text:
Senior Sex In A Post-Viagra World
Barbara L. Marshall, Ph.D.
More seniors are enjoying sex, but a worrisome emphasis on performance is creeping in.
Dr. Marshall is Professor of Sociology, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada.
Interest in the sex lives of older people has surged over the past decade. The accelerating trend of population aging around the world, the result of declining birth rates combined with longer life expectancies, has contributed to a growing proportion of the population deemed 'old.'
These shifts have raised concerns about potential strains on health care resources, and sexuality, through its presumed linkage with 'healthy' or 'successful' aging, is part of this trend.(1) [Numbered references appear at the end of this article.]
In place of the old idea of seniors losing interest in sex, a new stereotype — of the 'sexy senior', who demonstrates their success in aging by remaining youthfully attractive and sexually active has emerged.
Some of the interest in sexuality in old age has been driven by the development of drugs to treat erectile dysfunction in men, and the subsequent interest of pharmaceutical and other biomedical companies in developing treatments for a range of sexual complaints. There are also generational factors at work: the aging boomer cohort brings a shift in attitudes and expectations towards what late life might look like.(2)
Studies in the US (3), the UK,(4,5) Finland,(6) Sweden,(7) Australia(8) and other countries(9) have repeatedly demonstrated that older adults remain interested in and capable of sexual activity across the life span. Yet tired stereotypes of older people as asexual (or inappropriately sexual) persist.
In addition to, or in place of, the old idea of seniors losing interest in sex, a new stereotype — of the 'sexy senior', who demonstrates their success in aging by remaining youthfully attractive and sexually active has emerged. Neither of these contrasting images provides a good basis for promoting sexual health and sexual rights for older people.
Changing Standards of Sexual Health
According to the World Health Organization, sexual health is:
…a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality; it is not merely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Sexual health requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. For sexual health to be attained and maintained, the sexual rights of all persons must be respected, protected and fulfilled.(10)
Our knowledge of, and willingness to address, issues related to older peoples' sexuality and sexual health is spotty, but growing. The following should help clarify what the issues are for older people and ease many of their concerns about sex in the golden years.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries it was widely believed that by age 50 a person should renounce physical love as one's sexual desires and powers waned. It was considered nature's plan, for both men and women, that peak sexual desire and power were linked to the reproductive years, and these, once past, signaled a new, sexless phase of life.(11)
Sexuality may change with age, but not necessarily in ways that mean decline, or produce distress.
As new psychological explanations gained traction in the mid-20th century, sexuality was added to gerontology's ideals of positive aging. Contributions from Kinsey(12,13) and Masters and Johnson,(14,15) among others, stressed that sexual activity could be enjoyed across the full span of life, and that sexuality was a healthy component of successful aging.
Men and women were told they might need to adjust to some physical changes associated with aging. They were urged to learn to continue to enjoy sex as they matured, but to focus more on intimacy and less on performance.
Enter Viagra
In the 1980s, a different approach emerged as the mechanism of penile erection was found to be a strictly physiological event, separate from any sort of tactile or emotional stimulation, a discovery that paved the way for the development of oral medications to treat erectile dysfunction.
Sexual activity may indeed be linked to healthy and 'successful' aging, but there is a risk that the recent celebration of 'sexy seniors' may create new pressures for older adults to meet unrealistic standards of sexual function.
When Viagra was introduced to the US market in 1998, both the popular media and the medical establishment hailed it as 'revolutionary.' Within months of its approval, millions of prescriptions had been written, a number of mass-market paperbacks hit the stands, stories abounded in the mainstream media, it became the subject of countless comedy monologues and cartoons, and hundreds of internet sites emerged promising discrete online ordering and home delivery. One mass-market paperback crowed, "Now you can have sex when where and how you want, dependably and reliably, even if you're 100 and your partner's 102."(16)
Where's Viagra for Women?
It would be difficult to discuss aging and sexuality without at least acknowledging the impact of the development of sexuo-pharmaceuticals. These have become closely associated with the treatment of age-related sexual dysfunctions. Viagra, of course, became a global blockbuster, new erectile drugs such as Levitra and Cialis have come to market, but the search for an equivalent drug for women has been elusive.
Flibanserin (recently recommended by an FDA panel for approval) has been called "the pink Viagra," but there is no pharmaceutical equivalent to Viagra for women which addresses the vascular mechanisms of sexual arousal. Flibanserin is a re-tooled antidepressant, which must be taken daily. It has a number of potentially unpleasant or risky side-effects and very limited potential benefits (an increase of about .05 satisfactory sexual encounters per month).(17) There has also been renewed interest in testosterone therapy, but its effectivenss and safety in treating sexual problems in either men or women remain controversial.(18)
Emphasizing Performance and Heterosexual Sex
Like the broader concept of 'public health,' sexual health is a social construct whose meaning is derived from particular social, cultural, historical and political contexts.
Sexual health has become increasingly focused on sexual desire and performance where it was once defined as reproductive health and absence of sexually transmitted disease.(19) But when sexual health in relation to aging is so closely associated with particular kinds of sexual capacities, based on youthful, heterosexist standards, there is an implicit message of risk and decline in the absence of intervention.(20-23)
What used to be viewed as a changing sexual capacities associated with 'normal' aging are now being viewed sexual dysfunctions that require treatment.
Sexual decline in both men and women was once assumed to be an inevitable consequence of growing older, but now this assumption has been reversed. What used to be viewed as a changing sexual capacities associated with 'normal' aging are now being viewed sexual dysfunctions that require treatment. As populations age, the prevalence of sexual dysfunction and the anticipated market for pharmaceutical solutions are predicted to increase dramatically.
So the overriding message has shifted to one of opportunities for rehabilitation to enable performance of penile-vaginal intercourse. Little attention has been paid to prevention of sexually transmitted infections, despite recognition that older adults are now accounting for a growing proportion of new infections.(24)
Almost entirely absent is discussion of non-heterosexual relationships in later life.
Finally, while the new celebration of 'sexy seniors' is, in many ways, a development to be applauded, recognizing as it does a capacity for pleasure and intimacy which does not end with the flush of youth, the two extremes — that of an asexual old age and the "sexy oldie" — do not reflect what research suggests about older peoples' experiences.
What follows is a review some of the key findings of contemporary research on aging and sexuality and a discussion of two key areas where significant gaps in knowledge remain: the sexual health needs of LGBT elders, and STI prevention in older adults.
What Do We Know About Seniors and Sex?
It is only recently that major studies of sexual behavior began to include older respondents. In earlier iterations, both the National Health and Social Life Survey in the US(25) and the British National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles(26) excluded those older than 59! In the past decade, however, several well-publicized studies have investigated the sexual activity of those as old as 94.(3-5,27-30) Key findings from these surveys include the following:
• Interest in sex and frequency of sexual activity does decline with age, most notably after age 75. However, a majority of older adults still see their sexuality as important, and many older people are regularly sexually active even into their eighties and nineties.(3,4,28-30)
• Older adults participate in a range of sexual activities, including vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse, oral sex, sexual touching, masturbation and fantasies.(4)
• There are significant gender differences, with women as a group reporting lower levels of sexual interest and frequency of sexual activity than men.(27,29)
• Many factors contribute to lower levels of sexual activity as people age, including health problems, age-related changes in sexual function, issues around body image, lack of a partner, and lack of privacy, just to mention a few.(3,27) Biological age alone is not the best predictor of a decrease in sexual interest. More important are overall physical and mental health, attitudes towards sexuality and presence of an intimate partner.(6,31)
• Many older adults report at least one concern about their sexuality, and for some, these concerns cause distress. Frequently reported concerns include erectile difficulties in men, lubrication issues and sexual pain in women, and in both men and women, difficulties reaching orgasm, and lack of sexual desire.(3,5,29) Women as a group reported lower levels of concern and lower levels of dissatisfaction with their sex lives.(5)
• Only a minority of older adults have discussed their concerns with their doctor.(3)
While large-scale surveys have been invaluable in putting issues of sexuality and aging on the health promotion agenda, qualitative research has been important in painting a more detailed picture. For example, the decrease in the frequency of sexual activity documented among older people may not be a source of dissatisfaction in relationships,(32,33) nor are changes in sexuality experienced necessarily cause for distress.(34)
Research on Viagra users and their partners, for example, has shown a far from uniformly positive reception.(35-38) While many men can and do use erection drugs, others cannot or do not wish to. Some partners may welcome the prospect of more penetrative sex, others may not. Some complain that there are new pressures to be sexual on demand once the pill has been taken, others (especially older women) regret the renewed emphasis on penetrative sex as the main event.
Given that almost half of prescriptions for erection-enhancing medications are not renewed, it's clear that they are 'magic bullets' for all men.(39) A number of studies have demonstrated that penetrative sex may not dominate the repertoire of older individuals, who can be both inventive and playful in their intimate encounters.(40-42)
Issues Facing LGBT Seniors
As noted above, one of the shortcomings of biomedically-driven models of sexuality has been its focus on penile-vaginal intercourse in the monogamous, heterosexual couple as the normative form of sexual expression. This not only limits our understanding of sexual practices among those who identify as heterosexual, it fails to even put non-heterosexuals on the map. So, even less is known about sexuality and aging in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) individuals than in those who identify as heterosexual.
Anywhere from 20-30% of LGBT older adults do not disclose their sexual or gender identity to their physician.
While it is difficult to know precisely the proportion of older adults who identify as LGBT, estimates suggest that this is between 3% and 8% of the US population.(43,44) An increase in the aging population, coupled with increasing LGBT social and legal acceptance, will likely mean that LGBT elders will become more numerous and more visible.
The invisibility of LGBT elders is certainly related to the historical de-sexualization of the seniors more generally, but just recognizing the sexuality of older adults is not sufficient to encompass their concerns.(45) Many in this population matured sexually in an era when same-sex relationships were not only stigmatized but criminalized, making invisibility a key survival strategy.
An Uneasy History
Someone turning 65 in 2015 was born in 1950, which means that when they came of age, homosexuality was still included in the DSM as a psychiatric disorder, and medical interventions may have included aversion therapy and electroshock treatments aimed at 'curing' them.(45) It is not surprising, then, that many remained closeted.
These LGBT seniors are not confident in relying on health care systems that have historically discriminated against them, and many are not willing to disclose their sexual identity to their health care providers.(45) Some LGBT elders who have been living openly, "now find themselves returning to the closet to avoid anti-LGBT bias on the part of service providers"(45). Studies suggest that anywhere from 20-30% of LGBT older adults do not disclose their sexual or gender identity to their physician.(46,47,48,49,50)
Transgender Seniors
Once among the most invisible of older adults, the special challenges that may face transgendered persons in later life have recently been highlighted by the very public transition of Caitlin Jenner, at 65, as well as similar fictional portrayals in the critically-acclaimed television series Transparent.
Transgender elders may have special health care needs related to both physical and social aspects of aging. Some transgendered individuals may identify as heterosexual; others may identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual, suggesting that these needs may overlap with those larger groups. However, they also face some issues specific to gender transition. Little is known about the long-term effects of life-long hormone treatments or other medical interventions related to physical transition. Transgender individuals also vary in the extent of surgical reassignment they have undergone. There is no doubt that the sex-segregated nature of most long-term care facilities may make the prospect of residential care especially difficult for transgendered elders to contemplate navigating.(51)
It is important to keep in mind that, like their heterosexual counterparts, LGBT elders are not a homogenous group, but are shaped by gender, race, geographical location, socioeconomic status and age, among other factors. In general, a perspective on sexual health that embraces sexual diversity suggests that whatever their sexual or gender identity, older adults are entitled to express their sexuality and to have access to information and services which will enable them to do so in a personally fulfilling and safe manner.
Seniors Get Sexually-Transmitted Diseases Too: STI Rates and Prevention in Older Adults
One aspect of aging and sexuality, which has received insufficient attention, is prevention of sexually transmitted infections. Older adults are, on the whole, less aware of the risk factors for HIV than younger people, and more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors, including unprotected intercourse.(52,53) Older heterosexuals, for example, who enter into new relationships after finding themselves single in later life may not see the need for condom use when pregnancy is no longer a concern.
However, research shows that rates of sexually transmitted infections, including syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV/AIDS have rapidly increased among older people in recent years.(54,55) STIs are also likely to be diagnosed at later stages in older people — perhaps because they perceive themselves as being at low risk and/or because of embarrassment in requesting testing. Practitioners, because they may not perceive older patients as at risk for STIs, may also ignore symptoms or delay diagnoses.(56,57)
Rates of sexually transmitted infections, including syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV/AIDS have rapidly increased among older people in recent years.
As with other age groups, risk behaviors vary by gender and sexual identity, with men who have sex with men remaining the largest at-risk group.(58) However, HIV rates among heterosexual women over the age of 55 have been rapidly increasing.(55)
A number of studies have suggested that older women in particular do not see themselves at risk for HIV,(3,59,60) yet women may be at particular risk for infection, partly due to physiological changes associated with menopause, such as thinning and drying of vaginal tissues that make them more susceptible.(56,57) One study found that only 2% of older women were aware that they had a greater risk of contracting HIV than a younger woman in any given episode of sexual intercourse.(61) Very few of the women in this study (3%) had received any HIV-prevention education from their physicians.
The Sexual Health Needs and Sexual Rights of Older People
One of the biggest obstacles to sexual health among older people is their reluctance to raise their sexual concerns with health care providers, who themselves may also be unwilling (or unprepared) to initiate discussions about sexuality.(62-64)
Additionally, even though many medications older people may be taking have potential sexual side effects, doctors frequently do not mention these, perhaps out of their own discomfort or because they did not feel they would be of concern to older patients.(65) "If doctors leave it to older adults to ask about their sexual concerns, and older adults leave it to their doctors to raise the issue, then a clear unmet need exists,"(66) researcher Sharron Hinchliff notes.
Finally, while it is important to recognize that sexual activity may indeed be linked to healthy and 'successful' aging, there is a risk that the recent celebration of 'sexy seniors' may create new pressures for older adults to meet unrealistic standards of sexual function. Sexuality may change with age, but not necessarily in ways that mean decline, or produce distress.
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text:
was formed in July 1944,
Headquarters in Washington DC United States
The purpose of the World Bank is crediting.
The priority of the World Bank is to reduce poverty through economic and humanitarian help.
The World Bank is an international financial institution that is financed with the help of its credit the development of other countries. Specifically financed the infrastructure (roads, bridges, tunnels, water supply, power supply as well as systems for production of electricity, telecommunications etc.
We can accent that her role Foremost, aimed at improving living standards.
World Bank consists of two institutions: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and International Development Association (IDA).
It is composed of 188 member states.
These member countries, or shareholders, are represented by a Board of Governors, who are the ultimate policymakers at the World Bank. Generally, the governors are member countries' ministers of finance or ministers of development. They meet once a year at the Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund.
The governors delegate specific duties to 25 Executive Directors, who work on-site at the Bank. The five largest shareholders appoint an executive director, while other member countries are represented by elected executive directors.
President of the World Bank are selected by the Executive Board for a period of 5 years.
The Executive Directors make up the Boards of Directors of the World Bank. They normally meet at least twice a week to oversee the Bank's business, including approval of loans and guarantees, new policies, the administrative budget, country assistance strategies and borrowing and financial decisions.
The World Bank operates day-to-day under the leadership and direction of the president, management and senior staff, and the vice presidents in charge of Global Practices, Cross-Cutting Solutions Areas, regions, and functions.
The Boards of Directors consist of the World Bank Group President and 25 Executive Directors*. The President is the presiding officer, and ordinarily has no vote except a deciding vote in case of an equal division. See the President's contract. The Executive Directors as individuals cannot exercise any power nor commit or represent the Bank unless specifically authorized by the Boards to do so. With the term beginning November 1, 2010, the number of Executive Directors increased by one, totaling 25.
Alternates to Executive Directors have full power to act in the absence of their respective Executive Directors. Furthermore, Senior Advisors and Advisors assist the Executive Directors in their work, who can, along with the Alternates to Executive Directors, attend most Board meetings in an advisory capacity, without voting rights.
Previous Compositions
The first Boards consisted of 12 Executive Directors, as prescribed in the IBRD Articles of Agreement, Article V Section 4(b). Increases in the number of elected Executive Directors require a decision of the Boards of Governors by an 80% majority of the total voting power. Before November 1, 1992, there were 22 Executive Directors, 17 of whom were elected. In 1992, in view of the large number of new members that had joined the Bank, the number of elected Executive Directors increased to 20. The two new seats, Russia and a new group around Switzerland, brought the total number of Executive Directors to 24. With the term beginning November 1, 2010, the number of Executive Directors increased by one, totaling 25.
Voting Powers
The World Bank and the IMF have adopted a weighted system of voting. According to the IBRD Articles of Agreement, membership in the Bank is open to all members of the IMF. A country applying for membership in the Fund is required to supply data on its economy, which are compared with data from other member countries whose economies are similar in size. A quota is then assigned, equivalent to the country's subscription to the Fund, and this determines its voting power in the Fund.
Each new member country of the Bank is allotted 250 votes plus one additional vote for each share it holds in the Bank's capital stock. The quota assigned by the Fund is used to determine the number of shares allotted to each new member country of the Bank.
Member countries are allocated votes at the time of membership and subsequently for additional subscriptions to capital. Votes are allocated differently in each organization, and result in different voting powers.
The Corporate Secretariat is responsible for coordinating the process for members to complete their periodic capital increases in IBRD, IDA, IFC, and MIGA. It provides advice on the procedures for subscribing to additional shares as authorized under resolutions approved by the Boards of Governors, including required documentation and capital subscriptions payments.
Ethics Matters
The Code of Conduct for Board Officials (pdf)that took effect in November 1, 2007, supersedes the Code of Conduct and Ethics Committee Procedures approved in August 2003.
The Code of Conduct for Board Officials sets forth principles and ethical standards for the Executive Directors, the Presidents of each of the organizations, Executive Director Designates, Executive Director Post-Designates, Alternate Executive Directors, Alternate Executive Director Designates, Alternate Executive Director Post-Designates, Temporary Alternate Executive Directors, Senior Advisors, and Advisors to Executive Directors (collectively, "Board Officials") in connection with, or having a bearing upon, their status and responsibilities in the organizations of the World Bank Group.
The Code of Conduct provides that, as these officials are entrusted with responsibilities as prescribed in the Articles of Agreement, By-Laws, and related documents of the organizations, their personal and professional conduct must comply with the standards and procedures set forth in the Code of Conduct. Pursuant to the Code of Conduct, the Board has established an Ethics Committee to address ethics matters concerning Board Officials in order to ensure sound governance pursuant to the Code of Conduct. The Ethics Committee has the authority to advise Board Officials or the President on matters related to conflict of interests, annual disclosures, or other ethical aspects of conduct in respect of Board Officials or the President, and to investigate alleged misconduct by Board Officials or the President.
*While the IFC Articles of Agreement and the MIGA Convention designate Boards of Directors, when referring to the World Bank Group Board members, they are collectively called Executive Directors.
More about World Bank
www.worldbank.org
USA (202) 473-1000

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


There's isn't yet as stunningly transparent, democratic and unfettered way of recording transactions as Blockchain has advented. Even as Bitcoin, the original father of blockchain, tries to fight out the controversies arising out of its abuse by wags who've been out to kill the golden hen, blockchain's other non-financial use-cases are thankfully surfacing with a raid vengeance.
Smart contracts are exactly that: Contracts that are Smart because they're backed by 'a computerized transaction protocol that executes the terms of a contract' – and blockchain is the magic behind the smartness. The terms of agreement between parties are programmed into code and studded on a blockchain and when certain conditions that are built into the code seem meeting, specific actions, which are also defined in the code, trigger on their own.
The Ethereum blockchain platform - with its own native programming language and currency Ether - can be said to be the first one to be tailored for smart contracts. Of course, we now have multiple other blockchain approaches for implementing smart contracts – most of them peer-to-peer, and some client-server. But smart-contracting through blockchain is still inchoate at best. Only the standard contracting terms – those we encounter commonly – are what we can "smarten" up. And which means, we cant really use Smart Contracts for those very special contracts we may need in a unique business situation. We yet can't do blockchain-based smart contracts for situations marked by flux, dynamism or legal uncertainty. Right now, it's just those business situations in which parties share consensual relationships and are unlikely to wrangle among themselves on the terms later. Also, since smart contracts are digital in how they are done and what they do, they're ideal for contracting when the terms and conditions of agreement too are also of a digital nature, and which, hence, lend themselves well to automation.
The blockchain way of logging and verifying records transparently, consensually and democratically promises a virtual leap to the current electoral methods, removing completely the need for a central authority like an Election Commission. Blockchain-powered e-voting (BEV) empowers voters on the one hand, and on the other, precludes abuse by vested interests.
The biggest advantage of BEV is the fact that its records cannot be changed by a political party. Equally importantly, an illegitimate vote too, cannot be added. BEV, hence can serve to move power and trust away from central authorities, and encourage the evolution of a community consensus electoral mechanism, which citizens will trust more.
The two blockchain features of 'hashing' and 'proof of existence' make it quite relevant for the patent system. While Hashing is a foolproof way to digitally fingerprint an innovation or a new invention due to its incredible precision; the PoE - 'proof of existence' aspect brings in the all-important "real" element into account. Also, since all hashes are unique, even small a difference leads to a different hash – ensuring a bulwark against copying.
Blockchain powered patent and IP management system promises to reduce inefficiencies and errors in recoding and agreeing the time of patent registrations in a reliable way – and we can do this across national patenting systems. There is increasing evidence that blockchain-based PoE services can be successfully implemented right in the first step of the patent-application/ filing process, and as we go along, we can streamline and secure the next steps and make the entire journey and experience more transparent and honest to the applicant. However, there's still a long way to go, as we have to devise methods to neutralize the nuisance of patent trolls and IP hackers.
Piracy, forgery and fraud in the world of art, films, literature and music have always threatened artists and the industry. Technology and the internet served only to aggravate the problem by making copying easier, faster and often, untraceable.
Though law will continue having a critical role in watching over and protecting copyrighted works and settling disputes, blockchain-based copyrighting processes can certainly arrest copyright breaches through effecting multi-territorial licensing policies and enhanced legal certainty for artists, writers, creators and customers. At the same time, the PoE and hashing elements promise to provide a viable and efficient dispute resolution mechanism – especially those related to licensing terms; fee & tariffs and entrustment and withdrawal of online rights for management. Blockchain has shown it can address the menace of pilferage, theft and illegal use of digital content in the age of the internet, and at the same time, balance the interests of the original creators, buyers and other parties in the channel.
The US $15 trillion global supply chain industry can just be in for happier times, with blockchain promising to speed up transactions, tracking and improving a host of other processes that cause losses and wastages. Blockchain based technologies can connect up the producers, retailers, distributors, transporters, suppliers and customers in an optimal way, and improve significantly the processes of managing contracts, payments, labelling, sealing and shipping, while reducing the impact of the counterfeit and fraud.
Blockchain-based applications promise to provide a foolproof infrastructure for registering, certifying and tracking affordably and securely, the products moving between two unconnected parties on a supply chain, and who may not trust each other yet. The blockchain-based system efficiently verifies and time-stamps all tracks of the moving goods in an encrypted but transparent process. Add the fact that Smart contracts already exist to help manage payments.


S+G is focused on best management of all resources, including soil and airspace. With this in mind, our designs maximize the value of site development both in the short and long-term for our clients.
S+G understands that the financial framework of a site's assets is key to maximizing profit while lowering costs. The need for short-term financial independence and long-term financial stability informs our designs for every project.


Python module that pages output to the screen, reads keys and console dimensions without executing external utils.
Output content iterable, calling pagecallback function after each page with page number as a parameter. pagecallback function may return False to terminate pagination.
Default prompt() callback shows page number with 'Press any key to continue . . . ' prompt, waits for keypress and aborts if 'q', ESC or Ctrl-C are pressed.
Print msg to the screen without linefeed and flush the output.
Return width of available window in characters. If detection fails, return value of standard width 80. Coordinate of the last character on a line is -1 from returned value.
Return available window height in characters or 25 if detection fails. Coordinate of the last line is -1 from returned value.
Wait for keypress, return first char generated as a result.
Arrows and special keys generate sequence of chars. Use getchars function to receive all chars generated or present in buffer.
Wait for keypress. Return list of chars generated as a result. More than one char in result list is returned when arrows and special keys are pressed. Returned sequences differ between platforms, so use constants defined in this module to guess correct keys.
Helper to convert result of getch (string) or getchars (list) to hex string.


text:
Bumpy Pitch
The Workers Cup
Ever since Qatar was awarded the right to host the 2022 World Cup, there have been countless accusations of how the workers are being treated. Qatar is considered the richest nation in the world, yet the laborers that are building the stadium and infrastructure for the World Cup hail from the poorest countries. The Workers Cup film takes a look at these issues as well as the tournament - The Workers Cup - that is being put on by the same people organizing the 2022 World Cup and the construction companies there.
The Workers Cup - according to the official site for the film:
"In 2022, Qatar will host the biggest sporting event in the world, the FIFA World Cup. But right now, far away from the bright lights, star athletes and adoring fans, the tournament is being built on the backs of 1.6 million migrant workers. The Workers Cup is a feature-length documentary giving voice to the men who are laboring to build sport's grandest stage.
Sixty percent of Qatar's total population are laborers. From India, Nepal, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and, increasingly from Africa, some of the world's poorest people are working the lowest level jobs to ensure the World Cup can be hosted in the world's richest country. These men work exceedingly long hours for scant salaries, and they live isolated in labor camps which are by law kept outside city limits.
With unprecedented access, our film unfolds largely inside a Qatari labor camp that the migrant workers we meet say feels like a prison. Hidden between a highway and remote stretch of desert, the Umm Salal Camp is intentionally out of sight and out of mind. So are the 4000 men who live there.
We focus on a select group in the camp who have been chosen to compete in a football tournament for laborers: The Workers Cup. The tournament is being sponsored by the same committee organizing the 2022 World Cup and 24 construction companies have been invited to field a team of workers. Over the course of the tournament we follow the men as they alternate between two startling extremes: they play heroes on the football pitch, but are the lowest members of society off of it.
The film is a portrait of a handful of players on the team. It explores universal themes of ambition, aspiration and masculinity, as we see our protagonists wrangle hope, meaning, and opportunity out of dismal circumstances. The mundane is fraught with turmoil, whether it is changing jobs, talking with family back home, or going on a date. This results in a terrible toll to the psyche of our protagonists, as they are depleted of the hope that motivated them to come to Qatar in the first place.
Ultimately, our own complicated relationship with sport is revealed, as we see its power to unite and divide society by turns."
The Workers Cup - Trailer from Mediadante on Vimeo.
Learn more at the official website - The Workers Cup
← Back to The Life
© 2020, Bumpy Pitch


text:
Cessna 550 Bravo, Farrell 5 LLC, N584PS: Incident occurred March 21, 2017 at Indianapolis Executive Airport (KTYQ), Zionsville, Boone County, Indiana
Farrell 5 LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N584PS
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Indianapolis, Indiana
Aircraft right brakes locked up and the airplane went off the edge of Runway 36.
Regis#: N584PS
Aircraft Model: 550
Activity: CORPORATE
City: INDIANAPOLIS
State: INDIANA
Indianapolis Executive Airport, 11329 E. state Route 32, is operating normally after a scare Tuesday night, March 21, when a plane slid off the runway, according to an IEA press release. The seven passengers and two crew members were not injured.
The plane belonged to Defiance, Ohio-based Farrell 5, LLC. It took off from Groton-New London, Conn., at 5:07 p.m., and was scheduled to land at 7:38 p.m.
The Boone County Communications Center received a 911 call at 7:42 p.m. of a possible plane crash but first responders verified there was no crash. The pilot said the aircraft's right brake locked up during landing, which forced the plane to the side of the runway.
The Boone County Sheriff's Office, Zionsville Police and Fire departments, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office and Hamilton County Airport Authority responded to the scene.
Montgomery Aviation moved the plane and reopened the runway at 3:42 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22.
Luscombe 8F, N2007B: Fatal accident occurred March 19, 2017 at Thrall Lake Airport (7MI3), Vicksburg, Kalamazoo County, Michigan
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Grand Rapids, Michigan
http://registry.faa.gov/N2007B
Location: Vicksburg, MI
Accident Number: CEN17LA135
Date & Time: 03/20/2017, 1644 CDT
Registration: N2007B
Aircraft: LUSCOMBE 8F
Aircraft Damage: None
Defining Event: Aircraft propeller contact with person
On March 20, 2017, about 1644 central daylight time, the pilot of a Luscombe 8F, N2007B, was struck by the airplane's propeller as he attempted an engine start at Thrall Lake Airport (7MI3), Vicksburg, Michigan. The commercial pilot was fatally injured, and the airplane did not sustain damage. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that was originating when the accident occurred, and no flight plan was filed.
According to the local police report, on the afternoon of the day of the accident, the pilot's wife called a friend of the pilot to inquire about the whereabouts of her husband. After attempting to contact the missing pilot, the friend drove to the airport where he observed the pilot lying on the grass under the nose of the airplane with a fatal head injury. The friend reported the accident to the police about 1844.
The airport owner responded to the airport at the request of the police; he thought the pilot was attempting to start the airplane by hand propping it when he was injured. The magneto switch was in the "Both" position; the throttle was at idle; the primer was in the unlocked position; and the fuel tank selector "was in the 'ON' position." Additionally, the owner stated that it appeared that the pilot was intending to fly the airplane given that the airplane was refueled, and the left tire was chocked as the pilot always did when preparing for a flight. According to the airport owner, the accident occurred after his employees left the airport about 1600.
The owner of the airplane stated that the pilot had been flying the airplane for about 15 years. He believed that the pilot "had extensive knowledge of the use and precautionary measures needed" to hand prop the engine, which was the normal starting procedure for the airplane. According to the owner, there were no known malfunctions or failures with the propeller, airframe, or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Airplane Flying Handbook states that hand propping an airplane "is a critical procedure never [to] be attempted alone. And propping should only be attempted when two properly trained people, both familiar and experienced with the airplane and hand propping techniques, are available to perform the procedure." The handbook describes the recommended procedure and communication/commands to be used when hand propping.
The Department of Pathology, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan, performed an autopsy of the pilot and determined that the cause of death was craniocerebral injuries. The FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicology testing on specimens from the pilot. The toxicology results were negative for ethanol and drugs.
Seat Occupied: None
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Balloon
Flight Time: 1180 hours (Total, all aircraft)
Aircraft Make: LUSCOMBE
Model/Series: 8F E
Date/Type of Last Inspection:
Engine Model/Series: C-90-18F
Registered Owner: VAN LINDER RICHARD A
Observation Facility, Elevation: KAZO, 868 ft msl
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 2600 ft agl
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.3 inches Hg
Departure Point: Vicksburg, MI (7MI3)
Departure Time: EDT
Airport: THRALL LAKE (7MI3)
Runway Surface Condition:
NTSB Identification: CEN17LA135
Accident occurred Sunday, March 19, 2017 in Vicksburg, MI
Aircraft: LUSCOMBE 8F, registration: N2007B
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
On March 20, 2017, about 1844 central daylight time (CDT), a Luscombe 8F, N2007B, experienced a propeller blade strike during an attempted hand prop of the engine at Thrall Lake Airport (7MI3), Vicksburg, Michigan. The airplane did not sustain substantial damage. The commercial-rated pilot, and intended sole occupant, was fatally injured. The airplane was privately registered, and was being operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no instrument flight rules flight plan was filed.
Michael A. "Mike, Gilligan" Westveer
Westveer, Michael A. "Mike" "Gilligan" Passed away Monday, March 20, 2017, unexpectedly at the age of 52. Mike was born May 26, 1964 in Kalamazoo to Gerald and Darlene (Hoskins) Westveer. On March 1, 2008 Mike was united in marriage to Denise Richmond, who survives. Mike was a graduate of Portage Central High School and served his country in the United States Navy. He was an avid aviator who loved vintage aircraft and everything aviation related. He proudly earned his pilot's license before his driver's license. He spent many years flying hot air balloons for the Michigan Balloon Corporation. He was a licensed aircraft mechanic and owner of MW Aviation Inc. who specialized in vintage aircraft restoration. He enjoyed ANY time spent in the air. He also loved the Caribbean and he and Denise enjoyed their annual trips there each year. Mike is survived by his wife, Denise Westveer; mother, Darlene Westveer: siblings, Steve (Pam) Westveer and Sally (Gary) Browne; In-laws, Phil and Sherry Richmond and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins as well as his longtime friend and mentor, Ron Centers. Mike was preceded in death by his father; Gerald. A celebration of life gathering for family and friends will take place Tuesday, March 28 from 4-7pm at Barn Brewers Brewery, 114 N. Main Street, Lawton MI 49065. Arrangements by Langeland Family Homes: Westside Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mike's name may be directed to a charity of your choice . For obituary and condolences, please see Mike's personalized page at www.langelands.com
- See more at: http://obits.mlive.com
Michael Westveer
VICKSBURG, MI -- The pilot who was tragically killed Monday while trying to start the engine of a small aircraft was known in the local flying community for the work he did on aircraft and as a balloon pilot.
Michael Westveer, 52, of Vicksburg, was killed on March 20, apparently as he tried to hand crank an airplane propeller and was struck on the head by it, Kalamazoo County Sheriff's deputies say.
"He was a hell of a pilot," said Ron Centers, owner of Michigan Balloon Corp., a commercial hot air balloon service. "No matter what he flew, it was like he was born in that aircraft."
Westveer had a commercial balloon pilot's license and had been flying hot air balloons with Centers since Westveer was about 18 years old.
"He was a great guy with a great sense of humor," Centers said. "He would do anything for you and if you needed him, he would be there for you. I can't say enough about him."
Westveer piloted lots of hot air balloon trips as a full-time and then part-time pilot for Michigan Balloon Corp.
More than 10 years ago, he represented the company by flying a balloon for several years in the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show & Balloon Festival.
"He was a happy-go-lucky, jovial, joking, laugh-a-lot guy," said Maurice Hovious, owner of Hov-Aire Inc., an aircraft repair and restoration specialist.
For the past 20 years, Westveer worked as a supervisor at Vicksburg-based Hov-Aire, which specializes in the repair of the Piper Malibu, a small airplane that is still in production, and the Ford Tri-motor, the venerable aircraft that are considered the first to be widely used to fly passengers. Henry Ford built only 199 between 1926 and 1933.
Hovious said Westveer was presently the lead on the restoration of a Ford Tri-motor owned by a Florida man. It is a project that Hov-Aire began in 1992 after the plane was damaged by Hurricane Andrew in south Florida. The project is now about 90 percent complete after requiring about 35,000 man hours of labor, he said.
Westveer was a veteran of the U.S. Navy but did not learn how to fly an airplane until after he was discharged, Hovious said. He was also known to have or be working to attain a license to pilot helicopters.
Hovious said Westveer was apparently preparing to fly a small, single-engine Luscombe plane owned by another Hov-Aire worker on Monday when he was killed. Hovious said Westveer had free use of the plane and had flown it for more than 15 years.
Westveer was apparently preparing to take off from a small grass air strip owned by Hovious and two other individuals when the mishap occurred. The air strip is in the 6000 block of East W Avenue in Brady Township, about a mile from Vicksburg.
Hovious said hand-cranking the propeller of the aircraft was the only way to start it.
Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Pali Matyas said investigators believe Westveer's mishap occurred not long after 11 a.m. Monday. That is when he was last in contact via telephone with friends. He was found near the plane at about 6:45 p.m. that day after he failed to meet with a friend earlier in the afternoon. A concerned friend traveled to the air strip and found him.
Westveer was married and had a brother and a sister, all of whom survive him. There was no word on funeral arrangements or memorials.
Hovious and Centers said Westveer will be missed.
Centers said he will miss him "like I would miss my left arm. And I'm left handed. He was a very good friend."
Air Tractor AT-602, owned and operated by Sturdivant Brothers Flying Service Inc as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137 aerial application flight, N2049D: Fatal accident occurred March 19, 2017 in Minter City, Mississippi
Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards District Office; Jackson, Mississippi
Air Tractor Inc; Olney, Texas
Transportation Safety Board of Canada-Accredited Representative; Ontario
Woodward Inc; Rockford, Illinois
Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards District Office; DuPage, Illinois
Hartzell Propeller Inc; Piqua, Ohio
http://registry.faa.gov/N2049D
Location: Minter City, MS
Accident Number: ERA17FA131
Registration: N2049D
Aircraft: AIR TRACTOR INC AT 602
Defining Event: Medical event
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural
On March 19, 2017, about 1600 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-602, N2049D,collided with trees and terrain near Minter City, Mississippi. The commercial pilot was fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed by impact and postcrash fire. The airplane was owned and was being operated by Sturdivant Brothers Flying Service, Inc., as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137 aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed for the local flight, which originated about 30 minutes earlier from the company airstrip in Glendora, Mississippi.
The pilot departed the airstrip with each wing fuel tank filled to about 3/4 capacity and the hopper containing 375 gallons of mixed water and chemicals. After takeoff, the pilot proceeded toward the intended spray field. Although there were no eyewitnesses to the accident, an individual familiar with aerial application operations who lived adjacent to the intended application field reported hearing an airplane fly over his house. He noted that the airplane sounded fine at that time, but about 10 to 15 seconds later, he heard a "pop" sound followed by an explosion. He went outside, noted the fire, and a friend called 911. He then drove to the site and noted damage to trees and parts of the airplane were found away from the main wreckage. The fire department arrived about 20 minutes later and extinguished the fire, which at that time was mostly confined to the cockpit area. Inspection of the intended spray field revealed evidence of "burning" of weeds consistent with some application of the contents of the hopper; however, the extent of the application could not be determined.
Seat Occupied: Center
Flight Time: 29943 hours (Total, all aircraft), 100 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft)
The pilot, age 68, held a commercial pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. He held a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) second-class medical certificate with a limitation to have available glasses for near vision, issued January 16, 2017. He reported 29,943 total hours of flight experience on the application for his last medical certificate. His last flight review in accordance with 14 CFR Part 61.56 occurred on January 30, 2017.
The pilot was hired by the operator in March 2011. A review of his logbook revealed that about the time he was hired, he had accrued a total time of about 24,613 hours. His title at the time of the accident was Chief Supervisor/Pilot.
The pilot's sister reported that she spoke with her brother the day before the accident, and during that call, he reported having a cold.
Aircraft Make: AIR TRACTOR INC
Model/Series: AT 602 NO SERIES
Airworthiness Certificate: Restricted
Serial Number: 602-1219
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 12500 lbs
Engines: 1 Turbo Prop
Airframe Total Time: 2752 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Pratt & Whitney Canada
Engine Model/Series: PT6A-60AG
Registered Owner: STURDIVANT BROTHERS FLYING SERVICE INC
Rated Power: 1050 hp
Operator: STURDIVANT BROTHERS FLYING SERVICE INC
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural Aircraft (137)
Operator Does Business As:
Operator Designator Code: ZNYG
The accident airplane was manufactured in 2012 by Air Tractor, Inc., and was designated serial number 602-1219. It was powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60AG engine rated at 1,050 shaft horsepower for takeoff, and equipped with a Hartzell HC-B5MP-3C/M10876ANS propeller.
Review of the maintenance records revealed that the airplane's last annual inspection was performed on November 8, 2016, at an airplane total time of 2,752 hours.
The airplane was equipped with an AgJunction Satloc G4 GPS receiver capable of recording and retaining data; however, due to heat damage to the two internal memory cards, no data could be extracted from the device.
Observation Facility, Elevation: GLH, 131 ft msl
Observation Time: 1553 CDT
Departure Point: Glendora, MS
Destination: Glendora, MS
Departure Time: 1530 CDT
At 1553, a surface observation at Greenville Mid-Delta Airport (GLH), Greenville, Mississippi, located about 18 nautical miles south-southwest of the accident site, reported calm wind, 10 miles visibility with clear skies, temperature and dew point 26°C and 8°C, respectively, and an altimeter setting of 30.21 inches of mercury.
Aircraft Explosion: On-Ground
The accident site was located among trees at the southern portion of an open field, about 760 ft east of the eastern edge of the 75-acre field the pilot intended to spray. Further examination of the accident site revealed damage to trees between 15 and 20 ft above ground level (agl) on a magnetic heading about 280°. Airplane debris was located on the ground among the trees and in the open field north of the energy path between the first tree contact and the main wreckage, which was located about 282 ft and 280° from the first tree contact location. Damage to trees at decreasing heights was noted along the energy path. The main wreckage had an odor of Jet A fuel.
Components that were located farthest east from the fuselage included portions of the left wingtip, outboard end of the left main spar, leading edge of the left wing with semi-circular leading edge damage, outboard portion of the left aileron with outboard boom hanger bracket, section of left wing leading edge with pitot tube, and a section of the leading edge with semi-circular wrapping. The semi-circular impression on the leading edge of the left wing was correlated with a standing tree that exhibited impact damage. The wing damage and the lack of damage to the ground at the corresponding area of the right wingtip was consistent with a wings-level attitude at the time of tree impact.
Examination of the airplane revealed extensive heat damage to the fuselage, cockpit, and sections of both wings that were not separated during the accident sequence. Both wings remained secured at the center splice, and all main spar attach bolts were sheared at the fuselage attach point but remained trapped. The inboard attach angle of the left wing was deformed, and both attach angles of the right wing were deformed. The left wing main spar was "S" shaped and the spar was fractured about 5 ft 10 inches outboard of the outboard wing splice. The aft spar of the left wing remained connected at the fuselage, but the spar was separated from the attach plate. The aft spar was fractured 6 ft 3 inches from the inboard section. The full span of the left wing leading edge was separated and/or consumed by fire. The left aileron trim tab was pulled from the aileron, but the pushrod remained connected. The pushrod was separated from the aileron trim tab actuator; therefore, the aileron trim position could not be determined. Examination of the right wing revealed that the aft spar remained attached, but the spar was heat damaged. The aft spar was identified to the outboard portion of the fuel tank, and then the outer portion at the wingtip. The aluminum portions of the main spar was heat damaged 5 ft 7 inches outboard of the spar splice.
The cockpit sustained extensive fire damage; however, the occupiable space of the cockpit was not compromised. The right lower longeron was fractured, and the left side top door frame and left forward door post were cut during recovery. The pilot's seat remained fully attached and was equipped with shoulder harness airbags, which exhibited extensive heat damage. The control stick was not fractured, and the emergency dump handle was in the locked (non-dumping) position. The power, condition, and propeller controls were full aft, consistent with being pulled during separation of the engine. The flap actuator was separated and located on the ground near the cockpit area and was extended 4 threads, which equated to about 5° of flap deflection/extension.
All primary and secondary flight control surfaces and their respective counterweights were accounted for. Flight control system continuity was confirmed for roll, pitch, yaw, and right aileron droop system though heat damage to pushrods and overload failure of cables and pushrods was noted. Examination of the left aileron droop system revealed separation of both pushrods at the aileron droop idler. The attaching hardware was not located. The rod end bearing cage of both rod ends was deformed in the aft direction consistent with the bolt diameter, and the idler bellcrank was deformed. The drooping arm on the aileron bellcrank was deformed, but both rods remained attached. The rest of the drooping system remained connected.
Examination of the gatebox shutoff system revealed that the shutoff valve was in the open (normal) position. The spray valve was destroyed; therefore, its position could not be determined.
The engine remained attached at all 4 engine mount points, but was separated from the airframe and found near the engine firewall. The engine was not equipped with a manual fuel control unit (FCU) override system. The gearbox with attached propeller and power section were separated from the engine and were located along the energy path. The start control and power control cables remained attached and the propeller control remained attached to the governor, but the propeller governor cable was fractured. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The FCU and propeller governor were retained and examined at the manufacturer's facility with FAA oversight. Damage to both components precluded operational testing. Disassembly examination of the FCU and propeller governor revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.
Tree limbs and/or trunks that exhibited smooth angular cuts on one or both ends were retained and examined. Several limbs of various diameters, up-to and including 7-inches exhibited smooth cuts on one or both ends and gray color transfer on the cut surface consistent with propeller contact.
One propeller blade was rotated in its clamp toward the low pitch position; the blade counterweight made a corresponding impact signature in the spinner at a counterweight angle of about 23°, which corresponded to blade angle of about 11°. The feather stop screws were not damaged and the internal adjacent marks on the piston from the feather stops screws exhibited normal operating signatures, indicating that the propeller was not feathered at impact. There was no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction of the propeller.
The Mississippi State Medical Examiner, Pearl, Mississippi, performed a postmortem examination of the pilot. No soot aspiration was noted in multiple sections of lung and bronchus. The cause of death was reported as "asphyxia of undetermined etiology."
The FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed forensic toxicological testing on specimens from the pilot. According to the toxicology report, no carbon monoxide was detected in the cardiac blood and no volatiles were detected in vitreous. Unquantified amounts of dextromethorphan, dextrorphan (metabolite of dextromethorphan), and pseudoephedrine were detected in cardiac blood and urine. An unquantified amount of doxylamine was detected in the urine specimen, and 0.145 ug/ml of the same drug was detected in cardiac blood. Acetaminophen (12.07 ug/ml) was detected in urine.
Dextromethorphan is a cough suppressant available in many over-the-counter cough and cold preparations. Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant commonly marketed with the name Sudafed. Products containing this drug are only available "behind the counter" but do not require a prescription. Acetaminophen is an analgesic and fever reducer available over-the-counter and commonly marketed with the name Tylenol. These drugs are not considered impairing in usual doses.
Doxylamine is a first-generation sedating antihistamine available over-the-counter in a number of products intended to treat colds, allergies, and insomnia. Doxylamine causes central nervous system depression and carries the warning, "May cause central nervous system depression, which may impair physical or mental abilities; patients must be cautioned about performing tasks which require mental alertness (eg, operating machinery or driving)." The usual blood levels thought to be associated with effects from this drug are between 0.050 and 0.150 ug/ml. Doxylamine undergoes post mortem redistribution; central levels may be elevated above peripheral or antemortem levels by an average of about 2.5 times.
Agricultural Turn Distance
According to a representative of the airplane manufacturer, agricultural turn distances from the spray field for turbine-powered airplanes vary significantly depending on airplane type, spraying speed, pilot technique, wind speed, wind direction, aircraft weight, and local obstacles. However, they have found that with their turbine-powered airplanes, pilots will typically make their turns within 1/4 to 1/2 mile from the edge of the field.
NTSB Identification: ERA17FA131
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Sunday, March 19, 2017 in Minter City, MS
Aircraft: AIR TRACTOR INC AT 602, registration: N2049D
On March 19, 2017, about 1600 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-602, N2049D, registered to and operated by Sturdivant Brothers Flying Service, Inc., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight, collided with trees and terrain near Minter City, Mississippi. The commercial pilot was fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed by impact and a postcrash fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that originated about 30 minutes earlier from the company airstrip.
The pilot departed the airstrip with 3/4 fuel capacity in each wing fuel tank and the hopper containing 375 gallons of mixed water and chemicals. After takeoff the pilot proceeded towards the intended spray field, and although there were no eyewitnesses to the accident, an individual familiar with aerial application who lived adjacent to the intended field reported hearing an airplane fly over his house. He noted the airplane sounded fine at that time, but about 10 to 15 seconds later, he heard a pop sound followed by an explosion. He went outside, noted the fire, and a friend called 911. He then drove to the site, and after arrival, he noted damage to trees, and parts of the airplane away from the main wreckage. The fire department arrived about 20 minutes later and extinguished the fire, which at that time was mostly confined to the cockpit area.
The accident site was located about 1,000 feet east of the eastern edge of the intended spray field. There was airplane debris on the ground and damage to trees that bordered the southwestern edge of the field. An energy path was oriented on a magnetic heading of 280 degrees, and the distance between the first tree contact and the resting position of the fuselage was about 282 feet. The first identified components among the trees were components of the left wing.
Inspection of the intended spray field several days after the accident revealed damage to weeds consistent with spray application in areas of the field.
A heat-damaged Satloc G4 GPS was retained for attempted read-out by the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory.
Owen Dale Holland
Owen Dale Holland was born July 20, 1948 in Jonesville, Louisiana to the union of Hilton Shaw and Verba Lee Charrier Holland. He passed away March 19, 2017 while flying in Minter, Mississippi.
He grew up farming with his father and two brothers in Parhams, Louisiana. He loved to play football and was an outstanding quarterback at Block High School during his high school years.
His love of flying began in 1974. He flew in the family operation for several years in Jonesville, Louisiana, 9 years for UTAVA, a French company in Cameroon, Africa where he was chief pilot spraying bananas. In 2011 he came back to the United States to work for Sturdivant Brothers Flying Service in Marks, Mississippi. He had flown a total of 29,943 plus hours.
He was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in 1968 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. He was a third generation witness with his grandfather learning the truth in the early 1930's. He served as an elder in the Jonesville, Louisiana Congregation for about 12 years. He loved and mentioned often the beauty of Jehovah's creation from his view from the sky.
Survivors include his loving wife of 10 years, Terry Efosi Holland. 4 daughters: Tonya La Jean Holland Johnson and husband Jeff Johnson of Collinsville, Texas, Geena Nichole Holland and Myriah La Donna Holland of Grenada, Mississippi, Marisa Nabholtz and husband Jake of Conway, Arkansas. 2 sons, William Donovan Holland of Grenada, Mississippi, Jared Holland and wife Brooke of Natchez, Mississippi. 2 grandsons: Evan Shaw Salter and wife Kelsey and Matthew Tanner Salter of West Monroe, Louisiana 1 granddaughter Trisha Megan Johnson of Whitesboro, Texas Mother Verba Lee Holland, 2 brothers Lloyd Holland and wife Sue, Wayne Holland and wife Delores of Jonesville, Louisiana. 1 sister Jan Forman and husband Mike of Jonesville, Louisiana. Nieces: Charla Mophett and Sonja Spann Nephews: Wayne Holland Jr, Jason Holland, Chris Forman, Bryan Forman and Jon Brandon Holland.
Memorial services for Mr. Owen Dale Holland, 68, of Grenada, MS. be 2 PM Saturday at Young's Funeral Home -Ferriday, LA with Bro. Victor Cheeks officiating. Visitation will be from 11 AM until 2 PM Saturday at the funeral home. Under the direction of Young's Funeral Home-Ferriday, LA
Read more here: http://www.youngsfh.com
Fairchild SA-227AC Metro III, Gas/Wilson Inc., N26959: Incident occurred March 20, 2017 - San Clemente Island, California
GAS/WILSON INC: http://registry.faa.gov/N26959
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Diego, California
After engine shutdown, excessive smoke was coming from #1 engine nacelle. Engine was removed for testing due to an inflight fire.
Regis#: N26959
Aircraft Make: SWEARINGEN
Aircraft Model: SA227-AC
Damage: UNKNOWN
Flight Phase: STANDING (STD)
Operation: 135
City: SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND
Aeronca 7AC Champion, First Flight Corp, N2778E: Incident occurred March 20, 2017 in San Diego, California
First Flight Corp: http://registry.faa.gov/N2778E
Aircraft departed the left side of the runway 1000' from the threshold and struck a runway light.
Regis#: N2778E
Aircraft Make: AERONCA
Aircraft Model: 7AC
Swearingen SA226TC, registered to and operated by Western Airlines, N158WA: Accident occurred March 20, 2017 at Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field (KBOI), Ada County, Idaho
http://registry.faa.gov/N158WA
Location: Boise, ID
Date & Time: 03/20/2017, 0405 MDT
Registration: N158WA
Aircraft: SWEARINGEN SA226
Defining Event: Part(s) separation from AC
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Positioning
On March 20, 2017, about 0405 mountain daylight time, a Swearingen SA226TC, N158WA, was substantially damaged due to foreign object damage to the airplane's fuselage during initial takeoff/climb from Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field (BOI), Boise, Idaho. The airline transport pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Western Airlines LC of Boise as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed and active. The flight was originating at the time and destined for Salt Lake International Airport (SLC), Salt Lake City, Utah.
In a written statement submitted to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that prior to departing on the repositioning flight, he reviewed the maintenance data for the airplane (the Can) and found everything to be up to date. The subsequent preflight inspections, inclusive of the interior and exterior of the airplane revealed no anomalies. The pilot stated that at 0400 he called BOI ground control, obtained taxi clearance, and taxied to runway 10L where he began the takeoff roll. The pilot reported that everything was normal, rotated at 105 knots; shortly thereafter he heard a "pop", followed by a vibration. Thinking that he had a blown tire, he waited a few seconds to see if the frequency of the vibration would change as the tire rotation slowed. However, the vibration remained the same, which led him to think that there might be an issue with the propeller. The pilot radioed the BOI tower controller, advised him of his intension to return to the airport, and was instructed to turn right for Runway 10L. The pilot stated that on the downwind leg he thought there might be a problem with a propeller. However, after he inspected both propeller spinners to determine which propeller might be damaged, he determined that both were running smooth. The pilot further stated that as he had no indication as to which propeller was damaged and the vibration was light and not changing, he elected not to shut the engine down. The pilot then landed uneventfully, taxied to parking, and shut the right engine down first. The pilot then shut the left engine down. During the last few rotations of the propeller he observed the spinner wobble slightly; he then noticed that the tip of one of the blades was missing. The pilot stated that after having exited the airplane he observed that about four inches of one of the propeller blade tips was missing, as well as having observed two holes in the fuselage, [both caused by pieces of the propeller blade tip]. About 10 minutes later airport operations personnel delivered another piece of the propeller [blade], and what appeared to be the blade of a screwdriver and two pieces of a screwdriver handle. A further examination of the airplane revealed a third hole in the fuselage further back [of the left] wing root just below the window.
During a postaccident inspection of the airplane, a Federal Aviation Administration aviation safety inspector reported that maintenance had been performed on the airplane prior to the flight, and that the mechanic was called away from the task he was performing prior to it being completed. The inspector stated that a screwdriver was left on the nose of the airplane under the windshield wiper and out of sight of the pilot. Subsequently, on takeoff roll the screwdriver became dislodged and impacted the left propeller; remnants of two pieces of a propeller blade were found to have penetrated the left side fuselage and came to rest inside the cabin of the airplane. The screwdriver was subsequently located lying on the surface of the departure runway.
Certificate: Airline Transport
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Multi-engine; Airplane Single-engine
Medical Certification: Class 2 Unknown
Flight Time: 10700 hours (Total, all aircraft), 3161 hours (Total, this make and model), 7919 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 37 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 31 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
Model/Series: SA226 TC
Serial Number: TC411
Time Since Last Inspection: 182 Hours
Airframe Total Time: 28602.9 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Honeywell
Engine Model/Series: TPE-331-10UA
Registered Owner: Western Airlines LC
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Commuter Air Carrier (135)
Condition of Light: Night/Dark
Observation Facility, Elevation: BOI, 2871 ft msl
Observation Time: 0353 MDT
Departure Point: Boise, ID (BOI)
Destination: Denver, CO (KAPA)
Departure Time: 0405 MDT
Type of Airspace: Class C
Airport: Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field (BOI)
Runway Surface Condition: Wet
Runway Used: 10L
Runway Length/Width: 10000 ft / 150 ft
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Accident occurred Monday, March 20, 2017 in Boise, ID
Aircraft: SWEARINGEN SA226, registration: N158WA
On March 20, 2017, about 0400 mountain daylight time, a Swearingen SA226TC, N158WA, was substantially damaged due to foreign object damage to the airplane's propeller and fuselage during initial takeoff/climb from Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field (BOI), Boise, Idaho. The airline transport pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Western Airlines LC of Boise. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed, but not activated. The charter cargo flight was being operated in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135, with a destination of Centinnial Airport (APA), Denver, Colorado.
According to Federal Aviation Administration personnel, about the time the airplane was rotating from Runway 10L, the pilot experienced a light vibration; he subsequently returned to BOI and landed uneventfully. During a post-landing examination of the airplane, it was revealed that a portion of the outboard section of a left propeller blade, which had fragmented into 2 pieces, was missing. Additionally, about a 4 inch by 4 inch puncture hole was observed to have gone through the left forward side of the fuselage just aft of the main air stair door; a piece of the propeller blade was found in the cabin. It was further noted during a runway sweep for foreign objects shortly after the occurrence, that a screw driver which had been used during maintenance on the airplane earlier, and the second piece of the propeller blade tip, were both recovered from the departure runway in the same approximate location from where the airplane would have rotated.
Cessna 340A, N114BH: Incidents occurred August 19, 2020 and March 20, 2017
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Reno, Nevada
August 19, 2020: Aircraft landed gear up.
SP Aircraft LLC
https://registry.faa.gov/N114BH
Date: 19-AUG-20
Regis#: N114BH
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
City: WINNEMUCCA
March 20, 2017: Aircraft reported a lost propeller while climbing through 14,800'.
Flight Phase: INITIAL CLIMB (ICL)
City: PRAIRIE
Bombardier CRJ200, Endeavor Air: Incident occurred March 20, 2017 at Westchester County Airport (KHPN), White Plains, New York
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office;Farmingdale, New York
Aircraft got stuck in a snowbank exiting Runway 34.
Regis#:
Aircraft Make: BOMBARDIER
Aircraft Model: CRJ2
Activity: COMMERCIAL
Flight Phase: TAXI (TXI)
Aircraft Operator: ENDEAVOR
Flight Number: 3703
City: WESTCHESTER
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text:
INews Guyana
Home Regional Antigua and Barbuda vote against CCJ, PM disappointed
Antigua and Barbuda vote against CCJ, PM disappointed
Prime Minister Gaston Browne
ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC) — Prime Minister Gaston Browne has expressed his "utmost disappointment" at the failure of his administration to get voters to support the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as Antigua and Barbuda's final court.
In a referendum on Tuesday, the preliminary figures released by the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) showed that of the 17,743 votes counted, the "No" vote secured 9, 234 as against 8,509 for the "Yes" vote.
Antigua and Barbuda's final court is the London-based Privy Council and the island had hoped to join Barbados, Belize, Dominica and Guyana as the only Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries that have so far made the CCJ their final court.
The CCJ also operates as an international tribunal interpreting the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that governs the 15-member regional integration movement.
"We knew that getting 67 per cent of the votes was an extremely daunting task, practically un-achievable without the support of the main opposition party," Browne said.
"The support of the opposition was very important to mitigate against the natural inclination of electors to vote no in a referendum and this is a point that I raised during the initial consultation (on the CCJ)," he added.
But the leader of the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP), Harold Lovell said that the results of the referendum should be viewed as a personal assessment of Browne's stewardship.
"This was really a referendum about the prime minister….In Antigua it was a referendum about Gaston Browne and he was not able to bring out not more than 8,000 people …even though they were talking about he is going to command his people to do this and do that"
Lovell said that of the 20,000 odd people who voted for the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) in the last general election held earlier this year, "only 8,000 came out and yet he is now blaming the United Progressive Party.
"Our position was take the politics out, let us build a coalition of people and listen to people and go forward with that approach. Cursing people,…calling people backward, stupid, dunce that type if thing, that's not how you build a successful coalition," Lovell said.
He said the UPP would continue to support constitutional reform "and we believe this is a time when we must listen to what people are saying".
But Browne told reporters that the opposition had succeeding in undermining the desire to replace the Privy Council accusing them of spreading lies and instilling fear in the population.
Browne said the results showed that "no one" won in the end.
"The outcome even though disappointing was not surprising. I am satisfied that my government discharged its responsibility by making the option available to the people of Antigua and Barbuda to make justice available to all at the Apex level and to bring our final court to the Caribbean.
"My biggest disappointment is the impact of this failure on future constitutional reforms. It is unlikely that my government will, in the circumstances and in the absence of political maturity and magnanimity pursue any further constitutional reform in the near future," Browne said.
ABEC said that 33.5 per cent of the electorate voted in the referendum and that the "No" vote had secured 52.04 per cent with the "Yes" vote gathering 47.96 per cent.
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"He never beat me like me first husband, so I never...


text:
Q: Найти первое число в массиве между нулями Дана функция, в ней два параметра: массив целых чисел и размер массива. Найти в массиве первое число, которое окружено нулями. Если такое число не найдено, верните -1, или верните индекс такого элемента.
public static int method(int[] array, int arraySize) {}

A: public static int method(int[] array, int arraySize) {
    for (int i = 0; i < arraySize - 2; i++) {
        if (array[i] == 0 && array[i + 2] == 0) {
            return i + 1;
        }
    }
    return -1;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


By FRANCIS XAVIER KOTA KINABALU: Stanley Sulong is turning down a job offer to pursue his football dream. The youngster has decided to pen his first professional contract with the Sabah Football Association after being included in the state Premier League squad for the 2018 campaign.
Hailing from Sungai Api, Tenom, Stanley was accepted as a Prisons officer and is supposed to report for training later this month. But the 21-year-old could not turn down the chance to follow his dream, even though it came with a risk of insecurities where a professional footballer's career has an average length of eight to 10 years from the time they sign their first professional contract.
"I have decided to go for a higher target," Stanley said, when asked on why he decided to turn down the job offer when met at the team's training at the Likas Stadium yesterday. "I want to play for the national team one day … that's my dream," he added, as he vowed to train hard and will do his utmost best to improve himself. Stanley, who is the first child among his six siblings, said he did discuss the matter with his parents, but at the end of the day, it was him who made the final decision.
The former student of SM St Anthony, Tenom, was spotted during the 2015 Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman Inter-District Football Tournament. Then Tenom, who were under the watchful eyes of former state striker Mohd Jaya Kassim, made it into the final but lost 1-3 to eventual champions Sandakan where Stanley scored from the spot for his side.
The following year, he was roped in by Under-19 head coach Jelius Ating. After a season of playing in the Youth Cup, he was promoted to the Under-21 last year. Born on February 18, 1997, Stanley, is still eligible to play for the junior squad this year, but Jelius, who is now the head coach of the senior side, believes that Stanley, who can be deployed on the right or left of midfield, is good enough for the senior squad.
"Now that he has decided to choose football, he will sign his contract with the Sabah FA any day now, and once he does that, he will be among the 25 players that we have signed for the new season. "So we only have five more slots left, to be filled, including one under the foreign quota," said Jelius. Back to Stanley, Jelius sees that the youngster has good potential in the game.
"He (Stanley) is one talented player, and he was with me since 2016. When I took over the senior team, I asked him to attend training with the senior team, and decided to give him a chance, even though he is still eligible to play for the juniors," said Jelius. "He has been progressing well, and the same goes for a few more youngsters in the squad such as Hamran Peter, who is still eligible to play for the Under-21 squad as well as Mohd Aidil (Safee) and Evan (Wensley Wenceslaus).
"They may not be the key player/s for this season, but in the near future, they are going to be the backbone of the team. "They are our back-up players, but if they are willing to fight for their place in the first team, I'm sure they stand a good chance. "For instance, Stanley is a fighter and is a football genius and can make good crosses. I believe their presence will give the seniors good competition for the first team," said Jelius.


text:
Hummel, Dorothy
Dorothy M. "Tatters" Hummel
Dorothy M. "Tatters" Hummel, 85, of Osceola Mills, PA and formerly of Philipsburg, PA died on Saturday, May 24, 2014 at her home.
Born on June 20, 1928 in Johnstown, PA, she was the daughter of the late William & Martha (Bernard) Sallurday. She was married to Charles A. Hummel, who preceded her in death on July 11, 1978.
Mrs. Hummel was a member of the Chapel of the Good Shepherd in Hawk Run, PA, the Daughters of the King Guild of the church and the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW 5020 in Osceola Mills, PA. She had worked for Charles Navasky & Co. in Philipsburg, PA and was a homemaker.
In addition to her Parents and Husband, she was preceded in death by: two sisters, Delores Houston and Sarah Little; and four brothers, William Sallurday, Jr., Robert Sallurday, Jack Sallurday and Kenneth Sallurday.
Mrs. Hummel is survived by: four daughters, Barbara Hubler of Philipsburg, PA, Carol Haddix & her husband Jim of Butler, PA, Wanda Kennedy & her husband Jerry of Osceola Mills, PA, Tammy Ingram & her husband Robert of Curwensville, PA; a son, Charles "Chip" Milliron and his wife Barbara of Osceola Mills, PA; a sister, Thelma McDonald of Philipsburg, PA; ten grandchildren, Careena Timblin, Tawnya Gallaher, Buffie Dunbar, Shasta Wilkinson, Dana Milliron, Scott Milliron, Matthew Kennedy, Mark Kennedy, Charleigh Ingram and Bailey Ingram; and fifteen great-grandchildren.
The Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 on Thursday, May 29, 2014 at the Heath Funeral Home in Osceola Mills, PA; with Rev. Clifford Johnston and Rev. William Walker officiating. Burial will be at the Umbria Cemetery in Osceola Mills, PA.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, May 28, 2014 from 3:00 – 8:00 p.m. and on Thursday from 10:00 until the time of the funeral service at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, PO Box 23, Hawk Run, PA 16840.
To sign the online guestbook, go to: www.heathfuneral.com.


Last month NCSoft announced that they would be seeking out bits of DNA from gamers in order to shoot them off into space with Richard Garriott.
Richard Garriott Wants Your DNA!
The idea is that Garriott is going to store digital versions of the DNA on a harddrive, codenamed the Immortality Drive, and store it in some dusty back corner of the International Space Station. This is all being done in case humanity gets wiped out and we need a human race reboot. Neat, Sci-Fi stuff.
Yesterday it became a little more real when I received a package in the mail. Inside? A DNA collection kit and papers to sign away my genetics to NCsoft, who I can't help but notice don't make any promises about not raising a Crecente Clone army or not populating mars with thousands of Crecetient beings.
Of course I want to send off my DNA, if only so I can tell people that not only have I been to outer space and visited the International Space Station, but that I'm still there.
Freaky DNA kit pics on the jump.