Victims' list: Portraits begin to emerge

Burials have begun for the children and teachers who died after the unthinkable happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School. NBC's Kate Snow reports.

By NBC News staff

Updated at 5:00 a.m. ET Tuesday:?The youngest victim had a twin at the school. The oldest was the school psychologist. Another was the child of a jazz saxophonist.?Among the 28 who died in the shooting in Newtown, Conn., were six teachers -- all women -- and 20 children, ages 6 and 7.

The two others who died were the gunman and his mother. ??

Of the children, eight were boys and 12 were girls.


ADULTS

Dawn Hochsprung, 47, Sandy Hook Elementary principal
When shots rang out Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, Hochsprung ran from a room where she was meeting with a parent and other staff members, school occupational therapist Diane Day told the Wall Street Journal.

She never returned.

Hochsprung, 47, has been described as fun and lighthearted, someone who maintained an active Twitter feed that noted successes and various events at school.

?Sandy Hook hosted district admins for instructional rounds today,? she tweeted on Nov. 29. ?Amazing visit showcased deep learning!??

Last week, she tweeted an image of fourth-grade students rehearsing for their winter concert. Days before that, an image of?kindergartners?exchanging play money at their makeshift grocery store.

?She was not the kind of principal I remembered as a kid,? Diane Licata, the mother of a first- and second-grader at Sandy Hook, told The New York Times. ?She really reached out to the students and made them feel comfortable with her.?

She received her bachelor's degree in special education from Central Connecticut State University and her master's degree in education from Southern Connecticut State University. She was currently enrolled at Russell Sage College in Troy, N.Y., pursuing her Ph.D.

Hoschsprung was married with a high-school age son, according to the Wall Street Journal.

She viewed her school as a model for safety and learning, telling The Newtown Bee in 2010: ?I don?t think you could find a more positive place to bring students to every day.?

Officials said she died while lunging along with the school psychologist at the gunman in an attempt to overpower him, The Associated Press reported.

Sandy Hook Elementary principal Dawn Hochsprung died in the attack after reportedly running toward the gunfire to protect her students. TODAY's Erica Hill reports, and Savannah Guthrie talks with two men who knew her.

Mary Sherlach, 56, school psychologist
Mary Sherlach had worked at Sandy Hook Elementary since 1994 and was known as a fixture at the school, according to the Connecticut Post.

Associated Press

She was the wife of Bill Sherlach, a financial consultant, and mother to two adult daughters, Maura and Katie. The Sherlaches were looking forward to retirement, which they had planned to spend on Owasco Lake, one of New York's Finger Lakes, Newtown Patch reported.

Eric Schwartz, Sherlach?s son-in-law, told the Connecticut Post that he and his wife immediately drove to Connecticut when they heard on the news that the school psychologist had been killed.?

Officials said Sherlach died while running with the principal toward the shooter.?

Schwartz described his mother-in-law as sharp, opinionated and an avid Miami Dolphins fan.?She had planned to leave work early on Friday, he said, but never had the chance.?

As the news trickled out about the shooting, Schwartz told Patch: ?It was a really helpless feeling. For about an hour, you try to say, ?They got it wrong, they got it wrong.??

"Mary felt like she was doing God's work, working with the children,"?he told?NBCConnecticut.com.

Victoria Soto, 27, first-grade teacher
As the shooter entered Room 10, a first-grade classroom, teacher Vicki Leigh Soto tried to shield her students, her cousin Jim Wiltsie told the Wall Street Journal.

"That is how she was found. Huddled with her children," Wiltsie said.

Soto had taught for five years and was known by students as silly and loving.??She put those children first. That?s all she ever talked about,? a friend, Andrea Crowell, told The Associated Press. ?She wanted to do her best for them, to teach them something new every day.??

Read more at NBC Latino?

On her teacher's bio, Soto wrote: "In my free time I love to spend time with black lab Roxie. I love spending time with my brother, sisters and cousins. I love to spend time reading books on the beach soaking?up the sun. ?I also love flamingos and the New York Yankees." ?

Anne Marie Murphy, 52, special education teacher
Murphy, the sixth of seven children, was described by her 86-year-old father, Hugh McGowan, as ?witty? and ?hardworking,? according to New York Newsday.

Her mother, Alice McGowan, 86, described her as ?a good soul.? She told Newsday that when she got the news,?she grabbed her rosary and cried.

Authorities told the couple their daughter helped shield some of her students from the rain of bullets.?

?A first responder said she was a hero,? Murphy's father said.?

"You don't expect your daughter to be murdered.?That's sort of a shocker.?It happens on TV. It happens elsewhere," he added.

Woody Thompson, a neighbor of the Murphy family in Connecticut, said she and her husband were level-headed parents who allowed their four children to play one sport per season.

?They didn?t buy into some of the craziness and the hype of big-time organized youth sports,? Thompson told NBC News. ?

Lauren Gabrielle?Rousseau, 30, permanent substitute teacher
Rousseau was having "the best year of her life," her mother, Teresa Rousseau said, according to The Danbury News-Times, where she is a copyeditor.

AP

Lauren had a boyfriend, Tony Lusardi III, the News-Times reported.?After years of substitute teaching, she landed a permanent substitute teaching position at Sandy Hook.?

She grew up in Danbury and lived with her mother and her mother?s partner.

On Friday night, Rousseau had planned to see a movie, "The Hobbit," according to the News-Times. In preparation, she had made cupcakes with pictures of the actors in the movie topping each one.?

?Lauren wanted to be a teacher from before she even went to kindergarten,? her mother said. ?We will miss her terribly and will take comfort knowing that she had achieved that dream.??

Nancy Lanza, 52, mother of gunman
Investigators believe that Adam Lanza shot his mother at her home near Sandy Hook Elementary before driving to the school and killing 26 others, then himself.

Nancy Lanza was social and generous, friends and neighbors told The New York Times. A friend told NBC News that she was a gun enthusiast.

?She had a pretty extensive gun collection,? Dan Holmes said. ?She was a collector, she was pretty proud of that. She always mentioned that she really loved the act of shooting.?

He said that she took her sons to the shooting range to practice their marksmanship.

In 2008, her husband Peter John Lanza?filed for divorce, court records show.?He lives in Stamford, Conn., and is a tax director at General Electric.?

While much remains unknown about the Sandy Hook school shooting, we're learning more about one of the victims ? gunman Adam Lanza's mother, who owned all of the weapons recovered at the scene. NBC's Mike Isikoff reports, and four of her friends join TODAY's Savannah Guthrie to talk about her life and her relationship with her son.

Rachel D'Avino was 29.

Rachel was born in Waterbury, Conn., to parents Mary D?Avinio of Bethlehem, Conn., and Ralph D?Avino of Waterbury, Conn. She was a 2001 graduate of Nonnewaug High School and received her bachelor?s degree from the University of Hartford and her master?s degree from Post University. She was working toward her doctorate degree from the University of St. Joseph in Hartford, Conn.

A behavioral therapist who worked with special-needs kids, Rachel was one of two teacher?s aides who died at Sandy Hook. She joined the staff at Sandy Hook only about a week before the shooting, the Stamford Advocate reported.

She loved animals, cooking, baking, photography and karate, her family said, adding that she was an adoring big sister who cherished her two younger siblings like they were her own children.

?Her presence and tremendous smile brightened any room she entered,? Rachel?s obituary said. ?Her maternal nature, understanding and sense of patience with the learning disabled were truly gifts she possessed. Ultimately, it is these gifts that would have given Rachel a level of understanding and forgiveness during this time of crisis that many others wouldn?t have.?

Rachel?s aunt, Christine Carmody, who lives in Florida, said that D?Avino?s boyfriend had asked her parents for her hand in marriage and planned to propose on Christmas Eve this year, Carmody told?her pastor before flying to Connecticut,?MyFoxTampaBay.com reported.?

CHILDREN

Charlotte Bacon?was 6.

Charlotte, who had long curly red hair, had begged her mother for a new outfit,?her uncle told ?Newsday. Her mother relented on Friday and allowed her to wear the outfit: a pink dress and boots.

Charlotte?s older brother, Guy, was also in the school but was not shot, The Associated Press reported. Her parents, JoAnn and Joel, had lived in Newtown for four or five years, her uncle, John Hagen, of Nisswa, Minn., told Newsday.

Charlotte?s family issued a statement: ?The family will forever remember her beautiful smile, her energy for life and the unique way she expressed her individuality, usually with the color pink.? ?

Having never met an animal she didn?t love, her parents said, Charlotte had wanted to be a veterinarian since she was 2.

The statement continued: ?She also enjoyed practicing Taekwondo weekly with her Dad and brother where she relished kicking and throwing punches!??

Daniel Barden was 7.?

He was the youngest son of a caring mother and father, who always tried to keep their children active, taking Daniel to swim practice and other activities, according to friends and neighbors, the Washington Post reported.

In his obituary, his family said Daniel loved ?riding waves at the beach, playing the drums in a band with his brother, James, and sister, Natalie, foosball, reading, and making s?mores around the bonfire with his cousins at Papa?s house.?

Daniel earned his missing two front teeth and ripped jeans, the family said in a statement.

He was on the Newtown soccer team and the Newtown Torpedoes swim team.

?This is a warm, loving family,? said a co-worker of Daniel?s mother, Jackie Barden. ?The kids were the type of kids parents want their children to be around: warm and wonderful and caring and kind. This is heartbreaking.??

Tim Nosezo / AP

Olivia Engel was 6.

Olivia was outgoing and had ?a great sense of humor,? said her cousin, John Engel III of New Canaan. The sister of 3-year-old brother Brayden, Olivia was a Girl Scout, a tennis player and excelled at math and reading.

"She had a huge sense of humor, this was not a shy child," Engel said on TODAY. "This was a child who would light up the room with her smile and her sense of humor."?

On Friday, Olivia was excited to go to school and then return home to make a gingerbread house, a?friend of the girl?s family, Dan Merton, told the Associated Press. ?Her only crime is being a wiggly, smiley 6-year-old,? he said.

Olivia, who was learning the rosary, always led grace before the family dinner.

"She was supposed to be an angel" in the nativity play Saturday night at Newtown's St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, said Msgr. Robert Weiss, according to Reuters. "Now she's an angel up in heaven."

Josephine Gay was 7.

Her birthday was three days before Friday's shooting. She loved the color purple, according to the Wall Street Journal. During the summer, she set up a lemonade stand in her family?s subdivision, where she liked to ride her bike.

Ana Marquez-Greene was 6.

She was the daughter of American jazz saxophonist Jimmy Greene, and the granddaughter of Jorge Marquez, the mayor of Maunabo, Puerto Rico. She was close with her brother, 9-year-old Isaias, who was also at Sandy Hook Elementary on Friday.

El Nuevo Dia

Jimmy Green named a song from his 2009 disc for his daughter, Ana Grace, the Ottawa Citizen noted.?The family had recently moved to Newtown, Conn., from Winnipeg, Canada, where Greene was a faculty member at the University of Manitoba?s school of music.

"In her short life, Ana strengthened us with her loving, generous joyful spirit," the family said in a statement. "She often left sweet notes that read, 'I love you Mom and Dad,' under our bedroom pillow -- not on special occasions, but, rather, on ordinary days."

In a statement posted by the Citizen, Greene thanked friends for their prayers and words of support: ?As we work through this nightmare, we?re reminded how much we?re loved and supported on this earth and by our Father in heaven. As much as she?s needed here and missed by her mother, brother and me, Ana beat us all to paradise. I love you sweetie girl.?

Read more at NBC Latino

Ana?s grandmother Elba Iris Marquez told Nuevo Dia: ?I want to believe this is not really happening to me.? The newspaper said she was drowned in grief.

Dylan Hockley was 6.

He was born in Winchester, England, to his British father, Ian Thomas, and American mother, Nicole Marie (Moretti) of Sandy Hook. The family moved to Connecticut from England two years ago.

His grandmother, Teresa Moretti of Cranston, R.I.,?told the Boston Herald?that Dylan loved garlic bread, bouncing on his trampoline and playing Wii.

?Dylan had dimples and blue eyes,? Moretti told the Herald as she fought back tears. ?He had the most mischievous little grin. To know him was to love him.?

Dylan?s parents had lived in England for 18 years before moving to a house on the same street as Nancy Lanza in January, according to the Telegraph. Dylan?s 8-year-old brother, Jake, who also attended Sandy Hook Elementary, survived the shooting.

"We take great comfort in knowing that Dylan was not alone when he died, but was wrapped in the arms of his amazing aide, Anne Marie Murphy," said his family in a statement,?NBCConnecticut.com?reported on Monday evening. "Dylan loved Mrs. Murphy so much and pointed at her picture on our refrigerator every day."

Madeleine F. Hsu was 6.

Madeleine was shy and quiet but lit up around dogs, neighbor Karen Dryer told NBCConnecticut.com.

"She would come off the bus and her face would light up when she saw the dog," said Dryer who has a golden retriever.

After getting off the bus she would hug her mom and little sister.

"She was just an absolute doll. She seemed very shy, but she was just so sweet," said Dryer.

Catherine V. Hubbard was 6.?

Her family says that she will be remembered for her passion for animals and constant smile.

?We are greatly saddened by the loss of our beautiful daughter, Catherine Violet, and our thoughts and prayers are with the other families who have been affected by this tragedy. We ask that you continue to pray for us and the other families who have experienced loss in this tragedy,? said her?parents, Jennifer and Matthew Hubbard, in a statement that also expressed gratitude to emergency responders and the community.

Chase Kowalski was 7.

Chase was ?a fun-loving, energetic boy that had a true love of life,? whose ?heart was only filled with love for all the people he touched,? his family said.

Chase completed his first triathlon at the age of 6 and ran in many community road races, his obituary said.

Kevin Grimes, a neighbor whose five children all previously attended Sandy Hook, told the Associated Press that Chase was always outside, playing in the backyard and riding his bicycle.?

Last week he was over and told him about completing in - and winning - his first mini-triathlon.

?You couldn?t think of a better child,? Grimes said.

Another neighbor, Suzanne Baumann, told the Wall Street Journal?that he always greeted people. ?He was very receptive to people. He was a beautiful child, an amazing child.?

Jesse Lewis was 6.

Jesse liked playing with horses that were kept in a barn next to his house, The Danbury News Times reported.

"I'd be in the yard or in the house and I would hear him laughing, playing," George Arfaras, 81, a neighbor, told the newspaper.

On Friday morning, he had his favorite breakfast sandwich at a local deli ? sausage, egg and cheese, NBCConnecticut reported.

Family friend Barbara McSperrin told the Wall Street Journal that Jesse was ?a typical 6-year-old little boy, full of life.?

?Jesse was such an incredible light. So bright and full of love. He lived life with vigor and passion ? brave and true,? Jesse?s mother wrote in an email to the paper.

James Mattioli?was 6.

Fondly called ?J? by his family, James was ?an energetic, loving friend to all,? his obituary said.

He liked playing baseball, basketball, swimming, arm wrestling and playing games on the iPad.

"He loved to wear shorts and t-shirts in any weather, and grab the gel to spike his hair,? his obituary said. ?He would often sing at the top of his lungs and once asked, 'How old do I have to be to sing on a stage?'"?

James loved hamburgers with ketchup, his dad?s egg omelets with bacon and his mom?s French toast, the obituary said.

Annette Sullivan, the owner of Zoar Ridge Stables in Sandy Hook, Conn., told the Connecticut Post that James and his older sister Anna would ride horses at her stables.

?He would ask about the saddles and the brushes,? Sullivan told the Post. ?He wanted to know how to take care of the horses. He was a boy that wanted to know how everything worked.?

His parents said in the obituary that he ?was a numbers guy, coming up with insights beyond his years to explain the relationship between numbers and unique ways of figuring out the answer when adding and subtracting.?

His parents said James was especially thoughtful and considerate and was ?always the first to welcome guests at the back door with a hug and his contagious smile.??

Grace McDonnell was 7.

Family Photo / AP

Grace, or Gracie, lived in Newtown with her parents and older brother, 12-year-old Jack. Mary Ann McDonnell, Grace?s grandmother, told the Boston Herald that Grace loved art projects, soccer gymnastics and her King Charles Spaniel, Puddin.

She was surrounded by bags of gifts intended for her granddaughter when she spoke with the Herald.

?They kept saying, ?They can?t find her. They can?t find her. All day long I was praying she would be OK,? Mary Ann McDonnell recounted.

?A little baby like that ? I hope she didn?t suffer.?

Emilie Parker was 6.

Her father, Robbie Parker, described his daughter as loving and creative.

Courtesy Parker family

?My daughter Emilie would be one of the first ones to be standing and giving her love and support to all those victims, because that?s the kind of person she is, not because of any kind of parenting my wife and I could have done but because those are the gifts that were given to her by our heavenly Father,? Parker said. ?

Emilie carried around pencils and crayons, and when people were sad, she would draw them a picture or write them a note. Recently, she dropped a card into the casket of her grandfather, who also died tragically, Parker said.

?I?m so blessed to be her dad,? he said.

Courtesy of Pinto family

Jack Pinto?was 6.

He was born in Danbury, Conn., to parents Dean and Tricia (Volkmann) Pinto.

Jack?s family said he was an avid participant in flag football, baseball, basketball, wrestling and snow skiing, as well as a big New York Giants fan.

N.Y. Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz honored Jack on Sunday by writing on his cleats "Jack Pinto, My Hero" and "R.I.P. Jack Pinto."

?Jack was an incredibly loving and vivacious young boy, appreciated by all who knew him for his lively and giving spirit and steely determination,? his family said in his obituary. ?In life and death, Jack will forever be remembered for the immeasurable joy he brought to all who had the pleasure of knowing him, a joy whose wide reach belied his six short years.??

Family photo via AP

Noah Pozner?was 6.

He was the youngest of the victims, having turned 6 last month. He was born in Danbury, Conn., to parents Lenny and Veronique Pozner, who described their son as ?the light of our family, a little soul devoid of spite and meanness.? His twin sister, Arielle, who was assigned to a different classroom at Sandy Hook,?survived the shooting. He also had an 8-year-old sister at the school,?according to Newsday.

Rabbi Shaul Praver tended to Veronique Pozner in her grief.

?She said that she didn?t know how she was going to go on, and we encouraged her to focus on her other four children that need her and not to try to plan out the rest of her life, just take a deep breath right now,? Praver said, according to forward.com.

Noah?s uncle, Arthur Pozner of Brooklyn, N.Y., told Newsday that Noah was very mature.

?When I was his age, I was not like him,? he said. ?Very well brought up. Extremely bright. Extremely bright,? he said. ?The reason they moved to that area is because they did not consider any school in New York state on the same level. That?s one of the reasons they moved, for safety and education.?

His funeral and burial was held on Monday.

Caroline Previdi was 6.?

Caroline was born in Danbury, Conn., to parents Jeffrey and Sandy Johnson Previdi.

Her family said she loved to draw, dance, and gymnastics, and her smile brought happiness to everyone she touched.

"Caroline Phoebe Previdi was a blessing from God and brought joy to everyone she touched," her parents, Jeff and Sandy Previdi, said in a statement, NBCConnecticut.com reported. "We know that she is looking down on us from Heaven."

One family friend, who declined to be named, told the Washington Post that Caroline once went by the nickname ?Boo? because she looked like the girl character in the movie ?Monsters, Inc.?

Another family friend who lives in the Newtown area told the Post that Caroline ?was a spunky little girl. She had fire to her.??

Uncredited / AP

Jessica Rekos was 6.?

She was born in Danbury, Conn., to Richard and Krista Lehmann Rekos of Sandy Hook.

?She was a creative, beautiful girl who loved playing with her little brothers, Travis and Shane,? her family said in a statement. As the firstborn, her family said, Jessica ?started our family, and she was our rock. She had an answer for everything, she didn?t miss a trick, and she outsmarted us every time. We called her our little CEO for the way she carefully thought out and planned everything.?

Jessica loved everything about horses, from reading horse books and drawing horses, to writing stories about horses, her family said in the statement from family friend Jamie Dunbar.

?We cannot imagine our life without her. We are mourning her loss, sharing our beautiful memories we have of her, and trying to help her brother Travis understand why he can?t play with his best friend. We are devastated, and our hearts are with the other families who are grieving as we are.??

Avielle Richman was 6.

Avielle, or Avie, as she was called, moved to Connecticut with her parents, Jennifer Hensel and Jeremy Richman, in 2011, according to an obituary at the Newtown Bee.

?She was born with a spitfire personality, which continued as she grew into a lover and teller of stories,? the obit said. ?She offered her heart to everyone. With an infectious smile and peals of laughter, people were drawn to her beautiful spirit, which will live on in all of our hearts.?

She loved her friends, horseback riding, archery and ?participating in super hero adventures,? the obit said.

Benjamin Wheeler was 6.

Ben was born in Manhattan, N.Y. and moved to Newtown with his parents, Francine and David Wheeler, and 9-year-old brother Nate, according to an obituary posted at the Newtown Bee.

?Ben was an irrepressibly bright and spirited boy whose love of fun and excitement at the wonders of life and the world could rarely be contained,? the obituary said. ?He was a devoted fan of his older brother, Nate, and the two of them together filled the house with the noise of four children.?

According to the obit, Ben loved The Beatles, lighthouses and the number 7. He told his mother, Francine Wheeler, on Friday morning that he wanted to be an architect and also a paleontologist.

"That's what Nate is going to be," he told his mom. "And I want to do everything Nate does."

Allison N. Wyatt was 6.

Allison was a "very nice person," a neighbor told the Connecticut Post. The neighbor said that Allison spent the summer outdoors and liked to garden with her mother.

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/15/15930533-victims-in-connecticut-shooting-daring-principal-fun-loving-teacher-6-year-old-twin-brother?lite

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Camp Bow Wow Climbs the Ranks in ... - Franchising.com

Nation's Largest Pet Care Franchise Included in Renowned List of Businesses for 2013

NEW YORK - Dec. 19, 2012 // PRNewswire // - Camp Bow Wow, the premier dog day and overnight camp franchise and an Inc 500 company, has once again been named to Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 for 2013. The privately held company is ranked #214 out of 500 in the comprehensive list of successful franchise businesses. Camp Bow Wow has made significant strides in the franchise industry, rising 208 spots on the Franchise 500 list from 2012 and 231 spots since the company first hit the list in 2010.

The Broomfield, Colorado-based company has established itself as a $60 million leader within the pet industry in the span of just 12 years. Since Camp Bow Wow started franchising in 2003, the company has sold more than 200 franchises in 39 states, plus one in Canada, with over 41% of the camps being women-owned. As Camp Bow Wow grows, its simple philosophy remains the same: "It's all about the dogs."

"We are honored to be named to Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 list again for 2013," said Heidi Ganahl , CEO and Founder of Camp Bow Wow. "What started as a local business endeavor 12 years ago has now developed into a nationally recognized franchise operation. I am most proud that this venture not only creates opportunities for many aspiring entrepreneurs across the country, but we also provide a safe and fun care alternative for pets of all breeds."

Camp Bow Wow offers a variety of components which includes Home Buddies, the safe, secure alternative for pets to remain in their homes, The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation, the non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives and health of dogs everywhere through its outreach, and Behavior Buddies, the dog training component of Camp Bow Wow.

Camp Bow Wow's franchisees are supported by the brand's multi-million dollar national and regional marketing and advertising campaigns, receiving operational support not only from the franchisor company, but also from fellow franchisees. Camp Bow Wow hosts training conferences for new franchisees at company headquarters for two weeks, then one week at the franchisee's location and one week at our corporate Camp. Camp Bow Wow regularly disseminates newsletters, continuing education and updates to franchisees, and provides a toll-free help line and employs security / safety procedures.

Camp Bow Wow's innovative business model has changed the pet care space, giving dog-owners another option to traditional kennels or recently introduced dog hotels. Dogs thrive at Camp Bow Wow, where they have the ability to roam freely (indoors and out) and interact with their co-campers throughout the day. Camps are staffed by Certified Camp Counselors and are also equipped with live Camper Cams, enabling owners to check in on their furry loved ones via the Camp Bow Wow iPhone app.

For additional information about Camp Bow Wow, Home Buddies, Behavior Buddies, or the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation, please visit: www.campbowwow.com, friend us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter. Franchise opportunities are currently available; for more information, please visit: http://www.campbowwow.com/franchise.

SOURCE Camp Bow Wow

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Source: http://www.franchising.com/news/20121219_camp_bow_wow_climbs_the_ranks_in_entrepreneur_maga.html

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Chances seen rising for chikungunya outbreaks in NYC, Atlanta, Miami

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Global travel and climate warming could be creating the right conditions for outbreaks of a new virus in this country, according to a new Cornell University computer model.

The model predicts that outbreaks of chikungunya, a painful virus transported by travelers and spread by the invasive Asian tiger mosquito, could occur in 2013 in New York City during August and September, in Atlanta from June through September, and year-round in Miami. The probability of a disease outbreak is correlated with temperature, as warmer weather allows the Asian tiger mosquito to breed faster and grow in numbers, according to the study published in the November issue of PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

According to the simulation, there is a high probability of a chikungunya outbreak if a single infected person arrives in New York in July or August and is bitten by an Asian tiger mosquito. The risks are the same, but with wider time frames, for transmission in Atlanta and Miami, according to the paper.

Asian tiger mosquitoes were introduced to the United States in Texas in the 1980s; they are established up the East Coast into New Jersey and are rising in numbers in New York City. The aggressive mosquito outcompetes local varieties and transmits more than 20 pathogens, including chikungunya and dengue, said Laura Harrington, associate professor of entomology and the study's senior author.

"The virus is moving in people, and resident mosquito populations are picking it up," Harrington said.

The model estimates that with typical regional temperatures, a chikungunya outbreak in New York would infect about one in 5,000 people, said Diego Ruiz-Moreno, a postdoctoral associate and the paper's lead author

"However, this number would increase drastically as temperatures rise due to climate change," Ruiz-Moreno said.

Chikungunya symptoms include a fever, severe joint pain, achiness, headache, nausea and fatigue, as well as "debilitating and prolonged" pain in the small joints of the hands and feet, according to the paper. The virus originated in Central Africa and is endemic in Southeast Asia.

Since no chikungunya vaccine exists, U.S. residents can help prevent an outbreak by removing standing water, wearing long sleeves and repellent during the day when the mosquitoes feed, and knowing the risk and symptoms when traveling, Harrington said.

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Cornell University: http://pressoffice.cornell.edu

Thanks to Cornell University for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/125980/Chances_seen_rising_for_chikungunya_outbreaks_in_NYC__Atlanta__Miami

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Do You Eat Breakfast?

Walter Glenn
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Do You Eat Breakfast?Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and sup like a pauper. We've all heard many ways of saying that breakfast is good for you. Do you take the time for it?

There's no doubt that eating a healthy breakfast is a good thing. We've shown you ways that you can eat a decent breakfast even if you don't have a lot of time, including one-minute eggs in a mug, eggs baked in avacado, and oatmeal that cooks while you sleep.

So, we'd like to know:


Do you eat breakfast?

Photo by Gyorgy Barna (Shutterstock).

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/iMM4tClvCuY/do-you-eat-breakfast

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FMLA: Second medical opinion is your option ? Business ...

The FMLA allows employers that don?t want to accept an employee?s medical certification to ask for (and pay for) a second opinion. If the two opinions contradict one another, the employer may pay for a third, tie-breaking assessment. But that can be expensive.

If you prefer to simply deny the employee?s leave request, that?s fine. If the employee sues, you can still challenge the underlying medical condition and whether it qualifies as a serious health condition under the FMLA.

Recent case: Rose is a doctor, as is her adult daughter. When the daughter underwent brain surgery and was discharged, Rose asked for FMLA leave so she could care for her. Under the FMLA, once a child is over age 18, a parent is eligible for leave only if the child?s condition means she?s incapable of self-care.

The employer said Rose wasn?t eligible for FMLA leave because it believed her daughter could take care of herself. Rose sued, alleging denial of her FMLA rights.

That?s when the employer subpoenaed the daughter?s medical records. The daughter objected. Rose argued that because her employer never asked for a second opinion back when her daughter was discharged, it lost the right to now demand records and contest her daughter?s condition.

The court agreed with the employer. It said employers don?t lose the right to challenge an employee?s eligibility just because it doesn?t want to pay for a second or third opinion. Employers are free to take their chances by denying leave; if sued, they can still try to prove the employee was ineligible for FMLA leave. (Mezu v. Morgan State University, No. 11-2396, 4th Cir., 2012)

Final note: Always check a child?s age before automatically approving FMLA leave. After age 18, the child must be so sick she can?t take care of herself.

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So Long, 2012: Analyzing The Evolving Mobile ... - Marketing Land

As we prepare for a new year in the online marketing world, it?s interesting to reflect on where 2012 has brought us. The Web experienced another year of fantastic growth. In the US alone, over 240 million consumers now access the Web ? a market penetration of 78%.

This overall growth is driven by an equally impressive increase in mobile usage. In many parts of the world, mobile phones have long been the primary means for people to access the Internet. Now, that?s becoming true in the US, as well.

By Q4 2012, the US saw over 170 million smartphone subscribers, meaning smartphone owners are now the majority. This massive level of market penetration casts ripples across the Web. In November 2012, over a quarter of all Web traffic on the Chitika Advertising Network originated from mobile devices (both smartphones and tablets).

Consumers can now check social networks, watch the latest YouTube video, and even make a purchase ? all from their mobile devices.

In a study published in July 2012, Chitika Insights found tablet usage to spike by almost 95% during prime time TV hours. This stat is highly indicative of elevated use of second screen devices. These are some of the larger scale trends that signify the coming change across the traditional online landscape as it becomes increasingly more mobile.

In the face of a shifting online environment ? split between diverging mobile platforms ??Chitika Insights conducted a research study to isolate click-through-rates (CTR) of the major mobile operating systems.

The data used in this study was drawn from the Chitika Advertising Network from November 24th to November 30th 2012. This sample was composed of tens of millions of mobile impressions from the US and Canada.

If you are an advertiser or marketer doing business online, the following statistics and analysis will help you best capitalize on these developments:

Based on the chart above, we can see that the iOS user base holds the keys to the proverbial mobile kingdom with an average CTR of 0.92%. Compared to the average Android CTR of 0.86%, iOS users click on ads approximately 7% more frequently than Android users.

As growing mobile volume increases the potential impact of mobile traffic on the bottom line, new opportunities emerge for advertisers and marketers to maximize the ROI of their campaigns.

Recent data from the IAB shows that overall mobile advertising spend grew 95% from $636 million during the first half of 2011 to $1.2 billion during the same period in 2012.

With these impressive growth rates, mobile advertising is clearly the way of the future and a method of reaching out to audiences that advertisers and marketers simply cannot afford to ignore.

Opinions expressed in the article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Marketing Land.

Related Topics: Analytics | Analytics & Marketing Column | Mobile Marketing

Source: http://marketingland.com/so-long-2012-analyzing-the-evolving-mobile-landscape-28313

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Jason Mraz tops Myanmar anti-trafficking concert

American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz, center, performs at the base of the famous hilltop Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar, on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. Mraz mixed entertainment with education to become the first world-class entertainer in decades to perform in Myanmar, with a concert to raise awareness of human trafficking. (AP Photo/Zin Chit Aung)

American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz, center, performs at the base of the famous hilltop Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar, on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. Mraz mixed entertainment with education to become the first world-class entertainer in decades to perform in Myanmar, with a concert to raise awareness of human trafficking. (AP Photo/Zin Chit Aung)

American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz performs at the base of the famous hilltop Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar, on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. Mraz mixed entertainment with education to become the first world-class entertainer in decades to perform in Myanmar, with a concert to raise awareness of human trafficking. (AP Photo/Zin Chit Aung)

A young girl cheers while watching American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz perform at the base of the famous hilltop Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar, on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. Mraz mixed entertainment with education to become the first world-class entertainer in decades to perform in Myanmar, with a concert to raise awareness of human trafficking. (AP Photo/Zin Chit Aung)

American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz, center, performs at the base of the famous hilltop Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar, on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. Mraz mixed entertainment with education to become the first world-class entertainer in decades to perform in Myanmar, with a concert to raise awareness of human trafficking. (AP Photo/Zin Chit Aung)

American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz, center, performs at the base of the famous hilltop Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar, on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. Mraz mixed entertainment with education to become the first world-class entertainer in decades to perform in Myanmar, with a concert to raise awareness of human trafficking. (AP Photo/Zin Chit Aung)

(AP) ? American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz mixed entertainment with education to become the first world-class entertainer in decades to perform in Myanmar, with a concert to raise awareness of human trafficking.

Mraz's 2008 hit "I'm Yours" was the finale for Sunday night's concert before a crowd of about 50,000 people at the base of the famous hilltop Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, the country's biggest city.

Local artists, including a hip-hop singer, also played at the event organized by the anti-trafficking media group MTV EXIT ? for "End Exploitation and Trafficking" ?in cooperation with U.S. and Australian government aid agencies and the anti-slavery organization Walk Free.

Myanmar is emerging from decades of isolation under a reformist elected government that took office last year after almost five decades of military rule. It has been one of the region's poorest countries, and its bad human rights record made it the target of political and economic sanctions by Western nations.

But democratic reforms initiated by President Thein Sein have led to the lifting of most sanctions, and the country is hopeful of a political and economic revival. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, the pro-democracy opposition leader, was released from house arrest in late 2010 and won a seat in parliament last April.

Mraz called his top-billed appearance at the concert a "tremendous honor."

"I think the country is, at this time, downloading lots of new information from all around the world," he said. "I've always wanted my music to be here, (for) hope and celebration, peace, love and happiness. And so I'm delighted that my music can be a part of this big download that Myanmar is experiencing right now."

Organizers said Mraz was the first international artist to perform at an open-air, mass public concert in Myanmar. Jazz artists Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Charlie Byrd visited the country under U.S. government sponsorship in the 1970s, when it was still called Burma, but played at much smaller venues.

Many in the crowd queued for two hours before being admitted to the concert site. Yangon native Sann Oo, 31, wearing a white T-shirt with a sketch of Mraz, said he was pleased that Mraz had come and that there would be a broadcast of the event.

"His visit can promote the image of Myanmar, because people outside have been seeing the country as an insecure place, and poor," he said. "Now they can see how we look like from the concert. It also opens the potential for more concerts by foreign artists."

Mraz has a history of involvement with human rights and other social causes.

But there was some criticism of his visit by campaigners for Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya community, which has been the target of ethnic-based violence this year that has forced tens of thousands of people from their homes into makeshift refugee camps. They feel Myanmar's government has been complicit in the discrimination, and that Mraz's visit provides it cover with the image of being a defender of human rights.

Mraz said he was aware of the issue, but that if he didn't come to do the concert because someone else had asked him to protest another problem, then that would not help tackle the exploitation and human trafficking issue.

"I understand that there is a lot of wrongdoing in this world," he said. "Today I'm here for this."

Walk Free used the occasion of Sunday's concert to launch a campaign calling on the world's major corporations "to work together to end modern slavery by identifying, eradicating and preventing forced labor in their operations and supply chains." They are seeking to have the companies make a "zero tolerance for slavery pledge" by the end of March next year.

"While many think of slavery as a relic of history, experts estimate that there are currently 20.9 million people living under threat of violence, abuse and harsh penalties," the Australia-based group said in a statement. "Within this massive number, the majority of people - more than 14.2 million - are in a forced labor situation, used to source raw materials, and create products in sectors such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing and domestic work."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-12-17-Myanmar-Jason%20Mraz/id-b649f1f0ec2c48e68aa39ebb17c9ea7c

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NASA administrator to be enshrined in NC's First Flight ceremony ...

Posted on: 6:04 am, December 17, 2012, by Ryan Sullivan, updated on: 06:08am, December 17, 2012

KITTY HAWK, N.C. (AP) ? North Carolina?s annual celebration of flight will honor NASA Administrator Charles Bolden Jr.

The First Flight Society said Bolden will be inducted Monday into the Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine as part of the 109th celebration of powered flight at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills.

Bolden was commander of the 1994 Discovery flight, an eight-day mission that was the first joint U.S.-Russian shuttle mission. The mission involved a Russian cosmonaut as a mission specialist. The Columbia, S.C., native was chosen by President Barack Obama to be NASA?s 12th administrator. He assumed the post in 2009.

This year?s celebration recognizes the 100th anniversary of Marine Corps Aviation. Bolden is being honored for his accomplishments and as a representative of Marine Corps Aviation.

Credit: The Associated Press

Source: http://myfox8.com/2012/12/17/nasa-administrator-to-be-enshrined-in-ncs-first-flight-ceremony/

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