text:
DTN News: US Forces Israeli Company To Back Out Of Indian Air Force Fighter Jet Bid
*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) JERUSALEM, Israel - July 5, 2009: The United States has forced an Israeli company to back out of the multi-billion dollar tender to sell new multi-role fighter jets to the Indian Air Force. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has been pressurized by the Pentagon to back out of a joint partnership with a Swedish aerospace company, Saab Gripen. The six aircraft makers and types involved in the multi role combat aircraft (MRCA) competition are the Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon and Boeing Super Hornet, along with the Lockheed Martin F-16, Saab JAS-39 Gripen and the Mig 35. The deal is estimated at a whopping 12 billion dollars for 126 new aircraft. Saab, manufacturer of the Gripen, asked the IAI to jointly develop an advanced model, which would compete for the deal. The Israeli Defense Ministry ordered IAI to back out of the deal after the Pentagon expressed concern that American technology, used by Israel, would be integrated into the Gripen offered to the Indians. "The stated concern was that western technology in Israeli hands would make its way to the Indians," The Jerusalem Post quoted an Israeli official, as saying. The American request was that Boeing and Lockheed Martin - the two largest US defense contractors - are also competing for the Indian deal. For this reason, Israeli officials said it was more likely that the Americans were concerned that if the IAI competed for the deal with Saab it would force the US companies to lower their prices. A multi-role fighter, the Gripen is in service in Sweden, the Czech Republic, Hungary and South Africa. The IAI was supposed to provide the electronic systems like radar, communications, etc for the plane. his is not the first time that an Israeli company has been forced out of a deal due to concerns that competing with American companies would endanger Israeli-US relations. Last summer, the Israel Military Industries (IMI) had to back down from submitting a bid for a half-a-billion dollar deal to develop and manufacture a new tank for the Turkish Armed Forces.
Labels: Boeing, DTN Defense-Technology News, DTN News, IAI, India, Indian Air Force, Israel, Lockheed Martin, MRCA, Pentagon, Sweden's Saab, U.S.
DTN News: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon Leaves Burma Disappointed
DTN News: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon Leaves Burma Disappointed *Source: DTN News / Time By Robert Horn Sunday, July 5, 2009 (Click here) (NSI News Source Info) NEW YORK - July 5, 2009: Before it began, United Nations officials had described UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon's visit to Burma as a diplomatically risky mission that could end in failure. After it ended, following two days in Burma and two rare and lengthy meetings with the reclusive leader of the country's military government, Ban had come away with nothing concrete to show for his venture. This picture provided by the United Nations shows UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon meeting Myanmar junta leader Than Shwe in Naypyidaw on July 4, 2009. His requests to meet imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi were rejected. His pleas for the government to release its 2,000-plus political prisoners were ignored. "I believe the government of Myanmar failed to take a unique opportunity to show its commitment to a new era of openness," Ban told reporters at Bangkok's international airport Saturday night. Burma, which the ruling junta has renamed Myanmar, hasn't seen anything resembling openness for nearly five decades, having been ruled by military regimes since 1962. Its generals have isolated the country, ground it into poverty and brutally suppressed periodic mass uprisings in support of democracy — the last, in 2007, was led by Buddhist monks who were gunned down or arrested. The regime says it will hold national elections in 2010, but many observers say they are designed to cement military rule under a civilian guise. The democracy movement's leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been kept under house arrest for 13 of the past 18 years. The regime has now put her on what U.S. President Barack Obama has called a "show trial" for violating the terms of her house arrest after an American man broke into her home, claiming he had visions she would be assassinated. She faces a five-year prison sentence if convicted. Even Burma's normally circumspect neighbors in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have criticized the regime over the trial and Suu Kyi's never-ending imprisonment. (See pictures of foreign investment in Burma.) During his first meeting with Than Shwe, Ban asked for permission to see Suu Kyi. Than Shwe refused. The UN's top diplomat said the success or failure of his mission should not be judged solely on the benchmark of meeting Aung San Suu Kyi, though he lamented that it would have been "an important symbol of the government's willingness to embark on the kind of meaningful engagement" that would lend credibility to the elections. Ban said his mission served the purpose of allowing him to convey what the international community and the United Nations expects from the regime, as far as progress towards democracy, directly to the country's leader General Than Shwe. He said he did this "as strongly as possible, as hard as I could press." He believes, he said, that Than Shwe will "seriously consider" his proposals for making national elections scheduled for 2010 "credible, inclusive and legitimate." Democracy activists remain unconvinced. "The regime thumbed its nose at the entire UN system," said Debbie Stothard of ALTSEAN, a Southeast Asian-based network of activist groups campaigning for democracy and human rights in Burma. "It's time for the international community and the UN to take off the kid gloves. It's time the international community stopped regarding crimes against humanity, repression and human rights violations as normal for Burma. The regime didn't fail to take this opportunity, it refused to." Ban's optimism going into last week's meeting probably sprung from his limited success with Than Shwe during a previous meeting in 2008, convincing him to allow outside humanitarian assistance into the country after Cyclone Nargis. But he is far from the first diplomat to fail to persuade Burma's generals to entertain any serious notion of real political reform. Going forward, Ban said he would brief the UN on the visit, and the organization would monitor the regime's progress on his proposals, which he did not outline in detail, save for saying election laws and an election commission should be established, and that all political prisoners should be released and all political parties be allowed to participate in the 2010 polls. Stothard says the regime fears a Security Council inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity. Burma has been engaged in a civil war with various ethnic groups since 1948, although some have signed ceasefire agreements with the government. The regime has been accused of torturing its political prisoners. But China and Russia have opposed any Security Council action on Burma. China, which views Burma as a resource-rich, strategically important client state, is seen as the regime's strongest backer in the international community. "It's time China realized that having instability on its border with Burma is not in its best interests," Stothard said, adding that tensions were increasing between the military and ethnic armies in Burma based near the China border. (Read "The Scramble for a Piece of Burma.") Russia's expanding trade with Burma includes an agreement to sell the poverty-stricken nation a nuclear research reactor, and the regime has also been bolstering ties with North Korea, receiving arms shipments from its sister Asian pariah state, and employing North Korean engineers to build massive underground bunkers at its fortress-like capital of Naypyidaw. Ban stressed that he would remain focused on the situation, and said he expected the government "to demonstrate real progress in the near future." Real progress, however, hasn't been seen in Burma since 1962. And contempt for the UN is nothing new among Burma's generals. A Burmese, U Thant, served as UN Secretary General for ten years, from 1961-71. When he died in 1974 and his body was flown back to Burma, leader Gen. Ne Win, the mentor of current ruler Gen. Than Shwe, refused U Thant a state funeral, or any honors whatsoever. Read about the 2007 crackdown in Burma.
Labels: Aung San Suu Kyi, China, Military Junta, Myanmar, Russia, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon
DTN News: China ~ Risky Business In The Streets
*Source: DTN News / Strategy Page
(NSI News Source Info) HONG KONG, China - July 5, 2009: It's become fairly common in China, for managers or government officials to now be held responsible for incompetence that leads to people getting killed. This leads to prison sentences, and even execution. If you have good connections in the government, you can still get off. But that is harder and harder to do.
Chinese military personnel walk past two PLA Air Force J-10 fighters on the opening day of China Airshow 2008 in Zhuhai, south China. China has become the world's second biggest military spender behind the United States, a Swedish peace research group said on July 4, 2009.
The growing public anger over poor government performance is making it difficult for the riot police, even with army reinforcements, to deal with multiple cities having large riots and demonstrations. The corruption is so pervasive, that senior officials despair of ever reducing it to tolerable levels. India is getting nervous about China's growing power (economic and military) in the Indian ocean. China has economic and military connections with Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and many African nations. For example, most of Pakistan's weapons are Chinese, and there are over 10,000 Chinese in Pakistan working on economic projects. There is $4 billion in Chinese investments in Pakistan, and that is expected to more than triple in the next year. China is doing the same thing in Africa, and trying to do it in Myanmar (run by a paranoid dictatorship) and Sri Lanka (which has long had tense relations with India.) With over six million Chinese graduating from college this year, and the recession decreasing the number of jobs available for them, the military has made a big deal out of offering good jobs in the armed forces. The college grads are joining as enlisted troops, with the opportunity to become officers after a few years. Currently, most officers come from military academies or officer training schools. Over the last decade, the Chinese military has been reducing its strength and increasing its standards. In most parts of China, you need at least a high school diploma to join. And the military is trying to increase the number of officers with a college education. About 1,300 troops, each, from Russia and China will conduct counter-terror exercises later this month. June 29, 2009: China backed off on its order for all PCs sold in China, after July 1st, to have government mandated filtering software (Green Dam) installed. The uproar from 300 million Chinese Internet users, PC manufacturers, and an American software company that parts of Green Dam was stolen from, persuaded officials to announce that the filtering software introduction would be delayed. June 23, 2009: China and United States have resumed military cooperation talks. These were suspended 18 months ago because of Chinese anger at the sale of U.S. weapons to Taiwan. June 22, 2009: A Taiwanese defense firm, AIDC, that makes military aircraft for Taiwan, wants to do a joint venture with a Chinese aviation company, to produce civilian aircraft. AIDC is government owned. Military leaders oppose this deal, while business leaders are pushing for it. June 20, 2009: There were more mass (over 10,000 people) demonstrations in Shishou (population 620,000), Hubei province, over the death of a hotel worker. Actually, there were many grievances, most involving corrupt government officials. This was so bad in Shishou, that many lower ranking government employees joined the mob. Several of these large demonstrations take place each year, and the number of them has been increasing over the last decade. To deal with this, over a 100,000 riot police are on constant stand-by all over the country, and soldiers train for riot control duties, and are also on call. But this is often inadequate. That's because a new form of mob protest has developed, using the Internet and cell phones (texting) to arouse and organize large numbers of people to go out and do something. The government fears that eventually these Internet inspired mobs will go after corrupt officials and police. June 17, 2009: China and Russia signed another batch of cooperation agreements. The two countries have settled a lot of old squabbles over borders, and are entering into more and more economic partnerships. China also offered Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan (who are all members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, or SCO) $10 billion in credit, to help them through the current worldwide recession. China and Russia are closer allies today, than they ever were during the Cold War. June 16, 2009: China agreed to abide by any sanctions on North Korea that the UN might impose (because of North Korean nuclear weapons and ballistic missile activities.) China is losing its patience with North Korea, and does not want another neighbor armed with nuclear weapons. June 15, 2009: China and Taiwan are planning to remove many of the beach defenses that have cluttered beaches on the mainland, and Taiwanese controlled islands just off the mainland, for over half a century. June 11, 2009: The American destroyer USS John McCain, while training off Subic Bay in the Philippines, was actually tracking a Chinese submarine as the sub ran into the destroyer's towed sonar array. The Chinese later admitted the sub was one of theirs, and the boat was apparently following the American ship unaware that a sonar array (which usually operates over a hundred meters beneath the surface, and two kilometers behind the ship towing it) was in the way. The Chinese have not revealed which submarine, or even which class, was involved in the collision. There is probably not much damage to sub, since it fled the scene without surfacing. The array was damaged, but not in a way that indicated serious damage to the sub. June 5, 2009: Last month, the Chinese government quietly notified all companies selling computers in China that, as of July 1st, they had to install new filtering software (Green Dam Youth Escort). This was mainly an effort to prevent Chinese, especially children, from having access to pornography, although Green Dam could be used to block anything. Green Dam basically controlled Internet access to the PC it was installed on. Green Dam checked with a government database (of banned web sites) before allowing the user to actually visit any site. The government already does this via its Great Firewall of China (officially the "Golden Shield") system, that filters, and eavesdrops on, Internet traffic coming into, and leaving, China. Actually, Golden Shield is more about controlling what is said by Internet users inside China, than in controlling what they have access to outside . Manufacturers protested that this was not sufficient time to install filtering software. There is apparently a lot more misbehavior going on with Chinese efforts to control the Internet, and the Green Dam project seems to be another example of this. That's because within a few weeks of the Green Dam announcement, an American software publisher, Solid Oak Software, accused the Chinese of theft. Turns out Green Dam is based on the Solid Oak product Cybersitter software, and there's plenty of incriminating evidence in the Green Dam code.
Labels: China, China Military, DTN Defense-Technology News, DTN News, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
DTN News: Can Obama catch Osama?
*Source: DTN News / Toronto Star Lynda Hurst Feature Writer Sunday, July 05, 2009 (Click here) (NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - July 5, 2009: As the U.S. pushes hard into Afghanistan, the spotlight is back on world's most wanted ~ Six days after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, U.S. president George W. Bush demanded the capture, "dead or alive," of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden CIA counter-terrorism head Cofer Black duly dispatched a specialist team of manhunters to Afghanistan with the stark instruction: "Get bin Laden. Find him. I want his head in a box." For medieval good measure, Black also wanted the heads of al Qaeda lieutenants "up on pikes." Capture was a done deal. Or so the world thought. The last time the U.S. had a confirmed fix on bin Laden's location was Dec. 14, 2001, when he was using a walkie-talkie inside a Tora Bora cave. By the time Special Forces got there, he had disappeared into the night. Despite the most extensive manhunt in history – albeit one that's peaked and dipped and peaked again – the "highest-value" target of them all remains on the loose. Or tucked up inside a safe bolt-hole with his mujahideen. Or lies, for all anybody really knows, dead and buried. Does it even matter any more? The vastly expanded, post 9/11 world of terrorism is no longer solely bin Laden's to control. It matters, says David Harris, director of international and terrorist intelligence at Insignis Strategic Research in Ottawa. "His continued existence is a real indictment of the counter-terrorism effort and a psychological victory for al Qaeda." President Barack Obama thinks it's crucial, though his campaign rhetoric – "We will kill bin Laden. We will crush al Qaeda" – has devolved into the calmer: "Capturing or killing bin Laden is a critical aspect of stamping out al Qaeda. He is not just a symbol, he's also the operational leader." Is he? It's been a given for some time that it's his second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahri, who runs the day-to-day operations, while bin Laden basks as the inspirational figurehead, letting his wishes be known. But finally shutting him down is a top priority at the Central Intelligence Agency, its director Leon Panetta said last month: "I ask every day, `Where he is hiding?'" Christopher Preble, foreign policy director at Washington's Cato Institute, says eliminating bin Laden "would be a bonus," but not essential to the containment of terrorism. "Symbolically, it matters because remaining at large builds into his inspirational mystique. He's seen as someone who not only stood up to a greater power but then eluded capture." He could be dead, a fact hushed up by the al Qaeda network, Preble says, but without compelling physical evidence, the assumption has to be that he's still alive. "I asked my CIA colleagues who've been on the hunt for him, and no one was quite sure," former CIA agent Robert Baer told ABC News this winter. "Half assumed he was alive and half assumed he was dead. Obviously, they've lost track of this guy completely." Yet, there was bin Laden's monotone invective on an audiotape broadcast by al Jazeera on June 3 – just as Obama arrived for the start of his Mideast visit – decrying the president for planting "new seeds of hatred and vengeance on Americans." In fact, the past 10 bin Laden communiqués have been voice only. Not since September, 2007 has video of him (with dyed black hair and beard) been released. Whether that's because his kidney disease has taken a toll on his appearance or simply for security is an unknown – one of the many. The official military consensus is that bin Laden, now 52, is holed up somewhere in the lawless, mountainous frontier between Afghanistan and Pakistan, likely North Waziristan, a tribal region in Pakistan's northwest. It's where he built his first base, the "Lion's Den," in the 1980s during the anti-Soviet jihad, and the theory is that he's sought out the protection of old allies. Intelligence gathering in the area is particularly difficult because the local Pashtun tribes' code of honour, pashtunwali, fiercely protects guests, especially such an esteemed one. Also, it's known that bin Laden no longer uses electronic communication, preferring to send personal couriers. "It's pretty close to impossible to track down someone who isn't using high-tech communications and you don't have a human information source," says David Harris. "Paradoxically, returning to `primitiveness' gives him security and an advantage over technology." Or maybe, bin Laden is further north in Chitral, high up in the Hindu Kush mountains. Once a trekkers' paradise, it was sealed off to outsiders earlier this year and is now regularly buzzed by American spy drone aircraft. Then again, he could still be in the vicinity of his last known location, Tora Bora in Afghanistan. At least, that was the conclusion in February of two University of California geographers who used satellite imagery and "fundamental principles of geography" to track where he could have fled the night he almost was netted. Factoring in the need for security, electricity, high ceilings to accommodate his 6-foot-4-inch frame, and room for bodyguards (ordered to kill him if he faces capture), they narrowed their search to three walled compounds in Parachinar, a small Pakistani city less than 20 kilometres south of Tora Bora. If he was there, he's likely gone now, with this week's deployment of 21,000 more U.S. troops. It was the reverse situation back in December, 2001. The Predator drones and man-tracking specialists who'd got so close were abruptly pulled out of Afghanistan and assigned to Iraq. In the 16-month run-up to the Iraq invasion and first few years of the war, bin Laden seemed to fall off the radar, literally and figuratively. Not until 2006 did the CIA make a fresh attempt to find him, but "Operation Cannonball" foundered on internal conflicts rampant at the time. However, after it became clear last summer that al Qaeda was reconstituting itself in the tribal regions of Pakistan, the Pentagon drew up new orders for a "drone war" against the network and particularly bin Laden. The unmanned, robotic drones – the Predator and new Reaper – can sit over a target for 15 hours straight. Mounted cameras transmit live video of the scene to pilot-controllers stationed half a world away in Nevada. They launch the missile when a confirmed target is spotted. There was an additional impetus: Long criticized for jettisoning the hunt for bin Laden in favour of Iraq, George W. Bush wanted to leave office on the high of a belated capture. In the waning months of 2008, drone attacks were dramatically stepped up. In 2007, there were only three; by the end of 2008, a total of 34. Barack Obama has further ramped up the aerial war. In just the first four months of his presidency, he authorized 16 drone strikes in the region. Since last September, the drones have successfully hit half the 20 "high-value" targets on the al Qaeda "get" list. Among them, in January, two senior militants who played a central role in the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in East Africa. But no bin Laden. "They don't know who they're blowing up," says John Pike, director of GlobalSecurity.org. "They're just hopeful it will be him." Obama has also approved a new joint operation between Special Forces teams, the CIA, and a select group of trusted officials from Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence agency, under CIA control. The teams are on constant standby if "actionable intelligence" suddenly becomes available. Surveillance drones still patrol from the sky. "By making a safe haven feel less safe, we keep al Qaeda guessing," former CIA director Michael Hayden has said. "We make them doubt their allies; question their methods ... and that distracts them, at least partially and at least for a time." Indeed, the number of "spies" al Qaeda (and their Taliban allies) have killed has risen dramatically in the past 10 months, says Peter Bergen, a counter-terrorism expert at the New America Foundation. He wrote last month that this suggests "the militants are turning on themselves in an effort to root out the sources of often pinpoint intelligence." But Bergen believes many al Qaeda militants have now decamped from the tribal areas and the ratcheted-up drone program could "have hit the point of diminishing returns." In other words, bin Laden and Co. may have moved on. As northwest Pakistan becomes too dangerous, operations could be transferred to safer havens with large ungoverned territories such as Yemen and Somalia. Bin Laden could fly out by a private plane from one of several airstrips in Pakistan's Baluchistan region, says Pike. "They were built by Arab sheiks to go falcon-hunting. It's a clientele with a considerable appetite for discretion." It's possible, of course, that he will never be flushed out and face retribution for 9/11 or any other Al Qaeda attacks. "We tend to forget that he's been at this for 25 years," former CIA official Michael Scheuer recently said. "So there's very few people who are going to turn over Osama bin Laden now." Not even for the $25 million reward that's still on the table.
Labels: 9/11 Attacks, Afghanistan, CIA, DTN Defense-Technology News, DTN News, FATA Region, Iraq, Jihadist, Mujahideen, Osama bin Laden, Pakistan, President Barack Obama, Somalia, U.S., Waziristan, Yemen
DTN News: Failed States Index Places Ethiopia Among Vulnerable Countries
*Source: DTN News / The Fund for Peace
*2009 Failed States Index Released By The Fund for Peace (Click here)
(NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - July 5, 2009: Ethiopia has ranked 16th worst in the world scoring 98.9 points in the failed state index 2009, released Wednesday by the Fund for Peace, a Washington DC-based institution. Out of the 12 indicators showed in the index, Ethiopia has scored 9.8 point in demographic pressures, while other indicators like group grievance, human flight, uneven development, economic decline, de-legitimatization of the state, public services, human rights, security apparatus, etc have contributed to the worst score in the failed state rank in the index. Using 12 indicators of state cohesion and performance, compiled through a close examination of more than 30,000 publicly available sources, it ranked 177 states in order from most to least at risk of failure. The 60 most vulnerable states are listed in the rankings, The Fund for Peace said. "It is a sobering time for the world's most fragile countries' virulent economic crisis, countless natural disasters, and government collapse. This year, we delve deeper than ever into just what went wrong and who is to blame," the organization said. This is a sober question for sober times, and it is the backdrop for the fifth annual failed states index collaboration between The Fund for Peace, an independent research organization, and foreign policy, according to the organization. The organization said that Somalia was, once again, the number one failed state on this year's index. A recent report by West Point's Combating Terrorism Center, drawing on captured al Qaeda documents, revealed that Osama bin Laden's outfit had an awful experience trying to operate out of Somalia, for all the same reasons that international peacekeepers found Somalia unmanageable in the 1990s: terrible infrastructure, excessive violence and criminality, and few basic services, among other factors. In short, Somalia was too failed even for al Qaeda. "It is also a harsh fact that a greater risk of failure is not always synonymous with greater consequences of failure. For example, Zimbabwe (No. 2 on the index) is technically failing more than Iraq (6), but the geopolitical implications of state failure in Iraq would be far greater than in Zimbabwe. It's why we worry more about Pakistan (10) than Guinea (9), and North Korea (17) more than the Ivory Coast (11)," according to the index. It also said that Yemen is being watched intently these days in capitals worldwide. A perfect storm of state failure is now brewing there: disappearing oil and water reserves; a mob of migrants, some allegedly with al Qaeda ties, flooding in from Somalia, the failed state next door; and a weak government increasingly unable to keep things running. Many worry Yemen is the next Afghanistan: a global problem wrapped in a failed state.
Labels: al Qaeda, DTN Defense-Technology News, DTN News, Ethiopia, Failed States, Iraq, North Korea, Osama bin Laden, Pakistan, Somalia, Terrorism, Zimbabwe
DTN News: Tata Introduces Limping Luxury Brands To India
DTN News: Tata Introduces Limping Luxury Brands To India *Source: DTN News / The New York Times By Nick Kurczewski (Click here)
(NSI News Source Info) MUMBAI, India - July 5, 2009: Tata Motors has introduced its Jaguar and Land Rover brands in India, one of the world's fastest-growing automobile markets. But the celebratory announcement to mark the occasion has been tempered by plummeting sales and the threat of job cuts and factory closures at both brands. Ratan Tata, the chairman of Tata Motors, stands far left with Jaguar Land Rover executives at the brands' introduction in India. For the first time in eight years, Tata reported an annual loss. The culprit: a $504 million drain inflicted by struggling Jaguar Land Rover on the Indian company's bottom line. Tata bought the historic brands for $2.3 billion from Ford in March 2008. Unfortunately for Tata, the purchase was soon followed by a collapse in the global economy. Sales of luxury sedans and S.U.V.'s – core to the Jaguar Land Rover portfolio – have been hit especially hard. According to Reuters, during a 10-month period ending in March, Jaguar Land Rover sales fell to 167,000 vehicles, compared to 246,000 in the same period the previous year. Mr. Tata maintained his optimism during ceremonies held last Sunday welcoming the British makes to India. "We at Tata Motors are proud to have these brands," he said, according to The Economic Times, saying it was a "terrific decision." Keith Bedford/Bloomberg News Tata Motors is better known for economical cars, like the Nano. Tata Motors says it hopes to sell the ultra-cheap Nano in the United States in two years. But how?
But questions linger as to how Tata — relatively unknown outside of India and a specialist in budget-minded vehicles — can align its operations with two British companies synonymous with prestige, power and a well-heeled clientele. Base versions of the Tata Nano city car start at $2,200 (taxes and fees included), whereas prices for Jaguar Land Rover products in India will begin at more than $120,000. While the Nano has been well received by the media – including my test drive of the range-topping LX version – the fact remains that the tiny four-door has none of the frills (and even less of the social status) typical to Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles. The Indian lineup of Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles will include the XF and XFR sedans, sporty XKR coupe, Land Rover Discovery 3 and the Range Rover S.U.V. Tata Motors said it would develop a dealer network for Jaguar Land Rover this year and next. According to a report in The Business Standard, Land Rover is also negotiating with the Indian government to supply military vehicles to the armed forces. That news might provide little relief for Jaguar Land Rover employees in Britain. The Birmingham Post reports that Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain has held talks with Tata regarding the company's threats to close British factories to stem the flow of red ink. Belt-tightening by Tata could also put a crimp on the development of future models, such as a hybrid version of the Jaguar XJ sedan and an eco-themed XE sports car.
Labels: Aero India 2009, DTN Defense-Technology News, DTN News, Land Rover, Nano, Tata, U.K.
DTN News: New Helmets And Armour For British Troops In Afghanistan
*Source: DTN News / MoD U.K.
(NSI News Source Info) LONDON, U.K. - July 5, 2009: New and improved helmets and body armour which will provide better personal protection and comfort will be making their way to British troops in Afghanistan this autumn. A Royal Marines Commando shows off the enhanced Mark 7 helmet and Osprey Assault body armour at DVD 2009 [Picture: Andrew Linnett, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009] The enhanced Mark 7 helmet and Osprey Assault body armour, which will provide excellent ballistic protection and an improved fit for personnel to ensure free movement, were unveiled at the Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD) equipment show this week.The MOD has ordered over 10,000 sets of the new helmets and armour under initial contracts worth £16m, with companies including NP Aerospace, Morgan Armour Ltd, Aegis Engineering Ltd, Seyntex and Solo International Ltd. Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies, said: "The Osprey body armour that we issue to all troops on operations provides excellent personal protection, as recent stories of troops surviving due to their armour show. "However, we can never be complacent, and the new Osprey Assault body armour and Mark 7 helmet offer an improvement in the way that these items fit and feel. The contracts that I am announcing today for this new personal protection system demonstrate that we're listening to what our troops need by continuously upgrading their equipment." "Troops will be issued with a new ballistic plate that is much thinner, considerably reducing their bulk and burden and improving their endurance." General Sir Kevin O'Donoghue The updated helmet has the same protection as the current Mark 6A, but will improve the effectiveness of the soldier.
It is equipped with a new harness keeping the helmet more stable on the head when night-vision equipment is fitted to it and is also better integrated with new weapon sights, making it easier to use weapons in a variety of fighting positions. The new Osprey Assault body armour has all the stopping power of the current Osprey but is closer fitting, less bulky and easier to move in. Chief of Defence Materiel, General Sir Kevin O'Donoghue, who unveiled the new kit at MOD's DVD equipment show, said: "Osprey is a proven world-class system and is undoubtedly a success story in terms of providing better protection to our troops. It is specifically developed to meet our requirements using cutting-edge materials and manufacturing technology. The Mark 7 helmet and Osprey Assault body armour from behind [Picture: Andrew Linnett, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009] "Osprey Assault is a development of this success that allows us to ensure our troops are getting the best kit for the job they are doing. Specifically the troops will be issued with a new ballistic plate that is much thinner, considerably reducing their bulk and burden and improving their endurance. "There will also be a new body armour cover to hold this plate and the soft fragmentation armour. This has been designed for an improved fit, based on user feedback, and includes a new system for carrying ammunition, first aid equipment and other vital kit." The DVD event is an equipment showcase organised by Defence Equipment and Support, which highlights the importance of diverse areas such as fuel delivery, clothing, food and vehicles that have been bought or upgraded under the Urgent Operational Requirements programme.
Labels: Afghanistan, British Troops, DTN Defense-Technology News, DTN News, Royal Marines
DTN News: DoD Awards M-ATV Production Delivery Order
*Source: DTN News / MCSC Corporate Communications (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - July 5, 2009: The Department of Defense (DoD) announces the award of an initial production delivery order to Oshkosh Corporation for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV). This delivery order award effectively ends the Source Selection to produce the M-ATV.
Oshkosh Corporation's Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) All Terrain Vehicle (M-ATV) is tested on some rough terrain. (Oshkosh photo)
The M-ATV is a separate category within the MRAP family of vehicles. Its mission is small unit combat operations in highly restricted, rural, mountainous and urban environments, including mounted patrols, reconnaissance, security, convoy protection, communications, command and control, and combat service support. This category will carry up to five personnel – four plus a gunner. The Defense Department has authority to procure up to 5,244 M-ATVs, as funding becomes available. The indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract is a three-year contract with possible delivery orders up to $3.3 billion for the production, delivery and associated support of the M-ATV. Under the contract, Oshkosh Corporation will produce and deliver M-ATVs as fast as possible to meet the urgent need in Afghanistan. In order to do this, Oshkosh Corporation is expected to eventually produce up to 1,000 vehicles a month. Oshkosh Corporation plans to reach that monthly mark by December 2009. It is anticipated that the first M-ATVs will be fielded before the end of the year. These vehicles will be used to complement the other tactical vehicles, including MRAPs, already in the theater of operations. As part of the MRAP vehicle program, the M-ATV is a high-priority, accelerated acquisition program supporting the Overseas Contingency Operations. It retains the highest possible Defense Priority Rating, DX. The M-ATV program will produce a lighter, more maneuverable off-road vehicle that incorporates MRAP-level protection geared for the rugged terrain of Afghanistan. The program derived from an urgent and compelling requirement to protect America's warfighters with a highly survivable and off-road capable vehicle. The program is the result of a Joint Urgent Operational Needs Statement (JUONS) from U.S. Central Command. "The M-ATV procurement is the result of an extremely comprehensive and rigorous source selection process, which appropriately weighed survivability, mobility, maneuverability, production capability, price and other factors within the context of the urgent need for the procurement," said Brigadier General Michael M. Brogan, Commander, Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC), and Joint Program Executive Officer of the MRAP Vehicle Program. "The acquisition process determined the most capable and best performing vehicle against stringent survivability requirements. Extensive test and evaluation with volumes of empirical data were produced on which a "best value" decision was based. It was detailed, thorough and fair, and the results have been reviewed by an OSD peer review team made up of senior contracting officials." The government used the same fundamental acquisition strategy as the original MRAP program: utilize initial criteria of survivability / mobility (screening for survivability and ability to produce); award IDIQ contracts; live fire test for survivability; use existing MRAP Joint Program Office (JPO) infrastructure to procure, test, field, train and support the JUONS. The MCSC Commander believes the M-ATV program will be as successful as the overall MRAP vehicle program. "We have taken delivery of more than 16,190 vehicles since we first released that initial request for proposals in November of 2006," Brogan said, referring to MRAP. Ultimately, according to Brogan, the M-ATV is about providing a survivable vehicle to get troops safely through their mission and back to their home base. "The M-ATV is meant to augment the vehicle fleet so they can transport troops where they need to go safely," he said. "It's intended to be a survivable alternative to up armored HMMWVs."
Labels: Afghanistan, DTN Defense-Technology News, DTN News, M-ATV, MRAP, Oshkosh Corporation
DTN News: North Korea Fires 7 Missiles Off East Coast
*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) SEOUL, South Korea - July 5, 2009: North Korea celebrated U.S. Independence Day with a test firing of seven missiles test into the waters off the peninsula's east coast from morning until evening on Saturday. A pedestrian passes by a television screen showing news of a North Korean missile launch, at the Seoul Railway Station in on June 4, 2009. North Korea test-fired seven missiles off its east coast. North Korea test-fired seven missiles off its east coast, South Korean officials said, in what appeared to be a calculated message of defiance timed for the US Independence Day holiday. The launches fuelled regional tensions after the communist state's nuclear test in May, which coincided with the US Memorial Day holiday. The missiles, however, were mid-range, not the long-range intercontinental ballistic test that some had feared — a threat which has led Washington to deploy anti-missile systems to Hawaii. "It is a provocative act that clearly violates U.N. Security Council resolutions 1695, 1718, and 1874 that bar North Korea's every activity related to ballistic missiles," South Korea's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Military officials told South Korea's Yonhap news agency that the missiles fired had a range of 240-310 miles — enough to hit targets all over South Korea — and may have been of the Rodong class — a North Korean upgrade of the Russian Scud. The first test launch took place about 8 a.m. and the last one finished at 5:45 p.m. Meanwhile, in a statement released by Russia's Foreign Ministry, Russia and China both urged calm from all parties. Saturday's launchings were not the first to coincide with a symbolic American date. In 2006, North Korea test launched several missiles, including a long-range Taepodong 2, on Independence Day. This year, North Korea's May 25 nuclear test coincided with Memorial Day. North Korea had previously warned international shipping to avoid its east coast until July 10, indicating the possibility of more test launches to come. The Saturday barrage followed the test firing by North Korea of four anti-shipping missiles Thursday, after North-South talks broke down with no progress. While the South Korean Navy has said recently that its patrol vessels are superior to those of the North, and outgunned them in naval clashes in 1999 and 2002, anti-shipping missiles are considered a serious threat to South Korean ships. With North Korea's reclusive leader Kim Jong-il believed to be seriously sick, there have been signs that he is positioning his third son, Kim Jong-un to take over. Some experts in South Korea see the North's threatening behavior since April — missile and nuclear tests; bellicose rhetoric; the holding of two American reporters and a South Korean worker at a joint industrial park — in the context of moves to placate the North Korean military in advance of a move to emplace Kim Jong-un as head of state. Kim Jong-il's official title is chairman of the country's National Defense Committee and he has consistently promoted his songeun (military first) policy, but what Jong-un's relationship with the military leadership is, is unknown.
Labels: China, DTN Defense-Technology News, DTN News, Kim Jong-Il, Missiles Test-Launched, North Korea, Russia, South Korea, Test Fire, U.S., UN Sanctions, UN Security Council, Washington
DTN News: Russia To Grant U.S. Afghan Supply Route
*Source: DTN News / Reuters (NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - July 5, 2009: Russia will grant President Barack Obama permission next week to ship U.S. weapons supplies across its territory, or through its airspace, en route to Afghanistan, sources on both sides told Reuters on Saturday. The transit deal will open up an important corridor for the United States as it steps up its Afghan war against Taliban insurgents by sending in more troops. Routes via Pakistan have come under attack by militants. It will be one of the main agreements signed during Obama's Moscow summit next week with Kremlin chief Dmitry Medvedev, the sources said. "The agreement will include the transit of all U.S. goods, including military ones (to Afghanistan)," a senior Kremlin source told Reuters. A U.S. source confirmed the deal would be signed and said it would mark a step forward in cooperation on Afghanistan, which Russia views as a key area where both the former Cold War foes can work together to mend ties. It was not immediately clear if the deal would allow the United States to fly troops over Russian territory to Afghanistan. Medvedev has repeatedly said he is ready to widen cooperation with U.S.-led coalition and NATO forces in Afghanistan, though Moscow has ruled out sending any of its own troops to fight. Russia has already granted Washington the right to transit 'non-lethal' supplies, such as food, overland via Russia -- and Central Asia -- to Afghanistan. Moscow has also granted NATO members Germany, France and Spain the right to use Russian territory to transit military cargos to Afghanistan. (Additional reporting by Washington bureau) (Reporting by Oleg Shchedrov and Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow, editing by Mark Trevelyan)
Labels: Afghanistan, DTN Defense-Technology News, DTN News, NATO, Pakistan, President Barack Obama, President Dmitry Medvedev, Russia, US Supplies, US Weapons
DTN News: Two US Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan Fighting
DTN News: Two US Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan Fighting *Source: DTN News / AFP By Khan Mohammad
(NSI News Source Info) KHOST, Afghanistan - July 5, 2009: Two US soldiers and up to 32 militants died in fighting in eastern Afghanistan, as Marines battling in the south pressed one of their biggest assaults of the eight-year war. U.S. soldiers take a moment of silence during a ceremony to mark the U.S. Independence Day at the U.S. base Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Saturday, July 4, 2009. The US military said two American soldiers were killed and another four wounded in an explosion in the eastern province of Paktika, which borders Pakistan and where government troops are locked in battles with militants. "There was an explosion, a possible IED (improvised-explosive device), in Paktika province this morning in which two US service members were killed," said military spokesman Sergeant Charles Marsh. "Then the base came under random fire by insurgents. We do have two US service members killed and four wounded," said Marsh. Air support was then called in against rebels, he said. Hamidullah Zhwak, a spokesman for the local Afghan administration, said the US casualties were caused when Taliban insurgents blew up a fuel tanker in front of a local government building in the district of Zirok. "After the blast, American helicopters came in and attacked the Taliban who were preparing to attack the district headquarters," he said. "Thirty-two Taliban were killed," Zhwak said, adding that 32 dead bodies were recovered after a two-hour battle erupted between armed militants and US helicopter gunships following the initial explosion. Eight other militants were injured and captured by troops, Zhwak said. When contacted by AFP the US military, however, was not able to confirm the militants' casualties immediately. The Taliban later claimed responsibility for what it described as a two-pronged attack in which five militants died, excluding a suicide bomber. "Today Hafiz Omar carried out a suicide attack with 8,000 kilos of explosives in a (fuel) tanker on an American base... in Zirok," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed told AFP. "At the same time 100 mujahedin (holy fighters) attacked the base just after the explosion... Americans suffered heavy casualties and we lost five of our fighters," the spokesman said. Paktika is one of the most troubled regions in the east where thousands of foreign, mainly US forces are battling a resurgent Taliban, who were evicted from power in Afghanistan by the 2001 US-led invasion. The insurgency aims to topple the US-backed government of President Hamid Karzai and has this year reached its deadliest. US President Barack Obama has made Afghanistan the centre-piece of his foreign policy, dispatching an extra 21,000 American troops as part of a sweeping new war plan to stabilise the country. Nearly 4,000 Marines and 600 Afghan forces are pressing a massive operation in the southern province of Helmand, in a pivotal test for the new strategy and to protect the local population ahead of presidential polls on August 20. So far only one US Marine has been reported killed in the offensive, which the US commanding officer said was becoming a "hell of a fight" Friday. "We don't have any casualties. The enemy had, but we don't have figures," the Afghan defence ministry said in a short statement on Saturday. The 1/5 Infantry Battalion met only light resistance in their push south and had already been able to meet locals at shuras (councils), Brigadier General Larry Nicholson said, speaking to a convoy with which AFP was travelling. But "for 2/8 there is a hell of a fight going on in the southern quarter of the sector," the top Marine said on arrival at Garmsir, a town along the Helmand River that was a key objective for Operation Khanjar. Commanders said they would persuade locals that the Afghan security forces -- backed by Western troops -- offered them a better long-term future than the fundamentalist Taliban militia as Afghanistan braces for elections next month. Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi told AFP the group had not started directly fighting against the US Marine and a separate British operation under way for two weeks north of the provincial capital Lashkar Gah. Militants had planted mines on various roads to meet the troops and some vehicles had been blown up, causing several casualties, he said.
Labels: Afghan Border, Afghanistan, al Qaeda, DTN Defense-Technology News, DTN News, Helmand Province, Islamic Militants, Taliban, US Military, US Soldiers
DTN News: Taliban claim Pakistan Helicopter Downing
*Source: DTN News / AFP (NSI News Source Info) PESHAWAR, Pakistan - July 5, 2009: Taliban militants on Saturday claimed responsibility for a military helicopter crash that killed 26 people in the rugged tribal area in the country's north. The helicopter crashed on Friday on the border of the semi-autonomous Orakzai and Khyber tribal regions and officials said no one survived. "We shot down the helicopter," a spokesman for Taliban insurgents based in the nearby Darra Adam Khel region said in a telephone call to AFP. The spokesman identifying himself as Muhammad said it was in retaliation for the Pakistani military operation in South Waziristan, a Taliban and al-Qaeda stronghold. A military spokesman rejected the claim, reiterating Saturday that the helicopter had crashed due to a "technical fault". "Taliban militants frequently make false claims," he added. "All 26 people on board died and the wreckage of the helicopter has been removed," he said adding that an inquiry had been ordered. On Friday a senior security official said an MI-17 (military) helicopter crashed due to a technical fault, killing 26 security personnel on board. He said that the site of crash was 20km from Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province. Pakistan has been fighting a two-month battle to dislodge militants in three districts of the northwest. The military has also launched air raids in the tribal belt to prepare for a second front against the Taliban in South Waziristan, a stronghold of feared warlord Baitullah Mehsud.
Labels: DTN Defense-Technology News, DTN News, Islamabad, Islamic Militants, Mi-17 Helicopters, Pakistan, Pakistan Military, Pakistani Taliban, Peshawar, Taliban, Terrorists
DTN News: Ukraine Sold Military Hardware Worth $800 Million In 2008
*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) KIEV, Ukraine - July 5, 2009: Ukraine sold $800 mln worth of weaponry to foreig n states in 2008, 14% more than the previous year, the head of the state arms exporter has said. "Our arms exports were worth $700 mln in 2007, and totaled about $800 mln last year," Sergei Bondarchuk, general director of the Ukrspetsexport company, said in an interview with the Segodnya newspaper. According to Bondarchuk, the increase was due to Ukraine's expanded presence on global arms markets. The country recently signed a contract worth $400 mln on repairs and modernization of An-32 Cline planes. The official confirmed that Ukrspetsexport continues to fulfill contracts on weapons deliveries to Georgia. "We continue to fulfill contracts earlier signed with Georgia, and will do so until the UN Security Council adopts a decision to ban the supplies," he said. Ukraine supplies Georgia with Osa and Buk air defense systems, Kolchuga-M radars, Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters, armored personnel vehicles, and a variety of small arms. Bondarchuk dismissed allegations that Ukraine delivered weaponry to Georgia illegally and free of charge. A Ukrainian parliamentary commission led by an opposition lawmaker said last December that President Viktor Yushchenko had sanctioned arms deliveries to Georgia during and after the Caucasus state's war with Russia in August. Russia has banned exports of military products and dual-purpose technology to Georgia. Under a presidential decree, effective through December 1, 2011, the Russian government is to introduce restrictions on military cooperation with countries supplying Russian or Soviet-made arms to Georgia.
Labels: DTN Defense-Technology News, DTN News, Export, Georgia, Military, Ukraine, Ukrspetsexport
DTN News: President Dmitry Medvedev Urges Completion Of Aircraft Carrier For India
DTN News: President Dmitry Medvedev Urges Completion Of Aircraft Carrier For India *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) SEVERODVINSK, Russia - July 5, 2009: The Russian president said on Thursday that modernization of the Admiral Gorshkov aircraft carrier should be completed as soon as possible so that it can be delivered to India in 2012. Admiral Gorshkov was a modified Kiev class aircraft carrier of the Russian Navy, originally named Baku. In 2004, she was sold to India for conversion into a STOBAR carrier to be named INS Vikramaditya. Dmitry Medvedev said the Gorshkov project had become, in effect, the only issue in Russian-Indian relations. "This is the first, very difficult experience. The ship must be finished," he said. "Otherwise there will be serious consequences." India and Russia have yet to agree on the cost of overhauling the Admiral Gorshkov for the Indian Navy (to be renamed Vikramaditya). Under the original $1.5 billion 2004 contract between Russia's state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport and the Indian Navy, which includes delivery of MiG-29K Fulcrum carrier-based fighters, the work on the aircraft carrier was to have been completed in 2008. However, Russia later claimed it had underestimated the scale and the cost of the modernization, and asked for an additional $1.4 billion, which New Delhi said was "exorbitant." Indian officials familiar with negotiations said the eventual figure would be closer to the $2.2 billion estimate. The aircraft carrier is currently docked at the Sevmash shipyard in northern Russia, with over 2,000 workers employed on the project. The Admiral Gorshkov is to replace India's INS Viraat, which, although currently operational, is now 50 years old. After modernization, the carrier is expected to be seaworthy for 30 years.
Labels: Admiral Gorshkov Aircraft Carrier, DTN Defense-Technology News, DTN News, India, Indian Navy, INS Vikramaditya, MiG-29K/KUB, President Dmitry Medvedev
DTN News: Russian Troops Prepare For Anti-Terror Drills With China
*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW, Russia - July 5, 2009: Russian troops participating in the joint Russian-Chinese antiterrorism exercises will arrive in the deployment area by July 14, the Ground Forces press service said on Tuesday. The Ground Forces included an estimated total 395,000 including est. 190,000 conscripts and 35,000 personnel of the Airborne Forces (VDV) in 2006. This can be compared to an estimated 670,000, with 210,000 conscripts, in 1995–96 (also an IISS estimate). These numbers should be treated with caution, however, due to the difficulty for those outside Russia to make accurate assessments, and confusion even within the General Staff on the numbers of conscripts within the force. The Peace Mission 2009 antiterrorism drills, involving 2,500 military personnel, will take place in Russia and China on July 22-26. The first phase of the exercises - military and political consultations - will be held in Khabarovsk in Russia's Far East, while the second and third phases will take place outside Baichen in northern China. "The transportation will start on July 8, and all troops must be deployed in the area by July 14," the press service quoted deputy chief of the Russian General Staff Lt. Gen. Sergei Antonov as saying. Antonov said the Peace Mission 2009 exercises "will become an important step in the development of the Russian-Chinese partnership and their armed forces." The first Peace Mission bilateral antiterrorism exercises were held in Russia and the eastern Chinese province of Shandong in August 2005, involving warships, aviation and over 10,000 servicemen including marines and paratroopers.
Labels: China, DTN Defense-Technology News, DTN News, Joint Military Exercise, Russia, Troops
DTN News: Japan Upgrades Missile-Detection System
DTN News: Japan Upgrades Missile-Detection System *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media
(NSI News Source Info) TOKYO, Japan - July 5, 2009: A new $935 million project called the Japan Aerospac e Defense Ground Environment has been initiated to improve the country's automatic air warning and defense control system. JADGE has replaced the Base Air Defense Ground Environment, said Japan's air arm, the Air Self-Defense Force. Japan's official military policy of Self-Defense Only does not allow the nation's armed forces to have strategic bombers, so JADGE is to improve the ASDF's capabilities to counter airborne attacks, such as by airplanes. The new air-defense network also integrates Japan's ballistic missile sensors and interception systems, and is central to protecting the country from ballistic missile attacks by improving early warning systems. JADGE begins operating amid increasing concerns about the threat of North Korean missiles. The Japanese government approved plans at the beginning of June to develop a satellite early warning system for missile launches. Tensions were heightened in April when North Korea launched what it said was a satellite-bearing rocket. It then conducted a nuclear test and several short-range missile launches. JADGE goes some way to satisfying the government's critics that the country's satellite detection systems need upgrading. The superseded Base Air Defense Ground Environment was an integrated network of radar posts and air defense installations throughout the country. BADGE was upgraded in the 1980s with E-2C Hawkeye airborne early warning aircraft. Other aircraft were replaced in the early 1990s with more sophisticated models. These included the Nike-J, a Japanese version of the Nike-Hercules surface-to-air missile from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and the Patriot PAC-2 ground-to-air missile system built by Raytheon. The ASDF started deploying PAC-3 systems in 2007 and last September successfully tested its capability in New Mexico's White Sands Missile Range. It shot down a mock ballistic missile by firing two PAC-3 missiles in succession. The tests were to gather operational data on the system's radar, launcher and controller set-ups. The government decided in 2003 to build a ballistic missile shield, so antiballistic missile functions were added to the concept. JADGE is now central to the country's ballistic missile shield through search, detection, tracking and interception of ballistic missiles in a centralized and automated manner, according to the ASDF. The new network, which was originally centralized at a base in Fuchu in the suburbs of Tokyo, is also linked to U.S. communications satellites, allowing the United States and Japan to share data. However, a year ago the JASDF began relocating the headquarters of its Air Defense Command to the U.S. base in Yokata, home to the U.S. Air Force's 374th Airlift Wing. The wing provides airlift support to all U.S. Department of Defense agencies in the Pacific. It also provides transport for people and equipment throughout the Kanto Plain and the greater Tokyo area. The ADC headquarters is the supreme Japanese Self-Defense Force command authority and is also headquarters for ballistic missile defense including the new JADGE. The move is to improve coordination between the two forces and around 1,200 Japanese personnel have relocated, costing around $400 million and paid for by the Japanese government. Japan and the United States have no formal agreement to operate their armed forces as a coalition. Efficiencies rely solely on daily and persistent coordination, according to U.S. military officials. The move of Japan's ADC to Yokata is to enhance these interactions, they said.
Labels: DTN Defense-Technology News, DTN News, Japan, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JDSDF), North Korea, Patriot Missile Systems, US Military
DTN News: US Forces Israeli Company To Back Out Of...
DTN News: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon Leaves ...
DTN News: Failed States Index Places Ethiopia Amon...
DTN News: Tata Introduces Limping Luxury Brands To...
DTN News: New Helmets And Armour For British Troop...
DTN News: DoD Awards M-ATV Production Delivery Ord...
DTN News: North Korea Fires 7 Missiles Off East Co...
DTN News: Russia To Grant U.S. Afghan Supply Rout...
DTN News: Two US Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan Fi...
DTN News: Taliban claim Pakistan Helicopter Downin...
DTN News: Ukraine Sold Military Hardware Worth $80...
DTN News: President Dmitry Medvedev Urges Completi...
DTN News: Russian Troops Prepare For Anti-Terror D...


Step 2: To make the batter, sift the flour, caster sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt into a large bowl and mix together.
Step 3: Add the milk, melted butter and Vino Cotto to the mixture and whisk into a smooth batter.
Step 4: For one large pudding, pour the batter into a 1.3L oven proof bowl. If making single serves, pour the mixture into 4 x 300mL oven proof pots and set aside.
Step 5: To make the sauce, place the caster sugar, brown sugar and cocoa powder into a small bowl and mix well to combine.
Step 6: Sprinkle the mixture over the large pudding or divide evenly between the individual pots.
Step 7: Pour the boiling water over the top of the pudding/s, then place onto a baking tray to catch any overflow during baking.
Step 8: Place the large pudding into the oven for 40 minutes or 25 minutes for the individual puddings.
Step 9: Remove from the oven and allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving with mascarpone.


following earthquakes. There is no way to predict an earthquake!
occur while you are sleeping (at home, hotels etc.) Almost 900 senior citizens die every year due to fires.
floods. Flash floods kill over 125 people per year.
HURRICANE – 100 million Americans are at risk.
from lightning strikes. Remember, you are in danger of being struck by lightning if you can hear the thunder!
flash floods and tornadoes. Winds can reach up to 150 miles per hour.
TORNADO – There are over 1000 reported every year.
water and destroy infrastructures. Earthquakes can cause a tsunami.


text:
I purchased grits.
Grits with butter
Grits: Old English grytt; Grytt 1. Bran, chaff, mill-dust. Obs.
This Day in Grits History
On October 18, 1974, Al Green suffered third-degree burns in an attack by an ex-girlfriend. She threw a pot of scalding-hot grits at the singer before shooting herself dead with Green's own gun.
Grits Are Not Polenta
Most grits in the South are traditionally made from a class of corn called dent corn whereas in Italy, most polenta is made from a class of corn called flint corn, which holds its texture better. Why do these different classes matter? Because of the different type of corn, grits can even come across as almost mushy while polenta is often more coarse and toothsome...But in reality, the differences are relatively slim.
Grit is conceptualized as a stable trait that does not require immediate positive feedback.
Shrimp Grits
Robb Walsh, writing for the Houston Press, notes that shrimp and grits began in the Low Country.
Shrimp grits started out as a seasonal fisherman's dish of shrimp cooked in bacon grease served over creamy grits in the Low Country where they were also known as "breakfast shrimp."
Walsh goes on to say that shrimp grits was given the blessing of mass-cultural awareness in 1985, when the dish received a write-up by Craig Claiborne in the New York Times.
Actually, that write-up appears a decade earlier, in 1976.
The justice given to this dish has come a long way since 1976. Craig Claiborne begins his article with some negative swipes at the South:
Grits, the cereal that crept—swept is more like it—into the public consciousness when a Southerner won the Democratic Presidential nomination, are no joke, despite an unfortunate name that lends itself to humor. The name, incidentally, is not the lackluster invention of a dim-witted backwoodsman. It stems, rather, from a Middle English word gryt meaning bran and from the Old English grytt. Ditto groats.
I sure am glad the Times writer had an Oxford English Dictionary at the ready in order to cozy up his hillbilly-hating readers. (Grits outlasted another Southern food "trend" picked up by the Times, Kool-Aid pickles, spotted in 2007.)
A decade later, the New York Times revamps its own particular brand of Yankee condescension by calling out Southerners for their grits-specific grammar.
Grits are plural according to most dictionaries, and most literature on the subject follows suit. However, some Southerners will practically re-enact the Battle of Bull Run over the singularity of grits, and related figures of speech—such as "Sure as grits is groceries" —invariably use the singular. (Liz Logan, "Now in the Best of Company, Grits Changes Its Image," October 15, 1986.)
Grammar isn't the only issue Logan takes on. Repeatedly, her opinion that this "foodstuff whose essential trait is blandness," becomes so because celebrity chef James Beard says so.
Although widely regarded as a classically Southern dish, even in Dixie plenty of gastronome agree with James Beard's assessment of grits as "rather revolting food."
I'm of the "try it, maybe you'll like it variety," especially because grits, like rice, ends up being the base to many varieties of meals. I've never seen such hatred launched at rice, pasta, or any other grain.
FYI I like my grits savory—with bacon—and light on dairy.
Until next week,
Ordinary Objects is an informative newsletter about things. Specifically, it's about one object Corinna Kirsch bought this week. Thanks for reading.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Creator profiles are public pages that allow listeners to follow, share, and learn about the podcast creators who build the podcasts they love. Creators can easily share new projects and gain valuable feedback from fans while building a personal brand.
Richard Blanco
Guest on On Being with Krista Tippett, Authors On The Air Radio & ReadMore Podcast
rblancopoetrblancopoet
Richard BlancoRichard Blanco
Richard Blanco is a poet, public speaker, author, and civil engineer.
Add Appearances
View PodcastView Appearance
Authors On The Air Radio
ReadMore Podcast
Sarika D. Mehta » Podcast
Recent episodes featuring Richard Blanco
Richard Blanco — How to Love a Country
Nov 27th, 201953m 30s
As a longtime civil engineer by day and a poet by night, Cuban American writer Richard Blanco has straddled the many ways a sense of place merges with human emotion to form the meaning of home and belonging. In 2013, he became the fifth poet to read at a presidential inauguration (he was also the youngest and the first immigrant). The thoughtfulness, elegance, and humor of Blanco's poetry and his person captivated the crowd for this live conversation at the Chautauqua Institution. Richard Blanco practiced civil engineering for more than 20 years. He is now an associate professor of creative writing at his alma mater, Florida International University. His books of non-fiction and poetry include "Looking for the Gulf Motel" and, most recently, "How to Love a Country."Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org.
[Unedited] Richard Blanco with Krista Tippett
Nov 27th, 20191h 23m
As a longtime civil engineer by day and a poet by night, Cuban American writer Richard Blanco has straddled the many ways a sense of place merges with human emotion to form the meaning of home and belonging. In 2013, he became the fifth poet to read at a presidential inauguration (he was also the youngest and the first immigrant). The thoughtfulness, elegance, and humor of Blanco's poetry and his person captivated the crowd for this live conversation at the Chautauqua Institution. Richard Blanco practiced civil engineering for more than 20 years. He is now an associate professor of creative writing at his alma mater, Florida International University. His books of non-fiction and poetry include "Looking for the Gulf Motel" and, most recently, "How to Love a Country."Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org. This interview is edited and produced with music and other features in the On Being episode "Richard Blanco — How to Love a Country." Find more at onbeing.org.
Author & poet Irene O'Garden IN CONVERSATION with poet laureate Richard Blanco
Oct 23rd, 201927m
Acclaimed author and poet Irene O'Garden is IN CONVERSATION with poet laurate Richard Blanco as part of the Authors on the Air continuing support of the Miami Book Fair. ABOUT RICHARD BLANCO: President Barack Obama selected Blanco in 2012 to serve as the fifth presidential inaugural poet in U.S. history, following in the footsteps of such luminary poets as Robert Frost and Maya Angelou. The youngest, first Latino, immigrant, and gay person to serve in such a role, Blanco read "One Today," an original poem he wrote for the occasion, at Obama's inauguration ceremony on January 21, 2013. A children's book of his presidential inaugural poem, One Today, in collaboration with renowned illustrator Dav Pilkey, was released in 2015. In his first prose publication, For All of Us, One Today: An Inaugural Poet's Journey (2013), Blanco shared the emotional details of his experiences as presidential inaugural poet and reflected on his understanding of what it means to be an American. ABOUT IRENE: IRENE O'GARDEN has won or been nominated for prizes in nearly every writing category from stage to e-screen, hardcovers, children's books as well as literary magazines and anthologies. Part of the Authors on the Air Global Radio Network in support of the 2019 Miami Book Fair.
Episode 008 - Richard Blanco
Mar 24th, 20161h 1m
Richard Blanco discusses writing his memoir, The Prince of Los Cocuyos, what it's like to have the president's ear and why people who say they don't like poetry might be mistaken.
View 1 more appearances
Follow Richard
Get Appearance Alerts
Subscribe to receive notifications by email whenever this creator appears as a guest on an episode.
Are you Richard? Verify and edit this page to your liking.
Share This Creator
Creator Details
Episode Count
Podcast Count
Total Airtime
PCID


Is fear holding you back from getting your first mammogram? Do you think it will be painful? Are you scared of what it might find?
Mammography professionals want to put a few of those fears to rest.
There are lots of reasons women might shy away from their first mammogram.
Some women find the whole physical aspect of the experience unsettling…from discomfort to the loss of a sense of modesty. Mammograms can feel uncomfortable, but they should not be painful.
"Being exposed during the exam and having your breasts touched by someone you don't know can be the hardest part of having a mammogram," says Gretchen Vanden Berg, RVT, RDCS, who oversees the PeaceHealth mammography clinic in Longview, Washington.
It might help to remember that the technologists do this every day, she notes. They are skilled in gently coaching women through the process and using the equipment to get good, clear images of breast and lymph tissue. "Technologists are here to help you understand the process of your exam," says Kiki Dunbar RT (R) (M), a technologist at PeaceHealth's Kearney Breast Center in Vancouver, Washington.
After the exam is over, "we often hear patients say, 'That was not as bad as I thought it would be,'" says Gretchen.
More than the physical aspect of the screening, many women find that it's the mental side that holds them back. "Overcoming preconceived notions and fears of the unknown" are a big part of it, says Aimee Lehartel, RT (R) (M), a technologist at PeaceHealth in Vancouver.
"Some woman like to over exaggerate their experiences and they don't realize the anxiety they are causing others. For the patient getting their first mammogram, take others' stories with a grain of salt," adds Debbie Frazier RT (R) (M), a technologist at PeaceHealth in Vancouver.
Family history or watching a loved one's cancer journey can color someone's view.
Some clinical studies have shown that women tend to avoid getting screened if they know someone personally who has or had breast cancer. "That is very true. Patients will become more sensitive to the fact that cancer is real and they falsely believe that they are at a higher risk now that they know someone," says Kiki.
"My advice is to not worry about the experiences of others," says Gretchen.
Still, the opposite can also be true. Linda says she has seen women who had been putting off a mammogram come in immediately after someone they know has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Carla Lange, a PeaceHealth caregiver who survived breast cancer, affirms that everyone's stories are different. Her doctor recommended a baseline when she was 40 years old. "I had no family history or symptoms. It was by sheer luck, I was diagnosed by my first mammogram." Because of her experience, she encourages all of the women in her life to get screened.
While the American Cancer Association guidelines recommend yearly mammograms beginning at age 45, statistics show that more than 15,000 women under the age of 40 are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. "It's important to not wait too long to get your first mammogram," says Gretchen.
At this point, mammograms are the best means to diagnose the disease at its most curable.
Are you ready for your first mammogram?
Make the appointment. If you feel that finding the time is a challenge, keep in mind that you can typically get in and out of the appointment in as little as 30 minutes. "Schedule around your menstrual cycle, when your breasts are least likely to be tender," recommends Leslie Benton RT (R) (M), a technologist for PeaceHealth in Vancouver. In general, a good time for the screening is within 10 days of your last menstrual cycle. If there's any chance you're pregnant, you'll want to hold off on your screening until you know for sure you're not.
Remember that your experience will be unique. "Recognize your experience is going to be individual to you," notes Kiki. Don't let others' stories cause you undue worry or concern.
wear a two-piece outfit that will make it much easier and faster to dress.
pack a trial size roll of deodorant in your purse to use after you're done.
"you can bring a friend along for support, but realize they won't be invited into the room," says Kiki.
Relax. While the imaging process can be uncomfortable, the new technology used today makes the process go relatively quickly. Unless the doctor orders something different, the screening usually involves taking a set of four images. For each position, you'll hold your breath for a few seconds while the mammography unit captures your images.
Your first mammogram is a baseline. This is a critical way for you and your healthcare providers to get to know the make-up of your breast tissue. It sets you up for the future when new screenings can show what is or isn't normal for you. It's helpful to remember that some women are called back for additional imaging for a more indepth study. "The probability of being called back for additional views after a first mammogram is increased by the sheer fact that we don't have any comparisons," notes Kiki. Your breast imaging is an investment in your long-term health. It could even save your life.


WARNING: This post contains SPOILERS for Carmen Sandiego season 1.
Netflix's Carmen Sandiego season 2 is certainly happening, but when will the TV show reboot return and what can fans expect to see when it does? Originally starting out as an educational video game released in the 80s, Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? meant to teach kids about history and geography. The game was popular enough to launch a series of sequels, as well as spinoffs in other media, including the 90s game show as well as the series Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? Netflix announced their animated Carmen Sandiego reboot in 2017, setting Jane the Virgin star Gina Rodriguez to voice the titular character.
Joining Rodriguez in the series is Stranger Things' Finn Wolfhard, who voices Player in Carmen Sandiego, the thief's young tech support. While Netflix is also reportedly developing a live-action Carmen Sandiego movie, starring Rodriguez as well, the animated series has moved forward. After debuting the Carmen Sandiego trailer in early January, season 1 hit Netflix on Jan. 18.
Carmen Sandiego season 1 gives the titular character a backstory in which she was raised by V.I.L.E. and trained to be a world-class thief for the evil organization. However, when she discovers the organization's evil intentions and actions, she goes rogue, stealing information from its headquarters and taking on the new identity of Carmen Sandiego. From there, Carmen - along with Player and her ground team, Zack and Ivy - steals from V.I.L.E. and gives back to the world. Meanwhile, the covert organization ACME is determined to capture Carmen Sandiego and prove V.I.L.E. exists. Now, we dive into what fans can expect next from the master thief.
When Carmen Sandiego was originally ordered by Netflix, the streaming service greenlit 20 episodes. Since Carmen Sandiego season 1 is only nine episodes, fans can expect at least 11 more to come. However, it's unclear if all 11 will arrive as season 2, or if it will be another nine-episode season with the last two arriving at some other time.
Another option is that Netflix could release one or two special episodes of Carmen Sandiego, similar to Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. That series was also given a 20-episode order by Netflix, but released one of those episodes as a Holiday special. No matter how Netflix releases the rest of its Carmen Sandiego episodes, we know there are still at least 11 left to go of the original order.
When Will Carmen Sandiego Season 2 Release?
The hiatuses in between seasons of Netflix series vary based on the show. Live-action shows typically release seasons a year apart (give or take a few months), but the company's animated shows tend to arrive much quicker. As such, fans might not have to wait too long for the next batch of Carmen Sandiego episodes to release. Carmen Sandiego season 2 may arrive by the end of 2019.
However, if Netflix decides not to rush the series, the second season may not arrive until early 2020. Hopefully, if that turns out to be the case, fans will get the rest of the 20-episode order all at once as compensation for waiting a whole year between seasons.
What Will Carmen Sandiego's Season 2 Story Be (And Where Will She Visit)?
Carmen Sandiego season 1 ends with Carmen learning that Coach Brunt wasn't the V.I.L.E. faculty member to discover her on the side of a road in Argentina as a baby - it was actually Shadowsan. Further, the season 1 finale ends with Shadowsan betraying V.I.L.E. in order to save Carmen's life, revealing he'd been trying all along to protect her from a life of evil - or death at the hands of V.I.L.E. Season 2 will no doubt see Carmen dive deeper into her history, possibly learning about the origin of the Russian nesting dolls that are her only possession.
In terms of where Carmen will travel, it will likely be to some new locations as Shadowsan left her with another box of V.I.L.E. data. In season 1, she visited locations in France, Indonesia, Ecuador, the Netherlands, Australia, India and the United States. So she'll no doubt trek to other areas of the world in season 2.
Of course, fans shouldn't forget about ACME, whose leader has set her sights on Carmen Sandiego, believing the thief to be an evil member of V.I.L.E. While Chase Divineaux has been chasing Carmen all season, and Chief is now focused on the girl in red, it's unclear what Julia Argent will believe. Divineaux's partner has been a proponent of Carmen all season, smartly deducing the thief's true motivations, so it seems unlikely she'd all of a sudden change her beliefs.
No matter what happens in Carmen Sandiego season 2, fans should expect more insight into Carmen, V.I.L.E. and Acme; more lessons about various historical and geographical topics; and, of course, plenty more capers.
Carmen Sandiego season 1 is available to stream on Netflix.


NEW PHILADELPHIA A few rain drops did not dampen the enthusiasm of 12 volunteers that placed over 1,000 silver pinwheels with blue stems on the Tuscarawas County Courthouse steps Monday.
Doug and Kristen Shoup supplied the truck to bring the forms to the courthouse. Each pinwheel is placed into a six-hole form. Cathy Bickford of the Sheriff's Department along with Vanessa Stergios, Child Advocacy coordinator, and Robin Bowdish, council manager of Tuscarawas County Family and Child First and Mandy Prosser, Protective Services with the Job and Family Services. Also volunteering were employees of the Job and Family Services and several other individuals.
The individual pinwheels are designed to create public awareness of children involved in a report of abuse or neglect.
Tuscarawas County Data for 2016 show 1,397 reports of child abuse and neglect. A majority of the cases were due to alcohol, drugs and sexual abuse. Seventy children came into foster care and 44 children were placed with relatives.
The County Child Advocacy Center served 82 victims in 2016.
Several banners are displayed on poles in the New Philadelphia square.
Stergios was thankful for the volunteers that helped. She said many hands make short work and the rain held off.
"Tuscarawas County has the most beautiful pinwheel display in Ohio," Stergios said.
The Ohio Children's Trust Fund is promoting #inthenext30 minutes' campaign.
Everyone is encouraged to wear blue on April 12, take a selfie and post it to the Tuscarawas County Child and Animal Abuse Prevention Facebook Page.
At 1 p.m. on April 12 a special program will be presented at York Elementary.


I have submitted an update for one of my Assets, but wish to submit a newer draft/update.
I submitted an update of my package, only to find a bug, can I submit a new draft before the last submission was approved?
What happens if I submit a new update for an Asset I already have submitted an update for?
You may have submitted an update for one of your Assets which is currently awaiting review but have noticed an issue with the submission and want to submit a newer update/draft.
If you have submitted an update for one of your Assets, but have noticed there is an issue with the submission, you can simply resubmit a newer update/draft for the Asset. This will overwrite the previous submission. The Asset Store team will review the latest submission submitted to the Asset Store.
Provided information is wrong. Asset store tools won't allow you to submit another package if the existing package is in review.


I'm not yet 30, but I've probably spent 15 years of my life tracking calories off and on. I've tracked through weight loss and regain, and I can rattle off the pros and cons of a restricted calorie diet or chat your ear off about the benefits of setting your daily calorie target a bit higher. I've tracked calories in an app, with a pen and paper, and under other guises (I'm looking at you, Weight Watchers).
While tracking calories is certainly a great way to understand exactly what you're putting in your body, let's face it: It's super tedious. It may not be this way for everyone, but I get instantly annoyed when I go to bite into something and think: "I need to log those 125 calories."
At first I worried that my weight would spiral upward and felt a bit guilty for not sticking with my plan. However, I soon realized that counting calories wasn't necessarily the best way for me to keep my weight in check. Here's what actually happened and what I learned in the process.
Each morning I start my day with a cup of coffee and sprouted wheat toast topped with natural peanut butter and honey. (Make your own nut butters with these easy recipes.) The ritual of making and enjoying that mini meal gives me a moment to wake up and set an intention for the day. It's my calm and peaceful time... and calorie counting ruined it. After all, there's nothing peaceful about rustling around searching for measuring spoons so I don't accidentally put too much cream in my coffee or write down that I ate a teaspoon of peanut butter when I really slathered on a tablespoon.
When I stopped logging calories I was able to enjoy my morning ritual again. I took my peanut butter directly from the jar to the toast, without measuring first. I drank a second cup of coffee with half and half without wondering if I was willing to "sacrifice" 79 calories. All in all my mornings, and the rest of my day, were much more relaxed.
I ate more whole foods.
When I was counting calories I was so focused on the numbers that I couldn't be bothered to pay much attention to things like vitamins, protein, and fiber. It was all about the bottom line—my calorie intake for the day—and I assumed I could eat whatever I wanted within those constraints. If ¼ cup of ice cream had the same calories as an apple, you can guess which one I opted for.
Of course, I know very well that ice cream and apples aren't equally nutritious. Once I let go of counting calories I was more apt to consider how particular foods would (or wouldn't) fuel my body. The result was that I ended up eating more real foods and less processed junk. When I got the munchies between meals I'd eat that apple, or maybe a few shrimp or a piece of chicken with a little hummus if I was really hungry.
When I stopped counting calories I stopped buying all those fake foods. If I crave chocolate, I now eat a piece of the real stuff and savor it. And it's way more satisfying than those sugar-free candies ever were.
My meals and snacks became more balanced.
When I stopped tracking calories I still wanted to feel like I was in control of my diet, so I set a goal of incorporating a fruit or vegetable into every meal or snack, as well as a little bit of protein (something I know from past experience works well for my body). By filling those requirements I set for myself, I automatically gravitated toward more balanced meals. In the past I might have had just a banana for a mid-morning snack, but now I might make a smoothie with banana, protein powder (like NOW Foods whey protein), and spinach. Yes, it has more calories than a single banana, but the balance of nutrients keeps me fuller for longer.
There was no big impact on my weight.
The main reason I was tracking calories to begin with was, of course, to lose weight. What would happen when I stopped? The answer: Not a whole lot. I continued to lose about a pound a month, which was consistent with what I had been losing after I recommitted to regular exercise nearly a year ago. For me, tracking calories turned out to be a lot of extra work with not a lot of payoff.
Tracking calories isn't a bad thing to do, and it may be crucial for some people. But I really think the most important thing I can do is focus on good nutrition and eating intuitively (i.e. eating healthy food when I'm hungry and stopping when I'm full). After all, any kind of tracking may be useful in the short-term, but who really wants to scrutinize their diet that closely forever? I know I don't.


text:
Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year Old Whiskey
The products below are available for 79 Madison Avenue. Enter your delivery address so we can show pricing and availability for Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year Old Whiskey in your area.
Crossroads Wine & Spirits
Top Gift Partner
Liquor Up & Wine Down
Currently closed. Delivery: Today after 2:00 PM0.62 mi
+ Show more stores
Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year Old Whiskey allows you to savor its bold character and complex finish. With its russet color and oaky aroma, our aged whiskey makes a good first impression before it's even opened. The flavor profile of our bourbon whiskey combines hints of vanilla and dried fruit for a strong, smoky finish. Aged in charred American white oak, select Bulleit Bourbon barrels were set aside to age for 10 years. The result is an expression of Bulleit that is bold in character and has a complex finish. Simply combine our bourbon whiskey with cloves, lemon juice, brown sugar and hot water for a comforting Hot Toddy. Bulleit Bourbon is still distilled and aged in the Bulleit family tradition. High rye content gives it a bold, spicy character with a distinctively smooth, clean finish. Kentucky limestone-filtered water provides a foundation for the whiskey's character, while charred American oak barrels lend a smoky backbone. Please drink responsibly. Buy Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year Old Whiskey online now from n
Lawrenceburg Kentucky


text:
Former UPEI Panthers Holly Jones, Alysha Corrigan return from national senior women's camp with lessons to apply
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - When you hear the phrase "it's a process" in sports terms, it really is.
Rugby players Alysha Corrigan and Holly Jones get it, too, after returning from the recent national east senior women's camp in Kingston, Ont.
Corrigan, from Charlottetown, and Jones, from Riverview, N.B., but living on the Island, were among the 40 hopefuls aiming to impress the senior women's coaches.
Full story: http://www.journalpioneer.com/sports/former-upei-panthers-holly-jones-alysha-corrigan-return-from-national-senior-womens-camp-with-lessons-to-apply-213708/


text:
New program promotes veteran farmers to consumers
By Bryan Painter For The Oklahoman
LEXINGTON — Sweat has dripped a V-shaped pattern from the shoulders to the bottom of Andy Wooliver's blue Canadian Valley Farms T-shirt.
The 38-year-old U.S. Coast Guard veteran catches his breath.
Wooliver just finished planting three rows of pumpkins on a sun-drenched morning after a half-inch rain the night before.
Now, he's pondering an answer to the question of what he thinks the military and farming have in common.
"They're both forms of service; you serve your country, and you serve your community," Wooliver replied. "As a farmer, I feed my family, but I feed others, as well. Also, when you think about it, our customers aren't just customers, they're really our friends. They're helping us with our dream of farming, and they are getting really good produce in return."
Soon, farmers markets and grocery stores across Oklahoma will boast a new label that will inform consumers that they are purchasing their food straight from veterans such as Wooliver.
Homegrown by Heroes (HBH) is the official farmer veteran branding program of America through the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC).
The FVC's mission is "To mobilize veterans to feed America." The coalition believes therapeutic agriculture careers are important to veterans.
Since the agriculture producer population is aging and needs replacing, the combination of the two is the perfect fit.
This program is coming to Oklahoma through a partnership of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and the Oklahoma Farm Bureau.
According to farmvetco.org, "The HBH logo serves to inform consumers that products donning the logo were produced by military veterans.
"The program is available to farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and value-added producers of all branches and eras of military service."
Andy, his wife, Carey, and their seven children live in Noble but farm on some rural acres closer to Lexington.
Depending on the season, they grow herbs, peppers, spinach, lettuce, squash, zucchini, green beans, carrots, tomatoes, watermelons, cantaloupe, beets, strawberries and, this year for the first time, pumpkins. Plus they run a few head of cattle and keep some bees.
They sell their garden produce primarily at farmers markets in Norman and Noble. However, this year in the fall, they plan to have a you-pick business for pumpkins and offer a corn maze.
At its core, Homegrown by Heroes is a labeling program for veterans producing agricultural products. It is a young program, started in Kentucky, then incorporated with the Farmer Veteran Coalition.
Meriruth Cohenour, agritourism coordinator at the Agriculture Department, said, "This is a mission to find those who are interested, who we can reach out to that we haven't already, and who are willing to support this."
'Great memories'
Wooliver's service to his country was stateside, with his discharge already filed before Sept. 11, 2001.
However, his ties and the personal commitment to fellow veterans and those currently in service to this nation are never-ending.
"That's part of the reason that we joined the Farmer Veteran Coalition is that these guys are coming back that want to learn a trade," Wooliver said.
"We're always willing to work with people and teach them what we do and give them ideas about developing their own business model. Or, if they just want to come out and hang out for a day, our doors are always open."
Wooliver grew up in Oklahoma City, but in the summers of his teens, he worked for a producer farm near Lexington.
The routine was up by 5:30 or 6 in the morning, pick tomatoes, watermelons and cantaloupes, go back to the house and eat breakfast. As soon as the last strip of bacon was gone, it was off to a farm stand on State Highway 39 where they'd sell throughout the day and into the evening.
Are those good memories?
"No, they are great memories," he said.
And now in addition to bringing in income, selling produce gives Wooliver a chance to let his children grow their own Oklahoma memories.
"We're teaching them a trade," he said. "We're giving them a legacy that few kids get now days. It's very, very much a family operation. I wouldn't have it any other way because I get to work with my kids out here. Even our 3-year-old twins come out here and help pick, and not very many people get the opportunity to do that, so I cherish every day."
As wife Carey clips some okra, Wooliver walks over a few rows to take a closer look at the Shishito peppers. Only, he's not just looking. He picks a bright green sweet pepper and with three bites makes it disappear.
"That's the best part of farming right there," he said. "If you get hungry, you don't have to walk very far. However, the problem with growing strawberries out here with seven kids is that the strawberries usually don't make it out of the garden. I'm going to tell you, they can eat their weight in strawberries."
Wooliver loves every facet of the farming experience — whether it's the growing, the eating or the talking about it.
"When I go to a farmers market, I take a couple of gallons of water because my throat gets dry from talking so much," he said followed by a half-moon grin.
"We have so many conversations. A customer will come and say, 'What is an heirloom vegetable?' I say, 'Have a seat.' "
Wooliver believes being able to place the Homegrown by Heroes logo on products will only add to the personal connection with his customers.
"That sets these crops apart," he said. "It just lets customers know that the products were grown by veterans who are farmers and veteran-owned businesses."
To sign up for the Homegrown by Heroes program, go to www.farmvetco.org/homegrown-by-
heroes/.
To learn more about Homegrown by Heroes and the Farmer Veteran Coalition, go to the website or contact Cohenour at (405) 488-7532, meriruth.cohenour@ag.ok.gov.
Bryan Painter is communications director for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.


text:
Reverend Horton Heat Share Some Road Stories
The 11 Best Concerts in Phoenix This Week
You Should Watch the New Goth Brooks Music Video For "She Thinks My Hearse Is Sexy"
David Accomazzo
David Accomazzo | January 4, 2017 | 4:00am
If an industrial-country-hip-hop mash-up band sounds like a bit of a gimmick to you, you're right.
But then again, there's Goth Brooks, and the band is deadly serious.
Take the music video for "She Thinks My Hearse Is Sexy," a song that combines elements of the theme from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, "Save a Horse [Ride a Cowboy]" "Honkytonk Badonkadonk," and who knows what else into a song that feels like a scavenger hunt while listening — you never know what sample you're going to recognize next.
Goth Brooks: Watch The Debut Music Video From This Very Real Mash-Up Band
Then there's the video, which New Times is premiering today. Directed by George R. Gifford, the video takes place at Rawhide in Chandler and features everything you'd expect from a band like Goth Brooks — horses, cowboys, a giant chain with golden truck nuts attached, country dancers, a gothic dancer, a poncho, and a poker game.
You'd better just watch for yourself.
David Accomazzo is a music wrangler, award-winning reporter, critic, and editor with more than a decade in the business.
Twitter: @wordsofdefiance
Here Are Your Musical Horoscopes for 2020
Motion City Soundtrack Have Sprung Back to Life
007 James Bond Songs: The Best, Worst, and Rejected Themes
Pearl Jam Are Coming to the Valley This Spring


Crispus Attucks Development Corporation (CADC) wishes you a very Happy Holiday Season!
We have recently deck our halls – have you? It truly is a dazzling time of year in the Park!
Many thanks for all those who made the park look so beautiful early in December and just in time to create a little winter wonderland topped off with the sparkling lights. And a huge heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported our fundraising campaigns throughout the year – we cannot do this with you!
We are proud to say that in 2017 – it has been a very busy and productive year. New trees and flower beds were planted, new park signs were installed, and plans for the new retaining wall are underway to be completed in spring of 2018. There was the Taste of Bloomingdale, The 'Bloomie Nights' Music and Movies summer series as well as park beautification days. And, as you may have noticed more private events than ever.
Crispus Attucks Development Corporation (CADC) is an all-volunteer organization which owns and manages Crispus Attucks Park. CADC is governed by a Board of Directors — who in conjunction with the neighbors, the volunteers and the sponsors maintain and support the park and all its programs throughout the year.
Our plans for 2018 are just beginning, let Crispus Attucks Park be part of your New Year resolutions to get involved in the neighborhood! Cheers to healthy and Happy New Year for everyone! And, as always Thank You!
If you would like to support Crispus Attucks Park, donate securely through the Crispus Attucks Park website or by following the link below.