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Debate over CIC parts classifications proposals illustrates impasse in industry
By John Huetter on November 14, 2019
Associations | Business Practices | Education | Insurance | Legal | Market Trends | Repair Operations
A stalemate in the Collision Industry Conference Parts and Materials Committee over what to call certain new auto body replacement parts was echoed in a testy and tense CIC discussion Nov. 5 following the presentation of the panel's two competing definitions proposals.
After being deadlocked, the Parts and Materials Committee charged with defining categories of parts that otherwise might be lumped into vague — and in California, illegal — terms like "Opt-OEM" split into two working groups. Both groups' representatives on Nov. 5 expressed distaste for imprecise concepts like Opt-OEM; there doesn't seem to be any dispute on that regard.
Working Group I drew representatives of "Shops, Suppliers, Insurers & Info Providers," according to a slide presented to the CIC Nov. 5. That working group generated six part descriptions presenter and Committee Co-Chairman Ken Weiss (SSF Imported Auto Parts) described as focused on business-to-business communications.
OEM Dealer: New vehicle manufacturer part, in that manufacturer's packing, from that manufacturer's supplier and carrying that manufacturer's warranty.
OEM Non-Dealer: A new vehicle manufacturer's part in the original packaging. However, it's sold by a third-party supplier and carries a third-party warranty.
Tier One- OEM: A new part made by the vehicle manufacturer's supplier, with identical specifications and engineering to the version provided the automaker. It carried the OEM brand, but would be sold in the Tier 1 company's packaging, by a third-party supplier, carrying a third-party warranty.
Tier One- OEM with Branding Differences: A new part built by the vehicle manufacturer's supplier, with identical specifications and engineering to the one provided the automaker. However, the branding is different. The part is sold in the Tier 1 manufacturer's packaging, by a third-party supplier, with a third-party warranty.
Aftermarket Certified: An aftermarket manufacturer's part certified by a separate entity other than the manufacturer, such as by CAPA or NSF. It's sold in aftermarket packaging by a third-party supplier and carries a third-party warranty.
Aftermarket Non-Certified: An aftermarket manufacturer's part lacking certification from a separate entity. It's sold in aftermarket packaging by a third-party supplier and carries a third-party warranty.
All six types of parts have at one time or another turned up classified along the lines of Opt-OEM, according to Weiss.
Committee Co-Chairman Aaron Schulenburg (Society of Collision Repair Specialists) said he created a second subcommittee comprised of OEMs and all of the committee's repairers who weren't invited to participate in Working Group I. That panel focused on business-to-consumer communications rather than B2B messaging, and it ultimately divided all parts into two categories: OEM and non-OEM.
According to a Working Group II slide, an "OEM" part had to meet the following criteria:
New part in the Vehicle Manufacturers' (also referred to as OEM) authorized and official packaging, manufactured directly by the OEM or their approved, contracted supplier, distributed exclusively through the original equipment manufacturer's official, authorized distribution network in the market specified by the OEM, warranted, updated, and supported exclusively by the OEM.
Everything else was deemed "Non-OEM." It could be explained further through four attributes a slide listed as "Who it was made for," "How is it packaged/ Identified," "Who distributes it" and "Who supports the part." Matching the group's OEM definition 4 for 4 means a part is OEM.
The following Q&A session triggered lively debate which gives a good sense into both sides' perspectives and criticisms.
Asked if the OEM/Non-OEM division created a large bucket of parts that a consumer understood but a body shop didn't, Schulenburg said he felt there were ways to work out the B2B element, but consumer understanding was more important. He said no offense was met, but after looking at the Working Group I categories, "I'm more confused than I am clear."
He said professionals with decades in the industry had been arguing "bitterly" about it for more than a year, and rather than clarify it, those definitions "validate" parts a consumer should know aren't OEM.
"Why the smokescreen?" asked Mark Olson (Vehicle Collision Experts) also asked at one point. Just tell the customer a part was non-OEM, then explain its qualities, and "that's how it is."
CIC Administrator Jeff Hendler earlier had declared the conversation a "game" being played "from all sides."
He criticized the idea of giving a consumer "17 different definitions," calling a part either OEM or not. Call a Tier 1 part Tier 1 non-OEM, he said — it would be the "best non-OEM tier there is. But it's not OEM."
The consumer knows it wasn't OEM, he said.
He gave the example of his auto insurance policy declaring the carrier won't pay for OEM parts. Nomenclature describing a part as a variation of OEM wouldn't be covered, but the term non-OEM would mean they'd pay for it — "and I might know what the hell I'm getting."
Weiss replied if a part was classified as non-OEM but its list of attributes and description remained intact, he probably wouldn't have an issue with it. But Hendler was talking about an identical part, he said.
"It's not identical," Hendler interrupted.
If it was OEM, it would be made by the OEM, sold by their supplier and warrantied and backed by the OEM — "and not some third party warranty," he said.
Referencing his golf background, he continued: "It's either a goddamn Callaway driver, or it's an aftermarket."
This was why there were two working groups, Weiss joked. And you would have two factions forever until the industry reached the conclusion that the consumer understood it — "the consumer," Hendler countered.
Why couldn't the shop just explain parts to the consumer, Weiss argued. Such part descriptions were used "every day" on the mechanical service and repair side, he said. The shops explain them and the consumer chooses a part there, he said; was the collision industry not as good?
"We're every bit as good as they are," Hendler said.
Why not just explain the part, then, Weiss asked.
"Tell that to the Seebachans. … I want to sleep at night," Hendler said, drawing applause. Matthew and Marcia Seebachans, the motorists whose injuries were mostly attributed by a jury to a body shop's failing to follow OEM procedures, had appeared at the CIC session immediately before the parts discussion.
"Jeff, that's a cheap shot," Weiss replied.
Hendler disagreed. "It's exactly what we have to do, Kenny," he said. Insurers wouldn't back a shop. "We have to live with it (as a shop)."
If you want to tell the Seebachans about a part, "you take the liability for it. 'Cause that's what you're asking us to do," Hendler said.
"I think that that's unfair," said Paul Folino of LKQ.
"You would think it's unfair," Hendler interrupted.
Folino said that "we all feel for the Seebachans," and it was a "low blow" to say someone didn't care, he said. Hendler disputed that was what he said.
The consumer had the right to make a choice, and they needed "good, accurate information," Folino said.
If a consumer was told by a shop they could have an OEM headlamp for one price, or get the same product on a "different truck," would the consumer really care? he asked.
That's basically the authorized distributor argument, he said, and "it just doesn't make sense."
Wouldn't the shop want to give a customer a warranty that "in many cases, is above and beyond," Folino said. They're asking a consumer to pay more because it came on a different truck and had a different warranty, he said.
You're not asking a consumer to spend more, you're asking them to make a decision, Schulenburg said. Consumers choose parts every day, with some seeking aftermarket, others aftermarket performance and others OEM, he said. He said his group was arguing to define parts in a way consumers can understand and "clearly decide and choose" an appropriate part.
Everyone in the room could give examples of parts most of the audience would agree were not OEM being classified by suppliers such and ending up on an estimate, Schulenburg said.
He gave the example of a part in an aftermarket box being labeled "OEM surplus" because the supplier had made a different part for the automaker. There's no such designation under the parts procurement platform being used, so the part is reclassified "Opt-OE," and because the state doesn't allow Opt-OE, the part is converted to "OEM" on the estimate, he said. The part delivered doesn't reflect what's expected, he said.
Weiss said he agreed, and said customers needed to be told the attributes about the part they were buying
"Nobody's disagreeing with that," he said.
Weiss said he would bet most customers "don't even know what OEM is," pointed to an earlier discussion which showed consumer unfamiliarity with the idea of a good repair. SCRS board member Michael Bradshaw (K&M Collision) shot back that in his 16 years in the business, every customer at his shop "damn well knows" what OEM was.
"This is exactly what committee meetings feel like," Schulenburg joked.
"Parts & Material Committee Update" slides
Collision Industry Conference, Nov. 5, 2019
Collision Industry Conference Administrator Jeff Hendler (JD Hendler/Associates) speaks at the Nov. 5, 2019, CIC. (John Huetter/Repairer Driven News)
Collision Industry Conference Parts and Materials Committee Working Group I drew representatives of "Shops, Suppliers, Insurers & Info Providers," according to a slide presented to the CIC Nov. 5. That working group generated six part descriptions focused on business-to-business communications. (Provided by CIC)
Collision Industry Conference Parts and Materials Committee Working Group II drew shops and OEMs and generated two broad part categories focused on business-to-consumer communications. (Provided by CIC)
Collision Industry Conference Parts and Materials Committee Co-Chairmen Ken Weiss (SSF Imported Auto Parts) and Aaron Schulenburg (Society of Collision Repair Specialists) presented competing visions of parts classifications at the Nov. 5, 2019, CIC. (John Huetter/Repairer Driven News)
Paul Folino of LKQ speaks at the Nov. 5, 2019, CIC. (John Huetter/Repairer Driven News)


With a little sweat equity this cute bungalow would shine. Nice sized formal spaces with hardwood floors, good windows and built-ins. On the main 2 bdrms share a full bath and the 3rd bdrm has an en-suite bath plus the kitchen has an eating space. Downstairs there are 2 non-conforming bdrms and a 3/4 bath. Close to Columbia City eateries and shops, the light rail and Metro stops. Lots of parking in back and bonus of LR3 zoning for future development.


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Grandmother seeks custody of missing Connecticut mom Jennifer Dulos' five children
Jennifer Dulos has been missing since May 24, and her five children could be staying with their grandmother for good.
The children have already been staying with the grandmother since their mother's disappearance.
HARTFORD, Conn. – Police and cadaver dogs were combing through a Connecticut trash-to-energy plant Tuesday for signs of a missing mother of five, while the children's 85-year-old grandmother moved to seek custody.
Gloria Farber, of New York City, filed her custody motion Monday in Connecticut Superior Court, the same day the children's father, Fotis Dulos, and his girlfriend, Michelle Troconis, were charged in the disappearance of 50-year-old Jennifer Dulos.
The children have been staying with Farber since Jennifer Dulos was reported missing on May 24, when she was last seen dropping the children off at school.
Fotis Dios, 51, and Troconis, 44, are charged with evidence tampering and hindering prosecution.
Arrest warrants link the pair to videos of trash bags being dumped in areas where Jennifer Dulos' blood was later found on clothing and other items.
The warrants show blood spatter and evidence of cleanup attempts were also found at her home and police said they believe a "serious physical assault" occurred there.
Jennifer Dulos:Estranged husband, his girlfriend arrested in disappearance of Connecticut mom
The case has stunned residents of New Canaan, Connecticut, a wealthy suburb of New York City, which is about 60 miles from the affluent Hartford suburb where Fotis Dulos and Troconis lived in a large home he used to live in with his wife and children.
Jennifer and Fotis Dulos have been embroiled in a contentious divorce and child custody case for the past two years. Their children range in age from 8 to 13 and include two sets of twins.
After Jennifer Dulos went missing, Fotis Dulos asked the divorce case judge to grant him custody of the children.
More charges expected:A Connecticut mom went missing. Her estranged husband and his girlfriend now face charges
Gloria Farber, in her custody motion, asserts she has a "parent-like" relationship with the children, who have regularly stayed at her home in New York City.
"Even if the defendant is released, on bond or otherwise, it would be detrimental to the children, particularly in the midst of the investigation into the disappearance of their mother, to be forced to leave Mrs. Farber's custody and return to (Fotis Dulos)'s custody, with whom they have not resided for more than two years," Faber's attorney's wrote.
Court documents filed in the divorce case say Jennifer Dulos feared Fotis Dulos would harm her in some way in retaliation for her filing for divorce, and she noted he had a gun. Jennifer Dulos has primary custody of the children, with their father getting to see them every other weekend.
A hearing in the divorce case is scheduled for Wednesday after being postponed last week.
'All-white company' wrongly accused immigrant author of racism, $13M lawsuit claims Chris Pratt marries Katherine Schwarzenegger in California ceremony, according to reports Tony Rodham, Hillary Clinton's youngest brother, dies AC company convinced 103-year-old WWII vet to pay $24K, son says Like what you see? Download the USA TODAY app.

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Capitals Winger Out Long-Term
Michael DeRosa Wednesday, October 19, 2022 Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals have placed Connor Brown on injured reserve due to a lower-body injury. With that, the Capitals have announced that the winger will be out long-term.
This is certainly very rough news to hear. Brown's IR placement is not too surprising, however, as he left Monday's game early against the Vancouver Canucks early after receiving a big hit from Noah Juulsen. Yet, him being out long-term because of it is more surprising and simply bad for the Capitals.
Brown was acquired by the Capitals to bring a bit more skill to their middle six. In 64 games this past season with the Ottawa Senators, he had 10 goals to go along with 29 assists. Here's to hoping that his long-term injury does not take away too much of his season.
Photo Credit: © Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports


Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the children of Israel came together, taking no food and putting haircloth and dust on their bodies.
And the seed of Israel made themselves separate from all the men of other nations, publicly requesting forgiveness for their sins and the wrongdoing of their fathers.
And for a fourth part of the day, upright in their places, they were reading from the book of the law of their God; and for a fourth part of the day they were requesting forgiveness and worshipping the Lord their God.
Then Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani took their places on the steps of the Levites, crying in a loud voice to the Lord their God.
Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah said, Get up and give praise to the Lord your God for ever and ever. Praise be to your great name which is lifted up high over all blessing and praise.
You are the Lord, even you only; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens with all their armies, the earth and all things in it, the seas and everything in them; and you keep them from destruction: and the armies of heaven are your worshippers.
And you did signs and wonders on Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land; for you saw how cruel they were to them. So you got yourself a name as it is today.
By you the sea was parted before them, so that they went through the sea on dry land; and those who went after them went down into the deep, like a stone into great waters.
And you went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light on the way they were to go.
And you gave them bread from heaven when they were in need, and made water come out of the rock for their drink, and gave them orders to go in and take for their heritage the land which your hand had been lifted up to give them.
Even then, in your great mercy, you did not give them up in the waste land: the pillar of cloud still went before them by day, guiding them on their way, and the pillar of fire by night, to give them light, and make clear the way they were to go.
And you gave your good spirit to be their teacher, and did not keep back your manna from their mouths, and gave them water when they had need of it.
Truly, for forty years you were their support in the waste land, and they were in need of nothing; their clothing did not get old or their feet become tired.
And you gave them kingdoms and peoples, making distribution to them in every part of the land: so they took for their heritage the land of Sihon, even the land of the king of Heshbon, and the land of Og, king of Bashan.
And you made their children as great in number as the stars of heaven, and took them into the land, of which you had said to their fathers that they were to go in and take it for themselves.
So the children went in and took the land, and you overcame before them the people of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them up into their hands, with their kings and the people of the land, so that they might do with them whatever it was their pleasure to do.
But they were hard-hearted, and went against your authority, turning their backs on your law, and putting to death your prophets, who gave witness against them with the purpose of turning them back again to you, and they did much to make you angry.
And so you gave them up into the hands of their haters who were cruel to them: and in the time of their trouble, when they made their prayer to you, you gave ear to them from heaven; and in your great mercy gave them saviours, who made them free from the hands of their haters.
And gave witness against them so that you might make them come back again to your law: but their hearts were lifted up, and they gave no attention to your orders and went against your decisions (which, if a man keeps them, will be life to him), and turning their backs on you, made their necks stiff and did not give ear.
Year after year you put up with them, and gave witness against them by your spirit through your prophets: still they did not give ear: and so you gave them up into the hands of the peoples of the lands.
Even then, in your great mercy, you did not put an end to them completely, or give them up; for you are a God of grace and mercy.
And now, our God, the great, the strong, the God who is to be feared, who keeps faith and mercy, let not all this trouble seem small to you, which has come on us, and on our kings and our rulers and on our priests and our prophets and our fathers and on all your people from the time of the kings of Assyria till this day.
And our kings, our rulers, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law or given attention to your orders and your witness, with which you gave witness against them.
For they have not been your servants in their kingdom, and in all the good things you gave them, and in the great and fat land you gave them, and they have not been turned away from their evil-doing.
And it gives much increase to the kings whom you have put over us because of our sins: and they have power over our bodies and over our cattle at their pleasure, and we are in great trouble.
And because of all this we are making an agreement in good faith, and putting it in writing; and our rulers, our Levites, and our priests are putting their names to it.


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News | General Aviation Awards
General Aviation Awards
FAA & Industry Recognizing Excellence in General Aviation
About the GA Awards Program
2022 General Aviation Award Honorees Named
2021 General Aviation Award Winners
2017 General Aviation Awards Winners
2014 National General Aviation Award Winners
GAALive!
APPLY/NOMINATE
Sandya Narayanswami, PhD
Info@GeneralAviationAwards.org
General Aviation Awards Announces Submission Deadline Extension Versailles, Kentucky – November 21, 2022 – The GAA Board of Directors has announced an extension to the original November 30th deadline to submit candidate packages for National Certified Flight Instructor of the Year, Aviation Technician of the Year, and FAA Safety Team Representative of the year.
Effective immediately upon this release, the new deadline for submission packages is 5 PM Pacific Standard Time, December 31, 2022.
For questions regarding this extension, how to submit candidate packages, or other
inquiries, please contact General Aviation Awards at Info@GeneralAviationAwards.com.
Awards for National Flight Instructor, Aviation Technician, and FAASTeam Rep of the year to be presented by the FAA at AirVenture
Versailles, Kentucky – February 14, 2022 – Every year for more than 50 years, the General Aviation Awards program and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have recognized aviation professionals for their contributions to general aviation in the fields of flight instruction, aviation maintenance/avionics, and safety.
These awards highlight the important leadership roles these individuals play in promoting safety, education, and professionalism throughout the aviation industry.
Recipients of the 2022 National General Aviation Awards are:
Amy Hoover of Ellensburg, Washington—2022 Certificated Flight Instructor of the Year
Michael Everhart of Charlotte, North Carolina—2022 Aviation Technician of the Year
Laura Hermann of St. Bonifacius, Minnesota—2022 FAA Safety Team Representative of the Year
The FAA will present individual awards to each National Honoree in July during EAA AirVenture 2022 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and their names will be added to the large perpetual plaque located in the lobby of the EAA AirVenture Museum. In addition to being recognized at AirVenture and highlighted in the aviation media, National Honorees also receive gifts provided by sponsors and contributors.
"It gives me great pleasure to announce the names of the National Honorees for the 2022 General Aviation Awards," says GA Awards Board Chair Sandya Narayanswami, "These awards highlight the critical roles that committed individuals play in promoting aviation safety and education," she added, "The Board and our many generous sponsors are pleased that these outstanding aviation professionals will receive public recognition of their extraordinary accomplishments before their peers at AirVenture."
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: Click on any of the headshots below for high-resolution images. If you trim the information about these honorees for copy purposes, please retain the recipients' email addresses so your readers may congratulate them. Thank you!
Chairman@GeneralAviationAwards.org
GAA Now Accepting Applications for AirVenture Point of Contact
The General Aviation Awards Program is now accepting applications for our AirVenture Point of Contact.
This critical board position coordinates with the organizers of EAA's AirVenture to ensure the annual national GAA award ceremonies go as planned. This position requires obligatory attendance at AirVenture. Other duties include a monthly board meeting held virtually on the second Wednesday of the month. A full job description follows.
Interested applicants should contact Sandya Narayanswami, PhD, Board Chair of the General Aviation Awards Program with their most recent resume, cover letter, and any questions regarding the opening.
Applications will be accepted through March 15, 2022.
About the General Aviation Awards Program:
The General Aviation Awards Program is a cooperative effort between many sponsoring organizations from the aviation industry and the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA.
For more than 50 years, the Program has recognized aviation professionals in the field of flight instruction, aviation maintenance, avionics, and flight safety for their important contributions to the general aviation community.
Award winners are recognized locally, regionally, and nationally. National winners are recognized during AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI each year. Winners also receive gifts provided by sponsors and contributors.
JOB DESCRIPTION: AirVenture Director (Required to attend AirVenture)
General Aviation Awards Program Board Position
Serve as a single POC with national honorees from the announcement (February/March) thru July Awards ceremony
Supervises the AirVenture Assistant and makes final decisions on behalf of AirVenture for routine expenditures.
Serves as "boots on the ground" at AirVenture on Wednesday evening and all day Thursday. Attends the Wednesday night "meet and greet" with honorees and guests and informs them of where to be and what's expected of them on Thursday
Picks up honoree's credentials and gift packets, luncheon poster, and program.
Oversees Thursday's awards ceremony and luncheon and represents the Board at each
Receives, confirms, and handles "trade gifts" for Honorees distributed during Luncheon.
Affixes nameplates to perpetual GA Awards Plaque in EAA museum
Prepares a fun and upbeat "In case you missed it" after-AirVenture email that can be sent to all interested parties (preferably with photos!)
Schedules a debriefing with committee members after AirVenture to review the activities and discuss "things we should do differently next year," documents discussion and distributes for the Board's consideration.
Is required to attend at least January, February, March, April, May, June, July, and August board meetings.
FAA Safety Team | Safer Skies Through Education
You have asked us to notify you when a webinar is scheduled that meets your criteria. The following webinar may be of interest to you:
"Introducing the 2021 General Aviation Awards National Honorees and Their Safety Tips"
Topic: Meet the 2021 General Aviation Awards National Honorees and Learn Their Top Aviation Safety Tips!
On Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at 20:00 Central Daylight Time (18:00 PDT, 19:00 MDT, 21:00 EDT, 15:00 HST, 17:00 AKDT, 18:00 Arizona, 01:00 GMT)
Select Number:
CE03105544
During this LIVE presentation you will meet each of the 2021 National Honorees, hear about their contributions to our industry, and learn about their top safety recommendations.
The mission of the General Aviation Awards (GAA) program is to recognize individual aviation professionals on the local, regional, and national levels for their contributions to aviation, education, and flight safety.
The program is a cooperative effort between general aviation industry sponsors and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). To learn more about GAA via this website http://www.generalaviationawards.com
The sponsor for this seminar is: FAASTeam
The following credit(s) are available for the WINGS/AMT Programs:
Advanced Knowledge 2 – 1 Credit
AMT: 1.00
General Aviation Awards Now Accepting Applications for Board of Directors
The General Aviation Awards Program (http://www.generalaviationawards.com) is now accepting applications for the Board of Directors. The Board has 2 openings, for Public Relations Director and Fundraiser. We hope to fill the positions soon after AirVenture in September. We are also interested in recruiting additional volunteers to support these positions. If you are interested in being considered for positions a in P/R and Fundraising at not-for-profit organization, please contact Sandya Narayanswami, PhD at: chairman@generalaviationawards.org
Public Relations Director: The GAA Board would like to invite qualified individuals who understand public relations, marketing, communications, and social media. If you are forward thinking, energetic, a self-starter and team player, possess good written and verbal communication skills, and can put in a few hours a month, plus a monthly Board meeting (virtual), this is a position that offers significant visibility in General Aviation. Additional volunteer support for this position is welcomed.
Fundraiser: The GAA Board would like to invite qualified individuals who understand or have an interest in: fundraising from the General Aviation industry and individuals, online fundraising tools, and who can contribute industry contacts. If you are a dynamic self- starter and can put in a few hours a month, plus a monthly Board meeting (virtual), this is a position with the potential to attract significant support from the General Aviation industry and committed individuals. Additional volunteer support for this position is welcomed.
The General Aviation Awards Program is a cooperative effort between the aviation industry and the Federal Aviation Administration. For more than 50 years, the Program has recognized aviation professionals in the fields of flight instruction, aviation maintenance, and flight safety for their contributions. These awards highlight the important leadership roles these individuals play in promoting aviation safety, education, and professionalism. Winners are recognized locally, regionally and nationally. National winners are recognized during AirVenture in Oshkosh, WI each July.
The Program is coordinated by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of past National Honorees and representatives of organization sponsors or individuals with aviation and/or business expertise.
How You Can Support Excellence In Aviation
Please consider sponsoring or donating gifts to the General Aviation Awards program. Sponsorship funds pay for the out-of-pocket expenses of the program (e.g., award winner's travel and lodging, catering, etc). Gifts in the form of merchandise or checks are given to the individual national award winners at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. To become a sponsor or gift donor, please click on one of the following links:
Sponsorship and Gift Donation Form
GoFundMe Page
The 2021 General Aviation Awards: Extended Application Deadline December 31, 2020
Versailles, Kentucky (November 13, 2020) — The deadline for submitting nominations and applications for the prestigious 2021 National General Aviation Awards has been extended to December 31, 2020.
For over 50 years, the General Aviation Awards Program and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have recognized aviation professionals for their contributions to general aviation in the fields of flight instruction, aviation maintenance, and safety.
The national Certificated Flight Instructor, Aviation Maintenance Technician, and FAA Safety Representative Honorees will receive an all-expense paid trip to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. During AirVenture they will receive recognition from the FAA Administrator, attend a dedicated ceremony with high-ranking FAA officials, have their names added to the perpetual plaque in the EAA Museum, and will be honored at an awards luncheon where they receive gifts donated by GAA's industry sponsors.
Application forms and complete details of how to create an application packet can be found at http://www.GeneralAviationAwards.com/nominations
Please don't delay! Help recognize "the best of the best" by nominating that truly exceptional flight instructor, aviation maintenance technician, or FAASTeam representative for one of these prestigious awards (or apply for one yourself).
For More Information visit http://www.GeneralAviationAwards.org or email info@GeneralAviationAwards.org
August 17, 2020: Open Board and Committee Positions
August 12, 2020: "GAA Board Members in the News":
https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2020/august/12/new-maintenance-podcast-coming-soon
Catherine Cavagnaro
July 20, 2020: From the August 2020 issue of AOPA Pilot magazine-an article by Catherine Cavagnaro, the General Aviation Awards 2020 National Certificated Flight Instructor of the Year.
https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2020/august/pilot/proficiency-new-airplane
Dennis Wolter
July 15, 2020: From the August issue of AOPA Pilot magazine-a profile of Dennis Wolter, the General Aviation Awards 2020 Aviation Technician of the Year.
https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2020/august/pilot/top-mechanic-dennis-wolter
June 15, 2020: As everyone in GA must know by now, AirVenture 2020 was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. As Chairman of the General Aviation Awards, I would like to provide our friends and supporters with a brief overview of our activities this year.
First and foremost, we had a superb award season and the 2020 Honorees can be seen here: http://www.generalaviationawards.com/news/. We were also able to hold a fantastic GAALive! broadcast, our third: https://www.gaa-live.com/2020.html. GAALive is an opportunity for Honorees of the General Aviation Awards Program to share their knowledge, skills, and "pet peeves" with the broader General Aviation community via a hosted live broadcast. This annual broadcast showcases both the General Aviation Awards program and the outstanding accomplishments of its Honorees. Webcasts carry WINGS/AMT credit!
Our Host for GAA Live! this year was Phil Boyer, Past President of AOPA! His generous and accomplished help ensured that the event was a great success! The live broadcast was clearly a very effective way to get our-and your– Honorees in front of the GA public. It was more important than ever this year.
Most importantly, we are not wasting your generous gifts. Gifts and sponsorships are intended to benefit Honorees. Most years, funds support Honoree travel and accommodations at AirVenture. This year, they are being kept in reserve for AirVenture 2021. We plan to combine the 2020 and 2021 awards. Funds also allowed us to complete much-needed updates to the GAA website, and improve our online presence and processes. This is not always easy due to the demands of getting ready for AirVenture. Ongoing improvements, including regular web updates and press releases will help us do a better job going forward, strengthen the organization, preserve institutional memory, and enhance our public profile.
"In-kind" gifts for the Honorees will be forwarded to them in July. If you have gifts for the Honorees that you intended to hand to them at AirVenture, please ship them to GAA and we will deliver them. We are very conscious of the need to steward our resources responsibly and I take this opportunity to thank our generous donors again for their support even during such difficult times as these! Honorees will receive a plaque this year as every year, and their names will be inscribed on the AirVenture Museum Perpetual Plaque.
Finally, we hope to participate in this year's online AirVenture in July! (https://www.eaatogether.org/). What this adds up to is that GAA has already started getting its ducks in a row for AirVenture 2021 and I look forward to seeing you there!


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Retail planning study commissioned for Belfast Metropolitan Area
Colliers CRE has been instructed to carry out a retail sector study for the Belfast Metropolitan Area.
Acting on behalf of the Department of the Environment, the study will help shape the new Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan (BMAP) covering the six council areas of Belfast, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Lisburn, Newtownabbey and North Down for the duration up to the year 2015.
The study, which will be for a duration of six months, will:
assess the potential need for additional shopping floorspace in the BMAP area
advise on how any additional floorspace should be phased
assess the vitality and viability of Belfast City Centre and the six main town centres
assess the role played by the retail sector and leisure sectors in sustaining vitality to the area
identify, where appropriate, primary retail cores in the main centres
Colliers CRE's study director Dr Richard Doidge, said: "One of the main purposes of this study is to support and strengthen the distinctive role of Belfast City Centre as a leading regional shopping centre, in the context of a growing population and an expanding economy in the region."
Bill Kennedy, Head of the Colliers CRE Belfast office, added: "We are continually seeking inward investment to the region, and the support and provision of retail and leisure facilities can only enhance this process. It is essential that the Region gets this provision right and we are delighted to be involved with the process."
This is the second appointment of Colliers CRE by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, earlier this year the company was instructed to undertake a major study of the office market in the Belfast Metropolitan Area. (MB)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Tunnel Breakthrough For Belfast Sewers Project
Nearly a mile long and 40 metres below ground, a key section of Belfast's deepest tunnel was completed yesterday as the tunnel boring machine (TBM) made its breakthrough at Duncrue Street. Capable of holding vast overflows of stormwater - up to four million gallons - it will reduce the risk of sewer flooding in the greater Belfast area.
Energy Firm To Cut Prices In 'Selected' Parts Of NI
Gas supply firm, Firmus Energy, has announced it will cut prices by up to 6.38% for customers living in the greater Belfast area, however prices will remain the same for consumers living outside the city. The announcement follows a recent review of prices in the greater Belfast area.
Heavy Snow Closes Over 80 Schools
Over 80 schools across Northern Ireland have been closed as the heavy snow continues to cause disruption on Tuesday morning. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning, as the snow is continuing to affect many roads. Areas which have been majorly disrupted include Lisburn, Castlereagh and Carryduff.
Girlfriend of security guard taken hostage during robbery
Police have released further details following Tuesday's armed robbery of a security firm in the outskirts of Belfast.
Police Use Of Tasers Was 'Lawful' And 'Necessary' - Report
Ten incidents in which police fired Tasers between July 2012 and June last year were "justified", a Police Ombudsman report has concluded. Dr Michael Maguire found that the use of Taser had on each occasion been lawful, proportionate and necessary given the risks faced by officers and the danger posed to members of the public.


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Governor Speaks in Support of Fort Carson
By Andrea Chalfin
· Feb. 3, 2015, 11:10 pm
Governor John Hickenlooper spoke in support of Fort Carson Tuesday at a listening session in Colorado Springs. The forum comes as the Army looks to reduce its numbers of active-duty soldiers by at least 40,000.
The reductions could impact up to 16,000 personnel at Fort Carson. The listening session was one of 30 being held across Army bases aimed at providing input to the Pentagon before any decisions are made.
Governor Hickenlooper said Colorado has a long, proud history with the military, and provides training and support that is unique.
"Our identity, our brand here," said Hickenlooper, "is a place where from the beginning, forever, we take care of the people that serve this country in uniform."
The four-hour long forum drew civic and community leaders from throughout southern Colorado as part of a formal presentation on what the Mountain Post means to the area and what the region provides in support.
The forum also drew some protesters and critics who voiced opposition on topics ranging from Fort Carson's controversial Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site southeast of Pueblo to Army aviation practices at the base.


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INCOGNITO presents Excentric Showcase w/ FERGIE + Erphun July 16, 2010
Hollywood, California 90028
I N C O G N I T O
@ King King Hollywood
presents the
EXCENTRIC MUZIK Showcase
FERGIE (UK)
Excentric Muzik, BBC Radio 1, Mixmag
http://www.excentric-fergie.com/
BUY ADVANCED TICKETS - HTTP://FERGIE.EVENTBRITE.COM/
Fergie (aka Robert Ferguson), a DJ of international standing for the past decade, has never had a stronger and more vibrant aural identity. Playing the kind of music he wants, determined not to be held back by perceptions and tags from the past, he continues to be a global representative for electronic music by consistently breaking down underground barriers and bringing new music to the people, without compromise.
Clearly he has found his sound and the results are very evident in the free flow of original productions and remixes being consistently supported by the likes of Sasha, Digweed, Dubfire, Laurent Garnier, Miss Kitten and Slam. His ever growing 'Excentric Muzik' label has been hailed by Carl Cox as his "label of 2008", with Cox going on to license several productions for his Space compilation this summer. Underground cuts such as 'Anon', 'To The Core' and 'Blackeye-P' have helped to instill Fergie and Excentric at the forefront of serious peak time electronica. Excentric off-shoot label 'Rekluse' (launched at the tail end of last year) has got off to a storming start with first release '2nd To None' by Umek refusing to leave the Beatport techno charts almost half a year after it's release, peaking at the number 1 spot along the way.
A steady stream of new material and remixes on many other labels of distinction have proven the Fergie sound to be one that is in much demand. 'Ireland' and the remix of Namito 'City Of Gods' (on Great Stuff), the remix of King Unique's 'Hinode' (which went down so well they asked him back to rework one of their biggest ever tracks, 'Dirty') and not forgetting the all conquering remix of Umek's 'Gatex', these have all firmly established Fergie as a proven seal of production quality for many.
A collaboration project with electronic compatriots Reset Robot & Alan Fitzpatrick is an outlet for a deeper, darker, more twisted side to Fergie, with the recent 'Gas Mask' / 'Rattlesnake' gaining momentum from DJ Hell, Luciano, Adam Beyer and Ivan Smagghe amongst others.
Then there's James Lavelle, who has consistently supported Fergie's work and drafted him in to his remix his renowned Unkle Project with devastating results. By the end of 2009 this will have been joined by remixes of Slam's seminal classic 'Positive Education' (Soma), Smith & Selway 'Work it' (Tronic), Yousef 'Letter to No One' (Circus Recordings) as well as Reset Robot 'Softie' on Excentric.
This is just part of what made FERGIE a much in demand international DJ with a coveted leading show on BBC Radio 1.
The show ran for 5 years and developed into a snapshot of what was going on in the underground electronic music scene. Guests included Richie Hawtin, Sven Vath, Dave Clarke and Phil Kieran (who both covered the show in Fergie's absence), Carl Cox and Jeff Mills, as well as providing a platform for many aspiring producers and DJs to show what they had to offer... the likes of Kev Gorman (Gigolo), Anderson Noise (Noise Music), Matt Tolfrey (Leftroom) and Dave Robertson (aka Reset Robot) all received some of their prominent initial exposure through Fergie's show.
A proven forward thinker, constantly developing and never standing still, the architect of an ever evolving sound by keeping one step ahead of the rest, he has never forgotten though that it's still just a party. A place where people are trying to escape the realities of urban life each and every weekend, and is where he hopes to catch up with you very soon as he goes INCOGNITO to give you some amazing cutting edge dance music.
●► FERGIE (UK)
●► Excentric Muzik, Rekluse, 1605
●► http://www.excentric-fergie.com/
●► ERPHUN
●► Excentric Muzik, Bedrock, INCOGNITO
●► http://www.myspace.com/djerphun
●► CURTIS HELSON vs FRANCO BENITO
●► INCOGNITO
●► http://www.myspace.com/djcurtishelson | http://www.facebook.com/francobenito
●► CJ ATKINSON
●► USDJ Service
●► http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1294158248
venue .................................................................
●► KING KING Hollywood
●► 6555 Hollywood Blvd. @ Whitley Ave.
●► Los Angeles, CA 90028
●► 9:30PM-4AM
advanced tickets .....................................................
●► Eventbrite - http://fergie.eventbrite.com/
●► $10 Advanced - Limited Tickets
●► $15 Advanced
discount list ($10 til 10p, $15 til 11p)...........................
●► Full names to [email protected]
●► Facebook Event - http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=110921412288585
follow us ................................................................
●► http://www.incognitola.com/
●► http://twitter.com/incognitola
●► http://incognito.fanbridge.com/ - email newsletter
●► http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7975670820
coming soon ................................................................
●► RALF KOLLMAN, RANDALL SCOTT + Torin, LEAMA (Leama & Moor)+ Android Cartel, ORBITAL
Official Website: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=110921412288585&ref=mf
Added by alan2 on July 5, 2010


Here are a few of my favorite makes from this week!
Also, since I had a slightly-more-interesting-than-normal week and actually took some pictures, I thought I'd join in for Sunday Sevens this week!
TUE | I have proof! ;) Finally stole some pictures from Danny's mom's camera from our trip to Belize.
WED | Bring on the bowling!
FRI | Puppy sewing madness!


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Corporal Bryant Searcy
Corporal Bryant Searcy was killed when he was assaulted by an inmate at about 10:00 pm at Jail Division 2 at 525 Clinton Street in Detroit.
He suffered severe injuries during the struggle with the inmate after he was attacked. He was transported to Detroit Receiving Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
The inmate who attacked him remains in custody.
Corporal Bryant had served with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office for 18 years and was assigned to Jail Division 2. He is survived by his wife and daughter.


Wheatgrass juicers are different from blenders.
These are made specifically to extract juice from leafy greens, wheatgrass or soft fruits that do not masticate well in a blender.
You can get both manual and electric wheatgrass juicers at online stores or at local stores. The choice of model depends on each one's personal preference.
Manual wheatgrass juicers are easy and simple to use. They are cheap and you can get many models in the market, that make fantastic wheatgrass juice.
You save on electricity and they can be used anywhere and they are easily portable. All that you need is a firm, smooth surface to fix the unit and to be prepared to exert some physical effort turning the hand crank that crushes the juice out of the grass.
It can even be used to make carrot, apple or certain other fruit juices.
Electric wheatgrass juicers on the other hand, do not require much effort and squeeze out juice quickly and efficiently. Some models are expensive but the investment is worth it if you plan to make wheatgrass juice daily.
It gives more yield of juice for the same amount of grass as against a manual juicer.
An electric wheatgrass juicer can also be used to juice fruits, vegetables, masticate baby food, make soy milk and frozen desserts.
The following are a few of the popular wheatgrass juicers available on 'Amazon.com'.
Lexen Products 'Healthy Juicer GP27 – Manual Wheatgrass Juicer' – This is compact and lightweight. It has a suction base that easily attaches to smooth surfaces and is made from non-toxic FDA approved extra tough polycarbonate.
It comes with a limited warranty of one year and the shipping is free in the US. Product dimensions are – 8.5 x 8 x 7.5 inches and shipping weight is 3 pounds. Apart from wheatgrass, you can use it to juice spinach, kale, collard greens, cilantro, parsley etc.
Handy Pantry 'HJ Hurricane Stainless Steel Manual Wheatgrass Juicer' weights 10 pounds. It is easy to clean and assemble, is very durable and will last a lifetime. It is one of the best manual wheatgrass juicers available and comparable to other brands like Miracle Juicer.
Miracle 'MJ445 Stainless Steel Manual Wheatgrass Juicer' comes with a one year manufacturer's warranty. It is easy to use and clean and gives high juice yield with minimum froth.
Product dimensions are 4.8 x 8.5 x 11.7 inches and weight is 10 pounds. It is made from durable, hygienic, non-toxic stainless steel and has a matt finish.
Z-Star 'Manual Juicer (Z-510)' offers affordable juicing at home. This product is portable and lightweight. It can juice greens, fruits and vegetables. It can extricate a good quantity of juice each time. It weighs just 6.5 lbs and product dimensions are 13 x 5 x 11.5 inches.
Mircale Pro 'Green Machine Wheatgrass Juicer' is fast and efficient. It gives 2 fluid ounces of juice per minute. It comes with a geared down motor that offers low foaming juice and has a sturdy new model stainless steel auger.
Apart from leafy greens, it can also juice most fruits and vegetables since it comes with a dual screen system. It can be used both at home and in juice bars.
The motor runs very quietly and has a low rpm with forward and reverse motion. This means that even when grass gets tangled and twisted, it can get untangled without the user having to manually untwist the grass.
The product weighs 20 pounds and has dimensions of 18 x 6 x 12 inches.
Green Queen – 'Wheatgrass Juicer – Home Model Electric Wheatgrass Juicer' has a powerful motor, is reasonably priced, has innovative and compact design meant for tabletop use, is easy to clean and assemble and comes with a one year warranty.
Made by 'Dr Squeeze Wheatgrass Juicer' company, it weighs 10.5 pounds.
It has received mixed customer reviews with some calling it 'great juicer' and others that it is not so efficient.
Lexen Products 'Healthy Juicer GP62 Electric Multi-purpose Wheatgrass, Fruit, Vegetable Juicer' is a versatile machine that makes not just juice but healthy baby food, soy milk, frozen desserts, pasta and frozen fruit sorbets.
It has a 2.63HP motor that efficiently squeezes out juice and a slow 76rpm turning motor that ensures the nutrients in the products are preserved when juicing. The manufacturer offers an 8-year warranty on the motor.
Samson '6-1 Single Auger Wheatgrass & Multi purpose Juicer – Model GB9001-Black' is an excellent product that masticates all types of leafy greens, fruits and vegetables.
The top rack can be cleaned in a dishwasher and this juicer is easy to operate and clean.
The product weighs 16 pounds and has dimensions of 17.5 x 11 x 8.5 inches. You get a 10-year warranty for the motor and 5 years for operational parts.
Overall, customer reviews for this Samson electric juicer is very positive.
Multi-functionality is a bonus – makes peanut butter, pastas, baby food and sorbets apart from various juices.
Visit amazon.com for more wheatgrass juicers – both manual and electric.


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Q: Pygame zooming screen im writing a game right now with 32x32 textures, i have a problem because my screen window is too small, is there any solution? Can i "zoom" my whole game?
Now it looks like this and exactly what i want is to make whole screen bigger and zoom to see only like 5% of map.
Of course, if i make my screen bigger it not gonna fix my problem.
Maybe i should add another camera or something?

I think I made myself quite clear.
Thanks!

A: First, you can definitely zoom as you are saying.
screen.blit(pygame.transform.scale(display, (int(width), int(height)))

You can resize the screen:
screen = pygame.display.set_mode((WINDOWWIDTH, WINDOWHEIGHT),pygame.RESIZABLE)
def resize(event):
    global WINDOWWIDTH, WINDOWHEIGHT
    if event.type == pygame.VIDEORESIZE:
        WINDOWWIDTH = event.size[0]
        WINDOWHEIGHT = event.size[1]
        return pygame.display.set_mode((WINDOWWIDTH, WINDOWHEIGHT), pygame.RESIZABLE)

And have the display the actual size you want to draw to:
display = pygame.Surface((300,200))

However, scaling surfaces is really bad as pixel art isn't great at scaling. An alternative would be a camera or switching off of pygame which would make everything you are trying to do way less complicated. I would recommend rubato for a start. It will do all this work for you, and you can decide how big you want your actual grid (display) to be with one variable.
Good luck! Feel free to comment if you want any extra help.

A: One way you can fix this is by shrinking the size of the screen itself:
#you can adjust the width and height in game until it seems the right fit
screen=pygame.display.set_mode((WIDTH,HEIGHT))

And if you want, you can set the window to Fullscreen:
screen=pygame.display.set_mode((WIDTH,HEIGHT),pygame.FULLSCREEN)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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The Philadelphia Contributionship Moves Guidewire InsuranceNow to the Cloud
The insurer expects to increase IT staff efficiency and empower its professionals to focus on driving mission-critical business objectives to further accelerate its growth.
Anthony R. O'Donnell // October 14, 2020
(Image credit: Bruce Emmerling.)
The Philadelphia Contributionship (TPC, Philadelphia), the oldest property/casualty insurance company in the United States, has chosen to move its instance of Guidewire Software's (San Mateo, Calif.) InsuranceNow platform to Guidewire Cloud. The move will enable the company to focus more on innovation and higher value business initiatives, and facilitate quicker upgrades to stay current with Guidewire technology, according to a vendor statement.
Kevin Tate, VP, CFO, TPC.
TPC has been using InsuranceNow on a self-managed basis since 2014 to modernize its core operations and enhance its service to policyholders, agents, and support staff, according to the Guidewire statement. The company is currently moving InsuranceNow to Guidewire Cloud across all of its personal lines of business in the states where it operates.
"Guidewire has been an ideal partner for us during these past six years that we've been in production with InsuranceNow, the pre-eminent all-in-one core system for regional and super-regional insurers in the marketplace today," comments Kevin Tate, VP, CFO, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary, The Philadelphia Contributionship. "We are renewing our commitment to this partnership by migrating to Guidewire Cloud, while Guidewire commits to assuming the responsibilities for maintaining InsuranceNow moving forward."
"We are confident that moving to Guidewire Cloud will help increase our IT staff efficiency by freeing them from having to constantly maintain our systems and instead empowering them to be able to focus on driving mission-critical business objectives to further accelerate our growth," Tate adds.
TPC's CIO Mark Montagna says the move will allow the insurer to stay up-to-date with Guidewire's product growth and vision, and give customers the uptime and performance they have come to expect from the insurer. "Moreover, Guidewire Cloud is powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) which provides the security, scalability, and flexibility to adapt InsuranceNow based on our business needs," he adds.
Optimal Way to Use the Software
The vendor pitches Guidewire Cloud as the optimal way to experience the capabilities of Guidewire, combining digital, core, analytics, and AI to deliver its platform as a cloud service. Guidewire says it scales according to use, provides cost predictability, and transfers IT risk to Guidewire. "Expert Guidewire teams and our cloud-certified partners provide implementation services, security, ongoing management, and regular updates. All Guidewire products are available through Guidewire Cloud, which runs on AWS," a Guidewire statement says.
"We are pleased with The Philadelphia Contributionship's recognition of the advantages in running its business in Guidewire Cloud," comments Frank O'Dowd, chief sales officer, Guidewire Software. "We applaud its mission of providing insurance protection that puts people first, through uniquely personal service, strong partnerships and an unmatched history of financial stability."
Prudential Selects Vitech's V3locity for Cloud-Based Group Insurance Administration


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Top NATO Commander Urges Allies to Provide Additional Instructors
BRUSSELS – NATO's military commander urged countries to provide more instructors to train Afghanistan's security forces, as national representatives met Monday to pledge additional troops to join the 30,000 reinforcements committed by President Barack Obama.
Officials from NATO's 28 member nations and 15 partner countries meeting at the alliance's military headquarters in Mons, Belgium, are expected to confirm last week's pledges made by allied nations for an additional 5,000 troops.
During a meeting of foreign ministers on Friday, NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he also expected the allies to commit "several thousand" more troops by the time of an international conference in London in January, during which the allies will discuss the war effort and an eventual exit strategy with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan.
The Obama administration expects its allies in the International Security Assistance Force, known as ISAF, to provide up to 10,000 additional troops. Together with the 30,000 new U.S. troops and ISAF's current 106,000 members, the international force would number over 140,000 by the middle of next year.
A "significant proportion" of the reinforcements are expected to be trainers for the expanding Afghan security forces, NATO military chief Adm. James Stavridis said Monday.
"We are really emphasizing training as the success strategy," Stavridis told reporters. "We're talking to each of the allies and asking them what training capabilities they can offer up, and we're getting a very good response on that."
A newly established allied training mission will require large numbers of instructors and mentors to enable the planned rapid expansion of the security forces.
The Afghan army has about 94,000 troops, and is slated to expand to 134,000 next year. The police force numbers about 93,000 members and is also expected to grow significantly.
Stavridis said that he expects NATO's garrison in Kosovo to be reduced in size next year from its present 10,000 troops to just "a few thousand." Some have suggested that the units freed up in the process could also be sent to Afghanistan.
"In terms of whether the troops are going to be able to go on other NATO missions, that'll be up to individual missions," Stavridis said.
Monday's meeting in Mons is part of an annual effort during which member nations commit forces for all the alliance's military missions. The national military representatives earlier committed units to NATO's naval anti-piracy and anti-terrorism patrols, and for Kosovo.
The move to significantly expand the allied and Afghan security forces comes at a time when NATO's European members are tightening defense budgets in response to the global economic downturn. Many governments also face overwhelming public opposition to the war, which many voters see as unwinnable.


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German historian warned Poroshenko from aid from the U.S.
The German Historian Michael Pesek in an open letter to the Ukrainian President tried to convince Peter Poroshenko with caution in support of US, Recalling the life of Saddam Hussein, has turned from an ally in the capital of the United States in his enemy.
"Now, when You're about to become a close ally of the US, You must be warned about that, because it Probably will not mean the beginning of a long love affair, the result of which will steadily become account full of dollars, army, equipped with the best tools for killing enemies, pleasant sense of security, as your American counselors will teach your people to get rid of opponents, and the applause of the UN security Council on the question of all, what do You say against Russia or others of his opponents," writes the Historian, quoted by RIA " Novosti ". Pesek compares Poroshenko with dictators-as U.S. stooges - such as with Saddam Hussein, in which the CIA, According to the historian, was overthrown in 1960-ies in Iraq, the regime of Abdul Kerim of Kasem, who was in too close relations with the USSR. In the 1980s, Hussein became President of Iraq, was an ally of the US capital, but soon after the destruction of the USSR, the US changed its position in relation to Hussein, making his enemy, and in the end he was executed." Lesson learned? You are able to eliminate as many enemies of the USA as can be, You have the opportunity to sell their natural resources, but it will not protect you when American storm will change the direction, " writes Pesek. The historian adds that the Ukrainian leader will never know the reality of U.S. policy think about it, how many of them he no shaking hands, do they seriously its transformation from "the worker" in democratic and capitalist. Pesek adds that U.S. policy is " snake pit ": there are a large number of agencies and institutions involved in its international policy, which Poroshenko will ever know, besides the American head - only mediator between them." in this dark world Empire, which considered themselves chosen by God and to be the best You whoever You are: an outsider, a useful idiot at the best of times, and when the US will change their priorities or will lose interest in you, You will become a burden, " - concludes the German Historian. First of journal of Global Research also stated that the head of Barack Obama seeks to get unlimited oversight of Ukraine, which became the " new American colony." We emphasize, now the head of Barack Obama is considering providing Ukraine defensive weapons.
Thalmann, Ernst, leader of the German and the international labor movement. (Ernst Thцєlmann)
Herman Hollerith (German Hollerith)


Measurements: Blade length 5.5"; Overall length 11"
I originally purchased this knife looking to get something a little more robust for my camping trips. I have always used cheap folding knives which still do the trick in a lot of circumstances, but I wanted something a little more durable in the case that I ever required it. I planned to use this knife for the typical things I had used knives for in the past. Cutting food, rope, fishing line, whittling wood, and anything else that comes up around the site. I must say that I didn't intend to use this knife to replace my axe in processing wood, but it wasn't until I started doing that, that I finally saw the true value in this knife. Not only is it great for the typical uses of a knife, but in addition I can now leave my axe behind and rely on a folding saw and this knife. I won't start saying that it is easier to cut through wood in comparison to an axe, but it is a lot lighter, and really isn't that much more effort to get through most of the wood you need on your trips. It has held its edge for the entire summer and has taken its fair share of bumps and scrapes on rocks while processing wood. This is a perfect example of the durability this blade steel has. All in all I have been very happy with my purchase and would recommend a similar purchase for those looking to pack light and efficient.
Now that I have been using this knife for processing wood, I find that I wish I had purchased the knife with a slightly larger blade length. The Becker BK7 has a 7" blade which would allow you to get though slightly larger logs. Even though I really haven't run into any issues with this so far it is something I would caution anyone else looking to make the purchase. The only other thing I would mention is that there is a decent weight to the knife. While this hasn't bothered me, there may be others who want to consider this before purchasing it.


It's that time of year when we all turn into creatures of habit. Holiday traditions run strong. If you love reading and writing, there's no sense in ignoring those passions throughout the month. I'm sharing eight literary holiday traditions that you can easily make into traditions of your own.
Writing a letter to Santa Claus.
A tradition like no other: sitting down to write a letter to Mr. Claus himself. It's a great way to list all the things you really, really, really want and then mention something global like world peace so that Santa knows you don't belong on the naughty list.
Re-reading a favorite book by the light of a Christmas tree.
I do this every year and it's one of the things I most look forward to in December. There's something about those holiday lights that make a book even more magical than it was before. Give it a try this year: pick a time when it's super quiet in your house, cozy up by the tree (preferably where you can see snow falling outside the window), and let those multicolored lights guide your way through the pages.
Giving a book to everyone on your list.
I bet you're one of those people. You simply have to buy a book for everyone on your holiday shopping list—even if the people on your list never read. Select members of your family and some of your friends probably dread your gift every year, because it's always a book that they have to pretend to like. It sits on their bookshelf all year, untouched, until you buy them yet another book to go beside it. But it doesn't matter because your "buying only books as gifts" habit is a tradition.
Memorizing 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.
Spending all your money at a bookstore on Boxing Day.
Forget Black Friday. Boxing Day is where it's really at: you get to spend all the cash and gift cards you received for Christmas. Of course, most of it's going to go to your local bookstore. You're getting books for free!
Creating a book-themed advent calendar.
This could be my favorite on the list: unwrapping one book each night and reading it before bed. This tradition works great if you have kids because picture books can be read in one sitting. And if you don't have twenty-four holiday-themed books at home? Check some out from the library for the month and include them in the pile! I can't think of anything better than a book per day.
Snail mail isn't so popular anymore, except for the holiday season. Parcels and greeting cards slow down the mail service every year. That's because writing Christmas cards is actually fun. You get to write nice things to people you haven't spoken to in approximately 300 days. Put on some winter-y music and make a night of correspondence.
Reading A Christmas Carol. Out loud.
This is one of those traditions that I'm not entirely convinced about. Reading A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens out loud to a group of people (usually close friends and family) happens in way too many movies and TV shows for it to not exist somewhere, somehow in real life. Does anyone actually do this? How does everyone in the room sit still for so long? Please share your secrets.
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NORTHBROOK, Ill., July 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas today announced that Senior Vice President and Head of Medical Affairs Americas Shontelle Dodson, Pharm.D., joins the board of directors of the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC), a health policy research organization dedicated to advancing good evidence and science, and fostering an environment that supports medical innovation in the United States.
"As health care in our country continues to evolve, NPC plays an important role in demonstrating through its research and partnerships the value and impact of pharmaceutical innovation," Dodson said. "I look forward to working with NPC and my fellow board members to generate actionable data and analysis that help to spur continued medical innovation and ensure meaningful access to medicines for patients."
Dodson has extensive research experience in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. In her current role, Dodson is responsible for the strategic direction of the Medical Affairs Americas organization, including medical support of in-line products, late-stage development compounds and ongoing business evolution across the region.
During her time at Astellas, she has been integral in helping lead the Medical Affairs organization through alignment of practices, policies and standards across the globe – including the launch of multiple global Medical Affairs systems and the execution of innovative disease registries and collaborative real-world data and health economics/outcomes research projects.
After several years of service in direct patient care at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Dodson worked at Pfizer, Inc. and GTx, Inc. in various medical affairs leadership roles.
Dodson, who also is a board member of the Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR), has received multiple awards for leadership and innovation during her career, including the National Healthcare Business Women's Association Rising Star and Astellas Vision Award. She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Mercer University School of Pharmacy and completed a postdoctoral residency at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
Astellas has been a member of the National Pharmaceutical Council since 2013.
The National Pharmaceutical Council is a health policy research organization dedicated to the advancement of good evidence and science, and to fostering an environment in the United States that supports medical innovation. Founded in 1953 and supported by the nation's major research-based pharmaceutical companies, NPC focuses on research development, information dissemination, and education on the critical issues of evidence, innovation and the value of medicines for patients. For more information visit www.npcnow.org and follow NPC on Twitter @npcnow.


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KTLA 5 Equips New Mobile Production Truck With Riedel Artist 32 Digital Matrix Intercom System
By Wall Street Communications 30 July 2013
GLENDALE, Calif. -- July 30, 2013 -- Riedel Communications, provider of pioneering real-time video, audio, data, and communications networks, today announced that broadcast station KTLA 5 in Los Angeles has incorporated the Artist 32 digital matrix intercom system into a new mobile production truck serving all West Coast Tribune Company broadcast stations, from Seattle to San Diego. The Riedel system offers robust functionality, versatile configuration options, and the ease of use required to ensure clear, flexible communications during live news and event coverage.
"The ease with which the Artist 32 system interfaces with my audio console via MADI was key in the design of the new truck, as was the system's ability to interact with other facilities and their Riedel intercom systems," said Patrick O'Keefe, manager of news operations for KTLA 5. "Serving as more than just a plug-and-play solution for a single truck, the Artist system can operate as part of a complete intercom system across mobile and fixed production facilities. I have no doubt that it will perform well for all we have planned."
Within the mobile production truck, the Riedel equipment supports both news and production operations. The truck is being used not only for news department remotes, but also for specials from the red carpet, the Rose Parade, and the LA Marathon, among other high-profile events.
The Artist digital matrix intercom system is based on a dual optical fiber ring to form a single large full-summing, non-blocking distributed matrix. While the system "feels" like a single unit, it has no limitations in the number of cross-points within or between the different nodes of the system.
The Riedel team integrated the system with key peripherals and provided operators with training on the Director management software and Artist 32 frame and control panels. The intuitive operation of the Artist system will assure that operators throughout the Tribune Company can configure and manage the system successfully.
Further information about Riedel and the company's products is available at www.riedel.net.
Photo Link: www.wallstcom.com/Riedel/KTLA.zip
About Riedel Communications
Riedel Communications designs, manufactures, and distributes pioneering real-time video, audio, data, and communications networks for broadcast, pro audio, event, sports, theater, and security applications. The company also provides rental services for radio and intercom systems, event IT solutions, fiber backbones, and wireless signal transmission systems that scale easily for events of any size, anywhere in the world. Founded in 1987, the company now employs more than 400 people at 11 locations in Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas.


Changes in sequence and storage association.
In addition, a subset of HPF suitable for earlier implementation is defined. The following subsections give short overviews of these areas.
In addition to the features that became part of HPF, the HPFF committee considered and rejected many proposals. Suggestions that the committee considered particularly promising for future language efforts to pursue have been collected in a companion document, the HPF Journal of Development . Section below gives an overview of this document.


Represents an image / texture file.
It's highly recommended to create an ImageInformation object only once and reuse it every time you need it. It's safe to use the same ImageInformation reference for several players and in multiple threads.
Creates a new image information object and loads an image / texture from a file.
Creates a new image information object and loads an image / texture from the plugin jar file.
plugin - a reference to the plugin. This is required to make sure the game loads the resource from the correct plugin jar.
resource - the path to the resource (inside the jar file).
filepath - the path to the image file on the harddrive.
file - the file representing the path to the image on the harddrive.


(JTA) – Despite security concerns, Berlin is about to get a new kosher supermarket.
The Daily Markt kosher supermarket in the Charlottenburg district adds a new option to those already existing in Berlin, including the Kosher Life supermarket, which opened in 2008 in the former East Berlin, as well as a few smaller shops and bakeries.
The newest addition is the result of co-operation between the non-Jewish businessman Asan Mytev and entrepreneurs within the local Jewish community, assisted by Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal, an official rabbi of the Jewish community in Berlin.
A partner in the Daily Markt, store manager Evgeny Bort, said in a statement that he was optimistic that, despite security concerns and the recent European Union decision to require relabeling of products made in the West Bank and Golan Heights, people would patronize the shop.


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Q: Add counter button in odoo to update field value by 1 I want to add counter in report. I mean, everytime I click print button, report has to be printed with +1 increment, written like Reprinted 1, Reprinted 2, Reprinted 3 and so on. Do you have any idea about solving this kind of technique. If it is impossible, I have another idea but I don't know how to do that either. And that is: Add a field in a form and every time I click custom print button, the field value will be increased by 1. And that updated field will be printed in a report.
I am still a learning boy. Please reply with example.
What I have is:
enter image description here
<record id="apple_view_form" model="ir.ui.view">
    <field name="name">Apple Form</field>
    <field name="model">se.apple</field>
    <field name="arch" type="xml">
        <form>

                <button name="print_report" string="Print Apple" type="object"/>

This is Dexter

            <sheet>
                <group name="group_top">
                    <group name="group_left">
                        <field name="apple_name"/>
                    </group>
                    <group name="group_right">
                        <field name="apple_price"/>
                    </group>
                </group>
                <group name="group_bottom">
                    <field name="apple_description"/>
                    <field name="apple_remarks"/>
                </group>
                <templates id="template" xml:space="preserve">
                    <t t-name="custom_btn">
                        <button string="Custom Button">Custom Button</button>
                    </t>
                </templates>
            </sheet>
        </form>
    </field>
</record>

A: Like you suggested, you could make an invisible field in the model. Then you inherit the print method and make it increment that invisible field. Since the report will have the entire object available, you can just access that invisible field in your report.