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This is how a ship's crew eats during combat
That time Egypt pulled a perfect 'MacGyver' move to defend its ships from air attack
When Egypt bought the two Mistral-class amphibious assault ships that France declined to sell to Russia, one thing that didn't come with those vessels was the armament.
According to the "16th Edition of Combat Fleets of the World," Russia had planned to install a mix of SA-N-8 missiles and AK-630 Gatling guns on the vessels if France has sold them to the Kremlin. But no such luck for Egypt, which had two valuable vessels that were unarmed – or, in the vernacular, sitting ducks.
The Mistral-class amphibious assault ship Anwar el-Sadat, prior to being handed over to the Egyptian navy. (Photo from Wikimedia Commons)
And then, all of a sudden, they weren't unarmed anymore. A video released by the Egyptian Ministry of Defense celebrating the Cleopatra 2017 exercise with the French navy shows that the Egyptians have channeled MacGyver — the famed improviser most famously played by Richard Dean Anderson — to fix the problem.
A helicopter comes in for a landing on an Egyptian Mistral-class amphibious assault ship. An AN.TWQ-1 Avenger is secured to the fight deck in the background. (Youtube screenshot)
Scenes from the video show at least two AN/TWQ-1 Avenger air-defense vehicles — better known as the M1097 — tied down securely on the deck of one of the vessels, which have been named after Egyptian leaders Gamel Abdel Nasser and Anwar Sadat. The Humvee-based vehicles carry up to eight FIM-92 Stinger anti-air missiles and also have a M3P .50-caliber machine gun capable of firing up to 1200 rounds a minute.
An Avenger missile system is capable of firing eight Stinger missiles at low-flying enemy airplanes and helicopters. (Photo: US Army Sgt. Anthony Hewitt)
The Mistral-class ships in service with the French navy are typically equipped with the Simbad point-defense system. Ironically, the missile used in the Simbad is a man-portable SAM also called Mistral. The vessels displace 16,800 tons, have a top speed of 18.8 knots and can hold up to 16 helicopters and 900 troops.
The Simbad missile system that fires the Mistral man-portable SAM. (Wikimedia Commons)
You can see the Egyptian Ministry of Defense video below, showing the tied-down Avengers serving as air-defense assets for the Egyptian navy's Mistrals.
The 4 weirdest ammunitions ever used
Humans have a long history of being creative with their weapons. Necessity is the mother of invention, and there's no necessity greater than not dying because you can't shoot back. As a result, humans have come up with more than their share of surprising weapon systems – with varying degrees of success.
Tround
The tround, short for triangular round, was designed by David Dardick in the mid-1950s for use in his open-chamber line of weapons. It may sound strange, but the open cylinder allowed rounds to be fed into the weapon via the side as opposed to the front or rear. But the real draw was that triangular rounds would allow a weapon's user to carry fifty percent more ammunition in a case.
Trounds also allowed for different cartridges to be used in place of the tround ammo, where the triangular casings were used as chamber adapters.
Rocket-propelled ammunition
The gyrojet weapon was developed by an engineer who worked at Los Alamos who was trying to scale down the bazooka concept to create an antitank weapon that was also compact. The gyrojet was a rocket launcher shaped like a gun firing ammunition that actually accelerated as it got further from the weapon.
It had no recoil, could be fired underwater, and could penetrate armor at 100 yards. The only problem was that its accuracy was so terrible that hitting anything at 100 yards was problematic.
Puckle rounds
The Puckle Gun was an early development in the history of automatic weapons. It was a single-barreled flintlock weapon that was designed to keep boarders from getting onto another ship. The weapon was never actually used in combat, but it featured two rounds of ammunition; circular rounds for fighting Christians and square bullets for shooting Muslims, because square bullets apparently cause more damage. According to the patent, its purpose was to "convince the Turks of the benefits of Christian civilization."
Lazy Dog missiles
What you see is what you get with the lazy dog ammo. There's no cartridge, no propellant, no explosive – just a solid piece of metal attached to fins. They were dropped from high altitudes en masse and by the time they reached the ground were able to penetrate light armor.
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This stunning video shows how well 100-year-old ammo works today
The legendary M1911 pistol has been around a long time. In fact, millions were produced since the gun was adopted by the US military in 1911.
The gun remains in service today with the Marines as the M45 MEU(SOC) pistol. Well, guess what else got produced in prodigious quantities? If you said the ammo, you're right.
The M1911s have proven reliable over the years. In fact, many of the original MEU(SOC) pistols were rebuilt on frames dating from 1945! But how does the ammo stack up to the pistol in terms of longevity?
A U.S. Marine with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit's maritime raid force fires an M1911 .45-caliber pistol at a range in Jordan June 9, 2013, during Eager Lion 2013. Eager Lion is a U.S. Central Command-directed exercise designed to strengthen military-to-military relationships between the U.S. and Jordan.
Between the M1911, the Tommy gun, and the M3 grease gun in World War II, lots of ammo was needed. But even in World War I — when you not only had the M1911, but the M1917 revolver — they needed millions upon millions of rounds of ammo. And that didn't even include the civilian market in the United States.
The standard round fired for the M1911 is a 230-grain full-metal jacket round — also known as "ball" ammo. It usually has a muzzle velocity in the range of 830 feet per second, according to MilitaryFactory.com.
This box of .45 ACP ammo was manufactured by Remington in 1918, when the M1911 was seven years old. (Youtube screenshot)
The thing is, while the gun can last a long time, so can the ammo. In 2016, explosive ordnance disposal technicians had to handle cannonballs from the Civil War that were unearthed by Hurricane Matthew.
The previous year, Army EOD had to detonate a Civil War artillery round in Washington State. Souvenirs from battlefields have also caused EOD to respond, as did some folks who thought they were being helpful.
An opened box of .45 ACP ammo made by Remington in 1918. (Youtube screenshot)
But what about this pistol ammo's ability to function? The video below from 2014 involves a test from two boxes of .45 ACP ammo manufactured by Remington in 1918. So, how well did the 96-year-old ammo do? Watch and find out.
The 12 most iconic military recruiting spots of all time
Military recruiters have to convince normal people that their best option for the future is signing a multi-year contract for a job with workplace hazards like bombs, bullets, and artillery. And since many people aren't eligible to serve, the service branches need a lot of people coming into recruiting offices.
To make recruiters' jobs a little easier, each branch has an advertising budget. Here are some of the most iconic commercials from that effort.
1. "The Climb" (2001)
With arguably the best uniforms, awesome traditions, and swords, it's no surprise that some of the best commercials come out of the Marine Corps. "The Climb" reminded prospective recruits that yes, becoming a Marine will be hard, but it's worth it.
2. "Rite of Passage" (1998)
Some commercials stop making sense after the era they were written in. The idea of climbing into a coliseum to fight a bad-CGI lava monster may seem like an odd advertising angle now, but it was rumored to be pretty effective at the time.
3. "America's Marines" (2008)
Some videos target adventure nuts, while some go after aspiring professionals. This one targeted people who wanted to be part of a long-standing tradition. It also reminded people that Marines get to wear some awesome uniforms.
4. "Army Strong" (2006)
"Army Strong" was an inspiring series of advertisements, though it opened the Army to a lot of jokes ("I wanted to be a Marine, but I was only Army Strong").
5. "Army of One" (2001)
"Legions" was part of the "Army of One" campaign. Though "Army of One" brought recruits into the Army during the early years of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, it never quite made sense to professional soldiers. In the Army, soldiers are schooled daily in the importance of teamwork and selfless service. During basic, they're even required to be with another recruit at all times, so what is an "Army of One"?
6. "Be All That You Can Be" (1982)
The slogan "Be all that you can be," sometimes written as, "Be all you can be," was one of the Army's longest-running slogans and most iconic campaigns. The jingle is as dated as the video technology in the video, but some soldiers went from their enlistment to their retirement in the Army under this slogan.
7. "Footprints" (2006)
One of the Navy's best ads focused on some of the world's best warriors. "Footprints" manages to highlight how awesome Navy SEALs are without showing a single person or piece of equipment.
8. "A Global Force for Good" (2009)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3wtUCPWmeI
Though popular with recruits, the slogan for this recruiting drive ended up being unpopular with the Navy itself. Much like the Army with its "Army of One" slogan, the Navy dropped "Global Force for Good" after only a few years.
9. "Accelerate Your Life" (early 2000s)
"Accelerate Your Life" commercials were always full of sexy imagery. From fighter jets, helicopters, fast boats, automatic weapons, and camouflage, just about everything was tossed in. Like the commercial Air Force campaign "We have been waiting for you" below, dating the commercial to an exact year is tough, but the campaign began in 2001.
10. "Air Force: I Knew One Day" (2014)
"I Knew One Day" is an odd title for this commercial, but it's not bad as a whole. It puts a face on the airmen who crew the AC-130, perform surgeries, or pilot Ospreys, and it tells recent high school and college graduates that they can become the next face of these jobs as well.
11. "We Have Been Waiting For You" (early 2000s)
With the tagline "We have been waiting for you," the Air Force aimed to bring in recruits for all the jobs in the Air Force that weren't about flying. Since two of the ads they released starred pilots, it seems like they weren't trying that hard. While it's hard to pin down the exact year this commercial was released, the "We've been waiting for you," line began showing up in 2001.
12. "Science Fiction" (2011)
The Air Force is proud of its technological advantages on the battlefield, and it made a series of commercials comparing themselves to science fiction. The commercials were critiqued for including a lot of things Air Force technology couldn't do, but they did highlight actual missions the Air Force does using technology similar to, though not as advanced as, what is featured in the commercial.
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Israel retaliates after 150 rockets are fired from Gaza strip
Palestinian militants on the Gaza Strip launched at least 150 rockets at Israel overnight, and Israel retaliated by pounding the region with deadly airstrikes.
The Israel Defense Forces said mounting violence began Aug. 8 after militants shot at an IDF vehicle in the Gaza Strip. In response, Israel responded with tank fire.
In the hours following the exchange, sirens sounded across southern Israel in communities that surround the Gaza Strip, including Sderot. Israel deployed its Iron Dome system and intercepted 25 launches, though several civilians were injured by shrapnel.
Israel's rescue service Magen David Adom said three Israelis, including two men ages 34 and 20, were taken to a hospital for treatment.
In another round of escalation, Israel responded to rocket fire by striking what it said were Hamas militant targets in Gaza. By early Aug. 9, the IDF said it struck more than 140 targets.
A 30-year-old Hamas affiliate was killed in the strikes, the Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qedra said. A 23-year-old pregnant woman and her 18-month old child were also killed in the strikes, according to the ministry. At least eight other civilians in Gaza were also injured, the ministry said.
The IDF said it fired at a vehicle used to launch rockets at Israeli territory.
Israel and militants in Gaza have exchanged frequent fire in recent months. In May, more than 100 rockets were launched from Gaza in the worst escalation since 2014, when Israeli troops invaded Gaza.
Following May's rocket attacks, Israel and Gaza reached an uneasy cease-fire mediated by Egypt, though rocket launches and airstrike retaliation has continued.
Both sides have said they are working toward a cease-fire agreement, though continued rocket fire may dampen efforts. As of Aug. 9, sirens continued to sound in Israeli border communities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled a trip to Colombia to meet with security officials for cease-fire negotiations. Israel, however, appears to be learning more toward a quid pro quo agreement with Hamas instead of a comprehensive cease-fire, as past resolutions have often crumbled.
According to Haaretz, an Israeli official source said last week that cease-fire talks would not succeed unless the bodies of slain Israeli soldiers and two Israeli civilians being held captive in Gaza were returned.
A Hamas official told the Turkish news agency Anadolu on Aug. 7 that the two sides were expected to sign an agreement by late August that would reportedly lift restrictions on the entry of goods into the Gaza Strip in exchange for a five-year cease-fire and the return of the Israeli captives.
Israel's defense chief said last month that Gaza's only commercial border crossing, Keren Shalom, would reopen if calm persisted. The border had been closed in response to damage caused by incendiary balloons launched into Israeli territory.
The Hamas deputy chief Khalil Al-Hayya told Al Jazeera TV on Aug. 8 that talks mediated by the UN and Egypt to bring calm to the region were in "advanced stages." according to Reuters.
"We can say that actions led by the United Nations and Egypt are in advanced stages and we hope it could yield some good from them," he said. "What is required is for calm to be restored along the border between us and the Zionist enemy."
Neither the UN nor Egypt has publicly discussed its plans for a renewed Gaza cease-fire, but they said it would bring economic relief to Gaza's 2 million residents experiencing shortages under crippling blockades.
Jason Greenblatt, a US envoy who has been involved in peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, pointed a finger squarely at Hamas for the escalation of violence.
The Islamic militant group Hamas has controlled the Gaza Strip since Israel disengaged from the region in 2005. Since then, the group has fought three wars with Israel, most recently in 2014, resulting in deaths and injuries of thousands of civilians and leaving much of Gaza is ruin.
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Why this gun was the premier anti-aircraft gun of all time
How does one define the best anti-aircraft gun of all time? The specs on paper do not tell the whole story. That is because there are always tradeoffs to be made in this, or any field of military weapons. High performance comes with costs – not just financial, but in terms of weight, complexity, maintenance needs, and proper training of the operators – to name just a few of the things that have to be balanced.
When a system gets it right, it becomes a classic. For anti-aircraft guns, the standard is arguably the 40mm Bofors. It packed a punch – about two and a half ounces of high explosives as used by the United States. But this wasn't an American-designed weapon. Bofors is actually a Swedish company, and Sweden was neutral in World War II. The gun is still produced today, and is still seeing action.
What did that mean? Well, this gun was bought by the United Kingdom before the war, and in 1940, the United States began to build it (the Army having tested a version in 1937, according to NavWeaps.com). And they weren't the only users. Hungary, a German ally, built some for the Nazis, who also captured a large number of these guns in the early years of World War II. Japan also built some, copied from captured British mounts.
The typical U.S. Navy mount for the Bofors 40mm was a quad mount, which accounted for many an Axis plane.
(U.S. Navy photo)
The Bofors 40mm saw action from land and sea mounts. The land versions were usually single mounts, but twin mounts were also used in vehicles like the M42 Duster and the failed M247 Sergeant York. On sea, the primary mount – and most effective version – was the quad 40mm mount, but twin and single mounts were also used.
The Bofors gun's shells packed about two and a half ounces of high explosives. And this gun could send as many as 120 rounds a minute at an enemy plane.
(U.S. Army photo)
The Bofors had a maximum range of 11,133 yards and could hit targets just over 22,000 feet high. It could fire as many as two rounds a second, but given the need to manually reload with five-round clips, it was more likely to fire about 90 rounds a minute tops.
The M42 Duster was built around a twin Bofors 40mm gun.
The Bofors 40mm was barely enough to handle the kamikazes that the United States was facing in 1945, but the end of World War II meant its replacement by a new three-inch gun was only a partial one. The mounts hung around through parts of the 1980s with the United States Navy.
This 'Duster' cleaned up in the air and on the ground
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Do this if you only have 10 minutes to train
Michael Gregory
Shit has hit the fan at work (or maybe literally if you're home caring for a baby) and there's no way you're getting away to the gym for your planned hour-long workout.
So what do you do? Throw in the towel? Hope you have better luck tomorrow? Give up and start buying ponchos as your exclusive item of clothing to hide your body?
No, damnit!
You know that consistency is the most important part of training.
You have to get something in for consistency's sake.
Break away for 10 minutes and bang this workout out.
If you just want to get to training, scroll down to the bottom of the article, or get the .pdf in my free resources vault here.
Whenever humans are involved 'The Fog' is included, whether that be war or the office.
(U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Teagan Fredericks)
Why you shouldn't throw in the towel
The inclination to throw in the towel for the day is most likely strong. You're probably still in the thick of whatever disaster has rolled into the office. Getting up and walking out seems like the most irresponsible thing you can do. I know two facts that point to the opposite, though.
It's hard to see a solution from the thick of a fog:
If things have truly gone crazy, or if they are always going crazy for that matter, you're missing something. A 10-minute workout is just the thing you need to get some perspective and finally solve your issue.
If no one's going to die, it's not that important:
This is a lesson I'm grateful I've learned second hand. I had a roommate during one of my many military schools who is a Silver Star recipient from the events that took place near a dam in Iraq in the mid-2000s. He watched a lot of friends die. Since that day, he decided that he would only stress out if someone could potentially die. I lived with him for six months and got stressed out by a lot of things, but he was always in my ear, reminding me that we were training, and no one was going to die.
There are very few things in life that cannot wait 10-15 minutes. If you are a professional at your job, you see everything coming a mile away.
If you even have one iota that the above two things don't apply to your situation I implore you to ask yourself these two questions:
Am I in the fog?
Will someone die?
(If you answer "yes" and "no" to those questions respectively, it's time to go get this workout in.)
Put 110% into that 10 minutes and it'll pay off.
(U.S. Marine photo by Lance Cpl. Phuchung Nguyen)
How can you possibly get a quality workout in 10 minutes?
As with everything, it depends on your goal.
If you're focused on burning fat, a strong argument can be made that you only need to train for 10 minutes a day… if you do it right.
If you're focused on getting stronger or gaining muscle, more time would be helpful. But, if you're 80% compliant with your training plan, a day off here or there won't affect things much, if at all.
The main reason to get this short session in is to maintain consistency.
You know what happens when you miss one session? Eventually, you miss another. Then you're only training once a week. Before you know it, it's been six months since you've trained, you feel terrible, and your pants are tight (time to buy that poncho).
This 10-minute session guarantees that doesn't happen to you.
How to work out in 10 minutes
Here it is (click here to get the .pdf in my resources vault):
6 minutes :20 on/ :10 off exercise of choice
4-minute burpee burnout
Walk it off
Here are some exercise recommendations based on what your full session was supposed to be
Chest and arms: Push-ups
Shoulders: Weighted lateral circles
Core: Russian twists
Full body: RKC plank
Back: Pull-ups or Horizontal pulls
Squat session: Bodyweight squats
Deadlift session: Elevated glute bridges
I'm going to be 100% transparent here. If you're going from not working out at all to doing this workout 3-4 times a week, you will see some significant changes in your body and energy. A lot of times, people like to make fitness seem super complicated. In general, it isn't. Especially if you're just getting started out.
If your goals are more advanced or nuanced, this quick session will obviously not be enough to continue growth. It will be enough to ensure compliance and prevent any loses you've already achieved.
Email me, seriously do it.
Send me any questions, comments, or concerns you have about your specific training program at michael@composurefitness.com. If you just want a nicely packaged copy of the 10-minute workout, grab it here!
Don't forget to drop a comment in the comments section of this article's Facebook post to let others know what to expect. There's usually 68 dumb comments by people who didn't actually read the article. Pipe up and let others know there's high-quality info in here!
I'm also making a push to keep the conversation going over at the Mighty Fit Facebook Group. If you haven't yet joined the group, do so. It's where I spend the most time answering questions and helping people get the most out of their training.
Gain (or regain) warrior-status in just 8 weeks with this fitness plan
About Michael Gregory | Founder of Composure Fitness
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Army declares war on head injuries with motorcycle-style ballistic helmet
Three years from now, soldiers could be wearing a new ballistic head protection that resembles a motorcycle helmet as part of the Soldier Protection System under development at Program Executive Office Soldier.
The Integrated Head Protection System features a base helmet with add-ons such as a visor, a "mandible" portion that protects the lower jaw, and a "ballistic applique" that is much like a protective layer that attaches over the base helmet.
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The base helmet on the IHPS will be similar to the polyethylene Enhanced Combat Helmet that some soldiers are already wearing. Eventually all deploying soldiers will get the IHPS with the base helmet, which is the standard configuration. Other soldiers, vehicle gunners in particular, will also get the mandible portion and the ballistic applique as well, known as the turret configuration, Lt. Col. Kathy Brown, the product manager for Personal Protective Equipment at PEO Soldier, in an Army press release.
The Integrated Head Protection System is part of the Soldier Protection System. | US Army photo
The visor portion on the IHPS provides ballistic protection to a soldier's face but doesn't provide any protection against the sun. So soldiers wearing it will need to wear darkened sunglasses underneath the visor if they are in bright environments.
PEO Soldier has authorized soldiers to wear a special type of sunglasses the can transition from clear to shaded lens with a press of a button.
Brown said the goggles will be available for units to be able to requisition as part of the Soldier Protection System.
"If we are able to drive the price down, the Army could eventually make a decision to include that on the list of items that we carry for deploying soldiers," Brown said.
Brown said the IHPS will likely be available to deploying Soldiers sometime between 2020 and 2021.
The US Navy humble-brags it has 7 carriers at sea
The US Navy bragged on social media Tuesday morning that it currently has seven aircraft carriers underway, a major improvement over the situation in late October, when half the carrier fleet was in a non-deployable state.
"The Navy has 7 aircraft carriers underway today. NBD," the Navy Chief of Information (CHINFO) tweeted Tuesday in a humble-brag; "NBD" is an acronym for "no big deal."
Less than two months ago, the Navy had that many carriers stuck pier-side due to maintenance issues, preparation for mid-life overhauls, unexpected malfunctions, and new construction challenges.
On the East Coast, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) was winding up to a deployment after an extended maintenance availability.
The USS George Washington (CVN-73) was in the yard for its Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) with the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) pier-side, apparently in preparation for its mid-life overhaul.
The USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) was in extended maintenance. The USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) was down for an electrical malfunction.
The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) was in an extended post-shakedown availability.
Aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford.
(U.S. Navy photo by Erik Hildebrandt)
And, on the West Coast, the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) was in maintenance, leaving only handful of the 11 carriers readily available.
Even with less than half of its carriers available, the Navy still had ready an unmatched carrier force, but the problem is that with that many ships in the yard, it makes it harder to meet the demand for carriers, important tools for the projection of American military power.
"I have a demand for carriers right now that I can't fulfill. The combatant commanders want carriers," Richard Spencer, the former Secretary of the Navy, said at that time.
Right now, the Truman is underway in the 6th Fleet area of operations while the Stennis, Ike, and Ford are all underway in the Atlantic. The USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) are underway in the 3rd Fleet AOR, and the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) remains in the 5th Fleet AOR, the Navy told Insider.
The USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is forward-deployed in Japan, but it is currently in port.
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The Navy wants to know who secretly uploaded videos of sailors to Porn Hub
The US Navy is trying to find out who secretly filmed dozens of service members in a bathroom and shared the videos on the porn website Porn Hub, US military officials told NBC news.
An agent from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service found the videos on Porn Hub earlier this month. Some of the videos showed sailors and marines in uniform with visible name patches, NBC reported. The individuals didn't know they were being recorded and officials were not aware of any sexual acts in the videos.
"We received a removal request from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service to remove the material in question and we did. We are currently working alongside them to assist them with their investigation,"Blake White, Vice President of Pornhub, said in a statement to Insider and other outlets. "Here at Pornhub, we immediately remove any content that violates our terms of use as soon as we are made aware of it."
The clips, which have since been removed, also included civilians.
The officials believe the videos were taken through a peephole in a bathroom, according to NBC.Some of the individuals in the videos were assigned to the USS Emory S. Land, a vessel that supplies submarines and is assigned to a port in Guam, the officials told NBC.
A message left by Insider for a Navy spokesperson was not immediately returned.
In the statement, White said that PornHub employs a team to scan for and remove content that violates their terms of service.
The company also uses "Vobile, a state of the art third party fingerpringing software," to make sure new uploads don't match videos that have already been removed from the site, White said.
This isn't the first time that US service members have been targeted by voyeurs looking to share nude photos of them online.
In a 2017 scandal, the US Marine Corp. opened an investigation after hundreds of nude photos of female service members from every military branch had been posted to an image-sharing message board.
The discovery of the photos and investigation resulted in a change in US Marine and Navy laws banning revenge porn.
Violators who are found to have shared an "intimate image" of a colleague without their consent can face consequences ranging from administrative punishments to criminal actions.
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Why the US just moved the remains of fallen WWII soldiers
When American servicemen fall and are buried, it's generally assumed that their resting place will be their last. Whether it's a troop who was killed in World War I and buried in an American cemetery in France or a hero brought to rest at Arlington National Cemetery, the honored dead are not to be disturbed. However, some of these fallen heroes, whose identities were once unknown, are being disinterred.
One such ceremony took place in mid-July, 2018, at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific near Honolulu, Hawaii. This cemetery, also known as the Punchbowl, is where thousands of servicemen who fell during operations in the Pacific Theater of World War II and the Korean War have been buried (some prominent civilians and non-KIAs are also buried there).
The reason for disturbing this rest is a damn good one, though.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency believes it may be able to identify some of those fallen personnel and finally provide closure for their families. This has been done several times before, and a number of fallen personnel have been identified over the years as a result.
U.S. service members with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) conduct a disinterment ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Devone Collins)
Perhaps the most high-profile disinterment for the purpose of identifying a fallen serviceman was of the Unknown Soldier of the Vietnam War, who had been interred at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in 1984. In 1998, evidence pointing to the identity of that soldier resulted in the decision to disturb the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to conduct DNA testing.
In 1998, the Department of Defense disinterred the Unknown Soldier of the Vietnam War to conduct DNA tests to determine his identity,
The tests eventually led to identifying the remains asthose of Air Force First Lieutenant Michael Blassie, killed in action when his A-37 Dragonfly was shot down. Blassie's remains were turned over to his family and he was buried in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. You can see the July 2018 disinterment at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in the video below.
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Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA)
Two US veterans traveled to Syria to fight against ISIS — here's what it was like
Photo: Youtube.com
As the battle against ISIS continues to rage, the various Kurdish militia groups have proven to be the most effective ground force at stemming the militant tide.
Seeking to turn back the jihadists, a small but growing number of US veterans have traveled to Iraq and Syria to join the fight, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Two US veterans that the WSJ identified who fought in Syria and returned are former Army Ranger Bruce Windorski and Marine combat veteran Jamie Lane.
Although Windorski, 40, and Lane, 29, had different reasons for joining the fight against ISIS, they followed a similar route to the front lines.
Both veterans flew into Sulaymaniyah, Iraq via Turkey. Once in Sulaymaniyah, the two veterans met with members of the Kurdish YPG which drove them through Iraqi Kurdistan to a Kurdish military training camp in northern Syria. The YPG, more than any other Kurdish faction, has successfully managed to court foreign fighters for their operations against ISIS.
"The quickest route to the front lines is the YPG, which has drivers in Iraq ready to pick up Westerners," the WSJ notes.
Photo: flickr/free kurdistan
"Its Lions of Rojava Facebook page, named after a Kurdish region the fighters are trying to claim, appeals: 'Welcome to our Family Brothers and Sisters. Join YPG…and send ISIS terrorists to Hell and save Humanity.'"
After a brief stint in a military training camp, the YPG proceeded to move Lane and Windorski — along with other foreign fighters from Greece, England, Australia, and France — to the front lines. Before combat, the YPG allowed the fighters to choose their own weapons and ammunition. Although, the WSJ noted that there was a lack of body armor available to any fighters in the organization.
This general makeshift approach to supplies among the YPG was also apparent in the structure of the YPG forces itself. US citizens can fight alongside the YPG as the US government has not designated it terrorist or enemy organization. However, the YPG's sister organization, the PKK, is a designated terrorist organization and US citizens who fight alongside the PKK can have legal action brought against them upon return to the US.
This legal distinction by the US of the two organizations poses challenges for US citizens fighting in Syria against ISIS.
"There often seemed little to distinguish the 'terrorist' PKK and America's YPG friends, Westerners who fought alongside the Kurds say," the WSJ notes. "PKK militants would become YPG fighters by changing fatigues."
Ultimately, after arming and training, Windorski and Lane engaged in a night long battle against ISIS. The two barely survived the encounter and both soon after returned to the US. Although the two took part in the same battle, they differed on their ultimate beliefs about whether US citizens should take it upon themselves to fight ISIS alongside the Kurds.
Whereas Windorsky would encourage willing individuals to join the Kurds, Lane said he would tell others not to go.
"It's not what you're thinking," Lane told the WSJ. "You're not going to fight ISIS. You're fighting for the revolution of Rojava."
Lane's assessment matches a bitter truth about the YPG on the ground. Although the Kurds have been on a roll pushing back ISIS across swathes of northern Syria, the group has also been accused of seizing non-Kurdish land in an attempt to alter the demography of the area to better suite a future Kurdish state.
Such actions, which the YPG deny, would ultimately only help prolong conflict in the area and could feed into ISIS recruiting strategies.
This graphic shows where Europe's refugees are from and where they are going
Here's how Kurdish guerrilla forces are using dirty tricks against ISIS
Watch this compilation of insane stunts from the Blue Angels
An unsettling picture of a US physicist cheerfully holding the 'Fat Man' atomic bomb's core
These Chinese Military Advancements Are Shifting The Balance Of Power In Asia
This article originally appeared at Business Insider Defense. Copyright 2015. Follow BI Defense on Twitter.
How Many Ships Does The US Navy Really Need?
Photo Credit: DoD
How many ships does the U.S. Navy need to accomplish its goals? Tough to say. Sometimes it feels as though all I do is count ships and airplanes for a living. You'd think there would be no simpler chore than toting up rival navies' strength and calculating who wins and who loses in sea combat. After all, it's elementary-school arithmetic. But you would be wrong. Estimating relative naval strength is harder than tallying up numbers of hulls, airframes, and munitions.
And it's harder by an order of magnitude.
That's because high-seas competition is not a game of Battleship, an enterprise governed by rules and artificial constraints. Unlike the board game, sea combat doesn't pit fleets of identical size and firepower against each other on a featureless oceanic battleground with fixed boundaries. Seldom are commanders intimately familiar with an adversary's order of battle. No one exchanges fire in orderly fashion. Each side tries to pile up comparative advantages in numbers, capability, land-based fire support, and tactical excellence—biasing the outcome in its favor.
Few victors fight fair.
The multifaceted, ambiguous, impassioned nature of maritime war explains why experts still bicker about controversies such as how strong the Soviet Navy was. If the science isn't settled about how an erstwhile foe matched up—if we can't predict how some past conflict would have turned out, even after the facts are in—how likely are we to gauge future opponents' strength accurately? How likely are we to calibrate our naval strength precisely, buying just enough forces and manpower to overcome foes without wasting taxpayer dollars?
Not very. And the consequences of discovering a shortfall could be dire. Better to field surplus capability rather than run a deficit that's exposed only amid the din of battle—too late, in other words.
That rule—err on the side of excess naval power—applies in peacetime and wartime alike. Let's look at peacetime nautical diplomacy first. Deterrence is the peacetime U.S. Navy's chief purpose. After the navy faces down aggression, it does the wonderful things navies can do with freedom of the sea. Showing the flag in foreign seaports, alleviating human misery following natural disasters or other emergencies, scouring the sea of unlawful trafficking—such worthwhile endeavors depend on free use of the global commons.
Deterrence demands physical might, to be sure, but it's about more than tabulating numbers of ships and warplanes. It's about issuing threats and flourishing the wherewithal to follow through on them. Henry Kissinger defines deterrence as amassing heavyweight capabilities, displaying the resolve to use them, and convincing an opponent we have the resolve to use those capabilities should he defy our will. That's a product, not a sum: if any factor is zero, so is deterrence.
It behooves naval officials and officers intent on deterrence to drive up those three variables—capability, will, belief—as high as possible. To impress rivals with one's material prowess, heed a proverb from strategist Carl von Clausewitz: "The best strategy is always to be very strong; first in general, and then at the decisive point." Sounds a bit like buy low, sell high, right? It's common sense. Want to win a test of strength? Hie thee hence to Gold's Gym and make yourself musclebound!
But like all good proverbs, this one's at once simple and profound. Creating strong forces—making the nation's military "very strong," to repeat Clausewitz's words—is the province of society and government. Lawmakers and government officials decide what kind of navy toprovide and maintain, and how abundantly to furnish it with manpower, equipment, and armaments. Once a fleet is fitted out, mustering sufficient might at the decisive place and time to stare down or vanquish adversaries becomes the province of sea-service commanders.
Deterrence, then, demands both forces in being and the artistry to harness them for operational and strategic effect. In a sense this is what Clausewitz calls a "war by algebra," a passionless struggle whereby the correlation of forces determines the result. It's war by the numbers. Whoever boasts the most and most potent implements of war tends to prevail—chiefly by persuading the opponent and bystanders the outcome would be a foregone conclusion were battle joined.
Or as strategist Edward Luttwak puts it, the victor in peacetime encounters is whoever observers think would have won in wartime. How can Washington convince onlookers it would win? Well, it could field a U.S. Navy of unchallengeable size and capability. A big, capable navy can deter even if the bulk of the fleet is dispersed, remote from hotspots, or both. The United States, that is, can discourage mischief if would-be aggressors know U.S. commanders can bring overbearing combat power to bear.
Virtual deterrence comes with a world-beating navy—if you can afford one. Let's say a local antagonist outmatched an American naval detachment—say, the Japan-based Seventh Fleet. Deterrence might hold anyway if the antagonist were certain that the remainder of the U.S. Pacific Fleet would soon fight its way into the theater to reverse the result. If it were clear that any victory would be fleeting, he might refrain from provocative actions in the first place. Why bother?
Short of constructing an unbeatable navy, naval officials could concentrate an outsized fraction of a lesser fleet on the expanses that matter most. That would mean setting priorities among theaters, exercising the self-discipline to stick with them, and telegraphing them to foreign audiences that need deterring. It would also mean admitting that some theaters matter less, and letting allies and partners in secondary theaters know they'll have to make do without Big Brother. Trying to be all things to all friends around the world is a hard habit to break for a superpower.
So much for the factors that muddle the process of fleet design. How big should the inventory be for peacetime purposes? Well, the number of hulls counts most in a war-by-algebra, whether they're on scene or over the horizon. It conveys power and resolve. The more numerous fleet holds the advantage in a contest for political impressions. But size and even capability aren't everything. Luttwak observes that a ship's outward appearance can augment or detract from its political impact—especially its impact on lay audiences.
A fighting ship festooned with guns and missile launchers may make a political sensation, then. Its more lethal peer may underwhelm if its combat punch resides in flat, unobtrusive vertical launchers embedded in its decks. Ho, hum.
How much is enough, then? There's no fixed rule or ratio. The quantity of assets, their fighting power measured in objective terms, and how darned awesome they look all shape the outcomes of peacetime showdowns. The narrower the U.S. Navy's margin of superiority along any of these axes, the smaller its chances of deterring mischief. The more, better, and more impressive its platforms, the easier it is to make an antagonist a believer.
Next time we'll return to this topic, considering how many ships the navy needs in times of strife.
James Holmes is Professor of Strategy at the Naval War College and coauthor of Red Star over the Pacific, an Atlantic Monthly Best Book of 2010. He is RCD's new national security columnist. The views voiced here are his alone.
More From Real Clear Defense:
Why China Fears THAAD
Great Britain's SSBN Dilemma
Ukraine: The Mariupol Test?
This article originally appeared at Real Clear Defense Copyright 2015. Follow Real Clear Defense on Twitter.


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9225 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh, NC 27617
What You Can Expect From the 2021 Nissan GT-R
Even in a class that's already exclusive by nature, the 2021 Nissan GT-R manages to stand apart from the competition in every way. The new GT-R's impressive performance capabilities, standard driver-assistance features, and bold design combine to make an offer that's hard to refuse. Still not convinced that the new Nissan GT-R is the right choice for you? Check out our model overview.
Behind the Wheel of the 2021 Nissan GT-R
The 2021 Nissan represents a continuation of Nissan's tradition of delivering luxury coupes that are fast, responsive, and a lot of fun to drive. The new GT-R's powertrain is anchored by a brawny 3.8 L V6 engine that delivers a thrilling 600 horsepower. A powertrain that roars? Check. Steering that turns on a dime? Check. Upgraded handling? Check. The new GT-R? Ready for anything. This list includes other performance features you should be aware of:
467 lb-ft of torque
6-speed dual-clutch transmission
There's no shortage of comfort-boosting entertainment tools in the cabin of the new GT-R. Options for additional safety features help you monitor the road, navigate tight parking lots, and protect passengers. Every new GT-R comes available with an intuitive infotainment system featuring smartphone compatibility, ensuring you and your passengers are always connected. This car also offers the following in the way of technology:
RearView Monitor
Nissan Navigation System
Apple CarPlay® integration
With the release of the new GT-R, Nissan has delivered a luxury coupe that oozes style from every inch of its exterior. Bold headlights and wide, athletic wheel wells are just icing on the top of the GT-R's already sleek and stylish exterior. The interior of the new GT-R is as lavish as its exterior is stylish. Don't forget to look for the following design details:
UV-reducing solar glass
See the 2021 Nissan GT-R in Raleigh, NC
You can find the 2021 GT-R at our dealership. The next step is to go through our inventory of new Nissan cars for sale in Raleigh, NC. There's no shortage of great cars here, nor is there a shortage of new Nissan specials to stretch your buying power.
*MSRP: Starting price represents the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the trim. The MSRP does not include destination and handling charges, taxes, title, license, options, and dealer charges. Actual prices are set by the dealer and may vary. Photo is for marketing and example purposes only. Photo may not reflect starting MSRP or trim level.\n**EPA-estimated MPG for City/Highway for 2021 Nissan GT-R . Actual mileage will vary. Displayed MPG is based on applicable EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary, depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, battery pack age/condition (hybrid models only) and other factors.
Fred Anderson Nissan of Raleigh
Nissan Information
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The 2022 Nissan LEAF Is Here, Waiting for You November 10, 2021
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Cerberus CEO Feinberg Drops "Stalking Horse" Bid
July 5, 2013 by John Richardson
As was reported back in late April, Cerberus CEO Stephen Feinberg and others partners were putting together a bid for the Freedom Group. He explained at the time that while they were selling the group of companies he didn't want it to go at fire sale prices.
Both Reuters and the Wall Street Journal report that Feinberg and his group have dropped their bid for the Freedom Group.
Feinberg no longer sees the need to make an offer for the gun company, the person said, because Freedom Group is in dialogue with a number of industry players, as well as financial investors, and he views the sale process as robust.
No deal has been agreed to and talks with the potential buyers are ongoing, the person added.
The Wall Street Journal goes into more detail. One source said that Cerberus initially wanted about $1 billion for the Freedom Group but now wants more for it. They have received a number of bids in what is considered to be the first round of bidding.
People familiar with the process say several companies submitted bids last month when a first-round of offers was due.
It is possible Cerberus will opt not to sell, one of the people said.
Freedom Group's results have improved amid rising gun and ammunition sales since the tragedy and as restructuring moves implemented by Cerberus take effect, these people said. Cerberus initially planned to seek around $1 billion for the company, but now wants more, one of the people said.
Some of the bids came in over $1 billion while others were lower, one of the people said. It is common in a bidding process for the field of suitors to thin out after the initial round of bidding, so the level of interest in the company remains unclear.
I'd love to know who the bidders are as would we all. You have to wonder if the high bidder will be a investment group like Cerberus, a diversified company like DuPont which used to own Remington years ago, or a firearms manufacturer like Ruger or FNH-USA. Whatever happens will be interesting.
Tags: Cerberus Capital Management Freedom Group
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Tool And Die Maker Moves Into Arms Manufacturing →
There Are Media Experts And Then There Are Real Experts
About Those Arrests At The 2010 SHOT Show


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The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/2002/02/22/swimmers-aim-for-ivy-crown/)
Swimmers Aim for Ivy Crown
By wpengine | February 22, 2002
Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. They did it for hours at a time, twice a day, for months and months, years even. All for what?
Starting yesterday, the Ivy Championships are the grand finale for the women's swimming and diving team. A large group of seniors and some talented underclassmen hit the pool in Cambridge, taking on host Harvard and the other Ivy League schools.
What the team has been focusing on since the beginning has finally arrived. Competition continues through Saturday at Blodgett Pool.
Leading the way for the Red is a talented group of experienced seniors. Senior co-captain Shayne Geneva highlights the squad, competing in the 200 breaststroke. Classmate Virginia Morgan will swim in the breaststroke and mile (1650 freestyle) events. Fellow senior backstrokers Whitney Yates will participate in the 200 back and Kari Tornabene in the 100 back.
"This group has scored points for us before. Shayne already has done a season-best time, and she is swimming better than last year. Gin has scored a lot and Whitney is looking great," praised head coach Marrie Neumer.
Neumer expects a lot from last year's MVP, junior Courtney Tawresey. She has been bothered by injuries but this is the meet that counts. She is swimming in the distance free and breaststroke events.
Cornell's strongest swimmer going into the meet is also the least experienced. Freshman Elissa Kline is seeded in the top-20 in the 100 and 200 freestyle events.
"Elissa looks great right now. She's been our top scorer this season. If not for catching mono in January, she might be top-five. She swam through it though, and now we expect her to have a huge impact on relays for us too," Neumer added.
Relays are key in the championship meet, since they score double what individual events score. The Red is placed third in the 200 free relay, the team's highest seed. The 400 and 800 free relays also should be competitive. Sophomores Megan Gutman and Vanessa Rai are key elements for the relays. Promising freshman Sydney Freas will swim on the relays, as well as in the sprint fly and free events.
The eight-team meet is basically divided into two tiers. At the top are Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Brown. In the second tier with Cornell are Columbia, Dartmouth, and Penn.
"We consistently have been sixth or seventh. After losing to Columbia by six points in our dual meet we want to chase them for sixth place," Neumer strategized.
The meet format is races in the morning, with 45-50 swimmers in each event. The top 16 scores advance, swimming again at night.
Also competing are two rookie divers, sophomore Jessica Hof and freshman Kara Neal. They are both looking to gain experience and exposure in the big-time meet. Cornell's top diver, Elizabeth Druy, is studying abroad and will not compete.
"Ivy League swimming is very competitive. But we are well prepared mentally and physically, with no injuries. We have a great mix of experience and newness. All I can say is I'm excited." Neumer exclaimed.
Archived article by Cammy Kandiko
AIDS Quilt Unveiled at Ithaca College
By wpengine February 25, 2002
One-hundred twenty-eight decorative quilt panels, each representing a life lost to AIDS, were unfolded last night at the opening ceremony of a five-day display of the AIDS Memorial Quilt at Ithaca College. The Ithaca College AIDS Working Group and the NAMES Project Foundation are sponsoring the display. All donations will directly support the 3,000 children of the Malawi Village in Africa who have lost parents to AIDS. The AIDS Memorial Quilt originated in San Francisco in 1987. The NAMES Project Foundation started the quilt to increase public awareness of AIDS and to serve as a means of remembrance of lives lost to AIDS, according to Shelley Facente, an Ithaca College senior and member of the Ithaca College AIDS Working Group. "The quilt has grown so large that it can't be displayed in one place," Facente said, noting that the entire quilt consists of over 44,000 panels. Throughout the course of the exhibit, which will last until Feb. 28, volunteers will continuously read the names of AIDS victims aloud. "It's easy to get lost in statistics," Facente said. "I hope that people see that these are real people with real lives who have loved and been loved. [The quilt] puts a face to the statistics." Speakers at the opening ceremony highlighted the quilt's role in AIDS education. "As I look at the quilt, I think of our responsibility as individuals to remember," said Brian McAree, vice president of student affairs at Ithaca College. "However, our responsibility is also to prevent others from getting infected with HIV or from dying of AIDS." "This is an educational opportunity," said Pat Cornell, chair of the Ithaca College AIDS Working Group, adding that facilitated viewings of the quilt will be offered to students of all ages, ranging from elementary school to college. "The quilt ensures that the millions of people who have died of AIDS will not be forgotten," Cornell said. Each of the panels "represent a human's life," she said. "This life is going to be our teacher tonight." Jeff Hopkins, a former Ithaca resident who has been living with AIDS for over 17 years, said that the quilt honors those who have died of AIDS. "I am here tonight in honor of more than 200 friends and acquaintances who have died over the years," he said. Becky Smith, a resident of Binghamton, noted that the quilt reminds her of love. "[These panels] express so eloquently the love people have," she said. Throughout the ceremony, panelists spoke of their first times seeing the quilt. Rev. Allison Stokes, the Protestant chaplain at Ithaca College, described the first time she viewed the quilt in Cape Town, South Africa as "a remarkable experience." "The beauty and the tragedy of this opportunity should impel us to action," Stokes added. Facente also commented on the quilt's power to inspire AIDS activism. "Just by being here, you're being an activist," Facente said. "You're one part of a really important change that is happening."Archived article by Stephanie Hankin
More alternative fraternity news
By Ben Eisen February 23, 2002


OK, so I made something that's not edible ... but it is cute.
I like to think of myself as creative, and though my crafting skills could use some work, (and most of my creativity tends to get used up in the kitchen) I like trying to make little things like this garland now and then. The manilla mail tags are probably some of my favorite things and sparkly letters and kitchen twine are something everyone should have on hand at all times, don't you think?
I actually purchased all of the materials for different reasons but the tags were purchased from an office supply store, the glitter letters from a craft store, and the kitchen twine was picked up at the grocery store. I put the letters on the tags first, then laid them out in order and tied them to the twine. It did take a little finagling of the knots to get all the tags to hang correctly, and it was easier to do once I had the garland up. I've got this little guy strung from a mantle and it's a nice reminder of the upcoming holiday.
Will you be doing any decorating for Valentine's Day?


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Department Profile
Department Activities
SHEEBA V. RAJAN
Examination Passed Name of University Name of the Institution Year of passing Class % of marks
BA ENGLISH UNIVERSITY OF KERALA F.M.N. COLLEGE, KOLLAM 2004 FIRST CLASS 62.5
MA ENGLISH UNIVERSITY OF KERALA F.M.N. COLLEGE, KOLLAM 2006 FIRST CLASS 67.3
B. Ed. IN ENGLISH UNIVERSITY OF KERALA K.U.C.T.E KOLLAM 2007 FIRST CLASS 78.1
SET IN ENGLISH DIRECTORATE OF HIGHER SECONDARY EDUCATION 2007 QUALIFIED
NET IN ENGLISH UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION JUNE 2011 QUALIFIED
Top scorer in B.A. English Literature at F.M.N. College, Kollam, Kerala.
Top Scorer in Part 1 –General B.A. English Literature at F.M.N. College, Kollam, Kerala.
Top Scorer in M.A. English Literature at F.M.N. College, Kollam, Kerala.
5 Years at P.G (M.A. English Literature)
7 Years at U.G (B.A. English Literature)
QUESTION PAPER SETTER
Question Paper Setter, University of Kerala
5 years Research Experience
Registered as a Full Time Research Scholar in the University of Kerala under the guidance of Dr. SujaKurup P. L., Associate Professor, Institute of English, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram.
1. "Margaret Wilson's Daughters of India: A Mission with a Vision", English Activities Update, Volume 4, Issue No. 1, (January 2013), PP 118-124, ISSN: 0976-3643.
2. "Between the Worlds: The Identity Politics of Eurasians in Masters' Bhowani Junction", IOSR Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, Volume 10, Issue 6 (May. – Jun. 2013), PP 79-80 e-ISSN: 2279-0837, p-ISSN: 2279-0845. Impact Factor: 1.607
3. "Lilamani as Sita: An Ideal Idol of Indian Womanhood and Wifehood", International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention, Volume 2, Issue 5 (May 2013), PP 61-62, e-ISSN: 2319-7722, p-ISSN:2319-7714. Impact Factor: 1.756
4. "Katherine Mayo's Mother India: A Social Menace to Womenfolk", International Journal of Innovative Research and Studies, Volume 2, Issue 5 (May 2013), PP 503-506, e-ISSN: 2319-9725.Impact Factor: 0.898
5. "Desire for the Other: Mimicry in Mason's The Broken Road", International Journal of Innovative Research and Development, Volume 2, Issue 5 (May 2013), PP 1320-1324, e-ISSN: 2278-0211. . Impact Factor: 0.765
6. "Lilamani-A Study in Possibilities-by Maud Diver, Edited by Ralph Crane, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, 2004 ISBN: 0195666224, Rs. 475 Pages:364 (Review)", International Journal of Applied Research and Studies, Volume 2, Issue 6 (June 2013), PP 1-2, ISSN: 2278-9480. Impact Factor: 2.352
7. "John Masters' Bhowani Junction. New Delhi: Penguin Books, 2007 ISBN-13:978-0-14310-284-7 ISBN-10:0-14310-284-2. Rs. 350 Pages: 416, Book Review", Research Journal of English Language and Literature, Volume 1, Issue 2 (July 2013), PP 1-2, e-ISSN: 2321 – 3108. Impact Factor: 4.26
8. "Dystopia in Oryx and Crake Vis-à-vis The Utopia of Walden: An Ecocritical Approach", Golden Research Thoughts, Volume 3, Issue 2, (August 2013), PP 68-70, e-ISSN: 2231-5063. Impact Factor: 4.6052
9. "Relic of the Past: An Overview of the Select Poems of Seamus Heaney", Research Scholar, Volume 1, Issue 3 (August 2013), PP 1-5, ISSN 2320-6101. Impact Factor: 0.998
10. "Vivifying Myths and Folklore in Karnad'sThe Fire and the Rain", Research Expo, Volume 3, Issue 3 (September 2013), PP 83-86, ISSN-2250-1630. Impact Factor: 5.93
11. "Love Beseiged: A Romantic Historicity of 1857", Indian Journal of Postcolonial Literatures, Vol. 14, Issue 2, (December 2014) PP 43-49 ISSN: 0974-7370.
12. "Night Runners of Bengal: A Discourse on Narrativising History and RomanticisingImperialism",Scholarly Research Journal For Interdisciplinary Studies, Vol. III/XVII (March-April 2015) PP 3033-3039, ISSN-2278-8808. Impact Factor: 4.889
13. "Cross-Cultural Encounter: Multicultural Perspectives in Jhabvala's Heat and Dust", International Journal of English Language, Literature and Humanities, Vol. III, Issue II, (April 2015) PP 481-487, ISSN 2321-7065. Impact Factor: 4.287
14. "Bryda: An Empowered of the British Raj", International Journal of English Research, Volume 2, Issue 4, (July 2016) PP 1-2, ISSN 2455-2186. Impact Factor: 5.32
1. Presented a paper entitled "Relic of the Past: An Overview of the Select Poems of Seamus Heaney" in the UGC Sponsored National Seminar on "Transculturation in Contemporary British and American Poetry" Department of English, St. Cyril's College, Adoor, Pathanamthitta, Kerala on 12th and 13th August 2013.
2. Presented a paper entitled " Desire for 'the Other': 'Mimicry' in Mason's The Broken Road" in the UGC Sponsored National Seminar on "Reading Literature in the Contemporary Critical Paradigm" Post Graduate Department of English, Bishop Moore College, Mavelikara, Kerala on 13th and 14th August 2013.
SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS ATTENDED
1. UGC Sponsored First International Seminar on "Changing Worlds: Reviewing and Reinventing Literature and Culture" Post Graduate Department of English, Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta, Kerala on 23rd and 24th January 2012.
2. UGC Sponsored National Seminar on "Literature and Environment: Deep Ecological Perspectives" Post Graduate Department of English, St. Xavier's College for Women, Aluva, Ernakulam, Kerala on 11th and 12th July 2013.
3. UGC Sponsored National Seminar on "Transculturation in Contemporary British and American Poetry" Department of English, St. Cyril's College, Adoor, Pathanamthitta, Kerala on 12th and 13th August 2013.
4. UGC Sponsored National Seminar on "Reading Literature in the Contemporary Critical Paradigm" Post Graduate Department of English, Bishop Moore College, Mavelikara, Kerala on 13th and 14th August 2013.
5. NAAC Sponsored State Level Workshop on "Building Social Consciousness: The Role of Teachers" held at St. Xavier's College for Women, Aluva on 29th and 30th August 2013.
6. UGC Sponsored National Seminar on "Media and Culture: Creations and Transcreations", Department of English, St. Xavier's College for Women, Aluva in Collaboration with India Vision on 24th and 25th September 2014.
7. "Mise en scene" Workshop on News Production and Short Film Making held at St. Xavier's College Aluva on 15th February 2013.
8. Seminar on Intellectual Property Rights held at St. Xavier's College for Women on 23rd January 2014, organised by Patent Information Centre-kerala/KSCSTE & St. Xavier's College for Women, Aluva.
9. Faculty Development Programme in Concepts Coaching conducted by ICT Academy of Kerala from 05-02-2015 to 06-02-2015 at St. Xavier's College for Women, Aluva.
10. Prof. Rebecca Grace Thomas Memorial Lecture on "Kerala and its Shakespeare Adaptations" by Dr. Joseph Koyippally and "SamskaraPadanavumSahithyavum" by Dr. Sunil P. Elayidom, organised by Department of English, St. Xavier's College for Women, Aluva on 10th June 2016.
• Member in the Editorial Board of Research Journal of English Linguistics and Literature(RJOELL), An International Peer Reviewed Research Journal
http://rjoell.com/editorial-board/
• Member in the Editorial Board of International Journal of Advanced Research (IJAR), An International Peer Reviwed Research Journal
http://www.journalijar.com/editorial-board/
OFFICES HELD AT ST. XAVIER'S COLLEGE
• Co ordinator of Tourism Club
• Co ordinator of Debate Club and Reader's Writer's Club
• Sub Editor of the college magazine
• Staff Association Secretary
• Co ordinator of Internal Assessment and Continuous Evaluation
•Chief Editor of College News Letter


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Leaders sell visions. Managers sell execution plans. Staff sell abilities.
But, does everyone know how to sell?
Selling is an act of persuading someone that an idea is a good one and likely to be successful.
If selling is so important, how effective does everyone sell?
Rudyard Kipling developed 5W1H to help trigger ideas and solve problems, and this method can also apply to sales approach. The trick is the sequence of 5W1H.
The first step of every sales cycle is to identify the right person, or WHO. It is a waste of resources to discover halfway that the contact person is not the person-in-charge, or decision maker.
The second step is WHY. Why the customer should listen to you, but not someone else given the fact that the functional aspects of all deliverables are actually homogenous. The differentiation lies only in the emotional side.
The third step is to evaluate the values that are being offered to the customer, or WHAT. Values can only be maximized by listening to and discovering customer's needs.
The fourth step is to find a way to implement the solution effectively and efficiently, or HOW, which then includes WHEN, WHERE, and the lost honest serving man, HOW MUCH.


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Duke Energy appoints Esamann to head Midwest, Florida operations
Posted by Laura Arnold / May 31, 2015 / Posted in Duke Energy, Uncategorized / No Comments
Duke Energy today announced the appointment of Doug Esamann, currently president of Duke Energy Indiana, as president of the company's Midwest and Florida Regions and a corporate executive vice president.
Esamann, 57, will oversee the company's Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Florida utilities, effective June 1, 2015. Previously, those operations were overseen by Keith Trent, who is retiring.
He will report to Duke Energy CEO and president Lynn Good, and serve on the company's senior management committee.
"Doug Esamann is a seasoned executive who put customers first in working with regulatory, government and economic development stakeholders as president of Duke Energy Indiana," said Lynn Good Duke Energy CEO and vice chair. "We look forward to his leadership of our Midwest and Florida utilities as a member of our senior management committee."
Esamann, a 36-year veteran of Duke Energy, has since 2010 overseen the company's operations in Indiana, where Duke Energy is the largest electric utility, serving about 810,000 customers in 69 of the state's 92 counties.
Previously, Esamann served as senior vice president of corporate strategy for Duke Energy, and group vice president of strategy and planning for Duke Energy's U.S. Franchised Electric and Gas organization.
Melody Birmingham-Byrd, currently senior vice president of Midwest Distribution Operations, will replace Esamann as president of Duke Energy Indiana, reporting to Esamann.
The company also announced, effective June 1:
Chuck Whitlock, currently senior vice president of Gas Operations will broaden his responsibilities to include Midwest Distribution Operations, reporting to Esamann.
Lee Mazzocchi, who previously reported to Trent, will continue in his role as senior vice president, Grid Solutions, reporting to Lloyd Yates, executive vice president, Market Solutions, and president of the Carolinas Region.
Michael Lewis, who previously reported to Trent, will continue in his role as senior vice president, Transmission, reporting to Dhiaa Jamil, executive vice president and president of the newly named Regulated Generation & Transmission organization.
Greg Wolf, currently president, Duke Energy Renewables, will become president, Commercial Portfolio, which will include Commercial Transmission, Strategic Initiatives, and Duke Energy Renewables, reporting to Good. Previously, those operations, as well as Duke Energy International, were overseen by Marc Manly, who is retiring.
Andrea Bertone, president of Duke Energy International, will continue in that role, also reporting to Good.
"These individuals bring extensive experience, deep expertise and strong commitment to their respective positions," Good said. "I am very confident in these leaders' ability to help us achieve our strategic goals and accelerate our focus on customers, operations, employees and growth."
Duke Energy is the largest electric power holding company in the United States with approximately $121 billion in total assets. Its regulated utility operations serve approximately 7.3 million electric customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest. Its commercial power and international energy business segments own and operate diverse power generation assets in North America and Latin America, including a growing portfolio of renewable energy assets in the United States.
For more information please visit : http://www.duke-energy.com