," the newspaper reported.
Early leaders in the polling were based on the region's western heritage, such as The Dusters, The Herefords and The Rustlers.
Some of the names referred to the area's oil and natural gas industry, which at that time was about 13 years old. They included The Gassers, The Oilers, The Heliumites, Jobbers and Helium City Airways.
Another category of names made references to the windy Panhandle climate, fresh in peoples' minds because of the massive dust storms earlier in the decade. Readers suggested breezy names such as The Northers, Tri-State Dusters, Supreme Dusters, Sandstormers, Stormies and Windchargers. Along the same lines, but with one of several references to the region's bobwhite quail, the name Dusty Bobs was mentioned.
Several of the proposed names made sense for an Amarillo team, keeping in mind the town's character and past. The Sodbusters made reference to the first farmers on the plains. Other such names were Hay Seeds, Tex-Mexies, Tacky Texans, Hereford Capitol Bulldoggers, Jackrabbits, Will Rogers Cowhands and Prairie Doggies.
However, some seem to be flights of fancy, not necessarily evoking an image of Amarillo. The Midgets or Musketeers don't seem to be references commonly associated with the Panhandle. Neither are the Krazy Kats or the Sand Crabs.
The winning moniker? The Gold Sox.
- Compiled by KEVIN WELCH
Globe-News Staff Writer
© 2016. All Rights Reserved. | Contact Us


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HANOVERTON - The South Range and United boys track teams had been dueling through a steady rain the entire night at the Inter-Tri County League upper tier track meet.
With his team down by six points, Raider distance runner Ben Stebelton geared up for the 3200-meter run-the next-to-last-event of the night-knowing his team's run of four straight conference titles was very much in jeopardy. Ten minutes later, as Stebelton came down the stretch flying in front with his teammate Jordan Roush right behind him, he knew the title was back in grasp.
Stebelton's win in the 3200 (10:41.89) -combined with Roush's second-was enough to push the Raiders to a four-point victory Thursday at United High School.
South Range totaled 158 points to United's 154, while Crestview finished a distant third with 53 points. It is the fifth straight ITCL title for the South Range boys.
"How many points we needed was always in the back of my mind," Stebelton said. "The whole race we had to have the mindset that we had to go take it."
Unlike some of the Raiders four previous titles, this one was far from expected for South Range coach Diane Krumpak.
"This year was a pleasent surprise more than anything else. I couldn't be happier," Krumpak said. "I was looking at the times and distances coming in and I wasn't sure we'd make it."
The Raiders held on for the win with a second-place finish in the 1600 relay, anchored by Adam Meloy. Meloy also collected wins in the 200 dash (23.05 seconds) and the 400 dash (52.54).
"We expected a big challenge from United. We knew it was going to be close" Meloy said. "They have a lot of great athletes. I ran pretty well. I really didn't mind the rain."
United's second-place effort was led by Riley Fillman, who won three events to capture the boys meet MVP. Fillman won the 110 hurdles (15.98), 300 hurdles (42.03) and long jump (19-8 1/4).
"It's nice to win three events, but really wish we would have got the win," Fillman said. "We were really close. Everyone ran their hardest tonight."
Fillman battled a stiff back all night in the wet conditions.
"It's been bothering me for a while now, and I definitely was not at my best tonight," Fillman said. "I took a week off last week and have been getting some physical therapy. It's feeling better than it has been"
So dominant were the Raiders and Eagles that they combined to win all but two of the events.
Crestview's E.J. Miller broke through in the 800 run (2:06.77), while Crestview's Caleb McGath won the high jump (5-8).
"We know some of the guys from United and they are always great to compete against," Meloy said. "They are a great program. It was fun going back and forth with them."
Raider girls win
Track is often thought of as an individual sport, but Thursday, the South Range girls team showcased the power of their team mindset.
Using a balanced effort in which nearly everyone on the roster contributed, the Raiders swept aside the competition at the Inter-Tri County League upper tier track meet at United High School.
The Raiders totaled 164 points, while United came in second with 99 and Mineral Ridge finished third with 70. It is the second straight ITCL title for the South Range girls.
"Every one of these girls worked so hard all year," South Range coach Diane Krumpak said. "They realize that this is a team thing and that's what makes me the proudest."
The highlight for the Raider's was senior Raianne Mason's meet record time of 46.53 on her way to capturing the 300 hurdles.
"I was so excited when they announced the time." Mason said. "I had no idea I was so close. My time has been dropping steadily all year. Every meet I've been shaving off a little more time."
Mason is on a mission this year after finishing fifth in the regional finals last season.
"It came down to the last hurdle at regionals last year," Mason said. "It motivated me to work very hard this year, and my teammates have been pushing me all season."
While South Range won the team event, many around the track were talking about the performance of United's Allison Parks, Parks won the 400 dash (60.47), 800 run (2:24.76), 1600 run (5:32.09) and 3200 run (11:55.59) to take home the girls MVP.
"I wanted to see if I could win the four open events," Parks said. "I didn't pass out, I didn't die so we're good." "I've never done the mile, 400, 800 and two mile before so it was fun."
Parks clinched her final win of the night with a closing burst, blowing by South Range's Mollie Pierson in the final stretch of the 3200.
"You never feel like you're going to have anything left at the end, but there is always something there," Parks said. "Mollie set a great pace in that race and gave me a push."


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Can Parents Kidnap Their Own Children?
Under New York State law, a person can be charged with kidnapping, a class B felony which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years, when he or she abducts another person. The New York State Court of Appeals has determined that parents can be charged with kidnapping their own children even when they have custody of them.
I want to share a case that was held before the Court. The father held a large knife to his daughter's throat and was convicted of kidnapping her. In its decision, New York State's highest court ruled that parents who engage in conduct that is so dangerous or harmful to children as to be inconsistent with the idea of lawful custody may be charged with kidnapping under New York State Penal Law.
Can the language in the Court's ruling now open the door to criminal prosecutions for kidnapping in New York State criminal courts, when parents abduct their children to a foreign country, on the basis that the conduct is dangerous or harmful to their children and inconsistent with the idea of lawful custody?
There are countless children who have been abducted to foreign countries without the other parent's consent. Under the International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act of 1993, it is a federal crime to remove children out of the country with the intent to obstruct another parent's custodial rights. However, the maximum penalty for doing so is only 3 years.
Perhaps the Court's recent decision will open the door for allowing criminal prosecutions in New York State criminal court, where penalties for kidnapping children are far more severe, and finally empower parents who have lost their children to abductions.
Navigate: Home States New York Divorce Source New York Divorce Articles, News and Resources Child Custody & Visitation Can Parents Kidnap Their Own Children?
The filing spouse must file and serve a verified complaint stating grounds for the divorce. In addition to the verified complaint there are other documents that must be filed including Affidavits and a Marital Settlement Agreement setting out division of property, spousal and child support.
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In times of struggle, an appetite to serve
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on November 10, 2013 1:50 AM
News-Argus/SETH MABRY
Sylvia Anderson, left, prepares a plate to be served during the Community Harvest Outreach at Woods Chapel Free Will Baptist Church Saturday in Goldsboro. More than a dozen churches and organizations contributed food and resources to assist 200 families.
More than a dozen churches and an array of civic groups and organizations pooled their resources to make Thanksgiving better for 200 families. "We're called the Community Outreach Harvest event," said Shirley Perry of Woods Chapel Free Will Baptist Church,...
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No word from governor on WVU situation
July 3, 2013
MORGANTOWN—You might recall, if you are a regular reader of this column, that a few days before West Virginia's June 20 birthday, I suggested that Gov....
Im disgusted with the journal for continuing to use Furfari's articles. Im dropping my paid subscription to this paper.
0 Agrees | 1 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Imgrill, yes we can agree on that! It is sad.
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Can we all agree it's time to drop this column for good. It's worse than journal junction. He has no facts or only provides partial facts. It's just not journalism.
3 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
Just to clarify a point about the tier three media, the 500,000.- 600,000. figure was only part of the current media rights which are estimated to be in the 4 to 5 million dollar range. Sorry for the confusion.
1 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
"Mickey can not handle change."
Exactly, and good comments. Mickey is a bitter person who has lost his inside contacts at WVU and all that goes with that. He has become nothing more then an attack dog for John Raese. We will also be gaining tier three media rights revenue of 9 to 11 million a year vs the 500,000-600,000 a year that we currently get . It's a no brainer.
3 Agrees | 0 Disagrees | Report Abuse »
It seems that you are constantly trying to dig up dirt on the athletic department
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Tomblin does not have to explain why we are in the red, anyone can figure it out. We did not get any revenue sharing from the Big East (as part of our exit deal) or the Big 12 (as they bought our way out of the Big East), with 10 million to be payed back and 10 million forgiven. Once we are fully vested in Big 12 revenue sharing we will be getting 27 million a year. We will be more than ok financially once this happens. This is not the only reason(had to pay Florida State a half million) and giving Holgerson and Hugs raises. Mickey can not handle change.
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Here are a few ways to shave fat and calories from your menu:
- Use low-sodium vegetable broth instead of oil or butter in your stir fry.
- Three ounces of chicken without the skin has 50 fewer calories than with it. Cook with the skin on to retain moisture, just don't eat it.
- Choose a cheese with intense flavor so you can use less. Try feta, sharp cheddar or aged Parmesan.
- Fat-free Greek yogurt is a good replacement for sour cream.
- Add pur�ed vegetables to soups and sauces instead of heavy dairy products
- Use fat-free half-and-half for any heavy cream in soups.
Prep tips
- To bring butter to room temperature, grate it over a box grater.
- To keep apples from browning, soak them in a bowl of lemon-lime soda for three to five minutes.
- You can save yourself some time by peeling potatoes the night before you need them. To keep them from browning, store them in a bowl of cold water in a cool place (not the refrigerator).
- Keep a pot from boiling over by placing a wooden spoon across the top.


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ronald bentel main.jpg
Friday, May 23, 2014 2:29 PM
Inappropriate photo? Alert us.
Ronald Bentel Jr., 33, of Folsom, is held in the Jefferson Parish jail for allegedly ordering a hit on a witness who'll testify against him in a pending narcotics case in the 24th Judicial District Court in Gretna. "He said he would pay $10,000 to whoever kills the witness," JPSO Sgt. Joshua Collins testified Friday, during a hearing prosecutors sought to have Bentel held without bail. Bentel, a former Metairie resident and accused leader of a narcotics racket, was arrested in 2012, in connection with a sweeping investigation into synthetic marijuana manuracturing and sales. Free on bail in that case, he was booked with more narcotics charges in early May, and weeks later, with solicitation for murder involving the witness, authorities said. (JPSO)
Related articles
- Judge denies bail to two men accused of Jefferson Parish murder plot May 23, 2014, 2:45 PM
- Jefferson Parish prosecutors charge duo in murder plot to eliminate witness July 07, 2014, 6:56 PM


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Hi! My name is Lynx
I am Domestic Longhair from Fairbanks, AK
Nicknames: Linki, Mama cat, Pest
Age: 12 years old
Gender: F
Coat: long haired
Education: She gave birth to a beautiful litter of 4 kittens.
My favorite tricks and treats are: Can magically make a disk of food disappear. and I love any kitty treats.
Where I hang out: Any lap that will have me.
My favorite grubs: Friskies shredded...and lots of it.
My pet peeves: Not being able to get petted and loved 24/7.
What I love about my owners: She feeds me and gave me a warm home...and wasn't mad when I got pregnant and had 4 kittens. She also lets me pester her.
My cat hobbies: Be a pest! Constantly sit on everyones lap, especially when they don't want me.
Pet motto: Love me, Feed me, Pet me!!
See all awards »
A neighbor of my boyfriend had three little kittens and we noticed that they were very skinny and chased anything that moved. We asked her about the kittens and she said that she didn't feed them because they could fend for themselves (outside, in Alaska) and she didn't like them anyway. We were sure they'd either starve or freeze to death, So, we caught all three, one at a time, and found them good homes...I kept one and named her Lynx.
I've had 1243 friends visit me.
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Miami Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan's suspension ended just as training camp began.
Jordan was reinstated by the NFL on a conditional basis after sitting out last season for his latest violation of the league's substance abuse policy. Commissioner Roger Goodell notified Jordan on Friday, when the Dolphins held their first practice.
Jordan may join the Dolphins and participate in meetings and conditioning work, the league said. Once arrangements have been confirmed regarding Jordan's clinical resources, he will be permitted to take part in all preseason activities, including practices and games.
Before the start of the regular season, Jordan will meet with the...


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In accordance with Executive Order 11-09, the Indiana State Fair Commission established the Indiana State Fair Relief Fund to provide assistance to those who were admitted to a hospital or died as a result of the accident on August 13, 2011. The fund was created through the generosity of private donors who made donations in the wake of the accident. All payments made from the Relief Fund are a gift from the Relief Fund donors and are not intended to be compensation for the claimants, nor shall they be treated as such in any future or potential litigation. Accepting payment from the Relief Fund shall not preclude the claimant from exercising any other legal claim they may have arising out of the events of August 13, 2011 and does not constitute a waiver of any legal right.
This page provides information for potential claimants on the proper procedure to request assistance from the Relief Fund. Please read through all of the below information prior to submitting a Claim Form. All inquiries relating to the fund can be made to the Claims Processor at 1-855-222-0003 or at email@example.com.
Indiana State Fair Commission relief fund press release
State Fair Relief Fund Protocol Word | PDF
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Airbus is going the "Xtra" mile to ensure the A350 XWB's successful service entry – developing its own "airline" – designated Airline 1 – to evaluate the A350 XWB in typical operating conditions.
…/Feature story
The airline within Airbus: Flying the A350 XWB to prepare for the jetliner's service entry
Airbus' A380 is welcomed around the world
With more than 60 million passengers carried since it commenced commercial operations, the A380 has proven itself as a true 21st century flagship for airlines across the globe.
Feels like home: The A380 has become a familiar sight in the UK
The A380 is "right at home" as a centre of attention at the 2014 Farnborough Airshow – underscoring the key role it plays in connecting city-pairs around the world, including a major international hub not far from the location of this biennial UK-based aerospace event.
For the long-haul: Airbus' A380 is slated for a growing number of ultra-long range routes
Since its 2007 commercial service entry, the A380 has become a true globetrotter, serving key routes and high-value long-haul passengers at the world's busiest international airports.
The Xtra that makes a difference: Airbus' busy flight test campaign for the A350 XWB's service entry this year
Much can happen in a year. Just look at Airbus' A350 XWB flight test and certification programme as proof.
Airbus sees sustained demand for its popular single-aisle product line at the 2014 Farnborough Airshow
The latest wave of orders and commitments for Airbus' best-selling A320 Family of jetliners underscores the continued market demand for both its CEO (current engine option) and NEO (new engine options), while also confirming the trend toward higher-capacity jetliner versions in meeting worldwide tra...
In their own words: Airbus customers enthusiastically endorse the A330neo
As the first customers announce their commitments for Airbus' A330neo (new engine option), their views expressed at press conferences during the Farnborough Airshow underscore the market response to this newly-launched jetliner:
Eco-design: Airbus is designing with the environment in mind
With Airbus' environmental policy, the company's philosophy literally starts at the beginning.
Airbus opens its Farnborough Airshow exhibit to the world… virtually
Airbus is inviting people from around the globe to the Farnborough Airshow – with a unique interactive feature that provides 360 deg. virtual tours of the display area.
Offering a "walkaround" online visits to the exhibit area inside Airbus Group's Farnborough Airshow pavilion and outdoor aircraft ...
Airbus and the environment: A strategy that adds up
Airbus is showing its environmental perfomance at the 2014 Farnborough International Airshow, with technology innovations benefitting both the environment and the company's bottom line.
As a leading aircraft manufacturer, Airbus' takes a comprehensive approach to the eco-efficiency of the company's...


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Oh, he was the instructor. Totally legit for me to spend two hours looking at him I tried to keep the *tilts head and eyes up and down* to a minimum, though. Actually, when I send him the link for the class review (since I'll be linking to his company) I am going to ask if I can take him to lunch at some point to pick his brain about vegetable gardens. Not now- it's busy season- but at some point. One of the things his company does is help to install vegetable gardens, and he mentioned that he thought there would be a market for helping people learn about gardening. Well, gee whiz It will be to legitimately pick his brain. Seeing him again will just be a perk
When I started PB, it was Bacon! Cream! Steaaaaak! and lots of veggies. Thing is, I'm not really coming from wheat this time, so it's not quite as exciting. I was also coming out of busy season and wasn't nearly as frustrated with work as I am right now, so I was in a better mental place. I need to push the veggies, and I need to just have lots of easy food on hand at all times. Saturday was fine- I actually fasted (ok, except for the mocha, but it was whole milk!) until about 5 when I had a steak and sweet potatoes. The chips, etc on Sunday were strictly a "fuck you, world" emotional choice.
I need to make a concerted effort to look for a new job. That will help me at least feel like I am trying to fix this. I also need to make sure that I get in lots of garden time. It should help that I have lots of garden space
I am just making things worse for myself. I'm just . . . having a hard time gathering the spine I need to bull through the misery until I can start seeing results that will then encourage me. The fatter and weaker I get, the less motivated I am to do things like MOVE. I know that the slimmer and stronger I get, the MORE motivated I am to move, but I'm having a hard time switching over.


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Cornyn allies launch "Shady Stockman" barrage with Bob Perry $
WASHINGTON — A Texas SuperPAC with close ties to Sen. John Cornyn is launching a "Shady Stockman" social media campaign to spotlight ethical questions dogging Rep. Steve Stockman, the senator's top rival in the March primary.
The political action committee, Texans for a Conservative Majority, has plenty of funds to bolster Cornyn, thanks to a $2 million donation last spring from Houston home builder Bob Perry.
The anti-Stockman barrage is just beginning. A Twitter handle, @shadystockman, has only one follower so far. The website and Facebook pages are also in the early stages. But there's enough to get the gist of the attacks on the Friendswood Republican, who jumped into the Senate race moments before the filing deadline. Stockman won a congressional seat in 1994 and was ousted after a single term, making a comeback last year; he will give up his safe Houston-area seat to run for Senate.
Under the heading "Finances," the site refers to a recent Houston Chronicle investigation that found Stockman had failed to sufficiently explain the source of $350,000 in income over the last two years. Under "Ethics," it notes his failure to file required congressional disclosure forms, and a scandal involving illegal donations that prompted him to fire two aides.
Under "Criminal history," it notes that Stockman had been jailed repeatedly and was even caught once by jailers with Valium in his underwear – an admission he made to Texas Monthly in a 1996 profile, explaining the hell-raising days of his youth, before he found Jesus and conservative activism.
Website visitors can spread the message at the click of a mouse, tweeting out such taunts as "@StockmanSenate can try to run for Senate, but he can't run away from his past. See more at: http://www.shadystockman.com/#sthash.FIj2ji6O.dpuf"
A next phase is likely to include a TV blitz after New Years. Cornyn himself has $7 million in his campaign account, compared to Stockman's $32,000, at last report anyway. With well-armed allies such as the SuperPAC, the Cornyn camp obviously is hoping to nip the challenge before Stockman can sell himself across the state.
TCM got $2 million from Perry on March 1, six weeks before his death on April 13 at age 80. Federal campaign filings show the PAC got another $200,000 later in March from Fort Worth brothers Sid, Lee and Ed Bass. In June, it got $125,000 from beer magnate John Nau III, CEO of Houston-based Silver Eagle Distributors, the state's largest distributor of Anheuser-Busch products.
We'll post any rebuttal from Stockman if we get it. He hasn't been responding to interview requests. Online, he's offering "Obama barf bags" for every $10 donated to his campaign.
As for TCM, there's no pretense that this is a bunch of political Good Samaritans come to Cornyn's aid.
The PAC's president is Randy Cubriel, an Austin-based lawyer and lobbyist who served as Cornyn's traveling aide on the 2002 campaign. He also worked for Cornyn at the state Attorney General's office and later as a U.S. Senate aide.
"You can't be too cautious," Cubriel said of the anti-Stockman effort. "We support strong conservative and ethical leadership for Texas. … [Stockman's] record is shady and Texas deserves better."
His wife, Beth Cubriel, now executive director of the Texas GOP, has a long relationship with Cornyn, too. She worked on his first campaign for attorney general and was at his side once he took office. She was a top aide in his 2002 and 2008 Senate campaigns, and served as state field director for his Senate office, overseeing staff and constituent services in Texas.


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The Gosselin gang is about to get bigger!
On a one-hour special of Kate Plus 8, Kate Gosselin gets chickens for the family -- as pets.
And now that the supermom has hung up her Dancing shoes, it's time to get to work. "I don't want to get wet," she says, as she pressure cleans the side of her house. "Whoa, I got wet!"
Should have let one of your kids do the dirty work, Kate!
Kate Plus 8 airs Sunday at (9 p.m. EST) on TLC. -… Alison Schwartz


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Crazy Quilting
"I can't believe how much fun this is!"
My girls did a great job in their first class.
Have you ever done any Crazy Quilting? It is so much fun, you can't make a mistake.
Anything goes!!!!!!!!
My girls did a great job in their first class.
Have you ever done any Crazy Quilting? It is so much fun, you can't make a mistake.
Anything goes!!!!!!!!
I will be teaching a series of Crazy Quilt Classes this February at Countryside Fabrics.
I've taught this class several times throughout the years. It is my most popular class.
It is a great way to use up scraps and all the embellishments are so much fun to learn.
If there is enough interest another class will be scheduled so if Saturdays don't work for you let me know and we can schedule a weekday or evening.
This class covers all the basics of block construction.
Embroidery 101. We will learn and practice some of the most common embroidery stitches to make those seams beautiful.
Silk Ribbon Embroidery is beautiful. It works wonders for crazy quilts and is also a nice addition for little accents in signature blocks, labels, apparel, and so much more.
Beading! You will be amazed how much is added when you sew on a small bead. We will cover the proper techniques for sewing beads so they stay on your quilt and look at combinations that will make your crazy quilt a real piece of art.
Send me an email for a class bring list or if you have any questions.
I have to be honest with you. I didn't think I would be able to finish up the year-long challenge. This time of year gets so busy.
I've been doodling in my little book, reading quilt magazines, doing some handwork, and cyber quilting (this means Pinterest, EQ, and Craftsy) but I haven't been at my sewing machine for weeks.
I finally just grabbed some fabric and batting and followed Sarah Vedeler's directions for swirls. It was easier than I anticipated. I truly believe this is because of the months and months of practice. The first time I saw swirls I was scared to death, scratching my head and sure I would never be able to do them.
I made this cute little purse out of my challenge piece. It went together in a snap.
One more Christmas present done and a challenge to boot. I'm thrilled!
Swirls are so much fun!
If swirls scare you I highly recommend you follow the tutorials at Sew Cal Gal's FMQ challenge or if you are a visual learner like me try Craftsy.
It is an excellent platform for learning something new.
I highly recommend the Quilting Negative Space with Angela Waters or the Free Motion Quilt Along with Leah Day. They are both jam-packed with wonderful free motion quilting tips and techniques. I have taken both and enjoyed them so much. I will watch them again and again.
Two days = Two Packages!
One I was expecting, the other, a complete surprise.
The first was a package of wonderful woolfelts. I love working with wools.
I have two classes coming up next month involving wools. I need to make up kits for my students.
1. Wool is hard to come by here where I live.
2. It is kind of on the expensive side.
3. Find enough for 30 students. HA!
so I decided to take the plunge and try woolfelt. I have heard it was great, but I am a purist and like to stick with only the real stuff.
My package arrived yesterday. I'm thrilled with what was inside.
The best part is that Prairie Point Junction is having a sale right now through midnight October 30th. 20% off everything! Check it out for yourself at http://www.prairiepointjunction.com
I'm not affiliated with them or anything, I am just a really happy customer.
Here are a few of my wool projects
Now the second package was a complete surprise. I recently had an opportunity to subscribe to a quilting magazine through my local quild. Soon I got a letter thanking me and asking if I would like to get another year for just $12.00. I said yes right away. That is a steal! 6 issues for $12.00!
Anyway yesterday my little package was a thank you for renewing. It contained 3 fullsize spools of sulky rayon threads. These alone probably cost $12.00. What a deal.
This company is taking seriously the advice to take care of your customers. I will definitely recommend them to others.
Got to go now,
Happy Quilting


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- IMG_0572-Edit
- Jan Farmer
- Mom's Race
Jan Farmer
- Most Improved
Zak Farmer
- Most Improved
- Most Improved
- 2016 Hard Luck Award
Colin Kernz
- 2016 High Points Award
Michael Gagliano
- 2016 Air Force Commander
Jakki Farmer
- Sportsmanship of the Year
- Most Improved
Jordan Biese
- Mechanic of the year
Paul Poker
- IMG_0614-Edit
- Family of the Year
- Staff Mvp
- Pro Am +30
408 Brian Staab 1st
469 Bob Heizman
- Womens
405 Jakki Farmer
415 Markki Farmer
177 Caitlin Krieske
553 Janiece Brown
156 Jorden Schultz
- Sport
2. 899 Keagan Bachara
- Sport Lite
- Novice
1.378 Josh Luchini
2.811 Lee Truttmann
3.98 Jared Case
4.293 Seth Rehrauer
5.177 Caitlin Krieske
- Plus 40
1.Michael Gagliano
2.Pete Schoetz
3.899 Kurt Bachara
- Junior Combined 14-17
165 Jackson Schoepp
- Junior 16-17
200 Noah Pfeil
407 Zak Farmer
165 Jackson Schoepp
401Dillon Gagliano
- Junior 14-15
1. 407 Zak Farmer
2.872 Joseph Brown
- Junior 10-13
115 Tegan Yoder
- 243 Jordan Biese
- Junior Combined 10-13
1. 115 Tegan Yoder 476
2.811 Brayden Kernz
3.243 Jordan Biese
- 120 Pro 206 6-7
1. 310 Peyton Poker
2. 120 Kendall Rose
3. 888 Teegan Truttman
4. 71 Hayden Raub
5. 518 Lane Giese
- 120 Pro 206 8-12
1. Reece Bollmann 551
2.418 Landon Giese 466
3.118 Jack Wiedmeyer
4. 511 Camren Melrose
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28 Trenton Peterson
- 120 Imp Stock 4-5
1. 210 Taytum Poker
2. 66 Corbyn Gutbrod
3. 147 Hunter Hoffman
4. 28 Trenton Peterson
- 120 Imp Stock 6-7
1. 71 Hayden Raub
2. 518 Lane Giese
3. 811 Owen Wiedmeyer
- 120 Imp Stock 8-12
1. 418 Landon Giese
2.118 Jack Wiedmeyer
- 120 Imp Stock 4-12
1. 418 Landon Giese 1
2. 71 Hayden Raub
3. 518 Lane Giese
4. 66 Corbyn Gutbrod
5. 147 Hunter Hoffman
6. 811 Owen Wiedmeyer
- 120 Champ 6-12
1.Reece Bollmann
2.Peyton Poker
3.Camren Melrose
- Transition Combined 8-12
1.170 Neil Dees
2.410 Tyler Poker
3.130 Kammron Rose
- Transition 8-10
1.410 Tyler Poker
2.170 Neil Dees
3.130 Kammron Rose
4.118 Jack Wiedmeyer
- Transition 11-12
Brooke Kennebeck
- Ryan Eggert
- Junior Girls 9-13
Brooke Kennebeck
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120 classes: What you used to know as our STOCK 120 classes have been renamed Improved Stock. We now have one stock class which means bone STOCK – no modifications allowed including gearing. This class is meant for first time racers as in introduction to snocross.
Points/Showdown Clarification:
You must run 75% of the scheduled races (6 of 8) in order to qualify for year end points/awards and the Showdown at Lake Geneva. There are NOT any throw out races for our series. You must make 6 of 8 events in order to be ELIGIBLE for the showdown or year end points. That does NOT mean you throw two races out. Example: You win every heat and main event you compete in but only attend 5 of 8 races which lands u in the top three in points. Result: you do NOT get to attend the showdown or receive series awards because you did not compete in the minimum number of events (6). If you make all 8 events, then all 8 of them count towards points, if you only make 6 or 7 events then those 6-7 events count towards points. If you only make 5 events you will not be figured into the year end points.
We do hope this clears a few things up.
KAUKAUNA race is currently scheduled for February 27th – it is VERY likely that will get moved back one week so we are not competing against the National in Michigan. We will discuss this change this weekend in Ironwood. This change should also make it easier to make the minimum 6 races for most people.
Hope to see all of you this weekend in Ironwood – track construction is underway – pics available (more as the day goes) on our Facebook page – Great Northern Snocross Series
Contact: Scott Biese at 920-419-2863
In the days leading up to the event I am very difficult to contact since I am generally on-site preparing for the event. I do NOT have access to email on the Thursday or Friday prior to the event. Please plan ahead with your question and contact me early.
Two season long promotions meant to help us build snocross in Wisconsin:
Bring a first time Trail Stock rider/entrant with you to the races and receive a $25 coupon toward a race of your choice – this promotion is good for the entire season.
Also, first time 120 racers new to the GNSS will get a buy the first class and get the 2nd class for FREE – again, valid at all events this year.
ALL racers and crew wishing to enter the staging area (Hot Pits) must have an ISR membership in order to compete in 2015. This is what allows GNSS to eliminate the per class "Insurance" charge from past years. Please sign up at Insurance. Print your receipt or email confirmation and carry it with you until your hard card arrives in the mail. One day USAC memberships are available at the track only for $25.
Anyone/Everyone can race in our Trail class!
Trail Rules:
Snowmobile must be 800cc or less: Riders under 18 are limited to a 600cc max sled.
Rider must be a minimum of 14 years of age. If under 18 you must be accompanied by BOTH parents or one parent and a written/notarized consent form from the other parent.
Snowmobile cannot be a "snocross" produced sled. Snocross replica sleds manufactured for trail use are fine. But a snocross sled converted to a trail sled is not
Racers must have a Tech vest or an EVS snocross vest. We borrow them to racers at NO charge but a license or credit card must be left with our race day office
No studs outside the rails of the sled – we prefer NO studs at all.
Must have a working tether cord
Just like all of our other classes, the trail class will run 2 rounds and a main at all events.
Registration for this class is available at the track.
Entry fee is $25 and there is a $25 one day USAC membership that can only be purchased at the track. ENTER HERE


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As the wintery gloom begins to melt into spring, we wanted to share a quick round-up of our favorite videos from the past couple of months. We start with 'Timeless'; a fascinating video essay from hypercubist director Gabriel Shalom, Patrizia Kommerell and the fine folks at KS12.
Funky Venus mission concept from NASA's Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts programme. It's all about the nuclear-powered rover and solar space planes. Well (hypothetically) played, America.
'What is Next Nature?', an exciting talk from Dutch Renaissance man Koert van Mensvoort, focusing on the increasingly unstable relationship between nature and artifice.
From friend-of-the-studio Liam Young's 2011 summer jaunt to Chernobyl, Baikonur, and the depths of Central Asia, Factory Fifteen's creepy nuclear design fiction, 'GAMMA'. Posthuman urban remediation a-go-go!
From corporate romcom Other Peple's Money (1991), 'Larry the Liquidator' (Danny DeVito) gives a ruthless barnstormer of a speech about the relationship between financial capital and technological change. Shareholder capitalism!
To finish, we give you Carl E. Rinsch's atmospheric short 'The Gift'. Sinister Russians, motorbikes, and a ceramic robot: what's not to like?


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Alex Rodriguez owes $3 million to the lawyers that defended him against Major League Baseball's allegations of performance-enhancing drug use, according to a New York Daily News report.
The Yankees' third baseman has paid about a million, but has repeatedly ignored calls from lawyers to collect the money, the report said.
Lawyers could take Rodriguez to court for the money, the report said, and file documents "that outline how and why Rodriguez pursued his scorched-earth legal strategy against MLB."
Though Rodriguez is sports' highest-paid athlete ever, his 162-game suspension from MLB will take from him most of the $25-million salary he was due for 2014. Still, he got a $2.9 million roster bonus from the Yankees in January.


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FIANNA Fáil councillor Owen McCarthy was unanimously elected as the town's new mayor at a special meeting of Macroom Town Council recently.
Cllr McCarthy has served for 13 years on the council and was elected to the office of mayor unanimously buy his colleagues.
He dedicated his year as mayor to the memory of his mother Eileen who died earlier in the year.


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Upon completion of the course participants will be able to read and transcribe 17th-20th century texts written in German script; Medieval texts will not be studied. Participants will be able to identify abbreviations used in 17th- and 18th-century texts and will know where to reference less frequently used ones. We will discuss the development of script from Roman times until the abolition of German script in 1943. You will also learn about different calendar and dating systems used throughout the centuries.
This intensive course on learning to read German script has been taught for over 40 years and is the only course of its kind in the country. The course is taught by Dr. Paul Peucker and Lanie Graf, both experts and experienced instructors in reading and writing German script.
Former participants include more than 400 college professors, graduate students, genealogists, curators, archivists and hobbyists from various backgrounds. They represent such academic fields as history and German, American studies, musicology, religion, anthropology, art history, sociology, genealogy, technology and other subjects.
Course fee: $700.00 (incl. textbook and instructional materials but does not include housing)
The number of participants is limited to 15.


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7 Great Ways to Immortalize Your Kid's ArtBuzz Bishop
The end of the school year is upon us, and if you haven't been collecting the crafts throughout the year, a big envelope will be arriving home from school very soon.
Macaroni wreaths, handprint turkeys, coloured eggs, drawings, and more will soon be stuck to the fridge, hung on a wall, stuffed in a drawer, or tossed.
There has to be a better way to deal with all the creative things our kids make through the school year.
Here's 7 great ideas to handle the artwork overflow from your prolific pint-sized Picasso.
Take A Picture Of Everything 1 of 7This is the least of what you should be doing. Take a picture of every single piece of art they make. Create an "art" folder on Facebook, Flickr, or your hard drive. Label everything with what it is and when it was done (ie Butterfly, May 2012).
Get Social 2 of 7Once you have pictures of the art, you could create a Tumblog of the images, create a photo book each year of their works, or sign them up for the DIY social network. The site is a place for kids to collect and share all the things they create as they grow.
Get Physical 3 of 7Child's Own is just one of many companies that creates actual characters from your kids' cartoons. Formia Design will take your kid's scribbles and turn them into jewelry. Pretty cool.
Image Credit Formia Design
Frame It 4 of 7We have some early artwork framed and hanging in the kids' playroom. Their first finger paints, early handprints, things like that. We also have a frame in our kitchen where we will swap out the latest masterpiece to suit the season.
Hang Them In The Garage 5 of 7Our son took an art class last summer. Every few days there was a new creation coming home. We quickly ran out of space, so we started hanging them in the garage. They're displayed, he gets to see them, and it adds something to an otherwise junky place.
Mail Them To Gramma 6 of 7You don't have to keep everything they make. A couple of times a year we will package up some favorites and ship them off to the grands to display.
Sort The Seasonal Stuff 7 of 7I still have a cotton ball snowman I made when I was 6 years old I hang on my Christmas tree. My mom kept 'the good stuff' in seasonal boxes. Whether it's paper plate bats, or potato print pumpkins, take the stuff that matches the season and put it in the boxes with your 'fancy' decorations.
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Read more at DadCAMP or The Blog According to Buzz.
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Article Posted 4 years Ago


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Express football opens in Pittsburgh
The Erie Express open their Premier Amateur Football League season today in Pittsburgh when they face the Pittsburgh Stealth in a 3 p.m. contest.
The Express, which finished 4-6 in 2013, will be missing several players because of work commitments and injuries, according to Director of Personnel Paul Pennington.
Tim Gordon (Youngstown State) will get the start at quarterback as Dale Barney (North Carolina A&T) is still playing with the Cleveland Patriots indoor football team.
Javon Rowan (Indiana, Pa.) will play QB and also will be in his usual role as wide receiver. Mario Henry (University of Buffalo) will see action in the backfield, while Chris Brown and Antonio Batista are wideouts and Denton Sauers (Westminster) fill the tight end spot.
The Express' first home game will be May 3 against the Buffalo Gladiators.


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Zamalek striker Amr Zaki is totally against limiting the wages of footballers in Egypt, following the nation's recent public revolution.
The salary cap speculation has been raised recently, most notably when the Egyptian FA discussed introducing it during a meeting with club presidents this week.
However, Egypt striker Zaki couldn't disagree more with the notion.
"I totally reject this option. Controlling wages and contracts has no place in the world of professional football," the 27-year-old told FilGoal.com.
Ismaili's ultras group Yellow Dragons threatened to stop attending the team's matches if no limits were applied to the wages of players in the club.
In the same manner, Zamalek football director Ibrahim Hassan voiced his disagreement with the suggestion.
"I am against this idea. Since players vary in their standards, it is logic that wages are also variable," Hassan said.
"It is a supply-and-demand situation. It also has no place in European football. Every player is worth what he deserves."
اخر الأخبار
نرشح لكم
اخر الفيديوهات
الأكثر مشاهدة خلال 3 أيام
احدث الالبومات
أستطلاع أراء


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Auditions open for 'Way Off'
FREDERICK, Md. - The 2014 Season marks a milestone for The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre. Opening the season will be Rodgers & Hammerstein's beloved classic "The Sound of Music." Auditions for the production have been set for Sunday for adult roles and a second round of auditions for the roles of the von Trapp children has been added for 6 p.m. Monday.
Specific casting details, as well as rehearsal and performance information can be found on Way Off Broadway's website, www.wayoffbroadway.com.


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Your Travel Plan Starts at Rawalpindi, Punjab, Pakistan. It Ends at Skardu
Want to know the your planned distances for yor journey on a google map? You can see the Distance from Rawalpindi to Skardu!
Want to see your travel plan on the large map? You want to see a bigger Map here- Map from Rawalpindi to Skardu!
You need travel road driving directions to help better plan your travel? Refer the Directions from Rawalpindi to Skardu!
Want to plan your travel by air from Rawalpindi to Skardu? Check the Flight distance between Rawalpindi and Skardu.
Travel time is very important to execute your tour plan. Plan your trip by getting approximate times here - Travel Time from Rawalpindi to Skardu.
Planning to fly from Rawalpindi to Skardu? Do want an estimate of the Flight Time from Rawalpindi to Skardu.
Do you want to know what is more, road distance or flight distance? You can find out How far is Skardu from Rawalpindi.
After getting your travel planned, you would also like to get the Rawalpindi to Skardu Route planned with the help of a routeplanner.
After having the entire plan for your journey, you would also like to get an estimate of the travel expenses. You can check the Trip Cost from Rawalpindi to Skardu.* The above is an approximate. Current Road Conditions, Weather, Traffic, Time of day, Other local factors, etc. might affect travel plans.
© 2011-2016 distancesfrom.com. A softUsvista Inc. venture!


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Please click on the link below to download the latest version. Thanks!
CBNNews.com - The Obama Administration has not decided if abortions will be covered under any future universal health care plans, a top White House official told CBN News.
In an exclusive interview, White House Policy Director Melody Barnes told CBN News that President Obama is still committed to reducing abortions in America. But she emphasized that funding for family planning services remains crucial.
Click on The Brody File links below for more on Barne's conversation with David Brody on the abortion issue and the White House.
"We haven' proposed a specifics benefits package or a particular healthcare proposal so we're going to be engaging with Congress to have this conversation…We haven't had that conversation yet," Barnes, told CBN News Thursday.
Barnes said that it's important that family planning services be a part of a discussion on reducing abortions in this country.
"There are some who may disagree on that issue, but I think the vast majority of Americans believe that that is important," she said. "It's something that should be available to women, so that's an area for discussion."
"There are people. who have a pro-life record but at the same time are strong supporters of family planning and contraception," Barnes explained. "So I think bringing people around the table who may disagree on some issues, but again are looking for those places where we can agree and we can move the debate forward, is important."
Adoption is another area where the White House believes common ground can be found.
"The President has talked about both reducing unintended pregnancies," Barnes told CBN News. "But he's also talked about supporting maternal and child health and supporting adoption in this country, all of those things being part and parcel of a whole."
Many pro-life groups are skeptical of the Obama Administration on the abortion issue because of recent moves to lift restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, rescind the pro-life Mexico City policy. and provide a more narrow definition of abortion conscious clause protections.
Bit Barnes believes the President is an honest broker and cites the creation of his Faith Based Office of Neighborhood partnerships as evidence.
"I think that sends a strong signal that he is committed to working with and talking to people who may have views different from his own and again looking for those areas of common ground," she said.
Pro-life groups believe it's just a matter of time before Congress takes up The Freedom of Choice Act, a bill they say would wipe out many pro-life laws across the country.
Obama has expressed a willingness to sign it into law, but Barnes says that is not the focus of his efforts.
"When that issue and if that issue were to come before him, then he would make a decision about it," she said.
The White House has been consistent in saying that they want the focus to center on the need to reduce abortions in America. But can there be any true common ground? Some on both sides of the abortion war remain skeptical.
Barnes says it's important to make a good faith effort.
"You don't know until you try, and if we continue to stay in our corners and not engage with one another and not try to find those areas of compromise or common ground or common belief we won't ever know if we'll have the opportunity to really create a better life for women and families and children that are struggling," she said.
"That's what I think motivates this President to do the work that he does," she explained. "We also believe that it's important to bring people around that table, to have some of those difficult conversations to try and move the country forward. "
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Find peace with God, discover more about God or send us your prayer request.
Call The 700 Club Prayer Center at 1 (800) 823-6053, 24 hours a day.
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Sports Archive
Huskies Host #1 Minnesota
The #8 ranked SCSU men's hockey team will host the #1 University of Minnesota this weekend for the last time in conference play. The Gophers are coming off a bye weekend while the Huskies will look to keep the ball rolling after a sweep in Bemidji. SCSU Co-Captain Drew LeBlanc earned WCHA recognition for his two assists and goal in the weekend sweep. LeBlanc leads the nation in assists with 30 on the season and is the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week. This marks the third week in a row that one of the Huskies have had a WCHA honor. SCSU freshmen continue to shine as well; Jonny Brodzinski notched his 13th goal of the season on Saturday to extend his win point streak to 13 games. Goaltender Ryan Faragher was also outstanding on the weekend stopping 45 of 46 shots.
The Huskies have not lost a WCHA game since December 7th and currently sit in the top spot in the conference with 29 points. The Gophers are five points behind in a tie for third place and have two games in hand.
The games mark the last time the teams will meet in regular season conference play before parting ways to join new conferences next season. Listen to all the action on the KVSC Sports Stream. Coverage begins on Friday at 7:00 and Saturday at 6:45. Follow us on Twitter for the latest in SCSU hockey new or like us on Facebook.
Latest News
St. Cloud Somali Leader Calls For Release Of Crossroads Mall Stabbing Video
Sri Lanka Night At SCSU Will Celebrate Culture, Hosted By Sri Lanka Student Organization
Man Threatens Employees Of A Waite Park Business After Not Receiving Enough Napkins Friday
Police Are Looking For Suspects After A Hotel Robbery In St. Cloud Sunday
Waite Park Officers Arrest A Man for Felony DUI After Running a Stop Sign Saturday
Placement Of Campaign Signs Matters, Stearns County Reminds People Of Minn. Laws
FBI Is Seeking Cellphone Video From Witnesses At Crossroads Mall During Stabbing
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Oct 01, 2016 - 3:07
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Oct 07, 2016 - 6:07
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"Shawn Prince"
>So far from my experimentation in preparation to roll out the Enterprise
>client, I've found that Outlook 2000 doesn't take well to it at all, Outlook
>2002 is about hit or miss and Outlook 2003 seems to work just fine. Has
>else found similar or contrasting results?
>When it doesn't work the results are varied, from icons just not showing
>up to icons that do show up but an error appears whenever an archived email
>is attempted to be opened.
Shawn - see my previous posts about trouble shooting EV icon problems.
My experience has been OL98 - very hit & miss; OL2002 -mostly OK; OL2003
generally OK though still get the occassional missing icon.


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The New York Yankees of the National League.
That's what people were calling the Phillies a couple of years ago. The label still fits only if you consider the Yankees an old team with some difficult-to-trade contracts.
The intended meaning, of course, was that the Phillies had become the envy of the National League, a team with a beautiful ballpark, a substantial payroll and the ability to contend year after year after year.
Philadelphia was a place the best free agents wanted to come and the place veteran players did not want to leave.
What is it now?
It all depends upon who you ask and we heard some interesting voices from within the organization last week.


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NEWARK, N.J. - The state attorney general assured a group of Muslim leaders Wednesday that a New York City police unit that conducted surveillance of Muslim businesses, religious leaders, and student groups was no longer operating in New Jersey.
Jeffrey Chiesa made the remarks during the first meeting of an outreach committee he formed to repair relations between law enforcement and Muslims in the wake of revelations about the New York Police Department's surveillance tactics.
Paul Loriquet, a spokesman for the attorney general, confirmed that Chiesa said during the closed-door meeting that the NYPD's Demographics Unit was no longer working in New Jersey.