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A brain AVM may be diagnosed in an emergency situation, immediately after bleeding ( hemorrhage) has occurred.

It may also be detected after other symptoms prompt a brain scan.

But in some cases, a brain AVM is found incidentally while diagnosing or treating an unrelated medical condition. You may then be referred to a doctor who specializes in conditions of the brain and nervous system ( neurologist or neurosurgeon) . Because appointments can be brief and there' s often a lot of ground to cover, it can help to be well prepared. Here are some tips to help you get ready for your appointment.

What you can do Be aware of any pre- appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there' s anything you need to do in advance. Write down any symptoms you' re experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment. Make a list of all medications, including vitamins, herbs and over- the- counter drugs, that you' re taking. Even better, take the original bottles and a written list of the dosages and directions.

Take along a family member or friend. It can be difficult to absorb all the information provided to you during an appointment. The person who accompanies you may remember something that you forgot or missed. Write down questions to ask your doctor.

Don' t be afraid to ask questions that may come up during your appointment. List your questions from most important to least important in case your time with your doctor runs out. For brain AVM, some basic questions to ask your doctor include: What are other possible causes for my symptoms?

What tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis?

What are my treatment options and the pros and cons for each?

What results can I expect? What kind of follow- up should I expect? The neurologist is likely to ask about your symptoms, if any, conduct a medical exam and schedule tests to confirm the diagnosis. The tests gather information about the size and location of the AVM to help direct your treatment options. He or she may ask: When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?

Have your symptoms been continuous, or occasional? How severe are your symptoms? What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms? What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms? & copy; 1998- 2011 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research ( MFMER) .

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If you have signs or symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease, make an appointment to see your doctor or other health care provider.

Appointments can be brief and there' s often a lot of ground to cover, so be well prepared for your appointment. Here' s some information on what you can do to get ready and what to expect from your doctor. What you can do Be aware of any pre- appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, ask if there' s anything you need to do in advance.

Write down any symptoms you' re experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment. Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that you' re taking.

Write down questions to ask your doctor. What kinds of tests do I need? Do I have a sexually transmitted infection? Should my partner be tested or treated?

Should I abstain from sexual activity during treatment?

How long should I wait? How can I prevent future episodes of pelvic inflammatory disease? Will this affect my ability to become pregnant? Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you' re prescribing me?

Can I be treated at home?

Or will I need to go to a hospital?

Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What websites do you recommend?

Under what circumstances should I plan for a follow- up visit? What to expect from your doctor Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as: Do you have a new sexual partner or multiple partners? Do you always use condoms? When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?

What are your symptoms? Are you experiencing any pelvic pain? How severe are your symptoms? & copy; 1998- 2011 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research ( MFMER) .

Stephanie Shapiro is an Atlanta, Georgia- based mum of two, whose children, Hannah, six, and Jake, four, have a rare genetic condition. She is featured in this month' s show. She writes for CNN about the challenges of raising two children with mitochondrial disease and her hopes for the future. Atlanta, Georgia ( CNN) - - Every 30 minutes, somewhere in the world a child is born who will develop a mitochondrial disease by the age of 10 ( according to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation) . I know this statement by heart.

Prior to my daughter' s birth, I had never heard of mitochondrial disease. My only vague recollection of mitochondria came from high school biology. I remembered & quot; The mighty mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell. & quot; When our daughter Hannah was born, she was so perfect, at least that' s what the AGPAR scores ( a method for assessing the health of newborns) and doctors told us, even when we, her parents, knew something wasn' t quite right. It all began so simply, as the nurse calmly told my husband and me: & quot; Hannah seems a little cold; I' m going to take her down to the NICU Unit to warm her up a bit. & quot; An hour later, a doctor told us: & quot; We think Hannah has a metabolic disease, we don' t know if she will make it through the night. & quot; Hannah was less than 24 hours old.

Quickly, our world became filled with words like seizure disorder, brain atrophy, global delay, and mitochondrial disease. Determined to have a large family, and believing this couldn' t possibly happen again, 18 months later our son was born. Jake' s entrance into the world was fast and furious. . . an emergency C- Section, a & quot; blue baby. . . & quot; The cord had wrapped around his neck.

No one could tell how long he had been deprived oxygen. Just like Hannah, though, quickly came the medical terms . . . seizures, atrophy, and delay. First the doctors diagnosed him with cerebral palsy. Children are often under- diagnosed with cerebral palsy because the symptoms of that and mitochondrial diseases can be so similar. We pushed forward and later he was given the same diagnosis as his sister.

I am a carrier. I too may someday show symptoms of the disease. What makes me cry at night, however, is the thought I gave this to my children.

Mitochondria are tiny structures found in all cells in our bodies and produce most of the energy we need to function normally.

Since almost all of our body' s organs rely on mitochondria for energy, people suffering from a mitochondrial disease may have a wide variety of symptoms. There are many faces of mitochondrial disease. They are young, old, and in- between.

Some run and play, laugh and dance. Others are confined to a wheelchair and technological devices simply to sustain life.

Symptoms can start at any age: from birth till death. It is difficult to diagnose mitochondrial diseases and the only current test is a muscle biopsy.

This procedure in itself can be painful, intrusive, and expensive.

Individuals may suffer from high levels of fatigue, muscle or heart weakness, diabetes, strokes, or vision and hearing loss. Hannah and Jake' s condition is severe. Their prognosis is poor and they are not expected to live very long. They suffer from a variety of seizures, ranging in length from seconds to hours.

Hannah and Jake are non- verbal and non- ambulatory. Two years ago, they lost the ability to safely swallow; they cannot digest food at the same rate as a child their age.

They are fed through a 24- hour g- tube surgically placed in their stomach. Often they suffer from cyclic vomiting and we worry about dehydration. Their bodies are unable to self- regulate their core body temperature and we must be vigilant they are not too cold or too hot. They rely on me and my husband for their every basic need.

Although they cannot speak in words, cannot wrap their arms around me, hugging me tight, or wipe the tears I cry, they have an inner force and passion that surpasses their developmental limitations and age. When I look at Hannah and Jake, and the many other children suffering from mitochondrial disease, I do not see what they can' t do, but what they have already done. They have taught me patience, hope, strength, and grace.

Through organizations such as the my husband and I found emotional support, educational support and parents facing issues similar to ours.

We are not alone. There are too many families with stories similar to mine. I am aware my children will die some day in the near future. I have attended the funerals of far too many children. I have sat during services praying my children won' t be next.

For us, every day is a gift. Through awareness and research, I do see a day where parents will receive a diagnosis and continue to save for college rather than their child' s funeral. I pray for a cure. I hope and pray other families do not have to go through the heartache we have endured.

Currently there is no cure for mitochondrial disease. It is a nasty, progressive monster. In the five years since my family has begun this journey, I have watched research towards a cure increase, as well as awareness.

This is the proof of a better future for children and adults struggling with this disease. It is proof tomorrow can be a better day.

New York ( CNN) - - Fourteen people have been arrested as part of an ongoing operation targeting the notorious hacking collective known as Anonymous, the U.

Department of Justice and the FBI said on Tuesday. The individuals were arrested by FBI agents on charges related to their alleged involvement in a cyberattack on Pay.

Pal' s website, which has been claimed by the Anonymous group. Five additional people were arrested in Europe and two more in the United States for alleged cybercrimes, the Justice Department said in a statement. Of the additional U. S. arrests, one person is accused of exceeding his authorized access to AT& amp; T' s servers and downloading thousands of documents, applications and other files that he allegedly posted on a public file hosting site. The other was arrested on charges of intentional damage to a protected computer.

He is accused of accessing without authorization the website of the Tampa Bay Infra.

Gard, a public- private partnership for critical infrastructure protection. The U. S. arrests took place in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico and Ohio.

A 16- year- old suspect was arrested in South London, the Metropolitan Police said. Four more people were arrested by the Dutch National Police Agency, according to the U. Justice Department, but it was not immediately clear where.

Additionally, authorities said they had executed more than 35 search warrants throughout in the United States, & quot; as part of an ongoing investigation into coordinated cyber attacks against major companies and organizations, & quot; the statement read. FBI agents spread out to about six locations on Long Island, in Brooklyn and in the Bronx, where they seized computers and other records, according to a federal government official, who requested anonymity, given the sensitivity of the investigation. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the parents of two teenage sons who said they had their home raided by FBI agents Tuesday told CNN their kids have not been involved in any hacking activity.

Agents arrived around 6 a. m. ET at their Long Island home, where they searched the area and interviewed family members one by one, the parents said. Both of the boys reportedly had their laptops seized. In the past, Anonymous has launched attacks on websites belonging to the Church of Scientology, the Motion Picture Association of America and the Recording Industry Association of America. However, the hacker collective vaulted to worldwide fame in December, when it disabled or disrupted the websites of Master.

Card, Visa and Pay.

Pal in what the group said was retaliation for the companies' cutting ties to the website following the arrest of Julian Assange.

Assange founded Wiki. Leaks, which facilitates the release of secret information. He is currently out on bail in England and is fighting extradition to Sweden, where he faces sex crime charges.

In addition, Anonymous is suspected of being linked to cyberattacks against Sony, Fox News, the Arizona Department of Corrections and a well- known consulting firm, Booz Allen Hamilton, among others. The group is implicated in denial- of- service attacks, in which large amounts of traffic are directed to a website, overloading it and, in effect, shutting it down. CNN' s Dana Garrett contributed to this report.

ATLANTA, Georgia ( CNN) - - An advisory panel is recommending a major step up in protection for health workers dealing with patients suspected or confirmed to have . The Institute of Medicine said Thursday, in recommendations requested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that loose paper masks are inadequate because the workers could still breathe in the virus.

Instead, health workers should switch to N95 respirators that form an airtight seal around the nose and mouth.

If properly fitted and worn correctly, N95 respirators filter out at least 95 percent of particles as small as 0. 3 micrometers, which is smaller than influenza viruses, the report notes. The institute provides independent, evidence- based advice to policymakers, health professionals, private entities and the public. It is one of four groups that make up the National Academies. The study released Thursday was requested by the and the . & quot; Scientists do not know to what extent flu viruses spread through the air or whether infection requires physical contact with contaminated fluids or surfaces, & quot; a summary of the report says.

It calls for & quot; a boost in research to answer these questions and to design and develop better protective equipment that would enhance workers' comfort, safety and ability to do their jobs. & quot; & quot; Based on what we currently know about influenza, well- fitted N95 respirators offer health care workers the best protection against inhalation of viral particles, & quot; said committee chairman Kenneth Shine, executive vice chancellor for health affairs at the University of Texas in Austin. He is a former president of the institute. & quot; But there is a lot we still don' t know about these viruses, and it would be a mistake for anyone to rely on respirators alone as some sort of magic shield. & quot; Health care workers should use several strategies to guard against infection, such as innovative triage processes, washing hands, disinfecting, wearing gloves, getting vaccinated and using antiviral drugs, Shine said. The institute was asked specifically to evaluate personal protective equipment designed to guard against respiratory infection, and therefore the committee focused on the efficacy of medical masks and respirators. All About & bull; & bull;

If your child has knee pain during or after physical activity and it doesn' t improve with ice or rest, make an appointment with your child' s doctor. After an initial exam, your doctor may refer you to a doctor who specializes in knee injuries or sports medicine.

Here' s some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor. Below are some basic questions to ask a doctor who is examining your child for possible Osgood- Schlatter disease. If any additional questions occur to you during your visit, don' t hesitate to ask. What is the most likely cause of my child' s signs and symptoms?

Are there any other possible causes?

Are any tests needed to confirm the diagnosis?

What treatment approach do you recommend?

Do you expect my child will be able to continue in his or her current sport? Does my child need to make any changes to his or her activities, such as playing a different position or training with different exercises?

If so, for how long?

What signs or symptoms would signal a need for my child to take a complete break from athletics? What other self- care measures would help my child? Should we schedule a follow- up appointment to monitor my child' s progress? Should my child see a specialist?

Your child' s doctor is likely to ask a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to talk about in- depth. Your doctor may ask your child: What are your symptoms?

When did you first notice these symptoms? Have your symptoms been getting worse? How severe is your pain? Does your pain occur before, during or after your workouts & mdash; or is it constant? Have you noticed any swelling near your kneecap?

Have you experienced any problems with mobility or stability? What is your regular exercise or sports- training routine? Have you recently made any changes to your training routine, such as training harder or longer, or using new techniques? Are you able to tolerate the pain you experience while playing your sport at your usual intensity?

Are your symptoms affecting your ability to complete normal, daily tasks, such as walking up stairs? Have you tried any at- home treatments so far? If so, has anything helped? Have you recently had any injuries that may have caused knee damage?

Have you been diagnosed with any other medical conditions?

What medications are you currently taking, including vitamins and supplements? In the time leading up to your appointment, try self- care measures at home. Your child should avoid using the affected joint in ways that cause or worsen pain. Stretching and icing the affected area also may help.

If your child is uncomfortable, try using over- the- counter pain medications. & copy; 1998- 2011 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research ( MFMER) .

Editor' s Note: Paul Cruickshank is a fellow at the NYU Center on Law & amp; Security and the producer of a CNN & quot; World' s Untold Stories& quot; documentary on the alleged Belgian terrorist cell reported by CNN Senior International Correspondent . The program was recently nominated & quot; best documentary& quot; in the 2009 Monte Carlo Global Television Awards. ( CNN) - - European intelligence agencies are on alert for new al Qaeda terrorist plots following the arrest of two men at an Italian port and investigations into the activities of an alleged al Qaeda network based in Brussels.

The two are closely tied to a Brussels- based al Qaeda recruiting network, Belgian counter- terrorism officials have told CNN. They are Bassam Ayachi, 62, and Raphael Gendron, 33 - - and they were detained in the port of Bari on November 11 last year after allegedly trying to smuggle three Palestinians and two Syrians into Italy in the false bottom of a camper van they were driving. Now they face much more serious allegations following a counter- terrorism investigation by Italian, French and Belgian police. Italian authorities have officially charged them with being leaders of a logistical support team for al Qaeda.

A bug planted by Italian police in the suspects' detention facility picked up snatches of conversation about an alleged scheme to attack Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. A partial transcript of one of their alleged conversations has now been released. & quot; I' ll hit de Gaulle, & quot; Gendron tells Ayachi. & quot; We' ll hit it there, & quot; Ayachi replies. & quot; At night when there will be a lot of people. & quot; Later in the conversation they appear to discuss buying grenades off contacts in the Middle East.

French authorities have said that they were never aware of a concrete plot to attack the airport. Italy suspects well known to Belgian Security Services Ayachi and Gendron were detained after Italian authorities allegedly found Jihadist propaganda in their possession when they arrived on a ferry from Greece. Belgian police say they alerted Italian authorities that the pair were known extremists.

Ayachi is a naturalized French cleric of Syrian descent, and in the early 1990s had founded the Centre Islamique Belge ( CIB) , an organization Belgian authorities say espoused hard- line Salafist and pro al Qaeda views. Gendron, described by Italian police as a computer expert, was the main administrator of the CIB' s Web site in Belgium. In 2006 Gendron and Ayachi' s son Abdel Rahman Ayachi were convicted in Belgium for posting threatening anti- Semitic messages on the site.

Their prison sentences were later reduced to a fine by an Appeals court. A Belgian counter- terrorism source tells CNN that the CIB has clandestinely continued its operations in Belgium. When CNN reporters visited its headquarters on the Rue Memling in Brussels in February, Islamists appeared to still occupy the premises. In previous interviews with Belgian journalists, Avachi said his organization concentrated on pastoral care for Muslims in Brussels and did not promote pro- al Qaeda views. In April 1999 Ayachi officiated at the wedding of two prot& eacute; g& eacute; s at CIB, Abdessattar Dahmane and Malika el Aroud.

The couple would later become & quot; icons& quot; of the al Qaeda movement, according to Belgian counter- terrorism officials. Two days before 9/ 11, Dahmane assassinated Ahmed Shah Massoud, the head of the anti- Taliban Northern Alliance, in a suicide bombing operation in Afghanistan. After his death Malika el Aroud, a Belgian citizen of Moroccan descent who had accompanied him to Afghanistan, returned to Europe and founded Minbar. SOS - - a Web site promoting Bin Laden' s Jihad.

She also remarried. In a CNN interview in 2006 el Aroud demonstrated how she and her new husband Moez Garsallaoui ran the site, which contained postings of attacks on coalition troops in Iraq and translations of the speeches of al Qaeda leaders. Alleged recruitment for training in Pakistan According to Belgian police el Aroud and Garsallaoui moved to Brussels in 2007 and worked in tandem to recruit operatives to train in the tribal areas of Pakistan. El Aroud, it is alleged, inspired young men to volunteer for Jihad through her incendiary Web postings. Garsallaoui, the police say, went out to the streets to recruit people.

El Aroud was arrested last December in Brussels and charged along with five others with participation in a terrorist group. She denies the charge. El Aroud and Garsallaoui allegedly recruited six individuals in all, four from Belgium and two from France, according to legal documents obtained by CNN. Those documents include the interrogation report of one of the French recruits who traveled to Pakistan and was arrested when he returned to Europe. The recruit, who can only be named by his initials W.

O. , told French authorities that several members of their traveling group including Garsallaoui, were given explosives training by al Qaeda trainers in Pakistan' s Federally Administered tribal areas early in 2008. During the two- week course, according to the legal documents, W. O. alleged that Egyptian and Syrian instructors taught them how to assemble weapons, fire rocket launchers, and how to handle explosives. One trainer even set off a small charge of TNT in demonstration, telling them that the explosive was used to attack U.

S. convoys in Afghanistan and in suicide vests. Belgian security services went on high alert after members of the group started to return from the tribal areas in late 2008, concerned they might have been tasked to launch attacks in Europe. According to [ Belgian] counter- terrorism sources, the trigger for the Brussels arrests was an intercepted e- mail sent by one of the alleged recruits, Hicham Beyayo, in early December shortly after he returned to Belgium.

The e- mail allegedly suggested that Beyayo had been given the green light to launch an attack in Belgium. However no explosives were recovered by Belgian police, and some terrorism analysts are skeptical that an attack was imminent. Beyayo' s lawyer Christophe Marchand told CNN the email was merely & quot; tough talk& quot; to impress an ex- girlfriend. Belgian authorities continue to insist that the alleged cell was a potential national security threat.

The alleged role of Ayachi and Gendron A senior Belgian intelligence source told CNN that Ayachi and Gendron - - the two men detained in Italy - - were known to provide ideological support for members of the alleged Brussels terrorism network, but at this time were not suspected of having played a direct role in recruiting young European Muslims for training in Pakistan. Questions on their role, however, have been raised by a new revelation by Italian investigators, who allege that when they were arrested, Ayachi and Gendron were carrying the last will and testament of Beyayo, whose e- mail had caused such alarm. In the alleged will Beyayo made clear he was ready for martyrdom. & quot; When you hear of my death. . . don' t wear black and most importantly don' t display my photo, & quot; Beyayo purportedly wrote. & quot; I will emigrate to the field of Jihad to triumph for the religion of God, to defend the Muslim countries and to protect the sacred lands of the Muslims. And I will be a great help to the Mujahedeen brothers. & quot; Marchand told CNN that such a document in no way indicated that his client was preparing an attack in Europe. [ He said Beyayo had traveled to the tribal areas of Pakistan to fight with the Taliban in Afghanistan, not to become an al Qaeda operative] . & quot; Writing a will was hardly unusual behavior for somebody whose aim was to go and fight jihad in Afghanistan, & quot; Marchand said.

According to Belgian counter- terrorism officials, Ayachi' s CIB and Malika el Aroud' s Web site served as focal points for many of those linked to the alleged Brussels network. The officials say that, Ayachi, Gendron, el Aroud, Garsallaoui and Beyayo belonged to a tight- knit 20- 30 strong community of militants in Brussels. CNN, through its own investigation and through Belgian legal and police sources, has identified the user names under which several of these individuals, including Gendron, Garsallaoui and Beyayo posted messages on El Aroud' s site Minbar SOS.

Continued security concerns According to Belgian counter- terrorism officials, three of the seven individuals who traveled to the Afghan- Pakistan border region in 2008 for training are still at large in the area.

Some European counter- terrorism officials believe this is a significant security concern, given the Brussels network' s track record In smuggling people into Europe. In an interview with CNN, Alain Winants, the director of Belgian Intelligence said: & quot; Every secret service will tell you that individuals who are already radicalized and who are in addition are being specialized in some fighting techniques or techniques of propaganda are representing a big risk when they come back. & quot; Those still at large, Belgian counter- terrorism sources say, include Moez Garsallaoui, ( Malika el Aroud' s husband) who they believe has developed close ties with the top leadership of al Qaeda in the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Belgian counter- terrorism officials told CNN that Garsallaoui was in regular email contact from the region with his wife before her arrest last December.

According to a lawyer briefed on the legal dossier in the Belgian case, in June 2008 Garsallaoui allegedly sent el Aroud an e- mail claiming to have killed five Americans in Afghanistan. His wife congratulated him, according to the legal source.

Garsallaoui also purportedly posted messages on el Aroud' s radical Web site from the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan, including a message posted last September urging militants in Europe to launch attacks. & quot; The solution my brothers and sisters is not fatwas but boooooooms, & quot; the posting stated. The posting was discovered by CNN under Garsallaoui' s purported user name on the Minbar SOS Web site. Earlier this week Garsallaoui purportedly posted a new statement on Minbar.

SOS. In the message which was entitled & quot; We Need You& quot; he said he had joined up with Taliban forces who were making raids against American troops in Afghanistan from the tribal areas of Pakistan. & quot; The Jihad is going well and the Taliban are stronger than ever, they are gaining territory every day and more important than that they are winning the trust of the local population, & quot; he claimed. & quot; If you thought that you could pressure me to slow down through the arrest of my wife you were wrong. It won' t stop me fulfilling my objectives. . . those who laugh last, laugh more. & quot; All About & bull;

Editor' s Note: Paul Cruickshank is a fellow at the NYU Center on Law & amp; Security and the producer of a CNN & quot; World' s Untold Stories& quot; documentary on the alleged Belgian terrorist cell reported by CNN Senior International Correspondent . The program was recently nominated & quot; best documentary& quot; in the 2009 Monte Carlo Global Television Awards. ( CNN) - - European intelligence agencies are on alert for new al Qaeda terrorist plots following the arrest of two men at an Italian port and investigations into the activities of an alleged al Qaeda network based in Brussels.

The two are closely tied to a Brussels- based al Qaeda recruiting network, Belgian counter- terrorism officials have told CNN. They are Bassam Ayachi, 62, and Raphael Gendron, 33 - - and they were detained in the port of Bari on November 11 last year after allegedly trying to smuggle three Palestinians and two Syrians into Italy in the false bottom of a camper van they were driving. Now they face much more serious allegations following a counter- terrorism investigation by Italian, French and Belgian police. Italian authorities have officially charged them with being leaders of a logistical support team for al Qaeda.

A bug planted by Italian police in the suspects' detention facility picked up snatches of conversation about an alleged scheme to attack Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. A partial transcript of one of their alleged conversations has now been released. & quot; I' ll hit de Gaulle, & quot; Gendron tells Ayachi. & quot; We' ll hit it there, & quot; Ayachi replies. & quot; At night when there will be a lot of people. & quot; Later in the conversation they appear to discuss buying grenades off contacts in the Middle East.

French authorities have said that they were never aware of a concrete plot to attack the airport. Italy suspects well known to Belgian Security Services Ayachi and Gendron were detained after Italian authorities allegedly found Jihadist propaganda in their possession when they arrived on a ferry from Greece. Belgian police say they alerted Italian authorities that the pair were known extremists.

Ayachi is a naturalized French cleric of Syrian descent, and in the early 1990s had founded the Centre Islamique Belge ( CIB) , an organization Belgian authorities say espoused hard- line Salafist and pro al Qaeda views. Gendron, described by Italian police as a computer expert, was the main administrator of the CIB' s Web site in Belgium. In 2006 Gendron and Ayachi' s son Abdel Rahman Ayachi were convicted in Belgium for posting threatening anti- Semitic messages on the site.

Their prison sentences were later reduced to a fine by an Appeals court. A Belgian counter- terrorism source tells CNN that the CIB has clandestinely continued its operations in Belgium. When CNN reporters visited its headquarters on the Rue Memling in Brussels in February, Islamists appeared to still occupy the premises. In previous interviews with Belgian journalists, Avachi said his organization concentrated on pastoral care for Muslims in Brussels and did not promote pro- al Qaeda views. In April 1999 Ayachi officiated at the wedding of two prot& eacute; g& eacute; s at CIB, Abdessattar Dahmane and Malika el Aroud.

The couple would later become & quot; icons& quot; of the al Qaeda movement, according to Belgian counter- terrorism officials. Two days before 9/ 11, Dahmane assassinated Ahmed Shah Massoud, the head of the anti- Taliban Northern Alliance, in a suicide bombing operation in Afghanistan. After his death Malika el Aroud, a Belgian citizen of Moroccan descent who had accompanied him to Afghanistan, returned to Europe and founded Minbar. SOS - - a Web site promoting Bin Laden' s Jihad.

She also remarried. In a CNN interview in 2006 el Aroud demonstrated how she and her new husband Moez Garsallaoui ran the site, which contained postings of attacks on coalition troops in Iraq and translations of the speeches of al Qaeda leaders. Alleged recruitment for training in Pakistan According to Belgian police el Aroud and Garsallaoui moved to Brussels in 2007 and worked in tandem to recruit operatives to train in the tribal areas of Pakistan. El Aroud, it is alleged, inspired young men to volunteer for Jihad through her incendiary Web postings. Garsallaoui, the police say, went out to the streets to recruit people.

El Aroud was arrested last December in Brussels and charged along with five others with participation in a terrorist group. She denies the charge. El Aroud and Garsallaoui allegedly recruited six individuals in all, four from Belgium and two from France, according to legal documents obtained by CNN. Those documents include the interrogation report of one of the French recruits who traveled to Pakistan and was arrested when he returned to Europe. The recruit, who can only be named by his initials W.

O. , told French authorities that several members of their traveling group including Garsallaoui, were given explosives training by al Qaeda trainers in Pakistan' s Federally Administered tribal areas early in 2008. During the two- week course, according to the legal documents, W. O. alleged that Egyptian and Syrian instructors taught them how to assemble weapons, fire rocket launchers, and how to handle explosives. One trainer even set off a small charge of TNT in demonstration, telling them that the explosive was used to attack U.

S. convoys in Afghanistan and in suicide vests. Belgian security services went on high alert after members of the group started to return from the tribal areas in late 2008, concerned they might have been tasked to launch attacks in Europe. According to [ Belgian] counter- terrorism sources, the trigger for the Brussels arrests was an intercepted e- mail sent by one of the alleged recruits, Hicham Beyayo, in early December shortly after he returned to Belgium.

The e- mail allegedly suggested that Beyayo had been given the green light to launch an attack in Belgium. However no explosives were recovered by Belgian police, and some terrorism analysts are skeptical that an attack was imminent. Beyayo' s lawyer Christophe Marchand told CNN the email was merely & quot; tough talk& quot; to impress an ex- girlfriend. Belgian authorities continue to insist that the alleged cell was a potential national security threat.

The alleged role of Ayachi and Gendron A senior Belgian intelligence source told CNN that Ayachi and Gendron - - the two men detained in Italy - - were known to provide ideological support for members of the alleged Brussels terrorism network, but at this time were not suspected of having played a direct role in recruiting young European Muslims for training in Pakistan. Questions on their role, however, have been raised by a new revelation by Italian investigators, who allege that when they were arrested, Ayachi and Gendron were carrying the last will and testament of Beyayo, whose e- mail had caused such alarm. In the alleged will Beyayo made clear he was ready for martyrdom. & quot; When you hear of my death. . . don' t wear black and most importantly don' t display my photo, & quot; Beyayo purportedly wrote. & quot; I will emigrate to the field of Jihad to triumph for the religion of God, to defend the Muslim countries and to protect the sacred lands of the Muslims. And I will be a great help to the Mujahedeen brothers. & quot; Marchand told CNN that such a document in no way indicated that his client was preparing an attack in Europe. [ He said Beyayo had traveled to the tribal areas of Pakistan to fight with the Taliban in Afghanistan, not to become an al Qaeda operative] . & quot; Writing a will was hardly unusual behavior for somebody whose aim was to go and fight jihad in Afghanistan, & quot; Marchand said.

According to Belgian counter- terrorism officials, Ayachi' s CIB and Malika el Aroud' s Web site served as focal points for many of those linked to the alleged Brussels network. The officials say that, Ayachi, Gendron, el Aroud, Garsallaoui and Beyayo belonged to a tight- knit 20- 30 strong community of militants in Brussels. CNN, through its own investigation and through Belgian legal and police sources, has identified the user names under which several of these individuals, including Gendron, Garsallaoui and Beyayo posted messages on El Aroud' s site Minbar SOS.

Continued security concerns According to Belgian counter- terrorism officials, three of the seven individuals who traveled to the Afghan- Pakistan border region in 2008 for training are still at large in the area.

Some European counter- terrorism officials believe this is a significant security concern, given the Brussels network' s track record In smuggling people into Europe. In an interview with CNN, Alain Winants, the director of Belgian Intelligence said: & quot; Every secret service will tell you that individuals who are already radicalized and who are in addition are being specialized in some fighting techniques or techniques of propaganda are representing a big risk when they come back. & quot; Those still at large, Belgian counter- terrorism sources say, include Moez Garsallaoui, ( Malika el Aroud' s husband) who they believe has developed close ties with the top leadership of al Qaeda in the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Belgian counter- terrorism officials told CNN that Garsallaoui was in regular email contact from the region with his wife before her arrest last December.

According to a lawyer briefed on the legal dossier in the Belgian case, in June 2008 Garsallaoui allegedly sent el Aroud an e- mail claiming to have killed five Americans in Afghanistan. His wife congratulated him, according to the legal source.

Garsallaoui also purportedly posted messages on el Aroud' s radical Web site from the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan, including a message posted last September urging militants in Europe to launch attacks. & quot; The solution my brothers and sisters is not fatwas but boooooooms, & quot; the posting stated. The posting was discovered by CNN under Garsallaoui' s purported user name on the Minbar SOS Web site. Earlier this week Garsallaoui purportedly posted a new statement on Minbar.

SOS. In the message which was entitled & quot; We Need You& quot; he said he had joined up with Taliban forces who were making raids against American troops in Afghanistan from the tribal areas of Pakistan. & quot; The Jihad is going well and the Taliban are stronger than ever, they are gaining territory every day and more important than that they are winning the trust of the local population, & quot; he claimed. & quot; If you thought that you could pressure me to slow down through the arrest of my wife you were wrong. It won' t stop me fulfilling my objectives. . . those who laugh last, laugh more. & quot; All About & bull;

Atlanta, Georgia- based “ twee- punk” outfit ( named after the much beloved Gummi candy) were formed in 2009 by ( ) along with Erich Leudtke , Dave Fortner , and Santiago Archila . Raised on a steady diet of , , and , the group members’ shared love of cacophonous reverb, jangly guitars, and lo- fi fuzz- pop has earned them comparisons to everyone from and to and .

The band’ s first single arrived in 2010 via , followed by the full- length debut for in early summer the following year. ~ James Christophe Monger, Rovi

Profile on M. I( pronounced em eye) M. I was born to Pastor and Mrs Abaga, both active members of the local Church choir in Jos, Plateau, Nigeria .

His mother taught the basic music notations and later bought him 7- key mini piano , which launched him early into the world of music. I’ s encounter with Hip- Hop started with sampling the works of DMX and Lauryn Hill in 1998 . He later delved into writing poetry. In 1999, MI left for Calvin College, Michigan, USA to pursue a degree in business and economics.

There he interacted with the budding Michigan hip- hop community. He performed at all the major hip- hop and R& amp; B shows and concerts in school and later came third in the Calvin College “ Hip hopera” 2003. I returned to Plateau, Nigeria in 2005 to find the local music industry on the verge of a revolution and was set to take African Hip- Hop to new heights. A proficient producer, lyricist, songwriter and instrumentalist, M. I has been described by DIV as the future of African Hip- Hop.

He has produced and featured on the works of artists like Jeremiah Gyang, Djinee, Shifi ( Style Plus) , Jesse Jags, Ice Prince, Ruby, Lindsy , Leone e. t. c. Crowd Mentality – the first single off his album “ Pyeri Boy” has topped every major chart in and around Nigeria and is currently number one on the Creative economy website Soundtrack, besting music from Nine other countries around the world! The video is enjoying tremendous airplay and was No 3 @ Sound City Video charts in July 2007. His much anticipated album “ Talk About it” is due for release in Early 2008 after his world tour.

Performances, Tours & amp; Appearances · ‘ Bring the Noise 2007’ of Africa and the UK, performed on tour in Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and the UK. · Rhythm Unplugged, Lagos , Rhythm Unplugged, Abuja 2006 · Opening for Grammy winners Black Ladysmith Mambazo, and Keb Mo in Michigan , USA 2004 · Interviewed on Live BBC Hip Hop Forum with two other artists from Senegal and Cameroon. · Interviewed live on African Essence in London. · Interviewed live for BBC African Youth Program from Abuja. · Single Crowd Mentality # 1 Cool Fm Abuja, # 1 Rhythm Top 7 at 7, and Numerous other stations round the country. · Crowd Mentality selected # 1 for British Council International Young Music Entrepreneur of the Year Award. · Crowd Mentality # 1 Hip Hop Charts in Uganda, Tanzania and Malaysia. · “ Crowd Mentality” is currently representing Nigeria at the website music competition . · Video Crowd Mentality # 1 Buzz Fm TV show, # 1 NTA Lagos, Abuja, Selected # 1 Sound City Star Host. · ‘ Top Ten Best Videos Of The Year’ Buzz FM TV show. MI was recently selected to participate in the “ Bring the Noise” Project organized by the British Council International.

He will be representing Nigeria on a two- week tour of the UK, East Africa and West Africa, which commences from October 2007 and will culminate in a world tour in 2008. His nomination is as a result of his high level of artistry and proficiency in revolutionizing Hip hop in Africa. Other countries participating in the prestigious project include Senegal, Sierra Leone, Cameroon, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and the UK.

He is currently signed on the International award winning Chocolate City label. Contact : chocolatecitynig@ yahoo. co. uk Myspace. com/ pyeriboy User- contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By- SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL.

Singer- songwriter and record producer Aaron Embry has been recording music since 1995. Originally from the Los Angeles area, he currently resides in Nashville, TN. He has recorded, produced, written, and/ or performed with , , , , , , , and .

He also fronts the indie rock band with his wife Nikki, and has a new project titled touring with this July and August, 2010.

User- contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By- SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL.

Washington ( CNN) - - With U. S. - Pakistan relations in the deep freeze, former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and American officials called Thursday for a thaw. & quot; Blame games, rigidity, arrogance, insensitivity to each other' s national interests is certainly very counter- productive, & quot; Musharraf said in Washington. & quot; It definitely saddens me to see the deteriorating Pakistan- United States relations, & quot; he said in a speech at the Woodrow Wilson International Center. Twelve weeks have passed since American commandos killed Osama bin Laden inside Pakistan, an event that dramatically widened the rift between the two countries. Musharraf denied he knew during his time as president or later that bin Laden was hiding out in Pakistan. & quot; Whether one believes it or not, let me say with confidence, I did not know, & quot; he declared.

He suggested that it was negligence and not complicity of the Pakistan government that allowed bin Laden to stay there undetected. & quot; If there was complicity this is very, very serious indeed, & quot; Musharraf said. & quot; I think the UN and the United States have all the right to be against Pakistan if it ultimately comes to believe that . . . people were hiding him, people were complicit in it, & quot; Musharraf said. The former president and general, who has been living in London, pledged to return to Pakistan next March for a political comeback in 2013, in what he called & quot; the mother of all elections. & quot; David Petraeus, making his way home from Afghanistan where he was commanding general and soon to start his new job as CIA director, reportedly told a Paris audience yesterday he also is worried about relations with Pakistan. He just completed a visit there and said the relationship is at a difficult stage but the U. S. must continue efforts to work with Pakistan, recognizing what it has done in the fight against terror. Meanwhile in Washington, top U.

S. military leaders told senators of their concerns about Pakistan.

The soldier poised to take over as chief of staff of the Army, Gen. Ray Odierno, said militants hiding out in Pakistan along the Afghanistan border are a major security challenge facing the United States. Adm.

James Winnefeld, tapped as the next vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Pakistan must do more to crack down on insurgents like the Haqqani network. & quot; Pakistan is a very, very difficult partner and we all know that.

We don' t always share the same world view or the same opinions or the same national interests, & quot; Winnefeld told the Senate Armed Services Committee. & quot; I think we need to continued pressure on Pakistan using all elements of pressure that we' re able to apply to what really should be a friend to get them to realize that the Haqqani network poses a threat to their own country and to take the steps that we' ve asked them to take. & quot; Former congresswoman and Wilson Center director Jane Harmon said both the United States and Pakistan have made mistakes and miscalculations. & quot; Nothing is irreparable and this relationship has got to be fixed, & quot; Harmon said after Musharraf' s speech. & quot; I think some tough love is required, I think there needs to be a more honest and straight relationship, & quot; Harmon said. & quot; The Pakistanis have grievances, but we clearly have grievances too. & quot;

Piers Morgan blasts British MP' s ' lie' Geyser of water lifts car into air House vote ' one way of herding the cats' Cops: Son parties with parents' bodies in house Migraines a deal breaker for Bachmann?

Gay man turns himself ' straight' Could you hug your kids every day? Murray to blame for Jackson' s death? Tot mom allegedly spotted at airport Chihuahua chases off robbers Fallout after Murdoch testimony Geyser of water lifts car into air Bolden: NASA is very busy Are fast food calorie counts accurate? Hacking groups' possible agendas Astronauts aboard Atlantis reflect UK vs.

US tabloid culture Talking to teens about health, obesity Welcome home to U. Womens soccer team Could eye exams detect Alzheimer' s? Legal analysis of phone hacking scandal Man faked his identity for decades Murdoch in the hot seat Ex- nuclear plant operator speaks out CNN' s new video experience on i.

Pad The Shot: Caption casts spell on Cooper Report: Murdoch to step down as CEO?

Prioritizing federal spending Tea Party leader on default threat Could Rick Perry shake up GOP W. H. race? GOP pushes ' cut, cap, and balance' Anderson Cooper answers your questions Marcus Bachmann defends clinic 9/ 11 families to meet with Justice Dept.

PM Cameron addresses hacking allegations Debt talks - what' s the solution?

Bachmann questions farmers' claims Mrs. Murdoch to the rescue Granderson: Debt talks need more women Murdoch' s wife stands by her man James Murdoch discusses 9/ 11 victims Counting calories while eating out Hacking: ' Who signed the checks? ' Murdoch: ' Transparent, open society' Murdochs won' t disclose payout Dr. Drew Murray to blame for Jackson' s death? Casey interview: Bonanza or backlash? Preview: Dr.

Drew with Bristol Palin Is Casey Anthony mentally ill? Summers on America' s growth prospects Fareed' s Take: Afghanistan' s future What in the World: Brazil overheating? Most expensive city in the world Lawmakers fighting like cats and dogs Fareed Zakaria answers your questions Bernard- Henri Levy speaks out on DSK Peter Godwin on Sudan Getting a Picasso into a war zone House vote ' one way of herding the cats' Campbell: Cameron should admit ' error' Experts skeptical of Murdoch' s ignorance ' Revolving door' guarded Murdoch paper? Who is winning debt ceiling debate?

Hacking whistle- blower was ' a good guy' Abrams: How far will hacking scandal go? Former editor cites Murdoch son, Brooks Gay man turns himself ' straight' Can Casey Anthony ever be forgiven?

Roseanne: I' m not good at marriage Chubby teen becomes beauty queen Shannon Tweed walks out on Gene Simmons Would Casey' s attorney let her babysit?

Larry David: I want to do standup again My father was ' The Grim Reaper' Fergie: I' m addicted to being liked Will migraines impact Bachmann campaign?

Murdoch acting like himself? Gadhafi: Brega will be ' hell' Republican social issues in 2012 Tot mom allegedly spotted at airport Cops: Son kills parents, throws party Where is Casey Anthony? Piers Morgan blasts Mensch' s ' lie' Trump: Bachmann is ' highly underrated' Murdoch takes pie in the face Piers Morgan: CNN host, ' AGT' judge Tom Arnold discusses his dark past Nancy Grace opens up on fiance' s murder Tom Arnold talks Arnold Schwarzenegger Piers Morgan believes Murdoch Murdoch done with newspapers? Nancy Grace: Jury wasn' t listening to me Nancy Grace speaks about fiance' s murder Claustrophobic fighter pilot Ex- players sue NFL over concussion risks Brain injury patient back on the road Bounty hunter wants to sue Casey Anthony Khloe Kardashian' s Twitter outrage Hollywood hacking outrage J.

Lo and Marc Anthony split shocker Justin and Selena: Wedding crashers? Casey Anthony in disguise? Kim Kardashian' s mom gets facelift Hackers turn tables on Murdoch empire Migraines a deal breaker for Bachmann? ' Nobody proved Murdoch was involved' Computer hackers attack ' Sun' Congressman battles home intruder Murdoch scandal: Who' s next?

Herman Cain against proposed mosque? Warren: " I Really Don' t Get it" Bachmann backs ' cut, cap and balance' Politicos agree: GOP field leaderless Sound of Sunday with Candy Crowley How Giuliani would negotiate debt talks How Giuliani would negotiate debt talks Giuliani: ' Not sure' I could win in NH Candy' s post- show analysis Graham has no confidence in compromise WH Budget chief: Time to act is now Rudy Giuliani on Murdoch, 9/ 11 and more Candy' s pre- show rundown

WASHINGTON ( CNN) - - Congress returns Tuesday from a monthlong recess to tackle a list of pressing issues, and health care reform isn' t the only item at the top of the list. Efforts to revamp the nation' s health care system will undoubtedly be front and center as pressure mounts from the White House to get something done. That pressure is likely to be placed on the Senate, where the influential Senate Finance Committee has yet to sign off on the proposed bill.

The Obama administration has also begun to ramp up efforts to push its agenda with force, beginning with an address before a joint session of Congress on Wednesday detailing what he wants in health care reform legislation. But the Obama- backed bill is only one of the things on Congress' to- do list. The Senate must pass spending bills before money runs out at the end of the fiscal year: in September.

The House passed its spending measures before the August recess.

A contentious battle likely will ensue over the costs, as much of the GOP opposition to Democratic bills this year has focused on money.

Democrats in the House and Senate are still hoping to pass Obama' s financial overhaul package, which would overhaul the banking regulatory system, create oversight of the $ 600 trillion private derivatives market and take oversight of the insurance industry from the states.

Also, the possibility of Congress taking up a second stimulus plan, some say, could throw a wrench into the health care debate. But even before the health care reform debate blew up, it was climate change that found members of the House and Senate at odds with Obama.

In late June, a White House- backed climate change bill passed 219- 212 in the House, with virtually no Republican support. It has since been stalled in the Senate. The bill being proposed would reduce nationwide greenhouse gas emissions 17 percent by 2020 and 83 percent by 2050 through a so- called & quot; cap- and- trade& quot; program under which companies would buy and sell emissions credits. It would also require utilities to generate an increasing amount of power from renewable sources. Republicans have argued the bill could hurt the country' s battered industrial base while pushing polluting industries to countries with lower environmental standards.

But the debate over climate change could pass if it is framed in a different way, one political observer said. & quot; There is this new avenue developing where national security is becoming more elevated in the debate on climate change, & quot; said Jill Lawrence, a political columnist for AOL' s Politics. Daily. com. & quot; We' re not just talking about oil from hostile nations.

We' re talking about natural disasters and very destabilizing weather events . . . that will demand a lot from the U. S. military and also could create breeding grounds for terrorists just by toppling governments, & quot; she said. Former GOP Sen. John Warner of Virginia has taken the national security angle to the public. The former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee is working in conjunction with the Pew Project on National Security, Energy and Climate in holding events around the country, Lawrence said.

Lawrence said that with environmental and national security advocates joining forces on climate change, there' s a & quot; shot at a coalition& quot; to get a bill through the Senate. And that coalition could come sooner rather than later. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D- California, chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, indicated in recent media reports that she would likely introduce the bill in late September.

As one of the key sponsors, Boxer has noted that the bill has failed to gain traction because of factors including the death of Sen. Ted Kennedy and the health care reform debate. But some Republicans have signaled that a bill will have a tough time passing. & quot; I think it' s going to lead to significant increases in electricity across America in an effort to try to deal with a global problem. If we do have a global warming problem, and many people believe we do, we need to target it on a global basis, & quot; Senate Minority Leader Mitch Mc. Connell, R- Kentucky, recently told Fox News Sunday.

But already, interest groups are lining up with a series of ad blitzes to sway members of Congress, including the National Association of Manufacturers, the League of Conservation Voters, Americans for Change and the American Values Network. One advertising expert said the recent ads hitting the airwaves are not only aimed at the climate change proposals, but also on members of Congress, especially moderate Democrats and Republicans in western and southern states. Evan Tracey, CNN' s campaign media analyst and chief operating officer of TNS Media Intelligence/ CMAG, said the ads are mostly aimed at House members despite the passage in the House. The reason, Tracey said, is because legislation if passed in the Senate will have to be conferenced with the House bill, and the ads could simply be taking political shots at members of Congress. Tracey said the ads are going to be a & quot; bookend& quot; issue to current ads on health care filling TVs across the country. & quot; Between the echo chamber of health care and the cap and trade bill here, it' s going to be an awful lot of issue advertising in a number of these states and certainly on cable news as we go through the fall. & quot; The challenge to groups touting climate change reform is that it' s not an easy issue to understand, much like health care reform, Tracey said. & quot; I think that' s one of the challenges with all this advertising.

It' s going to be boiling itself down to what makes the best political argument. & quot; CNNMoney. com contributed to this report.

All About & bull;

In this new weekly feature, CNN. com highlights five recommended Twitter feeds about a hot topic in the news. ( CNN) - - The U. Senate Finance Committee this week passed a 10- year, $ 829 billion health care reform bill - - partly because of a & quot; yes& quot; vote from a lone Republican, Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine. Snowe doesn' t appear to be on Twitter. Too bad.

But plenty of other people are posting about health care reform and the U.

S. health care system on the micro- blogging site. This list of health care twitterers is by no means comprehensive, so feel free to tell us about your favorites in the comments section below. 1. : The health care reform debate has been nothing if not confusing. & quot; Death panels, & quot; & quot; tea parties, & quot; Rep. Joe Wilson shouting & quot; You lie! & quot; at the president.

It' s a mess to sort through, especially on a vat of commentary and opinion like Twitter. Luckily, there are feeds like @ Politi. Fact to help. This Pulitzer- Prize- winning news group, which is part of the St. Petersburg Times, sorts fact from fiction on the health care debate and other topics.

That & quot; You lie! & quot; comment, for instance? A lie, Politifact says. Followers: More than 4, 800 Sample tweet: We fact- check whether the Baucus # healthcare bill would tax medical devices such as X- ray tests and surgical needles 2. : Fox is a researcher at the Pew Internet and American Life Project. Doesn' t sound very health- care- relevant, huh? But Fox' s Twitter feed is packed with anecdotes and statistics about how social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook are changing doctor- patient relationships and the state of health care at large.

Followers: More than 2, 150 Sample tweet: Pew Internet: 38% of internet users look online for information about hospitals or other medical facilities 3. : Blogger and doctor Kevin Pho offers up commentary on his life as a physician and the health care system. His random tidbits of medical information can be a riot, especially if you' re looking in from outside the medical community.

Followers: More than 15, 300 Sample tweet: Should medical journals use the term nauseous, nauseated, or nauseating? http: / / bit. ly/ 1yffx 4. : Buildings can type? Apparently.

The official White House Twitter feed covers a slate of topics, but heath care has been especially big on the administration' s recent tweeting agenda. Followers: More than 1. 3 million Sample tweet: Jibber jabber on costs in reform from protectors of the status quo. Take it from the expert instead: 5. : This doctors' group tries to spice up the health care debate with its purple font!

Oh, and tons of newsy updates on the latest votes, disputes and developments. Followers: More than 5, 600 Sample tweet: Why do # healthcare costs keep rising?

An in- depth analysis of America' s health system. @ This. American. Life http: / / ow. ly/ u 0JX All About & bull;

Doing the environmentally correct thing can be a challenge. After all, there aren' t many of us who actually have the time or enterprise to compost or the spare cash to replace the washer, dryer, or other appliances with the latest energy- efficient models.

But here' s a convenient truth: Small changes really do make a big difference - - not only for but for your own health - - and may even save you some money. Here, a few to try today. Take shorter showers Install a waterproof timer in your shower, and set it to five minutes. Even better: Replace your showerhead with one of the new & quot; low- flow& quot; or & quot; water- saving& quot; models.

They' re easy to install and available at home- improvement stores. Look for a flow rate of 2. 5 gallons per minute ( gpm) or less; older showerheads have flow rates of around 5. 5 gpm. ( And, don' t worry, you' ll still be able to get the suds out of your hair. ) Why it' s good for the Earth: Using a low- flow showerhead, a family of four can conserve almost 15, 000 gallons of water per year.

Why it' s good for you: Hot water strips skin of its natural oils, so spending less time in the shower can result in better- hydrated skin. Bypass the dry cleaner Buy fewer clothes labeled & quot; dry- clean only. & quot; Also, look for a cleaner that wet- cleans, using nonhazardous solutions and special equipment. ( Find out where the service is available in . ) You can hand- wash many dry- clean- only garments in cold water, too. Why it' s good for the Earth: Perc ( short for perchloroethylene) , the standard solvent used in conventional dry cleaning, eventually breaks down into other chemicals - - some of which are toxic and may deplete the ozone layer, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Why it' s good for you: In high doses, perc has been linked with dizziness, headaches, fatigue, nausea, and skin irritation Go easy on beef Make it a tuna or salmon burger instead.

Why it' s good for the Earth: Red meat production is responsible for about two- and- a- half times more greenhouse- gas emissions than chicken or fish. Why it' s good for you: Fish rich in omega- 3 fatty acids, like tuna and salmon, not only are good for your heart ( helping lower triglycerides and blood pressure) but can help prevent dry skin, too. Eat fish twice a week.

Ditch air fresheners Indoor air may be up to three times more polluted than the air outdoors, so go fresh the natural way by opening your windows.

For a light, citrusy fragrance, place orange peel mixed with sage in small bowls throughout your home.

Why it' s good for the Earth: The Natural Resources Defense Council ( NRDC) tested 14 air fresheners and found that 12 contained phthalates, chemicals linked to hormone abnormalities, birth defects, and reproductive problems. Even products billed & quot; all- natural& quot; or & quot; unscented& quot; weren' t chemical- free. Why it' s good for you: In addition to phthalates, the NRDC says, air fresheners may contain allergens, volatile organic compounds ( VOCs) , and cancer- causing chemicals like benzene and formaldehyde. Buy organic coffee Besides & quot; Certified , & quot; look for & quot; Shade Grown& quot; ( a process that preserves more nutrients) and & quot; Fair Trade& quot; ( these coffee farmers are paid a fair price, so they don' t look for growing shortcuts) . Why it' s good for the Earth: Pesticides and fertilizers used in conventional coffee production can harm soil and seep into water supplies.

Why it' s good for you: Fewer synthetic agents involved in chemical treatment means a healthier cup of Joe. Skip the liquid soap Stick with the bar kind. Why it' s good for the Earth: Many liquid soaps, though convenient, contain triclosan, an antibiotic agent toxic to wildlife. Why it' s good for you: You can easily overdo it with liquid soap, which can dry out your skin and make it susceptible to germs. Plus, antibacterial soaps don' t always deliver the germ- killing benefits they promise.

Toss that flea collar Baths are a great way to de- flea your sans chemicals. Wash your animal friend' s bedding in hot water once a week, too. Why it' s good for the Earth: Pesticides used in flea collars may contain toxic chemicals, including possible carcinogens, that can contaminate water. Why it' s good for you: Many pesticides are designed to obstruct the nervous systems of bugs. But they can also interfere with human hormones over time, says Sarah Janssen, M.

D. , NRDC environmental- health expert. Nix the screen saver Set your to & quot; sleep& quot; after five minutes of inactivity. Why it' s good for the Earth: Animated screen savers consume electricity unnecessarily, says Taylor Grant, executive environmental advisor of the Environmental Media Association. Why it' s good for you: Eco- psychologists say even a small Earth- friendly gesture can have a positive affect on mental health. to win a monthly Room Makeover Giveaway from My. Home.

Ideas. com Copyright All About & bull; & bull; & bull;

Editor' s Note: Actor and environmentalist Harrison Ford is also the Vice Chairman of , an organization that seeks to protect and conserve the Earth' s natural resources. He' s at the Convention on Biological Diversity conference in Nagoya, Japan, where delegates are working to agree new targets for biodiversity over the next 10 years. Nagoya, Japan ( CNN) - - This week, I have had the opportunity to meet with ministers and country delegates from around the world who have gathered in Nagoya, Japan, to set a global conservation action plan for the next ten years.

This is a critical moment in time for environmental ministers gathered here to work together to set bold, ambitious targets to protect nature and the services it provides. Decisions made here will not only impact our planet' s environmental health, but every person, family, and nation that depend on nature to survive and thrive. Biodiversity is the foundation of all life on Earth. Human societies cannot provide for themselves the essential services provided by nature and healthy ecosystems. Among them: A stable climate, clean air, fresh water, insect populations that pollinate our food crops, healthy soils, and sources of pharmaceuticals for human health.

However, biodiversity loss and ecosystem destruction pose a global challenge of unprecedented proportions. The current rate of species extinction is 1, 000 times the expected natural rate. While the concept of biodiversity can be complicated, think of it as is the very fabric of life on earth and each species a thread. How many threads can we lose before the fabric is in tatters?

No matter how powerful our drive for improving the human condition we will not succeed over the long haul if Nature is not healthy. Evidence is everywhere around the globe. For example, more than one billion people currently lack reliable access to clean drinking water, and 2. 6 billion lack adequate access to sanitation. Global fish stocks - - food security for one billion people - - have fallen by 90 percent.

NATURE doesn' t need people. PEOPLE need nature. Over the next 30 years, three billion people are expected to join us. Within this short space we will need to double our food output and fresh water availability. And all of this must be achieved on a planet whose ecological foundation is already severely stressed.

If we honestly assessed the economic value of the services that nature proves humanity, we would understand that we have undervalued our healthy ecosystems. These are daunting problems, but a solution to these challenges is available. Protected areas - - both on land and in our oceans - - constitute a pivotal cornerstone in halting biodiversity loss.

In fact, in a world facing tremendous pressure to convert intact ecosystems into other forms of land use - - from agriculture to urbanization - - protected areas are likely to be the ONLY intact natural environments that will remain in many regions impacted by human activity.

To this end, I urge our global leaders to strongly support policies to protect at least 25 percent of Earth' s land mass and 15 percent of Earth' s oceans by 2020. As important as the number is the fact that these areas are chosen carefully. They must include those areas of our planet that are particularly important to global biodiversity AND ALSO provide critical ecosystem services. Simply put - - those areas that nature and humanity most need to survive.

It is clear that the costs of protecting intact ecosystems, with their multitude of services, are far outweighed by the benefits. Protecting biodiversity is in our self- interest.

As the father of five children, I can think of no greater responsibility. While important decisions are being made here in Nagoya about the future health of our planet, one country is missing: The United States. Seventeen years ago, President Clinton committed the United States to ratifying the Convention on Biodiversity. It has still not happened. We are essentially alone in refusing to join this agreement that we, as a nation, were instrumental in drafting.

What this means is that our country does not have a seat at the table in shaping global environmental policies that support the protection of nature and long- term sustainable economic development. Our national interests in the agricultural, research, pharmaceutical and biotech sectors will be affected, but we will have no vote. That makes no sense.

As an American citizen I urge my government to ratify this convention' s treaty. I hope you join me in encouraging your political leaders to do the same.

The future of each of our nations, of the entire community of nations, will be impacted by the choices made this week. Our world is at a tipping point, and we can choose to save it - - and ourselves - - but we must act decisively, and we must act now. There has been news that gives us cause for hope with the announcement of the & quot; Life in Harmony& quot; Initiative by the Government of Japan. This $ 2 billion investment provides critical assistance to countries that are focused on the conservation and sustainable use of their natural ecosystems.

This is exactly the type of leadership that is needed by our governments to ensure the protection of our global biodiversity, and the future of humanity. The opinions in this commentary are solely those of Harrison Ford.

( ) Childhood obesity is caused by eating too much and exercising too little. The solution is eating healthier foods and increasing physical activity, but it' ll be tough for your child to do it alone. The most effective way to treat & mdash; and prevent & mdash; childhood obesity is to adopt healthier habits for the entire family.

Change family behaviors Rather than singling out your child, encourage the whole family to make healthy lifestyle changes. Consider these helpful hints: Start small. Gradual changes are easiest to incorporate into the daily routine & mdash; and to maintain long term.

Start by making a few small changes, such as turning off the TV during dinner, switching from soda to skim milk or water, and taking a family walk after dinner once a week. Set goals. Set realistic, measurable goals for each family member, and then determine family goals. For example, your child' s goal might be to eat fruit for afternoon snacks. Your goal might be to take a brisk walk three days a week.

The family' s goal might be to limit fast- food meals to once a month. Recognize triggers. Be prepared for situations that may tempt you to fall back to your old habits. If you' re used to eating popcorn at the movies, for example, bring only enough money for admission & mdash; or agree that you' ll share a small carton of popcorn with your child rather than ordering separate treats.

Celebrate success. Frequent rewards can help keep your family motivated. When your child meets a goal & mdash; by asking for fruit rather than cookies after school, for example & mdash; offer praise and attention.

When your family meets a goal, brainstorm healthy ways to celebrate your success. You might try a family movie night, a weekend picnic or a trip to the pool. Keep it positive. Focus on healthy lifestyle changes, rather than your child' s appearance or a number on the scale.

Remember, treating childhood obesity isn' t a race. It takes time and dedication to replace established behaviors with new, healthier behaviors. Be flexible. It' ll take time to get used to your healthier habits.

Encourage everyone to stick to the plan & mdash; but if the goals aren' t working for your family, consider making adjustments. It' s better to create a new plan than to stick to one that isn' t working.

Create a healthy- weight environment As you work toward healthy habits and behaviors, create an environment that supports these efforts. For example: Keep healthy foods on hand. Stock your kitchen with fruits, vegetables, whole- grain foods and other healthy choices.

Keep junk food and sugary drinks out of the house. Eat in. Reduce the number of meals your family eats in fast- food and other restaurants. Better yet, sit down together for family meals.

Plan weekly menus using new recipes or healthier alternatives to family favorites.

Keep portion sizes reasonable and allow seconds only on salad, fruits and vegetables. Encourage your kids to get involved in shopping and meal preparation. Build physical activity into the daily routine.

Put as much emphasis on moving more as on eating less. Organize family outings that involve physical activity, such as walking to the library or taking a family bike ride. Include children in active chores, such as washing the car or walking the dog. Encourage your kids to participate in school or community sports & mdash; or to dance, jump rope or do other physical activities on their own. Limit household screen time.

Set reasonable rules for TV, computer and video game time, such as one to two hours a day for each family member & mdash; including mom and dad. Keep TVs and computers out of the bedrooms, and don' t allow eating in front of the TV or computer. Be a positive role model Remember, the best way to get your child excited about an active lifestyle is to commit to the changes yourself. Your actions teach your child what to eat, how much to eat and when to eat.

You also encourage your child to be physically active every day if you make it a priority yourself. Stress the importance of healthy lifestyle choices, rather than a number on the scale Making lifestyle changes can be challenging, especially when you' re busy juggling the demands of daily life. If your family works together and supports each others' efforts, however, you' re more likely to succeed. Eventually healthy habits will become routine & mdash; and you' ll be well on your way to treating childhood obesity and improving your family' s health.