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Defense appropriations
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., joined by his GOP leadership team, answers questions on Iran and the withdrawal of acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 18, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Senate leaders agree on measure to care for refugees
WASHINGTON (AP) — The top Republican and Democrat on a key Senate panel have agreed on a $4.6 billion measure to house and care for immigrant refugees flocking across the U.S.-Mexico border — a long-delayed step toward averting a humanitarian tragedy at overcrowded and inadequate federal facilities...
In this April 5, 2019, photo, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection vehicle sits near the a section of the U.S. border wall with Mexico in Calexico, Calif. Democrats controlling the House are trying to use a popular veterans measure to block President Donald Trump from transferring $3.6 billion from military base construction to build his long-sought wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Democrats using veterans bill to try to block border wall
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats controlling the House are trying to use a popular veterans measure to block President Donald Trump from transferring $3.6 billion from military base construction to build his long-sought wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Tuesday's move faces certain opposition from...
From left, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and House Appropriations Committee Chair Nita Lowey, D-N.Y., greet each other as a bipartisan group of House and Senate bargainers meet to craft a border security compromise in hope of avoiding another government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Dems make opening offer, with no money for Trump's wall
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats in the House offered a border security plan on Wednesday that would not provide a penny for Donald Trump's border wall, ignoring — for now — an early-morning warning from the president that they'd be "wasting their time" if they don't come up with wall money. The...
FILE - In this Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 file photo, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, talks to reporters as Congress tries to pass legislation that would avert a partial government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington. Pelosi and President Donald Trump both think they have public sentiment on their side in the battle over a border wall. That theory will be put the test this week when the new House Democratic majority led by Pelosi gavels into session with legislation to end the government shutdown. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Trump-Pelosi showdown over shutdown first battle of new era
WASHINGTON (AP) — Nancy Pelosi often quotes Abraham Lincoln saying public sentiment is everything. It's a theory that will be put to the test when the new House Democratic majority gavels in this week and votes to end the government shutdown without money for President Donald Trump's border wall...
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., joined by Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., left, and Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, right, arrives to speak to reporters about the possibility of a partial government shutdown, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. Congress and President Donald Trump continue to bicker over his demand that lawmakers fund a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, pushing the government to the brink of a partial shutdown at midnight Friday. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Shutdown threat recedes as Trump softens stance on wall
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump appeared Tuesday to back off his demand for $5 billion to build a border wall, signaling for the first time that he might be open to a deal that would avoid a partial government shutdown. The White House set the tone when press secretary Sarah Huckabee...
Shutdown talk recedes after White House eases wall threat
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and leaders in Congress appeared to be pulling back Tuesday from a government shutdown over his $5 billion request for border wall funds, with the first signs of movement toward a possible end to the standoff. The White House set the tone early when Press...
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, the speaker-designate for the new Congress in January, talks to reporters after meeting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., as Congress and President Donald Trump bicker over his demand that lawmakers fund a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, pushing the government to the brink of a partial shutdown, in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2018. Without a resolution, parts of the federal government will shut down at midnight Friday. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
President Donald Trump turns to House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., during an event to sign H.R. 390, the "Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act of 2018," in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
No. 2 House Republican: Gov't shutdown 'stupid', may happen
WASHINGTON (AP) — A looming, partial government shutdown would be "stupid" but might be unavoidable if Democrats refuse to support President Donald Trump's proposed border wall with Mexico, the second-ranking House Republican said on Thursday. Even if Republicans assemble enough votes to approve...
In this Nov. 30, 2018 photo, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is joined by Rep. John Sarbanes, D-Md., at a news conference to discuss their priorities when they assume the majority in the 116th Congress in January, at the Capitol in Washington. While tea party Republicans swept to power to stop things -- repeal Obamacare, roll back environmental regulations and decrease the size and scope of government -- Democrats are marching into the majority to build things back up. And after spending eight downcast years in the minority, they can't wait to get started. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Pelosi takes hard line on paying for Trump's border wall
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday rejected the idea of paying for President Donald Trump's border wall in exchange for helping hundreds of thousands of young immigrants avoid deportation. Funding for the wall — a top Trump priority — and legal protections for so-...
Senate backs $854B bill to fund health, education, military
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate approved an $854 billion measure Thursday that funds much of the government, including $675 billion for the Defense Department. The bill combines military spending with disbursements for Health and Human Services, Education, Labor and other agencies. The bill was...

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Building Community and STEM Education with Junior Achievement of Central Indiana
Doug Swain
Investments in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education have been on the rise recently with many schools and educational nonprofit organizations recognizing the benefits to children. Junior Achievement of Central Indiana (JA) is no exception. With the help of a task force comprised of experts from various STEM-related industries, the organization launched an Enhancement Initiative to develop cutting edge, experiential learning opportunities aimed at inspiring more youth to pursue STEM education and careers.
Since 1957, JA has worked with volunteers from the business community to implement financial literacy, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and work readiness programs for approximately 20,000 central Indiana students across eight counties, ranging from preschool to 12th grade. One such educational program, JA BizTown, will receive modifications to increase participants' exposure to STEM education and careers.
JA BizTown is an experiential learning program for fifth graders with an in-school curriculum that also allows students to operate a variety of real-life businesses in a simulated city for one day. It is also a great platform to show STEM career opportunities. Funds from this $25,000 Impact Fund Grant from the Opus Foundation® will allow JA to support their technology needs to improve and enhance the delivery of their new STEM curriculum. The organization will purchase 30 new computers and 15 printers and supplies. These computers and printers will be placed in the businesses at JA BizTown to provide students with direct access to simulations.
"Our last technology upgrade was almost 15 years ago," said Lauren Scheldrup, director of development for JA of Central Indiana. "It's incredibly needed. It also allowed us to open a few doors with other organizations that want to support this initiative thanks to Opus' interest."
JA already has plans to expand their STEM initiative and build capacity at BizTown.
Junior Achievement is a wonderful organization that has been very successful educating young students in central Indiana. I am excited that the Opus Foundation was able to support their STEM initiative which focuses on critical skills in today's world.
The Opus Foundation supports projects and programs that make our communities better places to live, work and raise families through grants to nonprofit organizations in the areas of early childhood education, youth development, workforce development and community revitalization. Read more about the Foundation's work here.
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17 Apr The Apple Watch 3 (or Apple Watch Series 3, if you're picky) is the best smartwatch you can buy right now. Yes, it's essentially just the Apple Watch 2 frame with some new innards but they make a big difference. The LTE connection is the headline event, although that's not really as useful as some might. These chefs are on their last legs and so is the food they're cooking with who will rescue this produce that's going bad? Load More. Latest Clips. Top Chef's Chris Scott Reveals What Makes Philadelphia Food So Good. Digital Original. 02 Top Chef. Top Chef's Chris Scott Reveals What Makes Philadelphia Food So . 16 Apr In the market for a smartwatch? Here are the top Android Wear (soon to be Wear OS) choices available to you right now.


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Home | Press Centre | Photographs
Volunteers assess risks and prepare for disasters
An AKAH Training Officer in Ghizer-Gilgit training CERT volunteers on... More
The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) in Pakistan, which pioneered disaster management and response in the region, has trained over 50,000 community volunteers, including women and youth.
Protecting the environment and helping populations adapt to the effects of climate change
In Baltistan, Pakistan, a new irrigation channel supported by the Aga Khan... More
Environment and climate are core strategic priorities for AKDN, stressing that good environmental stewardship is part of the development agenda and ensuring that the Earth can sustainably support future generations. In line with this goal, AKDN agencies and institutions have worked towards a number of goals, including reforestation.
Reducing risk and preparing communities for disasters in South and Central Asia
In Singal, Pakistan, a village that had been destroyed by flash floods in... More
Working with local governments and communities, AKAH implements a wide range of disaster risk reduction (DRR) programmes across Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Syria, and Tajikistan. DRR programmes include hazard, risk and vulnerability assessments; disaster preparedness education; emergency response and search and rescue training; and structural mitigation projects for all levels of community and institutional structures, such as building flood retaining walls, riverbank and slope stabilization, reinforcing bridges and roads, avalanche protection measures, and constructing debris flow channels.
Ensuring food security and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers
In Madagascar, the Zanatany Rice Permaculture System is allowing... More
Ensuring tangible food security, agricultural development and sustainable resource management has been at the centre of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF)'s activities since it began. Agriculture remains the single largest employer in the world, providing livelihoods for 40 percent of today's global population. The world's 500 million small farms worldwide provide up to 80 percent of the food consumed.
Enhancing civil society
At the state-owned Jomok kindergarten in Osh, Kyrgyz Republic, the Aga Khan... More
Founded on ethics and values that drive progress and positive change, these civil society institutions – of education, health, science and research, and culture, to name a few – harness the private energies of citizens committed to the public good.
(-) Remove Aga Khan Agency for Habitat filter Aga Khan Agency for Habitat
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Economic development that helps people and societies fulfil their potential
International Day of Rural Women 2019
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Aga Khan Academies celebrate graduating 1,000 global leaders
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Common Sense Age 6+
From the creators of Shrek comes DreamWorks Animation's Trolls, a smart, funny and irreverent comedy about the search for happiness, and just how far some will go to get it. This hilarious film transports audiences to a colorful, wondrous world populated by the overly optimistic Trolls, who have a constant dance in their step and a song on their lips, and the comically pessimistic Bergens, who are only happy when they have Trolls in their stomachs. After the Bergens invade Troll Village, Poppy (Kendrick), the happiest Troll ever born, and the overly-cautious curmudgeonly Branch (Timberlake) set off on a journey to rescue her friends. Together, this mismatched duo embarks on a mission full of adventure and mishaps – trying to tolerate each other long enough to get the job done. Utilizing music to further the film's narrative, the Trolls soundtrack is produced by Justin Timberlake and features original songs by Justin Timberlake and Gwen Stefani, in addition to a number of classic hits from the '60s – '80s.
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6+ COMMON SENSE
Fun, colorful adventure has some peril, lots of great music.
Christopher Mintz-Plasse
Caroline Hjelt
Aino Jawo
Quvenzhané Wallis
© 2016 DreamWorks Animation, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
English (Subtitled, AD, Stereo, Dolby, Dolby 7.1)
Arabic (Subtitled), Bulgarian (Subtitled), Catalan (Subtitled), Croatian (Subtitled), Czech (Subtitled), Danish (Subtitled), Dutch (Subtitled), Estonian (Subtitled), Finnish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), German (Subtitled), Greek (Subtitled), Hebrew (Subtitled), Hindi (Subtitled), Hungarian (Subtitled), Icelandic (Subtitled), Indonesian (Subtitled), Italian (Subtitled), Japanese (Subtitled), Korean (Subtitled), Latvian (Subtitled), Lithuanian (Subtitled), Malay (Subtitled), Norwegian (Subtitled), Polish (Subtitled), Portuguese (Brazil) (Subtitled), Portuguese (Portugal) (Subtitled), Romanian (Subtitled), Russian (Subtitled), Serbian (Subtitled), Simplified Chinese (Subtitled), Slovak (Subtitled), Slovenian (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), Spanish (Spain) (Subtitled), Swedish (Subtitled), Thai (Subtitled), Traditional Chinese (Subtitled), Turkish (Subtitled), Ukrainian (Subtitled), Vietnamese (Subtitled)
Audio descriptions (AD) refer to a narration track describing what is happening on screen to provide context for those who are blind or have low vision.
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Troika, a multi-cuisine restaurant, is known for its eclectic mix of Oriental, Mediterranean and coastal dishes; along with a few fusion delicacies.
With its perfect outdoor view and rich black and green interiors, it is the place that the adventurous foodies can head to. It not only has a great ambience but also a variety of dishes to choose from.
The place is hosting a party on New Year's eve. Guests can groove to the peppy numbers and enjoy the mega buffet spread with live food counters. On January 1, there will be a lavish lunch buffet spread which promises to tingle the taste buds of foodies.
Some of the specials that will be served are 'spinach gnocchi', 'dimsums', 'lamb souvlaki', 'Thai corn cups' and 'peanut crusted camember'.
Four types of starters in the veg and non-veg section including chilli peanut crusted camembert, sweet and sour peppers and shallots, baked goat cheese on 'karuveppilai sago vadai' and masala corn cups with white pea ragda and chutney will be offered. "This New Year, the highlight of the buffet will be the Mediterranean cuisine.
Some of the highlights of the spread are the main course options like spinach and fenugreek gnocchi with melted cheddar and lime parmesan dressing. The other dishes one can opt for are chicken roulade, coconut panna cotta, white mushroom in oyster sauce, lasagne in summer vegetables, tofu kung pao and dumplings," says Darshan, the manager.
Desserts include black and white chocolate cannelloni. The restaurant is located on 100 Feet Road, Indiranagar, above Zaica.


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TS Tirumurti Appointed India's Permanent Representative to the UN
Joint Secretary in the ministry Deepak Mittal was appointed as the Ambassador of India to Qatar.
Published: 29 Apr 2020, 8:17 PM IST
Seasoned diplomat TS Tirumurti, currently serving as Secretary in the the Ministry of External Affairs ministry, was on Wednesday, 29 April, appointed as India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
A 1985-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Tirumurti will succeed Syed Akbaruddin, a prominent face in Indian diplomacy who is credited with successfully presenting the country's position at the global body on a range of key issues for last several years.
Akbaruddin is due to retire shortly.
Tirumurti is serving as Secretary, Economic Relations at the ministry's headquarters in Delhi.
Tirumurti has been appointed as the next Ambassador/Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations at New York, the MEA said.
The government has also appointed senior diplomat Namrata S Kumar as India's next ambassador to Slovenia, while Jaideep Mazumdar goes to Austria as the country's next envoy.
Another senior diplomat, Piyush Srivastava, has been appointed as India's next Ambassador to Bahrain.
USCIRF Religious Segregation Criticism Based on False Report: MEA


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To create a communicative competency among learners to face global challenges.
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To make use of Language Lab to develop communicative skills.
To provide comprehensive approach in learning English as a 'Global Link Language'.
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EAST MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, YORK COUNTY, Pa. -- As temperatures get warmer, veterinarians are warning people to not leave their pets in unattended, parked cars.
That's because the heat can cause serious health issues for our furry friends.
Veterinarians say if it's too hot for you, it's too hot for your pet. Leaving a window cracked may seem like a good idea for your dog on an 85 degree day, but experts say the temperature inside the car can get to over 100 degrees in just ten minutes.
On hot summer days, some people may be tempted to just crack a car window for their pet.
Dr. Ivan Pryor, the owner of Dillsburg Veterinary Center says that's not safe, and that little bit of air won't keep your animal cool.
"Rolling down the window really doesn't help much. It's still hot inside that car," he said.
When a car sits for even just ten minutes when it's hot outside, he says the temperature inside can climb rapidly, and that could put your pet at risk.
A table shared by the Humane Society shows just how quickly the temperature can jump, and animals are left vulnerable.
"We can wind down our windows. We can turn on the air conditioning, but animals don't have that ability," said State Representative Frank Farry.
State Representative Frank Farry held Bulmers, the Pennsylvania Capitol dog.
He's also a volunteer fire chief who backs House Bill 1216, legislation which would protect all first responders and humane officers from any potential lawsuits after rescuing a dog or cat from a hot car.
"We're not looking for vigilantism. It's not, 'hey, we're going into cars and busting windows'. There's steps in place, but it will allow those first responders to make those decisions and have the protections they need," said Senator Rich Alloway.
Steps include: a reasonable search for the car's owner before the rescue and leaving a conspicuous note after rescuing the animal, according to Senator Alloway.
Some lawmakers call it a common sense bill.
"Just think about your car sitting out here for a half hour, and how much warmer it will be when you get in there," said Representative Farry.
Dr. Pryor says if you need to bring your pet somewhere, try to bring a friend along to sit with the animal and turn the air on in your car.
When in doubt, he says, leave the pet behind.
The Humane Society of the United States - Pennsylvania co-author of the bill, with Representatives Frank Farry and Dom Costa, is encouraging constituents to contact their State Senator and ask them to urge Senate leadership schedule HB1216 for a vote and to support the bill with a yes vote.
Senator Alloway says he's confident the bill could be voted on this June.
More than 20 other states already have passed laws like House Bill 1216.
Take down the car's make, model and license plate number.
If there are businesses nearby, notify their managers or security guards and ask them to make an announcement to find the car's owner. Many people are unaware of the danger of leaving pets in hot cars and will quickly return to their vehicle once they are alerted to the situation.
If the owner can't be found, call the non-emergency number of the local police or animal control and wait by the car for them to arrive. In several states good Samaritans can legally remove animals from cars under certain circumstances, so be sure to know the laws in your area and follow any steps required.


It is now more than one month that India is without a Navy Chief. Has the Defence Minister reduced India to a 'Banana Republic'?
In an organization like the armed forces, which prides in tradition and discipline, the appointment of the next Naval Chief should have taken not more than an hour. The delay gives credence to many conspiracy angles, the most robust being the indecision in manipulating the 'succession plan' due to conflicting interests of various arms lobbies and vested interests in the country. These interests work on a minimum 10 year perspective because that is the gestation period for major arms deals, i.e. from the proposal to the delivery stage. It may be reiterated that at present India is the largest importer of arms.
In the next decade, India is expected to buy defence equipment worth $100 billion. Earlier, there was not much premium on 'succession plan' as the major supplier was the Soviet Union. Ever since the Soviet Union disintegrated and the Russian supplies dwindled, making way for other Western sources, the phenomenon of 'succession plan' was introduced. Is it this 'succession plan' that is preventing the Defence Minister AK Antony to appoint a Naval Chief?
When inexplicable accidents took place on the two submarines, i.e. INS Sindhurakshak (August 2013), INS Sindhuratna (February 2014), it was attributed to age related problems. Then there was accident on INS Kolkata (March 2014), guided-missile destroyer under construction at Mumbai's Mazagon Dock Limited. Before that in January 2014, INS Betwa, indigenously built frigate, collided with an 'unknown' object while approaching the Mumbai harbor. Some ships have run aground solely because the Mumbai harbor had deliberately not been dredged for several years despite implorations by the Indian Navy. Since August 2013, there have been 11 mishaps in the Indian Navy.
All mishaps/accidents, Mr Defence Minister, it is reiterated happened on the shore. It is a clear case of subversion and sabotage.
The Navy being headless for more than a month also appears to be a case of subversion and sabotage.
The Defence Minister and the government had absolutely no business to accept the resignation of Admiral Joshi before his successor was in place. In somewhat a similar situation that this author is in the know, when the former Army Chief Gen VK Singh offered to resign, the megalomaniac and trusted babus of Antony insisted that they would not allow him to resign as that would upset their 'succession plan'. They taunted that the General served at the pleasure of the President and therefore had no choice but to serve as long as the President's pleasure on the recommendation of the government persisted. There are many unsavory stories in the air regarding the underlying reasons for Admiral Joshi's resignation. Admiral Joshi is too much of a professional and gentleman to vent the real reasons, if any, in public. But the alacrity with which the Defence Minister accepted his resignation and his deliberate procrastination in appointing the next Naval Chief smacks of influence of undesirable and may be inimical forces.
If it takes this long to select a Naval Chief from amongst men of dedication, discipline and integrity; surely then there is subversion and sabotage.
The image of the other two services, i.e. Indian Army and Indian Air Force, have no less been damaged during Antony's tenure. In the case of Army, the Defence Minister has to explain, as to on whose behest did he resend for clarification to the Law Ministry about the 'Date of Birth' of Gen VK Singh, after the Joint Secretary in the Ministry had ruled in favour of the General. Antony as a god fearing politician must answer this. The world otherwise knows the truth. By the way, the Defence Minister should know that in filing his nomination papers for the forthcoming parliamentary elections, the General has given his 'Date of Birth' as reflected in his matriculation certificate. Was it such a tricky issue? Why this desperation for a 'succession plan'?
The Air Force has also come under flak indirectly because of charges of kickbacks in the AgustaWestland deal to former Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi. As per the Italian authorities, the former Air Chief received only a small portion of the kickbacks out of the total Rs 350 crores. Intriguingly, the Italians shut their mouth after making this allegation, but not without some threatening insinuations against other quarters! While the Defence Minister has been quiet on the other possible beneficiaries, he had no qualms in the former Air Chief becoming the fall guy. Were there no other politicians or bureaucrats who received kickbacks? A Defence Minister cannot be selective in honesty and integrity.
Moreover, the Defence Minister also needs to explain that why is it that most leakages about kickbacks in arms deals like Bofors, AgustaWestland or Rolls Royce engines, are from foreign soil. It is surely not out of great attributes of propriety that these Western countries have. On the contrary, most of these are rouge countries in financial matters and with respect to arms market. Arms deals are often used as a tool of diplomatic blackmail. It is therefore not surprising that the trajectory of the Italian Marines case and selective leakage of the AgustaWestland deal fluctuate correspondingly. One engenders the other.
Most of the Western countries thrive on illegal and ill-gotten money of anti-national elements in the developing country, be it politicians, bureaucrats, terrorists and outfits like LTTE, Maoists, Kashmiri separatists, etc. A portion of that money is used to effect 'succession plans' in the armed forces of the target countries and in propping NGOs to implement their political agenda. Some reports attribute that there was a clear linkage between Anna's agitation at Ramlila Maidan and American support as the latter was so peeved with the Indian establishment in not getting F-16 deal, that it kept its embassy without an Ambassador for nearly eight months during the period. It was also during this period, that the US Intelligence personnel in the Embassy had an overwhelming role.
A little noticed affair was that India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded a $1 billion repeat contract on December 27, 2013 for six additional C-130J Hercules transport aircraft. It was during this period that there was an unprecedented diplomatic hiatus between India and the US owing to Devyani Khobragade affair. Ostensibly, the Indian establishment showed lot of umbrage over the issue of spiriting away husband of Devyani's maid from India by the US authorities. But that was for public consumption. In the garb of that umbrage the government persisted with the deal. The least it could have done for the sake of honour of the country was to suspend the deal. Moreover, this deal was at a time when there is more pressing requirement of MMRCA, a $12 billion deal which is finalized with Dassault France, but not signed on one pretext or the other.
The systematic blacklisting of companies by the MoD does raise doubts whether it is a deliberate ploy to make a financial bonanza by vested interests or weaken the country or to kill options so that the only avenue that remains open is the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route.
How is it possible that under the Defence Minister's watch, a DPSU, i.e. Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) was making windfall profits from the Indian Army? How is it that while the country had the Transfer of Technology (ToT) from the manufacturers of Bofors for production of 155mm guns, we were desperately scouting for the same in the international market? The trials of these indigenous guns have the by and far successful. Which are these forces trying to kill India's indigenous efforts? The Indian Navy's track record with regard to indigenization has been most impressive. Today, more than 70 percent of the Navy's inventory is indigenized. Then why this sudden flurry of accidents and abuses with regard to our indigenous capabilities? There a host of commentators who are being paid to decry the DRDO, day in and day out. Their writings would still be acceptable if it had positive suggestions, but most of them border on pressing the canard that Indians are incapable.
It is during Antony's tenure that an officer of the Military Intelligence, Lt Col Purohit, has been in civil custody for many years without a charge-sheet. He probably committed the sin of infiltrating into Indian Mujahideen (IM) and LeT. As and when the truth about the Technical Support Division (TSD) raised in wake of 26/11 is revealed, the country may not forgive the architects of the Court of Inquiry. The only mistake probably this TSD committed was to give hell to the terrorists. Is it surprising therefore that beheadings of our jawans have taken place and their severed heads taken around Pakistan to mobilize jihadis for recruitment? Is it surprising that the clamour from vested interests for removal of the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) has been most strident under this Defence Minister? Is it surprising that ethnic cleansing was attempted in Kishtwar? Is it surprising that the Chinese were emboldened to occupy Indian territory in Depsang in pursuance of their geopolitical interests?
The moot questions therefore are: whether the image of the armed forces grown or diminished under the stewardship of Antony, whether there has been accretion or depletion of fighting wherewithal of the armed forces, and whether the secured space in India has increased or shrunk.
Antony is a politician who compels a drastic relook of the very concept of corruption in the country. Is corruption only personal integrity and financial propriety? It is touted that he is upright because he had once resigned as the Chief Minister of Kerala, when his party suffered rout in Lok Sabha election in 2004. In India, unfortunately, most instances of resignation have been used as a tool for higher political office. Most of such characters are politically devious, who know how to cloak their dishonesty with the garb of integrity. Integrity is the basic imperative for any human being. So this oft repeated assertion that a particular politician or bureaucrat is honest, and therefore fit to occupy high office, is misplaced contention as it is based on the premise that all politicians and bureaucrats are inherently corrupt. The cloak of financial integrity cannot be an excuse for inefficiency, ineffectiveness and manipulations.
A Defence Minister, who cannot take political risks and allows his country's defence preparedness to be compromised, deliberately or otherwise, can be a good politician but definitely not a patriot.
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The truth is always unpalatable.My complements to the author.


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Too often reformers treat progress toward democracy as if it were a matter of all or nothing. Here's a plea for the messy approach.
Lately, reality hasn't been kind to the advocates of democracy. The early promise of the Arab spring has evaporated. The coup in Thailand has stalled efforts to expand political participation. Achieving a democratic transfer of power in Afghanistan is proving thorny. In country after country, voters have lost patience with elected leaders and parties who come to power with grand promises that gave way to a swamp of corruption.
In the exuberant early 1990s, when one dictator after another yielded to leaders selected through free and fair elections, we dared to dream that the whole world was becoming democratic. Democracy advocates and development practitioners converged in focusing on "good governance" institutions capable of supporting both political democracy and economic development. The list included competitive elections, rule of law, strong controls on corruption, efficient public bureaucracy, and independent media and open access to information. When difficulties arose, the practitioners instinctively responded by doubling down: They would set out to identify the missing pieces and insist that these, too, be fixed.
As part of a leadership team within the World Bank tasked with integrating governance into development strategy, I participated in forging the good governance consensus. But I'm now convinced that it is wrong. I've come to realize that it completely underestimates how much time and commitment are needed to transform a country's institutions. As my new book argues, we need to shift our attention away from trying to achieve everything at once and focus instead on gains that can initially seem quite modest — but which, if pursued persistently, can sometimes trigger a cascading sequence of changes for the better.
As the historical experience of the United States underscores, the accumulation of many small modifications can have dramatic effects. In the 1870s, all jobs in the federal government were patronage jobs; each time a new party came to power, wholesale firings convulsed the system. But over the half-century from the 1870s to the 1920s (in what came to be known as the Progressive Era), the American public sector was profoundly transformed by the cumulative impact of many small, incremental changes. Pressure from social reformers, the rise of activist officials within the bureaucracy, and sustained, inclusive economic growth combined to far-reaching effect.
Here is what makes efforts at far-reaching institutional reform in nascent democracies so unlikely to succeed. Many emerging democracies depend for their stability on complex personal alliances and compromises. Rival factions may agree to use an election to decide who gets to govern — but beyond that they're generally unwilling or unable to commit to formal rules for either the economic or political game. Instead, as Nobel Prize-winning economic historian Douglass North has underscored in his recent work, what really holds things together are deals on how to share the spoils of power. Sometimes insiders can be wholly predatory. But at other times, personalized arrangements can provide just enough stability to push economic development forward and to strengthen democratic institutions.
Ignoring such messy realities is likely to lead to failure. It is far more effective to focus on steps that build on things as they actually are. This altered angle of vision can have a profound impact on economic reform, the creation of new institutions, and the sustainability of democratic achievements.
Second, practitioners should focus on achieving concrete results via "islands of effectiveness" rather than on across-the-board overhauls. Political and economic elites are rarely willing to give up their special privileges in settings where they enjoy enormous power. In such situations, reformers have a better chance of doing good by nurturing zones of economic dynamism rather than endlessly (and fruitlessly) pushing for a "level playing field." Government officials and donor agencies looking to provide local infrastructure will usually have better luck by involving local communities and non-governmental organizations than by taking a top-down approach. Educational reformers will have the best chance of creating new opportunities for the next generation if they work to transform schools from the bottom up, by empowering parents, committed principals, and teachers.
Third, don't overreach. One form of overreaching is to over-promise — suggesting, for example, that newly democratizing countries can quickly create market-supporting institutional arrangements that usually take decades to build. A similar error is to insist that all good things come by traveling the democratic path — and only along that path. The evident success of East Asian autocracies — from South Korea's quarter-century of strong, inclusive growth under military rule to China's historically unprecedented success in lifting close to a billion people out of poverty in just a few decades — make a powerful counter-argument to this simplistic view. Facile claims undermine rather than buttress the case for free societies and democratic paths to development.
On the institutional front, high-quality institutions are indeed crucial for long-term sustainability; they provide a set of stability-enhancing rules for channeling collective action and citizen engagement. But this has fewer implications for action than we once thought. Institutions co-evolve with a country's economy, society, and polity; they cannot be engineered on the basis of some pre-specified blueprint. The fact that institutions tend to evolve incrementally need not be a serious problem. Continually expanding opportunity can be sufficient to keep a nascent democracy on track. But what if momentum slows? Sustaining emerging democracies can prove extremely hard when economic times get tough.
The preoccupation with good governance tends to get in the way of the hard, painstaking work of learning which institutions are crucial to democratic stability (to be prioritized accordingly) and which are less urgent. A minimum set of checks and balances must surely include credible electoral rules, openness to critical discourse, and constraints on the use of coercive executive power to settle scores with opponents. Interest groups that don't enjoy direct access to power will only be willing to channel disaffection into peaceful opposition — staying politically active and refraining from destabilizing violence — if they can be confident that their life, liberty, and property are not vulnerable to the arbitrary exercise of state power. Conversely, insiders will only have an incentive to exercise restraint if they know that elections are credibly competitive, and that one day they could find themselves on the receiving end of the exercise of power.
But even over the long-term perspective, strong institutions are not enough to ensure democratic sustainability. As rule-of-law reformers have come to recognize, a country's democracy is only as strong as the commitment of its people to an open, democratic order. And where does this commitment come from? From an inspiring vision.
As Americans know all too well, the journey of building a democratic society of which we can all feel proud never really ends. Always and everywhere, there are gaps between democracy's promise and its inevitably imperfect reality. If — as the good governance agenda would have it — the only available actions and outcomes are all or nothing, efforts at change will almost certainly fall short, leading to disillusion and despair. High-minded, unachievable promises, backed up by illusions of technocratic quick fixes, may feel good in the near term, but their aftertaste is bitter. At its core, what democracy offers — and what authoritarian alternatives do not — is an invitation to citizens to embark on a noble and challenging journey, one that offers them a chance to shape their own lives and to participate peacefully in the shaping of their societies, according to their distinctive visions of freedom and justice. This invitation, not empty guarantees of success, is the heart of the democratic idea — its inspiration, its source of sustainability.


text:
Ga., Tenn. eye federal money for high-speed rail
(The Associated Press circulated the following on August 9, 2010.)
ATLANTA — Georgia and Tennessee are applying for a $34 million federal grant to continue the development of a high-speed rail service from Atlanta to Nashville.
Georgia Department of Transportation officials said Monday that the money would help speed up development of the train system. The funds would come from the Federal Railroad Administration under the U.S. High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail program created by Congress last year.
Tennessee and Georgia already got $14 million in federal funds last year to develop plans for the Atlanta-to-Chattanooga leg of the rail service. Under a plan submitted by the states, the rail service could eventually stretch from Chicago to Florida through Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia.


text:
package hbase;

import java.io.IOException;

import org.apache.hadoop.conf.Configuration;
import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.HBaseConfiguration;
import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.HTable;
import org.apache.hadoop.hbase.client.Put;
import static org.apache.hadoop.hbase.util.Bytes.*;

public class PutExample {

	public static void main(String[] args) throws IOException {
		Configuration conf = HBaseConfiguration.create();
		HTable hTable = new HTable(conf, "HBaseSamples");

		Put put1 = new Put(toBytes("row1"));
		put1.add(toBytes("test"), toBytes("col1"), toBytes("val1"));
		put1.add(toBytes("test"), toBytes("col2"), toBytes("val2"));
		hTable.put(put1);

		hTable.close();
	}

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
In Search of the Perfect Love Song
By tombatten, September 15, 2014
Is there any phrase in any language as simultaneously complicated and meaningless as "I love you?" Three tiny words, three little syllables to sum up the wildest and most volatile emotion on the spectrum. You write the same three words in birthday cards for both your elderly grammaw and the person you're fucking, these three words that can mean I am devoted to you or I need you or Save me or Thanks or Get off my porch; a placeholder, an automatic response, an explosion, a nervous tick, a dirty trick, an obligation. "I love you" is like a survey class on American history: the highlights with none of the context.
Love is the hardest emotion to articulate adequately with just language, so you'd think music would be the better conveyance. Music, the one place where language can transcend meaning by bumping up against melody and rhythm and all that, taking advantage of the primal forces of the universe to bend the air, reverberate through the eardrum into the soul and create more textured emotional responses. Alas, I recently came across the Billboard list of the best love songs of all time and guys, it bummed me out. All this junk like Lionel Richie's "Endless Love," "Silly Love Songs" by Wings, and Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You," rounded out by Celine Dion and Mariah Carey… all these glossy, over-produced numbers that make love sound like something reserved for the very rich, packed with platitudes and saxophone, and maybe I'm alone (so alone) in this but for me, there's no place for a saxophone in any love affair I'm interested in being a part of.
Got me thinking about what I really want out of a love song, or what a good and meaningful love song might be. I Googled up a couple more lists and found that a bunch of them included "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton, which is usually only useful as a demarcation of the exact moment that Clapton became a boring wimp, but this time kind of unlocked the door for me, because I remembered that Clapton wrote that song for his wife-at-the-time Patti Boyd in 1977 after wooing her in 1971 with "Layla." In "Layla," Clapton is anguished and supercharged and on his fucking knees begging this woman to give him a chance, by the time "Wonderful Tonight" comes around he's got her locked down and they've been together a while and it's like he's telling her she looks wonderful because he has to say something and he knows that compliments are a thing ladies like to hear. It's the musical equivalent of a disinterested shrug, and the fact that Clapton and Boyd stayed hitched for a few years after it came out is a miracle. I'm not crazy about either song, but here's the thing—almost all of the songs I cited above are bland declarations of love, where "Wonderful Tonight" and especially "Layla" turn out to be about love itself. What love actually feels like at these two extremes.
So I started thinking of more songs that do that. Love songs that feel real, that express the sentiment in an original way or otherwise do a good job of actually capturing the feeling. Right away I thought of "Your Song" by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, where John starts and stops and fumbles around trying to say something that feels real before finally settling on the song itself being the thing, the action of trying and failing to put his feelings into words serving as an expression of something words can't capture to his satisfaction. Telling someone you love them is probably the worst way to let them know how you feel, since love is supposed to be selfless but whenever we're trying to express it we end up just talking about ourselves, and Elton John gets that doing something rooted in love is the better idea. Maybe it's a generational thing but I have a hard time, usually, taking Elton John seriously—he's just that dude that did all the songs for The Lion King, and maybe it's projecting backwards from that that makes his entire body of work strike me as showstoppers from Broadway musicals I've never seen, but "Your Song" I can get behind.
Taylor Swift writes love songs kind of along the lines of what I'm thinking about, but while there's a lot of real emotion on display in her best stuff it seems like her emotional life is limited to melodrama where someone else is entirely to blame, and maybe it's out of respect for the public figures she kvetching about but there's so little specificity in any of her songs that the results come off like blind item gossip columns with a catchy beat. Her popularity makes total sense but every time she puts out a new song it's like, c'mon Taylor… I can believe that Jake Gyllenhaal is probably a jerk but at some point is it the entire world that's at fault or is it you?
Johnny Cash gets it with "Ring Of Fire," which was actually written by June Carter about the experience of falling in love with Johnny Cash. It's got the intensity but loses points for the strange assertion by Cash's first wife, Vivian, who claims Johnny wrote the song and that it's about the allure of "a certain private female body part," according to Wikipedia. There's a good chance that's just sour grapes on Vivian's part– after all, Cash wrote "Walk the Line" for her and then went on to strut right into one of the great romances in music history with June. "Ring of Fire" is also held back by a lack of catharsis, I think—the song's all about burning and the flames going wild but Cash plays the whole thing on an even keel that suggests more of a simmer. Well, except for the horns in that song, which are triumphant and great…but I spend the whole song waiting for Cash to rise to the level of those horns and it never quite happens. Maybe a simmer is a more realistic depiction of real adult love than an explosion, but the song never quite makes it sound like the falling is totally worthwhile or particularly joyous. "I Still Miss Someone" is pretty great and feels authentic (sniff) but kind of a bummer.
If you're not already a fan of The Magnetic Fields, go listen to any five songs of theirs and come back when you are or just move on because the rest of this motherfucker isn't for you. Songwriter Stephin Merritt is one of the great pop geniuses of all time, crafting album after album that feel like parties you weren't sure you wanted to attend only to end up having the best time of your life. I don't think there's anyone alive better at writing love songs that are actually about love as in what love feels like, and how many different ways love can feel. Take "I Don't Really Love You Anymore," which at first seems like it's about moving on only to reveal about fifteen seconds in that the subject is a wreck, trying like hell to convince himself of what he's saying. "I don't have to love you now if I don't wish to / I won't see you anyhow if that's an issue / because I am a gentleman / think of me as just your fan / who remembers every dress you ever wore." Sad, but real and totally original. Even better is "Asleep and Dreaming" off the triple-album 69 Love Songs, where the first verse goes "I've seen you laugh at nothing at all / I've seen you sadly weeping / The sweetest thing I ever saw / Was you asleep and dreaming" and the chorus is "Well you may not be beautiful / but it's not for me to judge / I don't know if you're beautiful / Because I love you too much." And that's pretty much the entire thing.
Take that, Eric Clapton, you soulless sucker. That's real love Merritt is singing about, those three words coming in at the end but set up with an expression completely original and specific. The love being described is based on familiarity and acceptance and results in a derangement of the senses where objectivity is lost. This incredibly complicated idea sung so simply makes "You look wonderful tonight" sound like "Is that really what you're wearing?"
In the end I've decided that the best and most meaningful love song of all time, that expresses love in a way that feels real and at the same time is about how love really feels, is "Whole Wide World" by Wreckless Eric. The song opens with Eric telling us about his mother explaining to him as a boy that "There's only one girl in the world for you / and she probably lives in Tahiti" and goes on to declare his absolute certainty that she's out there, that she's waiting for him to come find her, that he'll search the whole wide world to find her. The song swerves between naïve fragility and something… well, kind of reckless, the chorus basically a howl that makes "search" sound synonymous with "tear the world apart," and is probably best known (maybe?) for its appearance in the movie Stranger Than Fiction, where Will Ferrell warbles a version that drives Maggie Gyllenhaal into a kissy-face frenzy. There's maybe a better known version done by The Monkees that's totally great and captures everything wonderful about the original—all the way down to the snarl in the chorus, which I didn't know The Monkees were capable of,–but leaves out the best verse, where Eric sings about hanging out in the rain trying and failing to meet someone, keeping his disappointment at bay with the idea that his soul mate is lounging far away on a tropical beach waiting for him to join her.
Like I said, kind of naïve. But isn't that the kind of love you want? There are lots of songs that toy with the idea of soul mates but this is the only one I know that kind of… well, my brain tells me the notion of a soul mate is ridiculous, that there are lots of people in the world that would be a fine match, but my gut tells me there's only one person that really makes sense. Wreckless Eric makes love sound like fury and determination, and he's not the lyricist Stephen Merritt is but in "Whole Wide World," he kind of wraps the whole thing up into a simple notion, which is that love is the one thing where the journey absolutely is more important than the destination, which also comes down to meaning hope. I've always thought that the best expression of love was probably shared laughter, which is ultimately a hopeful activity, because no matter what you're laughing at you're kind of laughing in the face of death and the nightly news. And maybe that's what "I love you" really means, even when it also means something else. Hope that we're not alone, hope that the world doesn't have to be a drag, hope that we can overcome platitudes and saxophones to craft real meaning out of our lives and that the communion of two intellects can result in something that transcends the limitations of language.
Categories: Music, The Internet
Tagged: elton john, eric clapton, johnny cash, june carter cash, love, love songs, magnetic fields, patti boyd, Paul McCartney, romance, stephin merritt, taylor swift, the monkees, Wings, wreckless eric
PJ Harvey Tuesday #18: "Good Fortune"
Graham Joyce, 1954-2014: Great Novelist, Kind and Generous Teacher
One Response to "In Search of the Perfect Love Song"
uglyprettypeople September 15, 2014
So, Something by the Beatles isn't on this list and that's shocking! It's the best. George Harrison wrote the best love songs, hands down. What Is Life? C'mon. But… You by George Harrison is the most simple and most perfectly minimal love song ever.


text:
Q: Rails sum all prices inside a record I have a model Products that belongs_to model Kit
Kit has_many Products
¿How can I sum all of the prices of each product that belongs to a kit?
I tried with no luck:
@kitprice = Kit.products.price.sum

A: Question is slightly ambiguous. Assuming you have an instance of Kit named as kit, and a kit has many product objects; following would get you the desired result.
sum = 0
kit_id = <enter kit id here>
kit = Kit.find_by_id(kit_id)

# iterate through every product object and compound price here
kit.products.each{|product| sum = sum + product.price}

puts sum

Basically you need to iterate through every product object and compute the sum, since it's a has many relationship.

A: Try this:
@kitprice = kit.products.sum(:price)

In my case i have wallet with many operations
wallet = Wallet.first
amount = wallet.operations.sum(:amount)

A: This will give you every kit with the sum of it's products, i assume there is a column named name in your kit model
@kit_products_price = Kit.includes(:products).group(:name).sum('products.price')

If you want the sum of all the kit products :
@kit_price = Kit.includes(:products).sum('products.price')

A: The following should work I believe:
Active Record collection
@total = kit.products.sum("price")

Ruby array
@total = kit.products.sum(&:price)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Titans Travel to Attleboro for Matchup vs. Generals
by cvetrano
MIDDLETOWN, New Jersey- The New Jersey Titans will be on the road against their divisional opponent, the Northeast Generals, this weekend in Attleboro, Massachusetts.
The Titans are currently the three-seed in the East Division and are just six points behind the Tomahawks in the East Division. Every game for the Titans the rest of the season is important as they try to jump the Tomahawks for the two-seed in the East Division so that they can have home-ice advantage in the first round.
The Titans are playing a Generals team that has been playing stronger through the second half of the season. New Jersey needs to take these two games before traveling back on the road to Johnstown the following weekend.
Gordie Helmuth has been providing plenty of offense for the Titans with six goals and a total of 11 points over his past six games.
The Titans have two homes games remaining for the regular season which will be on April 1st and 5th against the Aston Rebels who lead the entire East Division.
Tickets are available at the Middletown Sports Complex. Information about the Titans home games can also be reached at (732) 856-9700.
For further information about game updates and more, follow the Titans on Twitter at @NAHLTitans or visit njtitansnahl.com.
Courtesy: Richie Todd, Titans Media
Titans Take One in Three-Game Series Against Tomahawks
Titans to Host Division-Leading Aston Rebels


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text:
Cuba From the Other Side
Karen Lee Wald / TruthdigContributor
I first learned of Keith Bolender's book "Voices From the Other Side: An Oral History of Terrorism Against Cuba" when the author reached out to me after reading an article I'd written on Luis Posada Carriles in The Rag blog. The article, "The Puppies That Got Away," was based on an interview with a woman who almost became a victim, along with three children she was caring for, in one of the hotels Posada's thugs bombed in 1997. The title came from the coded message used by one of Posada's hired killers in an earlier bombing that destroyed a passenger plane in flight, killing all aboard. The telephone message was "A bus with 73 dogs went over a cliff and all perished."
Bolender thought I might be interested in his book, an oral history, like mine, taken from many of the survivors of the 50-plus years of terrorism against Cuba waged by the United States and Cuba's former ruling class.
I was.
I thought it would be helpful if people who are always hearing and reading about the "repression of dissidents" in Cuba and jump to their defense could also hear the other side: what happened to the thousands of people whose lives were affected by the actions of terrorists from inside and outside the country. I thought it would put a human face on the statistics regarding the material and human damage caused by counterrevolutionaries and mercenaries who are euphemistically called "dissidents" or "anti-Castro militants."
"Voices From the Other Side" does this. But it also does a great deal more.
As expected, the first chapter gives an overview of the multiple forms of terrorism carried out against Cuba in what Bolender calls "the unknown war."
Voices From The Other Side: An Oral History Of Terrorism Against Cuba
By Keith Bolender
Pluto Press, 224 pages
He talks about "the bombs have that destroyed department stores, hotel lobbies, theatres, famous restaurants and bars — people's lives." He talks about the first airline bombing in the history of the Western Hemisphere, and also reminds readers of "the explosion aboard a ship in Havana Harbor, killing and injuring hundreds." He tells readers about the 1960s attacks on defenseless rural villages and homes, of "teenagers tortured and murdered for teaching farmers to read and write." He reminds us of the biological terrorism (the dengue fever epidemic) "that caused the deaths of more than 100 children." And he adds new elements for those of us used to thinking of terrorism solely as shooting and bombing by referring to the "psychological horror that drove thousands of parents to willingly send their children to an unknown fate in a foreign country" (Operation Peter Pan).
This kind of overview has been done before by authors such as Jane Franklin. What Bolender adds here is the lifelong effect terrorist activities have had on the survivors — those left with hearing loss, stitched-up wounds and such, but, even worse, lifelong emotional scars. Survivors who tell of being nervous and jumpy 20, 30 or more years after being in a room where a bomb went off. And the other kinds of "survivors": mothers and fathers who for decades mourn the needless deaths of their children; siblings and children of those who were cut up, castrated and lynched by "anti-Castro militants," or went screaming to their fiery deaths in an airplane that was already in pieces before it crashed into the sea.
I want these stories to be in the hands of those well-meaning people who ask, "Why does the Castro government repress dissidents?" I want these people to understand what terrorists have done that makes Cubans today so unable to give them the free rein they demand to carry out their actions.
Bolender explains in the very beginning:
Since the earliest days of the revolution, Cuba has been fighting its own war on terrorism. The victims have been overwhelmingly innocent civilians. The accused have been primarily Cuban-American counter-revolutionaries — many allegedly trained, financed and supported by various American government agencies.
And he explains that throughout the island of Cuba "it is hard not to find someone who doesn't have a story to tell of a relative or friend who has been a victim of terrorism. The personal toll has been calculated at 3,478 dead and 2,099 injured." This, of course, is something few on the outside realize, and he talks about why we don't hear or read about it, about the political/ideological justification for so much cruelty. But he also talks about the real reasons — acknowledged by numerous U.S. administrations — for U.S.-backed and -financed terrorist acts against the island, information that is every bit as important as the humanization of the victims.
Preceded by a well-researched and evocative introduction by Noam Chomsky dealing with the history of and reasons for U.S. policy toward this upstart island nation that would dare to remain outside the grasp of U.S. hegemony, Bolender goes on to give readers a better understanding of Washington's Machiavellian policies toward Cuba.
He starts off simply, with the well-known fact that "[s]ince the earliest days of Fidel's victory, America has obsessed over this relatively insignificant third-world country, determined to eliminate the radically different social-economic order" that Castro's revolution brought about. He describes the various excuses Washington has used since the earliest days of the Republic to justify its attempts to maintain dominance over the island nation.
"America at various times has portrayed Cuba as a helpless woman, a defenceless baby, a child in need of direction, an incompetent freedom fighter, an ignorant farmer, an ignoble ingrate, an ill-bred revolutionary, a viral communist" during the two centuries of the Monroe Doctrine. This history in and of itself is useful for those not already familiar with it.
Where the history gets more interesting is when this researcher uses quotes from U.S. leaders to show both why and how Washington attempted to get rid of Fidel's revolution:
Richard Nixon, who, Bolender notes, "was one of the first to promote the theme of preventing the revolution from infecting others," commented in 1962 on the need to "eradicate this cancer in our own hemisphere." Nixon's comment reminded me of an explanation offered years ago by a Cuban-American friend of mine, Tony Llanso: "The Cuban Revolution is like crab grass growing in your back yard. You have to pick crab grass because it spreads."
But it was one particular "how" that I found intriguing. Bolender shows the vicious cycle of increasing repressive measures by the U.S. as Cuba increased its reforms on behalf of the poor majority of its citizens. This quickly — and intentionally — escalated to terrorism on the part of the United States against its tiny but audacious neighbor. And here Bolender is worth quoting at length:
As the rhetoric increased, terrorist acts were formulated and carried out. In partial response to the terror and other hostilities, the revolution became increasingly radicalized.
From the start, policy makers knew terrorism would put a strain politically and economically on the nascent Cuban government, forcing it to use precious resources to protect itself and its citizens. It was to be part of the overarching strategy of making things so bad that the Cubans might rise up and overthrow their government. Terrorism was the dirty piece of the scheme, along with the economic embargo, international isolation and unrelenting approbation.
American officials estimated millions would be spent to develop internal security systems, and State Department officials expected the Cuban government to increase internal surveillance in an attempt to prevent further acts of terrorism. These systems, which restricted civil rights, became easy targets for critics.|
And as most of us have seen, this has been a very successful tactic. Bolender goes on:
CIA officials admitted early on in the war of terrorism that the goal was not the military defeat of Fidel Castro, but to force the regime into applying increased amount of civil restrictions, with the resultant pressures on the Cuban public. This was outlined in a May 1961 agency report stating the objective was to "plan, implement and sustain a program of covert actions designed to exploit the economic, political and psychological vulnerabilities of the Castro regime. It is neither expected nor argued that the successful execution of this covert program will in itself result in the overthrow of the Castro regime," only to accelerate the "moral and physical disintegration of the Castro government." The CIA acknowledged that in response to the terrorist acts the government would be "stepping up internal security controls and defense capabilities." It was not projected the acts of terror would directly result in Castro's downfall, (although that was a policy aim) but only to promote the sense of vulnerability among the [populace] and compel the government into increasingly radical steps in order to ensure national security.
Bolender's book constantly uses direct U.S. sources for his analysis that the terrorism and other aggressive measures against Cuba were designed, at least in part, to force the Cuban government into a "state of siege mentality" that would simultaneously alienate part of the Cuban population, weaken liberal support abroad and serve as an easy target for most U.S. attempts to demonize the Cuban government.
"Former [CIA] Director Richard Helms," Bolender tells us, "confirmed American strategy when he testified before the United States Senate in 1978; 'We had task forces that were striking at Cuba constantly. We were attempting to blow up power plants. We were attempting to ruin sugar mills. We were attempting to do all kinds of things in this period. This was a matter of American government policy.' "
Most of us who've followed Cuba closely have long known the U.S. government did those things. What is more interesting is the "why."
American experts were hoping the terrorist war would drive the Cuban government to increasingly restrictive security measures; implicit in this was to prove how incapable the regime leaders were. These terrorist acts would not be publicized, recognized nor acknowledged outside of Cuba, so national security policies were portrayed as paranoia, totalitarian and evidence of the repressiveness of Fidel's regime. To this day the unknown war remains that way. …
Here Bolender delves into the psychological warfare aspect of U.S. policy — and its effects:
"In the early years Cuban officials faced the problem where they couldn't tell which citizens supported the revolution, and which were inclined to assist the terrorist organizations or to commit terrorist acts. Everyone was treated as a potential threat. The consequence, besides the enormous amount of economic resources diverted to combat this war […] is a society that in the majority has accepted certain civil restrictions in order to ensure domestic security. It is the way the Cuban government has tried to identify the terrorists and to keep its citizens protected. It is the way the government has fought its war on terror."
Bolender reiterates that while the focus of his book is on the victims and their stories, he also wants to show "how these acts of terror changed the psyche of the young revolutionary government, struggling to maintain itself in the face of the destructive actions of its former citizens, directed and financed by the most powerful nation in the world. Traumatized by these acts, this small island nation took drastic steps in the face of constant acts of violence. Those reactions to the terrorists, and the measures taken to protect the Cuban people, continue to influence national government policies to this day, and have greatly shaped how Cuba is perceived to the outside world. It is the price that has been paid by a society under siege for almost 50 years. A siege in part the result of the hundreds of acts of terrorism."
His analysis goes on to explain that "[t]he key element of Cuban policy against terrorism has been the need of unity for the sake of security, manifesting in a demand for social and political conformity. The consequence has been extensive surveillance systems, arrests for political crimes, a low tolerance for organized criticism or public displays of opposition, suppression of dissidents seen to have accepted material or financial aid from the United States, cases of institutionalized pettiness, travel restrictions, a state controlled press and the rejection of a more pluralistic society."
And we've all seen the effectiveness of the tactic that forced Cuba into this position — it's a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. The tight control the Cuban government has adopted as a means of survival, Bolender tells us, does in fact destroy much of its liberal support abroad.
The Canadian author still has hope, however. "The termination of American hostility, including the absolute guarantee of the end to any further terrorist attacks from counter-revolutionary exile organizations," he believes, could "offer the Cuban government the chance to breathe, to manoeuvre without a knife at its throat, as Fidel Castro once remarked, and to attempt to develop Cuban society that was hoped for."
Put in this context, Bolender's book achieves far more than the important goal of putting a human face on the victims of terrorist acts and an understanding of why so many of the Cuban people hate the traitors within their midst who work hand in glove with those from Washington, Miami and New Jersey who fund and carry out these actions. It gives us a new understanding of the psychological warfare the U.S. has been carrying out parallel to its economic and military war.
This is a book that should be in every library and on every progressive bookshelf. I urge people to buy it, read it, pass it on to others.
#cia#cuba#embargo#fidel castro#noam chomsky#richard nixon#td-original#terrorism
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The people of Natrona County bid farewell to a much beloved neighbor and public servant today. Sheriff Mark Benton was laid to rest this morning with a service that was evidence of the affection this area held for a man who served in local law enforcement for 40 years.
Benton died last weekend of what his son described as an aggressive form of dementia. He retired in the summer of 2013.


Hotel Leyenda is located just 2 km from Playa Carrillo, one of the best beaches in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Bordered by palm trees with a rocky hill to appreciate a beautiful panoramic view. It has a rich flora and fauna, leatherback turtles and olive turtles nest on its coast and during the months of November to April it is visited by humpback and gray whales that seek to mate. It is awarded the "Blue Flag" that certifies the high environmental and safety standards. Hotel Leyenda offers its clients a variety of services: Accommodation in comfortable rooms. For up to 4 people with 2 Queen size beds, A / C, ceiling fans, 32 "flat screen TV with cable, private bathroom with hot water, refrigerator, minibar, safe, telephone and Wi-Fi. : We have two outdoor pools, one especially for children with a depth of 30cm and the other with 3 different levels: 50cm, 70cm and 1.35M for the enjoyment of children and adults 24 hours a day Beach service: We provide a free service and personalized to our clients directly at Playa Carrillo, a "Super Trailer" that will make your stay unique on the beach with shower and toilet services.We also offer chairs, tables, tanning beds and of course the magnificent food service directly from our Restaurant served at your stay at Playa Carrillo.


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text:
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST -- Interest in Contract (county health commissioner as partner with a member of a not-for-profit corporation providing home health care services to county) -- Medical Services (county health commissioner as partner with a member of a not-for-profit corporation providing home health care services to county)
HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES -- Contracts for (home health care services)
PUBLIC HEALTH LAW §352; GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW §§800(3), 802(1)(f): A county public health commissioner who has a real estate partnership with a member of a not-for-profit corporation that provides home health care services to the county would not have a prohibited interest in the not-for-profit corporation's contract with the county. The county, however, should review its code of ethics to ascertain whether it contains any pertinent provisions. Also, the commissioner should consider recusing himself from the performance of functions in connection with the award of the contract for home health care services, with those functions instead being performed by a deputy.
You ask whether a county public health commissioner who has a real estate partnership with a member of a not-for-profit corporation that provides home health services to the county has a conflict of interest. The real estate partnership has not rented and does not currently rent space to the county. Also, the not-for-for-profit corporation presently does not rent space from the partnership, although in the past the corporation was a tenant of the partnership. You state that, in connection with contracts for home health care services, the public health commissioner has certain of the powers and duties set forth in General Municipal Law §801 (see Public Health Law §352). You further state that, at the time of the commissioner's appointment, the not-for-profit corporation had a contract with the county to provide home health care services and that, at that time, the commissioner also was a member of the corporation. Several months after his appointment, he relinquished his membership in the corporation.
Article 18 of the General Municipal Law (§§800 et seq.) contains provisions of law which relate to conflicts of interest of municipal officers and employees, including county officers and employees (General Municipal Law §800[4], [5]). Pursuant to section 800(3) of the General Municipal Law, a municipal officer or employee has an "interest" in any contract with his or her municipality if he or she receives a direct or indirect pecuniary or material benefit as a result of that contract. In addition, a municipal officer or employee is deemed to have an "interest" in the contracts of a firm, partnership or association of which he or she is a member or employee, and in the contracts of a corporation of which he or she is an officer, director, employee or stockholder (General Municipal Law §800[3][b]-[d]). For this purpose, a "contract" includes any express or implied claim, account, demand against, or agreement with a municipality (General Municipal Law §800[2]).
Unless a statutory exception applies (see General Municipal Law §802), section 801 of the General Municipal Law would prohibit the interest if the officer or employee, individually or as a member of a board, has the power or duty to: (a) negotiate, prepare, authorize or approve the contract or approve payments thereunder; (b) audit bills or claims under the contract; or (c) appoint an officer or employee who has any such powers or duties. When an interest is not prohibited, section 803 generally requires written public disclosure of the nature and extent of actual or prospective interests in contracts, to be made to the governing board of the municipality for inclusion in the official record of the board's proceedings.
Based on the foregoing, since the real estate partnership presently does not rent property to the not-for-profit corporation, it appears that the commissioner would not derive a direct or indirect pecuniary or material benefit as a result of the county's contract with the not-for-profit
corporation. Moreover, even if the commissioner did have an interest as a result of the county's contract with the not-for-profit corporation, the interest would not be prohibited because of the exception in General Municipal Law §802(1)(f). Section 802(1)(f) provides an exception for contracts with not-for-profit corporations or other voluntary not-for-profit corporations or associations, although disclosure pursuant to section 803 would be required.1
Although we conclude that there would be no prohibited interest in the county's contract with the not-for-profit corporation here, the county, nonetheless, should review its code of ethics to ascertain whether it contains any pertinent provisions. Section 806(1)(a) of the General Municipal Law requires the governing body of each county, city, town, village and school district to adopt a code of ethics setting forth for the guidance of its officers and employees the standards of conduct reasonably expected of them.
Moreover, the courts of this State have held public officials to a high standard of conduct and, on occasion, have negated certain actions which, although not violating the literal provisions of article 18 or a municipality's code of ethics, violate the spirit and intent of these enactments, are inconsistent with public policy, or suggest self-interest, partiality or economic impropriety (see, e.g., Zagoreos v Conklin, 109 AD2d 281, 491 NYS2d 358; Matter of Tuxedo Conservation and Taxpayers Ass'n v Town Board of the Town of Tuxedo, 69 AD2d 320, 418 NYS2d 638; Conrad v Hinman, 122 Misc 2d 531, 471 NYS2d 521). Thus, even in the absence of a violation of article 18 or the county's code of ethics, the county should take steps to ensure that selection of a home health care provider does not give rise to even an appearance of partiality. Compliance with competitive bidding requirements or, when competitive bidding is not required, with a request for proposals or quotation process in accordance with the county's procurement policies and procedures (see General Municipal Law §§103, 104-b) can help ensure that such contracts are awarded in the best interests of the county (see 1996 Opns St Comp No. 96-6, p 13). In addition, if the position of deputy commissioner has been established (see Public Health Law §353), the commissioner should consider recusing himself from the performance of functions in connection with the award of the contract for home health care services, with those functions instead being performed by the deputy (cf. Kagatt v Dinkins, 148 Misc 2d 510, 560 NYS2d 736; see 1998 Opns St Comp No. 98-3, p 6).
Daniel J. Guiney, Esq., County Attorney
County of Allegany
1 We note that, as a member of the corporation, the commissioner had an interest in the county's contract with the not-for-profit corporation at the time he was appointed to office (see General Municipal Law §800; 27 Opns St Comp, 1971, p 186). That interest, however, was not prohibited because the contract was with a not-for-profit corporation and was entered into before he was appointed to office (General Municipal Law §802[1][f], [h]). Disclosure, however, was required pursuant to section 803.