text:
Pentagon Admits Afghanistan's New Black Hawks Can't Match Its Older Russian Choppers
A new official report raises serious concerns about whether the new helicopters will actually hurt the Afghan military's ability to operate.
By Joseph TrevithickJune 15, 2018
AP Photo/Rahmat Gul
A report from a top U.S. military watchdog has finally acknowledged that the UH-60A+ Black Hawks that the United States is supplying to the Afghan Air Force are less capable and harder to maintain than the Russian-made Mi-17 Hip helicopters they have now. The review raises concerns that this could limit Afghanistan's ability to conduct operations across the country unless steps are taking to mitigate the loss of capability, something we at The War Zone have long warned could easily be the case.
The Pentagon's own Office of the Inspector General included these frank admissions in a routine, periodic update on U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, nicknamed Operation Freedom's Sentinel, and assistance to the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF), which it released in May 2018. The Department of Defense leads this oversight effort, which also includes representatives from the U.S. State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development.
As First UH-60s Arrive, US Plan to Dump Afghan Mi-17s Is Still ProblematicBy Joseph Trevithick Posted in The War Zone
Pentagon Watchdog Slams U.S.-Backed Efforts to Expand The Afghan Air ForceBy Joseph Trevithick Posted in The War Zone
The US Plan to Give Afghanistan a Fleet of Black Hawks Is Deeply FlawedBy Joseph Trevithick Posted in The War Zone
Afghanistan Is Getting More Ill-Suited Attack Choppers it May Not Even Be Able to FlyBy Joseph Trevithick Posted in The War Zone
Scary Video Of Helicopter Crash That Killed Top Afghan General EmergesBy Tyler Rogoway Posted in The War Zone
"The transition [from Mi-17s to UH-60s] presents several challenges that have yet to be fully addressed," the report says in a section dedicated to the issue. "Black Hawks do not have the lift capacity of Mi-17s."
"They are unable to accommodate some of the larger cargo items the Mi-17s can carry, and in general, it takes almost two Black Hawks to carry the load of a single Mi-17," the review continues. "Furthermore, unlike Mi-17s, Black Hawks cannot fly at high elevations and, as such, cannot operate in remote regions of Afghanistan where Mi-17s operate."
An Afghan Air Force Mi-17 helicopter.
These are relatively damning statements to come out of the Pentagon itself, given that it has pushed for and continually defended the delivery of the Black Hawks to the Afghan Air Force as essential to both the effort to modernize that service and a broader goal of improving the Afghan military's ability to conduct operations independently of the NATO-led coalition in the country. The U.S. military eventually hopes to supply a total of nearly 160 UH-60s, including gunship versions with forward-firing weapons, to both the Afghan Air Force and the special operations-dedicated Special Mission Wing (SMW).
As of December 2017, the Afghan Air Force had eight UH-60A+ helicopters. The plan is for the service to have 52 of the rotary wing aircraft operational by the end of 2019. The A+ model aircraft have the same engines as the later UH-60L, as well as other minor modifications, but lack the latest updates available on U.S. Army types, such as digital flight management systems.
But even so, the Black Hawks are significantly more complex than the Mi-17s, which raises additional maintenance and logistics issues. Afghan ground crews are responsible for 80 percent of the maintenance on the Hips themselves, with the remaining 20 percent being heavy depot maintenance they do not have the facilities to perform in-country. Private contractors provide the bulk of the support, at significant additional cost, for the other aircraft types across the Afghan Air Force and SMW.
"The Mi-17 is 'much more conducive to the education level available in the general Afghan population than the UH-60As' when it comes to maintenance," the 9th Air Expeditionary Task Force-Afghanistan (AETF-A), the U.S. Air Force's top command for operations in Afghanistan, which also oversees advising the Afghan Air Force, said, according to the Pentagon Inspector General's review. "The expectation is that the AAF will be almost entirely reliant on contractors for Black Hawk maintenance in the near- to mid-term."
And with Mi-17s still being the workhorse of the Afghan Air Force, the U.S. military has faced additional challenges in maintaining that capability while at the same time trying to work toward phasing it out. This has been most pronounced with regards to transitioning qualified pilots and other aircrews to operate Black Hawks.
"Even though the Mi-17 is being phased out, 9th AETF-A said the new pilots are needed to replace Mi-17 pilots who migrate to Black Hawks," the Inspector General report notes. "This raises concerns about the efficiency of training Afghan pilots to fly an airframe that is being phased out, rather than putting new trainees directly into the Black Hawk pipeline."
The same goes for training ground crews to maintain the Russian-made helicopters. The Afghan Air Force sorely needs those personnel to support existing operations.
A member of the Afghan Air Force works on a Mi-17 helicopter.
The U.S. military has sought to downplay these issues. In a statement to Bloomberg, U.S. Army Army Lieutenant Colonel Kone Faulkner, a Pentagon spokesperson, said that the UH-60s would be able to perform 90 percent of the missions that the Afghan Mi-17s do at present, but did not offer any specifics.
It is difficult to imagine how this could be an entirely accurate appraisal of the situation. Though the UH-60 may have the necessary performance to conduct individual missions, those helicopters simply will not be as flexible and rapidly able to move around Afghanistan's mountainous terrain as the Mi-17s.
Members of the U.S. Air Force recently noted publicly in a video seen below that switching from HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters, a variant of the Black Hawk, to the Army's larger and more powerful CH-47 Chinooks allowed them to fly straight over certain mountains instead of having to go around them. Those same individuals also raised the issue of the smaller helicopters limited payload capacity, especially in the hot-and-high environment in the country. This has been an issue for other types of helicopters the Afghan Air Force operates, as well.
"In many cases the UH-60 is as, or more, capable than the Mi-17," Faulkner insisted to Bloomberg. One version "provides more firepower than the Mi-17 variant, which is limited to rockets only and is less maneuverable," he noted.
This is not entirely accurate. The Hips can and do carry forward-firing 23mm gun pods in addition to unguided rockets. They also have additional machine guns mounted at the forward doors to the main cabin. Regardless, between June and November 2017, helicopters with these weapons conducted nearly 20 percent of all Afghan Air Force air-to-ground fire support missions.
And neither the Pentagon's Inspector General's report nor Faulkner even touched on why any of this is an issue to begin with. For years, members of Congress had increasingly questioned why the U.S. military was buying Russian-made helicopters instead of offering an American-built platform, an issue that only became more significant after Russia illegally annexed Ukraine's Crimea and ended up under significant U.S. sanctions.
Now unable to buy new Hips straight from the manufacturer, the U.S. military has already experienced significant difficulties keeping both the existing Mi-17s going and delivering the new UH-60s, which has required some almost bizarre bureaucratic shuffling. It's also important to note that the Afghan Air Force has had a long-standing requirement for a total fleet of more than 50 Hips, but it has never been able to reach that target.
As of December 2017, the Afghan Air Force had 47 Mi-17s in inventory, but 24 of them were non-mission capable due to maintenance issues. In May 2018, Afghan forces blew up one of these helicopters on the ground after a reported "hard landing" apparently totaled the aircraft, further reducing the available fleet.
In one attempt to quickly make up for these shortfalls, which continue amid a worrisome surge in Taliban and other insurgent activity since 2017, the U.S. military actually transferred two Mi-17s to the Afghan Air Force from U.S. Army's own Company C, 1st Battalion, 223rd Aviation Regiment at Fort Rucker in Alabama. This unit runs a so-called "Non-Standard Rotary Wing" training program that employs these Russian-built helicopters.
At the same time, the U.S. military has been rapidly acquiring the necessary UH-60s by functionally buying them from itself and then making arrangements to send them to Afghanistan. These aircraft have come by way of the Army-run Blackhawk Exchange and Sales Team, or BEST, which works to exchange retired UH-60s of various types with other federal agencies or sell them to allies, partners, and private companies.
In effect, the Army "sold" the helicopters to the U.S. military's Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan (CSTC-A), which "purchased" them using funds Congress has set aside in the Pentagon's budget to support Afghanistan's military. In February 2018, the Pentagon asked legislators to allow them to use the money they had "gained" in this transaction to buy new UH-60M helicopters for the Army itself. The reality of what occurred is closer to moving the funding from one line in a spreadsheet to another and handing over dozens of helicopters to the Afghans essentially for free.
A retired EH-60A helicopter sits next to other Black Hawks awaiting transfer via the BEST program.
Together with the U.S. military's Inspector General's review, this can only raise questions about the efficacy and oversight of the overall efforts to modernize the Afghan Air Force. It also prompts concerns about whether or not Afghanistan's military will suffer a significant loss in capability in the near- or even mid-term, which will require the United States and its partners to remain in the country longer or even take a newly active role in the conflict.
Of course, none of this is necessarily new or surprising. As noted, I myself had warned about exactly these issues, writing in September 2017:
It's hard to imagine the Afghan UH-60 fleet will be able to match that level of independent operation any time soon and the transition could throw the relative stability of the "advanced" Mi-17 program into disarray. Captain Salvin told Military Times that the U.S. military plans to provide training more than 60 future UH-60 pilots in both Afghanistan and the United States, starting between October and November.
But it's not at all clear where these aviators would come from and Salvin suggested this would be separate for transition training for existing Hip crews. As of July 2017, the Afghan Air Force had 82 Hip pilots in total, including 39 co-pilots and 11 instructors, according to a quarterly report from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), a top U.S. government watchdog.
If the U.S. military plans to pull a significant number of Mi-17 pilots and crews off the line for these training courses, it will have to fill in the obvious and immediate gap with American aircraft or contractors, or otherwise accept that the Afghan military will have a significant shortfall in air mobility capability. SIGAR said in its July 2017 quarterly report that the Hips had flown 50 percent of all Afghan Air Force missions in the preceding four months despite reportedly having the lowest operational readiness rate of any of the service's airframes. American officials blamed the low availability on the age of the aircraft, but it seems very likely that this heavy utilization was a significant factor, as well.
There's also no indication of how long the training programs will last and how long it will be before the Afghans can routinely conduct missions and necessary repairs independent of coalition advisers and contractor support with the UH-60. We do know that it took years for both the Afghan military and police to reach their existing proficiency with the Mi-17, despite it being a significantly simpler aircraft and there being an existing Soviet-trained experience base.
I reiterated many of these points when additional information first emerged in December 2017 that suggested these issues were already cropping up. Now it seems all but certain that these factors will have at least some impact on Afghan operations in the coming months. None of this can come as a shock to the U.S. military, either, which saw the release of another scathing Inspector General review of the Afghan Air Force as a whole in January 2018.
Perhaps thankfully, Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani has recently implemented a unilateral eight-day ceasefire, which began on June 12, 2018. This includes the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, on June 15, 2018. The Taliban responded with its own first-ever ceasefire declaration as a goodwill gesture.
This will give the Afghan military at least something of a respite from what has already been a bloody year of fighting. Unfortunately, it won't be anywhere near enough time for the Afghan Air Force to sort out its helicopter difficulties, which, based on what we know now, could easily continue for years to come.
Contact the author: jtrevithickpr@gmail.com
As First UH-60s Arrive, US Plan to Dump Afghan Mi-17s Is Still Problematic
The first two Black Hawks have touched down in Afghanistan, but its unclear when they'll be operational.
Pentagon Watchdog Slams U.S.-Backed Efforts to Expand The Afghan Air Force
A new report highlights incoherent and haphazard policies, long-standing training gaps, and an over-reliance on contractors.
The US Plan to Give Afghanistan a Fleet of Black Hawks Is Deeply Flawed
The Afghan Air Force desperately needs more helicopters, but the UH-60s could turn out to be more trouble than they're worth.
Afghanistan Is Getting More Ill-Suited Attack Choppers it May Not Even Be Able to Fly
The country's air force is getting dozens more MD 530Fs, but doesn't even have enough pilots for its existing fleet.
Scary Video Of Helicopter Crash That Killed Top Afghan General Emerges
The Taliban originally claimed they shot the helicopter down.


Seen in the context of the current battle between Apple and the U.S. Government, "1984," George Orwell's speculative novel about a state in which everyone is continuously monitored by Big Brother, is remarkably prescient. But what is perhaps most resonant in the harrowing adaptation of this novel currently at the American Repertory Theater is not the ubiquitous presence of the surveillance technology controlled by the state. It is what George Orwell had to say about language and how it shapes us.
Assert anything often enough and with enough vigor, Trump believes, and people will accept it.
Like all great demagogues before him, that's a principle that Donald Trump understands and embraces.
"Today there were fear, hatred and pain, but no dignity of emotion, no deep or complex sorrows," Orwell wrote in yet another pithy summation of Oceania's ethos. He could have just as easily been describing ours. Political discourse — particularly in the Republican primary — throbs with rage, reproach and hyperbole. Not just hyperbole, but the biggest, boldest hyperbole the world has ever seen.
The first-edition front cover of the novel "1984," by George Orwell.
Of course Trump isn't alone in his embrace of doublethink, another requirement of which was "to believe that democracy was impossible and that the Party was the guardian of democracy." Cruz, the master of the filibuster, the challenger to the "Washington cartel" funded by the Wall Street and Texas cartels, does a mean job himself of touting his own purity as justification for leaping into the cesspool.
Indeed, all of the candidates are master trumpeters of the meaningless statement, exemplars of Orwell's observation that "Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind." Thus Trump can promise to make America great again. Cruz can straight-facedly assert that he will eliminate the IRS. Nikki Haley can declare that "If we elect Marco Rubio, every day will be a great day in America." Yup. Every day.
The American Repertory Theater presents "1984" through March 6.


Sponsorship Needed - see paragraph 2! My next race will be the 1st Annual Kirtland AFB Top 3 Fundraiser 5K. This volunteer organization is made up of the top 3 enlisted ranks in the Air Force, and does volunteer work to benefit the entire enlisted population. They offer scholarships, put on programs such as Supper and Stripes (a dinner where volunteers sew new ranks on junior enlisted members' uniforms for free), and encourage professionalism for enlisted members. The race itself is a 5K that meanders through the streets of a former base housing area.
This is my first race that I've run that needs sponsorship. They have a specific goal in mind, but I won't put that out here because I don't know how many runners they have; that will impact what they need per runner. If you are interested in sponsoring me, please e-mail me and let me know. Once you do, I can get you further information on how to get those funds through me to the Kirtland AFB Top 3.


WASHINGTON—Back to the spoils system?
Under the guise of "accountability," GOP President Donald Trump wants to make it easier – a lot easier – to fire federal workers, with little due process and on short notice.
He got such power at the Veterans Affairs Department last year, in the wake of scandals which saw VA managers – not the rank-and-file workers whom AFGE represents – lie about treatment of ailing veterans. AFGE wound up defending VA "whistleblowers" who disclosed the false records.
Now Trump wants the same power over the rest of the nation's two million federal workers. Cox, a retired VA psychiatric nurse, believes the firings would be politically motivated and a throwback to the spoils system initiated by President Andrew Jackson in the 1800's.
"What the president is actually asking Congress to do is give all of his Cabinet secretaries the power to fire federal employees they consider not loyal to the administration and its political agenda. Make no mistake: This is a plan to politicize federal employment and allow the administration to hire and fire on the basis of politics rather than merit," Cox said.
Trump is not the first GOP president to try to stack the government by firing career workers and replacing them with ideological and political allies. While at the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division under President George W. Bush, current Trump Labor Secretary Alex Acosta looked the other way while his ideological #2 tried the same tactic there.
And Republican Richard Nixon wanted to clear out several agencies, including the IRS, for ideological or bigoted reasons.
"Accountability starts at the top," with Trump, Cox said.
But right-wing House Republicans are hatching schemes to implement the president's plan and return to favoritism in the federal workforce.
Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., who pushed the VA firing bill through – including its provisions for short appeal times and lack of due process – applauded Trump's comment and supports Trump's plan to use that law "as a model for instilling true accountability through the rest of the federal government." So does its Senate sponsor, Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.
And Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., said a measure, HR559, which he introduced, would achieve what Trump wants. It would let agency heads to fire any worker, employee, provided they give a notice in writing.
Loudermilk's bill would give workers seven days to appeal being fired to the board that rules on worker-boss relations in the federal government. The VA law gave the workers 14 days to appeal a firing. The board would have up to a month to decide and its decision would be final. If the board took no action, the worker would be canned. And in the intervening time, the worker wouldn't get paid.


Stock photo of car tire in the harbour in the town of Great Brehat along Highway 430-76, Viking Trail, Trails to the Vikings, Great Northern Peninsula, Northern Peninsula, Newfoundland, Canada.
This stock photo shows a car tire laying in the harbour in the fishing town of Great Brehat along Highway 430-76, Viking Trail, Trails to the Vikings, Great Northern Peninsula, Northern Peninsula, Newfoundland, Canada.
A car tire lays on a rock in the harbour in the town of Great Brehat. This tire has been discarded in the shallow waters of the harbour. The tire disrupts the charm of the harbour town of Great Brehat.
The small fishing town sits in the distance of the harbour's rocky shallow waters. Fishing boats are docked along the shoreline leading to the small homes and buildings along the rough hillside of the town.
Car Tire in the harbour in the town of Great Brehat along Highway 430-76, Viking Trail, Trails to the Vikings, Great Northern Peninsula, Northern Peninsula, Newfoundland, Canada.


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Everything you wanted to know about cobwebs but were afraid to ask was originally published by home inspector Jay Markanich as "cobwebs."
Great time of year for the truth about cobwebs. I did not know a lot of this. I did not know about the connection with "moving air." As real estate agents we walk through spider webs in vacant homes and basements occasionally, but I sure don't envy a home inspectors more intimate knowledge of spiders and creepy crawley things.
What are cobwebs? And why do they appear in houses? What does a multiplicity of cobwebs mean?
As regards cobwebs, the word cob has nothing to do with corn! It probably originated with an Old English word - "COPPE," which meant spider. So the word "cobweb" might just be a sloppy way of saying coppweb.
Cobwebs look like hanging clumps of silky spider web material. That's what they are! They are what is left after a spider abandons a web. It may be that the spider sabotages a couple of the structural, hanging points of the web so no other interloper can take advantage of the web being abandoned.
What kinds of spiders produce cobwebs? Are there "cobweb spiders?" Yes, and they make up the family Theridiidae. One of the most common house spider in the United States is Achaearanea tepidariorum, of this family. The infamous Black Widow spider, Latrodectus mactans, also belongs to this family.
On the particular inspection in the photos above I encountered a number of black widow spiders and what looked like their egg sacks.
Some cobwebs may not be a part of a previous web at all. They may instead be a purposeful, hanging clump of silky web material intended to safely house many egg sacks. Other insects will not bother the eggs as they know what will happen to them in the web!
As they hang there, over time and in the blowing air current, the cobwebs gather dust and become more and more visible.
What does a multiplicity of cobwebs mean?
Simply that the location is a habitat that can support many spiders!
Spiders need moisture, which they can always go outside to obtain, and a food source.
The larger the food source the more abundant the spider population will become!
This house was unkempt, to say the very least, and therefore full, and I mean FULL, of roaches. It also had a serious termite infestation.
If spiders are well fed, their basic objective in life is to do what all fauna do, make more spiders!
And as the habitat provides more and more opportunity, the spider population will increase.
Spiders build webs near moving air. They do that instinctively. If the air is moving it is hoped an insect will fly by. The web is built to capture as much of the air current as possible, in the continued hopes that it will capture food.
If the web comes up empty for a period of time, it will be abandoned. And maybe partially dismantled.
However, if another spider senses that this is a good place for a web, it will ignore the fact that a previous web was made and build a new one.
That one might be abandoned as well, and the cycle continues. Eventually there is a multiplicity of cobwebs, getting dirtier and dirtier with floating dust, and more and more visible.
Of course, if the food is crawling by that is good too! And I can confidently say that a LOT of food was crawling by in this house!
My recommendation: when you see a cobweb you know there is a moving air source that encouraged a spider web. A web can be built quickly, even overnight, and you might not even see it until it is abandoned and begins to collect dust. However, you may want to investigate the reason for its placement. There is moving air nearby! That moving air may be because an HVAC register is blowing air in that direction, but it may also be a gap in the exterior skin or around a window or door that should be sealed for energy efficiency also.
I have to say, Maureen, that was quite the inspection, in lots of ways. And thanks for the reblog!
That is really a sad story about the home inspection and the whole situation. The roaches part really makes my skin crawl.
I never knew for sure there was a spider involved in all cobwebs... of course there would be. Back when I was watching 'The Munsters' on TV as a kid I remember being in a silo at my grandpa's farm and wondering if cobwebs came from corn cobs... or silage. So many cobwebs up above.
I found Jay's article fascinating. Good reading throughout.
I love it. A mini animal kingdom documentary on a part of everyday life.
Interesting information. I never really thought much about spider webs - other than avoid them!
Thanks- this was very interesting I just learn a few thing about the what the presence of spiders may mean. Dampness and air flow - possible gaps in the property. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks all. I hate spiders. A friend got bit by a brown recluse spider about 18 months ago.


text:
The Role of Civil Society in Ceasefire Monitoring
Staffan de Mistura, Special Envoy for Syria, Meeting of the ISSG Ceasefire taskforce – at UN Headquarters in Geneva, 3 March 2016. UN Photo/Anne-Laure Lechat
Since the UN Security Council endorsed the United States and Russia's Joint Statement on the Cessation of Hostilities in Syria on February 26, civilian deaths and violence appear to have decreased substantially. Although reports of violence have been reported, it has been difficult to assess how many of the reports are credible ceasefire violations due to the agreement's lack of clarity on monitoring mechanisms.
Ceasefire agreements should generally include strong provisions on how to monitor compliance. In the context of civil war, however, there is no standardized best practice for monitoring, and mechanisms vary greatly from country to country. Lessons from other contexts would suggest that when the monitoring is well-planned and civil society is incorporated into the design of the monitoring mechanism, the ceasefire is more likely to hold. Syria's ceasefire agreement is quite flimsy on this point and alludes only briefly to monitoring, suggesting that the parties develop a mechanism that includes a communication hotline and, if appropriate, "a working group to exchange relevant information." It does not describe a method for civil society contributions or a process for investigation and verification of violation claims.
As a result, individuals and groups have set up ad hoc mechanisms for monitoring through social media and websites in order to collect information on incidents that might amount to ceasefire violations. The US State Department has also established a hotline that Syrians can call to report violations. The result of this information-gathering is unclear and neither Russia nor the United States has confirmed or denied that violations have occurred, leading to growing frustration that the violators can act without rebuke. An international or joint Russia-US monitoring mechanism to investigate and verify claims could work to give Syrians a sense that the international backers are taking the agreement seriously.
Even with a formal mechanism, verification of claims will be difficult because the parties have not agreed to a map of territorial control. The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and Jabhat al-Nusra are exempt from the agreement, so attacks targeting or committed by these two groups are not violations of the ceasefire. Thus, each side can easily justify a violation by claiming that they were merely targeting ISIS or Jabhat al-Nusra. Without an agreement on which groups control what territory, it could be difficult to discredit such justifications.
Since there is no international monitoring presence in Syria, the work of civil society monitoring is even more important. To effectively assist with ceasefire monitoring, civil society can draw on human rights documentation principles. The most important of these principles include accuracy and impartiality. If an organization publicizes information that is proven false or biased, its own reporting will be discredited and civil society's credibility may be harmed as well. Monitors should also be working transparently in a way that benefits their own communities while improving the security of opposing sides. This is a difficult task due to the deep hatreds that have developed since 2011, but will be necessary to lasting peace. Methods of human rights documentation can also be employed to monitor ceasefires, including the use of photographs, videos, and interviews to document and verify violations. Including metadata can help verify times and locations in pictures and videos that will lend credibility to claims.
Unlike documenting human rights abuses, however, ceasefire violations are not necessarily violations of international humanitarian or human rights law, but rather violations of the ceasefire agreement itself. An incident that is not a violation of humanitarian law might still be a violation of the agreement, depending on the agreement's provisions. In the Philippines, for example, civilian ceasefire monitors developed Terms of Reference focusing on particular ceasefire-related incidents and their impacts on civilians' safety and security to guide the monitoring process.
In addition to ceasefire monitoring, civil society groups can monitor the humanitarian situation to ensure that aid is reaching conflict-affected communities and basic needs are being met. Linking humanitarian aid to ceasefire agreements is essential to the success of ceasefires because the more needs that are met, the more likely Syrians are to commit to peace over renewed fighting. Civil society can also take advantage of the relative calm to educate conflict-affected communities on the peace process and begin the difficult task of building trust across communities to ensure an inclusive process that fosters peace from the ground up.
It is yet to be seen whether the current agreement on Cessation of Hostilities in Syria will have a lasting effect on the conflict. What can be guaranteed, however, is that its impact and long-term success will be greatly increased by a robust monitoring plan that includes civil society.
For more information and to provide feedback, please contact SJAC at [email protected]
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AuttyW: TEMPTU February Promo and Deals!
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text:
This site was created for SOLT's volunteer and missions division.
Please visit the "About us" section for SOLT's full website.
Society of Our Lady of The Most Holy Trinity
(701) 389-1563 SOLT General Offices
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2020-Made with love for SOLT. All rights reserved. Don't steal any materials, please.
SOLT PRIESTS & BROTHERS
In SOLT, the consecration of a religious brother takes on a unique nuance and character as expressed in the SOLT charism. The threefold dimensions of Marian-Trinitarian spirituality, serving on ecclesial family teams with the various vocations in SOLT working and interacting together, and reaching to those in deepest apostolic need, demarcate the specific identity of a SOLT consecrated brother and priest.
OUR PRAYER LIFE
Daily spiritual practices centered around the mass, holy hour with exposition, the liturgy of the hours, as well as weekly practices of lectio divina and spiritual exercises and sharings, facilitate continued deepening of the brother's life in Christ. The interaction with the SOLT sisters and laity complement the vocation of the brother and enrich his life with deep bonds of friendship across vocations.
As well, these relationships on the ecclesial team represent the unique catalyst through which the ministry of SOLT is carried out to God's faithful. A particular love and comfort with the poor and marginalized is always found among the people with whom SOLT lives, identifies and serves.
OUR APOSTOLIC LIFE
Common life and brotherhood is a strong aspect of our lived consecration, as well as reaching to those most forgotten. SOLT as a community feels encouraged and confirmed by the emphases given us via Pope Francis to "go out to the peripheries". In our missions we find the "pockets" of the underserved, ministries that are nonglorious, but in which are found treasures of God's grace and love for those unnoticed in the world. Be it on an Native American reservation in North Dakota, on the border towns in México, Belize or Guatemala, with the migrant workers in the Midwest, or on small islands in the Philippines, SOLT members express to the poor by the testimony of their lives: "we will stay with you."
HEAR THE CALL?
FILL IN THE FORM BELOW TO GET MORE INFORMATION
OR CONTACT THIS NICE FELLA:
Fr. Mark Wendling, SOLT
Priests & Brothers Vocations
vocations@gmail.com
OUR BROTHERS
OUR LAITY


Hey guys one of my readers has a problem with her Delta Model ss350 and needs some advise. Has anyone had the problem she describes below and have a solution.
My guess is either the Variable speed switch or the Control PWB. Anyone else care to comment?
Exploded view of the machine.
I was wondering if you or any of your readers know anything about malfunctions of a scrollsaw. Mine recently started running at high speed even though the dial is at low. It is an intermittent problem so I can be happily scrolling along when all of a sudden, it will burst into high speed - sometimes it lasts for a second or two and sometimes it gets stuck there so I have to turn off my machine and walk away, but when I come back, it's fine (for a while anyway).
My scrollsaw is a Delta and it's about 3 years old (and out of warranty). Could it possibly be a quick fix like changing the fuse?
Here is another free scroll saw pattern for you all to download. This dragon clock requires a 1 7/16 clock insert. Use a 1 3/8 forstner bit to cut the hole for the clock.
You can find good buys on clock inserts from Clock Parts.
Poker is popular today. Build this card box for your poker playing friends. This free scroll saw pattern is designed to hold poker sized playing cards.
These scrolled boxes are easy to make. Use contrasting wood for the top and bottom for a great looking box.
I love these small projects that I can use my scrap wood to make.


Compact 15 Watt LED Provides A True 1400 Lumen Output And Stays Cool To The Touch. Energy Efficient. Sealed Die-Cast Aluminum Housing With Impact Resistant Glass Lens. Long Lasting LED Bulbs With 5,000K "Bright White" Color Temperature. Adjustable Tilt From 30 Degrees Down To 90 Degrees Up. Indoor Or Outdoor Use.


Area protection stops unauthorised persons from entering the premises but allows controlled access by employees and customers. We provide area protection systems independently of device manufacturers. Our area protection systems are suitable for industrial facilities, residential buildings, airports, power plants and government departments.


text:
Ключ 86 — ієрогліфічний ключ, що означає вогонь і є одним із 34 (загалом існує 214) ключів Кансі, що складаються з чотирьох рисок.

У Словнику Кансі 639 символів із 40 030 використовують цей ключ.

Символи, що використовують ключ 86

Література

Посилання
 Дані проекту Уніхань для U+706B
 Словник ієрогліфів з індексом ієрогліфічних ключів
 Японські назви ключів

Ієрогліфічні ключі

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


NAVAL Dockyard Visakhapatnam Recruitment 2015 For 1121 Tradesman (Skilled) Post.
NAVAL Dockyard Visakhapatnam Has Published the Recruitment Notification for Tradesman (Skilled) Posts. Eligible Interested Candidates Can Apply Via Online Mode. Last Date for Submitting Online Application form Within 30 Days.
NAVAL Dockyard Visakhapatnam Recruitment 2015 For Tradesman (Skilled) Post.
No of Vacancy- 1121 Posts.
Educational Qualification- Candidates Must Have 10th and ITI Degree From Recognized University/Board.
Last Date for Submitting Online Application – Within 30 Days.


Branding is ESSENTIAL for a small business to BUILD credibility, ATTRACT customers, and PROMOTE stability to your target clientele. So why are we focused on branding when we are a marketing company for small businesses?
Marketing stems from the ability to portray a lasting impression in your potential clients' minds. Building that strong foundation (brand) from the onset, ensures that you are continually building your business onwards and upwards.
We help you build that powerful brand, offline and online. From helping you design an effective logo to building your website and mobile presence – and then strategizing on marketing your business – we got you covered!
Remember, every successful business starts with a strong brand – without it, you lack identity, a presence, a purpose and even credibility.
that will allow you to brand your business the right way from the onset!
Brand your business using proven design and color coordination. Don't settle for mediocre logo design – build your foundation correctly from the onset!
If you are serious about your business – full identity branding is the only way to go! Mark your brand on everything you do.
FREE Email Signature Design Included!
93% of our customers are returning clients! There is a reason why.
Giving your business a powerful visual identity – (Logo design, consistent color schemes, consistency from business cards to e-newsletters).
Not complicating your message – (Short and powerful works much better than wordy and detailed. Build a short recognizable message).
Find your voice – (Do your research (we do it for you!) and find the right voice and personality for your identity).
Keep consistency – (Stick to your brand identity and maintain consistency in the marketplace).
Even brand the small stuff – (Every time you create something for your business – keep the same brand elements in place. From logos to email signatures and direct mail pieces – keep it consistent).
Track your results – (Measuring success and focusing on what works and discarding what doesn't).
– and your business will reap the rewards time and time again.


text:
The wrong side of the track
By David Rees2019-05-14T11:39:00+01:00
The new Track and Trace regime for tobacco is turning out to be painful and difficult for retailers. Not in concept, but in execution. The instructions are unclear, the registration website is confusing and it is available only in English, which is causing stress and anxiety among the trade and resulting in a huge amount of time being wasted. Wholesalers and manufacturers are doing what they can to help, but levels of support are uneven at best.
The big problem is that it will lead to lower levels of compliance than would otherwise be the case. There are significant numbers of store owners who don't have English as a first language, and many who operate on such a thin line of viability that being out of stock of tobacco, even for a day, threatens their business.
Responsible retailers would never turn to the illicit trade, but there are always a few who operate on the margins and, if they cannot buy tobacco from their usual source, might be forced to find an alternative.
The point of Track and Trace is that everyone should benefit except the criminals – retailers will be able to buy stock with confidence, wholesalers will get their fair share of the market, and government tax revenues will be maximised. By making the system difficult and complicated to register, Track and Trace runs the risk of excluding traders from the legitimate market not because of their own choices, but because of the lack of understanding by authorities as a whole.
Retailer Mike Dorey is hoping that removing the customer rubbish bin will reduce waste (and costs).
One of the biggest issues that retailers face when dealing with violence and abuse is the lack of consistent response from the justice system, says ACS chief executive James Lowman.
More Have Your Say
DRS: Too many unanswered questions
Retailers face too many uncertainties over Scotland's Deposit Return Scheme, says Edinburgh-based Premier retailer Linda Williams.
Assured advice for all retailers
While there's no doubt that our exit from the European Union is still grabbing most of the headlines, there are plenty of rules and regulation changes to keep retailers occupied on a day-to-day basis, writes ACS chief executive James Lowman.


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Home / Videos / World News / Space trip ends: Russian actor, director back on Earth after film shoot in orbit
Space trip ends: Russian actor, director back on Earth after film shoot in orbit
Published on Oct 17, 2021 04:56 PM IST
Completing a historic trip to space, Russian actor Yulia Peresild and film director Klim Shipenko returned to Earth with cosmonaut Oleg Novitsky. The duo spent 12 days in space to shoot scenes for a movie - a dramatic first in human history. Their journey back to terra firma was recorded in detail - from the separation of their Soyuz MS-18 module from the International Space Station, to its touchdown in Kazakhstan. The Russians seem to have beaten American actor Tom Cruise and industrialist and CEO of SpaceX, Elon Musk who had similar plans. Watch the full video for more.


It's been a decade since Seattle barmen Scott MacFarlane and Andrew Walsh opened Sand Point Grill in Laurelhurst, and two weeks since they quietly sold it to chefs Kristina and Craig Bartleson. Last night, I stopped in for dinner and found Kristina alternately working, grabbing a post-rush bite and chatting up her new customers — old hands who treat this bar-and-grill like it's their own personal dining room. And it didn't take me long to divine that she's exactly the kind of new owner I'd want heading-up my favorite hang-out if it were sold.
When customers hear the Bartlesons bought the joint, she told me, they're not shy about voicing opinions regarding the kind of changes they'd like to see — and what they'd like to see stay the same. Her patrons' own sense of "ownership" was quickly made clear: they're practically writing lists, she says.
One of the things that hasn't changed is the staff — save for the upcoming departure of chef Charlie Durham who made his mark at the late great Cassis before signing on at Sand Point. Kristina's husband Craig will take his place, tweaking the menu in the process.
Even former owner Scott MacFarlane will stick around, for now at least, bartending a couple nights each week and "hanging on the golf course" as often as possible, Kristina says.
So, who are this couple who've lucked into such a great little operation? They're the parents of two young sons who've finally decided that when it comes to owning their own restaurant, the timing was right. Their real estate broker approached the Sand Point guys and — voila! — a done deal, quick and relatively easy.
For the past nine years Craig's been a private chef to someone who, "isn't in the top five names you'd come up with," according to Kristina — "though it might be the sixth." The couple met years ago while working at the Sorrento: Craig under or with most every former Hunt Club chef I told you about in this post, Kristina as an intern during Chris Keff's tenure. Collectively, they've worked at restaurants in Maine and Sun Valley (both), Rover's (her), Canlis (him), and Kristina has worked for Kerry Sear at the Four Seasons Olympic, and again as lead pastry-chef when he opened Cascadia.


text:
Нарсісо Камперо Леєс (; 29 жовтня 1813 — 12 серпня 1896) — болівійський політичний діяч, президент країни з 1880 до 1884 року. Його ім'ям названо провінцію в департаменті Кочабамба.

Біографія
Народився в родині заможних землевласників з Тарихи. Здобув освіту в Університеті Чукісака, проте обрав кар'єру військового, натхнений діяннями героїв війни за незалежність. Закінчив престижну військову академію у Франції. Будучи прибічником Хосе Бальївіана, вирішив залишити армію та залишитись у Франції за часів перебування при владі режиму Бельсу (з 1847 року).

Хоча Камперо відійшов від політики, він не міг залишатись осторонь під час Тихоокеанської війни проти Чилі, що почалась у лютому 1879. Командував 5-ю болівійською дивізією, яка брала участь у найбільш катастрофічних битвах. Його заслуги, тим не менше, було визнано. У грудні 1879 року рішенням Державної ради Іларіона Даса було усунуто від влади, а за результатами виборів наступного року на пост президента було обрано Нарсісо Камперо.

66-річний генерал Камепро прийняв владу в країні у найбільш критичний момент, Болівія зазнала поразки у війні з Чилі. Конгрес призначив на пост віце-президента консервативного лідера Анісето Арсе.

Камперо мав підтримку двох найбільших партій того часу: Ліберальної Еліодоро Камачо та Консервативної Анісето Арсе. Останній мав фінансові інтереси в Чилі, у зв'язку з чим він почав перемовини з чилійським урядом відносно здачі провінції Літорал в обмін на економічні поступки. Після цього Камперо звинуватив Арсе у державній зраді.

Після завершення терміну правління, 1884 року, Камперо приєднався до Ліберальної партії.

Нарсісо Камперо помер у Сукре 12 серпня 1896.

Посилання
 Біографія

Болівійські військовики
Люди на марках


Q: Do I need a firearm for the class? Do I need a holster? What if I don't have a gun or a holster?
allow any of our students use for no cost.
Q: What is this Utah Conceal Carry Permit thing you offer?
$47 state processing fee via credit card or check on the day of class.
Q: How much does the conceal carry license cost? How do I apply and how long will it take to get the license?
 after you take the training class. We will provide you with instructions how to apply!
Q: Will I need a FOID (Firearm Owners Identification Card) to take the class? How about to apply for the license?
Q: If I only need 8 hours of training, but wish to attend all 16 hours will you charge me for 16 hours or 8 hours?
Q: How do I know you are "qualified" instructors?
website. Also listed are instructors who have had their credentials revoked. Click Here for the link!
Q: Will any other state recognize my Illinois Conceal Carry license?
Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin.
Q: Where is the gun range?
A: We utilize either an outdoor private property range in the Elburn and in the Morris, Illinois area or one of the local gun ranges in the area. We will qualify on Sunday of whatever weekend we have a class.
Below are some of the most common questions we are asked. If you do not find an answer you need, please contact us!
Q: Do you have any other (hidden) fees I need to know about?
Q: Is there a test to complete the course?
A: Nope! You only must attend the required amount of training and pass the range qualification course (don't worry it's easy).
Q: Does the training I receive expire? How long do I have to apply for my license after taking your class?
A: Of course! Want to know more? Click here!
Q: What exactly does the range qualification consist of?
for a photo of our students shooting the paper target.
Q: Must an applicant submit fingerprints for the Illinois License?
fingerprinted, click here for a listing of companies that will perform that service.


text:
from __future__ import absolute_import
from setuptools import setup, find_packages

setup(name='keyvalue', packages=find_packages())

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Counting puzzles add a nice visual touch to any collection of puzzles, and are an ideal children's puzzle.
However, they need not be exclusively for children as their difficulty can be greatly increased depending on the audience. For instance, puzzles composed of a large number of triangles that overlap with each segment requiring to be counted can be extremely tricky for even the most experienced counting puzzle expert!
As a perception / visual based brain training puzzle, the counting puzzle is a simple but compelling fun. We can supply this puzzle in a range of different formats, in black and white or in colour, with several variations on the counting theme available.


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"Lockdown" states still a drag on October home loan approvals
Summary: Number of home loan approvals decline by 4.0% in October; declines "delayed effects" from lockdowns, bounce back "likely"; value of loan commitments decrease by 2.5%; value of owner-occupier loan approvals down by 4.1%, investor approvals up by 1.1%; loan approvals down 11.9% over past three months in NSW, Victoria, ACT but up 0.3% in rest of Australia.
A very clear downtrend was evident in the monthly figures of both the number and value of home loan commitments through late-2017 to mid-2019. Then the RBA reduced its cash rate target in a series of cuts and both the number and value of mortgage approvals began to noticeably increase. Figures from February through to May of 2020 provided an indication the trend had finished but subsequent figures pushed the annual rate of increase back to elevated levels before it dropped back in the September quarter.
October's housing finance figures have now been released and the total number of loan commitments (excluding refinancing loans) to owner-occupiers declined by 4.0%. The fall is a repeat of September's change after revisions while the rate of growth on an annual basis decreased from September's figure of 7.2% to 0.6%.
"Overall the October update looks to be a bit of a 'head fake'. While housing markets are heading into a moderation that should become clearer in 2022, the latest declines in finance look to be delayed effects from the 'delta' lockdowns with a strong bounce-back likely in coming months," said Westpac senior economist Matthew Hassan.
Commonwealth Government bond yields finished the day in a rather messy fashion. By the close of business, the 3-year ACGB yield had added 2bps to 1.13%, the 10-year yield had lost 7bps to 1.67% while the 20-year yield remained unchanged at 2.21%.
"Overall housing finance approvals excluding refinancing are 9.2% below their May 2021 peak but remain elevated, 5 5% higher than pre-pandemic February 2020 levels," said NAB economist Taylor Nugent.
In dollar terms, total loan approvals excluding refinancing decreased by 2.5% over the month, in contrast to the 1.5% increase which had been generally expected and a greater fall than September's -1.4%. On a year-on-year basis, total approvals excluding refinancing increased by 32.2%, a little slower than the previous month's comparable figure of 35.5%.
The total value of owner-occupier loan commitments excluding refinancing decreased by 4.1%, a larger fall than September's -2.7%. On an annual basis, owner-occupier loan commitments were 15.1% higher than in October 2020, whereas September's annual growth figure was 20.8%.
The total value of investor commitments excluding refinancing arrangements rose by 1.1%. The increase follows a 1.4% increase in September and it marks a full twelve months of consecutive gain since the last monthly decline in October 2020. On an annual basis, the value of loan commitments in the month was 89.6% higher than in October 2020, up from 83.2% in September.
"The detail suggests most of this softening relates to 'delta' disruptions in New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory," said Westpac's Hassan. He noted the value of loan approvals fell by 11.9% over the three months to October in these jurisdictions while they increased by 0.3% in the rest of Australia.


This best selling reusable bag is not just for the grocery store, it goes everywhere and hauls (practically) anything. Carry in your hand or over your shoulder. Holds 2-3 plastic grocery bags worth of stuff. Folds into a flat 5 in. x 5 in. pouch. Holds 50 lbs.
Now made from 40% recycled nylon sourced from pre-consumer waste. Ethically made in China.
BAGGU's original and best-selling item is their namesake ripstop nylon shopping bag. Based on the construction of the plastic grocery bag, the Standard Baggu is durable, lightweight, and can hold 2-3 times more than a traditional grocery bag.


text:
Q: AVR wakeup for external interrupt then immediately reading USART I'm in a strange situation with an ATMega2560.
I want to save power by going into PowerDown mode. In this mode there are only a few events only which can wake it up.
On USART1 I have an external controller which sends messages to the AVR.
But when USART1 is used I can not use the INT2 and INT3 for external interrupt (=the CPU will not wake up).
So I had an idea to disable the USART1 just right before going into PowerDown mode, and have the INT2 enabled as external interrupt.
Pseudo code for this:
UCSR1B &= ~(1<<RXEN1); //Disable RXEN1: let AVR releasing it
DDRD &= ~(1<<PD2); //Make sure PortD2 is an input - we need it for waking up
EIMSK &= ~(1<<INT2); //Disable INT2 - this needs to be done before changing ISC20 and ISC221
EICRA |= (1<<ISC20)|(1<<ISC21); //Rising edge on PortD2 will generate an interrupt and wake up the AVR from PowerDown
EIMSK |= (1<<INT2); //Now enable INT2

//Sleep routine
cli();
sleep_enable();
sei();
sleep_cpu();
sleep_disable();

In the ISR of INT2, I change everything back to USART1.
Pseudo:
ISR(INT2_vect) {
  EIMSK &= ~(1<<INT2); //Disable INT2 to be able to use it as USART1 again
  UCSR1B=(1<<RXEN1)|(1<<TXEN1)|(1<<RXCIE1);
}

However it seems to take long time until the USART1 is working correctly again.
There are too many faulty bits in the beginning (after waking up from PowerDown).
How hackish is this?
Is there any reasonable way to make the change faster?
The main idea was to set the 'RX' port to an interrupt which can wake the CPU up then immediately change it back to USART and process it asap.
PS: I really have to use the same pin for this purpose, there is no other available option. So guiding toward using some other pins won't be accepted as an answer.

A: The Power-down mode disables the oscillator, so you have to wait for a stable oscillator after wakeup.
Please take a look at the datasheet on page 51:
When waking up from Power-down mode, there is a delay from the wake-up condition occurs until the wake-upbecomes effective. This allows the clock to restart and become stable after having been stopped. The wake-upperiod is defined by the same CKSEL Fuses that define the Reset Time-out period, as described in "ClockSources" on page 40.
You have to wait up to 258 clock cykles assuming you use a high speed ceramic oscillator (see table 10-4 on page 42).
You can use the Standby Mode. If you use an external oscillator the CPU enter the Standby Mode, which is identical to Power-down Mode, but the Oscillator isn´t stopped. Furthermore you can set the Power Reduction Register for additional power save options.
Another option is to use the Extended Standby Mode, which is identical to the Power-save Mode. This mode disables the oscillator, but the oscillator wakes up in six clock cycles.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Vida por vida fue una serie de televisión chilena, producida por Entrala Producciones para Canal 13, dirigida por Sebastián Araya, producida por Álvaro Entrala y Alberto Gesswein.

La productora, Entrala producciones fue ganadora del premio Consejo Nacional de Televisión 2010 y su primera temporada se estrenó el miércoles 4 de abril de 2012 a las 23:30 horas.
La serie está protagonizada por Tamara Acosta, Daniel Muñoz, Julio Milostich y Celine Reymond, está inspirada sobre el trasplante de órganos en un hospital chileno y cuenta la vida de cada uno de sus protagonistas.
Además el tema central de la serie ("Sueños") fue compuesto e interpretado por el virtuoso músico y poeta nacional Manuel García, quién también incluyó el tema en su disco "Acuario".

Historia
Todo transcurre en el Hospital Nataniel Cox, en donde se decide reunir a un equipo multidisciplinario para transformarse en la Unidad Nacional de Trasplantes (UNT). El equipo está compuesto por la procuradora María Teresa León (Tamara Acosta); el enfermero jefe Pedro Miño (Alejandro Trejo); y los doctores Alex Mackenna (Julio Milostich), Samuel Vásquez (Daniel Muñoz), y Paula Rilke (Celine Reymond).

Paula Rilke trabajará con los doctores Álex Mackenna y Samuel Vásquez, con quienes también habrá un triángulo sentimental, con el primero no habrá amor, pero sí una atracción y el segundo es como el hombre con el que le gustaría estar, pero por las heridas (de su pasado) y por cómo ella fue educada y se tuvo que hacer a sí misma le cuesta mucho tener pareja.

Elenco

Referencias

Véase también
 Guerra de las teleseries

Series de televisión de Chile
Series de televisión de Canal 13 (Chile)
Series de televisión de los años 2010
Televisión de Chile en 2012
Series de televisión ambientadas en Santiago de Chile
Series de televisión de drama médico de Chile


Despite repeated attempts to break-in to a home in Dublin, intruders failed thanks to the Palladio Composite door which had been installed by us earlier in the year.
Installing a composite door in your home is one of the most effective measures you can take to prevent break-ins and protect you and your family. Composite doors are extremely strong and they provide the highest level of security for your home. Their strength is determined by the quality of materials used in their construction, the quality of the locks and professional fitting and installation.
So make security a priority in your home and talk to us about installing a composite door today. Ph: (01) 2164951.


Steampunk Arm Armor that inspired the filmmaker to reach out to me.
It can be daunting working with an artist that you've never met before. I can recall some interesting conversations with folks seeking commissioned works of art from me. One in particular was a request from an aspiring film maker, where I was asked to provide a "bid" for creating an elaborate Steampunk armored arm from shoulder to finger tip. When I inquired further about the financial expectations for the piece, the individual did not provide me with a proposed budget even when I specifically asked for the budget available to them for the project. They vaguely suggested that others were contributing their time, money and goods to the project simply to be supportive of the possible film endeavor. When I mentioned that I have a contract for commissioned pieces, especially for such an elaborate end product, and that I require half upfront for materials they agreed this seemed fair and still requested that I give them a "bid" for the work. The piece was supposed to be incorporated into an already made elaborate period piece costume. I spent time researching materials, including leather hides and Steampunk hardware, and I also drew up several sketches to incorporate the original costume into the piece. When I was done with my several hours of research I submitted the requested "bid" to the individual for the project, they read the proposal and then never responded back. If they had provided me with a proposed budget I may have been able to accommodate their need by using different materials, however not having this information I gave them what I thought would work best and of course, charge accordingly for the project.
Here are a few helpful hints to remember when working with an artist. They are dreamers and use a lot of their brain power towards using their imagination. They want to create something that they will enjoy making and you will enjoy forever. And most importantly this is their job.
Artist don't want to sell you something that you aren't going to love. One, you might talk bad about them, two, you won't showcase them and three, artist also don't want to make something that's boring to them. They have to work with this art form for however long it takes to get it right. So it isn't helpful to shut down all their ideas, especially when you don't have specifics about what is desired. Remember they are using their imagination frequently, which is taxing to their energy. You wouldn't offer to lift a heavy bag for your personal trainer, so why ask an artist to keep their opinion to themselves?
Don't forget that being an artist is a profession, not just a hobby. This is their job, and contracts are a professional way to help them stay on track towards creating the best outcome. When you hire a contractor, go to a mechanic, or call your plumber they all offer you a contract to sign before they begin working, and it should be the same when requesting the same service from an artist.
Various Steampunk Art on Leather. The Doctor Who inspired Waist Cincher is an example of one of my first commissioned works of art.
Welcome to the second installment of Building an Epic Leather Cosplay! We're going to cover some more of the basics for understanding and working with leather. There are many different types of leather for various projects, each having their own thickness, durability, and usefulness. Let's see if we can summerize a few of the leathers that you might want to work with as a beginner leather worker.
Natural Vegetable Tanned, Tooling and Molding Leather: Perfect leather for tooling, embossing, molding, dyeing & oiling. Uniformly absorbs dyes and oils. Dries to a firm, long-lasting shape.
Bridle: Firm, rich-colored leather with just enough oils to withstand weather. Great feeling leather can be oiled for darker hues.
Latigo: A combination of veg tanned with chrome tan to make it rigid but very pliable, great for use on products in which strength and flexibility are needed.
Shearlings & Sheepskins: Beautiful quality wool sheepskins in a variety of thicknesses. Available in both veg tan and chrome tan in a variety of shades and colors.
Great for: Lining saddles, padding, ect.
Chrome Oil Tanned: Beautiful, durable leather has just the right amount of oil for a soft, supple feel.
Suede: Finished by buffing the flesh side of the hide to produce a "nap".
Upholstery: Soft, supple leather is very strong and durable. Tanned in whole hides for little waste and for use in automotive and restoration upholstery where large pieces of leather are desirable.
The chart below shows the different parts of leather hide that are available, along with the ounces and thickness.
The chart below is Tandy's recommendation for what thickness of leather to use for what project, but you can change this up somewhat. You can make journals out of a thinner leather than a 5-6 oz, you can use a 3-4 oz instead. And holsters can be made from 6-8 oz leather and not just 8-10 oz. It depends on what you are trying to achieve. Larping armor should be between 7-9 oz, and armor for the SCA should be more like 10-16 oz. Otherwise, you can use whatever you think is best to achieve your cosplay.
Tandy chart for what leather to use for different projects.
You can really get a lot of details into your leather project when you use a Vegetable Tanned leather. You use tracing film and a stylus to transfer your desired design to the leather, and then use a swivel knife to carve the details. Case your leather by wetting it and leaving it to almost dry again, and then use the Craftsman Tool Set and Rawhide mallet to pound the design into the leather. This process is often called Hand Tooling.
Below and to the left is an example of the design carved into the leather, and below and to the right is the finished tooled and painted design.
Gambit design after Tooling and painting.
The shots below are of my first Mord-Sith armor. I used a 5-6 oz mahogany leather for everything except the belt, that was made with a much thicker vegetable tanned leather of 8-9 oz. For the first version of this armor I concentrated on the pattern and the hardware to give it the design and feel that I wanted to match the T.V. show, Legend of the Seeker.
Denna's Mord-Sith Armor, and buckle hardware.
The second set of Mord-Sith armor was done with a 7-9 oz vegetable tanned cowhide leather so that I could really tool the design I wanted in order to show others the character's story on the leather. Some of the raw detailed shots are above, but the finished shots are below. If you want to see how this costume has transformed over time please check out my blog all about the Mord-Sith.
The process of wet forming (shaping) is extremely useful for creating cosplay pieces, especially armor. It isn't quite as difficult as it seems either. You can check out that process more in depth through my Wet Forming blog.
Wet Form Shaping the Margery Tyrell chest plate armor.
Finished Margery Tyrell Armor Chest piece, Shoulder Pauldron and arm bracers.
Back Chest Plate for Wonder Woman, carved, wet formed, and painted.
Front Chest Plate for Wonder Woman, carved, wet formed, and painted.
Side pieces all painted but still needing their coat of Antique Black Stain to give that worn feel.
Rogue from X-Men back chest plate Wet Formed and painted.
Rogue front chest plate Wet Formed and painted.
There are a ton of amazing things that can be done with leather. Getting yourself some specific tools, and learning the basics of attaching bits and pieces is a huge chunk of it. Trying out some useful techniques such as Wet Forming or Wax Hardening can also take your cosplay to the next level. The tooling can be a challenge, but it's very rewarding when you get that perfect design onto the leather. However you choose to incorporate leather into your cosplay, have fun with it!
Willow in her first Mord-Sith armor made with 5 oz mahogany leather.
When I first started doing leather work I didn't know anything about leather, leatherworking, or the tools needed to actually work with leather. I simply had a desire to create an amazingly epic cosplay. That desire lead me to many hours of researching screen shots that I could use for referencing the costume I wanted to imitate. Trying to figure out which leather to use or what tools would get the job done was even more hard work, and led to many failed attempts. I would like to help you avoid the same pit-falls that I came across by covering a few of the basics for working with leather.
I've put together a list of tools that I think would be helpful for the cosplayer or beginner leather worker.
Having many tools for various purposes will be the most helpful for leather working, but you can really do quite a lot with the list of tools I've put together. I recommend that you first figure out what costume you want to incorporate leather into. Then you can decide on the tools that will work for that project, and the ones you won't need can wait until you do need them. This way you can build your tools up slowly and don't kill your pocketbook.
There are several different sizes of hollow hole punches and you will need at least three for the basic fasteners. Hole Punch #2 (Rivets) #4 (Snaps) #6 (Grommets) You can buy a set of six of these punches at Home Depot for $28, or even less if you shop around online.
The Swivel Knife is great for cutting round or curved edges, or for making detailed cuts into the leather, and can be purchased for $18. You can also use it to cut thick leather. Scissors can be used on leathers 6oz and less, or for trimming edges on thicker leather.
When you want to fasten something permanently then riveting is the way to go. Having a rivet setter will make sure you don't squish down the dome cap of your rivet. You need an anvil for the base of the rivet and the setter for the cap on top. Using them together helps to shape the rivet so that the two pieces will meld together to hold fast. You'll want to choose your rivet sizes based on the thickness of the leathers you will be working with. You can choose to use multiple different thicknesses which will require a variety of sizes, or you can stick to one thickness and one rivet or two rivet sizes. Again, this will depend greatly on your project. A rivet setter can cost $10.
Leather strap in place ready to be riveted.
If you want to be able to interchange an aspect or fasten or remove something quickly then snaps are super helpful. Setting them requires a snap setter and the same anvil for the rivets. Plus, you want to use a circular pounding technique when you are putting snaps together. That creates the lip on the stem which will be curled over the bed of the snap, and locking the two pieces together. Similar to the rivet and grommet setters, snaps have their own setters and anvil for holding the cap based on the size. There are grommet setter sets if you prefer to have multiple sizes available, but choosing one to start with is workable. Remember to implore the circular pounding technique for setting snaps. Snap setters cost anywhere from $12-15.
Snap set showing the lip of the stem curled over the bed of the snap.
Grommets are very similar to rivets and come in different sizes and metals. Setting these requires the proper sized grommet setter to the grommet you are using, and the grommet anvil which is shaped different that the rivet anvil. It sort of resembles a donut. Variety can be the spice of life, and snaps can definitely add spice as well as practicality. There are different sizes but I prefer the line 24 or line 20 snaps.
If you want to do any designs on your leather you will want a stylus and tracing film to make transferring your designs in detail to your leather easier as well. Plus, it allows you to keep that same design for quick future use. When googling stylus, make sure you type in "leather crafting stylus," otherwise you'll end up with a new stylus pen for your tablet. Leather stylus will cost somewhere near $10.
A sponge is useful for casing your leather or applying stains and paints. Having a spray bottle will let you soak your leather rather easily while you are working without having to move your leather around a lot.
Flat head screwdriver to twist the two pieces of the Chicago Screw together.
Pliers are good for when you are sewing with thick leathers and have to pull your needle through layers. They also help to remove rivets placed poorly or that aren't in the correct place. Screwdrivers (Flat & Philips) are useful for various things such as Chicago Screws, or creating some simple designs.
Sewing Awls are helpful with misaligned sewing holes made, or if you just need to poke through some thinner layers of leather. This will cost you $5.
Pliers, Screwdrivers and interchangeable heads, and sewing Awl.
Having a cutting board or poundo board for whatever surface you work on will not only keep you from putting holes into it, but it will also give you a better work surface and likely make the noise of your pounding less annoying to everyone else. If you can find a place that has chunks of left over granite marble from cutting counter tops you can find a piece for a good discount, or even for free. I have three of different sizes that I got for free. Having granite is best for setting rivets, snaps and grommets, but don't do any of your hole punching on it or you will dull your tools fast. You can set your cutting board on it to punch the holes and then just remove the cutting board when setting things.
Office clips, twist ties, and heavy clamp.
I find having some decent office clips or twist ties can really help me bring together my patterns to make sure that they come together right. You can also use paper brads if you have them and your leather isn't too thick. Having heavier duty clamps is good for heavier armor making or anything super thick.
The Tandy 6 Piece Craftsman Tool Set were the only tools I had for doing detailed tooling for three years, and I put it to good use. You can do all sorts of basic designs with these, and if you have a swivel knife too, then you can do just about anything design wise. The one I use most is the square beveller.
Stay tuned for part 2 of Building an Epic Leather Cosplay coming next week. I'll be covering the different kinds of leather, and the various uses for the different thicknesses of leather, plus a few useful techniques. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.


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Persephone ¤ Fallen Queen, and Hegemone
A young and innocent goddess, she is the daughter of the Goddess of the Harvest, Demeter. Having always been under Demeter's watchful eye, she falls in love one day with Hades, King of the Underworld. Choosing to become his wife, she goes on to live, as his Queen, in the Underworld.
She becomes the Hegemone of Yvonne, Ethan and Emilie; she can then power their titles to change the tide of battle.
Yvonne ¤ Servant of Persephone
The soul of a "respectable" human girl, and the servant of Persephone. She is always by the side of her mistress, regardless of the danger they go through. And yet, she hasn't always been this helpful in her past life…
Yvonne focuses on physical power and has the highest HP in the party. However, this sturdy fighter does not do as well with magic.
Ethan ¤ Farm Boy
An intelligent farm boy, and Emilie's brother. They own a field of crops from which they sell to his village. Yet, an unfortunate discovery has led to his sister getting killed. He has dared to venture into the Underworld in the hopes of rescuing her.
Ethan is a powerful magic user, and can take magic attacks easily. Unfortunately, he is quite vulnerable to physical attacks.
Emilie ¤ Heroine of the Light
A quick and nimble farm girl and Ethan's sister. Even when her crops started to wither, she soldiered on. When she learned of the death of her brother and her entire village, she joined the Eleusinian Mysteries to defeat Hades and save her brother.
Emilie is the fastest of the trio, and is good in both physical and magical offence. She is not sturdy however.
Hades ¤ King of the Underworld
The Ruler of the Underworld, and beloved husband of Persephone. His love for his wife knows no bounds and wants her to be a wonderful Queen and to flourish in her role. His subjects, who deeply respect and fear him, submit to his rule. And yet, souls are relatively easy to control…
Demeter ¤ Goddess of the Harvest… and now Queen of the Underworld
Persephone's mother, she has been shaken to the core by her daughter's kidnapping. Now recognizing the injustice Hades has inflicted on her, as well as the people separated from their loved ones dying everyday, she decides to fight back.
The leader of the Eleusinian Mysteries: a group of individuals who rebel against Hades and his "totalitarian" rule. Their first goal is to topple the King of the Underworld in order to liberate all the souls under his control. And then… Death will never separate anyone ever again…
Triptolemus ¤ Champion of the Eleusinian Mysteries
A warrior who fought for his country. Currently, he is the champion of Demeter, and he gives direct orders to the Eleusinian Mysteries, after receiving guidance from Demeter. Reuniting all the souls separated from Hades is his primary goal.
Polyxenia ¤ Powerhungry Wizard
A powerful wizard who had been persecuted by her own village. No one really knows what led her to where she is now, helping Demeter. But sometimes the stories of some are best left untold… until the time is right.
Eubelion ¤ Fallen Prince
The fallen crown prince of a powerful kingdom, who was supposed to succeed to the throne, but his life was taken away by one of his younger siblings, who in their hubris ran the country down in flames. His pride wounded, he vows to take revenge upon his sibling and rebuild the kingdom by earning his right to return to the land of the living.
Memo ¤ God of Memory
He is the master of the Save Room: a room where people who pay a large sum can write down their story directly to Memo for it to be remembered for eternity. His creation, the "Memopedia", is a complex encyclopedia that has loads of information contained within it… provided Persephone goes and collects that information. He also seems to be seeking a lot of money…
Anteros ¤ Goddess of Unrequited Love
Ruler of the Love Heart Valley, one of the many realms of the Underworld. She takes on several different odd jobs in between her duties, including service at a restaurant, Les Enfers. Beneath her cute exterior lies some guilt…


Applying for student financial aid is easier than you think. And we're here to help every step of the way. Use the links below to find helpful information about tuition and fees, grants, and military benefits. And keep reading for a step-by-step breakdown of how to apply for aid at the Johnson & Wales University College of Online Education. If you still have questions about a certain topic, or need help applying for financial aid opportunities, please feel free to request info at any time.
It's free and only takes about 30 minutes to complete. Plus, it's the only way to determine your eligibility for federal and state aid.
After filling out your FAFSA, you'll receive a preliminary aid package. Our aid packages may include a combination of loans, which need to be repaid, and grants, which do not.
If you need assistance, please contact your financial planner.
Once you're accepted, you'll have full access to iGrad, a financial literacy site. iGrad provides helpful videos and articles about saving money and applying for aid, handy job search tools, advice from real financial aid advisors, and plenty more.


text:
Le château de Chémery est un château de France situé dans le département de Loir-et-Cher de la région Centre-Val de Loire. Situé sur la commune de Chémery, il est une propriété privée et fait l'objet d'une inscription au titre des monuments historiques depuis le .

Géographie
Le château de Chémery est situé dans la commune de Chémery, dans le département de Loir-et-Cher de la région Centre-Val de Loire. Il se trouve dans le centre du bourg, en retrait de la route départementale D956. Il est entouré par l'église à l'ouest, la mairie au nord-ouest, un étang au nord-est et des champs à l'est.

Le château en lui-même est entièrement entouré par des douves enjambées par un ancien pont-levis au sud et une passerelle en bois à l'ouest. Deux dépendances du château sont situées à l'extérieur des douves : la grange au dîmes à l'ouest et un ancien pigeonnier qui n'est pas détenu par les propriétaires du château au sud-est. Les constructions du château en lui-même s'organisent autour d'une cour centrale rectangulaire. Dans la partie nord et est se trouvent les anciens communs, dans la partie sud le corps du château proprement-dit et dans la partie ouest un mur d'enceinte.

Architecture
Le corps du château est constitué de deux parties distinctes correspondant aux deux grandes étapes de sa construction : une partie datant du Moyen Âge à l'ouest et une partie Renaissance à l'est. Les anciens communs sont constitués de bâtiments à un niveau en mur de maçonnerie et toiture en tuile. Il s'organisent en trois bâtiments indépendants accolés entre eux et à la partie renaissance du corps du château. Un mur d'enceinte ferme la cour dans sa partie ouest en reliant l'extrémité des communs à la partie Moyen Âge du corps du château. Lors de sa reconstruction, des traces écartées de  dans les murs existants ont permis de retrouver la largeur d'un couloir aménagé dans l'épaisseur de l'enceinte.

Histoire

Propriété d'un certain Regnault de Chémery en 1236, le château dépend d'une seigneurie relevant de St-Aignan, avec le même destin féodal : les Chalon-Tonnerre la possèdent, puis leurs descendants Beauvilliers et La Roche-Aymon (cf. l'article Paul-Hippolyte pour le passage des Beauvilliers aux La Roche-Aymon) ; château et seigneurie furent notamment à René de Beauvilliers († 1557),  Comte de St Aignan en 1539. Mais l'histoire du château est mal connue en raison de la destruction des archives à la Révolution.

Doté de 600 hectares à la Renaissance, il fut transformé, par les ducs de Beauvilliers et St-Aignan, en simple ferme et siège d'exploitation agricole en 1729, la plupart des fenêtres étant murées pour limiter l'impôt foncier et permettre le stockage des céréales à l'étage.

Possession de la famille de La Roche-Aymon jusqu'en 1970, il fut acquis par l'écrivaine Madeleine Lemaître et habité par son fils, l'artiste Alain Souchon ; puis par l'architecte Axel Fontaine et sa femme Cécile en 1981, qui en assurent la restauration depuis (les Fontaine sont aussi propriétaires de la tour Beauvoir à Blois).

Aujourd'hui, le château est utilisé pour diverses activités. Des sketchs de la série à succès "Un gars, Une fille" avec Jean Dujardin et Alexandra Lamy y ont notamment été tournés.

Références

Voir aussi

Articles connexes
 Liste des monuments historiques de Loir-et-Cher

Liens externes

Chemery
Chemery
Chemery
Chemery
Monument historique inscrit en 1926
Patrimoine du Ier siècle
Patrimoine du XVe siècle
Patrimoine du XVIe siècle


Join Mindfulness and Meditation instructors Karen Newton, Brian Monsma, Katrina Kaufman, and Emily Smith for an afternoon of relaxation, reflection, and silence at the Speed Art Museum. During this 4.5 hour retreat, you will explore the power of begining again through various guided meditations, chair yoga, mindful skills such as dynamic and oceanic breathing, and teachings through a dharma talk and instructors sharing their experiences. No meditation experience is needed. Lunch will be provided.
Please note, tickets are non-refundable. If you discover you cannot attend the retreat, you may gift your spot to a friend.
Chardonnay and Slay - WITH BABY GOATS!


The very reason you think what you think, do what you do and feel what you feel is a result of your programmed mind.
It can be liberating to know that even when you feel out of control you are operating from a belief that desires to be reactive.
The great news is if beliefs were programmed into your mind you do not desire, you may reprogram them with beliefs you do desire.
The main difference between the two responses is that with instinctual responses it seems you do not have a choice of your response regarding a situation, and with chosen responses it seems you do have a choice.
Your goal is for every response to be chosen.
If at any time you feel you are reacting to a situation instead of freely observing it, please look within and find the belief creating your instinctual reaction.
When you tell a child that they are good, please listen within to what your beliefs are regarding good.
When you tell a child they are bad, please also listen inside to what your interpretation and beliefs are about bad.
Be aware of every belief you have and go further to see if your beliefs create instinctual or chosen responses.
What are you doing and why are you doing it? These are questions you should continually ask yourself.
This means that every breath you breathe, every word you speak, every tear you shed is chosen.
This does not mean you will be blocking yourself. It means you will be observing your every response from a place deep within you, deciding what you will do next.
You will choose how to interact with life, even to the very essence of bodily functions. By observing your bodily functions you will train yourself to be aware of instinctual responses. This is because many bodily functions are instinctual responses.
There was a point in history when it was common for a human to develop their mind to the point they chose life or chose death. These individuals—wise men, sages, prophets and magicians (in the real sense)—would often leave people bewildered because they mastered the things I have spoken about, such as agelessness where the rate of physical aging slows or stops altogether, and miraculous healings where one is instantly, completely healed.
I will teach you how to focus and become aware of every belief as well as things that are not in your direct vicinity. The possibilities are endless, or at least seemingly endless and abundant.
You may master yourself to the point that you choose whether someone comes into your life or you choose they do not.
You will be aware of things before they happen and choose if you desire them to happen or not. You will be able to choose to eat or to manifest nourishment directly into your body without food.
You will choose to die or choose to live.
As a result, your children will recognize the power that lies within them as creators.
What is a situation in your life that you would like to shift from reaction to observation? Visualize responding differently to that situation and how it feels.
What are your beliefs around what is good?
What are your beliefs around what is bad?


BEIJING, Sept. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- DCP Capital ("DCP") today announced that it has invested a total of USD120 million through 2 rounds of Convertible Bonds to support the continued growth of Sunpower Group Limited ("Sunpower" or the "Company") (SGX: 5GD.SI). The investment will support Sunpower expand its valuable portfolio of Green Investments assets to capitalize on the enormous growth potential of the environmental services industry in China.
Sunpower is one of the leading environmental protection solution providers in China. The growing severity of PM2.5 air pollution across the country has prompted the government to introduce various pollution control policies. Regulations now require the phase out by 2020 of small high-emission coal-fired boilers used to generate heat and steam. As an alternative, centralized boilers deploying "clean-coal" technology have seen a significant increase in demand across China. Backed by its proprietary technologies in high efficient heat transfer, energy savings and ultra-low emissions, Sunpower has been successfully expanding into the Green Investments segment as an investor and operator of such centralized boiler facilities, supplying steam to industrial customers and providing heat to local residents as well as selling electricity to the State Grid.
In addition to the Green Investments business, the Company has built up a strong Environmental Manufacturing and Services (M&S) businesses over the past two decades. Sunpower has served approximately 1,500 customers in over 15 industries to date with a blue chip global client base including BP, BASF, Shell, SABIC, DowDuPont, Alcoa, Sinopec, PetroChina and CNOOC, among others. Supported by its advanced technology and high-precision manufacturing and project management expertise accumulated in the Company's M&S segment, Sunpower has gained a unique competitive edge in its Green Investments segment and is able to replace onsite coal-fired boilers in industrial parks with the centralized steam boilers that are more efficient and environmentally friendly. In particular, Sunpower's Green Investments projects are capable of achieving ultra-low emissions comparable to that of natural gas.
As an early mover in the industry, Sunpower has developed a robust portfolio and pipeline of projects through both greenfield projects and acquisitions of existing coalfired boilers. Sunpower's portfolio includes multiple Green Investments projects in operation or under construction in developed areas such as Jiangsu, Guangdong, Anhui, Shandong and Hebei provinces. The Company also has dozens of projects under evaluation. Given that many Green Investments projects are typically protected with 30-year concession agreements with exclusive rights to renew, Sunpower's portfolio of assets generate long-term, stable and recurring cash flows with attractive double-digit returns.
Mr. Guo Hong Xin, Executive Chairman of Sunpower, commented: "We are excited to have DCP's continued commitment and confidence in the long-term growth potential of Sunpower. The DCP team is among the most experienced and successful PE investors in China who brings us not only long-term capital but also operational valueadded partnership that supports our growth."
Mr. David Liu, Executive Chairman of DCP, said: "Sunpower is unique in the fastgrowing anti-smog sector with its industry leadership, outstanding management team and fully integrated capabilities. We have built a trusted partnership with the management team over the years and deeply respect their operational capabilities and integrity. We look forward to fully utilizing our expertise and network to help Sunpower further enhance its market leadership."
Mr. Frank Ma Ming, Executive Director of Sunpower, added: "Sunpower is well positioned to drive towards the next phase of growth with a vision of becoming the toptier environmental protection solution provider in China. We hope to leverage DCP's deep industry knowledge and their M&A and portfolio management capabilities to accelerate our business expansion."
Founded in 1997, Sunpower Group Ltd. (SGX: 5GD.SI) is a leading environmental protection solutions provider with over 20 years of experience in the environmental protection services and energy saving industry.
The Company is powered by two business segments - Green Investments, the key initiative which invests, builds and operates steam, heat and electricity generation plants using its proprietary technologies in industrial parks; and Manufacturing & Services (M&S), which provides customised high-end equipment and one-stop services to a diverse range of industry customers.
The Company serves over 1,500 customers in 30 countries, including the well-known international customers such as BASF, Shell, DowDuPont, BP, SABIC, Alcoa and Mobil, and Chinese conglomerates such as Sinopec, CNOOC, CNPC and ChemChina.
Over the years, Sunpower has won numerous awards including the National Quality Engineering Award, China Key National Product, National Torch Plan High/New Technology Enterprise and Technology Innovation Achievement.
DCP Capital ("DCP") is a leading Greater China focused private equity firm. The DCP team previously led KKR and Morgan Stanley's private equity business in China, with an outstanding long-term track record across multiple cycles.
Over the past 25 years, the DCP team has led a number of successful transactions and nurtured numerous industry leaders, such as Ping An Insurance (Group) Company, China Mengniu Dairy Co, Qingdao Haier Co, China International Capital Corp, China Modern Dairy Holdings, Far East Horizon, United Envirotech, China Cord Blood Corp, Fujian Sunner Development Co, Hengan Group, Belle International Holdings, Fujian Nanping Nanfu Battery Co, COFCO Meat Holdings, Yongle Appliance, Asia Dairy, Uxin Group and Tarena International Inc.
Combining its global investment perspective and extensive local network, the DCP team has accumulated deep industry knowledge and strong operational capabilities. As a long-term investor, DCP is committed to building long-term, win-win partnerships with portfolio companies and help support value creation initiatives.


How to rectify Inbox Repair Tool Error '80040900'?
MS Outlook is a great application of MS Office package which is designed to cater the needs of business professionals and to store there valuable data in a safe and secure way. MS Outlook stores the local copies of different kinds of data like emails, messages, contacts, notes, journals, appointments, tasks etc. in a special file called PST (Personal Storage Table) file. But this PST file is very prone to corruption due to which data stored in it gets corrupt very often. In order to repair the corrupted PST file of MS Outlook Microsoft has provided an inbuilt tool with MS Office package called Scanpst.exe or Inbox Repair Tool. This tool is very much efficient in repairing most of the PST corruption issue but not all of them. That's the reason why the Inbox Repair tool is not able to repair the severe corruption issues of the PST file.
There can be any reason behind the failure of Scanpst.exe tool but the most likely would be the PST oversized issue i.e. Outlook PST file must be larger than 2GB and the Inbox Repair Tool cannot fix an ANSI formatted PST file which is corrupted due to the oversized issue or 2GB file size limitation.
Since the Scanpst.exe failed due to the oversized issue of PST file, so as a first step to resolve this issue you should try to lower the PST size by using Microsoft's PST Crop Tool (Pst2gb.exe) to remove or truncate some of the data from the PST file. But before performing this action it is recommended to backup the entire PST file because in these process you may loose some of the valuable data from the PST file. Or in order to repair the corrupted PST file you can also use any third-party software like PST Repair tool which will effectively scan the entire PST file using its advanced and powerful mechanism to find the bugs and repair them efficiently. This software is so powerful that it can almost repair any logical PST issue just in few clicks. So, simply use this software and repair inbox repair tool error 80040900 in seconds.


High nitrogen that delivers bigger, greener plants. Use once and it lasts up to 2 years!
Agriform fertilizer tablets have a high-nitrogen formula specifically engineered to help deliver bigger, greener plants. Composed of water-soluble nutrients. 20-10-5 formula works up to 2 years with one application!
20 10 5 formula 2 years, 10 gram. Also has minor calcium, combined sulfer, copper, iron, zinc and manganese. 1000 tablets per case.
Safe and easy to handle. tablets feed for up to 2 yrs in warm climates. reduces labor and materials. no surface residue to wash away.