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You are at:Home»Advocacy & Policy Issues»Industry Reacts to European Travel Ban
Industry Reacts to European Travel Ban
By Genny Toddy on	 March 19, 2020 Advocacy & Policy Issues, News from Around the Web
Source: Hotel Business
by Greg Wallis
NATIONAL REPORT—During an address to the nation, President Donald J. Trump announced a 30-day ban on travel to the U.S. from much of Europe. U.S. citizens and permanent residents and their families, health professionals who are working to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, diplomats and air or sea crew are not part of the ban.
Nations affected include those that are part of the Schengen Area: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
According to U.S. Travel Association economists, 850,000 international visitors flying from Europe (excluding the U.K.) entered the U.S in March of 2019, accounting for about 29% of total overseas arrivals to the U.S. These visitors spent approximately $3.4 billion in the U.S.
AAHOA President & CEO Cecil P. Staton issued the following statement about the president's announcement regarding steps the administration planned to take to combat COVID-19 and address the economic fallout from the pandemic:
"The aggressive steps to protect the public from COVID-19 announced by the president will have a significant economic impact on hotel owners and the hospitality industry. We will continue to work with our industry and brand partners to urge President Trump and Speaker Pelosi to take action to protect American workers and small business owners from the economic fallout of this crisis. It was encouraging to hear that the Small Business Administration has more authority to provide capital and liquidity to businesses affected by COVID-19, and the three-month tax holiday for small and mid-sized businesses could be helpful. We are watching the implementation of these moves closely.
"As an industry whose livelihood depends on travel and tourism, we are concerned with the long-term effects on the ability of Americans and international visitors to travel to and from the United States. European and Asian travelers are critical to our businesses. We look forward to working with our partners in government as we seek common sense remedies to the public health and economic crisis we face."
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A push for Paycheck Protection Program deductibility


Westford & District Pipes and Drums is a fire service pipe band made up of Public Safety personnel and civilians who support the mission of the band.
Westford Firefighters Pipes and Drums, dba Westford & District Pipes and Drums, is a registered Federal and State of Massachusetts 501c3 non-profit corporation.
The Mission of the Westford & District Pipes and Drums is to be ever ready when called upon for the passing of any Firefighter or Police Officer as they should never be laid to rest without the honor of Pipes and Drums. To hold sacred the traditions of the Pipes and Drums bringing honor and respect not only for ourselves but to our profession as Firefighters.


8ft wide with the on-trend layout of a mid washroom with a rear island bed.
Step inside and you will be wowed by the large L-shape sofa that comes in a choice of fabrics, Stamford and Nevada, to suit your taste. The lockers are crafted in 'Timeo Pine' woodgrain and, for extra security, there are new positive locks on all the top lockers. In the well-equipped spacious kitchen we have included the new Thetford K series oven with 4 burner hob. It has a safety lid shut off, light and 2 oven shelves, perfect for cooking a culinary feast.
To help you unwind we have added a DAB radio to our CD/MP3 player and for the best night's sleep we have designed our island beds at 5ft wide. There is a host of new technology thanks to the new Alaria 'Assist' control panel with ultra-user-friendly functionality. Control and programme your heating and water, all at the touch of a button, plus have peace of mind with the pre-installed Thatcham Category 6 approved pro-active tracker.


Come to Pigeon forge, we will make your stay enjoyable and memorable, We are located on the Parkway of Pigeon Forge. All Theaters & Restaurants are in walking distance. Famous Dixie Stampede theater is next door. Stay with us, and you'll see why we're considered a favorite choice among hotels in Pigeon Forge.
After all, Our friendly staff is committed to offering all of the features and amenities you've come to expect from the Inn. Stay connected with friends and colleagues, thanks to free, in-room high-speed Internet access. Relax on the deck of our seasonal outdoor pool. As a valued guest at our hotel, treat yourself to a comfortable and hassle-free stay, with a gracious host of features.
Whether your goal is relaxing or enjoying the attractions of the area, Pigeon Forge can make it happen! We would like to invite you to stay at Conner Hill Motor Lodge to help you and your family fulfill a great vacation experience. Whatever your age, the opportunities for vacation fun and great weekend getaways are here, surrounded by the splendor of the Great Smokey Mountains!
We offer Free Breakfast every morning !
Lucky, lucky us to have found this great place to stay. Clean, quiet and did I say clean! Friendly check-in and quick. The breakfast area is small but put your breakfast on the tray and eat in your room. My husbands eyes lit up when he saw his favorite, Krispy Kreme donuts! We are staying here again on our November trip and it is nice to know we have such a good place to stay while visiting.
We really enjoyed ourselves, the room was clean, the staff was friendly and the hotel was amazing. Waffles house, cracker barrell, KFC, Chinese restaurant and Dixie Stampede. Can't wait until we go back, such a beautiful place to see..the mountains are breathtaking.
Have stayed in several hotels in Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Sevierville. Have never been disappointed with Conner Hill. Rooms are very clean, beds are comfy and rates are great. Water is HOT and the pressure in the shower makes you want to stay in there. Location is convenient and a shuttle stop is right in front of the motel. The room has small fridge, microwave, coffee maker and hairdryer. There are chairs outside each room so u can sit outside if you wish. Continental breakfast delicious. Staff is friendly and maid service is superb. Very pleased.
My family and I only stayed for one night. Our rooms were very clean. The outside was clean. The beds were comfortable. The bathrooms were clean and there was a flat screen TV, coffee maker, mini-fridge, microwave, hairdryer, and an outdoor pool here. The associates behind the desk were very nice and welcoming. The rates were reasonable. This is the very good hotel and I'll recommend you all.
This hotel is in a perfection location and a great value. Rooms were very clean and large. The staff was very friendly and welcoming. It does offer a continental breakfast. Will definitely stay on our next trip.
I have stayed at this motel several times and it is always a very pleasant stay. The rooms are clean, the beds are comfortable and it's located close to everything you would want to do or see. If your looking for a nice motel this is a good place to stay.
Friendly staff, clean rooms, comfy beds and a wonderful location. It's a great place to stay and the water pressure in the showers is probably the best I've seen in a hotel. Coffee, donuts, and cereal provided for breakfast.
Nice place to stay management very helpful clean rooms and reasonably priced !!! have stayed here several times never had a problem. The service was very nice and staffs were very helpful to us. They had very good breakfast in the morning.
Great place right in the middle of everything. Staff is exceptional. Well appointed, and comfy beds. The location is great. Breakfast was delicious. We will definitely stay here again.
This is a very nice hotel and rooms are spacious and clean and the parking is good. We had adjoining rooms toward the back parking lot of the room and was able to park almost right outside our doors every night. The maid service and office staff are extremely friendly.


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Robin The Robot Comforts Kids In Hospitals, Can Help With Covid-19 | #covid19 | #kids | #childern | #parenting | #parenting | #kids
Robin the Robot
Expper Technologies
Kids like robots. And sick kids can benefit from robots in the hospital. A robot companion named Robin has been tested in a pediatric clinic in Armenia, and researchers report an increase in young patients' appetites and cheerfulness after interactions with the robot. Robin is due to comfort kids at a U.S. dental clinic starting in July.
"We aim to change kid's perception of medical treatments, where they will no longer feel isolated, lonely and scared," says Karen Khachikyan, CEO and founder of Expper Technologies.
Robin is 47 inches tall and made of recyclable bioplastic which can easily be sterilized with ultraviolet light or other disinfectants to minimize the risk of spreading viruses (see Covid-19).
"It is the first of its kind that uses peer-to-peer interaction in order to help children overcome stress and anxiety," the CEO says. "Robin utilized our AI-based patent-pending technology to build peer-to-peer emotional interactions with children."
Robin at the Viva Technology Expo in Paris
The technology analyzes facial expressions and the context of conversations. It moves with an omni-directional wheel system and uses its "face" to display emotion with a variety of expressions. This all means the robot can react naturally to situations and interactions with children, its creator says.
As for the "making kids feel better" factor, Expper says a two-month pilot study involving more than 100 kids at Wigmore Clinic, Nork Marash Hospital and Avanta Clinics (all in Armenia), collected behavioral, observational and procedure data, along with information on stress and pain levels in young patients.
A self-report questionnaire was used to measure children's emotions and reportedly showed an increase in "joyfulness" by more than 26% as well as a 34% reduction in stress.
"Kids who stay in hospitals and have to undergo lengthy and sometimes painful treatment usually have a lack of appetite; some tend to be silent and apathetic," Khachikyan says.
"However, all the kids who have once interacted with Robin have shown interest in meeting it again. There were cases of improved appetite and an increase in cheerfulness after interactions with Robin. "
Medical practitioners also said Robin managed to engage children in a cooperative environment and make them more communicative, allowing hospital and clinic staff to perform their duties easier and with less frustration.
MORE FROM FORBESToadi Robot Mower Is Part Of A Master Plan For Worker RobotsBy Jeff Kart
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, children are much more isolated at hospitals. Visitations are limited, along with interactions by medical staff.
"Hospitals are looking for solutions to help children cope with isolation, loneliness, and stress," the CEO says. "As Robin has already proven its effectiveness in reducing stress and anxiety and supporting kids, hospitals can now provide better emotional support to the children without any direct human contact. Besides, Robin is there for children 24/7 to support any time. "
Robin during a sonography procedure at Wigmore Clinic
What is this robot saying to kids?
Khachikyan says the technology allows Robin to behave like a peer. He can play interactive games, tell funny stories and jokes … and explain complicated (and scary) medical procedures in simple ways.
"During the children's hospital stay, Robin continually visits children and helps them feel less isolated and lonely and by doing this increases recovery outcomes," the CEO says, adding: "Robin is kind of an adorable buddy who is always there to support and help during the challenging times."
The team behind Robin the Robot was founded in 2017. They started developing Robin at the beginning of 2018. They raised raised $200,000 in initial funding from SmartGateVC, HIVE Ventures, and angel investors for conducting the pilots and technology development. Expper plans to start raising seed funding soon "to advance the emotional intelligence technology and for the deployments in California," Khachikyan says.
Robin is coming to America on July 1.
Robin will be rolling around at ABC Kids Dental Group in Los Angeles, California, followed by UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital, Expper says.
"Dental treatment frequently involves invasive treatment, multiple injections, and the use of sharp, high‐speed cutting instruments, often extended over several visits," Khachikyan explains.
"Children often experience fear, anxiety, and stress which can impact the treatment quality, and cause traumatic experiences preventing later visits. Considering this, it is important that dental treatment also focuses on the psychological aspects of a child's visit, thus preventing painful and traumatic experiences."
Expper has to a goal to deploy Robin in major hospitals and dental clinics in California this year, allowing the locations to use Robin for a monthly subscription fee. A PowerPoint on Robin lists the fee at $1,500 per month, per unit, noting the company expects to rent out up to 10 robots per hospital (there's more than one Robin).
Expper was part of ImpactAim Venture Accelerator, and is continuing its work in Armenia, helping kids with cancer undergo treatments.
"Partnering with UNDP, we are planning to deploy Robin in public hospitals in Armenia," Khachikyan says. "This collaboration can impact thousands of children yearly bringing comfort and joy to them during the daunting process of hospitalization. We are planning to launch the project within a few months."
Robin playing with a hospitalized girl at Wigmore in Armenia

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Afghanistan: 'Al Qaeda will probably come back' Defence Secretary warns
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace says the UK government is "absolutely worried" further security threats will emerge as the Taliban gains momentum in Afghanistan.
600 troops will be sent to Kabul on a "short-term basis" in response to the increasing violence across the country. They are expected to arrive in the coming days.
Sky News videos are now available in Spanish here/Los video de Sky News están disponibles en español aquí https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzG5BnqHO8oNlrPDW9CYJog
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/skynews and https://twitter.com/skynewsbreak
Apple https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/sky-news/id316391924?mt=8


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Man killed in Alaska Highway crash
Police, firefighters and paramedics responded to a two-vehicle collision on the Alaska Highway just after 11:30 p.m. on May 28.
Andrew Seal
At the scene, just north of Two Mile Hill, RCMP located the body of a 32-year-old man in an embankment next to the truck he was driving. The Ford F-350 pickup was sitting overturned on its roof and the flat-deck trailer it had been towing was also upside down in the ditch.
In a news release, police said the truck collided with a Nissan SUV which had pulled over on the shoulder of the south-bound lane of the highway. The truck came from behind SUV and struck the driver's side of the vehicle. The impact destroyed the truck's front tire, causing it to lose control and go off the road, where it rolled over, landing on its roof.
The driver of the truck, the only occupant of the vehicle, was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the vehicle on impact, while the driver of the SUV was not injured, RCMP said.
The Alaska Highway was closed for three hours in both directions following the incident. Authorities are still investigating the crash.
Yukon firefighters battle 2,100 hectare fire northeast of Watson Lake
Families of missing and murdered Indigenous women speak out in Whitehorse


text:
import React, { useCallback, useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react'
import classnames from 'classnames'
import { reduxSet } from './utils'
import { MenuList } from './menu-list'
import { MenuItemT } from './menu-list-item'

export interface MenuT {
  label: string
  submenu: MenuItemT[]
}

export interface MenuBarProps {
  menu: MenuT[]
}

export const MenuBar: React.FC<MenuBarProps> = ({ menu: propMenu }) => {
  const [clicked, setClicked] = useState(false)
  const [focusing, setFocusing] = useState(0)
  const [menu, setMenu] = useState<MenuT[]>(propMenu)
  const lock = useRef(false)
  const menuItems = useRef<{ [i: number]: HTMLDivElement }>({})

  const onButtonMouseOver = useCallback(
    (i: number) => {
      if (clicked) {
        setFocusing(i)
      }
    },
    [clicked]
  )

  const onButtonClick = useCallback(
    (i) => {
      if (lock.current) {
        lock.current = false
        return
      }
      setClicked(!(focusing === i && clicked))
    },
    [clicked, focusing]
  )

  const onTouchStart = useCallback(
    (i) => {
      if (i !== focusing && clicked) {
        lock.current = true
      }
    },
    [clicked, focusing]
  )

  const onMouseMove = (i: number) => {
    setFocusing(i)
  }

  const setRefs = (ref: HTMLDivElement, i: number) => {
    menuItems.current[i] = ref
  }

  useEffect(() => {
    setMenu(propMenu)
  }, [propMenu])

  const changeCheckState = (mainIndex: number, subIndex: number, checked: boolean, isRadio = false) => {
    if (!isRadio) {
      setMenu(reduxSet(menu, [mainIndex, 'submenu', subIndex, 'checked'], checked) as MenuT[])
    } else {
      let newMenu = [...menu]
      const menuLength = menu[mainIndex].submenu.length
      for (let i = 0; i < menuLength; i++) {
        if (menu[mainIndex].submenu[i].type === 'radio') {
          newMenu = reduxSet(newMenu, [mainIndex, 'submenu', i, 'checked'], i === subIndex) as MenuT[]
        }
      }
      setMenu(newMenu)
    }
  }

  return (

      {menu.map((menuItem, i) => {
        return (

 onButtonMouseOver(i)}
            onClick={() => onButtonClick(i)}
            onTouchStart={() => onTouchStart(i)}
            onMouseMove={() => onMouseMove(i)}
            ref={(ref) => ref && setRefs(ref, i)}
            className={classnames('toolbar-dropdown', {
              open: clicked && i === focusing,
              closed: !clicked || i !== focusing,
            })}
          >
            {clicked && i === focusing && (
              <MenuList
                rect={menuItems.current[i]?.getBoundingClientRect()}
                menulist={menuItem.submenu}
                changeCheckState={changeCheckState}
                mainIndex={i}
              />
            )}

              <button className="button-component" type="button" tabIndex={-1}>

                      {menuItem.label}

              </button>

        )
      })}

  )
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Bookshop Genres The Night Police: Beyond The Line of Duty by Chris Berg
SubGenre:Mystery & Detective / Police Procedural
Series title:The Night Police
The Night Police
Beyond The Line of Duty
by Chris Berg and Paul James Smith
This first book in THE NIGHT POLICE series is a no-holds-barred, unflinching fictionalized version of real events the authors experienced firsthand during their time in law enforcement. A gritty, true-crime-inspired collection of thematically linked short stories where you'll meet the dangerous men that are The Night Police. Listen in as real-life urban policing is exposed amongst a union of hardened lawmen. Written by two who have been there, The Night Police will uncover the true lives that few could imagine, let alone choose to live.
This first book in THE NIGHT POLICE series is a no-holds-barred, unflinching fictionalized version of real events the authors experienced firsthand during their time in law enforcement. A gritty, true-crime-inspired collection of thematically linked short stories where you'll meet the dangerous men that are The Night Police. Listen in as real-life urban policing is exposed amongst a union of hardened lawmen. Written by two who have been there, The Night Police will uncover the true lives that few could imagine, let alone choose to live. Meet the rebel trooper Max Golden, the common thread in a dark journey from which not one of these men will escape unscathed. Max isn't content to spend his career as a humble, rule-following civil servant. Refusing to seek danger isn't his style. And in the squalid, crime-ridden streets of Bristol City, he finds danger in spades. Dope deals gone bad, street brawls, murder and more keep him and the other members of The Night Police bonded tightly together in their self-made fraternity. Escape, when it's needed, is found in the dark and nondescript Solly's Tavern, where on one particularly damp, cold evening in 1991, this down-at-the-heels saloon hosts four of the Night Police for a cathartic night of drinking. The plan is to let loose and forget for a few hours, but the swapping of increasingly graphic tales leads to the unfolding of a stunning revelation. Will it change the course of their lives and careers? This is a chronicle of the camaraderie that helped shield them from the intense pressures of urban policing. It tells the real stories, with the authentic voice of those who lived to reveal the truth. In true ripped-from-the-headlines fashion, the stories related in this book may seem improbable but are all based on true events. The Night Police provides truth and insight into the demons behind the badge. And for those of you in law enforcement, The Night Police will have special meaning for anyone who has ever worked the streets, dealt with informants and lived the life on that razor's edge.
Except for a short stint living in New York City, Chris Berg has lived on the left coast all his life. After graduating with his B.S. from San Jose State University, he found his true calling and in 1977, he became the third generation of his family to sign on as a lawman. The graveyard shift suited him just fine, and it was there he joined the ranks of the Night Police. He worked as an evidence technician, long before CSI was a thing, and as a detective, his assignments included Vice and Intelligence. But it was his posting as an undercover narcotics agent that fit him best. With hundreds of narcotics investigations under his belt, he became a field training officer for up-and-coming undercover detectives. He filled in the career gaps testifying as a court-certified "expert witness" in narcotics and dangerous drug investigations throughout the west. After an injury forced his early retirement, his new corporate job routinely took him to places like Malaysia, Dubai, Moscow, Rio de Janiero, and Beijing. It led him to associations with the UK's MI5 and MI6 intelligence services and work with most of America's alphabet agencies. He even spent a frigid All Saint's Day in a very eastern European city "drinking well" with a couple of mysterious ex-Stasi operatives. In 2017 he teamed with his real-life Night Police partner Paul James Smith, lighting the fuse for the next big challenge. The Night Police, the first novel in the series, is the result. He and his wife Janet now call northern California and Boston home. Their daughter, currently in grad school, is likely the fourth generation of law enforcement in the family—not counting Finnegan, her first horse, who retired from the United States Park Police! He also keeps up with his passions: baseball, fishing, and all things cooking and BBQ, not necessarily in that order.


We had a chance to listen to the debut EP from the new Wax Pistols imprint, and it's sounding reeeal crispy! Started a few months ago by Max and Dennis, two young passionate guys from Hanover, Wax Pistols, with this first release, has already set its roots in the underground scene.
The EP is made out of 4 original tracks by Dub Jamz (Max+Dennis), who kick things off with this four weapons EP crafted for club use. Raw and pumping percussions, rolling baselines, high pitched vocal samples and warm noisy pads are the essence of the production of the Hanover duo. All tracks sound really warm and are tape processed to get an extra analog feel. The EP is mastered by Reel Mastering in London, one of the freshest, most promising mastering services around. This new German label is definitely up to something good!
We are extremely happy to share this new discovery with you!


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How The Original Xbox Made Me Distrust Microsoft's Future Consoles
3rd World Geeks
I like video games. That should come as no surprise to anyone who's been to this site. Most of the time, I do prefer to play on Sony's gaming systems. I have owned every version of the PlayStation since the first one came out way back in 1995. That doesn't mean I've only limited myself to Sony system, though. I also loved My Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo Gamecube, Nintendo GameBoy Advance and many other gaming consoles from my past. I even have a Nintendo Switch right now. So you can't really say I'm a Sony fanboy or anything like that. If a system has good games, even if I can't get it, I will pine away at it from a distance.
There is one exception to this, however. And that exception is for the Xbox consoles. It's not that I hate Microsoft's systems per say. Rather, I would say I just…
Tagged as: Community, Game Play
Boss Rush Banter: What if SEGA had Continued Making Consoles?
Where to Watch and Participate in E3


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Browse: Home / In Honor of a Venerable Firearm 60th Birthday of the 7.62mm Model 58 Submachine Gun
In Honor of a Venerable Firearm 60th Birthday of the 7.62mm Model 58 Submachine Gun
David Pazdera / 15 July, 2020 / Comments Off on In Honor of a Venerable Firearm 60th Birthday of the 7.62mm Model 58 Submachine Gun / Editorials, Search By Issue, V12N4, Volume 12
The Czech assault rifle officially named "7.62mm Samopal vz. 58" (7.62mm model 58 submachine gun) has recently celebrated 60 years since its introduction in duty. This alternative to the Soviet Kalashnikov automatic rifle with original design is still widely popular, which is evidenced by its renewed production 15 years ago. The vz. 58's remarkable anniversary presents a good opportunity for readers to learn its story.
Since the early 1950s, development was on the way in Czechoslovakia of a new type of automatic firearm for the 7.62x45mm cartridge (Z-50, Model 52), which was created by a partial modification of the original Czech calibre 7.5x45mm with an aim to at least nominally unify the equipment with the Soviet Army. According to the knowledge gained from World War II, it was relatively successful ammunition of medium ballistic performance, ranking somewhere between classical rifle and pistol cartridges. However, it was especially suitable for light machine guns and, with some reservations, for self-loading rifles. Nevertheless, the ammunition was far from ideal for a military service firearm with the possibility of burst-mode firing.
CENTRAL MILITARY ARCHIVE PRAGUE
A prototype of the ČZ 522 "heavy submachine gun" by the designer Jiří Čermák during tests in 1954. Although this model was later abandoned, its creator received a new opportunity a year later, of which he made full use.
It had been one of the reasons why the 4-year-long development efforts did not result in accepting any of the submitted models and there were a few. This project was one of the last ones in Czechoslovakia done by means of competition between several designers or design teams. The best designers in the industry took part in the competition: the legendary creator of Zbrojovka Brno's light and heavy machine guns, Václav Holek, with the ZB 530 prototype; the elite representatives of the Interwar Generation of designers, Josef and František Koucký (the ZK 503, ZK 503/1 and ZK 503/2 prototypes); and young and extraordinarily talented Jiří Čermák (ČZ 515 and ČZ 522) from Česká zbrojovka in Strakonice. However, all these designers were only clarifying with the military administration what to expect from the new type of firearm and how to reach the desired goal.
The main inventor of the model 58 submachine gun, Jiří Čermák (1926–2006).
New Ammunition
After state tests of the so-called "heavy submachine guns" in the summer of 1954, just the ZK 503 and ZB 530 prototypes reached the final phase; they were supposed to be developed further in the national company Konstrukta Brno. This company had become a new centralized workplace for research and development of military weapons, where experts from all of Czechoslovakia were gradually transferred.
Nevertheless, events took a sudden turn in 1955. The Warsaw Treaty was signed in mid-May, and it was followed by efforts for unification of military equipment in the entire Eastern Bloc. Leadership of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia wanted to deal with the situation by introducing the production of Soviet weapons; but in autumn 1955, apparently for economic reasons, priority was given to development of domestic weapons using Soviet ammunition. While the obsolete 7.62x54R cartridge with a case bottom rim designed for machine guns was not a particular win, the excellent 7.62x39mm cartridge (Model 43) opened interesting opportunities for designers.
Therefore, the development of "heavy submachine guns" was definitively abandoned by the end of 1955, and new requirements were specified for a military service firearm, which, due to its difficult classification in the then existing categories, started to be called "submachine gun–rifle." (Finally, the Czechoslovak military administration simplified the matter by applying the name, submachine gun, on all military service firearms able to fire in the burst mode, regardless of their calibre.)
The transition to the new calibre was accompanied by specification of very strict parameters: The weight of the firearm without a magazine was to be 2,700g; the total length was not to exceed 850mm; versions with fixed and folding stocks were to be made; the magazine capacity was to be 30 cartridges; and the service life of main components was to be 15,000 rounds. Designers' work was partly facilitated by the fact that they were already allowed to use alloy steels, which had originally been rejected by the military administration, based on experience in failures from war production. There was no other way to accomplish the objective, considering such demanding requirements.
The development of the new firearm was launched under the cover name "Broom" in 1956 in the national company Konstrukta Brno. Jiří Čermák (1926–2006), who had not succeeded in the previous competition for "heavy submachine guns" but had already managed to gain the reputation of being an excellent expert, became the head of the development project. What is more, he was, in fact, the only employee of Konstrukta Brno who had enough experience with firearms of similar character. His previous competitor and then shortly his colleague Václav Holek died in December 1954 at the age of 68, and the Koucký brothers, although still showing creativity and invention, refused to move from Prague to Brno and, subsequently, were not allowed to work on secret military projects any more.
Jiří Čermák was assisted in this project namely by Ing. Bohuslav Novotný, Karel Vystrčil and Jindřich Jakubec. It was obvious from the very first drawings that a highly modern, universal, military service firearm was about to be born in Brno. This was evidenced by the first of four patents protecting the new design (the fifth patent applied to the silencer designed for the less frequent Pi version designed for use with night-vision equipment): Jiří Čermák came out with an original design of the breech mechanism with a carried swinging breech locking piece with symmetrical locking lugs fitting in a recess in the receiver. The advantages of this design included:
Locking near the cartridge chamber (making the locking rigid, with minimum elasticity);
General simplicity of the breech mechanism (it consisted just of a breech block carrier, breech block and breech locking piece);
The symmetrical locking surfaces of the breech locking piece had a positive effect on the firearm accuracy;
General design of the breech locking piece, in which there was, among other things, no risk of any interference, and the mass of which was relatively low compared to locking components of other systems; and
Simple production without any sophisticated machining operations.
The development, during which the prototypes underwent several tests in the Soviet Union (the first of them was conducted as early as in autumn 1956), was officially completed in June 1958. The resulting firearm operated on the principle of locked breech with extraction of gases on a piston. The breech mechanism was locked by the separate breech locking piece. The firing mechanism had a linear hammer and a free-floating firing pin mounted in the breech block. The breech block was not connected with the piston, which enabled loading the magazine with the bolt locked in its rear position from cartridge strips (containing 10 rounds) that had remained from the previously prepared but finally unimplemented license production of the Soviet SKS self-loading rifle. The front sight base enabled the attachment of a bayonet or folding bipod, which later became characteristic for one of the three basic versions of the firearm.
A Difficult Program
In October 1957 a decision was made that production of the new automatic firearms would be done by the arms factory in Uherský Brod (now Česká zbrojovka a.s., or CZ), which was definitively becoming the new main supplier of infantry equipment (with the exception of machine guns) for national armed forces.
MORAVIAN TERRITORIAL ARCHIVE BRNO A shot from tests in 1957.
Preparation for production started in the spring of 1958, and its first stage was seriously complicated by an extensive investigation of self-initiation of cartridges from license production in Vlašim. In the summer of 1958, five factory prototypes were made to verify the precision and alignment of dimensions as well as the suitability of specified production materials. The basic preparation for production was completed by September 1958, and it was followed by improvements in the firearm design based on the experience gained so far: The changes involved, for example, the bayonet holder, the bayonet release button, the trigger bar or the fire-mode selector spring. Based on a requirement by the Ministry of National Defence, tests of the modified trigger bar were conducted, which required implementing the changes on 14,000 already manufactured parts.
A preliminary project of the future model 58 submachine gun.
Hard chromium plating of long openings (barrel bore) was used in production of the new firearm—this method had been used by the company for the first time for model 52/57 self-loading rifles using the same cartridge. Chromium plating was also used for surface treatment of extremely stressed parts of the breech.
Considering the planned high-production volumes, the lost-wax casting technique was used for a number of parts. As the company had not fully mastered this production process yet, at the beginning, it had to establish contacts with the more experienced machinery company Kdyňské strojírny in Kdyně. Cooperation with this company was not without problems, but its unquestionable benefit was that it accelerated full implementation of the precision casting technology for Uherský Brod.
The plant in Uherský Brod received a preliminary approval to start the serial production of the "Broom" program from its superior departmental company Závody Říjnové revoluce Vsetín on January 29, 1959, based on a so-called "exemption from technological discipline." Since the military administration insisted upon the earliest start of supply possible, production began before the completion of the test series and its tests, from which other partial changes in the design and in the production documentation were reasonably expected.
Despite the year in the official name of the firearm "7.62mm submachine gun model 58," it was introduced in the Czechoslovak People's Army's equipment on February 10, 1959 via command of the Minister of National Defence Bohumír Lomský. It was followed by the Ruling of the Government of the Czechoslovak Republic No. 1106, December 23, 1959. The new firearm was officially presented to the public at the traditional military parade at the Letná Plain in Prague on May 1, 1960.
Almost like at the start of serial production, the CSA Brownells exclusive "Classic" model 58 rifle (brownells.com).
Three Versions, Two Periods of Production
Three basic models were introduced, differing in only a few details. The basic model with a fixed stock was called model 58 P (infantry); the model 58 V with folding stock was produced primarily for airborne units. In addition to these two models, the model 58 Pi was created by additional modifications and designed for use with the NSP-2 infrascope. This model was supplemented with a mounting rail, a flash hider and a bipod.
The first period of the model 58 submachine gun's production—the users of which included the Czechoslovak Army and other Czechoslovak Armed Forces—spanned between 1959 and 1964, during which the arms factory in Uherský Brod produced a total of 397,034 pieces, most of which (257,987) were with the fixed stock. The plant also made 6,000 components kits for conversion to the Pi version of the firearm.
The second period of production fell between 1968 and 1984, when more than a half million pieces of both models (plus a small number in the Pi version again) were produced. This time, a larger part of this quantity was imported abroad, including some truly hot locations.
The least numerous version of model 58 Pi, in this case made via modification of a piece with the original beechwood stock. (The example is from the study collection of the Beareka company.)
In addition to completed firearms, huge quantities of spare parts and bayonets were produced in Uherský Brod.
The most significant modification to the model 58 submachine guns during production was a change in the stock material. Beechwood was used in the first year of production. However, with respect to the high production volumes, the use of alternative, cheaper materials started to be considered already in autumn 1958. The alternatives under consideration included glass fibre but the greatest attention was paid to pressing of wooden parts, which had originally been prepared in 1957 for the finally cancelled license production of SKS rifles. The production procedure, involving pressing of wood-chip matter filled with phenol-formaldehyde resin, was finalized in 1959 by the Brno development plant in cooperation with the state Forest Products Research Institute in Bratislava. Production was assigned to the Slovak factory Bučina Zvolen, which started to supply stocks, forestocks, forearms and pistol grips made of the so-called wood-chip material in February 1962. From then on, the plant in Uherský Brod fitted the model 58 submachine guns exclusively with these parts.
There were many more design and technology modifications during the serial production in the years 1959 to 1984, but most of them are not always apparent at first sight. Let us mention at least reinforcing the piston shaft, modification of the trigger guard and magazine release shape, reinforcing the breech locking piece, changes in material and design of the firing pin and hammer or the folding stock's modified design.
Versions in calibres 7.62x51mm NATO and .223 Remington (5.56x45mm) were created for export, but they were not introduced in production at that time. The possibility of selling a license for the basic version of the 58 abroad was considered several times, but always came to nothing, and the arms factory in Uherský Brod, hidden under the well-known military code "she," remained the only producer of the original model 58 submachine guns.
Action V
Important foreign customers for model 58 submachine guns included the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) when it was actually at war with the U.S. It is said that the North Vietnamese valued the 58s highly because they were significantly lighter than the Soviet Kalashnikov rifles.
The supplies of Czechoslovak arms to the DRV had the form of free material aid. The first 1,300 model 58 submachine guns were exported in 1965. Another 10,000 pieces followed in 1969 and 8,000 pieces the following year. In the first half of the 1970s, the 58s were supplied to Vietnam at the volumes of 12,000–15,000 pieces a year.
The production for DRV was called "Action V" in the Uherský Brod factory, and, according to one of the contemporaries, 400 model 58 submachine guns were produced per day for this purpose at the time of its culmination.
Still a Respected Veteran
Although the total production volume of the model 58 submachine guns does not reach the volumes of AKs and some other renowned foreign assault rifles, almost 920,000 pieces produced is a respectable figure and a great success for the design team and the production factory. There were and still are certain minor flaws (e.g., not so durable cover of the receiver, loosening of the folding stock screw, slightly higher sensitivity to quality of ammunition compared to the AK); in addition, production of the firearm was really demanding and not always smooth. But this does not change anything about the fact that the parameters and performance of the model 58 at the time of its origin belonged to the world's top class, and it is still considered to be one of the most successful assault rifles in calibre 7.62x39mm.
The model 58 submachine guns have remained in the Czech and Slovak Republics Armed Forces up to the present; although specifically in the Czech Republic they have been replaced by new CZ 805 BRENs and CZ BREN 2s since 2011. The fact is that such a long service life was not just due to the excellent properties of the 58s; in reality, the political and economic situation played a great role. Originally, a transition to a newly developed weapon system, LADA cal. 5.45x39mm or 5.56x45mm, was planned on the turn of 1980s, but it never happened, due to economic reasons. Seen in retrospection, it did not harm Czech and Slovak soldiers in any way. The utility value of the model 58 submachine guns in current conflicts is increased by successful partial modernizations, improving the ergonomics and enabling mounting of various accessories.
In the meantime, the model 58s have started to live their second life, especially in the form of exclusively self-loading firearms for the civilian arms market. For example, the original manufacturer Česká zbrojovka, a.s., has had great success with its CZ 858 Tactical models, in which its subsidiary Zbrojovka Brno, s.r.o. also took part in their production.
Self-loading rifles derived from the model 58 submachine gun were originally made with higher or lesser use of the original firearms and spare parts from the Czech Army and police warehouses. Even though these resources were vast, they were finally exhausted, though the interest in the firearm continues. Therefore, completely new production has been launched. It is carried out by the company Czech Small Arms (CSA) in Jablůnka nad Bečvou in the northeast of the Czech Republic. New production is conducted with partial use of modern materials. The offer includes several versions with different barrel lengths and as standard it is possible to choose between the calibres 7.62x39mm and 5.56x45mm. CSA's firearms have even found their way to TV and silver screens, where they have proven their worth, e.g., in the hands of the invincible 007.
It was on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the 58 that CSA recently prepared for the Brownells distribution company a limited "Classic" series, the appearance of which reminds one of the model 58 submachine guns from the start of serial production.
David Pazdera
Tags: 2020, Bohuslav Novotný, Česká zbrojovka, ČZ 522, David Pazdera, František Koucký, Jindřich Jakubec, Jiří Čermák, Josef Koucký, Karel Vystrčil, Model 58, Model 58 P, Model 58 Pi, Model 58 V, Samopal vz. 58, Uherský Brod, V12N4, Václav Holek, Volume 12, ZB 530, ZK 503
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This story occurs approximately 4 years before Episode IV: A New Hope with the flashback stories occuring prior to, during and immediately after Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.
As a result of the the previous issue, Kanan gets a lot of time to reminisce and so we get a close look at a time long before order 66. While it is all very well presented and the story is very coherent, it did not hold my interest as well as the first issue. It is still worth the read, especially if you came this far, but I guess it was the right decision to end this series with the second trade. There is much jumping from one battlefield to the next and it is mostly standard and not to engaging stuff: The every day realities of war mixed with some character developments.


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You are here: Home / Latest / MLK biopic comes to The Curve
MLK biopic comes to The Curve
October 31, 2018 by leicestershirepress Leave a Comment
By Ollie Heppenstall
An award-winning stage production of a biopic about world-famous civil rights leader Martin Luther King is to open at The Curve in November.
The Mountaintop, written by Katori Hall and directed by Roy A. Weise, is named for the famous "I've been to the mountaintop" speech delivered by King in April 1968 and centres around the night before his assassination in Memphis, Tennessee.
The original production won the 2010 Olivier award for best new play.
Starring Gbolahan Obisesan as Martin Luther King and Rochelle Rose as Camae, The Mountaintop opens on Tuesday November 13 and closes on Saturday November 17. Tickets can be bought on www.curveonline.co.uk/whats-on/shows/the-mountaintop/
For more information, call The Curve ticket office on 0116 242 3595.
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St. Patrick's Day is on the way. And whether you're Irish or not, you're likely to be acknowledging the day in one form or another.
Many will wander down to a local pub for green beer, others will simply don the colour. There will be lilting tunes from the Emerald Isle piped through stereo systems and on radio stations, while children will be colouring pictures of leprechauns and shamrocks.


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Myanmar Caught in the Trap of Climate Change
Articles, Environment, Nation, Nations Matters, Social Matters, Volume 19, Volumes September 19, 2017 Administrator
Swati Prabhu
Doctoral Candidate, Centre for European Studies,
School of International Studies, JNU
With talks about climate change and sustainable development doing the round these days, the entire global fraternity is bearing the brunt of it and Myanmar is not left alone. With nearly 75% of the country's population depending on agriculture, threats of water shortages, drought, heat waves etc, could easily take a toll on the livelihoods of people. The country's anatomy is peculiarly shaped in the form of a kite with a long tail that runs south along the Malay Peninsula. It is also the northernmost country in the Southeast Asian region with China situated towards the north and northeast and India to the northwest. However, the country is not untouched by the damaging effects of the changing climate and fears of the worsening environment. According to the recent Asian Development Bank (ADB) report released earlier this year, climate change could prove to be disastrous for Asia, especially for Myanmar. President Trump's appalling decision to withdraw support from the Paris Agreement, it may appear to have caused massive repercussions on the Asian dream of curbing emissions. However, with China taking a positive stance to press ahead with emissions reduction, countries like Myanmar hope to get some positive encouragement and assistance.
The report produced by the ADB and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) makes for grim reading, should the predictions eventuate. Under a "business as usual" scenario, a 6 degree Celsius temperature rise is projected over the Asian landmass by the end of the century, with an increase as high as 8 degrees C forecasted in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and northwest China. "These increases in temperature would lead to drastic changes in the region's weather system, agriculture and fisheries sectors, land and marine biodiversity, domestic and regional security, trade, urban development, migration, and health. Such a scenario may even pose an existential threat to some countries in the region and crush any hope of achieving sustainable and inclusive development," the report said. In addition to this, according to the 2016 Climate Risk Index, Myanmar is the second-most vulnerable country in the world to the effects of climate change. According to the latest projections, Myanmar faces more extreme weather events as temperatures rise: more cyclones, more storms, more floods and more droughts. Before 2000, cyclones made landfall along Myanmar's coast once every three years. Since the turn of the century, cyclones have made landfall every year.
In spite of this, the picture is not that bleak. The plethora of economic opportunities offered to the Asian countries, specifically Myanmar, is headed by a 'firming recovery' in the form of major industrial economies and the government's continued reforms. As per the Myanmar Climate Change Alliance (MCCA), a joint initiative of the UN-Habitat and UNEP, Myanmar is one the fewest countries in the LDCs who take climate change seriously, especially when it comes to adaptation. Climate change is a reality which needs to be addressed urgently and Myanmar is doing relatively well in this regard. To take the issue in an optimistic manner, the country's economy is expected to accelerate at around 7.7% in 2017 and to 8.0% in 2018, while the current account deficit will widen the imports, growing faster than the exports. The recent government effort in strengthening the legal and regulatory framework has also helped in enhancing the conducive environment for private businesses and investments, which will, in turn, drive further economic growth. Consolidating the country's legal and regulatory framework is crucial to develop a vibrant private sector and tap Myanmar's huge growth potential, the report says.
The link between economic opportunity and climate change is something that has to be given immediate attention by the Asian countries, especially Myanmar. The job of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by subsiding the global temperature to below 1.5 degrees Celsius is undoubtedly a herculean task but it would result in various opportunities for the international community. According to various reports released by leading media agencies, Asia has already become a leader in clean energy investment, with the lead was taken by China investing humongously in renewable energy. This raises the question of funding for climate adaptation and mitigation efforts. Myanmar is already receiving external assistance from a couple of entities, such as Global Environment Facility, the EU, and bilateral development partners. It is also said that the country will have access to future funding through the Green Climate Fund, which distributes the annual $100 billion contributions made by advanced economies, agreed at COP21 in Paris last year.
The country also offers a plethora of opportunities for investors, stakeholders and private sector involvement. Vast natural gas deposits, innumerable suitable locations for hydropower generation, and unexplored potential for solar and wind power generation are some of the key areas which would definitely attract investment in the coming years. In this regard, Myanmar's power sector puts forward a plethora of opportunities to both foreign and local investors. According to the government reports, the installation of considerable additional capacity to the current 4,422 MW as well as the rapid construction of transmission lines are national priorities. In order to reach the objective of full national electrification until 2030, the power sector of Myanmar needs to evolve and develop in an efficient manner. The participation of both public and private sector is essential in this regard. It could also be stated that the country needs to build an effective mitigation strategy which involves not only the state but also contributions from the non-state actors, in order to procure finance and maintain coordination, at the time of financial drip.
However, the recent shift in geopolitical trends with the prominence gained by emerging economies, like China, India and Brazil certainly provides a positive push to Myanmar for constructing their economy in a sustainable way.
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53% of organizations experienced a software audit within the last two years, with true-up costs and penalties averaging $525,000 among those found to be non-compliant. When it comes to license compliance, you can't afford to be caught asleep at the wheel. Cherwell Asset Management's world-class license management capabilities and compliance reporting enable you to monitor your license position in a proactive, automated fashion—so you can correct license deficits before you receive the software audit letter. An IT asset management system doesn't get any easier.
If you suspect unused or underutilized software licenses are costing your organization big money, now you can prove it, with Cherwell Asset Management's powerful software usage analysis. On average, Cherwell's IT asset management customers reclaim 15-20% of their annual software budget through re-allocation of licenses, termination of maintenance fees and support costs, and renegotiation of software contracts.
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Cherwell Asset Management software is widely acclaimed for its ability to answer critical questions that help you control costs and manage risk. With customizable dashboards, limitless drill-down capabilities, and an easy-to-use filtering model, you can get the asset management information you need—while meeting the needs of every audience including IT, finance, help desk, and executive stakeholders.
When it comes to initiatives such as license compliance, "good enough" just doesn't cut it. Unlike other IT asset management products, Cherwell Asset Management uses a propriety software identification database to recognize the countless executables found on your network, and turns the raw data into complete and accurate reports you can rely on.
In contrast to other IT asset management solutions, Cherwell Asset Management offers a straightforward implementation that leverages your existing infrastructure and, on average, takes just hours—versus weeks or months—to deploy. You don't need to be a SQL expert to run the reports you need, or a financial professional to take advantage of its powerful purchasing functionality—nor do you need professional services to optimize your implementation.


During the last few years, Full Sail has been giving lagers some extra TLC. In fact, their Session and LTD lines exclusively feature different styles of lagers. I've tasted, enjoyed, and written about several.
Full Sail just returned from the 2013 World Beer Championships with a truck load of medals! They earned a total of 11 medals (7 gold and 4 silvers). What's even more impressive is the fact that every lager they entered into the competition won a gold or silver medal! Impressive, to say the least.
You can see the details in the news release below. Here are the links to my reviews of some of the award-winning beers.
Congrats to the Full Sail crew for this amazing accomplishment! What are your favorite Full Sail lagers?
Hood River, Oregon – Seven gold and four silver medals from the World Beer Championships have just been added to Full Sail Brewing's impressive list of awards and accolades. Every single lager crafted by Full Sail has earned gold or silver medals at this year's competition.
"This is such an extraordinary accomplishment. The sophistication and complexity of lager beers highlight a brewer's skill and passion for quality. To bring home a medal for every single one of our lagers is testament to the craftsmanship that comes with our 26 years of brewing. Balance and elegance are our defining brewery characteristics and we're thrilled to once again earn the highest awards for our beers," said Jamie Emmerson, Full Sail's Executive Brewmaster. "We don't brew our beers to win medals, but we're honored when we do. Our customers are the ultimate judges and we strive to consistently brew all our beers with them in mind. This is further validation of renowned beer writer John Foyston's declaration that Full Sail is 'Oregon's biggest, best lager brewery.' Thanks to all our beer fans and friends for your ongoing support," Emmerson added.
The World Beer Championships are a blind tasting competition conducted by the Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) of Chicago, Illinois. The competition included beers from many highly respected brewers from around the world including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and the United States. Tasting notes from the competition are available at www.tastings.com.
The independent and employee-owned Full Sail Brewery is perched on a bluff in Hood River, Oregon, overlooking the most epic wind and kite surfing spot in the world. At this very moment our specialists in the liquid refreshment arts are crafting barley and hops into your next beer. Among the company's most popular brews are Full Sail Amber, IPA, Limited Lager Series, Pub Ale Series, Session Premium, Session Black, and Session Fest lagers. Founded in 1987, the Full Sail crew has been fermenting award winning godlike nectar for 26 years, and is committed to brewing great beer sustainably. The Full Sail Brew Pub is open seven days a week. Swing by for a pint, grab a bite, tour the brewery, or just soak up the view.


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Within the Department of Defense, the impact of VR and AR has fundamentally changed major functions over the course of 30 years. It has opened countless doors to new uses that are now commonplace throughout the armed services.
The U.S. Navy has come a long way from its evolution of advanced technology in the thousands of ships and aircraft serving worldwide. Research of technology such as virtual reality, has become the platform for use in recruitment, training, and operations.
This October 13th, the United States Navy turns 243 years old. In 1775, the Continental Congress established a naval force in hopes to wage tactical raids against the transports that supplied British forces in North America. To accomplish such a mission, a fleet of small ships was purchased, converted, and constructed in order to set out and hunt these commerce ships.
Two years after the end of the war, and in debt, Congress sold off the last ship of this Continental Navy. However, the expansion of trade and shipping in the 1790s still meant the possibility of attacks of European powers and pirates substantially increasing. In March 1794, Congress responded by calling for the construction of a half-dozen frigates, and the United States Navy was officially here to stay.
However, in current times, technology and tactics have become more and more advanced than the days of frigates and raids. In fact, the U.S. Navy finds innovative uses for new technology all the time, so it was no surprise that virtual and augmented reality found a place in many areas of the military branch.
The Navy has recently begun using virtual reality for recruitment by driving around a tractor trailer, called the Nimitz, around the country to schools, Fleet Weeks, air shows, and other special events. It has eight virtual reality pods, all donned with Oculus Rift headsets, and allows the Navy to accommodate about 60 people per hour. The virtual reality experience, created with design studio Helios, consists of a series of immersive experiences. Participants begin with being issued an RFID dog tag, go through a briefing, and participate in a virtual high-speed water extraction of a Navy SEAL team pinned down under enemy fire.
Participants navigate the mission using a piece of wearable technology called a SubPac that percusses in real time to the sounds of the mission, such as helicopter blades and live mortar fire. Participants also use a cutting-edge steering wheel and throttle system to replicate the actual sensation of piloting a high-speed assault craft. Once completed, participants then move to a "debriefing" station where they receive feedback and even a performance grade. It provides an opportunity to transform and elevate what it feels like to be part of today's Navy.
According to a Virtual Reality Marketing case study, these efforts are seeing results. At the Winter X Games in Aspen, CO, where the Nimitz was stationed, the Navy saw a 48% increase in leads; at the Army/Navy football game in Baltimore, the Navy saw a 126% increase in leads. In the first two months after the Navy's VR efforts began, leads of potential recruits have more than doubled compared to the previous two years combined.
The Fleet Integrated Synthetic Training/Testing Facility, or FIST2FAC, was created in response to an urgency for a more inexpensive and portable way for ships to train in any given operating area. The latest iteration of the U.S. Navy's simulator training technology blends live-action exercises with virtual reality. For example, sailors operate a 50-caliber machine gun on a ship, wearing augmented reality glasses, enabling them to see virtual enemy combatants within a live physical setting.
Sailor defending against virtual enemy combatants during a virtual reality training program demonstration.
FIST2FAC uses reusable software and gaming technology that helps sailors develop strategies through interactive intelligence forces in various virtual environments. It can realistically replicate situations with aircraft carriers, helicopters, lethal and nonlethal weapons, and enable training on several missions simultaneously.
The BEMR Lab can allow military personnel to take part in a single virtual reality simulation exercise anywhere around the world.
The Battlespace Exploitation of Mixed Reality, or BEMR Lab, is also developing inexpensive, cutting edge technology for the U.S. Navy by combining virtual and augmented reality in San Diego. Sponsored by the Office of Naval Research, the BEMR Lab hopes to provide training that could allow virtual reality simulations such as being able to walk the decks of a ship, helping sailors in getting to know the details before ever arriving at the actual vessel. Or, simulating live-fire exercises for a variety of crews, as well as finding a multitude of solutions using advanced technology for many fleet challenges.
In March 2016, Lt. Robert McClenning, a training officer aboard the guided-missile destroyer, USS Gridley, won the top spot and $100,000 in prototyping funds for his augmented reality helmet concept. His innovation, GunnAR, is an augmented reality overlay placed onto helmets manufactured by industry partner, DAQRI, an augmented reality technology company in Los Angeles. It's prototype fused information from a ship's gunnery liaison officer and weapon system into an easy-to-interpret visual format for the gunner manning a naval gun system.
Since then, DAQRI has collaborated with the U.S. Navy to outfit this augmented reality helmet for use on battleships. The gunnery liaison officer (GLO) uses an Android tablet to identify the gun position on a diagram of the ship and select the action, such as track, hold, fire, or cease fire. The tablet is linked to Smart Helmets worn by the gunners, who see the commands in their field of view through their displays. The system also assists the gunner with locating objectives and aiming, all within the gunner's field of view. The helmet, in turn, shares the gunner's view from a mounted camera to the GLO, who can follow the feed through an inset window on the tablet.
While the Navy is continuing to implement the system into its fleet, GunnAR made its live-fire testing debut in June, 2017, aboard the USS Bunker Hill as part of an annual naval training exercise.
This year, the U.S. Navy has also selected Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim) to develop new augmented and virtual reality technologies to train aircrews. BISim has been tasked with providing a T-45 simulator cockpit that immerses trainees in a high-fidelity virtual reality environment. The software will allow pilots a 360º of view and recreate the station, avionics, and flight dynamics of the T-45, allowing pilots to flip switches, turn knobs, and completely interact with cockpit displays as would be conducted with a real flight trainer. The goal is to support basic flight and cockpit familiarization, operations, and basic fighting maneuvers. The technology will be employed by the Chief of Naval Air Training and the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division.
BISim software for training personnel.
Virtual reality technology have the potential to fundamentally change how military personnel training is delivered. These solutions, and future solutions that are just beginning, offer tremendous benefits to the U.S. Navy, from spreading awareness and encouraging new enlistments, decreases in costs, on-the-go training, and ultimately increasing readiness for sailors around the world.


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Scientists say 2014 was a turning point for climate change. And it's all thanks to China
China's relationship with coal appears to be changing
Image: REUTERS/Omar Sobhani
Simon Torkington , Formative Content
"Coal is China. China is coal." That was the summary given by the International Energy Agency in 2012 as it attempted to contextualize the global industry. At that time China was producing and consuming half of the world's coal.
Across China, around 2,600 coal-fired power stations keep the world's second-largest economy running. They also churn out billions of tonnes of greenhouse gases. This infographic – an interactive version of which can be found here – shows every coal-fired power station currently operating, or under construction, in China.
Coal-fired power stations in China
Image: End Coal
A global shift away from coal
But China's relationship with coal appears to be changing. According to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, global consumption of coal peaked in 2013 and China's reduced use was a big driver in the worldwide fall.
Image: Inside Climate News
According to a recent paper published in the Nature Geoscience journal, China burnt 4.2 billion tonnes of coal in 2013. But a year later, consumption was down by 2.9% and 2015 saw another decrease of 3.6%.
The report's authors are confident that China has passed its peak use of coal decades before many commentators had predicted.
Slowing the rate of climate change
Nicholas Stern, a climate economist at the London School of Economics who co-wrote the report with colleagues at Tsinghua University in Beijing, said China's coal peak was a pivotal moment in the fight against climate change.
"I think historians really will see 2014 as a very important event in the history of the climate and economy of the world."
"Given the international political and economic structures we now have to manage climate change, I think it will be very influential on others."
Scaling back on coal power
China's investment in coal infrastructure also appears to be going into reverse. In April, the National Energy Administration announced plans to scale back on the construction of new coal-fired power plants across the country.
The executive secretary of the UN's Framework Convention on Climate Change, Patricia Espinosa, welcomed the signs that China is becoming less reliant on coal.
"This assessment of the possible peaking of China's coal use is a very positive development in international efforts to address climate change."
"It underlines how ambitious and deliberate policies to shift away from highly polluting fuels to cleaner energy sources can deliver global climate benefits and national improvements in health and indeed in people's lives."
As the use of coal falls, the race for renewables is gathering pace. China's Renewable Energy Industries Association says solar energy production was up 28% in the first half of 2016. Wind and hydro power production has also increased by 13%. This is in line with an existing trend that has seen China lead the way in renewable energy investment.
Image: Nature
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