text:
Q: Looking for a more efficient way of writing some basic if else jQuery script I feel like my script is really redundant and could be written allot more efficiently. If anyone has a better way of doing this please share.
Basically i am showing and hiding a div depending on what radio button is selected using if else statements.
Here is the JQuery
//SUMMARY REVIEW DROPDOWN MODULES(FILTER-DROPDOWN)
$(function () {
   //Values of checked radio buttons
  var cd_empty = $('input[id=m4]');
  var adr_empty = $('input[id=m2]');
  var ocpy_empty = $('input[id=m1]');
  var revpar_empty = $('input[id=m3]');
  var cd_checked = $('input[id=m4]:checked', '.ddm-inputs').val();
  var adr_checked = $('input[id=m2]:checked', '.ddm-inputs').val();
  var ocpy_checked = $('input[id=m1]:checked', '.ddm-inputs').val();
  var revpar_checked = $('input[id=m3]:checked', '.ddm-inputs').val();
  var module2 = $('.dd-module-2');

   if(cd_checked === 'on') {
    module2.fadeIn();
   }
  // else {
  //   module2.fadeOut();
  // }

  $(cd_empty).click(
    function(e){
      if ($(this).is(':checked')){
        if(module2.css('display') === 'block') {
          // module2.slideUp();
          // alert('its already open');
          preventDefault(e);
        }
        else {
          module2.slideToggle();
        }
      }

  });

  $(adr_empty).click(
    function(e){
      if ($(this).is(':checked')){
        if(module2.css('display') === 'block') {
          // module2.slideUp();
          // alert('its open');
          module2.slideToggle();
        }
        else {
          // alert('its not open');
          module2.hide();
        }
      }
  });

  $(revpar_empty).click(
    function(e){
      if ($(this).is(':checked')){
        if(module2.css('display') === 'block') {
          // module2.slideUp();
          // alert('its open');
          module2.slideToggle();
        }
        else {
          // alert('its not open');
          module2.hide();
        }
      }
  });

  $(ocpy_empty).click(
    function(e){
      if ($(this).is(':checked')){
        if(module2.css('display') === 'block') {
          // module2.slideUp();
          // alert('its open');
          module2.slideToggle();
        }
        else {
          // alert('its not open');
          module2.hide();
        }
      }
  });

});

A: for a start, these functions do the exact same thing:
$(adr_empty).click(
    function(e){
      if ($(this).is(':checked')){
        if(module2.css('display') === 'block') {
          // module2.slideUp();
          // alert('its open');
          module2.slideToggle();
        }
        else {
          // alert('its not open');
          module2.hide();
        }
      }
  });

  $(revpar_empty).click(
    function(e){
      if ($(this).is(':checked')){
        if(module2.css('display') === 'block') {
          // module2.slideUp();
          // alert('its open');
          module2.slideToggle();
        }
        else {
          // alert('its not open');
          module2.hide();
        }
      }
  });

  $(ocpy_empty).click(
    function(e){
      if ($(this).is(':checked')){
        if(module2.css('display') === 'block') {
          // module2.slideUp();
          // alert('its open');
          module2.slideToggle();
        }
        else {
          // alert('its not open');
          module2.hide();
        }
      }
  });

You can change them into the same function, as well as taking out the var selectors. So, replace with this:
$('input#m1, input#m2, input#m3').click(
    function(e){
      if ($(this).is(':checked')){
        if(module2.css('display') === 'block') {
          // module2.slideUp();
          // alert('its open');
          module2.slideToggle();
        }
        else {
          // alert('its not open');
          module2.hide();
        }
      }
  });

Already you can see your code starting to get cleaner... this should give you a good start to re-factoring.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Definitely a Dog Thing huh? Your critters look most thrilled with their new water source as well swimmin hole - their faces just have a "what can we get into next" expresssion!
Nothing like a new spa to perk you up on a hot day! Just what a hairy dog needs. But not MY hairy dogs. They detest water unless they're drinking it.
It must be a bit dangerous to be in the spray when those two shake the water off! They are getting so big!
I hardly recognize those pups! They're growing up so fast!
Aww! I love your new sheep dogs! They look so happy :D. Ibet they'll help keep the deer away from your lovely garden too!
Will these guys get shaved too? They have to be hot. It's about 100 here today and we've got at least three more days of it. Even the cold water doesn't seem to help out.
How is your new home coming along? Will you be moving in this year?
That's hilarious!!! My sheep HATE it when one of the labs ( namely Vinnie ) decides to cool off in the water buckets. I guess it's just not their thing. Even tho Vinnie gives them kisses for letting him get cooled off, they just don't like " Labrador-flevored water " .
Is there room for me? Hot, hot, hot here in NH!
Cutest little pups - and no doubt mischievous as their little faces clearly show!


text:
Delinda Collier Repainting the Walls of Lunda: Information Colonialism and Angolan Art Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2016. 264 pp.; 37 b/w ills. Paper $25.00 (9780816694488 )
David Riep
The topic of remediation has recently come to the forefront of academic study across disciplines ranging from TED talks to symposia merging African art and media studies. It is within this vein that Delinda Collier examines the complexities of remediation in both form and content in Repainting the Walls of Lunda: Information Colonialism and Angolan Art. The text centers its discussion of the varied intricacies of analog and digital media by tracking Chokwe mural and sand (sona) arts and symbolism through numerous iterations dating from the 1950s until the early 2000s. With each example, Collier discusses the external influences of context in Angola and beyond, as well as the theoretical impact of new media upon African art. This journey—which begins with source material from Chokwe artists in Lunda North before moving to José Redinha's book Paredes pintadas da Lunda (Painted Walls of Lunda; Lisbon: Companhia de Diamantes de Angola, 1953) and arriving at the digital Cultura Lunda Tchokwe and Lunda Tchokwe websites—offers a fascinating look at remediation and meaning, and links artistic production on the African continent with the broader field of cybernetics and media studies.
The stage is set for this dialogue in the book's introduction which orients the reader with the central visual element: Lunda Chokwe iconography and their subsequent remediation. Such iconography includes the unique arrangement of geometric design elements such as chevrons, triangles, and squares, as well as the figural and nonfigural linear symbols found across media from mural arts, sona (sand art) compositions, and the surface embellishment of masks. Throughout this section, Collier does an excellent job broadly presenting the various iterations of this subject matter, starting with the watercolor reproductions by Redinha that appeared in his book, through their more recent appearance in digital online media. While presenting this material, Collier links these visual reiterations to the shift from territorial colonialism to informational/technological colonialism, while also highlighting the impact of southern African industry upon the visual arts—both classical and contemporary. The book's theoretical framework is constructed through this discussion, presenting the conundrum of technological innovation engaging with "primitive" Africa. While readers will be best served with a working knowledge of both media and communication theory, Collier concisely describes how various media of communication affect perception, understanding, and value, and aptly applies such notions to the presentation and interpretation of Chokwe art.
Chapter 1 focuses on Redinha's text set against the notion of remediation, both through media (i.e., murals to print media) and Redinha's role as a mediator—and outsider—for the visual material. Collier goes to great lengths to unpack the significance of the Diamang mining corporation in the Lunda North province, noting the role of scientific colonialism this corporation enacted in order to promote Portuguese largesse and justify a colonial presence. Collier also presents a concise version of Chokwe history in this same region, providing the reader with sufficient background to grasp the significance of Diamang's entry onto northeast Angola. This is followed by a discussion of the extent of Diamang's activities throughout the region, beyond the diamond mines. Collier draws important connections between cultural entities, such as the corporate-sponsored Dundo Museum and its publications, and their role as a source of industrial propaganda, while at the same time extracting information and remediating it in both form and content to suit corporate needs. Throughout this discussion, Collier draws upon the work of various postcolonial theorists in order to create a sound framework for describing the extent, or lack thereof, to which imperial concepts, such as Lusotropicalism, were enacted in Angola. Although this discussion drives most of the chapter, Collier provides balance with a close examination of Chokwe visual arts, which is unpacked through such sources as Marie-Louise Bastin's Art décoratif Tshokwe (Chokwe Decorative Art; 2 vols., Lisbon: Diamang, 1961). As a result, Collier provides various ways of approaching Redinha's text, prompting the question of whether classical Chokwe art and iconography dictates the artist or whether there is room for creativity and individual agency—and how this might impact the colonial dialogue.
Chapter 2 addresses global implications of mid-century anthropology and the impact on indigenous knowledge systems, which are locally developed frameworks of information that provide solutions to contemporary problems based on sophisticated interpretations of one's worldview. While the notion of "analog Africa" is introduced in chapter 1, Collier expands on this topic, addressing and deconstructing the mythologies and engaging with the role of technology in the colonial process. This is done by revisiting Paredes pintadas da Lunda from the perspective of media rather than content, drawing from contemporary perspectives on indigenous knowledge systems and media apparatus by applying the perspectives of scholars ranging from Marshall McLuhan to Ron Eglash. This theoretical apparatus frames Collier's contextual analysis of Paredes pintadas da Lunda at both the dawn of Angolan independence as well as the height of the Cold War, and it serves as a foundation for comparative analysis of local Chokwe arts and their acts of defying Western expectations. Perhaps the most concrete example of this is Collier's discussion of Chokwe sona (sand) performance—a temporal expression—and Redinha's willingness to both (re)interpret and arrest this performance art within print media.
Chapter 3 narrates efforts to remediate the aforementioned painted murals as expressions of Angolan nationalism, post-independence in 1975. Throughout the chapter, Collier analyzes the reiteration of these traditional arts and their role in postcolonial cultural policies. She examines the work of independence-era artists who adapt Chokwe imagery, with specific focus on Vitor Manuel Teixeira, and offers a fine critical reading on the claims of such artists and their stated intent. Collier also spends ample time presenting Teixeira's oeuvre and formal development alongside the shifting political situation, complete with convincing formal interpretations. She does an equally effective job analyzing Teixeira's work alongside other media, such as poetry and print, in order to situate the artist's iconography. This discussion flows nicely with the overarching premise of the book, as one recognizes the impact of post-independence artists on art production in a similar manner to Redinha's earlier "workshops" through his role as cofounder of a state-run art school. Collier positions this against the anti- and post-colonial context, which she expounds upon in some detail for those who may be unfamiliar with it. This expansive chapter also addresses numerous peripheral topics, such as the notion of the New Man (Homem Novo) and the specific nationalism linked with the Angolanidade literary and philosophical movement in Angola, as well as the role of museums in creating national unity. Such discussions maintain the book's common thread by broadly positioning Chokwe arts as proof of local ingenuity, while also highlighting specific Chokwe arts as the source material for the application of Angolanidade philosophy. Thus, Collier highlights the tension between individualism and communalism through art and the museum.
The final chapter analyzes the situation in Angola after the 2002 ceasefire and the subsequent triennial of contemporary art in Luanda. This section features an intriguing discussion of the dissemination of Lunda Chokwe culture in digital media, and it interrogates the idea of online media as both open (collective) and closed (corporate/industrial). Collier again establishes the analog-digital Africa discussion, and engages with the final iteration of Chokwe murals in new media. Her examination of two online heritage projects that digitized material from Paredes pintadas da Lunda explores how the manipulation of images impacts notions of ownership and aesthetics while also prompting the question of whether this final act of remediation is any different than Redinha's initial act. This topic folds nicely into Collier's evaluation of digital media and the notion of ghostings/disappearances, as well as the "colonial apparatus" of the printed book, which is now digested by digital media. Collier expresses this through an intriguing discussion of new media, where she presents artists who both critically examine technology while simultaneously using it in both local and global contexts.
Despite its complex topical exploration, Repainting the Walls of Lunda is well organized and clearly written. It successfully engages broad theoretical concepts linking art, cybernetics, and media theory, while maintaining its focus on the shifting iterations of Chokwe iconography. Although Collier acknowledges the varied ways of approaching and discussing such material, along with the broader concept of "media ecologies," she has nonetheless produced a useful resource for studies of postcolonial Africa and the process of modernization.
Assistant Professor, Art History, Department of Art and Art History, Colorado State University

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Home » Courses » CUK Courses » 2007 Fall » Archive by category "Intermediate English Composition, Fall 2007"
Welcome to Intermediate English Composition!
Posted on September 5, 2007 by mrgord in Intermediate English Composition, Fall 2007.
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Posted on October 9, 2007 by mrgord in Intermediate English Composition, Fall 2007.
Posted on October 31, 2007 by mrgord in Intermediate English Composition, Fall 2007.
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Posted on November 8, 2007 by mrgord in Intermediate English Composition, Fall 2007.
Posted on November 11, 2007 by mrgord in Intermediate English Composition, Fall 2007.
What will we do in week 15?
Posted on December 6, 2007 by mrgord in Intermediate English Composition, Fall 2007.
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text:
Abbott Initiates Clinical Trial of Absorb™ in the United States
08 Jan, 2013, 13:30 GMT
– First-of-its-Kind Drug Eluting Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold Now Being Evaluated in U.S. Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
– Study Will Compare the Innovative Absorb Device to the World's Leading Metallic Drug Eluting Stent in a Head-to-Head Trial
ABBOTT PARK, Illinois, Jan. 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced today the initiation of the ABSORB III clinical trial in patients in the United States. This randomized, controlled trial is designed to enroll approximately 2,250 patients, the majority in the United States, and compare the performance of Abbott's drug eluting Absorb™ Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold (BVS) device to the company's XIENCE™ family of drug eluting stents. The start of this trial in the United States follows the recent international commercial launch of Absorb in Europe and parts of Latin America and Asia, including the recent regulatory approval and launch in India – a country with a significant and growing prevalence of heart disease. Data from the ABSORB III trial will support U.S. regulatory filings for Absorb.
Absorb, a drug eluting, fully bioresorbable vascular scaffold(1), is an innovative device for the treatment of coronary artery disease, which is a narrowing of one or more arteries that supply blood to the heart. Absorb is made of polylactide, a naturally dissolvable material that is commonly used in medical implants such as dissolving sutures. Absorb works by opening a clogged vessel and restoring blood flow to the heart similar to a drug eluting metallic stent, the current standard of care. Absorb then dissolves into the blood vessel, leaving behind a treated vessel that may resume more natural function and movement because it is free of a permanent metallic implant.(1,2)
Dean Kereiakes, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, medical director of The Christ Hospital Heart & Vascular Center and the Lindner Research Center in Cincinnati, and professor of clinical medicine at Ohio State University, was one of the first physicians to enroll a patient into the ABSORB III trial. "The deliverability of the Absorb device is impressive and similar to a best-in-class drug eluting stent," said Dr. Kereiakes, who is a co-primary investigator of the ABSORB III trial. "Absorb combines the unique attributes of a dissolvable material with the established MULTI-LINK stent design, making the scaffold flexible and conformable to the vessel."
The ABSORB III clinical trial is designed to evaluate potential benefits of Absorb in patients with coronary artery disease. Unlike a permanent metallic stent, preliminary evidence of natural vessel function suggests that treatment with an Absorb BVS could provide important clinical benefits.
"With the introduction of balloon angioplasty in the 1970s, cardiologists wanted to open a blocked vessel without leaving anything behind. Absorb represents the latest innovation that may help us reach this goal, which could result in important long-term benefits related to the restoration of natural vessel function," said Stephen Ellis, M.D., section head of Interventional Cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic and co-primary investigator of the ABSORB III trial. "The data collected on Absorb from the ABSORB III trial could have the potential to drive significant changes in how cardiologists treat patients with coronary artery disease."
The primary endpoint of ABSORB III is target lesion failure, a combined measure of safety and efficacy, at one year. In addition, a subset of patients within the trial will be evaluated for novel endpoints such as vasomotion, a measure of how much natural motion returns to the vessel as Absorb dissolves into the arterial tissue.
"Absorb is an excellent demonstration of Abbott's continued global leadership and innovation. The ABSORB III trial will provide important insight about the benefits of Absorb in U.S. patients with heart disease and will supplement the knowledge gained about this technology since the start of international clinical trials of Absorb in 2006," said Charles A. Simonton, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, divisional vice president, Medical Affairs, and chief medical officer, Abbott Vascular. "The advancement of Absorb into clinical trials in the United States represents an important step in the process of filing for U.S. regulatory approval – with the goal of establishing Absorb as a new therapeutic option to treat U.S. patients with heart disease, the number one killer of men and women."
About the Absorb Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold
The Absorb Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold, similar to a small mesh tube, is designed to open a blocked heart vessel and restore blood flow to the heart. Absorb is referred to as a scaffold to indicate that it is a temporary structure, unlike a metallic stent, which is a permanent implant. The scaffold provides support to the vessel until the artery can stay open on its own, and then dissolves naturally over time. Absorb leaves patients with a vessel free of a permanent metallic implant and may allow the vessel to resume more natural function and movement, potentially providing long-term benefits.(1,2)
Abbott's BVS delivers everolimus, an anti-proliferative drug used in Abbott's XIENCE coronary stent systems. Everolimus was developed by Novartis Pharma AG and is licensed to Abbott by Novartis for use on its drug eluting vascular devices. Everolimus has been shown to inhibit in-stent neointimal growth in the coronary vessels following stent or scaffold implantation.
Approximately 1,000 patients from more than 20 countries have been treated with the Absorb BVS device across multiple clinical trials, with data out to five years on the first patients treated.
Absorb is an investigational device, limited by United States law to investigational use and is not approved or available for sale in the United States. Absorb is authorized for sale in CE Mark countries. Absorb is available in Europe, the Middle East, parts of Latin America, and parts of Asia Pacific, including India, Hong Kong, Malaysia and New Zealand.
The MULTI-LINK stent design includes MULTI-LINK VISION®, XIENCE V®, XIENCE PRIME® and, most recently, XIENCE Xpedition™. More than 11 million implants of the MULTI-LINK platform have occurred worldwide.
About Abbott Vascular
Abbott Vascular is the world's leader in drug eluting stents. Abbott Vascular has an industry-leading pipeline and a comprehensive portfolio of market-leading products for cardiac and vascular care, including products for coronary artery disease, vessel closure, endovascular disease and structural heart disease.
Abbott is a global healthcare company devoted to improving life through the development of products and technologies that span the breadth of healthcare. With a portfolio of leading, science-based offerings in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic pharmaceuticals, Abbott serves people in more than 150 countries and employs approximately 70,000 people.
Visit Abbott at www.abbott.com and connect with us on Twitter at @AbbottNews.
(1) Absorb completely dissolves except for two pairs of tiny metallic markers, which help guide placement and remain in the artery to enable a physician to see where the device was placed.
(2) Preliminary evidence suggests that natural vessel function is possible and may improve long term outcomes. Absorb is a trademark of the Abbott Group of Companies.
SOURCE Abbott


text:
Dream Trips
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Travel truths
Why travelling to Austria's top ski resorts by train is easier than you think
All aboard the Alpen Express Credit: treinreiswinkel/ANTO
Lucy Aspden, Online Ski Editor
Lucy Aspden
This winter's timetables for the Alpen Express train to nearly 100 of Austria's top ski resorts have been released, offering skiers and snowboarders a low-emission alternative to flying this season.
The service runs weekly throughout the ski season, with the first departure on Friday 20 December 2019 and the final return journey on Saturday 14 March 2020.
In an appealing twist, the journey offers the chance to add a stop in a European city to a ski trip. Following a Eurostar journey from London to Amsterdam or Brussels, the Alpen Express then speeds to the heart of the mountains, providing access to resorts such as Kitzbühel, Söll, Mayrhofen, Ischgl, Sölden and St Anton.
What's more, it's estimated that taking the train to the Austrian Alps cuts emissions by around 80 per cent, in comparison to travelling by plane.
Departing London on Fridays the journey reaches Austrian resorts on Saturday morning.
The 11:04 Eurostar to Amsterdam from London, a route that launched last year, arrives at 16:11, skiers and snowboarders then change to the overnight Alpen Express, which departs at 18:59, giving them the chance to grab dinner in the Dutch hotspot, before arriving in Austrian resorts such as Kitzbühel at 08:42 or St Anton at 10:43 the following morning.
Inside one of the trains sleeper carriages Credit: henk zwoferink/ANTO
Alternatively travellers can take the 15:04 Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, changing swiftly to a high-speed train to Cologne, which arrives in the German city at 20:15. After a chance to freshen up or have a meal near the Rhine, at 22:26 passengers then join the Alpen Express train that transports them overnight to the Austrian Alps.
Night travel is very comfortable thanks to the train's sleeper carriages. With three varieties on offer it's more than just a plump-up-your-coat and sleep against the window journey. There are six and five-berth sleeping cars as well as luxury private carriages for one to three people.
Travelling by train to the Alps is not a new concept. Many skiers and snowboarders will be familiar with the popular Eurostar service direct to the Savoie region, which regularly sells out each winter and provides access to many of the top resorts in France, on a journey from London St Pancras to Moûtiers, Aime la Plagne and Bourg St Maurice. The Austrian alternative, which has been running since 2016, is less well known.
10 of the best ski resorts you can reach by train
Compared to traditional ski holiday packages, which often include flights that arrive and depart on Saturdays or Sundays, taking the train and arriving early offers the chance to gain an extra two days on the slopes, as the return leg only departs on Saturday evening.
Other benefits of travelling by train include unlimited luggage with no weight restrictions, meaning skiers and snowboarders can pack all their essential equipment as well as plentiful food and drink for the journey (with more available to buy onboard), without the worry of strict security procedures. There are also often discounts for children and groups. A bar onboard and the late-night running of the Alpen Express service often means one of the carriages turn into a high-speed party for like-minded skiers and snowboarders enroute to the slopes.
"This journey combining Eurostar and Alpen Express means that there's an attractive option for skiers looking for an enjoyable, relaxing and sustainable alternative to flying or driving. Many Austrian ski resorts have stations right in the village, meaning there is no transfer at all, and you can be making fresh tracks on the mountain in next to no time," said Daniel Elkan, founder of rail-ski guide Snowcarbon.
Kitzbuhel is one of the many resorts accessible by train in Austria Credit: Michael Werlberger/Michael Werlberger
As 'flight shame', or 'tagskryt' to give it its Scandinavian name, rises in the UK and holidaymakers become more conscious of their impact on the environment, research by Best Foot Forward, a global sustainability consultancy, calculated that a one-way journey by plane from London to the Austrian resorts of Zell am See-Kaprun generates 111kg of harmful CO2 per person. By comparison a rail journey to the same destination generates 23kg.
"For skiers and for ski resorts, sustainability is a huge and important issue. We are really pleased that these overnight train options mean that skiers get a chance to enjoy more time on the slopes, have a quality journey and make their holidays in Austria much greener," said Martina Jamnig, UK director of the Austrian National Tourist Office.
With prices starting from €179 for a return journey for the Alpen Express leg of the journey and return Eurostar tickets to Amsterdam or Brussels and then Cologne starting from £70 and £53 respectively, it's by no means a cheaper alternative than flying but taking the train can certainly ease the strain on travellers' carbon footprint.
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text:
The 13 Funniest Military Memes Of The Week
THE FIT Plan
MIGHTY SURVIVAL
MIGHTY TRENDING
MIGHTY TACTICAL
MIGHTY CULTURE
MIGHTY GAMING
MIGHTY FIT
MIGHTY MONEY
MIGHTY HISTORY
MIGHTY SPORTS
MIGHTY MOVIES
The MIGHTY FIT Plan
MIGHTY MEMES
MIGHTY HEROES
MIGHTY STORIES
These vets share the challenges they faced transitioning back to civilian life
Team Mighty
Posted On February 05, 2020 19:03:04
WATM hosted groups of veterans to answer several questions about their time in the military. The vets kept it real when responding to topics ranging from relationships to recruiters.
Editor's note: If you have ideas for questions that you'd like to see a group of veterans answer, please leave a comment below.
Music courtesy of Jingle Punks:
All Ears – Auracle
Anyone Else-JP – The Beards
The ridiculous way British sailors were ordered to stop U-boats in WW1
Today I Found Out
Posted On April 29, 2020 15:46:26
In the opening days of WW1, Unterseeboots, better known simply as U-boats, proved to be a potent and constant threat to Allied ships, with one U-boat identified as SM U-9 infamously killing nearly 1,500 British sailors in less than an hour by sinking three armoured British cruisers on Sept. 22, 1914. That same U-boat would go on to sink over a dozen British ships during its naval career, with targets ranging from small fishing boats caught in open water to the Edgar-class protected cruiser, HMS Hawke.
The Edgar-class protected cruiser, HMS Hawke.
The reason for the U-boat success in the early going of the war was, in part, due to the fact that when they were submerged they were undetectable by technology of the day.
Another factor that played into German hands is that the Allies, especially the British, consistently downplayed the danger posed by submarines and their value in combat. In fact, at first British Naval brass simply refused to acknowledge that U-boats were sinking ships. For example, the aforementioned actions of U-boat SM U-9 were initially attributed to mines.
In short, British Naval officers had little faith in the potential of submarines and wrote them off as a mere fascination that had no real potential in combat beyond novelty. Thus, they did little at first to try to come up with viable ways to combat them.
Things got real, however, when U-boats like SM U-9 began targeting British supply ships, almost bringing the country to its knees when it found itself unable to secure even basic provisions for its citizens and factories.
A solution was needed. But how to take out a target that is capable of disappearing at will?
It was quickly noted that one weakness of the U-boat was that it needed to use its periscope to mark its target before attacking. This presented a brief, but exploitable window of opportunity to attack the craft in some way. But how?
Up until the introduction of depth charges in 1916, while mines and large nets were utilized to protect certain areas with some minor effect, the conclusion of the Admiralty Submarine Attack Committee was that the best thing to do was simply for ships to either run away from or try to ram the U-boats when the periscope was spotted.
Naturally, beyond risking damage to your own vessel, getting closer to the thing that's about to shoot you with an otherwise somewhat unreliably accurate torpedo isn't ideal, nor is necessarily trying to run away when you're already a marked target. However, it is at least noted that with the periscope up, U-boats couldn't go faster than about 6 knots and, as stated, torpedoes of the age weren't terribly accurate or reliable so the more distance you could get between you and the U-boat the better. In the end, these two methods weren't totally ineffective, but a better solution was still needed.
German submarine, U-9, on return Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
(Illustration by Willy Stöwer)
This all got the wheels turning among the military think tanks, with the result being some rather humorous proposals as to how to solve the U-boat problem, with particular emphasis put on somehow taking out the periscope. After all, without the periscope, the U-boat's only way to target a foe would be to completely surface, making it a relatively easy target for more traditional and accurate weaponry. With proper escorts for the supply ships, this could easily solve the U-boat problem.
But how to take out the periscope?
A suggestion by the British Board of Invention and Research was to train seagulls to fly at the periscopes, which would both make the presence of the periscope more apparent and potentially obscure the vision of the person looking through the periscope long enough to take action… To do this, it was suggested that they feed seagulls in certain regions they wanted protected through periscope like devices.
Next up, there was a suggestion to simply put a type of paint in the water with the hopes that it would get on the periscope lens, blinding the operator.
Going back to animals, a sea lion trainer called Joseph Woodward was hired to look into the possibility of training sea lions to detect U-boats and then hopefully alert the British of their presence. Unfortunately it isn't known whether this method was effective, though the Royal Society does note that the training of at least some sea lions was performed. We presume given that the program wasn't expanded beyond trials that it wasn't terribly effective or perhaps not practical.
As you might imagine, none of these methods went anywhere. But this brings us to the rather absurd method that does seem to have been put into practice.
In the early days of the war, sailors were put on small patrol boats, all equipped with the latest and greatest in anti-submarine technology — large hammers and bags.
They were thus instructed that if they saw a periscope popping up to the surface, they were to try to get close to it, then have one person place a bag over the periscope while another got their Whack-A-Mole on in an attempt to destroy it, hopefully all before any target could be identified and a torpedo launched.
Exactly how effective this tactic is isn't clear but we do know that it was popular enough for at least one senior officer aboard the HMS Exmouth to enlist the help of burly blacksmiths with extra large hammers to patrol with sailors aboard the smaller boats. With their amazing hammering abilities, both in strength and blow accuracy, presumably it was hoped they'd do a better job than your average sailor at quickly taking out a periscope.
Of course, as more sophisticated technologies were developed, this tactic, sadly, became obsolete. But never forget for a brief, but glorious time in history, there was a guy who could claim his job was to hunt submarines with a giant hammer, no doubt giving a cry of "For Asgard!!!" before smiting his foe.
This article originally appeared on Today I Found Out. Follow @TodayIFoundOut on Twitter.
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VA diagnoses 4,000 cases of colon cancer each year: how to get screened at home
Denise put off a screening colonoscopy for two years. When she finally did, she was diagnosed with rectal cancer.
"I was fortunate. My cancer was in the early stages and surgery offered me a cure. The prep was not that bad. The sedation made me wonder, 'Is that all there is to it?' The moral of my story is if I had waited until I had symptoms, it would have been too late."
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the U.S. It is also the second leading cause of cancer deaths, behind lung cancer. The yearly death toll from colorectal cancer in America exceeds the total number of American combat deaths during the entire Vietnam War.
The Veterans Health Administration recommends screening for colorectal cancer in adults age 50 through 75.
The decision to screen for colorectal cancer in adults age 76 through 85 should be an individual one, taking into account the patient's overall health and prior screening history.
Six out of ten deaths could be prevented
In the past decade, colorectal cancer has emerged as one of the most preventable common cancers. If all men and women age 50 and older were screened regularly, six out of ten deaths from colorectal cancer could be prevented. Screening is typically recommended for all between the ages of 50 and 75 years. VA diagnoses some 4,000 new cases of the disease each year in veterans.
Colorectal cancer is cancer of the colon or rectum. It's as common in women as it is in men. Most colorectal cancers start as a growth called a polyp. If polyps are found and removed before they turn into cancer, many colorectal cancers can be prevented.
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: A perfect time for veterans to get screened.
Questions? Here are the answers, including symptoms and how to prevent colon cancer.
This article originally appeared on VAntage Point. Follow @DeptVetAffairs on Twitter.
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The 8 most useless pieces of gear ever issued
Blake Stilwell
Quality of gear aside, when the U.S. military is equipping its troops, it tries to ensure they have everything they need to defeat the enemy and – if funding permits – not be entirely miserable in the meantime. Given the Pentagon's track record with winning battles, one would have to concede they're doing a pretty good job. Operationally, however, the troops figure out very quickly what's going to work and what they need to improvise.
Somewhere in there is a troop still trying to get out of his mosquito net.
Mosquito Nets – Vietnam
One private in the Army who was deployed to an aircraft maintenance detachment in Vietnam mentions using the mosquito net diligently, just as he was trained. Except, when the base was attacked, he stumbled in the dark looking for the zipper, nearly getting himself killed in the process.
He, like many in Vietnam, never used the mosquito net again.
"Bring out the E-3"
Army Cold Weather Mask
Are you into bondage? Then this is the issued gear for you. If you hate how much it itches your face or if you wear glasses, it definitely is not.
If they only wore them in dress blues, that would be one thing.
Black Berets
Patrol caps and boonie hats serve the dual purpose of protecting your head from the sun while giving your kevlar a place to rest. They're also both breathable and prevent the interior of the hat from becoming a swampy mess. The beret did none of these things, but the Army insisted every soldier wear one.
Sun-Wind-Dust Goggles – Iraq & Afghanistan
The only Sun-Dust-Wind goggles that couldn't protect your eyes from sun, dust, or wind. All that and after a while, the padding slips out of place, the elastic wears out, and they become unwearable. Which isn't a big deal because they get so scratched up you can't see from them anyway.
NBC Gear – U.S. Navy
The U.S. military's old MOPP system used what is essentially a charcoal suit to protect troops from chemical agents in the air. The only problem was they were useless when wet – which is exactly what happened to the sailors during nuclear, biological, chemical warfare drills when they had to start cleaning the ship.
Black Leather Gloves with Wool Inserts
The dual glove system pretty much meant any fine motor skills you needed weren't going to happen while wearing these things. Many troops would take off the leather gloves to use their fingers, which promptly froze because the liners themselves were useless in the cold.
Have at it hipsters, you poor deserving bastards.
M65 Field Jacket
Speaking of things that are useless in the cold, there was a time when the only jacket issued for the battle dress uniform was this cruel joke.
Presenting the most miserable troop of the 1980s.
Load-Bearing Equipment
This is a great way to carry many different kinds of gear. Until someone starts shooting at you and you need to get down on the ground, stay low, and/or maneuver while you're down there.
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Navy to triple attack submarine missile power
Warrior Scout
The Navy will soon finish initial prototyping of new weapons tubes for its Virginia-Class submarines designed to massively increase missile firepower, bring the platform well into future decades and increase the range of payloads launched or fired from the attack boats.
The new missile tubes, called the Virginia Payload Modules, will rev up the submarines' Tomahawk missile firing ability from 12 to 40 by adding an additional 28 payload tubes – more than tripling the offensive strike capability of the platforms.
Prototyping of the new submarines amounts to early construction, meaning the missile tubes now being engineered and assembled will be those which will ultimately integrate into the completed boat. In essence, construction and metal bending for elements of what will become the first VPM are underway.
"Prototyping is underway," Rear Adm. Charles Richard, Director of Undersea Warfare, told Scout Warrior in an interview.
Increasing undersea strike capability is a key element of the strategic calculus for the Navy as it continues to navigate its way into an increasingly high-tech and threatening global environment; potential adversaries are not only rapidly developing new quieting weapons and sonar detection technologies but also fielding long-range, precision-guided anti-ship missiles designed to target surface ships at long ranges.
The nation's newest and most advanced nuclear-powered attack submarine and the lead ship of its class, PCU Virginia. | U.S. Navy photo by General Dynamics Electric Boat
The Chinese DF-21D and subsequent follow-on weapons in development are engineered to destroy carriers, destroyers and other surface vessels from distances as far as 900-miles off shore; if there is not a suitable defense for these kinds of long-range "anti-access/area-denial" weapons, the Navy's ability to project power and launch attacks could be significantly limited. Carriers, for example, could be forced to operate further from the coastline at ranges which greatly complicate the aerial reach of many fighter aircraft which would launch from a carrier air-wing. If carriers are forced by the threat environment to operate at ranges further than fighter aircraft can travel, then new potentially dangerous aerial refueling options become much more complicated and challenging.
Navy strategy is therefore looking much more closely at the size and mission scope of its submarine fleet moving into the future, as undersea assets will most likely have an ability to conduct reconnaissance or strike missions far closer to an enemy shoreline – locations where it may be much harder for surface ships to operate given the fast-increasing threat environment. While the service is, of course, massively revving up its surface-ship offensive and defensive weaponry designed to allow vessels to better operate in so-called "contested" or high-threat areas, submarines are expected to increasingly play a vital role in a wide range of anticipated future mission requirements.
For example, improved increased sonar and quieting technologies referred to as Navy "acoustic superiority" are expected to allow submarines to conduct undersea reconnaissance missions much closer to enemy forces – and possibly behind defended areas. Such an ability could prove to be particularly relevant in coastal waters, shallow areas or islands such as portions of the South China Sea. These are precisely the kinds of areas where deeper draft surface ships may have trouble operating.
Building Virginia payload modules
The Navy plans to engineer a new 84-foot long module into the length of the submarine in order to add four 87-inch launch tubes into the body of the ship.
The tooling and initial castings are now nearing completion in preparation for the first prototyping of the VPM tubes which will be finished in 2017, developers explained. Construction of the first VPM boat is slated for 2019 en route to being finished and operational by 2024 or early 2025. Initial work is underway at an Electric Boat facility in Quonset Point, R.I.
US Navy photo
"The first tube fabrication begins next April," Ken Blomstedt, Vice President of the Virginia-Class Program here at Electric Boat, told Scout Warrior in an interview.
The second submarine construction among the planned Block V Virginia-class attack submarine will be engineered with integrated VPM. It is called SSN 803, Blomstedt explained. The last 20 ships of the class, in Blocks V, VI and VII, will have VPM integrated.
A new massive module will be emerging from an Electric Boat manufacturing facility in Quonset Point, R.I.
"We are able to add that amount of strike capability in for a 15 percent increase in the price of the vessel – all on-track coming in very nicely. We are excited about the progress of the design. We are finishing up the castings of the integrated tube and hull," Richard said.
"Tube and hull" forging
Electric Boat developers tell Scout Warrior the VPM technical baseline has now been approved by the Navy, clearing the way for initial construction.
"The module consists of four 87-inch vertical payload tubes. The module is broken up into three sections – a forward support base, center section with four vertical payload tubes and an internal ballast tank to preserve or restore buoyancy for increasing the length of the ship,"
The technical baseline, which was informed by 39 key decisions, has been formally submitted and approved by the Navy as of February of this year.
"Will be exciting to see that first 184-foot module with VPM installed. Key to the module is using an integrated tube and hull approach," Blomstedt added.
Electric Boat is using an emerging construction technique, called "tube and hull forging" design to expedite building and lower costs. The tactic involves connecting the top section of the tube to the pressure hull as one monolithic piece, he said.
"From a technology standpoint, we are broadening the base with a one-piece casting. That piece comes into the missile tube fabricator," Blomstedt said.
Along with firing Tomahawk missiles, the additional 87-inch payload tubes are being engineered to accommodate new weapons as they emerge and possibly launch other assets such as unmanned underwater vehicles.
The Navy will likely use the pace for a whole bunch of future payloads that they are just starting to think about," Blomstedt said.
While it is certainly conceivable that Torpedoes and other weapons could eventually be fired from VPM tubes, Virginia-Class boats currently have a separate torpedo room with four torpedoes able to launch horizontally
A ballast tank has a pressure hull where the crew can operate, water levels inside the boat are adjusted to raise or lower the boat within the ocean; the weapons are designed to fire out of the launch tubes from a variety of different depths.
"When you submerge the ship, there is normally sea water all around the tubes," he said.
Need for more undersea fire power
The reason for the Virginia Payload Modules is clear; beginning in the 2020s, the Navy will start retiring four large Ohio-class guided-missile submarines able to fire up to 154 Tomahawk missiles each. This will result in the Navy losing a massive amount of undersea fire power capability, Navy developers have explained.
From 2002 to 2008 the U.S. Navy modified four of its oldest nuclear-armed Ohio-class submarines by turning them into ships armed with only conventional missiles — the USS Ohio, USS Michigan, USS Florida and USS Georgia. They are called SSGNs, with the "G" designation for "guided missile." These boats were among US military assets that provided firepower during action against Libya in 2011 – by firing Tomahawks from undersea at key locations such as enemy air defenses designed to clear the way for strike aircraft.
If the VPM action is not taken, the Navy will lose about 60-percent of its undersea strike launchers when the SSGNs retire in the 2020s. When VPM construction begins in 2019, that 60-percent shortfall will become a 40-percent shortfall in the 2028 timeframe.
Accordingly, building VPMs is designed to eliminate the loss of firepower. The rationale for accelerating VPM is to potentially mitigate that 40-percent to a lower number, Navy developers have said.
Virginia-class submarines, engineered to replace the 1980s-era Los Angeles-class attack submarines, are being built in block increments. Blocks I and II, totaling 10 ships, have already been delivered to the Navy. Block III boats are currently under construction. In fact the first Block III boat, the USS North Dakota, was delivered ahead of schedule in August of 2014.
The first several Block IV Virginia-class submarines are under construction as well — the USS Vermont and the USS Oregon. Last April, the Navy awarded General Dynamics' Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding a $17.6 billion deal to build 10 Block IV subs with the final boat procured in 2023.
Also, design changes to the ship, including a change in the materials used for the submarines' propulsor, will enable Block IV boats to serve for as long as 96-months between depots visits or scheduled maintenance availabilities, Navy developers explained.
Shanahan officially takes over from Mattis at Pentagon
Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty
Patrick Shanahan has taken over the helm of the Pentagon, as U.S. President Donald Trump attacked his Defense Department predecessor, pointing to what he said was a lack of success in Afghanistan.
Shanahan, who has been serving as deputy defense secretary, worked his first day in office as acting defense secretary on Jan. 2, 2019, as the replacement for Jim Mattis, who resigned as defense chief on Dec. 20, 2018, saying his policies were not fully "aligned" with the president.
Trump has not specified a time frame for choosing a permanent defense secretary or said whether Shanahan could potentially assume that role.
Mattis initially said he would be leaving the Pentagon at the end of February 2019. But Trump later announced that Mattis, 68, would be leaving earlier after the defense secretary published a letter that directly criticized the president.
Former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis.
(DOD photo by Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith)
In televised remarks on Jan. 2, 2019, Trump said he "essentially fired" Mattis. "I'm not happy with what [he has] done in Afghanistan — and I shouldn't be happy," said Trump, as Shanahan sat by his side.
"I wish him well. I hope he does well. But as you know, President [Barack] Obama fired him, and essentially so did I. I want results."
A former Marine general, Mattis was fired by Obama in 2013 as head of U.S. Central Command over what the then-president said were too hawkish views toward Iran.
Shanahan, 56, meanwhile, said his priorities would include the impending U.S. troop withdrawal from Syria and countering China's military might.
"While we are focused on ongoing operations, Acting Secretary Shanahan told the team to remember: China, China, China," a Pentagon official said.
This article originally appeared on Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Follow @RFERL on Twitter.
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This recreational drug could be used to treat post-traumatic stress
Thirty percent of the current veteran population is suffering from some level of post traumatic stress, according to VA statistics. Treatments vary, but researchers and doctors are aggressively responding to the crisis.
As marijuana begins to gain traction in treating veteran PTS (the Veterans Administration maintains its position that marijuana has only an "anecdotal effect" on veteran post-traumatic stress) researchers are examining other recreational drugs to treating the unseen wounds of war. And the newest drug under scrutiny is methylene-dioxy-meth-amphetamine, better known as "MDMA," "Molly," or "ecstasy."
Pure MDMA in crystal form (wikimedia commons)
Pure MDMA is of interest to neuroscientists because of its effect on human empathy, fear, and defensiveness. In a recent Popular Science article, psychiatrist Dr. Michael Mithoefer said that 83 percent of his treatment resistant patients not only responded positively to MDMA treatment, they soon showed no symptoms at all.
Other reports show the drug works in treating end-of-life anxiety and alcoholism. Rick Doblin, who runs the nonprofit Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, thinks the FDA could allow the use of MDMA as a viable treatment option as early as 2021.
In studies published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, MDMA was found to be addictive in "rare cases." One being a veteran self-medicating with MDMA to treat his own post-traumatic stress. Clearly, more study is needed.
China doubles down with anti-ship missiles in the South China Sea
Posted On May 03, 2018 20:08:48
Anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems were stationed on Chinese outposts in the contested South China Sea, in yet another signal that China intends to cement its presence on the disputed islands.
Sources familiar with US intelligence reports said the weapons systems were installed on three fortified outposts in the Spratly Islands, west of the Philippines, according to a CNBC report.
The YJ-12B anti-ship cruise missiles would provide China the ability to engage surface vessels within 295 nautical miles of the reefs; and the HQ-9B surface-to-air missiles are expected to have a range of 160 nautical miles, CNBC reported.
"We have consistently called on China, as well as other claimants, to refrain from further land reclamation, construction of new facilities, and militarization of disputed features, and to commit to managing and resolving disputes peacefully with other claimants," a Pentagon official said to CNBC. "The further militarization of outposts will only serve to raise tensions and create greater distrust among claimants."
"These would be the first missiles in the Spratlys, either surface to air, or anti-ship," Greg Poling, a South China Sea expert the Center for Strategic and International Studies told Reuters.
An anti-ship cruise missile.
(Photo by Jeff Hilton)
"Before this, if you were one of the other claimants … you knew that China was monitoring your every move. Now you will know that you're operating inside Chinese missile range. That's a pretty strong, if implicit, threat," he said.
China's increased military presence in the region comes amid another maneuver, one which exacerbated concerns among the US military and its allies. US officials said that in early April 2018, intelligence officers detected China was moving radar and communications-jamming equipment to the Spratly Island outposts.
"This is not something that the US will look kindly on or think they can overlook." Stratfor military analyst Omar Lamrani told Business Insider editor Alex Lockie, when asked about potential moves to jam communications channels. "The US will likely seek to counter this in some way," he said.
Hotly disputed, $3.4 trillion shipping lane
Six countries, China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei, are contesting at least part of the chain of islands, reefs, and surrounding waters in the South China Sea. Located between Vietnam and the Philippines, the natural resources and trade routes that pass through the Spratly Islands are a lucrative venture for the countries — around $3.4 trillion in trade is reportedly transported through the South China Sea every year.
CSIS/Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
China has been one of the most prominent claimants to territory in the South China Sea since the 1980s. It currently has around 27 outposts throughout the islands and has continued to outfit them with aircraft runways, lighthouses, tourist resorts, hospitals, and farms.
According to some experts, the creation of civilian attractions in the region signals that China is undertaking a two-pronged approach in attempts to legitimize its ownership — by arguing it has a vested interest in the region, both militarily and otherwise.
In April 2018, US Navy Adm. Philip Davidson, nominated to lead the US' Pacific Command, said Beijing's "forward operating bases" in the South China Sea appeared complete.
Davidson said China could use the bases pose a challenge the US and "would easily overwhelm the military forces of any other South China Sea-claimants.
"China is now capable of controlling the South China Sea in all scenarios short of war with the United States," he said.
This article originally appeared on Business Insider. Follow @BusinessInsider on Twitter.
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Have a good idea for the Army? Here is your chance to shine
Think you have a great idea that will revolutionize Army readiness and resilience? The Army wants to boost your chance at making it happen.
Starting in June 2019, the Army implemented a formal process to capture and evaluate grassroots, personal readiness, and resilience initiatives, before considering the idea for potential Army-wide use.
The new process, outlined in the just released Initiative Evaluation Process technical guide, is designed to ensure ideas can demonstrate results, have applicability Army-wide and avoid duplication or unintended consequences.
"Not every good idea, even if it's a great idea, may hit the mark," said Joe Ezell, a Management and Program Analyst at the Army's G-1 SHARP, Ready and Resilient (SR2) Directorate. "Sometimes people don't quite understand the second and third order effects associated with their good idea … and the execution of that idea might not quite evolve into what they are looking for."
(U.S. Army photo)
Previously, the Army may have implemented ideas sent by local installations, but without thorough analysis or resourcing, those initiatives fell by the wayside. The new technical guide, developed jointly by SR2 and the Army Public Health Center (APHC), requires that proposed initiatives undergo a five-step screening process to assess effectiveness and Army-wide applicability.
Army program managers, Army leaders or anyone with a great idea to improve soldier, civilian, and family member personal readiness and resilience can begin the process of fielding it by reaching out to their Commander's Readiness and Resilient Integrator (CR2I).
This first step in the process provides the individual leader or organization proposing an idea with the backing of a work group that will help them gather effectiveness data, walk them through the other steps in the process and, if the idea has merit, put together the proposal package for submission to the local installation commander. The initiative will then undergo review at several echelons before it is potentially forwarded to the Army G-1 level.
Although the process may seem cumbersome, it is not intended to inhibit innovation, instead it is meant to refine it, said David Collins, Evaluations Branch Chief at SR2.
(U.S. Army photo by Davide Dalla Massara)
"As with any good ideas, it has to be well thought out," Collins said. "It forces people to think about outcomes. Oftentimes we just think about execution, we never really think about the impact."
The end result will be that the best ideas will rise to the top and get pushed through up to the highest levels for evaluation and possible implementation Army-wide, Collins said. Other ideas may work better at the local or regional level, and commanders can still count on the IEP process to validate those initiatives.
The proposal package the CR2I puts together is intended to show the quantifiable impact an idea has, and gather objective evidence that will reinforce the value of the idea so that when a new program is presented to senior Army leaders, they will be able to make evidence-based decisions. The IEP will "save time, energy and effort across the board," Ezell said.
Grassroots efforts have traditionally driven innovation in the ranks, so if you are ready to submit your idea, download the technical guide and reach out to your local CR2I now.
This article originally appeared on United States Army. Follow @USArmy on Twitter.
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This was Chrysler's nuclear-powered tank
Logan Nye
The Chrysler TV-8 was an ugly duckling that would've waddled its way across Cold War battlefields slaying everything in its path until it was killed or ran out of ammo. It was equipped with a nuclear-powered engine that could propel it from Paris to Moscow and back with enough fuel to stop in Odessa, Ukraine, along the way.
Nucelar Powered Tanks – Fallout 4 Real
So, first, to address the fact that the TV-8 is the ugly elephant in the room. Yes, we know that even Bethesda would look at this design in a Fallout 76 pitch session and be like, "No, not ready for primetime. That's ridiculous." But Chrysler wasn't trying to create and field the world's most threatening tank in appearance. The company wanted to create one of the most threatening tanks in practice.
To that end, they traded heavily on the obvious strategic advantage of a nuclear tank: virtually unlimited range. Gasoline has a relatively low energy density at 46.4 megajoules per kilogram. Diesel is a little better at 48 MJ/Kg. The low enriched Uranium used in many reactors boasts a whopping 5,184,000 MJ/Kg.
That means that every pound of fuel a nuclear tank carried would provide 108,000 times as much energy as a pound of diesel fuel. A similar design, the R32, was expected to have a 4,000-mile range.
So, yeah, the prototype TV-8 had an extreme range just thanks to the fuel it carried. That greatly limited its logistics needs. Sure, it needed ammo delivered along with water and food for the crew, but that's it. No fuel trucks. No need for Patton to argue with Bradley about who got first dibs on petrol and diesel.
Chrysler wanted its prototype to survive nuclear bombs, so they packed everything in the teardrop-shaped, bulbous turret. The entire crew, the 90mm gun and its ammunition, and even the engine were up in the massive turret. The engine delivered electrical power to motors in the lightweight chassis underneath, that then propelled the 28-inch-wide tracks.
All of this equipment weighed only a total of 25 tons. For comparison, the M4 Sherman, a medium tank, weighed up to 42 tons, depending on the variant.
But the prototype had some serious drawbacks. First, it was actually powered by gasoline. It would get a nuclear vapor-cycle power plant if the design moved forward. But, more importantly, it was top heavy and provided little tactical improvement over conventional tanks. After all, most tanks aren't lost in combat because of range problems. They're killed by other tanks.
Of course, there's also another serious and obvious drawback to nuclear-powered tanks: The loss of one in combat could easily irradiate the battlefield that the U.S. hoped to hold after the battle. Nuclear ships sunk at sea are surprisingly well contained by the water. Nuclear reactors destroyed on the surface of the earth would have no such protection, threatening recovery and maintenance crews.
So, any battle where a TV-8 was lost would create a large hazard zone for the victorious troops, but the TV-8 didn't feature many improvements that would make it less likely to be killed in battle. It did feature a closed-circuit television to protect the crew from a nuclear flash, but that did nothing for anti-tank rounds, missiles, and RPGs.
In 1956, an Army review recommended the termination of the program and TV-8 never made it past that first, gas-powered prototype.
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WWII vet finally receives Silver Star for heroism at Battle of the Bulge
Staff Sgt. Edmund "Eddie" Sternot of the 101st Airborne Division was finally honored posthumously Nov. 10, 2019, with a Silver Star for his gallantry during the Battle of the Bulge on Jan. 4, 1945 in the Ardennes Forrest.
Sternot's unit set up a perimeter defense around Bastogne and was prepared to defend against the many German counterattacks.
On that heroic day in January, Sternot's unit was hit by a series of strong attacks by the German army leaving his unit isolated and alone. Sternot bravely led his machine gun section from several different positions to beat back the German attacks leaving 60 enemy dead in front of his machine gun station.
Sternot earned a Silver Star for his heroism, but on Jan. 13, 1945 he courageously exposed himself to enemy fire to throw a hand grenade and was killed in action by a German tank round before he could ever receive the award.
A picture of Staff Sgt. Edmund Sternot's grave site on display at the award presentation ceremony.
(Photo by Maj. Vonnie Wright)
Today the soldiers from Sternot's unit, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team "Bastogne", 101st Airborne Division received their prime opportunity to present Sternot's last living relative his Silver Star at a Silver Star awards ceremony at the Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation.
Lt. Col. Trevor Voelkel, commander of 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, had the honor of presenting the Silver Star today alongside retired Maj. Gen. Edward Dorman III, an alumni of the regiment himself, and was humbled to be present at such a historical moment.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Trevor Voelkel, commander of 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division greets U.S. Army veteran, Arthur Petterson. Petterson served in 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division and jumped into Normandy during WWII. 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division presented a Silver Star that Staff Sgt. Edmund Sternot earned for valor prior to being killed in action during the Battle of the Bulge in WWII to his last surviving family member Delores Sternot Nov. 10, 2019
"While serving in Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, we received word of this story and without hesitation began planning," said Voelkel. "I looked at the plaque of Silver Star recipients in our headquarters and saw Staff Sgt. Sternot's name on it. I'm honored to be here and be a part of this ceremony."
1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division plaque of WWII Silver Star Recipients.
The Silver Star was presented to 80-year-old Delores Sternot, Staff Sgt. Sternot's first cousin, of Goleta, California.
Delores, full of emotion, continued to wonder why such a ceremony was happening as she often referred to their family as ordinary folk.
U.S. Army retired Maj. Gen. Edward Dorman III, left, shakes the hand of Delores Sternot after she receives Staff Sgt. Edmund Sternot's awards for valor at the Silver Star awards presentation ceremony.
Dorman gladly answered that question during his address to the audience of the ceremony.
"I commanded Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment many years ago so it is very humbling to be here," said Dorman. "Delores has stated that her family are ordinary folk but that's what makes them great. Ordinary folks do extraordinary things for the nation in times of peril."
Delores also received Staff Sgt. Sternot's Bronze Star and Purple Heart formally during this ceremony in front of veterans, family and friends within the community of Santa Barbara on behalf of the 101st Airborne Division.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Trevor Voelkel, right, commander of 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, addresses the audience at the Silver Star award presentation for Staff Sgt. Edmund Sternot.
Maj. Gen. Brian Winski, commander of the 101st Airborne Division, felt that it was essential to give Sternot the proper honors that he deserves as a soldier within the division's legacy and history.
"Staff Sgt. Eddie Sternot is part of the Greatest Generation and the 101st Airborne Division's incredible history," said Winski. "I'm extremely proud that we are able to render proper honors to him and to his family with the presentation of a Silver Star that Staff Sgt. Sternot earned during the Battle of the Bulge."
After nearly 75 years Sternot and his family received a ceremony fit for a hero. It has been a long time coming and with many emotions Delores was overwhelmed by the love and care shown by all the service members present.
A picture of a young Staff Sgt. Edmund Sternot on display at the award presentation ceremony.
Retired Army Lt. Col. Bill Linn worked over 20 years to bring closure to the Sternot family and has become a family friend in the process.
"This was about principle," said Linn. "I have always fought for principles. It doesn't matter if 75 years went by or what his rank was. He deserved this ceremony. This is a win for the Army. This is a win for the 101st Airborne Division."
Col. Derek Thomson, commander of 1st Brigade Combat Team "Bastogne", is especially proud that his soldiers from Sternot's very own unit were able to honor him today.
1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division plaque of WWII Silver Star Recipients, Staff Sgt. Edmund Sternot's awards and program on display at the award presentation ceremony.
"Staff Sgt. Sternot represents the very best of the 101st Airborne Division and the 327th Regiment," said Thomson. "It was the sergeant on the ground who made all the difference in the Battle of the Bulge, and Edmund will always serve as an example of what real combat leadership looks like. His memory lives in today's Screaming Eagles, and it is with great pride that the 101st presents the Silver Star to the family 75 years after he earned this extraordinary honor."
During this Veterans Day weekend there was no better way to honor those that served and continue to serve than with honoring this American hero.
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These 6 women earned the Silver Star for valor in war
Historic direct talks with North Korea have already started
President Donald Trump said on April 17, 2018, that the US had already started speaking with North Korea ahead of a proposed meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in 2018.
"We've also started talking to North Korea directly," Trump said, according to Jennifer Jacobs, Bloomberg's White House reporter. "We have had direct talks at very high levels, extremely high levels with North Korea."
Trump was speaking to reporters alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the president's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
According to Jacobs, Trump said talks with Kim would take place "probably in early June [2018]" or "a little before that," or not at all. The president added that five locations were under consideration for a meeting, but he did not specify where.
The Washington Post reporter David Nakamura tweeted that he asked Trump whether any of the locations were in the US and that the president "shook his head and clearly mouthed the word, 'No.'"
The president said he would bring up in a meeting with Kim the cases of abductees held by North Korea.
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A White House official said early April 17, 2018, that three Americans being held in North Korea also factored "very much into future interactions" between the US and North Korea.
Trump also said North Korea and South Korea "have my blessing" to discuss officially ending the Korean War, which ended with an armistice in 1953 but is technically ongoing because there is no peace treaty.
Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in are set to meet for the first time on April 27, 2018. The South Korean newspaper Munhwa Ilbo cited an unnamed intelligence source as saying the summit could lead to a peace announcement.
CNN reported early April 2018, that "secret, direct talks" were underway between Washington and Pyongyang in preparation for a summit between Trump and Kim, with several administration officials saying a team at the CIA was working through intelligence back-channels.
US and North Korean intelligence officials had spoken several times and met in a third country to work on settling a location for a meeting, according to CNN.
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Check out these amazing photos of F-22s and F-16s flying over Alaska
On July 18, 2019, F-22 Raptors assigned to the 90th Fighter Squadron from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) and F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 18th Aggressor Squadron from Eielson Air Force Base teamed up for a training flight over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, in anticipation for this week's celebrations for the 100th anniversary of JBER's 3rd Wing, which occurred on July 1, 2019.
The flying component of the Wing, the 3rd Operations Group, is a direct descendant of one of the 15 original combat groups created by the U.S. Army Air Service before World War II. The 3rd Wing is also known for giving birth to exercise Cope Thunder, which later evolved in today's Red Flag-Alaska.
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from Eielson Air Force Base maneuvers over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, July 18, 2019.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. James Richardson)
The 3rd Wing's lineage originated July 1, 1919, as an Army Surveillance Group out of Kelly Field (Texas) flying British-designed, American-made DeHavilland DH.4 aircraft to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border during the Mexican Revolution. After WWI the unit became the 3rd Attack Group, focusing on aerial experimentation and pioneering dive bombing, skip-bombing, and parafrag attacks that were later employed by U.S. Army Air Corps/Forces bomber squadrons during World War II.
A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and an F-16 Fighting Falcon from Eielson Air Force Base fly in formation over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, July 18, 2019.
Following the infamous attacks on Pearl Harbor, the 3rd Attack Group started combat operations against Japan. In 1942, after changing name to 3rd Bombardment Group, the unit received new bombers and helped developing low-altitude strafing tactics, becoming famous for their combat proficiency.
In 1950 the group, after assuming the Wing designation, was tasked to provide the Korean War's first bombing mission. Notably, a B-26 gunner from the 3rd Wing scored the first aerial victory of the war, shooting down a North Korean YAK-3.
U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons from Eielson Air Force Base execute a formation break over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, July 18, 2019.
After being re-designated as the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing in 1964, the unit moved to England Air Force Base, Louisiana, and started training in preparation for the Vietnam War. The 3rd Wing flew its B-57 Canberras and F-100 Super Sabres from different air bases all over South-East Asia, totaling more than 200'000 combat sorties.
During the war, the Air Force selected the 3rd TFW to evaluate the new F-5 Tiger in real operations, flying over 2,600 combat missions from October 1966 to March 1967 and resulting in several modifications that helped to improve the aircraft capabilities.
U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson fly in formation over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, July 18, 2019.
At the end of the Vietnam War, the 3rd TWF, equipped with F-4E Phantoms, relocated to Clark Air Base in the Philippines where it received also F-5E Tigers as aggressor aircrafts and started hosting exercise Cope Thunder since 1976. The exercise was initiated by Brigadier General Richard G. Head and was intended to give aircrews from across Asia their first taste of combat in a realistic simulated combat environment, improving U.S. and international forces joint combat readiness. Analysis at the time indicated most combat losses occurred during an aircrew's first 8 to 10 missions, hence the goal of Cope Thunder was to provide each aircrew with these first missions, increasing their chances of survival in real combat environments. The exercise quickly grew into PACAF's (PACific Air Forces) "premier simulated combat airpower employment exercise."
Cope Thunder was moved to Eielson AFB, Alaska, in 1992, after a volcanic eruption heavily damaged Clark AFB. Eielson Air Force Base was considered the most logical choice because of the presence of three major military flight training ranges in nearby. The move helped the exercise's evolution until, in 2006 Cope Thunder changed name to become Red Flag-Alaska, one of the most important exercises hosted by the U.S. Air Force and held four times a year.
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from Eielson Air Force Base flies over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, July 18, 2019.
The 3rd TFW, now designated 3rd Wing, instead relocated to the nearby Elmendorf AFB and acquired two squadrons of F-15 Eagles, one squadron of F-15E Strike Eagles, one squadron of C-130s and a squadron of E-3 AWACS.
In 2007 the Wing replaced its F-15s with F-22s, becoming the second USAF air base, and the first of PACAF command, to host operational F-22 Raptor squadrons. F-22s regularly launch from Quick Reaction Alert cells at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to intercept Russian bombers flying close to Alaskan airspace.
Since the move to Alaska, the wing has successfully participated in all major U.S. operations from Desert Storm to the most recent Inherent Resolve.
Interestingly, one of the Aggressor F-16 was painted in a livery unveiled in 2017 and dubbed "BDU Splinter", mimicking colors seen in both the Cold War era "European One" and the Vietnam era Southeast Asia camouflage schemes. The full album is available on the Flickr page of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
This article originally appeared on The Aviationist. Follow @theaviationist on Twitter.
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text:
Der Faserbrand (engl.: fiber fuse) ist die Zerstörung innerhalb eines Lichtwellenleiters bei hohen Temperaturen, welche durch hohe lokale Energiedichten verursacht werden. Die Zerstörung breitet sich dabei entlang des Lichtwellenleiters mit einer Geschwindigkeit von ca. 0,3–3 m/s in Richtung der Laserquelle aus.

Grundlagen
Durch die Einführung des Wellenlängenmultiplexverfahren (WDM) mit Hilfe von leistungsfähigen EDFAs, stärkeren (externe) Pumplasern und dem Einsatz von Raman-Verstärkern, hat die optische Leistung an manchen Punkten in optischen Kommunikationsnetzen in den letzten Jahren stark zugenommen. Die erhöhte optische Leistung führt dabei zu folgenden Effekten:
 Nichtlineare Fasereffekte (Self-phase Modulation, Crossphase Modulation, Stimulierte Brillouin-Streuung oder die Vier-Wellen-Mischung), die im Allgemeinen zur Verringerung der Übertragungsqualität führen, aber voll reversibel sind, wenn die Leistung reduziert wird. Die nichtlinearen Effekte führen nicht zu einer dauerhaften Beschädigung der Glasfaser.
 Irreversiblen Zerstörung der Lichtwellenleiter oder der optischen Faserstecker durch zu hohe optische (Summen-)leistungen, der sogenannte Faserbrand.

Auftretende Probleme
Folgende irreversiblen Schäden sind möglich:

 Eventuelle Schäden an Faserverbindungsflächen, falls diese verschmutzt sind
 Beschädigung des Faserkerns über eine weite Distanz durch Selbstentzündung, den so genannten "Fiber Fuse Effekt"
 Schäden am Faserkern durch Biegen oder starkes Erwärmen: Hierbei kann es zu einer erhöhten Leistungsabsorption kommen und im schlimmsten Fall ein Faserbrand, auch "Fiber Fuse" genannt, beginnen.
 Gefahren für die Sicherheit des menschlichen Körpers durch eventuelle Schäden im optischen Fasernetzwerk (austretende Lichtleistung)

Die irreversible Zerstörung des Faserkerns durch den so genannten "Fiber Fuse Effekt" bekam ihren Namen durch die Analogie mit einer Zündschnur, deren brennendes Ende sich auf die Strahlquelle (meist ein Laser) zubewegt.

Entdeckt wurde dieses Phänomen erstmals 1987 von Kashyap et al., der damals einen extrem schnellen Anstieg des Absorptionskoeffizienten bei relativ geringen optischen Leistungen von ca. 1 Watt oberhalb einer kritischen Temperaturschwelle Tkrit von 1323 K bei Glasfasern feststellte. Der Absorptionskoeffizient liegt unterhalb der Temperaturgrenze Tkrit bei ca. 0,01 dB / km und steigt bei einer Temperatur von Tkrit + 50 K bereits auf Werte von ca. 1900 dB / km. Dies wurde für eine Wellenlänge von 1064 nm nachgewiesen.
Die hierbei auftretenden Leistungsdichten lagen bei ca. 1–3 MW / cm2, was weit unter der Zerstörungsschwelle von Siliziumoxid von etwa 10 GW / cm2 liegt.

Erklärungen für das Auftreten des Phänomens
Im Laufe der Zeit wurden drei wissenschaftlich fundierte Theorien aufgestellt, woraus der schnelle Anstieg des Absorptionskoeffizienten resultieren könnte. Dies sind folgende Vermutungen:
 Die Bildung von Punkt (Frenkel)-Defekten an den Germanium Zentren einer dotierten Faser: Jedoch sind die Germanium Atome nach heutigen Erkenntnissen nicht alleine für das Auftreten des Fiber Fuse Effekts verantwortlich, da dieser auch in Fasern auftritt, die nicht mit Germanium, sondern mit anderen Dotierstoffen versetzt sind.
 Eine elektronische Leitfähigkeit der Faser aufgrund thermischer Ionisation des germaniumdotierten Kerns: Der Verlauf des Absorptionskoeffizienten bei Temperaturen unter 1873 K konnte durch die Arrhenius-Gleichung gut erklärt werden, jedoch nicht das Verhalten der Glasfaser bei Temperaturen um 2293 K, da ab dieser Temperatur ein stark abweichendes Verhalten vorliegt. Diese Vermutung bezieht sich nur auf Fasern, die mit Germanium versetzt sind. Die Arrhenius-Gleichung beschreibt die chemische Reaktionsgeschwindigkeit in Abhängigkeit von der Temperatur.
 Eine thermochemische SiO Produktion im Silizium-Glas: Wenn sich verdampftes Siliziumoxid wieder auf der Faser niederschlägt und erkaltet, kann es verschiedene Färbungen von braun bis schwarz annehmen. An diesen findet eine starke Absorption statt. Dies stimmt mit experimentellen Beobachtungen beim Fiber Fuse Effekt sehr gut überein.

Der Fiber Fuse Effekt wird im Faserkern initiiert, und wirkt sich während des Effekts auf den Mantel der Faser aus. Der Faserkern wird durch hohe Temperaturen geschmolzen, geht durch verdampfen in einen plasmaartigen Zustand über und lässt dabei einen Hohlraum zurück. Dieser Vorgang wiederholt sich vielfach in Richtung Laserquelle und emittiert dabei jedes Mal ein weiß-blaues Licht, das sich mit einer Geschwindigkeit von ca. 0,3–3 m/s, abhängig von Faserart, optischer Leistung und Wellenlänge fortbewegt.

Die entstehenden Blasen (Hohlräume) sind vermutlich das Resultat einer Rayleigh-Taylor-Instabilität, verursacht durch haarfeine Risse im geschmolzenen Silizium, das den Kern umgibt. Diese Instabilität kann auftreten, wenn zwei unterschiedliche Dichten an einer Grenzfläche aneinanderstoßen. Ist die verbindende Oberfläche ideal glatt, so existiert ein labiler Gleichgewichtszustand wenn die Schichten in den flüssigen oder gasförmigen Aggregatzustand übergehen. Tritt nun eine Störung an dieser Grenzschicht auf, so wächst diese exponentiell an, der Gleichgewichtszustand ist nicht mehr vorhanden und die Medien vermischen sich. Dies wird z. B. durch thermische Effekte ausgelöst.

Weiterhin wurde durch Ramanspektroskopie festgestellt, dass bei der Blasenentstehung während des Fiber Fuse Prozesses Sauerstoff freigesetzt wird.

Rückstreuungsmessungen haben ergeben, dass die hier entstehende Lichtquelle eine Temperatur von ca. 5400 K besitzt und durch die Abstrahlcharakteristik mit einem schwarzen Körper ähnlicher Temperatur vergleichbar ist.

Der Fiber Fuse Effekt ist nach Dianov et al. eine optische Entladung, also ein extrem dichtes Plasma. Bei dem Effekt wird der plasmaartige Faserkern durch hohe Temperaturen und hohen Druck (10000 K und 10000 atm) durch die Blasenbildung zerstört.

Damit der Prozess beginnt, bedarf es eines externen Triggers als auslösendes Moment. Dies kann durch folgende Effekte initiiert werden:
 scharfen Knick der Faser
 Kontakt der Faserendfläche mit absorbierenden Materialien
 Schmutz und Staub in Fasersteckern -Kopplern
 elektrischer Entladungsvorgang über der Faser (Durchbruch der Feldstärke)

Jede Glasfaser besitzt abhängig von Wellenlänge und Dotierungsstoffen eine Leistungsschwelle, über der es möglich ist, dass der Fiber Fuse Effekt auftritt.

Ebenso beeinflusst der dazugehörige Modenfelddurchmesser das Auftreten des Fiber Fuse Phänomens. Je kleiner dieser ist, desto größere Lichtintensitäten sind im Kern vorhanden. Folglich werden geringere Pumpleistungen benötigt, um den Effekt
zu initiieren.

Quellen

Optische Nachrichtentechnik
Faseroptik

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Later mythologies have somewhat eradicated the role Sir Parzival (Perceval/Percival) plays in the Arthurian legends. A knight of great courage and ability, it is he who first becomes involved with the Grail rather than Sir Galahad. He first appears in Chrétien de Troyes' unfinished Perceval or Conte del Graal (c.1190) as well as the Welsh Romance associated with The Mabinogion, Peredur Son of Evrawc, which dates from the 13th century. Both interpretations are likely to be based around the much earlier Celtic story of Peredur.
De Troyes' story was also the inspiration for one of the greatest romances of the Middle Ages, Wolfram von Eschenbach's Parzival (c. 1200-1210). As in the earlier version, his Parzival is initially naive and foolish, having been sheltered from the dangers of the chivalric world by his mother.
Having seen her husband and two sons killed in battle, she was committed to keeping her youngest ignorant of all things relating to chivalry and knighthood. This leads to him making an idiot of himself when he comes across a party of knights and believes them to be angels.
In both versions Percival is the guest of the wounded Fisher King (called Anfortas by Eschenbach but unnamed by de Troyes) at whose castle he sees a wondrous procession in which youths carry magnificent objects from one chamber to another, passing before him at each course of the meal.
First comes a young man carrying a bleeding lance, then two boys carrying candelabras. Finally, a beautiful young girl emerges bearing an elaborately decorated graal, or grail, who ends the procession. Percvial fails to ask his host what is going on (because he has been taught it's impolite to ask too many questions). Throughout de Troyes refers to his object not as The Grail but as un graal, showing the word was used, in its earliest literary context, as a common noun. For him the grail was a wide, somewhat deep dish or bowl, interesting because it contained not a pike, salmon or lamprey, as the audience may have expected for such a container, but a single Mass wafer which provided sustenance for the Fisher King's crippled father.
In Eschenbach's tale Percival's failure to ask about what he is seeing is a significant one because, had he done so, then the Fisher King would have been cured. When he awakes the castle is empty and he has to flee to escape it. Upon learning of his mistake he vows to find the Grail castle again and fulfill his quest but de Troyes' story breaks off soon after and it then follows a variety of pathways depending on the author throughout the remaining mythologies.
It should also be pointed out that, in these Grail stories, the vessel itself has nothing to do with Christianity and is firmly rooted in Celtic mythology. There are direct comparisons between the Fisher King and the Irish mythology of Bran the Blessed. Bran had a cauldron which could be used to restore the dead, although they were unable to speak once ressurrected. He gave to the king of Ireland as a wedding gift when he married Bran's sister Branwen. During a war with the Irish later in the tale, Bran is wounded in the foot or the leg and the cauldron is destroyed. Bran asks his companions to sever his head and take it back to Briton to be buried. While on their journey the head continues to speak and interact with the knights. They land on the island of Gwales (which has been identified as possibly Grassholm Island off Dyfed), and spend the next 80 years in a castle full of joy and abundance. However, they finally leave and bury Bran's head in London.
There are also similarities in two other Welsh texts of the same time period, The Mabinogion tale of Culhwch and Olwen, in which King Arthur and his men travel to Ireland to retrieve a magic cauldron, and the poem The Spoils of Annwn, which also describes Arthur's search for a mystical cauldron in the otherworld. In the Welsh epic Peredur son of Efrawg, again loosely based on de Troyes (of from a common original Celtic tale) there is no Grail however the character of the Fisher King does appear, although he isn't named as such, and presents Peredur with a severed head on a platter.
Peredur later learns he was related to that king, and that the severed head was that of his cousin, whose death he must avenge. Other Medieval texts to feature Percival include the Didot-Percivale and Perlesvaus (also called The High Book of the Grail or Le Haut Livre du Graal).
It is in Robert du Boron's Joseph d'Arimathie where the Grail first becomes associated with Christianity. It tells how Joseph acquires the chalice of the Last Supper and uses it to collect Christ's blood when he is removed from the Cross. After Joseph is thrown in prison, Christ visits him and explains the mysteries of the blessed cup. Upon his release he gathers his in-laws and other followers and travels to the west (usually associated with Glastonbury), and founds a dynasty of Grail keepers that eventually includes Percival.
However, by the time we get to Sir Thomas Malory and his Le Morte d'Arthur, written in the 15th century, Percival's role has become that of a supporter to Sir Galahad, along with Sir Bors, on the search for the Holy Grail.
The most common association with any historical figure for Sir Percival are references to Gwrgi and Peredur, twin sons of Eliffer, members of the Coel Hen dynasty which frequently appears throughout the early Welsh Arthurian myths. The connection makes them first cousins of Urien Rheged, who himself appears within Athurian mythology. A great deal of discussion between scholars and historicans has focused on the relation of Peredur to either the sixth-century Peredur son of Eliffer as well as de Troyes' Grail hero Perceval.
The Peredur of Welsh romance differs from the Coeling chieftain if only in that his father is here called Efrawg rather than Eliffer and there is no sign of a brother called Gwrgi. Efrawg however, is not a name, but the historical Welsh identity of the city of York (Caer-Ebranc, also known as Eburacum by the Romans and in modern Welsh as Caerefrog ). The brothers are said to have founded the town of Pickering in North Yorkshire, which would seem tie in with a historical connection to the same part of Britain as they were said to have jointly ruled over Ebranc.
They are best known for taking part in the Battle of Arfderyd, fought, according to the Annales Cambriae in 573, during which King Gwenddoleu is defeated and his bard, Myrddin Wyllt, (identified as one of the sources for Merlin), goes mad.


text:
using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.Collections.Generic;

namespace Metaheuristics
{
    public class DiscretePSO4TSP : DiscretePSO
    {
        public TSPInstance Instance { get; protected set; }

		protected int generatedSolutions;

        public DiscretePSO4TSP(TSPInstance instance, int partsCount, double prevConf,
                                double neighConf, int[] lowerBounds, int[] upperBounds)
            : base(partsCount, prevConf, neighConf, lowerBounds, upperBounds)
        {
            Instance = instance;
			generatedSolutions = 0;
		}

        protected override double Fitness(int[] individual)
        {
            return TSPUtils.Fitness(Instance, individual);
        }

		protected override int[] InitialSolution ()
		{
			int[] solution;

			if (generatedSolutions == 0) {
				solution = TSPUtils.GreedySolution(Instance);
			}
			else {
				solution = TSPUtils.RandomSolution(Instance);
			}

			generatedSolutions++;
			return solution;
		}
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub