The critical thinking process can be complex and may be confusing. One of the proven successful methods to organize both group and individual thinking is the six thinking hats, also known as De Bono's six thinking hats. The method has been first introduced in 1985 by Edward De Bono in a book with the same name.
Human thinking is unstructured and reinforced in a way that different types of thoughts can drive individuals and design thinking groups to think an unorganized ways, which can lead to unexpected results. The six thinking hats introduced the thinking process to follow specific directions when necessary. The thinking hat is a metaphor that represents each thinking direction as the hats can be easily put on and taken off.
While the six thinking hats method does not follow ordinary human thinking, it can be used during a specific critical thinking session to achieve specific targets such as solving problems, discussing argument, in-depth analysis for planning process and running the creative thinking process. Although the method has been introduced for companies to improve the return of investment (ROI), it can successfully be applied to school students for the use of design thinking in education. The Microsoft education sector introduced this method for schools in a workshop presentation, De Bono's six thinking hats.
Wearing the black hat drives attendees to think about the problem or suggestion cautiously and defensively. The aim of this part is to identify the cons of the suggestion and the disadvantages and why the suggestion may not work based on logical reasons.
This represents the creative thinking part of the discussion. During the critical thinking discussion, this hat fuels the stakeholders' thinking to innovate a thinking creative solution for the problems or look to the suggestions from a creative perspective. Creative tools can be applied to drive creativity during the conversations such as the Lego Serious Play and brainstorming techniques.
This is the process control plan where the meeting leaders manage difficulties during the discussions. It makes sure that the guidelines of the six thinking hat process is applied. This hat can be used to drive the thinking process to better routes. For example, if there are no ideas, the facilitators can direct the discussion to the green hat route.
The blue hat is a control hat during the critical thinking discussions, it can also act as a moderation hat before and after each circle of thinking.
While the resources did not indicate a specific sequence between the hats, the sequence indicated above is similar to De Bono's six thinking hats website.
Then the team wears the black hat to discuss the disadvantages of applying the design change and how it can impact badly on product sales and the marketing target. During this part, the stakeholders discuss the risks that can be faced when the package redesign is applied. Then the red hat reflects the stakeholder's emotional feelings toward the current package and in changing it. Do they like the current package? How do they feel regarding changing it? And what do the end consumers may feel toward this change?
Then the green hat is worn to think of the design from a creative and innovative perspective. This part helps the stakeholders to think about the new design and how they reflect on the previous discussions parts on the new design or the current one. During the above process the blue hat can be worn by the chair to moderate the discussion and direct it in a way that can facilitate the session.
The six thinking hats method provides a parallel thinking model to get the most out of critical thinking discussions. By organizing the thinking process using the metaphor of the six hats, stakeholders can ensure that thinking process is covering the topic from different approaches and point of views. This organized thinking approach occurs in a small period of time during the discussion to reach the best possible output of the design thinking process. While the six thinking hats method is discussed separately from the design thinking process, both work closely toward building creative solutions and innovative approaches for solving problems.


Percy the pigeon has flown in to join us on our global charity flight to help with the navigation and keep an eye on what we are doing in the cockpit. Pigeons are known for their navigation skills and Dot is happy to have Percy along to help with the complexities of the satellite navigation systems fitted in the plane.
Percy is from the loft at the local community radio station The Cat 107.9 which broadcasts in the Crewe and Nantwich area. Dave, one of the volunteer presenters, broadcasts from the loft each Sunday and suggested that one of the pigeons would make an excellent addition to the crew.
Dave will be asking the listeners and local businesses to sponsor Percy as he needs to raise donations to pay for his ticket. We know that all pigeons are excellent flyers but to go all around the world is a bit too far so hopping on board an aeroplane for the ride is a fun idea!
Percy sits on his suitcase, all ready to go!
Percy will have his own special suitcase for the flight kindly donated by Wendy and Bob Room.
Percy checks out his suitcase.
Percy will also be filming inside the cockpit and at stopovers so Dot and Jim will have to watch out what they say and do as all will by recorded by 'pigeon spy cam'.
Once the flight takes off there will be an app which will show exactly where Percy is at that moment in time.
Lets get lots of pigeon followers on board and help raise even more donations for the Alzheimer's Society.
Percy has been getting out and about meeting lots of new people. He went up to Northumberland to help out at the Kielder Navigation Rally for big bikes where Dot and Jim were helping at the start and finish. Then he went south to Walters Arena near Neath in South Wales to help at the first round of the British Cross Country Championship where Dot and Jim were supporting their granddaughter Chloe and co-driver Tom.
Percy is a busy bird.. hope you are following him as he sets off on more adventures.


Easter is the day we remember the Savior's Atonement and celebrate His glorious Resurrection. The greatest event ever to take place in the history of the world was the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
That is what death is: a separation of the spirit and the body. The Savior's body was taken from the cross and placed in a borrowed tomb. Three days later, Mary Magdalene and some other women came to the sepulcher, and found the stone rolled away. The body of the Savior was not there. Two men in shining garments said to them, "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen." (Luke 24:5-6.) Jesus Christ was resurrected to eternal and everlasting life. He would never die again; His spirit would never be separated from His immortal body.
A short time later, the resurrected Savior appeared to the 11 disciples. Jesus, himself, stood in the midst of them, and said, "Peace be unto you." But they were terrified, and supposed they had seen a spirit.
We shall all rise from mortality to immortality, because of the resurrection of the Savior. As we celebrate Easter, we need to give the Savior a big "Thank You!" for giving us the greatest gift of all: Resurrection and Eternal Life.
McEachern is a former bishop of the Tooele First Ward.


Take tea, as Tolkien did, in the library of the McCorkendale residence – now the drawing room of Gregans Castle Hotel – while Barry McGovern reads to you.
Barry McGovern is one of Ireland's best known actors. His most recent stage appearances were in A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Abbey and The Price at the Gate. His two one-man shows I'll Go On and Watt have toured worldwide. On TV he has played in Game of Thrones , Vikings, The Tudors, Dear Sarah and The Treaty. Films include Joe Versus the Volcano, Billy Bathgate, The General, Braveheart, Waiting for Godot and My Name is Emily. Later this year he will be teaching at Notre Dame University for a semester and next year he will be playing in Samuel Beckett's Endgame at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles.


540 Nichols Road, Kansas City, MO 64112 Counter-serve chain offering international noodle & pasta dishes from mac 'n' cheese to pad Thai.
Spaghetti noodles, four-cheese blend alfredo, roasted mushrooms, tomato and spinach, topped with MontAmore cheese and cracked pepper. *Parmesan Chicken is the recommended pairing to complete your dish.
Caramelized udon noodles in a sweet soy sauce, broccoli, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, black sesame seeds and cilantro.
Ramen noodles topped with a sweet and spicy Korean-style Gochujang BBQ sauce, napa and red cabbage, spinach, topped with cucumber, green onions and cilantro. Steak is recommended pairing to complete your dish.
Cavatappi noodles in a smoky adobo sauce, cream, red onion, mushrooms, sour cream, lime and cilantro. This dish is extra spicy. Naturally raised pork is the recommended pairing to complete your dish.
Mushroom sherry cream sauce, fresh herbs, cracked pepper, roasted mushrooms, wavy egg noodles and parmesan. *Steak is the recommended pairing to complete your dish.
Wisconsin Mac & Cheese with Frank's RedHot® Buffalo Wings Sauce, parmesan cheese and green onions. *Parmesan-crusted chicken is the recommended pairing to complete your dish.
Wisconsin Mac & Cheese with crispy jalapenos and tangy barbecue sauce. *Naturally raised pork is the recommended pairing to complete your dish.
Zucchini noodles with spicy peanut lime sauce, broccoli, carrots, snap peas and cabbage. Topped with roasted peanuts, black sesame and cilantro. *Grilled Chicken is the recommended pairing to complete your dish.
Romaine, mixed greens, tomato, cucumber, red onion, Kalamata olives, cavatappi pasta, spicy yogurt dressing and feta. *Grilled Chicken is the recommended pairing to complete your dish.
Mixed greens topped with Roma tomato, red onion, bacon crumbles from naturally raised pork, fresh-cut corn, tossed with jalapeño ranch dressing and crispy jalapenos, fresh avocados and cilantro. *Grilled chicken is the recommended pairing to complete your dish.
Romaine, focaccia croutons, traditional Caesar dressing and parmesan. *Grilled Chicken is the recommended pairing to complete your dish.


text:
From Catch to Consumer
By Erin Bernard
With a focus on stewardship, sustainability and quality, the Pacific Coast seafood industry freshens its approach, all the way from pot to plate.
Talk about a heritage industry: Native Pacific Northwesterners were plucking prize edibles from the watery depths centuries before the arrival of commercial fishing in the 1800s.
These early coastal dwellers saw beloved regional species such as salmon, cold water shrimp and Dungeness crab as gifts so precious that fishing rights were written into the first treaties they signed with the U.S. government.
Technologies and palates have changed over time, with commercial vessels replacing basket and spear and a bevy of gourmet coastal restaurants replacing the simple smokehouses of old.
It's no small task keeping the industry healthy as demand for seafood of Pacific Northwest pedigree rises, but ensuring the bounty has more to do with accurate science than it does magic, says Pacific Seafood Director of Marketing Bob O'Bryant. "We believe we aren't owners but stewards of the resources," he said. "We're strong proponents of a good management system based on science and not politics."
Pacific Seafood got its start in 1941 as a Portland-based retail counter operation. Today, the family-owned company is an international seafood processor and distributor with facilities from Alaska to Texas and restaurants in Newport and Bay City, Oregon.
Pacific Seafood Group operates under a set of standards it calls "The Pacific Advantage." It's an approach emphasizing stewardship, sustainability, quality assurance and traceability, and it's a microcosm of the best practices at work across the Pacific Northwest.
Stewardship and sustainability mean making ecologically and ethically sound choices that minimize waste and conserve resources.
A proactive emphasis on quality yields safer, fresher products, but traceability is also essential, so the company has created software that traces the provenance of every product it stocks, sells or shells from boat to market.
The approach has earned Pacific Seafood Group plenty of accolades, including "A Grade" certification of its cold water shrimp processing facility from the British Retail Consortium. The BRC sets international standards for food preparation and distribution, and Pacific Seafood is the only U.S. facility to earn the certification so far. More than a dozen Pacific Seafood products have also earned a nod from the Marine Stewardship Council, an industry-leading sustainable seafood certification and eco-labeling program.
Sound resource management begets better harvests and clearer consciences to be sure, but you haven't closed the loop until the customers, too, have a stake in the process.
Pacific Seafood's fish-house restaurants and markets are built right alongside processing facilities so diners can see shrimp shelling and oyster shucking in action before sitting down to a steaming bowl of clam chowder or cioppino.
"It educates people about how fresh the seafood is on the coast, about the food safety that goes in the process, and about the quality of the products," O'Bryant said. "It's an education tool as much as a tourist draw. We like people to see what we do."
Seafood by the Numbers
19: grams of protein in just 3 ounces of cooked Dungeness crab
450: commercial crab fishing permits issued annually in Oregon
126 pounds: size of the largest Chinook salmon on record
300,000 tons: average annual global cold water shrimp harvest
28 million pounds: average annual Pacific cold water shrimp harvest
35,000 tons: average annual oyster yield from West Coast oyster farms
400: number of oysters King Henry IV was rumored to eat each evening before dinner
$145 million: total harvest value of all Oregon fisheries in 2011
Cannon Beach Home & Garden
Northwest by Northwest Gallery
Contemporary painting & sculpture. Authentic works of distinction.
Coaster Construction, LLC
Coaster Construction has been helping to shape the character of the north Oregon coast since 1973.
A Guide to Great Hiking Options Near Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach offers access to some of the Northwest's most scenic hiking trails just minutes from elegant accommodations overlooking the Oregon Coast's iconic rocky... [read more]
The dramatic terrain of Harris Beach State Park hosts a menagerie of sky, land and water life that is nothing short of captivating. Aside... [read more]
Seaside Offers Walks Through Oregon Coast History
Seaside's Broadway Street, Prom and Turnaround have attracted visitors to Oregon's original coastal resort town since the 1920s, but their history goes back even... [read more]
Cannon Beach Lodging
Inn at Village Centre
An upper level furnished studio apartment in the heart of downtown, close to shops and the beach.
Home to Clatsop County's Historical Society archives, research library and local history exhibits.
Cannon Beach Dining
Sea Level Bakery & Coffee
Scratch baked goods and exceptional coffee in Cannon Beach.
Driftwood Restaurant & Lounge
Serving the best steaks to Cannon Beach for over 70 years. Both a local's and a drifter's favorite!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Home>Beef> 6ix9ine Disrespects Lil Durk For Not Dropping An Album
6ix9ine Disrespects Lil Durk For Not Dropping An Album
Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Power 105.1
6ix9ine's feud with Lil Durk continues.
6ix9ine and Lil Durk have been in a bit of a back and forth as of late. While the whole origin of the beef seems convoluted at this point, it's clear that the two don't like each other. Of course, Durk comes from Chicago which has been frequently disrespected by 6ix9ine in the past. This was especially true last week when 6ix9ine went on a tour of Chicago and disrespected Durk's deceased cousin Nuski with a sarcastic video.
For about a week now, Durk has been announcing a new track called "The Voice" which originally believed to be an album. When it was announced that "The Voice" would be a single, 6ix9ine couldn't help but say something about it as he took to his IG story saying "Remember this goofy said he want all the smoke" before dissing Nuski again, writing "Leave the smoke to Nudki #Nuski pack."
6ix9ine has his own music endeavor to promote as tonight, he will be releasing his first post-prison album Tattle Tales which is yet another example of how he won't stop trolling no matter how much it may put him in danger.
Durk's new track "The Voice" will also be coming out tonight which means perhaps we will hear some bars directed at the rainbow-haired rapper.
Beef News Tekashi 6ix9ine the voice Lil Durk release date nuski
Hornets Fire Broadcaster For Mistakenly Tweeting N-Word
T.I. Demands 50 Cent Set A Date For Verzuz Battle
BEEF 6ix9ine Disrespects Lil Durk For Not Dropping An Album


Interest in cyclocross is slowly growing in Australia, and as the cold and wet of winter approaches, riders can look forward to ideal conditions for CX and a growing race calendar. In this article, I take a closer look at CX bikes you can get for under $2000.
A few years ago, there was no market for CX bikes in Australia and they were considered a foreign oddity. Now a dozen or more brands have at least one model on offer in the local market and there are plenty of bikes on offer for less than $2000 that will appeal to newcomers to CX. Of course, you can always pay less for a used road bike and convert it to CX, but you'll be defeated by poor tire clearance (which traps mud between the frame and the tires) every time.
CX is really hard on a bike due to constant exposure to mud and water so expect to see accelerated wear and tear in the drive-train and bearing surfaces. Also expect to spend more time and money on maintaining a CX bike. Best advice here is to spend a bit more money up front for harder wearing parts, and that's why I've limited my picks here to bikes equipped with Shimano 105/SRAM Apex or better.
As a starting point, consider a frame that is the same size as your road bike, but run a 1cm shorter reach that comes as a result of a shorter top tube, rather than a shorter stem. Most CX frames have a taller front end as a result of taller forks, but don't hurry to cut down the steerer and slam the stem until you've ridden in the slop. Finally, consider dropping your saddle 1cm to lower your centre of gravity.
The Boardman CX Pro: A highly spec'd cyclocross bike which provides excellent value for money. Note that the price here does not include GST or duty.
The Specialized CruX tips the scales with our price threshold, but it's a beautiful bike worth looking at.


Served " 1976 to 1996 "
• Older Video I made a couple of years ago "The Bowling Family"
• Letter of Appreciation received from the Chief of Staff and Secretary of the Army "Freedom Team"
• Song Sent in by Jerry Calow (A Tribute to all our Veterans) Thanks Larry!
From all the Wars, and all battles to this day, How you feel about war, has no relevance on the fact, Our Veterans courageously served for us all.
It is our duty to never forget, or to turn our backs on them during Peace or War.
Welcome Family, Friends, and Warriors to my Web Site.
I have created this web site to share our past and present experiences with our family and friends and to honor the men and women in uniform that have given their all in support of their country. Any comments and suggestions are most welcome. Please enjoy these pages as much as I have in putting them together.
Below is the download of the month. Download and try it out today.
Copyright © 2006-2018 Terry's Military Tribute. All Rights Reserved.


text:
March 22, 2009 by Andreas
Divisione Motorizzata "Trieste" – before and after CRUSADER
In a previous post linked here, I have added information comparing Italian divisional strength after the CRUSADER battle, comparing it to the authorised strengths of the division. I recently received Salvatore Loi's book Aggredisci e Vincerai, the history of the Trieste division. Most of it is focussed on 1942/43, but there is some good information about the division's role in CRUSADER in there. Here I want to use this information to show what the impact of the losses was, by showing the structural change of the division following the battle.
But first a bit of background on the division. It arrived on the big liner convoys in August and September, and suffered 450 killed when Gritti, Oceania and Neptunia were sunk. Loi states that the CO of IX Gruppo of 21 Artigliera died when the latter two were sunk by HMS Upholder. Montanari, the official Italian historian of the war in North Africa, puts the division was around Homs in early September. On 25 October small elements of the division already undertook recce towards Segnali and Mechili. On 8 November the division was in the sector Bir Hakeim-Bel Harmat-Mteifel el Chebir. There is an interesting diary entry at this link from a subaltern in 66 Reggimento Fanteria. The officer writing the diary was posted missing after CRUSADER, he is in the 66 Fanteria casualty list in Loi.
Based on the information in the earlier post, I am presuming Trieste lost about 4,000 men. It is the nature of losses in battle that they fall largely on the infantry, meaning that while the division as a whole may 'only' have lost 22%, the effect at the sharp end is likely to be far more pronounced, and this is shown when looking at the structural change of the division after the battle. In the case of the Trieste division, it started the battle with 7 infantry battalions and 4 battalions of AA/AT (armi di accompagnamento), and ended it with 6 infantry battalions and 0 AA/AT battalions, a 45% drop in frontline strength. Furthermore, the two infantry regiments went from three companies of 81mm mortars to one per regiment, severely reducing their firepower. The regiment most involved in the fighting, the 9th Bersaglieri lost two battalions, one infantry and its AA/AT battalion. In the process of the battle, the two infantry regiments lost their regimental mixed AT/AA battalions (my guess is that the guys in these battalions were used to make up numbers in the remaining two infantry battalions), and the divisional AT/AA battalion was also dissolved to provide reinforcements at the end of January.
OOB 101st Motorised Infantry Division Trieste September 1941
65th Infantry Regiment
2x infantry battalion
1x AA/AT battalion
Motorised transport column
66th Infantry Regiment (as 65th)
9th Bersaglieri Motorcycle Regiment
3x Bersaglieri battalion
1x Bersaglieri AA/AT battalion*
Medical Section
508th AA/AT Battalion (undergoing re-establishment – the battalion may have been disorganised because of losses suffered in transit)
21st Artillery Regiment
4x artillery battalion
1x AA battalion
52nd mixed engineer battalion
90th Medical Section (incomplete – might have suffered losses on transfer to Africa)
176th Supply Section
80th Motorised transport column
This changed as below by the end of the battle:
OOB 101st Motorised Infantry Division Trieste January 1942
1x 81mm mortar company
2x Bersaglieri battalion (the AA/AT battalion was dissolved at the end of January to bring the rifle battalions up to strength)
508th AA/AT Battalion (dissolved on 22 January with remaining men going to the 65th regiment and the 251st independent gun company)
*According to a contemporary source provided by Michele, the "Battaglione di armi anticarro e di accompagnamento" (="antitank weapons and support weapons batalion") in theory had a contingent of about 600 men, and consisted of:
– 1 HQ-platoon
– 1 AA company (20 mm)
– 1 towed AT company (47mm)
– 1 mortar company (81 mm)
– 1 MG company (probably Breda MGs on tripods)
Source: "Nozioni di organica per i corsi allievi ufficiali di complemento", S.M.R.E., Roma, Luglio 1941-XIX, page 50.
Posted in Content	| Tagged Axis forces, Ground forces, Italians | 7 Comments
Regia Aeronautica fighter planes during CRUSADER
I have previously posted about the Italian air force's frontline strength during CRUSADER, in this post. Today I would like to add a bit about the types of fighter planes used by the Italian air force, how they compared to the Commonwealth planes they were fighting, and how they were used.
Italian fighters were all built for high maneuvrability at the expense of speed, but the pre-war designs all suffered from having weak engines, and lacked sufficient armament. Although in fairness, by early war standards the armament was probably considered sufficient, and the destructive power of the two 12.7mm MGs fitted should compare favourably with that of British fighter armament of the time. By the time of CRUSADER one modern type had been fielded, the Macchi Mc. 202, which used a modern German engine, and therefore could stand up in performance to anything the Commonwealth could fly against it. But it was still undergunned.
A bi-plane fighter designed as successor to the Cr.32 in the late 1930s and first taking to air in 1938. While the epitome of bi-plane fighter design (and an aerobatic gem in the view of a British test-pilot who flew the captured one pictured below), by the start of World War 2 it was considered obsolete, yet soldiered on until the end of the war. It was used for close escort of bombers (where I presume its maneuverability would make up at least somewhat for its lack of speed), near-shore escort of shipping, and ground attack. Because it continued serving for so long in an air war for which it was clearly not built, it has attracted a good amount of attention from airplane enthusiasts, and here is another article about it. The picture below shows the Fiat Cr.42 that made a forced landing at the beach of Orfordness during the Battle of Britain. A wartime picture showing the same plane with RAF markings can be seen at this link.
From Hakan's blog entry here, it also appears that a Cr.42 pilot, of a machine flying in German colours, fielded what must be the final claim of an air kill by a biplane, on 8 February 1945, with the claim being a USAAF P-38 Lightning. I am usually very skeptical about claims, but this one could well have some validity to it.
Fiat Cr. 42 at RAF Museum Hendon - from Wikimedia Commons
The first monoplane retractable wheels fighter to enter service with the Regia Aeronautica in 1938. It was, as all Italian fighters of the period, underpowered and undergunned. By the time of CRUSADER an improved version had been fielded which became the main production version. The G.50 was probably used a lot in the ground attack role during CRUSADER, and with the Cr.42 it formed the mainstay of the Regia Aeronautica's fighter force in North Africa during the battle.
Damaged Fiat G.50 Freccia captured by Commonwealth forces in North Africa - from Wikimedia Commons
A Fiat G.50 in flight, 1941 - courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Bundesarchiv project
Macchi Mc. 200 Saetta (Lightning)
Similar in looks to the G.50, this plane was designed around the same time, but entered service about 2 years later in 1940, due to necessary re-designs relating to aeronautic instability. It utilised the same engine and followed the same armament philosophy, with predictable consequences. It was produced in considerable numbers, but only few were in North Africa during the CRUSADER period.
Picture from Wikimedia Commons, taken by the observer of a SM.79, maybe during a mission to Malta or Tobruk
Macchi Mc. 202 Folgore (also Lightning, indicating the close relationship of the two, maybe?)
This was the first truly modern fighter to be built in Italy for a number of years, and it was built by a simple solution, marrying the high-performance German DB601A aeroengine with the aeronautically well-developed frame of the Mc.200. The result was a good-looking, fast, and highly maneuverable plane that was at least the equal, but probably superior to anything the Commonwealth was flying in North Africa at the time of CRUSADER. It entered service in summer 1941, and arrived in North Africa in November, during the CRUSADER battle. Commonwealth pilots seem to often have mistaken the Mc.202 for German Bf109, since they were used to Italian fighters with radial engines. It was also the first Italian fighter with a fully enclosed cockpit.
From Wikimedia - Mc.202, one of two left in the world
The following links will lead you to the PDFs of pages of a Flight Magazine article from 1940 introducing the Italian fighter planes:
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1940/1940%20-%201827.html
Another article at the link below discusses the Mc. 202. While the comparison to a 1943 Spitfire is probably unfavourable for the Macchi, I think the Commonwealth pilots in their Hurricanes and Tomahawks in late 1941 would have taken a less sober view, even though, as the picture at this link shows, the Mc.202 was hardly invincible:
Posted in Content	| Tagged Air, Axis forces, regia aeronautica | 4 Comments
Finding your way around the battlefield – German style
Michael Dorosh kindly provided (for my old website on counterbattery) the following information from the Canadian Army Training Memorandum No. 24, March 1943, which came as a welcome piece of information to me, since I understood the theatre grid system of the Commonwealth armies, but had never even thought about how the Germans did it. Turns out they used a Stosslinie, thrust line (or point), drawn on a map. This is a variant of the offset method, in which a location is expressed by giving the distance to two edges of the map – except that the distance is given in relation to a randomly chosen line on the map.
The differences in locating units on the map were quite astounding to me, and I originally wondered why the Germans ever came up with such an unwieldy system. But I guess that in application it is not actually unwieldy, and it has the advantage to add to secrecy. While David Irving claims that Rommel invented this system to help his tanks advance in France, I simply doubt that this is true (David Irving making things up?), since it appears to be a universally used system in the Wehrmacht.
In North Africa, the thrust line was determined by Panzergruppe HQ during CRUSADER, and my guess is that this did not change when the HQ was upgraded to army status. I believe that in other theatres thrust lines were determined by Corps HQs (a Panzergruppe was equal in status to a Corps HQ), but I am not certain about this. During CRUSADER I have come across two changes of Panzergruppe's thrust line, but there may have been more. There is also a good discussion on the system at this link.
So, in the German system, a unit would report something like this, and the note below explains it:
Following executed relief CAM* assembled, with Ariete in area around 48.5 left 4.5, with Trieste around 48.5 left 5.5. CP CAM from 17 January 10h00 48.5 left 5.
The header carried by the document is preserved in this post. The Allied armies put out this kind of information to inform their soldiers about the capabilities of the German forces. The most famous of these may well be the manual to the 8,8cm AA gun published by the US Army. A lot of these information leaflets are published at the excellent Lone Sentry website.
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
The information contained in this document is not to be communicated, either directly or indirectly, to the Press or to any person not holding an official position in His Majesty's Service. **
THE GERMAN MAP REFERENCE
1. The Germans have a map reference system which they call "stosslinie", which means "thrust point." A line is drawn on a map. Theoretically, it may run in any direction, but in practice it is found to run either in the direction of the German intended advance or down the axis of a reconnaissance unit.
2. The line begins at a fixed point and continues indefinitely in the required directions. For convenience it is usually divided into centimeters. To give a map reference, a perpendicular is dropped from the reference point to the thrust line. Measurements are then given from the starting point of the line to the point where the perpendicular cuts the thrust line; then along the perpendicular to the reference point. Since the point may lie on either side of the thrust line, the second figure has to be prefaced by either right or left as one looks toward the enemy.
3. A typical reference would be 12 right 3.5. The figures always are centimeters; therefore, the actual distance on the ground represented by each unit will NOT always be the same but will vary according to the scale of the map.
4. In order to make the code more secure, the following variations may occur:
1. The scale may start with an arbitrary figure; that is, the starting point may be called sixty instead of zero; so that our map reference would read 72 right 3.5.
2. Dummy figures are often used. By previous arrangement, it is agreed that the first, third and fifth figure of any map reference will be dummies. The above map reference, for instance, might be given as 87329 right 83359.
3. Finally when more than one thrust line is being used, perhaps by a Corps or Army, they are numbered and map references begin with the number of the thrust line.
5. Instruments have been found that consists of a rule in translucent material graduated in millimeters, with a shorter ruler similarly graduated, fixed at right angles which slides up and down on the larger ruler.
6. Operators with practice can give references very quickly.
The US Army also issued an explanation of the system to its soldiers.
Excerpt from chapter 14 of "Artillery in the Desert", Military Intelligence Service, Special Series No. 6, November 1942:
One of the most interesting methods of enabling map references to be sent in the clear with security is the "thrust line" method used by the Germans. (This method is similar to the code described in FM 18-5, "Organization and Tactics of Tank Destroyer Units," June 16, 1942, paragraph 231 b (2) (e).) It consists of a line drawn upon a map which theoretically may run in any direction but which actually usually extends in the proposed direction of advance or down the axis of a reconnaissance unit.
The line, which begins at a fixed point and continues indefinitely in the required direction, is usually divided into centimeters for convenience. To give a map reference, a perpendicular is dropped from the reference point to the thrust line. Measurements are then taken from the point of origin to the point where the perpendicular cuts the thrust line, then along the perpendicular to the reference point. Since the point may lie on either side of the thrust line, the second figure must be prefaced by either "right" or "left", as one looks toward the enemy.
A typical reference would be "6 right 3." (See fig. 15.) The figures are always in centimeters; therefore, the actual distance on the ground will vary with the scale of the map used. The scale may start with an arbitrary figure, and have dummy figures interspersed, or it may start with the number of the thrust line when there are several in a given area. These devices make the code difficult to break rapidly.
Thrust Point – From http://www.lonesentry.com
Figure 15.–The "thrust line"
Instruments have been found consisting of a transparent ruler graduated in millimeters, with a shorter ruler similarly graduated and fixed to slide up and down at right angles to the longer ruler. Practiced operators can give references very quickly.
The whole document is worth reading, by the way.
Here is an example order fixing a thrust line, which I found in the files of 21st Panzer Division.
Order from Panzergruppe Afrika fixing a Thrust Line
German Africa Corps CP, the 16 November 41
Operations Section 17 copies
No. 1274/41 secret Command Affair 12th Copy
Re: Thrust Line
Distribution List
For the map Libya 1:400,000, German "preliminary special issue I 1941" (Leaf Bardia), the following thrust line is ordered:
A = 0 = Gr. el Arid (near Trigh Enver Bel, 50km west of Bardia)
B = 15.8 = Gr. el Abd (14km south of Sidi Omar)
For the German Africa Corps
The Chief of the General Staff
An example of a Stosslinie can be found in this post.
Some further info and thoughts
The picture below is from an article (in German only) on the Austrian army website which provides further background into Austrian mapping, and shows how the thrust line looks like, you can open the picture at this link. It is interesting that the Austrian army found the thrust line system insufficient for their needs during the border crisis of 1956 (Hungarian uprising), and switched to a grid system. My guess is that the thrust line is better suited to mobile operations along a single axis, as opposed to static defense.
The use of a temporary, operation-dependent system is very different from the Commonwealth system, which used a permanent 'theatre' grid superimposed on a map of the area of operations, or even wider. The UK National Archives website explains it quite well at this link. This system had originally developed in World War I (World War I was to the artillery what the French revolution was to politics), and the development during the war to end all wars is very well charted at this link. Locations on the map would be expressed through two numbers with identical but variable length. The longer the number, the more precise the location information. Information on this can be found on Nigel Evan's site at this link. This system, or one like it, is now universally used by the western armies at least.
*Corpo Armata di Manovra (Mobile Army Corps, not Mobile Armoured Corps as one reads sometimes!), the later XX Corps in the Italian army, consisting of the Ariete armoured and Trieste motorised divisions and the RECAM reconnaissance detachment.
**Since His Majesty is dead, I guess I have been released from that obligation….
Posted in Content	| Tagged Axis forces, Mapping | 4 Comments
March 9, 2009 by Andreas
Book Review – "Fighting Flotilla" by Peter C. Smith
Anyone who has looked at previous book reviews knows that I am a great fan of Peter C. Smith's work. That's why I bought without hesitation Fighting Flotilla when it was recommended to me in the marvellous naval bookshop Maritime Books in Greenwich. I was not disappointed!
Fighting Flotilla is the very aptly named history of the Royal Navy's L-Class destroyers and their service in World War II. It does not just address the service however, but also contains a long and involved discussion on the design of the class, the various options that were considered in terms of size, armament and engine power, and the compromises that were made in their design.
The L-class, with its flottilla leader HMS Laforey, comprised eight vessels and I think it would be fair to say the class did not have a good war, since six of them were lost to enemy action, in some cases with heavy loss of life. Three of them, HMS Lance, Lively and Ghurka, did not even manage a year's service between their completion and their loss, such was the pressure on the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean at the time. The class is of particular interest to me since two of them, HMS Lance and HMS Lively* were part of Force K throughout the CRUSADER period, while HMS Legion participated in the sinking by 4th Destroyer Flotilla of the two light Italian cruisers di Giussano and da Barbiano and joined Force K afterwards. It is interesting to note that all threee of these would be lost by April. HMS Lively sunk by aircraft in the waters between Crete and Tobruk, while HMS Lance and Legion were sunk at their moorings in Grand Harbour in Malta while undergoing repairs, but not before Legion claims to have engaged the Italian battleship Littorio in a gun duel at point blank range (4,400 yards) during the 2nd Battle of Sirte in March 1942 (eyewitness accounts of this action are in the book)!
HMS Lance entering Grand Harbour, La Valetta, Malta - from Wikimedia Commons
Now, about the book. As usual with books by Peter C. Smith, this one is a good mix of document-based research and facts emanating from personal recollections. The book is basically covering two parts, the development of the class, in the context of the constraints of the Naval Treaties at the time and the threat assessment, followed by the service history of the eight vessels of the class. This is a good approach for a reader like me, since it gives me the context of how these vessels came to be, and then follows it by the very interesting stories of their lifes and ends. In doing so the book does not only provide a deep insight into the world of Royal Navy ship procurement towards the very end of the inter-war period (the L-class was built as part of the 1937 Royal Navy estimate), but also provides a good technical overview of the various challenges and trade-offs involved in destroyer design during this period. This was a class that was planned before and built largely during the war, and it underwent many changes while on the stocks because of it, to accommodate experience from the war and the need to get ships out into the sea to fight the Axis. This is why half the class ended up with the advanced, fully enclosed 4.7″ turrets, while the remainder received open 4″ high-angle turrets, which made them very useful as AA defence vessels. The different turrets also had a visual impact – in my opinion the 4″-armed L-class vessels have a far more balanced look to them than the 4.7″-armed. See e.g. this photo of HMS Lightning (4.7″) versus this of HMS Legion (4″).
Apart from the information in the text, the book also contains a raft of photographs and diagrams, e.g. cut-away and detailed technical drawings of the design of the two types of main gun turret (4.7″ and 4″) used on the L-class, and the ships as a whole, comparing design and as built. The selection of photographs indicate that the author spent a lot of time going through the IWM's photo archive, and some of them seem not to have been reproduced in many places, if at all elsewhere.
The eyewitness accounts of the actions are well placed in the general text, relevant, and add to the depth of the immersion.
Appendices cover the main weapons system, fire control, general fixtures and fittings and the crew compliments in peace and war. At the end, all the ship's badges are reproduced, with heraldic information, as well as pendant numbers and the names of commanding officers. I seriously doubt that there is much else to know about the L-class after the reader finishes this book.
I can only highly recommend this book (like anything by Peter C. Smith, but I think I am repeating myself) to anyone interested in naval actions in the Mediterranean during World War II, or interested in inter-war destroyer design in the Royal Navy. Unfortunately you'll have to look for a used copy, since it is currently not in print.
You can also find a detailed account of the life and death of WW2's HMS Lively at this link. She was the sixteenth and last of the name in the Royal Navy for now at least. I think somebody needs to start a campaign to get that name re-assigned to a vessel.
* HMS Lively has another appeal for me, since she was one of the ships commanded by fictional Royal Navy hero Jack Aubrey. By coincidence, Jack Aubrey's HMS Lively of 1804, a 28-gun frigate, was in real life also lost while on convoy escort in 1810, wrecked in the Mediterranean off Malta.
Posted in Book Reviews	| Tagged Book Reviews, Force K, Logistics, Regia Marina, Royal Navy | Leave a comment
Italian Naval Vessels in Convoy Escort during CRUSADER
During CRUSADER a range of Italian naval vessels were engaged in protecting traffic across the Mediterranean. The aim of this post is to give a short overview of some selected types were involved and what their capabilities were. The focus is primarily on the smaller escort vessels, but I give some information on the work of the cruisers and battleships as well. One thing that is not well understood is that the Regia Marina made an all-out effort to support the forces in North Africa, even risking battleships in the close escort role. But all the heroism and dedication of the Italian sailors could not overcome the odds stacked against them by ULTRA interception of their messages, failure to subdue Malta, and a lack of fuel hampering operations throughout.
One area that took me by surprise was how advanced the Regia Marina was compared to the Royal Navy in the area of anti-aircraft (AA) defense of its vessels. All the small units had multiple light AA guns and AA MGs from 1936 onwards, maybe because of the experience made during the Spanish civil war. By comparison, even British destroyers planned in the late 1930s had weak close-in AA armament, consisting of a single 4-barrel Pompom gun and a single high-angle gun, but their main armament was able to fire at high angles for AA defense, even though the 4.7″ gun on the L-class was not able to fire at very high elevations above 50 degrees. It appears from this site with information on the Italian 120mm and 100mm destroyer/torpedo boat guns, that these were not able to fire at very high elevations, which made them less useful for AA work. I suspect a difference in design philosophy here, but would welcome comments on this. It is interesting to note that both navies significantly increased close-in AA capabilities after the start of the war.
In terms of their main armament, the Italian destroyers went for a higher number of guns (six versus four) than the Royal Navy did at the time, maybe because of their proposed role of chasing around the much more heavily armed French 'super'-destroyers of the Chacal and Guepard classes (5x 130mm and 5x 138mm, respectively) which came into service at the same time as the Navigatoris. But the arrangement in a twin-turret seems not to have been ideal, especially since the Italian 120mm used 2-piece ammunition, while the British guns were QF type with single-piece ammunition. This is easier to handle, and makes a significant difference in rate of fire, especially on smaller vessels subject to being affected significantly by swell.
Spica-class Torpedo Boats (Italian description here)
This was a large class of small escort vessels built from the mid-1930s onwards which served prominently on the convoy route, typical workhorses of any navy, doing lots of the dreary work and being recognised very little for it. They were produced in four sub-classes: Spica (2 vessels, sold to Sweden in 1940 and endearingly named Romulus and Remus); Climene (8); Perseo (8); and Alcione (17). Their standard displacement was of 650-680 tons, with full load displacement of 1,100 – 1,200 tons, and a crew of 116. Their closest equivalent in the Royal Navy in terms of their role would probably be the Hunt-class destroyer escorts even though these were slightly larger and better armed. The Spica's main armament consisted of 3x100mm guns (one forward, two aft), plus AA guns, torpedoes and depth charges. Later in the war they shipped very considerable AA protection. They also had the ability to lay up to 20 mines. Like all Italian vessels, they were built for a relatively high top speed of 34 knots (compare that to the 27 knots of the Hunts).
Notable events with these vessels during CRUSADER include the sinking of the German steamers Maritza and Procida on 24 November, who were escorted by Lupo (under the command of the famous Commander Mimbelli) and Cassiopeia, which engaged in a firefight with the far superior Royal Navy Force K but failed to safe their charges from destruction. On 11 December Alcione was damaged so severly by torpedoes from HM Submarine Truant off Crete that she had to be beached and was declared a total loss (you can see a picture of Alcione being hit at this link). By the time of CRUSADER these units or at least some of them may have received German active sonar.
Orsa-class Torpedo Boats (Italian description here)
A class of four based on the Spica-class and with a difference in armament. The Orsas lost one of the 100mm guns and made up for this with enhanced anti-submarine capability (four launchers instead of two) and endurance. Their initial AA armament was weak, with only 4x 13.2mm HMGs, and they carried four torpedo launchers. The Orsas displaced 1,016/1,600 tons, had a crew of 154 and a top speed of 28 knots, considerably slower than the Spicas. They participated in convoy protection throughout CRUSADER, and none were lost during this period. Two of the Orsas were lost in 1943, while the other two served to mid-1960s with the Italian navy. They are significant because they were the first Italian vessels to carry active sonar for submarine hunting.
Orsa Class TB side view - from the Italian Navy Website
Pegaso, Orsa-class TB - from Italian Navy Website
Navigatori-class Destroyers (Information in Italian)
These were a class of 12 units of relatively large fleet destroyers (in the Royal Navy terminology) of about 2,400 tons standard and 2,700 tons full displacement, named after famous Italian seamen of the past, the Navigators. Their crew consisted of 173 officers and sailors. They were at first called light souts (esploratori leggeri) by the Regia Marina, indicating the role they were supposed to serve in while working with the battle fleet. While designed for very high speeds of 38 knots (with Antonio Pigafetta reaching 41.6 knots during her trial) they were supposed to be very fast, but after rebuilding in the late 1930s they were apparently reduced to 28 knots (with the exception of two smaller ones, still capable of doing 33 knots), and relabeled later as destroyers. The rebuilt was necessary because as designed the ships had stability problems, and quite radical measures were taken to (successfully) address this. My guess is from the rebuilt on they were mostly supposed to work as convoy escorts, since they would have struggled to keep up with most cruisers and battleships of the Regia Marina and the change in armament reflects this as well. They were originally armed with 6x120mm guns in three twin turrets arranged forward/centre/aft, 2x40mm and 8×13.2mm (in four twin-mounts) for AA defense, 6x torpedo tubes in two sets of three (reduced to 2×2 later) and mine-laying gear with an ability to carry 56 mines. They did not have anti-submarine capabilities at first, but received two depth-charge launchers when they were rebuilt for stability reasons. At the time of their construction they had a relatively strong armament for destroyers, while the later armament was much more of an alround nature.
Notable events involving Navigatori include the sinking of the large tanker Iridio Mantovani on 1 December. This was escorted by Alvise da Mosto. Its captain, Commander dell'Anno decided to fight it out, and had his ship blow up under him.
Side view of a Navigatori after rebuilding - from the Italian navy website
Alvise da Mosto - from the Italian Navy website
Dardo-class (2nd) Destroyers (Information in Italian)
This was the second evolution of the first modern destroyers designed as such after the Great War. The class consisted of four units, armed with 4x120mm in two turrets, 4x40mm AA guns (WW1 designs by Vickers, later replaced by 8x20mm HMGs) and 6x torpedo tubes in two sets of three (after 1940, but probably not by the time of CRUSADER the aft launcher is replaced with 4x37mm AA guns and 2x depth charge launchers, reflecting the increased emphasis on convoy work and the need to provide more AA protection). They were capable of carrying 60 mines and had a crew of 156 with a displacement of 1,650 standard, 1,920 full load, comparable to the Royal Navy's L-class designed at the end of the 1930s. The Dardos had problems with stability and sea-keeping.
The most notable event during the CRUSADER period was the sinking of Fulmine by Force K in the battle of the Beta, aka Duisburg convoy during the night 8/9 November.
Dardo 2nd Class Views - from Italian Navy Website
Fulmine - from Italian Navy Website
Maestrale-class Destroyers (Information in Italian)
Another class of fleet destroyers based on the Dardo class, smaller than the Navigatori and built after them in a class of four units. They displaced about 2,000 tons standard and 2,250 tons full load. As a consequence had weaker armament, of only 4x12cm in two turrets fore and aft, with 2 torpedo launchers in the centre, and from 1936 had very strong AA armament of 8x20mm MGs and a 37mm gun. They were capable of a high speed of 38 knots as well, and carried a crew of 168. Unlike the Navigatori they were apparently not able to lay mines. They were not very stable, and one of the class, Scirocco, was lost in a storm at the 2nd battle of Sirte in March 42.
The most notable event during the CRUSADER period is the sinking of Libeccio by HM Submarine Upholder after the battle of the Beta convoy, while she was picking up survivors.
Camicia Nera or Soldati-class Destroyers (1st) (Information in Italian)
These were the most modern of the Italian destroyers, relatively large, well-armed, and fast at 39 knots. They displaced 2,140/2,460 tons, had a crew of 187, carried 6x120mm, 8x20mm, 6x torpedo launchers in two sets of three, and could deploy 52 mines. During CRUSADER their primary role was to act as protection for the heavy cruisers and the battle fleet and they sortied only together with these as far as I know. None were lost during this battle.
Light Cruisers (Information in Italian)
Three light cruisers figured prominently during CRUSADER. Cadorna ran petrol across the Mediterranean in December 1941 as part of the emergency programme. The Condottieris were designed as lightly armoured scout cruisers, sacrificing protection for speed, and their appearance begat a race on the part of the French and British navies to develop powerful destroyers to counter them. But in wartime reality it was difficult to find a role for these cruisers with the battle-fleet, and unlike the Royal Navy the Regia Marina did not have many opportunities to employ light cruisers in what amounted to roving commissions or on small stations, so the Condottieri found themselves used to protect convoy traffic or to undertake emergency deliveries of supplies. They were well armed with 8x152mm and 6x100mm, as well as 16x AA (8x37mm, 8×13.2mm) , 4x torpedo launchers, and carried 2 seaplanes. They displaced 6,571/6,950 tons and were capable of 37 knots on paper (although real speed may have been slower), with a crew of 507.
The most notable events involving Condottieris during CRUSADER occured when Da Barbiano and da Giussano were caught by a group of British and a Netherlands destroyer on the night of 13 December while trying to do the same, and were sunk with heavy loss of life. The more modern and comparatively well-armoured Condottieri-class Duca degli Abruzzi participated in the escort of the convoy on 19 November, and was torpedoed and damaged by aircraft from Malta.
Heavy Cruisers (Information in Italian)
Heavy cruisers played a role in the Beta convoy operation, with both Trento and Trieste part of the distant escort. They had no effect on the battle. Not even two weeks later, on 19 November they are at sea again in the same role, together with Gorizia. During this operation, Trieste is torpedoed by HM Submarine Upright and heavily damaged, reaching Messina only with difficulty. Following damage on another cruiser, Duca degli Abruzzi, by an aerial torpedo attack the convoy is ordered to return to Tarento, after Force K and the British battle fleet from Alexandria are also reported to be at sea.
All five operational battleships of the Italian navy participated in convoy protection operations during CRUSADER, and the four of them that remained operational at that date participated in the inconclusive 1st Battle of Sirte. This was an operational success of the Regia Marina however, since the Italian convoy went through unscathed, while the British Malta convoy had to turn back.
Refurbished battleships
Caio Dulio was part of the close escort of M.42. Both Giulio Cesare and Andrea Doria were part of the distant escort during this operation.
Modern battleships
Vittorio Veneto was part of the distant escort of the M.41 convoy on 14 December, during which it was torpedoed and severely damaged by HM Submarine Urge. This led to the breaking off of the operation and rescheduling as M.42 a few days later. Littorio then was part of the distant escort for the M.42 convoy.
Posted in Content	| Tagged Axis forces, Convoys, Regia Marina | 4 Comments
Transport of Sonderverband 288 to Africa
A unit that has attracted a bit of attention disproportionate to its size is Sonderverband 288 (literally: Special Formation 288). You can find some more information on this unit here (but be careful, not all of the information at the link is correct). Elements of the unit were ordered across to North Africa from Greece in November, to be included in an ad-hoc unit called Sperrverband Daumiller (blocking detachment Daumiller, named after its commander, Captain Daumiller). We meet this unit in the Agheila position at the end of December.
The first transport was by air on 24 November, when 9 Junkers 52 flew a unit of Gebirgsjäger under the command of Hauptmann (Captain) Daumiller to Benghazi, to act there as a blocking detachment. These were probably initially two platoons of Gebirgsjäger (specialised mountain troops) of a total strength of 90 men, equipped with 25 anti-tank rifles and a 'plentiful' supply of ammunition were flown to Africa from Greece in Ju 52. These were the only Gebirgsjäger to serve in Libya throughout the duration of the war 5A regiment of these troops fought in Tunisia in 1943). This transport brought, according to British intelligence, the total of arrivals to 269 men brought in by plane.
By the two torpedo boats (small destroyers, probably Alcione and Lira, the former was sunk on 11 December by HM Submarine Truant near Crete), it was planned that at mid-day 24 November (departure time is my guess), the HQ of the Heavy MG Platoon, two platoons of engineers with blocking material and 12 light flamethrowers would be brought over to Derna. Also 3 anti-tank rifles, 2 5cm Anti-tank guns, and 3 armoured cars. In total 100 men, 24 vehicles and 12 motor-cycles. Additionally fuel for the vehicles to cover 1,000 standard kilometres (10 consumption units/Verbrauchssätze), and 3 days of rations. However, it is possible that this trip was cancelled, because of the more urgent requirement to bring in fuel on the naval units. Remaining elements could not be transported, but it is likely that this move was later postponed to free the naval units for transport of more important items or because the armoured cars could not be transported on the relatively small torpedo boats.
On 29 November, General Osterkamp, who was then in charge of the sector around Benghazi, appealed for urgent transport of the armoured cars to counter the threat posed by Force E, if necessary by using Junkers 90 heavy transport planes, destroyers, or even a cruiser.
On 30 November, German air command decided that while the remainder of SV 288 should be transported as soon as possible, fuel had to take precedence.
On 1st December it was then stated that 5cm AT guns of 5th Mountain Division should be flown from Crete to Derna. I presume these belonged to Daumiller's outfit.
It is furthermore pointed out that the unit would not be ready to act as a fully equipped and mobile blocking detachment, because it lacked sufficient vehicles, anti-tank guns and its Sturmgeschütze (Stugs – fully armoured assault guns with 75mm guns), which would have to be transported on a slower transport ship. In the event, these Stugs did not appear in combat until the Gazala battles in May 1942, when one was captured by South African armoured cars.
Overall, this little episode shows a few things:
First, the ability of the Wehrmacht to improvise in the face of urgent necessity. They had little qualms to take specialised units (SV 288 was originally destined for Iraq and contained Arab-speaking personnel) and throw them into battle elsewhere when needs demanded.
Secondly, already one week after the start of CRUSADER the Axis was scrambling to plug what they saw as serious holes. In this case, it is Brigadier Reid's Force E that had them running scared all along the coastline, because there were almost no Axis ground forces capable of stopping Reid's force from raiding the airfields and supply installations and western Cyrenaica.
Thirdly, again after one week of combat, the Axis was reduced to weighing equally unpalatable options. Should they send an urgently needed ground force to protect the airfields from possible raids? Or should they send in petrol to keep planes in the air? Or should they send 5cm AP ammunition of which its own tanks were beginning to run short?
Posted in Content	| Tagged Axis forces, Logistics, SV 288 | 5 Comments


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Hardik Pandya ruled out of New Zealand Test series
India all-rounder Hardik Pandya will continue his rehab at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, according to a BCCI release.
Hardik Pandya hasn't regained full match fitness after his lower back surgery. - GETTY IMAGES
India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the two-match Test series against New Zealand later this month, a BCCI press release confirmed.
He will continue his rehab at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Pandya underwent a successful surgery in October last year to remedy an acute lower-back injury and has remained out of action since.
According to the BCCI press release, Pandya "travelled to London and was accompanied by NCA Head Physio Ashish Kaushik for a review by spinal surgeon Dr. James Allibone."
It further added: "Hardik will be under rehab at the National Cricket Academy until he regains full match fitness."
The news comes as a setback for Pandya, who had been optimistic about making his international return during the New Zealand tour. However, he first needed to get a clearance on his fitness.
Earlier, Hardik was included by the selectors as part of the India A squad for two 50-over matches. However, Vijay Shankar was subsequently named as his replacement, adding further intrigue surrounding his return.
The recovery from the back surgery was difficult, and Hardik had exchanged messages with captain Virat Kohli, saying no one should undergo a similar experience. "I was emotionally challenging. From lifting 100 kgs I was not able to lift my legs," Hardik told India Today in an interview.
Read more stories on India vs New Zealand.


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Home Design & Decorating Decorating Furniture
How to Buy a Futon
Maria Sabella
Maria Sabella is an E-Design consultant and has spent the last six years working in the interior design and staging industries, as well as writing digital content focused on home-related topics.
Sarah Scott
Fact checked by Sarah Scott
Sarah Scott is a fact-checker and researcher who has worked in the custom home building industry in sales, marketing, and design.
KatarzynaBialasiewicz/Getty Images
A futon is one of the most versatile pieces of furniture you'll ever own, since it's a sofa and a bed in one. It's a great multi-purpose piece, not just for smaller homes, but for any room that needs to serve more than one function, such as a home office that doubles as a guest room when the occasional guest is in town.
You may be picturing an uncomfortable metal frame with a thin mattress when you hear the word "futon," but futons have come a long way in recent years, with stylish and high-quality versions available at every price point. They vary in design, come in different sizes, are made from materials such as wood or metal and can accommodate many mattress types. This shopping guide outlines everything you need to know about buying a futon so that you can make an informed decision and enjoy this piece for years to come.
What Is a Futon?
A futon is a piece of furniture that consists of a metal or wood frame and a foldable mattress that converts from a sofa to a bed. Futons were originally thin roll-up mattresses used for sleeping on the floor in 17th-century Japan, but quickly evolved from their original design and purpose to become the space-saving two-in-one pieces we know them as today, gaining popularity in the Western world in the second half of the 20th century.
Before Buying a Futon
If you're thinking about buying a futon and are weighing your options, consider some of its main advantages. If you live in a smaller home, a futon is an excellent choice as it serves more than one purpose, saving you both money and valuable space. If you need a room to function as a place to relax but also as an occasional guest room, a futon will do both. It also tends to be lightweight and easy to move, so if you know there may be a move in your future, this is a much more move-friendly piece than a bulky sofa or heavy headboard.
Buying Considerations for a Futon
Space, or lack there of, may be your main reason to purchase a futon, and if that's the case, getting accurate measurements of the room it's going in is key. Measure the wall that it's going to be positioned on, and consider the size of the futon both when it is set up as a sofa and as a bed, since those are two different sizes and you want to ensure that the room can accommodate both. There should be at least two feet of space around the futon when it is being used as a bed, so that there's plenty of room and you don't run the hazard of tripping over something in the middle of the night!
Consider the overall architectural style and decor of the room where the futon is going and whether a more traditional or streamlined and modern piece would best fit the space. There are countless styles of futons available on the market, not just when it comes to size and comfort, but design, so there's lots to choose from.
The original futons that were used in Japan were simple mattresses without a frame or any sort of construction, but that has changed dramatically and a futon has either a metal or a wooden frame to hold the mattress. A futon with a wooden frame tends to have arms and look more like a traditional sofa. It is usually heavier and therefore harder to move around which means it's a good option if you're going to use it primarily for seating and only converting it into a bed occasionally. On the other hand, a futon with a metal frame usually doesn't have arms; the style tends to be a little more contemporary and streamlined. This kind of futon is usually lighter and therefore easier to move from one spot to another and convert into a bed.
When it comes to size, futons are available in as many sizes as a classic bed. Futon mattresses come in twin, twin XL, full, queen and king sizes just like regular mattresses, and are available in memory foam, latex, hybrid and other mattress types that all vary in comfort and price.
Most futons have the same basic features, such as a frame and a mattress, but there are some additional characteristics and add-ons. One is a cover. Some futons have a variety of cover designs available that are not just practical because they keep the mattress clean, but also visually appealing since they're a good way to dress up the futon or switch out the look without having to purchase a whole new piece of furniture.
Another clever and practical feature that some futons have is pull-out drawer space underneath. This provides space-saving storage for items like guest sheets or extra blankets without taking up any space in your linen closet!
The 8 Best Futons of 2023 for Comfort and Style
Types of Futons
Bifold Futon
The term bifold describes the fold in the mattress which in this case is a single fold down the middle. This is the most common style of futon and seats the largest number of people, which is usually three or four, and is comfortable as a sleeper. It is also the easiest style of futon to operate; there is usually a handle or a bar underneath that you pull to unfold the mattress and convert it into a bed.
Trifold Futon
A trifold futon works on the same principle as a bifold, but instead of just one fold, it is made up of three different sections, with the third section either folding behind or under the futon. If the third section is on the bottom, it can also serve as a reclining feature, making the futon extra comfortable. It folds down the width of the mattress and doesn't seat as many people as a bifold does, but it comes in the same mattress sizes as the bifold, therefore taking up more floor space since it is shorter in length, which is something to consider if you're tight on space.
Loveseat Futon
Similar to the trifold, a loveseat futon takes up less wall space than a bifold. It comes in several different styles, one being a wooden frame with a fold out mattress and another that looks more like a sofa but that has collapsible arms that add to its size when it acts as a bed.
As is the case with most furniture, futons range vastly in cost, from budget-friendly options you can purchase online starting at under $200 to more high-end ones costing over the $1,000 mark. The quality of the materials is one factor — how good the fabric looks and feels and how durable it is, or what sort of wood or metal is used in the construction of the frame. The aesthetic and overall design is another factor, as a futon from a higher-end designer furniture store will of course have a higher price tag. Lastly, comfort and the type of mattress affects the cost in a big way — the more comfortable and better the mattress, the more you will need to spend.
How to Choose a Futon
With so many futon options out there, deciding which particular futon to purchase can be overwhelming, but by considering a couple of key questions, you can narrow down your options and figure out the style and look that is best for your space.
How Will You Use Your Futon?
Determining the futon's primary function, whether it will be used more frequently as a sofa or a bed, is key as it will help you decide on what size and style of futon you need, as well as how much you want to spend on it. If you're planning on placing it in your home office and using it as a cozy reading spot and only occasionally converting it into a bed when your friend flies into town, you may not want to splurge on the most expensive, high-end futon and mattress that there is. If, however, you know the futon will be used for sleeping as frequently as it will be used for seating, a comfortable mattress and a lightweight, easy to operate and high-quality frame may be worth investing in.
What Does the Rest of Your Space Look Like?
When choosing your futon, consider the style of the room that it's going in. Is it a more traditional space or does it have a more contemporary feel and a lot of clean lines and simple silhouettes? Is it neutral or are there lots of bold colors and patterns? Does the room have a cool or a warm color palette? Answering these questions will help you figure out what futon design will fit in best and feel like a cohesive part of the already existing room set-up.
Deciding where to shop for your new futon will depend on a couple of factors, but one main one will be how frequently it will be used. If you know it will be used for both seating and sleeping quite often, then you may choose to shop in person so that you can test the firmness, quality and comfort of the futon.
Buying In-Store
The main advantage to purchasing a futon in person is being able to test it out. If the futon is set up for seating, don't hesitate to ask whether you can see it set up as a bed, and try operating it yourself to see how easily it converts from one position to another.
Test the Mattress
Sit on the futon and make sure that it is comfortable, the padding is plush enough that you don't feel the frame and the arms (if there are any) are comfortable to lean against. Then, test of the mattress by laying on it — don't feel embarrassed, it's important to try it out and test its firmness and comfort level, especially if it will be used for sleeping frequently and you're investing a significant amount of money.
Test the Operating Mechanism
Ask whether you can test out the futon's operating mechanism to see how easily it converts from a sofa to a bed. Have the sales person show you how the mechanism works, then try it out for yourself. If the sales person has trouble with it, you know it's probably a little tricky to operate, but if it's as simple as lifting a lever and pulling out the mattress, you can feel confident it'll be easy enough for you or your guests to use.
If you've decided to purchase the futon online, make sure to do your research and carefully read reviews. Since you can't test it out for yourself, be sure to read the product reviews so you can see if it's as good as the seller say it is. Some retailers have a virtual assistant that can answer your questions, as well as a phone number that you can call to ask questions. Check the store's return policy and delivery options to save yourself any possible hassle later on.
Where to Buy a Futon
Futons have become incredibly popular and most large retailers carry at least one style of them, but there are plenty of online only companies that have excellent choices available.
Do I need a futon cover?
It's not necessary, but a cover will protect the mattress, keep it from getting stained and allow you to change its appearance if you own multiple.
Can you wash a futon cover?
Yes, most covers are machine-washable but check the instructions to be sure.
What is the lifespan of a futon mattress?
Futon mattresses generally last five to 10 years.
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The company behind ABC's "Bachelor in Paradise" has suspended production of the reality show while producers look into allegations of misconduct on the set in Mexico.
Warner Bros. says it is "conducting a thorough investigation of these allegations" and "appropriate responsive action" will be taken once the investigation is complete. The company didn't offer any details on the allegations.


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Still no one claims $447M Powerball prize in California
Updated: 3:57 PM PDT Jun 12, 2017
SOURCE: -
Lottery officials on Monday gave a ceremonial million-dollar check to the owners of a Southern California liquor store that sold the winning $447.8 million Powerball jackpot ticket and said whoever bought it has still not come forward to claim the prize. At the busy store right off the freeway in the small city of Menifee, residents stopped by to congratulate members of the Alberre family, who have owned the business for more than two decades, and muse about whether someone among them might be about to take home the 10th largest lottery prize in U.S. history. California lottery officials said a sole winning ticket was sold at the Marietta Liquor & Deli, but they won't reveal when the purchase took place to avoid encouraging false claims. Russ Lopez, a lottery spokesman, urged whoever has the ticket to seek sound financial and legal advice. The winner has up to a year to claim the prize. "That's a lot of money for somebody in this area," Lopez said as community members snapped photos outside the lucky store. "Winning the lottery should never be a nightmare." The Alberre family said they didn't know what they would do with the $1 million bonus awarded to the retailer that sold the winning ticket. Albeir Alberre, a 65-year-old immigrant originally from Syria, said the store has sold a few winners since he started the business in the late 1990s but never this big. His son, Matthew Alberre, said he couldn't believe when he received a call with the news at his cousin's high school graduation party Saturday night. "I was in shock at first," said the 26-year-old Alberre. "It's an incredible feeling. I'm just very blessed to be a part of this." The store caters to local residents in the Sun City area of Menifee, which was originally developed as a retirement community in the 1960s, and is also a common stop for motorists passing through the area about 80 miles (130 kilometers) from Los Angeles. Sun City has about 4,700 homes developed for residents age 55 and older. Today, the homes clustered around a golf course are part of Menifee, population 89,000. Richard Byham, a 68-year-old retired mailman, said he plays the lottery daily at the store and rushed to check his numbers after hearing the winning ticket was sold there. "This is as close as I've ever come, and I'm still excited," Byham said. "It was one heck of a rush to see this address and name pop up." The lucky numbers drawn Saturday night were 20-26-32-38-58, and the Powerball number was 3. Powerball is played in 44 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The estimated jackpot prize is based on a winner choosing an annuity, which pays off over 29 years. The cash prize would be $279.1 million. Both prize amounts would be before taxes are deducted. Before the drawing Saturday night, the jackpot was estimated at $435 million. It had grown because no one had matched all the numbers since April 1. The odds of winning Saturday's drawing were one in 292.2 million.----Story by Associated Press writer Amy Taxin
MENIFEE, Calif. (AP) —
Lottery officials on Monday gave a ceremonial million-dollar check to the owners of a Southern California liquor store that sold the winning $447.8 million Powerball jackpot ticket and said whoever bought it has still not come forward to claim the prize.
At the busy store right off the freeway in the small city of Menifee, residents stopped by to congratulate members of the Alberre family, who have owned the business for more than two decades, and muse about whether someone among them might be about to take home the 10th largest lottery prize in U.S. history.
California lottery officials said a sole winning ticket was sold at the Marietta Liquor & Deli, but they won't reveal when the purchase took place to avoid encouraging false claims.
Russ Lopez, a lottery spokesman, urged whoever has the ticket to seek sound financial and legal advice. The winner has up to a year to claim the prize.
"That's a lot of money for somebody in this area," Lopez said as community members snapped photos outside the lucky store. "Winning the lottery should never be a nightmare."
The Alberre family said they didn't know what they would do with the $1 million bonus awarded to the retailer that sold the winning ticket.
Albeir Alberre, a 65-year-old immigrant originally from Syria, said the store has sold a few winners since he started the business in the late 1990s but never this big. His son, Matthew Alberre, said he couldn't believe when he received a call with the news at his cousin's high school graduation party Saturday night.
"I was in shock at first," said the 26-year-old Alberre. "It's an incredible feeling. I'm just very blessed to be a part of this."
The store caters to local residents in the Sun City area of Menifee, which was originally developed as a retirement community in the 1960s, and is also a common stop for motorists passing through the area about 80 miles (130 kilometers) from Los Angeles.
Sun City has about 4,700 homes developed for residents age 55 and older. Today, the homes clustered around a golf course are part of Menifee, population 89,000.
Richard Byham, a 68-year-old retired mailman, said he plays the lottery daily at the store and rushed to check his numbers after hearing the winning ticket was sold there.
"This is as close as I've ever come, and I'm still excited," Byham said. "It was one heck of a rush to see this address and name pop up."
The lucky numbers drawn Saturday night were 20-26-32-38-58, and the Powerball number was 3.
Powerball is played in 44 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The estimated jackpot prize is based on a winner choosing an annuity, which pays off over 29 years. The cash prize would be $279.1 million. Both prize amounts would be before taxes are deducted.
Before the drawing Saturday night, the jackpot was estimated at $435 million. It had grown because no one had matched all the numbers since April 1.
The odds of winning Saturday's drawing were one in 292.2 million.
Story by Associated Press writer Amy Taxin


International Women's Day celebrates women's accomplishments and advocates for gender equality. Honor an inspiring woman in your life by sending her hand-delivered flowers. Grand Blanc Florist By Vogts can delivery locally to Grand Blanc, MI on March 8th.


Ruth Claxton will be speaking at the October Many& Varied Salon. She'll introduce herself, and Workshop Birmingham and there will be an opportunity to feed into our mapping by suggesting who should be in the Directory. Her presentation will be followed by a talk by Eleanor Morgan, a London based artist who is interested in materials and processes of making, in particular how human making intersects with that of other animals.
Taking place on the first Friday of the month Many & Varied salons are specially put together for the people who don't fit comfortably into the usual pigeon holes. They don't mind if you identify as an artist, scientist, craftsperson, researcher, musician, maker, curator, academic, technologist […the list goes on…] – if you're pushing at the edges of what that can mean then come along!


In 1918, Elsie Wright and her cousin Frances Griffiths photographed fairies in their garden in the small village of Cottingley (Yorkshire). Without expecting it, many people paid attention - including renowned writer and spiritualist Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Although initially reluctant, the famous author swayed public opinion.


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News, Weather & Travel
News, Weather & Travel Home
Gateshead Fire Station Ransacked
Fire officers say they're shocked and disgusted after a fire station in Gateshead was burgled and badly damaged during the night.
Burgalrs broke into the Gateshead West Community Fire Station in Chopwell and a number of rooms have been completely ransacked.
Several computers were stolen as well
The fire and rescue service is estimating that there has been several thousand pounds worth of damage, and because of that, the fire station is not operational and at this stage it's not known when it'll be back in operation.
Area Manager Chris Lowther, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We are absolutely appalled that someone could stoop so low as to actually break into, steal from and seriously damage a fire station. We are here to protect the community and cannot believe anyone would want to stop us from being able to do this. I'm sure local people will be as shocked as we are to hear this news. We would appeal to anyone who may know anything about the burglary to contact the police."
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Women of the OT: Queen Esther
Queen Esther by Edwin Long in 1878
When we talk about Esther in the Book of Esther, we can't ignore many other characters in the book as they seem to play roles almost as important as hers. The hero of the Book of Esther is a Jewish woman who lived in Susa and became queen when she was chosen to be the wife of King Xerxes (Ahasuerus) of Media and Persia. During a banquet of six months, when the Queen Vashti refused to appear into the presence of King Xerxes (Ahasuerus) wearing the royal crown, the king, advised by his 'wise men' in the council, decided to depose her and to choose another queen, a much more beautiful woman, a virgin young woman! Esther was chosen.
In the beginning, the personality of Esther does not count that much; her uncle and adoptive father Mordecai is the one who is mentioned as a prominent servant at the king's court. When he discovered a plot of two eunuchs to kill the king, he informed him and he was rewarded. Later Esther was chosen among other beautiful virgins – as she was beautifully formed and lovely to behold (Esther 2:7) – to replace Vashti who had disobeyed to the king's orders. The king also raised Haman the Agagite above all the other fellow officials. Later, Haman and Mordecai did not get along and a serious conflict arose between them.
The Book of Esther presents two causes of the conflict between Mordecai and Haman: in Chapter A:17 (Prologue to the Book of Esther) we read that Haman wanted to harm Mordecai because of the two eunuchs the latter had accused before the king and the beginning of chapter 3 of the same book informs us that it was due to the fact that Mordecai refused to kneel and bow down to Haman. Haman decided to exterminate the Jews. Esther, helped by her uncle, manages to inform the king of Haman's wicked plans, and Haman and those who had joined him in his wicked plans are the ones to be exterminated. Nowadays, a holiday called Purim commemorates that event and it has very 'happy' celebrations, including sharing food, dressing up as for a carnival and… burning the images of Haman! Actually, the aim of the whole book seems to be the explanation of the origins of that feast which might in fact have more pagan origins than Jewish ones.
Queen Esther and Mordecai by Lilian Broca.
An important point is to be raised: the King who ordered the execution of Haman could not completely reverse the first decree to exterminate the Jews: he just gave them his support by a parallel decree, 'drafted by Mordecai', which allowed them to defend themselves because "whatever [was] written in the name of the king and sealed with the royal signet ring [could not] be revoked." (Esther 8:8). In the end, the role of Esther, helped by the God of her community, seems to have been to bring the king and his governor to her side, the Jewish people.
Another side of Esther's personality is that she represents people who, despite being far from their homelands – refugees, captives and others – manage to overcome their condition and become part of the host society and sometimes enter its leadership. Esther also has inspired the Jewish community which has been threatened throughout centuries in many places like Europe in the Middle Ages and during the Second World War and in today's Middle East. Many are Jews who saw Esther story as a sign that God is always on their side in their conflicts against other nations.
In the same way that I strongly believe that Scripture tells us what is good and advisable to be done, it also presents examples of actions and reactions that might not be pleasing in the eyes of God. If it is written that the Jewish community in the kingdom of Media and Persia took revenge by killing those who wished to wipe them from the surface of the earth – or probably of Persia – it gives us at the same time an occasion to consider doing better than them. That is why we could not read the story of Esther and apply it to our lives leaving out the rest of the Holy Scriptures. In these days, as both nations, Israel and Iran (which was part and centre of the Persian empire), tend to settle on unsympathetic relations and belligerent moods, the story of Esther might not encourage in the resolution of the conflict. The Book of Esther thus reminds us that we should pray so that it does not end in blood as it is described in Esther's story.
The role played by Esther seems to be that she tried to always seduce the king by her unbelievable beauty any time she appear before him. Seduction appears to be her strength throughout the whole story. Her uncle Mordecai knew about that advantage and he encouraged her to appear before the king. However, she is also portrayed as a prayerful and courageous woman, who took the risk, first of all of appearing before the king without permission, and of revealing her race to the king, knowing that she could be killed. Carey A. Moore, in his contribution to the Anchor Bible series, wrote a book with the title Esther. In his comments, he wrote that "[h]aving carefully prepared herself spiritually (1v 16) and physically (v 1) for her ordeal, Esther now stood radiant, but nonetheless unsummoned, in the inner court before the king. The magic of her beauty, which had captivated the king from the very beginning (v 17), apparently saved her, although according to Addition D 8 God was responsible." (1971:57). Esther's beauty tells us that, God is the creator of beauty and beauty is a good thing. This tells us God endows with various and different gifts. But those do not suffice without God's help and we always need to turn to God in order to be able to use fruitfully those gifts.
Gustave Ineza OP
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BIDYUT BHATTACHERJEE an honorable priest, has an experience of over 40 years as a renowned priest. One of his major strength is his ability to create customer satisfaction over the years. A learned and well-versed priest, he is mostly available for all Bengali rituals. His available timings comprises of 1-4.30 PM, 10pm-12am (All Days) This priest is also available to perform Laxmi, Ganesha,Satyanarayan pujas for Marwari and Gujrati rituals.
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Гостовице () — деревня в Снинском районе Прешовского края Словакии.

Расположена в северо-восточной части страны, недалеко от границы с Польшей. Находится на высоте 269 м над уровнем моря.

Население — 299 жителей (2011).

Впервые упоминается в 1567 году. В селе есть грекокатолическая церковь (1764).

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text:
AFI Czech Republic
Home → AFI Europe → AFI Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country borders Poland to the northeast, Germany to the west and northwest, Austria to the south and Slovakia to the east.
The Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic were created as separate States on 1 January 1993 on the territory of the former Czechoslovakia.
Water from the landlocked Czech Republic flows to 3 different seas: the North Sea, Baltic Sea and Black Sea.
The Czech Republic also leases the Moldauhafen, a 30,000-square-metre lot in the middle of the Hamburg Docks, which was awarded to Czechoslovakia by Article 363 of the Treaty of Versailles, to allow the landlocked country a place where goods transported down river could be transferred to seagoing ships. The territory reverts to Germany in 2028.
The objectives of AFI Czech Republic include:
Encouraging participation at the grassroots level, with a focus on youth and community development
Establishing Footy 9s in the Czech school sports curriculum at both primary and secondary level
Introducing Footy 9s as a university sport in the Czech Republic
Providing players with the opportunity to compete in competitions at school and club level in the Czech Republic
Establishing National Teams (men & women) to compete in matches against other countries
Securing recognition of Footy 9s as an official sport in the Czech Republic
If you are interested in being involved, please contact us.