Despite the recent surge of family friendly, inspirational, Christian movies that have been coming out, I still believe that the entertainment industry is, at it's heart, staunchly anti-Christian. That is why it does not surprise me to hear that actor Jim Parsons, famous for playing Sheldon Cooper on the hit T.V, Series "The Big Bang Theory" will be playing the part of God in a very coarse and disrespectful manner on a Broadway play, full of "Startlingly graphic sexual gags, which no fig leaf could dress up for a family paper"; quote from Ron Charles of the Washington Post.
I believe that the most common response that this would illicit from believers would be outrage. We should protest, boycott, and send letters to voice our disapproval. While some would take to social media with harsh criticism of this blatant attack on our faith, I would like to take a few moments to tell you why I am O.K. with it. Before you renounce me as a heretic, take the time to finish reading this article, then tell me what you think.
Even though I don't agree with what they are saying or portraying, does not mean they don't have the right to say or do it. Please understand I am not saying I agree with or approve of this Broadway production; I'm just saying I support their right to produce their material. Think about a hypothetical scenario with me for a moment. Let's say there was a massive outcry from Christians around the world that this play is foul and disrespectful to us as Christians, and Uncle Sam came in and shut the play down, forced them to stop. Would that be a victory for Christians? I say NO. WHY? Continue to follow my reasoning. Let's say that millions of atheists, Muslims, or any other anti Christian group had a massive outcry, complaining that some Christian movie was offensive to them, the the government forced it to shut down. Same shoe, other foot. As Americans we have freedoms and rights, and we must respect and protect those rights even when we don't like them.
2. It is a "sign of the times"
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
I understand that the question as to whether or not we are actually in "the last days" will be hotly debated until Jesus actually returns to settle the matter Himself. My point is that The Bible tells us we as believers will be a small remnant in a world that becomes increasingly evil and adverse to Jesus Christ, eventually culminating in the arrival of a being who himself embodies aversion to Jesus Christ, the "Antichrist" himself. It shouldn't shock or surprise us; we know this is coming.
God knows everything, and He has it under control. We are called to do our part, and He will do His. The things that are happening in our world are no surprise to Him. When I look at the world around me and the moral degradation of our society, two things come to my mind; A), I need to tell more people about Jesus, because He may come back today, and B) hurry back, Lord, this world is falling apart!


Pets are wonderful companions and most of the time; they are considered as part of the family. Taking care of pets like dogs or cats also means you need to be responsible for the rest of the household member's health. Pet dander allergy is a common problem for homes with pets. Pet dander is composed of tiny, sometimes microscopic flecks of skin that is shed by pets like dogs, cats, rodents (hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs), birds, and other animals that have feathers or fur.
Unfortunately, pet dander can cause allergic reactions in some people. One of the best ways to avoid pet dander build-up is to use an air purifier.Air purifiers can range in price and power, so when buying one, you need to make sure that it is robust enough to take care of pet dander and other allergens.
The Germguardian brand is one of the most purchased and most trusted for air purifiers out there. There are over 7 thousand overwhelmingly positive reviews out on Amazon for the AC4825 model – and for good reason. This unit combines the power of a UV-C air sanitizer with a carbon filter and a true HEPA filter at a very budget friendly price. This unit will eliminate 99.97% of contaminates that are .3 microns in size or larger and is made for small to medium sized rooms.
If the sole purpose for purchasing a purification system is to rid your home of pet dander and odors then this model will suit you well and also save you a bit of cash. However, if you have someone in your home that suffers from SEVERE allergies or especially asthma, then you may want to spring for a higher level of filtration for allergies or a unit made to handle a larger space in order to filter the air more quickly.
The AC4825 makes a perfect budget conscious option that is suitable for handling homes with pets.
Winix 5300-2 also offers numerous features that make it a good choice of air purifier if you have pets. It comes with three layers of filter technology to eliminate germs and allergens including pet dander, as well as, odor. The carbon pre-filter absorbs all kinds of odors like cooking, cigarette smoke, and odors released from your pets. The second filter is a HEPA filter which can remove up to 99.97% of particles in the air that is 0.3 microns or larger.
The third filtration method is the plasma generator which uses a PlasmaWave technology. This technology is the same with a typical UV filter that is meant to remove pollutants at the molecular level. It takes out any allergens that are not removed by the first two filters. You have the option to turn off or on the PlasmaWave generator. This model is good for medium sized rooms and can clean indoor air effectively for up to 360 sq.ft area.
Honeywell has always been known in the air purifier industry to create reliable air purifier that does its job the right way. Honeywell HFD-120-Q is the perfect air purifier for small rooms. It is especially useful if you have pets in your home, and you are worried about pet dander. It comes with IFD filter; this charges the particles in your home to make the come together and latch on to the filters as they pass through. Also, there is a larger pre-filter which takes out larger particles before they go through the IFD filter. The washable pre-filter requires limited maintenance but can remove dust and other particles. This model is highly reliable to perform in rooms that are 186 sq foot or smaller.
When it comes to cleaning your indoor air, you need a robust air purifier that can perform well in your room. If you have pets, consider using the recommended models above to ensure terrific cleaning performance.


New tune C at 3. Guitar instrumental with a jazzy bluesy sound.
My song "First Last Cigarette" has been placed & recorded by the band Nickel Draft out of Nacogdoches Texas.
Great song. Well deserved cut, Hank!
Any word on the Red Electrik Deal? They are awesome.
Alright Hank ! WTG !
Congrats. I've listened to them online - they're good!
I'm excited for you Hank. You da man.....man!
Let's hope it sells . . .
Walter, KILLER SIR!! Great Guitar Playing on, "Sanova Beach" 5 Stars & Likes. Your music is a breath of fresh air!!!
Thank you so much Margie & Art Corey! I've listened to several of your songs and liked them all!
Walter, would you consider playing Internet guitar on some of our future compositions??? Paid Stuff, for Hire, Big Bucks Stuff!!
Dear Walter, I am listening to your Killer song, "Grippage", what incredible playing!!!! Wowza! Gave you 5 Stars & Huge Likes!!! Would you consider playing guitar on other Broad Jam member's compositions?? We could really use a Killer Guitarist on some of our tunes!!
Check out some of our tunes at Broad Jam M & A Corey.
Thanks again!! You never know. But at the monent I'm trying to finish several tunes but I'll keep you posted!!
Walter, thanks for the info!!
Look forward to hearing from you again soon!!!
Thank you for the 5-star rating for Eclectricity. Much appreciated!
New video - cover of the Star Spangled Banner.


In what may be an unprecedented outage, all of Google's services briefly went dark about 4:52 on Friday afternoon Pacific time.
The outage, which reportedly affected most of Google's services worldwide, led to a staggering 40% drop in global Internet traffic (pageviews), according to analytics firm GoSquared (via Eric Mack of CNET).
The official downtime was between 1 and 5 minutes, according to Google.
One observer estimates that even this brief blip might have cost Google $500,000 in lost revenue. The impact on the rest of the digital economy was likely far greater.
In case you needed a reminder how powerful Google has become--and how much of the digital economy depends on it--this would be it.
Although this level of dominance is alarming, other companies offer most if not all of the services Google provides. If the company ever had a prolonged outage, Internet activity would likely recover quickly as companies and users switched to other services.
That said, the fact that one company touches this much of such a massive and important an industry is unsettling. Single points of failure and control concentrate power in the hands of a few. And they weaken the integrity of the entire system.


Les Revêtements JC Lefrançois specializes in a wide -range of products and services, From bid to delivery, technical drawings to consultation, our team of experts works to ensure that every detail of your project meets your needs – every time!
Labour and materials are all covered by a variety of guarantees. Please contact us for more information.
Fibrocement / torrefied wood / etc.


text:
Q: How to capture camera shot from android webview and submit it in a form? This is the code I have been working on. Everything is working very fine. The geolocation is good. But there is a problem. The website input code is:
<input  type="file" class="form-control" capture="camera" accept="image/*"  required/>
And this is what I am trying:
package com.your.app;
import androidx.activity.result.ActivityResultLauncher;
import androidx.activity.result.contract.ActivityResultContracts;
import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity;

import android.Manifest;
import android.content.ActivityNotFoundException;
import android.content.Context;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.content.pm.PackageManager;
import android.net.Uri;
import android.os.Build;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.os.Environment;
import android.os.Parcelable;
import android.provider.MediaStore;
import android.view.KeyEvent;
import android.webkit.GeolocationPermissions;
import android.webkit.PermissionRequest;
import android.webkit.ValueCallback;
import android.webkit.WebChromeClient;
import android.webkit.WebSettings;
import android.webkit.WebView;
import android.webkit.WebViewClient;

import java.io.File;

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
    WebView myWebView;
    public Uri imageUri;
    private ValueCallback<Uri> mUploadMessage;
    public ValueCallback<Uri[]> uploadMessage;
    public static final int REQUEST_SELECT_FILE = 100;
    private final static int FILECHOOSER_RESULTCODE = 1;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {

        ////Location Permission
        ActivityResultLauncher<String[]> locationPermissionRequest = registerForActivityResult(new ActivityResultContracts.RequestMultiplePermissions(), result -> {
                            Boolean fineLocationGranted = result.getOrDefault(Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION, false);
                            Boolean coarseLocationGranted = result.getOrDefault(Manifest.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION,false);
                            if (fineLocationGranted != null && fineLocationGranted) {
                                // Precise location access granted.
                            } else if (coarseLocationGranted != null && coarseLocationGranted) {
                                // Only approximate location access granted.
                            } else {
                                // No location access granted.
                            }
                        }
                );

// Before you perform the actual permission request, check whether your app
// already has the permissions, and whether your app needs to show a permission
// rationale dialog. For more details, see Request permissions.
        locationPermissionRequest.launch(new String[] {
                Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION,
                Manifest.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION
        });
        ///Location Permission
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
        myWebView = (WebView) findViewById(R.id.webview);
        WebSettings webSettings = myWebView.getSettings();// This part is for
        myWebView.getSettings().setAppCacheEnabled(true);
        myWebView.getSettings().setDomStorageEnabled(true);
        webSettings.setJavaScriptEnabled(true);// activating JS
        myWebView.getSettings().setDatabaseEnabled(true);
        myWebView.getSettings().setMinimumFontSize(1);
        myWebView.getSettings().setMinimumLogicalFontSize(1);
        webSettings.setAllowFileAccessFromFileURLs(true);
        webSettings.setAllowUniversalAccessFromFileURLs(true);

        myWebView.getSettings().setSupportZoom(true);
        myWebView.getSettings().setGeolocationEnabled(true);
        myWebView.getSettings().setGeolocationDatabasePath(getFilesDir().getPath());

        myWebView.setWebViewClient(new WebViewClient());// For Loading the website into app only
        myWebView.setWebChromeClient(new WebChromeClient(){

           ////Getting Permissions

            private boolean checkCameraHardware(Context context) {
                if (context.getPackageManager().hasSystemFeature(PackageManager.FEATURE_CAMERA)){
                    // this device has a camera
                    return true;
                } else {
                    // no camera on this device
                    return false;
                }
            }

            @Override
            public void onPermissionRequest(final PermissionRequest request) {
                request.grant(request.getResources());
            }
            public void onGeolocationPermissionsShowPrompt(String origin, GeolocationPermissions.Callback callback) {
                callback.invoke(origin, true, false);
            }
////Getting Permissions
            public boolean onShowFileChooser(WebView mWebView, ValueCallback<Uri[]> filePathCallback, WebChromeClient.FileChooserParams fileChooserParams)
            {
                if (uploadMessage != null) {
                    uploadMessage.onReceiveValue(null);
                    uploadMessage = null;
                }
                uploadMessage = filePathCallback;
                Intent intent = null;
                if (android.os.Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= android.os.Build.VERSION_CODES.LOLLIPOP) {
                    intent = fileChooserParams.createIntent();
                }
                try
                {
                    startActivityForResult(intent, REQUEST_SELECT_FILE);
                } catch (ActivityNotFoundException e)
                {
                    uploadMessage = null;
                    return false;
                }
                return true;
            }

        });
        myWebView.loadUrl("https://example.com");
    }

    @Override
    public void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent intent) {
        super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, intent);
        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.LOLLIPOP) {
            if (requestCode == REQUEST_SELECT_FILE) {
                if (uploadMessage == null)
                    return;
                uploadMessage.onReceiveValue(WebChromeClient.FileChooserParams.parseResult(resultCode, intent));
                uploadMessage = null;
            }
        } else if (requestCode == FILECHOOSER_RESULTCODE) {
            if (null == mUploadMessage)
                return;
            // Use MainActivity.RESULT_OK if you're implementing WebView inside Fragment
            // Use RESULT_OK only if you're implementing WebView inside an Activity
            Uri result = intent == null || resultCode != MainActivity.RESULT_OK ? null : intent.getData();
            mUploadMessage.onReceiveValue(result);
            mUploadMessage = null;
        }

    }

    /////This part is for defining back button action
    @Override
    public boolean onKeyDown(int keyCode, KeyEvent event) {
        if (keyCode == KeyEvent.KEYCODE_BACK && myWebView.canGoBack()) {
            myWebView.goBack();
            return true;
        }
        return super.onKeyDown(keyCode, event);
    }

}

Problem is this code is choosing file from gallery/filebrowser. But What I want is to open the camera and take a shot. It is working from browser very nicely. But it is not working from the app. What am I doing wrong?

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Today's Installment of Lil' Buddy Jr!
Happy Birthday Hunter S. Thompson!!!
One of the greatest influences and inspirations for me as an artist has been the work of Ralph Steadman. For those who have never heard of the name, Ralph Steadman is a BRILLIANT illustrator from England who gained fame illustrating the work of the American journalist Hunter S. Thompson. Over the years I purchased several of Thompson's books just because Steadman created illustrations for them. Then I finally started to read them and I loved his journalistic voice. Thompson was a voice of truth, rebellion and twisted tales and called out the swine who run this country and who have been using it as their personal trough. Sadly Thompson took his life a few years ago because we sure could use his voice now, more than ever. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE LATE, GREAT FATHER OF GONZO JOURNALISM, HUNTER S. THOMSPON!!!


text:
Q: Calculate the limit of $a_{n+1}=\cos\pi a_n$ This is my first time to ask a question here, so I'm sorry if I make any mistake.
I'm trying to calculate the limit of $a_n$, which is defined as $a_{n+1}:=\cos\pi a_n$.
The first term is not given in this problem, so I have to prove it by cases.
I am badly stuck not knowing how to find the limit of this sequence and where to start the proof. After I substituted some values of $a1$ and calculate it, I found the convergence value might be $-1$ with almost every $a1$ (there were different ones), but I end up stuck here.

A: Let $f(x)=\cos(\pi x)$. Then, if given $a_0$, you have that
$$a_n=f^n(a_0)$$
In order to find a limit of an iterated function in the form
$$\lim_{n\to\infty} f^n(x)$$
the first thing that you need to do is find a fixed point, and then determine whether the fixed point is an attractor or a repeller. To find the fixed point, you must solve the equation
$$\cos(\pi \theta)=\theta$$
Which, unfortunately, has three solutions, one of which is elementary, and the other two of which are transcendental. The elementary solution is
$$\theta=-1$$
and the transcendental ones are about
$$\theta\approx-0.79,0.38$$
And so the limit can take on any of these three values, depending on the value of $a_0$.
However, sometimes, the sequence has no limit. The sequence can enter a cycle depending on $a_0$, because there exist $a,b$ such that $a \ne b$ and
$$\cos \pi a=b$$
and
$$\cos \pi b=a$$
In general, though, most initial values $a_0$ will result in a limit of $-1$, since $x=-1$ is the only attracting fixed point of the three, and, in fact, is a superattracting fixed point, since $f'(-1)=0$. The other two fixed points have
$$|f'(x)|\ge 1$$
and are thus repelling fixed points.

A: Hint: All limit points (if a limit exists) satisfy
$$\cos(\pi x) = x$$
(that is, if we started with a point that is a limit point, the sequence would be constant).
Edit: Numerically, it seems that the sequence converges to $-1$ for almost all values of $a_1$ (the two other fixed points of $\cos(\pi x)$ are some examples of $a_1$ for which it doesn't converge to $-1$).


I'm always on the outlook for hundred-year-old winter vegetable recipes, so I was thrilled to find a recipe for Spiced Sweet Potato Balls.
The outside of the Spiced Sweet Potato balls were crisp and browned, while the inside was nutty, rich, and spicy with the warm blend of nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon. The balls contained ground nuts, which added a nice texture and flavor dimension when combined with sweet potatoes.
Place whole sweet potatoes in a large saucepan; cover with water and bring to a boil on high heat. Reduce heat and simmer until the potatoes are tender (30-45 minutes). Remove from heat and drain. Remove the skins from the potatoes then mash until smooth; mix in butter, nutmeg, allspice, and cinnamon. Add ground nuts, and stir to combine. Shape into 1-inch balls, then gently roll in flour.
Melt 1/2 inch of shortening in a large skillet. Slip the sweet potato balls into the hot shortening, then gently roll the balls with a fork until all sides are a light brown. Remove from heat and drain on paper towels.
Cook's note: The mashed sweet potato mixture is very sticky. The key to success with this recipe is shaping the balls, and then gently rolling the balls in the flour while continuing to shape.
Posted on January 8, 2017 January 8, 2017 by SherylPosted in FoodTagged recipes, sweet potatoes.
I can believe that these are wonderful! Sweet potatoes are used in so many ways. I have deep fried them like potato fries and they are good that way too.
Sweet potatoes are a surprisingly versatile vegetable.
The sweet potato balls look marvelous. I won't cook them, because we avoid fried foods. However, I am seriously thinking of putting them on my menu to dream about tonight.
Anne, you may already do this, but see my comment down below. I avoid fried foods, too, and it works pretty well.
This is almost exactly the dish I make as a casserole. I whip cooked sweet potatoes with the same spices, a little butter, and some chopped pecans, then put them in a buttered casserole, topped with a little brown sugar or maple syrup and more chopped pecans. It's just wonderful, and has been deemed an acceptable substitute for marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes.
The way you make this dish sounds wonderful – and much healthier than either frying them or adding marshmallows.
That's exactly what I served on Thanksgiving day!
I love most recipes with sweet potatoes- sounds wonderful!
Sweet potatoes have a nice flavor, and work well in a variety of recipes.
I'm going to die by eating way too many of these, I'm calling it now.
Sometimes I think that some people tend forget about sweet potatoes once the holidays are over, but to me they seem like a wonderful winter vegetable.
These sound yummy. I'm surprised I've not seen something like that before…thanks for sharing, I can't wait to give them a try.
I think that you'd enjoy them. I never heard of them either until I saw the recipe in an old magazine. I think that making various kinds of vegetable balls and croquettes was more popular a hundred years ago than what it is now.
I think you are right, Sheryl.
These are close to a dish my daughter and I make called Kogumajan. It's a Korean side dish, made with sweet potato slices (par boiled first), coated in egg and flour, and then pan fried. What makes these out of this world is the dipping sauce. These look great as well.
This recipe does sound quite similar to Kogumajan. The dipping sauce would add a nice touch.
Chipolte dip would be great with these.
These look delicious, love anything with sweet potatoes!
Sweet potatoes are a wonderful vegetable that can be served so many different ways.
mmm. . . The sweet potato balls would be wonderful served with chicken and a mixed salad.
Thanks for letting me know. I'll miss your photos, but look forward to exploring your new blog.
What a bummer! I'm keep my fingers crossed that the tech issues get resolved soon. In my meantime, I'll continue to enjoy your old blog.
Truly a southern recipe- includes sweet potatoes and frying food! have made sweet potato almost everyday and this a new recipe for me. Thanks for sharing!
I always enjoy finding very old recipes that seem new and fresh.
Me too! I look through old cookbooks for "new" recipes.


If you don't struggle with this on a daily basis then are you even human.
We get that the start of January can be annoying for anyone who's a die-hard gym rat; you're just trying to get your workout done as quickly as possible and then you see the swarms of new gym-goers who made a vow to start working out in 2019. But as crowded as the gym might seem at this time of year, you gotta give 'em some props for trying to make a positive lifestyle change! Y'all got this!
The Keto diet sounds like the solution to all of my problems!
Whether you're a dedicated gym rat or a total workout n00b, these memes will resonate with anyone who sets foot in the gym at least occasionally.


Explore the beautiful colonial city of Baracoa, discover its beautiful enclosures and admire its historic fortress.
Baracoa, declared National Monument, is a quiet colonial city. It is enclosed between mountainous massifs with great endemic vegetation profusion, which turn the place in an exotic spot with crystalline rivers and welcoming beaches.
The city of Baracoa is the oldest one in Cuba, since it was the first village founded by Diego Velázquez in 1511, under the name of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Baracoa.
The confrontation between the natives of the lands and the Spaniards has run through the centuries, being shared by legends as the one who tells the death of the Hatuey cacique.
History coats its narrow stone streets, surrounded by old mansions which extend from the Punta Castle towards the Matachín Fortress, two of its main attractions beside the Seboruco Fortress.
In the suburbs of this village you will find incredible beaches, mountains and one of the best Cuban national parks; enclosed which you should not stop visiting on your way through Baracoa.


Kidney Disease Hospital is an international and specialized kidney disease hospital in China. It is a good option for CKD patients to get treated. Why should CKD patients choose Kidney Disease Hospital?
Chinese medicine treatment is the very special treatment for kidney disease in Kidney Disease Hospital. And it is very effective to treat CKD by improving kidney and recovering kidney function. Chinese medicine has the functions of promoting blood circulation, dilating blood vessels, enhancing immunity, and preventing inflammation and degrading fibrosis. In this way, kidney is given a good condition to be under recovery gradually by the time.
Chinese medicine is a herbal and systematic treatment for kidney disease, which consist of a series of therapies like Hot Compress Therapy, Micro-Chinese Medicine Osmotherapy, Foot Bath, Acupuncture Therapy and Medicated foot bath, etc.
In our hospital, doctors and nurses are very kind and responsible for patients, and they always chat and play together, just like friends. The environment is very good, and patients can feel like at home. As for meal, we have specialized diet for patients from different countries in the world. We have interpreters for many languages, thus patients do not have to worry about life in our hospital.
We have treated more than 600 foreign patients from many countries, and great success is achieved. If you need any help, or have any question, you can leave a message or contact our online doctor anytime. We will reply you very soon in detail.


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Genexis Team
About Genexis
Genexis Course
What is the Genexis Course?
Professor Ard Louis
Ard Louis is a professor of Theoretical Physics at Oxford University, where he leads a team working on problems at the boundaries of chemistry, physics and biology. From 2002 to 2010 he was a Royal Society University Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford. In 2013 he was elected a fellow of the International Society for Science and Religion and he is an associate of the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion. He co-presented the four part documentary 'Why are we here' with David Malone and appeared in 'The Story of God' with Morgan Freeman. Watch Professor Ard Louis's talk from Genexis 2019
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Good morning! Are you a morning coffee drinker? How do you take it … black, cream and sugar? My hubby likes really strong coffee … Starbucks order is … brew of the day, no room for cream. He says that I like a little coffee added to my milk (please don't forget the sweetener!). Hey, there's nothing wrong with a skinny vanilla latte … is there?
Today, I made a dessert for you … Irish Creme Parfaits for St. Patrick's Day, in Irish coffee cups that normally don't get used in my house. These cups sit in the cupboard, collecting dust (I washed them for this), just waiting to finally get used!
The cups came from a Princess House party back in the 80's … it seemed like somebody I knew was always having a Tupperware or Princess House party and I'd always buy something. We are not really a crystal and china kind of family … love the way it looks, but never use it. I try to practice … why have it, if you don't use it, but am guilty of keeping stuff that doesn't get used! Since the crystal sat in the cabinet collecting dust, several years ago, I gave away almost all of it to people who do use it … except these Irish Coffee Cups, because I knew that I would use them … just didn't realize that it would be for dessert and not coffee!
This pretty layered dessert is very similar to Eclair Cake and can be made for adults with Baileys or kiddie friendly without alcohol. If you don't have Irish Coffee Cups sitting in your cabinet … use any clear glasses … Mason jars would be adorable! I used three graham cracker squares and about one half cup pudding mixture for each serving, creating six servings. You can adjust the recipe to make larger or smaller servings.
Whip heavy cream with sugar until stiff peaks form and put back in the refrigerator.
Make pudding mixture … In a medium mixing bowl, whisk pudding mix, Baileys, a few drops of green coloring and milk for 2 minutes. Fold in 1 cup of whipped cream or Cool Whip, save the remaining for garnish. Optional step … Put pudding mixture into a gallon size ziptop bag, zip it up and cut a corner for easy piping.
Break 1 graham cracker square into small pieces and place in the bottom of each glass/cup.
Pipe or carefully spoon a small amount (about 1/4 cup) of pudding mixture on top of crumbled graham crackers.
Repeat steps 3 and 4, then step 3 for final layer.
Remove from fridge, garnish with whipped cream and two Ovation Irish Creme sticks!
* To make an alcohol free version – Increase milk to 1-3/4 cups and omit Baileys. Add some mint flavoring if desired!
Looks pretty fancy … especially with the chocolate sticks!
I use the same polka dot mug (it has a chip on the bottom) every morning with my version of a latte … named it the poorman's latte, microwave 1/2 mug of 1% milk, add coffee and 1 packet of Stevia … easy peasy! I am drinking a cup as I am typing … my way to start the day!
Thank you to SweetWorks for the Ovation Sticks!
Do you start your day with coffee? I ♥ your comments!
I have these same glass mugs. I use them all the time for my coffee, cream and sugar, but I never thought to use them like this. I am going to make these parfaits soon. thanks again for the wonderful ideas.
Thank you Lucinda! Oh … you must have pretty coffee 😉 I'm going to make it a point to use my mugs more often!
Coffee straight out of the pot for me; nothing added.
Oh golly bum, I use my margarita glasses, large wine goblets, etc. for my desserts all the time. I don't drink margaritas but wanted a couple glasses just to use as dessert dishes; layered jello desserts, brownie parfaits, etc. Shot glasses used for jello shot cocktails; 'shooters' :}.
Think outside of the box and use those wonderful glasses, cups, mugs, etc. that you have. A person should make everyday a special occasion.
Coming up in June will be our 45th anniversary and I try and make each and every day just alittle special. Still have candlelight dinners with desserts served in fancy glasses.
No pizza on paper plates at my house.
Enjoy your day and use your good dishes, glasses, etc.
Thank you Colleen 🙂 I feel like such an underachiever, LOL 🙂 I do like to think outside the box … sometimes I just get stuck in a rut … coffee (with milk and sugar) will be in my Irish Coffee Mug tomorrow morning!
Thank you Bobbi 🙂 I truly can't tell the difference between regular and decaf!


Summary. Statement by the Honorable Duane P. Andrews Assistant Secretary of Defense (Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence) before the Select Committee on POW/MIA Affairs United States Senate October 15, 1992, regarding the question of "evader symbols" or "distress symbols" allegedly constructed by US POWs in Vietnam and supposedly observed on satellite and other imagery.
Mr. Chairman, members of the Committee. While I am pleased to support your hearing which is examining markings on buildings and terrain in Southeast Asia that may relate to American POW/MIAs and to have this opportunity to set the record straight on a lot of incorrect information that is in circulation, I have great apprehension in discussing in an open hearing topics that relate to the capabilities and practices of our Nation's Intelligence activities. I believe that it is a poor security practice to "talk around" classified operations iniformation that was recently widely disclosed in the TV and print media. It seems that we and officials that have served before us have been indicted in the court of public opinion for ignoring signs that Americans were left behind based on an inaccurate bill of particulars that was drawn up using incomplete, selectively leaked intelligence.
I understand the frustration with classification expressed by many in the general public and in particular by the families and Veteran's organizations that are so concerned with the POW/MIA issue. They appear to believe that we are unnecessarily keeping this intelligence material behind a veil of secrecy - that as it relates to events from decades ago it therefore no longer required classified protection. This is not the case. Much of what we have discussed in closed meetings is based on current intelligence sources and methods. This is not, as some have charged, an attempt to hide a perceived government failure to liberate our POWs. Rather, it is the fulfillment of our obligation to protect those intelligence means and methods vital to our global responsibilities in the defense of the Nation.
Notwithstanding his reservations about public discussion of intelligence matters, Secretary Cheney has authorized me to present an unclassified statement describing certain of our intelligence activities and other related activities that were understaken in response to certain symbols that have been purported to indicate the possible presence of American prisoners of war in Vietnam and Laos. These symbols have been referred to in the press as the USA and K, the 1973 or 1573 TH, the Morse Code K, the 52 or B52, the "arrow and P, and what were believed to be a series of escape and evasion identity numbers that were seen by Joint Services Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape Agency, or JSSA, personnel on some photographs of Laos.
To the extent that I can in an open session, and to the best of my knowledge based on what I have pulled from the reports of actions that were undertaken by the Defense Intelligence Agency and by the JSSA, I will review our current understanding of these symbols. Following my statement Mr. William Gadoury of the Joint Task Force-Full Accounting will present his statement concerning certain activities related to the search for Americans and the USA symbol. Colonel Bob Bonn, Commander of the JSSA, Mr. Bob Dussault, Colonel Bonn's deputy, and Mr. Al Erickson, a SERE instructor and evasion and escape expert, and Mr. Sheetz, Mr. Santora, and Mr. Knapper from the Defense Intelligence Agency are present. These individuals are prepared to independently confirm the accuracy of what I relate.
However, I must caution that in open session we will be unable to present the full range of information available to us on these matters -- information that we have previously presented to the Select Committee in closed meetings. Any questions that require getting into classified information in order to provide a complete answer will have to be answered in a closed hearing. Please do not take this as an indication that we are not willing to answer your questions fully. We have willingly made all of our documents available to the Select Committee and we will willingly answer all of your questions. We just have to do so in a responsible manner when dealing with sensitive intelligence or escape and evasion matters. If we divulge the tradecraft used in either area it may cost American lives in future conflicts.
Before I review the specific symbols of interest I would like to make a few comments concerning imagery. I believe that a short general description of this topic will help you understand the complexity of the issue and the technical photographs we probably think of the snapshots we get back from the drug store or the one hour film processor or the portraits we have taken on special occasions. When we talk of imagery we are talking about quite a different thing. Although some of our imagery is produced by light directly falling on a wide strip of film, most is produced by very high technology processes involving devices which transform the varying light signals into digital signals. These digital signals can be read out on very high resolution workstations -- a kind of film negative. Such imagery can be made up of a single view of the area or it can be made up of two images taken slightly apart in time or from two slightly different angles. This allows us to view the image as if it were in three dimensions.
We examine such film on a light table under very powerful optics. In effect we put it under a microscope. Interpreting the information contained in a film positive or negative is not a skill you can pick up quickly. I was an imagery analyst in my earlier years in the Air Force. It took me six months of basic schooling and another six months of on-the-job training before I was considered qualified to sign my name to an imagery interpretation report. Today, we send our analysts to an additional three months of advanced schooling after they have had this basic qualification training. When viewing an image it is often easy to "see" things in nature that appear to be man-made but which on closer examination are shadows and foliage.
When an intelligence analyst has a question about an area or a specific point target he submits an imagery request. This request is given an appropriate priority and will be imaged. This image does not go directly to the intelligence analyst that requested that it be taken. Rather, a skilled imagery interpreter examines the image and prepares an imagery interpretation report. This written report, and occasionally a print or photograph of the target, is forwarded to the analyst. Some times when an imagery interpreter examines an image he or she will see something that was not mentioned in the original analyst's request. An example is the USA seen by a CIA imagery interpreter who was examining imagery of Laos for another purpose. In such a case the imagery interpretation report is forwarded to the analytic section responsible for the unexpected sighting.
I also should address why we are showing line drawings of the symbols we are here today to discuss. A fair question is "You are very open about what these symbols are or appear to be so why not show photographs of them?" The reason is straightforward. If a camera scientist can get his hands on an image he canb determine many characteries of the camera that took the picture. Its location, its focal length, the camera's stability, its sensitivity to the varying intensity of light, and a host of other technical parameters. We do not want the scientists of other countries to obtain such knowledge of our technical capabilities. Such knowledge would help them hide things from us that we need to see to support our military forces and for national security.
Now I will turn to the symbols that have been the subject of so much discussion. I will review each of the images of interest in turn. I believe this will support our conclusion that of all the millions of square kilometers of territory in Southeast Asia that we have examined over the years we really only have two unexplained sets of symbols which were clearly intended to communicate something to an observer from above.
The first symbol of interest is a 1973 TH. This symbol was imaged on May 20, 1973 and again on July 10, 1973 on the Plain of Jars in Laos. The Plain of Jars was a hotly contested area during the war in Indochina. Lao General Vang Pao and his Hmong soldiers fought valiantly for control of this vital area which contains within its borders the key lines of communication for central Laos. Control of the Plain of Jars shifted back and forth between Royal Lao Army and Pathet Lao and Vietnamese forces during the war.
The imagery, now unclassified, which contains this set of symbols was obtained using an unmanned airborne reconnaissance system. It has been interpreted as either a 1573 or 1973 and either TA or TH. None of the four possible combinations of these symbols correlate to a classic distress symbol or to the escape and evasion symbols that our crews were trained to use. Another explanation is that the four numbers resemble a personal authenticator number but we have been unable to correlate them with any individual. Although it is not what we would expect to be used by an unaccounted for U.S. military person, the symbols remains of interest to the Defense Department because they have not been explained.
Possible explanations for the appearance of these symbols are many, though none seem particularly convincing. For instance, the U.S. Government provided aid to General Vang Pao through CIA-operated Air America assets. Some Air America crews were downed in action. One such U.S. Aviator, Emmet Kay, went down on May 7, 1973 approximately 8 kilometers from the area where this symbol was either tramped, cut, cleared or etched into the elephant grass. (Emmet Kay returned to the U.S. in September 1974.) Some have surmised the Emmet Kay's Hmong crew might have made the symbol during the few hours they were free before capture. The leader of the Hmong was a Major Thao. We can speculate that he may have been trying to signal their location by abbreviating his name. We may never know the answer to this as Major Thao died in captivity.
Others have surmised that the symbol could have been placed on the ground by a group of Thai personnel that were also captured during this period by the Pathet Lao. TH, of course, is the two character U.S. country code for Thailand. We know that these three Thai individuals were held in captivity with Emmet Kay and his Hmong crew members. Many attempts have been made over the years to follow this lead. Only recently, a new lead has surfaced indicating that one of the Hmong may now be available for interview in Thailand. If we are successful in our attempt to interview this individual we may learn more. But at this point, we have no way of knowing if the symbol was or was not made by either the Thai individuals or the Hmong.
Another, and less likely, theory for the symbol relates to the downing of an AC-130 gunship in December 1972, some 300 miles away in southern Laos just across the Lao/Thai border. While only two crew members were known to have survived, one of the crew members that stayed with the plane down to its impact on the jungle floor was Captain Thomas Hart. Captain Hart is the only downed aviator whose initials and loss circumstances could possible correlate with the initials TH. While Captain Hart's remains were recovered in 1985 by the JCRC, even if Captain Hart had survived, it is unlikely that he would have chosen to evade for over 300 miles through some of the roughest territory in Laos. He would more likely have gone a relatively short distance due West toward Thailand and freedom.
All we know for sure at this point in time in 1992 is that the symbol remains unexplained despite having been analyzed in depth on at least four separate occasions: by the Pacific Command in 1973: by the JCRC and DIA in 1976: by DIA in 1986/87: and by the DIA, CIA and JSSA in 1992. Neither the DIA, JSSA, or the JTF-FA have been able to make a correlation to any individual. While positive results may have been hoped for in 1973-75, it is not likely that 19 years later we will be able to pick up the trail in Laos. In short, the origin and meaning of this symbol is unexplained and probably will remain so.
I will now turn to the USA & possible K symbols. This symbol was imaged on January 22, 1988 in a narrow rice paddy Valley in Northeast Laos near Sam Neua, Laos. This imagery was taken for a project unrelated to POW/MIAs and was not looked at by an imagery analyst until early December 1988. While the actual imagery remains classified, the line drawing we have with us today is unclassified. As you can see, the letters USA are clearly distinguishable, and each letter is estimated to be more than twice the height of a normal sized man. On the imagery, below the USA letters some additional markings can be seen. Some have speculated that these markins are in the pattern of the number 34 or even the letter K, or perhaps even a so-called walking K distress symbol. This symbol was only imaged once. By the time it was discovered in December 1988 by the Central Intelligence Agency and immediately brought to DIA's attention, it was no longer observable on the ground.
Once this symbol was made known to DIA, investigative steps were promptly taken. The full range of follow-up steps taken by the U.S. Government have been briefed to the Committee in a closed meeting. What I can say here in open session is that all appropriate means of information collection, including the full range of intelligence assets avialable to the U.S. Government have been brought to bear to no avail. Like the prior symbol discussed that appeared on the Plain of Jars in 1973, this USA symbol remains unexplained.
There is still disagreement as to whether or not the markings and shadings seen below the USA letters are in actuality some type of evader symbol. It is clear to DIA and CIA imagery analysts that the USA letters were constructed by scraping away the rice stubble from a harvested rice paddy in dry season. One likely explanation for what appears to some as a 34 or possible K is the dumping of extractred rice stubble in several piles at random. Clearly, the supposed K is not in any fashion comparable to the USA letters -- not in size, not in means of construction, not in spatial orientation, and certainly not in clarity. When this image was further examined through the application of sophisticated computer-enhanced analysis, including the use of so-called false color analysis to differentiate between grey scales, this alleged K symbol appears even more likely to be the mounding of rice stubble and thus even less convincing as a possible K.
So what do we have here? No one, not DIA, not CIA and not JSSA, can correlate the USA and possible K symbols with an unaccounted for individual. While the Lao government has admitted that prior to 1973 prisoners were kept in Pathet Lao headquarters caves located in the Sam Neua area, prisoners were not known to be held there after the war ended. These caves have been visited many times in recent years by Americans and other Westerners, and it was clear by the late 1980's that the caves are no longer in use. Other facilities that would likely be used for hiding American POWs are not known to exist anywhere else in Sam Neua.
I acknowledge that there have been isolated reports of POWs being held in some areas of Laos, including Sam Neua. But after giving these reports, most of which come from refugee sources, a full and complete evaluation, the Department has been unable to develop convincing evidence that U.S. POWs are being held in Sam Neua today, nor do we have any evidence they were being held there in 1988.
Mr. Bill Gadoury, an investigator who covers Laos for the Joint Task Force - Full Accounting, has an interesting story to tell that may relate to the USA symbol. As I indicated earlier, Bill will tell this story at the conclusion of my statement.
Where we are now with regard to the USA symbol can be summarized as follows: 1). The USA and possible K remains unexplained, despite having tasked every means of information collection available through the intelligence Community. Many collection capabilities have been exercised multiple times to no avail. 2). No correlation to a known unaccounted-for individual can be made by DIA, JSSA, or the JTF-FA. And 3). Until an unexpected lead develops, there is little more that can be done other than continuing to monitor the situation. We have discussed in our closed meeting how we are accomplishing this monitoring.
I will now address the possible K symbol in Morse Code on the roof of a building. This possible symbol was seen on July 30, 1975 when DIA and CIA imagery analysts noticed several light spots on the roof of one building within a known prison compound in Vietnam Northeast of Haiphong. The photography remains classified, so DIA has prepared line drawings for our discussions in open session.
Noticing a distinct color difference -- some roof sections were much brighter than the remainder of the roof on one barracks type building -- CIA imagery analysts attempted to discern a possible pattern. They made a tenuous call that the pattern could be a dash - dot - dash in Morse code, which could be the letter K or the letters N and T. Although this was an admittedly tenuous imagery analytic call, an intenst all-source analysis was mounted by DIA.
What they learned can be summarized at the unclassified level as follows. First, the prison compound was formerly a French detention facility, used later during the Vietnam war years as a provincial jail. We know that it was used to house captured South Vietnamese commando infiltrators, several of whom were ultimately interviewed after emigrating from Vietnam after the war. These former inmates stated that no U.S. prisoners were even known to be incarcerated there during wartime.
Other sources provided postwar information. This prison, known to us now as the Dong Vai Reeducation Camp, was used from late 1975 to late 1978 by the North to house former Army of Vietnam (ARVN) officers and other South Vietnamese officials who underwent "reeducation" to prepare them for "proper functioning" in the new socialist/communist unified Vietnam. Thus, from late 1975 Dong Vai became part of a much larger reeducation camp system in Vietnam that has been described to us in great detail by many of the thousands of South Vietnamese refugees that have been interviewed by DIA's investigative personnel. Taken as a whole, the body of reporting from Dong Vai paints a consistent picture -- this camp was used for reeducation and not for housing U.S. prisoners.
A closer look at the photography of July 30, 1975 reveals some very interesting details. The front gate is wide open and no special security measures are apparent. The roofs of a number of buildings inside and just outside the compound are off, indicating probably rehabilitation of the jail facility, no doubt preparing it for its subsequent use as a reeducation camp.
Fusing all this information, we see a very consistent picture. First, after the fall of Saigon, Dong Vai was renovated and subsequently used as part of the reeducation camp system. Second, the replacement of roof tiles accounts for the color difference seen on July 30, 1975. In fact, the photography shows that one section of the roof of the building in question is open, indicating that tile replacement was still in progress. Further, photography of the compound taken in January 1975 before this reconstruction process started failed to show any roof tile color variations. And photography of December 1975 after the roof reconstruction was complete, shows weathering of the sections replaced in July; no color variations are observable.
The Dong Vai reeducation camp had a rather short lifetime. By late 1978, most of the reeducates had either been released or were moved to other re-education camps further south. For Vietnam and China, the late 1970's were punctuated by recurring security threats and border crises. We can speculate that because this facility was so far north, the Vietnamese decided to close it for security reasons, or perhaps it was no longer needed as part of the reeducation camp system. What is known through recent photography is that the camp is no longer in use, many of the buildings have been torn down and much of the former prison/camp area has reverted to agriculture.
In short, the fused, all-source analytic view of DIA and CIA is that Dong Vai was not a facility that housed American prisoners; that roof reconstruction accounted for the roof tile color differences seen only on July 30, 1975; and, that it highly unlikely that symbols were consciously placed on the roof structure as a signal. JSSA fully agrees with this assessment. We consider this possible symbol closed and are no longer pursuing it.
I will now address the 52 or B52 symbol. Based upon source reporting in 1979 and 1980 that American prisoners might be held in a detention facility in southern Laos, imagery analysts began to review the area for the presence of a detention facility. In doing so, the numbers 52, believed to be a possible symbol were observed five times between December 1980 and March 1981 in a facility located in the area southeast of the city of Nhommarath, Laos. The photography, which remains classified, shows a possible 52 in an agricultural area within the camp. The possible symbol was first observed on December 4, 1980, with subsequent observations on December 30, 1980, January 2, 1981, February 6, 1981 and March 8, 1981. Slight changes in the structure of the symbol were noted from sighting to sighting and as late as March 8, 1981, the symbol was still in place, however, the top portion of the 5 could no longer be seen.
The symbol was located within a row crop area between the walls of an inner compound and the perimeter fence. Although imagery analysts have arrived at different conclusions as to whether there was actually a 52 symbol or not. Because of the variations in the size and structure of the possible numbers from observation to observation there was strong suspicion that what the imagery analysts were reporting as possible 52, might be nothing more than shadowing within the row crop area. During continued analysis of the possible numbers, some imagery analysts reported that there might even be a "B" associated with the symbol, however, the possible B appeared to be another instance of shadowing within the area under observation.
The source reporting which was the basis for requesting the imagery analysis came to DIA from the CIA which stated that the reporting should be read with caution since there was some question as to the reliability of the sources involved. As noted earlier, the facility in question was located near the Lao city of Nhommarath, which is situated in Khammouane Province; the city of Nhommarath is within 50 kilometers of the Mekong River and the border of Thailand. The proximity of this facility to Thailand raised doubts that the Lao Communists would actually hold American prisoners in an area so close to Thailand.
In 1980 and 1981 there was not a large number of sources as yet available who had visited the area or been within the facility near Nhommarath. Nevertheless, photographs of the interior of the facility in question were turned over to U.S. Government representatives. The photographs, taken in early 1981, indicated that Western prisoners were not present within the facility. The exact measures undertaken by the U.S. Government to inspect the facility and to determine whether American prisoners were being held or not remains classified. In addition, the body of reporting from human sources who had detailed knowledge of the interior and purpose of the facility does not support the notion that American prisoners had ever been held within the facility.
There was not then and there has never been proof that American prisoners were held in the facility near Nhommarath. As a matter of fact, continued analysis since 1980, photographs of this facility and human sources support our best judegement that Americans were not held in the facility. The facility is now known to have been a reeducation camp used by the Communist government that took power in 1975 to educate former Royal Lao Army officers and certain officials from the Royal Lao government. This camp has been described to us in detail by former inmates that have been interviewed outside of Laos. There is even more reason to believe now that what was interpreted as a possible 52 symbol was nothing more than the irregular furrows of many individual garden plots.
I will now turn to the symbols referred to as an arrow and a "p." In mid-1992, during a routine review and analysts of central Laos, analysts discovered a possible symbols which included a large arrow and the possible letter "p." These symbols were on the ground in December 1987. Further review of these possible symbols revealed that although one symbol has the overall shape of an arrow, the stem does not join the arrow head. The stem of the arrow may be up to 100' in length. The possible "p" symbol appears to be nothing more than a scarred area on the ground with vegetation, perhaps a bush or two, growing in the center.
There is no evidence that this possible symbol has any association with Americans, whether living freely or in captivity. Explanations for the possible arrow include natural limestone outcroppings or logs. An imagery search was conducted in both directions of the axis of the possible arrow with negative results. When imaged this area was undergoing the slash and burn process associated with clearing jungle for agricultural use. When next imaged this area was under cultivation. While we are attempting to identify refugees in Thailand who came from the area where the symbol was observed, we have little hope of gaining further information on these five year old possible symbols.
This gets us to the bottom line of the various symbols which we believe were intended by their makers to be detected from above. To date, we have two unexplained sets of symbols. One was imaged in 1973 and one was imaged in 1988. A full range of follow up actions were undertaken. None of these symbols can be tied to a U.S. POW but neither can we absolutely disprove that "possibility."
I would now like to turn to some apparent evader symbols that have been cited as recent evidence of POWs in Laos. These supposed symbols were seen by members of the JSSA on a poor quality positive print of an image. For context, the JSSA is a 65 person organizatino located in three states and headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. As commander, Colonel Bonn reports to the Air Force Director of Operations. The Air Force and JSSA are executive agents for the Department of Defense for two major areas: Joint operational evasion and escape matters, and Code of Conduct and SERE training. They have a third, more recent charter as an executive agent for the purpose of drafting, in coordination with the Services and other DoD agencies, a Department of Defense Directive on POW/MIA matters. The latter project is in progress.
Under the JSSA E&E charter, they are responsible for working E&E operational matters with command planners and operators to ensure tactics, procedures, equipment, and training are adequate and consistent with JCS policy. The JSSA also acts as executive agent for the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Management and Personnel with respect to Code of Conduct and SERE training. To accomplish this they have a special training unit with 19 people responsible for providing advanced instruction and exercises for selected high risk-of-capture personnel from all the military services. This unit trains these personnel in Code of Conduct, SERE, and hostage survival courses, both in residence and using mobile training teams.
The JSSA has also been charged by DoD to conduct periodic inspections of five SERE certified training schools operated by the Army, Navy, and Air Force; to research and analyze prisoner of war and actual SERE experiences for lessons learned to improve training; and to maintain a Code of Conduct-related research library.
That then, in a nutshell, is the JSSA. The JSSA does not have an never has had MIA accountability as a functional responsibility. They are not cognizant of all-source intelligence related to MIAs and have never been tasked by anyone to conduct a comprehensive review of reports of downed, missing, or captured personnel in Southeast Asia. However, in 1978 the JSSA did do a survey of Operation Homecoming POW debriefs and compiled a data base of all references to sightings of non-returnees. The only POW analytical role the JSSA now performs is to review POW and peacetime hostage debriefs for lessons we can apply to the training programs we oversee.
The JSSA has never been asked to review DIA's MIA efforts. The JSSA is not an inspector general and has no one qualified in intelligence analysis or photographic interpretation to perform such a function.
Aside from the project to draft a DoD Directive, the JSSA's current involement in POW/MIA matters was solely due to requests by the Select Committee that they review poor quality, poor resolution copies of photography for evaluation with respect to evasion and escape techniques of ground signal communication. This they did with some degree of discomfort at being asked to be photographic interpreters, a technical skill they do not possess and which was called to the Committee's attention by the DoD POW/MIA Central Documentation Office -- this is the organization that I established to declassify POW/MIA documents and to support the Select Committee.
On June 22, the Chief Counsel of the Select Committee requested that the JSSA evaluate the photograph containing the USA symbol discussed earlier. The letter of request asked the JSSA to provide an independent evaluation of the symbol's probably origins, meaning, and if they are consistent with accepted SERE training and procedures. The JSSA was also asked to evaluate a photograph of a second larger area some distance to the southwest.
In forwarding the JSSA's response on July 10, the Director of the DoD Central Documentation Office cautioned Mr.Codhina, Chief Counsel of the Select Committee, that the JSSA does not maintain a capability to perform imagery analysis and that imagery was only one source used in the intelligence process and that to fully comprehend the significance of a photo, information from multiple sources must be considered and examined by analysts from an appropriate intelligence organization.
I regret that I was not personally aware of the Committee's request to the JSSA and our response in July. I believe we could have avoided the resulting misunderstandings if we had been aware that the JSSA was attempting in good faith to perform a function that was well outside their area of expertise. Basically, the JSSA personnel viewed a very poor quality print with a magnifying glass and saw a lot of numbers and letters. They then matched these symbols against their authenticator lists of missing airmen. Where these matches occurred they indicated that these might be possible "evader" symbols. I do not want to get more specific on these symbols as much of the escape and evasion tradescraft is classified and may well be used again. I am concerned that all of the media attention to these symbols has probably compromised any attempts by any possible surviving American POWs to use the symbols that were taught to them in Southeast Asia.
Viewing a poor quality print with a magnifying glass is just now how imagery exploitation should be done. This ignores the basic principles of imagery interpretation which considers the pattern, shape, size, shadow, surroundings, tone and texture of each artifact. When the JSSA personnel viewed the original quality imagery of the printed photograph on a light table using high resolution optics the nature of all the supposed evader symbols became clear. They were simply vegetation, shadows or artifacts of the photographic production process. Some possible symbols were even in the tops of 200 foot tall trees, an unlikely place for an evading POW to leave a signal. When shown photographs of other locations including Africa and Utah, the JSSA personnel also "saw" the same kinds of symbols -- symbols which again disappeared on the light table. Each and every apparent evader symbol was reviewed by JSSA on the light table and none were found to be real. Now I don't want to give the impression they were imagining things. Often when you look at a photographic print you can see numbers and letters in the shadows. That is why we do not normally interpret such prints for intelligence purposes and that is why it takes a long time to train imagery interpreters; it is easy to be misled. In this case it is unfortunate that untrained personnel were used to support an unwarranted conclusiong concerning evader symbols in Laos.
Mr. Chairman that concludes my statement. I respectfully request that Mr. Gadoury of the Joint Task Force Full-Accounting present his statement before we entertain questions. I make this request as I believe his statement is relevant to the questions that may remain concerning the USA and possible K symbols.


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Where to Find Data Now That It's (not provided)?
Oct 1, 2013 · Canada ca
Google first announced its plan to "protect the personalized search results [they] deliver" on October 18, 2011. An SSL encryption protocol (https) became the default search for users signed-in to their Google accounts. For digital marketers, that meant that visits from organic search listings no longer included the information about individual queries, i.e. keyword data showed up as (not provided) in Google Analytics.
As of this month, all signs point to secure search becoming the default for everybody – signed into a Google account or not. In short, no keyword data will be provided at all in referrals from Google.
Source: http://www.notprovidedcount.com/
There are several theories as to why Google is doing this; to help protect user privacy, to protect itself from accusations of cooperating with the NSA and, of course, the big elephant in the room… to boost its ad sales.
As organic keyword data from the most used search engine becomes increasingly obsolete, the implications and consequences will impact digital marketing teams in different ways.
At iProspect, we have been adapting to the loss in search data for a while – even when it was only a small percentage of the reported data. Knowing that Google will cease to report 100% of keyword-level organic search data in the near future, it is important to further adjust the way we approach keyword research, traffic analysis, and reporting.
That said, we wanted to cover this issue not only from an SEO standpoint, but from PPC, sales, upper management and client services, as well. We crowd-sourced the opinions of our bright team to get their take on how the (not provided) spike affects the web marketing industry, as well as provide insights and actionable solutions for website publishers to extract relevant data and achieve their digital marketing goals.
Here we discuss:
The implications of being a digital marketer in a (not provided) world
The motives behind Google's rollout
Solutions for obtaining accurate data and reporting
1. What are the major implications brought on by 100% of referral data being (not provided)?
Gautier Lemesle – Director, Digital Marketing Innovation
Being able to match search query to searcher intent has been vital to the execution of successful web marketing strategies. It's what helped us define how people were searching for and landing on content, while also enabling website owners to optimize key pages to best respond to users' intent and incite them to take action.
I think the most significant impact will be on reporting practices, and to a certain degree, Google has paved the way for us. By progressively changing the game rules with blocked signed-in search queries, it forced us to change our methodology—in SEO and what we report on.
Jack Allen – SEO Coordinator
Realistically, the change will only make reporting slightly more difficult and client education a "must."
The thing is, with localization, personalization, knowledge graph, etc. keywords themselves have become less foundational than they have been in the past. Once seen as the critical building blocks of burn/churn SEO, they now serve as a stepping stone somewhere between awareness and conversion.
Guillaume Bouchard – CEO
I think that most updates from Google are for the better. Better for AdWords and for SEO, most of the time. But the value of 100% loss of keyword-level reporting is debatable from an advertising, relevancy & user experience standpoint. I agree that AdWords should own a lot of SERP real estate, as it is Google's main business model, and a smart one! But I think SEO, as a discovery tool, should be more prominent in discovery searches. Currently, I do not think this is the case and it hurts relevancy…
The unfortunate part is that many rich AdWords campaign keywords that were directly derived from SEO queries—terms that you may not have expected to rank for and end up driving qualified traffic, will go undiscovered and likely, unanswered. Unless Broad Match catches them all!
Wes Walls – Team Lead, SEO and Social
I think the biggest impact this change will have is in our ability to easily slice and dice keywords into clusters, and to associate them with certain website pages, events, goals, sales, etc. The kind of fast data deep-diving that we can do with an analytics tool like Google Analytics is quite powerful and insightful and, crucially, very quick and easy to access. We simply don't get that from Webmaster Tools yet.
Khalifa Yahiaoui – Team Lead, PPC and Display
Analytics has always been a very resourceful tool for discovering those out-of-the-box keyword ideas and themes for paid search campaigns. While (not provided) impacts SEO most, we are still able to measure search performance and identify strong optimization opportunities by using other data resources such as using Webmaster Tools data and Rank Tracking platforms. You can also still extract useful data from GA, if your AdWords and Analytics accounts are linked up properly.
2. Why is Google doing this?
Gautier Lemesle
In light of the recent Edward Snowden affair and NSA issue, Google might indeed be masking people's search queries (logged into their GMail/Google Account) for a good reason: to protect them.
But by hiding 100% of search queries, I'm convinced Google is doing this in an attempt to:
Push people to use Google Webmaster Tools (it's now the only place where you have some sort of keyword information about your website)
Push people start buying AdWords ads—to have information about keyword performance.
Prepare marketers for the future of search engines—a time where it won't just be a matter of search queries but also voice commands, and proactive recommendations based on your personality/humour/ feeling at the moment. This might sound like science-fiction, but with Google Glass hitting the market, it's an approaching reality. Look at the recent introduction of Google Universal Analytics (the future of Google Analytics). We're now able to not only track websites but any kind of device connected to internet (coffee maker, dishwasher, car, microwave…). And, when we look at the curve of innovation and adoption of technologies in the last century, chances are things are evolving much quicker than we think…
Guillaume Bouchard
I think it's a blend of providing better privacy for users and harbouring data in order to improve retargeting. That's what I would do and I can assure you that Google is not the only one doing this. It will hurt weak companies more than strong ones, and create a downward spiral for the average one… The great companies survive, the good ones usually die in dire moments.
Sébastien Neveu – Team Lead SEO and Social
For me it is clear that Google wants marketers to allocate more of their budgets to PPC but also to support the overall growth of their virtual service offering, like Google Shopping, Google Merchant Center, Flight Search, etc. Google quietly rolled out a car insurance price comparison service for drivers in France and has since expanded to other markets. I would not be surprised to see the equivalent arrival in North America (U.S. and Canada)in the near future. This is just a hunch, but I would suspect they would start to target credit cards.
Philip Tomlinson – SEO Analyst
Many think that Google has turned agencies into their customer service representatives. It's going to be really important in our line of work to explain to clients the reason for traffic decrease for individual keyword traffic and show the value of adopting a more integrated approach to search marketing.
3. Are there workarounds for reporting?
For reporting on boosting traffic, SEOs should already be focusing on organic growth on particular landing pages, as well as overall organic growth. These metrics are invariably more coherent and complete given the current state of (not provided). Where we run into trouble is differentiating between branded and unbranded organic traffic, but I believe that these two segments play off each other in important ways.
François Berthiaume – Account Director
Paid search data will increasingly become the quickest way to help monitor keyword-level performance. Google is encouraging marketers to track more macro-level metrics such as conversion rates, and this means paid search and click-throughs (using Webmaster Tools) to monitor performance will become increasingly important to search marketing strategies.
Wes Walls
I think there are three possible solutions:
The first solution is for marketers to develop creative ways of attributing organic keyword traffic to goals and sales. I think it's going to be more about matching keyword rankings, search volumes and landing pages to get estimated traffic per keyword. It's a crude replacement for actual keyword traffic data but a tool will be required to do that effectively.
The second solution is to somehow tie Webmaster Tools data (it is downloadable to CSV) into some kind of reporting and analytics dashboard, which wouldn't be as useful as Google Analytics but better than nothing (is anybody on this yet?).
The third solution is to wait and see what Google decides to offer additionally through Webmaster Tools, which in my mind is not a dependable solution.
We are still able to report on organic traffic as a whole and differentiate the traffic coming from Google from other search engines. When we report on the SEO work we're doing, we'll look at other user touch points. For example, instead of looking at the search query, we'll study the landing page where organic traffic is growing. It'll be a good indicator of the work we are doing on those specific landing pages.
In terms of keywords, there are a couple of options. As mentioned, we can look at Google Webmaster Tools data. Currently it's limited to the top search queries over the last 90 days, but they plan to provide a year's worth of data in future). We can also use Google Trends to compare search terms and get a better a sense of interest over time. To discover keyword rankings we've found Advanced Web Rankings helpful.
Finally, we can look at Bing/Yahoo data and try to create proxies that we can later use to determine Google search traffic. More options and/or a blend of options are still in the works for most of online marketers. Just as Klout emerged in the Social Media sphere to help make social more measurable, it may come down to blending several tools and methodologies to help us better assess the performance of our offsite SEO efforts.
You can also try this "Not Provided" Kit – we came across. A set of simple add-ons for Google Analytics (put together by @danbarker) "can help you understand what's happening now that data is absent. It won't fix the problem, but it may bring other insight around 'not provided' visits."
This post was originally written by Mary Montserrat-Howlett.
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How to protect your Facebook page from hacking tricks?
June 2014, we announced on our Facebook page a caution about a the latest Facebook hacking tricks, asking pages' managers to take care of falling in the new hacking tricks which will cost you the administration privilege on your page. Today, we've noticed many conversations within our network, talking about the same case and there're many pages' managers who lost control over their pages. Hence, we've decided to clear things in a separate post to raise awareness and how to protect your page from such unethical stuff on Facebook.
It's a dream to get your page verified, so once you see this verification badge in your notifications, you will certainly press it and quickly to get your page verified! Naturally you won't read the disclaimer as many other fall because such a trick.
Be sure that Facebook won't ask for ownership to make your page verified.
once you click the verification badge, you will get this request to approve under your page role section, the easy action is to click approve and get your page verified quickly, but if you take a look and read, you will find that you will give a full access to a page called "Page Verifee", so they can simply kick you out of the page.
How to protect your page from such hacking tricks?
Almost all pages on Facebook have more than one manager, that's why there's always a chance to fall in such tricks.
Finally, Share this article with your team members and keep them up to date with the latest hacking tricks.


Angela Moore likes to say she was born and raised at Albertsons – at least in terms of her career. She started with the retailer in August 1999, coinciding with its acquisition of American Drug Stores. Since then, she has had experience buying and selling pharmacies, building new stores, selling stores, managing the company's 300 annual remodel program and store developments capital, and launching Blackhawk's gift-card mall at the time of the Supervalu merger.
She then moved into a business development role until she was offered a similar position at Walgreens, where she stayed until returning "home" to Albertsons in early 2015 to take on the role of director of shopper marketing, national events. Sales, project management and working with people have always been her forte, and today Moore is a jack of many trades at Albertsons.
Moore: I'm responsible for driving all national shopper marketing programs. These one-of-a-kind, omnichannel programs garner billions of impressions annually and continue to grow at a rate of more than 18% year over year. I have also been instrumental in launching Albertsons Performance Media, the company's exclusive and proprietary media arm that reaches a unique audience of 35-plus million verified households across all of Albertsons' 2,000-plus stores. This dynamic shopper marketing solution uses outcome-based creative focused on delivering brand results. Through closed-loop, advanced analytics, our team can provide 360-degree campaign reporting, including digital delivery and store sales attribution across Albertson's media properties.
Moore: I learned an invaluable lesson on my very first pharmacy acquisition, and that was to give everyone a voice for a win-win solution. Since then, I have led with results, protecting the integrity of the work but always making others' voices heard while making decisions. I am the voice of 13 divisions today, with more than 200 vendors on four national events, and I'm focused on building loyal, collaborative partnerships that are beneficial for all parties, both internally and externally. When you look at our history, we've had a lot of changes. To survive in that environment, it's critical to learn how to be adaptable and positive.
What has the connection of Albertsons' business units with your divisions and stores allowed your team to be able to do?
Moore: When I go to the stores, I ask everyone what's working and what's not. We want to know how we can get better for them and their teams every day. With every new program, I want to create clear and concise messaging of what we need our stores to do and cut through the noise so we get high execution rates. In the centralized role I've always lived, my job is to make the lives of those in our division and all our stores easier. If I'm not doing that, I am not doing my job.
Moore: As a working mother, I understand firsthand what it means for people and companies to make my life easier. Consumers want their needs to be solved for them, and it makes for more loyal shoppers. I love that Albertsons has taken control of our destiny investing in Plated as well as a better e-commerce platform for a better consumer experience, adding more drive-up-and-go locations, delivering amazing rewards in our Just For U app, and lastly partnering with Quotient, leveraging our data along with third-party data to drive targeted media campaigns with Albertsons Performance Media for our CPGs and national campaigns. All of this makes my job more exciting and rewarding, and gives us more partnerships and future program ideas.
What excites you most about the future in this space?
Moore: Using our data and Quotient's data to target people with relevant marketing messages that matter to them is very exciting. The company is working hard to think of how we can continue to reach people in different places, and we're really trying to reach customers where they want to be reached. For me it's about how we can make people's lives easier and whatever we're doing better be relevant because otherwise it's literally just noise.


Tue., April 11, 2017, 7:22 a.m.
Geography and the economy may separate Washington counties that voted for Donald Trump from those that voted for Hillary Clinton last year. But on some issues, the two aren't that far apart, a new poll suggests.
Sun., April 9, 2017, 10:08 a.m.
Senators schooled on the rule about mentioning "the other chamber".
Sat., April 8, 2017, 6 p.m.
John Wayne Pioneer Trail would be shut out of money from $500 million park restoration bond issue under Senate vote.
Thu., April 6, 2017, 5:28 p.m.
Thu., April 6, 2017, 2:12 p.m.
Bagpipers from the Olympia Highlanders tune up before a performance at the Capitol for Tartan Day.
Statue of Winged Victory honors the men and women from Washington who died during World War I.
Wed., April 5, 2017, 10:48 a.m.
More than half of Washington voters surveyed recently say they disapprove of President Donald Trump's leadership style.
Tue., April 4, 2017, 4:56 p.m.
Washington could try to block a federal effort to allow internet providers to sell customer data.
Tue., April 4, 2017, 10:36 a.m.
The House Finance Committee approved the Democrats' $3.5 billion tax package on a party-line vote.
Tue., April 4, 2017, 9:34 a.m.
Flowering cherry trees are a popular and colorful -- albeit unplanned -- addition to the Capitol Grounds.
Mon., April 3, 2017, 9:35 a.m.
Check out the Olympia update on The Spokesman-Review's Facebook page at noon Monday.
Sat., April 1, 2017, 6:09 p.m.
Thu., March 30, 2017, 4:41 p.m.
A special type of auto dealers license that state officials say can be used for illegal activity would be phased out by mid 2019 under a bill that passed the Legislature Thursday.
Thu., March 30, 2017, 4:35 p.m.
City and county governments would be able to approve larger increases in property taxes without asking voters' permission, under a bill approved by the House committee that oversees tax policy.
Thu., March 30, 2017, 4:28 p.m.
Cathy McMorris Rodgers puts up a bottle of merlot against a jar of BBQ sauce in a bet over the Zags' Final Four game Saturday.
Thu., March 30, 2017, 4:18 p.m.
People in Washington would have to be at least 21 to buy tobacco smoking or vapor products under a bill approved Thursday by a key House committee. Most vaping products would be taxed at the same rate as cigarettes under a separate bill.
Wed., March 29, 2017, 5:46 p.m.
Roads, bridges and transit projects around Spokane County would get about $125 million from state taxpayers over the next two years under similar transportation budgets making their way through the Legislature.
Tue., March 28, 2017, 5:31 p.m.
Legislature continues efforts to revise state water laws in wake Supreme Court's Hirst decision.
Sat., March 25, 2017, 5:31 p.m.
The Legislature is in the throes of its budget fortnight, when much energy is expended and many pronouncements are made on something everyone knows will change. It is a time of high drama, but even higher dudgeon.
Wed., March 22, 2017, 2:43 p.m.
Massage therapists offer free massages at the Capitol to highlight their skills.
Sun., March 19, 2017, 10:12 a.m.
Lawmakers consider requiring two more days to fly the POW/MIA flag.
Sat., March 18, 2017, 6:06 p.m.
High car tab taxes for Sound Transit generate heat in Seattle, search for relief by some legislators.
Thu., March 16, 2017, 6:41 p.m.
WSU-Spokane would cease being a branch campus under a bill being considered by the Senate.
Thu., March 16, 2017, 4:44 p.m.
Washington tax revenues higher than expected, but question remains on whether they'll cover everything the state needs in its budget.


text:
Brighton student housing scheme's backers outnumber objectors
Posted On 30 May 2019 at 6:48 pm
By : Sarah Booker-Lewis, local democracy reporter
Supporters currently outnumber opponents to a project that includes hundreds of student rooms in Moulsecoomb Way, Brighton.
There are currently 52 comments supporting plans to build a complex of five to seven-storey buildings at One Moulsecoomb Way, replacing the KSD Environmental Services site and St Francis of Assisi Church.
Developer McLaren proposes 378 student bedrooms as well as offices and community space on the site on the corner of Lewes Road.
The company built the Vogue Studios and Stoneworks further south along Lewes Road.
Heavy traffic, road safety and smells coming from the waste transfer site are among the themes in comments supporting the scheme on Brighton and Hove City Council's website.
Comments are published anonymously on the planning site and written or emailed responses are redacted.
One anonymous commenter said: "I'm fed up with the queuing traffic and congestion caused by the entrance to this waste facility being so close to the main Lewes Road.
"Year on year the problem gets worse. Get rid of this hideous operation and move it somewhere more suitable.
"The estate needs new vibrant architecture. The proposed student accommodation gets my vote whole heartedly."
Another said: "The current operation at this site is noisy, smelly, unsightly and potentially hazardous for our children who have to cross the road to access their school.
"I can see nothing but a benefit for the local community by the replacement for this eyesore with a modern facility to house students.
"Brighton has many commendable educational faculties and is a core fiscal contribution to the city's economy."
In January, Moulsecoomb and Bevendean ward councillor Daniel Yates presented a 1,250-signature petition calling for a new site for KSD Environmental due to concerns about safety and traffic.
In his former capacity as chair of the council's Policy, Resources and Growth Committee, Councillor Yates responded to the petition in March saying that the council could not force a company to move.
He asked for officers to monitor the site and reminded the petitioners that the area was part of the McLaren proposal.
There is also hope that the new scheme will free up family homes currently converted into student houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).
A comment on the council website said: "Imagine attending university and staying in a nice safe building rather than some shanty rundown townhouse that's been converted for a private landlord to make a quick buck.
"This can only encourage the people that do use the university and stay here to gain qualifications and remain in a city that they would have enjoyed studying in. "
Another said: "This application has come to my attention due to the amount of students on the council estate.
"I believe by creating purpose-built blocks of student accommodation this will naturally reduce the amount of students currently renting properties on the council estate.
"This in turn will make the housing available to families who should be living in these types of properties."
An anonymous comment against the scheme dismisses the idea that students will leave HMOs.
Councillor Daniel Yates
The comment said: "Bus services are already overcrowded and will be unable to take more passengers.
"Students living in Moulsecoomb HMOs will not relocate to purpose-built accommodation because of rental cost."
Moulsecoomb Primary School has objected to the plans, saying that the tall building would overlook its playground.
The school's objection said: " Given the concentration of numbers of study bedrooms, the school is concerned that the development has the potential to exacerbate disorder and disturbance in the immediate vicinity of the school.
"The school has already noticed an increase in anti-social behaviour as a result of the Moulsecoomb estate becoming home to a large number of students.
"Examples of this include frequent instances of broken glass bottles on the routes to and from the school, with a noticeable increase coinciding with the beginning of the academic year for university students."
A public meeting is taking place on Wednesday 5 June for people to discuss their reaction to the application.
The meeting is at Moulsecoomb Leisure Centre in Moulsecoomb Way from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
Plans for One Moulsecoomb way can be seen by visiting planningapps.brighton-hove.gov.uk and searching for BH2019/01272.
Community plans campaign against student flats
More student housing planned on Moulsecoomb skip hire plant
Four hundred student flats planned for site in Moulsecoomb
Drink sales on Hove Lawns restricted by licensing chiefs
Let's fix the future
saveHOVE May 31, 2019 at 11:03 am Reply
The Planning Dept refusal to allow planning responses to be identified EVEN as local or non local isxdistorting and discrediting the process and allowing fake supporters to look genuine.
The EU directive on data protection is being interpreted in profoundly undemocratic ways. Who does that serve? Developers!