text:
Cruiser Tank, Sentinel AC II
The Sentinel AC II was an Australian design for a cruiser tank that could be produced using existing truck engines and components.
In the summer of 1940 Australia faced the increasingly likely prospect of a war with Japan, at a time when the country owned no modern tanks, Britain was rearming after the loss of virtually all of her modern tanks at Dunkirk and the best American tank was the obsolete Medium Tank M2. The Australian Ministry of Munitions decided to investigate the possibility of designed and producing a cruiser tank in Australia. In November 1940 the Australian General Staff set out their requirements, and in December 1940 Britain sent out Colonel Watson, a tank expert. He travelled via the United States, where he saw the plans for the Medium Tank M3, and early in 1941 his team produced the design for the Sentinel AC I (AC standing for Australian Cruiser). This used the M3 final drive and gearbox, commercially available engines and a newly designed cast hull and turret.
The AC I project ran into a serious problem in April 1941 when the detailed drawings for the M3 drive arrived in Australia. The M3 drive was too complex to be produced with the machine tools then available in Australia, and neither Britain nor American could spare any suitable machinery.
In order to bypass this problem the United States suggested that the Australian team should produce a new design that would use commercial truck engines, drive and other mechanical components that could be provided from the United States. Work on this new design, the Sentinel AC II, began in July 1941. The limited factor turned out to be the truck final drive and other mechanical components, which could only cope with a vehicle of 16-18 tons. This restricted the gun to a 2-pounder, already clearly obsolete in 1941, and also limited the thickness of armour that could be carried.
In September 1941 the AC II project was abandoned, and work resumed on a modified version of the AC I. Eventually sixty six Sentinel AC Is were produced in 1942-43, but by the time they appeared American was in the war, her levels of tank production were reaching impressive proportions, and the Australian armoured divisions were able to use American tanks.
Australian AC Tanks – Part II: AC II Cruiser Tank
Artist's rendition of a production AC II
Contrary to a popular misconception the AC II was not a design for the installation of an Ordnance 6 pounder gun in the AC I Sentinel cruiser. Such a design did exist, entitled AC IA, but this is covered more appropriately with the AC III Thunderbolt. In reality the AC II was a simplified design intended to expedite production of the tanks Australia so desperately needed.
Due to the lack of progress by mid-1941, doubts were raised about the practicality of Australia attempting to manufacture such a complex tank design as the AC I. As a result, Australian AFV engineer Alan H Chamberlain proposed a competing design in June of 1941. The proposed design, entitled AC II, was intended to overcome the limitations of Australian industry by substituting the complex M3 drivetrain and gearbox for a commercially available Mack truck gearbox and drive, imported from the USA.
Due to the Mack components not being required for US munitions production it was estimated that deliveries could begin in October of 1941 with series production of the AC II beginning in January of 1942 at a rate of 8 tanks per week. Compared to 5 tanks per week in mid-1942 for the AC I. The Mack components however required a reduction in the weight of the vehicle and were limited in the horsepower that could be used to power the tank. It was alternatively mooted that the Mack gearbox could simply be substituted into the AC I design. However concerns that in a 28 tonne tank the Mack gearbox would be overloaded, risking the gear teeth stripping at low gears, put an end to this idea. As proposed, the AC II weighed 19.5 tonnes with a hull armor basis of 2 ¼ inch (57.15 mm) frontal and 1 inch (25.4 mm) side and rear, and 2 ½ inches (63.5 mm) of all around turret armor.
The intended engine was to either be a twin mounting of the same Cadillac V8 engines used in the AC I or a 225 horsepower GM 6-71 diesel engine. A Curtiss aircraft engine was also investigated but found to be overly powerful for the Mack gearbox and thus unsuitable without substantial modification . Despite the decreased weight, the corresponding decrease in engine power resulted in an estimated top speed of 19 mph (30 km/h). The armament was the same as on the AC I.
Line drawing and armour specifications of AC II. Source: National Archives of Australia MP730/13 14
Monsters of War – Australian Sentinel And Thunderbolt Tanks In WWII
The Australian tank industry is not something well-known to the wider public. The British Commonwealth country is famous for its military valor and engagement in both world wars. However, when it came to equipment, the Australians used the weapons provided by the British, and later the Americans.
The first Australian tank is the story of a potential type of tank which never entered regular service but was instead discarded, as the war in the Pacific dragged on.
The AC 1 Sentinel during trials
The AC1, later named the Sentinel, was caught up in an arms race that made all the difference between tanks produced early in WWII and those made in the final years of the conflict.
In 1940, Australia was watching the Japanese expansion in China carefully. Britain had entered the war against Germany a year earlier, and it was becoming apparent the Australians would have to prepare for a war against Japan, one of Germany's closest allies.
British Crusader tank
In November that year, the design for the Sentinel tank was put up for review. The tank was to follow the Cruiser tank concept, developing a balance between firepower and armor, and relying on agility and speed to win the day.
As it was the first time the Australian military was preparing to produce a tank, an advisor from Great Britain, Colonel W.D. Watson MC, was sent to supervise the project. Also, a team of Australian engineers went to the US, where they familiarized themselves with the American M3 design.
One of two preserved Sentinel tanks at the Royal Australian Army Corps Tank Museum. Photo Credit
Inspiration was drawn from both the Americans and the British. The Sentinel tank was based on the engine, drive train, and lower hull of the M3 while using the upper hull and turret similar to the British Crusader tank. However, one crucial distinction was made ― the hull and the turret were cast as a single piece. Besides being the first Australian tank, the Sentinel was the first tank ever to apply such a concept.
The Sentinel carried a QF 2-pounder gun (40mm) and was intended to receive an upgrade to a 6-pounder (57 mm). The upgrade, however, was abandoned due to the arrival of the much needed American and British models, which completely surpassed the original design.
The 65 Sentinels that were produced in 1943 never entered combat but were used as props for a 1944 war movie entitled The Rats of Tobruk. The tanks were modified to resemble German panzers, as the film told the tale of the heroic defense of the Libyan town of Tobruk, in which many of the defenders were Australian.
AC3 Thunderbolt
The Australians tried to improve their design by developing another project called the AC3 Thunderbolt, which was to provide better-armored protection, a more powerful engine, and more firepower. It used a 25-pounder gun (87 mm), which was a massive improvement compared to the limited capabilities of the 2-pounder.
With this firepower, the Australians could compete in the international theater of war. Unfortunately, it was too late to put the tank to use. The 150 units that were ordered by the army never went into production and the only Thunderbolt made was the prototype, which remains exhibited at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
AC E1 development vehicle with a test turret and 17 pounder gun
Reservations about the utility of the 25 pounder in the AC3, and the 25 pounder's limited ability to pierce armour led to experimentation with a 17 pounder mounted on an Australian cruiser.
A turret was built and mounted on one of the earlier development vehicles to assess the vehicle's ability to mount the foremost Allied anti-tank gun of the day – the British 17 pounder (76 mm, 3 in). This was achieved by mounting two 25 pounder gun-howitzers which when fired together would significantly exceed the recoil of a 17 pounder. Α] In this configuration the tank was tested on 2 November 1942. It fitted with a 17 pounder and after successful gunnery trials on 17 November 1942 the 17 pounder was selected for the AC4 design. For the AC4 the 17 pounder was to be mounted in a new and larger turret, attached by a 70-inch (1778 mm) diameter turret ring, the space for which was accommodated by changes to the upper hull permitted by the compact nature of the "Perrier-Cadillac". Β]
A design for the tank had been established, however it was subject to a redesign to alter the internal stowage, and include new features not previously considered such as removal of the turret basket, addition of a gyro-stabiliser, and swapping a hydraulic traverse for the electrical system, and torsion bar suspension for the volute spring used up until that point. Γ]
The programme was authorised to build a total of 510 AC4 tanks. Δ] Ώ] The design was not yet finalised when the programme was terminated in July 1943. Β]
Games company donates Australian World War II tank to Cairns museum
THE only tank designed and mass-produced in Australia during World War II has returned home — thanks to a video gaming company.
The Sentinel was produced in NSW in 1942-43, but was not used in battle.
AN ICONIC World War II Australian tank has returned home - thanks to a video gaming company.
The Australian Cruiser (AC) "Sentinel" armoured fighting vehicle was the only tank designed and mass-produced in Australia during World War II. Armed with either a two, 17 or 25 pounder main gun and at least one .303 calibre machinegun.
There were 65 were built by the NSW Railway Company between 1942 and 1943.
Games company Wargaming, publisher of the popular World of Tanks and World of Warships games series, purchased an AC 1 tank — one of the fewer than six remaining Sentinel tanks — and donated it to the Australian Armour and Artillery museum in the tropical Queensland city of Cairns just before Easter.
The vehicle was previously part of late American tank historian Jacques Littlefield's collection and acquired by Wargaming in 2014.
The donation to the Cairns museum coincides with the inclusion of the Sentinel tank in the company's popular World of Tanks franchise, a massively multiplayer online game available on PC, Xbox, PlayStation 4 and mobile platforms.
Wargaming head of global marketing projects Alexander Bobko said the Australian World of Tanks community had been requesting an Australian tank in the game for many years.
"We are always looking at how we can add a local feel to our players around the world and with a growing number of Australians playing the game, we wanted to provide them with an Australian tank to control," he said.
"This is also the first Australian tank ever in the game and we think it's important to represent as many countries as possible so that players can also learn about their own country's military history."
The tank will be displayed at a museum in Cairns.
In World of Tanks, the Sentinel is a premium vehicle which has joined the British tank tech tree in the PC version game as a Tier IV tank, with a high top speed and the armour to hold up well against other tanks, Mr Bobko said. It is also available in World of Tanks Blitz and there are plans to include it on other platforms in the future.
Wargaming is well known for being passionate about military history and Mr Bobko said it had taken a keen interest in restoring military vehicles and including them in its games so players could learn more about the vehicles while controlling them.
"We take great pride in ensuring our vehicles are as accurate as possible as their real life counterparts, right down to the sounds of the engine and turret," he said.
Mr Bobko said the company wanted to provide its players with as much information about unique vehicles as possible and to date had produced more than 100 historical videos about various military vehicles, with a documentary on the AC 1 Sentinel being released in the coming months.
Although the Sentinel never saw combat — by the time they were built, British and American tanks such as the Sherman and Matilda were more readily available — they are still an important and rare part of Australia's military history particularly as most of the Sentinels were scrapped or turned into tractors after World War II.
Mr Bobko said although the donated tank was currently not drivable, with the engine and some other components needing some work, they hoped to return it to a fully drivable state in the future and had wanted to get it on public display as soon as possible.
He said the Australian Armour and Artillery Museum in Cairns was the largest private collection of military vehicles in the Southern Hemisphere and the perfect new home for the AC 1 Sentinel.
"This museum's great track record of keeping World War II history alive and making it interesting for all generations is something we really admire," he said.
"We hope millions of people will use this opportunity to see the AC 1 Sentinel tank here in Cairns for years to come."
Australian Armour and Artillery Museum assistant manager Jason Belgrave said they were thrilled to have the AC 1 as part of the collection, which also included an AC 4 Sentinel.
"We will soon have the two tanks side-by-side to show the difference between them and allow the general public to see up close another piece of Australia's military history," he said.
"We're very fortunate to have such an extensive collection from all over the world and adding more Australian vehicles will help us keep our military history alive for future generations.
"We are also the only museum in the world to house and display two AC Sentinel tanks so it's a great addition to our collection and for Cairns."
In addition to the two Sentinels in Cairns, there is an AC 3 variant at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, an AC 1 at the Australian Army Tank Museum in Puckapunyal, and an AC 1 at the Bovington Tank Museum in the UK.
What Is PAG Oil?
PAG oil, or Polyalkylene Glycol, is specially created for the AC compressors of automobiles. The fully synthetic hygroscopic oil is a compressor lubricator for the AC units that use R-134a refrigerant.
PAG is a synthetic oil for AC compressor. (Photo Source: instructables)
Besides knowing how much PAG oil to add to AC system, you also have to use the correct viscosity oil. Each PAG oil type has a number such as PAG150 or PAG VC-46. This number refers to the PAG viscosity, similar to a number like 10W30 indicates the viscosity of a regular engine oil.
You have to look into the owner's manual to find out the correct PAG oil viscosity for the AC's compressor.
センチネル巡航戦車
センチネル巡航戦車(センチネルじゅんこうせんしゃ、英語:Sentinel tank, Cruiser Tank Mk. 1 "Sentinel", etc.)は、第二次世界大戦中のオーストラリア軍によってヨーロッパ戦線用にデザインされた戦車である。巡航戦車センチネル、巡航戦車Mk.I センチネル(じゅんこうせんしゃ マークワン センチネル)などとも言う。戦争を太平洋地域へ拡大しようとする日本の脅威や、日本のオーストラリア侵攻へのおそれからも作られた。
1940年11月、試作案である AC I は、オードナンス QF 2ポンド砲を装備したデザインに始まった。初めに意図した設計は、正統派の巡航戦車を目指したものであった。オーストラリア軍の巡航戦車は、カナダ軍のラム巡航戦車のように、アメリカ軍のM3中戦車のエンジン、変速機、下部車体、砲塔を基礎に用いた。さらにイギリス軍のクルセーダー巡航戦車の設計に沿い、一体構造で作られた上部車体と砲塔を組み合わせた。1942年までには、ドイツ軍の戦車に対抗できるよう、設計仕様がよりアメリカ軍の中戦車に近くなった。
オーストラリア軍の巡航戦車MK.I Australian Cruiser Tank Mark.I (AC I) は1942年の2月にセンチネルと名付けられた。
1942年8月、シドニー近郊のチュローラ戦車製造会社 (Chullora Tank Assembly Shops) で量産が開始された。これらの建物は試験場としても使用された。他の戦車の設計から取り入れられる個所には、既存の部品を用いた。また、当時のオーストラリアが持っていた機械加工能力に適合させるため、必要な場合には部品を単純化した。車体と砲塔は一体成型の鋳造であった。この時代、その技術はほかの戦車には用いられていなかった [2] 。
オリジナルの車両はオードナンス QF 2ポンド砲を備え、後にオードナンス QF 6ポンド砲(口径57mm)に換装された。しかしながらこれらのどれも利用できず、初期の65輌は2ポンド砲を装備した。2挺のヴィッカース機関銃は副兵装として装備された。1挺は車体に、2挺目は主砲と同軸に装備された。28t の戦車の適当な動力源として、プラット・アンド・ホイットニー R-1340単列星型ガソリンエンジン、またはギバーソン (Guiberson) 星型ディーゼルエンジンがあったが、オーストラリアではこれらを使用することはできなかった。そこでセンチネルは、3基のキャデラックV8エンジンを動力とした。
これはペリエ-キャデラックと呼ばれ、排気量17.1L、24気筒のエンジンを構成した。ガソリン自動車用のキャデラック 346 in 3 (5.7L)V型8気筒エンジンをクローバーの葉に似た形で配置し、3基のエンジンはギアを介して共通のクランクケースに納められた。このエンジンのいくつかの箇所は、アメリカのM3中戦車とM4中戦車の発展型で使われる、後の クライスラーA57マルチバンク (英語版) エンジンと非常に類似していた。
センチネルの後には、より火力を増強し、より改善されたデザインをとることで装甲防御に優れた AC III が続いて計画された。オーストラリアにおいて火力向上に利用可能な砲は オードナンス QF 25ポンド砲(口径87.6mm)であった。これは手早く戦車砲に改設計ができ、オードナンス QF 25ポンド砲ショートの設計のためにも、後々役立つ仕事であった。AC I より大型で全周旋回可能な砲塔が装備されたが、同じ54 in (137cm) の砲塔リングを使っていた。これは砲塔の搭乗員の作業をわずかに束縛したが、AC III に高性能榴弾と貫通性能の両方を与えた。車体機関銃と前方機銃手席は、25ポンド砲の弾薬の設置場所を確保するために除去された。試作された AC III は完成し、計画終了時には、試験のために25輌の戦車の生産が着手されていた。
さらに、オーストラリアで生産される戦車の火力を向上させるため、当時最優秀の連合軍対戦車砲(イギリス製のオードナンス QF 17ポンド砲。口径76mm)を取り付ける車両の能力を評価した。これは初期の発展車両のうちの1輌に新設計の砲塔を搭載したものである。この砲塔は、2門の25ポンド榴弾砲を取り付け、同時砲撃することで試験内容を達成した。これは17ポンド砲の反動をかなり上回っていた [4] 。後に17ポンド砲を搭載しての砲撃試験に成功し、17ポンド砲は AC IV の設計に選定された [5] 。
1943年、オーストラリア軍第3戦車大隊は、ドイツ軍の戦車と類似している点を改造した AC I を装備し、小隊を編成した。これらの車両は、1944年公開の映画『 トブルクのネズミ (英語版) 』の撮影に使用された。これはセンチネル装備部隊が何らかの目的のために使われた唯一の事例である [6] 。
残存車両は、オーストラリアのビクトリア州セイモア近郊 プッカプンベル (英語版) にある RAAC陸軍戦車博物館 (英語版) に1輌(シリアル番号8030)、イングランドはドーセット州ボービントンにあるボービントン戦車博物館に1輌(シリアル番号8049)、完全な AC III(シリアル番号8066)はオーストラリア首都キャンベラにあるオーストラリア戦争記念館のトレロアー技術センター (Treloar Technology Centre) に1輌、2014年からはクイーンズランド州のケアンズで9月にオープンされた オーストラリア陸上兵器博物館 (英語版) にてAC IV(シリアル番号8040)が1輌、更にオンラインゲーム企業のウォーゲーミング社が同博物館との共同プロジェクトで米国在住の戦車コレクター、 ジャック・リトルフィールド (英語版) 氏の2009年の死去に伴い競売にかけられていた一部戦車コレクションより買い取りオーストラリアへ移送したAC I(シリアル番号8006)を修復した1輌が2016年3月より展示されている。 [8] [9] 。
British Tank Tree discussion - pictures and info
Chuffy #1 Posted May 18 2011 - 14:45
Foreword: I've posted this on the EU forums, I thought people would be interested to see it here too. As I expand and update the post I will also keep this post updated too. I welcome ideas and feedback on either forum and will add the best to both posts. As people tend to miss it, This is copied from the original British pre-Alpha tree all I've done is artwork and research into some of the vehicles.
British Tank Tree
Research and tree image by Chuffy
Photos and models by kind permission of Nick Turner
1. British Pre-Alpha Tree
2. Selected Vehicle list
Vickers Light Tank
Harry Hopkins
Additional pictures
3. Chuffy's notes and thanks
4. Sources
1. British Pre-Alpha Tree by Chuffy based on this source. Link to the full Hi res version of this image (2000x1550).
I have adjusted the slightly tangled middle section of the tree for clarity. The links, tiers and branches remain the same.
If I have misidentified any premium & special vehicles, please let me know. Confusingly the original Russian text identifies both Tank Destroyers and Self Propelled Guns as CAY (SPG)
Note 1: The Sentinel AC III is listed as штурмовая САУ (Assault SPG), possibly meaning Tank Destroyer. The AC III classification may be an error or the intent of the designers. Until we can work out what they meant, the AC III is listed as a Tank Destroyer. It'll be changed if we can find out what it's meant to be in the game.
Based on the Carden-Loyd Tankette, the Vickers Light Tank was developed in the 1930s. Whilst mobile and fast across country, it proved inadequate due to its thin armour and machine gun armament. Early in World War II, lack of equipment forced the British to use them in combat rather than reconnaissance often with disasterous results. Around 1,000 were produced. Note: This tank is not actually on the British Tree, it's to give you some idea of Vickers tanks, EU poster Eat_Uranium has suggested this would make a better starter tank than 'Little Willie'.
The Light Tank Mk VII Tetrarch proved early on in the war to be too lightly armed and armoured and was quickly withdrawn from combat. It was later adapted as an Airborne tank and a Hamilcar glider was designed to carry it. Used by the British on D-Day, the then upgunned Tetrarch still proved ineffective against axis armour.
Named after one of President Roosevelt's chief advisors, the Light Tank Mk VIII "Harry Hopkins" was produced as a successor to the Tetrarch. Obselete by the time it was produced, none ever saw combat. It was later adapted into the Alecto, an experimental self propelled gun.
The A12 Matilda first saw action during the fall of France. It fared reasonably well in the early stages of the North African campaign being sturdy enough to withstand most German Tank guns and outclassing the armour of the Italians. The turret limited the gun to a maximum of 40mm making the Matilda obselete by 1942. About 3,000 were produced and served both the British and Commonwealth forces as well as the Soviet Union under the lend-lease programme.
The Infantry Tank Mk III Valentine first saw combat in North Africa. Relatively undergunned and slow the Valentine did at least have decent armour. Armament gradually improved as the war progressed and 11 different marks were developed. A total production of more than 8,000 made it the most widely built British tank of WWII. It was used by both the British and Commonwealth forces as well as the Soviet Union under the lend-lease programme.
The Cruiser Tank Mk V Convenanter was beset by technical problems during it's development and before it could see action was declared obselete. Some vehicles were used for training purposes and a Bridgelaying version was used operationally, however most were scrapped. Around 1,700 were produced.
Named after Winston Churchill, an early proponent of Tank warfare during the first World War, the Infantry Tank Mk IV Churchill was not fully introduced until 1943. Performance during the Dieppe raid in 1942 was disappointing, however the Cromwell proved mobile over the rough terrain of North Africa. The Tank excelled in specialised variants, such as the AVRE, Crocodile flame thrower, bridgelayer and more. In the end the Churchill gave excellent service and was not retired until the 1960s. Over 7,000 were produced and it was used by both the British and Commonwealth forces as well as the Soviet Union under the lend-lease programme.
The Cruiser Tank Mk VI Crusader first appeared in 1941. Fast and mobile, their suspension was so tough that the theoretical maximum speed was often exceeded. However they were thinly armoured and lacked firepower, being no match for their German counterparts. Inspite of improvements, it was replaced as quickly as possible when the M4 Sherman became available. Over 5,000 were produced.
Developed from the hard lessons learnt during the fall of France and the North African Campaign, the Cruiser Tank Mk VIII Cromwell combined stronger armour and armament with increased speed. First seeing action in Normandy during June 1944, around 4,000 were produced.
The Infantry Tank A43 Black Prince was a prototype designed to accomodate a 17 pounder gun on a larger modified version of the Churchill chassis. The Churchill's standard engine was not powerful enough for the Black Prince, which was 10 tonnes heavier. Only 6 pilot models were made before production ceased.
Not to be confused with the Challenger I and II post war tanks, the Cruiser Tank Mk VIII Challenger was based on a Cromwell chassis enlarged to carry a 17 pounder gun. In order to keep weight down, hull armour thickness had to be reduced. Only about 200 were made before production ceased. It first saw combat in Normandy in 1944.
The A34 Comet was the first British Cruiser tank to pose a credible threat to late war German Armour. It's High Velocity 77mm gun was capable of knocking out the Tiger II at 500m and the Panther up to 1500m. Although comparatively lightly armoured, the Roll Royce Meteor engine could propel the Comet to a governed top speed of about 50Kmh. The prototype was completed in February 1944, with the first production tanks following in September 1944. It arrived in service early in 1945 just prior to the end of the war. Around 1,200 were used by the British Army up until the late 1950s.
The Centurion was developed from 1944 by AEC under the designation A41 Cruiser. Six prototypes were completed by the end of the war, but arrived in Germany too late to see any Combat. About 4,000 were produced and post-war Centurions saw combat in Korea, Vietnam, India and Suez.
The FV214 Conqueror was designed in response to the Soviet IS3. It was equipped with a 120mm gun and based on the Centurion. Nearly 200 were built between 1955 and 1958. Ultimately it was too cumbersome and difficult to maintain and was itself replaced by upgunned versions of the Centurion.
At the start of World War II, Canada had no tank units. With no possibility of obtaining tanks from Britain, the Canadians were forced to build their own. The Cruiser Tank Ram Mk I based on the American M3, replacing the sponson for a turret mounted main gun. However it did not see action as by the time it arrived in Europe, the M4 Sherman was being produced in such numbers that is was decided to adopt this as the standard for Canadian units. The Ram's greatest contribution to Allied victory was as the basis for the Sexton self-propelled gun and as a training vehicle. Around 2,000 were produced.
The Heavy Assault Tank A39 Tortoise was first designed in 1942. Only pilot models were produced and were not delivered until 1946-47 and consequently it never saw combat. The thick armour, heavy main gun and overall size limited it's speed to a mere 19Kmh.
In researching the British tank tree I have noticed a recurrent theme from the various sources I have read. A large number of British fighting vehicles during the Second World War were considered by many commentators to be utterly dreadful. Underpowered, underarmoured, undergunned and effectively obselete in the face of Axis armour.
As one book 'Death by Design: British Tank Development in the Second World War' notes: "Britain went from leading the world in tank design at the end of the First World War to lagging far behind the design quality of Russian and German tanks in the Second World War."
The reality is somewhat different. Even the much maligned Valentine tanks possessed armour that could not be penetrated from the front by the majority of contemporary German tank guns. This will have been little comfort to crews taken out by 88mm anti-tank guns at ranges which they could effectively return fire.
However, battles are not fought nor won only with tanks. It was fought with the combined effort of the British and Commonwealth Armies, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force as well as those free forces of the occupied nations. Prior to the direct involvement of the USA, British Tanks were at least helping keep the Axis forces in check in North Africa.
History has damned the design of many British Tanks and with hindsight that is easy to do. But the origins of the Tank in the First World War were as a means of ending the deadlock of trench warfare. Interwar years had seen British tank development largely following that doctrine, the Tank was designed to support the infantry in breaking through enemy lines. Tank versus tank battles on open battlefields had probably not been conceived of at the time.
Over the course of World War II British Tank design did improve eventually. No more was the Tank merely a means of advancing slowly across no-mans land. One of histories most famous and successful postwar Tank designs, the Centurion, was first developed during the war.
In World of Tanks the British Tanks are quite varied in their design, a characteristic they share with their Axis opponents. Where the US and USSR Tank trees often feel like more of the same, the British Tree looks to be as diverse as the German Tree feels.
Presented here is a selection of some of the British Tanks that may appear, along with some pictures by Tank Modeller Nick Turner who has very kindly granted me permission to reproduce the images. You can find many more examples on his website here. Note: All the photos marked as such are the copyright of Nick Turner.
I should also like to thank Kazomir for posting the British Pre-Alpha Tech tree here. It was what inspired me to reproduce the Tech Tree above in the Art style normally used for the official trees.
I have greatly enjoyed researching these tanks histories, but I have tried to keep them brief. You will notice many of the vehicles on the tree are missing from my descriptions. This is because, information was more difficult to come by OR I did not have multiple sources for the information OR I simply ran out of time for the deadline I had set myself.
I invite fellow forum members to help fill in the gaps. And, in cases where I am in error, I welcome corrections. When writing information about the tanks, please do not simply copy paste from Wikipedia because any reader can look it up if they wish. I have sourced my information from a number of books as the internet too often copies and reproduces the same errors. Wikipedia is frequently guilty of this (or rather, the incautious editors are). But there are some good sources on the web, so if you do find them please share links here.
Finally, I make two predictions.
1. The Gold consumable for British Tank crews will be Tea.
http://chuffy.www.id. British_Tea.png
2. Wild guess: Little Willie will be replaced by Whippet as the British starter Tank.
http://chuffy.www.id. NickWhippet.jpg
Armoured Fight Vehicles - Philip Trewhitt
Jane's World Armoured Fighting Vehicles - Christopher F. Foss
Iron Fist: Classic Armoured Warfare - Bryan Perret
British Armoured Fighting Vehicles - George R. Bradford
Tank Aces - George Forty
Modern Tanks and Fighting Vehicles - Ray Bonds
Tank versus Tank - Kenneth Macksey
Some of these books are quite old or out of print. One of the advantages of living within walking distance of 3 large second hand book shops is that I am not limited to what is currently in print.
The B series motor is a 4-cylinder diesel, and the H series a 6-cylinder diesel.
Capacity (l)
B 3.0 85 141 lb·ft (191 N·m) 1974–1979
2B 3.2 93 159 lb·ft (216 N·m) 1979–1981
H 3.6 90 151 lb·ft (205 N·m) 1972–1980
2H 4.0 105 177 lb·ft (240 N·m) 1980–1984
OM324 3.4 78 193 lb·ft (262 N·m) 1961–1973
14B 3.7 96 240 lb·ft (325 N·m) 1994–2001
Vehicle Dimensions:
FJ25, FJ28 Land Cruiser:
FJ/BJ 40 Series Land Cruiser:
Vehicle Weights: (Weights are approximate. Confirm with your owners manual)
55 and 60 Series Land Cruiser
Also See: History Page for exact years for the above.
40 Series:
Hard Top – 1,554 kg (3,427 lb)
Soft Top – 1,480 kg (3,263 lb)
50 Series: 1 ,809 – 1 828 kg (3,990-4,030lb) 60 Series: 1,926 kg (4,246 lb) 70 Series:
1,720 kg. (3,785 lb)
80 Series: 2,084 kg (4,594 lb) (1990-92)
2,159 kg (4,760 lb) (1993-97)
1,945/2,085 kg (4,288/4,596lb)
100 Series: 2,320 kg (5,100 lb)
Wargaming unleashes the AC Sentinel (World of Tanks, World of Tanks Blitz)
Cairns Australia 23 March 2016 – Something big happened today for fans of World of Tanks and World of Tanks Blitz, particularly for Australian users with Wargaming unleashing their latest addition to this highly popular MMO with the unveiling of the AC 1 Sentinel. Not only is the Australian Cruiser Tank Mark 1 (AC1) now available in both World of Tanks (PC) and World of Tanks Blitz but Wargaming have given something back to the history of tanks by supporting the restoration of this tank from the late Jacques Littlefield. This saw this vehicle be transported from Texas USA to Cairns Australia as it was painstakingly repaired and finally unveiled to the public at the Armour and Artillery Museum in Cairns today which will be the new home for this tank.
Wargaming invited local media and from abroad to share the unveiling of the restored tank at this museum that once saw this vehicle languish in an open air display in Austin Texas and is one of six surviving tanks that still exists today. The Sentinel was also the first tank designed in Australia (1940) as a result of World War II which saw these vehicles roll-out from the factory in 1942.
As World of Tanks has a huge fan base in Australia, Wargaming wanted to give something back to both their fans and the public and when the company was challenged to deliver an authentic Australian tank in the game, they delivered the AC1 Sentinel which is now available as a mid-size tank in the game with it being available on the PC and Blitz with a console version to follow.
According to Alexander Bobko, Head of Global Marketing Projects for Wargaming, he stated that the AC Sentinel is an authentic reproduction in the game with the developers using the actual blueprints of this tank to help them incorporate this vehicle into the game.
Although media could not experience the Sentinel in the game itself, a virtual reality film was shown on Google Cardboard of this tank in action which is part of their 360 project. So as Wargaming gives a vital piece of history back to Australia at Australian Armour and Artillery Museum in Cairns, World of Tanks MMO users can also share in this landmark moment by experience the authenticity of this tank within the game itself.
Copyright © qarkuberat.net | Cruiser Tank, Sentinel AC II ...


The recession will continue to hit independent UK films hard, the UK Film Council has warned.
A new searchable website with fully comprehensive statistics from the UK Film Council has made it possible to gauge exactly how smaller films are being affected.
Despite a record year at the UK Box Office, the highest since 2002 with takings of £944 million, the economic slowdown will continue to negatively affect the budgets and takings of independently-funded films.
BBC News reports that feature films funded solely in the UK fell from 77 in 2008 to 71 in 2009, with overall budgets showing a drop in figures.
UK Film Council chief executive John Woodward blamed the economic slowdown and "the increasingly tough transition from the analogue to the digital age".
So far, the British film industry has been coping well in the recession. The statistics show that 2009 was the most profitable year for UK independent films in history, taking 2.3 per cent of the global market share of profits.
But in 2010, Avatar, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and Ice Age III were the three most popular films, which suggests that the advent of 3D film may be partially responsible for the new trend.
However, the hugely successful UK film Street Dance 3D provides some hope, having grabbed the Number One spot in May this year.
Partially funded by the UK Film Council, its profits showed that strategic marketing, including the procuring of early summer 3D cinema space, might prove to be a saving grace for smaller films.


A damaged nervous system is no joking matter. It can be a debilitating condition. It can cause pain, numbness, tingling feelings and muscle spasms as well as involuntary release of both solids and fluids depending on both the severity of the damage as well as the location of the damage.
Throughout the course of this article we will discuss damage to the nervous system and how it can occur. We will also discuss various forms of diagnostics and treatments. At the same time we will try to determine if there are any natural remedies for this malady and what they might be along with their level of effectiveness.
While that is what we will be discussing it cannot be stressed enough that any, ANY damage to the nervous system MUST be diagnosed AND treated by a trained medical professional.
The nervous system is a network of nerves that runs throughout our entire bodies. The "home base" if you will for a nervous system is housed in the spinal column and the "boss" of the nervous system which tells it what to do and when to do it is housed in the brain.
The nervous system is responsible for our sense of touch, for knowing if something that we touch is too hot or too cold.
It has the responsibility of not only telling which muscles to move when we want to pick up a spoon or take a step but also leaving us feeling as if we are doing it without even thinking about it.
Nervous system damage can have severe effects on our ability to live as a functional part of the human race. While our mind still works, somewhere between the boss in the brain and the home base and whatever nerves are connected to those parts, there is a misfire…a message that doesn't get conveyed or that gets conveyed involuntarily.
This type of damage can occur as the result of a serious accident or injury. Conversely people are often born with nervous system damage related to certain medical conditions and genetic predisposition.
The diagnosis of any type of nerve or nervous system damage should be done only by a trained medical professional. There are different tests that a doctor can perform to diagnose the nervous system damage as well as the particular nerves that will/are effected.
While there are many different causes for nervous system damage, there are just as many treatments. These treatments vary from patient to patient as what works for one patient may not have any effect at all for another patient.
The doctor who diagnosis the damage to the nervous system can and will formulate a personalized treatment plan for each individual patient.
When a person is suffering from a type of damage to the nervous system resulting in neuralgia then they may find relief from this pain in the nerves by treating it with different herbs including meadowsweet or valerian. If the nerve damage is from or related to Multiple Sclerosis then the patient may find relief from such things as lobelia or cordyceps.
For nervous system disorders related to certain forms of epilepsy a patient could try black cohosh or even hyssop. Autumn crocus is also thought to help with pain in the nerves but should never be ingested but used as a compress on the affected area.
Camphor is a rather popular natural remedy for swelling and pain related to nervous system damage. This comes in an oil form. Neuralgia as well as sciatica may be relieved by an infusion of Feverfew.
All of these natural remedies and even more are out there. Herbalism has been in practice almost since the beginning of time. People started realizing the medicinal properties of certain plants and throughout even the Middle Ages "wise women" were women who knew how to treat certain ailments with plants.
Throughout the centuries when witch hunting was prevalent this practice pretty much died out as it was the same wise women healing people were then thought to be witches.
Regardless, herbalism is alive and well today and natural remedies such as the ones described above may be helpful to certain people. That being said, any and all nervous system related issues should be not only diagnosed by a licensed professional but also treated by one. By trying to heal yourself you could actually end up making things a whole lot worse than they were before.


Informal tours of our current exhibitions are available for visitors on request during gallery hours. Just ask at our front desk! On weekends between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm you'll find our Gallery Attendants upstairs; they are happy to lead you on a tour and answer any questions you have!
Group tours may be booked in advance for groups of all interests including camps, guides/scouts, school, church and special interest. New to contemporary art? We are happy to tailor your tour to meet your needs. Exhibition tours are approximately 45 minutes in length and are available year-round (except statutory holidays). Exhibition tours during gallery hours are free with admission (suggested admission $5 per person). After gallery hours, exhibition tours are $5 per person/minimum 10 people. A tour can also be combined with a 90 minute hands-on art activity led by a practicing artist for $20 per person/minimum 10 people.
To book a group tour, or for more information, please contact us at 705-721-9696 or email maclaren@maclarenart.com.
Interested in extending your visit with us? See here for information on our room booking and catering services.


Joy loves Chick-fil-A, and it has nothing to do with any political statement – she just loves their chicken, fruit cups, and play place! She loves playing with her sister in our ball house at home.
Going out to Old Towne Spring with her Aunts, cousins, and Grandma. She enjoyed lunch but LOVED this play house we found in a toy store!
Beans in therapy – Joy loved the beans! Loved them between her toes and when I turned my head, she jumped in the bowl!


text:
Washburn Law Mourns the Passing of Bob Dole
Washburn Law Mourns the Passing of Robert Dole
Senator Robert Dole passed away on Sunday, December 5, 2021. Washburn University School of Law Dean Carla Pratt and Washburn University President Jerry Farley shared the following statements. A selection of photos featuring Bob Dole is below.
Statement by Dean Carla Pratt
The Washburn Law School community is grieving the loss of one of our most distinguished and prominent alumni, Senator Robert Dole, known to us fondly as Bob Dole. Senator Dole died of lung cancer on Sunday, December 5, 2021. He was 98 years old.
Senator Dole was one of the most influential and effective legislators in our nation's history. He was able to work with people across the political spectrum to the benefit of all Americans. He was one of the primary architects of the Americans with Disabilities Act which is arguably the largest piece of civil rights legislation passed by Congress. As a World War II veteran who was seriously injured in the war and left with a permanent disability to his right hand, Senator Dole was unable to write with his right hand following the war. Nonetheless, he wanted to study law. He shared a story with me that he had applied to another law school, but that law school was unable to accommodate his disability. He applied to Washburn and was promptly offered the accommodations that he needed to enroll at and graduate from Washburn University School of Law. He told me that Washburn holds a special place in his heart because it was committed to educating all people, including people with disabilities, before the law mandated that educational institutions provide the necessary accommodations to provide access to higher education to people with disabilities. Thanks to his generosity, Washburn Law has a scholarship for students with disabilities that is named for Senator Dole.
Senator Dole used his law degree to continue service to his country. From 1961 to 1996 he represented Kansas in Congress, and from 1985 to 1996, he was the Republican Leader of the United States Senate. He pursued the office of President of the United States in 1996 and won the Republican party's nomination, but was defeated in the election by President Clinton. In 2018, Congress awarded former Senator Dole the highest civilian honor awarded by Congress, the Congressional Gold Medal. His colleagues in the House of Representatives referred to him as a "giant of unrivaled courage." One of my favorite quotes from Senator Dole is "when it's all over, it's not who you were,... it's whether you made a difference." Senator Dole made a difference in the lives of so many Americans and for generations of Americans to come. His was a life of service; a life well-lived.
Statement by President Jerry Farley
Today [Sunday, December 5, 2021] we learned of the passing of Bob Dole, a personal friend to me and many in the Washburn community and one of our most esteemed alumni. Senator Dole earned both a bachelor of arts and a juris doctor in 1952 from Washburn University. Washburn recognized him with two honorary doctor of law degrees in 1969 and 1985, as well as the Washburn Alumni Association's Distinguished Service Award in 1966 and the School of Law Alumni Association's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
Senator Dole made America a better place for all Americans by truly living our moto of 'non nobis solum,' 'not for ourselves alone.' He built relationships throughout his life based on trust, respect and integrity. From his dedication to veterans and disabled Americans, to his congressional leadership, he set an example every American should emulate.
He was born in Russell, Kansas, on July 22, 1923, and enlisted in the Army in 1942. After recovering from an injury sustained during World War II, he enrolled at Washburn. He went on to serve in the Kansas House of Representatives, as Russell County (Kansas) attorney, and as a member of the United States House of Representatives before spending nearly 30 years as a U.S. senator.
He was chair of the Republican National Committee, Senate minority leader and Senate majority leader, where he set a record as the longest-serving Republican leader. Dole was President Gerald Ford's vice-presidential running mate in 1976 and a Republican presidential candidate in both 1988 and 1996, earning the GOP nomination in 1996. He served as national chair of the World War II Memorial Campaign. In January 2018, Dole was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress' highest civilian honor. He was given an honorary promotion to Army colonel that same year.
Like myself, so many in the Washburn community have been personally touched by Sen. Dole's friendship, his genuine care for others and his generosity and service to Washburn. I join countless others in mourning his passing but rising to celebrate his life and pass on his spirit of service to all.
Bob Dole at his law school commencement.
Bob Dole (center) with other Class of 1952 graduates.
Washburn Law Class of 1952 (Dole is top row, center). |
Bob Dole at 1969 commencement and dedication of new law building.
Bob Dole at Washburn Law prior to his announcement in 1995 that he would be running for President.
Bob Dole speaking at the Washburn Law centennial celebration in March 2004.
Statue of Bob Dole on the Washburn Campus.
(Watch dedication ceremony on YouTube (59:39))
_images

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: How to run a application always in background to show a notification in android I am trying to show a notification whenever any new data come into server. But I am facing a problem. It is only showing notification when i am opening the activity. But it is not running in background. I am using service to run the functionality in background. Can any one tell me how to run this application always in background, if the app closed then also?
I am calling the service in onCreate method of the main activity like this:
 public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.dashboard);
    startService(new Intent(this, ReviewUpdateService.class));
      .....
      }

and in ReviewUpdateService.class i have written this code:
   public class ReviewUpdateService extends IntentService{

private Notification.Builder earthquakeNotificationBuilder;
public static final int NOTIFICATION_ID = 1;
public static String QUAKES_REFRESHED = "com.example.androidhive.QUAKES_REFRESHED";
private String user_id;
JSONObject jsonData;
private static String share_pref_file = "json_file";

JSONArray service_notification;
int no_of_notify;

  public ReviewUpdateService() {
        super("ReviewUpdateService");
  }

  private AlarmManager alarmManager;
  private PendingIntent alarmIntent;

public void onCreate() {
    super.onCreate();
    alarmManager = (AlarmManager)getSystemService(Context.ALARM_SERVICE);
    SharedPreferences prefs = getSharedPreferences(share_pref_file,
            Context.MODE_PRIVATE);
    String strJson = prefs.getString("jsondata", "");

    if (!strJson.equals("")) {
        try {
            jsonData = new JSONObject(strJson);
            user_id = jsonData.getString(LoginActivity.KEY_UID);
        } catch (JSONException e) {

            e.printStackTrace();
        }
    }

    String ALARM_ACTION = ReviewAlarmReceiver.ACTION_REFRESH_DASHBOARD_ALARM;
    Intent intentToFire = new Intent(ALARM_ACTION);
    alarmIntent = PendingIntent.getBroadcast(this, 0, intentToFire, 0);

    earthquakeNotificationBuilder = new Notification.Builder(this);
    earthquakeNotificationBuilder
        .setAutoCancel(true)
        .setTicker("New Review detected")
        .setSmallIcon(R.drawable.icon_1);
}
 public void refreshEarthquakes(String formattedDate) {
        // Get the XML
        //URL url;
     UserFunctions userFunctions =  new UserFunctions();;
        try {
                 Log.d("user_id", user_id);
                JSONObject json_city = userFunctions
                    .getNotification(user_id, formattedDate);
            if(json_city!=null){
        {
                try {
                    String notify_get_id = json_city.getString(LoginActivity.KEY_NO_NOTIFY);
                    no_of_notify = Integer.parseInt(notify_get_id);
                    service_notification = json_city
                            .getJSONArray(LoginActivity.KEY_SERVICE_NOTIFY);
                } catch (JSONException e) {

                    e.printStackTrace();
                }
            }
                }

            if(service_notification!=null)
            {

            // looping through all item nodes <item>
            for (int i = 0; i < service_notification.length(); i++) {

                try {
                    JSONObject c = service_notification.getJSONObject(i);
                    String dealer = c.getString("Dealer Rater");
                    String google = c.getString("Google+ Local");
                    String car = c.getString("Cars.com");
                    String edmunds = c.getString("Edmunds.com");
                    String yelp = c.getString("Yelp");
                    String yahoo = c.getString("Yahoo! Local");
                    String insider = c.getString("Insider Pages");
                    String city = c.getString("City Search");
                    int dealer2 = Integer.parseInt(dealer);
                    int google2 = Integer.parseInt(google);
                    int car2 = Integer.parseInt(car);
                    int edmunds2 = Integer.parseInt(edmunds);
                    int yelp2 = Integer.parseInt(yelp);
                    int yahoo2 = Integer.parseInt(yahoo);
                    int insider2 = Integer.parseInt(insider);
                    int city2 = Integer.parseInt(city);
                    String service_unit1 = "Dealer Rater";
                    String service_unit2 = "Google+ Local";
                    String service_unit3 = "Cars.com";
                    String service_unit4 = "Edmunds.com";
                    String service_unit5 = "Yelp";
                    String service_unit6 = "Yahoo! Local";
                    String service_unit7 = "Insider Pages";
                    String service_unit8 = "City Search";
                    if(dealer2 > 0 ) {
                        if(no_of_notify > 0){
                            broadcastNotification(no_of_notify,service_unit1);
                        }
                    }else if(google2 > 0 ) {
                        if(no_of_notify > 0){
                            broadcastNotification(no_of_notify,service_unit2);
                        }
                    }else if(car2 > 0 ) {
                        if(no_of_notify > 0){
                            broadcastNotification(no_of_notify,service_unit3);
                        }
                    }else if(edmunds2 > 0 ) {
                        if(no_of_notify > 0){
                            broadcastNotification(no_of_notify,service_unit4);
                        }
                    }else if(yelp2 > 0 ) {
                        if(no_of_notify > 0){
                            broadcastNotification(no_of_notify,service_unit5);
                        }
                    }else  if(yahoo2 > 0 ) {
                        if(no_of_notify > 0){
                            broadcastNotification(no_of_notify,service_unit6);
                        }
                    }else if(insider2 > 0 ) {
                        if(no_of_notify > 0){
                            broadcastNotification(no_of_notify,service_unit7);
                        }
                    }else if(city2 > 0 ) {
                        if(no_of_notify > 0){
                            broadcastNotification(no_of_notify,service_unit8);
                        }
                    }

                } catch (JSONException e) {

                    e.printStackTrace();
                }
                }
             }
      //  }
        }

        finally {
        }
      }

    @Override
    protected void onHandleIntent(Intent intent) {

        int updateFreq = 60;
         Calendar calender = Calendar.getInstance();
            System.out.println("Current time => "+calender.getTime());

            SimpleDateFormat df = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm");
            String formattedDate = df.format(calender.getTime());
            Log.d("time", formattedDate);
            int alarmType = AlarmManager.ELAPSED_REALTIME_WAKEUP;
            long timeToRefresh = SystemClock.elapsedRealtime() +
                                 updateFreq*60*1000;
            alarmManager.setInexactRepeating(alarmType, timeToRefresh, updateFreq*60*1000, alarmIntent);

        refreshEarthquakes(formattedDate);
        sendBroadcast(new Intent(QUAKES_REFRESHED));

    }
     private void broadcastNotification(int no_of_review, String service_name ) {
            Intent startActivityIntent = new Intent(this, DashboardActivity.class);
            PendingIntent launchIntent =
              PendingIntent.getActivity(this, 0, startActivityIntent, 0);

            earthquakeNotificationBuilder
              .setContentIntent(launchIntent)
              .setContentTitle( no_of_review+" "+"new review is there" )
              .setContentText(service_name);

            if (no_of_review > 10) {
              Uri ringURI =
                RingtoneManager.getDefaultUri(RingtoneManager.TYPE_NOTIFICATION);

              earthquakeNotificationBuilder.setSound(ringURI);
            }

            double vibrateLength = 100*Math.exp(0.53*no_of_review);
            long[] vibrate = new long[] {100, 100, (long)vibrateLength };
            earthquakeNotificationBuilder.setVibrate(vibrate);

            int color;
            if (no_of_review < 2)
              color = Color.GREEN;
            else if (no_of_review < 5)
              color = Color.YELLOW;
            else
              color = Color.RED;

            earthquakeNotificationBuilder.setLights(
              color,
              (int)vibrateLength,
              (int)vibrateLength);

            NotificationManager notificationManager
              = (NotificationManager)getSystemService(Context.NOTIFICATION_SERVICE);

            notificationManager.notify(NOTIFICATION_ID,
              earthquakeNotificationBuilder.getNotification());
          }

        }

And In a reciver method i have added a class like this:
  public class ReviewAlarmReceiver extends BroadcastReceiver{

public static final String ACTION_REFRESH_DASHBOARD_ALARM = "com.example.androidhive.ACTION_REFRESH_EARTHQUAKE_ALARM";

@Override
public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
    // TODO Auto-generated method stub
    Intent startIntent = new Intent(context, ReviewUpdateService.class);
    context.startService(startIntent);
}

}
And in Android.manifest file i have modified like this:
   .........
  <service android:enabled="true"
    android:name=".ReviewUpdateService"/>

  <receiver android:name=".ReviewAlarmReceiver">
       <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="com.example.androidhive.ACTION_REFRESH_EARTHQUAKE_ALARM" />
       </intent-filter>
   </receiver>
  ........

I don't know what is the problem running on. Can anyone help me? Thanks in advance.

A: use simple service with Timer method to execute your operation and whenever your service complete operation then use
    public static final String CUSTOM_INTENT = "packagename.activityname"
         Intent broadcastIntent=new Intent();
        broadcastIntent.setAction( CUSTOM_INTENT);
        broadcastIntent.putExtra(value,"name");// put data to send to your activity
        sendBroadcast( broadcastIntent );

in main activity using broadcast receiver receive intent from service like
 @Override
  public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
   try {

    updateUI(intent);//write your ui update code in definition of this method
} catch (Exception e) {
// TODO Auto-generated catch block
        e.printStackTrace();
    }
           }
             };

   public void UpdateUI(Intent intent){
       String value= intent.getExtras().getString("name");
//rest of operation perform for updation of notification here
            }

A: try this-
 start service in new thread inside oncreate of mainactivity and if device is shut down u may register receiver for onbootup completed broadcastreceiver and start service inside onreceive mtd of receiver.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis, Michelle Monaghan, Jamie Foxx, Juliette Lewis, Danny McBride
Downey gets all Tremblay with Galifianakis
"Due Date" is a fun movie but it doesn't match up to what you expect from either its director Todd Phillips or stars Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis. What I basically mean is that whilst we get a more modern take on a road trip movie, the sort of which has been done countless times before, the edginess of the comedy just doesn't come off. Oh there is some edgy comedy, a dog getting intimate with itself is edgy in anyone's books, but it never becomes a riot of laughs. And sadly that means that whilst you will most likely enjoy "Due Date" you will be left wanting.
With his first child due to be born in L.A. on Friday Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr. - Tropic Thunder) has 5 days to get back, plenty of time. But that is until he meets wannabee actor Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis - The Hangover) and they both get thrown of the flight, put on the "No Fly" list and with Peter's luggage and wallet heading for L.A. without him he needs Ethan's help to get home in time. And if he thought Ethan was annoying to start with he will certainly find him intolerable as they share a cross country drive full of mishaps.
Now I doubt there are many people who haven't seen a road trip movie before, they crop up so often that you wonder why anyone would want to take on trying to breathe life into such a well used idea. But that is what we have with "Due Date" a road trip movie which takes barely anytime to set up the situation of dad to be Peter Highman and wannabee actor Ethan Tremblay becoming unlikely driving buddies, although how they come to be is sort of amusing. The thing is that you sort of know that whilst Peter dislikes Ethan as they are forced to spend time together he will end up liking him and whilst Ethan borders on being a f@ck up you also know that he will at least get something right.
What this means is that "Due Date" is not so much whether Peter and Ethan make it to L.A. in time for the birth of his first child but what happens to them along the way. And to be honest there are plenty of different things which happen to them along the way, you can honestly say that there are some original problems mixed in with some sort of stereotypical ones. But the trouble is that they're not all that funny with sadly more jokes failing than working, well actually failing is a bit harsh as they're just not as funny as you expect. So whilst the scene which features a dog getting intimate with himself is genuinely funny the gags surrounding Ethan carrying his dad's ashes in a coffee can are quite dull. Of course part of the problem is that by nature a road trip movie is nothing more than series of incidents and so the gags which are not as good show up more clearly.
But that is not the only issue which ends up dogging "Due Date" as the characters don't help matters. Now you have to feel for Robert Downey Jr. as he is playing the straight guy and so other than having to act extremely angry doesn't really have much to do, but Peter is such an angry guy at times that you don't warm to him at all. And whilst Zach Galifianakis as Ethan is purposefully meant to be annoying he is so extremely annoying that you don't warm to him either. As such you don't connect to either character, leaving you feeling like an outsider watching in rather than part of what is happening.
What this all boils down to is that "Due Date" whilst not a bad movie is not the riot of laughs that you expect from director Todd Phillips or stars Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis. It certainly has some memorable moments of mirth and certainly serves up some original issues which happen on the road trip but it is a case that far too many jokes are not as funny as they should be.
It was destiny that Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell - Anchorman) would become a racer, he was born in a speeding car in the first place, but with the help of his best friend Cal Naughton (John C. Reilly - The Aviator), Ricky becomes the # ...
To break up the monotony of their daily working lives, best friends John Beckwith (Owen Wilson - Zoolander) and Jeremy Grey (Vince Vaughn - Four Christmases) spend their free time crashing wedding parties, bedding bridesmaids and ge ...
Brennan Huff (Will Ferrell - Blades of Glory) is 39 and still lives at home with his mum, Dale Doback (John C. Reilly - Talladega Nights) is 40 and he still lives at home with his dad. And that is not the only thing they have in com ...
When Alison (Katherine Heigl - Under Siege 2) receives a promotion from the TV station she celebrates the good news with her sister by going dancing and drinking where she meets Ben (Seth Rogen - You, Me and Dupree), a slacker with ...
Role Models (2008)
After things get on top of him Danny (Paul Rudd) and friend Wheeler (Seann William Scott) find themselves in trouble with the law for fighting a tow truck driver. It leads to them doing community service at Sturdy Wings where Wheele ...
TOP TEN MAUREEN O'HARA MOVIES
1) The Quiet Man (1952)
2) Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
3) Rio Grande (1950)
4) The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939)
5) The Black Swan (1942)
6) McLintock! (1963)
7) The Parent Trap (1961)
8) Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962)
9) Sons of the Musketeers (1952)
10) The Christmas Box (1995)
The Woodcarver (2012)


text:
Artists: G
Hernan Garcia
Born in Bogota, Colombia, Hernan received a bachelor's degree in both architecture and fine arts. He pursued further education at Scuola per Il arte E Il restauro Di Firenze ,Italy, He continued his education in Italy studying semiotics in Milan. After some years teaching and writing in the academy in Bogota, he emigrate to USA in 2000 , living and working in Miami , New York and now in Easton CT.
Hernan's work (including paintings, drawings and others 3D mediums) has been exhibited in solo and group shows in galleries and art fairs throughout the United States, as well as Europe and Latin America. His work can be found in both public ,corporate and private collections. He also writes articles on the theories of art, music and contemporary art with a particular focus on language , communication and art history.
He currently resides with his son in Easton, CT.
My work is a reflection on language, memories, symbols and their connection with spiritual practices. I'm interested in the diversity of spiritual development and all elements included in its ways and liturgies. The abstract vocabulary is ideal for this exchange of images where nothing is completely accurate or defined, I see every painting as an object of search and meditation. For me painting is a daily and focused practice and also a spiritual and emotional act, a metaphor for the sacred expressions like prayer or being a father.
Ira Ginsburg
Born in Flatbush, Brooklyn in 1945, I've been painting since childhood. I earned a B.A. in Literature from NYU, Washington Square College, and studied art and architecture at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. After college, my wife, Carla Candiotti, and I served in the Peace Corps in Guatemala, working in Rural Community Development. During the war in Vietnam, we lived and worked in Toronto, Canada, where I apprenticed as an art glass painter at the Robert McCausland Studio, the oldest art glass atelier in Canada. My artwork during this period was represented by the Lillian Morrison Gallery in Toronto.
In 1975 I left McCausland's to execute my own commissions. My "Phoenix" took first prize in ecclesiastical art at the Architects Institute of America Bicentennial Competition in Boston in 1976. I had a solo exhibit at Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum in 1978. In 1979 the Actors Equity Association of Canada commissioned an art glass window for installation at the American Actors Equity Association headquarters at 165 West 46th Street in Manhattan. During the 1990s my work was exhibited at the CBGB gallery on the Bowery. For the last 35 years we've lived in our 100-year-old farmhouse in Westport.
My oil paintings start with a sketch of the human form in motion. Images begin to emerge that are dreamscapes of humans and beasts, moving through tableaux of mythic rites, processions and journeys. These surreal scenes invariably embody the world's ubiquitous preconscious archetypes and mythologies, and they are often reflective of the culture, literature and imagery of Mesoamerica, where I've spent time over the years. The paintings are walls of images, but they can also draw the viewer into deeper interior perspectives; a prolonged viewing is required to appreciate this compositional tension.
After Velasquez, 1999
Maya, 1998
Scott Glaser
Scott Glaser paints: contemporary realism; photorealism; trompe l'oeil; figurative; abstract; portraits; murals. Glaser has been commissioned by corporate clients including Hyatt; Kate Spade: the city of Stamford; China Merchants Bank; Perkins Eastman Architects; Fisher Development and private collectors in New York, Palm Beach and Boston. His latest commision was a 4'x8' mural for the reception area of China Merchants Bank's newest floor on Madison Avenue. He recently created the largest outdoor mural ever produced for the city of Stamford. Glaser also was one of 88 artists from the tri-state area asked to create a piano for the Sing For Hope Pop Up Piano Exhibit - the largest outdoor public art installation ever exhibited in the five boroughs of New York. He was awarded First Place in Contemporary Painting at the Bruce Museum 2014 Arts Festival. He is a member of the VIA-21 Team (Visuals Innovate the Arts for the 21st Century)- a select group of artists from the tri-state area assembled to create, promote and advance the state of art in public places.
Glaser is serving as an Art Advisor for the Connecticut Office of the Arts Art in Public Spaces Program. Scott attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City in the early 70's, double-majoring in painting and advertising. Glaser lives in Westport with his wife and four dogs.
My mission is to paint precisely what I see. What my eye sees and what my mind's eye sees. My method: create a conceptual sketch in the computer and print gridded square sections of my composition to work from. Using the grid system allows me to faithfully depict all elements in my sketch by replicating one square at a time. Painting in the photorealistic style, spending hundreds of hours on a piece compels me to be totally consumed by the process of painting. Every concept, when execution begins, is a test of my technical ability.
LIBERTY 2009
$25,000.00 (sold)
VARANASI, INDIA 2015
Acrylic on Artboard
BLAZING BLOOMS
ORIGINAL PAINTING Acrylic on canvas
DIGITAL BLOWUP vinyl
OFF INTO THE SUNSET
HOMAGE TO FRED
Acrylic on antique upright piano
14" x 54" size of painted panel
$15,000.00 (value, auctioned off for charity)
Lois Goglia
Lois Goglia has exhibited artwork as close as her hometown in Cheshire, Connecticut, and as far away as Mexico and South Korea. Lois has exhibited her artwork in United States art galleries and museums in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania. She has won prizes both nationally and internationally. Lois has also written reviews for Art New England Magazine. She has been investigating the relationship between Art and Science for over twenty-five years. Initially, Goglia used only X-rays from her husband's veterinary hospital as part of her her artist's vocabulary. Later, animal X-rays were supplemented with human X-rays donated to by medical professionals and researchers..
As found my Art inspiration in my husband's veterinary hospital. While sitting in the treatment room one day, my eyes fixated on an X-ray od a dog mounted on a light box hanging on a wall across the room. I found the animal image beautiful. Its value contrasts, textures, and anatomical shapes made the X-rays visually compelling. Medical professionals and researchers soon expanded my X-ray art vocabulary by providing me with human X-rays, ultrasound radiographs, mammograms, X-rays of DNA sequencing gels, and X-rays of cells growing in Petri dishes. Over the last twenty- five years I have cut and pasted X-rays, painted on X-rays, sutured X-rays, photographed X-rays, and collaged X-rays, and used computer technology to modify them. All six series of artwork I have created with this mélange of medical imagery retain an overarching Art/Science theme, but each series has a specific meaning.
Petri Dish1 left
Petri Dish 2 right
Lavalamp
Zvi Goldman
I'm a native Israeli who lives in CT. I draw ideas from my education and experience in life sciences, engineering, business and just life. Topics related to human experience and condition inspire me. I have always liked fixing and creating things. I developed a special love for wood early in life that inspired me to take up wood sculpting professionally. Wood sculptures and reliefs constitute most of my work.
Each work is its own being and an expression of deep reflection, my "Thoughts in Wood." My art work is original and one-of-a kind. I don't believe in achieving perfection in my work although I care a lot about the final details. I design my sculptures holistically to be interesting from all directions. The outlines project flow and closure and bases are integrated with the sculptures. After conceptualization and sketching I experiment with constructing models. Finally, the wood provides inspiration for the rest. I use a single block of wood in most instances, however, have utilized multiple types of wood when the piece calls for variations in textures or grains. I also work with epoxy clay and sea glass to create complex concepts. I hope you will enjoy my art as much as I have enjoyed creating it. www.zvigoldman.com, zvigoldman@hotmail.com
(203) 521-4366 Trumbull CT
Epoxy Clay, 12x12x19. This is made out of clay, as I needed to mold empty space in a precise way, in this case a collection of spheres merged into one. I believe that the only and true perfection is the 'nothing,' the void of all matter, energy, space and time. Anything else that may be described and measured, and therefore is bound, cannot be 'perfect.'
Maple, 9x8x12. We are observing the micro and macro as we are very insignificant in the middle. Or just the opposite? The dynamics, which we are part of it, starts with the speedy motion at the micro (the roots) and ends with the seemingly slow motion of the havens above.
Conquered Earth
Maple, 5x9x12. Life on earth, culminating with human species, is represented by a dual-strand DNA structure. Originating on earth or coming from other sources, human DNA has conquered the Earth, changing it in unexpected ways.
Two of One
Bubinga (Rosewood), 10x1x19. Two complementary aspects of a face are captured with a single line stroke. We can assume many appearances, many faces.
Diversity Dance
Zebra, Cherry, 11x11x19. Diversity of players leads to both collaborative and disruptive behaviors. All are necessary to create healthy group dynamics and the prospect of promising potential. The inspiration to the 'dancing weed heads' came from the fiddle head plants observed in the Devil's Den park in CT.
Olive Angle
Olive wood from Israel, 8x7x11. The faith of humanity depends on whether we can extend wings of kindness--ordinary people doing extraordinary things. When you become an angel to others, perfection is not possible or even important. The above narrative slowly emerged out of this scrap piece of olive wood (saved from the fireplace) as I slowly followed its cues.
Larry Gordon
Larry Gordon, founding principal of an architectural firm, received his Bachelor of Architecture from The Cooper Union School of Art and Architecture and his M. Arch from MIT on a Compton Fellowship. His love of painting dates back to his attendance at Music & Art High School in NYC. He was adjunct Associate Professor at New York Institute of Technology and a visiting critic at City University.
I have continuously been involved in the arts as a painter – dividing my day between his architectural practice and painting. I believe both arts complement each other and reinforce the creative process.My years as an architect have influenced my art and informed my work. The paintings and drawings begin with a formal linear structure. The Grid is then manipulated, changed and removed. I use transparency, overlapping shapes and images. My painting aims at a joyful and playful celebration of color– embracing excess.Except for a general overall concept, I have no preconceived idea for an individual work and, instead, let the painting take me on a journey. I hope the viewer will have a direct relationship with the painting. I have decontextualized the painting. The shapes become dematerialized and abstract . Each shape produces a powerful effect, but together their decorative impact is based on linear form and color. The use of color is divorced from subject and independent from the picture meaning.I have used contrast between vertical banding and the sharp curves that play against it, inflecting the entire surface with a counterpoint between straight and curving rhythmic beats. I have eliminated the distinctions between ground and figure upon which traditional composition depends.
GORDON STUDIO, 72 BEACH AVENUE, LARCHMONT NY 10538
T: 914 834 0806 • F: 914 834 5912 • larry@gordonstudio.net
Acrylic 36' X 36"
Westport Win
Acrylic 30"x40"
Mythical Moment
Acrylic18"X36"
Illusions 16
Katheryn Gray
Katheryn Gray received her BA in art and art history from Ithaca College. She has since studied at Parsons School of Design, The National Academy of Art and Maryland Institute of Art in Sorrento, Italy. Following her life-long passion for the visual arts, she has enjoyed a professional career in both graphic and interior design. She currently resides in Weston.
I paint primarily in oils. I love the diversity of pigments and transparency that oils have to offer. I choose subjects that inspire me in terms of mood, light or a particular perspective. I am drawn to scenes that imply a subtle narrative. I try to capture these elements in my work and impart them to the viewer.
Jen Greely
Born and raised in Sonoma County, CA, Jen Greely earned B.A. degrees in Economics and Italian from UC Davis, and a M.A. degree in Demography from the University of Pennsylvania. Her professional experience ranges from government research in banking regulation, to teaching internationally on the collection and graphical representation of data, to academic research on religious populations. Her last professional position was on faculty as a researcher at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.
In 2004, Greely left the academic realm to focus on her family, and she now lives in Westport, CT where she works out of her home studio as a painter. Drawing on familiar scenes from the natural world, along with the emotional physical events of our wider society, she explores the juxtaposition of order and chaos, serenity and loss, beauty and decay. Greely's art connects viewers with natural media, familiar pattern and form to explore current events, our communities, bodies, and sense of self. Her newest work, incorporating printmaking and encaustic painting, utilizes layered line and repetitive form as a means to explore universal human emotions. See more of Greely's work at
www.jengreely.com
As an artist, I explore moments of unexpected or hidden emotion in everyday objects and scenes. I express these moments through gestural line drawings, painting, printmaking, and site-specific installation. Through repetitive and rotated imagery, drawn knots anthropomorphize into human-like forms surreptitiously caught dancing, embracing, hiding, or fighting. By stripping the body of its human form and personal identity, but leaving intact gesture and interaction, these works express universal emotions and actions.Visual storytelling is an underlying theme in my art, and chosen compositions seek to depict straightforward moments with a hidden past. A timeless and peaceful ocean horizon might be juxtaposed with drowning, or a thawing pristine snowy lake scene hints at the decayed detritus encased below. Installations include carefully chosen and arranged objects or clothing that invite viewers to interact with familiar scenes in new and unexpected ways, revealing personal histories through visual allegory.
Disappear, 2017
15 x 15 inches (28 x 22 inches overall)
Carborundum Monotype on Hahnemuhle paper
I Do, I Don't, 2017
Diptych, Encaustic on cradled birch panel, private collection, Philadelphia
Leap, 2017
8 x 8 inches, Encaustic on birch panel, $300
Defeat, 2017
Emerge, 2017
Hang, 2017


How do social and cultural values influence science and scientific theories?
How does the metaphorical thought influence the scientific thought?
What is the relationship between technology and the body?
And other questions related to the interaction between Science,Technology and Society.
The site is run by Dr. Shimon Amit.
Dr. Amit holds a B.Sc. in Life Sciences (Biology) from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Additionally, he holds MA and PhD from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, specializing in the development of theories in biology and the connection between science, technology and society.


text:
Detecting HIV: Seroconversion Time Is Important
Medically reviewed by Nancy Carteron, MD, FACR on April 26, 2018 — Written by Ann Pietrangelo and Kimberly Holland
When a person contracts the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), timing can affect HIV test results. Although tests have become more accurate, none of them can detect an HIV infection immediately after it's contracted.
The body's defense mechanisms kick into action after contracting HIV. The immune system begins to develop antibodies to attack the virus. This production of HIV antibodies is called seroconversion. Before seroconversion, there may not be detectable levels of HIV antibodies in a person's blood.
Before seroconversion, an HIV blood test could produce a false negative result. A positive HIV antibody test will not appear until the body makes enough HIV antibodies to be detected.
How long does seroconversion take?
The timeframe between when a person contracts HIV and when tests can detect the infection is known as the window period. Everyone's immune system is different. This makes it difficult to predict how long this stage will last.
Scientists have developed sensitive blood tests since the early days of the HIV epidemic. It's now possible to detect HIV antibodies, as well as other components of HIV, earlier than ever before. According to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, most people test positive within a few weeks of contracting HIV. For others, it may take up to 12 weeks.
Do people experience symptoms before seroconversion?
During the window period, a person may develop symptoms similar to the flu or other common viruses that include:
swollen lymph nodes
Symptoms may last from a few days to a few weeks. And they may range from mild to severe. But it's possible to pass through the early infection stage without experiencing any symptoms at all. During this time, a person may not even realize that they've contracted HIV.
Can HIV be transmitted during the window period?
It's important to know that people can transmit HIV before seroconversion.
The time between exposure and the immune system's initial response is a period of "acute HIV infection." Following the initial transmission, the amount of HIV in the body is extremely high. So is the risk of transmitting the virus. That's because the body has yet to manufacture the antibodies needed to fight it, and it's not yet receiving treatment.
During this stage, most people have no idea that they've contracted HIV. Even if they've been tested, they may have received a false negative result. This might lead to engaging in practices with known risk factors, such as sex without a condom, where a person could unknowingly spread the virus to other people.
Anyone who thinks they've had a recent exposure should tell their healthcare provider. They may check the HIV viral load or prescribe preventive treatment for a month.
Steps to take after being exposed to HIV
Anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to HIV should get tested. If the initial test results are negative, schedule a follow-up test.
Ask a healthcare provider or contact the local department of public health to find out where to go for testing. Testing sites may offer either anonymous or confidential testing, depending on the laws in the state and local area. Anonymous means names are not recorded by the testing site, and only the person being tested has access to the results. Confidential means a healthcare provider has access to the results, and the results may be recorded in a person's medical file at the testing site.
Talk to a healthcare provider about post-exposure prophylaxis and pre-exposure prophylaxis.
People's actions can help stop the spread of the virus. Until someone is confident that they're HIV-free, they should avoid sexual contact or use a condom during sex. It's also important to avoid sharing needles with others.
To find a nearby HIV testing site, visit GetTested.cdc.gov.
What does the HIV test involve?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that all people between the ages of 13 and 64 be tested at least once for HIV. People with known risk factors should be tested yearly, or more frequently.
HIV tests are very accurate, but no test can detect the virus immediately after transmission. How soon a test can detect HIV depends on what the test is looking for—antibodies, antigens, or the virus itself.
HIV testing uses a blood draw, a finger stick, or an oral swab. The type of sample used depends on the test.
These three types of diagnostic tests are used to detect HIV:
Antibody test. This test looks for the presence of HIV antibodies, or proteins that the body produces when an HIV infection is developing. Most HIV rapid tests and HIV home tests use antibody detection. A blood draw, finger prick, or oral swab may be used for this test.
Antigen/antibody tests. Antigens are substances that trigger the immune system when the HIV virus is in the acute infection stage. Antigens are released before antibodies are developed, so this type may be used for earlier detection. This test can also use a blood draw, finger prick, or oral swab.
Nucleic acid test (NAT). An expensive option, a NAT can search for the virus genetic material itself in blood samples. This test is typically saved for confirming a positive diagnosis or for people with a high risk of exposure or several known risk factors. A NAT typically uses a blood sample or an oral swab taken from the inside of the cheek.
Antibody and antigen/antibody tests are typically used first because they are less expensive and easier to administer. They may also detect signs of HIV sooner. A NAT test may be used to confirm a positive result on an antibody or antigen/antibody test, or if these tests are negative and there is a strong suspicion for new HIV infection.
Home Tests for HIV
Home testing is highly encouraged for its convenience and confidentiality. In fact, one study found that home testing encouraged adherence to the recommendation for regular testing, especially in populations with known risk factors.
Mail-in HIV tests use a blood sample from a finger prick. The sample is mailed to a licensed laboratory for testing, and results may be available in as little as one business day.
Rapid home tests offer accurate results in as little as 20 minutes from the comfort of home. Oral fluid samples are used most often.
Look for home HIV testing kits that are FDA approved. Reputable HIV home tests often come with confidential counseling and a referral service to help individuals follow up for additional testing in the event a test is positive.
Treatment and follow-up care
A person who tests positive for HIV should discuss treatment with their current primary care provider, or they can ask the staff who performed the HIV test for a referral for HIV care and treatment.
Don't wait to begin treatment. Early diagnosis, and earlier and more effective treatment options are helping people with HIV live longer and healthier lives than ever before. Current U.S. guidelines recommend starting treatment right away after testing positive to preserve the immune system.
A healthcare provider will prescribe medications to treat HIV. They can also provide information about known risk factors. It's also important for a person who has tested positive to notify anyone they've had sexual contact with, so they can be tested too. It's also important to use condoms to avoid passing the virus onto others.
Studies have shown that a person living with HIV who is on regular antiretroviral therapy that reduces the virus to undetectable levels in the blood is NOT able to transmit HIV to a partner during sex. The current medical consensus is that "Undetectable = Untransmittable."
Anyone who suspects they've been exposed to HIV should not wait to act. They should make an appointment with a healthcare provider, tell them when they might have been exposed, and get an HIV blood test.
Keep in mind, timing matters. No test can detect an HIV infection immediately after contracting the virus. It may take up to 12 weeks for HIV antibodies to become detectable in the blood.
If a person receives a negative result on their first test, they should ask their healthcare provider if and when they should schedule a follow-up test.
And remember, it's possible to pass the virus on to others, even before it becomes detectable, and even after starting on anti-viral medications, until the virus has been reduced to undetectable levels. Take steps to protect others by practicing sex with a condom and avoiding shared needles.
HIV vs. AIDS: What's the Difference?
A Comprehensive Guide to HIV and AIDS
Busting HIV Transmission Myths
The History of HIV and AIDS in the United States
The Most Dangerous Complications of HIV and AIDS
Medically reviewed by Daniel Murrell, MD
Confused about the difference between HIV and AIDS? These terms, though related, are often mistakenly used interchangeably. In fact, having HIV…
HIV is a virus that damages the immune system. HIV is a lifelong condition, and without treatment, a person with HIV can develop AIDS, which makes the…
Part of the fear of HIV comes from lack of education. Understanding the facts can prevent misinformation - and HIV - from spreading.
Did you know that the first confirmed case of AIDS was in the Midwest? Learn about the history of HIV, AIDS, and treatments.
Living with HIV can result in a weakened immune system. Learn about proactive, daily habits that can protect the health of those living with HIV.
How to Manage HIV Pain
Medically reviewed by Thomas Dean Chiampas, PharmD, BCPS, AAHIVP
People living with HIV may experience chronic pain due to damage caused by the disease or the side effects of medications that treat it. Determining…
HIV Awareness: Showcasing an Activist Artist's Work
HIV-positive artist Shan Kelley describes how he combines his artwork with activism.
Raising Kids When You Have HIV: What You Need to Know
Raising kids when you have HIV can be complicated. Here's how one woman chose to talk to her kids about her diagnosis.
5 Things I Learned During My First Year Living with HIV
Medically reviewed by Cameron White, MD, MPH
After finding out he had HIV over 10 years ago, David was unsure of who to talk to or where to turn for help. Over time and after doing a lot of…
HIV-Positive Dating: How I Overcame Stigma
After being diagnosed with HIV, David faced several challenges and reactions rooted in stigma and misinformation when dating. Here's how he overcame…


Despite being one of the less-discussed parts of your vehicle, shock absorbers are incredibly important part of your car. Why? Well, because they are in charge of keeping your tires in contact with the road, which means that they're a determining factor in whether you have control of the vehicle. Aside from this, they also help control the movement of springs and suspension. Still, the leakage in shock absorbers can cause them to malfunction, thus, putting you, other passengers and other traffic participants in a mortal peril. In order to prevent this, you first need to understand what causes leakage in the shock absorbers.
In most cases, shock absorbers consist of pistons (one or more) which flow through a thick oil as the wheel moves up and down. The role of this motion is to convert the mechanical energy into heat and dampen the motion. This allows the wheel not to bounce each time it hits the bump, which helps soften the impact. Now, keep in mind that it's not the job of the absorber to absorb the blow (despite the misleading name), seeing as how this is the job for the springs spring. Unlike the engine, the oil in the absorber is sealed in and it doesn't need to be replaced. Unfortunately, there's always the possibility of the leak, which then turns into a major problem. One good thing about this is the fact that once such a leak occurs, the number of culprits is not that great.
The first and, perhaps, the subtlest reason for shock absorbers leakage are brittle or torn seals. The problem with this lies in the fact that the leak is so minor that it's fairly easy for it to remain unnoticed until the level of oil in the system becomes dangerously low. The problem gets even greater, seeing as how after losing only 10 percent of the total fluid, the absorber becomes quite unreliable. Fortunately, this is something that can easily be noticed in time if you're regularly taking your vehicle to professional mechanical services. You would be surprised at how much damage (both financial and physical) can be prevented with mechanical services.
Previously, we mentioned that the piston and the oil are in a closed system known as shock, however, what happens if the entire system gets bent due to an impact or if, at least the piston gets bent. Aside from not being able to work properly, this bend might also cause a rupture through which the fluids from the system might start leaking. Needless to say, this is somewhat simpler to spot than the previously-discussed leak since it A) comes after an impact that you simply can't ignore and B) can be felt immediately afterward.
Lastly, the leakage in the shock absorber may be caused by the fact that the individual smaller parts are just worn out. There are two reasons why this happens. The first one is, obviously, a probability of impact, which is something that we've already discussed. The second one is time, due to the fact that your shock absorbers may erode over the course of time.
As for the reason why this is so problematic, the most important factor is the fact that this is not something that happens that often. Unlike tires that you're supposed to replace every 3,000 miles or oil that you should replace every 5,000 miles, there is really no rule how often you should check smaller parts in your shock absorbers. This is, once again, why a regular maintenance and checkup need to become your top priority.
Lastly, it's vital that we address various ways in which you can identify a shock absorber leak. First of all, the ride will become a lot bouncier, due to the fact that the main absorber of impact won't be in a working order. Apart from this, you might notice a slight vibration in your steering wheel, especially in a scenario where your front absorber is faulty. One of the most notable symptoms is the idea that your vehicle might start nose-diving more than it previously did. At the very end, your tires might start getting worn out more rapidly, while this may not be that easy to notice.
The funniest thing about this whole ordeal lies in the fact that a leakage in shock absorbers isn't the first thing you're likely to notice. In fact, it's probably not amongst the first 20 things that will come across your mind when it comes to the topic of car maintenance. This alone is the reason enough why such a thing needs to be entrusted to professionals.


text:
Analysis From Washington -- Who's Behind Moscow Bombings
July 09, 1996 00:00 GMT
By Paul Goble
Washington, July 15 (RFE/RL) -- Many in both Moscow and the West have immediately blamed the Chechens for the two attacks on Moscow trolleys this week. But several senior aides to President Boris Yeltsin performed a useful service when they suggested on Friday that there is no evidence yet to link the Chechens to these terrorist actions.
In fact, a careful consideration of what has been reported so far suggests that the range of possible perpetrators is actually quite large and that the Chechens, while the most politically convenient group to blame, are probably not behind these attacks.
There are in fact three reasons for doubting that the Chechens are behind these attacks, all having to do with what has been their typical mode of operation:
First, while the most famous Chechen attacks beyond the borders of their republic--Budyonovsk and Pervomaiskoye--did result in hostage taking and civilian deaths, neither was planned as an attack on civilians. Instead and in keeping with their military style inside Chechnya, the Chechen fighters have focused on Russian military targets and personnel.
Second, the size of the bombs that have gone off so far is much smaller than the Chechens have used on other occasions.
And third, the Chechens now under serious Russian attack in their homeland certainly recognise that attacks against Russian civilians in Moscow would not only cost them the sympathies of many Russians but ensure that the Russian government could launch a war of extermination against them without having to worry much about international criticism.
But if the Chechens did not do it, then who might be responsible? At least five other groups are possible suspects:
First, Russian criminal groups who are upset by Yeltsin's anti-crime decrees and who want to take advantage of the period between the second round of the elections and the inauguration to create instability and to highlight their own impunity. Yeltsin aides, for example, have indicated that they believe the "mafia" may be behind these attacks.
Second, extreme communists who are not prepared to live with the results of the Russian elections and who may now believe that their party can come to power only in the context of chaos and disorder. Several leaders of this group, such as Viktor Anpilov, earlier said publicly that they continue to see Lenin's seizure of power as a model.
Third, some in the Russian army who may want to stir up antipathy toward the Chechens in order to justify an even more brutal attack on the Chechen opposition. Obviously, if the Chechens were responsible or in this case could be presented as responsible, the army would be given a free hand to "solve" the Chechen problem.
Fourth, certain Russian politicians both in the security services and outside who may want a harder line against crime than even Yeltsin is prepared to support and who are taking advantage of what more than one analyst has called the "power vacuum" in Moscow in the days before the inauguration.
And fifth, and unfortunately, some in the Yeltsin government itself who may have been looking for a way to distract attention to what the Russian army is now doing in Chechnya, to further muddy the waters about the conflict, and to forestall Western criticism of Russian behaviour there.
Some of these groups as well as others may have a vested interest in a rush to judgment, but should that happen, the tragedy of these bombings would only be compounded.