The Mekong River Delta (MD) with an area of 40,548 km2 and a population of over 17.5 mil inhabitants, is the main food production region of Vietnam. In the MD there many big rivers and hundreds creeks and canals, creating favourable conditions for growth of biological resource, agriculture, fishery, waterway transport and human activities. However, this region is facing and will be challenged by the increased water pollution caused by the natural factors: high water flow in the rainy season, low flow and high salinity intrusion in the dry season; high acidity at acid sulfate soils areas and by human activities in water use, hydroelectric, industry, agriculture, aquaculture, waterway transport development from the upstream countries and in the Delta, changed hydrological regime and created great amount of many types of wastes, polluting the water environment and damaging ecological resource.
This paper summarizes the pollution sources, present state ot water quality in the main rivers and canals; impacts of water pollution on aquatic ecology in the MD. At present, the main rivers are slightly polluted but almost all small rivers, canals and some sections of the main rivers are evidently polutted by organic matters, nutrients and bacteria, which impacted on the aquatic organisms and aquaculture. In the rivers, no pollution by toxic pollutants (heavy metals, pesticides) occured. With the increased consequences of upstream activities and rapid economic development in the MD combining with climate change in the coming decades river water quality in the MD would be more degraded. To properly control water pollution and improve water quality in the MD this paper suggestes various international and national actions to be considered by Vietnam, the riverine countries and international organizations.
Key words: Mekong Delta, Water Quality, Water Quality Monitoring, Pollution Sources, Ecological Impact; Climate Change.
The Mekong is a trán-boundary river in South-East Asia. It is the World's 10th longest river. Its estimated length is 4,800 km, and it drains an area of 795,000 km2, annually discharging 475 km3 of water. Originated from Tibet – Xinghai plateaus the river runs through Yunnan province of China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam (Figure 1, left).
The Mekong Delta – MD ( Vietnamese: Đồng bằng Sông Cửu Long - "Nine Dragon River Delta" also known as the South-Western Region (Vietnamese: Vùng Tây Nam Bộ) is the region in Southern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the East Sea through a network of distributaries (Figure 1, right). The MD Region encompasses a large of over 40,548 km2. The region comprises 13 provinces, included Cantho City, with the total population of over 17.5 million inhabitants (about 19% of the total population of Vietnam) .
The MD is the largest wetland area of Vietnam, where there are 5 national parks, 2 biosphere reserves, 4 nature reserves and 3 species conservation sites at the inland wetland and costal wetland areas with rich biological resources and biodiversity. In the Delta there are 23 mammal species, 386 bird species, 6 amphibian species species and 260 fish species . Fish is one of the main food sources for people in the Delta as well as for the Country.
The MD is the main agricultural region of Vietnam. In the recent years, it supplies more than 56 % of rice, 65% of fish, 75% of fruits for the country and contributes 90% of the total rice export of Vietnam. The annual GDP growth rate of the MD was over 7.0%. In the case of no serious change of natural resources the MD may produce foods meeting the demand of 120 – 150 mil inhabitants. However, this region is still poor, comparing with other regions of Vietnam: in 2015 its GDP/capita was only USD1,850, while the average of Vietnam was USD2,215 .
Figure 2: Left: The main stream of the Mekong River in Tiengiang Province Right: There are over 7,500 km of creeks and canals in the Mekong Delta (photos from Internet).
Figure 3: Some photos about biological resource of the Mekong Delta (photos from Internet).
The Mekong River and its tributaries are the main water resource in the Delta for irrigation, fishing, aquaculture, domestic use, tourism, biodiversity conservation and waterway transport etc. The entire population of the MD now depends and will continue to depend on this resource for its livelihood. With the rapid increased urbanization, industrialization, increased impacts from trans-boundary sources, especially with the increased impacts of climate change, the region is facing more and more severe water environmental problems. They are flooding in the rainy season, shortage in fresh water and increased salinization in the dry season; increased water pollution by domestic, industrial, agriculture, aquaculture and waterway transport wastes. These environmental matters are and will be serious impact sources to water quality and water use in the MD. Therefore, protection of water resource, especially, water quality is utmost important task of Vietnam Government and people in the MD.
From Cambodia the Mekong flows to the MD by 2 branches: the Mekong (Tien river) and the Bassac (the Hau river). These 2 rivers discharge water into the East Sea through 8 (but not 9) branches. In the MD there are also very dense river and canal network with over 7,500km, and 36,000 km of irrigation canals, dredged by Vietnamese in the recent 300 years for irrigation, drainage and transport.
Greatly depending on rainfall in the basin, the Mekong river' seasonal flows are quite variable from month to month. Discharge of the Mekong river in the Delta in the rainy season, lasting from May to November may get up over 37,000 m3/s (in September) but it is only 2,220 m3/s in the driest month (March) . With this hydrological regime, in the flooding season inundation occurs at large area and water contain high suspended solids, but low salinity, acidity and and organic, nutrient, hazardous pollutants. In the dry season, especially in March and April shortage in freshwater at many places in the MD and increased water salinity at the coastal area commonly occur. In this season, water pollution caused by domestic, industrial and agriculture wastes is increased.
The Mekong Delta has an average rainfall of approximately 1,800 mm, but with an uneven distribution both in space and time. The Western region has the most rainfall with annual average from 2,000-2,400 mm, while the East has from 1,600-1,800 mm rainfall on average . The central plains stretching from Chaudoc - Cantho to Travinh - Gocong have the lowest rainfall, with averages of 1,200-1,600 mm. The amount of rain is very unevenly distributed over the year. Approximately over 85% of annual rainfall is concentrated in the rainy months. Rainfall in the dry season accounts for only under 15%, with months January to March having almost no rain, making severe drought at various districts. In the rainy season, occasionally, there is continuous rain, which may last for 3-5 days, with a large amount of rainfall, causing flooding, increase of water levels and reduction of water salinity. In the first months of the rainy season (May, June) storm water may bring great amount of acidic materials from acid sulfate soil areas and organic matters, nutrients, bacteria and other pollutants causing heavy pollution for receiving water sources.
Figure 4: Left: Soil map of the Mekong Delta (pink color is area of acid sulfate soils); Right: Acid sulfate soil and canal receiving storm water (photos from Internet).
In the MD 790,000 ha of saline soils (blue color in Figure 4) and about 2.0 mil. ha of land affected by salinity from the East and West Seas. Saline and brackish water may be well used for saline aquaculture and growth of mangrove forests, but water salinization may cause great constraints for water supply for rice, fruit, vegetable cultivation, fresh aquaculture and domestic use. With influence of sea water, especially in the dry season, salinity intrusion is strong at the coastal area of the MD (Figure 5).
Agriculture, included cultivation, aquaculture and animal husbandry is the important economy for over 70% of the population in the MD. However, at present agriculture is the highest pollution source for the rivers and canals in the MD because of its wastes.
(i) With area of rice, vegetable and fruit cultivation of over 2.5 million ha, annually farmers use about 750,000 – 1,000,000 tons of fertilizes (N, P2O5 and K - Pham Sy Tan, 2012 ). Residues of N and P from fertilizers may cause nutrient pollution for canals and rivers.
(ii) According to a VESDEC study for Vinhlong Province (2016) average amount of pesticides used is 3.5 kg/ha for vegetable, 7.5 kg/ha for rice; 15 kg/ha for fruit (mango) cultivation , which is still lower than Japan (14.30 kg/ha) and South Korea (10.70 kg/ha) but 2-3 times higher than in the Red River Delta (Vietnam) and much higher than other developing countries like the Philippines (1.56 kg./ha) or Bengladesh (1.50 kg /ha) (UNEP 2005). Total amount of pesticides used may be 10,000 to 20,000 tons/year, included 97 trade marks of 20 chemical groups: conazole, pyrethroids, carbamates, buprofezin, organophosphates, chlorinated phenoxyacetic acids, amides …(Pham Van Toan, Cantho University, 2015 ). After use a large part of pesticide containing bags are disposed into the fields, gardens or canals. Pesticide containing bags occupy about 1.0 – 1,8 % of the weight of pesticide and bag. Therefore, annually, about 120 – 360 tons of used bags may be released into the environment in the MD. Residue pesticides and pesticide containing bags are sources of water pollution and ecological impacts.
(iii) At present, in the MD area of aquaculture is 685,800 ha producing over 2.2 mil tons of shrimps and fish (Pangasius and other fish species). According to information from MONRE annually, an amount of 456.6 mil m3 of sediments and wastes is discharged from aquaculture farms . This type of wastes contain high acidic or saline materials, organic matters, nutrients, bacteria, pathogens, which may serious pollute water of the receiving water sources and damage aquatic animals.
(iv) Animal husbandry is also well developed with over 2.6 mil pigs, 260,000 cattles and 40 million ducks. Daily, an amount of 22,500 tons of solid wastes and 40,000 m3 of wastewaters is discharged from animal cages to the environment. Annually, the environment in the MD receives about 432.9 tons BOD, 1,6438 tons COD, 31,700 tons N and 14,800 tons P  and high amount of bacteria and pathogens. Therefore, animal husbandry is the great organic, nutrient and bacteria pollution source for rivers and canals.
Although in the Mekong Delta industry is less developed but at present in this Region 120 industrial parks and clusters with 25,000 ha have been planned, of which thousands of factories are under operation. According to MONRE : annually, 220,000 tons of solid wastes and 47,000 m3 wastewaters are discharged from industrial parks while only 44% of the industrial parks installed centralized wastewater treatment plants. Industrial wastes are new pollution sources and they may cause serious ecological impacts for rivers and canals in the MD. They may be increased in amount and hazardous composition in the coming decades.
Figure 6: Industrial park on the Mekong river in Tiengiang Province (left) Paper Mill (Lee & Man, Taiwan) on the Hau river in Haugiang Province are pollution sources for the MD water environment. The second has obtained many complaints from people (photos from internet).
At present, over 17,5 million inhabitants in the MD, of which over 70% are in rural areas. Traditionally, to use rivers and canals as main source for drinking water, fishery, aquaculture, transport and prevention of inundation for hundreds year until now the residents in this region like to settle along the canal banks (Figure 7). With this living way, almost all domestic wastewater and solid waste are directly discharged into canals.
Figure 7: Settlement along river/canal banks (right) and cage fish culture on rivers (left) are sources of water pollution (photos from internet).
In urban areas, annually, 102 mil m3 municipal wastewater, 606,000 tons of solid wastes, included 4,000 tons medical wastes are generated, of which over 85% of solid wastes, 100% of medical wastes are collected and treated but only 30% of effluents are treated . Therefore, wastes generated by local residents are great pollution source for rivers and canals in the MD.
With the impacts from the natural factors as well as human activities at present water quality in the MD is degraded. However, levels of water pollution are very differ from the locations on a river and from the main rivers to small rivers or canals. According to the monitoring system of the Mekong River Commision (MRC) and many national study projects at almost monitoring sites at the main rivers (the Tien and Hau rivers) water quality is slightly polluted, but still meeting the conditions for domestic water supply and tourism (Source A2, according to the Vietnam National Technical Regulation for Surface Water Quality QCVN08-MT:2015/BTNMT). But at some monitoring sites at the main rivers and at all small rivers and canals where receive wastewater or run-off water from urban, industrial or aquaculture sites water pollution is evident. The main types of pollution are: organic pollution, nutrient pollution, oil pollution, acidic pollution and bacteria pollution. Pollution by toxic chemicals as heavy metals or pesticides is not detected in all monitoring sites on rivers but it is found in some special cases where water directly receive effluents from the factory or field newly treated by pesticides. Some data on the present water quality at the main rivers and small canals in various provinces are given below for demonstration.
At Tanchau, at the border with Cambodia: TSS, BOD5, COD, P-PO43-, Coliforms exceed at 1.5 – 9.6 (by each parameter) the permissible for the A2 Source (water used for domestic supply) in QCVN 08-MT:2015/BTNMT.
- At Long Binh (border with Cambodia): evident pollution: TSS, BOD5, COD, P-PO43-, Coliforms exceed at 1,7 – 18,4 times (by each parameter) the permissible for the A2 Source in QCVN 08-MT:2015/BTNMT.
Above data show that at present water of the main rivers transported from Cambodia is evedently polluted.
- At Longxuyen City: TSS, COD, P-PO43-, BOD5, Coliforms exceed at 2,0 – 9,6 times (by each parameter) the permissible for the A2 Source in QCVN 08-MT:2015/BTNMT. The data show that pollution of the Hau river at this city is less than that at the border with Cambodia.
According to information of Vinhlong DONRE: in June 2017 at all monitoring sites on the Mekong River and small rivers: water was slightly polluted. However, values of pH, BOD5, COD, Fe and Cl- met the permissible limits for Source A2 in QCVN 08-MT: 2015/BTNMT. Comparing with the monitoring data in June 2016: values of TSS, turbidity, BOD5, COD, phosphate, Fe and Cl- are slightly increased.
- DO in the Tien river was higher than 5.0 mg/L (Sites NM2, NM5 and NM6) but in small rivers and canals it was low. At 12/20 monitoring sites DO was under 5.0 mg/L.
- BOD values at the monitoring sites at the main rivers and canals were varied from 4 to 10 mg/L, while the permissibnle limit for Source A2 of QCVN 08-MT/2015/BTNMT is 6.0 mg/L. At the main rivers BOD met the standard (5 mg/L) but at almost all canals and some times at the main rivers organic pollution was evident with BOD higher than 6.0 mg/L.
Concentrations of ammonium (NH4) at most of the monitoring sites greatly varied from month to month and were higher than the permissible limit for A2 Source, indicating high nutrient pollution at the rivers and canals. With this level of nutrient pollution and in cases of stagnant water eutrofication may be created.
Bacteria pollution was evident at the main rivers and canals but it still met the permissible limit for Source A2 in QCVN 08-MT/2015/BTNMT which is 5,000 MPN/100 mL.
The monitoring data indicated that at present, water in the main rivers and canals in Tiengiang Province is not polluted by heavy metals, pesticides and other toxic pollutants.
According to the monitoring of the Fishery Department of Cantho City in July 2017  all parameters of DO, pH, nhiệt độ, COD, PO43-, NO2-, NH4+, S2-, TSS in the Hau (Bassac) River at Thotnot District, and rivers in Omon, Vinhthanh Districts meet the water quality for aquaculture (QCVN 02-20:2014/BNNPTN) and met the permissible limits for Source A1 in QCVN 08-MT:2015/BTNMT and Boyd (1998). However, at some monitored ponds the parameters of NH4+ (0.60 – 1.90 mg/L), PO4 (0.37 – 0.52 mg/L) exceed the permissible limits in QCVN 02-20:2014/BNNPTNT nad Boyd 1998.
From 1995, the high persistent and high toxic pesticides like organochlorines and organophosphates were banned in Vietnam, therefore, residues of these compounds are very small. However, some studies indicated their presence in water, soils and animal tissues with very low contents.
A paper of Zita Sebesvari et al. (2012)  indicates that in the MD, Minh et al. (2007) reported DDT contents in sediments ranging from 0.01 to 110 ng/g dry weight along the Hau River with the higher contents found near urban areas such as Cantho City. Carvalho et al. (2008) monitored more than 70 pesticide residues and polychlorobyphenyl compounds (PCBs) and found sediment contents of DDT ranging from 0.45 to 67.49 ng /dry g weight and contents in the soft tissues of bivalve molluscs ranging from 5.46 to 123.03 ng/g dry weight. Other organochlorines detected in sediments but at much lower contents were hexacyclochlorohexane (HCHs), endosulfans and chlordane.
A study project conducted by VESDEC for Vinhlong DONRE (2016)  indicates that 2/9 soil samples collected near tanks containing pesticide bags content of Lindane is 0.0025 mg/kg dry weight and 0.0045 mg/kg dry weight, which are much lower than the permissible limit in Vietnam National Technical Regulation for Soils (QCVN 15:2008/BTNMT: 0,01 mg/kg dry weight); 5/9 soil samples contain Chlorpyrifos (-ethyl) with 0.015 to 0.055 mg/kg dry weight.
As indicated in Section 3, at present, the main pollution types of the Mekong Rivers and its branches in the MD are organic, nutrient, bacteria pollution. They are caused by untreated domestic, animal husbandry, aquaculture and industrial (food processing, paper and other industries) wastes and run-off water from field treated by fertilizers. Acidic pollution is also common at the acid sulfate soil areas. So far, there are not many researchs on ecological impacts of water pollution in this region. However, from observations by the author and information from newspapers the following evidences may be given for demonstation of damages caused by water pollution on aquatic ecosystems.
(i) With high contents of organic matters dissolved oxygen (DO) is reduced. At DO of under 3.0 mg/L most of shrimp species and various small white fish species (Esomus spp.,Carassius spp.) can't survive. At DO of under 2.0 mg/L many big white fish species (carp, Hypophthalmichthys spp., Mylopharyngodon spp.) may die. In the MD many massive death of fish were caused by untreated effluents from aquaculture and or industries depleting DO in water.
On 4rd to 6th February 2016 at the cage fish farms on the Caivung river in Angiang and Dongthap Provinces over 1,000 tons of fish at 119 fish cages die. The main fish species were Oreochromis sp.(điêu hồng, in Vietnamese), Oreochromis sp. (rô phi, in Vietnamese) Barbonymus sp (cá he, in Vietnamese) . Loss due to the massive fish death was estimated as USD 750,000.
Growth of fish Oreochromis in a fish cage Massive fish death in Caivung river, 6th February 2016 (photos from internet).
According to "Thanhnien Newspaper" : from November 2017 to 24 April 2017 there were massive fish death at Bayhap and Ganhhao rivers in Camau Province. Water in the rivers was grey and rotten. Polluted water from thepolluted rivers discharged to shrim farms caused massive death for shrimps.
(ii) High concentration of N and P salts in water may create eutrophication of water bodies with a depletion of DO in the water column, algal blooms, increased turbidity, reduction in aquatic animal populations and cause difficulty for water treatment. This phenonmenon is very common in small rivers and canals in the MD: water hyacynth densely growth – an indicator of water eutrofication may be found in all ponds and canals in this region.
Additionally, ammonium (NH4) is a toxic pollutant for shrimp and fish: FAO guides NH4 is lower 0.2 mg/L for Salmonid spp., and 0.8 mg/L for Cyprinid spp.
(iii) At actual acid sulfate soil areas in the beginning of rainy season, storm water brings acidic materials to the rivers and/or ponds. At high acidity (pH under 4.5) all shrimp species and many white fish species may die. At pH lower than 3.5 almost all species of white and black fish can not survive. Massive shrimp death at the shrimp farms caused by acidic water transported from acid sulfate soil area were reported in the MD.
According to Decree N245/QĐ-TTg 12 Feb./ 2014 of the Governmant on the Master Plan for the Mekong Delta Key Economic Zone, included Cantho, Kiengiang, Angiang and Camau Provinces : in the period 2016 – 2020: the annual growth rate is planned as 10.5 %; in which industrial sector will be 10-12%/year; population growth rate will be under 1.0%/year; ratios of economic sectors will be industry – construction: 37.4%, service: 45.3 %, agriculture – fishery – forestry: 17.3%; GDP/capita: USD4,400 in 2020 and USD9,300 in 2030. In 2020 100% industrial parks and cities will have wastewater treatment plants meeting the environmental standards and 100% urban and industrial solid wastes will be collected and treated.
This tendency of rapid economic growth may cause various impacts on the water environment, particularly on water quality, due to rapid increase of domestic, agriculture, aquaculture and industrial wastes, included hazardous wastes.
Due to very flat and low land and with diurnal tidal regime, the MD is region may get most serious impacts by climate change. Consequences of climate change in the MD are increased drawth in the dry months and increased salinity intrusion from the Seas to inland. At present, climate change evidently affects water resource, it will cause more serious impacts in the coming decades.
According to MONRE  in the MD with the average scenario of GHG emission sea level rise in 2050 will be 20 – 30 cm or 57 -73 cm in 2100; with the high scenario of GHG emission sea level rise in 2050 will be 40 – 60 cm and 78 – 95 cm in 2100.
With strong increase of sea levels, salinity will intrude along the rivers into inland area, changing water quality of the rivers from fresh to brackish, affecting water supply for domestic use, for cultivation and freshwater aquaculture.
With strong salinity intrusion, land will be salinized. According to a study of the Water Resource Management Department (MONRE) in the coming 50 years area of land affected by salinity of over 4‰ will be 1,851,200 ha (47% of the total Delta area), increasing at 439,200 ha; area of land affected by salinity of over 1‰ will be 2,524,100 ha (64% of the total Delta area), increasing at 456,100 ha, comparing with that in 1991-2000.
According to the master plans for hydroelectricity and water resource development of the upstream countries over 20 large size projects are under operation and over 130 other projects were planned on the Mekong main stream and its tributaries. Figure 10 shows some of them.
The hydropower and water diversion projects, included dams and reservoirs may strongly reduce the Mekong flow and increase of salinity intrusion into the MD. This will cause strong impacts on water quality: increase of water pollution by wastes; reduction of TSS, turbidity and nutrients affecting cultivation and aquaculture; increase of water salinity etc.
With increased sea level rise by climate change plus reduced upstream discharge by the hydropower, dam projects of China, Lao, Thailand the environment, in general, and water quality in the Mekong Delta will face with many challenges for protection and use.
Water quality of the rivers, creeks and canals in the MD greatly depends on water flow from the upstream area, rainfall, soil properties, salinity intrucsion from the Seas and from human activities in the region and upstream countries. Therefore, to properly prevent water pollution for the Mekong Delta integration of internal and external actions is necessary. Because of limitation of a paper, the following suggestions give only the tittles of the important actions without explanations.
(i) Improvement of the MRC in its functions, manpower, financial and technical sources to have suitable capacity in management of water resource, environmental and social assessment of the policies, plans, projects related with the basin development and in coordination with all upstream, downstream countries and international organizations in sustainable use and protection of the Mekong river.
(ii) Increase of participation of international organizations (UN and its organizations: UNDP, UNESCO, FAO, WHO; WB, ADB) and countries outside the Mekong basin (US, Japan, Korea, India etc. into protection of water resource, ecology and water quality in the Mekong basin.
(iii) Careful implementation of EIA/ESIA for the proposed projects in water resource, dam, hydroelectric development in the Mekong river basin with participation of international and riverine country organizations, experts and with targets of protection the aquatic ecology, water resource and sustainable development in the basin.
(iv) Improvement of water quality monitoring programs of the MRC.
(v) Improvement of waste management of the riverine countries.
(i) Increase of awareness on water resource, impacts of water pollution and protection of water quality for local communities, especially, for farmers in waste management in cultivation and aquaculture and for all people in management of wastes.
(ii) Strictly implement the Law of Water Resource, Environmental Protection Law, Law on Biodiversity and the National Technical Regulations (Standards) for Surface Water Quality, for Industrial Effluents; for Domestic Wastewater.
(iii) Strictly implement the target of the Master Plan for the Key Economic Zone of the MD: by 2030: 100% of industrial parks and all cities should have wastewater treatment plants meeting the environmental standards.
(iv) Ministries of Natural Resource and Environment (MONRE) and Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and Provincial DONREs and DARDs must stricter implement water quality monitoring, supervision on wastewater discharge and punishment on infrigements in water resource protection.
(v) Development of projects in studies on changes of water quality caused by human activities and natutal factors; water quality monitoning, impacts of climate change on water quality and measures for pollution control in the Mekong Delta.
- Strictly comply with the national technical regulations for wastewaters: all industrial parks and companies must build and operate wastewater treatment plants to treat wastewaters complying with the National Regulations.
- Rehabilitation and compensation for ecological and social damages caused by water pollution from industrial facilities.
- Development and improvement of integrated pest management (IPM) and other models to reduce use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
- Properly control storm water from treated field by agrochemicals and used pesticide containers to avoid impact on quality of receiving rivers.
- Properly control acidic materials released from acid sulfate soil areas.
Properly control solid and wastewater from shrimp and fish culture farms to avoid impact on quality of receiving rivers.
- Rapidly relocate houses and other constructions on canals and rivers to avoid water pollution.
- Install sanitation facilities complying with the requirements for all houses.
- Cities and towns must build and operate wastewater treatment plants to treat municipal wastewaters complying with the National Regulation.
1. Mekong River Commision (2005), Overview of the hydrology of the Mekong Basin.
3. Nguyen Xuan Hien (2015), Natural resources in the Mekong Delta, Environmental World (in Vietnamese), 26 Mar.
4. Southern Hydrology &Meteorology Station, Data on climate of the Mekong Delta.
5. Pham Sy Tan (2012), Fertilizer use in the Mekong Delta, Cantho University.
6. VESDEC (2016), Project of Supporting models for safe management of used pesticide containers for Vinhlong Province.
7. Pham Van Toan (2015), The present state of pesticide use in the Mekong Delta, Cantho University.
8. MONRE (2015), Information on pollution control in the Mekong Delta.
9. Duong Van Vien (2015), Pollution in the Mekong Delta.
10. DONRE Angiang Province (2017), Report on water pollution of the Mekong river in Angiang.
11. DONRE Vinhlong Province (2017), Report on water pollution of the Mekong river in Vinhlong.
12. VESDEC (2014), Project of environental planning for Tiengiang Province.
13. Cantho Department of Fishery (2017), Information on water quality at some aquaculture farms.
14. Zita Sebasvari et al. (2012), In book: The Mekong Delta System - Interdisciplinary Analyses of a River Delta, Chapter: Agriculture and Water Quality in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam., Publisher: Springer, Editors: Renaud, F.; Kuenzer.
16. Thanhnien Newspaper 26. Jun. 2017, Massive fish death in Camau Province.
17. Decree Decree N245/QĐ-TTg 12 Feb./ 2014 of the Governmant on the Master Plan for the Focus Mekong Delta Economic Zone, included Cantho, Kiengiang, Angiang and Camau.
18. MONRE (2012), Scenios of sea level rise in Vietnam.
Author: Le Trinh, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ho Chi Minh City, 4rd October, 2017.


How To Stretch Shoes That Are Too Tight… Using Middle School Science.
Imagine finding that perfect dress and attempting to pair it with footwear that will complete the look only to find that the last available pair is too tight. Before you give up hope or attempt to mutilate your foot by cramming it in to something that will not fit, consider the solution presented in the video below.
The method to make the shoes fit is very unorthodox but the video assures there is a way to stretch out those desired heels up to a full size.
With a little bit of time and effort you will be strutting those fabulous pumps when you need them. I must warn you, if you live with someone it is safe to say your room mates may think you have lost your mind after finding your shoes in the most unlikely place in the house.
One thing is for certain, where there is a will there is a way.


The Nigerian government has approved the request to revoke the licences of six Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) and one oil prospecting lease (OPL), in the onshore, shallow water and deepwater Niger Delta basin.
The request was made by the country's Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The assets are all held by Nigerian companies.
The acreages affected include OML 98, an onshore asset located on the western flank of the Niger Delta, held by Pan Ocean, a company controlled by the Nigerian businessman Festus Fadeyi; OMLs 120 and 121, held by Allied Energy, which has changed its name to Erin Energy and has now gone bankrupt; OML 108, held by Express Petroleum, but whose technical activities are managed by Shebah Exploration & Petroleum, a company owned by Seplat Chairman A.B.C Orjiakor and OML 141, held by Emerald Resources whose principal, Emmanuel Egbogah, passed on recently..
This is a step in the right direction but more should still be done so as to sanitize the entire Nigerian oil industry. Enough of this lob sidedness in Nigerians' patrimony.
A step in the right direction, in fact, all oil wells should be taken over and controlled by government. The country and its resources belongs to all Nigerians and not to some few selfish individuals who use same for selfish reasons and to oppress the less privileged citizens or in some cases sabotage the efforts of same government. This indeed is a step in the right direction.
Where in the economic history of Nigeria has the FG been successful in managing any business? NNPC in it's all its years of its existence it was repealed that it made $155bn loss whilst it's contemporary ARAMCO of Saudi Arabia is valued at $111bn declares as the most profitable oil company on earth.
This ridiculous idea or archaic thinking that FG can manage a utility successfully is a mirage.
As it is stands all the government owned institutions is mired in the controversy of ethnicity, religion. The northern states that hardly contributes anything to the GDP of the country institutions are controlled by them in order to "empower" their tribe.
Shine your eyes because in this country there's no sense of justice for the owners of the wealth that northerners sit on. Rubbish.
Some people will take your submission and run with it without considering ofter circumstances. It is not fair to the country at all.
So who runs these assets now? I think they all should be handed over to NPDC, the upstream arm of NNPC who has demonstrated her capabilities in handling such marginal fields.
Hi Ladies and Gentlemen, I support the government in revoking the licence of oil blocks owners for further amendments in Nigeria oil and gas sector and for the benefits of Nigeria people. Thanks.
Is a step in the right direction, please more should be done to sanitize the system.
A very nice move by the Nigeria govt. It will be better if the whole blocks are being controlled by a transparent Nigeria govt.
This is an area we all need to tread with caution .
All the oil wells should not be taken over and controlled by the Government.
The Government should endeavour to sanitize the oil industry.
It's very unfortunate witch hunting just started.
I think ladies and gentlemen on this platform should look beyond party affiliations and for once be objective: Govt. has not stated its reason behind the revocation beyond the acreage stated, and if they are to reissue, then a partnership between the host communities, on technical, beneficiary ownership and remittance should be considered as the unequal application of privileges accrued to citizens following natural resources could sustain the environmental disasters some regions are facing and further the hike in insecurity.
When the Niger Deltans (even when I can never support their actions) burst or get crude oil it is tagged theft but solid minerals are mined at the glare of govts and nothing is done to the people rather when there is an epidemic or death records in droves occasioned by the individual's activities and actions govt wades in and categorises it as a disaster, sees it as emergency and votes huge sums of money to address the situation without anyone being apprehended or tagged a thief. Sometimes on TV stations you watch some of such persons declaring financial gains from causing tremor to the earth crust. Let me rest here. May God help us to live and speak the truth.
Oil belongs to all Nigerians, but gold and would minerals are clandestinely mined and belongs to a certain region………. Shame of a nation.
This is a plus for the PMB-led administration. For those Nigerians who don't know, this is one of the reasons why some supposed elites and some Nigerians are financing and supporting campaign of calumny against PMB. Thumbs up for this administration.
That's a good Start for the Country. The Federal Government should do more. Bcos PDP Led Govt, bastardized the Country's economy to shoot their evil deeds.Especially Obasanjo Led Govt.
Whose hands are the revoked licences going back to?


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Written by Janet Etokeren — Updated on Dec 19, 2020 3:22 am
Videos — Dec 19, 2020 3:22 am • Nigeria
DMV's Olumide is well known with his track record of timely well put together releases and musical projects. With a large followership such as his, there is a high call for the singer to continue with wave making trends in the media. Olumide has just announced the release of his new song and new video release titled "Maintain." Olumide who had consciously and intentionally been on a journey of self discovery and reshaping of his craft.
Olumide who grew up in Prince George's County in Maryland has since held on to the trainings received in those years and initiated a sort of metamorphosis to his sound and orientation. He carried his brand so well that by the time he had made his first recording, he was already sounding like a seasoned veteran.
With the utmost determination to create a prominent spot for himself in a niche that was self chosen, Olumide is characterized with an undeniable show of excellence in his work. His visuals for "Maintain" goes further in driving this point home. The video which took a cinematic playout highlights great strength, modesty and simplicity. The video was rather significant- from a lonely desert to a luxurious lifestyle(Ushy Gushy). That might as well be a kind of layout of the singer's story. Check out his video below:

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


That's who I decided was going to be hovering over the green mountains. A goddess. This latest painting is 42″x tall and I'm not sure I love it yet. Mountains are fine but I really dropped the ball on this beautiful woman figure and her rainbow melted face.
The current version is on the far right. Not politically, of course.
When I feel better about it, I'll update the gallery as per usual. Until now, I wanted to post about it and get some feedback. I really want to focus more on anatomy. Its becoming obvious this was always a hobby/ outlet for me and not a craft I took seriously enough to practice.
I've been going through a lot of emotional changes and redirections and it's been very stressful for me.
As I move around in my life adjusting to the comfort of my husband's presence and the stress of my son's, I have decided on new directions in my career.
Some things that I have truly cherished for the past 4 years are no longer compatible with my life as a mother and the respectful thing to do for us both is for me to find something that makes more sense.
This means a lot of tightening for the next few months while I work on establishing my next plan. I'm praying and touching my heart and trying to care about my own well being and doing more meaningful things with my time.
I want to truly believe an organization is doing something important. I don't just want another paycheck. It's become so stressful and I lack the foundation to be able to effectively sort through that sort of post acquisition startup stress. I've been absorbed into a large organization against my will and recognize that I don't thrive in that one-hat sort of situation.
I'm an overseer. I need to solve this by myself, and not on company time. I've been reflecting a lot about my career while I paint lately, It's been very therapeutic.


I am not adjusting well to the new routine…up at six and out the door at 6:30 I drive a little over a hour to work and back…after all that driving and a very full day of interaction with people, this introvert arrives home EXHAUSTED and ready to crash…there has also been a lot of snow, and ice resulting in more slow, and semi-dangerous drives home than I would like to remember.
In re-reading this post I can feel the blah…the writing, isn't writing, but I can't give up on this place…and if I'm going to get it real up in here, then I need to share this…BEDTIME!
April, I have a very similar schedule, with the same long commute. Its is a blessing in disguise. Make sure you're using that commute for podcasts of some kind. I get 2 hours of learning in every day! As for energy at the end of the day. I make sure to accomplish all I want or need to before thinking about sitting on the couch because I know the couch is a killer for me. Write down just 1-3 things you'll do at the end of the day, the list will build from there! You can do it!!


text:
Leopard Jacob Mwalongo
The Northeast Normal University, 5268 Renmin Street, Changchin City, Post Code 130024, Jilin, China
European Journal of Human Resource Management Studies
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##Announcements##
Home > Volume 2, Issue 2, 2017 >	Mwalongo
LANGUAGE AND CHEATING IN HIGHER LEARNING EDUCATION EXAMINATIONS - A CASE STUDY OF THE OPEN UNIVERSITY OF TANZANIA
This study intended to examine the language used in cheating in higher learning education examinations. The study specifically sought: to explore the body language used during cheating in examination; identify reasons for choice of the body languages in cheating during examination; to identify linguistic expression used to facilitate cheating in examinations. The study used both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The researcher used random sampling to obtain the sample. The study involved 350 students from Dar es Salaam regional centers of the Open University of Tanzania (OUT). The instrument used for data collection was the questionnaire. The data were analyzed through SPSS 16 version. The study found that; the most used forms body language in cheating during examination are facial expression (81.4%) and hand-finger gestures (62.3%). However, majority of the students rated high on the positioning of the invigilator (91.1%), number of invigilators during invigilation (80.0%). And the angle one sat (57.7%) as reasons for the choice of body language in cheating during examination. Further, students gave linguistic expressions of body language in cheating like: "attention" (eye brow movement), "ready to help someone" (head movement up –down), "I don't know" (body posture- up- down shoulder movement or right left of the head) "wait" (up and down of the hand palm). It can be said that, cheating during examination is obvious; use of certain body language depends on the needs and intention of the cheating student in cheating. It is recommended that the invigilator should be keen when invigilating, and the institution has to send their invigilators for short course on language use in educational context especially during examination and techniques used in cheating for quality education.
Article visualizations:
language, academic cheating, body language, linguistic expression, educational examination, Open University of Tanzania (OUT)
PDF Academia.edu Read the full article on Calameo
Ali, A. S. M. (2011). The use of non-verbal communication in the classroom. A paper presented in 1st International Conference on Foreign Language teaching and applied Linguistic Tabuk University
Andersen, P.A. (1999). Nonverbal communication: Forms and functions. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Co.
Bertram Gallant, T., & Drinan, P. (2006). Institutionalizing academic Integrity: Administrator perceptions and institutional actions. NASPA Journal, 43 (4), 61-81
Chinamasa, E., Maphosa, C., Mavuru, L., Tarambawamwe, (2011). Examinations Cheating: Exploring Strategies and Contributing Factors in Five Universities in Zimbabwe. Journal of Innovative Research in Education, 1(1). Global Research Publishing. Nigeria.
Cizek, G. J. (2004). Cheating in academics. In C. Spielberger (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Applied Psychology (pp.307-311). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.
Cohen, L and Felson, M. (1979). Social Change and crime rate trend. American Sociological Review, 44,588-608.
Faucher, D (2007). Academic Dishonesty. Apollo College
Fast, J. (1977). The Body Language of Sex Power and Aggression. M. Evans and Company Ince. New York.
Hyland, J.S, Bourin, W.C, De Lisle. J. (2011). "A little Leaven Corrupted The whole lump": Academic As a high hindrance to achieving quality in higher education. Educational Research. Association. Carribbean.
Kitahara, R., Westfall, F., & Mankelwicz, J. (2011). New, multi-faceted hybrid approaches to ensuring academic integrity. Journal of Academic and Business Ethics, 3. Retrieved from http://www.aabri.com/manuscripts/10480.pdf.
Ravasco, G.G (2012). "Technology-Aided Cheating in Open and Distance –e-learning". In the Asian Journal of Distance Education University of Philippines Open University, Philippines, Vol 10, No 2, pp71-77.
MEGEP (2008). In Ozuorcun, F. (2013). The importance of Body Language in Intercultural Communication. In UEL Journal of Social Sciences. Vol.3 IV:11, Aralik.
Lambert, E.G., Hogan, N.C., & Barton, S.M. (2003). Collegiate academic dishonesty revisited: What have they done, how often have they done it, who does it, and why did they do it. Electronic Journal of Sociology.
Ozuorcun. F. The Importance of Body language in Intracultural Communication. In EUL journal Of Social Sciences: IV: 11). Aralik.
Ramorola, M.Z (2012). Cheating in Summative Assessment in an ODL Education Programme. A case study of an Undergraduate Qualification. University of South Africa
Schab, F. (1991). Schooling without learning. Thirty Years of cheating in high school. Adolescence. 26, 61-69.
Smith, T. (2000). Applying Criminological Theories to College Student Cheating. Unpublished PhD. Dissertation, University of Albany.
Toastmasters international. (2011). Use of Body Language: The better speaker series. Retrieved on http://www.d25toastmasters.org/resources/files/279A_UsingBodyLanguageInteractive.pdf
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejfl.v0i0.682
Copyright © 2015. European Journal of Foreign Language Teaching (ISSN 2537-1754) is a registered trademark of Open Access Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
This journal is a serial publication uniquely identified by an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) serial number certificate issued by Romanian National Library (Biblioteca Nationala a Romaniei). All the research works are uniquely identified by a CrossRef DOI digital object identifier supplied by indexing and repository platforms.
All the research works published on this journal are meeting the Open Access Publishing requirements and can be freely accessed, shared, modified, distributed and used in educational, commercial and non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


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Q: Can you change the CSS for links?
Possible Duplicate:
Make links in Stack Overflow answers more obvious?
Visited links should be more visible
Can we make hyperlinks more obvious in an SO answer?

I think it very hard to differentiate normal text and links. I guess I am not the only one as in this question the guy in the comment section posted the same link I provided. His link is equally hard to see. I had to hover over his comment to notice it is a link.
Here is a screenshot of how I see the links (it is a bit easier to see the links in the image due to MSPaint png conversion):

When I read very fast I hardly notice them at all.
I suggest to add a consitent layout on all pages that underlines every link like on meta.stackoverflow.com (see image below).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Home :: Space :: Library :: News :: 1998 ::
Space Menu
hard.copy Update 11/13/98
ARTICLE CITATIONS FROM COMMERCIALLY PUBLISHED JOURNALS AND NEWSLETTERS.
Locass Attack System Development Advances. Aviation Week & Space Technology. Craig Covault, Oct 26, 1998, pp 52, 55
Locass is designed to be a small, winged submunition which could loiter over a battlefield using its laser radar sensor to identify and strike targets autonomously. Each Locass will use GPS navigation to fly into a target area and establish a search pattern coordinated with the patters of other Locass dropped at the same time. It will carry a 17 lb warhead. The system will be designed to revolutionize how tanks, enemy air defenses or small ballistic missiles such as Scuds are attacked by strike aircraft.
Descriptors, Keywords: Scud Transporter Locass Low Cost Autonomous Attack System Air Launched Smart Weapon Attack Operations
UPDATE: Nov 06, 1998, No. 01
In Orbit: Opening Shot. Aviation Week & Space Technology. James R. Asker, Nov 02, 1998, p 19
The inaugural launch from the Kodiak Launch Complex in Alaska is set for this week. The facility on Kodiak Island is the first new complete launch range developed since the 1970s. The first mission, set for Nov 4 during an 8-10 am local time window, is part of the US Air Force's Atmospheric Interceptor Technology program. The launch vehicle, consisting of surplus Minuteman 2 second and third stages modified by Orbital Sciences Corp., is to simulate an incoming missile and allow the USAF to evaluate two early warning radars on the West Coast.
Descriptors, Keywords: Kodiak Launch Complex AIT Program Atmospheric Interceptor Technology Alaska Aerospace Development
DS1 Outbound After Post Launch Scare. Aviation Week & Space Technology. Craig Covault, Michael A. Dornheim, Nov 02, 1998, pp 32-33
Ground controllers at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory are preparing for an initial firing of the large ion electric propulsion system on the Deep Space 1 spacecraft launched Oct. 24 on NASA's first Med-Lite version of the Boeing Delta 2 booster. Deep Space 1 (DS1) is the first spacecraft launched under NASA's New Millennium program. The JPL/Spectrum Astro spacecraft is to demonstrate 12 advanced technologies en route to intercept an asteroid in 1999 and one or two comets in 2001. Spectrum Astro designed and built the DS1 bus based on the BMDO MSTI spacecraft. Most avionics are on the outside, not the inside, of the structure.
Descriptors, Keywords: Deep Space 1 DS1 MSTI Spacecraft Large Ion Electric Propulsion
Reality Checks Boost Wargame Credibility. Aviation Week & Space Technology. William B. Scott, Nov 02, 1998, pp 63-64
The JNTF can simulate a complete missile defense C2 decision loop during a game, allowing a full test of concepts of operations. "[It's] the only event I know of that takes it from the highest-level user - a simulated President and National Command Authority - down to the shooter. Therefore, you get feedback on the entire spectrum, not just [issues] that impact the operator," said Canadian Forces Maj. J.D. Graham, JNTF director of NMD command and control simulation. Portions of the event are "canned," but NMD C2 Simulation is fully interactive, allowing human decisions to affect the outcome. "When those entargets are pre-decided," said Army LtCol Chris E. O'Connor, 3rd, deputy commander for wargaming and simulation at the JNTF. "But, on the Blue side, all reactions by US space personnel are human-in-the-loop, free play. They have to respond, using the prototype system to launch defensive missiles and to [obtain] release authority per the concept of operations."
Descriptors, Keywords: TRADOC Wargame Army After Next JNTF NMD Simulation C2
Japan Considers Hybrid Satellite Defense Options. Aviation Week & Space Technology. Eiichiro Sekigawa, Nov 02, 1998, p 29
In previous planning for its fiscal 1999 budget, the JDA turned down requests for research funding, but the North Korean activity has reversed that thinking. The JDA is calling for 1b yen ($7.4m) for TMD studies in the budget, which begins Apr. 1. That will buy Japan into US research efforts. JDA planners are interested in the Japanese Navy's Aegis cruisers being the base for anti-missile defenses. Research costs alone are expected to be 20-30b yen ($148m-222m) over a five-year period, with development costs of about 1 trillion yen ($7.4b). Opponents say TMD is too technically challenging and a waste of research money.
Descriptors, Keywords: Japan ALOS Early Warning Satellite TMD FY99 Budget
The Rumsfeld Report: What We Did; What They Didn't Do. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Richard L. Garwin; Lisbeth Gronlund & David Wright, Nov 01, 1998, pp 40-51
The report of the Commission to Assess the Ballistic Missile Threat to the US, commonly referred to as the Rumsfeld Report after its chairman, Donald Rumsfeld, was released last July and caused a major stir that is still swirling through Congress. Here are two commentaries: one by a member of the Rumsfeld Commission, the other by missile experts at the Union of Concern Scientists.
Descriptors, Keywords: Rumsfeld Report Commission Assess Ballistic Missile Threat US NMD deploy Union Concerned Scientists commentary
Known Nuclear Tests Worldwide, 1945-98. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Robert S. Norris & William M. Arkin, Nov 01, 1998, pp 65-67
Since the last update of "Known Nuclear Tests Worldwide", several tests have occurred and additional information has become available about several nations' nuclear programs. From 1945-98 the authors list 2,051 tests by seven nations, with the US and Soviet Union accounting for 85%. Almost 26% of the tests (528) were conducted in the atmosphere. The tables in this report are believed to be a complete list of all nuclear tests by the five declared nuclear weapon states and India and Pakistan.
Descriptors, Keywords: Nuclear tests worldwide India Pakistan US Soviet Union Russia UK France China
Interoperability With Allies Still Crucial, Esmond Says. Defense Daily. David Atkinson, Nov 03, 1998, pp 2-3
Although the Air Force is investing funds in new command and control systems that US allies may not be able to afford, the service is still placing a premium on interoperability, according to LtGen Esmond, the Air Force's deputy chief of staff for air and space operations.
Descriptors, Keywords: Interoperability Allies Esmond MEADS
Mark: Added BMDO Funding Could Help Reduce Program Risks. Defense Daily. Vago Muradian, Nov 05, 1998, pp 6-8
A portion of the $1b that Congress added to BMDO's FY99 budget could be used to accelerate the testing of antimissile systems to reduce the risk associated with their development, according to the Pentagon's director of defense research and engineering (DDR&E), Hans Mark.
Descriptors, Keywords: Mark DoD supplemental funding FY99 budget DDR&E testing risks
Germans, Italians Mull DoD Proposal To Use PAC-3 For MEADS. Defense Daily. Vago Muradian, Nov 02, 1998, pp 7-8
German and Italian officials are mulling whether to continue with the multinational MEADS effort, now that the Pentagon is urging its partners to adopt a modified version of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile, instead of developing a new weapon as planned.
Descriptors, Keywords: Germany Italy MEADS Pentagon PAC-3 missile proposal
Navy Says $130 Million Increase In FY99 Needed For Upper Tier. Defense Daily. Frank Wolfe, Nov 03, 1998, pp 1-2
As the Pentagon considers how it will distribute $1 billion in FY99 emergency supplemental funding for ballistic missile defense, the Navy needs about $130m of that money to accelerate its Upper Tier, or Theater-Wide, program, according to R/A Rempt, deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for theater combat systems.
Descriptors, Keywords: Navy Upper Tier FY99 funding increase supplemental ballistic missile defense Theater Wide Rempt
Japan, US Discuss Formalizing Missile Defense Effort. Defense Daily. Frank Wolfe, Nov 04, 1998, pp 5-6
A nine-year cooperative project with the US to determine Japan's needs for theater ballistic missile defense (TBMD) and the required architecture is nearing a formal agreement. According to R/A Rempt, deputy assistant secretary for theater combat systems, "Japan has various strategies they're trying to sort through, but a key component is putting their Theater Wide, or Upper Tier, system aboard their ships. We're very hopeful we'll join in a cooperative development with Japan to provide Theater Wide capability for US and Japanese ships."
Descriptors, Keywords: Japan US TBMD Rempt Theater Wide Upper Tier theater ballistic missile defense
CINC On Pyongyang: 'We Don't Know What We Think We Know'. Defense Week. John Donnelly, Nov 02, 1998, p 6
North Korea's test of a three stage ballistic missile on August 31 provided a reminder of shortfalls in US intelligence about Pyongyang, according to Adm Joseph Prueher, commander of US forces in the Pacific.
Descriptors, Keywords: CINC Prueher Pyongyang North Korea test three stage ballistic missile US intelligence
Clinton Signs DoD Spending Bills, Criticizes Satellite Control Language. Inside Missile Defense. Keith J. Costa, Oct 28, 1998, pp 9-11
President Clinton, who signed the FY99 defense authorization and appropriations bill into law on October 17, praised the legislation for providing "a strong national defense" and "a better quality of life for our military personnel," but criticized an authorization provision on satellite exports and an appropriations reporting requirement for possible military activities in the Balkans. Clinton's statements on the FY99 defense acts are included with this article.
Descriptors, Keywords: FY99 appropriations authorization defense acts Clinton statements
SMDC Prepares For National Missile Defense Staffing Concept Approval. Inside Missile Defense. Michael C. Sirak, Oct 28, 1998, p 2
The Army Space and Missile Defense Command's force development and integration center expects approval in December by senior service leadership of a concept for manning the ground-based portion of the NMD system currently under development.
Descriptors, Keywords: SMDC NMD staff concept approval
Greater US-Russian Missile Defense Cooperation Mandated In Omnibus Act. Inside Missile Defense. Michael C. Sirak, Oct 28, 1998, p 19
Incorporated into the recently enacted FY99 omnibus appropriations package is language calling on the Clinton administration to seek greater cooperation with Russia on matters related to missile defense as well as provisions making changes to the ABM Treaty contingent upon Senate approval.
Descriptors, Keywords: US Russia missile defense cooperation mandate FY99 omnibus appropriations ABM Treaty restriction
ABM Treaty Review Reaffirms Pact As Cornerstone Of Strategic Stability. Inside Missile Defense. Michael C. Sirak, Oct 28, 1998, pp 19-20
The five countries participating in the recent review of the ABM Treaty reaffirmed the fundamental importance of the treaty as a cornerstone of strategic stability for strengthening international security and promoting further reductions in strategic offensive arms.
Descriptors, Keywords: ABM Treaty review strategic stability US Belarus Kazakhstan Russia Ukraine
FY99 Emergency Appropriations Bill Adds $1 Billion For Missile Defense. Inside Missile Defense. Keith J. Costa, Oct 28, 1998, pp 4-6
The FY99 supplemental appropriations bill passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton adds $1b in emergency spending to the Pentagon's budget for ballistic missile defense.
Descriptors, Keywords: FY99 emergency appropriations bill BMD ballistic missile defense
France Criticises US Missile Shield For GCC. Jane's Defence Weekly. Ed Blanche, Nov 04, 1998, p 18
French Defense Minister Alain Richard has denounced a US proposal for the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to join it in developing a missile defense network in the region, warning that it will accelerate the proliferation of missiles in the volatile region. "We do not think that organizing a heavy and costly anti-ballistic missile system is a factor towards maintaining security in the long run...and only brings a further escalation," Richard said. He said that the "simple and not too expensive" way to counter missile deployments in the region was to have disarmament accords.
Descriptors, Keywords: GCC Gulf Cooperation Council French Richard Cohen Proposal
Vital Aid? Pakistan's Dr A Q Khan Responds To Allegations That His Country Had Outside Help In Developing Its Nuclear Weapons. Jane's Defence Weekly. Robert Karniol, Nov 04, 1998, pp 21-22
Khan Research Laboratory's (KRL) Ghauri missile was first test fired on 6 April. According to Dr Kahn, it has a minimum range of 300k and a maximum range of 1,500km. "So far, there is only one Ghauri but a second version may be coming," he said, adding that extended range is a principal aim. A model of the Ghauri missile indicates that this missile has a single large diameter first-stage motor, not a cluster of four smaller 'Scud' motors as originally reported for the No Dong. Some reporters refer to the proposed Ghauri 2 as the Ghaznavi or Abdali. Independent analysis say Pakistan probably has fewer than 10 completed Ghauri missiles at present, one of which was successfully test fired earlier this year. Once deployed, all ballistic missiles are controlled by the army's 47th Independent Artillery Brigade.
Descriptors, Keywords: Pakistan Ghauri 2 Ghaznavi Abdali KRL WMD Proliferation Technology Transfer Abdul Quadeer Khan
Missile Defense Is Focus Of Joint Naval Exercises. Jane's Defence Weekly. Bryan Bender, Nov 04, 1998, p 10
Missile defense was one of the major focuses of the US Navy's fourth 'Fleet Battle Experiment' conducted last week with the Joint USFK - RoK annual 'Foal Eagle' exercise off the Korean peninsula. Responding to North Korea's continued pursuit of a viable ballistic missile force and the USA's lack of a proven defensive shield, the fleet injected simulated ballistic missile targets into its data networks to demonstrate interoperability with ground and air forces, therefore improving the Navy's ability to assist both passively and actively, in neutralizing North Korea's missile threat from offshore.
Descriptors, Keywords: Fleet Battle Experiment Foal Eagle North Korea Land Attack Warfare System Ring of Fire Concept
USN Modifies Aegis Weapon System For TBMD. Jane's Defence Weekly. Bryan Bender, Nov 04, 1998, p 8
US Navy has successfully modified its Aegis weapon system to detect, track and intercept tactical ballistic missiles with Standard missiles. The Linebacker modification uses specialized radar and computing software and hardware to provide improved tracking and reporting capabilities. The software has already been deployed on the US Army's Bradley Linebacker air defense vehicles. The Linebacker system can engage aerial targets day or night including aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Descriptors, Keywords: AEGIS Linebacker Naval TBMD Standard Missile
Russia Studies Central Command For Strategic Nuclear Weapons. Jane's Defence Weekly. Nikolai Novichkov, Nov 04, 1998, p 3
Russia's first regiment of RS-12M2 Topol-M (SS-27) ICBMs will be operational in November, according to Maj Gen Sergey Ponomaryov, Chief of the Operational Department of the SRF General Staff. Although the general spoke before the failure of a Topol-M shortly after launch for a test flight late last month, officials insisted this would not delay the program. Five silos have already been equipped with the new missile and a further five are to be equipped before the end of the year.
Descriptors, Keywords: Russia Joint Strategic Nuclear Forces SNF Topol-M SS-27 Deployment
Sea Scorpion: A Poor Man's ICBM?. Jane's Intelligence Review. Steven J. Zaloga, Nov 01, 1998, pp 5-7
The Rumsfeld Commission pointed out that the intelligence community tends to gauge a ballistic missile threat timeline by US and Soviet Union development patterns. The Commission also argued that the community needs to look at alternative development schemes. The article proposes that the Sea Scorpion missile could make such a scenario extremely likely. Under the Soviet regime, the Scorpion missile was deployed on ships to increase the number of missiles while not interfering with submarine based missile development. The article proposes that North Korea, Iran, Iraq and other countries could deploy less sophisticated versions of the Sea Scorpion, albeit with problems of accuracy and distance. By moving the launch vehicle -- the ship -- close in, distance (and to a lesser extent, accuracy) problems are mitigated.
Descriptors, Keywords: missile Sea Scorpion ICBM Rumsfeld Commission Iraq Iran North Korea Taepo'dong No-Dong Ghauri Scud ship based missile technical date USSR WMD accuracy reliability propellant configuration
Missile Export Licences Granted For Defendory. Jane's Intelligence Review, Nov 01, 1998, p 2
Russia has recently approved export licensing of sophisticated surface to air missile hardware to Greece. The equipment includes missiles for the Favorit S-300PMU-2 air defense system. Concurrently Russia is in the process of selling low to medium altitude SAM systems to Cyprus to protect the Cypriot S-300PMU-1 system.
Descriptors, Keywords: missile export license export control defendory Greece Russia Cyprus international relations trade foreign affairs SAM S-300PMU-1 S-300PMU-2 Favorit SAM TO SA-15 Turkey
Russia's Strategic View: Reduced Threats, Diminished Capabilities. Jane's Intelligence Review. Deborah Yarsike Ball, Nov 01, 1998, pp 8-10
The author argues that, contrary to US perceptions, the Russians no longer view themselves as a superpower and no longer seek parity, at least in the nuclear arena, with the US. The reason behind the change in perception is based on the economy. Currently Russia is seeking strategic stability over military parity. Specifically the Russians view a strategic nuclear attack on Russia or the CIS as a very low probability; a conventional attack against the CIS or Russia as low probability; and internal conflict within the CIS or Russia as having the highest probability.
Descriptors, Keywords: Russia strategy threat diminished capability Cold War arms reduction START-3 CIS economy parity stability strategic nuclear forces conventional forces
Israel Reviews Its Nuclear Deterrent. Jane's Intelligence Review. Harold Hugh, Nov 01, 1998, pp 11-13
With the launching of the Shahab-3 ballistic missile, Israel nuclear experts may be reviewing the Israeli nuclear deterrent to determine if it is capable of meeting the current -- and future threats. The author proposes that tactical nuclear weapons may be less important, longer-range missile may be developed, and greater emphasis placed on the Arrow-ABM system. He foresees more work for the Dimona nuclear research facility, although at significant ecological and toxicological risks if based on a comparison to the Hanford (Washington) site. He proposes that the Jericho II missiles at Zachariah will probably be used against threats from Iran and Iraq.
Descriptors, Keywords: Israel nuclear deterrence Shahab-3 missile Iraq Iran long range missiles Arrow Dimona nuclear research facility plutonium tritium reactor contamination chemical waste satellite imagery Jericho Zachariah transporters
Budget Surplus And Congressional Boosters Help Raise Research Funding For Fiscal 1999. Physics Today. Irwin Goodwin, Nov 01, 1998, pp 47-49
The article overall discusses the funding for R&D throughout the US government. While it focuses on funding for the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and NASA, DOD funding is also addressed. Specifically funding for THAAD was addressed.
Descriptors, Keywords: research and development funding R&D DOD DOE NASA NSF THAAD DARPA next generation internet biomedical program Sensenbrenner Mikulski Congress budget


Business Acquisition Financing can serve as a great engine for expanding your business. Momentum Business Capital's Business Acquisition Financing program can be leveraged not only for the purchase of a business, but the expansion of a current business as well.
There are several channels through which Business Acquisition Financing can be obtained. In addition to term loans, we offer financing through the Small Business Administration. As a government program, SBA financing is flexible and well suited for the business acquisition process. With an SBA loan, businesses can borrow up to $5 million for various types of purchases.


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Let Us Now Toot the Horn of the Humble Kazoo
Celebrating the easiest-to-play instrument and its Southern roots
By Allison Entrekin
photo: Courtesy of Kazoobie Kazoo Factory and Museum
National Kazoo Day, on January 28, celebrates the Southern-born instrument that has proven it's much more than a plastic party favor. Jimi Hendrix played a homemade kazoo when he recorded "Crosstown Traffic" in 1967. During the '70s, marketers for The Partridge Family released a kazoo emblazoned with the stars' picture. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are kazoo fans who incorporated the tiny wind instrument into 1996's "Love Rollercoaster." And today, Minecraft players hear the high-pitched sounds of kazoos all the time—many of the video game's animals emit kazoo noises.
Credit the kazoo's enduring presence in pop culture (not to mention its ear-piercing cameos at kid birthday parties everywhere) to two enterprising residents of Macon, Georgia. According to legend, a formerly enslaved Black man named Alabama Vest designed the kazoo in 1840, modeling it after a West African instrument in which a hollowed-out gourd was stuffed with a spider's egg sack—when a musician hummed into the gourd, the sack vibrated to produce a sound. Vest fashioned his instrument out of tin and added an animal-membrane resonator, perfecting it with the help of German clockmaker Thaddeus von Clegg. Together, they presented the "Down South Submarine" at the 1852 Georgia State Fair in Macon.
It was an instant smash. "The instrument was something anyone could have fun with right away, no lessons required," says Sarah Barnwell, marketing coordinator for the Kazoobie Kazoo Factory and Museum in Beaufort, South Carolina. By the 1880s, the invention was known as a kazoo—a name that mimics the sound it creates.
Throughout the twentieth century, hundreds of new kazoo varieties popped up, from the Sasquatch (shaped like Big Foot's head and designed to emit howling noises) to Big Dave's Fish Caller (a kazoo with a funnel attachment that's lowered into the water so anglers can lure fish with their hums). In 1910, a Marine officer named Robert Burns, who was stationed on Parris Island, South Carolina, caught the attention of his platoon by playing what he called a "bazooka" kazoo fashioned out of a stove pipe and a whiskey funnel. During World War II, soldiers referred to anti-tank weapons as bazookas because of their resemblance to Burns' instrument.
These bits of kazoo trivia are just some of the fodder at the Kazoobie factory. The only kazoo museum in the country, it is privately owned by Beaufort Mayor Stephen Murray. It also manufactures a million plastic kazoos a year, shipping them everywhere from Hollywood movie premieres to Burning Man to private parties in South Korea. Visitors wander the displays of hundreds of kazoo varieties, and everyone leaves with an instrument to take home. "One hundred percent of the time, it puts a great big smile on their faces," Murray says. "There's a lot we take seriously in the world right now, but we also ought to take a bit of time to spread joy and happiness."
Perhaps, Murray hopes, that joy will one day go viral. "I'd love to see an up-and-coming musician share what they can do with a kazoo," he says. "Maybe the kazoo's next foray into pop culture will be a hit Tik Tok video."


Studying abroad is a blend of social, cultural and academic challenges that international students have to face and overcome to get the best out of their experience in a new country. Many students find it fascinating to be introduced to an entirely new way of living, while some find it difficult to get the hang of it, especially when they are new and feeling homesick.
I was pretty excited when I arrived in Melbourne last winter, to start my new life in Australia as a graduate student. I remember coming out of the airport's international lounge… only to find out that the driver who was meant to meet me was not there. I didn't panic, though I felt irritated.
It was not something new for me to wait for someone, given in Pakistan – my home – it is a routine practice for people to not show up on time. I'd just expected something different (better) from Melbourne. But here is an interesting part: when my chauffer did arrive, after a delay of about 30 minutes, he could not help but apologize again and again, and again, for the delay. Now that was something different.
After spending about eight months studying in Australia, I have come across numerous situations that have left me dumbstruck, because they are just so different from what happens in my own country. I hope I can now pass on some insights for others about what to expect from life in Australia.
Like many other cities, Melbourne is a place of four seasons. The only difference about the Melbourne weather is that you will see the four seasons just in one day. A bright and sunny morning will suddenly pave the way for dark clouds that turn into heavy showers then vanish as quickly as they arrive, leaving a touch of coldness in the atmosphere. This is highly unlikely in my home country of Pakistan, given the rain would not fall even if the met department had predicted heavy showers. Take my advice: always keep an umbrella with you when you are in Melbourne.
Another major difference about life in Australia, compared to what I'd been used to, is the public transport system. If the transport app on your smartphone is saying a train, tram or bus will arrive at a certain time, believe it. Over 95% of the time (and I am being cautious here), I've found that the public transport in Australia is on time. Here is an important tip: let the passengers come out before you board.
This seems basic, very basic actually, but ironically a lot of people coming to Western countries from the developing countries are not used to following so many rules. So if you are here, make sure you are following them. You must maintain the speed limit while driving, stop at the red light and so on. There can be a big difference when it comes to breaking rules in different countries; you're likely to get a hefty fine here, enough to make you a law-abiding citizen in your own country.
In general Australian culture is very friendly and casual. You will not be judged on your age or background. This is unlike our country, where the elderly receive special attention and respect from the young ones. So don't feel insulted if a person 10 years older or younger than you comes and calls you 'mate'. It's just how they call out to each other in Australia. Get used to Australian culture, mate.


Proper pricing is key in determining any independent artist's success. The challenge is finding that combination of elements that works for you. I wish I had a one-size-fits-all approach to pricing out a piece, but the fact of the matter is, there are many business aspects to consider. It can be a tricky process, but once you know the rules of the game, you'll be better positioned for market success.
When displaying your art, be up front about your pricing. Artists who display their works without prices are asking consumers to pass them by. Consumers can feel intimidated (afraid or embarrassed to ask a price) or lose interest if a price is not immediately clear.
Think about the last time you went into a jewelry store. Clearly marked prices let you pass by what you can't afford, allowing you to focus your time on pieces within your price range.
Use what I call the TAPS approach to retail pricing: Title, artist, price and size should always be clearly displayed. This encourages the consumer to ask questions like: Where did the title of this piece come from? Who is this artist? Where is he or she from? Questions like these open up the piece for discussion and allow you or your dealer to engage the consumer, encourage sales and get a feel for the type of pricing the market will support. A piece that you feel was priced on the higher end might be a no-brainer for an interested and seasoned collector. Or, perhaps you've out-priced yourself, given the reaction of passersby. Either way, you'll know for next time what works best.
For example, if buyers see a piece with a retail price of $5, 000 by an artist whose name they do not recognize, they're going to wonder why. Give them a reason: Perhaps it took you a month to paint; maybe you've earned some notable awards or a prestigious degree. If you can't present proper justification, reconsideration of your pricing approach is necessary.


I just finished playing The Last of Us, and I feel compelled to write about it. I know this post won't resonate with most of you, but The Last of Us has given me so much to think about, that I don't really mind. The Last of Us is a zombie-survival video game. That's what it is. You play as a hardened smuggler who has to protect an orphaned child. It's also the first game that has made me cry.
I have a stress-knotted neck from this game. We say I have zombie cruft. The undead are horrid. The humans are worse. I had the subtitles on, because it's hard to hear over gunfire–and at one point a human committed something so tragic that I said, "Oh my god!" And right then, the sentence appeared on the screen. This was clearly because a character had said the same thing. But the confluence felt right–because it also felt like the game had heard me, that it had registered my line, because I too was a living part of the story. It's the dialogue and the resulting relationships that give a player such a profound connection to the game. You care about that little girl. And among all the alternating shooting and gnawing, you realize that you've walked out of a video game and into a cross between Blood Meridian and True Grit.
Now, the ending fails. In my head, I've already rewritten it. The ending abuses the players, the characters, and maybe also the story's own rules. It made me mad. In fact, it made me indignant. Poor James heard about it for half an hour–and you're hearing about it now. I can't say any more without crashing into whole stacks of spoilers, but I will mention that even in my disgust, I admire the story's attempt. This is the first game that has ever gotten me talking–even critically–about character and narrative. (To say nothing of player rights–which is an area that is completely new.) What I mean to say is that The Last of Us asks a person to treat it as serious fiction. Regardless of its flaws, it exists as art. And that, dearies, is cool. That is Mario-smashing-into-bricks-and-having-Athena-come-out-of-his-head cool. The Last of Us is alive. For some of that very reason, I don't recommend it for children. Nor do I recommend it for people who most deeply care for the welfare of children. The game is disturbing for what it shows–but it is astonishing for what it promises.


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Home A Message from Mayor Moeller - January
A Message from Mayor Moeller - January
A fresh new year is the time for making resolutions, changes to our usual lifestyles, and generally reflecting on how to improve.
The City of Maryland Heights is constantly assessing the past, present and future. There is always room for improvement and we strive to make the changes necessary to remain a strong community. The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been observed globally. Despite this, our community experienced an action-packed 2021. With face masks, vaccinations and safety protocols in place, it allowed life to return to Maryland Heights. These last two years during the pandemic have taught us what makes Maryland Heights resilient and strong. As we anticipate the market returning to pre-pandemic levels, it's important to take a look back to see what helped us stay afloat during these challenging times. I invite you to take a look at the Budget in Brief insert. This publication provides a summary of our planned initiatives and expenditures for 2022. The full 2022 budget document is available at www.marylandheights.com/2022Budget.
And while we cannot forget the devastation caused by the pandemic, we can learn from it and remain a resilient community by adapting to the new "normal". It is extremely important for our residents to remain connected and engaged.
Maryland Heights has not slowed down and is still a very thriving community. The most recent data from the 2020 Census has indicated an increase in our population. People want to live here and we are proud that so many of you call Maryland Heights home. The remaining data from the 2020 Census is anticipated to be published in 2022.
Staff work hard every day to provide professional service to the community. This month, I encourage you to read the updates provided by various departments. We have several interesting developments, programs, and events that are making their debut in 2022. Many of these decisions are influenced by community input. It's important that we keep the line of communication open. From utilizing grant money to a new construction project, the more we hear from the community, the better we are able to serve you. Your city council and I are just a phone call or email away. Our information can be found on the back of this newsletter if you would like to contact us.
I'm very excited for what 2022 has in store for Maryland Heights. If there's one thing I've learned in my years as mayor, it's that change is constant and necessary. I look forward to leading our City into a healthier and brighter future!
Stay safe and have a happy new year!


The project for making a super-heavy space rocket was originally approved in the autumn of 2014.
The project for creating Russia's super-heavy space rocket and launch pad for it will cost approximately 1.5 trillion rubles (roughly $23 billion at the current official rate of exchange), the first deputy CEO of the state-run corporation Roscosmos, Aleksandr Ivanov, said on Tuesday.
"The costs of creating a super-heavy rocket in combination with the launch pad are estimated at 1.5 trillion rubles," Ivanov told the research conference Cosmonautics in the 21st Century. "We are not going to make a super-heavy rocket right away, though, because nobody needs it for the time being. We've opted for a step-by-step solution. First we'll make a medium class rocket - called Feniks (Phoenix).
Feniks has been conceived as the first stage of a super-heavy rocket. The Angara rocket's hydrogen-fueled stage will be used as the third stage. No decision regarding the second stage has been made yet, Ivanov said.
The project for making a super-heavy space rocket was originally approved in the autumn of 2014. In the spring of 2015 Roscosmos chief Igor Komarov said, though, that work on a new space rocket would have to be postponed. The project is absent from the Federal Space Program for 2016-2025, which was adopted last spring.
The Feniks rocket is expected to be delivered by 2025.
It will be capable of putting up to 17 tonnes of payload into low orbits around the Earth (manned space projects included), and 2.5 tonne payloads into geostationary orbits (for which it will be equipped with special boosters).


ASHEBORO — Four local middle school students won top honors at the Region V Science Fair and have advanced to the 2014 N.C. Science and Engineering Fair.
The state competition will be held March 28-29 at Meredith College in Raleigh. State winners take part in the international science fair in Los Angeles.
The regional winners are from Southeastern Randolph and South Asheboro middle schools which both had other students competing at the event held Feb. 22 at Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem. Thirteen Piedmont counties participated in the science fair and included students attending public, home, charter and private schools.
Two local students placed first in their divisions: Fletcher Rains of SERMS, Physical Science, and James Willett of SAMS, Technology and Engineering.
Receiving second-place awards were Audrey Havens of SAMS, Physical Science, and Jake Fesmire of SERMS, Biological Science A.
All four will participate in the state science fair.
Kim Steele, Randolph County School System science fair coordinator and lead teacher at SERMS, said Randolph sent six middle school students, all from SERMS in Ramseur, to compete in the regional competition. These students placed first in their category at the Randolph County district level in December.
Also representing county schools were Lani Allred, Biological Science A; Zack Foland, Chemistry; Colton Embree, Earth and Environmental Science, and Braxton Luther, Technology and Engineering.
Asheboro held its district fair in January with its top winners all from SAMS and also including Megan Cornwall and Katie Davis, Earth & Environmental Science; Madison Stickler, Chemistry; Madison Chisholm and Averi Ridge, Biological Science A, and Olivia Elliott, Biological Science B.
All students were recognized with a certificate for participating at the regional level.


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Michael DiPietro (born June 9, 1999) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Maine Mariners of the ECHL as a prospect to the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Canucks in the third round (64th overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, and played 3 games with them between 2019 and 2022, mainly playing with their minor league affiliates.

Playing career
DiPietro began playing hockey as a defenceman until he was nine years old when he switched to goaltender after watching his step-brother play the position.

Prior to being drafted into the OHL, DiPietro played with the Sun County Panthers Minor Midget AAA team. During the 2014–15 season, DiPietro played in 21 games and posted a .862 save percentage.

DiPietro was drafted in the second round, 23rd overall, by the Windsor Spitfires in the 2015 OHL Draft. During his rookie season, DiPietro had a 16–8–1 record while posting a save percentage of .912. He was awarded the F. W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy at the conclusion of his rookie year for being the rookie goaltender with the best goals against average, becoming the first Spitfires player to ever win the award. He was also named to the OHL First All-Rookie Team.

In his sophomore year, DiPietro helped guide the Spitfires to a Memorial Cup victory, posting a .932 save percentage during Windsor's championship win. For his efforts, DiPietro was awarded the Hap Emms Memorial Trophy, named to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team and the OHL Third All-Star Team.

After two successful seasons, scouts started to take notice. Bill Sloan, Head Scout South of the Mason Dixon, was quick to note his potential. As such, prior to his junior season, DiPietro was drafted 64th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Unsigned by the Canucks, DiPietro rejoined the Spitfires for the 2017–18 season. In his junior season, DiPietro posted a 29–21–3–1 record with seven shutouts and a .910 save percentage. For his efforts, DiPietro was named OHL Goaltender of the Year and to the OHL First All-Star Team.

On May 31, 2018, the Canucks signed DiPietro to a three-year entry-level contract. DiPietro began the 2018–19 season in the OHL after attending Canucks training camp. On October 28, after a 4–1 win over the Owen Sound Attack, DiPietro set a Spitfires franchise record for most wins in Spitfires history with his 79th. DiPietro started the 2018–19 season with the Spitfires, posting a .920 save percentage in 21 starts. On December 4, he was traded to the Ottawa 67's in exchange for Egor Afanaseyev and drafts picks ranging from 2019 to 2023.

On February 5, 2019, DiPietro was called up to the NHL on an emergency basis after starter Thatcher Demko was injured. He made his NHL debut on February 11 in a 7–2 loss to the San Jose Sharks, stopping 17 of 24 shots. By making his debut, DiPietro became the second youngest Canucks goaltender in franchise history, only being surpassed by Troy Gamble. He was returned to the Ottawa 67's the following night.

On March 18, 2019, DiPietro and teammate Cedrick Andree were announced as the co-winners of the Dave Pinkney Trophy for allowing the fewest goals against in the league. In 17 games with the Ottawa 67's, DiPietro had a 12–4–0–0 record with a 2.50 goals-against-average. In the playoffs, DiPietro had a 13–0 record with the 67's before suffering an injury in the OHL finals, and did not return as the Guelph Storm won the OHL championship.

On January 21, 2022, DiPietro would be called up to the NHL on an emergency basis after starter Thatcher Demko was placed into the NHL's COVID-19 protocol. On January 23, he would return to the NHL by starting against the St. Louis Blues in a 3–1 loss after goaltender Spencer Martin was also placed on the COVID-19 protocol, stopping 14 of 17 shots. On January 27, DiPietro would then be assigned to the Taxi Squad, and would eventually be sent down along with Sheldon Dries to the Abbotsford Canucks a day later on January 28.

Unable to find traction within the Canucks organization and having earlier submitted a trade request, DiPietro entered his fourth professional season in 2022–23 assigned to the Abbotsford Canucks. Before making his season debut, DiPietro was traded by the Canucks to the Boston Bruins, along with prospect Jonathan Myrenberg, in exchange for Jack Studnicka on October 27, 2022.

International play

After being a late cut from Team Canada's 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship roster, DiPietro eventually made his World Juniors debut during the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championships. In the first game of the tournament on December 26, 2018, DiPietro recorded a shut-out in a 14–0 win over Denmark. In Canada's final game of the preliminary round, DiPietro was named Canada's best player of the game in a 2–1 loss to Russia. He ended the preliminary round with a .957 save percentage. On January 2, Canada was eliminated from the World Juniors tournament in a heartbreaking 2–1 overtime loss in the quarterfinals to Team Finland.

DiPietro was named to Team Canada for the 2021 IIHF World Championship and the 2022 Spengler Cup.

Personal life
While they share a last name, DiPietro is not related to former Montreal Canadiens forward Paul DiPietro, or former New York Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro. DiPietro models his game after Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick. He has a tattoo celebrating winning the Memorial Cup.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Awards and honours

References

External links

1999 births
Living people
Abbotsford Canucks players
Canadian ice hockey goaltenders
Canadian people of Italian descent
Ice hockey people from Ontario
Maine Mariners (ECHL) players
Ottawa 67's players
Providence Bruins players
Sportspeople from Windsor, Ontario
Utica Comets players
Vancouver Canucks draft picks
Vancouver Canucks players
Windsor Spitfires players

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia