Your cheese may not be 100% cheese: Two companies and one executive plead guilty to adulterated cheese

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - Two cheese companies,  Universal Cheese & Drying, Inc. and International Packing, LLC  and  Castle Cheese Company executive Michelle Myrter, pleaded guilty in federal court today to charges relating to their introduction of adulterated and misbranded cheese products into interstate commerce, according to announcement by U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton.

Each company agreed to forfeit to the United States $500,000.  Castle Cheese Company executive Michelle Myrter, 44, of Harmony, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty as a responsible corporate officer to one misdemeanor count of aiding and abetting the introduction of adulterated and misbranded cheese products into interstate commerce, in violation of provisions of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

According to the plea, the corporate defendants packaged and sold cheese under various labels at the Castle Cheese facility in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania.  The cheese was distributed through retail, food service, and wholesale customers throughout the United States.  

The corporate defendants had knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) regulations and standards of identity for parmesan and romano cheese products and were aware that the products did not conform to FDA standards of identity for real parmesan and romano cheese, but represented to customers that the products contained 100 percent real parmesan and romano cheese.  

The corporate defendants also knew that the cheese products were misbranded because they did not bear labels that accurately reflected the products’ ingredients.  The corporate defendants likewise knew that the cheese products were also adulterated in that certain ingredients had been substituted or omitted and other ingredients had been added.  The defendants used proceeds from the sale of the misbranded and adulterated cheese products to continue the operation of the cheese manufacturing and packaging at the Slippery Rock facility.

The adulterated romano and parmesan products were sold under several brand names, the owners of which were unaware of the fraud.  The adulterated products are no longer available for sale.  At no time did the adulterated products pose a threat to the health or safety of consumers.

Judge Hornak will set sentencing date at a later time.  For the corporate defendants, the law provides for a fine of $500,000 for each defendant.  For the individual defendant, the law provides for a total sentence of one year in prison, a fine of $100,000, or both.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Pending sentencing, the court released Myrter on a personal recognizance bond.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tonia Sulia Goodman is prosecuting these cases on behalf of the government.

Tim Gill’s 6-piece ensemble specializing in hot Jazz and swing music of the 20s and 30s at Saddleback College

Posted By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, , CA – Jazz Studies at Saddleback College will o present Tim Gill's Gin Mill Grifters on Monday, March 14^th at 7:30 p.m. in the McKinney Theatre. 

The Gin Mill Grifters are a dynamite 6-piece ensemble specializing in hot Jazz and early swing music of the 1920's and 1930's. Classic repertoire from the likes of Eddie Condon, Bix Beiderbecke, Louis Armstrong and Fats Waller are presented with flair, panache, and virtuosic musicianship. Tim Gill, Trumpet, Vocals, Rhythm Guitar; Danny House, Clarinet; Ben Devitt, Trombone; Adam Bravo, Piano; Nick Schaadt, String Bass; Jimmy Ford, Drums.

Tim Gill

Tickets are $10 general; $7 student/seniors (presale).  Call the ticket office at 949-582-4656 (Tues-Fri, noon to 4:00 p.m.) for tickets or online at www.saddleback.edu/arts.

Jazz Studies at Saddleback College emphasizes creativity through improvisation and ensemble performance. Focusing on the historical, theoretical and intuitive aspects of this American music, Director of Jazz Studies Joey Sellers and an outstanding cadre of nationally-recognized musicians comprise the jazz faculty. Curricula include Improvisation, Jazz Composition and Arranging, Jazz History Syllabus,Jazz History Audio, Jazz History Podcast, Jazz Piano, Saddleback Big Band, Jazz Lab Ensemble, and Combos.  Students in Jazz Studies at Saddleback College have transferred to prestigious institutions including University of Southern California, Eastman School of Music, Berkeley School of Music, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, The New School for Social Research in New York, Cal State Fullerton, University of California at San Diego, and other regional institutions.  Some of our alumni have gone on to play professionally with Frank Zappa, Diana Ross, and other high-profile artists and organizations.

Saddleback College is located at 28000 Marguerite Pkwy in Mission Viejo, just east of Interstate 5 at the Avery Parkway exit.  Free parking is available in Lot 12.  Take Avery Parkway to Marguerite Parkway turn left to the third traffic light, which is Saddleback’s Marguerite entrance. Turn right into the campus and take the second left to Theatre Circle, turning right into Lot 12.

Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community.  Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers more than 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals.  For more information, please visit www.saddleback.edu.  For Fine Arts events, visit www.saddleback.edu/arts. 

Contestants for Saddleback College's version of the Voice Identified.

Posted By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA -    Dr. Ariel Alexander of the Commercial Music program has identified the student participating in Saddleback's  third annual competition, the college's own version of the Voice,  on Thursday, March 3^rd at 7:30 p.m. in the McKinney Theatre. 

Participants:

Ketino Dumbadze

Lam Tram

Sophia Rollando

Lauren DeMarco

Taylor Stickle

Brian Flores

Dylan Martinez

Jamella Perkins

Alexis Kerr

Shayan Farzadpour

Sergio Ochoa

Shayan Farzadpour

Participants will perform rock, pop, soul, hip hop, and folk. Last year’s winner, folk singer Maureen Eberhardt, will be a featured performer. The audience is an active participant in this fun and rousing spectacle because they get to pick the winner.  Don’t miss a chance to be a part of this exciting competition when a Saddleback student is crowned as the Saddleback Star. Unusual for a theatre event, audience members are encouraged to use their smart phones to text, tweet, or post and camera flashes aren’t discouraged.  The winner receives a $500 prize.

Admission is $5. For tickets, call 949-582-4656 (Tue-Fri, noon to 4:00 p.m.)—www.saddleback.edu/arts

The Department of Music has established a comprehensive program which is considered to be one of the finest in California: a complete lower-division curriculum for transferring music majors, numerous performance groups, private and group lessons, a full concert series with faculty and guest artists, and general music courses. The nationally-recognized faculty is dedicated to performance and to teaching in all areas such as vocal, instrumental, jazz, guitar, and piano.  Other music classes include harmony, musicianship, composition, history, and appreciation of western art music, rock, jazz and world. The new Commercial Music program offers classes in Songwriting, Multi-Track Recording, Intro to the Music Industry, and Commercial Music Ensemble.

Saddleback College is located at 28000 Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo, just east of Interstate 5 at the Avery Parkway exit. Free parking is available in Lot 12.  Take Avery Parkway to Marguerite Parkway turn left to the third traffic light, which is Saddleback’s Marguerite entrance. Turn right into the campus and take the second left to Theatre Circle, turning right into Lot 12.

Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community.  Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers more than 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals.  For more information, please visit www.saddleback.edu.  For Fine Arts events, visit www.saddleback.edu/arts. 

Multimedia Choral at Saddleback College - The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace

Posted By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA -  -- On Sunday, March 13^th at 2:30 p.m. in the McKinney Theatre, under the direction of Dr. Scott Farthing, the Saddleback College Community Chorale presents The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace by Karl Jenkins. 

This powerful work is based on the format of the Catholic Mass, but includes texts by Kipling, Tennyson, and Sankichi Toge, a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing.  Sung in Latin, French, English and Arabic, this incredible choral work will be presented in a multi-media format including dance, choir, and instrumentalists. The focus is on the horrors of war, but it also includes thoughts about the returning veterans and what they carry inside of them, as well as a prayer for peace.  It is an exciting work with percussion and orchestral instruments accompanying the choir as well as many images projected on a large screen behind the choir as they sing. 

Tickets are $15 general and $10 students/seniors (presale only).  Call the ticket office at 949-582-4656 (noon to 4, Tuesday through Friday) or order your tickets or online at www.saddleback.edu/arts.

Saddleback College is located at 28000 Marguerite Pkwy in Mission Viejo, just east of Interstate 5 at the Avery Parkway exit.  Free parking is available in Lot 12.  Take Avery Parkway to Marguerite Parkway turn left to the third traffic light, which is Saddleback’s Marguerite entrance. Turn right into the campus and take the second left to Theatre Circle, turning right into Lot 12.

With a long tradition of excellence in music, the Saddleback College Vocal Program continues building on that tradition with the very finest in both standard vocal repertoire and the music of the cutting edge. The three primary choirs on campus include the Community Chorale and Concert Choir, which perform many concerts around the area throughout the school year. Membership is open in all three ensembles with the successful completion of a vocal placement interview at the beginning of each semester. In addition to beginning, intermediate, and advanced-level vocal classes, Saddleback College offers private voice lessons to a select few vocalists who are planning on pursuing degrees in vocal performance at the University or Conservatory level. Past students in the Applied Music program have been accepted to prestigious music schools across the country. In addition, Saddleback College is proud to be one of a handful of community colleges in the state which offer its students the opportunity to perform in operas and opera scenes each semester.

Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community.  Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers over 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals.  For more information, please visit www.saddleback.edu and for Fine Arts information, please visit www.saddleback.edu/arts.  

Noam Chumsky is dead wrong and you have Zero chance of joining the Coto de Caza HOA board.

Posted By CotoBlogzz

Coto de Caza, CA - Far Left MIT professor Noam Chumsky blames the rise of Trump to a breakdown in society. We strongly disagree:  The rise of Trump is largely due to corrupt and or inept career politicians and mainstream media abdicating its role as the fourth estate. We make the same argument for the rise of Bernie Sanders.

Heck, a Fresno State student newspaper editorial compares Donald Trump to Hitler.  The same student newspaper has not made a comparison between Bernie Sanders and Che Guevara, however.

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg in the 2016 US presidential elections:  The puppy is ugly and getting worse.

If you think this is bad, the arcane election process used in the Coto de Caza HOA may just be even worse:  Ever since Robert Varo and Xochitl Yocham assumed control of the CZ Master Association board of directors,  we have been able to predict with 100% accuracy board elections.

I and others have been requesting that the CZ Master Association HOA board complies with the spirit of state law and transitions to direct elections, instead of the arcane delegate process still in use today, originally designed to keep minority owners, such as developers, in power, all over the state.

Instead, the Varo/Yocham board increased its power grab by changing the rules to have elected delegates serve two years instead of one.  The elected delegates' only official function is to elect the CZ Master Association board of directors.

This means that using the cumulative vote, instead of direct elections, the current board controls who serves on the board:  No if, thens or buts.  The often used rationale that "if you want to change the system, you change it from the inside," simply does not work:  Try that method in repressive governments such as North Korea, China, Iran or Venezuela,  for instance.

To make matters worse, the HOA board has teamed up with Keystone Pacific, the property management company, and James Harkins, its legal counsel to turn the CZ Master Association into the most litigious HOA, which means that if you are a homeowner, there is a greater than 1-10 chance the association is going to sue you.

Now, if there are any Quixotic residents who want to take on the Xochitl Yocham-led HOA board, applications for the most important election are due Wednesday, March 23, 2014.  That election is for delegates.  Keep in mind that the election for the board is a merely formality.

If you want to take on the fight, download application  for Delegate and turn in by March, 3, 2016 

The kabuki theater-type of CZ Master Association HOA board of directors election takes place June 8, 2016 and the applications are due on or before Friday, April 1, 2016.  Keep in mind that you can be a delegate and a board member.  Also, be mindful that if you do not control any of the delegates, your chances of gaining a seat on the board using cumulative voting are less than you hitting the jackpot!

If you want to waste your time, you can apply for a seat on the CZ Master Association HOA board.

Battle of Cyber Crime Reports: Dell vs Calif. AG Kamalah Harris

Posted by CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - We recently reviewed the 2016 California Threat Report issued by California's Attorney General Kamalah Harris and concluded that overall, it was a waste of taxpayer's money. Refer to :  http://cotobuzz.blogspot.com/2016/02/cyber-attacks-california-data-breach.html

Right on cue, Dell today released its own  2016 Threat Report "detailing the cybercrime trends that shaped 2015 and identifying top emerging security risks for 2016."

The report overall is more substantive, actionable, reliable and credible than the 2016 California Threat Report.  And of course the best part is that Dell's report comes with no cost to the taxpayer.

The Dell report details four developing trends in cybercrime. 

1. The evolution of exploit kits to stay one step ahead of security systems. 

The Dell Security Annual Threat Report shows that cybercriminals employed a number of new tactics to better conceal exploit kits from security systems, including the use of anti-forensic mechanisms; URL pattern changes; steganography which is concealing the file, message, image, or video within another file, message, image, or video; and modifications in landing page entrapment techniques.

2. A continued surge in SSL/TLS encryption that is giving cybercriminals more opportunities to conceal malware from firewalls.

 Using SSL or TLS encryption, skilled attackers can cipher command and control communications and malicious code to evade intrusion prevention systems (IPS) and anti-malware inspection systems. This tactic was used in a crafty malvertising campaign in August 2015 to expose as many as 900 million Yahoo users to malware by redirecting them to a site that was infected by the Angler exploit kit.

3.  The continued rise of Android malware. 

• Android-specific ransomware popularity accelerated throughout the year.
• The rise of a new Android malware that stored its malicious contents on a Unix library file, rather than the classes.dex file that security systems typically scan.
• The financial sector continued to be a prime target for Android malware, with a number of malicious threats targeting banking apps on infected devices.
• 
  
• 4. A marked increase in the number of malware attacks.

• The team received 64 million unique malware samples, compared with 37 million in 2014, representing an increase of 73 percent, indicating attackers are putting more effort each year into infiltrating organizational systems with malicious code. 
• 2015 saw an almost 2x increase in attack attempts from 4.2 billion to 8.19 billion.
• The combination of Dyre Wolf and Parite topped network traffic through 2015. Other long-lasting malware included TongJi, a widely used JavaScript by multiple drive-by campaigns (malware that downloads silently and automatically when a user visits an infected website); Virut, a general cybercrime botnet active since at least 2006; and the resurgence of Conficker, a well-known computer worm targeting Microsoft Windows operating system since 2008.
• In October and November 2015, the Spartan exploit kit was more highly concentrated in Russia than anywhere else.

According to Curtis Hutcheson, Dell Security general manager, "Many of the breaches in 2015 were successful because cybercriminals found and exploited a weak link in victims’ security programs due to disconnected or outdated point solutions that could not catch these anomalies in their ecosystem.  Each successful attack provides an opportunity for security professionals to learn from others’ oversights, examine their own strategies and shore up the holes in their defense systems.　At Dell Security, we believe the best way for customers to protect themselves is to inspect every packet on their network and validate every entitlement for access."

Additional  predictions: Flash zero-day virus decrease, Android Pay attacks, and Android Auto hacks 

The Dell Security Annual Threat Report also identified several trends and predictions which are discussed in further detail in the full report.

• The battle between HTTPS encryption and threat scanning will continue to rage, as companies fear performance trade-offs.
• The number of zero-day Adobe Flash viruses will drop gradually because major browser vendors no longer support Adobe Flash.
• Malicious threats will target Android Pay through the vulnerabilities of Near Field Communication (NFC). Such attacks may leverage malicious Android apps and point-of-sale (POS) terminals, tools that are easy to acquire and manipulate for hackers.
• We can expect malicious entities to target cars equipped with Android Auto, possibly via ransomware where victims must pay to exit the vehicle or even more dangerous tactics.

RELATED
HPE 2016 Cyber landscape:

RELATED

HPE 2016 Cyber Report:  http://www.bitpipe.com/fulfillment/1455827832_34

March Instrumental Studies Concerts at Saddleback directed by Maestro Yorgos Kouritas

Posted By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA -- Maestro Yorgos Kouritas, Director of Instrumental Studies at Saddleback College, will present two concerts and a master class on the weekend of March 11^th-12^th.

On Friday, March 11^th at 7:30 p.m. in the McKinney Theatre, Directed by Maestro Yorgos Kouritas, the Saddleback College Wind Ensemble will present their first concert of the spring semester.

On Saturday, March 12^th from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in FA 101, a violin master class will be held by Henry Gronnier, 1st violinist with the Rossetti String Quartet and violin professor at USC's Thornton School of Music. Saddleback violin students will perform.  Admission is free for this master class.

On Saturday, March 12^th at 7:30 p.m. in the McKinney Theatre, Conducted by Maestro Yorgos Kouritas, the Saddleback College Symphony Orchestra presents Music Teacher’s Association of California Concerto Competition winners Elisa Yang, piano, Lauren DeMarco, vocalist, and Kristine Lu, piano, in performance.

Tickets for the McKinney concerts are $10 general; $7 students/seniors (presale). Call 949-582-4656 (noon to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday) or online at www.saddleback.edu/arts. Please note that the master class on March 12^th at 4:30 p.m. is free.

Saddleback’s Instrumental Studies Department is privileged to have some of the finest musicians of the Pacific Symphony as its instructors. The department has hosted master classes by distinguished violinists such as Eric Silberger, Movses Pogossian, Martin Beaver, Martin Chalifour, William Fitzpatrick, Haroutune Bedelian, and Guillaume Sutre. The Symphony Orchestra and the Wind Ensemble tackle some of the most difficult pieces such as Verdi’s and Brahms’ Requiems. Dr. Kouritas is also teaching violin, viola and chamber music and has performed recently several violin recitals. Recently, he was honored to work with Carl St. Clair in the Ithaca Conducting Master class. In June 2014, he was selected by the Baltimore Symphony to work in a master class with Gerard Schwarz (former Seattle Symphony’s Music Director).

The Music Department has established a comprehensive program which is considered to be one of the finest in California:  a complete lower-division curriculum for transferring music majors, numerous performance groups, private and group lessons, a full concert series with faculty and guest artists, and general music courses.  The nationally-recognized faculty is dedicated to performance and to teaching in all areas such as vocal, instrumental, jazz, guitar, piano, music technology and commercial music.  Other music classes include harmony, musicianship, composition, history and appreciation of western art music, music business, rock, jazz and world music.

Saddleback College is located at 28000 Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo, just east of Interstate 5 at the Avery Parkway exit.  Parking is available in Lot 12.  Take Avery Parkway to Marguerite Parkway turn left to the third traffic light, which is Saddleback’s Marguerite entrance. Turn right into the campus and take the second left to Theatre Circle, turning right into Lot 12.

Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community.  Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers over 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals.  For more information, please visit www.saddleback.edu and for Fine Arts information, please visit www.saddleback.edu/arts.  

Saddleback's Big Band Swing Thing is Back!

Posted By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, – Jazz Studies at Saddleback College is bringing back the Big Band Swing Thing to Saddleback College on Friday, March 18^th at 7:30 p.m. in the McKinney Theatre. 

This popular event is for all who love to dance and listen to swing music. Joey Sellers and Saddleback’s own Big Band will raise the roof once again along with talented vocalists who will croon classic songs of the 1940s and 50s.

The price is $20 per person or 2 for $35. Proceeds benefit the Saddleback College Jazz Studies Program. Tickets can be purchased by calling (949) 582-4656 (noon-4:00 p.m., Tues-Fri) or online at www.saddleback.edu/arts.

Jazz Studies at Saddleback College emphasizes creativity through improvisation and ensemble performance. Focusing on the historical, theoretical and intuitive aspects of this American music, Director of Jazz Studies Joey Sellers and an outstanding cadre of nationally-recognized musicians comprise the jazz faculty. Curricula include Improvisation, Jazz Composition and Arranging, Jazz History Syllabus,Jazz History Audio, Jazz History Podcast, Jazz Piano, Saddleback Big Band, Jazz Lab Ensemble, and Combos.  Students in Jazz Studies at Saddleback College have transferred to prestigious institutions including University of Southern California, Eastman School of Music, Berkeley School of Music, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, The New School for Social Research in New York, Cal State Fullerton, University of California at San Diego, and other regional institutions.  Some of our alumni have gone on to play professionally with Frank Zappa, Diana Ross, and other high-profile artists and organizations.

Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community.  Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers over 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals.  For more information, please visit www.saddleback.edu and for Fine Arts information, please visit www.saddleback.edu/arts.  

Saddleback’s Speech and Debate Team show impressive tournament results

Posted By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, , CA-- The Saddleback College Speech and Debate Team added two more  impressive tournament results to its aready illustrious history: 

On February 2-14, the team took a 6^th place overall win at the Tabor-Venitsky Tournament held at Cerritos College. 

On February 19-21, the team placed 6^th overall at the Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Association Spring Champtionships held at Moorpark College. 

The team placed above defending national champion teams, including Mt. San Antonio College and Moorpark College. Individual student awards are listed below.

Speech student Dante Johnson with Speech Professor Larry Radden

Here are the results:

Spring Championships Tournament, Moorpark College;

 Elyssa Hulse, Scholars Award

Individual Events: 

1. 2nd Place-Brian Fox, Junior Extemporaneous Speaking
2. 3rd Place-Elyssa Hulse, Novice Poetry Interpretation
3. 2nd Place-Micaela Balcaza, Novice Poetry Interpretation
4. Finalist-Nadiya Dubova, Junior Dramatic Interpretation
5. 3rd Place, Elyssa Hulse, Senior Communication Analysis
6. 1st Place, Tyler Kline, Senior Impromptu Speaking
7. Finalist-Nikki Friedman, Junior Persuasive Speaking
8. 6th Place-Dante Johnson, Senior Persuasive Speaking
9. 6th Place-Tyler Kline, Senior Informative Speaking
10. 2nd Place-Nikki Friedman, After Dinner Speaking
11. Finalist-Alexander Perkins, After Dinner Speaking
12. Debate:
13. Gold Medalist-Sarah Boivin, Novice Parliamentary Debate
14. Gold Medalist-Jordan Drake, Novice Parliamentary Debate
15. Top Speaker, Brian Fox, Senior Parliamentary Debate
16. Top Speaker, Jordan Drake, Novice Parliamentary Debate
17. Gold Medalist-Tyler Kline, International Public Debate
18. Gold Medalist-Brian Fox, International Public Debate 

Tabor-Venitsky Tournament, Cerritos College

1. 3^rd Place- Elyssa Hulse, Senior Communication Analysis
2. 3^rd Place-Tyler Kline, Senior Impromptu 
3. 4th Place-Taylor Stickle, Senior Prose
4. 3^rd Place-Taylor Stickle and Sergio Ochoa, Senior Duo Interpretation
5. 2^nd Place-Sergio Ochoa, Senior Poetry Interpretation 
6. 5^th Place-Nadiya Dubova, Novice Dramatic Interpretation
7. 6^th Place-Nicky Friedman, Novice Dramatic Interpretation
8. 1^st Place-Christopher Russo, Novice Drama Interpretation
9. Silver Medalist-Jordan Drake, International Public Debate 

The Saddleback Forensics Team started in the 1970s and prides itself on offering students the ability to create innovative arguments for future writing and speaking engagements to strengthen their critical thinking skills and to better communicate with others. On the forensics team, students write, rehearse, and perform at 6-7 tournaments against students from Universities and Community Colleges to qualify for the national tournament. The students representing Saddleback at the national tournament have placed above several competitors representing institutions throughout the year, including: Concordia University, Point Loma, California State University, Los Angeles, California State University, Long Beach, and UCLA. 

Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community.  Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers over 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals.  For more information, please visit www.saddleback.edu and for Fine Arts information, please visitwww.saddleback.edu/arts.

IT manager Nikhil Nilesh Shah pleads guilty to sending malware to former employer

Posted By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA - Nikhil Nilesh Shah, a Union, New Jersey, man was sentenced today to 30 months in prison following his guilty plea to one count of causing the transmission of computer code and, as a result, damaging computers and causing at least $5,000 in losses according to announcement by  Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney John Stuart Bruce of the Eastern District of North Carolina and Special Agent in Charge John A. Strong of the FBI in North Carolina. 

Nikhil Nilesh Shah, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan of the Eastern District of North Carolina, who ordered Shah to pay $324,462 in restitution. 

According to the plea agreement, from 2007 to 2012, Shah was an information technology manager at Smart Online Inc., a company located in Durham, North Carolina, that developed platforms for the creation of mobile applications.  Shah admitted that in March 2012, he left Smart Online to work for another technology company, and on June 28, 2012, he sent malicious computer code to Smart Online’s computer servers in Durham and Raleigh, North Carolina, deleting much of Smart Online’s intellectual property. 

The FBI’s Raleigh Office investigated the case.  Senior Trial Attorney Richard D. Green of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Hulbig of the Eastern District of North Carolina prosecuted the case.  

Student Jazz Lab Concert at Saddleback College featuring Thelonious Monk

Posted By CotoBlopgzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA  – The cool and musically vibrant Jazz Lab Ensemble of Saddleback College will perform on Monday, March 7^th at 7:30 p.m.in the McKinney Theatre. This concert will feature the music of Thelonious Monk and original student compositions.Tickets are $10 general; $7 student/seniors (presale).  Call the ticket office at 949-582-4656 (Tues-Fri, noon to 4:00 p.m.) for tickets or online at www.saddleback.edu/arts.

Jazz Studies at Saddleback College emphasizes creativity through improvisation and ensemble performance. Focusing on the historical, theoretical and intuitive aspects of this American music, Director of Jazz Studies Joey Sellers and an outstanding cadre of nationally-recognized musicians comprise the jazz faculty. Curricula include Improvisation, Jazz Composition and Arranging, Jazz History Syllabus,Jazz History Audio, Jazz History Podcast, Jazz Piano, Saddleback Big Band, Jazz Lab Ensemble, and Combos.  Students in Jazz Studies at Saddleback College have transferred to prestigious institutions including University of Southern California, Eastman School of Music, Berkeley School of Music, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, The New School for Social Research in New York, Cal State Fullerton, University of California at San Diego, and other regional institutions.  Some of our alumni have gone on to play professionally with Frank Zappa, Diana Ross, and other high-profile artists and organizations.

Saddleback College is located at 28000 Marguerite Pkwy in Mission Viejo, just east of Interstate 5 at the Avery Parkway exit.  Free parking is available in Lot 12.  Take Avery Parkway to Marguerite Parkway turn left to the third traffic light, which is Saddleback’s Marguerite entrance. Turn right into the campus and take the second left to Theatre Circle, turning right into Lot 12.

Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community.  Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers more than 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals.  For more information, please visit www.saddleback.edu.  For Fine Arts events, visit www.saddleback.edu/arts. 

Coto de Caza HOA: Give me your hungry, tired, lazy, cheap, stupid golfers

Posted By CotoBlogzz

Updated 11/24/2016 with service provider comments

Coto de Caza, CA - public safety continues to be one of our major concerns.  Over the course of the last decade, we have developed public safety tools, identified the most dangerous curves and most dangerous intersections in the community and established a close correlation between the number of traffic patrol hours and the number of traffic accidents.

Just five days after we sounded the alarm at the high rate of traffic accidents, the community suffered its first traffic fatality, and the Coto de Caza HOA board did nothing.  One year ago, the community suffered its third traffic fatality  and we felt compelled to ask the HOA board to step down - the board failed to do anything, again.

After a series of traffic accidents at one of the most dangerous intersections in the community, we pleaded with the board to do something about it.  The worst part is that the crack Rapid Response Team of Kesytone Pacific, UPS and landscaping team, with a yearly budget of close to $4 million/year failed to do anything to clean up the debris left from the accidents for more than two weeks

 Below is a summary of the letter we sent to the Coto de Caza, CZ Master Association HOA board:

TO;   Xochitl Yocham
C.C. Robert Curran, Beverly Sirjani, Phil Mitchell, Eric Munk
DATE:  January 31, 2016
RE:  Second request to have “Golfer Caution” Signs removed and Replaced with “No Pedestrian Crossing” signs
 Greetings:
This is a second request for the CZ Master Association to have “Golfer Caution” signs removed and replaced with “No Pedestrian Crossing,” for public safety reasons as detailed below. 

 Undeniable facts are that the only three traffic fatalities in the community happened while Robert Varo, Xochitl Yocham or both, served in the CZ Master Association board of directors.  The first one coming in just five days after I pleaded with the association, Keystone Pacific and James Harkins to take action to prevent just such accidents – my pleas went unanswered with tragic consequences. Something similar happened with the most recent fatality, and I fear something similar is about to happen if you fail to act.

 A correlation between patrol hours and the number of traffic accidents has been clearly established.

Perhaps this is one reason why the HOA board, which you preside, has refused to comply with a most simple request for CHP traffic patrol records.

 Based on CHP data and heuristics, the rate at which traffic accidents are happening in Coto de Caza’s previously identified dangerous curves and dangerous intersections, indicate that we are moments away from the fourth traffic fatality:

1. On November 19, 2015 at 11:30 pm accident at San Miguel right at the "Caution Golfers" sign, blocked traffic in both directions for close to one hour.  See image in Figure one below

Accident @San Miguel 11/19/2015

 

2. Two weeks later, as I was turning right onto westbound San Miguel, I car was driving so fast that almost run into me:  A typical driver making this turn has one second or less to react to the oncoming traffic.

 

West bound San Miguel: Rarely is speed limit observed here - driver at arrow has less than one second to react

3. On or around January 24^th, the white fence forming a horse trail separating the golf course and close to the “Caution Golfer’s” sign, was damaged, clearly by a speeding cat.   

East bound San Miguel - damaged fence at Caution Golfers sign

4. Just yesterday January  30, 2016, the same white fence at the corner of San Miguel and Coto de Caza Dr. was damaged.  Again, the  only explanation for this damage at the corner of a 4-way stop, is that the driver, not unlike Coto's HOA legal counsel,  according to case:   SHMV0038019, On 12/09/2015, Harkins was approved for Traffic School, for " Unsafe speed for prevailing conditions"  or evn current president Xochitl Yocham in case 28262KK cited for violation 23123(a), driving while on the phone

Damaged fence at corner of San Miguel and Coto de Caza Drive

 

5. Most disconcerting however, is what happened just a couple of hours later:  Three golfers, lazy, tight fisted, stupid or all or all of the above, cross the road right at the “Caution Golf” sign, with heavy speeding traffic, so much so that they are within one or two feet of being hit – see photos below.  

5. 

   Lazy, cheap, stupid golfers crossing street with cars going at over 50 MPH - Before

Lazy, cheap, stupid golfer barely missed by oncoming traffic at 60 MPH

 The data is overwhelming and supports the continued argument that whoever decided to install the “Caution Golf” signs is grossly inept or cognitively challenged.  These signs should be removed and replaced with “No Pedestrian Crossing” signs.  After all, if golfers are too lazy to walk a tenth of a mile to the nearest legal pedestrian crossing, they should rent a golf cart.  And if they are too tight fisted to fork for the cart rental, then they should not be allowed to play golf.
But wait, there is more:  Just hours after this incident, a group of five or so twenty-somethings are not only blocking the traffic, but are also playing with a drone, right smack at the corner of Coto de Caza drive and San Miguel:   At first, the three cars were parked on the east side of San Miguel, and later the Corvette moved to the west side, with the driver side door open, until the individuals involved saw me taking pictures. Makes you wonder what the CZ master residents get from the $1.5 million payed to the glorified meter maid UPS 

Two cars blocking traffic on east side of San Miguel, while the third one blocks the west side

 

Its a bird, its a plane, not its a drone, right at the busy intersection

I trust that this time you will my warning so you will not have blood on your hands, again. 

As we expected, we have not heard from the HOA board.  Not the standard "we take under advisement," note.  Not a "do you know who we are," often used by Varo.  Not acknowledgement.  Zero, zilch, nada!

The only plausible conclusion is that the HOA continues to dismiss public safety, and in doing so, it is contributing  to an erosion of property values, but more importantly, may soon have blood on its hand.  Again!  

To be clear, the Varo/Yocham HOA does not only welcome your hungry, tired, lazy, cheap, stupid golfers, but also the lazy, cheap, angry, stupid service providers:  Yesterday  (Feb 23, 2016) at 10:30 am as I am crossing the street at Avondale, a white Nissan truck makes a sharp turn off of Coto de Caza Drive at more than 40 MPH right at the "caution, children at play sign".

Hard to make a right turn from Coto de Caza Drive when you are driving at more than 60 MPH - Children at play sign

I make eye contact with the driver  and he stops his truck right in the middle of the road to ask me "what is your problem?" - My problem, I tell him, is his driving, and then pointing to the sign, I asked him if he knew what the speed limit was.

Stops right in the middle of the road, for making eye contact with this pool cleaning individual

His non-response was full of expletives, so I asked him to watch his language and instead he drops the A-bomb, the B-bomb, the F-bomb and other bombs I am unfamiliar with.

Truck driven by angry, reckless pool cleaning individual

Another isolated instance you say, right?  Not!  Just check out this 2012 piece:

Coto de Caza Gates: Utility, Security or Futility?