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Romania Militarizing the Black Sea Region
Vladislav Gulevich
Romania's policy in the Black Sea region is aimed at creating strategic prerequisites for Bucharest to achieve long-term regional leadership.
Russia is the only Black Sea country, which does not fit into the geopolitical landscape being built by Bucharest. It is a country with which Romania, as a member of the EU and NATO, is not bound by allied treaties. Therefore, Romania views Russia as an obstacle to its plans, and its policy is aimed at getting this hurdle out of the way.
Strengthening European security is part of the general context of containing Russia will dominate the agenda of Romania's chairmanship of the European Council from January 2019.
Worried by the current imbalance between the northeast (Baltic region: Poland, Baltic states) and the southeast (Black Sea region: Romania) flanks of NATO, Romania will seek to offset this by beefing up NATO's military presence at both ends of the arc of instability now being created.
Russia's presence on the Black Sea is seen by Bucharest as a sign Moscow's growing influence in the eastern Mediterranean region, which, simultaneously, is reducing the West's sway over the region. Bucharest sees that as a long-term problem as a drop in the West's influence in the Mediterranean will significantly undermine Romania's own position in the Black Sea region.
Even though Russia's military doctrine does not pose any deliberate threat to Romania, this still does not deter Bucharest from making anti-Russian moves. Amid the US' and EU's current tensions with Turkey, Bucharest has a theoretical chance to fill the emerging void in NATO's military architecture in the Eastern Mediterranean. Bucharest is ready (and willing!) to assume some of the geopolitical functions previously assigned to Ankara to act as a regional vanguard in the confrontation with Russia on the Black Sea and increase its strategic significance for the United States and NATO.
The Black Sea region, which links Eurasia with North Africa and the Middle East, serves as a gateway to the Mediterranean, which in turn, is a corridor to the Atlantic and the ocean. Romanian politicians of the past viewed the Black Sea as a road to the Caspian via the Caucasus isthmus with access to Central Asia.
The Black Sea is Romania's only waterway to the outside world that allows it to widen the boundaries of Romanian influence.
Romania's geopolitical doctrine considers the Black Sea as a constituent element of Romanian national identity along with the Danube and Dniester rivers, and of Romanians as a Black Sea nation. The political tradition of Romania views the Dniester as a natural cultural, political and geographical borderline that separates Europe from Russia-Eurasia, Romanians from Slavs and the Romanian geopolitical area from Russia. The Danube is considered as a vital artery and cradle of the Romanian people, connecting it with the Black Sea and Europe.
Therefore, Romania's expansionism on the Black Sea is not a variable but a permanent aspect Bucharest's foreign policy, along with two other constant vectors to Moldova and the Western Balkans. This three-tier construction constitutes the basis of the Romanian geopolitical consciousness, which, regrettably, is resulting in ill-advised foreign policy moves.
Guided, or rather misguided, by this erroneous policy, the Romanian elites have made all these three components of the Romanian national consciousness and cultural identity dependent on the ever-changing political situation in their relations with Russia.
It was exactly this policy that inevitably pushed bilateral relations on a downward path, since Russia is viewed in this context as something hostile and contrary to the manifestations of Romanian identity in the world in a political-spatial and cultural-ideological dimension.
Romania spends 2 percent of its GDP on defense with the purchase of modern weapons accounting for a hefty 33 percent of the country's military budget – more than in any other of NATO's East European members. It looks like Romania's chances of equaling Poland in terms of its strategic importance to NATO may soon increase given the country's geographic closeness to Russia's Crimea.
Bucharest and Warsaw have already signed an agreement on strategic partnership, and Poland's "Three Seas" initiative and Bucharest's "Great Romania" project geopolitically complement each other.
The idea underlying the coordinated action by Warsaw and Bucharest is to create an anti-Russian corridor extending from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, which is part of Poland's plan to promote European cooperation along the North-South axis.
First published in our partner International Affairs
Related Topics:DefenseEuropean UnionNATORomaniaRussia
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PES: Progressive commitments needed from the next Commission
Warda Irum
The discourse about the international security and defense affairs have always been impregnated with the dynamics of security dilemma. Even today, when complex interdependence has connected states in multiple ways, the global politics still tends to favor Machiavellian norms. Therefore, it is forcefully propagated that the security of the state depends upon the strength of their armament. Apparently, it sounds perfectly reasonable, to have the recent generations of arms in abundant quantity to deter the 'enemy. But what if a state has no enemy? Or at least does not have any immediate enemy in the general sense of the term. Should such a state focus its resources to build a mighty defense sector and take part in an arms race? The answer that might pop in our minds is No. Unfortunately, this is true in the case of South East Asian states. In the last few years, the ASEAN states' military spending has nearly doubled. Most notably, Thailand and Indonesia's military budget has been snowballing at the rate of 10% on a year by year basis. It is interesting to note that Vietnam arms import has spiked 700% over a decade, making it one of the top 10 purchaser of arms. Other ASEAN states have been increasingly importing fighter jets, frigates, helicopters, submarines and the like.
The emerging situation in the region could be analyzed from these three different perspectives. Firstly, South East Asian states have increased their military spending as a consequences of US withdrawal from the region and mounting concerns about China's growing regional as well as global influence. As ASEAN states generally enjoy cordial relations among themselves and the spirit of regionalism is very much prevalent in both their bi and multi-lateral relations. Besides, these states have, by and large, remained peaceful in world affairs. Therefore, considering this first perspective has its own problems, it might be true to some extent, that the recent surge in spend spending is aimed at countering China, with which they share friendly ties, or filling some security void. Secondly, some experts argue that south East Asian states' military spending is according to their GDP rate, and has remained stable over the period. Therefore, this 'surge' is normal. Lastly, according to some scholars, we need to look at what these states are actually buying to understand the whole situation. These scholars argue that, these states have been spending the money on 'modernizing' their armament that have, otherwise, been hardly functional for years. So, for this standpoint, this surge in military spending is nothing more than normal efforts to modernize state weaponry.
Nonetheless, this is where the actual problem lies. Why should states seek to modernize their weaponry when there is no such apparent reason and when this weaponry has been "barely functional for years"? Armaments, like other machineries, need constant maintenance, supervision and regulation. And all of this requires a lot of resources. Even if a state's military spending is in accordance with its GDP, armament or its modernization, whether qualitatively or quantitatively, must not be 'justified'. Since cold war, international politics has seen many disarmament efforts, be it conventions on chemical or biological weapons, denuclearization zones, Arms trade treaty or Nuclear Non-proliferation treaty. It is a high time that instead of making it customary to have some modern armament, states must come together to break this norm. Particularly, South East Asian states, that have no deeply embedded antagonism, neither within the region nor outside it, could have reversed the norm of owing "modern military weaponry", that would most likely again remain 'barely functional for years' on end.
Moreover, as previously mentioned, what these states have been importing is telling. However, how this modernization in armament has been reoriented is equally important, as many of the regions military strategies are shifting their focus away from countering insurgency to external defense and conventional warfare. While domestic factors do play a key role here. For instance, Thailand doubled its military spending after the military coups of 2006 and 2014. And Myanmar has justified its arms buildup on the pretext of having to deal with various insurgent groups within the state. Though particularly in Myanmar's case, instead of spending heavily on military and committing gross atrocities against its very own Rohingya community, it should have provided shelter to them.
Although various studies refute that there is any instrumental link between armament and warfare. But given that, when such efforts are aimed at strengthening capabilities for external warfare, it is likely that it might spike some mutual distrust at some point in the future. But it's not simply the matter of the conflict that 'might emerge', the problem here is, an undaunted prevalence of spending on weapons at international level that has quietly legitimized, justified and warranted the buying and selling of lethal weapons. So much so that, such a state of affair is usually vindicated and rationalized into a 'broader context' of necessities of owning vast weaponry to secure stability. Sadly, such broader context is rarely 'broad enough' to include human rights and humanitarian perspectives in the contours of world politics.
The South East Asian States are engulfed in an unending arms race for their survival. To sum up, the discourse on international security and defense that focuses so much on arms buildup needs to be realigned with the new realities of the time. South East Asian states should come up as a norm changer by diverting their resources from extensive defense spending to the human resource development. Progress and development in economy, society, science and technology will pay off in much better ways than investment of precious resources in arms race.
M Waqas Jan
Over the last decade, India's rapid expansion of its conventional and nuclear arms capabilities have presented a worrying dilemma with regard to the South Asian region's security and stability. This holds especially true considering how its clear ambitions to translate its economic rise into a menacing projection of hard-power have remained on full display particularly under the BJP's tenure. While many observers have come to regard these ambitions as the ruling party simply pandering to the populist vote, the steady consistency with which this policy has been carried throughout the last decade represents a dangerous mindset that appears to have become deeply engrained within India's civil and military bureaucracy. This mindset and its obsession with external hard-power is further evident in the institutionalization of concepts such as Cold Start and Surgical Strikes both of which have been formalized as part of the Indian State's official policy as well as its military doctrine.
For instance, both these concepts have been defined at length in the Joint Doctrine of the Indian Armed Forces that was released in April 2017 as well as the Indian Army's Land Warfare Doctrine that was published the following year. As a clear signal of its regional ambitions, both these documents have also unmistakably identified Pakistan and China as India's principle source of threats. In order to counter these threats these same documents advocate the development of military strategies aimed at pre-set and purportedly restrained instances of minimal force projection that allow India to remain well within the nuclear threshold. This threshold that currently pervades throughout India's strategic rivalry with both Pakistan and China is arguably the key to maintaining the delicate strategic balance that currently pervades throughout the South Asian region. A region that otherwise comprises of a key locus for the world's future economic growth and development.
However, the fact that India's stated policy is to radically alter this strategic balance represents a dangerous mindset, that is based more on its own solitary potential for growth rather than that of the wider region. In what can be termed as nothing short of a myopic outlook to the entire region's trajectory, India's efforts at enhancing its force projection capabilities and tilting this delicate balance in its favor is replete with risks. Risks that are in turn deeply rooted in unqualified and broad-ranging premises that assume both Pakistan and China to remain as passive spectators to its aggressive military posturing.
Hence, by constantly aiming to raise the nuclear threshold, the above-mentioned concepts of cold start and surgical strikes are in essence aimed at downplaying the risks of a potential nuclear exchange in South Asia. From a purely rational perspective, this policy while appearing as nothing short of madness, openly flirts with the grave sanctity of the escalation ladder on which the region's strategic planners and decision-makers rely on when calculating the possibility of a potential nuclear first-strike. As a Nuclear Weapons' State (NWS) that shares disputed borders with two other Nuclear Weapons' states, India's dangerous posturing is thus heavily dependent on it being perceived as a responsible Nuclear power to both Pakistan and China. However, it is this perception of being a responsible NWS which India is actively working to negate as evident in its leaders' jingoistic saber-rattling.
These include regular statements by Indian leaders in which by openly alluding to the death and annihilation of its strategic rivals, one can witness a certain normalization of nuclear brinkmanship which has become a modus operandi of sorts for Prime Minister Modi. Similar allusions to India possessing the 'Mother of all Bombs'(in the form of perhaps thermo-nuclear weapons) also represents a kind of posturing that is aimed at upending the status-quo and provoking a response. These statements when coupled with the Indian military-bureaucracy's clear allusions to reneging its No First Use policy, have further led to even greater ambiguity with regard to India's strategic calculus. As a result, all these instances represent a dangerous precedent being set for what is considered as 'acceptable risk' by India's strategic planners.
While such negative posturing has been successful in communicating India's increased risk-appetite to its strategic rivals, what's unclear is whether these risks are based on a credible deterrence capability or quite simply, the egoistic hubris of its elected leaders and bureaucratic machinery. In what can perhaps only be described as an infantile staring contest; in which one's sole chance of survival from a nuclear holocaust is counting on the other party's willingness to blink first, the Indian state's projection of hard-power seems to be based on more of a wild gamble than the well-thought out contingencies of a major nuclear power.
Hence, with the Indian leadership's official preference of a defence policy steeped in the risks of nuclear exchange, the merits of institutionalizing its approach to brinkmanship is something that appears downright non-sensical in this day age. Especially during a time where economic growth and human development remain as some of the region's most pervasive challenges, India's aggressive regional posturing hark back to the politics of a bygone era in times that otherwise require a visionary approach to fostering regional peace and stability.
The Global Hypersonic Race
Vadim Kozyulin
Prominent Western politicians have launched a global discussion about the risks associated with Russia developing hypersonic weapons. Arms control experts are attempting to estimate the potential of these new weapons, but attempts at this stage are hindered by the absence of important technical data and the lack of specialized terminology in this field.
The discussion of the threats posed by hypersonic weapons was triggered by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, who in his address to the Federal Assembly on March 1, 2018, described the impressive capabilities of Russia's new Avangard and Kinzhal strategic missile systems as follows: "The glide vehicle strikes its target like a meteorite, like a fireball, with its surface temperature reaching between 1600 and 2000 degrees Celsius, while remaining completely controllable at the same time."
Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany Heiko Maas attempted to take the lead in discussing the destabilizing new technology. In March 2019, he hastily organized the "2019. Capturing Technology. Rethinking Arms Control" international conference in Berlin. In his opening speech, Maas said: "Manoeuvrable missiles travelling at many times the speed of sound barely leave time for considered human responses. The fact that we are not just talking about science fiction here is demonstrated by Russia's announcement that the first Avangard systems will be entering service this year. I would therefore also like to seize this conference as an opportunity to establish an international missiles dialogue that takes into account both the challenges posed by new technologies and the dangers of their proliferation. The experts gathered here today could form the backbone of this kind of global Missile Dialogue Initiative."
However, the subsequent discussion at the conference demonstrated that many of the participants were unfamiliar with the topic of hypersonic weapons. Recognized experts on missile control proved unprepared to hold a substantive conversation about hypersonic technology. As a result, the dialogue was reduced to discussing the INF Treaty.
At the end of the conference, the ministers of foreign affairs of Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden signed a political declaration stressing the "need to build a shared understanding of how technologically enhanced military capabilities may change the character of warfare and how this will influence global security."
In the United States, where hypersonic technology has already been developing at a rapid pace, including as part of the Prompt Global Strike programme, Putin's announcement was used as a pretext for investing more in the Pentagon's projects. "We have lost our technical advantage in hypersonics [but] we have not lost the hypersonics fight," said Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Paul Selva. Meanwhile, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Mike Griffin, for his part, has identified hypersonics as his top priority and called for an industrial base to be established that could support the development and production of thousands of deterrence hypersonic vehicles.
Mike White, the Pentagon's assistant director for hypersonics, announced that the department had a three-step plan for the development of hypersonic weapons that involves investing generously in offensive capabilities, then in defensive systems, and finally, at least ten years from now, in reusable airborne hypersonic vehicles. The Pentagon's spending on hypersonic projects has increased from $201 million in 2018 to $278 million in 2019, and the overall cost of the program is estimated at $2 billion.
China has been no stranger to this "war of words," with several fantastic reports emanating from the country about "successful tests of hypersonic flight vehicles," the creation of a material capable of withstanding temperatures of up to 3000 degrees Celsius, and even the development of a universal engine that can accelerate a vehicle from zero to hypersonic flight. Japan has stated its intent to create a High-Speed Gliding Missile, an equivalent of Russia's Avangard.
Minister of the Armed Forces of France Florence Parly has announced the country's plans to use the ASN4G supersonic air-to-surface cruise missile as the baseline for the V-MaX supersonic glider that could travel at a speed of over 6000 km/h. The project is being led by ArianeGroup, a joint venture between Airbus and Safran, and the first test flight could take place in late 2021.
In the meantime, the global expert community has yet to come up with a clear scientific definition for the term "hypersonic vehicle." Hypersonic flight is conventionally understood to mean atmospheric flight at speeds higher than Mach 5, that is, five times the speed of sound. The second important feature of a hypersonic aircraft is its ability to maneuver with the use of aerodynamic forces, rather than merely adjusting the target accuracy. This entails longer atmospheric flight times and greater susceptibility to the destructive factors associated with atmospheric flight.
At present, only a handful of countries are close to creating effective hypersonic weapons. Hypersonic weapons engineers are faced with some very unique technical challenges. To begin with, there is the problem of ensuring controlled and sustained flight in a rarefied atmosphere whose density varies with altitude. Among other things, this creates difficulties for propulsion systems that consume oxygen.
Also, the friction created by the hypersonic airflow around the vehicle's surface generates a sheath of ionized plasma, with the nose fairing temperature reaching up to 3000 degrees Celsius. Even vehicles made of ultra-heat-resistant alloys or composites lose their shape and original aerodynamic characteristics due to the heating and ablation. For example, the U.S. Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird high-altitude supersonic reconnaissance aircraft would become 10cm longer in flight owing to thermal expansion, and fuel would seep from its seams on landing.
Controlling a hypersonic vehicle from launch to target impact is a separate problem, as the plasma sheath blocks radio signals. Solving this problem requires complex and expensive research. Even US engineers have not yet found a solution to this problem.
Another challenge is linked to the fact that the plasma sheath significantly complicates navigation, which for a strike vehicle must be autonomous, prompt and very accurate. Plasma makes electro-optical and radio-frequency homing impossible. Inertial navigation systems cannot provide the required accuracy at long distances. A solution to this problem has yet to be found.
The traditional types of aviation fuel (jet fuel and methane) are unsuitable at hypersonic speeds. A hypersonic vehicle needs a special kind of fuel. Also, a universal propulsion engine capable of accelerating a vehicle from zero to hypersonic speeds has not yet been created. At present, militaries have to make do with rocket boosters or supersonic aircraft to accelerate vehicles to speeds at which their supersonic combustion ramjet engines can be engaged.
When it comes to the flight mode, there are three different types of hypersonic vehicles. The first type is an unpowered glide vehicle, which rides a ballistic missile to an altitude of approximately 100km, separates, and performs a maneuverable flight in the upper atmospheric layer at speeds between Mach 8 and Mach 28. By skip-gliding along the atmosphere like a skipping stone along the water surface, such a vehicle can increase its flight range by several times. The second type is a scramjet-powered vehicle, which can only fly in the atmosphere because its engine needs oxygen. The third type is a quasi-ballistic or semi-ballistic missile that mainly follows a shallow ballistic trajectory but can also maneuver to evade enemy missile defenses. One example here is the Russian Iskander-M missile, which flies at hypersonic speeds of between 2100 and 2600 m/sec (Mach 6 to Mach 7) at an altitude of 50km.
Experts sometimes use the term "aeroballistic." However, this definition is not applied to the speed of flight, but rather to the mode of travel: namely, it implies a combined mode of partially traveling along a ballistic trajectory and partially employing aerodynamic control surfaces and jet vanes for steering. An aeroballistic vehicle does not necessarily have to be hypersonic, as the term can also be applied to slower vehicles, although it is now widely used in the context of the hypersonic Kinzhal and Iskander-M missiles.
Hypersonic vehicles have one distinct feature which traditional exo-atmospheric ballistic missiles do not. While most ballistic missiles develop speeds of dozens of Machs (i.e., they also travel at hypersonic speeds), they are not described as hypersonic unless they or their warheads are capable of aerodynamic maneuvering in the atmosphere.
Some ballistic missile warheads are capable of terminal trajectory corrections. They are not classed as hypersonic vehicles, since the purpose of their maneuvering is not to increase the flight range or evade an anti-missile attack, but merely to reduce the circular error probable (CEP).
All hypersonic vehicles can be subdivided into five categories depending on their mission:
Manned aircraft (the first and so far only example here is the U.S. North American X-15, which set the world airspeed record of Mach 6.72 in 1967)
Unmanned vehicles (mainly experimental projects such as the Boeing X-43, which reached Mach 9.6 in 2004)
Scramjet-powered hypersonic missiles (such as the Russian 3M22 Zircon)
Hypersonic glide vehicles (the Russian Avangard or the U.S. Advanced Hypersonic Weapon)
Air- or ground-launched spaceplanes (the Soviet Buran and U.S. Space Shuttle vehicles, which reach speeds of Mach 25 upon re-entry).
Military hypersonic vehicles fall into the following three categories:
1. Reconnaissance vehicles
At present, only one purely reconnaissance hypersonic vehicle is known to be under development: the Lockheed Martin SR-72, which can theoretically travel at speeds of up to 7400 km/h. This vehicle is expected to be better at monitoring mobile missile systems than reconnaissance satellites. It could also eventually be equipped to carry a charge for a pinpoint strike.
Another experimental orbital hypersonic vehicle is the Boeing X-37B. Although little is known about its intended mission, it could also serve as a reconnaissance platform.
2. Hypersonic kill vehicles
Scramjet-powered hypersonic cruise missiles that can be launched by an aircraft, a sea-surface ship or a submarine (the Russian 3M22 Zircon or the U.S. X-51A Waverider, which is currently under development) can be used to destroy enemy missile early warning systems, anti-aircraft and anti-missile defenses, airfields, hardened command posts and critical facilities.
Glide vehicles (the Russian Avangard; the U.S. Lockheed Martin Falcon, HIFiRE and HSSW/TBG [High-Speed Strike Weapon/Tactical Boost Glide]; and the Chinese WU-14/DF-ZF) are primarily intended as nuclear strike weapons.
Quasi-ballistic missiles (the Russian Kinzhal and Iskander-M; the Indian Shaurya tactical missile; and the Chinese DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile) are relatively difficult to detect by radar thanks to their shallow trajectory. Their warheads can change trajectory, so enemy missile defenses cannot calculate the exact target, and the warhead's maneuverability considerably complicates interception.
3. Hypersonic interceptors
These are surface-to-air missiles designed to intercept ballistic missile warheads, normally in their terminal, atmospheric phase of trajectory. The most advanced interceptors can engage ballistic missiles at exo-atmospheric altitudes and even shoot down low-orbit satellites.
To stand a chance of intercepting a ballistic target, an interceptor must not only develop a high speed, but also launch promptly and maneuver actively. U.S. RIM-161 SM-3 Block IIA missiles of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System can travel at speeds of up to Mach 15.25; the Russian S-400 48N6DM missiles have a speed of Mach 7.5, and the future S500 77N6-N1 missiles will be able to reach speeds of up to Mach 21.
Advantages of Hypersonic Missiles
Hypersonic missiles have several obvious advantages over ballistic missiles. First, they follow significantly shallower trajectories, so ground-based radars detect them later into the flight. Second, thanks to their maneuvering, high speed and unpredictable trajectory, the enemy cannot be certain of the hypersonic vehicle's target, whereas the trajectory of a ballistic missile is currently fairly easy to calculate. Third, ballistic missile interception experiments have been conducted since the 1960s, and there are plenty of reports on successful trial intercepts. However, intercepting a high-speed maneuvering atmospheric target is extremely difficult and is believed to be impossible at present. Also, the mass production of hypersonic vehicles is expected to be cheaper than that of ballistic missiles. Despite the challenges associated with developing scram engines, such jets have virtually no moving parts and their cross-sections represent special configuration tubing. According to analysts at the U.S. company Capital Alpha Partners, "If hypersonic weapons can be produced with unit costs of $2 million, or less, they will impact some of the outyear weapons plans. A weapon that travels at Mach 5, or faster, and that can maneuver will see strong U.S. demand in the later part of this decade." Finally, the kinetic energy of a hypersonic missile is so high that its release will be enough to destroy certain types of targets even without using a charge. This gives experts reason to state that hypersonic missiles might become an alternative to nuclear weapons in certain situations.
Shortcomings of Hypersonic Missiles
As for the shortcomings of hypersonic missiles, experts point out that they cannot offer high target accuracy because it is almost impossible to fit such a missile with a homing head, and its high speed will result in an increase in targeting error. A hypersonic vehicle is believed to have a CER of between 30 and 50 meters. Furthermore, high-speed missiles will have a large infrared signature due to frictional skin heating, making them easily detectable by IR sensors. Designers will need to find a compromise between the high impact speed and the high probability of standoff detection. Also, a scramjet-powered missile must be initially accelerated to a speed of about Mach 3. This complicates the use of such weapons, which require a rocket booster or a high-speed air-launch platform. Experts believe that, due to a plethora of technological problems, hypersonic weapons currently have a relatively limited effective range (some 1000km for scramjet-powered missiles). However, the veil of secrecy surrounding this type of weaponry provokes rumors and excessive fears, and this destabilizing factor could prompt the enemy to resort to a pre-emptive strike.
Challenges for International Security and Stability
The U.S. expert community has carefully studied the potential of Russian hypersonic weapons in terms of how they could affect the balance of forces and concluded that, in general, they do not pose an existential threat to major nuclear powers. Thus, fitting Avangard missiles with glide vehicles will not increase the size of the Russian nuclear arsenal, nor will it extend the effective range of the missiles, their range of action or their strike speed. The United States and other nuclear powers will still be able to respond to a Russian nuclear attack.
U.S. experts admit that maneuvering hypersonic vehicles are almost impossible to intercept. However, given that the U.S. missile defense system has very limited intercept capabilities when it comes even to Russian ballistic missiles, the introduction of Avangard hypersonic missiles changes little in the nuclear war scenario. For the United States, this is more of a technological challenge, with which both the Pentagon and the White House are fairly unhappy. Dominance in military technology has remained a priority for the United States for decades, ever since the launch of the first Soviet satellite. Therefore, the news of Russia's hypersonic achievements does not sit well with Washington. At the same time, it has provided the United States with an opportunity to study the possibility of extending missile defense to near space. Megawatt laser weapons are believed to be capable of destroying both ballistic and hypersonic missiles. The current level of U.S. technology already allows for equipping different types of ground transport with lasers generating in excess of 50kW of power, while sea-based lasers can generate over 150kW. Under the current trend, laser power increases tenfold every three years. In this sense, within five years, we can expect U.S. laser technology to reach a level that where the Pentagon may be confident in the possibility of building lasers that are capable of shooting down hypersonic devices. The next step will then be to deploy laser weapons in the Earth's orbit.
In light of the above, the emergence of hypersonic weapons will introduce a number of destabilizing factors for international security. First, countries possessing such weapons will have an asymmetric advantage over other developing countries. Second, it will trigger the deployment of the space-based laser component of the missile defense system. Third, it will provoke a new global arms race, including with regard to laser weapons, hypersonic anti-missile systems, cyber-weapons, railguns and unmanned delivery platforms for strike weapons. Moreover, for non-nuclear powers, hypersonic missiles may become a serious instrument of deterrence or power projection. It should also be noted that hypersonic missiles could be used in a pre-emptive strike against an enemy whose main weapons are situated within their effective reach (at present, within a radius of up to 1000km). That is, the deployment of hypersonic weapons can be considered as a critical threat to the country's immediate neighbors. Finally, there are global risks to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). The secret hunt for missile components such as fuel, alloys, electronics and airframe blueprints has never stopped. In the new environment, even those countries that are signatories to the MTCR are interested in obtaining prompt global strike technologies.
The current leaders of hypersonic weapons research are, in addition to Russia, the United States and China.
Despite its ambitious statements, China has not yet rolled out a reliable prototype of a hypersonic vehicle. Chinese engineers have developed the YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship cruise missile, but the country's military currently only has subsonic ground-based cruise missiles in service. It may be the case that Beijing hopes to leap from subsonic straight to hypersonic, skipping supersonics altogether.
China is believed to be working on at least two hypersonic programs. Since 2014, it has been testing the DF-ZF (dubbed Wu-14 in the United States) hypersonic glide vehicle complete with the DF-17 medium-range ballistic missile for the launch vehicle (eventually to be replaced by the DF-31 missile). The second project, the air-launched CH-AS-X-13 missile, is primarily intended against aircraft carriers. According to a representative of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Mechanics has created a turbine-based combined-cycle engine capable of accelerating a vehicle to Mach 6.
As part of the High Speed Strike Weapon (HSSW) program, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the United States Air Force are working on three hypersonic concepts. The Tactical Boost Glide (TBG) combat vehicle riding a solid-fuel rocket booster, under development by Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, is planned as an equivalent to Russia's Avangard. The Boeing Hypersonic Air-Breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC) will have a combined-cycle engine (the turbine will accelerate the vehicle to Mach 2, after which the scramjet will further propel it to hypersonic speeds). According to some reports, the vehicle may be reusable. Northrop Grumman Corporation is working to design the combined-cycle Advanced Full Range Engine (AFRE) for HAWC under a contract with DARPA. Finally, the reusable unmanned craft under development as part of the HyRAX project and the XS-1 Experimental Spaceplane program will be used as an inexpensive launch vehicle to insert dual-use satellites into low-Earth orbits.
The HSSW program is aimed at designing and testing a hypersonic strike vehicle by 2020. The key specifications include speeds of Mach 6 to 10, an effective range of over 1000km, a CEP of under 5m and a variety of warhead types (penetrator, HE-fragmentation or cluster).
The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory is looking into the possibility of creating a combined-cycle propulsion system for reusable vehicles, including by way of integrating scramjets with reheated bypass turbojets.
In addition to DARPA, hypersonic weapons are being developed by the United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command in conjunction with the Sandia National Laboratory under the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon project, which calls for the creation of a hypersonic glide vehicle with a precision terminal guidance system.
Russia's breakthrough in the hypersonic weapons race may have shaken the global balance of forces, but it has not reshaped it. The United States is not far behind Russia technologically, and may even be ahead in certain aspects of hypersonic weapons, including when it comes to making combined-cycle or hybrid propulsion systems for hypersonic vehicles that would allow a reusable reconnaissance/strike vehicle to be created. Nevertheless, the Russian achievements came as an unpleasant surprise for all the leading world powers.
The situation appears different for those nations that do not command massive nuclear arsenals. The Russian example opens a window of opportunities for them. Hypersonic weapons may appear to be an excellent solution for ensuring a decisive military advantage over a technically lacking adversary. Those countries lagging behind in the arms race may perceive hypersonic weapons as a critical and potentially disarming threat to an unfriendly neighbor.
In the art of war, uncertainty often drives progress. As the leading analytical centers are working to collect relevant information and understand the scale of possible threats, politicians and militaries are approving investment in new defense programs. A new item on defense budgets around the world has appeared.
From our partner RIAC


University of Washington Bothell has received a $100,000 scholarship grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation to increase the number of students who succeed at becoming the first in their families to graduate on time from a four-year college.
Officials believe a $2,500 annual scholarship combined with existing programs of timely academic support and engagement can make a big difference in the number of first generation students who stick with college to graduation.
The first 10 students in the UW Bothell Coca-Cola Engaged Scholars pilot program started in fall quarter and are each receiving $2,500 a year for four years. They are: Nora Abdi, Pedro Suarez, Xie C. "Tiger" Song, Michelle Cauich, Dureti Bilal, Rebeka Mekenon, Xuan D. Nguyen, Denisse Gonzalez, Janessa Agpaoa and Midhadu Kedir.
The 10 were selected from an existing program designed to help historically disadvantaged, low-income and first generation students of great promise who could benefit from additional academic support. It's called the Academic Transition Program (ATP).
The ATP students also benefit from UW Bothell's First Year and Pre-major Program, in which they attend Discovery Core classes. These classes enrich the student experience by integrating learning across a variety of academic disciplines, improving their academic skills and supporting their sense of belonging among peers and to the university. After the first year programs, Coca-Cola Engaged Scholars are subsequently expected to take part each year in a high-impact practice available through the UW Bothell Student Success Center, such as study abroad, undergraduate research, community-based learning or internships.
UW Bothell is a leader in the number of first-generation students it admits, 49 percent. Nationally, the number of incoming first-year, first-generation students is about 30 percent, according to the federal Education Department's National Center for Education Statistics.
This is taken from a University of Washington Bothell press release.


text:
package com.kryptnostic.v2.storage.types;

import java.util.UUID;

public final class TypeUUIDs {
    private TypeUUIDs() {}

    /**
     * The default object type
     */
    public static final UUID TYPE                   = new UUID( 0L, 0L );
    public static final UUID UTF8_STRING            = new UUID( 0L, 1L );
    public static final UUID UTF16_STRING           = new UUID( 0L, 2L );
    public static final UUID INDEX_METADATA         = new UUID( 0L, 3L );

    /**
     * A block is a reserved type for chunking a large object into several child objects.
     */
    public static final UUID BLOCK                  = new UUID( 0L, 4L );
    public static final UUID FHE_PRIVATE_KEY        = new UUID( 0L, 5L );
    public static final UUID FHE_SEARCH_PRIVATE_KEY = new UUID( 0L, 6L );

    public static final UUID INDEX_SEGMENT          = new UUID( 0L, 7L );

    public static final UUID EVENT                  = new UUID( 0L, 8L );

    public static final UUID DEFAULT_TYPE           = UTF8_STRING;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Penicillamine is used to bind copper enhance its elimination in Wilson' s disease a genetic disorder resulting in hepatic copper overload. Because penicillamine dramatically increases the urinary excretion of copper, individuals taking the medication for reasons other than copper overload may have an. In a person with sickle cell disease ( SCD) the red blood cells become hard , sticky look like a C- shaped farm tool called a " sickle. Aug 27 Prevention ( CDC) is working toward developing a comprehensive public health agenda to promote , · The Centers for Disease Control improve the health of people with blood disorders.
The hematocrit is a ratio of the volume of red blood cells to the volume of all these components together, called whole blood. Jun 23, · A hematocrit is a test that measures the proportion of a person' s blood that is made up of red blood cells ( RBCs). Red blood cells disorders pdf.
Red blood cells disorders pdf. Blood consists of RBCs white blood cells ( WBCs) platelets suspended in a fluid portion called plasma.
Your body' s immune system protects you from disease and infection. One microliter of blood contains: 4. Jul 27 · A blood smear is used when a CBC with differential shows the presence of abnormal immature cells.
But if you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake. Blood Test Results: CBC Explained Complete Blood Count ( CBC) Definition: Measures essential components of the blood Substance What It Is Reference Ranges * What a Low Number May Mean What a High Number May c 05, · Healthy red blood cells are round. " Sickle cells die early, causing a constant shortage of red blood cells. Apr 22, · Drug interactions.
Mature red blood cells lack a nucleus and organelles in mammals. 4 million ( female) erythrocytes: Red blood cells contain the blood' s hemoglobin and distribute oxygen.
1 million ( male), 4. The red blood cells ( together with endothelial vessel cells and other cells) are also marked by glycoproteins that define the different blood types. Relatively little is known about the interaction of copper with drugs. Autoimmune diseases can affect many parts of the body.
A blood smear evaluates red blood cells ( RBC morphology) white blood cells ( WBC) infections , platelets to help diagnose anemia blood disorders.
Packed red blood cells, also known as packed cells, are red blood cells that have been separated for blood transfusion. They are typically used in anemia that is either causing symptoms or when the hemoglobin is less than usually 70– 80 g/ L ( 7– 8 g/ dL).
In adults, one unit brings up hemoglobin levels by about 10 g/ L ( 1 g/ dL). Repeated transfusions may be required in people receiving cancer.


Delhi Daredevils win by eight wickets!
De Kock guides the hosts to their first victory of the season, scoring an unbeaten 59 from 42 balls. It was a stroll in truth.
That's all we have for you for today - goodnight!
Samson misses a straight delivery with just 12 runs needed. Still, he's almost got his team over the winning line.
De Kock will look to finish it in this next over, surely!?
Quinton de Kock brings up a 38-ball half-century in style, launching Mitchell Johnson of all people into the crowd. What a talent he is.
The pulled six followed a couple of boundaries earlier in the over and the Daredevils are now within sight of victory. This match has been painfully one-sided for the most part, it must be said.
Samson finds the boundary twice in the 11th over, powering his team towards victory at the Kotla.
The Kings XI's early optimism appears to have already evaporated. The Daredevils require another 28 runs with 9 wickets left.
After a sluggish start, Delhi are trying to race their way to the finish line. Samson firstly smears the ball down the ground and to the boundary.
And as De Kock tries to join in the fun, he faces a strong LBW appeal from Mohit Sharma. The South African survives and Delhi look to be coasting to victory.
Sahu and Mishra are enjoying contrasting nights for the time being. The Kings XI's leg-spinner is smashed into the stands from the final ball of the over and suddenly, Delhi look to be waltzing towards victory.
Delhi would struggle to lose from here.
Saha's missed stumping chance might just prove fatal. The South African batsman, one of the rising stars of the game, takes three boundaries off the bowling of Axar Patel.
The Daredevils now require just another 62 runs with 9 wickets left. It should be an easy equation.
Leg-spinner Pradeep Sahu is introduced into the attack. Can he produce the same magic as Amit Mishra? He might need to given the state of the game.
He concedes ten from his first over, which includes four wides from a missed stumping opportunity. Saha misses the chance off de Kock, who tried to flick the ball away and missed it.
De Kock faces up to the returning Mitchell Johnson, and he glances him down to the fine leg boundary off the fourth ball of the over.
The South African could be key to this run chase.
A potentially match-turning over, this. Vijay drops de Kock in the deep, but the South African left-hander slaps the last ball to the boundary to ease the pressure.
The Kings XI cannot afford to drop players of de Kock's quality.
Mohit Sharma replaces Mitchell Johnson, and he delivers a very tidy over. Just three runs from the over.
We might just have a game on here. Sandeep Sharma has Iyer caught behind and the Kings XI have the wicket they so desperately needed.
Another quiet over for the Daredevils. Taking there time for the moment, although, credit to the Kings XI and Mitchell Johnson, he was nice and tight with his lines in that over.
A sold start from Delhi, with de Kock lashing one ball to the boundary but being fairly watchful besides that.
The hosts may look to create a solid platform before really getting into fifth gear.
We're back under way at the Kotla. Quinton de Kock has the bat in hand - he won't want to hang around too long.
Sahu hits the ball into the stands and the Kings XI have a score - albeit a modest score - to defend.
Chris Morris fools Mitch with a slower ball. Just one wicket (and little hope) left for the Kings XI.
Delhi have been excellent in the field, but deary me, the Kings XI have been shocking.
Right, just two overs and two batsmen left for the Kings XI - what can they scrape to from here?
Zaheer Khan - who has been excellent this evening - gets his first wicket of the game.
Chris Morris takes the catch and Kings XI are eight down.
Chris Morris sends down another thunderous over, getting above 90mph on the speedgun.
Three overs left now, and the Kings XI still haven't passed the 100 mark.
Mohit Sharma comes to the crease and he immediately shows a bit of intent. He hits a four and then a six. Where have they been hiding this man?
Yadav has his first wicket of the evening. The off-spinner removes Patel to leave the Kings XI on a rather sad-looking score of 73 for 7.
Patel scores the first boundary since the eighth over! Bisecting the two men on the boundary with a well-placed pull shot.
Five overs left - what can the Kings XI get from here?


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There's so much to think about when selecting an English course for your child. Let us make it easier for you with our comprehensive range of English classes developed to suit all ability levels and age groups.
Please choose your class(es) from the timetable, and return your completed enrolment form with your tuition fees.


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Conflict & Conflict Resolution--Civil wars (15)
Economics & Global Affairs--International Finance (6)
Economics & Global Affairs--Trade (18)
Energy--Energy Innovation policy (8)
Energy--Oil (14)
Governance--Military strategy (23)
International Security & Defense--Afghanistan war (15)
(-) International Security & Defense--Preventive defense (27)
(-) International Security & Defense--Space security (5)
Nuclear Issues--North Korea nuclear program (39)
Nuclear Issues--Nuclear security (92)
Nuclear Issues--Russia nuclear program (92)
Nuclear Security Matters--Global Threat Reduction Initiative (1)
(-) Europe (29)
Bennett Craig
The Three Ages of NATO: An Evolving Alliance
Read more about The Three Ages of NATO: An Evolving Alliance
Jens Stoltenberg,NATO Secretary General, discussed the future of the NATO alliance during this speech, given at the Harvard Kennedy School on September 23, 2016. He described the alliance as a responsive organization, capable of adapting to changes in the international security landscape but committed to the continuity of its founding values. In particular, he emphasized the necessity of maintaining a policy of absolute solidarity among member states, especially in light of the exacerbating civil war in Syria and Russia's aggressive stance toward countries to the East of NATO member state borders.
Jon Chase
News - Harvard Gazette
What Russia wants
Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook
Read more about What Russia wants
Putin and his government seek respect, stability from next U.S. administration, panel says.
Announcement - Managing the Atom Project, Belfer Center
2016-2017 Harvard Nuclear Policy Fellowships
Josh Anderson
Read more about 2016-2017 Harvard Nuclear Policy Fellowships
The Project on Managing the Atom offers fellowships for pre-doctoral, post-doctoral, and mid-career researchers for one year, with a possibility for renewal, in the stimulating environment of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School. The online application for 2016-2017 fellowships opened December 15, 2015, and the application deadline is January 15, 2016. Recommendation letters are due by February 1, 2016.
Journal Article - Quarterly Journal: International Security
The Strategic Logic of Nuclear Proliferation
Nuno Monteiro
Alexandre Debs
| Fall 2014
Read more about The Strategic Logic of Nuclear Proliferation
When do states acquire nuclear weapons? History shows that only two types of states decide that the bomb is essential to their security: 1) very powerful states; and 2) weak states that lack ironclad security guarantees.
Analysis & Opinions - The National Interest
Could the Ukraine Crisis Spark a World War?
Graham Allison
| May 7, 2014
Read more about Could the Ukraine Crisis Spark a World War?
The thought that what we are now witnessing in Ukraine could trigger a cascade of actions and reactions that end in war will strike most readers as fanciful. Fortunately, it is, writes Graham Allison. But we should not forget that in May 1914, the possibility that the assassination of an Archduke could produce a world war seemed almost inconceivable. History teaches that unlikely, even unimaginable events do happen.
Responding to Russian Aggression in Ukraine and Restoring U.S. Credibility
Will Inboden
| March 3, 2014
Read more about Responding to Russian Aggression in Ukraine and Restoring U.S. Credibility
Russia is violating Ukrainian sovereignty and international law by sending troops to seize communications, transportation, and governmental hubs on the Crimean peninsula. Soldiers violating borders to seize territory in Europe is a grave matter, reminiscent of a darker past that Europe has tried to escape.
What has Barack Obama's administration done to respond?
Book - Routledge
Tactical Nuclear Weapons and Euro-Atlantic Security: The Future of NATO
Paolo Foradori
| July 5, 2013
Read more about Tactical Nuclear Weapons and Euro-Atlantic Security: The Future of NATO
Some 150–200 US tactical nuclear weapons are still scattered throughout the NATO countries of Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. Bringing together leading scholars and analysts of tactical nuclear weapons with country-specific expertise, MTA Associate Paolo Foradori's new book offers an in-depth analysis of the presence, role, perceived value, and destiny of tactical nuclear weapons in Europe. The volume provides perspectives from all main actors directly or indirectly involved in the debate over the future of these weapons.
Newsletter Article - Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School Quarterly Journal: International Security
Paul Doty's Legacy Lives on Through Influential Journal
James F. Smith
Read more about Paul Doty's Legacy Lives on Through Influential Journal
As soon as Paul Doty launched what is now Harvard's Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs in 1974, he began planning a scholarly journal on international security. He shrugged off colleagues' concerns that there would be little market for such a journal.Thirty-six years after the first issue appeared in the summer of 1976, the Belfer Center's quarterly International Security consistently ranks No. 1 or No. 2 out of over 70 international affairs journals surveyed by Thomson Reuters each year.
Analysis & Opinions - World Politics Review
Academic Stovepipes Undermine U.S. Security
Joan Johnson-Freese
Thomas M. Nichols
Read more about Academic Stovepipes Undermine U.S. Security
"Missile defense represents the most severe collision of space, nuclear weapons and politics. Accustomed to technological miracles, Americans assume that technical problems can always be fixed with enough money. Engineers are not asked if missile defense is a viable solution to the horrific threat of nuclear warheads carried on missiles, and political analysts do not care about the difficulties involved in developing hardware. In the end, this disconnect could produce a situation where a U.S. president is asked to rely on a system that technical experts cannot assure him will work but that political advisers insist must be brandished."
Analysis & Opinions - The Washington Post
Defense For a Real Threat
Trey Obering
Eric S. Edelman
Read more about Defense For a Real Threat
"The East-West Institute released a study in late May by U.S. and Russian "experts" on the Iranian missile threat that concluded the threat "is not imminent and that in any event the system currently proposed would not be effective against it." The next day, Defense Secretary Robert Gates says, Iran apparently tested a multistage, solid-propellant missile with a range of 1,200 to 1,500 miles, putting much of Europe within range."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


After a knee injury cut short Tony Taylor's first season with New York City FC in 2015, the 26-year-old forward has made an impact this year.
Taylor has started five games for NYCFC in 2016, including the season-opening victory over the Chicago Fire in which he scored his first MLS goal.
Taylor recently told amNewYork his thoughts on soccer and the city ahead of NYCFC's matchup against Real Salt Lake on Thursday night at Yankee Stadium.
How do you like riding the subway?
Subway is nice and easy to use, but I usually take the train and taxis.
What is a typical off-day like for you in the city?
Usually chill, go for lunch, dinner, or a coffee in the city with friends.
What does it mean to you to represent the city?
Very honored and grateful to represent NYC. City [is] full of life, passion and opportunity.
What is your favorite city restaurant?
What is your favorite off-the-pitch memory of the city?
Doing a city bus tour with my family.
What is your favorite New York team other than New York City FC?
How did you first start playing soccer?
Dad brought me up playing 1-v-1 with him as a kid. My first birthday present was a soccer ball.
Always remember who you are, don't let circumstances or other people's opinions determine your value.
Winning the Portuguese second division and being promoted to first division. Playing in 2009 U20 FIFA World Cup in Egypt.
If you could give advice to fellow soccer players, what would you say?
As pro athletes, so many people, especially kids, look up to us as role models. We have a responsibility to do our best to show others the right way to live. We have a great opportunity to use our gifts to help others.
What are some of your non-soccer hobbies?
Boxing, dancing salsa, playing Latin percussion and playing basketball.
Do you have any gameday rituals?
Prayer, mediation and prehab routine.
What music do you enjoy listening to on gamedays?
 Salsa, samba, hip-hop and Reggaeton.
What is something NYFC fans should know about you that they do not already?
 Just want to let the fans know I appreciate each and every one of them, and when I go to the games and see all the fans and kids coming to support us, I really want to win for them because of the great support they have given us. Our fans deserve the best.


From the ancient times to the present day, people around the globe have raised fundamental questions about life through the arts, literature and philosophy. The art helps students open their imaginations to fresh perspectives on the world. The Institute of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts at SVVV offers countless opportunities to explore the reach of human reason, creativity, and imagination.
Culture and literature facilitate students to expand their horizons and prepare them for an increasingly multicultural world. Both faculty and students explore the while going through wide range of subjects.
With the vibrant cultural milieu, the institute of Arts and Humanities disseminates knowledge through experiences, thoughts, expressions, and creativity to advance human welfare in all its dimensions. Through a defining commitment to vigorous intellectual debate in a diverse community and to the value of interdisciplinary approaches to major issues and ideas, the institute educates students to become global citizens who can think creatively about the future challenges.
The students at SVISSHA, in close collaboration with faculty, develop specialized knowledge in their chosen disciplines, rigorous critical thinking, and get in the habits of life-long learning and sensitivity to ethical and aesthetic issues. Their ability to understand and interpret the cultures of the world, make them pursue choose careers with distinction and become independent-minded, responsible citizens.


The photo of lord of the rings hd wallpapers 1366×768 are collect for you from the best photo sources.
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Mad Men's 5 Maddest Moments: Episode "The Good News"
Recap of Mad Men Episode "Good News"
17 September, 2010 by POPSUGAR Celebrity AU
Another Mad Men episode brings yet another holiday: it's New Year's Eve 1964, and Don Draper flies to Acapulco via a quick stop in LA to visit his ex-wife Anna. What happens there causes all-new drama, and let's just say, Don doesn't make it to his beach vacay. Things aren't rosy for Joan or Pryce either, but not everything is lost, because there is—as the episode promises—some "good news." To find out what it is, and for the rest of the big happenings of the night, read more.
Making babies: Joan goes to see her doctor about the possibility of getting pregnant—especially after she's been through a couple of "procedures". But is Joanie just using a baby to mend things with her husband Greg? Or because she's worried about him dying in Vietnam? Both seem likely, as she's obviously concerned about his new job with the Army. Later in the kitchen, she slices her finger open (not quite as gruesome as the lawn mower incident, but still bloody!) and starts bawling. Greg takes out his kit to fix the wound, assuring her that while he can't fix everything, he can heal her finger. It was a somewhat sweet moment in their otherwise messed-up relationship.
The big "C": When Don—or should I say Dick Whitman—drops in on Anna, she has a foot cast which she writes off as a cooking injury; but come to find out, Anna is dying from bone cancer. Anna herself doesn't actually know about her condition, and Don discovers the truth only when her niece Stephanie tells him (after he hit on Stephanie, of course). She pleads with Don not to tell, and he ultimately decides to keep his mouth shut. He boards a plane back to New York, giving Anna a long hug goodbye . . . possibly for good.
A case of crossed wires: After Pryce snaps at Joan for asking for a day off, he tries to make amends with some roses. Too bad Pryce's secretary accidentally swapped out the card intended for Joan with the one for his wife! Joan storms into his office after reading the note calling her "sweetheart", while his wife got the message meant for Joan. Apparently Pryce and his wife have an argument over the matter, and because she also doesn't want to come to New York, they split. Looks like the office has yet another divorcé.
Boys' night out: To wallow in their mutual depressive states (Don because of Anna's cancer, and Pryce because of his impending divorce), the two men get soused and go out on the town for New Year's. They start off with a showing of Godzilla, followed by a steak dinner and comedy club. It's an unlikely man date that's actually charming to watch, but like all Don holidays (at least lately), the night ends with prostitutes. Don calls up his same lady from Thanksgiving, and she brings a friend for Pryce, so the four return to the apartment for a "night cap." A call girl only costs $25?! It'll be interesting to watch how Don's influence affects the usually reserved Pryce.
Money in the bank: Well, everyone's lives may be in shambles, but there is a silver lining. After crunching numbers, Pryce alerts Don that the company didn't close out 1964 as terribly as previously thought. And with that, we kick off 1965.
What did you think of this week's episode? Is this the last we'll see of Anna? I hope not, because their relationship is one of Don's last redeeming qualities! Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Image Source: AMC
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by Amanda Prahl 1 week ago
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FYI, Some of the Cobra Kai Cast Members Are Actually Teenagers Themselves
by Corinne Sullivan 1 week ago
Bridgerton's Regé-Jean Page Prefers to Keep His Real Love Life Pretty Private
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Royally Obsessed With Netflix's Bridgerton? Here's What You Should Watch Next


There are ways to become a more efficient packer.
It's best to roll clothing to have more space in your suitcase.
Wearing heavier clothes instead of packing them will help prevent your overfilled suitcase.
Pack clothes that you can re-wear and use in different outfits.
Packing for a trip can be one of the most stressful parts of any vacation. Whether you're packing well in advance or choose to throw some things together the night before you leave, narrowing your items down to what you need instead of what you think you need can be hard to do. And in turn, can cause you to over-pack.
Although you may feel as if you know all of the space-saving methods when packing for vacation, the real test comes when you're ready to zip up your suitcase. If you're one that usually fails the test, here are 10 packing mistakes you should keep in mind when preparing for your next trip.
You aren't using the right method for packing your clothes.
Rolling your lighter items makes room in your suitcase.
If you aren't the person who usually does the packing for trips, folding your clothes and stacking them on top of each other may seem like the most efficient way to get everything into your suitcase. As someone who travels frequently, however, I've learned that rolling your clothes helps, too.
Choosing to roll your lighter items that won't easily wrinkle (like certain shirts, leggings, and shorts) or those that are of medium fabric weight - can help make room in your suitcase. For fabrics like silk and nylon, folding would be most efficient because they are easy to wrinkle. Heavier items like jeans can be folded or you can use both methods by folding halfway and then rolling tight.
You're packing heavy pieces instead of wearing them.
Your suitcase will be lighter if you wear your heavier items.
If you're flying, throwing on something quick and comfortable to wear to the airport is quite common. In order to get the most space out of your suitcase though, you may want to wear those heavier items on the plane instead of those comfy ones.
For example, if you're heading to a colder destination and stuffed a larger jacket and sweater in your suitcase, opt to wear them on the plane instead. The same can be said for wearing jeans instead of sweatpants on the plane. You'll spare yourself the frustration of having to unpack your luggage in line just for it to make the weight needed to fly.
You're not packing clothes that can be worn in multiple ways.
Pack two or three tops for every bottom.
Whether you're heading on a glamorous vacation or just going home for a holiday visit, a key thing to remember when packing is to pack clothes that have multiple uses. By packing less of the heavier items (jeans and pants) and doubling up on the lighter ones (t-shirts and tank tops), you've created more room in your suitcase and made it lighter to carry.
A good rule of thumb that I go by is to pack two or three tops to every bottom when traveling. That way I can save room and money without sacrificing my style.
You have no idea what bundle packing is.
Get on board with bundle packing.
If you're a person who wasn't aware that rolling your clothes is a way to decrease your packing woes, then bundle packing probably hasn't been on your radar either. The method, however, is great to use if you're packing a carry-on and will save you space while eliminating wrinkles.
You aren't using your shoes as holding spaces.
Use shoes as a packing tool.
Though shoes may sometimes garner their own separate bag when traveling, if you're doing your best to keep your luggage pieces down to a minimum, using them as extra holding spaces in the same luggage as your clothes helps with that.
Examples of that would be putting smaller items such as socks - which you can even have items in, too - jewelry, and compact-sized toiletries. By utilizing the insides of your shoes as holding spaces, you've created more room to add extras.
You're not using your bras as storage spaces either.
Bras can also be used as a packing tool.
Just like the insides of your shoes can be used as storage places, so can the cups of your bras. By rolling up a few pairs of socks and putting them in your cups, you'll be able to both save space (you can also put small items in the socks, too) and help keep the shape of your bras.
You're still packing bulky beauty items.
Even if you are driving or checking a bag, it's better to bring smaller containers.
If you're driving to your destination or checking your luggage for your flight, you may feel compelled to pack the full-size version of your most coveted beauty items. Typically though, it's those full-sized beauty items that take up precious space that you need for other things. Instead of packing a full bottle of lotion or a large jar of cleanser, purchase smaller bottles to pour them in and pack those. You can also purchase the travel size version or see if the store you originally purchased from offers sample sizes for you to take along.
You don't have an itinerary to go by.
Knowing what the plan is will make it easier to pack.
Creating an itinerary for your trip may sound boring to someone who just takes things one step at a time, but doing so can actually benefit you in more ways than one. Aside from the fact that it will help you stay on schedule while enjoying your destination, it can also help you plan out the clothes that you need for each day.
You're packing things you "think" you may need.
Make sure you're going to need everything you pack.
Although an itinerary will help you plan out the types of outfits you'll need each day of your trip, what makes the cut to be thrown in the suitcase is ultimately up to you. That's why you have to be sure to narrow down the things that you're packing to what you'll actually need or use.
If you have to force a situation where you may need a specific item or article of clothing, it may be best to leave it home so that you're not over packing.
You're not packing the right way.
There is actually a right way to pack your luggage.
You may not know it, but there actually is a correct way to pack your luggage. The process, which you may somewhat already be doing, starts with a layer of shoes stuffed with socks and undergarments at the bottom the bag. Up next are your heavier rolled items like jeans and sweaters. Then, if you have them, fragile items are put in and are followed by the lighter rolled items like t-shirts, skirts, and more. Next, place your folded items, which included your suits or easily wrinkled clothes in a dry cleaner bag. And lastly, finish the operation by adding your toiletry bag on top.
*Pro packing tip: If you're bringing any belts, line the edges of your suitcase with them. And if you're looking for a way to preserve the shape of your big hats, place undergarments in the crown of the hat and lay it at the bottom of your luggage like your shoes. Be sure to pack around it.


The new Vertex Cerebra aquarium controller allows you to monitor and control your aquarium with ease from it's 5.5" touch screen display. You can finally say goodbye to programing/coding language. The Vertex Cerebra is an Android based platform which allows you to control lighting, dosing, pumps and much more. The Cerebra Prima package includes the touch screen controller, a 6 outlet power-bar and an LED status temperature probe and is expandable with its many accessories and options.
Vertex decided early in the concept and development phase to make the platform cloud-based using the Android OS. The open source platform allows for greater control and creativity. Android OS allows full customization without having to learn time-consuming coding. Users will be able to browse and use the internet directly from the TSD and also store their data online.
The 5.5" full color display has a built in touch screen display (TSD) which allows the user to move between menus via your internet browser. The home page display is fully customizable for individual display preferences. While viewing the TSD, you can easily view parameters such as pH, Temp, sensor status as well as other important data. Changes can be easily made directly from the controllers browser with the touch of a finger through the Head Unit or through a computer, table or phone.
The Multi-Bar comes with 6 controllable outlets which are controlled by relays. Each outlet is individually controlled by HALL sensors with LED Status indicators. The indicators provide an extra level of peace of mind by allowing the user to know the status of each outlet. Each Multi-Bar includes limitless expansion for probes and expansion ports without the need for interface modules.
The Vertex Smart-Temp probe was designed from the ground up using high quality materials to create a superior product. As mentioned above, the Smart-Temp probe features built-in LED status indicators keeping the user informed at all times of any changes in temperature status. The probe flashes red when the temperature is out of range and it remains solid green when the temperature is within its normal range setting.
For a limited time Vertex is offering it's Prima Controller at the special introductory price of $699.99 $374.99, a $325.00 savings off of the regular price. For more information on the Vertex Cerebra you can visit the Vertex Facebook page.