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Red London's (former?) allies
Read online at https://workersliberty.org/node/33291
Submitted by AWL on 10 December, 2018 - 2:39
The deeply unpleasant Stalinist-nationalist clique organised around the Red London Facebook page is now being widely denounced, following some recent events described below. But some who are now disassociating from it and denouncing it have previously been involved in helping its culture and ideas spread, in some cases quite centrally and actively. Disassociation and denunciation is better than collusion and complicity, but basic political honesty demands some accounting.
Red London is not, or was not, just a clique of nasty individuals with a well-developed Facebook page. It has functioned as one of the engines for a much wider spread of Stalinist, or semi-Stalinist, ideas and methods on the Labour left. It was central to wider networks which now constitute the dominant faction in Young Labour. It and its ideas had significant influence, directly and to a greater degree indirectly, in the Momentum office and hierarchy.
Witness the hundreds of photos, shared all over social media, of numerous prominent people in Momentum and Young Labour doing the finger-up "Vigilance" salute popularised by Red London. (We include a few below.) This cultish symbol is a reference to Stalinist campaigns against Trotskyists and other critical-minded radical leftists during the murderous period of high Stalinism in the 30s and 40s – the injunction to be "Vigilant" against anti-Stalinist socialists was linked to slogans such as "Treat a Trotskyist as you would a fascist".
Clearly, not everyone who has gone along with such cultish behaviour, often dressed up as "banter", is actively involved with Red London. As an anonymous page, it is difficult to know for certain who has been at its core. But its memes, hashtags, and ideas have been widely circulated. There has been a remarkable degree of sympathetic tolerance, encouragement and even open endorsement for these thugs – frequently accompanied by emulation – even when they have promoted vicious hard Stalinism and engaged in campaigns of online bullying and harassment.
The fact that the campaign was primarily aimed against Trotskyists – with an adoption in parts of the left of witch-hunting attitudes previously confined to Blairites, growing out of the fight around the abolition of democracy in Momentum – seems to have deadened many people's moral-political sensibilities.
Even before recent public splits, there seems, insofar as one can tell from the outside, to have been a gradual parting of the ways between the core of Red London and their wider Stalinist-influenced allies. As well as some interpersonal conflicts, this seems to have involved a sense amongst more career-oriented Labour Party and Momentum activists that Red London's ranting and antics are starting to become an embarrassment. Also in the mix is a genuine political difference over trans rights, on which the core Red London people have a reactionary, transphobic position.
Some on the more "moderate" side of this split now deny they ever had any involvement with Red London, and claim they are being slandered by the suggestion that they ever did. Contrary to some of their wilder claims, there is no indiscriminate campaign of accusing people of "being Red London", merely a desire by others who have also been the victim of Red London's harassment and attacks to hold to account those who helped spread Red London's culture and ideas or versions of them.
The situation in Lewisham, south London, where these divisions have burst out into a messy public conflict, with reams of online denunciation, highlights the reality. People associated with Red London seem to have vandalised a flat, including by daubing transphobic graffiti on the walls, of some other leftists in their social circle, who are involved with one side of a split in Lewisham Momentum. At the centre of the allegations is Dom Cerasoli, a Red London supporter who avidly promotes support for Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, and for Joseph Stalin, online.
According to one account, Cerasoli was complicit in allowing people into the flat to trash it. According to another, he was being unfairly evicted from the flat.
Cerasoli was until recently the Political Education Officer of the officially recognised Lewisham Momentum group. Lewisham Momentum's AGM in April split, with one group decamping from the venue to the front room of a nearby bar where they held their own meeting and unanimously elected a slate of officers. Some people now denouncing Red London and denying association with it were central to catalysing that split in Momentum, and were involved in the slate. Cerasoli, an open Stalinist and Red London supporter, is the person they wanted educating Momentum members in Lewisham!
Two weeks before the latest row exploded, Red London launched a vicious online attack on the co-secretary of the other side in the Lewisham Momentum split, Sacha Ismail, calling him a "nonce" and urging a campaign against him. Despite their parting of ways from the Red London people, no one on the other side of the Momentum split made any public criticism of that attack or offered any solidarity, beyond a few grudging words elicited after challenges on social media. In fact, a member of their committee publicly "liked" the Red London Facebook post - something they have still not taken action over.
More generally, and way beyond Lewisham, there are significant numbers of people who knew all about Red London but seem to have only just discovered it is a problem – and still have nothing to say about its longer and wider record, for obvious reasons.
It is good more people are now willingly to openly criticise Red London, but the political culture they helped spread in parts of the left must also be confronted and overturned.
The problem was never reducible to the now presumably dwindling number of individuals directly organised by the people at the core of Red London. If some in Labour and Momentum who were previously complicit in spreading that culture, or benefited from it, now wish to disassociate from it, that is to be welcomed; but it is vital for honesty, transparency, and accountability that they take account for and reflect on their own role in helping it take root in the first place.
After Artin Giles' election referenced in the image at the top
Includes Bill Patterson (left) and Sandy Hale (centre). The latter is widely rumoured to still be the central person behind Red London, while the former (who is Co-Chair of the official 'Lewisham Momentum') seems to have fallen out with them
These are among many hundreds of such pictures widely shared all over social media - most of them from 2017 through to mid-2018
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The latest in AHDB's series of Horizon reports considers the impact that Brexit may have on the industry in terms of products of Geographical Indication (GI). The protection of geographical names designating agricultural products has existed for over 100 years and, currently, three schemes are available through the EU. The UK has 61 registered GI food products, including a dozen or so dairy products, such as West Country Farmhouse Cheddar and Cornish Clotted Cream. GIs enable producers to differentiate their products and protect them from imitation within the EU and on some international markets.
The report concludes that, when the UK leaves the EU, registered protected food names should still be able to benefit from EU protection, provided there is a reciprocal agreement between the UK and the EU. There are currently 23 EU GI product registrations from non-EU countries. If the UK wishes to register protected food names with the EU post-Brexit, it would need to set up its own national approval scheme. Only products approved by a non-EU country's own national scheme can be considered for approval under the EU protected food scheme.
The full report, which also looks at the three different schemes and examines their impact and importance to UK agriculture, can be downloaded here.


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Russia is once again hyping a brand new 'Iron Man' suit of armor
The Russian military-industrial complex wants to make your powered armor dreams a reality — again.
By Jared Keller | Published Nov 18, 2022 12:11 PM
A scene from 'Iron Man 3' (Marvel Studios).
After years of sensational announcements for a soldier-borne combat exoskeleton and next-generation body armor that can stop a .50 caliber bullet, the Russian military-industrial complex is once again out with another questionable tactical innovation: a real-life 'Iron Man' suit.
Russia's state-owned RIA Novosti news agency reports that Russian defense contractor Armocom is working on what it called an "Iron Man" powered suit "made of composite armor which can completely cover the body of a fighter like the armor of medieval knight" for a next-generation combat suit project called "Legionnaire."
The Legionnaire suit will purportedly consist of body armor capable of easily protecting the wearer against small arms, as well as a powered exoskeleton which "will be required to support" the full-body system, Armocom deputy director general Oleg Faustov said in an interview with RIA Novosti.
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RIA Novosti claims, citing a military-industrial source, that the Legionnaire suit will eventually replace Russia's other next-generation battle armor, defense giant Rostec-affiliated TsNiiTochMash's Ratnik (or "Warrior") combat outfit, which Faustov — then employed by TsNiiTochMash — told the TASS news agency in 2018 it would eventually feature an active exoskeleton to allow troops to fire machine guns one-handed.
More than 300,000 early-generation Ratnik combat suits consisting of 59 individual subsystems from "protective and life support elements" to new soldier-borne sensors and communications equipment have been delivered to the Russian military in the last decade, TASS previously reported, while the updated Ratnik-3 with an integrated exoskeleton and helmet visor-mounted objective identification and targeting system was still in testing as of November.
A mock-up of the Ratnik-3 combat suit on display at a Russian weapons expo in 2018. (Rostec)
"Speaking of the combat equipment of 'the future soldier,' it should be mentioned that in 2021, in cooperation with domestic industrial enterprises, extensive work was carried out to include a new 'robotic' subsystem in the combat equipment of a serviceman, which includes mini-and micro-UAVs, wearable robotic complexes, as well as exoskeletons," Russian Ground Forces commander-in-chief Gen. Oleg Salyukov said in a 2021 interview with the state-run Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper.
It's worth noting that the new Legionnaire armor isn't the only integrated combat suit that might potentially replace the Ratnik as the Russian military's battle suit of choice: Rostec announced in 2021 that its futuristic fourth-generation Sotnik, or 'Centurion,' armor could allegedly withstand a direct shot from a .50 caliber Browning machine gun.
The armor, purportedly made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber, would provide maximum survivability for soldiers but "will not restrict movement and will allow you to take [on] the extra weight necessary to perform special missions," Rostec industrial director Bekkhan Ozdoev told state-run news outlet Russia Beyond, extra weight which includes "roboting equipment and integrated systems for exchanging information."
As of 2021, the Sotnik's third-generation iteration was expected to replace the existing operational Ratnik combat outfits already circulating among Russian forces by 2025 while Rostec perfects the fourth-generation variant's subsystems. And while the exoskeleton element is among the essential components still under development, Rostec also recently unveiled a "Shturmovik" (or "Stormer") combat exoskeleton that will allegedly help Russian soldiers haul heavy loads on the battlefield in order to illustrate how much the technology has matured in recent years.
The Shturmovik ('Stormer') combat exoskeleton in action in a 2020 hype video. (Rostec)
The U.S. and Russia have found themselves in something of a combat exoskeleton arms race in recent years. Indeed, the Defense Department has been pursuing the dream of a powered exoskeleton for combat troops for nearly a half-century, with its latest effort, U.S. Special Operations Command's Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS), failing to yield a fully-integrated suit of armor following its unveiling in 2019. And while the U.S. has remained stymied by system integration issues, Russia has benefitted from the ability to field test such gear in war-torn Syria and — and, now, Ukraine.
That said, it's easy to mistake the sleek latticework of hexagonal plates of the Ratnik or the futuristic promises of the Sotnik and Legionnaire projects for real technological progress. As Marine veteran and military tech analyst Alex Hollings astutely noted amid Rostec's Ratnik media blitz in 2020, the Russian military and associated industrial complex have a habit of hyping next-generation weapons systems (among other things) that don't actually function in real-life combat situations.
Indeed, Samuel Bendett, an unmanned systems expert at the Center for Naval Analyses, told Task & Purpose that while the Russian military is likely leaning into new combat suits "given how many Russian soldiers were maimed and injured by munitions and shrapnel" in Ukraine, the widespread adoption of such high-tech (and high-cost) kits remains a substantial challenge.
"[The Russians] can make a proof of concept, but scaling it up across the services is a different story, and is unlikely," Bendett told Task & Purpose. "Much depends on the state of the Russian defense industry, which may not have enough capacity to undertake this on a large scale."
Even the Ranik combat outfit "is used but probably very unevenly, with some units equipped and others using older gear," he said.
Ratnik-1 combat suits during field testing. (Rostec)
The Russian military-industrial complex has for years promised that the future Russian soldier will inevitably pilot powered armor ripped straight from the pages of Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers. And it's an alluring promise: after all, who doesn't like the idea of plowing through hostile territory impervious to small arms fire, wreaking havoc and looking like "a big steel gorilla, armed with gorilla-sized weapons" in the process, in the sci-fi legend's immortal words?
But let's be real: in all likelihood, the results of the Russian military's adventures in powered armor may very well end up looking like the insanely phony battlesuits rolled out during a 2019 technology conference in Ghana than futuristic warriors clad in armor like a 'medieval knight' as Armocom's Faustov promised. Indeed, if Faustov styles himself the Tony Stark to this new 'Iron Man' suit, he may in reality end up looking more like Justin Hammer:
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Jared Keller
Jared Keller is the managing editor of Task & Purpose. His writing has appeared in Aeon, the Los Angeles Review of Books, the New Republic, Pacific Standard, Smithsonian, and The Washington Post, among other publications. Contact the author here.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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CONVENTIONAL AND UNCONVENTIONAL WAR ARE ...
"GOOD ALLIES": INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES ON ...
THE WEST POINT CLASS OF 1829
WHAT'S IN A NAME? January 2, 2020
CONVENTIONAL AND UNCONVENTIONAL WAR ARE NOT OPPOSITES
By Martijn Kitzen March 28, 2019
It seems that Western military forces are doomed to reinvent the wheel every time they are confronted with insurgencies
Editor's Note: In February 2019, the Institute for the Study of War and Strategy (ISWS) of the University of St. Andrews and the U.S. Army Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) brought together eleven scholars, each representing the view of a different country or in one instance the institutional apparatus of NATO, to discuss "Lessons Learned from Afghanistan." In the spirit of the St. Andrews conference, War Room presents a series of reflections inspired by the conference from attendees (Martijn Kitzen, the author of the following essay, was also a panelist) from three different countries.
The conference began with a keynote address by General (Retired) David Petraeus, in which he warned that "you cannot just throw away counterinsurgency lessons and act if you are in the Cold War." Yet this casting away of lessons is exactly what I have been witnessing in my own country, the Netherlands, as well as within NATO in general.
This essay will argue that historically the ability of Western armed forces to learn from irregular warfare experiences has been hampered by the cultural underpinning on which those militaries are founded. Petraeus urged in his address that Western militaries must overcome this tendency if they are to cope with the complex hybrid threats posed by both state and non-state adversaries. It is time to get rid of the unhelpful, dichotomous conceptual framework that presents conventional and unconventional – or regular and irregular – war as antipodal opposites. Instead, we should develop an approach that will enable us to quickly adapt to a specific situation in order to fight in a way that best matches whatever form of warfare is adopted by our enemies.
Why we fail to learn
While history never repeats itself literally, patterns can be discerned in the past. One such pattern observed throughout military history is the recurring rise and then fall from favor of counterinsurgency within military institutions. Western military forces are principally optimized to fight against similar adversaries, and therefore have to reorient themselves whenever confronted with elusive insurgent opponents.
This adaptation process, however, is hampered by the dominant Western military culture that emphasizes the defeat of an enemy through a decisive battle in which massive firepower, technology, and maneuvering by large formations are key to victory. Counterinsurgency only gains momentum when soldiers realize that this conventional, enemy-centric approach is insufficient against an opponent hiding amongst the population and employing a cunning combination of guerilla, terrorism, and political subversion. As this realization of the need for something new reaches its peak, the military will then typically implement a so-called population-centric approach, the combination of military, political, and socio-economic efforts to gain popular support for the government and deny it to the insurgents. After the end of such a campaign (and often regardless of the outcome), however, armed forces then quickly return to business as usual. Thereby, lessons from the experience are often forgotten before they are properly captured and understood.
As Sir Hew Strachan (one of the organizers of the St. Andrews conference) notes in The Direction of War: Contemporary Strategy in Historical Perspective, one of the best-known examples of this recurring cycle is the U.S. military's troubled adaptation to counterinsurgency during the Vietnam War and the neglect of those experiences in its aftermath. This forgetting left the U.S. military ill-prepared to counter the insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Yet, the pattern is much older. It can also be observed during the height of European colonialism in the nineteenth century. Despite the fact that colonial armies spent most of their time fighting irregular opponents amongst indigenous populations, their doctrine, training, and organization were designed for defending overseas territories against the armed forces of other nations. In the Dutch East Indies, for example, a remarkable pattern of colonial campaigning evolved, in which the Dutch colonial army would typically first launch conventional operations in order to conquer and pacify an area. It would only adopt a more tailored approach when escalating series of these large-scale operations failed to deliver results.
As the contemporary Dutch colonial officer A. Struivenberg noted in a study [in Dutch] of operations during the Aceh War of 1873-1904, "The failure to recognize that the outcomes of European [conventional] warfare cannot be directly transferred to the fight against the indigenous enemy with his very specific character, [led the Dutch colonial army] to give great credit to the use of massive fire." Thus, it seems that Western military forces are doomed to reinvent the wheel every time they are confronted with insurgencies, despite their extensive — if often forgotten — historical record of operations against such irregular enemies.
Why we should start learning now
The latest period of counterinsurgency has ended and Western militaries are once again moving towards the downside of the cycle. In the wake of the troubled campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, the political will to put boots on the ground to confront insurgencies in faraway countries is severely diminished, while Western armed forces are focusing on conventional warfare. The Netherlands' Royal Army, for instance, has almost completely reoriented towards interstate combat. Consequently, its training program is exclusively aimed at bolstering its performance in maneuver warfare involving large-scale units.
For this purpose, even veterans from the Cold War-era have been rehired in order to teach a younger generation the tricks of what they consider "proper warfare." In this climate, the army's attempt to learn from its recent experiences in Afghanistan has stalled, even though its contribution to the ISAF mission in Uruzgan province (2006-2010) was by far the largest deployment of the modern Dutch armed forces. A similar pattern can be observed in other NATO member countries, as well as within NATO structures.
Military thinkers … have repeatedly warned that counterinsurgency might not currently be the preferred approach, but that it will nonetheless be necessary in the future
Of course, the reemergence of the Russian threat to some extent justifies this reorientation. Yet the contemporary security situation is complex and requires a broader approach than simply mimicking Cold War strategy. In modern warfare, the lines between regular, conventional and irregular, unconventional warfare are increasingly blurred. This so-called hybrid warfare is embraced by states and non-state actors alike, as seen in Russia's use of irregular tactics to destabilize its neighbors. Meanwhile, non-state actors, such as the Islamic State, have demonstrated their capability to launch conventional operations.
In The Utility of Force, the retired British general Rupert Smith explained the non-linear character of modern war with his concept of "war amongst the people." Smith not only notes that "there is no secluded battlefield upon which armies engage" in isolation of civilians, but that indeed "civilians are the targets, objectives to be won, as much as an opposing force." Therefore, even a temporary farewell to counterinsurgency is far from appropriate in this security environment characterized by hybrid — both state and non-state — threats and in which engagement of effected populations is key to success. Western military forces should be capable of adopting the approach necessary for a specific context, opponent, and time, whether employing a mixture of conventional or unconventional means.
Thus, it is essential that we stop thinking of conventional and unconventional warfare as a dichotomy. Instead, we should start considering these forms of warfare as complementary and making up a continuum to be deployed against highly capable hybrid threats.
The nature of war, however, is not the only determinant of military thought. Other factors also play a role, such as each country's strategic circumstances, historical experiences, intellectual and cultural climate, and general Zeitgeist. As mentioned earlier, current strategic thinking tends to disregard the counterinsurgency experiences of Iraq and Afghanistan. There is little political will to again embark on such a costly and uncertain adventure, while senior military commanders, most of whose formative years as young officers were spent during the latter period of the Cold War, are increasingly regarding the recent counterinsurgency era as a "wrong turn" from the core business of high-end conventional warfare. Furthermore, the 2008 economic crisis has severely affected military spending in the United States and, to an even greater extent, European countries. Austerity has functioned as a catalyst for forgetting, as militaries have prioritized preserving conventional capabilities above all else. Thus, despite the readily apparent non-linear nature of modern warfare, the confluence of these other influences suggests an inevitable neglect of counterinsurgency by Western militaries.
Yet the stubborn hybrid character of modern war is a reason to row against this tide. Military thinkers like David Kilcullen and David Ucko have repeatedly warned that counterinsurgency might not currently be the preferred approach, but that it will nonetheless be necessary in the future as "any sensible enemy will choose to fight us in this manner." Moreover, as expeditionary land forces will inevitably operate among foreign populations, there is a broad, obvious relevance to maintain the ability to interacting with the people in non-Western societies.
Therefore, the lessons of the recent counterinsurgency campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan should be properly captured, understood, and learned. This is a sine qua non for bolstering Western militaries' abilities to perform both conventional and unconventional missions in order to counter the hybrid threats that dominate the contemporary international security environment.
In case you missed it, be sure to read the earlier reflection of Gunhild Gjørv. Later this year, ISWS and SSI will produce a conference report incorporating the contributions of all presenters.
Martijn Kitzen is Associate Professor of War Studies at the Netherlands Defence Academy. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or U.S. Department of Defense nor do they reflect the official policy or position of the Dutch government or the Dutch Ministry of Defence.
National Security Policy and Strategy
Theater Strategy and Campaigning
Martijn Kitzen
"GOOD ALLIES": INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES ON AFGHANISTAN
A ZOMBIE ALLIANCE OR ALLIANCE AGAINST ZOMBIES? NATO AT 70 YEARS
LEARNING PAINFUL LESSONS FROM AFGHANISTAN
Before the Vietnam War even ended, the US Army rushed to put the experience learned to the background while reembracing the Cold War themes, such as the Fulda Gap scenario.
Most Vietnam veterans believe that there were many reasons, not just one, that explains why the Vietnam War ended so miserably. Here are some of the reasons, in no particular order (all quotes are from former NVA Colonel Bui Tin):
1.	We didn't blockade Haiphong at the onset (where even British vessels could be found);
2.	We didn't knock out the railroad lines between China and North Vietnam;
3.	U.S. ground forces were not allowed to interdict the Ho Chi Minh Trail. If they had, "Hanoi could never have won the war;"
a.	Though North Vietnam clearly violated Cambodian and Laotian sovereignty, U.S. forces were not allowed to continue pursuing the NVA/VC when they retreated back across these same borders.
4.	The anti-war movement "was essential to our strategy." The senior leadership followed the anti-war movement in the U.S. and "were elated" when Jane Fonda, Ramsey Clark and others visited. "America lost because of its democracy; through dissent and protest it lost the ability to mobilize a will to win;"
5.	South Vietnam's generals were "inept" and political;
6.	Bombing of North Vietnam, if it had been concentrated (as in the Christmas bombing), "would have hurt our efforts." Piecemeal bombing gave the North time to reshuffle and rebuild;
7.	The NLF (National Liberation Front) was controlled by Hanoi – it was never independent (it was always run by a communist party commissar);
8.	Regional and Popular Forces (Ruff/Puff) were in control of 90% of the populace countryside by 1972;
9.	Fighting in 1968 had decimated communist forces in the South. Years of rebuilding compelled them to use NVA troops to fill the ranks of the VC. "If American forces had not begun to withdraw under Nixon in 1969, they could have punished us severely;"
10.	When President Ford failed to respond to the attack of Phuoc Long in January 1975, the North knew that their overall victory was at-hand;
11.	"We had the impression that American commanders had their hands tied by political factors. Your generals could never deploy a maximum force for greatest military effort;"
12.	The North only had to win the American media in order to eventually be victorious because they sway politicians (who love to be loved and, of course, reelected) and feeble-minded university professors who love to pontificate and sell their books).
The similarities endured in Afghanistan are obvious, beginning with defining and isolating the battle space.
LTC Dana L. Tucker
The conventional/unconventional dichotomy is also unhelpfully complemented by the war/not war dichotomy. Many in the U.S. military thought of the time after major combat operations in Iraq as not war and someone else's job. Nadia Schadlow's War and the Art of Governance is a great reminder of the military's role at the end of combat operations. Stability operations both during and after combat are essential military tasks, and transition to civil authorities also often requires prolonged military engagement and support. Those lessons are also at risk of being lost, if they were ever learned at all, as we transition back to the focus on large scale conventional conflict with near peer competitors. Gray zone competition is also a key going forward and we are not in my estimation positioning ourselves well to compete below the armed conflict threshold.
Deryl McCarty, Col, USAF (Ret)
First, we have had this Steppes War versus Mekong Delta War "discussion" since the French and Indian War. And other nations the same before that. Way before that. Would that you could channel Ramses II. (In fact, why don't our War Colleges begin a series of one-hour fictionalized but historically-based military lessons learned by the likes of Ramses (several of them), Sulieman, Victoria, Elizabeth I, Catherine, or several of the Ming and Han Emperors. It would be instructive historical research and wider-ranging than our normal battlefield level maneuver reprising which is particularly useful to regimental and wing level folks, but less so to Corps, Air Forces, Fleets and the NCA.)
Second, I suspect that every single President has "yelled" at his military – when presented with a clear and present danger – "I need more options!" Most famously in my lifetime was the story in the '60s of JFK yelling at us that he needed more options than LeMay's and Rickover's MAD forces to combat Cuban and Dien Bien Phu style dangers. And that the result was the Green Berets. That said America has given the Presidents since JFK a wide range of options and most recently used those options from USAF drones to SOC units in every conceivable location except really, really cold. They are blooded Soldiers/Sailors/Airmen/Marines. I would not want to lose that hard-won experience and expertise.
That said, as our participation in the ME is waning, we must now re-balance the books and spend a bit more on conventional forces while keeping our unconventional forces intact, and more than likely in contact. A tough thing to do since conventional force modernization costs tons more than unconventional and Congress rarely responds to trillion dollar military budgets without an existential threat.
Unfortunately, there is no magic wand. We have an expensive intellectual argument about a potential threat that is not visible to the populace – therefore not visible to Congress. I would like to think that a low and slow approach to defense reinvestment and modernization could work: missiles this year, MP4s the next, etc. But we'd have to hold our temper as "brilliant" Congressional staffers suggest missiles the next five years, then maybe propellant the next, next five. And, if we are good at implementing their social experimentation, some cheap plastic missile fins in the interim.


Last week, the Mega Millions lottery reached an historic high of $640 million. That is more money than most of us can wrap our minds around. In the days leading up to the historic drawing, people everywhere bought tickets, some spending $20 or more on a lottery jackpot they had a 1 in 176 million chance of winning.
Put this in perspective—if you fly on one of the 25 safest airlines (based on safety records), your chances of dying in a plane crash are 1 in 10 million (Yahoo! Voices), which is 17 times greater than your chance of winning this particular lottery. Likewise, according to the National Lightning Safety Institute, your chances of being struck by lightning are 1 in 280,000 (628 times greater than winning the Mega Millions), yet the majority of us don't expect to be hit by lightning in our lifetime.
I'll dream for free, thanks.
-Jeffrey Dampier won $20 million in 1996 and he generously helped his family members buy houses and opened a gourmet popcorn restaurant to supply his family members with jobs. Still, in 2005 he was kidnapped and murdered by his sister-in-law and her boyfriend.
-William Post won $16 million in 1988. An old girlfriend sued him for half his winnings, and his brother hired a hit man to kill him. Within a year he was $1 million in debt and filed bankruptcy. He now lives on food stamps and $450 a month.
Unfortunately, these stories are not unique. In addition to the Business Insider post, a quick web search reveals similar posts, "6 Lottery Winners Who Lost It All" and "13 Lottery Winners Who Lost Everything." In addition, TLC has a show called Lottery Changed My Life. If you watch the show, you know that for the majority of winners, their lives were not changed for the better.
Many of us dream about what we would do with more money. However, the best way to achieve the dream is not through purchasing lottery tickets for a multi-million dollar jackpot that we won't win (even if you use the worn out argument, "somebody has to win"). Instead, the best way to achieve that dream is through our own lives. Dream about what you can do with your life, how you can improve it, and then set to work doing so. That will get you infinitely further than buying a lottery ticket and paying for the right to dream.
Wishful thinking will never work! You have to do something about it. Set a goal and create a plan is far more effective than playing the lottery. The quick or easy fix to our lives seems to get far more attention. It really takes advantage of the most vulnerable!
Another thing about lottery tickets, they are just another way for the government to tax us, though it is voluntary. I am sick of giving my money away and will put it in a piggy bank, if nothing else.
I don't think anyone in my family would plot to kill me for the millions I won in a lottery, but I'm sure both of those gentlemen felt loved by their families beforehand…Wow ~ scary stuff!
It is sad that money often changes people so much. Most politicians seem to start out wanting to help people, but many end up bought and paid for later.
I think I will keep saving up my nickels…just made a plan to start decluttering and selling off stuff due to an inspiration from Kylie Ofiu.
But yeah, the husband picked up tickets on his way home from work one day—and we even made the list of those who would get a windfall if we won. I think THAT might be part of the allure of it all. We have enough to take care of ourselves, but see friends or family struggling and want to help.


The 2016 PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals cast was finally completed last night after the Alaska Aces throttled past defending champion Tropang TNT in their do-or-die affair.
The Alaska Aces put together an impressive performance as they ran roughshod over Tropang TNT, 99-81, to advance to the Oppo PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals on Friday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
Import Rob Dozier was solid with 20 points on 8-for-13 (61-percent) shooting, while Calvin Abueva also played a big role with 18 points.
But it was truly a team effort as several other Aces made some timely contributions. Veteran Eric Menk had 10 points and five others chipped in with eight apiece as they made up for the absence of Vic Manuel, who was out with an injury.
Calvin Abueva proved to be too hot to handle again.
Larry Fonacier's 19 points went down the drain for TNT.
Rob Dozier remained steady as the Aces dethroned the defending champs.
After a tight first quarter, Alaska took control of the game with a big second quarter where they outscored TNT, 32-16.
Alaska led 53-37 entering the halftime break with Dozier already tallying 14 points and nine rebounds over the first two periods.
The Aces' lead breached the 20-point mark in the dying seconds of the third quarter after a big triple from Tony Dela Cruz, 77-57.
Abueva scored seven of Alaska's first nine points in the fourth quarter as the Aces pushed that lead to a high of 25 points before cruising the rest of the way.
Alaska will next face Meralco in a best-of-five series for the a spot in the finals.
David Simon led TNT with 20 points and 13 rebounds, while Larry Fonacier finished with 19 points, including five three-pointers.


Sports fitness training plans point the way to achieving peak performance. Well beyond fitness only, strategically designed, sport specific training programs use sound principles, test results, and coaching wisdom for developing athletes both mentally and physically.
Setting goals establishes a path for athletes to follow so they can evaluate their progress in mastering sport skills. Goals are an effective motivational technique that stimulates athletes learning new skills and mastering their ability to perform at a high level in competition. Athletes tend to become more focused and committed to a training schedule when goals are clearly established and they know unquestionably when they have achieved them.
There are six important steps in designing and carrying out plans to achieve dreams of converting championship performances into reality.
1. Set clear goals. List the long-term goals into annual or shorter term goals such as every 4 to 6 weeks. Write the goal in terms of outcomes that you will be able to measure to evaluate to what extent the athlete has ben able to accomplish.
2. Assess the baseline of the athletes skills to provide a reference point to measure progress. This is a necessary part of the process of establishing goals. Consider the physical demands of the specific sport. The Principle of Specificity is the science behind targeting the training to improve in your sport. A frank and honest assessment by the athlete of their own personal fitness and skills need to be compared to see if there is a reality gap in the athlete's self perception and of parents and coaches. Revise the goals, if necessary, to set up a realistic plan for achieving agreed upon goals and a time table to achieve them.
3. Design your training plan. A training plan must be designed to build qualities that will best transfer to the physical, mental, and emotional demands of the sport. Start with the date of the most important competitions and work back to the present to establish a training calendar. Organize a long-term plan that includes training phases (e.g., conditioning, intensive work, in-season), and get specific with the types of training activities you'll perform in each phase. Refer to the Principle of Variation.
4. Start training. The plan should be precise as to the starting date of the first phase of your plan. Perform all your well coordinated training activities on a daily and weekly basis.
5. Evaluate your progress. After the first phase of training, check where you are on the goals for fitness and skill tests. These are mile markers of your progress. If the plan is working, the athlete should be on schedule - not ahead or behind.
6. Revise your plan. Based on your test results after each phase, evaluate progress and make informed decisions about how you will revise your fitness training plan to keep you on track toward your goals.
Repeat, Step 4 through 6 and incorporate any necessary revisions.
Fitness programs: 5 steps to getting started - MayoClinic.com Starting a fitness program is easier than you might think. Follow these five steps.
Fit For Life Lesson Plan Design and Implement a Personal Fitness Plan. OVERVIEW: The NASPE national standards in physical education indicate a need for "students to exhibit a physically active lifestyle" and understand that "physical activity provides opportunities for enjoyment, challenge, self expression, and social interaction."
Fitness training: Elements of a well rounded routine - Mayo Clinic Whether you're a novice taking the first steps toward fitness or an exercise fanatic hoping to optimize your results, a well rounded fitness training program is includes five elements - Aerobic fitness; Strength training; Core exercises; Balance training; Flexibility and stretching.
PDF Physical Fitness Training Plan The Florida Public Safety Institute physical fitness training plan will include something from each of the four basic fitness components described above.


text:
SYMPOSIUM AGENDA 2020
IMPOSSIBLE THINKING
Founder and CEO of The Impossible Institute
Voted one of the "Top 25 C-Suite Speakers to Watch in 2016"
Developed the term "We-Q" to define the interconnectivity of collaborative intelligence that managers can use to build greater customer loyalty
Anecdotal and humorous presentations on creativity, collaboration, change, and innovation
His mission is to turn Impossible Thinking™ into an epidemic.
SHANTANU CHOUDHURY
ACCELARATING VALUE CREATION
Shantanu Choudhury is the Head of Enterprise Business at Telstra.
He comprehensively looks after the business interests of the company in India. Shantanu is responsible for driving the Sales and support teams all aligned towards the business needs.
An industry speaker of note- Shantanu has delivered Thought Leadership pieces at various Industry Forums and Analyst Forums with topics ranging from Network Transformation subjects to Digital Adoption topics.
KEITH SUTER
Dr. Keith Suter is an economic and social commentator, strategic planner, conference speaker, author and broadcaster.
Dr. Keith Suter has achieved three doctorates. The first of these was about the international law of guerrilla warfare (University of Sydney), and the second about the social and economic consequences of the arms race (Deakin University) and a third doctorate on scenario planning (Sydney University).
B S NAGARAJAN
JOURNEY TO A FUTURE READY ENTERPRISE
B.S. Nagarajan is the Senior Director & Chief Technologist for VMware India. He covers the entire VMware portfolio, with a focus on evangelizing and developing the market for VMware Cloud on AWS, NFV and emerging growth areas such as IoT and developer-focused solutions. As the CTO for VMware India, BSN is responsible for providing leadership to the technical community and building a strong connection with the engineering teams. He has played a key role in evangelizing VMware's technologies throughout his career spanning over 10 years with the company. A veteran with more than 23 years of experience, Nagarajan holds a Bachelor's Degree in Industrial & Production Engineering from Bangalore University.
CONQUERING EVEREST
Like his father, the late Sir Edmund Hillary, who made the first ascent of Mt Everest with his climbing partner Tenzing Norgay in 1953, Peter has summited Everest and forged a new route to the South Pole.
Peter delivers an inspiring message through a selection of extraordinary expeditionary yarns and identifies key attributes that are needed for success. He examines setbacks and failures too and the lessons learned from these. All this, delivered with his trademark dry wit and self-effacing candour.
CHANAKYA LEVAKA
CLOUD4C AND CLOUD TECHNOLOGIES
As a Vice president of Cloud4C for Global Sales and Marketing, Chanakya is responsible for leading all aspects of Customer Engagement, Service Offerings, Sales Operation and Global Expansion.
Chanakya is a proven leader in the Information Technology & Cloud Industry and has held various leadership roles in Enterprise Sales, Marketing, Strategy and Alliances. He is a successful business, sales and marketing leader in the Cloud, Big Data, AI, ERP, IOT, DevOps and consulting industries. He is an Alumnus of IIM, Indore.
MELISSA CLARK-REYNOLDS
DISRUPTION OPPORTUNITIES
Melissa became a Foresight Practitioner and Professional Director after 25 years' experience as a technology entrepreneur and CEO of a number of Technology companies.
She trained with The Institute for the Future in Palo Alto and also with Clayton Christiansen in his approach to Disruptive Innovation through Harvard.
In 2015, she was honored by Queen Elizabeth with the 'Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit' for her services to technology.
BILL ZENG
FUTURE OF WORK – HYBRID WORKING
Bill Zeng as Chief Technology Officer and Director of Sales Engineering of Asia Pacific for Poly is responsible for leading the company's technology vision in the region, as well as craft product and solution strategy for the region.With over two decades of experience in telecom and IT industry as a tech leader and innovator, he has in-depth knowledge in both voice and video technologies (MGCP, H323, SIP, H264 etc.), some of which he helped develop as an active contributor in various standardization bodies.
Zeng holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree with First Class Honor from University of Technology, Sydney.
USEFUL BELIEF
Chris Helder is a world class keynote speaker and master storyteller. His presentations give individuals and organizations the tools to make a simple shift in their thinking to gain greater clarity on achieving goals.
Chris brings with him an abundance of energy, humour and the ability to quickly connect with the audience. He has been a professional speaker for 18 years and has done over 2,500 presentations around the world.
He is the author of three best-selling books including Useful Belief - one of the highest selling Australian business books of all time.
International Keynote, Dan Gregory: Impossible Thinking
Fireside Chat with Shantanu Choudhury, Head of Enterprise Business, Telstra on Accelerating Value Creation
CIO100 Special Awards for Customer Experience
International Keynote, Dr. Keith Suter: Scenario Planning
BS Nagarajan, Senior Director & Chief Technologist, VMware: Journey to a Future Ready Enterprise
CIO100 Special Awards for Business Continuity presented by Vmware
International Keynote, Peter Hillary: Conquering Everest
Chanakya Levaka, VP for Global Sales and Marketing, Cloud4C: Driving Cloud Digital Transformation
CIO100 Special Awards for Business Transformation presented by CtrlS
International Keynote, Melissa Clark-Reynolds: Disruption Opportunities
Bill Zeng, CTO and Senior Director of Sale Engineering, APAC, Poly: FUTURE of WORK – Hybrid Working
CIO100 Special Awards for Smart Workplace presented by Poly
International Keynote, Chris Helder: Useful Belief


The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, or "RCIA", is a program for adults who are interested in becoming Catholics. It consists of several months of instruction in the teachings, beliefs, customs and practices of the Catholic faith. Those who complete the process are baptized and/or confirmed, and receive their First Communion at Easter. There is no cost for this program, and all materials are provided by the parish.
Each liturgical year individuals choose to join the Catholic Faith. Some of these individuals prayerfully enter this process called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) because their spouses or fiancés are Catholic. Others love the rich traditions and rites of our Church, and still others have been inspired by the lives of their friends or co-workers who are living examples of the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Many people are searching for spiritual meaning and a deeper relationship with God. Often they feel drawn to the Catholic faith. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a process by which adults explore the Catholic faith and ordinarily become members of the Church.
Do you or anyone you know fall into one of these categories?
A person who is seeking full communion in the catholic Church or renewal of a faith life that has been dormant for years.
A person who has never been baptized in another faith.
A person who has been baptized in the Catholic Church and never received the sacraments of Holy Communion or Confirmation or who has stopped practicing the Catholic faith and wishes to begin again.
Someone who is planning marriage to a Catholic and is considering joining the Catholic Church to bring unity to the marriages.
A spouse who desires to create harmony in the family by becoming a Catholic.
If you, or someone you know, would like to get information regarding becoming Catholic, please call the rectory at 708-422-2400 and leave a message for Cheryl Antos, D. Min.


Rhys Howells has played the role of Biteman in Denham Psycho Film released in 2014.
Baldwin in The Jeanmaker Film released in 2015.
Lucas Delmore in Vampires: Lucas Rising Film released in 2014.
Daryl in Hollyoaks TV Series released in 1995.
Lucas Delmore in Vampires: Brighter in Darkness TV Series released in 2011.


Sparkling Wines are currently out of stock, we apologize for the inconvenience.
Brut– 750ml. The driest of our hand made sparkling wines, it is neither sour nor bitter, but always fruity without being sweet. Brut sparkling wine is a perfect pairing with foods, especially Chinese food or shellfish.
Fred– 750ml. Our acronym for "fizzy red", this is a bone-dry sparkling red made from the Lemberger grape. This traditional style, known as "Rouge" by the French or as "Sparkling Burgundy" years ago here in the states, almost vanished from the marketplace. Fred is a two time medal winner, and our hope for reviving this wonderful style.
Raspberry Brut– 750ml. Our own creation based on an idea stolen from French and Belgian fruit beers. Not sparkling kool-aid, but with an intoxicating raspberry bouquet that will be a delight by itself, paired with appetizers, or a fine brunch.
Red Raspberry– 750ml. Our famous FRED with mellow hints of red raspberries make this gorgeous sparkler able to stand alone, styled for any occasion.
Extra Dry– 750ml.The name causes more confusion than anything due to translation difficulties from the French. Extra Dry should logically be the driest, but actually means medium sweet or less dry than Brut Champagnes. The 3% residual sugar makes this style the most versatile with foods or on its own. We describe it as "middle of the road" on the sweetness scale.
Sweet– 750ml. Sweet means sweet, as this sparkler was specifically crafted as a "Wedding Cake" toasting champagne. Enjoy this sparkler with fresh fruit, crepes or dessert. The sweetness level of this sparkling wine is 7%, so it stands up to the sweetness of wedding cake frosting without seeming sour.


The principal cash crops of Cote d'Ivoire are cacao, coffee, cotton, and pineapples. The country is among the world's leading producers of cacao, which accounts for more than 40 percent of export earnings, and is one of Africa's top coffee producers as well. The government encouraged production of cotton and pineapples to diversify the economy, which had suffered in the 1980s when commodity prices for cacao and coffee dropped sharply. Other crops being developed for export are palm kernels and rubber. Crops grown for local use include yams, cassava, plantains, rice, and maize; the government has initiated programs to achieve food self-sufficiency.


text:
Bill Frisell – ROULETTE BENEFIT!
Monday, May 17, 20108:30 pm
"It's hard to find a more fruitful meditation on American music than in the compositions of guitarist Bill Frisell. Mixing rock and country with jazz and blues, he's found what connects them: improvisation and a sense of play. Unlike other pastichists, who tend to duck passion, Mr. Frisell plays up the pleasure in the music and also takes on another often-avoided subject, tenderness." – The New York Times
In a career spanning more than 25 years and over 150 recordings-including 25 albums of his own-guitarist, composer, and bandleader Bill Frisell has established himself as a visionary presence in American music. He has collaborated with a wide range of artists, filmmakers and legendary musicians. But it is his work as a leader that has garnered increasing attention and accolades. His catalog has been cited by DownBeat as "the best recorded output of the decade." Frisell's collaborators have included such diverse artists as Gavin Bryars, Don Byron, Ron Carter, Loudon Wainwright III, Elvis Costello, Suzanne Vega, Jerry Douglas, Marianne Faithful, Robin Holcomb, Wayne Horvitz, Paul Motian, Rinde Eckert, Caetano Veloso, Rickie Lee Jones, David Sylvian, Bono, Ron Sexsmith, Vic Chesnutt, Van Dyke Parks, Dave Holland, Elvin Jones, Laurie Anderson, Paul Simon, Vinicius Cantuaria, John Scofield, Jack DeJohnette, Lee Konitz, Hal Willner, Ginger Baker, Charlie Haden, Marc Ribot, T Bone Burnett, Kenny Wheeler, Joe Lovano, John Zorn, Jan Garbarek, Gary Burton, Joey Baron, Marc Johnson, Vic Chesnutt, film directors Wim Wenders, Gus Van Sant and Rory Kennedy, cartoonist Gary Larson and visual artist Jim Woodring, and many others. He is also the music director of A Century of Song for the Ruhr Triennale Arts Festival in Germany. Collaborators in this series have included Suzanne Vega, Elvis Costello, Rickie Lee Jones, Loudon Wainwright III, and Ron Sexsmith, among others.
http://audio.roulette.org/2010_05_17_Frisell_Bill.mp3
Bill Frisell (Roulette Benefit) 2010
Artists: Bill Frisell


The 34th Annual Kanuga Watermedia Workshops, March 30 – April 5, 2019 (5 day class instruction March 31–April 4), will be held at the Kanuga Conference Center in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
The workshops offer the student a choice of twelve artist-instructors or an independent study. The instructors have been chosen for their ability to help painters develop and advance their skills. All levels of painters are invited. Painting is always a learning experience. Our goal is to help painters sharpen their critical awareness and discover painting gratification.
Instructors will conduct their individual classes in assigned classrooms. Each student works with one selected instructor the entire workshop. Classes are limited to 24 students, though most classes tend to be smaller.
The instructor's materials list, activity schedules, directions to the Kanuga Conference Center, and other general information will be posted on our website.
The Kanuga Conference Center is located close to Hendersonville, N.C., and Interstates 26, 40 and 85; and is served by the Asheville Airport. All workshop activities are held on the 1,400-acre campus.
Housing Accommodations: Rooms do not have TV's or phones; however, all have Internet WI-FI access. All linens are provided.
The Kanuga Lake Inn offers 61 hotel-style rooms, each with a private bathroom. Each floor includes a spacious common room with a fireplace. Every room offers easy access to the dining room, library, lobby and other areas.
Have from two to six bedrooms (with two beds in each one), and include a sitting room, fireplace, and screened porch. In some, baths are shared by two bedrooms. Cottages have a small refrigerator, but are not furnished with dishes or coffee makers. All cottages have Wi-Fi access.
A limited number are available for groups; minimum of 4, up to 8 people. Guests Houses are larger than cottages, but farther from the dining rooms.
Pets are not allowed at the Kanuga Conference Center.
The workshop rates include tuition, 6 nights lodging and meals from Saturday supper, through breakfast Friday. An early arrival night (Friday) can be arranged for an additional fee.
Painters' Guests (non-workshop) are welcome. Many activities are available in the area and on the Conference grounds.
Commuters are welcome. Commuters' fees include choice of either lunch only, or all meals, followed with evening programs. We encourage commuters to participate fully as the ideas and conversations that often occur at mealtimes and during the evening are a major part of the enrichment of the program.
Most meals are buffet style and will accommodate most diets including vegetarian and low cholesterol. (Diabetic and gluten-free meals are available on request).
1. All rates are per person. If we cannot place you as requested you will be notified. Double Room is lodging with two people per bedroom. Single Room is one person in a bedroom.
2. Painter registration rates vary according to the accommodation chosen and include workshop tuition, lodging, meals, and evening programs.
3. Commuters' fees include the workshop tuition and either lunch only, or all meals and evening programs.
4. Independent Study (non-workshop) registration rates vary according to accommodations and include the lodging, meals, and painting studio. One 30-minute critique is included.
5. Painter's Guest rates are based on double occupancy for any accommodation with a painting participant and include meals, lodging and evening programs.
Online registration begins June 1st, 2018.
Following your online registration and payment of deposit, you will receive a confirmation of the class assigned, and balance owed. The balance MUST be paid by February 1, to secure your place in your selected class.
A non-refundable deposit of $200.00 per person is required with your registration; See Cancellation Policy below. Payment in Full is required by FEBRUARY 1, 2019.
1) Prior to Sept 1, 2018, $100 of the deposit is non-refundable.
2) Sept 1, 2018 and thereafter, $200 of the deposit is non-refundable.
3) After Feb 15, 2019, $650 is forfeited, unless we can fill your space with a NEW registrant.
4) Within 7 days of workshop, the entire amount is forfeited unless we can fill your space with a NEW participant.
5) For a Painter's Guest, Prior to Sept 1, 2018, $100 of the deposit is non-refundable, and $200 is non-refundable Sept 1st or thereafter.
6) If Directors cancel a workshop, all funds will be refunded to the participant.
7) If an Instructor cancels a workshop for personal reasons, all reasonable efforts will be done to find a comparable instructor; in which case, if the participant chooses to cancel, all funds will be refunded less a processing fee of $50.
Onsite Check-in opens: Sat, March 30, 1:30 P.M.
Workshop classes are held 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Sunday through Thursday, and classrooms are open around the clock Sunday through Wednesday, and close on Thursday, 4:00 P.M., with Banquet & Social Thursday evening. Checkout from Kanuga is Friday morning after breakfast.


text:
Q: how can I run custom extension files in python script? I have a file with extension (.logs) which has the data without xml format. I also have a tool say abc.exe (added to PATH) which takes the .logs file as input and generates a new file with properly formatted XML. So, I'm trying to run the same tool using python, MY.py is reading the input file rather running it using abc.exe. How can I make the file run using abc.exe using pythons scripting?

A: If you want to lunch your program (let's say, abc.exe), just use this code:
import subprocess
subprocess.Popen(["abc.exe", "arg1","arg2"])

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


When we are talking about the space, the first picture that is created in our mind is regarding the planets, which are revolving in their orbits. There would be the star dust which surrounds the planets and give them an extra glow with which they topple the celestial view. In this picture, the planets are aligned in their destined tracks along with their star dust and the bold hues and contrast that add perfect allure to the scene. This all makes the universe a worth watching phenomena. Clarnia put forward this piece of art for you to adorn your place with such mesmerizing view of the nature.
Interior decor in terms of the canvas print is the best way to beautify the walls of your place. But wait! You are not restricted to get these for the walls rather you can use them anywhere as a perfect ready to go adorn apparatus. As a ready to go embellishment, this painting features single and multiple panels for Planets In Their Orbits Multi Panel Canvas Wall Art Print Set So, it is for the ones who have a keen interest in astronomy or space. Depending on the size and dimensions of the walls, you can get a customized canvas ranging from the alluring singles to ethereal multi panels canvas wall art sets. Canvas from Clarnia would surely add quality and value to the walls with their textures, designs, crafts and ravishing hues. The space based canvas will reflect your taste in art. All the canvas are available in sets of different pieces. It could be a single piece Canvas or a set of 3 pieces Canvas, 4 pieces Canvas set or 5 pieces Canvas Wall Art set depending upon your choice. You can either get the matte printed canvas which adds depth to the walls or in gloss that top up the walls with their lustrous outlook. Revealing about the textures, it can be anything you want i.e. a print, picture, painting, abstract, crayoned, oil painted version etc. Clarnia is offering a wide range of customized canvas prints. All you have to do is, to select your favorite one and then decide the accurate size and we will book your order on your mere click.


Microsoft introduced a new built-in monitoring system called Managed Availability in Exchange 2013, which automatically takes recovery actions for unhealthy services within the Exchange organization.
Microsoft has been operating a cloud version of Exchange since 2007 and have put all their knowledge into Managed Availability monitoring. Managed Availability is a cloud trained system based on an end user's experience with recovery oriented computing.
Managed Availability doesn't mean you don't have to monitor your on-prem or hybrid Exchange environment in fact, it's just the opposite. The long and complex PowerShell cmdlet's used to monitor Exchange (which we will look at in more detail later) are not the best and most effective method to do so.
The main constituents of Managed Availability are Probes, Monitors, and Responders.
Reoccurring Probes: system performed tests for the end-to-end user experience, such as OWA connectivity.
Notifications: performs their own monitoring without the health manager framework by directly writing probe results. For example, the MSExchangeDAGMgmt service logs a probe result without Managed Availability.
Checks: collects data from performance counters and logs events if the defined thresholds are exceeded or are unmet.
Many Monitors have high thresholds of multiple probe failures before becoming Unhealthy to avoid wrong recovery actions taken by Managed Availability and the Responders. For problems that require manual intervention, take a look at the Microsoft.Exchange.ManagedAvailability\Monitoring crimson channel.
If you would like to take a look at all recovery actions through the Managed Availability Responders, view the Microsoft.Exchange.ManagedAvailability\RecoveryActionResults crimson channel.
This concludes part one of this article. In the second part, we will take a more practical approach to Managed Availability. By using PowerShell we will show you how you can retrieve useful information from the massive amounts of data that Managed Availability collects about your environment.


text:
Q: Calculating Zscore for multiple rows My table store measurement taken on several visits of a person. i want to calculate the zscore for each person.i notice my answer is not correct because is calculating for each row only.I want for each ID, the zscore on all four visits. below is what i have so far.
 `select ID,VNo1,VNo2,VNo3,VNo4
  .W1,AVG(W1) AS Mean , STDEVP(W1) AS StandardDeviation
    , STDEVP(W1) * STDEVP(W1) AS Zscore,

from dbo.measurement
GROUP BY ID,VNo1,VNo2,VNo3,VNo4

`

A: I'm not sure what values do the VNoX columns hold, but if you have 1 row per visit then you just need to remove columns from your GROUP BY.
select
    ID,
    AVG(W1) AS Mean ,
    STDEVP(W1) AS StandardDeviation,
    STDEVP(W1) * STDEVP(W1) AS Zscore,
from
    dbo.measurement
GROUP BY
    ID


text:
THE SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
CLOSED-DOOR MEETINGS
INSTITUTIONAL EVENTS
EQUAL COOPERATION
CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION
THE EXPERIENCE OF THE HIGH ADIGE / SOUTH TYROL
ETHNIC, LINGUISTIC, NATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN THE MED-AFRICAN REGION
ART FOR CIPMO
Home > ABOUT > OUR HISTORY
Home ≫ABOUT
About CIPMO's establishment
Thirty years ago, in November 1989, the Italian Center for Peace in the Middle East – CIPMO was established in Milan.
Our intention was not to establish a politically biased Center with respect to the Italian political landscape, since the pursuit of peace in the Middle East is not (and should not be) a right-wing or left-wing issue. We intended to build a Center at the service of the so-called "Italian country system", and we do believe we had success in doing that: the fact that CIPMO has been recognized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation as "Italian Internationalist Body of national interest" for many years proves it.
Neither was our intention to establish a pro-Israeli or pro-Palestinian lobby, for as open and dialogue-oriented as such a lobby might have been. It was we who coined the term "equivicinity", discarding an unfeasible equidistance between the necessity of ending the occupation and the assurance of security for the State of Israel. "Equivicinity" is rooted in the stories of the two peoples, their memories, their desire for identity and for a future – all elements that cannot be ignored if we truly aim at building peace.
Diplomacy has often proved not to be enough. We learnt how fraught with obstacles and enemies this path is, and we are aware that today the situation has worsened, so much so that our path seems blocked. Today, not only do we all know how to build peace, but we also do know how difficult this process will be. However, we are persistent, realistic, and we do not yield to illusions. We believe that building channels of communication and dialogue, generating even a single useful idea, making a further – though infinitesimal – step towards peace provides the public opinion with a realistic, analytical and not propaganda-driven picture of a tormented yet fascinating reality. We believe that this is of paramount importance, and that this is what we can do concretely.
Over the last 30 years, CIPMO has organized 3 large international conferences addressing such issues, 35 closed-door seminars, and more than 30 public initiatives about dialogue for peace.
The EuroMedAfrican Turning Point
In the course of the last 30 years, CIPMO has expanded its activities and initiatives to the entire Mediterranean area and, more recently, to Africa, thereby adopting a new Europe-Mediterranean-Africa axis (hence the term EuroMedAfrica) and enriching the geopolitical approach with a perspective of equal, transparent, fair and mutually-beneficial cooperation.
A new approach that relies on civil society, including volunteers and entrepreneurs, and capable of seeing infrastructure and natural, environmental and technological resources as a key driver to overcome any crises, and to look beyond them.
An approach that provides entrepreneurs and societies with a trusted interlocutor, capable of offering tailor-made services.
An approach that revolves around the young as well as the Italian and Mediterranean schools and universities, with the aim of establishing an interactive network that, through the dialogue with the Other (the Different), enables the young to reflect upon themselves, thereby jointly building a common area of peace, understanding and prosperity.
With this perspective in mind, the very issue of immigration is no longer to be blown out of proportion. Rather, it must be examined considering the role played by the diasporic communities of MedAfrican origins, and the need to establish stronger ties with migrants' countries of origins as well as with transit countries should be stressed. This is a way to ensure that orderly and well-thought policies of inclusion are implemented in Italy, without neglecting security issues or stopping fighting jihadi extremism – in fact, this is the only viable and effective way to deal with such problems.
"1989 – 2009 Venti anni di CIPMO", the volume published during the first twenty years of activity of the Center.
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Cremit@CremitTW·
'Costruire ponti e non muri.L#Educazione e mondo #globale'. Questo l'intervento per #Cremit @unicatt di @PastaStefano #21maggio a PalazzoMarino.Un progetto che ha fatto incontrare classi italiane con classi di Israele,Palestina,Albania,Tunisia,Giordania @cipmopace @Confronti_CNT
Raul Caruso@raulcaruso·
| Roundtable 'Identity, Religions and Policies' at @UNIKZKM in #Tirana | Organised by @cespic, the roundtable is intended to deal with criticalities of diverse societies with a special attention to religious diversity. | #Peace #religion #Albania #Balkans #may30th |
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"This was an attempted coup. This was an attempted takedown of a President, and we beat them. We beat them," Trump told reporters outside the White House.
"You know why we fight back?"
Last week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that Mueller's report "conclusively" exonerates Trump, but not former president Barack Obama.
McConnell laid blame on the Obama administration for not dealing with alleged Russia election interference three years ago."No collusion, no conspiracy, no obstruction," McConnell said in a floor speech Monday following Mueller's report.


HIStory statues - where were they placed?
Invincible - what songs should have been released as a single ?
Which Dangerous performance you love best?
Check out my MJ Xbox 360 Avatar!
OMG Michael On The Dating Game Show 1972!!
What if Escape is the next single?
its hard being A Michael Jackson fan...ugh!
Michael Jackson, 1983 - Candy Girl?
Did you ever see Michael in person?
Let's give it up for The Wiz!
Big Brother contestants are told.
So many reasons to release Bad Tour '89 L.A concert on DVD.
UP was the last movie that Michael went out to see..
What statement did sheryl crowl made?
Give ya respect to Will.i.am a true friend of Michael Jackson.
[Study for Thesis] What was the first element which appealed you in MJ?
Would you ever name your kid after Michael?
Why do so many not like superfly sister?
LETS PLAY...The MJ Crypto-Lyric Game!
Guys, you HAVE TO hear this Haunting Smooth Criminal track. Awesome!
How many WBSS Demos now?
Anyone been to the O2 Exhibition?
What was the best performance on TII?
Should Sony release the new MVs of "smooth criminal" etc?
Smooth Criminal poster from This is it??
Do you think Michael danced a lot at home?
Do you feel like you are close to Michael?
Michael's sweet falsetto, or rough growl singing voice??
Dr Thome Thome on Larry King in December (rescheduled). Send in questions!
Who else loves this part from the Smooth Criminal video?
Where have you heard Michael...?
Hottest woman in This Is It?
Best MJ Item You've Got?
Book of feelings for Michael!!
Describe what MJ means to you in ONE word!
What is the best book to get on MJ?
Confessions of a 12 year old!
Bad Tour Kansas City 1st Night!
Michael Jackson - Life Of A Legend book - Who owns this, please READ!
will this is it have 5.1 surround audio?
The funny MJ conversations thread.
Let's Chat...I'm There...How About You..?
Does anybody cry every single day??
Who else loves the alternate version of BOTDF video?
Do you think there will ever be a credible biography of Michael's life?
Do you think Michael was an organ donor?
Facebook Users, Please Join My FB Group!
MSG 30th Anniversary Celebration on German channel 3 sat!! Tomorow at 20:00 o'clock!
Was the King of Pop, Rock, & Soul a reincarnation of the Maestro of Classical Music?
OMG !! Does This SONG Talk To You...?
URGENT VOTE FOR MICHAEL! Poll closes within 2 hours!
Did Michael ever meet with/speak to the Dalai Lama?
Alternative version of "We Be Ballin' You" !!!
Michael left us in 2009... tomorrow we'll say "last year"
Did "Will You Be There" make you cry the first time you heard it??
I have to give a huge middlefinger to dutch tv guy Paul de leeuw!
Michael Jackson went out on Studio 54!!
What happen to Wayne and Bill Bray?
Michael Jackson - Billie Jean - sung Live Victory Tour 1984 - High Quality!!!!!
Looking for something Prince said about MJ.
Which Michael Jackson accessory are you?
Great video of Diddy at Letterman about MJ at a party to see Beyonce!
According to this 'animal lover' MJ did not love animals, but loved to collect them.
Do you guys ever wonder about michael's kids...?
This computer generated tribute is AWESOME!
What were the Invincible outtakes again?


For sale 4-storey villa of 430 sq.meters in Attica. The first floor consists of one storeroom. The second floor consists of one bedroom, one bathroom. The third floor consists of living room with kitchen, living room, one WC. The fourth floor consists of 2 bedrooms, one bathroom. Villa has double-frontage layout has a wonderfull sea view, mountain view, forest view, also contains furniture, security doors, solar water heater, fireplace, air-conditioner, swimming pool, parking, garden, grass, garage, heating, alarm system, storeroom.
Situated at the beginning of a forest, and the end of the village and viewing the sea of Evoikos bay, the real estate lies among an enchanting garden with 120 big trees and about 800 decorative plants and bushes, as well as 50 vineyard plants lying on a linear arrangement of the Merlot kind for amateurish wine production.
The real estate is also allotted furnished, as well as with the full gardening equipment.


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Articles / Сelebrities
See What The 90's Female Sex Symbols Look Like Today
Forever Young: Sharon Stone and Cindy Crawford in Snaps 25 Years Apart
Demi Moore and Her Daughters Star in Swimwear For New Campaign
5 Stars with Really Big Feet
Sharon Stone and Elsa Hosk Are Interested in Painting (and show their best paintings)
Expectation vs. Reality: Cindy Crawford Creates Her Meme About Work-From-Home
Painting and TikTok Dances: What Celebrities Do in Quarantine
Gwyneth Paltrow and Demi Moore at "Makeup-Free" Party
Star Couples That'll Make You Believe in Love
Top 6 Movies About Strong Women
Family Values: Keanu Reeves (not be the only one) Brings Mom to Oscars 2020
Brilliantly! Stone, Theron and Rodriguez Hit the Party
61-year-old Sharon Stone Hit the Vanity Fair Party
Сelebrities Read min 20.02.2020 00:18
The 90's is a time when posters with supermodels and Hollywood actresses decorated the walls of almost every apartment. Supermodels Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiff and actresses Demi Moore and Sharon Stone were real superstars. Let's see what the 90's female sex symbols look like and what do they do today.
Cindy Crawford has made a real revolution in the modeling business. Despite the fact that the girl's shape did not meet the canonical requirements, Cindy was one of the most successful models in 90's. She was one of the first to pose nude for Playboy magazine. Crawford topped rankings of the most beautiful and sexiest women in the world. Great couturier Karl Lagerfeld called her "Dream girl of every American".
Cindy is 52 now, but she still loses the spotlight: she publishes books and is actively involved in charity. In 2015, the young woman decided to shoot for Marie Claire magazine without using photoshop and retouching.
Former model Sharon Stone became one of the most coveted actresses in Hollywood after starring in the erotic thriller Basic Instinct in 1992. The role of a passionate femme fatale became strongly associated with Sharon, and in her further acting career, she had to play similar characters – sensual and confident women. This role made Stone one of the most prominent sex symbols of the 90's.
Now Sharon Stone is 61, and she keeps starring in movies and TV series, participating in charity. Actress's fans admire the way she looks now and her impeccable sense of style.
The role in the TV series "Baywatch" brought Pamela the real fame: the scene where Pamela is running along the beach in a red swimsuit became iconic for television in those years. Confirming her status as the sex symbol of America, Pamela participated in a candid photoshoot and became a Playboy superstar. Posters with her pictures are still associated with the cheeky spirit of the 90's era.
Currently, Pamela Anderson is rarely seen in movies, although since "Baywatch", the actress had a few prominent roles in television series. Pamela has been a reality show contestant more than once, but at the moment, 52-year-old Anderson is more focused on charitable activities and her personal life. More than that, Pamela is trying to move away from the sexual image and even replaced breast implants – several sizes smaller.
Demi Moore is another sex symbol of the era, but, unlike Pamela Anderson, whose image is associated with sexuality and passion, Demi's image is associated with sensuality. Demi became popular thanks to her role of Molly – a petite girl with hooligan men's haircut in the movie Ghost in 1990. A nude photo of a pregnant Demi for the Vanity Fair cover in 1991 made a splash. In 1997, the Shape publication named her the most beautiful women alive (Cindy Crawford was the second).
In recent years, Demi is not so often seen in the movies: the actress has long suffered from depression due to her divorce from Ashton Kutcher and a child loss. However, now Demi returns to the movies: comedy "Corporate animals" with her participation was released in 2019. She is also going to take part in several promising projects in the near future. Recently, the actress hit the Academy Awards after-party.
Another Karl Lagerfeld's muse. The maestro called the supermodel the new Brigitte Bardot. During her long career as a model, Schiffer managed not only to collaborate with leading fashion houses, but to get into the Guinness Book of records as the model with the largest number of pictures for the gloss. At the time, she was considered to be the highest-paid model in the world. Funny is the fact that Schiffer can also be called a successful actress for her role in the romcom "Love Actually" Claudia received about 200 thousand pounds, despite the fact that her screen time lasted less than a minute.
Looking at Claudia Schiffer's photos, it is hard to believe that the German model turned 49 this year. She is still in demand, but rather not as a model and actress but as a businesswoman: Claudia launched her own cosmetic brand Claudia Schiffer Make Up and actively participates in collaborations with well-known brands, creating her own clothing and footwear lines.
by Tamila Kurbanova
#Sharon Stone
#demi moore
#cindy crawfard
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In my experience, the White Russian is a drink everyone loves but few remember to order. As it happens, it was the first mixed drink I ever truly enjoyed—perhaps it was the velvety swirl of cream that softened the boozy punch of vodka just enough for my unseasoned palate—so I like to revisit it every year when the weather starts to cool. This year I opted to modify the classic recipe with a sprinkle of activated charcoal. This tasteless powder (all the rage right now due to its purifying properties) instantly turns the mixture of Kahlua and vodka from dark brown to the blackest of black. All that's left to do is swirl in some heavy cream for a spooky, ghostlike finish.
And for extra Halloween flair, top this tipple off with a edible skull drink stirrer made from white chocolate. It's a super-easy DIY that'll satisfy your sweet tooth—because if you're old enough to drink this drink, you're too old to go trick-or-treating. We all have our crosses to bear.
1. Fill glass with ice. Add Kahlua, vodka and charcoal (just pop open the pill and tip the powder in) and stir.
2. Top with heavy cream. Pro tip: to get the swirled, layered look, slowly pour the cream down the back of a spoon.
1. Melt white chocolate in the microwave and pour into a skull mold. I used this one. Refrigerate until solid.
2. Using a paring knife, chisel out a little channel in the base of each side of the skull (this sounds weirdly medical, no?). Make sure your drink stirrer fits nicely into the channels.
3. Melt a little more white chocolate and spread some on the skull halves. Place the drink stirrer between halves and press together until the two sides meet. Use your finger to smooth out any chocolate that may have oozed out. Refrigerate before serving.


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Maynard Jackson Mayoral Administrative Records: Series E: Campaigns
Identifier: 0000-0000-0000-0075e
Scope and contents This series contains financial files, thank you letters, volunteer records, and records of special events and constituency groups. The subseries are: 1968-1969 U.S. Senate and Vice Mayoral Campaign; 1973 Mayoral Campaign; 1977 Mayoral Campaign; 1989 Mayoral Campaign; and Oversized materials. Campaign 1968-1969 provides a brief glimpse into Jackson's run for the United States Senate against Herman Talmadge, in which he was defeated; however, it primarily includes his successful race for Vice...
Found in: Robert W. Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center, Inc. / Maynard Jackson Mayoral Administrative Records: Series E: Campaigns
Maynard Jackson mayoral administrative records. Series B: First and second term mayoral records
Identifier: 0000-0000-0000-0075b
Scope and contents The First and second mayoral terms series documents Jackson's ascension as the first African American mayor of Atlanta. Arranged in alphabetical order, this series chronicles Jackson's political life between the years of 1973 and 1981. Notable achievements within this series include the formation of the city council, his efforts towards the revitalization of Atlanta's neighborhoods, and mandating inclusion of Blacks in the city's growing economic development. Major business deals Jackson...
Found in: Robert W. Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center, Inc. / Maynard Jackson mayoral administrative records. Series B: First and second term mayoral records
Maynard Jackson mayoral administrative records. Series A: Vice Mayoral records
Identifier: 0000-0000-0000-0075a
Scope and contents The Vice Mayoral series is a small series that provides a glimpse into Jackson's introduction into political office, including his brief campaign for the U.S. Senate. Arranged alphabetically, this series documents his political career from 1968-1973. This series contains records pertaining to the various committees Jackson served on while Vice Mayor such as: the Police Committee; Zoning Committee; Aviation Committee; Water Committee; and Democratic National Committee. Correspondence from...
Found in: Robert W. Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center, Inc. / Maynard Jackson mayoral administrative records. Series A: Vice Mayoral records
Subject: News X
African American press 2
Voter registration 2
Race discrimination 1


Warm hearts and bellies with this comfort food staple. Expertly crafted with you in mind, Pioneer Country Sausage Gravy Mix is thick, creamy and infused with the unmistakable flavor of savory sausage. Whip up a package of Country Sauage Gravy with your next meal and enjoy a no fuss, memorable homestyle meal that will keep friends and family coming back for more.
BLEND Sausage Gravy Mix with 1/2 cup cool water.
GROUND PORK, PORK STOCK, PEPPER, ONION, NONFAT MILK, MOLASSES, YEAST EXTRACT, NATURAL FLAVORS, DEXTROSE, SODIUM CASEINATE, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, MONO & DIGLYCERIDES, SODIUM CITRATE, CARRAGEENAN, DISODIUM GUANYLATE AND INOSINATE (FLAVOR ENHANCERS).