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I spent most of this week researching in the National Archives and the British Library, two of my favourite institutions and a joy to return after the pandemic restrictions. But man cannot live on archive files and books alone, so I visited HMS Belfast in search of some serious military hardware. I haven't been for many years. The rain was bucketing down, causing some flooding in London, so a ship seemed a good place to be!
HMS Belfast is a Town Class light cruiser, launched in 1938, now moored on the Thames in central London, next to Tower Bridge. It is operated by the Imperial War Museum. She struck a mine early in the war but was repaired and served on the Arctic convoys. Then she helped sink the Scharnhorst in 1943 and bombarded the Normandy beaches on D-Day. After WW2, she saw service in the Korean War. She went into the reserve in 1963 and was saved from the scrapyard before being opened to the public in 1971. I remember going soon after it opened as I was living in London at the time. I was very young!
Her twelve 6" guns are the immediate attraction and 25 crew served in each of the four turrets. It must have been packed and reminded me why, at 6' 2" tall, I wasn't built for the navy.
The twelve 4" guns make up the secondary armament, along with 16 Bofors AA guns.
You can visit most parts of the ship and all decks, including the bridge. Sadly, not for those with mobility issues, and I bumped my head several times. However, there are a couple of good pubs nearby to soothe the pain!
Well worth a visit.
Nero Exhibition
Of all the Roman emperors, Nero comes pretty near to the bottom of the league. Burning Christians, fiddling while Rome burned at his own hands, murdering his mother, poisoning his brother, he even took to the stage to torment the citizens!
He may have lost his head on occasion but it wasn't chopped off. He probably poisoned himself.
Given what we all think we know about Nero, I decided to take in the British Museum's Nero Exhibition while I am in London this week.
To be honest, the exhibition is not as spectacular as others I have been to at the museum. The Assyrian and the Scythian exhibitions were fantastic. If I hadn't already got a Roman army of the period, I wouldn't be inspired to get one. That is not to say it isn't interesting. Some fine exhibits, including many of military interest. This relief of the Pretorian Guard in particular.
Nero was on the throne while Boudicca's rebellion kicked off, not that he got his own hands dirty dealing with it. There is a decent section on this, with the British and Roman helmets being the high point for me.
A display of gladiator equipment and nice Gladius was about it for me.
The exhibition didn't make much of an effort to rehabilitate Nero, if that is possible. Melvin Bragg had Dr Shusma Malik, who has written a book on Nero, on his In Our Time radio show. She points out that the only surviving sources were written by authors who lived well after his death and had good reason to denigrate the Julio-Claudian dynasty. She also argues that by the standards of Roman emperors, Nero wasn't that excessive. The exhibition highlights his popularity with the masses, if not the Senate. As late as the fifth century, his image appeared on souvenir medallions more frequently than any other emperor. On balance, he was obviously loved and loathed, in what proportions it is difficult to judge.
The British Museum is a staggeringly good visit anyway. My favourite section is the Sutton Hoo finds. I never tire of the Saxon helmet.
The Northern Earldoms
This is a history of the Earldoms of Orkney and Caithness in the far north of present-day Scotland from 870 to 1470AD by Barbara Crawford. It is unusual because, during this period, Orkney was part of Norway and Caithness was part of Scotland. This meant the Earls swore allegiance to two different monarchs for two halves what was administratively one lordship. Some years ago, I visited both these areas regularly as part of my job, and Orkney remains one of my favourite parts of Scotland.
Anyone who has travelled from mainland Scotland to Orkney will understand that the Pentland Firth that separates them can be a rough strip of water. I have been delayed both ways by the weather. However, it wasn't a barrier to communication or settlement in a period when travel was mainly by ship. On the contrary, it was a vital passage for the Vikings who dominated these waters and one that they wished to control both coasts.
In the Viking era, possibly the most famous Earl was Thorfinn 'The Mighty', sometimes called 'Skullsplitter' or 'Raven feeder'. Either way, you get the message! He pops up in the story of Macbeth, and Crawford confirms that they fought each other, in contrast to Nigel Tranter's fictional story that they were allies. They battled on land in Caithness and at sea off the eastern mainland of Orkney. She also maps Thornfinn's pilgrimage to Rome across Europe, not by the sea, with Macbeth as Tranter postulates.
Despite the joint lordship, the military and administrative structures retained their Norse and Scottish features. The Earls, including Thorfinn, often held sway over larger territories, including the Hebrides off the west coast of Scotland and the Shetland Isles to the north, although the administration was less formal. They would provide ships and men for national campaigns as called for by the kings of Norway and, less often, Scotland. However, both earldoms were a long way from the centre of power in Scotland and Norway, which gave the Earls a bit of latitude. For example, they remained fairly detached from the Scottish Wars of Independence. On occasion, the Earls developed their own foreign policy, which could be regarded as treasonous.
The Norwegians were not big castle builders; in fact, it was unusual for the Norweigian aristocracy to have their own castles. There are a few castles in the Earldoms, but the surviving examples are from the latter end of this period. The introduction of Christianity brought ecclesiastical structures and some territorial disputes. Orkney and Shetland came under the Norweigian archbishopric of Nidaros. The outstanding building is St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall. This is a substantial building with a fascinating history. I once represented the caretaker (Jannie in Scots), who also did excellent building tours.
The book takes the reader through the history of the earldoms, highlighting the themes of divided loyalty and the growing authority of kings. This could cause difficulties for the Earls, particularly when the two countries were in conflict. King Hakon's 1263 attack on Scotland and the Battle of Largs is a good example. Fresh in my mind as my wife and I spent a day there last week.
Towards the end of this period, the Earldoms began to retrench as the Scottish kings began to assert greater authority. Sutherland, south of Caithness, was detached in 1200, and the Hebrides were brought into Scotland by Treaty after Largs. As the Viking Earls died out, they were replaced by related Scottish aristocrats, who maintained the dual allegiance but were part of a drift towards Scottish rule. By the late 14th century, the Sinclair Earls included a Chancellor of Scotland, who had substantial lands in southern Scotland. As the nation-state developed, it became virtually impossible to maintain dual oaths of allegiance. In 1472 Orkney and Shetland passed fully to the Scottish crown.
This is a substantial book with a level of detail that will probably only appeal to those interested in the area. Although, I recall quite a few Americans turning up in the archivist's office during the summer to track down their roots. As the Shetland fire festival Up Helly Aa demonstrates between January and March each year, the islands are proud of their Viking heritage. I don't think my liver has yet recovered from a visit during that festival!
28mm Vikings from my collection
Labels: Books, Medieval
The Balkans 1940-41 (1) - Greco-Italian War
An Osprey Campaign series book with Balkans in the title is usually a must-buy for me. However, there have been several good books on the Italian invasion of Greece in recent years. Unfortunately, this wasn't always so well covered. When I wrote an overview of the campaign in the SOTCW Journal, there was little other than the official history and Mario Cervi's Hollow Legions, in English at least. I had just come back from a visit to the battlefields from the Greek side and later did the same from Albania.
Pier Paolo Battistelli may not have added much to our knowledge of the campaign, but he has written a very readable account, profusely illustrated with really clear maps. These are the real strength of the book when dealing with a part of the world that will be unfamiliar to most readers.
As with other books in this series, the format is some context and a chronology, followed by a description of the commanders and the opposing forces. There has been a tendency to denigrate the Italian armed forces in WW2, and recent studies have put some balance back into the debate. However, the author points to the poor quality of the troops sent to Albania, many of whom had just been demobilised and were understandably less than enthusiastic about fighting in the Epirus mountains in winter! In March 1941, 4,600 of the 17,000 officers in Albania were replacements and only 800 career officers. These replacement officers were poorly trained in the latest weaponry and tactics.
It isn't well understood that the original Italian plan was a modest occupation of Epirus. Mussolini decided to expand the objectives to the whole of Greece on 14 October and was told it would require another 20 divisions and consequential delays. Moreover, the Greek army had its own problems, with half the army deployed to face its anticipated enemy, Bulgaria. The Metaxas line facing Bulgaria had modern fortifications, but there were only 50 machine-gun posts in Epirus.
The weather played an important part in the campaign, not least because it meant flying was only possible for short periods. This negated what should have been Italian air superiority. Intelligence was poor, and blue on blue attacks were not unheard of. Once it was clear that the Bulgarians were declining Mussolini's invitation to join in, the Greeks could shift divisions to Epirus, giving them parity of numbers with the Italians. By March 1941, the Italians regained their numerical advantage with 420,000 men deployed in Albania.
The outcome was a reversal of the initial Italian gains, followed by Greek offensives that captured much of southern Albania. That offensive eventually ran out of steam, and the two exhausted armies dug in. Only the German Operation Marita broke the impasse. The various stages of the war are clearly set out in the book with the accompanying maps.
If you are not familiar with this conflict, then this is the book to buy. But, even if you are, it is a useful addition to the library.
I have wargame armies for this conflict in 28mm and 15mm and have visited the battlefields. Both of which I would recommend. Zagoria is a beautiful part of Greece, and southern Albania is relatively unspoilt by modern tourism.
Greek war memorial and museum at Kalpaki.
Greek army in 15mm
Greek infantry in 28mm
Italian infantry in 28mm
Posted by Balkandave at 11:43 1 comment:
Labels: Books, WW2
Revisiting Sharp Practice
I gave Sharp Practice 2 a positive review when it came out and played several games across the time period. It was certainly an improvement on the first edition. However, I have hardly played it since, and I suspect that's because the various Dan Mersey rule sets for the period have captured my attention. My midweek wargame club (Prestwick) isn't back playing yet because of problems with the venue, so when a member suggested a game at home with Sharp Practice, I dusted down my set of the rules.
We played a version of Scenario 6: The Rescue Mission, using French and British forces of the Peninsular War with 62 points per side.
I am not a big fan of the overly random mechanisms the Lardies use in their rules, but fortunately, my French cavalry leader came out of the pack first and the same for my British opponent. This led to a cavalry clash which the British came off marginally better.
This allowed the meat of the battle to proceed with my two French columns crawling across the table while the British moved into position to block my access to the monastery. I say crawl because Sharp Practice uses variable movement. I have no problem with variable movement as an add on to a basic movement allowance. However, completely variable means infantry can move anything between 2" and 12" per turn by using both actions for movement. Therefore, the chances of completing this scenario, which required me to get to the monastery and back to the bridge (around 10ft), was nil. It also slows up the game necessarily.
The infantry battle used both of the special rules for the British and French, which makes a decent attempt to reflect the tactics of the period. The French won through, and that was largely that as the British morale was down to 0. So, I would have been able to walk into the monastery - if I had a spare evening for dice rolls!
I'm sure we made a few errors and certainly spent a lot of time stuck in the rulebook. It may just be me, the pernickety lawyer, but there is some inconsistent use of language which can confuse. For example, 'withdrawal' and 'broken' are fine, but in Fisticuffs, we have 'thrown back'. I'm sure if I ploughed through the forum, there would be answers, but it irritated me. There were several other issues like this.
We struggled to remember to use the reload and present rules. It results in lots more markers cluttering up the table, and I am not sure it adds much to a game when both sides use the same technology. So I would lengthen the time frame and abstract the process. Otherwise, the firing and combat rules work fine. I was a bit surprised that my skirmishing Voltigiers had the option of standing rather than evading from a British line charge, although I can see circumstances in another time period where 'may' makes sense. You just have to use some common sense and do what the historical troops would have done.
Overall it was a fun game. The Tiffin card didn't break up the game too much, a big problem with the first edition. I do think the rules are unnecessarily complex in places, so I do prefer Rebels and Patriots. However, the narrative play is fun, and we will give it another go.
Labels: Rules
Armies in Southern Russia 1918-19
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh month every year, we commemorate the end of WW1. This new Osprey and others demonstrate that WW1 didn't really end in November 1918. Conflicts involving large armies continued for several years. In this example, Phoebus Athanassiou gives us an overview of the operations and armies that fought in the regions around the northern Black Sea coast in 1918-19. Specifically in Ukraine and Crimea.
The Bolshevik or Red armies included separate Ukrainian and Russian forces. The German occupation forces were leaving but still engaged in places. Against the Bolsheviks were the White forces led by Denikin, supported by intervention armies from France and Greece. This is large scale warfare with Denikin's armed forces totalling some 160,000 men, 600 artillery pieces and 34 armoured trains. The French were quickly bundled out of Crimea, not helped by a naval mutiny, which reflected the low morale of French forces. Probably more war fatigue than Bolshevik agitation. The Allies attempted to hold southern Ukraine cities including Nikolaev, Berezivka and finally Odessa. However, they were pushed back and either evacuated or moved to new defensive lines with Romanian and Polish troops in Bessarabia.
Around 12,000 French troops were committed to the campaign - 156th infantry division, part of the 30th division and the 16th Colonial Division. This meant Algerian, Senegalese and even Indochinese units served in General Berthelot's army.
I had no idea that the Greeks sent an expeditionary force to the region, particularly given their commitments in Thrace and Anatolia. However, some 23,000 men were sent in two infantry divisions. (10th and 13th). Smaller numbers of Polish and Romanian troops also fought in the region, and were only interested in defending their own borders.
Denikin's army was large and diverse, although the French believed only about 25,000 could be described as operational. Former tsarist officers were fairly reliable but the mass of peasant conscripts were not. Having said that, his army performed much better after this campaign in the Russian Civil War.
As you would expect from this Osprey series, the book is well illustrated with period photos and colour plates. If you like to wargame an obscure conflict, this book has everything you need.
These Greek Evzones in 28mm would work for this campaign.
The Turkish War of Independence: A Military History
This is an operational history of the Turkish War of Independence 1919-23 by Ed Erickson. It completes a trilogy of books he has written on the Ottoman and Turkish armies in the early twentieth century covering the Balkan Wars, WW1 and now the Turkish War of Independence, often called the Greek-Turkish War.
Unlike the other excellent recent study of the conflict, Salvation and Catastrophe: The Greek-Turkish War, 1919-1922, this is a military history of the campaigns against the Greek invasion and the other lesser-known campaigns of the war. In fact, I found the chapters dealing with the campaigns against the French and Armenians some of the most interesting.
The book is organised chronologically, starting with the end of WW1and the creation of a Nationalist Army out of the remnants of the defeated Ottoman forces. Salvation and Catastrophe covers the political and diplomatic causes of the war in more detail while Erickson outlines these and cracks on with the Greek invasion and the First Inönü Campaign. This includes the less well-known campaign in Thrace, which successfully ejected Nationalist forces and brought the Greeks close to Istanbul. The narrative then shifts to the war against a wide range of insurgents and the Eastern Front campaigns against the short-lived Armenian Republic and the French occupation of Cicilia. Victory against Armenia led to a treaty with the Bolsheviks, and attacking the overstretched French forces caused them to withdraw to their mandates in Syria and Lebanon. The scale of the battles against the French was a surprise to me. For example, the French force at Gaziantepe totalled 13 infantry battalions and 15 artillery batteries. These victories allowed the Nationalists to shift troops and equipment to the main front against the advancing Greeks.
The rest of the book takes us through the Greek advances in the Second Inönü campaign, which drew the Greek forces closer to the nationalist capital Ankara. However, Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk) was trading space for time and to stretch the Greek forces, which were simply inadequate for such a huge operation at a time when they were losing international support. The Great Offensive destroyed the Greek armies and forced the remnants to evacuate. This brought the Nationalists facing the British occupation forces guarding Istanbul and the Straits. This resulted in an armistice followed by the Treaty of Lausanne and the establishment of the Turkish Republic.
While the trenches and barbed wire of WW1 were present, this was a war of manoeuvre in which cavalry played an important role. The larger Nationalist cavalry units were able to outflank the Greeks and interdict their supplies and command structures. During the Battle of Sakarya, the Nationalist cavalry even managed to attack the Greek field army HQ. This was war on a large scale, with armies of up to 200,000 men on each side. Casualties are difficult to assess, but Konstantinos Travlos has a go in Appendix A. The Greeks lost around one-third of their army dead and wounded (over 60,000), with many more taken prisoner. The Nationalists about half the Greek casualties. Civilian casualties were massive with atrocities on both sides, compounded by the population exchanges that followed.
Erickson argues that the Great Offensive was one of the few successful examples of operational-level encirclements conducted before WW2. He ranks it with Tannenberg and Megiddo in this regard. Such an operation could only be delivered by highly trained staff officers who had been trained in the Ottoman war academy using doctrines learned from the Germans. Kemal, Fevzi and Inönü formed an effective command team, along with Karabekir on the eastern front. Railroads, the weather and the Anatolian geography all helped the nationalist victories.
This is an excellent operational history of the war or arguably wars. Each campaign is put into context, followed by the preparations, and each phase of the campaign is broken down into readable chunks. Then, finally, a conclusion which outlines the outcomes and the key lessons. The reader is left with a clear understanding of the war. Highly recommended.
I tried one of the lesser-known campaigns on the eastern front against the Armenian Republic for the tabletop. From the limited pictures, it seems that the Armenian army had a variety of uniforms and equipment. When you are struggling to arm your troops, nice uniforms are not a priority. So, some civilian dress and former Russian uniforms appear to have been the norm. I used my Russian figures of the period in 15mm, who look far too smart, but even for me, this is a project too far!
My choice of rules for this period is Bloody Big Battles. The armies were not large. With irregular militias incorporated, the Armenian army was about 20,000 men, and the Karabekir's XV Corps had 15,811 men plus irregular formations. This is quite a small battle for Bloody Big Battles to handle. The Turks attacked the rather too spread out Armenian position by pinning their left and concentrating the attack on the right-wing. They fairly quickly outflanked the Armenian right and rolled up the line. A historical outcome!
A Strange Campaign: Madagascar
I get through a lot of podcasts on my morning walk, but I rarely buy audiobooks. For military history, access to maps is important, and that obviously doesn't work in audio. So, I have made an exception for Russell Phillip's study of the Madagascar campaign of WW2. It is narrated by Henry Hyde, who has a very listenable voice, as those who subscribe to his podcast will know.
Madagascar was a Vichy French colony in 1942, and 250 miles off the east coast of Africa, it was something of a backwater. However, with the Japanese advancing towards India and the Indian Ocean, the colony suddenly appeared on the British radar. It was also on the Cape supply route to the Middle East, so a Japanese naval presence on the island would be well placed to interdict convoys. Its major deep water port, Diego-Suarez, was large enough to accommodate capital ships and had a dry dock.
This book is the story of Operation Ironclad, the British and Commonwealth invasion of the island. This was a significant undertaking supported by a naval task force that included a battleship, two carriers and 43 other warships. In addition, three infantry brigades, a commando unit and armour, landed in an operation that provided some lessons for the later invasions of Sicily and Normandy.
There were mixed views in the Allied high command over the necessity of invading the island with the Americans opposed. It was a major commitment at a time when there were many other calls on men and equipment. The Vichy government had replaced the island's governor with a Petain loyalist, Armand Annet, who was likely to defend the island with its large garrison. Despite de Gaulle's assurances, there was very little support for the Free French on the island.
The main landing was made close to Diego-Suarez, followed by an advance on the town by land while the defences and airfield were attacked from sea and air. The defensive Joffre Line' hadn't been spotted by air reconnaissance, and they had sufficient artillery to knock out Valentine and Tetrarch tanks. It was left to the infantry and another landing operation to secure the town. The British suffered 109 killed and 284 wounded, as well as nine aircraft and one minesweeper. Admiral Syfret's report included several lessons learned for future operations. These included that white flags and leaflets should not be employed when operating against French possessions. He dryly noted that "Stories of what the inhabitants did with the leaflets would surprise their originators."
Having captured the main port, there was a further debate over the need to capture the whole island. Smuts was in favour, but Churchill was concerned it may be a burden. However, continued French resistance meant that it was agreed to press on before the rainy season would make land operations impossible. The author takes the reader through each of the subsequent operations, which involved further naval landings and fighting over challenging terrain. The King's African Rifles played an important role in these operations and were less susceptible to malaria than the British battalions. They secured the final surrender of Annet, who had dragged the campaign out for six months.
Churchill summed up the campaign: "The Madagascar episode was in its secrecy of planning and precision of tactical execution a model for amphibious descents. The news arrived at a time when we sorely needed success. It was in fact for long months the only sign of good and efficient war direction of which the British public were conscious."
This is an excellent listen, although I also bought the PDF version for the maps. You can use Google maps, but some of the place names have changed.
The French were well supplied with artillery and support weapons. 28mm figures from my 1940 army.
Invasion of Cyprus 1974
My WW2 eastern Mediterranean research inevitably references Cyprus. Although its strategic position remained important, it was just too far away from Axis bases in the Dodecannese to play a key role in WW2 campaigns. Current tensions with Turkey over oil and gas around Cyprus caused me to look at the events that led to the partition in 1974. My first overseas trip was a school cruise in 1967, which included a stop at Famagusta because the planned trip to Israel was diverted due to the Six-Day War. I remember looking at the UN troops near the old town, keeping the peace between the Greeks and the Turkish enclave.
A quick search on the subject of the Turkish invasion in 1974, or peace operation as Turkey describes it, delivers a vast amount of less than objective analysis from both sides. Although the Greeks are more prolific, in English at least. I quickly read Dylan Casper Jones booklet, 'The Cyprus-Turkey War 1974'. He was a British soldier stationed in Cyprus in 1974 and took part in British operations to protect their bases and related sites. It includes a potted history of the conflict, although it's a bit disjointed in places and not entirely accurate. However, from a 'boots on the ground' perspective, it is an interesting read.
My current reading is 'The Cyprus Emergency' by Nick van der Bijl. This is a narrative history of the island and the campaign against the British occupation, which turned violent in the 1950s. This was led by the insurgency group EOKA, which wanted the island to join with Greece, known as Enosis. Unsurprisingly this was opposed by the Turkish minority, who formed their own militia to defend Turkish areas of the island. The British largely defeated the insurgency, and the Republic of Cyprus was created in 1960. The constitution involved power-sharing between the two communities under President Makarios, but the country was plagued with inter-communal violence. In the 1970s, EOKA was reformed and started a new insurgency aimed at Enosis, opposed by the Makarios government. In 1974 the Greek Junta encouraged a coup by the Cypriot National Guard that deposed Makarios and appointed a pro-Enosis President. The Turkish Cypriots called for Britain and Turkey to intervene as the treaty guarantors. Turkey took this opportunity to invade and occupy the northern third of the island, which resulted in massive population exchanges. In 1983, the Turkish Cypriots created the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is only recognised by Turkey.
This is a good narrative history and gives an overview of the military operations in 1974. However, for wargaming purposes, it lacks operational detail. For that, I turned to Ed Erickson and Mesut Uyar's book 'Phase Line Attila', which I have as a PDF, although hard copies can be purchased.
Erickson writes operational history like few others, and this is the best available study of the invasion I have found. I would have liked a little more organisational detail, but I also found some army lists that plugged the gaps.
For the tabletop, I had planned on using my modern 1/300th scale Turkish and Greek armies. However, the Cypriot National Guard was equipped with a mixture of older British and Soviet equipment. My 1/200th scale Arab-Israeli conflict models fitted better, supplemented by British desert army units. The Turkish army and marines were largely equipped by the USA, while the Cypriots had an eclectic mix of equipment. Marmon Herrington armoured cars fought side by side with T34/85 tanks and BTR-152 carriers.
I use the Cold War Commander rules for this scale. Unfortunately, there were no army lists on the website, so I created my own based on a reinforced Turkish marine battalion and a Cypriot infantry battlegroup. As in the historical action, Turkish airpower was important, negating the marines lack of heavy equipment.
Once the Turks had captured the port of Kyrenia, they were able to bring in M47/48 tanks who spearheaded a two-stage offensive, which gradually pushed by the National Guard units who had little with which to stop them. The modern Greek Cypriot forces now have a much better-equipped army to face the two Turkish divisions that garrison today's occupied territories. The invasion in 1974 also involved paratroop and helicopter landings as well as naval and air operations. So, there is scope for a bigger project and more than a few 'what-ifs'.
Turkish marines advancing from the right were slow to advance.
They were saved by Turkish F-100 Super Sabres bombing the Cypriot tanks.
The Cypriots briefly held the high ground before a combination of air attacks and artillery destroyed them.
Labels: Books, Modern
The Bulgarian Contract
This is the story, told by Graeme Sheppard, of how a clever piece of misinformation arguably brought an early end to WW1 and saved many lives. In 1918, there was a common belief in Bulgaria that there was a secret agreement with Germany for a three-year war that came to an end on 10 September 1918. It is argued that this is the basis for the collapse of the Bulgarian army in September 1918, which led to the German High Command recommending that Germany seek an armistice.
In fact, there was no such clause in the treaty that brought Bulgaria into the First World War on the side of the Central Powers. Instead, the story was likely invented by the Agrarian Party Leader, Alexander Stamboliski, to undermine the ruling Bulgarian Government.
The basis for the book is the story of two junior British officers, Robert Howe and John Cowan, who had been held as prisoners of war in Bulgaria for three years. They witnessed the Bulgarian capitulation first hand and even bluffed their way to Sofia, claiming to take over the city in the name of the British Army. Both officers went on to have long careers in the Foreign Office. Howe wrote about his experiences in unpublished memoirs, and Cowan corresponded with Cyril Falls, who wrote the official British history of the war. The story gets a footnote in the official history and a few references in Bulgarian histories. It is obliquely referenced in Ludendorff and Hindenburg's memoirs as well.
The author argues that Howe and Cowan are strong witnesses for the veracity of the contract. They both independently evidence the creedence given to it by Bulgarians and that its inventor was Alexander Stamboliski based on a brief discussion they had with him. Moreover, they enjoyed an extraordinary degree of freedom among ordinary Bulgarians in September 1918, spoke with them in their own language, ate, drank and did business with them. Finally, so convinced were the pair that the fighting would end that September that they returned to formal custody in expectation of their imminent release.
The contract is not mentioned in detail in the many studies of the period, and Stamboliski never claimed the credit. However, the author gives several credible explanations for this. French and British intelligence did not expect serious resistance from the Bulgarian Army before the Battle of Dobro Pole, leading to the Entente victory in Macedonia. The Bulgarian 2nd and 3rd Divisions collapsed, although the same was not true of the 9th Division facing the British at Doiran. The 9th Division was led by General Vasov, a competent commander who had successfully fought off the previous offensives.
My 2016 picture of the formidable Bulgarian positions at Doiran
Sheppard makes a convincing case for the existence of the contract. It was probably one of many plots Stamboliski invented from his prison cell, which he had good reasons for not mentioning later. The evidence for its impact is perhaps less strong, although, at the very least, it contributed to the Bulgarian collapse. That collapse certainly formed the basis for Hindenburg and Ludendorff's loss of confidence, following on from the defeats on the Western Front, particularly the Battle of Amiens. It is therefore fair to argue that this shortened the war and saved many lives.
So, it's a good story well told. However, I am not sure it qualifies for a book in its own right. Even allowing for some context, the story of the contract could be adequately told in a journal article. To turn it into a book requires a large amount of padding about the wider war in 1918, which is interesting but hardly new. The knowledgeable reader may want to skip more than a few chapters, but if you are new to the story of how WW1 ended, you will find this content useful.
Bulgarian WW1 infantry in 28mm
The Last Ottoman Generation
This is Michael Provence's study of the post-Ottoman Middle East and the former Ottoman figures who helped shape it. In the west, at least, our understanding of this period is fixed on the imperial characters like Lawrence of Arabia and the French General Gouraud. The 'line the sand' deal between Britain and France after WW1 defined imperial spheres of influence and fragmented the region into small and manageable national states. A fantasy world of their own invention.
This book takes a different approach from the many national histories of the modern Middle East states. It looks at the region from the perspectives of the post-Ottoman citizens, many of whom did not regard the new order as an improvement. Its frame of reference is not the birth of something new but the death of something old and evolving, arguably even modernising. It studies the commonalities across the region that were clear to all until at least the 1940s.
One of the most interesting chapters deals with how the Ottomans administered the region. The state military and civil education systems and the generations of soldiers and administrators who progressed through it. Sultan Abdul-Hamid made specific efforts to increase the representation of non-Turkish students into the system, and Arabs were conscripted into the army. Modern infrastructure, including the railways and the telegraph system, also played a part in modernising the region and helped to spread new political ideas. They required trained workers, and technical schools were built to train technicians. 10,000 kilometres of railway line had been built by 1918.
The men who progressed through this system played an important role in the late Ottoman empire and formed an educated military elite, although still outnumbered by career officers who had risen through the ranks and were barely literate. The book gives many examples of the individuals who also went on to play a role in the post-Ottoman region.
Both the French and the British found their administration of the region under the mandate system costly. They tried a range of approaches, from adopting local elites to gerrymandering the boundaries and divide and rule strategies. Separating Lebanon from Syria is just one example. When they failed, they did counter-insurgency operations on the cheap. This often involved the use of air power to bomb and destroy rebel villages. The French mission civilitrice was anything but civilised for those killed or made homeless in these often random punishment attacks. Male villagers were occasionally gathered together and executed randomly.
The Turkish recovery in Anatolia led by Mustapha Kemal had limited benefits for those trying to emulate it in the Middle East. Ottoman Arab officers played a role in several insurgencies, but they got little support from the new Turkish republic. Former Ottoman Turks ridiculed the Arab leaders for abandoning the Ottoman Empire in favour of the British. They were focused on creating a Turkish state, not reinventing the Ottoman Empire. Other Ottoman-trained political leaders made political efforts through representations to the League of Nations to make a case for self-representation. These had limited success, and the notional independence of Iraq, and later Syria left real power in the hands of the British and French governments.
Ottoman rule may have delivered an imperfect system of rights and representation, but most of the population viewed it as more legitimate than the colonial regimes that replaced it. For the colonial powers, the occupations were expensive and provided few benefits. Their mandates gave the region its most enduring conflicts, most notably in Israel and Lebanon, and more recently in Iraq and Syria. The author accepts that former Ottoman army officers were as authoritarian as the colonial mandates, but those peoples who were most able to determine their own destiny have survived the events of the past century the best.
This is a different analysis of the post-Ottoman Middle East from conventional studies. All the key events are covered chronologically, but viewed from a regional perspective. Well worth a read.
French Senegalese infantry (28mm) were deployed in interwar Syria.
Galava or Clanoventa - Ambleside Roman Fort
I am on holiday this week in the English Lake District. Mostly fell walking while my wife paints and daughter drags her partner around various activities. The Lake District is one of my favourite places on earth, but it is renowned for its scenery, not its history. However, our flat just happens to be very close to the site of a Roman fort. Not that my wife believes anything like this just happens!
The ruins have been tentatively identified as Galava, which is mentioned in Roman records, although others think it was Clanoventa. The fort guarded the Roman road from the west coast and another road south to the fort at Kendal. In 2016 it was reported that technology had revealed a Roman road running north from Ambleside fort to Carlisle and Hadrian's Wall. The fort is built on the edge of Lake Windermere, so, it is likely supplies were also brought in by boat. The Romans were often ambushed in this mountainous terrain, so much so that they marched across the fells rather than go through the lowland woods. A fell is called High Street to reflect this use.
The original first century AD fort was probably a mound with wood palisades. It was later converted into a rectangular stone fort, with four gates and towers at each corner. The information board gives an artist's impression.
It was occupied until at least 365AD and was attacked on several occasions. A tombstone found at Ambleside bore an inscription that translates as "killed within the fort by the enemy".
There isn't a great deal to see other than a few wall bases. However, the National Trust has put up several useful information boards. I wouldn't make a special trip, but worth a look if you are passing.
We also went to Levens Castle near Kendal. Mostly gardens for my wife, but there is quite a lot of Napoleonic interest as a former owner was an ADC to Wellington at Waterloo. Items include Napoleon's saddle from the Egypt campaign.
And some Imperial Romans of the type that would be based at Ambleside.
Labels: Ancients, travel


There was an error during installation. What do I do now?
First, please restart your computer to process pending file operations. Then uninstall GreenCloud, and restart your computer again. Now you can try to re-install the GreenCloud (we recommend to always use the latest version from our website (http://www.obviousidea.com/windows-software/greencloud-printer/)).
The automatic update is failing. How do I update to the latest version manually?
Why are my options not applied when I create a PDF?
Some options like the number of copies, gray scale, etc. are only effective for printing. When saving as PDF, these options are not applied. This allows you to decide later how to print the document.
Why does nothing happen when I print a document to GreenCloud?
Since version 7.7.2.0 a troubleshooter is available. Launch it by clicking "Start", and typing "GreenCloud Control Panel" (or find it by navigating to the ObviousIdea folder). In GreenCloud Control Panel click the "Check" button (Troubleshooting section). This should fix the most common issues.
Make sure startup type is set to "Automatic"
Note: If you're using any system tools like msconfig, Autoruns (SysInternals), Chameleon Startup Monitor, etc., please make sure you didn't block or disable the Agent/VPDAgent service.
Click on Start > "Devices and Printers"
The GreenCloud window is black, or displays incorrectly from time to time. How to solve this?
Update your graphics driver, or try to disable Direct2D usage: Click on "Settings" on the top right, then on "Advanced" tab, and uncheck "Use Direct2D".
When printing to GreenCloud, it displays an error like "Unable to process print job [...] with spool type RAW". How to fix it?
First, please make sure you are using the latest version. If in doubt, install the latest update (see question 2).
If this doesn't help, launch the troubleshooter by clicking "Start", and typing "GreenCloud Control Panel" (or find it by navigating to the ObviousIdea folder). In GreenCloud Control Panel click the "Check" button (Troubleshooting section).
In case you still encounter this error message, the application you are trying to printing from might be incompatible with GreenCloud.
Can I rename the printer to something else than "GreenCloud"?
GreenCloud depends on the printer name, so please leave it as is. Otherwise the application will not work correctly!
Why does GreenCloud show or print wrong characters or symbols instead of readable text?
There are certain scenarios where this problem can occur, depending on the used application and/or document. First, please make sure GreenCloud is up to date, by clicking the info icon in the upper right corner, and then "Check for update".
If you encounter this issue when printing PDF documents, this may be due the way the application is handling embedded fonts. Some PDF viewers provide alternative options for text rendering of embedded fonts (often located in the print or general options). If your PDF viewer doesn't offer such options, you can try Acrobat Reader instead.
Is it possible to have a special version of GreenCloud for our enterprise?
We can provide customized versions of the software to fit your needs. For details, please contact us (http://www.obviousidea.com/contact/) with your requirements.
Why are options like "Grayscale" or "Print two-sided" reset each time I print?
If you want GreenCloud to remember the state of these options, please click on Settings (right side in the upper menu bar) and make sure "Respect printer's default settings" is turned off.
How can GreenCloud be installed unattended (e.g. for deployment)?
If you want to suppress the interface completely, use the /verysilent parameter.
When installing GreenCloud I have this message "Error #126 The specified module could not be found"
Also check the PATH environment variable, which may contain invalid spaces sometimes. See https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/310519 on how to manage it.
Alternatively, if you're on Windows XP you can try to copy framedyn.dll from "C:\Windows\system32\Wbem" to "C:\Windows\system32".
Then reboot, and try to install again.


text:
Find a Kidney Doctor
For Physicians & Staff
Northwest Kidney Care Alliance (ESCO)
Living With Kidney Disease
Traveling on Dialysis
Dialysis in a Center
Dialysis at Home
Treatment Without Dialysis
About Kidney Disease
What is Kidney Disease?
Preventing Kidney Disease
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Northwest Kidney Centers
Be healthy. See tips to stay safe from COVID-19 and vaccine information.
We join colleagues and patients urging federal support for kidney research
Northwest Kidney Centers signed a letter sent today to leaders of the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees. The letter … read more
http://www.nwkidney.org/news/we-join-colleagues-and-patients-urging-federal-support-for-kidney-research/
2014 Citizens of the Year: Drs. Amy Winston and Bart Johnson (Washington State Dental Association)
http://www.nwkidney.org/news/2014-citizens-of-the-year-drs-amy-winston-and-bart-johnson-washington-state-dental-association/
Renal Support Network founder Lori Hartwell receives Clyde Shields Distinguished Service Award (Nephrology News & Issues)
http://www.nwkidney.org/news/renal-support-network-founder-lori-hartwell-receives-clyde-shields-distinguished-service-award-nephrology-news-issues/
Renal Support Network founder Lori Hartwell receives Northwest Kidney Centers' highest honor
http://www.nwkidney.org/news/renal-support-network-founder-lori-hartwell-receive-s-northwest-kidney-centers-highest-honor/
Bellevue woman battles kidney disease in two Washingtons (Bellevue Reporter)
http://www.nwkidney.org/news/bellevue-woman-battles-kidney-disease-in-two-washingtons-bellevue-reporter/
Bothell man survives kidney transplants, works to educate others (Bothell/Kenmore Reporter)
http://www.nwkidney.org/news/bothell-man-survives-kidney-transplants-works-to-educate-others-bothellkenmore-reporter/
Renton woman gets trip to star-studded renal prom (Renton Reporter)
http://www.nwkidney.org/news/renton-woman-gets-trip-to-star-studded-renal-prom-renton-reporter/
Locally – Run Nonprofit Dialysis Providers Form Alliance To Improve Patient Care
http://www.nwkidney.org/news/locally-run-nonprofit-dialysis-providers-form-alliance-to-improve-patient-care/
Kicking Kidney Disease (Seattle Health)
http://www.nwkidney.org/news/kicking-kidney-disease-seattle-health/
Northwest Kidney Centers is a not-for-profit, locally managed provider of kidney dialysis, public health education and research into the causes and treatments of chronic kidney disease. Founded in Seattle in 1962, it was the world's first dialysis organization. The 8th-largest dialysis provider in the country, it is an influential model because of its high quality services, deep community connections and generous donor support.
All content of this website Copyright 2021 Northwest Kidney Centers and/or its participating publications.
All Rights Reserved. Privacy Notice.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Forum: Is The Movement Conservative's Attack On Donald Trump Justified? | Virginia Right!
Forum: Is The Movement Conservative's Attack On Donald Trump Justified?
Every week on Monday morning , the Council and our invited guests weigh in at the Watcher's Forum, short takes on a major issue of the day, the culture, or daily living. This week's question:Is The Movement Conservative's Attack On Donald Trump Justified?
The Independent Sentinel: It's justified because they have a right to their opinion and they back it up. I am not saying I agree or disagree, but these attacks on people for expressing their opinions is the same kind of intolerance we see from the leftists.
The problem is National Review Online gave up all semblance of neutrality.
The Daley Gator : Hell yes it is justified. We want to nominate, then elect the most principled person running. And every candidate should understand, as should their supporters, that their candidates record will be looked at. The very reason I do not support, or trust Trump is his lack of any Conservative record, as well as his lack of consistent, principled positions. Throw in his penchant for being about himself, and his nasty habit of attacking anyone who dares disagree with him, and there you go. And do not even get me started on this birther crap!
GrEaT sAtAn"S gIrLfRiEnD:Justified? Well, it is politics. And cats have a right to be heard with their caveats and concerns. National Review's issue on Trump featuring tons of real live conservatives from way back is an interesting example. Nearly 2 dozen bits about how Trump is at best semi conservative – at worst a full blown progressive liberal in sheep's clothing.
The effect of that issue may have been blunted by GOV Palin. The commentary on these articles online is all over the place. Besotted paleo cons, grass roots conservatives, new time conservatives some neoconservatives, plenty of Paul Bots etc.
It's justified, sure. The real quiz is – will it be effective? Will people switch over to the half Canadian guy instead? Or go all the way the Rubio way? Or will people gird their loins, stick with the cat that brought them to the hoopla so to speak?
We are all fixing to find out!
JoshuaPundit : Allowable? Certainly. Justified? That's a different question entirely.
And make no mistake, Ted Cruz is a target as well. They're just more subtle about it so far, mainly focused on rumors on how many Republican figures would refuse to support him and would even vote for Mrs. Clinton if he were the nominee. But expect those to get even more pronounced, especially if Senator Cruz should squeak out a win in Iowa. Both Cruz and Trump are not part of the elitist establishment, and they need to be removed so a reliable product can be substituted.
And weren't these the same people who told us how 'conservative' Bob Dole, the Bushes, John McCain and Mitt Romney were? You bet it was.
I trust Governor Palin's instincts a lot more than I trust the willing galley slaves at NRO and elsewhere,thanks. Unlike these so-called arbiters of 'conservatism' she understands that what we're seeing here is a total remaking of what was the GOP, one that will actually represent the interests and concerns of the people who vote for them.
Do I have reservations about Donald Trump? Of course I do, just as I have reservations about Ted Cruz, the only other candidate I'd consider voting for. His insulting the people of New York and attempting to mine an 18-year old interview of Trump's for ammo is one of the silliest unforced errors I've seen in politics for a long time. But that's just the usual campaign fracas. I wouldn't be surprised to see them running together if Trump gets the nomination.
The real battle is between the elite of the GOP establishment and the revolution emerging from what Angelo Cordavilla presciently called 'the Country Class' which cuts across all the lines of party, gender, economic class, race and locale. Their agenda involves saving the country and their liberty from what they see as a death spiral, and they could care less about what some think tank inhabitant labels it as.I couldn't agree with them more.
After being cynically lied to in 2014 ('Oh, just give us the senate and we'll stop Obama's agenda') they're not buying the merchandise anymore, having found out that the so-called lesser of two evils is cut from the same cloth. Donald Trump might be lying, but they know anyone backed by the GOP establishment definitely is. And keep in mind that if either Ted Cruz or Donald Trump gets the Republican nomination, the GOP elite will do everything they can to undermine them, even if it means putting Mrs. Clinton in the White House.
And after this, we obviously know where the Weekly Standard and NRO stand, don't we? They certainly have the right to pick sides to feather their own nests, but I based on what I'm hearing and seeing, that's going to come with some unpleasant and very well deserved consequences.
Greg @ Rhymes With Right : Of course it is. It was accurate and based upon principle.
What's more, it is essential that we who are conservatives act now to begin the work of preserving conservatism in some form or fashion in the face of the impending catastrophe that a Trump nomination would be.
If Trump gets the nomination, America will have a new political alignment — the nationalist progressive GOP and the internationalist progressive Democrats. There will be no conservative alternative that supports, protects, and defends the Constitution at the ballot box.
If conservatism is to survive — either in temporary exile from electoral politics or in the form of a new conservative party to replace the formerly conservative GOP — we must lay the groundwork now. National Review's effort should therefore be seen as akin to Noah building the Ark.
Laura Rambeau Lee,Right Reason : Yes, the attacks are justified. Donald Trump is not a conservative. He is a populist capitalizing on the anger in the country over what the current and previous administrations have done to weaken America. Trump rambles when he speaks and says nothing of real substance. His use of vulgarity proves he is not a person qualified to be president. Just this week he stated he could go out and shoot someone on Fifth Avenue in New York and he would not lose a supporter. That is a scary statement; looking both at the man who voiced it and at the people who are captivated by this cult of personality. I am hoping at the next debate the moderators ask good questions drilling down the details of all of the candidates' proposals and platforms. Some pointed questions about the constitutional role of the president and the rule of law should be asked of all of the candidates. At this critical time in our nation's history we need someone who fully comprehends the real challenges of the position to which they aspire and their understanding of the constitutional limitations on the office of the President of the United States of America.
The more Republican "establishment" types come out against Ted Cruz, the more I believe he threatens their POWER. Because ultimately it is all about power for both parties, and right now the Republicans think they have a chance to have complete power over the presidency, House, and Senate. This leads me to believe Cruz is who we need to nominate and elect to upset the balance of power in DC and restore it to the people.
Make sure to tune in every Monday for the Watcher's Forum. and every Tuesday morning, when we reveal the weeks' nominees for Weasel of the Week!


Is Your Nanny Water Safety Certified?
In July of 2008 and now in June of 2010 two nannies have died in drowning accidents while caring for young charges. That is two nannies too many.
Many years ago, I myself as a nanny on duty at the time had to dive into a deep pool to pull a struggling child out of the water.
When I heard of both tragedies the immediate thought that came to mind was could they swim? Why did they never learn what to do in case of a water emergency?
Time to hire a nanny. Where do I start?
We have found the right nanny for our family, what information should I keep on file about her?
How do I conduct a nanny background check?
How do I get my nanny involved in doing crafts and activities with my kids? How can I help our nanny to get in the groove?


text:
Links to Published Works
Contact:Daphne Taylor Street
Phone: 727-565-5343 ▪ Email: daphne.streetmedia@gmail.com
Virtual Writing Portfolio
Daphne has been published in professional blogs, news sites and national magazines. She was contracted to write a syndicated weekly column that was increasing in reach until Patch.com put a halt on paying freelancers. Since then, she has written on retainer for several professional blogs, including Saint PetersBlog, which focuses on local and statewide politics; iLovetheBurg, writing about everything that's awesome about St. Petersburg Fl and Patch.com where Daphne had a paid syndicated weekly column. Daphne also has written, ghost written and co-authored works in national magazines and professional journals. Daphne currently has three books under development, co-authored with a client. Links to many of Daphne's published works are below.
Links to published works:
Most of the links below go directly to Daphne Street's Blog, Saint PetersBlog or Forbes Riley's Member Site, which may include a brief synopsis of the articles along with links directly to the published works.
http://www.saintpetersblog.com/on-the-campaign-trail-today-with-david-jolly
http://www.saintpetersblog.com/st-petersburg-supports-greenlight-pinellas-but-what-about-voters
http://www.saintpetersblog.com/school-board-member-rene-flowers-files-for-re-election
https://daphnestreet.wordpress.com/2012/08/13/links-to-my-former-patch-com-weekly-column/
https://daphnestreet.wordpress.com/2012/08/13/roundup-of-recent-published-articles/
https://daphnestreet.wordpress.com/2012/06/29/another-sampling-of-freelance-articles/
https://daphnestreet.wordpress.com/2012/06/02/the-wilson-van-rocking-philanthropy-in-the-burg/
http://forbesmembersite.com/forbes-riley-leonardo-dicaprio/
http://forbesmembersite.com/forbes-riley-studio-amps-up-the-burgs-film-scene/
Links to press releases:
Daphne has written countless press releases for myriad industries and events. Strategies for press release composition along with distribution strategies are integrated to foster the highest pick-ups from web and traditional new sources and to build SEO ranking. Daphne's press release reach varies greatly depending on the popularity of the subject within media markets. For a national release, typical pick-ups range from 200 – 3,000+ while local releases tend to have a specialized distribution strategy and therefore may only receive 5-15 pick-ups in a mid-sized to large local media market. A small sampling of published press releases is listed here:
Forbes Riley and Kevin Harrington:http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/01/prweb11533333.htm
JWT 10 Trends Features Neurosurgeon and Mindfulness Expert Dr. Romie Who Predicts "Peace of Mind" for 2014: http://knowhowe.biz/?p=537
Mindful living expert Dr. Romie debuts meditation CD, "Connect To Joy": http://knowhowe.biz/?p=545
http://www.stpete.com/news/146247/WELCOME-ANGELOS-RECYCLING-NATIONAL-HEADQUARTERS-LEADING-THE-WAY-FOR-GREEN-JOBS-IN-PINELLAS-AND-FLO.htm
http://www.saintpetersblog.com/avp-bringing-professional-beach-volleyball-to-st-petersburg-in-september
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/economic-downturn-has-business-turning-to-government-contracts-to-survive-221294051.html
http://www.prweb.com/releases/ForbesRiley/SpinGym/prweb10319509.htm
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/7/prweb10948836.htm
http://knowhowe.biz/?p=537
About Writing, Articles (most published, some not), Communications/Media, Marketing, Nonfiction, RESUME
writer portfolio
Proposal winning strategies – 7 tips


EASTER 2019 I am shipping only on Thursday 18th April, and then again on Tuesday 23rd April. Packages may be slightly delayed.
Europe - £6.99 1st 12", £1.50 each additional 12"
Rest of World* - £9.99 1st 12", £2.50 each additional 12"
To be added to the cost of the item.
If you require registered shipping / tracking, please ask at the time of order.
Please allow reasonable time for the item to arrive and please use the Discogs order page for contact. To ensure the availability of your order, please ensure that invoices are paid promptly Many Thanks!


Owl Industrial Barbell is full of clear and pink cubic zirconia gems. Pre-packaged on a fully assembled 1-1/4" barbell with an extra 1-1/2" and 1-3/8" barbell, extra silicone rings and 2 extra balls. 5mm balls. 14GA.


text:
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Another slain Syrian teen allegedly tortured
From Arwa Damon, CNN
New child torture allegations in Syria
Activists say second Syrian teenager has been tortured and killed
Tamer Mohammed al Sharey, 15, disappeared at a demonstration
Tamer was from the same village as Hamza Ali al-Khateeb, 13
CNN cannot verify claims or authenticate videos of the teens
(CNN) -- A second Syrian teenager has been returned to his parents -- lifeless, battered and, according to activists, a victim of torture.
A video released Thursday by activists includes a woman wailing as a body is unwrapped at the hospital in Daraa.
"My son, it's my son," the voice cries out. "This scar here, I swear its my son, I stitched this cut on him when he was little."
The boy was identified as Tamer Mohammed al Sharey, 15, who disappeared after an April 29 demonstration.
He was from the same village as Hamza Ali al-Khateeb, 13. Hamza's killing has enraged, mobilized and emboldened the country's opposition movement. Tamer was at the same demonstration Hamza attended, according to activists.
Tamer's body was one of 14, including those of other children, that arrived at the hospital.
Mystery massacre prompts Syrians to flee
Syrian refugee tent cities in Turkey
Fears of new Syria crackdown grow
In the video, voices curse Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. As several men clean Tamer's thin frame, a bullet wound beneath the knee is clearly visible.
As the camera moves to his head, a voice says, "look at the signs of torture."
The teen's face appears dark and discolored. An activist from Daraa told of marks on the boy's body. He said he believes Tamer was tortured, possibly electrocuted.
Children led Tamer's funeral procession carrying banners reading, "Tamer the martyred ... detained alive ... martyred after torture."
CNN cannot independently verify what happened to Hamza or Tamer, or verify the authenticity of videos allegedly showing their remains.
On a video posted on YouTube, the narrator points out multiple visible gunshots wounds to Hamza Ali al-Khateeb's torso. His head appears bloated and purple, and the voice says the teen's genitals were mutilated.
Family members say Hamza got separated from his father in the chaos during demonstrations around Daraa, when protesters marched on the city to break the Syrian military siege and force the delivery of important supplies, such as medicine and milk for babies.
Eyewitnesses at the time said that security forces indiscriminately opened fire on demonstrators. Dozens were killed and wounded, countless others detained, among them children.
Several weeks ago, the family received Hamza's body.
Razan Zaitouneh, a prominent activist in hiding in Syria who CNN reached via Skype, said she has no doubt that the YouTube video of Hamza is real. And she believes that the regime had a message in releasing the boy's body.
"They want the people to see this, they want the people to get scared," Zaitouneh said. "They want the people to know that there is no red line and anything, no matter how awful it is, could happen to their family members if they continue to participate in this revolution."
Syrian state TV recently ran a segment in which a person identified as the medical examiner in the case said the body's injuries were sustained when Hamza was alive, but there was no evidence on the surface of the body that the boy had been subjected to torture, violence or retaliation.
Syria TV also said al-Assad met with members of Hamza's family.
CNN's Salma Abdelaziz contributed to this report.
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At Westward we believe that children settle best when they have a key person to relate to, who knows them and their parents well, and who can meet their individual needs. Research shows that a key person approach benefits the child, the parents, the staff and the setting by providing secure relationships in which children thrive, parents have confidence, staff are committed and the setting is happy and dedicated place to atteend or work in.
We want children to feel safe, stimulated and happy at Westward and to feel secure and comfortable with staff.We also want parents to have confidence in both their children's well being and their role as active partners with Westward.
We aim to make Westward a welcoming place where children settle quickly and easily because consideration has been given to the individual needs and circumstances of children and their families.
Your child's Learning Journey celebrates his or her experiences. Over time it will tell a story about your child - his or her learning, friends, and the experiences he or she enjoys sharing with others.
Staff watch and notice each child at play because it helps us to understand and support their individual wellbeing and development. We really get to know the children as unique people with special skills, interests and ideas. The more we understand about your special child, the better we can support them in the way that is right for them.
Your child's key person or teacher and family work together to build this Learning Journey as a record of your child's Early Years. We value parents and carers taking the Learning Journey home and sharing in their child's learning. Although Learning Journeys will be sent home at the end of the year, you may wish to borrow them to share with other settings or important people - just as a member of the team! Throughout the year there will be opportunities when you will be invited to look through, and contribute to, your child's Learning Journey, but we encourage you to contribute and look through on a more informal, regular basis.We also encourage you talk with your child about their Learning Journey and fell free to add in family photographs or other things of significance for your child.
At this age, so much happens so quickly and we would love to hear about events, activities or achievements which can be put into your child's Learning Journey! Feel free to write us a note, have a chat to a member of the team or bring in a photo, drawing or souvenir to share with us. When you tell us about your child a clearer picture unfolds and together we can plan more effectively to help your child's learning and development. When children are ready, they can also choose things that are important to them in their Learning Journey - though it is mainly kept at school it belongs to you and your child.
These capture moments and sequences of your child's experiences, their interests and explorations. You can add some of your own from home. Sometimes ,we will write down exactly what your child says about the photograph, so we know your child's point of view. This is also an accurate record of language develpment. Pictures of important people and things from home will help your child to feel secure when making the link between home and their school.
These are quick notes of significant moments we notice in your child's learning. Detailed observations give snapshots of the learning that your child has initiated themselves. We then think about what and how your child is learning their development and how best to support them further.
These could be photo's of models, painting or their role play explaining what your child did or said.


Don't know if anyone has been down to see the Box Lacrosse at Altona on Wednesday night but it's a fast paced game that gets the blood pumping.
Great for your skills and developing 'awareness' of your opposition players in a confined space.
A lot of the best players in the world play both styles of lacrosse being that of 'Field & Indoor' (Box) which brings me to the following link below..
This is just to 'see' how many players that fit the criteria, might be interested in an opportunity like this.
Nothing concrete as yet but this would be a great experience if Rick gets a response in the 'positive'.


Patio Furniture For Small Balconies – This Patio Furniture For Small Balconies gallery was upload on January, 28 2018 by Brandt Lubowitz. Here latest Patio Furniture For Small Balconies gallery collection. Download other photos about Patio Furniture For Small Balconies in our other blog. Click on wallpapers to tap Patio Furniture For Small Balconies in high resolution.
You can copy this Patio Furniture For Small Balconies photos for your collection. Don't forget to rate and comment if you interest with this Patio Furniture For Small Balconies tips. Please contact us if it contains a copyright.
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This officially licensed Beetlejuice costume for men is composed of a jacket, a pair of trousers and an armour. (Wig and shoes not included). The costume is black and white striped. The armour with fake tie is worn under the jacket.
This costume is perfect for your fancy dress, theme parties and Halloween events.


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Exclusive Excerpt from Spellhaven #newrelease @MirrorWorldPub @saphs_books
The Unseen Spirits must be entertained, so that the city may prosper......
In the summer of 1914, Jane Fairchild, a young English musician, is kidnapped by magic and sent to Spellhaven, an island city ruled by magicians. Here, peace and prosperity are maintained with the assistance of Unseen Spirits bound to the service of the Lords Magician. The Spirits must be kept in good humour by the performance of all kinds of shows, dance, drama and music. Jane is one of many people kidnapped from the outside world and forced to contribute to these entertainments for a set period of service.
Only Jane is having none of it. She will not perform for her kidnapper, Lucian Palafox, but agrees to undertake an apprenticeship with another magician impresario, provided she is taught magic in return. Jane's forays into magic lead her deeper within the mysteries of Spellhaven, her rivalry with Lucian escalates and the quarrels between them grow strong enough to shake the city to its foundations.
Genres: Fantasy, Adventure
Publisher: Mirror World Publishing
Follow the tour to read guest posts, reviews, and exclusive excerpts!
https://saphsbookpromotions.blogspot.com/2017/08/book-tour-schedule-spellhaven-by-sandra.html
Read an Exclusive Excerpt!
The lady sat on a terrace, in a corner bordered by pots of lavender and rosemary. She was alone, with a chessboard by her side.
Childeric said, 'Lady Imblen, this child, who speaks no Latin, bears a mark of Lucian. She says she does not believe in magic.'
Jane said, slowly and distinctly, 'I am a subject of the British Empire. I demand to be sent home.'
The lady seemed very old, though upright and sturdy. Her white hair was coiled under a jewelled cap and the clasps on her jacket were enamelled in blue and white. She looked at Childeric, not at Jane and said, 'What is her calling?'
'She is a musician, seemingly. She has instruments in that bag.'
Before Jane could protest further, her glance was held by Lady Imblen's dark, heavy-lidded gaze. Jane found herself wondering how long the woman had been sitting there. She might have been immersed in contemplation for weeks or years, hardly to be interrupted by small troubles.
Lady Imblen said, 'Play a tune for me.'
Jane was out of practice and she could still feel the bruises from her journey, but maybe once they heard her music, they would listen to her words.
She took out the easiest of her instruments to play, a penny whistle she sometimes used for teaching. She began with Three Blind Mice, slowly at first, and then at a brisker tempo. A small breeze curled round her and strengthened the salty sparkle in the air. Out of the breeze grew a shape which flickered in and out of her sight, as though of some immense beast made of air and fire. She thought of the invisible lion she had imagined when she arrived in the city and at once she caught brief, fiery glimpses of a lion's paw, the hunch of a maned shoulder, the glint of an eye. They moved round her, vanishing as soon as seen. If the lion was there, it must be dancing to her music and she grew afraid to stop. She muddled her notes and tried to change tunes, but that was worse. She could feel the creature's impatience, so she went back to the Mice and steadied the tempo, but she wondered how long she could keep going.
A voice joined in, somehow unwinding the tune. The outline of the lion flared up, black and burning, and then disappeared. Childeric put his hand over Jane's.
'You may stop now.'
'What was that?' She could hardly speak. 'What did you do?'
Lady Imblen said, 'That was your doing, not ours. It seems Lucian has made a good choice this time.'
'What do you mean?'
Childeric said, 'The air in this city is crammed with spirits. It is our task to keep this Unseen Audience entertained, so that the city may prosper. Maybe you had beginner's luck just now, but maybe you will have a greater contribution to offer us than I would have guessed.'
'No,' Jane said. She went to crouch beside Lady Imblen. 'My lady, I don't understand. I never wished to come here. I never gave Mr. Hunter any promises: I barely spoke to him. He had no right to send me here.'
'You may make your complaint to him when he returns.' The lady did not even sound interested. 'He won't be long. You would do well to learn some Latin while you wait.'
Mirror World Publishing eBook:
https://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/collections/poetry/products/spellhaven-ebook
Mirror World Publishing Paperback:
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Amazon US:
http://amzn.to/2tpdL2x
Amazon CA:
https://www.amazon.ca/Spellhaven-Sandra-Unerman-ebook/dp/B072YRDLD2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500909249&sr=8-1&keywords=Spellhaven+by+Sandra+Unerman
Amazon UK:
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https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/spellhaven
Barnes & Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spellhaven-sandra-unerman/1126613810?ean=9781987976342
Sandra Unerman lives in London in the UK. When she retired from a career as a Government lawyer, she undertook an MA in Creative Writing at Middlesex University, specialising in SF and fantasy, and graduated in 2013. Since then, she has had a number of short stories published. In 2016, these included stories in Three Drops from a Cauldron, the Midwinter issue and Aurora Wolf, the September issue, both available online. She writes reviews and articles for the British Science Fiction Association and the British Fantasy Society. She is a member of London Clockhouse writers and other writing groups. Her interests include history, folklore and medieval literature.
Connect with Sandra :
Website: https://sandraunermanwriter.com/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Sandra-Unerman/e/B0034NS9VM
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6566116.Sandra_Unerman
Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35546814-spellhaven
Labels: blog tour, Mirror World Publishing, new release, Sandra Unerman, Saph's Book Promotion, Spellhaven
#CoverReveal for Bewitching Hannah by @Leigh_Goff @saphs_books @MirrorWorldPub
Being a witch is the last thing she wants…
Bewitching Hannah
Leigh Goff
Genre(s): YA, Fantasy, Romance
About Bewitching Hannah:
Sixteen-year-old Hannah Fitzgerald has always known she is descended from a troubled legacy of magic. Although a stranger to her coven in Annapolis, she is no stranger to grief and denial. However, when an ancient prophecy reveals the rise of a young, powerful Chesapeake witch and the impending death of another, she realizes she can no longer afford to suppress the magic that has taken away so much. She seeks out the frighteningly scarred, yet mysterious W, a Calvert descendant who is destined to change her life, but even he cannot prepare her for the danger that lies ahead. Engaged in a deadly game without knowing who her true rival is, Hannah isn't certain she will survive, and if she loses she may lose everything, including the ones she loves.
Pre-Order Links:
https://mirror-world-publishing.myshopify.com/collections/young-adult-fiction/products/bewitching-hannah-ebook
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http://amzn.to/2vtH056
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https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bewitching-hannah-leigh-goff/1126756568?ean=9781987976311
Writing Enchanting Ever-Afters ♥
Leigh Goff grew up in Maryland where she resides today. Her writing is inspired by an eclectic childhood, a vivid imagination, and compelling historical events. After taking several writing courses in college and attending professional writing workshops after she graduated from the University of Maryland, she joined the Maryland Writers' Association and Romance Writers of America.
Connect with the Author:
https://www.facebook.com/LeighGoffAuthor
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http://amzn.to/2vjgNpt
Goodreads Author Page:
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http://leighgoff.com/blog/
https://www.pinterest.com/authorleighgoff/
Publisher Website:
http://www.mirrorworldpublishing.com
Author Website:
http://leighgoff.com/author/leighgoff/
Exclusive Excerpt from Spellhaven #newrelease @Mir...
#CoverReveal for Bewitching Hannah by @Leigh_Goff ...


text:
5 Harmless Superstitions With Horrifying Global Consequences
Towns Are Using Robo-Noses To Hunt Potheads
Shannon Dell ·
You know the deal. Spill the salt, toss a pinch over your shoulder (and blind an innocent bystander). Speak too soon, knock on wood. Walk under a ladder, sacrifice your left testicle to James, the god of careless handymen. We're all a little superstitious about some things, even if it's just, say, the belief that we can control a rolling bowling ball with our body language. The human brain is kind of built that way.
Still, if you step back and take a broader look at the ripples that such preposterous notions send butterfly-effecting across the world, you find that things we tend to think of as "harmless" superstitions can actually be anything but.
Friday the 13th Is a Bad Day for Stocks
leungchopan/iStock/Getty Images
Long before it ever became associated with homicidal zombie maniacs in protective sports gear, Friday the 13th was bad news in ways that, while they may not have reached machete-murder proportions, were still absolute shit luck for all involved.
To get an idea of how widespread the phenomenon of allowing superstitions to control our behavior is in America, let's look at some numbers. According to the clinical director of the Anxiety Treatment Center in Chicago, Karen Cassiday, about 10.5 million people in the U.S. suffer from obsessive-compulsive behavior, and a quarter of those harbor strong superstitious phobias. Beyond that, an additional 21 million have generalized anxiety disorder, up to 80 percent of whom are superstitious, Cassiday estimates.
Greg Henry/iStock/Getty Images
"We lay millions of creamy chocolate eggs for you bastards and this is the thanks we get?!"
Now, take that many people whose fear and worry control their every move, and it's bound to have a nationwide effect. A single Friday the 13th in America is estimated to cost the economy as much as $900 million, because instead of going on vacations, going to work, shopping, and doing everything else otherwise known as "being human," all those people are instead sitting at home stewing in puddles of their own terror pee.
But it doesn't end with the overly anxious among us. Looking at the historic performance of the stock market on Fridays of the 13th variety, it shows average gains of just 0.2 percent or less. It would seem that stock traders -- people specifically known for their rational and calculating nature -- are still afraid to buy stocks on a day that's supposedly unlucky. And they hold the fate of the world's economies in their crazy hands.
Cathy Yeulet/Hemera/Getty Images
Bob's Broken Mirrors and Indoor Umbrellas Inc. rues the day it went public.
The Black Cat Superstition Kills Droves of Adorable Kitties (and Puppies)
Ermolaev Alexander/iStock/Getty Images
Every year, more than 5 million dogs and cats find their huggable asses sitting behind bars in an animal shelter. About half of those get adopted. The other half? Well, for them, the animal shelter is the last stop in their furry little lives. And since we're a website and therefore can't accompany this paragraph with the soul-destroying stylings of one Miss Sarah McLachlan to make it even more heartbreaking, we'll tell you that a huge chunk of those senseless deaths are absolutely thanks to an age-old -- and infinitely dumbass -- superstition.
We lied.
The color black has been associated with evil and misfortune for untold eons, and we don't mean in the way your asshole great-uncle drunkenly informs you every Christmas -- we're talking about the good old-fashioned "black cat = bad luck" superstition or, as shelter workers call it, Black Dog Syndrome. It refers to the fact that black dogs and cats are typically the very last to be adopted, and are therefore much more likely to be sent to the doggy gas chamber to make room for the constant influx of critters of the fairer variety (just the way your asshole great-uncle would want it).
woodygraphs/iStock/Getty Images
"If they wanna beg at my table in my house, they better learn some fuckin' English."
The outlook for black pets gets even more dire when you consider the fact that this prejudice seems to have blossomed into a full-on kitty racism tree since it first set down its unlucky roots. Not only are people apparently still subconsciously blaming black cats for their lack of winning the lottery, they've also come to associate black dogs with dangerous behaviors. In one 2013 study, participants rated black dogs as not only less friendly (and, therefore, less adoptable) than their yellow or brown counterparts but also far more likely to make a lovely snack out of your face meat.
To be clear, people made this judgment call based on a photo of a black dog that they'd never once met or even asked "Who's a good boy?" Good thing we've never treated our fellow humans with such superficial prejudice, huh?
"No sir, it's happenstance you've been randomly selected for a two-hour search the last 15 times
you've been here. Please bend over."
This may go a long way toward explaining why we seem to automatically judge darker breeds such as rottweilers as exceedingly vicious, despite the fact that they're actually less aggressive than their pint-sized counterparts and that their behavior seems to largely correlate with that of their two-legged companions (we call it the "asshole owner, asshole dog" syndrome). Of course, the fact that they have a conveniently human-face-sized mouth ringed by nightmare-daggers might also have something to do with it.
In China, Your Zodiac Sign Can Destroy Your Job Prospects
SurkovDimitri/iStock/Getty Images
Hearing the question "What's your sign?" in any sort of dating context is ... well, it's not a real good sign. If the potential partner you're scoping out is willing to judge your relationship compatibility based solely on the fact that you were born while Taurus was getting beasty with Uranus, we're betting they're not going to turn out to be your soulmate. More likely, you'll find yourself three months down the road sitting in an empty apartment decorated with Indian tapestries and reeking of incense, wondering where the hell your TV went.
TSchon/iStock/Getty Images
"What's that thing say about aligning your ass to a Best Buy and ascending me a new flat-screen?"
Don't say that to people in China, though -- because people in China take their zodiac bullshit seriously. In one recent survey of 3,000 young Chinese folk, damn nigh all of them said that they followed their horoscopes, while a full third viewed astrology as an absolute science. And while this widespread adoption of Western astrology has most definitely had a strong effect on the Chinese dating scene -- good luck with ever dusting off those funbits, Capricorns -- it didn't stop there. It's also oozed its way into the workforce.
Imagine clicking your dream job opening on Monster.com, only to be greeted by a big, red "Pisces need not apply" (adjust for your sign accordingly). It sounds utterly ridiculous to us, over here wading through our fancy pools of democracy and capitalism, but it's not at all out of the ordinary in China -- right after "degree required," companies have no qualms listing that they're "looking to hire a Gemini, Libra, or Aquarius." That's right: As if it weren't already difficult enough to find a job in a country that somebody apparently nuked with a population bomb, now one of the default job qualifications is having been born at the right time.
"Says here you're impulsive, superficial, and devious.
"So is that a 'maybe'?"
So who gets the short end of the zodiac stick? Virgos. No one wants to hire Virgos, because ... fucking Virgos, man. You know? (We don't really know what's so wrong with Virgos.)
Via Wikimedia Commons
God, they're so them. Always walking around like they're such a thing, but they're so not a thing.
Still, as bad as having your astrological sign throw up a career roadblock is, it could be worse ...
In Japan, Your Astrological Symbol Can Make You a Victim of Infanticide
Laikwunfai/iStock/Getty Images
As anyone who's ever suffered a long wait at a Chinese restaurant can expertly attest, Chinese astrology is sort of complicated. Each year is represented by not only one of a dozen animals (a rat, a tiger, or a snake, for example) but also one of five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, or water). Whichever combo happens to land on the year in which you're born will supposedly decide myriad things about you, including your personality traits and your likelihood of bringing unending famine and shame upon your family for generations to come. Now, normally we'd dismiss such balderdash straight out of hand, but we have to at least give some consideration to any system under which we could possibly be referred to as a Metal Chicken.
Olena Istomina/iStock/Getty Images
"Symphony of Frank Perdue's Destruction"
The Chinese zodiac was long ago imported to Japan (with a few slight modifications), and according to one ancient Japanese legend, in 1682 a young woman named Yaoya Oshichi fell for a young priest and set fire to a house to demonstrate her love (probably a pretty strong warning signal that the priest should run away and never look back). Because Yaoya was a Fire Horse, however, that one smallish fire immediately grew up and pulled a Godzilla (that is, it destroyed Tokyo).
Utagawa Kuniteru
"We don't need no water sign, let the motherfucker burn."
Fast-forward to 1966. Yaoya's legend had been kept alive in the minds of the Japanese people for all those years thanks to Kabuki dramas, as had the reputation of Fire Horse women for being dangerous creatures who were headstrong and brought their husbands all manner of bad luck (possibly by burning down Tokyo). And 1966, as it happened, was a year of the Fire Horse.
That year saw a massive decline in the number of babies born in Japan (and places with high Japanese populations, such as California and Hawaii), as well as a rise in the number of abortions. Checking out a baby's junk by ultrasound wasn't yet widespread like it is today, and people simply didn't want to take a chance on having a Fire Horse girl. And more disturbing yet, when researchers examined infant mortality rates for that year, they found them to be significantly higher than the years before and after ... but only for girls. Would people of the 20th goddamn century really sacrifice their own baby daughters based on a wonky old superstition? Signs point to yes.
anakondasp/iStock/Getty Images
"Fire Horse, fire house. It's practically the same goddamn thing."
The next year of the Fire Horse will be in 2026, in case you're wondering. But we'll have left all that stuff behind by then, right?
The Number 4 Can Tank Your Home's Value (or Kill You)
Buba1955/iStock/Getty Images
In many Asian languages, the number 4 is pronounced similarly to the word for "death" -- in Japanese, for example, both are pronounced "shi." And since death is pretty much universally considered the unluckiest of all states, people native to such languages consider the number 4 similarly unlucky. In a study of five years' worth of real estate sales in the greater Vancouver area, researchers found that houses in Chinese neighborhoods with an address containing a 4 sold for an average of $8,000 less than their luckier counterparts.
If Sherlock Holmes lived at 224B Baker St., Moriarty would've gutted him on day one.
Plummeting home values are of little concern, though, to those who've moved so far out of the neighborhood that they've left this mortal coil -- which is exactly what untold 4-fearers have done throughout the years. Back in 1942, Harvard physiologist Walter B. Cannon coined the term "voodoo death" to describe the very real possibility of a person making themselves so sick with stress as a result of superstitious belief that ... well, the "death" in the name kind of gives away the ending there. Basically, when someone goes through life constantly stressing that unlucky things are about to happen to them, their bodies are pumping out a constant flow of stress hormones. Then they mistakenly walk under a ladder one May the 4th, and boom! Goddamn heart attack.
kzenon/iStock/Getty Images
"This is the worst Star Wars Day ever."
When researchers studied more than two decades' worth of U.S. death certificates for Chinese- and Japanese-born citizens, they found that deaths from cardiac arrest peaked on the 4th of each month. White Americans, on the other hand, showed no such peak -- their tickers gave out at a fairly steady rate throughout the month, mostly due to what we call the "cheeseburger effect." It seems that, by shuffling through the 4th of each month in a constant state of worry about the barrage of bad luck that's about to befall them, many Asian-Americans have created a self-fulfilling (and heart-exploding) prophecy.
And ... that's pretty much how superstition works, in a nutshell.
For more superstitions that miiiiight not be, check out 6 Insane Superstitions That Are Still Shockingly Influential and 5 Retarded Superstitions (With Logical Explanations).
Are you on reddit? Check it: We are too! Click on over to our best of Cracked subreddit.
46 Films Have Made $1 Billion. Most Are Disney.


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Step 2: Click on the "Commuter" link. Next, select "Enroll in Commuter" and then "Commuter Transit." Select "CharlieCard" as the service provider.
Step 3: Select the NEW CharlieCard option.
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Timing: Your New CharlieCard will arrive before the intended benefit month you are ordering for.


text:
Better Buy: Sierra Wireless vs. Micron Technology
By Harsh Chauhan – Jun 20, 2017 at 5:13PM
NASDAQ: MU
Both chipmakers have enjoyed terrific gains, but which one is a better bet? It might depend on your tolerance for risk.
Investors in Sierra Wireless (SWIR) have enjoyed a 90% gain so far this year. The semiconductor specialist seems to be on track to take advantage of a booming Internet of Things (IoT) market, as its latest quarterly report and accompanying guidance beat expectations, substantially boosting investor sentiment as the stock climbed 15% in one day.
The company is hoping to take advantage of a multitrillion-dollar opportunity in machine-to-machine communication, but investors looking to tap the IoT opportunity shouldn't overlook Micron Technology (MU 1.70%), either. The memory specialist has made a big splash in this space and has a number of other catalysts to boot and its stock is up 40% so far this year.
Let's look at how these two companies are approaching the IoT market to help investors determine which might be the better buy for them.
The case for Sierra Wireless
Sierra Wireless is a pure-play IoT company that has enjoyed strong financial gains by betting big on this space.
SWIR data by YCharts
More importantly, Sierra's momentum isn't going to stop anytime soon, if its latest guidance is any indication. The company's adjusted earnings-per-share guidance of $0.24 to $0.32 for the current quarter sits significantly above the $0.16 Wall Street estimate, thanks mainly to an improving product mix in the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) solutions business that accounts for 82% of overall revenue.
The company saw stronger customer activity in OEM solutions last quarter, scoring a higher number of design wins than usual. What's more, its low-power, wide-area (LPWA) solutions are gaining traction at international telecom companies, which could be a big deal in the long run, since some estimates put the LPWA technology market at $7.5 billion in 2022.
But this isn't the only multibillion-dollar opportunity Sierra is pursuing in the IoT space. Its recent acquisition of the global navigation satellite systems business of GlobalTop Technology has opened access to a market that Research and Markets says could hit $5 billion in 2022.
More specifically, GlobalTop's products should play nicely with Sierra's embedded chips aimed at the telematics market. So the company can provide location-based services to big automakers such as Volkswagen, which will soon start using Sierra's high-speed AR series cellular modems in its cars. Sierra's pursuit of big opportunities in the IoT space and its good track record so far make it a good pure-play bet for investors.
The case for Micron Technology
Micron Technology is not a pure-play IoT company like Sierra Wireless. It manufactures primarily DRAM and NAND memory. But Micron has started making moves in this area, not wanting to miss out on the IoT trend. To that end, back in April, Micron announced that it's partnering with Microsoft to launch a product aimed at improving the security of IoT devices.
The security technology integrates Micron's flash memory into IoT devices at the hardware stage, enabling system developers to improve security features by using just the existing flash memory sockets, thus reducing additional costs. The chipmaker believes that integrating security measures into the devices at the hardware level will help end users save costs when they scale up their IoT deployment, setting Micron on the way toward tapping into a market that could hit $17 billion in 2020.
So Micron is approaching the IoT opportunity by focusing on the security aspect, while Sierra focuses primarily on chips that enable connectivity between devices. This approach narrows Micron's potential end-market opportunity, but investors shouldn't forget that the company also has massive catalysts in the form of favorable DRAM and NAND markets.
DRAM demand, for instance, is expected to accelerate thanks to a jump in smartphone memory content, along with an increase in demand for server DRAM chips that are used in data centers. Micron, for its part, is fast transitioning to an advanced manufacturing node ahead of its rivals to make the most of the growing end-market opportunity that could be worth as much as $110 billion in 2021.
Both companies are taking their own paths to attack the Internet of Things opportunity. Sierra is focusing on the entire spectrum to make the most of this market, while Micron has decided to focus on a particular area to make a dent in the space. Micron's advantage is that it has other areas to fall back on, providing investors a cushion in case things go south.
Sierra Wireless, on the other hand, could be a more volatile play but has the potential to deliver stronger gains, given the estimated size of the end market. Not surprisingly, Sierra stock is expensively valued, at almost 60 times last year's earnings, while Micron sports a cheaper price-to-earnings ratio of 46. Investors need to assess their risk profile before deciding which one suits their portfolio better.
Teresa Kersten is an employee of LinkedIn and is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. LinkedIn is owned by Microsoft. Harsh Chauhan has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Sierra Wireless. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
$63.87 (1.70%) $1.07
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My rabbit angrily thumped her foot.
My older cousin complained that he was tasked with taking care of his younger siblings. His mother argues that he was supposed to help out.
I revealed to my significant other a secret about a habit of mine that only my mother knows the truth about.
"Well now that I know your dark secret, you have to marry me," he says.
On set, a model mentions an imminent, long train trip with her mother.
A family comes to my holiday job, and we ask them for their child's name.
"American English is so complicated," my teacher tells us. "In British English, we say 'horse riding.' In American English, you say 'horseback riding' because apparently, Americans weren't sure which part of the horse you're supposed to ride."
"That looks so creepy..." he says.
"That production looks so pretty!" I exclaim.
"Sorry. Priorities," I mumble, to his amusement.